Chapter Twelve

Elsa held her breath as she climbed down the narrow, dark staircase, burning torch in her left hand. The light guided her careful footsteps as she led the small group of royal guards behind her. Despite the persistent humidity that lingered in the air of the fjord, the dungeon remained considerably cold. The men behind her shivered in their cloaks, but the queen hardly noticed, wearing her favorite sparkling blue gown and moving swiftly through the cold breeze. She paused only to allow the men to catch up.

"…Which cell?" asked Elsa, almost whispering, not wanting her voice to echo through the walls too loudly.

"T-the third." The captain shivered so hard his teeth chattered. Elsa reached for the keys as she moved forward, not wanting to wait. The footsteps shook the prince out from his nap, not realizing he had fallen asleep sitting up, his cold aching back stiff against the brick wall. With no more light filling in the small room from his one barred window, he had a hard time adjusting his eyes to the darkness. He slowly managed to stand to his feet the louder the footsteps became, forgetting his hands were shackled behind his back, tethering him to the ground and far from the door. His shoulders immediately ached as his arms snapped behind him, the chains loudly tightening their grasp in protest to his curiosity. More déjà vu… In more ways than one. Hans closed his eyes and took several deep breaths as the unlocking of the cell door made his stomach churn with uncertainty.

"Thank you for your assistance, gentlemen, but I can manage from here." Said the queen, stepping inward, hanging the bright torch onto a hook next to the door.

"But, your majesty, if I may-"

"I only want to ask a few questions. You are excused, go warm up and see that the 'king' is on his best behavior." Elsa smiled confidently, crossing her arms and raising her one eyebrow. The captain dared not cross her.

"Of, of course your majesty. As you wish." He hesitantly, but hurriedly stepped backwards into the hall, remembering to light a new torch before facing the cold. Elsa watched out the small window from the heavy cell door, always reminding herself to make sure every door she locked at a reassuring layer of ice. The prince slowly opened his eyes again, and watched the stunning ice queen watch as the last light of the soldiers disappeared from sight.

"I suppose you want privacy…" Hans couldn't hide his smirk. "But you could've just, sent me a detailed letter if you wanted me so badly…" Elsa quickly glared over her bare shoulder and turned slowly to face him, her arms still sternly crossed at her chest. The absence of her smile worried him…

"Does this room seem, familiar to you?" the queen stepped slightly closer, away from the heat of the burning fire. The prince's smirk quickly faded. He looked around more carefully, starting to shiver from the cold, but hiding it to the best of his ability.

"…Perhaps." He was afraid to be honest. He stepped back a little further, Elsa's blue eyes growing colder, piercing through his defenses. The more he withdrew from her advance, the more the clouds began to part and let partial moonlight guide his steps.

"You know very well the history of this cell." Elsa raised her hand up to her hair, releasing her bun and allowing her braid to fall down her shoulders. She sighed as she ran her fingers through her bangs and released more of her silver locks, taking in a deep breath as the moonlight made her dress shimmer in the shadows. He was breathless, his skin growing number, unable to feel his feet shivering in his boots. "You put me here yourself." She glared, forcing him to sigh with shame.

"…I understand. But why, all of a sudden, the change of heart? Considering the way things went the last time we," he cleared his throat, "spoke, and… I thought you trusted me-"

"I demand answers Hans." Elsa shouted, raising her hand to the ceiling, slowly forming a layer of beautifully detailed frost against the walls around them. The temperature of the cell now plummeting, the prince now visibly shaking, his gasps of sudden pain forming small clouds in the still air. The longer he remained silent, unsure of what to say, the more cold the cell became. Frost now turning into sharp icicles that hung from the ceiling, the fire that once lit the room now vanished into a puff of smoke.

