Chapter 9:

The Scorned Princess

"You can wait here until the King says otherwise," a tall, burly guard instructed, literally throwing Hans towards the back of a concrete cell, Hans collapsing to all fours and skinning his hands from the impact.

"Could you tell him to hurry? I have dinner plans tonight," Hans spat sarcastically, wiping his hands on his pants and dusting himself off. The guard responded by slamming the iron gate shut.

"And watch that smart mouth of yours if you know what's good for you," he added. Hans stood indignantly.

"Prisoner or not I am still a prince, you will address me with more respect!" Hans yelled after the guard as he sauntered off, ignoring the prince entirely.

Great.

This was exactly the kind of thing he was trying to avoid happening, and so quickly at that. How was he going to explain blatantly breaking his parole to Elias, who seemed to have it out for him anyways.

He rubbed his aching shoulder, kicking himself for even trying to do the right thing, whatever that was.

Stupid Dr. Svedsen.

He should have just left well enough alone, and now he was in for it from Elias, although he had no idea what could be worse than all the work had already been assigned to him.

"Fancy meeting you here," he heard a familiar and unwelcome voice say from across the way. He glanced out past the bars, and locked up diagonally from him was Lars. He was in rags, a long, thick beard in place of his usually trimmed and pointed goatee.

"Oh, great. It's you," Hans sighed, sarcastically. "Just do yourself a favor and leave me alone. I am not in the mood for you, of all people."

"Is that any way to greet your old friend?" Lars spoke, feigning insult. He smirked like a madman from behind his cell. Hans turned from him, leaning against the bars and trying his best to ignore the old man. "I take it your brother is putting you through the wringer?" Hans remained silent. Lars didn't stop. "I am not surprised; those pesky brothers of yours always had it out for you, didn't they Hansy?"

"Don't," Hans said, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "I cannot have you rummaging through my head right now. You've done enough," Hans spat over his shoulder.

"It wasn't me that tried to decapitate a Queen of a neighboring kingdom. It wasn't me that left her sister to die of a frozen heart," Lars sang, chuckling with his cackled voice. He began to cough, loudly and violently.

Hans lay on his cot, pulling the hard and flat pillow allotted to him over his head to drown out the Lars' taunts. He rolled onto his side and tried his best to let sleep overtake him.

One Month Ago... In Arendelle

"You're not going, and that is final," Elsa said sternly, her arms folded across her chest. Her words echoed across the throne room, a sudden chill in the temperature becoming noticeable. She could see in Anna's face that it wasn't final, she was going to continue to fight the Queen's words.

"Elsa, would you just listen to me-" Anna asked, frustration painting her face. She was clutching the third plea from the Southern Isles for the Queen and Princess of Arendelle to attend Hans' trial, in person. Elsa had gotten into the habit of throwing them out, but Anna insisted they attend. This wasn't a new argument, and it wasn't going well.

"I have heard enough! There is no way I can support you going to the Southern Isles, not after everything that happened." Elsa could see the hurt in Anna's pleading eyes, and Elsa began calming herself down a bit. She sighed, taking in a deep breath. "I almost lost you-" she said, softer than before.

"But, you didn't lose me." Anna added, sadly, remembering all too clearly how close both of them came to death at Prince Hans' hand. She shook it off quickly. "And someone needs to be there to speak for us and what happened…"

"I am sure he will be punished accordingly, Anna. I sent him home so that he could be their problem, and we could be done with it, so that we could move on."

"How are we supposed to move on when he is still out there? What's stopping him from doing the same thing to another princess?" Her eyes widened when she heard herself, she laughed nervously, "I-I mean kingdom. I meant, what's stopping him from trying to take over another kingdom." Elsa's eyes narrowed, skeptically.

"Something tells me you still have some healing to do."

"What? No. I am so over the whole thing," Anna said coolly, folding her arms. "Wh-why do you say that?" she added, more insecurely.

"Anna…" Elsa groaned.

"What?"

"What is this really about?" Elsa asked, nearing her sister. Her icy eyes were soft, sympathetic. "You can't tell me you actually want to see him again."

"No! I mean, yes. I mean…I don't know," she stammered. She began to pace. "I just have a few very strategically thought out questions I would like to ask him and-"

"Anna, what is the point? The man is insane, he doesn't deserve to be able to explain himself to you, he doesn't deserve redemption-"

"Everyone deserves forgiveness, Elsa. Even someone as awful as Hans." Anna said quietly. Elsa went to speak, but couldn't. She was right on that one, no matter how difficult it was to admit.

"What about Kristoff?" Elsa attempted, trying to coax her to stay.

