Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters.

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To Grow Up

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Hans felt his fist clench tightly at his side as he kept his eyes on his eldest brother. Rupert had a smug grin on his face. "Just because you accomplished a small task doesn't mean you will gain the throne, little brother. Father and mother only asked you to do something so you would be out of his hair."

"I established trade with the city and I increased our income by more than what they asked me to do. I -"

Rupert held up his hand to silence him,"Yadda, yadda, little brother. No one cares. Soon enough, I will be sitting on the throne and you will be doing the biddings that I ask you to do. I prefer you to be on the front lines of the next war we have." Laughter belted from his belly.

"I will never serve you as a King," Haans spat at his brother' feet. It took only a second for Rupert to cross the room and grab him around the throat. His hands squeezed tighter. Tighter.

Rupert smirked,"Do you remember what happened last time you challenged me?"

Haans remembered perfectly well. He had ended up getting lashes on his back for embarrassing him at a ball his mother held. Growing up with several brothers wasn't easy. Once he was born, his father had slowly began to slip in is mind and his heart began to soften more than ever. Haans had become a favorite to the king. Whether it was special gifts or just the king praising the youngest at the table, all of the other brothers saw it at a challenge.

He had no sympathy. Once he was seen as a threat to his siblings, it was their life calling to torture him. He had been locked in the dungeon for weeks at a time and fed what the prisoners ate. One time, they stole the queen's jewelry and blamed it on him. The physical beatings were endless and he was even lashed on a few occasions.

His mother was a gentle soul and had taken on an entire kingdom on her plate as the king slowly began to lose his memory. She took over the government branches, the trading, and attempted to raise her sons. She didn't have time to watch their every move. Haans loved his mother. Never wanted to burden her down. With the endless warnings from their brother, he remained quiet. They would always say,"you will send out mother to her grave if you on say one word, little brother." So, for years, he had remained quiet.

Haans finally let out a cry of pain. Rupert laughed loudly as he let go,"if only someone loved you, little brother..."

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Xxx

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In less than three hours, Haans would be in Arendale once again. Regret flooded his mind, his pride wounded. Never did he think he would have to come back here. How he wished his mother would've just sentenced him to the dungeons...no thanks to Rupert!

The day the queen was told of her youngest sons actions, her heart broke. With tears in her eyes, she asked,"What am I to do with you, Haans?"

Rupert immediately had spoke up,"But mother! Haans was only reacting out of fear from the Ice Queen. Rumor has it she is powerful and could destroy anyone. I believe Haans was only wanting to protect the people of this city. Arrendale has insulted us, mother, by asking us to punish him. He went desiring to marry this Anna, to establish a life for himself and to possibly for an alliance, and they insult us by expecting us to punish a man who only desired to protect a country?"

The queen sat motionless for a moment as she listened to her eldest son,"Continue, my son. What should I do?"

"You your force, mother. You send Haans back to wed this Anna and form an alliance. Arrendale has the Ice Queen and those powers can be of use to us if ever we need them. If they deny him, we have more than enough men and ships ready to go. They can't refuse the offer..."

Haans stood in absolute silence. What a manipulative man his brother was...! Before his mouth even opened, his mother spoke,"Yes, Rupert, very wise...Haans, I hereby order you to return to Arrendale and marry your Anna. Form an alliance, my son, and make your father proud...make me proud...get this shame off of your shoulders..."

And so, here he was...on a ship about to confront the Queen he had tried to kill. They were to be meeting over a formal dinner. Would he even have the strength for this? If he were to defy his brother, he knew he would be shipped on the next platoon for war...

How sad, he realized, that he feared his brother so...that the kept his mouth closed as he spoke deceit to his precious mother? Would he ever amount to anything? Ever really have a love he so desired to have?

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xxx

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"Conceal, don't feel," Elsa murmured as she stared at herself in the mirror. this time, however, it wasn't her ice she wished to conceal...it was her heart's emotions. Why did she answer the letter so hastily? Why did she not ask Anna her feelings?

"I'm a Queen," she huffed as she slammed her fists on her vanity,"I will not let this kingdom come to war! I will make an alliance with them!" A picture of Olaf, Elsa, and Anna was nestled inside a frame in the Queen's view. She picked it up and studied it carefully. "Oh, Anna, I hope you understand this is for the best..."

Anna had opened her door with a questioning look, "What is for the best?"

"Anna," Elsa whispered,"Sit down." Anna immediately obeyed. She wore a lovely purple evening gown, her hair swept up in elegant curls. Her mothers pearls rested around her neck. Yes, she was a picture of beauty.

Walking to the bay window, Elsa allowed her heart to freeze from all emotion. She was a queen. She had a kingdom to look out for. "Anna, there is something I must tell you. My kingdom...our kingdom...is the most important thing in this life. We were chosen to watch over these people and to protect them. Life isn't a fairy tale book where it's easy and you marry the prince and get the glass slipper, it's not that easy. Running a kingdom involves sacrifices and hurts and...decisions you don't want to make all the time.."

"Sis, what's this all about? Are you having a nervous breakdown or something?" Anna pressed her hands to her cheeks,"Are you dying?!"

