A/N: Yeah reviews! Wow, over 100 followers. I'm flattered! I feel as though I should purchase pom-poms! :) A reviewer mentioned, what they adorably referred to as "the kissing famine." It will happen, I promise, please hang in there. I wrote the first kiss over the weekend; it happens in Chapter 14 (I'm currently hammering out Chapter 16 and I'm a little stuck, which is why I write far ahead of what I post to compensate for writer's block). I apologize if the story is running a little slow, but I want to make it believable (as believable as a story with ice magic can be) and the I don't want the romance to seem forced.
Went back and edited the previous chapters for typos and a few minor continuity errors.
Thorn Apple: Datura stramonium, also known as Jimson Weed or Devil's Snare is a member of the Nightshade family.
Swimming drawers of the time were akin to modern boxer-briefs.
The book Hans is reading is The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (1794). The punctuation and spelling were lifted directly from the page. Why that book? because that's the book in my desk drawer.
Soon after Hans received word that his family had safely returned to Baltia, Anna and Kristoff left on their honeymoon. Anna and Rapunzel had gotten along so well during her stay the couple had decided to spend the winter in Corona; Hans dreaded the stories Eugene would tell Anna and Kristoff.
Hans sat in a high-backed chair studying the papers in front of him as Elsa sat at the desk in her study going over reports regarding the kingdom's food stores for the coming winter, "Why is Corinthia charging such a high tariff?"
"Because they can, I believe."
"They're making more money off of the taxes than the merchants are off of the goods. Do you charge tariffs on their goods like this?"
"I can't. Many of their goods we are unable to produce here."
"I understand that, but this, this is ridiculous."
"What would you suggest I do?" Elsa asked slightly annoyed at the continued interruptions.
"Renegotiate. Many of the things you get from them, I assure you, you could get from the Southern Isles without having to suffer this," he slapped the papers with the back of a gloved hand for emphasis, "and those that could not be provided directly, you could get indirectly. I know they do not charge these tariffs to Baltia."
Elsa returned her eyes to the reports on her desk, "The Southern Isles does seem to be a source of desirable things," she said louder than she realized.
Hans flushed, crossed his legs, and looked away from her pretending to not hear the seemingly flirtatious comment, "Even if you just threaten," his voice cracked midsentence causing Elsa to laugh, "to alter your trade patterns there is a good chance they will lower the tariff anyway."
The council seemed torn on whether Prince Hans' presence was welcome at the table or despised. Elsa found his insights and suggestions invaluable and loved the contemplative look he had as he was listening to every word every member said. He always requested her permission to speak and the words that flowed forth showed the true brilliance of the man who sat at her side.
"I apologize if I overstepped my boundaries, your majesty," Hans said as they left the meeting.
"You did nothing of the sort. I welcome your opinions on foreign and domestic affairs. I appreciate the help of my advisers, but there are times I don't believe they have faith in my decisions."
"Such as? If I may inquire."
"Your presence in Arendelle."
Hans looked away from her and hung his head, "I can understand their reservations on that matter."
"I don't. How quickly they forget everything you've done for the kingdom and for me. Without you the kingdom would have starved, who knows how many pirate raids you prevented, and I no longer live in fear. I realize they will never be able to understand what that was like, but famine and economic hardship they can."
"Surely I can't be the only thing that makes you feel that way."
"No," she sighed, "they know I have been isolated and my parents didn't have the chance to prepare me like you have been; I feel they find it easier to dismiss me for my lack of knowledge of the economic and political standings of other kingdoms."
"Mere ignorance can be corrected. A monarch can have an encyclopedic knowledge of facts regarding other kingdoms, but it won't do them any good if they don't know what to do with those facts when they are needed. You have an amazing mind they are fools to not recognize."
"Queen Elsa," she turned and Kai handed her an envelope, "it's from Princess Anna, your majesty."
Elsa smiled, "Thank you, Kai," she turned to Hans, "I am going to go read this in my room," she walked past him purposefully letting her hand lightly brush his.
Dear Elsa,
I don't know how many letters I will get to write to you before the ice and wind up there get too bad for ships to get through, so I'll try to cram everything into this one.
I have so many presents for you I think we may need two boats on the way back. I'm just so happy I think I'm going to explode sometimes.
Corona is wonderful! They threw a big festival in our honor. There were flowers, and dancing, and floating lanterns! The guards here carry frying pans! Kristoff gets along best with this horse named Maximus, big surprise he gets along better with animals. Olaf is a big hit with everyone; I guess I forgot how unusual a talking snowman is. Rapunzel and I are so much alike it's crazy, but in a good way. You should hear the stories Eugene has about Hans and him; most involve pranks and singing.
