Northern Mountain
"Eric!" Elsa screamed, rushing forward. She was just in time to catch his falling body, she touched his wound trying to stop the bleeding as tears flowed out of her eyes. "Eric...you're going to be fine..."
"El...Elsa..." Eric used his remaining strength to rest a hand on her cheek. "I...I.."
"Shh..." Elsa held his hand. "I know.." she whispers. "I forgive you."
Eric managed a weak smile as the light slowly fade away from his eyes, he took a last breath before his hand fell to his side. Clamping a hand over her mouth, Elsa clenches her eyes shut. She cried into his shoulder, emotionally affected, and it was much more painful than the death of her parents. She heard a small chuckle and glared up at Eric's killer with fury in her eyes, her blood was boiling with rage.
"And you thought for one second that I loved you." Hans laughed, holding a bloodied sword in his right hand. He approached Eric's body as if it was nothing before giving it a kick. "You're more a fool than I expected, even your brother could see through my lies. Now with his death, only you and your sister remains...and now...you shall suffer the same fate as your brother." he raised his sword, and Elsa did nothing to stop him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." standing at the doorway was Prince Eugene of Corona, and at his back were twenty soldiers from both Arendelle and Corona, each were taking a defensive stance beside a heartbroken Elsa. "Give up Hans. It's over." he said, pointing the tip of his blade at the shocked prince.
Hans held his sword to his chest. "You will not take me alive." he stated, but before he could plunge the sword into his heart, he was lifted into the air by magical powers.
All eyes turned to Elsa, who stood up with one hand lifted in the air with magical anomalies surrounding it, while her other hand held onto a sword created by ice. "I should have listened to my brother! I was so blinded that I thought that you truly loved me...but all you wanted was the throne to Arendelle!" she brought him closer, and she could feel the fear coming from Hans.
"Elsa! Don't!" Eugene cried, and grabbed her arm before she could strike Hans. "You don't have to do this Elsa, he just murdered the King of Arendelle and that is a major crime punishable by death no matter where you are. But if you strike him down now in anger, you'll be no better than him." he said softly.
"If I let him live, he'll haunt me forever." Elsa said, in a calm but menacing tone as she fixed her gaze on her captive. Her sword just mere inches away from Hans' heart.
"I didn't say that we will let him live." Eugene quickly added, and gently took the sword away from Elsa's hand. "He kidnapped me. A prince of Corona, it is chargeable with high treason and the penalty for treason is death. Even if I refuse to give him that sentence, Rapunzel and her parents will. And so will Princess Anna." he said. And Elsa calmed down, her powers vanishing and without another word, she turned and walked away.
Eugene cast a disgusted look at Hans and pointed his sword at the prince. "Get something to hold him. And make sure is tight. I don't want him attempting to escape." he ordered.
"Yes, my prince." a Coronian guard said.
As Hans was being dealt with, Elsa approached Eric's lifeless body and knelt down beside him, tears still flowing out of her eyes. She placed her hands on his chest, trying to revive him when suddenly, Eric's body begin to glow and a blinding flash of light engulf the room, and everyone shielded their eyes from the bright light. Elsa cracked her eyes opened, and reeled back in shock when she saw a trail of magical anomalies linking her hand to Eric's heart. She felt herself getting stronger, and felt that her powers had doubled, without another word, she went towards the balcony with a curious Eugene in tow.
Elsa lifted her hands to the sky, and the snow around her begin to fly upwards, being picked up by a gust of wind. And it was not only happening around her, it was happening everywhere else, the snowy mountain was being cleared of the cold and summer was returning, with the sun shining brightly on the remaining soldiers below. Eugene marveled at the scene happening before him.
"I knew you had it in you." he commented when Elsa lowered her hands.
"I didn't." Elsa replied truthfully, she cast a glance towards Eric's body. "Eric helped me...I heard his voice in my head, telling me what to do with my new powers...and he gave me all of his powers when my hand connected with his heart. It didn't work the first time because I was too conflicted with my inner self that the powers could not find each other. But after your consultations, did I relax and this time, the power connected." she explained.
