(A/N: As much as I enjoyed writing this story, it's time to begin the countdown. Four chapters remain before we conclude this story.)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: A GODDESS'S WALK
After leaving Anna to her much-needed rest, Elsa walked out of the palace and through the kingdom again. It was easy to stand there in the Market Square since there were no people. Elsa scoffed at herself. Wow. What an accomplishment. I feel so…fulfilled. The real test is being in the presence of mortals after so long. Not a manifestation. Not hidden. Me…standing in the light of day for all to see. The thought alone made fear and anxiety return. I'm sorry, Anna. I don't think I-
Anna's final words before falling asleep replayed in Elsa's mind, Please, Elsa. Just try?
Elsa also recalled her promise to Anna, I'll…try. I'll try for you, Anna. Elsa groaned to herself. To Elsa, Anna was like a little sister or maybe even a daughter to her, but Anna was a mere mortal yet held more power over Elsa than the goddess ever imagined possible. Anna had her right where she wanted her. Elsa smiled. Anna. There's nothing mere about THAT mortal. She's forcing me out of my comfort zone because she knows I can't deny her. I have to at least try.
As soon as Anna's eyes shut forcefully due to Elsa's powers, they reopened when she reached Elsa's required amount of sleep. Anna sat up in her bed. She felt so rested and refreshed. She couldn't remember the last time she slept this well. When she was with the resistance during the Duke's rule, she never slept in a bed out of guilt for the suffering of her people. So, her sleep suffered and her rising early to aid in planning deliveries and attacks didn't help. After becoming Queen, Anna thought she would catch a break, but there was far too much that needed to be done in the last three months.
The fogginess of waking up finally cleared and her eyes widened with anger when she recalled Elsa forcing her to sleep with the wave her hand. She tore out of bed, "That little-! She did THAT to me again! I'm the Queen of Arendelle! How can she just put me to bed like when I was little?! It's so embarrassing!" Anna got ready to face the new day, still fuming over what Elsa did the night before. She remembered Elsa doing that to her all the time when she was little. Whenever Anna got angry or annoying with Elsa, Elsa would just put her to sleep for a few mere hours of peace and quiet. Her relationship with Elsa was strange. Whenever Elsa was…normal, she was a warm yet protective mother. However, when they argued, Elsa acted annoyed like an older sister bothered by her little sister.
"Well, I'm the big sister now and I am pissed! Time for the little goddess to get spanked!" Anna stormed for the door. Kristoff's face flashed in her mind as she grabbed the door handle to leave.
Every time he made her heart flutter…with a smile…a simple touch of his hand…and his kiss. The way he immediately started acting differently when her true identity was revealed, the way he looked at her before leaving her when Elsa saved them all. It made her heart ache. She needed to find him immediately. She walked out of her room quickly, running into Kai, who was obviously there to inform her of important business. Anna couldn't let herself be distracted. Not now. She needed to see Kristoff. It was far too important to her. "Whatever it is, Kai, please inform Lord Peterssen to cover it until I return. There's something important I need to do first."
Anna walked down the hall. Kai called, "Your Majesty? Where are you going?"
Anna was already gone. She couldn't waste any time explaining. She knew where the harvesters were working. They were the first business she helped re-establish. Next came businesses that provided a service to the kingdom, such as blacksmiths, architects, stone masons in order to recruit their aid in rebuilding the kingdom that was damaged or neglected by the Duke. Those who baked or cooked were then tended to feed the people of Arendelle until the completion of the rebuilding the infrastructure and restoring the way of life as they knew it.
To the north where the harvesters collected their ice, every harvester was hard at work. Due to the restoration of the kingdom, there was a high demand for ice for many different needs. There was no time for rest. The overtime they worked would ensure more money for each of them and their families. Kristoff worked harder then the rest, loosing himself to his work, hoping it would distract him from his troubles.
It worked and Kristoff felt happier now that his mind wasn't fixated on Joan- ANNA. It still felt strange to him. He figured she was just a noble merchant's daughter who crossed the Duke somehow, not the actual heir to the throne. It made her conviction to fight and remove the Duke from the throne make more sense. Kristoff admired her so much, but his heart harbored a love for her he felt guilty for having. Anna was ROYALTY. He wasn't. Wouldn't there be some sort of procedure for this issue? Surely, there was some law against commoners mingling with royalty romantically. Right?
