Hello. First of all I am deeply sorry for taking so long to upload. But as a reward I'll upload another chapter soon :D

AN: As always I appreciate the comments you write and also thanks to all those that favourited this fic. And forgive my grammar mistakes I don't function well at night.

Disclaimer: Frozen and other Disney characters belongs to Disney Co.

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Chapter 20. Keep Calm and Let It Go

Run. Keep running.

She told herself trying to ignore the fatigue in her feet. Why did she chose to wear high heels today? Why?!

She was almost there. Just a little more running and they wouldn't find her. She would be way from them for good.

The sound of footsteps and murmurs coming from the next corner made her stop alarmed.

Oh no…She thought.

Her only exist, which was at the end of the hallway was being blocked. Someone was standing there maybe even looking for her already.

She didn't realize how much time she remained there standing like a statue. Just staring at the end of the hallway, not knowing what to do next.

Then she saw it. A human shadow, moving towards the end of the hallway. Not willing to meet whoever was casting the shadow she turned around and began run back to where she came from.

But she would regret that decision almost immediately. As soon as she reached the door, her hand stopped before reaching the doorknob. If she opened the door that only meant she would have to go back.

Maybe she was acting like a coward, even irrationally, but she was doing it anyway. The moment she was left alone at the room she had decided to leave for good. Her feet never stopped moving while she debated in her mind with her rational self.

They'll find you anyway.

You have responsibilities.

Stop.

Voices coming from the other side of the door startled her. She backed away slowly trying to remain quiet.

She had very few options now. She could go back through the door she came or continue to the end of the hallway.

She laughed miserably at her situation. No matter what, the result would be the same. They would find her, and that would mean the end of her attempt to escape.

Was it her imagination or the human shadow was becoming bigger and bigger? And were the voices behind her turning louder and clearer?

She tried to keep her calm, fearing her emotions would betray her and reveal her position. She forced herself to think in a quick solution.

Come on, think. Think!

It wouldn't matter how many times she would turn her head from one corner to another, an idea would never pop out.

The shadow disappeared at the end of the corner revealing a man instead. Luckily the man was distracted arranging his coat if not he would have spot her in a second. But before that could happen, she ran to the edge of the window and hid her slim body as best as she could behind a decorative armor.

She had to think fast. Her hiding spot would not be efficient in about a minute or less, depending on how interested the man was in arranging the buttons of his coat.

Step.

Footsteps from the man walking triggered her senses. She stopped breathing and wondered if her heartbeat was too loud to be heard.

Step. Step.

It was coming closer and closer.

Step. Step. Step. Step.

Then silence reigned.

Moved by curiosity and taking a little bit of courage she moved her head slightly just enough to see why he had stopped. The man, in uniform, had kneeled down picking up some papers from the floor.

She bit her lip trying to hide a gasp.

How reckless can I be?! Honestly!

Somehow during her attempt to escape she had dropped the papers she had been carrying. Although most of them didn't had valuable information – plenty of them were blanc of filled with doddles- the papers also indicated she couldn't be far that spot.

The man stood up and yelled. "Oi! I think I found something here."

"What did you found?" another male voice came from the end of the hallway.

Oh, no… Oh no…

More were coming.

Soon enough, two men with the same green uniforms arrived and approach the one who found the papers.

She sighed realizing the inevitable had to happen. She had no option than to make herself noticeable.

She breathed in and moved her right foot slowly to reveal herself.

It's over now. Get back to work.

But her foot never landed on the ground again.

The moment she was about to sept forward it had been the same moment she felt something grab her dress in a quick motion.

Now she was literally standing in one foot while pending from the grab of her dress.

Trying to recover her balance her arm hit the helmet of the decorative armor. Producing a deaf sound of metal.

CLANCK!

That was it. They'll come to the source of the sound and find her.

But then her dress was pulled again this time with significant force. And before she could register what was happening, a strong hand grabbed her from the waist while other covered her mouth. She was pulled against her will outside the window. But she never fell to the sea as she was expecting.

Her eyes opened as big as plates. She hadn't been expecting this. Of course she was on the run, but the people that were looking for her now would never grab her like a sack of potatoes.

Kidnapped then? But who?

She couldn't see her captor since he or she was holding her from the back. She tried to struggle but the grip on her body strengthened.

"What was that sound?!"

"I don't know. It came from there. I'll go check."

The voices of the men in uniform came close from inside the building. She tried to scream but the hand over her mouth wouldn't allow it.

"Shhhh…Be quiet, or they'll find us." A deep male voice whispered behind her ear.

She stopped moving the moment she recognized the owner of the voice.

She made a simple nod of understanding and soon the hand covering her mouth was removed gently. But the one holding her waist kept holding her.

She looked down and understood why he was still holding her grip from her waist; they were really high from ground, or better say from the sea. But somehow they were sitting in a piece of rock suspending above the sea.

But how?

Looking down again she saw how that both of them were resting their legs on a flat round rock. But she already knew that. But why on Earth there was a flat rock coming built at the outside walls of the Castle?

Then she recognized the piece of rock as a remnant of balcony that once existed in the castle. So literally their lives depended in how strong an old balcony was.

