Chapter 30.

Hey there dear readers. So, here we are once again.

So, during this time for all those staying at home I hope this chapter can ease your day.

Per some of your nice requests and comments I worked very hard to get this one done.

Forthosewho cannot stay at home because of work or duities, be safe and in your free time may you enjoy this chapter too.

I am currently doing home office but during my free time working on this story for you guys.

Disclaimer: Frozen and other Disney characters belong to Disney Co. This is merely a fanfiction and a bunch of fandom references and puns.

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Chapter 30. Hearts and Recreation

Doomed. He was doomed. Oh, boy he was!

What did he do to deserve this?!

The middle age man pulled his collar with clear tiredness. Today had been a really long day and to be honest he would rather be on his bed reading a book and drinking some tea instead of dealing with this.

That sounded like a nice plan, but apparently destiny had other plans for poor old Kai.

He should have guessed it. He should have read the signs. If he hadn't been so distracted with all his duties he would have noticed the Queen had left the castle. And of course the Rebel Prince was also missing. They had clearly ignored Princess Anna's orders to stay and rest for their injuries and sneaked to Odin's knows where. They didn't even took horses this time. Which meant they had walked to some place not that far. The town? The forest? Who knows? Wasn't that Rebel Prince using a cane? Wasn't the Queen feeling weak ever since the fire? Those reckless royals.

"Great." He huffed as he pressed his jaw even more. "Two rebels royals. What will I say to the Princess now?" he kept mumbling.

The butler kept walking in circles with his hands in his back. Behind his serious face, a worried looked we as hiding.

"For Hela's sake. Kai, will you stop it already?!" a female voice called the man's attention."They called this room the servants common room for a reason you know? It's meant to be for everyone. Your anxiety is getting on my nerves."

The man stopped to face the woman who had called his name.

"I beg your pardon?" he asked her.

Gerda, who was sitting in the couch with other two maids sighed. In the back, other staff members were having tea or playing cards.

"Look. You've been pacing for almost an hour already that you had left marks in the carpet. It's making the staff go nervous too." She explained. "You worry to much."

"Me worried? Hah!" the man asked indignant. "Nonsense. I am just stretching my legs. I'll stop when I feel like it."

"Or when the Queen returns you mean." Gerda rolled her eyes. Making some maids giggle.

Kai sighed. She couldn't fool Gerda.

The man took a seat at the empty couch and sighed.

"It can't take long now." He said. "I'll rest when she returns tonight."

"If she returns you mean." Added an elderly voice from behins him.

"Jill!" Kai demanded. "Have some decency."

"And you some logic." The old cook laughed as she joined them in the living room.

"I agree with Jill." Daisy, one of the maids dared to say. "I don't think she will return for tonight. I saw them leave together you know." She said with a sudden excitement.

"Oh, please." Kai just rolled his eyes as he heard the word "them" in the sentence.

"Wait the, by them you mean?" said the other maid happily. "The Queen and...?"

"Prince Charming?" Jill asked happily. "Didn't he leave for his country?"

Prince Charming? Charming?! Kai's inner voice blurted out. Prince Rebel you mean!

"That's what I thought Jill, but guess what? He never left". Daisy said excited. "Apparently he changed his mind and even his father must have guessed he would, 'cos his trunk was never delivered to the docks. So the Prince returned and… guess what? The Prince was looking for a certain someone."

"He didn't!" Jill exclaimed thrilled.

"Oh yes he did!" the girl beamed. "He asked to see the Queen. And guess what?"

"What?!"

"He recognized me and called me by my name." She squealed. "And then thanked me. He is such a good lad."

By that last comment, literally all the staff abandoned what they were currently doing and put their attention to Daisy. the dinning table completely abandoned; some cards, food and and even money left behind. All for the sake of what Kai loaded the most.

Oh, I am so doomed indeed.

All ears and eyes focused on one thing. If Kai had been doomed just a few seconds ago now he was really, utterly doomed. He recognized those faces. The face of mere curiosity mixed with audacity. The face the staff shown whenever there was a raise in their salary or when there was new, fresh of the oven, hot and juicy gossip. And since the raise of salary had been postponed until next year's budget that meant the other option.

"Daisy," he started with a serious tone. "Remember when we talked about manners and that gossip was fundamented in lies and was all in all bad?"

"Oh, don't worry Mr. Kai. This is all based in true events." The maid smiled happily then turned to her staff friends. "So, as I was saying Prince Derek never left".

Everyone seemed excited now as Daisy began with his non gossip-as this was all true- story.

Daisy took a deep breath and began. "Me and Mr. Kai were at entrance when the handsome lad arrived. He was gasping for air and his hair looked so messy but in a cute way. You girls get me right?" the female population nodded excitedly. "He jumped the stairs with one foot as his other leg is injured and then he approached us. He requested to see the Queen. And I thought Mr. Kai would have make him wait. But guess what? He actually let the Prince follow him and they both interrupted the Queen's meeting."

"Wow Kai. I never thought you would have let the boy go see her right away. Knowing you. You would have make him wait in the living room." Jill, the kitchen's cook teased him. "The lad is growing on you now?"

"I don't know what you mean. His Highness came as representative of Rosendelle. His duty was to his country. And to be more specific. Prince Derek requested to see both Queen and Princess of Arendelle. And as the meeting the Queen and Princess were having with the Prince of Andalasia also involved Rosendelle, it was obvious that Prince Derek needed to be there too."

"Anastasia?" Daisy asked.

"Not Anastasia, Andalasia." A footman corrected Daisy.