That was why he kept his distance from her these past three months. He felt so out of place next to her. What good was he to her? He wasn't a servant, a steward, cook, or royal guard. He was just a humble ice harvester. Would she get in trouble for being around him? He couldn't risk that. "Damn it," he cursed through his teeth. He was thinking of her again. He had to force himself to bury what he felt for Anna. In order to avoid the risk of screwing things up for Anna, now that she's Queen, he had to let her go. "Anna…I'm sorry," he muttered, blinking back his tears.
The harvesters heard a horse approach and their eyes widened when they saw who it was. Henrik smiled and approached their most welcomed visitor. "Welcome, Queen Anna. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
Anna smiled before dismounting and stepping closer to her old friend, "It's just Anna. None of my friends are obligated to follow formalities."
Henrik smiled.
Anna's smile lessened slightly, "Although it's great to see all of you again, I've come for Kristoff. Do you know where he is?"
Henrik's smile also lessened. "I know all about Kristoff's distance with you and I don't blame the young man from feeling overwhelmed by your revelation. Joan, the young fearless woman we knew, was really the heir to the throne, the long-lost Princess of Arendelle. I never got involved with his struggle. I figured giving him enough space would allow him to work through it himself and enable him to finally come to you or you would come to visit him yourself. I'm glad it's you, because that boy is terrible at initiating the first move."
Anna smiled slightly. Henrik was a wise and understanding man. He was like a father figure to Kristoff and knew him better than Anna could ever dream, but Anna hoped to change that in the days to come if she could just help Kristoff break through the wall he was struggling with. "May I speak with him? Please?"
Henrik whistled loudly before calling, "KRISTOFF!"
Anna hid behind Henrik briefly, suddenly nervous about seeing Kristoff. She thought hard about what she would say, but now that the moment was upon her, butterflies were fluttering around in her stomach. She was about to be reunited with the man she loved most in the world. There was so much fear in this moment. Half of her desperately wanted to see Kristoff's face again, his soothing eyes and warm smile. The other half was frightened by their reunion since it has been months since they last saw each other and wished she didn't come. Finally, she saw someone approach from the other side of the lake, walking through the others. She recognized his tall, burly build anywhere. Kristoff, her heart sang his name as she watched him approach.
Kristoff looked up and stopped prematurely. Henrik got out of the way. Anna smiled at Kristoff, but became concerned when she saw his hazel eyes widened with shock. He wasn't expecting her. He was still and speechless until he managed, "Anna?"
Anna smiled again, "Hi, Kristoff."
Kristoff suddenly stepped back and broke eye contact, obviously panicking over her visit. Concerned, Anna stepped forward, "Kristoff?" Kristoff looked at her briefly to reveal the sadness in his eyes before walking away quickly.
Henrik sighed, "Do you want me to talk with-?" Anna was already chasing after him.
Kristoff already had Sven strapped in and he snapped the reins to turn Sven onto the path. He could feel himself suffocating with panic. He had to distance himself from Anna. He wasn't ready to confront her yet. He thought he could soon, but suddenly seeing her again brought back the same emotions after he walked away from the crowd that greeted their long-lost Princess. He was back at square one. He made no progress at all. Just as he was about to leave the area quickly, Anna came out of no where and blocked Sven who came to a sudden halt and happily licked Anna's face making her laugh a little.
She glanced at Kristoff and slowly approached his side of the wagon he was riding. His hands were shaking and he couldn't look her in the eye. It wasn't anger or anything like that. Severe intimidation, perhaps? Arendelle's last great ruling monarch was her parents, then they suffered under the Duke since Kristoff was eight years old. She carefully placed her warm bare hand on his, "Kristoff? Can we please talk? You've been avoiding me for three months. We need to work through this." Her words were soft, gentle and warm.
The sound of her voice brought an ache to his heart. Whether it was a pleasant pain or not, Kristoff wasn't sure. His lips parted, but his voice failed him. Her thumb strokes his calloused hand in an attempt to comfort him, hoping the small act would help relieve the awkward tension between them. "Will you please look me in the eyes?" Anna requested.
Kristoff struggled slightly so Anna climbed up to him closer and caressed the side of his face and moved it so his troubled face was facing her. She then kissed his lips, but the kiss felt strange since Kristoff was tense and startled. Her lips parted from his but she kept herself close. "It's me. The young woman you saved from the blizzard. The young woman who rode with you to Oaken's and slept next to you in his barn. The stupid woman who fell to Hans and wouldn't listen to a word you said. It's still me." Kristoff was silent. Anna finished, "You once loved Joan. How is Anna any different? Is it my title?"
