Authors note: I want to thank you all for reviewing and reading the last chapter. Hearing your opinions means a lot and they also help if I need to edit or make something better.
Yubima-chan: Maybe and you shall see.
Darkphoenix: Wait no longer, lol hopefully it was well worth the wait.
guest: I would say but it would be a huge spoiler.
Dreamsandimaginations: Yes, the question is how long it will last. lol
Any way I hope you all enjoy this chapter so please sit back, relax, enjoy a good read and please leave a review when done, opinions are most welcomed.
Two weeks...
That's how long Hans had been out, though he had not stirred Elsa could see he was getting better, Hans was no longer cold, had not had broken in cold sweat for a while and even his skin had recovered a more healthier color. So neither Elsa or others gave up, they continued to watch, keep him comfortable and feed him a liquid diet so he could have some form of nourishment in his body.
Sitting besides the bed where Hans was laying Elsa had rarely left his side and took her meals in the room, gently letting go of his hand Elsa reached into the pocket of her dress she pulled out a book, the same one Hans gave her as a gift. Running her hand through the cover, tracing the E.M.S embroidered on it before opening and reading out loud, this poem she had read it many times before. It summed her feelings in paragraphs.
"Passing stranger! you do not know how longingly I look upon you,
You must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking, (it comes to me as of a dream,)
I have somewhere surely lived a life of joy with you,
All is recall'd as we flit by each other, fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured,
You grew up with me, were a boy with me or a girl with me,
I ate with you and slept with you, your body has become not yours only nor left my body mine only,
You give me the pleasure of your eyes, face, flesh, as we pass, you take of my beard, breast, hands, in return,
I am not to speak to you, I am to think of you when I sit alone or wake at night alone,
I am to wait, I do not doubt I am to meet you again,
I am to see to it that I do not lose you"
Elsa stopped as she heard Hans voice saying the last paragraph of the poem, looking she saw him turn his head and look at her, eyes open as he whispered a bit "You really are here",
"Yes, I am here" said Elsa relieved, he had been sleeping for quite some time, so much she had grown worried that he may not be waking up ever. Reaching she ran her hand through his hair, he took it and held it close, kissing it before saying softly "I am sorry you have to see me like this",
"Don't be" said Elsa softly "There is nothing wrong with showing weakness, asking or receiving help... isn't that what you taught me?",
"Seems that I taught you too well" said Hans softly as he turned his head to go back to sleep,
"No, don't sleep, not yet" said Elsa shaking him awake "You need to have some solid food as you have been having nothing but liquids the past few days",
"I am not hungry" whined Hans a bit,
"I will ask for food and you will eat it" said Elsa, her tone of voice left no argument. Getting up Elsa walked outside, a couple of minutes passed she returned with a bowl of soup, it was made out of thick beef broth, chunks of meat, potatoes and vegetables which hopefully will give him the vitamins and everything needed to help on his recovery.
Weakly Hans forced himself sit up and took the bowl, eating slowly, the soup was delicious, but Hans could only have a small amount of it,
"Two more spoonful's" not letting Hans argue that, so Hans forced two more mouthfuls before Elsa took the bowl and spoon away, setting it aside as Hans settled down in bed, to sleep.
"Thank you" he said,
"No problem" said Elsa softly,
"Don't leave me" Hans whispered feeling tired, exhausted "I am scared", nodding Elsa took and held his hand before saying "I won't leave". Saying nothing more Hans moved to the side, allowing space on the bed for Elsa to lay down on. Taking her shoes off Elsa used her magic to change the ice dress she was using to a night dress before slipping into bed. Turning to Elsa Hans pressed his lips on her forehead as he placed his arm over her, holding her in a gentle embrace.
Pressing her head against his chest Elsa closed her eyes, soon falling asleep, soothed by the sounds of his heart.
Night had always been Lars favorite time, he enjoyed the quiet, being alone and not being bothered by people asking questions or favors. As he walked he checked the rooms, he had this compulsion to do that, it was made because of his past. When his father and brothers were alive Lars always felt as though he had to have eyes on the back of his head, never argue, just go with things and be useful.
