Heart With No Companion Chapter 2: The Seduction, a frozen fanfic

If you want a lover
I'll do anything you ask me to
And if you want another kind of love
I'll wear a mask for you
If you want a partner
Take my hand
Or if you want to strike me down in anger
Here I stand
I'm your man

I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen

There was a ripple of excitement outside his makeshift prison as he slumped on the hard wooden bench, waiting to set sail. Hans frowned deeply, knowing better than to hope.

Footsteps thudded on the planks. He knew that sound.

Elsa approached, her face carved from ice. A tempest of emotion raged in the cold stare she leveled at him.

"Why?"

He glanced around his temporary prison, down at himself, and finally at her. A mocking smile spread over his face. "Why not?"

Anger touched her features, and the wind picked up. "You – insufferable! Unrepentant, evil – "

"Repent? Me? It was a great gamble, and I'm only sorry it didn't play out the way I had intended." Very calmly, he folded his hands in his lap and waited. "Kill me now then, Your Majesty," he said, green-gold eyes sparkling with malice, "it's easy. These wooden bars won't stand a chance against your ice, and I won't resist. How shall you do it? An icicle through the heart? Push me into the water locked in an icy cage? Or – " he dropped his voice conspiratorially, "– freeze my heart?"

She made a choked sound, and ice gripped the wooden lattice, biting deep into the grain. He flinched, but hid his sudden fear well. The queen made a quick gesture, and the ice did her bidding; the door was torn away, and Hans grunted as the ice encircled him. "You underestimate me," she hissed, her voice dangerously cold. "I am no longer alone or afraid. You cannot hurt me."

Hans forced a smile. The edges of the ice were sharp, and he knew he was bleeding in places where it had sliced through his clothes. "So confident, Queen Elsa. I remember a time when you ran like a terrified animal from everything."

"You are nothing to me, anymore."

"That's a pity; for me, you were preferable to Anna, right from the beginning."

"Monster."

The ice retreated all at once, and he hit the floor hard. The pain went unnoticed though; he latched on to Elsa's words, his mind formulating a response.

"Wait, anymore? My dear queen, are you saying I mattered to you once?"

The strong facade began to crack around the edges. She bit her lip, looking uncertain for a moment. "Perhaps," she said quickly, too honestly. "You did propose to my sister - as sudden as it was - and I would have been happy for her. Before you exposed yourself for what you really are."

"And what if I were to tell you it isn't all there is to me?" He grinned toothily. "You trusted me – both of you – and who's to say I'm still not that man?"

Hans could see the doubt in her eyes cloud them over, and then disperse like a summer storm. She lifted her chin, staring down at him, a grimace of disgust on her face. "You made your choices, and that is who you are. I've heard enough of your lies and your games."

"As you wish, my queen. But are they really, now?" Hans leaned back, deliberately relaxed in her presence, and saw her bristle. "How would you know? Are you an expert on people? You've spent your formative years socializing, have you?"

Elsa started to walk away. His laughter followed her a few steps, and then died abruptly; she had whirled around, closing the distance between them quickly, and slapped him hard. His head rocked to the side; he tasted blood where he'd inadvertently bitten his tongue. Hans stared up at her, still with that mocking smile. Elsa drew her hand back, fierce glee in her expression as she watched his cheek redden. "Perhaps now," she said, "you'll shut up."

He refused to grant her even that smallest concession; as he touched his cheek, his eyes burned into hers. "If you believe that to be so, you have a lot to learn about me, Queen Elsa," he said thickly.

He remained silent as she spun on her heel and left; and yet, she could have sworn that his low, mocking laughter rang in her ears.

They moved him to different quarters on the pretext of repairing his cell; hours turned into days, and Hans grew complacent.

"She's not letting me go, isn't she?" he asked the nervous-looking sailor that brought him his bread and water.

"I-I wouldn't know, Your Highness."

"Oh please, spare me the honorifics." He waved a hand lazily. "As much as I appreciate it, I'm sure you know that I am to be stripped of my titles for committing treason?"

"I-no, sir." The man ducked out, and Hans sighed. Perhaps he would have to bully this boy to hysterics so he could get a more intelligent man to bring his meals.

Much to his delight, the queen herself came to pay him a visit in his new cell. She was all righteous anger again, her body taut with barely suppressed fury, and a loathing to match.

She should have been a Fire Queen, he mused as her gaze raked over him. But aloud he said: "A good morrow to you, Queen Elsa – I'm not sure if it be night or day here. What brings Your Majesty to my humble cell?"

She hesitated – he caught the telltale signs, before answering him: "You won't be returning to the Southern Isles," she said brusquely. "You are to be held here in Arendelle in my custody indefinitely."

"I'm staying, then? What possessed you to make such a decision?" Hans remarked, arching an eyebrow. "I know my brothers wouldn't pass up the chance to punish me for my crimes that easily. Are you going to deprive them of that pleasure, hmm?"

"I don't know what would happen should you be released back to your kingdom." She took a long, calming breath, letting the temperature of their surroundings rise to the norm. "You might even be freed."

"Is that such a bad thing?"

"Yes," she said determinedly.

"Well then," he drawled, "don't let me keep you from your business. Carry on, while I'm imprisoned – but bear in mind, Queen Elsa, that you can't keep me here indefinitely without a reason. You're aware of that, I presume?"

"Naturally," she answered, despite the little quaver in her voice. "I've sent a letter to the Southern Isles."

"You might as well send some money. You're in luck; a thirteenth prince doesn't cost much."

She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Are you suggesting I… buy you?"

Hans shrugged. "Why not? You want to keep me here, don't you? I'm just suggesting a way to make the transaction clean."

"Do you honestly think your family would sell you off?" The horror in her voice was entertaining to listen to.

"Sure. One less prince to compete for kingdoms, what's more a disgraced prince who tried to kill a queen and princess, and failed. I'm worth less than dirt right now." Hans laughed suddenly. "You know, they might even send back a letter thanking you for the trouble, and suggest you quietly do away with me when you grow tired of having me around."

Elsa recoiled bodily.

"What, does the idea displease you? Then what have you got in mind for me?"

"Do you always talk in questions?" Her composure was slowly coming back to her.

"Only when there are no answers forthcoming."

She waved her hand and conjured a chair of ice to seat herself. Hans' eyes were drawn to her dress and the way it clung to her skin. "Answers, then," she commanded.

"Answers?" he echoed incredulously. "You want answers? To what?"

He received a hard stare. "Is that too difficult a concept for you? I want answers for everything you've done." Elsa's gaze slid away. "You could have killed me. You could have taken everything for yourself, but you didn't."

"I see. I only have your best wishes at heart, Your Majesty, and I feel that the answers might be too much for you."

"Such a thoughtful gesture, from one who certainly didn't have a problem with attempting to murder me and my sister for the sake of your ambitions."

Hans conceded the point with a sharp nod, already growing a little tired of her tendency to bring it up, like a tenacious dog with a favorite bone. "When it interferes with my own agenda, I look to myself first. This much I'll grant you." He shifted a little closer, enjoying the tiny involuntary jerk she gave. "Would you like the answers then, my queen? Ask away, and I'll do my best to… satisfy," he glanced at her legs, and the expanse that was revealed when she had sat down, "your curiosity."

"Answers, yes. But I wonder if they're also lies." Elsa had noticed, but apart from a furious blush, she was unwilling to submit to him. Her hands balled into tight fists on her knees.

He shrugged. "Who can know for sure?"

This remark earned him a calculated look, cold in its appraisal. It chilled him more than her ice ever had. But Hans could see the curiosity in her eyes, warring with her rational judgement.

He waited.

"Tell me," said Elsa at last, "why you didn't just kill me on the North Mountain."

"Oh, is that all you wanted to know?" he laughed. "That's easy." Hans leaned forward, his face becoming serious. "It would have been convenient, I'll admit, but I just couldn't bring myself to end you."

"So the monster has a heart," she said immediately, misinterpreting his answer.

Hans shook his head. "It was convenient, that was all. But a crown was riding on it; I couldn't just let an accident take you. I had to orchestrate a motive, a compelling reason for Arendelle to turn its back on their queen."

"Did you not think there would be distant cousins? People with blood ties to you, that would stand to inherit Arendelle's throne should the direct lineage of the royal family come to an end? I was acting Regent, to be sure, but only in the extraordinary circumstances of the queen's revelation and the princess' folly. If you were to be killed, and Anna were to freeze to death on the same day, I would still be merely an acting regent. My ticket into the royal family and line of succession would be dead, after all. I'd just twiddle my thumbs and keep the throne warm until the closest blood relative came to claim it." Hans bared his teeth. "Trust me, if I had anticipated dear Anna being that easy to woo, she would have been wedded and bedded before the night was over. She's gullible enough for that."

Elsa made as if she would say something when he mentioned Anna, but remained silent; a twitching muscle in her jaw told him, however, her patience was wearing thin.

"No, I had to shatter Arendelle's faith in their royals and their blood; at the same time, I also had to present myself as the man who would lead the kingdom out of those dark times their queen had plunged them into. I would rescue the mad queen who froze the kingdom and killed her sister, and despite my efforts to reason with her, she broke free. With a heavy heart, I would then be forced to execute her for the crimes she had committed."

Her eyes were wide with horror. "Enough," she muttered, and then repeated herself when her voice broke on the first syllable. "I won't hear anymore."

"That was just one answer. I believe you wanted more? You did ask for answers, Your Majesty, and I am happy to provide them."

"No."

"I could tell you so much more. I could tell you the plans I had for you, if I had been inclined not to let you escape. I had such ideas for Anna as my trophy wife – if she survived your attempt on her life, of course. Her survival was definitely the preferable outcome. Despicable as you think I am, my depravity doesn't extend to dead girls."

She stumbled from the cell, hand clamped to her mouth, and he took satisfaction from the sounds of retching he could still hear.

The door clicked open, and he turned his head towards it. He arched an eyebrow on seeing his visitor.

"Anna. How lovely to see you again." His eyes trailed up and down the length of her body, and he took great care to leer over the swell of her bust, knowing she was watching him.

