Elsa mourned. Anna knew how she felt.
Ironically, the storm Elsa had conjured disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. The sky cleared, sending a wash of warm light over the deck. Anna came up from below decks in time to hear Hans' confession. In a way, it made sense. Their father reached out to people who could control others, and, hopefully, help Elsa control their power. But soon enough he must have realized just how evil those men were. And, being evil men, they tried to take what others would not give, and kill for it.
King's errands. Did their evil ever end?
The boat arrived in Arrendelle swiftly.
"What are you going to do?" Anna whined.
"Me?" Elsa huffed, "So it's my fault now?!"
Anna looked around awkwardly for moment before muttering something along the lines of 'never froze my boyfriend' under her breath.
"Well, maybe we could pass him off as an ice sculpture!"
Elsa rolled her eyes, "No... I don't know, just... steamer trunk special him, I guess."
"You're going to sneak Hans in... as luggage?!"
"Well... it's not like he's going to complain. And, if he could, it's probably not going to be at the top of the list."
Anna nodded, "Fine." She huffed a sigh, "But you can't marry a man you just froze!"
For an awkward second they stared at each other before laughing.
"Wow, our lives have gotten weird."
"Yeeeeaah."
And so, Hans was smuggled into the castle.
Elsa grabbed Sophia, and the three girls and their secret cargo, made their way inside.
"This is the stupidest thing we've done in awhile! What if he melts!?" Kristoff grunted under the load.
"Just keep going..." Elsa muttered.
"Queen Elsa!" Elsa's almost-fiancée Archer appeared.
"Of course..." she muttered to herself.
"I wanted to be here for your upcoming wedding. Now, where's the brother of mine...?"
"Oh!" Said Anna, "He's... feeling a cold come on."
The people who knew what had happened turned to Anna with reproving glares.
"Really?"
"Really!" She insisted, despite their objections.
"Such a shame," Said Archer, "I was hoping to give him an early wedding present."
"Hans doesn't really like surprises," Elsa said, squirming.
Archer looked at her for a moment, trying to pierce her through with his eyes, "no, no he doesn't. It's a Westerguard trait; we all like everything just where it should be..."
Elsa forced a smile as Anna and Kristoff loaded her fiancée into a sled.
"But you do!" Archer clapped his hands. The crowd parted to make way for a new figure. Elsa's eyes went wide.
"Noooo..." She bent over and held out her hand. There, in the midst of the crowd, was a dog that looked exactly like Shadow did.
"Wow...!"
"Glad you like it. Has something to do with a dog you lost?"
Elsa nodded, "What's his name?"
"Well, Hans called him Gunther. I can't tell you much more than that."
Gunther was... shy. He didn't seem particularly comfortable. Until Elsa hit that sweet spot behind the ears. He slobbered contentedly on the ground. Elsa rose, bittersweet sadness in her voice.
"I... should thank him," Elsa stopped for a moment, and turned, "That... accident that took Olaf's life. Why were they out to sea?"
"Well..." Archer mused for a moment, then decided there wasn't much point to hopping about the situation, "They were trying to secure a marriage for Gunther, I suppose. Now, where the devil did he go?!"
Gunther barked. Elsa bowed slightly and made her way to the castle. By the time she arrived. Anna and Kristoff were already unpacking him... no, unpacking Hans. She had to get used to saying his name.
"Leave us," Elsa commanded, leaving no room for argument. The couple headed out the door.
Elsa took a moment of silence, slowly letting her guard down, "Anna says... you can hear me." The young queen clutched her chest, "She said... it doesn't hurt. But she's lying. I know she is. Right now, you are ice, and every molecule of your being is in agony. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for other things, too. You know, it's funny, in a way, I just-!" She conjured a chess board for herself, and started playing, "For so long, I was so angry at my father. And then myself. Then you came along. I was jealous. Everyone loved you, Anna- I'd lived alone for her for years- loved you. And your life seemed perfect. Did you ever feel alone? You're always so in control. I hate that about you. I can never have enough control, never seem to get things to go my way."
She ran her fingers over the black king, "I knew from the moment I saw you something wasn't quite right. The Southern Isles was where my parents... anyways, I cut you out without giving you a chance. In hindsight that was a misstep."
The game continued, "I'm so alone. You don't understand- you had 12 brothers. I had Anna, then I didn't. It's that simple. And now, she's moved on and I'm just alone. Again."
Her fingers traced the board as she mourned her loneliness, "I... am sorry. You've got this complicated life I never realized you had, and, compared to your choices, I guess killing me," She swallowed some tears, "Wasn't really the worst thing you would have done. Oh, Hans," She traced her fingers across his face, "What you did was an act of true love, so why aren't you here?"
He stood silently.
"Unless it's me, I'm keeping you frozen." Elsa clenched here eyes shut, a soft glow emanating from her skin. A small wind picked up. With a blast, she rocked the statue. Nothing happened.
"See? I can't control anything."
She was standing so close to him leaning in to whisper, "All I ask is for you to come back to me..."
"KISS HIM!"
Elsa spasmed in shock, "Sophia! What're you doing here?"
The little girl blushed, "Weeeeeeell... I didn't see Uncle Hans, sooooo..."
Elsa sighed, blushing as well, "Listen, relationships-!"
"Are complicated, I know! But come on! One kiss! PLEASE?!"
Elsa pushed her out of the room, "Go play with Anna. And make it something quiet!"
The queen locked the door behind her and went to Hans, "I'm grateful for what you've done, truly. And..." She took a breath, "I love you!"
She kissed the icy lips. Drawing away, she looked at the statue, waiting.
Nothing happened.
"I guess everyone was right; I am incapable of love."
Elsa walked away.