Helsa Week, Day 1: Falling For You
Disclaimer: Frozen belongs to Disney. Skyway Avenue is by We The Kings
Here's to whoever wrote Jack and Jill.
Jack and Jill
"Jack is to Jill, who Romeo was for Juliet."
She said lets change our luck,
"What a wonderful match."
"Aye, they will make a great match."
"Master Erasmus is lucky to be marrying our future duchess."
"He's a lucky man."
Oh yes, Hans thought bitterly, brother dearest was indeed lucky to be marrying the future duchess of Arendelle. Hans clenched his fists hard as he remembered the talk of the town.
He despised Erasmus more than anything, and their father arranging his half-brother's marriage to the woman that he loved was a low blow. He was enraged, but it wasn't like he could gain anybody's support.
He was the bastard son of the earl. He was branded as the town outcast. Nobody would listen to him, and nobody would support him. He slammed his fists on the table, making its wooden frame shake under the force. Hans yearned to punch the smirk off Erasmus' face. He hadn't felt this mad in a long time; the last time he had been bloody enraged, his father had given him ten lashes for kissing a girl who, for the record, had wanted the kiss.
He had been swallowing his pride, had been keeping his head down, and had been accepting the barrages of taunts and insults that were thrown at him; but he's had enough now.
Too much is too much.
There was a knock on the door, Hans simply glared at door, hoping that the person on the other side would just go away. Silence, then he heard the muffled neigh of a horse, and his expression darkened.
The knock came again, tentative but persistent. He growled irately, he knew the person out there would be too stubborn to leave. He moved to stand up, the chair scraped against the floor as he pushed it back, before falling on the ground with a loud thud.
He walked towards the door with heavy footsteps, and he yanked the door open. He glared down at her, and in a low and gruff voice he growled—
"I don't want you here."
"Well, I'm here," she matched his irate stare with a stubborn glare of her own. A shadow from the hood she was wearing cast itself upon her face under the dim light of the moon, and the lanterns in his cottage. For a moment he seemed tantalized by her beauty; but he caught himself.
"Then leave," he crossed his arms and barred his door with his huge frame, "Now," there was a twitch in his eye, and a tick in his jaw. His eyes traveled down to her lips, it was hard to push her away when she looked too damned kissable.
"I apologize," she said through gritted teeth, unaware of his shift of focus"But no," and she pushed past him with a huff, he allowed himself to be pushed aside.
Blinking and staring at the empty spot in front of him, he narrowed his eyes and sighed exasperatedly, then he slammed the door shut while muttering strings of curses under his breath.
"What are you doing here, your grace?" he asked her, voice dripping with venomous sarcasm, then he smirked at her wickedly, "Imagine the scandal when the rumors spread that the little heiress is traipsing with the town outcast. Better yet," his smirk grew more taunting, "Imagine how distraught Erasmus will be."
Instead of retorting, she sighed tiredly.
He didn't like that.
He wanted her mad at him, damn it.
Her hands went up to the already worn edges of her fairly new hood, her hand paused mid-air, as if pondering on its next move.
Don't, he begged in his mind, just leave this place. Why do you keep coming back?
"Come on, milady," he drawled sarcastically, "Aren't you too perfect to be on this side of town?"
Instead of removing her cloak, she lowered her hand and clasped them together, "Hans, don't be so childish," she begged quietly.
Just leave! he screamed in his head, Leave before I say anything more foolish!
"Please," she looked away, wringing her hands together, "I'm already tired enough as it is."
At that moment, he instantly wanted to walk over to her and wrap his arms around to whisper sweet nothings into her ear; but he held himself in place. He was still mad. He was too mad at himself, for not being good enough, for not being born right so he could take her away from his cocky, buffoon of a brother.
"Then you shouldn't have come here, your grace," he spat out as he leaned against the table, giving her a dark stare, "There's nothing her for y—"
Her hood fell down and her hair, which was still braided, flew out as she reached for him, silencing him with a kiss. His hands went to her arms, nails digging into her skin, trying to push her away.
Don't do this!
But her kiss was persistent and he eventually loosened his grasp, matching the breathless neediness of her kiss.
She pulled away slightly, then she rested her forehead against his chest. He didn't move, he didn't even dare to breathe; he could feel his heart hammering against his chest, and he cursed his inability to keep his emotions and desire reigned when he was in her presence.
"Let's leave this place, Hans," she whispered gently, her voice almost breaking, "Let's be free together someplace else."
You belong here, I don't. Your people needs gritted his teeth and he scoffed, "And trade away your perfect little life?"
Get mad at me, he tried to remove himself from her, but found himself unable to do so, hate me and push me away.
Bitter laughter escaped her lips., "You know well enough that my life isn't perfect."
More quietly he reiterated, "You love your little sister too much to leave," when Elsa didn't reply, a madly gleeful expression danced in his eyes, "You're terrified of disappointing your father," he felt her hand tightening around the front of his shirt, "And you would hate not being able to fulfill your duty to your people."
"Hans, enou—"
"Always with the big words for everybody, but when it comes to me," Hans mocked again, cutting her off. He wanted to punch himself in the face, but somehow he couldn't help himself; he had a talent for riling her up and hurting her, "You can never live up to them, can you?"
He felt her flinch, but he didn't stop there, "Let's run away together. Let's go somewhere else. I want to be with you— but at the end of the day, you're still your father's perfect little daughter."
