Chapter 21: What I Know About Love

"Death?"

The word hung in the air ominously for a long time after Anna whispered it while her heart raced with chilling dread. She recalled her reaction at the war office as she confronted Hans and accused him of murder. He had begged her for a moment to explain, to let him have a word but she had plowed through her anger and even tried to stab him. She then told everyone that he was an evil man that deserved more than death. In a horrible twist she realized her impulsive words might have doomed him.

"Oh Kristoff! What have I done! I didn't know! I thought Hans had killed you and I blabbed that to people! If the French army find out..."

Kristoff nodded. "I know. He can get into trouble unless he's here in Arendelle so Elsa can protect him with immunity. That's why she invited him here." He paused as if to think then continued seriously. "I figured he's not on the boat with you. Where is he?"

"I drove him away!" Anna cried. Nervous energy pulsed in her veins that she had to stand and move. "I need to get to him! I'll tell him I made a mistake and I'll bring him home!"

She half-ran back towards the carriage, and scrambled to unhook the harness from the horses. I can get back to the port faster on horseback. Then I just have to find another ship to take me to Sweden...

"Anna stop! What are you doing?!" Kristoff asked while she was figuring out how to disentangle the complex knots that made up the harness.

"I'm sorry Kristoff. You need to stay here and keep hidden. I need to go."

"Go?" he asked, clearly baffled. "Go where?"

Can't Kristoff see that I don't have time to explain this! "Just help me get this off!"

He just stood in front of her and did nothing. "What are you trying to do?" he asked.

She huffed audibly then went on trying to untangle the knots. "The horse is faster without a carriage. I need to go back to the port. I'll take a ship to Sweden or wherever he went," she hurriedly explained. "I need to get him to safety. This is my fault so I have to go find him. I HAVE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT!"

Instead of helping, Kristoff just held her tight in his arms. What is he doing? Doesn't he get it? Hans' life is in danger! Anna thought frantically as she struggled against his hold. "Kristoff let go! Hans needs my help!"

Kristoff held her even tighter until she can no longer struggle against him. A cascade of emotions enveloped her once more and all she could do was sob on his firm chest.

"I messed up Kristoff! I put Hans in danger when all the while he had risked so much."

"I know, but you need to let Elsa handle this for now," he said softly, gently like the way he would speak to Sven when Kristoff was trying to calm his reindeer when he was feeling skittish. "From what I saw before Elsa ordered us out of there, she's doing something already. It's best that we don't get in the way."

It hurt to know that Elsa was again cleaning up her mess but she realized Kristoff was right. As usual, her first impulse is to jump into action without a plan. She felt horribly incompetent and helpless at the same time.

"What do I do, Kristoff?" she muttered feebly.

"Just stay with me and our children for now. Elsa had a cottage set up for me to stay away out of sight. She'll have the kids join us there later. If she needs us back at the castle, she will send word. Come on, you need to rest."

He led her back to the coach but Anna decided to sit beside him on the driver's seat. They road up the mountain in silence, their shoulders touching and their fingers laced together like so many times when they took trips together. Anna savored the familiar view and smells of the woods and counted her blessings even as the guilt continued to gnaw at her stomach like a festering wound that wouldn't go away.

The cottage was small and nothing spectacular but it was cozy enough once Kristoff had a flame going in the little fireplace. They sat together on a rug on the floor close to the warm grate and Anna told him how she encountered Hans at the hospital and his connection to her Papa. They spoke for hours as they held each other like so many times before. Anna didn't realize she fell asleep until she was awakened by the sounds of two familiar voices.

"Mama! Mama!"