"Isn't that the place where the Prince that speaks so boring comes from?"

"Yeah he is. Even Prince Derek calls him Prince Boring. Once I saw Queen Elsa tell Prince Derek to stop calling him that."

"And he is the one who was looking for Olaf the other day. Boring dude he was."

"Ehem." Kai cleared his throat and the chatting ceased to a minimum. "Petyr, the one you call a boring dude happens to be a Prince. If you want to keep your job I suggest you call him His Highness or Prince Robert. Am I clear?"

Petyr, the young footman blushed. "Yes sir. Sorry sir."

"Right, right." Daisy calmed everyone. "Mr. Kai is right. We are all losing focus here."

"Exactly." Kai nodded.

"We can confirm now he came back of business. And the Queen will focus on her duties as she always does." Daisy said. They all agreed.

"Only work." She said. Some of them agreed now with a sad face.

Kai nodded again. Finally some sense among this people.

"But cheer up lads. Because all that work means more opportunities for them to be spend time together and more chances for a great ki…"

"Ehem." Kai grunted his voice. "A great what, Daisy?"

"Err, "Daisy mumbled at his stare. "A great, uhm… kiiingdom ally, sir?"

Kai rolled his eyes. At least she had tried.

The girl smiled guilty at him and turned again to her friends. "Well, that's that. Oh, I almost forgot the best part of this. Later, as I was cleaning the windows I spot the two leave the Castle from the back door. I don't know for sure, but being both of them injured and all, I bet they sneaked because the Princess told them to rest."

"So much for work huh?" said a footman in the background.

"I bet they went to town."

"Too soon man. Everyone can't stop talking about the fire and how they jumped out of the window and saved that baby. They'd be followed everywhere. Besides everyone in town is wondering what's the relationship of the Queen and that mysterious crazy Prince that jumped into the flames dressed as a cow."

"Well, If you ask me I bet that fire was intentional and they figured out it was that Hans behind everything. And they went after him." said one of the cooks.

"Nah, that can't be. I heard that Hans works at the stables and is full of horse's sh…"

"Ehem!" Kai grunted. The footman closed his mouth.

"Sorry sir."

"Well it's getting late. What if they went to join Olaf, the Princess and Mr. Bjorgman?"

"Yeah that must be it." Said another.

"What if they went to Oaken's post?"

"Nah, I doubt it." Said one footman. "They're still royals. They must've gone some place fancy."

"At least we can all agree they would never end up in a tacky hotel, like the one Oaken just opened." said a footman in the background.

"Oh. You mean the one filled with hearts everywhere? Yeah, I can't imagine the Queen and that Prince getting even near to a place like that. It would be the least place someone like Queen Elsa, the Queen of Snow and a Rebel Prince would ever be."

All the staff for the exception of the veterans staff Kai, Jill and Gerda laughed.

"You don't join them in this lame joke Jill?" Kai asked the cook.

She winked at him. "Sorry I'm too blind to see the joke." She joked at him. "My boy is too classy for this."

Kai buffed. Her boy? He was a Prince for Odin's sake! That influence of that Rebel Prince had even reached Jill the cook. The Pirnce and old cook had became instantly friends the moment the young royal decided to help in the kitchen. Both loved food, the sea and a good joke. No wonder Jill would care for that Rebel royal.

Today had been to much. He needed a cup of tea with no sugar.

"So this means the game continues then?" A footman asked them.

"I can't believe I hadn't guessed one yet. If it weren't for the fire, I would have won the one during the ball for sure." Said a maid. "I was so convinced they would have danced not only the opening number but the whole night."

"With their injuries that's now out of the question." Said another footman. "But now they can spend more time together and we can make better choices."

The staff started to talk animatedly. All about the Queen and that Rebel Prince.

Kai couldn't believe it.

He looked around. Almost all the staff had joined in the living room. Maids and footmen appeared to be very interested in the sudden topic. His ears tingled with every alarming word. Oh, how he hated gossip. And now destiny and misfortune had put him in the eye of the hurricane. In the middle of that social interaction humans craved so much.

Oh, hell no! Anything but to be part of gossip.

But, what were they saying about a game? Curiosity was killing him. Oh that damn curiosity.

No! He had to resist.

They kept taking about a game and he was starting to feel left out. So, of course he wanted to ask. But, also feared to ask. Oh, damn that human weakness called curiosity. Curiosity may have brought evolution, and evolution may have brought bases of modern society and technology but alas, had it brought gossip too.

He couldn't hide it any more. He wanted to know. He had to know. It was not for curiosity. He convinced himself. But for the sake of the royal family.

Gerda took a sip of her tea and send a glance at him.

"For that face you are now making Kai, I guess you are dying to know what game they are all talking about." He gulped and slightly moved his head in a nod. Gerda knew him too well.

Gerda rested her tea cup in her legs and spoke to him. "I guess you would find out sooner or later." The woman said calmly. "Better I tell you now. I found out not so many days ago myself. You see the staff has started sort of a hobby or a game regarding..."

"Regarding what?" he raised one of his eyebrows.

"Well," Gerda turned to look at him. "Regarding the possible outcome between Her Majesty and the Prince of Rosendelle's interactions."

"Interactions?" he wondered.

Gerda sighed. "Well, to be more specific their relationship."

"You mean?" he asked again. "Arendelle and Rosendelle alliances?"

"Uhm," Gerda sighed again. "You could say that could be also an outcome but no. This game focuses more on the personal side."

