A/N: This is technically a prequel to a Helsa story I'm writing with tumblr user blue-pixiedust on our RP blogs. The chapter titles are stories by Hans Christian Andersen.

Rain from the storm that tossed the ship on the waves found no resistance from the bars the bars that separated the prince from the rest of the deck. The relentless deluge soaked him through, chilling his skin and preventing him from feeling any warmth. He had sailed through worse when he commanded a ship which despite only being a few days prior felt as though it was a distant dream he would give anything to return to.

Hans could feel eyes on him as he sat hugging his knees but refused to look up. The ship had been docked for over an hour, giving time for his family to have been informed of his stupidity. Heavy footfalls that vibrated the wood beneath him and stopped just before his cell told him what he needed to know, "Get up, Johannes," the disgust in his eldest brother's voice was almost tangible.

"Viljar," the thirteenth said with a sarcastic smile as he got to his feet, "What a pleasant surprise."

The eldest prince was a bit shorter than his youngest brother, his shoulders weren't as broad, but they shared the same pointed nose and the family's peridot eyes. His dark blond hair was slicked back and his bright red suit perfect. Viljar ordered the cell door open with a scowl on his stern face and the guards pulled Hans forward by the jacket out onto the deck "Put him in irons and throw him in the carriage," he ordered as he walked past them and headed down the gangplank.

"Johannes," his mother Queen Adelaide pleaded from the other side of the bars, tears streaming down her face causing her makeup to run, "what happened?"

Her son sat against the cold stone wall of the dungeon cell with his elbows on his knees and irons around his wrists, "Everything went wrong," he said quietly without turning to look at her.

It brought a smile to the prince's face as he rode his horse down the pier. Everyone in the capital seemed almost overly excited about their new queen's coronation, "I bet they're both beautiful!" a little girl said as she sat on her father's shoulders.

"Nobody outside of the castle has seen them in thirteen years," he laughed, "They could look like trolls."

The prince raised a brow. He had been aware that the royal family of Arendelle was reclusive, but he didn't fully understand the extent; it explained why he had been called in from the sea to attend this event as the representative of his kingdom: his brothers couldn't be bothered.

He was torn from his thoughts when a girl collided with Sitron's chest, falling into a small boat that nearly slid into the harbor, but was thankfully stopped by the great horse's hoof, "Oh, I'm so sorry! Are you hurt?" Hans asked with concern.

"No, no, I'm okay," the strawberry blonde girl responded with a surprising smile.

"Are you sure?" he asked as he dismounted and stepped forward to help her stand.

"Yeah, yeah, I just wasn't looking where I was going, but I'm great actually."

"Oh thank goodness," he leaned closer and offered her hand as well as a charming smile. She had a pretty face and struggled to keep his anxiety in check for a moment before helping her to her feet. The youngest prince of the Southern Isles had never been able to keep a cool head around women, "Oh, Prince Hans of the Southern Isles," he gave a small bow and offered her the name his nanny had given him rather than the full name he had only heard from those who despised him.

"Princess Anna of Arendelle," the girl returned with a curtsy.

"Princess? My lady!" he immediately fell to one knee after realizing the gravity of the mess he had created. Unfortunately, Sitron felt the need to mimic the gesture releasing the pressure on the bow causing the pair to stumble towards the stern and the water below, "Woah! Woah! Woah!" he yelled as his one hand gripped the side of the tiny vessel and the other held her waist.

"Woah! Hi, again," she said obviously unsure of what to do in that situation. Sitron looked up and quickly stood, reapplying the pressure to the bow. The sudden shift tossed the prince and princess in the opposite direction causing Hans to land on his back and Anna to land on top of him.

"Oh, boy."

"This is awkward," the princess said as she pushed herself off of his chest, "Not that you're awkward! Just cause we're…I'm awkward, "she babbled nervously as she completely removed herself from him, "You're gorgeous…wait, what?"

"I'd like to formally apologize for hitting the princess of Arendelle with my horse," he smiled as she adjusted his clothes and offered her his hand to help her to her feet again, "and for every moment after."

"No, no, no, it's fine. I'm not THAT princess," she said as she walked around him, "Oh, hello," she turned and scratched Sitron's chin briefly, "If you had hit my sister Elsa it would have been yeesh! Cause, you know, but lucky for you it's it's just me."

"Just you?" he asked with a disbelieving smile. She was a beautiful girl! A princess! And, much to his surprise, seemed to be attracted to him!

The two stared at one another for a moment until the sound of church bells broke her from her trance, "The bells! The coronation! I…I…I have to go! I better go! Uhh, bye!" Hans, and unfortunately Sitron, waved to the princess in return causing the prince and the boat to fall into the water.

