Elsa breathed in deeply the air perfumed by thousands of blooming flowers. She tried to convince herself that she didn't know why she had agreed to meet him, but the knowledge of the chest of carefully folded letters that lie next to her bed in the guest room betrayed her. She walked enjoying the feeling of sun on her bare shoulders and replaying the events of the previous night in her mind. She could not deny that he was handsome and the freckles he had so much animosity towards just made him more so. Looking down at her hand she blushed recalling the feeling of his soft lips against her skin. She was torn from her thoughts by the sound of a strange conversation.
"Would you like more tea, Lady Westerguard?" a small girl's voice asked.
"That would be lovely," responded the second voice which she could only describe as bizarre. She walked towards the voices careful not to alert them of her presence. Pushing aside a tree branch she was confronted with a sight that caused a smile to spread across her face, and necessitated the covering of her mouth to suppress a giggle. On a blanket spread on the grass in the small clearing sat Brigitta in a sun hat, along with several dolls, a tea pot, cups, and Hans in large heavily decorated hat. Elsa was not as successful in hiding her laughter as she thought she had been.
"Hi! Would you like to join my tea party?" Brigitta asked turning towards her.
Hans' head snapped to the side, his face blanched. He turned his head back, put his face into his hand and Elsa could see even the tips of his ears turning red.
"I would love nothing more," she said as she sat next to Hans with an unwavering grin, allowing her pale yellow dress to billow around her, "So this is where you disappeared to after breakfast."
He turned to her red-faced, "She has piano lessons in a short while, I was going to find you then and apologize."
"Oh, but this is so much better," she said flicking the brim of his hat.
"I don't have any more hats," Brigitta thought for a moment, "So you can be Lord Westerguard."
Hans gave his niece an incredulous look, "She can have this hat," he said lifting it off his head.
"No, you're already Lady Westerguard," Brigitta forced the hat back on his head; Elsa cupped her hands over mouth in an attempt to hold in her laughter. "Now, would you like some tea, Lord Westerguard?"
Elsa did her best to deepen her voice, "Yes, that would be delightful," she picked up a tea cup and let the little girl pretend to pour tea into it. She brought the cup up to her lips and glanced over at Hans who sat pouting. She leaned over and asked quietly, "Attend her tea parties often, Lady Westerguard?" Brigitta busied herself pretending to serve tea to her other "guests."
Hans couldn't help but smile when his eyes met hers, "She can play me like a mandolin."
"Your mother has been looking for that hat," Gemma said as she approached and plucked the hat from his head, "Gita, it's time for your lessons, go wash up and I'll collect your things."
After assisting Gemma with the cleanup the pair took a turn through the gardens. "I assume Gemma is used to Brigitta dressing you up in odd costumes."
"You don't know the half of it. This time I got off easy. Usually I'm Princess Hansmerelda who has been captured by pirates and she's my rescuing prince. She likes to use parts of my uniform for that," he flushed when he realized what he just told her, "You really didn't need to know that." Elsa covered her mouth with both hands to hold back her laughter, but it backfired and she chortled. Her eyes grew wide and she blushed with embarrassment. He smiled at her and began laughing, "That was adorable."
Elsa composed herself and decided to change the subject, "There is an amazing variety here," she said letting her fingers caress the petals of the flowers as she walked past them.
"Mother is very fond of flowers, and the warm climate allows her to indulge in them for most of the year. I would gladly trade the sight of some of these flowers for a milder summer," he said pulling his collar and cravat way from his neck.
She could see the sweat starting to bead along his hairline, "I can help with that," she motioned with her hand forming a small snow cloud above them.
He stopped, turned his face towards the cloud, closed his eyes and smiled as light snow began to fall, "You have no idea how amazing this feels to me," he said in a quiet, gentle way that made her pulse quicken. The snow stuck in his fiery hair; his soft pink lips set in a satisfied smile. He wiggled his nose when a snowflake landed on the tip of it. He wasn't handsome; he was beautiful. She realized she was staring when he turned his face towards her with a smile, "Thank you, Queen Elsa."
