Anna's POV:
"Elsa!" I called failing to hold back my excitement
"Anna, we need to go. The nobles will be here shortly" Elsa said. I ran to her, leaving Queen Skylynn to slowly follow me.
"You two won't believe who's here" I said enthusiastically.
"Hans is here already?!"
"NO! It's so much better that that!"
"Queen Skylynn of Drakora?" Kristoff guessed with a side smile teasingly. I nodded my head jumping up and down. "Seriously? She's here?" he said with his eyes wide.
"Really?!" Elsa said not believing her ears. She was quite a fan of her too. There certainly was admiration for her.
"YEEES!" I squealed "She's right there. Queen Skylynn!" I called walking back towards the Queen and walked her to my sister and my boyfriend, who still had their jaws hanging open.
"Queen Skylynn, this is my sister, Queen Elsa I of Arendelle" Elsa bowed her head and curtsied.
"Queen Elsa, may I present: Queen Skylynn I of Drakora" I introduced.
"Your Majesty" Queen Skylynn greeted bowing.
"And this is my boy- I mean- partner Kristoff Bjorman, our official Ice Master and Deliverer " I introduced.
"Your Majesty" he greeted bowing. The young queen gave him a small bow with her head.
"Queen Skylynn" Elsa said "We certainly weren't expecting you. I believe, I should have known you were coming, since -well- your reputation precedes you"
"I could say the same thing about you, Queen Elsa of Arendelle… or should I say Snow Queen?" Elsa seemed to be taken aback by surprise.
"I didn't think news would travel this fast, or were you present at my coronation? I hope I didn't miss you"
"No, you didn't. I didn't get the pleasure to come. My people needed me" Elsa nodded her head.
"I understand completely"
"We have kind of felt the effects of the Great Thaw"
"Really? How?"
"Very late ship trades" Elsa lowered her gaze.
"I apologize. I hope it didn't make too much damage, considering the Revolution"
"No damage was made, your Majesty. Actually Drakora is doing well, our economy is good, we're rebuilding our kingdom, my people is happy and we're at peace"
"That's very nice to hear" Elsa said with a small smile "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Queen Skylynn? I see you have a couple of bags on the saddle, how long are you staying?"
"I'll be staying for a while, I'm not sure how long though. I hope I'm not a burden, especially since I came here unannounced"
"No, of course! That won't be a problem"
"Great! And…" The grey eyed queen looked around her as if making sure no one was around and took a step closer to Elsa. It was just then I realized how tall she actually was; I with my height, I reached Elsa's eye level, and Elsa reached Queen Skylynn's eye level, and we both had at least 2 inch heels… her boots had none! She must have been something like 5'8" or something. "I actually wanted to talk about the reason of my visit with you and Princess Anna, but privately" she said with a serious look. Elsa nodded, a look of agreement flashed through their eyes.
"Very well" Elsa said not losing her regal composure "As soon as we're back I'll send someone to call for you. Kristoff, please escort Queen Skylynn to the castle adn when when you get there tell Kai to show her to her room and our stable boy to take care of her horse"
"Yes, ma'am!" he said trying to hold back his clear enthusiasm. I looked towards Queen Skylynn's black stallion. It was a beautiful animal, with a pure black shiny coat, main and tail and long-limbed muscular legs. It looked very fast and agile.
"What's your horse's name?" I blurted out before thinking.
"Anna!" Elsa scolded sending me a look… oops!
"It's fine, your Majesty" the other queen said "This is Black Beauty, he's been my companion since I turned fifteen and yes, I did name him after the book" she said patting the horse's neck. The horse whinnied in content as she stroke his shiny black main.
"That's a cute name" I said. Elsa smiled a bit.
"We'll see you later" she said and turned to me "Anna, we must go" Elsa said. I nodded.
"Until later, your Majesty" Queen Skylynn said with a nod of the head "Your Highness" she said nodding her head towards me.
"I'll show you to the castle" Kristoff said as they walked away. I could sense the excitement in his voice, I didn't know he was a fan of her too. You could see it in his eyes that he still couldn't believe he had the heroine of the Drakonian Revolution just less than three feet away.
