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"Frozen Again: 'Love Never Ends"

Act VIII

Chapter 11

'Love Can't Be Denied"

Even behind the mask, Princess Anna was sure it was the real Hans Westergaard spinning her sister Elsa around the dance floor in that silky way she herself grudgingly recognized only he could. So the ginger Robin Hood wildly waves and signals with her retrieved, yet arrow-less bow as a conductor's baton a slow 3/4 meter beat for a more musically inclined Kristoff to instruct the orchestra to play another waltz.

And loudly.

In the blaring music noisy ballroom, Ferdinand Egalité, after giving the King a merry runaround dressed in the Black Knight costume earlier, had quick changed now back into his Harlequin outfit. The mischievous clown in vivid red, black and white, switching though varied dancing partners, does his best at being obstructive to the King's view of the couple. With Peter Pan Alonso butterflying fairy dusted Titiana Valentina in conjunction with a dizzy Pierrot Varian making a splash with mermaid Cassandra, the crafty trio had caused King Agnarr to be waylaid before he had the wisp of a chance to stop Hans from waltzing Elsa away.

Every time partially blind King Agnarr had tried to get a clear view of the pair of dancers waltzing around the center of the floor, that pesky, tall black and red Harlequin with his big frilly collar and his willing female partner got in the way. The trickster Harlequin would take a smooth elongated hop step to the right or a choice dancing lift to the left using his exhilarated Cinderella partner's pannier skirted gown in order to block the King's already limited view.

Whenever the Arendelle King gave up and tried to go around in the opposite direction to the dance floor outskirts, a maladroit Hunchback Quasimodo would then pop up and clumsily stop him. Then there was that annoying green Peter Pan ballroom dancing - more like duel dancing - with the ostentatious butterfly-winged Fairy Queen Titania of Shakespearean legend.

The young man in the weeping Pierrot suit was constantly inventing a few colorful new and daring dance moves for this new Victorian era with his expressively shimmying mermaid partner. The violet shell-brassiere wearing, bold young lady was showing way-too-much-skin-for-the-stuffy-older-King's-taste as laughing this little mermaid twirled her young man around like a seahorse carousel.

And at the most inopportune of times too, for the royal monarch to catch a glimpse of any romantic action going on between his daughter and that Black Knight on the dance floor.

On the verge of crushing the stem of the frozen solid wine glass within his livid hands at all this interference, the impatient Ice King begins to uncontrollably chill down in temperature.

As does the room around his frosty aura trail across the ballroom.

King Agnarr was growingly becoming incensed when realizing that, just as suspected, his disobedient Vise Admiral was fallaciously present in his castle, in a display of utmost insubordination to direct orders.

I knew it! That Dane has been sneaking around behind my back to rendezvous with my daughter—against our expressed two year agreement! Insufferable ingrate! An out in the open request I may have looked favorably upon, considering my present indulgent thoughts of leniency towards their relationship, as per my Elsa's emotional state. But all this underhanded subterfuge almost makes me question that Prince of the Southern Isles' motives and integrity again…

The overwhelmed Ice King, with raw irritation evident in his growingly clouded eyes, was about to put his foot down as he steps his armored boots onto the almost palpably quaking dance floor. But he was stopped in his tracks to be suddenly tapped on the shoulder by a tall, bold, intimidating female in a hooded silvery cloak he did not recognize.

"No, thank you. Forgive me, Madam, but I don't…dance…?!" Unaccustomed to anything as intimate as dancing with anyone but his wife for decades of his cold ice modulation, Agnarr's years of well-trained composure were put to the test.

The King's cryo-self-control was all he could do to maintain as, out of his element, 'Saint Olaf the Holy' was soon forcefully swept onto the dance floor. Whisked away on the breath of an enchanted wind, the unknown masked woman's indomitable spirit would not take the recalcitrant monarch's 'no' for an answer.

This mysteriously masked and enigmatically costumed woman had been anonymously skulking about the ballroom in a hooded, long silvery cloak, just waiting for this chance to intercept him it seemed. This new arrival, though none would know she was petite in size beneath that long, shimmery cloak, was wearing tall, stiletto heeled thigh-high boots which made the small-framed woman now stand face to face with the masked Norwegian King.

The stylishly hooded woman peeks up beneath her oversized and striking, jeweled and winged, Romanesque mask expectantly to the King with her silver and gold engraved symbol bracer arms positioned for the next dance called the Ländler.

Amid the upbeat sounds of music, there was something about the way this lady's small hand fit faultlessly into his gloved palm's chilled grip, as if she knew the touch of his cool hand. And that startled the Ice King's already flustered senses no end.

In flowing liquid movements to the quick-paced Austrian folk dance, the tall, cloaked female, so one with nature, showed little reserve as she holds nothing back in the pair's provocative ballroom dance.

She entices and thrashes the unprepared King across the arm entangled waltz in a cross between an oncoming summer storm, a bursting forth fresh spring bloom, to finally dazzle his blind eyes like a sparkling Norse icicle...

Agnarr barely had a moment to consider the quick-moving female he was at the mercy of, but he strains his pale, faulted eyes to look closer at the shape of her lovely face when he could catch a better glimpse. And all at once, vivacious as a flame's mesmerizing flicker, impenetrable as marbleized stone angry, violent as the roaring tide's fury, tender as the breeze was whimsical, he knew who this wildflower force of nature in his arms was.

"Iduna?" His vision suddenly clearing, Agnarr breathlessly whispers his wife's name when the whirling music comes to a climax and his elegant partner spins him to the dance's triumphant, face to face close as only she could enrapture him.

Behind that bejeweled mask, there was a fire in Iduna's indomitable Northuldran eyes that instantly melted Agnarr's flash of anger from moments ago simply in her simper up at him.

"It took you long enough, Norske King. Now act with the wisdom and peace in your heart of the great and holy ancestral monarch of your land you are portraying." As the rest of the couples bow and applaud to one another, Iduna sizzles her favorite ridiculing name for her husband in his twitterpated ear as her diamonte silver Viking wrist brushes against his high cheekbone.

The Queen had been playing mitigating defense attorney for Johanne and her new fiancé Chancellor Esteban versus an apoplectic Councilor Kai outside the ballroom. The Queen Mother had been in the Morning Room settling her ladies maid's thrilling new situation with Gerda's help and Esteban's persuasive assurances to Johanne's disturbed elder brother Kai. The happy older couple would certainly have the Christmastime wedding here, with pledges of visiting Arendelle often after they made their new home together in Avalor Palace.

That settled, Queen Iduna had hurriedly returned back to the ballroom. The intuitive woman had instinctively sensed the temperature drop that signaled her mate was in another uptight emotional pickle.

Upon stealthily entering, she had watched the humorous scene of her King getting the run-around by a slew of her daughters' new friendly guests in the way of her blustery blind man's bluff. Then a smile curled Iduna's formerly vexed lips when she noted her uneasy husband's delicate mental state must have had a trigger.

The Queen mother gazes around the dance floor now to watch with joy how Elsa and her true Prince had been reunited in the interim. Even if it had to be in masterful defiance of the inept relationship meddling by her husband whom Iduna raises her titillated brows at.

The quick-witted Queen of Arendelle decides to intervene before her stubborn king exacerbated a further mess. So, in her long, shimmery cloak and hood, Iduna curtsies to her breathless man after their dance and flows away on a silver cloud.

Past Halima and Genie General Destin Mattias, who wordlessly knew to join the still poorly sighted Agnarr and see him to his seat near the throne, Iduna slinks up the steps of the music stand two at a time like a warrior cat and sits at her prearranged place at the pianoforte. The resolute and still chipper, older Queen directs the orchestra leader to begin to play a very special, very romantic song for the lovers to dance the remainder of the night away to before the King had a chance to open his frosty mouth otherwise.

As that certain piece of music starts to play on the pianoforte an oh-so-emotional intro, Elsa glances up to see her mother had ascended to the orchestra balcony. Queen Iduna had joined the talented string quartet to play something she, in her maternal wisdom, had used the power of music to soothe the weary heart of her lonely young daughter.

These past months at home here in Arendelle, talented Iduna and her daughter had been studying the piano together with this melancholic yet hopeful melody full of a love. It was a song so intense and brilliant it burned as hot as the fire of the sun, beating in the heart of the yearning Queen of Ahtohallan.

For Elsa's birthday present, the musically inclined Saami mother had composed this inspiring, emotional piece of music to accompany her daughter's personal expression of true love to her young man which Elsa had confided in her Mama. In Northuldran culture, music played a vital role in the lives of the village people, so Iduna understood perfectly how precious this unique score to this unique dance could mean to this unique 5th Spirit of Harmony.

Sensing a certain spirit in her own soul rise with the shared music played before her, Iduna now looks down over her daughter on the ballroom floor with a knowing nod, encouraging Elsa to revel in the song and all it meant to her.

Iduna's expert playing of the piece expresses complementary rhythm to Elsa's handwritten, heart-wrenched, moving lyrics accompanied gorgeously now by the full orchestra string quartet.

The Queen Mother had squirreled away her daughter's first stab at fulfilling the harmony of the 5th Spirit's heart in love after one particularly poignant music study afternoon when the lovelorn young woman had subconsciously scribbled these stirring words on her sheet music as a lyrical poem.

Now as the tender song plays all around her, Elsa couldn't help but softly sing the words of her yearning for her distant sailor, half a world away, but never far from her longing heart:

"'Love can't be denied.
Love must have its way.
Once it gets inside
Love is there to stay
Once you let your heart awaken
Love can't be denied.'"

For, believing in dreams, Mama Iduna had a hand in making sure her true love Prince Hans would be here to dance this particular sentimental waltz with Elsa tonight.

"'Try to run and hide
Try to slam the door
Love can't be denied
Love keeps wanting more
Love won't let itself be shaken
No matter how I've tried.'

Touched at how beautifully apprpos her heart's song was being portrayed, all feelings of neglect and confusion was resolved between the two generations of Queens. Elsa gazes up lovingly to her wonderful Mother in a beaming smile her Mama proudly shared.

