Frozen Forever

by StarFlame7

Being a royal is not d ice powers, and a peculiar family and you get Queen Elsa's typical normal day. Even with that, Elsa is learning of the perks and downsides of being a royal. But even more, she is learning to be herself. So what happens when an old friend enters her life again and turns her life upside down? And why is her magic behaving strangely? A PUNastic Xmas story

31. 31 When the ship sails itself

Chapter 31

Hey there. Here's next chapter. AsAs always thanks a lot for the reviews. They are the fuel to this story.I hope you are all in good health and your family and friends too.

Answering this in Spanish for that reviewer (you know who you are) "Hola. Y perdón por tardar tanto en subir nuevo cap. No dejaré la historia ni nada. Solo me está tomando tiempo escribirla. El Home Office me tiene bien ocupada. Pero trato de darle un tiempo siempre. Yagradezco mucho que seas fiel a esta historia. No dejes de poner reviews."

ALSO I have a little gift for all of you. A while ago I was asked about how Derek looked. And I made a cover. So, a crazy idea came up to me and I created a Instagram page and will be uploading some art from this story. I am not an artist or anything like that, but hope you like my doodles. My Instagram is Starflame007 . Feel free to stop by .

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 31. When the ship sails itself

"So, let me get this straight." Kristoff said as he took his eyes from the road to give a confused look at his girlfriend. "Elsa couldn't leave the burning hospital because her magic failed?"

"Yes. Well no. Not really. She said she could use it but she couldn't control it. And then she admitted it hurt to do it. But not always." Anna said. "But that's never happened before. And her powers have been acting strange ever since the Council of the Realms started. At first I thought so much work was stressing her and it could be the cause of it, but…"

Anna was in deep thought.

"But what?" Olaf was the one who asked this time.

Anna frowned as she seemed deep in thought.

"I don't know." She admitted. "It's just something she said that makes me thinking…Well," She sighed frustrated. "Elsa said she had felt like energy had been drained from her."

"Ohh." He said. "That's not good."

"No good at all." Olaf intervened.

"Exactly." Anna turned to Olaf then to Kirstoff. "So I've been thinking. Elsa and her magic kind of come together right?"

"Uhm… I guess?" Kristoff guessed. If he were honest to himself, Elsa and her magic were a mystery of it's own. How does that even work anyway? How can one person be born with magic but her sibling not.

He shook his head. This was taking nowhere. And possibly they wouldn't figure it out chatting in the ride back home.

But Anna had a point.

"So… what do you think?" he asked her.

Anna crossed her arms in deep thought.

"I don't know. I just don't like where this is going. And there is also what the ice harvesters' found out about the fire. Something smells fishy." She said.

"Dont't look at me. I don't eat fish." Olaf added.

"No Olaf. I mean that something smells bad. You know like…" Anna tried to explain.

"Like Kristoff when he comes back from work?" Olaf suggested.

"Hey!" Kristoff claimed.

"Or bad like Sven after he plays in the mud?" the snowman asked again.

The reindeer turned to look back and buffed.

"No, I mean like.."

"Ohhh. Then maybe like the methaphor of being alert to a menacing threat and you compare it to decomposed food that could make your tummy rumble. But in truth it represents your irrational fear to the unknown?" Olaf added.

All Kristoff, Anna and even Sven turned to the snowman who was in back to the wagon.

"Uh, yes." Anna nooded. "Strangeley accurate."

"Since when do you know this stuff?" Kristoff asked.

"What stuff?"

"You, suddenly knowing about metaphors and well stuff?" Kristoff insisted.

"Oh that! Now that I know how to read full sentences I have been reading books from the library." The snowman answered happily.

"I thought you only read children's book." Kristoff said.

"I do." Olaf smiled. "I read it in a children's book Elsa gave to me."

"And what kind of book was that?!" Kristoff said as he turned his neck to give a glimpse back at the snowman.

"The ABC …"

"ABC?" Annaand Kristofflooked at each other then to Olaf.

"Aha! The ABC of Philoshophy of course.", Olaf explained.

"That is not a children's book." Kristoff mentioned.

"Yes it is. Elsa told me she had read it when she was a kid." Olaf added. "I asked her why did I have so many questions and she said maybe the book would help me understand like she did when she a young girl."

"What?!" Kristoff esa confused now. "Who reads Philosophy as a child?!"

"Elsa does." Anna said. "Actually I also read it when I was younger."

"Wait what?" Kristoff then looked at Anna confused.

"You'd be surprised." Anna shrugged. "I read the whole library at least two times already."

Krsitoff opened his eyes wide.

"Hey, don't judge me." Anna made a shy smile. "It was part of my education as a Princess."

"They made you read the whole library twice?" Kristoff asked.

"Well," Anna shrugged "Not really, it's just. You know, it could get very boring being inside a castle with the doors closed a distant sister and ever working parents."

Kristoff gulped. He recognized that tone of hers. It was the classic tone she used to try to ease the mood when she spoke about her lonely childhood.

He ought to say something.

"Uh," he wondered. "Anna…"

"So you read the book too?!" Olaf yelled before Kristoff could say anything.

"I did. I see what you mean Olaf." The Princess nooded. Her tone back to bubbly Anna. "I know I can't let my fears control me. We need to act. I know that, and yet there is that crazy thought I have that's been bothering me ever since the fire happened."

"What crazy thought?" Kristoff l asked.

"What if Elsa's magic was not the only thing that she felt being drained…. What if…"

The voice of Anna faded as she didn't dare to say out loud her own theory.

"Yo mean her own life?" Kristoff muttered guessing what she meant.

Anna's idea sounded crazy but what did he know about magic anyway?

She simply nodded as she looked at the trees in deep thought.

"I don't know much about magic." Anna said after a while. "But, I know that Elsa didn't want me to worry. But I could see it in her eyes. She was worried. Which tells me, there might have been other times where her magic behaved weird that she didn't told us about."

Kristoff gulped again. That was true. For example, that time when he found Elsa and Derek after a their fight and it was snowing over them. Elsa admitted to him, her feelings should match a snow storm. And apparently Anna was still unaware of that time.

Which proved Anna's point. There could be more incidents that Elsa had his from them.

Kristoff sighed.

"Don't worry. Elsa is strong and we will all find a solution." He said. "I spoke to her and she had agreed to pay a visit to the trolls."

"The trolls." Anna opened her eyes with a new shine in her pupils. "Of course. Great idea. Maybe Grand Pabbie can know something. We shouldn't wait any longer, as soon as we get to the castle we grab my sister and go to your family. I just hope we arrive early. I know she will try to find a way to sneak out and get back to work."

"Elsa?" Kristoff wonderered jokingly. "Yeah right. Don't worry, Derek will be there to annoy any intention of her trying to work. And she will be there to stop any of Derek's intention's to sneak out somewhere and injure even more his leg."

Anna smiled this time.

"Yeah you're right." she admitted. "Those two will be so busy arguing about who is babysitting who, that they won't have time for anything else. My plan was perfect."

"You know what would be so funny. If Elsa and Derek put aside their differences and decided to work together and sneak out of the castle and investigate on their own. Resulting in the exact opposite of your intentional plan." Olaf said giggling.

"Yeah as if that could happen." Anna smiled proudly.

"He is right you know." Kristoff said as he looked at the front of the road and spotted something really weird at the en of the hill.