Anna bolted awake from what it appeared to be the small cottage bed to be greeted by kisses from her twins. For a long time, there was much hugging and crying as their family became whole again. She marveled at how big her children had grown. Idunn must have grown five inches since she last saw her. Despite the blonde hair that matched Kristoff's shade, Anna could see her own mother's features clearly forming on her daughter's face. They had the same smile and even had the same dimple peeking through the left side of her cheek with every tiny grin. Agdar, on the other hand, was all Kristoff in terms of features, down to the color of his eyes and the mischievous crinkle of his mouth when he laughed. Both children immediately talked animatedly about all the fun things they did with their Aunt Elsa, Sven and Olaf while she and Kristoff were away. Anna fell completely absorbed with the attention for the entire day. She was glad that despite everything terrible that happened to them over the last few months her children were kept innocently oblivious to all of it.

They have a normal, carefree childhood at least. I will let them have that as long as I can. For now I want to have this for now. Just for now.

"Anna?"

Anna looked up and found Elsa's gaze. She immediately found herself in her sister's familiar hug.

"I'm glad you're alright," Elsa said once they held each other at arms' length. "Have you gotten any sleep? Did you rest well?" The way Elsa said it reminded Anna of her father. There was something about Elsa's tone, the way she spoke and stood that was so unmistakably their father's stance. Anna wondered why she never noticed it before.

"Yes, Elsa, it was very pleasant. Thank you for bringing the children."

"Okay kids, let's give your Auntie and Mama some time alone to talk, shall we?" Kristoff said as he herded the twins away. Anna was grateful for his instinct. She and Elsa had a lot to talk about. Once the bedroom door shut behind Kristoff, Anna grasped her sister's hand.

"Elsa, I need to tell you something about Hans… I made a mistake and he's in danger…"

Elsa held up her hands in a gesture for her to calm down. Again, it was so similar to their father when he was making her settle, it felt almost uncanny. "It's okay Anna. I know. I've taken care of it. I've dispatched a ship to Sweden to bring him here. He'll be fine."

"But I said some things to some people…"

"I've already gotten that sorted out. You need not worry. What matters now is that you're here and you can catch up with Kristoff and your babies. Just get some rest and enjoy their company."

Anna heaved a sigh. It was just like Elsa to resolve things even before Anna can think of solutions. "Okay, but I have to tell you all about Hans. He's not what we thought he was. And I think he can help us if he's here. Help you with Knudsvig even."

Elsa sat at the foot of the bed to be close to her. "Tell me then."

Anna immediately launched into telling Elsa everything that happened over the last few months. She spared no details on what Hans revealed to her, from his terrible childhood to the root cause of it that involved their father.

"Elsa, you may be shocked to hear of it, but Papa loved another woman."

"Hans' mother," Elsa finished for her.

Anna was startled. "You knew?"

Elsa nodded solemnly and stared out into space as if she was recalling the memories. "Mama used to cry to me. She didn't say why, but whenever she did she would tell me I can make me her feel better if I did something for her. She said I need to go to Papa and say I was his first born, that I was his true daughter. Those were her exact words. I didn't understand why she kept asking me to do that but I did. And every time I said it to Papa he would just freeze up for a moment and tell me, I would always be his first. It always seemed to please Mama a lot whenever Papa called me 'his little Queen.'"

Anna remembered that. Mama used to smile so happily whenever Papa said those words to Elsa. I used to be so envious that she didn't react the same way when Papa called me his "Little Princess."

"I found out the truth when I was seventeen," Elsa went on. "Papa came to me and told me he was arranging a marriage for me. His advisers were pressuring him to provide a male heir and Mama couldn't give him one. I was next in line and the advisers think my being a woman and my ability made me a liability. I needed a husband and a son. Papa said he had a potential match for me and he was meeting him during cousin Rapunzel's coronation."

"Cousin Rapunzel's coronation?" Anna gasped. "But that's the event that Papa and Mama were supposed to go to when their ship…"

"They never got there," Elsa said. "It was just as well. Mama didn't agree to the match. She told me who he was, who his mother was and why Papa wanted him for me. After all those years Papa never gave up on the idea of bringing him into our family."

Papa was planning on making Hans his son-in-law! Elsa could have married Hans if Papa and Mama had reached Corona!

