This story hit me completely by accident yesterday when I woke up. The first time I saw the film I was like No, Hans is a douchebag, there's no way he could be redeemed. But then I saw it again...and again...and something about him just stuck with me. And I started seeing potential with him and Elsa.
So anyway, I'm scared to death but I'm going to do it anyway because I have major writer's block with my other stuff, so maybe this will get me back on track.
(Also I subscribe to the headcanon that the Queen of Arendelle and Queen Primrose of Corona are sisters making Rapunzel Anna and Elsa's cousin. That will be reflected in this.)
Arendelle, May
"Anna, you know I love you dearly, but you cannot change the fact that you are still a Princess of Arendelle. You can't get married barefoot in a meadow wearing a crown of flowers." Elsa grinned knowingly when her sister bit her lower lip. "We have our duties. Think of it this way," she added, squeezing the younger woman's shoulders, "You'll be giving our people the highlight of their lives by letting them see their Princess get married. Just pretend this is the practice wedding, and then when you and Kristoff leave tonight for your honeymoon, you can retake vows any way you like. Barefoot even!"
"Elsa," Anna gave her a weary look, "We're going into the mountains for our honeymoon. I don't really think that standing barefoot in the snow would be a great idea."
"What you do after the wedding is your business," Elsa shrugged with a graceful wave of her hand.
"I wish Mother and Father could be here," Anna sighed, staring at her reflection. Elsa took the veil gingerly in her hand, feeling a wash of sadness; it had been their mother's veil when she'd married their father. She missed her mother, with her gentle demeanor and soft voice. It didn't help that she looked near identical to her mother, aside from their hair colors. Every time she looked in a mirror, it was a haunting reminder of what they'd lost four years before. Of course, there had always been the twinkle of fear in her parents' eyes when they'd looked at her. Anna had never known.
"Me too," Elsa finally replied, tucking the comb of the veil into Anna's braided chignon. "It was kind of Uncle Thomas to offer to walk you down the aisle," she added.
"Aunt Primrose feels guilty because Mother and Father were shipwrecked on the way to her daughter's wedding," Anna replied, meeting Elsa's eyes in the mirror. Elsa froze, tiara in hand, eyes wide in horror.
"What?"
"I heard her talking to Uncle Thomas when they were walking in the garden yesterday," Anna confessed. "Kristoff and I were taking some carrots to Sven, when…"
"But it isn't their fault!" Elsa exclaimed, shaking her head. "That poor woman…"
"She and Mother were very close," Anna agreed, "Did mother ever tell you the stories of the trouble they used to get into together?"
Elsa's eyes pricked with tears of envy, but she blinked them away. "No," she told Anna in a quiet tone, "Mother and I did not share many stories after…when I—"
"Oh." Anna's eyes grew large with remorse. "Oh, Elsa…I'm sorry."
Elsa adopted a pleasant smile, gesturing that it was nothing. "It's nothing," she assured Anna. "Today is your day."
"I just…I sometimes forget how much you missed out on," Anna swallowed, turning to face her sister. "You were meant to go with them to that wedding. You were eighteen."
"Then you would have been alone," Elsa reminded her delicately, wincing slightly. "It was a terrible thing that happened to our parents. But I believe everything happens for a reason. We're meant to learn from our mistakes. Yes, our parents were mistaken in how they handled my…condition…"
"It's not a condition, Elsa!" Anna insisted vehemently, her eyes flashing. "You were given a gift and they made you afraid of it. Why aren't you angry?"
A lump formed in Elsa's throat. "Look where they are, Anna…" she gestured around to indicate their absence. "What good does it do me to be angry with ghosts?"
"Oh, Elsa…" Anna's face crumpled as she launched herself into Elsa's arms, sobbing. Elsa kept her composure, only allowing one tear to fall as she comforted her sister. She felt it freeze on her cheek and evaporate as if it had never been there at all.
"Come," Elsa sighed, bringing Anna's face away from her shoulder. "You don't want to be all blotchy for your wedding," she chuckled, using the pad of her thumb to wipe her sister's tears away with the greatest of care.
