Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Hans's heart beat in his chest like a clock counting down to what seemed to be his last moments. Face to face with the one he'd tried to murder in cold blood. He'd called her a monster without understanding what a monster really was. In her eyes was a bloodlust so great he'd never seen anything like it. The ice pointed at his neck was the only thing keeping him from speaking.
God, how he longed to feel Ravian's flames inside of him. He longed to feel that familiar thrum of power he had never been able to feel. And in the moments when he needed it the most, Ravian was nowhere to be found.
"How dare you." Hans gulped as Elsa came closer, her presence so overpowering he went stiff, like a single touch could shatter him into a million pieces. She seemed to tower over him even though she stood half a head shorter than him. "How dare you come back here after what you've done." Hans tried to clench his fists under the ice restraining them. There was no luck, there was no sensation at all. His hands had gone numb.
Hans's eyes shifted to the queen's hands. Hands so powerful they could kill him with just the twitch of a finger, but they were shaking. "You..." Elsa hissed through gritted teeth.
"I what?" He jeered. "What did I-"
The icicle pointed at his neck drew nearer, its frozen point making contact with Hans's skin, not enough pressure to pierce, but enough to shut him up. "You don't get to speak." Elsa took another small step forward, ice trailing in her wake. The air around them had gotten instantly colder, and every single one of Hans's breaths became visible as if his very fear was seeping out of him for Elsa to see. Suddenly, a voice.
I'm coming.
Hans fought the urge to smirk when he heard Ravian's speak inside of his mind. Relief rushed through him, and he found himself relaxing even in the face of Elsa's power. In a matter of minutes, he wouldn't be powerless anymore. He would have just as much, if not more power than the queen in front of him, but for the time being, there was only one thing he could do.
Stall.
In any way possible.
The former prince raised a brow, all the fear inside of him turning to confidence as he gazed into Elsa's angry eyes before a chuckle escaped his lips. "Then what are you going to do?" He inquired cooly. "Are you just going to stare at me and be angry all day?" On Hans's lips was a smirk. "Because I have to say I am enjoying the view quite a bit."
Hans's eyes followed another icicle that shot towards Hans's neck, hovering just over his skin. His green orbs quickly shifted back to Elsa's icy blue ones that were radiating rage. "Your hurt her." Her voice seeped anger. "You hurt Anna."
The former prince laughed as he stared into the queen's eyes. Knowing that he had nothing to fear. "You're right." He paused, "But you did too."
/
Fury overwhelmed Elsa as she stared into the eyes of her attempted murderer. She wished more than anything she could push the icicle into his neck. She wished she could be rid of him forever, but she couldn't. She didn't have the gall to kill, and she couldn't bring herself to stoop to Hans's level, but that didn't mean she would be letting him go. After what he'd done, he wouldn't be leaving Arendelle's dungeons, in her mind, he deserved much worse than that, but she couldn't bring herself to dish out a crueler punishment. His face seemed thinner than she'd remembered it. His jaw was defined in a malnourished kind of way, and his slender figure gave the same poorly treated appearance.
Brother.
The voice rang out in her mind again.
Where is my brother?
Her hands began to shake. She could feel her power threatening to burst, vying to take control of her. For her own sake, she had to stay calm, but that was becoming harder by the second. She could only stare in anger, and her power wanted to let that anger out on the prince. There were so many things to say that she found herself unable to say anything at all. "You hurt her." Was all that came out. "You hurt Anna."
Elsa wanted a reason. She wanted to know why. Why this man had tried to kill for a throne he would never receive. The chuckle that came from Hans made Elsa raise a brow. How in the world could he possibly be laughing?
"You're right." The ginger replied in a voice too calm for Elsa's comfort.
The queen felt the urge to yell. To scream. To make him feel all the pain he'd made her, made Anna feel. His confident tone sent anger coursing even faster through her body. How could he be oozing confidence and suave when she had him right where he wanted?
"But you did too."
