Elsa's hand came up to her mouth and she fought back the tears that were forming in her eyes as she read the letter over and over again, swallowing the lump in her throat. She wished she hadn't been standing there, with him, in the library as she tore open the letter and revealed the news it had for her inside. The terrible news about her parents.
"What is it darling?" Hans asked, the nickname feeling like a knife was pressing it's way into her heart. "I hope everything is alright with your parents?" he asked, clearly concerned.
The Princess nodded and handed him the letter, "They aren't coming for the wedding..." Elsa explained.
Hans gave her a surprised glance before looking deeper into the letter. She hadn't mentioned it yet, knowing the man was soon to find out, but her parents had also asked for them to continue the wedding as soon as possible and return to Adlai as promptly as they could. Of course, with Anna as their guide. A smile tore through Hans, just as Elsa expected, and he dropped the letter as he came to hold her close.
"Darling this is wonderful news...!" Hans laughed, kissing her atop her forehead. "We can be married within the week and on our way back to Adlai right away!" he added, the news finding him in good spirits.
"A weeks time...?" Elsa laughed out, trying to play the part of a good fiancé. "But will that give us enough time to reach your family..for the wedding?" she asked, trying to see if she could prolong the time.
Hans paused a moment, looking down at the woman questioningly. "My family will not be attending if yours cannot, I don't want to show favoritism to one side my dear Elsa." he beamed, trying to catch her eye.
Elsa bit her lip and she felt herself begin to panic, "But..." she trailed off, trying to find another excuse.
"But what, darling?" again with that nickname.
"But my..." she thought and thought and thought again, trying to think of anything that didn't have to do with Hans or Anna, the wedding, her parents or even the fact that she was going to be a wife within the week. But her mind was spinning and she felt herself grow sick as Hans once again tried to find her words for her, his kindness pushing through her like a wildfire.
She found her hands coming between them and she pulled away, looking towards the door. This would be her chance; she could run away from Hans in that moment and never look back. She could pack her bags, cancel the wedding and find Anna so that they could start their new lives together. Her parents had gone against their promise, so why couldn't she too? Her hand came up to her chest and she felt her heart beating rapidly behind it, alarmed with the idea of going against her parents wishes and she found herself biting her lip to calm her shakiness.
"Elsa...are you alright darling?" Hans asked, placing a hand on her shoulder and turning her to face him. As soon as her eyes connected with his, she lost her will. Hans face was lost, his mouth hung open as he tried to figure Elsa out, and she held her head in shame. She couldn't do it.
"I'm fine darling...it's just my friends.." Elsa lied, "I wanted to invite them to the wedding, I have several overseas that were hoping to meet you...to be able to come...". As she finished her words, Hans stared on at her in confusion with an eyebrow raised.
"Friends..?" he choked out, seeming surprised Elsa had any.
"Yes my friends...Esmerelda, Emma...even my littlest friend Sonja was hoping to come see my handsome Prince." the lies were rolling off her tongue much easier than Elsa expected them to and she brought her hand up and touched his face. The man leaned into the touch, generously as Elsa found him moving closer, a hand firmly coming around her waist again. She wanted to push his hand away no sooner had it landed on her, especially as she felt him squeeze lightly.
"Of course darling..we will take the next few weeks to allow the invitations and arrival of our guests for our wedding.." Hans said, his eyes burning into Elsa's as he moved in slowly. "Anything for you.." he breathed out, taking his free hand and lifting her chin so that she would look at him. Elsa's mouth hung open and she went to thank him, her voice leaving her as she found Hans moving in to kiss her lips. Elsa turned and the man kissed her right on the cheek, followed by a frustrated sigh and the two separated, much to Elsa's approval. The small victory was anything to celebrate, especially when Hans turned and gave her the look. That look that reminded her of a hurt puppy, one she had personally kicked.
"Hans I..." Elsa managed to squeak out, silencing as the man shook his head.
Hans remained silent for some time, bringing his hand up and scratching his head. "I don't ask you for anything Elsa...but I would like to be able to kiss you..on your beautiful lips every now and then." he admitted, coming forward and brushing against her lips with his thumb.
Elsa flinched, remembering in the moment of how Anna teasingly pulled at her lips one night in the same matter. Said touches were quickly replaced with Anna's lips, something Elsa didn't want to lose in this moment.