"…What? What is going on? What happened? Why all of sudden-"

"I'm the one asking the questions." She whispered, stepping closing, ignoring the warmth growing in her chest the closer she moved to his shivering body. His pale skin in obvious pain, the thin dark blue fabric failed terribly to provide his chest and strong arms any warmth. His thick black uniform pants didn't help either, nor did the leather of his soles. His lips starting to show a pale shade of blue, the queen did her best to ignore any pity she felt and remind herself how dangerous and disgusting his father was, and by account she just couldn't trust his motives anymore either. She refused to let herself forget how close the prince's sword came to her throat… How she never wanted to allow herself to fall into another situation like that again, despite all the things he's said and done recently. The past could not be repeated no matter how she thought she felt. She allowed anger to fill her heart instead as she refused to lose herself to the light that burned behind those green eyes. She stood her ground as she looked up into his shaking face, his cheeks beginning to glow red. Not just from the cold, but from how her fierceness brought a fire back deep within his chest, helping his heart thaw just slightly. It took all her strength to forget the heat he made her feel when he held her against him… "Why is your father here? Really?" her eyes fluttered, unable to hide her longing for his touch. Hans took in another deep sigh.

"It's obvious by now he intends to marry you."

"I've established that already. And I've recently put him in his place once he finally made me an offer he thought I couldn't refuse; he won't be bothering me OR my family anymore." Hans tried his best to hold his tongue and not smile. He wanted to know how she did it so badly, no one ever stood up to him before, especially a woman. He would've done anything to have been there to see it. "But there has to be another reason, more than just that."

"I tried to figure that out… But…"

"Why were you ignoring me?" Elsa interrupted. "What are you hiding?" Hans tried to not look directly into her sapphires; she weakened him every time…

"…Elsa, please. Please understand that I never came here to harm you, or anyone, or your home in any way. I only wanted to find some way to fulfill that hole I gave to myself for the mistakes I've made in the past. I hoped that if I could somehow protect the kingdom I once tried to steal, that I could move on with my life without pain. And I know these for walls. I know the pain I caused you, because I lived it every single day after I left. And these past few weeks here have been… Everything to me." Elsa shook her head in disbelief at his words.

"That's still not good enough." Her lips trembled, but not from the cold. "That's not telling me the whole truth."

"What… What more do you want from me?" Hans stepped forward, desperate to reach out to her but the cold chains and shekels painfully pulled at his skin. He winced and looked away, trying his best to quell his anger.

"Were you planning anything with him, to dethrone me? To hurt me?"

"NO." Hans shouted, pulling hard at his restraints. "Not me! I shouldn't have come back, but I only hoped to fix what I've broken!"

"But what about your king!" Elsa shouted back, her frustration forcing her hands to blast sharp layers of ice at her prisoner's fee.

"I told you, I tried! But you can't just force information out of that man; he's conquered every kingdom he's been getting his hands on lately, and according to him I'm completely worthless. If he wanted your throne, he could've just…taken it with his army…" Hans swallowed, still unable to look her straight in the eyes, ashamed of every word leaving his mouth. "But his army has been occupied with the war down south; he has no ships left aside from mine. Which is why… Even I can't figure out why he's been able to get so comfortable up here. Especially now, with more of my men disappearing… If anything, he's using me to get to you somehow!" Elsa continued to make the ice grow, now consuming his calves and working its way up to his knees. He gasped in pain and his eyes widened. "Elsa!"

"How do I know you aren't working together?" she refused to lighten her cold grasp, her expression remaining firm as he struggled harder.

"I… I can't stand that… Bastard…!" he could barely speak, tears now welling up in his eyes. "And he… Can't stand… Me. I am nothing… But a mistake." He gasped. "And I was stupid… Enough to underestimate you once… Before… I will never doubt… Your power, again." He panted, forcing his eyes to focus on hers, wanting her to believe in his words now more than ever.

"So what is it you're hiding from me then!?" she pleaded, now reaching forward and gripping the thin material of his shirt, pulling herself closer to his chest. If he wasn't being held back, he would practically throw his arms around her, and it pained him to not be able to hold her, more than the ice on his bare skin. He leaned down as much as he could, desperate to press his lips against hers, desperate to make her feel how he felt, to make her trust him once and for all…

"I… I can't tell you…" he could hardly breathe, his lungs burning for oxygen. He just didn't have the strength to be honest with her, and tell her that the only way for him to get real answers, was to return to the war. He just couldn't bear the pain he knew he would feel to tell her, he would rather face the pain of another blade piercing through his skin. Elsa silently cried with frustration, her fingers gripping harder at the fabric, pulling it roughly.

