HELLO MY LOVELIES! Okay first of all, I know it has been a hella long time since I've updated but I've just been so so so busy. I had a family member in hospital for a couple of weeks, so I was there every single day. I've had my own doctors and hospital appointments. I've been having horrific trouble with the Job Centre an trying to sign onto ESA (If you're living in the UK, then you know for certain how dreadful or benefits system is). It's been making my insecure mental state even worse so I've just been too down to write, even when I had 5 minutes to spare. But it is finally here. It's not as long as they usually are, I'm afraid. But it's something at least. I'm not entirely happy with this chapter tbh, but I've been out of it for so long, it's taken a while to get used to writing again. So I've been hesitant about uploading this for the past 4 days :/ anyway, enjoy it!

There was commotion in Arendelle Manor that morning. Once Gerda had announced that she had found Elsa's bedchamber to be empty when she went to wake her, the entire Manor was in a frenzy looking for her. The few staff that worked there were made to search the entirety of the Manor and grounds. The small army that Lord Kristiansen possessed were sent to look around the rest of Arendelle. By the time any of them had reached the docks, The Snow Queen was long gone. No one, with the exception of Gerda, had any idea what had happened to their beloved Elsa.

When word of the situation reached Hans, he immediately made his way to Elsa's bedchamber to see for himself, only to find that the room was indeed empty. The bed was unmade and the balcony doors had been left wide open. Hans was fuming. How dare she do this to him. In a fit of rage, he cleared the contents of the bedside table onto the floor with one swift movement of his arm. He grabbed hold of the bedsheets violently and threw them on the floor in the middle of the room. He planned to do the same with the pillows also, but as he picked the first one up, he noticed something underneath; an envelope.

His anger faded just enough to compose himself as he picked the envelope up and took hold of the contents inside. As Hans read what he found to be a letter, his anger level raised once more. His grip on the letter tightened as he read the ending. Whoever this Anna was, he had no doubt she had something to do with Elsa's disappearance. He shoved the letter back in the envelope and placed it in his pocket, planning to get to the bottom of this.

Someone cleared their throat behind him, catching Hans' attention. He turned around to see the maid, Gerda, was looking at him with a displeased expression on her face.

"What are you doing in here?" She questioned.

"And what business is it of yours that I investigate the bedchambers of my fiancée on the morning of her disappearance? I would think that I, of all people, would have permission to be in here." Hans answered in his usual snide tone.

"Well, if you would kindly remove yourself from the room," Gerda said as she walked in. "Lord Kristiansen has requested your presence in his study and I need to clean up the mess you have made." She looked at the contents he had thrown to the floor in his moment of pure rage.

"Very well, maid. See to it that you make it spotless in here." Hans ordered.

Gerda huffed at him as he left the room and started to place everything back on the bed, not noticing that the letter Elsa had kept under her pillows for so long had been taken.

As Hans made his way to Lord Kristiansen's study, one of Arendelle's guards caught up with him, a young man in his grasp.

"Sir! We have someone here who says he knows what happened to Miss Elsa!" The guard called out to Hans as he jogged up to him. Hans turned to look at the two of them. The stranger had olive coloured skin and a head of short cut dark hair. He looked like he hadn't had a good bathe in a long while. A sailor perhaps, Hans thought. "He came to the Manor moments ago saying that he saw everything."

"Leave him with me." Hans ordered.

"Yes Sir!" The guard let go of the young man and bid farewell to Hans.

"You know where she is?" Hans asked.

"I know who she is with and where they are headed. She left on a ship in the early hours of the morning... a pirate ship." The stranger explained. "They're on their way to England."

"And how do you know this exactly?" Hans sneered.

"Because I was on that ship before it docked here. My name is Hamilton."

"What?!" Hans could not believe what he was hearing. This boy had supposedly been on a ship that Elsa was now on and had sailed out of Arendelle. He grabbed Hamilton's upper arm and pulled him into the nearest room, which happened to be the library. Hans quickly checked to make sure it was empty before shutting the door behind them and turning to the boy. "Tell me everything." He ordered.

"I was on that ship, through no fault of my own, Sir." Hamilton started to explain. "I had been captured from a merchant ship by their brutal Captain," he lied. "I escaped just this morning as they were getting ready to leave for open sea. The Captain, though, Sir... it's a woman!" The disgust was evident in Hamilton's voice.

"A woman?" Hans asked. "And this Captain... does she, by any chance, go by the name 'Anna'?"

"Aye, Sir, she does."

"Tell me more. What is my fiancée doing on that ship?!" Hans nearly shouted, but kept his voice down in order to not draw attention to the two of them in the library.

"Well the Captain, having come from this land, has had a previous relationship with this Elsa lady. I've heard everything she's said to her quartermaster about it. They planned to come here and take her away with them so as to continue their relationship."

"And what about their heading? You said England... where abouts?!"

"They planned a route to the West coast of England, Sir," Hamilton continued. "And from there I do believe they'll be heading over to the Caribbean. If you leave quickly you will catch up with them."

