Shock. It was shock that I was experiencing right now. Not seconds earlier did Anna-this young woman who I had thought to be a fool-had said the thing I expected least from her. The words continue to echo within my head.

'I'm going to kill Elsa so I can rule Arendelle.' It kept echoing and echoing, bouncing off the walls in my head that was my skull.

I felt stupid about how I had responded-saying that I was going to say the same thing-realizing how I could have used this against her. But no, I allowed myself to remove the mask I wore for years, all for this...reflection of myself.

No. No she wasn't a reflection. This was all happening, not a dream-nor a nightmare-all of it was truly happening. I felt so...elated. This was something I never would have expected but it still begged the question to arise from my mouth.

"Why kill Elsa?" My voice was hushed, quiet enough so only Anna could hear. I searched her icy eyes-oh they were truly frozen!-for answers. Excitement and ecstasy was bubbling up inside of me, my mind whirring with questions, parched and thirsty for answers. Anna laughed softly; it chilled my very core.

"I feel you already know the answer. From what I can tell, Prince Hans..." Her grip tightened on my hand, almost too tight. "You and I are very alike." Anna tilted her head to the side in a childish manner, her smile playful and dainty. Yet those captivating eyes...they practically screamed her resentment for the Queen.

"Oh, but I'd much rather hear it word for word, my dear." A dark chuckle escaped my throat. This young woman, this Princess, she was so foolish to trust me so easily, even like this. Perhaps it wasn't too late to use this against her, I could still trick her despite this...interesting development. "You see...I would much rather hear about why you plan this, what made you hate your sister so much you'd be willing to kill her." I made my stance quite clear, not willing to let this chance slip by.

Anna pouted softly and slouched a bit. It was like she was toying with me. "But I told you already." Her expression quickly changed, no longer childish and now stern. "Or perhaps you weren't listening?"

I smirked, finding this Princess Anna much more enjoyable than the perky, energetic brat she led people on to believe. "Oh believe me, I was. And perhaps I could let word out to the party goers?" I jested, shaking my head with a short laugh. "But really..." I rested my elbow on my knee, propping my head up with my hand. "Is it all just because she left you alone? To be scared and have no family to turn to? Especially after the death of your parents?"

I can easily see that I drove a nail into her. Anna had flinched when I spoke, yet instead of snapping back at me she smiled and laughed. That laugh...for some reason it frightened me but at the same time filled me with a sense of zeal. This woman continued to astound me with every word she spoke.

Her laughter died down and she gazed right into my eyes. "Oh, but Hans. You certainly know what it's like to be ignored, don't you? I could see it, even with that facade you wear." I rose a brow, again perplexed by her.

"Oh you really don't realize it, do you? You have yet to realize how much the eyes can tell a person." Anna had leaned forward as she spoke, leaving her face centimeters away from mine. "The eyes are the window to the soul, after all."

'My eyes? Had they been so obviously bitter from the start? But he swore he perfected it...nobody ever suspected a thing, right?'

I narrow my eyes at her, searching her's for an answer. "You certainly can't be telling the truth. If my eyes gave everything away then how on Earth would I be here? You truly know nothing of what I have gone through to get here." I spat at her, anger boiling in my chest. This woman, she makes me go from amazement to anger with such simple words. I can see through her lies, it's all too clear that she is playing some sort of game with me. Nobody could see through my disguise before yet she was able to penetrate it with a single gaze and statement! "Tell me. The truth."

A laugh. That's her reply. A laugh. What sort of fool did she take me for?! It was taking every fiber of my being not to throttle her right now. I glared at her neck, imagining my hands around them and my grip tightening. I wanted to see her very life drain from her, those eyes that captivate me even to this very moment to dull and become empty. How dare she treat me of all people like a fool!

Reality seemed to warp again, as if I was in no control of anything that was happening. Anna had her hands on my wrists and was slowly bringing my hands up to her throat.

"Go ahead." Her voice hit my ears like icicles, so pointed and cold. "I can just tell that you want to end me. It's written all over your face, my dear."

My fingers wrapped around her neck but did not squeeze. Oh, believe me I truly do wish to wring her neck! But those eyes only reflect myself.

The bitterness. The resentment. The loneliness. I cannot bring myself to remove such familiar feelings from her cold eyes. I removed my hands, and turned my head away from her for a moment, regaining control over my being. Anna had managed to anger me, cut deep into my brain in just mere minutes. No...I cannot kill this woman.

