Chapter 9: Princess Hanna of the Southern Isles

No one had said a word for the past five minutes. Everyone had just been staring at Hans in absolute shock. So many thoughts were going through Elsa's mind at the moment that she could barely even conjure up anything to say.

"Ahem... is everything all right??" Asked Hans suddenly as he set the wooden spoon down in the bucket full of water with furrowed brows. He had been hoping someone would at least say something instead of staring at him drink.

Elsa was the first to blink and shake her head as if she was trying to wake up from a deep sleep. "Hans... can you repeat what you just said??"

He blinked. "Uhh, is everything all right—"

"No, no. Not that, the thing before that." Said Elsa cutting him off.

"Oh, about Hanna?" Said Hans.

"Y-yes. Hanna." She muttered the name as if it was a curse.

"What about her?" He shrugged.

It may have been how at ease he was about the whole situation that caused Elsa to curl her nose in frustration and collide her fist with his arm in the most clumsy matter. "Oww! What was that for!?" He exclaimed as he grabbed his right arm.

"Why didn't you ever tell me you had a twin sister!?" She exclaimed in frustration with her hands raised in the air, only to immediately start massaging her sore knuckles and hiss. She hadn't ever used her fist like that, now she understood why she never did.

"You never asked." He said rubbing his right arm before setting it down, only to be met with another fist to his arm, this time from Honeymaren, her punch was a lot more impactful and had obvious training in the swing.

"Owww! What the—"

"No wonder you could tell that Ryder and I were twins, because you are one too!" Exclaimed Honeymaren with a annoyed expression. Ryder, on the other hand, still had a confused one on his.

"Well yeah, I mean it was pretty obvious." He said rubbing his right arm again. Usually a punch from a woman didn't hurt him, unless that woman was his sister Hanna. But after having a viscous beat down with Tadashi even a small child could leave him sore.

"Wow... a twin sister?? How exciting!" Exclaimed a giddy Rhanda.

Elsa sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Don't you think that valuable little piece of information would be important to know in the beginning, Hans." She said before looking up at him again. "Why would you even think of keeping this from us??"

"Wait, hold on." Said Hans raising his hands in defense. "Technically I never kept this information from you."

"You never mentioned you had a sister!" Retaliated Elsa.

"You never asked." He spat back with arrogant shrug. "Besides, it's not my fault you didn't catch it, my whole family tree is written in that book." He said pointing to the large navy blue book that still sat open on her lap.

"Okay, okay. Let's just... brainstorm this for a second Said Ryder now able to speak up. "Elsa has mentioned to us that you had a brother of yours set you free, correct??"

"It wasn't any of my brothers, it was Hanna." Said Hans with furrowed brows.

"Yeah well that's obvious now." Replied Elsa bitterly as she crossed her arms over her chest with her leg on top of the other regally. "And here I thought it was Lars. After all, you did mention that you got along with him the most."

"Yes, he's the only brother I got along with." Said Hans emphasizing on that word. "But Lars is a rule keeper. He wouldn't dare help me escape, even if he never hated me to begin with. He knows the Southern Isles law like the back of his hand and will always follow the law regardless of how he feels about it, unless it is changed."

Her eyebrows raised. "So he did follow up with your penance then? What did he have you do??" Asked Elsa.

"Something stupid and boring like organize the whole library in alphabetical order and dust off his study chambers." Said Hans rolling his eyes. "A very Lars-like punishment compared to what my other brothers had me do.

But Hanna is the last sibling of the Westergaards, the youngest out of all of us. She is the one who was in charge of deciding my final penance before I was kicked out of the castle. It was her that couldn't bare the thought of having me live in the streets of the Southern Isles with my royal title stripped. She knew that I would have a bounty set on me and stabbed the first week. Or worse, held captive to see if the king gives in and pays ransom, which we all know he wouldn't."

"She was the only one that came to your defense..." Said Elsa more softly now and paying full attention as her shoulders relaxed.

Hans nodded. "And the only one who didn't hate me after I returned from Arendelle. Disappointed? Very. She punched me right across the face for what I did to to the royal majesties of Arendelle, even chastised me on how unmanly it was of me. But she didn't make fun of me for it like my brothers did, nor did she ever bring it up again. Instead she came to my defense every single time it was brought up."

They all continued to listen attentively.

He sighed. "I told her not to worry about it, but she's so stubborn, said she couldn't let her own twin brother suffer for the rest of his life for one mistake he made."

"One?" Questioned Elsa with a brow raised at him.

He rolled his eyes. "Okay fine, several mistakes. So instead she had planned to set me free the whole time, she was just waiting for the right moment."

Elsa's furrowed her brows now fully realizing what he meant. "She was waiting for her turn." Hans nodded.

"How were you able to escape??" Asked Rhanda, still very attentive to the story.

"She snuck past the night guards, even knocking one out cold and stealing his keys. She then went to fetch for me in the dungeons. I tried to push her away one last time but she refused. She even..."

He breathed out a dry laugh while rolling his eyes as his mind brought up the old memory.

"What, what did she do??" Asked Honeymaren with her arms crossed.

"She had the audacity to say, either you get your ass to the docks right now or I get you there unconscious and it'll be the both of us escaping the Isles, not just you."

Honeymaren smirked and Elsa was surprised by the choice of words Hans claimed his sister had used.

"And did you end up staying??" Asked Ryder with a very attentive expression similar to a child listening to a story tale.

"Hey genius. If he did there wouldn't be a story to tell now would there?" Retaliated Honeymaren with an annoyed expression to her brother.

Hans chuckled. "No, no I didn't stay. I followed her to the docks where she had a small ship ready for me to sail away in. She snuck one weeks worth of food in the ship, weapons for me to defend myself with, even our grandfathers dagger."

His eyes slowly followed Elsa's cleavage until it reached the necklace sitting on top of her chest. "And that."

Esa furrowed her brows, confused as to why he was staring at her chest, but when she reached up with her hand and felt the pendant she then fully realized what he was talking about. "Your family's pendant?" She asked.

He smirked. "Hanna and I are the only ones who wear our family's crest in a pendant. The others just have it carved on a golden ring.

"So Hanna has one just like the one Elsa's wearing? Said Rhanda.

"Precisely." Said Hans turning his gaze slowly away from his pendant and back to the group. "So I escaped, with the help of Hanna, of course."

They stood silently without saying a word. Each of them taking the information in their own way, that is until Elsa sighed and spoke up. "Okay... So if Hanna is the one you trust the most then how do I get in touch with her??"

Hans sighed. "Well you see, that's where it gets complicated. The Southern Isles is heavily guarded with its military and guards, always making sure the royal monarch and its people are safe. So nothing can go over my father or Caleb's head without them being notified of it beforehand. You would have to find a way to get in touch with Hanna without any of my brothers or father finding out."

Elsa sighed and stood up as she began to pace back and forth, rubbing her forehead to cool her growing headache. "I know this is a lot but it's the only way, your majesty."

"I'm aware of that." She replied frustratedly and moving her hand from her forehead to her chin and rubbing it. "I just can't seem to think of a way to contact her without it going through the king."

"Maybe you can visit her instead?? They'd have to let you into their kingdom for what he did." Said Ryder gesturing at Hans. "No offense..."

"They wouldn't let her see Hanna unless my father spoke to Elsa first and we can't have that. Hanna is the only one that can know Elsa and I are working together on this, if any of my brothers or father find out then there is no way the deal would go forth. Especially since I'm supposed to be deceased."

She continued to pace back and forth while the three Northuldrans engaged in conversation with Hans, each of them throwing out an idea of their own.

But it wasn't until she heard a familiar playful whistle followed by a wind of leaves fly over her head that caused her brain to summon an idea.

"Of course..." She said turning her attention from Gale and then back to Hans who who already staring at her with furrowed eyebrows. "Gale can deliver my message to Hanna."

Hans lifted an eyebrow up at her, even Honeymaren was questioning Elsa's suggestion with an expression of her own. "You mean the wind spirit thing??" Said Hans.

"Yes, she always has my letters delivered to Anna in Arendelle and I'm sure she can do the same with your sister." Said Elsa almost too eager as she stepped forward.

"Okay... but this is the Southern Isles. It's literally two days away from Arendelle. Maybe a day in a half if you were using one of our navy's ships."

"Yeah Elsa, you really think think the spirits would be okay with this??" Said Honeymaren finally lending in her opinion.

"Gale is faster than that, she is the literal wind spirit so she can deliver it sooner before a whole day passes by. And I'm sure the spirits would be okay with it, they're the ones that want this to occur." Said Elsa turning to Gale. "Isn't that right?"

Gale whistled with giddiness as she flew around Elsa, hugging the platinum blonde as a way to reassure her that she was right and on the right path.

After her giggling died down, she turned around to Hans who seemed to be pondering Elsa's idea deeply with his index finger rested on his lips.

"What do you say, Hans. Does it sound like a good plan?" Said Elsa.

After a long moment he inhaled deeply. "A good plan isn't a good plan unless it's successful." He said slowly rising to his feet. He took two steps toward Elsa and stared at her for a moment, her heart beat raised just a tad. But then to everyone's surprise he stuck his hand out to her as if he was offering a handshake. "But there's only one way to find out."

Elsa stared at his large hand before looking up to his emerald eyes. The doubt of taking his hand in hers still going through her mind. But then she breathed through her nostrils deeply and to everyone's surprise, including hers, she met him in the middle where she put her cool and small hands in his warm large ones and they shook firmly but appropriately.

"You do realize that if you cross me, I will kill you." She said staring into his eyes, her hand still interlocked with his.

He smirked. "I wouldn't expect anything less, your majesty."

They held their handshake together as they stared into each other eyes. Not out of hatred this time, instead they were trying to find any evidence of lies in their eyes, yet none of them had any luck.

"Hans." Said Honeymaren suddenly as it caught the attention of both Hans and Elsa, allowing them to finally let go of each other's grasp. "You're positive your sister will be on our side? Especially after you tell her where you've been this whole time??"

"She's a better human being than I could ever be. I trust her with my life. Even if I don't deserve it." Replied Hans more surely. Elsa was surprised by his answer.

"Because there's not turning back after you send the letter out." She continued more firmly. "She'll know of our location and if our people are to be harmed we will make sure you are giveb up before that ever happens."

A long pause followed as he stared out into the open forest. "Well, what else do I have to lose." He said before meeting Elsa's eyes again and then walking past her only to start limping his way to where he had abandoned his weaponry.

"I have a lot to lose..." Said Ryder jokingly as Rhanda, Honeymaren and Elsa started to follow the auburn haired man. "Oh, I guess we're following him now."

With every step he took he only felt more pain. He made his way to where Tadashi and his men were being kept just around the corner and in the back of the trees, a smart move to keep them away from the families. They were still tied in a circle around a tree with their hands behind their back in a uncomfortable position while two Northuldra warriors were on night duty, keeping an eye on the fugitives for the night by orders of Honeymaren.

Elsa rolled her eyes. The man was so naturally disobedient, even to his own damaged body. He should be resting, not on his feet.

"Hans." Said Elsa coming behind him. "You need to rest."

He shook his head, not once turning his head to face her as he continued to glare at Tadashi who only returned the glare more fiercely. "I'm not just going to go back up to the mountain and enjoy a nights sleep, knowing damn well they can escape any second."

