He awoke in the early hours of the morning on the day they were to return to Linnea, on the day he was to return to the Isles; dawn had not yet broken over the horizon, and the castle was quiet. He shifted onto his back, putting space between them as he stretched so as not to wake her. He wasn't going to lie; it felt strange, waking up in Arendelle instead of the Southern Isles, but the sight of his wife, sound asleep beside him, more than made up for it.

He wasn't going to deny that despite the business of the court, he did find himself overcome by bouts of loneliness at times- something he was sure was the same for her. Because despite Anna's constant presence, the sisters were essentially on separate levels. Elsa was the Queen, she was the ruling monarch of her kingdom. She was the figurehead for Arendelle, and constantly in the people's hearts and minds; her presence brought cheers and well wishes, it was her laws that impacted Arendelle. By those standards, Anna had it infinitely easier.

After a moment, he sat up, moving to watch his wife. "Oh, how I love you so, Elisabeth WestergÄrd Bekkerdahl." Tenderly, he brushed a kiss to her cheek before getting up, being careful not to wake her as he pulled on a dressing gown and slipped out of the room. The halls were quiet as the household slept, and he made his way to the nursery to check on the children. They all slept soundly, little reminders of the beauty he and his wife had created. Leaving the nursery, he headed down to the kitchens, stopping just before them at the sound of something within.

On quiet feet, he went to the door, peeking through the gap; a flash of a nightdress came into view, and he furrowed a brow. Eliza was still asleep upstairs, arms curled around her belly out of habit- four pregnancies would do that to a woman- and none of the maids were up, which meant the only woman left in the house was-

Anna.

Carefully, he pushed the door open, being quiet as he shut it so as not to startle her. She dropped a cup and it shattered, and she sighed, kneeling down to pick up the pieces. He quickly hurried to help, kneeling down beside her to help. She looked up, gasping softly in surprise and dropping the broken china pieces. "Hans, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were up."

He smiled softly, and worked to pick up the pieces. "It's all right, Anna. I didn't mean to scare you." Once the pieces were picked up and thrown away, he helped her stand. "Are you okay?"

She sighed. "I... couldn't sleep. You?"

He shook his head as he set about making tea for them both; at Halsten, he and Elsa often fixed tea for the children, giving the few servants in the kitchen a break, insisting that they were perfectly capable of doing so, and that when they were there, they were merely parents, no need for royalty, not that the household ever listened. "I love Eliza, but sometimes the constant chill of her skin is just too much. I wake up more often because of the chill of her skin than any other reason, even when she was pregnant."

Anna chuckled softly. "My sister does not always realize that others cannot handle the cold as she does." Silence fell, and once they were seated at the table, she spoke again. "Hans?" The king met her gaze. "I... I wish to... to get to know Lord Bismarck better- as friends." She clarified. "Would that be... all right?"

"That is why you've been acting so strange." She furrowed a brow, but he waved it away. "Why not ask your sister?"

"I did. She did not give me a response, other than asking me why I was asking when I am grown woman. I know that it is the ruling monarch that looks to build political alliances by using their family members, and so I wished to have her permission before I became friends with Lord Bismarck."

"And you are asking me because?"

"She did not answer me. I know you are her husband, perhaps you would give me an answer."

The king sighed, setting his cup down. "Anna, you're a grown woman. You may do as you wish. Yes, it is Eliza's duty to build alliances and do so by way of her family, but I don't think she is going to focus on you for the time being. When that time comes, it will be our children she focuses on for political alliances, not you. Besides, she has too much on her shoulders at the moment, which is probably why she answered as she did. And yes, you are my sister-in-law, but you have a good head upon your shoulders, and if you feel that a friendship with Lord Bismarck would benefit you, then you make that decision. Eliza and I will be here if you require us." He then stood, placing the cup in the sink and kissing her forehead before leaving the kitchen. "Get some sleep."


"No! Papa, don't go!"

Elsa watched as Hans cradled his oldest in his arms; they had returned to Linnea in the first minutes of midnight, intending to put the children to bed before he left, but upon returning home, the children had awoken, and insisted on seeing their papa off. The queen had to admit it had never been difficult to see her husband away, for he had always left in the hours before she awoke, leaving her with kisses and a letter, promising to return to her. This was the first time she would ever be awake when he left.

"Milla, I have to. I cannot rule the Isles from Arendelle-"

"... no..." The little girl buried her face in her father's shoulder, her arms tight around his neck, and he squeezed her gently. "... come..."

"What?"

"Let me come..."

He glanced at his wife and sister-in-law; Elsa held Sofia in her arms, pressing soft kisses to the baby's head, attempting to hide the tears in her eyes. Slowly, he set the child down, pulling away from her. "Come here, all of you, come here." The boys joined their sister, while Elsa and Anna stepped closer to listen. "Now you all listen to me. I cannot stay; believe me, my darlings, I wish I could. Do you know how deeply I miss seeing you all each and every day? How much growing I've missed watching you all do? I would love to stay, but I can't. Arendellian law will not allow me to, just as it will not allow Mama to admit our marriage, nor allow her to sit upon the throne of the Southern Isles."

Gently he wiped the tears from their cheeks. "But just because I am ruling across the sea, does not mean I do not love any of you any less. I love each of you with all my heart and soul, and I cherish these moments I get to spend with you, and they help me to count down the days until I get to see you all again." He glanced at Anna and Elsa before turning back to the children. "You all must stay here and help your mama take care of Sofi, and watch over her and Auntie Anna for me, until I return. And when I return, we will all go back to the Isles and spend time at Halsten, okay?" Slowly, the children nodded.

He pulled each into a firm hug, kissing them all with promises to bring them back to the Isles soon, before standing and going to Anna. He hugged her and told her if she wished to talk to simply write and he would answer, before turning to his wife. Gently, he took the baby into his arms and kissed her on the head, whispering that he loved her and could not wait to see how the beautiful little girl she would grow into.

Anna took the baby, allowing him to turn to his wife. Elsa shook her head, reaching up as he went to her. "No. I won't let you go. I am queen, I can... I won't let some... some stupid... ancient... outdated law keep you from leaving me again..."

"Eliza-"

She shook her head, the tears freezing on her cheeks. "Do not leave me, Hans... please, I beg you... don't go... gods, don't leave me..." She broke down, and he scooped her up, holding her close. She clung to him, burying her face in his neck, as her shoulders shook with unbridled sobs. Hans closed his eyes to stop his own tears, and kissed her shoulder.

"I love you, my beautiful, strong, darling, Eliza. I won't be gone long, I promise. And I will return to you. The strongest of your winter storms could not keep me away. That is a promise." He kissed her then, deep and loving, pulling away only at Captain Frej's call that they must go now, if they were to make it back to the Isles by daybreak. Hans turned back to his wife. "I love you, Elisabeth WestergÄrd Bekkerdahl." He pressed one last kiss to her forehead, before hurrying aboard.


Anna curled around her sister, holding her close. They had returned to Linnea, put the children to bed, and then returned to Elsa's chambers; she did not want to sleep alone, and so the princess willingly agreed to stay with her. With her face buried in her sister's chest, Elsa held tight to the ring on the chain worn around her neck, and Anna kissed her head, tightening her hold on the queen. If this was love- this pain her sister was experiencing due to being separated from her beloved- then she didn't want any part of it...