Chapter 22
As the carriage door flipped open, the smell of the salty air rushed inside. Hans was not surprisingly the first to exit the carriage. Shortly after the steps plopped out, he quickly departed. It was a bit strange to see him fret over the preparation made in time for this meeting.
Meanwhile, the guards who trailed them on horseback watched him cautiously. Not until Elsa and Anna followed after him. Their tenseness dissipated when they see the royal sisters wearing their most elegant. They shared a sympathetic smile together before they looked around the docks.
Predictably, the harbor was full of ships this time of year where there was no ice. It was a popular place for trade, even after the Great Thaw. Ships large and small scattered across the area, typically arranged in an organized fashion. Yet, one wooden boat does stand tall among the rest of them, as the massive ship had three masts to boast. The crew that attended to this ship, quickly threw out a boarded ramp down in front of them. With Westergard's presence, they seemed to be rushing as well. Anna flinches when the board boomed rather loudly after it impacted the wooden dock.
"We'll be entering the Manderly, right across from us. Our plans for the Greystoke territories will be issued once we're inside the Captain's Quarters," the strawberry blond gestured, "I assume your guards are accompanying you both as well?"
Elsa nodded in reply, "I hope that doesn't pose a problem, Duke Hans."
"Of course not," and as if on cue, he bowed. His hair drooped low at her presence.
Elsa nods in acknowledgement of these action. She continues on, climbing up the ramp with a trail of guards behind her. Whereas Anna silently watched Hans as he humbly lowered his head. He was always so good to the public eye, that it's almost scary. He fooled entire towns before. And you may say, that she's afraid he may try to go at such lengths once more. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she follows them onto the Manderly.
As Hans and Elsa enter the cabin under the ship's helm, Anna stays behind to grab last two sentries. Carefully whispering into one of the guards ears, she orders.
"At least four men outside, two of them guarding this door. No one passes unless the same amount come out. Alright? Alright."
Anna pats the soldier's back for good measure, before strutting into the room. Hopefully, Hans does what he intends to do fast. This is an effort to fix not only the endangerment of the environment, but a way to fix a broken relationship as well. Perhaps Hans may even prove himself, depending on the way he acts in this diplomatic mission. Arendelle might even decide to pardon his crime against the crown. It still does not answer the question why Hans became the newly entitled Duke of Weselton. Neither does his purpose in trying to delve himself in issues that is too earthly and grounded for him.
As Anna imagines the possibilities why Hans returned, she first takes one step into the quarters. However, she stops dead in her tracks. An aromatic scent, but intense burning reached her nose. So strongly in fact that she finds herself having a rather difficult time to breathe.
"W-what in the- Hans? What is this smell? Did your ship suddenly catch on fire or a pack of skunks on the way here?" she cries.
"Ah? That smell? That, my uncultured princess, is incense. Imported from the eastern lands, we found quite a few trades that are particularly rare in this corner of the world. Items such as tea, silk, and of course the item you are smelling right now. There are many uses for them, asides from the typical aroma-therapeutic, ceremonial, or medicinal needs. This particular set was meant to be particularly… well, how should one say? Aromatic."
Anna, ignoring his tenderly sweet comment, stared at the corner of the room. A fine string of smoke disperse into the air from a couple of burning sticks, its ends dipped in a clear liquid. For something so tiny, why does it have such a strong odor?
"Is it possible that you can, oh I don't know, throw it out the porthole?" She suggested.
But unfortunately, such suggestions were refused as the Duke simply chuckled "Not unless you wish to smell rotten eggs for the duration of your stay, no."
Rolling her eyes, she replies, "Great."
"Hah, do appreciate a bit of culture, shall you? Meanwhile, I am getting rather parched, would you two like anything to drink? We do have a collection of fine wines and a rare import of this type of rice alcohol called 'baijiu'. Of course, there is water, if you wish."
Anna nearly replied about his tendency to show off his eastern collection. After all, he already insulted her three times now about her cultural ineptness. So far this man has been a bit salty in his hospitality. And Anna was all ready to call him out for it, but she stops herself when Elsa was the one to answer.
"No thank you, Hans, but we do appreciate the sentiment."
"Are you sure? Very well." Hans tilted his head, a small smile appearing. He gestured for a young boy, "I'll have my usual."
"Moving on to more significant matters, what do you have in mind with the territory?"
Smoothing out the scroll with paperweights, Hans reveals the entire continent of Africa. A particular section on the western coast was distinct with a darker color of ink. He points to it.
"The Greystoke territories is a valuable piece of land that has been targeted by multiple nations for its vast natural resources. However, it seemed that it has been long been protected by the British Government, as have many other large swaths of jungle in the east, like in India."
