Chapter 14:

Falling Slowly

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" Marguerite exclaimed as Hans entered the kitchen. There was a spring in his step, a light in his eyes. But most peculiar of all was the genuine smile on his usually morose face. He stepped towards Marguerite, stopping to plant a loving kiss upon her head before turning to put on his apron.

"Good morning, Marguerite," he chimed.

"What's gotten into you?" she mused, puzzled enough to stop stirring the contents of her bowl. "Are you feeling alright, Hansy?" Hans tried hard to suppress his smile, but was failing miserably.

"What?" he asked, "can't a guy be in a good mood around here without it being suspicious?"

"Not when the said guy is Hans Westergaard, Prince of Despair!" he heard a familiar voice ring, dramatically. It wasn't until then that he noticed his brother, Edvard, rolling dough towards the back of the kitchen. He turned towards Hans, dusting his hands on his apron.

"Get sentenced to kitchen duty as well, Edvard?" Hans teased. In all his time working with Marguerite, he'd never seen any of his brothers utilize the royal kitchen.

"I am afraid that is a privilege only allotted to you, dear Hans. I am simply in here making bread to pass out to the poor and downtrodden; you should try it sometime," he suggested, earnestly.

"Perhaps I will," Hans agreed, taking out a large kitchen knife and beginning to peel potatoes.

"You never answered me," Marguerite scolded. "What has got you so happy today, Master Hans?" she asked curiously. He glanced at her and gave her a quick wink, her eyes widening. "I bet it has something to do with Princess Anna," she gasped aloud.

"Ha! Of course it does," Edvard cackled. "Only women or wine can make a fool smile like this. And I do believe it's too early for you to have had a drop to drink," he said, eyeing his brother skeptically. Hans shrugged.

"I just…I have a feeling things are going to be alright," Hans said cryptically. He thought about telling them that Anna had forgiven him, he thought about boring them with the details of how they'd spent valuable time together. About how the butterflies he'd felt in his stomach the night he met her in Arendelle had never left, but now they were stronger than ever.

He wanted to tell them these things. But, in a lot of ways he wanted to keep these special and few moments to himself a little longer.

"Prince Hans," a deep voice bellowed from the entryway to the kitchen. Hans, Edvard and Marguerite all looked up, startled. A uniformed guard stood before them at attention. "His Majesty, King Elias, has requested your presence," he continued, stoically. Hans sighed, trying not to feel the irritation creep up.

"But, I just got here," he complained, hunched over a wastebasket with a half-peeled potato in his hand, a knife in the other. The guard did not respond, simply stared at the reluctant prince. "Fine," Hans resigned, setting down his contents and pulling his apron back off of him. Marguerite and Edvard looked after Hans, curiously.

"Good luck," Marguerite muttered after him, going back to her work.

Hans followed after the guard quickly, hoping he could return back to his duties and finish them up early as to get in more time with Princess Anna today. Instead of the throne room that Elias usually saw Hans in, the guard led him to the king's study before resuming his position at the door and gesturing with one gloved hand for Hans to enter.

The room was dark, the curtains drawn, Elias working on his decrees and documents by lantern light. He didn't even look up at his brother before he began speaking.

"I have received word that Elsa is to arrive early; a storm has dutifully provided enough wind to aid her ship in making record time from Arendelle," he said, his voice hard. Hans couldn't help but assume that Elsa's powers may have had something to do with the said storm, but he kept that to himself. He had, however, noticed the winter winds had been unseasonably cooler than usual; the Southern Isles hardly ever got a white winter, and currently the lands were blanketed in at least a few inches of fresh powder. "We are going to prepare a ball to welcome her arrival," he announced, finally looking up at his littlest brother.

"A ball?" Hans asked flatly, standing up tall and poised in front of the king in his royal study. Although he maintained the appearance of being calm and together, he was wringing his hands together nervously, clasped in front of him. It didn't matter how many times he'd stood before his brother, he never felt at ease under his glaring eyes.

"A gala," Elias said, thumbing through papers with his grand, oak desk acting as a barrier between them. "I figured it would be a gesture of good faith, welcoming Queen Elsa to the Southern Isles. So we will need the servants to begin preparing at once, she is to arrive any day now."

