A/N: Hi there, guys! I'm quite late, sorry! I hope though that all is well with you lot and that you enjoy and let me know what you think! I will be finishing this fanfic though, and hopefully before this time next year.

Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen or the Frozen franchise.

Madolen

I wake to the smell of soap and hot air. Tightening my face I stretch my form. After a moment of tension, I give my eyes permission to open, and I see Hans fastening buttons on his grey trousers, back facing me. He throws a look over his shoulder, he offers a soft look.

"Oh," he focuses again on his trousers, "I'm sorry that I woke you." He steps towards me and leans over the bed to kiss my temple. "Morning."

"Hej," I breathe softly.

"How are you?" Han's intense eyes hone in on my own.

I shrug. "Still devastated," I fabricate a grin. "How are you?"

"In… need of a distraction," Hans strokes a thumb over my cheek, eyeing me with focus before he springs off of the bed and stands. "I thought I'd go hunting today." Hans busies himself with tucking his leaking pockets back into their homes.

"W-what?"

Hans looks over his shoulder as he replies. "I said I'd go hunting today. The weather is rather grey, but a little rain isn't so threatening."

I sit up against the cushy headboard, watching my husband with newfound interest as he dresses. "I didn't realize you liked to hunt."

"I don't really," Hans says, searching in the 4:00am light for his boots. "But Lars and I would hunt when he had time."

I bundle the covers in my fists and gather them up to my clavicle. "Will you take me?"

"Are you sure you wanna come?" Hans wriggles into a black long sleeve shirt.

"Were you planning to go alone?"

"I was, but I'd love to take you if you'd like to come," Hans turns to face me. "I didn't think you'd be interested. You don't seem the hunting type."

"I'm not," I start, "I just wanted to get away from the castle a little." I cast my gaze sideways. "Too many memories in this labyrinth. You know?"

After a moment of staring, Hans nods. "I know, elskede. I'll gladly distract you."

"Merci. I appreciate it."

"This is a um… interesting activity," I trudge in the sloshy mud from the downpour that still insists on joining us on our hunting trip. Hans gives me a considerate grin as he waits for me to catch up to him, on the edge of the forest.

"It's more enjoyable on a sunny day," tells he.

"I find it hard to believe," I reach Hans and he nods to the thick woods, darkened by the lack of sun.

"Are you ready?" He tugs on my slouching hat that blocks out most of the rain.

"I think I am," I nod. "I'll follow your lead."

"Very well," Hans takes the lead into the brush and he stalks quietly in the lightless, grey looking forest. "Try to look out for pheasant or emus," says Hans softly as he treads with light feet through the sludge of mud and forest life.

"How can you see anything in these conditions?" I pinch my eyes against the rain, shivering at the wind that dances with it. "I can hardly see you."

Hans smiles at me fondly, "Maybe give your sight a break," Hans' wet but warm hand takes my own in a firm hold. "Listen." He stops in the middle of the woods and I step up beside him.

I sit still for a moment, but can't hear anything more than the rain and the threat of a thunderstorm. "I don't hear anything."

"I'm sure you hear lots of things, Madolen," Hans comes to stand in front of me. "Close your eyes and listen. It comes easily to some, I had only a little trouble learning to analyse my environments based on my senses. Lars almost can't do it. Agnes could do it right away." He smiles at me. "Try to single out a sound." In the natural light of the forest, I see the bags that have formed under Hans' eyes from what I gather is signs of grief. How hunting helps him get over death still eludes me.

"Alright," I breathe. I shut my eyes and try to narrow the scope of what I'm listening to. Face locked in concentrated creases, I struggle to do what seems a simple task. Distress must be evident in my face, because when I try to give up, Hans stops me. "Hans-"

"Shh," Hans shushes. "Just focus, elskede. They're there."

"Okay, okay," I nod, taking in another deep breath to slow my breathing. One by one, the sounds of croaking frogs and whispering wind and running rain die out, leaving only a sound I haven't ever heard, but logic causes me to deduce what it is. "I think I hear pheasant." I open my eyes and meet with Hans. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"It's a funny sound," I start. "It sounds sort of like a 'crre, crre, crre'."

Hans snickers at me, "I heard it, elskede," starts he. "I just wanted to hear you saying it."

I playfully punch Hans on the shoulder. "Where's it coming from?"

"Likely down this way," Hans tugs me with him into the heart of the wild. "We don't wanna scare the little guy away, so we should try to tread lightly."

"He's likely on the ground, it's still too early for them to roost."

"That's right," Hans stops again. "See that?" he points to the ground at scratchy steps in the dirt that look like the bird of mention. "We're onto him." Hans pulls me along again.