When he finally lifted his gaze to hers, her teal eyes were stormy. "Hans," she said tonelessly.

"To what do I owe this visit?"

"What did you say to Elsa?"

The other eyebrow rose to join the first. "Say? I didn't say anything untoward, if that's what you're implying. She asked me a question, and I answered."

She shook a finger at him, quivering with irritation. "I know you too well for this, Hans. You said something, and now she won't talk to me, she's avoiding me, s-she can't even look at me – " Anna broke off abruptly, clearly fighting back tears. "It's like… nothing's changed, after all these years."

He shrugged carelessly. "That isn't something I can fix. Didn't you say your sister shut you out for years before I came into the picture?"

"Yes, but clearly something you told her made her shut everyone out again."

"Everyone?" Hans raised an eyebrow. "Is she locking herself in her room? Wearing her gloves?"

"N-no, but – "

"So it's just you she's avoiding."

Anna paled. "I suppose – "

"And pray, what makes you so special?"

"Shut up!"

He did, but the smirk remained on his face.

"What did you say to her?" demanded Anna.

"I merely told her why I saved her life."

A flush started at her neck and crept upwards; her eyes remained fixed on him, but she didn't say a word. Hans didn't let his own expression waver, but he was fascinated by her control.

"What exactly did you say?" managed Anna at last.

"It was all part of the plan, of course," said Hans curtly. He was in no mood to repeat his inspired diatribe; also, he had a feeling Anna knew, and was just seeking an opening to drive the conversation into the outcome – or pretext – she wanted. "Keeping that crown you so wantonly tossed into my lap."

Again she said nothing, but the flush spread across her face entirely, and her hand clutched in her skirts. Lesser men would have mistaken it for embarrassment. "You mean you had more in mind than just killing Elsa, and leaving me to die?"

"Naturally, Anna dear. I'm not a simpleton whose hunger begins and ends at a loaf of bread."

"Could've fooled me," she muttered, and he chuckled; despite the ulterior motives he'd had for getting close to her, Anna had proved to be a genuinely entertaining companion, and the new hard edge she sported only made her more appealing to him, the true him. Not the foppish playboy persona she had met at her sister's coronation. Again, it's such a pity she's only a stepping stone and not the end goal. Hans could easily imagine spending his life as King of Arendelle, Anna at his side. But aloud, he said: "Such a delightful companion, as always."

She glanced sharply at him. "You've got that look again," she announced.

"What look?"

"You're up to something." The princess shivered suddenly. "It scares me, you know, how it feels like there're two people in that body."

"Maybe there is, and maybe there isn't." He changed the subject. "Does your sister know you're down here?"

Anna jumped guiltily. "I-no, I told her I was out with Kristoff – wait. I don't need to explain myself to you."

"Of course you don't. But I only have your best interests at heart." He simpered, and added, "As well as Elsa's. I mean - what if she found out you lied to her, and you went to see the monster in the dungeons at that."

She laughed, and Hans was momentarily taken aback by how cold it was; only for a moment, and then he slipped back into his unflappable facade. "No, you don't. Care, I mean. It's scary how close that sounded like the truth for a moment, Hans; I could have believed you. But really, you only care for yourself and your goals." Anna paused and shook her head. "No, I'm not sure you can care at all."

"I'm wounded."

"Oh, believe me, that's the least of what you'll have to worry about if Elsa let me have my way with you."

"That sounds rather suggestive, my princess," he said. "Have I missed out on some more milestones in your life? Are you engaged to that peasant boy? No, wait, you've known him for more than a day - you've married him already? He must be delighted - a princess is a better catch than his ilk have ever hoped for."

Anna's eyes flashed. "Don't you dare talk about Kristoff like that. He's a better person than you ever will be, Hans."

He laughed, amused by the change in the questioning. "My word, Anna. You've certainly gotten wittier since the last time we spoke – and less inclined to physical violence." Hans tapped his jaw, smirking at her. "You must really care about this boy."

Anna's lips tightened. "This conversation is over."

"What a pity. I felt it was only just getting started." As she turned to go, he called out: "You should try talking to Elsa again."

Much to his surprise, she hesitated, and then nodded tightly before disappearing.

"Your Majesty? This is a surprise."

Her mouth was a grim slash of determination. "Anna was here," declared Elsa rather than queried, and Hans shrugged in exaggerated fashion. "She was indeed," he replied.

"You – you didn't say anything to her, did you?"

"I still have my manners, and speak when spoken to." He affected an expression of wounded innocence. "Why, has she locked herself in her room? Shutting everyone out?"

Elsa flinched. "Shut up!"

She is utterly predictable. Hans bowed theatrically, seating himself back on his bench.

Chest heaving, she began to pace around the limited space. "I just – I know you're a monster, but still I can't – I don't understand." The queen stared up at him as though seeing him for the first time. "Just what have you got planned?"

He rolled his shoulders in a dramatic mockery of a shrug. Elsa scowled.

"You can talk now, you bastard."

"Such language from a monarch, and a woman at that," Hans said primly. "I wonder though, what makes you think I'm planning something? Do my current circumstances smack of elaborate usurpation attempts? My behavior hinting at some bloody insurrection? Has Princess Anna said anything to you about me? You know how she imagines things."

"I don't believe you," she proclaimed flatly, completely ignoring his jibes.

"Believe me?"

"It's too convenient, too rational. Weselton's men and the crossbows? Long-range weapons in close quarters? You just happened to shoot the chandelier and bring it down with one shot?" She drew close, frost crackling at her white-knuckled fists. "Just how much have you orchestrated things, Hans?"

"What, are we talking about the past? I'm confused; here I was thinking you suspected me of making new plots and corrupting Anna. I don't understand what you're trying to say." The even tone of his voice seemed to infuriate her more, but she backed away, taking her ice with her. "But if it'll ease your mind, I'll tell you one thing."

"You appear to think very highly of yourself," she snapped. "But I wouldn't be surprised if even now, you still have something up your sleeve."

He moved closer; his chains clanked together. She stepped back automatically. "I'm locked in your deepest, dankest dungeon with no hope of release in the near future. I can't even relieve myself without your guards watching. I have nothing left." A smile curves over his lips. "Tell me, Queen Elsa, what makes you think I'm plotting something?"

"I don't know," she said, voice tight with exasperation. "Is it because you're a murderous, power-hungry villain who will stop at nothing to get what you want?"

He didn't flinch. "Did you ever wonder, Elsa, why I stayed around despite seeing your true self?"

"Who knows what goes on in that mind of yours?" Despite the fury that drove her reply, her lip still trembled.

"Think about it," he cooed. "If not for me, you would have killed those men. You're not a monster, Elsa, but you had to stop yourself from hurting anybody. You couldn't control it, right? All that power?"

"You're so afraid of yourself, of everything, that you've buried so much within you, and I can't help but want to bring that out." Hans paused, his eyes searching her face for a reaction, but Elsa remained impassive. "I could see – I still see so much potential in you. Just like me."

"No," she whispered, and bit down hard on her lower lip, as if shocked by the betrayal. "No," she repeated, stronger now, fire entering her gaze. "I'm nothing like you."

"Nothing like me? Then you've never cried yourself to sleep wishing you didn't exist, because you were told that the very act of breathing was an affront to everything you love? Never felt like the word love was something you were worthy of?" He was throwing out the darkest, deepest memories of his childhood; giving voice to things that had been buried for so long without realizing how bitter he had been. But his demons were as effective on her as they were to him.

"S-stop," choked Elsa.

His eyes shone with a frenzy. "Tell me the truth, Elsa. I wont' judge; I understand just how it is."

"… yes." She said the word so quietly, and then seemed to shrink into herself after.

Hans' smile widened. "There. That wasn't so difficult to admit, wasn't it?"

She seemed to come to herself, the uncertainty in her eyes dissipating. "Enough."

"As Your Majesty wishes," he said placidly; they both knew he had won this round, and there was no point in pushing his luck any further.

He slept badly that night, dreaming of things he had suppressed; being ignored, alone, forgotten. He was five when a dying foal was thrust onto him, his brothers' cruel voices saying unwanted runts should stick together. Hans almost killed himself saving the foal's life; not because he felt any particular affection for the animal, but because he was proving a point.

He named it Sitron.

He woke with a jolt. It was early – as early as he could discern from the little sunlight that reached him – and yet he was awake.

It dawned upon him that he was approaching the issue all wrong; yes, needling the sisters was entertaining, but in the long-term it did him no good. Hans had had enough fun. Now was the time for him to actually be working on his goals.

He had tried Anna, and it had gotten him tantalizingly close; but then everything had gone horribly wrong, and he was now in dire straits. That left him Elsa, despite his own assertion that no man was getting anywhere with her.

But Hans had dug into the depths of Elsa's psyche and found her so tantalizingly broken; and now he was here at her mercy, he was well-placed to work towards his ends regardless of the hostility both sisters held towards him.

Even though he already knew what his decision would be, Hans weighed his options. He knew Elsa's greatest weaknesses; she had handed him that weapon on a silver platter. He knew how to manipulate both sisters. He was desperate enough to gamble, just as he had staked everything on betraying Anna – and paid dearly for that miscalculation.

One sister left, and one last chance.

Elsa stormed into his cell, determination in her eyes. "You're just saying all these things to get a reaction out of me," she said with an air of confidence.

"True," he answered blandly.

"... Wait, what?"

He spread his hands, palms facing upwards, in a gesture of complete acquiescence. "You're right, Elsa. I say all these things because I enjoy them, and it's a last spiteful gesture of a desperate man." A sly smile curved his lips; it was all he could do to stop laughing aloud at the gobsmacked expression on her face. "Did you spend long puzzling me out?"

"I-no, of course not." Elsa scowled. "Somehow, I don't believe you at all."

"I can't blame you, of course."

She said nothing this time; the courage she had worked up before coming into the cell clearly had deserted her. "Well," she managed at last. "You're up to something, that's for sure; it's just that I don't know what it is."

