A/N: To return readers: Welcome back, everyone! I surely hope you enjoy this second journey into the cast and crew of the Frozen Hearts saga. I cannot wait for us to return to our favorite characters, and perhaps, some new ones! You'll notice the story begins immediately after the last one ended with Hans and Elsa on their way back to Arendelle, but the chapters will make a series of little jumps early on before settling in on a good steady timeline. Let's dive in to a whole new adventure! Are you ready?
To new readers: Hello! Thanks for taking a moment to check out my story. This is a sequel to my completed Frozen Hearts fic. Be forewarned that this fic does have a Helsa pairing. It is rated T to be on the safe side. There are occasional moments of loss, intense scenes, and use of alcohol. You will gain the most from reading the first fic as several characters are introduced there but welcome regardless!
To both of you: Please enjoy and don't forget to review! The story shares a tumblr with its original title at frozenheartsfansdottumblrdotcom.
Chapter One
Coronation Catastrophe
"Whaaat are you doing?" Kristoff asked, leaning over the lumpy pile of crème-colored cloth and sticks haphazardly dumped on the pier.
"I'm trying to build a tent out of the welcome back banner!" came a huffed voice from within the pile of fabric. Shimmying out from under it, a strawberry blonde cheerfully popped her head into the open air. "Harder than it looks!"
"Here, let me help you. Up we go!" Kristoff bent down and took her hands, hoisting the princess Anna up to her feet.
"Thanks!" Anna exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips and giving the pile of cloth a little kick haphazardly. "Doesn't look much like a tent, does it?"
"Why are you building one, anyway?" Kristoff questioned as his reindeer, Sven, began to root around under the pile of fabric. "Did the castle staff kick you out because of your snoring?"
"No!" Anna retorted, giving him a little playful punch in his shoulder. "I just want to be here on the dock when Elsa gets back. It's supposed to be today, as long as she didn't stay any longer."
"Do you really think that's necessary?" Kristoff replied, bending down to help Sven out of the cloth, who had entangled the rope and supplies among his impressive antlers.
"I haven't seen Elsa in months, Kristoff! And it's not that I can't get along without seeing her for a while, belieheeve me, I've been down that road before, but I don't know anything about bills proposing tax cuts and new housing and trade negotiations! That's Elsa's thing. I'm… not born to be queen, she is."
The subtle, depressive shift of emotion in Anna's voice was painstakingly clear to Kristoff. He knew how much the sisters meant to one another. He put his hand on her shoulder, squeezing for support. "Hey. We all know you're doing a great job covering for her. The whole town backs you up. And Elsa will think the same when-"
"She's back!" Anna squealed, running to the edge of the pier.
Kristoff, who saw nothing but empty sea in front of him, followed Anna and lifted a hand to shade his eyes from the sun's reflective glare. "Are you sure?"
"Positive! Can't you see the ship? Who else could it be? Keep looking, right where I'm pointing!" Anna held her point stiffly so Kristoff could follow it. "See it now?"
Kristoff squinted, leaning forward; conscious of how close they were to the pier edge. If he concentrated, he could just make out a tiny black speck on the horizon. "Are you sure that's her?"
"Come and help me with the banner!" Anna exclaimed, swooping down to gather the pile of fabric in her hands and rushing back towards the dock.
"Anna, slow down; we don't even know for sure if it's your sister or not!" Kristoff shouted as he jogged to keep up with the princess. He took the side opposite Anna in hand, threading rope through the holes for support and hoisting the fabric high up, tying it off to keep it from flapping in the breeze. There would be no stopping Anna if she set her mind to something.
"Well? Whaddya think?" Anna probed, admiring her work as she took in the full scope of the piece of art.
"Well… it's…" Kristoff searched for an appropriate description. The words "Welcome Home Elsa" were painted on in various colors, some splotches of light blue depicting snowflakes along the border, many of the letters in the greeting leaving a thin paint streak dripping down to the edge of the banner.
"Olaf helped a lot," Anna commented, scrutinizing her own work before turning to him, her face alight in excitement. "It's inspiring, right? Brings you to tears? Makes you experience emotions you've never felt before?"
"It's perfect," Kristoff commented, smiling as he surveyed the decoration. "It'll make today a perfect day for her."
"I hope so." Anna lifted the hem of her dress as she returned to the edge of the pier, looking over her shoulder. "Why don't you go get Sven ready? We want to give Elsa a regal ride home, right?"
"Right, I'll go get him hitched up and bring the carriage," Kristoff agreed, watching Anna plop herself down on the edge of the pier, dress and all, and swing her feet back and forth. If there was anything he loved about her, it was the way she made the sun shine even brighter and the people around her happier.
"I'm right here, Elsa," Anna murmured, watching the speck in the distance grow ever-closer. "I'm here, and can't wait to tell you everything that's happened while you've been gone. I can't wait to tell you…"
#
"Welcome home." Elsa took Hans' arm in her hands and leaned slightly against him, watching her homeland swell ever closer.
Hans smiled at her, feigning comfort the best he knew how. "Thank you. So how are we going to tell the people of Arendelle the news?"