This Spirit of the Harmony recognized her mother's musical style and signature instantly, even though the piano player in the balcony above was hooded and masked. But to her elder child, Queen Iduna was unmistakably the one at the balcony, beautifully performing on the piano with the orchestra her unique surprise for this Elsa's most special dance.

Prince Hans, by now enraptured with Elsa's harmonizing these own oh-so-poignant words to him and him alone, couldn't help but add his own verse, making the yearning solo a plaintive duet:

'It flows through my veins
It burns beneath my skin
It calls my name
And says, "You fool! Give in!'"

In her purple exhilaration, pink joy and blue relief to be in her man's arms at last, hearing his soaring voice in this perfect moment, Elsa of Arendelle's innermost heart was overwhelmed by the tender yet violently passionate words her fiancé serenaded her with too. The elemental spirit of Winter within her glows, knowing now he felt the same way as she.

And through that insight, Elsa's Princess Aurora inspired gown indeed lives up to its name.

As if by fabled fairytale magic, the sweping, flowing gown of many layers begins to change colors. Her ball dress shone as brilliant as the rainbow with her blissful emotions as the majestic Northern Lights Elsa was now mistress of reflected a love that could no longer be denied.

Polished Prince Hans fluidly glides and spins his graceful platinum blonde beauty around the ballroom. Aglow in the colors of the aurora borealis, a dazzling rapturous Elsa lets herself go, all her inhibitions flung off in the warm swathe of her Hans' amazing poise and vigor.

Reveling in being this intimately close again, both forget there was anyone else in the room as the pair easily flows through the crowd of dancing couples in each other's secure embrace. As only reunited lovers could, singing desperately their true emotions to each other in synchronicity, Elsa and Hans were even more desperately in love than even imaginable as the song reaches its final crescendo:

"'Tear aside the doubt.
Cast away your pride.
Love can't be kept out;
Love can't be denied.

Let yourself be overtaken
And swept before the tide!
Love's the only thing
No one is above.
I'm in love
And love can't be denied!'"

Hans was exceedingly touched by Elsa's emotive expression of love for him, married to such magnificent music, as tears stream down her cheeks behind her mask to seep on his black leather chest armor. The red-headed Dane pulls his Queen closer, burying his nose in her hair, kissing it over and over again.


After spending many hours this birthday night in suspicion of just who that young Knight was, the King now stands alone. He was feeling quite livid the more he thought about Prince Hans' sudden appearance in his court when his most highly promoted officer was theoretically to be in the Indo-China region. With his growing frustration and cool anger of being deceived and disobeyed, so came the bitter cold of the oft frost-blind Ice King.

'General Mattias, please give the coachman the order to prepare a guarded carriage for one occupant to be delivered to the brig of the HmNos Gler, which is currently stationed at Arendelle port for deployment to Asia tomorrow.' A scowling Agnarr was about to quietly instruct his General just approaching with the devised solution to his paternal domineering-challenged woes. The order was on the tip of his icy tongue as Mattias had silently arrived in his Genie garb to whisk the perplexed King to his seat as his Queen wished.

The rash Norwegian Admiral had already coolly decided his disobedient officer's fate the moment he was certain it was the real Hans Westergaard. The redheaded Dane, dishonestly back here in Arendelle under some pretense, had been strutting around the dance floor like the cat who ate the canary.

And right under Agnarr's nose, too, when the high-ranking officer was supposed to be dutifully on board ship somewhere in the China Seas.

His arms folded at the edge of the dance floor of his castle's ballroom, a hard breathing Agnarr was of two minds as he viewed the romantic advances of the young Prince of the Southern Isles. Yes, his overprotective, cold nature was just itching to order this most ardent suitor away from his precious, vulnerable daughter. And maybe even strike out an ice barrage at his insubordinate Vise Admiral once his child was clear of the wintry salvo.

But the warmth of his good heart his spiritual Iduna had nurtured all these years was also moved to see such emotion evident from his once un-tactile girl who had indeed crossed that unseen barrier and matured into her own. As glowing with multi-hued radiance, Elsa was obviously reveling in Hans' welcome kisses and caresses without an ounce of reserve or fear.

A remarkable young man indeed…

Undecided as to his next action as he was once agin impressed by the Danish Prince, the Ice King, donning the heavy chainmail and cape garb of St. Olaf the Holy, plops down at the throne he had unconsciously iced.

"Uh, maybe you should heed Queen Iduna's advice, my Crown Prince, and take a load off." Mattias, who had led his silently stewing, icy sovereign there without saying a word, waves his Sugarplum Fairy Halima to stay back for a few moments from the fretful monarch's cool contemplation that the stalwart officer in the Genie costume was bearing.

"I would listen to my wife's wisdom in such a delicate matter, if I were you, mon ami." That's when a strikingly red and black masked clown nearby quirks a smile, from where he had been silently standing back and observing the theater of it all as the trickster Harlequin once again.

Ferdinand Egalité, knowing Agnarr Bernadotte as well as he did since their younger war years together, had sensed his old friend's irrational state of mind from where he was scrutinizing his dear comrade. The blasé yet idealistic Frenchman had been leaning against a pillar nearby the throne amidst the hushed ballroom audience, who were all enthralled by the couple's fluid movements and heartfelt song.

This may be the moment to reveal all our cards, Westergaard. I sincerely hope you have a few aces up your charming sleeve…

As others feeling the chill were scrambling away, the gambling man in Ferdinand Philippe defies the cold aura around the King. Recognizing Fernan's accented voice, Agnarr glances warningly up to the wily Frenchman clown he had personally employed to subvert the Dane months ago, never imagining Egalité would be disloyal to him and come to Prince Hans' aid now instead.

"Admiral Bernadotte. It is I, your old friend and colleague, Ferdinand Egalité. I sincerely do not recommend you acting in this matter without hearing my firsthand report – per your shrewd request to visit your Vise Amiral during his stay in India – as to Monsieur Hans Westergaard's observed behavior and activities. To which I feel privileged to have personally experienced the brilliance of while tagging along on our journey here to your splendid homeland I holiday in at long last." With a frilly bow and just as frilly words, bold and smiling broadly Colonel Egalitè carefully expresses his warning to the older man whose ginger moustache and beard were already beginning to frost over with snow white fury.

"Go on." But those two syllables were all the teeth-gritted Agnarr was able to speak in civility to one of his dearest old friends whom he had not seen in years. And that was only because the captivating young French Revolutionaire had a disarming way of speaking with quiet composure, almost akin to amusement, in the midst of chaos, which Agnarr always admired.

"As his Amiral (Admiral), you should be proud of this impeccable man's character and conduct I have been privileged to witness myself directly. Here is my final report you had requested of me to undertake many months ago, which I have accomplished with utmost confidentiality for your sake, my good friend." Egalitè smiles over to Agnarr, who gives the younger Frenchman a sideways glance and begrudged appreciative nod. "A fiercer warrior, more cunning ally, more steadfast friend, a man with a more honorable heart and inextinguishable spirit I have not seen. Not since my time on the Sirène frigate versus the Ottomans at Navarino with you, Amiral. I consider ma chèr Hans Westergaard – as I do you, bon ami – as my dearest friend and comrade at arms — whom I have been privileged to serve beside." With a respectful salute, the royal French Legionnaire turns on the charm and speaks highly of Hans by comparing him to the irate King, who remained stoically silent and tightlipped behind that impenetrable cool, gold mask.

As King Agnarr silently observes Hans and Elsa, locked in one another's arms, sweep by in a waltz of a colorful aurora borealis display of their unquestionable attachment, undaunted Prince Ferdinand, though being given the cold shoulder, was determined to speak his mind for the sake of fraternity.

"You, yourself, due to your own heroic disability, Amiral, may not have been aware of all that good man has done for your kingdom and your family – and above all your beautiful daughter, la belle Elsa. But I have rarely met a man so single-minded a courageous fighter, with an indescribable quality of – as we say in the French – Je ne sais quoi (A quality that cannot be described or named easily) – about him as an original thinker in the heat of battle. And we have seen it all on this trip, mon ami, believe me, from foul pirates, to vicious tigers, venomous snakes and crocodiles. Not to mention a wrestle with the Diable (the Devil) himself, as Hans flew straight into the fosse de L'enfor - the pit of Inferno – to save his fiancée lover from its deadly grip. As a freethinking revolutionary and as a man, I honestly do not believe I could select a truer soldier, nor better choice of a God-fearing son-in-law for my future daughter – if I was ever so blessed to sire one of that beautiful, delicate sex - than this unimpeachable man of character. You know me since I was a brash young adolescent, not for my humility, Amiral, so you may be sure to take my next words as from my couer – my heart. I can only wish to be half the hero for my nation, as is your Vise Amiral Prince Hans of the Sjoforsvaret has been for yours." Ferdinand respectfully bows his head to Agnarr, and thusly raises his wine glass to Hans who was blissfully twirling a besotted Elsa about the dance floor with abandon, unaware of the glowing report his friend was imparting to his superior officer.

After a few moments considering silently, Agnarr turns from his fearsome stare at the dancing lovers to look Prince Ferdinand Phillippe squarely in the eye.

"I see the boy has made an impression on you, undoubtedly, Egalitè. I have never heard you speak of another man so highly." Agnarr condescends to the valorous, vainglorious Prince whom the Sjoforsvaret Admiral had known from prior adventures through wartime battles together where the gallant young Frenchman had proven his opinion was well worth considering.

"Even resisting infatuated fille de joie (prostitutes) and sirens of the sea which I threw before him - with more resolute distinction than I dare claim myself – your Prince Hans is in a class above men all his own, for gallantry, intellect, loyalty and devotion. With perhaps the exception of your good self, mon ami." Ferdinand certainly knew how to cajole, convince and compliment concomitantly in a way that made him irrefutably pleasant company.

And the woman Agnarr had been dancing with, that Columbine maid character who had still been inaudibly meandering nearby, gives a sudden irrepressible chuckle from behind her fluttering fan.

"Hee he hee, hmm hmm hee."