Hans is a hero around here, well Admiral Westerguard is, for protecting their harbor from pirates a bunch of times. Corona is one of his favorite ports to hide in when he gets hurt and doesn't want to go home until he heals. I think Rapunzel and Eugene are the only ones that know about what happened at your coronation, and they only found out Hans' part in the mess when Hans told Eugene about it at the wedding.
I hate that I can't think of anything more to write when I won't get to hear from you in months!
If I think of more things to write I'll just write the letters and send them as soon as the ships can get through.
Love,
Anna
The first natural snow fall of Arendelle's autumn blanketed the land in glistening white. Elsa stood in the garden admiring the untouched beauty. She waved her hand and created a sculpture of Anna out of the snow. Smiling, she danced in the garden creating likenesses of Kristoff, Sven, Kai, Gerda, Siegfried, and finally Hans. She blushed slightly when she realized the one she created of Hans was dressed as he was when sparring with Siegfried and wore a scandalous expression; she quickly changed his outfit to his admiral's uniform and his expression to a confident grin. She decided she could use a wardrobe change as well and proceeded to transform her gown into her shimmering frost dress.
"These are amazing," Hans said as he walked in awe among her creations.
"Thank you," she stepped from behind the snow Sven. As soon as Hans saw her in the gown memories came flooding back too quickly for him to process. He fell to his knees supporting himself with his hands. Elsa rushed to his side, "Are you alright?"
"Yes…no… the troll elder altered my memories so I no longer see them as I did through the mirror, but as they actually were. Seeing you in that dress just triggered some strong flashbacks," he breathed heavily, "You do look stunning in it though, your majesty."
She quickly changed her gown back to the pale green silk she had been wearing, "Does that help?" she asked with deep concern.
"I'll…I'll be alright," he said as he stood, "I just think I need to lie down." Elsa knew he meant to go alone, but she followed him anyway deciding she would rather ask for forgiveness than permission.
He threw off his overcoat, untied his cravat and lie on his back with his eyes closed. Elsa brought the chair from the desk and sat it next to the bed, "Can I get you anything? A glass of water? Do I… do I need to leave?"
"I don't deserve your concern, your majesty."
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
"A flash flood of reality."
"You have to forgive yourself," she brushed the hair from his brow, "I understand how hard that can be, and you don't have to go through this alone."
"How does everyone find it so easy to forgive me?"
"Everyone knows it wasn't you. It may have been the same body, but it wasn't your mind or heart," she slipped her hand into his and gently squeezed it, "I'm getting very tired of repeating this conversation," he opened his eyes and looked at her with confusion. She smiled, "How many times do I have to tell you that you're the heroic prince that came to my rescue?"
He smiled back at her and rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand, "I know I'll never tire of hearing it."
"I'll leave you to rest," she stood and reluctantly let go of his hand, "Gerda has a few things she wishes to go over in preparation for the Solstice Celebration."
Elsa's trade advisers were asking him as many questions as they were asking her regarding the final preparations for the impending winter isolation; when she was unavailable many began defaulting to him. He rearranged some of the traditional trade arrangements to better benefit Arendelle economically and make better use of the kingdom's assets; he used his influence as a prince of the most powerful kingdom in the region and as a celebrated naval commander to his advantage when assisting in foreign trade. Elsa and her council were still using the plans her parents had, and a lot had changed for Arendelle in the few years since their passing.
"Ha!" Hans yelled excitedly as he finished reading the letter, "The Southern Isles have agreed to help us circumnavigate, I mean circumvent, the Corinthian tariffs until they agree to lower them," he smiled happily to Elsa and the council in front of him, "also if there is anything we are lacking for the winter they will gladly send what they can."
"That's very kind of them, but I wouldn't want to take advantage of such an offer."
"They would not offer if they could not spare it. With your permission, your majesty, I would like to consult Kai regarding what may be lacking."
The smile he gave her made it all but impossible to say no and she could almost believe he knew it, "Alright, but necessities, not luxuries."
"As you wish, your majesty" he bowed and left to find the castle steward.
Elsa rose and concluded the meeting. She stepped out of the room but lingered outside in the hall momentarily trying to remember if there was anything she may need over the winter that she was running low on.
"Do you think he's bedded her yet?" One councilman asked.
"An unwed, brilliant, young, charming, handsome prince, with the physique of Adonis at her beck and call," a female member of her council laughed, "you should be asking if she's bedded him."
