Author's Note: Happy Halloween, dearest readers! I hope you enjoy the thrilling conclusion of "Haunted Arendelle 2." It's been a pleasure to write this story for all of you and I look forward to future adventures here at GoldenHeart Stories.
Long Live Imagination,
~ Michael
Chapter: 5 Trial by Fire
There's a frigid chill in the air. The kingdom is eerily silent in the wake of such a devastating and beastly awakening. Per Queen Anna's orders, Arendellians remain worriedly sealed within their homes. A blustery breeze rattles their locked windows and brushes against the cracked, cobblestone streets. The monster's colossal footprints lay scattered throughout the village and trace a destructive path back to the castle. The fjord is hauntingly calm as the remnants of a Southern Isles galleon drift across its surface. A fallen mast and sail lay partially submerged as the occasional wave batters against them. Arendellian banners hold strong, but the castle itself looks as though it has been ransacked.
Ransacked is an understatement as a gaping hole in the roof sends moonlight glistening through. Such moonbeams illuminate savage claw marks along the castle's walls and carpeting. The castle appears entirely devoid of all staff, as if it's become nothing more than a hollow shell of itself. And yet betwixt the vacuous and chaotic void, two figures wander the halls. They step forth, venturing down corridors they've long since taken care of. As the moonlight briefly shines against their faces, Kai and Gerda remain steadfast.
"We shouldn't be here," Gerda shivers and hugs herself for warmth. "That...thing could come back. Anna and the others are still out there!"
"I know," Kai confesses. "But we need answers. I need them." He ascends to the castle's second level and cautiously approaches the grand balcony. His heart sinks when the moonlight casts another shadow against the wall.
Gerda gasps, for Naomi is still within the castle. In fact, it's as if she hasn't budged since the incident. As Kai and Gerda step out towards the verandah, they find her staring towards the shoreline. She just sits on a toppled cabinet, letting her battered heels grind against glass and other fallen debris. Naomi's in a trancelike state, spinning her wedding ring over and over and over again.
Kai is the first to approach the Southern Isles servant. "Naomi," he beckons. She doesn't reply and instead twists her ring even quicker. Kai nervously glances at Gerda before getting closer. He clears his throat and speaks up. "Naomi," he asserts. She shudders, yet remains lost in her own world. Only when Kai kneels beside her does she stop fidgeting. "Hey," he whispers.
"I-is it over?" Naomi utters and slowly glances at him.
"You tell me," he murmurs while shrugging at Gerda.
Naomi scoffs and turns her face to the woods beyond Arendelle. "Does it matter?" she grieves. "I've lost them both anyway." Kai's brows furrow as she continues. "My David. He's never coming back."
"Naomi," Kai intones. "What's going on?"
"You wouldn't understand," she mumbles.
Hearing such words sparks a fury within Gerda. "Now you listen here," the servant says and drops to Naomi's opposite side. "We've seen more within these walls than you know, so don't question our capabilities. We all saw what was in that other man's-...your husband's hand. What was he doing with a runestone?"
Naomi's lips curl confusedly. "H-how do you know about runestones?" she asks.
"Like Gerda said," Kai explains. "We've seen our share of...well...strange happenings."
"Focus, Naomi." Gerda questions. "What was David doing? Where did he get the stone?"
"He didn't get it," Naomi confesses. "I did." Kai and Gerda look to one another as Naomi continues. She looks down at her wedding ring and says, "Tell me...are either of you parents?" They shake their heads in her peripherals and she sighs. "I see," Naomi says. "But I suppose raising royal princesses felt just as special. Enough for you to know that when you have a child, you do anything for them. Because all you want to do is give them every ounce of love you have. You want to keep them in your arms forever, wishing that the wiles of the world were nothing more than a myth." She looks to Kai and Gerda and asks, "Is this not so?"
Upon listening to Naomi's words, both servants are taken back to fond memories of raising Anna and Elsa as children. They can almost hear their blissful laughter lighting up even the darkest of days.
"My-" Naomi stammers briefly. "-my son's name was Lukas. He was fifteen when they came for us." Kai and Gerda's gazes intensify as Naomi swallows hard. "David and I didn't lead the easiest life on the Crescent Isle, but our Lukas made everything worth it. Even as the King of the Southern Isles continued to tax us for everything we were worth. It was only a matter of time before the people decided that they'd had enough. So we protested, crying out for equality louder than any other island in our kingdom." Naomi's brief exhilaration fades when a grim memory returns to her. "And King Victor responded in the only language he knew..." Naomi scowls and struggles to utter the final word. It's like venom is spewing from her lips as she hisses, "Violence."
