"Glad I caught you," said the man she met at the docks that day.
"Hans," Anna sighed, as he gracefully pulled her up and led her in a waltz. Despite being clumsy and a little awkward at just about everything, Anna was a surprisingly graceful dancer. Anna loved to dance as it was the one thing she couldn't do alone. Her father allowed a dance instructor inside the castle just for her. She loved it when her father found time to be her partner, but that all ended three years ago.
Tonight was the first time Anna had danced in those three somber years. The atmosphere lifted the gloom from those memories as Hans dipped and twirled her around the room. Her stomach fluttered every time he pulled her close to him again, his hand on the small of her back. The smell of his cologne greeted her, beckoning for her to come closer. Lost in the music and her partner's gaze, Anna was taken aback when a dignitary tapped Hans on the shoulder, asking to cut in. It would be rude to turn him down, so reluctantly, Anna started dancing with the older gentleman as Hans left the floor.
Anna danced and conversed with many of the other dignitaries that night. None of her dancing partners gave her that same fluttery feeling that Hans had. Not that any of them were bad. They just lacked that spark the prince's touch carried. Whenever she got the chance, she would scan the room to find him. He was typically talking to various gentlemen or occasionally dancing with a noblewoman. Hans would always smile or wave to Anna whenever their eyes met.
After a few dances, Anna stepped out onto the balcony, inhaling the scent of the lavender on the evening breeze. A shooting star flashed across the night sky. Anna closed her eyes to make a silent wish that the gates would never close again. Once finished, Anna turned around to go back inside the ballroom, but stopped when she saw Hans approaching her.
"So, what did you wish for?" he asked, taking a sip of champagne as he leaned against the balcony railing.
"If I tell you, it won't come true."
"Well, I wouldn't want that to happen."
Anna blushed, tucking her hair. "So, how are you liking Arendelle?"
"It's extremely beautiful, but quite small. Granted, the Southern Isles is an extremely large kingdom so I may have a different concept of what is small compared to others. It seems to be quieter here, which I like."
"I'm happy you like it here. What's the Southern Isles like?"
"Well, we are a large port kingdom so there are ships from all over the world sailing in and out. There's the capitol on the mainland and eleven surrounding islands with towns not much larger than Arendelle where most of my brothers live. I live at the castle in the capitol city with my father and oldest brother."
"Brothers? How many do you have?"
"Twelve older brothers."
"Twelve!?" Anna gasped. The thought of having that many siblings excited her. She always wanted to have another sister or even a brother to play with since Elsa always kept to herself or was too busy studying. "I can't imagine having twelve brothers."
Hans laughed, "Well, being the youngest isn't easy. Three of them pretended I was invisible literally for two years!"
"That's terrible!" she laughed alongside him. "But, I can relate. Elsa and I used to be really close, but then she shut me out one day and I don't know why."
"Was that what you wished for? To know why she shut you out?" Anna smiled sadly and turned away from Hans so he wouldn't see the tears welling in her eyes. "I'm sorry, did I offend you? I didn't mean—"
"No, no!" Anna sharply turned to face him, hands held in front of her. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's just that the night is almost over and everything will go back to how it was before."
"Maybe not," Hans said as he finished his champagne. Anna looked up at his handsome face and felt that fluttery feeling return. He smiled at her making her blush as he offered her his arm. Anna took it and followed his lead back into the ballroom.
The prince and princess danced once again. Anna was even more enamored with Hans, her heart beating hard against her chest in rhythm with the music. As the song came to a close, Anna let the atmosphere take hold of her, closed her eyes, and leaned up towards Hans.
"Oh, Anna, I um," Hans cleared his throat. Anna opened her eyes and saw a blush on his cheeks. "I'm sorry, but I guess no one has told you yet."
"Told me what?"
"Attention, honored guests! Queen Elsa has some announcements to make!" Kai's voice shouted clear from the head of the room next to the newly crowned queen. Everyone turned towards his direction to hear the announcement. Hans gave a small bow to Anna, walking away from her. Kai stepped aside to allow the queen to address the room.
"First, I would like to thank you all for attending the coronation today. I know it's been a long time since Arendelle has last open it's gates and I am pleased to announce that we don't plan on closing them ever again."
Applause broke through the room, but Anna was the most thrilled out of anyone. Her wish had come true! There will be more dances, more people, and maybe another chance to see Hans again. If Elsa is willing to keep the gates open, maybe she won't shut her out anymore!
"Which brings me to my next announcement," Elsa extended her arm out towards someone in the crowd. Anna leaned forward to see who it could be. A sick feeling sat in her stomach as she saw Hans take her sister's hands and link his arm around hers. "I'm sure you all know Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. To strengthen our relations between the two kingdoms, Prince Hans and I shall be married."
Despite the boisterous noise of the guests cheering once again, the world was still and quiet for Anna. Elsa and Hans were going to be married? Her heart sank realizing that Hans didn't love her like she hoped he did. He wasn't the one. Anna blinked back the tears that were welling up and stepped back into the crowd so the royal couple couldn't see her. She took several deep breaths to compose herself before approaching her sister.
"El-, I mean, your majesty," Anna curtsied. "I just wanted to say congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you, Anna," Elsa smiled. "It means a lot to me to hear that from you."
Anna glanced down at the couple's linked arms. Her heart stung as she saw Hans rub his thumb over her sister's gloved hand. She quickly snapped her head up at Hans and tried her best to put on a warm smile.
"I guess I should welcome you to our family!"
"I'm looking forward to being a part of it," Hans laughed.
"It's going to be awfully busy this month! Not just planning the wedding, but inviting all the guests. Oh! I wonder if we'll have enough room for all of your brothers."
"Ah, yes. I've heard the Southern Isles had a large royal family," Elsa turned to Hans. "We should have enough room for your side of the family here at the castle, but some other dignitaries may have to stay elsewhere."
"I wouldn't count on all twelve of them being able to attend," Hans gently told her. "We should send them letters right away though."
The two began talking about general wedding plans leaving Anna out of the conversation. The shooting star granted her wish that the gates wouldn't close. People would be coming in to the castle more frequently, but none of them would be here for Anna. Elsa is the one who is queen. Elsa is the one who all the parties would be held in her honor. Elsa is the one who found true love. Elsa is the one who will be married. Elsa isn't the spare.
"Anna?" Elsa's voice broke through her thoughts. "Is everything alright?"
"Oh, uh, yeah. It's just been quite the day and I'm a little sleepy," Anna stretched out her arms and yawned. When her head rolled to Hans, she quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed that she forgot her manners. "What, what were you asking me?"
"It can wait until tomorrow. Why don't you go ahead to bed."
The couple bade her goodnight as Anna curtsied before exiting the ballroom. The moment she was no longer facing the two, the tears started to well up again. Anna quickened her pace trying to make it back to her room as quickly as she could. Halfway to her room, the tears began to roll down her cheeks. She covered her mouth to hold back the sounds of her sobs and avoiding eye contact with all of the guests.
She slammed her bedroom door right behind her when she finally reached her room. Anna kneeled against her mattress and screamed into the comforter. She wanted to be happy for Elsa and to be close again with her sister. She wanted Elsa to find love just as much as she herself did. It wasn't fair that it had to be him! Of all the princes at the coronation, it had to be the same one she fell for that day!
Wiping her tears with the blanket, Anna had finally calmed down. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was going to do her best to support Elsa and Hans. So Hans wasn't the one for her, but he'll be a good brother-in-law and husband for her sister. There will be other opportunities to meet her true love now that the gates are open. Anna repeated this to herself as she prepared herself for bed, but it still didn't dull the pain in her heart.