A/N: I'm not overwhelmingly thrilled with the way this chapter panned out. I was having some medical issues that have since be resolved.

Jongen - "Boy" in Dutch (I think)

King Anders' pleas for help from the surrounding kingdoms had an unexpected effect on Queen Elsa. Suitors flocked to Arendelle like vultures and she did her best to hide her disgust. She wore her ice gowns like armor; the cold they emitted served well to deter any attempts at physical contact. His medal never left her neck.

"I am terribly sorry that he has chosen to abandon his friends and relations," Prince Augustus of Achaea said at dinner during his visit, trying his best to look and sound sympathetic.

"Thank you, Prince Augustus, but I am quite sure he has his reasons."

"It would have been better for him to at least inform someone of his reasons. It was rather heartless of him to let everyone worry like this."

"I do not pretend to know his motivations, but this has in no way lessened my regard for him."

"I would never do such a thing to the people who care for me."

"I'm sure they find that a comfort."

Reading the irritation in her tone Augustus tried to change the topic, "I do not believe I have seen you without that necklace, does it hold some sort of significance?"

She closed her eyes and gently touched the medal, "It was a gift from Hans," she opened her eyes and turned to her head to face him; the austere look she wore silenced the overly confident prince; similar conversations were repeated with the visits from Prince Eudoro, Prince Rupert, Prince Hugo, and Prince Khalid.

He had forgotten how much he enjoyed the feeling of the sea spray on his skin and the smell of the open ocean. On the recent voyages he had been hired on a boatswain; an improvement in duties over the bilge pump and holy stone. The first time he saw a poster in a port he panicked, worrying someone would recognize him, but in the weeks since his departure from Baltia a moustache and beard had grown, his hair had gained length and he lost the fear of being discovered. He avoided Corona, Baltia, and Arendelle when he was able, and volunteered for the baboon watches when he wasn't. Sleep had become a burden. His dreams were always of her, and now he couldn't decide which tormented him more: the dreams of her murder or the memories of her when he believed she loved him.

He pulled his pea coat tighter as the wind from the sea blew his now shaggy hair forward while he stood on deck and stared heartbroken at Arendelle's castle. The winter winds were coming and soon these waters would become impassable again. The visits to her harbor were the only way he could watch over her. Being this close to her pained him greatly, but the thought that he wouldn't be able to get this close for months was worse; he felt as though he was having to say good bye all over again. He loved her; he would always love her, but felt he was the world's biggest fool for believing she could love him in return. The sweet taste of her lips, the sound of her laughter, and the scent of her hair taunted him with sensory memories. He fell to his knees with his arms on the gunwale and lost his fight with tears.

HRH Admiral Prince Hans Westerguard of the Southern Isles,

My heart aches with worry. I don't know why you haven't come to Arendelle. I need an explanation. You never received the letters I had written, but I wrote, I swear I wrote until my ink well ran dry. I have read your last letter so many times I know it by heart. The wound is ripped open each time I read it, but it is the last thing you gave me and I cherish it.

I watch the harbor every time a ship comes in and hope to find you. I have seen a man with your hair on a ship's deck, but he never comes ashore. Something in me tells me it's you and I have run down to the docks to find him, but never have.

Hans, I love you. The moment I saw you had returned safely from your kidnapping I knew I couldn't live without you; there were ice primroses in my foot steps and the wind that swirled around us.

Every day that passes without you cuts the void in my heart larger; I worry that it may consume me entirely if you do not return.

Please come back to me; let the compass you carry guide you home.

Love,

Elsa

She handed the sealed envelope to Eugene; Corona was closer to Baltia than Arendelle and Eugene would be able to hand deliver it to Hans if he returned.

He sat in a tavern in Friezenburg's harbor staring into the amber of his beer trying to think of anything but her, "Don't I know you?" Hans looked up to find Captain Van Dyke looking at him curiously, "Bastian Stray, I assume by the beard." Hans gave a small smile, the first that had graced his face in months. Van Dyke pulled out the chair and sat next to him, "I've seen the posters."

"So have I," Hans took a drink.

"I know it's none of my business, but can I ask why?"

Hans forced a breath out his nose, "A woman."

