Chapter 1: Trusted Adviser

Elsa read the report that her Captain of the Guard had brought her once, then again. It was done, then. The traitor had been brought back here to be judged. He was now housed in the dungeons miles below where she now sat.

After the Great Thaw, Prince Hans of the Southern Isles had been brought back to his homeland for questioning and sentencing. His brothers had not dealt kindly with him, which pleased Elsa. Nepotism could only go so far, it seemed. But now, according to international law, Hans was to be brought back to the offended country - Arendelle - to be tried and sentenced there. As his crimes amounted to treason against the crown - a military coup - he was to be judged by a military tribunal, the figurehead of which would be Queen Elsa herself. Life in prison was the minimum sentence. Death penalty by hanging was the harshest, and in Elsa's mind right now, the most appropriate. For the Queen's part, she wanted it over and done with quickly, if not for her sake, then for Anna's. Her sister was in a healthy, romantic relationship with the Ice Master Kristoff, and she was happy. A prolonged exposure to traumatic memories would not do.

Elsa was shaken from her thoughts by a knock at the door. "Your Majesty... I'm sorry to disturb you," her Chief of Staff, Kai's voice could be heard. "But I have a request on behalf of the prisoner. I have brought him here under guard so he may convey it himself."

Elsa wasn't sure how Hans had talked Kai into letting him out of his cell, if only temporarily, much less what the monster could possibly want. But she was a royal, and as such, some benevolence was required. "Let him say his piece."

Prince Hans' voice could now be heard through the woodwork. "Queen Elsa... if you might be so merciful, would you permit me to have dinner with you so that we may discuss my punishment?"

Elsa gawped, standing from her easy chair. "You tried to kill me and my sister, and now you want to have dinner with me? Are you insane?" She would not be charmed into letting this monster off easily. She would not be charmed at all, as Anna had been.

"I only wish to come to a plea deal, if that would satisfy you."

This piqued Elsa's interest. If Hans and his representation were willing to strike a deal now, the cost and time of convening a military tribunal could be avoided entirely. Such a deal could only serve to benefit Anna, and herself. They could pack away this horrible part of their lives away quickly and entirely. Elsa cleared her throat. "Very well. You may come to my dining hall by the hour of six this evening. Good day to you, Prince Hans. Kai, see him back to his cell." She heard the stomp of soldiers' boots as the prisoner was led away.

Elsa and Hans regarded each other across candlelight, the entire length of the dining room table separating them. In retrospect, Elsa should have insisted that the candles be struck - it set a mood far too... relaxed and romantic for her liking. Nothing about this was supposed to be relaxed. She expected Hans to put forth his plea and they could quietly come to an agreement. The judge might not even have to be involved.

"What plea do you wish to put forth, Your Highness?" Elsa inquired. She shouldn't be treating him this formally, after what he tried to do to her, but it was best to butter him up. Anything less, and he might not submit to her as easily as he was.

Hans leaned forward over his plate. "I wish to make a deal with you."

Elsa tensed. She noted how the word 'plea' had been dropped from the conversation. "What kind of deal?" she found herself asking. There was something about his deep green eyes that left her curious...

Hans cleared his throat. "I would like to propose that I serve out my sentence serving as your royal adviser. I am deeply contrite for my heinous actions, and I feel that penance can only be served if I were to become subservient to your country, which I have deeply offended."

Elsa scoffed. She was wise to this game, having heard tales about Hans from Anna. "You can serve your penance just well enough rotting in the dungeon. And you may get worse than that." To her immense satisfaction, she noticed Hans visibly gulp.

"Sitting around waiting to die is hardly penance, Your Majesty," Hans argued. "And if I am to die for my crimes eventually, I want to know that I at least have made the attempt to make up for them. You would have complete control over me, and you may place any security around me that you wish. I know you don't trust me. But this proposal is not about trust. It's about mercy." He fixed her with a hard stare. "I believe you are merciful, Queen Elsa. And building that kind of image will only help you with your people."

