Chapter Four

The turnout for this ceremony was much better than the last.

Townspeople filled the pews of the cathedral that day. Just as it had been for the royal wedding three years previous, the cold permeated everything, causing everyone to be well wrapped up. The people were more accustomed to it now. Wool and layers covered every citizen, children wrapped in blankets, clinging to their mothers with chilled fingers. There were some toddlers in attendance who had never known spring, or summer, or autumn. Only the winter cast by the woman who had only been Queen for a few hours before cursing her entire land.

She was known as the Snow Queen now. A tale to scare children before bedtime. A warning against bad behaviour, as if she were not real at all, but a figment of the collective imagination. Be good or the Snow Queen will come and get you in the night.

As if she had not being a sister, a daughter, a Queen.

Anna's face was stoic as she stood in the same place she had as a bride, her clothes almost a replica of those Elsa had worn, but in much darker colours. Rich reds and browns accompanied by the black. Her hair styled as her mother's and sister's were. But no gloves covered her hands this time, no, they were bare despite the temperatures. She preferred to feel, rather than get any insight into the way her elder sister had lived her life, devoid of the true feeling of touch. Anna only wore gloves if she absolutely had to.

It was July 19th. The anniversary of her sister's coronation. That was one of the only requests Anna had made, one of the only ones Anna had ever made. And Hans had honoured it. Anna had been the only one to recognise her sister's birthday the week before. She would be twenty four now, and she should have been enjoying the celebrations such a date normally held. But she wasn't there. She hadn't been there for so long. It made the redhead worry that one day she would forget her sister's face, her voice.

Hans' presence beside her both calmed her and raised her nerves all at once. He too was dressed in a familiar outfit. It was one similar to what her father had worn so often, the same the old King had worn to his coronation. There were some differences, colours of the sash, the medals on his chest. And there were some hints from the Southern Isles, the place that had never questioned their youngest Prince's decision to remain in Arendelle, the one that had seemed to say good riddance to him.

But Arendelle had taken to him grandly, and many sang his praises. Without him, it was almost unanimously agreed, everyone would have surely perished by now. Without him - and without Anna. The Princess was not left out of the thanks, her welcoming and caring personality making it easy to like her, easy to accept her. Making it easy to favour her over her older sister, who could still claim the throne should she return. But she would not be welcomed back if she did.

Hans held out his arm for Anna to take, her slightly pinkish fingers reaching up and around. Her right hand rested over the first, eyes pointed straight ahead, her lips a thin line. Not even she could muster up a smile, remembering the document the Council had produced to be signed by both royals that morning. One key phrases remained in her mind, but they were enough to nearly pull her lips down into a frown.

Queen Elsa Kathrine Victoria Therese of Arendelle is hereby striped of her title, and right as reigning sovereign due to extended absence without leave. Should she return, her title may be reinstated with the permission of the current reigning monarch.

Princess Anna Camilla Marie Johanna of Arendelle, as heir to the throne of Arendelle, will be granted permission to take the crown, with Prince Hans Westergard of the Southern Isles as her consort.

Anna had also decided to give Hans the title of King Consort. He may not be a King Regent, but given how much he had helped, she thought it only right that he be as equal to her as possible. New crowns had been commissioned for them both, given that her mother and father's had been lost, as had Elsa's. They were heavy things though. Whether that was due to a real weight or an imagined one, Anna wasn't sure. Either way, she would be wearing it as little as possible.

The sound of the grand organ starting might have once made her jump, might have made a blush appear on her cheeks because a small squeak had escaped her lips. But today, there was no reaction. She was stoic, too tired to have any sort of response.

The winter that still raged outside had worn her down. Sometimes years flew by, and sometimes they crawled. Somehow the past three had done both. Between finally getting the dignitaries home, and sorting out the town as best they could, hours filled with official duties had rushed past them without a second glance.

But it was those empty hours. The ones where she was not needed, or couldn't sleep, or at meals, where time dragged by as if made of sludge. So regularly, she would switch between cursing Elsa for leaving, for casting this spell over Arendelle, for never telling her the secret. But mostly she just missed her deeply. And it hurt to read the hateful words printed in the newspapers delivered to the breakfast table each morning, venomous stabs at her sister's character, her actions, even her looks. But she'd had to grow a thick skin since Elsa had disappeared, running across the fjord as it froze beneath her feet. And so that hurt never showed on her face.