Eugene smiled warmly. "Every little bit helps." he said, before turning around to look at Eric's body as well. With a deep breath, he offered Elsa to accompany him. "We should most probably be returning back to Arendelle now, the people needs to know that even if their King was the one responsible for the winter. It was he that saved their lives at the end." he added.
"Yes. Eric would love that." Elsa replied with a smile of her own. She nodded at the guards to carry Eric's body down. She watched in amusement as the guards treated Hans like a piece of thrash, handling him roughly by his shoulders as they pushed and shoved him down the long stairs. The ride back to Arendelle was a long one, but Elsa enjoyed the taunts made by the guards as they hurled insults at Hans whom was forced to walk all the way while being shackled.
Arendelle
"Princess Elsa is returning!" the cry was passed on from one guard to another until they reached the ears of the castle, and Princess Anna came running out with Rapunzel at her side. But the solemn affair of how they stepped through the gate, added more fear into Anna's heart, she looked at the faces of the guards and she knew something was amiss. She saw the guards dragging Hans in as the crowd booed and jeered at him, but the next thing she saw made her faint. A cart being pulled by a horse, and the body behind the cart covered with a flag of Arendelle was Eric.
"Help. I need help!" Rapunzel cried, as she reached out to grab Anna. Guards and servants ran to her side and carried the unconscious princess in to the castle. "You guys did it...the winter is over..." she said, extending her arms wide to show that Arendelle was no longer snowing.
"Yes. But at a great cost." her husband, Eugene replied.
Elsa nodded her head sadly. And then she stood up straight, she had one final piece of news to deliver to her people. "People of Arendelle!" she yelled and stood up on a crate as the crowd slowly gathered around her. "Some of you may not know this. But I have the exact same powers as the late King Eric." and to prove to everyone that she was telling the truth, she created a snowflake with her fingers.
The crowd stood back in fear, but a few remained to hear what their new leader had to say, the guards stood confidently beside their liege. Eugene and Rapunzel gave her an encouraging smile. "However, we are both very different. Eric was born with the powers, while I was given the powers by accident. I got the powers from Eric when we were little, where he accidentally struck me with his powers and transferred a small fraction of his powers over to me. Therefore, that is why Eric avoided seeing me for he feared that he would hurt me again, and he lost his confidence over controlling his powers. While I received training to conceal them and only use them if necessary." she took a deep breath. This time, more members of the crowd started to walk forward, not afraid anymore.
"You all may curse King Eric for causing the winter and freezing up the fjord but know this people of Arendelle. It is your King, that saved you! Without his powers and without his guidance, I wouldn't have lifted the spell..." she continued, with her head held high. "If you all wish another monarch to rule instead of those with powers, all you have to do is just ask, and I will gladly step aside for Anna to take the throne." she added.
"Why would we do that?" a person shouted from the crowd.
"Long live Queen Elsa!" another yelled, this time it was a child. And the child's cheer was soon taken up by the rest, and slowly the whole city was cheering for her. "Love live Queen Elsa! Love live the Snow Queen!" they yelled. The guards cheered and hugged each other, when she gave them a nod that she accepted the people's wishes for her to be crowned.
Elsa stepped down from the crate and walked pass her people, all greeting her with deep respect, bowing their heads and shaking her hand only if she allowed them to. She knew it would take a few weeks for the papers to be settled, but she didn't mind, as it was what Eric would want. And so she waited patiently, and true to their words and with the entire kingdom of Corona at her back, she was hailed as the Queen of Arendelle.
During her first day as Queen, she settled all sorts of complains and small matters like theft, fighting and a small little case of children fighting with each other. But then came the most important task of all, sentencing a man whom she thought was the most courageous and handsome prince in the whole world, that turned out to be a crook and a tyrant who is only after the throne. She looked to her right, and her sister, Anna and her fiance Kristoff smiled warmly at her. She looked to her left, and saw both Eugene and Rapunzel, holding hands but were also smiling at her. And of course, Olaf, the talking snowman sat on top of Anna's lap. With a deep breath, she nodded for the guards to bring the accused into the Great Hall.
