Queen Elsa woke up crying for the third night in row. However it was just one of many nights in the past month. Elsa took in a deep breath as she wiped an almost frozen tear from her face. The grandfather clock on the opposite end of the room chimed midnight. She counted the twelve chimes as they happened. It had always worked to calm her down. She hadn't cried in her sleep this much since her mother and father died. It was another dream. About Hans. It wasn't a nightmare about him trying to kill her and leaving her sister, Anna, for dead. It was an actual dream. Well it was more of a flashback. She kept dreaming of the time he saved her life in her ice palace. She kept dreaming about when they locked her up, and how Hans had been so kind to her. At the time he had seemed to be honest. But she knew now it was all to get her kingdom. Was it? Is there something we missed, something we misread? Elsa wondered.

She was terrified to admit it but she couldn't get Hans out of her head. He had been so easy to talk to. She remembered how he listened to her when she said she wanted to be let go. Hans told her she wasn't a monster. And she believed him. A part of her still believed him. But he did tell Anna he loved her. And she knew how well that worked out.

… Hans?... I need to talk to him!

Elsa jumped out of her bed and quickly got dressed. She ran down the hall to Anna's room.

"Anna?" Elsa shook her sleeping sister awake.

"What?" Anna yawned

"I'm leaving the kingdom for a while."

Anna jolted awake, "What!?"

"I need to clear my head. So much has happened in the past month. I'm a little overwhelmed. I need to go somewhere I can breathe."

"Promise me you'll come back."

"I promise I'll be back tomorrow, but I'm leaving you in charge."

"Don't set off another winter!" Anna laughed.

"I won't" Elsa laughed as she hugged her sister.

Elsa stood at the edge of the ocean that separated Arendelle from the other kingdoms. She stepped on the water and froze the water under her feet. She learned how to control her power so she only froze the water she steps on. She started walking south to the Southern Isles. She would be walking for three hours but she didn't care. She needed answers.

It was about three in the morning when she had arrived in The Southern Isles. Elsa walked to the heart of the kingdom where the castle was located.

"Who goes there?" the guard stationed in the control room for the gate asked.

"Queen Elsa of Arendelle"

The guard looked at Elsa. She lifted her palm and sent out a small blast of ice. Most everyone in the kingdoms around Arendelle knew about Queen Elsa's powers.

"Proceed" the guard opened the gate.

Elsa took in a deep breath as she entered the castle.
"Queen Elsa?" an unfamiliar male voice asked.

Elsa turned and saw a man whom looked to be in his late-thirties.

"How do you know me?" Elsa asked.

"I'm King Joseph of The Southern Isles. There was an issue with my youngest brother, Hans, about a month ago."

"Oh, speaking of Hans I would like to speak with him."

"Why would you want to do that, and especially after what he did to you and your sister?"

"I need to understand something that I think only he can tell me" Elsa said quietly.

"He's in the dungeon."

"Dungeon?!"

"After he returned to The Southern Isles from you coronation I was told everything, so I denounced him of his title as prince and sentenced him to fifteen years in the dungeon." King Joseph said with no remorse.

"May I still speak with him, please?" Elsa looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Alright, just be careful your Majesty."

King Joseph led Elsa to the dungeon.

"Be careful" King Joseph reminded Elsa as he turned to back upstairs, perhaps going to bed.

"I'd like to speak to the man formerly known as Prince Hans of The Southern Isles." Elsa said to the dungeon guard.

"Proceed."

Elsa entered the dungeon which contained a few people, mostly older, in their own individual cells. Hans was in the last cell. His hair had grown out some and it was messy. He was dressed in a white short sleeved shirt and brown trousers with no shoes. To her surprise Hans was wide awake. He was sitting against the wall of his cell. His knees were to his chest and he was staring out the small window on the other end of his cell.

"Hans?"

Hans looked up "Queen Elsa why are you here?"

She sat down outside the cell "Because I need to talk to you."

Hans looked at Elsa in silence but clearly surprise Elsa "needed" to talk to him.

Elsa looked at Hans "I already know why you did what you did, but I don't understand what made you do it."

"Do you really want to know?" Hans whispered. He sounded like he was about to cry.

"Yes, please Prince Hans!" She said pleadingly.

Hans looked up to meet Elsa's eyes. She said Prince Hans.

"I am no longer Prince Hans."

"You are still a prince by birth no matter what your brothers say." She smiled kindly.

Hans smiled "It's a long story."

"That's why I'm here at four in the morning!" Hans and Elsa laughed.

"I don't expect you to believe anything I'm about to say but I promise you on my life that every single word is the truth and I don't want you to tell me you forgive me. What I did was unforgivable, and I know that. I grew up with twelve older brothers, a strong father and a wonderful mother. My mother died of illness when I was ten. My brothers and father and I were all lost. When I was fifteen my three brothers closest to my age started to pretend I was invisible. At first it was really obvious they would say something like "Where's Hans he must not be in here!" when I was standing right in front of them. Within a few months it got violent. They started to shove me out of there way and lock me in my room. It started to really get me down. My dad told me "Hans you are a prince. You must act like it. No matter how upset anyone makes you, no matter how much you want to cry you must conceal it."

