Prince Hans smoothed out his clean cut clothes, his lip curling up with slight disgust. Taking human form was disgusting to him, but he told himself that it was a means to an end. To ensure the destruction of Arendelle and humankind, he had to do whatever it took. Pulling on a set of white gloves, he flexed his fingers to make sure they were comfortable. His gloves allowed him to shake hands with these filthy creatures. Otherwise, he tried to avoid touching them as much as physically possible. Walking calmly from the room, he asked the servant that waited outside for him. "Where is the informant?" The servant stayed a few steps behind him but answered swiftly. "I left him in the throne room, your Majesty. Would you like me to inform the Royal Court so they can be present?" Hans rolled his eyes but ran a hand through his hair to push his bangs back. Glancing over his shoulder, he composed himself to say in a charming voice. "Yes. They should be present for something like this. This concerns us all." The Servant bowed, then dashed off to find the Royal Court members in the opposite direction. Straightening himself up, Hans shook his head with annoyance. He just had to keep these old goats alive long enough to use them to his advantage. Beyond that, he was thinking about ways to dispose of them.

Walking up to the throne room doors, he waited for the guards to open the doors for him and then strolled inside. The three peasants that stood nervously before the throne, stopped whispering amongst themselves. Hans could see they had been in some kind of fight. The had black eyes and bandages around their heads or arms. As he stood in front of the throne, the peasants bowed to him and then he finally took a seat. Relaxing in the comfortable throne, he stated aloud. "Before you begin. I would like to wait for the rest of the Royal Court. As I'm only filling in as king for the time being. All my decisions need to be witnessed and documented by third parties. You understand?" The men nodded, uttering out soft. "Yes, your highness." Propping his arm up on the arm of the chair, Hans sighed quietly to himself and waited impatiently for the others to arrive. He tried to come off as patient and friendly though. The Royal Court slipped into the room a few minutes later, trying to hide their panting from having rushed to get there. The second they all filed into the room; Hans gestured to the men to start. The men nudged the man in front up, prompting him to bow and start in a shaking voice. "We have information about the Troll King."

The Duke scoffed, drawing everyone's attention when he said flatly. "The Troll King? The reward was for information on the Ice King. Do you need your ears cleaned?" Hans cleared his throat, giving the Duke a hard stare before telling the peasant nicely. "Ignore him. Please, continue." The man nodded, giving him another swift bow before carrying on a little nervously. "We were tracking the Ice King... When we came upon the Troll King in the woods. He was covering the Ice King's tracks! Erasing them so we couldn't find him. We fought and he used his magic to overpower us!" The Royal Court gasped softly, then whispered amongst themselves about magic. Hans kept himself neutral to the news, probing on. "Yes. And then?" The men glanced at each other before one piped up lightly. "One of our boys followed him up into the mountains to an old trading post. He was gathering supplies and headed up toward the North Mountain. We believe he's working with the Ice King!" The Royal Court started talking over each other, until the Duke stepped out and stated aloud to be heard over them. "This is just as I feared! Magic has once again become a threat to Arendelle! The Northuldrans have infiltrated us! They plot against us! They wish to destroy Arendelle! To finish what their ancestors failed to do!"

The Duke turned to face the other members of the Royal Court, adding boldly. "If Arendelle falls, our trade routes collapse! We must act! If something is going on at the North Mountain, then we must find out and crush this rebellion before it starts!" Hans leaned back in the throne chair, calmly informing them as he watched the peasants' reactions. "They don't need a rebellion to destroy Arendelle." The peasants tensed, listening intently like little gossip mongers. The Duke turned to face him, asking a bit defensively. "What makes you say that, Highness? Pardon my bluntness, but how many wars have you been in? I myself, have been in the war with the Northuldra. I know how they think." Hans lifted his chin a little and just calmly stated aloud. "They have already won. They froze Arendelle and have trapped all the Nobles that trade with them here. Come winter... Arendelle will be lost." The Duke shrugged, clearly not understanding. While another member of the Court uttered out in disbelief. "Dear gods... Come winter, Arendelle will be completely buried in snow. If we don't starve to death, we'll freeze to death!" Hans nodded, adding just to spiced up the pot of fear that he was brewing. "With no way to get word out. No one will come to Arendelle's aid. So, you see. They don't need an army. They just need to wait us out."

