Hans had me fooled too.
Completely hoodwinked. We grew up together. I always thought he was basically a good guy. I mean, sure, he could be a bit of a jerk every now and then, but what little boy isn't? And when he came to my stable to saddle me up telling me we were going out to find his "true love" *wink, wink* I really thought this would be good for him. I thought he was finally growing up. Boy was I wrong.
And now here we are, sitting outside Arendelle, banished forever. And Hans has the gall to be indignant. After what he did.
"I took good care of the country while she was off running away from her problems. Ask anyone! And this is the thanks I get!?" A stone goes hurtling in the direction of Arendelle.
I wish I could say this wasn't a familiar situation.
"I was so close, SO CLOSE to having a country all my own! And now I'm back where I started." Hans shouts to the sky, apparently complaining to the universe.
I have to say, when Sven burst into the stables to tell us what transpired, I was shocked. That stupid buffalo was so excited, he couldn't even contain himself. Going on and on about how HE made Kristoff go back and how heroic Kristoff was and how Kristoff and Anna are "totally gonna get married and have tons of babies!" Ugh. And of course he told everyone how "evil" Hans was. Embellished the story too. I think his story included Hans 'growing fangs and sucking Anna's blood'. Naturally, since I am a good friend, I tried to defend Hans from what I thought were preposterous claims. Needless to say, that didn't go too well. I guess the Royal Fleet is not too fond of horses who defend enemies of the crown. So I spent the next two months an outcast, my own kind of prison. All because of Hans.
And he hasn't even apologized.
"Come on Cald, let's go. I'm getting cold." I guess he's done with his rant. His statement confused me though. It could not be the weather that was making him cold. In addition, he has been pacing around kicking things and throwing rocks for a half hour. Maybe he meant warm.
He's picking up the supplies the guards gave us for our trip to load them onto my carriage. I'm staring at him, hoping he will notice my irritation. He hasn't yet told me what the Queen said to him. If he does notice my annoyance, he doesn't acknowledge it. He comes around to harness me, but I don't feel like cooperating. I wait until he is just about to throw the saddle on me and then pretend I am suddenly irresistibly drawn to a small patch of grass a few paces to my left. From behind me I can hear him breathe an annoyed sigh and walk over to me.
I again wait for the familiar sound of him hefting the saddle into the air before swiftly trotting to another patch of grass. This time he groans. Perfect! His patience is wearing thin. If he refuses to recognize my frustration, he is going to feel it too. It should just take one more thing…
Hans creeps up to me slowly, pats me. Satisfied that I am not going to move again, he delicately places the saddle on my back. I allow him to strap it into place and bridle me. He takes the reins to lead me over the cart. He tugs the ropes, but I don't move. He turns to look at me in confusion. I can see the anger building in his eyes. He whistles, but that's not going to work on me. He yanks the reins harder this time. I yank back, nearly pulling him off his feet.
"Dumb horse!"
He grabs the bridles again, trying in desperation to pull me with his whole body weight. Growing tired, he starts rhythmically heaving himself against the reins in the direction of the cart. If I get the timing right on this, this could be the last straw.
YANK… one….JERK…two… and three…
On his last tug I step forward, allowing the reins enough slack to let Hans throw himself to the ground. I whiney my amusement, which makes him even angrier. As soon as he looks at me, I can see I've accomplished my purpose. He quickly hops up.
"Can we not do this right now!? This is the last thing I need after the day I've had! If you haven't noticed, it hasn't exactly been going my way!"
Oh, really? I'd say the last three months haven't gone your way.
"Heck, the last THREE MONTHS haven't gone my way!"
That's what I just said.
"First, an unsuccessful attempt to usurp the throne. Then two months in solitary. And now, thanks to the Queen, I'm sick. I'm DYING."
Wait, what? What do you mean dying?
"And she told me to go back to where I came from. She told me to go home. Obviously I can't do that!"
Ouch. That had to sting. But going back to this dying thing, how are you dying?
"So can we PLEASE not do this right now? Can we please just go find someone who doesn't know me who will give me some shelter and a nice fire to sit in front of?"
Yeah, sure, of course. And then you will tell me what the Queen did?
"THANK you." Hans supervises as I move into position. He slips the cart into the loops on my saddle and tightens them in, all the while grumbling to himself about the evil queen and how far he will have to travel to find a place to stay. He's still not answering my question though. I allow myself to muse over the possibilities. Come to think of it, he does look a bit ill. He has bags under his eyes, and his skin is a little pale. I just thought it was because his encounter with the queen shook him. Did she poison him maybe? Make him stay in the infirmary? Make him stay in the sun too long?
Or could she have used her magic? I'm not sure what she could do with it. He's clearly not an icicle. I don't see any signs of frostbite. I wonder if it has anything to do with the white streaks in his hair. I don't remember those being there before, and I doubt he aged that much in two months.
A rustle in the forest interrupts my thoughts.
A breeze, probably.
But there it is again. It's subtle, but it definitely has a pattern to it. One that I recognize. A dread starts growing from deep in my stomach, but I don't quite know why. I study the trees and bushes, looking for any indication of danger.
Hans! Quiet! I think there's something out there! He ignores me.
Over there! My wide eyes catch a glimpse of a crouching figure jumping from behind one tree to another. Then another one from behind me, I just barely see a human foot slip behind a large bush. Now I am sure, this is not good.
Hans! Look! We're not alone!
Still nothing.
HANS! Stop ignoring me, I'm serious! We are in danger! Get your sword!
"Cald! Easy boy! What is it now? Stop it, we're almost ready to go now. If you just be still we'll be on our way in a minute."
As he gazes on me, for the first time in my life I see it. The complete confusion in his eyes. He's looking at me with such a questioning face, irritated and a little tired, truly uncomprehending of my intentions. As though I were just any other animal, not the horse he trained as a colt, the one that stuck with him and dutifully took him wherever he wanted to go. My devastation was joined by a cold rush of panic as the meaning of his expression dawns on me.
He's not just ignoring me. He actually can't understand me.
Which means he won't know that behind him I can see the edge of a taut bow peeking out of the bushes, the suns rays glinting off an arrow aimed directly at him.