The Queen's Admiral

Epilogue: Hans

"You can't marry a man you just met."

The words were so familiar and were spoken with almost the same coldness that it gave me pause. I slipped behind a curtain near the entrance of the balcony and leaned in to watch the argument unfold between Fredrik and Melody. I felt a sudden chill in the air and it reminded me of my experience of another similar argument in another coronation a lifetime ago. I felt slightly alarmed at the growing conflict between them and I tensed even more when Melody suddenly bolted and ran across the ballroom with Fredrik chasing after her.

Good Lord, let this not be another sudden ice catastrophe on the very eve of Brigitta's coronation! After a trying five years of helping my niece in this position, a snowy disaster was the last thing I needed. However, I do have more faith in Fredrik's control so I held off calling my wife for assistance and I only followed him stealthily at a distance.

I found a window that afforded me a view of the conservatory where Melody finally stopped to sit and remove her remaining shoe. Thank goodness Mezzanotte gave her those awfully impractical slippers or else Fredrik might be running after her all night. Fredrik caught up to her and they appeared to be talking normally. There were no ice spikes, no blizzard and the temperature was still warm enough. So far, so good but I wasn't going to leave it there. This meeting between them might just be the opportunity I was waiting for and I wasn't going to pass it up. I gave a low whistle and in seconds Carpet came flying in.

"Carpet, get Genie and Melody's friends quickly." I pointed to the two figures in the conservatory and I didn't need to explain. Carpet gave me a salute and flew off in a hurry to alert his old pal.

I continued to watch the scene below for several minutes. Fredrik sat beside Melody and they continued to talk together. Melody even lit up a smile occasionally but she didn't appear to be quite back in her usual jolly spirits just yet. "Come on Fredrik, she's given you all the signs, read them."

I felt a sudden spike in the temperature. It was subtle, but it was there and the triumph that bubbled inside me made me grin. After months of scheming and dealing, my carefully crafted maneuvers finally paid off as I watched the young man I've grown to care for as my own son finally leaned down to experience his first true love's kiss. I remembered well how that felt and I couldn't be happier for Fredrik who had the fortune to find the affection of a worthy girl at such a young age.

"You're looking awfully satisfied, Hans. What did you do this time?"

I felt her presence even before she spoke. Her tone was smug but I can still hear the doting affection behind the words. I turned to meet her pout and my breath involuntarily hitched. Even after five years of marriage that twitch of her lips coupled with the single raised eyebrow can still arrest me in a way no other human being could. The cool blue of her eyes that saw through me from the time Anna introduced us was again watching me with growing suspicion.

"Elsa, my love, you have such little faith in me," I teased as I gently touched her chin to turn her head towards the scene in the conservatory.

"Fredrik? And Melody?" she uttered delightfully. A smile spread throughout her features making her glow even more beautiful. "This is wonderful. He finally figured it out!"

"Yes and it took him forever," I complained. "For a smart young man, Fredrik can be quite daft when it comes to what's right in front of him."

"And I suppose you were instrumental in helping him figure it out?" She gave another pout that I would have kissed away if we were in someplace private.