I would like to thank roxygoth, BurningFox6, krystal lazuli, and LukeJames for beta reading and helping me improve!

Feedback is always appreciated!

Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen. Frozen is owned by Disney. I only lay claim to Prince Edmund, Prince Lucas, Master Stephen, and anyone else you do not recognize from Frozen.

Chapter 17

Edmund, Stephen, and Matthew were back in the streets of London. As they walked and continued to be greeted by the fanatical residents cheering for their treasured monarchs, the ebullient young prince was thinking of something. He was hoping to find somewhere to try out his wooden sword and shield.

"Father? May we find somewhere for me to give my wooden sword and shield a try please?" the young boy asked.

"Of course, Edmund. We will look around the city and see if there are any other boys around your age for you to maybe spar with," the king responded.

"Thank you, father!" Edmund exclaimed.

"You are welcome, my son," Matthew replied with a smile.

The two men and the young boy continued walking until they noticed a group of young boys playing with their wooden swords and shields. Surrounding the boys were young girls and their respective parents. As the young boys sparred with each other, the young girls cheered them on, while their parents made sure no one got hurt.

Before they made their way towards the group, Stephen told Edmund, "I should let you know that I would like for you to be fair with the other boys. Please do not attempt anything that will get you or anyone else injured. We certainly cannot have you getting hurt on your birthday, now, can we?"

"No, Master," Edmund replied with a shake of his head.

"Good. Now go show the boys what you are truly made of," Stephen said with a grin.

"Okay Master. I will make sure to take it easy on them," Edmund stated.

"That is what I am talking about," Stephen said approvingly as he gently patted on Edmund's head.

Upon seeing their king approaching them, the young boys ceased their sparring to bow respectfully. The young girls curtsied, and their parents also acknowledged King Matthew with reverential bows and curtsies of their own.

Edmund's eyes were on one of the girls. She had familiar brown hair and virid eyes.

Matthew took notice of whom had his son's attention and grinned. With an encouraging gesture from his father, the young prince approached her. Before Edmund got close enough to speak with her, he turned around to face his father and his mentor. The two men gave him smiles to uplift the young boy. Edmund grinned back before he made his way towards the girl. Upon getting a closer look at her, the young boy realized it was the same girl that greeted him earlier. "Hey! Are you the girl from earlier?"

"I am! Hello Prince Edmund," the girl said with a smile.

"Hello. What is your name?" Edmund asked curiously.

"I am Jane," the girl replied as she and Edmund shook hands.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Jane. If I may ask, how old are you?" the English prince wondered.

"Five," Jane responded.

"Nice! I am turning six today," the young boy stated.

"Happy Birthday, Prince Edmund!" Jane exclaimed.

"Thank you, Jane. I must say it has been a splendid birthday today," Edmund stated.

"I am glad to hear that," the young girl replied, beaming.

The young prince smiled. "I saw you were watching the boys here playing with their wooden swords and shields."

"Yes. There is one boy named Richard who has not lost to anyone in a duel," Jane explained.

"Oh really?" Edmund asked with interest.

"Yeah. I think you should spar with him," Jane encouraged.

"I guess I will try," Edmund said.

OoOoOoOoOoO

As the two children talked, the parents of Jane smiled at their daughter talking with the prince. They then turned their attention to King Matthew and Sir Stephen.

"It seems your son Prince Edmund enjoys speaking with my daughter, Your Majesty," Jane's father said with a nod of approbation.

"Yes. He noticed your daughter as we were walking to the archery range. I bet my son waving to her made her day," Matthew replied.

"Jane was indeed very excited when your son saw her and waved, King Matthew," Jane's father stated with a grin.

"Edmund is a good boy who is always trying to be nice to everyone he is around," Stephen replied.

"Sounds like you and King Matthew have been wonderful influences on him, Sir Stephen," Jane's father stated.

"We try our best," Stephen responded with a nod of approval.

"I do not think we have met before. What is your name, sir?" the king asked.

"My name is George Smith, Your Majesty." He then gestured towards his wife. "This is my wife, Maria."

"It is a pleasure to be at your acquaintances, Your Majesty and Sir Stephen," Maria greeted.

"You as well," Stephen replied.

"Likewise," King Matthew stated with a grin. "What do you do for a living, George?"

"I own the market down there." George pointed to a market down the street. The king and his best friend looked and knew exactly what George was talking about.

"Interesting. Do you enjoy what you do?" Matthew asked.

George nodded. "I love what I do, and I am sure you enjoy being King of England."

