"Laila, do you even see this?! Arendelle's castle is just GORGEOUS! It suits Queen Elsa so well!" Astrid shouted, leaning so far over the edge of the ship that one little nudge would send her flying overboard. They had arrived after a full day of travel, and while the winds were picking up ferociously and the clouds closing in quickly, the royals were in the clear. Laila tried her best to manage a light grin for her sister's sake, but her mind was still occupied over Hans and his fragile state. The way she had to leave him, just like that, almost immediately after he had started to show signs of change, after she had told him that she'd help him, it was ghastly to say the least. What's worse was the fact that this happened within the course of a couple of days, and already she felt so emotionally invested that it bewildered her right to her core.

Laila was so lost in thought that, without her even realizing it, she had departed the ship with her father and sister, and was standing at the main gates, waiting for them to open. Laila wrapped her arms tight around herself as a strong gust of wind blew in the Autumn air, a chill quickly emerging. Soon the gates opened, and a few of the castle staff welcomed the royals with open arms.

"Welcome to Arendelle, King Alexander, to you and your daughters!" one of them announced, a bright smile forming on his face. The King chuckled lightly in response, accepting the warm gesture.

"Thank you so much, sir! Looks as though we arrived just in time! The seas were starting to have a temper with this approaching storm." he replied, walking alongside the man who had welcomed them all.

"Yes, it seems like it, and by all means, call me Kai. I'm the head steward to Queen Elsa as well as Princess Anna, so if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask." he explained, guiding the three inside the castle square. Astrid's eyes lit up at the mere mention of the Queen's name.

"Are we going to meet Queen Elsa today?" she asked, and Laila had to restrain from rolling her eyes at her sister's oblivious question. She'd let her have her fun.

"Why, of course, Princess! In fact, where do you think I'm taking you right this very instant?" he asked, humoring her. Astrid squealed in response and animatedly twirled her excitement as she mentally prepared for their long-awaited meeting. Laila, even in her distressed emotional state, couldn't help but to giggle at her sister's sheer joy. She was like a kid on Christmas, why mess with her happiness?

As they reached the doors to enter the castle, Laila noticed a figure exiting from them, seeming to be bursting with as much energy as her sister. She noticed the girl's strawberry blonde hair flying around in its pigtails as she ran towards them, leaving the doors behind her wide open. Before she even spoke, Laila had a pretty good idea of who it was.

"Welcome to Arendelle, everyone!" she beamed, suddenly rushing over to embrace Laila in a full bear hug. It caught her completely off guard, and it took her a moment before she enveloped her arms around the giddy princess, returning the gesture.

"Thank you! This really is such a warm welcome, I must say!" Alexander commented, laughing at Laila's reaction. This must have snapped the princess's mind out of the moment, for she immediately released Laila from her tight grip and smoothed out her navy blue dress.

"Excuse me, my manners have completely blown out the window with this impending storm! I'm Princess Anna, sister to Queen Elsa. We are thrilled that you were able to visit even earlier than expected...at least I am. I mean...my sister I'm sure was fine with whatever was better for you. I trust you would like to see the Queen now, right?" she asked, looking at everyone expectantly. The King was about to reply when Astrid suddenly leaped into the air.

"WOULD I EVER!" she exclaimed loudly, causing everyone, including Anna, to jump from the sound. Kai couldn't hold back his laughter, walking ahead of the rest of them to start towards the great hall where Elsa currently was. Anna shook her head and giggled as she walked beside Astrid, talking to her about her excitement and travels. Laila smiled, happy to see her sister finding another princess to spend time with for once. She wasn't annoyed with Astrid at all, but it was nice to have things switched up for a change. Astrid never had the chance to do this in the Southern Isles. With all those princes, she was observing them as potential crushes rather than hanging out with any of them for fun. Here, she could just be her typical teenage self, and that was fine by Laila.

As they walked on their way to the great hall, Laila noticed that Arendelle's castle was nowhere near the size of the Southern Isles' own. The ceilings were lower, the halls narrower, and the decor wasn't as extravagant and grand, but despite all of this, she still loved this one much more. It had a warm and inviting feel to it, from the various portraits that depicted happy moments in the lives of others, as well as Princess Anna and Queen Elsa, to the way the staff and servants smiled and greeted her as they passed. It felt more like a home than a palace. It made Laila smile as the group started approaching the end of the great hall, where a humble throne resided, and with what appeared to be a young woman with blonde braided hair resting upon it, in conversation with one of the staff of the castle. Anna separated from the group to stand next to Queen Elsa, not bothering to sit in her smaller throne off to the side. It took all Astrid had not to scream from excitement and tackle the Queen right then and there. The royal broke her conversation with the staff member when she saw them approaching, and a bright smile spread across her face.