The King gives a skeptical simper as the Prince of the French wearing his Harlequin disguise gives the matching Commedia del'arte Columbine cameriera (maid) a cocked head half glance of semi-recognition.

"I'm glad to be at least held in the company of such acclaimed esteem, Your Highness. But why such subterfuge for a man so 'upright and notably valiant'? Would it not have been more honest and forthright for such a dutiful officer to come to his superior with reasons for his unqualified arrival on our shores? That devious scheme does not equate to the actions of an impeccable hero, now does it?" Feeling argumentative, Agnarr reasons aloud as his clouded eyes watch Hans glide Elsa elegantly the dance floor so smoothly professional, it was as if they were within the scenery of a perfect Renaissance painting.

"Perhaps not…But do you not suppose all of this mysterious, underhanded concealment sounds more like me? Because it was on my advice to my exceptional counterpart, even when he objected. I never claimed to be someone of stellar character, did I, mon ami? Please do not judge this fine man by my well-meaning schemes, as you well are familiar with, monsieur. For it was you who knowingly sent me as saboteur, to 'befriend' an innocent young man, in order for me to gain his trust in a highly dishonest fashion, in order to cajole him into scandal. And then use insider information against him to besmirch his honor to his fiancée? Now! To my findings, sir: The subject I have lived intimately beside these past months is certainly more than worthy to deserve the love of any lady, regardless of her title or rank. He will absolutely be constant, true and devoted to her in every respect. What more can a dutiful parent of a child ask for?"

"Here, here!" Mattias chirps in as the high cueue Genie of the Masquerade Ball folds his arms and nods profusely his agreement with this foreign gentleman acquaintance of Agnarr's in the Harlequin get-up. Then Halima, like a true Fairy Godmother in pale blue, takes this chance to float into the scene she'd been eavesdropping on with one of her favorite customer's special gingerbread cookies from her basket, this particular one in the shape of a pumpkin carriage.

As a smiling Agnarr examines the confectionary given him in the dim light that seemed to be lifting from his own eyes, he finds a Bible verse's indication delicately inscribed in pink frosting upon it: 'Proverbs 3:5-6'.

'Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.'

"Thank you, madame. How did you know I could use something sweet about now?" Agnarr's tense mood softens ever so slightly at the dark-skinned couple who were continually at his side to bolster him. He takes a bite of the bakery treat, its gingery crumbs caught in his gingery kingly beard.

Just as the heartfelt holy phrase that he needed to recall right at this moment lingers in his mind.

By the time Queen Iduna's 'Vinter til Vår' – 'Winter to Spring' - encore waltz finishes, the King was in a state of two minds. He felt torn by his own disgruntled overprotective authority and paternal responsibility, which played against the wise counsel and advice of his good friend who only had positive things to say about young Hans Westergaard.

The guilt Agnarr felt about not so gallantly using those underhanded methods himself to sic an informant on his daughter's chosen mate was increasingly gnawing at him. So when the report came back satisfactorily, in fact glowing in Hans favor to be Elsa's suitable suitor – her lifelong mate - it throws the older man in total turmoil as he considered the man who was once condemned as a criminal traitor to the Arendelle crown.

Because as he watches how Elsa was shining, it was now obvious to even this Father's stubborn mind that Prince Hans was indisputably the right man for the job, to also to stand at her side in Arendelle as leader of it. So in his heart of hearts, taking into account all Ferdinand and Iduna, Mattias and Yelana – never mind that damnable voice echoing in my head of late, too - had said to him of his inflexibility, the King knew what he must do next.

Holding a hand over his suddenly not so blurry eyes, Agnarr bows his pounding head in prayer.

Dear Lord, give me the courage to 'walk with the wise' and face the future with 'a peace that surpasses all understanding.' (Proverbs 13:20 & Philippians 4:7)


"Elsa! That was magnificent, min flicka (my girl). You truly have become quite the dancer — and your voices blended so perfectly together, as you will no doubt also find in other respects." Queen Iduna sings her daughter's praise, along with some veiled innuendo directed at Hans, as she arrives from the balcony down to the dance floor.

But the savoir-faire Queen also sensed her husband was in some serious soul-searching as the spiritual Northuldran woman had seen the signs clear in his befuddled eyes that there was battle with his old nature raging. Pleased at some progress, Iduna reaches out to halt her husband's shoulder, just in time to take some preemptive measures of her own.

The orchestral music comes to a sweeping crescendo with Elsa's Sleeping Beauty costume aglow in the surreal shades of the Aurora borealis on her Black Knight's elegant arm.

Queen Iduna had given the orchestra a well-deserved break after this momentous waltz piece as she sanctioned a half-hour break for the players prior to the 11 PM winter solstice start unmasking. During which, Queen Elsa's birthday present presentation and cake celebration would take place in between.

Birthday guru Robin Hood Anna with her merry snowmen, Olaf and Eliana, was joined by Kristoff in a Herculean effort to help dish out the plates and plates of cheesecake slices for many of the princesses, princes, ambassadors, emissaries and Arendelle citizens now gathering around Queen Elsa with gifts and well wishes.

"Yes, indeed. You are a credit to us both, Elsa. You have blossomed into quite a polished, wise and, may I say, beautiful young ruler." Coming up from the sidelines after recovering his tattered sensibilities, King Agnarr offers a nod and smile to his beloved child.

"May I speak with you, sir…in private?" But to the Black Knight standing pensively quiet at her side, the King seemed enigmatically far less cordial, giving the man a cool glare indicating that was a command, not a request.

Elsa's glowing smile suddenly freezes on her face as she squeezes Hans' hand tightly, when she overhears her father speaking to her lover, who automatically stands and salutes at attention.

'Be calm, min elskede (my beloved)…It will be fine.' Hans mouths as he squeezes Elsa's left hand back, with fingers caressing over her engagement ring. His digits linger warmth, until Hans leaves Elsa with an encouraging smile that he hardly felt himself, in the foreboding glance from his chagrined Admiral, also known as Elsa's father.

"I know who you are. Follow me." King Agnarr looks at Prince Hans with an unreadable expression on his still masked face.

"Papa! Wait! Aren't you - and whoever that dreamy Knight guy is - going to stay for cake?! Elsa's favorite white cheesecake! With imported strawberries on top!" Running up to grab the end of the King's long trailing cape as he passes, little sister Anna tries to intercede with bubbly enthusiasm.

But her provoked parent doesn't even turn back from his resolute march toward his study. On his strident track, King Agnarr's frosted pale blue eyes happen to connect with Yelana's fathomless, deep brown ones staring right back at him. The way the greyish Northuldra chief was unblinkingly looking at him causes the vexed man to recall her earlier, foreshadowing prediction directed at the older Arendelle monarch's future in particular.

"Later, Anna. After this matter is…settled." That was all the obviously agitated King says in response as he leads a head hung Hans like a convicted man going to his own gallows past her and a face dropped (literally) Olaf who had one too many glasses of punch somebody must've spiked.

As Anna accidentally kicked her half-drunk snow buddy apart, a scrambling Kristoff had to help collect the rolling away head and plunked Friar Tuck body up off the ground before the dismembered wiggling pieces freaked out the visitors.

"Papa's bark is worse than his frostbite. Just…don't blow it, okay, Red?" Anna whispers to Hans when the helpful Danish Prince had knelt down to gather up some of a tipsy Olaf's branches beside her. Brushing her crooked moustache back beneath her green cap, Anna surprises herself and Hans both by murmuring encouragement of a sort, in an awkward, strange scene where birdies fly past the two red and ginger heads bent together.

"Good luck…" Then the cross-dressing Princess peeks out beneath her green mask to shock all by planting a quick peck of a kiss on her arch-enemy's instantly red and blushing, freckled cheek. After a stupefied Hans hands Anna Olaf's arms, the mortified, sheepish 'Robin Hood' dashes back to hug Elsa, who was gazing anxiously at her elegant lover's determined stride.

Prince Hans then snaps dutifully up to his feet to follow his superior officer into the darkened corridor just a few doors down the hall in the second story of Arendelle Castle. But just that simple yearning glance from Elsa, hopeful grin of encouragement from Anna, and thumbs up from Kristoff bolsters Hans to face the berating reprimand that could spell the end of this fairytale, as he most feared.

Then again, there was always the elopement option…

Take her away from her home, her family, her kingdom to be with a selfish wretch like me?!

I can't do that to my heavenly angel! What are you thinking?!

"Close the door behind you." Comes the Admiral's baritone order, cutting into Hans' random, guilty thoughts, cold as ice.

CLICK.

Hans obeys and closes the study door behind him, leaving the two men enmeshed in the darkness alone in the quiet solitude of the dramatic dark room.

Unable to see clearly enough to light the desk lamp, King Agnarr doesn't even bother to try as he deftly finds his way in the dark to ominously sit behind his desk. Only a faint, waning lamp hung on the wall behind him. So thus it was left to the streaks of the veiled curtains of Northern Lights from the window behind the Norwegian King to dimly illuminate the pair.

"Explain." Just that one clipped word - and maybe more than a little cryokinetic temperature drop - and frost fills the room as the intimidating King points Hans to sit opposite him on the other side of the large oak desk in a single gesture.

That was all it took for Hans to feel the threatening chill to his very bones.

For a second or two the Danish Prince considered revealing the whole truth as to his being summoned here under false pretenses by Anna and her mother. But upon another moment's reflection, the altruistic young man keeps his own counsel as not to implicate either of those women and subject them to pillory.

What's the use in being clever if you don't challenge yourself to elucidate the inexplicable with flourish?

Despite the tense situation, Hans couldn't help but smirk to himself at his own egotistical thoughts about his own 'impressive' intellect.

Ahh, Westergaard, do you never learn?

"Your Majesty, I have been hoping to have the opportunity to speak to you on this festive night. I realize that my presence here on this date was not as per our original timetable – which I wholeheartedly resigned myself to abide by your discerning preconditions with patience and respect. I fully intended to fulfill my assignment to service and wait with forbearing diligence to duty to your country and complete devotion to your daughter." The younger man undoubtedly had quite a winningly practiced, smooth delivery of words that had Agnarr showing little emotion either way.

