It had been one month already since he had departed from the castle, he had received two royal letters since then, but he had not bothered to open them.
The queen had sent in the least three groups of guards in the last month, asking for his return, but the very person who he wanted to come for him had not shown, queen Elsa.
His life had calmed down once again, and he liked it better that way. Being in the castle was slavery, and here he was free.
He had time to contemplate all the things, and now he came to understand why she choose the castle over them.
When he felt the pressure of being king, he had strategized to kill even, just to have the power, just to be a king, to rule, and be accepted.
He threw snow with his shovel to the side opening the pathway to the stables. James was at his side, also shoveling the white ice, they were working in comfortable silence.
Though what he ambitioned did not give him the right to try and take a life away. Just like Elsa's mistake, she needed to think things through, what she really wanted, and what was her best interest.
He took in a deep breath, and exhaled, mist coming from his breath.
"So lad?" James began, sweat slowly trickling down his forehead, despite the weather.
Hans kept his pace but answered, his breath slightly agitated, "yes James?"
"Can I count on ye for this coming spring?"
There was a small moment of silence, and Hans rose a brow looking back to the big man, "what will we be doing this spring?"
"Well, we've got a contract with the crown, lad."
Hans chuckled, "you can count on me with the crops for this coming year."
The big man stood and gave him a genuine smile. "Thank you, boy. I knew I would count on you."
Hans kept shoveling snow and ice but looked back to him with a smile.
"There nothing to thank James, I'm the one who is indebted to you."
James shook his head and began to remove snow from the pavement once more.
"That's what family is for."
Hans looked to him and nodded. "Indeed it is."
Xoxoxo
Elsa sat in the throne room, her eyes sad and empty.
It had been one month since she had last heard from him and her daughter. Though to her, it felt like an eternity.
He had not even contacted her to let her know that Gretel was ok. Kai had told her to go after him, and remedy things. But she did not know how to remedy it.
She had been foolish and lost everything she cared for.
She was stuck between the wall and the sword, nowhere left to go.
The Duke would look for her, and now that she was alone most of the day he would come and try to talk her into going places with him, walks, dinners, enjoy the full moon alone.
Really it was frightening, without Hans there she was afraid of everything. She had once already told him she was really not interested in his offerings, but the man did not take the hint. He kept coming back and trying to get her interested.
Elsa looked to the side, the throne room was the only place where no one looked for her. Here she was away, away from everyone and everything.
She missed her daughter. She missed the reports he would bring of her, how he would almost make her see what their princess would do, even if it meant mostly sleep.
She sighed deeply as her eyes glued onto the tile under her feet.
She missed him too.
And Kai knew, and she knew, and the whole castle knew.
Xoxoxo
Anna stretched out her arms as she unmounted from the royal carriage onto the property of James Hugh, the harvester of Arendelle.
There was a very large house and on the outside was four men standing as if waiting for their arrival.
Kristoff followed after his wife, his feet slowly stepping on the freshly shoveled pavement.
On the porch of the house, they saw the man they came to look for, Berry Van Buren.
"Hello good afternoon!" Anna began out toward the porch, suddenly the four men lowered their heads in respect of the princess.
"Princess Anna, prince Kristoff, what a pleasant surprise!" James smiled and bowed.
Albert turned to Amos, and Amos to Hans who was quietly looking out to the royal family ahead of them.
"Hello, we're here for, Berry, we're taking him, now... Right now." Anna suddenly giggled, "he promised to be our son's godfather, and we his daughter's godparents, and we need him to come with us!"
Albert turned to Hans and Amos shook his head, "well pretty boy, it seems they're here for you."
James nodded his head, "well the lad had not mentioned it, but yer welcome to come in my humble home to talk things through."
Kristoff smiled suddenly, and Anna gleefully began towards the inside of the house, the men walking in behind them.
Xoxoxo
Heidi listened in on the conversation between the royals and the prince.
Up to what she could hear they did not know about princess Gretel being the queen's daughter.
She brought in tea and quickly walked out.
Hans looked to Kristoff and to the small prince in his arms, how he looked so much like him.
