When it was clear he had arrived with the queen, the crowd ran towards him, ready to pluck the queen from his hands. Hans quickly shielded the queen in his arms as he and Kristoff made way to the castle.
"You monster!"
"My husband is dead because of you!"
"You don't deserve to live!"
"ENOUGH!" roared Hans as he drew his sword, causing the crowd to crawl back from the sharp weapon. "Anyone who dares to come within my reach, shall have my sword!" The man gripped the queen's shoulder tighter, in an effort to comfort her as they made way through the angry mass of people. The situation, so the prince observed, had gotten even worse in the past few days then he had thought. For now, they still respected his authority, but that didn't mean there weren't flickers of doubts in their eyes.
Elsa meanwhile kept her head down, not daring to look up to the accusing looks of her subjects. She shuddered but not from the cold, as she kept her hands to her chest. It would be better for the prince to shield her if she put her arms arround his as well, but with her powers so close creeping up once more, she didn't dare to take the chance.
"Oh your majesty!" Hans kept his eyes upon the common people, as Gerda took fearlessly hold of the woman she had nursed. The guards, upon seeing Prince Hans had returned, sprung to his aid, giving the prince the luxury of turning his back and following the maidservant and the queen inside the safe palace gates.
"Put her in chains and take her then to the lowest dungeon!"
What?! Hans turned his gaze to the Duke of Weaselton, who was accompanied with a few other Council members. "You don't give orders to us, Lord Duke" replied Hans without sheathing his sword. "Through my brother, who is betrothed to the Queen and appointed openly by the Princess, I give the orders if he would be absent. I'm sure he will not be pleased if-"
The man chuckled. "Your brother is still missing, prince Hans. The Queen will be trialed for regicide, making her title become null and void. As will your brother's claim and as its consequences yours as well."
"And who are you to give orders then?" retorted Hans as more guards gathered arround. The tension cracked into the air, making everyone watch one another with argus eyes. whoever won the word game, would rise as its permanent leader. "If not my brother or me, then it is Princess Anna who takes the throne as Regent, not you!"
"The Council voted that Princess Anna will not take the throne untill she comes of age." said Haljarson in a manner-of-fact voice. "Sheath your weapon and let the order be carried out!"
Hans had to stop every fiber of his being not to swing his sword through the man's body. The man ordered himself to remain calm and look at the situation he stood now in. The Duke had the support of the entire Council, 3/5 of the nobility, about 2/3 of the guards and 1/4 of the servants. Well, that was who had gathered in the great hall. The most of them, safe for the nobility, were remaining elsewhere and aiding the people outside.
There were only a handfull of guards at his side, with even fewer servants who remained loyal to the queen. Hans knew Anna was more well-loved among them, but he doubted their love for the princess exceeded to the queen. If he were to order to defy the duke's orders it would turn into a bloodbath. With great reluctance, the prince slowly sheathed his sword and stepped aside to let the guards take the queen away.
"You there!" blaffed the minister to the ice harvester next to Hans. "What are you doing here?"
"He-"
"I asked him, not you!"
The prince gritted his teeth and balted his fist arround the hilt of the sword. He had barely had any sleep in the last few days. It was needless to say he was prickly.
"I'm Kristoff Bjorgmann. I helped Prince Hans up the north mountain in exchange for payment" said Kristoff without bothering to give an overlong explanation. Just like Hans, he was exhausted.
"Then payment you shall have." said the Duke as he looked upon the man. "Please give this man a sack of gold-"
"Is that how you reward the loyalty of my subjects, Lord Duke?" Out of the shadows, came Princess Anna, supported by Rapunzel. "What good is he with gold when he is thrown out of the door like some foul dog in this weather?"
"You are not the one who gives orders-"
"No, I don't." cut Anna the man off. "But if I remember my last decree correctly, it was I who ordered both Prince Hans and his brother to search for the Queen. They answer therefore to me, not you."
"The council decided you would not engage in our affairs, your majesty" bit Haljarson to the princess.
"Your same Council, m'lord, agreed with my terms. Unless you want to see it void, it can also be arranged off course. Which means all actions carried out are becoming void as well: We should let the Queen free then and put the trial on hold?" smiled Anna with an icy glare almost equal to her sister.
Haljarson's face almost was as red as a tomato when he and the Duke were put checkmate by the princess' clever words, and said nothing in return.
"Good. Now that we have put this misunderstanding out of the way, I wish to see Prince Hans and.. Kristopher Bjorgmann in my chambers immediately" said Anna, on purpose speaking Kristoff's name wrong.
"Its Kristoff!" growled the ice harvester as he glanced to his lover. Had she forgotten him so quickly? When riding back to Arendelle, he had carefully thrown some peddles to Prince Hans to find out more about Princess Anna's wellfare without raising too much suspicion. He had heard that Princess Anna was engaged to Prince Benedict shortly after Elsa fleeing north... the man balted his hands into fists at the thought of Anna being with a man besides him.
The princess strode back to her chambers, with Hans and Kristoff following behind her. Neither of them said a word untill Rapunzel closed the chambers. When Hans noticed Kristoff's suspicious eyes to the Coronian Princess, he quickly said she was to be trusted. The akward silence lingered for a while, before Anna started the conversation once more. "Prince Hans, tell me what happened on your search. And while you are at it, tell me why you abandoned your brother and escorte to leave on your own." spoke the princess sharply.
