Baker's Dozen of Wicked
Summery: Three months have passed since the Great Thaw. All is peaceful until Hans dares return, and what is worse is the news he carries. Can Elsa and company handle what is coming.
A/N: So I keep seeing these fics that gloss over just how much of a scumbag Hans is... so they can paint him back into the story as a good guy. I thought I'd try a redemption of Hans fic that was less about him being good... and more about him being understandably driven in his actions.
Chapter 1: Don't Freeze the Messenger.
It was mid day and the sun shown bright through the open windows and doors of the castle.
"What!? They must be mistaken." Elsa voice was short and curt. She sat in the throne room dressed in an elegant dress fitting her position.
The guard held up his hand as if politely begging her to listen before he repeated the report of a small ship, flying the flag of the Southern Isles, docking in the harbor.
Elsa stood her cape lifting from the floor in folds as she did. "You are certain."
"My Queen I am." The guard said with a small bow at he waist.
"Follow." In a flash Elsa was walking, an icy chill following in her wake. "Their prince tries to kill my sister and me, usurp my kingdom. I have the mercy to let the fool live and I send him back to his people with one condition..." Elsa pasted through the gates her speed picking up to near a jog as a line of her men fell in behind her. "The Condition being that no one from the Southern Isle return to Arendelle until I have declared they may... and they wait three months to go against my wishes."
Kristoff watched as the Elsa lead the brigade of soldiers towards the docks. "What do you think is going on Sven?" He glanced to his side at the rain dear. "I don't know but it looks like trouble." He said in a deeper voice, speaking for Sven. "Yeah I think you are right."
Elsa turned onto the dock her hair whipping behind her. "If it had been someone from Weselton I would have just sent a guard to tell them to depart at once... but the Southern Isle they are lucky I didn't have them fired upon where the ship was moored." Else couldn't help as her anger crept out of control and small ice crystals formed with each step she took.
The guards behind her watched their step as they kept with her pace. "My queen perhaps you should leave this matter to us." A short guard said.
The flag of the Southern Isles whipped in the chilled wind that was blowing around the ship. Half way down the dock and Else was doing everything in her power to contain her anger and the Southern Isle flag proudly flying in her harbor as if mocking her was not helping.
At the end of the dock stood a group of Southern Isle soldiers, tightly group at attention.
"Why are you here!?" Elsa voice was loud and authoritative, but lacked any of its normal calm poise. She came to a stop a several steps from them, her emotion flaring out of her control as she glared.
"Well if it isn't the Ice Queen." A voice from behind the ling of men almost sang out.
Elsa paused her anger forgotten for an instant as she tried to place the voice. "You wouldn't have dared..."
"Oh but I would..." The row of men parted as Prince Hans of the Southern Isles strolled forward, his royal attire spotless. "Have I got some news for you, your frozen highness."
Elsa hand lifted out to her side as a jagged shard of ice rose up from the water to rip through the flag that still taunted her. "You will get back on you ship right now." Elsa almost took enjoyment as the men behind Hans flinched and took a step towards the boot.
Hans took a step forward, dipping in a mocking bow. "Oh but my Queen you have not heard my news. I'm sure at least part of it you will just love." Hans straightened his face a glare. "As you know I have twelve older brothers... You threw me on a ship and had me carried back to them to face judgment for what I did, and when I got home I was greeted by the news my father had passed on. Freak accident with a sword, looks like someone got tired of waiting."
Elsa returned his glare the flurry of snow whipping lightly around her barely contained.
Hans took a playful step to his side to sit in a barrel. "See your mistake was thinking that my brothers where somehow good, oh I'd do anything to get away from them. I'd even kill for the chance, but you know that. So now my oldest brother is the King of the Southern Isles and you send me back there so I can be judged for my actions. Oh he and all the rest of them did... I was beaten, and mocked, and made the fool of the kingdom... for failing my own goal. I can't even show my face in my home kingdom without jeers and insults being thrown."
Elsa flinched and the shard of ice in the water grew until it slammed into the ship.
"Oh but the best part, See my brothers think Arendelle's Queen and Princess made a fool of me, shamed me, and by extension insulted the great Southern Isles." Hans stood up his grin wide as he glared back at the fuming Queen. "And as we speak, my brothers are bringing together a fleet, filling the ships with men and cannons, and getting ready to sail here..." Hans pointed to the dock he was standing on then slowly pointed to Elsa. "And kill you all so that no other Kingdom ever dare smear dirt in the face of the Southern Isles."
"Wha, what?" Else rage was again lost as the threat sank in. There was a long pause as Elsa glanced back and forth, her mind racing over the information, as fear started to creep over her. She blinked clearing her mind. "You are lying, Why would you come here? why would you warn us?"
Han crossed his arms due to the cold as he walked until he was standing right in front of Elsa. "I can't show my face in my kingdom. I would try my luck in another kingdom, but it seems my reputation spread very far, very wide, and very fast by all of the dignitaries attending your coronation. Most royal families will not even entertain a visit. So I won't stay in the hell that is home, and everywhere else I was disallowed, and then I thought..." Hans grinned. "There was one place that just might take me, because they needed my help... Arendelle. Therefore... I'm at your service, Queen Elsa." With that Hans made a short bow.