"As I said earlier, I can't possibly be plotting anything, not in this condition." He glanced around the cell meaningfully, adding, "But of course, you're welcome to your opinions."

Elsa nodded absently, her mind already elsewhere.

Hans leaned back and laughed.

She was unsettled enough to stop going down to the dungeons, but apparently she still wanted to talk to him. He smirked when the guards unchained him and brought him out. "Where are you taking me?"

"Silence," snarled the man on his left.

They climbed the stairs, their surroundings becoming more opulent, and Hans' smirk widened. The guards stopped in front of imposing double doors and knocked. "Enter," called a voice from within.

Elsa looked up from her paperwork, eyes narrowing when she saw him. A guard pushed him forward, and he stumbled to one knee.

"Why, Your Majesty; this is an honour – "

"Don't get any strange ideas on why you're here," she said sharply, cutting across his voice. "You are here on my mercy, and you are still a prisoner of Arendelle. That will never change." With a wave of her hand, icy shackles materialized on his wrists.

"Of course," he said, and clambered to his feet, bowing low.

She continued to watch him closely; scrutinizing every movement, from the tilt of his head to the veiled emotion in his eyes. "You are here," said Elsa after a pause, "because I know you're planning something, and because of that I intend to keep a close eye on you."

"I'm sure you have other pressing matters that require your attention, Queen Elsa, and you can't spare the time to be watching my every move."

The young queen flushed. "I – of course! I'm not going to stare at you all day, you idiot."

Hans almost stumbled as the guard holding him gave his arm a rough shake, seemingly taking it upon himself to punish him on Elsa's behalf. "Of course. My humble apologies." He glanced at the chaise lounge by the fire. "May I be permitted to sit, at the very least?"

"No," she snapped.

"As you wish." He adjusted his arms the best he could, and stood straight-backed and unmoving. "Then I shall stand here, unless there is some way I may be of assistance, Your Majesty…?"

Elsa ignored him, her ears and cheeks red with embarrassment. Hans kept his expression neutral. "Very well," he said blandly.

"You can leave," said the queen over his head to the man on his right, "and you stay with him," to the guard who had pushed him. Both saluted smartly, and Hans almost rolled his eyes. They reminded of himself as a younger man, newly enrolled in the Southern Isles' navy, a fresh recruit eager to impress. Much good that enthusiasm had gotten him; even in the ranks, his brothers' influence had reached far.

Did you think you could run away, Clever Hans? came his ninth brother's mocking voice in his ears. You can't do anything right, can you?

Hold him still, Anselm. We'll show you what happens to useless brats no one wants, won't we?

Don't wear him out, Farmund; I haven't had my turn yet.

Hans shook his head, closed his eyes. When he opened them, Elsa had returned to her papers and the guard still with him hovered uncomfortably close. None of them had noticed his momentary lapse.

Close to dinner time, she dissolved her ice and instructed the guard to escort him back to his cell. "Make sure he is chained securely," she stressed, catching Hans' eye, and the guard saluted.

The next day went the same as the first. "Stay here," she instructed him as the guard shoved him into her study, "and don't move from this spot." She then dismissed the guard.

Hans glanced around the library. "Is this going to be the entirety of my imprisonment in Arendelle," he said, moving his wrists so his shackles clinked together, "live decoration in your study?" With a smirk, he added, "At least there's just one fool instead of two."

She pressed her lips together into a thin grimace. "I can't trust you to be alone down there, and yesterday proved to be awkward," Elsa admitted at length. "But I do need to keep an eye on you myself."

"I'm honoured. So is it too presumptuous of me to assume I'll be here the whole day? May I be permitted to sit, in that case?"

Elsa hesitated, and then assented. He sat on the couch, made himself comfortable. "Now, the logistics, if it please you, my queen. Am I allowed a book, at the very least? And what about when I need to relieve myself? Am I to be given leave to visit the privy?"

Elsa twitched, her gloved fingers tangling in themselves, when he mentioned the crude term. "You are allowed books. As for the other – I will... there will be a guard to accompany you if you feel the – urge, as it were."

"Excellent," he responded, expression perfectly serious, seemingly oblivious to Elsa's discomfort.

He glanced up when he heard the stifled noise of frustration. Elsa, a hand to her forehead, had the end of the pen in her mouth. A light dusting of snow covered her immediate vicinity and went unnoticed.

"Your Majesty."

She didn't respond, continuing to frown deeply at the papers in front of her.

"Queen Elsa."

Giving a start, she looked up, blinking dazedly at him as though she could not remember why she had looked up in the first place. "Oh," said Elsa. "What is it?"

In answer, he pointed to the snowflakes still drifting lazily down. "You're snowing. Are you alright?"

"Why do you care?" she snapped, and the snow grew into jagged icicles – but thawed almost immediately. "Sorry," said the queen awkwardly, her hand rubbing her upper arm nervously. "I shouldn't – you didn't deserve that. It was – "

"Apology accepted," he said firmly but politely, cutting off her rambling.

Elsa nodded. "But I'm fine. It's nothing. I'm sorry to disturb you." Her curt tone warned him against pursuing the topic. Hans pretended not to notice his breath coming in curling clouds in front of him. "Not at all," he said, blandly polite. "I was simply concerned for your well-being." He returned his attention to his book, seemingly oblivious to the strange looks she shot him now and then.

She was startled from her train of thought by her name, called repeatedly but respectfully.

"Um," he began, and Elsa was rather surprised to hear him speak in any other way but polished, "I need... I have to relieve myself."

"Oh," she said dumbly, and then her eyes widened as understanding struck. "O-of course. Let me summon a guard to escort you."

"Thank you."

The queen went outside, calling for assistance. When a castle guard marched in, staring fixedly at Hans down the bridge of his nose, Elsa waved a hand and vanished his shackles. "Oh," he commented, flexing his hands, "and here I was thinking that would be a problem."

Elsa ignored him. "Don't let him out of your sight," she said to the guard, and he snapped a salute; Hans wrinkled his nose.

Elsa sank back into her chair; surprisingly, she found it difficult to concentrate in his absence; not out of anxiety that she could not see what he was doing, but of another sort that she found puzzling.

"Your Majesty."

Elsa looked up. He stood before her, the guard at his side, holding his hands out in front of him, not actually meeting her eyes. "If you please..."

Dazedly, she waved and reformed his bonds. "You may go," she told the guard.

Hans meekly went back to his seat, letting her chain him to the fireplace, picking up his book and finding his page.

Elsa seemingly went back to her paperwork, but in actual fact was puzzling over his model behaviour. She was convinced he was up to something, and she vowed not to let her guard down until she knew what he was plotting.

She owed it to Anna.

He didn't speak until dinner, when she was walking him to the dungeons on her way to the dining hall (despite everything he had done, and how much she hated him, it seemed too cruel to leave him to starve in the library overnight). "You seem preoccupied."

The queen's eyes flicked to him, and back. "What do you mean?"

"Is something bothering you?"

"You, for starters."

He smiled thinly. "I have been taking great pains not to offend Your Majesty with my behaviour."

"No, that's exactly it." In her annoyance, she had stopped walking altogether. "Overnight, you go from openly taunting Anna and myself, to being the model of subservience. You'll forgive me if I am suspicious of your behaviour."

"You insist on my constant presence at your side," he said, "and I am really at a loss to prove to you that I have no ulterior motives." Hans chewed on his lip thoughtfully. "Why don't you just leave me in the dungeons to rot? Out of sight, out of mind."

Elsa sneered, a cold expression that, surprisingly, did not suit her at all. "You would like that, wouldn't you? Nobody breathing down your neck, watching you scheme, preventing you from playing your little mind-games with the guards."

"It's much healthier for you, Your Majesty. I'm sure you have other, more important things to do with your time."

"You would know what's best for me, wouldn't you?" she said in a horrible imitation of his silky tones.

"I like to think so."

"You wanted me dead so you could keep the crown Anna dropped in your lap," said Elsa brusquely, continuing the walk down the corridor. "I think we can leave it at that."

Hans shrugged, knowing full well she wasn't looking at him. "As it please Your Majesty."

Dinner that night was a surprisingly quiet affair, with Kristoff at the ice lake overnight, Olaf for company. The sisters' conversation (mostly Anna) had dwindled in favour of their meal, until Anna broke a long pause.

"I don't like it."

Elsa put her fork down. "Don't like what?" she asked absently, eyeing her dessert.

"The idea of him still here." Anna scowled at her plate. "You should send him away. The Southern Isles, anywhere. I don't care, as long as he's not here."

Elsa blinked. This was the first time her sister had expressed an opinion on her decision to keep Hans prisoner, and frankly, she had been worried that Anna had remained quiet for so long. If she knew that he was in her study every day…

"He'll be up to no good if he's not here, being watched." She neglected to say who was watching him.

She slammed down her utensils. "Just because he tried to take this kingdom, that doesn't make him your burden to bear, Elsa!"

The queen rose from her chair, her expression pained; Anna immediately regretted her outburst. "Elsa…"

"No, it's fine. I'm sorry, Anna. I shouldn't have rushed the decision."

"It's not your fault. I was surprised, and I… well." Anna's posture relaxed significantly, and she sighed. "You know that, right?"

"Of course I do. I just…" Elsa sighed as well. "I don't want him to hurt other people like he hurt you. I know I've been a horrible sister all these years – "

"– Elsa, no," interjected the princess. "We've talked about this. Papa and Mama did what they thought was best for us, but it wasn't. It wasn't your fault. Nothing is." Anna pushed her chair away and went to her sister. "Now I'm really concerned about you keeping Hans so close."

Elsa returned the hug half-heartedly. "You don't need to worry about me, you've spent years doing that."

"I'm your sister. I'm supposed to be worrying about you all the time."

"And as your big sister, I'm supposed to be taking care of us both so you won't have to."

Anna said nothing, her penetrating gaze boring into her sister's; finally, she nodded, and the queen let out the breath she didn't realise she'd been holding.

"... fine. I trust you, Elsa. But the instant he acts up, I'm gonna do more than punch him into the fjord, okay?"