"You can't just, expect me to trust you like nothing has happened, when you can't even tell me everything I know you're keeping from me!" she shouted, ripping the shirt apart and off his shoulders, throwing the ripped fragments on the floor. Hans gasped as his freckled skin blushed from the exposure to the freezing cold, unable to move as the ice that had stopped growing at his knees, now creeped further up his thighs. Ignoring the perfection of his sculpted body, Elsa ran her hands down to his hips, keeping her anger filled eyes locked into his. "Why can't you tell me?" she begged, the ice gripping tighter into his legs, forcing him to wince in deeper pain, his silence making her even more frustrated. Maybe he really was faking it all this entire time... She looked down at where her fingertips floated, hovering right below his exposed belly button. Was he really worth all this emotional turmoil she was putting herself through… She could leave him just like this, she thought, just like how he left her a few years ago… Abandoned. Lied to… How easy it would be walk away and never look back. But… Her fingers danced gently against his soft skin, making him wince more but not from pain… She bit her lower lip as she allowed her fingertips indulge themselves, and softly stroke the tops of his smooth exposed hips… Her palms unable to restrain from squeezing his backside… she leaned in and took in a deep breath, smelling that unique smell only he had… Making her shiver almost as bad as he was. "Give me one good reason… Why I should trust you…" she whispered, closing her eyes, and leaned upward, brushing her lips against his bare neck only slightly. He shuddered violently and struggled to swallow.

"I thought I gave you… Several reasons…" Hans held his breath as he felt her lips continue to drift down his neck and across his collar bone, her hands how trailing back the front of his stomach. "Every time you let me inside you I hoped I was good enough." Elsa's cheeks burned as she did her best to hide her reaction, her eyes trailing down where her hands were exploring. She wanted to make him moan again… And despite the intense burning and needle-like sensation of the ice claiming his lower limbs, her breathing against his neck sent sensations down below that he felt were impossible to ignore. He knew he should be on his best behavior, but was only human… It was almost more painful that the ice to quell the pressure building up inside him. He couldn't stay angry with her, even when she was torturing him… Even just smelling her sent his senses wild and he craved her, all of her, just to be able to taste her strength would be enough to soothe his lonely soul. Finally her hands found and caressed his inevitable hard on.

"You're… More than enough… Admiral…" she whispered back, watching her thin fingers press and feel his growing heat, forcing him to grow even larger and harder the more she pressed back. She gripped even harder and felt the outline of his shape through the thick fabric. He groaned loudly and arched his back as much as he could from the ache she gave him. "But…" Elsa sighed, stepping back, not wanting to stop herself, but she had to. Her willpower surprised herself as his eyes widened with disappointment, his mouth hanging open in pain. "I don't know… What you really want from me, when there's so little making sense… I need more than what you've given me so far." she raised her left hand and made a fist, the ice claiming his thighs now racing upward and clenching tightly over his thighs, trapping his fresh erection in a freezing prison. He tried to scream, but the burning that overtook his lungs stole his voice. All he could do was stammer in shock, unable to lean forward due to the relentless chains that held him back mercilessly. "Just tell me what you really want! Just tell me the truth!" Elsa shouted, wanting to believe in him, wanting to believe more than anything that maybe just for once, she was wrong with her fear. That maybe he actually wasn't there to hurt her, or change her, or to claim her. She thought back to the very first night he came back. The very first time she kissed him. Why she was weak then, but not now. Was it really Hans that she was interrogating? Or was she really questioning herself? But she couldn't forget about protecting her sister, her home… Herself. She needed to protect her heart. She couldn't let it go. Unable to take the burning pain that squeezed the life out of his groin, humiliating him more than he could bear; Hans finally caved in and let out a sharp cry.

