Hey guys!

I'm back once more! Yippee! It's been a while! Months actually! Yikes!

Are you all still motivated to stick with this story? I sure hope so!

I've been swamped working for these past couple months so that's what is to blame for keeping me away from this story for so long. I do apologize for the wait! However, you need not fear me forgetting about my dear Hans! He has much more adventure ahead of him and I intend to see him through!

Enjoy!

Tales From the Southern Isles

Chapter 19: Goodbyes

...

King Fredrik watched with some apprehension as Hans was ushered harshly into the black carriage and locked within, the shouts of a jeering happy crowd ringing in his ears.

Only once the carriage was securely locked and prepared to depart did Fredrik turn his attention back to the stage on which he stood, and those around him. The councilmen were all gathered around a small pulpit on the edge of the deck and had put down a small bottle of melted red wax.

"It is time my good Lord, for you to put your royal seal upon this documentation of your decree on Hans's sentence," Councilman Snodtroff stated, now reaching into his coat and producing a rolled up piece of parchment paper.

Fredrik stepped forward, watching as Snodtroff set it down on the small pulpit, flattened it out, then stepped away to let the king stand before it. Fredrik held his breath in apprehension, looking over the legal ink written statements on the parchment paper scrutinizingly before eyeing the wax bottle with resignation. The king felt slightly disturbed by what he was about to do, but he lifted his hand to the bottle and poured the wax into a dot on the bottom of the document before lifting his signet ring and pressing it into the wax with a final stamp.

As this was done, Fredrik's eyes flitted across the line of his brothers, making sudden, meaningful eye contact with Günter and Hubert. In reply, they nodded minutely and in turn made eye contact with the other brothers. One by one, each prince moved to leave the stage, managing not to draw too much attention to themselves as they did so.

"I thank you for your cooperation, your highness," Snodtroff smiled, examining the seal with a contentment, "Perhaps now we can finally put this catastrophe behind us and continue on with our lives," he said hopefully, now rolling the parchment back into its curled form and sticking it into his coat once more.

King Fredrik lifted his eyes heavily to the councilman's.

"Perhaps."

...

It was after a long set of minutes riding in the black carriage that it first occurred to Hans that he had not been informed by any of his brothers in what way that they were going to bring about his rescue.

When Nels and Viggo had come to him that morning to help him prepare for the public trial, they had merely mentioned that everything was taken care of and he had no need to worry his head about being left in prison till the end of his days. At the time, Hans had been too proud to consider asking more questions. The fact that the same brothers in whom he had despised for the better part of his life were the very reasons he was going to have a second chance at life, put Hans in an incredibly awkward situation.

He was not yet ready to breech any thoughts of possible reconciliation with any of them, and was perfectly determined to keep himself distanced and indifferent to them. This being the case, he'd not thought it important to pester Nels or Viggo to find out the finer details of their rescue mission. Now he regretted it.

Suspense was not a fun thing to be left alone with.

Hans would think he'd had his fair share of it this past week. Had it truly only been a week? Good Lord. If he didn't start sprouting gray hairs soon he would be shocked. Lifting a weary hand, Hans rubbed at his forehead then down at his tired eyes when a rather large bump suddenly rocked the carriage. The road that he had traveled upon had been smooth and easy until this moment.

Glancing up and out of the window, Hans noted they were not on the same road in which they'd come from the palace, but instead were circiling around through the woods onto a less well groomed path. When Hans tried to look on ahead all he could see was rough terrain compiled of broken branches and rocks spread all throughout the way into a tree canopy of shrouded darkness. Hans frowned. What was the carriage driver up to? Where was he being taken?

"Driver!" Hans called out the window, "What is this about?" he demanded. He waited, but there was no reply. Hans sat back, his brows furrowed in fear. They were supposed to be heading back to the castle... so why were they headed into the woods? Suddenly, an unexplainable tinge of fear grabbed ahold of Hans's heart. He could not discern why he was allowing this anxiety to take hold, save for the fact that he was unaware of what was happening.

To lack any knowledge about situations had always been irksome to Hans. He'd made it his business to make certain he was always in the know, and had grown quite accostomed to always being aware of what was going on. Now, he was clueless and it terrified him.

