Author's Note: In response to a rather negative review I was given for this (that was NOT critical feedback, but rather pairing-bashing), if you don't enjoy Helsa or find the pairing unbelievable, then don't bother reading this. I thought the description of the story and the information below it where Hans and Elsa's names were in shipping brackets would have been indicative of where we were going with this. Just, don't waste your time with it if you don't agree with it.

Secondly, do you have any idea how many people ship Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy? MILLIONS! It's improbable and dumb, right? Well guess what, tell that to the countless forums and fics dedicated to it! Just because a pairing makes little sense and won't ever go canonical to the official fandom doesn't make it illegitimate.

Thirdly, I actually think Elsa would value life over death...she makes life out of snow, for fucks sake! I would think, especially after the events of the film, she would see the good in life and be more open to other worldviews as opposed to turning in to a King Triton-like ruler, who is good to his people but shuts the kingdom off from everything else. And I think, after some work and adjustment, she would be able to find the right reason to at least partially redeem Hans. And I also believe Hans IS redeemable. There are many murderers on death row in prisons who are fully redeemed in all eyes but the law's after a religious shift, or through good works, or through meditation and evaluation. There is both light and dark inside everyone. As we've seen in the film, Hans is an excellent actor. But who says he can't act evil to hide fear or the feeling of being in too deep and knowing there's no way to turn back?

In conclusion, to those who refuse to believe my story: I'm not asking you to read it and love it. But, if you're going to write a nasty review that does not critique but rather just expresses disdain, go away and get a life. This site is for our enjoyment in the end. If I don't like your concept or pairings, I don't click on your story. Do the same courtesy for me. And to those who are following and like my story so far, thank you. It is YOU I write for, as well as myself. Enjoy...because I'm not stopping!


The day of the arrival came. Elsa had spent the past three days making ready, reluctant as she was to do so. Anna was kept away from the preparations so as to not exacerbate her sickness, which did not seem to subside. She made the furthest wing from her own apartments ready for the guests. The royal guard was doubled in size for both her rooms and the dungeons. Kristoff arranged for enough ice to be brought into the palace to keep food fresh and beer cold for weeks. After all, Hans was the only one on trial. Elsa had to make sure that Arendelle acted hospitably towards the entourage and the King himself.

The three ships carrying Hans and the rest of the men from the Southern Isles were spotted off the coast, coming up the fjord slightly after midday. The people of Arendelle did not flood the streets. Instead, most chose to stay in their homes and shops and watch the procession from behind curtains, as if to tell the Southern Islanders that they were not welcome here after what was done before.

Elsa didn't know how to encourage the citizens to at least be cordial. However, she had more on her plate than she could handle at the moment, and could not be bothered with such a small element of this arrangement. Between making the palace comfortable, setting up security detail in every corridor, and preparing herself to act as High Judge over the trial, and the emotional roller coaster that would follow.

Seeing as she could not pass an unbiased ruling against Hans, Elsa's role as High Judge would be more ornamental than anything. A jury of peers, half Arendellian, half Southern Islander, would pass judgement and declare a sentence. However, as simple as the arrangement seemed on paper and in words, Elsa knew that Arendelle, which had always had a large sense of justice, always took weeks if not months, to complete the steps of a trial.

In the tradition, most of the trial would take place behind closed doors: the confession, the statements, the rehashing of events, the choosing and documentation of all the participants, and deliberations. The only parts that took place in the public courthouse were the witness testimonies, the final statements, and the sentencing. The public would be kept 'in the know' through announcements by town criers. The final stage, the stage with the public's involvement, would probably not even occur until Arendelle was well into autumn.

As she watched the trio of ships sailing up the fjord toward the harbor, she saw a small crowd of too-curious citizens who just had to see the prince in chains, as well as the High King of the Southern Isles, gather on the docks. Anna was not among them, but Kristoff might have been. But Kristoff was not the kind to take such schadenfreudian pleasure, even in someone who'd committed such wrongs.