"She's our queen!" another member was astonished at the idea.
"Yes, but she is a young woman too."
Elsa rushed down the hall as she heard the steps of the council members approach the door.
She shut the door to her room and leaned against it for support. She had no idea anyone had made such assumptions about them, about her! Really, the thought that she would have taken him to bed already, they had yet to even kiss! "Wait…yet?" she said out loud. She smiled as she thought of all the times she had to will herself not to slide her hands into his thick, fiery hair and press her lips to his; "yet" suddenly seemed appropriate.
Elsa tried not to laugh at the look of disgust he tried his best to hide as he removed the spoon from his mouth and forced himself to swallow. Hans put the spoon down and emptied his glass of water down his throat. Elsa looked at him with a raised eyebrow and he gave a sheepish grin.
"Usually I have no complaints about Magny's food, but that soufflé was awful," he said as they left the dining room.
Elsa laughed, "I saw your face when you tasted it. You've had it before; I don't know why today was any different."
"I don't either," Hans blinked and shook his head; sweat started to bead on his hairline, "Why is there a ship in the…" he collapsed before he could finish.
Elsa screamed. Gerda came running and knelt next to Hans, "he's burning up. Fetch Dr. Lovig!" she yelled at the nearest staff member, "Take him to his room and strip him down to his drawers," she ordered Kai and Siegfried. The two men heaved the prince up their shoulders and drug him to his bed. Gerda stopped Elsa at the door, "Your majesty, it would be rather improper for you to see a man in such a state."
"I would normally agree with you, but if his fever needs brought down, whom better than I to help?" Gerda could find no legitimate argument, entered the room in front of the queen and threw the covers over his middle. Elsa rushed to him and placed her hand on his forehead. He gasped and his back arched at the shock of her cooling touch.
"What happened?" the physician asked as he ran through the door.
"He just collapsed."
"Did he say anything or do anything unusual?" he asked as he examined Hans' eyes, ears and mouth.
"He was asking about a ship before he fell."
"Has he been on one recently?"
"Not in over a month."
"Am I dead?" Hans asked.
"No, you're not dead," Elsa assured him.
"Are you dead?"
"No."
"One of us must be dead, otherwise why would there be a Valkyrie with me?" he raised his hand and touched Elsa's hair looking very confused.
"Nobody's dead," Dr. Lovig said to his patient, "Anything else odd? Keep your hand on his head; we have to get the fever down before it damages his mind."
Elsa racked her brain trying to think of anything out of the ordinary, "He said the soufflé tasted bad," she offered, desperate for anything that could be an answer.
"Did anyone else eat it?" "
"Yes, Kai, Gerda, Siegfried, and I did. I don't know about anyone else."
"Did it taste odd to any of you?"
"No, it tasted like it normally does."
"And no one else has been affected. If it has not been cleaned, I need his plate," he said to Gerda and placed his fingers against Hans' throat, "His pulse is high," he said to himself, "pupils dilated, delirium…"
"Mermaid two points abaft the starboard beam," Hans said before losing consciousness again.
"… hallucinations…" Gerda rushed back with the plate and Dr. Lovig smelled the soufflé, "close the door and make sure no one is outside," he looked to Siegfried who quickly complied. "He has been poisoned."
"Are you certain?" Siegfried asked.
"Yes, thorn apple. The amount in the entire soufflé may have been fatal, but thorn apple has a distinctly unpleasant taste and smell," he stood up, "He should recover in a day or two and if the fever can be kept down he should come out unscathed," he looked at Hans' state of undress, "Maybe just a little embarrassed."
"The scullery, kitchens, and dining rooms will not be without my men, your majesty," Elsa nodded to Siegfried who bowed and exited. Gerda nodded to Kai who took his cue to leave as well.
Gerda placed her arm around her queen. Elsa gently caressed his face as a tear rolled down her cheek, "You were supposed to be safe here."
He squeezed his toy lion as the lightning flashed outside and thunder rocked the windows; he never liked storms. The door to his room creaked open and a figure slipped inside, "Klaus?"
"No, little Hans, Klaus won't be here to save you this time," he didn't recognize the voice, it didn't sound human; the pitch kept changing and it sounded as though it came from everywhere at once. Lightning flashed and illuminated the figure as it approached him; rolling black smoke held what could be seen as human form with soulless red eyes and a flaming grin that split its face. The being used its body to pin him down, pried the lids of his right eye open, and forced something into it, the searing pain inciting an agonizing cry. Before the pain in his eye could lessen he felt an even worse pain in his chest, as if something was clawing its way into his heart. The screams of the eight year old prince were drowned by the noise of the storm that raged outside.