Naomi winces and twitches. Her fingers curl as if she can still hear a chaotic symphony of screams. "They came upon us at dawn," she recalls. "The royal, winged crest of the Southern Isles was set ablaze with the rising sun...just like our homes. Led by the king's very sons, his soldiers descended upon our towns. Torches smashed through windows and infernos ignited. They cut down any who stood in their way, and my priority became my family." Naomi's eyes wander just as they did on that fateful morning. She can almost smell her burning farm all over again. "They rounded up our fleeing cattle while setting fire to the barn. I remember holding David and Lukas so tightly...terrified of what the future had in store. But at least we had each other." Naomi's lower lip quivers and she looks at her trembling hands. "That's when I felt him slip away. Despite our rigorous shouting, Lukas shoved past both of us. He couldn't stand to see his home being burned to the ground. David and I rushed to stop him...screaming all the way. But youth made him nimble. As Lukas desperately tried to stop a prince from destroying our home, a-...he-..." Naomi knits her brows and hunches forward. Kai brings it upon himself to rub her back as tears stream from her eyes. "They shot him!" she growls. She breaks down into a fit of raw sobs. "He was just a boy, and those animals took him from us!"
"I'm so sorry," Kai barely has time to utter as Naomi composes herself.
She angrily scrubs the tears from her cheeks and says, "I wanted to kill them all right then and there. With means and strength I knew I didn't possess. But David held me back as we fell beside our child...cradling his body amidst the inferno. After that brutal morning, the Crescent Isle fell into the king's submission and never retaliated again." Naomi grits her teeth and clenches a fist. "But David and I...we wouldn't stop. We wanted justice, even if the rest of our island was willing to just surrender. But whatever torment we'd enact in return would have to be worth it. We wanted King Victor and all of his sons to suffer beyond what we had to endure with Lukas. So we bided our time, playing our submissive roles. Through the royals' own arrogance, they accepted us as servants in the coming years." Naomi shakes her head and scoffs. "My how many methods crossed our minds. To kill them in their sleep...poison their food...set the castle ablaze. All of them still felt too good for the likes of them."
"But then why come to Arendelle?" Gerda asks.
"Many stories pass from kingdom to kingdom," Naomi explains. "During one of my ventures to a marketplace, I encountered a feather-hatted explorer who spoke of mystical stones in Arendelle. The concept intrigued me, so I found myself delving into the ancient texts of our library. God knows none of those ignorant princes read. Betwixt all of my searching, I uncovered a book detailing the powers of these different stones. With many dismissing it as simple folklore, the text was easy to steal. My investigation was made complete when Prince Anton proposed a diplomatic mission to Arendelle. I was sent as his advisor, which gave me enough time to look deeper into these runestones." Naomi notices how befuddled Kai and Gerda appear. "Don't look so betrayed," she jeers. "I never meant any ill will towards your kingdom. In fact, I should thank you. For learning of your region allowed me to find Wandering Oaken, where I purchased his final runestone."
"We should've sought out and smashed them all," Kai murmurs.
"But why?" Naomi inquires. "Why destroy supernatural gifts to humanity? Powers bestowed to the powerless? Using the stolen book, I learned that the runestone in my possession was the "Stone of Fenrir."
"Fenrir?" Gerda queries. "As in the ancient wolf?"
Naomi nods ominously. "And with each unique power comes a heavy price. An incantation alone wouldn't be enough to awaken the spirit of Fenrir. Sacrifices were demanded. Biding my time while Anton brokered treaties with Queen Anna, I had letters sent back to David in the Southern Isles. Thank you for sending them, by the way. It was easy under the guise that they were nothing more than sweet nothings to a husband across the sea." Gerda shakes her head in disbelief as Naomi continues. "Once David learned of the plan, I only needed to set it in motion. The first sacrifice would be that of the sinful family. A single relative would do. Sneaking the runestone under Anton's pillow, I whispered the text's incantation." Naomi bites back a disturbing chuckle. "I almost didn't think it worked...until he started writhing. Before I knew it, Anton was descending into feral madness. It was slow and painful, just as I'd wished. He fled back to his kingdom, consumed by the spell of Fenrir. You see, he was supposed to turn into the beast. Not David. The royals of the Southern Isles were to be slaughtered by one of their own, and yet Anton resisted." Naomi scoffs. "Resisted long enough to take his own life anyway."
Naomi clenches her fists and rises from the toppled cabinet. "When the rest of the royals arrived, I thought I was finished. That was until David and I reunited. He spoke to me of sacrificing himself in Fenrir's name. To enact revenge for our Lukas...for me. I argued with him to find a different way, but David wouldn't carry the burden any longer. And so...as a willing participant...he offered his soul to become the beast."
Kai has to take a moment to process all she's told him. "I truly am sorry for what happened to your son," he says.
"You aren't the one who needs to be," Naomi hisses.
