Fifteen

The wall of ice hadn't melted at all. As Elsa stepped into the cell, all she could see behind the slick sheet was a clumped shadow in roughly the shape of a human. Her lip hadn't stopped trembling since she left her own room.

"Hans?" she called quietly. No response from the mass. She tried a little louder; nothing.

If he wouldn't respond, she'd have to get past the wall. This wasn't the first wall between them that she had to break down.

Closing her eyes and remembering that she was doing this because she loved Anna and- there was no fooling herself now- Hans. She kept that love within her as she gently lay her hands on the ice. She felt a hole begin to melt through the wall. She opened her eyes and admired her work as flakes disappeared into the air.

"Stop," a froggy voice complained. Elsa saw the figure crawl out of his position, which was enough to make her withdraw her hands, a large hole around her head's height etched into the wall.

Hans stumbled to his feet, dark circles under his eyes and a scowl on his face. "What are you doing?"

"You wouldn't get up," Elsa said.

"Don't melt the wall, it's the only thing separating us," he said like it was a good thing. "I don't want to hurt you again."

"You didn't hurt me." At least, not physically.

"But I could have," he said, hands still tucked under his arms. She wondered how long he'd had them hidden away.

"You're not the only one who's lost control before," she assured. "You can't say you're too dangerous to me, because we're the same."

"We are not the same," Hans choked with a laugh.

"No, we are," Elsa insisted. "We both had to wear gloves. We've both distanced ourselves from siblings. We both know what it's like to have to be under control, because if we lose it for even one second, the guilt will eat us alive."

Her speech caused the prince to close his mouth, his features softening. She continued.

"So stop pretending like you're the only one who's afraid of hurting the people they love," she said quietly, realizing after she completed the sentence that she implied she was one of the people he loved. But she pushed past it. "Please just... put your hands behind your back if you're worried. I have to talk to you."

He'd been staring at her, her words seeming to have soothed his nerves. Obediently, he put his hands behind his back, never breaking eye contact. "Then talk."

"There's been another letter," Elsa said. "It's signed by Jørgen. He said only he and the younger ones are accounted for. He sounded panicked."

"Rightfully so," Hans mumbled.

"And... I know it's been hard on you to keep having your family show up on our shore," Elsa said, not wanting to continue. "So I... I've made a choice."

Hans suddenly looked terribly sad. But he held himself together and resignedly said, "It's okay. Write the letter."

The queen was confused. The look on her face was then mirrored by the prince.

"That... that is what you're doing? Writing to the Southern Isles?"

Elsa shook her head. "No, I'm going to let you out."

She would have thought this might have made him happier, but besides a brief spark in his eyes, he didn't seem much changed.

"Won't that get you in deep trouble?" he asked.

"No one will know for sure it's me," she said, but wasn't assured. Who else but the queen who spent all her time down in the dungeons would set him free?

Hans shook his head. "No, you can't do that."

"You were begging me yesterday for it," Elsa said warningly. She wasn't sure how long she could resist giving in to letting him stay. "You nearly lit me on fire because I wouldn't grant you freedom."

Hans opened his mouth to say something likely heated, but instead closed his mouth and eyes, taking a deep breath. "I thought you wanted my temper under control."

"Apparently we both have a hard time deciding what we want," Elsa said, though her own voice had cooled down.

"Write to the Isles," Hans advised. "Ask them what we- what Arendelle can do to help."

He was running his hand against the ice, having unclasped them some time ago. She heard the ice sizzling ever so slightly.

"I understand what it was like for you on the fjord, now," he muttered, as if he hadn't meant to say it but it slipped out anyway. "Collapsing when you thought Anna was dead."

Elsa stayed quiet, watching the shadow of his hand as it glided across the ice.

"I thought I was lucky that I had a target so weak, that another's death could destroy her just like that." He looked at her, but she couldn't meet his gaze. She was too busy thinking about Anna.

Anna, who had come into her room to apologize. Anna, who just wanted her to come to tea again. Anna, who had been promised she'd never be shut out again and then promptly thrown to the curb. And while Anna had tea with Indvalda, Elsa was down here pitching the idea for a prison bust.