Elsa blinked at how truly and eloquently he spoke. She was struck by how he deemed her merciful. Was she? She didn't believe that of herself. And showing she could be merciful to her people... she had to admit he had a point. It would take many months to gain back the trust of her subjects after she froze the entire kingdom. Anna could try her best, but her sole faith in her would not do it. Dabbing a napkin to her face, she regained her regal facade.

"... Very well," Elsa got out. "You may serve out your sentence as my royal advisor, for the sake of avoiding a military tribunal. But hear me, Prince Hans: you will never get anywhere near my throne, for I will be watching you very closely."

Elsa's Council did not take to Prince Hans' appointment lightly. They only grudgingly accepted it when Elsa explained that it was all to avoid the cost and time of a trial. Hans had essentially given them an admission of guilt, in referring to his sentencing as a penance.

The only person who stubbornly refused to see things Elsa's way was her sister, Anna. She was horrified that Hans would be in the castle, working closely with the Crown. The Princess was convinced it was all an act, a way to get close to the throne and then seize it for himself. And Anna seemed convinced as to just how Hans might go about it.

"Don't you dare fall in love with him, sister," Anna had warned. "I know how he charms women, and he will try and do the same to you."

Elsa had laughed. "You don't think I'm prepared for that. I know who Hans is. He cannot woo me."

Months went by. Hans presented Elsa with great advice, always deferring to her judgment in making a final decision. Not once did he make any moves - romantic or violent - towards obtaining the crown. He seemed genuinely remorseful over what he had done, and wanted to work in Arendelle's best interests. Elsa recalled from her sister how Hans had aided the kingdom as regent, when Anna had left him to guard the country in her stead. Before long, Hans was Elsa's most trusted adviser, and the once mortal enemies had built a rapport that resembled something akin to friends.

One evening, in the throne room, Elsa and Hans were having a political discussion. Elsa was conveying how she feared that the Great Freeze would have a lasting effect on the seasonal crops and harvest for next fall.

"I fear that, too, Your Majesty," Hans confessed.

Elsa regarded him curiously. His admittance that he feared an artificial winter's potential long-term effects compelled her to ask, "Do you fear me?"

Hans blinked in what could only be termed as surprise. "Never, Majesty. What happened during the Great Freeze was not entirely your fault. Your actions can easily be explained."

"Then what do you fear?" Elsa asked curiously.

Hans could not look her in the eye for a moment. "I fear that I will never achieve forgiveness. From my brothers... from Anna..." His green eyes found her blue ones. "From you."

Unconsciously, Elsa's heart went out to him. She knew just how he felt. Forgiveness from her people was something she still sought. She had gotten absolution readily from Anna, but the kingdom was another challenge. Hans' bearing of her soul inspired her to - for the first time - do a little of her own.

"I fear that I will... die unloved. Because of my powers."

Hans blinked. "Anna loves you. So does the ice man and that talking snowman."

"That's not the kind of love I was talking about," Elsa whispered. She glanced down at her feet. She heard Hans' tread approach her. Then, suddenly, warm hands heated her cheeks as the prince tilted her head back. Next moment, his lips were pushing against hers in a gentle kiss.

For a second, Elsa panicked, remembering Anna's warning about not falling in love with this charming prince. But Hans was such a wonderful kisser, and his mouth so sincere as it pressed against her own, that she soon felt herself gripping his forearms and returning the kiss. Her eyelids drooped, fluttered shut; Hans' hands dipped to her waist...

"Elsa?"

Elsa and Hans stepped out of the kiss gently, despite the new voice startling them. Turning in Hans' arms, Elsa saw Olaf staring at them in surprise. Better that he walked in on them openly kissing than Anna; otherwise, right hooks would have been involved.

"It's... it's all right, Olaf. Prince Hans and I were just... having a discussion," Elsa explained. She hoped his child-like mind would not probe for more.

Olaf broke into a beaming smile. "Oh, a quiet discussion! Kristoff and Anna have those all the time!" And he skipped out of the throne room, leaving Elsa wondering just how often her sister had these 'quiet discussions.'

Hans cleared his throat and stepped away, releasing her. "I must retire to bed, Your Majesty. Good evening to you." And he departed, leaving Elsa gazing longingly after him.