Hans opened his mouth to start from the beginning and talked for over an hour while Anna let him speak without interruption. He was glad for it: in that way, he could remember everything smoothly without being thrown out of his thinking process. Every once in a while, Kristoff added some extra information in that Hans had unknowingly left out. The prince went on, not only about the trolls and their mirror, but about his thoughts regarding Inger and the possibility of Elsa bringing her back to life as well.
Anna's eyes shone with worry. "If the mirror is indeed as vicious as you say.. we can't allow it here in Arendelle. Neither can we ask the children to be witnesses. And as for Inger's.. remains..." said the princess with a lump in her throat. "The duke won't ever allow her a mile within his presence, let alone his room." After the coronation, the duke had put his daughter's remains into an urn, not wishing to part from her yet untill the queen was sentenced to death.
"Then we sneak her out." said Hans with determination. "The duke wished to hold trial within 3 days you say? Its time enough to plan a breakout from jail, bring her to Inger's remains in his room.."
"You're crazy." remarked Anna after she had processed the shock.
"I love crazy" grinned Hans back with serious eyes.
The princess shook her head. "No.. we won't resume to such drastic acts. Not yet. Isn't there anything else that can help my sister prove her innocence? Or that can lift this winter besides that mirror or some riddle?" begged Anna with pleading eyes.
"The trolls couldn't offer anything else besides that." said Kristoff depressed. Oh, how he would love to hold and kiss her! But with these witnesses, he couldn't afford to slip their relationship. Arendelle's situation was already so tense...
"Then we go to the library." spoke the princess with fire in her voice as she forced herself upright.
The two men stood up with difficulty but they attempted to hide their tiredness. They had only so little time, they couldn't afford to lose it. However, neither princesses were oblivious to their body language. How hard Hans and Kristoff protested against the two, in the end they had to admit defeat to the two women.
"Eugene and Benedict will watch over you." spoke Rapunzel with a smile as she took Anna's place as temporary hostess.
Benedict?! Kristoff's eyes crossed with the man, but the tiredness had taken hold of him completely now as his mind was occupied with only one thing: his bed. After laying down their weapons, the prince and the ice harvester slumped down on the cushions, falling asleep before they hit them.
Once upon a time, long, long ago a king and queen ruled over a distant land. The queen was kind and lovely and all the people of the realm adored her. The only sadness in the queen's life was that she wished for a child but did not have one. "Oh, how I wished to have a daughter, with hair as black as a raven, with lips as red as blood, and skin as white as snow." sighed a queen. A gasp came from her mouth when she pricked her finger to one of its thorns, and the queen sucked on her finger to stop the bleeding.
"Do not weep, gentle queen!" sighed the roses across the wind. "You shall have your wish in return for letting us grow unharmed by the gardener!"
And not soon after, the queen turned out to be with child from her husband. The kingdom rejoiced at the news. However, the child's birthday collided with that of her mother's death.
The child, with hair as black as a raven, lips red as blood and skin as white as snow, quickly became the king's most valued treasure. And everyday, the good King reminded her that she was the fairest of all the land to him.
And as the child grew into a woman, growing more beautiful each year, the King decided to give a Mirror to her. Not just any mirror, for it would reflect the truth, how hidden it might be.
Since the young woman had taken her father's words for granted that she was indeed the fairest of them all, she asked this the Mirror everyday.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
And the mirror would reply: "you are, my queen." for the King had passed away too shortly after her coming of age.
But as her birthday approached, so was the land reminded of the queen before her. The Queen they now had, was reminded of Death creeping closer each and every day, and how swiftly it could take you in her arms. She was young still, yet she remained without children or husband, for the fear of dying herself during childbirth as her mother before was in her mind.
The years passed, and the same question was asked everyday. It gave the queen a sense of security, knowing that she was the fairest of them all. For Death would then keep at bay. Yet one day...
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
"You are, my queen. But there is another, who will grow to be more fair then even you."
The Queen became ferious at his words. "Who is this girl? Tell me her name!"
And the mirror could not lie nor deceive, so it told her the child's name. The Queen immediately ordered the child to be brought before her and upon seeing her beautiful eyes, flushed cheeks and innocent smile, the queen commanded her guards to kill her.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
and this time, the mirror told she was once more the fairest in all the land, making the queen very pleased. Whenever a girl would threaten to surpass her beauty, the queen removed her opponent. When such event happened again, (it became more and more prominent each day), the blood of the innocent girls splattered upon the queen's hands.
The queen stared at it with great fixation. The blood shone upon her hands, making her skin look immensily more soft and clean. She rubbed the blood further on while the crowd watched in horror. None dared to stop her from such a deed, how cruel it was, as she was still their queen.
From that moment on the queen commanded the guards to pour the blood of the slaughtered girls into a bath, so she could keep herself young by bathing in their blood.
it didn't take long for the common people to realize, that the girls who entered the queen's castle, never returned. They rose up in protest, demanding them back. Rumors had reached them from the servants (whom the queen quickly erased their tongues), but they didn't want to believe their daughters were dead.
The queen obeyed their request however, and dumped the dead bodies of her victims overboard the castle walls. She could do this, for she was well protected by her guards and strong walls. She had eternal youth. What were those few people to her?
But Death could none escape, even the simplest of mind knows that. So, the folk called out in rage and pain to the Grim Reaper, to take the life from the Blood Queen. "I cannot do that" answered Death to men. "For I'm not allowed to have free will. But, I wish that woman just as gone as you, for the victims she made were meant to have a longer life. Here, let her put it in her hair" and Death stretched his hand, and a comb appeared. "She will fall into my arms, and you will be released from her tyranny."