Elsa wore black robes, usually reserved for mourning, as a symbol of her solemn duty in this situation. Her hair was tied tightly in a bun at the nape of her neck, which hurt when it pulled at her temples. Elsa did not wear such formal regalia much since the previous year. She had to breathe, and traditional aristocratic garb did not give her the freedom she needed. At the moment, her breaths would have been shallow anyway, mainly out of fear, so the constrictive corsets and petticoats did little.

Kai, one of Elsa's most trusted butlers, appeared in her doorway as she observed the ships coming dangerously close to the port.

"Your Majesty, your security detail is ready, and the cannons will sound soon," he said gently. Elsa nodded in reply The cannons would indicate that the ships had docked.

Elsa had long learned to cast aside her father's old mantra: Conceal, don't feel. It was that philosophy that shut her away and made her fear people for most of her life. But perhaps in this case, it was better to re-adopt the advice. Feeling what she felt in that moment would invoke a blizzard the likes of which Arendelle had never seen...even last year. Perhaps the anger and hurt would do something worse.

As Elsa left to go to the docks to greet the Southern Islanders, she kept the words in her head.

Conceal, don't feel...don't feel...don't you DARE feel….


"His Imperial Highness,King Erik XI of the Southern Isles," announced Sir Anderssen as a tall, muscular man approaching forty stepped down from the tallest of the three ships. There was no doubt in Elsa's mind he was attractive, even for his age. His Queen must have fallen in love with him on sight.

Elsa bowed curtly, and King Erik met the greeting with an identical bow. The crowd was silent, craning their necks to glimpse the eldest brother of the Accused.

"I bring you greetings and welcome to Arendelle on this most solemn occasion," Elsa responded to the announcement.

"And you to and Arendelle, Highness, my representatives express our deepest apologies for the misguided crimes of my accused brother, and we bring gifts in humble hopes to attain your favor again," King Erik replied.

"Gifts?" Elsa asked.

"The Southern Isles are famous for our rich burgundy and beers," King Erik answered. "We bring five-hundred caskets of both to be consumed in your royal palace as well as by your people in the square."

A small, cautious cheer rose up from the crowd. King Erik indicated the large stacks of caskets of drink on the ships behind him, each pile towering high over the railings.

King Erik approached Elsa in a more intimate manner. "And for you and your sister, the victims of the Accused's heinous crimes, we bring our famous dark chocolate truffles, made by hand by our most reputable confectionery artisans."

Elsa couldn't help but lighten up a little at the mention of chocolate. She knew Anna would be excited as well. Perhaps the sweets would liven her own spirits.

"That is very kind of you, Your Highness," Elsa replied, a small smile on her face.

"And I assure you, My Lady, that Hans is not on this ship, or the ship behind this one. We will not disembark him until the crowd disperses and we are inside the castle," King Erik stated after.

Elsa nodded. "I thank you for the courtesy. You understand, then, the uncomfortable situation that this has become for myself and my sister, as well as my people."

"You comfort and peace of mind is our business, My Lady," King Erik replied, taking her hand in his and gently kissing her fingers.

Elsa managed to have security evaluate and inspect all of the imports the King had brought (including the chocolate) without him catching wise. The safety of herself and her population was her first priority, and it was possible Hans' conniving nature was an inheritance that any of his brothers could also have possessed. Every barrel of wine and every ounce of truffle was pure and safe, and so were distributed to the people of Arendelle. When Elsa sent word to Anna of the gifts and the arrival of the visitors, she came down for supper, served in the banquet hall at eight o'clock that evening. Elsa even arranged the menu in the hopes of getting Anna out of her apartments: her favorite mushroom soup, roast, and strawberry and chocolate ice cream for dessert.

For the most part, conversation during each course was cordial and small...no one addressed the elephant in the room: that tomorrow began the preliminary proceedings in Hans' great trial. Elsa did explain to the King what to expect.

"He will be brought to us in the west wing chapel," she explained with all of the emotion of a machine. "If interrogation was necessary, we would spend the day doing so, but I don't think such measures will be warranted. Instead, Hans will write and sign a confession, and then read said confession out loud before us, after which we may question him for details...I won't stay for that."