"Regardless," Kai asserts and gestures to the wreckage. "Look around you. How many more will suffer because of this? How do we stop David?"
Naomi takes her time turning towards Kai with a twitching lip. "You can't," she replies. "In his new form, David has cursed himself to walk this land until King Victor and his sinful line have been wiped from existence."
"There has to be another way," Gerda insists. "This is wrong! You're insane!"
"Don't debate morality with me!" Naomi suddenly snaps. It's as if all of her energy has been poured into that single outburst and she drops to her knees. "You've never lost a child! Had that serpent Hans succeeded and murdered the royal sisters of Arendelle...then you'd understand."
While Kai remains collective, Gerda dares to challenge Naomi. "You're wrong," the older servant declares. "I may detest Prince Hans for his actions, but it would not have been my place to enact justice. Especially not like this!" Her furrowed brows soften as a mournful thought crosses her mind. "And while they we weren't bound by family, we did lose two children. You would've heard of them as King Agnarr and Queen Iduna, but to us they were youngsters we'd raised just the same."
Naomi huffs and steps towards the ravaged balcony. "It doesn't matter what you've felt," she says. "What's done is done. David's given up his soul, and this night will only with more death."
"She doesn't know anything? Does she?"
Hans feels like all of the blood has been drained from his body. Anna's question shakes him to his core. Horror and disgust clash across her face...and it's still nothing compared to how Hans thinks Lynn would react. Any hope of redemption in the queen's eyes...any inkling of a chance fades amidst the silence. "Wow," is all she can utter.
"Anna-" Hans chokes. "Queen Anna. Please-"
"Some things really never change," she scorns and stares him down.
"I have my reasons," he whispers.
"To try and kill her next?" Anna hisses until Hans throws his arms up.
"Please!" he begs as she barges out of the storage room. His heart races when the commotion sends Kristoff trudging over. Anna pauses and looks Hans over from head to toe. He's a trembling mess as his eyes keep listing towards Wandering Oaken's. Lynn's silhouette can be seen inside as she inquires about flammable supplies. Hans gulps and speaks to Anna in a broken whisper. "She's...all I have."
Anna squints at him inquisitively. While she can tell he's physically distressed, he'd put on a similar act during The Great Freeze. Still, Anna notes the desperation in his tone and hastening breaths. She too glances at Lynn and says, "Even if that's true...how real is it?" Hans' hands slowly drop as Anna continues. "How much does that ring on your finger mean if she doesn't know who you actually are? What you've done?" As Hans hangs his head, Anna's next words leave an aching sting. "How can she really love you?"
"If only there was someone out there who loved you."
Hans winces as his own words to Anna become a whisper within. They haunt him like a dreadful echo, and arrive spoken by his mother. Brielle's voice is a merciless hiss in Hans' ear.
"No one could ever love you."
Hans dismisses such painful thoughts with a frantic shake of his head. When he finally gathers the breath to speak, he clears his throat and says, "I know that you have no reason to trust me, but I'm..." He sighs and bites his lower lip. "Begging you. Please just let me start over. I mean no h-"
Something rumbles from beyond the treeline. It's enough to have everyone's heads snapping towards the sound as they worriedly back away. "It's coming back!" Kristoff warns. "Get inside the-"
A horse's whinny brings an end to their suspicions. Despite her exhaustion, Anna's eyes light up at the sight of Arendellian crests. General Mattias and his search party ride out from the forest. "Queen Anna!" he rejoices and hurriedly dismounts from his steed. "Thank heavens you're alright."
"I've been better," she groans. "That thing was just chasing us."
"Secure the area," Mattias commands his soldiers before addressing Anna once more. "Your majesty, we must get you to safety. If we hurry, the village is a straight shot down the slopes from-"
"No," Anna intones. "If that creature chases us again, I am not leading it back to where others could be harmed."
"But we must find you a proper shelter," Mattias insists. "And riding towards the Enchanted Forest could put us at even greater risk. That monster could attack us on the northern roads. We'd never make it."
Anna huffs frustratedly. "I really wish Gale was here right now," she says. "We could get a message out to Elsa. And maybe some answers on how to beat this thing."
"What if we send a messenger?" An Arendellian guard proposes. He pensively scratches at his mustache before raising his voice. "One of us could ride out to the Enchanted Forest and tell Lady Elsa what's happened."
"While the Fifth Spirit could speed back here on the Nokk-" Mattias responds. "-you could not, Tomas. In fact, you might reach the Enchanted Forest by dawn. But that'd be without stopping and if the creature didn't get to you first."
"Respectfully, general. We have to try," Tomas pleads and looks to his queen. "Your grace, send me to contact your sister. I'm the fastest rider in the Arendelle Guard!"
