Arendelle was quiet at night; peaceful. The gentle crackle of the flames in the hearth filled Hans with a strange sense of contentment that he'd never known…well, from what he could remember of his former life anyway. In the Southern Isles, humidity had hung in the air like a tangible unseen force, covering the skin in what seemed like a constant sheen of sweat. There had always been some noise in the castle where he'd been raised. With thirteen young princes living in close quarters, there had barely ever been a quiet evening. The only night Hans could remember it being truly silent was the night his mother had given birth to her fourteenth child; a stillborn princess. He'd been four years old at the time and the Queen was getting on in years at forty and it had been a difficult pregnancy for her. After that, the Queen had transformed from a regal, elegant woman to a bitter shell of the ruler she'd once been.

Of course, she'd always been wary of her thirteenth child, and now Hans knew it was because he'd been born with his ability. The Queen had never been outright cruel until then. Neglectful, yes. But never cruel. The loss of her only daughter had damaged her badly, and she'd taken it out on her youngest son.

"It should have been you…"

The words echoed in his subconscious, coming distantly as if he were hearing them whispered by the ghosts of the past. Hans rubbed his eyes wearily, wishing he could just turn off his thoughts and go to sleep, but he knew there would be no rest for him tonight; not after that scene in the library the other day. He had broken his vow and kissed Elsa, which in turn had ruined him for any other woman. He would never be able to look into another woman's eyes and not think of her; the faint aroma of vanilla and cinnamon that seemed to surround him whenever she was nearby. But mostly, it was the strangely perfect way she seemed to fit into his arms…or maybe it was the fact that he couldn't stop thinking about the way his hands felt against the ample curve of her hips.

With a sigh of frustration, Hans rose from the bed, wiping his face tiredly as he crossed to the door and checked the hallway. He needed a distraction. Opening the door of his room, he peered into the hallway to see if anyone was moving about, but all was still as he stole into the darkness, making his way toward the south parlor, where there was a piano.

It had been years since Hans had played the piano; even since before he'd joined the navy at eighteen years old. Spending so much time on his own had definitely had its advantages and thanks to that, he'd been a model student. Long, lonely hours had been spent trying to find ways to impress his parents; practicing the piano, fencing, reading. It had always seemed that the harder he'd tried, the more invisible he'd become.

The piano glistened in the moonlight, beckoning to him like an old friend as he moved to the bench and took a seat, opening the cover to reveal pristine white keys. Clearly, this piano was well cared for despite not being played often. As he positioned his hands to cover the keys, his vision was clouded for a moment with a strange sense of Déjà vu as another memory overcame him with brute force.

It had been three years since he'd been home from sea and Hans was less than surprised to find that nothing had changed. He was shown to his room, dropping his things on the bed before turning to leave. His mother was nowhere to be found at the moment, undoubtedly hosting some luncheon or flinging thinly veiled insults at one of her daughters in law. His brother, the King, was away for the afternoon, and the castle was strangely quiet.

He drifted down the long hallway and down into the main parlor, where his parents used to host their guests. He remembered hiding in the chest on the balcony above and watching through the metal grate as elegantly dressed people moved about the parlor, drinking champagne and laughing about superficial things like smoked cheese. Standing in the doorway, Hans' eyes fell on the grand piano he'd once loved to play. His fingers twitched in anticipation at the sight of it, and he thought to himself that it would be a perfect time to play with nobody around.

"It's been a long time since I've heard you play, brother," His brother Elias' voice came from behind him, giving him a start as he instinctively reached for his sword and whirled around. "At ease, Hans," he chuckled, whistling in surprise. "Look at all of those medals, Admiral!"

Hans rolled his eyes. "They're dreadfully heavy," he sighed.

"You should be proud," Elias told him sincerely. "You earned them." His eyes filled with knowing. "She didn't even congratulate you…did she?"

"She was not present when I disembarked," Hans returned, keeping his voice even as he stood with his hands behind his back; a habit from his life at sea. "It seems even being a hero won't win the favor of our loving mother."

