Disclaimer: This work of fan fiction uses characters from Rise of the Guardians, The Guardians of Childhood, and Frozen which are trademarked by DreamWorks Animation, William Joyce, and the Walt Disney Company respectively. The author of this story claims no ownership over them. The story the author is telling is of her own invention and it is not purported or believed to be part of the canon storyline. This story is made for entertainment purposes only. The author is not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story.

Author's Note: This is a two-shot.

So, what's the choice, James?

Two targets, time enough for one shot.

The girl or the mission?

– Alec Trevelyan, GoldenEye

Agent – Athena: Goddess of War OST

Komodo Dragon - SkyFall OST

Infiltration – Athena: Goddess of War OST

Ricercar – Part I

WARNING

Confidential Information.

The activities you are about to participate in are of a highly classified nature, use absolute discretion while executing this mission on behalf of the Organization. The security of the entire Organization depends upon your diligence.

During this assignment you will be called on to put your proficiencies to the test and assist the Organization in bringing Hans Westergaard to justice.

Our Agency has had Hans Westergaard under surveillance for the past four years. Recent intelligence indicates that Mr. Westergaard is blackmailing a significantly influential person of the Norwegian government with documents in his possession.

Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to track Mr. Westergaard down in Zurich, Switzerland, interpret and use clues the Agency has uncovered and, in turn, find and recover the documents required by the Organization.

Special Agent Frost of the CIA will assist you in your task.

Should you fail; the Organization will disavow any knowledge of your assignment and your existence as an Agent.

Good Luck, Elsa.

End Transmission.

Zurich, Switzerland
December 24th, 2013
21:32

The Dolder Grand, one of the finest five star hotels in Zurich, Switzerland located on Adlisberg Hill. It was traditionally Swiss in architecture with a stunning view of the city and lake below. With a backdrop of the clear, evening, winter sky, and pretty snowflakes falling and vanishing into a field of white, it was the perfect venue for any extravagant affair.

A black limousine smoothly pulled up to the lobby as an attendant opened the sleek, black door. Out came a stiletto heel that met the pavement with a resounding click, a slim and pale hand reached out and took the proffered palm of the attendant as he helped a woman out of the vehicle.

She wore a soft, cream-coloured gown, with highly intricate designs of gold beading and heavy embroidery across the half-sleeves and bust. A thin, pale, gold belt cinched her small waist as the rest of the dress flowed down to the ground in sheer, soft waves with a long slit sliding down from mid-thigh. Her white-blonde hair was pulled back into an elegant French twist embellished with an ornate snowflake clip; her bangs were tastefully curled and left hanging to frame her face.

She nodded her thanks to the attendant, who stared at her with obvious awe, before strolling into the hotel with confident steps, holding up the hem of her dress in one hand and a small black clutch in the other.

The lobby was softly lit by a glass chandelier in the center of the room, on the left side was the reception desk and on the right was a crowded sitting area. The space was elegantly decorated for the winter season: a large evergreen tree sat underneath the chandelier, large red ribbons wrapped around the back of white chairs, and frost covered garlands woven up the railing. There was a quiet hum of activity with waiters carrying trays filled with flutes of sparkling champagne, musicians unobtrusively playing festive songs, patrons of the hotel lounging in velvet leather sofas, and guests of the party socializing in small groups.

She scanned the room, casually leaning against a marble pillar as she looked for her partner. It shouldn't be difficult – unless he was smart enough to finally get rid of his conspicuous hair.

"Hello there," a familiar voice whispered into her ear, playing with the crystal pin in her hair, "Snowflake."

She turned her head, glancing at her admirer from out of the corner of her eye: a flash of silvery-white. She rolled her eyes as he brushed his fingers down her right forearm and took her hand in his. She turned around, her back still pressed against the ivory marble as he lifted her fingers to his lips. There he was, as outrageous as ever with his perfectly coiffed, stark, white hair.

"You are a stunning vision to behold," he stated.

Special Agent Jack Frost of the CIA.

He was definitely dressed well for the occasion, wearing a well-cut, black suit and tie with a white shirt. A classic combination he accentuated with a deep blue handkerchief artfully placed in his breast pocket. And he was never without that playful grin plastered on his, admittedly, handsome face.