She wished the old balcony would be strong enough to hold both their weights. Because she didn't want to find out the bad way, if her powers could save them from a fall of that height. And if the height would not killed them the pointy and deathly rocks in the sea certainly could.

"I think they're gone." His voice whispered. She finally turned around to look at her supposedly "captor".

He was not facing her, still looking from any sign of people from the other side of the window.

She waited for him to act first.

"Not that I really care but," he turned to meet her eyes making that smirk of his. "To why do I own the honour of your visit Your Majesty? Are you aware that you are trespassing my secret hiding spot?"

"I was avoiding ….wait what? Hiding spot? ... Your hiding spot?"

"Avoid what?" he insisted. "And yes my hiding spot. And before you start with this is your castle so the spot is also yours. I found it first."

Seeing he wouldn't let her go without an answer she decided to give a short explanation.

"I was just trying to go to my room before another royal appointment would come up." she said trying to be give more details. "And just for the record this place is no secret. It used to be a balcony about a century ago, but some crazy ancestor of mine decided to play with his catapult and had the brilliant idea to use his own Castle as aiming point."

"Family eh? There are some who do painting, others decide to learn an instrument but no mather what, there's always that guy with catapult tendencies." he made one of his bad jokes again as she rolled her eyes, "And leaving that aside, were you really planning to hide in your room? Just like that?"

She didn't answer taken by her own actions. Anna is gone for a few days and soon she was back to her old habits?

He must have sensed her change of mood because he changed the subject suddenly.

"What was it this time Elsa?" He asked letting her sit more comfortable in the stone balcony and releasing his arm from her waist0. "Those Council members of yours fought again for the proper use of shirts? Or was it the butcher demanding the pig is his once more? Wait, wait…let me guess," he made a pause and then spoke in an imitation of Kai's voice "Your Majesty. I'm afraid I found a microscopic stain in the silverware and now chaos is upon us."

Elsa smiled trying not to laugh for the actual good impersonation of her butler.

"Your Majesty," Derek continued with his Kai's voice. "After the silverware is clean and shiny I'll have the whole staff learn about the proper use of a brush. And I'm not asking you, I am just notifying my future actions, in case some footman or maid start accusing me of being a tyrant Butler again. But you and I know best, I am not tyrant, but farther worst. I am the Head Butler of the Royal Castle and must act as such."

Now she was laughing.

"I never knew you had such talent." she said feeling more relaxed.

"I have average unnecessary talents." He said looking at the horizon.

She followed his gaze and let her lungs be filled with the sea wind.

"And reading minds isn't also a talent of yours?" she asked closing her eyes slightly.

"I'm afraid not. Why?"

"You got them all right." She said opening her eyes. "I mean, the things I was dealing with today. Even the one about Kai. How did you guessed them all?"

"Ah, Your Majesty. How many times do I have to remind you? You watch but do not observe." He said proudly. "You must learn to observe."

"But how?"

"The one about the Council and the shirts is easy. You told me yesterday you'll let your Captain of the Royal Guard present his idea today. Don't you remember?"

"Okay, I admit it. That was easy." Elsa nodded surprised that he had remembered that. "But how did you knew about the butcher and the incident with the plates with Kai?"

"When you told me about the butcher I imagined him to be the kind that is not so very patient. So, he would probably pay you visit and insist again sometime soon. Next time he comes let me know, I'd like to have a word with the lad."

"Derek, you're not planning to do anything reckless are you?"

"And risk my nose for another hit with a snowball?" he teased. "Nah, I'd just like to be there, you know shake hands and all."

"Shake hands?" she raised an eyebrow at him.

"It wouldn't be my fault if his wrist breaks in the process. I would only be showing my good manners."

Elsa chuckled.

"You know, I have an old book of manners in the library, maybe I should lend it to you." She said smiling. "You would never guess who the author is."

"Mhmm, at least I know my father is definitely not the author." He tried to guess. "His whole buccaneer vocabulary would add substance to the etiquette though."

Elsa denied with her head. "Did you know Her Majesty Queen Violet is famous for her literature work in etiquette and grace?"

He turned around with exaggerated horror in his face,

"No, she wouldn't?" he asked. "No. You're are just teasing me?"

"I'm telling the truth. I assure you the majority of Princesses and have her collection in their libraries."

"There's a collection?!" he asked even more horrified. "Now, I understand why some girls act without morals."

"Excuse me, I read those books."

"Exactly my point."

The Queen would've hit him with a snowball right at his face if they weren't sitting in an extremely unstable balcony.

"And about your butler," Derek interrupted her thoughts. "I would really appreciate you don't tell him I was the one who got the silverware stained by accident. I was just trying to get a snack from the kitchen and sort of dropped all the jars and eggs from the cabinets to the floor."

Elsa smirked this time. "Well that explains why you're also hiding. And I don't believe you only left a miniscule stain over the silverware now. Kai was almost steaming from his ears last time I saw him."

He shrugged. "Alright, alright. It wasn't a small mess."

"And I guess you're not planning to meet him soon right?"

"Egg-xactly." He joked. "But honestly are you really going to hide in your room? I can't help you if you want to get there." he asked after she didn't spoke. "Or you can stay here also if you prefer."