"Let's just stop for a second," Anna snaps and stressfully rubs her temples. "Let's think about what we're doing here. I'm not about to get Arendellians killed on a risky ride."
"Plus a lot could happen during the trip," Mattias tells Tomas. "We need you here, soldier."
"We're underestimating ourselves," Lynn asserts while setting an oil barrel down. She steps out of the trading post to address the group. "We've learned that fire repels the beast. We can undo it with the very element it spawned from," she declares and raises an arrow.
Mattias' glower deepens as he glares at Lynn. "And what exactly are you proposing?" he queries.
"We set a trap," Lynn declares to an assortment of troubled reactions. "We have a big enough group here," she says. Noticing Mattias' skepticism, Lynn focuses on appealing to Anna. As the huntress speaks to the queen, Hans' heart races. "We've seen firsthand just how relentless the creature is," Lynn explains. "If we don't fight back, the killing won't end here and you know it."
"Queen Anna is capable of making her own decisions," Mattias intones and stares Lynn down.
The huntress doesn't shy away while Anna's gaze trails off. She weighs her options while observing the idle troops around. Anna can't help but think about how useless their weapons were against the monster, and fears Lynn's trap means the death of her soldiers. She also can't bring herself to just leave and let the monster roam the surrounding woodlands. Gale must be with her sister, for the Wind Spirit travels periodically between their dwellings. Regardless, Anna realizes that she and her people can only hope to last the night. Any doubt Anna has is at least suppressed when Kristoff rests a hand on her shoulder. His gentle touch reassures her that she isn't alone in whatever decision she chooses.
"Lynn saved my life," the queen says as Mattias raises a brow. "Now I know things seem...bizarre. Especially with this creature originating from a Southern Isles servant. But if Lynn wanted the Queen of Arendelle dead, all she had to do was let me drown." She looks at Hans' fiancé and asks, "What's your plan?"
Lynn nods as all eyes turn to her. Rather than shy away from pressure and judgmental stares, the huntress owns her position. She raises her voice to the group and says, "Like dealing with any large predator, our first priority is minimizing casualties. We need to lure the monster away from the kingdom and get it out in the open where it can be destroyed. Without any place to hide and fire on our side, we'll actually stand a chance. Queen Anna, is there a remote location closer than the Enchanted Forest you spoke of?"
As Anna considers what they're all about to face, she can't help but shudder. Even Hans is perplexed by her reaction as a wave of memories clashes within her. These traumas stretch beyond Hans' misdeeds and take Anna back to a surreal moment in her life. She still remembers the thick mist on that rainy morning. Elsa's screams echo within as Anna recalls their mother lunging to save her.
The queen shakes herself free of such dark memories and utters, "I know where to go."
"Odin's Torch?" Mattias inquires as his group follows Anna. The royal guards keep a vigilant eye on the surrounding woodlands. Moonlight shines down on their group as they ride onward. "Are you sure about this?"
Anna nods while riding on Sven with Kristoff. "The lighthouse has been abandoned for years," she replies. "Even its caretaker lives in the village now. It's more of a relic than anything else and frankly-" Anna quivers as memories from her childhood and the first runestone return. "-I've never been a fan."
Following the same route she took to save Elsa years ago, Anna leads a caravan to Odin's torch. Several soldiers haul barrels from Oaken's while Hans and Lynn observe from Sitron. "Do you really think this trap will work?" he asks his fiancé.
"It has to," Lynn affirms. Her raven locks swish as she leans towards him. "Well, that and I don't have another option," she grumbles.
Hans' softening smile fades when he notices something beyond Sitron. He tightly grips the reins and brings his steed to a halt. "Wait," he whispers and squints through the trees.
Anna furrows her brows at the prince's gesture and taps Kristoff to stop Sven. "What is it?" she asks, growing impatient when he doesn't respond. "Hans?"
"Dear?" Lynn inquires as he dismounts from Sitron. The guards remain suspicious until he crouches on a nearby slope. The surviving royals of the Southern Isles can be seen congregating below. Several of their stolen horses have been scared off and they're trying to get a hold of those remaining.
"It's my family," Hans says.
He's about to descend when Mattias rides over to stop him. "That's far enough," the general asserts. "Either you're with us or them. There's no in between here."
"But they can help us with the trap," Hans insists. "The more men you have-"
"Every moment the queen spends out in the open puts her at risk," Mattias intones and peers at Anna. "Your majesty, we don't have time for this."
Anna's eyes dart between Hans and her general. She observes the soldiers' tired and nervous faces as they haul Oaken's crates. Her stressed hands cling to Kristoff's coat as she comes to a decision. "I can't chance heading down and then back up, Hans. You want to get them, go for it. But we're continuing to Odin's Torch."
