This took a while to write, mainly cause I've been lacking in motivation and irl stuff comes along the way. Anyway, better late than never, so here we go. The story sets in post Frozen 2, before Let Them Watch, and after Days We Spend Under the Sun. You may find those stories on the list of my works.

Music featured in this fic: Serenade for Strings in C, Op.48:2. Walzer: Moderato (Tempo di valse) - Tchaikovsky, and Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 - "Pathetique":2. Adagio antabile - Beethoven

P.S. Idk if some of you are familiar with this one, but there's one line which was slightly inspired by one of Frostudio Chambersonic's works: Prince for A Dancing Queen.

"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"

The chant echoed in the grand ballroom, where people dressed in various costumes gathered, raising their glasses to make a toast to the Queen of Arendelle.

"A toast to Queen Anna," one of the council members standing nearby said, "And to the prosperity of the Kingdom of Arendelle."

The sound of glass clinking, followed by murmurs, broke the brief silence, and as if on cue, the band began to play soft music.

Elsa raised her glass to her little sister, the queen, who was standing next to her with glee. She nodded briefly, before taking a sip from her glass, trying to act oblivious to the glances and the stares. The unmarried former queen was looking breathtaking in her white ball gown, snowflakes of her own creation dusting the fabric with a matching crown made of ice sitting on the top of her signature crown bun. Even with a mask, also made of ice, covering half of her beautiful face, the way she dressed was a huge giveaway of her identity, drawing the attention of some young gentlemen in the room. But the Snow Queen, of course, was not interested, and they should know better than to ask her to dance.

"Where's your fiance, hm?" Anna nudged her gently, there was a hint of smirk in her words. "I haven't seen him since the afternoon tea. I hope he will be ready for later."

With a slight frown, Elsa half-shrugged. Blue eyes darting from one side of the crowded room to the other, back and forth, trying to spot a familiar mass of auburn hair. Much to her dismay, she couldn't find who she was looking for.

Either he isn't here, or he is really good at disguising himself.

"Me neither, unfortunately." Elsa let out a sigh, before downing the rest of her champagne and putting the empty glass on the passing tray.

"Oh, did you two fight or something?"

"No," the Snow Queen, dressed as herself, replied quickly. "Nothing happened."

Elsa was standing straight, hands on her lap in such a queenly manner, a habit that stayed with her even when she was no longer a queen. Her lips were forming a thin line, a sign that she wasn't pleased. Her mind wandered as she began to think of various possibilities.

Is he in doubt? Does he regret it, just when the ball is held and the people are invited?

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath to calm her mind.

"Don't wait for me, Kaere. Go have some fun, and I'll be there before you know it!"

His words from earlier that day echoed in her ear. She bit her lower lip, wondering what he was up to.

"Hey, Elsa." She could feel Anna's hand grabbing her upper arm, gently squeezing, and she turned to see the small, comforting smile her little sister tried to offer. "Perhaps you could join the crowd in the next dance as you wait for him? He is probably planning a surprise for you."

Her sister's radiance was contagious, and Elsa found herself smiling back. She put her hand atop hers, and shook her head slowly.

"Thank you, but you know I don't dance."

Not without him , it was on the tip of her tongue, but she needed to swallow it.

From behind the mask, Elsa noticed the way Anna frowned upon the response, one hand clutching her mask tight. Surely, it brought back some memories from the past, the night of her coronation. Her gaze softened as she was reminded of the guilt from when she shut Anna out from the truth, which happened not just once. She was about to reply, when the corner of her eye caught a glimpse of someone familiar coming approaching.

"Lord Petersen," Kai announced.

The old man, much older than the steward who was announcing his presence, stepped before the sister and bowed.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness."

"Lord Petersen," Anna nodded briefly. "I see you've finally made it to the ball."

"Of course, Ma'am. I heard there is something to celebrate, and some good news to share tonight," he paused, before turning to the older sister, "Isn't that right, Lady Elsa?"

From where she was standing, Elsa flashed him a smile. Her fingers unconsciously played with the jewellery on her finger, which had only been there for two weeks. Warmth filled her chest, as she reminisced about that day.

"Yes, Lord Petersen."

The old man grinned, shaking his head in amusement. "Oh, no need to be so formal. I've served this family for a very long time, we've been here before."

Certainly. The man was made regent twice in his lifetime, to reign in both the young King Agnarr, and the young Queen Elsa's place. That was one of the reasons why Anna called him back from his retirement at the beginning of her reign to help her as an adviser, especially when Elsa was staying in the Enchanted Forest most of the time. Though, there was a pang of guilt in Elsa's chest for not being there to guide her sister. Perhaps that was why she decided to visit Arendelle more frequently once everything was settled.