"I am your husband..and one day I would like to have children with you..but.." he trailed off, looking towards the ground. "You won't even allow me to touch you long enough to show you that I can make you feel good..better than..." he once again trailed off, "Better than anyone has ever made you feel before.".
Elsa brought her hand up to her mouth once more, willing herself to not turn away from him. She knew he was trying, God's give him that, but she just couldn't have him touching her in such a way. A way that belonged only to Anna.
Hans sighed and he went back to her, placing his hand against her chin again. "I will always be there for you Elsa, I'm not some hot headed...misfit who will just throw you away once he's bored with you." Hans admitted, earning a confused look from Elsa. "I am a noble man, a gentlemen who is willing to give you the world...not just a few broken promises.." he added, making Elsa wonder who he was comparing himself with at that moment. "I think things through Elsa..and I've thought you through night after night...and I've come to my conclusion..." Hans continued, causing Elsa's eyes to widen as she realized what he was going to say, "That you are my only Elsa.."
Please don't say it.
"That this marriage is more than just an arrangement between our parents..."
Please Gods don't say it.
"That I..."
No, no, no!
"That I love you Elsa...with all of my heart."
Elsa closed her eyes, wishing she wasn't there in that moment, praying that this was all a dream. But as she opened them Hans was still there, still staring at her lovingly and praying she would somehow reciprocate the feelings. All of her said not to say the word back, to offer him something else in return with it. But then another side of her said she should want to say it back, although she didn't feel it. Neither option pleasing Elsa in the least bit. She didn't love him, she didn't even really like him, but this was her future and this was indeed going to be an every day thing until she either worked up the nerve to finally go against her kingdom or she finally did fall in love with him. The second option was far from ever happening.
"Please say you love me back.." Hans whispered, his eyes dropping down to the floor. Making the cold Princess all the guiltier.
"Hans I..." Elsa gasped as Hans moved his hands atop hers and brought them to his neck, locking them together as he placed them to her hips, bringing her close again. Elsa was practically digging her nails into his skin as she tried to handle being this close with the man. The actions mimicked the night of the party, the memory burning a hole into her as she remembered how he had tried to further their relationship. By doing so he effectively helped Elsa in her relationship with Anna, the two moving forward at an alarming rate. But this time seemed completely unplanned, the mischief in the making had vanished and Elsa could only see pain in the eyes that stared at her.
"Just one kiss Elsa, for me..to prove that you love me just as much." Hans said, trying once more to kiss her.
"Just as much?" Elsa thought, her eyes screwing shut again in frustration. She moved back instinctively but then stopped as she opened her eyes to see the man flinch, his eyes becoming glossy. "Just one...kiss..." Elsa thought and bit her lower lip, "Does he have any idea what he's asking of me?".
It would be so simple to do, just one kiss on the man's rough lips. One kiss was all he was asking for, as well as on their wedding day, and that was all she had to manage. But what came after that? When they were finally married and expected to have children? One kiss wouldn't make an heir for Adlai or the Southern Isles. Just the one kiss would turn, very quickly, into so much more. The more aspect of it practically making her sick as Anna's face came into her vision.
She remembered how the girl looked this morning as she walked away, how she was ill the night before with a pain on her heart, and how she trembled beneath her as she latched her mouth onto her skin in their heated moments. Kisses, promises, discussions and even fights came into her mind then and she felt a tear fall past her face as she moved her head back from Hans.
She couldn't do it, even if it was one kiss.
"Elsa...please.." Hans' voice tore through her mind and his hand reached up to wipe the tear from her face. "Why can't you do this..for me..?"
"But..." she breathed out softly, forgetting herself. "Anna.."
"Anna..?" Hans asked, his eyes glaring angrily down at the girl, "What does...?"
"I..." Elsa stumbled, her eyes wide with what she had done. "I-I.." she stopped as the man's hands tightened suddenly, his features becoming hostile. She needed to speak, needed to move them forward, before he realized what she had said.
"I need to meet with her...ah I have to tell her the news..of our wedding, she will be so excited!" Elsa lied, moving away from the man as he stared at her in surprise. "I will see you tonight for dinner..." she added, purely to make the man feel better but as she neared the door she could see it did little to ease his sadness. She practically wanted to slap herself when she actually felt enough guilt that she was turning around and going back to the man, "Until then...darling.." she said, giving his hand a light touch. The man looked down at their hands in surprise, a smile breaking upon his lips as she broke away from him and left the library.
