The North: The Man From The Shadows

by Gilbert Stories

Everything seems just right to Elsa. The Northuldra have welcomed her with open arms, she reigns as the fifth spirit, she has befriended Honeymaren and Ryder and her sister is engaged to the man of her dreams. But she keeps feeling a strong presence to travel up to the four peaks only to run into a man who lerks in the shadows. What will Elsa do once she realizes who he is?

8. Poor Wayfaring Stranger

Chapter 7:

Poor Wayfaring Stranger

Sigh..

This had been about the tenth exaggerated exhale in less than two minutes. Anna rested her freckled cheek on her palm with her elbow on top of the desk as she tapped her pen with her other free hand on the giant notebook repeatedly, even making a beat out of it.

Who can we form an alliance with come winter? She had been askimg herself the same question over and over through her head, unable to get the right answer for the council.

She was alone in what used to be Elsa's large study chambers, which in conclusion also used to be her fathers and her grandfathers and many other grandfathers she had never met. Six generations prior to her, all from the time King Christian IV, her grandfather six times removed, left his royal family in Oslo with his wife, his children and several others and migrated to the west, which there he founded Arendelle and became its first king.

Elsa and Anna visited their cousins in Oslo many times. The King and Queen always welcomed their nieces with welcomed arms. They were a big family and it was odd for Elsa and Anna to meet more family members outside of their own. It was there where Anna had realized how far they descended, even to the time her great ancestor and viking St. Olaf founded Norway. They truly were of royal bloodline, not that it never meant anything to her anyways.

All of the former reigning monarchs of Arendelle were hung up on the chambers great wall, including her grandfather, her father and her sister.

And then there was her.

She stared at her own painting as if she was staring an an ugly reflection of herself. She couldn't decide whether she hated the way she looked or the way the crown sat on top of her head. Perhaps both.

Knock knock.

"Come in." Replied Anna to the knock with her eyes never leaving her painting. The door opened and in came Gerda, the old family maidservant with a tray of tea. She had been serving Anna's family since she was hired as a teenager by her grandfather.

"Princess Anna? Oh! I-I mean, Queen Anna. I am so, so sorry, Your Majesty—"

"Gerda!" Chuckled Anna waving her hand. "It's all right, really. You can call me Anna or anything for that matter. You've known me since I was but a child. Nothing's changed."

"Apologies, Your Majesty. I'm just so used to seeing you as crown princess, I never actually believed you'd ever become Queen." Said Gerda as she placed the tray on top of the large study desk.

"Neither did I." Sighed Anna with her arms crossed as she leaned back on her chair. "There's still a lot to learn, I wish Elsa could be here so she can show me her ways, she's always been the one preparing for Queen. Me? Well..."

"Well what, Your Majesty?" Asked Gerda out of concern.

Anna bit her lip slightly as she shrugged her shoulders shyly. "I always saw myself as just the spare, the crown princess. The backup in case anything were to happen to Elsa. I was so convinced I'd be that forever that I actually never thought she would just... leave it."

Gerda smiled sweetly at the insecure strawberry blonde. She was right in a way, no matter what Anna became, she would always be the silly and energetic princess she saw running around the castle since she had learned how to walk.

"We can't change who we truly are, Your Majesty." Said Gerda.

Anna snickered. "Tell that to Elsa. She was never a fanatic of the outdoors, in took us a while just to convince her to go swimming out in the fjords with me, remember?"

Gerda chuckled. "I remember."

"She was always misses perfect, if she wasn't reading then she was studying or doing Queenly duties. And if she had free time of her own then she'd want to challenge me to chess or show me her new discoveries in geometry."

Gerda chuckled again. "She did love geometry."

"Extremely!" Exclaimed Anna as she threw her hands up in disbelief while sitting forward. "Did I ever tell you? She woke me up one night at three in the morning just to show me her new discoveries on the pythagorean theorem."

Gerda furrowed her eyebrows. "What does that even mean??"

"Right!?" Exclaimed Anna again, causing Gerda to cover her mouth to control her guffaw. "As if a normal human being could know such a thing! I swear if geometry was a person she'd marry it in a heartbeat."

Gerda cleared her throat, forcing herself to stop laughing. "We are all different in our own ways, Your Majesty. Although you and Queen Elsa might be sisters you two still share different personalities and interests. But there's nothing wrong with it."

"I know that, I just— I just wish I was as regal and smart as her." Sighed Anna. "I know she was technically always destined to become this fifth spirit and protector of the forest but... I've known my sister since we were children. Powers or not, she was always destined to become Queen of Arendelle. And I know deep down inside she knows that too."

Gerda nodded her head, she couldn't disagree with that. Elsa always knew of her purpose in life. Perhaps she always questioned her powers and their origin since as early as she could remember. But she never questioned her duties as crown princess and more importantly, Queen of Arendelle.

"You know, your father and Elsa were completely different rulers." Said Gerda.

The sudden bold statement made Anna furrow her eyebrows as she suddenly looked up to meet Gerda's face with a surprised expression. "Really?"

"Yes, Really." Smiled Gerda with a nod.

"I mean I know they did certain things differently but I didn't realize they were completely different like you claim they were." Said Anna.

"Your father was a little more strict with Arendelle. Part of it being for the protection of you two and the other due to his fathers passing at such a surprising turn of events." Gerda explained.

"Yeah, no thanks to him." Said Anna gesturing at the painting hanging on the wall of her late grandfather she had never met "I should probably ask the servants to take that down someday..."

"You're right, King Ruenard's actions are his own fault. But our past isn't what defines our callings, Your Majesty." Continued Gerda. "When Elsa became queen she was so frightened to mess up and ruin everything, especially since she didn't know how to control her magic. But once she hurdled over that I got to see what she really wanted to do as Queen.

She signed new executive orders and laws, cutting taxes for the citizens by more than twenty five percent so they could earn more living, she made sure Sunday's were days of rest and that only those who chose to open business were free to do so. She even expanded housing and foster homes for children and families. Even provided more job opportunity for women and our economy grew tremendously under her reign, and she was able to do all that because she followed what she thought was right, not what your father would think was right."

Anna sat in her chair with arms now crossed as she listened attentively to what Gerda explained, her shoulders getting less and less tense as she went on.

"Now, that's not to say that Queen Elsa didn't look up to your father or even take a few of his past experiences into hers, she did. But for the most part she did was she believed was right for Arendelle."

Gerda stepped forward just slightly before placing her hand on Anna's shoulder lovingly.

"And now you get to do the same. I know you've been trying your best to make sure you don't ruin what Elsa has done for Arendelle, and you haven't, and more importantly I know you won't. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to your heart and do what you feel should be right for Arendelle either."

Anna smiled lovingly at Gerda and this time it was more relaxed and meaningful as she clasped her hand around hers. "Thank you, Gerda. You have no idea how much this has helped me today."

"It's my pleasure, Your Majesty." Smiled Gerda. A sudden gentle breeze blew through the opened window as a letter in the shape of a bird suddenly appeared and flew down before gently setting itself in front of Anna's desk.

Elsa.

"Thank you, Gale." Smiled Anna as the wind spirit whistled in return and left back to the forest where she had come from. "I didn't think she'd write back so soon." Said Anna opening the folded letter eagerly.

"I'll leave you to read in private. Please excuse me, Your Majesty." Said Gerda bowing in respect before turning to leave.

"Oh! And Gerda!" Exclaimed Anna right as Gerda placed her hand on the door knob. "Call me Anna, I've never really been fond of the royal titles." She said smiling at her.

Gerda smiled in return. "Of course, Anna." She then turned to leave and closed the door behind her.

As soon as the door shut, Anna finished unfolding the letter and immediately began to read the long letter from her sisters beautiful wording and grammar that she loved so much.

My Dearest Anna,

I'm glad to know everything in Arendelle is doing just fine and that the council was able to approve of doing business with Reyhjavík for the summer. I knew you had it in you.

Their pleads for having a new trade partner for the winter doesn't surprise me. I've also been feeling the weather slightly change over the last few months and it's going to be very warm come summer time. And usually when it's really warm during the summer, it means that'll it'll be very cold during the winter.

I'm sure once I get to Arendelle this weekend we'll figure out what our best options will be so we can be prepared when that day comes. Who knows, maybe I'll give Kristoff a few tips on royalty and regalness.

I'm sorry about Olaf... his little mind is expanding and so he wants to devour every information that'll help him learn more. Perhaps I should have taken him with me, then again he'd probably want to bother all the spirits. When are we going to tell him that he can't be a real living snowman forever? I suppose we'll be ready when that day comes.

Everyone in camp is doing fine. You know I would really love for you to meet this young girl named Rhanda. I've never told you about her but she is such a delightful person. She's a very playful and positive person with a smile on her face at all times. She reminds me a lot of you, only difference is that she has her pet cat on her shoulder with her at all times and last time I checked your more of a "duck person" as you like to call it.

I'm surprised I'm actually saying this but... I would love more than anything to have a day off with you. Just sister and sister. I know that's very uncommon for me, considering the fact you normally had to drag me out of the castle just to have a day off. But it's been a hard week, lots of... things, going on...

A lot of them having to do with the man from the four peaks. It turns out he... he might just be from a neighboring kingdom we might know. I'm still trying to get answers out of him, you never know when he's lying.

Anna, please hear me out. I want you to double the guards and double the navy in case this mans kingdom tries to come after you and Arendelle. Give orders to Lieutenant Mattias to have his best men on patrol and to make sure there aren't any unwelcomed guests from a kingdom we are not allied with.

Please listen to me, Anna. This is one of the few times I'll use this phrase on you but please listen to your older sister.

I know your probably worried for my safety right now but don't be. I have this man surrounded with the spirits, me included and Honeymarens group of warriors in case he tries anything again. It's you I worry about.

Anyways... that's all I have to say for now I suppose. I love you dearly, Anna. You are doing a fantastic job as Queen, better than what I could have ever done. Please continue to believe in yourself, just as much as I believe in you.

Love, Elsa

P.S. Ryder set a date for his race against Kristoff. He wants to know if next month works on the anniversary of the peace treaty with Arendelle and Northuldra. Speaking of which, did you pick a new date so that way we don't have to continue our grandfathers original peace treaty date?

Usually whenever Anna finished reading Elsa's letters she had a large grin on her face. But not this time. Now all she had was a concerned expression. Elsa was right, now Anna was concerned for Elsa's safety rather than her own. And worst of all she was keeping a secret. She just knew she was.

She didn't know how, she didn't know why but she knows who her sister is, and deep down inside she knows when something is off with Elsa, even if it's through a letter.

"What are you hiding now, Elsa..."

"Wait, hold on..." Said Honeymaren setting her bowl of breakfast down in the ground before turning to face Elsa who was sitting next to her. "You haven't told Anna yet??"

Elsa sighed in frustration. Her fist that was pressed on her pale cheek had been holding up her face while her other free hand just played with her breakfast bowl. She shook her head no, cofirming Honeymarens concerning question.

It had been three days since her last correspondence with Anna and it was unlike her. Usually Anna wrote right away, she hoped it was because of her duties as Queen that had been keeping her busy.

"Yikes..." added Ryder setting his own bowl of breakfast down. "Wouldn't your sister want to know her former fiancé who tried to kill you both is suddenly back and living in the forest?? I mean, I know I would."

"Trust me, I'm beating myself up because I haven't, but I simply can't tell her." Said Elsa in exasperation as she rubbed the sides of her head.

"Why not?" Added Rhanda who was sitting in the around the morning fireplace with them and with Bridgette next to her as always.

"You guys, you don't know my sister like I do. Anna worries about me constatly. She gets worked up when I don't reply to her letter that same day. Or even when I don't show up to breakfast on the weekends. The girl starts to think I'm being devoured by wolves or something." Protested Elsa.

"Aww, she's very overprotective of you." Said Rhanda as she chugged down a cup of fresh reindeer milk.

"We both are, Thats why I simply can't tell her. She has enough stress as it is, looking over Arendelle while at the same time still learning how to be Queen. Not to mention her wedding is less than two months away." Said Elsa.

Bruni crawled over to Elsa's palms, delightful as always as Elsa began to gently rub his back with her finger, even creating a small pile of snow, just the way he liked it as he jumped inside with pure glee.

"I still don't know what I'm going to wear that day." Said Ryder as he leaned forward to gesture at Elsa's barely touched breakfast bowl as if he was asking her if she would finish it or not. Elsa nodded her head emotionless, not even in the mood to eat in the first place.

"Look, maybe you don't have to tell her right away, but eventually you will have to tell her or else you might be digging yourself into a hole that you won't be able to get out of." Said Honeymaren as her brother finished piling Elsa's breakfast porridge on top of his already full bowl.

"I know, I know.." sighed Elsa for what seemed the billionth time. "When it's the right time I'll tell her."

"And when exactly will that be?" Asked Ryder with his mouth full.

They watched as Elsa thought long and hard about the question. Finally she looked up at the three of them again. "Before the peace treaty anniversary."

Honeymaren was surprised by the deadline Elsa had chosen. She was fully accepting for her to make an excuse as if a way to delay telling Anna the truth. "Definitely before the anniversary." Said Elsa more surely now.

"That's only a month a way, are you sure about this?" Asked Honeymaren.

"I'm sure." Replied Elsa. "I need to tell her eventually.

"Seems reasonable." Said Rhanda with her usual sweet smile. "It'll give you a lot more time to catch up with the prince."

"Rhanda, I'm sure that's the last thing Elsa wants to do." Chuckled Honeymaren.

"Actually, she's right." Said Elsa suddenly standing up to her feet. It caught Honeymaren completely by surprise, even Ryder who had been working the porridge down his mouth but ended up choking on it.

"Wait, you're not being serious are you?" Asked Honeymaren as Ryder began to cough repeatedly.

"Well, I don't exactly want to exactly catch up with him. But I am curious to know how he was able to make it past the mist. Not to mention the fact of how he was able to get in possession of all those weapons." Said Elsa.

"Don't you remember? The spirits let him pass after the oceans tide threw him here." Said Honeymaren as she handed her brother her cup of reindeer milk while he continued to cough excessively as Rhanda slapped his back.

"You're really going to believe him?" Scoffed Elsa. "That man is a manipulative liar. He can fool anyone with his charm and words."

"If he's a charming as you say he is then he can fool me anytime he likes, am I right?" Said Rhanda nudging at Honeymaren who only rolled her eyes.

"You want us to accompany you?" Said Ryder gasping for air, finally able to finish swallowing the food down as he downed the rest of the milk.

"No, not this time. I appreciate it but this time I'll need time with just us two, and a way to be able to get him to stay still and not walk away from me." Said Elsa as she paced around thinking of an idea. Her eyes widened when it finally came and she turned her gaze to the young seventeen year old. "Rhanda, would you like to accompany me?"

"Rhanda??" Said the twins in union with furrowed expressions while Rhanda gasped with surprise.

"You want me, to accompany you??" She said taken back by the invitation with a giant grin filling her face.

Bridgette meowed.

"Of course, you might want to bring your nursing utensils and medicine. I'm going to be needing your help." Said Elsa smiling sweetly at her.

"I'll go get my first aid kit!" Exclaimed the excited young girl as she stood up to her feet and ran into her hut with Bridgette following behind. Honeymaren and Ryder turned their attention back to Elsa, their expressions filled with confusion and concern.

"Just trust me on this." Said Elsa before Honeymaren could open her mouth. "I know what I'm doing."

All Honeymaren could do was sigh with a frown filling her expression. "Fine, but if you know the drill. If you are not back by lunch—"

"I promise I will be." Said Elsa cutting her off with a gentle smile at her. Honeymaren slowly returned the smile and nodded as they watched Elsa enter her hut.

"Are you gonna eat that?" Asked Ryder as he gestured at Honeymarens bowl which still had a bit of breakfast porridge. She frowned at him as she watched her brother scarf down her bowl.

The whole way up to the peaks had surprisingly been pleasant. Gale as always accompanied her and Rhanda reminded Elsa so much of Anna when she was her age. Always wanting to tell a story or talk her ear off. Not that Elsa didn't mind, she loved listening.

Elsa insisted Rhanda climb up and ride on the Nokk with her instead of taking a reindeer. She was hesistant at first, afraid that the spirit wouldn't deem her worthy to even touch it, but to her amaze the Nokk allowed her to climb on top with Elsa. It's as if the water spirit trusted Elsa and her judgment that much.

Rhanda felt a sense of pride when Elsa had confessed to her that she was the first person ever to ride on the water spirit horse with her. No one had ever had the privilege of riding on its back except Elsa. She wasn't going to give that up anytime soon.

"Whoaaa..." Muttered Rhanda nervously as the nokk continued to trail up to the four peaks. She tightened her arms around Elsa's waist for safety.

"Don't worry, Rhanda." Chuckled Elsa. "The Nokk is always safe at all times. It would never let us fall."

"It's not that I'm worried about, it's my butt." Replied Rhanda as she continued to stare at the rocky ground.