Anna buffed. "Nah" she said. "For that to happen, they would have to agree in something and put aside their pride. Well, maybe it could happen but, for real. But they wouldn't disobey me. Not when I use my puppy eyes. Elsa always falls for that."

"No, I mean. Olaf is really right. Look!"

Kristoff waved Sven's reins and the reindeer trotted faster towards the spot Kristoff had directed.

Anna turned her eyes to the direction the ice harvester was pointing with his hand.

"What is it?" she said closing her eyes to see better. "I don't see what is so important to…" The princess eyes opened as plates and her mouth opened in disbelief.

"Is that..?" Anna asked as she leaned on the wagon to see better.

"Yep." Kristoff said

"And is that….?"

"Yep."

"Are they …?"

"Yep."

"What are they…?"

"No idea." Kristoff said as he saw the two familiar figures moving in the forest. They seemed to be running in circles through the trees.

"Wait! That means they…"

"Yep!"

"They disobeyed me. Why is it so hard to let them understand they are injured?!"

"They look pretty fine to me." Kristoff said as he saw the two figures hoping and trotting through the forest and ... where those ice walls?

Now that the wagon was getting near he could hear laughter. "Relax. They won't get hurt at…whatever the hell they are doing."

Then he saw as the two figures suddenly lost their balance and fell over each other. He tried to hide his laugh.

"OH NO THE DIDN'T!"

"They did." Kristoff assured her. He couldn't hide the smug smile.

In that instant, the Princess jumped form the moving carriage not minding getting all the mud on her dress and boots or almost losing her balance.

Then she descended the hill with determination towards the two figures that had clearly not noticed her yet. They had stood up now and busy talking with each other. Unaware of the wrath of the Princess whom they had disobeyed.

Kristoff just smiled even more.

Oh this is gonna be good. He thought as he signaled Sven to hurry. Maybe being raised by trolls had left a teeny tiny dose of hunger for a good gossip.

Poor unfortunate souls. Unaware of their fate. Mama Anna would surely punish them for being naughty children.

"Oh, look." Olaf exclaimed from behind. "We were talking about Elsa and Derek and what would be the odds of them ignoring Anna's orders and sneak out of castle and …" the snowman giggled. "And they did! Do you think they are in trouble."

Anna cracked her neck and fingers.

"So much in trouble." he said laughing.

"Sven hurry. I don't want to miss this!" Olaf yelled as he jumped to the front sit. "Good thing I brought some popcorn."

"Nice!" Krsitoff said as he grabbed a bunch from Oalf's bag.

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About an hour earlier.

"I swear that's what happened." He repeated at her with that smug smile of his.

"I can't believe it." She couldn't buy it. "Your mother was like a real life Robin Hood pirate that stole food from the rich mercenaries and gave it to the poor. And your parents met while hunting the same mercenary ship?"

"Yes. Well, my mother was more of a Robin Hook because she was a pirate. Get it?" he said jokingly.

She just raised an eyebrow at him.

He shrugged at his joke.

"Anyway, first they became sort of frenemies. But when my mother found out that my father wanted to be a good King and serve the people, she joined forces with him and after they captured the bad guys they fell in love and married against my grandparents will."

"They did? But I thought you said your grandfather was a nice man." Elsa asked turning at him.

"He was a nice man yes. But my father says before he became a grandfather he used to be very close minded. He didn't approve a wedding of a Prince and a rogue aristocrat that joined the pirates."

Elsa couldn't hid her small laugh.

"What?" Derek asked raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing." She lied.

"Come on tell me."

"Well," she bit her lip. "It's just, I always thought your father reminded me of a pirate and that you had inherited that rebel personality from him. When it truth, it was your mother that turned out to be a real pirate and you inherited that spirit of adventure and revelry from her."

Derek seemed surprised now.

"What made you think my father looked like a pirate?" the Prince smiled. "I mean your guess was very close. But you guessed the wrong parent. What gave you the hint?"

"Please don't laugh." She shrugged.

"I swear." Derek stopped walking as he lifted the hand that was not holding the cane and extended his pinky finger towards her.

"What are you doing?" she stopped walking to look at him.

"What? You had never done a pinky promise before?" Derek asked in his joking tone.

"Err," Elsa thought. "I don't remember to be honest."

"What?!" he was now truly surprised.

"Elsa, you have got to be kidding me. Pinky promises are the most sacred kind of promises. You can't break a pinky promise." He said seriously.

"Why?"

"Because you promised with the pinky finger obviously." Derek said. "It's an unbreakable bow."

"I still don't understand." She stared at his finger as if it were an unknown objet about to explode.

"Come on. Close the deal." He encouraged her.

Elsa extended her hand and shook his finger.

"Like this?"

Derek laughed.

"Well," he smiled and gave her a tender look. "Not quite. But I have to admit I love the way you think."

Elsa felt her her ears and neck turn warm almost immediately. She dropped her grab of his finger in an instant. She couldn't tell if her embarrassment had been caused for not being familiar with another popular knowledge or because of what he had said about loving the way she thought.

"Sorry," she apologized.

"Don't worry. It's my fault for not explaining it to you before." Derek apologized with a soft tone. "Now, do as I am doing and extend your pinky finger and then we join them together to close the deal. Understood?"

She nodded and copied him.

"There!" Derek said as his pinky finger was pressed to hers. "And then we make a little shake."

Elsa followed his instructions and felt in her stomach a jumpy sensation as they closed a silly deal in the silliest way. As if they were teenagers.

"So that's how you make a pinky promise." She said as she studied their interwined fingers.

"Aye." Derek said. "Now I had sworn I wouldn't laugh. So I will not do it. Now it's your turn. Why did you think my father was a pirate?"

"it's silly." She admitted. "It was that time when we first met as children. That scar in his eyebrow made me think he was a pirate that had took off his eye patch to attend a party."

"Ohhh the scar." He pressed his lips. He was fighting not to laugh. He cleared his throat and smiled at her. "See I didn't laugh."

So the pinky promise was sacred after all. Elsa took note of that.

"Well, you were very close indeed. It does makes sense." Derek said as he thought. "For me and my brother and sister, is normal but I guess a scar in the eye is not that normal." He shrugged.

"I was close then?"

"You were. Did I mention that he got that scar because of my mom." He explained.

"What? How?"

"Remeber they were like frenemies at first?"

"Yeah."

"Well, during an encounter against the mercenary my father's ship was severely damaged and my mother's ship arrived on time to let the crew stay on her ship. My mother was like an outlaw and my father should have arrested her for making justice on her own, but at the end they decided to join forces to get that mercenary ship." He began explaining and Elsa listened.

"So, during the last battle they took the ship and fought side by side. My father got the scar that time."

"Did he receive a hit protecting your mother or something?" Elsa asked intrigued.

Derek laughed.

"Ha! He wishes." He said smiling at her. "While mom was sparring with some bad guys, apparently my dad, who had already fell in love with her, got distracted watching my mom sparring the bad guys."

"Distracted?"

"Well, in his defense my mom had very good reflexes and was very agile. Everyone was staring at her fight."

"So what happened then?"

"My mother felt his stare and yelled at him that he should be helping not watching only so, he jumped into action and got rid of the bad guys. In a way of speaking." Derek said in a teasing tone.

"What do you mean?" Elsa was confused. "Did your parents won?"

The Prince nodded. "They did. With the help of my father. You see, when I said he jumped into battle I meant it literally he jumped."

