Anna squealed as they tried on her son's attire for her anniversary ball. She was very excited, and she had been very busy getting things ready. She had not spent much time with Elsa, but she was appreciating that at least they could share the moment of clothes shopping.
Elsa was sitting at the far edge of the store, everyone knew that she did not need a taylor for herself, but the support she was giving to her sister and her people was greatly appreciated.
Anna giggled at the face her son was making. "Mama, I don't like this attire. I wanna be dressed like papa..."
The princess of Arendelle rolled her eyes and swept his blonde hair to one side with her hand. "You are going to be dressed like your papa, Agnaar."
The boy made a pout and sighed, "I want to be dressed as papa does, when he goes harvesting."
The queen couldn't help the smile on her lips. This young boy was so different from her own daughter. Yet there was something in the look of his eyes that reminded her of Gretel.
The younger of the two sisters suddenly looked to the queen and the smile Elsa received was heartwarming.
"Elsa I've been meaning to tell you something."
The ice queen furrowed her perfect brows. "What is it, are you alright?"
"Yes... Actually I have two things, actually three things, I would like to tell you. Since we haven't chatted recently, you know with the whole party going on-"
Elsa giggled at her sister chatter, "I'm listening Anna."
"It's just that well... I am pregnant once more."
Elsa's eyes went wide and a big smile errupted through her lips. "Anna that's wonderful news!" She stood and quickly went on to hug the princess.
Anna rejoiced in her sisters hug and she pulled away. "Second is that Kristoff and I... We're going away for a few months after the party. To celebrate ourselves and our growing family!"
Elsa suddenly saddened but smiled nonetheless, "well, I'm happy for you. Yes go enjoy your... Family..." Suddenly she pressed her lips together.
"Oh, Elsa, we're going to be in Arendelle, just... We'll just be a few months, 6 or 7 months."
"Oh, no it's fine Anna... That's fine." Elsa smiled reassuringly towards her sisters worried expression. "I promise I'lll be alright."
"Thank you Elsa." Anna smiled again, only this time she looked proud. "And last, the council held a meeting yesterday with Kristoff and me, they came to the conclusion that we should officially name Agnaar the heir to the throne, the day of the ball. You know just so things could be more dramatic, or I don't know."
Elsa blinked at the last comment. "Excuse me?"
"Well I told them that you are the one who gets to decide when to officially name my son heir, right? They told me that it wouldn't matter to you." Anna suddenly furrowed her brows, "does it bother you?"
Elsa closed her eyes and pressed her lips together. "Why would this bother me Anna?"
Xoxoxo
Hans hushed at his daughter when the child summoned a small snow flake, he pressed her hands together and the small snowflake disappeared. He was acting slightly selfish. Elsa would not know until the time was right. He thought it best if it would be that way. Deep in his heart he held but the smallest grudge against the queen. Though his love for her easily overpowered it.
The queen was cold that day. Distant even. He did not know what had happened, or if visiting them was becoming a boring routine to her. Could it be the princesses Anniversary ball that was troubling her? He could not point out what it was.
She had arrived in her snow steed just like everyday for the past few days, and as such she brought a present to Gretel and greeted her with snow and kisses.
They had gone over so many things in that time they saw one another. And in the end had come to one conclusion. Gretel and Hans were to stay in Arendelle, Gretel would be Princess Gretel heiress of Arendelle, and Hans would be King to queen Elsa. He did not want to be king, Elsa however, had insisted that he had earned the title.
"Elsa is there something wrong?" His soft green eyes lingered on her, that doubt in his chest aching to know. She was wearing her blue dress, that platinum blue dress he had come to love. The very first dress she had conjured up herself.
There was a deep sigh escaping the queens lips, and her eyes lingered on her daughter. Elsa could not shake that feeling of guilt off her shoulders. How would she ever tell him and their daughter, that her council was going to officially name her nephew heir to the throne?
Her blue eyes closed and she shook her head. She felt stuck once more. When life seemed so perfect problems arised.
"It's..." She turned back to Gretel who was playing at the snow the queen had summoned and she shook her head.
"Are you having second thoughts?" Hans suddenly questioned her. He had a heavy feeling in his chest. And when she did not answer it was as if poison entered his tongue. He felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
"You agreed that on that ball..."
"I can't Hans."
"Is it because of what happened between Anna and I!?" He looked to her with sudden hurt in his eyes. "Elsa, I've changed."
"It has nothing to do with you, Hans."
Then his eyes went to their daughter, suddenly he went red in the face. "She's the problem!?'
Elsa shook her head innocently, "it's not her either, Hans!"