"They're being watched at all times. Trust me, they aren't going anywhere." Added Honeymaren as she, her brother and Rhanda came behind Elsa.

He turned his gaze towards Honeymaren while still holding on to his side. "You don't know them like I do. They're trained assassins who can conquer in any environment they may be in."

"Yeah but they're in the enchanted forest." Said Elsa bluntly, even causing Hans to meet her gaze. "They've never been in a environment like this, my environment where the rest of the spirits and I realm."

"Elsa's right, Hans." Said Rhanda stepping forward. "You need to rest your body, it took quite a nasty beating and you can't be pushing it. That includes being on your feet."

He turned his attention to Rhanda. "I'm not resting here tonight." Retaliated Hans.

"You don't have a choice." Came the sudden voice by The Northuldra tribe leader who appeared from the corner of a tree. Yelena stepped forward with her stick in her hand as usual. "The warriors have a job to do and last I checked, you aren't a warrior."

"I'm staying in this spot and watching them." Said Hans more sternly.

"Not it I have anything to say about it." Replied Yelena with her hands behind her back as she turned her attention to Ryder. "Are there any available huts where he can stay in tonight?"

"None. We're all cramped in, Yelena." Said Ryder.

"All the more reason I should stay in this very spot then." Said Hans.

While the small group began to exchange words with each other. Elsa on the other hand only bit her lip. She knew what she had to do, and by the way Bruni and Gale were staring at her, she knew that even they knew what she had to do, even if she didn't want to do it to begin with. Because it was the next right thing.

So instead she swallowed her pride, closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "Hans can stay with me..."

There was not one person in that group who's eyes widened in pure astonishment. Hans eyes immediately darted to Elsa's. "What?? No. No absolutely not." He retaliated stepping forward, still holding unto his rib cage.

"You think I'm as excited as you are." Bit Elsa with an annoyed expression directed towards the former prince. "You need to rest and unfortunately I need you to be alive if we're going work together with your sister."

"But I don't need—"

"Besides I don't trust you by yourself either. I'm the the only one who can keep you from doing something stupid. Like refusing to rest." She added, refusing to let him retaliate again.

His brows furrowed in annoyance. And although he wanted to retaliate just as hard, his mind went blank and he couldn't find the words.

"You're sure about this, Elsa?" Said Yelena stepping forward after a moment.

Elsa turned her gaze to Yelena and sighed. "No... but if it's going to get us closer to helping Arendelle then none of my feelings matter."

Yelena pressed her lips and nodded, somewhat surprised by the young women's mature answer. "Very well then. Let's prepare space for Hans."

"On it." Said Ryder stepping forward and walking past Hans towards the direction of the hut. Elsa gave him one last glare before catching up to Ryder and guiding him to her hut.

Honeymaren stepped forward with her arms crossed over her chest, obviously not comfortable by the decision as she glared at Hans with fury. "If you try anything—"

"I won't." He spat back arrogantly.

"Good. Because if you do it won't be her ice going through your heart you'll have to be worried about." She warned darkly before turning and leaving him with Rhanda as she went to join her brother and Elsa in the hut.

He had almost forgotten that Tadashi and his men were just a couple of feet from where he stood. It wasn't until Hans heard his annoying chuckling that finally brought brought him back to the harsh reality.

"Sharing a night with the Queen I see." Chuckled Tadashi darkly while his men tried to remain silent, even they were trying not to erupt into laughter.

"Shut the hell up." Bit Hans as he stormed off with Tadahsi chuckling in the distance.

—————————————————————-

"So..." Said Ryder clearing his throat. As he started adjusting the mattress filled with hay on the right side of Elsa's hut. "Is this the first time your spending the night with a man."

"Ryder!" Hissed Honeymaren with widened eyes as did Elsa's who's cheeks turned crimson.

"What!? I don't mean it in that way!" He retaliated.

"Don't mind him. It's just Ryder being Ryder." Scoffed Honeymaren as she turned to face Elsa. "You think you'll be okay tonight? You sure you don't need me to stay with you and perhaps have Hans stay with Ryder in our hut??"

Elsa sighed. "No... it's fine. The spirits approved of this and if it's going to help us get closer and find out why he's here in the first place then so be it."

"Okay... But just know that I'm just on the other side of the forest okay? If he tries anything with you or hurts you in any way just call for me." Said Honeymaren.

Elsa chuckled. "Thanks Maren, but I think I'll be okay."

Just then the huts flap rose up and in stepped the handsome and dark auburn haired man. It seemed that Yelena had guided him to where Elsa's hut was and even persuaded him to go in.

The three friends stared at Hans, not knowing what to say to him. Not even Hans said a word as the painful silence lingered.

"Ahem, well." Said Ryder standing up to his feet awkwardly. "I think it's time for my beauty sleep so I'll just uhh, head to my hut now..."

Ryder passed through Hans and left Elsa's hut without a word. Honeymaren rolled her eyes at her brothers usual mannerism and turned to Elsa, giving her one final are you sure expression.

"Go." Said Elsa smirking at Honeymaren. "I'll be okay."

Honeymaren smirked softly and gave her one reassuring nod before turning to face Hans again. Her glare never left him until she passed by him and left Elsa's hut, closing the flap behind her.

They stood in silence, alone without anyone around them. None of them said a word to each other for a long while. Whenever Hans would try to make eye contact with Elsa she would only look away, anywhere to make sure they're eyes didn't linger.

With her hands folded gracefully in front of her, she summoned up the courage and cleared her throat as to say she was going to speak. "Your bed is on the right side." She said gesturing towards the end where Ryder had just left from.

She pressed her lips together as they interlocked glances one last time before she stepped aside and faced the other side of her hut where she had moved her bed to as to give Hans space and have a respectable distance from each other. But even they still felt relatively close to one another.

He inhaled deeply as he made his way to his side. They're backs still faced to each other. "You know I can sleep outside. I don't know why Yelena is making me—"

She exhaled in frustration as she finally turned around to face him with a deathly glare to which Hans met it with a surprised expression of his own. "Please. Do me a favor and just stop mentioning it."

"But I'm being serious I can—"

"Ah!" She exclaimed with her hands up to stop him. "Please. Not another word about it."

Hans sighed. "Okay, Okay. Not another word about it." He said facing his back to her again with a mocking expression.

He dissembled from his boots and then started making his way to his tunic. Rhanda had told him that it would be better for him to sleep shirtless in order to fully heal the wound, that way nothing was rubbing against it.

Didn't matter to him, he had always slept shirtless anyway, but now he had a sudden roommate for the night. And that roommate was one of the Queen's of Arendelle he had tried to decapitate.

He turned around to speak to her but his eyes widened in awe when he found magical snowflakes twirling around Elsa's body.

The show of lights performed gracefully in front of him as he watched them each lay on top of Elsa's body delicately. His eyes darted to her feet where she watched her white dress thaw into purple until it reached the top of her shoulders where she was running her fingers through her long platinum hair.

He was jaw dropped. Never in his life had he ever seen Elsa perform such wonders with her magic like this. The only time he'd ever seen Elsa use her magic was for self defense, building a castle or in his case, healing his wound.

But she didn't even have to jump out of her dress and into her gown. She had created one before his very eyes and not once showing her bare skin to him.

It was beautiful.

She turned around to face him, her hands still playing with her hair. He could see clearly now that she was braiding her hair into three different sectors, her usual ponytail braid she had used for the past three years. It was actually quite satisfying to see.

"What?" She asked with furrowed brows, confused why he was staring at her.

""Umm, nothing." He replied quickly shaking his head. "I just... Uh. Rhanda, suggested that I sleep shirtless as to not discomfort my wound."

"Of course she did." She muttered with a deep and frustrated exhale.

"Like I said, I can sleep outside—"

"If you say that one more time I will freeze your lips shut." She retaliated in annoyance. "And it's fine. I don't see a problem with it." She finished before turning her back to him again as she finished braiding the final end.

He lifted his eyebrows up in annoyance before turning around himself as he started to strip away his tunic.

It's as if her body had its mind of its own. Her head slightly turned her left direction when she started to hear the tunic slowly rising from his body, just enough to see his muscular body with her vision.

She didn't know why she had looked. She shouldn't have, then again she had already seen him shirtless, especially when they were treating his wounds two hours ago. But she wasn't concentrated on his defined body then.

But now, being just the two of them alone in her hut, it felt more intense for some reason. And it only made it worse that he was taking his time to have the fabric slowly leave his body. Clearly he was still sore.

Once he was in bare skin, he slowly bent down and adjusted himself to to the bed as comfortably as he could with grunts escaping his lips. His large chest and defined abdominals now at full display, along with the patches of thin and dark auburn hairs that sat on his chest perfectly and the small trail of hairs that went down to his defined v shaped body.

She quickly looked away and likewise did the same as she sat in the edge of her mattress as the dead and awkward silence returned.

None of them said a word again. Even breathing became quieter and quieter for the two of them. Elsa slowly glanced down to the letter she had laid aside to write Anna back to which she was planning on doing so tonight, but she felt weird doing it now that she had a last minute roommate.

But then again this was her hut, and maybe he'd get the point that she was occupied in writing Anna back while he did... something else? Maybe go to sleep hopefully. Perhaps it's help distract her from the awkward silence.

Without another thought she reached down for her notebook and pen. She adjusted herself on her mattress, placed tha notebook more firmly on her knees and began to write.

Dear Anna,

That's it. That all she could write at the moment. She inwardly cursed herself for the sudden lack of remembering what she had planned to write. She stared at the blank paper, hoping it would write itself and even suggest what to write to her but nothing came. Her mind was blank.

After battling her mind for a minute or two she finally accepted defeat and had to accept the hard truth. She wasn't concerned about writing Anna back. Instead she was concerned about a familiar auburn haired man staring at her or not.

And that's when the thoughts came back again.

Arendelle, The Southern isles, his twin sister.

Her eyes widened. Of course. She needs to write his sister, or at least he does. Or... help her.

She slowly returned her gaze to Hans again who was still in the same spot only this time with a dagger in his right hand and fresh bark of wood in the other where he was about to start carving into it. She had no idea how he got in possession of those two things or for how long she's had them, but instead she cleared her throat. "How's your wound?"

His brows furrowed as he returned his own gaze from the dagger to her. Surprised she had decided to speak to him in the first place. "Uhh, good." He replied slowly. "Still hurting."

"Will you be able to sleep tonight?" She asked sincerely.

He shrugged. "We'll see." Silence lingered again. He had no idea what else to say and neither did she. The both of them opened their mouths to talk but quickly shut it closed.

"You—"

"Can go first—"

Hans quickly gestured for Elsa which she did the same as well at the exact same time. "Sorry, I uhh... w-what are you writing??" He asked quickly changing the subject.

Idiot... why would you ask that?? He cursed himself inwardly as he looked to the ground in embarrassment.

"Umm, well... I was actually planning to write back to Anna tonight but... I decided that I should write to Princess Hanna instead."

Hans lifted his gaze at her again with furrowed brows. "You're going to write to Hanna already??"

"Why not? I want Arendelle and the Southern Isles to make a treaty as quickly as possible." She countered with a shrug. "And since you two are twins, I figured you could help me now."