Elsa could sense his discomfort, and she certainly couldn't blame him for it. She understood it would not be easy to become king of a land so fiercely loyal to their queen after being labeled as an attempted usurper. The people would need reassurance, especially from Anna, that Hans had changed. They would need time to build their trust. "With great care," she responded, leaning over the deck railing. She tried to change the subject. "I missed home."
"I think some may have missed you just as much."
Hans and Elsa turned at the sound of the new voice to see Hans' older brother approaching them. It was clear the voyage had done him some good from the youthful smile on his face. Heinrik stopped beside Elsa and held out a thin spyglass the length of his arm. "Why don't you turn your attention on the dock?"
Elsa accepted the spyglass and did as she was told, leaning her elbow on the railing to try and keep the viewpoint steady. She saw a figure jumping up and down on the edge of the dock, waving her arms frantically. At the same time, a thin voice floated into her ears over the sloshing of the waves against the ship, a voice bursting with excitement, calling her name. A smile spread over her face as she adjusted the viewpoint, and a soft flutter of laughter rose from her heart. "Anna, what are you doing?" She let her viewpoint linger on Anna for a moment or two longer, waving even if she wasn't sure Anna could see from the distance, and returned the spyglass to its owner. "She must have gotten my letter I sent as we left."
"Man, I wish half of my brothers were that accommodating," Heinrik replied, giving Hans a playful shove with his shoulder. "When I come home they just ask what I'm doing there."
"Well that's the kind of response you get when you're away for years," Hans grumbled, giving his brother a shove back.
Heinrik shrugged his shoulders good-naturedly and nodded to Elsa, pausing before doing the same for Hans. "Your majesties… we're set to arrive in port within the next half-hour, as long as the wind continues to be in our favor. I suggest you take the time to gather any necessities you may require tonight, and my men will unload the rest for you and take them to the castle while you get settled."
"Thank you," Elsa agreed. "You will join us for dinner, won't you? You and all your men? Let us treat you to Arendelle's finest."
"It would be my pleasure," Heinrik replied, turning to go, flashing Hans a wink as he did. "Though I can't overstay my welcome. Johan and I have new lands to claim."
"Just think," Elsa murmured, looking up at her castle thoughtfully. "Soon it will be our home…"
"Yeah." Hans nodded, grateful Elsa seemed to have enough confidence for both of them. "I think I'll check on Sitron below deck. Just to keep him comfortable as we pull into port." It was no mystery that Sitron's presence held a sort of comfort for Hans, and Elsa let him go without argument. It would prove difficult to assume the role of king in a land where few of your subjects supported you, and he would need the sense of peace wherever he could find it.
The light dimmed as Hans descended below deck, making the few turns and climbing down another level to reach the storage, where Sitron would be situated. He entered the room and smiled as he approached his steed. "Well, we're back, buddy. We're home." Sitron craned his neck out towards Hans, nickering pleasantly until the ship began to buzz with activity. Sensing something amiss, Sitron wheedled uneasily, and Hans stroked his horse amiably, murmuring soothing sounds as they began to dock. "We'll take you straight to the stables; I promise," Hans assured. He took reins from the wall and began to slide the bit between Sitron's teeth, opening the pen to lead his steed into Arendelle's arms once more.
#
Overhead, Elsa was the first to disembark, met halfway down the gangplank by Anna, who flung herself into her sister's arms. "Elsa! I'm so glad you're home; I've been waiting here all day!" Anna gushed as she guided Elsa along the pier.
"It's only been an hour tops," came a yell from nearby Elsa recognized.
"Okay, but it was a long hour!" Anna retorted, dragging Elsa beside her. "I started thinking a party when you got home but then I thought wow, Elsa is going to be exhausted after that long of a trip, and then I knew that you wouldn't want to deal with any royal business so I told Kai to postpone everything until you were feeling at home, so-"
"Anna, Anna, slow down!" Elsa exclaimed breathlessly, hugging her sister. "I missed you, too, but you didn't have to go to all the trouble for me. What I really want is just to go home."
"Perfect." Anna exclaimed, once again resuming dragging Elsa to the end of the pier and lifting her hands to cover her sister's eyes. "And I know how we can get there in style. Now don't peek. Ready? One…two… three… surprise!"
Elsa blinked as the veil was lifted before her eyes and Kristoff pulled up to the entrance to the harbor, sitting in the driver's seat of the wagon. Sven pulled the cart as the lead steed, and the sides of the wagon were decorated in a mound of paper snowflakes and a makeshift cushioned pair of seats resting in the back.
"Ta-daaaa!" Anna shouted, springing forward and sweeping her arms to gesture to the carriage. "Well? Whaddya think? Pretty great, right? We stayed up all night decorating it!"
"It's… um… very festive." Elsa managed, glancing behind her toward the pier where Hans had appeared, gingerly leading Sitron down the gangplank. "But there's something we have to talk about…"
Anna nodded brightly as she hopped onto the back of the wagon, holding out her arms for Elsa. "Oh, we'll have plenty of time to talk after you get home tonight. I told the cooks to make chocolate everything! Chocolate pudding, chocolate pie, chocolate-covered fruit, chocolate fondue…"
"Anna!" Elsa took her sister's arms and anchored her in place. "We need to talk about this now." Her cheeks began to warm as Kristoff gazed back at the two of them, puzzled. "I… brought someone with me."