"I appreciate the offer but I really don't know what I should do." She sighed. "I know I have to deal with my responsibilities and all but…"

"And you will." He interrupted.

"What?" she asked. Feeling surprised by hearing her own disappointment in her voice. Deep down, she was expecting Derek to tell her she had to leave her responsibilities aside and relax.

But looking at him, and seeing he was being serious made her realize she had to go back to work.

"I better get back to work then." She said standing.

"Hold on sixty seconds Your Majesty." He said also standing up. "You are not going back to work until you faint. If you do that your sister will kill me for letting you go."

"But you said…"

He laughed. "I only said that you will get back to your responsibilities, yes. But not today."

"I don't follow you Derek."

"Tomorrow you'll worry; and I'll help you with whatever task, paperwork, a hand shake, you name it. But today, you, Elsa from the house of Arendelle, first of her name, Queen of Snow, Queen of the Fractals and Snowmen, Lady of the Northern Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, Monarch of the Great Nor Sea, called Elsa the Ice Queen, the Frozen, Breaker of Fashion Trends and Mother of Sass. You are taking the rest of the day off whether you like it or not."

"Queen of what?!"

"Come on, let's get out of here before someone sees us."

"Where to?" she asked as he helped her enter through the window.

"First we'll go the laundry and borrow some civilian clothes."

"What's wrong with our clothes?"

"Unless you want us to be recognized as royals we need more suitable clothes to bend in."

"To bend in?" she asked. "Derek where are we going?"

"Wherever we like of course."

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"I thought you said you didn't know horse riding." Said a panting Derek as he held the reins of his black Friesian horse.

"I never said I didn't know how. I just said it's been a while since I went for a ride." Explained Elsa also between breaths.

"You lied." He replied.

"I did not. You are just a bad looser." She said as she caressed her horse mane.

"Look who's talking."

"Oh, don't be such a baby. Come on I'll race you again to that waterfall over there."

"Fine. You better get ready. This time I'll win." He said smirking.

Elsa arranged her braid and leveled her horse in level of his.

"Ready?" she asked feeling the adrenaline running through her body.

"Please," He laughed. "I was born ready, Your Majesty."

"Whatever you say Your Highness." She said as she rolled her eyes.

"On the count of three." She said. "One…"

"Two..."

"Three" both said.

Elsa kicked and her horse started galloping.

"Come on Café. Let's win this." She patted her brown-cream horse.

Café neighed as if getting her owner's message and ran even faster.

Elsa left the fresh air embrace her once again, feeling in her natural element. A peculiar thought crossed her mind. The Queen wondered how silly she´d look if she did it. But then realized only Derek was there. He wouldn't mind would he?

No, but he'll try to make a joke about it, for sure. Answered her own voice of reason.

"Oh, well." Elsa shrugged. "Maybe he won't notice."

While holding the reins with her right hand. She started to move her left hand freely; feeling the air currents pass through her fingers. It felt nice and cold but she didn't mind the later. Then something else happened. Something she didn't mean to happen. Snow patterns started bursting out like sparkles leaving a trace of snow powder while she rode.

"Hey that's n-ice," She heard the voice of Derek next to her as he pointed at the snow. "I understand now why people say magic can be very handy."

The blonde turned her head back to give a glimpse of him. He was grinning of his own joke.

"There's actually not use for this," She admitted looking at the ice patterns drifting through the wind. "In fact, I'm still not sure how I'm doing it."

"So what? Keep doing it." His voice came from her left side.

She turned to look at him. Still trying to focus in the race.

"Didn't you say it distracted you?" she asked turning to look at him.

"A bit, but you'll need more than icy sparkles to distract me…Whoa!" He almost hit his head with a branch but dodge it in time. "That was close."

Elsa saw this opportunity and stayed ahead of him.

"You were saying?" she asked fully smiling.

"That didn't count. The branch just popped out of nowhere."

"Sure." She said loud enough for him to hear her. "Maybe I should stop the thing with my hand. Maybe it's too distracting for your own good?"

"And stop Her Majesty with her bad impersonation of a mime," he laughed. "Not a chance." He added moving his own hand imitating her, exaggerating every move.

Elsa turned her head fully this time giving him a glance of Careful or I'll freeze you. But he just grinned back at her.

"Anyway, can't talk right now." he added focusing once again at his front. "I have a race to win. See you at the end Your Majesty. Come on Blackjack. Hyah!"

And with that the black horse with the annoying Prince on the top of it, galloped leaving her and her horse behind.

Elsa felt her body warming up. She grabbed the reins with both hands and without even giving her horse any order, Café lowered his head and rushed behind the other horse.

"Hyah!" she heard herself yell. Not caring how un-lady like she might be looking right now.

Elsa grabbed both reins this time and letting the adrenaline fuel her body she used her weight to direct her horse. They skipped a big branch and then another.

Derek was still very far. So she had to form a plan if she wanted to beat him.

She turned her horse to the left towards a small hill and then after a few seconds found herself at the same level as Derek; only that she was in a higher lever and still had to find a way to go down to the waterfall.

