Chapter 6

Mikkel exited the castle feeling very cold. It must have been that blast of ice. It wasn't just physical coldness he felt, it was mental coldness as well. Almost as if everything that brought him joy in life was destroyed. The way he just left Elsa there left no regret in his heart. That ice definitely had done something to him. Inwardly he wished he could feel bad about what just happened but he just couldn't. He was sure their friendship was over for good now. He knew this was a bad idea. He slowly walked to his house with a deep frown on his face. Elsa could not stop shaking, she had just hurt her best friend! This is why she had to be locked up, she was a danger to everyone!

"Elsa what happened?" Idun asked her shaking daughter.

"I-I hurt him." Elsa said crying.

"Shhh its okay love." Idun said cradling her frightened daughter. "Tell me what happened."

"H-He came in through the chimney. I thought it was another assassin so I shot ice at him because I was scared. When I recognized him he gave me a hug and I kissed him, I don't know why I did but I just did. We got into an argument and I accidently shot him with my ice." Elsa whimpered. Idun wondered if her ice blast had affected Mikkel in a negative way as he was very cold and harsh when he left the castle. Idun did feel a heavy set of guilt, perhaps it was wrong to make Mikkel leave, he was so close with Elsa and Anna.

"Was he hurt?" Agdar asked coming over.

"No, well I don't know, he got up okay." Elsa said quivering. "He hates me now."

"Oh Elsa he doesn't hate you." Agdar said. "If anything I am to blame for this. I was the one who relieved his mother of service."

"Maybe we could get them back in here." Idun said. "Even if he can't see Elsa he was also good company for Anna."

"We will see." Agdar said. Mikkel entered his house and threw his sack on the armchair. He was angry, angry at Elsa's parents for separating them. Angry at her for yelling at him.

"UHHH!" He yelled slamming his fists on the wall. He looked up to see the portrait of his late father staring back down at him. It was like looking in a mirror.

"I could use your help now dad." Mikkel said. "This whole thing is messed up." Mikkel sighed again as he walked upstairs to his bed where he could not find peaceful sleep.

"Mikkel?" Analise called for her son. Mikkel groaned and rolled over his bed to see that the rays of sunlight now penetrated his window. His eyes were heavy and tired from lack of sleep.

"What?" He asked aggravated and cranky.

"Watch your tone young man!" Analise scolded noting her sons tone of voice. "Aksel is here and want to speak with you."

"Tell him to come back later!" Mikkel said as he pulled the cover over his head.

"Mikkel get out of bed now!" Analise yelled pulling the sheets off of him. "You are almost a grown man and I still have to wake you up!"

"UGH!" He groaned as he swung his legs out of bed and rubbed his eyes. What the hell did Aksel want that he woke him up this early? Mikkel put on a shirt and walked downstairs to see Aksel sitting at the table sipping a mug of coffee.

"Good mornin lad." Aksel said taking a sip.

"What do you want?" Mikkel asked yawning.

"Well, first off I wanna tell you to go to bed earlier." Aksel said. "Second, the Kingdom of Corona has suggested a cooperative training school with Arendelle and Coronian royal guards. The ship leaves this evening."

"Corona?" Mikkel asked. "How long will I be gone?"

"About six weeks, it is a week's journey there and back and you will spend four weeks training with Corona royal guards." Aksel said. "It is not mandatory and whether or not you want to go is totally up to you." Mikkel pondered it, a chance to leave Arendelle and explore a bit but would his mother allow it?

"I'll be okay Mikkel, you're young, this is your chance to see the world." Analise said smiling.

"Right, I'll go, what time do I need to be at the docks at?" Mikkel asked.

"Four o clock and not a minute later." Aksel said as he began to walk out the door. Mikkel looked at the clock and saw he had five hours to get there.

"I guess I better start packing." Mikkel said as he walked upstairs. He went into his room and opened his drawers and pulled out what he needed. He grabbed three sets of clothes, his pipe and tobacco(Which he hid from his mother), his practice sword, and his personal pistol. His mother had flipped out at him being given a personal pistol but it was required for all apprentices. He threw it all in his seabag and closed it up. He walked back downstairs to see a sad look on his mothers face.

"Mom?" He asked walking up to her.

"I'm sorry." She said with a small tear. "Its just this is the first time you are going away."

"I can stay here if yo-" He began to say.

"No, its good that you are out seeing the world, beside you'll be back in six weeks." She said. "Do you want lunch before you go?"

"Yes, that would be nice." Mikkel said as his mother got to work preparing his favorite stew. She pulled out two plates as the two sat down for a meal together. Analise was conflicted to say the least, she did want her son to explore the world but she knew how dangerous the sea was. Being on a ship for a full week with no land in sight. What if the ship sunk? What about pirates?

"So are you nervous?" Analise asked taking a spoonful of stew.

"No, not really." Mikkel said. Analise could tell he was upset about something, call it a mothers intuition.

"What's wrong sweetheart? You seem upset." Analise said.

"It's nothing." Mikkel said sighing. He didn't want to talk about it but after all, his mother was someone he could trust, plus he would feel much better if he talked to someone about it. "I just got into a fight with Elsa." Upon hearing Elsa's name his mother dropped her spoon.

"Did you say Elsa?" His mother asked shocked.

"Yes." Mikkel said.

"But how? I thought the gates were locked?" She said.

"Yeah about that, I kinda broke in." Mikkel said shyly.

"YOU DID WHAT?" Analise cried nearly throwing the table over. "You broke into to the CASTLE? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"

"I-" Mikkel began to say.

"Thats right, you didn't think!" Analise yelled putting her fingers on her forehead. "Oh Mikkel you could have been killed or arrested!"

