Although this is not my first story, it is the first for this set of characters. I would like to ask for the readers to be respectful. If you are not a fan for the particular character(s) I am writing about, please move on to a different story. Your negativity is unwelcome. That being said, I am only able to update this story on my free time, as I am a single mother and a full time student. So be patient with further additions.
Please enjoy the story and don't forget to review it. I look forward to reading your input on The Scoundrel Prince.
Best Regards,
L.
The Scoundrel Prince
Part One
It had been five years. Five years since he had heard the sound of laughter coming from the harbor his family ship was anchored in. Five years since he inhaled the fresh mountain crisp air. Five long years since he had walked in this kingdom and seen the two beautiful sisters that called Arendelle their home. Despite everything that had happened, everything he had done, he often wondered if Princess Anna and Queen Elsa spoke of him. Did they even spare him a passing a thought? If they had, he imagined it was not exactly in a positive light.
Hans adjusted the white cloth around his neck and tucked it into his deep emerald green brocade vest, then gently stuck an emerald pin into it to keep it in place. He looked over his reflection in the long oval mirror by the wardrobe. He was still tall and his shoulders still broad and square. His fair hair was slightly longer than his last visit, curling at the ends with a single strand hanging in his green eyes. He was handsome enough, he supposed, albeit softer and more refined looking than most of his brothers who all had rough facial hair covering most of their faces. Whereas Hans preferred his elegantly trimmed sideburns.
He slipped a gold pocket watch into his vest and adjusted his belt, running his fingers over the empty clip attached. One of the conditions of his visit was that he was not permitted to be armed, so his ceremonial sword and scabbard was to be left aboard the family ship. Hans sighed and looked over his suit in the reflection again. He had opted for darker colors for this visit, despite the warming spring air. Gold thread was stitched in this vest and the double breasted buttons reflected the sunlight filtering in through his cabin window. A gold silk sash stretched from his left shoulder and down to his right side. His black pants were snug, perhaps a little too snug, and tucked into black leather boots with pointed edges brushing just above his knees. Hans slipped on is black tailcoat jacket and adjusted the lapels. Much like many of his other tailcoat jackets, this one bore the gold filigree of his kingdom on the sides and back, as well as having gold epaulettes on his shoulders, indicating the time he had spent in his kingdom's army.
Hans brushed his knuckles against his chest where his metals would have been pinned, but he had been stripped of those honors upon his return to his kingdom. He considered himself lucky that he was allowed to keep his epaulettes and continue to be called a prince. However, his father loudly declared that he was unfit to lead a kingdom and it would be incredibly difficult for him marry within a royal family. If he managed to find a wife at all.
He glanced at the white gloves resting on the bedside table for a long moment. They were the same gloves he had worn during his last visit to Arendelle and had difficulty parting with them. Hans picked them up and ran his thumb over the stitching on the back of the top glove. Were he to wear them, he would feel more comfortable and in control of the unusual situation he had found himself in. However, he was not sure he could earn any form of the queen's favor by wearing them. He was no stranger to forms of symbolism of the mind and the family physician theorized that by wearing gloves, even in the heat of summer, Hans was hiding his true self. With a heavy sigh, Hans put the gloves in an inside pocket of his jacket; he might not wear them, but at least he'll have them with him.
A knock at the door pulled Prince Hans from his thoughts. He turned and watched as the handle turned after being unlocked, silently annoyed that his brothers deemed it necessary to lock him in this small cramped cabin for the duration of the trip here. Hans was looking forward to leaving the small space for some fresh air and to sleep on a much softer, bigger bed.
When the door opened, Hans' older brother, Rolfe, stood in the doorway. His clothes were similar to Hans', but Rolfe wore tan pants and a blue tailcoat. A red sash with gold trim stretched across his chest and metals of honor decorated his chest, with epaulettes on his shoulders. His hair was a similar shade to his younger brother's, albeit darker, and his eyes hazel. His nose was wider and not as long and a thick beard lined his jaw.
"Are you ready to go now or are you still applying your powder?" Rolfe's voice was deep and rough as he mocked Hans.
Hans rolled his eyes, clearly not amused by his older brother's retort. "I've been waiting on you."
"Well, come on then. Klaus is already on his way to the castle." Rolfe stood aside as he spoke.
As Hans walked by him, the scent of bourbon caught his attention and he wrinkled his nose. It was evident by Rolfe's rosy cheeks that he had had more than a few glasses of ship's bourdon supply this morning.
"Starting early, are you?" Hans replied coolly as he walked onto the deck, shielding his eyes from the bright morning sun.
Birds flew above him and sang in delight. The water hit the ship and rocked it gently, but not enough to hinder the walk of any of the sailors. From the ship, the sound of cheerful laughter and conversation could be heard from the city, along the sound of music playing. The smell of sweets and meat lingered on the breeze, causing Hans' stomach to rumble slightly in hunger.
Rolfe scowled. "It's a wedding, isn't it?"
Hans followed his older brother down the ramp and onto the wooden pier. Other guests and servants made their way to the city square and to the palace gates. Guards patrolled the city with vigilant eyes, each giving Hans a warning stare as he passed by. He merely ignored them, fully aware of the thin ice he was treading on here.
