A/N: Hey everyone! I meant to say this on the last chapter, but in case you're not following me as an Author, I posted a Let It Go parody from Hans' perspective. If you want to check it out, please do! Sorry if this chapter feels a little slow after the last one, but I'm really focusing on a believable relationship between Hans and Elsa. Let me know what you think of this dynamic duo!
Once they changed, Hans led Elsa past port towards the market town on the left. All along the bustling main street, vendors were shouting to employees and customers alike. Everyone was scrambling to make Hagen's Coronation Day perfect. They walked past the fish smell coming from the first few booths, and Elsa admired some floral arrangements.
"A pretty flower for a pretty lady," the foreign woman behind the counter said, plucking a Glory of the Snow and tucking it behind Elsa's ear. The blue tipped petals brought out her eyes.
Hans smirked. "Fitting."
"You think so?" she asked, blushing. "I'm looking for something for Fiona, not me."
Hans flipped a coin into the merchant's hands. "You'll both get something."
"Thank you. What do you suggest for a future Queen?"
"I have just the thing," she said, scurrying to the back. She returned with a tall bouquet of Lady Orchids surrounded by white and purple Gladiolas to compliment it. "It is one of a kind."
"Keep it that way. I need that delivered to the palace for the royal couple on Coronation Day." She fished out some coins from her satchel and handed them over.
"As you wish, My Lady." She bowed and set the arrangement to the side.
"You know your flowers," Hans complimented.
"When you live most of your life in isolation, you tend to soak up a bunch of random information. Love, beauty and luxury for Fiona, strength and honor for Hagen. It's a good arrangement for them."
"Every day you surprise me," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist. "And every day I fall a little more in love."
"I surprise you? Last night, you were incredible!"
Hans' face fell. "Yeah, and I almost got us killed." He released her and tried to walk away.
Elsa grabbed his arm. "Almost. Yet here we are, alive and well."
"Thanks to Hagen," he muttered, shrugging her off.
"Not just Hagen. Fiona, Raoul and Bjorn, too. They're all on your side. We should thank them all."
Hans' eyes lit up. "No..." He suddenly turned, grabbing Elsa by the shoulders. "What we should do is get on a ship now and leave." He looked longingly over her shoulder at a ship in the docks.
Elsa followed his gaze, stunned. "Now? But the Coronation-"
"Fuck the Coronation!" Hans yelled. People passing by looked at him, either confused or offended. One mother shielded her little girl's ears, glaring at him. Hans reined in his temper. "Half my family wants us dead. You don't honestly think they won't try again, do you?"
Elsa placed her cool hands on Hans' flushed cheeks, and he closed his eyes. She stood on her toes and kissed his forehead. As long as we have Hagen on our side, they can't touch us."
Hans grabbed her wrists, but did not remove her hands. When he opened his green eyes, they were full of pain. "I don't want to put you in any more danger."
"You think I can't handle myself?" she asked with a smirk.
Hans was transported back to over a year ago when he stormed her ice castle to find Elsa expertly defending herself against two rogue guards. "I have all the faith in the world in you. I just want to keep the danger to a minimum."
"You can't keep danger at bay by running from it," she pointed out, tracing his strong cheekbones with her thumb.
Hans considered her words. She was right. Nothing would be fixed by eloping with the Snow Queen, no matter how tempting the idea was.
"Talk to your brothers," she implored. "At least those who are on your side. See if there is anything they could say or you could do to mend things. Family is important."
Hans ripped himself away from Elsa angrily. "You were there this morning! You saw what they were like. You honestly think there's a chance to fix that?" He swung out his arm, pointing back towards the palace, nearly hitting a passerby who managed to duck.
"Nothing is impossible."
"Elsa... You need to stop thinking you can fix everything," he said, stepping forward and pulling her close. He cradled her head against him and stroked her long blonde hair. "Sometimes, things get broken beyond repair. Too many tiny little pieces to pick up, like grains of sand. You need to just move on and accept the past as what it is."
"Everything can be fixed," Elsa insisted. "Sometimes it just takes a little more time and effort."
Hans held her hopeful gaze for a moment, frustrated but also proud. "Since when did you become the optimist? I thought that was Anna's job."
"Since I made the impossible happen. I never thought I could control the storm, just like you never expected to control your powers. Yet here we are."
"My family isn't that simple."
"But do you know what is simple? Opening a door."
Hans blinked at her. "I'm not sure I understand."
Elsa spied a green silk scarf, Anna's favorite shade that contrasted so beautifully with her fiery hair. She stroked it, contemplative. "Anna used to knock on my door every day. Sometimes, I still wonder if things would've been different had I just opened that door. If I would've just talked to her sooner, maybe we could have avoided the catastrophe that was my Coronation. Opening the door is simple, and it leads to many opportunities."
Hans was thoughtful as she paid for the green scarf, a lighter green than his eyes with a summery brightness. It was perfect for Anna. Elsa was wiser than he had anticipated, and he loved how she challenged his mind. He decided to let her win. "If you say so. For now, let's just enjoy time away from family."
"For now," she said, kissing him.
He led her down the street past vendors of all kinds. Porcelain, weapons, clothing, produce, baked goods. They ate and laughed. For a moment, Hans felt normal.
As the sun began to set, the lower rays gleamed off of gemstones at a nearby jewelry stall, which caught Elsa's eye. Hans stood behind her as she browsed. She selected a thick gold ring with a large emerald on it, much too big for her delicate fingers. She held it up to Hans' face. "It matches your eyes," she said.
He took the ring and replaced it on the table. "How about something that matches your eyes?" An aquamarine on a silver band winked up at him. He picked it up for closer inspection. Pretty, but not quite worthy of the Snow Queen.
He called to the jeweler, who was adding links to a ruby bracelet. The short man looked up at them, and his jaw dropped. "What gorgeous creature is this?" He rushed over to them and looked deeply into Elsa's eyes. His dark eyes scanned her face, then he tilted her chin up with two fingers. "So pale... Yes, I have just the piece for that pretty little neck."
Her brow furrowed, and she rubbed her neck nervously. "Should I be concerned?"
Hans wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Not at all. He's the finest jeweler in port. Gets rare gemstones from all over the world from the trade ships."
The short merchant returned with a sheet of pale, iridescent gemstones. "May I?"
Hans released her so she could turn around and lift her hair. The jeweler draped the moonstones and opals across her chest, fastening the top of the necklace snugly around her slender neck. The multitude of gems covered most of her shoulders and chest, like a silvery version of an Egyptian collar. She stepped in front of a mirror and fingered an opal, which seemed to be white, then green, then pink, then blue, then back to white. "Don't you think this is a little much?"
"It's perfect! I'll take it. The emerald ring, too." Hans hurried to pay the merchant.
"It's not too gaudy?"
Hans finished with the merchant, then stood behind her again, both of them now looking at her reflection. "Not at all. It's elegant. You must wear this to the Coronation. With the right dress, all eyes would be on you."
The iridescence of the gems had them mesmerized, bringing out the green and blue of their eyes, the pink of her cheeks. Elsa's magenta lips flattened into a thoughtful line as she contemplated what would compliment the bold necklace. "Thank you. I think I have an idea."
"Good," Hans said, kissing the top of her head. "I look forward to it."