"Well, if it makes any difference, I'm proud of you, brother," Elias told him, offering his hand. Hans took it, managing a tight smile. Of his twelve brothers, he was closest in age to Elias, who had always been a bit of a black sheep himself. He was quite studious and soft spoken; avoiding confrontation whenever possible. He wore spectacles and was quite adept at mathematics. The brothers looked remarkably alike save for their hair and eye color. Elias had inherited their father's dark hair and remarkably blue eyes.

"Something's different with you," Hans noted, seeing the color in his brother's cheeks.

"Can I confide in you, Hans?" Elias asked, lowering his voice.

"Of course," Hans answered, oddly touched at this request. They'd always been near strangers, never understanding each other; holding separate interests. None of his siblings had ever confided in him.

"I've met someone," his brother revealed, "I'm in love with her."

Hans' eyes widened as he shook Elias' hand. "This is good news! Who is she?"

The smile left his brother's face. "There's the problem," he sighed, turning away and running a hand through his dark hair. "She's a commoner. I met her just a few months ago in the village. I want to marry her."

"Oh…," Hans faltered slightly, unsure of how to react. On the one hand, it was wonderful to see his usually serious brother smiling. And it wasn't as if Elias was going to end up on the throne. He'd been twelfth in line to begin with and their oldest brother, the King had just become father to a son, carrying on the tradition of Westergard sons. Which made Elias thirteenth. So really, Hans didn't see the harm there. On the other hand, there was another thing to consider…

"I see you returned home safely," the Queen's voice came from above. Hans glanced up at his mother, who was dressed in an elegant deep blue gown with her red hair pinned back. A subtle tiara was placed into the coiffure. She was even thinner than Hans remembered which was remarkable for a woman who had carried fourteen children. Somehow, the thinness made her appear worn and harsh, all jagged edges.

"I did," he returned, nodding respectfully at her. "You're looking well, Mother."

The Queen scoffed, coming down the stairs into the parlor. "Don't flatter me, Hans. It will do you no favors." Her lips tightened, making them appear thin like the blade of a knife. She turned to the elder of the two. "Elias, I must speak with you."

Hans rolled his eyes, marveling at her dismissal of the son that had just returned from active duty in the navy. Even Elias gave her an incredulous look.

"Surely it can wait until after Hans' dinner this evening," he suggested, giving his younger brother an apologetic look.

The Queen eyed him impatiently. "No, it cannot I'm afraid." She glanced disparagingly at Hans.

"Well, don't let me stop you," he countered acidly. "I'm used to it, after all."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic," she snapped, "Always the theatrics with you."

"I must get that from you," he replied, managing a sardonic smile and bowing.

Ignoring his remark, the Queen turned back to her twelfth son. "Elias, I have found you a wife." Hans swallowed the cough of surprise that had lurched up into his throat.

"Well, that's…sudden," Elias murmured, meeting Hans' eyes with a touch of alarm.

"You're not getting any younger," the Queen told him coldly. "It's time you settled down and started your own family."

"Well, that's actually w-what I wanted to t-talk to you about…" Hans winced, noticing his brother's stutter reappearing under the scrutinizing stare of their formidable mother.

"The Queen of Arendelle has finally come of age," the Queen continued, disregarding his interruption. "She is twenty-one and will be hosting an official coronation next month. You, Elias, will go to Arendelle and woo her. It's a fine match."

Hans stepped in, seeing a sheen of sweat appear on Elias' forehead as it always had when he was nervous. "Mother, with all due respect, if I may—"

"No, you may not," she snapped, sending a glare his way. "And to be perfectly clear, I think you should go."

"B-But if you would just l-listen," Elias pleaded, giving Hans a desperate look, before catching himself and straightening with newfound courage. "There's someone else, Mother!"

The Queen paused only for a moment, giving her son an assessing look, before raising a perfectly sculpted brow at him. "Oh Elias, if you think I'm going to allow you to wed that wretched farm girl from the village, you're sadly mistaken."

Elias reeled back as if he'd been slapped. "Y-You know about Freya?"

"The butcher's daughter?" The Queen scoffed. "Yes Elias, I know you've been dallying with the butcher's daughter. You may keep her on as your mistress if that is what you wish, but—"

"My wish is to marry her!' He exclaimed boldly, causing Hans' jaw to drop. Even he would never be bold enough to ask his mother's permission to marry a commoner. Then again, Hans wasn't quite sure he believed in love. He believed his brother thought he was in love, but love was something that was invented by people who couldn't accept the world for what it really was; a selfish and vain place. What people believed to be love would wear off in time as age set in and the attraction would dissolve, leaving two bitter and resentful people in a relationship they couldn't escape.