"He jumped? Where?" Elsa turned her head sightly as she was more confused than before. "They were on a ship weren't they?"

"That is correct." Derek nodded." He took a rope form the upper deck and jumped to the lower part of the ship like a true hero on the rescue. But as he landed, one of his boots got stuck in the wooden floor and he fell to the floor and hit his face where he cut his eyebrow and got that scar."

But then how did he beat the bad guys?"

"Well, long short story, when he fell, he broke the wooden floor and in a ridiculous chain of events his sword went flying in circles and cut a rope of the mast. The big mast changed direction rapidly and hit everything in it's way. My mom and her crew managed to dodge it on time but miraculously or ridiculously lucky it hit most of the mercenaries to the floor while the Captain was thrown to the water. And all that happened while my father was still on the floor with a nasty cut. My mom used to say he looked kind of cute just laying there. The rest is history I guess. They got married and became King and Queen after my grandfather retired."

"Wow." Elsa said. "That was quite a story."

Elsa said as they returned to walk. "Your mother must have been a really interesting person."

"Yeah. I wish you could've met her. She would have totally liked you. Especially she would have loved that you always do reckless things in high heels and looking all stylish. She had a thing for shoes too and fashion."

"Look whose talking." Elsa teased back. "Last night you couldn't stop staring at yourself in the mirror saying you really looked good in a onesie."

"What'a wrong in loving yourself?" Derek said smiling. "You should try it sometime."

"You mean I should copy you, like you did this morning." Elsa smiled at her memory.

"What do you mean?"

Elsa sighed. "This morning. You brushed your teeth like a hundred times and then winked at your own reflection in the bathroom's mirror then smiled and said…"

"I look puntastic?" He finished her sentence for her.

Elsa just sighed and nodded. "Exactly."

He laughed. "Well, I won't deny I sometimes greet myself in the mirror to encourage me on a new day and just praise my self esteem a little bit."

"A little?" she asked sarcastically.

"Yes Elsa, a little." Derek said calmly. "But today I decided to to put the cherry on the top and drop a pun right there, since I had an audience."

"An audience?" Elsa asked. "But I was the only other th… ohhh."

Elsa's mouth stopped moving as she formed a big O with her lips. He had caught her staring.

"Aha!" Derek said proudly. "You confess you were eavesdropping."

"I wasn't eavesdropping. I was just wondering why were you taking so long in that bathroom." She said quickly in her defense.

"You could've knocked."

"I did knock. Remember last time I also knocked and you opened the door wearing only your… your …"

"Underwear?"

Elsa's cheeks reddened.

"Anyway," she quickly said as she cleared her throat. "I worried and when I knocked, the door actually opened. And that's when I saw you doing your, well…, your self loving ritual."

Derek started caughing.

"Please don't call it like that." His cheeks now looked red as well. "Let's just call it a time of self motivation. And jokes aside you should try it sometime."

"Try what? Wink at my own reflection?"

"Whatever suits you. You could start by just staring and pay attention to what your inner self wants you to know. Add a little smile and work form there." He suggested.

Elsa turned to look at his eyes. His look was deep.

"You really mean it don't you?" she asked.

"Of course I do." He said resting his hands in his cane and stretching a bit as he looked at her. "Elsa, you say you were worring about me. Now we are walking up and all to the top of the mountains because you have a kingdom to protect and a sister to take care of."

"Your point is?"

"My point is you also need to make a pause and grant yourself with the same care and love you give to others."

"Since when you became so wise all of a sudden?" Elsa said as they returned to their walking.

"Ever since a dear friend of mine told me to stop blaming myself of my mother's death. And accepting myself as I am. You probably know that friend of mine. She is very persuasive with her words. A bit grumpy and a work addict but she has a good heart."

She looked to the other side to avoid his eyes staring at her.

Putting aside the embarrassment Elsa couldn't help but notice how Derek had been more open with her and even telling stories about his mother with a new air. No guilty in his eyes but with a sense of longing for the good memories. His smile was melancholic yet irradiated peacefulness.

She was glad they were back to talking again. To their zone. And yet it felt different from before. There was something in the air that let them talk more freely now. Maybe it was the air of the mountains and that they were alone in the forest. She had always felt lighter in this atmosphere.

They were supposedly in a hurry to catch on the others at the mountains where the ice harvesters' headquarters was set. But, with their current injuries they couldn't run or walk very fast. And they hadn't brought horses. And if she were honest to herself, the walk through the forest and just chatting nonsense with Derek was something she had found to be very peaceful to contrast her worries.

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They didn't talk much after that and just returned to their silent walking. Their steps and the sounds of the forests to accompany them.

She looked at him from the corner of her eyes. He had a soft smile. Possibly still thinking about his mother. That simple idea made Elsa wonder about her own parents.

She sighed deeply with her own thoughts.

"You okay?"

She heard his gentle voice next to her.

"I'm just thinking." She simply said.

"You are always thinking." He declared.

She smiled at his comment. "True." She arranged a loose hair form her face. "I'ts just a silly thought that came to my mind that's all."

"Elsa…" he simply said. She knew that tone. She used that same tone sometimes too.

"Well, I was just thinking about the story of how your parents met and all how you cherish that story. And it sort of occurred me that as you keep that story alive you sort of keep your mom alive ."

"I like that though." Derek said.

"So, that made me wonder if I had kept my parents story alive and then I just came to realize something."

"What?"

"I really don't know." Elsa admitted. "About their story. How they met or how they fell I love. If they liked chocolate as much as Anna and me when children. When did father got his moustache? Or when did mother learn to sing so beautifully? Did they use to go horse riding together when young? Or maybe visited a pub sometime? I simply don't know." Elsa admitted as she stared at two birds resting in a nest in the top of a near tree.

"They never told you?" Derek asked with a calm tone.

"Sort of. I just know they knew each other ever since they were teenagers. My father loved to read to us and tell us stories. Sometimes real and sometimes fairy tale stories." Elsa said as she remembered those times. "And my mother would join every time to add some more details to the story. But when it came to talk about themselves, they almost spoke in riddles. They always seemed to share inner jokes and secret glances. It was nice in a way. To see your parents having their own language. I always felt proud and lucky of having loving parents that actually loved each other and weren't the result of an arranged marriage. You and I know that in our royal world, that is a luxury."

"Indeed it is." He nodded.

"I sort of envy them. How strong they were. They faced anything together no matter what. Whether it was ruling a whole kingdom or raising a family with a magical child as me, or a unstoppable force like Anna. Maybe it's the lack of sleep and all of the things that had been happening but, I just wish they were here. So that I could ask them for some advice and here more about their stories. Or maybe just talk about the weather." She sort of laughed.

"I know the feeling." He replied.

Elsa stopped walking as she faced a tree. An old tree. Possibly older than Arendelle itself. What stories could that tree tell? she wondered. Could it be possible her parents had ever crossed this tree? If only the silent forest could talk, what stories could it tell?

Elsa sighed as her palm caressed the tree.

"Elsa?" she heard Derek approach her from behind. She had probably stayed too quiet for too long.

"Sorry." She said as she turned around. "I was just thinking of them. And, just wondering if they ever took long walks in the forest together. Maybe this path. I don't know. Just imagining the what ifs. I was just wondering if…"

Derek took a step closer to her.

"If?" he asked.