A loud slap echoed across the room, and almost at the same time, a tangy, metallic taste erupted in his mouth. Hans swallowed, then he blinked like he had just woken up from a dream. He ignored stinging pain, instead he focused on the tears glistening in Elsa's midnight blue eyes. His gaze softened, and he mentally cursed himself.
He reached out and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her against him and encasing her in his warmth. A shaky breath escaped his lips as he felt her shoulders shaking.
He was a heartless man who knew nothing but how to hurt the person he loved. How marvelously quaint, he gritted his teeth against the stabbing feeling in his chest.
"I'm sorry," Elsa murmured against his chest. He was sure that what little that was left of his heart had broken for her. He was angry, sad and desperate. He disliked doing so, but he would always end up throwing all of his frustrations out on the only person who cared about him.
Perhaps it's because she was the only person who understood him even when he felt like losing himself. Perhaps it was because she was the only person who listened… As if she doesn't have enough problems of her own.
"No," he whispered sadly. He pulled away and leaned down, looking deep into her eyes, "I'm sorry," he said again, trying to console her, "Elsa, please stop crying, please."
Even his own voice had sounded desperate in his ears.
This night is all we've got,
It was as if time had stopped, and in a heartbeat all of their pent up emotions exploded into a single, fiery kiss. Lost in their passion, Hans didn't care that he was on top of the duke's daughter, on a table. Oh how scandalizing, then again he never really cared about a lot of things.
"Hans, wait—" Elsa said breathlessly as Hans's fingers started deftly removing her gloves, "Hans."
Elsa hugged her wrist against her chest, but Hans had already seen it. Just below the scars on her right wrist, was a newly bandaged wound. There were still traces of barely dried blood tainting the white bandage.
No.
Hans had felt like he'd been sucker-punched into a stupor. He fell back, and Elsa sat up and tried to pull him towards her, but he avoided her touch, instead he caught her hand. He stared at her wrist dumbly, then he shut his eyes tightly. He let go of her hand, and he turned away from her.
No.
"Hans."
No! No!
He walked over to the door, trying to put as much distance between him and Elsa.
NO! NO!
"Hans, please."
NO!
He could feel his chest heaving as he breathed in and out harshly, he could hear his heartbeat thudding against his chest. For the first time in his life, Hans was thankful that his cottage was far from town and situated within the forest.
Gods damn it, Elsa!
An incoherent, enraged yell erupted from his chest as his fists flew to the door, it shook under the weight of his punches.
Elsa, winced, but she didn't say anything, she could feel the tears stinging in her eyes again. Hans fell down to his knees, suddenly feeling weak.
His fists were clenched so tight his nails drew blood against his palm. Hans took a calming breath, stood up and turned to face Elsa again. He walked back towards her with careful steps, like he was afraid of venturing into unknown territory.
His green gaze was filled with hurt and just a touch of betrayal, "You promised."
She flinched, and she lowered her gaze to her bandaged wrist, "I was…" but she trailed off, like every time she did before.
"You can't keep doing this to yourself, Elsa," he spoke, resisting the urge to shake her, because how many times had he tried to stop? How many times had he woken up from a nightmare because he had kept losing her over and over again? As if our current situation isn't painful enough, "If you won't listen to my reason, if you don't care that I'm terrified of losing you— then at least think of Anna," the look in his emerald eyes was loud and clear, "She needs you," he was begging her, "You know she needs you."
I need you.
"I know."
Let's drive until we crash,
And she kissed him again.
This time, Hans allowed himself to be distracted completely, but still taking great care not to touch her wrist, he knew how rough he could be and he was afraid that he might hurt her.
And, at least this time he had managed to successfully carry her to his bed. Both of them as bare as the day they were born, both in body and in heart. He had her trapped and writhing beneath him. He lowered himself, teasingly, and he kissed her bottom lip.
"What do you want?" he rasped out, looking into her eyes with a fierce adoration.
She reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to pull him down closer, "You."
He plunged into her, and for a moment that might as well have lasted an eternity— all their fears and worries were thrown carelessly away with the wind.
This dead-end life,
Once upon a time…
There was an Earl, and a Duke.
The Earl of the Southern Lands was a nobleman under the Duke of Arendelle. Other than serving the duke, it was known far and wide that the two men were as close as brothers. They have known each other since they were babes, and had been in most, if not all, of the most important events in the lives of the one another.
There was a scandal.
Lord Westergard had sired his thirteenth son, a bastard child which the townspeople have branded as The Son of the Witch. Many had said that Lord Westergard's devotion to his late wife had been unquestionable, and the wench that had sired the babe with him had seduced him with witchcraft, and disappeared soon after the birth of the boy.
His name was Hans.
Bastard. Outcast. Cursed.
He had been called so many names, but that little boy that had been thrown in the orphanage tried to remember that his real name was Hans.
The Duke must've pitied the boy.
Whatever reason he had, or perhaps it was the duke's innate kindness and compassion, Lord Isenstrom successfully convinced his old friend not to completely abandon Hans; and on his part, Lord Westergard made sure that the boy would be brought up in a manner that was, to some degree, fit for a son of a nobleman.
And thus the hopeless story found its first chapter.
Everyday, Hans was brought to the Arendellian manor, upon Lord Isenstrom's insistence, for private tutoring.
There was an heiress.
During that time, Hans had met Elsa, the heiress to Arendelle's duchy. She was graceful, beautiful and courteous. She was a touch bit too shy and, compared to her younger sister, was more quiet and reserved.
The bastard learned the meaning of friendship.
He was ten, and she was eight. They bickered, taunted, and teased one another.
Lord Westergard had expressed his displeasure more than once.