"Before they left on that ship, Mama told me not trust Hans or any of the Westergaards. She said Hans was most likely going to be bribed to take me as his bride. She said he was only after what Papa couldn't give him. She said I deserved better."

That was rather unfair of Mama to judge Hans that way, Anna thought. But who can blame her?

"So that's why you flat out refused him when he asked to marry me?" Anna asked.

Elsa nodded. "Partly yes. I knew who he was, the circumstances of this birth and his station as the thirteenth son. And really Anna, you knew the man for like three hours. I wouldn't trust any man that proposes in that short span of time."

Anna laughed guiltily. "Yes, that too."

Elsa reached out and affectionately curled a stray part of her Anna's hair with her finger. "I didn't want to tell you because I knew how you loved Papa and Mama. I didn't want to ruin your good image of them. As loving parents as they were, they also had their shortcomings. They were only human."

Anna nodded. It was certainly unnerving to hear more and more of her parents' less than good sides, but she understood them and found she could not judge them for their actions so long ago. Wherever they are now, I hope they're happy with each other.

"So back to Hans," Anna went on. "You think he can stay here if our men find him in Sweden?"

"I will definitely grant him immunity, if he needs it."

Anna squealed and hugged her sister. "Thank you Elsa, I knew I can count on you. He can be part of the family, maybe he can have a position in court and—"

"Whoa! Whoa!" Elsa cut off with her hands held out in a gesture to indicate a plea for calm. "Hang on a minute, Anna. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

"But Elsa, he's a changed man! I just know it! He's a like a brother to me now and he's suffered so much. We should make him part of the family, give him the love he deserves. I know he'll be a great addition to your court. Maybe he can even help you with Knudsvig. I heard Knudsvig's still a prick. I bet Hans can kick his ass for you if you asked him nicely—"

"One thing at a time Anna," Elsa said with a forced laugh. "Let's get him here first. We'll see things from there, okay?"

"Okay, but what do we do with Knudsvig? I met Lord Nyberg in Copenhagen and he told me all sorts of nasty things Knudsvig's been doing to you." Anna quickly launched into the narrative of what Lord Nyberg told her. Elsa merely listened and nodded her head occasionally to affirm that everything the Northern Isles told her was true. "So what do we do?" Anna asked when she ended the tale.

Elsa held her hand and squeezed it. "I can handle Knudsvig, Anna."

"But he's disrespecting you. We've got to do something! I need to go back with you in court to deal with him."

Elsa looked away for a moment but when she looked back she had a reassuring smile on. "I've got it covered, Anna. He's not hurting me and I've got enough of our people to back me up against him. Anna, don't worry about anything. Just stay here. I've already made my excuses for you and the children in court. You can take a long rest here with them."

"But are you sure?"

Elsa beamed at her, but somehow Anna had a feeling that smile didn't reach her eyes but she had no time to observe it for Elsa patted her head affectionately. Strange, how that gesture again reminded her of her father. "I'm sure Anna. Now, I'm going to be very busy with the pull-out of our troops from this war so I might not be able to come to you again. I will send Kai or Gerda regularly. Just relax for now, my darling."

"Alright Elsa, I'll do as you ask."

"Good, now I'll get the twins back here. You have a lot of catching up to do with them." Elsa dropped a kiss on the top of her head. It was the same kiss Papa used to give her to tell her to shush but she no longer had time to think for Elsa had hollered for the twins to get back to their mother. In the next instant, all Anna could focus on was the chubby-cheeked duo who urged her to play with them.

