This story is based on my ongoing roleplay with a fellow Helsa shipper, FOW, in discord, though she had adjusted some things to make it flow better as a story. The spacing comes from the ever-changing perspective from our back and forth replies. Credit to her for editing it all, my job is to simply bring it forth to the public.

Hans had known from the beginning it was a fool's errand. Mere mortals did not challenge the likes of magic, and especially not in its own realm. But, Weselton and the Isles had a deal about protection. He would have to protect the Duchy, as Admiral- but this was going beyond his job description, by far.

He and the Duke were welcomed guests in Arendelle, for 'trade', they said. The Princess and her counsel ran the country, but Hans knew their plans were for treason. He never let on. He even flirted with the Princess. No-one said everyone had to die, they only had to conquer. If the Princess liked him, perhaps not all of Arendelle's royalty had to die. The Duke had other plans, but he didn't especially care. They would discreetly set out in the early morning to begin their treasonous journey.

When they made it up to the mountain, he was chilled to the bone the whole way, and praying his horse would be better off. The Duke was absent, leaving him in charge of his men, and a senior Weselton guard in charge of the others.

He was in awe of the Queen's ice castle. It was beautiful, immaculate in its clarity. Just looking at it stung him with the chill, he couldn't imagine what it was like inside.

He ordered his men to stand back and go in second to the Weselton guards. He had a dark feeling that things were going to go horribly awry. He realized, gazing up at this massive castle, that the only way to get his men out alive might be to become a traitor.

.

It had always been her sole decision in leaving Arendelle under her sister's watch, she and her counsel anyway, for the Princess was far more capable in terms of handling the people. Anna was able to understand and mingle with their subjects, something Elsa struggled with even still. While it was the second born sister who stayed, Elsa had still retained the crown and the title of Queen. Arendelle was still hers to rule, even from afar. Her decision had mostly been based with the fact that she wielded magic, and while Anna had been nothing but accepting with her older sister's ability, Elsa still did not find her birthplace quite so comfortable or appealing as her kingdom of isolation, her palace of ice.

The distance between the Queen and her kingdom had invited men of wicked intentions, of course, with the alluring riches and highly strategic kingdom. So many seemed to think that Arendelle's rule was weakened by Elsa's constant distance from the true throne. Many attempted to persuade the Princess to bend to their will and agree to deals and trades that benefited them more than Arendelle, but each attempt had been fruitless. The one who they truly had to deal with was far up and away, tucked in the mountain.

From the moment the Queen had woken up that day, there was already a different feeling residing deep within her, a different wind blowing, brushing against her skin as she overlooked the vast expanse of snow-covered mountains that surrounded the one she had called her own. It was only some hours later in the day that she heard the cacophony just outside the tall ice doors of her castle, the disturbance made by those foolish enough to try their hand at meeting The Queen.

Leaning back in her icy throne, sitting in the middle of the grand castle throne room facing the entrance, she could not help but raise her eyebrow. This would be interesting. Visitors with swords.

A wave of her hand commanded the ice doors to open at the behest of her magic, ice growling and grinding over ice, daring those outside to come and face her.

.

Hans watched the doors open, and something about it shook him to his core, in a way he hadn't felt in- some years, actually. He could think of one occasion. One that he had, for a time, thought to be a dream. He looked to his crew and saw some unease there, as well.

The Duke's men, however, did not know this fear. Their leader began to lead the charge.

Hans' men almost began to step forward, but Hans reached out an arm to stop them, in silence.

The Duke's men didn't notice, as they charged in with crossbows and swords.

Hans saw his own men with their weapons, but each around him wore a different expression of doubt, fear, uncertainty. They must have seen the same in Hans.

None of his questioned his orders- none of the Duke's noticed them.

"The Duke of Weselton sends his regards!" The ill-fated Captain of the guard blustered, charging in to lead the attack, with perhaps half a dozen men to storm the small palace.

"Daft fool." Hans muttered to the cold air, and petted his horse's neck instead, as if they had come here for some other purpose altogether. His own sword was sheathed. It was against Isles tradition to draw it to start a war, or that was what he had been taught.

.

"The Duke of Weselton sends his regards!"

The sound of charging men reverberated and reflected off the walls of her castle, echoing in the fairly empty place with only her as it's resident, words filled with the passion of burning rage and loyalty to the one that had sent him forward. The eyes across from her were as dark as his sword's glint in the winter sun, and almost as cold.

The first arrow flew through the air from one of the crossbowmen, precisely aimed at her head. An ice wall rose from the floor before her, blocking its path. The silver tip halted mere inches from her cheek.