I am the worst sister of all time, she mourned.

"Elsa?"

She was broken from her own horrible thoughts by his concerned voice. "Are you okay?"

Elsa tried to say she was fine, but her voice wouldn't work. Instead, she covered her mouth and just let the tears run over her fingers.

"Hey, hey," Hans tried soothing, but was afraid to reach out and touch her. Instead, he stood on the other side of the ice, frustrated and clenching his fists as Elsa cried.

"I just... I..." Elsa said, voice warped. "Anna's never done anything wrong, and I keep locking her out. I'm a horrible sister."

Hans was rubbing his hands together, like maybe if he held his own hand it would console her.

"I'm not the judge of sisterly acts, but... I know you're not a horrible person," he said slowly, thinking each word as he spoke them.

She sniffed, trying to regain control of herself. She looked expectantly to him, as if to tell him to explain himself.

"After all, you saw me and you gave me a chance," he said. "I was bitter and could offer nothing, but you still didn't send me away. And when you found out about my fire and about my family, you helped me. You didn't turn away and leave me to wallow in my problems. You... offered your friendship to me, and no one's ever done that.

"I should be killed for everything I've done. The Queen of Arendelle easily could have put me on trial and publicly executed. But you didn't. You gave a traitor friendship and another chance at life and acceptance of a curse that I've never seen as beautiful before."

Hans raised his hand, somewhat hesitantly, but he was under control. A small spark erupted from his palm, then others jumped around, bounding like fish jumping out of water. It brought a small smile to Elsa's face.

Hans laughed a little, watching his display. "I thought I was nothing but unwanted. You made me feel like I was here for a reason. So Queen Elsa of Arendelle, you are not a terrible person. You showed a revolting man kindness when he showed you nothing but the gleam of his sword."

He closed his palm, causing a slight hiss, then opened it and blew the smoke away. It smelled like summertime.

"I can't imagine what would have happened if I had succeeded," he mumbled, smile extinguishing with his flame. "If I had killed you on the fjord and taken the crown. God, I was mad."

He always found a way to turn the conversation sour, didn't he? Memories of the fjord danced through Elsa's mind.

"It wasn't personal, of course," Hans said. "It was just business. After all, if I had known you, had know how good you are, I'd never have done it. The only thought in my mind was that it was a shame to kill someone so beautiful."

He looked at her as if he meant something by it, like maybe after over a year, he still thought she was beautiful. Or maybe he still thought it was a shame to kill her.

"I don't like to remember the fjord," Elsa admitted. "It was a dark time. I... I knew the sword was above me."

Hans was surprised, and leaned forward slightly. "You what?"

"I knew you were going to kill me," she said, hands resting on the frame of the hole in the ice. "And I didn't care. I wanted it to happen. Maybe it would end the storm. I wouldn't hurt anyone ever again, that much motivated me. And besides, with Anna gone, what was there to live for?"

She was shocked when her hands were suddenly taken into his. His eyes were almost hypnotizing; she couldn't bear to not look into them.

"If you can let my past be behind me, than I should at least grant you the same," he said. "Know that I would never, ever hurt you like that again. And know that if you were to perish, there would be little reason for living. You are the best thing I've met in this world, and I can't bear to think you'd give your life up for any reason."

Elsa's heart was pounding, and she laughed nervously.

"That was a year ago, Hans," she said. "I know things have changed. We've both changed. I'm not thinking about submitting to death anytime soon."

He nodded, laughing too. He looked down and shook his head. "I'm... sorry. That was a bit impassioned. I just..."

Hans couldn't bring himself to say whatever it was. As if making a sudden decision, his head snapped up and he stared at her, a slightly desperate look in his eyes.

"Tell me I'm not going crazy," he pleaded, to Elsa's confusion. "I know it's horribly inappropriate for someone in my position to say, but tell me there's something between you and I."

Her heart beat louder than should have been possible. "Something...?"

"A connection. Interest. There's something in your gaze lately that says maybe I'm not fooling myself, that you might... feel something too."