Hans' eyes fell on his mother's tight expression, noticing the fine lines around her mouth had become very prominent after years of frowning. He wondered for a moment if she had ever been happy. To his shock, she stepped forward and spoke in the softest voice he'd ever heard from her. "Elias, you will go to Arendelle and you will woo the Queen and you will marry her. We need to secure an alliance with Arendelle. With the trouble in the Northern Isles, we need to make sure that we have another trade partner that sells ice."

"You want me to marry the Queen of Arendelle for some ice?" Elias asked, giving her a look of incredulity. "My goodness, Mother. You never cease to amaze me with your lack of compassion. My answer is no. I will not go to Arendelle for you. I will not marry the Queen. I am in love with Freya and I'm going to marry her. Now, you can accept that or not, but either way, I am not asking for your blessing."

"Well, you shall have it," the Queen said with a small smile. "Elias, I give you my blessing."

The two brothers shared a look. "Really?"

"Yes," the Queen went on, "You may marry your peasant bride as you wish." Her expression turned dark. "But you will never set foot in this castle again. You will be stripped of your titles, your name and you will not receive one cent. You will have no contact with myself or with anyone else of the Royal Family. Your very existence will be void. So, yes. You have my blessing, but that is all you shall have."

"By God, you're an awful wretch," Elias spat, glaring at her. "Perhaps you should focus your attention on the son you haven't seen in three years. Lord knows he's done everything he could to impress you." With that, Elias met his brother's eyes. "I wish you luck, brother. I hope this won't be the last time we see each other." He left swiftly, the echo of his footfalls the only sound to be heard.

Grudgingly, the Queen looked at her youngest child, eyeing him keenly. Hans noticed her eyes fell to his gloved hands and he instinctively put them behind his back, feeling exposed. As if she could see the magic running through his veins; the secret he'd carried since he'd been sixteen. It was times like these when he was terrified it would reveal itself, when he was vulnerable. He could never be vulnerable.

"Very well," she nodded, "You shall go to Arendelle and woo the Queen."

"How can I ever thank you for this honor?" Hans inserted dryly, earning a stern gaze.

"You will be a King," she told him acerbically, not taking the bait. "You can thank me then. You would be wise not to take this opportunity, Hans. It may be your only chance to prove that you are a worthy member of this family."

Hans' jaw tightened as he balled his hands into fists behind his back, feeling a surge of heat across his palms. If he wasn't careful, he was going to singe his white gloves. "Clearly the years of naval service have done me no favors," he mused, but the thought of being a King was appealing. In one simple marriage, he would rise above nearly all of his brothers; the family who had never cared for him. He, the forgotten unlucky thirteenth heir, would be called 'Your Majesty' by the same people who had mocked him all of his life. He would finally have a place in the world.

"I'll do it," he said at once, feeling a strange excitement in his chest at the prospect. "I will go to Arendelle and become King."

"And I shall once again have twelve worthy sons," the Queen nodded, starting toward the stairs again.

"You have thirteen sons, Your Majesty," Hans reminded her sharply.

She paused on the bottom stair, turning to glance over her shoulder at him. "We shall see."

Elsa woke to the distant sound of music, which was strange for several reasons, the most prominent of which being the fact that it was several hours before sunrise. Rising from the bed, she wiped the sleep from her eyes and reached for the filmy lavender dressing gown that fit perfectly over her nightdress. Her hair hung nearly to her waist in loose waves, covering her shoulders like a warm shawl as she slipped into the hallway and moved knowingly toward the South Wing.

The piano had been a wedding gift from her father to her mother, who was an accomplished pianist. It hadn't been played in half a decade. There had been a brief attempt by her parents to have Elsa take lessons, but that had been at the pinnacle of her fear induced solitary adolescence and she hadn't taken well to it. From what she'd heard, Anna was even worse at it. She didn't have the patience.