Inside the modest guest room he looked over his options for the ceremony and ball. This was his chance, everything had to be perfect.

Dozens of stories and fairytales filled his memory as he looked them all over. Each story was a promise of the 'happily ever after' he so desperately wanted; the wicked were pushed, the good hearted were rewarded, and everything negative told to the protagonist about themselves turned out to be a lie.

He caught his reflection in the mirror and frowned. The princes in the tales were flawless. None were described as ginger-pated, freckled, with thin lips and large ears. They were more like his brothers: dark-haired or blond with a spotless complexion. Hans took in a deep breath and reminded himself that they weren't there and he was! He may not be rescuing the princess, but technically Cinderella's prince didn't rescue her, she really rescued herself, and Beauty saved the beast and even in those stories the prince lived happily ever after.

His brothers weren't there to mock or belittle him so he actually had the opportunity he had always been denied. He could dance and, since she seemed rather awkward herself, hopefully charm her. Only two of the fifteen members of his immediate family cared for him, but his crew and the castle staff always had and he prayed she was more like the latter.

The thirteenth prince finally decided on the outfit that best complemented what he knew the princess would be wearing. Drawers, shirt, socks, trousers, boots, waistcoat, cravat, tailcoat, boots, and gloves each item was a layer of armor between himself and the world around him. Since childhood he had used clothing this way, a way to hind in public; it hid his scars, most of his freckles, and gave him some kind of control in at least one aspect of his life. Only with people he trusted was he willing to remove even a piece of it and only alone would he ever fully disrobe.

The pews were crowded and Hans was quite thankful for Arendelle's mild summers; had he been back in Baltia he would have been sweating profusely.

Without his glasses the faces at the altar were blurry, but there was no doubt the strawberry blonde blur in the green gown was Princess Anna and he raised his hand to offer a slight wave as the man next to him fell asleep on his shoulder. She offered a small wave back and he couldn't help the excitement in his chest; the blonde blur next to her he assumed to be her sister.

He held his fifth glass of champagne in hand as he made his way through the crowd generally unnoticed. Suddenly he caught sight of her and maneuvered his way over. To his horror she had tripped on her skirt and was falling backwards as he arrived. His hand shot out and took hers, "Glad I caught you," he smiled as he set the glass on the tray of a passing waiter and pulled her to stand and moved into a dance.

"We spent the rest of the evening laughing and flirting. I had never felt like that before. She actually enjoyed my company, she had fun with me! A lovely princess was interested in me! Between the champagne, the chocolate fondue, and the high of infatuation I stupidly proposed."

"Johannes..." there was sympathy in his mother's voice. She knew all too well her son's awkwardness with women; she had witnessed it repeatedly at various balls held at the palace.

"We went to tell her sister and ask for her blessing…"

He was happier than he could ever remember. She liked him! She had agreed to marry him! He could bring his mother and Klaus and never have to set foot in Baltia or see the rest of his family ever again!

They came up to what had looked like a mass of purple until they were up close, "Elsa! Elsa! Um… I mean… Your majesty. May I present Prince Hans of the Southern Isles," the queen turned to face them and his world stopped. Anna was a pretty girl, but Elsa was an angel on earth: hair of spun gold, skin of moon beams, and she had the universe in her eyes. His heart pounded and his stomach fluttered in a way he had never felt before. In the brief moment before Anna spoke, he had seen his entire life with the women that now stood in front of him: a whirlwind courtship, a wedding, blonde and red headed children running through the halls of the castle.

What had he done?

"I realized in that moment that what I felt for Anna wasn't love if another woman could affect my heart so, but what could I do? Anna asked her to bless the marriage, I did as well, and it was a great relief when Elsa denied it. Anna was upset and pursued Elsa as she walked away. Elsa was obviously growing more stressed by the second, her body language said that much, but that's when she revealed her magic. A ring of ice spikes surrounded her in protection. She was terrified and ran out of the castle, freezing the fjord and plunging the kingdom into a second winter.

Anna went after her and left me behind to take care of the kingdom. I did everything I could to make sure the citizens had blankets, hot food, and adequate shelter. The Duke of Weselton was trying his best to stop me saying I was 'giving away all of Arendelle's tradable goods.'

While I was handing out blankets Anna's horse returned without her. I took a group of volunteers from the castle guard and Wesleton's guards with me to find her, but we found Elsa instead."