Kristoff's eyes widened slightly at that and that silent act told Anna everything she needed to know. "Just because I'm from a royal family, doesn't make me better than you in any way. My title is just that, a title. My blood is nothing special. It's warm and red, just like yours." One hand rested on his upper back while her other one slid down to his chest where she could feel his heart beat. Lord Peterssen once told her that people were often intimidated when they came into the presence of her parents. That was just how it was between commoners and royalty most of the time, he said. So that's why Kristoff has been distant with me. He's just intimidated and unsure since I'm royalty. She caressed his face with one of her hands and tried to assure him, "You don't have to be-"
"I need to think on this," Kristoff said suddenly. "Can- May I have some more time…Your Majesty?"
Anna understood and nodded, "Yes, Kristoff. How long?" Hearing him call her by her title instead of her name bothered her, but she suppressed the ache she was feeling, remaining gentle in her voice.
"I," he looked away, "I don't know. I'm still trying to figure this out."
Those words to Anna were like a dull knife to her heart. Kristoff wasn't sure about their future together and it sounded like what they had was lost. She was losing him. Anna was able to contain her tears barely and just nodded before getting down so she could watch him leave with his load of ice. Him slowly disappearing from her sight made the ache in her heart all the more unbearable. Her horse nudged her back and she got on and rode back to Arendelle.
Kristoff sighed painfully. He didn't expect her to just show up. Kristoff was somewhat awkward about these kinds of things. He was completely lost on what to do. He almost felt obligated to remain with Anna just because she was Queen, but that wouldn't have been honest and fair to either of them. Requesting time and space to figure out if he truly still loved her was the hardest thing he ever had to do, but it was the smart and wise thing to do.
Elsa approached the outskirts of town, took a deep breath. She unveiled herself from mortal eyes and took a step forward, but immediately hid herself again. She cursed herself for being so weak and afraid. An idea came to her. She'll ease into it. She changed her appearance to an old woman and created older clothing and a walking stick. With an elderly voice she hyped herself up, "Ready or not, here I come!" she began walking forward.
She smiled proudly at herself. "This isn't so bad." However, as soon as she looked up and was greeted by random people, she panicked and looked down at her feet, awkwardly waving as she hurried away. The street she turned on was busy and she froze. "No way," she said defiantly before turning a different direction. Her panicked heart calmed the more she distanced from people. The comfort felt nice, but it was quickly tainted with guilt. It was the exact opposite of what Anna wanted. "I'm such a failure, Anna. I – I don't know what to do," the goddess teared up in her elderly disguise. She walked away in shame, until she stopped seeing Anna sit on a bench amongst trees. It was the Royal Garden near the palace.
The thought of secretly spending time with Anna raised her spirit and a smile come across her wrinkled face as she eagerly walked over. Elsa froze and became concerned when Anna became upset and through her tiara at a nearby tree. The pain in Anna's eyes was unbearable as tears poured out uncontrollably.
Anna just wept on the bench, letting her tears drench the ground at her feet. The thought of potentially losing the love of her life was too much for her to take. She didn't want to force him to love her back. That wasn't how it worked. Whatever became of her and Kristoff was entirely up to him at this point. She truly wished that this issue he was struggling with was a real, flesh and blood monster. That way she could draw her sword, declare war on it like a conquering queen and save the love of her life and live happily ever after. Anna laughed at herself, realizing how silly that sounded, "You're so stupid."
"Don't say that, dear," an old voice said.
Anna quickly sat up to see an elderly woman standing by the tree, holding her tiara. "I'm sorry. I- I didn't know anyone was nearby," she quickly apologized, wiping her eyes and forcing a smile for the elderly woman's benefit, but the old woman wasn't convinced.
She gestured to the spot next to the Queen and asked, "May I?" She sat next to Anna after she nodded. Elsa laid the tiara on the bench between them and just enjoyed the beautiful garden.
Anna stared at this civilian, "Do I know you?"
Elsa panicked, "Uh- No. I'm new here. I was just walking by when I saw you get upset. You seemed like you needed someone to talk to." She hugged herself anxiously.