"Elsa!" he gasped, writhing in pain, leaning as forward as his shackles would allow him, doing his best to focus his weary eyes into hers, determined to prove to her once and for all that he was not the same man she first met. "I… I'm in love with you. The moment you let me into your room that night and pitied me ..." he paused… losing himself in her teary stare… "I fell madly in love… Elsa you're one incredible woman…"his voice trailed off as he lost his composure once again to the cold surrounding his weakening body. With one quick wave of her hand, the ice that had stole all sensations from his lower limbs, broke and fell to the floor like broken glass. Instantly the prince fell to his knees, completely numb and unable to move, shivering out of control and turning ghastly pale. Elsa held her hands up to her face in terror, finding it impossible to comprehend what he just said. It was far too much of a shock for her to digest right away… Tears sneaking their way out onto her cheeks, turning into soft snowflakes, she silently drifted down by his side, not sure how to react. But she immediately wanted to take away his unjustified suffering… She placed her hands on his shaking shoulders, closing her eyes and trying her best to calm him down. The frost that had grown in the cell and at their feet slowly began to thaw, bringing the temperature back up to a normal cold chill. Hans tried his best to catch his breath, now dripping wet from the melting ice.

"Did, you really mean, what you said…?" Elsa asked, holding one arm around his cold bare shoulders, her other hand stroking his cheek and easing his red head onto her chest. He closed his eyes, and slowly his breathing returned to normal.

"My heart is yours." He allowed his weight to fall into her grasp, Elsa now wrapping both her arms around him, holding him in a warm embrace. She was speechless. "You are my weakness, my queen." Unable to think of a response, and unable to grasp her feelings, she gently eased him off of her, and reached behind him to free his wrists from his shackles. Once he was released, his hands immediately found her shoulders, and he gripped her tightly, forcing her to look directly into him. Elsa held her breath slightly with fear, her eyes watering they stared into one another, his red hair a mess and covering his brow. Her rosy cheeks began to glow brightly as he took in her beauty, not caring if she has no answer for him. He was just happy she freed him long enough for his hands to grasp her arms and pull her into his chest. He didn't want to hide it anymore, not if it meant hurting her. "I love you." He said with confidence, his emeralds burning with intensity as she felt herself grow limp against his body… Her lips longing to taste his, and he happily obliged her, his tongue hungry for her sweetness. As they kissed deeply, and deeper still, Elsa allowed her defenses to lower just for the moment, so she could throw her hands around his strong neck to taste him more. She didn't know what to say at all… All she wanted was to pretend that nothing else mattered at this moment and for the world to stop. He loved her. He loved her, she repeated in her mind over and over. She moaned gently in his mouth as he hesitantly pulled away, his hands stroking up and down her sides. As much as he was enjoying this… He was still in a considerable amount of pain. And as happy it made him that she didn't push him away further when he finally confessed… It troubled him even more that he still needed to tell her the worst possible thing he could say, especially now. He had to wait. He couldn't ruin such perfection… He didn't want to lose out on seeing that precious smile of hers, as she let herself giggle slightly with happiness. She quickly bit her lower lip and forced her happiness to continue hiding.

"Hans… I…" she hesitated, his weak yet eager smile making her melt… But, still, there was something keeping her from feeling completely at ease… She tried her best to conceal everything she could, and not allow anymore weakness to control her decisions. But… His kiss… His touch… The fire she saw and felt when she looked into those green eyes. How he seemed to have loneliness, she could understand… And the selfish part of her wanted him so badly…

"It's ok…" he smiled, his large hand caressing her cheek, forcing her to smile once more.

"I guess I still need all the help I can get with protecting my harbor… Admiral…" she smirked. She really did still want to ask him for advice regarding her fears of the war, and to continue their talks of adventures at sea… And now that she felt she could maybe trust his motives… Her heart played with her mind and she toyed with some possibilities of perhaps even asking him, to stay? She quickly buried that silly notion away.

"I'd be more than happy to do whatever I can to assist my precious queen… But, maybe I could get a blanket first?" he laughed weakly. Elsa gasped and quickly began to help the poor freezing man to his feet.

"Let's get you to a fireplace." she smiled, holding one arm tightly around his waist, the other around his shoulders to help support his weight.