Hans swallows hard as Lynn drops from Sitron. "You don't owe your family anything," she reminds him.
"I know that," Hans huffs. "But despite everything they've put me through, I'd still never wish death on them. If not for anyone else-" Hans places his hands on Lynn's shoulders. "I've got to at least try and get Ben."
"Then I'll come too-"
"No," Hans blurts and nervously squeezes her shoulders. "They need you to set the trap. I'll catch up. I promise." He glances at Anna and asks, "How far is Odin's Torch from here?" While Hans seeks an answer to his question, he hopes the queen will see the desperation in his eyes...and keep his secret.
Anna gestures to the stream along the slope. "Keep heading east out of the forest," she says. "You'll see the lighthouse on a cliffside."
"I'll be there," Hans reaffirms to Lynn.
"You'd better be," she urges. They pull each other into a brief kiss which leaves Anna unsettled. "I love you," Lynn says as Hans looms over the slope's incline.
"I love you too," Hans replies before sliding down.
Jutting stones and twiggy soil prod Hans during his descent. What he initially hopes would be a soft slide through snow becomes a burning mess of scraping mayhem. Hans winces and hisses while delving deeper into the forest. He lands betwixt the darkened shrubs and trees. Leafy branches blanket the area in shadow, hindering all moonlight from reaching him or his family. They have become nothing more than blackened blurs wandering aimlessly through the night. As Hans inches his way forward, he overhears belligerent bickering.
"Where even are we?" Prince Rowan gripes. "We've been wandering in circles!"
"And whose fault is that, Magellan?" Damian jeers. "You're the idiot who insisted on heading north."
"Quiet, both of you." Marcus growls. "Has anyone seen Cedric or Otto?"
"Not yet," Leo murmurs.
"Cause they're dead," Damian blurts.
"We don't know that for sure," Ben says.
"Has your optimism ever done anything for you, blondie?" Damian fires back until Marcus shoves the drunkard.
"I said quiet!" the eldest prince decrees and stomps up to King Victor. "We'll find them, Father. They've got to be out there."
The grief-stricken king hangs his head in silence. His time-faded eyes widen when something rustles from the bushes. "Wh-what's that?" Victor gasps.
"Cedric?" Marcus inquires as the figure approaches. "Otto?"
"Jakob?" A bright-eyed prince queries and all eyes turn to him.
"Jakob was incinerated, Eli." Rowan grumbles.
"Well..." Prince Eli bumbles. "Maybe he survived somehow."
"Just...shut up, Eli." Damian snaps as the figure approaches.
It's too small to be the creature, but the royals still brace themselves. A symphony of simultaneous groans sound when Hans steps into view. "For the love of..." Leo scoffs. "Not this fool again."
"Hans," Ben rejoices, running past the others to pull him into an embrace. "You're alive!"
"Barely," the youngest mumbles.
"Where are the others?" Marcus questions. "Have you seen Cedric or Otto?"
Hans grievously shakes his head. "Cedric didn't make it." Those four words are enough to have Victor burying his face in his hands. "I don't know about Otto, but I do know a way to end this. A...potential way," he mutters.
"Since when have you ever had a plan?" Leo scorns. "A good plan."
"I say we hear him out," Ben suggests.
"As if you have any power here," Marcus berates his sibling and glares at Hans. "Speak, little brother," he commands as if he was a pup.
Odin's Torch is as ominous and dreary as Anna remembers. No amount of starlight can eliminate decades of death and depression from its walls. As she and the others dismount, she can hear the waves crashing beneath the harrowing cliffside. She can still recall Elsa almost plummeting from that jagged ledge as a child.
"You alright?" Kristoff worries and rubs her back.
"Fine," she insists and reels herself back into the moment. "I'm ready for this night to be over." As if she wasn't overworked already, dark circles plague her eyes betwixt the eternal night. All she can do is stare out to sea and yearn for the sunrise. "Maybe it'll melt," she considers.
Kristoff raises a brow. "Huh?"
"The beast," Anna elaborates. "Maybe all we have to do is hold out until the sunrise. Then it'll burn up and melt or something." Anna sighs. "Wishful thinking I suppose."
"This will do fine," Lynn declares while examining the old lighthouse. "Let's get those oil barrels down and into position. I'll tell you where." Her steely eyes focus on the hesitant guards and soldiers. "Well come on!" Instead of listening to her, they look at their hesitant superior.
"I took an oath," Mattias sternly whispers to Anna. "I swore to protect the royal family at all costs. I couldn't be there for Agnarr and-" Mattias sighs. "Every time I look at you, I see him. If something were to happen to you on my watch, I couldn't forgive myself." He glances at Lynn and leans towards Anna. "What if this is a trap?"