Elsa's eyes lit up she knew exactly where this was going

"Don't feel it. Don't let it show." Elsa and Hans said in unison.

Hans looked up at Elsa surprise in his eyes. "How...?" Hans said unable to finish his sentence.

Elsa smiled "My father used to tell me the same thing about my powers."

Hans just looked at her with understanding as he continued. "My father was killed one day when was out hunting. It was just a few days after my seventeenth birthday. I heard my brothers, the three who had ignored me, talking in one of their rooms. They were talking about nearby kingdoms with princesses that would one day be queen. I saw this as my chance. I had lost my mother and my father, so I was going to do anything within my power to not lose three of my brothers forever. So I entered the room. I slowly joined in on the discussion. In a few hours they had accepted me in the plan. My brother Derek told me "Since Arendelle is the smallest of the local kingdoms you get Arendelle. Also Princess Elsa whose coronation is in two months will be twenty-one so she's not much older than you." I went along with the plan because they had accepted me they we're talking to me after two years of being shut out. For the first time in forever I wasn't alone."

"You're a lot like Anna in that way. I think she would have done anything to get me to talk to her back then." Elsa said.

"Being shut out hurts but eventually you learn to forget" Hans said "I spent the next two months learning as much as possible about Arendelle, about you, and about your sister. I learned that most everyone in the kingdom thought you we're shy and maybe a little scared to take your parents place one the throne. I arrived at Arendelle the day of your coronation and I was starting to feel a little guilty. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I wasn't going back. I couldn't go back! And then I met Anna and I soon realized that she had feelings for me. Remembering my brothers I fabricated a new plan. I would marry Anna, and I would have to stage..." Hans stopped mid-sentence.

"Stage what?" Elsa said.

"...Your death..." Hans whispered.

Elsa sighed "Please continue."

"I wasn't really surprised when Anna agreed to marry me. We went back to try to get your blessing. And I saw your strength and your beauty. I actually hadn't really noticed you when you were crowned. I was too busy looking at Anna and trying to figure out my new plan. Anyway I didn't know why but I didn't want to upset you I wanted to see you happy. Then I saw your ice powers and I just thought that...they were beautiful." Hans looked down at the ground.

"Beautiful?" Elsa said confused. "No one thought my powers were beautiful at first not even me."

Hans sighed "I did. At first I just thought Wow I was completely speechless."

"Thank you."

"Then you left. Anna went after you, and she left me in charge of Arendelle. I tried to be as good as possible to your people. Anna's horse returned to Arendelle without her; I thought that she might have been in trouble or hurt. I rallied up a group of volunteer men to go out and find her. Beyond the fourds we got some tips about something magical happening on the North Mountain. So I lead my men up the North Mountain. Once we were there I knew exactly where we had to be. I saw your Ice Palace and again I was completely speechless by the beauty of your gift. When the men from Wesselton tried to shoot and kill you my one though was 'I'd rather die than let you kill her.' I made him shoot the chandelier because I knew you would run. Because I knew you were smart. Some ice hit you and knocked you out, so I put you on my horse and walked alongside Citron back to Arendelle."

Hans stopped took a deep breath and said "I'm afraid to tell you the rest"

"Please finish Hans!"

Hans smiled "As you wish. I went to visit you in your cell, which some of my men insisted we put you in so you wouldn't leave so we could question you and try to get you to bring back summer. When I left you and told you I would try I left the room and said to myself…"

"What…? What did you say?"

"I will try because… I love you, your Highness"

"What…?"

"I realized that I loved you. On my way to convince the lords to let you go I thought of my brothers, and I got angry with myself. My emotions were ruining everything! I wasn't going to let this happen. In that instant I knew what had to be done. I went up to your room planning another search party to find Anna. After all how could I become king without your sister? Anna came back just before I went out to look for her. When she told me you had frozen her heart and only an act of true love could save her I saw it as my chance. It had hit me in an instant. I knew the kiss wouldn't have worked because I knew I didn't love her! I knew I loved…. Well you! And I'm pretty sure Anna has told you the rest." Hans finished by lowering his voice.

"Yes she did." Elsa didn't meet his eyes.

The two sat in silence for a long time.

Hans sighed "Please say something, Queen Elsa."

Elsa took a long breath. The realization that Hans loved her was kind of rocking her world. What rocked her world even more was the realization that a part of her truly loved Hans as well. She wasn't ready to admit it.

"What happened in your past does not justify what you did to Arendelle. It shows that you are a victim to your emotions and you haven't learned to let things go. Letting go is a lesson I only recently learned. I think we need to start off fresh. Entirely new."

"Okay."

"Hello I'm Elsa!" she held her hand out smiling.
"I know who you are." Hans chuckled.

