Hans looked from one side to the other. He had been waiting for a good while in the forest, and he had been sure he had heard the town bell a few hours ago.
He pulled on the reins of his horse and clicked his heels softly. The horse galloped steadily. He was going out to see what was the delay. Deep down in his heart he thought the worst. She had changed her mind.
The town clock suddenly rang loudly and Hans could feel it's ringing in his chest, he heard the choirs and his heart fell, it was three in the afternoon. He guided his steed out towards town, his eyes began to sting and his heart raced.
He clicked his heels on the horse and spanked the horses rear with his quirt. And soon the horse stepped on pavement.
He reached the marketplace rather quickly. There was bouts of merchants packing and leaving, all heading home for the day. Some were just getting there, with baked goods and what not.
He dismounted his horse and tied it to a the nearest horse stand. His eyes scanned through the bouts of people, but he had no luck. The queen was nowhere to be seen. He had half a mind to go back home, with James, but he pressed on. Walking slowly through the marketplace and into the town square he searched.
Prince Hans came to a stop and his heart pounded fast. There afar he saw, there was in the least five royal gaurds ahead, stopping a white carriage from advancing. He had found her.
Without thought he ran across the street and came to a stop shortly towards the men.
"I have direct orders from the council your majesty, to not let you go until he arrives for you."
The head of the royal gaurds Frederick spoke to the queen as softly as he could.
Elsa closed her eyes and shook her head. "He is not coming to me. We agreed to meet elsewhere, not in town."
Prince Hans placed a hand on Frederick's shoulder and slowly the head guardsman looked to him.
"I'm very sorry I'm late."
Frederick furrowed his brows, "are you Berry Van Buren?"
Hans simply nodded and with relief he smiled. If he had known he would've been there sooner.
"We had a misunderstanding, it's all. I had been waiting for the queen in the outskirts of town. Where I had foolishly asked her to meet with me to travel."
Fred grunted. "Well now that your here, there are a few things you need to know before you take the queen."
The gaurd began a recite that the council had given him to tell Hans, and when he finished, gave him a sword, armor and a horse. He was handed money, a letter certifying him a royal gaurd. And another that stated that her royal highness was to dine where she pleased, received what she pleased, and stayed where she pleased. With one last paper in hand, a map, Fred shook his hand.
Hans placed the items on the horse pouches and looked to the gaurd once again.
"Now kneel Berry Van Buren, so the queen may name you and bless you as part of her men."
With all the respect in the world, Hans did as was told, the queen officially named him gaurd, and Hans couldn't feel but more honored. Had he known this was to be done, he would've come sooner.
She signed away his papers and handed them to Frederick, the blonde man nodded his head, with a smile on his face bid a farewell to the queen and a safe trip. He walked away with the papers in his hand and his men behind him, all bidding the two a farewell.
Soon the two were left alone with the Marketplace zooming in and again with busy people.
The evening was setting in and the couple had no rush into leaving. It had been one month since they had seen each other. But that love that they felt had not withered.
"Your majesty..." Prince Hans bowed towards her, and with all his willpower he stopped himself from touching her skin, for the sake of their secret.
Queen Elsa smiled and blushed. "I'm very sorry for what happened. I had no idea that the law dictated I had to name you my gaurd in order for you to come with me."
With shame in her eyes she looked down. "I'm still new to being queen."
She earned a chuckle from the prince, and it took her by surprise.
He fought against his nature to look and not touch her, as more and more people walked.
"Shall we go?"
With a smile she nodded. He held her hand and with courtesy and helped her mount her carriage. Quickly he made to set the carriage with the horse and he mounted himself, outside riding the royal steed towards his other horse.
Slowly they galloped and arrived where the other beast was. He quickly tied the horses together and now they were truly off. Now they were together. Now they were free, and able to express themselves. Now she was his.
He did not care about what would happen in a year from now, or much less did he care that he had to return. He was living now.
Xoxoxo
Dusk soon fell on them and Hans could say he was officially tired. The horses came to a stop and he quickly dismounted. Untying the carriage from the beasts he made to set the horses to rest. They had been traveling for a good few hours, and the sun had already withered.
"Your majesty?"
Elsa stepped out slowly from the carriage holding a lantern. "Yes?"
Hans subconsciously bit his lip, she was like an angel. So beautiful... And she was his.