Anna's face lit up when the mannerisms stuck out to her. Elsa?! She quickly concealed that she knew it was Elsa and carried on. "That would be nice. The one person I wanted to spend my day with can't even look me in the eye."
"Would you like to talk about it?" the disguised Elsa asked gently.
Anna was silent. What good would talking do?
Elsa mistook her silence for a no and awkwardly apologized, "I'm sorry. It might be very personal. You wouldn't want to just unload yourself to some random stranger like me."
Anna looked away briefly to conceal the urge to laugh. She knew for a fact it was really Elsa, but Elsa was really milking the whole 'I'm just a humble old lady' persona. She was glad Elsa was here. "I think it would be better if we talked about something else."
Elsa was a little disappointed that Anna didn't want to tell her. She didn't want to read her mind since Anna was sensitive to her and didn't want to give herself away. "Very well. So…you're Queen. That must be…exciting."
Anna deadpanned. Elsa is so terrible at having a normal conversation. At least she's trying. "Not as exciting as Mother made it sound when I was little. Luckily, I have lots of people in the palace to help me since they served my parents. Kai. Gerda. Lord Peterssen. I would be lost without them."
"Are you saying you don't want to be Queen?" Elsa asked.
Anna looked at her quickly, "No! Not at all! Sometimes…it can be scary. But where would Arendelle be if the heir refused the crown and didn't do anything to help them? This responsibility is my birthright. I would dishonor the memory of my parents if I didn't."
"I see," Elsa replied before asking with a sincere interest that it surprised Anna, "What's it like to be a REAL Queen?"
"Well," Anna was caught off guard by her question. Wouldn't she know being Queen of Ahtohallan? She showed me her past. She was an AMAZING queen! Anna tried her best to describe it, "I can FINALLY sleep in real bed after three months. I can have chocolate whenever I want." Elsa smirked at that, but kept silent as she just listened to Anna share about her new life. "I can help others in a way I couldn't before. I have A LOT of paperwork. That part I hate."
"Sounds nice," Elsa commented and joked, "All you're missing is a King."
Anna instant felt the blood leave her head as she remembered Kristoff, "I don't think there will be a king."
Elsa's wrinkled smile faded before she turned more to Anna, "What do you mean?"
"There was someone. His name was Kristoff. He's kind…and sweet." Her voice started to break. "He doesn't love me anymore. It's all my fault!"
"Anna," Elsa said after taking her hand. Anna looked over and saw Elsa back in her regular form. Anna lunged into her arms, desperately in need of comfort. As Elsa held her maternally, she gently probed Anna's mind to search through her memories. Anna could feel it, but was too broken and vulnerable to resist Elsa's search. Her eyes narrowed seeing how Kristoff's questionable behavior was hurting her Anna. "I think I'll have a little chat with him."
Anna pulled away with alarm, "No! You can't, Elsa!"
Elsa held her head up in a regal manner, "And why not? Kristoff has hurt you. That's something I can't overlook."
"It's not like that! He's just scared and confused! He didn't know I was royalty when we fell in love! He just doesn't know how to act around me since I am no longer Joan in his mind, but the actual Queen of Arendelle!" Anna defended Kristoff, "Please, Elsa! Leave him be!"
Elsa's cold, regal face softened seeing Anna stare at her with those watery teal eyes. Elsa nodded. "You should head back inside. I'm going to…walk around the kingdom."
Anna wiped her eyes and gave Elsa a smile, kissing her forehead before heading back. Before leaving the garden, Anna called back to Elsa, "Elsa!"
Elsa turned right on the bench and smiled at Anna, "Yes, QUEEN Anna?!"
"No cloaking. No shape shifting!" Anna ordered.
Elsa's smile dropped instantly and replied as if annoyed, "OKAY! YOUR HIGHNIE!"
"That's QUEEN ANNA to you," Anna teased back smugly.
Elsa scowled at her and immediately stood, causing Anna to freak out and run back inside, which made Elsa smile with amusement before letting her smile disappear and be replaced with her regal stare. She looked up, "GALE!"
Gale came to Elsa. Elsa instructed, "Anna wants me to mingle with her people." Gale got excited. "But that has to wait. Apparently, the man I entrusted Anna's heart to has hurt MY Anna. Take me to Kristoff immediately."
Gale held Elsa under her arms and carried her away.
Meanwhile, Kristoff was riding to his last client to deliver ice. He pulled on the reins when something landed in front of him making dust fly everywhere, concealing whatever it was. Sven was panicked. Kristoff called, "Easy, Sven! Wonder what that was."
