Anna, Do You Want To Know A Secret?

For those of you who didn't realize, I posted Chapters 11 and 12 at the same time. So go and read Chapter 11 and then come back…. Go.

Now for those of you who have already read Chapter 11, you know what's going down in this chapter. So please prepare yourself. And if you are easily grossed out or made queasy by the mention of bloodshed… this is your warning. In this chapter, justice will be served.

Disclaimer: See previous chapters… cos I don't feel like writing one here. Y'all know I don't own Frozen.

Chapter 12

The Capital Punishment

The Castle was in shambles.

Ash and smoke still filled the air of the halls as the repair teams worked tirelessly to rebuild what had been damaged by the war.

The dungeon had reached its full capacity, guarded day and night by snow golems and Krvstall. Weselton and Hans' men awaited their judgement uneasily, for it had been three full days since they had been told that the Queen and Princess were deliberating their sentences with the council.

The town had not fared much better than the castle. Raids and fires had left families shaken and without homes, though the Queen quickly took that matter into her own hands. The castle had been opened, the grand hall set up as a dining room where hot food was given and the many extra bedrooms used for those whose houses were being rebuilt.

As for the spirits of the people, a victory had been won against their enemies. However, the Queen had yet to clear the snow and many were grieving the loss of their loved ones. But every day, without fail, the Queen and Princess descended from the castle to speak and comfort their people, attending every last funeral and making sure that the bereaved families of the deceased had everything they needed and more.

Inside the castle halls, other than the hustle and bustle of the staff and workmen, the air was ominous and thick with tension that war brings. And many were worried, for other than meetings and visits to the town, their beloved Princess was not seen in wandering the halls of the Castle as was the norm. She took her meals in her rooms, her only visitors Gerda and the Queen, and her pained sobs could be heard through the night.

Yes, it seemed that their lighthearted Princess Anna was one of their greatest casualties of war.

And it was one that would be greatly avenged.

For in a cell in the deepest part of the dungeon, isolated from all others, hung the auburn haired prince that was responsible for Arendelle's greatest loss, his wrists and ankles shackled to the cold stone wall, the door to his cell iced shut and guarded by none other than one of the Queen's own creations.

His fate, unlike that of his me, had already been decided.

Death.

But not before he was subjected to forms of torture that he could never have imagined, even in his worst nightmares.

After every round, the Queen's cold words echoed in his ears.

'If you have hurt her in any way, you will die. A slow, painful death.'

After three days of torture, he couldn't wait to die.

And he supposed that that was exactly what the Queen wanted.

X

Elsa slipped into Anna's room carrying her sisters' dinner: warm beef broth, freshly baked bread, and a cup of tea. It worried her that Anna was eating so little. Her sister was known for her healthy appetite, but in only a few days she had grown very thin.

The reason angered her. To a point where she almost marched down to the dungeon right then and there to impale that disgusting excuse for a man with an icicle.

But she would wait. She would wait because it needed to be done.

His execution was scheduled for the next morning. He was to be beheaded. And she herself was to be the one to do it.

She had never in her life killed another human being. She had never wanted to as badly as she did now. For if Hans death meant that she would get her Anna back, -the Anna that could light up a room by simply being in it, the Anna that could make her laugh out loud no matter how much work she had to do, the Anna that had won her heart- then she would kill him a million times over.

She sighed, shaking the morbid thoughts from her head as she approached Anna, who was sitting by the window, rocking gently in their mother's rocking chair, her hands folded in her lap and her head turned toward the window.

Her eyes blank.

"Anna…" Elsa said softly so as not to startle the girl, smiling as warmly and brightly as she could manage when Anna turned to face her. "Dinner time..." She placed the tray on the table next to Anna and lowered herself in front of the redhead, taking Anna's hands in her own and pressing light kisses to her knuckles. "Hello dear one…" she murmured onto Anna's skin, looking up into those aquamarine eyes that used to sparkle so vividly.