That was how he survived, but that was just it, he was just surviving, not living. The moment he became what he was now, was the day he started to live.
Reaching Hans room Lars tried the door, usually it was locked, not that it would stop Lars as he would send a shadow demon to check on Hans, but this time much to Lars surprise it was not locked. Twisting it fully Lars pushed the door open, quietly, before taking a peek inside. Once Lars did his face contorted in anger.
In the room both Elsa and Hans were in the same bed, Hans head was pressed on top of Elsas head, his arms wrapped around her as he held her close, protectively, Elsa was curled up against him, her head pressed against his chest, both slept deeply, but regardless Lars was not pleased at all, he was fuming.
It was more than just the fact that it was a scandal, unmarried couples could never share a bed, but what drove Lars in a fury was that in his eyes Elsa could have seduced Hans to bed when he was supposed to be recovering. His little brother had been defiled by that harpy!
Just as Lars was going to go in and yell, he felt a hand on his low pony tail before it was yanked down with him, looking it was Clara and she was less than pleased as she hissed "You speak or anything I will do worse than hit you with a book!" before she dragged Lars away, closing the door behind them quietly.
"Ow ow ow" winced Lars as Clara dragged him away, giving him a look similar to a child being dragged away by his angry mother. Arriving to Lars office Clara let him go once the door was closed behind him.
Turning she glared and said "You will leave them alone"
"She lay with my brother! Defiling him! How can you demand me to leave them alone!?" growled Lars,
"Because do you not see?! She succeeded where all the doctors failed! She got Hans to respond to her, he is getting better, because of her!" snapped Elsa,
"Its a coincidence" said Lars turning his back to her only to yell as Clara grabbed a nearby book and slammed it on top of his head, it did not hurt as much as the French encyclopedia, but hurt regardless.
"Stop being blind fool Lars! Elsa is saving him! How can you not see that!? Or is it that your so desperate to find something, anything that shows you that she is evil when she is not!" growled Clara "Your in your head you see Hans as a 5 year old who needs protection when he is a grown adult and is perfectly able to protect himself, I am willing to bet that he knows more about life and love than you do!",
"But Clara" began Lars,
"No buts! You will leave them alone or so help me I will hit you with every single book in the library! And if that does not stop you" she paused then said "I will become your worst nightmare",
"How will you do that?" said Lars laughing nervously,
"I know you Lars, all your advantages and weaknesses, you don't want to test me" warned Clara, Lars swallowed nervously, it was true, Clara knew him... a little too much... who knew what she could do with that information.
"Okay" said Lars,
"Make me a vow, I do not trust it unless its a vow" said Clara, sighting Lars held up his left hand and said "I Lars Westergaard, sware to you, that I will not interfere with Elsas and Hans relationship unless its justified", nodding Clara held out her left hand which Lars grabbed it, when he did shadows surrounded his and Claras hand before fading, the promised made, it was binding and unbreakable.
"Thank you" said Clara while Lars grumbled, not happy, but stopped when she held up a book.
Vines were twisting and moving, wrapping around the walls and pillars, the room was ancient, but beautiful, made out of marble and carved out of stone, the colors long since gone because of age, but the ancient beauty remained.
Moving to the center of the room Sylvia walked, her dress made out of leaves and vines, trailing behind her, she was beauty, elegance, control and that was how she liked it.
Walking to the center of the room she looked, there was a huge tree, as if sensing her presence the roots came to life and reached for Sylvia but she was ready. Reaching to her pocket she took out a stone and pointed it at the tree, reacting the two began to glow, soon the tree shrunk and backed away, crawling into a very ornate box. Once it was Sylvia smiled pleased as she moved over and closed the box.
Picking it up she turned to leave when she spotted a skeleton on the ground, it had been wrapped on the tree, Sylvia knew that it was there, who it was, but she did not care as she callously walked over the skeleton, breaking a couple of ribs and its arm bone as she left.
