A/N: I confess to being very torn as to the rating on this story. I do not intend to write anything that was more risqué than I had originally - however it did (and does) flirt heavily with the rating for "adult activities". Forgive me for assuming that if you've read to this point in the story, you likely need little warning of where Hans and Elsa are headed. (To bed. They are headed to bed.)

Again, thanks for reading and following - please review! :)

Hours ago the fog made Hans' mind clearer - something about being able to draw breath and watch himself push steam into the air. What should have been instinctive was now an odd, unfamiliar sensation as he became accustomed to his new shape. Hans releases a breath in a huffed plume, staring into the dark fjord and trying to come to terms with recent epiphanies.

"Magic, such as hers, will end my Kingdom," Triton had said. He spoke without anger or judgement, rather simply stated fact. "I've known there would be one with the power, eventually. The power to isolate and starve my oceans from the air and sun. One who could destroy the delicate ecosystems of the sea. When Queen Elsa unleashed her potential, freezing my northern waters, I knew it was her. She would be the key to my undoing. Evidently I was not the only one to take notice."

It took hours to unravel things to a few simple truths.

One: Triton had found Hans collapsed near what appeared to be Uma's lair. Hans shared he suspected the sunken ship was Arednellian, Triton confirmed that evidence suggested the wreckage was indeed the final resting place of the late King and Queen. Neither merman (or rather, now man or merman), believed Uma to be so short-sighted as to return.

Two: There was the truth that Uma was looking to take power over the seas as well as revenge, retribution for what King Triton had done to Ursula and Morgana (but unlike her mother (or aunt), it would seem she knows the key to Triton's undoing). Intuitively Hans feels that Uma's sense of entitlement may stem from something else as well, but frankly he's in no position to press for more from his Grandfather.

Three: Uma had begun to extract Elsa's magic from her once she had Elsa in her clutches, preying upon the Snow Queen. King Triton failed to elaborate how, how Elsa may have been harmed (especially after Hans' rage became unhelpfully evident). Triton said simply that despite Elsa being near death, he believed Elsa was resisting Uma when he found her. Hans is struggling with that. To hear of such cruelty...with a sickening roll of nausea Hans finds need to destroy the sea-witch, unable to stop the surge of possessive anger. (He wants his fin back so he can find Uma himself. Triton said no.)

Four: King Triton has a very healthy regard for Queen Elsa. If he were anyone other than the Great and Powerful ruler of the sea, Hans would likely classify it as fear. Triton needs Elsa's support. Binding Hans to Elsa through marriage is absolutely to the Sea-King's advantage.

Five: And then there was the truth behind the siren's bond - information Hans wishes he had before using it, although he suspects it wouldn't have changed his decision when he found Elsa drowned, just given reason to hesitate longer. His Grandfather cited it as primary justification for a betrothal. Just in case Hans is successful.

(An archaic remnant of magic from a time when there were so few of the species, leaving little option for overall survival except to seek a human mate - the powerful magic able to bind to the chosen human for a lifetime. Triton promised an old sage was to be consulted regarding this, once she was located. Hans isn't feeling very reassured with that.)

Six: Not that Hans has a low threshold for pain, and nor will he complain about it, but he has become unaccustomed to standing on feet. Although it may not be of great significance, it still hurts.

"You royals certainly do make a mess out of magic," Kristoff says, smirk plastered to his face and interrupting Hans' thoughts.

When Kristoff has Hans' attention he turns, throwing his head over his shoulder in a come on already motion.

Kristoff has heard everything, thus has reason to make such an accusation. Hans looks at the man, arms crossed to his chest as he tries to process a response. Hans really can't. It is a mess.

"Thank you for that assessment," Hans says finally.

Kristoff huffs a laugh. It sound like 'you're welcome'.

Kristoff's stride is slow, but confident, as he leads Hans back towards the castle.

With his next step, Hans suddenly can recall laughing gregariously as a boy at an odd sight on a beach, one thanks to his Queen Mother - the sight of neatly ordered stockings and shoes on a woolen blanket waiting on the sand, a baker's dozen pairs of footwear arranged by birth order greeting him and his brothers upon arriving on the Southern Isles beaches following under-sea visits with his Grandfather.

He knows now why she did it.