"Why did Kristoff get to show her to the castle and not me?" I complained.
"Because-"
"I met her first!"
"Anna-"
"In fact, I introduced you to her!"
"Anna…-"
"Elsa, I'm serious! She's a living legend! You know how much of a fan of her I am! It's a dream come true!"
"One simple reason" Elsa said holding up a finger "We have to greet the aristocrats. Both of us"
"Why? I didn't get that. You're the queen. Wasn't my job just to help you during the trial?"
"Last time I checked, Hans was your ex-fiancé, not mine" my face fell.
"Point taken" Elsa gave me a small smile and we kept walking towards the docks. I pouted all the way there. Elsa was trying to do some small talk, but I haven't forgotten her and Kristoff's plotting faces, but that was a minor thing. My idol was here and I didn't even get the chance to show her around. I only walked her to Elsa right after I managed to make a total fool of myself.
"So" Elsa started "How did you meet Queen Skylynn anyway?"
"…"
"While walking around?"
"…"
"You saw her boat at the docks?"
"…"
"Really? The silent treatment?" she complained
"…"
"Seriously! How old are you, Anna?"
"Eighteen"
"I mean mentally"
"Oh ha-ha" I said shortly. She sighed shaking her head.
"I'm wondering, how do you manage to be a mature grown up for one moment, and be a little kid the next" she said.
"…"
"I know you're not offended"
"…"
"You're not going to make me feel bad"
"…"
"Okay, fine! I stole your chocolate" Nice try.
"…"
"And I froze your rose dress" I'm not gonna fall for it… better check that out later
"…"
"And I robbed a bank" Really?
"…"
"And killed a guard while I was at it" Really? You wouldn't hurt a fly
"…"
"I'm pregnant" Yeah, right… with what boyfriend?
"…"
"Kristoff's the father"
"WHAAAAT?!"
"That finally got you to talk!" she said with a laugh. I shoved her arm.
"Not funny, Elsa!"
"Actually it is" I pouted crossing my arms.
"…"
"Oh, come on, Anna! Stop being a baby! Queen Skylynn is staying as a guest! You've got all the time to go have a chat with her, Jeez!" Elsa said clearly irritated.
"It's not just that"
"What else?" I gave her a look she immediately understood "Mind your own business!"
"Well, considering the you and my boyfriend are having private talks, eye conversations and some secret business you won't tell me about, I think it kind of is my business"
"Well, it's not"
"It's a good thing I trust you both, because you two could be having an affair for all I know"
"Oh Gee, thanks for ruining the surprise!"
"WHAT?!"
"I'm kidding! Gosh! Seriously Anna, me having an affair with Kristoff?! Out of all people? Really? Plus, he's not my type"
"Hey, you never told me what was your type"
"Oh, I don't know. I never thought about it, maybe tall and fair-"
"Kristoff's tall and fair"
; "Too burly for my likings. He could probably break the both of us with a bear hug"
"Really? I like that about Kristoff" I said dreamingly "I love how he hugs me, he's so warm and the way he wraps his strong muscular arms around me… Every time he kisses me, he-"
"Anna!" Elsa interrupted "I really don't want to know the details" my dreamy face fell.
"Then I'll just cut saying that he makes me very happy, there. Happy?"
"I know he 'makes you very happy' and as much as I love you and I'm fond of Kristoff, I don't need or want the report of your make-out sessions, okay?" I was about to replay when we got to the docks. Most of the nobleman and women were already there. They all greeted us with bows smiles and flattering compliments. Elsa then politely greeted them back and illustrated them the plans before starting the trial and told them to head to the castle, our servants will attend them from there. We were still waiting for the Duke of Weaseltown (oh, the joy!) to come and the Prince and Princess of Corona. As they got to Arendelle, King Theodore was nowhere to be seen, so we decided on meeting him at the palace since he was the last to arrive.
We were expecting him and his brothers in the throne room along with Kristoff who finally joined us. I knew he did it because he didn't want me to meet Hans alone, although he knew I had my sister supporting me while I supported her. Elsa was standing at the top of the short stairs leading up to the throne, I was standing right beside her, the throne behind us. Then Kai finally announced them.