"General Mattias," Anna reassures him in a hushed tone. "We can trust her. I know our history with the Southern Isles is...scarred. But out of every surprise that's come from that boat of theirs, she's been the most sincere." With a deep breath, Mattias gives the all clear for his troops to assist Lynn. In turn, the huntress gratefully nods to Anna.
The Arendellians get to work, following Lynn's commands to set up the trap around Odin's Torch. While they labor away, Anna can't help but notice how well the huntress performs under pressure. In many ways, she reminds the queen of herself. Unfortunately, not every relatable quality is wished upon. Whether that's having lost both parents...or beyond unknowingly betrayed by Hans.
Lynn's overseeing the trap's construction when Anna approaches her. "Thanks for all of your help," the huntress says.
"Thank you," Anna insists. She can't help but notice Lynn constantly looking back out towards the forest. Anna fidgets with a strand of her loose bun and mumbles, "So...you're really worried about Hans, huh?"
Realizing she's visibly concerned, Lynn shakes it off. "Sorry. I'm usually better at burying those things."
"Don't," Anna insists. "As someone whose sister buried plenty of emotions, I promise that it doesn't help."
Lynn sighs, letting her emotions permeate her hardened resolve. "Hans is a mess," she confesses. "He's trying to do right by so many, but that family has him wrapped around their fingers." Lynn chuckles to herself. "But once a mess, always a mess I suppose. At first, I would've thought all of our princes were these arrogant brutes. And then I find Hans, stumbling over himself in our northernmost isle. You should've seen him. They'd just exiled the man, but I'm pretty sure his family meant for it to be a death sentence. He was scaring away all of my deer...trying to foolishly build a fire with nothing more than two stones and a twig. He was hopeless."
"Yeah," Anna whispers. "...hopeless."
"But it showed me a different side to Southern Isles royalty," Lynn admits. "And how cruel those in power were willing to be towards their own. Helping Hans with that fire opened my eyes to that. From there, I taught him to live off of the land and decently shoot a bow. And with each passing day-" Lynn nods to herself as the blissful...simple memories returned. "-we grew together. I got worried when he briefly traveled to one of the other isles beside the capital. I feared he'd left me." Lynn raises her hand and peers down at the ring on her finger. "But he was getting me something else." Lynn smiles while caressing her ring. "We didn't need anything fancy. He proposed in the doorway of the very house we'd built."
Lynn's recollection leaves a bad taste in Anna's mouth. No matter how many years have past, the queen still thinks back to her younger encounter with Hans.
"Can I say something crazy? Will you marry me?"
"Can I say something even crazier? Yes!"
The words haunt Anna until she shudders. The idea of Hans being any form of romantic towards Lynn would feel bittersweet to her...had he not been lying. In fact, knowing the truth about Hans and Lynn's unknowingness seems even crueler to Anna.
"Lynn," Anna says and knits her brows. "If I may ask...did Hans ever tell you why he was exiled?"
"Yes," Lynn affirms beyond a shadow of a doubt. Anna is both shocked and bewildered until the huntress continues. "He spoke out against King Victor and the other princes when no one else would. He called out their corruption, but the kingdom wouldn't listen. Instead, his own father had him exiled from the capital."
Anna involuntarily shakes her head to deny the claims. No, she speaks within. No no no. All she sees when she looks at Lynn is herself at Elsa's coronation. And while the huntress isn't giddy and lovesick, she is a victim nonetheless. With her suspicions against Hans confirmed, Anna feels like she's about to vomit. Her nostrils flare as she says, "Lynn...about Hans."
"Can we please just focus on the trap?" Lynn insists and puts her walls back up. "I'm already worried enough as it is."
"But-"
"General Mattias!" Lynn hollers. "I need another barrel down this-"
"He's lying to you!" Anna blurts and Lynn's body goes stiff.
"Not you too!" Lynn fires back. Her raised tone prompts the royal guards to rush towards Anna. "I get it! You have a problem with the Southern Isles! With every rumor, every ill word! But whatever the king has done to slander Hans' name...let it be done! Can't we all just move on!" Lynn snaps and angrily grabs a barrel.
Anna recollects herself while Kristoff comes to her aid. "You alright?" he asks and puts an arm around her.
Anna's still processing all that's happened as she whispers, "Kristoff...do you think all of us deserve to move on?"
"Maybe," her fiancé answers. "The real question is, how are said people moving on?"
"This is a terrible idea!" Leo rants while Ben rolls his eyes. "Guys, we can't put our lives in Hans' hands. Hasn't he messed things up enough for us?"
Marcus looks among his father and the other siblings. The others turn to him as he says, "Let me get this straight, Hans. The Arendellians have a plan, not you."
"Lynn has a plan," he corrects.