"Not WHAT. WHO," Elsa said as Gale blew the dust away to reveal her to the harvester. "Kristoff Bjorgman. HOW. DARE YOU!" Before Kristoff could even react, Elsa used her powers to blow him right out of the wagon and land on the ground hard several feet behind the wagon.
Kristoff quickly stood on his feet as he saw an angry Elsa approach him. "Wait, Elsa. Let me explain-" He was blown another several feet away making him groan loudly. Elsa walked faster and stopped.
"Get up!" Elsa demanded. There was such power in her authoritative voice. "I said get up, BIG MAN. You enjoy hurting MY ANNA? How would you like it when her MOTHER hurts you back?!"
"Wait, what?!" Kristoff asked confused. "I would never hurt Anna! Did she send you? Elsa, please let me explain. There's been a huge misunderstanding!"
Elsa held herself back. "Well?! OUT WITH IT!"
"My client is expecting that ice before sundown. May I please deliver that last ice block before we talk?" Kristoff humbly requested.
"Fine!" Elsa snapped before she turned and walked over to his wagon and sat on the passenger side.
Kristoff's eyes were wide with disbelief, but he quickly headed over to not keep her waiting. He cautiously climbed into the wagon, out of fear of Elsa and the pain he was already in. During the ride to the final client, Kristoff felt intimidated when he looked over at Elsa and saw she was still scowling at him. She had no intention of turning her fierce gaze away from him.
Elsa remained in the wagon while she watched Kristoff carry the last cube of ice to the client, who happened to be a farmer. Kristoff handed the block of ice to the client and received his pay. "Is she still scowling at me?" Kristoff asked the middle-aged client.
The older man looked behind the harvester and became confused, "Uh…who?"
"The blonde in the white dress. I ticked her off and she's been scowling at me the whole trip," Kristoff explained, "Is she still scowling at me? I'm afraid to look."
The older man looked again and then back at Kristoff with a wierded out look and some concern. He placed his hand on Kristoff's shoulder. "Son…get some sleep." The man went inside and closed the door.
Kristoff looked at the closed door and turned to see Elsa was not in the wagon. "Elsa?!"
"What?!" Elsa snapped when he was close enough and unveiled herself. It caused Kristoff to fall backwards off the wagon and onto the hard ground. "Quite fooling around, Mountain Boy. We need to talk about Anna."
Kristoff gave her a look as he climbed back up on the wagon. She turned her head away so he wouldn't see her smile. I'm so cruel. Who cares? He deserves it.
When he stopped in the woods where he had a camp set up for himself, he turned to Elsa to give her the explanation she was demanding, but Elsa held up her hand to halt him. After seeing Anna's memories of her encounter with Kristoff, hearing Anna defend him and reading the anxious thoughts Kristoff was struggling with, Elsa had already learned everything. She placed her hand on his shoulder and he became startled feeling her heal his soreness from earlier. "I have already learned why you are distant with Anna. You're afraid of causing her trouble because you are just a commoner and she is royalty. You are afraid others will not approve of you courting the Queen. You are also afraid your feelings for Anna are not the same as they when she was Joan."
Kristoff was shocked. She was correct. She knew all his insecurities and worries. He confessed that she spoke the truth and just nodded as he looked down.
"Look at me, Kristoff," Elsa instructed and got Kristoff's attention. "No one except Anna gets to decide who she gives her heart too. She may have wavered when she met Hans, but in the end, she saw that you are much better for her than a prince could ever be. She chose you. The Queen of Arendelle…is in love…with YOU."
"How bad did I hurt her?" Kristoff asked with concern, dreading Elsa's answer.
Elsa looked away. "I saw her through her tiara away out of anger. She regrets being royalty because it was getting in the way of you two being together. She wanted to give up being queen so that she could be with you."
Kristoff's eyes widened and he immediately stood. "What?! She can't! Her being Arendelle's new ruler is far too important to give up JUST for me!"
"I agree," Elsa said, before looking up at Kristoff, "The question is…Are you going to let your stations in society get in the way of you two being together and happy?"
Kristoff looked in the direction of the town, of the royal palace. He immediately started running for it, but Elsa blocked his path. "Get out of the way, Elsa! I need to see her!"