The ice disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, the arrow clattering to the ground uselessly as she rose to her feet before her aggressor.

"And I shall receive them as I please."

A step forward sent her magic across the slick ice floor, letting it climb each aggressor's legs, each man halted mid-step as it quickly reached as high as their waists.

Elsa never had the intention to fight, she would rather avoid it above all else, but when someone came for her, to come with the hope of claiming her head as a trophy, then Elsa would readily defend herself and her domain.

Another arrow narrowly missed her shoulder, grazing against the skin before lodging itself into the wall behind her. She didn't flinch at its sting. She raised her hand and with a flick, sending sharp ice through the crossbows, shattering each one into pieces. Her entrapping ice had now reached their necks, forcing those who had wielded swords to drop them onto the floor with a discordant clangor.

She delicately, gracefully made her way toward the one who had led the charge. The Captain, if she guessed correctly.

He still bore the same burning rage in his eyes, though now she could see the glint of fear in them as well when she had come close, his jaws tightening.

"Witch!"

She wanted to laugh. People did love to throw that one at her, and while it did hurt the first time, she had grown far beyond that by now.

However, before she could respond, she caught sight of another group of men outside. This group had been much better at making decisions, and Elsa found them far more intriguing than the fools who charged in blindly.

"Come in," her eyes found the auburn-haired man. "Don't be shy."

She could see a leader when faced with one, no matter how young he may have seemed, compared to the one she had entrapped in her ice.

.

Hans turned to an older man on his left, and handed the man the reins to his horse. "Stay here, and when I motion for you to leave, take my horse, and go home." He said quietly. "Tell me, many years ago, do you recall...?"

"Aye, boy. I think we all do, right now."

"Somehow, that's encouraging." Hans thumped the man on his shoulder. "Take care of the ship, and my horse. Tell the Isles the truth, it will make for quite a story."

He stepped forward, as the Ice Queen bade him. He raised his hands a bit as he approached, and slowly brought them to his swordbelt, where he unbuckled the sword from his side to hold in front of him, more like a peace offering than a gesture of war.

"Parley, your Majesty?" He suggested, with a lighter and sweeter tone. He noted the men she had nearly killed. Likely had killed, if they remained stuck there long enough.

"I'm not sure if anyone outside of the Isles says that on land, but it's a tidy word for the purpose." He spoke as if they were conducting normal every-day talks, and not as if his life lay on the line.

.

Elsa watched one man converse with the other, too low for her to hear, before the leader turned and stepped forward. Her piercing eyes watched every step closely, looking out for any sign of a threat, eyeing the way he had raised his hands, then a movement toward his sword belt- but slowly. Slowly enough to be allowed. Then he held his sword to her. Peace, not war.

'Parley.'

The moment that word was spoken, along with her title, the Captain by her side had turned his head sharply (to the best of his half-frozen ability), eyes glaring. This was not part of the plan, it seemed, for him to speak to her in such a way instead of attempting to kill her on the spot.

The corner of the Queen's lips tugged before she turned her back at him in her silent agreement to his suggestion, but she listened intently for his approach, to know how close it might be. Making her way back toward her throne, she only turned her body back to face him once she stood right in front of it. The Queen in her castle; a pale glittering icon in a sea of smooth, clear ice.

This was her way of arranging how people would see her, a careful construction of poise and power to show them who was in charge, no matter how they might outnumber her.

"And what do they call you, Sir?" She could not help it, the curiosity that had taken the best of her, for she had only found this man to be as intriguing as he was... attractive.

.

Hans waited until she turned back to him to move forward. Only then did he walk, and even then, he halted alongside the Duke's Captain. He did not acknowledge the man. Hans knew better than to get too close to the woman in charge, lest he seem like a threat. He would put himself at the level of the other man, instead. The man she defeated so quickly, so soundly. He would not dare to assume he was better.

"Admiral Hans Westergaard, your Majesty. Or, 'Prince Hans Westergaard of the Southern Isles', if you insist on the blood titles. Begging your pardon, I prefer the one I earned." He spoke calmly, and ignored the Duke's Captain glaring at him.

"The Duke is under the Isles' protection, however I think he has rather stretched my 'protection' too far. Protection I will provide, Engaging in war is not his business to begin, therefore I have no need to take his orders, and even less desire to, in this case." He gestured to Elsa, as if she proved his point simply by existing. He knelt a moment to set his sword at his feet, and returned to standing. The Isles had a lot of traditions among nobles, when it came to swords. Old-fashioned and ancient though they were, Hans quite liked them, and abided by those very old and antiquated ways.