The older woman squeezed Anna's hands. "I won't let him hurt you again. I promise."

"Don't just promise me that." The princess' eyes bored into Elsa's. "Promise me you won't let him hurt you too. I know what he's capable of and I - I don't want you to go through what I did."

"I promise."

In truth, as the princess flung her arms around Elsa's neck, she was more worried about her sister being hurt than herself; after all, she had emerged mostly unscathed from her engagement with a valuable lesson learnt.

Elsa decided to break the news about Hans at a later date.

"Hello, Anna," said Hans without looking up from his dinner.

She scowled. "How'd you know it was me?"

"I assume Elsa told you I was down here, and you'd want to talk with me regarding the terms of my, uh, imprisonment." He glanced up. "You didn't tell her you were coming down here?" He had guessed the princess was yet unaware of his daily imprisonment in Elsa's study, and hid a secret smirk.

Anna's scowl deepened. "Honestly, I don't know why Elsa hasn't shipped you off to the most remote place she could think of. You're really, really annoying. She knows what you're capable of – "

"Does she really?"

"What?"

Hans smiled. "It was only you and I having that little chat in the study, my dear Anna. I can confide to you that no one living has seen that side of me. Right now – of course – I'm not as frank with your sister as I am with you now."

"Then you are two people in one," said Anna triumphantly, "or more accurately, you're a two-faced jerk."

"Language."

"I'll say whatever I like."

Hans inclined his head. "By all means."

"Anyway, I'm not here to argue with you." Anna folded her arms across her chest. "I'm just here to let you know that I've got my eye on you."

"Such an honour, enjoying the close attentions of both the Queen and Crown Princess of Arendelle." Hans added a leer and wink just to remind her of the innuendo in that statement.

"Keep that up, and I will punch you again," she said. "I know you're up to something and so does Elsa, but for some reason she wants to keep you around and I trust her decision. But I'm watching you, Hans, and if you do anything to hurt Elsa…"

"I'm sure you have something painful in store for me."

"Do you think this is a joke?"

"Certainly not," he said quietly. "This is anything but a joke."

Twice a week, Elsa held meetings with her council. She left him to his own devices while she spoke with them, and Hans had mixed feelings towards that; on one hand, he was free to do as he pleased – limited, of course, to the confines of his shackles and the library. On the other hand, he noticed a pattern in which her absences grew longer, and her appearance grew increasingly haggard.

"Your Majesty?"

She was deep in thought, and didn't notice until he practically shouted at her. "What?" she snapped.

"You look tired. Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"As well as I could, given the state of the council," she began hotly, but then bit her lip as though she had said too much. "... It's none of your business."

"... I understand."

The look on his face when he was dismissed was so blank and unperturbed, Elsa spent a sleepless night puzzling out what was on his mind.

"Elsa, I insist you come out with me today. I won't take no for an answer."

"I have a lot of work to do. I can't possibly leave it all. Maybe another day, Anna…"

"That's what you said yesterday, and the day before that... Come on. We can have a nice picnic, just the two of us, and all the chocolate Gerda will let us get away with – "

"Anna. Please. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"… Okay."

"You think you're so clever, don't you?"

Hans jumped a little at being addressed so suddenly and bluntly. "Your Majesty?"

Elsa glared at him, her eyes heavily ringed and blue-black, exhaustion written into the new lines of her face. "I have had it up to here with your games."

"I'm not doing anything – "

Ice crackled loudly around her arms, and he shut his mouth.

"Nothing you say can deter me," said the queen quietly, her words dripping with venom. "I know you are planning something. I won't let you hurt Anna again."

He bit his lip, his eyes darting left and right; he had noticed she hadn't been sleeping well for the past week, but he hadn't anticipated how bad it really was. "My queen. Please. You're exhausted, you don't know what you're saying – "

Her hand flashed out, and caught his sleeve. It stiffened, and he knew it had frozen over.

"I won't fall for it again," mumbled Elsa. "I won't be taken in by your lies like Anna was – I know you too well for that – you nearly took Anna from me – "

Her gaze flickered, then glazed over; she pitched forward into his hastily outstretched arms. "Guards!" Hans roared, his shackles clanking together furiously as he struggled to lift her in his arms. The sound became increasingly sloppy as the ice started to melt.

Anna refused to leave Elsa's bedside for the entire time she was sick, he heard. Hans didn't know for sure; he was in the dungeons the entire time.

He bit his lip, swallowing his anger and impatience with the dry bread and cold water the guards brought him.

News trickled slowly down to where he sat. She was ill with a fever that was alarmingly high, even by normal standards, and Hans knew that couldn't be good for an ice queen. Several times they had feared for her life. But after one panic-stricken night the fever had finally broken, and she began the slow road to recovery under Anna's loving care.

And still he waited.

It was thirteen days of incarceration before the guard came for him – the irony had not escaped him. Hans had kept count of sunrises by scratching marks on the wood of his pallet bed. His heart hammered with mingled excitement and trepidation as he walked the familiar path.

"Elsa, you shouldn't be out of bed yet," said a familiar voice as they approached the double doors. The guard knocked, and the heated discussion stopped.

Elsa, looking the same as always – maybe a little paler, the shadows on her face more pronounced – sat at her desk, her hands out of sight. He presumed they were neatly folded in her lap. What was different was the additional layers of clothing that was bundled on her, including a magenta cape he recognised as belonging to Anna.

The princess herself had pulled up a chair beside her sister, thinner and paler herself. The sharp look she shot him when he entered, however, assured Hans that her spirit and hatred for him was undiminished; increased, even. It was clear, from the sharp look that was now directed at Elsa, that Anna now knew about his recent incarceration in Elsa's study, and she was less than happy at finding out so late. Elsa's eyes remained fixed ahead.

Hans bowed low, making his perfunctory greetings to the royal family. "You look well, Your Majesty," he lied. She had a faint air of fatigue around her person, like her illness was now a permanent part of her.

"As do you," she replied with unusual sarcasm. He bared his teeth in a parody of a grin to let her know it had not gone unnoticed.

"I look as well as a damp cell and bread and water will allow a man to be."

"I think my illness has had the same effect." She waved a hand, and the familiar weight of the shackles rested on his wrists. "You know where to go." The queen glanced at the mountains of paperwork awaiting her attention as though he wasn't there anymore and sighed. Anna leaned in, whispering urgently. His lip curled, but he obediently sat as the sisters conducted their conversation in hushed tones. The book he had been reading when Elsa had collapsed was still on the low table, and Hans settled it in his lap.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Anna sigh and kiss her sister's cheek before leaving the library.

After a period, Anna stopped spending her days in Elsa's study. It was before one of the queen's council meetings, and Hans was reading quietly.

"– she shouldn't be up yet – "

Hans paused, and pricked up his ears. His book was set to one side, forgotten, and he moved as close to the door as his chains would allow.

"– been doing too much – "

"– wondered if a woman could rule a kingdom, by the gods – "

"– frail woman at that – look at her recent illness – and with those strange powers –"

He shrugged. The murmurings were nothing new; they were to be expected, even, of a small and traditional kingdom set in the old ways like Arendelle. Hans was only surprised that he had not heard them sooner. The voices soon grew louder as the councilmen's discussion became heated, much to his delight.

"We haven't had a female monarch since Queen Margaret, and with good reason, if you ask me."

"And her reign has had no end of bad luck; freezing over the kingdom, and that usurper prince nearly killing her and her sister both."

"I've heard that she keeps him imprisoned in her study."

"Not her boudoir?"

"What are you doing?" Elsa's sharp voice cut through his thoughts, and he straightened, heart hammering from what he had just heard. "Your Majesty."

"You know you're not supposed to be there."

"Forgive me, I was – "

"Wilhelm." His regular guard nodded. "Escort the prisoner back to his cell."

Hans looked as though he would say something, but decided against it. Elsa shot him a glance out of the corner of her eye; dismissing him to the back of her mind, she opened the double doors to her council room.

If it was possible, she looked even more exhausted the next time he saw her. Hans' face remained perfectly expressionless even as he looked up to acknowledge her presence.

She glided past him like a ghost, her pale hair and paler complexion completing the picture. Even her teal eyes – the same shade as Anna's eyes – looked washed out, where the princess shone with health and energy. With her sister's cloak draped around her shoulders, the bright magenta only emphasized her lack of vitality.

Elsa – or her shade – picked up her pen and began to write mechanically. He stared at her for a good long time but she was oblivious to him.

Hans would have left it at that, returning to his book, if it wasn't for the low muffled sound that filled the silent library. He glanced up.

Her pen lay forgotten on the papers. Elsa's face was hidden in both her hands; Anna's cloak had slipped from shaking shoulders. Sharp crackling noises diverted his attention from the young queen, and he glanced down to see the shackles grow in size, little jagged icicles sprouting from the curved surfaces. Hans grimaced as some grazed his skin, drawing warm blood.

"Your Majesty?" he called. She appeared not to hear him.

He was glad she had left his feet free. Dragging his chains with him gingerly, careful not to aggravate the wounds, Hans made his way to her desk, where a snowstorm was beginning to brew.

"My queen."

Through her slender gloved fingers he could see her lips move, and he leaned in closer to catch the words.

"I tried so hard Father Mother I can't I can't rule Arendelle I can't protect Anna I hurt her I hurt them all so tired…"

"My queen," he said again, sharper this time. Elsa continued to repeat the words like a prayer, over and over again.

Gritting his teeth, he risked everything he had left on a gamble; he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Elsa," he said, and her name felt rusty on his tongue.

That got her attention. "Wh-what… Hans!" She shrank back from him violently, sending papers fluttering to the floor.

Hans held out his manacled hands. "The shackles, Your Majesty," he said, his voice calm and steady, "they're cutting me."

"I – I'm so sorry!" A flick of her trembling wrist dissolved the icy chains, and he turned his palms over, inspecting the cuts left on his skin. "It's alright," he said distantly, with a quick smile. "No lasting harm done."

