To Know The Dark ; frozen fanfic

chapter iii

With the banquet in full swing, Alexander eagerly scanned the ocean of faces in search of Hans' handsome profile. That strong jaw and those high cheekbones were absolutely to die for. Not to mention those sideburns. Alexander patted his face to get himself to focus - he was supposed to be looking for Hans, not thinking about how dreamy he was. He could do that once he found him. The grand hall was alight with joy and hubbub, Alexander never quite fathoming just how high the ceiling was before tonight. However, with a quiet point onto his tiptoes, Alexander was certain that Hans was not present in the room. All he saw were heads of brown, blonde, white, and ocassionally a dark black, but no fiery red. He huffed and started worming his way through the bodies of the guests, trying to make his way to the public gardens.

Exiting the gilded double doors, Alexander jogged down the hall, hoping none of the staff thought him to be in a hurry. Checking each window he passed only led him to view some guests converging in the public gardens, making merry and talking shallow business. Alexander almost wished to give up and return to the grand hall. Just as he was about to turn away, he noticed a shock of vibrant auburn hair in a far corner of the garden, dipping out of sight. The prince's heartbeat sped up, rushing out into the gardens and towards the corner the shock of hair had darted behind. He was certain it was Hans, positively. As he swung around the same corner, he was shocked to find Hans attempting to climb over the gate leading to the private gardens.

"Hans!" Alexander shouted without thinking, the older redhead yelping and tumbling to the ground on the other side of the barred fence. Alexander hurried over, eyes darting back towards the public gardens to gauge their hiding from prying eyes before darting back to the other man.

"What are you doing?!" Hans winced, rubbing his lower back where he'd fallen, and glanced at Alexander sheepishly.

"Sorry, but I needed to get in here and th - the gates were locked ... " Alexander used a knuckle to massage the furrow between his brows, sighing in exasperation.

"Hans, those are the private gardens. You're actively trespassing. Em - His Majesty could have you thrown out for this." Alexander could see the way Hans bit his lip, cheeks pinkening from getting scolded. Agh, he couldn't be mad at the older man. He was too damn cute, curse him. Alexander just sighed again, waving his hand so Hans could explain what in the world he was doing, and pretended to ignore the way those emerald eyes glittered with thanks.

"Look, Alexander, I'm not trying to steal anything. I saw something really concerning, you know." That caught the Arendellian's attention, and he instantly perked up.

"What?"

"It's true," Hans nodded, gripping onto the bars of the locked fence tightly. "Alexander, there was a nude man back here. Either this man was a very exhibitionist thief or this was a lunatic in need of serious help. Nonetheless, he's hidden back here. I didn't want to make a big deal of it so I sought to solve it myself and hopefully hand him over to the staff. But I'm glad you found me. I wouldn't know what to do if he became violent or I got lost." Alexander flushed, struggling to keep his face straight and stern at that last part.

"A naked man, you say?" Hans nodded again, more fervently than last time.

"I don't believe we'll have much time if we don't move now - if he's disoriented, it'd be way too easy for him to get lost - so I'm asking for your help. Please check any other entrances to the private gardens, preferably the one on the other side since it's visible to the public ones." Alexander made an affirmative hum, pursed his lips, and turned away. A nude lunatic would most definitely ruin Emil's coronation and he wasn't going to let anything get in his big brother's way.

~

As Emil seated himself onto the throne and Frederick had removed the crown and cape, ice floe eyes drifted over the tops of the guests' heads. A sea of masks, of puppets jerked around by their hedonistic desires. Emil's mind drifted to the soft (e/c) eyes of his friend, the way those long lashes had gently fluttered against the smooth curve of his cheeks in the shade. His pure and beautiful (Y/n), so innocent. Nothing like the bastards of the Southern Isles or Weselton or any other sin - soaked place. Just mysterious and present fae, longing for comfort and warmth from him and only him. Emil sufferingly closed his stinging eyes and pursed his lips. Why, he loved (Y/n) so dearly that just the thought was enough to make his heart ache.