"Personal? A game regarding her Majesty and that …that Rebel Prince?!" the man's eyes opened as plates. "The possible outcome? That is so…so…" Kai stood up immediately feeling his tongue big and heavy.

"ROMAAANTIC!" two maids from the far corner said dreamily.

As soon as the word was processed in his head the Head Butler felt dizzy and fell to his chair again. The air felt heavy and his legs like jelly.

"I tried to stop it of course." Gerda said, as she took another sip of her tea. "But, it seems useless. Besides, the staff has been working eager ever since. And if a working staff takes less worries for the Queen and Princess to manage a castle then so be it. Don't give me that look Kai. I know how it sounds. But the Queen and Princess have been through a lot for their age. "

"But this is all nonsense. What could be so interesting about her Majesty's relationship with His Highness?" He declared.

"Oh come on Kai." Jill said as she took out her knitting items. "Ever since the late King and Queen were two young love birds, the Castle hasn't witnessed a pair like this. So oblivious and fun to watch."

Kai huffed idignated. It was true, the late King and Queen when they were young, were cute to watch. It was obvious those two were meant to be. But, this was one of their daughters now. Their current ruler and for Kai that little blonde girl with the gentle smile.

"And how exactly are you even playing?" Kai tried to ask and seem not interested.

Jill smiled mischievously.

"Only players can know the rules. Why?" she asked. "Want to join Kai?"

He groaned.

The maids giggled and even Gerda tried to hide her small smile.

"Don't get me wrong Jill. This is for Her Majesty's safety." Kai pulled his collar. "How would I know if you are not putting her life in danger or something? I will play your stupid game in order to moderate your crazy imagination and if I notice the slightest threat I will put an end to this uncultured game."

All of the young staff gulped at his firm voice but Jill, she just nodded.

"I couldn't expect less from the Royal Head Butler. Very well Kai. "Jill smiled with success in her eyes. "We are very aware of that. We all care for our dear Queen and precious Princess. The results may vary and end up very different from our guesses. But no matter what, as long as it makes the Queen happy we will be happy for her."

"I'll be the judge of that." Kai said rolling his eyes.

"Right " She said calmly. "Now before we begin, there are some rules for this game."

"Of course there are rules." He said sarcastically.

"Seriously." Jill said. "You are not allowed to intervene or cause any situations in favour of your guess. And with no witnesses or confirmation, your bet will be considered invalid. And no spying on them nor evesdropping. We base our bets on what they do in public or confirm in public. Also, it is forbidden to talk about them outside the castle and to other people that are not playing the games. Members only policy."

"So you want to respect their privacy but still daydream of what might happen? And if you guess it wrong, you will still be happy as long as it makes the Queen happy."

"That's right." Jill said. "Clever man you are. For some of these people we had to draw a chart and everything."

"Then I don't see the point. You can bet whatever happens in the near future that will make the Queen happy. That's all. She wins, you win. Everybody wins."

"Will it though?" Jill asked.

"Will it what?"

"Will that future you think of, whatever it might be, ever occur? And If happens, do you think it will make the Queen really happy?" she asked.

"Well," Kai thought for a moment. "I believe I know the Queen to some extent to know she works on the rational side. At least my prediction would be something she would actually do."

"Your prediction huh? Really? Eager to play are we not?" Jill asked him jokingly.

The maids giggled again.

Kai couldn't believe he was actually taking part of this in order to learn more about it. But if he had to do this to know better, and protect that girl, so be it.

"It's simple." The cook explained. "We bet simple stuff from money, favours or stuff we have. And the game consists in guessing what will happen next between those two. We make a bet during the night for what will happen the next day and the one who get a better guess wins."

"You mean it's not just a bet, but you are actually betting constantly?" Kai asked horrified.

"Now you get it." Jill nodded. "With those two we knever know. There was one time they simply vanished from our radar for the whole afternoon and they ended up acting so weird towards each other. All we know is that the Queen of Genovia was involved. But we cannot know for sure what happened that day. But we know something big must have happened. Because, the last day of the Council of the Realms they were clearly avoiding each other. Then we know they were left alone in the dinning room and suddenly they spent the rest of the evening skating. That day no one won. They are so umpredictable. That's why it's so fun when someone guesses it right."

Kai remembered that time. He also wonderered what could had happened but he didn't dare to ask. The Queen trusted him with his discretion and just made a weird request. Some clean towels and a pair of male boots. It had been odd coming form her. And more important, when she had summoned him by ringing the room bell she had insisted him to leave the things outside the door. So Kai never had the opportunity to see

Later that night, apparently he hadn't been the only one to notice it, the Queen and the Rebel Prince were avoiding each other. At least, no one seemed to know the truth of what happened that day. So nobody won that bet then. Good. He was glad the Queen's private life remained private.

He thought deeply. He hated it, but he had to play. If he ended this game, the staff would end up making another one behind his back anyway.

"You finally understand why I ended up playing don't you?" Gerda whispered at him.

Kai caught her glimpse. She was right. Maybe that was why Jill had put on the rules. Jill was the eldest of the staff. She had served the Castle for three generations and cared for the Queen and Princess as much Gerda and he did. So, that was Jill and Gerda's strategy to ease the thirst of gossip for the younger staff.

Jill winked at him. And he understood she was on their side. To protect the Queen from any gossip and let her private life be private. So, that was the trick of the game. They always ended losing. No one really knew the truth. Because the rules made it so hard to win. Jill was a genius, but he wouldn't give her credit on that. Let the staff crave for gossip but never let the gossip leave the walls of the castle. It was a hard gamble but still a controlable one.