"I'm sorry…" Anna told her brokenly, taking Elsa's hands.
"Well, I'm not," Elsa told her with a smile, "Because you saved me. I owe you everything, Sister. And I owe it to that poor man who's waited over a year to marry you to get you down to that chapel in one piece. Now, turn around so I can put the tiara on you."
"Why do I have to wear a—?"
"Anna…" Elsa interrupted warningly, though she was suppressing laughter.
"Fine…"
The door opened, and a brown head poked into the room. Their Aunt's green eyes immediately filled with tears at the sight of Anna in her wedding gown. "Oh, Darling…
Elsa finished securing the tiara and turned away for a moment, because seeing her Aunt hurt for a moment. The similarities between her and their mother were overwhelming. "It's time," Aunt Primrose told Anna, hugging the girl around the shoulders, before turning to Elsa.
"Your mother would have been so proud of both of you," Primrose said, brushing a tear from her eyes. "She always spoke of you both with such pride in her letters."
"Thank you," Elsa responded graciously, nodding politely at her Aunt. The woman surprised her by drawing her into a firm, maternal embrace. Taken aback, Elsa hesitantly brought her hands up to the woman's back, allowing herself to be held by someone other than Anna for the first time in years.
"Rapunzel is so sorry she couldn't make the wedding," Primrose told them when she pulled back, reaching for Anna's hand as well. "She's going practically mad in her confinement." A small smirk of amusement came to the woman's lips. "Poor Eugene."
"They were so very kind when they came to my coronation," Elsa told her Aunt, who nodded.
"You'll never meet a more loving and open person than my daughter," the Queen of Corona laughed, "Anna, you and she would get on famously."
"Kristoff and I will have to visit soon," Anna agreed, "After the baby's born, of course. I mean, not that we wouldn't want to be there for the birth. I love babies! I was just thinking that they probably want privacy and—"
"We would love to have you," Queen Primrose laughed, patting the girl's cheek. "Whenever you should like to come."
Elsa nodded her approval, though she felt a twinge of envy in that moment. No one could ever accuse her of being openly loving. At best she was politely reserved, keeping her distance out of old habits while her sister could plop herself into any group and have a wonderful conversation about anything from crop harvesting to the joys of chocolate.
They were ushered into a waiting carriage, waving graciously to the townspeople as the carriage drove through the village toward the Cathedral, where Anna would marry Kristoff. Tulip petals were thrown as the passed, filling the air with the lovely scent of spring. Elsa glanced down at her gloved hands, noting with relief that for once, she was wearing gloves out of propriety and not fear. Her dress was a modest gown of pale yellow and pink sash and cape, hair perfectly pinned at the nape of her neck and tiara in place. She was the image of a proper monarch.
Elsa exited the carriage first, taking the proffered hand of a footman and smiling at the people lined along the carpet leading into the Cathedral. She thanked the footman, accepting a kiss on the cheek from her Uncle, the King of Corona, who moved past her to help Anna out of the open carriage to the cheers of the people.
"Elsa! Hey, Elsa!" A familiar voice called, making Elsa grin, looking up to see Olaf scurrying toward her, wearing what looked like a bow tie and a top hat. She nearly burst out laughing right there in front of the public! "Look at me, all dressed up!"
"I've never seen a more handsome snow man," she assured him, noticing Sven standing dejectedly near the entrance of the Cathedral (also wearing a top hat). "Why does Sven look so sad?" She inquired. Olaf sighed heavily.
"They won't let him in…Kristoff is pretty upset, because Sven is his best man, but the Bishop said that 'an altar is no place for a reindeer.'" Olaf imitated the elderly Bishop's voice. Elsa nodded, moving toward the reindeer, stopping only to accept a tulip from a very small girl.
"Why, thank you, dearest," she told the child, patting her on the head as the parents bowed reverently.
"Your Majesty."