Elsa furrowed her eyebrows. "Your butt?"

"Yeah, since the nokk practically became ice I'm starting to notice my butt is getting cold and slippery."

Elsa chuckled again as she waved her hands and with her magic created a saddle made of her ice which was able to secure Rhanda better.

"Oh, that's better." Smiled Rhanda as they continued to go up the trail where she started to notice it was becoming more and more green. "So, this prince, is he as handsome as they say he is??"

Elsa sighed. She had a feeling this question was coming. "Rhanda, why do you assume he's handsome in the first place."

"Because he's a prince of course!" Exclaimed Rhanda with giddiness.

"Not all princes are charming and handsome, Rhanda." Chuckled Elsa.

"Wait, so you're saying this Prince Hans isn't??"

"No..." Said Elsa shyly, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. "What I'm trying to say is that being a prince doesn't determine whether you are charming or not. You can be the most richest and handsome prince in the entire world but none of that would matter if all you are is just a cruel person."

"I guess your right." Replied Rhanda as they continued in their trail. The further up they went the more the clouds and skies were expanding. When they finally arrived to the high mountain, Elsa, as usual, left the Nokk to wait for her while she and Rhanda walked up the little hidden trail that led up to his cave and waterfall she had discovered.

"We are really high up... it's a good thing I didn't bring Bridgette with me." Said Rhanda in a frightened tone as she looked down to the endless and foggy fall.

"Okay, Rhanda. Pay close attention to your surroundings and let me do all the talking. If you feel uncomfortable immediately come by me and always keep in your mind that he can never be trusted no matter what he tries to do or say to you."

"Should I introduce myself?? Wait how does my hair look!" Said Rhanda quickly fixing her dark long hair.

"Wait, what?? Your hair looks fine." Replied Elsa with a confused expression.

"Oh, good, good. One more question, why did you ask me to bring my first aid kit??" Asked Rhanda as she held her reindeer skinned bag over her shoulder.

"You'll find out." Replied Elsa as she walked further and began to lead the way to Hans cave.

"You know I always thought this place was just a bunch of ugly mountains. I mean for the most part it is, but I never expected there would be this mysterious path, it's even starting to get greener the further we go up—"

"Wait... do you hear that??" Asked Elsa stopping dead in her tracks. They were about halfway across where the cave was located when Elsa began to hear a familiar yet somewhat beautiful noise.

"Hear what??" Asked Rhanda stopping as well as she began to look around. Elsa stood her ground as she continued to listen to the melody as carefully as she could. "What am I suppose to be hearing— mfff!"

"Shhh, listen." Said Elsa cupping her hands over Rhanda's mouth. Rhanda stared at Elsa, confused by what she was doing until suddenly she began to hear the beautiful sound as well.

"I hear it..." whispered Rhanda as Elsa slowly took her hand away from her mouth.

They followed the voice up the hidden trail, past the cave where he resided and to the large and beautiful waterfall where he had washed his face. And the further they followed the voice the more clearer it could be heard.

And that's where they found him.

Right behind the majestic roaring waterfall, they found Hans with his back to them as he sat on top of a boulder and stared into the beautiful sunrise in front of him as he hugged his knees close to his chest while the sun beamed through his long auburn hair as if it was a fire in the sky.

He was singing.

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I'm travellin' through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness,toil,nor danger
In that bright land to which I go

I'm going there to see my Father
I'm going there, no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
But golden fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed shall ever sleep

I'm going home to see my mother
And all my loved ones who've gone on
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

Elsa and Rhanda were standing completely still and speechless. Elsa remembered that Anna had mentioned that Hans could sing, but she never thought the man had a great angelic voice like that. One of the best she's ever heard if she was being honest to herself.

"Wow..." Said Rhanda suddenly with praise and awe in her voice. It caught Hans completely by surprise because he immediately reached for his pistol so quickly that the before Elsa and Rhanda could even flinch it was already pointing right at them.

"Eek!" Exclaimed Rhanda as she jumped and hid her face behind Elsa who was already shielding her with one arm and with the other threatening to summon icicles through his body.

"Lower your weapon!" Exclaimed Elsa as she glared at him viscously.

"What are you doing here. How long have you been standing there." Demanded Hans as he ignored Elsa's request, still pointing the pistol at the two and glaring just as viscously.

"We just arrived a minute ago and overheard you singing. Lower your weapon now or I'll make my ice do it for you." Threatened Elsa again.

They stared into each other eyes with so much seriousness. Not once blinking as if they refused to be distracted even for a second. No sympathy, no remorse, no trust.

Finally he blinked first. "Hmm." He muttered under his breath as his shoulders relaxed just slightly. He slowly lowered his pistol until it was pointing at the ground instead of the two of them, yet his glare still remaining at her. "You still haven't answered the first part of my question. Who is that behind you?"

Elsa glared at him. She was really going to regret saying this but it seemed to be the only way. "Your injury."

Hans furrowed his eyebrows. "What about it?"

"It still hasn't healed."

"So?"

She took in a deep breath. "So let us heal it then."

Hans raised his eyebrow up at her. "Is that why you came? To use your enchanted magic on me??"

"It can be healed." She retaliated.

"With what, your magic? Please don't tell me you can heal with it too."

She glared at him again. God how she hated this man. "No. But she can." Said Elsa slowly stepping aside to unveil the terrified seventeen year old still hiding her face with her hands.

She opened one eye where she was met with Hans and Elsa staring at her as if they were waiting for her to at least move. "Oh! Uh.. h-hi. You must be the prince. I'm Rhanda, I'm the tribes nurse and care keeper..."

She glared at her as if he was waiting for her to unveil a weapon from her bag. When nothing happened he turned to Elsa again. "If this is away for you to get answers out of me well then you are out of luck. I've told you everything you need to know." He said walking past the two of them.

Her eyes widened as her jaw parted, slightly offended but mostly angry. "We're trying to help!" Exclaimed Elsa with her hands in the air.

"I don't need your help." He replied darkly as he continued to walk away.

Rhanda watched as Elsa groaned in disgust, turning her back to him he continued to walk away, refusing to turn around and stop him. They were worse than teenagers. She should know, she was one of them. But at last it seemed that she would be their only hope at the moment.

"I-I can heal it before it gets more infected!" Exclaimed Rhanda suddenly. Hans eyes slightly widened at hearing that as he stopped dead in his tracks from walking away any further. Even Elsa was surprised.

She had his curiosity now.

"The cut you gave Elsa would have made her bleed to death had I not cleaned it. I can do the same for you. I can already tell you've probably been cleaning it and stitching it up yourself but that'll only hold it up for so long."

Hans turned around to look at her. "I can heal it." Said Rhanda more surely now. "If you let me..."

He slowly turned around and stared at the two of them back and forth as if he was contemplating if he should trust them or not. Elsa expected him to walk away, or simply ignore the offer, but to Elsa's surprise he opened his mouth to speak instead. "Fine."

Elsa's eyes widened. It worked.

"Great! Umm, so I'll just need you to take off your tunic" Said Rhanda as she bent down and reached for her aid kit, pulling each cleaning utensil from the bag and laying it on top of a cloth that she had sat on top of the boulder before standing to her feet again. "And then I'll—"

Rhanda's eyes widened and her jaw parted in complete awe when she saw Hans's exposed muscular upper body in front of the two. The sunlight reflecting just how defined and well crafted he was.

Elsa, on the other hand, was trying her best not to stare as she looked up at the cloudy skies and even down to the rocks below her feet, anything so to not meet her eyes with rock hard abdomen again. Rhanda seemed to not comprehend anything at the moment. It's as if her brain had shut down completely.

Elsa cleared her throat. "Ahem, Rhanda—"

"Right! Sorry!" Exclaimed Rhanda shaking her head from embarrassment. She went to pick up her aid kit and ran over to Hans who had no made himself comfortable on top of the boulder he had previously been singing from.

Rhanda made herself comfortable as well and sat on his left side with a respectable distance away from him as she gently grabbed his arm and began to inspect his injured shoulder. She didn't even have to inhale the smell because she could already tell it was bad just by looking at it. "It's already infected... I'm surprised your able to still use your arm after all these days..."

"I've been hurt by worse." Deadpanned Hans as he looked forward and with no emotion.

Rhanda gulped, surprised by his bold answer. "Well let's just hope I can clean it before it spreads any worse." She said turning to Elsa who now had her back to Hans, refusing to meet her eyes with his body. "Elsa, can you hand me my water pouch, I packed warm water in there, good thing I did too."

"Right away." Said Elsa as she stepped forward and quicklywent to grab the pouch, trying to make sure her eyes never came in contact with him. But as she handed Rhanda her pouch, her and Hans accidentally met each other's eyes and were locked for a brief second before she quickly turned her head away and went to the same spot she had been standing on with her back towards him again.

"This might hurt..." warned Rhanda as she dipped the warm water on the cloth.

Hans nodded in response, as he turned his gaze from Elsa to the glorious view of the forest in front of him once more. Much to Rhanda's surprise, Hans proved to be telling the truth because the boiling hot water didn't even seem to bother him, no expression on his face changed. Even Elsa couldn't help but turn around and peek as she saw the boiling hot water sizzle with the injured skin.

Elsa watched as Rhanda grabbed the sharpe utensil from the boulder that had a hook at the end. With caution, she proceeded to move forward and began to pick at the delicate hot skin while continuing to pour boiling hot water on it at the same time. Even the slightest touch made puss come flowing down his arm.

She cringed inwardly. She had a hard time fighting back tears when Rhanda had cleaned her cut. She could only imagine what he was feeling at the moment.

"Most people would be screaming by now..." Said Rhanda softly as she continued to carefully pick at the skin with one hand and clean it off with a cloth on her other hand.

"I'm used to it." He replied.

Rhanda looked up at him, surprised he actually answered back. "Used to what?" She asked.

"Pain."

His answer made chills run down Rhanda's spine as she looked up at Elsa who had the same surprised expression on her face. Choosing to ignore it, she continued to clean the infected shoulder.

It would be a long process, Rhanda knew that for a fact. She continued to pick at the shoulder as carefully as she could, unable to hold back from wincing herself at how infected the area had gotten.

Much like Elsa did the first time, Rhanda couldn't help but notice the many scars and burnt bruises on Hans body. She could tell that each of them seemed like they were years old by the way they were perfectly marked on his body.

"The past has not been kind to you..." Rhanda immediately regretted muttering that out loud. Even Elsa had tensed up with worry. "Sorry..." she immediately added as she focused on his infected shoulder.

Hans, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered by the question, instead, a slight smile filled the corner of his lips. "What did you say your name was again?" He asked.

"Who me?" Asked Rhanda as she looked up with widened eyes, her cheeks turned red when she realized how dumb that must've sounded coming out of her mouth. "Rhanda! My-My name is Rhanda."

"Rhanda." He repeated slowly. "That's a pretty name." He said praising her.

Rhanda blushed and chuckled. "Oh, well thank you."

Elsa rolled her eyes as her back still faced the two of them, her arms crossed over each other. She wasn't sure if he was being serious or just charming and manipulative. Either way, he wouldn't let him play any tricks on Rhanda whatsoever, she was too young.

"May I ask you something, Rhanda?" Asked Hans calmly.

"Uhh." Rhanda quickly glanced to Elsa to see if she would give any suggestion of what she should say or what she shouldn't. But Elsa was refusing to turn around. "Sure, I suppose.." she answered finally.

"Have you ever heard of the word gaslighting?" Elsa immediately tensed up, her eyebrows furrowing as she was already having a strong feeling where his question was going.

"Umm, is it when there is so much gas that it tends to light up??" Replied Rhanda innocently.

Hans could have laughed and Elsa wouldn't have blamed him, but instead he just flashed a half smile at her. "Gaslighting means to manipulate someone by psychological means into questioning their own sanity." He turned to face Elsa with their back still to them but was listenting to the whole conversation. And this time his smile was gone. "Much in the same way her majesty, is doing."

Elsa turned around, her glare furious as he met his. "Gaslighting?? I am not gaslighting!"

"Uh oh..." Muttered Rhanda, realizing an argument of fury was coming and she just so happened to be in the middle of it.

He snickered, unimpressed by her answer. Even having the audacity to roll his eyes at her. "It's been three days since our last encounter where you threatened me to never cross paths with you or anyone again and I'm supposed to believe now you came up here out of the kindness in your heart to help my injury." His eyebrows furrowed in arrogance. "You might be quick to fool everyone else but you can't fool me, Queen."

Elsa's fists clenched. In a way he was right, she didn't care at first but after seeing how badly infected it was she felt... compassion? Whatever it was she now blamed him for changing her mind.

"Fine. You're right." She admitted. "I came up here to get answers out of you. And seeing you are so stubborn to always walk around them, this was one of the only ways to get you to stay still. Besides, Gale had informed me that your shoulder wasn't getting better anyway."

Hans scoffed as he stood up on his feet, making Rhanda squeal and jump back in fear. "So you've been spying on me now??"

"Keeping a watchful eye on the man that tried to kill you and your sister is hardly spying." She spat back.

"Yikes..." Said Rhanda, even cringing herself.

He laughed and it annoyed Elsa even more. It was meaningless and sarcastic, just like him. "Typical of you, rules apply to others but never to the Queen."

Elsa took in a deep breath, fighting the urge to snap back at him. Or worse, freeze that ridiculous beard off his face. "Look, we can bicker back and forth all we want, but right now what I really care about is finding out the truth. So why don't you sit down, let Rhanda take care of your injury and maybe we can come to an arrangement, perhaps relocating you somewhere else."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Relocating me?? What makes you think I want to be relocated in the first place." Replied Hans arrogantly.

"Just hold still for a second." Said Rhanda as she continued to clean the wound, trying to concentrate as much as she possibly can.

"You can't stay here, Hans." Deadpanned Elsa.

"Says who??" He retaliated angrily now.

"Me! And the rest of Arendelle!" She shouted this time.

"This isn't Arendelle—"

"I know this isn't Arendelle!" She interrupted with frustration. "But I am not going to continue to let you live here while my own sister is only a day away. I don't trust you, I want her to live her life in peace without worrying that her ex-fiancé can show up at Arendelle at any moment."

She took in a deep breath again, trying to get herself under control before continuing. She could even feel magical ice particles starting to float around her slender fingers. "I may not be reigning Queen of Arendelle anymore, but I am still Queen consort. I am of royal bloodline of that kingdom, and I just so happen to be the fifth spirit of this forest. My opinion matters whether you like it or not."

Hans stared at her angrily for a while before replying again. "And whether you like it or not, those other four spirits which you claim to exist just so happen to have no issue with my presence. Why don't you question them instead of me." He replied.

Elsa stared angrily in return.

"How did you even get past the mist in the first place?" Asked Rhanda suddenly as she continuing to pick at the would. "No one has ever passed by in over twenty-five years until Elsa showed up."

"Yes, that's what I'd like to know." Said Elsa crossing her arms as if she was demanding an explanation.

He rolled his eyes, following it up with an annoyed and deep sigh. "I already told you, I woke up in this forest, before that the only memory I have is of me passing through this notorious storm. You are this supposed fifth spirit of this forest aren't you? Why don't you ask the other four then." Said Hans

"I already tried, they keep insisting there's this truth I need to find through you, so clearly if they aren't telling me the real reason then you are the one that is lying."

"Even if I was lying, which I'm not. There is no way you would believe a word I say to you." He replied with a know it all expression.

And to Elsa's surprise she couldn't say anything to that. Hans was right. If she can't even trust him then she will never believe the words that come out of his mouth. Even if they were true. There is only one place that she would be able to find the truth in... but she would never dream of taking him there.

"Fine, lets just ignore that for now. But what were you doing in Europe and Asia this whole time then??" She asked.

He took a while to respond, pressing his lips together as if he was contemplating telling her or not. Finally he met his eyes with hers. "Trying to find a new home."

She stared at him for a while as she repeated his answer in her mind over and over again. He seemed so sincere when he said it that even Rhanda stopped picking at his shoulder for just a brief second.

Unable to come up with a response, she sat down on another boulder just a couple feet away as she watched Rhanda now wipe the wet hot towel on the infected wound. She could care less if she saw his muscular body now. Even if it was... distracting.

They sat in silence, both of them fighting the urge to ask one another any further questions. At times they would make eye contact with each other by accident but they would immediately look away. Rhanda, on the other hand, found this all incredibly awkward.

He danced his eyes around the forest, the mountains. Anything to avoid looking at her again. But it was hard to avoid the Queen, especially with her platinum blonde hair sticking out like a sore thumb.

But her dress didn't help either. What did he expect? He's a man afterall. Her dress was very revealing, a lot more than the one she wore when he went up to retrieve her from the north mountain.

His eyes darted to her exposed legs that were crossed regally. She sat in a straight posture as she looked out to the forest with a blank expression. Incredible, the women still acted regal as ever, even on top of a seven thousand foot mountain in the middle of nowhere.

