Chapter 6:

"She's been properly restrained, Prince Hans."
Hans yanked his gloves from a lone stool resting in the corner of the castle's living room and nodded. "Alright, I'll be there in a moment."
Kai bowed deeply to signify sympathy and disappeared from the entrance to the room. Hans took a moment to stare off to the abyss of loneliness in front of him. The beckoning inside of him that had both sparked and plummeted his confidence spoke in kind now.

"Why are you here?"

There was no answer. So, for the first time in years, Hans did as he was supposed to do.

He descended down a long, narrow stairway that directed him to the prison cells. As a moral and orderly society, Arendelle punished prisoners guilty of treason with severe recompense. Whether an instigator of such crimes or not, this was the treatment he had ordained for Queen Elsa.

Utter quiet pervaded the cell. His quick footsteps left only small, indistinct echoes.

In about a minute's time, he had reached Queen Elsa.

Her eyes paid his appearance no mind. She seemed lost, swept away by everything she had done. Without thinking twice, she had subjected an entire kingdom to her will. As days passed, she would soon hear of the kingdom she inherited succumbing to the dead air she'd created. Families would fade into dust, their corpses hidden away from their resting spot in the corners of their homes.

Worst of all, she had no one to tell this to. Princess Anna still hadn't returned.

Hans would be her only counsel in these matters.

Furrowing his brow, he slid the prison door open, the worn metal emanating ear-splitting sounds from its core.

"Queen Elsa?"

Her head followed the sound of his voice. Wrinkles had formed under her eyes. Her hands were streaked with red, a trickle of blood falling from her wrist. Trying to escape was a futile effort, but she apparently had something to fight for.

Hans hardly comprehended her passion.

"You have to let me out of here." She strained further at the chains. "I need to speak with my sister."

Hans sighed for a moment, and knelt his leg down. The cold, wet ground jerked the knee fold in his pants back against his leg.

"Princess Anna has not returned."
"What happened?" Her eyes widened. "Why hasn't she returned?"
"I don't know," He shook his head uncertainly. "I don't know,"
Her face retreated back.

"I've considered launching another search party to find her. But before I can do that, I need you to use your powers to stop this winter."
"I can't," She spat, her arms still fidgeting against their restraints. "I have no control over my powers. I can't fix this; there is no way I could."

"You could at least try."
"I have!"

The chains shook against the ground. "My entire life was all an attempt to repress my abilities. But it didn't work; as my powers grew stronger and more dangerous, it only became harder to control. I realize now it was only a matter of time before I snapped."
Her head jerked towards the window. Small inklings of snow added to the growing wasteland spreading across Arendelle.

"So, there is nothing you can do,"
"I need to speak to Princess Anna," Her eyes narrowed. "It is our only hope."

Hans faltered for a moment. He shook uncomfortably at her new-found awareness.

"I understand if you don't believe me, Queen Elsa... But I truly do love your sister."
He walked several steps backwards.

"And I promise; she will be found."
The door slammed shut. His discontent stature vanished from Elsa's sight.

Another minute later, he reappeared on the upper floors of the castle.

"Prince Hans,"
Francis dashed forward to greet him. "You spoke with Queen Elsa?"
"Yes," His face grew downcast. "I did."

With that, Francis peered closer into Hans' eyes, trying to decipher what secret lay behind them.

"What 'zen, should be our next course of action?"

"I will reveal that when I call in the other dignitaries," He clapped his hands. "Kai,"
The attendant burst with unrestrained vigor towards the Prince's direction. "Yes, your majesty,"
"Call the dignitaries to the chambers besides us. There is a matter I need to discuss."
"As you wish, Prince Hans,"
His presence was gone in an instant. Francis shifted back to the young Prince.
"If I may ask 'zis... The offer I informed you of earlier? Does that have anything to do with-"
"No,"
His flat tone dissuaded the French Dignitary from pressuring him further. Hans shifted his gaze down the hallway as he entered the living room.

In a matter of minutes, all called for members were in attendance.

"Thank you for heeding my call in such an obedient manner,"
He started and then quickened his pace.

"I spoke to Queen Elsa. Apparently, she has no control over her powers."
Murmurs spread through the gathering of important persons. The Duke of Weselton, meanwhile, crossed his arms in disapproval.

"However, she did tell me our only hope was to locate Princess Anna and have her speak to her."
Members of the crowd exchanged glances with each other.

"Therefore, I vote we should send another party to locate her. I will head this second search,"
"Prince Hans, if I may,"
Javier objected almost immediately.

"Yes?"
He quietly stole the spotlight in the room by taking several steps forward.

"With all due respect, leaving Arendelle now would be foolhardy."
"But-"
"Princess Anna has entrusted this kingdom's welfare to you. If you never returned, Arendelle would fall under total chaos."
Hans released his tightened fist.

"Yes,"
The French dignitary stepped up to him.
"You are all that Arendelle has left."
Hans stood still for a moment. His hand swept through his scalp, trying desperately to keep his composure. A horrible thought came to mind just then; maybe the dignitaries were right. Maybe he couldn't leave to find her.

Maybe finding her was a fruitless effort anyways.

"Prince Hans!"
Kai's voice earned the attention of everyone in the room. The entirety of the gathered were put into shock.

Princess Anna had arrived; now carried by two maids under Kai's employment, her hair was streaked with an uncharacteristic white.

"Anna! You're back,"

He gently let her down from the hold of the attendents.

"I was so worried about you-"
"Hans, you have to kiss me."
"Wh-what?" Crimson red blossomed on his cheeks.
"Please, there isn't much time,"
"We'll leave you two alone," An elderly attendant reassured them, ushering the dignitaries out. Hans noticed the Duke of Weselton roll his eyes before exiting the room.

They were alone.

"Anna... What's wrong?"
"It's Elsa; I found her, but she wouldn't listen to me. We got mad at each other, and then she froze my heart."
"Froze your heart?" A tinge of hatred planted itself in Hans' heart. "I thought you said she would never hurt you."
"I was wrong," Hans laid her down on the couch. "But we have to hurry. Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart."
"True love's kiss..."
Hans hadn't mentally prepared himself for this at all. Even with an entire kingdom at stake, he was only thinking of how flustered he felt at locking lips with a beautiful 18-year old.

"Even now, I'm still thinking about myself."

However, he'd pull through. After all, there was no other choice.

Silently, he leaned his head towards hers. She followed his lead slightly, her eyes shutting a moment before his. An instant later, he felt warmth caress his lips.

He forgot about the kingdom; about his plan to usurp Arendelle, about how uncertain he was about his next move, and even about the past that had prompted him to act.

All he felt was this kiss.

And it was a feeling he wanted to last forever.

His daze had hypnotized him such, it took him a moment to realize it had ended.

He opened his eyes, and looked into the eyes of Princess Anna of Arendelle.

A warm smile had spread over her face.

And her hair was the stark auburn color he knew so well.