"Just say it," Elsa said, surprising herself with her boldness.

He looked terrified. She wondered if the same dozens of butterflies were dancing in his stomach too. She could have screamed, she was so nervous.

"I... I think I want you, Queen Elsa," he confessed, voice little more than a whisper. "And I don't know what to do."

Although she'd known it was coming, she still felt a warm rush throughout her body as he said it. I think I want you. So it hadn't been one-sided after all. And I don't know what to do.

"I know what to do," Elsa said, grasping his hands tighter still. As her heart pumped, she pulled him towards her and lifted her body up, head coming closer through the hole. He understood and mimicked, head meeting hers inside the ice wall.

There was a brief moment of hesitation, as if they both remembered that one was the queen and the other was a prisoner, but all thought soon ceased as their lips met. He was so warm, so like nothing she'd ever touched before. The sensation was smooth and natural, so much so that Elsa couldn't believe she'd never kissed anyone before.

And through her mind raced every thought and no thought, the silence screaming at her as he pressed his head further in. She moved in slightly, then brought her lips away, forehead against his. She listened to him breathe, her heart thundering like a tribal drum.

A huge smile turned her lips up as she realized what she'd done, and a laugh bubbled from her chest. She heard and felt his deep, hearty laugh join hers.

"I don't deserve this," he muttered.

"Shut up," Elsa laughed, leaning in again to meet him. She lightly kissed him once, then twice. "No self-pity. Not anymore."

"You-" he tried to say, but was muffled by another kiss. Elsa never knew what she'd been missing, and wasn't shy to claim it again and again.

He took one hand away from hers and lifted it to her head, just barely brushing her cheek. He made his way to her hair, running his fingers through the white gold.

"You're the most beautiful person I've ever met," he breathed after briefly pulling away.

Elsa nearly laughed. Had he always been so corny, or was it only when he kissed?

She wished she could draw herself in closer, but a wall of ice separated them, limiting too much touch. She'd have to resign herself to be grateful for his lips and hands.

"I could kiss you all day," she said, resting her head against his chin as he stroked her hair. It was so soothing, she never wanted to leave. Here, she couldn't recall any troubles, couldn't think of anything besides he thinks he wants me.

I don't know how I'm going to let him go, one petrifying thought weaseled its way in through all the soft and happy thoughts. She tried so hard to let it slip away, but it grabbed at her and wouldn't let go. The only solution she could think of was to raise her head and kiss him again.

Hans laughed against her lips, pulling away. "You're an addict, your majesty."

She couldn't help but giggle, and was immediately mortified afterwards. She never giggled.

"Besides," he said, removing his hand from her hair and bringing it back to tangle with her hand. He squeezed it gently. "You should go back to the castle. Write the letter, do what you have to do. Make amends with Anna."

If only it were so easy, she bitterly thought.

"I don't want to leave," she complained. "Nothing's so much of a problem right here."

"Go on," he said, letting go of her hands, but a huge smile bursting on his lips. "They'll be wondering where you are."

She giggled again, completely embarrassed by the sound. She put a hand to her mouth, but couldn't hide the grin underneath. "You're right," she said, voice muffled. "It's been a pleasure, Prince Hans."

"Likewise," he said with a brief mock-bow that made her giggle again. She thought it best to leave the cell before she could make that offensive noise a fourth time.

With a small, shy wave, she left the room, giddy and in an absolute whirl. So that's what kissing is like, she thought, a finger running over her lips. She could still feel the intense warmth that lit her whole body up with energy.

She couldn't have imagined anything ruining her mood.

That was, until she entered her room to find Ingvalda sitting on her bed with an empty pillowcase and a handful of letters in her lap.

I know, I'm an absolute terror for leaving a cliffhanger, but in my defense, there was enough fluff in this chapter to make the world go round. I hope you enjoyed this brief journey into happiness. Keyword, brief.

Big beautiful thanks to everyone who's stuck with this, and thanks to anyone new, also! Shout out to my translators, especially Lyrtil. Your constant messages always make my day.