He was so mad now, so desperate for a reason from her. "Who is it then!? Anna!?"
"That's princess Anna Hans!"
Suddenly there was a small voice that interrupted their talk. "Papa?" She looked up with big blue eyes and she stood from the snow that was around her, she was hugging at her chest and Elsa could not help but see herself in her daughter.
"Gretel, everything is fine. Don't worry."
Elsa suddenly smiled towards her daughter but the guilt in her eyes did not fade. With that smile she summoned a small cat like snow creature, handing it over to her daughter.
A short giggle escaped the lips of the young fair haired child. Her eyes were big and wide. She smiled at the kitten her mother had given her. It would be her first real responsibility, her first real belonging, the first ever gift her mother had given to her. Gretel smiled once towards Elsa and again more and sat in the snow happily.
"I think," she called out to the small white creature, her hands bribing it close to her. "I will call you snowball."
The queen stared down at her daughter with saddened eyes she felt guilt, rage, and disgrace. She stood ahead of her staring at the child's father. Hans rose a red brow and he frowned. No one could know of her daughter's existence, much less of her relationship with him.
"Gretel, honey?"
The small five year old turned towards her mothers voice. A beautiful smile on her little face.
Hans stared at Elsa viciously and made to grab at his daughters hand. "Your mother has to go."
"No ma-Elsa, please don't go!" Her daughter ran up to her clinging onto her platinum blue dress. Hans quickly grabbed onto her and pulled her somewhat viciously off of Elsa.
The queens eyes were watery, but the princes eyes were filled with rage. "She has to go Gretel. And so do we."
Elsa walked over to her daughter and placed a small kiss on her forehead. "I love you Gretel."
Hans breathed heavily and pulled on his daughters hand. "let's go home, Gretel."
Without much thought, the blond queen turned on her heel and walked away, her heart was racing and tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
Xoxoxo
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS QUEEN ELSA!?" Kai was red in the face, his cheeks shaking from rage. "I THOUGHT YOU WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING NOT... THIS!"
All the queen could do was cry. His vicious words boring in her mind.
"You don't understand, Kai!" She looked to him with wet eyes, she wanted to please everyone, she just didn't know how to do it.
"SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER!" He could not believe what she was saying, he could not believe that she had let them go once more. "I understand Prince Hans... but your daughter?" Elsa could see how angry he was, he had never been angry at her. He was always understanding, he would always listen to her. Kai shook from anger, "I have lost all faith in you now, queen Elsa." He breathed heavily through his nostrils. "And all of this for princess 'well being'!?" He was very angry.
"She has her own life queen Elsa!"
He stood there for a few minutes without saying a word, his mind racing over his options, the queen crying. "I have had enough." With those words he walked on out of the queens office. He would take matters into his own hands. Arendelle had an heiress and he would make sure that everyone knew about the Queen's mistake. The child would not pay for something that was not her fault.
He quickly walked down the stairs and went out through the back of the castle, heading straight for the stables. He would not let them leave. He would not let the queen give up her happiness for the sake of Anna, he would not let prince Agnaar take what wasn't his. The crown belonged to princess Gretel, he did not care what Anna would say, much less the council. Things were done and Elsa had to face the demons the potion brought.
Kai reached the stables and quickly took ahold of a horse, he was no expert rider but he would manage. As he worked on the horse his mind wandered. It was true that Elsa had no fault in the situation before her marriage to Hans. Yes, it was so true that it was the very Jet Rhyus' fault that she was in that situation. Nonetheless, Prince Hans had acted responsibly afterwards, while queen Elsa had not.
He panted as he quickly saddled the horse. He would go for Matthew and they would search for the prince. There was no other way. Even if it meant Hans be king.
Xoxoxo
Prince Hans did not cry, he was simply angry. He had expected this from Elsa. Though what surprised him is that she had indeed chosen her sister over her own daughter. His mother had been right after all, that need to put her sister before herself was stronger than everything. So long as Anna was happy Elsa did not care if she pushed her own family to the side. Hell, she didn't care if it meant that she would never see her daughter again.
He did not know what fear Elsa suffered from, or why she always placed Anna above everything. He snorted angirly, Anna was a big girl, with a family even. Elsa didn't have to protect her anymore.
He angirly grabbed at his clothes and pushed them into the sack he had brought along from his small ship. He would return to the Southern Isles and keep the promise he had made to his mother. He would never again seek out queen Elsa, no matter how much his heart yearned for her. He would never again ambition her love. All she ever did was hurt them. All she ever did was humiliate him. All she ever did was use him for her own pleasure. She never loved him. She proved it by denying their daughter once more.