Shrugging a little, Hans told them with his best grim look. "I may not have been in any wars, Duke Weselton. However, I do know that when dealing with magic... You don't need an army. Wouldn't you agree? In your experience with it?" The Duke tugged his jacket to smooth out the wrinkles, putting his shoulders back when he replied. "Quite right, Sire. What do you suggest?" Hans turned his eyes to the peasants, telling them with a warm smile. "Thank you, gentlemen. Your bravery shall be rewarded. Please see the castle Steward on the way out." The men bowed, then scrambled to leave the throne room. Hans was quite pleased that they'd heard enough to get the peasants talking. Once the doors were closed behind them by the guards, Hans addressed the Royal Court by saying calmly. "The plan is the same. We should gather a group of brave men to track up the North Mountain to find the Ice King." One of the members of the Royal Court quickly rushed in. "But Sire, the North Mountain is perilous. Men have frozen to death trying to climb it. You'll find no man in Arendelle willing to go up there on a good day. Let alone with the Ice King and Troll King up there."

The Duke glanced at the Court member, then piped up. "I'll volunteer two men, my Lord. My boys. They are strong and fearless." The Court Member that had spoke glared at the Duke but said nothing more. Hans smiled at the Duke, then said confidently. "I think the best course of action is to separate these Kings. They'll be weaker without each other." The Duke glanced around at the others, before asking curiously. "And how do you plan to separate them? And even if you do... What then?" The other Court members nodded, allowing Hans to say with a faked heavy heart. "The King has committed treason against Arendelle. If we can. I want him taken alive. We'll give him a chance to unfreeze Arendelle. If he refuses... We'll hold a trial to decide his fate." Hans gestured off, adding as he took in their unsatisfied faces. "His parents already planned to lock him away. I've seen the shackles in the dungeon. They can hold him while we interrogate him. As for the Troll King... I hear he's very close to his reindeer. Has Arendelle no good hunters or trappers willing to make some coin? In fact... What about poachers? Surely, the pelt of a reindeer is worth something to someone?"

One of the Court members muttered something to another Court member, before saying aloud with concern. "That can be arranged, but how do you plan to get the Troll King down from the North Mountain in the first place?" Hans stroked his cheek in thought, then told them with a small smile. "Bait. Of course. We lure the Troll King down and move in to capture the Ice King. Couldn't be simpler." Back up on the North Mountain, Mark stayed still as Nathan's lips lightly touched his own. He hadn't expected it but didn't want to startle Nate. Nathan's lips were cold but so soft. The kiss only lasted a few seconds, before Nate started to pull away. Unable to help himself, Mark raised a hand to touch his fingers to Nate's cheek, getting him to stay still long enough for him to press his lips to his in a slightly longer kiss. Mark had never kissed anyone, but the sensation felt so good that he couldn't bare for the kiss to be so short. Nate tensed a little as Mark pressed his lips to his more than he had done. His cold lips and breath didn't bother Mark. He enjoyed it. He couldn't help wanting more. Sliding his fingers along Nate's cheek, he lightly held onto his neck. Beneath his fingertips, he could feel the vein along Nate's neck beating fast.

Nate's hand cautiously touched Mark's chest, but Mark didn't care. Mark felt the inside of his mouth tingle as Nate's breath mixed with his. When Nathan gently pushed Mark back to break the kiss, his eyes were locked on him with so much worry. Mark turned his head a little, exhaling a strange light flurry of frost from his mouth. His mouth felt cold for a time but started to warm up when he closed his mouth. Smirking to Nate, he chuckled out. "And I thought eating mint leaves was refreshing." Nathan shyly turned away, mumbling out. "I shouldn't have done that... You're lucky that I didn't..." Mark's fingers moved up Nathan's neck to touch his chin, turning his face back to look at him. Scooting a bit closer to Nate, Mark cupped his cheeks and whispered to him as he leaned in for another kiss. "I've never felt more alive... Highness." Nathan's hand pushed back on him, and Mark reframed from kissing him. Looking into his eyes, Nathan looked like he wanted to say something but was afraid too. Mark turned his hands over to brush his knuckles along Nate's jaw, trying to tell him how he felt without a word. He didn't know what this feeling was that was making his heart feel lighter than air... but Nathan was the source of it.

With one kiss, Mark felt like the clouds he had never realized that he was under just faded away. The world seemed brighter. The world didn't feel as cold. The loneliness that had always anchored him, broke free and he felt like he'd fly away if Nathan didn't keep his hands on him. He couldn't tell if Nathan felt this same weird feeling, but his heart wanted to burst when Nathan leaned in again to kiss him. Mark's fingers slid up Nathan's neck and into his dark hair. Nathan's hands curled up in his jacket, holding him close as his hands shook. Their kiss stayed light but the passion behind it only grew. Mark couldn't even think about how long they had kissed for, when he was forced to stop to catch his breath. Time had lost all meaning. Nathan licked his dry lips, breathlessly asking him. "Are you ok?" Mark licked his own capped lips, chuckling out just as breathlessly with a blush that burned his cheeks. "Ya. I'm good." Nathan lifted his chin to see if he was lying. When Mark showed no signs of being sick or being in pain, he told Mark in a small voice. "Your cheeks are red. You must be cold..." Mark rolled his eyes, chuckling to him in a warm voice. "Quite the opposite. I stopped feeling the cold when you kissed me the first time." Nathan raised an eyebrow, asking a bit playfully. "And the second time I kissed you?"

