Chapter Twenty-Five: Love is a Weapon More Potent than Poison

She was there again this morning. Hans could almost sense her whenever she was near and each time he felt a little thrill go through him at the thought that she was watching him. He wondered if she was pleased with the way he was running things in his training program or if she continued to watch him because she didn't trust him. Most likely, it was the latter. There was no other reason for her to be there. She was just looking out for her citizens just as she was looking out for her sister.

Hans had put off speaking to Elsa about Anna. With the way she was watching him almost every day, he was almost certain Elsa will be hesitant to give her blessing. He decided to give it another week. Once she can see that he had only good intentions in his program, his proposal to marry Anna would most likely go smoother. Elsa may be warming up to the idea already. She seemed to have become his silent ally against Holford. His brother was still ardently pursuing Anna. However, on many occasions in the evenings when they would gather together after work, Elsa would often distract Holford with conversation or a game of chess. Last night when Anna proposed to play charades, Elsa had even volunteered to be on Holford's team just so Anna would end up in Hans' team. It was like Elsa was going out of her way to make sure he spent time with Anna.

He was never really alone with Anna. With two children and that funny little snowman Olaf always around, company constantly surrounded them. Together, they spent evenings skating, creating icefort battles or playing games. He easily got along with her two children and he could see himself caring for them for the rest of his life. Olaf was a little more challenging to win over at first. The magical snowman did remember him as that man who refused to kiss Anna and left her to freeze. Olaf had been aloof to him since they met. Last night's charades game, though had given him the opportunity to team up with Olaf, Anna and her daughter Iduna. It was the first time he played charades but he discovered a knack for it. Anna, he realized early on was rather useless at the game, However, Hans, combined with Olaf and even Iduna had put up such an exceptional team effort they took a winning sweep of six rounds against Elsa, Holford, Agdar and Lord Ragnar. Hans had never laughed so hard in his life at the way Olaf shape-shifted each word that it encouraged him to be as loud and as animated as possible when it was his turn to act out the words. Holford looked at him as if he had turned crazy and that was just the icing on the cake of his evening. The real triumph had been Olaf high-fiving him after they won their sixth round and pronounced him to be "Not so bad after all."

Hans could not remember having been this happy. He found his work productive, he was gaining the respect of the people in Arendelle, and he was discovering what a happy family life really was. If he could spend the rest of his days like this, he would never ask for anything more.

Well there was Elsa.

It was a stupid juvenile fantasy, but his desire for her just kept on each day. He was certain it would fade away eventually, just as his previous bouts of lust with women from his youth had been. In the past, he slept with a whore to satiate those urges. But he hadn't been with a woman since last year before he ended up sick and injured in a hospital in Warsaw. He concluded that bottled up frustration had been getting to him. However, he was determined to keep himself celibate for Anna. She was more important than his baser instincts, and all the more he needed to keep those instincts in check when the object was Anna's sister.

Hans looked towards the cluster of trees in the distance where he knew Elsa usually spied on him. It was nearly noon now and he knew she was long gone and back to the castle for her duties. He noted that she kept a schedule like clockwork, much like he did. One of these days, perhaps he should just greet her and tell her she can watch in the open. Maybe if he talked to her more frequently, his feelings would die out much sooner. She did have a tendency to irk him whenever they got into serious conversation. Perhaps exposing himself to that trigger could help dissipate this infatuation.

He turned back to his recruits and dismissed them so they can start cooking their mid-day meal. Before he left them to their devices, he made sure to offer praise for their marked improvement in today's shooting exercises. He noted that Eskelson looked particularly proud when Hans mentioned his name. He chalked it up as one more tiny victory he gained today.

He headed to his temporary office tent, intending to work on his next lecture on battle strategy. However, when he entered it, he found Olaf sitting on his chair. The snowman's normally smiling mouth was upturned into a frown.

"Olaf, is there something the matter?" he asked.

Olaf stood up from the chair and eyed him from head to foot.

"What are your intentions towards Elsa?" he blurted out.

Hans froze at the question. Was Olaf a mind reader? Was he seeing through what was going on in his mind whenever he looked at Elsa?

"What do you mean?" Hans nervously asked.

Olaf pushed a piece of paper on his desk towards him. "Explain that."

Hans stared at the image on the pamphlet and felt the blood drain from his face. He quickly read through the article and realized immediately how bad this was.

"Where did you get this?" Hans asked.

"People are reading it in the village this morning," Olaf replied.