So, the people offered it to the Blood Queen, who accepted it without suspicion. Immediately after she put it into her hair, she fell down in her chambers. Yet, by some unknown force the queen rose once more from death.
Baffled that she had escaped his clutches, Death made a second object appear: a corset. "Let her put it on" he said. "And she will fall into my arms as the last object should have done."
Yet, the second attempt failed as well. "Let her bite this apple." he said. "And she will fall into my arms as the last object should have done."
Now feeling confident that she had truly acchieved immortality, the queen bit into the apple and she fell into an eternal sleep the moment she chewed the bite down her stomach. Death stayed this time by her body and saw the cause of his failed earlier attempts: the trolls, who had been saved by the queen and who wished to return the favor. Angered by their meddling, the Grim Reaper cursed them to remain underground by day. If they didn't, they would turn into stone.
"You wished immortality.. now you shall have it, Blood Queen" said Death as he put her Soul into the Mirror of Truth. "Centuries shall fall upon you, without you finding your way to the afterlife."
"Thank you Grim Reaper." said the Blood Queen with a high head inside the mirror. "This way, I have more then enough time to destroy everyone who wronged me."
Enraged by her arrogance, Death struck the Mirror, shattering it into pieces arround the world. The laughter of the queen multiplied across its pieces as she swirled on the winds...
Hans groaned when he heard the servant's feet bounce across the hall's floor, shouting to one another. Seriously, couldn't they be a little bit quieter? The prince, not yet awake tried to go back to the black nothingness sleep would provide him. But when they didn't stop running arround, the prince realized he would stay awake. He had had a dream last night.. but all he remembered was.. Hans thought deeper, but like often happened, the more he thought of it, the more of the dream vanished. All that stayed, were the unpleasant feelings that had surrounded him during that state.
With a growl, the prince got out of bed, shivering slightly as the cold tingled his body. After making himself somewhat presentable, Hans went to the door when a yawn stopped him.
"What's going on?" slurred Kristoff just as irritated by the loud noises.
"no idea" grumbled Hans before he opened the door. He winced slightly at the sudden increasing volume of the screams. "you there! what is going on?!" barked Hans as he stopped a servant from running arround.
"Its... its prince Franz, your grace. He has been found near death, by the lake."
Hans felt his blood run cold. "When?" brought the man out.
"3 hours ago."
Immediately, rage made the prince's vision see red. "And you didn't wake me up.. why?" growled Hans as he pushed the man against the wall.
"I.. I thought... it wasn't... necessary." The servant gulped when he saw Hans' eyes lit up like a fire.
"Wasn't necessary?!" hissed Hans as he took the man forcefully by the throat. "My brother is dying and you didn't inform me?"
"Hans, stop it!" cried Kristoff out as he shook the remains of his sleepiness away. With great effort, the man forced Hans away, taking his arms behind his back. "It isn't going to help your brother!"
The prince managed to calm down for a little bit, but still glanced with murderous eyes to the servant. "where is he?"
"I..uhm... he's at third floor, at the mountain side." brought the man out. Not sooner after he told them, Hans wurmed his arms loose, and stormed towards the said room with a concerned Kristoff behind his tail.
"Hans, wait!"
Franz meanwhile, was moving in-between sleep and concious. And like in every dream like state, the mind began to process everything that had happened before he came into this warm soft bed. He remembered the fall, with the wind whistling upon his body, followed by pain so harsh he could see stars before his eyes. He had fallen on snow, as he had noticed by the cold wetness seeping through his clothing and burning upon his skin.. but that was only a small comfort as a huge pile kept his body down. More cold crawled inside him, arround him. Franz then realized, he was buried under metres of snow. He could not move. Not one inch as the oxygen dwindled arround him.
How long he lay there he did not know. hours? days? time itself had no meaning anymore, as his shivering stopped. He knew it was dangerous, that he was going into the final stage of hypothermia and that he had to get out of here.
He knew, but this he all experienced in an out of body experience. His eyes closed. Could it somehow be more dark whenever you closed your eyes? wondered the prince vaguely. His mind wasn't able to focus anymore by the harsh cold.
Then.. light, at the edges of his closed eyes. Was he dead? Franz blinked and closed them once more as the light was too much to handle. the cage that held him prisoner was removed and Franz never felt so free. He had to be dead for sure.
"Well by the devil... he's still alive!" he heard someone say.
"Barely." spoke another. "He is almost gone. Just let him die from the hypothermia."
the first man spoke again. "now that is far too harsh, Eric. Besides, There are people who survived in the most unbelievable circumstances. We can't take the chance that he does."
"hm. you're right."
they were going to kill him! get up! but he couldn't. His body was literally frozen, his muscles so stiff... Besides, it would be a mercy to give him a quick death. Anything but the cold please...Franz heard the faint hiss of metal being drawn and the prince's heart hammered both in fear and anticipation. For Death opened a door everyone was scared to thread...
Then a scream pierced his ears and Franz frowned as he heard a body drop nearby. Had the second man dispatched of him because he didn't agree?
"Rudy!" yelled Eric, so Franz remembered, in fright. "No, no... you stay away from me... you...you devil!"
a thump made it clear that the man was also wounded, if not just as dead as his companion. Franz didn't contemplate on them anymore when he felt something go arround his waist. It took him several seconds it were hands, female even.
"Are you alright?"