King Theodore… that guy wasn't one man… he was six together! He was a tall, big and buff man with curly red hair and beard and brown eyes. His crown held high and regal just like his clothes. The other two… wait… three? He said there were only- whatever. There were other three men with him. One was not very tall, maybe a couple of inches taller than Queen Skylynn, but he was burly. He had red hair like the King and his red beard following his jaw line. He had dark green eyes that had something in them… I don't know, but they made me feel uncomfortable. He was walking towards us holding one of Hans' arms, the other was held by another man. He was just a bit shorter than the king, but was certainly fit and bigger than Hans. He had red hair just like the other two and big sideburns and green eyes, just like the other man, but they didn't have that thing in them. The fourth man was completely different from them. He was as tall as the king, maybe an inch more, he must have been somewhere around 6'4", but unlike the king he had a lean figure. He had broad shoulders that made his body look like a perfect V, and from the way his uniform suited him he looked muscular, an athlete. He was young, not more than 22 years old, he had straight jet-black hair swept to the side, a little less messy than Kristoff's, and bright blue-greenish eyes. He was wearing a military uniform, just like Queen Skylynn, except that the jacket was red and the braidings were gold, his trousers and boots were black… handsome, none less. He also had a sword at his side and was walking right behind Hans. When I saw him, I was torn between anger and pity.
Elsa's POV:
Hans looked awful. He tried to stand tall, but I could see he was clearly in pain even if his head was held down. His auburn hair had grown over the month and was messy and dirty, his once perfect sideburns gone and replaced with at least a messy unkept stubble. His regal clothes replaced with a loose neck dirty white shirt that got just past his hips and dark brown trousers tucked in his black commoner boots. The shirt was ripped at the neck and at the edge. His trousers, with holes on his knees and maybe dirty with coal. He had a rope circling his waist as a belt. He also had a loose brown jacket that was dirty with coal and was ripped on the shoulder and had a hole at the elbows. Basically he looked like a peasant in misery, not a prince. He didn't look too well either. I admit, I actually felt concerned about his health. The limp in his leg didn't help, nor did the bandage on his right hand, or the bruise right above his left eye or the fact that his rawboned face gave off the fact that he had lost weight... too much weight and too quickly. As soon as they stood in front of us, King Theodore bowed in respect.
"Queen Elsa, Princess Anna. Let me formally introduce ourselves" he began "I'm King Theodore IV of the Southern Isles. These are my brothers Prince Gordon" he said as the shorter buff man with creepy green eyes gave us a bow holding forcefully Hans' arm "and Prince Herbert" the other man imitated his brother. "And this man" he said indicating the young raven haired man "Is General Storm Ryder, Admiral of our Navy and the best soldier of the Southern Isles" he said "General Ryder insisted to accompany us to keep a better eye on Hans"
"Thank you for the concern, General" I said to General Ryder.
"Duty, your Grace" he answered with a nod of the head. Anna then took the chance to formally introduce Kristoff who bowed to the royals and the General in front of us.
"Bow, Hans" the King told him. Hans didn't open his mouth, but he kept his head down and stood still
"He said 'bow'" said Prince Gordon. Hans didn't move or mutter a word. "Are you deaf?! Bow!" he ordered slapping forcefully his hand on his back. Hans didn't move but his face said he was in visible pain. Prince Gordon grabbed him behind his neck with such force we heard a smack as soon as he grabbed him and pushed him down as Prince Herbert used his leg to bend his knee and make him forcefully kneel.
"You bow in front of the Queen and the Princess, you filthy scumbag!" Prince Herbert spat.
"Don't treat him like that!" I said horrified.
"What?" the two princes said looking shocked at me "But he's just a low life peasant!" said Prince Gordon.
"It doesn't make a difference" I said narrowing my eyes at him "You don't treat an animal like that, let alone a person" That was when Hans lifted his head to look at us and I made the mistake to look at him in the eyes. Those emerald green orbs, the ones that once held such a blood-thirsty look in them, the eyes of a master liar, the eyes that once were bright with a calculating and analyzing look, they were now filled with partially shock, and partially something else. I didn't know what it was, but those eyes weren't empty, they were holding an emotion, something strong.