Anna followed her sister's gaze back towards the docking ship, her eyes spotting Hans and widening in shock. She looked to Elsa for an explanation, leaning in to whisper. "I'm sorry, I'm confused. Let's take a second to review. What is he doing here?"
"Anna…" Elsa began, threading her fingers together and trying to find the right words for the tense moment of reveal. "I'm going to tell you the truth, and you need to listen, because it may shock you a little. Hans came home with me because… he's going to live here now. I love him, Anna. I love him, and we plan to be married in a few months time and he's… he's likely going to become king of Arendelle."
Anna stared back at Hans, looked back at her sister, and suddenly began to laugh. "Wow, Elsa, I didn't think you would go this far for a joke!" As she laughed, she looked again at Elsa, who maintained her serious expression, though her cheeks were ruddy now. "But you aren't laughing…" Anna peeked over her sister's shoulder to see Hans approaching and looked back at Elsa. "You and Hans… wait, what?"
#
It was an extreme understatement to say that the next few months following the announcement of Elsa's marriage and Hans being crowned felt awkward. Hans felt a burning hate from some of the servants, mild distrust from others, and even those who were close to the royal family, such as Kai and Gerda, were still uncomfortable with Elsa's decisions. Hans had always wanted to be king someday after seeing his own father rule so well, but to be king in a land where he was trusted felt blatantly different from being king in a country where your subjects blatantly disliked you.
Anna, with some coaxing from Elsa, kept busy trying to promote Hans and convince the townspeople his character had undergone transformation, for as the one most directly betrayed by him, her vouching meant the most. She occasionally took the time to keep him smiling by playing pranks like hiding his socks, or, on one rather daring day, his trousers. At first, her kindness made Hans uncomfortable, but as he grew to appreciate her as he did on the night he first met her, they became friends. "After all," she said one day, watching her future brother-in-law stretch from the parlor sofa to reach his necktie in the mouth of a frame moose head, "I've never seen Elsa this happy. And as long as she's happy, you've got nothing to fear from me."
In Hans' free time, he often stood in the study, one of the places he felt comfortable, where he could look out through the huge window over Arendelle and its citizens with perspective. He had suggested the possibility of becoming royal consort to Elsa, thinking it may help smooth over past mistakes, but Elsa had firmly defied the thought. "You aren't the monster they fear you are," she had murmured, resting her hand against his cheek and giving him a kiss. "We have to show them that."
Hans agreed, but still felt awkward about the situation, leading up to his daily visits to the study where he meditated on what he could do to regain the people's trust. Today, however, his thoughts were clouded.
"Am I interrupting?" Elsa asked, slipping inside and gracefully stepping over by her future husband. "Are you busy?"
"Never too busy for you," Hans readily replied, turning away from the window to face Elsa.
"Do you have any ideas for our wedding reception yet?" she asked, linking her fingers with his. "The haralds are going mad not knowing how to decorate the banners or when to post them."
"I'm sorry, Elsa," Hans apologized, "I haven't found any strokes of inspiration yet. I wasn't the one born with the innate sense of design in my family."
"Alright," Elsa replied, understanding shining in her eyes. "But we can't wait forever. You have to show them that you aren't afraid of how the public will react… that you'll be a good king."
"I'm not afraid," Hans said, looking back out over the country. "I just want to make sure they're ready. I want to make sure everything goes smoothly."
"Your majesties?" There was a knock on the door and it opened a crack to reveal Kai holding a platter, on which rested a letter. "May I interrupt?"
"Of course," Hans replied, gesturing with a wave. "What's the trouble, Kai?"
"I have a letter from the Isles." Kai approached and held the platter out to Hans, his posture stiff.
"Oh, that's wonderful news," Elsa gushed, taking the letter. Suddenly, her face crumpled, her fingers rubbing the parchment of the envelope. "What happened here?" The parchment was discolored, splotchy and browned, slightly crumpled at the edges. Even the famous anchor seal was only vaguely recognizable.
"My apologies your majesty, but from what I understand, the letter was damaged with seawater at some point during its journey."
Elsa frowned as she turned the envelope over and over again in her hands, scrutinizing the damage done. It was blatantly clear there was seawater damage, but none of her correspondence had ever been damaged before now. It also appeared excessively wrinkled, as if someone had started to crumple it, but thought better at the last moment. She handed it over to Hans with an encouraging smile, knowing it would mean more for him to read it than her.
Hans eagerly accepted and gently pried open the back, the wax on the seal crumbling away and the letter unfolding in a curl of paper that squeezed in as many words as possible. Hans chuckled to himself. Only one of his family members would write so much in so little space. He sank into the chair behind the study desk, clearing his throat to read.