Yes, he was defenitely in heaven. Such a voice he had never heard so sweet. Franz winced from the harsh sunlight but sighed relieved when his rescuer provided some shadow for him. "C...c-c-c-old!" stuttered the prince out with a harsh throat. He felt her move closer to him, feeling her breathe against his face.
"Shhh... you'll be alright."
Her lips strangely felt warm unlike her hands. But perhaps he had gained such a low temperature, that her lips felt warm against his. Slowly the prince moved his lips, moaning as even that slight movement hurt to make. As they kept their lips locked, the prince felt his muscles loosen up once more. His head cleared from the cold fog, and the cold strangely felt pleasant that resided arround his wet clothes.
"Feeling better?"
Franz blinked, as he only now realized their kiss had passed. Shame. they were prickly cold, like ice cream. "Yes, I do." said the prince as the girl helped him up. Well, sort of. Franz stared up and down to make sure he wasn't dreaming. The girl's body consisted of a mixture of water and ice, moving arround as a part of her environement. Her hair was... well, it was like the wind had spun it for her as wet drops came downwards, flowing back into her dress. "Who are you?" asked the man amazed to the girl.
"I.. I do not know." said the girl as her smile vanished. "But you seem.. familiar in a way. I was hoping you could tell me."
Franz narrowed his eyes as he imprented her face. "No... I don't recall your name." said the man with guilt. his rescuer was suffering of memory loss. In return for saving his life it was the least he could do to help her as well. "But you're... quite familiar to me as well." Franz chewed his lip, finding himself at crossroads. He had to search further on for Queen Elsa... but without food or transport, how would he ever make it home without dying once more? He couldn't stay with this girl, as much as he wished to help her.
"Is something wrong?"
Franz couldn't help but smile at her softly spoken question. It was mild curiosity, as if asked by a child. "Yes and no. While I am grateful for saving my life.. I need to return to Arendelle or your effort to help me would be for nothing."
"Arendelle?" repeated the girl in concentration. "It's a place nearby?"
"You remember who you are?" asked Franz hopefully.
"No...but... i feel as if I should go there." said the girl after a pause. "It feels familiar. Like you." and the girl smiled once more, causing Franz' heart to leap up as well.
What was wrong with him?! he was acting like a hormonical teenager! the prince turned away his face so she wouldn't see his flushed cheeks. In doing so, the man noticed the two dead men nearby who nearly succeeded in bringing him to the afterlife.
"They started the avalanche you know."
startled Franz looked to the... ugh. "Girl" was so unlike her. Ice maiden. Yes, that would work better. "They did?" said Franz as he stared down once more.
"Yeah. They spoke of 'disposing you' because 'you delayed their mission'." The Ice Maiden smiled, but this time, it wasn't gentle. "I simply thought of doing the same to them. But, when I wanted to, the avalanche was already onto its way. I searched for your friends as well, but they weren't so lucky as you I'm afraid."
Franz' mind reeled. delay the mission? Hans' abandoned stable came to mind immediately. His brother wouldn't really...
But he was planning on taking out Lars. Who knows how far he'll go...
"You're cute when you think" chuckled the ice maiden as she saw Franz' frowning face.
"hm?" hummed the prince back with a smile. He had reached his decision: he would return to Arendelle and try to find another search party for queen Elsa. That is if princess Anna accepted his blunder. "Come on, lets go to Arendelle."
"Is it downwards this river?"
Franz blinked. "Uhm... yes, yes it is indeed. Wh-ooaaaaah!" the prince screamed when the Ice Maiden took him without any effort from the snow, soaring towards the stream. Before the man could even beg her to stop, they dove into the river.
Just like before, the cold wasn't unpleasant. Sure he felt the intensity, but it did not hurt him. However her kiss that she had given before, couldn't provide any gills, as Franz felt his lungs burst from the spend up oxygen. the prince's eyes begged the Ice maiden to help him get to the surface.
"shhh.. sleep without fear, my prince..." whispered the Ice Maiden as she locked lips once more. Immediately, the man's eyes closed as he was brought into a comateuse state. Due to the decreasing need of oxygen, the Ice maiden could provide him this with greater ease. like taking nectar from a flower, the Ice maiden gave the man small bits of oxygen from out the waters they were in, sustaining his life.
"no... don't leave" brought Franz out as he tried to keep her by his side. he hated how he sounded so desperate, but that thought quickly vanished when he saw her face once more.
"I need to find who I am first" said the Ice Maiden with a sad smile as she smoothed his wet hair. "Then, I'll come back for you. If you still love the woman who I was before."
Franz couldn't reply as the darkness of sleep took him once more, out of the memory.
"How is he?" Hans ignored his father's accusing look when he arrived at Franz' chamber. He would face him later: right now, he needed to know how his brother's state was. But when he stepped forward, he was stopped by Prince Eugene. "Let me in. that is-"
"Yes, sideburns I know. your equally handsome brother that gets attended by my wife" said the man as he held Hans firmly in his place.
"Good. then I shouldn't explain to you that I need to be with him!" shot Hans back.
"Like I said my wife is attending to him. He's not yet stable the last time she came outside those doors. Therefore she ordered everyone out who isn't a healer."
"But-"
"You aren't much use to your brother when you are inside his room." went Eugene on.
"Indeed" came Hans' father suddenly from behind. "You never were needed to take on the duties that others can do better. My son wouldn't be in this state if you went with him."
Slowly Hans turned his head to the King. "If I did, both of us would be on the brink of death, with no one to be concerned for them."
