Chapter Twenty-Five: Brothers and Sisters
"NOOO! Not dear old Belle!" Olaf sobbed as he buried his face in my arms after the Lt. Andersen revealed the threat of King Sigurd of the Southern Isles. Our storyteller was equally distraught over Olaf's reaction. But then the snowman pulled out of my arms and asked innocently: "Wait, who is this dear old Belle?"
"He's sort of Admiral Westergard's adoptive mother," Lt. Andersen explained.
Oh no! That was the wrong thing to say, I thought dreadfully as Olaf's eyes watered and his little mouth quivered. He bawled even louder on my shirt that was already soaked with slushed snow-tears. "They're going to hurt his Mama!"
"She's okay!" Lt. Andersen quickly said. "They're okay. I mean yes we did get captured and they put us on a ship to Weselton but we got out and we had Belle and Chip and his entire family safe."
"They were?" Olaf sniffled. "How?"
"Prince Heinrik, he let us go," Lt. Andersen explained.
"Hans' nicer brother?" Olaf asked. His eyes grew wide with innocent optimism.
"Uhhhmmm… yeah," Lt. Andersen muttered. "His… errr… other brother." He gave me a look that meant the next part of the story he was about to relay was a slightly sanitized version of what really happened for Olaf's sake. I would have to ask him later for the rest of the details when Olaf was no longer around…
King Sigurd had all of us shackled and forced into a ship bound for Weselton in the dead of the night. Queen Elsa was chained to the bottom of the cargo hold with her hands bound with iron manacles. I was sure the Queen could have easily frozen her bounds and escaped but she cooperated with our captors knowing that the lives of innocents were at stake if she as much as struggled. Captain Westergard, Finn and I were bound and thrown in with her.
"I knew we shouldn't have come to the Rose Inn," Captain Westergard said morosely. "I'm sorry your majesty, I failed you. I failed all of you and I failed Chip, Belle and Father Adam."
"It's not your fault Hans," Queen Elsa comforted although her words made little meaning in the situation we were in.
"I should have seen it coming from Sigurd," he said. "I was so blinded by the stupid hope that maybe things will be better." He heaved a sigh. "I wished this time we'd end up forming at least a civil relationship, but I guess it's never going to happen."
"Why would you think he's capable of even being civil after what he did to you before?" the Queen puzzled. "And now he's about to sell us to the enemy."
"Believe it or not, Sigurd is a merciful man despite what he did. He probably cared about me and the rest of my brothers in his own small way. I mean Gregor and my other four brothers that joined him could have been executed after they rebelled against Sigurd. Treason is punishable by death according to Southern Isles law. But Sigurd still commuted their sentences to banishment, the same as he did to me. I don't think he's one who is willing to spill his own blood if he can help it."
"Well then maybe he will be merciful with us," Queen Elsa said. "He might be able to see reason."
"Maybe to you, your majesty. But not to me. I'm gone pass his forgiveness."
"Why do you think so?" she asked. "No one is beyond forgiveness."
"I am. I betrayed Sigurd first and I should have expected he would retaliate just as he had the first time I did that to him." He stopped and he seemed to think for a moment before he continued. "You know we probably could have been friends if we didn't keep taking turns betraying each other."
A group of guards entered our prison just then and took Captain Westergard, Finn and I to another smaller cell in the upper decks while they left Queen Elsa chained in the hold. We remained silent after that. But as early morning light streamed in through the cracks of our cell, our new hope arrived. Oddly it came from a person we didn't expect: Prince Heinrik.
"What do you want Heinrik?" Captain Westergard hissed angrily as soon as his brother came into his line of vision.
"I understand you're angry at me," the older prince said in a calming voice. "But I'm here to help you." He took out a ring of keys from his pocket and unlocked our chains. "I'm sorry it took me a while, I needed us to be clear of the Southern Isles before I make a move. Sigurd has spies everywhere. Come on, follow me."
"Where?" Captain Westergard asked doubtfully.
"You'll see," Prince Heinrik said. He led us to the upper decks and into the Captain's quarters. There we found the captives of the Rose Inn clustered around a bedridden Father Adam. Everyone though appeared to be unharmed.
"Belle!" Captain Westergard openly burst into tears as he hugged the woman he loved as his mother. The rest of the little family clustered around them in a group hug. "I'm so sorry, all of you," Captain Westergard cried. "I shouldn't have come. I put your lives in danger again."