"Dear Hans,
This is Heins! I'm writing this letter to you instead of Mother and Father only because I begged them to let me. You've no idea how much I miss you! I have no one else to talk to on a daily basis, brotherly-wise. Harken and Hugo are as close as ever, and with the winter months coming to a close and the coming of spring, they've decided to go on a hunting trip together. Harald is taking his swordfighting very seriously, and he's getting much better with his right hand. In fact, you'd never be able to tell it's weaker than his left now. Hugo and Harvard are both well; we don't hear from them much apart from formal things. Harry is busy as well with trade, since Heinrik is gone he's had to pick up slack and help Horatio with commerce. Mother and Father are both fine as well. That brings me to some unfortunate news. Mother and Father won't be able to attend your coronation or the wedding. They are going to be away meeting with Weselton on important matters. Even more unfortunately, I can't come to your coronation either. It's horrible, Hans; I had the perfect outfit picked out for the past month! But Helena has been very sick to her stomach recently, and I have no idea why. I don't think a trip on a rocking sea will do her any favors, and, well, I hope you understand. Please don't be angry with me. However, there is some good news on your…end… is coming…much love… miss you…"
"What happened?" Elsa asked, leaning over his shoulder. "Oh… oh no…" The bottom of the letter had been washed out almost entirely, leaving only a few illegible smudges. "I'm so sorry, Hans…"
"It's alright." Hans said, setting the letter down on the desk. "It just figures that the good news would be smudged out."
"I'm sure we'll find out, if you just give it a little time," Elsa soothed, resting her hand on his arm. Offering her a small smile in return, Hans made an affirmative noise under his breath and nodded, his eyes never leaving the bottom stains of the ruined letter.
#
As it so happened, Hans did not have to wait long to find out what his good news entailed. Another few weeks passed, the wedding and ensuing coronation drawing near, and Hans was in the midst of audience with the citizens. He did his absolute best to make himself available for anyone. He felt it a good first step to publicly show his change of character. Of course, making himself available and solving problems were two very different things. By the thirtieth hearing, he wished he could call it quits for the day. By the time he finished the forty-fifth, he realized he had lost count. Finally, feeling he could offer no more repeated, tiresome explanations to strangers for his behavior before the great thaw, he motioned for Kai and quietly requested the remaining subjects be escorted outside until tomorrow's hearing.
He flashed a smile to Elsa, who sat patiently beside him, and footsteps of disappointed citizens began to echo in the halls.
"Are you alright?" Elsa asked as she looked over her future husband's sagging posture, his grim expression centered on the distance. Her concern was apparent in her bright blue eyes.
"Yes… just tired." Hans answered truthfully. He tried not to bring to light the subject of Kris to the citizens, but occasionally they pressed hard enough for him to spare a few details of his grief-ridden past.
Suddenly, one of the guards, breathless, entered the throne room and approached, stiffly bowing to Elsa. "Your majesty?"
"What is it?" Elsa asked, concern lacing her brow.
"There's a disgruntled man, your majesty. He refuses to leave until he sees you."
"Who is he?" Elsa asked. "What is the nature of his concern?"
"He only said you would be expecting him, your majesty. He is very highly decorated."
"Hans!" A barking shout slipped through the cracks in the great throne doors. One of them pushed open enough to reveal a disheveled man being held back by his shoulders thanks to two guards, one on either side. His dark brown hair, almost dark enough to seem black, had been ruffled in the scuffle and his green eyes sparked in frustration. "Tell these imbeciles- pardon my language, your majesty," he quipped to Elsa, "to let me go!"
"Harald!" Hans gasped, rocketing to his feet and scrambling over to him, pushing the soldiers away. "Release him at once…this is my brother!"
Harald jerked free of his captors, grunting as he smoothed his uniform down and brushed invisible dirt from his arms. "Some welcome," he grumbled.
"I'm sorry, Harald, but I didn't expect you," Hans lamented. "What are you doing here?"
"Didn't you get Heins' letter?" asked Harald, now looking mildly surprised. "I said I would be attending your coronation."
"Yes, I did get the letter, but it didn't say anything about you coming." Hans tried to picture the words before him, coming up empty.
"It figures Heins would forget to mention something so important. I knew I should have written the letter myself," Harald ranted, pacing back and forth, glowering darkly into the distance as if to somehow shame his far-away brother.
Hans continued to scan the letter in his imagination. He remembered the washed out ink of the letter with a start. "Good news… you're the good news!"
"What are you babbling about, Hans?" Harald growled irritably. "Remember your precision of language! You're to be a king, for God's sake."
"The end of the letter was washed out, unreadable. Heins talked about a piece of good news, but not what it was. He must have meant you!"
"Oh." Annoyance eased out of his brother's features, leaving them sharp, but no longer angry. "I see."
"Well, we're glad you're here, Harald. Welcome to Arendelle," Elsa said gently.
"Would you like a tour of the castle grounds?" Hans asked, motioning for the soldiers in the room to come forward with a wave. When they did not respond, Elsa cleared her throat. Instantly, they jogged over with simultaneous bows.
Elsa flashed a warm smile to Hans and faced the guards. "Please have the captain see that Prince Harald's belongings are delivered to our finest guest suite, and his ship taken care of afterwards. Offer its crew room and board in any of our inns with our compliments."
"Yes, your majesty." The soldiers disappeared to do as they were told.
"Let me show you around, brother," Hans exclaimed, eager to please his skeptical sibling as he slipped an arm around his shoulder.
Hans led his brother on an extensive tour throughout the castle, from the kitchens to the treasury, and finally came outside to the gardens connecting to the stables. His brother responded with an occasional grunt of acknowledgement, his lackadaisical expression clearly disinterested.