"Until then..." he whispered out, his mind fixating between his future wife Elsa and his ex fiancé Anna.
"So nothing else happened?"
Elsa sighed and looked back at Anna, giving the girl an angry stare down as she proceeded to ask for the billionth time. "No...Anna, I told you...my parents wrote about the wedding plans, I convinced Hans to wait the wedding out for a few more months to invite other kingdoms and I left." Elsa concluded, picking a stray blade of grass and twirling it in her hand.
Anna had come barging down the hallway after her meeting with Hans in a wild panic, Keith barely keeping up behind her. She practically blew their cover as Anna threw her arms around the girl, twirling her into the air as she saw she was safe. Apparently her powers had gone a little out of control in the heated meeting, sending a few flurries down upon the Southern Isles and causing Anna to confirm that she was in danger.
"Don't forget you said you kissed him.." Anna added, seeing that Elsa had already forgotten.
"He kissed me on the cheek and I would tell you if it was any more or any less Anna." Elsa stated, turning to see the girl trying to purposefully avoid her eyes.
They had fled to the hills, the castle being too much for either of them at the moment. Anna took one of the castle horses, allowing Elsa to ride until they were out of sight of the Prince and the castle. Then and only then did the two relax, to return to their usual comfortable ways with one another. "I was lucky to get away with that...and even after that all he wanted to talk about was how much he loved me..."
Anna paused, Elsa hadn't mentioned that.
"He said he loved you?" she questioned. Somewhere deep inside Anna she was glad she had said it to the girl first.
"Yes he did, he said he could make me happier than anyone ever could..." Elsa trailed off, "I think he knows of us.."
Anna nodded her head. She was sure the entire kingdom knew about them now, especially the castle staff. It was what caused Hans to be so hostile to Anna lately, why the other guards had given her peculiar looks every now and then, why Luke had been brought back to work and mostly why moments such as these with Elsa would have to not only be short but also in places such as these that were secret or behind closed doors.
"Did you tell him?" Anna asked, realizing they were becoming silent with one another.
Elsa turned her head and looked up at Anna curiously, "About us?" she questioned.
"No..that you love him." she explained.
"I only love you." Elsa quickly countered back, realizing Anna's insecurities.
Anna sighed and she came to sit down next to Elsa, "But did you tell him..?". The words weren't going to kill Anna to know, especially since it was something she was going to have to get used to if she were to continue this with Elsa. One day, a day very soon, she would even see them kiss and marry even. The idea of that shook her to the core and she fought against the images that played before her as she imagined the two in their formal wear before the kingdom, their vows exchanged and done with.
Elsa brought her hand down upon Anna's and squeezed it tightly, "No...never.".
"Never?" Anna laughed.
"Never." Elsa repeated, equally allowing a laugh to fall past her lips.
The two were silent for a moment, equally watching their hands mingle and play together. It was perfect, truly perfect, and Anna wished they could have stayed like this forever. "We could be like this.." Anna thought, her eyes glancing up to take Elsa's perfect smile in. "All you have to do is ask..." she thought once more as she tried to figure out a way to do the very such thing. She wanted nothing more than to be with Elsa forever, to spend every waking minute with her, traveling the world or simply staying in Adlai. Anywhere with Elsa is where Anna wanted to be.
"You're thinking?" Elsa pointed out; bringing her hand that wasn't entangled in Anna's upon her head and poking it. "That can't be good?" Elsa teased and Anna shook her head, trying to form a smile.
"I have been thinking and...Elsa..." she started off strong, completely confident, but as her words continued she found herself practically whispering out the girls own name. "Elsa I..." want you to run away with me. "I...um.." I think you're making a terrible mistake marrying someone you don't love, please come with me back to Adlai..back to your parents..and we'll figure it out from there?
"Anna...it's okay, just tell me..?" Elsa breathed, the laughter gone now and in its place was worry. Making it even harder for Anna to explain. So many times Anna had told Elsa she shouldn't be marrying Hans, so many times she had told her she loved her. Why of all times was it so difficult to tell Elsa about her feelings?
