A/N: Disclaimer I don't own anything to do with Frozen or the Spice and Wolf Properties. No challenge of copyright or intellectual property is intended.

In the stables, Anna sat with Kristoff as he fed Sven his dinner. "Here ya go, Sven. Take it easy, we are preparing for a siege. Might be a while before you get any more carrots."

"Ohh nooo!"

Anna giggle as her man worked to take care of his best friend. "Don't worry, Sven. I'm sure once Weselton realizes he has to get through a pack of angry Wolf People to get to the Queen, they're gonna run away in terror. I'll get Elsa to demand a tribute of carrots, just for you."

The reindeer bucked his head excitedly as he snorted.

Kristoff smiled, "Well, babe, ready to go get some grub ourselves." He tried to be nonchalant, knowing about the box he had in his pocket, one that Elsa herself had generously given him earlier in the day."

Elsa waited until she heard her sister and the mountain man's voices grow silent, before moving into the stable. She quickly grabbed her saddle and started readying Snowflake. As she worked, she looked around for the person she'd hoped would join her. He moved from the shadows, his own black horse already saddled and ready to go.

She smiled lightly, and then put the bundle she'd brought down with her into the saddlebags.

"So...where are we going?"

Elsa looked at him, and took a deep breath. "You'll see."

The guards along the wall were surprised to see the Queen and what appeared to be the Wolf Prince ride out of the castle into the evening air, turning towards the northern mountains.

Naeil estimated they must have been riding for about two hours. Every time he called out to the Snow Queen a question, she would either just answer with a smile, or say "You'll see."

Naeil was actually starting to get a little worried. Maybe Elsa was far angrier about the whole "engaged" snafu then she let on, and she was bringing him out here to kill him and dump the body. He chuckled and shook his head. No way she'd do that to me...would she?

Finally Elsa slowed Snowflake down and moved her through a narrow crevasse. She was nervous, this was her place, she'd never invited anyone up here, not even Anna. The only way others had come here before was looking for her, either out of love, such as her sister, or out of fear, like Prince Hans had. Now, she was bringing someone here, she was allowing an outsider into her private sanctuary.

Naeil followed Elsa, carefully guiding his horse behind hers. "Where are we going?" he thought to himself.

Emerging on the other side, she dismounted and led Snowflake on foot up the final slope. Following suit, Naeil joined her. "Okay, Elsa...where are you taking me..oh my..."

His voice trailed off as he saw the massive form of the Ice Palace raising up into the night sky, the moonlight glittering off of it's faceted sides.

She smiled at his reaction, feeling her heart skip a beat. She'd poured her soul into creating the Ice Palace all those months ago...feeling free to fully express herself for the first time in years. That he found it amazing enough to render him speechless meant the world to her. Here, she could be free to express herself again, and more than anything she wanted to express it to him. Pulling the bundles from her saddlebags, she clutched his arm and smiled, "Come on...I brought dinner."

His ears perked up as his stomach rumbled loudly. She looked at him and broke out in laughter, "I just hope I brought enough!"

As they approached Elsa saw a familiar shape waddling towards them, "Hey Olaf." she called in greeting."

"ELSA! Hey long time no see...and you brought friend this time...wait...he is a friend right?"

Naeil looked at the approaching figure with a stunned expression as Elsa chuckled. "Yes, Olaf, he is a friend. This is Naeil, he's the Crown Prince of Yoitsu. Naeil, meet Olaf...he's a..."

"A...talking snowman..."

Olaf waddled up, his face locked in his usual goofy smile, "Hey Elsa, are you aware this guy has dog ears and a tail?"

She giggled and looked at the Wolf Prince, who just stood there dumbfounded, "A walking, talking snowman."

Elsa broke out laughing, realizing she might have broken the poor boy's brain. "Olaf, be a dear and take care of our horses, and keep a hold of your nose..."

The snowman bowed, "Sure thing Elsa, but why do I need to hold my nose to take care of...OH WAIT, GIVE THAT BACK! Marshmallow, don't just stand there, help me out big guy!"

As they walked along the ice bridge to the main doors, she flung them open pulling the Wolf Prince behind her. Naeil had thought the outside was beautiful, but on the interior showed a beauty all to itself. What appeared to be simply clear sheets of ice upon closer inspection were lined with fractal patterns that formed snowflakes interlaced into complex patterns that resembled flowers. The entire palace was a work of art, crafted in snow and ice.

"Elsa...this place is amazing. How long did it take you to..."

Elsa smiled, "Thank you. It took about 4 minutes I think...although I found that it changes constantly when I'm here. I guess the magic that formed it is tied to my emotions."

As she said it, Naeil noticed the ice patterns in the walls changing subtly. There were faint outlines that appeared to be running wolves beginning to make themselves known. "Incredible," he whispered, before looking at her and gasping. She'd been wearing her riding clothes, the same ones that she'd worn during training, but now she was wearing a stunning blue dress, similar to the one she'd been wearing the other night at their failed dinner. "Wait, you can use your magic to change your clothes too? Or am I just that unobservant?"