"The boy should learn his place."
But Lord Isenstrom had encouraged the friendship.
"Leave them be, Westergard, they are children."
But neither men knew the extent of the friendship Isenstrom had encouraged.
Being a child meant games, but the older they grew, the more apparent their bickering would lead to something more.
They started dreaming together.
And more did come.
He was fifteen, and she was thirteen. At that time it had been easy to say they owned the world; even if they were worlds apart.
They still believed in fairytales. He believed he would be the prince to sweep her off her feet. And she believed in him.
And after every dream, came reality.
The older they got, the more they learned the harshness of life. The bastard son, and heiress was not meant to be, but the more they pushed their feelings away, the more dangerously their desires tried to escape.
Until finally, they would have none of it.
And reality was a harsh and cruel thing.
He was eighteen, and she was sixteen. They shared their first kiss; it wasn't a public thing, but Anna and one of his brothers had seen them.
Hans had received his first lashing from his father.
"You insolent fool!"
And Elsa had learned how to cut herself.
"This was not how I raised you!"
They learned fairytales did not exist.
But reality still permitted fragments of their dreams to remain.
They met secretly. They lived for their clandestine meetings. Lived to be together. It was as though their story had been cruelly written, in which their love cannot be denied even though their stars forbid it.
Those fragments are being carried away by the wind, to nothingness.
Now, he is twenty-three, and she is twenty-one. As the heiress, she was expected to marry; and her marriage was arranged to one of his older brothers.
Their time together was running out.
Sweet dreams that won't come true,
"Open your eyes, my love," Hans gently nudged Elsa awake. She stirred in his arms, but did not open her eyes, "It's time to go, Sitron is getting impatient waiting for you outside."
Sitron was their horse, they had raised the stallion together.
"Elsa, love," he kissed her forehead, "There will be a riot when your father finds your room empty."
Hans respected Lord Isenstrom, the man had many flaws but compared to Lord Westergard, Hans had seen the duke more as a father.
Elsa finally opened her eyes, she looked at him with tired gaze, "I wish that I could be with you longer."
His reply was a smile and tender kiss. She returned the kiss briefly, then she extracted herself, regretfully, from his arms. Hans watched her dress, as skilled as he was at removing them, he barely had any clue as to putting them back.
He chuckled.
Just as she was putting on her cloak, she paused and looked at him inquiringly, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," he shook his head, a light smile touched his lips, "You are beautiful, my queen."
She walked back towards his bed and kissed him again, "One day, I promise we will be together."
Hans took her hand, and he kissed the inside of her wrist, his lips touching her scars lightly, "One day, I promise it will be right."
She smiled, and he returned the gesture.
"I love you."
"And I, you."
I'd leave it all for you,
With Elsa gone, Hans had a lot of time to think. The auburn-haired man has always wondered what he had to lose.
He was a bastard, his father would have gladly gotten rid of him if it weren't for Lord Isentrom's insistence to at least grant him a fair upbringing. He was the town outcast, he was bad luck son of the witch. Nobody wanted him. Nobody cared about him. Nobody loved him.
Nobody except for her.
But Elsa, had everything to lose. The respect of her father, the love of her sister, the adoration of Arendelle, her future as the heiress, and many other things he was too tired to think about.
And yet…
Despite herself, he knew that there was a great part of her that would leave all of those behind for him; and he didn't want her to leave any of those things behind, didn't want her to sacrifice anything for his sake.
Elsa was stubborn, and he knew he wouldn't be able to stop her once she has set her mind on a goal. He closed his eyes, there was a peaceful smile on his face.
A comforting warmth spread from his chest to the the tip of his fingers, the feeling becoming more pronounced with every beat of his heart, As he drifted off to sleep, he knew that if their roles were reserved, he would do the same for her.
I would gladly carry the weight of the world, if it means I can make you smile.
Brick walls are closing in,
"Hans!"
He turned away from the horse he was brushing, and came face to face with a breathless looking Anna.
"Er, yes, milady?" he bowed slightly, unsure of what to say to her.
"They're pushing the wedding earlier," she wheezed out, "Elsa will marry Erasmus in a fortnight!"
Hans froze. The wedding wasn't supposed to be until the next harvest moon. A fortnight was far too soon. He thought he had more time with her.
Hans cleared his throat, and then he turned away from Anna and acted like the news didn't bother him as he went back to his work, "And why did you feel the need to tell me this, milady?"
He heard her huff indignantly, "I'm no longer a little girl, Hans."
He shook his head ruefully, "I suppose not."
"I know you love her, Hans," Anna pressed on firmly, "And I know she feels the same way about you."
"And, pray tell," Hans turned around, smirking sardonically at Anna, "How would you know that?"
Anna lifted her chin and met his gaze with stubborn surety, "Because you look at her the same way Kristoff looks a me, and she looks at you the same way I looked at Kristoff."
Hans fell silent, his expression softened and he looked away. He didn't bother to argue otherwise, so instead he said, "If it's not a bother, will you please tell Elsa I would like to talk to her?"
Let's make a run tonight,
It was a little past midnight but Hans didn't feel the least bit drowsy. He had kept himself occupied by having a one-sided conversation with Sitron— he had heard Kristoff doing the same thing with his reindeer, Sven.
Instead of going home, Hans hid in the stables and waited until he was sure the household would be sound asleep.
He had to talk to Elsa as soon as possible, and he knew she wasn't going to his house until the end of the week, and he didn't want to wait that long.