Peace talks weren't meant to be had with sword in-hand, and the gesture showed his intentions well.

"Prince Hans Westergaard." She let the words roll out of her mouth, tasting his name against her tongue, Elsa set her eyes upon him, and him only. The Southern Isles had been one of Arendelle's closest neighboring kingdoms, though the relation between the two was truly distant. They had simply existed among one another, trading goods for the sake of their own kingdoms, and little else. If she was to be truthful, she never expected to see one of the King's many sons to face her, let alone under the Duke of Weselton's order. Fortunately for him, the prince was very clear on his opinion of that order.

Should she think about it optimistically, she might have thought he had a certain respect toward her. But, Elsa was not her younger sister. No, Hans' words had been rather sweet and light, controlled. he was good at what he did, he knew it, and she would not let herself be so easily swayed.

"Well then, what is it that you desire, Prince Hans?"

"What do you think you're doing?!" The Captain barked, finally speaking out against the frost threatening his tongue, expressing his clear disagreement of the prince's overtly polite tone.

The Captain was as loyal as he could be, Elsa had to admit that as she glanced at him, even when he and his men shivered fruitlessly in her ice. She should release them, she knew. Perhaps later, lest frozen blood spill on her floor and in her wake.

"You traitorous brat!"

Hans looked over to the Captain, impassively. "I'm Saving my men from being slain. Possibly you, too, if you'll shut your idiot mouth." He suggested, looking unimpressed with the Captain. "Or would you like to die as Her majesty's ice statue? My men may only go home to whores in their brothels, but they will go home. That is what I would like from this engagement, and if you had an ounce of sense betwixt your ears you'd have thought to do the same." He returned his gaze to Elsa, to continue talks.

"My life is quite literally in Her Majesty's hands, and I won't pretend for a moment that it isn't. All I ask is that these men go free, mine and his." He nodded toward the Captain. "The Captain is ambitiously brave, and loyal to a fault. It's the Duke's foolishness that concerns me. Under my family's crown, and wasting his time picking fights that he expects me and mine to fight on his behalf. I've seen the unexplainable before and I'm not about to challenge it to a duel. So, what would Her Majesty like in exchange for the lives of these men, fool as they are?"

He was smart enough to know that she could kill him the instant she wanted to- and sharp enough to notice she seemed to be in no hurry to kill the ones who had actually attempted to do the same to her.

"Of course, we'll have to see who among them are wise enough to put down their weapons and go home to their families. They're not getting reinforcements from my ship. I've already given orders that my men go home at a gesture, if Her Majesty will allow it. Along with my horse, I'd hate for it to freeze up here. We, here... seven ice statues and a 'traitor'... are it. Who among you feels lucky today?" Hans didn't bother to look around, just made a vague gesture to emphasize how very small the room was, and how very weak their powers were, keeping his eyes on Elsa, and waiting to see how this played out.

.

Elsa liked this one. She liked the way that Hans was honest with his intention, but spoke with carefully-woven prose that appealed to her. She liked how clear he was in expressing the ill-fate that may befall the men, should the Captain continued to spit his venom against her in her own residence. Indeed, Hans recognized that even she would a limit of patience, which surely would run thin should the Captain not heed his words. She also liked the way the prince expressed the fact that, yes, his life and the lives of the men under their command were laid in her hands, and she would do with them as she liked.

His words pleased her, strangely enough, and she lowered herself to sit on her throne. She crossed one leg over the other as one hand raised to her face's level, wrist flicking as the entrapping ice suddenly melted away, releasing the seven men from their icy cold prisons.

Gasps of breath could be heard, from relief or held shock, she did not really care to know. The men hunched forward, searching for the warmth they now desperately needed.

"Carry my word with you," eyes leering at the Captain, she made sure that he listened to what she was to say. "Anyone who dares to challenge Arendelle or its throne shall meet with a winter's bitter wrath, and I shall deliver it myself." It was a tad too dramatic for her taste, but the sight of the men shivering before her and the addition of Hans' indirect praise over her power and her command, may have driven her to be consumed by the moment.

She could have left it at that, to watch as the men turned even without picking up their weapons from the ground. She could have let them return down to Arendelle, to hopefully be shipped back from whence they came from by her sister later on.

But, the Duke's decision to raise his sword against her -though he was far too pathetic to do it by himself- did concern her, just as Hans had said.

Her eyes were not on the Prince exclusively, but she hoped that he understood that her next words were directed at him. Perhaps it was a decision that she would regret later on, but she needed to take her chance.

