Dark Paths (Helsa)

Nineteen

Elsa had spent the night in Hans' room, careful the whole night to not accidentally bump into his cuts or his hand. She watched him sleep for a moment, wondering what he could be dreaming about and hoped it was happier than their reality.

She climbed out of his bed quietly, going into her bedroom and noticed a small red envelope sitting on the floor near the door. She walked over hesitantly but picked it up, seeing it was from Arden.

Elsa,

Please meet me in the council room with the prince. King Leo has given us the room for the hour.

Arden

Elsa set it down on the desk, wondering what he could want with both her and Hans. She quickly dressed in a long, loose dark purple dress and headed out on the balcony, running into Hans, making her jump back and lose her footing.

"There you are," Hans muttered, helping her stand to her feet. "I thought you left for good."

"No," Elsa shook her head, wiping the dirt off of her dress and looked up to Hans. "Arden wants to see us in the council room right now."

"I wonder why?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows and started walking back to his bedroom to get dressed. "Should we go?"

"I think so, or he's just going to come to us." She said, watching as he picked out a long sleeve button up shirt, and black dress pants. "I guess we should go whenever you're ready then."

"Yes," He nodded, slipping the shirt over his arms, beginning to button it up then slipped his pants over his underwear. "I love you," He said, walking over to her and tipped her chin up to kiss her. "No matter what happens, I will always love you and if you do leave, I don't mind you knowing that I'll think of you," He whispered, seeing her eyes starting tear up.

"Don't talk like this, we don't even know what's going to happen," She said, pulling away from him to wipe her eyes and adjusted her dress. "We should go."

~~~~~~

Hans and Elsa arrived outside of the council room, hearing Arden pacing the floors. Their future rested in that man's head, if she would leave Hans forever or have him come to Arendelle with her. She sighed quietly, kissing Hans quickly before she headed in.

"Arden," Elsa said, having Hans walk in after she did. He stood in the middle of the room, stopped pacing to sit down at the table across from Elsa. Hans sat down awkwardly, feeling Arden staring over at him then he spoke up.

"I have thought about what you said yesterday," Arden said, twiddling his thumbs and swallowed his pride. "I cannot change your heart and it lies with this man." He muttered. "I will admit that it hurts to lose you but we didn't love each other so it can't hurt that much." He said, seeing Elsa nod. "I do love Victoria so I cannot be hypocritical and say you can't love him."

"I know you love her, I've known and I think it is fair that we can love others." Elsa said, holding Hans' hand under the table.

"We can't rule two kingdoms together like this. I think I could talk to a priest in Arendelle and have him divorce us." He said, he still couldn't believe this was happening, he was losing a kingdom under his rule and Elsa. "With the countries, I think we should keep everything separate and make it seem like we were never married. Everything of Arendelle stays with you."

"That would be good." She nodded, giving Hans' hand a small squeeze.

"I do hope you can be happy, we both deserve to be happy without having to worry about each other," Arden said, standing up to leave the council room and his wife behind. He had a lot of work cut out for him once he returned to Arendelle.

Elsa finally let out a loud, happy squeal and practically threw herself at Hans, hugging him tightly to her.

"I can't believe this!" Elsa grinned. "I was so sure he was going to make me leave you." She said, kissing him on both cheeks then his lips, holding him there for a moment. "We should go pack... You are coming to Arendelle with me, right?"

"Of course, I am," Hans smiled, standing up with Elsa to go to their bedroom's to pack. "Would I live there with you?"

"If you'd like to." She smiled, dragging him quickly through the halls up to her bedroom and kissed him. She wanted to hold onto him more than anything and never let go. "Go pack," She smiled, pulling out the bags she used to bring her clothes here. "I love you," She whispered, kissing him again.

"I love you too," He smiled, leaving her room to go into his and pack.

It was going to be hard leaving the Southern Isles, his best friend and brother, Leo, was still going to be here while he was across the seas. He was happy that he could still be an admiral and only be stationed in Arendelle, if he was ever needed in the Southern Isles he'd go in a heartbeat. He looked around his room, having memories flow through him, memories of Leo and Hans throughout their life in their joined bedrooms. He was definitely going to miss his room and the memories it held but now everything had worked out. He became an admiral for Elsa and now he was finally able to be with her, without any worries or going behind her husband's back. The only worry he had was Anna's reaction when they arrived.

"I'm ready." Elsa said, holding two large leather bags of her clothing and nicknacks she had picked up while there.

"Me too." Hans nodded, grabbing his bags of clothing and little mementos to keep with him always. "Let's take our bags out to my boat and while I have my captain start the boat I'll go speak to Leo, tell him everything that's happened."

"I think that's a good idea. You know this isn't a goodbye with Leo, right? You're just beginning something new in your life, just away from home." Elsa said, walking down the hallway next to Hans. She didn't want to pull him away from Leo but knew he would always visit him.

"I know," Hans smiled, thinking of how lucky he was to have this beautiful woman at his side. He considered himself lucky, very lucky to have everything the way it worked out.

~~~~~~~

Hans said his goodbyes to Leo, boarding the boat and saw Elsa sitting under the white canopy with two glasses of wine, just like their first night together. He sat down beside her, looking out over the sea and took his cup.

"Cheers to you and I, and the wonderful future we hold together," He smiled, clinking his glass with Elsa's then sat it down, holding her to him while the boat drove away from his home. "Let's start this new chapter together like this," He whispered and brought her chin up, kissing her lightly but passionately. He knew that everything that has happened lead them to each other and they were destined to be together, to keep each other warm at night, to keep each other company, and to love each other unconditionally.

The End