A/N: If it's from Frozen, it isn't mine
As Summer turned to Fall, Susanna and Alvred spent more and more time together; less and less of it on official business, though that was always done first and to the best of their mutual ability. When the weather began to turn and they made plans for the delegation's return to Arendelle, Susanna's heart fell at the thought of not seeing him through a long winter. One crisp day, the pair rode to one of the few mountains in the Southern Isles. The delegation was set to leave in a few days. They spent the afternoon enjoying the view, which reminded Susanna of home. They were saddling the horses for the return journey as the sun began to set. The horses ready, the couple shared a last, heated kiss before returning to the scrutiny of the palace, where they were restricted to chaste dances and longing looks. To Susanna's surprise Alvred got down on one knee. She looked at him, confused, as he began to speak,
"Susanna, ever since we first met you have amazed me. I came here for the first time, young, spoiled and selfish. I resented you for calling me to task when all I wanted was to relax on the beach away from my father and brother's watchful eyes. I was so angry at Lars for dying, so angry at my father for forcing me to change, and angry at myself. How could I be angry at him and miss him so much at the same time? You listened to me, and I found myself saying things I couldn't even think to myself, much less say out loud. But it was what I felt. I expected to see the disgust in your eyes; you'd never say anything, not to the Prince, no one does, but you can see their reactions just the same. But you didn't hate me. You understood, but more, you showed me how to make peace with it all, how to become the man Arendelle needed me to be. I had begun to hate it, for ruining my life, but you reminded me, with your descriptions of a land you missed, how beautiful it is, how much I love it. You changed me; and you've been my conscience ever since. And then, once I changed, you helped me to be not just the prince, running around keeping tabs on trade, but to really help, to really make a difference. The girls I knew before I met you, they were just like me, wanted to enjoy noble privilege without any thought for the responsibilities. But you're so dedicated, so wise, and then I saw…. so beautiful. It took me forever to admit how I felt, I was afraid you'd say no, or worse, say yes just because I'm the prince. But when I was preparing to leave for the Valley, once I really knew I might not come back, I had to take the chance. And now I'm going to take it again. Will you marry me Susa? Come back to Arendelle with me and be my wife."
He looked at her then, eyes full of love and longing, doubt and hope. In his hand, he held a ring, a gold band styled like the crocus of Arendelle, with tiny amethysts and emeralds surrounding the diamond in the center. All she could do was nod before she hugged him so hard he dropped the ring on the forest floor; ruining the moment because they had to stop kissing and look for it on their hands and knees as the sky slowly turned to black. Alvred found it as it became too dark to see, slipping it on her finger with a kiss.
Preparations for the return to Arendelle rose to an all-time high upon the couple's announcement. The Lord Ambassador and his wife insisted they would need until the spring to prepare Susanna's trousseau, and tried to convince them she could follow her intended then. Susa, in a very unlike her fit of temper, declared she would leave for Arendelle before winter set in with or without their blessing. Seeing the beginnings of a family feud and unwilling to be the cause of his future wife's estrangement from her family, Alvred delayed the departure of the delegation by a month – cutting it threateningly close to the end of the travelling season- to give the family time to say their goodbyes and prepare a small trousseau, with more to follow in the spring.
Unfortunately, this delay provoked a very strongly worded letter from Arendelle. Although it had been nearly four years since Lars' death, Julius still felt the loss keenly and had continued in their father's tradition of being extremely careful with the royal family's travel plans. He was not amused by the change, since it would not only cause a later than ideal departure date, but would also necessitate a more direct-and more dangerous- route home. He accused his brother of being lovesick and made hints at a serious reprimand should Alvred not return home immediately, and by the more circuitous route.
While Susanna had dared to defy her parents, she would not defy her king, and the couple resigned themselves to a period of separation. As it was, the ship containing Susanna was the last to reach Arendelle's docks before the winter tightened its grip on the kingdom once more.