Elsa smiled with a blush, and kept her eyes on her plate. Jack Frost looked at her funny, but he assumed she was just nervous.
Hans kept a cocky smirk on his face and played with the wine on his glass. He was sitting ahead of the queen as the Duke Jack Frost sat to her side.
"Is this the first time you dine with a man," he licked his lips, and eyed the present gaurd, "almost completely alone?"
The heiress looked up and shook her head, "No actually."
Her eyes stayed on Hans, and there was something there, that Jack Frost knew.
"Are you two... Something?"
Elsa quickly made to question, "excuse me?"
"No, no, no, queen Elsa, I didn't mean-" he quickly made to retreat what he had insinuated.
Hans stood, "well you did."
Hans green eyes lingered on the queen.
She shook her head and Hans sat down. He went on to eat, and listen on at what the boy spoke to his wife about.
The ashy blonde man rose his brows and bit his lip. There was just something there, like a thorn in the skin.
The meal was quiet after that, there really was no connection with Jack Frost and the queen, but that could be due to the fact that they were not alone.
"Is there a possibility your majesty that maybe tomorrow we go out for a walk?"
Elsa furrowed her brows, "we're in the middle of winter Duke."
He smiled. "That's the precise reason."
His eyes went over to Hans who was about eating Finley.
"That's an interesting offer. " She smiled and in the end agreed to his invite.
"Thank you."
Xoxoxo
Heidi finally sat once more in her rocking chair. Though she had enjoyed her time downtown, there was no place like the comfort of her home.
She had been greeted warmly by her sisters, and Albert and Amos had missed each other.
She looked down warmly to the bundle in her arms, Asta was falling asleep.
She loved her daughter so, it was the best gift life could offer.
She had not seen Berry, but she had seen little Gretel, and just as her own daughter she had grown.
Heidi looked on over to the two cribs that were now set up in her room. And the saddest thought ran through her mind.
If the queen ever claimed Gretel her daughter... She would take her away.
Xoxoxo
Anna sat on the couch to the library, her eyes skimming through the front of a book.
Really reading was not her favorite pass time, but with Kristoff gone to harvest, and the baby asleep, there was not much to do.
Elsa was away with the Duke, and Anna could only think of so many things to entertain herself with.
She came across a book, one with a little gold bow with ancient letters on it.
The history of Arendelle.
She cruised through the book, only looking mostly through pictures.
"Ugh!"
She came across a foto of her parents at the end, and there was still a stack of blank pages left.
It was a family tree book.
Xoxoxo
"Elsa?" Anna knocked on the door to her sisters room now with her baby in arms.
She held at the book she had found earlier, she was excited to show it to the queen.
She knocked on the wooden door again, but this time she heard voices.
"Elsa!? Are you ok!?"
There was heavy footsteps and the door heavily opened.
Without even a glance towards Anna, Berry Van Buren stepped out quickly. As if trying to cover up something.
The princess eyed the room and Elsa was at her window, her hands against the glass.
"Elsa?"
She approached the queen sudden worry on her.
"Is everything ok?"
Elsa looked back suddenly, a reassuring look on her face. "Don't worry Anna."
"What is it?"
The princess walked on about and sat herself, laying the small bundle in her arms down to rest.
"Look, I found this book in the library, it has our ancestors on it."
Elsa glided herself over to the bed and looked over Anna to the book.
"Oh... It has mama and papas wedding recorded in it doesn't it?"
The princess nodded.
"I really miss them."
Elsa suddenly hugged herself, "yes, I do too."
They were silent for a while, a sudden tension in the air.
"Elsa, I know I shouldn't say anything, but, why was he in your room?"
Elsa closed her eyes her lips caught in her teeth.
"Anna don't misinterpret things please. He's my personal gaurd."
"I know, I just feel that I can't speak to you anymore."
Elsa's eyes teared, "don't say that."
"He's with you at all times."
The blond ran her hand through her hair, her eyes to the little prince soundly asleep.