'You cannot tame an elemental wisp of Nature to your will if she's not in harmony with her soul…'

King Agnarr shakes his head at the sudden words of the Northuldran leader rebuking him earlier at the start of this affair, now abruptly entering the forefront of his thoughts while Hans wa speaking.

Unaware of the King's distraction, in the dim light, Hans was preparing to take another angle at a plea's attempt with a deep breath sucked in the cool atmosphere. But he pauses in his speech when he hears a pair of angelic voices singing.

Recognizing the intro of Elsa's serenade for him begin to be played, Hans glances down to the small puffin plush Knight she must've passed into his stunned hand just before he dutifully followed her father into the King's study.

Encouraged, Hans could not help but smile at the small toy that had come to mean so much to him, chiefly because the stuffed puffin meant the world to his Elsa.

'Love can't be denied.
Love must have its way.'

"Indeed." Hans murmurs softly, moved by Elsa's lilting tones as his sparkling green eyes glance behind at the closed door.

"Indeed." Agnarr almost simultaneously had mumbled at the muffled lyrics that even the thick teak wood door could not fully bar, despite the conflicting noises in his head.

Both men stop to listen to the opening lines of the heartfelt song Queen Iduna had introduced for her daughters Elsa and Anna to perform. The sisters vocalize the reprise of Elsa's composed piece while cake was being served to the many guests before all partook in the sweet tradition from Halima's bakery.

Calmed by his girls' tender voices blended with his wife's gentle harmony on the piano she knew would reach him even here, Agnarr was about to nod for Hans to continue.

'Could it be you are ready to grow yourself at the beginning of your great journey at last, Agnarr?' Yelana's raspy, persistent voice replays inside the Ice King's head, followed by a high-pitched trilling.

Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh…

Then Agnarr hears that same echoing sound that was both warmly musical and inhumanly elemental tinkle at the same time through his entire being to reverberate a new melody on every one of his icy tendons...

'Just a little further out from the darkness and you will be home, where you first heard your harmony calling you, Ice King.'

The confounded King of Arendelle, breathing hard, involuntarily freezes the old oak desk under the touch of his one hand. The other hand in the darkness clicking his sword against his costume's chain-link hip armor.

CLINK. CLINK. CLINK.

"Are you…alright, Sir?" Hans asks in genuine concern for the expression of confusion traced along the King's drawn face. The Danish Prince swallows hard at the daunting older man whose cold – literally – mannerisms were quite nerve-racking as Agnarr's ice blue ice sear right into the younger man.

But the determined lover continues nonetheless when King Agnarr finally collects himself enough to nod back civilly.

"Thank you. Please continue." The Ice King's palest blue eyes start to normalize back to his original hazel.

"However, due to my bond with Queen Elsa – that which I can never fully comprehend, nor minutely deserve God's blessing of her love or her magic of purity in my life – I became aware of her heart's derision that the wicked Djvælen monster had incurred upon she and you, her family. Immediately, I began to plan my journey back to Norway, to aid my Queen in any capacity I could offer." The Danish Prince had not been actually aware of the Devil King Troll's grip on fair Elsa when his journey began, but it served his cunning argument far better to use the harrowing predicament more to his 'valiant nobility' gain now.

Besides, effortlessly smudging the truth a little – for the sake of Anna and Queen Iduna's blamelessness, of course – was something Hans Westergaard excelled at.

"You knew through your bond...?" As much as he tried, the Norwegian King still couldn't repudiate this Prince's impressive character, undeniable charm and courteous likeability. His ice vapor breath catches in the Ice King's verglas chalky throat, and slightly defrosts as he listened to Hans' words. Because Agnarr knew, in his heart of hearts, that for his own Iduna he would drop everything – Navy orders included – to travel any distance, face any danger, and do the same thing when he was an impetuous young man.

Damn it all, I'd still do it right now.

"This is not an attempt in any way of manufacturing an excuse or justification for abandoning my post on the Nidaros in the China seas, Admiral. I left the ship secure in the capable hands of my first officer, Kommander Bjelke, whom I must say is a worthy sailor in his own right of your fine Navy I have been esteemed to be a part of. I completely submit myself to whatever punitive punishment you determine for my unstructured leave, Sir." Hans meets Agnarr's cool eyes with a hopeful smile, to which Elsa's father only responds with straight unreadable lips above that disconcerting long ginger beard of his costume.

'Once you let your heart awaken
Love can't be denied.'

"Yet I do not regret it, for I felt compelled to come to my fiancée in her desperate time, without delay, and embark on the swiftest cross-continent, ocean passage back from Tranquebar to Norway. I was somehow…fortunate…enough to encounter Colonel Egalité at the start of my journey in India when he generously offered to accompany me on the perilous expedition. Prince Ferdinand since has become a personal good friend and ally, whom I will be forever grateful to God for the Divine Intervention of his acquaintance." Hans had observed that King Agnarr, too, held a fondness for the cavalier Frenchman. And he also sensed that the Admiral had more than a hand in Prince Ferdinand's infiltration into his Vise Admiral's daily activities these past months, as Hans indirectly gives the King unnamed credit for placing Ferdinand Egalité in his path.

Rather than accuse the older man's treacherous secretive plotting to undermine the Danish Prince, Hans also glazes over some of the juicier details of their journey which may have incriminated Princess Anna or Queen Iduna, while still telling the truth.

"Yes, Egalitè may be a bit… worldly… but I have always found Prince Ferdinand to be a good man and beneficent friend since I have known him from quite a young age." Agnarr breaks his tension-filled silence to comment on their mutual ally whom Hans intuitively and correctly believed would be a tie-in point to substantiate the two men in the room.

"Yes, as have I. Once in Norway, we joined the quest to find the entire royal family on an incredible undertaking to the northernmost points of your wondrous nation. Through numerous dangerous encounters and serendipitous meetings with allies to enable our arrival at the crucial time to assist in the final battle, I followed the pain in my heart to where it assured me my Elsa was in danger. Many deserve commendation for their selfless roles in the decisive battle: Mr. Bjorgman, Colonel Egalité, my cousin, Prince Eugene, Captain Schmidt, and even Prince Alonso helped integrally." Hans admits with a wry smile at that final name's addition to the hero squad.

"All those who love Queen Elsa dearly, notably Queen Anna – whom, I must say, was impressively brave and instrumental in leading her sister back to the light of faith, hope and love - made it possible for your incredible daughter to build the magnificent Mirror of Love which saved us all." Hans deferentially gives the Ice Queen and the ginger Queen of Arendelle their due kudos, leaving out many of his own finer points in the recent head-to-head battle with the Devil Troll King, as a true gentleman should.

'Try to run and hide, try to slam the door;
Love can't be denied,
Love keeps wanting more.'

By now the King had risen to his feet and had begun pacing the room after focusing his blurred vision enough to turn up the gas on the lamp in order to brighten the dark atmosphere in the room in more ways than one.

"And so, after Queen Elsa opened her tender heart with that beautiful love which is her true magic held within, we in the labyrinth beneath chose to personally transfer the defeated trapped Djvaelen into the Antarctic ice cage under deep glaciers to never again escape, with the Snow Queen herself as his keeper." The articulate Prince of the Southern Isles had spellbinding eloquence and erudite breakdown of the entire mission in just a few distinct paragraphs which the King found informative, if not wholly enlightening.

'Love won't let itself be shaken,
No matter how hard I've tried!'

"My family and my country must thank you for your service once again in our time of need, Vise Admiral Westergaard." Agnarr gives a nod in gratitude to the young redhead, who motions with shaking head and halting hand his humility. Agnarr found it so easy to speak intelligently with this fellow, more than with most others he had conferred with, before continuing.

"But with that being said, despite the details of your heroism and others' being highly commended – what in blazes are you doing here back here in Arendelle now, amid all this midnight masquerade subterfuge, boy? Why have you not, without delay, returned to your naval tour of duty post in India and the China seas, with our agreement of your two year separation still withstanding?" The adamant forty-nine-year-old King had a habit of combing his ginger blond moustache when he felt his argument was a thin one on shaky ground. But he still stubbornly sticks to arguing his point nonetheless, though his heart was not quite in it.

"Because my Elsa wanted me to be here for her birthday." With this simple, unpretentious, unexaggerated sentence of fact, Hans stands up to look his Admiral – no, Elsa's father – directly in the eye.

"And that is the only sensible reason you can give me for your being present here tonight?" Agnarr asks Hans incredulously, almost forgetting how it was to be young and madly in love, hanging on every word and plea of your partner.

Almost…Forgive me, Iduna, for imagining I could ever outsmart you with my string of faulty suitors, when you, in your brilliance, knew this was the ideal one already…

"That… and the request I humbly petition before you now, to find it in your generous heart to allow Elsa and I to finally confirm, and shorten the betrothal to our impending marriage. I wish to give my angel that stability and security her spirit longs for, with every ounce of my being and heart, all the days of my life. I will pledge her a lifetime and more of protection, devotion, and love which only two souls conjoined together in holy matrimony for eternity, designed by their Creator, may achieve in perfection." With hand over heart, Hans bravely makes his appeal to Elsa's believed inflexible father, laying out his best presentation while still speaking the utmost truth.

"'Achieve in perfection? Two souls conjoined together for eternity', eh? Should I entrust my Elsa's future as lifetime ruler of her country with such a romantic dreamer when she will require a stable mate to help her steer Arendelle from now on?" The amused King scoffs at the young man's romantic poetry, repeating some of the eloquent Prince's more lofty terms. The King was trying to compute all this relationship data so unabashed emotionally laid out before him by this resilient young Westergaard whom Agnarr personally found more and more likable the more he spoke.

'It flows through my veins, It burns beneath my skin. It calls my name and says 'You fool! Give in!'

But Hans Westergaard, though a fool in love, was no fool in anything else, and would have none of her father's obvious intervention concerning other suitors.