And similarly her face was steeled as she readied herself for the ceremony, hands gripping her husband's arm. The choir, situated once again above the congregation below, struck up the song that had accompanied every coronation since the very first Arendelle had ever seen. And with practised steps, Anna began to walk forward, the doors opening to permit both of them access.

Walking with Hans was as easy as walking alone now. She had done it that often that it would be odd for it not to be. Her step fell in with his as they made their way down the aisle, neither too fast nor too slow.

When she had done this with Elsa, she had been behind, alone. She wondered if Elsa would have liked someone's hand to hold.

Bishop Kolstad stood up on the small dais, the orb and sceptre on a pillow behind him, as well as the crowns. Anna would be the only one needed to hold the once frost covered items - as the bishop had told her he found them to be - as she would be the true ruler, the true regent. Coming to a stop, they both knelt, Hans receiving his crown first, and Anna second.

As soon as the metal hit his hair, the Prince felt a rush run through him. This was what he had dreamed of. All those years of planning, all the ribbing and teasing from his brothers about never getting a kingdom that he had endured, and now here he was. It was hard to keep the triumphant grin off his face. It had been hard to keep up his mask all day.

Anna, on the other hand, found it hard to keep her composure. The saying was true in her case - heavy was the head that wore the crown. And even as she rose, her eyes were far more tired than any twenty one year old's should have been. In that moment, she had never looked more like her sister.

Meeting the bishop's eyes, she reached out and took hold of the freezing metal. Turning, she faced just a subset of her people, face grim, but shoulders back and head held high. Some of that joy and life Anna had always possessed had died in the time since the Great Freeze, and in that time, she had mourned her sister. After months had turned in years, she had quickly realised that Elsa would not be coming back. Not even sending word that she was alive. Why not just decide another family member had been lost? The uncertainty of it all had taken its toll as well.

Old Norse rang out behind her, the bishop's voice sounding the same as it had three years previous. And then came the most important words.

"Queen Anna and King Hans of Arendelle."

"Queen Anna and King Hans of Arendelle!" the audience shouted back, all having stood at some point Anna hadn't noticed. A child's laugh rang out from somewhere as all applauded.

Turning back to replace the orb and sceptre, she caught sight of the bishop's face. He'd been another figure that had been in her life for as long as she could remember. Faint memories of sitting next to Elsa in the front pew every Sunday, until their mother and father were between them, Elsa beside Papa and Mama next to Anna. At first, the child had wondered if it was because they'd been caught whispering too much, but now she suspected it was due to the accident all those years ago. Then, she had fidgeted, chatted, messed around until her father's eyes would land on her and she'd be back to sitting still, an angelic look that could never quite compete with her elder sister's on her face.

The older man's face showed happiness for her, but also a sadness. He knew what Anna had been through, and was still going through. She had even more work ahead of her now, sorting out various things from the past three years as well as having to rule in her own right. All without the guidance of any previous king or queen. Kai was a godsend, of course, but he wasn't quite the same as having someone there who had been through the same thing.

"Well done, Your Majesty," he murmured as she placed down the two items, giving her a warm smile. But there was still that sadness in his eyes that made it too difficult to meet them, and so Anna didn't even attempt it, glancing towards Hans again instead.

In the past three years, he had been nothing but the perfect gentleman. Helping her run the kingdom, being her husband, holding her when she needed it. But there was always something in the back of her mind that made her suspicious. Anna had always been painted as flighty and unassuming, as someone who could be duped into anything. And recently, she had been using that to her advantage.

While she didn't enjoy her lessons, she was no less sharp than her elder sister had been. And she watched. Sometimes Hans would do things when she assumed he thought she wasn't looking. His face would contort into a mean expression, or one of an almost triumphant glee. He'd hold council meetings without her, Anna only finding out when she arose from her bed. The same one he had snuck out of, leaving her behind. And then there was the manipulation.

Sometimes Anna would want to do something, change something, and he'd persuade her otherwise. But it wasn't a gentle persuasion, no, it normally involved guilt and questions of loyalty and her ability to rule. After the first tome he'd done such a thing, Anna had refused to speak to him for at least three days. But he'd still gotten his way. And over time, his ammo had increased.

