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citrasop · 14 days ago

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Echoes of a forgotten past (Helsa fanfic /Bonus part)

To better understand this text, I recommend reading my previous works, Echoes of a Forgotten Past – Part 1 and Part 2. You can find them on my profile. Hope you enjoy it!

The air was still heavy with moisture, and the mist coiled between the trees like a ghostly veil. Anna walked quickly, her steps unsteady on the soft ground, while Hans moved forward with the determination of someone who had already accepted the inevitable.

“Can you wait a moment?” she asked, her voice shaky—not so much from exertion as from the turmoil within her.

Hans stopped immediately. Not with the impatience of someone interrupted in the midst of an urgent purpose, but with the gravity of a person who, despite the chaos of their own thoughts, does not ignore the weight of another’s pain.

“What’s your plan?” she asked, looking up at him.

He took a deep breath, as if searching the air for the strength to express his intentions.

“They say you don’t fight fire with fire,” he began, his voice carrying an unusual gravity. “But to bring down a stone dam, we need a force equal to or greater than its own.”

Anna followed his gaze and felt a chill run down her spine. There, lying dormant like colossal forgotten sentinels, the stone giants lay scattered around the river. The earth seemed to hold its breath beneath their motionless bodies, and yet their mere presence was enough to awaken a primal fear.

Anna knew that, no matter how irrational the idea seemed, it was the only solution. Even so, she couldn’t help but step back instinctively with fear.

He looked at her for a moment, with an unexpected seriousness, and then, without warning, took her hand.

Anna froze. Her fingers, cold with fear, were enveloped by the steady warmth of Hans’s palm.

“I won’t let anything happen to you, all right?” he said, with a conviction that made her tremble more than the danger itself.

She looked at him, her chest rising and falling with each uneven breath. At any other moment, she would have pulled her hand away—but this time, she didn’t.

“All right,” she whispered, with a slight nod.

Together, they turned toward the sleeping colossi. They took deep breaths and, with all the force of their voices, began shouting at them, throwing stones and making wild gestures. Hans even waved his arms with exaggerated dramatism.

At first, nothing. Then, a crack in the earth.

The stone eyes opened. The roar that followed was deafening. The dawn light bounced off their silhouettes as the colossi rose, shaking off the dirt and moss that covered them. Their movements were slow at first, as if reality hadn’t yet claimed their consciousness, but once the thunder of their own bodies echoed through the forest, their awakening was complete.

The earth cracked under their steps. The trees swayed, and the birds fled in panicked flocks. Anna felt her own breath quickening.

“Hans!” she cried, seeing one of the giants turn its enormous head in their direction.

He grabbed her by the wrist.

“Run!”

They dashed through the forest, dodging roots and branches while the giants rose behind them, each of their movements shaking the ground with terrifying intensity. Arendelle’s fate was at stake, and all they could do was run.

Hans spotted his horse through the thicket and raced toward it with every ounce of speed his body could muster.

“Citron!”

In a single motion, he grabbed Anna by the waist and lifted her onto the saddle before leaping after her.

The horse neighed, its muscles tensing under the weight of imminent danger.

“Let’s go!” Hans urged, spurring the horse without a second’s hesitation.

The steed galloped at full speed, dodging rocks and fallen trunks as the giants, now fully awake, began to move with clumsy strength.

One of them raised an arm and, with devastating ease, tore a chunk of rock from the ground and hurled it in their direction.

It flew past them, crashing a few feet away and sending up a cloud of dust and debris.

“They’re going to crush us!” Anna screamed, clinging with all her might to his torso.

Hans kept his gaze fixed on the horizon.

“Come on, friend, faster!”

But fate was toying with them.

Another rock, even larger, fell right in front of their path. The horse reared up on its hind legs, neighing loudly, about to lose control. Anna stifled a scream, and Hans, with superhuman effort, pulled on the reins, trying to keep the beast under control.

“No!” he shouted, tightening the reins, but the animal wouldn’t move. Its eyes shone with pure fear.

A great shadow darkened them. The giant behind them lifted another rock. Hans looked around. This time, there was no escape.

“HEY!”

The shout cut through the air with an unexpected clarity. They both turned their heads just in time to see Kristoff burst through the trees, riding Sven with an unwavering confidence.

“This way, big guys!” he shouted, waving his arms in the air.

Anna felt relief wash over her skin like a breath of fresh air.

“Kristoff…”

One of the titans hesitated. Its gaze shifted toward the new figure daring to challenge it. The horse, still trembling, began to move, quickly sliding to the side just in time to avoid the rock that was about to fall on them.

“Come on, Citron, fast!” Hans ordered, pulling hard on the reins as the horse, finally under control, started galloping again.

Kristoff hurried to follow them, using his shout as a decoy, but soon veered off to one side, managing to draw all the giants’ attention to his figure.

“That’s it!” Hans shouted, his heart still racing. There was no time for more explanations, only to keep moving.

In the distance, the dam stood, still intact, but both knew there wasn’t much time to reach it. The giants, in their unleashed fury, continued throwing rocks, but with Kristoff drawing their attention, the two could finally move forward.