"Well, it's a bit of a habit." Elsa shrugged her shoulders. "We do hope you'll enjoy the party, Sir."

Lord Petersen's gaze softened, as if a sense of nostalgia hit him. He nodded.

"Thank you. I sure will." With another bow, the man took his leave.

Once she was left alone with her sister, Elsa let out a sigh. She brushed some imaginary dust off her skirt in an attempt to distract herself. Anna, who seemed to notice her sister's change of mood, laid one hand on Elsa's shoulder, catching her attention instantly.

"Do you want me to tell Olaf to hide Hans' precious compass that you gave him for his birthday? You can ask him if he lost it or something, then pretend to be mad about it."

At her sister's mischievous idea, the former queen couldn't hide her smile. It sounded tempting, yet a little childish. Elsa knew how to push on his button, and some sort of a prank would certainly be unnecessary.

"Thank you, Anna, but you don't have to. I have my own ways ." She winked, lifting an open palm in front of her, revealing two dancing snowflakes.

Anna gasped dramatically, holding up one finger as if to silence her sister. "And you certainly don't need to spill all the details, whatever it is."

"Huh?" Elsa raised an eyebrow, the snowflakes dissolving into thin air. "I was actually planning to exclude him from our next snowball fight. Anna, what did you think I was planning on doing?"

"Oh." The queen blushed. "Well, certainly not that." She furiously waved her hands, before grabbing a glass of champagne from a moving tray. "Anyway, a drink?"

"Thank you, but I've had my fill." Elsa grinned, amused by the way her sister jumped into conclusions. "In case I'm gonna be dancing tonight."

"I thought you said you don't dance?"

The older sister shrugged, "Mhm, but not without the right partner."

Eyes narrowed, Anna playfully scoffed at the answer.

"You know what, Elsa, I'm gonna let it slide, cause you are my sister and I'm supposed to support you, doesn't matter how nonsense your reasoning can be, well, sometimes." The Queen handed her glass to a footman, and when she was about to turn back to her sister, she spotted a man in a green princely attire entering the ballroom, trying to blend into the crowd. "Wait a second, is it just me or is Kristoff moving really weird?"

"Huh?" Glancing at the direction her little sister turned to, Elsa didn't expect to see her brother in law slightly ducking behind a footman, as if he didn't want to be seen. "Nah, it's not just you."

"I swear if he is actually teaming up with Hans making pranks, I'm sorry, Elsa, but I may have to scold your fiance in the end."

Elsa grinned, "You have my permission, Anna."

"Okay, here we go. Kristoff! Hey!"

It was when Kristoff hid behind the pillar, a few feet away from them, did Anna finally call him, not caring if anyone nearby would think that the queen was being disrespectful. Then again, it was probably the champagne doing.

"Anna?" He chuckled nervously, before quickly making his way towards his wife and kissed her temple.

With an eyebrow raised, the queen asked, "Where have you been? You missed the toast."

Sheepishly, the Prince Consort scratched the back of his head, trying to avoid his wife's glance.

"Sorry, I was distracted—no, not distracted. I mean, I was putting Jensen to sleep, and it took longer than I thought, and then on the way here, I stopped by the West Wing and found Olaf—"

Upon the mention of that particular part of the castle, Elsa frowned, eyebrows knitted in confusion and curiosity.

"Umm, Kristoff?" Without letting him finish, she asked her brother in law, who was now turning to her, "Did you, by chance, see Hans around there?"

From behind the dark green mask, matching with the colour of Anna's dress, Elsa noticed the way his blue eyes tried to avoid hers, as if he was trying to not spill a secret. In return, the former queen smiled. It was clear that whatever it was did concern her fiancé.

"Well?"

Kristoff let out a sigh. "Fine, yes I did. He told me to not tell you about it until later, and he told me to give you," he paused to search his pocket, before pulling out a hastily folded piece of parchment, "this."

Elsa took the parchment, carefully breaking the seal and unfolding it.

"Oh, what does it say?" She could feel Anna glance over her shoulder, probably being her curious—or nosy self as per usual.

Kaere,

Meet me at the balcony where you made me yours.

"Aww," Anna gushed, nudging her sister once again. "I told you he was probably planning a surprise."

Not paying attention to her sister, Elsa could feel her heart racing. Her big blue eyes were glued to the words written in a neat handwriting which unmistakably belongs to Hans, before she looked up to see Kristoff.

"Thank you, Kristoff, I'll take it from here." The Snow Queen smiled, patting his shoulder gently. "I'll see you later, Anna."

As she made her way towards the exit, the crowd parted ways for her. All eyes were on the former queen, wondering what could probably be the reason behind her departure, but she couldn't care less. She had somewhere to go and a special someone to meet. With a smile on her face, Elsa stepped into the empty corridor. The sound of her icy heels echoed down the hall with every step she took.