The carriage bounced, rocking the buggy to and fro most uncomfortably, even causing Hans to bump his head against the side of the cabin wall. Wherever they were going, Hans believed that this had not been part of the origional plan and thus, he felt that his undetermined destination would bode very ill.

They traveled for a little while longer, and then suddenly, the carriage came to an abrupt stop. The horses snorted as their mouths were pulled on tight by the reins and Hans was nearly dislodged from the cabin seat.

"What the devil!?" Hans barked, now lifting his head to glare out the window. There was nothing but dark woods and trees as far as the eye could see. Then, he spotted unexpected movement in the shadows.

"Driver...?" Hans tried again. The shadowy forms were merging into the open now and Hans percieved there were three distinct riders upon horse back, cloaked in black robes and hoods. Hans's heart beat picked up, pumping wildly inside his rib cage.

The driver suddenly hopped down from off of the carriage, the co-driver hopping down on the other side, and both moved to open the barred doors.

"What's going on?" Hans demanded, using as stiff and strict a tone as he could manage in the midst of his anxiety. The three riders were converging upon their position now and Hans feared the worst.

These were forrest brigands! Theives and trouble makers! The driver must have been payed off somehow! What did these peasant barbarians intend to do with him?

Hans' was grabbed from off his seat and jerked out of the carriage by both of the drivers, forcing him forward a bit roughly. Eyes wide and breath quick, Hans stared between the three riders who were all shrouded and their identities hidden.

"Look, here!" he thundered, mustering up his courage, "I don't know who you are or what you're up to, but if it's ransome you seek, my brothers won't pay a cent! And that I know for a fact!"

One of the riders drew his horse closer and then, reached down under his cloak. The sound of metal ringing against metal caused Hans's heart to plummet into his cold stomach. The rider drew a sword from its scabbard, slowly and deliberatly.

They're going to kill me!? Hans gawked in despair. Frantically he looked left and then right. He could try making a run for it but all three riders were horse back and would catch him in no time!

Think, Hans, think!

Without warning, the dark rider hurled the sword one handed, with great strength, sending it soaring through the air. Hans saw it coming... but he never felt it.

The sword lodged with a plunge into the soft earth only a feet away from where a trembling Hans stood. Pulse thundering and mouth gulping in air, Hans percieved the wagging hilt of the weapon. Hans would recognize that sword anywhere.

Why, it was his sword!

"What-?"

Then, the riders began to chuckle.

Greatly puzzled, Hans's gaze flicked back up to the cloaked men, glancing between them. The one nearest him broke from a chuckle to a roaring laugh, and as he did so, he threw his cape hood back to reveal his face.

All fear washed from Hans' countenance and instantly, his blood began to boil.

"I cannot BELIEVE you guys!" he blared.

Günter sat upon his horse, bellowing with laughter while the other two riders also merged forward, showing themselves to be Viggo and Lars.

"I HATE you people!" Hans snapped, embarrassement heating his ears and his own shame at having fallen for their little show piercing his pride.

"I'm sorry," Günter croaked between ragged breaths, wiping away his now wet eyes, "It was Lars' idea!"

"Of course it was," Hans growled, shooting Lars a glare he'd never forget. Lars was still laughing however. Always the dispicable jokester that one. If there was a prank to be played in the palace, you could bet it had been initiated by Lars!

Hans tried to shake off the remaining adrenaline he'd accumulated from their wretched joke and Günter guided his horse forward another few steps.

"Un chain him please," Günter instructed the two carriage drivers. The one stepped forward with the key and did as was instructed. After the shackles were removed from Hans' wrists Günter turned to lift a pack from the back of his horse and tossed it at him. Hans fumbled but caught it, still sour faced at the cruel prank they'd done on him.

"Those are your new clothes," Günter informed.

"Yeah, have fun dressing like a peasant," Viggo sniggered.

"You would know. You dress like one all the time," Hans rebutted haughtily. Viggo's teasing expression fell away at the insult, finding himself with nothing more to say.

"Now, now. We've done a lot for you," Lars tutted, "The least you can do is express your gratitude."

The last thing Hans was prepared to give his brothers was gratitude!

