Here is a chapter many of you have been waiting for. A little background on the happenings going on in Arendelle. Note this isn't the whole story but enough to get a little insight on the 'what' for the kingdom's sake. Elsa's story is next time.
Once Upon A Kingdom No More
If Hans hadn't seen it himself, he never would've believed the words from any man talking inside the tavern. He sat hidden away in a corner table nursing a drink that was half empty and far from his thoughts. The Prince had little sleep the night before after the words of the Duke kept echoing through his mind. Somethings sounded like truth while the rest was as believable as flying pigs. That old man didn't know where to draw lines and one day it would be his downfall. However Hans found himself awake before the sun and wrapped in a thick cloak he was at the castle bridge. Either he would see whatever the rumours were whispering over or he'd be a fool for being out so early in the cold. When the waters froze unnaturally and the echo of a charge came to his ears Hans looked on in astonishment. A battle was raging on the waters of Arendelle. From his position he saw that both sides had poorly conceived plans of attack and yet one side was blatantly overpowering the other with sheer numbers. The prince deduced the men were the 'rebels'; the former guards and soldiers to the dead King.
The stampede only confirmed to Hans that the woman hidden away in that castle was a cold hearted murderer. The Prince had never seen such horror as he did that morning and the sun was barely awake. By the time the sun had cleared the horizon, it was over. The battle was an easy victory for the castle soldiers and their animals. He watched from a distance as the few survivors were hauled away into the castle depths and the animals rounded up again to return to shelter. What Hans didn't expect was when the numbers diminished, the frozen water melted away. The dead men, reindeer and anything left on the makeshift battlefield vanished into the watery depths. The fjord was once again quiet, clear and untouched. The sorceress made it all disappear.
But Hans would not forget. He slammed his fist into the wood in frustration. Somehow he just knew that bitch had anticipated the attack. She knew where and when they would strike. 'Did she have an inside source?' It wouldn't be possible.
"Not within the troops. But she does have a spy somewhere. I have yet to see or hear of her leave that castle" he muttered to himself as he looked out the stained glass window. "Someone is doing her dirty work. And men are slaughtered like sheep for it. They are fools but they don't deserve to die like that" he left his drink unfinished to storm back out into the cold and onwards to the castle. A pair of eyes watched him go.
Anna chucked another cracked bone aside in annoyance. Why she had been called to deal with this stupid situation was beyond her. It wasn't her herd that was half dead, their bodies mostly useless. Why did she have to handle the antlers? Half of them weren't good anyway.
"Kristoff! Why am I here? I have other things to do than sort your horns out" the cousins were sitting on a makeshift bench checking over the mountain of antlers that had been collected up from the battle. The bone was used in many variations such as weapons or tools and in rare case, decorations. Kristoff was carving his way into a small piece to try and round it off.
"You're here because the Queen ordered it. Enough complaining Anna" he chucked his piece into the growing pile before grabbing another. Anna just huffed under her breath.
"Not my fault…I did nothing wrong. Kicked out of bed to do this? Elsa's just being mean to me today…" she twirled her tool in hand for a moment. "I didn't even get to finish off my chocolates…Ow!" bonk to the head from her only company woke her out it. Kristoff had a long antler in hand he just used to hit her head.
"No complaining! I lost numbers today and you start up about sweets!" it soon turned into a fight of swinging bone-clubs. Anna lost her fur hat in the conflict but refused to give in so easily.
"It wasn't my fault you led them into a massacre. Choose the battles next time cousin" she ducked a projectile aimed at her head. Laughter changed the intense atmosphere as the two found more humor in the situation than they should have.
"I can't choose battles. But I can choose the herds I take next time. Maybe your dear Eirlys will…" a snowball to the face stopped his speech and a seething Anna had another in hand.
"You won't take Eirlys anywhere! Leave my baby out of this you ruffian!"
"Hey guys, are we having a snowball fight? Can I join in?" a voice distracted the trainer from her taller cousin. Olaf waved enthusiastically from beside the pile of yet to be sorted antlers Anna's hat upon his head. The snowman was famous for appearing out of nowhere at the most oddest of times.
"Olaf, help me pelt Kristoff with snow. He threatened my baby!" Anna cheered to the animated snow mount. Olaf smiled excitedly as he collected a handful of snow.
"Yeah against Kristoff…wait. You have a baby? Hah! Can I see it? Her? Him? Why didn't you tell me?" Olaf completely forgot his reasoning at the exciting news and distracted from the mission. Anna shook her head.
