So here's a surprise update! In honour of Germany winning the World Cup! I'm a huge Germany fan, so I turned my happiness into determination and here's how it ended - a new chapter!

I hope you all liked the previous chapter. It took a really long time to write so it's a little more structured, yet it's also very sketchy on details. Thank you for all your wonderful reviews, they really made my day and inspired me to write this chapter very quickly so I could get it up. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen. And the cover image is from deviantart, by eminaytor. That doesn't belong to me either.


Chapter 11

"What do you mean, all this is futile? You're just going to let her die?" Anna's harsh voice demanded as she lashed out at Pabbie. Kristoff stood by her and gently laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. She didn't mean to snap at the troll king, but knowing that there was nothing that could save Elsa crushed her.

The troll sighed deeply. "I wish I could heal her, but as this report says, there is no magic strong enough or research advanced enough to cure such a disease. I may be able to make her a little more comfortable, but I cannot prevent death. I am sorry."

Kristoff nodded slightly. "Do what you can, Grand-Pabbie. And thank you." The troll king nodded and put two firm hands on Elsa's head. Magic began to flow from inside him to his hands, which glowed a warm yellow.

Anna took one look at her dying sister and immediately broke down. Her knees buckled beneath her and she buried her face in her hands. Hot tears began flowing down her face as she wept for Elsa. "There is no hope, then. Elsa is as good as dead," she lamented in between sobs.

As she said this, Elsa opened her eyes. Pabbie had finished his spell. "Anna," she called. The younger sister looked up at the mention of her name. Pabbie took that as his cue to leave and Kristoff led him away. They both knew how devastating this news was, especially to Anna.

Elsa smiled weakly as Anna scrambled to reach her sister's side. "Elsa...Elsa, please don't die." A fresh stream of tears flowed down from her face and they dripped onto the white sheets.

"That's not my decision to make."

"You can't leave me, Elsa!"

"I can't control when I leave this life. None of us can. I just want to be able to say goodbye."

"You're not going to say goodbye. Elsa, tell me you're not going to die."

Elsa sighed. "I don't want to lie to you."

"But what about our kingdom? Our people? You're going to leave them as well?"

"Anna, You will be a great queen."

"I don't want to be queen! I just want you to live."

She shook her head slowly. "We can't always get what we want."

Anna sighed. "Maybe there's hope. Maybe tomorrow you'll wake up like nothing ever happened. Maybe everything will be alright once again."

"Miracles are too few to ever hope for." Elsa looked away. She knew she had to stay strong even though Anna's pain-stricken face was almost too much to bear. Concealing her feelings, just like she had from the very beginning. She couldn't be free from that even on her deathbed.

Anna looked down, defeated. Tears filled her eyes. How can Elsa remain so calm at such a time? Had her ice powers frozen her ability to feel as well? Elsa was shutting everyone out, creating a barrier of ice around her heart. She had locked herself in once again, so that the pain of feeling would be numbed. But was this act of self-protection really worth seeing her sister in such pain?

No, she decided. It wasn't.

"Anna."

"I'm here, Elsa," she responded, taking her sister's hand in hers.

Elsa's eyes began to water a little. "I don't know what to do, Anna, I'm…" she paused, coughed, and took in a breath. "I'm scared."

"You don't have to be afraid. I'll always be with you."

Elsa shook her head. "No, not always." Not in death, she meant, and Anna understood.

Anna didn't know what to say. She didn't know what could comfort her sister and she didn't dare to open her mouth for fear of saying something foolish. Sometimes she did that, but not now.

The younger sister remained silent, and it was Elsa who spoke again. "You're the best sister I could ever have wished for."

It was too much for Anna. She threw her arms around Elsa's shoulders and wept. Her tears stained the pillow Elsa was lying on, but neither of them cared. Weakly, Elsa laid a comforting hand on her back.

Elsa's eyes began to water and a teardrop slid down her cheek. She remembered the time she thought she had lost Anna, when she was frozen as ice. She had hugged her just as tightly, holding on as firmly as she could without breaking her sister into a million pieces.

And now, as she grew closer to death, she realised she already had broken her sister into a million pieces, starting from the day she locked her out.

Another teardrop was shed. It was too late to make any amends now.

_._._._._.

It was close to dusk when Anna emerged from Elsa's room. She had been there when the physicians came to check on her, when Olaf came to visit her, and when Elsa had fallen asleep.

