There had been something different about him. She was sure. The look in his eyes when he had visited her in her cell, that cold, lonely night. Those eyes had shown something different. Different to his character the next day. Compassion. Kindness. And something else. Something she didn't think he would care to admit now. Something Elsa could not make out. Curiously had got the better of her. So, she had gone to check.
The moonlight shone faintly through the castle windows, which in turn echoed it around the dark gloomy passageway. The shallow ray of light bounced of a nearby suit of armour, and lead a path in front of the woman. She walked swiftly and silently with purpose, down the staircase, her slim, elegant body winding its way down the steps. She was heading towards the dungeons. Pausing for a brief moment, she looked out of the window onto the land she now ruled. She felt no happiness, when she looked at its quaint beauty, only fear and a resigned composure. She had no idea how to run such a large kingdom. It was terrifying and the last few days had only echoed this to her subjects. With a large sigh, she gave it a last glance, before carrying on with her journey. She had to see him tonight. In the morning he would be sent away, banished from her new kingdom. A rightful punishment for his actions. So, she had one night, tonight, to see what had really been in those eyes, and what had changed.
Elsa was not sure how it had happened. One moment she had composed, dignified, standing and sternly talking to the prisoner. She had had the upper ground, and was getting to what she wanted fast. Then it all changed. Sobbing, brought down by the prisoners questions and words, she had fallen to the damp cell floor. He tears ran down her face silently, the way you cry when you are genially hurt, not attention seeking. She had poured all the worry and fear that had been swallowing onto him, and in turn he had listened and comforted her. All the pressures of her royal duties slipped away. As the night continued, he filled her with self-confidence, and then confided in her back. Hours they spent softly talking, and crying, terrified about what tomorrow would bring. Before long their hands meet in the darkness of the night. Instead of resisting his touch, she gripped on tight, his warmth seeping through her like a candle in the darkest of nights. Only then did she ask the question, she had come to ask.
''Why?'' Elsa whispered to him, as he caressed her hand with his. She could feel her ice cold breath bouncing of his smooth skin. ''Why did you do it? There were different ways. Why Anna? She was so defenceless and innocent?'' She asked him softly, remembering the hurt and anger that had filled her as she watch her sister freeze. She could still see the sad, scared looking in her face, as she had embraced her, weeping.
The prisoner didn't reply. He just carried on rubbing his baby soft hands along hers, then up her arms, and towards her neck. As much as she was enjoying it, the peace and comfort she had missed for all these years, she had to keeping pushing the question. ''Why?'' she repeated, trying to urge him on, her voice becoming angrier. He froze, and his warming hands left her slim figure, retracting back into the darkness. ''Please,'' she whispered to him quietly, quickly grabbing his hands with hers, entombing them in her pale ones. She knew it was wrong, to be sitting here, with these hands of them all, but she didn't care. She brought them up to her smooth pink lips, and kissed them, a warm sensation filling her body. She held them there, and closed her eyes, as goose bumps erupted on her skin. Then from the pale light her had been hiding in, the prisoner leant over and kissed her, pushing his warm body against her frosty one. His scent filled her nose, and she let him, as her pushed her down.
Elsa should have moved away. Retracted, pushed him off or called the guards. But she didn't. Ad when the warm morning light began to seep into the tiny windows of the cell, the prisoner finally replied.
''Fear, Stupidity and Loneliness.'' Hans whispered into her ear, his lips brushing against her skin. It wasn't the answer she had been looking for, but Elsa no longer cared.