He neared his wife and quickly stole a kiss from her red tempting lips. "I missed you."
A cool breeze ran through the two, and Hans couldn't help the smile on his face.
Elsa blushed and she let him touch her. "I missed you too."
The prince kissed her fingertips, and held her hand against his cheek. He felt odd expressing so much emotions. But it felt right to him. All of this, it wasn't just a fantasy, it was all real.
"We get to spend winter together, Christmas, and I promise I will be sure to have you in my arms."
Elsas' cheeks ran red again and she lowered her gaze. Though she loved her husband she was still not used to touching and kissing. She was used to her bed being cold and lonely. And really she was afraid of getting used to him. Because when they got back he wasn't going to be there with her.
He kissed her forehead and let her go. He began to ready for the night, with a fire going he set up a small tent.
She slowly began towards him and wrapped her hands on his torso, him facing away from her. His scent was so manly and she couldn't help but feel small against him. Elsa gently pressed her cheek to his back and all Hans could do was stand there as if frozen.
There was silence around them, but that's the way they liked it. They were two halves to one.
With a sigh Elsa let go of him and sat near the fire, suddenly in a dark mood, she hugged her knees and closed her eyes. It was obvious to Hans something was bothering her.
He quickly finished up with the tent and without a word walked on over to her and sat by her side. He placed a small kiss on her bare collar bone. "Is something bothering you?"
The fire flickered on their skin as the flames danced. "Anna is pregnant..."
Hans raised a brow remembering the conversation he'd had with his in-laws husband.
"You know that man, Annas husband is genuinely afraid that he 'was the one to produce the heir to the crown..."
Hans slipped out a small flask and drank some water.
"Where do you stand in this?"
Elsa pushed back a blond strand of hair and shook her head. "I'm not worried about that. I'm devastated for leaving my sister behind. She's going to give birth... And I won't be there to see her child. I feel selfish."
Hans stood and nodded his head, "ok."
He wasn't mad at her comment, much rather admired what she was saying. Her love for her sister was beyond what Anna believed.
"Then, let's take you back."
Her blue eyes went dangerously wide. "What!?" She stood now too.
And without warning Hans began to pack the things, quickly dismantling their tent.
"Wait! I didn't say I wanted to go back..." She hugged herself. "She has her husband... She won't be alone. If you take me back, I won't have you."
The prince froze once more, and with his brow furrowed let go of what he had in his hand, he turned to face her. "Are you sure?"
The heiress nodded.
This brought an unwilling smile to his face and he walked to her once again. Brushing his hand against her skin he kissed her. "You have made me fall in love with you Elsa... I will never hurt you... Again."
A laugh escaped her lips, never in her life did she think she would be there with her almost murder, married to him. Trusting him entirely, have her life in his hands.
"Why did you do it?"
His eyes shifted once more to the fire. And he grabbed her hand, taking her to sit near the flames, he sat her atop his lap and finally after a great while he answered her. "I was foolish... And desperate. I was never destined to be a king, and I guess with the title of prince... I just let the darkness take over my heart. I was cursed with ambition." He cringed at the memory. "I wanted a kingdom of my own... To do as I pleased."
Elsa shifted herself to face him. And she thought long, there was so many things she wanted to ask him, and now, now was the time. "Why did you write to me all those letters?"
To this the prince laughed. "I felt guilt, rage disgrace. It was all these emotions. After I got home to the isles... I was met with news." He bit his lip, it had been a very long time since he thought of his home.
Her smooth hand went down to his chest and she looked to him in worry. "Do you still love her?"
"Unfortunately, or fortunately, I was never in love with Anna."
Elsa shook her head. "Not my sister. The woman you wrote about in those letters."
The prince suddenly became uncomfortable. That truly was something he did not want to remember. Though honestly he could answer to her, "I feel nothing for her anymore."
He placed a kiss on her lips once more, and she replied to his petition. "I will only love you Elsa. You are my wife, the woman who I want to spend the rest of my life with, even if it means we'll do it in secret."
She saddened at the comment, "I promise that as soon as we get back everyone will know about you. As Hans Westergaard, prince of the southern isles."
He shook his head, "I believe many things have happened to Arendelle already."
She kissed him now. "Then let's keep making our kingdom be the talk of the rest of the world."