Hans, desperately desiring to impress his elder sibling, suddenly struck upon a brilliant idea. "Why don't we look over the training yard for the soldiers? Maybe you could give them a few pointers." From the corner of his eye, Hans saw Harald's expression shift, his eyes lighting with interest.
He was careful to show only the slightest glimmer of enthusiasm. "Lead on, then."
Hans scaled the stairwell and excited on top of an archway, where the courtyard below was filled with training soldiers. Spying the captain not far off, likely observing his underlings with similar motivation, Hans approached with a friendly wave.
"Good afternoon, captain!"
The man did not respond, his gaze affixed below him, arms tucked behind his back.
"Captain?" Hans repeated. Perhaps the man had not heard him. This time, the captain's eyes shifted to look in Hans' direction, but again, he did not respond, turning his back to Hans and facing his soldiers below them. Suddenly it became clear to Hans this was a blatant show of disrespect. Things may have gone entirely differently and Hans may have accepted defeat had his brother not been present.
"Soldier!" Harald brushed past Hans and marched up to the man's left side. "Your future king is speaking to you and you will respond accordingly!"
The soldier glanced at Harald and seemed dismissive until the sun caused the medals on his chest to glint. Wearing a similar but sparser decoration caused him to pause. "Who are you?" he asked, turning to face Harald, almost a head taller.
"I am Harald Westergard, captain of the Southern Isles guard and eighth in line for the throne. And you, sir, are a disgrace to the title of captain!"
Hans had rarely seen Harald challenge people outside of family, and was stunned into a brief silence.
"Please, go on." The captain gestured to the courtyard below them. "Tell me, being so well-versed yourself in the qualities of a country's military force, what you think of Arendelle's army."
Harald quietly accepted the challenge, stepping forward to overlook the men. He scratched his chin, which was only slightly spackled in stubble from his journey, and responded in kind. "They're in decent physical condition, but not very coordinated with one another. They aren't pushing themselves, either. They could use some real training to boost their overall camaraderie."
The poor score of those under his command seemed to irk the man. "Is there a particular reason you've come to see me… your highness?" The captain faced Hans, irritation tugging his facial features into a tense pinch.
"No," Hans started, unsure if his brother had helped his cause or done the opposite, "I mean, yes, I was intending to show my brother the army in training, but not to see you. That is to say-"
Harald interrupted, cutting Hans off entirely. "Is there a particular reason you are not supervising your soldiers at the docks? Is it that you don't think it important enough to see visiting royalty treated properly? Or do you just not care to obey orders from your queen?" The soldier blinked, and Harald frowned in disapproval. "Would you like me to go on, or are you sufficiently ashamed yet?"
The captain faltered, opening his mouth as if to say something, and then closed it again as though he'd thought better of it. "Sir." The word was flat and hung stiff in the air as he turned away from them, his last gaze locked on Hans. "Excuse me. I must see to my men at the docks."
"Of course, captain." Hans tried to smooth over the last words of their conversation but the captain ignored him as he walked away and disappeared. For a few moments, nothing happened between the brothers. Then, still staring in the direction the captain had gone, Harald grunted.
"Your men don't respect you."
"What else is new?" Hans replied with a sigh, his brows furrowed in frustration.
"A king without loyal soldiers may as well not be king at all." Harald murmured.
They were both shadowed by silence for a moment to reflect on what had been said. Hans paced a few steps back and forth along the wall and then spoke. "I miss home," he breathed, his tone soft.
"You've hardly been gone but half a year," Harald replied, giving his brother a harrowing look. "And you practically jumped for joy when father chose you for ambassador to Elsa's coronation. Why the sudden change?"
"I can trust people in the isles, but here even my own captain of the guard may not be loyal to me. I feel like a stranger in my own kingdom."
Harald was silent in understanding, staring at the men below in the training yard.
"I wish you could be my captain of the guard," Hans whispered wistfully.
Harald blinked and furrowed his brow, facing his little brother. He was simultaneously touched by the compliment and sincerely troubled by the dark truth behind it. "Hans, you know I can't do that. I've sworn myself to father since I was twelve."
"I know," Hans said, his eyes staring blankly into the distance as he leaned over the wall. "It's just… with you here, I wouldn't feel so… unsure. I wouldn't feel so far from home."
Harald contemplated what to say and finally sufficed to rest his hand on his brother's shoulder. Together, they watched as the sun began to set beyond the horizon. Though the moment appeared peaceful, both men were swarmed with ill thoughts for the future.
#
Unlike his brother Heins' recent wedding, which only held feelings of support, joy, and high hopes, Hans' wedding fell on a misty morning which gave way to a melancholy sky. The ceremony went as planned, and for the briefest of moments, Hans forgot his troubles bubbling in his heart as Elsa began her walk down the aisle. She was the most beautiful person Hans had ever seen. Her gown, predictably, was white as winter, the lace of her veil so fine one would think it made of snow. Hans wouldn't wonder if it was. Anna followed the party as a bridesmaid, part of the tiny wedding party with the enormous guest list. Elsa came to a halt in front of Hans, taking his ring and giving her heart in return.
