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, and Master Stephen.

Chapter 6

After finishing their lunches and packing their tools onto the ice-filled sled, Kristoff, Edmund, and Lucas made their way back to the kingdom. The three men arrived back in Arendelle during the early afternoon. Kristoff acknowledged that with how swiftly the work got done, it was still at least a few hours before dinner time. The ice harvester had no idea what he would do yet but figured he could come up with something once the ice was stored in the kingdom icehouse. Spend some time with Anna, perhaps?

"This is where the ice will get stored, gentlemen," Kristoff pointed out as they approached the icehouse.

"Speaking of ice, my father has mentioned something about ice trades. The ice gets shipped to England and many other countries around the world from Norway. I wonder how they ship the ice across the sea without it melting," Edmund curiously inquired.

"In order to ship the ice, we are required to use ice boxes. They are made from wood and are insulated with either straw, sawdust, cork, and sometimes seaweed. After that, we line the boxes with non-corroding metals such as zinc and tin," Kristoff explained.

"That is quite interesting. I never knew you guys had a way of transporting the ice over long distances while managing to keep it frozen solid long enough to get it to another icehouse. My father has shown me the London icehouse and how the ice gets shipped there and stored in the icehouse. It was certainly cold in there, and I can see why it needs to be cold," the English prince stated.

"If there is something I am certain about icehouses, I have no doubt it must be cold in there because ice needs to stay cold in order to remain solid. Ostenda has an icehouse, and we use it to keep perishable foods fresh and for cooling during the warm summer months," Lucas added in.

"You're right about that, Luc. Arendelle's icehouse is also used to keep food fresh and for cooling during the warmest time of year. Usually, the warmest time of year in Arendelle is the middle of July. The icehouse keeps the ice from melting for months, even into the following winter," the ice harvester said.

"I am glad to hear you have a way to properly store ice. Mid-July seems to be the warmest time of year just about anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere," the Belgian prince stated.

"It sure is, and I can see why. We are firmly in summer by then," Kristoff replied as they got out of the sled to transport the ice into the icehouse. "Alright gentlemen. Ready to get the ice out of the sled?"

Both princes nodded as they began to help Kristoff store the ice. Edmund and Lucas made sure to follow the ice harvester's lead and to make the stacking of the ice blocks as precise as possible. The goal was to make the ice take up as little room as the three men were able to do.

Soon the sled had been emptied of the ice, and the icehouse had been sealed shut.

"I thank you guys again for your help. This should be enough ice to last for a while," Kristoff said.

"You are welcome, Kristoff. Lending a helping hand is something I always enjoy doing. Hopefully, we will get to do it again sometime. It was a great experience learning how to harvest ice," Edmund stated with a smile.

"Not a problem. I enjoyed learning something new about ice and its importance. If you ever need me to help you again, I will be more than happy to assist you," Lucas said, grinning.

The ice harvester was touched by their kindness. He was even more pleased they were willing to do it again. Kristoff was seriously starting to feel he had just made a couple of friends with the two princes.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Stephen had just made his way back into town. He could not get the figure off his mind, no matter what else the brown-haired man tried to think about. Stephen decided he should let Elsa and Anna know about it. There was some doubt in his mind on whether the royal family would believe him or not. Regardless, he knew it would be wise to let them know just to be cautious.

As he made his way through town, he made sure to smile and wave to anyone that greeted him. Since he assumed Edmund, Lucas, and Kristoff would be back from ice harvesting soon, he decided to make his way to the icehouse. The ice harvester had told him where the ice storage building could be found before the three men departed.

Sure enough, as the icehouse came into sight, the brown-haired man spotted three familiar young men in front of the structure.

"Hey guys!" Stephen greeted as he walked up to the three men. The three men smiled and waved to the older gentleman.

"Good afternoon, Master! Did you enjoy seeing the town?" Edmund asked.

"I certainly did. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Arendelle is probably the most unique town I have ever visited," Stephen smiled. His grin would falter after a moment though.

This did not go unnoticed by any of the three young men.