His eyes landed on her exposed shoulders. He hadn't seen a woman reveal so much in years it seemed. Granted, he's seen more exposed parts of a woman than the shoulders, especially when they slept in his quarters. So technically Elsa wasn't showing much, but to him, it was just as surprising.

He smirked slightly when he saw what would have been her cleavage cut off with her unique white dress again. There hanging from her neck and on top of her chest was his pendant, the one she promised she would give back.

"I see you still have my royal necklace." He said suddenly.

Elsa looked down to her chest where the golden pendant was shining beautifully with the sunrise. She reached for it delicately and held it with her fingers. "I forgot to give it to you..." she said softly.

He watched as Elsa rubbed the pendant gently. Suddenly a smile filled the corner of his lips as if a joke crossed through his mind. "We can trade if you want, you wear mine and I'll wear yours." He said looking up at her.

She looked up at him again with bitterness filling her face. "Absolutely not." She replied setting the pendant back down to her chest.

"What, you don't have one??" He teased knowing very well that all royals were given one since birth.

"Not with me. It's in Arendelle." She replied as she looked out to the forest, refusing to meet his emerald eyes again.

"How is Arendelle by the way."

The nerve of him to ask. She shouldn't tell him anything. But for some strange reason, she does. "Arendelle has been prosperous. Despite the fact that we had a few shortcomings three years ago after the summers winter and losing two of our closest trade partners."

He nodded. "Don't have to tell me twice, I got the chastisement of that the second I got home." Said Hans.

"Did you now? Wouldn't know." She replied sarcastically as he only smiled arrogantly at her. "Why didn't your family ever inform me of your supposed death." She said ignoring it.

He shrugged. "I don't know. It seemed useless information for you to know anyways. Why would they want to inform the Queen of Arendelle that her almost murder had died."

"I still would have wanted to know."

"Doesn't Arendelle's castle keep those records in their library? Important information and history regarding neighboring kingdoms like any other castle should??"

"We do. I just never bothered to look over the Southern Isles. Last I heard was that your brothers would see to your punishment." She replied.

"Well, there you go." He smirked.

"But regardless they had no evidence of your death, why would they just assume and tell the world that their prince died??"

"Why not? Think about it. It saves them the trouble from explaining to everyone how he had escaped in the first place. They want to save their reputation, not make it worse."

"Did they even search for you?" She asked.

"Last I heard was that they sent a search party after me all over Denmark. After a week they had just decided to give up and confirm my supposed death."

"That's... that's horrible..." she said to her surprise.

"That's the Westergaard's for you." He replied sighing as he looked over the large landscape again. The way he said it made it feel like it was a famous saying between his family. Elsa followed his gaze, both of them were now looking at the same view. "So enchanted forest huh."

Elsa nodded. "It's where my mothers from."

"Makes sense, Queen Iduna never had any record of being of royal bloodline. Most assumed the king just married a commoner girl."

"Well techicnally they were right..." Said Elsa as she looked down to the ground again before looking up at Hans again. "Is that a problem?"

Hans lifted his shoulder up carelessly. "What Arendelle and its people do is none of my concern."

"Oh, so now it's none of your concern." She added sarcastically and codly.

He shifted his stare at her now. "The only time Arendelle and its people were of my concern was when Princess Anna left me in charge."

She was glaring at him now.

"And I must admit that I did a pretty damn good job looking over it while you and her were out exploring." He added.

He was right, she hated admitting it but she was informed first hand how good he took over while she and Anna were gone. He went out of his way to shelter and warm every single citizen, whether they were rich or poor, it didn't matter, he welcomed them all in into the castle. He had each of them personally be attended to. Even Gerda had told him that Arendelle was indebted to him.

"Everything you did was for your gain, that overshadows your good deeds, even if they were good to begin with." She said finally.

He shrugged at her comment. "Fair enough." They stayed quiet as Rhanda continued to clean his shoulder. Elsa was about to open her mouth again when blood suddenly had started to stream down his arm which made her eyes widen with fear.

"Rhanda—"

"Not to worry, this is a good sign, it means I finally peeled all the infected skin of and now his blood can flow normally again. That's why there's a lot of blood, because it was being held back by his wound." She said as she grabbed another clean cloth from inside her bag and began to wipe the blood away.

"Right about now he can feel air literally coming out of his arm." She explained turning to look up at him again. "Right?"

"You're right." He replied as he moved his left arm in circles, his expression seemed revealed as if he'd just had a huge burden lifted. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet." Said Rhanda concentrating on his shoulder as she began to wrap tightly with white bandanage, making sure it was tight as possible so blood wouldn't go through. "Elsa, I might be needing your help."

Elsas expression turned worrisome for a few seconds before hiding it. "Yes?"

"I'm going to need you to place your hand on his shoulder and with your magic I need you to cool his shoulder as much as you can." She explained.

"How cold?" Asked Elsa stepping forward slowly.

"As cold as any human is possible of taking." She replied while still trying to bandage his arm. Elsa turned to look at Hans who was staring at her with the same speechless expression.

He had to touch him... she was still getting over her fear of having people touch her, she's gotten better but touching him? The man who left his sister to die?? This had to be a death sentence to for her. Then again she remembered that Hans was the first man besides her father she had had human contact with in over thirteen years when he carried down the north mountain when she was unconscious in his arms.

Swallowing her pride away she walked to him and slowly lifted her hand and placed her left palm tenderly and softly on Hans left shoulder and with her magic, she slowly sent a cold breeze she thought no human would be possible of taking.

It made Hans wince. He never winced once when he was being operated by Rhanda, but Elsa's magic had completely caught him by surprise. She had gotten stronger from what he remembered. Now he knew first hand she could kill him at any given moment if she has wanted to.

"How's that?" She asked looking away, trying not to meet her eyes with his.

"Cold." He replied with a shaky breath.

"Good, keep it up for at least five more minutes, it'll numb his arm so he doesn't have to use it for the next five hours." Said Rhanda who was nos washing her nursing utensils with the waterfall.

Hans and Elsa didn't look at each other. Neither of them had the urge to even start a conversation, just having the skin contact with him was already too much for her.

But then Hans cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence. "You know, if you are having trouble believing my words, which I don't doubt if you do... you could always write to my family and ask for my whereabouts."

At hearing this Elsa's eyebrows rose up slightly as she turned to look at him again with a questionable expression, he was actually trying to find a way to help her find the truth, even through means of his family.

"Just a suggestion." He said looking away again.

"I'm... not queen anymore." She replied pressing her lips together. "Besides, I don't think your family would want to waste their time being reminded of their lost son."

Hans breathed out a laugh. "Believe me they don't care. You could always have Anna write to them now that she's queen and all."

At this Elsa didn't respond. Her expression seemed to fill with guilt as she pressed her lips and looked away. She didn't even have the courage to correct him for using Anna's name without her proper title. "Oh my god... you haven't told her, have you?" Said Hans with widened eyes, a smirk filling the corner of his lips.

"No I haven't, okay." She replied quickly. "I don't want to pile more worries on my sisters shoulders."

"I don't know if that's such a good idea." Grinned Hans.

"Does it matter what you think? Wait, just don't answer that." She said holding her other hand up to stop him from opening his arrogant mouth again.

Five long minutes finally passed as Elsa retreated her hand back to her side. "How's that feel?" Asked Rhanda as she stood up and made her way next to Elsa.

Hans slowly moved his arm and shoulder in circles. A deep and satisfying expression filled his face, "Better..." he finally replied turning to face Rhanda. "Thank you."

"Your welcome." Grinned Rhanda as she began to pack her utensils back in her aid kit. Elsa clasped her hands together as she continued to look out at the landscape and not at Hans.

"I suppose we'll be leaving you then" Said Elsa as she started to make her way around him to head back down into the cave. Rhanda was hesitant to follow Elsa at first but eventually did.

"Whoa, whoa— hold on." Said Hans rising to his feet. "That's it?"

Elsa rose her eyebrow at him. "I'm sorry, were you expecting more?"

"I was..." muttered Rhanda shyly.

"So you expect me to believe you just came here to take care of my wound out of the goodness in your heart??" Said Hans.

"Yes, also because I wanted answers from you, which proved to be pointless since it seems you're just repeating the same thing you explained last time." She replied.

Hans sighed. "I've already suggested you ask my family about my whereabouts. They'll tell you the same thing they've told the whole kingdom, that I'm dead."

"And what if I tell them your not." She replied taking a step forward, causing Hans eyes to go wide with surprise. "What if I tell them the truth, that your alive, that you've been living up here for the past year and that you've been avoiding to return and face your final sentencing."

He was quiet for several seconds as he continued to stare at Elsa, except his stare wasn't cold or angry, it seemed as if Elsa had hit a nerve, even she was surprised. He pressed his lips together before opening them to speak again. "Nothing."

Elsa furrowed her eyebrows. "Nothing?"

Hans nodded slowly before looking up at her again more serious now. "They prefer me to be dead anyway.

The way he so easily talked as if his family hated him was stunning. Even Rhanda was surprised by his answer. There was no possible way a family could be so careless like he so claims.

"But if I were you I'd take that to my advantage." He added suddenly.

Elsa furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I think you are already aware that this winter will be a tough one. The Southern Isles hasn't been exactly prosperous on winter when it comes to harvesting ice. As you know, Arendelle used to supply those to us along with winter clothing while we exchanged food and provisions that we were capable of only growing in our climate."

Elsa was listening attentively. He was actually getting to something but the idea was disturbing to say the least. "Your suggesting that Arendelle opens trade again with the Southern Isles? Your insane."

"Am I? Think about it. The Southern Isles happens to be the kingdom that sent it's devious prince to Arendelle. If your kingdom makes alliance with the Southern Isles, then they'll even send double the portions come wintertime, a way to apologize for what was done in the past."

Elsa was amazed. She hadn't thought about it that way but it made sense. The Southern Isles would be forced to make a good scene in front of all of Scandinavia. And it's never a bad thing to have as many allies on your side as possible. Any monarch with a brain knows that.

"How do I know this isn't a scheme of yours?" She asked suddenly.

"Like I said, I'm technically dead. I have no say to what the Southern Isles does anymore. If you wish for further proof then find my name in your records and you'll see I'm telling the truth.

Elsa inhaled deeply as she pondered the possible idea of alliance with the Southern Isles. But what if he was lying? "I'll think about your proposal..." she said before turning to leave again.

"Are you going to be visiting here often now?" Perhaps he didn't mean to ask it so boldly and rudely, but it came out that way.

She turned around to meet his eyes. "I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see what other problems you may bring." Said Elsa turning to leave again.

Then Rhanda turned to Elsa to follow her, not before waving Hans goodbye first of course.

---

"Okay, I figured he was going to be handsome by the way Maren described him, but I didn't think he would be that handsome!" Exclaimed Rhanda as Elsa smirked and rolled her eyes.

The pair entered the camp and were bombarded by little Northuldran children who of course just wanted to be played with and held. Even pleading with Elsa to do the magic.

She could never help herself, she loved seeing children play and be amazed by her magic. She began to form several slides and playgrounds made of ice for them, just the way they like it. "Better go quickly before Bruni melts it away." said Elsa teasingly as she sat a little boy back in the ground so he could go play and follow the others.

"Anyways as I was saying, the man looks like a Norse God that had fallen from the heavens. I mean my goodness..." Said Rhanda setting a child down on the ground just like Elsa did as she went off to go play with her friends.

Elsa chuckled at that. "I doubt any God would be such a cruel person like he is."

"You know about that... he actually wasn't that bad. I mean obviously, you two both have your issues but... he seemed like a decent, nice guy." she said shrugging.

Elsa furrowed her eyebrows in disgust. "Don't fall for his tricks, Rhanda. He may seem charming at first but he's really talented when it comes to manipulating people."

"I know, I know, it's just surprising to know that someone like him committed such devious acts towards Anna and you."

"Well, he did." Said Elsa as they were welcomed by Ryder and Honeymaren who were approaching them.

"There you two are! So, how'd it go?" Asked Ryder with his hands on his hips.

Elsa was about to open her mouth but Rhanda was already jumping up and down, even exclaiming with giddiness. "Oh my gosh! I got to heal a princes wound! He's wayyyy more attractive then what you explained."

Honeymaren raised her her eyebrow up at Rhanda teasingly before turning to face Elsa.

"It went fine I suppose." Shrugged Elsa.

"Just fine?" Asked Honeymaren.

"Pah, attracted my ass." said Ryder rolling his eyes."

Elsa laughed at the jealous Ryder as he turned back to Honeymaren. "Anyways, he keeps insisting the story he's telling is true. He even suggested to write to his family and ask about his whereabouts for further truth. He claims they'll confirm he's dead." She explained.

"And perhaps he's right." Said Yelena suddenly as she made her way to join the young adult's secretive conversation.

Elsa turned to face Yelena as did the others. "I still can't trust even a word that comes out of his mouth, Yelena. And I tried really hard to find out how he was able to get through the mist but he keeps insisting he doesn't know."

"Hmm, that is odd." said Yelena as she started to ponder for an explanation herself but eventually turned her attention once again to Elsa. "Well, we could always invite him for dinner."

The suggestion made everyone's eyes widen. Espeically Elsa's. "What? N-no!" She replied almost panicking.

"Why not? The spirits don't seem to be bothered by his presence, unless that spirit is you." Said Yelena with a serious expression.

"I don't trust him, Yelena."

"Neither do I. Why do you think I'm inviting him to done with us in the first place, to break bread and call a truce?? No. We need to be sure of who we are dealing with, get a better idea of what he's capable of."

"Hmm. I mean it's not that bad of an idea, Elsa." Added Honeymaren. "And he'd be outnumbered, I doubt he'd want to attack us again."

"I don't know. I think I'm with Elsa on this one." Added her twin brother. "The guy seems like a maniac. And he's a very skilled fighter, what's to say he wouldn't beat us senseless like he did to us just days ago. Besides, what if his ugly facial features traumatize all of the women in our camp?"

Honeyamren rolled her eyes.

"His shoulder will take time to heal. Trust me, he'd be stupid to use it for fighting. He's lucky it didn't get to the point of amputation!" Said Rhanda.

Elsa paced around in circles, playing with her soft hands nervously as she started to think of the possibility of having Hans Westergaard over for dinner with the Northuldran. "I-I don't know. I don't like it." Said Elsa crossing her arms.

"Hmm, will give it some thought. You seem to be the only spirit not fine with him here. Perhaps you can discuss with the other spirits and seek their guidance. Until then, come back to me when you've made your decision." Said Yelena as she excused herself and went back to her usual scout around the camp to make sure everything was in order.

While the others went about their usual routine, Elsa decided to go back inside her hut where she laid her head on her pillow and looked up to where the blue sky would be.

Dinner with Hans Westergaard...

Just thinking about the idea made her want to gag.

"The-The duck swims... on the lake..." repeated a young Northuldran child as Elsa pointed to the giant chalkboard she had created of her ice. She had been teaching the young children the Norwegian alphabet since the morning and they had surprisingly learned faster than what she had expected.

She even taught the adults not too long ago. They made process but nothing compared to the children who seemed more attentive unlike Ryder who kept getting distracted every second. Even Honeyamaren had to punch his arm several times to stop him from snoring.

"Very good." Smiled Elsa proudly. "Now I want you to copy the exact same thing on the board and write it on the notebook of paper I have given to each to you." She instructed as the children began to do as they were told. A sense of pride filled Elsa's heart as she grinned at them lovingly.

"I'm impressed." Said Yelena standing next to her. "You're a very good teacher."

"Yeah is there anything your not good at?" Said Rhanda coming from behind as she nudged at Elsa teasingly.

Elsa smiled. "I just... always loved learning. Education is always a royals duty, but it became a favorite hobby of mine since a young age and because I was isolated for so long I took advantage of it. Unlike Anna, she's more of the explorer and outdoor person who prefers a wrestling match instead of a good book."

"That makes two of us!" Exclaimed Ryder suddenly as he jumped behind his sister and wrapped his arms around her shoulders tightly.

"Ah! Let me go, Ryder!!!" Exclaimed Honeymaren but Ryder only continued to spin her around in circles like she was a rag doll. All while the rest of the Northuldran along with Elsa watched the hysterical scene in front of them.

But it didn't take long for Honeymaren to find her opening as she wrapped her arm around his neck and with her right heel she dug into the dirt. Then in one quick movement, she threw him over her hip, causing him to land on the ground, flat on his back.

The Northuldran children erupted into giggles. Even Elsa and Rhanda were having a hard time hiding their laughter. Yelena however only shook her head unimpressed, yet a smile filled the corner of her lips as if she was used to seeing the two like this since an early age.

Ryder groaned and lifted up his head up slowly where he saw his sister standing on top of him with her foot to his chest as if she had just taken down the biggest reindeer in the forest. Her arms crossed over her chest proudly with a giant smirk on her face.

"Nice try." Said Honeymaren as she reached her hand out to which Ryder took.