"Well Berry, we also came in the name of my sister, she didn't tell us to come but, we'll speak for her either way. She's been devastated since you left the castle, everyone can see it."
Her eyes were sad, "you have to come back, the council themselves are thinking of a way to make you come back."
Hans looked to the side and sighed standing up. "Princess Anna, with all due respect, I cannot return to the castle."
There was a crying suddenly, and a thin pretty girl walked in, "excuse me," she came in and handed the little baby to the prince, the small child sniffling but surely quieting down.
Hans looked to Kristoff, and Anna pulled her lips, "but she'll be our goddaughter, I'll watch over her in the castle!"
Hans smiled and nodded, "I can't burden you with my daughter."
Kristoff stayed with his eyes on the man, "well, if you don't want anything to do with us then-"
The prince suddenly furrowed his brows, "it's an honor, and I give you my word, you will be my daughter's godparents, and I your's."
Kristoff nodded, "good, we will be coming for you for the preparations and ceremony's to come. March 21st is the date. Unless you want to go with us, now, but like right now?"
The redheaded man laughed, "I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I am going to have to refuse."
Anna smiled and held at her husband's hand, "if you ever need anything we're here for you. Thank you."
They all stood; finished with their meeting, "we will be back for you then, alright?" Anna began as she walked towards the exit.
"It's fine with me."
They bid farewells and Hans was left alone with his daughter as she comfortably slept. It seemed like a curse to him, seeing the royal family, he would never stop thinking of Elsa if he was not away.
His eyes were glued to the wooden floor.
Maybe going away to the Southern Isles would do him good. Just until he would not feel for Elsa anymore.
There was a knock on his door and James walked in.
"Everything alright lad?"
Xoxoxo
"I'm sorry sir Jack, the queen gave specific orders. No one is to bother her, no matter who it is."
Jack Frost shook his head, he was about given up on queen Elsa. She did not let anyone close to her, he had lost all his paitence.
"But if I could just-" Jack tried to walk, and Kai kept getting in the way.
"She gave direct orders, are you not listening Duke?"
The young man sighed.
"Tell her if she could unfreeze the Fjord. There's really no use in being here."
Jack Frost was irritated at her. She was a stubborn proud queen, that he was sure no one could ever please.
"I will give her your message, Sir Jack." Kai saw as the young man walked away.
The plump man grunted and fixed his vest, walking into the Queens office. He did not care who the duke thought he was, he was on foreign soil.
"Your majesty?" He spoke to the queen. "Sir Jack Frost has requested you to unfreeze the fjord, your majesty, he wishes to return to Burgess."
Elsa looked to her most trusted man and closed her eyes.
"Unfreeze the fjord?" Elsa looked out her window, the calm snowflakes fell quietly, beautifully, natrually.
"He's an arrogant, selfish, child isn't he?" Elsa began to stand from behind her desk.
Her heels clicked against fine wood as she neared the window. "Does he think, that I will disrupt the makings of God, just TO PLEASE HIM?"
Kai looked at Elsa as if she had lost her mind. "My queen, he means to leave."
Her expression was suddenly angry, "why did he come in the first place?"
The servant man rose his brows, "he came to bring gifts for princess Anna and the little prince."
Elsa looked to Kai, her eyes sad and angry, depression evident. "He's waited this long! Until the fjord unfreezes on it's own he can leave." She turned her back towards Kai and shook her head looking out towards Arendelle, "until then, he is to stay here."
He licked his lips and sighed, but nodded nonetheless. "Yes your majesty." He bowed and began towards the exit, "excuse me."
There was a long moment of silence, until she heard loud thumping heels walking towards where she was.
An agitated Guinevere walked into the the room. Her cheeks were red, and her brows scrunched. "TELL ME QUEEN ELSA!?" There was a pause the woman letting the queen take in the question. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH DUKE JACK FROST!?"
When Elsa stayed quiet she went on. "YOU WILL NEVER FIND A HUSBAND, THE CROWN WRONGFULLY SITS ON YOUR HEAD! YOU ARE ARROGANT AND INMATURE! YOU RUN AWAY FROM EVERYTHING AND SHUT EVERYONE OUT!" Guinevere breathed heavily from rage, but quieted down.