The doors swung open, and out came former Prince Hans, who was chained from hands to feet and had about eight guards escorting him in. Two had a firm grasp on his arms while the other six stood in a small circle with their halberds at the ready in case he try to escape. The Great Hall went silent as Hans was led down the long stretch of red carpet before stopping in front of the throne. After one final embrace, Kristoff parted from Anna and approached Hans.
"Hans, former Prince of the Southern Isles. You stand accuse today of crimes against the Kingdom of Corona and Arendelle. Those who brought you to justice shall now speak." Kristoff said, gesturing to the royal couple from Corona.
Eugene sighed. "Look. I'm not one for lopping people's heads off but he kidnapped me and plotted to kill both Queen Elsa and Princess Anna. And let's not forget that he murdered the late King Eric. He deserves the same fate as those people who commit treason as far as I'm concern." he said, frowning at the last sentence.
"I agree with whatever my husband says. Prince Hans deserves the death penalty." Rapunzel added.
"It isn't my place to decide his fate. But his betrayal of my sister's trust had taken away the light that I once saw in him. But according to reports from our soldiers, he promised a group of elderly folks food and warm clothing but then left them to face the winter alone." Anna simply said. And Olaf nodded his head in total agreement. She took a deep breath. "I say he deserves death." she added.
"Does the defendant has anything to say?" Kristoff asked, but Hans remained defiant and quiet. He turned to Elsa and shook his head. "Your Majesty?" he said politely.
Elsa slowly stood up from her throne. "For the crimes of high treason against the crown, I find the defendant Hans, guilty on all charges. And as Queen of Arendelle..." she closed her eyes and cooled the rage burning inside of her. She looked up and glared into Hans' eyes coldly. "..I sentence you to death." she stated. And the crowd cheered wildly. "Your execution shall be set for tomorrow at dawn, enjoy your last night." she said calmly as the guards dragged an emotionless Hans out. "Take in the next prisoner." she commanded.
This time it was the Duke of Weselton. Though he may be old, that did not spare him from being treated like a common criminal. The guards dragged him to the exact same spot where Hans stood as they awaited the Queen to give her orders. "Have mercy...Your Majesty! I didn't mean all of the things that I did!" the Duke cried. But Elsa paid no mind.
"Silence!" Elsa growled and the Duke fell silent. "Your sentence is not mine to decide. If it was mine to decide, I would have ordered for you to be hanged at dawn alongside Prince Hans, but..." she paused casting a side way glance to the Coronian couple. "...the King and Queen of Corona would see to your sentence as you attacked one of their kin. Guards! Hand him over to the Coronian Navy at the docks and make sure that he doesn't try anything foolish." she ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the guards said as one and dragged the crying and pleading Duke out.
"Court dismissed." Elsa breathed, and one by one everyone piled out. She sighed and sank back into her throne. "I'm glad that this is over..." she commented, wiping her forehead. Anna laughed as she playfully punched Kristoff in the arm. Eugene and Rapunzel then asked for leave to go. "Arendelle thanks you for all the help you've given us." she said as the couple to their leave.
"We were just doing what the others would have done. It's just that we had more men." Eugene said with a smirk of his own. Seeing Rapunzel's frying pan, his smile fade. "Ahem." he coughed. "I meant, that we were just doing what we could to help our long ally." he said. And Elsa stiffen, trying her best to control her facial expressions. "So...um...we bid you farewell. Until the next time we meet, Your Majesty." he bowed. And together with Rapunzel and their guards, they walked out.
Elsa smiled as she watched Anna and Kristoff playing with each other alongside Olaf, whom Anna decided to adopt as a pet or playmate as it reminds her of Eric. Or so she says that with Olaf at her side, it would feel as if Eric was there as well. She then bid her leave to visit the people of Arendelle, it was high time she made herself known to the populace, as she walked through the streets, people bowed and greeted her with respect. Children ran to greet her, or just to shake her hand. She kept this routine until it was time to retire to the castle.
She walked past the town square where guards were busy setting up the scaffold for tomorrow's execution, she saw the single noose hanging from the center of the gallows. She shivered with fear of what would happen if Hans had his way and became King of Arendelle, but she quickly threw those fears aside as that villain was going to die tomorrow. She quickly retreated to her chambers that once belonged to her parents and now belong to her, she sat on her chair and with a sigh, she fell asleep.