I can't refuse a frown at how close we're getting to killing a poor animal as a means of entertainment. "Maybe we should wait until the weather clears," I say. "I mean, we'll be wasting fire if we miss because of these turbulent conditions."

"Nonsense," Hans stops behind a tree. "I've hunted in far worse weather for far smaller creatures and come back victorious." Hans unslings his gun. "Besides, we're already here." As he gets to work checking over his riffle he nods beyond the thick tree base we shelter behind. "Take a look."

I peer around the tree trunk to see a long tailed pheasant wandering around. "It seems that we are," I say softly. When I turn back to Hans he's got his rifle at the ready on the other side of the trunk, sights honed on the poor pheasant. I find it hard to keep myself from saying something, but stick to it. It was I who asked to join in on this trip in the first place. I don't really have any right to muck it up now.

"This is gonna be very loud, Madolen," starts Hans. "I suggest you cover your ears."

I hurry to fold my forearms over my ears and shut my eyes just in time.

BANG!

For a moment, all the critters that were doing their own critter business go dead silent, almost as if offering quiet for the seemingly deceased bird. One eye opens before the other follows and I see Hans sling his firearm back on his shoulder, a look of triumph blossoming slowly on his face.

"Just as I said, elskede," Hans takes my hand and hauls me along towards the smell of gunpowder. "I'm an excellent shot, rain or shine."

I feign a smile, "Well done, amar." We reach the still body of the red and bronze beauty and Hans begins muttering to himself about the condition of the bird. "You're really in your element…"

Hans casts a long look my way before giving an open grin. "I am, elskede. Would you rather I wasn't?"

"No, I," I sigh, rifling to find words. I look down at Hans as he squats down to the body. "Do you really enjoy this slaughter?"

Hans gives me a patient look. "As much as you enjoy the slaughter of cattle. You do like steak, don't you?"

"It's not the same," I shake my head.

"You're right about that," Hans rises from his squatted position. "Elskede, I'm not breeding pheasant for food. I'm not farming emus knowing that their fates are sealed as lunch. What I'm doing is coming out to free animals and hunting." Hans glances at me. "I'd say I'm doing the more humane thing. And I'd say the only slaughter being done is on farms."

I feel warm with embarrassment. "I… I'm sorry," I give an apologetic smile. "I guess you're right. I didn't mean to spoil anything."

Hans wraps an arm around my shoulders, drawing me to his chest. "You haven't spoiled anything," He tightens his embrace on me. "I've said it before and I'll say it again 'all you do is make things better'."

I sigh contentedly, a smile stretching on my lips. "I appreciate you taking me out with you," I start. "All I've been able to do is think of my parents, and not the way they'd want."

"It's incredibly early," says Hans. "You're probably going to think that way for a while. But you'll release the anger, elskede. Just take it a day at a time."

I give a sad laugh, "You're gonna have to help me with that." I sniff as I wrap my arms around Hans' back.

"You can rely on me," Hans tells.

I look up at him with a grin, "And you me."

Hans kisses the top of my head. "While we're out here, elskede, maybe I could teach you to fire a rifle."

I give a soft huff of a laugh, "I don't know if I can. I don't want to hurt you while I'm learning."

"You'll do fine, Madolen," he laughs. "Come, let me cock the gun." He pulls away from me and cocks the gun with a sharp 'cl-crk'. I give Hans a wide girth in cause things go awry. "You wanna hold it like so," Hans puts the butt of the hunting rifle in the pocket of his right shoulder. His left hand forming a 'v' shape between his thumb and forefingers that hold the handguard. "Line up your shot with a steady form, make sure you're grounded, and shoot."

BANG!

I wince, and jump back a little. Hans shot a branch off of a tree before us.

"You think I can do that?" I smile politely, gesturing at the clean shot.

"No," Hans cocks the gun again. "I know you can do that. Maybe even better." He places the gun in my small hands and comes up behind me. "Firmly grasp the handguard." I shift the sleek, wooden arm in my hands until the fingers on my left hand curl around my handguard. "That's right, elskede, your fingers should naturally clench it." Hans' voice is soft in my ear. "You want the butt of your gun here. You want it in the pocket of your shoulder so that the force goes into your body and not your shoulder or clavicle. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you." I chuckle as I readjust the gun so that it sits where Hans said. "Line up your shot before you put your finger on the trigger. You've got to be ready. Find a target."

I nod gently. "Okay." I aim for the branch bellow Hans' and take a moment to steady my aim. "I'm ready."

BANG!

A thrust of force pushes me back slightly as I shoot. Hans acts as a failsafe in case the force proved too much.

"Well what do you know?" Hans grins. "You're a natural, elskede."