"Oldest reason there is," Van Dyke smiled, "Why don't you join up with me for a while? I can always use a man with your experience."

Klaus ran as fast as he possibly could through the palace hunting his father. He finally found him with Wolfgang and Reinvald in Wolfgang's study, "Hans! A letter from a ship's captain," Klaus forced out as he tried to catch his breath. King Anders grabbed the letter from Klaus' extended hand.

HRH King Anders of the Southern Isles,

I write to tell you that Prince Hans is alive and well. I picked him up in Friezenburg and he is currently a member of my crew. He is unaware that I have written to inform you of his whereabouts, nor do I plan on telling him for fear he will run. He has not fully explained his reason for leaving, but hopefully I can work it out of him. We are somewhat familiar with one another; he was a member of my crew when he returned to Arendelle after his kidnapping. I have cargo I must deliver, but I will bring him back to Baltia within a fortnight.

Respectfully,

Capt. Rikhart Van Dyke

Hans lie on the weather deck looking up at the clear night sky absent-mindedly rolling the compass she had given him in his hand. He had been tracking the stars since they dropped off the last of the cargo, and had little doubt about their course. It was impossible to out run pain, but he'd given it his best try.

"So, that's the whole story," Van Dyke said as he moved his pawn, "A woman tells you she loves you, gives you her beloved deceased's father's watch, and you give up and run off after not hearing from her in a few months?"

"She said she didn't want to love me."

"Jongen, you are a fool. No matter what you hear from other sailors, a good woman's heart is not as fickle as that."

"She would be a lot better off with another man, anyway; one that hadn't tried to kill her."

"That's up to her to decide, not you, but if you think so little of her you may be right."

"Think so little of her?" Fire sparked in Hans' eyes again, "She is a goddess I would willingly sacrifice my life to!"

"If that's true, why are you here? Why didn't you go to her as soon as you were able? You're so frightened of the possibility of rejection that you have taken away the option of acceptance," Hans froze with this hand over his queen. Van Dyke continued with sympathy, "Melancholy can make a man do things he wouldn't under normal circumstances, and the uncertainty that comes with new love can make it worse."

"I doubt anyone really cares that I'm gone," Hans sighed, "Check."

"Do you believe posters were put up for no reason?"

"A formality."

"A formality would have been to put them up once, but they have been renewed multiple times. Do you honestly believe your family has no regard for you?"

Hans had no answer for him. His mind was at war; part told him that they did care for him, the other that they did not. It was easier to accept the latter because accepting the former meant he had to face that he was hurting the people who loved him.

Van Dyke could see the conflict on his face, "It would be best to go back. Your family misses you and the longer you stay away, the worse it gets for them and this woman."

Hans moved his queen, "If I were return to her now, what reason would she have to accept me?"

"You still have a lot to learn. Checkmate," Van Dyke smiled at him, "I told you, the constancy and capacity of a good woman's heart should not be so quickly dismissed. They can forgive even the stupidest actions of the men they love even when they don't deserve it," he laughed, "I know my Helena has."

Hans sighed, "You're taking me to Baltia."

Van Dyke didn't look up from his putting the pieces away, "Yes."

"You wrote to the palace and informed them."

"Yes."

"This has been your plan since Friezenburg."

"Yes."

"You thought I would run if you told me."

"Yes."

"You thought correctly, and since I doubt we'll be making port call until Baltia it seems I am left with no choice but to comply."

"You'll thank me for it later," Van Dyke continued to clear the board, "Who is she?"

Hans smiled and chuckled, "It's been eating at you, hasn't it?"

"Honestly, yes it has," Van Dyke smiled, "What woman could capture the heart of the fearless Admiral Westerguard, hunter of pirates and protector of harbors, expert swordsman and master of pub songs?"

"Queen Elsa of Arendelle."

Van Dyke's eyes went wide and the smile fell from his face; the white queen and black king slipping from his hand landing back on the board, "The Snow Queen?"

"She's been called that."

She stood at the window in her study that faced the harbor silently praying he would be on one of the ships that appeared on the horizon, "Your majesty," Kai handed her a letter.