Then she saw it. It was definitely reckless. A broken log lying there forming a cute angle. If her plan worked the log would work as a lever and when she landed she would only have seconds to react and jump again to reach the floor near the waterfall. If the plan didn't work, well…Elsa shook her head and hoped her calculations were correct.

"Reckless indeed." She muttered.

The hill she was, was getting higher and farther from her objective. It was now or never. Not even thinking she grabbed the reins and commanded her horse to jump.

"What the hay?!" Derek exclaimed as Elsa's horse literally passed over him and then landed right in front of him.

Elsa landed feeling all her muscles tense. She feared for her horse but Café only shook his head after the landing and second next kept galloped at an incredible speed. Maybe she wasn't the only one in the team who wanted to win the race.

Elsa dogged some other branches in the process. She didn't have Derek's reflexes so she got herself some leaf scratches and bruises from the fall. But Elsa didn't care, she was actually enjoying it.

Let her future self, worry about the pain tomorrow. But for now, now that she felt re-filled with energy and renewed.

"What? How? What?!" the Prince said almost urging his horse to reach her side.

"Sorry, can't talk right now. I have a race to win." She said using his same tone of voice. "See you at the end Your Highness."

"Wha….Hey!" he yelled again as he was left behind distracted by her sudden impersonation of him.

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As soon as Elsa reached the waterfall she dismounted her horse and tied the reins into a tree.

"Now…talk. How did you do that!?" The Prince voice said. She could tell he was trying to recover his breath.

She turned. Derek was behind her. His horse already tied to the same tree. Both horses already devouring their meal of carrots and apples that the Prince brought for them.

"Why so saddle Derek?" she asked smiling innocently at him. "Do you need me to explain to you the concept of losing?"

"Ha, ha, ha...Now you are the joker." He said approaching her. Stop horsing around and tell me. How did you do that kind of jump?"

"I…"

"You have horse powers now?"

"What? No." she said. "I…"

"You can control gravity or something?"

"Derek what are you talking about?"

"Just tell me Elsa, how did you jumped and landed without breaking your neck in the process?" he said crossing his arms.

"I saw the log and thought I could use it for the jump." she answered. "So?"

"I guessed as much. But," he rubbed his already messy hair. "How did you knew it would work?"

"Well, if you really want to know, I knew I had to descend the hill while still not letting you win." Elsa explained. He nodded, at her letting her continue with her explanation. "Then I saw the log coming out from that pond of mud and knew its cute angle would be perfect to generate a proper rebound. The rebound lifted my horse and myself to the air once more. I wasn't good enough to calculate the mass of my horse and myself and the force of the air conditions were also uncertain so…I didn't had enough time to figure out a better way to land. So, that's why my landing was a bit rough. My legs still feel stiff from the landing." The Queen stretched her legs and arms.

"And giving a better thought now," she continued. "Maybe if I had used my powers to propel my horse …Oh you know what I'm glad I didn't. If had used my powers then that would have been cheating and that wouldn't have been not fair…"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa…"Derek said moving his hands to stop her. "You mean you calculated the jump? As in a math problem? You're not foaling around then?"

"More like geometry and physics, but yeah." She corrected him.

"But you did that just in a fraction of seconds?"

She nodded not understanding his sudden outburst.

"You are impossible Elsa." He said looking down at her. "Even when you are supposed to have some relaxation you decide to use your brain to the maximum capacity and then make an insane stunt."

"And win."

"Still," he said smiling. "I think your brains and guts may surpass your constant bossy attitude you know."

I'll take that as a compliment." She said raising both eyebrows. "Also beating you was a good motivation to do something so reckless."

The young Prince put both his hands in his waist.

"Reckless yes. Insane too. And you call me a bad looser?" He exclaimed.

"You are just upset because you didn't win." She mentioned also resting her hands in her waist. . "And about the horse puns please just stop already."

"Neigh." He said daring.

They both looked at each other. She was frowning he was smirking.

"Maybe it's a good time for a rest and have some lunch." He said rapidly walking in direction of the horse.

"I'll remove some snow from the grass so we can sit on it." She said also speaking in her normal tone.

"Here have some water." He appeared a second or two later next to her; in his hands two apples, some chocolate and a canteen filled with fresh water.

"Thanks I'm really thirsty." The Queen said as she started drinking.

"I could tell by your hoarse voice." he chuckled but then a small pile of snow fell over him. "Totally worth it." he added grinning.

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They were sitting in a warm blanket Derek had "borrowed" from somewhere. They had eaten in complete silence, and after the food was gone none of them dared to say a word.

But at least for the Prince this time it didn't felt like an unpleasant kind of silence. On the contrary, it felt as if there wasn't a need for words between them.

The only sound was the flowing water and a distant singing of a bird. He looked at their horses. They still focused on their apples. Then his eyes stopped at her.

He saw how Elsa closed her eyes as a kind breeze circled them. She didn't look upset with him anymore about his bad jokes. And then a thought crossed the Prince's mind. What if this was the he was seeing the real Elsa. She didn't look worried anymore and she seemed to be enjoying the moment. And he was glad he had met the adventurous and free side of hers.

He noticed the dark eye bags and how her skin had turned a bit paler than the first day he arrived to Arendelle. And yet, right now she seemed so relaxed that he didn't dared to upset her. So he remained quiet.