"Kristoff will understand," Anna said, confidently, dismissively. Elsa bowed her head slightly, glancing down at her hands; light frost began to appear over her palms and fingertips. She clenched her hands into fists, she could hear the faint sound of ice cracking.

"But…what about me then, Anna?" Anna rushed over to her sister, taking her in her arms and pulling her in for a hug.

"You'll be alright, Elsa." She pulled away, looking her sister deeply and lovingly in the eyes. "Love will thaw, remember? Just remember how much I love you and you love me and you will be able to control it while I'm gone."

"I just can't stop thinking about that voyage, about our parents, if something happened to you…" she said, her eyes tearing. Anna had to take a step back from her freezing sister as frost crept across the marble floors of the throne room. Anna shuddered.

"Elsa, jeeze. Don't think about that kinda stuff, okay? I'll only be gone for a few weeks, I'll be back, I promise."

"You cannot promise that your ship won't sink," Elsa said flatly, a small smile on her lips.

"Well, if you'd just freeze the ocean I could walk to the Southern Isles," she teased. Elsa chuckled lightly. "The Southern Isles asked us to come, we deserve to sit in the front row when his sentence is handed down to him. Without us, the trial will fall apart. He'll just be free to do this all over again." Elsa nodded, although she hated agreeing with her sister's logic, especially since deep down she knew there was more than just justice steering her little sister south.

"You're not-" Elsa began, pausing for a moment, reluctant to say anything.

"What?" Anna coaxed.

"You're not just running away because you haven't answered Kristoff yet, are you?" Elsa asked, genuine concern in her voice. Anna smiled, sighing heavily. She wouldn't be addressing that question.

"I leave tomorrow. There is a ship heading down there with Lars aboard and I intend to go with it."

Elsa sighed; she knew there would be no convincing her sister otherwise. She reached out, bringing her sister in for another long, loving hug.

"Promise me you'll come back to me, alright?" she whispered into Anna's ear.

"I promise."

Present day...The Southern Isles

"Looks like today's your lucky day," Hans heard a familiar voice say from the other side of the bars, awakening him from his light nap. He opened his eyes to see Elias staring at him disapprovingly, along with Sedak, Magnus and a few guards beside him. Groggily, he began to sit up on his hard, wooden cot.

"Hmpf?" he grumbled.

"I was in the midst of ordering and signing your labor camp release contract, when I received word that I was requested in Princess Anna's chamber," Elias declared, emotionlessly, his arms crossed.

"And?" Hans asked impatiently. He wanted to just get this, whatever it was, over with; if he was off to a labor camp, so be it. He didn't have the fight in him to avoid it any longer, he was tired of being the punching bag anyways around the castle anyways.

"And it would appear she is on the mend."

"Great, that's fantastic news," Hans said, rolling his eyes and laying back down.

"Sit up while I am addressing you!" Elias shouted, his face red.

"Would you just get on with it then?" Hans yelled back, scrambling to his feet. "If you're sending me away, fine. I don't care anymore, Elias. I know I had orders not to see her but I was trying to ask for forgiveness, perhaps change her mind about Arendelle's trade boycott. It doesn't matter anyway, when I entered her chamber she was unconscious and incoherent," Hans cried out, passionately.

"She was more coherent than you think," Magnus spoke up. Hans eyed his brother, curiously.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"She requested to speak to me to ask if you had visited her while she was ill. She seemed to recall you being in her room beside her at one point." the King disclosed. "I profusely apologized to the Princess for your intrusion, assuring her that you were being deprived a trail, stripped of your title, and shipped off to Corona's coal mines."

"Well, I am sure she was just thrilled, then," Hans assumed, slightly seething. "When do I leave?"

"Not so fast," Elias said.

"Looks like the little Princess still has a soft spot for ya," Sedak added, smirking. "She must be a glutton for punishment."

"Quiet, Sedak," Elias ordered, Sedak's sadistic smile disappearing quickly.

"What do you mean?" Hans asked, nearing the bars.

"She requests that you meet with her in her chamber, after you've washed up, of course," Elias sighed, disappointedly. "Such a shame, I was so close to carting you off, letting you be someone else's problem."

"Is that all I am to you? Your problem?" Hans asked through gritted teeth, gripping the steel bars in his hands tightly.

"If the shoe fits, Hansy," he sneered. The King motioned for the guards to open the cell door. Hans stepped through beside him, eying him intently. "Either way, the princess and I have arranged an…agreement, should choose to accept it, that is."

"And that is?" he asked suspiciously. Nothing from Elias ever came for free. Elias smiled coldly, gently patting Hans on the cheek. Hans pulled away from him quickly, coming daringly close to pushing the King away physically but controlling himself.