"You? who mingles with commoners?" said the King as he pointed to Kristoff. " You were never my son" hissed the man as they stood chest to chest.
"And you were never my father!" spat Hans back. " I see you as much as a stranger like your own subjects, so THAT is something we can agree on at last!"
"Gentlemen!" came Rapunzel's voice irritated from a small door opening. "Resolve your issues in a quieter voice or take your conversation somewhere else!"
The two men stared each other down, but in the end it was the King who turned his back to his son. That didn't mean Hans had won the conversation. The Southern King looked slightly behind him, with a light smile on his face as if expecting his son to follow in his footsteps - as the protocol demanded.
Hans saw, and he stayed put long enough to make the king pause in his steps. You don't know me... otherwise you would have known how much I have grown, your majesty. I'm not scared of you anymore, because I have tasted power that exceeds even yours. I don't give you my attention anymore, because I've realized others are more worth then you. Very slowly the man turned his back to his father, and he could feel the man's anger burn upon him.
"Don't you dare look away from me boy!"
It did nothing to him, for he had seen what man his father truly was. He couldn't let the people respect him, and for that, he used Fear to acchieve it. But you know what is truly more powerful?
The Truth.
"Or what? Like you said... I'm no son of yours" retorted Hans as sharply as his blade. "Therefore I don't need to answer to you like a son to a father, or as a subject to its king. Because you are not in your country, and you don't make the rules here." The prince turned his head and their eyes crossed. "Tell me, your majesty, who supports you? The Duke? you whipped him out when he didn't pay your taxes in time. Corona? you broke the trade relationship between our countries years ago. Dunebroch? oh yes, you waged war on them." Hans laughed at his father's crumbling face. Oh, how the truth could hurt! "You are nothing to me, you are nothing to your subjects, you are nothing to your former allies. While my brother and I cleaned up your mess and mended every relation you broke in the last few months. So don't you even DARE and ask that same question again. Unlike you I'm not alone" sneered Hans before storming off. He didn't wait for his father's reply and honestly he didn't expect one. It was a waste of time anyway to try and mend their relationship.A trade relation was easily solved with a sign on the paper... was life that simple, thought the prince. After he turned the corridor, Hans refocused his mind on his immediate plans.
"Come on Kristoff." mumbled Hans as he pulled the shocked ice harvester with him.
"uhm.. I'm going for breakfast first" said the man as his stomach growled on cue. "If we are going to search, we can't do that with an empty stomach"
That was actually quite reasonable. "Fine, you go. I'll go already to start our research." And, start to think of option B: busting Elsa out and let her heal Inger' remains. It was tricky, and if it failed they would all die for high treason. But hey, war was never won without risks right?
Risks.. Hans' mind went back to his brother. Eugene had promised to call him immediately if something happened with his brother, whether it be bad or good. Unlike that servant, he trusted him to keep his word. With a mind now more at ease Hans entered the library, to find an alternative solution for the winter, or proof for Elsa's innocence as Anna had ordered them to find.
King Michael of the Southern Isles, meanwhile had difficulty to keep his cool. Upon seeing one of his sons unconcious, along with Hans' defiance, had become too much for the King to handle. The rage needed a way of release and the King's mind found immediately a black sheep to blame: Queen Elsa.
"I wish to see Queen Elsa immediately." spoke the man to the guard at the entrance of the dungeons.
"But sir, only the Duke can-" the guard gulped when the king took hold of his vest.
"The Duke doesn't need to know. No one needs to know.. it will be our little secret." said the King as he pushed a sack of gold in the man's hand.
Feeling the weight of the purse, the man's eyes widened. "Yes..yes sir.. I mean your majesty!"
"Good man you are." said King Michael as he clapped the man brotherly on the shoulder before entering the dungeons. After hearing the guard close the door behind him, the King took a torch to light him the way.
Upon feeling the light shining, the queen blinked at her visitor. It took her a while to make out who it was, with her being so long in the dark. "Your majesty?" She couldn't help herself, so surprised she was to see him here.
"Quiet, witch-queen, unless you are spoken to!" snarled the angry King as he opened the prison cell with the keys he had taken with him from the pendants. She was bound in iron shackles, so he was safe from her sorcery.
"A witch-queen I am Indeed." said Elsa furious at his lack of respect towards her. "Untill my trial you will adress me with the respect my title requires!" Inside however she was trembling. What was he doing here? Was he taking her for her trial already? No... it wouldn't be without extra enforcement. Unless.. Elsa shrunk back from the man's tall frame and for a moment she wished she could use her magic to defend herself. was he going to assault her? cold sweat began to appear on her face at the thought.
"Respect?" hissed the man as he put the torch into a holt nearby. He came closer once more and Elsa now fully backed down as far as she could with her chains arround her hands. "You wretch! He's hypothermic... and you are the one responsible for it! It can't be anyone else but you!"
"Hans?" brought Elsa out. "But.. he's just fin-" a scream tore from the queen when a hand struck her so hard it made her fall on the ground.
"Don't play the fool, witch... You know very well whom I mean" growled the King as he hurled the queen forcefully on her feet once more.
Franz?! Elsa's head spinned and she desperately tried to come up with a response. "I.. I didn't see him since the coronation ball" brought the queen out.
"You liar!"
