Dark Paths (Helsa)

Seventeen

Hans woke up the next morning with Elsa sprawled out on the bed, her arms laying next to her side but her legs were all moved about. It was now 9:40am, early enough for him to wake Elsa up so they could talk about Arden. Hans had decided they could either run together, leaving on his boat and never come back. They can either do that or tell Arden how they feel about each other but most likely, the second option was a no go.

"Good morning." Elsa muttered, pulling Hans out of his thoughts. She immediately became sad once she remembered what was going on. "What are we going to do?" She asked, sitting up and rested against his shoulder then ran her hand across his back.

"I've thought up two options. We can run away together on one of my boats, I'm sure that we can find a country far away to start a life at." He said, feeling her nod but not an agreement type nod, more of an 'okay'. "Or, we can just tell Arden that we're in love and there's no changing it. Even if he makes you go home, he'll be lead to feel guilty because you left your heart here with me." He said, feeling her nod again, this time an agreement nod until she spoke.

"Either way... I lose something. If I leave, I lose a part of me but if I stay then I'll let my country and my parents down." She said, climbing out of bed and went over to change out of her black dress. "Hans, my heart needs time." She said, hearing him get out of her bed then cross the floors.

"Well, mine doesn't, Elsa. Your heart shouldn't need time if you love me." He snapped, making her jump a little then she heard the door slam.

Hans stood outside of his door for a second, leaning against it to clear his head. She was probably crying now, frustrated with Arden then he snapped at her. He only snapped because he knew that's what she needed was a push, a push towards him even if that meant leaving behind Arendelle. He then started to feeling guilty for their whole situation, he was practically ripping Elsa away from her entire life, Anna, Arendelle and her loveless husband.

~~~~~~

Elsa walked out of her room quietly, knocking on Hans' patio doors then heard him rummage around. He quietly opened the doors, revealing Hans dressed for the day, looking upset but not angry.

"I wanted to talk with you." She said, feeling intimidated with him sulking at his door. He nodded then she turned away, walking back into her bedroom and sat on her bed, waiting for Hans to come in.

"Hi," He muttered, coming into her bedroom then sat down on the bed beside her. "I'd like to apologize for snapping at you earlier. I shouldn't have, I shouldn't have pushed you to any decisions."

"No, it's what I needed. I know I want you, but I also want to rule my kingdom and not disappoint my family." She said, seeing Hans nod.

"I know, and now I understand if you leave." Hans mumbled but to her surprise she climbed into his lap.

"You know how I said my heart needed time?" She asked, seeing him nod so she continued. "My heart doesn't need time and even if it does, I don't have time." She said, grabbing him quickly and started kissing him, feeling all of her tension released in these kisses. She loved him so much and couldn't leave him.

"Elsa?!" They both heard, they pulled apart, seeing Arden come barreling over and grabbed Elsa by her dress. "You stupid whore!" He yelled, slapping her hard across her cheek then shoved her to the ground.

"You do not touch her." Hans snapped, seeing Elsa hurt on the floor before he quickly threw a punch to Arden, knocking him to the ground.

"What are you going to do, pretty boy?" Arden asked, going to stand up.

"You may not know this but I'm the admiral who picked up your wife. Trust me when I say I can kick your ass." Hans said, seeing Arden try to throw a punch but he blocked it, starting a fist fight with him.

"No! Guys stop!" Elsa yelled, and saw fists colliding with each other then fists colliding with other areas of their body. An entanglement of the men that wasn't going to stop unless she called out for guards. "Guards! Please, help!" She yelled out the door, hearing the boys rummaging around on the floor then three guards came running over to her bedroom. They picked up both of them by their collars, holding each one of the them back from each other, seeing Arden's bloody, crooked nose and Hans face scratched and bleeding from the cuts of Arden's rings.

"Queen Elsa, what happened?" The middle guard asked, examining both of their injuries, noticing Hans knuckles bleeding.

"I do not have to answer that to you. I will only answer to your king." Elsa said, looking sadly to Hans. "Please take them to the infirmary while I go speak to Leo.

~~~~~~

"So," Leo said, pacing his library floors, scratching at the stubble on his chin. "You've been having this affair with Hans and your husband walked in, a fight erupted for what reason?"

"Arden... He slapped me, I think that hit a nerve for Hans." She said, watching as he paced. His pacing made her even more nervous.

"Well, of course it did. He loves you. I don't tolerate abuse of any kind, but I guess it's already disputed between them if they've fought and I can't do much since Arden is a king." Leo said, taking a seat in his leather chair then tossed aside the fight mentally. "Are you alright? Not just with the slap, but emotionally?"

"Yes, I'll be fine... I don't know what to do though. If I should leave or I should talk with Arden." She admitted, she never told anyone but Anna and Hans. "I want to stay with Hans but I'm a queen, I can't just leave."

"Speak to Arden, see if you can have a priest divorce you if you really want to be with my brother." He shrugged. "That's the only way this can go besides you leaving for good."

"I think I'll go check on the both of them." Elsa said, standing from the chair and went over to the door. "Thank you for not being angry with me or Hans."

"I don't judge anyone for what they choose to do. It's not my life to judge." He said, giving her a small smile then started going through a stack of his papers.

She shut the door after she left, picking up the bottom of her dress to walk up the stairs to the infirmary to see Arden first.