I look back to the branch and find it hanging from the tree no more. "Did you see that?" I beam. "I actually fired a riffle and hit my target!"

"I have a knack for being right," Hans somehow finds a way to make this about him. I stick my tongue out at him, still elated from my success. "You did a great job, Madolen. Really good."

"Can, can I go again?"

"I love the enthusiasm, Madolen, but we should get the gun out of the rain," Hans squeezes my shoulders apologetically. "When the rain gives us a break, we'll come back and you can fire all the rounds you'd like."

"Are you certain that's what you want?" Hettie questions, her motherly eyes on me.

I nod once before sipping my hot cocoa. "Hans and I think it'll be best if we wait a while before we get coronated." I set my cocoa down on the plush red carpeting and scoot closer to the large stone fireplace that harbours a zesty flame. "I know we're pressed to be crowned, and we will. Just in time."

Hettie gives me a soft grin, "I understand, dear." She takes a deep breath, seated atop her armchair that gives a good girth to the fire. "I trust your judgement."

"Thank you, Hettie," I give an appreciative smile, searching Hettie's tired face. "Are you managing okay?"

"Don't worry about an old woman like me," says she. "I'm strong enough to be alive and well – even in such a tragedy."

"I miss them too, Hettie," I give a sad smile, shutting my eyes and pressing them tight at the emphasised words I speak next. "And I'll miss them forever and ever." I open my eyes, head shaking slowly. "And ever."

"Me too," Hettie surrenders a tear that she quickly dabs away, eyes to the ceiling. She clears her throat. "But I know they've left us in capable hands, and I know you're a tough lady. And a smart lady. And you'll do what is right."

I nod. "I shall, Hettie. I assure you that I'll do my best always. I owe it to you and I owe it to my parents."

"It puts me at ease to hear you say that."

"It's my job, and I job I take great joy in," I smile. "We'll get over this dark cloud."

Hettie grins. "You can always rely on me for help."

I nod. "I know, and I'm glad. You've always been like a second mother to me, Hettie."

"It wasn't easy sometimes, love," she laughs. "You were a difficult child at times."

"What do you mean?" I chuckle.

Hettie smiles. "I'll let you find out when you have kids of your own someday."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means prepare yourself for assertion and rebellion and fussiness," she sips her cocoa. "But I'll let you in on the secrets in raising a meddlesome child."

"What about Hans? He might've been a naughty child," I tell. "It might not be my genes."

"Well then maybe your kid will be too much for the both of us to manage," Hettie jeers.

"Then let's hope that he was an angel."

Hans

"Underneath or over?" Madolen mumbles to herself.

"What're you making?" I settle into bed next to Madolen who fiddles with some dark green yarn, making what looks like a scarf. I wrap my arms around her just below the waist and nestle neck into her side.

"I'm trying to make a scarf," she shrugs. "I wanted to make Gala and Jasper matching scarves as a gift, and to brighten their spirits. I don't know if it'll be any good."

I chuckle lowly, "They'll just be happy that you were thinking of them, elskede."

"Oui, that's true," she strokes my hair fondly. "Hans, you… you never really tell me about how you were as a kiddie," says she, a soft look on me.

"What do you want to know?" I rub my thumb against her. "I'll tell you."

"Tell me what stood out," Madolen resumes her knitting. "The highlights of your life."

"I started catching cod with my bare hands at three years old," I mumble.

"What spurred that?"

"My mother said I was a brave child," I start. "I guess I wanted to be brave."

"Anything else?"

"I grew very close to horses. I can't tell you when exactly, but I found them to be solace," I sigh. "Riding off to relieve my stress. It was a way to connect with another being and escape… home."

Madolen sets her project down and rubs a thumb over my eyebrow. "I wish we'd know each other sooner. I'd have bailed you out whenever I could. I'd have tried to make life easier on you."

I smile, eyes shut. "I don't know if it would've been the best of men if you'd met me then."

"Who's to say I couldn't have fixed that?"

"…You've got me there. But you shouldn't have to fix me," I tighten my grasp on her. "But thank you."

"Sure," she breathes. "Now, can I get into bed comfortably to catch some shuteye?"

"There's a toll, elskede," I grin cheekily. "Nothing's for free in this world."

Madolen laughs loudly. "If you think I'm paying a toll to sleep comfortably in my own bed, then I'm afraid you'll have to think again."

"I think I can sleep comfortably like this without a qualm," I say, my grin growing greater. "And I think you can't."

Madolen laughs again, wiping her hands over her face. "Fine, fine, just let me get into bed you tyrant."

There it is. Sorry that it took so long, guys. Hope you enjoyed it and I look forward to the next publish! Take care!