King Matthew shrugged. "I am just trying to make sure I am the best king I can be," the king replied modestly.

"You know, you are the best king I have ever lived under during my time in London. I like how you serve as a good role model to everyone here, especially the children," George praised.

"Thank you very much for the compliments. Serving as an excellent role model can certainly inspire children to work hard and chase their dreams. If they put the work in and never give up, their dreams could become reality," Matthew explained. "How does it feel raising Jane?"

"She is a wonderful girl with the sunniest personality of any little girl in the kingdom. Jane is the sunshine of our family. I am proud to be her mother," Maria said fondly.

"I am thrilled to hear Jane lights up your day no matter how you are feeling," Matthew said with a nod of approval.

"Me too," Maria replied. "What about you raising Prince Edmund? How does it feel to you raising him?"

"I am blessed to have Edmund as my son, as I am to have Stephen as my best friend. While I may be Edmund's father, Stephen is close enough to him that he acts as a second father to my son," the king stated.

"You sound like a nurturing and encouraging father, Your Majesty," Maria praised.

"Well, I try," Matthew replied.

"Not only are you raising your son the right way, but you are also modest and carefree. That is why I am glad you are our king," George replied with a smile.

"I appreciate how everyone here is so warm, welcoming and lets me serve them," King Matthew stated gratefully.

"Of course," George responded. "What do you do for a living, Sir Stephen?"

"I am Edmund's personal instructor. Ever since the day he was born, I have been training him in every fighting style known to man as well as every weapon. Until today, he has not used any weapons whatsoever. I wanted to make sure to wait until he was old enough so he would not hurt himself or anyone else by accident. Since he was a baby, I have made sure he stretches and strengthens every part of his body daily. Now that he is six years old, I believe Edmund is ready to take the next step in his training," Stephen explained.

"That is a good thing to do. Teach someone how to defend themselves," George stated.

"Indeed. A warrior must not only have good offense, but great defense as well. When I began to train Edmund, I had the desire to be a better mentor than my own instructor ever was," Stephen elaborated.

"Sorry to hear your instructor was not as good as you," George said sympathetically.

"It was not that I am better than him talent-wise. He was just a very hard man to please. Every time I messed something up, he snapped at me and made me do it repeatedly until I did it correctly," Stephen explained.

"He didn't sock you or anything, did he?" George asked, concerned.

Stephen shook his head. "He only yelled at me. I guess it is better than being struck by him, even though neither one is a pleasant experience."

"It saddens me you had to go through that, Sir Stephen," George said sympathetically.

"Once my training was complete, my instructor apologized for pushing me so hard and risking me getting serious injuries. He and I made amends with each other and reconciled. Even though he may have seemed evil, he truly was not like that at all. He always had a heart of gold, even if he rarely chose to show it," Stephen explained.

"While it did sound quite rough for you, I am happy you were able to make it up with him, and vice versa," George replied with a smile.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Edmund approached the boy he presumed was Richard, clutching his wooden sword and shield. He was a little taller than the young prince, with blonde hair and orange eyes.

"Who is next? Anyone want to challenge me to a duel?" Richard stated proudly.

"May I give it a try please?" Edmund asked.

"Are you sure you would like to face me?" Richard asked.

"Yes, I would like to face you," Edmund replied. "If that is okay with you."

Stolen story; please report.

Richard smiled and nodded at the young prince. "Sure! Show me what you got!"

The two young boys entered a fighting stance, preparing for their duel with the wooden weapons. Edmund allowed Richard to make the first move. Richard attempted to strike Edmund with his wooden sword, only for the young prince to effortlessly block it with his wooden shield.

Soon an intense sparring match commenced between the two young boys. The other children cheered them on. Edmund dodged another attempt from Richard to strike him, while Richard parried the young prince's swing of his sword.

"Come on, Edmund!" Jane cheered.

"Get him, Richard!" another one of the boys yelled.

The shields of the young boys slammed into each other. Edmund and Richard drew their shields back, trying to strike each other. Both their swords collided with each other. Richard tried to strike the young prince, and Edmund ducked under the sword that harmlessly swung over him.

With Richard still recovering from his swing, Edmund took advantage and used his sword to disarm the blonde-haired boy. Richard's eyes widened as he saw Edmund pointing his sword to his throat.

Admitting defeat, Richard held up his hands. "Alright. You win."

"I must admit, you really made me work for it. You are a good opponent," Edmund replied, lowering his sword.

"You are a good opponent as well," Richard said as he held out his hand. "I am Richard."

"Prince Edmund," the young prince greeted as the two boys shook hands.