"You'd better count your blessings, Hans. For she is showing you much more mercy than you have showed her." Hans stared past his brothers at Lars, slouched in the back of his cell, watching them intently. Hans glared at him, then glanced back at his brother. "Go change and bathe, and hurry along. She's waiting."

Hans paced outside of Anna's chamber door, wringing his nervous, shaky hands. He was garnering up the nerve to actually set foot inside, and so far it had taken up a good twenty minutes or so. He didn't know what kind of 'arrangement' Elias and Anna had conjured up, but if it was approved by the cold, calculating king then it couldn't be good.

Of course it's not good, you idiot.

He needed to just do it, get it over with. If the arrangement was too awful, he could always decline and jump on the next ship to the Corona Mines, although he couldn't imagine anything worse than that. Hans Westergaard had never worked a day of hard labor in his life, and he was not about to start now.

He approached the door once more. Hans straightened his tie and smoothed down his hair, and then he quickly knocked three times. He glanced sideways at a guard watching him intently, then back at the wooden door in front of him. He knocked again.

"Princess Anna?" he called out when he'd received no response.

"Wh-who is it?" he heard her familiar but muffled voice chime from the other side. He'd startled her.

"Prince Hans," he answered after a brief hesitation.

Silence.

"I-I was told you requested my presence…?" he added.

"Um…Yes. Yes, please come in," he heard her finally say.

When Hans slowly entered the room, he looked directly towards the bed, where he'd seen her last. He didn't expect her up and about; it had only been a few hours since she'd been laying, near death, in the middle of his mother's huge bed. When he neared the bed, however, he found it empty. He turned around, looking around the large room.

"I'm over here," she said. Hans turned towards the sitting room that adjoined the bedroom chamber, where he saw her.

Although he would never admit it to himself, Anna looked stunning, especially for only barely overcoming a mystery illness. He was slightly taken aback; she stood by the fireplace in a long lavender and white empire wasted gown with silver embroidery, the long sleeves sleekly covering her arms down to a point on her hands. Her hair was no longer in the childish braids she had donned the last time he'd seen her, but down and flowing, gentle waves cascading down her back. Her big, blue-green eyes were still wide and curious, but wiser, even after only a few months.

"Prince Hans," she greeted formally.

"Princess Anna," he reciprocated, bowing slightly.

"Please, won't you have a seat," she offered, extending her arm out gesturing towards the sofa. He could tell she was nervous; to be completely honest with himself, he was quite nervous talking to her as well.

"No thank you, I would prefer to stand if you don't mind," he answered coolly.

"Well, I'm going to sit. I'm still feeling pretty weak," Anna said as she sat gingerly on the sofa, next to her tea tray. She leaned over and began to try to pour herself a cup of tea, her shaking hands causing the porcelain to rattle. Hans watched her from afar, before sighing impatiently.

"Here," he said, walking over to her, carefully taking the teapot from her hand and pouring it for her instead. She watched him carefully, skeptically. He sat the teapot down on the tray. "Sugar?" he asked, curtly.

"Excuse me?" she asked, her eyebrows lowered, confused.

"It's not a term of endearment, I am asking if you would like sugar," Hans clarified, shortly. She nodded, sheepishly.

"Oh, yeah. I mean, yes please. Two, no cream," she stammered. Hans dropped two sugar cubes into the tea, stirring it quietly. He glanced down in time to see a small, weak smirk appear on her face as she watched him, lost in thought.

"Is something funny?" he asked. She shrugged.

"Who would have thought you'd be pouring my tea after-" she stopped herself, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "Nothing," she said quietly. He sat the teacup in her hands, and although he'd said he'd prefer to stand, Hans took a seat on another sofa directly across from the weak and fragile princess.

"Thank you," she said, although he knew she had no reason to thank him after everything he'd done, after everything they'd been through. Hans' face fell, the sick feeling in his stomach returning.

"Well, it was quite irritating to watch you try to attempt it on your own, so…" he said, the bitterness returning.

"I was just trying to be polite." She shook her head and chuckled to herself in disbelief. "I see you're just as unpleasant as ever." She brought the teacup to her lips. "I'd have this tea checked for poison had I not just watched you pour it with my own eyes." She eyed Hans, who sat across from her casually, cool and collected under her gaze. He smiled wryly, his eyes burning back into her. She squirmed slightly under his watchful eye, breaking eye contact with him to look about the room. The fireplace crackling was the only sound to break the awkward silence.

"I am to understand you and my brother have come up with an arrangement on my behalf?" he finally said, getting down to business and ignoring her previous comments.

