Elsa has never learnt to like balls. It was understandable, as her first ball ever turned into a complete disaster. Yet, somehow, she ended up attending a wedding of the new king of Southern Isles.
It was all Anna's fault. It was a very important event, so one of the sisters had to attend it. Elsa, as the queen, had to take care of Arendelle, so Anna and Kristoff decided to visit their business partner. However, Anna fell ill just before the voyage. The doctor said she could not go.
Anna even had the audacity to suggest looking for a husband. Her naïve little sister though that true love was for everyone.
Elsa didn't think she needed a man. She just missed something, sometimes when she observed the happiness her sister got from her loved one.
Marriage was something different altogether. It was a tool that could bind two kingdoms. While Anna could marry just anyone, she had to make responsible choices. Just by thinking about it she made the temperature in the castle lower. Well, it was a hot summer anyway.
"How do you like our country, your majesty?" Asked one of the princes. Elsa had a problem with remembering their names. They were all pretty alike: brown hair, sideburns. This one was about her age, so the last one before the disgraced youngest.
"It's lovely. And this palace is really impressive."
He then proceed to explain the history of the building. Elsa couldn't remember a word.
The ball was full of young noblemen. They mostly eyed Elsa from a distance. She wore a gauzy pink dress. Anna choose it for her, because she thought she looked exceptionally beautiful (to tell the truth Anna said that about every piece of clothing on Elsa). But the queen had to admit she looked nice. The dress and her loose ponytail made her look more delicate than usual.
At home she would feel more confident. But this place was full of strangers, that probably thought she was a witch. Her people got used to her and the sudden drops of temperature when she was nervous. Here, Elsa had to control herself, which made her remember the past. This in turn made her want to escape to the nearest mountain.
"Would you give me the honor of the first dance?" Asked another of the prices. He had red hair and a funny moustache (and two identical twin brothers).
Elsa didn't know how to respectfully decline. She never danced, because she was horrible at it. Anna tried to teach her and Kristoff, although she was not the best at it herself. Oh, how Elsa wished one of them was here with her.
Thankfully, the prince seemed even worse at it than her. They actually collided with another pair on the dance floor. Elsa started apologizing, but then she saw just who she bumped into.
"You!" She couldn't stop herself from saying.
"Good observation, your majesty." Hans answered helping her stand up and letting her elbow go very quickly.
He introduced his partner without an ounce of emotion and walked off with her slowly. Then he leaned into the black haired girl's space whispering loudly enough for Elsa to hear. "She's the one I have told you about. Look at the ridiculous dress she's wearing! Does she really think anyone would be willing to touch someone so disgusting?"
Elsa wanted to let it go. She really planned not to react. Her powers didn't ask for permission. Thankfully, she just frosted the floor, so Hans and his giggling partner ended up on their asses.
Hans looked at her accusingly. She theoretically shouldn't have smirked at that. He mouthed the word 'monster' and the wedding could have ended as a funeral reception if not Hans' triplet brothers who started laughing at him. The scandalized black haired princess left his side.
"This witch did this!" He pointed with his finger. His brothers looked just about ready to hit him.
Elsa walked up to him and helped him stand up with her deliberately icy hand.
"Good observation, prince."
(*************)
"I thought you would keep him in the dungeon." She said to the moustache triplet, whose name was Adolf. She recognized him from the other two only because of the moustache.
"We ought have" said Erik or Finn, she couldn't differentiate. "But our eldest brother, the king, said it would be unnecessary cruelty. He blames himself for not watching after that idiot."
"Is his presence bothering you? I can get rid of him." Adolf offered.
"No, I doubt we will bump into each other again."
She felt better now, with the triplets being so nice to her. So what if she met Hans? She predicted it might come to that. In reality Anna was the one hurt by him, not her. Three years have passed and it seemed he probably haven't changed at all. She didn't really know him, not that anybody did, seeing that he was a skilled liar. He was probably still looking for a naïve princess to marry.
She indeed didn't see him for the rest of the party. Unfortunately, when you really do not want to see someone, it is almost certain you are going to meet that person.
She just didn't expect to see him half naked.
In her room.