"If you trust your daughter to be wise enough to rule your nation, Admiral Bernadotte – then why can't you trust her wise enough to rule her own heart?!" Said with much more vigor and fervent volume than originally intended, Hans, in a raised voice full of passion, finds himself standing unabatedly toe to toe to with Elsa's father in his imposing Rex Perpetuus King Olaf II outfit.

For several eternal moments, the similar, strikingly armored red-headed Black Knight and ginger-blond Viking King stare one another down. That is, until Hans finally remembers his place of being not only younger, and under the authority of his Admiral, but the one forever in this nation's debt for forgiveness of his past crimes.

"Forgive me, your Majesty. But I love your daughter — so much — that I swear to you, Sir, that I will never let anything as what just happened to her, happen again. I identify with that utterly helpless feeling of being so absolutely separated, not only by miles, but by the uncertainty that she does not have the complete ownership of every beat of my heart to rely upon, and I hers. I realize it may sound like a nonsensical, romantic phrase to one more wise and experienced. But I find no other way to express how I was a ship without a rudder until, in the forgiveness of the Lord, my Queen shared with me her mercy, so freely, so completely, absolutely changing my life to be devoted to her alone. You must know, King Agnarr, your benign and beautiful Elsa of Arendelle is the light of my eyes, which I will never allow to dim!"

'Tear aside the doubt,
Cast away your pride.'

Love can't be kept out;
Love can't be denied!

There were bravely held back tears behind Hans' expressive green eyes as he was unashamed to honestly speak to Elsa's father of his promised true feeling and emotion which he usually kept hidden from most people – even himself sometimes. Only one other had he ever truly allowed to glimpse the depths of his soul before – and that was his beautiful Elsa of Arendelle.

'Let yourself be overtaken
And swept before the tide!

Love's the only thing
No one is above.
I'm in love
And love can't be denied!'

Elsa's tender voice singing that special lovesick, heart-rendering music duet had been haunting him all during this conversation with her betrothed chosen fiancé who too had sung its plaintive, yearning strains with his partnered tenor earlier.

King Agnarr closes his own eyes that were at the moment pounding so hard from all the extemporaneous sounds from outside and within that he almost couldn't think. That is, until he focused on the beautiful strains of pianoforte music in his head from that woman who would always and forever be the light of his clouded eyes, leading him home.


Sensing her man needed her stability and music right now, out in the ballroom, Queen Iduna, in a strident fortissimo on her piano keys, starts to play another song even louder and forceful. She waves a hand for her melodic Anna to raise the volume alongside her in a dramatically robust resonance that his enhanced hearing had picked up the lyrics full of joy thereof.

"Ja, må hon leva,
Ja, må hon leva,
Ja, må hon leva uti hundrade år!"

(Yes, may she live!
Yes, may she live!)

Moving to the study door, the King throws it open, with indecision for once in his life, gratified to hear Queen Iduna leading the merry 'Happy Birthday' song to the Swedish folk tune "Yes, she lives."

And all at once, Agnarr Bernadotte's infirmed blinding headache suddenly evaporates along with the jumbled voices. As do those uncertain fears for the future and jealous anger at any man who dared replace him as his beloved child's hero.

'Ja visst ska hon leva,
Ja visst ska hon leva,
Ja visst ska hon leva uti hundrade år!
Hurra, hurra, hurra, hurra!"

(Yes, may she live for a hundred years!
Of course, she will live,
Of course, she will live,
Of course, she will live for a hundred years!
Hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray!)

Recalling those precious early years when Iduna first sang the sweet lullaby to her firstborn, so tiny, so pale, baby Elsa was fragile as a snowflake, held lovingly between her loving parents embrace all night as they thanked God for their first miracle of her.

There were tears of pride and joy felt welling up in Agnarr Bernadotte's again pale hazel eyes that were extraordinarily clearing from the haze.

Let it go, fool man. It's Elsa's turn to live and shine so bright. Let her go follow her dreams, and trust your girl to experience and enjoy a life, a love – a hero – of her own. She is ready for that complete, full life I never dreamed for her.

"Yes, I do trust her." The simple phrase rings true in the dutiful father's heart and clearing head now as well, as he assesses the young man standing firm before him. Agnarr honestly considers Elsa's chosen mate's erroneous past, in juxtaposition with his own heady, well-meaning, yet heedless mistakes that too almost ruined her life, to finally concede his pride and hang his head in prayer.

'Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.'

King Agnarr takes a deep breath and sighs outwardly, remembering the Lord's Prayer that his nanny, Johanne, used to speak over him when he was a wee boy himself.

'You should let the future we've all been given a second chance at now take care of itself.' Now his dear old friend Lieutenant Mattias' advice comes into play and full view here with apropos, logical and sagacious words which now ring true across Agnarr's mind.

Ahh…ahh..ahh…ahh…

'Keep her heartlight burning strong…' After hearing those unidentified, faceless tones again, Yelana's wisdom rings through Agnarr's soul that was becoming clearer with each musical note.

"I am glad to hear you say that so emphatically, Prince Hans. Because I find that I may be relying upon you more and more in the very near future." The King remarks in a rather enigmatic fashion, his own mind and soul preparing for whatever lie ahead for him in the unknown destiny Yelana had predicted.

A tight-lipped, trying not to tremble Hans looks up at the King in utter shock and awe. He grips the chair edge for support in anticipation of what his perceptive, yet incredulous, mind thought he was about to hear the King say.

"If, by the end of this unmasking night – not a moment before, mind you – if Elsa has not yet selected one of those highly eligible suitors to replace you as her betrothed – to which I will have your word as a gentleman that you will not contest nor litigate in any way, shape or form and pledge to quietly fade away without complaint if she somehow does select another – then, and only then…you may immediately proceed with my full blessing by setting a wedding date amicable to your future bride." King Agnarr murmurs the latter part of what he really meant to say in this elongated sentence after a threatening addendum.

To which a dazed Hans obediently nods to, blindly dumbstruck, it takes every ounce of Agnarr's restraint to not go all ice explosive.

Against his first inclination, the Ice King does not deep freeze the entire room to be rid of this bothersome question of marriage for his little girl and lash out at Prince Hans. Perhaps because – as her savvy mother foresaw - the warmth in the plaintive words of his wife and their daughters' songs had inspired stabilization in the older man, describing her longing and need for true love that rang true for the King, too.

"Of course, you will still be expected to complete your full naval tour of duty, but perhaps more close to home, to take place after your bridal tour, to earn your bars and not be an in-name-only officer." With a wink, the Admiral of the Sjoforsvaret concedes with a small simper under his moustache that fully recalled that desire too. Agnarr felt he was giving sufficient leniency to his future son-in-law, considering the circumstances of the young man, just having a feeling Elsa would still choose this one.

"Admiral! Yes, yes, Sir… On my honor! Hehehe! I will!" An elated Hans uncommonly trips over his words, not believing his good fortune, feeling as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his broad shoulders. The thoroughly warmed young man starts to laugh with unmitigated joy that his matrimonial dreams of Elsa were undoubtedly soon to be realized, for he trusted her constancy implicitly.

"I'll have you know, sir, I do trust my daughter to make the correct choices in life, and her choice of life's help mate is one of the most important first steps. In that same token, I am extending my trust for you to always be a gentleman, certain to make her happy – never hurt her – never forsake her, and keep my little girl safe for as long as you live as your prime duty." Agnarr presents his demands as a father to the obviously ecstatic young Prince of the Southern Isles.

"If you break any of those pledges, I cannot attest that the Arendelle chill will be pleasant company for you here for very long." The King was looking quite serious as he levels the quiet cold warning to the deliciously deliriously smiling redheaded Dane who would no doubt henceforth hold these new most important positions in his kingdom. "I hope I know what I'm doing, and you do not make me regret this liberal decision."

"Yes, Admiral. I would expect no less than to be drawn and quartered, as befitting naval corporal punishment to any of its officers." Hans must've been feeling quite giddy to joke with his commanding officer Admiral/monarch/future father-in-law, who raises both his brows at the young man's temerity.

"So, if you ever cross either of my girls again, or try to usurp our kingdom in any way, I will do the quartering myself. And with an extremely razor-sharp ice blade."

Was King Agnarr joking back? Or was that a genuine contingency should the Danish Prince ever turn traitorous to the Crown again or fail to perform in his duties?

Gulp. Hans smiles innocently, with wide eyes, nodding his head up and down with a quirked eyebrow, for the insanity of it all.

"Shall we go in now to join my daughter and partake in some birthday cake for her festivities?" From coldhearted sadist to warmly welcoming patriarch in the blink of an eye, King Agnarr straightens his long ginger beard and red velvet cape. Then he does the same for Hans' slightly stunned and mussed slender and tall form before Agnarr leaves his study to head back to the ballroom.

Sigh. Well, he's not a bad looking young man, with royal upbringing and certainly a good conversationalist…That will be pleasant change in discourse from Anna's simple, uneducated mountain boy… But oh, that Westergaard bloodline…Dear Lord, I hope I have not just made another one of my poor decisions…No! No. I'm sure this is the right thing to do for my girl's happiness, because it is her choice!


"There you guys are! Papa! We saved you both a piece of cheesecake!" Anna sings when Kristoff mentally gave her a heads up that her father and Hans had returned to the ballroom, both still in one piece.

"Deducted of the frosting and strawberries of course, because you're late. Robin Hood is a hungry little thief when it comes to having a sweet tooth." Fairy Godmother Halima teases the 'babycakes' of her dear royal family. Sticking out her white frosted tongue at the beloved baker, Anna could pause in her nervous chowing down, in a better mood now because she could sense her volatile father was still calm.

And Hans had weathered the storm alive and seemingly in one piece.

"Better a sweet tooth than a sour mouth. Glad you're still in one piece, Vise Admiral. Thought for a few seconds there, I might have to send the cavalry in." Soft-spoken General Mattias hanging around his cake-serving bride, had to give the young redhead extra credit for escaping the icy claws of their uptight military commander in that private one on one confrontation.

"'The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.'' Hans quotes Psalm 34:17 in quiet response to the smirking Genie who knew what trouble Ice King Agnarr could have stewed up from the bitter cold look on his face going into the conservatory.