"Are you sure that's a good idea? Last time I attended a party with the Queen she froze the kingdom," Hans droned, seriously.

"I am sure it will be fine, she has to have gotten better at controlling her powers by now," he insisted. Hans winced, shrugging a bit.

"I am not so sure about that, your majesty. Anna told me that she still struggles to control herself from time to time…" he expressed, concerned.

"Either way," Elias said curtly, "if she chooses that attending is too difficult, she is more than welcome to retire to her private chambers. If not, at least we have made the effort. Don't forget, Hansy, we still have a lot of damage to undo from your little visit to Arendelle. I expect this evening to go off without a hitch, do you understand me?" Hans wanted to respond with a smart comeback, but bit his tongue instead.

"I shall be on my best behavior," he submitted. The king glanced at him, his dark eyes almost black. An amused smile crossed his face.

"Don't be silly, you will not be in attendance," Elias scoffed. "The last thing Queen Elsa wants is an evening spent with her attempted murderer!" he added. Hans clenched his jaw.

"They why are you telling me at all?" he said through gritted teeth, trying to keep his cool. Elias stood, clearing his throat and ambling over towards the large bay window. He watched the snow come down in tiny flurries.

"You'll need to alert the servants and help plan the festivities."

"I am to put together a party that I am not even allowed to attend?" Hans deadpanned, but he already knew the answer. Elias turned back towards him, a smug look of satisfaction on his face.

"Precisely," he sneered. He turned his back towards Hans once more, waving a cavalier hand. "You're dismissed."

Hans wasn't going to let the conversation he'd just had with Elias get him down, over the last day he'd felt way too good for that. Sure, the trial was looming closer and closer as the days ticked by, and he wasn't any more respected by his brothers than he'd been his entire life, but one thing was for sure: Hans was feeling happy for the first time in…well, forever. So what if he couldn't go to a party? He didn't like them all that much anyway.

Ever since Anna forgave him the day before, ever since he'd felt the pressure of her lips against his forehead, he'd felt a huge weight off of his shoulders. She really had thawed a part of him that he didn't even know was frozen. He figured that if someone as good and wonderful as Anna could like him, perhaps he wasn't as bad as he'd always been told he was.

The thing that surprised him the most, however, was that he had never realized until she forgave him just how much he needed her forgiveness, how much it would mean to him to hear the words aloud. And in that moment, Hans made up his mind that he would never, ever betray her again.

He quietly slinked into Anna's room, as to not awaken the princess. However, He was taken aback to see that she was already alert, sitting up in bed with her face immersed in yet another book. He leaned against the entryway of the alcove, watching the lovely princess from afar as her eyes quickly darted from side to side, drinking in the novel she was currently reading.

.

"Hey," Hans smiled, breaking Anna's concentration. She peered up over the book, her eyes brightening instantly as they fixated on his face. She lowered the book slowly, trying to control her ever-growing, shy smile.

"Hey," she responded, bashfully. "How are you doing?" she asked, trying to seem casual. Her heard was racing, however. Things didn't feel the same as before. She felt delightfully nervous in his presence once more, as it was before all of the mayhem had ensued.

"Oh, you know," he sang. He crossed the room, nearing her slowly, his hands in his pockets as he sauntered over towards her. "I'm feeling… great, actually," he submitted with a sly smile. She sat up, smoothing down her hair, and then the blankets. She scooted over a bit, gesturing towards the empty space beside her as an invitation for him to sit. He didn't hesitate before sitting on the edge of the bed, close to her. "And how are you feeling today?" he asked, removing his glove and bringing his hand to her forehead, pressing his palm against her skin. She was warm, but not as hot as she'd been the last few days.

"Weak," she sighed, looking down sadly, closing her book. "It feels so restraining, you know? I feel like I am being held prisoner in my own body. There are so many things I'd rather be doing, but I get too exhausted," she groaned.

"Like what?" Hans asked, reaching out towards the bedside tray to hand her a cup of steeped tea. He stirred it, the gentle clinking of the spoon against the teacup filling the brief silence.

Two sugars. No cream.