January 29, 1813

Cabin in the Arendellian Woods

Over the next few days, Anna remained in the cabin with her little family. Elsa had not been back since but she sent notes every few days to assure here all was well and she was taking care of things. It didn't take long for Anna to read between the lines that her sister was deliberately asking her to stay away from the castle. She didn't know exactly how to feel about that. On one hand, she was grateful to Elsa for providing her the time and the privacy to immerse in the company of Kristoff and her children. On the other hand, she feared it was an indication that Elsa didn't trust her to be around the Arendellian court after she made such a mess. On top of that, she worried constantly over Hans' safety. Every time Kai or Gerda came for their regular visits, Anna pestered them with news on Hans. Each time, their loyal servants gave the same answer: there was still no word from the ship that was sent out to find him. This morning Kai slipped and gave her the first indication why it was so difficult to find Hans. Apparently, borders of their once allied nations were closing everyday. The atmosphere of another war was looming across Europe. The fact that Elsa had also not come herself to the cabin to bring the news personally was also a worrying factor. It meant Elsa was occupied with something important she couldn't possibly get away.

"You must understand her, Anna," Kristoff said gently once Kai had left and she ranted to him of this latest development over a cup of hot chocolate after they had put the children to bed. "It's a bad time for Elsa as things are different in the castle now."

"How different?" Anna asked him.

Kristoff looked a bit confused. "Didn't Elsa tell you?"

"Tell me what?" she asked.

"About her situation in court?" Kristoff explained. He stared at her, perplexed. "I assumed when she was here she told you and you didn't bring it up. I thought you didn't want to talk about it."

Anna suddenly had a sinking feeling she was left out of the loop somehow. "What do you know that I don't know?"

Kristoff sighed and poured himself a second cup of hot chocolate before he spoke. "Ever since Knudsvig came back as the crown prince of the Northern Isles, the castle has seen a flock of Northern Islander courtiers come in for indefinite visits. Elsa's under a lot of pressure not to make a false move with so many new eyes watching her. And she's being doubly pressured to produce an heir. It's not helping that Knudsvig's being a..." Kristoff let out a trail of invectives that told Anna exactly her brother-in-law was still the biggest jerk she had ever met.

"I take it reconciliation between them is not going to happen?" Anna asked.

Kristoff let out disgusted grunt. "You know I'm all for the sanctity of marriage. I grew up in a family that doesn't have a concept of divorce. The trolls simply don't do that. They mate for life. But asking Elsa to stay in that marriage is a torture I wouldn't want my worst enemy to endure. That arrogant bastard has been blaming Elsa for them not having children. But he's the one who's been distancing himself even after Elsa tried to extend an olive branch. And do you know what else he did?"

Anna had a feeling she already knew from what she heard from Lord Nyberg but she just let Kristoff continue.

"He arrogantly holds his own court of his appointed courtiers in his side of the castle, some of them former Arendellians that had a record of being against your family. Are you familiar with Lord Bentley?"

"He's the one Papa fired and banished for stealing crown funds to buy his own private lands," Anna recalled.

"Well he's back," Kristoff said. "He's now part of Knudsvig's inner circle and his daughter Lavinia is Knudsvig's latest mistress."

Anna glowered at the familiar name. Lady Lavinia Bentley had been one of the more unpleasant girls Anna had the misfortune to know since early childhood. Vain, mean-spirited and ambitious, Lavinia mocked Anna as a child in front of other children and spread vicious gossip about her as an adolescent. Lavinia was sent away when her father was disgraced over an embezzlement scandal but she made a comeback at Elsa's coronation after she married a rich nobleman twice her age. For the last five years, she was just a social-climbing relatively harmless annoyance around court. However, now that she had become Knudsvig's mistress, Anna realized she was a thorn that can be potentially dangerous.

"So she's no longer content with just flaunting her husband's money, is she?" Anna couldn't help but mutter spitefully.

Kristoff nodded. "Lady Lavinia's husband is conveniently away from court. It's her father that's stealing the scene these days. That father-daughter pair means serious business even if I never met them. They're trying to win over other Arendellian nobles to their side. Elsa can't prove anything yet but she suspects they are the ones behind the smear campaign against her."

"Smear campaign?" Anna asked. She recalled Lord Nyberg vaguely referencing lies told about Elsa but didn't fully explain. "What kind of smear campaign?"

