#controversial ending

Prince Hans the Red swept across the field, lance in hand, fearlessly ready to strike his opponent. His face was hidden by the shiny metal helmet with vertical slits over his eyes, but Princess Anna didn’t need to see his face to know those bright green eyes glinted under the hot metal, his face contorted in premature but inevitable victory. He declared his attachment to her by donning the white handkerchief adorned with the elaborate "A" she finished embroidering for him that morning tucked into his wrist, the frilly white edges poking out of the metal sleeve.

“Elsa! Did you see that? Did you see how Prince Hans almost knocked over Sir Destin? Did you see?” She clutched and inhaled the perfume of the red flower he gave her as a symbol of his love. He acknowledged the princess as he passed by, and she marveled at the way his eyes turned from green to golden in the sunlight. Even beneath his helmet they glowed.

“Yes,” Princess Elsa said with a small laugh, amused by her innocent sister’s obvious desire. “No one can say he isn’t talented. Poor Sir Destin, though. I hate to see him so humiliated.” Prince Hans had dehorsed him twice and only taken a few hits, though his shoulder did appear to be injured. Despite their injuries, both men carried on until Prince Hans was named winner. Princess Anna nearly squealed when he approached the royal box after the jousting tournament to greet the king and receive his congratulations on a fair and honorable competition, along with a silver medallion embossed with the golden crocus of Arendelle.

Princess Anna paid no attention to her sister’s teasing and hoped Prince Hans would remove his helmet so she could see his golden green eyes, fierce like the dragon he once slayed, according to legend, and his hair flaming red like the dragon's breath. Princess Anna was disappointed, though, when his helmet remained firmly on his head. She was meant to accompany her sister to rest and dress before greeting the knights and visiting dignitaries in the grand hall, where they would gather for a meal and celebration in honor of friendly competition. But she needed to see his face again and she couldn't wait for the ball.

“I need to get something from my chambers, Elsa. I will see you at the ball.”

“Ok, Sis. If you say so!”

Princess Anna scoffed and scurried away. She did, in fact, make it to her chambers for a wardrobe change. Then she made her way to the knights’ encampment disguised as a lady’s maid.

Unaccustomed to walking quietly and unnoticed, and she took pains to imitate Elsa’s quiet grace. She managed to be discreet with only one “good day, sir” and a “good tidings to you, as well, ma’am”.

She finally found the coat of the Southern Isles and peered into the tent. She did not think what might happen if she offered herself to her fiance in such a way. She was all but engaged to Prince Hans, and she was willing to give herself to him in any way he saw fit to have her, so long as his golden green eyes burned for her as she thought they did.

What she saw, though, contradicted everything she knew about the prince. She had seen him joust on numerous occasions, but she had admittedly only met him once. His was such a striking figure that his visage hadn’t left her thoughts since then. This man was indeed wearing the prince’s armor, but he was much taller than Anna remembered Prince Hans being. And blonder. The man shook out his unkempt hair, matted and dripping with sweat, as he removed his helmet. Then he removed Princess Anna’s favor from his wrist and held it to his nose. He inhaled her perfume as she had done to the red flower and sighed.

“Is that from Princess Anna?” Prince Hans asked.

“Oh, of course, your Highness. Her favor wishing you good luck in the competition.” He offered the token to Prince Hans.

Prince Hans guffawed, “I don’t need luck! I have a warhorse. She’s such a silly girl, is she not?” He motioned that he did not want the handkerchief.

The blonde man who had masqueraded as Prince Hans shirked. “All due respect, Highness, she is a kind and gracious woman with a loving heart set on you, and you have fooled her and her entire kingdom into thinking you are something you are not.”

“Need I remind you, Kristoff, to watch your tongue when you speak to me! Your parents survive only on my generosity. You know well the freedom I will bestow upon them and your too many siblings only once the Princess and I are wed.”

Kristoff bit his tongue, as suggested, but Princess Anna could barely hide her shock at this wretched display. She shifted and nearly lost her footing and her mouth opened in surprise. Kristoff noticed and turned, though thankfully Prince Hans did not. He placed his finger to his lips to implore her to keep silent, and she immediately covered her mouth with both hands to avoid the shriek threatening to pass through her lips.

