King slowly walked across the hallways of the castle, his hands slowly touching the walls. It was as if he was dreaming. He was finally it. He had been handed the kingdom over, from the person who least he expected, princess Anna. There was a wide grin on his lips. He was not only excited, but grateful, it was all he ever wanted in life.
He went along further, readying himself for the very first meeting with the council of Arendelle, they were going to let him know what the plans were from now on. He was slightly afraid, he didn't know what they would expect of him, or what they would make of him being there without Elsa. He grinned again. He would have to see.
He sat slowly behind the table, all eyes expectantly on his royal highness; yet silence triumphed over the room.
There was a thin man with yellowing teeth and eyes, he had seen this man before, Gordon if he recalled correctly.
"It has come to our attention that princess Anna, has turned over the crown to you."
Hans nodded silently, his eyes serious and gazing at the members of the council, he nodded. "Yes, it's true."
"Under the orders of our queen?" Gordon went on, "where does she happen to be, lord Hans?"
The red head furrowed his brows at the question, what I did he mean by... he was starting to understand why they had called this meeting. He gathered himself up. Ready for anything they would throw at him. "If your concern is the wellbeing of Queen Elsa, rest assured she's doing fine back in the Southern Isles."
A lady with a small fan and big bust suddenly interrupted, "and why is she there, and not here with you?"
There was suddenly an outburst, "if you think we will trust yo uh after everything that you've done to our kingdom-"
"I say that we don't allow him to command until we have our Queen here"
"Isn't it just dandy that he appears out of nowhere and claims the crown without Queen Elsa!"
"If she really was alright, she would be here!"
Hans eyes widened and he looked at all the bickering going on about in front of him. He had never seen such a mess of a council in all his years of being royalty. He sighed and closed his eyes, now he understood why Anna had been so eager to give him the crown.
"I WILL NOT TAKE ORDERS FROM HIM UNTIL I SEE THE QUEEN IS ALRIGHT!"
"But if she was the one who assigned him our King before she left, doesn't that mean that we have to listen to him!?"
"Are you suggesting I'm an idiot for not trusting him!?"
Hans stood suddenly, roughly pounding his hands flat on the table, "enough!"
Anna stood at the foot of the door her eyes on Hans, she was truly worried about her sisters wellbeing too, after all he had indeed once told her he would fake an accident for her.
"Queen Elsa, is safe from harm in the Southern Isles." All eyes were on him. "I will explain why I am here alone." He took in a deep breath, his brows furrowed.
"This is how the "most respectful" members of Arendelle handle all of their situations?" His eyes went across each face, then he slowly landed on Anna, there was a blush across her cheeks as she nodded. She felt ashamed and embarrassed, this was the head of her kingdom, and sadly there was always bickering. The council from the Southern Isles must not have been this way, or Lord Hans would not have been so surprised.
The king took in a deep breath and sat down again, licking his lips as he did so. "Can we talk things through, as the civilized people that we are?"
Guinevere opened her mouth, and quickly responded. "Well civilized, hm, look whose speaking, after everything you have done to Arende-"
Hans eyes were cold, so cold in fact that no other member dared to sass at him.
Guinevere cleared her throat and blushed her eyes falling to the table ahead of her.
"I demand respect, because at the end of the day, it does not matter what you all think and say. I as King of Arendelle, make the final decision on what needs to be done." He looked around, "you have all been used to sticking your noses in royal affairs. Yet I'm sure some of you aren't as 'perfect' as you claim to be." There was a bout of arguing, but that quickly died down.
"I will excuse all of you, and I WILL BE THE ONLY ONE FROM NOW ON, TO CALL MEETINGS, until Queen Elsa's return. For now I don't need any of you HERE."
His eyes scanned the room. "At least not until you all learn how to respect the royal family." Hans stood.
There was a rumble again, and this time Faustino was the one to stand up to Hans. "Now. who do you think you are to come around to give orders to US!?"
Hans went red in the face, had he not made himself clear just now? His brows furrowed, Anna cringed, and the Lord began to yell.