"That can wait," she said, setting the teacup back upon the tray beside her. "I have other business to discuss with you first."

"Oh, princess. I love it when you're bossy," he said flatly. She glared back at him.

"Why were you in my room? I had strict orders that you stay away from me, and you breached those orders within only the mere two hours that I had set foot in the Southern Isles. Are you just trying to get yourself deported, now?"

"Dr. Sved-" he stopped himself, deciding not to disclose that he was seeing a shrink, as being designated to work around the palace was embarrassing enough. "I thought it was a good idea to come to you and apologize for my actions in Arendelle," he said, sitting up tall. She placed her hands on her knees, confusion washing over her.

"And what were your actions in Arendelle, Hans? Can you even say them aloud?" His eyes narrowed.

"We both know what happened in Arendelle," he said. She shook her head.

"Well, according to the King, you seem to have an entirely different idea of what happened," Anna said, her voice raising a bit.

"And what details did I get wrong?" he asked, indignantly.

"Let's see, my sister was a monster that needed to be conquered, I was a harlot that left you for a stable boy…and you were the true victim, right Hans?"

"Ah, yes. Where is your boyfriend, anyway?" Hans asked digressing from the subject at hand, his voice dripping in contempt.

"Fiancé," she corrected, her eyes narrowed and cold. Hans sat before her, unblinking, unmoved. "Anyway, he's in Arendelle. I told him not to come. I needed to do this alone."

"Well, doesn't that sound familiar," Hans snickered.

"It is probably in your best interest that he didn't come, Hans. He's not your biggest fan, and surely he'd just love the opportunity to teach you some manners," Anna said, snottily. Hans chuckled, rolling his eyes.

"Tell him to get in line." Anna shook her head, visibly worked up.

"Never mind, this was a mistake," she said as she got up.

"Yes, it was," Hans mumbled under his breath. He watched with a snide smirk on his face as she turned to walk weakly back towards the bedroom chamber. She'd made it to the doorway before leaning against it, and then collapsing to the floor. Hans' smile disappeared instantly.

"Anna?" Hans called out with more worry in his voice than he would have preferred. He hurried to her side, kneeling down beside her. He couldn't help but notice how much her weakness reminded him of that library in Arendelle.

"Stop," she said breathlessly. "I don't need your help," she insisted. She tried to get up, but it was clear she was too weak.

"Would you quit being so stubborn and let me help you?" Hans said, frustrated at her willfulness. She paused, breathing heavily. She looked up to see him gazing down at her sternly. She finally began to nod wordlessly.

Hans leaned down and scooped the princess up in one swift, seamless motion. She draped a fragile arm around his neck, leaning her head against his shoulder. He stood, carrying her dead weight back into her bedroom and laying her down upon the large canopy bed. He carefully brought the covers up, sitting beside her. He reached his hand up to her forehead; her fever had returned.

"You're burning up," he said quietly, worrisome. She glanced up at him, helplessly, their eyes meeting for far too long for Hans' comfort. He cleared his throat and looked away from her. "I'll go fetch your nurses-" Hans said, standing and turning to leave. He was stopped, however, by a hand weakly grasping onto his. He turned back to see Anna clutching his hand, her face white, her eyes pleading.

"Wait," she said quietly out of breath. He began to interject, but then closed his mouth, doing as he was asked and sitting back down beside her.

"What? What is it?" he asked, unsurely.

"The arrangement," she said. "King Elias and I decided…that you'd take care of me while I am here." Hans' eyes grew two sizes.

"What? Are you insane? What kind of idea is-"

"I am trying to understand Hans," she pleaded. "I have tried since the moment you left to understand you, to understand why you did what you did to me…I mean…to Arendelle," she said, her voice tired and morose. "I thought that maybe if I just got to spend some time with you, it would help me understand."

"I don't think-"

"Please," she breathed. "You owe me."

"I owe you nothing," Hans said coldly. She swallowed hard.

"Fine. Then do it for yourself. You don't belong in a labor yard, Hans."

"What do you care!?" he asked, running an exasperated hand through his hair. Why did it matter that she figure out his motives and get to know him? She should hate him after everything, not be trying to be his best friend. She hadn't changed a bit, she was still a little, naïve girl. He stared at her sad, imploring eyes, shaking his head at her. "You don't even know me."

"Exactly," Anna sighed. She paused, bit her lip, as if to contemplate her next words carefully. "Plus, you're the only face I know here."

"I-" he began. She held her hand up, to stop him from speaking.

"Just…think about it."

Hans nodded, reluctantly. Perhaps there was some kind of hope of redemption, after all.

a/n

Thanks for reading, I'll have Ch. 10 up shortly. Please review!