"Your Highness," Richard said with a respectful bow.

Edmund laughed. "You do not have to do that, Richard. While my father and I appreciate it when our subjects bow before us, you do not have to bow every time you see us."

"I take it you will not have any issues with me just calling you Edmund, then?" Richard asked.

"Of course!" Edmund replied.

"As you wish, Edmund," Richard stated.

"Shall we do another match?" the black-haired boy replied.

"Yes, we shall," the blonde-haired boy responded with a grin as the two boys got ready for another sparring match.

After doing a few more matches, with Edmund winning each time, Richard's parents called him, signaling it was time for lunch.

"Well, my parents are calling me, Edmund. It was great meeting you," Richard said with a smile.

"It was nice to meet you as well, Richard. Perhaps we will see each other again?" Edmund replied.

"Certainly. See you later Edmund," Richard responded with a smile and a wave.

"Bye, Richard!" Edmund exclaimed as he grinned and waved at his new friend, watching him run towards his parents.

The young prince then turned and saw Jane running towards him. "You won, Edmund!"

Edmund smiled shyly at the cute girl before him. "Yeah. I guess I did."

"Why don't I introduce you to my parents?" Jane suggested.

"Yes please," Edmund said as the two children made their way to where King Matthew and Sir Stephen were conversing with Jane's parents.

OoOoOoOoOoO

As King Matthew and Sir Stephen continued to talk with Jane's parents, the four adults noticed Edmund and Jane approaching them.

"Well, it seems Jane would like to introduce Prince Edmund to us," George said, smiling.

"Then we shall let her introduce Edmund to you," Stephen said as he and the king talked with each other to allow Jane's parents to be introduced to the prince.

"Prince Edmund, this is my mother and father," Jane stated, gesturing toward her parents.

"You can just call me Edmund, Jane," Edmund said.

"Okay Edmund!" Jane exclaimed.

The young prince beamed before he looked up at Jane's parents towering over him. "Hello. I am Prince Edmund. You can just call me Edmund if you like."

"It is my pleasure to be at your acquaintance, Your Highness. My wife and I would like to wish you a very Happy Birthday," George greeted.

"Happy Birthday, Prince Edmund," Maria said with a beam.

"Thank you! What is your last name?" the young prince asked curiously.

"Smith, Your Highness," George replied. "While I appreciate you allowing my wife, Jane, and I to just call you Edmund, we must treat our beloved royals with upmost respect."

"Thank you, Mr. Smith," Edmund said.

"Of course, Prince Edmund," George responded. "I own the market over there, as I told your father." Mr. Smith pointed towards a market further down the road.

"That is nice! Do you sell fruits and vegetables there?" the young prince asked.

"We certainly do. The market sells fruits, vegetables, and numerous types of foods commonly found in England," George explained.

"There's also various chocolates there as well!" Jane added in.

"Chocolate is something I enjoy very much on special occasions," Edmund replied with a smile.

"Me too," the young girl responded, smiling.

"What have you done for your birthday thus far, Prince Edmund?" George asked.

"My father and master took me to an archery range to help me learn how to use a bow and arrow. After that, we came here, and I met Richard. He and I sparred with our wooden swords and shields for a little bit," Edmund replied.

"Edmund defeated Richard!" Jane proclaimed.

"While that is true, it is nothing to brag about," Edmund stated with a shrug.

"Such a fine man you will become someday, Your Highness," Mr. Smith stated with a nod of approval.

"I will try, Mr. Smith. My father and master have been there for me every step of the way. I would not have it any other way," Edmund declared.

OoOoOoOoOoO

As King Matthew and Sir Stephen continued to talk with each other, they soon realized it was lunchtime. Thus, they decided to take Edmund out to a restaurant of his choice.

The two men saw Edmund with Jane and her parents.

Once the king and his best friend were close enough, Matthew cleared his throat, which caught his son's attention.

"Edmund, I think it is time we have some lunch. We can go to whatever restaurant you would like, son," the king stated encouragingly.

"Okay father! Before we leave, may I say goodbye to everyone please?" Edmund asked.

"Of course," Matthew said with a grin as he watched his young son bid the Smith's farewell.

"It was a pleasure to meet you Jane," Edmund said.

"Nice to meet you too, Edmund!" the brown-haired girl exclaimed as she shook hands with the young prince.

Upon finishing their handshake, Edmund turned his attention to the girl's parents. "It was nice to meet you today, Mr. and Mrs. Smith," the young boy said.