"I suppose." He replied after a while as he slowly stood up to his feet and walked towards her. "May I sit?" He asked politely and gesturing next to Elsa.

She quickly rose to her feet and moved to the left side of the mattress, making room for him to sit next to her to which he did with a respectable distance from them. But they were still close.

All while she tried to ignore the fact that he was shirtless.

"What do you have so far." He said reaching for the notebook and pen from her hands. Their fingers touched.

Oh, uhh—" Elsa said shyly.

"Dear Anna?" He read with furrowed eyebrows at the letter and then at her.

She sighed. "I was writing back to Anna."

"Here, let's fix this." He said taking the pen and adjusting it on his right fingers before touching the paper with ink. "There."

Elsa furrowed her brows once she realized what he did. He had put an H in front of Anna's name. "Dear Hanna??" She read our loud before giving him a look.

"What?" He retaliated as he watched her roll her eyes and rip the paper to pieces only to crunch it into a ball before throwing it across the hut to where a trash bucket was.

"She's a Princess." Said Elsa.

Hans scoffed. "She's my sister, your majesty."

"Yes, but she doesn't know me. I have to introduce myself appropriately and regard her to her appropriate title." Deadpanned Elsa.

"All right, all right. Fair enough." He replied as he watched Elsa grab a new paper and take the pen back into her left hand before she began to write in her beautiful handwriting.

"Princess Hanna of The southern Isles." She wrote and repeated out loud.

"Well that's a start I suppose." He said holding the side of his stomach still.

"I write this letter to you in urgency, asking for your help from your brother, Prince Hans—"

"Not a prince." Said Hans cutting her off.

She rolled her eyes. "From Hans Westergaard, your brother—"

"Wait, why are you writing to her in Danish??" Asked Hans.

"So she can't understand me..." retaliated Elsa as she set her gaze on him with furrowed brows.

"She understands Norwegian perfectly. Our mother taught it to us. Besides, our languages are very similar in a lot of ways." Said Hans.

"I'm aware our languages are similar, just as I am aware that you speak Norwegian perfectly. But maybe she'll understand me more when I speak in her language." Retaliated Elsa once again.

"Whatever you say." Said Hans rolling his eyes and chuckling.

Elsa gave him a glare before returning to her letter. Her brows furrowed as she had suddenly realized an important matter she had almost completely overlooked. "Wait, how will she know I'm telling the truth."

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"How is she going to believe that I'm writing out of honesty and not trying to betray her or anything."

"I'm pretty sure she'll get the point once she sees a magical breeze blowing through her windows and handing her a letter." Replied Hans with obvious sarcasm.

"Hans—"

"Okay okay, I get it." He said sitting up. "And I thought of an idea how to convince her."

"Okay, tell me then." Said Elsa crossing her arms and facing him.

"The answer is hanging from your neck, your majesty."

Elsa's brows furrowed as her eyes slowly darted to her chest where once again she found his pendant hanging from her neck. "You're family's pendant... you want me to send it to her?"

"Hanna and I are the only ones who wear these. She'll know it's me once she sees my pendant delivered with the letter." He explained.

She reached up to the back of her neck and retrieved the golden pendant delicately before bringing it in front of her.

She stared at the pendant with Hans sitting in front of her. It was a beautiful necklace, she had to admit. The material was made of the finest gold and the roaring lion shined beautifully under the moon.

She turned the pendant around where she found the familiar Danish poem she had read last week. The words still as mysterious to this day.

Endnu en gang i krisen

I den sidste gode kamp

Jeg vil nogensinde vide

Lev og dø på denne dag

Lev og dø på denne dag

"What does this mean?" She asked suddenly.

"What does what mean." He replied making himself comfortable at the edge of the bed.

"This, the poem." She replied holding the back of the pendant up and in front of him.

"I thought you understood Danish..."

"I understand Danish perfectly." She retaliated with annoyed expression. "I'm just... curious as to what the meaning of the poem is."

He was silent for a long while and stared at the pendant as if the roaring lion summoned flashbacks of his past. His expression slowly turning into a frown he hid so well under a blank stare. He looked up at her again. "An old poem passed through the Westergaard family. Nothing more."

Elsa didn't say anything as he watched him stand up on his feet and walk towards his mattress where he sat on the edge of the bed again.

He never said a word again, he didn't speak. Whatever that poem meant it was now obvious that it hit a personal nerve with him.

And so Elsa tucked in the pendant carefully inside the envelope where the finished letter was. She then opened the small white drawer next to her bed and pulled out a royal seal stamp where the crocus of Arendelle was designed in the end.

She pressed the royal seal with the burning candle in their hut and melted the end, then she very carefully and efficiently pressed the seal on the envelope, sealing it with her family's crest. A familiar act she's had to do for years when serving as acting Queen of Arendelle.

She then stood up to her feet and opened the fap as she whistled for Gale quietly. Everyone seemed to be asleep, there was not one northuldran in sight and it was very dark. Gale whistled in return and made her way to her.

"Gale, I have a special assignment for you." Said Elsa holding up the envelope up in the air for her to see.

"I need you to take this letter and take it to..." She furrowed her eyebrows as she began to think of the coordinates of the Southern Isles. She knew where they were from all her studies, it was in the tip of her tongue.

"55.6761 North, 12.5683 East" Came the sudden voice from the auburn hair man behind her.

"I was just about to say that." Replied Elsa with a glare.

Hans smirked and shrugged, arrogantly as usual.

"When you get there please deliver this letter to Princess Hanna of the Southern Isles who is of the royal house of the Westergaards."

Gale whistled joyfully as she gently took the letter gently with her leaves and then surrounding Elsa in an embrace before she took off and began to fly away.

Elsa watched as Gale disappeared into the moonlight sky.

"Let's hope it gets there safely." Said Hans from behind.

"Let's hope." Sighed Elsa as she started to walk towards her mattress and sat on the edge.

They both sat in their beds while faced toward each other as the silence returned. None of them knowing what to say or do next.

"Good night, your majesty." Said Hans with a nod as he adjusted himself to the bed where he laid his back and faced the wall of the hut.

Without another word, Elsa placed her fingers on the candle, immediately setting off the fire with her cool fingers.

She reached for her mothers scarf that had been folded neatly on top of her pillow and wrapped it around her shoulders. She knew her mother didn't possess magic, but her scarf seemed like it did because she felt embraced by love whenever she had it with her. She wrapped it around her shoulders for comfort before settling herself to sleep.

Once he heard Elsa lay in her mattress, he inhaled deeply, closed his emerald eyes and fell asleep.

—————————————————————

The Southern Isles

Her emerald eyes slowly opened as she rose from the bed. Stretching her arms out and rubbing her eyes before she gazed upon her large bedroom window.

The early mornings in the Southern Isles consisted off seagulls flying throughout the kingdom with the waves splashed gracefully on the dark rocks and dark beach where the people were just beginning their day.

But for Princess Hanna, the mornings were her favorite because it was the time where she didn't have to be a princess. A time where she can decide her own fate.

The twenty six year old beautiful princess rose to her feet. Her long auburned hair flowing majestically down to her hips as she walked to her large window and gazed upon her beautiful kingdom and people. Her home.

A small smile lifted in the corner of her pink lips only to be followed up by one eyebrow raised devilishly. She knew what she was going to do. She was going to start her mornings just like she always did.

Without another second to lose she quickly undressed from her night gown and jumped into a dark long sleeved before strapping on a dark pair of traveling boots that were specially made for her. She then quickly braided her long wavy hair into one single long ponytail which hung behind her.

She bent down under her bed and pulled out a beautiful crafted bow and several pairs of arrows to which she strapped on her back.

She placed her foot on top of a chair and bent down to retrieve a dagger clipped into to a strap for support. Then she pulled up her dress to her knees and strapped the dagger to her thigh, even clipping it for reassurance.

She was ready.

She barged out of her bedroom, even scaring one of the servants, causing her to squeak and drop the tray of tea that was being delivered to her.

"Oh! Sorry Josefine, I'll come help you pick it up when I return!" Exclaimed Hanna impatiently before sprinting down the hallways.

"But Princess Hanna! Your father doesn't want you going out this morning remember?? Princess Hanna!?"

But Hanna only giggled in excitement as she continued to sprint her way through the castle. Jumping over every obstacle and or servant that was in her way before she finally burst threw the main doors.

The guards watched with widened eyes as the royal princess sprinted around the castle until she reached the grand stalls where the workers backed away and gave space for the princess as she walked forward.

She gently smiled at each of them before putting her hands on her hips and blew a strong whistle command, even louder than what most men would whistle when calling for a woman's attention.

"PHEW!"

Immediately a loud neigh followed and out came dashing a beaitiful fjord horse who's coat was light brown with white colored spots on its face.

"Good morning, Engel." Giggled Hanna as she petted her stallions nose with gentleness. "You ready to go on a ride?"

The horse neighed in approval as it bounced up and down excitingly. Hanna chuckled once more before jumping herself on top of the horse and strapping herself in without anyone's help.

"Let's ride. Hiyah!" She exclaimed.

Engel rose up from his hoofs and neighed loudly one last time before taking off and sprinting across the the field, even jumping over the guards at the main entrance who immediately fell to the floor in fear.

One of the guards chuckled as he rose from the ground again, adjusting the hat on his head. "There goes Princess Hanna again."

The other guard chuckled as well. "There she goes."

Hanna and Engel rode through the large crowd of the citizens before jumping into the field where they began to ride deeper and deeper into the woods. And then that's where she started to take out her bow from behind and began to shoot arrows to different target that she had lined up across the forest, a daily routine she did every morning, even without her fathers approval.

Her smile widened every time she hit the target perfectly, even howling and laughing in joy as Engel rode faster and faster through the forest.

She took the road up to the grassy hill that led to the fjords that were surrounded by the North Sea where she immediately hopped off and began to walk to the tallest and nearest fjord with Engel following behind.

She took the time to whittle a small bark she found on the floor with the dagger she retrieved under her dress. When she finally arrived she rolled her neck and shook her arms, wanting herself up and then without hesitation she immediately jumped and grabbed unto the rocky fjord and pushed her whole body up in fashion as she began to climb higher and higher with no rope or anyone supervising her below.

Engel watched as his companion climbed higher and higher. Even neighing in fear as Hanna's fingers slipped across the rock. But she quickly countered and brought her hand up to the stone again and pushed herself up.

Hanna was no quitter and she was not like any other princess or woman to be more exact. Hanna was a feminist at heart who believed woman can do all things even men could do. And a lot of that had to do with the fact that she grew up in a household with thirteen prideful older brothers.

So she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before challenging her body to climb higher despite her aching muscles starting to burn in her thighs and in her arms. She pushed harder and even climbed faster until she finally reached the top of the fjord.

She jumped on top and exclaimed with joy, jumping up and down with pride, even stomping her feet in a upbeat rhythm.

She exclaimed one final time, her angelic yet powerful voice echoing through the fjords before disappearing into the fog. Her breathing slowed down as her smile slowly drifted away before she kicked her boots out of her shoes and sat on the grass.