"Looks like you all made good time! Welcome to Arendelle, King Alexander! I trust these are your daughters I've heard about?" she chirped happily, her voice so serene and proper that one would've assumed Elsa had been a Queen for ages, not just a few months. It colored Laila impressed, and she smiled warmly as she and Astrid curtsied before her.

"Yes, they most certainly are! This is my oldest daughter, Princess Laila, and my youngest, Princess Astrid. Needless to say, they have been anxious to finally meet you, especially young Astrid here." Alexander joked, and as if on cue, Astrid jumped up from her curtsy and giggled, trying her hardest not to squeal with elation. The Queen snickered at her actions, finding amusement in Astrid's giddy reaction.

"I'm very flattered by that, thank you." she commented, rising from her throne and making her way towards them. When she reached them, she bowed her head towards all of them, and she looked at Astrid, who was literally shaking from excitement. Laila had never seen her like this, and honestly she found it amusing. It was like Astrid on a triple sugar high. The young princess curtsied again for the Queen standing in front of her, a huge smile plastered on her face.

"Queen Elsa, can I just say how incredibly thrilled I am to finally meet you? Ever since I heard about you and your ice powers, I've been wishing for a chance to see you in person and now I really am and it's amazing and if you wouldn't mind at all I would LOVE to see those powers in person although I perfectly understand if you'd rather not I mean that's rude of me to ask I'm sorry just ignore me." she blurted out all at once, flustered and fidgeting with her fingers behind her back. Both Laila and Alexander just stared at her, unable to fully comprehend all that she had just said in a hurry. Elsa, on the other hand, must've dealt with something like this before, because she only giggled politely and shook her head.

"Astrid, no worries. Here..." she said simply, holding up her hand as if to hold something, only there was nothing there. Astrid's eyes widened when she realized what Queen Elsa was about to do, and her gaze never left the royal's hand. Laila, although not as hyper, eyed the monarch's floating hand, for she was also deeply interested in how Elsa's powers would look in person.

Elsa's own stare focused on her hand, and for a brief moment Laila could sense the twinge of nervousness the Queen still had with her powers. It had only been three months since her coronation fiasco. She was probably still trying to get accustomed to controlling her magic in front of others, and even though she had a firm grasp on how to use it, Laila could still see the minuscule part of Elsa that feared she'd lose control.

The moment only lasted for a split second though, for immediately afterwards Elsa flexed her hand upwards, and a small vortex of snow and ice formed, glowing a bright light blue, matching her elegant dress. Astrid's gaze remained as a huge grin formed on her face, enveloped in the magic happening before her. Laila took notice of how Elsa's powers moved around, how smooth and strong they were, the patterns and shapes they formed. It amazed her how beautiful Elsa's powers had become so soon after she started using them consistently.

Elsa raised her other hand and circled it around the other, seeming to shape something inside the vortex. She then pressed her hands together firmly and released them, and while the effects were gone, what remained was a shape made of what looked like ice. Upon closer inspection, both Laila and Astrid could see that it took the shape of a snowflake, and it was nestled comfortably in the palm of Elsa's hand. It glistened and sparkled as various lights from around the great hall reflected upon it. Elsa then pinched her fingers on one side of the snowflake, and rounded around it to the other side with her magic, forming a crystal-like string made of more ice. This made it obvious that the snowflake was actually a pendant of a necklace, which made Astrid even more astounded than before. The Queen finished with a flick of the wrist of her free hand, and a quick burst of cold air surrounded the necklace like its own personal atmosphere, where it stayed and orbited. She sighed contentedly, signalling she was officially finished. She held up the jewelry and smiled at all three royals, proud of her work.

"This is for you, Princess. It's made not to melt, even in the summer sun." she announced, handing it over to Astrid, who practically had tears in her eyes at that point. She accepted the gift graciously, lifted it over her head and then under her hair, eventually resting perfectly on her collarbone. She put her hand on it and gasped slightly.

"Queen Elsa, you weren't kidding! It's so cool against my skin, but not too cold. I will most certainly appreciate this during the summer. Not to mention it's just gorgeous and breathtaking! Oh, thank you so much, you are too kind!" she exclaimed, running up to the young ruler and embracing her in a tight hug. It caught Elsa completely off guard, and her facial expression more than showed as such, causing Laila to snicker quite loudly. King Alexander sighed, remembering past times he'd tread on familiar ground with Astrid about incidents such as this.