Gretel stared at her father with worry in her eyes. She had never seen him so angry. She did not understand what was happening. Why her parents had yelled at each other, or why her papa had decided they would leave Arendelle.
"Are we going back home papa?" When Hans did not answer, she looked to the ground, "I'm sorry for the bad things I do papa... Please don't be mad at me..."
Hans eyes suddey went to his daughters and then he shook his head, "no Gretel, I'm not angry at you. I will never be angry at you."
James stood at the door his eyes on the ground. He could not believe the queen had done it once more. She was playing games with the prince and the only one who was truly hurt was Gretel.
"Lad?" James suddenly spoke out, his voice thick.
"Yes, James?" Hans looked out to the big man.
"Why don't you stay here, son?" He smiled kindly. "I'm sure my daughters will take good care of Gretel and ye. Kari-"
Hans lifted a hand and smiled. "James I thank you for everything, and I really mean everything, you have done for me. But I'm afraid that I cannot stay in Arendelle. I'm not welcomed here."
Gretel suddenly looked at her father confused, "yes you are papa, queen Elsa... If she's queen you're welcome here. We can stay papa-"
Hans kneeled to eye level with his daughter and strictly looked to her. "No Els-Gretel," he shook his head, "I am not welcomed here."
"But you and Elsa kissed!" She held at her hands and backed away from Hans.
"Gretel." Hans looked to her his mind racing.
"No papa. I want to stay with Elsa. I want to stay with my mama. She said she loved me!" She shook her head defiantly. "I will not go. Not without my mama!"
"Gretel-"
There was a sudden burst of the door and inside came a panting sweaty man. He was dressed in fine butler clothing, and sweat poured down his forehead.
"I'm-glad-we," he panted heavily, "still-caught-you-here!"
A much younger fellow walked in behind the thick man, much less agitated. "Hello, Prince Hans." There was a smile on this man's face, and Hans couldn't help but remember him from when he helped James as a merchant a good few years ago.
"My name is Matthew, we met once in the market."
Kai shook his head and held at his heart. "You cannot leave!"
Suddenly Hans heart clenched. Had Elsa sent out after them? Would he go to prison? What would be of Gretel?
"Do not worry prince," Kai recomposed and pulled out a cloth to wipe away at his sweat. "You cannot leave with Arendelles heiress."
Then it hit Hans. She had sent out to take Gretel away from him. "You can tell your queen that she would have to kill me to get to Gretel." The child suddenly his behind her father's legs and clung onto his pants out of fear.
"You have it all wrong prince. I'm here to help you."
James simply stood there, not knowing what was happening. If it was to help the lad, those men were more than welcome in his home.
"Elsa doesn't want anything to do with me." Hans face was angry, "she made it all too clear."
Kai shook his head, "that's where you are wrong prince. She has cried many days and nights. I have been there at her side. But she's afraid."
Gretel closed her eyes and covered her ears. James took notice and smiled softly at her. "Come child, let's go with me Granddaughter."
She nodded her head and walked on out with James. "Lad, I'll be outside with yer daughter, she will be fine. If anythin arises, I'm here."
Hans furrowed his eyebrows and stared at the two men ahead of him. "Why would you be helping me?"
Kai suddenly smiled, "because I know destiny when I see it prince. You were of darkness, as I once was. You deserve your happy ending."
Hans eyes suddenly went to the ground. He did not know how those measly words could get to him so easily. The prince recomposed and placed his hands behind his back and he took in a deep breath.
"You are Kai am I wrong?" He suddenly asked the plump butler.
"Yes indeed I'm Kai, queen Elsa's most trusted, if I may add."
"You know everything. You know who I am..." Hans paced in the room staring at the two men. "And yet you think I deserve to be with Elsa? To be in the throne?"
"Prince Hans. Everyone knows who you are, that you were once Berry Van Buren. That you posed as a gaurd." Kai went on. "Half of the council when you posed as Van Buren, suggested you be queen Elsa's suitor." Kai went on, "however that does not matter anymore. I am here to help you get the two things you and the princess deserve. Recognition."
Hans stopped pacing, "why?"
Kai chuckled suddenly, "because of this same reason prince."
Hans furrowed his brows again, this man spoke in puzzles.
"You have shown yourself worthy." Kai smiled. "And you deserve you happy ending, just as I, after the darkness... Everyone deserves to be happy."
"Now come, no more questions. I'm here to help, not just you but the queen as well. I have an effective plan. There will be no other way."
There was a small nod from the prince and the three men began to go over Kai's plan. It would be risky. It would risk the princes life, but if Kai knew queen Elsa better than anyone, she would not let things get too far.
Xoxoxo