"If they had a happy life?" Elsa looked at him. "I know it's silly. I just wish they did."

She was surprised how easy she had admitted that to him.

Derek raised both eyebrows in surprise by her question then relaxed his face to show her an understanding smile.

"Elsa," he said with a calm deep voice. "First of all, you should never feel sorry for missing your parents. And secondly. I might not be an expert myself, but I bet you that they were very happy together. And even happier when they had you and Anna. Just by the way you describe them I can tell they lived to their fullest."

"You really think that?" she couldn't tell if he was just saying that to comfort her. But Derek was not like that. "You are not saying that to just make me feel better are you? You even said that royals are doomed for never having their happily ever after."

"You really think I would lie to you?" he dared raising one eyebrow at her.

She denied with her head.

"I know you wouldn't." she said feeling more calm."Pardon me. I know I am just sounding crazy to you now. "

"Hey, hey," Derek took another step to be more close to her. He rested both hands in his cane and lowered his chin to address her. "Didn't we agree recently that we would embrace our crazyness a bit more?"

She smiled. "We didn't have a choice Derek. We were trapped in a building on fire."

"So?" he asked. "Because of your crazy idea we survived. And that baby is also alive thanks to you."

"But I almost got us killed too." She reminded him.

"That's life Elsa. That time we didn't know if we would live to tell the tale. But I can assure you you lived those second to your fullest didn't you?"

"I think so. But what is your point Derek?"

"My point is that you are wondering if your parents had a happy life and the answer is yes. Of course they had their ups and downs. Like we all do. Like you are dealing right now. But just like you are doing right now, they lived their lives to their fullest."

"It is a nice thought Derek, but how can you be so sure?"

He laughed. "Because of you of course."

"Me?" She asked. "What do you mean?"

"Look, you might not know their whole story but what you haven't realized yet is that you are actually part of their story too. You and Anna, are the result of their story together. If Anna turned out to be pure honest and determined, and you turned out to be brave and caring then, I bet they were just the same. I bet their story was magical even, given you turned out that way. And I bet they would be proud of what you two had become. They might be gone physically speaking, but that doesn't mean they are completely gone. They live in you and Anna. In a way you and your sister keep telling their story. So to answer your question, yes. They had a happy life because you and Anna were worth it. That much I can assure you."

Elsa couldn't help but smile shyly at that thought. She could have hugged him for what he had said but she put aside that crazy idea. The mere thought of their hug in the bathtub from last night still blurred her mind with mixed feelings and crazy ideas she didn't want to acknowledge for now. Or ever. Even if it had been all due to a fever. She still felt awkward thinking about it.

How is it that he always knows what to say? She asked herself.

"Thanks, Derek." She simply said burying the hug idea deep in her mind. "You did describe them very accurately."

"Not bad for the son of a Pirate huh?" he said encouraging her. "I can spot a valuable treasure when I see oneYour Majesty." He smiled mischievously at her. With that smile he was asking her if she was ready to go back to their game. The game to smart one over and teasing each other. Their normal zone. She wouldn't mind to obligue his petition.

Are you feeling better now? He was asking silently.

But still, had Derek just called her a valuable treasure? For real? Now she was sure he was up to something. One of his jokes for sure.

"Was that supposed to be a joke Your Highness?" she raised an eyebrow at him. Her tone mimicking his teasing one. Silently answering to his question.

I'm better now thank you. She answered silently too.

He just shrugged at her in a guilty yet playful manner. And she just gave him a knowing look. And just like that Elsa felt they were back to their normal zone apparently. How easy it was for him to change her mood to a better one. The only other person with that power would be Anna. Although, only with Derek she would feel a certain way.

"Well," He winked at her calling her attention to reality again. "The X marks the spot doesn't it?"

"What do you mean?" she asked confused by his mischievous smirk.

He shrugged as his eyes looked down. Elsa followed his gaze and looked down too.

To her surprise, or not much surprise, as this was Derek after all, he had managed to draw an X on the ground with his cane while she didn't notice.

"Questioning my pirate skills now Your Majesty?" he teased at her. "You can't deny you are a treasure now if you are in the X mark."

Elsa acted almost mechanically. She grunted and facepalmed. At least her hand would hide the uncontrollable smile that was coming in her lips. She wouldn't give him the treasure, uhm, the pleasure of a smile. She felt a mix of embarrassment for his compliment on her and repulsiveness for his use of a bad joke. She wouldn't fell for that one.

"For being a son of a Pirate and a Royal marine, you are the worst Captain I've ever heard." She muttered at him with her hand still covering her face.

"Oh, but you have heard of me." He said with that smug smile. "And bad publicity is still publicity."

"At least there cannot be many pirate jokes." She mumbled as she removed her hand and looked at him. She had regained her calm.

"Maaaaybe." Derek shrugged as he looked up avoiding her eyes.

"You can't be serious. There are?" she asked surprised.

His eyes opened wide at her qu estion. Then he smiled. She recognized that smile. He was plotting something. TheThe Prince walked at her with his eyes fixed on her with a secret intention she couldn't recognise.

Elsa took two steps back until her back hit that same tree she had been staring at before. She had nowhere to move as the Prince just approached at her even further.

Derek stood in front of her as his eyes shone with that mischievous spark. Elsa felt so near to him that she could smell the cheap rose escence shampoo from Oaken's ridiculous inn from earlier. Or maybe it was her own scent mixed with his. Both of them smelled like a flower shop. The smell of roses was too strong it even itched her nose.

"Well, my dear Majesty," he said in a deep tone of voice that brought her to chills. His proximity, the intoxicating smell of roses and the memory of their shared hug inside the bathtub just last night were more than enough to make her mind feel dizzy. That and the fact that he had called her his dear Majesty.

"Yes?" she whispered back.

He dared to approach a bit further, and smiled at her, "You just gifted us with one pirate joke yourself Elsa. A real treasure of a joke indeed."

"What?" Elsa blinked as she registered what he had said. His eyes were too distracting to conconcentrate.

He smiled again.

"To answer your question, if there were other pirate jokes?" Derek said as he arranged one of Elsa's wild hair strands to her ear. She stopped breathing as she felt his hand slightly brushing her cheek in the process. She could have sworn slight colourful snow patterns had came out of her fingerprints. She had released that magic the same time she had released her breath. Realizing until now she had been holding back herself a bit. But it took only one guesture of him to make Elsa let her guard down.

He didn't seem to mind the magic that had puffed out of her hands. And he finished to arrange her hair strand behind her ear.

Ever since they had left the inn so early in the morning Elsa had mearly arranged her hair, letting some hair strands lose on her forehead. And in consequence, Derek had pointed out from time to time that her hair had turned out to be as rebellious as his hair. And she had arranged it all those times. But eventually her wild strands would let lose again and he would bother her again and again. But this time the Rebel Prince had took the liberty to arrange her hair himself. A bold move indeed that would trigger Elsa's legs to feel dumb and Derek's hand to shake slightly.

"So are there more pirate jokes?" Elsa asked not daring to move an inch as he removed his hand slowly from her face and he proceeded to arrange her braid a little.

He smirked at her question and looked at her with that deep stare. She knew he was up to something. And she knew she had to react but also she was curious. Curious of what he was up to. His deep blue eyes were challenging her to a duel. Who would close them first.

Elsa forced her stare back at him. He was up to something and if she closed her eyes she knew he would do something that something. But that was the thing that bothered her the most. What was he up to?!