"The village…" Hans gasped as he realized it had already spread and was perhaps read the by the entire town. Both Elsa and Anna would probably have read it too. If they thought he had anything to do with it, it would damage his chances of ever asking for Anna's hand.

"I had nothing to do with this," Hans said. "I would never release something like this."

"But is it true?" Olaf asked him.

"No!"

"So you weren't acting like a gentleman around Elsa?!" Olaf thundered that Hans was taken aback.

"No! I mean, that part is true. I was a gentleman around Elsa. What I meant is that it's not true that Elsa and I recaptured Arendelle. Anna did that. It's not true that we were corresponding before I rescued her from the French or that I was holding her hand like that in the picture."

"But would you like to hold her hand?"

Hans didn't exactly know how to answer that. If he answered yes, would Olaf assume he was trying to court Elsa and take offense? If he said no, perhaps Olaf would think he was being averse to her touch and take offense at that too.

"Well?" Olaf asked impatiently.

"Errr…" he muttered awkwardly. "Well Elsa and I are… friends."

"Okay, but would you like to be more than friends?"

He felt his face flush at the bluntness of the question.

Olaf stared at him intently. "You like her, don't you?"

"No! I mean yes! I mean I like her… as a friend."

"Then why are your ears red?" Olaf asked. "So are your cheeks. You know they kinda go well with that little purple on your eye. It's going away now so the red hides it a bit."

He was blushing! Oh for the love of God! This snow creature could dissect him in his odd blunt way when no one has ever done that before.

"There you go," Olaf continued. "Purple's gone, you're red all over. You know, it's not really a bad look on you. Matches the hair. I think Elsa will like you like that."

Hans turned away and took deep breaths to calm himself before responding. "Olaf, Elsa and I are just friends."

"Of course you are," Olaf replied. "I can see that. You always smile when you look at her, which is okay because friends smile when they see each other. And I think it's okay to like your friend and you're not a bad friend."

"So I'm okay in your book?" Hans asked.

"You're okay, for now," Olaf said. "But I'm still watching you. If you ever leave anyone of my friends again to freeze alone…"

"I won't do that Olaf. Never again and I'm really sorry I did it before."

"Good. I'm going to go back to the castle now," Olaf said as he waddled towards his tent entrance.

Hans felt like he dodged a bullet with Olaf but recognized this opportunity to connect with the snowman and get his good opinion.

"Olaf wait! I'll come with you. Will you walk with me?"

"Sure," Olaf replied.

They stepped out of the tent and Hans momentarily gave orders to his men to take charge of the afternoon class sessions before joining Olaf on the path back to the castle. Once they were out of earshot, Hans turned to his companion.

"I've been meaning to ask you, Olaf. I know we've only known each other for only a short time, but I really want to make it up to you and to Anna and Elsa for all the kindness you've done. I would really want to get to know you more and be your friend."

"I thought we already were friends last night?" Olaf asked.

"Yeah, we are," Hans assured. "It's just that I want to be closer pals."

"You want a family," Olaf remarked. "You want to be part of our family."

Hans felt himself dumbfounded at how on-point Olaf could be.

"Anna told me," Olaf went on. "She told me how you never had a good family growing up. I already met two of your brothers. You're the only one who has ever tried talking to me. Lars and Holford look like a bunch of stiffs. Holford didn't seem to enjoy charades last night."

Hans couldn't help but smile at that one. Holford looked so out of his element last night when Anna forced him to be part of family game night. Holford looked absolutely ridiculous as he tried and failed to act random words for his teammates to guess. Hans' older brother was never really one for light-hearted games. He could be intelligent and charming, but put him in a roomful of five year olds and he wouldn't know what to do. That was precisely what happened last night. There were at least three actual five year olds in the room (Agdar, Iduna and Olaf), and the rest of them—including Lord Ragnar had all decided to act like crazy toddlers throughout the entire competitive game. Hans realized the situation had just induced Holford's own personal hell and Hans enjoyed every minute of it.

"You know Lord Ragnar wasn't so bad too," Olaf went on. "I just don't know how Elsa managed to correctly guess he was dancing when he looked like a flying monkey or a leaping duck."

Hans snorted out loud at the description but knew why Elsa guessed Lord Ragnar's pantomine correctly. He proceeded to tell Olaf about the first time he had seen Lord Ragnar dancing with Anna at Elsa's coronation ball, and how the diminutive Duke of Weselton put up the oddest moves on the dance floor. Hans even gave Olaf an imitation of Lord Ragnar's moves that by the time they reached the castle doors they were both hysterically laughing together.

"Something funny?"