The scene reminding him of a similar one when a young Princess would also secretly enjoy the cold air of the mountains.

At this moment he could tell she was content.

She might have become more reserved than her younger self and turned into a more bossy and workaholic Elsa (adding freaking math genius and reckless horse rider to the list).

But also she was the same girl with blonde platinum hair that would do anything to protect her sister. She was the same girl with a gentle smile.

And even a blind man could tell that the once cute and smart Princess, had grown into a wise, responsible, interesting and smart lady.

Wait what? The Prince was surprised by his own thoughts.

Did he just admitted he found the Queen of Arendelle interesting?

That was a funny way to describe her. But to define Elsa into simple words it was a dare itself.

Derek turned to look at her. Well, she was not boring of course. And had a fiery attitude contrary to what people believed for her cold powers.

Derek smiled remembering a very frustrated Elsa trying to leave the garden's fountain. Her She didn't need powers to literally freeze you. Just one look and not even Captain Blackbeard would be safe.

He looked at her again. She had a normal face; two eyes, one mouth, little nose and blond platinum hair tied in a single braid. Nothing weird. Well maybe the icy make up was far too normal but still.

But at the same time everything about Elsa turned out to be exceptional. Without any effort she would always call everybody's attention no matter what. And the title of Queen was not the actual reason for people to pay attention to her. It was because she would always surpass everybody's expectations.

She might be stubborn, bossy and sometimes even a bad loser. But she was also kind, intelligent, protective and fun.

And reckless. Derek reminded himself.

In fact, the way she would always put the other's happiness over hers; the way she would always care for her family and people; all that and more would made her look like the perfect ruler for a Kingdom and a perfect big sister for a certain freckled cherry blond. And a worthy person to call friend.

Maybe that was the answer. Derek smiled at his sudden discovery.

I was not only in the outside nor the title she carried, but especially for the person she was in the inside that she was….

"Beautiful." He whispered.

"Indeed it is. Specially the view of all Arendelle from here." The voice of Elsa said as she turned to look at him. "We should come over here another time."

Derek was taken by surprise. He had been so lost in his thought that he did not realize he had actually said that out loud. Loud enough for Elsa to hear it.

"What?" she asked.

"What?" he asked too.

"You are making a funny face." She said smiling.

And then there were her smiles. He had forgotten to add her smiles to the list.

"Derek?" she asked worried. "Are you feeling well, you are acting weirder than usual?"

The Prince blinked several times.

"What?" he asked again.

"You haven't made a joke in while. Are you feeling well?"

Elsa's tone sounded worried. She looked at her right hand as if having an internal dialogue with herself.

"I, ah..." but Derek stopped talking at the moment he felt Elsa's palm over his forehead.

"I'm sorry. This is probably my fault." the tone of her voice was gloom.

"Why are you apologizing for?" he asked.

"We have been here for at least an hour. It is probably too cold for a normal person here. You could might get a cold here and I would never know. You see I had never been bothered by the cold." She was looking at her other hand with fear.

The blonde stopped looking at him.

There it was. The part of Elsa that he actually hated. To see her sad and vulnerable.

"Hey, listen to me." Gently he took her left hand from his forehead. "Never have I felt your hands cold. Never. They had always felt warm."

As he did, he felt the same odd sensation he felt the other night at the library. He felt her hand tense but she didn't remove it.

That other night he had let go of his hand. But today was different. He wanted to assure her she was not dangerous to him nor anyone else.

He strengthened his grasp.

"First of all, yes of course I feel cold but not because of you. We are in the middle of Winter for Odin's sake. Not to mention your our Kingdoms are in the Northern part of the globe. So what?" he said noticing as logic started to kick in her head. "Probably Anna must have told you a million times, but just in case I'll tell you the million and one. What you have is not a curse. So stop it okay. It's part of you. And you wouldn't be you if without them. And instead of 75% of you I would rather have the whole 100% Elsa. Even with all that stubbornness and chocolate addiction that comes with the package."

Her face turned a shade of pink. And also she relaxed her posture and sighed in relief.

"So, you don't think I'm cold?" she asked timidly.

At her question he sense another meaning hidden. She might not only be referring to the cold effects of her powers. Maybe, just maybe she was asking also if she was not acting cold herself.

"Not a chance Your Majesty. In fact…"

But he wasn't able to finish his sentence for a sound in the bushes made them both turn their heads in direction of the bush and made their horses also turn their heads.

Both of them stood up immediately.

They exchanged knowing looks.

Derek could tell Elsa was also thinking the same.

Wolves.

He grabbed a baggete from the food bag while she took a defensive position with her hands raised. Cursing again for leaving his sword at his bedroom.

Oh well, the bread will have to do.

The sound was getting louder and that meant only one thing. Whatever was behind those bushes was getting near.

"I'll strike first and then you'll try to immobilize it." He whispered.

"Sounds like a plan." She said.

"Wait for my signal and then fire your magic." He whispered.

"Really, joking at a time like this?" she whispered back.

"What?" He turned to look at her. His eyes met hers and she was giving him one of her classic "Derek, you are so annoying!" looks again.

"To fire ice."

"Ohhhh. I swear I was not intending to joke." He laughed. "Although it was a good one."