This was unlike anything Elsa had ever heard their mother play though. It was soaring and passionate and just…lovely. What was even more surprising was the fact that the person playing it was her former would be murderer (whom she was currently harboring affections for). Her parents would be appalled. Anna would be appalled. But she would come around, Elsa knew, because Anna was the type of person who would forgive anything to see her happy. She was selfless and loyal and it made Elsa feel like a traitor of the worst kind. Still, she was drawn like a moth to a flame as she peered into the South Parlor, seeing him silhouetted against the moonlight pouring into the window. Her brows furrowed as she realized his upper body and feet were bare.

He stopped playing at once, sensing her standing there and turned abruptly, looking ready to pounce. His green eyes were illuminated in the moonlight. She noticed his eyes rake over her momentarily, before moving away.

"I didn't know you played," she spoke softly, stepping toward him.

"I haven't in a very long time," he admitted, meeting her eyes. "I didn't mean to wake you. Is anyone else—?"

"No," Elsa assured him. "The other quarters are far enough away. I'm a light sleeper and we were closer to the South Wing because that's where our parents were, so we could always hear when the piano was being played." She managed a tired smile. "You're very good."

"Thank you," he countered. "It was always a way for me to pass time. I spent most of my time alone as a boy."

"Even with twelve brothers?" Elsa chuckled. "I hid from Anna for thirteen years and I still couldn't get her to leave me alone."

"Our parents weren't exactly what I would consider affectionate," Hans sighed. "At least, not toward me. My brother Elias was also ostracized a bit, thanks to a slight stutter, but he was always included with the others. I think they knew about, well…" He snapped his finger producing a flame and illuminating his face dimly.

"Oh, Hans..." Elsa gave him a sympathetic look. It had been bad enough to possess power with parents whom were overprotective. She couldn't bear the thought of being unwanted because of it.

"Please don't feel sorry for me," he told her quickly, "After the things I've done to impress that woman, including trying to steal your kingdom," he locked eyes with her pointedly, "I don't deserve your pity, Elsa."

"I don't pity you, Hans," she insisted, offended at the suggestion. "But, nobody deserves to be treated that way."

"It wasn't even that she was outright cruel to me. I was never beaten or anything like that." Looking down into his lap he shrugged dejectedly. "It was the indifference. I didn't matter to them. I was nothing to them."

"Surely, there had to be a time when—"

"Elsa, my mother miscarried a daughter when I was five and told me she wished it was me," he confessed. Elsa gasped, bringing her hand to her lips. "You couldn't understand. Your parents clearly loved you. I've seen the family portrait in your gallery. I've heard you talk about them. Don't you see? This is another reason why—"

"Hans, I swear if you tell me one more time why you need to leave, I will freeze you solid," she interjected. "Your mother was a fool. She was cruel and abusive and clearly unkind."

"She's the reason I came," he told her reluctantly. "To Arendelle." Elsa said nothing, though a million questions were racing through her mind at once as she gestured for him to continue. "It was originally to be my brother Elias. She wanted him to woo you and gain your hand in marriage to secure an alliance with Arendelle because the Northern kingdoms are at war with each other and we have no other way to secure ice."

"Your mother wanted your brother to marry me…for ice?" She asked in disbelief.

"The truth is, since my oldest brother became King, his arrogance has burned a lot of bridges with other kingdoms. Corona won't even allow him to step one foot on their docks after he caused a scene in the middle of one of their annual lantern ceremonies. We were running out of resources. A marriage with you would have secured an alliance with Arendelle, would have helped rectify the grudge with Corona and would have gained Thornbury as an ally since your mother was born there and your uncle still rules there. It was actually quite a brilliant tactical move on the Queen's part."

"So, why then was it you?" Elsa asked warily, eyeing him.

"Elias was disowned for falling in love with a commoner and I was the only other available option at the time. As my mother often has told me, she frequently reminds herself that I am better than nothing." His eyes lowered uncomfortably, and Elsa noticed that a muscle in his jaw was ticking slightly as if he were clenching his teeth.

"So, you thought you could earn her approval by being King of Arendelle…," Elsa observed.

He looked up, clearly offended. "I stopped caring about her approval the day I left home to serve in the navy." Shrugging, he exhaled heavily. "No, it was much more selfish than that, Elsa. I wanted the pleasure of hearing them all forced to call me 'Your Majesty' and bow before me."