"Tell one of your trusted men to deliver my word to the Princess, send these fools back, and never accept any other offering from Weselton. Then," finally turning toward him, she returned to lean back against her throne. "Stay here with me."

.

Hans thought a moment, but seemed only slightly surprised. Was that a flicker of a smile, or was it bemusement?

"I shall return in a moment." He agreed, then stopped and turned to the Captain. "And you ask Weselton for me, what exactly did he expect would happen when he sent an admiral and a prince to start his wars for him? Was it a trial in the Isles? Because I expect that to be his next stop. You might want to ask him if he has any heirs." Hans glared, and seemed less than amused by the Duke's antics, to say the least.

He left his sword where he had set it, and went out to his men to relay the message to the man he had handed his horse to. They traded brotherly embraces, and he passed a few handshakes to a few men. These were bonds forged in tough times over years, not just blue blood handed a position. He meant it when he called himself 'Admiral' over 'Prince'.

His men began to walk down as Hans returned.

"Go catch up, you'd hate to be late in getting back to your families. I'd say give mine my best, but... Oh, do it anyway. Why not." He shrugged, as if the opinions of his family were an afterthought. He still didn't look at the men he ordered away. They were not his, and he didn't want them.

He couldn't help but watch Elsa, instead. Puzzling over her like the intricacies of a good book.

"And what would Her Majesty ask of me?" He asked sweetly, after the others had gone. He stood again behind his sword, which rested on the icy floor. He kept his hands folded behind his back, and stood tall waiting for her response.

As if he were her soldier.

As if he were always her soldier.

"I imagine I would not live long here in this temperature. You want me very briefly, then?" He didn't sound accusatory. Just, curious. As if he always expected to be thrown out quickly to die, and it didn't seem to bother him.

However short a time he was there with her, it was to be a time worth seeing. More interesting by far than by attempting to kill her -and likely failing.

.

The length of his stay would only depend on how long she needed him here with her. Once her needs had been fulfilled, once she was satisfied with what came from him, then he would not have any more reason to be held in her Ice Castle, for she did not need to care for another person, much less one that could not waltz about in the low temperature of the snowy mountain like her. like her. It was never company that she sought anyway -or else she would have preferred her sister above all else. No, she was doing fine with being alone, without much responsibility to think of other than her kingdom.

"Insight." There was no need for her to explain much to him unless necessary, he did not need to know of her intention and she most definitely did not need to share what she refused to share. "Of what you know of the Duke's intention."

He was her best chance of regaining the information that she needed. Should he cooperate with her then it would be a breeze for her to acquire it, as he was somewhat involved in it. No matter how he refused to fight her, he had been there -he had been hired to offer protection to his former ally.

Hans paused a moment. "He may attempt something on your sister, next, if he hasn't already. If he has I'll gladly bring back his head for you." The offer came before he could even finish thinking about it or how she might take it.

"He seems to fancy power, or a war. Perhaps he simply hates magic so much that he wants to kill you, but I believe his desire for power lay at the root of it. That's usually how these things go. But he's a fool of an old man who forgets that skirmishes and war are two different things. This was not even truly a skirmish. Had it gone on, it would simply have been a massacre, no matter which direction. We have not yet seen war in our lifetime, in our nations. I had no plans to, but alas. He started it. I'm afraid the Isles might end it for you, we have very strict laws about starting wars in our name." He wondered if that truly helped in any fashion.

Anna…

Elsa had the castle's guards at the ready at all times to protect her younger sister, especially after the many discreet attempts to overthrow the two sisters for the sake of taking over the kingdom. They were to be posted wherever she may go, with a continuous rolling shift so there would not be even a moment of weakness. But still, with Hans' mention of her, Elsa could not help but feel that she should check on the Princess soon, by all means necessary, by whatever form she may choose. She may well come down the mountains, if she needed to.

Elsa, however, could not help but raise an eyebrow at the fact that this Prince, who had truly no relation to the Arendelle royal family, would offer such extreme action as his response to the idea of the Duke coming for the younger sister. Would he truly did not hesitate in slaying someone and bringing their head to the opposing side should he be called, or was that merely a sweetly-worded attempt in beguiling her? A part of her was curious to find out.

He was a person who analyze things that happened around him, it seemed, as his insight had been nothing but useful for her. He had let her learn a little bit about this insidious old man that had sent his men up to their possible doom.

"I have no desire for war," she mused, as she reflected on the old Duke's dangerous actions, "but I would not let him continue his plans either."

It was a little uncomfortable though, to see the Prince spill all of this so easily, no matter how he said he was highly against the Duke's plans and intentions, it set her on edge with her trust, made it hard for her to bring herself into trusting his words despite how sincere he had sounded.