"My dear, that's not the proper way to behave in front of a Queen, you know that. Everyone has their personal space, and it must be respected." he reminded her, resting a hand on her shoulder. Astrid, getting the hint, backed away from the embrace and cleared her throat, feeling embarrassed. Elsa, while at first feeling awkward, quickly recovered with the smoothing of her pastel blue dress and a quick chuckle at the situation.

"King Alexander, it's quite alright, don't worry about it. I did give her a reason to be excited, after all." she reassured, coming to the princess's defense. She glanced at Astrid briefly and snuck a wink in before walking on, which made the youngest of the Grimmstade royals smile happily. Elsa approached Laila, and she kept her smile as bright as ever.

"I can assure you, your Majesty, that I'm not quite as animated as my sister here, but I am so delighted to meet you and see your beautiful castle. If there's a break in the weather, I would love to even tour your kingdom, if that's alright. It's kind of a hobby of mine, honestly." Laila confessed, rolling her eyes at how silly she felt she sounded. Elsa nodded enthusiastically, agreeing with everything Laila said.

"No no, I would be more than happy to show you around Arendelle! It's rather small compared to the surrounding kingdoms, but in my opinion we make up for it with extra hospitality and kindness. If only I was in control of this weather right now...unfortunately Mother Nature has other plans for the time being. I will definitely be on the lookout for nicer weather though for our tour, that's for sure." Elsa explained, looking out the window as dark clouds started approaching on the horizon, the winds bellowing along with them. The Queen looked back to Laila and smiled again, looking optimistic for their venture. Just then, Laila remembered something that had been simmering in her head for a while about the Queen, and she figured now was as good of a time as any to inquire about it.

"Queen Elsa, if I may, I have a question to ask." Laila asked, the smallest hint of caution in her tone. Elsa shifted her weight and folded her hands, leaning in towards Laila.

"Are you going to ask me for a hug too?" she joked, causing everyone to laugh, including the ruler herself. In the midst of their guffaws, a loud cheering voice broke through the noise, one the Grimmstade royals had never heard before. They hushed their laughter as they listened in on the new sound.

"OH! ARE WE GIVING OUT HUGS?! COUNT ME IN! WAIT FOR ME!" they heard, and before they could consider who was saying it, they got their answer. A white mass of snow, followed by a floating storm cloud of flurries, came running down the great hall, hopping and wobbling as fast as they could on the blobs of snow they had for legs. Laila turned her head in confusion, not expecting something, or rather someone, like this to appear. Soon enough the creature reached the group, and it was easy to decipher that it was a snowman. Elsa was quick to his side and laughed at his all-too-perfect entrance.

"I apologize for not introducing you all to my dear friend, Olaf. He's completely harmless and all good feelings, I promise you that." she reassured, placing her arm around his oddly shaped head with a grin. Olaf just chuckled in response.

"She would know, for sure. She's the one who built me!" he exclaimed, looking up at her with a warm smile that had the potential to melt his face off. Laila was again surprised at the power the Queen had, able to create a living being so soon after embracing her powers. It was impressive to say the least. This only led to even more questions Laila had for Elsa. She would have to talk to her at another time, when it was more proper and perhaps private.

Elsa gestured to the group for Olaf, and he waddled over to Laila first, his smile never faltering.

"Your Highness, may I have the honor of a warm hug?" he asked, exaggerating a bow and sounding so dramatic that she giggled spontaneously. How could she say no to a request like that? It was too precious.

"Why of course, dear Olaf." she answered, kneeling down to his level and stretching her arms out. Olaf came over and did his best to embrace Laila in his treasured 'warm hug', and she made sure to reciprocate as much as she could. After a moment they separated, and Olaf giggled in delight.

"You have an EXTREMELY warm hug, Princess, if I do say so myself! Thank you for that!" he said, instantly making Laila feel good about herself. Elsa and Anna, the latter of whom just reaching the group from her stance by the throne, smiled at how their wintry childhood friend was making new friends of his own, making sure the Grimmstade clan felt as welcome as they possibly could.

Later on, after their ship was unloaded and their rooms ready and full of their belongings, the traveling Grimmstade clan made their way to their chambers, with Queen Elsa accompanying them to be sure everything was just right. Laila and Astrid were to share a room, which was perfectly fine with the two princesses, especially since said room had a window overlooking the entirety of Arendelle's main square. The massive gates they had just entered through mere moments before were front and center from their vantage point, with the fjord and lighthouse further out into the horizon. This was more than perfect for Laila, and Astrid couldn't agree more. As they entered the room, Elsa sighed contently, and she rushed over to the windows and opened the curtains more so that the light from even the clouded daylight hit every square inch of their room.