"Its the truth!" screamed the queen powerlessly as she tried to shield herself from his blows. "Please, I don't want to hurt you..." already she could feel her magic spend up arround the insides of her shackles, making them crack from the build up pressure. Soon they would break, and then she couldn't be able to stop its flow... "stay away from me, I beg of you!" and again a blow was struck, this time in her stomach. The queen gasped from the lack of air, coughing as she tried once more to warn the man. Before she could even make a word, another blow came down upon her face.
"You make my son better or I swear to God, I will-"
The shackles shattered by her magic that had been fuelled with spend up fear, stress and anger. And further on it went, exploding from her hands across the room... and the King. Elsa saw the man being blast away and she whimpered, clutching her hands to her own chest as the frost spread across her dress. How she wished she weren't immune to her own powers... the panic inside her grew even further as the queen saw Hans' father standing up with a white streak in his auburn hair.
"you need to leave now!" said Elsa with wide eyes from fear as she saw history repeat itself. god.. first anna.. now the King...
"you are lucky it wasn't her heart.. the heart is not so easily changed."
"Leave, I shall" bit the man, not feeling in the slightest the Snow Queen's effects upon him besides a small tingling on his chest. Perhaps because his heart was already so frozen in the literal sense, it didn't hurt him.. yet. With wobbling feet, the King marched outside the cell door. "But you never will, safe for your own execution." said the man to rub salt in the wound, before closing the cell with a huge clunk.
"Here you are..." sighed Hans as he put another pile of books next to Anna, who groaned at the sight. "Hey, it was you who proposed this, your highness, not me."
"I know" said the princess as she rubbed her eyes. "that doesn't make it less tiring though. However, we always have-"
Hans's eyes flashed a warning - they weren't alone to speak of their conspiracy after all. Benedict of Ambiera, as well as a guard who's loyalty he doubted towards the princess, were present with them. While he had seen that Benedict had developed quite the attraction for Princess Anna, Hans doubted he would be on their side when they busted the queen out. Then again.. people could be unpredictable in every situation...Hans really hoped he didn't need to kill the man, should that time come. He was after all betrothed to Princess Anna...
yet.. it seems like a marriage of convenience. He saw a fondness but not actual love in Anna's eyes, unlike that of Benedict. Why would Elsa allow such a marriage at young age? they weren't in the dark ages anymore!
And since when have you become such a cynic about everything? Hans rubbed his hand, feeling it tingle annoyingly. That same event had happened with his father too, however he had been too focused on his anger at that moment to truly notice his throbbing hand. the prince shook his head. He should concentrate on the research instead of such a minor personal problem. As he turned the page, Hans stopped at a particular word, somehow shining brighter then all the others in his view.
"Changeling" muttered the prince its title. after that the man's eyes flickered downwards and began to read its description:
" belief is that trolls thought that it was more respectable to be raised by humans and that they wanted to give their own children a human upbringing. Some people believed that trolls would take unbaptized children. Once children had been baptized and therefore become part of the Church, the trolls could not take them. Beauty in human children and young women, particularly blond hair, was said to attract the fair folk."
Hans' throat went dry. Could the trolls really have abducted Kristoff from his biological parents?
Nonsense. Spoke another voice. Kristoff said he had found the trolls, not the other way arround.
But it says... fair folk at the end. Which includes the elves as well. And god knows they could be just as vicious as the trolls in their methods. They were immensily beautiful, luring you into the woods to wander there forever till you starved to death... who knew, perhaps Kristoff had ran from their clutches, straight into the arms of the trolls?
"Have you found something?" asked Anna looking up from her book.
"hm? Oh nothing of importance." said Hans as he put a lable at the description on the Changelings. He would confront the trolls certainly with this information once this mess was over...
"Prince Franz! Its good to see you up once more!" smiled Prince Johann of Frankmark who encountered the man in the halls.
"Thank you, Johann" said Franz as they clapped their hands together in comraderie. "Its good to be back. So, what happened while I was out?"
"Queen Elsa has been returned by your brother, and in your absence the Council renounced Princess Anna as Regent."
Franz' mind reeled as he tried to form where he stood in the perminent situation. "Then who is in charge?"
"Me."
the southern prince turned his head to see the Duke of Weaselton step towards them and felt his blood boil at the sight of him. "You! You wanted to have me killed!" hissed the prince as he took a step forward. He was prevented from going further when the guards held their spears towards him.
"Me?" said the Duke in shock. "I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about."
"Your two assassins caused an avalanche, killing the rest of my men. They don't take orders from anyone that isn't you" accused the prince.
"Prince Franz, I truly didn't ask for my men to kill you. What would I gain, except the immediate blame for their deaths?"
That... actually was quite reasonable. thought Franz as he took the Duke silently in. The only one who would possibly be beneficial with his death was his brother. Immediately the prince shook his head. No. He couldn't think like that.
Really? Didn't you doubt his trust before?
"You seem to forget, Prince Franz, that my guards are hired for their loyalty. Anyone can buy them over if he were to have enough money that exceeds my own at this moment." went the Duke on upon seeing the prince's doubt.
"Yes..." said the prince slowly as his mind was spinning arround at the thought of his brother plotting against him. He had trained, fought and played with him. Did that truly mean nothing anymore to Hans? It seems to be, as Hans' mind had become so focused on acchieving power whatever the cost.
When he had asked Hans to plead his case, he had never expected such consequences for his brother's behaviour. He had asked, because he thought his brother truly wasn't affected, nor interested in the power-game he and his older brothers had resided so long in. He had pushed Hans onto his limits, molding him in a replica of himself for his own gain.
Didn't that feel too familiar? Franz swallowed as he was reminded of his father molding him into a twisted replica of himself. History repeats itself, always.
