(Anna)
Everyday after that, Much to the argument of my unwanted companion, I would insist on walking around the castle. But I kept them short, I didn't exhaust myself like I did the first day, I knew better. Better to be on my own feet then carried in his arms like a small child. Hans insisted I eat more, and I did. He threatened to carry me down to the kitchens himself if I didn't.
He would sit there, watching me like a hawk until I ate every last morsel. My guards were of little use, I called for them to have him removed several times out of annoyance.... But with most of the Arendale guard relieved of duty, it was always Southern Isle guards that came when I called. His guards.
"Well someone is looking better today." Hans announced. Fixing his silk cravat that he wore around his neck as he stepped uninvited into my room. "Less pale like death anyways." He smirked in sarcasm. He appeared to be a bright mood today.
"Good morning Prince Hans." I seethed formality, narrowing my eyes at him from the dresser where I sat. "Morning, .....Anna." He replied, arrogantly dismissing my title. I simply rolled my eyes. Over the last week in his company I had become accustomed to his blatant disregard of respect for my stature. He had gone from ignoring me and treating me with total ice, to sarcastically mocking me, or picking apart every little thing I'd suggest. I think I preferred the ice...
"Ready to go?" He asked, handing me my walking stick. "No thank you, I won't be needing that today." I replied, not taking the staff. I was feeling much better lately, and though I'd never admit it to his face, I think my forced increase in meal rations had played a large part in that.
"Well look whose all ready to ditch her sea legs." He smirked pulling my cloak off the rack and tying it around my neck. I grabbed the ties and yanked them out of his hands. "I can do it myself, I am not a child!" I cried in annoyance. Anything to belittle me...
"Hey easy their, Im just trying to do my job." He held his hands up in surrender. We walked in silence down to the courtyard. He whistled cheerfully as we walked along, in the best mood I had seen him in all week. I rolled my eyes, assuming that last night, one of my pretty servant girls might have had something to do with that.
I was supervising the distribution of rations when a little girl, not older then four walked up, dolly in hand and tugged on my skirt. "Majesty?" Her little voice called up softly.
"I'm terribly sorry!" Her mothers eyes went wide when she noticed the small peasants hands on my royal garment. "Its all right." I held my hand up to stop her from pulling her child away. I knelt down onto the snow, lowering myself to eye level with the pretty blonde hair and piercing blue eyes of the sweet child. She reminded me so much of my dear sister Elsa...
"Yes darling?" I spoke softly. She gulped nervously, as if gathering up every ounce of her courage to ask me something. "Y-Your Queeness...."she stuttered "Can we go home soon? I miss my home." She asked, nervously wringing the arm of her raggedy dolly. Your Queeness, how sweet, I like that.
I took a deep breath, regretting what I about to tell her. The whole crowd had stopped eating and how now turned to watch me. I looked up at Hans, who stood as always directly beside me, he simply shrugged. "I miss my home as well sweet child, but we can't go home... Yet. Right now some bad men are staying there, and its not safe. But don't worry honey, once the bad people leave, we can go home, I promise." I explained, placing a gloved hand on her small and fragile shoulder.
Her little face clouded into confusion and sadness as her bottom lip pouted out. She looked up at the unwilling companion who stood at my side. "Is the brave prince going to make the bad men go away?" She questioned, staring up at Hans with a look of hero worship.
I sighed, how I wanted to tell her otherwise. How there Is no such thing as 'prince charming', that and not to put her all her trust and faith in one like I did when I was younger. But then I remembered how it had given me hope as a small child.... That's what this homesick child was clinging to, and who am I to take it away?
I gave her small shoulder a squeeze and looked up to Hans who was staring blankly at me, afraid of what I might say. "I know in my heart, Prince Hans is going try his very best." "Really?" Her face lit up with a bright smile. "You really think he will?" "Maybe, if you ask him nicely...." I shrugged.