She crossed her legs together and wiped the sweat of her forehead as she continued to control her breathing. Finally able to breath from her nose again, she brought a leg up to her knee and held it close to her chest, a position she and her brother always found themselves doing as children.

And then that's when she darted her eyes down to her chest where she found the golden pendant hanging from her neck. She gently took it into her hands and moved her auburn wavy lock away Before bringing it up to her gaze to see the roaring lion shining brightly with the morning sun. Even blinding her by accident.

She turned the pendant around where she found the poem she had been taught to memorize since childbirth. Passed down from generation to generation. The old Westergaard tradition.

She sighed. She started to remember her brother, her twin brother she had helped escape from the Southern Isles two years ago.

Hans.

She always thought about him. She hadn't received a letter or any information regarding his safety in over a year. She expected that, she knew eventually he was going to stop writing.

The only thing she'd hope for was that he was safe and at peace. He was all she had left, even though she couldn't be with him.

She looked out to the morning sun rising from the fjords over her kingdom. She smiled gently.

She never hated the Southern Isles like Hans did. She loved her people and her culture. But she never liked the politics surrounding it. She disagreed with almost everything her father and older brothers did when governing the kingdom. She always felt her people deserved better.

She glanced back down to the pendant still in her hand. She rubbed the roaring lion gently before she turned her attention back to her kingdom and opened her mouth and began to sing the sweet lullaby with her beautiful angelic voice.

I am a poor wayfaring stranger

I'm travellin' through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness, toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go

I'm going there to see my Father
I'm going there, no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
But golden fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed shall ever sleep

I'm going home to see my mother
And all my loved ones who've gone on
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

Her emerald eyes sparkled under the sun, the same way Hans did. With one final exhale from Hanna, she rose to her feet again, strapped on her boots and began to descend down from the fjord before being reunited with Engel.

They rode back together to the harsh reality which was her life. She was still Princess Hanna.

——————————————————————

"Princess Hanna!"

"Your Highness!"

Her people welcomed her lovingly and respectfully as always as she and Engel galloped through the kingdom towards the direction of the castle.

She waved to them as always with a large smile. She loved her people and her people loved her. The people of the Southern Isles always considered Hanna the favorite of all the Westergaards, partially being because she was the only princess, but a lot of it also due to the fact that Hanna did not care for royal procedures. She went throughout the kingdom almost on a daily basis, even though her father disapproved and insisted she not mingle with commoners. Even as far as to say that she be accompanied by royal guards.

But Hanna didn't care. She hardly listened at all.

"Some Fresh Danish pastries for the lovely princess this morning?" Said a short and older gentlemen with a long grey mustache. He had the kindest expression on his face.

"Oh, Mr. Poulsen. You always know a way to a girls heart." Said Hanna gratefully as she picked a fresh and warm from the tray he had extended to her.

"Well how else do you think I convinced Mrs. Poulsen to marry me." Whispered the older gentleman jokingly as Hanna erupted into laughter.

"Princess Hanna! Princess Hanna!" From out of nowhere a multitude of children ran through Mr. Poulsen's legs and surrounded Hanna as they jumped up and down with glee. "Play with us Princess Hanna!"

"Oh, I'd love to. But unfortunately I have to get back to the castle soon." She replied with a guilty expression. The children mourned in unity. "But... would anyone like some fresh Danish pastries?"

They followed Hanna's gesture to where they found the trey of fresh pastries in Mr. Poulsen's hand and their faces immediately lit up in excitement.

Mr. Poulsen chuckled as he lowered the tray where the children began to exclaim with joy. "All right now, everyone make a line, one child at a time." Instructed Hanna. "Mr. Poulsen, please be sure to send the bill to the castle so I may return the favor."

"Of course, your highness." Said Mr. Poulsen with a smile.

"And please be sure to take these on your way back." Came the gente voice from the older woman behind Mr. Poulsen.

"Thank you, Mrs. Poulsen. You two are too kind." Said Hanna taking the bag gratefully.

"Anything for our favorite customer." Replied Mrs. Poulsen with a kind smile. "How can we not when you and your brother would come here everyday since you were children."

"That we would do." Giggled Hanna, trying to hide the frown in her face before she turned around and waved the children and the Poulsen's farewell, along with the whole multitude of the people.

She wasn't surprised when she found her lady in waiting at the grand entrance and running towards her in a panicked expression. The poor girl was always worried whenever she would decide to sneak out of the castle without her fathers approval. But you'd think after so many times that she's be used to it by now.

"Oh, thank goodness your here, Princess Hanna!" Exclaimed her lady in waiting as Hanna Jumped off from her horse. "Your father has been asking for you since the second you left!"

"Was he now? Well that's not surprising." Replied Hanna emotionless as she continued to smile at Engel and giving him one final kiss on his forehead before handing him to one of the stall boys.

"He says he must speak to you of an important matter."

"Let me guess, another prince for me to reject and send him back to whatever godforsaken kingdom he came from." Replied Hanna as she passed the guards on the doors who bowed respectfully to her.

"Your Highness, this is serious! You know how important these meetings mean to the king. As a royal monarch it is your duty to serve the Southern Isles at all costs." Replied her lady in waiting as she followed Hanna up the grand stairs while the maidens nearby quickly cleaned up after every muddy footstep Hanna took with her boots.

"I am serving the Southern Isles, Kristina! Just this morning I inspected the forest for intruders of any kind, I served starving children free Danish pastries, and now I'll be serving my father by going to see him like he asked." Said Hanna walking towards the great throne room.

"Wait! Princess Hanna you mustn't—"

"I'm here!" Exclaimed Hanna as she barged into her fathers large chambers with her arms extended completely ignoring her lady in waiting and her panicking pleas.

The throne room was fillled with a multitude of people as everyone turned to look at the princess with widened eyes. Even the many pet lions her father owned turned to look at her.

Her older brothers were there and they had been enjoying a conversation with each other. Even her nieces and nephews who's smile grew wide when they saw their crazy and fun aunt.

Caleb, the oldest out of all them, as always stood next to his father who had been engaging in what seemed a serious conversation with King Andreas from Skånlad with his son, Prince Anders.

"Hanna..." sighed King Soren with a disappointed expression as he stood up straight and folded his hands behind his back.

"Ah! There's the old man!" Exclaimed Hanna as she started making her way towards her father. Caleb's brows furrowed in anger.

"I'm-I'm sorry, do you know this young girl?" Asked King Andreas with a flabbergasted expression.

"Yes, actually." Said Soren clearing his throat and turning his attention to their guests. "Your majesty, your highness. I'd like to introduce you to my only daughter, Princess Hanna."

Prince Anders eyes widened. "P-Princess??" He immediately walked forward and dropped to one knee as he bowed his head in respect in a rather clumsy matter.

"On your feet, prince Anders. There's no reason to make a scene now." Said Hanna patting the princes shoulder as he did what he was told. Several in the throne room chuckled, even a few of the Westergaard brothers and mostly all her nieces and nephews.

"Princess Hanna, at your service." Said Hanna curtsying in respect with her messy dress to the king and his son. "Though you already know that now."

"So... why did no one tell me of your beauty?" Asked Prince Anders with a funny lisp. He had brunette hair and he was rather handsome, Hanna had to admit. But she could tell immediately how dumb the man sounded, especially to start a conversation like that.

"No one mentioned yours either." Replied Hanna in obvious sarcasm with her arms in front of her. Three of her brothers snickered and tried to hold in their laugh while Caleb shot them a glare.

Prince Anders sneered. "Thank you. They say that a lot in Skånlad, yeah, right?" He said turning to his personal guards who each followed his example and laughed a little too exaggerated.

"It's very very amusing." He added arrogantly.

"Is it?" She questioned with an eyebrow raised.

"Yah." He replied.

"We hold the same title yet are never described the same way." Retaliated Hanna with a straight face. Prince Anders cleared his throat now clearly embarrassed by how much of a fool he made himself to be.

"Hanna..." sighed Soren in embarrassment.

"Ahem, Princess, it is an honor to meet you." Said king Andreas stepping forward with a questionable expression. "Even If it's under... unusual circumstances."

"Likewise, your majesty." Curtsied Hanna. "And yeah I get that a lot." She added with a smirk as she made her way to her father who still stood speechless with Caleb next to him as he continued to glare at her. "Father, good morning." She said curtsying respectfully

"Hanna... I expected you to be dressed more... appropriately." Replied the king with his face emotioless.

"I see no reason to father. We all know I'm just going to end up sending Prince Anders and King Andreas back to where they came from. Just like every other prince you've tried to court me with." Said Hanna.

A soft gasped escaped the lips of many in the room followed by some genuine giggles from her nieces and nephews, even some of the servants.

King Soren closed his eyes and sighed before turning to face the king of Skånlad again. "May you give me a moment with my daughter if you'd be so kind—"

"My pleasure." Scoffed the king. "Come on Anders, let's go."

"Whoa... I like her." Said Prince Anders as his father grabbed his arm and pulled the dumb prince away.

Hanna smiled. "Thanks, I get that a lot too."

He stormed out of the chambers as did several other servants, only leaving the kings family. "That includes all of you." Said Soren raising his voice to his sons, their wives and their children. Each of them did as they were told, even the lions all exited the throne. Several of her brothers children even waved her goodbye. The only one who stood still with his arms crossed was Caleb who hasn't moved a muscle.

"You've got some nerve Hanna." Scoffed Caleb with furrowed brows. His blonde hair slicked back with his fathers familiar and striking blue eyes. He looked like their father the most except with fewer wrinkles and no grey hair or beard.

"Wait a second, why is my kind, generous and handsome older brother still here, father?" Said Hanna with obvious sarcasm in her voice.

Caleb scoffed. "I'm crown prince, Hanna. I get to stay if I want."

"No you don't." Replied Hanna with her hands now folded in front of her and with a devious smirk.

"Yes. I can." Spat Caleb back.

"No, you can't. Tell him father." She retaliated.

"Hanna's right, Caleb. This conversation is just between your sister and I." Said the king suddenly.

Caleb's eyes widened in offense while Hanna coughed loudly to hide her obvious laughter.

"B-But father—"

"Leave us, Caleb." Demanded Soren with his hands still behind his back.

Realizing the tone of his father and his place, Caleb folded his hands in front of him and nodded. "Of course, your majesty. Please excuse me."

Caleb turned around and stormed out of the large chambers with his ridiculous large cape following behind him, leaving Hanna and her father alone at last.

Soren inhaled deeply, trying to come up with a way to start the conversation. Hanna reached for another Danish pastry from the bag and took a large mouthful before looking up at her father again. "Danish?" She offered with the bitten pastry in her hand. He only continued to stare at her. "What. No hug and kiss this morning?" Said Hanna with a smirk.

Soren pressed his lips together. "Hanna—"

"I know. I know what you're going to say. It's a duty of mine to marry into another kingdom." She said raising her hand up and mocking her fathers deep voice and mannerism before taking another bite.

"Precisely and—"

"But to be fair father, you already know what I'm going to retaliate with." She cut him off again.

He sighed. "Hanna—"

"Oh come on dad. This is like the third prince this month. You already know all I'm going to do is blow them off. Besides, this one is far too skinny and dumb to my liking.. I could literally pick him up with my pinkie." She said crossing her arms.