Hans abruptly stopped as he saw Lord Ragnar at the front door with his arms folded across his chest.

"Nothing, Lord Ragnar," Hans said seriously, as he tried to repress that laughter that was bubbling up the surface at seeing Olaf's guilty expression of being caught. "How are you today?"

The Duke raised an eyebrow at him. "I was just in conference with Queen Elsa. If you're through acting like children, I think she would like a word in private with you, General."

"As would I," Hans replied as he remembered the pamphlet. "Lord Ragnar, I have also been meaning to speak to you…"

"Yes, I know," the Duke cut him off. "But we may speak later. I think it is best you see the Queen first. There is an urgent business she must discuss with you in her office. Once you have concluded things with her, I will be in the garden if you wish to confer."

Hans realized it was possible Elsa had already confronted Lord Ragnar about the pamphlet and the Duke may have denied things on his end. Hans decided to deal with him later. It was better to speak to Elsa directly on the matter to make sure the truth didn't get blurred.

He gave a bow to Lord Ragnar and said goodbye to Olaf then proceeded to Elsa's office. Kai was just exiting her office and immediately acknowledged his presence. He briefly returned inside to announce Hans and he was let in immediately. Kai closed the door behind him.

"Good afternoon General, please take a seat," Elsa greeted him curtly. The way she used his formal position and not his first name gave him the indication that she was uneasy. Lord Ragnar must have given her a wrong impression about that pamphlet.

"Your majesty," he began steadily. "I know you might have read some unsettling news this morning that have been circulating in the village."

"The pamphlet," she stated.

"Yes that pamphlet with the false stories about us. Your majesty, I assure you, I had nothing to do with it. I didn't know anything about it until Olaf showed it to me."

"I believe you."

He was surprised that she took his word that easily, when he had been prepared to argue to convince her of his innocence.

"I believe you because I know who is behind it. It was Lord Ragnar. You can see from article itself he had a hand in it and he admitted it to me this morning."

Hans felt relieved but he was curious to know why Lord Ragnar would even start something like that and admit it so casually. "Why would he do that?" he asked.

"He was doing you a favor," Elsa replied. "Well both of us really. He thinks that story could smoothen relations between the Arendellians and the Swedish forces, and that in turn can overall provide a little bit of stability in this region, of which Weselton is a part of. I agree with him. It helps to have people see their Queen and the Swedish representative in Arendelle in good terms. It puts out an image to the public that we are cooperating against a common foe and have the same goals. It will make people more accepting if we decide to engage in a more… lasting alliance."

Lasting alliance, Hans caught the hint in it. She meant marriage. Perhaps Elsa was now convinced to allow him to marry Anna. She certainly didn't seem to be objecting to his being in Anna's company.

"I suppose it does help," Hans smiled with relief. "I wish I thought about it myself and consulted with Lord Ragnar though. We could have made the story a lot closer to the truth with Anna's involvement in Arendelle's liberation. If you wish, I will speak to him and have him recall the papers and release a more accurate narrative."

"That won't be necessary General," Elsa said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I have already permitted the release of the story as is on the condition he add one more article to it. I hope you do not mind but I have taken the liberty of making known the truth of the kindness you did for my brother-in-law. Letting people know that you aided Kristoff and his companions to escape at your own peril will ease whatever doubts the Arendellians have about your character."

Hans was surprised Elsa would make such a move to support him. "You will allow people to know your brother-in-law is a deserter?"

"I do not see any disadvantage at this time in letting that be known publicly. In fact, my people will even see Kristoff's desertion as an act of loyalty to his own people. Surely you must see the sentiments of the Arendellians have turned against the French. The article I have asked Lord Ragnar to include will not only address Kristoff's desertion as a heroic defiance against France's war but will also show that you have done that act of letting him escape in solidarity to his plight. Your own desertion of France will be shown as a just decision against an oppressive Empire bent on our common subjugation."

Hans was speechless. He didn't expect Elsa could play such a bold and generous move.

"Kristoff of course, will still appear to be missing at this time," Elsa continued. "For his safety."

Hans understood that statement. She had seen the practicality of his earlier proposal and this was her form of acceptance. He couldn't help but give her a half-chortle of relief. "You know I was planning to renew my proposal. I wanted to speak to you about it but I wanted to give you some time. I see I need not have done so for you have already made a decision. I'm glad you can see it my way. I assure you, you have made the right choice, Elsa. Everything I have offered before, that will still stand. I will treat her on my honor with utmost respect. I will take care of her and her children and..."

He faltered as he saw the frown that crossed Elsa's face.