She flinched visibly, and he knew his barb had hit home. "I didn't mean to – I'm sorry – I tried – "

"– Elsa. Stop that." She was shocked into silence mid-mumble, and he knelt before her so he could look up into her face.

"You didn't mean to. This isn't your fault."

"But I – "

"You didn't mean to hurt me. You're under a lot of stress, it was an accident." His voice was low and soothing, the tone he employed for calming skittish horses, and Hans found its use now strangely appropriate. But she still shied away from him, shaking her head, her arms gripping each other with a vehemence that almost worried him. Hans sensed that she was at a critical point; he could continue to coax her, or he could give in and call for Anna. He was risking life and limb, seeing how she had frozen Anna's heart – and she wasn't as emotionally unstable then! – when Anna had pressed her too far. If it were to go wrong, he would be dead.

But if he were to succeed… Elsa would be dependent on him, not Anna. He would own her, body and soul, in ways forbidden to her sister. She would be his. It was too dangerous to gamble on an outcome. She was at the end of her rope, physically weakened, mentally fragile.

Elsa's mouth moved, and he gave a start; for every second he spent agonising over his decision she changed, and if he acted too late the balances would tip –

"An – "

"– Elsa."

Her eyes widened. He was gripping her hands, easing them away from their tight grip, bringing them up to his chest, pressing them to his heart. Tendrils of frost curled over his shirt; she gave a strangled cry and tried to tear them away, but he held on.

"Hans, what are you – "

His green eyes bored into hers unblinkingly. "You won't hurt me. I trust you."

Tears rolled down her cheeks but she stopped fighting him.

"Right now, I know you don't believe that – goodness knows you have no reason to. But I want you to know, Elsa, that you're not a monster. You're not alone. You have Anna, and you have me." Hans' lip twitched. "Despite my current circumstances, our... complicated, relationship."

"Anna," she whispered, looking horrified. He squeezed her hands.

"I'm well aware things between us now are complicated. But I believe in you and your magic. You never wanted to hurt anyone, right? You only wanted to keep them safe."

Slowly, painfully, she nodded.

"None of the things that happened were your fault. You didn't mean to hurt anyone, Elsa, and that makes all the difference." He squeezed her hands again, his thumbs rubbing over her skin, and felt the chill began to leave them. "Even I can see that."

Her thin frame shook uncontrollably. He let her snatch back a hand, and she pressed it to her mouth.

"I know. I understand. It's alright. It's not your fault."

He waited until she lifted her gaze to meet his before smiling as gently as he could.

"See, Elsa? Everything's fine." Hans let go, spreading his hands to show they were unharmed. "I'm fine."

A tiny nod.

His smile widened.

She did go to find Anna eventually, and he did return to his cell eventually, but the connection had been made and the beginnings of a bond forged.

The next time Hans was called up to Elsa's study, he was only mildly surprised that she pretended as though nothing had happened. Anna's presence was also another factor he had anticipated. She was perched on the desk at Elsa's side, in the middle of an anecdote when she caught sight of him.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness," he said stiffly, bowing and nodding to them respectively. Elsa ignored him, whereas Anna shot him her usual dark glare. Hans averted his eyes and sat in his usual seat. "Your Majesty…" he began, holding out his wrists.

"They won't be necessary from now on," answered Elsa without looking up, and Hans blinked. "I… see." He stood and bowed. "Thank you."

Elsa's eyes remained fixed on the papers in front of her, even as Anna spluttered.

Hans' downcast eyes hid a smirk of victory.

"Wilhelm, wait a moment."

Hans and his escort paused. "Princess Anna?" asked the man. He had straw-blonde hair and an open, honest face.

She smiled at him. "I just want to speak with Hans for a few moments. Do you mind…?"

"Oh, not at all!" The smile vanished from the guard's face. "Not alone of course – "

" – of course not." She pointed to the end of the hallway, within sight but safely out of earshot. "We'll just be over there, and you can come get him when I say so."

"As you wish, Princess."

She seized Hans' elbow and yanked him over, and for a moment it seemed like nothing had happened between them. But as she pushed him against the wall, Anna's eyes were hard and cold like the ice she had been.

"So," she began.

"What is it that's so important you had to speak with me away from your sister?" Hans asked, equally coldly; with her, he could drop all pretence and aggravate her as he wished, but she was having none of it.

"You know very well what I need to speak to you about." She brushed back a lock of hair on her right, and he recalled that it had been white before she had thawed. "The game you're playing with Elsa – that you tried with me – it's not going to work."

His eyebrows rose into his fringe. "I have no idea what you're talking about," exclaimed Hans indignantly.

"Yeeeah, we'll skip the back-and-forth of accusations and denial, shall we? I haven't got the time, patience, or naivety for that," she snorted. "You're taking advantage of Elsa."

"I'm not taking advantage of your sister. I am merely providing the support and understanding that she seems to be sorely lacking of late."

Anna sneered. "Support and understanding? Lacking? Since when?"

"Being queen is quite a burden - of course, I don't expect you to understand," he said smoothly.

She pouted. "Elsa knows she always has me. I'll always be there for her."

Hans shrugged. "That she does." He was winning so easily it bored him, but it seemed that Anna wasn't even aware they were competing - in spite of all her strong words and bravado. He smoothed out his expression into a perfectly bland court expression. Anna pulled a face.

"Don't you get tired of playing at being the perfect prince, Hans? You don't have to pretend with me – I've seen your true colours."

He smiled, inclining his head. "The role gets quite comfortable over time, Princess."

"Anyway. Back to the point." She poked a finger in his chest. "I would do anything to protect Elsa." Anna gripped the front of his shirt. "She still insists on keeping you in sight, which is a really bad idea and I told her so, but she says it's fine and better still because she can nip it in the bud and whatever, and I don't want to fight with her again."

"The epitome of sisterly trust," commented Hans blandly, risking her ire. "Anyway, it's not like I can do anything to someone who can freeze me before I can say a word."

"Nothing obvious like, oh, trying to chop us into half when we're not looking. The sneaky underhanded stuff, of course. Elsa wouldn't underestimate you, and neither will I." She yanked his face down so she could stare into his eyes without craning her neck. "I'm watching you. And I know who you really are."

Hans only smirked. "You do, do you?"

But she had already let go of him, turning away to shout for Wilhelm, disappearing around the corner without a second glance. He scowled. Anna was a hindrance, but certainly not a major setback in his machinations, despite her bluster.

He would have to manage somehow.

In the end, Hans found that the most potent weapon in his arsenal was time and patience. Anna was present each day in the study, alternating between chatting with Elsa and sending death glares in his direction; unfazed, he flipped the pages of Kant's treatise and continued reading. The Arendellian collection was really quite varied. He suspected Elsa had curated it, and had to admire her taste in reading material.

"If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, Your Highness, but maybe you could give Her Majesty a break?"

Anna frowned. "Wait, what? That's none of your business."

Elsa paid no attention to Hans; she smiled fondly at her sister, but it was strained at the edges. "You're usually out at this time, Anna. Where's Olaf?"

"He's wandered off. Kristoff's making deliveries with Sven. But that's not important." She folded her arms, swinging her feet. The queen winced as Anna's feet thudded and scuffed the desk. "I'm spending time with my sister."

"And so you are," said Elsa diplomatically.

"Here, let me help..."

"You don't need to - I'll be done soon."

Anna sighed, but relinquished the stack of parchment.

Soon enough, Anna talked less and stared out the window more, and she fidgeted with the hem of her dress constantly. When she did talk to Elsa, it was frivolous, and she was quick to argue. Hans pretended to be oblivious.

She reached her breaking point after one week.

"Anna," said Elsa with a touch of asperity as her younger sister paced the room for the umpteenth time after a discussion about chocolate turned into an argument, "why don't you go outside? You could meet Kristoff or something."

She halted mid-stride, mouth falling open to retort – but then she glanced at Hans' quietly triumphant face, then the weariness in Elsa's expression, and stayed silent.

The queen read Anna's hesitation correctly. "If it's about Hans, I – " she began with a frown.

"N-no, it's not. It's just – it looks like it could rain, and I don't want to get my new dress wet."

It was a poor excuse, and Hans smirked – an especially cold one reserved for Anna – before returning to his book. Anna's cheeks burned hot; Elsa chewed on her lip.

"You've been cooped up in here with me for the whole week," she said tactfully, "and I know you've been waiting years for the gates to open, and..."

Anna crossed the room to Elsa's side. "I have, but it's not the same without you. I mean, we've only just got to know each other after years of separation, and now your powers are under control." She reached for Elsa's hand. "Come out with us."

The queen hesitated – and drew her hand back. "Anna, I-I'm sorry, but I have a lot of work to do…"

"Please."

Elsa looked as though she was retreating into herself, her posture shrinking and her arms wrapped around her elbows. "I'm sorry."

Anna looked devastated. "No, it's okay." Her hand fell limply to her side. "I just – I thought the door was open and things were, you know, different."

"Things are different, Anna. But I have responsibilities to Arendelle too."

"I know."

There was a pause, but Hans kept his eyes trained on his book. "Fine," said Anna's voice at last, heavy with disappointment. "I'll see you later tonight for dinner?"

"Of course."

He only allowed himself to look up when the door had slammed shut. "Your Majesty?" he asked, the picture of innocence.

"What is it?" she said tiredly, resting her head in one hand.

"… No, nothing."

When growing up in the Southern Isles, Hans used to go fishing when he wanted some time away from the intrigue and artificiality of the court. He had caught many kinds of fish in different types of waters.

Like people, fishes had varying levels of intelligence; from the foolish minnows that he could scoop up with a net as they frolicked around his ankles midstream, to the wary pike that lurked in the deep, stagnant waters.

He had found them nigh impossible to catch in the beginning. The large and cunning fishes always stole his bait, and sometimes made off with his good hooks in the bargain. After a particularly frustrating afternoon in which he had wasted an ounce of good bait and with nothing to show for it, he'd paid an old fisherman for the secret to catching the elusive pike.