He tried to keep a serious composure but only ended up failing as a small smirk appeared in the corner of his lips. Hanna always had a way of making her father laugh. He slowly stepped forward and raised his hand tenderly to pick out the leaves in Hanna's auburn hair. "Did you go to the forest again?"

Hanna shrugged. "Someone's gotta keep a watchful eye in case intruders come." She responded as she took another bite.

He raised his eyebrow up. "Oh, so is that the excuse we're using now?

"I'm simply telling the truth father." She said with a smirk.

He placed his hands on her shoulders as he is inspected her muddy dress. "That's no way for a princess to look like."

"Guess I'm not like every other princess father." She replied

He chuckled. "No your not." His soft blue eyes glanced up at her familiar green ones he adored so much. "Oh Hannah. You are so stubborn like your mother you know that?"

"I take that as a compliment father." She smiled with a teasing eyebrow raise.

He chuckled again, his hands still on her shoulder lovingly. "You know one day you will have to make a choice. You can't expect to grow old without a companion. As princess of the southern isles you have a duty to your kingdom."

"And when that time comes I'll be sure to let you know father." She replied putting a reassuring hand on his arm. "But if I'm going to marry someone it'll be out of love, and probably someone with an intelligence greater than that if a chimpanzee."

He chuckled again and it was very genuine, shaking his head in disbelief before meeting her green eyes again. "He is rather dumb isn't he... nonetheless, I need my daughter to clean herself up and return to introduce herself to king Andreas and prince Anders."

Hanna groaned. "Do I have to."

"Look at this way, the faster you get to know them, the faster they'll leave the Southern Isles."

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Okay fine. But I'm not accepting his proposal."

He smirked. "I don't expect you to. Now run along and clean yourself up so that way you don't scare our visitors with your stench."

"Careful with those words. Men thirst the idea of just having a wiff of my stench you know." She replied devilishly.

"Go." He demanded now.

"All right, all right. I'm going." She said turning to the large doors, only to dig from the bag full of pastries. She pulled a Danish out and tossed it back to her father which he caught easily. "You enjoy that father."

He chuckled as he watched his favorite child leave before turning back to the pastry again and eventually taking a bite and moaning in approval of the taste.

—————————————————————-

"Can you please prepare my bath, Kristina. I'll be joining my father and the royal majesties of Skånlad in the throne room." Said Hanna as she walked upstairs and towards her room with her lady in waiting following behind.

"Of course your highness." Said her lady in waiting as she curtsied respectfully and went to prepare her bath.

When Hanna entered her room she was surprised to find a multitude of children waiting. Some of them jumping on her bed and others trying to play with one another.

Her eyebrows lifted playfully. "What are you guys doing in my room!?"

The children giggled in union. "We were waiting for you, aunty Hanna!" Replied one of the little girls with blonde braided ponytails.

"Really, what for?" Smirked Hanna as she leaned on the wall with her arms crossed.

"Did grandpa yell at you?" Asked a young boy who's hair was ginger.

"Pfft, you know grandpa won't ever yell at his favorite child." Said Hanna walking towards her bed and joining them.

"I thought my dad was the favorite child?" Asked the oldest boy among them. His eyes like his grandfather's and his fathers. His hair dark like his mothers.

"Why? Just because he's the oldest and named you after grandpa, little Soren?" Replied Hanna as she pinched her nephews cheek. Him along with the rest of his cousins giggled in union.

"Aunty Hanna!" Exclaimed the little two year old girl who was the youngest out of them. Her hair brown with pigtails as well. "Are you going marry the prince?"

"Hmm..." said Hanna rubbing her cheek playfully as the children erupted into laughter. "Maybe... maybe not..."

The laughed even harder and Hanna joined in with them as she even started to tickle all of them.

She may have never like all her brothers, but she did love being an aunt. The only aunt. She felt as if it was her calling to love her nieces and nephews. All twenty one of them.

"All right, aunty Hanna has to clean herself up so I can kick the prince out appropriately. Off you go, all of you." Said Hanna as she stood up and opened the door.

The whole multitude of her nieces and nephews waved her goodbye on the way out. She closed the door but not before giving her youngest niece a peck on the forehead and handing her the rest of the bag full of Danish pastry's to share with everyone else.

"Everyone has to share okay??" Said Hanna as she closed the door as the children jumped excitingly.

She exhaled deeply now that she was alone in the room and kicked her boots off before placing them neatly beside her closet. She then began to unstrap her dress to strip it completely off. She was excited to bathe after such a productive morning. But suddenly she heard a gentle whistle.

Phewwww

Her brows furrowed as she looked up with a confused expression filling her face. She looked around the room, even walking to her window to see where the whistling came from.

She could've sworn all twenty one of her nieces and nephews had left her room and she was right. Not one of them was in her room.

Perhaps it was one of the teenagers from the docks again. They were always in awe and trying to get her attention whenever she passed by. But she found no one there.

"Hmm." She said turning around with a confused expression still in her face. She went back to focusing on her dress as she began to strip of the top part of where the corset would normally lay when she suddenly heard the whistling again.

Phewwww

She looked up again with widened eyes. Now she knew she wasn't crazy, she heard it loud and clear. She immediately stormed to a secret compartment behind her closet where she had sneaked in weapons without her fathers approval and pulled out a sword.

She wielded the large balde with such ease on her hand as she adjusted her grip, ready to slice whoever was stalking her from the outside of the window.

She opened the large window up and pushed outwards, ready to meet whatever creep was spying on her but only found a pair of autumn leaves flying through the opening of the window with majestic whistling following.

Her brows furrowed, she could have swore she heard someone whistle. But then her eyes widened in astonishment when she turned around and saw the strange breeze floating through her large room, even surrounding her several times in circles as if it was hugging her. Her eyes widened even larger when she saw an envelope floating with the leaves as well.

The wind whistled playfully again as it moved the envelope in circles around Hanna who had absolutely no idea what was going on or what to do. The wind then gently moved the envelope forward until it rested gently at the edge of the blade in front of Hanna.

She darted her eyes to the envelope and then back to the wind who stood in perfect stance as if it was waiting for Hanna to open the envelope. It's as if the wind was... alive.

Still speechless, Hanna reached for the envelope and took it in her hand before turning to set her sword down next to her bed. Still suspicious of the strange wind, she glanced down to the envelope and her eyes widened when she saw it.

There in front of the envelope was a seal, and not just any seal. A royal seal. Her heart dropped and a breath escaped her lips when she realized which kingdom the sealed belonged to. Only one kingdom carried a crocus.

"Arendelle..." She muttered to herself as she quickly ran towards her bed. She immediately began to open the envelope respectfully, being sure not to damage the sides.

So many thoughts were going though her head, the obvious being why Arendelle of all kingdoms had just delivered a letter to her. And through a mysterious wind... She hoped to the gods it had nothing to do with Hans.

She immediately opened the letter and began to read the beautiful and elegant writing in her head. Her eyes widened when she saw the name.

Princess Hanna of the Southern Isles

I hope this letter finds you well, your highness. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Queen Elsa of Arendelle former reigning monarch of Arendelle and now currently serving as Queen consort under Queen Anna, of who'm I have advocated the throne to. I assume you already know about that by now however.

I write this letter to reach out to you through your brother and former prince, Hans Westergaard.

She gasped.

Please do not be alarmed, your brother is well. I have an understanding that you helped him escape the Southern Isles and even aided him with a ship before sailing away. He has revealed all these things to me, as well as his journey after finding him living on top of the mountains in the home of the Northuldra.

Her brows furrowed. "Norwha—"

You may have heard the rumors that I had abdicated the throne to live in a forest with Arendelle's indigenous people. I can confirm those rumors are true. I've been living with these kind and generous people for several months now while still fulfilling my duties in Arendelle.

Just two weeks ago we found your brother roaming on the top of their mountains who claims to have been living there for a year already.

I know what you may be thinking, did I inform my sister that her former fiancé has returned? Well the answer is no. I don't want to weigh more stress on my sisters shoulders and have her deal with Arendelle's worries. I'm sure you would understand that. But another reason why I haven't is because your brother brought up an interesting idea that could benefit both our kingdoms.

It's obvious that both our kingdoms haven't been the same since we ended our trading with one another. But Hans suggested the idea that perhaps we can come to a term of agreement to do business with our kingdoms once again.

Arendelle will be needing all the help they can get come this winter. I can feel it coming and I know it will be a rather difficult season to get through without enough provisions. And I know that the Southern Isles has been having difficulty in finding a kingdom that can deliver ice all year long and warm clothing provisions like we do.

I hate to pressure you, your highness, but I am reaching out and pleading for help. Queen Anna and I want to do what's best for our kingdom, she is aware of the idea but of course is not aware it came from Hans. I am leaving out that piece of information as well as his existence away from her ears. Especially after reading of his supposed deceasing.

And that is why I need your help. Hans tells me you are the only one he truly trusts and says you will help no matter what. I don't know if he may be telling the truth, but I am hoping his words are so.

I promise that once this is all over I will find Hans a new home so he isn't living in the wilderness any longer and that you may no longer worry for his safety. I'll even find a way for you to visit him frequently again. All I am asking is for your help, Princess Hanna.

I know how bizarre this all may seem, especially after having a magical wind spirit deliver this letter to you. And I know this may be difficult to believe or to put your trust to. But Hans informed me that you will believe my words once you see what I had also sent with this letter.

I'll await for your reply, your highness. You're my only hope.

Sincerely,

Queen Elsa of Arendelle

She set the letter down, speechless by what's she had just read. She had just received a letter from Elsa, the Queen Elsa. The one who manipulates ice and snow. The Queen who was almost beheaded by her bridge after failing to court her and Anna.

She reached for the opened envelope that laid on her pillow and stuck her hand inside. She gasped silently when she felt the familiar feeling.

She pulled out her hand and found the golden pendant. The same pendant her brother wore, the same pendant she wore.

"It really is you..." She said staring into the roaring lion. She was flabbergasted. Her brother was with Queen Elsa. Suddenly the door barged open and Hanna immediately hid the pendant behind her back as well as the letter. Her heart racing a million miles an hour.

"Princess Hanna, your bath is ready." Said Kristina as she stepped in with a beautiful bath robe in her hands.

"Right! Of course!" Said Hanna standing to her feet.

"Do you need help undressing, your highness?" Asked her lady in waiting.

Hanna's brows furrowed. It wasn't until she followed Kristina's gaze that she realized she hadn't even undressed completely. In fact half of the top part of her dress was open with one of her breasts hanging out. "Y-yes. Yes Kristina, I'd really appreciate that." She replied clearly embarrassed.

Kristina came behind Hanna and she quickly adjusted her hands to the front and quickly stuffed the pendant and the letter inside her drawer before she questioned anything else.

—————————————————————

Elsa's eyes slowly opened as the morning sun started to hit her face. She slowly stood up from her mattress and began to run the crust and out of her eyes and yawning before turning to see if Hans was asleep still.

But her eyes widened when she realized he wasn't there. She blinked a few times and shook her head, thinking that perhaps she was still in deep sleep, but at last he wasn't there. Just the well made bed with the blankets folded properly on top of the pillow.

"Hans?" She asked as she sat at the edge of her bed. "Hans??" She asked again, looking all around the hut.