"Lots of things!" she exclaimed after thinking about it for a moment. "Like exploring to town, meeting the people, going for a ride on one of the royal horses," she listed, dreamily. She glanced at him sideways. "Building a snowman…" she added. Hans studied her hopeful expression, wishing he could make those dreams a reality.

But she is too sick.

"Well, as soon as you get better, I will personally take you to do each and every one of those things," he assured her, boldly reaching up and brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. He knew that it was brazen, him to touching her so casually. But then again, she wasn't actually engaged. In fact, it would seem that he had gotten closer to walking down the aisle with Anna than anyone had. He let his touch linger a moment and she smirked, crinkling her button nose and blushing a bit at his touch; she didn't suspect she'd ever get used to the way his touch made her feel. She stared down at her cup of tea, still swirling from Hans stirring it before.

"I wish I was better now," she whimpered, her face distraught, as if she could cry at any moment. "I am just so frustrated. And the doctor won't tell me what's wrong with me," she choked, biting her lip nervously to keep from crying. She looked into his eyes. "Hans?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"Do…you know what's wrong with me? Have they told you?" she asked, apprehensively. Hans wished he could tell her otherwise, but the truth was even he didn't know what was ailing the poor, weakened princess. He had tried over the last few days not to think about it. He'd assumed she would have gotten better by now, but it seemed as though she was only getting worse. He stared into her tired eyes, the one that always saw the glass half full and twinkled with excitement over things that most would find mundane…the ones that always saw the good in people, even him.

Especially me.

"They…haven't told me," he said quietly, honestly. "But, I did overhear Dr. Roahl talking to Elias the other day in front of your room. He wants to make sure you are eating. He is trying to get your strength up to help fight it…whatever it is." Anna took in a sharp, staggered breath, resigning to the thought that she may not ever get better. He read her thought like a book, even though she shook it away as soon as it came, and a single tear escaped from her eye. She wiped it away quickly. "Hey," he said sweetly, turning her petite body towards him, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You're going to get better, I just know it," he assured. She chuckled, but without humor, rolling her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I feel so silly, I'm just so tired of being sick," she expressed, bringing her knees up and resting her head upon them. Hans scooted even closer to her, wrapping one long arm around her and hugging her tiny frame close to him, nurturingly.

"Shh," he softly coaxed, leaning his cheek on the top of her bowed head. "You're going to be just fine." He waited for her to respond, but she simply continued to sulk in her blankets, in his embrace. A smile crept across his lips. "Plus, I just got some fantastic news," he baited. Slowly, she peeked up at him, her eyes big and full of curiosity.

"What?" she asked, still muffled in the blankets.

"Oh, never mind. You don't seem too excited about it, anyways," he teased, releasing her from his arms. Her head popped up.

"No, tell me! I want to know," she insisted, eagerly. Hans narrowed his eyes playfully.

"It's probably not of any interest to you, now that I think about it," he continued to jest. She hit him in the chest playfully with all of her strength, which wasn't much.

"Hans!" she giggled.

"Sheesh, what is it with you and all the hitting," he lamented.

"Tell me!" she demanded, glaring at him. He laughed to himself.

"Alright, alright. I'll tell you." He leaned in closely to her, as did she. "Turns out, we are having a ball this week," he finally divulged in almost a whisper. Anna's eyes widened, a large smile cracking across her face.

"A ball!?" she exclaimed, her hands clasped together over her heart. "Here?"

"I guess Elias wants to have it to welcome Elsa to The Southern Isles. He said she should be here any day, now," he informed. He knew that news of Elsa's arrival would cheer Anna but, but he couldn't help feeling a slight twinge of sadness as he realized that his days with her were numbered. She glanced at him, and in her eyes he saw she was thinking the same thing.

"A-any day now?" she mumbled. Hans nodded somberly, his head bowed. "It's going to be okay, you know," she said comfortingly, placing her small hand upon his, bringing his gaze up to meet hers with her other hand. "Elsa is a good person, a-and if I tell her how much has changed, she isn't going to-"

"It's alright, Anna. You don't have to try to make me feel better," he said, swallowing hard. "I am sure everything is going to be just fine." Anna smiled weakly.