"You need patience, above all," explained the man over a pint of ale, "for catching a pike is a long and tedious process. You throw out your line and offer him the bait, but let him take it. He is a ferocious fighter when his suspicions are aroused, and you will not win this fight, young man."

"Day by day, come back and offer him the bait, but day by day, bring him a little closer. Vary your offerings, if you want. Make sure he doesn't suspect the hook hiding in the morsel."

"It will be slow going. There will be some days when he doesn't want the bait, or is not in his lair. There will be days where other fish will take your bait. But if you are patient, one day you will find he has strayed from the safety of his lair into your territory, and when he bites, the struggle will be fierce but short, because he trusted you, and you tricked him."

It took him a week to catch his first pike, and Hans found the strategy to work with people too.

Dinner, he heard, was a stilted affair. He had his ways of finding things out despite being confined in his cell. Which meant, of course, that he had to feign perfect ignorance the next day when he was ushered into Elsa's study. "Your Majesty," he said, nodding deferentially.

Elsa barely looked up. Shrugging, Hans thanked Wilhelm, who was accompanying him, and sat down.

He waited out the few minutes of loaded silence perfectly before remarking, "Is Princess Anna not here today?"

The queen flinched. "No."

"I see." Hans returned to his book, and the page he had been perusing for the past week. "She's with her young man, then?"

"Perhaps. I don't know." Ice, he noted, was beginning to creep over her desk and she had yet to notice; her hands, white-knuckled, were splayed over the frozen wood.

"Your Majesty? Are you alright?" he said soothingly, putting down his book. "Do you need me to – "

"Stay away!" Hans ducked as an icicle narrowly missed his head. Elsa jerked her hand back as though it had been burnt, her eyes filled with fear. "I – I'm sorry, I didn't mean to – "

" – it's not your fault," murmured Hans. Both his palms were extended towards her as he braved the rapidly dropping temperatures. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me. I understand. But Elsa, you need to calm down."

Her gaze dropped to her hands, to the gloves of ice that were forming rapidly, before she hid them from him.

"Please leave," said Elsa, voice wavering, "now."

Hans ignored her. Surging forward, he wrapped his arms around her, oblivious to her flinch of terror and the searing cold that burned his skin. It was a miracle she hadn't frozen his heart, and he knew she was thinking the same thing as she began to cry quietly. Her fingers gripped his shirt with enough force to alarm him, but he didn't care.

She was that much closer to him.

When Elsa had dozed off into a fitful sleep in his arms, he had carried her to his usual chaise lounge and walked over to the window, drawing back the curtain enough to peep through.

Anna, in the company of her burly peasant, talking snowman, and reindeer, chattered merrily as she left the castle. Hans watched her go, savouring her defeat, of which she was still completely oblivious to.

"Rest well, my queen," he crooned, walking over to Elsa and brushing her hair away from her eyes.

"Do you think Anna's been acting strange of late?"

She stared blankly at him, taking a while to come back from tariffs and tradable goods. Hans leaned over the desk. They had progressed from his chains on the sofa, to a chair pulled up to her desk when they were alone. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, I didn't mean to imply anything untoward," he said hastily, "I was simply commenting she hasn't been her usual self."

"She was as talkative as always at mealtimes." She furrowed her brow, her big-sister instincts going into overdrive, equal amounts of guilt and love powering her memories. "She spent the rest of the day out with Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven."

"She hasn't been to see you lately."

"I'm busy anyway," she told him, even as a tiny tendril of sadness sank into her heart and stayed there; he could see it in those large, transparent teal eyes.

He smiled and nodded politely. The idea was planted.

"I don't mean to alarm you, Your Majesty, but there seems to be something going on with your council."

The day was bright and cheerful, a rare one for Arendelle's northern climate, but Elsa had drawn the heavy curtains so the room matched her mood. "What's wrong with my council?" she snapped.

He raised both hands, palms-up, in a placating gesture. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but I believe they fear you."

"So what else is new? Day in, day out, I spend more of my time dealing with their politics and insinuations rather than getting anything important done. I just…" She chewed nervously on her bottom lip, arms already wrapping around herself and clutching her elbows. Her mouth worked soundlessly.

He set his book down and moved to her, touching her upper arms. She flinched.

"I'm only here for you, Elsa," he crooned soothingly. "I owe everything to you. Don't be afraid of me." His ungloved hands cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking lightly – a bold move, even for him. "Don't shut me out."

A whimper escaped her lips. She clung to him like a drowning woman to a bit of debris, hoping it would float. Hans stroked her hair, murmuring empty but sweet words of comfort in her ear, secretly gloating over this small victory.

"Elsa?"

She wasn't anywhere. He walked all over the castle, searching for her. From the unnatural chill that hung over the place, he guessed something had happened with her powers.

Hans decided he would find Anna first.

No one gave him a second glance as he wandered freely through the hallways; idly, the young man wondered if it was Elsa's doing. Lost in thought, he nearly bumped into Anna as she walked around the corner.

"You!"

"Princess Anna."

She looked terrible. A shawl was draped around her shoulders, hands tucked under her arms, and her complexion was milky-white, the freckles on her face standing out in stark relief. Anna tottered from the collision, and automatically he reached out to steady her.

"You," she said again, trying to push him away weakly, "what are you doing out of your cell?"

"I haven't been required to be in it recently, nor do I require constant supervision, in case you haven't noticed," answered Hans smugly. Anna, however, paid no attention to his deliberately provocative tone, a faraway look in her eyes. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."

"Know what?"

The princess pushed past him, suppressing a shiver, and continued on her way. Hans was left to process what had happened; when he put the pieces together, a slow, predatory smile spread across his face.

It had occurred to him where he should look.

Based on Anna's stories, he easily found the white door decorated with blue snowflakes. He frowned, noting the worn paint towards the right, in patches starting low and ending just about shoulder-height.

"Elsa?"

He tapped on the door; it swung open.

She sat on her bed, curled up in a tight bundle of misery.

"Oh, Elsa." Hans walked closer, suddenly aware of how cold it was inside, and that his boots crunched in layers of pristine snow. "Are you alright? What happened?"

She appeared not to hear him.

He sat on the frozen-stiff bed beside her, reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder. Elsa flinched, a choked whimper escaping her lips. "Please," she muttered, "don't touch me, I can't – "

"You won't hurt me," he said firmly. "You won't hurt anyone."

"I've hurt Anna."

"I'm not Anna."

His hands gripped her arms, gently pulling them away from herself. "Come here."

She did, reluctantly, slowly – it was still an improvement from the days he would practically force her into a hug. She pressed her ear to his chest, just as his arms enveloped her in his warmth.

"Do you trust me?"

Her voice wavered. "Hans, I – "

"Because I trust you, Elsa. I know you would never hurt me on purpose, hurt anyone at all. I believe in you. I – " He pretended to stumble on his words and fall silent.

She took the bait. "Hans?"

"Forgive me."

"What is it?" Elsa pulled away a little, frowning slightly.

"I – no, I shouldn't, please forget it," pleaded Hans, injecting as much stiltedness into his words as possible.

"I won't think any worse of you. Please tell me." A shadow crossed her face, and she bit her lip. "If it's about my powers – "

"No! It has nothing to do with them. I think they're wonderful. I just – " His eyes darted to the door. "I should go."

"Hans – "

He left hastily, muttering excuses under his breath, only disappearing when he was absolutely certain her fullest attention was on him.

The next time, he let her come to him, to make sure she had taken the bait.

They were seated at her desk, Hans drafting a letter she was dictating to him and offering the occasional question. He was cautious to minimize eye contact; on the rare occasion their eyes met, he was the first to look away.

"Hans."

Her directness was surprising but not wholly unexpected. Hans glanced at her. "My queen?"

"Is there – is something wrong?"

"N-no, nothing at all – "

"You've been avoiding me," she said firmly. "Well, as much as is possible anyway. And the other day in my room…"

Hans lowered his gaze. "I must ask you to forget that it ever happened, Your Majesty," said the young man quietly. "That was a grave mistake, and I should have never let it happen. Forgive me."

When he stole a glance at her, he could see she was torn between curiosity and her natural reserve - as well as a hint of something else quite different.

Her hand rested on his, butterfly-light, and Hans blinked.

"Do you trust me?" The question was soft, hesitant, and he could see how nervous she was.

"Yes."

"Then tell me."

This was it. His chance.

"I… I love you."

As he had painstakingly calculated, the guard knocked to announce his arrival, startling Elsa. Hans stumbled to his feet, face flushed. "I - excuse me, Your Majesty." She let him go without a word, eyes staring blankly ahead, a slow flush starting over her pale features.

Hans smirked as he went.

Elsa was unusually skittish and prone to blushing, especially when he looked directly at her.

Anna, on the other hand, glowered more and smiled less.

He was delighted with how things were progressing.

It was Elsa who made the first move almost exactly seven months after her coronation, much to Hans' surprise; he hadn't anticipated the bold streak in her.

The hour at which he would be sent back to his cell grew later still, until they had dinner brought up to them in the library, and the sun had long since set.

"Hans?"

He smiled at her. "Yes, Queen Elsa?"

"That day…"

"Which one?" he asked, knowing perfectly well what she was talking about.

"When you said that you – loved me," she began, stumbling over the word.

Hans knew it was a game, and yet, as he heard her say it, a genuine flush spread over his face. "I know it's presumptuous, and I'm sorry, but I – "

She held up a hand. "No, don't – Hans, I… I think I might feel the same way." Elsa bit her lip, and hot dark desire surged in his chest.

"What?"

"I know I shouldn't feel this way about you – not after what you did – but I do." Hot tears spilled down her cheeks but Elsa made no attempt to wipe them away.

"Elsa?" He didn't wait for an answer, simply wrapping her in his arms. This time, instead of merely holding her, his hands stroked her hair, pushing her fringe away from her face. "There's nothing wrong with you," said Hans forcefully. "Don't you dare blame yourself for this." His thumbs brushed her cheeks, and he could feel her shudder. "It's my fault; I should have never let this slip –"

"And then what?" snapped Elsa with sudden heat. "You would have concealed it for the rest of your life?"