Hans looked at the night sky from inside the stable through the open window in Sitron's stall. Sitron nickered and nudged Hans gently, as though comforting the man.
Hans couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips, despite his anxiousness, Sitron's gesture gave him a bit of solace. A soft knock against the wooden door before it slid open brought Hans out of his quiet reverie; he looked away from the night sky for a moment and looked at the tall, blond man that had entered the stables.
Hans chuckled bitterly as he looked back up to the stars, "May I ask you a question?"
A frown made its way to Kristoff's face, but he nodded nonetheless. Remembering that Hans wasn't looking at him, he cleared his throat and added, "Go ahead."
Hans was silent for a couple of seconds, absentmindedly petting Sitron. Then without looking at Kristoff, Hans spoke, "There was a prince," Hans begun, "Who had no purpose other than to endure a meaningless life of…" he trailed off, "pretension.
"Then he met…" Hans trailed of again, as if pondering, "a queen," a small smile formed on Hans's lips, but still he didn't look at Kristoff, "He felt as though he had finally found his purpose."
"What did he do?"
"He fell in love with her."
Kristoff hummed, thinking about Hans's words, "So the prince fell in love with the queen, big deal."
A brief, but hearty chuckle made its way past Hans's lips, and this time he met Kristoff's gaze, "Well, the prince is rather… selfish," Hans didn't bother to hide his smirk, "Despite knowing the kingdom needed a queen, he took her away."
"Happens all the time," Kristoff shrugged nonchalantly, leaning against Sitron's stall.
"Yes, but…" Hans looked away again, green eyes travelling back to gaze upon the stars, "Tell me, Kristoff, does that selfishness make the prince a villain?"
Kristoff blinked, slightly unsure of how to answer; pondering over it, he asked, "Does the queen love the prince?"
A wistful smile formed on the auburn-haired man's lips, as he closed his eyes, "Yes, the prince believes that indeed, the queen loves him as much as he does her."
Kristoff shrugged, answering, "Then it's okay," when Hans looked at him with one raised eyebrow, he added, "If the queen really does love the prince, then it's fine if they flee the kingdom to be together."
"But what about the queen's duties?" Hans prodded, "What if it breaks the queen's heart to leave her kingdom behind?"
"Then the queen will have to choose between the prince and her kingdom," an uncharacteristic smirk formed on Kristoff's lips, "Or the prince can decide to stay with her."
"What if nobody likes the prince?"
"What if you just decided to give the prince and the queen a happy ending to their story?" Kristoff threw back, having the same challenging expression on his face as Hans. Kristoff understood perfectly the meaning behind Hans's story.
"If only it were that easy," Hans sighed, and Kristoff's expression turned into that of understanding as he quietly murmured, "Maybe it could be."
"Perhaps," Hans averted his gaze, and looked at Sitron, patting the horse between its eyes, "But to make it easy, one must run away from a painful truth; that reality is brutal, and fairytales do not end happily without a bit of selfishness."
"Elsa is to marry Erasmus in a fortnight," Kristoff finally said after a moment of silence, "If the only thing keeping her here in Arendelle are her duties as its future duchess, then I don't think being with you is too much of a sin."
"She will not leave Anna behind," Hans stood up and walked towards Kristoff, "And I won't allow her to throw the weight of her responsibilities to Anna for my sake."
"Elsa will be trapped in a loveless marriage with Erasmus," Kristoff pressed, meeting Hans's gaze unflinchingly, "She will be unhappy," there was a newfound edge to Kristoff's voice, "And worse of all, she will have to endure it without you."
Hans swallowed and opened his mouth, but found no words forming from his lips. Kristoff continued speaking, "If you cannot be with her here, and she decides she'll be with you somewhere else, who are you to stop her?" Hans pressed his lips tightly, and Kristoff took this as a sign to continue speaking, "I will be here for Anna if Elsa's absence will be too much of a burden for her," Hans clenched his jaw tightly but did not stop Kristoff from continuing, "And it will hurt Anna more to see Elsa suffering quietly, than bear something silly like running a duchy to ensure her sister's happiness; and Anna's unhappiness is something I will not allow," finally Kristoff concluded, "So for your sakes, as much as ours, be selfish; and we will all suffer the consequences together."
Hans released a sigh, he felt just a tad bit uplifted. He offered Kristoff a small, but genuinely grateful smile. "Thank you, Kristoff."
"Now," Kristoff grinned triumphantly, giving Hans a hard pat on the back, "Shall I take you to Elsa?"
She said don't change your mind,
Elsa knew that Anna had a habit for bursting in her room in the ungodly hours of the night, but most of those visits stopped after it became obvious to her younger sister that her lessons and tutoring were becoming more tiring.
Today was a particularly hellish day since the duke and the earl seemed convinced that the wedding should be moved, and she had to argue with her father about all the reasons why the wedding had to wait. Elsa loved her father, and as much as she hated arguing with him, sometimes she wished he would just listen to her instead of pretending that he is.
Or rather, she wished he would—for one day—treat her like his daughter and not like his heiress.
Hellish day and everything, Elsa did not mind Anna's company one bit, except she felt like Anna was stalling. So to be perfectly honest, Elsa wasn't surprised that there was a knock on her door.
She got up from her bed, and when she opened the door, "Kristoff?" Elsa frowned, Kristoff was grinning like a guilty schoolboy, finally she saw the person behind him, "Hans?" now that surprised her.
"Oh would you look at the time?" Anna suddenly piped p, "Guess I better be leaving!" then she skipped past Elsa and pulled Kristoff away. Elsa blinked, slightly exasperated.