"I hope this is more than sufficient for the both of you. It was one of the many rooms that never got to be used when Anna and I were growing up, and after we reconciled I made sure it was in perfect condition for any visitors we may have." she explained, slowly walking around the room and observing it as though she hadn't seen it in ages herself. Laila noticed her eyes gleaming with nostalgia, and she smiled at the sight.

"Queen Elsa, this is just lovely. Thank you again, really." Laila proclaimed while Astrid, without words, claimed her bed of choice and proceeded to throw herself onto it in one swift dive, giggling like a little child. Laila kept her smile intact despite the ruckus from her sister. Elsa glanced briefly at the energetic royal before guiding her attention back to Laila, a sly grin forming on her face.

"It's my pleasure. Now, you all have a couple of hours before supper, so if you want to explore the castle or the town, you are more than welcome to do so! I believe your father is resting for the moment, and my staff will be more than happy to unpack for you. Is there anything else I can do for you while I'm here?" she asked, gingerly placing a hand on Laila's arm, a sincere gesture that from what Laila could tell was still foreign to the mystical queen.

"As long as you have some sort of chocolate for dessert, I will be just fine, Your Majesty!" Astrid politely shouted from her bed, gazing at the elegant bedspread that had a very faint shimmer from what seemed like ice crystals reflecting off of it. Lost in her hypnotic state, Laila saw the opportunity to talk to the queen, who was chuckling from Astrid's response.

"Actually, I did want to have a one-on-one with you at some point, Queen Elsa, if that's alright? I know you must be busy, so I understand if this isn't possible." Laila explained, looking away as she bantered on. Elsa just smiled and folded her hands.

"Well you're in luck, Princess. I happen to be free right now until supper. Would you like to talk now, or wait until your sister has fully come to her senses?" she quipped as she looked at Astrid in her hypnosis-like trance, causing Laila to laugh louder than she would've liked.

"No, no, now is rather good!" she answered, keeping from shaking her head at Astrid's antics. Elsa motioned for Laila to follow her down the hallway, and after a moment they both matched each other's pace in the hall.

"Alright Princess Laila, what is it you wanted to speak to me about?" Elsa asked, now legitimately curious as to what Laila could possibly want to know. Laila cleared her throat before continuing.

"Well, it's rather a couple of things, really. One of them being a bigger issue, or more so your advice, Your Majesty. What uh...what are your feelings on second chances for someone? A chance to change their ways and do good for instance, when all they've known and thought was despair and hate?" Laila asked, not entirely sure if Elsa knew what she was talking about. Luckily, she seemed to understand to a point.

"You're asking me? Honestly, I of all people am the one who can be a solid advocate for second chances. If it weren't for my very own second chance, I'd still be exiled in my lonely palace of ice up in the mountains. The people of Arendelle gave me the opportunity for redemption, to show them that I truly mean no harm and can be in control of my powers, and I've taken full advantage of it. I owe them so much after what I've put them through." Elsa explained, glancing out the windows as the two royals leisurely strolled down the halls. Laila smiled, liking the response, and proceeded to continue.

"I'm certain it helps when you only have good intentions, I'm sure." Laila added, and Elsa nodded her head in agreement.

"Oh, most definitely. Why do you ask, anyway? Are you in need of a second chance yourself, if I may ask? Or perhaps someone you know? It is rather an odd question to ask in normal conversation." Elsa joked lightly, giggling to herself. Laila thought for a moment, wondering whether to tell her the entire truth about this topic being about Hans, or to just be vague about the whole thing. She figured that if she wanted the most helpful and accurate answer, she might as well be truthful herself. She took in a deep breath and chuckled nervously.

"Well, to be completely honest, it's about someone else...someone you already know, actually." Laila paused, giving Elsa a moment to prepare. The queen shuffled a bit in her stroll and looked straight into Laila's gaze.

"Go on, I'm listening..." she reassured, smiling with the slightest twinge of worry in her expression. Laila cleared her throat once more and sighed.

"See, my family and I have been traveling to other kingdoms during this venture, and during our last stop I met someone who is in desperate need of a second chance, I feel. Out of everyone in the Southern Isles, only one or two people seem to wa-"

"Did you say the Southern Isles?!" Elsa interrupted, stopping immediately in her tracks and the mixture of anger and fear forming on her face. Sheets of ice started forming around the queen, on the floors and the walls, and their radius covered the entire width of the hall, reaching Laila but somehow avoiding her person altogether. It only took a moment for Elsa to realize what she was doing when she noticed the ice around Laila, and she regained her posture immediately, closing her eyes and slowly making the ice disappear almost as fast as it had appeared. Laila held her hands behind her back, regretting her decision instantly.