She touched him, provoking him, and pushed him back to the ground, suddenly there was a bed underneath him, and white sheets. She laid her body on his and he simply caressed her. The two made love that night, out in a forest with no worries, with the moon shining above their bare bodies, moving to the speed of a ticking clock.
Xoxoxo
Anna sat in the throne room, finally the council had gotten away with hosting their ball. The whole kingdom was to be invited and their traders too.
"Oh princess Anna. Your so much more understanding than her royal highness! We will celebrate the coming of this future heir the right way, by throwing a grand feast. Most every land will know of your child!"
Some of the men nodded their heads and others simply listened.
Kristoff shook his head and Anna beamed happily. A ball in honor of her child!
"But wait, won't that be costly?" Anna furrowed her brows.
"Not when we can sell more foods to our partners!"
Faustino dismissed her question. "You see the more lands we have as partners, the more we can gain. We have extra cotton m'lady, more than any other countries. We are rich in agriculture, our lands are gifted. We can gain many profits!"
"There's just so much to share!"
Guinevere smiled kindly towards Anna. "Did queen Elsa not tell you of our plans? The reason behind her trip?"
The princess shook her head.
"She's on her way to let her knights know that we will be paying our people for agriculture, we have singed the biggest contract with our biggest partner, Kievan Rus!"
"And another with China!" Gordon proudly stated. "Our economy will grow, princess! It is indeed a very good time to celebrate!"
Anna smiled and nodded, "ok, then. I approve!"
The council cheered, and soon bid the girl a farewell. Leaving her and her husband behind.
Kristoff shook his head with his arms crossed. He was dressed in fine royal blue garments, and his hair was sickly slicked back.
For the sake of Anna he was doing this, and to not abandon Elsa.
"You didn't ask for my opinion, Anna. I think Elsa wouldn't have approved this."
She smiled and smacked him in his arm. "Don't be such a prune. We don't always get to have fun, these people are Elsa's most trusted, they would never do anything to ruin the kingdom, besides... One ball won't hurt anyone."
Kristoff stood from the chair and with an angry tone spoke to her once more. "Yeah but Elsa is the one who gives the final answer, not the other way around."
The redhead locked her brows together and stood right behind him. "I took the final decision, Kristoff! I approved now didn't I!?"
The blonde shook his head and walked off, he really was not cut out to be a royal member, and that was something Anna couldn't really see. They had come from two whole different worlds.
He stopped suddenly in the middle of the long castle corridor and he could hear Anna walking behind him, going on about how she was capable of ruling and whatnot. He turned to face her, and caught her in his arms.
He had forgotten for a second that this woman had more opportunities to marry, and with a man of her category, and yet she'd chosen him. For her love he was going to go through with what she dictated. For there was no one else in the world he wanted to be with, if it wasn't Anna.
"Umm, I was just... Are you ok?" She looked around with just her eyes and then looked at him again.
"I am actually... Now that I'm with you..."
Xoxoxo
James sat tiredly on the outside of his homes corridor. On the rocking chair that he always did so. And with eyes lost, he stared into his lands.
The sun was already setting and from a very far distance he could see his daughter and her husband coming along to rest for the day.
It had been three weeks already since his son had left, and his heart did ache. There was no one around anymore the man could talk to. All the members of his family avoided him, because of the roles each one had. All of them were women.
And his only daughter that would speak to him always had a shadow that did not even look his way.
Yes it was true. James had come accostomed to the boy he'd meet, the crazy boy who had run off to the water for no reason and had come back soaking. The man who became the son he had always wanted.
Soon the couple came to the house covered in sweat and dirt.
"Good evening father."
James greeted his daughter with a smile. And her husband simply waltz inside the house without saying a hello to the man.
"He's very tired from the day, he wants to rest."
The big man nodded his head and said nothing to his daughter, she smiled sadly and walked in behind her husband.
James rocked in his chair once and quickly made to stand, the pair had not unsaddled the horses and had not put them in the stables.
With a sigh he walked the horses to the stables and tended to them. Unsaddling them, feeding them, and fetching them water.
More than a worker, Berry was indeed his family. Berry would genuinely worry about him.
His throat clenched and even before the sun went down James walked into his home tiredly, skipping dinner and heading straight to bed.
He laid in his big bed with his eyes wide open, though his wife was there, but it was as if she wasn't. Though the crickets sang and the candles had blown out, he had not slept. Sadly he had figured out that he was alone now. And that from now on, it would be that way.