Authors note: I want to thank you all for reviewing and reading the last chapter. Hearing your opinions means a lot and they also help if I need to edit or make something better.
Any way, THE moment has arrived, THE moment you have all been waiting for! I hope it was well worth the wait! So please read on and remember to leave a review when done, opinions are most welcomed.
The queens coronation aniversary celebration, it was a big deal for Arenndelle as everybody went all out as decorations were set up along the made up outdoor dance floors, fireworks, everything!
It was a sight to add to it was the influx on the economy as people found it a perfect time to get new outfits for the occasion.
Though there were always a few who did not want to...
Entering the room to Kristoff sighted as he held the outfit for the party, which he was reluctant to wear, "The things I do for Anna" though Kristoff with a sight as he set it aside, but before he could even start to take his shirt off he was startled when Anna walked in, looking around she closed the doors.
"Anna?" asked Kristoff confused as to why she was acting so strangely, as if she did not want to be,
"Sorry had to make sure we were not being overheard" said Anna as she went about the room, checking windows to make sure they were closed and that there was nobody but her and Kristoff in the room "Like they say the walls have ears",
"Okay? What do you want to say?" asked Kristoff as he was sure that what she had to say was important if she was taking such precautions to make sure that they were not heard..
Reaching the pocket of her dress Anna took out and held out the watch.
"I found this" said Anna handing it to him.
Confused Kristoff took into his hand looked over it, it was somewhat humble looking, but knew it was expensive as it was gilded in gold, finding the inscription he read "Still waters run deep?",
"It belongs to the Firebird" said Anna,
"Are you sure?" asked Kristoff as it was such a strange thing for the Firebird to have, human or not,
"Trust me I am sure" said Anna confident and added as she took it back "I asked a few jewelers and they told me who the owner of the watch is".
Kristoff remained quiet as he though about what was said and asked "Who does the watch belong to?", Anna smiled and spilled the beans.
Making his way through the halls while making sure that he was not watched was the Firebird, stopping, he looked around before entering an empty guest bedroom. Closing the door behind him he looked around the room to make sure he was alone.
The room was small, empty saved for a bed, desk, chair an unused fireplace. Small but alone, that was how he wanted it.
Conbusting himself he turned to his human form before removing the hood and cloak and walking over to the desk.
Draping the cloak over the chair he sat on it and began to think. A part of Hans was scared as he knew that time was coming fast...he had to show the truth at the ball, no more no less, if he delayed it any longer Elsa would be hurt and he would loose any affection he earned.
Hans was scared, the past of the other fateweavers, their deaths, heartaches, the destruction which followed because of it. By doing what he was going to do there was so much he would risk... but Anna was right, he could not keep hiding, if he loved Elsa...he had to take a risk...
"I guess this is it..." though Hans before he heard chirp like sounds, looking he smiled a little when he saw that outside of the window were the will o wisps.
Walking over Hans opened the window allowing them in.
The light blue fairy creatures entered the dark room, making it shine as if he was among stars.
Then one attracted his attention, it carried a 2 letters.
"Thank you" said Hans as he took the letter, the first one he chose to open was ivory colored with some green leaves painted on it, sealed on the back with a brown wax seal with a flowery style S. Noticing this Hans wince a bit as he immediately knew from who it was.
It was from Sylvia.
"She is going to kill me..." though Hans as he opened he letter and winced as he read what was inside.
"HANS WESTERGAARD!
HOW DARE YOU LEAVE THE UNDERGROUND WITHOUT TELLING ANYBODY WHERE YOU WERE GOING! DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED SICK WE ARE!? WE THOUGH THAT YOU WERE KIDNAPPED OR WORSE! I DEMAND THAT YOU BRING YOUR FEATHER TAIL BUTT BACK TO THE UNDERGROUND SO I CAN KILL YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS FOR MAKING US ALL WORRY!
Signed your soon to be ex best friend Sylvia Arbores
Ps: if you do not answer this letter soon you'd better be dead! If not then I will find you and I will kill you!"
Hand winced again as he swore he could hear her screaming at him through the letter. Sylvia did tended to have a nasty temper from time to time.
Closing that one he opened the second one, this one was pure white with a gold trim styled in the form of ivy vines, it seal wax was a monogram of an A and V put together.
"Victoria and Albert" though Hans as he opened the letter and read it:
"Firebird, Hans, my brother dearest:
It has been so long since your last visit. How have you been?
Me and my darling Victoria know that you will be okay wherever you are, but regardless of that fact we cannot help but worry and miss you.
You are more than just a friend to us, you are our brother, our family, yes we do not have a blood bond, but our bond is stronger and thicker than any bond of blood.