Harald, perhaps going a little overboard, had attended wearing all of his medals, drawing intrigued whispers and interested stares from several of the single women. The wedding seemed to pass in a matter of seconds for Hans, but the ensuing coronation took the opposite approach. Every moment, every trickle of sweat among his sideburns and glint of disapproval in the eyes of his audience was painfully noticeable. The coronation was a process he'd seen before, but was not prepared to witness himself. The crowd of citizens rose as he accepted the royal artifacts into his hands, but unlike Elsa's coronation, there was hardly a smile to be found among them. He remained as stiff as the stone statues of angels among the church balconies as the priest recited the Norse vows.
Is this the right thing? Do the people trust me at all? What else can I do to prove myself? I'm not like I used to be. I only did it because I was desperate to forget Kris… to forget everything. Is it so wrong to want to forget?
"King Hans of Arendelle!" the priest exclaimed, snapping Hans out of his trance-like state.
"King Hans of Arendelle!" the crowd shouted in response, falling silent afterward.
Hans took Elsa's arm and they walked out together, the crown feeling heavier than he imagined it would. As the newly-crowned king of Arendelle made his way to the church doors, a waving and encouraging Elsa beside him, a ripple of cheers made its way through the audience. For a moment, he began to feel positive, even hopeful, but no sooner had he begun to wave than he heard a distinct, yet distant "Boo!" Instantly he hesitated, scanning the crowd.
Elsa wrinkled her brow in puzzlement; it was clear she had not heard. Hans forced himself onward, but he was deaf to the sparse cheers of the citizens, the solitary boo ringing in his ears.
On his way out of the chapel, a soldier came up to his right side, looking sorely unhappy to be interrupting. "Your m-majesty?" he asked in a stammer. For a moment, Hans waited for Elsa to respond, for even though he was king now, the soldiers had all been dropping formalities with him to express displeasure. "Sir? Your highness?"
It suddenly occurred to Hans that someone was talking to him specifically and he faced the soldier in question. "Yes?"
"Sir, we were in the middle of letting the horses out for exercise when yours attacked the stable master. What should we do?"
"Is he hurt?" Hans asked.
"The stable master," the man clarified, "no sir, but he refuses to allow anyone near the horse."
Hans scratched his sideburns in thought. He wanted to attend to his steed on his own, but to leave now would only put him in a bad light and make him seem unsociable with his citizens, which was not good considering he had only just been coronated. "Leave Sitron for now. I'll see to him myself tonight, after the celebrations are over."
"Yes sir," the soldier said with a salute.
The ensuing celebrations swept Hans into a whirlwind of congratulations, of suggestions for improvements on the kingdom, and many questions concerning his family. He was happy to answer them all, but doing so took hours and by the time he was only halfway through the proceedings, he realized he'd left Sitron far longer than he'd wanted. He watched the sun fade behind the massive North Mountain. Determined to find a temporary solution, he searched the crowd for a familiar face; one he knew would not be far. "Harald!"
His brother, holding a strained conversation alongside a pretty young thing desperately flirting with the foreign, handsome soldier, sharply looked towards his name. Hans could almost see the gratefulness behind his brother's eyes as he shoved his cup of punch into the girl's gloved hands and hurried over to join him. Hans was baffled by his brother's ability to part the crowd without saying a word, his presence speaking volumes. "What is it?"
Hans stepped away for a moment, leaving Elsa to handle the thanks and conversations. "I need your help. Sitron has been stuck in the stables all night long while the other horses are getting exercise. Can you try to handle him? See if you can at least get him out of the stables? He knows you."
"Oh, he knows me, alright," Harald acknowledged, "he knows and hates me. Have you forgotten how much I tortured that stupid horse when he was a colt?"
"I wouldn't ask if it weren't important to me. Just try to get him out of the stables," Hans coerced, "please."
"Oh… alright. As you ask, your majesty," Harald agreed, cracking into a slight smirk and lifting a hand in salute.
Hans watched him disappear and felt a wave of relief sweep over him, culminating with a low sigh. The time ticked on, and the last people wishing to congratulate him began to ebb away into conversation with friends. Hans took the opportunity to draw his new wife close. "I'm going to check on Harald and Sitron. I worry about him being in a strange place."
"Alright," Elsa agreed, leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Don't be long… it's our first night together, and I wouldn't want the bed to be cold."
Hans afforded a smile and rubbed his cheek. "If I'm not there in half an hour, you can invite Olaf to snuggle on my side." He paused another moment just to hear her laugh, waving as he left to see his horse. Though his heart felt light, he was not unaware that the courtyards on the way to the stable grew eerily quiet, and he noticed the rest of the castle seemed deserted of patrolling soldiers. As he crossed the ghostly courtyard swallowed in moonlight, Hans paused. He saw a young boy dashing towards one of the large decorative fountains, bucket swinging wildly behind him.
"Boy!" he called, running over, his crown wobbling. "What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry, sir!" the boy gasped between pants, water sloshing as he dunked the bucket in the fountain. "The stables!"
Hans felt fear clutch his heart in its vice grip. The courtyard darkened, and Hans looked to the sky to see the moon shadowed in smoke. "Here, give that to me!" Hans took the bucket and pointed back at the castle. "Go and fetch the queen! Hurry!" The boy ran; Hans flew.
