AN: This chaptet has been split into two parts. The whole thing was too long. Tell me what you think!
Hans was surprised to find that they had stopped in front of the bright green trees of the neighboring forest.
"Visit the woods often, do you? Ever heard of Little Red Riding Hood?"
"Oh shut up, Hans."
"Ouch."
Elsa giggled. "Follow me."
They made their way through the forest, Elsa expertly leading them through every twist and turn. Hans had never been this far in, but he couldn't help but eye their surprisingly beautiful surroundings with wonderment and awe. To Hans, it was all just begging to be explored, and yet he felt something else. Like a feel of permanent mystery that simply could never be solved or should never be solved. Like a wild, mysterious, beautiful secret. Like Elsa. He smiled.
"Wow. It's all so beautiful."
Elsa smiled softly. "It is."
"Elsa?"
"Hmm?"
"You're not gonna tie me to a tree and torture me are you?"
Elsa gave him a devilish smirk. "Should've thought of that before you decided to follow a complete stranger into the middle of the forest."
"Well I am a man. If not intelligence wise, you must admit that we are obviously physically more capable."
Elsa raised her eyebrows at him, trying to maintain a playful demeanor. "Then you have nothing to be afraid of." For some reason, Hans could hear uncertainty in her angelic voice.
There was something more to her. Something that didn't quite meet the eye. He was sure now. And he wanted to know. But he didn't want her to tell him until she trusted him. Hans was surprised with himself. He was never the kind of person to spend the day with the same woman twice. He wasn't outright rude, but he knew he broke hearts. For the first time in forever, Hans Westergaard took the time to actually think of all those broken hearts. And he felt bad. But Elsa was different. She wasn't going to chase after him. If he wanted to keep seeing this mysterious, mischievous, intelligent, sarcastic, and absolutely beautiful young
woman, the tables had to be turned. Hans Westergaard was going to have to do the chasing.
What had he gotten himself into?
"So. Any insight as to what is really aboutto take place? he asked.
"You really have no patience, do you?"
"Nope. Not a bit."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help but laugh. "Oh alright then. A couple days ago, I was reading a book under a tree here in the forest when I spotted a bird flying by. It looked like a bird I had read about. A very rare bird." Hans couldn't help but notice the look of absolute concentration on her face. It was adorable. He smiled.
"I did some more research and searched the forest tirelessly for a nest or some subtle clue as to the bird's whereabouts. Then finally, yesterday I got lucky. I saw the bird again and managed to follow it, to a certain point of course. Very fast fliers, they are. From what I had gathered, I managed to find something absolutely incredible," she stated enthusiastically, looking towards Hans. "There was a secret cave entrance." she beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Hans laughed disbelievingly. Her smile, her laugh, her enthusiasm. It was all contagious. She continued, "Of course I went inside. Oh, and it was beautiful." She sighed dreamily. "There was a tree in the dead center, with a nest that contained eggs similar to that of this particular species, but of course I could not be certain. If, however, it truly is said rare bird, it's nest would be near the top of approximately a fifty foot tree. It's amazing really, how a small bird can accomplish such incredible feats from pure instinct," she finished, mumbling softly to herself than to Hans.
"Uh Elsa?"
"Hmm?"
"There's just one small problem in your investigation."
"And what would that be?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
"How exactly are you gonna measure the height of the tree?" he asked smugly, much too pleased with himself for outthinking the impossibly intelligent Elsa. And then he saw her smirk.
"Hans, you didn't seriously think that I overlooked did you?" She laughed at his guilty and slightly unsure expression. "That's where you come in. And arithmetic, of course."
"Using me for your selfish purposes, are you? You wound me!" he cried dramatically.
"Oh, stop it Hans," she giggled with an eye roll,"Besides, it's for the greater good."
"And how exactly do I fit in this equation?"
She smiled mischievously. "You'll see."
The pair walked a little farther until Elsa took an abrupt turn and stopped in front of a camouflaged entrance to what seemed to be a small cave. She pushed aside the lush green ivy and led the way in. Hans gasped. Wow.
"Elsa... this is incredible," he whispered breathlessly.
The "big tree" that Elsa had described was quite possibly the most breathtaking thing Hans had ever seen. It stood tall and proud in the center of the large circular opening that the small cave had led to. Beautiful lilac flowers hung from the dark green vines wrapped around the tree. Near the top, Hans could barely make out the little twig nest. A sparkling blue creek traveled from the small waterfall that opened up from the stones that walled in his heavenly surroundings.
"Wow..." he murmured to himself.
Elsa closed her eyes, smiling softly in bliss of her surroundings. "Incredible isn't it?"
Hans sighed. "Words can not justify its beauty."
Elsa laughed and rolled her eyes, snapping then both back into reality. Hans's lopsided grin returned yet again.
"Come on Hans. The timing is almost perfect."
He furrowed his brows in confusion but continued to follow.
"Now then. Stand exactly where i tell you to and don't move unless I say," Elsa instructed.
"Alright..."
"Right here." She stood in a spot a few feet directly in from of the tree. Hans walked up to take her place. She looked at him, her concentration adorably evident.
"You're staring." She raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow, a smirk in place upon her lips.
"Wha-oh... uh-I-" Hans blushed. Hans Westergaard blushed. And he stuttered. Wow.Her beautiful laughter cut off his thoughts and he found himself grinning like an idiot once again. What the hell was happening?
"You're placement is a bit off," Elsa said, still smiling. She reached out and placed her hands on his shoulders, swiftly adjusting his position. Her hands lingered. Her breath caught. His shoulders were firm. And strong. And broad. Her eyes widened, cheeks suddenly blushing furiously. She quickly snatched her hands back, wringing them nervously. Adorably. Hans smiled shyly, still blushing. She was very close. He could practically count every freckle on her small nose. An awkward silence followed. Hans shivered, feeling an unseasonal chill. Neither could quite meet the other's eye.