Our home is and will always be open to you, our family.
Please come and visit when your able to, for we miss you terribly and please answer this letter as soon as possible.
Your brother Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel."
Attached to it was a small dried up violet.
Closing the letter Hans walked back to the desk and sat down again before he reached into the pocket which was sowned inside of the cloak.
From it he took out some parchment paper, an envelope, ink pot and a feather.
Opening the pot he bit his finger a bit causing it to bleed before allowing the blood to fall on the pot, once full he stirred it with the feather pen and whispered an incantation which translated to "Only those allowed will see what I have written"
The blood inside of the ink pot turned bright red before turning into a gold color.
Taking out the pen Hans wrote on the parchment paper, the letters he wrote were gold at first before turning black then fading away to nothing.
When done writing the letters he placed them in individual envelopes along with an invitation before sealed them both and handing them to the will o wisp with the order of "Send this to Sylvia Arbores and Albert and Victoria please".
With letters in hand the Will o wisp left the same way they came to fulfill the mission given to them.
Once the very last one left Hans closed the window before he left the room, soon the very big day would arrive.
"Hopefully Elsa will not be too mad at me" though Hans as he closed the door, but before he could even leave he suddenly heard "Prince Hans Westergaard of the Southern isles"
Hearing that made him freeze, never he though that he would hear his name in Arendelle as nobody there knew his name. Turning to where he heard the voice he saw it was Anna.
"Is that your name?" asked Anna as she walked closer,
"I... how?" asked Hans shocked as he wondered how did she even know, he was careful with hiding his identity, saying nothing Anna took out and held out his missing watch, taking it he sighted and said "Yes...",
"Your father never killed you did he?" asked Anna softly,
"No... but he would have..." said Hans then shook his head "I was saved by an enchantress, she cursed me, but my cursed turned out to be a gift",
"You became a fateweaver?" asked Anna as she rememebred what Kristoff had told her about the nodded yes.
"I heard about your father" said Anna and she shivered as she heard the stories of abuse and evil then added "I am sorry",
"Don't be... I made it out alive and well while others did not" said Hans sadly as he remembered...
A jolt woke Hans from his sleep, looking around he panicked when he saw he was in a cage. A small one as he could beraly fit inside much less lie down comfortably.
He moved and flapped desperately trying to escape but was unable to, he could not even see where he was as there was a black tarp covering the cage.
Suddenly there was talking,
"Yes yes, the filthy peasant had it in his posession" said a voice "As soon as I figured out it belonged to your family I sent word",
"I thank you, you will have a reward for returning what belongs to the westergaard family" hearing that other voice Hans froze even more, he knew that voice.
The tarp was pulled off, sure enough he was right...
It was his father...
He reached to touch Hans only for Hans...maybe t was a reflex or terror pecked his hand as if to say "Don't do that".
"Spirited..." said Stephen as he opened the cage and grabbed unto Hans roughly.
Hans flapped and struggled but stopped when Stephen yelled "Stop struggling!" And squeezed him tightly hurting him.
Hans froze afraid, Stephen smirked and walked away.
As he did he passed rows upon rows of cells with prisenors. They were hurt, malnourished and beaten, some didn't even look alive!
Hand stared as he had never seen such horror in his life, true he had become aware of his fathers true nature as a monarch not the ones he portrayed himself as absolute ruler but that of a tyrant...but this...he never would have been able to imagen it was that bad.
"You do not have to worry about that...so long as you obey me" said Stephen (this is where H.C later gets the inspiration for the nightingale but well...very sanitized and different ending).
Walking up the stairs Hans was blinded at the sunlight but once it cleared up he saw he was in one of the main halls.
Stephen walked over to the throne room where there was a person waiting, said person had a golden chain with a tiny shackle on it.
Realizing what it was Hans struggled and flapped but was held down as Stephen shackled it against his talon and let go.
Hans tried to fly away but emediatly was pulled back by Stephen...there was no escape...
"Good" said Stephen as this was what he wanted before picking Hans up and holding him in his hand.
"Listen here bird...seeing that you can understand me...the deal here is this... I own you! There for you obey me and my commands! Disobey me and there will be a consequence, do as you are told and your life here will be pleasant, understood?" Hans said nothing but stared in terror.
"Understood?!" yelled Stephen as he shook his fist hurting Hans.
"Ow! Stop! Yes yes!" cried Hans,
"So you do talk and understand...perfect" said Stephen as he walked away to the back gardens.
There was a maze and at the center of the maze was a giant bird cage which Hans had never seen before, inside was filled with all manners of exotic plants, trees with fragrant fruit and bushes with flowers along with a lake.
Opening the door with a key Stephen walked inside and closed the cage behind him.