When he turned the corner to the stables, the fire was blazing, scattering angry showers of embers over fighters and spectators alike, his brother among them. "Harald!" Hans shouted, dashing to his brother's side and hurling the water at the flames.
"What are you doing ?" Harald replied, shielding his eyes, his face covered in black smudges of ash. "It's dangerous; get out of here!" He shook with a round of raucous coughing, pushing his brother away. "Go! You're the king! Go!"
"I'm not leaving you!" Hans replied, teasing his cloak free from his outfit and wiping his brother's eyes, tossing it away afterwards. "Elsa is on her way!"
"It's coming down!" A nearby man shouted. "Everyone get back!"
The flames escalated into a furious roar, and Hans winced from the waves of heat.
"Hans, go!" Harald shouted again, roughly shoving Hans back. "Go!"
Just then, amidst a few pieces of the archway collapsing to the ground, Hans heard the shrill panicked scream of a horse. Hans heard Sitron.
"Sitron!" Hans shouted, bolting towards the inferno.
Suddenly, with a thwack on his chin, he fell backwards, Harald towering over him baring a fist. "Hold him back!" Harald ordered the fleet of firefighting soldiers, a group of them helping the king up, but firmly keeping him at bay.
"No! No, Sitron!" Hans shouted, tears streaking his face from stinging smoke and sorrow combined. "Sitron!" The horse screamed again, and Hans thrashed. "Harald, please! I can save him! I can save him!" I can save him! He's all I have! Kris gave him to me! I can't just sit here and let him die! I have to try!
"No, Hans!" Harald shouted. "You're the king and the people need you; you can't save him!" Harald faced the doorway of ravenous flame, eyes darting up to study the archway and the foundation holding the building aloft. They glinted in the firelight as his gaze sharpened, the green irises focused. "But I can." He dashed forward, disappearing into the hungry mouth of the fire.
"Harald!" Hans pulled against the people holding him back, but he was no match for so many. "Let me go! Let me go!"
"Hans… stop."
Kristoff was part of the men holding him back, and with Anna's help, he dragged Hans away to a secure distance. Hans, defeated, stared desperately at the gentle face of his sister-in-law. Her frayed red hair shone in the fire's light. "It's time to back away… to be safe. Elsa's coming. Everything's going to be okay."
"Hans!" Elsa rounded the corner, followed by a mass of guards behind her and the boy trailing the end. She took her husband by the shoulders and placed herself in front of him. "Stand back; I'll stop it!" Elsa began to swirl her arms in a delicate dance, thrusting forward and causing a gust of bitter ice and wind to rush towards the fire.
"Careful!" Hans exclaimed, taking her shoulder and meeting her gaze. "Don't bring the building down; Harald is inside!"
Elsa's lips parted and she faced the smoldering stables with renewed concentration. Her magic moved with precision now, each breeze choosing its destination with her guidance. What was left of the building groaned in effort, heaving downward in resignation. The fire ebbed, dimming down in the embrace of the cold until only a few choice blazes sputtered. Elsa breathed relief, her magic working on the last few stubborn flames.
"Elsa, don't!" Hans tried to warn her, but the fear came too late. The wood shifted, and with a loud lasting creak, began to tumble downward. Clouds of ash exploded into the air, leaving everyone coughing. Hans was the first to stagger forward, wading into the remains of the wood, too fearful of what he might see to stand his ground.
"Search the remains of the stables!" Elsa commanded, quick to join her husband, tears filling her eyes.
Hans and Elsa both took hold of a large board to heft it out of the way when suddenly Anna, exploring the far sides of the stable remains, shouted. "Elsa! Hans! Over here!" The two ran to join Anna, who was attending to a horse shakily walking out of the clouds of ash. A man lay collapsed over the horse as support, clutching weakly at ripped clothing covering the beast's eyes.
"Harald!" Hans rushed to his brother's side, helping Kristoff lower him down gently. "Someone get some water; give him some air." He knelt in the sooty ground and supported his brother's head in his lap, wafting air into his face by fanning him with a hand. Anna returned with water and as Hans tilted his brother's head, Elsa dribbled it into his mouth.
Harald coughed, his ashy face offset by his green eyes as they flickered open. He panted, gulping in raspy breaths of air. Lolling his head up so he could look at Hans, he wheezed. "Sitron…?"
"He seems to be alright," Kristoff confirmed, dusting the horse down as he examined for injuries. "Looks like he just needs a good wash and a long rest."
"That goes for you, too, brother," Hans enthused, streaks of tears still showing through his ashen face like drops of rain.
Harald sighed in supposed defeat, leaning back against Hans, meeting his brother's eyes and coughing into his arm before closing his eyes and muttering. "Stupid horse…"
#
Hans had little time for wedded bliss that night or the next morning. First thing after awakening, refusing even breakfast, he headed for the wreckage of the stables to ask a few questions. When he arrived, he was bewildered to see Harald already there, looking clean and sharp though his posture betrayed exhaustion, sitting in the bed of a wagon and watching the clean-up crew of soldiers working. "Harald, you should be resting," Hans commented, striding up to his brother.
