"Don't." Anna's voice cracks like a whip as her anger flares, "Don't touch her as if you are staking claim. You have absolutely no right to her and you are delusional if you think this will go unchallenged. The treaty has been signed and I doubt France will yield to you."
Elsa can feel his pride and his possessiveness pulling him tautly to attention, the way his chest expands with his held breath (much like a male peacock – if Anna were not so upset, Elsa would likely laugh at him). His lips part as he glowers at Anna, no doubt ready to rebut before he snaps his jaw tightly shut and averts his eyes as he steadies himself.
Elsa finds herself absurdly proud of him. Years at sea have made him a bit more hot-headed than he was in his youth, but to his credit, he's keeping silent to deescalate things with Anna so Elsa may at least have an opportunity to assess the situation and determine what sort of damage control will be necessary.
Because Anna is absolutely right.
Reality suddenly affixes itself to Elsa, her heart beating aberrantly with the catch of her breath. "I'm so sorry, Anna. I – I realize that the ramifications of my choices affect not just me, but the entirety of my Kingdom and its future peace and prosperity." Elsa wraps her loose hand over the top of his, fisted formally to his chest with her arm tucked closely to him. She meets his gaze and her heart breaks, just as if felt whole, for the first time in forever. Elsa shifts to face flush to him, dropping her forehead to press to his chest as his free arm wraps tightly around her. Locked in his embrace, she can hear the stuttered breath he draws as he inhales her scent, the faint whimper of defeat in his exhale that pulls at her heart as his tattoos loudly through his chest.
He has no right to her, he never has. Especially after tonight.
Six years earlier…
After a season of actual correspondence, exchanging letters and very candid thoughts that she had never really shared with anyone before, Elsa held firmly to her belief that Hans was a JACKASS (and privately she simply adored him for it). His letters were like nothing that anyone had ever written her before, or even dared to say or do in her presence. And she was quite certain that he was only unusual for the fact he shared his unfiltered words with her rather than mask them from her delicate sensibilities.
The content of his letters (and hers, as time when on) were terribly casual and familiar, which infuriated Elsa to no end. Elsa had become uncensored herself, talking about literature, politics, even religious doctrine quite frankly. She would deteriorate to quipping and debating in a battle of wits at times with the good-for-nothing cad when he challenged her. He had the audacity to continue to write things that were completely inappropriate for a woman's eyes (let alone a Queen), at first he apologized if he offended her, explaining that he had written such things because he believed her steward was reading the letters before burning them in the fire and he "wanted to provide the pompous windbag something entertaining to read." Yet he persisted in gloating (to her, a Queen) about things such as his violent and bloody naval battles and resulting injuries or conquests with his Queen Mother's least favourite courtier (evidently he exalts in his successful annoyance of his Queen Mother).
She had made an off-handed remark questioning his physical prowess and inferred he had a lack of abilities with the fairer sex after he recounted to her some midnight escapade that ended badly. Hans seemed appropriately offended, "You are simply EVIL, Your Majesty. So evil one might say you are from the fruit of the Devil – EVIL! Hurting the pride of a dashing Prince such as myself with your ridiculous accusations which are completely unfounded". She was feeling particularly malevolent as she wrote, "But of course, Hans! I AM the Evil Queen, ruler of my majestic fairy tale kingdom, and while you may be the heroic Prince - you failed. Thus, I get to tell the story the way I want. And in my fairy tale, you lack finesse with women."
His reply came quickly.
H.M. The Evil Queen,
Thank you for acknowledging that I am indeed the HEROIC Prince who saved your Kingdom from the detrimental effects of YOUR cursed and evil winter, and the Duke of Weaselton's attempts to weaken Arendelle by hoarding its tradeable goods. And, may I add, without my aid, your darling sister's heart would have frozen solid.
You're welcome, Your Grace.
I have the honour to be, Madam, Your Majesty's humble and obedient servant, regardless of your truly evil nature, My Queen.
The Heroic Prince Hans
Elsa expected something along those lines to be his reply, laughing gleefully…regardless of how horrified she was that they were teasing each other about something so terrible. Anna, on the other hand, refused to allow Elsa to reply or write further, "No. You're done. Find a new topic of conversation or I shall forbid further correspondence with the jerk."
It was late winter, just before what should have been the thaw of spring when her world shifted and she was forced to face the dark reality of rule.
Arendelle had fallen under attack.
Her Fleet Admiral began sombrely, "I fear we have failed to prepare you for the realities of war; mistakenly we assumed there was the luxury of time on our side, Your Majesty."
The Barrier Islands had fallen under attack by forces from Weaselton during the dead of winter, when the majority of the Arendelle fleet was iced into harbours and unable to engage. The reports from the Barrier Islands were that there were civilian casualties and great loss of property and infrastructure, every ship and vessel destroyed. The Barrier Islands were now under the control of Weaselton and The Arendelle fleet had thus far been unsuccessful due to the weather to assist effectively or provide protection.