"I'll make sure to set aside some time for family."
"Without him?"
Elsa suddenly looked to Anna. "Has he done something to you?"
The princess played with a non-existent string on her dress, "no... But there's something about him that makes me uncomfortable."
The heiress closed her eyes, "without him."
Xoxoxo
The week passed by slowly, and Elsa was aching in her heart for her daughter. Prince Hans had promised to bring her to the castle, but that day had not come.
She was beginning to feel a mourn in her heart.
Her dresses had gone dark in color and her mood was ever gloomy.
"Is something bothering you queen Elsa?" Kai sat the papers in place once more.
"Everything is wrong."
He shook his head, there was nothing he could say to the queen that would change her mind about her daughter. She believed that if she revealed her situation all hell would break loose.
True be it that it was a complicated subject, but in reality it was not her fault, much less the princesses. Hans on the other hand, might be judged otherwise. And now that Jet Rhyus was out of question there was no one else as an alibi.
"My queen I understand what you're worried about. Take the time you need to-"
"I did something bad, Kai." She stared off into space and closed her eyes.
"Your majesty?"
"I gave myself to him."
Kai's eyes went wide and there was a blush on his face suddenly.
"He's..."
"The love of your life?"
Elsa began to tear up, "I don't know." She kept her gaze on the wall, "I was so happy, but I feel I betrayed everything I've stood for."
"Your majesty, do not say those things." He stepped closer to her, "I know Matthew and I are the only people who know of Prince Hans identity, my queen, and I know everything that has happened, I know of your daughter, and I know the situation-"
Her glossy eyes were to him, "but you're not my council, you're not our trading partners."
"You and Gerda have always been there for us, you understand because you love us."
He placed his hands behind his back, "and Anna would not understand?"
Elsa closed her eyes, "I married the very man that I forbid her to marry!"
"But you weren't yourself."
"Does that give me an excuse to have been with him this past week?"
She was having internal battles, she didn't know what to think or do. She was happy with him, but also disgusted with herself. So many emotions ran through her body. She didn't know what to think and do, and when she followed her heart she felt that she betrayed everything.
Kai stood there in silence, he could not answer what she wanted for him to answer.
"Is the kingdom really more important than your daughter?"
To this Elsa began to cry. "Please don't... I can't do this!"
Suddenly there was knock on the door, and followed by a redheaded prince inside.
Kai turned to the queen, and bowed slightly.
"Excuse me queen Elsa, prince Hans."
The prince nodded and the queen did also, and Kai stepped out the door, closing it behind him.
Hans suddenly furrowed his brows, "did he-"
"He knows everything..."
"You told him about us?" Hans suddenly smiled but he quickly looked sceptical. "Is he trusted?"
The queen licked her lips and nodded. "Hans I'm glad you're here. I need to see Gretel."
"As you wish."
Xoxoxo
James was feeding the horses in the stables when prince Hans arrived, the snow was covering the lands, and the royal steed he rode was breathing mist.
"James. Good afternoon."
The big man boomed his loud laugh and went up to his son, "is everything alright? Ye're usually not here around this time o' day."
Hans unmounted the horse, walking up to the man.
"Elsa sent me for Gretel. She wants to see her."
James stared at the prince and he nodded, "lad?"
Before Hans went on with his mission, he looked to James expecting him to speak.
"There are so many things that I wish I could say... But I just wish ye luck lad, I hope that the queen opens up her heart, and gets you with yer daughter together. All o' ye."
Hans held the quirt in his hands, and looked to the side. He didn't know when or if the queen would ever keep them in as her family.
He was also concerned for his daughter, her life, though Elsa economically provided everything his daughter needed, and gave good amount of sum to Heidi for tending to her, it wasn't enough.
He sighed, it wasn't enough for Elsa either, as the days went by, Elsa grew more depressed.
He knew she was confused, and he tolerated everything. But he also knew that none of this was the Queen's fault.
Why was fate playing games with them?
"Let's hope all of this is over soon."