"Are you alright, Mr. White? You seem uncertain about something," Kristoff noted with a concerned look.

"It is perfectly fine that you just call me Stephen, or just Steph, Kristoff. Your assumption about me being uncertain is correct. Not because it has anything to do with the kingdom whatsoever, but because I noticed something outside the town," Stephen explained.

"You mean outside in the forest?" the ice harvester asked.

Stephen nodded in confirmation.

"What was it, Master?" Edmund wondered.

"I have no idea. Whatever it was, I have a bad feeling about this. The figure had a black jacket with a black hood. When I tried to approach the figure, it just ran off," Stephen explained.

"If what you say is anything that seems unusual, maybe we should tell Elsa and Anna about it. They will know what to do whenever there is anything suspicious in their kingdom. I am sure of it," Lucas said.

"As long as we let Elsa and Anna know about this, we should not have anything to worry about," Edmund assured his mentor.

"Should we notify them, Kristoff?" Stephen asked the ice harvester, wanting to hear his opinion about the matter.

"It does seem odd. We should probably let them know," the ice harvester suggested.

"Then let's get to informing them, shall we?" Stephen suggested.

Everyone nodded in agreement as the four men made their way to the castle.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Anna and Elsa had finished their hot chocolate and were now in the courtyard, waiting for the arrival of Kristoff and the two princes.

"When do you think they'll return?" Anna asked.

"They should be back any moment now," Elsa responded.

Right on cue, the castle gates opened. Kristoff, Edmund, and Lucas entered, with Stephen alongside them.

Anna squealed and ran straight into the ice harvester's arms. Kristoff nearly fell over but was able to regain his balance before smiling and hugging her back. While the ice harvester was concerned about what the reactions of the three guests would be, he realized they did not mind upon getting a glance of them. Instead of being uncomfortable, they were smiling, accepting that the two were in love.

After the couple let go, Elsa approached the group. "Good afternoon gentlemen. I assume the trip went well?"

Kristoff grinned as he nodded and spoke up. "Yeah, the ice harvesting went a lot better than I thought it would. Thanks to Edmund and Lucas here, the kingdom has enough ice to last until at least next winter. It was like they had as much, if not more, ice harvesting experience as me."

It thrilled the two sisters that the two princes were so helpful to the ice harvester. "You two were really helpful today, now weren't you?" Anna asked.

"We tried our best. Kristoff gave us instructions that were clear and easy to follow," Edmund said.

"It was also a lot of fun learning how to do something I have never done before. There is nothing I enjoy doing more than learning new things," Lucas replied.

"The fact you two were able to provide Kristoff with some help harvesting ice makes me happy," the princess grinned.

"Of course! Lucas and I really enjoy helping others out whenever it is necessary. Sometimes, you just cannot do everything by yourself," Edmund explained, while Lucas nodded in agreement.

The Snow Queen smiled. She was glad the two princes were fantastic guys who had only good intentions. Considering that both men helped Kristoff willingly, it proved Edmund and Lucas were courteous and polite.

Elsa then turned her attention to Stephen, who was unusually quiet. "What about you, Stephen? How was your tour of the town?" Elsa asked.

The older gentleman did not look up at first. After a moment, he faced the Ice Queen with a serious expression.

Elsa was now concerned. "Steph, are you alright?"

"After I was finished going through the town, I saw something suspicious outside of town, in the forest," Stephen replied.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The Snow Queen raised an eyebrow. "What did you see?"

"Exactly what it was is still a mystery to me. It was a figure that appeared to be something or someone in a black jacket with a black hood. At first, I thought it was just someone who was exploring the forest. That did not stop me from resisting the urge to inspect, however. Before I could even get a clear look at the figure, it ran into a gap that was in the mountains without warning. When I tried to search for the figure, it was nowhere to be found. Footprints that were in the snow instantaneously ended at the entrance to the gap. That tells me the figure is most likely a person. Whoever it was, however, I feel like they have sinister plans for you and your sister. I thought it would be wise to warn you as I would not want anything to happen to either of you," Stephen elaborated.