"May I come in?" Hans asked in a quiet voice.
Elsa stepped aside to let him enter, then she peered outside to check if anybody were outside, but of course there was nobody there.
Door finally closed, Elsa turned around and faced Hans, "What are you doing here?"
"And I thought you'd be happy to see me," he pouted childishly.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, walking towards him "I am happy to see you, I'm merely asking why."
"Do I need a reason to see you?" Hans asked, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead.
"Just yesterday you wanted me to go away," she teased gently, reaching up to caress his cheek.
"Just yesterday," he said with emphasis, "You wanted to run away with me," despite the loopy grin on his face, Elsa saw past his mask.
"You've heard, haven't you?"
He nodded, but didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry."
He frowned, worry and fear gripped him suddenly, "Why are you apologizing?"
"Because I doubted you."
Hans did a double take. He blinked, then for good measure he blinked again, "Pardon?"
Elsa giggled softly, fondly caressing his face with both of her hands, "I thought you'd try to make me stay here."
Let's leave this town behind,
"Believe me," Hans pulled her closer, breathing her scent in and holding her as though he was about to lose her that very moment, "I am very willing to take you away right now."
"Where would we go?" she asked him, her voice soft but not without conviction.
"Anywhere," he replied, and he never thought that so much passion can be put into one word, "Anywhere as long as we're together."
Silence fell between them, but it wasn't awkward or tensed, rather it was consoling.
Finally, Elsa broke the silence, "Thank you," she whispered gently, looking up at him with tearful eyes—or so he thought, but maybe it was the candlelight playing tricks on his eyes.
"For what?" Hans asked her curiously.
"For making me the happiest I have ever been."
This time, Hans kissed her lips, it was brief but passionate as though he were conveying his emotions into that one kiss, "Always."
We'll race right off the cliff,
"Imagine the look of horror on your father's face when he finds me in here," Hans grinned playfully at Elsa, then the heiress' smile tuned coy and she pushed him on the bed—not that he was complaining or anything.
"Imagine the look of horror on his face when he finds us doing this," Elsa's fingers entangled itself in his auburn locks, pulling him in for a deep and passionate kiss.
He pulled away long enough to say, "It would be very safe to assume that he'll having me jumping the cliff by the morrow," and then he kissed her again.
In a blur, articles of clothing found themselves scattered on the floor, and just like that their worries were forgotten again.
They will remember this,
Hans has always known he had a knack for doing stupid and unconventional things that has more than once threatened the balance of the fairly peaceful life in Arendelle. The first time he realized was on the day he learned that acting sweet, and smiling sweetly will get him out of a lot of trouble.
This time he obviously wasn't going to get out of trouble just by acting sweet; to save his arse, he most likely had to scour the entire town's support, which, of course, won't happen as everybody almost hated him.
Ah, well. It's a good thing we fell asleep in our clothes then.
Watching the scene unfolding before him with pursed lips, Han's didn't speak.
"Father, I can explain!" Elsa shouted, throwing herself in front of the duke and trying to get him to listen.
"Enough, Elsa!" the duke bellowed loudly, it was as though the entire castle shook from its core, "I will hear no more of this."
"Sir, this isn't—" Hans tried to speak.
"And you!" Lord Isentrom pointed a finger at him angrily, and Hans was sure this was the first he had seen the duke—or any man—so enraged, "I trusted you to be better than this," Hans almost winced, but he kept his expression neutral, "I took pity on you when your father wanted no part of you, I raised you like my son!" Hans could feel the duke's words cutting deeply, "And this is how you repay me? By ruining my daughter?!"
The desperation in Elsa's voice rung clearly, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, "Father, please, if you would just listen, I can—"
"I said enough!" Lord Isenstrom bellowed angrily, louder than before, he stomped out of the room and then at the top of his lungs, he shouted, "Kai!"
"Yes, your grace?" the duke's adviser and head of the household came almost immediately. Kai seemed unnerved, but otherwise kept a straight face.
"Have this man locked up, and have a note sent to Erasmus, I want to meet him posthaste," the duke's voice was quieter this time, edged with deadly calm, and that was worse than his shouting.
It all got so mundane,
Hans wasn't sure how long he has been sitting in the middle of his cell, but the putrid stench and the ear-shattering silence were getting on his nerves. Nevertheless, he just sat there, as frozen as an ice sculpture. Ever since being thrown inside and getting into a sitting position—hands clasped in front of him, head down as if in prayer—he hasn't moved an inch; the only tell-tale sign that he was alive were the rise and fall of his chest and his soft breath.
Hans shifted slightly, his ears perked up and listened intently to the sound of the footfalls echoing along the dungeon halls. The footsteps stopped directly in front of him, even without looking up, he knew who it was, "How nice of you to visit, brother dearest."
"It would be rude if not a single one of us older brothers will visit our pitiful brother," Erasmus smirked, enjoying the fact that he was looking down at Hans.
Forest green eyes met sinister blue eyes unflinchingly, "So they sent the useless twelfth brother to do such a tedious chore."
"Useless, me?" Erasmus blue turned a shade darker, "I'll be marrying the future duchess of Arendelle."
"Really?" Hans mocked sardonically, "Last I heard the wedding was cancelled," that was a lie, of course, but still he wished it weren't so.
"Over something as trivial as a speck of dust like you?" Erasmus raised an eyebrow mockingly, he barked a laugh, "I doubt it."
