Elsa was sleeping in her room. Gunther happened to be curled up at her feet. The dog was still awake remembering...
Hans had betrayed him.
Surprise, surprise, surprise...
The magic collar was a nice touch; inspired and new. Gunther had been expecting a leather belt or a sword, not fur or claws. A lot of the events in the past couple of months made a bit more sense now. So much time had been wasted trying to figure out who was the good guy and who was the bad guy and who was both.
Gunther shifted uncomfortably. The deal Hans had forged with Archer had been... uncomfortable.
(flashback)
"Beautiful dog," Archer had said. Gunther whined. This was humiliating.
"He looks like Shadow," Said Anna, "Same bitch?"
Hans snorted.
"What?!" She demanded, "That's the proper use of the word!"
"...yes... they share a mother."
Anna looked at the animal with suspicion in her eyes. The last one had practically taken her foot off.
"Oh, trust me, this one will behave," Hans leaned down, "If he knows what's good for him."
After failing his king, fur was just about the only thing he would be safe in.
"So, what's your plan, then?"
"Your plan," Explained Hans, "Which will keep the throne with you and your son. If anyone tries to kill you, Sophia rules, if anyone kills Sophia, you'll lose the throne."
"She's my insurance?"
"...yes."
"Well done, Hans."
"I thought so, yes."
(end Flashback)
Gunther was stuck in this fur. Hans was ice and Archer needed Sophia in Arrendelle. The machinations of his life had gotten so much more complicated. The door creaked open.
Hans appeared. He ignored his brother and went to the bed. He stroked the queen's hair out of her eyes.
"Look after her for me, okay?"
Then he left. In the morning, the queen would find a pile of water where his statue was, and assume him dead.
The prince headed back to the shack. It was his home. The only one he had right now. He went inside, took off his coat and-
he swore.
Elsa.
"Did you honestly think I'd believe you dead, again!"
"There's some debate about that..." Hans chuckled. Her arms were crossed.
"I'm not amused."
"Look, you don't want to marry me, and I don't want to hurt you. Just tell everyone we said our vows in secret and that I... what's the phrase? Hit it and quit it?" He blushed. Usually he wouldn't use such vulgarity, but he was dead, again, and she had broken into his home.
"As if you'd ever be appeased with that offering."
"Depends on the offering, I suppose."
"I..." She bit her lip in frustration. Then a mischevious glint appeared in her eyes, "I am better than you."
She conjured a chess board with pieces.
"If you win, I'll do whatever you command, no questions asked, if I win," She smirked, "And I will, you'll stay and marry me," She made a motion with her hand, "Stay boy."
She giggled.
Hans' eyes narrowed, "And I would play because...?"
"For every piece you take, I will give you one kiss."
"Elsa, I wouldn't take-!"
"No taking!" She got up and crossed the room, "I would be kissing you of my own free will." Hans felt a surge of hope.
"...What did it feel like to defrost after a kiss?" She got uncomfortably close, the smell of winter and snow berries in his nose, "You can take nothing I wouldn't give voluntarily..."
She moved a piece. Hans moved a piece.
The game went forward.