Hans looked down at the queen and it was as if her already bright blue eyes had paled even further into a cold periwinkle colour. He didn't think much of it, after all she was more or less supernatural – but he did slightly wonder if she was going to kill him in that split second.
Elsa observed the man, and didn't know what to do. She had spoken and now it was his turn, yet she was the queen and she did harness the power within the conversation. So, she could walk away. But she was also scared; scared that if she walked away, he would go and find Anna, or that he would do something unspeakable just to ruin Arendelle forever… With that she just looked down and refused to show any emotion. She knew that she hadn't shown him how she felt in that moment with her face, and she wasn't going to allow him to see or know that she was scared.
"Please, excuse me." With that Elsa brought her hands together and brought her posture up to perfection once more, walking past Hans without even glancing back at him. However, he quickly turned and stopped behind her so abruptly that she felt the motion: "Queen Elsa, please – I only wish to speak to you civilly." Elsa looked up, but did not turn around. She felt anger boil through her blood and her finger tips became hard, preparing to spurt ice.
"The time to speak civilly is done." She almost spat out the words as she twisted and walked through the crowd, turning up a smile and greeting the Earl of Canterbury, in spite.
Later on in that evening, the formality became boring. With every greeting and façade of energy Elsa became more and more bored of repeating herself in such primness to people that she barely knew. The people that she could actually stand were enjoying themselves, or had already left and all of the 'rotten-eggs' of the company had now decided to attempt to get in with the queen.
She decided to excuse herself, asking Anna and Kristoff to take over her position by the throne platform, and took a turn about the gardens. She walked through the rose bushes – roses were not Elsa's favourite flower, but they did grow to their most beautiful potential in Arendelle. Elsa stood by the pink ones, and brought one to her nose for a sniff – the perfume was vibrant and subduing, she smiled to herself and wondered what it would be like to have a man give her a flower. How she would act surprised at the cliché and blush at him.
Just then Hans trailed around the corner. He had kept an eye on Elsa, to find her once she was alone: he had wondered why she had decided to walk through the rose garden, after all Elsa didn't seem like the type of queen that would leave her audience in the middle of the evening.
Elsa plucked the flushed pink rose and held it in her gloved hands, she then gingerly pulled one glove off with the hand that held the rose and placed it in her pocket. She held the rose with her gloved hand and caressed the petals with her naked hand, she didn't often let herself go this way, but she always loved the feel of everyday ordinary things that an infant or child would enjoy touching – but she never had the opportunity to, yet now she had the control to touch and feel things like everyone else.
Just then her bliss was broken. He appeared again and cleared his throat again behind her. She turned ever so elegantly but her spine prickled and goose flesh covered her arms. "Queen Elsa." He smiled at her, in a crooked way that was fairly attractive, but Elsa new him better. "Hans, of the Southern Isles." she stated. Her voice was steady, but she was now afraid. She could not escape the encounter, and she was alone – out in the open, and one of her hands was free. She could do anything. She could be immortal at this moment; she wouldn't be able to conceal what she was capable of if he did happen to drive her up the wall.
"Before you leave or say anything, I would just like to apologise for what happened the last time I was here. I know that you may not ever forgive me; but I just have to ask that you begin trade and council with the Southern isles once again. Please, don't punish my kingdom for my mistakes." he raised his eyebrows helplessly and looked at her in an honest plea. Elsa looked away, and felt her blood boil again.
"You tried to kill Anna, and almost succeeded." Her voice a dangerous whisper that only he could hear: "and then, you tried to kill me". The way she spoke sounded as if she was riddling the situation and coming to a conclusion on the subject. "In exchange for our lives, you ask for your kingdoms pardon-"
"I know, I was so wrong and what I did was unspeakable: but, I am ever so sorry." Elsa turned to look at him, her eyes ablaze in fury. She didn't realise when the transfer had happened, but the rose was in her other hand and was now frozen to a crisp.
"Don't you ever interrupt me! You committed treason – your life is a gift enough!" Elsa looked down. She wanted to cry and be left alone. She had nearly lost control. The only thing that gave her gravity was the thought that Anna and Kristoff and Tobias were still here with her, and that her kingdom was once again hers. She had all of these people relying and loving her, she did not need the fury that Hans bestowed on her. She dropped the rose on the ground and it cracked as it hit the gravel, shards of ice spreading from the flesh-toned figure of slush. She pulled out her glove and slowly drew it onto her hand. He will not make me a monster.
Elsa inhaled ferociously looking at the ground. She was surprised at his silent patience. "Why did you come today?" her voice now clear as daylight, Elsa was good at letting go by now. She looked up into his hazel eyes, and they seemed wounded, in a way.
"I came with my mother, and two of my brothers. My father insisted that the heir and the two youngest sons should go, as we don't often come to court being the youngest of thirteen".
She looked around at the bushes, the sun had now set and the stars were glowing.
"It is awfully inappropriate wouldn't you think?" she didn't hold back. He smiled at the ground and a slight exhale which resembled a laugh escaped him.
"I suppose so, but what can you do? 'Mere politics' is what my brother titled our situation." Elsa slightly widened her mouth to a little smile, but stopped herself. He looked up with the smirk and some of his hair fell on his face, it had grown.
"Yes, 'our situation' – that might be what they will call it in the history books." Hans stepped closer, he was still quite far off, but Elsa moved back a stride – just in case. He noticed her retreat, but decided to ignore it.
"There is another reason I have come. But that's for me to know and for you to find out." she noticed the tone to his voice, which made it seem as if everything that he ever said came with a cost.
"Do I dare ask?" the fun had slightly left Elsa's voice, she didn't like playing games. Of course she was still angry with him, but keeping up a fake appearance was what she had to do mostly whilst being queen. Yet, she was worried once again. She was now gripping onto the skirt of her dress, for support and keeping her eyes on him.
"I don't think you can. But when you can, I will want to tell you." Elsa lightly nodded slowly "fine".
With that, he bowed and looked up with that flirty crooked smile, once again "Your grace." and he stood up with elegance, turning away and spinning around the corner. Elsa bent down and picked up the rose, it was slowly melting but not quite. She took off her glove and squeezed the flower until it shattered to nothing.