Derek leaned closer and closer, mimicking her move from last night when her fever made her act too freely for her own good. Was he taking revenge from last night? But NOTHING had happened last night. So, there was nothing to take revenge on. And yet, Elsa could tell he was totally replaying that same sensation from last night.

Don't close your eyes. Whatever you do. Don't. Close. Your. Eyes. She commanded herself.

A quick debate was happening in her mind that she didn't even notice when he had finished arranging her hair and had removed his hand form her hair. His head turning slightly.

"Oh yes." He wispered not breaking the eye contact. Then he closed one eye and frowned a little. His face looked funny and weird. His face reminded Elsa of some fishermen from the docks. But why?

"There ARRRGHH !" Derek suddenly exclaimed with a hoarse voce imitating a pirate.

Of course he had come up with that joke!

Then he winked at her and in a split of a second he stood away from her and began walking as fast as his cane and injured leg allowed him . "Sorry I couldn't help it!" he yelled back at her as he zig zagged through the trees with laughter. "Please don't turn me into an ice cream sundae. But not every day you pun yourself."

Elsa just stood there. Paralized with her back pressed to the tree mouth slightly open, open wide eyes and cheeks so red they could match Oaken's ridiculous hotel decorations. It took her at least one minute to process what he had said. He had used her own sentence as a joke. Which meant she had inadvertedly joked herself. Elsa felt her whole body be filled with heat. She blinked as realization hit her. He had played her with the worst joke ever to exist. And he was laughing now as his plan had totally worked. And the worst of all. She had ended totally frozen forever to that tree.

A new heat filled her body. Rage. Embarrassment and something else she couldn't name. She felt a new kind of energy. As if she had eaten lots ands lots of chocolates. And oh she was mad. Luckily that new strange energy worked as magic. Because she couldn't care less if she hurt herself again or how unlady like she was about to react. All she cared now was making him pay for what he did.

And so, she ran after him. Well as much as her injuries allowed her, but she was trotting, with one only thought on her mind. To catch that rebel Prince. Good thing she had conjured flat shoes for herself. Because she would not stop until that self proclaimed handsome wannabe pirate payed for it.

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"DEREK COME BACK HERE!" She ran behind him as he was cracking with laughter.

"AND LET YOU FREEZE MY BOOTY?! NO CAN'T DO ELSA!" he moved in zigzag in case Elsa decided to shot some ice balls.

But she was careful with her magic. She knew he was using a cane. He was hopping almost and using his cane to move as fast as he could. Due to their injuries it was hard to call it chase but what they had in lack of movement they had in other skills. He was agile. But she was smarter. Elsa was using her flexibility to change direction and try to get him.

And he was good at hiding but she was as good as he was in hide and seek. So, ironically what was once the origin of their first encounter as children - a simple game of hide and seek - was back as a more meaningful chase for them. Yet, in difference from their old selves, their adult versions seemed to be enjoying the game even more.

She could have used her magic to make him slip but she wouldn't do that. because she wanted to catch him fair and square. In difference of some pirate prince, she had principles.

But maybe she could use her powers on her favour without even touching him. She conjured a barrier of ice making him stop and change direction. He would hide again. But this time she would catch him.

"Clever girl!" he said as he dodged her grasp from his coat.

"Thanks. Now come here!" she said gasping and pursuing her chase.

Derek leaned back and avoided once again her grasp. This time Elsa had reached to touch his arm but he slipped smoothly.

"WHOAH! YOU ALMOST PATCHED ME!" he said in between breaths. "Get it Patch me?! Because pirates use eye patches?"

Elsa produced another ice wall to make him turn again.

"HOW IS IT THAT YOU CAN COME UP WITH BAD JOKES AND SNEEK AWAY AT THE SAME TIME?" she wondered catching her breath.

"I'LL TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT. WHY?" he asked as they kept chasing in circles around the road in the forest and icy walls. "ARE YOU FEELING HOOKED ALREADY TO MY JOKES ELSA?"

"YOU WISH!" she said as she followed after him not minding the branches in her hair and leaves.

This was nonsense. And yet Elsa couldn't figure out when they had started laughing but they were. The birds and some critters staring at them from the trees and beneath the bushes. Probably wondering what kind of weird species they were. And she couldn't agree more.

"Tired Your Majesty?" Derek teased at Elsa as they faced again. "Ready to show the white flag and surrender to the puns?"

"The only pun you are going to get is your own punishment Captain." She teased back.

He smiled and winked at her as he dodged her once again.

"Pun-ishment huh? You are such a natural Your Majesty. I would like to hear more puns from you but … " She extended her arm and he dodged it. "Sorry gotta sail!" He saluted and disappeared through the bushes.

Elsa sighed. Her body was getting tired but her will was stronger. And so she used her magic to clear the path through the bushes and went after him. She would catch him soon enough.

Derek seemed tired too. And now he just ran in circles. Well, not literally ran but trotted in a funny way using his cane to avoid her grasp. Elsa had to admit he was very athletic even with a cane. But he was no match for her. As her determination to catch him could only match his determination to escape his punishment. Both injured, probably out of breath and yet stubborn as ever. No matter what, they would never stop to compete with each other.

She knew he had played her good.

So good. Added her inner self.

And she had fell for it. Hard.

So hard. Her innner voice once again participated.

And yet, she couldn't be mad at him. Not after all they had been through. Not after how he helped her with everything last night in his very unorthodox way. His very Derekable way. A way she, deep, deep, veeeery deeeeep down had grown to treasure herself.

Very deeply. Her thoughs pointed out. She shook her head. It was no time to argue with her inner self.

She knew this was all of Derek's way to distract her from all of her troubling thoughts. And she hated to admit it, but it was working.

Working so well. Her mind added.

Fine. At least she could agree on that with her inner thoughts. He would always know what to do or say, she would give him that. At least for this moment she would forget about the royal duties, the fire, her magic acting weird, that mysterious cloaked figure that appeared in her dream last night, the sad memory of her parents, and even the ridiculous night they had experienced last night.

And so, the silent forest had been filled with their rambling and laughter. And the same for her heart. In this moment, it was just them goofing around. No titles, no worries and no witnesses. They were just them letting out some steam.

"SQUIRREL!" Derek stopped abruptly as he tried to avoid a passing squirrel in his path.

"GOTCHA!" Elsa exclaimed as she reached him but didn't notice the Prince had stopped and turned around to face her.

Their bodies crashed together. Her chest hitting his and a de ja vu scene played in both their minds just like that time, at the fountain, they fell into solid ground and a bunch of fallen leaves.

They hit solid ground making snow and leaves spread everywhere around them. Well, in all honesty Derek's back did. Elsa felt the impact too, but she had fell over him, and now she was on top of him. Her nose hurt from the impact and her air had been let out making her chest hurt a bit too.

But all in all she was fine. Nothing that didn't hurt before already. Her hands resting over his chest. She could feel under her fingers the slightly cold necklace he used with the ice crystal Elsa had gifted him.

"Ow!" Derek was the first to speak, or better say grunt in pain.

"Are you okay?". She asked as she raised her head to look at him.

"Aye. ARRRE you okay?" he joked in his bad pirate voice.

"Ugh if you are joking then you are mostly fine."

He shrugged.

She rolled her eyes as she sighed in relief. Of course he was okay.

"Although I might need a woodden leg." He joked again. "And a parrot to match."