Sven let out a heavy exhale as she reached him, staring sympathetically up into his expressive eyes. "Don't worry, sweetheart," she told him, "I'll fix it." She gave him a peck on the nose, earning a bashful look. In the nearly two years since Sven and Kristoff had come into their lives, she'd developed a certain fondness for the reindeer, and she certainly wasn't going to let some stuffy old Bishop ruin her sister and Kristoff's day when Sven was very important to both of them. Gingerly, she untied Sven's reins from the post and nodded to one of the guards to open the door to the Cathedral. She could hear the sound of Kristoff arguing with someone. At once, the Bishop was before her, complaining.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid I cannot allow that animal to be present—"
"You don't understand," she cut him off, speaking in an even voice. "This animal is the Best Man, and he is part of the royal family. If you cannot accept his presence, then I will have to find another man of the clergy to perform the ceremony…you understand."
"I…" The Bishop looked from her to Sven to Kristoff, before throwing his hands up in defeat. "Very well!" He stalked off, muttering something about "disrespect" and a "zoo". Elsa took the reins off of Sven, smiling up at Kristoff, who looked torn between relief and sheer terror as he tugged absently at his collar.
"Thanks, I just…it's been a long day, and…" He began, frowning as Elsa stepped closer and began to fix his tie. "Oh, that…yeah…I couldn't figure it out."
"Just relax, Kristoff," she laughed, glancing around him at the crowded Cathedral. "Anna is here...she looks beautiful…Sven is going to be right up there with you. Are any of your family coming?"
"Oh, uh…no," Kristoff chuckled. "The trolls don't do the whole church thing…we did a special little ceremony with them night before last."
"Love experts," Elsa inserted, raising a brow at him. He shrugged helplessly, blushing. "You'd better get up there," she nodded to the altar. "Kristoff!" She called after him. He turned back, expectantly. "I couldn't have picked a better man for her." He nodded his thanks, though he said nothing even if his eyes were glittering dangerously as he resumed walking down the aisle.
"My lady!" A female voice caught her attention as a small bouquet of tulips were thrust into her hands.
"Thank you, Gerda," Elsa told her faithful servant, who nodded with pride in her eyes.
"Next time we all gather here, it will be for your wedding, Your Majesty," the woman insisted, sending a strange chill through Elsa's body. She'd always assumed that she would never marry, having spent most of her life in isolation. The truth was, she couldn't imagine being in love with anyone romantically and having them with her all the time. Not that it was imperative for every marriage to be a love match, of course. Especially not for a Queen. It was a lonely life of privilege she'd been born into, but she understood her duties; embraced them. So, she simply smiled warmly at Gerda, stepping toward the aisle as Anna was ushered in behind her.
Kristoff stood at the altar with Sven and Olaf beside him; the strangest wedding party she had ever heard of and yet, Elsa wouldn't have changed anything. It was so…Anna. There would be time for tradition and propriety at her own wedding should there ever be one. It was not something to think about today.
Aunt Primrose was ushered to her seat, while Elsa began her slow journey down the aisle, moving carefully and elegantly as she'd been taught to. She winked at Kristoff, before moving to the side and turning toward the closed doors that would open to reveal Anna. A hush fell over the room as everyone rose for the bride, accompanied on the arm of her Uncle.
Anna was an ethereal vision in white, the gossamer veil just shielding her face from clear view. Elsa gave Kristoff a sidelong glance, noticing he was frozen in place with wide eyes, hands clasped in front and jaw hanging slightly open. It would have been adorable if he didn't look so terrified. Anna, for her part, was grinning like an idiot behind her veil, stumbling a little when they neared the altar. Luckily Uncle Thomas had quick reflexes and righted her before anyone could notice. Elsa sighed a little in relief when they finally stopped.
"Who gives this woman in marriage?"
"I do." King Thomas's voice boomed with the air of authority. He carefully lifted Anna's veil, kissing her forehead and placing her hand into Kristoff's. Elsa could see Kristoff's shaking fingers as he took his bride's delicate hand. The two ascended the stairs together as the Bishop began to speak, eyeing Sven warily from time to time, much to Elsa's amusement.