"What happens when no one gets a guess because nothing happened?" he dared to ask. He had to know. How was Jill entertaining the staff if they ended up losing most of the time? They would lose their interest int the game and begin to force the things on their favour. And that meant, interfering in they Queen's life.

"Well, it's true it's hard to win. Which means when we get close to the truth it means you have talent for this. If no one wins, the prize gets accumulated for the next day and so on. Of course you can repeat your guess and bet again." Jill explained.

"The importance is to have some fun. Besides If I don't win this round there's always the chance to get it right next time. And the prize would be better anyway. Right fellows?" A footman explained this time.

The staff, mostly the young ones, cheered enthusiasticaly.

Kai couldn't believe it. They hadn't seen it yet. Theit chances of winning were all almost nothing and yet they were all convinced. Damn that woman! Jill had everyone attached to her spider web and under her control. Still, Jill if had to convince the others this was not a tricked game, there had to be real winners from time to time. Which meant…

"And by your smile, I guess you won this round didn't you Jill?" he asked again not hiding his sarcasm. That bloody cook. What she had in wrinkles she had in experience. She may have bad eye sight but oh, she could see far beyond most of them.

"He,he,he. I thought I would get the prize this time but no." The cook laughed as she arranged her glasses. "Oh, dear, dear. I was betting that Queen Elsa would accompany the King and Prince form Rosendelle to the docks. Then say goodbye to him in private and hug him or something like that. But to everyone's surprise they didn't even see each other in the morning. I guess that was even colder that we imagined to be. Even for an Ice Queen. Where was the passion in that?"

That was odd. Jill had said a real possible outcome. Even if he hated the idea a polite hug was the least that could have happened. So, even Jill was having trouble to guess regarding that unpredictable pair.

At least, the game proved to be very difficult and Jill's plan to avoid any more gossip was incredibly working. Somehow. But now he couldn't help wonder what had really happened then.

Kai had to admit to some extent that his curiosity and imagination were over powering his rational side. Queen Elsa was anything but a cold hearted. So, he hated to admit it, but the only explanation was the obvious one. The Arendellian royal family must have said their goodbyes to the Rosendelle royals very early in the morning. But even among friends and family that could be considered too public for them. Which meant… Kai felt his mouth open by his own realization. Queen Elsa and Prince Derek had already said goodbye to each other in... private.

And that could have only happened very early in the morning or during midnight. Those hours were for sure indecent for a young lady and a young man to spend time together. What if any of the staff saw them? The scandal that would be brought to Arendelle!

I am too old for this. And yet I can never retire.

He knew both of them were too decent to bring such a scandal to be true but still, the staff had an imagination that could make anyone blush. But if the staff was kept at their common room at these hours then they wouldn't get a glimpse of the royals. That was the other part of Jill and possibly Gerda's rules of the game. To keep everyone out of sight just like they were doing now.

He looked at the staff again. No one seemed to have figured out that the Queen and Prince had actually said their goodbyes between midnight and early hours of the morning.

Kai sighed in relief.

He looked at Gerda and she gave him a questioning look. "So?" she whispered at him.

"I'm in." He whispered back. She just nodded in return.

This game. This trick. This mastermind plan to keep the staff out of the way was something out of his control now. He would have to trust Jill and Gerda on this if he wanted to protect her Majesty from all the gossip.

"But there is one person who actually guessed something right." Jill smiled. "Dear Gerda here, said the handsome lad would change his mind and cancel his trip."

"What?!" Kai was brought back to reality.

The House maid arranged her hair as she faced Kai.

"It was a lucky guess." Gerda simply said. "I was reluctant to play as I mentioned before but I guess a part of me wants to see what will come next."

"You tricky," He whispered at her. "You were the one the King of Rosendelle asked to hide the Prince luggage weren't you?"

"I don't know what you are talking about." Gerda smiled proudly. "I just thought the young Prince would stay for a bit longer to heal his injuries."

She definitely plotted with the King of Rosendelle! Kai thought. Was Gerda controlling the game to her favour? Now who was the real mastermind? Was he a piece of her chess game?

As if reading his mind, Gerda turned to look for him and spoke behind he cup.

"If you are wondering Kai." She whispered. "Yes. I am totally rotting for those two. And for the record, you are also under the same rules. I forbid you to interfere. If you do, I will make sure you regret it."

Kai couldn't believe it as he gulped. Even Gerda had an secret motive. She was the real master and all of them were mere puppets. He nooded at her. He was alone in the trench. To protect Queen Elsa's well being was his only motivation now. He even felt a bit pity for Prince Derek. That pair doomed to be the protagonists of some wanna be's lame Shakespeares.

"Speaking of which," Jill interrupted the butler's thought. "who is ready for tonight's guess?"

"Oh, oh," a maid said. "You think they will come back tonight?"

"My guess is not." Jill said. "I say they went camping."

"Nah, maybe to the Ice Palace."

"Eloped and married and joined a group of gypsies?"

"Maybe just went to join Princess Anna and Mr. Kristoff."

"Build a snowman?"

"Maybe they came back and we didn't see them".

"Or they were abducted by trolls from the mountains."

"Gerda your turn." Jill said.

"Oh, I don't know." Gerda pretended to not be interested. "Maybe, just went for a walk and lost track of time? So they had to spend the night under the stars?"

That tricky woman. Kai knew better. Gerda was totally enjoying this game.

Kai couldn't believe it. This was madness!