He was nowhere. She furrowed her brows and slowly stood up on her feet. Did he escape and go with Tadashi and his men??

Her eyes widened in worry as she quickly lifted the flap and exited out of the hut. She was surprised to find the Northuldra in their usual morning routines. Not one of them seemed concerned like the way Elsa was being at the moment.

"Morning Elsa!" Came the cheery voice from the young seventeen year old.

"Rhanda." Said Elsa turning around to face her.

"You sleep okay?" She asked.

"Y-Yeah... yeah I slept pretty well actually. Umm, Rhanda, how long have I been asleep??" Asked Elsa.

"Umm, well let's see. Hans awoke about three hours ago so... maybe nine hours??" Responded Rhanda.

"Nine hours!?" Exclaimed Elsa with widened eyes. She hadn't slept that long in years. She was always a morning person. "Why did no one wake me up??"

"Well you were in such deep sleep that no one wanted to bother you. Besides, Hans said it'd be best we let you sleep." Said Rhanda.

Elsa scoffed and hugged her arms. "He doesn't have a clue what's best for me... speaking of which, where is he??"

"Last I checked he was going reindeer herding with Ryder and Maren." Shrugged Rhanda.

Elsa furrowed her brows. "They took him herding??" She quickly marched towards the middle of the camp, leaving Rhanda by herself. The Northuldra and their many families greeted the fifth spirit in respect, loads of them even offering her breakfast.

But her main objective was finding Hans. There was no way she could just leave him unsupervised. What was Honeymaren thinking??

"Looking for soemone?"

Elsa turned around and as expected found Yelena standing behind her with her staff at hand.

"Hi, Yelena." Said Elsa stepping forward. "Have you seen Honeymaren or Ryder—"

"Elsa!"

Elsa looked all around to where the familiar voice came from when she finally found Honeymaren standing beside a tree with her arms crossed and waving to her.

"Excuse me." Said Elsa to Yelena as she started making her way to Rhanda.

"Had a good nights rest?" Asked Honeymaren as Elsa approached her.

"Why didn't you wake me up??" Asked Elsa as she stood next to her.

"I tried." Chuckled Honeymaren. "You were out like a rock. Hans did say you two went to bed pretty late last night."

She cleared her throat and fixed a piece of her hair behind her ear. The way that sounded made it seem so inappropriate "What else did he say..."

Honeymaren shrugged unamused. "Not much really, just that you two were writing the letter to his sister. Why? Should I know more??"

"No! No, no." Chuckled Elsa nervously. "I'm just asking is all..."

"Right." Nodded Honeymaren in agreement as she then gestured to the reindeer in front of her where she found Ryder and to her surprise Hans Who helping feed one of the pregnant females. "He's been helping Ryder and I since this morning."

"How's his wound?" Asked Elsa as she continued to stare at Hans who seemed to be engaging in causal conversation with Ryder.

"Still hurts him. I tried sending him back to your hut after Rhanda inspected it but he refused and wanted to speak with the masked men."

Elsa rolled her eyes. "Of course."

"So instead I asked if he wanted to accompany Ryder and I on our daily herding. Took a lot of convincing but he finally said yes. He's been behaving, trust me." Said Honeymaren.

Elsa and Honeyamren watched as Ryder and Hans stood up on their feet again, followed by the pregnant female. "There. That should calm down her nerves before she delivers her little one." Said Ryder as he slapped away the fur from his hands and patted the females large belly.

"How long do you give her till she gives birth." Asked Hans as he and Ryder watched the female trail away slowly.

"Ehh, probably in a week or so if she's able to successfully last that long." Replied Ryder as he crossed his arms. "Depends on the climate too. Reindeer usually prefer giving birth during winter."

"Ryder!" Came the familiar call from his older sister who was waving to him.

Hans was surprised to find Elsa standing next to Honeymaren when he turned his head. How long had she been standing there? Obviously not long if she still had her gown on.

"What's up." Said Ryder as he and Hans slowly walked towards them.

"Mother wants us to help her fetch some grains for lunch later today." Said Honeymaren.

"All right." Shrugged Ryder.

"We'll leave you two alone." Said Honeymaren to Elsa one final time before she and her brother walked away.

Elsa and Hans stood in front of each other. Both of them quite before meeting each other's gaze. "Good morning, your majesty." Said Hans clearing his throat.

"Good morning..." replied Elsa before looking up at him again. It was unfair how his king unkept hair ran so perfectly with the morning breeze. "Did you sleep okay?"

"I did." He replied.

"Still injured?"

"Very much so. It's going to take some time to heal." He replied in honesty. "How about yourself?"

"I hadn't realized I was that tired..." she said slowly. "But yes, I did sleep okay."

"Good." He replied nodding.

None of them said a words again. Elsa was thankful when she heard a multitude of children coming their way. "Queen Elsa!" They exclaimed in union, completely ignoring Hans who stood in front of her.

"Good morning children." Replied Elsa in the Northuldran native tongue with a large grin filling her face.

"Will we be having studies today?" Asked one of the youngest children. Hans furrowed his brows.

Elsa chuckled and nodded. "Just as long as you allow me to eat breakfast first."

The children gasped in excitement as they ran back to their families again. "What was that all about?" Said Hans coming from behind her.

"Oh.. umm. I've been teaching the children and a few adults how to read." She replied turning to face him.

"They don't know how to read?" Asked Hans with a genuine confused expression.

"They aren't too familiar with the outside world. They've been trapped inside this forest for many years so they were never able to read or learn about the usual things we learnEd as children." Replied Elsa.

"Huh. That's... very kind of you to take time out of your busy schedule and help them." He replied.

She shrugged. "I don't mind it. I value knowledge and I adore teaching them."

"Would you mind if I joined you?" Asked Hans after a long pause.

Elsa raised her eyebrow up. "You would want to sit and watch me teach things you already know??"

"Why not." He shrugged. "I'm sure you get overwhelmed at times."

"I don't get overwhelmed. I'm perfectly fine of teaching on my own." She retaliated politely.

"I'm sure you are." Chuckled Hans. "But I happen to be a master when it comes to literature."

"Really?" She questioned while crossing her arms. "How familiar are you with Shakespeare??"

He sneered. "I've been reading Shakespeare since I was thirteen years old, your majesty.

"Impressive." She acknowledged truthfully. "I've been reading Shakespeare since I was eight."

He sneered again and this time it was less sarcastic. "Well whatever the case may be, I still would like to sit down and see how you teach if that okay with you. You know, while we wait for Hanna's response."

She sighed heavily as her worrisome thoughts returned. "You really think she'll respond to me..." she said softly.

Hans presses his lips and stepped forward, still a respectable distance from Elsa. "I believe in Hanna, your majesty."

"But that's coming from you..." she replied with an eyebrow raised.

"I am very aware of that..." sighed Hans. "But even if it coming from someone like me, shouldn't that already give you just a little grain of hope."

Elsa looked down to the ground and exhaled as she played with her fingernails. "Maybe..."

"Trust me, your majesty." Said Hans coming beside Elsa as they both looked out to the marvelous skyscraper in front of them. "Hanna won't let you down."

——————————————————————-

She had been in deep thought ever since she was left alone naked in the bath. She held her knees tightly together close to her chest with her chin on top of her knees as she repeated Queen Elsa's words in her mind over and over again.

You're my only hope.

It was a plea. She knew Hans wouldn't let his pendant return to her unless he was trying to make a point. He was coming into the defense of Queen Elsa. Soiling his truth with their royal crest.

The door opened and in came Kristina with a large towel and robe in her hands. "Are you ready for your hair to be washed your highness?"

Hanna gave her a small smile and nodded before Kristina proceeded to grab and sit behind Hanna's long and beautiful auburn hair. She began to gently rub soap around her hair, even adding beautiful smell of flowers.

Hanna relaxed her neck and let the fingers run through her hair, all while continuing to run Elsa's words through her mind.

You're my only hope. Again and again and again.

Not once did she stop reflecting the letter, even when she was getting her corset strapped on tightly she would glance back to the drawer, temped to pull out the letter again.

——————————————————————-

"Ah, there's she is." Said King Soren rising to his feet as did the rest of the group with them.

They had been enjoying a pleasant afternoon tea on the great castles grounds while watching a peroformance of bravery between two of the Southern Isles guards against Emil the eleventh oldest and Günter, the fifth oldest.

"Apologies for keeping you waiting, your Majesties." Said Hanna curtsying with respectfulness.

"Hmmp. I'll say." Muttered Caleb.

"Come, Hanna. Join us for tea as we watch your brothers perform." Said Soren gesturing to his daughter to join the large table.

"Oh joy." Muttered Hanna sarcastically as she made her way to the table. She had no choice but to sit next to prince Anders and Axel, one of her older brothers, twelfth in line for the throne to be more exact.

They were taught since and early age to always stand or make assembly in chronological order whenever in public or espeically around royals.

Hanna was number fourteen, usually she and Hans would always be next to each other, but given that her brother has been deceased for three years now, she had to get used to being next to Axel.

She didn't mind Axel, and granted neither did Hans back in the day when he was alive. But he had the mind of ten year old. Always wanting to constantly make jokes and took light of serious situations.

Most of the times he was just unbearable, but today seemed like a good day for Axel to show his sense of stupidity so Hanna could avoid talking to the unintelligent prince as much as possible before he tried to start conversation again.

Usually she would talk to Lars the most. Besides Hans, Hanna genuinely enjoyed being around her third oldest. He was kind, smart and kept himself. However, he wasn't available and hadn't been since he moved to Stockholm with his wife, Princess Helga of who he was betrothed to. She couldn't blame him, she would have probably done the same thing too.

"Psst, Axel." Whispered Hanna as the guards and her brothers continued to duel.

"What Hanna?" Replied Axel. He had short brown hair, no facial hair whatsoever. He was always teased because he seemed to be the only one of the brothers who couldn't grow one if he wanted to.

"Come on say something stupid. Tell me a story, anything so that I don't have to talk to dumbness next to me." Whispered Hanna.

"What?? You think I'm some sort of comedian or something?" Replied Axel with furrowed and offended brows.

Hanna raised her eyebrow up at him with a blank expression before she gestured to the rest of her brothers, Axel turned around to face them and they all nodded their head in agreement except Caleb and Jurgen, the two oldest.

"You all think that low of me?? How dare you." He said crossing his arms like a petty child as Emil and Günter finished their performance and bowed before their father and the royal majesties of Skånlad as they congratulated them and clapped in union.

Beowulf, the seventh oldest, was sharpening his sword and stretching his arms out, preparing for his performance.

"It isn't thinking lowly of you if it's the truth brother." Said Caleb the oldest, turning his serious glare to Hanna and Axel. "Now if you two are done talking can you please at least try to enjoy our brothers performance."

"Why? I'm a better swordsman then he is." Retaliated Hanna with furrowed brows as Günter and Emil took their respective seats again.

Axel and William snickered while Rudi and Runi chuckled darkly.

Caleb's glare grew more serious. "Beowulf is our top sword specialist and trainer in the kingdom, Hanna. What do you do exactly??"

"Umm hello, have you forgotten that I founded the Løveninde??" She replied with a challenging stare of her own.