As they neared the dam, Hans and Anna encountered an unexpected obstacle. A natural wall of earth, like a steep hill, and the horse, exhausted from the frantic flight, stopped, unable to continue climbing.

“No…” murmured Hans, watching the horse pant with effort. Without thinking, he quickly dismounted and, with determination, helped Anna down. “You have to keep going on foot, quickly.”

“But… what about you?” Anna asked, her gaze full of concern. “What are you going to do?”

“Don’t worry about me, just worry about reaching the top,” he replied. “I’ll help your boyfriend distract the giants.”

Anna didn’t move. She was scared, and her voice trembled as she said:

“No, Hans, you can’t do it alone…”

“I’ll be fine,” he said firmly, gently pushing her toward the hill. “Go, Anna, it’s our only chance.”

Without another word, he quickly got back on the horse, spurred it on, and made it start again. Anna watched as he quickly rode off, heading toward the giants’ attention. Then, with a heavy sigh, she turned toward the hill and began to climb, each step harder than the last.

The wind struck her face, and her body was exhausted, but the urgency of saving her people drove her forward. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she reached the top and found a familiar figure: General Matthias and his platoon, who looked at her with a mix of concern and authority.

“What are you doing, Princess?” he said, blocking her path, his face serious. “The giants are going to destroy the dam!”

“The dam must fall, it’s the only way to free the forest,” she declared firmly.

Matthias frowned.

“But… we promised to protect Arendelle at all costs. If the dam falls, the water will flood the capital.”

“No,” her voice didn’t tremble. “Arendelle is already doomed if we don’t do the right thing.”

The soldiers around her exchanged uneasy glances. The certainty in her tone contrasted with the chaos surrounding them.

“My grandfather… he betrayed everyone. He killed the Northundra leader, and that is the reason for the curse that has fallen upon the forest. All of this… is his legacy.” Her chest rose and fell with intensity, each word weighing more than the last. “If we don’t destroy the dam, Arendelle has no future.”

Matthias, seemingly confused by the weight of her words, furrowed his brow.

“What? How can you say that, Your Highness?”

Anna felt her heart tighten. The truth hurt, but hiding it hurt even more.

“My sister gave her life for the truth,” her voice barely cracked, but she didn’t look away. “And I won’t allow her sacrifice to be in vain.”

The silence that followed was thick, unbearable.

Matthias looked at her with a mix of disbelief and respect. Throughout his life, he had served the crown with honor, and he had never had greater honor than serving King Runeard himself. He remembered him as a wise and noble monarch, a leader whose rule had been unquestionable. The King had trusted him, as a young soldier he had protected his family and the kingdom with pride, and now he had to accept that the man he had admired was not the hero he had always believed.

It was hard to imagine. Hard to look at the princess—or perhaps now the queen—and see her as anything other than a confused girl speaking from the heart, not fully understanding the weight of history. And yet, there she was, demanding justice with the same authority that generations of monarchs had ruled before her.

Loyalty had kept him strong all his life. But wasn’t loyalty to Arendelle what truly mattered? If Runeard had sown the conflict, then perhaps the greatest duty of a soldier wasn’t to protect his legacy, but to correct his mistakes.

Finally, he bowed his head with respect.

"Whatever it takes for you, Your Majesty."

When those words left his lips, a cold strike pierced Anna’s heart. “Your Majesty.” The title that had belonged to Elsa now rested on her. She was gone. There was no one left to share the weight of the crown. The emptiness was so deep that she could hardly breathe. But, like a whisper of wind in a storm, duty forced her to move forward.

She shook her head, dispelling the sadness, and looked back at the General, trying to steady her voice.

"Thank you" she replied, trying to find strength she didn’t know she had.

The soldier, along with the others, raised their shields and began striking them with their swords, catching the attention of the giants. The stone colossuses looked up and began hurling rocks, hitting the base of the dam. The ground trembled with each impact, and Anna moved forward, running toward the bridge that crossed the dam.

With each step, the cracks spread, and the first stones fell into the water. The dam was beginning to fracture. Anna, determined, shouted for the giants to continue, as rocks fell around her. But when she tried to step back, she realized the bridge was no longer safe. The paths were collapsing, and cracks opened beneath her feet.

With her heart racing, Anna tried to jump to the shore, but the void seemed like an endless abyss. Just when she thought she would fall, she felt a strong hand grip her arm.

"Hans! "she cried, surprised, looking up.

He had reached her in time, and with all his strength, he lifted her toward him, pulling her from the precipice. He held her so tightly that the air left her body, but she didn’t care. She was safe, in his arms.

When Hans pressed Anna against his chest, everything that had been between them dissipated. The fear, the tension, the danger. The feeling of falling into the abyss was no longer a threat, only the relief of knowing she was safe. He held her firmly, as if he never wanted to let her go, as if all the weight of his past, all the wrong decisions, had finally lightened by having her there, in his arms. Anna gasped, unable to speak, and in that moment, Hans whispered, “You’re okay… You’re okay, Anna.”

He didn’t say it for the situation, but for himself. The peace he felt from having her safe was the peace he never thought he would find. All those years of mistakes, wrong decisions, hiding his love for Elsa, and doing things he regretted, all seemed to vanish the moment he could finally save the sister of the woman he had loved. He hadn’t failed. He had promised Elsa to protect her sister, and that promise, though broken, was fulfilled in that instant.