You must have had the Big Guy up there on your side, Kid, to have surpassed that icy onslaught. My hat's off to you, Or maybe this damn silly cueue. When do we get out of these monkeysuits anyway? Destin Mattias was less interested in fancy dress and more into wondering what his Crown Prince had said to Elsa's sugar-coated Danish choice.

Longing to approach Elsa with the good news, but remembering what the King said about letting his daughter make the choice herself publicly, Hans opens his mouth then closes it again. Trying to catch her eye, he savors his piece of the cheesecake, contemplatively comparing the blonde, decadently luscious sweet with the buttery graham cracker crust to an overwhelmed, broadly smiling Elsa. The smitten young man stands back and waits patiently for the right moment.

"Happy birthday, my beautiful Snow Angel. You have proven yourself to be an excellent, admirable, God-fearing leader of this nation. Please know, you have my full trust in making your own noble choices for yourself when your just heart speaks. It has been recently pointed out to me that such a fine leader should have the authority to choose her own path when she is ready." King Agnarr goes to the birthday girl where Elsa was seated in the throne amidst a huge pile of gifts, bow-wrapped presents and festive decorated bags surrounding the dais.

"It appears you are very respected and well loved – and rightly so – by your people as well, my beautiful, strong girl. After seeing all you have done, all you have withstood, all you have achieved, I couldn't be prouder to say that you are ready to rule and make your own decisions, without me. I think it is time you felt free to rule by your own choices, Your Majesty, as all the masks come off." Whispering in Elsa's ear with a kiss to her cheek as he leaves the dais, the mostly clear-eyed King bows before his queenly successor. Then King Agnarr stops to symbolically remove his mask and wave graciously up to the visiting audience of citizens in the gallery and around the room, who cheer at their beloved leaders at peace in equanimity with one another again.

"And I think you deserve an extra treat for finding your lost senses – and your heart - at last, my stubborn, obstinate and magnificent man. Perhaps now that we're leading the unmasking, it's time I reveal the rest of my full costume, specially chosen for you, knowing how it would please you more than my staid Queen Astrid look…"

Emerging from her hooded cape she tosses back to the piano bench behind her, to Agnarr's jaw-dropped surprise, Ice Valkyrie 'Hjörþrimul' comes flowing over the ballroom like a wisp of a snowy white breeze. From the orchestra pit Iduna rises in all her long, free-flowing long hair, leather strapped on bits of white gauzy seersucker fabric over her slinky curves, revealing scanty dress glory.

Queen Iduna, in a slightly frosted haze that the Northuldran woman had conditioned herself to endure for her lover, complete with ice tipped gauntlet fingers and all, care of her magical daughter, wore the filmy costume of the Ice Valkyrie sword warrioress proudly. The rather risqué, skin-showy, ancient Norse guardian had all the voluptuous, detailed trimmings of the legendary skaldic Ice Valkyrie her Ice King had created in his Queen's image up in the Trollheimen mountains to guard the village.

Coquettish as a girl in her teens, the Northuldra beauty sparkled, from her pointed tall, feather winged, silvery helmet, to her fancy gold trimmed, hoarfrost wrist and upper arm bracers down to her platinum leather thigh high boots. The voluptuous Valkyrie's armor and enchanted shield bore elemental symbols that seemed to glow from within, especially when Iduna reached out to touch her stunned Agnarr's cheek. Those luminescent indigo, purple, blue and aqua earth, wind, water and fire pictogram emblems were even tattooed on the pale woman's glistening skin that peeked out between her skaldic Romanesque meager skirt wraps that trailed along the ground.

To Iduna's gratified eyes, no longer handicapped by poor vision, her handsome Agnarr looked quite pleased at his tempting bride. His bulging eyes thankfully were more tantalized than horrified at her audacious, sultry outfit, from where the usually conventionally conservative monarch was standing speechlessly flabbergast in his regal, staid and noble King Olaf the Holy garb.

Just as the wily woman had intended this effect for Elsa's overbearing Father to just sit back and enjoy the scenery for once in his imperial life to let others take center stage.

"E-hem! I-I- umm…" Clearing his throat to be presented with his Queen donning such…scandalous garb - in public, my native beauty! – an utterly rendered thunderstruck King Agnarr defers to his more lustrous, enthusiastic wife to announce this part of the party festivity.

"After our Birthday Queen Elsa makes the choice of her final dance partner, everyone too must choose whom he or she wishes to dance with before we all take to the dance floor. There in the mystery of the Winter equinox moment shift, the final unmasking waltz of this exciting Masquerade Ball evening will begin!" The liberated, mesmerizing the crowd with her style older Queen of Arendelle's melodic soprano sings out to the ballroom full of nervous energy masqueraders, who applaud.

Then Valkyrie Iduna gives her ruffled senses husband a signal and nod that the birthday cake and gift present exchange had concluded, settling him down with her merciful smile across the way to her slowly calming King.

His fatherly, clearing eyes were able to smile sincerely to a hopeful Elsa to his encouraging wife Iduna, to a cheerful Anna, and wise Yelana's nod in between, with a respectful gesture of approval and confidence in his daughter's choice, whoever he may be.

Although, all involved had a sneaking suspicion Elsa's heart was already decided.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to present to you on her joyous birthday, her Majesty, Queen Elsa of Arendelle." The no longer half-blind King finds his voice and escorts Elsa and Anna from the throne, down the few steps to present the special young lady of the hour before the court. As the audience again applauds the celebratory Queen, the King returns to Iduna's side in the front side row. The churlishly smiling man places his cape over his wife's bare shoulders and other bare essentials he felt he should be the only one privileged to view as the elemental symbols upon her skin seemed to glow even more at the nearness of her husband's touch.

In reality a little chilled in the thin inner costume over her slinky split bust, airy design, grateful Queen Iduna gives her husband's arm a forgiving squeeze after Agnarr had swallowed his pride and made the introduction announcement. And the shimmering elemental pictures inscribed by her magical 5th Spirit daughter on the special Northuldran woman's costume appeared to react with a radiance that was electrifying to Agnarr and Iduna both.

They, along with dozens of guests gathered on the Masquerade dance floor, and above it in the Gallery too, watch how the Royal suitors assemble to display themselves in their chosen fairytale masquerade costumes with as much dignity and pride and presentable appearance as each could muster.

"Gatulerer med dagen, storesøster! (Happy birthday, big sister!) Når vi er sammen, føler jeg meg trygg og varm! (When we're together, I feel safe and warm!)" Wiping whipped cream icing - that Herculean Kristoff just leaned in to feed his hungry Robin Hood Feistypants - from her lips like the careless thief she was portraying, Anna scoots back up to Elsa. The ginger girl stands a few paces behind to massage Elsa's stiff shoulders with said warmth like she was a trainer readying her prizefighter for a big match.

A heartful Elsa gratefully squeezes Anna's hand back when her dearest little sister had hopped in to stand beside her nervous elder sibling on the stage, front and center, with a hug that understood Papa's kind eyes and words of trust which meant genuine understanding between their family at long last.

Not to mention their gutsy, as-lovely-as-she-was-clever Mama's ability to constantly surprise them all in her unique, out-of-the box way that gave Papa something else to occupy his mind from getting too bowled over involved.

Go, Mama!

Taking a stabilizing breath, Elsa was glad Anna was standing right at her side as the Ice Queen faces a line of well-dressed young men in the front row, each gazing back at her with some degree of hope or expectancy behind their various masks.

From left to right, there was the tan haired, kindly smile of the unpretentious in his drab olive shirt and curly toed boots Hunchback Quasimodo; beside him, the Greek helmet wearing, long toga sporting, short of stature Hermes the winged Olympian god of mythology; next, the dashing, confident, tall figure of the Arabian Prince of Thieves Ali Ababwa; in the center, the trim and slim framed all in green leotard Peter Pan was looking around quite pensively like he wanted to fly away; on his right, the Dark Judge Il Dottore Frollo standing several paces forward, all sour face menacing looking; behind him, there was the impatient to pounce, large framed Beast wavering on his furry stilted feet beneath that blue satin gentleman's fancy suit and tails trying to stand out and be taller than all the rest; and finally, the pale skinned, white bearded, vivid blue magician Merlin standing uncertain with knobby knees at the end of the line.

The young woman in the Sleeping Beauty Princess Aurora costume standing before them takes a deep breath and swallows hard as she turns her attentive gaze upon them all en masse with more than a little fright as her frigid digits fly to her dry, nervous throat.

That's when unexpectedly smooth Peter Pan suddenly backpedals, withdrawing his central position in a rapid pushed exchange for another standing in the second row behind him for one final Masquerade switcheroo of the evening.

As for the boy-who-never-grew-up, a smirking Alonso shows his maturity by gracefully bowing to a previously miffed Titania the Fairy Queen. He silently asks, with a flamboyant flip of his hand, Princess Valentina to be his partner on the dance floor tonight instead of the Norwegian Queen. To which the dark skinned, Brazilian beauty gives a glimmering smile of enchanted delight that she had been selected by her handsome Argentinean Prince, just a little bit more.

Obliged to his former rival, the real Black Knight Prince takes a shockingly deferential Alonso's place in the center of the suitor line-up with the other six eager princes who were each doing their best to look most presentable, most eligible and most enticing to the blue eyed choice beauty—the birthday Queen of Arendelle.

That is, until her attention settles upon that newly arrived seventh young man wearing his silver armored, Renaissance Knight ensemble, whose slender silhouette and dreamy green eyes were as unmistakably entrancing as his hopeful smile was inviting.

And though each and every one of the other highly eligible princes were very appealing and attractive in their own advantageous right, in her stately father's gaze – along with every one of her good citizens who were on tenterhooks in anticipation of her choice - Elsa of Arendelle knew there was, and always would be, only one man for her.

God had blessed the warmth in her heart to be enveloped by a love that could not be denied as the reserved young woman leans on His strength to speak boldly.