Harald grunted and waved his hand. "I'm not wounded." The crease lines in his forehead indicated he was troubled. "I've been waiting for you."
"Why?" Hans asked, garnering attention as the soldiers realized their king had appeared. "What are you doing?"
"Thinking. I could use a break." Harald motioned for the horse leading the wagon. "Indulge me, brother. Drive me a little."
Hans sighed, a little bothered by the fact his brother seemed so comfortable ordering him around. But, he admitted as he took the driver's seat and clicked his tongue to tell the horse to walk, that's what brothers do. After they'd ridden a small while, he slowed the horse. "I can't be your chauffer right now. I have to figure out what happened last night."
"What do you think I've been doing?" Harald hoisted himself down from the back of the wagon.
Hans turned around "You know how it started? Why couldn't you have told me in the first place?"
"Because people were listening." Harald approached his brother, displaying a frayed and singed piece of cloth no bigger than his fist which had been tucked under an arm.
"What's that?" Hans asked, getting down himself.
"This, little brother, I would dare to wager, is the cause of the fire." Harald held out the piece of sad, blackened fabric. "I'm lucky I got there first this morning, or we may not have found it. Look familiar?"
Hans took the piece of fabric in hand and turned it over, rubbing away soot with his fingers. A brittle purple color began to emerge, and a pattern Hans could barely see, an imprint of some kind. He held the fabric up towards the light, letting his fingers brush softer over the patch. His eyes widened as the imprint suddenly became apparent to him. The anchor on the sea was now obvious. "This is our insignia… father's insignia… from one of our flags… what does it mean?"
"It means… someone is sending you a message." Harald leaned on the corner of the wagon, putting his head in his hands.
"How do you know this started the fire?" Hans stared at the piece of cloth despairingly.
"I didn't at first." Harald exhaled as he leveled his gaze on the castle. "But I figured it out."
"But why would they burn their own stables, especially if they never meant for us to find this?" Hans murmured, rubbing the fabric once more.
"Why, indeed. Let me ask you this. Why did you send me to the stables in the first place?"
Hans wrinkled his brow. "To check on Sitron."
"Why?"
"Because I was afraid he would be nervous."
"Why, Hans?"
"Because he was alone there." Hans' eyes darted back and forth as the truth became apparent. "He was alone…"
"There," Harald said. "That's it."
"Sitron wasn't with the other horses. He was left behind because they said he didn't want to cooperate."
"And that is why they burned the stables."
Hans' teeth grit together as he brought his hands to his head, running them through his hair and turning away in frustration. "They wanted to kill Sitron…"
"Yes." Harald affirmed, sighing and scratching the back of his head.
Hans threw his hands into the air. "Well, this is fantastic news. I've been king one day and I've already almost lost the one thing I brought with me from home. I knew the people of Arendelle didn't like me, but I didn't think they'd do this. How can I convince these people that I've changed? How, Harald? What am I supposed to do? Who can I possibly trust here?"
Harald approached his brother and put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing. "Hans… take a breath. I told you; I've been thinking."
"Do you have an idea?" Hans asked, hope making his voice sound thin.
"I do."
"What is it?" Hans pressed, desperate for good news.
Harald sighed and dropped his gaze, pacing a little ways away. "Remember when you'd mentioned you wished I was the captain of the guard here?"
"Yeah…" Hans said, turning slowly to face his brother.
"Well… you've got your wish. You need someone here to keep watch over you, at least until things settle down and we're sure there will be no more threats. I'll be your new captain of the guard."
"You will?" Hans gasped, his smile spreading into a grin of disbelief.
Harald felt a strange, foreign mixture of joy and pride flood through him at the sight of his brother so happy. It was good to have such a part in making him happy after he'd spent so much of his life pretending Hans did not exist. The more he'd thought about it, the more he'd realized the opportunity to protect his brother left him with purpose in life. "Yes. I will."
"What will we do about the current captain of the guard? Hasn't he dedicated his life like you have to his position?"
Harald smiled, glad his brother was already thinking of others first. "Yes, I've considered that, Hans. I'll take a careful record of all the men working under both the stables and the militia. If I find his loyalties to be true, I'll keep him on staff as an equal. We can work to find another position for those whose loyalties I question."
"And what about you?" Hans asked, forehead crinkling. "I thought you had sworn yourself to father."
"I did." Harald shrugged a shoulder. "It's simply a matter of where I'm needed most. Father's men are loyal to him. He's loved by his subjects. You could use a little assistance in that department. I will stay to keep you safe and write father a letter today to go home with my ship, announcing my temporary sabbatical from his service."
"Are you sure about this?" Hans asked. "I don't know how long it will take to find out who's doing these things."
"Don't worry, Hans… I may not have watched over you when you were younger… but I will now. And you can be certain. No one is ever going to try to hurt you or your horse again. Now let's go and tell Elsa of the news. We'll want to keep her informed." Harald hoisted himself into the driver's seat and held his hand out for Hans, helping his brother up, his grip strong and sturdy.
A/N: So what did you think? I'm sorry for newcomers if it's a little confusing since it's a sequel, but if you have any questions, feel free to PM me or leave me a tumblr message! Please leave me a review if you enjoyed.