"You clean up well yourself, Mr. Frost." She replied, pulling her fingers of his grasp. She crossed left arm over her chest, supporting her right wrist in it as she rested her chin in her fingers. "How are you?"

"Haven't been up to much lately," he replied with a mischievous smile, putting a hand into his pant pocket, "just had been doing minor assignments here and there, until the Organization called the CIA up. I thought this was just a simple grab-and-go mission. I was about to decline… until I learned that I would be escorting the infamous Elsa Christensen herself."

She scoffed before replying, "This is an assignment, not a date, Mr. Frost"

"But how can I resist when I am in the presence of a beautiful Snow Queen?" he asked. Her lips upturned in a grin, amused by his flirting.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Frost." She reminded him in a whisper.

"Damn, and here I thought the saying was 'flattery will get you anywhere," he murmured softly.

The white-haired agent then put on his signature smile again and straightened his blazer. He turned, angling himself towards the ballroom.

"The mission, right," he said, believing Elsa's rejection was due to their assignment. "Shall we?"

He wasn't wrong though.

She pushed the thought aside as he offered his arm to her. She slipped her's through and off they went, down the hall.

"So, the lucky man today," Jack started as he casually admired the decoration and paintings on the walls.

"Hans Westergaard," Elsa answered, "you read his profile?"

"Of course!" Jack answered, "Mr. Hans Westergaard, 13th son of the President of the Southern Isles Company. Twenty-seven years of age, considered charmingly handsome by most – though I would beg to disagree. He inherited a small fortune when his father died a couple years ago, but not the company, obviously, he had 12 other competitors. Has been married twice, both wives passed away. The first was severely depressed and took her own life; the second was killed in a tragic car accident."

"He's under the suspicion of blackmail and embezzlement of the property belonging to a high-ranking individual within the Norwegian economy." Elsa continued. She watched as Jack's eyebrows furrowed in thought.

"So...he's just a corrupt business man with a rather unfortunate love life, why would the Organization get involved? Don't you guys have bigger fish to fry?" he asked.

"It's because the individual's company involved supposedly funds a lot of the government's political spending and the Organization's research." Elsa explained.

"Ah, so if issues were to arise, then the government would also be negatively affected."

They arrived at the ballroom then; where a doorman waited to see their credentials. Jack reached into the inside of his blazer and removed a thick piece of paper, handing it to the man. The doorman gave a quick glance at it before handing it back to the white-haired, American agent.

"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Winters," doorman greeted in accented English before opening the doors for them, "enjoy the party."

"Winters?" Elsa murmured, "Why Winters?"

"Oh, I don't know. I just thought it fit." Jack whispered as they entered the ballroom.

The ballroom was colossal in size and opulent in decor, the stairs leading down into the room were embellished by a rich, red carpet and fresh green wreaths hanging along the railing. A beautiful Swiss woman sung Christmas carols on a lavish decorated stage accompanied by a large live orchestra in the far end of the room. On the left side of the room was a long table filled with a generous spread of entrées and drinks; a couple dozen, small standing tables were scattered close by. In the center of the room gathered most of the guests, mingling in groups or waltzing around in elegant circles. It was obvious that Hans spent thousands if not millions on this event.

Jack whistled.

"The man sure knows how to throw a party…" he muttered, his eyes scanning the room with an expression of muted appreciation.

"Champagne, sir? Madam?" a waiter asked, showing up beside them, carrying a tray. Elsa took a flute and raised it to her lips just for show while Jack took a slow drink of the sparkling alcohol.

"So, what is Westergaard threatening them with?" Jack asked in a low voice as they walked over to a small table. Elsa set her glass down, watching as her partner twirl his around. "Fiscal mis-management? Secret family scandals? Shameful photos?"

"I'm not too certain myself." She replied.

"An influential individual… do you know who it is?"

"Hmm," Elsa muttered. "No, not exactly, though even if I knew, I couldn't tell you. You didn't swear allegiance to the Norwegian Crown. Who is to say that you won't just kill me and go looking for the information yourself?"