Elsa sat wide-eyed and half-hearing what was said, frost coating the floor and ice crackling up the walls, "Oh no. No…" A cold ache caught her chest as time stood still. That is until she realized she was stark raving MAD.
That…BASTARD!
She drew breath threw her nose slowly as her eyes drifted closed, centring herself and in a heartbeat the ice vanished. She didn't need to intimidate her own people, it was the outside world that needed the reminder of exactly who she was…who she could be.
A MONSTER.
Thankfully, what her Admiral wanted was a livid Queen, spoiling for a fight.
She's pretty sure she's simply acquiescing to his requests due to her inexperience, her insecurity, and her delicate sensibilities (Hans' taunting words came to mind). Plans were made and funds released from the treasury to support relief efforts once control was regained, and Elsa cried herself to sleep in Anna's arms that night – too weary to think.
Prince Hans visited her dreams that night (and every other night during the crisis). In her weakness she sought refuge in his arms while he whispered tender words of reassurance that she could do it, she would unite Arendelle once again and asked her to allow him to help...to help save Arendelle and keep her and her people safe while professing his undying love for her. He captured her lips and she was lit ablaze with passion and lust as erotic images flashed, even coming to climax under his touch and awakening to a frozen room and snow blanketing every visible surface…her heart raced as consciousness set it. It became a routine; awake horrified then conjure an icy reincarnation of him just to blast him into tiny pieces with her magic – retribution for lurking around in her dreams, uninvited and unwelcomed. She felt much better after that and could face herself in the mirror.
Reports began to surface of the Southern Isles Naval Fleet having come to the aid of the Barrier Islands, providing access to medical attention and resources after challenging and destroying the Weaselton ships who did not retreat. The Southern Isles Naval Fleet under the command of Admiral Westergård secured the harbours and drove back the invaders in the name of Her Majesty, Queen Elsa of Arendelle.
Anna was unwilling to comment regarding Hans' involvement until Elsa began ranting furiously one night after a glass of wine, "He assumes I am simply a delicate little Queen, helpless and without resources, so he has to step in without asking! He didn't even give me a chance to fight my own battle. These are MY PEOPLE. My Arendelle. Not his!"
Anna huffed, "Put the glass of wine down and get over yourself already! This is not the time for delusions of grandeur, Elsa! He owes us. Let him help when we couldn't. Our harbours were frozen solid, his were not. And the Southern Isles has amassed the largest and most successful navy in this region of the world, and intervened in support of us! Why are you mad at him?"
Elsa froze, startled by Anna's words and insight. "You're right. I'm. I. I'm so sorry." She looked sadly at Anna before embracing her tightly, "It's not about me. Or him. Or us. It's about the people of Arendelle and ensuring they are protected and cared for."
"Yes, it is. And please feel free to yell at him - later. Just…not now," Anna smiled. "Now is time to demonstrate the nobility of grace and humble appreciation, right?"
Elsa refrained from comment until her military council meeting a few weeks later, when a letter from the Admiral of the Southern Isles Fleet Forces arrived, personally address to Her Majesty, Queen Elsa of Arendelle. It did not escape her notice that is was penned in HIS hand.
Elsa broke the seal and read the note before her council and Fleet Admiral, narrowing her eyes and balling the parchment up and pitching it at her Admiral, "You sailors are truly something, Sir." She rose and stalked out of the meeting and straight to Anna's chambers.
"That jerk wasted a piece of parchment to tell me, 'You're welcome'. Seriously. An entire sheet of parchment for two words," Elsa growled as she entered Anna's room.
Anna glanced up from her needlepoint and sighed, "You know he's a jerk, why would you expect otherwise? I told you it was a bad idea to correspond with him. He's now under the impression he can say whatever he wants to you, however he wants to say it. And although I disagree with his methods, we should be thanking him. Right, Elsa?"
Elsa bit her lip and sat beside Anna, fidgeting with her fingers and averting her gaze, "I don't know why this bothers me so much. I – I wield the forces of winter but can't keep my kingdom safe by myself."
Anna giggled, "No, you can't. And you know what, that's okay. You'll be prepared next winter for something like this happening and stop it. But, this time, Hans helped. It's not the end of the world." Anna dropped her needlepoint into her lap and took Elsa's hands into hers, "Have you said 'thank you' yet to him? Because without his help, the Barrier Islands would currently be under the control of Weaselton."
Elsa's lips thinned as she stared hard at Anna, "I really don't like you sometimes, Most Important One."
"I love you, too," Anna smirked as she kissed Elsa on the cheek. "Now then. You have a letter to write, don't you?"
It was the next morning her letter to Admiral Prince Hans Westergård, Commander of the Southern Isles Fleet Forces, departed for the Southern Isles.
Hans,
Thank You.
Elsa