The guardian's eyes tore from Elsa's and she looked down to see a light frost forming across the ground, "Hey, why don't we practice your powers...!". Anna stood up and held out her hands for Elsa to take, "Out here, nobody can see us...or feel the cold, why not test it out?" she said, trying to change the topic.
Elsa looked up at Anna, confused, before taking her hands and allowing the girl to lift her up. Her face wore a disappointed look to it and Anna couldn't tell if she were actually upset over the missed conversation Anna was keeping from her or if she were upset over the use of her new powers.
"I don't know Anna.." Elsa said, staring down at her hands. "I don't know how dangerous they are.." she explained.
"They aren't dangerous...they are beautiful Elsa..and probably really helpful if you allowed them to come out?" Anna encouraged as she took the girls hands and kissed them softly. To Anna's surprise she watched as snowflakes danced around the girl's hand, doing just as Anna had instructed. "Good see...why not even stronger?" she continued, locking eyes with the woman as she bit her lip. More snowflakes arose out of her hand and Anna breathed out to see her breath before her, clearly it was working.
"Anna...I don't want to hurt you.." Elsa said, tightening her hands into a fist in her worry. The snowflakes halted midair and the temperature seemed to stay at a constant of warm and cold as Elsa struggled, Anna quickly bringing her close to console her.
"If you don't want to...then we won't, but I'll be safe and I promise you...you will be too." Anna said, her grip on the girls hands tightening.
Elsa nodded, breathing in slowly as she opened up the palms of her hands. Immediately as she did, the snowflakes returned and they watched on in awe as the world around them started to change. Snow piled large helpings onto the ground, the trees shook and icicles formed along their branches and trunks, snowflakes began to fall generously through the sky and the wind around them swirled and lifted around their clothes and into the air. Even as Elsa dropped her hands and stared on in wonder at the vastness of her powers, they continued, growing until all the hills were covered in snow up to the girls knees.
"It's like Adlai..." Elsa commented, feeling homesick for the moment.
Anna nodded her head, "Yeah...splitting image honestly..." she added.
Elsa turned to face Anna then, watching as the girl stood proudly next to her. The outfit she wore was what she was given the day she set out for Adlai, the black and blue tunic along with the white snowflake on her back. Although most of her body was covered in a nice layer of clothing, any normal human being should have been shivering at best. That is except for an Adlaiain as herself.
"Aren't you cold?" she asked, watching as Anna turned her attention back to Elsa.
Thinking for a solid minute or two, even moving her feet through the snow, Anna didn't feel the coldness as something bothersome. It was there, the feeling of being cold, but it was tolerable and almost welcoming. "I guess not..." she laughed, glancing down at the kingdom, her eyes widening. "Ah but they might not feel the same!" Anna once again laughed, pointing down at the Southern Isles and it became completely frozen over.
"Oh..!" Elsa gasped, bringing her hand up and clenching it tight. Immediately as she did the wind stopped howling and the snowflakes stopped falling, the heat of the sun returned to them and threatened to melt the snow around them. "Do you think anyone will notice?" Elsa asked, pouting as Anna began to laugh. "Well at least the snow won't survive too long in the heat." she added, watching as she could see the ice from the tree's slowly melting.
Anna nodded, bending over and packing snow into her hand. Elsa flinched for a moment, thinking the girl was going to throw a snowball at her, only to relax as she saw her rolling the ball around and trying to make it bigger. Eventually she had a pretty good sized snowball and she was working to make another one.
"What are you doing?" Elsa asked, smiling as the girl quickly worked.
"Making a snowman, do you wanna build one with me?" Anna said through a smirk, "We have to hurry otherwise the heat will melt him...you can make the head?"
Elsa giggled and knelt down to work on the head, struggling slightly as it shaped in an odd way. "I'm not good at making snowmen..." Elsa admitted, as if there was supposed to be a skill. Anna rolled her eyes at her in response, trying to work on the snowman while the snow melted. A few times she saw Elsa wave her hands and the snow return slightly, just before it was really melting the snow before them, giving them a few extra minutes to put the snowman together.
"You're a natural already Elsa.." Anna commented, the two of them staring down at her hands.
Elsa shrugged her shoulders, giving her a sheepish smile. "It feels..natural..like something I learned to do when I was young..and never really forgot." She laughed, "I'm sure that sounds odd.."