"Likewise, Your Highness. Hope you have a great rest of your birthday," George replied with an encouraging grin.

"Perhaps we will see each other again soon?" the black-haired boy asked.

"Of course, Prince Edmund," George said as he then turned his attention to the king and Sir Stephen.

"It was a great pleasure speaking to you, your wife, and your daughter, George. Jane seems to have made a new friend today," Matthew said as he held out his hand.

"Certainly. It seems your son and my daughter will be friends for many years to come," George replied as he smiled and shook King Matthew's hand. Mr. Smith then shook Sir Stephen's hand. "Hope everything goes well for you and everyone else in the castle, Sir Stephen."

"You as well with the market. We will gladly stop by sometime," Stephen replied with a nod.

"Please do. You are always welcome," Mr. Smith said.

"I appreciate it," Stephen said as everyone shook each other's hands and waved.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Matthew, Edmund, and Stephen were walking through the streets. As men of their word, the king and his best friend agreed to let the young prince choose where they went for lunch since it was his birthday. Edmund chose to go to the kingdom's most famous restaurant, The Knight's Pantry. The Knight's Pantry served every kind of food one could think of. While they did serve English food, the restaurant also served many unique dishes from around the world. At least partially because of this, everyone in London loved their food.

When the three royals arrived, the host seated them at their finest table, which was a private room designated for the king and his family.

It would not be long before their server greeted them with a respectful bow. "Good afternoon, Your Majesties. How is everyone doing today?"

"We are doing quite well. Thank you for asking. Today is my son's birthday," Matthew replied.

"Happy Birthday, Your Highness!" the waiter exclaimed. "What may I get for you to drink, today?"

"I would like water, please," Edmund said.

"Of course. What about you King Matthew and Sir Stephen?" the waiter asked.

"Stephen and I will have sparkling apple cider please," the king replied.

"Certainly. I will be right back with your drinks," the waiter said with a smile.

As the two men and the young boys looked over their menus, a question popped up in Edmund's mind.

"Father? Master?" the young prince asked.

"Yes, Edmund?" Matthew replied.

"Did you need something, Ed?" Stephen added.

"Yes. I would like to ask you something," the young boy said.

"Certainly. What is it, son?" the king responded.

"Is it okay if I get anything I would like? I am just worried there might be certain things that are too unhealthy for your liking," Edmund asked.

"You may get whatever your heart desires, Edmund," Stephen replied. "While I have taught you and your father how to eat healthy, it is perfectly fine to treat yourself occasionally. Even the healthiest eaters will have an occasional slice of cake, bar of chocolate, or even other types of candy."

"Then may I have fish and chips please?" the English prince wondered.

"Of course, you may. Just let the waiter know," Stephen replied with a grin.

"Okay! Thank you," Edmund stated gratefully.

Soon the waiter returned with their drinks. After everyone had their drinks, the waiter asked, "Are we ready to order yet, Your Majesties? If not, please take all the time you need."

"I think we are ready now," Matthew replied.

"Of course! What may I get for you today, Your Majesty?" the waiter asked.

"I would like to have shepherd's pie please," the king said.

"Certainly. What about for you, Sir Stephen?" the waiter asked.

"As for me, I would like a vegetable pasty please," Stephen requested.

"Of course," the waiter stated. "What about you, Your Highness? Which entrée would you like today?"

"I will have fish and chips please," Edmund replied.

"Certainly. Since you are the birthday boy today, we will prepare it in a very special way," the waiter said with a smile.

"Thank you!" the young prince exclaimed.

"You are very welcome, Prince Edmund. We shall get started on your lunches right away," the waiter stated as he went to inform the cooks of their orders.

As the two men and the young boy waited for their meals to arrive, they all took turns going to the restroom to wash their hands.

Once all three of them had clean hands, Edmund asked his mentor, "Master Stephen? As soon as our meals arrive, may I have some of your vegetable pasty please? I will give you a piece of fish in exchange."

"Of course, you may, Edmund. It is your birthday, after all. While I do not need anything in exchange, I thank you for being polite and thinking of others by sharing. They say sharing is caring," the brown-haired man replied with a nod of approval.

"After lunch, you can also choose any dessert you like as well," his father added.

"This is the best birthday ever," Edmund said with a smile.

"I am elated to hear you say that, Edmund. We hope every birthday will only get better for you as you get older," King Matthew replied, grinning.

Soon their lunches arrived.

"Fish and chips for Prince Edmund, shepherd's pie for King Matthew, and a vegetable pasty for Sir Stephen," the waiter announced as he served the three royals their lunches. "Is there anything else I can get for you today, gentlemen?"