"I...take it you know who I'm speaking about, then?" she asked cautiously, a nervous chuckle escaping her lips. Elsa breathed through her nose a little heavier than normal, keeping her calm while forming a response.

"Princess, based on my personal experience with...him...you know I am one to doubt his willingness to change." she said in a queen-like tone, her eyes still shaded with the bad memories the man in question had left her this past summer. Laila bit her lip, expecting that response, and she continued.

"I understand completely, don't get me wrong, Queen Elsa! It's just, I saw him in the dungeon, I spoke with him, talked to him abo-"

"Laila, I need to stop you right there for a moment, please. The man did his share of talking to both Princess Anna and myself, not to mention all of Arendelle and our visitors. He's an incredible liar and actor, and even in such a lowly state, I wouldn't put it past him to try and take advantage of anyone who talks to him, even someone smart such as yourself. I empathize with your willingness to help him, but I must ask you to be careful. He's not just some wayward prisoner who's without direction or purpose...he's only out for himself. I don't want anyone else to get hurt from his ways. Do you understand?" Elsa explained, a calm but wary tone thick in her voice. Laila, taking her words into consideration and seeing her point, nodded in response. Elsa, smiling slightly, gave Laila a light hug. "I'm sorry to put you in slight distress, Princess. I hope you can see where I'm coming from with this..." she apologized, to which Laila smiled warmly.

"I do, Queen Elsa, truly I do. I just wanted to see what I was dealing with. I apologize for distressing you myself." she apologized as well. After a brief moment of silence, Laila felt the need to continue. "As for my other inquiry, it's more about your powers. I want to know everything there is to know about how you make them happen, and so quickly after embracing them? Call me nosy, but I'm just fascinated with the extent of your magic, Your Majesty." she asked, hoping Elsa would be willing to share. She stared at Laila for a moment, wondering whether to delve into the specifics or just avoid the conversation.

"Is there a particular reason as to why you're so intrigued by them? Besides the fact that it's magic?" she said through a faint giggle. Laila smiled at the queen's lighthearted tone.

"You can call it research, perhaps. I tend to observe and study the people I converse with, so I guess it's a form of habit." she explained, shrugging her shoulders at the best explanation she had for her peculiar ways. Elsa smirked and started going over the details of her magic as they both continued down the halls, a happier tone residing in the atmosphere, and the topic of Hans now officially over in their conversation.

Laila woke up the next morning to the sound of thunder rumbling throughout the kingdom, with the occasional flash of lightning off in the distance. The wind was in full force, and it made Laila appreciate already being safe and secure inside a warm bed and inside the Arendelle castle. Seeing as she had once again woken up much earlier than everyone else, she decided to pass the time by taking a bath. Grateful that the castle had readily available hot water in their bathrooms, Laila ran the water as hot as she could get it until the tub was almost half full. The water was practically scalding, but to Laila it felt good, it being just what she needed to wake her up on mornings such as this. Normally servants of the castle would do all of this for her, but Laila didn't mind, not to mention she didn't want to distract the castle staff from their normal duties.

Steam from the water rose up into the air, and it gave Laila the needed atmosphere to sit in the bath and reflect upon what Queen Elsa had told her the day before about Hans. Frankly, Laila completely expected Elsa to react the way she did about the troubled royal, and that she had every reason to. What she mainly wanted was someone else's opinion, one that wouldn't be so quick to judge or condemn the prince without knowing her side of the story. Elsa did have a point, though. Hans seemed like the kind of person who'd make the most of even the worst situations and try to gain from them. He lied and manipulated his way to almost taking Arendelle all for his own, and that sort of behavior just doesn't disappear with a few weeks inside of a cell.

...but the way he looked at her...it wasn't something you could feign. His gaze told her that he was a man looking for someone to help him, someone to guide him through whatever mental obstacle he was facing. Laila spent so much time around people, observing their behaviors and their personalities that she had a sense when something wasn't adding up. He had his snark and his cynical attitude, but deep inside he was looking for a way out of his old life. Laila was certain of it. She was adamant on making sure he had the chance to change when she returned to the Southern Isles, and she'd be right there with him every step of the way.

***AUTHOR'S NOTE*** To those of you who waited so patiently for this next part, THANK YOU! *millions of hugs everywhere* I promise the next part will be incredibly good and full of Hans, since this part was unavoidably skimpy on him. Trust me guys, it's about to get VERY good. Game changing, even. ;)