Kristoff sighed uncomfortably. "There have been pamphlets spreading across Arendelle, graphic and vulgar depictions of Elsa as a witch and an unholy demon that doomed her country. There is also a group of religious radicals called the Purification League that have followers roaming the countryside preaching about the evils of a woman ruling. They claim Elsa must be deposed and burned to death. They are blaming her for her childlessness and said she is the one causing crops to fail or if a barren woman cannot produce a child and all other sorts of nonsense."

"But that's ridiculous! No one would believe that about Elsa," Anna exclaimed with a roll of her eyes.

"Well Pope Pius VII did," Kristoff explained. "He issued a bull covertly from his French prison supporting the Purification League and condemning the evils of this war. That document has been read in Catholic churches all across Europe on Christmas day. That statement can just push the Catholic minority in Arendelle to join the League."

Anna pondered at that information and felt confused. "The Catholic Arendellians were never against Elsa. She's been tolerant about each citizen practicing whatever religion they have. In fact, Arendelle has welcomed Catholics even if Elsa is the head of her protestant Church. The Pope knows that."

"It's not about religion, Anna. The Pope is angry at Napoleon for dissolving the Papal States. The Pope himself is a prisoner of France. Naturally, he will go after every ally of France, even the reluctant ones. Elsa, as a woman ruler with strange powers few can understand, is the easiest target."

"That's terrible! Poor Elsa!" Anna cried. "What can we do?"

"I can't do anything much right now," Kristoff replied with a hint of regret. "But you Anna, you need to be there for Elsa when she asks for you. Keep your eyes and ears on the alert for anyone in the castle. The place is now crawling with new Northern Isles courtiers. Some of them are surprisingly supportive of Elsa and against Knudsvig, but Elsa is doubtful they are not motivated by something else."

Anna couldn't agree more. She told Kristoff of what she heard from Lord Nyberg and what Hans told her of his own brother's plans for Elsa. If King Caleb planned to take advantage of Elsa's new position as queen-in-waiting of a unified Arendelle-Northern Isles, wouldn't the Northern Islander nobility have thought of a similar plan by getting into Elsa's good graces? Both of them came to the conclusion that Elsa was now in a dangerous situation where both seemingly friends and outright enemies were potential vipers waiting to strike.

I only wish I can help you root out those vipers Elsa, Anna thought. I'll trust you to handle things for now, but please, please send for me soon.

March 4, 1814

Cabin in the Arendellian Woods

"Elsa's shutting me out again."

Kristoff looked up from the piece of wood he was carving as a toy reindeer for their son and a worried frown creased his face. "What do you mean?"

Anna got up from chair where she had been absently stroking her sleeping twins' hair. They had been spending most evenings like this sitting together by the fire after their children were asleep. Tonight Anna could no longer hold back the ill-feeling she had since that night Kristoff told her what Elsa had concealed from her of the happenings in the Arendellian court.

"Isn't it obvious?" she replied. "It's more than a month and she hasn't sent for me or come by or told me what's really going on. She didn't even tell me what's going on with her in court. I had to learn that from you. She's shutting me out, Kristoff."

"She did send Gerda, Anna. Gerda's been visiting once a week."

"Yes Gerda," Anna huffed irritably. "Who tells me the same thing over and over: 'Just enjoy yourself with your family, Anna. Don't worry about a thing. Elsa can handle things for now, Anna. Just keep Kristoff out of sight and keep safe. Focus on your husband and children. Elsa just wants you to keep your little family happy. Now is time to channel your energy in your DOMESTIC ROLE!'" She said the last two words almost as a shout but was careful to keep it down to not wake her children.

"Calm down," Kristoff said.

Anna let out a groan. "I can't, Kristoff. That's not really Gerda talking. That's Elsa. It's like she's… she's channeling Papa!"

Kristoff put down his wood carving and sat on the bed next to her. "What do you mean?"