"Derek please."

"Sorry. Won't happen again. But you got to admit it was kind of funny… and clever."

The Queen turned to look at him ready to fire back an argument but just at that same moment the bush in front of them started to shake violently and both of the royals got stiff as a rock.

Derek gulped and he took a step forward. Then he turned to look at her one more time. She gave her an assuring look and he started to tip toe until he got behind a tree, next to the bushes. If the plan went wrong, the almighty forbid it, he wasn't going to let the wolf attack Elsa. He was going to serve as bait if necessary.

But what Derek was really bothering him was another fact. Wolves never hunt alone. And that simple thought made him give a glimpse to her.

The sound of a branch breaking indicated the beast was in front of them.

Both royals acted in instinct according to the plan.

He raised his baggete and jumped to the bushes. Then a shadow emerged from behind the tree.

"Now!" he yelled.

In an instant Elsa shot a burst of pure white snow that made Derek go blind for its brightness. He took a step back but his feet got stuck with a branch and he fell backwards dropping his sword of bread with a loud thump sound and his own voice grunting.

"We caught it! Oh my…" he heard Elsa. "You are never going to believe what we caught Derek. Derek? Oh my God Derek!"

He felt a warm hand reach his chest. After a few blinks he recognized the Queen's silhouette face over him.

"Derek! Are you okay?! Did…Did I… hurt you?"

He felt as she pulled him up to a sitting position next to her.

"No." he assured her. "I tripped. I'm fine just…"

"Oh my God your hair, is all white!"

"Els…"

Does, does your chest hurt?!" she put her right hand over his chest "We have to take you to the trolls. Only they can…"

"ELSA!" he yelled as he grabbed her hand. "I'm fine, I just fell."

"But… but your hair is all white." She mumbled. This was the first time he had seen her acting like this.

"Honestly Elsa, being the Snow Queen and all and you cannot recognize snow when you see it?" he said in a teasing tone.

She turned to look at him and blinked twice.

"Wait what?" she said.

"Elsa, my hair is not white, it's covered in snow. I'm afraid after your demonstration of your lack of knowledge in the Snow department we'll have to remove points from you Queen of Snow."

The coulour of her face went to her normal shade. But she still looked unsure.

"So you are not hurt?" she said in a preoccupied tone.

Derek was surprised by her question, he was ready for the young Queen to burst out in rage after her dared to question her own intellect and in the matter of Ice nonetheless. But he was not expecting that she would still be panicked.

"Elsa. I. Am. Fine." He said as he stood up.

"Honestly?" the Queen asked as she also stood up and handed him his now moisty baggete.

"Honestly." He responded.

Elsa hugged herself and looked at him.

"Now about the wolf…"

"Even if I hurt you?" she insisted not caring about the wolf. "Or even if you are scared of my powers, you promise you would tell me?"

Oh, come on.

The Prince sighed.

"Don't be ridiculous Elsa that would never happen."

"Derek, please. I'm am being serious."

"So am I." he said. "You would never hurt anyone and I would never hide something from you. And before you ask again. Yes Elsa. I promise." He smiled at her. "Now about the wolf…"

She returned the smile.

"For a moment I thought..." she sighed. "I'm sorry, it's just that sometimes my magic behaves in a weird way. It's good that today I didn't have a cold."

"Wait what? You can get colds?" he asked forgetting about the wolf now.

"Long story." She said as they both started walking towards their picnic stand.

The Prince was going to ask her something else when his feet hit something hard.

He turned to examine the object and was astonished when he saw in front of him was an enormous cage enough to hold a reindeer inside. What was more impressive was that the cage had very fine details of decorations of snowflakes patterns.

"Is this piece of art worthy of making Kristoff cry, your idea of a quick cage?" he asked the Queen.

She glanced at him. And gave him the look he by now knew so well as the "Shut up Derek".

"I told you, sometimes my magic works on its own. And this time I did exaggerate by far for our little friend."

"Little?" He wondered. "Wait, don't tell me we caught a cub? We need to run Elsa they're parents can't be far and..."

"Just relax and look closer," she interrupted him. "Right there in the corner." She said as she pointed out with her finger the farther corner of the ice cage.

At first he didn't see anything, which was odd. Wasn't there supposed to be a wolf or even a bear in there?

He then focused again in the far corner that the blond pointed and he finally spotted out the creature.

" ." He said. He turned to look at her. "Did we just..?"

"Yes we did." She said producing a small smile.

He didn't know what made him lose it. Maybe it was the cute face the animal was giving at them, or maybe the face Elsa was making now but he couldn't hold it anymore. He started laughing. Really laughing. Even his stomach had started to hurt from it.

Elsa lost it too and then she started laughing as well. Her stomach must have hurt too since she was holding it the same way Derek was.

"We… are…so…sooorry." She said to the poor animal in the middle of laugher. "Please, allow me."

Elsa waved her hand and the cage disappeared.

In front of them was a brown ball of fur. The cutest ball of fur Derek had ever seen, with big shiny eyes, little nose and pointy ears. Talking about a wild beast from the forest.