"Yes. You are definitely okay." Elsa just grunted as he laughed.

"Hey Elsa are you sure you are feeling well. Are you considering becoming a pirate now?"

"What? No. Of course not. Why would you say that?"

"Because your hands are over my precious chest." He smirked at her and waited for her reaction.

Elsa felt once again the urge to cover her face with embarrassment and annoyance by the result of his words.

"Would you stop with the pirate jokes?" she asked him.

"Shore thing." He said shrugging at her.

"Derek." She pleaded as couldn't handle any more embarrassment.

"Fine. Fine. That was the last one." He said showing at her his hands in innocence.

Elsa got off his chest and stood up as fast as she could. The thought of holding his precious chest had been too much to handle for her own sanity. After calming herself she offered her hand to him and helped him stood up.

They stood in front of each other and shrugged at each other.

"Here's your cane." She said as she handled it to him.

"Thanks." He said. "So, I guess you got me. What's it going to be?"

"What?"

"My pun-ishment." He replied.

"Oh," Elsa thought. "I guess I did caught you. To be honest I never got the chance to think of what u would so once I got you. My only thought was to catch you."

"So no icy antlers?" he teased.

She laughed. "Tempting but no. Something new would work better."

"And no turning me into an ice cream Sunday either huh?"

"I don't think so." She admitted.

"Good. Sundaes are for sundays. And today is Saturday so…"

"Wait." Elsa interrupted him as she came up with an idea. "How about this?"

She swirled her hand and his dark brown hair was picked with tiny ice flakes. She made another swril and his hair swirled too until it looked like chocolate ice cream.

He sighed.

"I look ridiculous don't I?" his eyes looked up in annoyance. "No more handsome look I guess?"

"Something is missing." Elsa rested her chin in his hand in deep thought. Then her eyes shone as an idea popped in her head.

She looked up at the trees then at the bushes until she spotted what she was looking for.

With her magic she grabbed a red cherry from a branch and placed it at the top of his head.

"There!" now you look like a treasure dessert. "Now you look like a dessert".

"Hahaha. Su funny Elsa." He said sarcastically. "Happy now?"

"YES." She nodded content with her art work. She joined her hands satisfactory.

"So, how do I look? Ugly? Ridiculous?" he asked.

Elsa conjured a an ice mirror with her hand and showed him her work.

"Don't worry. Strangely your good looks are still intact." She said.

He smiled mischievously.

"What?"

"This is the second time you admit I am good looking."

Elsa rolled her eyes.

"Don't get me wrong," she said quickly "But after seeing you in all sorts of outfits it's hard to say which has been the most ridiculous of them all. But the cow suit and the onesie from last night are winning so far."

He studied his hair in the ice mirror and sighed.

"Hmmm, at least you didn't add sprinkles or candy." He smiled at himself in the mirror.

"Oh thanks for the idea." Elsa said teasingly and took out from her pocket a bunch of Oaken's heart shape candy and with a swirl of her hand the candy toffees were added to her art work. She added some shiny effect with her ice and …

"There!" she smiled mischievously.

He sighed.

"Why did I say that out loud?" he sighed again. "Do I look ridiculous enough now?"

"Quite." She giggled.

He rolled his eyes.

"Also," she pointed out as she looked at him as serious as she could. But she couldn't form a serious face. His funny hair was too distracting.

"Also what?"

"Thanks." She answered between giggles.

"For what?" He asked. "For letting you play with my hair?"

"Well yes. But I mean for everything." Elsa said regaining her calm voice. "For all of this I guess. Whatever it was. It did help."

"Anytime. My hair is your canvas. Also, speaking of hair, have you seen yourself in the mirror. Yours is also kind of a mess. Now we both need a comb. Well, mine needs a spoon now that it looks like ice cream."

Elsa looked herself at the mirror but then stopped and turned to look a the Prince when she felt him approach. He stretched his arm and removed a twig form her hair.

"Now who has a nest of a hair huh?"

Derek removed more twigs and then arranged some blond strands of hair to the back of her ear. She didn't flinch this time and welcomed the gesture with a shy smile.

"I guess we do need a hair brush." She nodded as she felt again that shiver when his palm caressed her cheek.

The simple guesture symbolizing the new confidence neither of them would dare to acknowledge out loud. Elsa guessed that after the pursue her hair must have endended in a total mess. But she didn't mind if he would be there to arrange it for her anyway.

They shared a shy and goofy smile and just stood there.

Elsa thought that maybe she should say something to break the ice.

Break the ice? Her inner voice asked in alert. For real?

Great. Now I'm thinking in puns too.

The jokes were rubbing on her too much. But they had to keep walking to catch on the others. So she should just say something. Yes. That was the right thing to do. They couldn't stay there forever after all. Except his arranged hair. That would remain like that for at least one hour to make him pay. Or maybe for the rest of the day. She still had to decide that.

"Uhm, Derek." / "Uhm, Elsa." they started at the same time.

"Sorry"/ "Sorry." and again they spoke at the same time.

"You go first,"/"You go first."

"Okay I'll go first,"/"Okay I'll go first."

"How about I go first?" a third voice called their attention.

Elsa and Derek turned around to meet the owner of the third voice.

"Anna?!" Elsa explaimed surprised.

"What are you doing here?" Derek asked.

Elsa looked at him sending the silent message of "why would you ask that?!"

Anna was smiling at them as mother's do to their children when they had been naughty.

"Yes hello dear sister. Hello dear Derek. What am I doing here you ask?" she said in a calm tender voice. "Well you see, I was coming back home with the others from a meeting we had with the ice harvesters' regarding a certain fire. Remember that fire. The one you survived as you got trapped inside a crussing building? And then you just jumped from the third floor and thanks to Marshmallow survived but still got injured. And while you were supposedly resting and healing those injuries me and the others would investigate about the cause of the fire. Remember when we agreed to that? And you would baby sit each other?"

"Oohhh" Derek said. "Well, things happened and we decided to catch on you guys. We were careful."

"So, if you were careful and taking care of the injuries you got in that fire, may I ask," she granted the sweetest of smiles. "what are you two doing in the forest and running and jumping and falling and all in all giving a damn about your injuries? And also playing with each other's hair?"

Anna sighed and closed her eyes. Then she opened them. Her eyes were not tender and her smile was gone. Pure determination shone in her green blueish eyes.

"Good thing I brought this with me." She said.

Anna took out of her purse a small glass bottle. The glass was dark but Derek paled as he seemed to have recognized the flask contents.

"We are sooo dead." Derek he whispered at the Queen.

"What?" she turned to him.

Anna took then a big spoon from her purse this time.

"Now which one of you goes first?" Anna asked with a sadistic tone in her tender voice.

"It's reindeer tonic. Run!" Derek yelled.

Elsa didn't have time to say anything to her sister as Derek took her hand and pulled her through the trees to escape from the infamous medicine. He even dropped his cane and ran even faster than before. Elsa not very sure what to say to Anna and seeing Derek's fear for the medicine just let herself being dragged along to a hidding spot in the bushes.

"Oh no you won't!" Anna said chasing after them.

"You two were supposed to get some rest!" she said as she ran behind them through the trees. "Come back here so that I can force some rest on you two! How dare you ignore my puppy eyes! They are irresistible!"

From afar, the trio of Kristoff, Olaf and Sven watched the entertainment the royals were giving. Kristoff opened the second bag of popcorn. This would take a while.