"You wouldn't understand," Anna huffed.

"Try me," Kristoff said matter-of-factly in the way that always convinced her to open to him.

Anna signed. "Papa's great but sometimes he's so traditionalist. When I was little, he wouldn't let me do things I wanted that are not 'proper Princess behavior.'" She rolled her eyes and lowered her pitch in an attempt to mimic her father's voice: "You are not driving a carriage Anna. Princesses do not drive carriages. They sit like proper ladies inside the carriage. Or you don't need fencing lessons Anna. Princesses do not sword-fight. Princesses sew and embroider to make a lovely home for their families. Or don't worry your little head about knowing how to stir a ship. You are never going to stir a ship. Princesses do not become sailors. Princesses get married and take care of their children. I'm sick of it Kristoff!"

Kristoff dropped the item he was making and stood behind her. He gently rubbed her shoulders. "Elsa does let your drive a carriage, and she let you stir a ship once, did she?"

"That's not the point, Kristoff! Yes, she did let me do that, but she doesn't let me in on the important things. Like now."

Kristoff held his arms wide open and Anna let herself fall into the comfort of his embrace. "She doesn't trust me Kristoff," he murmured into his chest. "She doesn't trust me around her at court. But I can't be angry at her. All I do is ruin things. This last bit with Hans might have ruined Elsa's trust in me completely. She practically sent guards to watch over us constantly, maybe to keep me from doing something stupid."

Anna was referring to the pair of Arendellian servants that were always on standby outside their cottage. They have been there for weeks now. At first Anna and Kristoff thought they were just there to bring them supplies or help them out in their chores. They did help clean, cook, do the wash and even brought fresh game on the occasion for them. It was Kristoff who pointed out that these men were not exactly average servants. They were among Arendelle's loyal young soldiers and one of them was Kai's own son. They often interchanged with other servants every few days, but two always remained behind with them. It wasn't hard to conclude that they were there to keep watch over their family but no amount of pleading, cajoling or threats from Anna made them reveal their true orders on why they were supposed to be guarding Anna's little family.

"I'm sure Elsa doesn't think that," Kristoff consoled her. "But you are right, something's not right here or they wouldn't be keeping watch all the time. Look, I'll go ask them tonight."

There was a knock on the door and they both stared at it.

"That's probably one of them right now," said Kristoff. He reached up to open the door and outside was Kai's son.

"Pardon me your highnesses," the lad greeted. "You have a visitor."

Anna immediately got up, almost certain it was Gerda. It's just about time she came in. Well no time like the present to question her directly. She probably knows more about what's going on and I'm not going to let her make anymore excuses.

However, when she got outside, it was not Gerda at all but a familiar young man.

"Tommy!" She gasped at the young Arendellian soldier that took care of her on the boat home.

"Hello Anna," he greeted shyly as he glanced between her and Kristoff. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting your evening..."

"Oh no, no. Tommy you're always welcome. Do come in for some tea."

The boy nodded and followed her into the tiny kitchen of the cabin. She sat across him on the wooden table they used to dine while Kristoff prepared cups and heated a kettle over the fire.

"I've wanted to come and see you for quite some time, but I wasn't sure where you were and the castle servants were not too open about telling anybody where you are taking your retreat."

Anna felt a bit uncomfortable at the word "retreat." It was a term Elsa used before among her courtiers when Anna had to be sent away due to her untimely pregnancy. It was Elsa's way of protecting Anna from public scrutiny. Anna couldn't help but feel the sting of Elsa's mistrust against her.

"I'm really glad your husband is alive," Tommy continued tentatively. "It took me a while to find out what really happened..." He paused and glanced uncomfortably at Kristoff. "I mean of what Prince Hans did."

Anna felt the beginnings of a blush inflame her cheeks. She had lambasted Hans to Tommy the most on the trip home. Would the young soldier rebuke her now for her error?"