"It's alright Hans," Belle said as she lovingly stroked his auburn hair like she would a little boy. "Heinrik was gentle with us. He said he'll take us to a safe place. He even got Chip's children and their wives out of the Rose Inn too."
Captain Westergard extricated himself from "his mother's" embrace and faced his older brother. "Thank you Heinrik. But why? Didn't Sigurd order you to deliver Queen Elsa to Weselton?"
"Oh we're going to Weasel Town alright Hans," his brother replied. He pronounced the name of the enemy country with disgust. "But I'm not delivering the Queen into their filthy little hands. I'm taking you to complete your mission against Sigurd's orders."
"Why are you doing this?" Captain Westergard asked with obvious astonishment. If Prince Heinrik was disobeying his own king it meant he was committing treason.
"Because I'm trying to save the Southern Isles, Hans. Sigurd's making a big mistake allying himself with those Weasels. He's blinded by his desire to keep his throne that he can't see that the marriage of his mousy little granddaughter to the Weselton heir will not stop those greedy bastards from taking the Isles by force one day. I'm not going to stand by idly and let them take our home. If it means I have to defy Sigurd to do it then so be it." He said it with so much passion and conviction that I knew this was a man who was determined. "Help me release your Snow Queen in the hold and you'll have the 50 ships under my command to back you up. So what do you say, brother?"
Captain Westergard lit up in delighted smile. "It's strange hearing that from you, but I do accept, brother."
"So it was a happy ending!" Olaf pronounced cheerfully. "Hans' family is okay. He and his brother Heinrik are good friends now, right?"
Lt. Andersen opened his mouth to answer but quickly closed it. "Errr… right…" I could sense that something more went on there but that was something to find out later. "Well going back to the story then…"
We dropped off Belle and Chip's family in one of the more secluded islands of the Isles before we proceeded to our destination. Prince Heinrik gave us a small boat and we reached the coast of Weselton under the cover of darkness. We made it a few days late but still within manageable timeframe of the rendezvous with our fleet.
The magic mirror which King Sigurd's guards failed to discover from Captain Westergard's pocket became our best tool to find out things from the outside world. With it, we knew that our families were all safe in Arendelle and that our fleet was stationed and ready at the coast of Antalona just as planned.
Under a starless night sky, the Queen raised the wall of ice around the entire Weselton coast then we retreated to a nearby islet where we set up camp and waited for the fleet to take the lead.
They came at dawn two days later. They attacked just as Captain Westergard planned and within a matter of hours victory was ours. We rejoined the fleet to great rejoicing and we came home to even more celebrations. The end.
Lt. Andersen's story ended so abruptly that I was startled. But Olaf clapped his twig hands delightfully. "A good story!" he praised as he got off the bench. "Well I must be off. Come along Fredrik. Anna did send me to find you. She's been looking for you since this morning."
"She what?!" I startled. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
"But Peter's story is too good to interrupt," Olaf said. He went straight to the door. "Bye Peter, thanks for the story and for lunch."
I rushed to follow Olaf but made a quick bow to Lt. Andersen. "Thanks Lieutenant. Can I come back later to find out the rest of the 'real' story?"
"Of course, Prince Fredrik. And thanks again for help in making lunch and for getting Papa home."
"Anytime," I said before I ran to catch up with the bouncing snowman.
We haven't gone far when several peasants surrounded me. "He's here!" cried one man who I recall was one of Papa's ice harvester companions. "Tell Princess Anna he's been found!" A few men ran off in the direction of the castle while the man turned to me and inspected me like he was worried I was wounded. "Are you alright Prince Fredrik?"
"Why? What happened?" I asked.
"Princess Anna noticed you were missing since this morning and sent out search parties as far as the north mountain."
"Wait-what! My mother sent out search parties? I haven't been gone that long, have I? I mean what time is it? Two in the afternoon?" I guessed. I didn't carry a watch so I was just estimating.
"It's half past five, Sire," the man said.
"Oh," was my only reply. I guess I did lose track of time.
By the time we arrived at the castle gates, a small crowd of peasants and servants had gathered just outside the open doors. My mother stood in front of the gates with her arms crossed on her bulging belly and a stern look on her face. My two sisters though ran forward to greet me though they weren't exactly there to welcome me home.