"I AM KING HANS OF ARENDELLE, PART OF THIS ROYAL FAMILY NOW, WEATHER ANY OF YOU LIKE THAT OR NOT. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLOWED TO QUESTION ME IS THE PRINCESSES AND QUEEN ELSA, NOT SOME AIRHEADS WHO BELIEVE HAVE MORE AUTHORITY OVER THE ROYAL COURT!"
Hans heaved, his chest falling up and down rapidly. "I WILL NOT," Hans index finger went in the air, "ALLOW YOU BIMBOS TO CONTROL THE COUNTRY AS YOU ALL WISH." his teeth gritted, "THIS COUNTRY IS AS IT IS BECAUSE ALL OF YOUR TERRIBLE DECISIONS!"
Anna took in a sharp breath. She was afraid now, but he was right, everything that had been done to this point had been decision of the council, from point A to point B.
Hans fixed his red hair and adjusted his formal wear. "Now leave, I have things to tend to with princess Anna and Prince Kristoff, regarding our Queen. Matters that don't concern any of you."
Hans licked his lips and eyed the members of the council, "or would any of you like to be escorted by the guards?"
There was gasps across the room and angry faces as well. Yet when Hans said that, they began to walk out slowly. His eyes crossed with Faustino, Philip, and Guinevere, who angrily marched out of the room as if they were not part of the highest rank in society next to being a royal, but as if they were small children throwing fits.
His eyes went up again, and this time he smiled. That smile of his that made him so beautiful. Anna smiled back and walked in slowly. "I'm sorry about them, they can be-"
"Stubborn?" Hans chuckled, "they act like children... as if the whole country didn't depend on their actions and decisions."
Anna lowered her head, her eyes suddenly interested on a small stain on the table, she really didn't know what to respond, he was absolutely right about them.
"I'm surprised that Arendelle hasn't fallen to it's knees... with the headmen." Hans was being brutally honest now and that stung slightly in Anna's chest.
She pinched her lips with nothing to say yet she sat down ready to listen on. For the first time in forever she had nothing to say. She would only listen. That was the thing about Hans. He was authoritative. Serious and strong, something Arendelle desperately needed.
Hans sat across Anna, and licked his lips, "I suggest we send out a royal vessel for Elsa and Gretel, before everything gets out of hand? What do you think?"
Anna blinked a few times and looked at the table again. She felt that surge of worry in her chest, that worry of falling for him all over again. There was no denying he was a great looking man, so formal and royal, a prince after all. And now that he was on their side... and married to Elsa... Anna shook her head. She was married too, and with child again. But her heart fluttered everytime she saw his green eyes.
"Yes, as soon as possible."
Xoxoxo
Elsa gathered her things and took in a deep breath. Gretel walked with her mother, both royals holding onto each other. This would be the first time she would "officially" sail.
Hans had sent fetch her, it seemed that there had been trouble in Arendelle, that's why he had not come back, instead he had to stay and take care of things while she was away.
He had sent the resignation letter to their royal highnesses of the Southern Isles. Resigning not only his royal title, but his Admiral title as well. He only belonged to Arendelle now, as its rightful king. He had expressed to Elsa his desire for her as well, and how he needed to see his daughter, hold his two girls together and rule alongside her in the beautiful kingdom of Arendelle.
Elsa smiled towards Gretel and the child smiled back, "can I be the one to tell papa?" Elsa grumbled and furrowed her brows as the carriage bounced as they made their way towards the Southern Isles docks. "About what?"
Elsa's blue eyes shined and Gretel only giggled. "Please!?"
Elsa smiled softly and nodded, pulling her daughter over to herself and hugging her, placing a soft kiss on the top of her head. "Only of you promise to be discrete."
Gretel pulled away and sat next to her mother, "I promise!"
Xoxoxo
Kristoff sat in the library, his arms crossed. His eyes were distant, sad almost.
Agnaar was busy with his royal training, and Anna was always in meetings with Hans. His brows knitted together. He couldn't help but feel jealous of the Royal. Deep down he knew that he had once been Anna's true love...
The blonde sighed deeply, he missed his life as a simple ice harvester, sometimes a little too much. He missed the air as it whipped his face in the cold winter days, and he missed the smell of hot chocolate after a long day of labor. He was not comfortable confined in four walls. He was only doing it for Anna, because of Anna.