"Here," Günter continued, now removing a coin sack fom his pouch and tossing it secondly to Hans.

"That should support you for about two weeks. You will need to find a job to start supporting yourself within that time," Günter instructed. He then gestured to the sword. "You are allowed to bring that as well, but solely for your own protection. Wrap the hilt, or else others will see its expensive quality and become suspicious of you."

In all honesty, Hans was surprised that they were letting him keep his sword. IT made no sense, but he wasn't about to question them and then have it taken away.

"Now that your trial is over, everyone will be returning to their own districts now," Günter continued.

"But, what about the council? It will be reported that I'm not in jail," Hans pointed out.

"The palace guards are sworn by oath to serve the crown- not the council. However, we have added extra pay as an incentive to keep their mouths shut. They won't dare speak a word," Günter replied.

"Did you have to pry that money from Otto's sleeping hands or something?" Hans snorted snidely.

"No," Günter said, seriously. "He permitted its use."

This was a major surprise. Everyone knew how stingy Otto was with the family fortune. Hans looked down at the small money sack in his hands atop his clothes pack. This was it.

He was really leaving...

The sound of horse hooves broke the stillness of the woods and Hans jumped, afraid of being discovered. His brothers however, simply sat calmly.

"It's only Nels," Lars said, nodding off the direction of the coming rider. Hans looked up to see Nels coming into the clearing. With him, guided by a lead line, was Sitron!

Hans' heart leapt at the sight of his fjord stallion. After all this time spent locked in the palace, he'd come to miss the horse so much.

Nels pulled his mount to a stop, and Sitron halted along behind. Seeing his owner and master, the stallion nickered softly, his ears pricked forward towards Hans in greeting.

Hans didn't hesitate in walking over towards his steed, dropping his gear to the floor so he could pet the horse with both hands.

"You will take Sitron and ride him to the eastern woods where the maid, your special friend, Frida, and her family inn resides. It's a little ways from town and isn't extremely popular with the towns folk. It's more for travelers. It will keep suspicions about your identity down, and the family will be sure to also keep you safe," Günter stated.

Hans reflected on that. He didn't really trust anyone to keep him safe, other than himself. After all, what happened when you put your faith in others? They let you down, that's what.

"This is goodbye Hans," Günter now spoke, his tone heavy. Hans glanced from his horse over to his brothers. Nels especially looked sad.

Hans wasn't quite sure how to feel about all of this. In fact, his thoughts were so far behind the present circumstances going on, that he didn't feel really any emotions at all, good or bad.

"Guess it is," Hans replied, lifting his clothes pack to strap it behind Sitron's saddle.

"Fredrik has permitted me to come and check up on you occasionally, when I don't have other duties," Nels said softly, "I hope you won't mind me coming to visit."

Hans shrugged.

"It may help if you grow a beard or a mustache, you know, to look a bit different than your former, princely self," Lars added, pretending to stroke a fake beard of his own.

"I'll think about it," Hans replied flatly, though with no intention of doing so. After he'd strapped all his belongings to Sitron's saddle along with his sword, Hans mounted up. Nels gave him the reins and also passed to him a black cloak.

"If the council finds out you are not in prison where you're supposed to be. They will hunt you down. It's important you keep a low profile," Günter stated. Motioning that the carriage drivers get going. They remounted their seats on the buggy and hauled off.

"I get it," Hans replied with a grumble, watching the carriage go. He donned the drab looking cloak and pulled the hood up over his head.

"Be safe Hans. We wish you a simpler life than what you've had. Work hard and maybe you will make something better of yourself," Günter said.

"King Fredrik too, sends you his farewell," Lars added. Hans only nodded solemnly.

"All the others couldn't be here, but they wish you well," Günter said lastly. "Do try to make us proud. Especially Fredrik. He put a lot on the line for you to have this second chance. We all did. Don't waste it."

With that, Günter spun his horse around and cantered off. Viggo and Lars followed suit. Nels hesitated a moment, staring at Hans. He appeared as if he wanted to say something, for his expression seemed in danger of becoming emotional, but then he spun his horse and too galloped off.

Hans did not bother watching them go.