I stopped by the West Wing and found Olaf, she recalled.

She should have suspected that the talking snowman, the life she created, was somehow involved. Before the ball, Olaf told her he would only come to the ballroom for the announcement because he'd promised to read Sven a bedtime story, which was suspicious of him, especially knowing how much he loved festivities. Now that Elsa knew the real reason, she couldn't be angry with him for lying. In fact, she was glad that Olaf and Hans had developed a bond.

I wonder how Hans managed to bribe Olaf, she thought, or maybe he didn't have to bribe him with anything, and Olaf was willing to help on his own will. Either way, she would find out about it soon.

Climbing up the stairs that led her to the specific area of the castle, Elsa began to slow down her pace. She quickly hid behind a pillar when she heard low murmurs, with a muffled sound of the music from the ballroom downstairs in the background. Trying to be as quiet as a mouse, she moved from one pillar to another, until she stopped behind the closest one to the balcony and caught a silhouette of someone pacing back and forth. The golden light from the summer night sky was illuminating the figure.

"I still don't get why you worry too much, Hans," a familiar, no longer childlike, voice said. "You love Elsa and she loves you, there should be nothing else to worry about, you said so yourself."

Elsa bit her lower lip, curious to hear where the conversation would head. It was her second time eavesdropping on Hans talking about her—the first time was a few weeks ago, when she found him standing by the river in the Enchanted Forest. Deep down, she was contemplating whether she should let her presence be known or she should stay hidden. But like Olaf, she, too, wanted to hear his answer.

There was a pause, long and hostile. Taking a peek from behind the pillar, the blonde saw her fiancé crouching down with his back facing her, as he was talking to the snowman, who was sitting on the bench.

"I feel like some people still hate me, or strongly dislike, whatever. Yes, almost everyone in this castle already accepts me as a member of the Royal Family, and so are most of the members of Anna's council. But there are people out there who probably still think that I'm a monster—one that can never be tamed, or redeemed, or even worthy of love." Came his reply, before he murmured, "Her love."

Elsa frowned. Her gaze fell to the floor. Yes, she was aware of all that, but Hans had never really brought that up. To hear it from him was enough to make her sad.

"And tonight, the whole kingdom, the people, are about to find out that their Queen—yes, she will always be their Queen—is gonna marry a traitor, the one who seduced her sister for a shortcut to the throne, the one who was planning to kill her just to get the crown; me, a disgraced prince. There, if you're wondering why I'm worried."

"But you're not a traitor, not anymore," Olaf said. "You saved Arendelle. You're their hero!"

From her hiding spot, Elsa could sense his hesitation and discomfort. He didn't like that label at all.

"I am not a hero, Olaf." It sounded calm, making Elsa think that having so many nephews and nieces must have trained him to contain his emotions in front of children (while if she were in his shoes, she didn't know if she'd be able to do that so often). "I'm just a human being, trying my best to be good. The word hero just doesn't suit me, because I'm nothing like that. I've made some bad choices in the past and it took me to the dark places. I just wish I wouldn't make the same mistake."

"Oh, you won't!" Olaf beamed, as if he had seen something good in the former prince. "You've proved that you've changed. Elsa eventually gave you a second chance, though she was so stubborn at first, and you made the right choice."

Hearing those words, the blonde smiled. Her heart swelled with something like joy and relief. She was glad, for some reason, and she decided she should no longer hide. She wanted to show her fiancé how much he meant to her, she wanted to drag him out of his self doubts and the what-ifs, and she would.

Taking a few steps to the side, Elsa said, "Olaf has a point, Hans."

"Elsa?"

Hans got up abruptly, clearly he wasn't expecting her at all. His emerald eyes reflected the dim light of their surroundings, as they were staring into her blue ones.

"You're not supposed to be here for another hour."

She approached him with a smile, before stopping right before him. Cupping his cheek gently, she stood on her tiptoes to peck his lips.

"Yes, Kristoff told me. I didn't really enjoy the party, with everyone dancing, and talking, so I decided to come here." She then turned to the talking snowman, and playfully said, "So this is where you read a bedtime story for Sven, huh?"

"Sorry, I was helping Hans to plan a surprise, which I guess is no longer a surprise."

Her gaze softened at his apology. "That's alright. Thank you, Olaf."

Olaf beamed, one twig hand doing a salute. "You're welcome! I guess this is my cue to leave now."

"Oh, you may stay if you like," Elsa quickly said.

"And watch you two kiss? No, thank you. Anna mentioned something like you don't want to be alone with only Elsa and Hans in the same room , while I'm not sure what she means, I don't want to take the risk."