HRH Queen Elsa of Arendelle,

Prince Hans has been returned to us safe and sound. He departed and sought employment on various merchant vessels under an assumed name. A captain he was previously acquainted with convinced him to join him and he brought him home. I have written to the other kingdoms I requested assistance from to inform them of the good news.

Joyfully,

King Anders of the Southern Isles

Elsa wept. Not a day had gone by for her without trying to figure out what had happened. He never received her letters that much was obvious, but why he hadn't come to her she didn't understand. At least now she knew he was safe. Anna and Kristoff would want to accompany her; she would make arrangements to leave for Baltia by the end of the week no matter what the harbormaster said.

Hans had been escorted straight from the ship to the tower. He had put up no resistance and had expected as much. Queen Adelaide and Prince Klaus kept shifting between rage and joy; Prince Wolfgang, Prince Reinvald, and King Anders were decidedly angry.

"How long am I to be held here?"

"Until I have reason to believe you will not do something so foolish again," King Anders' glowered, "I will send for a barber for you," the slam of the door made Hans flinch.

The familiar black canopy filled his vision. Van Dyke had been right that he was a fool. He had only himself to blame for his current predicament; he had acted like a spoiled child and was rightfully being punished like one. He had selfishly acted without realizing the effect it would have on his family. Hans ensured Captain Rikhart Van Dyke was given enough recompense to allow him to retire and spend the rest of his days with his beloved Helena.

"What is wrong with you? What were you thinking?" Eugene yelled as he entered the room, "Just running off in the middle of the night! Do you know how freaked out I was? How freaked out your parents were? How freaked out Elsa was? We went to Arendelle. She barely spoke, never smiled, and constantly wore your medal. Rapunzel told me that Anna said she slept in your uniform coat! And she had to fend off the horde of men that came as soon as they heard you were gone!"

"I know, I'm an idiot," Hans said crestfallen.

"Yes, yes you are," Eugene sat next to him on the bed, "but seriously, what was going on in your head?"

"I was useless. I was trapped in this room with nothing to look forward to. I had written to Queen Elsa, but she never sent a letter in return. I assumed she realized I was a mistake, and since I was of no use here I left. I honestly didn't think anyone would care."

"You couldn't have been wronger. That doesn't sound right, is it more wrong? It doesn't matter, you get my point. I know Elsa wrote to you and missed you like crazy. You never got any of her letters?"

"No."

"Well, she wrote this one a while back, and gave it to me to give to you when you finally came back," Eugene got up and left Hans to read it alone.

"Your majesty, ships cannot leave the harbor let alone sail all the way to Baltia in this wind," Admiral of the Fleet Arild Tvedt said to Elsa as he followed her to the docks.

She stood facing her frozen fjord and centered herself. She held her arms in front of her and as she spread them apart the ice groaned and cracked as it split part clearing a path to the open sea, "I expect my flagship to be ready by the end of the week," she said as she walked past the awestruck admiral.

The envelope lay untouched on the desk for days. He wasn't ready to face the scope of what his selfish stupidity had done, but a week had been long enough for him to come to terms with the fact he had to. Hans shivered a little but thought nothing of it as he read the letter (his heart breaking with each word), but the icy wind that blew open the door got his full attention. In the doorway was the last person he ever expected to see and she was not pleased. Frost radiated from each footstep as she walked towards him. She was stunning; her gown was light blue silk, her loose hair moved at the will of the wind and her sapphire eyes bore into his soul.

"Queen Elsa," he backed away until he hit the wall. Hans pressed himself as tightly to the wall as he could and looked down at her with fearful eyes. She stopped when she stood directly in front of him; ice raced up his legs stopping just above his knees, "I acted like a selfish, foolish child. I hadn't received word from you in months and assumed you…" A wave of her hand and the wind slammed the door shut. She threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to his chest. The snow and ice in the room slowly rose little by little and vanished before it reached the ceiling.

She broke the kiss and looked up at him her eyes glistening with tears, "I rent open the ice in my harbor, stilled the winds of the north just to be in your arms," she placed the pocket watch in his hands. "Never doubt that I love you."

He leaned his forehead against hers, tears rolled down his cheeks, "Never."