Hans thought things over for a few moments before he came up with his plan.

"I am on my way to meet with Elsa's parents," he told Hamilton. "And you will be coming with me. You are to tell them of your escape from the ship and explain that Elsa has been kidnapped by these pirates."

"Kidnapped?"

"Yes, kidnapped. If they are under the influence she has been kidnapped then I will have the opportunity to retrieve her, kill the Captain, and bring her back so this marriage can commence. If she has been kidnapped, it will look a lot better on me once we return." Hans explained.

"Aye Sir."

"Now come with me, boy."

Hans lead the way out of the library and to Lord Kristiansen's study. Once there, he entered without bothering to knock and found both of Elsa's parents inside.

Lord Kristiansen was sat at his desk, hands folded together atop it. His wife was stood next to him, her hand gripping his shoulder as silent tears fell down her face.

"Ah Hans," Lord Kristiansen greeted. "Please, take a seat." He gestured to the single chair in front of his desk. Hans did as he had been asked and Hamilton came to stand rather awkwardly next to him. "And who, might I ask, is your friend?"

"This is Hamilton, My Lord. I met him only moments ago as I was on my way here; one of the guards brought him in. He says he knows where Miss Elsa has gone." Hans answered.

Lady Kristiansen gave a slight gasp at the news.

"You know where she is? You know where my daughter has gone?!" She asked, her voice filled with hope.

"I do, My Lady," Hamilton said to the woman. "I mean, I don't know exactly where she is at this exact moment as she is on the open sea... but I know where she is headed."

"Well tell us, boy!" Lord Kristiansen ordered. "Where is my daughter?!"

"She has been taken captive, My Lord... by pirates! The same pirates that captured me after plundering the merchant vessel I was on. I'm not sure what they want with her as of yet, but I imagine once they have ported, they will send word of a ransom of some sort."

"And where are they porting, boy?"

"England, My Lord. Liverpool to be exact. But they are only staying a short while in order to gain supplies before they sail for the Caribbean. You must act fast if you wish to get her back soon."

As Lord Kristiansen thought the situation over, Hans spoke up.

"My Lord, I believe that with a fleet of ships, I could retrieve your daughter. You are not the only ones who care about Miss Elsa's safety, after all. I come from a military family, I could lead a fleet and defeat the pirates in order to bring her back home."

"And where do you propose we get this fleet?" Lord Kristiansen asked. "Arendelle has no fleet large enough for such a task, only a very small army. Your family's fleet, as small as it is, is down in the Southern Isles, much too far away. It would take weeks for them to arrive and we don't have the time."

"Yes, My Lord, that is true. But we both know someone much closer who does in fact own a rather powerful fleet; The Duke of Wesleton. The only problem is that my family does not have the money to hire his fleet and fund such an expedition. That, My Lord, would have to come from you." Hans said. "If you would be willing to pay the fee, then I could lead that fleet and save your daughter."

"Of course I would be willing!" Lord Kristiansen spoke harshly. "I want my daughter back!"

"Very well then, My Lord. If you could make the negotiations with the Duke, then I would be more than willing to set sail whenever he is ready," Hans said as he stood from the chair, not waiting to be dismissed.

Before he could realise what was happening, Lady Kristiansen had run over to him and flung her arms around his shoulders, sobbing.

"Oh thank you, thank you!" She cried. "You are such a brave, kind-hearted, handsome young man!"

Hans gingerly patted Lady Kristiansen on the back, feeling uncomfortable at the sudden contact, especially in front of the woman's husband.

"Oh what would we do without you?" she asked as her crying subsided. "Elsa will be so lucky to have you bring her home and marry her finally." She pulled her arms from around his shoulders and moved her hands down to grip his upper arms firmly. "Such a strong man. She will be safe with you." She squeezed his biceps in order to feel the muscle underneath her hands, almost swooning. Hans didn't know what to do with himself as the older woman held on to him. He supposed she was in shock with all that had happened that morning, and that was causing her to release her emotions in a slightly inappropriate way.

Lord Kristiansen cleared his throat and his wife immediately let go of Hans. She looked him in the eye and he delicate demeanour returned instantly. "Thank you," she whispered all too seriously. "Thank you for being willing to brave this task. You truly will make a remarkable husband for my daughter, and a remarkable leader for this land when the time comes."

Hans smiled down at her, as genuine as he could manage without revealing the malice he felt inside.

Arrangements were made with the Duke and he ordered the entirety of his fleet to sail down from Wesleton, which took three days in all. The fleet consisted of three Schooners, two Brigs, two Frigates, and a Galleon.

Hans was more than pleased with the amount of ships he had at his disposal. He would be taking up residency on the Galleon of course, along with Hamilton, and the Duke himself.

Lord Kristiansen had been more than willing to pay whatever price for the fleet in order for his daughter's safe return. He would much rather pay out this way for her to be brought home, rather than negotiate prices with pirates, who would no doubt ask for triple what he had already paid to the Duke.