The little animal had big black eyes and looked so puffy and freaking adorable. In other words it was the definition of extreme cuteness. The poor animal was looking at them as if he had just bumped into the weirdest animals in the forest he had ever seen. And it was probably true.

Derek who was also laughing now took the little ball of fur and lifted it with both hands. Those big cute black eyes looking at him in return.

"A bunny?!" He exclaimed feeling disappointed, almost angry with himself. "That's what we caught?! A scared little ball of fur?! You have to be kidding me!"

"Actually we were the scared ones and it's not a rabbit. It's a hare," she corrected him. "Hares are bigger and have long ears."

"Oh, that makes me feel better, thank you." Derek crossed his arms took the rest of the snow from his hair by rubbing it uncontrollably. He couldn't believe it.

"Oh, don't be so dramatic." She said approaching him. Elsa reached her hand and also started to caress the cute hare. The animal started moving one paw and it seemed to enjoy to be pet.

"Needless to say no-bunny should learn about this today. Right?" he told her.

"And let the whole kingdom learn how a Queen and a Prince got frightened by the cutest animal ever. Heavens no!" she laughed.

"I guessed as much. Just checking." He said smirking. "And you little fella, we apologize for everything."

The little animal moved its nose while looking at him.

"You know he doesn't understand you right?" she asked joking.

"Still, he deserves a proper apology," he said. "Besides, after seeing how Kristoff and Sven can communicate it's worth the try."

Elsa nodded in agreement finally removing her hand from the animal.

"Uhm, Derek, he is starting moving. I think he might be getting nervous. You should let him go now."

"Don't exaggerate Elsa."

The hare was indeed struggling under his arms now but it was no big deal.

"I am not exaggerating. I just think…"

"That I should let him go." He finished the sentence. "I know."

"You'll have to excuse the lady little fella, she can be quite paranoiac some times. She doesn't carrot about proper apologies you see." He said raising the animal a few inches to be face to face with it. The little ball of fur looking back at him. Whiskers and nose moving in the cutest way possible. Elsa just stood there as if waiting for something.

"See, Elsa?" he said proudly at the Queen. "He is no harm, it just wants to be friends."

"Well, your new friend here," Elsa said crossing her arms and giving him a smirk. "Has given you with a present."

"What do you mean by present?" he asked. "If you're trying to make a joke about the gift of friendship, you better save it Your Majesty it won't make me laugh."

Elsa's palm reached her front head. Derek couldn't tell if she was hiding her smile or simply she had enough of this conversation.

"I am not joking," she said "But if you are the observant you always claim to be. Then why you haven't noticed that your friend probably came to the water lake to drink from it. Then probably he wanted to do his business around the bushes but couldn't because we captured him. And now biology did the rest and here we are."

"Biology did the rest?" he asked not fully understanding her.

Elsa rolled her eyes. "Oh for Heaven's sake Derek!" she said pointing at the hare. "He had a call from nature as Kristoff would say…"

He started to get what she was trying to say.

"You mean he...?" He started asking.

"I mean, he peed all over your clothes!" she finally lose it, letting provoking some icy wind circle her. "Thou knotty-pated fool! (*)"

Derek couldn't tell what was more surprising. The sudden feeling of a warm liquid on his coat and boots? His stupid he could be? Or the recent discovery that Elsa, when being really pissed, would quote Shakespeare insults?

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Since they couldn't return to the Castle and risk to be recognized Elsa suggested they'd go with a friend instead for help.

They were at Oaken's Trading Post. A shop for travelers located at the borders of Arendelle periphery. After some negotiation Elsa had managed to get one bath and a change of clothes for the rince in exchange for their horses being kept in Oaken's barn.

"I'll go lead your horses to the barn, ja?" The big merchant said in his funny accent. "Could you keep an eye at the shop please?"

"Of course." Elsa said. "And if someone asks…"

"I haven't seen the Queen and her Smelly friend at my shop today. Ja?"

Elsa smiled at the man. Anna was right he was big but his heart was bigger.

The Queen had been looking around at the shop articles when she felt something be put on her head.

"Here, put this on. And you should put your hair in a bun and cover it with the shawl." Said the Prince voice behind her.

Elsa removed the cloth from her head and looked at it. It was a dark green shawl.

As she looked at Derek she asked. "What is this for? Didn't I mention you a few hours ago that I don't mind the cold?"

Derek laughed.

"It's not for the cold Elsa. It's to improve your disguise. We are meddling in town as partners in crime remember?" He said smiling. "Incognito."

"Sure." She said not fully convinced.

"Besides," he added. "The green suits you as well."

Elsa saw as he also put on a gray cloak and a navy bunat hat.

"Well, how do I look?" he asked as he pulled his jacket and lifted his coat to hide his face.

The Queen gave him a quick look. He was wearing the classical Arendellian male clothes. Dark blue pants. White t-shirt and black vest with golden rosemaling decorations.

"Well?" he asked again.

"Clean. You look clean."

"Oh, come on. Do I look Arendellian enough to bend in?"

Elsa rolled her eyes.

"Yes you do. But instead of worrying about your clothes you should find a comb and do something with your hair."

Derek took of his hat and arranged his hair the best he could mumbling the words "bloody hair" several times while he did.

"Is that better Your Majesty?" the Prince finally asked.