"Someone's in trouble," teased Elise when she ran parallel to me. Andrea who always followed her big sister repeated the same phrase. The little twerps were asking for it but I could do nothing but stuck my tongue out at them with Mama appearing displeased while most of the servants and probably a quarter of the village looked on. Some of the boys I played with last night were there too. My mother probably got them to join the search. I wanted to slink away into the ground. This was so embarrassing and my sisters' jibes weren't helping.
"Where have you been?!" she scolded. "I've had half the kingdom out looking for you." She didn't give me time to answer for she grabbed me and held me tight against her swollen abdomen.
"I'm okay Mama," I gave a half-muffled complaint. "I was just over at the baker's listening to stories about the war from Lt. Peter Andersen."
"I told you there was no need to worry Anna," I heard my father say beside her. "The boy's just curious for stories. Just let him. When I was his age I was gone with Sven for days before Bulda even went asking for me."
"Well I'm not a rock troll, Kristoff and I'm not used to having my children away from me," Mother spat back. "And after this war…" I could hear her fighting back tears. "I'm sorry, I nearly lost you and my sister. I don't want to lose anyone else."
I was immediately sorry. The war did take its toll on Mother and she was quite emotional lately. Papa said the pregnancy might also be affecting her. I held her back tightly.
"I'm sorry, Mama. I promise I won't go off again without telling you."
She finally let me go with a kiss on the top of my head. "Now go get ready. We're having a parade for the homeguard and you're joining so you might want to get Lima prepared too."
Elise gave me another horrid face when Mother wasn't looking and her annoyingly gleeful expression irritated me even more. But I didn't have time to deal with her just yet. Maybe I'll freeze one of her dolls later. That will teach her to make fun of someone else's embarrassment.
I headed down to the stables but took the kitchen route to get there. I picked up a bag of apples on the way. One of my father's imposed family rules was that I should learn to groom my own mare. Even though we had several dozen stablehands at our disposal, he insisted I take care of Lima personally. It wasn't really much of a chore for I enjoyed Lima's company and I consider her a good friend. I felt slightly guilty that I neglected to visit her this morning.
I heard Lima's familiar neigh even before I could see her in her stall. She always knew me from my footfalls even at a distance.
"Hey Girl, missed me?" I greeted as I offered her an apple from my hand. She eagerly partook of it while I provided apples each to the other three horses that remained with her in the stable. It seems that most of the horses were already out and were being readied by the stablehands for the parade. I took the brush and gave Lima's dun-colored coat a good sweep then fixed the ribbons in her hair while I told her about the end of the war. When I finished, I created little snowflakes for her to wear that made her sparkle.
"There, I think you're going to be the prettiest horse in the parade tonight. I think we still have time, wanna go for a walk?" She gave a neigh of assent and I took her out to the pasture nearby.
We haven't gone far when I spotted my aunt's standout sparkling blue gown. She was standing at the edge of the field we used for training our horses with her back to me. She was watching Sitron run around in circles and jump fences with such energy. I was surprised that Sitron was ridden by someone else. But I knew immediately from the shock of red hair on the rider's head that it was Admiral Westergard. My aunt was not much of a horse woman and never really took Sitron jumping this way. But for the first time, I saw the true powerful grace and ability Sitron possessed as he and his rider seemed to fly and dance around the field with the ease of a solid team.
Aunt Elsa also seemed caught in the spectacle of their display. I dared not disturb her so I let Lima graze for a bit while I watched from behind a tree.
Admiral Westergard urged Sitron to jump a rather high wall that I heard my aunt gasp audibly as they sailed through the air. But they both made it and went straight back to her.
"Don't ever scare me like that!" Aunt Elsa scolded. "I thought you were going to break your necks."
Admiral Westergard laughed and his horse sniggered. "Calm down Elsa. You don't give Sitron credit enough. He was complaining to me just now that you tend to run him too safely. He misses the challenge."
The horse snorted something that sounded like an agreement and my aunt shot him a dirty look. "Traitor," she mumbled.
"But come on Elsa," Admiral Westergard said as he offered a hand to her in a clear invitation she should get on. "Let me show you what Sitron is really capable of."
My aunt seemed to hesitate for a moment but the smug look her horse and his former owner gave her made her accept. She changed her gown into a blue riding outfit then got on Sitron in front of the Admiral. One whistle from the Admiral and they took off running around the field at break-neck speed. She looked like she was about to panic for the first few seconds of it but she gradually eased and looked like she was enjoying herself. Admiral Westergard whispered something to her and she took the reign and gripped her knees as they made little jumps.
