Oh my gosh! You guys never cease to amaze me! I started getting both reviews and follows/faves within the first hour this story was up! Love you! *big group hug*
Special shout out to Cupcake (Guest). Your review truly made my day! :D (By the way, Emma is 18 years old.)
On to chapter two!
I felt crushed. Heartbroken. I felt like laying down and never standing up again. I couldn't get his face, contorted with anger, out of my head.
Isabelle told me to get help here. The question was, how? No one knew me anymore. Hans... he couldn't help me, even if he wanted to. Anna would want to spend time with her sister, Kristoff with Anna.
Of course, I couldn't just sit around. There were people out there, looking for me. I didn't know what, but something had to have happened for this group to absolutely hate Shifters. But at the moment, it was all I wanted to do.
I needed space. Everything seemed to be closing in on me, taking my breath and letting half the amount back in. I looked around the bustling village, spotting an empty stable a short ways away. Pushing through the crowd, I was finally able to reach it. There was a door, which looked like a more promising place to get away.
Jiggling the doorknob, I finally got in and shut the door behind me. Breathing heavily, I slid down the wall, trying not to cry. All the emotional trauma seemed to pile on top of each other. Needing to leave the friends that people only dream about. An Aunt who works for people trying to kill me. Coming back to find nobody remembers me... It was too much.
Resting my head on my knees, I started to cry. After the crying came the screaming. Covering my mouth with my hands, I screamed until my throat was raw. I couldn't take it anymore.
"Oh, Hans," I whimpered. "I'm so sorry."
By the time I got myself together enough to go outside, the sun was starting to set. It got pretty chilly, and I realized the dress I was given was not a cold-friendly one.
People were still going in and out of the palace courtyard, so it seemed the celebration was still going. Squeezing my way past villagers, I started to slip and slide on the icy ground.
Suddenly, a slender figure slammed into me, knocking us both to the ground. "Oops," Anna said, trying to get up on her ice skates and failing miserably. "Not quite in the hang of these!"
"Ann- er, Princess!" I said in surprise, helping her up. A strange sense of déjà vu made me think back to our first meeting. "I'm sorry!"
"Oh, no," my former best friend said with a laugh. "I was the one who bumped into you. And please, call me Anna!"
As she smiled at me, I couldn't hold back a flicker of hope as her smile faltered. She stared at me for a few seconds before shaking her head a bit. "Sorry, you just seem familiar. Have we met?"
Happiness exploded inside me, and I gave her a small smile of my own. "Not really," I said with a shrug. "But in a way, yes. My name is Emma."
"Well, its nice to meet you Emma," Anna chirped happily. "Even if we've met before!"
I smiled as she dragged me off to 'introduce' me to Kristoff. Maybe things could work out after all.
...
It was both so hard and terribly easy to believe I had been so miserable just an hour before. Kristoff was much more social than our first introduction, and we formed a tighter friendship. I felt a lot better, but I still felt something, more of a someone, missing.
"Hey, do you want to meet Elsa?" Anna asked after meeting up with Olaf.
"Sure," I said with a smile. We started to weave our way to the queen, but got blocked by a large guard.
"Princess Anna," he said in a deep voice. "Your audience is requested by the prisoner."
"Me?" Anna questioned, surprised. "Why not Elsa?"
"I think you can guess, Princess."
Anna's face darkened immediately. "Oh," she said, anger and fear leaking into her voice. "I'll be right there."
After the guard left, I turned to Anna. "What's he talking about?"
"Hans," she said simply, shaking her head.
My heart started to pound. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," Anna said in determination. "Why else wouldn't he want to talk to Elsa?"
"Good point," I said, looking towards the docks.
"Would you mind coming with me? I know we just met and all, but I don't want him to do anything again," Anna said, avoiding my eyes.
"Sure!" I said, keeping any traces of panic and sadness out of my voice.
"Really?" the princess asked in surprise.
I chuckled. "Why not?"
She smiled, obviously relieved. "Thanks. Let's go."
As we turned around and started to make our way back to the docks, we ran into Kristoff, Sven and Olaf. Naturally, they (and by that, I mean Kristoff) didn't want the two of us to see the 'enemy'.
"No, Anna, its too dangerous," Kristoff protested, putting a hand on her shoulder.
I could see my friend visibly pale. I realized that was exactly what Hans said to her when she went to find Elsa. "She'll be fine," I said quickly. "I have a few tricks up my sleeves."
Truthfully, the only thing I'd do to Hans if he tried anything suspicious was punch him. I knew how to throw a good one, as I found out in my first Shift.
Kristoff's shoulders drooped in defeat. "Fine," he said finally, throwing his hands in the air. "But be careful."
"Of course," Anna said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Kristoff blushed, turning his head and coughing awkwardly.
...
Hans was sitting uncomfortably on the odd bench in his cell. "Ah, there you are Anna. And I see you've brought a friend!"
I stiffened, not believing the difference between my Hans and this... monster. "I have a name."
"Don't care. But seeing as you have the upper hand..." he gestured around his cell. "I guess you'll tell me anyway."
"Emma," I said stiffly.
Hans laughed. "Ah, I remember you! You ran into me this morning. Still don't know you though."
"Look, why do you want me here?" Anna interrupted quickly.
"Well, why do you think? I want you to let me go before the ship leaves."
"And why would I do that?" Anna taunted, crossing her arms.
"Let's just say I'm not the only one in Arendale looking for power," Hans said, smirking triumphantly.
Anna paled, getting close to Hans. "How can I trust you?" she asked quietly.
"The same way you did before. The question is could I trust you?" Hans asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No," Anna said, surprising me slightly. "But I doubt you expected otherwise."
Hans winked, and for a moment he wasn't as cruel. He looked like himself. "Naturally."
Anna walked over to me, clearly on the verge of panic. "Emma, what do I do?"
"Well... er..." I stammered, feeling a bit stupid. I wanted him to be free, more then anything, but Hans definitely wasn't the same. "I guess you should do what you think is right."
"That's the thing. I mean, he's done such a bad thing, but..." Anna broke off with a slight blush.
Of course. Anna probably still liked him, despite the evil Hans has done. They were engaged, after all. Still, I couldn't stop a twinge of jealousy.
"Follow your heart," I said softly, pulling my friend into a small hug.
Anna nodded, and headed back over to Hans. "Hans..." she stopped. "Well, I never did catch a last name."
Hans smirked lightly. "Westergaurd," he said finally.
"Okay then. Hans Westergaurd, of the Southern Isles..."
I held my breath. What was she going to say?
"I pronounce you to be, as for now, free," Anna said. "But if you hurt me, Elsa, or any of my friends... let's say the prison was a kind gesture."
Hans smiled and sat up a bit straighter. I realized I had unconsciously done the same thing, immediately slumping my shoulders. But I still had to strain to hold back a ridiculous grin.
God, I was still in love with this man. For some reason I felt giddy just to admit it. I needed to be in love, and I was going to fight like hell to get that love back.
Hello dearies! I hope you guys liked this chapter!
I guess we got to see a little more of Emma. We saw her broken emotionally, as well as stubborn and hopeful.
Once again, thank you everyone for the great support I've been getting!
Please leave a review! Two seconds can literally make someone's day!
HUGS AND KISSES LAURYN OUT!
