I finally retire for the night, thankful my sister is safe. "Maybe Hans isn't so scary" plays in my head again. Of course he is. He took my sister and Kristoff. He's forcing me into a marriage with him, he is beyond scary.

He is terrifying.

But I did not want to worry Anna. I wanted to seem poised, and confident. I would not give Hans that satisfaction, I would not dare to let him, or let anyone know that I was afraid. When the ruler of a kingdom becomes fearful, people start to worry. I knew that people looked up to me, to make choices for them; I could not let them see me in fear. I would have to remain strong and act as thought the mere thought of marrying Hans did not make me want to become sick.

Just as I am about to lie down, Anna comes into my room in her pyjamas. "Can I sleep here?" She asks almost in tears. "Elsa please don't marry him" She comes and sits down on my bed before I get a chance to respond to her question. "Please Elsa, I don't want him living here; I'm afraid of him." Anna has her arms wrapped around her tiny form. "Elsa, he's an awful man, he hurt us." Anna lowers her head, sniffling. "He is going to hurt you too." Anna pauses "Please, Elsa. You can't marry him." She is practically begging me now. "Please Elsa, He's terrible!" Anna sobs holding onto me tightly. "Elsa I don't want to have to be afraid in my own home. Don't do this" She says again.

I wrap my arm around my sister. "It will be alright." I tell her. "You are safe here with me. Hans isn't going to hurt you again I promise." I smile softly. "You can stay with me tonight."

"Elsa, we can find another way, please I don't want you to be miserable."

"Anna, Hans has infiltrated our Guard, I do not know who is loyal to us anymore, and who Hans has convinced to be a part of his plans. I can not refuse his hand in marriage, they would hurt us. We can not leave the kingdom; Arendelle would suffer under Hans' rule."

Anna shakes her head slowly. "Elsa, you will be miserable married to Hans, if we leave….."

I cut Anna off right away. "If we leave Hans will kill our friends, our staff and he would ruin our kingdom. Sometimes we have to do what we fear the most. I have to ensure the safety of our kingdom. There is no way I can do that If we leave Arendelle."

Anna sighs deeply. "Alright" she says.

Even though Anna is next to me all night I don't sleep well. When I wake up, I'm exhausted. Anna is still asleep in my bed and I decide not to wake her for a while.

I Get dressed and do my hair in it's usual side braid. My crown sits on a little box in front of the vanity, I do not wear it everyday. But today was one of the days I was expected to wear it, Especially since we had company in the castle. I fixed it neatly into my hair, finished washing up and headed to my study to complete my work for the morning.

I walk into the study, my study. This will be the last day I sit in my desk, after becoming engaged I will no longer have as much power as I used too. Once we are married Hans will be able to make rules, proclamations and laws, he could even raise taxes and make or abolish trade deals and peace agreements. I take a seat at my desk and breathe deeply, I really have made quite the mess for myself.

"Your Majesty?" Kai opens the door slowly. "Your Guests are waiting downstairs for breakfast." He tells me. "There are last minute preparations for your event tonight that you have to tend to afterwards."

"Of course." I say. "I will be down right away." I finish writing and signing some papers and leave them sitting neatly on my desk. I really do not want to get up and attend breakfast. I wish that I did not have to face these people, people who came into Arendelle that I hardly knew. For Some of them, I had no idea where they came from or what their names were.

I walk to the dinning hall slowly. My heart feels as thought it may jump out of my chest sink into the ground beneath my feet. Each step I take becomes harder and harder to manage. I do not want to face my guests, or Hans. I do not want to fake my excitement and pretend that my engagement is a joyous occasion. I would rather go back to life alone, locked up in my room that marry Hans.

My guests stand to greet me, I take my place at the head of the table and greet my guests before taking my seat. The man beside me, whom I have not met before leans over towards me. "Queen Elsa, are you planning on getting married? You really can not expect to run a Kingdom without a man can you?" He asks.

I stare at him blankly. "That is none of your concern sir, Arendelle is a prosperous kingdom and I am sure of my capabilities."

"But you are a woman." He says

I hold my breath. "I am also the Queen, and I do ask that you respect me in my own kingdom."

The captain of the Guard, Henrik approaches him. "Sir, I must ask you to leave, we do not tolerate disrespectful behaviour towards or Monarch."

The man scoffs. "In my kingdom, a man would never be asked to leave a room." He gets up from his seat and turns to face Henrik

"Perhaps you should go back there." He says.

The man gives the both of us a distasteful look before walking out of the hall.

"Thank you, I should have just told him to leave myself. I just….. I'm nervous." I tell him. I met Henrik a long time ago. His father was the Captain of the Guard years ago; when our parents were still alive. He too died in the shipwreck along with our parents. They had all been travelling together. Henrik and I used to play together as children when our parents would hold meetings; before I was locked away.

He smiles softly. "I know what is going on, I will be watching you closely. You let me know if you need me, although I am sure you are capable." He leaves before I have a chance to respond and takes up his position along the north wall of the dining hall, overlooking the crowd.

I watch my guests eat, not bothering to take a bite of food myself. One by one they slowly finish their meals and the staff clear the food from the table.

"Is the meal not to your liking, Your Majesty? Should I have the kitchen staff prepare something else for you?"