After several rounds they finally stopped again at the edge of the field. Admiral Westergard jumped off and helped Aunt Elsa down who looked flushed and a bit out of breath.
"Thank you, that was certainly… different than what Sitron and I used to do," she said.
"Thank you too, Elsa," he replied as he petted Sitron. "This is the best reward I could ever have."
"You deserve it," she said. "But I didn't come here for a ride Hans. We need to talk." Her tone was serious.
"What about?" he asked.
"Hans, please be honest with me. You're going back to the Southern Isles aren't you? And it's not just to get Belle and Chip's family home here, is it?"
The admiral's face darkened. "And what makes you think that, Elsa? Not that my personal matters really concern you."
He turned away but my aunt forced him to look back at her. "Hans, this isn't personal. You are an officer of my navy and what you're about to do will be interfering on the internal affairs of another state."
"I'm not going to interfere, Elsa. I told Heinrik his business with Sigurd is his own. They can destroy each other for all I care."
"Don't lie to me!" my Aunt thundered. A small cascade of snowflakes fell on them both and dusted their hair. "I have your letter to Heinrik. One of the guards intercepted it and thought it best to hand it over to me. So you can drop the innocent act."
"Fine! I admit it! But what do you expect me to do?!" He thundered back so violently I was startled. "You think I would let that go just like that?"
He walked away from her in a sudden rage before he whipped back again to her and when he spoke his voice was choked with tears. "He was the only father I knew, Elsa! He was an old man who suffered so much and he deserved every bit of comfort of his last days with Belle. Sigurd knew that but he took him hostage anyway! It didn't matter if it was his weak heart that killed him. Sigurd killed him just as coldly as if he shot him. If someone did that to your father Elsa, wouldn't you want the one responsible to pay for it?"
A chill went up my spine at his words. Father Adam was dead! His health must have failed him during their escape and I imagined he succumbed to death on the ship. This was what Lt. Andersen didn't want to reveal in front of Olaf. A wave of sadness swept over me and even though I didn't know Admiral Westergard, I felt his lost in the bitterness of his voice.
"And you think revenge on Sigurd's granddaughter is the way to pay for his wrongs?" Aunt Elsa went on. "'Give me Brigitta and I will take care of her for you. I want Sigurd to know how it feels to lose the one person he loves most. I want him to suffer like I suffered.' Isn't that what you wrote?"
Admiral Westergard remained silent but didn't deny what she said.
"Hans, what would the death of an innocent girl do? Taking her life will not bring back Father Adam," Aunt Elsa continued gently. "Besides you are aiding the man responsible for the murders of your five other brothers and your own nephew Morten so he can claim the throne to the Southern Isles. Doesn't that make this all the more wrong?"
Oh God! Prince Heinrik! It made sense now why he risked blatantly disobeying King Sigurd's orders. He wasn't just doing it to save the Southern Isles but he was planning to take over it. I remembered Capt. Aksel's narrative of how the Southern Isles fleet he led decimated the Weselton ships. Prince Heinrik was a man who wasn't afraid to commit cold blooded murder. And it seems he isn't afraid to spill the blood of his own family to do it.
"So are you ordering me now to do nothing?" he asked her in an eerily calm voice.
"As your queen I can do that," she replied. She took his hand in hers. "But as your friend I'm giving you a choice. I made you my admiral because I'm willing to trust you. And I'm going to do it now." She reached into her bodice and produced a piece of folded parchment. "Here's your letter to Heinrik. You do what you think is best."
He took it from her but said nothing still. Aunt Elsa tugged on Sitron's bridle. "I'm going off to the parade, but think about what I said."
She left him standing and staring at the letter in his hands. But she turned once more to him. "Hans, you told me before you and Sigurd could probably have become friends if you weren't taking turns hurting each other. Don't you think at some point someone has to stop hurting the other?"
She left with Sitron and didn't look back. Admiral Westergard pocketed the letter and walked aimlessly in the field. It was getting late and I knew I couldn't stay here much longer. I left him alone led Lima to the square where the parade for the honor guard was just about to start.
Father was in his best ice harvester outfit and was set to lead the ice harvester contingent of the homeguard. The farmers, the fishermen, the merchants' society and the artisan groups were all decked in their best clothes while they proudly carried the tools of their trade like they were honor trophies.