"Anna and I appreciate your concern for us, Stephen. I shall inform the Captain of the Guards immediately," Elsa said. "Is it the first time you saw the figure?"

Stephen nodded.

"Where did you see this figure?" Elsa inquired.

"In a passageway through the mountains, right outside of town," the brown-haired man said.

"I will send someone out for a lookout in that area, to see if they find anything out of the ordinary," Elsa stated.

The brown-haired man was relieved the Ice Queen believed him. Stephen did not like anyone who committed horrendous deeds. He had his fair share of witnessing such actions by many people in London. It really pained him there were people like that in England despite having such a magnificent ruler in King Matthew. Stephen knew, however, that not every single person on Earth was bound to be good.

"Of course, Elsa. I would not want anything to happen to you or your sister. You have given me, Edmund, and Lucas some of the greatest hospitality we have ever received from another kingdom. We would like to return the favor by protecting you two from anything malicious," Stephen stated.

"As I told Kristoff while at the lake, I only use my abilities for good and honest reasons," Edmund added in.

"If anyone dares to make any attempt to attack the royal family of Arendelle, they will have to go through us first," Lucas said with a determined look.

"I appreciate your protectiveness over us, gentlemen. The Captain of the Guards will be informed of what Stephen saw in the forest at once," Elsa said as the group made their way back into the castle.

OoOoOoOoOoO

The Captain of the Guards, William, approached the Ice Queen. Once he felt he was close enough, he bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, you summon me. Is there anything wrong?"

Elsa nodded. "One of our guests, Stephen, suspected there is something outside of town that needs to be inspected. He told me there was a strange figure with a black jacket and hood. Would you please investigate the area to make sure there is nothing peculiar over there?"

Captain William nodded. "Consider it done, Queen Elsa. We shall ensure no one threatens you or anyone else in Arendelle."

"Thank you, Captain," the Ice Queen replied gratefully.

"You are welcome, Your Majesty," the captain grinned with a bow as he went on with his orders.

After the Captain set off to check out the area, the Snow Queen headed to the library. She had decided to read for a little while before dinnertime.

Sometime later, Elsa was reading one of her favorite novels, focused on imagining what was going on in the story. She was brought back to reality when a voice said, "Hello, Elsa."

The Ice Queen was a bit startled, as she was not expecting anyone else to be in the library with her. She looked up from her book and saw it was just Lucas. "Oh. Good afternoon, Lucas."

"Please forgive me if I am meddling with your reading," Lucas stated.

"You are fine, Luc. If you would like to sit down, there is a chair right here," Elsa said as she invited the Belgian prince to take a seat in a chair directly across from her.

"Thank you, Elsa," the dirty-blonde haired man smiled as he sat down and made himself comfortable.

"You are welcome," Elsa said with a grin. "You and Edmund seem to be very close friends. Is that true?"

Lucas nodded. "Edmund and I have been best friends since the day we met. We met fourteen years ago during a festival in England. The festival was held during the summer after Edmund turned eight and I had turned seven. His father, King Matthew, held the festival to celebrate his thirtieth birthday. Every kingdom was invited to attend the festival, and my parents, King Arthur and Queen Victoria decided we should go. Upon arriving in London, that is when I met Edmund. At that time, he also had another friend named Richard, whom Edmund had met two years prior. Once we finished greeting each other, we realized our common interests and became determined to do as much as possible during the festival together. We did everything we could think of, including archery, swimming, weightlifting, running, trying out new places to eat, exploring London, climbing trees at the apple orchard in the castle gardens, and going into the forest outside the city. To say it was a great week would be an understatement. Once the festival ended, Edmund, Richard and I said goodbye to each other. All of us were deeply saddened as we felt there was not enough time for the three of us to do more fun activities. I never stopped thinking about either of them after that. It was only after Edmund and I arrived here in Arendelle that we saw each other again. Considering how long it has been, nothing would thrill me more than to spend as much time with him as possible because I have realized since he and I are adults now, both of us have major responsibilities as princes," he elaborated.