"General," she said haltingly. "I think I may have… given you the wrong impression. I wanted us to have that appearance in public of an alliance, of a…" she paused as if choosing her words before uttering: "Friendship."

"I understand. You wanted people to be more accepting of us as a family and see me as your brother-in-law, when I marry Anna."

The frown lines on Elsa's face deepened and he was suddenly doubtful of Elsa's meaning.

"You are preparing for me to become Anna's husband?" he asked bluntly. "Isn't this what this is all about? You are solidifying Arendelle's alliance with Sixth Coalition with my marriage to Anna."

Elsa said nothing but her lips pursed uncomfortably and Hans sensed this meeting wasn't going to turn out how he wanted. She may want to negotiate for something else. Well, we'll see what I can do, but if it gets Anna married to me then I'm in a mood to give in within reason.

"I am grateful for your assistance," Elsa finally said. "You may not have liberated Arendelle, but your presence with your troops has eased matters for my kingdom. I did not forget that."

Hans sensed Elsa was about to give him a delaying tactic. Perhaps she would only agree to allow him to be engaged to Anna. Well it was a start, but at some point, they would have to marry eventually.

"Elsa, I know you have doubts about me. Maybe you still feel that I would not keep my end of this deal and I understand given our history if you do not wish me to be with your sister. But perhaps we could just be engaged for now. Let me speak to Anna and we can announce it tonight. We can keep the Coalition and Holford at bay for a month or so and you can have some time to get used to the idea. But eventually we will need to marry to seal that alliance... "

He stopped as he saw her shake her head.

"I have an alternative proposal," she said carefully.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Very well..."

"You will have a marriage alliance as the Coalition demands. One that fulfills the same commitments of Arendelle binding with Sweden and would establish a lasting tie between our countries," Elsa said gravely. "But you're not marrying Anna."

Hans stiffened at that statement. So she's still being stubborn about this. "Queen Elsa, you can see the practicality of Anna being my bride," he argued.

"I did not commit my sister's hand and I will never commit it, not to you or anyone else."

"Elsa, my marriage to Anna is the most practical and logical move we can do to achieve your kingdom's protection."

"I am not sacrificing Anna to a commitment for a political alliance that I cannot commit myself."

"I understand you're the Queen and would do the decisions for her…"

"No, General, you misunderstood me. Let me say it more clearly: I am committing myself to you to comply with this alliance."

Hans thought he might have misheard. "I'm sorry... what?"

"You're marrying me," she said with confident finality.

Hans felt his mouth go dry. However, he had already played this scenario in his head. A marriage to Elsa would grant her a temporary alliance but not a long-term one since they couldn't possibly produce an heir. He was certain she was marrying him for appearances only just as he offered to Anna. In all sense, he knew it was simply not a practical move.

He shook his head. "No."

"No?" It was her turn to look confused as if she couldn't believe he would dare refuse her.

"I am not marrying you," Hans insisted.

"And why not?" she demanded. "You wanted an alliance for the Coalition, a way to protect Anna. A marriage would do that. She is just a princess. I am the Queen. Don't you think you are getting a far more advantageous deal by marrying the one with power instead of the heir?"

Hans felt his blood boil at the insult. "As I told you, I am not marrying her for power. I want to protect her."

"And you will, as her brother-in-law. You ensure the survival of Arendelle by marriage to me. Any children we have become heirs to Arendelle above Anna. Our children will effectively bring Anna lower in the succession, which makes her and her children less of a target for political marriage. And since they are your children, I can be assured you will protect their interests for the rest of your life."

Hans couldn't believe he was hearing this from her. Granted what she proposed was logical in every way but it still felt cold and unfeeling. Of course she knows she can't really produce any children so using them as bargaining chips doesn't really matter. Oh she is shrewd! Well the gloves are off then if she wants to play nasty.

"You would use your own future children with me as an insurance policy?" he said in an effort to rile her up.

"Yes, wouldn't you do the same if you were in my position? In fact isn't that what the Westergaards have been doing for decades?"

"I am not like my brothers. I refused to do what Caleb asked me to do to you. That's why I ended up in Sweden. Now you are basically asking me to do just as he ordered me to. I thought you were better than that. You're no different than a Westergaard."

His jibe hit home for she flushed angrily at him and a cold draft crept inside the room. "I have been played by Westergaards. You, Lars, Holford, Caleb, you're all the same. I've had enough. I will play this on my terms or not at all."

"Then my answer is no," Hans said firmly. "You can go play your games with my brothers your majesty. I won't. Now, if you don't mind, I ask you to speak to Anna of my proposal."