She turned her face towards the path as she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks; she smiled shyly, "You're welcome."
"Your majesty," Elsa turned to the sound of Kai's voice, "King Anders and Prince Klaus wish to speak with you regarding trade agreements."
"It's always something," Elsa sighed under her breath, "Thank you, Kai," she looked at Hans who smiled and nodded. She waved her hand dissolving the snow cloud and walked towards the castle.
Hans watched her until she disappeared inside; then realized he was left alone with Kai. He nervously dusted the snow from his epaulets and tried to look anywhere but at the portly steward.
"If I may speak freely, your highness," Elsa's steward said with a hand motion that indicated they should walk.
Hans jumped at the sudden sound and looked at Kai with panicked eyes, "Yes, of course," he quickly averted his gaze, "and there is no need for formalities. Hans will do fine, or any insulting name you wish to call me."
"I have no interest in insulting you, young prince. I offer my greatest sympathies. I wasn't under the influence of that mirror as long as you were; I can't imagine how you must have felt when the pieces were removed."
"Sixteen years. At three and twenty I was like a child in many aspects," he gave a sad smile, "I still am. I was flooded with emotions I was entirely unfamiliar with. I wasn't permitted to leave the castle for many months because I had so little control. I was prone to bouts of crippling guilt and thoughts of ending my own life; Klaus refused to leave my side. Joy and love I still feel stronger than seems normal, or I just lack the ability control my expression. I have no way of knowing which is true; maybe both are." Hans laughed, "One of the worst parts was having to reassociate everyone's name with their faces. I never realized how frustrating that would be to do with twelve brothers, their wives, their children, my parents, the staff and myself."
"Yourself?"
"I had no idea what I looked like. The face I saw grow up in the mirror wasn't really mine and it took some getting used to. Many nights I would startle myself when I saw my reflection," he smiled, "the staff learned to just ignore if I screamed in the middle of the night; between that and the nightmares it became ruefully routine."
"About the events in Arendelle?"
"Always, I see through the eyes of the man I was. I leave a woman to die of cold in the dark; then go outside to raise my sword to another. I try to stop myself, but never can. I have never seen Princess Anna's true face, but now I see Queen Elsa's eyes begging me stop," he shut his eyes and bit his lip in attempt to prevent the flow of tears.
Kai put his hand on Hans' uninjured shoulder, "You have to stop torturing yourself this way and forgive yourself."
"The fact that everyone else has is torturous. I can't see how I deserve such kindness."
"It's not kindness. A lesser man would have accepted that he was not in control of his actions and gotten on with his life. You have sought to earn redemption for sins you did not commit."
The two men walked in silence until Hans checked his pocket watch, "I have to go meet the doctor. If I'm lucky I can finally rid myself of this infernal sling."
"Finally!" Hans said dramatically to no one in particular as he flung open the door to escape the doctor. He fully extended his left arm and rolled his shoulder. A soft giggle drew his attention and to his surprise Elsa was waiting for him. He gave an embarrassed smile, "I'm just really glad to be out of that thing."
"Are you seaworthy again, Admiral?"
"Not quite, I'll be stuck in dry dock until I can get the strength back in it."
"Does it still hurt?"
"It does now, but he just ripped the stitches out," Elsa walked to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. The cool penetrated through his clothes and brought sweet relief to his swollen skin. He closed his eyes, smiled and a small noise of satisfaction rumbled in his throat; a noise that made Elsa's lower spine tingle, "Thank you, that's much better."
"Glad I could help," she put her hands in front of her and looked down as she played with her fingers.
"What brings you here?" he asked oblivious to her awkward behavior.
"I came to tell you that I will be leaving for Arendelle in the morning."
The smile fell from his face, "So soon?"
"This trip wasn't exactly planned. I need to get back to help Anna prepare for her wedding; the first fitting for her dress is next week so I'll be lucky if I make it home in time, and I need to present my advisers with the trade proposals your father and brother gave me."
He gave a sad smile, "I'm very glad to have finally met you under better circumstances."
"We'll meet again," she smiled back before leaving to ready herself for her morning departure.