"I know!" Mikkel cried. "I know that, but I was tired of living like this. I was tired of losing my best friend without reason! I was tired of going to sleep every night thinking I did something wrong and that she hated me!"

"Oh Mikkel." Analise said hugging her son. "I know its hard but it is what it is."

"Well it doesn't matter now, she struck me." Mikkel said darkly.

"WHAT?" Analise asked going into momma bear mode. "Are you okay?"

"I went into her room and I gave her a hug cause I missed her." Mikkel began to say. "She hugged me back and then she-"

"She what?" Analise asked.

"She-" Mikkel sighed not knowing how to say the next part. "She asked if I loved her."

"Well do you?" Analise asked.

"Of course not, I mean I love her as a friend but I do not have any romantic feelings towards her." Mikkel said. Analise frowned, she knew Mikkel was hiding the truth.

"What happened next?" Analise asked. Mikkel knew this next part was going to be even rougher to say.

"She kissed me and I kissed back, I knew it was wrong of me to kiss back but for some reason I did." Mikkel confessed. "After the kiss she accused me of leading her on and we got into a huge fight."

"Mikkel, I raised you better than that to lead someone on!" Analise said disappointed in her son's actions.

"I know mom, its just I hadn't seen her in so long, and you should have seen how beautiful she has gotten." Mikkel said. "It doesnt matter now though, I am done with her."

"Why?" Analise asked.

"She struck me with her ice." Mikkel said.

"What do you mean ice? I thought you said she struck you?" Analise asked very confused. Mikkel than remembered his mother had no idea that Elsa had powers.

"Listen mom you can't tell anyone this but Elsa was born with ice and snow powers." Mikkel said. "I don't know how or why but she does."

"Ice powers?" Analise asked not buying it.

"I'm telling the truth mom, thats why the gates got closed and we got kicked out. She didn't know how to control them and the King didn't want anyone getting hurt." Mikkel said. "I don't know what I can do to prove it but you have to believe me." Analise frowned, she still wasn't buying it but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. The king never did give a reason when he shut the gates and she often remembered ice crawling across the walls in the castle.

"And she hit you with those?" Analise asked.

"Yes." Mikkel said bringing his hand up to his chest. Analise walked over to her son and put her hand on his chest and noticed how icy it was to the touch.

"Does it hurt?" Analise asked.

"No, its just very cold. I'll live." Mikkel said looking at the time. "Well looks like its time for me to head out."

"Be safe my son." Analise said wrapping Mikkel in her arms and holding him tight. "Don't worry about Elsa, it will all work out."

"Thanks mom, I love you." He said.

"I love you too." Analise said as Mikkel made his way to the door and walked outside. The breeze struck him with the aroma of fresh dirt and grass. He looked back to see his mother waving to him. He waved back and made his way to the docks. Analise felt something tugging at her heart, she did not have a good feeling about this. She silently prayed her son would be okay. Once he was away from his house he took out his pipe and pressed some tobacco into it. He used a match to light it and took a puff and savored the sweet aroma as he blew it out his nostrils. He entered the city limits as he saw people going about their everyday activities. He looked at the castle and his chest burned from the cold within him, he was never going there again. He turned his head and saw the docks where a large ship was waiting for him. He saw the other apprentices boarding the ship and made his way over. His footsteps echoed as his heavy boots struck the wood beneath him while he walked up that plank to board the ship. He could see sailors screaming and cursing as they prepared the sails for the voyage.

"Mikkel my boy!" Mikkel turned to see Aksel walking over. "Glad to see you made it."

"You thought I wouldn't show?" Mikkel asked.

"Knowing your mother I was sure she wouldn't let you out of her sight." Aksel chuckled. "Bless her dear soul."

"Where should I put my stuff?" Mikkel asked.

"Come, I will show you to your quarters below deck." Aksel said slapping his hand against Mikkel's back. The sheer force of the slap almost causing Mikkel to double over. The two went below deck where the other apprentices were putting their things on their hammocks. Mikkel recognized a few of them but said nothing as most of these apprentices were sons of nobles and dukes. They had been handed everything and would often ostracize Mikkel for being a peasent. Mikkel ignored them knowing the blood in his veins was far greater than the blood of the nobles.

"Ah the peasent is coming!" One of the apprentices called out. He was the son of Duke Anders, a very powerful noble who served under King Agdar's council. Mikkel growled as he clenched his fists.

"Easy lad." Aksel said.

"Tell me Micky." The apprentice called out using the nickname Mikkel absolutely hated. "How was it you afforded this trip? Did your mother sell herself for prostitution?" Upon hearing his mother be slandered by these bastards Mikkel pushed Aksel's hand away and stormed over to the apprentice.

"Uh oh, I think we made him cry-" The apprentice said as Mikkel swung his fist directly into the apprentices nose. Mikkel heard a satisfying pop as the boy fell down and held onto his nose which now had blood spurting out of it. Mikkel walked over to the boy and placed his foot on his chest.

"You may be the son of Duke Anders, a man who sits at a desk all day. But I am the son of Soren Erikson, the finest warrior in northern Europe. So believe me when I say I have no problem breaking your neck next." Mikkel said darkly. The boy looked up at Mikkel in horror. Aksel was shocked, Mikkel was normally very even tempered and calm. "Anyone else got something to say?" The other apprentices quickly turned around and went about their business knowing Mikkel wasn't messing around.

"Damn lad." Aksel said.

"They insulted my mother, he's lucky I didn't gut him." Mikkel growled. Aksel could not believe Mikkel's behavior.

"Something bothering you lad? You seem upset." Aksel asked.

"It's nothing." Mikkel said said as he walked up to the deck to see the ship take off.