The sun rose quickly on the great Kingdom of Arendelle. James Hugh was finishing off the loading of the carriage towards the castle for the day. His forehead was shimmering with sweat as the first rays of sunlight hit his skin.
"It looks like you could need a hand..."
The man was startled by a sudden voice behind him. He quickly made to grab the pitch fork he always kept in the stables and with it in his hand turned to face the intruder.
"James, it's me." there was a small squeal from behind the man. He saw a small girl stare at him with fear, suddenly the mans posture went calm.
"Lad?" He put down his weapon for the sake of the child. His eyes still angry ones, but he no longer threatened him.
Hans was dressed in his Admiral uniform, it was a navy blue outfit, black long boots, and black gloves, with his medals of honor from the Southern Isles hanging proudly on his shoulder.
"What are ye lookin for here son?" He was concerned for him, yet angry. "If the law was to see you-"
"James..." Hans tried to calm him. It was only natural the man would be angry. He had lied to him after all for over a year.
"I'm very sorry I did not say anything... But if you would just listen to me... You trusted Berry Van Buren... Right?"
James eyes skimmed around until they landed on the child behind the princes legs.
"Is that Gretel?" He suddenly asked the prince.
"Yes." Hans smiled proudly and patted her fair hair. "This is Gretel. The princess of Arendelle."
Suddenly James sighed and opened his arms wide. "Lad... For old times sake... Welcome home." Hans eyes teared up, he had not expected for James to forgive him so quickly, but it seemed that the bond that the two had formed was strong.
With a genuine smile Hans walked up to the man and the two hugged with joy.
"Lad it's dangerous! I am indeed angry at ye fer lying. Fer not mentioning anything." He scolded Hans as he let him go. "Aside from everything, I advise you to leave. You are not welcome in Arendelle."
Hans smiled and nodded his head. "James I know what I've done is terrible. I lied to you, I lied to the whole kingdom, but I am a changed man. I don't want the crown anymore. I only want what's right for my daughter."
James furrowed his brows as Hans explained his return.
"I have been speaking to the queen. I need to see her."
"Lad... This time I'm sorry, I cannot help ye."
The prince closed his eyes and nodded, he understood perfectly his reasons. Though they were not voiced he knew what they were.
There was a sad look in the man's eyes. "As far as I can go is watch yer daughter fer ye, so you can find a wey ta speak ta the queen."
Hans nodded his head and turned to look at Gretel.
"No papa... I don't want to stay." There was a worried expression on her face.
"There is nothing to be afraid of Gretel if you trust me you will stay here. I will not leave you behind. I promise I will be back before sundown."
He kneeled in front of the young child and her eyes began to tear. "He won't hurt me?"
Hans smiled at her and then turned to look to said man. "He won't hurt you."
"Come inside lad, I will take you to Heidi, she will watch over your daughter whilst ye come back."
They walked into the big house where he was greeted with judging eyes.
"Before any of ye say anything. I STILL TRUST HIM." James colored eyes went directly to Albert who had on so many accounts judged the prince. "And so long as I live he is welcome in my home."
There was hushed murmurings but in the end everyone quieted down.
"Heidi, tend to Gretel." The girls eyes went to the princess and she bit her lips together. "Yes father."
Hans kissed his daughter on her forehead and the two men walked out of the house back to the stables, the air around them was comfortable, almost as if nothing had ever happened between them.
"Lad, ye know I still see you as my son." James began, "I just understand why you never said anything."
The prince sighed deeply and came to a stop near the carriage filled with goods for the castle.
"James, if I would have told you, you wouldn't have trusted me. I was a convict, now it's worse I understand I was exiled from Arendelle." He lowered his head. "I did not plan to come back... But queen Elsa wrote to me... She still loves me. I came here so she could prove it to me."
"Lad that could get you killed."
"If she loves me James, she won't let that happen."
"But what about yer daughter, if anything happened to ye." James began but sighed. "Just be careful lad."
Hans bit his lips and nodded quietly.
"So how do you plan to reach the queen?"
"I still haven't figured that out, but I assume I'll think of something."
Suddenly there was a smile on James face, and he slapped the carriage a few times.
"Ye know lad in order for ye to repay the favors I've done fer ye-" he smiled deeper and Hans eyes began to twinkle. "you can take this load to the castle, and have the queen sign these papers fer tax purposes."
Hans began to chuckle and shake his head.
"If ye don't do it lad, then I'm afraid I will never forgive you fer all the lies you said to me."
"I think I can manage to do this for you James."
"Not in that clothes you won't, lad. I wouldn't want any attention drawn to my account."
Hans smiled and the elder man smiled back.
"Thank you James. I owe you once more."
"That's what family is for... Son."