Anna, however, hadn’t realized how deep her forgiveness toward him had been until that moment. She never imagined she could trust him with something as valuable as her life, but there she was, holding onto him, trusting him completely. A lump formed in her throat as she thought about what that redemption meant, though she only saw it as an act of compassion. Yet, the silence between them was filled with mutual understanding.

Finally, Hans let her go, and they looked into each other’s eyes, sharing a glance full of emotions. No words were needed. Just a sad smile, barely a grimace, but enough to understand that they had both healed in some way.

At that exact moment, Kristoff burst onto the scene. Seeing the position they were in, he couldn’t help but twitch nervously in his eye.

"Anna?"

She turned quickly, without thinking, and ran into his arms, hugging him tightly, seeking the normality she had always had with him. Hans, from the floor, he watched the gesture with a strange feeling, a void he couldn’t shake. Though he had been forgiven and redeemed, that void would never disappear. He would never have something like that again. And, seeing Anna in Kristoff’s arms, that feeling intensified.

As this happened, the fog that had covered the forest began to lift. The sun, for the first time in years, began to shine over the enchanted lands. But between Hans, Anna, and Kristoff, the sun did not touch the ground. The Northuldra, surprised, peered through the trees, looking at the blue sky as if it were something entirely new. The animals came out of their hiding places and ran joyfully, enjoying the freedom that had been returned to them.

Anna watched everything unfold, but despite the joy surrounding her, something weighed heavily in her chest. Elsa’s absence was a void she couldn’t fill with anything. The sister who had always been there, the sister who had sacrificed herself for everyone, was gone, and that made her feel alone, lost in the midst of so much happiness.

Kristoff, by her side, seemed to understand without the need for words. He supported her, offering a steady and comforting presence. It wasn’t the same, but it was enough to make her feel less alone.

Softly, he said:

"Sweetheart, we need to go back, make sure everything is alright. Arendelle needs us now."

She nodded without hesitation, but before doing anything else, she looked for Hans. She saw him stepping away from the group without a word, his steps firm yet aimless, as if the mere act of walking was the only thing keeping him upright. She followed him with her gaze until she found him at the shore, standing on the damp sand, staring at the horizon with an unreadable expression.

She approached him cautiously. He wasn’t just looking at the sea. In his hands, he held a small object, his fingers gliding over it with a kind of reverent sorrow.

The brooch.

Anna immediately recognized the piece Elsa had given him. She wondered what thoughts were haunting him in that moment, what memories weighed on his shoulders as he looked at that symbol of something that, perhaps, could never be restored. And yet, in that gaze, in the way his fingers seemed torn between holding onto the brooch or letting it go, there was something Anna understood all too well.

"What am I supposed to do now, Anna? " he murmured without looking at her.

His voice wasn’t a lament, but it wasn’t truly a question either. It was a confession, the surrender of someone who had fought with everything he had and now didn’t know what to do with empty hands.

She could have asked him the same thing. She could have said, What am I supposed to do now, Hans? Because even though everyone around her spoke of rebuilding and hope, she felt as though she was standing at the edge of an abyss she didn’t know how to cross.

She was supposed to be queen now. She was supposed to know what to do. But how could she rule when she didn’t even know how to move forward without her sister?

Anna swallowed.

"You could stay with us."

Hans tore his gaze away from the sea and looked at her, studying her with a caution Anna couldn’t quite decipher.

"Is that what you want?"

There was something vulnerable in his tone. As if he had never allowed himself to consider the possibility. As if he feared the answer would give him hope, only to snatch it away.

Anna took a breath.

"We’re family now"she said gently. "I know my sister loved you, and… you don’t have to be alone" she offered him a brief smile before adding "Besides, my people will need all the help they can get."

The weight of those words settled over him. His jaw tightened, his gaze dropped to the brooch between his fingers. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely a whisper.

"Then… I suppose I’ll help you rebuild Arendelle" he exhaled slowly, a broken smile tugging at his lips." I think that’s what she would have wanted from me."

The simple act of saying it out loud seemed to fracture something inside him. His breath hitched, his voice cracked on the last murmured words.

"What she… would have wanted".

Anna felt the knot in her throat tighten.

But she said nothing. She only took his hand for a moment, offering the only comfort she had to give.

Hans gave her hand a brief squeeze before straightening with a forced breath.

Anna remained beside him, staring at the sea. But the waves gave her no answers.

And then, without meaning to, she said it aloud:

"I’m scared."

He glanced at her, brow slightly furrowed.

She lowered her gaze, wrapping her arms around herself and shaking her head.

"I don’t know how bad things are in Arendelle" her voice was low, unsteady." I don’t know if I’ll make the right choices. I don’t know if the castle can be rebuilt… or everything else. I don’t even know if I can be a good queen."

Hans listened in silence. Anna bit her lip, suddenly feeling far too small under the weight she carried.

Then he sighed and, with an unexpectedly firm gesture, placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Listen to me."

She lifted her eyes, startled by the seriousness in his voice.

"You walked into this forest knowing it could be a trap because you wanted to protect your sister and save your people. You had the strength to keep going when everything seemed lost. You uncovered the truth, made an impossible decision, and carried it through for the good of everyone."