"Would… you like to escort me to the ball?" she asked shyly. Hans opened his mouth to speak, to tell her he wasn't allowed to attend the ball. But she stared back at him hopefully, her huge eyes shining and her cheeks pink for having even gotten up the muster to ask him to do such a thing. He closed his mouth, wrapping his arm around her once more. They leaned back against the headboard, Anna cuddled up to his chest.

"I'd love to."

Elsa and Kristoff - At Sea

Although the captain maintained that they were making record time, Elsa felt like this voyage was taking forever.

Her nerves were raw, her body exhausted from constantly emitting off her power, although she was quite pleasantly surprised and relieved that she'd been able to contain it well enough to help them along without toppling the boat over with her ever-present storm.

She was nervous that Anna was once again being mislead; she'd been sure to insist that Hans go nowhere near the princess during her visit, a stipulation that Anna promised to enforce as soon as she got there. However, something about Anna's trusting and naïve nature made Elsa question whether her sister was actually capable of enforcing…well…anything.

Another pleasant surprise was how well Kristoff was at dominoes.

In the short few weeks they'd been at sea together, they'd gotten to know one another quite well. Elsa was glad to have the company, and their chats and games kept her mind from wandering too far into worry, as well as his. The most obvious thing they'd related to was their tumultuous relationship with ice.

Beautiful. Powerful. Dangerous. Cold.

And, of course, their love for Anna.

"She's a nut," Kristoff laughed, listening to Elsa wrap up another insightful story about hers and Anna's childhood. This one entailed Anna insisting that the snow queen make them a snow fort, only to accidentally barricade themselves inside. While Elsa had panicked, in fear over her parents becoming angry at the girls for putting themselves into yet another dangerous predicament, Anna had grabbed a chunk of stray ice and began to tunnel her way out, more than likely saving herself and her terrified sister in the process.

"She's always been…plucky," Elsa chuckled, a look of love crossing her face. "I wish things could have been different, there are so few stories to share," she said, somewhat wistfully. "What about you? What was your childhood like? I'm sure it was a lot less frigid than ours," she insisted. Kristoff looked up, trying to recall a memory, before shaking his head.

"No, I'm pretty sure I dealt with just as much ice and snow as you girls did," he thought aloud. Elsa cocked one eyebrow. "Well, maybe not as much…but ice is my life! Ever since I can remember."

"What about your parents?" Elsa asked, becoming slightly concerned. It had never really crossed her mind that Kristoff was an orphan. Sure, she'd heard Anna speak cryptically of rock trolls and magic, but just chalked that up to Anna being…well…Anna.

"I don't really remember much about them," he said, slightly becoming somber. Elsa's brows pressed together in a look of empathy.

"Surely you had parents at some point," she dissected. "You don't know what happened?"

"I remember…going out with my father one day to harvest ice. Sven and I got stuck behind; he wasn't the most attentive of fathers, you know?" She didn't, but she nodded as if she did. Her father was extremely attentive; he'd made his life all about Elsa and trying to help her contain her powers. "Anyway, we were trying to navigate our way home when we saw some royal horses gallop by us, a trail of…ice…" he paused, suddenly fragments of that night coming back to him, and suddenly realizing what he didn't understand he was witnessing that night, so young. His big eyes found hers, equally lost in thought.

"Could it…" Elsa whispered, bringing her fingertips to her lips, remembering the night that she'd accidentally hit Anna with a blast of ice.

"No," Kristoff whispered in disbelief. "Maybe?" he asked.

"What did you see?" she asked. Kristoff thought back even harder, trying to piece the memories together.

"I remember…following them to a clearing…where I met Boulda and the rest of them…but they were helping a family. Two little girls…" he recalled in staggered sentences. Elsa let out an excited shriek.

"Oh my goodness, that was me!" she said excitedly. "I mean, that was us. Anna and I. I can't believe you were there that night, that you saw…" she trailed off. "I'm a little surprised you never put two and two together before, actually," she added. Kristoff smirked at the lovely Queen, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"I never really thought much of it after that night; being raised around magical trolls and all kinds of mystical things like that… it all got blurred together, I guess."

"Well…I guess I can consider you an old friend, now," Elsa smiled. Kristoff liked the sound of that, and to be honest, he'd come to really, really like his time with Elsa. It seemed that they were both a welcome distraction from the murky future that still loomed in the distance.