The skin of Hans' feet are blistered, flesh torn open to punish him for every step he takes - it feels as if he's trodden on sharp knives.

"So you're now the lynchpin keeping Elsa sane and essentially uniting three Kingdoms?" Kristoff says, somewhat sarcastic and sudden.

Hans momentarily forgets the pain as what Kristoff says sinks in. It is rather absurd to think.

"Good to know I am useful." Hans sighs. "Evidently."

Kristoff huffs another laugh.

Hans was taught, years ago, that the job of the lesser princelings (and there were no lesser than him) was to be politically useful. So Hans knows by now how to serve as a proud ornament, a collection of accomplishments. He will always be that; he will always want to succeed. But somehow, bound to Elsa and called to her, he wants be so much more as well. He can endure whatever pain necessary to be useful.

Hans realizes he has difficulty with trying to place Kristoff's accent, distinctively northerner.

"Forgive me, but what is your heritage? Laplander?" Hans knows nothing of this man who evidently speaks his mind, aside from his obvious affection for Princess Anna. She must be absolutely enamored with him, as well as the rest of the Arendelle court, for him to still be around after all these years.

"Yeah," Kristoff says, his voice rings with years of discrimination at the observation, yet is unoffended. "Sami. Raised by good folks who know good magic. And use it right."

"Unlike me," Hans supplies. No need for Kristoff to hide his distaste, Hans decides.

"Listen," Kristoff stops, turning to face Hans. There is something complex in his gaze, betraying the turmoil he must be conflicted with. "Don't mistake my help for anything like friendship. I'm doing this for Elsa."

"I appreciate your honesty," Hans senses there may actually be more to his help, but sees no value in pressing for that information in this moment. "I am also doing this for Elsa."

"Not that you could help yourself."

Hans sighs. It is mortifying to say aloud.

"Good luck explaining that one." Kristoff frowns, offering some vague impersonation (of Hans), "Glad I could save your life. By the way, now you're my mate."

Hans bristles angrily at that, "You'd do well to remember that Queen Elsa is neither animal nor beast, mindlessly fornicating because instinct demand it."

"You're going to have to tell Elsa," Kristoff says, looking mildly impressed. "And sorry if I offended, but that is essentially what's happened."

Hans hates how this man is right, "I will have to figure out how to tell her. This is something one must not simply blurt out thoughtlessly."

As you just demonstrated, Hans does not say.

"You realize Anna will do her level best to make things as painful as possible for you?" Kristoff shakes his head as he pivots towards an unassuming door.

"I think that is a given, although I never meant for any of this to happen - I intended to remain out of mind for her, as well as Elsa."

"Think you failed there."

Hans decides that Kristoff must enjoy stating the obvious bluntly, in an odd, socially-inept way. As Hans finds no reason to respond further, he simply falls silent.

Kristoff leads them through what Has recognizes as servant's halls. They eventually arrive at a door, the Queen's apartments Hans gathers, that Kristoff hesitates to knock upon.

Kristoff grinds his teeth before offering a quick rap on the wood. Without waiting for a clear response, Kristoff is twisting the knob.

Hans hates this almost bewildered hope he has that since he's now human, the bond will be weaker, less persistent. Although he can sense no difference in quality or intensity, not yet, maybe it is for Elsa.

As Elsa quickly joins him in her private drawing room, precise and careful with no wasted movements, eyes fixed on him, Hans knows. The bond is as effective as ever in drawing her to him. Elsa seems to betray clearly that her control is about to shatter, regardless of who sees, or who knows. She looks like she is about to devour him.

"Hans."

The way Elsa sighs his name she may well be a siren herself. He'd eagerly tame seas or go to the ends of the Earth for her, and can feel his smile spill across his mouth despite the fact her gaze fixes itself to the floor beneath his feet, frowning.

Kristoff, thankfully, is astute enough to recognize the inevitably of it all. And so it is with a blatant disregard for what should be protocol that he offers a respectful nod to Elsa and grabs Anna's hand, leaving no room for argument as he makes his leave.

"We'll talk in the morning?" Kristoff asks under his breath to Elsa while shooting a threatening glance at Hans.

"Of course," Hans says quickly.

Anna looks so openly shocked, lips parted with a caught-back breath, that Hans almost laughs.