Now she was being badgered about heirs.

She was told at least every other week that her mother had had both her and Elsa by the time she was three years into her marriage. Nevermind that the redhead's stress levels were through the roof. She felt as if she were being pulled every which way, and everyone wanted her to do something different that would take up all of her time.

And although her sister may be physically gone, Elsa never truly left her mind. Once a month, and sometimes more, Anna would have dreams - but more often nightmares - that involved the runaway Queen. Elsa just out of reach, or Elsa with men coming after her. Elsa surrounded by people with weapons, ready to go in for the kill. Elsa with a cruel smile on her face. Elsa terrified. They varied, switched around a lot, leaving Anna disorientated and confused. But sometimes the dreams were snatches of memories, a happy blonde girl in front of her, egging her on and sometimes holding her back. Her big sister, her best friend, there for her. The Elsa she had once known before the accident, before the seclusion and before the secrets.

Anna mourned for that Elsa.

But there was no one to really share her feelings with. Hans didn't offer the comfort she sought, and everyone else seemed to now despise the elder sister. All Anna could do was try and catch Gerda and Kai as they went about their duties, engaging them in conversation, but even that was beyond fleeting. She saw Kai every day, but always with Hans there as well, even if she was technically the ruler, and not him.

It took her a moment to realise she had left the church, having walked out on autopilot, the biting cold outside the same as inside, and so not catching her attention. A small crowd was gathered before the gates and at the sight of the royals they visibly straightened up, muffled applause rising from the gloved hands. Anna just kept looking straight ahead.

Climbing into the carriage beside her husband, Anna still did not look at him, nor did she admonish him for pulling the curtain over the small window. Normally she didn't like the shutting out of their people, preferring to see them when possible, but today? Today she was too tired for such things, leaning into him as they made their way back to the castle. Back home, back to the familiar where she could take off the crown from her head. It would go in its box, and she would wear it when necessary, but nothing further. It already felt too heavy on her head. Like it would drag her down all the time. Like, if she were to fall into a body of water, she wouldn't be able to escape thanks to the weight.

But what she didn't anticipate was the news she would arrive home to.

Climbing down from the carriage, Hans' hand held out as always, Anna let her shoulders drop, excited to get inside. But a flustered looking Kai pulled her up short, and she looked at him with a confused expression.

"Has something... happened?" she asked as the servant gestured for them to come in.

"I'm afraid so," he murmured, his breathing quick and short, as if he had just run to meet them. There was also a reddish colour to his cheeks, but whether that was due to the cold or the exertion was anyone's guess.

"There have been reports, Majesties, of creatures," he said, twisting his hands together, shooting Anna nervous glances. "Creatures of great stature. Creatures made of snow and ice."

A while later, Anna and Hans were holed up in the office, ceremonial cloaks and crowns abandoned on the couch, as they read through the various reports. All seemed to agree that the monsters were huge, about as tall as the average house. They were aggressive, but thankfully had yet to attack anyone. What they seemed to be after were supplies. Food, blankets, firewood. And that combined with the substance they were made from could only lead to one person.

"Elsa," Hans growled, throwing down another report and rubbing at his eyes. "If it's not bad enough that she's trapped us in an eternal winter, now she's stealing from her own people!"

"Hans!" Anna snapped back, slamming down her own paper. Her eyebrows were pulled together in an irritated scowl. It didn't suit her face.

"What? How could you possibly defend her? After all she's done to Arendelle? After all she's done to you?"

A log cracked in the grate as silence fell between the two of them. Anna's constant defense of her sister was something Hans had never been able to understand. If one of his brothers had done what Elsa had, he would have been cursing his name to high heaven. But Anna didn't. Anna still loved her, he could tell. A foolish thing, given the general population's opinion of the eldest daughter. Harbouring sympathies with a known traitor was a good way to get your head chopped off, especially with the uprisings happening in Europe all the time. Yet still - Anna loved her sister.