"It's the only way to protect you!"

His lip twisted at the irony; she interpreted the gesture differently. "Protect me?" she echoed incredulously, pushing away to stare at him. "From who?"

"Me."

"D-don't be ridiculous. If anything… I should be protecting you from me." The young queen's voice cracked on the last word.

"Elsa, that's nonsense. You're not a monster, and you have never been one."

"I don't know anything anymore." She turned from him, making to pull away from his embrace –

Before her thoughts could stray to darker realms, Hans caught her face in his hands and kissed her.

After a long heartbeat, she kissed him back.

Elsa's eyes were hazy when Hans pulled away. "I," she began, and blushed. He smiled fondly, brushing her lower lip with the pad of his thumb, and her blush intensified.

They did nothing more after that – Elsa was still too fearful, too overwhelmed – but Hans knew it was only a matter of time.

"Elsa," he said one afternoon as they sat on the plush windowseat, his arms wrapped around her waist, her back against his chest, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For everything I've done. I – I've been despicable. Perfectly evil. I can only try to atone for the sins I've committed, living with this burden every day." His ungloved hand fumbled for hers and he tangled their fingers together.

"What are you saying?" said Elsa, half-laughing, turning in his embrace, her fingers slipping from his. She cupped his face in both her hands. "Hans, I know we haven't had the easiest time, but you can't live in the past." Her lip twitched. "You've told me that often enough."

"You're different." Hans pushed back a lock of hair that had fallen out of her waterfall braid. "Everything you've done, it doesn't come close to what I did. What I nearly did. Elsa, I..." He paused, mouth slightly open. Her thumb traced the line of his cheekbone. "Nearly did. I'm still here, and so is Anna," said Elsa, her eyes focused on the movement of her thumb.

He caught her hand and pressed it to his lips, forcing her to look up. "Because you believed in me."

"Because I... love you."

It was the first time she had said it, and he smiled at the ensuing blush. "I love you too, Elsa. More than I can ever express." He tipped her chin upwards so he could kiss her, and she responded eagerly, fingers threading through his hair, sloppy yet enthusiastic.

He surged forward and took control of the kiss. Despite having his back pressed to the wall, Hans moved forward and she yielded. He lay her on the windowseat.

"Hans – " began Elsa, pushing feebly at his chest, but he started trailing kisses down her neck and her protests dissolved into soft gasps.

As her walls towards him came tumbling down, Hans was careful to make sure she rebuilt those facing the outside world, and that he was safely inside.

He, after all, had to replace Anna as the centre of her universe.

When she stormed from her council meeting, icicles marking her trail, Hans was at her side instantly. "Elsa, did something happen? What's wrong?" Her icy defences melted away to allow him access, and she buried her face in his chest. "I can't trust anyone," she confessed. "It's crazy, but..."

"No, it's not, Elsa." In the circle of his arms, he felt her relax and sag against him. Hans pressed a kiss to her temple and combed out her braid with his fingers, knowing how much she loved it when he touched her hair. "Forget your council. They're just a bunch of dusty old men." Standing in between me and your power, he added mentally.

"Hans!" Elsa laughed, hitting him lightly. "They served Father before me."

"That doesn't automatically make them the best men for the job. You are not your father, Elsa." He was massaging her shoulders lightly, and she sighed as the tension began to bleed out of them.

Her furrowed brow gave way to a wicked smirk. "You wouldn't be touching my father like this, would you?"

"Okay, that is truly a disturbing thought." Hans turned her around, his thumbs pressing into the muscles of her back. "No, this is awkward. Let's sit down." He made for the chaise lounge, but her hand catching the edge of his shirt stopped him.

"Elsa?"

"Not there," she said, looking anywhere but at him, her cheeks crimson with embarrassment. "Maybe… we could talk in my room?"

It took him a moment to fully comprehend, and then Hans smiled.

"… Of course, Elsa. As you wish."

She only nodded, biting her lip, looking unsure of herself and more nervous than she had been in recent memory. Sticky hot lust boiled at his insides. Hans settled for bowing to her, every inch the courtly gentleman, and letting her lead the way.

He pretended not to see her hand trembling on the doorknob or feel her other hand growing cold in his.

The prince closed the door and locked it – they would not be disturbed. "Nice room," he said silkily. Elsa merely nodded.

Without preamble, he patted the bed. She sat. "Relax," he crooned, resuming his massage, refocusing his attention on her spine. Elsa sighed with pleasure.

"I can't believe how tense I've been over these few days." The queen leaned forward on her pillows, pushing her braid out of his way. "I – oh, yes, right there."

Hans' thumbs circled the knot in her back, gently but firmly easing the tight muscles. Now and then he allowed his fingers to graze exposed skin, as if by accident, relishing the involuntary sounds she made. Gradually he felt her grow tense again.

"Elsa? Is something wrong? Am I hurting you?" he asked innocently.

Her answer was to surge upwards, eyes dark, and kissing him passionately. Hans moaned into her mouth, letting her arms wrap around his neck, letting himself fall on the bed. "Elsa," he groaned, and abruptly the spell broke.

She drew back, eyes wide with embarrassment. "Hans – I'm sorry, I – " Ice was beginning to spread over the room, and he ignored it.

"Elsa." He reached out and she darted away, fumbling with the lock; it took several tries to unlock it because it was slippery with ice.

"Please go. I'm sorry."

He rose stiffly and walked over to where she stood, shaking and refusing to meet his eyes. "Elsa – "

"Just go!"

Hans firmed his jaw and left. The door crackled behind him, ice freezing it shut, warping the wood.

Although she had made significant progress, Elsa was still a long way from being able to give herself to her passions; Hans was determined to assist the process as much as possible, and continue making her fall in love with him.

He had had plenty of experience with other girls - not even including the Princess Anna - with varying degrees of success, but this time the stakes were so much higher.

His hand was on the door of Elsa's study when the angry voice from within made him pause.

" – too much freedom!"

Elsa's reply was inaudible. Her companion snorted loudly.

"He isn't your prisoner anymore, Elsa. I know."

Hans listened carefully, secretly thrilling.

"You what? You – I can't believe you! He tried to kill you!"

Before Elsa could finish talking, the other person cut in angrily: "No, he hasn't changed at all. He's a manipulative liar; he was right from the start, and he always will be… I thought you knew better than that."

Footsteps grew louder, and the former prince was quick to move back as the door flew open and Anna stormed out. Hans waited until she had rounded the corner and her angry sobs had faded before entering.

"Elsa, are you alright?"

She knelt, in the same position she had been in on the frozen fjord, heartbreak and despair etched into her features. "Anna," she said brokenly, "Anna."

"Elsa. Shhhh, I'm here." Hans stooped to gather her into his arms, rocking her like a child. "I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere."

Gradually her sobs ebbed away into nothing. He stood up, clutching Elsa to him. She squeaked. "Put me down, I'm perfectly capable of walking!"

He did. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insinuate otherwise."

"… I know. I'm sorry too." Elsa buried her face in his chest. "I just – "

"You don't need to explain anything," he said carefully, and felt her stiffen. "I understand."

"… Thank you."

She was cool to him for the next few days, and he knew it was Anna's influence. Elsa was still listening to her sister's fears.

Hans remembered the exact moment he had won, and Anna had lost.

He had arrived in Elsa's study as usual (from the room she had given him, and not his cell), and raised feminine voices from within told him that a battle was being waged. Hans knew better than to interrupt. Anna and Elsa didn't even glance at him as he entered.

"Just tell me the truth!" raged Anna, her hands balled into tight rigid fists.

"It's already obvious – "

"I know it is! I just want you to say it to my face." Her lip quivered. "I deserve that, at the very least."

Elsa did not sob helplessly; she did not stretch her arms out to Anna, seeking her sister's love and comfort. Instead she straightened her back, tear tracks still glinting on her cheeks, her expression going cold. "Fine. Anna, Hans and I are together. I love him – " the queen glanced at Hans, smiling briefly "– and he loves me."

Anna glared at him, her eyes equal parts anguish and fury. "How can you be sure? Elsa, he tried to kill you!"

"I trust him." She crossed the room and took his hand. Hans offered her a soft smile, squeezing her fingers. "He's changed."

"It's all a lie. Everything he says is a lie." The princess pointed a shaking finger at Hans. "I know he's planning something – Elsa, you should know what he did to me, he's doing it again to you."

"Are you even listening to yourself, Anna? You keep repeating the same old tired arguments." Elsa closed her eyes; when she opened them again, they were filled with a weary pity. "I love him," she said simply.

Anna's mouth opened and closed soundlessly. All colour drained from her face as she turned and fled from the room.

The queen's breakdown was more composed, but she crumpled against Hans, and he held her as her body shook with harsh sobs.

In the wee hours, he heard urgent footsteps in the corridor. Hans, fully-dressed, calmly put aside his book and lit more candles in anticipation of his visitor.

Anna didn't break stride as she flung his door open and seized him by the front of his jacket; she was strong, and he felt the thick fabric tighten over his chest, choking him.

"Stop it," she whispered, and abruptly burst into tears. He took advantage of her distraction to free himself; immaculately gloved hands brushed out the wrinkles in his lapels.

"Stop what?"

"Taking Elsa from me."

Hans shook his head slowly. "You selfish, selfish little brat," he said calmly, and Anna's head snapped up in surprise. "Elsa belongs to you? Just who do you think you are?"

"Better than you," she shot back. "I know you're planning something. You don't love Elsa; you want her crown."

"How do you know that for sure?" He wasn't about to come completely clean with Anna yet, despite his candidness over the past few months; even now, as the balance tipped in his favour, Hans was determined not to count the princess out of the game yet. She had come back from the dead to thwart him once before. "Why won't you believe the possibility that I've changed for the better, redeemed by your sister's love?"

She looked physically sick at his oily words. "Because I've seen the real you that day." Anna's eyes shone fervently in the candlelight. "I looked into those eyes and saw how empty you really are. You haven't changed for the better, Hans, because there isn't anything in you left to change."