"No, no. I mean Eirlys. You know my reindeer. She's like my baby. Really special to me, just like you are Olaf" Kristoff whipped his face clean of snow and left the two to converse as he went about collecting their messed up work. His eye caught something that made him pause and before he could do anything a soft whisper in his ear had him reconsider. Rolling his eyes before looking up to the high windows of the castle he sighed.
"Do what you want…"
Getting inside the gates was easier than he thought. Appearing to be included with a group of officials entering for a day's work gave him no trouble from the castle guards. It became a normal thing for the traders to enter the castle and converse with a few nobles about exchange and prices. While the real deals were made in the town, the castle was where the paperwork became sealed. Hans however did not come here for agreements of documents. He came for reasons unknown, answers more than anything. Surely he wasn't the only one to witness the before dawn battle. It occurred in plain sight and the castle was the closest residence. Someone, a servant, guard or noble had to have seen or at least heard something. Listening from the dark corners of the hall he pieced together that while many of them did hear a 'disturbance' as they called it, no one was willing to talk. Not even the gossiping servants of the castle.
Much like his kingdom and possibly every other royal household in existence, the servants were the talkers with eyes and ears everywhere. If something was said, they knew about. If a secret was exposed it was them who spoke it. Hans wasted no time in finding the kitchens under Arendelle castle to listen in on any whispers passing lips. When he heard very little pertaining to the morning's incident he tried another strategy. Knowing the servants in charge of the stables weren't to be trusted he aimed mainly for the ones who went between the rooms cleaning. With the luck of his gods, he found a little insight. Though reluctant at first a young woman spilled that she saw some of the guards drag away men into the bowls of the castle. The dungeons; one of the most secure places within any stronghold and somehow the Prince had to find his way in.
Green eyes found something Hans wished he wouldn't have to see in a long time; the sight of Duke Weselton and his two goons standing before him 'offering' assistance. The Duke admitted to having him followed to the castle then become the object of spying so his men could 'help' when needed. The Prince was no fool, he knew the Duke had hidden agenda and was playing him like a pawn piece of a chess match. Didn't the Duke know a 'Pawn' can change when it reaches the other side…?
"Come my Prince. We'll show you the way in" Hans raised a brow to the short man but followed obediently none the less. The hallways narrowed down into a short dark corridor where the two burly men discarded the guards easily. The old wooden door creaked open and released a fowl smelling odour. The scent of rotting bodies filled his nose and he had to hold himself back from vomiting, the Prince hoped he wouldn't find anything of the sort below. The old man gestured for him to continue down the stone steps.
"You'll find who you're looking for down there, Prince Hans. Learn the truth about this kingdom and that witch, no one will know the story better than them" taking the last words as just that, Hans descended into the darkness finding very little light in the abyss. A single torch was all that kept him wondering the darkness and let him see the horrors that were the prisoners. Remnants of what appeared to be rags covered dirt ridden bodies. Smell of rot and infection was everywhere and rust covered every inch of metal that made the bar cells. Masses hid in the shadowed corners and stayed motionless but he could tell they were watching him. Very closely. There weren't many of them, a handful of rugged men who looked to survivor of war only to find hell.
"I guess you're all I've got…who among you can tell me anything?" Hans took hold of the torch and tried to see them better. Shuffling and rattle of chains was the only response to his question but a dark chuckle echoed from the last cell. The light didn't reach all the way in but there was a crouched man sitting against the wall. He had his limbs bound and chained to the stone. Hans moved closer to try and see his face. Mattered dark hair and shadowed eyes, Hans saw the bloodied armor then the missing limb. A bandaged stump was all that remained of the rebel's right hand. Green locked with black.
"You want to know something my Lord? Didn't you witness it this morning? I thought her royal Majesty let her court enjoy such entertainment" his voice was heavy and filled with false mirth. The look in his eyes saying he was close to insanity gave Hans the shivers, the man wouldn't hesitate to kill him and they both knew it.
"I am not part of her court. I am Prince Hans of the Southern Isles and I want nothing to do with that witch…" that got the rebel's attention quickly. He strained against his bounds to see the boy better. Hans nearly flinched but remained strong.
"Visiting Prince huh…we haven't had you lot in a long time. The rumors were true then. A first for us all…" he went off into rambles Hans couldn't decipher.