Anna’s eyes filled with tears.

"When you return to Arendelle, you’ll know what to do. I believe in you."

It was the first time someone had told her that—not with the condescending reassurance of someone trying to calm her, but with the certainty of someone who truly meant it.

Anna smiled, though her eyes were still glassy.

Hans let out a breath and then, with a small curve of his lips, added lightly:

"Besides, if you really don’t think you can be queen… there are always others interested in the position."

Anna took a second to process his words. And when she did, she shoved his arm.

“You’re an idiot!”

Hans laughed, shrugging.

“Alright, alright, I deserved that.”

Anna shook her head, though the smile never left her face.

“I’ll get everything ready for our return,” Hans said at last.

“I’ll stay here a little longer, if you don’t mind.”

Hans nodded and started walking away.

Amidst the movement of people, his horse waited calmly. When he saw him, Hans ran a hand through his mane in an automatic gesture.

“You did well, boy,” he murmured, his tone carrying genuine affection.

The animal turned his head slightly, watching him with large, dark eyes. Then, with surprising gentleness, he pressed his muzzle against him, as if sensing everything his rider wasn’t saying.

Hans sighed, running his hand along the horse’s neck.

“You were brave,” he whispered. “I expected nothing less from you.”

He couldn’t say more. His own voice felt too heavy.

Citron snorted, flicking his ears with an almost resigned air. Hans smiled bitterly and rested his forehead against his mane.

The sound of footsteps on the sand pulled him from his thoughts.

“Hey…”

He didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Kristoff stopped beside him with a certain awkwardness, as if he still wasn’t sure how to address him. A year ago, he would have done so with distrust, maybe even hostility. Now, however, there was no hardness in his tone, only quiet understanding.

Without warning, Kristoff hugged him.

The gesture held neither the clumsiness of doubt nor the stiffness of obligation. It was a genuine embrace, from someone who understood, from someone who had seen enough to know that, in moments like these, the only thing one could offer was company.

Hans took a moment to react, too surprised to respond immediately. By the time he lifted a hand to return it, Kristoff had already pulled away, giving him a couple of pats on the back before crossing his arms.

“I’m sorry for what happened,” he said with the simple honesty of someone who knew there weren’t enough words for a pain like this. “Truly.”

Hans averted his gaze, running a hand over his neck.

“Thanks.”

Kristoff nodded.

“How are you feeling?” he finally asked.

Hans let out a brief, humorless laugh. The question was perhaps unnecessary.

He shrugged.

“I don’t even know how I feel. But at least I’m glad the Northuldra are free.”

Kristoff nodded slowly, as if the words were taking time to settle in his mind.

“Yeah… me too.”

The wind blew more strongly between them, but neither moved. The tide rose with its unalterable rhythm, indifferent to the weight of mourning that hung in the air.

Kristoff was the first to speak again.

“I have to… thank you for taking care of Anna. For saving her.”

Hans tilted his head, uncomfortable with the gratitude.

“It was nothing.”

“No, seriously… thank you. If anything had happened to Anna, I don’t know what…”

His voice trailed off midway, as if he had just realized what he was saying. The thought hit him with the force of an icy wave. How could he thank him without reminding him of what he had lost? What none of them could do for Elsa.

Hans looked at him with no expression. Kristoff blinked, hesitating.

“I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

He didn’t know how to finish the sentence without making it worse. It was like walking on thin ice: the more he tried to correct it, the more the conversation seemed to crack beneath their feet.

Hans, however, didn’t let the moment linger.

“Either way, we wouldn’t have made it without you. The rescue you did, distracting the giants… was incredible.”

Kristoff blinked, surprised by the shift in direction.

“I… well, yeah. It was risky.”

“Risky,” Hans repeated, raising an eyebrow.

For a moment, Kristoff thought he saw a glimmer of humor in his expression. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but enough to make him let out a brief, somewhat awkward laugh.

“Alright. Very risky.”

“But it worked.”

Kristoff nodded, letting out a sigh.

The silence that followed lasted longer than expected. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but there was something suspended in the air, something neither of them dared to fully address.

Finally, it was Kristoff who broke the silence.

“Hey…” He hesitated for a moment. “Did you tell Anna that you and Elsa…?”

Hans closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

“Yes.”

The weight of that single word seemed to hold much more than he was willing to say.

The mountain man tilted his head slightly, waiting for him to continue.

He gave a smile without joy.

“She didn’t take it very well at first, as expected… but I think in the end, she got used to the idea.”

He paused, looking down at the ground.

“Too bad it was all for nothing.”

His voice broke slightly on the last syllable, but he hid it with a cough.

Kristoff stood there, watching him, feeling the weight of a truth he didn’t know how to ease. There were no words that could fix the irreversible.

Hans let out another dry laugh and shook his head.

“You don’t have to say anything.”

“Yeah… well,” Kristoff rubbed the back of his neck, unsure whether to stay or leave. “I have to get Sven ready for us to go. I’ll look for Anna, see if she’s okay. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Hans nodded in silence.

Kristoff gave him one last pat on the shoulder and walked away with steady steps, leaving him once again alone with his horse.

