The ocean blue. The salty air. The freedom. Hans wanted to never leave here. This was it. This was home. He may be only an average shipmate but his status didn't matter anymore. Falling from grace does that to you, no matter how lowly that grace was.
"Something off in the starboard bow!" the lookout shouts down.
"Can you make out what is?" The captain shouts back.
The lookout responds unsurely, "It looks like a woman on a horse!"
"Someone get him down from there. He's sea weary." The captain says to no one in particular.
"You there!"
He points at Hans.
"Go replace him."
"Yes, Captain!" Hans salutes back, a holdover from the navy.
Hans climbs up the main mask and is up in a few minutes.
Hans speaks to the man staring through a spyglass, "Captain says you need to rest, take a breather."
"Um, Hans?" the man managed to say. "Can you look through this?"
"Of course, Fredrick. I'm sure whatever it is I've seen stran-"
It was Elsa. On a horse. Made of Water.
"Nevermind."
Elsa's View!
There was a ship! And she could already hear the noise she was the cause of. She lifted her hands and created an ice ramp onto the ship. The Nokk's hooves made "clip-clop" noises on the wood. Everyone immediately had their hands on their sword and gun handles. Elsa took a small breath.
"Please, don't be afraid. I'm here to greet you on behalf of the Northuldra. I am Elsa, the fifth spirit of the Enchanted Forest."
The captain stepped down from the upper deck. "We have heard of your prowess of ice, ma'am. We, however, have not heard you were this far north. But to be fair, we have been on the sea awhile."
Elsa asked, "For how long?"
"About 2 years now. We are known as a "floating warehouse". We trade with the locals and accept barter from them. Are the Northuldra a tribe on the coast?"
"No they're further inland, but they would appreciate any traders from the outside world. They have been trapping in the forest for a very long time."
The captain shouted up at the crow's nest. "You two! Come down here and pay respect to the Snow Queen!"
Elsa giggled a bit, "There's no need to call me Queen, just Elsa is fine."
The Captain laughed, "If you say so, who am I to argue!"
The two men stepped on to the deck, and she turned to greet them and she froze in place. She heard none of the gasping from the crew as she heard Hans say,
"I'm sorry."
Elsa's calm was shattered. "Sorry? You're sorry?" Her voice started to crack."You told me my sister was dead!"
"I know."
The rage was showcasing in the ice crystals at her feet. They were sharp and spreading fast.
"Don't hurt the ship or the crew please." Hans stated.
Elsa looked around and saw the crew pulled back. Some were drawing their weapons. The captain saw this and sharply held up his hand. "Don't anger her, men. She is not angry with us yet."
Elsa drew in her breath and turned to the captain, "I apologize for my outburst, Captain. This man has attempted to murder both my sister and I and take the throne of Arendelle."
The captain spoke, "I am aware of Prince Hans' treacherous actions, but let me assure you I did not know this man was him, but he has been a faithful crew member, as many men here will testify."
Elsa retorted, "And how did he get away from the justice of the southern isles? Surely he is a fugitive of the law."
Hans spoke gently. "I'm not actually."
Elsa glared at him. "Don't tell me lies, Hans. You have told enough for a lifetime."
The Captain interrupted. "He is not lying. The Isles let prisoners who have served a year's sentence serve on a ship, with the stipulation that they may only be on the ship or on the docks near it."
Elsa said, "They let treasoners do this?"
The captain said, "If they behaved in jail, yes. But I do not know Hans' situation as he was a prince, I assume he is not any longer."
Hans briefly stated. "I was stripped of all titles."
She sighed and whisked away the ice at her feet. "I am not sure how comfortable I am with Hans roaming free, but it is the isle's business."
She looked at Hans, then got back on the Nokk. "You are welcome to trade. Hans must stay on the ship, however."
The captain bowed, "Thank you, Elsa."
"There is a river that has access to the village. I will tell the Northuldra of your arrival."
She led the Nokk onto the ice bridge back to the ocean. She turned back to Hans. "Have you nothing else to say?"
He sighed and said, "I am happy in my state. It's the best I could ever want."
Elsa looked down. She had too many thoughts going around in her head. She'll talk with Anna about it.
"Farewell then."
The Nokk started galloping and the ice bridge faded from the ship.
The Captain walked to Hans and put a hand on his shoulder, "I believe you and her are not done."
Hans looked questioningly at the captain.
The captain chuckled, "Either you will freeze by her hand or you will convince her to forgive you. I pray to God she forgives you. An ice statue isn't as useful as you!" The captain promptly slapped Hans on the back, and Hans let out a weak laugh.
"Now then, everybody get to work!"The Captain shouted, "We have people to impress!"
The boat started ringing with life once more as Hans' breath came back to him. The captain was right, this wasn't ending anytime soon. It's up to Hans to finish it once and for all.