Elsa smiled seeing how sincere he was, "It's getting late. We shouldn't disturb her at this hour. I'll bring you to her tomorrow morning."
"I can't wait that long! Elsa, please! I need to see her!" Kristoff implored her.
"Take my hand," Elsa instructed. Once his hand held her's, she used her divine powers to take him straight into the Royal Chambers where Anna wept on her bed. "I projected ourselves into her room. We are still at your camp," Elsa explained before they turned their attention to Anna. Elsa was heartbroken but remained where she was, allowing Kristoff to get closer first.
His hazel eyes teared up as he knelt by her bedside.
"Please," Anna cried, "Please don't let me loose him. Please don't be afraid of me, Kristoff." She held something in her hands. It was the necklace that he traded his lute to Oaken for. She kept praying, perhaps to the necklace, hoping some almighty force would have mercy on her. Kristoff was so moved by her pleas. He tried to reach for her hand to comfort her, but pulled away out of guilt that he caused her this much pain. "You haven't lost me. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not afraid anymore, Anna, because…I love you," he spoke warmly and softly.
Anna's eyes blinked several times before she sat up and Kristoff's heart nearly stopped when Anna looked right into his eyes. "K-Kristoff?"
Kristoff looked to see Elsa's surprised expression, "How-?"
Elsa came closer, "I don't know."
Anna tried to slowly reach for him. Kristoff was hesitant because he thought it would be impossible for her to make contact with him, but somehow, she did.
Elsa smiled when she understood, "Your love for one another is acting as a bridge. It's why she can hear you and feel you."
Kristoff closed his eyes, enjoying the warm feeling of Anna's hand against his face. He tried to reach for her hand so he could hold it and kiss it, but a knock came to the door, causing Anna's hand to pull away suddenly.
Anna greeted the door to see it was one of servants and a guard.
"We should go, Kristoff," Elsa recommended and Kristoff agreed with her. Suddenly they were back in Kristoff's campsite in the woods.
Anna felt Kristoff's and Elsa's presence suddenly leave the room. She wished she could talk to him more, but duty calls. "Yes."
"My apologies, Your Majesty, but HE has requested your presence. He hasn't said a word since his imprisonment. He wishes to speak with you alone," the guard said.
"I see," Anna said.
"Two guards will be right outside his door," the guard assured her.
"No. He is chained. He's no longer a threat. I will not be intimidated by him, so I will visit him…alone," Anna ordered and the guard was forced to go with her instruction. Anna approached the dungeon door and slowly walked down the stairs. No one else followed. A shiver ran up her spine as Hans' voice spoke, "Strawberries. What a refreshing scent in this Hell."
Anna wasn't even down the stairs but already regretted entering, but if she turned back now, she would look afraid to Hans. She had to be brave and face him face to face like a true Queen of Arendelle. She had to show him that she was not intimidated by him, a lowly Prince. She approached the door and opened it to find him sitting on the floor where his chain was connected. An 8-foot chain, fastened to a bolt in the stone ground went to steel shackles that went around his wrists.
Hans smiled when the torch behind Anna casted her shadow onto the wall he was gazing at. "I'm surprised you ACTUALLY agreed to come. I half expected you to ignore my request and leave me to rot in your dungeons." He turned to look at her. "But here you are."
The red eyes and tear stained face revealed to him that she had been crying. He committed that bit of information to mind.
Anna boldly entered the entrance. "I came to show you I'm not afraid of you and that you hold no power over me."
"Impressive," Hans chuckled, "Our princess is all grown up and is now an all-powerful queen." He was mocking her and he could tell he was getting under her skin. He stood so he could face her.
"That's right. I am Queen and you are just an exiled Prince whose now my prisoner," Anna retorted. That comment made him furious but he did well to conceal it.
"It would appear so, Queen Anna of Arendelle," Hans said formally.
"And as Queen, people are obligated to bend the knee to me," she said. She never enforced this with anyone she met. She treated everyone like an equal and a friend, except Hans. She'll always remind him that he is beneath her in every way.
Hans smirked with amusement as he bent the knee in her presence. He kept a careful watch on her feet and noticed they got closer as if she believed that she was actually safe in this cell alone with him. "Careful, Your Majesty. You are in a cell with a man alone."
Anna's voice replied, "Don't try to frighten me, Hans. You are merely a lowly prisoner. Why should I ever be afraid of you?" This angered him, the way she arrogantly walked around him in circles. "I was the first one to trust you. You betrayed us and tried to execute me. Don't you have any regret in your heart for what you've done?!"