"Not quite yet." She said reaching her hand and removing some hair strands that covered his eyes. "There! Now you look presentable enough."

"Now it's your turn." He said taking the shawl from her and putting it on her head again.

The Queen laughed.

"That's not how you put it silly."

"Alright, Miss Expert in hairstyles do you magic." He said moving his hands in a similar ways as Elsa does when producing magic.

"Very well." She said as she disguised herself. "How do I look?"

The Prince rested his chin in one of his hands as he examined her.

"Not bad, maybe a pair of glasses might help both of us to stealth in the crowd but I didn't find any in the shop." He said.

"Let me handle that." Elsa raised her hand and with a delicate wave made a pair of ice glasses appear in both their faces.

"Now that's what I call magic!" The Prince said as he took of his glasses and examined them. "They don't even look like they're made of ice and, how come they do not feel cold at all?"

"Honestly I don't have any idea. But sometimes my ice is bearable enough for someone else to wear it. I once decorated Anna's birthday dress with ice and the cold didn't affect her."

"Cool."

She huffed.

"At least try with new puns next time."

"Eye will try my best. To see-k new puns is my quest." he sang in a rhyme while pointing at his glasses, "Get it EYE and SEE-K, because of the glasses." he laughed.

"Please God, have mercy of my soul." Elsa muttered.

The Prince just smiled proudly at his joke.

"So, will these work for our disguise?" she asked trying to distract him from his bad jokes.

"Pretty much." He said putting his glasses back on. The glasses did hid a bit of his face and distinctive blue eyes. But even behind those glasses his eyes looked anything but angelic.

"You look like a worm book Elsa." He pointed out at her.

"It happens that I love books, and so do you." She responded.

"Then you should wear them more often. They kind of suit you."

"I will wear glasses when I get old and wrinkled and actually get bad eyesight. You on the contrary still look like you're up to no good, only now with a more strategic profile."

"I'll take that as a compliment Your Majesty." He said beaming. "ICE see you're finally noticing my strategic qualities."

And the expected snowball hit his face finally ending Elsa's torture with his back jokes. But even then, he kept smiling devilishly at her.

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"So, we are at town." Elsa pointed out, once they were in the centre of town. "Now what?"

"I was expecting for you to tell me, actually." He said turning to her.

"Me? But this was all your idea."

"Yes, but technically I am a tourist here. I thought, we could go sightseeing and you could be our guide."

"But, I can't be the guide."

"What do you mean you can't?"

"The only places I know are the ones Anna has taken me, or those involved with my job." She admitted.

"So you're telling me the Queen herself doesn't know what the hot spots of her own kingdom are?"

Elsa bit her lip. She was upset but not at him but at herself. What kind of ruler doesn't know her own kingdom? If her ancestors were glimpsing at her from the afterlife at the moment they might be laughing at her right now.

Damn he is right.

"I guess by that frown I know the answer to my question." He laughed shortly.

She didn't respond.

The Prince sighed.

"Fine, let's see the good side of this." he said.

"Which is?" she asked.

"We are both now tourists and luckily I got from our friend Mr. Yoo Hoo this!" he said taking out from his pocket a little piece of paper.

"A spa discount at Oaken' Trading Post and Sauna?" she asked as she read the label.

"YES! Wait what? NO!" he said as he read the paper too. "Wait wrong paper."

The Prince once again pulled out something from his pocket. This time it was a bigger one.

"A map." Elsa said as she recognized Arendelle geography drawn in it.

"A tour map." Derek corrected her. "With this we both can find the famous spots we'd like to visit. And look! The map comes with recommendations of food and souvenirs to buy."

"I guess we could give it a try." she admitted as she also stared at the map.

"Great, because according to this, there's a rock in the shape of a fat man scratching his butt."

"Why I am not surprised you'd be interested in that." she sighed.

"But he is fat." He claimed, showing the little drawing in the map at her.

"So?" she said with no interest of the rock formation.

"And it's scratching his butt." He insisted. "His butt, Elsa. You can't deny that's worth to be a national treasure of your own kingdom."

Elsa looked away but failed at hiding her smile. Which he noticed.

"Ha! You laughed. So it is settled then." He said happily.

"What? I didn't laughed."

"Yes you did." he said smirking at her.

"I moved my lips. It, it was barely a smile." She tried but Derek was beaming devilishly now.

"Then let's turn it into a full smile." He said not giving her a chance to answer back. The Prince took her wrist and proceeded to pull her through the streets of Arendelle.

"Let the tour begin." He said.

The Queen sighed.

The young Queen didn't say anything as he was pulling her trough the crowd. Hew was talking excitedly about the rock formation and she just kept nodding at him. Elsa decided to follow his lead and forget about her royal duties for the moment. Even if they had to visit a rock with a belly and a butt.

Oh, well at least he didn't say a joke this time.

"I'll buy a souvenir of the rock formation," he kept saying. "And no BUTTS on the matter Elsa."

She looked away rolling her eyes but still couldn't hide her smile this time.

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AN: (*) Elsa quotes "Thou knotty-pated fool" from Shakespeare, Prince Hal to Falstaff, Henry IV Part 1,1H4 .223