Hans blinked away the sleep from his eyes, realizing that he and Anna were still snuggled up together on her bed. He glanced down to see her silently snoozing upon his chest, and he couldn't help but smile to himself. He reached down and brushed her cheek with his thumb, letting the softness of her skin leave a lasting impression upon his own. She looked so peaceful, so serene.

Beautiful.

He hated to wake her, but when he looked out of her large windows beside the bed, he realized that night had fallen. They had successfully slept most of the day away, the dim and fading light of the fireplace the only source of light in the darkened room. He studied her features as he watched the flickering light dance upon her face.

He thought about everything that had happened over the last couple days, feeling a sense of inner peace for once in his life even though he knew so much was creeping just around the corner, waiting to burst his world right back open. For a moment, he wished he'd been smarter, kept the princess at a distance and never allowed himself to reconnect with her. It made his heart ache to know that in only a matter of days, he'd have to give her up all over again.

Then, it all hit him at once.

And hard.

In this moment, watching her sleep soundly in his arms, feeling the pressure of her weight upon him, he decided that it was worth it. He realized that no matter now hard he'd tried to fight it, he was falling, and that the pain of having to lose her was worth knowing what it felt like to love someone.

This wasn't like before, in Arendelle; the stark infatuation that plagued and confused him. No, this was something much different. This was a sense of belonging, a sense of hope and security. He felt like for once in his life he had a purpose, that he was made to love and protect this one person.

And it was now that he realized that this was what his father had wished of him, to find this feeling that was beating around in his chest.

She began to stir, wriggling a bit. After a few moments, her eyes lightly fluttered open, her first instinct to glance up at her companion. She smiled, closing her eyes and burying her face in his chest, stretching.

"Have a nice nap?" he asked, she nodded.

"I did not mean to sleep so long," she insisted. She sat up, pulling her hair over a shoulder and beginning to braid it, trying to subdue the bedhead that had accumulated. Hans sat up, stretching as well. His back ached from how they had been intertwined on her bed, his neck stiff.

"Clearly we needed it," he brushed off. Anna wordlessly got up out of bed, walking towards the large windows, her nightgown trailing behind her. She continued to braid her hair, watching the snow come down softly upon the white-blanketed earth. Hans couldn't help but watch her, staring whimsically out the window. He stood as well, nearing her. The two stood in silence for a few moments, just watching the flakes fall. Anna turned her gaze towards him, her skin almost white in the moonlight. A thought crossed Hans' mind.

"I have an idea," he said softly. "But you're going to have to be really, really quiet." Anna turned towards him, a look of confusion, yet still some intrigue crossing her delicate features.

"What is it?"

"It's a surprise. You're just gonna have to trust me," he insisted. She eyed him skeptically.

"Am I going to like this surprise?" she asked.

"Would I suggest it otherwise?" Anna went to speak but Hans cupped his hand over her mouth. "Actually, don't answer that. Just-" his eyes darted around the room, fixating in on the cloak and blanket he'd fetched for her the day before. "Just put these on and come with me," he instructed, grabbing them and handing them to her. Anna did as she was told, pulling the cloak overtop her sheer nightgown, along with the large hood. Hans walked towards the closet, fetching another cloak, putting it on himself as well. He then grabbed the wheelchair, pushing it towards Anna. "Here. Sit."

"You're so bossy," she pointed out, backing up into the chair and sitting down. "Alright, let's see this surprise."

They'd quietly and discreetly navigated the hallways of the castle, relieved to see that everyone was asleep. It had to be well past midnight, and the guards weren't too concerned with what the prince was up to, even with Anna in tow. The only noise was the soft whirring of the wheelchair as Hans pushed her down the corridors.

"Where are we going?" Anna attempted to whisper, knowing full well that Hans was not about to tell her and ruin the surprise.

"Shh," Hans shushed, harshly. "What is it about being quiet that you are so incapable of?" he teased. They approached a set of stairs and Hans brought the wheelchair to a halt. He came around to the front of the chair, extending his hand out to the waiting and puzzled princess. "Come on, you're gonna have to walk from here. Think you are ready?" he asked, smugly.

