Born of cold and winter air
And mountain rain combining
This icy force both foul and fair
Has a frozen heart worth mining

It was certainly the worst trip Hans ever had in his life. Locked up in a small, stinking hole for days, not getting anything proper – or anything at all – to eat, and being laughed at and taunted by the whole crew. But the worst of it was that for days he was left alone with the shame of his failure and his hatred for the two princesses of Arendelle.

Yet, in all honesty, he would have chosen a whole life in solidarity in that stinking hole, rather than to see his father and brothers. Being the thirteenth child in the family was indeed a bad omen.

His stomach knotted up when the guards showed him into the main hall of their luxurious palace. His father had spared nothing when having it built on the biggest of their islands: it was all brick, contrary to the castles to the north, which were mostly built by wood and stone, and had resembled in great deal the structures that were lying even more south, in the kingdoms of the great mainland. The palace was huge, with numerous slender towers reaching up to the clear blue sky, flags pitched on their tops. The structure was magnificent, yet Hans hated it since he was small, since he knew all too well it can never be his.

'Back so soon, are we, Hansy?' a sharp, sarcastic voice made Hans look to the side; one of his older brothers, Christian was casually leaning against one of the several marble columns 'Or should I call you "Your Majesty" already? My, what dedicated guards you have hired, Prince Hansy! Pray tell, where is your crown?'

'Shut up' Hans muttered back and tore his gaze away, insistently staring now at the ground until the guards on both of his sides came to a halt.

'What is this?' a voice thundered not far from him. It was impatient and snappy – just like his father, Rotbeard, king of the Southern Isles, has always been. Not only his voice but his looks demanded utmost respect as well: his rough, muscular build; big, flaming red beard and cold green eyes were feared far beyond the border of their kingdom 'What is this commotion?'

The guards bowed briefly and then one of them stepped forward, saying: 'Sir, your son, Hans of the Southern Isles has committed treason against our que-'

'Ah, away with ye' the king's voice thundered again, this time even more demanding 'I know what a good-for nothing brat this one's and I don't have the time now to listen to his foul doings.'

Hans looked up, his cheeks bright red with shame and anger. His father, along with who seemed like his two eldest brothers stood a few feet away from him, their backs turned toward him and obviously paying much attention to something in front of them.

'Father' Hans then spoke with his most charming voice 'This is all a misunderstanding, you-'

'Silence!' the king roared, and turned to him. His two eldest ignored their brother, as always. But Hans caught a glimpse of what they were so intensely staring at: it was a portrait of a young, pretty woman with black hair and fair skin. 'Hans, you are a disappointment as always' then, without wasting any more words on the youngest prince, the king turned to the guards 'Hand him over to my men, they'll throw him in the dungeon. He'll get appropriate punishment soon enough, assure your king or queen or whatever about that.'

'Aye' the two guards said, and stepped back, letting two of the local guards step next to Hans. Then, after another quick bow, they turned around and left the castle.

The king turned back to the portrait and neither did nor said anything for a long, long time. The silence was killing Hans. He already had a fleeting thought of hanging himself with something once he'll be alone in the depths of their dungeon.

'Bring him to his room and lock him in there' the king then said.

The two elder brothers seemed just as shocked at this order as Hans himself.

'Father' the second eldest, the redheaded Axel said in a low, well-thought-out tone 'Please reconsider. He must be punished.'

'And punished he may be. After the visit.' The king stated coldly.

'His majesty is right' said suddenly Eric, the eldest of the brothers (and most among them like his father) in a manner that much resembled the king's own way of speaking 'It may cause more harm that not if she finds we keep our own blood in the dungeon.'

'Who is coming?' Hans asked in a flat tone. They were ignoring him – again. It enraged him.

'The future queen' Axel turned and looked at him with a wide grin, clearly intending to mock his younger brother, but Eric raised his arm and he fell silent.

'Princess Linda van Voigt is expected to arrive tomorrow to our castle. She will be betrothed to one of us eventually.'

'I'm fed up with princesses' Hans grumbled and looked away.

'Even better, because you are not allowed to even speak to her' the king said coldly 'The princess will need to choose between your thee eldest brothers in order to have our kingdoms united. I have already sent away your other siblings to avoid… tainting her innocent soul.'

'Well excuse me, father dearest, for showing up at the wrong moment' Hans thought to himself, but said nothing. There was a long, cold silence before the king waved at the guards and they escorted him to his royal chambers.

Days went by without much happening. Hans laid in his bed, apathetic to the world around him. Five times a day they brought him food, most of the time he just left it there and watched it get spoiled.

He pulled in the curtains and sat in silence for hours, for days. But as much as he tried, he could not shut out his thoughts rampaging around his head.

So close, he was so close to obtaining what he always yearned for… So close, but they just had to ruin it, those two sisters… and now his dream was beyond his reach, most probably forever.

Sometimes at night he woke up and did nothing but curse the two northern sisters who brought this shame and misery upon him, until he finally drifted back to sleep again.

After one long and nightmare-ridden night, he awoke to one of the guards placing a silver tray on his table, but he did not care to get out of bed, only turned to his other side, away from the guard.

The door banged closed a few seconds later and he again, was alone.

Only, after a minute or so, he heard knocking.

He was so surprised that at first he did not even answer. Then, there was another hesitant knock.

'What do you want?' he growled. Must be the servants wanting to wash his clothes or bed linen or whatever.

'Who is in there?' a faint but soft voice asked. Hans did not recognize it as one of the servants', and come to think of it, why would a servant even ask him such a question?

He got up and ran his fingers along his ruffled auburn hair while he was walking towards the door.

'Who is out there?' he asked back with a faint smile. Must be a new girl, someone who has no idea of him being locked up like he is at all.

'I….' the woman hesitated for a second '…I'm princess Linda van Voigt.'

Hans felt his heart stop for a mere minute, then remembered he has nothing to lose anymore – that was the only convenience about not having anything to begin with.

'I would bow before you, Princess, but alas, it would be better in person' he said with a little edge in his tone. There came no reply for a while. Then the princess on the other side said:

'Please answer me. Are you a prisoner? Are you kin or enemy to the Rotbeard house?'

It occurred to Hans that if he just played his cards right, he might not only get out of here but be king in the near future after all. So he spoke with his softest, most charming voice:

'Princess… it pains me to say so, but I am held captive in my very home, by the very ones I call family.'

There was a bit of silence, then the princess said:

'I am coming in.'

'Wait, what?' Hans panicked, then quickly got into his role again and continued in his tender voice, albeit a bit hastily: 'Princess, you would not want to see me like I am now… It really is not a sight for your eyes…' it seemed to have worked, because he did not hear the key turn in the lock. Hans let out a small sigh of relief – it would not have advanced his cause at all if the princess saw him wearing a nightgown and being in the terrible shape he was in, uncombed and all.

'Why are they keeping you in here?' her voice was so soft and innocent, it made him almost feel sick.

'That's what brothers do' he said, chuckling, and leaned against the door.

'Will I see you tonight at dinner, prince…?'

'Hans. Prince Hans' he felt his heart jump. She already swallowed the bait. He could almost not believe his luck 'I will try my best to be present at the dinner tonight, princess, but it is not my final decision to make, alas…'

'I will ask your royal father then' she whispered gently in response. His lips curved into an evil grin. Too easy… 'I am looking forward to our meeting' she whispered finally and, before he could reply anything, she quickly left with hasty steps.