Elsa's eyes went wide, and her hand began to shake faster. Her heart began to pound in her chest and her knees became weak from surprise. "What?" Her voice came out in a whisper. She couldn't believe what he'd said, but more than that, she couldn't believe what he'd said was true. "What are you talking about?" Once again, anger filled her tone.
The prince's lips curled into a smirk. "You know exactly what I mean." He cooed softly. "Don't even try to play dumb with me." Elsa couldn't believe how quickly the tables had turned on her. One minute, she was in total control, the next, she was in the palm of Hans's hand. "I know about your thirteen years." He continued. "I know how you treated her. How you shut her out." It took Elsa a moment to register another chuckle escaping Hans's lips. "She was so lonely, Elsa. And you didn't care."
Elsa hadn't known how much Anna had confided in him before he'd broken her heart, but her sister had seemingly told him everything. How she'd shut her out. Ignored her. "I-I did...I do care."
Brother!
The voice boomed in her mind again, begging for attention. Begging to be released.
"You can't deny it." Hans continued. "You can't deny how much suffering you've caused her."
Elsa shut her eyes, wanting his words to go in one ear and out the other, but she couldn't overlook her wrongdoings. They'd been at the forefront of her mind for years on end, and hearing all the things she'd done wrong from the man who'd tried to murder her sent her over the edge. Her eyes snapped open and her brow was permanently furrowed in rage. "I think you're one to talk." She hissed. "You tried to murder her! Murder me!"
"At least I had a reason." He retorted, his shoulders rising in a shrug. "I did it for power. Maybe it didn't work, but I still had a motive. Did you?"
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Each second that passed made Elsa's heart pound harder against her chest. Memories began to flash through her mind. Every knock on her door that she couldn't answer, but wished with all her heart that she could. The funeral that she couldn't attend because she was too scared. She'd just left Anna alone. She'd wanted to protect her, but instead, she had hurt her, but wasn't she forgiven? Was Anna still hostile towards her deep down? Did Anna truly forgive her? Guilt panged her heart, and then she heard Hans snicker.
She gazed at the prince only to find his lips curled into a smirk. "You manipulative monster." She hissed. This was what he'd wanted all along. To mess with her. To toy with her as he had with her sister.
Han's smirk was now malefic as a thin aura of red became visible around his body, and Elsa's ice suddenly pulled away from Hans's neck. She urged her power towards the prince again, but her power refused. It didn't want to listen to her.
Brother!
The air around Elsa began to shift in temperature. Suddenly, it became hot. Too hot. Beads of sweat began to form on her forehead. Breathing became harder in the heat, and lightheadedness began to take over while Hans laughed uncontrollably.
"You want a monster, Elsa?"
The ice on Hans's hands and feet began to dissipate into vapor as her power began to disappear before her very eyes.
Her ice was melting.
Elsa watched as her ice melted quicker by the second. Her throat became dry, and whatever words she'd tried to speak had come out in a whimper when the prince's hands and feet were free from the grasp of her ice.
She could have sworn her heart skipped a beat when she met Hans's eyes, now amber and wicked, as the prince took a step towards her.
"Then I'll give you one."
/
Finally.
Finally.
Hans's entire boy grew warm as fire coursed through his entire body. Power thrummed through him, and the urge to release the flames built up inside of him with each passing second. Staring into Elsa's frightened eyes was the equivalent of seeing a lot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
It was a galvanizing miracle he'd once thought was impossible.
Hans took slow, taunting steps towards the queen, planning to revel in every moment of his soon-to-be victory. Every step she took back, he closed the distance quickly.
"Elsa, you can't run from this." He purred. Determination flashed in Elsa's eyes, but when flame enveloped Hans's hand, her courage was squandered, fear to resurface on her face. Her lip began to quiver, and her hands shook faster. She was completely vulnerable. "You can't run from me."
It was time to finish her.