Anna has a confused glare leveled on Kristoff which fails to impress the man as he proceeds to shoo her towards the door.

Elsa wets her lips, looking pathetically incapable of responding with anything other than the short nod she gives to Kristoff.

Hans fully expects her to surge forth, impulsive and frantic at him.

When she fails to do so, he does, forgetting the agony each step causes him.

She's in that beautiful icy gown she wears, but it's dry this time, unlike the other times he's been graced with the honor to touch her, and it feels nothing like the cold iced fragments and tiny sharp edges, almost like sparkling scales, that it might be made of. It's cool and silken instead, and he can feel every subtle curve and edge of her underneath. Elsa arches on her toes once he's standing in front of her, snags the collar of his shirt with her hands and kisses him hard, bruising and punishing and desperate. Hans' arms band tight around her waist, hauling her body in close against him until she can feel the pounding throb of his heartbeat in time with hers.

"We have - " Hans manages when her lips shift from his slightly to allow for air, " - much to discuss."

"Stop talking," she mumbles, there is a delightful keen that escapes with her gruff command. It's visceral and instinctual and pours heat into his veins.

Then she stops. Stops kissing him.

Don't ever stop...

Elsa frowns, hard. "You're hurt?" It's like she just remembered what she had been thinking earlier.

Oh. His feet.

"Not really, just unaccustomed to walking on land. The friction..." he mumbles, biting her bottom lip, stroking with his tongue to encourage her to return to kissing him.

She doesn't.

"Please." Elsa pants. She ducks her chin, calling out to Kristoff, "Send for a physician to tend to Prince Hans. He'll need bandages."

There is a grunted 'sure' in response. At least that is what Hans thinks Kristoff might have said before a door shuts loudly.

"I'll be fine, Elsa." Hans attempts to reassure with a steadying hand caressing her back. Her eyes roam over him with concern as she studies him. It feels so natural that Hans' lips tug a confused smile.

"The bond? You need - "

Her lips are so soft that they may be all he needs until the end of time, he thinks madly as she kisses him.

"I need." Elsa says like a filthy confession, oddly reassuring. "But not if you are hurt."

Elsa is so open with her expressions, the desire raging within her written plainly in her eyes, that Hans fails to argue. He wonders if she is so open with everyone these late years, or if this is simply another cruel facet of the magic he cursed her with. She's nothing like the rigid, calculating young monarch he met at her coronation.

At present, she is half-mad with lustful, wanton urges. And every fiber of her is his. So Hans has to resume kissing her.

Elsa smears her grin into his skin when a soft rap at the door is heard a very, very short time later. She fails to answer, instead enraptured in the different ways she can just kiss him while standing up, hands roaming his frame and learning his shape (it is new, and Hans finds their difference in height absolutely ideal for such an act, she's a perfect fit against him).

There is a startled cough and a stuttered, "Your Majesty." A throat clears, "The physician has arrived for Prince Hans."

Elsa extracts herself from Hans' embrace with an air of authority, and Hans watches as the weight of the Crown settles upon her once more. She gives soft commands without a hint of apology or embarrassment to the physician, then to a valet, and settles herself in a corner chair with a book as Hans is ushered away to be cared for.

After Hans is bathed, wounds tended and bound, and offered a light meal with the first glass of wine he's tasted in years (something dark without heavy astringency, with hints of savory notes - Hans assumed Elsa would prefer whites, he is pleasantly surprised), he finds himself exhausted and being led by Elsa to her bedchamber.

Hans' fingers are woven between hers, cherished and adored, as she pulls him over her, all bare skin, soft and warm as they become one - it is by far the most meaningful and intense experience of his life. His world suddenly focuses with clarity, his purpose and role to remain at this angel's side calling to him, to spend a lifetime adoring reverently and serving. It is with dream-like perfection they reach completion, together - Elsa giving a faint cry like a young bird of prey. It leaves sleep to claim him peacefully with Elsa curled along his side, her breath steady across his flesh. Hans' last lucid thought is that there is no way he deserves to be rewarded with a lifetime of this fate.

When Elsa startles awake a short time later, rightful mind firmly in place without influence of the bond, and delivers a confused and furious shove to his side which translates very clearly into get away, Hans realizes he does deserve this.