"Yes. May I have a word with you, please?" Stephen asked.

"Of course, Sir Stephen. What can I do for you?" the waiter wondered.

The brown-haired man walked up to the waiter and whispered something in his ear. Edmund watched his instructor say something to the waiter curiously. The young prince wondered what his mentor was doing.

Once Stephen had finished his request, the waiter beamed. "We can certainly do that for Prince Edmund! It will be out as soon as possible." The waiter then went back to the kitchen.

"Master? What did you tell him?" Edmund asked as Stephen sat back down.

"It is a surprise," Stephen said with a smile as he cut some of his pasty and handed it to the young prince on a separate plate. Edmund then handed his mentor a piece of his fish that came with his fish and chips.

The three royals then sat in silence as they enjoyed their meals. Edmund made sure to have the fish before the fries as he learned from his father and mentor that one must have the most important part of the meal first. With fish and chips, the fish was the most important part.

Soon the royals were finished with their lunches. Not long after, other staff members of the restaurant, along with the waiter serving them, entered their private dining area cheering and clapping. The waiter had a plate with a large slice of carrot cake on it. On top of the cake was a small candle that had been lit.

The staff then sang Happy Birthday to the young prince. As they did, Edmund sat there, a wide, grateful grin on his face.

When the singing concluded, the young boy blew out the candle. The waiter then jokingly asked, "Did you wish for carrot cake, Your Highness?"

"I guess I did," the black-haired boy said, causing everyone to laugh.

"Hope you enjoy the cake, Prince Edmund," the waiter stated.

"Thank you!" Edmund exclaimed.

"You are welcome," the waiter replied with a beam as Edmund began to enjoy his carrot cake.

As soon as the cake had been finished and the food had been paid for, the three royals thanked everyone at the restaurant for making Edmund's birthday special and headed back to the palace.

OoOoOoOoOoO

That night, the three royals had a hearty dinner. After that, they had cake and ice cream for dessert. While the royals enjoyed having sweets from time to time, they eschewed from every type of candy except chocolate. Outside of chocolate, it was mostly cake and ice cream the royals consumed for sweet treats.

It could not have been a better sixth birthday for Prince Edmund.

As he lay in bed, reading a book, his father and mentor sat beside him.

Once the young prince had finished reading a chapter in the book, he closed it and put it on his nightstand.

"This is a birthday that I will never forget. Thank you, father, and Master Stephen, for ensuring it was the best birthday possible," the young prince stated with a grin.

"Anything for you, son. You only turn six years old once," Matthew said.

"Now that you are six, next up is seven. Am I correct?" Stephen asked.

"You are, indeed, Master," Edmund replied. "Not only was it a great birthday today, but I also made a couple of friends today."

"You certainly did. It is always a good thing to make friends with your subjects as you are going to be looking after them someday, Edmund," King Matthew stated.

"Will I really be a king when I am older, father?" Edmund wondered.

The king nodded. "You are heir to England after the sun has set on my reign. Once that day comes, the sun will rise with your reign."

"I will do my best to be as great a king as you are, father," Edmund proclaimed.

"Spoken like a true future king," Matthew said with a smile at his son's determination.

"I know you have only met them today, but I think Jane and Richard will be lifelong friends for you, Edmund," Stephen said.

"You really think so, Master?" the young prince asked.

"Of course, Ed. I met your father when he was about your age. At that time, I was much younger than I am today," Stephen stated.

"How old were you when you met my father?" Edmund wondered.

"I was eleven years old at the time," Stephen answered.

"You told me once that you met in Ireland, right? That is where you and father are from originally?" the English prince asked.

Stephen nodded. "Yes. Your father and I grew up in Dublin, Ireland. Dublin is the capital of the country. Maybe someday, we could go to Dublin and show you everything the city has to offer."

"Yes. I would like that very much," Edmund said with a smile. Then he yawned. "I think I am getting tired. Time for me to get some sleep, I guess."

"You go ahead and get some rest, son. A man needs his rest, after all," Matthew said.

"That he does. Good night, father," Edmund said, grinning at his father.

"Good night, son. Sleep well," the king stated with a smile as he gently patted his young son on the head.

"Good night, Master," the young prince said to his mentor.

"You as well, Ed. We will see you in the morning," Stephen said with a beam as he patted the young boy's shoulder before he and his best friend left the prince's room to allow him some peace and quiet.

The young prince smiled as he closed his eyes. His sixth birthday was truly a memorable one. He hoped that next year would be even better.