Hans stepped closer so his hand was inches away from her face. The flames illuminated her pale skin, giving the illusion the ice queen was glowing. Even in moments of fear and on the brink of death, she still looked stunning. "I'm sure you'd be happy to be reunited with your parents, wouldn't you? It's been years since you've seen them, hasn't it?"
It was then that Elsa fell to her knees, her eyes wide as she looked in terror up at the former prince. The sight of the queen bowing to him was one he'd remember for the rest of his life. "You'll join them soon."
Hans urged his power forward to deliver the killing blow.
But there was nothing.
No.
He urged the power forward again.
Nothing.
Ravian had just refused him.
Why?
Hans fought the urge to keep his confident look on his face. How could Ravian refuse him now? When he was so close? When his revenge was right in front of him?
The flame engulfing Hans's hand receded, leaving only his skin in return.
What the hell?.
The former prince forced his smirk to grow as his fingers hooked underneath Elsa's chin.
An uncomfortable feeling panged in his chest as he gazed into the queen's eyes. Tears streamed like a river down her cheeks as her pupils held nothing but sorrow and fear.
And Hans's eyes had never gone wider.
/
"We're under attack!"
From the solitary of his room, a young Hans sat on his bed, his knees hugged close to his chest as yelling and the clashing of metal could be heard from outside the castle. Hans dared not to look out his window where an orange tint flickered. He knew what kind of destruction and slaughter was taking place outside the castle walls, but the young prince couldn't bear to bring himself to look.
"I don't want to die..." He muttered to himself in the darkness of his room. "I don't want to-"
The door to his room swung open, and standing in the doorway was a man dressed in a scarlet red military uniform lined with gold and white from head to toe. His entire outfit was singed and holes revealed a red liquid dripping from multiple places from the man's body, and his red hair had been tinted black from ash and debris.
"Hans, come on! We need to get you to safety!" Hans was too stunned to move. Fear paralyzed the young boy who could only gawk in terror as the soldier quickly approached his bed. "Come on!"
A firm hand clasped Han's wrist, and the young boy was being pulled against his will through the halls of the castle. Hans's feet could barely keep up with the soldier's breakneck pace. The young prince stumbled and stammered. "Caleb.." A whimper escaped Hans's lips as the soldier turned his head towards the boy.
"Just keep running, Hans. We're almost there."
Hans watched the soldier continue with determination. "Caleb," Hans said a bit louder.
"Just run, Hans!" The soldier yelled. Hans's eyes widened as he looked up at the ceiling. The young prince barely had time to react as a large piece of wood seemed to fall from the sky, landing right in front of the two running boys, blocking their path. "This way!"
The soldier pulled Hans in a different direction, and down a grand staircase. The doors at the end of the hall were so close, yet seemed so far away. Suddenly, the larger man stopped, and Hans halted immediately as the soldier turned to him. "Go, Hans. Go while you can."
Hans's eyes were wide with confusion as he looked up at the soldier. "You're-you're not coming with me?" He asked, tears welling in his eyes.
"I have to stay." The man brushed some ginger hair out of Hans's eyes, and the small prince stared up into the emerald eyes of his older brother. "I'll be there soon when everyone is safe."
Hans gave a small nod and launched himself into Caleb's arms. "I'm scared." He whispered. "I'm scared, Caleb."
The older brother, ran his hands soothingly up and down the boy's back, comforting him as best he could through the chaos. Caleb broke the embrace, looking at Hans with fatigued eyes. "You need to be safe, Hans. You have to leave."
"I don't feel safe when I'm not with you." Hans began to sob. "They all hate me. They all think I killed mother! You're the only one who doesn't!"
"They're all idiots." Caleb's informal had Hans taken aback. "I don't hate you, Hans. I love you. Mother did too."
Hans buried his face into the crook of Caleb's neck as he let his tears flow freely.
"Look! There!"
"It's the prince!"
"Stop him!"
