Author's Note: I'm a little late, but at least I'm on the right day (first Saturday of the month). However, I do have some good news. The reason I'm only uploading this once a month is because I have a Peter Pan fanfiction that I'm focusing on. Luckily, it's almost done so next month (that is, December), I will start uploading this story once a week. As always, let me know what you guys think about this chapter and see you all next month.

8. Horses and Cuts

"A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I'm the queen."

—Elsa

Hadyn tapped his fingers against the saddle impatiently, his eyes focused on Queen Elsa who stood pacing several yards away.

"We could just leave without her," he commented loudly.

Elsa sent a glare in his direction.

He had been here in Arendelle for a week. In that week, he had learned far more than he ever wanted to about various princes and kings around the land. He had grown fond of the optimistic and talkative bride-to-be, and had spent many hours debating proper saddles with the groom-to-be. That, and he spend many hours avoiding the always insane Lady Gabbri—seriously, how did the guards even allow that mess into the city. However, the one thing he had had little time to do since that day in the garden when he'd shown his powers was to spend more time with Elsa. If she had avoided him before that day, she now avoided him twice as much, going so far as to literally run away from him on several occasions.

However, now she couldn't run. She was stuck in his presence all day, whether she liked it or not. That is because this day was the picnic party she had organized and, thanks to her sister's invitation, he had been able to come along. The plan was to head up to a scenic waterfall some way from the city and have a picnic there. Few of the princes had been invited, giving Hadyn even more opportunity to be around Elsa.

However, at the moment the small group was waiting for Anna.

Kristoff was nervously patting a horse Elsa had provided him with. Glancing towards Hadyn, he commented, "I could have just brought Sven. He's just as fast as any horse."

Hadyn smiled. He loved his own horse, he did, but in the week he had known this ice cutter, he was astonished by his close friendship with a reindeer. "It probably wouldn't be a good idea," Hadyn commented. "He'd just eat all the food and we'd starve."

"You have a point." Kristoff snorted and Hadyn let out a light laugh.

Elsa glanced at them, glaring.

"She seems to be in a bad mood today," Hadyn pointed out. "I mean, more than usual."

Kristoff shrugged. Raising his voice, he addressed his soon-to-be sister-in-law. "Hey, Elsa. You okay?"

Elsa shook her head. "No, I'm worried about Anna."

"Why?" Kristoff asked.

She glanced at Hadyn, clearly not wanting to answer the question when he was there. That, and several other dignitaries. "She just seems a bit temperamental."

"Maybe you're wearing on her," Hadyn remarked under his breath.

Elsa took a deep breath, flashing a cold glance in Hadyn's direction.

"No, I noticed it too," Kristoff agreed, his face grimacing. "I tried to talk to her last night at dinner and she completely ignored me."

"Bonjour, compatriots!"

Everyone turned towards the courtyard stairs, watching as a bright poodle descended the steps, followed by one of the servants from the palace.

"Oh, great. Who invited her?" Hadyn asked.

Gabbri—the said poodle—sauntered over to Elsa in her cherry dress and hair filled with color blossoms. She was like a walking flower garden, minus the green stems.

"Your majesty." Gabbri curtsied politely to the queen, but then rose and looked her up and down scornfully. "I was just in a meeting with your sister. She said to not wait for her. Something about being tired."

Hadyn watched Elsa's reaction. Her eyes widened in surprise but then quickly squinted, as if she was trying to decide whether she should trust the woman or not. She glanced over at the servant behind Gabbri, who nodded. Gazing up at the castle as if hoping she might catch sight of her sister, Elsa finally bowed her head.

"Thank you."

"Maybe I should go check on her," Kristoff said absently, gazing towards the castle.

Elsa glanced towards Kristoff. "No, I trust she will be well. Anyway, we are quite late." Turning, she climbed on her horse.

"Hadyn!" Gabbri waved towards him.

Rolling his eyes, Hadyn climbed on his steep before Gabbri could reach him.

The party set out on the expedition. There were a total of sixteen people, dignitaries from Arendelle and other countries. Most of the people, however, were people not seeking Elsa's hand. In fact, he was the only one, and that was because both Kristoff and Anna had liked the idea of his tagging along. He wasn't going to complain.

As the party traveled, Hadyn pulled his horse in a pace beside the ice queen herself.

Elsa ignored him, but at least she didn't run away this time.

"Are you going to ignore me forever?"

"Are you going to give up on your absurd proposal?" Elsa retorted sharply.

"I don't do anything halfway."

Elsa looked at him. "Prince Hadyn, can you honestly answer me one question?"

He smiled. "Maybe. I'll answer it, but…" he winked, "I can't promise to be truthful."

"Why would you think I'd ever be interested in marrying you?"

Hadyn shrugged. "Well, if you look logically, my country is very powerful. If you married me, you'd have protection from the most powerful nation on this planet."

"I have the power of snow. I don't think I need more power than that."

"Well, I'm also handsome and young."

"Frankly, a certain prince named Hans has taught me that looks are never a presentation of one's character."

"And I'm not afraid of you. Also, I'm probably the one person on the planet who knows what you're going through."

Elsa glanced at him. "Do you? You think simply because you can create fire that you know me? How about this? Honestly, I don't believe you. All the rubbish about you being curious about me doesn't have anything to do with marrying me. You have some reason for marrying me that you aren't telling. As you pointed out, you have no reason to want my power because you have enough of that yourself. And you don't seem like a person easily swayed by orders from authority, so the idea that your father forced you to court me doesn't seem plausible. So, I've been thinking about it and my best conclusion is that this is some sort of game to you. I am a prize to be won, aren't I? Perhaps you even made a bet with someone to win me."

For a moment Hadyn couldn't find words. She might have been locked up in that castle for years, but she was no fool. He doubted Jain had told of their bet, but it didn't seem she could figure it out by other means.

Finally, his smiled. "You've been thinking about me?"

Elsa gripped the reins of her horse, scrunching her face and taking a deep breath. "Do you have selective hearing?"

Hadyn smirked. "Always."

Just then, Gabbri pulled up beside Hadyn's horse and loudly interrupt their conversation. Elsa didn't seem to mind, and Hadyn could do nothing but restrain himself from strangling the puddle. His plans were not getting anywhere.

Maybe it was time to change tactics?