Ok, I have to start this off by apologizing for the ridiculous wait! I don't really have a good excuse except that I never had enough time to actually sit down and get this typed out.

But it's here now, so that's good, right? Thank you to everyone who is reading this. I do hope you are enjoying it!

Special thanks to 'Ceikaiyia Cheeks THE DIRECTOR': That would be the safe choice for the Duke and Hans, but you'll just have to see what they decide to do!

Another huge thanks to 'jayleaf1': YES I TOTALLY SANG THAT! It was brilliant! It's reviews like that that make my day!

As always, do not be afraid to review with good or bad comments- I can learn from and appreciate them all! Enjoy this next chapter!

Anna rushed from the door, padding quickly and quietly down the hall until her steps would be out of earshot. Then, as she'd never much cared for maintaining "her royal dignity", she ran. She needed to warn Elsa that Hans was coming. She loved the Prince, but she knew that the Duke could have a heavy influence on him, and it scared her.

As she neared the section of the castle that housed the dungeons, the air became cold. The floors were no longer carpeted; the walls were no longer adorned with paintings, tapestry, sconces, and wallpaper. She shivered. Was the bitter cold a result of her sister? Elsa had to be freezing!

The Princess reached the guard point, where she was admitted into the dungeons. The burly man had never before been allowed to admit visitors, but he knew better than to argue with the spirited redhead. Anna counted the doors to Elsa's cell. Hers was number thirteen. She went to the door, took a deep breath as had become her habit, and knocked.

She could hear the dull metallic ring of dragging chains, and cringed. Her sister didn't deserve this.

"Anna?" Elsa said from the other side of the heavy wooden door.

"Elsa, I need to warn you. Hans is coming, and he's going to be saying… things. Elsa, the Duke of Weselton has the other dignitaries fired up because they're stuck here. They were talking to Hans and he's coming here to threaten you into thawing the fjord," Anna hurriedly explained.

"What?" Elsa gasped, "But Anna, if I could unfreeze everything, I would have done so already! I told you back on the mountain that I couldn't do it!"

"I know that, but Hans and the others don't! I really should go though before Hans gets here, he might be mad to see me talking to you, and you shouldn't let on that you know what's happening. But I needed to warn you."

"Thank you, Anna," Elsa said, struggling to keep her voice level. She was glad her sister couldn't see the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Okay, I'm- I'm leaving now," Anna said softly, "Good luck."

Elsa wished she could have reached the door, that her hands would have been free so she could touch the rough wood. Her sister was on the other side, as she had been for countless years. But Elsa had stayed in her room to keep her sister out of danger. Now Anna was safe, and she was in trouble.

A few minutes later, she heard two pairs of heavy footsteps and the clicking of the key in the lock. The Queen cleared her face of any emotion besides surprise when the cell door creaked open and Hans took a few steps in. He closed the door behind him, but didn't lock it.

"Queen Elsa," he said unthreateningly. He hugged his arms to keep out the chill and subconsciously inspected her shackles with a hint of apprehension. His breath formed a little gray cloud in the air. Elsa hadn't even realized it was cold.

"Prince Hans," she nodded, an eyebrow cocked.

"How is your shoulder? It looks like it's healing well?" Hans took another step into the dark cell.

"It's coming along. I can't sleep on that side, and it's still a bit painful to the touch, but it's healing," Elsa answered, "But I feel like that's not why you're here. I've been in this cell for days, and you haven't checked on my arm."

Hans shifted his weight. "No, you're right. I'm glad you're doing better, but that's not why I'm here. You might not know this, but all of the monarchs are still here from your coronation, despite the fact that the festivals and parties have been called off. They're here because they can't get out. You froze the fjord and they're trapped.

"I- I hadn't thought about that," Elsa lied.

"What you need to do now is simple. Unfreeze everything. You've had your fun-"

"You think I did this for fun!? You think I would reveal my powers, put everyone in danger, put myself in danger for fun? Hans, don't you see? I can't thaw the fjord. I don't know how. If I had the power to thaw everything, I would have done that a long time ago. I can't thaw it!" Elsa stood and would have run her hands through the air if they'd been free, as was her nervous habit. But she wasn't free. She was trapped and scared.

Hans took another step towards her. "Elsa, they're not going to take 'no' for an answer. There is no denying that you are a sorceress, and they don't even know about the murders yet. You were the one who started this, who has the powers. It's your job to thaw Arendelle."

"Hans, listen to me," Elsa said, a pleading tone sneaking into her voice. "I wish I could reverse the curse. But if I could, I would have already done so."

Hans strode forward and took Elsa's shoulders firmly.

"Ow, Hans-" Elsa said through gritted teeth.

Hans was in her face. She could feel the warmth of his breath and his grip on her did not loosen. "That's a lie! Anna told me everything. She said you used to play in the snow inside the castle. Obviously, that snow didn't stay and you didn't set a magical winter on the kingdom. So you know how to thaw it."

Elsa's insides twisted in panic. She'd never thought about that. She wracked her brain trying to remember how she did it. But it was useless. After the accident with Anna, she'd tried to push the memory of "indoor magic" out of her head as best she could. She still remembered the things they did, and there was no forgetting the actual powers that plagued her daily, but forgetting how she could use them had made her feel safer.

Hans searched Elsa's face from inches away. "You're thinking. You do know how to thaw Arendelle, but you're keeping everyone here as part of some plot. Is that it? It is, isn't it. The Duke was right. It's perfect, really. You were probably nervous about becoming Queen, about how the kingdom would accept you. Now you have a kingdom who lives in fear of you and will do whatever you say."

"What? No! Hans-"

Hans had let go of Elsa's shoulders in his frenzied excitement, but now he grabbed her again, harder. She let out a small cry of pain. "We have the power to destroy you, Elsa. So here are your choices. You thaw Arendelle and we forget that any of this ever happened. You refuse to thaw the kingdom, I tell everyone about the murders, and you are executed in front of your sister and the whole kingdom. Or you marry me, and as king, I pardon you of your crimes." Hans smiled a smile as cold as the room.

"Wait, what?" Elsa said, not believing what she'd heard. "Marry you? And leave Anna wondering what she'd done wrong? Why her true love didn't turn out to be so true? No, Hans, I would sooner die than do that to Anna."

"Well I'm sure the Duke of Weselton would be more than happy to arrange that for you."

"But wait. If I die, how would that help anyone? Then the winter would be truly endless," Elsa thought aloud.

"Ah, I've looked into that. You do have a splendid library. According to many sources, once the caster of the spell is dead, the spell is erased and everything is as it once was," Hans said, flashing her a sick smile. "I'll be back tomorrow morning to hear your decision." And with that, the Prince left, leaving Elsa alone in her cell as the door echoed in the frigid air.