Hans stayed there for a moment, simply stroking the animal’s back, listening to its calm breathing. The stillness of the moment brought him a brief respite.

Until something touched his skin.

It wasn’t a hit, nor a breeze, nor a drop of water.

It was something light. Cold.

Hans frowned and looked at his arm.

It was frost.

He blinked.

He looked up.

The sky was blue, clear, not a cloud in sight. The warmth of the sun still felt on his skin, the air was warm, the ground showed no trace of snow.

It couldn’t be.

His horse snorted suddenly and shook its head with enthusiasm, as if it had just sensed something that he still didn’t understand.

Hans felt the air thicken around him, his own body refusing to move. He knew. He knew the instant the snow touched his skin, the instant his horse became restless.

Everyone was silent, and some only murmured in amazement.

Hans stood frozen.

His body refused to turn.

If he did, if he allowed hope to enter his chest, and it turned out to be a trick of his mind… he didn’t know if he could bear it.

So he closed his eyes, held his breath, and let his heart shudder one last time in that uncertainty, like a man standing at the edge of an abyss.

And then, he heard her.

“Hans.”

His name floated in the air with the sweetness of a winter breeze.

It wasn’t a scream or a whisper, but something deeper, truer.

His eyes snapped open.

Slowly, with the weight of someone who fears waking from a too-beautiful dream, he turned.

And there she was.

Elsa.

Standing beside Anna, in a white dress glowing like the first snow of winter, her hair flowing in a cascade of light, her skin radiant as if nature itself had wanted to return her essence intact.

Hans felt the air leave his chest.

It was impossible.

But Anna was held her hand, her eyes red from crying, a trembling smile on her face, and Kristoff stood a few steps away, his face lit with a reverent disbelief. Olaf was hopping with a joy that had never faded.

It was all real.

Elsa opened her arms.

Hans stopped thinking.

His body moved before his mind, and in an instant, he closed the distance between them, embracing her with the desperation of a man who had just reclaimed what he thought he had lost forever.

“Elsa…” His voice cracked as he said her name, choking on a sob that had been held back for far too long.

He couldn’t say more.

The relief was so fierce, so overwhelming, that his chest shook with the force of his tears. His hands clung to her as if he feared the wind might take her away again, that if he closed his eyes for even a moment, she would disappear like a mirage.

Elsa wrapped her arms around him just as tightly, resting her cheek against his hair, stroking it with a tenderness that anchored him to reality.

“I’m okay, Hans.”

Her voice was a balm, a bridge of ice that rebuilt his world.

“Hans,” she whispered, with the same softness that snow touches the earth. “I’m here. I’m okay.”

He shook his head, unable to let go, unable to fully believe it.

“You…” His voice cracked, lost in his own sobs. “Elsa, no… don’t ever do this to me again. Never. Never.”

His breath was ragged, as though he were still trapped in the moment when he thought he had lost her forever.

Elsa pulled her face back just enough to look at him.

There was something unspeakable in her eyes.

“My love…”

But he didn’t let her finish.

“If you had… if you…” He couldn’t bring himself to say it. “I thought you were dead.”

And then, Elsa smiled, gently wiping the tears from his face.

“I’m alive,” she said. “Thanks to you all. You worked together for Arendelle and for me. I’m proud.”

“But what… who… did you find the fifth spirit?”

Elsa held his gaze for a moment. Her smile didn’t fade, but her eyes shone with a different glow, as if the answer had already been woven into the air around them.

"Hans…" she whispered with unshakable sweetness. "The fifth spirit… it was always me."

The silence that followed wasn’t one of disbelief, but of understanding. Of certainty.

Hans blinked, trying to process what he already knew deep in his soul. It had been her from the very beginning. Her connection to magic, her bond with the natural world, the way the forest responded to her presence, even now, enveloping her in a glow that was not of this world.

"You…" he murmured, his voice barely a breath. "It was always you."

Elsa nodded slowly.

"It always was —she said with certainty—. But I never fully understood it… until now."

Hans let out a brief, trembling laugh, never letting go of her.

"So I’ve been in love with a spirit without knowing it…just when I thought you couldn’t be any more out of reach."

Elsa let out a small laugh, with tears brimming in her eyes. Hans exhaled a trembling sigh, as if that melody was the only thing keeping him grounded in reality.

He stayed there, his forehead pressed against Elsa’s, their breaths mingling, feeling the warmth of her skin and the assurance that, this time, she wouldn’t fade into the wind.

And then, suddenly, without being able to stop it, without even being able to deny it, the impulse hit him like a lightning strike.

He wanted to kiss her.

There was no room in his chest for anything else. Not for fear, nor shame, nor doubt. Only for her. Only for the devastating love that had consumed him for so long, for the truth he had tried to bury but now, in that very moment, shone brighter than ever.

But Anna was there.

Hans blinked, snapping out of his own frenzy, and when he turned his gaze, he found her watching them with an expression that teetered between happiness and complete understanding.

And then, as if fate needed nothing more than her consent to weave the outcome of their story, Anna smiled and stepped forward, placing one hand on Hans’s arm and another on Elsa’s.

"You’re meant for each other " she said, with conviction, having seen enough suffering and willing to see it end. "You always were."