"Well, you're the worthless brother after all," Hans shrugged carelessly, there was a jeering smile on his lips as he looked away, "So of course you'd settle for a ruined bride if it means you can prove your worth."
Erasmus didn't take the bait and sneered at Hans, "You're the worthless one amongst us, brother."
"Funny, brother," Hans scoffed, "I don't remember ever being a part of the brood."
Erasmus' smirk turned into a glower, just as he was about to retort, Hans waved a hand to silence him, saying, "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be discussing matters with Lord Isenstrom?"
"I couldn't let the chance to gloat pass by," Erasmus shrugged as he smirked again.
"Gloat?" Hans asked with false curiosity, "Have you finally won town's ugliest arse?"
Erasmus bit back a snarl and composed himself, glaring at Hans he gritted, "I can finally dispose of you, Hans."
"Why do you hate me so much, Erasmus," Hans sighed, honestly curious. He knew that most of his half-brothers hated him, but most of them just ignored him like he's the plague, but then there's Erasmus, and he seemed to enjoy every second of making Hans's life living hell.
"I don't need a reason other than my extreme dislike, a thank you for making my job easier, little brother."
"Or perhaps," Hans declared, standing up and meeting Eramus glare at eye-level, they were about the same height, but Hans was slightly bigger due to his time working in the woods, "You're only doing this because you're too cowardly to fight against our older brothers," Hans spat out venomously, "So you take it all out on me."
Erasmus' fist flinched as though he were about to punch Hans across the bars, but he kept his posture rigid and firm, "I don't have to listen to you, trash," Erasmus waved a hand dismissively, "Once words get out that you forced yourself upon my betrothed and tried to ruin her, I will have the entire town's support to get rid of you once and for all."
"Is that what you think, Erasmus," Hans smirked, leaning against the bars, "I didn't try to ruin Elsa, nor did I force myself upon here."
"Nobody will believe you otherwise," and with that Erasmus started walking away.
"What I meant," Hans clarified, his voice edged with wicked glee, "Is that I never had to force myself upon her," his lips parted into a Cheshire grin, "Nor can I ruin something that is mine."
"What did you say?" Erasmus asked, stopping in his tracks and turning to face Hans.
Hans knew he had successfully irked his Erasmus; for all the dastardly man's fault, Hans knew that Erasmus was madly, and unrequitedly in love with Elsa, or rather, that he desired to the point that it must've hurt. So instead of replying, Hans said instead, ""Honestly, I'm more surprised that she has yet to carry my child."
"You bastard!" unable to keep his composure, Erasmus lunged at Hans, but with the bars separating them, all had to do was take a step back.
"Stating the obvious now, aren't we?" Hans 'tsk-ed', laughing mockingly.
"I will have you killed," Erasmus threatened, his face red and his expression dark.
"Elsa won't allow it," Hans stated confidently, his expression just as dark as Erasmus'.
"She will," Erasmus smirked evilly, his expression was so vile that an unwanted fear ran down his spine, "I'll make sure of it."
With you I'm back again,
The wedding was moved, Hans would have been happy if he hasn't been left to rot in the dungeons for the past couple of days. His occasional visitors were rats, and the boring, unsmiling guards who never failed to bring him the most inedible food he has ever come across.
Which is why Hans was surprised when his nosed picked up a rather delightful smell when the heavy doors leading to dungeon had creaked opened.
I am obviously going crazy.
The cloaked figure holding a basket, one that he would never fail to recognize, opened the barred doors to his cell and entered.
"Come to feed me my last edible meal before my execution," he teased lightly.
She pulled of the hood of her cloak and glared at him, "Don't make jokes about things like that."
"It's dull in here, you know, can't I have my fun before I die," when she glared at him again, he raised his hands up in mock surrender, "I'll stop, but do tell, milady, where is Elsa?"
"Father won't let Elsa out of his sight," Anna sighed, "And she's still trying to convince him not to kill you the moment he lays eyes on you."
"Is it working?" Hans asked, half serious, and half teasing, "Because I'm smelling glorious food right now."
"I'm not sure," Anna shook her head sadly, making Hans raise an eyebrow, "Father is still beyond furious with you."
"I see," Hans murmured quietly, unsure of what else to say.
"I'll leave that with you," Anna motioned towards the basket she had just given him moments earlier, then she gave him a simple, ivory white envelope, "And here," Hans took the envelope from her, his fingers lightly traced Elsa's monogram on the corner.
"Thank you," Hans nodded just before Anna got out and locked the cells again.
Hans laid the basket down on the makeshift cot, making sure that his cellmates won't sneak their grimy little paws into the basket. Savoring the feel of the paper, and Elsa's scent that seemed imbued with both the envelope and the paper, Hans begun reading—
I am constantly wishing I can be with you now more than ever. I cannot express how much I need you by my side during this times. I know I can convince father to let you go, but Erasmus machinations are making it difficult. I will strive to keep you safe. I promise.
"Oh, my love," Hans said woefully, his voice breaking, "I should be the one protecting you."
There was an intricately drawn snowflake on the bottom corner of the paper, and a nostalgic smile touched his lips.
He hated winter more than anything, because it reminded him of the cold nights he slept shivering and alone, but Elsa had loved that cold months, and meeting her had made him cherish winter as the warmest season.
Hans was unaware of the tears that rolled down his cheek.
Just take me by the hand,
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity trapped in those dungeons, Elsa had finally visited him, but Hans knew that it was just a dream. After all, the person in front of him was the little girl he had met years ago, and right now, he was still just a little boy.