We were about to start when my sister Elise ran to the square crying. It seems that her filly had an accident just now and went lame. She had no horse for the parade. I remembered her offense against me earlier and I was tempted to make fun of her. Maybe I could tell her to start walking or find herself a cow to carry her. But the words of my aunt came back to me: "At some point, someone has to stop hurting the other."
"Come on Elise, you can ride with me on Lima," I offered.
She stared at me doubtfully. "You'd let me get on Lima with you?" I remembered she was afraid of large horses and Lima was exceptionally large for her age.
"Don't worry she's very gentle. And I'll be right behind you."
"Okay," she said. I helped her up on my mare. We went through a few slow paces around the square to get her acquainted. She clung to me at first but little by little she grew accustomed to the height and rubbed Lima's back affectionately.
On the sound of drums and trumpets my aunt and Sitron led the start of the parade. I followed after her with my family in tow. The rest of the homeguard contingents marched behind us. Families came out of their houses in the village as soon as we passed by. I saw young children hoisted by their parents above their heads to get a better look. The sight of one little boy who sat on top of his father's shoulder made me think sadly about Admiral Westergard and his own loss. Not everyone I knew was happily celebrating tonight.
The parade ended back into the royal square of the castle courtyard. A group of musicians met us there and the leading bard offered to play an original composition in honor of my family. We sat together and listened to the lovely music that told the tale of sisterly love between Queen Elsa and Princess Anna and how their bond conquered the winter and revitalized the kingdom anew.
As I listened, I heard my mother sniffle beside me. My aunt laced her fingers with hers and bent her head to touch her sister's affectionately.
The last song the bard played was rather amusing yet touching as it made me think of my own sisters.
You mess with my hair
And take away my toys
You embarrass me often
In front of other boys
You steal my desserts
And waste my time
You drive me to kick you
On your stupid royal behind
You slam doors on my face
And brought me despair
But somehow you still got to me
And taught me to care
You wound me almost daily
That I stopped counting the scars
Yet you knew me more than anyone
When I say truth or utter farce
You're the sister, the brother
I did not choose to have
But God sent you to me
So I chose you to love
I glimpsed Admiral Westergard standing by a pillar and watching the scene. In the dim light I glimpsed a sparkle of a tear reflected by the light at the corner of his eye. But he blinked it away and walked back into the shadows.
Author's Note: Sorry I had to "Kill the Beast." But there will be some good that will come out of it in later chapters.
Someone asked me if the hand mirror in the previous chapter was Disney cannon and I realized that some of my readers might not have seen the 1991 Beauty and the Beast animated film. I think it would be best to provide an explanation here. I've copy-pasted my reply to the comment of my reader Romilly so you can all read the backstory I envisioned for the mirror:
In the film, the Beast had a magic mirror that "was his only window to the outside world" during the time of his curse. He gave this to Belle when she left him to see her father. Belle used the mirror to prove to the villagers that the Beast is real. But Gaston took it from her and used it to incite the villagers to "Kill the Beast." It wasn't shown after the castle attack but logically it could still be on Gaston's person when he died. I figured, one of the Beast's servants got it back and returned it to Prince Adam when he recovered Gaston's body from the bottom of the tower.
The mirror was one of the few things that Belle and Prince Adam were able to save during their escape from France. Belle gave it to Hans when he's about 10 or 11 years old so the lonely boy can see them whenever he couldn't escape from the Southern Isles court to go to the Rose Inn. When the Rose Inn inhabitants were arrested by Prince Gregor, Hans witnessed how the Beast/Father Adam was beaten half to death through the mirror. It scarred Hans so much that he not only made a deal with Gregor but he also tried to keep away from his Rose Inn family out of guilt that he caused their demise. Hans kept the mirror hidden in the false bottom of his drawer over the years, and occasionally checked on his Rose Inn family with it. He never recovered the mirror until now since he never had a chance to return to his bedroom due to his immediate arrest after his return from Elsa's coronation.
The mirror was also the way Hans found out that Gregor and his four other brothers (the ones that Sigurd banished) are dead. Heinrik is brother number seven so he is next in line to the throne.
This chapter marks the end of the story arc of the Arendelle war. When I started this, I envisioned this point to end at around Chapter 3. The earliest part of this story that I wrote was the confrontation scene between Anna and Elsa in Chapter 13. That was supposed to be Chapter 2. The entire war was originally just two paragraphs of narrative. I never imagined my inclination for writing details and backstories would cause this to balloon into 25 chapters and an epic of a tale that involved several Disney characters. But I don't regret it.
Happy New Year to everyone.