The next day, there was a hush throughout the Southern Isles when King Erik was pronounced dead. The funeral was scheduled for two days later, with Hagen's coronation and wedding the following week. When Hagen told Hans of the proceedings, he suggested, "Why don't you invite them?"

"Who?"

"The Arendelle girls."

"Doesn't the King usually send out his own invitations?" Hans challenged.

Hagen put on an air, sticking up his nose. "Well, I am very busy right now with all these royal duties, so dear brother, I hope you don't mind sending that one letter. I think it will mean a little bit more coming from you. I can tell you like her."

"Who? Wait. What? No, I-"

Hagen patted him on the back, smiling. "No need to get all flustered. When you returned yesterday, you looked exactly as I did coming home after first meeting Fiona."

Had Hans really only been back for twenty-four hours? It already felt like a week.

"Relax," Hagen said. "It's just a wedding invitation."

"Yeah, right. Okay." So Hans went to his room and sat down at his desk. He tried to write, but for some reason, the words wouldn't come easily.

"You are cordially invited to... No, too impersonal. How have you been? Too conversational. Prince Hans here! No, too pompous... My brother is- Ugh, this is impossible." He leaned back in his chair, trying to find inspiration. When it didn't come to him in his room, he decided to walk around.

His anxious feet led Hans to the library. The perfect place to find words! And it would be quiet. He grabbed a couple books on royal ceremonies and one on poetry – just in case.

Just as he settled in to read, Raoul called from behind a shelf. "Hans, I am exuberant to hear your ambassador mission was successful."

"Thanks, yeah. It went a lot smoother than I expected."

"Magnificent!" Raoul then came over and noticed Hans' odd book choices. "What are you working on?"

"An invitation for Arendelle."

"Ah, yes. Most appropriate timing. Are you having difficulties?"

"Only a little..." Hans muttered. Part of him wished Raoul would leave him alone, while part of him was glad to have an outside perspective.

Raoul adjusted his glasses and sat down. "Let us start at the beginning: Salutations. Greet the Queen."

"That's just it. I don't know what to say. We kind of got close, so I don't want to sound stiff, but I don't want to be so casual it's disrespectful," Hans rambled.

"Hmmm... Intimate conversations have never been my strong suit, but I can attempt. For safety purposes, why not use the simple yet effective 'Dear'?"

"Dear Queen Elsa... Okay, good. I like that. Now what do I say?"

Hans had never felt so unsure. He never second guessed himself, as long as his powers weren't involved. Why was he all of a sudden flustered over a stupid letter?

"You'll have to explain what has occurred, invite her to the wedding and express what significance it holds should she accept. May I suggest honesty? Does she know how you feel?"

"I...don't know..."

Hans could be just fooling himself. Just because he kept falling for Arendelle girls, didn't mean they liked him back. Sure, Elsa had seemed happy when she spent time with Hans, but she didn't swoon for him like Anna had. The uncertainty of the Queen's feelings for him only made Hans want her more, but he also didn't want to run the risk if she didn't reciprocate.

"Then begin with that."

"How can I? The chances she likes me back are slim," Hans grumbled, crossing his arms. He may as well bury his feelings once and for all and forget about Arendelle.

"Odds are my specialty! Without knowing her opinion on the matter, it does complicate things... However, if you've improved relations for the kingdoms, I would say your odds have gone up exponentially."

"Good to know."

"What is the worst that could happen?"

A lot of things. She could deny him. She could ignore him completely. Or she could actually show up just to publicly humiliate him in front of his family.

"No matter how unlikely you perceive a situation, there is always a chance she will say yes."

"Fine." Hans wrote the letter, got Hagen to seal it, then ran to port so it would leave with the next mail boat. Now, all he could do was wait.

Two days later. In Arendelle...

Back in Arendelle, Hans invitation arrived on the same day as King Erik's funeral – record time, thanks to the benevolent seas. Kai brought the letter to Elsa's study, where she was talking to Anna.

"I hate to interrupt, but there is an invitation from the Southern Isles."

"Invitation?" Anna's face crinkled with confusion.

Elsa sprang up in surprise and snatched the envelope out of Kai's hand. Sure enough, there was the royal red wax seal. She opened it and read aloud:

"Dear Queen Elsa, I appreciate you granting me an audience last week, and I thank you for your hospitality. Though I have not been gone long, much has happened. Shortly after I returned home, I lost my father, King Erik. It has been hard for me and the family, but not everything is so bleak. Next weekend, my eldest brother, Hagen, will be married and have his coronation. It would be an honor if the Queen of Arendelle could be present. I hope you can find time in your busy schedule for the journey. I greatly look forward to seeing you again. Yours truly, Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."

Once she was done reading, she continued to scan the document, as if expecting more text to appear.

"Are you going?" Anna asked.

Elsa pressed her lips together. Though she was in fact busy, she strongly considered the trip. Not only would a vacation do her some good, but she couldn't deny that a part of her wanted to see Hans again.

"I'm coming with you, then."

"No, you can't," Elsa insisted. "If I go, I'm going to need you here, taking care of Arendelle."

"Wait. What?"

"Are you up for it? I'll only be gone a week." She looked to her younger sister with hope in her blue eyes.

Anna's aqua eyes were wide, too, but with fear. The last time someone she had loved boarded a boat, they never came back. Also, the idea of being Queen, if only temporary, filled her with dread. She struggled with herself. She had never seen Elsa quite like this before. So hopeful and happy...like Anna.

"I guess I can stay..."

"Thank you!" Elsa embraced her tightly, then turned to Kai. "Cancel my appointments, ready my bags and the ship. We can make overnight progress if we leave by sunset."

Elsa was giddy, excited for her first adventure outside of Arendelle. She truly was eager to see Hans again. She hoped that if he wrote to her so soon, he was just as eager to see her.

A/N: Since this chapter was mainly filler, I wanted to post it early. Hopefully I'll get the next chapter up either tomorrow or Saturday, since tomorrow is pretty busy for me. Anyway, who's glad to see the sisters again? We couldn't stay away too long! I have a lot planned between Hans conflicted feelings and his dysfunctional family bwahahahahaaa!