Elsa's mind drifted as the older man spoke, thinking of the future. Soon, Kristoff and Anna would want to have a family. The castle would be filled with laughter and the sounds of children running through the halls as Elsa had never been able to do. And Elsa would be their Aunt, kind and loving, patient as ever with her nieces and nephews. An awful thought occurred to her; she would have to see how happy they all were, and while she was still their family, Elsa realized in that moment that she wanted a family of her own. She wanted someone to look at her the way Kristoff was currently looking at Anna, with eyes full of tears and a silly half grin on his face. She wanted to look down at a baby in her arms, who belonged to her and had her eyes and someone else's smile.
Alone and free…
It was contradictory when one really thought about it. Alone, you never risked getting hurt; would never have to be disappointed or rejected or answer to another person. But, on the other hand, if you were alone, there were no rewards. It would just be you watching other people live their lives. It wasn't freedom; it was confinement. It wasn't what Elsa wanted.
"Do you, Princess Anna of Arendelle, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"Yes!" Anna's chipper reply came without hesitation, making some people chuckle softly.
Olaf interrupted in an extremely audible stage whisper. "You're supposed to say 'I do!'"
"Oh!" Anna blushed, giggling. "I do!" Even Kristoff managed to look less frightened for half a second and laugh.
"And do you, Kristoff Bjorgman, take Princess Anna of Arendelle to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Kristoff's voice was barely audible. "I do."
Anna let out a small squeal, grinning at her groom as the Bishop pronounced them married, ignoring what the man was saying as she practically leapt up into Kristoff's arms, throwing her arms around the man's neck, kissing him. Giving up, the Bishop sighed and closed his book, stepping back with a slight roll of his eyes. Elsa smirked to herself at his resignation, winking at Sven.
Elsa took the lead in the Bishop's stead.
"May I present Princess Anna of Arendelle and her husband, Prince Kristoff." She lead the applause, grinning at Kristoff, who looked like he hadn't realized that he would now be a Prince (well, technically a Prince Consort). Elsa nodded to him, gesturing for them to take their leave and get into the carriage that would take them back to the castle for their wedding reception. She would follow with her Aunt and Uncle and they would all receive their guests. It was all planned to a tee.
For a fleeting moment, Elsa wished for something spontaneous to happen in her life. Everything was always just so, nothing out of the ordinary (aside from the occasionally eternal winter) ever happening. For just one day, she wanted to be like Anna, so relaxed and outgoing, chattering with anyone would was near her. Dancing until her feet hurt.
Elsa remained withdrawn, lost in thought on the ride back to the castle, staring forlornly out at the celebrating crowds, wishing for one day she could just be another face in the crowd.
"…don't you think so, my dear?"
Elsa was brought out of her thoughts by her Uncle's voice, looking away from the window of the closed carriage across to where the Queen and King of Corona sat, looking at her expectantly.
"I, er…I'm sorry. I missed what was said."
Aunt Primrose took pity on her. "We were just musing on how Kristoff is the perfect counterpart to Anna's free spirit. They're good for each other."
"Oh!" Elsa exclaimed, nodding, "Yes, of course. I couldn't approve more. Kristoff has been a welcome addition to our lives. And, of course Sven. You probably found it strange that he had a reindeer for a best man," she laughed, shaking her head. The King and Queen shared a look of entertainment.
"Actually…" Aunt Primrose began, "We have some experience with, shall we say…sidekicks?" At Elsa's bemused expression, she added. "Rapunzel has a pet – well, he's more a best friend of sorts – but he's a chameleon…Pascal."
"And then there's Maximus…" Uncle Thomas chimed in, grinning. "He's Eugene's horse…and incidentally head of my Royal Guard. They were the flower girl and ring bearer at Rapunzel's wedding."
The two chuckled together until the smile abruptly left Aunt Primrose's face along with all of the color in the woman's cheeks as her eyes filled with realization. Elsa knew for an awful moment that the woman was thinking of her sister who had been lost en route to said wedding. "I'm so sorry…" Queen Primrose said quickly, meeting Elsa's eyes.