Hans felt Elsa’s wave of disbelief, and when their eyes met again, there were no more words needed.

The smiles came first.

And then, without thinking, without hesitation, without holding back, Hans leaned in, and Elsa tilted her face up, meeting him in a kiss that was both the end and the beginning of everything.

There were no doubts, no hesitations, only the sweet recognition of two souls that had belonged to each other from the very beginning.

Olaf, who had been watching the scene with absolute fascination, bounced up and intertwined the branches he had for hands.

"So… does this mean it’s over? "he asked, with a mixture of hope and slight concern." No more forbidden romances, strange voices, or stone giants trying to crush us? Or… is putting ourselves in danger going to be a constant thing?"

Elsa laughed softly, still with her arms around Hans. There were tears in her eyes, but now they were tears of happiness.

"No, Olaf" —she said, with a calm and assured voice". It’s finally over."

The group exhaled as if, for the first time in a long time, they could finally breathe freely. Anna smiled and intertwined her fingers with Elsa’s, while Kristoff placed an arm over her shoulders. The light of dawn colored the air with golden hues, reflecting in the snow that still gently floated in the wind.

Then, Kristoff seemed to remember something all of a sudden.

“Wait, there’s still something else,” he said, stepping back with sudden seriousness.

Anna blinked in surprise.

Hans, still holding Elsa, narrowed his eyes with curiosity.

Kristoff took a deep breath, as if bracing himself for a great feat, and then, without further ado, he knelt before Anna.

“Anna,” he said, his face illuminated with warmth, “you are the most extraordinary person I’ve ever met.”

Anna’s eyes widened as she brought both hands to her mouth.

“You make me so happy. And I just… I just want to ask you one thing,” Kristoff continued, his heart in his throat. “Will you marry me?”

For a moment, it seemed Anna had forgotten how to breathe. Then, in a burst of pure joy, she threw herself at Kristoff, wrapping him in a hug so tight it nearly knocked him to the ground.

“Yes! Yes, yes, yes!”

Laughter erupted among the group. Olaf bounced excitedly, clapping his twig hands, while Sven let out a satisfied snort.

Hans and Elsa exchanged a glance, sharing a smile filled with everything they had been through, everything they had overcome. In a natural impulse, Hans leaned in and kissed her again, with the certainty that, for the first time in his life, he was exactly where he was meant to be. Elsa closed her eyes and let herself be wrapped in the warmth of the moment, knowing that after so many storms, they had finally found home.

“I never thought I’d witness so many love declarations in one day,” Olaf quipped, looking around. “But I like it. We should do this more often.”

Elsa chuckled softly at Olaf’s remark and, with a playful sparkle in her eyes, turned to the others.

“You’re right, Olaf.”

Anna let out a laugh and pulled her into an embrace, leaning in for her to admire the ring that gleamed on her hand.

Hans, smirking, crossed his arms and gave Kristoff a triumphant look.

“I knew she’d say yes,” he said smugly. “Told you.”

Kristoff laughed, shaking his head, and extended his hand to Hans in a gesture of camaraderie.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say,” he replied with amusement as they shared a brief handshake.

Laughter filled the air like an echo of happiness. For a moment, everything felt in place.

A little later, with Hans still holding her hand, Elsa turned toward the others, engrossed in their conversation about the wonders of Ahtohallan and the beauty of the magic flowing through the forest.

It was then that, with eyes full of awe, he looked at Elsa with deep admiration and said with certainty:

“The forest suits you.”

Elsa radiated an indescribable peace there, as if the snow itself had been woven into her soul. Yet, when she turned to him, a flicker of doubt crossed her gaze.

“Hans,” she said quietly, “I know this isn’t what you wanted for us, but…”

He immediately knew what he was thinking. Elsa belonged to nature, to magic itself, but what about him? Could he give up everything he had ever known? The castles, royal balls, and his family?

Hans looked into her eyes without a moment’s hesitation, and his answer held no uncertainty whatsoever.

“Hey, that’s enough. Elsa, I’d go to the ends of the earth for you. I don’t care where we are—whether here in Arendelle or in the Southern Isles—as long as we’re together.”

His conviction completely disarmed her. Elsa felt something inside her unravel, like a tight knot finally loosening. Hans had always had an infuriating ease with eloquence, but she had never heard him speak with such sincerity.

“Hans…” she whispered, her voice trembling.

He smiled tenderly and caressed her cheek.

“That’s the only place I truly want to be.”

Elsa closed her eyes for a moment, letting his touch anchor her to reality. Then, with a deep sigh, she allowed herself to embrace the happiness before her.

However, he seemed to remember something and furrowed his brow.

“But… what about Arendelle?”

Elsa lifted her gaze toward where Anna was laughing with Kristoff, surrounded by her people. She looked so natural in her role, so radiant and strong.

“Arendelle will be fine,” she said firmly. “And I think it’ll be even better in someone else’s hands.”

Hans followed her glance and immediately understood. Anna.

And so, beneath the clear sky, Anna and Elsa understood what they had always been: the bridge between magic and the human world. They embraced, certain that even though their paths diverged, they would never be separated.