"Kai what's your guess then?" Jill asked.

The man sighed as his turn came. He knew he had to play for Queen Elsa's sake. He couldn't retire after all.

"If I have to guess then. I say if the Queen won't be back tonight is not because she went camping, eloped, became a gypsy or was abducted by trolls. It's because she has things to solve."

"What about the Prince?" Daisy asked.

"He'll be there of course." He sighed as he had come to admit that was the most obvious answer. "knowing the Queen she wants to solve things by herself. But that stubborn Rebel won't let her go alone. And in the end they'll meet the Princess and the others."

"That's boring Kai." Jill said. "Your guess has no romance in it."

Kai rolled his eyes.

"I only say what it's obvious." He defended himself. "Ugh, fine. You want romance?" he dared. "How about they went that infamous hotel in the woods Oaken owns. The one full of hearts. How about that?"

"Ohhh, feeling Cupid now Kai?" dared Jill.

"I just made the most crazy guess." He said. "I don't want to win. I just want to know everyone behaves."

"Have it your way Mr. Royal Butler." Jill said as she kept taking notes of everyone's guesses.

Gerda just gave him another look as she poured some tea for him.

"You know," She said raising her cup. "after all that has happened, it wouldn't surprise me if they ended up in that ridiculous hotel. No one would dare to look for them there."

"Oh give me a break." Kai said sipping his tea.

Gerda gifted him a teasing smile.

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A loud crash was what woke Derek in an instant. He opened his eyes abruptly to the semi darkness of a room full of hearts.

Another clashing sound made him sit up and turn to his right side where Elsa was still sleeping.

What had caused those noises? Why didn't she wake up?

Then he saw it. Right above her. Suspending in the mid air, Derek saw a miniature building, similar to Arendelle's hospital. It was made of ice and almost suddenly icy spikes destroyed it causing that crashing sound. The remnants of the ice reformed into Arendelle's Castle this time and again the Castle was demolished by some kind of spikes made also of ice. Esa was wincing in her sleep.

Derek couldn't believe his eyes. Elsa was dreaming or better say having a nightmare. And her magic was somehow showing part of her bad dream. He knew she was magical but she had never mentioned her dreams turning into live snow plays. Besides, if this was a nightmare she couldn't be enjoying it at all.

He reached to her.

"Elsa, hey Elsa!" he called at her. "Wake up!"

But Elsa only frowned and didn't seem to hear him, which worried him. A weird atmosphere of shiny dust rounded them and ice began to swirl around them as he raised his head again.

He recognized the hospital room where they had been trapped. He saw two figures, and was surprised as he saw Elsa and himself on their knees. She was holding that baby. Then the icy flames came up and rounded them. Ice figure Elsa fought with her powers but to Derek's surprise her magic turned into dangerous spikes. The ice turned a shade of red. Only Elsa could add her magic some colour and light of its own. And the spikes pointed at their ice replicas in an instant ready to strike.

The air went from warm to cold in an instant. Derek was able to see his own breath now. He touched her forehead and she was sweating and her face was too hot. He had to wake her up.

"Elsa! Elsa please wake up! You're having a nightmare!" he held her and put her to his chest.

He looked up again. The spikes moved but didn't hurt Elsa and his ice replicas. They moved towards an ice figure he hadn't seen before. It was wearing a cloak and holding some kind of staff. The mysterious human figure raised the staff and Elsa's ice seemed to be absorbed into it. Now that was weird.

"What the hell is going on?!" Derek yelled. "This can't be good."

"ELSA! WAKE UP!" he yelled but she didn't seem to hear him. Her dream kept moving from figures. A ship being taken by some ocean waves. A beautiful palace he didn't recognize and Anna being hit by Elsa's magic. All her magic seemed to be deformed into spikes as she tried to save everyone in her dream.

Derek didn't know what worried him the most. The fact that she wasn't waking up. The fever or the magical nightmare. Probably all of them.

She was getting hotter through the fabric of her clothes. This couldn't be good. A Queen of Snow with an actual fever? Elsa once said she had had colds before. But this didn't feel like a fever for getting the flu. And just a few hours she had revealed to him she had been feeling pain. Could the practice she did earlier put her body to the limit? He felt guilty. He had encouraged her without even thinking of she could be hurting herself.

Elsa started to mumble and literally grabbed herself to his pijama shirt.

"Der..ek.." she mumbled.

The Prince looked down at her. Her blue eyes were slightly open now.

"Elsa," he said relieved.

She was awake. Sort of. Her cheeks were pink and puffy. She had reached her limit or something. Anna had been right all along. He had to work as baby sitter and see that Elsa rested. Instead he had encouraged her to test her magic and push herself.

"Elsa can you hear me?!" He shook her a bit.

"Mhmm…" she mumbled again as she winced in discomfort.

"I'll take that mhmm as a maybe ." Derek said. He was met by sleepy eyes of someone with a very high fever.

The ice magic kept surrounding them. He felt in the middle of a dance of snowflakes. Very cold sharp snowflakes. She didn't seem to be aware of her powers' doing.

"Listen. You have a fever." He said to her. Elsa just blinked dreamily at him.

"It..bur..ns..." She said in a tired voice.

Derek couldn't know if she meant the fire of her dream or if she was describing her own fever.

"Plea...se..." She insisted as her hand pulled his shirt.

As she said that her magic began circling around them more lively and fiercely.

He understood now. She was feeling too had to put an end to that fever.

Derek looked around at the room for any kind of sign or idea. Then he saw a room in the far corner. Then looked at her. She was staring at him with pleading eyes.

