Kristoff had shadowed the Captain for two days, watching as the large man charmed the maids and intimidated the men. The castle wasn't as big as some, but Kristoff new that the dark-haired man could disappear when he wanted. The curious thing was he hadn't. He kept to the grounds, often walking alone, whistling a tune that all sea fairing men knew.
It was on the second night, when Kristoff was tying up Sven, that he spied the dark shadow slide past the outbuilding. He knew that bulk, knew the height that could only belong to one man. Deciding it better to walk on foot, rather than make noise with Sven, he followed at a distance. It became clear however, that the direction they were heading was one Kristoff recognized. His stomach began to knot, his heart pound. He trailed back even more, thinking it strange that the Captain had found this place without ever leaving the castle. He was right to do so. After their trek, Kristoff watched as two more shadows emerged from the tree line, just outside of Elsa's ice home. Brand had had people out, scouting.
Damn! Now it made sense. The mist was still there, but the closer one got, the more one realized it was an eerie fog. One that superstitious men would know as magic. He snuck closer, knowing that there may be even more men in the woods. But he had to see, had to know.
He heard the roar echo off the high hills. He couldn't see anything, but he heard enough.
"My brother's clothes lay bloody. He his either dead, or wounded and I will see to him that the witch pays." It was the captain's baritone that vibrated through Kristoff's soul. The two men he was with had raised voices of agreement. They swore vengeance, cursing the names of The Queen and the Princess Anna.
Without further thought, he took off, running hard. His lungs gave protest, but he couldn't stop. He didn't know what the man was planning, but Elsa and Hans needed to know, needed to prepare. A trip that would often take an hour or more was cut in half as the tall ice master came speeding into Arendelle. He had decided to take to quickest way, straight through the main gates. The guards, looked at him running, shocked. He yelled for entry, stating news for the Queen.
He was granted entrance immediate. Being the love of the Princess did that and he couldn't be more thankful. Everything was a blur to him, speeding past people, through halls of carved and painted wood. He had only one thought. He took the stairs two, by two, colliding into said thought as he reached the top. He threw himself under Anna so she wouldn't be hurt by the tumble.
"Ooof!" Anna's head thumped against his chest. "Wha- Kristoff what's going on?" She started, as he pulled her up. He couldn't speak yet, needed to get to Elsa. He grabbed her hand and pulled her along to the royal chambers. His fist came down upon the door with more strength than intended.
"Kristoff, you are scaring me." Anna whispered. He looked down with concerned eyes, to his beautiful Anna. If she was hurt, if that captain were to lay one finger on her, God help him.
The door was swung open by Elsa, covered only by a thick robe. He didn't have time for pleasantries. Pushing past the gapping Queen and into the room, he closed the door. Hard.
Hans appeared by the Queens side, a look upon his scruffy face that read Kristoff's. He knew it was not good news.
After the explanation, the promise of revenge, Elsa sat on her bed, Anna in her arms. The sisters stared blankly at their hands. Hans on the other hand, was raging. Why would his brother care? Why couldn't he just leave?
"We don't know what his plans are. We can only assume he'll try and take revenge." His eyes shifted to the sisters. He knew what he would do. He would target the younger girl, forcing the Queens hand. But how? When? He looked at Kristoff. The man had height and undoubtedly had the strength of an Ice Master.
"You'll have to always be by her side. Not even for a second, can she not be in your view. If he suspects that we know, he'll become desperate. So no guards." Hans was calculating, planning, but there was no coldness to it. It was all to save his family.
"He'll do it at the Ball." Elsa whispered. Her voice strained and her eyes far off. He would rather be dead than to have her harmed.
"I could… If I could just tell him I'm not in danger. That he should leave." Hans suggested, still unsure why the man should care. Perhaps he had a bounty on his head and Brand was being denied that. It would make sense.
"We don't know if he was here to take you back to your brothers for punishment. I won't let him take you Hans. He can't." Elsa stood. Fat flakes of Snow began to fall around them, whisping through their feet. A bitter cold was working its way into their bones as Elsa's emotions were swirling through the air. Hans knew she needed to calm but he also knew she was right. They had no idea why Brand was here. Hans couldn't expose himself. Not yet. But he had made up his mind. If it came to Elsa or Anna getting hurt, he would give himself up. He looked to the other man. Their eyes met, and he knew.