No one needed to ask why. Everyone in the room with any sense at all could see the butterflies practically beating against the walls of Elsa's stomach.

After a while, Anna seemed to forget for a while how ill she had been feeling. She began chatting enthusiastically with the men in the room and having second helpings of ice cream. Elsa, finding that she didn't have any more to say, slipped out after saying a brief good night to the guests, and inviting them to stay in the hall and enjoy as much liquor as they wished.

Even after a year of learning social skills she'd missed out on as a child and teenager, Elsa still found the pressing need to retreat early from parties and catch her breath alone after a long time interacting with people. Perhaps not all of her isolated girlhood had left her after all. And it didn't help that tomorrow she would have to come face-to-face with Hans in front of a room of Southern Islanders...and Anna and Kristoff would not be present for support.

A thought occurred to her then. Maybe it was better to get that first awkward meeting over with when it wasn't in front of a room full of strangers in such a formal capacity. Elsa took a deep breath. If it would help her sleep better tonight, why not?

Elsa turned the corner as she moved away from the party in the banquet hall, passing sentries and guards, and waving cordially as they bowed. The dungeons were beneath the south wing, and she knew the quickest way there that would leave her virtually undetected. Elsa was unsure if she was breaking some sort of protocol, but as the Queen in her own lands, she was more concerned with breaking formality than getting into actual trouble.

The spiral stairwell that led to the dungeons was steep and narrow. It was pitch-black, and Elsa took each step slowly, convinced she would fall and snap her neck on a step. However, she reached the bottom and moved through a long, cold, stone corridor. On the left were a few torches lit, lighting the area. On the right were several heavy cell doors, each with an open peep window covered over in metal bars. Elsa could hear the dripping of the leaking ceilings. She'd been down here once...last year, when Hans had her imprisoned.

The tides had truly turned.

The guard stood erect and unmoving in front of the cell where Hans was 'stored.' When he saw Elsa approach, he got on one knee in front of her.

"My Queen," he greeted softly. Elsa gestured for him to rise.

"I wish to see him," Elsa commanded. The guard looked nervous.

"Is My Lady certain?" The he asked. Elsa nodded in stern confirmation. The guard nodded and brought out the keys to each cell. He selected one and unlocked the door in a single move.

Elsa stepped inside cautiously. The light of the full moon shone in through the window. A small wooden pallet covered in a limp straw mattress lined the right wall, and a small stone basin filled with water was in the far corner. On the pallet sat Hans, sitting upright, his ankles and wrists in heavy shackles. Elsa was shocked to see how gaunt he was. He wasn't really the broad, dashing man who had seduced her sister anymore. His hair was ragged and unruly, and he even seemed to be an inch or two short than Elsa had remembered.

Hans took one look in her direction and got to his feet.

Elsa stood her ground as he slowly approached her. He was shackled, and she could leave at any time if he was planning some sort of ill-planned attack or escape.

But what Hans did was nothing like Elsa had anticipated. Hans simply looked into her face. His green eyes were bloodshot and weary. Something in them caused Elsa to feel a twinge of empathy, if only for a moment. After a pause, Hans fell to his knees and prostrated himself at her feet. Not just in a simple, humble bow, but Hans pressed his forehead to the hem of her gown on the floor.

Elsa heard a faint whisper echo into the night coming from him. "Your Majesty...I don't deserve your mercy. Or your forgiveness."

His back was shaking. He did not lift his head again to meet her eye, nor did he say anything else.

Elsa had no idea how to react. Hans was prostrating himself before her as a clearly humiliated and contrite man...but on the other hand, he could be manipulating her into showing him that mercy and giving him a lighter sentence.

A flurry began to fall over his body as he continued to grovel.

"I am a loathsome person who has done much wrong, and I will accept any and all judgement you may pass over me."

Elsa couldn't stand seeing it anymore. She yanked her hem out of his tight, desperate grip, and left the cell in a hurry.