"You heard the Queen" I heard Anna snap. I was so concentrated in analyzing his eyes that I didn't hear what Prince Gordon had said "You're in our home and you respect our rules and we were taught that no matter what the other person did, you treat him or her with respect. Is that understood?" she said narrowing her eyes at Gordon.
"You're actually defending tha-I mean- him?" Prince Herbert said raising an eyebrow.
"Herbert!" King Theodore scolded.
"No. I'm making a point. I don't care of how you treat your prisoners in the Isles, but you're in Arendelle now, and you stick to our rules" Anna said narrowing her eyes at him.
"Is that clear enough?" I asked supporting Anna. That was one thing we agreed on.
"Of course, your Graces" he said slightly looking towards his brother.
"Anyway, what do you mean that he's just a peasant?" Kristoff asked before either me or Anna could.
"After what he did here, the only thing I had the time to do was stripping him of his title. He doesn't deserve the title of 'Prince'. Prince Herbert along with Prince Gordon, Prince August and Prince Linus took charge of him"
"A month of hard work in the coal mines wasn't enough to him, considering his snarky mouth that now is magically shut" added Gordon.
"I see" I said looking at Hans.
"I personally wanted Hans to formally apologize to you for his crimes" King Theodore said and turned to Hans "Apologize" Hans was silent "Hans, apologize" Not a word "Hans I told you to apologize. King's orders"
"I'm sorry, Queen Elsa" he muttered quietly.
"So we can hear you" Prince Gordon said gripping his shoulder. Hans flinched in pain.
"I'm sorry, Queen Elsa" Hans said louder "I'm sorry I didn't kill you when I had the chance!" he added, his stare was cold.
"Hans!" King Theodore scolded.
"You wanted me to say I was sorry?" Hans said rising to his feet "Well, I am. I'm sorry I didn't kill you when I got the chance. I'm sor
ry I didn't kill Anna myself, instead of leaving her to freeze. I'm sorry I didn't become King and I'm sorry that I'm not sorry at all!" he said looking at me in the eyes with that fury again. It made my heart quiver and I could feel the frost forming on my fingertips. Kristoff put a protective hand on Anna's shoulder, taking a step closer to her.
"You little piece of-" Prince Herbert was about to punch Hans when I stopped him.
"Enough!" I shouted. They all looked at me, I drifted my gaze off of Hans and towards King Theodore "Guards! Kai!" I called. The butler and two guards immediately appeared. "Kai, please show the King, the Princes and General Ryder to their rooms, and when you're done make sure the traitor is presentable for the trial. Guards, escort the ex-prince to the dungeons. The trial shall take place on Tuesday at the Juridical Palace, I'll see you then" I said directing my gaze towards King Theodore as I finished speaking. Kai obliged and escorted the royals and the General to their rooms. As the guards took him away, Hans turned around looking at me for a moment and there was that look in his eyes, the one I couldn't decipher. As soon as they were gone. Anna and I let out a breath we didn't know we were holding. Kristoff hugged Anna tightly, as I kept my eyes on the door Hans was brought through to exit, thinking intently on that look in his eyes. I then felt Anna's arms encircling my waist from behind resting her head on my shoulder.
"Are you alright?" she asked. I nodded.
"Yeah… are you alright?" I asked holding her hands on my stomach.
"Yeah…" I turned around in her arms and hugged her. We stayed silent for a moment "We need to talk with Queen Skylynn" I reminded her. Her head snapped up almost hitting mine.
"Right! How could I forget?!" Anna let go of me and walked back to Kristoff, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek "Sorry, private meeting with Queen Skylynn. I'll see you later" she said with an excited smile.
"That's okay. I'll see you at dinner" he said caressing her cheek, then he looked at me and nodded his head in salute and walked away. Anna immediately grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the stairs.
"Come on! Come on! Come on! We can't keep Queen Skylynn waiting!" she said excitedly.
Many Beauty and the Many Beast Page 4