"You have disappointed every member of your council. We are all tired of your behavior queen Elsa."
The blond looked to the older woman, her eyes showing defiance. "If you are finished Guinevere, please close the door when you leave."
Said woman shook her head, "I had hopes for you queen Elsa. You are not even half of the ruler you father was. He would be ashamed of you."
Her comment hurt Elsa and the queen could not hold back much longer anymore.
"Go away!"
The woman began out, but stopped midway.
"We want what's best for Arendelle queen Elsa, and though princess Anna had the liberty to marry for love; you've known your whole life that when you married, it would be of convenience. For you hold the entire nation on that crown."
She pointed an accusing finger towards the little peice of gold on her head. "Whatever you do, it is for this country, not for you."
Elsa suddenly gripped her dress, the words spoken to her hitting her chest hard.
"So put those fantasies to a side queen Elsa. Whatever is convenient for the country you will do. Even if it means you have to sacrifice everything you have ever loved."
Elsa suddenly built up the courage to reply. "That is not true."
Guinevere looked at her puzzled. "What is not true? Please enlighten me!"
"I am free to do as I please, the crown is mine to-"
"That's where you're wrong my sweet! You are not free, you are queen, and have ultimate command, but it is also a orisoon!"
She fanned herself. "You have great power, but the responsibility is even greater!"
The woman began towards the queen, obvious anger still in her eyes, "we tried everything with everyone! You even pushed away that gaurd who so much cared for you!"
Elsa narrowed her eyes, "He left because he needed to be there for his daughter!" Tears began down her cheeks.
Guinevere chuckled angirly, "yes, that may be true, but in the end it was because of you! Everything that has happened in Arendelle is because of you! The eternal winter, the siren, Jet Rhyus, Duke Frost, even that gaurd!"
The walls suddenly spiked with ice.
Suddenly Faustino and Gordon appeared, their eyes wide, "what is happening!?"
Gordon walked up to the woman, catching sight of the queen in tears. "Guinevere, what is going on?"
Faustino walked on over to the crying queen. "Your majesty are you alright?"
"What have you done to the queen!?"
The usually patient woman began to fan herself as guilt began to seep on her heart.
"Oh goodness..." She widened her eyes. "What have I done?"
Elsa was crying quietly as her councilman hugged her.
"Get princess Anna!"
Xoxoxo
The princess sat in the room with her sister, Elsa crying quietly but eyes distant.
They had not spoken one word to each other, and the silence was edgy.
"So... Elsa?" The redhead began but the queen said no words.
Xoxoxo
"We can account this as treason!"
Guinevere sat in the middle of the council room, her fellow members scolding her viciously.
"We are here to protect and help the queen! Not attack her!"
The woman closed her eyes, fanning herself. "I... I, let my rage get the better of me!"
"If she chooses to not accept the Duke, let her be!"
"Her father was an absolute better ruler, he knew and understood what it took to have the crown!"
There was arguments everywhere. Some proud of Guinevere for confronting the queen, others upset.
And there was Gordon, who neither said yes or no to the situation. He was simply there looking at the woman fanning herself.
"The queen needed this!"
"We can account you for treason too!"
The bickering went on, and the accused member sat in the middle of it all. Not daring to say another word.
Xoxoxo
Hans smiled sweetly as his daughter big eyes landed on him. She showed a big smile towards him, and though she had no teeth, it was the most beautiful smile he had ever in his life been given.
She moved better now. With more confidence and he loved it.
"She sure is beautiful."
Kari sat down ahead of him in the rocking chair and looked to him happily.
"I thank you for letting us take part with Gretel."
The prince looked to her and then to his beautiful daughter. "I thank all of you for seeing us as family."
There was a moment of silence until she sighed.
Standing she placed a kiss on his right cheek, just a side to his lips.
"No need to thank us."
She walked out of the room, her hips suddenly catching his attention as she walked away.
Heidi suddenly walked into the room, completely oblivious of her sisters behavior.
"Hello Berry!" She sat next to him and snatched the baby away from his hands.
"Heidi?"
"Yes?"
"I think I should return to the shed out back."
She suddenly furrowed her brows, "what, why?"
Xoxoxo