He blinked. "Empty? My dear princess, I'm a living human being. God created us all in his image with souls of our own."

"Not you. You're a demon from hell."

"Strong words."

"But true." She bit her lip. "Even if Elsa can't see all that, I do, and I will never stop fighting you. I will protect her, no matter what it takes."

"She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She doesn't need someone deciding what's right and wrong for her, especially not a selfish, naïve little girl like you."

"I – "

"No one – not even me – doubts that you love Elsa most in this world, but just who are you to choose for her? A sheltered, foolish, little princess – "

"Stop."

"– who grew up in isolation, away from the world – "

"No."

" – and who thought herself so pathetic and sad because her sister didn't want to play with her," snarled Hans. "You were this puppy, so desperate for affection, that you practically threw yourself at the first man to smile at you, babbling about true love and marriage like it was a game. A perfect fantasy constructed from story books."

"Don't forget why Elsa ran away in the first place – you threw a tantrum when she wouldn't give us her blessing. Can you imagine how she must have felt? Years spent hiding to protect you from herself, and you, her precious little sister, turned on her for some man you only just met."

"And the entire rescue operation with the ice man? A complete farce; I was the one who brought Elsa back. You got your own heart frozen with your clumsy ineptitude, and still you wouldn't die. I had to do it myself – or at least try to."

She was shaking her head slowly, hands clapped to her ears as though she could block out the venom of his words.

"Heaven alone knows how you got out of that room – but I'm guessing you didn't do it yourself – and you stopped me from killing Elsa. That was probably the only thing you did right in your entire life," he spat, face twisted in his anger.

Anna had sunk to her knees; he knelt and seized her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"And then what? Winter ended, villain defeated, so you run off with yet another man you'd only just met, leaving your sister alone again. Take a look at yourself for once, Anna, and tell me if you like what you see."

A high-pitched wail issued from her mouth. Hans extinguished the candles and left the room, spending the night in sleepless roaming through the castle halls. A good part of the time was spent in the silent, cold ballroom where Arendelle's throne sat.

He hated it when women cried. The harsh, wet sobbing repulsed him; their tears distorted their features, making them hideous.

His mother cried a lot. His father didn't visit them because he hated it.

He dared knock on Elsa's door early in the morning, just after the steward had come to wake the queen. "Kai? Is that you?" called her voice uncertainly. "I'm already up."

"It's me." He let himself in, surreptitiously locking the door behind him.

"Hans." Shyly, she came forward and hesitated a moment, hands clasped before her; before she could move, he cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her. He laughed as she blushed, mumbling, "What are you doing here?"

"I was worried about you." The circle of his arms tightened as Hans coaxed her closer. "After yesterday, I just – "

"I'm fine," she said hastily. Elsa rested against him briefly, and then jerked away. "Anna. I need to apologise."

"Calm down, Elsa. You have plenty of time," he chuckled. "It's far too early in the morning; you know Anna won't be up until the crack of noon."

It took a few heartbeats, but the tension in her face slowly ebbed away. "Kai practically has to batter down her door before she'll get up."

Hans laughed indulgently. "There, you see. You have plenty of time." He glanced out the window. "It's a beautiful day today; after breakfast, will you walk with me?"

"Walk? I have work to do – the council – "

" – will take care of itself for one day." The prince had both of her hands in his, and he was leading her out. "Forget breakfast! You need sunlight; you're too pale, my lady." His mood was infectious, and soon Elsa was laughing as well.

"Hans! You're acting like a child!"

"It's the weather, I swear – you don't get much summer here, don't you?"

Hans enjoyed good weather as much as any sun-deprived Northerner did; but on this particular occasion, he couldn't care less if it were sunny or snowing. He simply wanted Elsa away from the castle, where Anna couldn't find her and make amends.

Anna's peasant came down from the mountains that evening to find her mired in self-hatred and guilt; like Anna, he waited until late at night to avoid hurting Elsa.

"You bastard," he snarled through gritted teeth; clad his in rough clothing, he looked exactly like a rabid bear.

Hans eyed him coolly. "I may be thirteenth and most reviled, but my parents were wedded before God, thank you."

"You've hurt Anna – "

"I've not physically harmed her. I haven't even raised a hand to her."

Kristoff shook a fist at him, mouth trembling with the sheer force of his anger. "I know what you're trying to do; you and your word games. Anna told me everything about you."

"Does that mean you're as convinced as she is that I'm a demon incarnate?" Hans threw back his head and laughed. "Just like she's convinced Elsa?"

The ice harvester didn't lose his temper as Hans had expected. Drawing back his shoulders, he merely settled into icy calm, though his eyes still blazed. "I believe her."

"Of course you would," replied Hans dismissively. He stood like a king, feet apart, hands linked behind his back, shoulders stiff with arrogance. "Is there anything else you want to say to me?"

"Just this." He brought his face close, attempting to make use of his greater height to intimidate Hans by forcing the prince to look up to maintain eye contact; Hans continued to stare straight ahead. "In the end, your sins will catch up with you, as they always have."

Hans pressed his lips together into a thin line. "Good night, Master Bjorgman."

"You haven't spoken to Anna yet?"

"Not since the other day," admitted Elsa. She was seated at her desk as usual, but the piles of paperwork had grown exponentially. She looked tiny surrounded by the dunes. "I've been too busy."

Hans picked up a sheaf, scanning the text. "This is trivial," he commented, and set it to one side. "Your council should be handling this, not you."

"I haven't convened the council in two weeks."

Hans bit his lip, fighting not to let his exultation show on his face. "Two weeks? Why not?"

"I just – I don't trust anyone anymore." The young woman sighed, pulling another document closer – and was interrupted by a hand on hers.

"Elsa. You can't shut the world out."

"I know!" Ice shot out from her chair; Hans dodged neatly. "Believe me, I've tried. But it's so hard to believe anything anyone says these days." She ran a hand through her fringe. "My council… Gerda and Kai… Kristoff… even Anna… they tell me all these things, and I can't help but wonder if they really mean them, if they ever cared about me at all." The last few words were spoken in a whisper.

"Elsa, no. No no no." Hans perched on the arm of her chair, drawing her to him, his hands smoothing her hair away from her face. "Don't hate them for my sake, please… I'm not worth it."

"Not worth it?" She jerked away as though she had been slapped. "Hans, how could you say that?"

"I tried to kill you and Anna, and steal the throne. I understand if they don't trust me. They care about you, Elsa, don't doubt them. Don't let me come between you and them." He stood up, walked over to the window. "Send me away, in chains – yes, I think that's best. I'm sure you can find a ship that can drop me off at the Southern Isles…"

She had crossed the room in quick strides, and then slapped him hard.

"Stop it," said Elsa, voice quivering, hot tears spilling down her cheeks. "Hans, I would never abandon you. You've been here for me. I believe in you, that you've changed. I… I trust you. I love you."

"Oh, Elsa." He dropped his gaze, shoulders slumping, apparently overcome with emotion; in reality, he was hiding a triumphant smirk. "I don't deserve any of this. I'll go – "

"You will not."

His old shackles returned, with a matching pair for his ankles. Hans glared at her. "So you'll keep me a prisoner for the rest of my life? Is that it?"

"Of course not! I just don't want you doing anything stupid!"

"This isn't stupid. This is the best solution for everyone."

"Not for me." She closed her eyes, anger vanishing, and his chains melted away. "If you left, Hans, I… I don't know what I'd do. I need you."

He took her hands in his. "… You have me. Always."

"Always?"

"I promise." He bent his head, pressed his lips to hers, and felt her wrap her arms around his neck, pulling him closer still. Elsa was the one to deepen the kiss, and he knew the right time had come.

He backed them out until her knees pressed against their couch, and gave way; they tumbled, panting from lack of air. "Elsa," he murmured in between trailing kisses down her neck. Elsa threw her head back to allow him better access. She gasped as his fingers worked around her legs, found bare heated skin. Her hands were tangled in his hair, tugging whenever he grazed a sensitive spot.

Hans paused when he reached her thighs, glancing at her. "I trust you, Hans," she said immediately, and he smirked.

She was wearing her usual ice dress but it was beginning to melt under his ministrations. He lapped over her bodice as it vanished bit by bit, laving each inch of silky skin as it was revealed. His hands skimmed up her body, over her hips, and she shivered.

Elsa's back arched as he took a nipple into his mouth, nails raking his back. "Please – "

His hand tugged aside her soaking underwear, fingers dipping into her heat. She moaned – Hans muffled it by crashing his mouth to hers, their teeth clacking together.

She was so very inexperienced; once his thumb found the spot between her legs and stroked, she was already crying out, body shuddering in the throes of an orgasm. Tears ran down her cheeks. He kissed them away.

Hans was still fully clothed. She was in no condition to conjure a new dress for herself, so he took off his jacket and wrapped her in it. "My love," he breathed, lying down with her. Elsa said nothing, but she clung to him, her tears freezing on the skin of his neck.

Anna seemed to know what they had done, what he had done to her. When Elsa came down to breakfast, the clipped "Good morning," that had been on the princess' lips died away, and she clamped her words away like they were secrets.

Elsa paled, but before she could flee, Hans' hand insinuated itself in hers. She seemed to draw comfort from him, and she sat in her usual place.

"Good morning, Princess Anna," said Hans placidly as though nothing was happening; not a word was spoken between the sisters, but the tension in the atmosphere spoke volumes for them. "Isn't Master Bjorgman joining us this morning?"

"He left for the ice lake before sunrise," answered Anna, face screwed up as though biting into a lemon.

"I see." Smiling absently, he bit into a slice of bread.

She caved in to him in so many ways after her walls finally broke down. The more Elsa sought to lose herself in him, the more she fought with Anna, and it only drove her back to him in a vicious circle.

When leaving her room in the dead of the night, Hans would hear muffled sobbing, from someone with a heart too big, trying to keep it all in.

He ran into Anna once in those days. Most of the fire had died out of her glare, leaving only the cold embers of a frozen heart.

The prize was his.