"Oh you know I would never do that" he said, leaning his back into the table and taking another casual sip of champagne. "I have a moral compass; slightly damaged it is, but it still there."

"I cannot believe the Organization hired someone like you from the CIA."

"Don't be like that, Snowflake," he replied, "I pick my jobs wisely; trust me, only the most fun and dangerous for Jack Frost."

She rolled her eyes, but returned her attention to searching the room for their target. Jack reached over and squeezed her hand suddenly.

"There he is," he whispered, nodding his chin in a direction before turning around and downing the last of his champagne. "At 2 o'clock, in front of the woman in the mauve dress and blonde hair."

Elsa saw him then: an attractive man with auburn hair, fair skin, and broad shoulders wearing a dark, navy blue suit. Hans Westergaard. The businessman held a glass of red wine in one hand and was conversing casually with a small group of individuals.

She turned to Jack, his expression no longer as playful but rather stern and thoughtful.

"Shall we?" he asked.

"Turn your radio on." She reminded.

"Understood," he replied, he placed his empty glass down onto the table and nonchalantly made his way back up the stairs, swiping another glass of wine from a passing server.

She coolly weaved her way towards their target then, making a wide turn and stopping to converse with several people who made eye contact with her. Jack kept an eye on Hans from the floor above, keeping Elsa informed so she inconspicuously meandered closer to the businessman.

"Elsa," Jack called, his voice stifled by the radio, "he's in your line of sight, now is your chance." She casually excused herself from her current conversation, seeing the businessman approaching from the corner of her eye. She quickly but nonchalantly stepped closer, intercepting his path and catching his green eyes with her own blue ones.

She saw Hans' eyes widened at the sight of her as she walked by him. Elsa nodded her head in acknowledgement and gave him a coy smile before continuing on her path and joining another conversation, raising her flute of champagne in acknowledgement to her new group.

"Hook, line, and sinker." Jack sniggered. "He never stood a chance."

"Hush." Elsa muttered back. Hans' eyes followed her figure, unable to tear away from her beauty and the aura that she carried. He unconsciously stepped towards her; Elsa smiled slyly out of the corner of her eye as she saw him coming.

"You got him," Jack commented. "He's right behind you."

And just as Jack said that, Elsa heard someone clearing their throat. She turned, as if just acknowledging someone's presence behind her. Hans raised his glass, still keeping his eyes on her's. She raised her glass too, quickly and delicately clinking the edge of her flute with his glass.

"I couldn't help but notice your commanding presence. You are beautiful, Ms – "

"Winters," Elsa replied, hearing Jack's soft chuckles in her ear, "Elsa Winters."

"Hans Westergaard." he said, giving his palm to her, "May I have the honour of dancing with you, Ms. Winters?" She smiled demurely and then placed her hand in his, just as an attendant took her glass and Hans'. He led her onto the dance floor and slid his hand down her waist. Elsa slowly and gracefully placed her hand on his shoulder as they took off in simple waltz.

"I'm moving." Jack warned.

"I fear we have never met." Hans said, "Have we done business before?"

"Three."

Elsa took her time, letting the chestnut-haired businessman lead her in several small circles before answering.

"You're right, we haven't met." Elsa said, "My father has done some business with yours though. My late condolence upon your father's passing, Mr. Westergaard," she said.

"Two."

"Ah, so I see," he said, "What does your father do –"

"One."

Hans never got to finish his sentence for someone had crashed into him, sending him off balance and colliding in Elsa. She dropped her clutch as Hans wrapped his arms around her and her arms ending up pressed against his chest.

"Oh, I am so sorry!" Jack yelled, grabbing Hans's shoulders and helping him up. And while Jack continued to apologize profusely, Elsa stealthily managed to reach into the businessman's blazer pocket and snatch his key card. The red-headed businessman let go of her then and met Jack's sincere sounding apologies with a kind smile.

"No, no, there is no need to apologize. No harm, no foul." Hans said with a chuckle. Jack smiled, breathing a sigh of relief.

"I'm glad, good evening to you then sir." Jack said, before turning to Elsa and offering a short bow, "Ma'am." He turned to leave as Hans reached down to retrieve Elsa's fallen purse. The white-haired agent then swept past her as she swiftly handed him the card from behind just before Hans stood and handed her the black clutch.