Mark looked Nathan in the eyes, his hand trailing down his chest, when he answered honestly. "You made the world disappear. I wanna stay here with you... I don't feel so... alone when I'm with you." A smile pulled at Nathan's lips, but he curled them over his teeth to hide it. Looking away at the frozen lake, he told Mark in a sorrowful tone of voice. "You say that now. But you'll get tired of me. I'm boring... You've done more with your life than I have. For me, this is as good as life gets. I'm frozen in time. While... the world is waiting for you. You can leave Arendelle and make new friends." Mark nodded to himself, then took ahold of Nathan's wrists. Stroking his thumbs over the soft skin of Nathan's arm, he told him honestly. "These mountains are my home. I belong here. I could never leave them. What I'm saying is... if you want to get lost up here. I wouldn't mind showing you around." Nathan smiled back at Mark, turning his own hands over to hold onto Mark's arms as he held onto his. For a minute, they just held hands. Neither of them knowing what to say to the other. Then at the soft sound of ringing, they both looked at the fishing pole.

Nathan's fishing pole was being tugged on, causing the tiny bell on it to ring. Nate gawked at it, then released Mark to frantically ask him. "Oh my god! What do I do?!" Getting to his feet, Mark picked up the pole from the holder, giving it to Nathan as he walked him through how to reel it in. Aputsiaq raced to the edge to peek in, just as a fish was brought up to the surface, splashing icy water everywhere. Jumping back, Aputsiaq leapt around with excitement, while Mark helped pull the fishing line up. Kicking over the bucket that he was sitting on, he lowered the fish into it. Holding the large Artic Char down, Mark gawked out in shock. "Holy shit! Look at the size of this bitch!" Nate shrugged, asking nervously. "Is that good?" Mark laughed, trying to settle the fish that was as long as his torso. Pinning the fish awkwardly in the bucket, Mark removed the hook and chuckled out to Nate. "The bigger the fish. The better you eat. So, yes." Nate hopped excitedly, letting out a little cheer as he said. "I can't believe I caught a fish!" The tail of the fish, smacked Mark in the face as he held it down in the bucket, causing Aputsiaq to let out little squeals that sounded like she was laughing.

Wincing, Nathan moved closer and asked him a little embarrassed. "Do you need help?" Mark chuckled, hanging his head as he said honestly. "Yes. Help me scoot this bucket away from the hole. We don't want him escaping." Nathan grabbed the bucket, helping to pull it across the ice. While Mark held the fish down in it. As they reached the shore, the fish sprang from the bucket with all its strength. The tail smacking Mark in the face, while the head smacked Nathan in the face. Both of them hit the ground a little stunned, while the Artic Char flopped and rolled back out across the ice. Mark scrambled to his feet, slipping and sliding on the ice to chase it down. He fell to all fours just short of the fish, but Aputsiaq sprang off his back to land on the fish. Latching onto it, she rolled around with the struggling fish with soft growls. Mark then grabbed the fish's tail and dragged it back across the ice toward the shore. Sitting down on the snow covered shore, Mark looked at Nathan to see if he was ok. Hearing Nathan laughing as he laid in the snow was a relief. Joining him in a laugh, Mark innocently giggled out. "Fishing usually isn't this exciting." Nathan wiped the water off his face, giggling back. "I can't feel my face. Did it kiss me? Or headbutt me?"

Wiping the cold water from his own face, he staggered up to his feet. Dragging the fish farther onto the shore, he let its limp body go to let Aputsiaq stay clinging to it in a death grip. He was pretty sure that it was going into shock, but she was ready to keep wrestling with it. Walking over to Nathan, he kneeled beside him and asked him nicely. "Move your hands. Let me see." Nathan lowered his hands, revealing that his nose was starting to bleed. Tugging his sleeve up, he pressed it to Nathan's nose and chuckled out. "You're fine. It just headbutted you." Nathan held onto Mark's arm, keeping his nose to his sleeve with a blushing smile of his own. When he pulled his nose away from Mark's sleeve to check if it was still bleeding, he slipped out to Mark sweetly. "Thank you, Mark. Today has been a lot of fun... bruises and all." Mark smiled back, wiping the last of the blood off Nate's nose as he said warmly. "You're welcome. Ready to head back?" Nathan nodded, allowing Mark to help him up. To Be Continued...