Hans, Hamilton, the Duke, and the Navigator of the Galleon mapped out a route to England. They would start by travelling Southbound along the North Sea, over the English Channel, and finally turn North and sail towards the Irish Sea. They would then lay in wait, just off the coast of Holyhead, and ambush The Snow Queen as it made it's way out of Liverpool.

They left port as soon as they were prepared and sailed for the United Kingdom. Hans was going to retrieve that which belonged to him, and was personally planning to kill any who got in his way, especially this Anna.

After spending four days aboard The Snow Queen, Elsa was still getting used to the permanent movements of the ship. The sickness caused by the motion had eased somewhat, but not completely. She spent a lot of her time with Anna and Kristoff up on the quarterdeck as the redheaded Captain steered the ship.

During the night time, Anna and Elsa would retire to the Captain's Quarters almost as soon as dinner was over. Although they went to bed rather early, the two of them certainly did not fall asleep until much later at night.

They spent the hours getting to know each other physically and learning exactly how each other liked to be touched. Anna had found that the back of Elsa's neck was a very sensitive spot indeed, having only to place a gentle kiss in the area to get an entire body shiver and slight moan out of Elsa. Elsa had figured out that if she trailed a single finger slowly up the inside of Anna's thigh right before touching her exactly where she wanted it the most, the younger woman would positively writhe under her touch. And Elsa absolutely loved the affect she had on her. And each night they would fall asleep, naked and exhausted, in each other's arms.

On one particular afternoon, Elsa was on the Quarterdeck with Anna and had asked her if it was hard work steering the ship most of the time. Anna had told her that it does often get tedious, spending hour after hour sailing the seas, but she wouldn't have it any other way. Perhaps in the future she would hire a Helmsman to do the majority of the steering, but for the time being, Anna enjoyed being in complete control of her ship. Kristoff would take over when she needed breaks throughout the day. During the night they took shifts, with Kristoff sailing until the early hours of the morning, and Anna rising early to relieve him of his duty. Elsa liked to wake at the same time, even though Anna insisted she could stay in bed and get a few more hours of sleep. But Elsa like to be up top alone with Anna as they sailed and watched the sunrise together. For Elsa, those moments were perfect.

On the morning of their fifth day, just as the sun was starting to cast it's first rays over the ocean, Elsa had joined Anna as per usual upon the quarterdeck. She could never stray too far from Anna as she was still feeling out of place on the ship, and Anna would never complain, always loving having Elsa right by her side.

"Hey, Love," Anna called out to her. Elsa was stood by the edge of the ship looking down into the waters below.

"Hmm?" Elsa replied, turning around and walking over towards the Helm.

"You know, I haven't noticed you use your magic since we've left... you are free to use it whenever you wish. No one's going to judge you here." Anna explained.

"I know... I just... I guess I'm not used to being allowed to use it freely, I suppose."

Anna smiled at her, as if to confirm that she was indeed able to use it at any time. Elsa looked down at her hands. She was still wearing the gloves that had covered them for years, the only thing that helped her to prevent little icy accidents. It was more of a psychological thing than anything, but even so, they had indeed helped to block her powers.

Hesitantly, Elsa removed the glove on her right hand and stared at the bare skin underneath. After a moment, she proceeded to remove the other one and discarded them on the floor. Within a few seconds, small icy blue and white magical speckles appeared as if out of nowhere above each palm. She brought her hands almost together, leaving enough space for the cold magic to swirl around between the two. It gradually grew into a small ball shape of swirling magic as she manoeuvred her hands around it delicately. She then lay her hands flat before her, palms up, and thrust the icy magic upwards into the air, where it shot about six feet and gently exploded into what looked like small fireworks made purely out of snowflakes.

All the while, Anna watched in awe, never taking her eyes off of Elsa's magic. Once it had subsided, Elsa look towards Anna, wondering what her reaction would be. She knew Anna did not fear the magic as her parents did but she had never purposefully made a display of it like she had just done then. All of Anna's previous experiences with Elsa's magic had been unintentional. Elsa need not worry though, as Anna's face was bearing a wide grin, proud of what she had just shown her.

"Wow," Anna said, her voice full of amazement, "That was wonderful!"

"Oh," Elsa blushed at the compliment. "No, I just... it was just a few snowflakes. It was nothing, really." She mumbled, embarrassed at the praise.

"No, Elsa. It really was wonderful. What you can do, I think it is honestly the most amazing thing I've ever seen!" Anna insisted, knowing that she would never get tired of seeing Elsa use her magic. "You are amazing."

Elsa's blush turned darker at Anna's words, still not used to such compliments all the time. "Come here," Anna held out her arm and motioned with her head for Elsa to come even closer to her. Elsa did so and, with one hand still on the helm, Anna put her arm around Elsa's waist and held on to her as she steered the ship. Elsa wrapped both of her arms around Anna and they sailed ever closer to their destination, enjoying each other's company in comfortable silence as they watched the sun continue to rise.

Ahhhh I couldn't have a chapter without a nice bit of elsanna fluff at the end there. they're so happy! ^-^ hopefully i'll get right back into the swing of things and we'll be back to once a week updates! :D