"Tell me, Prince Hans," yes, she was aware of his preference of being referred to as Admiral more than Prince, but she had little to no care for his preferences. "Are you cold?"

Hans never shivered or showed signs of wavering, but there was perhaps a flicker of fear in his eyes when she asked if he was cold.

"At leave to say what I would, I would say 'it's a bit chilly'. Forced to tell the truth, I would say I've quite lost feeling in some places, and rather wish I had in the rest." so he did lie, just about strange things.

"As the youngest brother, I have learned that pain is weakness. I have withstood broken limbs without a whimper, and been injured in duels where only the blood on my shirt gave me away. Given leave to say what I would, I would sooner die than admit even a slight discomfort." He paused and looked around a bit.

"I don't fancy my chances if caught lying in your domain, however, so I suppose that secret of mine is now yours." There was something about her that both scared and enthralled him. He found it very difficult to tell lies that otherwise came so easily to him. Little lies, usually, about how he was. Nice words and sweet nothings, mostly. Things at least somewhat true.

He also found it difficult to simply not say things. Perhaps because she unnerved him.

Elsa could only raise an eyebrow at him as Hans spilled bits of himself over such a simple question.

She found it hard to believe that his childhood was to unfold in such a way, and yet, she reminded herself that she too had learned a belief that sunk it's blade deep within her own person. That belief that fear was her enemy, whether her own fear or the fear that the people had for her. She had suffered from that belief, yet could not find herself getting rid of it. She was unable to. The world had decided that for her.

"I'll take that as a yes, then."

Rising up from her throne, she descended the two low steps until she at last stood at his level, noting the difference in their height that had prompted her to lift her chin a little higher for her eyes to meet his.

"You should stop standing around and move your limbs more, it will avoid them freezing. Why don't you start with helping me clean up these crossbow splinters and swords? It has gotten disgustingly messy here." She was no neat freak, she just preferred things tidy above all else, unlike her sister who could cover her bedchamber's floor with her various belongings and not mind it.

Turning, she made her way toward the stairs. She paused at the very base to look over her shoulder back at the auburn-haired Prince. "I would advise you to stay here instead of trying to run away, I will return soon."

"I wouldn't dream of it, your Majesty. My crew took my horse." Hans remarked, with a hint of his dry humor creeping in with his smile.

"What would you have me do with the weapons?" He reached toward his own sword, to buckle it back on. He had set it down for peace talks, not surrendered it. But he likely would, if she asked. He seemed to give under the slightest pressure from her, but no man became Admiral by acquiescing to every suggestion. No, Elsa must have been different.

And in his view, she absolutely was. Between her icy magic and her beauty, something compelled him to let her have any piece of him she asked, be that his truth or his sword.

"Toss them into the abyss." She suggested with an absent wave, uncaring and unconcerned as she started to climb up the stairs. She wouldn't bother to face him- especially after an amused smile had slipped onto her face for a brief moment due to his remark. she had little care for the weaponry that the Duke's men had left behind, she had no need of them. "You may keep yours if you keep up in being behaved."

The stairs lead up to the parts of Elsa's Ice Castle that none had ever seen before, aside from her younger sister when she should come to visit. Behind the doors of her bedchamber, she let out a breath as she leaned against the cool surface. already her energy for keeping up with her intimidating façade was running thin. She had never displayed such a cold-hearted mask for so long at once. She had only put it on to keep people at the distance she wanted them to be. Too close, and they may have been able to see past the walls she had built for years.

But, she had to do this, if it meant that she was keeping everything she cared for safe. Her eyes darted toward the mahogany chest at the foot of her bed, a little out of place as it did not match with the 'Snow Queen' atmosphere that was thick in the air. She lifted the lid open, pulling out a thick fur coat that hopefully was big enough for him to fit into.

She moved back down the stairs minutes later, heels clicking with each step that she took down the stairs. She kept her jaw tight, expression pulled back into the calm and aloof look she had displayed earlier. She made her way toward him before she had held the coat at arm's length. "Take it, I would hate to see you freeze to death."

Hans had disposed of the weapons quickly, not a difficult task. He kept only his sword at his side, and sheathed.

He was somewhat surprised at the gift.

"Her Majesty is kind. Thank you." He gave a slight bow and accepted the coat. Not wanting to test the arms, he pulled it around his shoulders to warm himself. He wondered what she intended for him, but he decided it wasn't fear that was making his heart race. He wasn't sure what it was. Excitement, perhaps? Intrigue? Curiosity?