"This will be your home from now on" said Stephen as he undid Hans shackles. Hans took off and hid among the trees.
Stephen just laughed before leaving... the door closed behind him and locked...
He was trapped...trapped in the hands of his tyrant father...and his friend H.C all he could do is pray he would be alright...
Days passed, each one worse than the last as Hans was exposed to the cruelty which was his father.
His father would smite men, old and young, woman, children, it did not matter while Hans was forced to watch.
He cried and begged his father to stop, but his cries fell on deaf ears, his brothers would sometimes join in on it.
It made Hans sick to realize that this man was king, a king or a queen was supposed to protect their people and their kingdom. Yet he did quite the opposite.
The tortures got worse and soon Hans realized why, his father wanted him to cry, to see, to harvest his tears.
Why? Hans was not sure but was he was sure of is that he had to find a way to stop this madness and free the prisenors...somehow...someway...
"What will you do?" asked Anna interrupting those horrible memories as she walked over, he sighted and said "I will show her the truth", there was more silence then Anna asked "What happens after this?",
"I am not sure...it can go either way...but what matters is that Elsa needs to know and that after the ball..." he paused then smiled at her reassuringly "There will be a happily ever after"
Time passed and the night of the Ball arrived, inside celebrating were all the nobles and royalty of Scandanavia along with some surprising guest. The rulers of Spain, Denmark, Southern France, Germany even Queen Victoria and her consort Albert arrived surprising everybody when they sent letters expressing their thanks for being invited and that they would arrive.
How did they know and why did they wanted to go to the ball Elsa did not know, but could not refuse them.
Right now standing outside the door of the ballroom of the Arendelle castle Elsa waited nervously for her turn to be announced and let into the ballroom, every now and then she looked around for any sign of her missing Firebird whom she had not seen either claw or feather for a while now, true he said he would arrive a little late, but she still could not help but feel uneasy and nervous,
"Why has he not shown up yet?" said Elsa impatiently,
"Calm down Elsa, I am sure he will be around soon" said Anna, who was dressed in a vibrant green and blue dress, she wore the spring jewelry set the Firebird made as it complemented her dress rather well, she followed her sisters pacing trying to ease her nerves,
"Ya, its not like he would miss this as he knows how important it is to you" said Kristoff as he pulled on his coat, he wore a very expensive suit which made him look like every bit of a noble man he would be,
"I know, I know, I can't help it" said Elsa as she clutched her hands trying to keep herself together and controlled as her power was acting up making the room cold.
Moving she looked at her dress, it was a dress which was a pure white snow dress, it was fashioned into the latest style and the embroidery was icy blue making it pop with a bit of a train. The jewelry she wore was the ice set which the Firebird made for her along with the crown which she moved a bit to make sure it was perfectly placed on her head.
Then she froze when the doors opened and a voice announced "Her imperial royal highness Queen Elsa of Norway and her husband to be Firebird"
Swallowing thickly Elsa turned and entered the room, as soon as the guest saw her alone they began to whisper to one another.
The Duke smirked as he could use this to further humiliate the Queen into submission.
Ignoring them Elsa stood tall as she walked over and stood besides the rulers, once she was there the court bowed down/curtsied to the rulers before the ball was allowed to begin.
Drinks were poured and appetizers were passed on while the people danced and made merry.
"So Queen Elsa, where is your husband? I would like to bea...I mean meet him" inquired King Frederic curious as he being Elsa's and Anna's uncle he had the right to meet their loves and protect them from unwanted as he was sure that was what Agnaar would have wanted. Especially with the rumors he heard about her having to marry a bird.
"He will be around" said Elsa as she looked around praying he would show up,
"Maybe he is still busy getting ready" suggested one of the councilman rather deviously,
"In the bird bath outside the palace" laughed the Duke along with the council. Upon hearing that Arianna and Frederic eyes widen, they had heard of the firebird from Anna's letters but though/prayed that she was merely playing a joke on them or something.
"Excuse us?" asked Albert, both he and Victoria looked angry along with the German, Spanish and French rulers, but why Elsa could not understand,
"Her husband is a bird, a bird with abilities, but a bird... an animal none the less" said the Duke,
"What did you call him?" asked Victoria trying hard not to hiss,
"An animal, it is what he is right" said the Duke, there was silence as the rulers stared in anger before Albert finally spoke "The Firebird, whom you call animal is my brother" upon hearing that the council and the Dukes smug looks left their faces quickly.
"He is our friend and we will not allow you to disrespect him" added the Spanish king, the male group looked like they wanted to attack the council and the Duke with their bare hands while their wives looked at them as if they were lower than the dirt beneath their feet. This shocked Elsa, she did knew from the Firebird that he knew them, but the way they spoke about him was as if he was more than just an acquaintance or friend, like he was family to them.