And so his face softened, a light snowfall outside catching his attention, before his eyes flicked to his wife. His wife, the newly crowned Queen of Arendelle. Reaching out a hand, he cupped her face, a gentle thumb skimming over her cheek. Teal eyes fell closed as a deep sigh left her, her whole body seeming to sink into his hand. It was warm, in a time when so few things were anymore. He was all she had left by the way of family. Family willing to give such comfort, anyway.

"Anna, it can't go on like this forever," he murmured, still playing the supportive husband. The act that Anna was having a hard time still believing, not matter how much she still wished she could believe it. "People have already died from the cold, from the lack of food. We can't have more taken. We just can't."

"We always have excess," Anna muttered back, the cogs in her mind already turning. "What if we left that out for these creatures to take? Then everyone else would be left alone. We could, couldn't we?"

Her eyes locked with his, pleading clear in them.

"The people won't be happy about it," Hans muttered, making a note of Anna's idea on a scrap of paper. The turn of his mouth showed his displeasure with the idea, but he said nothing more against it, leaving his wife with a sort of triumphant glow in her chest. But it didn't bring a smile to her face. Not much did nowadays. The absence of his hand was immediately felt, the chill rushing back to her skin.

"They don't have to be," she replied softly. "But it will solve more problems than it causes. And maybe if we get my sister's trust, she will finally come down from the mountains. We could talk to her, convince her to undo all of this."

"Anna, are you sure she'll even want to?" Hans questioned, raising an eyebrow at her. "It's been three years and she's done nothing to help her people, or to help you. Who's to say she's not done all of this on purpose?"

Nothing could get Anna's heckles up like such words against her sister. The memories were faded, mostly snatches, but she remembered the little girl the blonde had been. She remembered the way Elsa had acted on the day of her coronation, both bad and good. The effort she'd made to calm Anna, the way they'd laughed together. The panic on her face as she'd ran. She'd tried to keep herself away from people. Somewhere inside, Anna believed her sister didn't mean all of this. Perhaps she just didn't realise what was going on in Arendelle? It was possible, the North Mountain had no view of the little sea town.

Anna had to hold on to such beliefs. She couldn't give up on Elsa. Not after all the years she'd spent waiting for her. Not after seeing the fear in her sister's eyes the last time she'd seen her.

"Elsa wouldn't keep this up if she knew what was happening," Anna argued, eyes harsh and cold. "You just don't know her Hans."

"Neither do you. You told me so yourself, she spent the majority of your lives behind that door. Who's to say she wouldn't do this out of spite? Of you, and of Arendelle?" he fired back.

A growl of frustration left the newly crowned Queen's lips and she began to storm from the room. Even as her heels clicked sharply across the floorboards, it didn't take much for him to catch her up, his legs much longer and unobstructed by long skirts. Hans was quickly on her heels, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back to him. Even though she tried her hardest, Anna was no match for her husband, not from the angle he held her at.

"Let me go, Hans! Let me go right now! Hans, I mean i-!"

What finally cut off her words was a sharp blow to her cheek, snapping her neck to one side before her face turned back towards him, a look of horror in her eyes. He had argued with her, had been sharp, but he had never hit her before.

But the move was not unusual to the new King, having seen it many times growing up. From his father, to his brother's wives-violence had been normal. And it got him what he wanted-Anna quiet. He released her wrist, knowing he had held it tightly, but not tightly enough to have caused bruises, hadn't hit her hard enough for more than a red mark to appear.

"It would do you well to listen to those with more knowledge than you," he hissed, before stepping around her, slamming the door behind him.

Anna was left in shock, one shaking hand rising to cup her cheek as tears welled. Unable to even get herself to a sofa, she fell to her knees, rasping sobs leaving her. Her own father had been a gentle man, one who had never laid a hand on his wife, not ever. Theirs had been a marriage of love, and that was what Anna had wanted, had been sure she had three years previous. But Hans was starting to show his true colours in this cold. For too long she had excused it as business and tiredness and cold, but no. This was him, this was her husband, the man who had promised to love and cherish her. And he hadn't shown the slightest bit of remorse.

She wept until a maid came in to stoke the fire and found her there, convincing her to go to bed. In one of the spare rooms, by Anna's insistence.


A/N: So, it took a while, but there is Chapter Four! I got distracted with university and with NaNoWriMo last month, so it took a while. Next chapter things really do pick up, so stick with me. Thank you so much for reading!