"Here you are," he said, brushing his pants and blazer down, "sorry about that, were you hurt?"

"No," Elsa replied. "I'm fine."

"I'm relieved," Hans said with a charismatic smile. He looked around the room once before sighing, "I know I am the host of the party, but it seems rather overwhelming doesn't it? Do you want to go somewhere else, to my room perhaps?"

"As much fun as that would be," Elsa began with an apologetic smile, "I have a flight to catch this evening. I only came to catch a glimpse of the infamous host and instead I got the chance to dance with him."

"Ah, what a shame; perhaps next time then," He supposed, taking her hand and placing a kiss on it, "Have a safe flight, Ms. Winters."

"Thank you and good evening, Mr. Westergaard," Elsa replied, turning around and giving Hans one last fleeting glance as she ascended the stairs, passing by Jack who was leaning on the railing and watching the party.

"You femme fatale."

She snickered before exiting the room and into the hall.

Zurich, Switzerland
December 24th, 2013
23:00

"I'm sitting in the west corner of the lounge." Jack called when the clock struck their rendezvous time. Elsa quickly got up and left the extravagant bathrooms in which she was hiding in and went to go meet her partner. There he was: sitting in a black leather chair with his legs crossed, another glass of wine in his hand, and his chin in his other, looking very bored. Elsa sat in the leather seat across from him.

"Mr. Frost, how many have you had?" Elsa asked.

"Three… maybe four," Jack replied, "Don't worry; I'm not going to get drunk." He reached into his blazer pocket and removed the key card. "This Westergaard's hotel key card alright, but it has no room number on it."

"I know," Elsa replied. "I've been trying to think of a way to find that out."

"Lucky for you," Jack continued, "I got the information from the receptionist."

Elsa rolled her eyes, "Charmed the poor girl out of her wits?" Suddenly Jack jumped forward, leaning towards her with a bright, childish smile: a real smile – not his usual impish ones, but a genuinely excited smile.

"You think I'm charming?" he asked. Elsa rolled her eyes, standing up and walking towards the elevator. Jack quickly followed behind her.

She sighed as she pressed the 'up' button on the elevator and leaned back against the wall. He placed his free hand against the column behind her.

Silence.

"Don't let it get to your head." She murmured.

He smirked, his eyes flickered down to her lips and lingering there. Jack leaned closer, tilting his head to the side, pulled by the gravity of his obvious attraction. She held still, but only for a second longer as he continued his slow advance. Suddenly, Elsa placed her index finger against his mouth. He stopped in his tracks, freezing the moment her finger brushed his lips. She could sense his disappointment as he closed his eyes and rolled his head away from her. She pulled her fingers away, but not before feeling him sigh as he pushed himself upright.

"Focus, Mr. Frost."

"Right," he breathed, clearing his throat and straightening his tie, "Westergaard has been staying in the Carezza Suite for three years now. It's located on the top floor of the Spa Wing. The elevators and stairs are only accessible with a key card, so we got our ticket in. From what I was told, the colour of this key card indicates that it is only for that specific room and can be used for nothing else. There are no video cameras on the floor – a special request by the businessman himself, so we don't need to worry about that. But the suite entrance is guarded by two of Westergaard's men at all times."

"What did you do? Pay the receptionist a large fortune?" Elsa asked exasperatedly as the elevator doors opened with a soft ding.

"Nah," Jack replied, "Just gave her a peck on the cheek. Anyway, I say we ambush them. It's much easier than scaling the glass walls. Besides, that dress is much too beautiful to be ruined."

"You just want to beat up Westergaard's henchmen, don't you?"

"…And see you fight in that lovely dress."

Zurich, Switzerland
December 24th, 2013
23:15

The top floor of the Spa Wing seemed to house only two rooms and the Carezza Suite. The left side of the main hallway consisted of the elevators and two ivory doors on either side of a smaller, shorter hallway. The right side was covered completely in panels of glass, letting in a beautiful view of the entire hotel and the scenery below it. The single hallway in between was spacious but short, decorated with a large-mural-like-painting of a French village. Hans' guards stood right by the entrance of his room: silent, brooding, and all muscle.