"No! You do not have my blessing to marry her and you will never have it!"

He scoffed at her pathetic attempt to hold him. "Fine, then I don't need your blessing."

"What do you mean?" she demanded.

"I know about Arendellian marriage laws your majesty. Your father abolished the rule that a prince or princess requires the consent of the ruling monarch to marry. I can marry Anna if she'll have me. And she will if she understood the full circumstances of this marriage and the protection it will provide her, her family and her kingdom. If she knew what I am prepared to offer her..." He paused as something else occurred to him. A memory of what Anna had told him over her remorse on letting Elsa marry Knudsvig:

"I cheated her Hans. I let her take a responsibility that I was supposed to fulfill and I made her miserable for it. If there was a way I could take it back, I would. If there was a way I can save her from a loveless marriage, I'll do it."

Hans realized this was the key to convincing Anna to agree with him to put up this fake marriage.

"Anna won't let you marry me," Hans told her.

"Why not?"

"Because Anna loves you. She won't allow you to enter into another loveless political marriage like you did with Knudsvig. If marrying me will give you your freedom, she will do it in a heartbeat. If she marries me, Kristoff's reappearance one day will nullify our marriage immediately. If you marry me, you will be trapped in wedlock with me 'til death or a really ugly divorce is settled between us. Anna won't let you go through that if she can help it. Tell me I'm not wrong?" he challenged.

Elsa said nothing. She looked away from him and paced the room. Snowflakes began raining over her head. He watched her fists clench and unclench. Finally, her palms reopened and the snowflakes disappeared from the ceiling. She faced him, her expression calm and without emotion.

"I will speak to Anna and I ask you not to say a word to her about this before I do so."

"You have my word," Hans replied. "When do I expect to propose to her?"

"Tonight. I shall make arrangements for you to meet after dinner."

Hans couldn't be more pleased at her promptness. "Very well, I shall meet her—"

"In the library," Elsa said.

Hans felt like he was gut-punched. The library was the room where he betrayed Anna and Elsa knew that. He realized Elsa was just warning him but he felt the sting of it all the same.

The moment she said, Elsa suddenly looked guilty. "I mean, it doesn't have to be the library…" She began but he held up a hand to stop her. He had to prove to Elsa that his intentions with Anna were honest and he will make things right with Anna even if he had to do it in the same place where he once betrayed her trust.

"No, I'll do it in the library," he told her. "I think it's only fitting I make up to her there. I promise you Elsa, I will never break her heart again. I swear I will make sure she never feels anything but my affection."

Elsa nodded. "Then it's settled. Until tonight, General."

He bowed before her. She only nodded curtly at him. He let himself out.

In the corridor, he tried to tell himself he had won over Elsa but something told him she had something else up her sleeve. He noticed her hands when he made his final bow to her. Oddly her fingers were encased in solid ice.

She waited until his footsteps have gone before leaving her office. Kai was just outside the door with a worried frown on his face.

"Is something the matter, your majesty?" Kai asked. "General Jorgenbjorgen looked rather… troubled."

As much as Elsa wanted to speak to Kai about this, she felt it prudent to hold her tongue until she thought this through. This was something she had to figure out on her own. "Kai, please cancel my afternoon meeting with the council. Something came up that needs my attention. Please send the council members my apologies."

Kai knew her enough that when she used that urgent tone he need not ask anything further. "Of course your majesty," he bowed then let her pass.

She headed straight to the library. She cursed herself for blurting out the library when Hans asked where to propose to Anna. The look of hurt on his face when she mentioned it had shown how much he was affected by it. She couldn't help but admire him for refusing her.

She went to one of the bookshelves and reached for a book tucked away there. She opened to a familiar page and stared at the image before her.

"He isn't like you," she told the portrait on the page. "Not like you at all. He's a better man. I wish he wasn't. If he were more like you then he would have accepted me and I wouldn't have to feel guilty about doing what I need to do now."

The cold eyes of the portrait looked back at her with its unfeeling gaze." Her eyes moved across the opposite page and found the familiar quote there. She averted her eyes to avoid reading it, but she didn't have to. She memorized those words a long time ago.

Love is a weapon more potent than poison. Use it wisely and use it well.

"It's funny," she scoffed as she focused back on the man's face. "I always thought he would be like you. I never imagined it would be me that would take after you."

She shut the book and replaced it back on the shelf. She squared her shoulders and allowed herself to take on a cool and calm demeanor as she stepped out of the library. She imagined her face looked exactly as the man in the portrait in her book.