Author's Note: Again, thanks for all the great reviews. This chapter is supposed to parallel Elsa's chapter 10, but going into Hadyn's head instead. For those who are hoping for more Hadyn and Elsa scenes, I promise that they will return in the next chapter. As always let me know what you think as the mystery begins and I will see you all next week!

11. Animal Talk

"But you'll never meet a fella who's as sensitive and sweet."

– Frozen, Trolls

Hadyn watched out of his bedroom window, staring down at the garden far below him. His hands clenched against the frozen casement, his eyes focused on Elsa far below him. She and her sister were in the back of the garden, surrounded by snow as they played. Elsa was smiling. Genuinely smiling. She didn't do that around him.

He closed the window and pulled the curtain to obscure his view, feeling frustrated. He shouldn't be, though. His plan surrounding the picnic had worked perfectly. Well, maybe not the way he expected it to go, but it had still worked. Elsa had agreed to train with him. In no time she would be in love with him and, once they were engaged, he would win his bet with Jain and be able to go home. That was what he wanted. Right?

Hadyn ran a hand through his hair and sauntered over to sit on the edge of his bed. He placed his head in his hands and closed his eyes for a moment. There was something different about Elsa. She was intelligent and, despite her cold exterior, she was immensely kind. The way she cared about her sister was heartwarming. What he was doing was wrong. He knew it was. His beliefs had always been against using anyone in order to gain something. And yet that was exactly what he was doing to Elsa.

Dropping his hands, Hadyn stared up at his face in the mirror. He should be able to do this, so why was he having second thoughts? It wasn't possible that he was starting to have feelings for the ice queen. No.

Shaking his head, Hadyn whacked the bed with his hand and hurried out of his room to get his thoughts on something else. He hadn't visited Shaja'a since the day before, and he was sure his faithful stead would be missing him. Perhaps he would run into Kristoff as well.

The castle was even busier, as new guests seemed to arrive daily, and he was relieved when he finally reached the town stables, which were blissfully silent. As he entered Shaja'a's stall and greeted the horse, he quickly became aware of voices from the stall next to his. He wondered if Kristoff was in there talking to Sven again. And yet it sounded as if there was a female voice as well. Curious, he headed into the neighboring stall.

The stall door was open and he leaned against the doorframe, surveying the scene before him.

He recognized Princess Bao, a princess of one of the Eastern kingdoms, and Kristoff, but his eyes moved past them towards the two animals literally frolicking around. One was Sven and the other one was…Hadyn wasn't exactly sure what it was. It looked a bit like a deer, but it was pure white with a fiery red mane and tail.

"What the heck is that?" Hadyn voiced out loud, not realizing he was speaking so loudly.

Kristoff jumped and, when he saw who the intruder was, he clutched his heart dramatically. "Geez, are you trying to shorten my lifespan. I have a weak heart!"

Bao simply turned calmly and bowed her head to Hadyn.

Hadyn bowed in return. "Kristoff, your highness, my apologies for intruding. I heard voices and I wondered who might be here this early in the morning."

"Just us." Kristoff jabbed a finger at the two animals behind them. "As you can see, we have a play date."

After glancing at the two animals, Hadyn turned to the two humans, so different it seemed odd to see them beside each other. Princess Bao was the definition of dignity, standing elegant and polite. Kristoff was…well, let's just say his sense of elegance was a bit lacking.

"How exactly did this happen?" Hadyn asked, pointing his finger between the princess and Kristoff.

Kristoff snorted. "You know, it's the funniest story. So I was out with Sven and suddenly he got tackled by this creature here. Apparently it's a qilin, though I've never heard of it. Anyway, turns out Bao here…I mean Princess Bao…she owns it. Anyway, long story short, Sven and this other one have been inseparable for the last week. So we've been setting up playdates for them."

Hadyn glanced at Bao, his eyebrows raised.

She bowed her head elegantly. "Indeed. I am afraid Bixi is missing his siblings back home. I am eternally grateful for Kristoff's kindness in letting them…how do you say it in English...hang out?"

Kristoff guffawed. "See, aren't I a great teacher. She's learning slang so quickly."

Hadyn's lip twitched as he restrained his laughter. "Kristoff, my apologies, but you seem to be forgetting you are addressing a princess."

Bao raised her hand. "Hadyn, no need. Formalities do not suit all people. They do not suit you, either. Or they didn't the last time I saw you. How is your cousin?"

Hadyn didn't move as his hand balled in a fist unconsciously. "Why do you want to know?"

"Perhaps you have forgotten what he did to my sister."

"That was her choice."

"You who!" Kristoff interrupted. "Sorry about the interruption, but what are either of you talking about?"

Neither answered him, as Hadyn recalled the day he'd seen the beautiful Princess Fang, just as beautiful as her older sister Bao. He'd been only a young teen at the time when she'd taken her own life when she found out her lover had betrayed her. And that lover, of course, had been his cousin Jain. Jain had always been the same. He discarded women as if they were glasses of wine to be drunk and then broken.

Bao smiled slightly, her eyes on Hadyn, as she answered Kristoff, "It is in the past. And I cannot blame you for any of it, your highness. My sister always spoke well of you."

Hadyn bowed his head in silent thanks.

Just then, Sven bonked his head against the wall.

"Sven! Stop playing so rough!" Kristoff moved over to the animals to rub his reindeer's noggin.

Hadyn glanced at the princess. "Is the play date the only reason you are around Kristoff?" In the back of his mind, he remembered how Anna had been avoiding Kristoff. And how the day the poodle had arrived, he'd seen Anna watching Kristoff with Bao. While it was none of his business, he didn't want Anna or Kristoff to get hurt by misunderstandings.

Bao tilted her head. "You sound very suspicious, Prince Hadyn? Honestly, Kristoff reminds me of one of my brothers. So childlike, but sarcastic. His resemblance to my brother reminds me of home. Perhaps I am missing it."

"May I ask why you came here for the wedding? No offense, but you certainly aren't here to marry Elsa and you don't seem to be here to help plan the wedding. So why did you come?"

"Should I not be asking that question of you? I often go traveling to kings' and queens' weddings around the world. You, however, have not stepped foot out of your kingdom in, well, forever. You are not the type to try to marry someone for power, nor are you someone particularly acquainted with ribbons and food in order to plan a wedding. So, let me ask you: why did you come?"

Hadyn felt discomforted. He'd never known Princess Bao well, only seeing her a handful of times in his life, and yet she was treading on information he did not want to divulge.

When he was silent for a moment, she asked quietly, "Are you here because of the queen's powers?" Again, he didn't speak. "Because I know what your father tried to do. If you had not been his only living son, he would have killed you. He hates power like yours. Like Queen Elsa's. So, tell me, your highness, are you here looking for power, or for acceptance?"

"What are we talking about?" Kristoff interrupted, coming over with a couple of straws coming out of his hair. It looked as if he had been frolicking in the hay with the two animals.

Hadyn shook his head. "Nothing of importance. So, why don't I bring Shaja'a over and we have a huge party."

Kristoff laughed. "We might need a bigger stall. Eh, princess?"

Bao shrugged, finally turning her eyes off of Hadyn. "We could try the docks and terrify the new guests coming in."

"Princess, I do believe I'm rubbing over on you too much!" Kristoff stated and the three headed out with their respective pets to have a little bit of fun themselves.

And yet, Hadyn couldn't shake the feeling of growing confusion about his feelings which his meeting with Bao did little to help.