"Not really." Anna said, "Did you ever use your magic when you were little?"
"There were times..they would appear, my powers..and before we started realizing they were mine..I never really thought about it..using them that is…" she trailed off, her movements slowing for a moment. "But now that I think about it..looking back, I guess I used them quite often.."
"They were probably really helpful.."
Elsa nodded her head. "One time, when I was young, a maid came in the middle of the night to my room to kidnap me." Elsa said, the sudden confession surprising Anna. "She was working for a distant Kingdom, in secrecy…but she had belonged to us for so long we hadn't ever believed we couldn't trust her.." she sighed, "When she came for me I suppose she thought I would be easy to take..but I was frightened and fought against her…that was the first night my powers unleashed themselves..of course that was back when we believed the powers were coming from some unseen force.."
"What happened to the maid?" Anna questioned, brushing her hair back.
"She fled the scene well before my parents heard me scream..they thought I had a nightmare or that some sorcerer stole away into my room..hence the magic."
"Did you ever tell them the truth?"
Elsa shook her head, "One of the many things I neglected to tell them.".
Anna shook then, feeling her heart ache for the girl. "I wonder if she ever will.." Anna thought, "Her parents have raised her yet they don't even know all of these secrets…the powers or even us..". Anna wondered how the parents would react to her, react to the things her and Elsa had been through the entire journey from Adlai to the Southern Isles. She wondered if they would hate her for taking their daughter's heart or if they would praise her for saving her from the many dangers along the way. The thought of parents reminded her of the wedding, the fact that said parents weren't coming at all. "Were you upset when you received your letter from your parents?" Anna asked, well before she could think the question through.
Elsa's sparkling blue eyes caught with Anna's deep green ones. She knew instantly that the question had caught her off guard, causing the princess to be on the verge of tears with the reminder. Still Elsa shook her head, pushing past the feelings quickly as a small smile fell on her face.
"It isn't surprising.." she said, her voice tight.
"But are you alright?"
"The wedding isn't exactly something I was excited for either so.."
"Elsa.." Anna reached forward, placing her hand atop the woman's, squeezing it tightly. "Are you alright though…?" she asked, bringing her other hand to her own heart. Immediately as she did, Anna felt herself go breathless and was overwhelmed with the feelings of love mixed in with a bitter sadness. The feelings were strong, terrifyingly heavy and she had to fight off the urge to cry. Elsa was trying to move on from the topic, trying to avoid explaining what she was feeling inside. The emotions were a complete mess.
"I.." she stopped, bringing her hand forward and placing it behind Anna's head. The Knight felt her tug slightly and move her into a deep kiss, sighing into it contently before coming apart. "I will be.." she whispered out with a small smile. "Thank you Anna.."
They moved on then, focusing on the task of building the snowman. Anna placed the middle of the snowman on the bottom, quickly running to the trees for sticks and searching the ground for stones as Elsa continued to work on the head. It was difficult to find the stones at first, requiring the girl to dig and pick through the ground, but eventually she managed to find enough for three buttons and a set of eyes. When she returned to Elsa, she had to hold back a laugh as she saw the head. It was indeed oddly shaped, much different from any round headed snowman she had ever made. Still the girl looked proud of it, especially as she worked to keep it on just right.
"Looks good." Anna said through a smile.
Elsa rolled her eyes, "I'm sure you mean perfect.".
"Of course."
She handed off the snowman's eyes to Elsa while she worked on the stone buttons. When they had placed these items on, Anna handed Elsa a stick and the two of them both placed it in the snowman's sides. Stepping back the Princess waved her hand again, seeing the snowman melting and a small cloud puffed above his head. Withdrawing her hand she nearly looked frightened, "What did I do...?" she breathed, watching as the black cloud moved and shook before spitting out tiny snowflakes and wind chills completely around the snowman. Anna walked about it curiously then, bringing her hand in and out of it.
"Looks like you made it a personal cloud?" Anna smiled as her pride for the girl shown, "You're amazing Elsa."
Elsa smiled as well, folding a hand before her lap. "Thank you Anna..."
Returning to her side, Anna took the Princess' hand and the two stared at the snowman for some time, taking it in. "It's missing something..." Anna admitted, glancing over as Elsa agreed. "We have buttons, eyes, arms and a very odd shaped head...ow!" Anna teased, earning a push from Elsa. Another moment or two passed before Elsa snapped her finger, accidentally causing another burst of snow to fall, as she was hit with realization.