Elsa smiled sheepishly, "I thought this would be more appropriate for a quiet dinner, just between us. I take it you like it."

"Elsa...you look amazing..." he said breathlessly.

She grinned, and at another rumble from his stomach, giggled, "Come on, let's eat."

She raised her hand and Naeil watched as a table rose from the ice floor, along with two blocks for them to use as chairs. He also noted that they were next to each other, not on opposite sides of the table. She grabbed the bundle and unwrapped it, reveal some simple wooden dining gear, and a pair of containers, along with a loaf of bread. "It's not much, I'm afraid, just some bread and stew."

Naeil smiled and took Elsa's hand into his, "It's with you, that alone makes it perfect."

She smiled and blushed, before taking her hands from his so she could continue readying their food. She poured the stew from the larger of the containers into a pair of wooden bowls, handing one to Naeil. Next, she took the other container and poured tea into a pair of mugs. Taking the mug from her, Naeil nodded, smiling. "You know, I certainly wasn't expecting this when you asked me to meet with you."

Elsa paused and looked at him before sighing sadly. "Sorry, things have been getting so hectic at the palace. I've been wanting to talk to you quietly like this, but it seems we get one crisis after another lately."

Naeil nodded, "Well, considering the circumstances, you have carried yourself with great grace and poise."

Elsa blushed, nodding in thanks. "Thank you, but you know that isn't the real me."

Naeil chuckled, "Do you remember when I first presented myself to your court?"

Elsa laughed, "Yes, at first I thought you were going to be an arrogant show off."

Naeil smiled, "Well, I was showing off a little bit. I walked the entire length of that room with my eyes closed, using my other senses. I was afraid if I looked at you I'd never make it to the point where I could actually meet you. Still, isn't that the way we're taught to be, the behavior we're told to present in court?"

Elsa paused, remembering all of her lessons from her parents in proper royal etiquette, and the three years of learning Kai and the rest had run her through right before her coronation.

She smiled, "That's why I love this place, I made it the night I fled and while I felt so alone, I also felt so free in that moment."

Naeil nodded, and place a hand on hers, "So here, you are not Queen Elsa, and I am not Prince Naeil. We are just Elsa and Naeil, enjoying a quiet dinner, together."

She looked at him, realizing that even in the ice palace, she was feeling quite warm all of a sudden. "It's like a dream," she said quietly.

Reaching up, Naeil placed a hand on Elsa's cheek, watching her close her eyes and lean into his palm. "The night is still young..."

They finished eating in relative silence, although she laughed when Naeil scarfed down half of the loaf of bread, and looked around when all the food was gone with a look of disappointment. "Maybe I should run out and see if there's a moose nearby," he chuckled.

Elsa rolled her eyes as she placed the dishes back into the bundle. With the ice table cleared, she sighed sadly, "I guess we really should be getting back."

Naeil smiled sadly, because he really didn't want this night with Elsa to end. He spied the stairway and started walking towards it, "But you still haven't shown me the rest of this place."

Elsa looked at where he was going and froze, her face contorting in emotions, "I...I...don't go up there anymore. I haven't been up there since..."

Naeil paused, and then, realizing the source of her trepidation walked back over to her, and took her hands into his.

"It's okay and I won't push you, but I'm here now, and I'd really like to see it. It pains me to know that something so beautiful has been lost to you. If I can help you get it back, please let me."

She looked up at him, considering, before she swallowed and nodded slowly. "Okay," she said softly.

Walking up the stairway, Naeil became aware of the change within the palace walls. Downstairs was warm and inviting, but as they climbed the stairs, he could almost feel terror and anger radiating from the walls. She'd said the castle reacted to her emotions, and this place was locked on that horrible day when Prince Hans had come after Elsa, but there was something else here as well. Topping the stairs, Naeil began to see the signs of conflict. Here was where Elsa had made her final stand, and he could see the jagged shards of ice, the broken chandelier. His own anger rose within him, at those who had done this to this poor woman, forcing her to ruin her beautiful ice palace in ugly efforts at self defense. He looked at her, and she was clutching her arms to her stomach, "I told them to stay away, to just leave me alone, and then one of them..."

Naeil followed her eyeline to the crossbow bolt still frozen in the ice shard. "After I realized they weren't going to leave me alone, I knew I had to fight back...and then, I wanted to kill them."

Naeil took her in his arms, holding her tightly as she broke down in tears. "It's alright, Elsa. I'm here. I would have been here then if I could have, but right here, right now, I am by your side, and I'm not going to leave it. However, that's not what's causing you the most pain, is it?."

Elsa sighed, "No...this is where..."

Naeil nodded, "Anna...this is where you accidentally hit Anna?"

Anna reached out to her, "You don't have to live in fear!"

Elsa nodded as the memory flashed before her eyes, "Yes..."