"Ah yes, The Lionesses. The clan of females you claim to be warriors." Chuckled Caleb unimpressed.

Hanna furrowed her eyebrows even deeper and crossed her arms. "You don't think one of my women can beat your men, General?"

Caleb wasn't just the oldest and crown prince, but he also proved to be a good leader for the Southern Isles army. Hanna on the other hand believes he got the ranking simply for being the crown prince.

"I know none of your women can beat my men." Replied Caleb darkly. "I seriously have no idea how father let you fund such a ridiculous movement."

"Ridiculous?? I help women feel empowered and push their bodies and minds to their limits. Something you lack." Replied Hanna as several of her brothers jaw dropped including Gunters. "And just look at our track record, we've been successful in every mission we've been assigned to."

"Your missions are weak and easy, a child could accomplish them with ease." Retaliated Jurgen, the second oldest, this time coming to defend his brother, he had dark facial hair that covered his whole face and blue eyes.

"Hmm, very well then." Said Hanna rising to her feet.

Caleb's eyes widened. "Wait, Hanna. What are you doing—"

"Excuse me, may I have everyone's attention." Said Hanna tapping the cup of her tea with her spoon. Her father and the king of Skånlad all turned around to face the princess with a confused expression.

"I would just like to start of by saying how grateful we are to be accompanied by the kingdom of Skånlad on this beautiful day." Said Hanna. Her fathers confused expression slowly turned to a smirk as he and the rest of the group slowly began to clap.

"Secondly, to commend this great day, I would like to present a performance of mine own." Finished Hanna.

King Sorens brows furrowed. "What did you have in mind, Hanna?"

"Well it's funny you should say that. You see my brothers trained under a swordsmanship and combat their whole lives. Many of which still serve in our military today. But what you probably don't know is that I trained myself."

King Soren's eyes widened while King Andreas snickered. Prince Anders, however seemed very impressed. "You trained in combat, Princess?? I'm sorry but that's a little hard to believe."

Hanna smiled sweetly with her eyes hiding her glare. "That's precisely why I'm going to demonstrate to you what I'm taking about."

She began to walk forward to where Beowulf was about to begin his duel with one of the guards. "Hey! I haven't even started with my performance, whoa—"

"Go. Get lost. Your finished now." Said Hanna pushing her brother away.

King Soren jumped up to his feet. "Hanna. Stop this at once."

"Yeah we were up next after Beowulf!" Added the ridiculously large twin brothers, Rudi and Runo.

"Well I doubt anyone wants to see the former criminals who kidnapped Princess Rapunzel of Corona perform now do they??" Retaliated Hanna with a snarky attitude.

Their eyes widened and they tried retaliating but the twins couldn't come up with anything. Even everyone nearby was surprised by the retaliation and harsh words from Hanna.

"Hanna, I forbid this." Said Soren with a more serious voice as he stepped forward.

"No! No! By all means please continue, I would love to see what the princess is capable of." Said King Andreas now more amused as he and his son sat forward.

"Thank you your majesty." Said Hanna smiling and curtsying. "Father, please have a seat."

King Soren's eyes widened as did everyone else. No one ever dared tell the king what to do. But everyone was even more surprised when they saw the king do as he was told and sigh heavily as he took his seat again.

Hanna turned her attention to the end of the large castle. She brought her two fingers up her lips and blew a loud and high pitched whistle. Within seconds the men turned their attention behind them and they saw a large group of females stomping their way, each of them clothes in dark and very revealing armor with tunics and skirts. They're weapons and circular shields strapped on their arms. Each of the women's hair was braided in a very Viking warrior fashion.

"Oh dear god..." Said Caleb rubbing his head in frustration.

"Well, will you look at that." Chuckled Emil darkly as he stared at the women's obvious curves and breasts. "A performance by women and a chance to embarrass themselves at the same time? How could today get any better..."

Hanna held back her tongue and ignored her perverted brother and the rest of her brothers who joined in and chuckled darkly with him. She turned her attention back to her father and the king.

"Your royal majesties. My brother, Prince Caleb, thinks that not one of my women is capable of beating one of his men in combat."

"And he's right." Defended Jurgen with his arms crossed.

"We'll see about that." Said Hanna as she made her way to the group of strong women waiting behind her for orders. They were lined up in perfect manner. "Sisters. Today is the day the Løveninde is represented in highest manner. Today is the day we demonstrate to these men what women are really capable of."

"We are with you, Princess Hanna." They said in union as they brought their weapons closer to their heart and bowed their head before her.

"Caleb, pick three of your strongest men and prepare them for combat." Said Hanna turning to her brother.

Caleb stood up on his feet angrily. "You're going to regret this little sister... Beowulf! Günter! Jurgen! Get into your formations" he commanded his brothers. "I shall be joining you in putting an end to this ridiculous movement."

Soren sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"Yes your highness." They responded in union as they started to line themselves up.

Hanna wasn't surprised he would choose Jurgen, Beowulf and Günter and then volunteer himself. But that only made it all the better because it gave her an excuse to join in the combat with her sisters as well.

Hanna turned once again to her group. "I shall be joining in the combat against my brothers, I will be needing three more to join as well, who will like to volunteer?

"I shall go." Said one of them stepping forward. Her hair was brown and braided to her back.

"Diana, thank you." Replied Hanna. "Anyone else?"

"I'll go." Said another woman stepping forward. The half size of her blonde hair had been razored while the other side was braided in Nordic fashion.

"Ava, thank you." Replied Hanna smiling at her. But I still need one more."

"I volunteer." Came the familiar tone Hanna and the others knew so very well.

The women stepped aside as they let one of their strongest and most respected warriors pass. Her hair was short and dark with layered gray highlights. Only the top of her forehead was braided. Her lips were dark pink, her skin pale and her eyes hazel.

Hanna smiled at her old friend. "Cassandra."

Cassandra stepped forward, her face expressionless as always yet her smirk sincere. "Thank you for volunteering." Said Hanna placing a hand on her shoulder.

"After everything you and Hans did for me, why wouldn't I?" Said the former lady in waiting of Princess Rapunzel.

Hanna smirked once more before turning to the rest of the two. "All right sisters. It's time we go to war. Are you with me?"

A'oo! A'oo! A'oo! Exclaimed all the women while raising their shield up in union. The three of them stepped forward with Hanna leading the way as they headed to the circular and drawn out combat space.

While the Southern Isles army wielded swords and large kite shaped shields, the Løveninde wielded circular Viking shields with swords, spears and sometimes even axes. Caleb and many in the army found it ridiculous that women would wield a shield that offered no protection, but the lionesses wielded their shields proudly after the manner of Hanna's.

They stood in form of each other waiting for the command of attack, Cassandra glared furiously yet calmly at the princes in front of her as she gripped her shield even tighter.

She was not a fanatic of men, especially the princes of the Southern Isles, save except one. The former prince Hans of course.

"This is your final chance, Hanna. Stand down." Said Caleb adjusting the sword in his hand.

Hanna was not dressed in her usual lioness armor like Cassandra and the rest of her sisters were. But that didn't stop her from rolling up her sleeves and strapping in a shield one of her sisters let her borrow before reaching for her head and dropping the pins from her hair so her single braid can hang down to her hips again.

Hanna didn't say a word, instead she gave her brother one last glare, that was already sufficient in was she was ready and she wasn't surrendering.

Caleb shook his head. "Your funeral then..."

Hanna adjusted the grip on her sword as her brothers all adjusted there's. And with one final look to her sisters she raised her shield in the air and exclaimed like a true Viking. "Go to war!"

Immediately the three women charged at the princes with loud chants while the rest of the lionesses cheered from behind.

"Take them out!" Exclaimed Caleb as he and his brothers began to exchange blows with the women.

"Oh man now this is show!" Exclaimed Emil as he clapped joyfully.

Cassandra dodged a right swing from Prince Günter as she flipped backwards and with her right heel she lifted it up and collided it with his chest.

He struggled for a few seconds but he quickly recovered and collided his shield with Cassandras back which caused her to fall forward.

The other two lionessss struggled as well with the other two princes, but they took advatage and would collide with their swords and shield whenever they got the chance.

Many were surprised by how well Hanna and her women fought. It's as if they were trained for years.

"Come on sisters, make sure you use those shields!" Exclaimed Hanna as she slid forward and dodged the sword that was coming down at her by Jurgen.

Diana was eliminated after a sword directed its blade to her chest, in real life she would have died. "You are out love." Winked Beowulf.

She huffed in anger as she stormed away from the circle. It was three against four.

While Hanna and Cassandra were engaging with Caleb and Jurgen, Ava was left to defend herself from Günter and Beowulf, she was doing fantastic until unfortunately the odds took the win and Ava was eliminated after fighting off two swords at once.

It was two against four now. Cassandra and Hanna were the only ones remaining as they stood back to back while the four of the princes encircled them.

"Hope you didn't have anything planned later today." Said Hanna to Cassandra as she glared at her brothers.

"This is all I had planned, your highness." Replied Cassandra as she held the sword in front of her.

"Finish them!" Exclaimed Caleb as he and his brothers marched forward.

But Hanna and Cassandra quickly rolled out of the way before Hanna jumped to her feet again and dodged a sword from Beowulf, the most talented swordsman in the kingdom.

She engaged in a beautiful duel of swordsmanship with her brother, but Hanna quickly took advantage and kicked the back of her brothers heel. He fell backwards and landed on his back. He reached for his sword as quickly as he could but Hanna was quicker as she put her heel on his chest and brought the edge of her sword to his throat.

"You're out." Said Hanna as Beowulf swallowed nervously.

Cassandra was defending herself well and was about to strike her shield at Günter's foot but he had grabbed her by the hair and yanked on it backwards, even causing her to yelp. "Come on now, love. Just drop your sword and this will all be over."

But Cassandra tightened her grip on his forearm and immediately jumped as she wrapped her legs around his neck before flipping him backwards and eliminating him from the circle.

Hanna's nephews and niece cheered as Günter rose his head up to see Cassandra dusting the dirt of her skirt before picking up her sword again. "No thanks, I think I'll hang on to my sword, love." She replied sarcastically before running to help Hanna who was battling against Jurgen and Caleb.

Günter groaned as he laid his head back on the ground.

Cassandra immediately went for Jurgen and was able to distract him from Hanna. She was able to collide her first twice on his ribs before Jurgen went to slice Cassandra's neck. But Hanna stuck her sword up and blocked it and with her other free hand she collided her shield against Caleb's face which sent him falling in his back.

Cassandra then quickly took advantage and kicked Jurgen's leg hard followed by a kick from Hanna to his other leg. He fell to his knees in pain and was then met with both of Cassandra and Hanna's sword pointing at his throat.

Jurgen was eliminated.

Everyone blinked in surprise. In only less than two minutes, Cassandra and Hanna were able to eliminate three of the princes.

They turned their attention to Caleb who was rising to his feet and pushing his cape away from his head. There was a bruise on his cheek now from the collision of Hanna's shield.

It was two against one now.

Cassandra walked forward to attack but Hanna brought her shield up and stopped her from walking any further. Cassandra furrowed her brows, surprised why she had stopped her but then realized that Hanna wanted this to be a fair fight.

Even more, Hanna wanted to finish this.