Elsa gestured dismissively. "No, that's fine…"
Mercifully, the carriage came to a halt and before they could say anything else, they were being helped out and into the castle, where Kristoff and Anna were already waiting, marveling together at the wedding cake.
"Do you think we should start at the top and work our way to the bottom… or should we start at the bottom?" Anna was saying. "Or maybe we could start in the middle…and then there would be equal amounts of cake on each side…" Elsa shook her head, smiling fondly as she felt a nudge on her shoulder.
"Hello Sven…" she whispered, reaching into a basket and withdrawing a carrot, before feeding it to the anxious reindeer. "Don't tell," she added.
"I, for one, am going to dance until dawn," Olaf's voice came, casting Elsa's eyes downward. "Will you dance with me, Elsa?"
"How could I refuse such a gentleman?" She laughed, patting the top of his top hat.
"Oh, Elsa!" Anna called, waving her over. Elsa obliged immediately, holding her hands out to the married couple. "This cake is amazing."
"Jan does great work," Elsa agreed, "His frosting is always perfect. Remember those cream horns Father used to buy from him when we were girls?"
Anna gasped, nodding at the memory. "With the buttercream filling and the fluffy dough? Mmm!" The bride spun around in a circle, making Kristoff laugh.
"I've never had a cream horn," he mused, shrugging. "Come to think of it, I haven't had very many sweets…kind of hard to stop for cupcakes when you're harvesting ice."
The smile left Anna's face, undoubtedly as her mind swam with visions of the little orphan boy her husband had been once. "Oh, Kristoff…I promise, we're going to make up for everything you missed out on."
The blond ice harvester pulled her into his arms by the waist. "You already have…"
Elsa turned away awkwardly, feeling like she was intruding on something private. It wasn't that she wasn't happy for them; the exact opposite, in fact. She was delirious with joy for her sister, but seeing them together, love for each other so obvious, it made her long for things she didn't and might never have. Realistically, she had to marry out of duty to her kingdom. She had to provide heirs and secure the future of her people. Love was an unlikely acquisition for her. But, oh…in her most secret thoughts, she yearned for it. Of course, those thoughts were immediately pushed far back into the recesses of her mind where they belonged.
The reception, of course, was a rousing success and a surprisingly good time. Elsa even danced! Once with Olaf, of course; once with her Uncle and once with Kristoff while Anna was occupied. In many ways, Kristoff was like her; solitary and withdrawn, so it had surprised both her and him when Anna had insisted they dance a waltz together. Neither had very much experience dancing with people, so they had ended up laughing through the entire thing. For the first time since Kristoff had come into their lives, Elsa realized he wasn't just Anna's husband, or Consort…or the ice harvester. She hadn't lost a sister, she'd gained a brother, and she'd said as much in the toast she gave.
Too soon, it was all over, with Anna retreating up to her quarters to get ready to leave for her honeymoon in the mountains with her new husband. Elsa followed, wondering if she would need to be the dutiful sister and give Anna "the talk". Thankfully, when she found the courage to bring the subject up, Anna had giggled and told her it wasn't necessary, which had raised Elsa's brows so high, she thought they might disappear into her hair.
"No!" Anna laughed, clutching her side. "That's not what I mean! We haven't – well I haven't…we're not…I mean, that is to say we've talked about it—"
"Anna!" Elsa covered her face in horror.
"Well, we were engaged…it's not like we've been completely chaste," Anna pointed out. "But I've known about…you know…since I was thirteen. I was hiding in one of the parlors when I heard two of the maids talking. I didn't know maids were so…"
"Promiscuous?" Elsa offered dryly.
"I was going to say knowledgable." Anna inserted. "And there's so much more than just—"
"Okay, this talk is over," Elsa groaned, feeling her pale face become a violent shade of pink as Anna descended into raucous giggles, inherently amused with the discomfort she'd caused her sister. Elsa was surprised when she felt Anna's arms wrap around her from behind, resting her cheek against Elsa's shoulder blade. Affectionately, Elsa patted Anna's hands.