"I'm grateful to him," Kristoff answered on her behalf. "He's a brave man and I hope our men get him to safety. Is there any news from the men Queen Elsa sent to find him?"

"No," Tommy replied. When he went on he focused on Kristoff but he rambled at the words. "The thing is… I really came so I can… I mean I have something for Anna… I know… I know I shouldn't have kept it… but I owed him for my family… and I meant to give it to her… but I didn't know how she felt… and I… I didn't know…"

"Tommy!" Anna half-shook him for she could feel the tension within her rising as she somehow knew Tommy was saying something related to Hans. "Just tell me what it is!"

He drew something from his pocket and handed it to her. It was several pieces of torn paper.

"I put it together and read the words after we arrived. That's how I found out the truth," he said sheepishly. "I gave it to the Queen to read and it was the only way I can convince her to let me know where you were."

Anna slowly unfolded the pieces and immediately recognized what it was.

Hans' letter! The one I tore up.

"I'll leave you alone to read it," Tommy muttered. He didn't even wait for Anna to reply for both he and Kristoff exited the room immediately. Anna went to a nearby table and laid out the pieces so they were in the right order. She lit a few more candles to bring more light in. A sudden chill seemed to touch her skin and she shivered slightly as she began to read his words.

Dear Anna,

I know I hurt you deeply but you must know the truth. I did not kill Kristoff or any of the other Arendellians he was convicted with. The records may show that but I didn't do it. I couldn't do it. I let them go.

It may be hard for you to believe me after all the instances I've deceived you in the past. In this latest incidence I only have myself to blame for keeping you in the dark. I wanted to tell you so many times but each time I held back on my own stupid belief that I was trying to spare you pain. The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt you and I kept my silence and tried my best to erase Kristoff's record so he wouldn't have to be branded as a traitor. History is always unkind to deserters and their families. A record like that would haunt him and his children for life just as my mother's betrayal of my father had followed me until adulthood. I don't want you or your children to endure that, especially since I knew Kristoff and those four other Arendellians did not deserve it.

I was serving a sentence for a crime I did which more than makes me deserve to suffer in this war. But they did nothing to deserve suffering beside me. I have seen so many of them in Moscow, poor soldiers who were forced into this war, lay helplessly starving in the cold while they waited indefinitely for an Emperor's indecision on how to move forward. To say I was starving with them would be a lie for as a cavalry officer I was better fed than any of them. So when I was faced with that order and saw your husband and the men with him—all familiar faces to me from the time you left me in charge of Arendelle—all I could feel was shame. How could I kill these men for just trying to survive and attempting to find a way to return to the lives that had been forcibly taken from them?

Trying to get out of the desolation of Russia surrounded by enemy Cossacks might be an even a harsher death sentence so perhaps it would have been kinder for me to have killed them. But I just couldn't do it. Not when they all reminded me of Elsa who had given me back my life even when I didn't deserve it.

So I let them go but I let the records show I did to give them a chance to get away. I don't know if they did survive but I had prayed nightly that they did. I meant it when I said before that I hope Kristoff returns to you and your children. If he does, he comes back a free man and without a stain of a desertion. I have taken measures to buy Captain Bertole's silence so he would not re-file his report and I will do everything I can to ensure his conviction is wiped away from memory. If he does not return, all I can offer is that his name remains a hero, because that what he is.

Good bye Anna. I wish you peace and a lifetime of happiness. I will never forget you. What I knew of love, I first learned from your father and then from you.

Hans

She was sobbing uncontrollably by the end of it.

If only I hadn't let my anger rule me. If only I read his letter instead of tearing it! I thought he was the one I should forgive but he's the one that must forgive me. He gave me back the one thing that mattered to me most and I might have taken his life. I don't deserve his friendship.

She was in such a state of self-loathing when Kristoff re-entered the room.

"Anna, I'm sorry to bother you but…" Kristoff didn't need to finish that sentence. He stepped aside and Anna saw Elsa behind him, her ice gown a distinct shade of purplish-red. Anna had known her sister long enough to know her gowns change naturally in color based on her moods. Purple-red was a bad sign. It meant she was deeply troubled.