Not yet.

Anna pulls me out of whatever trance I had fallen into, her hand cupping my cheek to turn my face towards her. "Really, Hans. If it takes a little lie to make you snap, then what hope do you have of achieving your goal on your own."

I stare at her silently, unable to speak. Again, I find myself searching her face for answers. All I see is a woman. A woman ready to risk everything for revenge.

"Now, I can already imagine just why you want to become king. Thirteenth in line with no hope of becoming heir. The only possibility of ruling a kingdom being marriage." She spoke as if she knew everything, but I knew things that she could only wish to know. News of my brother's death has yet to leave the kingdom, the entirety of my family too distressed by his death and too busy with a half-dead country.

I finally manage to speak, my voice bitter and laced with the hatred I felt for the woman in front of me. "A lie is what I live, is it not? As do you. Say what you want but that little outburst was just a fluke. Never before have I met a woman so...determined as you. I can tell that you can see how alike we are Anna." I push her hand away, my voice lowering significantly. "We both know what it's like to be pushed aside, that is obvious. Seen as insignificant, not worthy of anyone's time. Even now the ones who are supposed to care for us cast us aside, too busy with themselves to invest any of their time on us."

I grit my teeth, speaking through them. "You and I are more alike than I want. And believe me, I won't hesitate to cut your pretty little throat if you dare to cross me."

Threats. That's all it boiled down to now, was it? I cannot remember the last time I had been so truly agitated by a person that I threatened to end their life. Yes, I wished to kill Anna in the beginning, but now I wanted her to suffer.

Silence fell between us. It was agonizing, neither of us speaking to the other. It felt as though hours went by-even if the clock tower nearby said it was much less-before Anna finally spoke. "So. I trust you already have a plan?" She didn't let her eyes meet mine, and I was grateful not to feel her eyes boring through me like a drill.

"The plan was to marry you. I was quite hoping that you were as desperate as you led on to be." I looked away from her towards Arendelle. Even at night it was beautiful.

Anna laughed again, but softer and not as amused. "Despite the little...obstacle that I've brought up, I certainly can't see why that can't still be a part of it."

I glanced to her, not turning my head. This woman seemed to be all over the place, perhaps she really was energetic. I chuffed softly before rolling my shoulders. "Oh? Are you suggesting we go up to the Queen right now and ask for her blessing?" I didn't expect that to be the answer; it was foolish nonsense. It was quite obvious what the answer would be: a flat out no.

"Yes, but only if we wish to fail. I'm thinking more along the lines of one week visits every month. Tell my darling sister that we've taken a liking to each other-however untrue that is-and wish to form an agreement with your parents for these monthly visits."

She spoke of this idea as if it were nothing, so casual and off-handed. Anna continued to make my mind make sharp turns into dead ends, only to crash right through them. This plan, though, it certainly did make sense. "Yes...that may actually work. Of course, the only issue being persuading both my parents and your sister."

I saw her shrug, leaning back slightly. "As long as we make it clear that we are just 'testing the waters' before a decision is made, everything should work out. And if it doesn't there is still the reward of good relations with the kingdoms."

It astounded me how quickly she had come up with this. I could hardly see the cogs in her head working as she thought, so reserved and calm. It was...I can't even understand this loathing that she made me feel. But...it truly was the best course of action.

"Very well." I conceded, although reluctantly. I pushed myself up and straightened myself out, tugging at the bottom of my coat to remove any small wrinkles. "Better now than never, wouldn't you agree?" I cleared my throat and offered her my hand which she took. "Should this fail I will throw you off this very balcony."

Anna just smiled, hooking her arm with mine. "If you try so much as do that I'll pull you down with me." Her hold on my arm tightened, rather painfully. This woman just continued to confuse me more and more; I hated it.

"Dually noted." Without another word we opened the door and ducked into the crowd.

As Anna and I directed ourselves through the crowd, I felt a lump forming in my throat. I couldn't have been nervous, could I? No, no, impossible. This would go like I...like we planned. Even so, the lump in my throat seemed to feel bigger by the time we had reached Queen Elsa.

Anna was the first to speak up, the bubbliness in her voice returning. "Ah, Elsa! Ehrr, I mean...you're majesty." She gave a quick curtsy to her sister, my eyes flicking from Anna's face to Elsa's. "May I present to you Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."

I bowed, and as soon as I spoke I could feel the lump in my throat fading. "Your majesty it is truly an honor." But it would be more of an honor to kill you.

