Hans sat slowly on his bed. His head clouded with all the recent events. In just a few months he had gone from a hated man, to someone loved.
He began undressing himself subconsciously. Thoughts on the harvest, thoughts of Heidi and her lover, and finally... His queen.
To him, everything that was going on was crazy. In fact he sometimes still thought everything was a dream, or some cruel joke.
He laid in his bed and turned to face the candle that flickered ever so softly.
Though he wanted to believe that he was living a fairy tale. There was Something that just didn't click to the situation. There was something... just something about Elsa's behavior that just didn't fill him.
"Hmmm..." He chuckled softly, he never thought he'd call her by just her name, so informal, so personal.
He turned to face the ceiling, his mind ranting about. He knew the queen, since before. She was not the kind of woman, royal or not, who threw herself at anyone.
He stared and thought, and kept thinking. But nothing. He couldn't think of a reason why she would've felt the way she does. He truly questioned it, every moment of the day.
And when he would bring it up to her, she would dismiss the talk. Simply stating that she didn't Know why.
He rested his hands on his abdomen, he would just have to be extra careful. He wouldn't want to catch any serious feelings.
Xoxoxo
Anna ran up to Elsa's room early in the morning. After a very long week she'd come back from visiting Kristoffs family.
She knocked on the door and placed her hands behind her back.
"Come in."
She heard her sister and hurriedly walked inside.
"Elsa! I have something for you!"
Elsa looked at her sister and brought her in for a long hug. There was something deep inside her needing the comfort.
Anna pulled away and dragged her blond sister by the hand.
There ahead was a small box in the middle of the hallway. Tied neatly by a string of grass.
"Kristoffs and I got this for you! You're going to love it!"
Elsa giggled. "You shouldn't have."
The queen swept the box from the ground and walked about to her office to open it.
Inside was a gorgeous hair accessory, woven entirely of fine white crystals, and a few red decorative stones. It was beautiful to simply put it.
Elsa held it. Her thin hand suddenly trembling.
"Why do I feel it has magic?"
Anna smiled even wider. "It was made to protect you. I told pabbie about everything you've been through." She frowned slightly. "I don't want for anything to ever happen to you again." She suddenly gasped. "Oh if you look through the box, there is more!"
Elsa went through it further, and just as her sister had said. There was a necklace too, forged with the same material as her accessory, only it was in the shape of the moon.
Anna smiled. "I have one too!"
She pulled on the necklace she had and it matched perfectly like the one Elsa had in her hand.
"Thank you for thinking about me."
"I only want the best for you."
Elsa placed the items back inside the box, and placed it under her desk.
"Aren't you going to wear it?"
Elsa hesitated, but something about the items made her feel uneasy.
"Yes. But for now I want to spend time with you."
Anna smiled and began out of the room. "Oh do i have some stories for you!"
Xoxoxo
James eyes went hard, his mouth twitching.
There was two pairs of eyes so wide that had anyone else seen them, they would be frightened.
"Father!" Heidi quickly made to cover her nakedness from him. She felt ashamed and humiliated.
Amos covered his own nakedness too. Quickly making his way to recover his clothes from the stack of hay in the horse stables.
The two had shared a romantic night, and had blissfully fallen asleep.
He stumbled and grasped at the air as he fell face first to the ground.
His nakedness irritated James even further.
The big man tightened his grip on the horsewhip he'd had in his hand and without warning lifted the quirt angrily. He beat the flower boy Amos back as hard as he could. The poor boy only jumping and screaming in pain.
Amos made quick to his feet, but with the whip almost striking his back again, he tripped and fell over some neatly stacked buckets, full of seeds for next months sowing.
James eyes were wild with rage but he stopped beating the poor boy.
"I trusted you." He pointed his quirt towards Heidi.
And those three words struck her heart.
Xoxoxo
Hans ears caught at the sound of buckets dropping in the stables. There was screams, and without thought, he quickly ran out there he had been ready since before dawn, today he'd go to the castle.
He arrived to the scene of James hand raised with a quirt ready to strike his youngest daughter; to which was crying.
"Yer the worst disgrace to this family!"
Hans yelled aloud, "James, don't. It's not worth the trauma!"
The big man looked back to the prince with hurt, rage, disgrace, in his eyes. "I trusted her!"
Tears rolled down the big mans face, but his hand still went down fast, he was ready to beat his child. Something he had never done to any of his daughters.
Heidi closed her eyes ready for the pain, but it never came.
She heard the quirt drop, rolling, and after, her father's low gasps.
When she opened her eyes she saw him there, the great sir James, cheeks flowing with tears.
Amos ran passed them, now fully clothed, but Hans caught him by the arm, stopping him from escaping the situation. The boy looked to him and struggled, but Hans gripped tighter, "It's about time you became a man." The prince gritted his teeth towards the flower boy. Amos stared into Hans eyes and stopped his fit. But no words came from him.
Heidi looked down and held her dress to her chest. Covering herself from everyone and began sobbing.
The sun entered the stables quickly and soon the rest of the newly hired workers were to run in and out of the stables.