"Hey you…" Anna whispered, her fingers tracing Elsa's lips lightly before dropping her hands back into her lap. "I'm not hungry Elsa…" she murmured shakily.

"But you're going to eat for me, aren't you love?" Elsa whispered tenderly, squeezing Anna's hands gently. "At least the broth, if nothing else, yes?"

Anna sighed and then nodded after a few quiet moments. "Very well."

Elsa stood slowly, leaning in to press a kiss to Anna's forehead, surprised when the redhead tilted her head up and captured Elsa's lips instead.

The kiss was soft, tender, needing and almost melancholy, as if Anna was trying to find that part of herself that she had lost in Elsa. Elsa kissed Anna back, pouring all the love, compassion and comfort that she could into that one kiss.

When they pulled away, Elsa desperately searched Anna's eyes for that spark, her heart beating rapidly when Anna's eyes crinkled ever so slightly in a smile. The first smile Elsa had seen in what felt like forever. The tears came unannounced, rolling down Elsa's cheeks slowly as she wiped Anna's cheeks of her own tears. "I love you Anna…" she whispered, leaning their foreheads together. "I love you with all that I am."

"I love you too Elsa…" Anna whispered in return. "And I'm so-"

Elsa hushed her gently, pressing a finger to Anna's light pink lips. "Don't you dare apologize Anna. You have nothing to apologize for… you have done nothing wrong my love."

Anna simply nodded, pressing another kiss to Elsa's lips, making the Queen tremble with emotion. When they parted again, Elsa looked down at Anna and smiled warmly, her heart skipping two beats at Anna's next words.

"So, how 'bout that broth?"

X

"By Royal Decree: All traitors to the Sovereign Crown of Arendelle shall henceforth be hung by the neck until dead. Hans, Prince of the Southern Isles, charged with high treason, unspeakable harm, attempted murder and other heinous crimes against the Crown has been henceforth sentenced to immediate death by beheading. All charges and sentences have been approved by the Sovereign Queen of Arendelle and are therefore unbreakable, lest it be by further Royal Decree."

X

Anna awoke especially early the next morning. She had not been able to sleep well for three days and last night had been no exception.

But today, everything would end.

She dressed as was proper for a Queen to dress for an execution, for despite Elsa's protests and pleas, she would attend. She would sit and watch each execution with a brave face. And she would finally achieve the closure she believed she needed.

The peace her mind had been searching for.

She slipped out of her room and walked down the hall, admiring how far the workmen had come with the repairs to the walls of the Castle. Her heels clicked softly on the floors of the grand hall and she stopped in the kitchen for a glass of water before making her way to her final destination.

The dungeon.

Elsa did not know she was coming here. She would have forbade it in an instant.

But Anna needed to see him. Look him in the eye as he explained to her why he had done something so cruel, taken that which was so precious to her and not simply in the physical sense. She and Elsa had been planning to consummate very soon, and Anna had taken things into her own hands once before. She was only a virgin in the strictest sense.

But he had taken her dignity.

And that meant more to her than anything. Her sense of self, self-worth, had been throw into the dirt with one simple act.

And she needed to know why.

And perhaps, a very small part of her hoped that he would apologize. Or that he wouldn't, so that she could convince herself that he truly deserved to lose his life in such a gruesome and public way.

She unlocked the door to the dungeon, grasping the key in her hand tightly as she descended the stone staircase and the heavy door closed behind her. It smelled of sweat and blood and anguish and Anna did everything in her power not the return the little she had in her stomach as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Anna."

Anna startled and turned towards the voice, sighing in relief when she saw Elsa step out of the shadows wearing a simple white linen shirt and black leather riding pants and boots. "Elsa… for goodness sakes, you scared me half to death."

"What are you doing here Anna?" Elsa asked gravely, her voice hoarse.

"I-I…" Anna stuttered, swallowing thickly as her stomach turned. "I need to see him Elsa. I need this."