Caleb hissed in anger as he massaged his cheekbone. He glared at his little sister viscously. The skirts of her dress had holes from the swords and her dress was dirty.

Even Hanna's forehead had dirt, but not once did she care for any of that. All she cares about was ending this battle once and for all.

Caleb growled and charged towards Hanna with the sword above his head, ready to show his little sister how a real crown prince comes out on top.

But Hanna rolled out of the way with such speed and dodged Caleb's sword. She then rose to her feet and with her shield in her right arm she threw it to Caleb's chest as if it was a frisbee before having it return to her possession again.

Caleb held his chest in pain, surprised by how Hanna was able to throw her shield like that, but nothing compared to how surprised he was when he saw his sister jump up high and in midair and kick his chest, causing him to fly backwards and eliminate himself once his back collided outside the circle. She knocked the wind out of him.

"Yah!" She exclaimed as she landed on her feet gracefully.

Hanna had beaten Caleb.

She slowed down her breathing and slowly turned around to the royal majesties. Each of them speechless with a surprised expression on their face.

King Andreas was speechless, as was prince Anders. A few of her brothers quickly ran forward to help Caleb up while her nieces and nephews suddenly stood up on their feet and cheered in amazement, even Caleb's children were clapping along.

A'oo! A'oo! A'oo! Exclaimed in union the Løveninde. All except her father who's glare was as serious as ever. She sighed. She knew she was going to hear the end of this later today.

—————————————————————

Soren paced back and forth in the throne room. He saw no point in continuing to waste King Andreas and Prince Anders day, so instead his servants escorted them to their rooms.

Hanna and a now bruised Caleb stood in front of their father with their hands folded in front of each other waiting for his lecture like they were little children again.

"You both embarrassed the Southern Isles today." Bit out Soren impatiently.

"I'm sorry father, but please allow me to explain. Hanna was being disrespectful and—"

"Of course. Blame me." Chuckled Hanna.

"I do blame you." Hissed Caleb. "You couldn't keep your mouth shut and stop talking with Axel, you even asked if he could act stupid with you."

"Yeah and you offended the Løveninde." Replied Hanna.

"So instead you cause a scene!" Exclaimed Caleb.

"Only to prove you wrong." Retaliated Hanna.

"You proved nothing!" Yelled Caleb.

"I'm sorry, but who's the one with a bruised up bonecheek?"

"All right enough!" Exclaimed king Soren as he stopped pacing. Hanna and Caleb turned their attention back to their father as his deep and powerful voice echoed throughout the whole throne room. "Caleb, you are excused."

"Yes your majesty." Said Caleb bowing and giving Hanna one final glare before walking away and closing the chamber doors behind him.

Hanna shook her head in annoyance. She never did like Caleb. Especially not Hans.

Soren sighed heavily as he rubbed his grey beard with his large hands. He looked exhausted from all the yelling he had to do. "Are you hurt at all? Any injuries??" He said finally looking up at her.

Hanna shrugged. "You know me father. Nothing hurts me."

Soren failed once again to hide his expression and only ended up smirking softly as he rested his hands behind his back again. "You know I had hope today would be the day you'd accept Prince Anders proposal, Hanna."

Hanna raised her eyebrow at him. "That's a ridiculous thing to hope for father."

Soren chuckled. "It is a ridiculous thing to hope for isn't it? Especially after I saw you make your grand entrance with your dress and boots all muddy."

Hanna smiled at him as he stepped forward again and placed his hands on her shoulder tenderly before sighing one more time. "One day you're going to have to make a choice, Hanna."

"One day yes." Replied Hanna looking up at him. "But that day is not today."

"When shall that day be then?" Asked Soren.

Hanna stared at her fathers eyes and pressed her lips before answering. "I don't know father. But only I shall know that."

Soren smirked sadly as he turned to his great golden throne and took a seat. He rested his arm on the chair as he leaned his face in and rubbed his temples tiredly. "You know you and Hans were always so much like your mother. Constantly dedicated to being independent and not caring of what others thought."

Hanna pressed her lips at the mention of her twin brother. "It frightens me at times, I must admit." He sighed. "I just... don't want to lose you the way I lost Hans and your mother..."

Hanna stepped forward as she played with her fingers together. "You won't lose me father. And if we're being honest here... you only lost Hans because you chose to."

Soren raised his brows up with exhaustion. They've had this conversation dozens of times. "His crimes were unforgivable for the Southern Isles."

"No. His crimes were only unforgivable in your eyes. Thus why the Southern Isles couldn't forgive him either." She replied calmly yet directly.

"Hanna—"

"It's the truth father." Said Hanna taking one step forward. "The laws of this kingdom are too outdated and inhumane.

"You have sympathy for what he tried to do to Queen Elsa?" He asked with furrowed brows.

"No. But I have sympathy to know that I never give up on family or see the worst in someone after their worst mistake. You gave up on Hans the day our mother died." She retaliated, raising her voice just a tad.

"Don't you dare bring your mother into this conversation, young lady. I gave up on Hans because of his disgusting and cruel acts. All men must be punished according to our law, he was lucky he was my son and a prince, otherwise he would have been hanged by neck." He replied darkly.

She scoffed. "So that's it then? One mistake and you can never be forgiven of your sin?? Don't you see where the problem lies father! We possess too much power over our people."

"So now you have a problem with your country then?" Asked Soren with furrowed brows and a challenging tone. "And here I thought you loved your home."

"I love my homeland, not the politics." Replied Hanna firmly.

"Our politics and how we govern our kingdom is what makes us one of the most feared militia in all of Scandinavia. It's what grants you the right to stand before me as a free princess." He retaliated.

"By establishing fear in the hearts of our people? By reminding them that we can never have second chances?? That isn't freedom, father. That's fear." She proclaimed boldly.

He scoffed this time. "I don't want to have this conversation any further, Hanna."

She groaned and rolled her eyes. "Don't you see what's happening out there father!? I have heard and seen how miserable our people are! We tax them a ridiculous and cruel amount, they are barely able to make enough money to sustain their families."

"All that taxation goes to our militia, Hanna! To keep our people safe from intruders or from other kingdoms that may want to overthrow ours. To make sure our kingdom doesn't get in the wrong hands of criminals. Criminals like your brother!" He exclaimed.

Hanna gasped at how easy it was for him to be able to use her brothers name, his own son. How easy it was for him to consider Hans a horrible person. A criminal.

"It's time you learn that our kingdom will never change. We are successful because we have a system that works. A system that's been passed down since the Southern Isles was founded." He added.

"Well that's system is broken." She retaliated after a while with annoyed brows.

"Hmmph. Is that so? Well then perhaps you should accept one of the many courts you've been offered and marry into the throne so you can rule your own kingdom as Queen." He replied.

"I don't care to be Queen, father—"

"Then I suggest you learn your place and get in line with your brothers. It's time you start behaving like a princess!"

And for the first time in what seemed forever, Hanna stood speechless with her mouth hung open with tears threatening to escape her eyes.

Soren sighed heavily as he leaned backwards again, realizing how cruel he must have sounded. "I have a duty to this kingdom, Hanna. If one of our people betrays us or is not on our side then we have to move forward, even if it means they don't come with us. Even if they happen to be family."

Hanna shook her head in disappointment at hearing her father proclamation. A single tear finally escaped and fell down the side of her cheeks. "That's not what mother taught me." She replied with a small hint of her voice cracking before turning away and walking away from her fathers presence without excusing herself.

Soren watched as her daughter left his presence and closed the throne rooms behind her. He knew she wouldn't be returning through those doors again, even if he hoped she would.

He sat alone in his throne as he looked out to the window where the nightfall was coming with enormous guilt filling his chest at having made his favorite child cry.

—————————————————————

Hanna stormed off to the corner of the hall and hid behind the wall as she quickly wiped her tears away. Crying for her was rare, especially when growing up in a household of so much testosterone.

He called her brother a criminal... a criminal...

"Life will be kind to you, Princess." Hanna rolled her eyes. She didn't even have to turn around, she could tell it was Caleb, especially by the ridiculous long cape dragging on the floor. "Once you accept these traditions you'll understand that's it's better for you to be seen... and not heard."

Hanna's fist clenched in anger. She was ready to strike him across the face for such a ridiculous statement. But luckily for Caleb's sake he was scared away by the threatening growls of Adela, one of the many pet lions her father owned.

Hanna smirked at the lioness as she petted her head and slowly walked back to her room as she began to reflect the conversation she had just had with her father.

Her expression annoyed and somewhat hurt that her own father still didn't have the audacity to forgive Hans. He's convinced everyone including himself that he committed suicide the day he escaped.

But only Hanna knew the truth. No one in the Southern Isles knew who set him free, not even her fellow sisters.

She passed through every painting of her ancestors, even the large statue of Gorm the Old, the great Viking all father who found Denmark. He sat in his rocky throne with his large defined arms crossed over him with the blade of the sword being held by his hand.

She smirked. She would always joke around with Hans how he sort of looked like Günter but with a larger beard.

With each painting she passed, the more Denmark's history expanded. She kept walking until she reached her favorite painting of all.

There in front of her was her beautiful mother. Queen Nora of the Southern isles.

Hanna stared into her mother's portrait. Her hair was long and auburn like hers, her eyes emerald like hers and her skin fair like hers.

Her father always mentioned that she looked like her mother and she didn't think much of it, but now at exactly twenty six years of age she could clearly see it. She is about two years younger than what her mothers was when her portrait was drawn.

Hanna reached with her hand and gently placed it on her mothers large portrait as she stared into her mothers eyes. How she missed the old days when she was still alive and when Hans and her were just children. Back when there was no conflict.

"I miss you so much mother. I wish you were here."

Hanna continued to stare at her beautiful mother. A warrior born in heart and soul. Everything Hanna was, she learned from her.

"Hans needs help, mother." Sighed Hanna. "You always taught me to do what's right, to never give up on one another. And although father may not like it, I know what I must do." She said as she removed her hand and started to walk to her room much faster.

She entered her room and immediately closed the door behind her as she began to turn her head into various directions making sure none of her nephews or nieces had snuck in.

"Hey!" She whispered loudly. "Are-are you still there??"

The joyous whistling returned and the closet flew open. Gale began to hover above Hanna with leaves following her.

Still freaked out about the living wind, Hanna swallowed and nodded at Gale before she quickly made her way to her desk. She opened the drawer and pulled out her notebook and pen. Then she glanced back to her drawers where she had stuffed the letter and Hans pendant.

She reached over and grabbed his pendant as she held it up before her eyes. It sparked under the night moon as did her own that hung from her neck.

This was it. This was what she was born to do. To live her life like her mother and never give up on one another. To do what was right.

With his pendant in her left hand, she brought the pen down to the paper and began to write.

Queen Elsa of Arendelle

Your Majesty, I am Princess Hanna of the Southern Isles, and it shall be an honor to help you.

PHEW! That was a long one to write! But it's been my favorite to write so far. We finally were introduced to Hanna. Writing her is so much fun.

I want to clear some things. NO. Batman is NOT in my fic, I'm simply using two names and they have nothing to do with batman canon. So please don't mix those two up.

I hope you guys are safe and trying to survive 2020 like I am. Please leave reviews, they motivate me to write. Till next time!