"Wait for us outside Berry, take my new son in law with you. Make sure he doesn't run away like the coward he is."
The prince did as he was told, "walk." Hans pushed Amos out and stood outside.
Hans stood just outside the stable's doors looking in every direction except for the flower boys.
The air between them two was so tense, that the arriving workers looked towards them and turned the other way instead.
James turned his back to his daughter to let her dress. He began to pick up the seeds Amos had dropped and one by one began piling them into the buckets.
Heidi dressed herself and stood a good ways away from her father. She could hear the talking of the workmen outside.
"Father... I-"
James stood from his spot lifting himself.
"I should have sent you to Corona with your uncle!"
She lowered her head she didn't even dare to look him in the eyes.
"I'm sorry..."
"Ye want to be a woman? From now on I'll treat ye like a woman."
James furrowed his thick brows, "your mother was right all along! I gave you the freedom of a man, and these are the consequences. Ye wanted to be married to Amos, you got yourself a wedding. But mark my words Heidi, you will be stuck in yer house day and night. Because this system runs that way. You were privileged, and you threw everythin' away."
He walked out angrily, his head running at one thousand a minute. "you," he pointed towards Amos, "come with me."
He turned to Hans and closed his eyes. "Son, will you please tend to today's work?"
Hans nodded and walked out towards the stables, the rest of the men walking in behind him. "Mornin sir James!"
The big man nodded and smiled out of courtesy.
Amos walked on about behind the big man, his own worries biting at him.
Xoxoxo
Hans nodded as the last load of goods was handed to him. They were ready to be delivered. He would ready the horse and be off.
Hans couldn't help but think back on Heidi's situation.
Heidi was not a royal, and her punishment wasn't as bad as anyone could expect. But still it was scandalous. Many of the workers, with the little that had been seen, had put two and two together and everyone knew what was going on. Everyone knew she had been with the flower boy, everyone knew she'd been tainted already. Ultimate dishonor. He shook his head and finished writing down the number of loads and perfectly signed the date at the bottom.
That that was happening with Heidi... Queen Elsa... If she... That's what he had warned her about. He had not touched her. Heck he had not even kissed her, but the scandal. With a dead man. A delivery boy, HELL WITH CONVICTED DEAD PRINCE HANS DISHONOR OF THE SOUTHERN ISLES... He sighed and shook his head. She had indeed lost her mind.
But instead of questioning her, he questioned himself. What was he doing? Why was he doing it? Why had he just simply accepted her offer.
Deep down he knew. His dark desires and fantasies with the crown wanted to take advantage of the situation. It was as if it was instinct. As if he had been born to be king.
But then there really was something about the queen that just made him...
"Berry?"
Hans snapped out of his dark thoughts. Sometimes he wondered why he had called himself Berry.
"Yes?" He looked up to come face to face with Heidi herself.
"Thank you."
"You don't..."
"Yes I have to thank you. For not letting him hit me."
"I stopped him, because I knew it would hurt him more than it would've hurt you." His lips went a straight line. "You betrayed your fathers trust Heidi. After everything he's given you."
Suddenly her mood went sour. "Well, what would you understand? You've never been in love!"
Hans shook his head and lifted his hand to stop her from making any further comments. "I know my share on the subject."
He gestured towards the stables. "The way your future husband has acted... He's only shown selfish actions. If he loved you as much as he claims, he would've done things differently."
She suddenly grunted. "My father only saw you as a potential suitor for me." Her voice began to rise. "There was no other way."
Hans began to get irritated. "Yes there is, there's always a way!"
"You don't know him!"
"I don't need to know him all the well to know he's a coward!"
She slapped Hans across his face.
Hans turned to look to her, clearly angry. He brushed past her roughly almost knocking her to the ground.
"Berry!" She yelled out to him, "Berry!" But it was too late he'd mounted the horse, and headed out towards the castle.
Xoxoxo
Elsa shook her head. She couldn't, didn't, want to hear what he was saying. "No. I have made my decision." Faustino head of culture sighed.
"But m'lady, it's your birthday."
She breathed in deep, there they went again, hosting balls, just to try and get her a suitor. She smiled and blushed. If they knew...
"Your majesty?" Frederick bowed before his queen. "The goods have arrived."
She gasped aloud. "They're here early." She nodded towards Faustino, dismissing the conversation and turned to face Fred.
Fred nodded and walked on out, leading the queen to where Berry was waiting.
The queen gracefully walked on out towards the gates of the castle to greet the very man she had fallen fond of.
Hans as usual jumped from his horse and began with courtesy. "Your majesty." He bowed, "Sir James sends his regards."
Elsa picked up on the princes mood, but Fred had not left them two alone, so she tangled her fingers together and began walking towards the back of the castle, where they were to unload the goods and stock her castle.
The walk was long and unpleasant, the air was tense, and she could not say a thing to him for fear of Fred hearing too much. Hans was quiet, more than usual, there was obviously something that was bothering him.
Elsa suddenly worried.
"Mr. Van Buren, will you accompany me please?"
She turned to Fred and he nodded knowing he would have to tend to the unloading and the horse.