"Well… at least there is no one else around." Jack commented as he and Elsa observed the pair of brawny bodyguards from behind the corner.

"You have a gun on you, right? With a silencer?" Elsa asked.

"Of course I do, but I rather not use it now." Jack replied.

"Well then, just follow my lead." Elsa commanded, she interlaced their fingers together and walked out from behind the corner and into the direct view of the guards, walking towards them.

"Excuse me," one of them called, "this is a restricted area. I will have to ask you to leave."

"I'm so sorry, sir," Elsa apologized, "It's just that the receptionist gave my…husband and I a key card and told us that our room is on this floor, but it's not working. Can you just check to see if we're putting it in right?" Jack quickly pulled the key card out from his pocket and showed it to the pair.

Of course, no man can resist her charms. So one of them came closer to take a better look at the small object, he squinted at it before a thought dawned on him.

"Hey, that looks like the key card to this suite…" the guard said.

"What? But that can't be possible!" cried his partner still standing at the door.

"Is that so?" Jack mused, "Well then, if you will excuse me." With that, the CIA agent ran past the man and towards the door, leaving Elsa to deal with this one.

She was quick to use the guard's astonishment to her advantage. Refusing to let him recover, she delivered a swift kick to the jaw, effectively stunning him before she dropped to the ground and swept his legs out from underneath him. The man landed on the ground with muffled thump just as she went in for one last punch to the temple and he was out cold.

She stood up again after checking to see that the man was breathing. Jack was also done with his opponent who looked far worse for wear than her's did. He rolled his neck, cracking it with a satisfied sigh.

"That felt good." He breathed. He swiped the key card into the door and with a melodic chime it unlocked. Jack quickly grabbed the door handle and opened it, inviting her to enter first with a grand gesture. "After you, my wife."

She laughed, shaking her head.

"Let's just finish this mission, Mr. Frost."

Zurich, Switzerland
December 24th, 2013
23:45

"Hey, Elsa! You wouldn't have anything to get into this giant safe right here, now would you?" Jack called from the study. Hans' suite was huge to say the least, with two bedrooms on either side of a large living room and kitchenette.

The businessman had converted one of the bedrooms his study, complete with a large, mahogany wood desk and dark leather chair in front of a metal safe. Other than the furniture and decor that came with the suit, there was only one personal piece; a single portrait of the businessman himself hanging on the wall opposite to the desk with a dark wood bookshelf lying underneath it. No pictures of his previous wives, no family mementoes concerning his 12 older siblings, nothing.

Elsa walked into the room in her bare feet, her heels dangling by two fingers in her left hand and her skirts pooling in a mass on the ground. She saw her white-haired partner sitting in the leather chair in front of a large, grey rectangle, undoing his tie and unfastening the top buttons of his dress shirt.

She eyed him strangely.

"What?" he asked. "You took off your heels, and ties are suffocating."

She shook her head.

"What kind of safe is it?" she asked, sitting on the desk beside him.

"The kind that asks for a passcode," he replied. She reached into her small purse to pull out a flat, round, object. She tossed it at him. His eyebrows scrunched together, for upon opening it, he realized it was just cosmetic powder.

"No spy toys?" he teased.

"This is real life, Jack, not the movies. Powder it for oil prints." Elsa replied, using the brush to dab powder onto the keys of the safe. "Alright, the code is a variation of the number: two, four, six, and seven."

"What's his birthdate?" Jack asked. Elsa elbowed him playfully in the side.

"Westergaard isn't an idiot."

"Well then, if I was an insanely rich narcissistic businessman with a massive ego, 12 older brothers, an outrageously disastrous love live, compromising information on an influential person of Norway, and was living at a Swiss 5-star hotel, what would my safe's passcode be?"

"What's important to him?" Elsa asked.

"Money, pride, wealth, himself, perhaps the company." Jack replied, nonchalantly.

"I highly doubt he is the sentimental kind, so it won't be something related to his family or his previous wives."

"An important year in his timeline?"

"But then the numbers don't make sense, really."