She bolted quickly and ran to Hans. Wrapping her tiny arms around his legs in an embrace. His eyes went wide in surprise, and the whole crowd gasped. Unlike the sweet innocent little cherub that clung to him, they knew of what he had attempted to do my sister and I... Lets just say, despite the protection his troops offered, he wasn't thought of with fondness around here.
"Mister Prince?..." She mumbled into the legs of his pristine white trousers. His gaze softened, it was if I could literally feel his heart melting by the expression on his face... He reached down and, much to my surprise, scooped the peasant girl up into his arms, bringing her to his eye level.
"Yes little lady?" He smiled, one of those mind bending, earth shattering smiles he was capable of... A sight I thought I had long forgotten. "Are you going to make the bad men leave Arendale?" She asked, unfazed by the weight of the fact that the arrogant, self absorbed prince was holding her, a lowly peasant 'brat'.
"Like your good queen Anna has just said... I'm going to try." He nodded. I was flabbergasted at what I just heard. Good, Queen, and Anna, all in the same sentence... "But for you, little angel, I promise to try my hardest." He set her down and she ran off with the biggest grin on her small face, back to her mother.
Soon, it was time for me to walk back to my chambers. Pulling my cloak tighter around myself as we walked through the garden, passing several children who were having a snowball fight in the courtyard. A snowball came whizzing onto our path and stuck Hans in the stomach. "My humblest apologies your Grace.." called out one little boy fearfully, dropping to one knee. "You may have me whipped if you see fit sir." The boy, aged no older then 11, declared with a slight tremble. "You wished to be punished?" Laughed Hans, scooping up a handful of snow and packing it into a ball. "Very well then, start running." He chuckled and chased the boy, armed with the ball of white fluff, around the hedges of the garden. I sat down onto one of the marble benches, watching the scene.
Out of nowhere, a ball of cold snow hit me square in the face, knocking me backwards off of my seat. Hans stood up, solum faced from the snow barricade he was crouched behind. "I'm so.. SO sorry Anna!" He pleaded, hands up in surrender. The children stopped playing and had all gone silent, watching in fear of what the queen might do.
I rolled up onto my knees, and for the first time in months.... I, laughed. Real laughter, genuine and whole hearted. "Oh, you will be sorry!" I threatened playfully, grabbing a fist full of snow and tossing it at him.
For a few minutes: gone was pain, my hatred, and turmoil. For a few minutes, my only concern was pelting Hans with snowballs.
That evening, tucked safely into my bed, I dreamt of Kristoffs death. I had not witnessed it, but that only caused my mind to create different scenarios, and play them over and over again. Waking up drenched in sweat despite the inescapable cold of the land which the morning sun had not yet graced, I sobbed into my pillow. I needed Sven, I needed to wrap my arms around his burly, furry neck and hold on to the last thing I had from before the war.
Grabbing my cloak I crept down the stairs and into the stables. When I reached Sven's stall, I was horrified to find it empty. It looked like he had kicked the gate down and escaped. Searching for Kristoff no doubt, it wasn't the first time this had happened. Wrought with worry, without even thinking, I followed his snowy tracks into woods. I can't lose him too... I just can't. I refuse to!
"Anna!" A deep voice called out behind me after a while. "Anna what are you doing out here?!?" It was Hans, sitting atop his steed trotting up behind me. "Sven is missing, im looking for him. What are you doing here?" I raised an eyebrow at him. Shivering in the cold.
"Following you, you crazy woman, its freezing out here!" He cursed, sliding off his horse. He took off his thick white jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. "I don't need this." I tried to shrug it off, which only made him wrap it tighter. "Not a request." He stated.
"Move and you die!" A hard voice called from within the trees. I took in a jagged breath, as figures emerged from the darkness. I felt the tip of a blade being pressed against my back.
We were surrounded by Vikings.
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-authors note- (geekpower1)
Hello my lovelies! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I love reading all your comments and can't wait to see what you guys think of this chapter. Thank you for reading and please don't forget to vote!