"Lord Duke.. there is something I need to say you." Johann took the southern prince out of his own thoughts and the man paused to leave the conversation. "I fear that... Prince Hans of the Southern Isles, as well as princess Anna are plotting against you."
"That's ridiculous!" sputtered Franz immediately for his brother's defence. Still in denial to see the Truth in front of you, aren't you? "Hans would n-" the man bit his tongue. Once, Hans would never do such acts. But now?
"By doing what?" asked the Duke when he saw Franz swallowing his sentence. Good. He had seen the doubt creep into the man's mind. Prince Hans had to be removed, and he had to be sure the prince had no allies to immediately back him up. He didn't know where Prince Franz' loyalties were: the man seemed to shift in-between fondness and repulse for his youngest brother. Such shifting feelings were too uncertain to define whether or not Franz was turning against him. So, with his guards out of the way, the Duke had decided to manipulate the Southern prince against his brother. And it seemed to be going quicker then expected: apparently the man had already formed doubts and with Johann's new information.
Oh this was just marvelous. Soon, everyone who even had a spark of loyalty left for the queen, would be gone. Then he could go and avenge his daughter without any fear of having her murderer wandering scot-free by their trial.
"They spoke of busting Queen Elsa out of prison, lord duke." Johann had found a secret doorway in his chamber that led to Princess Anna's chamber. Possibly an escape route, made by Ardellian ancestors to flee quickly from one place to another if the palace should be attacked. When he had seen Prince Hans and that commoner retreat into her chambers, he knew some juicy words would be said and kept himself hidden behind the small door that seperated the secret passage from Anna's chambers, hearing the whole conversation between the three.
"I see... As much as I trust your words, Prince Johann, we will need full evidence before we can accuse them of high treason." spoke the Duke. As much as he wanted them arrested right now, he had to play by the law. Still the situation couldn't get any better: the last flickers of doubt vanished from the prince's face.
"Off course." nodded the prince before returning to his chambers, leaving only Franz, the Duke and his guards in the middle of the hall. As much as he didn't like the duke's extreme methods to gain his revenge, Johann knew the people needed security. They all did. When the queen was put on trial, it would ease their minds, knowing there was still justice in this frozen land, giving once more a sense of stability.
Franz bit his lip, feeling the akwardness rise by the second as he stood there. "Excuse me my lord if I retreat to my chambers. I still feel unwell by the tiring events."
"Permission granted" said the duke as Franz turned on his heel.
The southern prince gritted his teeth not to snap at the man. He was a prince of the blood! what did that weasel think he is?!
He's the Regent. Keep your mouth shut and cooperate if you want to live. He doesn't take kindly to disagreeing voices for his methods.
A loud CRACK made the man stop walking as he tried to balance his feet upon the trembling floor. What in heavens name was that?! Judging by the sound, it seemed to come from very deep below the castle... the dungeons?! Could it be...
Franz stormed towards his chamber and quickly belted his sword and dagger arround his waist. You better hope you have a good arm today, baby brother...
Kristoff walked with another pile of books towards Anna's chamber and pushed it upon the table. "There." sighed the ice harvester as he took the already read books in his arms. He wasn't good in reading.
Okay, he couldn't read at all.
the man sighed as Anna, Hans and Benedict wrestled their way through the books. He was only the errant boy, who brought and returned the books to the library whenever the pile of books became too much. As he paused, he glanced to Anna. She seemed more fat then he remembered. And her breasts were fuller, as if she were... Before he could stop himself, Kristoff blurted the observation out. "Are you...pregnant?" asked the man in wonder as he looked to her belly. Yet immediately after, the questions arose. How far was she? why didn't she tell him?
Hans paused at Kristoff's words and glanced to Anna. Benedict did as well and the princess blushed when seeing so many eyes upon her.
And by her body language, it wasn't difficult to see the unanswered "yes" for his question.
Immediately, Hans' eyes went to Benedict, whom Anna was betrothed to. Well that made everything clear as for why Elsa gave her blessing so quickly. The princess had conceived a bastard child with the prince of Ambiera. Yet... the man seemed to be surprised. He would know if she had bedded him 3 months bef-
Unless he hadn't. reasoned the prince as he thought of the lack of chemistry between Benedict and Anna. He had seen her shy away from his touch, which is strange considering they were attuned to one another. Unless...
Blonde hair. tall frame...
oh.
Hans' head spinned. It was too much to handle in such a short amount of time. Too much had happened, too much still was going on. Benedict, he saw had come to the same conclusion as him, and finally Kristoff did as well, abeit a bit slower. Nothing was said, but the eyes revealed everything in the room and they stared to the father of Anna's unborn child.
"Me?" brought Kristoff out. "I'm.. I'm the father?" He was literally frozen in place as he stared to the pregnant belly of the princess.
A small nod was given, and Kristoff's mind was soaring. He was a father! Yet the euphoria vanished just as quickly as it came, making way for fear. How were they going to do this?! The child would be a bastard, bringing Arendelle's reputation even further down with a sorceress as queen...
Hans meanwhile glanced to Benedict, who had his eyes shut from the pain. How would he react to this? Would he turn against them, now he knew Anna would never return his love?
But with all these revelations, Hans felt something was off. Something he had overlooked... His eyes turned in the room and stiffened when he saw a guard staring at them with open mouth. Hans immediately recognized him as one of men who had taken Weaselton's side during their conversation in the great hall.
