The time at sea was uneventful, though Pierre found himself constantly scanning the horizon for pursuing ships. When they reached Gatineau's port town, he had breathed a sigh of relief. He was frustrated by the two day delay while they procured horses and supplies for the ride to his castle, but there was nothing that could have been done to prevent it due to his abrupt departure from Arendelle. He was relieved that there hadn't been even the sighting of a sail during that time. It seemed unlikely, but it appeared that he may have escaped successfully. An express messenger had been dispatched immediately on landing to notify the king and begin preparations for the royal wedding.
Three days into their ride Pierre was feeling extremely confident and relaxed. There was no way Elsa could overtake him now, especially since he had left instructions that she was not to be provided with horses from anyone that didn't want to incur the wrath of the throne. Anna had been relatively cooperative – though he was sure she would try to escape at some point. So it was without even a tinge of apprehension that he noticed a lone rider stopped on the road ahead of them.
When he reached the man he waited for his bow of respect. Instead, the man turned and gazed at him levelly. Pierre felt a flash of anger at the disrespect to the crown prince, then felt it shift to shock. He struggled to compose himself before speaking, and managed to return his face to a blank mask. "Well, I certainly didn't expect to see you out here. And alone at that."
The man raised one perfect eyebrow and gave him a condescending look. "Surely you know me better than any of those other fools do. After all, what is it they say about people of similar temperament and ambition?"
"So you admit your reform was a ruse then Prince Hans?" said Pierre mockingly, nudging his horse back into a trot.
A droll smile crossed Hans' face as he wheeled his horse to fall in beside Pierre. "What else would it be?" He looked past Pierre and his eyes focused unerringly on the carriage surrounded by guards, "I take it that's where you're keeping my prize?"
"Your prize?" laughed Pierre, "I do believe she's mine now. You were much too slow."
Hans glared at him. "And you are much too impatient. She actually wants me. You have no idea how to even play the game. No wonder Anna doesn't want to even get to know you."
Pierre raised his chin haughtily. "What does it matter?" he asked, "I've got her, and in three days, I will be married to her. Whether she wants me is really immaterial."
"Until Elsa arrives that is," said Hans carelessly.
Pierre scoffed, "She will be too late. There was no sign of any ships during my entire voyage, and I left strict instructions to the people of my harbour. She'll find no horses or supplies there."
"No ships?" asked Hans, "And yet… here I am." The smile he gave Pierre was taunting and Pierre felt a brief flash of concern. How had Hans beaten him here?
Unwilling to appear weak, Pierre shrugged indifferently. "I left no instructions about you. And a lone man on horseback can travel much further and faster than a group." He made a derisive noise in his throat and glanced back at the carriage, "Especially when there is a woman in it."
"That's true," said Hans, "Though I have to wonder, if you feel that strongly against women, then why do you want to get married in the first place?"
"As if you don't know," said Pierre scornfully. "My father will not abdicate the throne until I am married and have an heir. Besides, I do like women, just in the right place," he added with a leer. He watched Hans carefully for his reaction. To his surprise, Hans laughed.
"Isn't that the truth?" Hans said. Pierre was unable to detect any falsehood in his words. "But why Anna? I'm sure you can see why it matters to me to take her instead of some other woman since I have nothing, but what about you? You have an entire kingdom already. What do you get out of marrying her instead of some duke or count's daughter who would be thrilled at the chance to improve her station?"
Pierre scowled. "She dares defy me. And she has no sense or propriety or duty for a woman. I will gladly take the challenges that come with taming her." He gave Hans a sidelong look, "Maybe you should take on her sister instead?"
The look Hans gave him questioned his intelligence. "You clearly know nothing of these sisters if you think that she would ever have me. Elsa is not interested in getting married at all, and she would be highly suspicious of me if I expressed any interest in her after everything that I've gone through to win her sister."
Pierre shrugged and flashed Hans a feral grin, "Well that's just too bad for you then. I'm not giving up the princess that I've caught." They rode in silence for a few minutes when Pierre's curiosity got the better of him and he spoke again. "So why are you here?"
Hans merely raised an eyebrow in response.
Pierre waved his hand to dismiss the unspoken comment. "You didn't really think I would just hand her over to you if you asked did you?"
"It was worth a try," Hans said with a shrug.
"Even if I was inclined to believe what you're telling me, what do I get out of giving her back to you?" Pierre asked.
"A powerful ally?" suggested Hans. "Right now you're just burning bridges with Arendelle, not to mention all the other kingdoms and rulers who've worked with the princess. Give Anna back to me, and when I am king you will have a friend instead." He smiled mockingly again, "And you won't even have to deal with an unreliable woman either."
"Or perhaps you're lying," said Pierre. He reined in his horse and turned in the saddle to face Hans directly, "I'll tell you what, tell Anna the truth – that you're still just using her – and I'll let her go."
Hans reined in beside him and frowned, "What good would that do? She'd never marry me then."
Pierre shrugged and started riding again. "You changed her mind about you once didn't you?"
"Which is exactly why is won't work again."
Pierre spurred his horse to a canter, "Well then, it looks like you came here for nothing."
Despite his dismissal, Pierre noticed with aggravation that Hans stayed with the group for the rest of the day, though he didn't try to talk to anyone or approach the carriage where Anna was riding. Annoyed, Pierre decided he had had enough. If Hans wanted to linger in search of a way to free Anna, then Pierre was going to make sure that Anna didn't want to leave with him.
"Princess Anna," he said gallantly, presenting her his hand to help her dismount from the carriage. She gave him a baleful look and didn't move. He smiled slightly. "Ah yes," he said, "I image my lady would like her shoes." Pierre opened his saddlebags and removed her shoes and stockings. He threw them carelessly into the carriage. With a glare, Anna slammed the door closed in his face. He chuckled.
A moment later the door opened again and Anna jumped down without assistance. Pierre saw her do her usual scan of the camp, clearly looking for an opportunity to escape and decided to take advantage of it. "So that man you love has made an appearance," he said, watching her carefully.
Anna froze for a second, then scanned the camp again, honing in on the sole redhead in the group. His back was to them, but as there were no redheaded people (except Anna) in Pierre's group, he was confident she would be able to identify him. He saw her tense as though to call out or run and intervened by trapping both her hands with one of his. She glared at him and said nothing.
"Don't you find it odd that he's just minding his own business? He's been travelling with us for half the day, yet not once has he tried to come and talk to you," Pierre said, "Doesn't that seem a little strange for a man who claims to love you?"
"Like you would have let him," hissed Anna.
Pierre laughed, enjoying her anger and powerlessness. "True enough, but I swear on my honour he hasn't even tried. Actually, we had a good chat while we were riding. Are you sure you know him as well as you think?"
"I know him a lot better than you do," said Anna.
Pierre smiled slowly. "Oh really? Well he confessed to me that things are not as they appear. He was hoping to talk me into handing you over with promises of good relations when he becomes king."
Anna was visibly startled.
"You don't have to take my word," said Pierre, "You can talk to him yourself. You'll have to excuse my supervision. Using you or not, I don't trust him not to run off with you given the chance."
Still holding her wrists firmly, Pierre started walking towards where Hans was picketing his horse. He was pleased to see the doubt in Anna's face as they drew closer.