Elsa let out an uncharacteristic snort, unable to hold back the incredulous giggles that had bubbled up into her throat. He gave her a startled look of disbelief as she descended into laughter. "I'm sorry!" She cried between giggles. "It's just so sad. And at the same time, it's so incredibly petty and absurd. And all of this because your mother wanted your brother to marry me for some ice." Wiping at her eyes, she noticed he was not amused. "Oh, come on, Hans. Even you have to admit that it sounds silly now."

Despite his surly demeanor, she noticed the corners of his lips quirk upward as a laugh threatened to break free. His eyes softened and slowly, a smile spread over his face, sending a strange warm thrill through her chest and down to her toes. It was different than the times she'd seen him smile when he'd visited Arendelle the first time; it reached his eyes, illuminating the green irises even in the darkness and making him look his own age again.

Clearing her throat, she nodded toward the piano. "Teach me something," she suggested, sitting beside him on the bench and giving him an expectant look. His brows furrowed for a moment, before he took her wrists gently into his scalding palms and positioned her hands over the keys.

"The trick is keeping your wrists elevated so that your fingers are above the keys," he explained, moving so that his arm was around her and carefully placing his hands atop both of hers. Elsa watched in fascination as he moved their hands together, slowly playing the same melody he'd been playing when she'd come into the room. "And then, with this hand, we just play the bottom chords," he went on in a strange voice, almost like he couldn't quite find his voice. He took her through the melody again, adding the bottom part this time. She made a sound of excitement as they finished the first set and turned to look up at him triumphantly, sobering slightly at his expression; he looked like he'd been slapped. His eyes were dilated and she noticed his nostrils were slightly flared.

Suddenly, Elsa was extremely aware of the closeness of their bodies and the feel of his bare skin. Her eyes fell to the delicate scattering of freckles over his shoulders and sprinkled across his chest. She realized that she'd never seen a man without his shirt on before, and she wasn't sure what she expected, but Hans wasn't quite as thin as he'd seemed underneath all of those layers of clothing. His height made him seem more lean than muscular, but his chest was sturdy and his shoulders were broad. He seemed to radiate heat, enveloping her in it; a feeling she wasn't quite used to, but not unpleasant in the least. She resisted the urge to wrap her arms around his middle and press her ear to the spot above his heart. She watched as his Adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed hard, clearly as affected by her as she was by him. For a moment, she thought he might kiss her again, and her pulse quickened at the thought. Their faces were inches apart, noses nearly touching as he stared down into her eyes over her shoulder, gently removing his hands from hers.

"You should get back to bed," he murmured, keeping his eyes locked with hers. His breath was hot against the cool nape of her neck.

"You should too," she told him, summoning her courage. "I know you're planning to leave, Hans. The Captain told me you sent one of the kitchen boys to arrange passage on a ship." She sighed raggedly.

"You know I can't stay here, Elsa," he reminded her. "Your sister is going to return soon and you're going to be reminded why I was sent away to begin with. Much as I wish things could be different…they can't."

"Give me until the ball," she said, glancing up again. "Just under a week. Just stay until then. Please…"

"Why?" He asked, pulling away from her and rising off of the bench. "Why delay the inevitable?"

"I don't…" she gave a huff of frustration. "I don't know, I just feel like you need to stay. The trolls have never been wrong."

"All the more reason for me to leave," Hans insisted. "It's not up to you to save me, Elsa."

"I know," she nodded, standing. "Just please consider it."

He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes before giving an almost imperceptible nod. "Fine," he muttered. "I will stay until the ball."

Elsa relaxed, flashing a wide smile at him. "Thank you," she told him, taking his hand and squeezing it gently. "Will you join me for lunch tomorrow? I think I may forego the festivities in town tomorrow…today was quite enough. Some quiet sounds lovely."

"I would be delighted," he replied, visibly calming. "Perhaps we might visit the stables? It's been so long since I've ridden Sitron."

"Oh! Yes!" Elsa exclaimed enthusiastically. "Magnus hasn't gotten proper exercise since we were caught in that storm."