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About an hour later

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"How about now?"

"No."

"Oh okay." Olaf said as his snow head turned 180° degrees to his back and looked at Krsitoff once again. "And now?"

"No!" This time everyone in the wagon answered.

"Okay fine. I'll check later." The snowman rolled his head again and turned his eyes to the pair that was sitting with him in the wagon. Anna and Krsitoff were on the front.

Everyone sighed in relief.

"And now?"

"Yes." Kristoff answered sarcastically.

"Really? Because this place doesn't looks like the trolls home." Olaf said as he looked around.

"That's because it isn't." Krisotff said.

Olaf gasped.

"I cannot believe it!" the snowman declared. "You've been hiding another troll family from us? And you never told us. After all that we've been through? After we shared popcorn together?"

Anna hit her boyfriend's arm playfully.

"Fine, fine." The ice harvester apologized. "The truth is I have another family. Ow!"

Anna had hit Kristoff in the arm again.

"I mean. I was just messing around. I don't have a another family. Hehe. Sorry buddy. I'll promise you'll be the first one to know when we arrive."

"Oh, I was just messing with you too Kristoff." Olaf smiled and turned again his head to the right position.

"Hey!" Krsitoff turned his head as the snowman and the Prince snickered in laughs.

"Good one mate." Derek fist bumped the wooden fist of the snowman.

Anna turned her head this time.

"Hey, you are grounded mister. You are not allowed to do anything funny and that includes plotting with Olaf." Anna said as she turned to look at the Prince who was sitting next in one corner of the wagon. "Unless you want more reindeer tonic to fresh up your memory."

The Prince gulped and closed his mouth. "Hehe, no more jokes. I promise."

"Good boy." Anna tried to say in a bossy voice but then as soon as her eyes spotted Derek's hair she lost it and started laughing.

"I'm sorry," she said trying to recover her serious tone. She was meant to sound angry at them."Your hair, it's…it's…too much to handle."

The Prince sighed and turned his eyes to the other side of the wagon where Elsa was sitting.

"Sorry but I have to keep this ice cream hair until she decides I payed enough." His eyes turned slightly to the Queen.

"And I think you haven't payed enough for what you did." Elsa's eyes turned to look at him.

"And I still don't know what he did?" Anna tried to get any information from them. But again it was all in vain. Whatever happens in the forest stays in the forest.

Derek and Elsa shared a look, then turned they face to the side and just answered the same old reply Anna was already expecting.

"It's a long story." The both said.

Anna just rolled her eyes.

"Fine. At least could any of you tell us how did you ended up coming to look for us. I am not buying that you wanted to see the trolls too and then decided to walk all the way here." Anna said to both of them, but looking at her sister.

Derek scratched his hair and turned to look at Elsa as if he were waiting for her to speak first. Anna knew then that he wouldn't say anything until Elsa was fine with it. Elsa met his gaze and for a second Anna could have sworn they were arguing with each other in silence.

He frowned and so did Elsa. Then Derek frowned more until Elsa just sighed.

Elsa nodded silently at the Prince then she turned again to him with a questioning look. He nodded back then turned to look at Anna.

"Hey Anna, my back is killing me for sitting here. Care to switch places for a while?" Derek said. "Kristoff mate, can you stop the wagon. In other circumstances I would jump to the other side but if I hurt my leg Anna would give me that reindeer tonic which I would rather avoid at all costs."

"Uhm, sure." Kristoff pulled Sven's reigns and so the Prince switched places with Anna.

Anna was not sure why the sudden request from Derek but she had the feeling it was due to the silent argument Elsa and Derek had just had.

"Hey Olaf," Derek called the snowman. "I'm hungry. I only had heart shaped candy for breakfast. Did you bring any more snacks? Why don't you bring them here as we play a little game."

"Sure." the snowman grabbed a little bag he had brought and jumped to sit between Derek and Kristoff.

"Where did you get heart shaped candy?" Kristoff asked the Prince. "And why do you smell like like cheap perfume?"

"Long story mate." Derek said as he filled his mouth with popcorn. "I fell over some flowers that's all."

"Like a ton of flowers?"

Derek filled his mouth of popcorn and just replied with mumbles.

"What?"

Derek swallowed his food and then sighed. "Anyway,…. About that game…"

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Anna who was sitting on Derek's former spot just kept staring at the Prince with confusion.

Then as if he had felt someone's staring at him he turned his head slightly and winked back with a mischievous smile then returned to chat with Olaf and Kristoff.

Elsa sighed deeply next to her.

It was then that Anna understood that Derek had winked back at the Queen. And apparently his mischievous smile and by Elsa's sigh of defeat, were clear signs it had been the Prince who had won their secret argument.

The Queen looked down avoiding Anna's eyes then took a deep breath and turned her head to address her sister.

"I am sorry Anna." She started apologizing with a low tone of voice. Anna had to approach and sit closer to be able to listen. Anna's nose itched as soon as she sensed Elsa's fragrance. She smelled like a whole garden of flowers. It was a mystery how the Queen and the Prince both smelled like, as Kristoff said cheap perfume. Th whole wagon now smelled like them. Like aromatic candles that could make you feel sick of the stomach. Or like that shampoo for reindeers that Okaen sells in his shop.

"I am sorry Anna. For everything."

Elsa's soft voice made Anna's thoughts about her sister's scent to focus on what she was actually saying.

"Elsa, you don't have to apologize. "Anna patted her sister's hand affectionately. "I know that things that had happened have been out of our control and you have been dealing with your powers acting strange to top it all. Look, I might not now about magic but it would be nice if you would share with me how you feel. You don't have to carry all the burden to yourself."

"You are right. I guess Derek is right about something I am too stubborn for my own good. I won't gain anything by keeping things to myself. You deserve to know now. Not until we reach the trolls."

Anna saw as Elsa rubbed one of her arms. A gesture she did when she felt unneasy. So Anna took that arm and hugged it. Elsa seemed to calm herself and after a second or two she began talking again. More calm but still in a low voice. For only Anna to hear.

Anna realized now that Derek had switched places and was distracting the others to give them a bit of privacy while Elsa talked to Anna. Anna had to give some recognition to Derek. His plan had worked quite well.

"The truth is, I was worried about my powers and wanted to test my magic somewhere safe. And Derek tried to stop me of course and that led us to argue. It took a while to confess my true intentions to him, but I ended telling him about my concerns and he changed his mind. He would let me go with the condition that he would escort me. And so, we came to an agreement and after avoiding the staff, we all left the castle."

Anna simply nodded as she held Elsa's arm gently. She didn't mind the cold of her dress but if she were honest the smell of roses could be a bit too overwhelming.

Anna blinked. She had to concentrate. Later she could ask about her sister's perfume of preference.

"And then we went to the forest where I tested my magic. Everything seemed alright. And I felt no pain anymore. I tested my magic for hours and …. " Elsa's eyes looked at the far forest, "well, we sort of lost track of time and as it was too late we uhm…. we met Oaken and uhm, we rented a cabin from him to pass the night. Our plan was to go wake up early in the morning and return to the castle before you guys arrived. I didn't want to worry you any more and my magic was acting normal now. But then I had a really weird nightmare."

A nightmare?" Anna asked.

"I still don't know what to think of it but…" Elsa bit her lip and her eyes looked up. Anna followed her sister's gaze and it seemed like Elsa were staring at Derek's back. Elsa removed her gaze from him and then looked down again. "It was a very live dream."