The city looks every bit the same as it had the last time he was here. The streets were clean and paved with stone. Flowers lined the windows and doors of houses and businesses. Colored banners depicting Princess Anna and her groom-to-be's silhouettes hung from the lamp posts, matching small flags hung from building to building. The citizens seemed more than thrilled for this wedding as they danced in merriment.
It was all going to give Hans a headache.
"Remind me again why I had to come here. I highly doubt the queen and princess will be happy to see me." Hans said as they walked to the bridge leading to the large castle gates.
Rolfe sighed and glanced over at his younger brother. "Our father and his council agree that this is the perfect opportunity to show good faith between our kingdoms. A formal apology from you to the queen and princess will ensure peace."
Hans rolled his eyes slightly, annoyed by his father's optimism. "And if they refuse?"
Rolfe smirked. "That's my favorite part. We get to leave you here to the queen's disposal."
"Wonderful." Hans sighed and brushed his fingers through his hair.
As Hans and Rolfe reached the castle gates, the temperature seemed to change dramatically. Pillars of artic blue ice lined the castle walls and glittered in the sun. The two fountains in the courtyard were frozen solid and curved elegantly towards each other, giving a charming invitation to enter the castle. The tallest tower seemed taller than Hans remembered, but with each closing step, he realized that ice had encased the roof and kissed the sky with a brilliant snowflake on top.
Beside him, Rolfe whistled as he looked around. "This must be the queen's doing. Remind me again why you thought it would be a good idea to kill her and take her throne."
A soft groan escaped Hans' and he shook his head. "I'm not having this conversation again. Let us just get this over with so we can leave this place."
Hans went to step up the stairs, but a small snowman with a small cloud above him waddled by him. The little snowman stopped at the top of the steps and turned to look at Hans, when he did, his eyes widened in surprise and his stick arms tried to cover his mouth.
"Prince Hans…" It squeaked out before rushing past the guards standing near the door and into the castle.
Hans merely quirked an eyebrow as he watched after the snowman. Rolfe stared after it, slightly stunned by what he had just seen. When he spoke, his voice was quiet and slightly shaken.
"Was that…a talking…living snowman?" He asked.
Hans bit back a smirk. "You should see the one in the mountains."
With that, Hans took the lead and stepped into the castle. People lingered by in the entrance hall, sipping tea, wine, and other spirits. The women wore colorful dresses bearing their shoulders with floral prints adorning the silks. The men all wore similar styled suits that only varied in color; seamless pants, double breasted vests, colored neck cloths, and tailcoats. The conversation in the hall seemed to change as everyone saw Hans, but he paid little mind to the whispers that followed him as he made his way to the main hall.
The smell of chocolate was thick in the air and the sound of laughter almost deafening. As Hans and Rolfe stepped into the hall, they were met with a large crowd of people waiting to speak with the queen. Hans wandered to the back of the room and grabbed a glass of wine as a servant passed by him. The hall itself was decorated in deep blues and rich magenta with gold and silver. Large arrangements of various flowers lined the walls in tall decorative vases. He looked over the crowd, unable to see the queen standing by the throne, but he spotted his brother Klaus leaning against a pillar, polishing off a mug of mead.
Much like Hans and Rolfe, Klaus' white tailcoat bore the gold filigree of the Southern Isles, though his were accented with blue and silver. He wore a gold doubt breasted pin stripe vest beneath his coat and a blue cloth around his neck. A silver and gold sash stretched across his chest like the other princes' and gold epaulettes adorned his shoulders; on his chest, several metals were proudly displayed. Even from where Hans stood, he could see the jewels glimmering in the hilt of the ceremonial sword hanging at Klaus' side.
A heavy hand clapped down on Hans' shoulder and squeezed slightly, making him wince only slightly. He looked up and saw Rolfe looking down at him with that arrogant smirk of his. Yet again, Hans held back a groan as his older brother all but pushed him through the crowd to their elder brother, Klaus, who smiled at them brightly.
"This place is magnificent." He said as they approached. Like Rolfe, his eyes were hazel and nose wider than Hans', but instead of a beard, Klaus wore his facial hair in thick yet trimmed mutton chops. "Have you seen the little snowman?"
Rolfe nodded slightly. "For a moment, I thought I would have to trade my spirits for water."
Hans waited as his brothers traded comments about their awe of the castle. He noticed a small part in the crowd, providing him a view of Queen Elsa. She looked every bit the same as he had last seen her; her blonde hair windswept and a single thick braid over her shoulder and her large blue-green eyes were shadowed with a purple eyeshadow. Her dress was different than it had been five years ago, it was now shimmering aquamarine that wrapped around her shoulders and flowed to the floor like water, pooling at her feet. The only thing different about her was that now she seemed calmer and warm, where she had been so rigid and cold the first time he had met her.
After greeting a lord and his lady, Queen Elsa glanced over the crowd in what appeared to be exhaustion and boredom, before her gaze met with Hans'. Instantly, her eyes turned hard and icy, her lips pressed into a tight line. Hans kept his face blank and held her gaze evenly. Even as Elsa reluctantly greeted another lord, Hans continued to watch, sipping his wine and reminding himself that the slightest smart remark from him could have him cleaning bedpans and sleeping in stables with the horses.