Hans kept his head bowed, "Yes. Yes, I do." He heard her feet stop behind him suddenly and he smiled. He could only imagine the look of surprise on her face, so he continued. "It wasn't supposed to go that way. You and the others were never meant to be put in harm's way."
Anna quickly came to the front, much closer, which made his predator senses go crazy. "What? But you were a spy working for the Duke."
"Wrong," Hans looked up, "I never served the Duke. I served only myself. I wanted to prove myself to my brothers and father who were very cruel to me ever since I was little. The only way I knew how was to claim a throne for myself and rule with a Queen by my side and produce an heir to carry on my legacy. My plan was to join the group against the Duke and help retake the throne. Being the hero Prince who saved Arendelle, the people would welcome me as their new king. I chose you to be my Queen. However, when you told me your secret. When you told me who you really were…" he smiled at Anna, "I lost it. I had a legal claim to the throne. I had to claim your heart in order to have a real chance for the throne. Then you…REJECTED ME for that BIG OAF."
"Watch it, Hans. I love him more than I could ever love you," Anna said.
"How's that working out for you? Does he love you as much as you do him? Is he by your side? Judging from the tear stains on your face and your red eyes that he doesn't," Hans chuckled at the end, "Oh, poor Anna. If only someone would love you as much as I did."
"Quiet!" Anna got much closer. His plan was working. She stupidly came close without guards. "You never loved me. I won't fall for your manipulation anymore. Elsa would have killed you, but I saved your life. You owe me your life. I. LET. YOU. LIVE. It's because of me that-"
Hans heard enough. He seized her by the throat and slammed her hard into the cold, hard dungeon floor, knocking the wind out of her so well that she couldn't scream for help. Before she could catch her breath and yell for her guards, Hans was on top of her, pushing down on her with all his weight as he choked her with both hands around her slim throat in a steel grip. She couldn't talk. She couldn't breathe. Her sight was turning dark.
Hans looked down at her evilly and laughed, "It's because of YOU that I can't be KING! It's because of YOU that I have to do this! If you just loved me in return and allowed me to become king, none of THIS would've had to happen! Lars is dead because of you! HIS BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS!"
Anna tried to call for Elsa desperately, but she couldn't utter a single syllable.
"No one is going to save you! I will gladly face the death penalty knowing I took your life and deprived this kingdom of its last royal heir and Kristoff of YOUR love! But before I do that, I will degrade your body so bad that your spirit will NEVER find peace!"
He was choking her so hard that she couldn't bite him to get free when he forced his tongue into her mouth. He released one of his hands but one grip was still enough to keep her speechless. His free hand began to undress her to fulfill his dark, lustful and evil intent to rape her before taking her life. Anna's eye's watered as her mind screamed for Elsa.
Elsa!
Elsa!
ELSA!
Elsa who was with Kristoff back at his camp heard Anna cry out for her. She investigated with her divine sight and her eyes widened with horror. "Hans is attacking Anna!"
Kristoff became alarmed, "What?!" Elsa was already turned into a blizzard and tearing through the gates, the front door, down the dungeon steps, into Hans' cell and through the brick wall after ripping Hans away from Anna, obliterating the wall. Kristoff's entrance was covered by her raging storm that he was able to get past the guards to Anna and held her in his arms as she coughed and recovered from her near-death experience. When she processed that Kristoff was there, holding her, she hugged him firmly and wept.
"Shh. It's okay. Elsa took care of him. Your safe, Anna," he assured her as he gently held her.
Guards finally entered and mistook Kristoff for an intruder, but Anna halted them, "It was Hans! He attacked me! Elsa and Kristoff saved me!"
That's when they all noticed that large gaping hole in the dungeon wall that had a view of the fjord. It was the same one that Oaken was imprisoned in so Anna felt it would be the perfect one to put Hans in for his betrayal.
The guards were speechless by the damage done by the goddess. Anna returned to Kristoff's arms and buried her face in his large chest to settle her rattled nerves. Kristoff held her while still amazed by the hole, doubting they would ever see Hans again.
(A/N: Well, that chapter took less time to write. That makes me happy. What do you think Elsa will do with Hans for his attempted rape and murder on Anna? Three chapters remain. Be sure to leave your review. I love hearing from my readers.)