Hans walked steadily aside from Elsa. And by now, no one thought it strange. He was a merchant that she'd hired, and she would take him to her office to formally pay, and then he would be off. It had been so for a recurring 4 months.
They walked through the long corridor of her castle. The walk was murderously silent, and the queen couldn't help but worry about his mood.
Slowly she closed the door to her office behind them and locked it.
She pulled on her curtains and closed them. Hans sat in his usual spot in the couch next to her table. But instead of being his usual self, he stared off into the unused fireplace.
She looked at him in worry. "It may be wrong for me to ask, but is something the matter?"
He slouched in his seat and placed his elbows in his knees. "It really has nothing to do with me."
"Then why is it worrying you?"
She elegantly walked passed him, only to sit down next to him.
He shook his head and looked towards her. "James daughter was caught... In the stables this morning... Bare with her lover."
Elsa's cheeks went red and her eyes went wide. "Oh..." He kept his expression serious.
"Do you not think your reputation will not get stained like hers?"
To this Elsa stayed silent. And for a brief second there it was that pink hue in her eyes.
She softly looked at him, her red painted lips tightening in a warm smile. "Don't worry... Just let us enjoy us while it lasts. Once things happen we'll go from there." She lowered her eyes to the ground, "take this from me. No matter how much we regret our past, or worry about our future, we cannot change it." Her hands sat on her knees, and she stared at them as if remembering something.
There was this sudden feeling of guilt that took over the prince. With a small smile of his own he brought his hand to hers.
"As you wish then your majesty." And in that moment, and with that small gesture, he felt he'd fallen.
Elsa blushed at his sudden boldness. He had never, in the whole time they had seen each other, even dared to touch her. But it felt good. It sent sparks flying through her body. His hand was big compared to hers, and it felt warm and inviting.
She curled her thin fingers in his, making the most of this newfound comfort.
She caressed his manly hands with her thumb but before she could touch him further, he let her go.
The cold feeling of his hand out of hers made her frown.
He stood from his spot and placed his hands behind his back. "If you wish, your majesty, we can see each other tonight."
He cringed at his own boldness. But Elsa paid no mind to it. She gracefully smiled, and nodded.
"We'll see each other tonight."
She sent him off right after with a letter to James.
Xoxoxo
There was yelling coming from the big house, Hans could hear sobs and bickering from all the ladies in the house, they were indeed under pressure.
Hans caught James in the stables. The man looking out with his eyes long lost in thought. He could only imagine what things ran through his mind.
"Sir, the queen sent your pay."
James blinked a little but said nothing to the prince.
"I am going to saddle up a horse, if I may... I'm going out to ride."
James nodded, and Hans left the money bag in the mans hand.
The redhead looked back to the big man, slightly concerned for his well being.
Before the prince stepped out of the stables James spoke.
"We have many things to do tomorrow. Don't stay out late, don't get into trouble."
Hans smiled, "don't worry, I won't."
He mounted the horse and began off, walking the steed towards his destination.
Xoxoxo
It had been three hours and the prince was beginning to feel frustrated. Queen Elsa was not showing and he was starting to feel like she wasn't going to.
He stared at the darkening sky sitting from under a tree, and tossed yet another stone into the nearby river.
The small fire he'd set up cakled softly as the wood burned.
He had thought about what she'd told him in the afternoon. Destiny was writing their story out... He was going to not fight it anymore.
He sucked in a deep amount of breath and began tossing more stones into the river until he heard soft footsteps approach.
He stood from his spot and formally greeted the queen. Her elegance never failed to surprise him.
She wore a light dress that fell to her ankles, a long transparent cape followed her along, she was showing her left leg through a cut of the dress. She was quite the site.
He bowed and with his bare hand took hers. "Good evening m'lady."
Elsa blushed deeply and smiled towards him. "Good evening prince Hans."
She handed him a small basket she had prepared for them two, and he guided her away towards her usual spot by the tree.
"There was many things I had to get done before coming."
He nodded, and sat by her side, his hand brushing hers.
But suddenly he removed it.
"What's the matter?" Elsa looked at him with pleading eyes. "It's been some time now. By now..." She looked down and shut her mouth. Her desires for him were strong, but he was not responding.
Hans shook his head. "This feels wrong Elsa!"
She shook her head with tears in her eyes. "Why!?"
He stared at her with big eyes.
"Why can't you just accept, just the way I have, that I love you!?"
He immediately regretted asking her to come. "How-"
She pressed a finger to his lips, and with big saddened eyes, "I know who you are and I love you, and you know who I am. Why can't you love me?"
So many things ran through his head. He felt frustrated and weak. He felt that she was playing chess and was wining.
When she saw he wasn't replying tears formed in her blue eyes, and slow, quiet, snowflakes began to fall.
Reacting on instinct he grabbed her hand. And when he saw the tears on her lovely eyes he vowed. "I promise I will never hurt you."
He then stood, and took all the memories of courtship from his training as a prince, and proceeded to act as such.
He would be the suitor to Elsa, Queen of Arendelle. He would be Prince consort Berry Van Buren.