But with you
I found my place
I see your face
And it's nothing like I've ever known before
Love is an open door
She was late the next day; Hans caught himself pacing up and down his majestic chambers, pausing now and then and tapping his foot nervously.
Did she make up her mind, he asked himself over and over again, and angrily sighed on each occasion.
No, she couldn't have – he was absolutely charming. He felt, no, he knew that yesterday she opened up to him. She was so different from her previous self, so carefree and radiant, and even a bit cheeky. Hans let out a smile when he thought about last night. If Linda turns out to be this way, this whole charade may not be such a big nuisance after all…
Bored, he stepped to the window which overlooked the way from the city to the palace; there were already merchants gathered on the outskirts of the city, selling off their various goods. It was a warm, sunny day, albeit a bit windy, which was a special trait of the weather in the Southern Isles.
He heard the door open and a hooded figure slid into the room quietly. He felt his heart jump at the sight of her: she looked pale and a bit anxious.
'We have to hurry, Hans' she whispered, and started in his direction. He did the same, and they met in the middle of the room; the prince reached out and gently held her hand.
'Is there something wrong?' he inquired.
'I am afraid your brother suspects something' Linda said reluctantly, avoiding eye contact 'And since your royal father is sick…'
'Father is sick?' Hans murmured surprised to himself. Why did no one tell him?
'Yes, in the last few days. Did you not know?'
He shook his head, but wiped the concerned look from his face immediately, saying: 'Let's not talk about this now. I want to use the time I have with you, princess.'
She smiled warmly at him, and squeezed his hands a tiny bit. Then she handed over the cape he got him, and they quietly snuck out of the room.
'How much did it take to bribe the guards?' Linda asked smiling once they were already walking within the midst of servants heading for the fair.
'Not that much. Their pay must be awful' Hans admitted with a sly smile back and offered his arm to her, but she playfully elbowed him.
'I cannot, Hans' she said in a low voice 'You are already the nicest looking man in the crowd, we don't want to attract any unwanted attention with courteous behaviour, do we?'
'No we don't' he ginned, and grabbed her hand as if they were just two regular people and not royalty; she laughed heartily in response.
It marvelled her how playful and mischievous Hans actually was. Sure, his manners were impeccable when needed, he was even a bit on the disgustingly charming side of it all in the beginning, and her first opinion of him wasn't flattering – he was a prince after all. And princes, well, to her experience, tended to be the same.
But Hans, she started to realize yesterday, was different. There was something in him, something interesting and dangerous behind that sly smile and confident, or even daring personality he showed lately, but she could not really put her finger on what it exactly was.
However, despite all her precautions, she realized she experienced immense amount of fun with the young prince.
The summer fair of the Isles was bustling with people from all around the kingdom and the neighbouring countries. There were endless amounts of wares: pots and pans, types of fish she had never seen before, fine wood- and metalwork, just to name a few. People were bustling in the streets, and there were so many merchants that some had to set up their carriages outside of the small city. Folk music was played everywhere, and Linda noticed with a smile that people sometimes started to spontaneously dance to the melody of the flutes and violins.
'Do you like it here?' Hans asked in a raised voice, so he could be heard above the music and the chatter of the people.
'I love it' Linda replied, realizing she was grinning like never before lately 'It's wonderful here!'
'Then let's dance!' Hans laughed and grabbing her by the waist.
'No, please-' but her faint protest was repressed by her own laughter as Hans pulled her close and started to dance with her to the chirpy sound of a folksong. He was a great dancer, she noted to herself, and apparently not just in the stiff environment of the royal ballrooms. He spun her around so much, she started to feel dizzy, but it did not bother her at all; the sun, the merry mood of all the people around them, and Hans' smiling eyes made her want to live in this perfect moment forever. The music's beat got faster, and they skipped and turned around laughing until the tune came to a stop. Then they too, stopped, a bit out of breath, and looked each other deep in the eye, smiling and still holding hands. The people started clapping around them, and they realized they had been in the center of attention for the last few minutes.
Just a second later faint murmurs started to spread across the crowds. People started to whisper among themselves, and Linda felt herself drawn away. She could still hear a woman quietly saying 'I think that's the little prince-' before Hans led her further away to a shadowy alley.
'I'm sorry, I got carried away there' Hans said apologetically, putting on his most courteous smile 'But I must admit, it was your fault' he added more cheekily. Linda smirked and pushed him playfully with her shoulder, then grabbed him by the arm.
'Come, I still want to see so many things.'
'You seem quite excited. Don't you have such occasions in your home country in… Oh, pardon me princess, I think I have not paid attention what your kingdom's name was' he said, and she stiffened.
'Holstein' she added quickly, too quickly, even, then, realizing her mistake, repeated the name, now in a normal tone 'I come from the kingdom Holstein. It is in the northern part of the mainlands. And no, unfortunately we do not have fairs like this. My… uh… royal parents quite disagree.'
'What a shame. Even though fairs like these are quite much fun' Hans replied, and there was something faint in his tone which made Linda uneasy. Did he notice her slip back there? She realized she was playing with her hair and quickly placed her free hand on Hans' arm as well. It was quite difficult to be herself and not to be herself at the same time.
'You must've heard of the fine fabric of the Southern Isles' Hans said a few minutes later when they neared a merchant who was selling a variety of bonnets, capes, dresses and scarves 'Let me buy you something' he gently whispered in her ears, and she blushed.