A large part of him didn't want to leave. His body hurt from the cold, he couldn't imagine living in that cold and pain for long- but in her presence? Yes. He had no desire to leave that.

.

Elsa couldn't refrain from a slight scoff, though she managed to restrain herself from rolling her eyes as she looked at him, watching as he put the coat around his shoulders.

"Well, I am no monster, not the one you people just love to call me, anyway." There had been nothing but whispers, people muttering under their breaths when they thought she was out of earshot, but she had always been aware of the names they called, always adding to the ever-growing list inside her own mind.

She was her own monster, in a way, but she never let anyone to see that, not even her beloved sister. No, this was for her to deal and her only.

Technically speaking, Hans had served his purpose, at least to the limit in which she had drawn, and there was nothing else for her to ask for him, not now anyway. She should let him go, like any other good person would, she wondered what the men had told the people of the Prince's destiny. Had they perhaps told them that his life had been wasted? Perhaps that he was now the Snow Queen's prisoner, and drawn into yet another monster?

But, something within her had held her back from speaking words of freedom. A part of her wanted him to stay a little longer, hoping that his fingers and toes would not freeze off as the price.

"Not from me." Hans interrupted her thoughts all in a rush. He had not called her a monster. Sorceress yes, but that was not a sneering accusation. It was simply, as he knew it, a fact of her power.

"Of course not." The way that he had corrected her so quickly, perhaps out of fear that he had insulted her stuck fast in his bones, made Elsa actually chuckle a little.. Somehow his action, the way he had been so careful in threading his choices and weaving his steps around her, amused her truly.
"What would become of you, I wonder, if you had been one of those men who did?" It was more of a tease over anything, she never wanted to actually hurt anyone, especially those who never intended to hurt her, an act of self-defense could only go so far.

"You misunderstand me, I don't think I said that out of fear." He wasn't sure why he specified, or why he didn't feel so afraid. No, it was something else that compelled him. He wasn't yet certain what.

His boldness prompted Elsa to raise one curious eyebrow, as her arms came to cross over her chest.

"Oh?"

If it had not been fear that drove him into speaking like so, then she truly was compelled to know what it was, for it was rare that someone had not feared her. Especially for one who had witnessed what she was capable of. He had seen what she had done to those men -and knew what she could have done, had he not intervened.

This man, this Hans Westergaard of the Southern Isles, was perhaps the most interesting man she had encountered. There were many she had met, men that varied from fearing her to actually belittle her, those who were foolishly bold and those that cowered behind his guards. But Hans had been none of them, at least that was what she thought he was. He offered her the insight she wished, he approached her without raising his blade at her head, and had even listened to her when she had made him toss the weapons out.

He admitted that he preferred not to lie and did have sincerity in his voice and the way he acted, but as someone who wore a mask most of her life, her mind was plagued with questions still, even if she was unsure of what.

"No, I have a certain respect for you. It would take a fool not to, looking up at this marvel of yours." He glanced up at the chandelier, a spiked and intricate design, imposing and yet so very beautiful.

"There is an element of fear, yes, I won't deny it. But I am not sure what of. I have not feared death in a very long time. The unknowable, perhaps. I have never found a belief in any religion, perhaps I ought to find one, and quickly." He held a flicker of a smile for a moment, though why, he kept to himself. "Mostly, respect for you."

The corners of her lips tugged into a small smile as he spoke, out of amusement at the mention of religion, or out of the fact that he had told her that he respected her, she could not truly decide. She herself was not as religious either, but she followed a few regulations that came with her father's beliefs.

Elsa let the silence hang between them, and shifted on her feet, uncertain for a moment how to respond. she was not exactly one for prolonged conversation.

"My sister," she began, suddenly. "You have met her, yes? Was she well?"

"I have. She seemed well, if tired. I imagine being a queen was never her plan in life, much as being a full-time prince was never mine." Hans tucked his hands into the sleeves of the coat, across his body. He would never have admitted it, but he had been desperately cold.

Her expression faltered at Hans' statement, of how her sister had looked from the eyes of others. "No, it had never her plan to." Anna never really voiced it, but it was easy to see how she truly felt about the responsibility she suddenly had to shoulder, as the co-operating Queen of Arendelle. "Unfortunately for her, she has me as an older sister." Someone with the distinct lack of ability to actually socialize like a queen. She had to pose as an intimidating one instead, to manage. To top it all off, she had to have the ability to wield magic as well. It wasn't great for her 'political image'.

"Better by far than some of my brothers." Hans suggested dryly, in response. "The eldest will be a good king when it's his time, it's the rest I'm concerned about, should he not have heirs." But he shrugged a little. As if it was not his concern.