"I am thrilled to hear you and Edmund get along well," Elsa smiled. Her smile faded when she realized Lucas had not mentioned anything about what transpired with Richard. "What happened to Richard after the festival?"

Lucas sighed. "Unfortunately, I have not heard from him since. I would sincerely advise asking Edmund about that since Richard is also from England."

"Sorry for asking that. I should not have," Elsa said with regret on her face.

"No, it is alright. I am not angry with you, and I have no doubt Edmund will not get upset if you ask him about Richard when the time is right. He does not get annoyed very easily. In fact, it is almost impossible to upset Edmund," Lucas assured.

"I am elated to hear he has excellent control over his emotions. You seem to have pretty good control, too," Elsa praised.

Lucas shrugged. "Everyone has their moments where their emotions end up winning. No one is perfect, right?"

Elsa giggled. "Yes." The Snow Queen decided she should know some things about Lucas. "What is Ostenda like?"

"Ostenda is a beauteous and prosperous kingdom. During the summer months, I enjoy going out into the thick, dense forest to see what I can find," Lucas stated fondly.

"Are there a lot of creatures in the forest?" Elsa wondered.

Lucas nodded. "I have seen a large number of different creatures to watch and admire while I go out on adventures, such as deer and rabbits."

"That sounds like fun. What else do you enjoy doing in your free time?" the Snow Queen asked.

"I have lots of hobbies. Some of them are fencing, reading a good book, regardless of genre, archery, and chess," the Belgian prince elaborated.

"Those all sound like interesting avocations. Do you have a genre you prefer above the others?" Elsa wondered.

Lucas had to think about that. "Well, I have really been into fantasy since my earliest days. My parents would read some amazing fantasy novels to me every night before I went to bed when I was a kid. While I was listening to them, I would paint pictures in my mind of what was really happening in the story. To me, a good book is a good book, but if I had to choose just one genre, I would have to go with fantasy."

"I like fantasy as well. During my childhood, reading was one of the activities I spent a lot of my time doing," the Ice Queen said.

"I am glad to know we have something in common. Since I am here, I was wondering if you could show me any interesting fantasy novels the library might have. Only if you would like to though," Lucas quickly added.

Elsa smiled. "Of course. There are quite a few interesting ones on this shelf over here."

The Belgian prince smiled as the Snow Queen set her book down and led him over to a bookshelf with a multitude of fantasy novels.

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Kristoff was in the stables, eating carrots with Sven. Anna and Edmund were sitting down nearby, talking to each other.

"You and Lucas are best friends, aren't you?" Anna asked.

"Yes. We have been that way since we met at my father's festival to celebrate his thirtieth birthday. Luc and I have a few things in common; we like to go on adventures, play chess, and read," Edmund replied.

"I'm thrilled to hear you two are buddies," the princess smiled. "What else do you like to do for fun?"

"My master and I love to play the piano. We both are always playfully arguing who is the better pianist between us. He insists I am the better piano player, while at the same time, I assert he is the superior pianist," Edmund replied sheepishly.

"Oh! Elsa told me earlier that Stephen played a winter piano piece for her, and she indicated it was one of the best performances she had ever heard!" Anna exclaimed.

Edmund raised his eyebrows in surprise. "That was very nice of him. It makes me jocund to have an inspiriting master like Stephen. Not only does he give me excellent advice, but he also enjoys doing great things for other people. As do I," the English prince said with a grin.

"Alright, I think that is enough talking about me. How about you tell me something about yourself?" Edmund insisted.

"Well, I really like to spend time with my sister and Kristoff," Anna said.

"Kristoff is a great guy. I think he really feels affection for you, the way he was talking about you while we were out harvesting ice," the English prince said.

Anna blushed as the ice harvester made his way over to where Anna and Edmund were sitting, having overheard the conversation. Kristoff was flustered knowing someone could see their affection for one another. "I really do care about Anna. We just don't want to rush our relationship, as I'm not ready to take that next step yet. We're not even engaged."

