Hans intended to go straight to the diplomats with his latest news, but was intercepted by several guards.

"Prince Hans," a guardsman hailed, "Queen Elsa has escaped!"

He held back a frustrated growl. That woman was the last piece still in play- the only thing standing between himself and a prosperous reign. So long as she was alive, Arendelle would remain a frozen wasteland, and his throne would never be entirely secure. "We must find her," he said, quickly striding toward his temporary quarters to fetch his cloak and sword. "The Queen is mad," he explained on the way. "She struck down her own sister with her ice power. Princess Anna is dying."

"No!" The Royal Guardsmen breathed as one. While they all respected their aloof queen, the talkative, playful, younger princess held a soft place in her subjects' hearts.

"I'm afraid so. Queen Elsa has abandoned her kingdom, and proved that she has no regard for the lives of her people, or the life of her own sister. She is a danger to us all." Hans said this heavily, every line of his face drawn and tense, his eyes troubled. "Anna and I have exchanged our marriage vows to secure the future of this kingdom, whatever may happen. With a heavy heart, I charge Queen Elsa with treason, and sentence her to death. It is the only way to save Arendelle, and to save Princess Anna's life. Half of you, go spread the word to the dignitaries and the other guards. The rest, come with me. We're going to end this winter."

Royal Guardsman Lyal would never have imagined turning against the queen he was sworn to protect. And certainly not on the order of a foreign prince.

Yet here he was, and he found he could not regret it. Prince Hans was certainly an inspiring leader, trusted by the Princess, compassionate toward the people, and now tied by marriage to the throne of Arendelle.

And what else were they to do, when her Royal Highness had so clearly turned against her people- turned against her own family! Even after Queen Elsa froze the kingdom and ran away, most were willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, particularly due to Princess Anna's defense and Prince Hans' intercession on her behalf. To have her run away again, with the winter still raging and poor Princess Anna dying… it was simply a crime.

Lyal watched as Prince Hans approached the damaged dungeon wall and peered into the storm beyond. The young noble's countenance was still heavy with grief, burdened by the responsibilities thrust upon him. Lyal, greatly daring, placed a hand of support on the Prince's shoulder. "Your Highness, we know that you have done everything you could to protect Queen Elsa. You've defended her from the Duke of Weselton's accusations, prevented her from slaying two men, and saved her life out in that ice castle of hers. But now you have no choice but to protect this kingdom. Be strong. Know that we are all standing by you!"

The guards around him murmured their agreement and support. Hans looked on them with such appreciation, they felt gratified to be in his service. "You're right," Prince Hans said, drawing himself up proudly. "Let's find Elsa. Do not let her escape." He raised his sword. "For Arendelle!"

"For Arendelle!" Lyal and the others roared back.

"And for Anna," they all heard him murmur quietly, before stepping out into the storm.

There was noise and yelling in the hall and, in the din, Anna could make out the unmistakable voice of Olaf.

"That's my friend out there," she told her servants. "Let him in!"

"I beg your pardon, your Highness, but Prince Hans made it clear that we shouldn't allow any outsiders to see you," Gerda said nervously.

Anna raised her chin. "I am the one in charge here, not Hans," she replied firmly. "And I am telling you to let him in."

"Your Highness, please…"

Anna threw back her quilts, and gathered her strength to rise on her own, much to the alarm of her attendants.

"Please, please sit down, Princess Anna!" Kai protested. "I'll fetch your friend, just please stay under the covers."

Olaf was finally ushered into the room, looking a little dazed. "Whelp, I've been impaled quite a few times now."

"Oh, Olaf, I'm sor-"

"Look! A fire!" the snowman gasped, bouncing over to the fireplace. The servants and guards could only watch in shock.

"Get away from there," Anna said urgently, but Olaf was too mesmerized to pay her mind.

"Whoah. So this is heat," he said, leaning in. "I love it."

"Oh!" Kai snapped out of his daze when one of the creature's branch arms caught fire briefly. He ushered the snowman back. "Please have some sense and stay away from that fireplace!"

Olaf nodded, and turned back to Anna. "So...where's Hans?" He asked, concerned by her still-frozen state. "What happened to your kiss?"

"Turns out the trolls were wrong about the kiss," Anna said miserably. "Love won't thaw a frozen heart. Hans and I tried."

"Well...maybe Hans doesn't really love you?" Olaf suggested blithely. "Maybe there's another act of true love that will work?"

Gerda gasped. "What an awful thing to say! Your Highness, I don't think Prince Hans would appreciate such slanderous talk."

"Olaf, Hans does love me," Anna said firmly. "And I...well, I love him. I'm just a little annoyed with him right now. He got all jealous of Kristoff, when there's nothing to be jealous about. And he said some very unfair things about him, and wouldn't even listen to me."

Suddenly, the window burst open. "This storm is getting worse!" Kai said anxiously.

"I've got it!" Olaf volunteered, hopping over to the window. But as he moved to shut it, he spied something. "Look!" He fashioned a makeshift telescope with an icicle. "Looks it's Kristoff and Sven! They're coming back this way!"

"What?" Anna gasped. "Gerda, help me up. Please."

"No, no, no, no, no!" Olaf and Gerda protested together. The servant glanced at the snowman in surprised approval and continued. "You need to stay warm."

"I need to get to Kristoff," Anna contradicted. "You heard what Hans said. I won't let him get arrested. And he will be unless I intervene."

"Your Highness, please…"

Ice spontaneously began to form on on the floor, walls, and ceiling. The guards in the hallway rushed in. "It must be Queen Elsa's doing! Don't worry, princess, we won't let you come to harm again."

"My sister is here?" She asked, voice rising in hope.

"Yes. She's been here all along," a royal guardsman told her. "In the dungeon."

"The dungeon?" She repeated.

"Yes, of course," Dane said, starting to feel nervous under her fierce tone. "We couldn't let her harm anyone else. And after what she did to you-"

"Wait, wait… Does Hans know about this?"

The guard swallowed. "Ah, well, Prince Hans...was the one who put her there, your Highness. After he brought her back from the ice castle. But now Queen Elsa has escaped, and the Royal Guard have been ordered to...ah...to pursue her."

The anger and adrenaline that coursed through her was so fierce, she rose to her feet on her own. "I'm leaving, now, and you will not stop me."

Kai glanced nervously into the hallway that was entirely blockaded by ice. "We can't! We're completely trapped."

The princess turned away from the door and back to the window. "No. We're not."