"I've missed you, Hans," she told him with a very cute pout, "Where were these past couple of days? You've missed a lot lessons, you know?"
Hans held his hand in front of him, saying, "I'm not worried," he grinned at her cheekily, "I know you're going to help me."
She smiled at him appreciatively, but then her smile dissolved into a sad expression, "I'm sorry, Hans."
And just like that, she was the Elsa of the present, his Elsa.
"What for?" he asked, his voice sounded lower and more gruff, losing the innocence tone it once possessed when he was a child.
"Because I failed you," her midnight blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears, the light made it look like there were stars dancing in the sea of dark blue eyes. Elsa reached out, both hands touching his face gently, her touch was colder than ice.
"That's not true," he said, holding her hands in his, "You have never failed me, and you never will," he tried to smile at her, but it felt like such a tedious task.
"I'm sorry," she said again, tears finally falling.
Blood covered Hans's hands, his eyes widened as her tears turned into blood, and she bled from her wrists.
"Elsa, no!"
Hans's eyes flew wide open, and he shot up from bed gasping for breath. His heart hammered against its confines, as though it sought to break free. Hans wasn't sure if his face was covered in sweat or in tears. He brought his hand up to his face, and then he raked his fingers through his dusty, auburn hair.
An angry yell erupted from his lips, then it turned into a frustrated cry.
Was love supposed to be this painful?
We're close to the edge,
There were circles under Hans's eyes, after last night's nightmare, he had failed to fall asleep. He had been fearing the worse, and hasn't stopped pacing back and forth through his cell. He was so worried and distracted that he failed to notice the cell doors opening.
"Hans."
But her voice immediately brought him out of his reverie, he spun around with wide eyes and parted lips. He immediately wrapped his arms around her, breathed in her sent and made sure that she wasn't another apparition created by his mind.
"Elsa," he breathed deeply, feeling relieved despite the circumstances, "Thank the gods, you're fine."
Elsa frowned, with one hand she reached out to touch his cheek, she had a worried expression on her face. Suddenly, Hans blinked and simultaneously took both of her hands in his, then he flipped them over to look at her wrist. No new wounds, no new bandages.
Then he wrapped his arms around her again, "I had a nightmare," he explained hurriedly, "I feared the worse," then he sucked in a deep breath, "I'm sorry for not trusting you."
An indulgent smile formed on her lips as he pulled away from the hug, "It's alright, Hans," then her expression turned pained, "But I'm sorry," she looked away, "I've failed you."
Hans shook his head fiercely, the voice of his nightmares echoed in his head, "Never apologize to me for anything, love, never."
They drew apart when they heard the angry footsteps of maybe a handful of men walking down the dungeons halls. With a resolute expression, Hans squeezed Elsa's hand comfortingly one last time before they would be pulled apart.
Blinded by the lights,
Everything happened in a blur. Erasmus had yanked Elsa away from him, two guards seized him by his arms and shackled his wrists. Hans turned around to try and look at Elsa one last time, but the last he saw before the sack fell upon his head were the fire from the guard's torches.
Then he was dragged like a sack of hay, he didn't bother struggling as he knew it would be useless. He felt himself being thrown into some sort of carriage, then the door was slammed shut. The carriage rolled into motion, the path was rough and rocky, and suddenly, Hans knew where he would be taken.
How ironic. Just nights ago I made a quip about jumping off a cliff, and now here we are.
Hold you through forever,
Hans discovered that the shackles they put around his wrists were badly placed; it was easy to remove them. He tore off the sack on his head, taking in a gulp of air. He begun rubbing his sore wrists as he started thinking about his next move.
The carriage was moving fast, but not too fast. He didn't hear anybody placing a lock on the carriage door, so he could probably just jump and escape.
Then again…
He thought against trying to escape. After all, he probably wouldn't get a chance to say goodbye to Elsa if he tried escaping. The guards would have been on horseback, Hans knew he wouldn't get very far till they catch him; and he didn't want to try and test the duke's patience, lest the man just decides to have him shot while being pursued, or beheaded the moment he's caught.
Instead, Hans closed his eyes and thought of Elsa.
He wanted to whisper promises of forever in her ears, he wanted to tell her that he would always be by her side; but, alas, Fate decided to be cruel to them.
When the door opened, Hans fixed a grin on his face as he waved his free hands in front of him just to spite the guard. The guard growled and yanked Hans out of the carriage, then he got dragged yet again kicked behind his knees and forced to kneel in front of the duke.
Hans, however, righted himself before he could completely stumble. He stood tall in front of Isenstrom, and held his chin proudly. He looked into the duke's eyes without flinching, "Your grace, may I have one final request."
Erasmus was first to speak up, "How dare y—"
A wave of a hand from the duke was enough to silence Erasmus, "You want to talk to my daughter."
"Yes, sir," Hans nodded pouring all his courtesy into those two words. He held his breath as the duke studied his expression intently.
Finally, the duke looked at his men and ordered, "Let him."
And Hans was taken to Elsa.
Won't let you go,
"Will it hasten my death if I kissed you right now?" Hans whispered lightly to Elsa, forcing a smile on his lips.
"If you don't kiss me right now," Elsa tried to sound threatening and keep her voice from breaking, "I will personally hasten your death."
"You love me too much," Hans chuckled softly, kissing Elsa's forehead.
"I do."
And he wrapped his arms around her.
Cause if you jump I will jump too,
"I will never stop loving you," Elsa whispered breathlessly, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and wishing that she would never have to let him go.
Hans looked around him, looked at their audience.