The prince sat in awe of the magnificent palace of ice that now stood before him. It looked as though she had pulled the stars from the night sky to make it. As they neared it a monstrous creature made of ice and snow rose from the ground; Hans and the men dismounted to fight the beast. The prince was an excellent swordsman, but the creature was faster than its size let on. He barely dodged several blows before seeing an opening and slicing through its leg. As the creature fell into the chasm that separated them from the palace it tried desperately to take Hans with it, but he managed to keep his hold on the icy bridge that crossed the void and was pulled up by the castle guard.

Hans stormed into the castle followed by the guards, but halted immediately, throwing his arms wide to stop the men behind him. Golden green eyes went wide when he fully took in what he was seeing: Queen Elsa stood in the center of the room with one of the Duke's guards pinned to the wall, an ice spike ready to pierce his throat and the other guard was inches from being pushed off a ledge into the chasm Hans had barely escaped falling into. He had to stop her from making a mistake that would both condemn her and haunt her for the rest of her life, "Queen Elsa! Don't be the monster they fear you are!" she turned to him with seething rage that softened to the fear it was masking and the ice stopped moving. A small noise the caught the prince's ear and he turned to find the guard pinned to the wall had raised his crossbow. Instinctively he dashed over and grabbed the weapon, pointing it at the ceiling as the bolt was released. His actions prevented the queen's death, but it caused a massive ice chandelier to fall over her head. Elsa ran to avoid being crushed by her own creation, but wasn't fast enough to avoid it entirely and her unconscious body fell to the icy floor.

The guards freed Wesleton's men as Hans walked over and to the shock of all present lifted her into his arms like a bride with no sign of fear or hesitation.

"What are you doing?!"

"She's going to kill you!"

"We have to kill her now while we can!"

The prince ignored their cries as he carried her out of the ice palace, "I won't let them kill you," he said softly to the angelic woman in his arms. The hand not holding Sitron's reigns brushed a piece of hair from her face.

He paced outside the cell waiting for the sounds of her stirring. Upon their return the duke and others had insisted on her execution while Hans steadfastly defended her; there had to be another way to end the winter. The dungeon was a compromise he was forced to accept; the fact there were shackles specifically designed to completely cover her hands was not lost on him. They had to have been commissioned by her parents before their passing. They had feared her. No wonder she thought herself a monster. The sounds of chains rattling broke him from his thoughts and he pushed open the cell door.

"I begged her to stop the winter, but the fear in her eyes as she told me she couldn't led me to the same conclusion as the rest; I had to kill her to save her kingdom. I left to discuss things with the other dignitaries when Princess Anna was brought into the library where I was. I rushed over immediately and caught her as she stumbled. Her hair was mostly white and she was begging me to kiss her. I asked her what had happened and everyone cleared out of the room leaving us alone.

I carried her to the couch and laid her down. She told me Elsa had frozen her heart after swearing to me Elsa would never hurt her before she left to find her. Then she explained that only an act of true love could thaw her heart."

Adelaide nervously bit her lip as she recalled all the stories she and Link would read to him as a child, "True love's kiss."

"I knew that I didn't love her and she was going to die because of it. Her parents were dead, her sister had betrayed her, and I was all she had left. I was so angry at Elsa for what was happening, but terrified as well. I was left in charge, I was supposed to protect them, I was given the chance to be the heroic prince and I had failed. I couldn't face kissing her; I couldn't face that failure, the proof that I was never going to be a hero, that happy endings don't happen to people like me. In a moment of cowardice, I…I become one of them," he hung his head and squeezed his knees.

She gasped and covered her mouth, "You didn't…"

"I pulled away and told her what they had said to me so many times. I looked right in her searching blue eyes and said 'Oh Anna, if only there was someone out there who loved you.'" That phrase haunted them both; their father and brothers had said it harm them, the staff had said it as a statement of pity, and he had used out of fear. "I then made up a lie saying that I had come to Arendelle to marry Elsa and take the throne, but since she was so reclusive I had settled for her and had planned on killing Elsa to take the throne. I put out every source of heat in attempt to not prolong her suffering, and left her to die alone," he sobbed heavily into his knees.

"Is the snow queen a monster, Johannes?" Adelaide asked, confused by her in the story he had just recalled.

"No, mother I am," he said as he wiped his nose with his handkerchief, the sound of rattling chains making his mother's lip quiver, "but I don't consider her above responsibility either. She put thousands of lives at risk for slow, painful deaths, ran instead of trying to save them, froze her sister's heart, and yet she receives no repercussions for her actions. She is celebrated by her kingdom, loved by the people she left to die, and I am here. I have no idea what punishment awaits me, but I doubt it will be light. All because I tried to save her people," he pushed a heavy sigh out of his pointed nose, "I did make mistakes. What I did to Princess Anna I can never forgive myself for. I let my own cowardice control me instead of facing my own failure. For that I will deserve whatever is chosen for me."