"Welcome, Prince Hans. I hope you are enjoying the festivities." Her reply is short, her voice smooth and somewhat collected, her voice only faltering a little.

Once I have straightened up, I see a faint smile on the Queen's face.

'Queen? She hardly even looks the part.'

In her eyes I see worry appear and I notice that they are far from focused on our faces. I follow her eyes to find she had noticed how Anna's arm is linked with mine. It already feels like Queen Elsa is on the verge of saying no.

'Such a pathetic woman, not even waiting to hear what her own blood has to say.'

To break the short silence, I speak up. "We do realize that this is rather sudden, but Princess Anna and I, we-"

"We've really taken a liking to each other!" Anna cut me off, displaying a sort of quirkiness that I have learned is far different from the actual thing.

The worry in Elsa's eyes seems to grow and I can see her working her jaw. "And...you two just met today, yes?" In the corner of my eye I could see Anna nodding excitedly.

"Yes, but we have so much in common! We both thought that this really could be something between us, right Hans?" I could feel Anna's eyes on me, praying she doesn't try to drill a hole in my skull with them.

I nod, a big smile adorned on my face. "Yes, and we were hoping that with your permission that-" I stop as soon as I see Elsa hold her hand up. Does she truly think that we were asking for her blessing? How foolish, she doesn't even trust her own sister to make a wise decision.

"Please...tell me you're not asking me to give you two my blessing." I could hear the annoyance in the Elsa's voice, the worry and distrust.

Anna and I both laugh, putting on a show for whomever is listening. "Oh, no no, your majesty. Of course not. We've only just met today!" I chortle, shaking my head a bit as I spoke.

I can see the relief wash over Elsa along with embarrassment. 'Yes, feel like the fool you are.'

"Oh thank goodness." She continues. "Do forgive me, it's been a stressful day. Please...do continue."

I look to Anna quietly asking if she wanted to ask, only to get a quiet 'No, you ask her." The act seems flawless to me, I feel like we actually do look like two people who have taken a liking to one another. I clear my throat and look to Elsa. "Queen Elsa, we would like to ask for your permission to form an agreement between Arendelle and the Southern Isles, allowing us to visit one another for a week once a month." The look of discomfort on Elsa's face is truly amusing to say the least.

Unlike Anna, the cogs are clear as day with Elsa. I can see them whirring and struggling, halting and then starting again. It's as if the fool of a Queen couldn't even grasp the simple concept of this request. Then I saw the fear in her eyes. Perhaps the idea scared her.

"Your majesty...if your answer is no, Anna and I...we'd understand. After all, the two of you hardly know me and I doubt that my trust has already been gained."

My words seem to soothe Elsa, calming her down slightly. Just what was she afraid of, though? Arguably she would have reason to fear, a reason that only Anna and I know. Perhaps she is hiding something from everyone that she does not wish to come to light.

Elsa's voice rings like a dented bell, hesitant and out of tune. "Very well...however I wish to speak with the King and Queen of the Southern Isles before a decision is made. I'm sure you two would understand."

Anna started to bounce, I could feel her bobbing up and down on my arm like an excited child. I feel her unhook her arm from mine and watch as she embraces her sister. It seems like such a warm embrace at first, so close and loving, but it doesn't take long for me to see the lack of love. She truly is like me, isn't she? No love left to give and no room to receive. Only hatred to give.

The hatred I give to Anna is perhaps the only thing I can give, and I'm willing to bury her in it. It isn't healthy, I know that. But what is healthy about a man who can only hate? Paired with a woman who holds as much resentment as he does, ready to hate him as much as he will her. It's truly sad, isn't it? Only knowing how to hate. But what is this world without hatred? Without fear and without betrayal? It is nothing.

In my own musings I hardly notice the grip on my hand, the woman pulling me to the middle of the ballroom. I only wish to surround myself with my thoughts right now. Dancing with this stranger is less important to me right now. Anna is less important. I hear the music, it's faint and my mind continues to be elsewhere. I look down at the woman dancing with me, a smile plastered on my face. I slowly begin to come back to reality, Anna's cold eyes pulling me from it. I can see her hatred pouring from them. Indifference was nowhere to be found. In her eyes I found something felt towards me. I find myself drawn to her hatred, odd as it may seem.

'Our frozen hearts will never feel love, that much I can see. Your hate is all I want now.'