"You know Queen Elsa of Arendelle. We never got the chance to introduce each other. I think we need to simply start being friends, so hi I'm Elsa."

"Hi I'm Hans!"

Elsa slipped her hand between the bars and shook his hand. Hans' hand was warm and firm. Elsa had a feeling his hand would be this.

"Hans." Elsa said looking deeply into is green-brown eyes "I'm going to pay your way out of this."

His eyes widened. "Elsa, no, I will not let you do that. It's my fault I'm in here!"

"I want to you can't stop me! If I want to be able to fully try to accept you then I have to get to know you better, and how could I possibly get to know you better if you are stuck in a cage." Elsa slipped her hand back into Hans' cell. She took a hold of his hand then looked up into his eyes and smiled.

She is so beautiful and so wonderful. She's like no one else I've ever met before. Not just for her powers. Hans thought to himself as he looked at Elsa.

"I'll be back soon." Elsa said getting up to leave the dungeon.

Elsa walked into the throne room. She saw King Joseph reading in his throne.

"You're Highness." She said.

"Yes Queen Elsa." King Joseph looked down from his book.

"I'd like to pay or bargain for the release of Prince Hans." Elsa said fearlessly.

"What? Elsa please be rational! Whatever Hans said to disregard it! He's just a power mad child who'll stop at nothing to get any kingdom!" Joseph said jumping out of his throne.

"He's not like that! Hans didn't ask me to do this. This is my choice. Hans even tried to talk me out of it!" She said defensively.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because after talking with Hans I've seen that incarceration may not be the best thing for him. He's been a victim to his emotions. Please let him out. I'll pay for it."
"Tell the guards to release Hans. Bring him here." King Joseph said to another nearby palace staff member.

A few awkward minutes of silence later an armored guard brought Hans forth. His hands were tied behind his back.

King Joseph cleared his throat. "You are hereby released of your prison sentence. However you are still denounced of your title and you are henceforth and evermore banished from the kingdom of The Southern Isles! Now get out of my sight."
Elsa's eyes grew wide "King Joseph you can't"
"I said leave, before I banish you as well."

Hans looked like he was going to cry as the guard cut his ropes "Joseph… please!"

"I said leave!" King Joseph yelled!

Elsa grabbed Hans' hand as they left the castle. Once out of the castle Hans stopped. He looked up at the castle his eyes stoic.

"I'm so sorry, Hans. This isn't what I wanted." Elsa looked down and started to cry.

"Elsa… thank you so much." Hans said taking her in his arms.

"Are you sure? If you are angry you can tell me."

"Elsa thank you. I'm truly grateful!"

Hans and Elsa stared deeply into each other's eyes. Hans couldn't hold it back another second. He needed to act on his true emotions for a change. He brushed I long wisp of long white blond hair out of Elsa's face.

Elsa shivered with happiness under Hans' warm touch.

Hans wiped a tear from her face with his thumb. He then kissed her cheek where the tear had been.
"You are so beautiful!" Hans said looking Elsa directly in the eyes. She looked down at the ground and blushed. Other than Anna no one had ever told her she was beautiful.

"Hans I want you to stay in Arendelle, please."

"Elsa I can't. Your people… they hate me. I'll never be welcomed in Arendelle."

"No one has to know. I know exactly where you can stay where no one can hurt you."

"If you insist."

"I do! Now come on!"

Elsa grabbed Hans'. They walked to Arendelle together, and within a few hours they arrived in Arendelle. Once they were in Arendelle Hans stood on the edge of the fourd. He faced the sun, closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath. Elsa watched him breathe. She watched his chest go up and down as he inhaled and exhaled. He let out a sigh.

"The sun feels so good on my skin. I've missed it." Hans opened his eyes and looked at Elsa.

"I'll bet. Being alone for so long in the dark would make anyone miss the sun." She replied.

"So, where is this place that you want me to stay?"

"Not too far from the castle." Elsa looked at Hans over her shoulder.

Hans and Elsa walked hand in hand cautiously through the kingdom so they wouldn't be seen together. Elsa said she didn't care if anyone saw them, but Hans was afraid if someone saw them together they may start to distrust her. She showed Hans to a small cottage in the forest outside the castle.

"Do you like it?" Elsa asked twirling her hair nervously.

"I love it! It's my own little place! It's perfect! Thank you so much Elsa!" Hans picked Elsa up in his arms and spun her. As he did she laughed with pure happiness! Once Hans set Elsa down she said "I want you to come by the castle tonight."

"I promise will. When will I know to come?" Hans asked.

"Here," Elsa once again grabbed Hans' hand.

She lead him up a rope ladder to a tree house. "When all the windows you see on this side of the castle are off you can come."

"Okay" Hans nodded that he understood.

"I have to go, or Anna will start to worry about me."

"Goodbye your Majesty. I'll see you tonight."

Then much to his surprise Elsa gave Hans a kiss on the cheek before climbing done the rope ladder.