The two men hugged once again and Hans began to ready the horse for the carriage. He quickly ran into the stables and changed from his uniform to commoner clothes James had provided for him.
He helped him tie the horse to the carriage and Hans mounted the horse without trouble.
"Lad?" The big man went to the side and sighed. "Do me a favor, and don't get caught."
"I won't."
The two men stayed there in silence for a few moments, until James nodded his head and slapped the horses rear. "Go on lad, git!"
Hans nodded once more and dug his heels into the horses ribs. "Hiyaa!"
Xoxoxo
Anna sighed as she greeted her guests in the breakfast table.
Elsa would not be joining them that morning, for she had some important matters to attend with a producer that morning. They were awaiting the carriage for the banquet coming along in the week.
"Hello, good morning!" Anna began her conversations normally, much to her husbands annoyance. He hated formal small talk, but had the council not stuck their nose in their anniversary they wouldn't be going through formalities.
Anyone would think that Kristoff was used to the fancy life, but the truth was far from it. He had come to appreciate some things about the royal life. However socializing with the royals was a definite no go for him.
"What about you princess Kristoff?" An eager princess held intense eyes at him.
"Yes me too." He had no idea what they had gone on about. "I was very excited."
The royals turned to face one another and they went on to their meals.
Anna shook her head and mentally face-palmed. It was obvious that he had answered ridiculously.
Xoxoxo
"You lucky guy you!" There was loud laughs that could be heard almost a mile along.
There was two gaurds at the entrance of the castle gates. Two gaurds Hans had not known about. They looked rather young and inexperienced. Perhaps they would not ask so many questions.
"Oh look here comes James carriage."
"Finally, I was getting tired just by standing here. Can't wait to get back on the streets." Hans could hear the conversations from afar.
Hans was wearing commoner clothes and a straw hat on his head, he really hoped that his face would not catch the attention of the two young gaurds.
"You there!" The younger of the two yelled out to him and Hans stopped the carriage so the two could go on to him. They slowly walked towards him, conversing to each other casually. "You know this whole thing with Frederick and his wife is really getting out of hand."
They stopped suddenly and one of the gaurds looked to the other, "Charles. She's having a baby, hell if I had a wife and she'd be baring my kid I would be by her side too." Charles, as the former gaurd had said, rolled his eyes and continued walking towards Hans, his eyes on a piece of paper he held in his hand.
With his eyes on the paper he came up to Hans. "Queen Elsa informed us of your coming. She said to take directly into the back of the castle. You just go left here and leave the carriage there, just tie the horse, the carriers will take care of the rest."
Hans nodded his head and tried hard to look as casual as he could.
"There are no gaurds around the corner there, so you shouldn't have much stopping you into the castle. They are all eating with the royals."
Charles rolled his eyes at his partners comment, "just leave the horse there. She said to go inside and just go straight up to her office. She is waiting up there."
One of the two men handed him the paper, it was a permit, just in case any indoor gaurd saw him and asked questions, and when Hans took it they went on back to their respective spots in the castle gates.
"I swear babysitting the gate entrance is not for me."
"You should have thought about that before become a gaurd." He punched him in the arm and the other simply shook his head. "Well I guess." Was
Hans looked up at the sky and he smiled as he went on to follow the men's instructions. God was placing everything in it's path. Luck was at his side.
Xoxoxo
He unmounted the horse and guided it close to the back door so the carriers had a much easier task to tend to.
As the entrance gaurds had said there was no one out back. He would enter and walk on up to the Queen's office. He hoped that it was true that all the castle gaurds were in the dinning room sharing a meal together.
His heart began to beat fast as he speed walked through the castles corridors. It had been so long already since the last time he had gone through those doors. He wouldn't accidentally walk into a random room, he was quick to remember and the queens office he would never forget.
He ran up the stairs that lead to the room he searched for and quickly he slipped through the hallway until he reached his destination.
He could swear that his heart was going to explode in his chest, he did not know why. Actually he did. He did not want to be dissappointed by queen Elsa. He knocked softly and waited for her to tell him to come in.
Elsa sat in her office and quickly made to put some papers to a side, Albert had come to fill out the tax forms for James. Elsa had generously lowered his taxes. After all he had taken care of her daughter and husband.
She was writing a letter to prince Hans. Asking him why he had not shown. She was indeed nervous when she thought that he had come, but when he had not arrived with his family she was puzzled. They had spoken about it. But in the end it seemed he did not want problems.
The soft knock errupted through her door once more and she remembered that they were waiting for her outside the door. She stood and quietly walked about towards the entrance.
With a smile on her face she made to pull the door.
When her blue eyes landed on hazel eyes Elsa almost fainted.
"Hello queen Elsa." He inclined his head slightly and he smiled at her.
Xoxoxo