Elsa sighed deeply and nodded, stepping forward to pull Anna into a tight embrace. "Very well… but I shall come with you," she murmured softly. "A dungeon is no place for a lady."

Anna had to giggle at that. "Oh? And what may I ask, are you?"

"I am the Queen," Elsa said with a small smirk, as if that explained everything.

Anna simply shook her head, though she was thankful for the light playful banter that had been sorely lacking between them. She missed it. She missed simply being with Elsa and she missed being herself with Elsa.

But all that would soon pass and everything would be as it once was.

As it was supposed to be.

They walked down the dimly lit corridor, passing the doors of the cells. Anna could hear nothing inside of them, and she assumed that the men had been taken out to prepare for execution and have their final meal.

"The final meal was kind of you Anna," Elsa said softly, answering the question on her mind. "They will eat like kings…"

"And die like the bastards they all are," Anna finished, the harshness of her own voice surprising her. Through everything she never felt bitter. But she tasted the bitterness of her words in that statement. And she didn't like that.

"Are you alright dear one?" Elsa asked, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and squeezing softly.

Anna sighed deeply and nodded, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. "I would just like for this entire day to be over and done with," she replied, wrapping her arms around herself. She looked down at the cobblestone floor and wondered if maybe this whole thing had been a bad idea and she should've just stayed in her room all day.

She felt Elsa's hands on her forearms as she gently unwrapped them from her body and brought them up to her mouth, pressing those soft little kiss all over them that made Anna feel warm inside. She looked up at the blonde and sighed as Elsa leaned forward to kiss her.

The kiss was soft, not passionate, but reassuring, comforting, and safe. All of which Anna desperately needed to feel at that moment.

When they pulled apart, Elsa rested her forehead against Anna's, looking down at her with those deep blue eyes of hers. "I'm going to be with every second of today until it passes. I promise you that dear one. You are not alone in this."

Anna nodded once, tilting her head up to press a shorter kiss to Elsa's lips. "What would I do without you Els," she whispered, her eyes still closed as she savored their closeness for a moment, before pulling away once more.

"You don't have to do this Anna…" Elsa said softly.

"Yes," Anna said as they approached the icy door that led to Hans' cell. "I do."

X

Pain.

That's all Hans could register for the past three days.

Excruciating pain.

Sometimes it was hot, other times it was cold. Sometimes it seemed to last for hours on end, growing in intensity until he simply blacked out. Other times it was quick and exceptionally cruel, leaving him in shock.

He had been whipped, flogged, burned, cut and beaten within an inch of his life for three days. And it would always end at when he was right at the verge, when he could almost taste death. Then it would stop and he would be brought back into this wretched cell, left to hang there with only enough water to keep him alive.

If this could be called living.

And now, and the day of his execution, he finally felt relief. Relief in knowing that soon it would all be over.

Soon, he'd be able to rest.

His head shot up as the familiar sound of defrosting ice met his ears, his eyes trained on the iron door as it slowly opened.

He would have never guessed in his wildest dreams that Anna would ever walk through that door, her head held high, looking extremely pretty. All dressed up to watch his execution no doubt.

"Come to visit the dead?" he rasped, meeting Anna's eyes. It was incredible, the compassion he found there. Even after all he'd done, intended to do, this girl, this woman could still find it in herself to feel sympathy for him.

"You're not dead…" Anna replied softly, her voice neutral.

"Yet," Hans finished. "Or have you come to laugh at the self-proclaimed King of Arendelle," he wondered, scoffing at himself.

"Neither," Anna replied evenly, her voice as soft as silk and it managed to soothe him.

"Then what do you want?" he asked softly, finally catching sight of Elsa in the corner of the room. He kept his tone even and low, careful not to anger the Queen for he now knew what she was capable of. "There must be a reason you would willingly enter the cell of the biggest criminal in all of Arendelle."