"I thank you all for your kindness in attending my birthday party in friendship, generously sharing your time and gifts to participate in the mystery and adding each of your individual originality to the enjoyment of my Masquerade Ball."

Elsa looks from her exotic mother to adorable Anna and then finally, with courage, she meets her Papa's no longer cloudy eyes which were uncommonly clear, understanding and full of calm encouragement, with nothing but supportive fatherly pride rather than hesitant uncertainty, to push her on.

That look in his eyes said so many things in unspoken terms as King Agnarr gazes upon his first child, the successor of his kingdom, who was also the inheritor of his ice magic. He sensed through their special cryo-bond how Elsa still loved her Papa - despite all the problems he had unintentionally caused - and did not wish to disappoint her first hero.

Seeing she was indeed headed straight towards that lucky, chosen Prince Hans Westergaard, the King of Arendelle recognizes the good man he was now, and no longer only the rascal of past of who the Dane was and where he came from. So, as he had vowed to the Prince in question, Agnarr nods to fully give the once hesitant and unsure girl his complete blessing to find her new dream.

King Agnarr was finally ready to let go of his little girl who had been through so much, and triumphed mentally, physically and emotionally in her short lifetime already, so now she could start her own fulfilling fairytale too with her worthy chosen Prince of the Southern Isles.

"And the greatest present of all has been the love of my family the Lord gave me and their boundless faith in me to have made this day possible. Thank you, Anna, Mama, Papa." Elsa smiles from a glowing Anna at her side, to her encouraging, full of unwavering faith Mama and finally her Papa's gaze that was for once not full of worry or doubt as he looks over Hans' shoulder with a proud, approving smile to his daughter of her fine choice.

"All of this, my life, has not always been the easiest, nor a carefree road for me. Just as each of you, my fellow royalty, know of the heavy burden and trials of being born Crown Royal and destined to rule your respective countries." Elsa smiles thoughtfully, making eye contact with every dashing Prince, as she sweeps her hand in an encompassing gesture across the gathered Princes. Her elegant purple hued gloved hand pointed towards her magnificent regalia on her coronation portrait, unveiled just moments ago.

"But I can hope that the bonds of mutual respect between our countries will run deep and strong through the years, as our friendships are nurtured to know one another more as mature peers. I hope each of you, too, discover that happiness is not just about making solid, well-suited, diplomatic matches, but rather the result of finding that one true, abiding love which will lighten the burden of your royal reign's ascendancy in Almighty God's grand design for your lives—as I have now accomplished in finding my other half." With an empathetic, yet noble and righteous air all about her, young Queen Elsa tactfully employs not only utmost diplomacy, which she admittedly learned from her Papa, and her Hans a bit too, but also compassion from her Mama, which she always had within her, for the six young men out of seven standing before her whom she was about to gently let down as she meets each eye.

Gliding from her throne dais down the few steps like a rare earth magnet to an irresistible force, the regal, self-possessed Sleeping Beauty, in her lovely gown of royal purple, violets and lilacs, flows past all of the other supposedly more favored young men.

Each look upon this Norwegian Queen with more than just personal expectancy now — but with a growing respect as well.

Elegantly Elsa flows in her long, purple hued mystical ice satins to claim the extended hand of her literal Knight in shining armor at the center of the line of handsome suitors.

Prince Hans wordlessly – for his breath was stolen away by her regal splendor – grasps the extended palm of the Queen of his heart to seamlessly lead Elsa out to the midst of the ballroom floor. The other princes, either save-face nobly resigned or with truly touched of heart, respectfully clear the area for the final special dance to be started by the majestic birthday girl and her one lucky chosen suitor.

As the Arendelle Chapel clock tower strikes eleven to ring the Winter Solstice triumphantly in across the clear cool December night over Scandinavia, the lights in the ballroom dim.

The ¾ time orchestral music envelops the otherwise silent ballroom as accomplished dancer Prince Hans leads his lady fair in the romantic waltz they both felt they had shared together, if only once upon a dream.

The magical and perfectly fitting Sleeping Beauty Waltz sweeps Elsa and Hans into a fairytale world of enchantment as the matching costumed Knight Prince whirls his lady in her lovely satin gown of the Renaissance era around the dance floor like he was born to do it.

DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG!

Hans fearlessly holds her hands, particularly caressing her engagement finger, counting the clock's chiming hours on each of his Elsa's silky gloved digits the romantic Dane kisses each to his lips. Locked in one another's embrace, Hans' excitement and hers was growing with each dong that counted down to the appointed hour of unmasking.

DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG!

All at once Prince Hans boldly slips Elsa's platinum white jewel-studded mask from covering her gorgeous features, Elsa's pure love and desire for him palpable in her true blue eyes.

"I claim you, Sleeping Beauty Princess Aurora as my Elsa of Arendelle, to be my waltzing partner through this beautiful life you've given me, forevermore." Prince Hans was literally trembling with excitement to take hold of a lifetime of fantasies that were coming true for the once discarded young man.

He gazes lovingly into Elsa's glittering orbs that seemed to sense his utter joy about something wondrous that had been revealed to him.

Could it be Papa has finally accepted Hans as my betrothed at last? Could our wedding day not be so distant an afar dream any more?

There was definitely something different alight in her dashing Prince's vibrant eyes as Hans awaits the interlude of the Sleeping Beauty waltz's first refrain to dramatically pause and allow his dancing partner to gently remove the mask from his face as many other couples were doing.

"Min kæreste. I am prepared to patiently wait a lifetime for a treasure like you. But…please won't you set our wedding day soon? Your father has agreed to let you be mine, whenever you say the word. That is, if you still so desire to own my heart?" Hans smiles as he humbly lays everything out before a wide-eyed Elsa, his gorgeous face now totally exposed, along with the naked truth of his hopes and dreams of their 'happily ever after', now open as limitless as the sky.

The Danish Prince's tremulous hands reach out to remove her pearlescent mask in kind, to find the 5th Spirit's unequalled, beautiful, stunning eyes full of harmony's wet moisture, crying warm tears of aurora borealis glistening tears of joy that spill onto his fingertips.

Hans' gentle digits instinctively move to wipe them away, his tender kiss melting all her fears completely.

"Fete accomplis, mon ami." (Mission accomplished, my friend.) Over his shoulder Prince Ferdinand says simply as Hans and Elsa pass by the similarly waltzing, unmasked Harlequin and the tawny brown ringlet haired, doe-eyed Columbine who was now proud to hang on the once cavalier Frenchman's arm.

Prince Ferdinand's famed, cool-as-a-German-cucumber wife, Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, now Princess Helene of Orleans, had made an unforeseen appearance at last as the mysterious Columbine costumer handmaiden. Egalité's oft-mentioned 'Helena' – who just happened to be another of King Friedrich's cousins - had covertly infiltrated the Masquerade party herself in person in search of her world wandering, celebrated Legionnaire military hero of a husband.

The ever ambitious twenty-eight-year-old woman, who had heard from her cousin's wife, Queen Arianna, that Ferdinand Philippe would be here tonight, was highly amused by her dashing mate's invigorating transcontinental hide-and-seek game of matchmaking for his new friend. Princess Helene had even pitched in the masquerading fun all evening for the sake of her prestigiously gallant, impossible-to-keep-hold-of, unpredictably endearing French Crown Prince.

With a resigned smirk on his comely, distinguished moustache face, uncovered by his Harlequin mask, Ferdinand Philippe Egalité allows himself to be whisked away into the waltz by his unflappably social climbing, madly-in-love-with-him-royal queen-to-be, who finally tracked her attractive, roving-eyed boy down at last.

And most probably wouldn't let him go off adventuring again until the French Crown Prince made an honest living back home as a new father after their long separation where she had bore him a son.

Poor Prince Alonso appeared to be in a parallel situation like the caught and bagged Frenchman, from where Hans spotted the pushy Brazilian Princess of Paraiso unmasking the conjugal-defiant Cordoban Prince in a ruthless fairy wing snare.

Valentina's manservant/ bodyguard/ enforcer Manuel, armed with bolos in a red 15th century Incan costume, was standing threatening behind the resisting Argentinean, ensuring that slippery Alonso didn't escape this time.

Although it was Valentina who walked out on him, at last count of their rocky romance Alonso had checked.

The now compelled to grow up Peter Pan was hanging his sighing head as Alonso was forced to replace that huge diamond rock engagement ring produced from the Fairy Queen's bag of magic – she didn't return to him when the bride skipped town - that surely spelled the Prince of Cordoba's prospective free and easy bachelor doom.

On the other side of the room, a chuckling, no longer Pierrot-teardrop-weeping mask wearing Varian was relieved to see his gorgeously uncovered feline-eyed, mermaid tailed Cassandra also laughing. She didn't seem phased that the caught Frenchman and the cornered Argentine who crossed the guardswoman's path as companions, both were now safely under other feminine incarceration.

Inexperienced at social occasions, the inattentively looking elsewhere scientist clumsily leans on the punch bowl at the refreshment table, nearly knocking it over in a mess. That is, until quick-reacting reflexes Captain Cassandra lunges across Varian to right the glass bowl with its splashing liquid contents and the wobbly young man still safely in her grasp as well.

But slipping on the spiked punch bowl's contents splashed all over his white clown suit front, the young man's gangly arms and reckless hands land on the shocked, unmasked mermaid's shells in the chaos.

"Cass, whoa. I-I-I didn't mean to touch you there. It was an action/reaction kinda spontaneous—I'm so sorr—ooaf!" Varian's apologetic wide eyes go even wider from his sheepish expression as the violent, 'cougar' mermaid grabs him right back with an uninhibited shove towards the wall.

"Jeez, you really are a clown. Now I suppose I'll have to dry you off." Cassandra huskily breathes with a faux frown at the drenched in alcohol scented younger man's ineptness at everything humanly normal outside his alchemist lab.

"Come on. Let's go find an empty room to change you." Cassandra drags a limp in her forceful arms Varian from the ballroom the tough female more at home with weaponry and hand-to-hand fighting than this frilly, girly stuff felt uncomfortable in anyway.