Anna met her and took her hands. They were painfully cold.

"Elsa, what is it? Is it Hans? Have our men gotten to him?"

Elsa shook her head. "The border was closed. Our men were turned away by a ship patrolling the sea routes. But that's not the worst of it."

No! He can't be...

"Is he... dead? Arrested?" Anna whispered dreadfully.

"No. He's still in Sweden. The French ship that stopped our vessel confirmed it."

Anna wanted to sigh with relief but she can sense this news was no cause for relief at all.

"That same ship was making rounds among the French allies, including Arendelle," Elsa explained. "They're issuing a warning for us to cease all diplomatic relations with Sweden. It just declared war against Emperor Bonaparte. It's now allied with Russia."

"What?" Anna gasped. "But Hans is in Sweden! He's trapped behind enemy lines! Is he… is he a prisoner now?"

Elsa shook her head again as the purplish red of her dress flashed more intensely. "He's been appointed General of the Swedish army by Prince Carl John of Sweden. Emperor Bonaparte has already declared Hans a traitor along with all Swedes. I can't do anything for him anymore. There's now a warrant for his arrest."

Author's Note: I am ending this story at this point of irony where Anna realizes she's the one that needs to be forgiven in a role reversal of sorts with Hans. There have been a few songs that inspired this fic and I think most of you can tell one of them is Kristoff's solo song from the Frozen Broadway musical "Kristoff Lullaby." One of my favorite lines in that song is that he says "You're what I know about love," when he refers to Anna. I liked to imagine Hans also sang something like this when he realized how Anna meant to him as a friend, which was why he was so keen to protect her feelings. I also have another song in my head that I imagined Hans could have sang when he refrained from telling Anna the truth about what happened to Kristoff: "The Man I'll Never Be" from the soundtrack of Daddy Long Legs the Broadway Musical. Check it out and the lyrics of this song pretty much summarizes Hans' thought process.

I will try to work out a sequel where the focus will shift from Anna's POV to multiple POVs including Hans and Elsa. I know it's been a while since I updated and I can't really promise how fast I will be able to churn out the next installment for this as I've been quite busy with life lately and I haven't figured out how to work all the details on how I want to go with the sequel. The historical source material is also a lot more difficult to work out because there are just so many battles that happened in the year before Napoleon's defeat and there are just so many possibilities on where to place Hans next. On top of that, Elsa will also be dealing with the internal politics between the Northern Isles and Arendelle, which will be incredibly complex.

Just a backgrounder again on the context for this chapter: The Papal States, for those who are unfamiliar, are basically the territory ruled by the Pope. Back in those days, the Pope also ruled similar to a monarch with his own lands and armies. Napoleon abolished the Papal States during his reign and basically imprisoned the Pope, so it's not surprising, the Pope would use the power of the pulpit to undermine the French Empire and its allies.

Prince Carl John of Sweden was someone I mentioned before. He's the same French Marshall Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte who betrayed Napoleon when he brought Sweden in conflict with France in early 1814. Incidentally, he's also Napoleon's brother-in-law and he got the throne of Sweden when he was elected by the Swedes to become the crown prince when the royal line died out. I read somewhere that he was elected to the crown because at an early point of his career when he was left in charge of Sweden as a French Marshall on France's behalf he had been very kind to the Swedes and took care of them. I was struck at the similarity of his actions with Hans' own in Arendelle when he was also left in charge. I think he's someone Hans can relate to well and I see a lot of Hans' personality in him.

As for Hans, he's still a Westergaard even if he dropped the name. Faced with being ordered by his brother to be a pawn, he does a complete turn around and brings out his new ace from his sleeve (You wouldn't think he would be content to just sit in the sidelines, do you?)

I would like to thank all of you who have reviewed and read this story. I appreciate the comments very much.