And so Elsa told Anna about her dream and how in parallel Derek was experiencing the dream himself as her magic was forming scenes of it. Elsa talked about the fire and how her magic acted erratic in her dream. Then mentioned her magic seemed to act defensive towards a mysterious cloaked figure. Which of course turned on all of Anna's alarm inner systems. But she didn't want to run into conclusions yet until they reach Grand Pabbie. His interpretation was more than ever crucial now.

Still, Anna couldn't just act like her sister and pretend nothing worried her so of course she began asking her sister details about her dream and now she was fearing about her health. Elsa with a fever, could be quite magical, so to speak.

"You were having a fever? Elsa every time you get feverish your magic acts on its own. How did you stop it?" Anna asked.

"I didn't." Elsa admitted. "It was actually Derek who help me recover my consciousness."

"What did he do?" Anna said as she looked at the Prince with a new interest.

"He uhm…" Elsa avoided her sister's eyes as she seemed to remember something. "He sumerged me into cold water."

"Cold water? Did you stay near a lake or something?" Anna asked curious. "Oh, don't tell me he carried you to the river near Oaken's with an injured leg. You should have told me before, you both will need another big dose of reindeer tonic just to be safe."

"Please no!" Elsa said quickly. It seemed not only Derek but also her sister feared the medical remedy. " He uhm…he carried me to the bathtub that was in the cabin." Elsa explained mumbling.

"A bathtub?" Anna frowned confused. "In a cabin? Right the middle of the forest?"

Elsa tried to show an innocent smile.

"Yeah. You know Oaken. He likes trends and stuff."

"Stuff?"

"Stuff." Elsa repeated.

"What kind of stuff? Where did you say you stayed?"

"Err," Elsa seemed to be lost at words. "Well,…"

"Land Ahoy!" Derek suddenly yelled calling everyone's attention. He had stood up and was pointing at the front with his cane. Like a kid playing to be a pirate.

"Derek, what the hell?!" Kristoff asked as he and Olaf also looked at Derek with surprise. He had blurted that out of the blue. Even Sven looked back to check on the Prince sudden exclamation.

"Nothing mate." The Prince said. "I guess I might be under the effects of reindeer tonic. They should add to the label of its secondary effects that you could end up yelling randomly ridiculous stuff."

"But, to talk like a pirate?" Kristoff said.

"Who cares?" he laughed. "That way it will be more interesting. On course matey! We are getting . Actually I really don't know where we are and where are we going.." Derek said with a pirate voice. Wether he was under the effects of medicine analgesics or he was just pretending he was able to call everyone's attention to him. "But that doesn't matter my fellow crew members. Because that means we can go only forward. Adventure into the unknown. Whose with me?"

"Aye aye Captain." Olaf joined completely absorted with the new game.

"What about the other game we were playing?" Kristoff asked.

"We can be pirates that play games. Right Derek?" Olaf said. "I mean Captain Derek."

"Of course we can, Quarter Master Olaf. As my right hand and second im command you are in charge or the snacks and games."

"Ohh I like that sound of that!" Olaf said happy. "Okay my turn. My eyes spot something green and brown."

"Is it another tree?" Kristoff said in a sarcastic voice.

"Yeah!" Olaf said. "I still don't know how you do it Kristoff."

"That's beacuse Kristoff is an excellent Sailing Master. He is not only in charge of the helm but also he can decipher any map and riddle."

"The answer has been trees five times already pal." Kristoff said.

"It could have been a palm tree in these tropical waters." Derek declared. "Now, let's keep looking for land."

"How long has it been since you got some sleep?"

"It's been a whale since my last nap. I got distracted by a little mermaid yesterday." The Prince gave a quick glance back a f shared a look with Elsa. She rolled her eyes and smiled briefly.

Anna was even more lost now. What was happening? For real? Now they were laughing at an inner joke involving a mermaid? Maybe the reindeer tonic did have allucinations as side effects. Or not.

"What?" Kristoff asked again confused. "You hadn't slept for two days?"

"Captain I see something ahead!" Olaf said excited.

"Good eye Master Olaf. Could it be a treasure?"

"I don't know. But it's green." The snowman replied.

"Please tell me it's not another tree." Kristoff sighed.

Derek and Olaf just ignored the driver and kept playing being pirates.

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Anna just stared at the boys interactions but specially her eyes studied the Prince. He kept acting like nothing was happening. But Anna knew he had been listening to their conversation. The only one who did not seem surprised about Derek's sudden pirate game was Elsa. Why did Elsa didn't react when she got interruptes by him? And that moment they seemed to share an inner joke.

Then it hit her. A memory form their dancing practice. Elsa had mentioned before about Derek having good hearing and words of the Queen herself, a talent and taste for gossip. So if Elsa was not surprised then she must have known from the begining that the Prince would be able to hear them. He could be so weird sometimes, but her sister, didn't seem to mind.

Yet, that didn't explained why Elsa didn't seem to mind Derek playing to be pirates with Olaf.

Her sister however, had also stopped taking and just kept staring at the pair of self proclaimed pirates now. Already forgetting she had been interruped. Anna could spot a soft smile staring to form at the corner of her lips. Well, at least she found it funny.

"Elsa?"

"Yes?" Elsa snapped and turned to her sister.

"So, you were talking about that cabin you stayed in?"

"Oh right." Elsa cleared her throat. "As I was saying I had a nightmare and Derek helped to cease the fever with cold water. The cabin had ridiculous furniture like a bathtub as I mentioned before and well…. long short story Derek sumerged me into the cold water." Elsa said with a new calm she hadn't had before. "Anyway, if it weren't for him I don't know what would have happened." Elsa said changing her tone to a more soft one. Elsa looked at the trees in the distance deep in thought. "After I woke up we talked about my dream and what each other saw. Then decided to catch on you guys and go to the trolls together."

"Did you get some sleep?"

"A few hours." Elsa admitted. "Things were too distracting to keep my mind at ease."

"You mean the nightmare? Or mermaid stuff apparently?"

"The nightmare, a mermaid tale and some other stuff too." Elsa whispered as her eyes closed slightly then opened again to stare at the trees.

Anna felt curious now. Elsa's mouth had twisted in a funny way. Was she trying to hide a smile or a frown? Anna could not tell. But there was something in Elsa's voice and eyes that Anna only saw in her sister very few occasions.

Anna was about to ask something but was interrupted as the wagon stopped suddenly.

"Laaaand in sight!" Olaf's voice called the sister's attention.

"Aye aye Master Olaf. All hands on deck. Master Kristoff relase the anchor." Derek said as Olaf giggled with excitement. " Good work Master Sven. This ship couldn't ask for a better First Mate."

The reindeer shook his head in a exited manner and stood firmly with his head high and proud.

"Aye, aye Captain." Kristoff mumbled making his Sven's voice.

"How's the crew back there?" Derek turned around. His ice cream hair bouncing as he turned around. Giving him the look of the least menacing pirate ever and the most ridiculous one to sail the seas.

Anna and Elsa exchanged looks for a moment then started giggling.

"It's the hair isn't it." the Prince sighed then arched a an eyebrow.

"Aye , aye Captain." Both sisters said making them laugh again.

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Ahoy there mates! Hope you liked it so far. Sorry for the bad puns. See you next chapter.