" Yeah, I kinda know that." Anna interjected. " It's really freaky, since I also remember reading about it in some collection of tales about India. Wasn't much, since most was just about this real story of a kid raised by wolves. I think it was called The Jungle Bo-"
"Anyway" Hans returned, interjecting Anna's tangient "The only people who were allowed to enter with permission were researchers. Or the people who were much like them. However, the deeds for the land went up for sale not that long ago. It seems that each piece is being sold to various kingdoms and nations for a hefty price. One of those Kingdoms that were interested was, surprise, surprise, the Kingdom of Arendelle."
Elsa folds her hands, her eyebrows raising with a certain interest, "Call me impressed, but I was not aware you had such vast knowledge in colonization, Duke Hans."
"Such is the knowledge of as a prince of the Southern Isles. Or was. Now then, I am fairly certain that aside from Arendelle, Corona finalized their purchases. But with your connections, you are able to prevent the devastation of this land. How? By merely taking advantage of their influence. They can suggest environmental protections, such as replanting a tree after cutting one down," Hans proposed.
His ideas were surprisingly logical and practical to use in practice. Anna and Elsa looked at each other with bewilderment, when they listen to him talk. What they expected was some one sided plan on how Hans can obtain all the land for himself. But right now, it's quite the opposite of that.
"And what of the wildlife population?" Elsa inquired, her hand on her chin as she thought critically of what to do. She's more involved to stop the poachers from coming into the jungle. Especially into the family of apes that Tarzan so desperately wanted to protect. "Deforestation is easier to solve, as you can always plant a couple of saplings. In due time there will be an entire forest at hand."
"Ah, what I advise that we build a wall around the land."
"A... a wall?" Elsa repeated.
"Yes. A wall."
In order to reinforce this proposal, he circled the border on the map. As he was about to further explain what a wall was going to do, the door creaked open. It was the young greenhorn from before, carrying a silver platter at hand. He shly enters the room a glass bottle in an ice bucket with a wine glass gracefully set upon it.
"Ah, thank you," Hans expressed as he uncorked the bottle before pouring into the glass. He swishes the wine curiously, taking a large sip.
Anna bumps in, before any more watching ensues, "So what's a big wall going to even do?"
"Prevent anyone from coming in of course. It'll be like a fence, preventing any unwelcomed visitors from entering. In a way, the territory will act like a reserve, protected by the kingdoms."
Elsa hesitates, "But not everyone listens to the rules. Especially criminal minds like these poachers."
"Yea," Anna shrugs as she itches her nose, the incense still bothering her. But it wasn't as bad as before, "And you know when someone tells you not to do something, you do it anyway."
"I take it you were one of those sorts then," he sighs, his eyes slightly twitching.
Anna cheekily grins, finding it amusing to look around the quarters. She taps on various instruments on the walls and various tapestries as the other two began to debate in what to do.
"Even so, Hans, it seems like a waste of resources. A wall won't do much more than mark the border between a land where you can poach and a land where you can also poach. Who's going to provide the materials in the first place to protect a land that isn't solely theirs?" Elsa points out.
"Of course, we'll have a couple of sentries to reinforce this ideal."
"We can hardly split our forces into two! Even more so, to station them in a foreign land, a thousand miles away from their home!"
Hans shrug, almost apathetic to the ordeal, "Such is the responsibility to prevent these poachers. If you can't show them the consequences, what's going to prevent them in the first place?"
Elsa bit her lip, "The locals. The locals surely has a greater terrain knowledge then a couple of men from the north do. If there is something that they want that we can provide, surely-," Elsa begins to cough midway, covering her mouth with the back of the hand, "Surely, they'll be interested."
Hans narrowed his eyes in disbelief, "The locals? You mean those uncivilized tribesman that border the jungles and sings kumbaya to their pagan deities? Or, even worse, do you mean that animal you call the Prince of Arendelle, who lashed out at you? You want to put your trust into them?"
Elsa begins to cough once again, but she quickly finishes her sentence afterwards, "Hans, I -cough cough-wouldn't phrase it like that. As long as their is a suitable reward, there should be, cough, some results."
"Queen Elsa, I understand that you want to spare as little resources as possible and at the same time save the territory. But doing both is something only God can do."
"And why can't I- cough, cough, do both?! Cough-," Elsa notices her hacking get far more worse. She swivels her head to Anna, who also seems to be coughing just as bad as she is.
"Because Elsa, you may do magic, but you aren't God."
The last thing she saw was Hans, hands behind his back. He merely watches her with impassive eyes as she once again finds herself in the confines of the floor.
Author's Note: Ok, even I didn't predict this chapter being as long as it was. Originally, this was written as one, but I decided to split it into two to give you guys some breathing room. I know as some of you are with this story, I'm on the verge of my seat for my grades so my mind is stretched so thin right now lol. I know some people can get intimidated when reading longer fics ( I know I do), so that's why it's always been in my mind whenever I write. I still have to give my beta reader Nyu Neon more credit, for focusing on details way better than I could. Until next time!