'No need, Hans, really…'
But he already stepped to the carriage with her by his side, and picked up a beautiful set of blue silk gloves.
'I see you are quite fond of your gloves, and these would go well with your eyes' he remarked smilingly, offering the gloves for her. She glanced nervously at her own gloves and then at the new pair, and pondered for a second. Forcing on a smile, she said:
'I have no chance but to oblige, right? But then let me try them on' and she snatched the gloves from his hand, and turned away.
'Are they not too hot for this season?' Hans inquired 'There are some lace ones here as well.'
'No, no, no, these will be just perfect' Linda answered, turning around again, and holding her hands up, smiling, but looking quite flustered.
'What's with the gloves, anyway?' Hans asked playfully after paying for the ware 'I hope you are not like the ice queen from my tale yesterday. Remember, she wore gloves too.'
'Oh, I just wish' Linda said with a nervous smile 'If I had ice powers like her, I would've escaped from home years ago…' then she abruptly stopped and changed the subject 'It's a tradition in our kingdom. None may see a young lady's wrists lest for her fiancé.'
'I'm sorry to say that this tradition is shockingly stupid' Hans admitted amused, but she did not answer, only bowed her head.
'Come' she heard him say 'I want to show you something.'
They sat at the end of a pier, eating apple dipped in caramel, which, according to Hans, was one of the traditional and best cuisines in the Southern Isles. While eating the almost painfully sweet treat impaled on a small stick, Linda was so dazzled by the view of the great big ocean and the huge, magnificent ships in front of them, that she did not notice when the sleeve of her dress fell back, revealing her arms.
She only came to, when she heard Hans' harsh and cold voice:
'Who did this?'
Linda came to, and quickly tucked back her sleeve to conceal the dark blue and purple marks on her arms, accidentally dropping the apple into the water below them.
'No one' she whispered, not looking at the prince 'I just fell.'
'Someone hurt you. Please do not try to hide it, Linda' he replied coolly 'Tell me who it was.'
She did not say a word for a long time. She was pondering her chances and options. Would it make sense to make the two brothers turn against each other? Yesterday she thought so. Her whole plan revolved around this, even. But now… now that she knew… now everything was different.
'It was my eldest brother, right?' Hans asked, gently reaching out and lifting her chin. She stood his gaze, and nodded slightly without saying anything; he would find out eventually anyway, there was no reason to lie. But looking at him like that and seeing the hurt in his eyes she realized she made a mistake for coming with him today.
'He… and father… want you to marry him.' he asked quietly, but it sounded more like a statement. She did not answer 'Did he send away my brothers because of this?'
'I don't know' Linda replied, and in all honesty, she did not.
If everything would have gone according to her plans, she would have played the royal brothers against each other, and would have married the one who came out as a winner of the rivalry. The one who then no one would dare to oppose of the other brothers.
There would've been some fights, wars even, Linda knew this well and it was a part of her plan. When she first heard of the twelve brothers it amazed her that they did not turn on each other up to this point. But then she got here and got to know the four princes and caught herself wishing the winner would end up to be Hans, although all odds were against the youngest prince.
But things have changed this morning. It would still go her way, Linda kept telling herself, and if she could dismiss these fleeting feelings for Hans, she could still win: she would marry the heir to the kingdom and become queen… then again, she noted to herself, there was the old king, still alive, to consider.
Hans's voice made her start:
'And what do you want?'
Linda was so surprised she could not answer for some minutes.
'Hans, I…'
But he pulled her close and kissed her before she could say anything more. This time she did not protest but embraced his neck and kissed him back passionately and they stayed like that for long, long minutes. When they drew apart, Hans said in a serious tone, under his breath:
'I know you need to marry my older brothers to unite the two kingdoms. I just wish I was one of them.'
Linda felt she cannot hold back anymore: she wanted to tell him how stupid this all was, how right now she felt just like he did, and who she really was…
'Can we not…' she said hesitantly '… just escape? Live like normal people.'
When she looked at Hans, her heart sunk, because she already had her answer.
He looked away uneasy, and seemed extremely tense. Of course, she then thought, realizing what that trait was she could not identify in Hans earlier that day: it was how similar they both were. Both of them desired the crown and were willing to bend their own personalities and hide behind masks in order to win it over. They could not give up this ultimate goal, or they would see themselves as losers, complete failures. Maybe they were just that already.
Before either of them could say anything more, they heard horses trotting on the wooden pier behind them, and turned around.
'There you are' Eric said, disdainfully looking down at the two from his white horse. On a horse, his big, muscular build seemed even more threatening, and the stern look he gave them both made him seem frightening, even.
Linda stood up, fixing her gaze on the wooden boards beneath her feet, and slowly walked up to Eric without a word.
'Linda my dear, please do not do that ever again' he said coldly. Linda nodded, not looking up. Eric held out his hands, grabbed her firmly by the waist and lifted her up into the saddle in front of him. The movement was so rough Linda had to try her best not to flinch.
'As for you' the eldest prince then said with a disgusted look at his brother, who looked back at him with empty eyes 'The guards will escort you to the prison' Eric turned his horse around, but looked back and almost spat the next words: 'Stop pretending you're a real prince. You're just a dirty nobody with no power and no one behind you. You're no-one here, you rat.'
And with that, they rode off.
Linda didn't hear the chatter of the people around them or what Eric was saying to her. The world was non-existent to her. With all her might, she tried to choke back the tears that burned her eyes.