Hans gasped as he sat up, looked around spooked, his heart rate was through the roof, he felt cold, not like before, this cold was different, as if somebody stepped over his grave.
"Hu? Whats wrong?" asked Elsa as his movement woke her up,
"Yes, sorry" said Hans laying back down to bed, it was still dark out, probably around 2 in the morning so there was no reason to get up. Pressing herself against him Elsa began to trace invisible patterns on his chest, pressing his lips on hers Hans stayed there before pulling back and saying "I love you",
"I love you too" whispered Elsa before they went to sleep. Though it was a troubled sleep, not the peaceful one they had at first.
It took a lot of patience, even more than what Elsa and Hans though, but finally it could be said that Hans had recovered, maybe not fully but he was better. He had gained some weight he had lost, his skin was no longer that gray ashen color, his eyes had brighten up and most of all he was able to get out of bed and walk about.
"Nice to see your appetite back" commented Lars as he, Hans and Elsa had sat down for breakfast, in a long while Hans would pick his food, maybe have a bite or two, but now he had finished his plate and asked for seconds.
Hans ignored what Lars said, fully focused on Elsa, Lars got the message, Hans was ignoring him on purpose. Sighting Lars finished his food before declaring "Its time for Queen Elsa to go back to Arendelle", the reaction on Hans was worth it, he turned his head and stared at Lars, wide eye in shock.
"Now you listen" though Lars bitterly, but did not show it. Elsa looked but nodded, even she admitted she had been away from Arendelle long enough. Turning to Hans Elsa asked "Can you make a new doorway? One to Arendelle so that way I can visit",
"Under strict supervision" added Lars sternly earning a glare from Hans, not that it surprised Lars.
The rest of breakfast was quiet when done Hans had some ingredients and tools delivered to him before he worked on a door in the lesser used parts of the castle, when done Hans begrudging made a key which gave to Elsa securing that she and only she would be able to use the door.
"I guess this is good bye" said Hans sadly as she took the key, with a small smile Elsa teased "Don't be so overdramatic, its not a good bye, its a see you later",
"Will I see you tomorrow?" asked Hans hopefully,
"Maybe after I do some work" said Elsa, nodding Hans wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, holding her close, it was long and deep. For Lars it was uncomfortable as he moved from side to side, even angry as he bit his lips in an effort not to yell at them and break them up. Sensing this Elsa pulled away and whispered to Hans "Not now",
"Why? Were married" whispered Hans,
"True, but we got to maintain peace, so please, at least try to get along with Lars and not cause trouble" Elsa whispered back,
"Alright, but I will not make any promises" said Hans as he let go of her, with a final smile Elsa unlocked the door using the key and opened it before stepping through it, once she did the door closed behind it, locking, leaving Hans who turned to Lars, looked at him for a brief moment before leaving, not saying a single word.
Stepping through the door Elsa looked around, sure enough she recognized the room as being one of the unused ones of the Arendelle castle. Though she felt she should be happy she did not, her mind was riddled with questions and doubts.
In her time in the Southern she could not help but notice how angry Hans was towards Lars, not that Elsa blamed him, he had justifiable reasons, but it made her wonder about her own relationship with Anna. In the past, did Anna felt resentful about her? Angry? Because of what happened. Because of her being pushed aside? For being left alone? For having to take care of her own parents funeral when they perished at sea?
Elsa did not want to think about it, Anna was well...Anna...she was as sweet as chocolate and never held a grudge.. right? But then again she was only human, she had to have felt such dark emotions before. But if she did, then why did she forgave Elsa?
Turning Elsa left the room, she wanted to know, not just to help Hans and Lars, but also if Anna still felt that way then they could talk it out, try to fix it, for one thing Elsa was sure is that she did not want to end up making the same mistakes Lars did, not now, not ever.
To be continued...
Authors note: Its not over yet, though Lars reluctantly agreed its obvious he is not happy, will that change soon?Well you will have to wait and see...so please leave a review to tell me what you think and stay tuned for the next chapter as we may have an epic battle on our hands.