Caleb's eyes widened with fear as he pushed Hans away from his embrace. The prince saw three figures running down the grand staircase, each with swords in hand. "Go, Hans! Run! Don't look back!"
"But Caleb, what about you? I can't just-"
Hans backed away as the men came closer, two of them holding Caleb's arms down. Hans's eyes went wide as metal poked through Caleb from behind. Hans looked up in terror, Tears streamed like a river down her cheeks as her pupils held nothing but sorrow and fear as blood began to drip from Caleb's mouth. "Run..." His voice was strained, and the words were barely audible. "Run, Hans."
Hans didn't say another word as he turned and took off, running as fast as his small legs would carry him. He pushed through the double doors of the castle, sobbing all the while.
/
Hans found himself unable to speak. He felt like he'd been staring at Elsa for hours, and the queen's lip hadn't stopped trembling. He felt a weight release from his cheek, and his vision blurred from tears he finally realized were falling from his cheeks. "You'll join them later."
Hans urgently removed his fingers from underneath Elsa's chin. From the corner of his eye, he saw the queen's head drop to look at the ground. He quickly wiped his eyes, and his sadness instantly turned to rage. He wouldn't have had to look weak. He wouldn't have had to hesitate if only... if only that-
Why so angry?
Ravian's voice sent rage flooding through Hans. "We need to talk." He hissed. "Now.
/
Impossible.
inconceivable.
Elsa's hand tightly clenched a fistful of her platinum blonde hair. The question that had been burning in the back of her mind for years had finally been answered. There was someone else like her.
But that someone was Hans.
How?
Had he always had that power? Had he been hiding it the way she had been?
And if he hadn't already harbored it, how did he obtain it?
One question had been answered, but with that one answer came even more questions. The mere act of thinking about the confrontation she'd just had made her head throb.
And then, her eyes went wide.
Anna.
If Hans was coming back, then Anna was in danger. He had power, and the things he could do to her, to Anna...
Elsa didn't dare to envision the horrible things that could transgress.
"Elsa!"
The queen's head shot upward, and a relieved smile spread across her lips as she saw the two figures running towards her.
The next thing she knew, she was being held in a crushing embrace. "What happened?" The familiar voice of her sister rang in her ear, and Elsa gently brought her arms around Anna's waist. "Who was that? You looked really angry when you ran off, but you still ran off! I was so worried! You better have a good reason for scaring me like that!"
"It was..." Elsa gulped. "It was Hans."
Elsa could feel Anna stiffen against her at the mention of her attempted murderer's name. "Here?" Anna broke away to look at her sister, her eyes wide with an emotion Elsa knew too well. "But how did he...I thought he was sent back to the Southern Isles."
"Where is he?" Elsa's eyes shifted to the tall and muscular blonde who stood over the two sisters. His face contorted in anger and his fists clenched. "I have a few things to say to him."
"No, Kristoff." Elsa's voice was firm, yet fear was evident in it. "You can't go after him."
Elsa broke away from her sister's embrace, her shoulders stiff as her head fell to the ground. The queen felt firm hands on her shoulders, and Elsa couldn't resist the pull of Anna's gaze. "Elsa, what happened?" The redhead whispered.
Elsa took a shaky breath. "He's like me, Anna."
The redhead raised a brow in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"I mean he's like me." Elsa repeated, lifting her hand to stare at her palm.
It was then she heard Anna's voice as soft as a whisper. "He has...powers? But how? Aren't you the only one with them?"
Elsa's shoulders weakly rose into a shrug. "He could have killed me, Anna. He-he didn't, but he...he could have."
An uncomfortable heat spread throughout the queen's body remembering the flame in front of her.
"Does he have ice too?" Anna asked quietly.
Elsa shook her head. "Fire." She shuddered merely thinking about the interaction.
She saw Kristoff blink. "That actually sounds kind of cool." Anna looked back at him with a glare, and the ice harvester raised his arms in innocence. "I'm just saying it sounds like it would be cool, but if he almost killed you it's definitely not cool."
