ᴀ ɴᴇᴡ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ ║ Dark!Elsa & Hans

◤ prince hans ◢ 

          The prince really had few options but to listen to whatever propositions the queen of winter herself had to offer him. Even if he’d wanted to, he could not have stopped himself from heeding her; his selfishness, his greed, his curiosity aggressively culminated into a deep and pressing desire to know every detail of what she wanted him to do. A suspicion had blossomed in him the moment he read her invitation that it had something to do with the celebration in Arendelle – a celebration that would rob the infamous Princess Elsa of her birthright once and for all.

          And if his suspicions proved correct, then he saw boundless opportunity in this meeting he’d arranged. There undoubtedly existed a potent risk as well, but any strategy worth its salt involved some risk and he refused to allow it to frighten him away. A good king would hardly be intimidated by people like the royals of Arendelle. Hans recalled the rejection of his match to Princess Anna, a wound that still felt as fresh as the day the king simply waved him away.

                              As if he were garbage.
                              As if he were somehow unworthy.
                              As if he were lesser than they were.

          Nothing infuriated him more. Hans knew his worth enough for everyone who had ever doubted him, including Arendelle’s king and queen. Perhaps the thought that this woman recognized his capabilities should have somehow encouraged him, but it didn’t. Nobody could truly be trusted; for all he knew, this could be an elaborate trick. Stories circulated everywhere, in varying levels of true and utterly false, and Hans had no way of knowing how much of Elsa’s legends were true: whether or not she was truly exiled, whether or not her parents had actually disowned her – or just how much of a monster she really was.

          She still belonged to the royal family. That was all he knew for certain, and as such, Hans knew he had to tread with caution. He refused to allow himself to play the fool in any capacity.

                                        ❝ You must know how tempting your offer sounds,
                                            Your Majesty, but I am sure you understand that I
                                            must be careful. A wise man cannot go about trusting
                                            every beautiful woman who offers him a crown, now,
                                            can he? You could easily mean to betray me for your
                                            own means, for which I suppose I could not blame you.
                                            For all I know, you are an agent of your own family,
                                            out to expose me as some kind of traitor. ❞

          Granted, he sincerely doubted that in particular, but he had to make clear his concerns, even if that meant exaggerating his situation slightly.

                                        ❝ If you require my assistance, surely you can think of
                                            some way to put my concerns at ease. ❞

✕ ✕ ┊she of ice & snow ;;

Elsa couldn’t contain the blissful grin that brightened her face, even if she wanted to. It was a blessing she had enough restraint to stop herself from jumping up and down and kissing him. She had hoped he would stay something like this. Had he immediately said yes, had he taken her hands and agreed to help her right after she spoke, she would have been so disappointed. But he didn’t and she that only earned him her approval and RESPECT.

                                 ❝Oh Your Highness, a wise man cannot be considered wise
                                   if he says yes without thinking of the consequences first.
                                   After all, I could betray you, just as you can betray me.
                                   A man is hardly wise if he is not careful. Only fools rush in 
                                   and reach out for the prize the moment it is offered to them.

         A man like that [ hardly ] deserves a crown, now, does he?❞

       ❝But a man that exhibits caution, a man that questions what he hears?
         A man who can resist the temptation to say yes when every thing he
         desires and deserves is offered to him?

                           Now that is a man who deserves the crown.
                                          A true KING.❞

She almost began to circle him as if he was her prey, but she didn’t.
However, she did not want him to feel as though he was trapped.
After all, she wanted him on her side. She wanted to work together
with this man. She did not want him to fear her ( she doubted he 
would in all honesty ) or hate her. She wanted him to see her as
a FRIEND. An equal. She knew how men thought ; how many of 
them ever saw women as equals?

              So instead, she stood before him, her gaze remaining
              on his. Soft chuckles escaped her lips.

    ❝What my father did to you was abhorrent. But then again, he is not exactly
      an intelligent man now is he? He never looked past the fact that you are the
      thirteenth son, just as he never looked past my own powers. He saw you
      as beneath him, beneath all the other suitors while he saw me as a monster
      who needed to be put down like a DOG.❞

  ❝But of course, he never had the courage to put me down. Instead, he left me here
     to freeze to death and rot. Coward.

                     If he was alive? I would do what he couldn’t
                     and I would relish every moment.❞

Elsa reached over and placed her
finger against the prince’s lips.

          ❝Believe me, if the sea didn’t consume them, WINTER would have.❞

      Then, she pulled away and turned away 
       from him. She didn’t speak for a few 
       moments as she allowed snow to fall
       around them.

                  ❝But of course, the words I say may be sweet, but who is to say
                    they are not still poisoned?

                                   However, know this                   ❞

She turned to face him once 
more and reached for his hand.  

          ❝I would rather see my kingdom BURN to the ground than to allow
            my sister to wear that crown. I refuse to let my parents & sister get the
            satisfaction of robbing EVERYTHING from me.❞