The way he recalled what Anna said, with such a spot on impression and a high pitched voice, amused her, and she didn't think her sister would say that in front of Olaf. It wasn't like Elsa and Hans shared something more than just a kiss or a chaste gesture like holding hands, at least in public.

"I shall take my leave now. See you later Elsa, Hans! Have fun!"

Before the lovebirds could reply, the talking snowman had already made his way downstairs. Elsa shook her head, hands on her waist as she bit back a smile.

"Kaere."

At the way he called her, oh so gently, the Snow Queen looked back. She waved her hand and the icy mask disappeared into snowflakes. Taking in the view before her, she noticed the look of adoration on his face. The music they could hear from the ballroom began to slow down, the tempo changed from allegro to adagio.

Briefly, they locked eyes, before the blonde moved to circle him, slowly, on the same pace as the piano playing downstairs. As if on cue, Hans bowed, and only then did Elsa stop to return the gesture with a curtsey. They were still standing there, facing each other in the distance, adoring and admiring each other. Elsa eyed him from head to toe, gushing when she realised that it had been a while since the last time he dressed so—she tried to find the word—princely.

"Who are you dressing up as?" She took a step forward, tilting her head to the side in curiosity.

"A prince." Hans offered his hand for her to take. The moment her hand was clasped in his, he leaned in to murmur close to her ear, "A prince for a dancing queen."

"But I am no dancing queen," she looked up, trying to suppress a gasp when she felt his hand on the small of her back.

Mouth forming into a playful smirk, Hans took a step back, and Elsa followed. Soon, they began to dance to the slow tempo, gliding around the empty room, as if the world out there didn't exist.

"You are now," he managed to say, before he twirled her around.

Elsa beamed, unable to contain the joy and the warmth filling her chest. Her gaze focused on anywhere but his face, and vice versa. In adagio they moved, swaying gently like the first fallen snow on winter solstice, and basking in the dim glow of the midnight sun. For a moment, she forgot about the conversation she heard earlier. The view, his presence, and the slow music—everything was perfect; she thought it was a dream.

"So, is this the surprise—us dancing before the midnight sun?"

The former queen watched as a sudden realisation seemed to hit her fiancé. Hans looked down for a bit, and almost immediately, Elsa could tell why.

"Hans?"

Hans shook his head, probably trying to get himself together.

"I'm sorry, Kaere," he muttered under his breath. "Gosh, I keep ruining everything."

"Hey," Elsa said, stopping abruptly, then cupping his cheeks with both hands. She waited until he no longer avoided her gaze, before murmuring, "Hans, everything is going to be okay, you hear me?"

He nodded, and Elsa could see how remorseful he was. She knew everything. She knew about his self doubts, his recurring nightmare, his change of heart, and it pained her to see him in such a state.

"We are the only ones who have a say in this relationship, not the council members, not the people, not even Anna. Hans, you're not the only one with a choice here. I chose you. I chose to give you a second chance, I chose to let you in, and I chose to let myself fall in love with you."

His eyes fluttered close, as he rested his forehead against hers. For a while, they stayed in that position, until Hans let out a sigh. Taking her hands in his, he then pressed his lips over her knuckles, in which the gesture was enough to make Elsa blush.

"I love you so much."

"I love you."

"But I've hurt you."

"You have," she agreed. "But I've grown up a lot since then, and, I believe, so have you."

Hans flashed her a smile, nodding slowly. He cradled her face, and Elsa leaned to his touch.

"Hans, I've learned that we can never change the past." She softly kissed the heel of his palm, before adding, "But we can create a better future."

"Together," Hans added, before pulling her into his embrace and nuzzling the top of her head.

"Together," Elsa repeated, letting out a sigh of contentment as she snuggled close to him.

"You know, there's something we haven't done," said the former prince, once they let go of the embrace.

He moved to sit on the bench, facing the open sea. One hand patted the empty space beside him, prompting her to take a seat, and she did.

"What?"

Hans smiled. "Sailing."

"Hmm, I guess I'll go on one condition."

"And what is it, min Kaere ?"

Elsa didn't bother to hide her crimson cheeks at the name, as she replied, "Let me steer the boat, please?"

"For you, anything."

He let out a chuckle, before leaning in to capture her lips with his. The gesture took her by surprise, and her eyes fluttered close in response. She tilted her head to the side, deepening the kiss. It was when he groaned, did she smile in satisfaction.

In adagio their story blossomed, just like the pace of the music they were dancing to. Slowly. It took quite a journey to get where they were, and Elsa didn't regret it. If anything, she was glad to get to take her time before she eventually let him in.

Life is full of surprises and mysteries, she thought, and the way Fate turned enemies to lovers is a part of them.