"Tell me what happened at dawn. I want to understand"
"You want to understand?! Ha! You wouldn't understand anything boy. This kingdom has been in shambles for years. No one battle will have you understanding anything" the prisoner lent back against his wall, giving in.
"Then tell me how it started. How did Queen Elsa come to such power? How did she take the throne?" eyes looked up before closing.
"'Queen Elsa' came to power like all tyrants do. They steal the throne. But Arendelle's troubles started before her time. It has been wasting away slowly…"
'Arendelle was founded centuries ago by a family of settler's arriving from the seas. It was a farming land that grew into a port city before it was a kingdom. The rulers started as simple folk who wanted to see it flourish and with the growth of their population came the wealth of the land. Farms covered everything from the shores to the mountains and what they didn't need for winter they exported to make coin. It wasn't until the eighth generation of Kings did they unlock treasures hidden away in the mountain and following the discovery their land became known for its jewellery and craftsmanship. Riches were sold to every nation and every royal paid handsomely for just a small portion of that rare find. By the time of King Nicolas the Wise, Arendelle was the richest country in the known oceans. However three generations later, his great-grandson nearly lost it all'
"Our King was a selfish greedy man with no loyalty and no morals. He didn't see the use of friendships or charity. 'Work for your bread' was his belief. And his people did"
'The people tried their best to appease their ruler, they gave up the best of their gems and stones, they gave him the freshest harvest their fields offered and still it wasn't enough for him. Nicolas the Fourth of his name became known as 'The Hoarder'. Whatever he didn't want stowed away in his castle, he sold to neighbouring countries for prices that weren't believable. Barely enough food was left to the people and resources went to maintain his ships that never sailed or to his favourite noble houses who stood by him to be silent'
"He was a tyrant and you still served him with loyalty?!" a chuckle replied to the Prince.
"I wasn't a fool my Lord. I knew my place and I kept my mouth shut, it was how I rose through the ranks so quickly. As long as he was my King I would serve as his guard and his word was law"
'King Nicolas never married and never had children. He saw himself above such petty needs and only wanted to surround himself with priceless pieces and artifacts. It was his greatest weakness that rarer the item, the more he wanted it. He was prideful that his kingdom was at the top of the chain and nobles from all around came to him with such respect but his eyes were blind to the grief his people were suffering as slowly their resources perished to bare minimum. Their cries to him went on deaf ears'
"Then the Duke arrived and everything worsened…"
Duke of Weselton was a renowned trader. He heard of the King's love for the unusual and rare and so struck up a bargain. He would give the King anything and everything unique he gained in his adventures and in return, the King would sell of his best resources to his country alone. Nicolas signed without a second thought at he gazed at the gift he was bribed with; this made the Duke very happy'
'It was not even summer's end and the people looked like they had barely survived a horrid winter. Food was scarce; buildings in disrepair and very little stock remained in the barns. Weselton was draining the kingdom dry while its King drowned in his treasures behind stone walls. The noble houses had become distant from the court more as time passed; they saw their ruler loose himself to greed and wanted no part of a resistance that was to come. And it did, the citizens joined together to try and storm the castle only to fail as the guards were strong and trained while they were weak and hungry. All hope had left the people of Arendelle as they were to suffer a slow miserable death before winter arrived.
"What are you laughing at?!" Hans growled. The prisoner smirked.
"Winter turned out to be their savior"
'Sunrise was when the alarm was raised. Guards on the high tower shouted in bewilderment as a large ice wall grew from the water depths slowly at the edge of their fjord. They watched as a mysterious mist came over the waters to cover the ports then township. It moved with life and a conscious they couldn't fathom. When it reached the bridge to the castle the guards prepared themselves only to wait a silence. Their Captain had ordered his men to attack at any sign of life but they couldn't see a thing, no person or creature. The town had all but vanished. No cries of fear from the homes, no sounds of horses or wagons moving over cobble. Arendelle was 'dead silent' for once in its life. A soldier's outcry caught the attention to ice growing up the castle walls. It spread like wildfire and soon overcame the tower posts. Any who didn't move swiftly were caught and frozen solid in a crystal form, dead. Their Captain ordered a quick retreat into the great hall as he couldn't allow his men to die in such a state but before closing the doors he saw a lone figure under a cloak standing at the open gates'
'King Nicolas stood at his throne heavily guarded by his remaining knights; all he could do was watch in horror as the cold swarmed in around him. Through every window, crack and open crevice the ice advanced inwards. The Duke was huddled behind his own guards near the far wall shivering in fear.