Soon shock turned to panic as Elsa immediately knew that if something was not done there would be an all out war among rulers soon.
Then all of a sudden, as if giving her a solution there was a knock on the door where the rulers entered through, the rulers stopped as the knock had interrupted the chattering. In silencing the council and the Duke all looked at one another, they were all there, nobody was missing..
The knocks persisted, the servants looked wondering who was on the other side as everybody was present.
"That must be Hans, fashionably late as always" said Victoria surprising Elsa with the casualty she said it, as if it was something she knew personally and...Hans... who is this Hans?
The Duke barely able to keep himself from hiding a smirk said out loud "I bet he is going to fly in as soon as the doors open", he could not wait to see the faces of the rulers of Corona when they see the firebird fly in.
"Open the door" said Frederic the rest nodded in agreement so Elsa motioned the servants to open it.
Nodding the servants opened the double doors, by now everybodies attention was on the doors as they opened, none more so than the council and the Duke as they expected a bird to come flying in while Elsa began to wonder if it was too late to give up, surely this trial Firebird will not be able to pass.
But was glad she did not as into the room came not a bird, but a person. He was a handsome young fellow, somewhere around his early twenties. He was comely, gorgeous even – with chiseled features defined by a strong jawline and high cheekbones framed by a well-groomed coif of auburn hair. He was dressed in fine garments befitting of royalty, a royal suit of charcoal black with red flame designs embroidered on the cuffs of his sleeve and edges of his coat, a red sash tied around his waist along with a sword. All in all, he cut an imposing figure.
"Who is he?" Elsa heard one of the councilman say, "Never seen him before" whispered the Duke.
The stranger walked over, Elsa froze a bit as he took her hand and said "I apologize for being so late, I wanted you, your family and friends to see me at my best" before kissing it,
"Who are you?" asked Elsa,
You don't recognize me Elsa?" he asked, Elsa said nothing as she stared at the stranger face, the more she looked the more she realized that there was something very familiar about him, his voice...his eyes... which were his most striking attribute with their rich verdant shade and piercing gaze not unlike...
"Eyes" though Elsa as she stared, never had she seen such green eyes before...the only one who she had seen that were identical were... her eyes widen as she realized why they were so familiar...
"It can't be, you cannot be..." said Elsa out loud in shock,
"It is...I am the firebird...Prince Hans Westergaard of the Southern Isles, Phoenix Prince and Fateweaver of the Underground Kingdom" said the Firebird/Hans, as soon as that name was spoken there was a shock through most of the council and attending guests.
What was more shocking it was not known, that the Firebird was now human or that said Firebird turned human claimed to be the missing 13th southern isle prince.
The Westergaars had been considered dead for many years, all having died in an assassination at the hands of their own people while the the youngest of the Westergaar Hans was rumored to have been murdered by the hands of his father yet here he was, a stranger claiming that he was said child who was supposedly murdered many years ago. Though those who knew the family admitted he did had many identical physical characteristics present in the Westergaard family such as the shape of the chin, nose and eyes.
"Hans" said Elsa saying his name unsure whether he really was the Firebird or not, never she would know how much happiness Hans felt at her saying his name. Meanwhile the Duke and the council stared as they came upon the same conclusion either this person was the Firebird or the Firebird hired somebody to pose as him.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you" said Arianna deciding to speak before Frederic said anything.
"The pleasure is all mine your majesties, Elsa has spoken very highly about you both" said Hans bowing to them respectfully,
"I hope its all been good things" said Arianna laughing,
"Well I do" began Frederic but Arianna elbowed him to keep quiet,
"It was about time you showed up, you know better than to keep friends waiting" teased Victoria lightly,
"Sorry Queen Victoria, but you know me, I always enjoyed making a grand entrance" said Hans,
"Please call me Victoria, you and me have been friends for years" said Victoria just as she did a servant announced that dinner was ready.
Turning the group left in pairs, turning Hans held out his arm, Elsa stared unsure before placing her hand on it and they walked together.
Arriving to the dinning room they took their respective seats, walking over Hans pulled a chair for her to sit down, which she did, once she was on her seat he took his own seat next to her.
Taking a cup her eyes strained on this stranger...this..Hans...whom claimed to be the Firebird.
"Is this really you Firebird or did you hire somebody to pose as you" though Elsa as she took a sip from her wine cup.
To be continued...
Authors note: Well that went well...so far... but I do not think Elsa is okay with this...not one bit. Any way I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Well you will have to wait and see...so please leave a review to tell me what you think and stay tuned for the next one.