"You got lucky." Said Ryder bitterly as he stood to his feet. He then played Honeymaren to the ground before running away.

"Those two never change." Said Yelena as she watched the two chase each other around the camp with the children following behind.

Elsa was just finishing laughing when Gale flew by her carefully, whistling and beckoning to Elsa to follow her. "What is it Gale?" She watched as Gale gestured to the four peaks, the Mountain where Hans had claimed his new home.

Elsa sighed. "She wants me to visit him again." said Elsa fully realizing that Yelena was behind her.

"Perhaps you should." Nodded Yelena. "Remember what I always say, when nature speaks—"

"We listen." Finished Elsa for her. And before she knew it she was following Gale up the four peaks again.

---

She didn't know why she was going back up the mountain, she shouldn't be. She never promised him she would visit him again, but yet she was here again, dismissing the Nokk and leaving him tied to the tree.

The sun had just begun to start going down. The skies were red and glorious and the weather was neither warm nor cold. Just a light breeze filled all around.

When she found him he was hunched down over the small garden she had noticed days ago. He was peeling off freshly grown corn and putting them on a brown side bag strapped to his waist.

He had tied the back of his hair in a bun so to make his work easier and she had to admit that he could actually pull it off.

And of course he was shirtless. Why wouldn't he be.

This is the same man that tried to woo her sister three years ago. The prince that promised he would love her sister forever, only to leave her locked in a room so she can freeze to death. And now he was a farmer of sorts?

He placed the last freshly picked out corn in the bag that was already full of other corn. He stood up and turned to head back into his cave.

"Ah, your majesty." He said unsurprised as he found Elsa just a couple of feet in front of him, her hands interlocked with each other and her expression blank. "Glad to see you haven't given up on spying on me."

"I'm just making sure you haven't been planning a devious plot." She replied, her tone serious yet relaxed.

"Well, if picking out corn to boil for dinner is devious then you caught me red handed." He replied as he walked past her and headed to the entrance of the cave.

She watched as he began to grab each corn one at a time and clean it with fresh water that he seemed to have retrieved this morning, he even began to go cut potatoes, carrots and even onions. Other vegetables he seemed to have been growing in the small garden.

Elsa's uptight posture eased when he finally retrieved his dark tunic that had been drying with the wind. She watched him gather the cut vegetables and mix them into one. That's where she was able to see his bandaged shoulder, the one that she had injured. It didn't look as yellow and as infected like it was two days ago.

"How's the shoulder?" She asked, still holding her ground with her hands interlocked.

"Much better actually." He replied placing the tunic over his body until his muscular upper body was seen no more. "That young girl you brought has got a gift when it comes to nursing."

He walked back to the fireplace where he dumped all of the vegetables into a small pot that had been boiling under the fire. And just on top of the rocks surrounding the pot were four freshly picked out fish he had received just hours ago.

He stirred the boiling pot with a wooden spoon he had carved up, and Elsa had to admit that the fish and the vegetables did smell good, she hadn't realized she was hungry. She had a habit of doing that a lot of the times, skipping meals when she gets so caught up in a task or duty.

"Care to dine, your majesty?" He asked suddenly as he raised his chin to look up at her. Her eyes widened at the sudden invitation.

"N-no. I'm okay thank you—"

"I don't feel like having leftovers, this really is a lot of food and it isn't a problem, really." He insisted as he gestured at the boulder just across from him.

She pressed her lips together as she glanced at him and then back at the cooked fish. It smelled too good to resist but why would she dine with him? Why would she give him the honor of her time??

Then again the fish smelled really good.

"Okay." She replied after a long moment as she sat down on the boulder and made herself comfortable.

They sat around the fireplace in silence as she watched him continue to stir the pot. The crickets had begun to creek and the sunset was practically gone by now. Even the weather had gotten cooler.

After a while he stopped stirring and cleared his throat. "So, how exactly did you end up here?" He asked suddenly as he set the wooden spoon down.

Her eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Here. In the forest. With these people. You just decided to leave Arendelle and come to fulfill your destiny? I don't know, seems unlike you." He said hugging his left leg.

Her eyes slowly darkened. "You don't know anything about me."

He shrugged. "Perhaps your right, but even so it just doesn't add up, even if your mother was from here. What was the real motive of coming here in the first place?

She wanted to punch herself in the face. Was she really going to tell him? A long silence followed up and before she could even decide she was already opening her mouth to speak.

"I heard this voice..."

Hans raised his eyebrow up, confused. "A voice?"

"It was like a call, you know like those farmers who live up in the fjords that call to heard their cows." She said.

He raised his eyebrow up again. "So... a farmer called you here because he thought you were a cow??"

"No. No." She scoffed. "It wasn't a farmer it was the voice of a little girl. It's as if she was singing some sort of melody and I was the only one who could hear it." She explained all while Hans listened attentively.

"At first I thought I was crazy and perhaps it was just my imagination, but then I realized that I was the only one able to hear it. It kept me up at night and distracted me from my queenly duties."

"Why just you?" He asked wirh furrowed eyebrows.

"I didn't know it back then, but one night the voice woke me up again and I ended up following it, even communicating back to it. My magic started speaking for itself and soon thereafter crystals appeared in the sky, I summoned the four elemental spirits out of their sleep."

Hans eyes were widened this time. He didn't know whether to speak or walk away.

"The weather in Arendelle was stripped away. There was no water for the people, no air and nor enough food that would keep them alive. Anna and I knew we couldn't just leave our people like this, especially since it was my fault that I had awoken them. So we left to find the mysterious voice that had been calling me. At least I did anyways, Anna insisted she accompany me." She explained further more as she started to play with her fingernails.

"And that's how you got here." He added.

She nodded in response.

"Why would the magic attack Arendelle? I mean you, I understand, but why Arendelle?"

"Arendelle had been in a conflict many years ago with the Northuldra, which led to a lot of bloodshed and betrayal."

"Ah, your speaking on the indigenous people, right?"

"Yes." She replied looking at him this time."And please stop calling them that." She added with more seriousness in her voice.

Hans said nothing. Instead he just waited for her to continue.

"My grandfather led a battalion of Arendellian guards to the forest. It was supposed to be a gathering of peace and friendship. At least some of them though it was, and when the Northuldran chief was peacefully drinking his water he... well he lifted his sword and slew him on the spot."

Hans presses his lips together, slowly nodding as if he knew about the story. "You're talking about King Ruenard, aren't you?"

"That's the one." Sighed Elsa as she started to brush the ends of her hair with her fingers.

"I read about him. He died during the battle, but what the scholars told us was that the indigenous— I mean, the Northuldran, attacked Arendelle first."

"I thought so too." Sighed Elsa again. "But my grandfather feared magic and thought that it was too powerful for a person to pocess, he feared the Northuldran would manipulate them and overthrow him."

Hans presses his lips together as he took in all the information. But the pot began to boil loudly so he slowly stood up and retrieved two small wooden bowls where he began to pile them up with fish and the vegetables he had been preparing.

As Elsa watched him retrieve the food, she noticed his manners and regalness were still at full display because he did it in such a respectful fashion, even passing the food to Elsa before serving himself like a gentleman would.

She took the bowl in her hand, and their fingers brushed with each other. His hands were all warm, and for some reason saying thank you was so hard at the moment. It also didn't help that she was distracted by the delicious smell coming from her bowl.

"So you became a fifth spirit and Anna queen of Arendelle, how poetic." He said retrieving his canteen and setting one the boulder. "She'll have lots of kingdoms who will want to court her."

"She's already engaged." She countered.

Hans had been chewing on a piece of fish meat when he choked on hearing the shocking news. "Ahem, I'm sorry, what??" He said finally able to catch his breath.

"Anna is already engaged." She said more firmly.

"Huh, that was quick. Seems like her I suppose." He shrugged.

"Excuse me!?" Elsa's blood was boiling now.

"What??" He chuckled arrogantly.

"I'll have you know my sister has been courting a good man for the past three years. She didn't just say yes right away to the first cruel man that popped into her life." She bit out.

He chuckled again, God how he hated his laughter. "I meant no direspect. I'm just surprised is all. Who's the lucky prince?"

"He's not a prince." She retaliated, glaring at him while doing it. "Not yet anyways."

"Oh, so he's a commoner." Said Hans with his eyebrow slightly raised.

"Is that a problem?" She asked bitterly.

He laughed again, now she really wanted to punch him in the face. "I have nothing against commoners, your Majesty. My mother was one before meeting my father."

She continued to glare at him. "Look obviously this is a touchy subject for you so—"

"Oh, really? Huh. I wonder what would make you assume that you talking about my sister is a touchy subject." She cut him off bitterly and sarcastically.

"Let's just change the subject. You mentioned something about your mother saving King Agnarr, correct?" Said Hans sitting forward.

Elsa had to inwardly fight the urge to go off on him again. So instead she slowly nodded before meeting Hans face again. "My mother was from here. They were nearly ten years old when they met."

"Why did she save him? She had every right to just leave him. Arendelle attacked her people." He said boldly as he popped a piece of fish meat into his mouth.

"They were just children, they had nothing to do with the conflicts of their parents. While the Northuldra and Arendelle were battling fiercely, my father was knocked unconscious after the spirits sent forth a powerful mist. My mother saw that my father was hurt and he too could have been trapped. But instead of leaving him, she called for Gale to help her."

"Gale? You mean that wind spirit thing??" Said Hans pointing at Gale who had been floating nearby them.

"Yes. Gale. She heard my moms plea for help and carried them both to the back of a wagon. She hid him and herself under a warm blanket, once they found my father they immediately brought him back to the castle."

A gentle expression filled his face, even Elsa could see it in his emerald eyes that he almost seemed taken back. "That was a very unselfish thing for her to do, leave your family just to save this boy. A prince, one who's kingdom slaughtered her people."

"She was the one calling me to find the truth." Said Elsa looking up to the stars up above.

"And your mother, what happened after the found her in the wagon.

Elsa shrugged. "She never really discussed anything about her life that much. unless it included my father. I mean they practically grew up together. She would mention her mother, my grandmother a lot of the times, even praise her, but I never had the honor of meeting her or her sister"

Hans rose his eyebrow curiously. "Her sister?"

"She had mentioned them before a couple of times now that I think about it but I never met them. Her mother died way before I was born. I think that was just a way to say that she never saw them since the mist blocked off the forest." Said Elsa as she plopped a steamed carrot in her mouth.

"That's understandable." Said Hans following Elsa's example. "So your mother grew up in Arendelle with your dad."

She nodded.

"Hmm. Interesting. So your mother had practically two families, one in the first and the other in Arendelle."

"I have no idea. Like I said, she practically grew up with my father and her mother and sister were trapped back in the forest and she couldn't return even if she wanted to. No one could." Said Elsa as she began to strip the fish from it's bones. "It's still a mystery to this day of who exactly took her into their home after she and my father were found."

"It's... Kinda tragic. She lost her family that day and never even got to say goodbye to them." He admitted.

"It is very tragic, but her true family was always my father. They were inseparable, those two practically grew up together and saw each other every single day. They've loved each other since they were children."

"How did your father react when he found out your mother belonged to the people that supposedly killed his father."

"She was terrified of telling him and although it was a surprise he still loved her regardless. She's was the one that saved him that day. And when they're ship was going down the dark sea..." Elsa was suddenly having a hard time when explaining that part, she fought back her tears and quicky cleared her throat. "He shielded her as much as he was capable of..."

He had to be honest, Elsa was very good at concealing her emotions. And he was a master of it as well, but even he could tell that finishing that last part was still a difficult subject for her. "That's a very interesting story." He said finally.

"And what of yours?" She asked.

He chuckled under his breath as he placed his now empty bowl to the side. "What do you wish to know?"

"How about we start the obvious." She said setting her now-empty bowl to her side as well. "What were you doing in Europe and Asia this whole time besides running away from your responsibilities.

He smirked at her sassy comment at the end. "I wasn't technically running, I was just going from country to country, trying to get as far as I possibly can from the isles."

"Yeah that's called running." She deadpanned with a blank expression.

He sighed and leaned back on the boulder where he made himself comfortable and ran his fingers through his hair and undid his bun, his long auburn hair resting on the back of his neck again. "Well if you really must know all the details then I'll tell you. After one of my siblings helped me escape from the castle I stole a ship. A small one and sailed to the nearest kingdom."

"The Northern Isles?" She questioned.

"Pfft. No, hell no." He said shaking his head with a bitter laugh. "I mean don't get me wrong, King Eric and Queen Ariel are great people but if I was trying to escape my family why would I go to the Northern Isles where the rest of the Westergaard clan reside? Besides, you don't need a ship to sail to the Northern Isles. You could easily get there on foot in three days' time."

"I never had the honor of visiting The Northern Isles, or Denmark for that matter so I wouldn't know. But I hear Queen Ariel is lovely and beautiful." Said Elsa.

"And you've heard correctly. She's a princess of the sea and a Queen of the land." Said Hans as he hugged his knee again.

"Wait, Princess of the sea??" Questioned Elsa with her hand up and furrowed eyebrows.

"Oh yeah." Chuckled Hans taking a drink from his canteen that had been sitting next to him. "The rumors are true, Queen Ariel is the daughter of King Triton. She was a mermaid."

Elsa's jaw parted in awe for about five seconds before finally closing it and shaking her head in denial. "You're lying, I don't believe you."

He shrugged. "Suit yourself. Go to the Northern Isles and ask her yourself, she'll tell you the whole story." He said taking a drink out of his canteen again.

"How did you even learn to sail the ship by yourself?" She asked.

"I served in the Southern Isles Navy for eight years before leaving to Arendelle for the first time." He replied.

Elsa was taken back. "You served in the navy?"

"I did. I was admiral of my kingdom." He nodded. "Youngest one to ever hold that title to be more exact.

She was surprised. She always had great respect for men who served in their kingdoms military, especially the navy.

"My father was an admiral too." She said.

"So I've heard." He said nodding with a gentle smile. "King Admiral Agnarr Andersen, he was one of the greats. I looked up to him growing up. He was actually a big part of why I joined the navy in the first place. He was an incredible admiral, very strategic in the battlefield."

"Yeah he was." Said Elsa genuinely smiling at him while remembering her late father.

"Anyways, back to the story. I ended up sailing to Corona, it was the closest kingdom besides the Northern Isles."

Elsa raised her eyebrow up. "Corona? As in the kingdom where Princess Rapuznel resides?"

"That's the one. And if I'm not mistaken she's actually a first cousin of yours correct?" Replied Hans.

"Correct." she deadpanned.

"She's very beautiful. Lovely person too."

"She's married so there'd be no chance of you overthrowing that kingdom." She retaliated an unimpressed expression.

He laughed at that and it actually earned a small smirk on the corner of Elsa's lip. "Oh I'm very aware, I've met her husband."

Elsa raised her eyebrow. "You've met Eugene?"

"When I arrived on Corona's shore I went to the nearest pub available. The Snugling Duckling is what it was called. It was a pub for only convicted felons and criminals."

"Ah, so people like you." She replied blankly and with a little tease in her tone.

He rolled his eyes with that arrogant smirk on his face. "Anyways, I suppose the men didn't like the fact that I just welcomed myself in."

"I can relate to that." She added, her smirk now in full display.

He laughed again. "You know I never knew you were this hysterical, your majesty."

"There's a lot of thing you don't know about me, go on." She insisted waving her hand at him to continue.

"As I was saying, the men were not pleased I barged in. And because I'm such a prideful person, I refused to coward to them and stood my ground instead. They began to attack me and it wasn't until some loudmouth bastard got in the middle of me and the rest of the men.

"Sounds like Eugene." She nodded with a smirk.

"It was. He started poking fun at every one of them, even fighting by my side while doing it. Eventually they agreed to finally mind their business and left me alone. He invited me for a drink, I of course accepted and it was there where he told me who he really was. I'll be honest with you. I wasn't expecting Princess Rapunzels husband time to be so..."

"Unusual?" Said Elsa.

"Is that the right word to use for him? He's definitely not about the royal life I'll tell you that much. You never hear about an ex-convict marrying into the royal family. That just doesn't happen in normal standards."

"He's definitely a character, but Rapunzel loves him, so does King Frederic and Queen Arianna." Said Elsa.

"Lucky him." Smirked Hans.

"So you've been in Corona this whole time?" Asked Elsa while crossing her arms.

"I wish, but no. Eugene somehow convinced princess Rapunzel to help me pass through Corona without being noticed or heard of. The Southern Isles and Corona are allies so word would get back to the isles immediately. I stayed at this small inn where Eugene would check up on me almost everyday. Providing food and other needs. Rapunzel even sent her former lady in waiting to pass by and check on me whenever she was in town. They're the only three that knew about my whereabouts."

"Hmm." Said Elsa with her arms still crossed as she took all the information in. "Never thought Rapuznel would do something like that..."

"Like I said, she's a wonderful person." He said truthfully.