"No thank you." I say slowly moving ever so slightly out of the way so the girl can pick up my plate. "Please bring some tea up to my study. I have some business matters to tend to before tonight's event."

I stand and face the table dismissing my guests before walking out of the hall.

Several members of the council are waiting for me, I have yet to inform them of my announcement. None of them know that I plan to reveal my engagement to Hans this evening, none of them have even noticed the ring that I so regrettably wear on my finger.

"Queen Elsa, everything Is all set for this evenings ball." One said "The kitchen staff are finishing the food and drink menu up as we speak, the music has been approved and the performers are ready for tonight…. We understand that you are going to be making quite the announcement? Is there anything you will be requiring for that?"

"No, everything seems to be in order. Thank you, now I must get back to work. I have got some important papers to finish before the ball tonight and I must get them done as soon as possible. Please, leave me be now."

I sit alone at my desk for a couple hours, until It is time to go get ready for the night. Gerda Is waiting for me in my room. "Elsa, darling lets get you ready!" She smiles softly. "Such a beautiful dress." I know that she is aware of the situation, she seems to be trying to keep me happy. I appreciate the effort and do not have the heart to tell her that nobody, no matter how cheerful could make the best of this situation.

She helps me into the dress and I sit patiently as she fixes my hair. "You look beautiful." She tells me.

I can not help but start to cry, I don't want to do this. "Thank you." I whisper Anna comes into my room, already in her dress, she looks incredible but she doesn't look happy.

I slowly stand and walk towards Anna "You have to be convincing." I tell her. "Be happy for me, or the guests won't believe us."

Anna looks at me sadly. "Are you sure we can't just run now?" She asks.

"As much as I would like to leave the kingdom with you Anna, I have to stay In Arendelle."

Anna and I walk alongside each, the ballroom is already full of chatter. The crowd makes it incredibly warm and congested. Something I believe I will never become accustomed to. Music plays loudly and the staff severe food and drinks to the guests. Anna stands at my side, and we just watch. We watch as people laugh and dance, we watch the most reserved guests standing on the sidelines sipping their glasses of wine.

"I never thought I would be so displeased to be at a party." Anna whispered to me. "I wonder If we will ever have another one? Do you suppose Hans will keep the both of us locked up?"

I give her a nervous smile. "Please try and have a good time, alright? I have yet to see him. Hopefully he's drowned on that ship of his." I paused for a moment and noticed that Anna seemed to look quite nervous. Her face was full of worry. "Try not to think about him Anna, I will try my best to keep him away from you."

It has been a few hours into the night and I have yet to see any sign of Hans. "Maybe he isn't going to show." Anna comes up to me she's holding her dress in her hands so she doesn't trip on the bottom.

Before I could reply, a guard taps me on the shoulder. He grabs my arm and whispers in my ear. "Come with me please." I follow him out into the hallway, confused at first. Then I see Hans, dressed in a new suit, much fancier as it looked quite a bit more extravagant that the one he wore to my coronation a year prior.

"Hello, Elsa." He said smiling. "It's nice to see you again." He smirked

"I can not say the same for you Prince Hans." I tell him.

Hans glares at me. "There will be no tolerance this disrespectful behaviour of yours Elsa." He said "I suggest that this be the last time you speak to me like that with such discontent, or I will make it the last time. Are we clear?"

"Crystal" I say regrettably."

Now, It is time to make your announcement" he picked up my hand and inspected the ring. "You will make your announcement, I will join you and the front of the room. You shall act as thought this is the best night of your life. You will convince them you are madly in love with me. Understand?" He said looking down at me.

"Yes." I say softly nodding.

"Good." Hans lets go of my Hand. "Now, go make your announcement. I will be waiting."

I return to the ballroom and tell Kai that I am ready to make my announcement to the party guests. I take my spot at the front of the room. Anna is speaking to kristoff in the corner.

"Ahem, Her Majesty Queen Elsa of Arendelle has gathered you all here today for a very special announcement. Please, give her your attention."

I step forwards nervously, my hands shake. "I have brought you all here today, not only for this ball; but for a very special announcement. It is with great pleasure to share with you that I'm engaged." Elsa smiled. "To prince Hans of the southern isles. We shall soon be married and I would like all of you to attend our wedding."

I watch Hans come out of the crowd as the guests clap and offer loud cries of congratulations. Hans wraps his arms around me, he leans in towards me and kisses my cheek. "I am so pleased I will be able to take Elsa as my wife."

His arm is wrapped tightly around me, he keeps his arm around me the entire night. Keeping me close as we speak to the guests. I rarely ever get a word in as we walk around and greet them.

The same man comes up to us, the one that was asked to leave at breakfast. "So you have found a man Queen Elsa. You're lucky, I do not suspect your Kingdom would have lasted very long without one."

Hans looked at him, with the same distasteful look Henrik had. "Who may I ask are you to speak to my future wife with such utter disrespect?" He asks

"Lord Aryn of the Northern Isles." He responds "Where I live, the women are for nothing more than producing heirs and looking pretty at a mans side."

"Well, Lord Aryn I believe that your values do not match that of Arendelles. You should learn to respect women."

When I heard Hans speak, all I wanted to do was scream. I wanted to scream that he was a liar, that he was just playing a game; acting. He was trying to make himself sound believable; like he really cared for me.

I knew better, I knew he did not.