He turned Sitron towards the eastern woods, and clucked for his stallion to trot. Hans refused to think about the parting he'd just had, and instead focussed on the present. He focussed on the feel of the leather saddle between his legs, and the comforting rhythm of Sitron's powerful trot. He focussed on the road ahead, and wondered at where it would take him...

...

Frida paced back and forth by the little brown gate to her parents inn. She had been previously instructed by letter to expect Hans within the next hour or so and thus, she'd taken to pacing outside in wait.

How was this all going to work? What would it be like, having a prince inside her humble family's home? It was all so awkward, all so strange! And yet, her family had naturally accepted their task with willing hearts and saw the opportunity as nothing more than their service to the crown and the royal family.

But how should they treat him? Technically, Hans had been disinherited. Did he still expect to be treated like a prince? Would it be wrong if she didn't continue serving him like the prince? She supposed all of these unanswered questions would have to be worked out in time.

"Frida! You're treading a groove in my garden out there!" hollered Frida's mother from the inn's kitchen window.

"Sorry!" Frida apologized, walking away from the garden bushes to go sit on the inn's front stoop.

It wasn't a very large inn, or very spectacular to look at. Not at all like the ones in town. But it could house up to six people in one night, and that was quite a lot, not including the family quarters situated on the main floor. As it was, they received a healthy amount of traveling customers during the summer and spring. Enough to support the family quite well considering Frida's father also worked a second job as a fisherman in town.

When Frida had returned that morning to inform her parents of her news and to pass on to them the letter of their instructions, written by the prince's themselves, they had all been shocked and surprised, but mostly, they'd been so happy to have their daughter back for two whole weeks. Naturally, Frida's younger siblings were ecstatic at the idea of having a prince in the home, but became decidedly less so when their mother had given them a mile long list of chores to be done in order to make the entire inn more presentable.

The porch had been swept, the kitchen floors had been mopped, the whole main floor had been dusted, sheets cleaned and pressed, and a room had been specially set out in specification for Prince Hans's arrival.

Now that all was finished, and the awaited time was nearly upon them, Frida found herself fidgeting. Despite her best efforts, she was still nervous. She'd encountered Prince Hans several times before in the palace under less proper circumstances. Greeting him at the gate and welcoming him to the family inn should not have felt like such an imposing task!

And yet, it certainly felt that way.

With a sigh, Frida ran a hand through her thick, black hair. She'd situated it out of her usual bun, and most of it hung freely around her shoulders, save for the bit that was pulled back from her face and tied at the back of her head. She was dressed in one of her usual town dresses that she use'd to like very much. But it was no maid uniform. Frida wondered if it was wrong of her to dress so freely...

Nonsense, nonsense! It's all nonsense! Frida rebuked herself, Prince Hans is under my family's care now. If he doesn't like something, too bad!

Just then, Frida's eyes caught sight of a rider coming through the woods from the east.

It was him! He was here! Frida leapt to her feet and shouted through the kitchen window,

"Mother! He's here! He's here!" and promptly dashed down the porch steps and through the garden to the gate.

Hans was riding astride a beautiful stallion, the horse prancing proudly and neck arched magnificently. Hans wore a deep black cloak with the hood pulled over his face. From afar, he was almost frightening to behold coming out from the forest shadows.

Frida swallowed. This was it. Sending one last glance over to the inn where she could see her mother and siblings frantically running about in the kitchen with final preparations, Frida inwardly braced herself.

Time to say goodbye to her normal life.

...

Hello people! I hope you enjoyed the chapter and another one will be coming MUCH sooner than how long it took me to post this one! That I promise you!

Also, some of you may or may not recall that I mentioned several chapters back, something about the readers getting to choose a certain section of content for Chapter 20 if we reached a review deadline!

Since this is chapter nineteen and I reached my review deadline quite a WHILE back, I present to you now your choices!

It's time you all got to vote! What would you rather have written in the following chapter?:

A. A fluffy Nels/Rose segment

B. A King Fredrik flashback about his 45th birthday celebration

C. A Hans flashback about his first childhood crush

K ya'll! It's your choice! Review and let me know what you'd rather see! I look forward to the next chapter ;D