"So what happened after you passed through Corona, did you stay in Germany?"

"Dear God no. Corona is the only place in Germany I would live in. As much as I loved Corona, I knew I couldn't stay. I would be a burden to Eugene and Rapunzel."

"So where did you go after Corona?" Asked Elsa.

"I stayed in Corona for about four months and after regrouping I sailed south, next thing I knew, I ended up in Italy."

Elsa rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me another royal helped you out."

"No, not at all." He chuckled. "I took a job as a docksmen for about two months."

"How did people not know about your identity?" She asked.

"Only Scandinavian kingdoms know of my identity. Italy is a whole different world. But I always used my middle name wherever I went just is case." He shrugged.

"What's your middle name? Asked Elsa.

"Christian. Hans Christian Westergaard." The way he said it sounded so authentic and it slipped out of his tongue so naturally.

"It... oddly suits you." She admitted.

"So I've been told." He chuckled. "Anyways, I've never been to Italy and didn't find any reason to staying there. Although I must admit that their culture is outstanding, especially when I was in Rome. The Sistine chapel is as grand as they say it is."

She gasped silently. "You've been to the Sistine chapel?" Said Elsa suddenly slightly sitting forward, her eyes somewhat widened.

"I have, it's very beautiful and if you are a fanatic of literature like me then you'll find that their library is one of the most heavenly experiences you'll ever encounter. They even have Shakespeare's original writing of Romeo and Juliet."

"I've always wanted to visit their library. They're collections and philosophers are some of the most important people that led us to our time." Said Elsa, although it was more of a proclamation.

"Absolutely. They even had James Harrington's personal notes on what makes a republic great."

"Shut up..." she found herself saying by accident. Amazed and jaw dropped. Even her chin was resting on her hands.

"I'm serious. You should check it out one day, it's phenomenal." He said slightly grinning at her as he took a sip of water. "Although there were many good things about Italy, especially their food, it just wasn't the right place for me. So I left."

"Where did you end up going?" She asked now more attentive.

He sighed. "So many places..."

Elsa returned for three days straight. It always seemed to be in the evening and it just so happened that he would always have food ready for the two of them.

Everyday was a different story and a different adventure. She learned that he had worked over sixty different jobs in a span of three years. All that trouble just to find a new home.

Netherlands, Switzerland, England and even Scotland. All those countries and not once did he feel at home with them.

"After Italy I passed through France and made sure I didn't stay long there. Not as interesting as they say it is." Said Hans setting his empty plate aside. Tonight he made roasted lamb and potatoes from a youngling he had captured.

Elsa felt extremely guilty when she found out he had hunted the poor animal that morning. But her thoughts quickly went away the second she took a bite off the delicious meat. If she was going to live in the forest she had to get used to stuff like this.

Elsa sat in silence and listened attentively to every words that came out of his mouth. She had to admit, the man was a phenomenal storyteller.

"I ended up arriving in Portugal and passed through as quick as I could. You would not believe how much they despise visitors. I ended up traveling further until I reached the one place I wanted to avoid."

"Arendelle?" Asked Elsa. She had gotten used to listening with her chin being rested on top of her palms.

"Worse, Spain." He said with disgust.

Elsa's eyebrows furrowed. "What's so wrong about Spain? I mean I've never been there but I heard good things about it."

"It's a beautiful country, don't get me wrong. Foods great too, but I just so happened to arrive in Madrid, which is where Princess Estefania is head over heels for me. An old flame who never learned to let go."

Elsa raised her her eyebrow up at him. "I fail to see why that would be such a bad thing for you, you'd probably even get permission to stay and marry her, even become that much closer to the royal crown."

"I didn't care for it at that point, besides, it's kinda hard to enjoy that when she sent her guards looking for you more than twenty times. The day she finally found me she had them lock me in her chambers and had me tied up so she can have her way with me."

Elsa slightly coughed at that as her cheeks grew hot just slightly.

"You'd think she'd be over a prince she encountered more than three years ago on a drunken night but no, luckily I was able to escape before she had the chance, with her guitar too."

"The one you stole." She deadpanned. That night of their first dinner together she found out he kept a guitar hidden in his cave, she'd never seen him play it, however.

"Borrowed, technically she did say I could use it." He smirked.

"Sure." She replied sarcastically. "after Spain, then what?

"That's actually where I came to the conclusion that Europe wasn't working out. Two years traveling and not one place was I able to call home. Except maybe Corona, but it would be impossible to live there with the Southern Isles not too far away. I knew I needed to go somewhere further away. So I ended up sailing west.

"Where did you go?" she asked.

He was silent for several seconds as he stared into the fire. His expression had darkened as if he was reliving painful memories. Elsa was confused as to why he was taking so long just to answer. "Madhogarh" he finally said darkly.

Elsa furrowed her eyebrows, she'd never heard the existence of that country in her life and the way he prounounced it with a heavy accent made her question it all the same. "What?"

"Madhogarh. It's a small country located off the shores of the Middle East. I had arrived there after nearly dying from dehydration and hunger. I walked and walked through the endless desert and ended up losing consciousness right in front of the ancient city."

His eyes met with the crackling fireplace in front of the two of them.

"When I awoke there were several men with their spears pointed at me. I tried fighting them all but I was too weak and was unsuccessful. I had been thrown into a giant pit, a prison, six hundred feet below the ground where they kept murderers, rapists, every kind of crime possibly committed, they called it, Lazarus Pit."

Elsa's eyes widened. "How long were you there?"

"Almost a year I think. The pit was so deep that no one in the country kept guard, no one could ever escape. Every man mostly condemn to the pit were to be there till their last dying breath. So they gave you the option to escape if you wanted to, but you had to climb out of the pit with only a rope to sustain you."

She picked her lips nervously. "Has anyone ever made it out?"

He pressed his lips together as his eyes continued to focus into the fire as if his sparkling emeralds were reliving painful memories from the past. "One did, a child who was only ten years of age made it out, without the rope too."

Elsa's eyes widened. "What was a child doing in a pit??"

"It wasn't her choice, her mother gave birth to her there."

"Her mother?"

"Legend tells that there was a mercenary working for the local warlord who fell in love with his daughter. They married in secret. When the warlord found out, he condemned the mercenary to this pit. But then exiled him instead."

Elsa watched and listened as his eyes never left the fire.

"The mercenary understood that the warlord's daughter had secured his release, but he couldn't know the true price of his freedom. She had taken his place in the pit. And she was with child, the mercenary's child."

He was quiet for several seconds before finally speaking again. "One day the doctor forgot to lock the cell ...,"

Elsa's body filled with goosebumps, uncomfortable thoughts taking over her mind. "They... they raped her didn't they??"

He nodded slowly. "Till her dying breath."

Elsa gasped silently, her chest felt like it had been crushed by a pile of rocks.

"Innocence cannot flower underground, it has to be stamped out. But the child had a friend. A protector who showed the others that this innocence was their redemption. The prisoners of course refused to listen, morality doesn't exist in that hellish place."

"Is that where you received your scars..."

It was then where Hans shot his eyes forward from the fire, staring deep into her soul. That it made Elsa instantly regret asking that. "That's enough storytelling for tonight, Your Majesty. It's just an old tale anyways." He said standing to his feet.

"Hans—"

"I'd rather not talk about it." He replied with his back to her as he started to put away the food.

Elsa watched him with her expression still in shock. Remembering the disturbing tale of the mother and her daughter. Even if it were true or not, she could only imagine what he had to endure when he was truly down there or not.

After a painful long silence she finally stood up to her feet, clearing her throat to get his attention. "I'm leaving to Arendelle tonight."

He stopped what he was doing as he slowly turned around to face her.

"I usually visit every weekend since I'm still technically under Anna's council and her advisor. I'm espeically needed around this time since her wedding is just around the corner."

"Are you ivinting me to accompany you?" He asked smirking at her.

"Her eyebrows furrowed and her expression darkened. "Absolutely not."

He breathed out a laugh. "Good, I wouldn't want to anyways." He said turning around again.

"I've asked Honeyamren and Ryder to check up on you on a daily basis till I return." His whole body stiffened as he shot his head forward with widened eyes. "Goodbye." She said turning to leave.

"Wait!" He exclaimed as he started to run after her, she turned around and now they were only just a few feet in front of each other.

"I don't need a babysitter, okay?" He spat.

She glared at him. "I need to make sure you aren't plotting to attack somehow, I refuse to just let you wonder free without supervision."

"You have four spirits, don't you? Why not ask them!"

"They have other things to attend to, they practically look over the whole forest. They're going to be checking up on you and that's final." She said turning to leave.

He groaned and rolled his eyes. "I refuse."

"You dont have a choice. Even the spirits agree with this."

He shook his head in annoyance. "Fine, but don't expect me to speak to them."

This time she breathed out a laugh. "Never intended you to." They stared into each other's eyes. This was the first time Hans actually heard her somewhat laugh. Before he could even say anything she quickly cleared her throat again. "I'll see you Monday."

And just like that Hans saw her disappear into the dark, leaving him completely alone and for once... he actually hated it. And he hated himself for hating it.

As Elsa and nokk raced through the waters, she began to replay the disturbing story in her mind about the child and the mother. And then she began to think of him and his scars that he still refuses to talk about.

And then she looked down to her chest where she saw his pendant hanging from her neck where she rubbed her thumb gently over the roaring lion.

She sighed. "I forgot to give it to him again..."

---

When she had arrived in Arendelle she was surprised to find that practically the whole kingdom had gone to sleep. Even the castle had all of its lights dimmed, except her own room.

She dismissed the Nokk so it could return to the forest and headed to the castle where she was welcomed inside by the night guards on patrol. There seemed to be more than usual, Anna must've listened to her advice after all.

She made her way up the royal grand stairs as she started to yawn, she hadn't realized she was so tired. She almost panicked when she remembered she still had his pendant hanging from her neck. She quickly took it off and stuffed it in her traveling bag, even looking around her several times to make sure no one saw her.

When she entered her room she was surprised to find her strawberry blonde little sister in her bed with her green gown. She was snoring up a storm and drooling all over her pillow as always.

"Anna?"

"HUH!" She exclaimed sitting up quickly as she wiped her drool away. She turned her head to the door where she found her sister standing there, at least that's what she could make out at the moment, she could barely open her eyes. "Oh, Elsa, hi."

"Why are you asleep this early? That's very uncommon of you." Chuckled Elsa as she stepped in and closed the door behind her.

"I was waiting all night for you. I tried to stay awake but my eyes were getting so heavy..." She yawned and rubbed her heavy eyes. "What took you so long?"

"What are you talking about? I said I'd be here by eight." Chuckled the older sister as she began to kick her sandals off.

Anna furrowed her eyebrows. "You have no idea what time it is, do you?

"Of course I do it's—" Elsa's eyes widened when she turned to see the giant grandfather clock on the wall. "It's one in the morning!?"

She must've been so intrigued by his stories that she hadn't realized how late it was getting. Enormous guilt suddenly piled on top of her shoulder.

She quickly tuned around to her younger sister who was more awake now. "Oh, Anna. I'm so so sorry I didn't realize how late it was." She said playing with her hands nervously.

"What took you so long, is everything all right?" Asked Anna as she sat up more comfortably.

"Yes, yes. Everything's fine I just— I must have not kept time..."

"What were you doing?" asked Anna rising to her feet. Elsa pressed her lips together, she was dining with her ex fiancé just an hour ago and now she was here.

"I was... talking with Honeymaren."

The younger sister furrowed her eyebrows again. God she hated lying to Anna.

"We were just discussing some plans for the peace treaty anniversary and we must have not realized how late it was getting. I'm really sorry, Anna."

Anna stared at her sister for a good few seconds before nodding slowly. "Oh, um, okay." She said turning around to sit back down at the edge of the bed.

This time Elsa's eyebrows pressed together in worry. "Anna, are you okay?" She said joining her younger sisters side. "If you're upset that I'm late—"

"No! No I'm not upset, Elsa!" Said Anna quickly grabbing her sisters hands for reassurance. "It's just..."

"What is it Anna?" Asked Elsa.

Anna sighed. "I'm just worried about you is all..."

Elsa tenderly smiled at her. "Anna, I'm fine, really. I know living in the forest is a big change for both of us but—"

"It's not the forest I'm worried about, Elsa." Said Anna meeting her sisters surprised eyes. "It's you."

"What about me?"

Anna sighed again. "Elsa, you don't know your limits."

Elsa sighed too, she knew Anna was going to say this eventually. "Anna, the man never hurt me, okay? I had everything under control. He's being watched by Honeymaren and Ryder till I return."

"But that's the point, he could have hurt you!" Said Anna "Elsa, you're all..." Anna bit her lip. "You're all I have left..."

Elsa smiled lovingly at Anna before embracing her. Anna's heart was too big for this world, she cared for her since they were both introduced to each other the day their mother brought her into this world. "I will never leave you sis. I know how hard this is, being apart from each other, and I'm sorry if it doesn't seem like it but I miss you dearly, Anna."

Anna quickly wiped the tear that had been starting to build up. "Can you just stay a little longer this time, please?"

Elsa frowned. Anna already knew the answer to her question yet she still asked it anyways. "I'll tell you what, the last weeks before your wedding I'll be with right here in Arendelle."

Anna's whole expression changed In less than a second. "You mean it!?"

"Yes, anything for you." Said Elsa gently caressing her sisters messy strawberry blonde hair.

Anna wrapped her arms around Elsa so fast and so hard that she couldn't even see it coming and her couldn't have time to gasp for air. Anna always has a boyish strength to her. "Thank you." She whispered.

Elsa gently embraced her in return despite the fact she couldn't breathe. They drew apart from the hug as Elsa stood up on her feet again. "Now lets go to bed before we wake the whole castle up."

Elsa began to disolve her magical dress and was completely naked as she began to braid her hair when Anna suddenly gasped. "What, what is it!?" Said Elsa jumping and turning around with her arms extended.

"Your thigh!" Said Anna standing up as she pointed at it.

Sure enough it was pointing at her left thigh. The same thigh that Hans had driven his dagger across. It had healed up and turned into a pretty noticeable scar.

Elsa quickly gasped and grasped her naked thigh to cover the scar but it was too late. "Oh, Anna I can explain—"

"Did he do that to you!?" Anna demanded. Her expression was serious and her glare furious. She had so much of their father in her, even his facial expressions.

"Y-Yes But—"

"I knew it!"

"Anna please. Let me explain. He had been attacking out of self-defense, he had hurt Honeymaren and Ryder far worse. I just so happened to arrive there on time before he killed them."

Was she crazy? Did she just defend Hans??

"He's dangerous!"

"No, he's not. Not with me anyways, he knows what I can do. Anna please it really isn't a big deal."

Anna was going to open her mouth again to rebuke her older sister but Elsa quickly grabbed her hands to comfort her. "Anna, please. You have to to trust me."

She stared at her older sister with a worried expression for a long period of silence as if she wanted to say more but instead she just closed her eyes and sighed. "Fine, just... get dressed so we can go to sleep."

Elsa raised a teasing eyebrow at her sister. "What? Are you ashamed of my naked body??"

Elsa giggled as Anna slapped her sisters bum teasingly, even laughing herself. "Get dressed before I kick you out of your own room. I'm ready for bed."

And so Elsa with a flick of her wrist had her purple nightgown cover her whole body, the two sisters snuggled close together and although they said they would go to sleep they stayed awake for a few more hours, even making a secret trip to the kitchen where they snuck a box of chocolates to their room.

Hans was always a morning person, he was always up and about before the sunrise and was already making breakfast with a pair of eggs he found from a bird's nest.

Honeymaren, Ryder and Rhanda decided it would be best to stop by and check on him before sunrise, they wanted to get to him before he thought of scattering away.

Hans lifted his head when he heard a loud tree branch break in half. Turning around he saw the twins with their spears pointed and Rhanda waving hello with her usual sweet smile as always.

"Ugh, Damn it Ryder. I told you to watch your footsteps." Said Honeymaren lowering her spear.

"What!? I can't help if there's a tree branch blending with the ground!" Retaliated her brother.

Hans lifted his eyebrows up. "Uh, can I help you?"

Honeymaren turned her head to Hans. "Did Elsa not tell you we were going to come to check on you?"

"Yeah, she did. You may leave now." Said Hans gesturing with his chin to the entrance they came from before turning his attention back to his eggs.

Honeymaren's eyes widened with offense and fury. "Why you little piece of—"

"Come on, Maren, let's just go. Elsa only instructed us to check on him, she didn't ask us to start a morning conversation with him." Said Ryder.

"I agree with Rudolf." Said Hans with his back still to them.

"Uh, the names, Ryder, pal." He said directing his voice to hans now. "Rudolf is my reindeers name."

"You just want to go back because mother is making her famous reindeer milk and sugar cream drink this morning." Said Honeymaren to her brother.