"But the Arendellians are there," Marcus asserts and glances at King Victor. "The queen? She approves?"
"Yes," Hans answers. "Why do you care? Do you really think so little of Lynn?"
Hans' comment goes unanswered as Marcus nods to his father. "Alright then," King Victor says. "We'll go to this lighthouse and-" A sudden rumble catches him off guard. He raises a brow and glances towards the stream nearest their spot. As the rumble returns, it causes an impact tremor across the shallow water. The surface ripples with each monstrous stomp and Hans' eyes widen.
"My god," Ben realizes. "It's coming."
"Run," Hans asserts. "Follow me. Now!" The Big Three scramble to get their father on his feet and race westward. Ben keeps peering back as the stomps seem to be coming from all around them.
"Where is it?" Hans shouts frantically.
"I don't see it!" Ben yells back to him.
They dash onward as Marcus commands, "Protect Father at all costs!"
Leo notices that he and Eli are falling behind. While no one else is looking, he subtly trips up his big brother. Eli tumbles face first into the snow and painfully clutches his ankle. "Wh-what are you doing?" he winces.
"Protecting father at all costs," Leo pants. "I never liked you anyway. Slow that thing down for us, will you?" Leo flashes a sinister grin before running to catch up with the others.
"Leo?" Eli sputters. "Leo! No! Don't leave me-" The prince's shouts are drowned out by a series of chaotic stomps. As if he wasn't already shrouded in darkness, an even inkier shadow looms over him. All he can do is turn and scream until his throat runs raw. The beast swipes its claw and blood splatters across the nearby tree trunks. It strikes Eli with enough force to dislocate his neck. Rows of gaping claw marks are embedded in his skull while his corpse rests in a crimson puddle.
Leo reaches the others as they flee the forest. "There's the lighthouse!" Hans yells and guides them along the shore.
"Where's Eli?" Marcus asks Leo.
"Didn't...make it," the younger brother huffs. "I tried to save him."
As the surviving royals dash to the lighthouse, an Arendellian guard observes them and reports back. "Queen Anna!" Tomas hollers. "General Mattias!"
Anna, Mattias, and Lynn head over to observe the sight. "It's behind us!" Hans' voice echoes towards them. "It's coming!"
"Hurry!" Lynn yells. "Get in the circle! Behind the barrels!"
"Soldiers!" Mattias shouts beside her. "Make ready!"
Out of breath and frightened out of their minds, the Southern Isles royals reach the inner circle. Lynn pulls Hans into her arms and can feel his pounding pulse. "I was so worried about you," she sighs.
"I'm fine," Hans assures before hurriedly looking back. "But we need to-" His exhausted gasp echoes throughout the chilly air. "What the?"
"I thought you said it was behind you." Mattias asks while gripping his sword.
"It-it was," Hans asserts. "I heard it." He desperately gestures to his tired kin. "We heard it!" Hans and Ben stare out towards a quiet field in utter disbelief.
While some soldiers keep their crossbows aimed towards the treeline, others lower their weapons in bewilderment. "It just...disappeared into thin air," Ben laments. "Leaving nothing but wind and waves."
"Waves," Hans mumbles and squints suspiciously. The roaring sounds of waves beneath the cliffside obscure all as a dreadful realization dawns upon him. Hans' eyes follow the ridge as it connects from the forest to the shore. The sight sends a shiver down his spine and he slowly turns towards the nearby cliffside. "It's not coming from the forest," he whispers as a series of scrapes echo amid the waves.
"Oh no," is all Anna can utter as she catches on.
Lynn's eyes shoot open when something snarls from beneath the ledge. "Cliff!" she shouts and draws her brow. "Cliff! Cliff!" A pair of monstrous claws rise from the cliffside. Each blood-stained digit digs into the rocks and paves the way for a pair of furry limbs.
As the creature flanks them, Mattias yells "Take it down!" At his command, Lynn's trap is sprung into action. The Arendellians set their oil-tipped crossbow bolts aflame and open fire. Several barrels serve as fiery ammunition stations while the initial barrage goes off. The scorching projectiles puncture the beast's forearms, making it roar into the moonlight. Flames scorch its fur as it continues to pull itself over the edge. As its body ignites and its horned silhouette shines beneath the stars, the creature looks like that of a hellish demon.
"Keep up the fire!" Lynn shouts and launches an arrow. "Pin it down!" While their projectiles keep it aflame, she starts backing up towards the lighthouse. "General, I'm going to take the high ground. Can you hold here?"
"We'll buy as much time as we can," Mattias assures.
A set of barrels have been placed on the lighthouse's upper level to await Lynn's arrival. Hans is about to follow her when Anna stops him. "Hey," the queen says. Hans freezes up, worried for whatever Anna might tell him betwixt the chaos. She suddenly shoves her bow into his hands and says, "I hear you're decent with one."