Anna's grief had turned to anger as she marched down the hallways, Kristoff behind her and walking with her. With great intensity, she barged through the door. "You!" she pointed an accusing finger at Hans.

The prince turned to look at the two. Yes, he knew they were coming. He had been too foolish, too careless. He had left the parchments in his room and when he awoke to find them missing, he knew someone had found it and had taken it. He knew this was going to happen.

Kristoff threw the parchments on the table in his room. "We found these here. These do not belong to you. Explain yourself, now." He took Anna's hand, since she looked mad enough to explode in a moment.

Hans glanced at the pieces of paper in front of him. He knew they were going to ask him about that. He was prepared for it. "Elsa was the one who told me about them. She asked me to take them from her study. I did no wrong by- ah!"

He reeled back and clutched his cheek as Anna stood before him, her hand stinging from the hard slap she had delivered to his face. "You liar!"

Guilt tugged at Hans, though he was careful not to show it. How much pain did she have to go through because of him just so he can be satisfied? He nearly confessed about the parchments, right there and then, but he knew he couldn't. He had gone too far to go back. "I know it is hard to take, your highness, but I swear I'm telling the truth." He took a breath and began to tell the story he had made up.

"The last time I saw Elsa, she was asking about the death of my parents. The incident was many years ago, and I don't remember it that well, to be honest. That's what I told her. She said it didn't matter. She said that there was a document on their deaths in her study, and she wanted me to read it. She had to go for a meeting, and she gave me directions to her study. She told me to take it and to read it. So one day I went into her study and I took the document. It was hard to read but I found the other one with her handwriting. I brought it back here to read the parchments. She didn't say why she wanted me to help get them to, but I suppose now I can guess."

Anna and Kristoff glanced at each other. It sounded true enough to them, and it was a logical explanation. But could they trust anything that came out of his mouth? "Is this true?" Kristoff asked, a serious look on his face.

Hans pulled his lips into a tight line. "Every word." Anna was right, he thought, I really am a liar.

Silence descended for a moment, before Anna looked up. "You know, then, that Elsa's chances of living are very slim?"

There was hope in his brother, Hans knew, but he also knew that it may not be so. He didn't want them expecting something which may never come. "I was hoping that perhaps the physicians could do more with Elsa than they could with my parents, but that doesn't seem to be the case," he sighed.

"Do you know what could have caused this? You've seen this before, so maybe there is something common, something connecting these diseases."

He shook his head. "I'm no physician. I wouldn't know what to begin looking for. I'm sorry."

Anna and Kristoff nodded. They turned to go. "Wait, one more thing," Hans stopped them. "May I see her? Please? Just...let me say goodbye."

The two looked at each other. Anna didn't want him anywhere near Elsa, but she wasn't so cruel as to not let him say his parting words. He may never see Elsa again. And he loved Elsa, just as Elsa loved him. "I'll talk to her," she said, finally.

"Thank you." There was relief in his voice.

She nodded in reply. "Goodbye, Hans." They left him alone in the room once again.

Hans sat on his bed, trying to regain order in his whirling mind. So it really was true. Elsa was dying. He didn't wanted to show how affected he was by the news, but now that they were gone, he buried his face in his hands.

He had to think logically to prevent his emotions from taking over. He had sent the letter to Hamlin about five days ago, and, depending on the wind, the fastest boat could take seven to ten days. That meant that if Helbrede didn't arrive in the next few days, then there really was no hope.

What hope was there at all? Despair clouded his thoughts. He wanted to think about how his plan was ruined, about how his future was gone, but all he could think about was Elsa, lying on her bed, dying.

When had emotions begun to affect him? How had he stopped caring about himself and started caring about himself? At that point in time, he would give up all his plans and all his power, he would leave Arendelle and never return.

If only Elsa would live.

_._._._._.

The room was silent and Hans lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Being cooped inside a room, prisoner to the kingdom, he had to find something to keep himself occupied. This was his way. His body was practically unmoving, but his mind was whirling.

He wondered if that was how prisoners felt when they were in their cell – bitter and regretful. He knew it was cynical to compare himself to those who were sitting in the dungeon, though. He was more a guest of the castle, just trapped inside a room.

Not only that, but he had hope. He could leave, and he would leave. It would just take some time for his plan to work out perfectly. There were a few hiccups on the way, but he could do it. He was good at it. He was better than good, he was brilliant.

A sound came from the door and Hans sat up immediately. It was Kristoff who entered, a frown plastered on his face. He walked over to Hans and towered over him. "No more lies, Hans. I want answers, and I want them now."