"I was born ready," Anna responded, snarkily, taking his hand. Hans helped her down the stairs, continuing on towards a set of double doors. They approached them, Hans turning towards the princess.

"Are you bundled up?" he asked, reaching over and pulling her hood onto her head. She peeked at him amidst the wooled cloak, giving him a thumbs up that was concealed by her woven mittens. "Okay," he breathed, pushing the doors open and leading the two of them out into the cold, snow-covered courtyard.

One would have thought Anna had never seen snow in her life, the way her face lit up as they trudged through the fresh, untouched powder. Everything with dusted with a soft, pillowy layer of white, glistening like diamonds in the moonlight. Although it was dark, the snow seemed to glow around them, illuminating their path. Anna instinctively reached down, taking a heap of snow and catapulting it towards the sky, the dusting raining down upon them like confetti. She giggled, still trying to stay quiet as Hans brushed the stray flakes from his hair.

"Shh," he repeated, taking her hand once more and dragging her behind. He looked back at her, thoroughly enjoying herself but already becoming winded. A sudden thought occurred to him; the last thing he wanted to do was make the princess collapse once more from exhaustion. "Here," he said, stopping her and stepping in front of her, crouching down with his back towards her. "Hop on," he instructed.

"You're gonna piggyback me?" she said flatly. He glanced at her over his shoulder.

"You either hop on or we're going back inside," he commanded. A smile cracked clear from one side of her face to the other, as she did as she was instructed. She heaved herself up, clinging onto his back. Hans stood, hoisting her up higher and more secure, holding onto her legs and he carried on. Anna set her chin on his shoulder, her breath warm on his cheek.

"Where are we going?" she asked for the millionth time. Hans rolled his eyes.

"Don't you ever get tired of asking questions?" he complained. She snickered.

"Nope."

Hans carried her a ways, heading towards the stables. He glanced back at his footprints, stretching for some distance from the back of the castle towards them. He just hoped no one followed them, since it had already occurred to him that he was breaching his house arrest with every step that propelled him away from the castle doors.

They approached the barn, Hans setting her back to her feet lightly beside him. He wordlessly picked up the latch, opening the door and stepping inside, Anna following closely behind him.

The stable was well lit; dozens of lanterns were strung about, leaving them to bask in the gentle, golden light they emitted. The beautiful, grand horses hardly reacted to their presence, and Anna found herself stopping by each stall to greet each one.

"They're beautiful," she breathed, admiring each and every horse she happened upon. Hans watched her, happy to see a smile on her face, happy to see her outside of her bedroom, or even the castle walls in general.

"Which one is your favorite?" he asked, watching her pace the aisle, inspecting each one. She paused, nearing one.

"I remember you," she breathed, reaching up to press her now-ungloved hand upon Sitron's nose. He nuzzled her, but his eyes became excited when he saw Hans, his master, nearing him. Hans reached up, placing some much-needed affection upon his horse. "He's such a beautiful horse," she admired, gently petting him.

"I know. Such a shame he's been cooped up in here."

"Doesn't anyone ride him in your absence?" Anna asked, concerned. Hans shrugged a bit.

"Yes, of course. But I used to ride him all the time…and for much longer periods of time than he gets now," he said, sadly. Anna could tell that Hans truly connected with Sitron; she suddenly imagined him riding off on the horse, escaping the cruelty of his brothers, getting away from the hurt and the turmoil.

"Let's take him for a ride," Anna whispered, somewhat deviously. Hans' eyes grew, he shook his head.

"Oh, no… I mean, I would get-"

"You already snuck out. If you get caught you're already in for it. You might as well get some enjoyment out of it," she tempted. Hans clenched his jaw. There was almost nothing more he would rather do than take Sitron out for a moonlit ride in the snow, especially with Anna at his side. He heaved himself up onto Sitron without another thought, reaching his hand down towards Anna, who eyed him excitedly.

She had won.

She took his hand and he helped her up onto Sitron's back. She snuggled up to the prince, holding on tightly.

"Let's go," he smiled.

A/N

Hey…you know that little box below?

VVV this one? VVV

You should leave me a lil bit of love there.

Also, I should have the next one up by Saturday night.

XOXO