"Lad ye and her daughter, will always be my family, whatever happens... Ye have a home here."
Hans smiled and nodded, slowly hitting himself repeatedly with the quirt on his leg. "Thank you James."
The big man returned to feeding the horses, and the prince looked to him for a good few minutes.
It felt strange indeed, to be accepted and loved. His heart ached, would his daughter suffer the same fate he had? Always fighting for approval?
With a nod he went inside the house to get Princess Gretel. He was on and about and he went to knock on Heidi's door.
Amos opened up, and Hans could see that the man was not happy to see him.
"I'm here for my daughter."
Hans did not greet him, nor did he more.
Heidi suddenly came about, her beautiful face with a smile.
"Here she is."
Hans returned the gesture and thanked the pretty girl.
"Where are you taking her?"
Hans pressed his lips together with a soft smile, "to castle grounds."
The hazel eyed girl suddenly saddend, "alright, have a safe trip."
He nodded and hugged her before leaving, making the petit girl blush. His body was so warm, and she cooed into him.
As quickly as he came he left.
And Heidi stayed at the door, staring at his back as he walked away with daughter.
Amos rested his hand on her shoulder, and Heidi looked back to him.
"I love you."
Xoxoxo
Hans arrived to the castle gates, his daughter on one hand and the other on the reigns of the royal steed.
He unmounted the horse, and lead it out to the royal stables.
"Good afternoon Van Buren, where are you heading out to?"
Hans nodded towards his fellow member, "afternoon Frederick, queens Chambers."
Fred raised a brow and shook his head while smiling.
Hans chuckled and past by him. Entering the stables he caught sight of the the ice harvester with reindeer.
He was removing the saddle, and feeding the beast.
"So what did you think of this months harvest, Sven?"
He began to speak in a strange voice and Hans couldn't help but raise a red brow.
He cleared his throat to let the blonde man know he was there, and Kristoff looked up with wide eyes towards the voice.
There was an awkward nod of acknowledgement, and Hans settled his horse in. He covered the little princess with a thick quilt and just stood there awkwardly for a few moments.
"Long haul?"
The blonde nodded and looked to the side.
Sven chewing on a bunch of carrots, with his eyes hooded and brow high.
"Well, I have to get going. It's good to see you back."
Kristoff nodded and began walking in towards the castle, Hans following behind.
The prince slowed his pace to not walk alongside the blond, but apparently he had thought the same thing, so now they were awkwardly walking side by side into the long corridors of the castle.
"Heading towards princes Anna?"
The ice harvester nodded, now if he wanted to walk faster it would seem rude.
"Yeah, I've been... Away for about a month."
Hans nodded, "it's been awhile then."
Kristie's suddenly caught sight of the quilt in the princess arms, "what do you have there?"
Hans uncovered the baby, and Kristoff stared, "you have a baby, why?"
"There was no one home to watch her." His mind was quick to lie.
"Oh. Oh, sorry." He scratched his head suddenly and looked to the side. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
The prince shook his head, "no worries."
The heavy air finally lifted, and the two men finally went their separate ways.
Xoxoxo
Elsa nezzled with her daughter, her lips crashing against her cute cheeks.
Tears rolled from her eyes and Hans couldn't bare the moment. He settled her baby in her arms and Elsa lovingly walked out to her chair to stay with the baby.
She was 2 months old already, and her sight and hearing had improved.
The baby stared at her mother with furrowed missing brows. Her little lips slightly puckered, "she doesn't recognize me Hans." She was felt devistated.
The prince stayed silent, standing ahead of them with his hands behind his back.
"What are your plans queen Elsa?"
"I don't want to talk about that."
He walked on closer to her and lowered himself to her level, "it's a subject that can not be ignored your majesty."
Her eyes locked on his, and she was silent for a moment.
"I can't reveal this."
Hans nodded and silently went back towards the door.
"I understand."
He walked out of the door without looking back. Elsa suddenly felt a heavy feeling in her heart.
Xoxoxo