Heated Ice (Helsa)

Chapter Seventy-Two:

Hans sat quietly doodling on the balcony of Elsa's bedroom. He was done sketching the forest across the waters and was now coloring the sunset accordingly with oil pastels. Elsa still wasn't back yet from whatever was keeping her earlier and hardly any of the guards were here so it must've been big.

"Prince Hans?" A servant poked their head into see Hans sitting at the balcony.

"Yes?" Hans asked but didn't look up from his drawing, desperately trying to capture the colors of the sunset before it disappeared.

"Your mother has asked to enter."

"Yes, come in. Thank you." Hans said and set down the drawing and stood from the seat. He stretched out his legs, finally realizing how long he had been sitting there. Susan entered the room quietly, shut the door behind her and stood awkwardly near the door. "Hi, mom." Hans smiled and walked over to the fireplace, sitting in one of the chairs, patting the one next to him for her to sit.

"Thank you." She smiled and patted his knee lightly. "Elsa is still out?"

"Yes, I'm getting a little worried but I'm trying not to think about it." He said and looked deep into the dancing flames of the fire. The heat was intense against his clothing and bare skin. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"I just wanted to say that I'm thankful you've forgiven me for neglecting you practically your whole life... I just, I'm so sorry. I wish I hadn't-"

"Mom," Hans smiled and laid a hand on her knee. "Really, it's okay. It's all forgotten, the past is long gone for me."

"Good, good." Susan smiled and held back her tears but they refused to hold back and they began streaming down her cheeks. "Oh, Hans." She whispered and hugged him tightly. "My marriage is crumbling to bits."

"What? Why? You and dad seemed just fine the other night?"

"It's all fake anymore. He's gone mad and there's no coming back for him anymore."

"Why? What do you mean?"

"He's hearing things, seeing people. That's why I gave up the throne to Leo, it had to be done. Your father resents me everyday because of it."

"What's he hearing?"

"To take over and rule everywhere, that God has told him to. He's trying to get your brothers to marry into some royalty to get a hold on other lands. It's becoming too much to bare."

"Is that why he's want me to marry Elsa? Because he wants Arendelle?"

"Yes." Susan nodded and sobbed even harder. "I can't be with him anymore. I can't take his abuse, Hans."

"He's hit you?" He whispered, becoming angry quickly.

"Only a few times." She said and heard the bedroom door click lightly when Elsa stepped in. She looked over at Susan crying into Hans' chest and gave him a confused look. "What am I doing sitting here crying? I should go play with Sebastian or something." Susan quickly wiped her eyes and cheeks, leaving no trace of her years except her wet eyelashes and stood from the chair. "I'm sorry I got your shirt wet." She said and tried wiping the wetness out of Hans' shirt with the end of her sleeve. She sucked in a small breath and turned to Elsa with a small smile. "Hello, Elsa. I hope that everything is okay with earlier."

"Oh!" Elsa nodded and smiled. "Everything's fine, thanks. It was a fire at the local bakery, everything should be okay."

"That's good." Susan smiled and walked over to the door but Elsa laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Elsa whispered and held eye contact with Susan. She nodded and smiled at her a little. "If you ever need me, I'm here." Elsa smiled and pulled Susan into a hug then let go shortly after.