"Pfftttt, no." Said Ryder trying to hide his grin, but Honeymaren lifted her eyebrow up at him and it was too late. "Okay fine! Maybe it has to do a little with that but we did our job already, we came to visit him!"

Honeymaren rolled her eyes but soon thereafter she was widening them again when she heard genuine laughter coming from Hans. Even Ryder was completely taken back as she was.

"You guys must be twins." Said Hans grinning as he stood up to his feet.

"Um, yeah we are— wait, how did you know that??" Asked Honeymaren with Ryder sharing the same expression as hers.

"I can tell." He said chucking before continuing. "You must be the older one" He said gesturing to Honeymaren. "And of course that leaves you as the youngest." He finished gesturing to Ryder.

"Yeah, by like three minutes." Ryder scoffed while crossing his arms.

But Honeymaren still had a confused expression on her face and was going to open her mouth to ask him further on how he knew about them being twins but Rhanda already stepped forward and cut her off.

"Hi Hans!" She exclaimed with giddiness.

"Oh, hello. Your name was Rhanda, right?" Said Hans.

"Yeah, that's me." She replied giddily while fixing her hair behind her ear and even playing with it. Honeymaren rolled her eyes again.

"It's nice to see you again." Said Hans smiling at her.

"It's nice to see you too..." Said Rhanda when suddenly she was staring at him again.

Honeymaren cleared her throat. "Ahem, Rhanda—"

"Sorry!" Exclaimed Rhanda with embarrassment as she realized she had been staring at Hans for too long. "I actually came to drop of an ointment I made last night. It's to help you ease the arm pain."

She reached for her bag and opened it when suddenly the noise of a cat came from inside her reindeer bag.

Meow.

Hans's body language completely stiffened as if he just heard the most terrible noise.

"Bridgette?? How'd you get in here!" Said Rhanda as the Norwegian forest cat hopped out of her bag.

Hans gulped. "Oh no."

---

By the time they woke up the next day it was almost the afternoon and the only reason they were out of bed was because Gerda barged in and forced the two out.

Anna had kept her word, the sisters had enjoyed a whole day together and with no royal responsibility bothering them. Anna was sure to let the council know that this weekend was going to be her and Elsa's days off. They ended up going to their favorite pastries store where they devoured so much that Elsa had to hold her sister's hair as she threw up the amount of sugar she took.

Elsa always made sure to change clothes when visiting Arendelle. She never kept her ice dress on, instead she wore her royal protocol dresses she still had filled in her closet. She never got through all of them. Today happened to be a green one with her family crest in the middle. Anna, on the other hand, wore a yellow one with the same royal crest to make sure the citizens knew who they were. They were practically dressed like princesses again with no crown whatsoever.

Elsa would even braid her hair back to the way she used to. She loved having her hair down, she admits it can feel very satisfying and free, but she also enjoyed when it was braided. It's helpful knowing that she didn't need to constantly push the platinum locks away from her face.

But she definitely didn't miss the fact that she had to have a corset on. She almost forgot the feeling of having her ribs crushed.

They went through the whole kingdom of Arendelle. Talking, singing and even laughing uncontrollably together. Anna was the only one capable of making Elsa snort. A horrible habit that Elsa threatened Anna to never tell anyone.

They made their way even to the fjords where they took of their slacks and walked barefoot in the soft grass. Even dipping their feet in the lake. Elsa missed home. She loved the forest but Arendelle was truly her home. And it would always be her home. And she knew that one day she would have to return, but that time wasn't now.

"You know I love the idea you came up with by having a way to have a train to pass through Arendelle." Said Elsa as they walked further down the streets while being greeted and bowed by the citizens, even by the railroad workers.

Anna gasped. "Really, you mean it?"

"Of course! It'll help the people and outsiders come and go as they please and will make things more simpler. It'll even establish better trading for the future, it's a wonderful idea, Anna." Said Elsa praising her sister.

Anna smiled at her sister. "Oh, that means so much Elsa! I was so nervous I had made a huge mistake.."

"You are doing what you feel is best for Arendelle, Anna." Said Elsa brushing a strawberry blonde lock out of her face.

They went back to the castle and went to Anna's room where the sisters laid in bed and began to brainstorm ideas for the wedding. Anna was a lot calmer talmong about it with her sister there.

They made a lot of progress until Olaf came barging in and jumped on their bed, pleading with the sisters to play a game of charades with him, Sven and Kristoff.

Sunday came for the most part it was a rather laid back day. Not most people worked on Sundays, that included the Queen as well. But they did begin to brainstorm more ideas for the wedding, this time in Elsa's room.

They went downstairs to speak with the servants, and while Anna was discussing details about the cake with Kai and Gerda, Elsa decided right now would be the best time to go upstairs to the library to see if she could find any information on a certain prince who she's been having dinner with for the past three nights.

But when she got there she was surprised to find Kristoff who had been standing next to to one of the many large bookshelves, the one particularly that had all of Arendelle's history. It seemed he had been at it since the morning because there were a load of books and transcripts stacked on top of each other.

He seemed to be deep in his reading as if he was looking for an answer. And by the way he was dressed in a suit it seemed he was taking it very seriously.

"Oh, Kristoff. I didn't think you'd be in here, I thought you were still ice harvesting with Sven." Said Elsa walking inside. She was still trying to get adjusted to seeing him all dressed up. It was very unlike Kristoff.

"Sorry, I've just been trying to study for the big final exam I have next week." Replied Kristoff tiredly as he tossed the giant textbook into the chair where the others where piled on top. "This is hopeless, I'm never going to be a prince."

Elsa watched as Kristoff walked to the large sofa and sunk himself to it hopelessly and clumsily. Guess it was time for a venting session. "What is the point of learning all these royal standards if I'm not even a royal to begin with."

"Not yet, you'll marry into it soon." Said Elsa with a gentle smile.

"Doesn't count. I didn't grow up in a castle like you guys did, I wasn't obligated to curtsy every time a royal passed by, or learn every single name of every citizen in Arendelle." Complained Kristoff as he threw his hands up in exaggeration. "I mean how is that even humanly possible!"

Elsa giggled.

"And don't get me started on these stupid dress protocols!" Said Kristoff as he yanked his collar shirt, accidentally popping the button as it rolled on the floor and out the door. "Oh, great. Another sign of why I shouldn't be a prince!"

"Kristoff, Kristoff calm down." Said Elsa as she walked over and sat next to him on the sofa. "You're just stressed is all."

"No, Elsa. It's more than that. Do you know how many history books I've read? They expect me to learn your whole royal family from your fathers side by name. Including children. You guys trace back to St. Olaf!"

Elsa nodded shyly.

"On top of that they expect me to also learn about other neighboring kingdoms, specifically our allies and their royal monarchy and history as well. Even learn their kingdom's values and highest standards even their greatest possession." He continued to rant as he sat forward.

Elsa cleared her throat. "Kristoff—"

"And the more I try to learn all these things they try to teach me..." he grew quiet as he stared out at what seemed his own insecure thoughts. "The more I realize that I'm not fit for this."

Elsa furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"Kristoff sighed. "I love your sister, Elsa. But does she love me?"

Oh God, not this again.

And yet Elsa was still taken back by his ridiculous thinking. "Kristoff, of course she loves you! Why do you think she said yes in the first place, she wants to spend the rest of her life with you."

"Will she still love me even after I am crowned prince consort..."

"Kristoff." Said Elsa more sternly now as she clasped her hand on his shoulder. "My sister fell in love with you when you accepted to take her up the north mountain to find me, even when you didn't want to at first."

Kristoff smirked a little at remembering the memory.

"She fell in love with you when you two ran away from marshmallow, when you tried to keep her as warm as possible and even took her back to Arendelle so she can be with—"

Her mouth hung open but no words came out. She was about to say his name, she used to talk about him freely with Anna, why couldn't she do it now?

"Hans?" finished Kristoff for her, even raising his eyebrow up at her.

"Y-yes. Yes, Hans..." Said Elsa clearing her throat. "She fell in love with you, Kristoff. With the ice harvester. Not with the soon to be prince."

Kristoff slightly smiled at that. "But the ice harvester hates prince's, especially after you know who."

"I don't blame you, princes can be... infuriating at times." She said darkly. "But you don't have to be like him, or any other stuck up ones you've seen before. You're going to be Prince Kristoff of Arendelle. That's worth more than any crown in all of Scandinavia."

Kristoff breathed out a small laugh from his nose.

"Besides, my mother wasn't born a royal either, she had to learn how to be one as well."

"Ah come on, that's not fair. She grew up with your father, she was always hanging around with him in the castle grounds. She practically was around it her whole life." Retaliated Kristoff teasingly.

"And yet my father who was a young king would leave the castle in the middle of the night just to spend time with her till the morning sunrise." Said Elsa turning to look at the family portrait of her late parents with her and her sister.

"If you truly love someone then you'll love them for who they are, not for what they possess. My mother didn't care what crown or title my father heald, she fell in love with him the day she rescued him in the forest. And I know deep down inside that my father loved her so much that he was even willing to give up his crown and all of his possessions for her."

She continued to grin at the painting before turning to Kristoff again. "Anna has never cared about royalty or protocols. She never judged someone based on their appearance and was always a free spirit who loved to just run around the town, never caring to get her dress muddy."

"Or chase after a pig and sink in the bottom of the lake." Added Kristoff teasingly.

Elsa rolled her eyes and sighed. "Don't remind me."

"You know what I actually feel a little better. Thanks, Elsa. Or should I call you sis?"

Elsa's face grimaced. Even Kristoff agreed how awkward that sounded.

"You know what, forget I even said anything." Said Kristoff shaking his head as he stood up on his feet. "Well, I can already smell the kitchen staff making warm meatball soup."

Elsa eyes widened. "You can smell that all the way from here??"

"Yup." Said Kristoff as he inhaled deeply with a satisfied grin until his stomach suddenly growled loudly. "And I'm pretty sure this guy is ready to eat too."

Elsa rolled her eyes and laughed.

He started making his way out the door when he turned around to Elsa again. "You coming?"

Elsa turned around to the library where all the thousands of books and information were behind her. She was here for something else, something far more important. "Umm, in a little. I'll be right there I just have something I wanted to search for."

"All right, see you then." Said Kristoff as he left. The second the door closed Elsa quickly jumped up to her feet and began to pace around the library to find information about the Southern Isles.

She went through each section of the library quickly and with expertise. She spent her entire life practically living in the library, always studying and reading every novelization from Shakespeare, to even Norwegian history. She knew this library like the back of her hand.

She dashed though every bookshelf and found nothing. But then in the second to last bookshelf under the categorization of "Kingdoms" she found a large navy blue textbook and in the cover were imprinted the words She was looking for.

The Southern Isles.

Her eyes widened and she squealed a little too excitingly as she quickly jumped and snatched the book in one movement. "Gotcha!" She exclaimed proudly as she held the book in her hands. "Now let's see if your telling the truth..."

She flipped through the pages quickly, carefully scannig each wording as well as she could. If there was any one in the world who was a master at reading and searching information it was her. "All right let's see what we can find..." she said flipping to the first page.

Endnu en gang i krisen

I den sidste gode kamp

Jeg vil nogensinde vide

Lev og dø på denne dag

Lev og dø på denne dag

There it was again, that same poem that was inscribed in the back of the pendant. Shaking the though away, she proceedes to flip to the next page and began to read.

"The Southern Isles is a small kingdom located in Denmark, it neighbors the kingdom of the Northern Isles and Corona, it's longest and closest ally— okay, already know that, don't care." She said flipping the page.

"The Southern Isles is well known for its strong military background. It is known to hold the most advanced and strategic navy in all of Scandinavia, it is said that even gives the English Navy competition— okay, whatever." She said flipping to the next page.

"Apples are considered a delicacy in the Southern Isles, having been named the national fruit of the whole kingdom, the people of the Isles celebrate and honor the precious fruit in a festival on the first day of spring where the whole kingdom goes to the large fields of the apple trees and pick each to take for their families."

Elsa's eyebrows arched. "Huh, well that explains his obsession with apples then."

She scammed through the book page by page, receiving new information about the kingdom. Some that were actually fascinating to her surprise and some that made no sense whatsoever. But then she finally stumbled upon the Southern Isles monarchy and lineage.

"Aha! There you are." Said Elsa with a devilish grin as she began to read from the beginning.

"The Southern Isles traces its royal monarchy from the tenth century from when Denmark was founded by the great viking warrior Gorm the Old, all the way to present day nineteenth century.

In the fifteenth century, Denmark was then split into two rulers. The decision came after two twin brothers were next in line for the throne. Having only been minutes apart from each other, the brothers decided to split the kingdom into two so that way they can have more control over all of Denmark in a much easier way. One in the north and the other in the south."

"Huh... interesting." Said Elsa as she continued to read further on.

"While the oldest twin brother stayed in the north, the youngest twin brother decided to travel with his wife and children down to the south where lots of trees filled of apples overlooked the land. There he established a new kingdom and expanded Denmark's new home. Thus the Nothern Isles and the Southern Isles were born.

Coming from a long lineage of royal bloodline, King Sören Westergaard of the Southern Isles was crowned king at the noble age of fifteen after his father, King Frederik had passed away and his oldest brother had married into the Northern Isles royal family to establish even further alliance and royal bloodline.

King Sören rules as the current king of the Southern Isles where he had fourteen children in total."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Wait, I thought there were only thirteen of them..." Said Elsa as she continued to scan through the book before shrugging it off. "Must be a mistake they wrote in."

"These are all the family members of the Westergaard royal bloodline:

King Sören Westergaard of the Southern Isles married Princess Ingrid and together they had three sons:

Crown Prince Caleb Westergaard

Prince Jurgën Westergaard

Prince Lars Westergaard

Her expression filled with mystery. "Wait a minute. Only three??" She continued reading further.

Shortly thereafter, King Sören then married his second wife, Princess Ida. Together they had three other sons.

Prince Franz Westergaard

Prince Günter Westergaard

Prince Ralph Westergaard

Elsa's eyes widened.

Then King Sören married his third wife, Princess Clara who he had four sons with.

Prince Beowulf

Prince William

Prince Rudi

Prince Runo

"Oh Gods..." Said Elsa to herself as she continued reading further.

Then he married his fourth wife, Princess Signe, together they had two sons.

Prince Emil

Prince Axel

Twelve.

Twelve older brothers. But they weren't just any older brothers. The many marriages, the way they almost all followed each other so closely by age, it all made sense now.

"They're half brothers..."

She counted twelve meaning the next one was the thirteen. She gazed her eyes further down where her heart stopped when she found his name. There on top of his name she read.

King Sören then met the only woman he granted to become Queen of the Southern Isles. Queen Nora.

Elsa's eyes widened. "Hans mother..."

She had been so out of focus that she didn't finish reading and instead quickly darted down to his name.

Prince Hans Westergaard

She followed his name just like she did with the rest of his brothers to find his current status and what she found made the clear hairs on her arm stand up.

Current status: Deceased.

"Oh my god..." she said to herself, her mouth parted in shock as she brought her hand to cover it.

"Hey Elsa!"

"Ah!" The door barged open so loudly that it caused Elsa to yelp like a girl as the book flew up in the air from her hands, even causing all the bookshelves near her to freeze immediately.

"Ah! Anna!" She said quickly picking the book up from the ground to hide it as she held her beating heart with her hand. "You scared the life out of me!"

"Sorry! I was just checking in, we're all waiting for you downstairs, dinners ready!"

Elsa quickly waved her hand and thawed the frozen ice that had been covering most of the library. "Right. Yes, of course but umm... do you think I could meet you there in five more minutes??"

Anna's eyebrows furrowed kindly at her. "Elsa! Come on, it's dinner time." She said chuckling.

"But, Anna—"

"The library will still be here when we get done." Chuckled Anna again. "Now come on! Kristoffs getting desperate."

Elsa was about to open her mouth again but Anna quickly gave her an eyebrow raise as to say that she knew she was right. Elsa sighed instead. "Fine, I suppose we can go." Said Elsa placing the book back in the shelf before turning to her sister again.

Anna smiled as she teasingly slapped her sisters bum. "Same old Elsa. Always too obsessed with reading." She said before closing the door behind her.

Nothing made sense anymore. And it wasn't just Olafs new secret talent that he had showed them all at the dinner table. The snowman now learned how to keep hot food down his throat without letting it go out the other end.

But now she was in a situation far bigger then she could have ever imagined. Everyone had gone to sleep and this time she wanted to sleep in her own room just by herself. Her sister was understanding enough and slightly got the message when they were having dinner.

Elsa had hardly eaten anything, and despite her lies of telling Anna that everything was okay after she asked her, she knew deep down inside that it wasn't.

Hans had told the truth.

Just saying it in her mind made her curl her nose in disgust. He's a monster, he's not supposed to tell the truth or suggest ideas to help their kingdom during the winter. There had to be an evil plot of his somewhere between all his truths.