Hans offered a shrug and a small smile. "I'm afraid I have no clue what you're talking about. You're going to have to be more specific."

"Enough of that! Elsa did not tell you to get those documents! You were lying about that and I'm pretty sure you've been lying about a whole lot of other things as well."

"Elsa told you this?"

"Yes, she did, which is how I'm so sure that you're lying!"

Hans sighed tiredly and ran his hand over his forehead. "I was afraid of this," he admitted softly. He sounded so weary.

"That you would get caught?" Kristoff laughed bitterly.

He shook his head. "No, that's not what I'm worried about because that's not true." He took in a breath. "When my parents fell ill, they showed signs of mental degradation, namely, forgetting things which they had done previously. I fear this has happened to Elsa as well."

Kristoff arched an eyebrow and folded his arms. "You expect me to believe that? Because it seems like every time I confront you about something, you always come up with something new. This is the last straw. I want the truth, Hans."

"I am telling you the truth."

"No you're not."

The two men stood facing each other, both adamant about their stands. It was a test of faith, and a test of will.

Finally, Hans broke and he looked down. "Fine." He couldn't take it anymore. He had always been a master of deceit, but that was because he could push all emotions away and focus on the task at hand. But now, knowing that Elsa – the woman who chose to forgive him and to love him – was dying, he buckled. "I'll tell you everything. But it's a long story."

"I don't care, I just want the truth."

Hans nodded. He paused for a moment, then, he began. "As you know, I have thirteen brothers. Each of us have different interests and jobs, and one of these brothers is a physician. After my parents died, he dreamed of finding the cure for their sickness."

"Was he successful?" Kristoff interrupted, having an idea of what his words were leading to.

"I don't know," Hans shrugged. "He always hated me and refused to tell me anything. I wrote to Hamlin, my other brother, instructing him to send him over if he had been successful. That was why I needed those documents, to confirm that it really was the same disease that killed my parents."

"But he's coming? He's able to save Elsa?"

"I don't know that either. I told Hamlin not to reply, so that it will remain confidential. My brother Helbrede may be on his way, but it's been almost a week and he hasn't arrived yet. I fear that it's hopeless, that he doesn't have a cure and all this waiting is for nothing."

Kristoff paused, letting the information sink in. A hope for saving Elsa? That had been abandoned the moment Pabbie left. "Why didn't you say anything? This is good news!"

Hans shook his head. "Only if he actually comes. What if I got the whole palace excited, hopeful, waiting for him. But in the end he doesn't arrive and Elsa doesn't make it? Can you imagine the pain? It would be worse than not having any hope at all. Don't tell anyone about this, Kristoff, please. Not even Anna."

"Anna has a right to know!"

"Yes, but she will be the one who will take it the hardest if you give her hope and it crashes down on her. You know Anna, you give her just a bit of hope and she'll make it a big deal."

"Because you know her so well." His voice was soft but powerful. Hans hung his head. How many times did he have to apologise until people would overlook what he had done? Never, probably. Or maybe when his apologies were actually sincere.

"What more do you want from me? I've already said I'm sorry, I've already surrendered. I'm here and I'm in this room doing what I'm told, aren't I?"

"Consider yourself lucky, Hans. If it weren't for Elsa, you'll probably be in prison."

Hans sighed. "I know."

"Why did you even come back? You could have stayed at home, you could have gone to any other land, why come here?"

"I couldn't stay at the Southern Isles…I was exiled. I had to leave, and I thought I'd go to the place where it all began, to try to seek forgiveness." He shrugged. "Besides, where else could I go?"

Kristoff nodded grimly, his lips pulled into a tight line. Over the weeks which turned to months, Kristoff got to know Hans – the broken and exiled prince – different from the Hans he used to know – the evil and malicious traitor. "I should go."

"You're not going to tell anybody, are you? About my letter."

The mountain-man paused and thought for a moment. "I won't tell a soul, you can trust me on that."

Hans allowed a ghost of a smile to flicker across his face. "Thank you, Kristoff. Really."

Maybe he wasn't all that alone, after all.


This chapter is dedicated to the Germany National Team. Without them winning, this chapter would probably have been up in a few more weeks' time. Congratulations to them! They really deserve it, in my opinion. Drop a review to tell me what you think about the chapter, and if you want to talk about football, just leave me a PM. Thank you for reading!

Until next time,
DBT