Elsa glanced up, as Hans had, to the chandelier that hung above them. She took pride of the delicate creation that came with her power. "It truly is beautiful, isn't it?" it had come as a murmur, low and quiet and mostly to herself. She feared this power, once, but coming to live all by herself up in the mountain had slowly changed that. She looked back down to him.

"You have told me of yourself, today," her brows knitted as her eyes bored into his, trying to read him and yet failing to do so. "And yet, you still hold so much mystery."

"And you have told me nothing, but I suspect I know you better." He suggested with a slightly amused smile. "Or I just enjoy conversational symmetry. The Isles does have an odd sense of humor." Alternatively, it was just him.

She would have said something about his claim that he did not fear death, -for what kind of a man didn't fear death when others had begged to be spared from it- if only the echoing knock on the door had not interrupted her line of thought even before she could open her mouth.

Elsa had almost forgotten that her weekly resources were to be brought today. She could only imagine what the mountain man would have thought if things had gone differently, and he found seven ice statues in the main hall. She only glanced at Hans without a word before she had made her way toward the doors, ice cape trailing behind her, as she waved her hand to allow entrance for the delivery man.

.

Hans' hand touched the hilt of his sword a moment, but seeing that Elsa seemed calm, he relaxed again and held the gifted coat tighter around himself. He followed at a distance, but then tucked himself behind a wall, to be obscured from view, as if by instinct.

"Afternoon, your Majesty." Kristoff nodded her way, carrying a sizeable basket, one of two, from his cart. "I saw some soldiers trekking down and looking scared, started worrying about you. All's well?" He asked, standard conversational such.

Kristoff was burly, that couldn't be denied, and a man of the mountains. No matter the weather, he could make his way up- but his hours changed with the season. Being summer, he was able to make a late afternoon run after his ice runs. In the winter, he brought more food and came less frequently, as he spent a lot of time out on the ice. The ice was his main job- he just did this for Elsa because he wasn't afraid to, and the Princess had asked for someone brave enough. It paid a little extra, but he would have done it for free. It was the one place he and his reindeer felt comfortable enough to admit to understanding magic. Kristoff always wore a strand of glowing blue crystals, but only sometimes did he untuck them from his wool tunic, so they could be seen. It was a little solidarity thing. Today they were tucked into his tunic. He didn't want to be seen as 'magical' in the kingdom. He just told people he dropped food off in the mountains. It was technically true. He dropped things off in the mountains- in Elsa's pantry, so she wouldn't have to heft heavy things.

"Afternoon, Kristoff." Elsa could not help but offer him a gentle smile when he had mentioned what he had come across had made him worry over her. "Yes, everything is well. A little confrontation, is all." He was a gentle man, no matter how others -and perhaps even himself- perceived him. She could not help but assure him that those men had been nothing but a little trouble.

Stepping aside, she let him to make his way into her castle, and only then did she notice her eyes were unable to catch sight of the auburn-haired prince that had been with her just moments before. She frowned a little at the discrepancy. Apparently he had hid himself, perhaps in his attempt to save her from the need to explain the situation. However, she didn't wish to hide him, she only wanted to show nothing but the truth, to save her from future arguments with her sister, should she find out about this arrangement later.

"Hans," she called out, ignoring the confusion that crossed Kristoff's face from the sudden reveal of another in her domain. "Do come out, and perhaps you can help Kristoff in carrying the other basket. Don't be shy, he's harmless."

.

Hans left the coat behind the wall and wandered out, adjusting his sleeves as if he had simply come from another room.

"Of course." He assured sweetly. "Harmless? Surely. As harmless as an old man in piracy, is a young man surviving the wilderness." Hans observed. "You hunt, then."

"I do." Kristoff admitted, raising an eyebrow at the suggestion. "And everything else. Harmless to anybody who doesn't want to harm me or my reindeer. If Her Majesty trusts you, then I trust we won't have any problems requiring me to not be harmless." Kristoff wasn't the most social of people, and he didn't trust easily. He trusted the royal family, but even their guards got him to be formal and a little suspicious. In truth, he could be plenty violent if he had to be, but he hadn't had to be with any people yet. Not in any big ways.

"You're nosy."

"God forbid we men socialize." Hans smirked, enjoying the little bit of banter as he wandered out to get the other basket.

Kristoff paused to watch the prince, raising an eyebrow. The baskets were made heavy, because Kristoff was an ice harvester, and a man who lifted exceptionally heavy things all the time. From what he could tell, Hans seemed like a scrawny sort. He couldn't help but want to see how it played out.