A cold bath was the easiest and quickest way to ease a fever right? But could it work for the Snow Queen?

The wind began to round them dangerously. It was like being trapped in a dense snowy cloud.

"Screw it!" Derek took Elsa with all his strength and ignored the pain in his injured leg as he carried her bridal style to the bathroom. Elsa held to him and buried her fronthead in his neck.

He could feel her will to stay stay concious as she forced her eyes to keep open.

For his luck, Oaken had filled the enourmous bathtub with clean water and rose petals. The water was cold due to Elsa's magic dropping the room temperature. Maybe it was too cold for a normal fever but Elsa could manage the cold and Derek could care less now if he might get a cold himself later.

The magical ice seemed to move alive around them. He couldn't recognize any of the shapes now as it was moving too fast. Elsa's ice moved in shape and in beatiful bright colours. A dangerous beauty perhaps. If he weren't so worried about her, he would have been marveld by her magic.

"Hold on." He told her wishing she could understand him. Then, Derek held her to his chest and entered the bathtub in a quick move.

The water splashed and leaked to the sides. Derek would have to give credit to that Oaken folk for the lovey dovey heart shape bathtub. It was big enough for two people to fit even with their legs stretched. Water was spilling everywhere and petals now decorated the floor.

She was looking at him as he held her in the cold water. For a moment her eyes seemed to have recognized the situation and she relaxed her body a bit. But still she remained grabbed to to him. Derek felt her forehead still be too warm due to the proximity.

She was still burning and the memory of her mother agonizing through high fever crossed his mind.

He met her eyes and held her close.

She looked at him as if she already knew what was coming next. He had to act quickly.

"Elsa, if you can understand me," He said hugging her to him. He talked to her ear. "please, hold you breath for a few seconds. Just a few seconds. I promise."

She blinked as if she had understood him and pressed herself to him as she closed her eyes. He wondered if she had understood him or not when she took a deep breath and held her breath. She did understood him.

"Hold on." He told her.

Without much thinking, Derek took a deep breath as he held Elsa's head to his chest and submerged them both to the cold water. It was unorthodox, crazy and dangerous, but it was the best he could think of now.

Come on Elsa! He kept his eyes open as they sumerged. The water was cold and very unconformable. But all he cared was the she could hold her breath.

Just a few seconds. He repeated himself.

He was counting the seconds and every single air bubble that escaped from her lips when….

Suddenly Elsa's instinct kicked in by the lack of air and cold water in her feverish body. She started to move with energy and pulled his shirt fiercely. Almost immediately he made them emerge again to the surface. She was disoriented so he held her strong to let her recover her breath.

He couldn't believe it. She had snapped out of that state. Any other human being wouldn't look so alive as she did right now. But this was Elsa. She was so strong and yes in a way magical. Coughing and disoriented Elsa. And yet, very much consious.

Elsa was still coughing and gasping for air uncontrollably. Derek could care less as he saw that the magic surrounding them was gone. He didn't care that she was still grabbing his pijama shirt with force to hold herself to something. He didn't care the the ridiculous smell of roses they would both have for the next day. All he cared now was her.

Derek gave a damn about a gentleman's boundaries and touched her forehead again. Elsa jumped a bit as she felt his touch and turned to look at him. She finally controlled her cough and met his eyes.

Her eyes, were bright blue and focused on him. She seemed better now. In the scale of Elsa's normal curve of course.

"How are you feeling?" he asked not hiding the releif and tiredness in his voice. "I can't believe it worked. You still feel warm but …good warm."

What he did had been very dangerous. A sudden change of temperature was anything but recommended. But again. This was Elsa. She was beyond the exception. And he was so glad she was.

"Der..." she coughed. "Derek" she said in a very tired voice, as she seemed to finally come to her senses and be fully awake now. "I'm fine now. Thank you."

He gave her a tired yet content smile. "Good to know."

"Wha..What happened? I think I was dreaming or something." she wondered worried in a tired tone. She looked around and saw the water and petals spilled on the floor. Elsa's eyes open widely as she finally realized the place they were. And in the compromising position they were.

"Derek." asked calmly. "Why are we in the bathtub?"

She tried to get up but the slippery surface of the metal made her loose balance. Derek held her and she remained in a sitting position over him so that she could at least be sitting.

"Whoah, easy there Your Majesty. You still have a slight fever." he said feeling her warm cheek with the back of his right palm." Elsa seemed to calm a bit but her eyes still shown confusion. As she calmed, the temperature of the room began to turn to the normal warm. Even the water felt less cold.

"You had a fever and you were right. You were dreaming. Well most likely having a really weird nightmare. Your powers were triggered somehow and your magic was literally showing an icy version of your dream." He explained.

"My magic did what?" She asked surprised turning to look at him.

"So I guessed right? This was not normal?" he asked her.

"Not that I'm aware of." She explained. "My magic has always been mystery to me but…wait…Derek did I…"

"Did you what?"

"Did, …" she hesitated looking at her reflection of the water. "Did I did I hurt you with my magic? I remember you were there and my magic almost hit you."

"I know. I saw it." He said seeing there was no point of lying to her.

"I'm sorry." She apologized as she looked at him like a sad puppy would.

It might be past midnight and no candle might be lit, but the moonlight coming from the big crystal window in the ceiling provided enough light to show Elsa's sad expression.

She was more concerned about her magic than wondering how the hell did she ended in a heart shaped bathtub with Derek.