Anna helped Elsa to her feet. "Alright, we need answers." The redhead took Elsa's arm, dragging her skin with her. "Let's go."
Elsa raised a brow as she looked curiously at her sister. "Go where?"
Kristoff and Anna looked at each other mischievously. "Where do you think we're going?" Anna giggled. "To Pabbie, of course."
/
Hans walked to a secluded part of the woods, Ravian's fire still coursing through him. His rage made the flames feel like he could erupt at any minute, which couldn't have been further from the truth.
He made sure they were far away from Arendelle. Far away from Elsa. He'd never been so close. His revenge had been in his grasp, and Ravian had let it slip from his fingers.
"Get out here," Hans ordered. "Now."
The familiar red aura surrounded his body, and Ravian emerged from flames with his arms crossed. Lightheadedness and fatigue overtook Hans, but he ignored the dizziness and stared into Ravian's stoic red eyes.
The former prince launched himself towards the spirit, grabbing a fistful of Ravian's shirt as he pushed the man against a tree, trapping him. "What the hell?!"
Ravian said nothing, and let Hans continue to berate him. "I was so close! I had her! I had her in the palm of my hand and you didn't let me finish her!" Hans growled. "Tell me why, Ravian!"
The spirit gave him no response.
"Tell. Me. Why!"
Ravian's eyes shifted to his bare feet. "You wouldn't understand." He grumbled, lofting his red eyes that now showed anger.
Hans growled as he pressed Ravian's back harder into the tree. "I understand that you just cheated me out of my revenge!"
Ravian's expression had been set in a look of vexation. Even though Hans had trapped the spirit, there was no doubt who was in control, but Hans needed an answer. Ravian had let what Hans had desired for so long slip away, and he needed to know why. "You would have never killed her anyway," Ravian stated bluntly. Hans opened his mouth to speak, taken aback by the spirit's response, but Ravian cut him off. "And I have my reasons, and they're mine alone."
The spirit's voice trailed off, sadness all that could be heard by the end. What in the world was he sad about? What was he thinking? The urge to know beat through every nerve in Hans's being, and then his eyes widened.
He could know. At least, he should be able to know. If Ravian could look into his mind, then why couldn't Hans do the same? The former prince took a breath and relaxed his grip on Ravian's shirt, wanting to feel something. Wanting some kind of sign.
And then, a switch seemed to click throughout his entire body. His mind became clear and his body felt like it was floating above the clouds. He then looked up at Ravian who's red eyes were wide as saucers. "What-what are you...? Don't you dare, Hans! I swear!-"
Hans heard Ravian's voice, but it was nebulous and unclear. The noise of the real world fell away as the former prince stared into Ravian's eyes, and after seconds of eye contact, the spirit's mind and memories opened up to him.
/
"Corin, pass it here!"
A smaller version of Ravian called with a laugh. His jet black hair and red eyes remained the same, but Hans had never seen the expression of happiness on the spirit's face as the younger version of himself displayed. Ravian, dressed in a comfortable red shirt and loose grey trousers ran away from another boy standing at the other end of a large field.
"Go long, Ravi!"
The boy looked similar to Ravian. His hair was the same black and his eyes were the same red, but his overall figure was more muscular and fit than Ravian's seemingly lanky and thin exterior, and he was about two heads taller as well. He threw a ball of flame high into the air. It was as visible as a golf ball on a foggy day. Ravian sprinted through the field, his head turned over his shoulder to track the movement of the orb through the sky. "I got it! I got it!" He yelled as the orb cane closer and closer to Ravian who now had his hands outstretched to catch the flying projectile.
"No, I got it!"
Ravian's eyes wider as a streak of blue whizzed past his vision. The orb of flame became uncharacteristically reflective, and a girl, skating on bare feet past Ravian with the widest smirk he'd ever seen.