The Queen raised her chin higher as she looked at her sister. May as well cut to the chase. "While we have been frolicking through the tulips this past year, the Southern Isles has strengthened their ships and their military. I have yet to know how many soldiers we have. The Southern Isles has threatened us with war," she spoke through clenched teeth,"or they have offered us an alliance."

Alliances only came through marriage or treaties...Anna tried to find the right words,"Elsa, can't you just blast them with your powers? No one would dare step-"

"I will not fight. I'm tired of fighting! I've accepted the negotiations of an alliance."

The redhead felt her cheeks heat,"Which one of Haans' brother will you marry? Do you even know him? Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Elsa looked directly into the face of her only family. "The alliance will not be formed through my marriage. The King and Queen of the Southern Isles made their terms quite clear: they are sending Haans to claim you as a bride."

Haans. Those green eyes. ginger hair that looked like sunset. That voice as gentle as a rover and those hands as strong as a vice...but a heart as deceptive as satan! "Have you lost your mind, Elsa!? Do you not remember he tried to kill you?! He left me to die! He-"

"There is more to the story, Anna. Have you not heard the rumors? He was raised in a hell and abused by monsters. Something inside me is telling me that Haans isn't-"

"HE IS A MONSTER! I WILL NOT LISTEN TO THIS-"

Elsa grasped her sister's forearm with a very strong force,"You will not speak to me in such a way and you will not leave until I have dismissed you! I am your Queen!"

Anna trembled beneath the grasp on her arm. What on earth was happening?! Where was her kind sister?! Tears threatened to spill.

"We are to take care of our people, Anna. Sometimes, that means sacrifice even when it's not what we want to do."

It was only then that Anna remembered Kristoff. The tears finally traced down her cheek. Oh, her Kristoff! Just when her heart had finally started to open to him..to love him?

"Anna, I love you. If there was another way, I would do it. This isn't about us. This is about Arrendale," Elsa whispered as she let her heart soften towards her little sister,"I believe Haans is misunderstood...in the depths of my heart, I know there is good in him...do you trust me?"

A knock caused both of the sisters to look up. Bowing, a butler announced their guest.

He was here...

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xxx

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Haans kept his eyes to the floor, his waist bent to form the most humble bow he could form. The click of heels gor closer. Closer. There was silence. Slowly, he let his breath out,"Your Royal Highnesses."

Elsa, Queen of Arrendale, stared in silence as the man before her. there was a deep hue in his cheeks, his body more lean than we had first arrives, and the tension in his voice. "We will dine in the banquet hall, no one is to disturb us...

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xxx

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Dinner had went rather well. Almost as if there was no horrible past between the Southern Isles and Arrendale..as if all had been forgiven...the Price and Queen talked easily of their trade, their kingdoms, and the voyage rather easily. Anna felt sick to her stomach as Haans made his first attempt to look at her.

She looked just the same. Just as young, just as beautiful, but a look of terror covered her face. A sickening feeling overwhelmed him...he had done this to her, caused her to cringe in his presence.

"Prince Haans? Did you hear what I said?" Elsa questioned.

"No, your majesty, I was distracted," he murmured before focusing on her.

The Queen let her icy blue gaze rest on him,"I said have we formed an agreement?"

Anna held her breath. 'Please, no, don't do this to me!' Her mind screamed as she tried to catch her sister's gaze. Tried to gather some type of compassion! Why should she have to marry the devil himself for the kingdom?! She wasn't even the Queen-who even said she wanted to be a princess?

"Your majesty, Anna," he whispered as he clenched his jaw. How humble did he have to be? Slowly, he slipped himself out of his chair and walked towards the Queen and her sister. He paused in front of them. With his pride out the window, he lowered himself to his knees, his eyes on the floor,"I know it isn't your wish for this union. I know it is not easy for you to look past my actions-"

"...you tried to KILL her!" Anna screamed before she stood. Her nails dug into the table and anger caused her to laugh sarcastically at him and his actions. "I can see right through you!"

"Anna, sit down, now!" Elsa ordered.

Haans felt his throat constrict,"I have caused your family to go through the darkest shadows of hell. You have no reason to trust me, I understand that. I do ask humbly for you to let me prove myself. I beg you to please forgive me for my past actions..."

Elsa studied him closely. His shoulders were hunched. his eyes downcast. For Pete's sake, the Prince of the Southern Isles was on his knees in front of them begging for forgiveness. All of the pieces didn't make sense...there was more to this man...more to his story..."I accept your apology, Prince Haans, but we will be watching you closely. If I am to form this alliance, it will not be because of the softness of my heart but for the peace for my people..."

Haans didn't look up, he nodded slowly, and stood once again. "I am yours to command, your highness."

"We will make the announcement of your engagement tomorrow, Anna. Is that understood?" Elsa raised an eyebrow.

Anna finally looked to Haans. Hurt, anger, regret, fears. It all showed in her eyes like a wounded animal. Her heart was so fragile...her heart was Kristoff's! But it didn't matter...she had to grow up, as Elsa put it. "Yes, Elsa..."

Haans didn't smirk. didnt even smile. Bowing to Elsa, he wished her goodnight. Turning to Anna, he lowered his voice,"I wish there was another way, Anna, I really do...I wish..." He didn't finish his sentence. He left just as he felt his own voice crack.

Anna didn't move. Just sat there. Where on earth was her happily ever after?