The door to the nursery opened, and she tiptoed in quietly; he followed behind, shutting the door softly behind him. Barely past ten in the evening, and all five were sound asleep. They checked on each of them, before slipping out of the room, and he walked her back to her chambers. She turned to him once they'd reached her door. "Stay with me tonight. Just for tonight. Please, darling."
He took her hand, pressing firm kisses to her palm; she tugged him into the room, shutting the door and locking it softly behind her. Once both had changed into their nightclothes- for Hans had left some at Arendelle for when he'd visit- they lay beneath the blankets of what was essentially their marriage bed, watching each other. He slid a hand down around the curve of her hip, pulling her into him as she reached up and caressed his cheek, nuzzling her nose gently against his. Neither said a word for some time, preferring to just be in each others' presence.
"I wish... I wish..." She sighed, closing her eyes briefly. "I wish we were not separated by the sea. I wish that you could stay whenever you wished, without us having to lie about it. I wish I were your queen, so that I may sit upon the throne by your side-"
He kissed her softly to silence her hurt, nuzzling her nose gently. "You are my queen, Eliza, whether you sit by my side or I sit by yours doesn't matter. You've always been my queen. You will always be my queen."
Silent tears slid down her cheeks, and tenderly kissed them away. "Just saying it isn't enough, Hans." Her voice shook, and he pulled her closer.
"I know, love. I know."
She curled into his chest, choking on a sob, and he gently stroked her back and kissed her head, letting her cry. He knew the strain she felt, the loneliness, the pain of having to rule alone, for he felt it too. There were too many mornings where he awoke alone, having gone to bed dreaming of her, only to wake with a familiar weight upon his chest- and upon opening his eyes, realizing that it was just his longing that had imagined her there in his arms. It was why he relished his time with her, why he often insisted they return to Halsten or Jannicke during visits, why they spent so much time in bed when at their private residences. Waking with the ghost of her on his chest, and her on his chest were two entirely different things-
He kissed her head, tightening his hold on her. He needed to return to the Isles, but he couldn't bring himself to leave her side tonight. Perhaps it was because they had spent so little time together in the last few weeks, or perhaps it was because this short trip to Vienna had felt so empty without the children- but whatever the reason, he wasn't going to leave her that night; Captain Freg knew that when Hans didn't return, he would be spending the night with his wife, and so lowered the Southern Isles flag while in Arendelle's harbor until the king returned. "How I love you, Eliza."
He awoke the next morning, the chill of his wife's skin having awoken him. Darkness still covered the world, and after a moment, he pushed himself up, studying her. She lay curled on her side, arms around her belly, a habit she still couldn't seem to break herself of, not that it mattered. She looks so peaceful, I hate to leave her. That I could stay by her side every night and every morning...
"... don't... go..." Her soft, sleep-filled whimper tugged at his heart, and after a moment, he slid his arms around her from behind, burying his face in the hair gathered at her neck as he squeezed her gently. "Hmm..." She shifted in her sleep, turning to nuzzle him in her sleep, one hand reaching up to caress his cheek; something she often did when at Jannicke or Halsten. He reached up, taking her hand and pressing several kisses to her palm. "... love... you..."
"And I love you, Eliza. I love you so, so, so very much. Gods alive, I wish I didn't have to leave you... I wish I could go back and spend every night I spent away from you here in your arms. Were I an ordinary man, and not a king upon a throne, I would stay by your side and never leave you alone again. You're my heart, my very soul, just as our children are, and I cannot recall the number of mornings I've awoken to your ghost fleeing from me in the early hours of the morning. That I only had the strength..." He sniffled softly, pressing another kiss to her palm, this one softer, gentler, as she curled her fingers against his cheek. "That I didn't have to leave you... that I had the strength to stay, that I had the courage to stand up to my council, and admit the truth of our marriage..."
She curled closer to him, never waking from her slumber. Perhaps it was the months spent trying to get comfortable as their children grew within her that resulted in her constant shifting in her sleep, or her restless nights spent pacing back and forth as her mind worked to undo problems before the clock struck midnight, but whatever the cause, she was always shifting closer and closer, until she was curled tight against him, her slender, shapely hips nestled comfortably into his. He buried his face in her hair once more, breathing in her familiar scent, telling himself that they had to play their parts for a little bit longer before they could truly be together again- that they had a trip to Halsten planned in two months' time-
Carefully, he pulled away, pressing one last kiss to her head before tearing himself away and getting out of bed. After quickly getting dressed, he came around to the side of the bed and knelt down. "I love you, Elisabeth." Then, with one last kiss to her head, he was gone.