"He was scared for his own life Prince. He cared nothing for my King and so I let him run from the castle. The tiny man managed to steal a ship and make way for open water. Somehow he survived…and left the rest of us to freeze" boiling anger filled his voice.
'The great doors burst to splinters at a blizzard welcomed itself in. The cloaked figure advanced slowly almost at a leisure stroll. The ordered men attacked while their Captain shielded his ruler from the force of the raging storm. Ice shards morphed to strike his men one by one until he was all that stood, one sword against one enemy. Before making a move I was blasted aside like a rag doll and crashed into the wall. The King left exposed to the intruder'
"Whatever you want I can give it to you. Name it. Gold, jewels, land! Anything just don't kill me!" Nicolas fell back onto his throne in terror, his voice fearful and gasping. The figure smirked and giggled before removing the hood. There stood a woman with blonde hair with a pale complexion, she was so young.
"You have given little to your people dear King. Why should you give me anything now? Because your life is more important than theirs? You left them to my storm without hesitation. You leave your men to die as you sit there upon your riches. I don't care for your gold, jewels or your life. I care nothing for you. You are but a man in my way and I will dispose of you because you won't leave otherwise" she smiled at him softly. "With you gone I can finally put my plans into action, and Arendelle will thank me for it…she will thank me for it" with a flick, a large ice javalin imbedded itself through the back of the chair, impaling the King in the gut and holding him still while his blood froze slowly from the inside out.
"She stood there to watch him die. She smiled as his body turned white before walking away. She didn't spare me a glance. That witch killed a handful of my men that night, men I will never forget" the ragged man glared at the Prince from his cell. "She is a monster. She has to die for what she's done and I won't rest until I have her blood!" Hans just stood there.
"You're telling me she just let you live? You had the power of an entire army! Why didn't you go after her?! You could've ended this before it even began!"
"My army was in no shape to do anything! The armory was completely iced in and that mist began to shower snow rapidly. I took my men and fled because that was the only sensible thing to do! We had no weapons against that sorceress. No chance of winning"
"And you think you did this morning? You lost quicker than any battle I've seen commence. You lost all your men to that pitiful attack and now Arendelle has no hope against that Queen" Hans huffed after his tirade. A deep chuckle responded.
"You think Arendelle needs saving? Fool. 'Arendelle' doesn't care, its people don't care. They prosper under her winter. Why? Because she doesn't take their shares. She doesn't want wealth. She doesn't even care for the citizens in truth. She cares for nothing and no one"
"Then why would she take the throne?!" Hans was getting angry at going in circles with this lunatic.
"If I knew why I would've sent the rest of my men to handle it!" he jumped forward, as far as his chains let him to glare at Hans with intensifying strength. He was growling through clenched teeth, his eyes crazed.
"You still have men out there?"
"Of course! I wouldn't send us all to hell in one attack. Only an idiot would trust one battle to win a kingdom. You need men on the inside…" Hans found things clicking into place in his mind. The rebel army was in fact a large scale planned force. They knew their strengths and weaknesses, they knew the Queen was a force to be reckoned with and they still wanted her death. Why? 'Because she killed their king' Hans would never find such loyal soldiers again.
"You still want to kill her…you plan to do that in a cell? You think your men will break you free?" Hans shifted the torch to his other hand, eyes locked onto the prisoner.
"I will have revenge my Lord. I don't care for the why like you do, but I will kill and my plans are just that, mine. Leave before your blood will join those who follow her. Neutral party or not, you are in my way…" Thorak settled back down against the stone to simmer in his anger, dreams of victory his only salvation of sanity.
"Crazy old man, if you believe you can win a fight against a witch like that…may the gods bless you in your dreams. They will leave you to die on the…" Hans mumbled to himself as he returned up the staircase and away from the putrid chambers. His mind too distracted that when he reached the landing once more, he didn't notice someone was waiting for him.
"My Queen wants a word with you Prince Hans. At Dusk…" Kristoff smirked.
Are we a little happier with that small background info? Probably not but I promise you now the real Elsa version is next chapter. You will find out all about the 'why' and 'where' she comes from and 'how everything came together nicely' and etc. I want to make it clear (if I didn't with that small Anna/Kristoff scene) Anna is in no way unaware of what happened that morning (is she really that innocent?). She just has her own way of dealing with things. Hope you guys enjoyed and sorry for the long delay. Things should be settling down now and updates coming along faster.