"I don't hate you Hans," Anna said, making him shudder. He so wished that she would hate him. "Despite everything you've done, I can't find it in my heart to hate you, and I won't for I learned that hate can be so destructive, especially to oneself."

"I do not deserve your pity," Hans replied.

"No you don't," Anna conceded. "But you have it, and I want something in return."

Hans met the Princess's eyes once more, confused. What could he possibly have that she would want?

"Why Hans?"

"Why…?"

"Why did you do it?"

"I wanted Arendelle."

"That's not what I'm asking about."

And then realization hit him. Anna wanted to hear from his mouth an explanation for why he had forced himself on her. His eyes fell once more.

"Why, when you practically had Arendelle in your grasp, would you do that to me?"

His heart clenched when he heard her voice waver, the first sign of emotion from her since she had walked into his cell.

"Why didn't you just kill me?"

"Because I wanted you…" Hans replied softly. "The only thing I didn't have was you…" He looked up. "I had your kingdom, your castle, your throne and your fortune. I had the loyalty of your men and the fear of your people… but I didn't have you. And in the end… I suppose that's all I wanted."

Anna looked shocked, horrified. But at the same time, she also looked relieved. And finally, after a long while, she spoke. "You will die with the memory of what you did to me on your conscious… but I want you to know that I forgive you."

Hans thought that he had already endured the worst pain imaginable. But to hear that… that Anna had forgiven him for what he had done… it was the worse form of torture.

At least he wouldn't have to live with it too long.

When he lifted his head, he realized that Anna had left and that the Queen still stood in the room. "Are you here to continue your torture?" he asked.

"I received a letter from your father regarding your burial. We are sending the dead troops home so that they are buried on their home land. When we asked him if he would like to receive your body…"

"He declined," Hans guessed. "So you're here to remind me of what a disgrace I am, so much so that my own family does not want to have me."

"No," the Queen replied. "I am here… to ask how and where you would like to buried."

Hans lifted his head, meeting the Queen's cold blue eyes. "Why?"

"Because Anna wishes it," the Queen replied. "And I find no harm in it."

Hans shook his head and sighed deeply. "I wish to be cremated, and for my ashes to be spread at sea," he replied softly. He'd always had fond memories of the sea.

"It will be done as you wish," the Queen said neutrally.

"Thank you… I don't deserve your consideration…" Hans said softly.

"Yes well," the Queen replied. "Even the lowest of men receives a proper burial. The guards will be in shortly to accompany you to your last meal and to prepare you for the execution."

Hans nodded, bowing his head respectfully as the Queen exited his cell, the door closing with finality.

His time was coming to an end.

And it couldn't come quickly enough.

X

"The Queen says that the exem-acutions are today Olaf."

"Really! Oh! Can we go? Wait… what's an exem-acution?"

Gerda chuckled despite herself at the conversation. "It's execution dear. And you are both to stay in the castle today."

"What's an exe-cution Gerda?" asked Liam. "And how come we can't go?"

Gerda sighed and opened her mouth to explain as Elsa and Anna walked into the room. "Your Majesties…" she greeted with a bow, knowing that Anna was still not used to be referred to as 'Majesty' for the news of her being named Queen Regnant had not yet been announced to the people.

"Hello Gerda," greeted Elsa softly before crouching down to Liam's height and saying "An execution isn't fun Liam. It's where people who've done bad things are punished for them."

"You mean like being hunged or deheaded?" Liam asked innocently. Gerda sighed. She only wished that children could stay young and naïve forever. That they not learn of the pain that comes with living a world that could be wondrous but so cruel all at once.

Elsa nodded and stood straight. "Children are not permitted to attend. Which is why I need you to promise me that you and Olaf will stay here, in the Castle, where it's safe."

"Ok, we promise," Liam agreed and Gerda sighed as the Queen's lips curved into a small smile. It did them well to have children in the Castle once more.

