Chapter 2,
Hans.
Earlier, the priest was talking about salvation, peace in the afterlife. But with his life coming to an end, he himself had a hard time believing in his own salvation.
After the priest left, the person he least expected walked in.
And after some smalltalk about the unusually nice weather Markus changed the topic to more pressing matters concerning Hans' recent actions.
"The circumstances are .. ominous.. to say the least" Markus took another sip from his glass of wine, "There is talk of sorcery and other fairy tales going round, a magical Queen of ice they say, yet none of that changes what happened in Arendelle."with one arm behind the back and the other holding the glass of wine Markus walked slowly through the room. Hans was still sitting on his old chair in the corner, completely motionless. Staring at a blank point across the room.
"How did you manage to get there anyway? Didn't father send an Emissary to for the Queen's coronation? What happened to them?" the older brother asked with a tone more suited for an interrogation than a chat between brothers. "Does Stephan still send you to do his dirty work? Tell him if he wants to know the details he can come and ask me himself." At his brothers sharp comment Markus turned on his heel to face Hans "Very funny, Hans, but Stephan didn't send me, I came on my own account. I am simply interested in how you did it." Hans lips formed into a grin "Why would you care? Why would anyone care? I am guilty, that is all that matters." "I'm a curious man." Hans had to let out a weak laugh. All this time no one cared, then he messes up, and suddenly he is the top concern of everyone at court. And now his brother tried to lure the deatils out of him, it was all a big farce.
After a brief moment of silence the younger one started talking again,"Look Markus, all this touchy feely talk between brothers is nice and I really appreciate it, but I don't need your pity or anyone elses for that matter." Markus, who clearly felt this as a slight, places the wine glass on window sill, and answered "Enough Hans, this is no time for joking, your situation is bad, really bad, and believe it or not, I am trying to help you here, as part of the council I was able to delay the outcome of your trial until now but I won't be able to keep it delayed forever, in Rudolphs eyes you are already a dead man and the others care only about the political outcome of this whole thing. You should start looking for allies Hans." Hans jumped up from his chair and stared at Markus with an expression that can only be described as close to madness. "Don't take me for a fool Markus, I do know how my situation looks. But don't make the mistake and think you can play with me, you want something from me? Then get on with it and ask! But don't bore me with your bullshit about allies."
Markus looked at Hans with a mixture of surprise and anger. He walked towards the door and the moment he touched the doorknob, he stopped and turned to Hans again "Karl returns from the States soon, with his vote your Sentence will be absolute, you may want to find your peace until then, brother." As he turned to the door Hans spoke up once more, "Why are you doing this Markus.." The older one answered with a voice that was sounding surprisingly sincere" You may not believe it brother, but maybe there is one person in this family that still cares, think about my words, I'll come back tomorrow." Markus walked out the door and gave a nod to the guard outside, then the door closed. And Hans was in his chamber alone once again. Hans fell back on his chair and firmly closed his eyes.
And once again the voices in his head rose up to be the chorus singing of his undoing, one line cutting deeper than any of the others, "The only frozen heart around here, is yours." Something he discarded as simple banter at that time, but the truth of it was becoming clearer than ever. All the while the wind would carry his brother and his death closer to him by the second.
The memories of Arendelle were reeling inside his head, and now it was growing into a tempest of things he tried to forget, but no matter how much he tried, over and over again he heard the sisters cry ."Elsa!" "Elsa!" a tear began to form in the corner of his eye. And then he knew, there would be no salvation for his frozen heart.