Author's Note:

Sorry for the delay! Life has been crazy lately. Please continue checking up on the story, reading, and reviewing! I find it so encouraging and motivating to get feedback.

Hope you enjoy Chapter 10!

Chapter 10

The king's horse sped down the mountain, Stellan at the reins and Freja sitting behind him, clutching him around the middle to hold herself steady. The already freezing air was painful and biting as it slapped across her cheeks, so she buried her face in her husband's back, trying to shield herself from the wind. She couldn't imagine the torment he was going through, with nothing at all between his face and the agony of the frosty air. His nose was most likely blue by now. Freja shut her eyes tightly and willed the horse to run faster.

The queen felt them slow down, then come to a halt. She opened her eyes again, and felt Stellan's breath shudder. Far below them, they could just make out their kingdom of Arendelle. A dark cloud had formed above the castle, swirling around the kingdom like a miniature hurricane. The Ice Lord had begun his work.

"Edvard," Freja breathed. She felt Stellan nod slightly. He clucked at his horse, and they galloped onward.

The streets of Arendelle were completely deserted, covered in several feet of snow. The air was whipping around buildings and streets like a wildfire as the king and queen rode through, heading toward the prisons. The door was ajar.

"Oh no," gasped Freja.

Stellan drew his sword. "Stay close."

They burst into the prison. Then their eyes fell to the six figures on the ground.

"Hansel!" exclaimed the king, crouching by his captain's body. He was dusted with a layer of snow that had blown in through the open door. The white floor was stained red with blood, and an icy stake was pinning the captain down.

Freja's breath was fast as she placed a soft hand on Hansel's face.

He gasped, his eyes popping open! Freja screamed a little and jumped back, then rushed forward again.

"Oh! Captain, thank heavens!"

Hansel squinted up at her. "Your highness?" he croaked, and put a hand on his chest, where the ice spike penetrated him. "Sire."

The queen checked the other guards in the little room. They were all still breathing, thankfully, but they were all unconscious.

"Hold on there, Hansel," said Stellan, firmly. He hustled over and held a hand over the fireplace. It was cold. Taking a match, he struck it against the rock wall and lit a frost-covered torch. The flame was small and flickering wildly. The king sheilded it from the wind until it grew a little bigger, then walked back to his captain and held the fire up under the ice. Nothing happened for a minute, but eventually the stake began to pop and drip, and Hansel sighed with relief as the now warm water ran down his chest.

Freja put a hand gently to his wound. It was very clean. It had already been washed out by the water.

"Are… are you okay, captain?" the queen asked cautiously.

"Right as rain, now, m'lady, and I'm very glad to see you are safe, as well," said Hansel, bracing himself against the wall to stand. Once on his feet, he seemed to be his invincible self again. Freja looked down at the puddle of red on the ground, and tears threatened to well up in her eyes.

"Oh, Hansel, I'm so sorry!"

"Now, your highness, don't go blaming yourself. It isn't your fault, not in the least."

"… it kind of is."

Stellan frowned. "No. It is not! The only person at fault here is Edvard Beteran."

Hansel looked confused for a second. He had so many questions. Then he straightened up suddenly.

"I need to find the prisoner!" he headed for the door and looked out. "Blast this weather! It's bound to add ease to his escape."

"Edvard's not trying to escape, captain," said the king, his eyes hard, "and we're running out of time. We need to get to the tower."

"Why would he go there?"

"It's the highest point in Arendelle."

Stellan and Freja ran ahead of Hansel, out the door, the queen borrowing a sword from a fallen soldier as she passed by him. Even if all hope was lost, she would still fight for those she loved.

The journey through the castle was deathly silent. The staff must have been in hiding, for not a sound or a footstep or a voice was cast in the empty halls. The trio moved quickly and stealthily, swords brandished and hearts beating wildly.

At last, they reached the tower. Freja looked up at it. It had never seemed too tall before, but now she realized that it stretched up high above the rest of the castle, like a patriarchal tree in a forest. At the top, the dark gray clouds were converging. The eye of the storm.

"Yep, he's up there," Stellan said softly, "Okay, Hansel and I will go up. Freja, stay."

Freja frowned. Stellan never commanded her like that. Stay? With the fate of her kingdom on the line? With her family's lives hanging in the balance?

"I am not staying here like a child while you go up and risk you lives! You could be killed and I'd never know until Arendelle was buried under this curse! You don't know what Edvard is capable of! He's powerful!"

"Exactly why you are staying here," retorted the king, without looking at her. He knew if he did meet her stern gaze, he would not be able to keep his emotions in check. He couldn't focus all his energy on defeating their foe if he was worried about his wife the whole while. "Please, Freja, you must stay safe!"

"No! If anything happened to you…"

"If anything happens to me, you are all Arendelle has left!" Stellan took a deep breath and turned to face her, his eyes begging. "Please, please¸ my love… keep yourself safe! Keep Elsa safe!"

Freja's cheeks were streaked with half frozen tears. She clutched her arms around her abdomen. How could he make her choose between the two of them? Her husband or her daughter? Was that the only way out? She felt Elsa move inside her, and sobbed. Throwing her arms around Stellan's neck, she buried her face in his shoulder.

"Come back to me, Stellan."

Stellan held her tightly for a few minutes, then slipped out of her grasp. Without a word, he kissed her hand and nodded to Hansel. Then the king and his captain disappeared silently into the tower.