2 seconds passed and then the guard ran away from their view. the prince leaped up from his chair and ran behind the man to catch up. When he did, the prince jumped upon him, making them both roll down the floor. After a short wrestling match, the guard was pinned into a strong hand grip by Hans.
If Anna's secret had to stay hidden... this man had to die. Which means, that he would have a bounty hunt on his head, and the Duke would have the perfect excuse to remove him as witness from the trial. He would not get to Elsa anymore from this moment on. Which meant, that he had to go to plan B. If moses couldn't come to the mountain, then the mountain had to come to moses. In other words: find Inger's remains and somehow smuggle it inside his pockets before the Duke caught him. Already he could hear the patrolling guards come towards him and Hans growled as he tried to snap the man's neck. Come on...
Suddenly the man shuddered and all pressure vanished against the prince. Hans looked up, to see Benedict take out his bloodied sword from the now dead man. "Thanks"
"You can thank me after we survive this" answered Benedict as he offered his hand to the prince on the floor. After shoving the body aside, Hans grabbed hold of the man and Benedict lifted him back on his feet. However, the approaching rumbling on the floor made the two men aware of the incoming guards. And with them being at the crime scene, along with Benedicts bloodied sword, there was no way they could justify this.
"Tell them I did it" said Hans rapidly to the shocked princess who was held protectively by the ice harvester. "The Duke needs a black sheep anyway.. and I'm sure he was already planning to make me one."
"What? No! I won't let you take the blame!" protested Anna to the prince.
"This is no time to debate, princess!" bit Hans back as he took his sword out once more. "Get inside and do as I say!" After that, the prince dashed off with Benedict at his heels.
"What happened?" Hans heard from one of the guards.
"I ordered Prince Hans to kill him. This man was prepared to losen his tongue to the Duke"
Damn that woman! Couldn't she do what he asked her to do?! Did ANYTHING go the way he wanted to? off course it wouldn't. The guard's reply couldn't reach his ears anymore as they were now too far away and Hans concentrated once more on the way ahead.
"Where are we going?" huffed Benedict as they turned another corridor.
"The Duke's chambers. I need something from there."
"You want us to go into the Lion's den? Hans, that chamber is very heavily protected-" the man stopped mid-sentence when a loud CRACK could be heard. The two slowed down only for a little bit. When they realized they weren't in danger they took on their former pace of running.
"Its heavily protected in normal circumstances yes!" agreed Hans with a grin. "But it seems with the little noise, they are distracted for quite a while. Sometimes the best place to hide, is where no one expects you to hide."
"I wonder what caused it though." said Benedict as they run two stairs at the time with one foot.
"Well, it seems to come from deep below" replied the southern prince. "Possibly the dungeons..." the man's eyes widened as he spoke. Could it be Elsa, losing control of her powers once more? If so, what had caused it? Had she escaped?
Hold it together, Hans! said the man to himself. One problem at the time! Take Inger's remains and after that, find the queen. They turned another corner and the two men stopped at the unexpected obstacle that was blocking their way towards the Duke's room. Well.. change of plans, thought the prince as he saw his brother standing with his sword drawn. Get passed his angry brother, take Inger's remains and then find the queen.
"Don't let me do it Hans." said Franz with his sword still pointed to the ground. it hung loose in his hand, but Hans wasn't fooled by the act.
"And yet there you stand with your sword drawn." retorted Hans, as the urge to rub his sweat from his hands away inside his gloves. Oh, yes he was well afraid of him. Franz may not be as good as Caleb, but he was among the best when it came to arms.
"Call it a precaution." said the man back as his eyes flickered to Benedict for a moment.
"He has nothing to do with whatever dispute you see between us" replied Hans, stopping Benedict from coming forward and provoking his brother. "What, you'd think-"
"I'm thinking a lot of things right now, Hans" said Franz as he interrupted his younger brother.
"Franz, wait, you need to l-"
"No, I don't!" barked Franz with blazing eyes. "You will need to listen to me this time, little brother. You were planning on murdering one of our own kin... Tell me brother. How can you make THAT right again? How can I trust your word that you won't lower yourself to such deeds once more at this moment?"
"Since when do you care about our kinship? You've never played by the rules, so why now?!" asked Hans, not understanding where this view had come from so suddenly. Before, Franz had had no problem at all with their agreement.
"Since I've begun to care for stability!" retorted Franz hotly as he clutched his sword tighter. "You're throwing the book away, Hans! You're breaking the rules till there is only anarchy and chaos. So help me god, I won't let you become myself! Stop whatever you are planning to do and put willingly your sword down. We both know I'm your better... we both know how will end."
Hans swallowed. In any other moment, in any other time he would have surrended immediately. But now.. too much was depending on him, to set and make things right. "It won't stop me this time, Franz. But there doesn't have to be fight today" said Hans slowly. "Turn the other cheek. I promise you, I make things right again." The prince saw his brother hesitate, but stayed silent. if he were to push him once more, it would have the reverse effect.
"Indeed, things should be right once again. Two against one, is hardly considered fair." The three men glanced to the newcomer and Hans seethed with rage when he saw minister Haljarson with a drawn sword in his hand. He had it raised up as a sign of offense and both Hans and Benedict followed his movement. Franz raised his sword as well at seeing his brother's sword pointed to him.
God damnit! He was so close to reaching his brother.. now they had all been forced by the minister's hand to engage in a fight neither of the three wanted.
Simultaniously, the four men charged to one another.
phew. quite the chapter. please review!