Now with the new economic plans, it was also impossible to sell his own ice. Hans had arranged a system in which he would hire civilians to harvest for them, and pack for their trading partners, there was more economy for the country, he could not deny; but he had taken everything he had and made it different. There was rules now and systems all 'for the better' and it was true. Kristoff sighed again, it was as if everything Hans touched he turned it to gold.
He stood up angrily and headed out into the corridors of the castle, his loud stomps could be heard across the hallways.
"Kristoff!?" He could hear Anna calling after him, but this time he would not turn back, he would not attend another 'dinner' with mr. Prefect.
Anna caught up to him, even she had changed 'for the better' after HE had come. "Kristoff, where are you heading to?" There was no more bouncing to her, she was so different...
"I'm heading to the stables, I'm taking Sven out for a ride, he must feel desperate after so long of just being in the stables." He crossed his arms.
Anna looked up to him, her eyes soft against his, "Hans is waiting for us for dinner."
And there it was again, Hans... "tell him I'm sorry, but I won't be able to make it today. I really want to take Sven out for a ride."
Anna furrowed her brows and blinked a few times, before she knew it he was already on his way again towards the stables. "Kristoff, wait!" She caught up to him and held him back by his arm, her hand was so soft against him.
"C'mon, we can't do this to Hans..."
"Maybe you can't, but I can." He pulled away from her, again walking away.
"What is wrong with you!?" She suddenly yelled out. Her hands were on her hips and her brows were knitted together.
"Ever since he came you've been acting distant!" She began walking behind him, her small footsteps were echoing behind his. "You used to be friends with Berry Van Buren, buddies in fact!" She clicked behind him.
Suddenly Kristoff stopped walking and turned to face her, "I liked him a million times better as Berry Van Buren." He clicked his tongue and opened the door to the outside, leaving his wife standing there.
Anna couldn't understand why it made a difference to him, he was the same person. Only now he was the king.
Xoxoxo
James rejoiced when he recieved the letter from the king of Arendelle, he could not believe that the lad had come back, he had been sent goods and warm wishes, as well as wishes of recovery emotionally and physically. Hans had apologized for not having of been there when they were attacked, and also for what had happened to Heidi.
He had sent money, food clothes, and promised that he would soon arrange a day to visit him and his family.
James smiled at the letter and took in a deep breath. After so long everything that had happened to the lad was finally falling in place.
Xoxoxo
Fred walked along side of Hans. Everything still felt all too awkward, stiff even. There was always long silences between the two.
"For your comfort, my Lord, we've been informed that Queeb Elsa, and Princess Gretel arrive tonight."
Hans nodded silently his eyes fixated on the halls of his home. Though he was glad about it, his mind still lingered on unanswered questions, answers that only Fred could give him.
"Tell me Frederick, what really happened with Jet Ryhus?"
Fred stopped in his tracks, his face going pale. "Whatever do you mean, my lord?"
Hans stopped as well and turned to face him, "I hear that he was most acquainted with you, is that true?"
Frederick pinched his lips together. "It's true, my lord."
Hans continued walking though he did not say a word, his guard was on high alert. In fact he was always on high alert when Fred was around him. It wasn't that he didn't trust him, it was the fact that maybe he had been too close to Ryhus.
Fred felt the tension skyrocket in Hansbeing as he confirmed his suspicions, "I assure you, I think nothing like Jet."
Hans raised a brow but kept on his way, "is that so?"
"Yes, my lord!" Fred went on, "I swore loyalty to the crown. Jet let greed reach his heart, even after having it all." He shook his head genuinely saddened at his own comment. "We grew up together always dreamed of becoming part of the royal guards. Except my family was of humble roots... and his always in the court."
Hans nodded.
"It was a surprise to me when I heard that he was suddenly interested in the Queen. It was never like that with him. In fact, he had always been too invested in his work to be thinking about women."
Hans looked towards Fred. The blonde man shook head once again. "He was like a brother to me."
Hans took in a deep breath, "I'm very sorry..."
"Don't be, my lord... he asked for his own punishment."
Xoxoxo
