Chapter 12

The sun was just beginning its day when Elsa began hers, her eyes fluttering awake. The grey sky of dawn and the rising morning sun outside urged Elsa, "Wake up! Wake up! You have a long day ahead of you!"

The sun wasn't the only one speaking to her.

"Wake up, sleepy-head," a voice said from next to her.

Elsa almost screamed her shock as she whirled to face the one who had spoken. Her eyes came to focus and saw familiar auburn hair and sideburns, as well as a pair of gleaming emerald eyes looking into hers. A smug grin was spread across his face. It was Hans, dressed in silk bed clothes and sitting on the edge of her bed. His feet were on the floor and one hand was resting in his lap, the other one behind him on the bed, closer to where Elsa was laying.

"Hans!" Elsa finally managed to squeak. "Why are you in here? I told you to stay in the attic, someone could have seen you-" While Elsa panicked, Hans was as cool as ice, sitting there on her bed as if he was there every Sunday morning. He calmly cut her off. "It stank up there, and I was scared. Thought I heard a mouse." He smirked that no-good smirk of his. "So, I came in here, and spent the night on your floor. Not as bad as it looks. The carpet can be quite comfy."

"You're not serious."

"Actually, I'm afraid I'm dead serious, Your Majesty."

Elsa buried her face in her hands. "Hans! Someone could have seen you! Don't you know what they'll do to you, or what they'll think of me if they ever find out that the formerly Prince Hans, who was imprisoned, is just hanging out in the Queen's room..." She babbled on, and Hans let her this time. She looked kinda cute when she was stressed.

Then Queen Elsa suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, mid-sentence. "Wait a second... How did you even know where my room was? You've never been in this chamber of the castle before!"

He grinned. "It was easy. I just followed the ice trail," he responded matter-of-factly, gesturing to the door. Her door was closed, but Elsa could picture the layer of frost, leading to her room like a frozen track. She groaned. She set it up for him, didn't she?

"Anyways, Elsa, you should get ready. I'm sure you have a lot of queenly duties today. Don't you have to finish that trading treaty?" He teased playfully.

Elsa moaned again and buried her face in her pillow. "Don't remind me."

"C'mon, my Queen, you can't hide forever," he chided, reaching over the bed and resting his hand on her shoulder. She took her face out of her pillow and flipped over to face him. "Why are you so eager? You're just gonna stay locked up in that attic all day." He laughed. "Maybe so. But at least tonight I could come back in here." She sat up. "Okay, I'm going to get ready. Get out."

"A very polite Queen. I like it, Your Majesty, just kicking your guests out like that, being so up front and straight forward like that," chortled Hans.

"Oh, really? Maybe I wasn't straight forward enough, because you're still in here, babbling away," she chuckled.

"Of course, Your Majesty. Except, where is it that you'd like me to go?"

Elsa thought for a moment. "The servants are normally up around this time. They will definitely see you. So get into my closet instead."

"Uh, okay, " he muttered awkwardly. It was an awkward request. So he obeyed and shut the door behind him. When the Queen told him she was ready a few minutes later, he came out of the closet.

She was wearing her signature ice dress and single braid. "Okay, Hans. I'm going to go get some breakfast for you. Just stay in here, and don't go roaming around anywhere."

"Yes, Your Majesty," said Hans jokingly, bowing to her.

So she brought him breakfast from the royal table, but she left him as quick as she had come. "I have to work on that treaty, remember?" She smirked. "Queenly duties."

So she left him and endured an exceedingly boring, incredibly long day. All day while she tended to her "Queenly duties", Hans kept plaguing her mind. It was constantly difficult to focus. She couldn't get him out of her head. Being in love sure is hard, she thought.

She couldn't help but notice that Gerda's watchful gaze always seemed to fall on her today. Gerda was watching her closely. She's probably mad that I left that trail of frost, Elsa thought.

After dinner, she hurriedly made her way to her bed chambers, anticipating Hans. She brought scraps from the royal meal for him. "Thanks, Elsa, I'm starving." His eyes brightened at the sight of her.

They spent the rest of the night together, talking and laughing. Night fall was upon them quickly, and then it was time to settle down. Hans took his place on the floor, and Elsa lay in her bed. She succumbed to sleep.

Next thing she knew, she was being forced awake. Someone's hand tapped her lightly in the shoulder. "Elsa," a whisper came. She jolted back to consciousness. Hans was standing at the side of the bed, peering over her. "I'm cold," he whispered. Elsa kicked off the covers. "Here. Quick. Get in," she said automatically. When Hans climbed in beside her, she pulled the covers back up. He laid on his side, facing her. The moonlight shined in through the window, and Elsa could see he was smiling, and his emerald eyes were locked on hers. He reached out and stroked her cheek wordlessly. Elsa just lay there, letting him. He did this for a few moments, and then he stole one last look at her beautiful eyes, and said softly, "Goodnight, my beautiful Queen." He turned on his side so he was facing away from her, and fell asleep.

Elsa fell asleep, but then woke up a little while later. The moon still hung high in the sky. She looked across the bed at Hans's back. Then she gently shook him awake, and whispered, "Hans, I'm cold." Hans turned on his side to face her. Getting the hint, he pulled her closer to him. She snuggled up to him, savoring the warmth of his body. She buried her head into the side of his chest. "I can keep you warm," he whispered. They lay listening to the other's breathing. Elsa listened to Hans's heart beat. See, she thought to herself. He's not a monster; he has a heart. She felt the rise and fall of his chest. They lay like that for a while in silence of words. Then, Hans finally whispered, "Elsa." She shifted so she could see his eyes. His eyes once again locked on hers. "I love you," he whispered. Elsa's heart fluttered. She knew it now. There was no turning back. "I love you, too, Hans," was her whispered reply. She had just jumped down the cliff of love, and she was falling, falling, with Hans beside her.