"What about his name?"

"It can't be that easy." Jack replied. "What do you think would happen if we get it wrong?"

"Worst case scenario? The authorities are alerted, but do you have any other ideas?"

"…no" So he slowly began punching in the numbers.

4 – H

2 – A

6 – N

7 – S

And there it came: the heaven sent sound of a click.

To be continued.

Author's Note: Hello everyone! So quick update on me: I went on vacation to Los Angeles recently, so hence why the long update delay. In addition to that, I'll be starting my third year of university soon, so I need to prepare for that!

I hope you enjoyed my attempt at an espionage story, this originally was supposed to be the Christmas special I was talking about all those months ago, but I was never satisfied with it. So I kept 'Ricercar' going (digging myself a bigger hole with every thought) and came up with this extensively large story that I had to split into two parts. I'll post the second part next week!

For this story, each line break indicates a change in music as well. There is a lot I want to say about my choice of music for the chapter, but I'll keep things short.

'Agent' was chosen because of its dark and broody mood that screamed serious; I thought it fit for an assignment briefing. 'Komodo Dragon' has a very mysterious aura and its super classy with its violin riffs and classic James Bond electric guitar background, it was great for Elsa's entrance and meeting with Jack. And it's Skyfall (need I say more?). 'Infiltration' could be chosen just for the name itself, and it had a build-up for suspense and action.

Thank you to:

Captain Beer, mowi, L.M.H Shimmer Shine, Guest #1, Trapid, Crl, corde amare, HEY-BABY-Its-TaRa, JoPoGirlsKickAss, ElsaTheSnowQueen2, XxChocoboXx, Daven, Zammie-Percabeth-Slythindork, Flamin'Sky, AurelianRebels, Starsnglitter, Dragowolf, EllySnowflake675, Yuuki Zwin, SunriseImagination, Guest #2, Aliya-a, DiamondLux400, A, Tarako, and Guest #3

For reviewing the last chapter!

Guest #1: Thank you so much for your comment! I am so glad you enjoyed it!

Trapid: Ahaha! I had a lot of fun trying to come up with a witty ending for 'Minuet in A Minor'. Thank you so much for your praise! If there are any mistakes that you see in my writing, please don't hesitate to tell me! I was re-reading bits of it and I found a couple terrible grammar issues…. Nocturne is coming up soon!

Crl: Ahaha! Sorry, I should try to make it clearer. Minuet is in no way associated with the Nocturne storyline – it is a series all on its own. So…ya, Jack is still sick in Nocturne. =D

Daven: Minuet most definitely will have a part two (most likely even a part three or four)! Thank you for your review and I hope you are enjoying it!

AurelianRebels: Awe, thank you so much for your praise! Oooh, does that mean that there are some mistakes? If you see any, please, don't hesitate to tell me! Amaya of ObsidianTheatre does her best to help me edit the chapters, but we both end up missing a bunch of senseless errors and language mistakes. Ahaha, I had no idea that paws-bells lives in Singapore (I honestly idolize then, their writing style is amazing). I always wanted to go to Singapore one day!

Starsnglitter: I love you too. Ahaha! And no it's not strange! Thank you so much for your sweet words and praise!

Guest #2: Thank you so much for your praise! Minuet will most definitely have a sequel. And that is a good theory upon Jack's cool personality! =D And I am great, thanks for asking! How are you?

DiamondLuxe400: Awe! Thanks! I am glad you enjoyed it!

A: Wow, that is probably one of the greatest praises I have ever received! Thank you so, so much! As for Nocturne getting its own page, I have considered that extensively, especially seeing how long it's going to end up being. But I rather keep all of these series and one-shots concerning Elsa and Jack under the same umbrella – sort of like an anthology of sorts. I promise that once Nocturne is complete, I'll move the chapters around and keep it all together so you can find it one easy go. I'll also make a table of contents just in case! And thank you so much for your waiting! I hope Ricercar was up to your expectations! (PS: YIKES, I made the same mistake in my writing! Better go and change that!)

Guest #3: I know, I know. I am so, so sorry for the long wait! .

Till next time!

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Cordially,

EireneHarmonia