◭◭◭

Snow covered the enchanted forest in a silent, white cloak. Hans, looking renewed and much calmer, gazed at the sky while a gust of wind fluttered around him.

Gale carried something amid its playful currents. He raised his hand and caught the letter before the wind could carry it away.

“Darling,” he called, looking toward Elsa, who was playing with the spirits and some village children, “you’ve got a letter from the Queen of Arendelle.”

Elsa turned with curiosity.

“From Anna? What does it say?”

Hans unfolded the letter and began to read aloud:

“Dear Hans and Elsa,

I hope this letter finds you well and that you’re not too busy galloping over water, talking to spirits, or, in Hans’ case, trying not to freeze in the process.

The coronation was a success, though there was a slight… mishap. Sven decided the red carpet was the perfect place for a nap right before my grand entrance, so there was a tense moment when I thought I’d trip in the least dignified way possible. Fortunately, Kristoff was there to catch me. And speaking of Kristoff… Elsa, you should have seen him! He looked incredible in his formal attire. Honestly, I don’t know how I made it through the entire ceremony without staring at him like a lovesick fool. I even asked the royal painter to make a portrait of us together because an occasion like this had to be immortalized.

Oh, sister! The music, the ceremony—everything was so solemn and majestic that, for a moment, I almost forgot I was the center of the celebration. But the truth is, though the weight of the crown is real (and believe me, it is), I never felt alone. Elsa, in every word of my oath, in every promise I made to our people, I felt you with me.

Arendelle is thriving. The people are at peace, the harvests are good, and even Kai told me it seems I was born for this—which, coming from him, is high praise. Don’t worry about a thing, and you two keep looking after the forest. I know it’s in the best hands.

I just hope to live up to the kingdom you entrusted to me and that when my reign is written in the history books, I won’t be remembered solely for my incredible talent at charades.

Oh, and speaking of charades: Hans, I feel obliged to inform you that, despite the distance and my change in title, I have not forgotten our last game. And if you think that out of diplomatic courtesy (or because Elsa loves you and wants you to be happy) I will let you win this time, I’m sorry to tell you that you are gravely mistaken.

So prepare yourself, dear brother-in-law.

See you on Friday.

One word.

Two syllables.

Los-er.

With love,

Queen Anna of Arendelle (and undisputed charades champion, don’t forget).”

“Oh sister, I love you too!” Elsa said, a playful glint in her eyes.

Hans raised an eyebrow, indignant.

“Did she just threaten me?”

Elsa smiled, clearly amused.

“You two can never play without provoking each other, can you?”

“She’s the one who starts it,” Hans defended himself. “I’ve got a few words for you too, you lunatic.”

Elsa shook her head with a smile and stepped closer to him. He let out a dramatic sigh and folded the letter with precision.

“Well, that gives me a day to prepare my strategy. We’ll leave Thursday morning."

But before he could move, Elsa gently took his arm.

“Before that… I want to show you something.”

Hans looked at her curiously.

“Come with me to Ahtohallan. There’s something beautiful I want you to see.”

He didn’t ask any more questions. He simply followed her as they walked together through the snow, leaving footprints that the wind would soon erase.

Elsa rode with grace on Nøkk, the water steed that formed and dissolved in crystalline flashes. Hans rode his own steed and guided it across the frozen surface.

The wind whipped against their faces as they rode, the speed and vastness of the landscape instilling an intoxicating sense of freedom. The sky stretched above them in a clear, cloudless blue. The snow shimmered with light reflections, and the ice beneath their horses seemed like a mirror, reflecting a pure, vast, and infinite world.

Hans, without warning, gently pulled on the reins and stopped.

It wasn’t the landscape that made him halt. It wasn’t the marvelous sunset or the immensity of the scenery. It was Elsa.

Riding a few meters ahead of him, her silhouette seemed almost ethereal, wrapped in the light of dawn. Her hair fluttered in the wind, and her cloak, light as the air itself, rose gracefully around her. But it wasn’t just her beauty that took his breath away. It was the peace on her face, the serenity with which she moved through this world of ice and wind, as though she had always belonged there. As though, finally, she was exactly where she was meant to be.

And for the first time in his life, Hans understood that he was too.

His whole life had been a constant race forward, searching for something, anything, to make him feel enough. He had pursued titles, riches, power… and none of it had filled him. But now, here, on the ice, with the cold breeze on his face and the open sky above him, he understood that his search was over.

He was whole.

Elsa, noticing his absence beside her, stopped and turned her face toward him.

“Hans,” her voice reached him with the softness of a snowflake, “is everything alright?”

He looked up at her and smiled, a genuine, serene smile.

“Yes,” he replied, feeling that every fiber of his being believed it. “Everything is as it should be.”

Elsa gazed at him for a moment, as if trying to read the depth of his thoughts. Then, she smiled as well.

Without needing more words, they resumed their journey together, riding across the ice toward Ahtohallan. The past, with all its shadows and mistakes, was behind them. Only the present mattered. Only the fact that, after everything, they had found each other.

And finally, everything was in its place.

◭◭◭

My dear brother and king, Richard,

I hope this letter finds you well and in good health, and that the tranquility that has always accompanied the lives of the Kings of the Southern Isles remains yours. Though the reason that compels me to write to you today is a mixture of emotions that, I fear, I cannot fully express, I hope you find solace in the sincerity with which I have finally decided to reveal my deepest thoughts.