Edmund nodded in understanding. "That is okay. Love is something that should never be rushed. It happens when it happens."

"You seem rather smart, Edmund," Kristoff said.

Edmund merely shrugged. "I would not say I am a love expert. While I do know it is all about finding the right person, love is not one of my strongest subjects. I believe everyone can be a genius at something. For example, you are the ice harvesting expert. Until today, I knew nothing about it, aside from hearing about the ice trades."

"Let me tell you, the trolls sure are experts with love," the ice harvester responded with a smirk.

"You mean the mountain trolls you spoke of this morning?" Edmund asked.

"One and the same. They get very excited when it comes to love. Who knows what will happen when they find out someday Anna and I are officially in love with each other?" Kristoff said with a chuckle.

"I am sure they will be eager to hear about that based on what you have said about them," Edmund replied.

"You have no idea," Kristoff stated with a smirk.

"Maybe someday we can go to wherever they reside? They sound like interesting creatures," Edmund said.

"Yes, for sure. I should warn you though, they can really get to you at times," the ice harvester said.

"That is okay. I have been through a lot of things in the past that have gotten to me. I am sure I will be able to handle the trolls," the English prince replied.

OoOoOoOoOoO

After dinner in the Great Hall, everyone was having dessert. As men of their word, Edmund, Lucas, and Stephen tried the chocolate cake.

"This is a very luscious chocolate cake. Nice and rich, and I like how moist the cake is. My compliments to the cooks," Edmund said with a smile.

"I agree with Ed. The cake is very flavorful, and I cannot get enough of the mouthwatering texture. I really do not understand why I did not try the cake sooner," Lucas added, nodding with approval.

"I am delighted to hear you like it gentlemen!" Anna exclaimed after having a big bite of cake herself.

The two princes gave her a thumbs up and winked. Anna subsequently smiled at them.

Stephen, however, had barely even touched his slice of cake. Instead of focusing on his dessert, he was staring out the window. As opposed to last night's heavy snow, it was a clear night. In the night sky was the slight luminesce of a waning crescent moon.

Edmund took notice of his master's dubiety. "Are you thinking of that figure again, Master?"

Stephen turned to his student and nodded. "Yes. No matter what else I try to think about, I just cannot get that thought out of my mind."

"Master, everything will be fine. Elsa has already sent out a search party to explore the area of anything odd," the English prince assured.

"What if the figure overwhelms the guards?" the brown-haired man asked.

"Well, in the case that happens, we must do everything we can to ensure no harm comes to Elsa, Anna, Kristoff or anyone else in the castle. Should anything like that happen, I assure you we will be ready for it. However, I would not like it if you lost sleep over this, Master. The last thing you need is to worry to the point where your health gets affected," Edmund stated.

"I appreciate you guys looking out for me and my sister. You have proven yourselves to be fine gentlemen," Elsa said. "Edmund is right, Stephen. Captain William knows what he is doing. He will make sure nothing happens."

"I assume everything will be alright then?" Stephen asked.

"Everything is going to be okay, Stephen. That I can assure you," Elsa told the brown-haired man.

"Yeah, nothing bad is going to happen to any of us, Stephen. Besides, you still have that chocolate cake in front of you. Maybe having a delicious, sweet treat will get your mind off things," Lucas added.

"Maybe you are right. After what you and Ed said about the cake, I think it is about time I give it a try myself," Stephen replied as he broke a piece off his slice of cake with his fork and put it into his mouth.

After chewing and swallowing, he said, "You and Edmund were sure right about the cake. It is scrumptious," Stephen said with an approving nod.

"I bet the cooks will be happy to hear that," Elsa said with a beam.

Once everyone had finished their desserts, they made their way back to their rooms to get some rest.

Despite being reassured everything would be alright, Stephen refused to enter a limpid state. He still felt it would be risky to just let the whole incident slide. The brown-haired man wanted to make sure he, Edmund, and Lucas were ready to protect the royal family when and if the figure decided to make his move.