She tried to ignore the fact it pained her to leave, and instead focus her mind on the details that still needed to be handled regarding Anna's wedding. The cake was designed, the menu planned, the fitting was soon, Kristoff had already been fitted for his attire, an officiant had been scheduled, the decorations had been ordered, the seating chart was planned, but she wasn't sure how to seat trolls, so she would have talk to Kristoff about that, and the invitations had been sent out. When she arrived back in Arendelle she would have to send out a few more to the Southern Isles if Anna would allow it.
Hans paced outside the palace gates torn between impatience and depression. He didn't want her to leave because he really enjoyed her company, but he understood she had far more important things to do. Besides, the more time he spent with her the fonder he grew of her, and it was painful to know nothing could ever come of it.
"May I accompany your majesty to her vessel," Hans asked with a bow as Elsa emerged from the gates."
"I would like that very much," she said with a warm smile. King Anders and Queen Adelaide had said their goodbyes at the gates, allowing Klaus and Hans to see her off.
"You really came all this way just to tell me I was forgiven?" Hans asked as they walked towards the dock; Klaus and Kai had walked on ahead.
"No, I also came to thank you for saving my people from starvation."
He turned his head to look down at the walkway, "A starvation I would have been responsible for."
Elsa drew in a deep breath and readied herself have a conversation she had had numerous times in her mind; "When I learned the truth about you I realized you were a victim as well. This realization caused me to examine the events of the past in a new way. When all was said and done the only person who was worse off after the whole ordeal was you. Well, you and the Duke of Weaseltown," she said with a slight laugh, "If things had not played out as they did Anna would have never met Kristoff, and I would still be a prisoner in my own castle shackled by the fear I was a monster. I would still see my abilities as a curse only capable of causing pain and destruction. Now, I see them as a gift to be used to help and create," she turned her palm up, formed a delicate ice rose in her hand and gently blew it to be carried away by the slight breeze. She felt immensely better having finally been able to say what she had been rehearsing for days, but to her surprise her mouth kept going, "your actions at the time were villainous, but really you ended up as my hero," she smiled at him, "I wanted to know the prince that broke my shackles and rescued me from my prison."
He looked at her wide-eyed and dumbfounded. He had no idea how to begin to respond until the memories flooded his mind and he somberly returned his gaze to the walkway, "I am no one's hero, your majesty."
Her smile never faltered, "You are my hero, regardless of your opinion," she pressed something into his hand and walked the rest of the way down the pier and up the gangplank with Kai. As the gangplank was pulled and the ship readied to pull away from the pier, she came to the gunwale and said down to him with a wicked grin, "Oh, and, Admiral Freckles, please continue to write."
He smiled up at her until the full implication of what she had just said hit him, he stuffed the item in his pocket and threw off his high collared tailcoat (it made running more difficult), then took off at a full run down the pier as the ship moved along side it, "You weren't supposed to actually read those!" he shouted to her as she waved. He had lost sight of his feet and the last Elsa saw of Admiral Prince Hans Westerguard as she departed was him running off the edge of the pier and falling into the sea.
He drug himself from the water to find Klaus leaning against a post barely able to breathe from laughter, "Glad I could amuse you," Hans said as he stood next to his brother and shook himself.
"No need to ruin my clothes because you can't watch where you're going," Klaus managed as he tried to regain his breath, "here's your coat." Hans pulled off his gloves and used the tailcoat to dry his hands before he reached into its pocket to find out what she had given him. He pulled out an ice blue silk handkerchief with a dark blue crocus embroidered on it, "Is that a favor, little brother?" Klaus asked peering over Hans' shoulder with sly grin.
Hans shoved the cloth back into his jacket pocket, "No, it's a gift," he responded unable to stop the heat rising in his cheeks.
"Are you sure it's only a gift" Klaus asked teasing, "You obviously fell for her," he indicated Hans' wet clothes.
Hans gave his brother a look of confusion and disbelief, "Did you really just say that? That was terrible, even for you, Klaus," he said purposefully avoiding what Klaus was really implying, "I hope your children get Gemma's sense of humor."