It may surprise you to learn that I will not be returning home. Clarisse, as you might have already foreseen, will return to the Southern Isles, but I have decided to stay here, in the Enchanted Forest. I know the name sounds…peculiar, but believe me, brother, there is a reason behind all of this, though it is not an easy explanation.

It is a strange place, far from everything and full of mysteries I have yet to fully understand. But what I do know with certainty is that this forest has come to mean something far greater than just a refuge for me. And if I must be completely honest with you, what has led me to make this decision is Elsa—Queen Elsa—though she no longer holds the title, she remains the same woman who awakened feelings in me throughout my years in Arendelle. My love for her has grown beyond what words can explain. And I confess to you that, for a long time, I was afraid to admit it. I knew you would not understand. I knew that, perhaps, like many others, you would judge my decisions harshly. But now… now it is impossible for me to remain silent any longer.

I know this will surprise you, and I know you will think I have lost my mind. It is likely that you will not even begin to grasp what this truly means. But believe me, Richard, there is no place I would rather be than here, with her. You cannot imagine how liberating it has been to finally admit this, not only to myself but also to you. My life, my future, are now bound to this place and to her in a way I have never experienced before.

It may seem strange to you, even inconceivable, but here I am, choosing to stay in a place that many would deem remote and desolate, simply because it is where she feels safe—where I, too, feel at peace. And yes, I know it sounds like something out of a fairy tale, as if this were nothing more than a whim. But, brother, there is something in this forest, in this cold serenity, that holds a beauty I never imagined I would find—something that makes me feel more whole than I ever did in the Southern Isles.

Her sister, of course, had the most doubts, but over time, she has come to understand, and though it has not been an easy process, we have resolved it. I have finally found something that, though it may seem unreal or improbable to many, is very real to me: redemption, peace, and love.

I owe you so much, Richard. Had you not been there, had you not guided me through the darkest moments of my life, I would not have had the chance to become who I am now. I would not have found the courage to face my mistakes or to realize what I truly wanted. And while my decision to stay in the Enchanted Forest may sound absurd, I assure you, it is not. It is the result of everything I have learned—everything you have taught me.

I am more grateful than words can express. And I wish you nothing but the best, my dear brother. For you, for your wife, and for the son you now have—who, without a doubt, will grow into a young man of great heart, just as you have been.

I beg you not to take this letter as a final farewell. Perhaps my correspondence will not be frequent, but I promise that from time to time, I will write to tell you how my life unfolds. But let’s be honest—the life in the Enchanted Forest is far from dull; after all, it is a forest in the middle of nowhere. Yet I will always carry in my thoughts the memory of all you have done for me.

With affection and gratitude,

Simply, Hans Westergard.

And when the king finished reading the letter—which had mysteriously flown in through his window with a sudden gust of wind, as if the very air itself had decided to place it in his hands—he exhaled a long sigh and let the parchment rest between his fingers. For a moment, he remained silent, staring at his younger brother’s neat and steady handwriting, as if expecting the words to take on a different meaning if he looked at them long enough.

Then, with a mixture of disbelief and resignation, he let out a low chuckle—almost imperceptible.

Hans, in an Enchanted Forest. With Elsa.

He shook his head and smiled again, this time with genuine warmth—the kind of warmth only an older brother could have, one who, despite all past tribulations, could not help but be happy for the one who had always been the most restless among them.

He had feared for Hans more times than he was willing to admit, had watched him lose himself in his own ambitions and fight against shadows only he could understand. But now… now those shadows seemed to have dissipated. His brother had found his place, strange as it was, and in his heart, Richard knew that it was where he was meant to be.

With one last glance at the letter, he let out another sigh—though this one was lighter.

P.S. If you ever decide to visit, keep in mind that Elsa has a water horse. It is not as dangerous as it seems, though I must warn you—its sense of humor is as peculiar as the place we now call home. Do not worry, brother—if you ever get the idea to ride it, just make sure you have made peace with your conscience first. The truth always comes first, or the Nøkk will make sure you remember that.

“At least he has kept his humor,” he murmured, carefully folding the parchment before putting it away.

And with the certainty that his younger brother had finally found his path, the King of the Southern Isles allowed himself to feel at peace.

Dear readers,

I hope you enjoyed this new chapter. It’s a bonus chapter from Echoes of a Forgotten Past, something I honestly hadn’t planned to write. However, since you loved it so much—especially @gofredfree —I decided to do it.

At first, I considered a different twist for the story: having Elsa not survive, giving it a more tragic tone. However, if there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that in my story, Hans will never be doomed to the impossible redemption that Disney imposed on him. And if in the canon he and Elsa will never be together, at least in my story, they always will be. I won’t give Disney that satisfaction.

That being said, I have some news to share. Unfortunately, I’ll have to leave Arendelle for a very, very long time. My other commitments will make it impossible for me to keep writing for now. However, I wanted to leave you with this last chapter, written with much love.

I hope you enjoy it, that you share your thoughts with me, and most of all, that you find someone who loves and cherishes you the way Hans loves Elsa.

Thank you for everything.

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