The girl held out a hand, letting the orb of flame that had now been replaced with an orb of ice fall into her palm. Ravian's eyes examined the girl, her long platinum blonde hair tied back in a simple ponytail. Her figure was slim, yet toned, and her face was heart shaped and symmetrical, and her cheeks were plump; the type a grandmother wouldn't hesitate to get her hands on. Her icy blue eyes screamed innocence and fun. The girl was the perfect picture of adorable.
"Lorelei!" Ravian hollered. "That was my ball!"
The girl laughed innocently, as Ravian who's crossed his arms in a pout walked towards her, looking down at his sister. There could have been two of her and Ravian still would have been taller. "Sorry, brother. Better luck next time."
Ravian rolled his eyes. "You forget who's older."
Lorelei shrugged. "You forget who's better."
Corin came up beside the two, smiling down at Lorelei. "That was awesome, sis. Maybe you could teach me a few things."
Lorelei placer a ginger on her chin, stroking her skin pensively. "Well, both of you should take off your shoes." She said, pointing to the leather on each of the boy's feet. "They're such a hindrance."
Corin and Ravian looked at each other, and then at their younger sister who batted her lashes. "Try it?" She pleaded. "For me?"
The two boys looked at each other and sighed. "Fine." In unison, they both reluctantly took off their shoes.
"Grass feels weird," Ravian muttered under his breath.
Corin nudged his brother in the side, giving him a look that Ravian simply rolled his eyes at. "Just go with it."
"Now go long." The girl smirked as she tossed the icy orb up and down in her hand, giving the two boys a look. "Go on! I don't have all day!"
Corin and Ravian smirked at each other, and they both took off, running as fast they could, faster than they'd been running moments ago. Lorelei chuckled the ball high into the air while the boys pushed and shoved to get the best position possible.
"Stop shoving, Corin!" Ravian protested as the two continued their squabble while still keeping their eyes on the ball.
"Stop being a baby, Ravi!" Corin retorted.
The two both dived for the ball of ice that was coming closer and closer to the ground. They both went face first into the dirt, and the orb of ice shattered onto the ground with no palm to catch it this time. Lorelei skated over to the two bodies that rolled over to face the blue sky, hovering over her two older brothers. "Slowpokes."
Ravian was the first to stand, and he immediately looked down at his bare feet. "Well, I might just have to go barefoot more often. It makes me faster."
"And apparently more violent, too." Corin chimed in, standing up and wiping the dust and dirt off of his crimson tunic. "You nearly broke my neck!"
"Oh, please!" Ravian looked at Corin. "You almost sprained my ankle!"
"You three! Quit bickering and come eat! It's not my fault if it gets cold!" The voice of their mother rang out through the field, and the tree looked at each other, smiling as they walked side by side towards a small cobblestone cottage they called their home.
/
Ravian violently shoved Hans out of his mind and away from his body, the sensation of dizziness so strong Hans stumbled and stammered backward, leaning against a tree to keep his balance. Hans's eyes were wide as he stared at Ravian who's fists were clenched, and his face contorted in an anger Hans had never seen before, yet his red eyes were streaming tears. "How dare you."
Hans ignored Ravian's broken voice as he stared at the ground, his mind racing as he frantically began to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
The ice.
The memory.
The bare feet.
"Your sister..." He slowly lifted his head to look at Ravian who had somehow absorbed all the anger and hatred in the world and was directing that rage right at Hans.
"How dare you."
A/N: Surprise! Yeah, yeah. I know I said I wouldn't update but...
Hehehe... everyone thought it was Corin... teeheehee... SIKE! Where's Corin? You'll have to read and find out ;) (I'm mean. I know.)
But holy cow, guys I really can't thank you enough for all the reviews and support for this story. Every review from you guys saying how much you're enjoying the story makes my day. We're almost at 1,400 views! It's crazy and I really can't thank you guys enough. Anyway, this chapter was a little shorter since I did want to get another one posted before I left for my program. Please feel free to review and tell me what you thought. See you guys in two weeks! :)