"I love you, Elsa," Anna told her softly.
Elsa nodded, smiling to herself. "I love you too, Anna." She pulled away, turning back to face her sister. "And you can tell me all about your trip when you return. Er, well…the non-private parts of the trip." Anna snickered, nodding.
"Of course," she agreed.
Kristoff appeared in the door, dressed in traveling clothes. He looked every inch a prince. It was almost amusing. "Ready?" He asked his wife, holding out a hand to her. Anna nodded, looking one more time at her sister. Elsa waved for her to go, standing up on her toes to kiss Kristoff on the cheek.
"Take care of my sister," she whispered.
His dark eyes met hers sincerely. "Always. Take care of yourself, okay? Don't work yourself too hard. We all know how when you're lonely you throw yourself into work. Try and relax. It's spring! Enjoy it."
"I'll try," Elsa conceded, laughing. She followed them out to Kristoff's beloved cutter, where Sven was already bridled and ready to go. He looked quite satisfied with himself all decked out with a decorative wreath around his neck. Olaf was waiting for them in the back of the sled as well, and Elsa couldn't help thinking it was the strangest entourage for a honeymoon, though Anna had insisted that Olaf go so he could enjoy some time in the snow. And he could keep Sven company while the couple was…
Oh dear.
"We'll see you soon!" Anna called from the cutter, waving to her as Kristoff pulled the sled away from the castle to the resounding cheers of the crowd. Elsa waved, smiling as they disappeared into the night, though she couldn't suppress the apprehension she suddenly felt. The last time she'd said goodbye to someone, they'd never come home. She pushed that fear aside and said a quick goodnight to her Aunt and Uncle before excusing herself to her quarters, tiredly removing the gloves that she'd been wearing all day. Sitting at her vanity, she carefully removed the pins holding her hair up, sighing in relief as the pain in her scalp eased with each pin. Glancing around the room, she sighed.
Despite becoming Queen, she had declined to vacate her childhood bedchamber to claim the master suite her parents had once occupied. She didn't even like to go in there; the air was heavy as if their ghosts still lingered there, still afraid of the tremendous power their firstborn child had possessed. Elsa knew her parents had loved her, of course, but she also knew that they'd been terrified of her. It had been years before they died that they'd looked at her without a hint of sadness in their eyes. Regret that their daughter wasn't normal.
Carefully, Elsa unbraided the white blonde hair she'd been born with, letting it fall in cascading waves to her waist. She wondered whether it would have been brown like her mother's if she'd never had powers. Perhaps it would have been red like her sister's or dark blond like Father's had been. Then again, she didn't suppose it mattered very much now. The fact was, she had been born with powers. She would be different no matter what she did, and even if she did know how to control it, it didn't change the fact that it was still a dangerous gift. Her eyes fell to the brush she was holding which was suddenly rapidly covering with ice. Quickly, she let go of it.
Gift.
She shook her head, allowing a maid to help her out of the gown and into her nightdress, before climbing into her big, four poster bed and curling under the covers, willing herself not to dream.
Her eyes flew open to a frantic knock at her bedroom door, making her fly up in the bed and reach for her light blue dressing gown. She glanced at the clock which indicated it was just before dawn and felt her pulse begin to race.
Anna.
Something had happened; she was sure of it. Hastily, she opened her door to see a worried guard standing there and felt her stomach drop.
"My lady," he began, "I apologize for the intrusion at this hour, but there's been an incident."
"Oh no…" she whispered, holding her hand to her cheek. "Is it my sister…?"
The guards eyes filled with confusion, but he shook his head. "No, Your Majesty…a man was found washed up to shore. His clothes are badly burned and he is still unconscious."
"Send for the physician," Elsa ordered, turning back to get dressed so she could attend to the person. She stopped when the guard didn't move. "Is there more?" The guard looked down as if he were unsure he wanted to divulge anything more.
"My lady…" He swallowed, looking up again and wringing his hands. "It's Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."
Elsa froze.