Hans' difficulty came more in moving in the snow, than anything, however. He had hidden depths of strength- and as per his custom, refused to show weakness. He simply moved the basket to his shoulder to easier bear the weight.

"Nice reindeer." He remarked in passing.

"Yeah. Sven's good. Let me help you with that, you'll break the eggs if you set it down hard." Kristoff followed Hans to assist him, at least a little bit as a silent show of respect. He had his fun testing Hans, and Hans passed well enough. He still wasn't exactly going to suggest they have a guy's night, but he trusted Hans well enough with the Queen. He didn't seem capable of posing a threat, at least.

Elsa watched the two men bantered, bemused at the slight tension shared between them. She chose not to show her concern, there was no need for her to intercept it. Nothing had gotten out of hand, and they had only just met, so it was rather understandable that they interact the way they did. She also could not help but chuckle when Kristoff stepped in to help Hans with his basket, concerned with the eggs inside it, as she followed them down to the smaller door of the ice castle. Many would not notice it's existence, attention either focused on the other grander things inside or even herself. She liked to keep it that way.

The door lead down to what she would call a kitchen, or as much as it possibly could be when one lived in a place made almost entirely out of ice. A fire pit had been built at the furthest wall, and she didn't bother to explain the details or technicality of it, willing to only admit it took her long enough to figure out how to work without melting the whole place down. At least in this cold place her supplies could last longer.

"Thank you, Kristoff." She truly appreciated the man's willingness to bring her supplies from Arendelle, or else she would not have any idea on how she was supposed to survive. "Do tell Anna, if she might ask, that the Prince is fine with me here."

Kristoff nodded. "Understood." He seemed a little perplexed. "Prince, huh?"

"I try not to let it affect my work. I'm an Admiral more than a prince." Hans still didn't care for his royal titles, no matter who they came from.

Kristoff pondered what he said a moment. "Want me to let the men going down the mountain know that?"

Hans shrugged. "I can write a letter later." He didn't think about parchment or ink, nor did he particularly seem to care.

Kristoff nodded. "Alright. Next week, then, your Majesty." He gave a slight bow and moved to leave. He was a busy guy, and while he observed a few cursory formalities with Elsa, he was no noble, and wouldn't pretend to be. He was a working man who just wanted to do his job and move along.

After bidding the mountain man her own goodbyes, Elsa had turned back toward the Prince with a shrug. "At least my sister wouldn't trek all the way here when she heard from the men." For they wouldn't know what had become of the Prince. Their only knowledge was that they had left him alone with the Snow Queen; and that, fueled with their fear and perhaps even the Captain's passion for unnecessarily keep their tensions high, they might have thought Hans was a good as dead by now. Now that would stir Anna enough to leave the kingdom to confront the older sister.

Living by herself, she had learned a basic way of caring for herself at least. How to make fire in her pit to cook, and such. The sight might not have been to Hans' expectation, but she was human still, and she needed to eat.

"Tell me, Admiral." He always insisted on correcting people about his titles, and from the short amount of time that passed she had deemed that no harm was to come from humoring him. "Are you able to cook?"

Hans rolled his sleeves up, in spite of the cold environment, to get ready to work.

"I can catch, gut, and cook fish to be edible; beyond that I'm not particularly skilled, but I learn quickly with a bit of guidance." He assured.

He assumed naturally that he would be asked to learn, and seemed to have no problem with being given that task, in spite of his technically still being a captive there. He wouldn't say 'prisoner', but technically she had not bade him to leave, so most would probably consider him 'captive' at the least.

.

It had not come as a surprise to Elsa when Hans had expressed to her that he did have a particular set of skills when it came to cooking fish, he was a Navy officer, after all and his work surrounding was literally the open sea, so of course he would learn a thing or two about cooking fish.

As for her, she hadn't truly been good at cooking herself, growing up with cooks and servants in the castle did a number for her ability over the simplest of tasks. She was still learning up to this point, what she could and couldn't do with the various food supplies that Kristoff brought.

"Then we shall have fish today," she instead decided, mostly to avoid embarrassing herself in front of him. At least he knew how to cook it. She still had to put on her 'Ice Queen' mask.

Hans smiled a bit, clearly trying not to laugh a little. "Excellent plan, your Majesty." He assured, managing to keep the laughter out of his voice. He thought it was endearing. For all her seriousness, and for all his ambition and claims to not be weak- both of them, foiled by frying pans.

"We have no idea what we're doing." He observed, letting a little bit of the laughter in. "I won't tell if you won't." And so, he set to cooking.