This has been one of popular fics in the past, so naturally if I want to rewrite anything from my old account it would be this piece right here. I did tweak some parts and aspects from it but hopefully you guys still like it. Leave a review because it will prompt me to write and post the next chapters faster.

"Do you ever feel like a chess piece yourself? In a game being played against your will."

"Do you?"

"Constantly."

- Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the Young Victoria (2009)

"Her royal highness, Queen Elsa of Arendelle."

It still sounded unfamiliar for her, strange and nerve-wrecking, to hear the new title that she now has, replacing the one that she has born and grew up with, no matter how much preparation her parents had given to her years ago, how she had lived under the constant reminder that she would be Queen one day as it was her birth-right during her teenage years.

And then there was the matter of her marriage.

It was common for royals to be courted since young, to secure allies with other kingdoms for the sake of their own, and she was no exception.

Her parents had decided, had planned it long ago, and had told her of the subject at the age of eighteen that she would be wed to a Prince of a neighboring kingdom.

He was the youngest of thirteen sons, the only one who was unwed and is the closest to her in term of age, being only two years older than she was. Excelled at being Admiral, he was a young man that her parents had deemed worthy of having her hand in marriage.

The thought of marrying someone she had never met before, a blank face she couldn't even imagine of, added with the fact that she was born with magic; truly frightened her. Yet her parents had a very throughout plan up the sleeves of their clothing, had even arranged for her wedding to be held when she was at the age of twenty-one, a fitting and ripe age for a woman to wed.

They were supposed to be there, to witness when their eldest daughter was to be a man's wife, to assure her that she would not lose control, that her magic would do no harm to her husband.

They didn't.

The sailing trip across the sea, one that they had promised would be finished in the mere time of two weeks, had proven to be their doom when a harsh storm has taken their ship and everything on it down into the depth of the ocean.

The tragedy had left her and her young fifteen years old sister orphaned, grieving for the loss of their parents, yet Elsa could not bring herself to open the door and recoil her relationship with the younger sister, the fear of harming her with her power was too great for her to take the risk, as she felt that at that moment no gloves were thick enough to prevent the ice from within to rage out.

Three years had passed since then and she had reached the age to be crowned to be the new ruler and take over the responsibility of her kingdom into her own hands, and to marry just a week after her coronation was held.

Yet in that moment, she could finally see her sister again.

Anna has grown into a beautiful young woman with, from what Gerda has told her, a bright and bubbly personality; one that was a stark opposite of what the older has grown to be. Yet she had held herself back when they stood side by side, and should Elsa was to guess, she was as nervous as she to start a conversation.

Thus why she had initiate it, no matter how awkward it had started off.

Unfortunately though, it has to end when the Duke of Weselton had request to speak with her, prompting her to dismiss her sister, politely asking for her to leave for the time being. Anna had reluctantly nodded, walking away and mumbling something about getting herself some chocolate fondue.

"I heard that you will be married soon, Your Majesty."

A subject she did not wish to speak of, especially not to a nosy duke like he was, yet she really had no choice but to nod her head. "Yes, you heard correctly of it, to Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."

Marriage and courting between members of royal families was not something uncommon to find, it was a way to secure allies and strengthen one's kingdom; thus the Duke's curiosity of it was something to be frowned upon.

His beady eyes reflected the light of the room as he look at her with furrowed brows and narrowed eyes. "After spending your life inside closed gates, Your Majesty?"

Oh, of course it was her years of isolation that was truly the matter at hand that he wished to know. Sneaky little weasel.

"It is a private matter that I will not discuss." Her voice had turned stern, one that matched the title of Queen, as she had to show him where and who he was standing with, of his position as a guest. "Now excuse me and enjoy the party."

She had stepped down from the spot by her throne, had walked onto the dance floor where her guests had parted way to let her pass once they saw her, and her eyes could not help but wander.

Because somewhere among these people, there was the man that would soon become her husband, she was well aware of that. He was to attend her coronation like any other, as the representative of his kingdom, only for a week later to be wed to her.
Among these people, his face was hiding in plain sight.

Yet it seemed that he had no intention of approaching her, to introduce himself to her. She supposed it was pointless, as their fate has been tied together anyway, but she would want to at least know the face that she would see at the altar.

She found her way to the balcony, closing the doors behind her to ensure privacy before she stood by the railings, elbows resting on the stone surface of it. Yes, she understood why her parents would want her to fully devoted herself, mind and body, for the sake of her kingdom; it was the cost of being the firstborn of a royal family. Anna, on the other hand, had far less responsibilities if compared to her, yes she still received tutoring and studies, should something was to happen to her older sister and she had to step in instead, still it was not as heavy as what was put on Elsa's shoulders.

All she could hope for was for her future husband to be able to share the burden with her.

His eyes were green in color.

Having spent some time by herself out in the balcony, Elsa had returned back inside, knowing fully well that disappearing for too long could raise suspicion, people would notice her absence and would question about it, worse they would assume of her being an irresponsible.

Thus why she had returned back to the same spot she had been standing by, by her throne, where she could watch those inside the ballroom, the skirts that flared as ladies spun in a dance, servants going around offering drinks.

It was when he had approached then, bowing respectively before her, and she found herself in his company, at the very least for a few minutes. "Queen Elsa."

Nodding her head at him, she regarded him to stand back tall. "And may I know who you are?"

"Prince Hans of the Southern Isles, Your Majesty."

A blank face turned into a fully detailed one in a snap of her fingers. The mysterious Admiral, the figure that had been nothing but guesses and her mind's own rough sketch, had become fully known, alive and breathing, a true man standing right before her eyes.

"Prince Hans."

She had imagined him somewhat rough and buff, almost like pirates from her childhood stories, considering his title in the navy; it was the easiest for her to imagine him as.

He was neither of those.

The man was well-build and tall, at least a head taller than she, groomed into perfection with well-kept auburn hair and tailored suit, and should she paid closer attention she could see the freckles adoring his face from being under the sun frequently.

"Forgive me, for not approaching sooner." He bowed his head, prompting her eyebrow to rise at the coincidence that she had been looking for him earlier. "You had just taken my breath away back then."

Flattery, it was what he was full of, apparently. Perhaps it would have worked for other women, would have make their cheeks blushed and heart fluttered, but not she. "There is no point in sweet-nothings, Prince Hans; you have my hand in marriage already."

It was his turn to raise his eyebrow then, either out of curiosity for her dismissive words or the fact that she hadn't given him the reaction he would have expected, she could not tell. "Indeed I do." He nodded, green eyes flickering to meet her blue ones with a glint that had her almost raising her own brow. "Yet I still feel the need to prove myself worthy of it."

An ambitious man, and one who worked for what he want, a good trait to have for someone who she will have to be by her side in terms of ruling over her kingdom.

"Then you have a week for that."