But there wasn't, and she hated admitting it. The Southern Isles wouldn't go through the trouble to confirm their princes death to all of Scandinavia just for nothing. And now she had a choice to make. She sat up from bed, hugging her pillow close to her chest as she began to ponder the ideas.

They need a new ally, she knew perfectly well how hard this winter would be. On one hand, Arendelle could receive lots of supplies from the Southern Isles, for good pricing too. But on the other hand she had her sister. How was she going to suggest the ridiculous idea of making an alliance with the kingdom that sent its son to take over Arendelle?

The kingdom whose prince tried to woo the Queen of Arendelle. The kingdom whose prince left locked the door and left her to die.

This was a horrible idea. She can't do this to Anna or to Arendelle. She shouldn't. But she knew what had to be done. She knew what was the right thing to do.

So instead Elsa got up from bed and headed to the library where she took the book and went to her room where she kept it hidden under her covers to discuss with Anna about it tomorrow morning. And she didn't sleep well that night.

---

The day had come for Elsa to return back to the forest. It was the day that Anna hated the most yet suprisingly she seemed calmed and relaxed as if she was ready for the next challenge to come at her.

Elsa who had now created her glorious ice dress again, was pacing nervously outside of Anna's study chambers. She knew that now was the perfect time to mention her idea to her. Or rather, Hans idea. But she was going to leave that part out. She knew it wasn't time for her to know about Hans real whereabouts, she can't know or else it wouldn't work.

Anna had been humming a beautiful tune when Elsa entered her study chambers. She was just finishing adjusting the crown on the top of her head as she looked at herself in the large mirror.

Elsa came behind Anna and smiled at her reflection. "Beautiful Queen."

Anna snickered. "Oh stop." She said waving her hand at her. "I have a meeting with the council in an hour and I just want to look presentable.

"Good for you." Said Elsa smiling at her as she began to look at all the large portraits hanging on the large wall. Her eyes landed to King Ruenard's. "You decided to keep our grandfathers portrait?"

Anna turned around to follow and stare at the portrait with her sister. "I was going to take it down but his portrait kinda... motivates me in a weird way."

"How so?" Asked Elsa.

"Whenever I'm having a stressful or overwhelming day I turn to look at him and say, well at least I'm not a horrible ruler as you were."

Elsa erupted into laughter.

"I'm serious!" Laughed Anna with her as she slapped her arm teasingly. "It also pushes me to continue to provide whats best for Arendelle."

What's best for Arendelle...

Those words were haunting for her now. "Well, I'm impressed." Said Elsa pushing the thought away as watched her sister walk to her giant study desk and sit on the chair.

"You leaving soon?" Said Anna as she started to grab a pen from one of the droors.

"Um, yes. I am actually but..." her heart beat was racing. "I wanted to talk to you about something first."

"Sure what's up?" Said Anna smiling up at her sister in full attention as she clasped her hands together.

Elsa took a deep and silent breath and opened her mouth. "So, I've been thinking about Arendelles new ally that we'll be needing come winter time and—"

"Ooohhh! You thought of one!" Exclaimed Anna excitingly as she sat forward eagerly.

"Well, yes... and no." Said Elsa clearing her throat. "You see, this kingdom is a very... complicated kingdom. Arendelle espeically has a complicated relationship with it."

"Oh." Said Anna slowly leaning back again.

"And this kingdom happens to hold a very complicated past with both of us..."

Anna furrowed her eyebrows. "I don't follow."

Elsa took a deep breath before speaking again. It was now or never. "I was thinking of making an alliance with the Southern Isles."

The second Elsa mentioned the Southern Isles, Annas smile slowly faltered as her expression was replaced with confusion. "Wait, what?" She asked.

"The Southern Isles, the kingdom just southwest of us—"

"Yeah, I get that but... why??" Said Anna with a surprised expression. "You cut off trading agreements with them the second after you thawed the winter storm. Why establish trading with them again?"

"Because Arendelle is going to be needing a lot of help come winter time, Anna."

"But why the Southern Isles??"

"Well, I've been doing a lot of pondering and the Southern Isles happens to have a rather warmer climate than Arendelle. When we used to be allies they would bring us fruits and vegetation that are hard to grow in Arendelle during the winter, and in return, we provided them with ice from our ice harvesters."

"But it snows there doesn't it?" Said Anna as Elsa took a step forward.

"Yes, but not like Arendelle. We're fortunate enough to still have snow in the mountains during the summer, Denmark, on the other hand, is a sandy soil. If they provide us with food supplies for the winter, then we can meet the other half of the bargain to provide them ice harvesting for the summer."

Anna sat silently, taking in every information as she grabbed her chin and began to rub on it, much in the same manner her father did whenever Elsa would catch him in deep thought. "I-I don't know Elsa... it's a rather large risk."

"I know it's been hard for them to find a new trading partner that could supply the ice that we were capable of doing and I know they wouldn't let this opportunity slide. The Southern Isles owes this to us, and I'm sure they would even give us double the food portions just to make amends for their prince's devious acts."

Great. Now she was using his words.

Anna fornwed and shook her head as she rose from her chair and walked to the large window overseeing Arendelle. "No. No, I'm sorry. I can't do business with a kingdom whose prince tried to kill you and try to take the throne." She looked out to her people while holding her hands together. "No, I-I can't, Elsa. They would just try to find another way of bringing what's his face hear so he could get a shot at the throne again. Or worse, send one of his twelve older brothers to woo me or you."

"Hans is dead Anna." She hadn't mean to blurt it out but it was her last resort. Once she did, Anna turned her head to Elsa so quickly. Even her expression looked as sick as her.

"W-What?" She breathed out.

Elsa quickly cleared her throat as she went to her bag and begin to dig for the navy blue textbook. Once she had it she laid it on top of the large study desk where Anna soon joined her side.

Elsa quickly flipped through the pages and found the page where it listed the royal monarchy lineage. She had bookmarked it with a flower, something Elsa always did when reading. With Elsa's help she was navigated to the royal bloodline where there she found Hans name and his current status.

"Deceased..." repeated Anna as she continued to stare at the chilling and familiar name. "He died? How?? Why didn't they inform you??" Asked Anna with a hint of panic in her voice.

"I have no idea, Anna. But what I do know is that Hans is dead, the Southern Isles owes this too us after all Hans did. Perhaps this can be a way for everyone to understand that we've moved on and that new changes are ahead of us."

Anna crosses her arms and bit her lip. "But, Elsa. It's the Westergaard family. Also, why does it say fourteen, he told me he's one of twelve."

"Must be a mistake, but Anna, I wouldn't be speaking to you about this unless I knew this could really work. If he truly is dead, which the records clarify he is, then he doesn't matter anymore."

She wanted to punch herself in the face now.

Anna bit her lip again as she slowly turned around to face the window again. "You don't have to make a decision now, or tell the council my idea yet, but winter will be here before we know it and we're going to have to make a decision quickly."

Anna began to rub the bridge of her nose.

"It's either the Southern Isles or Weselton, and I don't think you want to deal with Weseltons ridiculous pricing.

Anna sighed. "No..."

"The Southern Isles owes this to us. Just give it some thought while I take this book with me back to the forest as I continue to dig more information about their laws and other things that might be important for future negotiations."

Anna slowly rested her hands on the table as she started to ponder the idea of making negotiations with Hans family. The one he had mentioned were so cruel to him. But to Elsa's surprise, Anna slowly nodded.

"Okay, fine." Turning around back to her sister. "Take the book with you and keep digging for more information about the Southern Isles and then come back to me and report it so I can know what I'm up against."

"Deal." Said Elsa as she grabbed the book from her desk and stuffed it in her bag again.

"Elsa." Said Anna who had a confused yet sad expression on her face.

"What is it Anna?"

"I... I don't know how I'm supposed to feel." She said softly.

"What do you mean?" Asked Elsa stepping forward to her.

"I mean..." Anna met her sisters eyes with confused ones from her. "Am I bad person for not feeling anything at all for him??"

Elsa quickly grabbed her sisters hands. "No. Absolutely not, Anna. It's okay to feel this way. Even I felt very confused when I encountered him."

"Encountered him?" Asked Anna with an eyebrow slowly raised.

"His name. When I encountered his name." Said Elsa quickly, trying to correct her original statement. "What's important now is we do what's right for Arendelle and I feel this might be the next right thing."

Anna slowly nodded, her lips pressed together. "Your right."

Elsa tenderly wrapped her hand around Anna's cheek. "Everything will be all right."

And although Anna smiled reassurance with her, Elsa didn't feel it herself. How could she? She was now meeting the same man they were talking about in just one hour.

"Going already?" Sighed Anna with a wry smile. Her immediate disappointment returned.

"I have to." Shrugged Elsa sadly. "But I'll be back next week like always."

Anna wrapped her arms around Elsa as she did the same. "Promise me your won't get in any other fights with random strangers."

"I'll try." Replied Elsa teasingly.

"Elsa—"

"I'm kidding, Anna!" Chuckled Elsa. "I promise."

"Good." Said Anna smiling at her as they pulled away from the hug. "I would walk you back to the docs but... I think I might need to make a quick stop at the restroom."

Elsa giggled as Anna quickly waddled past her. "That's what happens when you don't listen to me, milk really is your worst enemy, and having a box full of chocolates didn't help."

"Chocolate is not my worst enemy! But I actually had two boxes..." Said Anna turning around to Elsa with a grimace. "I'll see you next week, Elsa... Gerda!" Exclaimed the strawberry blonde as she started running down the hall trying to look for the maidservant to help her out of her dress and corset.

Elsa burst into laughter as she watched her clumsy sister run down the castle halls. "Love you sis!" She called out as she watched her turn the corner.

---

While Nokk was guiding the way back to the forest, Elsa couldn't help but continue to think about the conversation she just had with Anna.

It went a lot better than she expected, but yet his actual location still remained a secret. It was a good thing she didn't tell her yet, but Honeymaren was right. Eventually she's going to have to tell her or else she'd be digging a bigger hole for herself. In fact, she felt like she already did.

When she arrived at the forest she was greeted by the twins as usual who had been waiting for her since the morning while the rest of the tribe had begun their usual routine.

"Sooo, how'd it go?" Asked Honeymaren as she and her brother helped Elsa of the nokk.

"Surprisingly well." Replied Elsa as her feet touched the enchanted forest.

"Did you tell her about you know who?" Asked Ryder who had been snacking on reindeer jerky.

Elsa sighed. "Yes and no. I might have left out the minor detail that he's still alive and living in the forest."

"Minor?" Asked Honeymaren with a eyebrow raised.

"I'll tell her... eventually." Said Elsa.

"Whatever you say." Said Honeymaren lifting her hands up and shrugging as if she wanted her hands cleaned in all the mess Elsa was in.

"How was he? Did he he behave??" She asked as they walked back to camp settlement.

"Actually he did. It got to the point that we didn't even bring our spears with us yesterday." Said Honeymaren.

"Yeah because we brought a even deadlier weapon than a spear yesterday." Added Ryder teasingly while Honeymaren laughed with him.

Elsa raised her eyebrow. "Deadlier?"

Rhanda appeared from the corner with Bridgette in her arms. "He's allergic to cats." Sighed Rhanda.

"Oh." Said Elsa surprised while Honeymaren and Ryder continued to laugh in union.

"You should have seen him yesterday, the closer Bridgette got to him the more he wanted to jump off the mountain." Said Honeymaren wiping a tear from her face.

"Poor man, I even had to bring some special eye drops I made to ease the itch in his eyes. I was actually on my way up to give them to him, but since your here now, would you want to do the honor?" Said Rhanda handing the closed cup of liquid to Elsa.

"Sure." Shrugged Elsa. "I don't see why not, and I'll mention to him about this evenings supper."

"Oh, you decided to invite him afterall?" Asked Honeymaren surprised by her decision.

"Yes, that is unless you guys already invited him."

Honeymaren shook her head. "You told us not to say a word about it, so we didn't."

"Thank you." Said Elsa smiling at her and putting her hand on her shoulder. "I'll be right back." She climbed on top of the Nokk and started making her way up to the mountain.

---

When she arrived to the waterfall she found him drying his face with a cloth. It seemed he had just showered not too long ago. Good thing to, she was not in the mood to seeing his bare body from the waist down.

Why was she suddenly imaging that thought now?

"Ah, your majesty." He said turning to Elsa. "You've returned."

"I have." She deadpanned.

"How was the trip?"

"It was... Fine." She answered awkwardly. Why would he ask that in the first place?

"Well good. Please don't take this the wrong way but there isn't a seventeen year old girl and her pet car behind you is there?"

Elsa shook her head. "No, just me. But I did bring the eye drops she had entrusted me to give you." Said Elsa presenting the cup of liquid before him.

"Ah, thank you." Said Hans taking the cup and lifting it above his head as the liquid aimed for his eye. Shortly after he was finished he turned to Elsa again. "I take Queen Anna took the news of my whereabouts rather well then."

Elsa sighed as she sat in the same boulder she had been sitting on whenever they seemed to have a conversation. "It... never came up."

"Ah, so you haven't told her yet." Said Hans surprised himself.

"Not yet. But we did discuss other things." Said Elsa playing with her fingers nervously. Why was she afraid of asking him all of the sudden? "And I was wondering if you would like to come down to the camp and dine with us so we may discuss it."

The invitation caught Hans completely by surprise as he turned around the face Elsa. "What?"

"Yelena, our tribe leader, insists you come down to dine with us. That way they can come to know who you really are and what your purpose of being in their home is. The spirits will be there too, Gale included." Said Elsa gesturing this time to the playful wind spirit next to her.

"Queen Elsa, are you asking me out?" He teased with an eyebrow raised.

Elsa's eyes widened. "N-no! No absolutely not!—"

"I'm only kidding." He said raising his hand up and chucking. "I appreciate the offer but how do I know this isn't a trap of yours. For all I know you have the whole Arendellian battalion waiting for me in the forest, ready to take me down and arrest me."

Elsa rolled her eyes. "If I wanted you arrested I would have done that myself don't you think?"

He pouted his lips slowly nodded. "Fair enough, you make a good argument. Although I can't say yes or no, I'll have to think about it."

"Fine." Said Elsa rising to her feet to leave. "But the invitation still stands."

The whole afternoon he had a inner battle with himself to see what choice he is to make. The invitation seemed harmless but Elsa wasn't. She's made it very clear how much she hates him and wants him gone. But then again, what else did he have to lose...

The evening came and Elsa grew more and more nervous as every second passed by and she couldn't understand why. The plan was simple, mention the trade agreement between the Southern Isles and Arendelle and ask him for his best advice of how to her kingdom come winter time. And then perhaps find a way to relocate him. If there was anyone in the world that could help her better understand how the Southern Isles does business it was him.

So why was she so nervous? Even Honeymaren had to calm her down. "Hey, it's okay. If he tries anything he'll be outnumbered." She said putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Elsa sighed. "I know it's just—"

"There he is!" Said Rhanda suddenly. Elsa's eyes widened as did everyone else as they all jumped to their feet. Honeymaren, Ryder and the rest of the Northuldran warriors grabbed their spears and held it pointed to the dark figure slowly walking their way.

It was obvious he wasn't trying to hide himself by the way he allowed his feet to make noise with the crunching leaves. When he stepped into the light he had been equipped with every single weapon he had when they first saw him, the only difference was that he worse no mask to hide his identity this time, not even his hooded cape was covering his auburn long hair.

The Northuldran seemed in awe when they saw how young and handsome Hans was, and it seemed that he and Elsa were the only ones that stuck out, a lot of it having to do with their hair color and the fair skin.

Yelena was the first to slowly step forward as she raised her hand up for the warriors to lower their weapons. Honeyamren did as she was told and quickly gave a signal to the rest of the group as they slowly followed her example and lowered their weapons as well.

"Welcome, stranger." Began Yelena. "We are the Northuldra, the people of the sun."

Hans said nothing, instead he continued to glare at all of them. The ones he had been sharing a forest with for the past year.

"I am, Yelena. The tribal leader of this people and have been for more than thirty years. What is your name stranger, what do we call you?"

Hans didn't answer, instead he continued to glare at everyone but to Elsa's surprise he finally opened his mouth and spoke. "Hans." Whispers were heard around the people before he continued. "Hans Westergaard."

Yelena nodded. "Welcome, Hans Westergaard. We wish to get to know and hopefully become friendly with you. We have been sharing the forest for over a year now afterall, it seems only fair."

Elsa was surprised by how well the conversation had been going so far. Even she felt a little more at peace and not as anxious.

"We invite you to come dine with us, we only ask that you leave your weapons out of dinner." Said Yelena.

"I'll do it once they lower their spears." Retaliated Hans.

Elsa scoffed inwardly. Of course he'd say that.

"Very well." Said Yelena as she turned to Honeyamren. It really couldn't have gotten any better. Honeyamren didn't rebuke Yelena or Hans for that matter. Instead she did as she was told and all of the others behind her followed her example. "Now it is your turn."