His fever had broken, but Elsa refused to leave in case it returned. He lay on his side partially curled; she pulled the comforter up to cover his shoulder and caught sight of the scar that formed from the wound he had had when she essentially truly met him. Her finger lightly traced it; it was wider than her fingertip and slightly indented. There were smaller scars on his forearm, a large one across his back and a thin one across his neck that was normally hidden beneath his high collar; she knew there was at least one on his right side, but he was currently laying on it. She examined what she could see of his tattoo and noticed the crocus that took up a significant part of the underside of his forearm. She decided she was going to have to ask him about it when she was able, but then realized she would have to explain why she was looking over his partially nude form while he was unconscious. His firm, tone body was a sight to behold, but now was not the time for that. She pulled the comforter up this neck and lay down on the bed next to him.
He sat up and guzzled the glass of water that sat on the nightstand. He didn't remember getting to bed; actually the previous evening was a blur. Realizing he was wearing only his drawers, he insisted all of his drawers be made like swimming drawers so they didn't bunch under his trousers, he was even more confused since he always slept in a shirt. A small noise caught his ear and he turned his head to find someone in the bed with him. His eyes grew large and his face blanched. He was going to die. If Kai didn't kill him Siegfried would, or Gerda or Anna and the worst part was he didn't remember anything! Elsa laid next to him under the blanket her braid down and messy, only the top of her bare shoulders, face and neck visible. He jumped out of the bed taking the comforter with him, leaving the sheet to cover her, and wrapped it around himself. The noise and motion woke Elsa and she rolled over, looked at his panicked face and smiled, "What happen…what did I… what did we…," Hans stuttered as he backed into the wall.
Elsa laughed and sat up, the sheet falling to reveal the top of a grey silk gown, "It's nothing like that. You fell ill the night before last; I was here to help keep your fever down."
He let out a relieved sigh, "Oh, thank Triton. I thought Kai was going to kill me; not that it wouldn't have been worth it…," his entire body flushed when he realized the last comment had not been in his head, "I should stop talking," he moved so the blanket now also covered his bright red face.
"I… I'll go get Dr. Lovig."
"He's made a fine recovery," the physician said to Elsa and Siegfried as he left the bathroom to allow Hans to bathe.
"Will there be any lasting affects?"
"Other than an aversion to the soufflé and the embarrassment of being seen in his drawers by more people than he ever wanted, no, but thorn apple stopped blooming here before the first frost," Dr. Lovig sighed, "it was either brought in with the would be murderer, or it was delivered."
"Why would anyone try to assassinate the youngest prince? That doesn't seem to make any sense."
"I don't know, all I can tell you is that someone did try and they're not very experienced with poisons," he said to Siegfried as he went to return to his quarters.
"Given this failure I doubt they will try poison again, but we will continue to keep watch on any food in the castle as a precaution, and unless necessary he should not be without protection. He is a very skilled fighter, but it is better not to take risks, your majesty. I would like to post guards outside of any room he occupies."
"See to it."
"I don't need a nursemaid," Hans pouted on the couch in the library.
"You were poisoned! There is someone here trying to kill you and they very nearly succeeded!" frost began to creep along the floor and up the walls.
"You don't even know if the assailant is still here, or if it was even meant for me," he sunk lower into his seat, "All that happened was I was seen in a mortifying state of undress by far too many people and said a few strange things," he was hoping she would let him lump the comment he hadn't meant to say out loud into the group.
"I promised your parents I would protect you, that you would be safe here," she said in a quiet way that made his heart ache.
He gave a dramatic sigh, "Alright, fine, you win. As long as they're posted outside the room I will accept the arrangement," he picked up the book he had been reading and huffed as he found the page had left off on and put his other arm across the back of the couch.
"Read it aloud," Elsa requested.
"Why? I'm over one hundred pages in, how would it make any sense?"
"I've read it before."
"Then why would…"
"Please?"
Hans sighed and lifted to book, "'The family of Valancourt, if not his circumstances had been known to her father, and known to be unexceptionable.'" Elsa came and sat next to him, close enough that if he was to drop his arm from the back of the couch it would have draped across her shoulders, claiming she couldn't hear him very well from across the room, "'Of his circumstances, Valancourt himself hinted as far as delicacy would permit, when he said he had at present little else to offer but an heart, that adored her.'"