"Perfect," he agreed, giving her the same genuine smile from before and sending another thrill throughout her body. "Well…," he paused, bringing her hand up and brushing his lips against her knuckles. "Goodnight…my lady."

"Good night," she managed, smiling at him before turning to leave. She could feel his eyes on her the entire way out of the room as she hurried back toward her quarters.

Anna couldn't deny that she loved Corona, but she was homesick. She missed the castle and the village and her own bed. Most of all though, she missed her sister, and was itching to get back to tell her all about the past week and a half. She finished packing her last bag of clothes before glancing at her reflection in the mirror. She'd taken her two braids and pinned them back into an intricate chignon. It reminded her a little of the way her mother used to wear her hair. It made her feel grown up. Granted, she was twenty, so she was grown up, but until very recently it hadn't dawned on her that she was someone's wife. She might be someone's mother soon, like her cousin.

Just not twins. Please not twins…

"All set?" Kristoff's voice came from the doorway. She nodded distractedly, turning to see him lean casually against the open door, dressed in formal traveling clothes. She chuckled as he tugged impatiently at the collar, running an agitated hand through his mussed hair.

"Yes, I'm all set," she answered, folding her arms and perching on the edge of the bed. "I'm not much looking forward to the whole…riding on a boat across potentially treacherous seas again thing…but, you know…"

"You did fine on the way," Kristoff pointed out, crossing to her with a grin.

"You mean I drank enough wine to put myself to sleep," she laughed, pressing her forehead to his chest, listening to the rumble of his laughter.

"There's something I need to tell you," he said, tilting her chin to look up at him. She noticed with a touch of alarm that his brown eyes were full of concern. "One of Arendelle's trade ships, the Elisabeth's Pride, docked today and I talked to the Captain, Jan."

"Yes, of course…is everything okay?" She asked as a million scenarios ran through her mind. Elsa had frozen Arendelle again. Arendelle was under attack. The castle had burnt down…wait no, that wasn't really a concern considering Elsa could stop a fire with her power.

"I think so," Kristoff countered in an unsure tone, "it was just very odd. He told me there were rumors in Arendelle that Elsa is being courted. A man has been staying in the castle, though Jan didn't know who it was."

"What?" Anna's eyes grew wide as saucers. She couldn't fathom her sister even being courted, much less allowing said gentleman to stay at the castle. Elsa wasn't exactly the most outgoing of potential brides. "Since when?"

"For at least the past week," Kristoff revealed. "Maybe she's been writing to someone?"

"No," Anna shook her head. "Elsa hates correspondence. She has a whole desk drawer full of unanswered letters and invitations from potential suitors. Once, I watched Kai give her a pile of mail and she literally shoved them into that drawer without even looking at them."

"Well, Jan said that she seems quite taken with him. The whole village has been talking about a Royal wedding. They're even saying she might announce her engagement at the ball," he told her.

"Has she learned nothing from me?" Anna cried, frantically shoving the last frock into her bag. "She can't marry a man she just met! What if she's been brainwashed? What if she's being held captive?" Anna froze. "Oh my god, she's being blackmailed."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, fiestypants…," he laughed, stopping her, "she's not being blackmailed. Elsa is way too powerful for that. You know she wouldn't do anything she didn't want to."

Anna couldn't even muster a smile as a feeling of dread filled her stomach. "We have to get back there. I have to make sure she's okay."

Kristoff took her hands, pulling her into a soothing embrace. "I promise you, we'll make sure she's safe."

"She's the only family I have left, Kristoff," she sighed, gripping his lapels.

"Not the only family," another voice came from the door. Anna turned to see Rapunzel and Eugene standing there. Rapunzel moved across the room and hugged her. "Don't forget to write to us, okay? You're one of the few people I know and like who isn't my parent, my child or, well…him." She jabbed a thumb toward Eugene who feigned offense.

"Hey now!"

Anna giggled, despite her worry. "I'm going to miss you guys."

"Come on," Rapunzel said, linking their arms together. "Everyone is waiting downstairs to say a proper goodbye to you." They walked ahead and Anna faintly heard Eugene grouse to Kristoff; something about being 'chopped liver.' She tried to laugh, but all she could think about was this mysterious suitor of Elsa's.

And whether or not he was worthy of her sister.

So sorry for the wait. Thank you for reading...