“Now, then, there are some ladies in waiting eagerly awaiting my attentions. Change out of that armor quickly before someone catches you. I don't think I need to remind you again the consequences of ruining this engagement,” Prince Hans said with raised eyebrows, still unaware of the princess’ presence.

Once the prince had left, Kristoff circled Princess Anna's wrist and pulled her into the tent. Princess Anna clung to his armor in a vain attempt to know this fascinating stranger better.

“What are you doing here, M’Lady?” he asked as he furtively glanced around to confirm her discretion. “You shouldn’t be here,” he whispered. “It’s not safe.”

She could now take in all of his golden eyes, full of care and desire. Their intensity intimidated her, even more so when she felt the same feelings growing in her.

She plucked her handkerchief from the man’s hand and he deflated.

“Sincere apologies, Ma’am, I meant no harm.”

Anna tucked the precious item into her bosom. “Come to the castle this evening and you shall have this back.”

Princess Anna moved to walk away but the man caught her hand. “Forgive me, Princess, but may I?”

Princess Anna held the man’s head in her hands and planted a sweet favor on the man’s cheek. His mouth opened in surprise and Princess Anna felt a bout of satisfaction and a rush of joy at how much that peck meant to him.

“I shall gladly be there, Princess,” he said while bowing so he could kiss her hand.

Princess Anna glanced at him once more as she left the tent. She waited until she was in the open field between the encampment and the castle to begin to show the excitement she was struggling to hide. She walked through the garden, kitchen, and courtyard greeting each servant with a smile, a compliment, a song, a curtsy, or a turn.

Finally she collapsed on her bed, giving in to the full swoon she hadn’t allowed herself before. She fell into a short nap filled with magnificent dreams of clinging to a beautiful knight, with golden eyes that could temper a thousand dragons with kindness alone, as they raced through the countryside on horseback.

She scarcely allowed her handmaiden Gerda to awaken her from such ecstasy.

“It’s time to get dressed for the ball, Highness.”

“The ball! Oh! The ball!” She dressed in a hurry and ran quickly to King Agnarr’s chambers.

“Sweet daughter, are you in some distress?” he asked.

“I have the misfortune of delivering the dreadful news that I cannot marry Prince Hans.”

“But Anna, it is done. Our two kingdoms will be united. The announcement will be made this evening.”

Princess Anna explained her observations of Hans’ character to her father, and King Agnarr regretted not being able to call off the engagement.

“I’m sorry, dearest one, but breaking the engagement could bring war to our doors. I cannot put the good people of Arendelle at such risk. Unfortunately, it is too late. You need to marry Prince Hans to save the kingdom from ruin.”

A despondent princess trudged to her chambers after the ball and splayed across the bed, crying into the soft linens.

A tap on her window and Kristoff’s eyes glowing in the moonlight brought a smile to Princess Anna’s lips.

“I believe you have something of mine, Princess," he said as he climbed through the window. He winced at the pain from his shoulder, but it did not deter him from pleading, "I would like it back, please.”

“You will need to find it, Sir Kristoff,” she replied flirtatiously.

“Begging your pardon, Princess, but I am not a knight. You need not call me ‘Sir’.”

“You are to me,” she answered as she led his golden eyes to her bed. "To me you are a king!"

"King of the reindeer, maybe," he teased.

"You don't smell that bad!"

Then her reindeer king bestowed upon her an unrivaled kindness and she did not think she could give him up so easily. But the safety of her people, and King Kristoff's family, was paramount. A gentle stroke of his hand against her cheek brought a spirit of ingenuity to replace her previous powerlessness. With 12 older brothers, Prince Hans' children would not stand a chance of ruling the Kingdom of the Southern Isles, though they could conceivably rule over the Kingdom of Arendelle by Princess Anna's birthright. Whereas their "legitimacy" might be important to the Southern Isles, it would be unimpeachable in Arendelle.