Could be a more entertaining challenge to teach you how to be a proper specimen of a man before we get back to Corona anyway...

All these unmasked romantic trysts take place before the wide, shocked eyes of Belle Sofia and a gulping Quasimodo Prince James who got 'stuck' with each other when, after the initial Masquerade selection, no one else was left. The pleasant brother and sister stop mid-dance for a shared laugh, with their jaws dropping at the interesting spectacles playing out before them.

But that's when each of the Enchancia siblings had an enchanting surprise of their own waltzing up alongside to trade partners.


"Oh, Hans… My own Hans… Everything is so magical tonight! Such a wonderful birthday you've given me. Is it real, or just another dream? I wish this dance could last forever…" After a mutual smile and giggle at all the ensuing romance in the air this exquisite masquerade night, a rapturous Elsa whispers in Hans' ear.

"It will, min alskare. Our dance, our love will last our whole lifetime, and beyond. Once upon a night, Once upon a wishI know you, I walked with you once upon a dream, that gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam.' Just as overjoyed, her handsome, melodic Prince pulls Elsa close to his chest when the moving waltz continues after its building fermata staccato pause for the electrifying moment of the unmasking truth on this thrilling Masquerade night when all was revealed.

"But if I know you, I know what you'll do. You'll love me at once, the way you did once, upon a dream.'" Hans teases his girl with the next fairytale line of the melody, refraining from pinching her in the choice juicy spot her Black Knight mentally envisioned in many of those nighttime fantasies.

"This dream we'll be together, in love forever, is real for us now, Elsa, min elskede kærlighed (my beloved lover).'Let yourself be overtaken and swept before the tide!'" Hans jubilantly sings instead, going for the pure romance as he uses his gorgeous tenor to serenade his beautiful girl with some of her own heart's lyrics the young redhead had cleverly memorized to harmonize to this waltz.

Her ice magic snow sparkles formed of sheer bliss, reflect from the crystallized statuette pendant revealed to be still safely around the Danish Prince's neck to Elsa's reinstated snowflake engagement ring her Hans had secured there with such meaning earlier.

Frosted ice crystals of aurora borealis hues dance all about in an exhilarating snowy sprinkle through the skies over the countryside, and even within the enchanted ballroom where all could feel the Ice Queen's pure joy.

Elsa laughs as she had never laughed in unmitigated delight before while the young lovers swirl and dance around and around in a soft flurry of snowflakes with the other contented couples, like in a fairytale dream.

The Queen of the North Winter's heart full of 'Tenerity' explodes with so many emotions of joy in pure exhilaration of the thrilling future ahead that was now opened wide for her.

The Mirror of Love in her Snow Palace in the North to which this Ahtohallan mistress was emotionally connected was subsequently motivated to reflect true love's especial gleam across the hemisphere.

If anyone was to look outside the window at the Northern Lights' impressive display in the grand vista of nature, it stretched in light bending rainbows of dramatic purples, hot pinks and electric blues to light up the dark sky.

Glowing yellows, vivid greens, bright reds, neon oranges, brilliant aquamarines with so many hues in between race, as never before glimpsed by the human eye, cross over the Norwegian night sky. The aurora borealis lights its delicate waves, starting in the northernmost Svalbard, down through the lands of the Polar Midnight Sun to the southern section of the country in this magical kingdom where the majestic Ice Queen was in raptures.

The Northuldran Saami indigenous peoples gaze up from the unlocked barrier over the Enchanted Forest, each deep soul sensing the soaring emotions of the 5th Spirit of Harmony who tied their lands together with love.

A love that was physically palpable for the elemental spirits who had embraced this daughter of the Northuldra as their bonded spirit sister.

Gale's playful wind spirit sweeps Bruni's fire spirit to sizzle mischievously over the still rocks. Together they wake up Jordskjvelvet's earth spirit that rolls pebbly ripples across the stream where Nokk's water spirit heaves up a mighty roar of pleasure across the fjords for the Ahtohallan Queen's joy the elementals all shared.

But no one needed to look outside, for, fulfilling a fraction of her great potential, Ice Queen Elsa herself was so ecstatic and exuberantly at peace in her heart that her ice-fashioned Princess Aurora dress truly lives up to its illuminated name.

Secure in her Hans' possessive strong arms, Elsa begins to glisten in glowing iridescent colors of the full rainbow spectrum of the breathtaking aurora borealis.

Multihued radiance explodes from her transformative ball gown, brilliantly lighting up the entire bedazzled ballroom of amazed guests, each experiencing their own romantic Masquerade night unmasking magic under her radiance.

In the ambiance of love, Elsa and Hans go waltzing around and around the ballroom flawlessly, as if in aurora borealis tinted clouds where all else melted away.

Moved by his Elsa's incredible light, expressed in her brilliantly beautiful blue – no, purple – no, fuschia - no, breathtaking - prismaticeyes, her lissome fluid movements, usually stiff and reserved, react perfectly to synchronize in his arms alone under his proficient lead.

Prince Hans of the Southern Isles closes his eyes and begins to serenade the sentiments of all the words Elsa had given his heart to soar:

"'Love's the only thing no one is above, I'm in love and Love can't be denied!'"

His elegant dancer's red cape flying, the handsome Knight Prince suddenly stops still at the soaring music's crescendo to deliver a passionate kiss to the lips of his euphoric fairytale Princess Beauty glistening on the dance floor.

"Tillykke med fødselsdagen, min dyrebare Elsa." Hans whispers breathily against her cheek the Danish form of 'Happy Birthday' as he claims his amazing Norwegian Ice Queen beauty in another embrace and elegant turn around the dance floor.

On this special birthday night, the no longer star-crossed lovers' undeniable true love had - through doubt and pain and danger and fear – at last been recognized in the gorgeous luminosity of revelation. And this was their shared dream of a love so great it could not be denied, now on the cusp of the exciting future in store for the fairytale love story of Prince Hans and Queen Elsa.


Mon ami – my friend in French

Frère – brother in French

Fete accomplis – "accomplished fact" in Latin; irreversible done deal

Min dyrebare - my precious in Danish

"Tillykke med fødselsdagen" – "Happy Birthday" in Danish


"Love Can't Be Denied" – edited song from "Frozen", written by the great composer Alan Menken

"Ja, må hon leva!" (Yes, may she live!) - Swedish birthday song set to the 18th century composer Hayden's "Opus 76 Sunrise".


'Fete accomplis!'

Fairytale happy ending time, Frozen friends!

Yeah! Wasn't that an incredible Birthday Party for our Ice Queen Elsa?! And she unwrapped a pretty sweet present - named Prince Hans! Yes, the long wait is over and the Helsa wedding is definitely on again!

It took much convincing from his future son-in-law, much cajoling from Egalite, Anna and friends, much anger from Mama bear wife, a heart-moving song from Elsa, and some soul-searching for King Agnarr to come around and relent to the once criminal Prince here and not dutifully onboard his ship on the other side of the globe. But the good man has finally come to see the light that Elsa has chosen her Danish Prince for her true love life's mate after having a man to man talk with Hans with an open mind on advice from dear friends Fernan, Mattias, Halima, etc. (Yelana had some foreshadowing there going too...)

But probably what put King Agnarr over the top was brilliant Queen Iduna's lyrical encore of their children's sweet voices playing in the background in her husband's ear to convince once and for all that Love can't be denied (and her Valkyrie eyecandy for his unblinded eyes too as reward! :)

Now she has her beloved Papa's blessings for her marriage with Hans to proceed, Elsa's heart will never be in danger of being frozen again, with her handsome Prince's forever love in a future full of promise.

That's what this whole book 3 has been leading up to, and this chapter brings all the angst and loneliness of the past two books to a romantic happy ending start.

Did you enjoy the momentous love duet between the lovers as they danced here at the end? I could hear Santino and Idina singing the gorgeous ballad! I think Hans and Elsa would do Alan Menken's glorious edited song proud! ^-^

So, this concludes Elsa's Masquerade Ball Birthday Party celebration! I hope you enjoyed all the ups and downs and close calls in the romance mystery of the Masquerade! I'd love to hear your reviews of all the romance and mysterious fun leading to the climactic unmasking!

God bless you all! And thank you for sticking around for this long, adventurous, full of mystery and yearning Act 8 arc!

Love, HarukaKou ^0^


P.S. Hans and Elsa have proven that true love triumphs over all, but it's not over for these lovers! They have some romantic wooing time to catch up as sweethearts now! Act IX (Act 9) starts the up the Helsa romance with Christmas in Arendelle! Our continuing story, full of true love and fairytale happy endings romance is happening for Queen Elsa and her heart's desire at last! Then there's a momentous fairy tale Royal Wedding in store in Arendelle for our Frozen Again Red hot x Ice cold lovebirds in the upcoming chapters of 'Frozen Again: Love Never Ends'! So, please stay tuned for the Helsa romance to finally come to fruition, dear Fanfiction friends!

But I'm getting ahead of myself! The Arendelle family Christmas special will be up next first though, just a few days after Elsa's Winter Solstice December 21st birthday! With many guests still milling about, there are so many possibilities and so many things to be grateful for this year of upheaval especially, and presents from the heart to go around for the reunited lovers and royal family in a kingdom at last in peace, this is sure to be a "Happy holly Merry jolly Seasons Greetings Christmas tidings here!" (Olaf chimes in for me:)

P.S.S. "Love can't be denied"! If you haven't yet heard it you have to all listen to the legendary composer himself Alan Menken belt this emotional melody at a live recital with just him, a grand piano, and raw emotion that fit so perfectly with Helsa's hard-fought for love storyline. It couldn't be used in the movie because they didn't go that route, and they blew it again in F2. Bock-bock-bock!

So, that's why we had to write this Frozen sequel here where the magnificent song finally fits perfectly in place for Elsa and Hans' love affair! Can't you just hear Hans' velvety tenor and Elsa's magnificent soprano singing this together? Santino Fontana and Idina Menzel should duet it for real, the music and lyrics are so perfect for Helsa!

Because 'Love's the only thing no one is above. I'm in love and love can't be denied!'

God bless!