Derek wasn't surprised. After Elsa had opened herself to him the other night and told him about hurting Anna twice with her magic, he could understand Elsa's concern.

"Elsa. It was a dream. You didn't hurt me." He said as he dared to raise her chin to meet her eyes. "You didn't even hit any of the heart shape furniture." he smiled at her. "Though I wish you did. This place could give nightmares to anyone."

She produced a silent laugh at his last comment.

"There's that smile." He encouraged her as his hand removed the wet hair strands form her face to reveal her face. Then his hand returned to hold her arm once again.

"Thank you Derek." she said in a tired yet calm voice. "It's just that…"

"I know." He said. Besides I should be the one to apologize."

"Why would you be sorry?"

"Well, isn't it obvious? I literally sumerged you into cold water risking your life." He said.

"Derek, I do remember that part." She said with a tender gaze. "And I also remember I agreed to go underwater. I may not look like it but I can hold my breath better than you think. My parents were diligent that I learnt to swim since I was very young."

"I know. I know. Well I actually didn't know that before. But I I knew you would be fine because you are always exceeding everyone's expectations. And all I could think of was doing this crazy stupid thing to put you in the bathtub. And then you were having this crazy nightmare. And I never thought you could get fevers at all. All I knew was this couldn't be good. But you would need more than cold water, being the Ice Queen. So I did the next most irresponsible crazy thing that came to my mind. This is where you should say, kids don't try this at home. But your dream was getting more intense and I could tell you were struggling with it. So I had to improvise and the nearest water supply was this ridiculous heart shaped abomination of a bathtub. And now it's my fault that you smell strongly of roses and that you will need new clothes. Because once again I ruined them. Also your braid is losing and it's all over our face, although if I'm being honest it actually looks good on you so maybe that's not bad at all. But still I shouldn't have submerged you to the water, it was dangerous and I know I am babbling nonsense and you probably need need sleep instead of being a decent human being and listen to me. You should send me to sleep on the couch so that you take the bed. But we both hate that creepy master bedroom. So maybe you can send me to that bed instead and you can take the couch because you deserve it. Also you can call me Derry all you want because I was a fool and didn't came up with a better idea. I can't even come up with a joke right now and I am talking too much and you are just staring at me with a smile and I must look like a pathetic joke and if I had listened to Anna and made you stay maybe .."

His mouth was shut down as he felt one of Elsa's fingers reach his lips in order to silence him.

"I understand." She said with a tired voice as she removed her hand form his mouth and rested it in his chest. He just hoped she wouldn't notice the sudden fast beating of his own heart for that move she had just made.

Elsa didn't seem to notice as she just kept talking. "I don't remember much of that nightmare but I do remember some fragments. It was a hell of a nightmare to be honest. And I certainly feel much better now. If you hadn't been here… I don't know if I would have ended hurting someone."

"Elsa," but he was silenced as she leaned at him so that he could see she was being serious . She didn't seem to mind much the proximity. She was more focused on making her message clear. He could see her bright blue eyes and her flushed face for the fever.

"Will you just listen to me? Derek. I am trying to thank you." She talked calmly to him.

"Sorry. You are right. Please continue." He nodded at her.

The Queen sighed.

"Look, maybe what you did was crazy. I have done crazy things too."she sighed and her tone lowered even more as she continued. "And we have done things very crazy together like jumping of a burning building. But we had done them with the best of in intentions ." She made emphasis on the word we.

Derek couldn't help but lean closer to her as her words began to lower in tone. As she wanted for only him to hear. He responded by pulling her close to him slowly.

"So we are both crazy then?" he said also lowering his voice. He didn't know why they were whispering now. It was like their own secret world that none of them wanted to share.

And feeling even more envious of that outside world his hand raised slowly to the back of her neck. Elsa didn't seem to notice or care of his movement. Maybe as she was literally on his arms already it felt irrelevant now.

"Maybe this is the fever talking. But one thing is certain," she whispered with her eyes mid close. He could count her frekles if he wanted now. The cold water was nothing to the warm feeling on his chest as they both simultaneously firmed their embrace.

. Derek took a deep breath and he was filled of the rose petals scent on her. It was so oncentrated that it made his nose ticklish. He preferred her normal scent. Of fresh snow of the forest and a bit of mint.

"What is certain?" he said in a murmur.

Elsa bit her lip hesitant. Then spoke so shyly and low that only his very sharp earing was able to get her words. "We all do crazy things for the people we..."

"ACHOOO!" Derek sneezed and bit his tongue and let lose of the Queen's grip.

Elsa, slipped and fell backwards to water splashing more water and rose petals.

He was not sure if he he was getting a cold himself or the rose petals were too much for him. But one thing was for sure, he would never forgive himself for sneezing at exactly that moment. Damn that Oaken and his subliminal decorations. All was making his mind go crazy..

Elsa managed to sit herself again in the bathtub and after she removed some petals from her hair she simply turned to look at him.

"Bless you." She simply said shrugging and giving him a accomplice smile. Her cheeks were reddened even at the moonlight, but he couldn't figure out if it was the fever to blame or this damn atmosphere. He was getting crazy for sure.

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The rest of the night they had spent it talking in front of the now lit fireplace. Not feeling very sleepy for the time being. Of course after what happened in the bathtub and also for what almost happened they had returned to their awkward interactions, then skipped to their normal ones. Maybe too tired to feel embarrassed or maybe too worried about most important things like Elsa's magic than a certain bathtub moment.