"Good. Now run along and play," Elsa said gently, patting Liam on the back gently.

They watched the unlikely pair run off into the halls of the palace, their laughter filling the halls with a little light in those bleak times.

"When will the rest of the children be brought back from the retreats?" Gerda asked. "I know Liam misses his friends."

"As soon as the executions are finished and the palace repairs are complete," Anna replied. "We don't want to bring the children into a war riddled atmosphere. Liam has already seen enough for one hundred children."

Elsa nodded. "The palace repairs are almost through, as are the repairs in town. Once everything is finished, or at least close to it, we will have a festival to bring the people's spirits up once again and to welcome the children into their new orphanage."

Gerda frowned as Elsa's face fell.

"But now to the matter at hand I suppose…"

X

Ten.

Ten nooses spanned the length of the palace courtyard.

The people had already begun to gather, all wearing black, all silent and all seeking justice.

A platform had been set up in front of the thrones with the beheading stone and the Sword that had been passed down the line of rulers of Arendelle. The Sword used only for this purpose. It had been shined and sharpened, and its hilt glimmered brightly from where it was sheathed by the stone.

Ten.

Ten minutes until the executions began.

X

"Charged with high treason, unspeakable harm, attempted murder and other heinous crimes against the Crown and sentenced to death by beheading: Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. May God have mercy on your soul."

Anna watched as Elsa stepped up onto the platform and unsheathed The Sword, holding it at ready as the Minister said a prayer for Hans' soul. She promised herself she wouldn't look away, but as Elsa lifted the sword and swung down with enough force for a whistle to be heard through the air, she turned away.

She couldn't watch.

X

Blood.

Lots and lots of blood.

Too much blood.

Elsa felt the bile rise in her throat as Hans lifeless body rolled off of the stone and onto the platform, his head now resting in a pool of his own blood. It had splattered a bit, landing on her dress, her gloves and her cheek and it took everything she had not to run into the palace and give up what she had eaten that morning.

It was done now.

"It's done," she murmured, looking away from the body and turning to the guard beside her. "Make sure his body is taken care of. Exactly the way we discussed."

"Yes ma'am."

She handed the other guard the now bloodied sword and walked over to the tent that had been set up for Anna and herself. Not able to look at Anna just yet, she removed her gloves and tossed them to the ground, thankful that she had decided to wear a black dress and grabbed the cloth by the pitcher of water that had been brought out for them, wetting it and wiping her face, neck and hands.

Though no amount of scrubbing could remove the thoughts running through her head.

'You killed him. He's dead. You killed him. He's dead. You killed him. He's dead.'

"Elsa…"

Elsa turned to finally face Anna, their eyes locking immediately and she took her sister's outstretched hand.

"It's ok now Elsa. It's done."

Elsa sighed, taking a deep breath as she took a seat, hand never leaving Anna's as the executions continued.

X

Soon, the executions came to an end. Each soldier was wrapped in a sackcloth and put on a ship back to his country. The Queen melted the snow that still covered the grounds, and for the first time in four days, the sun shone down on the Kingdom of Arendelle. Its warmth slowly seeped back into the earth and the songs of the birds could be heard once again. For finally, there was peace.

And they all lived happily ever after…

Just kidding! Nope we're not exactly done yet. There's a town to repair, children to move into their new home… and did I hear someone say frick-frack?

I do owe you that, don't I? I believe you've waited long enough my lovelies. The next chapter is already well on its way to being completed and WILL be up very soon. On my honor. And I'm sad to say it, but our story will be coming to an end pretty soon. *wipes tear* They grow up so fast…

Hope you all liked these chapters. Please take it easy on me. I don't like to write war and I don't like to write death so if it didn't meet your standards… hey, take the prompt and go for it! I'd love to read your version. Also, I do not have a beta so all mistakes are mine though I do my best editing my own stuff…

And now that I'm done jabbering … I'll see you next time!

E.N.