Arendelle

"You what?" Anna shouted with a mouth full of cereal. "Did you freeze your own brain, Elsa?"

Elsa had expected this reaction; she wasn't even sure that she hadn't lost her mind, but it was too late to turn back now. Claes had accepted her offer. He'd surprised her by insisting that he be sent to Arendelle; she'd assumed he would be kept alive and locked up in the Southern Isles, but now the king was sending the convicted criminal and some sort of body guard or something directly to her. Unlike the Southern Isles, Arendelle was hardly known for the security of its prisons, so at least for the time being, they were going to have to keep him under close watch within the palace. This wasn't going to be pleasant for anyone, and no one could have possibly been unhappier about it than Anna.

"Anna, I'm sorry," she pleaded with her sister. "I should have told you what I was doing, but it's done now."

"I just can't understand why! We were going to be rid of him for good! Why would you invite him to our home of all places?"

"I couldn't be the reason that he died, Anna!"

She didn't know it until she had already said it, but that really was the reason that she had written that letter. Elsa was no murderer. She simply could not live with herself knowing that, if it weren't for her, another human being would still be alive. Maybe it was stupid, and maybe it was wrong. Maybe she would regret her decision in the long run…but she just couldn't condemn him, not to death anyway. This seemed to at least somewhat calm her sister down. She gave her a sad smile.

"Elsa, you're too good for your own safety, you know that?"

"Oh, please."

"You are! Anyway, where are we going to put him? We don't have a dungeon, and if we just let him wander around, he'll probably off the both of us."

"Well, I don't know what to do with him permanently yet. For now, we'll keep him locked in a guest tower and have guards stationed outside."

Anna paused to think for a moment before nodding, apparently reaching the conclusion that this was an acceptable idea.

"Are we going to put him to work?" she asked with a grin that suggested she would like the opportunity to order around her former false fiancé.

"I don't think so…I don't like the idea of turning him loose. Not yet. Unless Kristoff needs some help ice harvesting?"

"Yeah, not the best idea if the goal is to keep him alive." Anna replied, and Elsa laughed. She highly doubted that her sister's boyfriend would actually try to kill Hans, but putting them to work together would be like punishing Kristoff as well, and she wanted to limit the amount of collateral damage she caused.

"He'll be here, but you won't have to see him. Anna, I'm not going to let him hurt you again."

"I know. And if he shows his face around me or tries to lay a finger on you, he'll wish you'd left him to die over there. Now, come on. We really need to build a snowman."

The Southern Isles: King Claes' Chambers

"Have you lost your mind?" Claes roared once Elias had finally worked up the nerve to inform the king of his plans to accompany Hans to Arendelle. He had anticipated this kind of reaction. "What makes you think I'd be willing to lose my head advisor to the garbage I was ready to kill off anyway?"

Though he knew that this is how the royal brothers always spoke of each other, the old man still cringed at the indication that Claes thought of his own flesh and blood as nothing but garbage; what made it even worse was knowing it was true. Still, he kept his practiced, even tone as he addressed the hotheaded ruler.

"Your majesty, I must insist. If you will not allow me to go, then I will resign and leave regardless."

Claes was so furious he was shaking; Elias could almost watch the varying shades of red in his face.

"I will not stand for this! You have no authority to travel with my prisoner!"

And with that, the image of the grand, terrifying ruler melted away in Elias' mind and was replaced with the two-year-old Claes he'd had to humor through disturbing tantrums years ago. It was remarkable how little he had changed as he'd become older; he'd grown in nothing but physical stature and the number of people he could harm with his selfish rages.

"I have already written to Queen Elsa informing her that I will be accompanying your brother, and she has made no objections. With her permission, I see no reason to stay. God knows you don't need me, Claes; you haven't taken my advice since the day of your coronation. Let me go or accept my resignation."

"Get out, then. There are plenty willing to take your place!"

Just like that, Elias' lifelong dedication to the Kings of the Southern Isles was over, and though he knew he would not regret this decision, he couldn't help but mourn his position as he left Claes without another word. This boy had defiled the throne of his beloved kingdom and was a disgrace to his father's name…but Elias felt the pang of guilt in his chest as he walked down the hall filled with portraits of kings of the past, many of whom Elias had served under. Despite his pessimism in regard to Claes' abilities to change, Elias had furiously tried to guide him into becoming the man his father saw in him…but he had failed enormously. He paused as he reached the portrait of the boys' father.

"I am so sorry, Noak," he murmured, hoping that his friend could hear him wherever he was. "I've failed your first boy. I will not fail your last."

With these words still ringing in his ears, Elias left the palace forever.

The Southern Isles: The Royal Prison

Hans had hardly moved a muscle since Elias had told him that he'd been saved from execution…by Elsa of all people. This should not have happened; this was not the way the world worked. The ice queen was less likely to have sympathy on him than even Claes. She should want him to suffer; she should want him dead! What was this? It had to be some sort of trick. What would she do with him? Was there something she had in mind for him that she believed to be worse than death? Whatever awaited him, he was relieved to have escaped his execution, but he could not escape the uneasy feeling in his gut at the thought of the woman he'd tried to murder asking his brother for his life.

His head jerked up as he heard footsteps approaching his cell. It was almost amusing that he seemed to acquire more company once he'd become a convicted criminal. It was Elias. He hadn't realized how much the old man had slowed down over the years. He waited impatiently to see what news he had now.

"Well, sir," Elias said in an overly cheerful voice with a smile that was just a bit too large. "Let's get you out of here. We're off to Arendelle."

"We…are…we…what?"

So much about that simple statement made no sense at all. What on Earth would possess her to cart him closer to her?

"You heard me. Come on now, we've got a long journey ahead of us."

Nothing was adding up; it was pure insanity. Suddenly the queen's powers were not the strangest thing about her. Just what kind of person was he dealing with?

A/N: Hi all!

I'd planned to make the move to Arendelle with this chapter, but my dear Elias seemed to have other ideas. We'll get Hans face to face with the princesses in the next chapter for sure!

Hope you're all enjoying what you've got so far. As always, your feedback would be greatly appreciated!

M.E. Raine