The letter was water damaged and stained with blood, and looked as if it had been written by a cramped hand. Anna's fingers ached just remembering the bitter cold that had froze her own, far deeper than frostbite or winter's nip, until they could no longer move.


"My dearest Anna,

I see I will not escape this dungeon, not in time for you. My wounds and the cold are against me, this unnatural cold that has pierced my heart. It spreads faster by the moment, robbing me of those precious seconds I would spend with you.

I do not blame your sister; she rescued me, in fact. I might have died in that dungeon if she had not escaped. My brother tricked me; he captured us both when I came to get his advice. He is in league with the Duke of Weselton. You may know this, but if you do not, be on your guard. My brother is not to be trusted, and neither is the Duke.

I am glad your sister got free, and I think my brother will find it more difficult than he thinks to take Arendelle.

I wanted to tell you good bye, and thank you, and I love you - there are so many things I want to say. It may be crazy, to love after such a short time, but I want you to know something my mother once taught me:

Love is a choice, not an emotion. You can choose to love a stranger, or your best friend. You can even choose to love your enemy, which has more power in stopping wars than any force of arms. I do not love you because I like you (though I certainly do), or because we have so much in common (though we certainly do), but because I choose to love you; for better, for worse.

This may be history's shortest love story, but I'm glad we shared it together. I pray you are reunited with your sister, and that the two of you rescue your kingdom together. If I am frozen, then I will watch over you - it may not be the life we planned, but it will not change my choice. I would love you, and love you again.

With warmest thoughts,

Hans"


"Oh, Elsa!" Anna hugged her sister. She didn't know what to think. All her feelings and thoughts for Hans had been flooding back ever since the messenger had come, and despite Hans letter, love certainly -felt- like an emotion to her. How could he be so dedicated, after knowing her only a day? She remembered the reports; he really had done wonderfully, running the kingdom; the people had loved him, before they thought he was evil and putting on an act.

Elsa consoled her sister as several more guards and Kristoff entered the room.

"Anna?" Kristoff rushed over, but Elsa warned him away with a flick of her hair. "Hans?" He instead turned to the ice-statue at the table.

"He was frozen," Elsa swallowed. "I froze him. I didn't know".

Kristoff looked at Elsa squarely, "There might still be a chance. Perhaps the trolls will know of something that can be done".