"He needs a nose.." she said and looked towards the tree's, "So...what do we usually use for a nose?"
"A carrots usually one option...we'll have to come back and give him one sometime.." Anna stated, "Sometime when we have a free moment for us both to come back...".
The mood changed then and Anna wished she hadn't suggested the carrot, knowing the only carrot around these places would be back at the castle or somewhere in the market back at town. If she had suggested a stick or even something as trivial as another rock then perhaps neither of them would have been reminded of the castle. Of their duties, especially Elsa's dinner plans with Hans.
"Alright...shall we head back then...?" Elsa offered, making Anna instantly want to say no.
But they were walking, back to the horse, and Anna was climbing and helping Elsa on before she could even suggest another option. One that led them as far away from the Southern Isles as possible. Elsa leaned against Anna lovingly, her arms hooking around her waist. "Elsa..." Anna said, her voice sounding rather strained, "They will see you..."
They possibly wouldn't, they had at least another five minutes before they reached close to town. But the risk was something that was questionable to take, seeing as Elsa's future husband only had to glance out of his windows. Still Elsa held tighter and Anna could have sworn she felt her kiss her back lovingly, "I don't care right now Anna...I just want to be close with you."
And Anna couldn't care then either.
"I saw them."
"Together?"
"You're sure?"
"On the hills Sir...with my own eyes."
That was a question in itself.
"And what were they doing per say?" Hans asked, his fists tightening as Luke bowed before him. Ever since the man's return only a few days ago, Hans had given him the personal mission to follow Elsa or Anna anywhere they went. The mission was to redeem himself, especially for the failure he did the other day, yet he was doing a very poor job of it. Finding hardly any evidence that Hans didn't already know, making the Prince quite frustrated.
"They were building a snowman..." Luke explained, "I saw them holding hands a few times and even Anna kissed her on the hand once or twice."
Hans bit his lip, "How dare she kiss my wife's hands..." he spat. "That little bitch is keeping Elsa at bay from me...she's the reason why Elsa and I haven't even.." he tore his mind from that, not being able to handle the idea of some ex wife of his going after his future wife. "What else, Luke?"
"Well sir...I saw Princess Elsa do something phenomenal..." Luke breathed out, holding his hands before him. "She shot ice out of her fingertips and made it snow today!" his voice was filled with excitement and his face looked like that of a child, completely thrilled. But Hans cocked an eyebrow at the man and bit back the urge to lash out at him.
"Elsa made it snow today?" Hans asked, his voice dull.
"Yes Sir…and then she continued to have it snow so they could finish their snowman!"
Hans placed a hand over his face, "Luke..do you realize I stuck my neck out for you..just so you could come back to work..so you could have a job and support your family.." he trailed off, too angered to speak.
"It is true your majesty..Elsa is quite gifted.." Luke said, bowing his head even lower.
Sighing, the Prince waved his hand. "Luke you are truly ridiculous...get out of my sight." Hans demanded. Luke bowed once more and was out of the room, just as Hans leaned back in his chair. "Idiot...he probably didn't even see them kissing...how am I to believe his words if he tells such lies?" Hans questioned, practically bursting out in a bitter laugh at how the man actually wanted to say Elsa had ice powers. "Ridiculous..truly ridiculous...Elsa is in love with me and only me." he stated, grimacing as he heard the door knock. "What is it?" Hans called, watching as Keith made his way into the door.
He was just about to snap at Keith, telling him not to bother him before dinner, but then he noticed a letter in his hand. "Sir.." Keith started out, bowing before him, "I have this letter to you from a kingdom by the name of Calon Coast...it is apparently very urgent...".
Hans lifted an eyebrow at the guard and his letter, "Calon Coast?"
A/N- YAY NO DEAD PARENTS! Good guesses guys! I love the parent's characters too much to off them though..lol! Next chapter is a big one guys...We have the return of the infamous Prince we all hate and despise! (I wonder who that could be...)
Thank you guys for the feedback, both here and tumblr! And thanks for being so sweet to my little Keith *hugs Keith to death* (No Hans doesn't deserve him..we'll see what happens!)
-TP