He was hesitant at first and for a second Elsa thought he would just run away, but eventually, Hans began to take out every single weapon in his possession. His musket, his pistol, the crossbow, the axe, the flying sharp edge stars and even the dagger he had cut Elsa with.

Every time Elsa saw that dagger it ran shivers up her thigh.

"Please, sit." Said Yelena gesturing at the open space Elsa had saved next to her. It seemed only wise in case he tried anything suspicious with them. Elsa would be on his right while honeyamren on his left. He would be trapped next to a ice welder and a skilled fighter who could command the others to attack him with a snap of her fingers.

Smart. Thought Hans to himself as she started walking towards Elsa. Everyone watched as he sat on the floor next to her, crisscrossing his feet together and with his arm hugging his knee as always.

Yelena smiled a little at the two before turning to her people. "Pass the reindeer."

---

He didn't expect the dinner to go that well. The whole time Elsa and Hans were quite for the most part, say a few little words thrown around her and there. The one that had been asking the most questions was Rhanda of course. She was fascinated by who Hans was and what he did before he left to Arendelle for the first time.

After much convincing from Yelena and Honeymaren, Ryder swallowed his pride and took it upon himself to show Hans around the camp. He showed him where they kept all the reindeer, he showed him around the lake and even all the huts where they retired to.

Then it was Honeymarens turn. She showed him where the Northuldran Warriors usually trained and how they created their spears and even explained further of why it was their duty to take care of the forest in the first place.

"Take a look around you." Said HoneyMaren gesturing to her people. "Do you see a great castle of sorts? Or perhaps someone's hut who is bigger than the others??"

Hans shook his head. "No, they all look the same."

"Precisely." Replied Honeymaren. "The forest does not belong to us, it belongs to nature. Not even the reindeer belong to us. It is our duty to look after the forest and treat it with the utmost respect."

"What about the spirits, do you watch over them too?"

"No, no one watches over the spirits, this is their home. Elsa and the four of the other spirits make sure that nature is kept in line and that no one abuses it's power. That is why the spirits have beckoned for you to visit them, because the whole time that you claim to have been living here you've treated the spirits with respect." Explained Honeymaren.

"I was just trying to stay away from the world and survive." He replied.

"But no one is allowed in here unless the spirits seem them worthy. The spirits saw something in you, Hans."

Hans was speechless, this is probably the same thing that Elsa had been thinking too, she just hasn't wanted to tell him or perhaps come to terms with it and he didn't blame her if he was being honest.

If they claim no one was allowed in here unless the spirits deemed them worthy then what could he have possibly done to end up hear in the first place? And end up with the same Queen he tried to decapitate three years ago.

Hans shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I think you might have the wrong person. I don't possess any magic or worthiness or any kind."

"The spirits choose who they choose, and it is time for you to find out why." Said Honeymaren stepping aside and gesturing to the small creek where he found Elsa standing there with her hands clasped in front of her and her posture regal as ever.

And now he suddenly became nervous and he didn't understand why.

He inhaled deeply before making his way over to Elsa. He stood next to her at a respectable distance as they looked over the small creek. The gentle water running through the rocks was extremely satisfying to hear.

"You know I never had reindeer before." He said finally breaking the silence. "It was sweet but delicious."

She smirked while continuing to look out to the creek. "I've never tried it until I moved here. It was hard to get adjusted to it in the beginning because Anna's fiancé has a pet reindeer he's always with that he considers a brother. But at the end, I was able to finally eat it without thinking of him."

He breathed out a small laugh and the silence returned. He decided to wait patiently to see if she would say anything but when nothing came he cleared his throat instead.

"Ahem, thank you for uh, well for inviting me I suppose. I was able to finally understand more of who these people were. They're peaceful and now I realize that they really don't mean any harm to no one. They're just trying to look out for each other." He said gesturing to the laughing and happy Northuldran.

A small Northuldran child ran through Hans legs which made him freak out for just a second. She rushed to Elsa where she had the biggest eager and pleading eyes as if she was asking for something with her giant grin.

Elsa smiled at her and with her hands she created a beautiful rose peddle made of ice and handed it back to the little girl who ran off happily to show the rest of her hands.

"They like you." He said as they watched her leave.

"They're wonderful." She said smirking at the beautiful scene of the children sharing the pedal she created. She breathed in a heavy sigh before finally looking back out to the creek again. Hans could tell that she was finally going to speak and she was not looking forward to if. "I followed your advice and searched for your name in the library."

His eyebrows raised up surprised of her sudden comment. She actually listened to him. "Oh. And how'd it go? Did you learn anything??" He teased.

"Well for one the Southern Isles should really hire new people when writing your family tree down. It says you and your siblings are one of fourteen instead of thirteen."

His eyebrows furrowed as if he was surprised why she thought that was a mistake.

"But anyways, I learned about the history of Southern Isles and how it came to be through two twin brothers who split the country of Denmark into two kingdoms." She said.

"Yup. King Rudi and King Runo. The pair of twins brothers in our family are actually named after them but I can assure you that those clowns are no kings whatsoever." He pointed out.

Elsa smirked. "I also learned why you have an obsession with apples. Apperantly the whole kingdom is covered with it."

"It's a delicacy." He grinned. "They're three times as big as normal apples and sweeter than anything you've ever tasted. Forgive my language but you would be a fool to not trade with the Southern Isles just for one of their famous apples."

She rolled her eyes and laughed a little at that. "But before I proceed to do so I must know one thing from you."

He sighed, even rolling his own eyes this time. "I've already told you, I don't know how or why I got past the mist. I don't have an answer for you."

"You may not have an answer for me, but perhaps you'll have one for them." Said Elsa gesturing to the creek where a glowing blue light began to appear in the water.

His eyebrows pressed together as he took a step forward to get a closer look. It's there where he saw two glowing blue eyes staring directly at him. His eyes widened and before he could even open his mouth the water rose up gloriously and there in front of him appeared the Nokk.

He took a leap back in fear with his arm extended defensively as the water spirit neighed loudly.

Then from the corner of his eye and on top of a tree he saw a small flame, except for some reason it was pink and not red. Suddenly the flame began to jump around from tree branch to tree branch as if it was a bouncy ball until it finally landed right on top of Elsa's shoulder.

She was completely unfazed and the fire cooled away just by the touch of her skin. Once the pink flames settled down he saw a small critter on top of his shoulder. A salamander to be more exact.

His head tilted to his right in confusion and Bruni imitated him and did the same, but before he could say anything the ground below his feet started to shake. There just begin the creek and from the tall trees appeared an enormous rock giant.

And this was what made jaw drop. The rock giant made his way over to the creek and hunched down next to the nokk and Elsa. And Elsa still seemed completely unfazed as did the rest of the the people behind him.

"Hans. These are the magical spirits of the forest. The horse you see is the nokk, the water spirit. The rock giant Is the earth spirit and the salamander on top of my shoulder is the fire spirit. His name is Bruni. And of course you've met Gale already." Said Elsa gesturing to the wind spirit who whistled playfully and made her way to stand beside to fly above the spirits, even twirling in circles around Hans's body.

"Uh... hi?" He said just above a whisper.

"When they allow someone to pass through the mist it is because they hold something that they feel is of value or worthy. They insist that you hold some sort of truth to all this." She said.

"But—"

"Now you may say that you don't know anything but that is hard to believe. I can make it possible to relocate you somewhere else if you just spill the truth already." She said cutting him off.

Now he was getting annoyed. He had repeatedly told her that he had no knowledge as to why he was welcomed into the forest. It was just a stupid forest to him, at least that's what it seemed at first. "I don't know anything." He replied. "And quite frankly I'm getting tired of you asking, Your Majesty."

Perhaps he didn't mean it to come out so rudely but it did. Even Honeymaren and Ryder overheard it. Elsa's expression filled with a deep frown and the spirits could sense this was going to get ugly.

"I don't care if me asking you is getting on your nerves. You are here at this forest when you shouldn't be. Tell us how you got here now." She demanded.

He snickered. "How adorable, the Queen consort of Arendelle demanding answers out of me."

"I'm also the fifth spirit of this forest, or did you forget that part already?." She retaliated. "If we're going to do business with your kingdom then I demand the truth—"

"There is no truth." He cut her off boldly and darkly. "And even if there were I wouldn't tell you. You'd just use me and then return me back to my family. I don't trust you."

She scoffed. "And you think I trust you??"

They were arguing much louder now. The tribe started to murmur within each other and the atmosphere had drastically changed in less than a second. Ryder and Honeymaren stepped forward to get a better view.

"You think I want Arendelle to do business with a kingdom whose prince is a unreedemable monster."

"Yikes." Said Rhanda as she joined Honeymaren and Ryder who were still at the two argue.

His glare was viscous but he soon chuckled so darkly that it sent chills down everyone's spine, including Elsa's. "That's funny, because last time I recall it wasn't me who froze Anna's heart, was it?"

Small gasps were heard within the tribe, even Elsa's own jaw parted with fear.

"If I remember correctly it was you who struck her heart after she was stupid enough to go after you who ran away and built herself a ridiculous ice palace in the north mountain to hide from everyone."

Elsa's heart began to beat faster. "You—you don't know what your taking about."

"Oh I don't? Let's see here. You were the one that shut your sister out for thirteen years. You were never there for her, even when your own parents died you never even showed your face to do so much as to comfort her." He said taking one step forward.

"Oh my god... this is not good." Whispered Honeymaren to Ryder.

Elsa's shook her head in denial. "I did it to protect her—"

"And then that made things worse didn't it? So let me get this straight. Your parents separate you both your whole lives after one incident that almost killed Anna, then to make things worse your own mother lets your father conceal your powers, even force you to wear gloves at all times." He spat.

Elsa instinctively reaches for her hands, rubbing them as if she was afraid those horrible fabric against her skin while the tribe gasped even louder.

"What? You didn't know about that small detail??" Said Hans turning around to the tribe with his voice even louder. "Queen Iduna not only lied to her husband of who she really was, but she acted if she didn't know anything about magic, even allowing her husband to conceal Elsa's powers."

This time Yelena stepped forward, surprised by the small detail herself. All while Elsa hugged her arms nervously.

"Iduna isn't Northuldran. If she was one of you she wouldn't have pretended to be someone's she's not. She betrayed her own kind and beliefs and at the end proved to be more Arendellian then her own husband!"

The gasps turned into loud murmurs, even Honeymaren and Ryder were taken back by how viscous and impactful Hans's words were.

Elsa's eyes shot forward to Hans, glaring at him but her expression still fearful. "How dare you—"

"How dare I??" He laughed arrogantly. "No, Your Majesty. How dare you. How dare you accuse me of being an unreedemable monster when it was your own parents who could have avoided thirteen years of misery only by telling the truth."

His words felt like blades piercing her heart. Truths that she's tried to avoid for a while now.

"How dare you forgive your own parents for literally ruining both Anna's life and yours." He said stepping forward. "But you know what, I could forget all of that if you weren't such a liar."

Her eyes widened even more fearful. "Okay, that's enough!" Said Honeymaren stepping forward with Ryder and Yelena. The spirits had started to back away from the two of them as if they were accepting their argument and giving them space.

"Go on, Your majesty. Tell them." He said never taking his eyes of her. "Tell then the truth of why you're still alive in the first place."

Honeymarens eyebrows furrowed. "Elsa, what is he talking about?"

Her breathing became heavier as did her shoulders and her heart was beating even faster. She was having anxiety attack and she hadn't had one since she found her parents ship.

"Tell me, Elsa." He began taking a step forward close to Elsa again. "Who saved you from Weseltons guard before they shot you dead with their crossbow."

Honeymaren and Ryder were speechless.

Elsa pressed her lips tightly as she held her arms closer. "You aimed for the chandelier."

"I did. But did you know I instructed the guards and your men that no harm is to come to you? I never told them to attack you."

"You aimed for the chandelier!" She yelled, her voice breaking in between.

"And yet I still saved you from not only the arrow, but also from making a huge mistake, didn't I?" He replied darkly.

Elsa closed her eyes and tried to control her breathing.

"You were about to push that guard to his death." Elsa's eyes opened and tears were now threatening to come down. "Now granted, it was justified. You were merely defending yourself. But can you imagine if I hadn't gotten past the giant snow monster you had created? All of Arendelle would have called you a murderer.

"S-stop it." She chocked out as ice began to form under her feet.

"All right leave her alone, that's enough!" Exclaimed Honeymaren stepping closer with Ryder but Hans ignored the two and stepped closer to Elsa.

"I carried you in my arms and brought you back down to Arendelle and even pleaded that you stop the winter. And then you told me you couldn't, that I should get Anna or let you go."

Elsa hid her face from him and looked out to the forest, trying not to look at him.

"And what did I do? I folllwed your instructions. I went to get Anna again but then she returned and she was cold."

Her heart stopped for a brief second.

"She was freezing to death because you struck her heart and had the audacity to still shut the door on her face and kick her out of the north mountain. She pleaded to me to kiss her, to save her. That is was the only way she could stay alive."

Elsa shook her head in denial again. "No..."

"She thought a true loves kiss could save her." He scoffed. "Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?? And so I made a decision right then and there. I followed the other royal dignitaries advice and realized I was all Arendelle had left. Yes, I left her to die but there was nothing capable of saving that woman. Not even a kiss from that mountain man."

"Kristoff?" Said Ryder suddenly.

"And when I came back to get you had escaped and were doing what you did best, running away."

"Stop it." She breathed out.

"I folllwed you out the fjord to stop you. I told you that Anna was dead and you fell down to the ground in despair.

"Stop." She repeated a little louder while hugging her arms tighter.

"And I drew out my sword because it seemed the only way to stop the winter was by killing you. And deep down inside you felt that was the only way, didn't you? Because you heard me draw out my sword and you accepted your fate."

"Please just... just stop—"

"And then Anna jumped in front of the sword for you."

She gasped.

"And she froze solid."

"ENOUGH!" Elsa cried out as she threw her hand and sent a icy blast directly at his stomach which sent him flying backwards while the rest of the tribe slipped and fell to the ground by the large frozen ice she had accidentally summoned below her feet.

He groaned and sat up from the ground, clenching his teeth in anger as he held his stomach in pain while the rest of the tribe began to groan and rise from the hard fall.

And Elsa had the same panicked expressions she had when her powers were exposed and she sent icicles piercing through the castle when it almost hit Anna.

Tears were flowing down her face now, gasping for air in between breaths and her hands were shaky as she hid them under her armpits, afraid she just committed the worst mistake of her life.

Hans rose to the ground, still holding his stomach while glaring at the emotionally wrecked Elsa.

"That's it, get out, now!" Exclaimed Honeymaren as she stood in the middle of him and Elsa.

"You aren't angry that I almost tried to kill you. You're angry because I didn't." He said directing his bold statement to her.

Elsa continued to cry.

"You're angry for what I did to Anna, not for what I did to you. Because deep down inside you realize that had I not gone after you on that fjord, Anna wouldn't have sacrificed herself and you would have ran away, Arendelle would still be frozen along with Anna."

Elsa was bawling.

"Maybe I'm not an unredeemable monster." He said with his glare still focused on her. "Maybe the monster is you."

And if her heart was broken already then it was completely shattered by now as she darted her sad eyes back up to his furious ones.

Yelena stepped forward. "Leave. Now." She demanded. All while the rest of the spirits just watched patiently as if this was meant to occur.

With his stare still focused on her, he smirked darkly at Elsa. "As her majesty commands."

He turned around and without looking back once he left and headed back to the direction of the four peaks. Honeymaren turned to Elsa who still had tears streaming down her face. "Elsa?" She asked.

But Elsa choked on her cry and turned to walk the opossite direction into the forest. "Elsa, Wait!" Called out Honeymaren, but she didn't listen. Instead, she walked further and further away until she was nowhere near the camp or was capable of hearing Honeymarens shouts.

She was the same terrified teenager again, the one that would cry every day by herself in her room because she couldn't control her powers. And when she was finally alone she sat on the ground beside a tree and began to weep even louder.

Because he was right.

---

Just on the other side of the forest, where the dark sea was located, there were two boats that landed on the dark seashore. Six individuals jumped from the damaged boats and they're tunics were dark, even they're armor was dark with a mysterious design to it. But they're faces were covered with masks from the bridge of their noses and hooded capes coverinn their heads with only their eyes visible. Their eyes were the only thing that weren't dark, not even their hands were visible.

Each of them wielded different exotic weapons. Weapons that could tear an individual in one slice. They were being led by a man who had a long thin and sharp sword on his back.

The man was tall and he walked with as if he was ready to slice the head of someone. He stopped in front of a footprint, kneeled down and ran his fingers through the dried up imprint while the other five watched him from behind.

One of the men from the group spoke to him in a language that was not Scandinavian, nor any European country.

"Burazā, nan kao sagashidesu is?" he asked, which in translate really meant. "Brother, have you found something?"

To which the leader simply raised his head up to the large forest in front of him, his eyes concentrated on his prey and said. "He's here."