Lord Isentrom looked pained despite his neutral expression, Kristoff had his arms around Anna, and Anna had tears in her eyes; the guards, who looked obviously uncomfortable, were trying and failing to avert their gaze. Erasmus choked down an irritated gurgle, and Hans that almost made him smile. Almost.
It was Elsa who truly made him smile at that moment. It would always be her who can make him smile, even in the direst situations.
We will fall together from the building's ledge,
Hans looked up at the sky and threw a prayer to whoever was up there listening, At least give us a chance to be happy together in our next lifetime.
Never looking back at what we've done,
"I don't regret this," Elsa told Hans shakily, as she pulled away, her eyes brimmed with tears, "I don't regret us. I don't regret ever loving you."
"Loving you," Hans whispered, caressing her face gently with one hand, "Was the best decision I could have ever made, and I will never regret it."
Yes, despite all the trials, and despite of them pain—neither of them would regret it.
We'll say it was love,
"I love you," and with that fierce declaration, Hans didn't hold back anymore. He pressed his lips hard against Elsa's, and she kissed him back with the same ardent passion.
Pulling back, she whispered with a small smile, "And I, you."
Cause I would die for you on Skyway Avenue,
After a rather scandalized huff from Erasmus, Lord Isentrom's voice rung clear with authority, "Hans."
The bastard son nodded as he let go of the heiress, with one final smile, he turned away from her and allowed himself to be taken away to the edge of the cliffs.
Where are your guts to fly?
Anna and Kristoff walked towards Elsa after Hans was led away. Elsa reached out for Anna's hand for support, and the younger sister squeezed the hand of the elder one to let her know that she was just right there.
Suddenly, Elsa suck in a deep breath, "Anna, how much do you love Kristoff?"
Neither Anna nor Kristoff anticipated the question; nevertheless, Anna answered surely, "Very much."
Elsa looked at Kristoff, before her gaze settled on Anna, "Do you love him enough to follow him to the ends of the world?"
Anna didn't miss a beat, "I do."
Soaring through, through the night,
Watching Hans walking away from her and being led to the edge of the cliff had given Elsa a chance to choose.
And if you take that last step,
Elsa's eyes roamed around as she studied the faces of all the people present. There was her father, the Duke of Arendelle; Elsa loved the man dearly, even when it felt like he never truly understood her. Elsa also looked at Erasmus, he was a man in need of somebody to understand him—everybody needed a person like that; and finally, her gaze landed on Kristoff and Anna.
I'll follow you,
And with that, her decision was finally made.
As Hans turned to look at were one last time, Elsa ran.
Leave the ledge and fly,
Time seemed to slow down to a halt as Elsa lets go Anna's hand, in that moment, Lord Isenstrom knew what was about to happen; and yet somehow, he had reacted to slow.
Or perhaps that was how it was meant to be…
We're finally alive,
Everybody but Anna and Kristoff moved to stop her, because from the look that had crossed Elsa's eyes, the couple knew that her decision was finally made, and that nobody would be able to stop her.
Cause if you jump, I will jump too,
And so as Hans fell, Elsa flew to be with him.
We will fall together from the building's ledge,
The fear that had previously gripped Hans's heart vanished when he saw the smile on Elsa's face. She looked happy, peaceful, and free.
Are we being too selfish?
But perhaps, it's alright.
And so, he reached for her as well.
Never looking back at what we've done,
Elsa's golden tresses escaped from its confines, and danced freely with the wind. Her dark blue eyes shone radiantly, and her face was beautifully sun-kissed.
Closer and closer to the jagged rocks below, to the place where the waves kissed the craggy earth, Hans and Elsa fell, and yet it didn't seem like they were falling at all. It felt as though time was suspended, and that they were flying. Was it truly the end? Because never have they ever felt like they held eternity in palm of their hands.
We'll say it was love,
One would suppose their story is a tragedy, but their happiness trounces the tragic end. Forevermore, their whispers of love and devotion will echo through time, strong and resonating like their love.
Cause I would die for you on Skyway Avenue,
Darkness has never been so bright.
So what's left to prove?
We have made it through.
I'M SORRY. I HAVEN'T WRITTEN ANYTHING IN A LONG TIME. I'M A HORRIBLE PERSON. I HOPE YOU'RE NOT TOO MAD.
Notes:
1. Dukes could be either of two things: a member of nobility, or a monarch ruling over a land. In this case, instead of making him the king of Arendelle a king, I made him the Duke of Arendelle; and instead of the Southern Isles being a distant land, I simply called it the Southern Lands, and it's a small domain within Arendelle that's ruled over by Lord Westergard. Also, one of my headcanons was to make Anna and Elsa's surname Isenstrom, thus the name of their father, Lord Isenstrom.
2. Also, instead of having both of Anna and Elsa's parents as dead, I kept the father alive, and yeah… I just ended up omitting Elsa's ice powers, because it made more sense that way.
that scene with Kristoff :3 I dunno why, but I really liked it.
3. I'm really sorry. I kinda rushed this story. I hope you're not too disappointed by this. :P and it's also a bit ooc.. okaaaay. I think I might be losing my touch. I think? Or maybe it's the stress. *huff* (because tumblr just made me rewrite half of this three times. -_-'') (you'll find this in tumblr under the tag #kn1ghtl3y)
4. The first verse of Jack and Jill had poetic ring to it. :3 So I used that as my inspiration.
5. Also, I patterned the story to the song Skyway Avenue by We The Kings
i swear to god i am writing the sequel to CINDERELLA this week
THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!
Cheers!
