As ninth in line to the throne, I'm sort of somewhere between useless and important. I have enough siblings beneath me that I don't stand in such a pathetic position as them, but also I'm just below enough that it's still not good enough for me to be outstandingly needed or accomplished.

This isn't to say of course that I resent my older brothers, because after all it wasn't their fault I was born when I was, and nor do I particularly care for the overrated hierarchy that my stepfather so kindly instilled in our minds.

As far as I was concerned, my only job was to do as I'm told, and to represent the Isles in the best light. To be proper in public, and to be conservative and to uphold the values and morals expected of me regardless of the fickle nature of my position.

Prince Fredrick of The Southern Isles, they call me. I'm over thirty years of age, I have a harsh shock of golden brown hair, with half open green eyes that I think have seldom been opened to their full capability in years.

My worry lines could very well be passed off as being painted permanently onto my forehead and I think I've forgotten how to move my brows. I don't smile either. No, if you ever so much as catch the ghost of a smirk on my lips it usually means something very good, or very bad is about to begin.

As I sat across from her however, Queen Elsa that is, everything I thought I knew about myself went flying out the window.

My chest was tight, and my face was aching for the first time I can remember, as I tried to force my usually stony features to stay put as she trailed on prettily about an adventure her sister had gone on.

She was so regal, and dignified and yet she didn't hold the cold, falsity that most women in her profession normally did. Looking at her I wonder if my own mother had ever held such an ethereal beauty to her, not only in the volumous platinum like hair that she so effortlessly ruffled and frosted in place, or her almost semiprecious jewel eyes that glinted with the some colours that reflected off the snowflakes that absentmindedly would emit from her pale and thin fingers as she twirled them in the air carrying the story along with the movements.

i wondered how many noblewomen could speak with such an air of grace, but without the aloofness and self importance that tainted their tones. Hers was more genuine, a soft and whisper like quality to her as she relaxed visibly in my presence despite what I was sure was my intense and boring stare.

Her hand rested finally on the table and she smiled a tiny smile, and here is where the first sign of falsity I can detect. She too has forgotten what it's like to genuinely smile as I force up the corners of my lips in response.

"Your sister sounds as though she can be a handful. She's no doubt a pleasure to watch though, as I have heard." I replied. It is... Unnatural for me to speak so casually.

Everything in my gut and mind is telling me to shut up and think of something more proper and meaningful to say, than to comment in such a way about her sister in the same manner I might sarcastically dote on my little brothers.

But the queen takes no offence and her smile becomes true, and far away, as she recalls the times she no doubt has spent with the Princess Anna in their new life.

"It is an adventure just being related to her. It's true. And what about you?" She asks, sitting up straight again. This is the part of the conversation I was afraid might come.

In all my years of attending social functions, and representing my kingdom and caring for important financial and political matters, I have to say I have never once since my youth conducted a casual or friendly like conversation such as this one.

Not successfully, have I done so anyway.

I opened my mouth slightly to try and reply, and though a billion stories about my rascal like brothers came to me, not a single one I deemed appropriate to tell the queen. It wasn't that the goings on in the stories were inappropriate to talk about in general, it's just... She was...

"Your majesty, I apologise but allow me to refrain from the topic of my family." I excused myself.

The look in her eyes as she slowly took my hint made me feel sick on the inside, knowing I'd just let her ramble for an hour about Anna, and yet I was so quick to shut her out. I know I shouldn't have done it, but it comes as such a second nature that I do it instinctively.

I see her withdraw her hand from the table and then place itself firmly in her lap with the other one, a noticeable drop in temperature occurring.

I wish I could take it back, and make the smile come back to her features, but I've already blown it.

"I, I'm sorry, Majesty, I didn't intend to upset you..." I tried back tracking.

She looked up at me confused for a moment but then awkwardly placed a fake smile back on her face as though to reassure me and said in a more reserved and subdued tone, "It's fine. I went a little overboard myself."

I frowned, even more so than I already was, at her self depreciation and held it akin to the way my brother would talk about himself. I never liked the way Hans talked about himself, and by all means I didn't like seeing the queen talk that way. If anything she was not in a position right now to be saying such things.

I want to reassure her genuinely and let her know how much I adored our occasional conversations like this. I wanted to excuse myself for my abruptness and explain myself, but... The words simply refuse to come to me as we sit in silence as we have done so every time I have come to stay.

"I must say, Prince Fredrick, it doesn't feel like we have known each other for nearly five years." She said, thoughtfully. In the back of my head I knew by that she subtly meant that I hadn't been the best of talkers.

Then again, perhaps that was my own self depreciation that I was projecting onto her.

"Indeed. The time has gone by so fast." I uttered emotionlessly.

Another silence breaks between us and I hate it. I loathe it with every cell in the construction of my physical body, the toxin like substance of my hatred of it is then from there seeping into a psychological cocktail of other problems I have, and stewing crudely in the uninviting cauldron of melancholy and drabness that was my soul.

Just...SAY something, Fredrick. Just DO something.

"So. Your brother asked for the second time for my sister's hand in marriage. What say you on the subject?" She asked, relaxing a little again, "should I finally give him what he wants?" She added almost jokingly.

I seize the opportunity and with and shrug I replied, "I suppose you could, but I suggest you do it soon before your sister decides to have ANOTHER adventure when she ultimately decides to elope, your majesty." I almost smirked when she daintily choked on her water, which I didn't know was possible.

She covered her mouth, a fiat pink blush tickling her cheeks as she hid a grin, "I suppose I should make haste then, lest your brother persuade her to!" She retorted.

"Oh, but of course, it would be Hans' idea." I added, taking hold greedily of this spectacular, new way of conversing, "he's the black sheep of the family after all."

She looked at me with a sparked curiosity, mixed with sudden concern. I picked up in it and then to my brothers defence I disclaimed, "Oh I only call him that in jest, of course, the real black sheep in my family is a pirate..."

Her eyes widened and her lips pursed. My heart stopped beating and I felt hot chills as I stiffened after realising what I had just said. I sat back, unaware that we had leant in so much closer to each other.

She stayed put however and raised a brow at me inquisitively, "A pirate?" She repeated incredulously.

I coughed and nodded rigidly, the ever present scowl on my face deepening.

Before she could coax more information out of me however, I was saved by Anna, who seemed to have a 'no doors closed EVER' policy.

"HEY! Elsa, the shipment of that new purple fabric from Agrabah is in! You simply MUST come and feel it for yourself! IT IS AMAZING!" She exclaimed, bouncing on the soot, a small swatch of purple and silky fabric hanging from her arms and halfway wrapped around her body.

For the first time, in a long time... A phrase I find I tend to use a lot when in Arendelle, I think I smiled, "Well, Elsa, it looks like you have more important matters to attend to, I'll be on my way!" I declared suddenly, and hurried out of the room.

She could use her imagination, I chuckled mentally, to decide what to make of the fabled Pirate Prince of the Southern Isles.

I retreated to my room and slid down, my back against the door and I sighed heavily. I had used too much psychological energy today.

"What are you so afraid of?" I asked myself, "Why can't I just open up, and be free... The way she can be."

I rubbed bed my eyes with the palms of my gloved hands and then let my head drop onto my knees, listening to the queen as her carefree laughter ghosted its way down the halls and into my soul.

Someday I would come around, and make her laugh like that. Share my crazy stories, share my likes and dislike, my desires, and my past. One day I would sit at that same little table with her and for once it will be a real conversation, where both of us are talking... Instead of just her.

"What are you so afraid of?" I sighed.