How strange it was, to have found his family at last. To be apart of something that made him complete. He almost didn't want it, was too afraid of it all being taken from him. But he would do anything for these people. How a run-in with a white haired sorceress changed his life. He smiled then, walking over to Elsa. He embraced her, giving her the reassurance she needed.
"No one is being taken away, no one will be hurt." He announced. His calm stubbornness his only defense. "We've got planning to do and a wedding to arrange. Get to bed. In the morning, Anna, you'll say you don't feel well, and will have meals in room. The festival and Ball is in two days. We will outlast him." He looked at the group, every pair of eyes gazed quietly at him. There was concern, but he had managed to put the fear at bay. He shooed the young couple out and had Elsa watch as they entered their room down the hall.
When the doors were closed, and the fire turned up to chase away the chill, she turned to him. They sat on the floor in front the fireplace, he watched as her fingers drew frosty swirls on the wooden floor. Watched as she shaped them into pictures. Her mind was working through their predicament, and Hans knew it was her way. He watched as the frosty figures turned from animals to people, to nonsensical shapes, and then back to people. She drew a woman cradling a child. The image made him smile slightly. She had been thinking about it, at least subconsciously. Even now her eyes shown she wasn't quite paying attention to her own art.
Finally she spoke, her head resting against his shoulder.
"I'm afraid of so many things." His heart ached to hear her soft voice, tainted by distress. Had fate never brought him to this woman, he may never have felt any of this. He may have had a frozen heart for his whole life. But he doesn't regret it. Not ever.
"He won't win. He's no match for you." He chuckled, hoping to bring the light back to her voice.
She was silent for a time. Elsa had listened to Kristoff with growing anticipation. Her heart had screamed for her to run, to flee with her family. But she wouldn't. It was time to take a stand against the forces that would hinder her. She had chosen to remain Queen. It was more than her duty, it was her right. She was through thinking she wasn't strong enough or good enough. Hans had made her see what truly mattered.
Now it was this Brand, this unknown brother of her man who threatened their future. She would have none of it. She wouldn't tell Hans of her plans. She couldn't have him put himself in danger; nor did she want him taken away.
She was going to wed Hans. In a private ceremony the day of the Ball. If Brand wanted to take him then, he would find he had no power to do so. All this relied on Hans, though, and if he even wanted to marry her.
"What are you thinking on so hard, that you would endanger your poor lip?" She heard him ask. His voice low and soothing. She thought for another minute on how to word her question as to not give away her plans.
"What do you see, when you think of us, years from now?" Her heart began to beat loudly. What had possessed her to ask such a question? They had not talked about their future, nor given it much thought. But she was shocked again, for he seemed to have put much thought into it.
"I will have married you, soundly. We could live far into the hills, away from prying eyes, or here with your sister and Kristoff. But I would have made you a proper wife. And hopefully…" He paused, his hand stilled on her back. He cleared his throat. She wondered what would make him so nervous now when she was so very happy. "Um… Well, I'd hope that we would have a child or two. A little white haired beauty. Daughters." Her heart stopped. Had he really just said-
Even as his words drifted through her, her hand flew to her stomach. She hadn't thought, didn't even realize. They had been together for only a short amount of time, but… Oh she had feared having a child with the same curse as her, but now? Now it thrilled her to even think of the possibilities. Their own little loves. She sensed him drawing away; her silence must have been too long. Instead of letting him go, she flung her arms around him, effectively laying him flat. Tears unlike anything before sprang to her eyes. She kissed him soundly, smiling with an inner joy, although he utter look of confusion on his was enough to cause her to laugh brightly.
"Tears?" He whispered, his thumb wiping the wet trails that fell from her eyes.
"Happy, stupid tears." She mumbled.
He sighed against her then, closing his eyes in relief. She watched him with delirious joy, knowing now her path. She would unsure that they would remain together, no matter the forces that they come up against. She might not even be with child, but she would protect it, even if it's only in theory.
She smiled down at the content man. His ginger scruff making him look striking and so very rugged. She would like to have a son. One who looked like his father. The thought made her laugh again, as she smothered it by kissing him. They lay there, barely speaking, kissing and touching tenderly.
The last thought she had before falling asleep in his arms, was that of the ball. She thought of Brand and ice and of Anna.
Muaahahahahah. Oh, you are going to love this. XD
Reviews please! I what did you think about this? I know it was a little different than my other chapters but I'm wrapping this story up and I needed a plot chapter. What did you think?
-MoonandWinter