For the moment they had both agreed they would share the new intel with Anna, Kristoff and the others. They deserved to know. Althought the mention of the heart shaped bathtub, the petals or any of Oaken's ridiculous hotel would be ommitted in that sharing of information.

"A warning?" Derek asked her as he added a new log to the fireplace.

"It's hard to explain." She answered. "I don't know how, but, I feel this dream was trying to tell me about somenthing."

Elsa looked up at him. "I feel my magic has been trying to tell me something for a while now." the Queen seemed deep in thought. "I've been dreaming about the fire ever since it happened. And my magic has been acting strangely ever since the Council of the Realms began." She admitted. "At first I thought it had something to do with being tired but now I feel there is something else. I really don't understand how my magic even works but I feel it is trying to tell me something. I think my magic or my own subconcius are trying to show me something. Today I let free of my magic since a long time in the forest, maybe that was a trigger to let my magic warn me about something."

"A warning then. Mhmm. You mean like the mysterious, cloaked person with the staff in your dream? IfnI remember I don't recall another person inside the hospital building. If you ask me, that looked mysteriously enough to be considered a possible threat?"

Elsa opened her eyes abruptly.

"Wait what? You saw it too?!"

And so another session of .

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After an hour or so, of coming to no concrete theories of the mysterious cloaked figure in Elsa's dream they had decided to give it a rest for the moment and wait to tell the others and see what they could think of it.

Elsa looked down at her gown made of magic ice. It wasn't melting and she had had no trouble to make it. Once again, her powers were back to normal. Well, her kind of normal. She kind of miss her ridiculous pijamas. In a way, it had been kind of funny to match with Derek. No that she would accept that aloud.

She shook her head. That fever has left her mind a bit too crazy for her taste.

Crazy huh? Her mindteased. Like that one didn't let go of his shirt inside the bathtub? Or maybe all that babbling you blurted out? No?! Well, then by crazy you must meant that you still don't know, what would have happened if he hadn't sneezed.

Elsa shook her head maybe a bit to fiercely.

No. Her ice pijamas were the right option for sure.

In the case of Derek well, he was not so lucky. His clothes were still wet, for the snow. And his pijamas were totally wet now. So, he was wearing his last resource. A onsie. That's right a onsie Oaken had left in a pair in the wardrobe for those extreme cold nights. Creepy indeed.

Elsa thanked God she was able to conjure her gown. In a million years she would ever wear that thing. Which again had a tiny heart engraved in the left size. And she thanked the almighty and the spirits that Derek looked more ridiculous now than attractive, putting aside any kind of other thoughts, none that she had any, very buried.

"So, do I look good? Or I look good?" Derek said as he noticed Elsa staring at his little heart on his pijamas. He waved his hair teasing at her.

"To be honest, the cow costume looked better on you. This one is too red." Elsa teased back. Yep. That onsie was perfect for him. Elsa was really thinking.

"I look good." he convinced himself and took a sit next to her in floor by the fire he had just lit again.

His silly comment made her lips turn into a amused smile. He was trying to distract her for her concern about her magic and that dream, and she really appreciated his effort. And maybe just bury everything that happened in that bathtub.

"So." he said. "Want to try to sleep?"

"Not really." she admitted. "You?"

"I feel tired but I couldn't shut my eyes now."

"I feel the same." she nodded.

"Then, how about we just rest here, eat weird heart shaped candy and I read you a we could try to sleep all least two hours or so and as soon as the sun rises we join the others."

"Sounds like a plan." Elsa turned to him. "But I don't remember you bringing a book with you?"

"Oh, as I looked for new clothes I found some books in the master bedroom. Our dear host, has thought of everything." he smiled mischevously. Derek took out a book he was hiding in his back.

"I don't know Derek." she said. "What if the taste in books of our host is the same for decoration?"

"Don't worry," he answered. "I found a classic." He showed her. "Although there were far too many romance books for my taste."

"The little mermaid?" she read the title.

"Aha." he nodded. "Have you read it before?"

She nodded with a small smile.

"My father used to read it to Anna and me when we were young." she said remembering those story nights with her parents.

Derek semed hesitant now.

Elsa smiled at him tiredly.

"It's been a while since I heard the story." she said feeling nostalgic. "I can't remember all the details so it would be great to hear it again."

Derek's smirk returned to his features again.

"Great!" he said as he opened the book to the first page. He was about to say something then when he contained himself.

Elsa simply smiled. "Come on."

"What?" he shrugged.

"I know you want to say it." she said. "After all that you have done for me today, I owe it to you. You can say it."

"Really?" he smiled like an exited child.

"Do it before I change my mind." she smiled back.

"You are the best!" He said as he opened once again the book. "Now, let's sea shell we?"

"And there's the joke." she said knowing it was innevitable.

"Well, well, even Her Majesty knows when to use a pun now? I like this teamwork. We were mermaid for this." He added with a playful wink.

"Okay I changed my mind. Just read already." she said and he laughed. Elsa couldn't avoid turn around and roll her eyes for his second joke.

She stayed with her head turned as her body felt warm again. And the fever had nothing to do this time. That wink had caught her off guard.

She glanced at the Prince as he began to read. After a short argument with her inner self, maybe the onesie was not so bad after all. Derek did looked good on it.

Great! She was definitely going crazy.

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Fin (no mermaid pun intented) Sorry I coudln't help it.

Well. It is a small chapter. I know, I know. But i believe it was the right thing to do to leave the next part to another chapter. I'll do my best to work on the next chapter.

Stay at home and may your reading be good and fun. Hope you get updates from other stories.