"Thank you," Hans says earnestly before running after Lynn.
"Stay behind me!" Mattias shouts to Anna and Kristoff.
"We've almost got it!" Tomas grunts and shoots his crossbow. The beast has become an infernal pin cushion, enduring shot after shot. It writhes and collapses forward with a painful snarl. Hans and Lyn reach the lighthouse's upper railing to fire from above. With each hit, the beast hunches even further. "That's it!" Tomas cheers. "Almost got it! Almost got-"
Suddenly, the creature starts rapidly convulsing. The flames around its body intensify with each added projectile as it snarls. Its claws dig into the terrain and it gathers strength from its hind legs. With an ear-splitting howl, the beast throws its head back and extinguishes the flames on its body. Every projectile embedded in its thick hide snaps off, shattering the Arendellians' morale.
"Holy fjords," Tomas blurts and drops his crossbow in disbelief. In that instant, the creature retaliates by lunging forward and swatting the flaming barrels away. One of the barrels almost strikes Tomas, but Kristoff tackles him out of the way just in time. As the barrels collapse, fires spread across the disheveled terrain.
"The line is broken!" Mattias yells over the roaring flames. "Regroup!" His blood runs cold when the beast barrels through several soldiers. Arendellian men and women tumble in all directions, clutching their aching bodies.
Anna feels like she's in the Enchanted Forest all over again. Flames are spreading just as they did when Bruni set the trees ablaze. Only this time, her sister isn't around to extinguish them. "Kristoff!" she shouts beyond the inferno.
"Anna!" his voice echoes from somewhere within the smoke.
She wants to reach him, but the flames are rising. As the fires spread towards her, Anna has no choice but to enter Odin's Torch itself. She barges into the lighthouse and shuts the door before breaking into a coughing fit. The monster's screeches reverberate from outside and she takes a moment to lean against a counter. The quiet instance away from the chaos lets her observe a series of empty display cases. While Ruben may have moved to Arendelle, he's left most of his old home just as it was.
Her eyes initially light up when the door opens behind her. Any hope of it being Kristoff fades when six figures reflect against a dusty display case. Anna turns to see King Victor being ushered to safety by his sons. "Shut the door!" Marcus coughs and Leo quickly obliges. As he seals them away from the flames outside, the royals move further inside. They sit Victor down in the nearest chair and observe their surroundings.
"What the hell is this place?" Damian huffs. "Some kind of museum?"
"At one time," Anna replies and the princes glance at her. "I never imagined that it would turn into a shelter," she admits.
"Who else is in here?" Victor wheezes and clasps at his strained neck.
"Hans and Lynn are upstairs trying to bring that thing down," Anna replies. She observes Prince Marcus, whose gripping an Arendellian sword. "Where'd you get that?" she inquires.
"One of the guards dropped it after she was shoved by the beast," Marcus explains. "I found it laying in the snow."
"You were right to recover it," Anna lauds. "Although I doubt it'll do much good against that monster. I mean, you saw what it did to our arrows."
The elderly king catches his breath. "Where are the others?" he inquires. "Are they trapped outside?"
Anna peers out one of the lighthouse's windows, but she can't see past the flames. "Yes," she answers. "But we're not going to be in the best spot either unless we find another way out. I saw Hans and Lynn go upstairs," Anna explains while gesturing to the decrepit clutter around them. "Search for a rope or something we can tie together! Then we can meet up with them and try lowering each other down."
Despite Anna's efforts to include the princes, she can't help but view them as incompetent. Rather than search for tethering supplies, they break an abandoned chair into pieces. Meanwhile, Victor just blankly glares at her the entire time. Frustrated, Anna decides to tell them off. "Hey!" she snaps. "Did you hear me? I said things to tie together. Chair legs aren't going to-" Anna feels suddenly sick to her stomach as the men stare her down. Rowan, Damian and Leo each clench a wooden chair leg as if it was a club. They don't budge at her stern words and any hint of benevolence fades with Prince Marcus' words.
The eldest brother raises his stolen sword and gazes into its steel. While Anna's reflection appears to him, the flames outside cast a hellishly red hue on his face. "Oh Queen Anna," is all he has to say to have her backing away. "Your...benevolence is charming." She backs up until she bumps into Ruben's dusty old counter. "Charming, but still pathetic." As Marcus talks, his younger siblings slowly spread out like ravenous predators. All but Ben take their positions.
"What is this?" the queen hisses and loses her temper. "We've got a monster outside to deal with! What are you getting at?"
"Still so naive," King Victor remarks from his seat. His raspy cough is all the more unsettling as he continues. "We're simply finishing dear Anton's mission, my dear. He was very charismatic, yes?"
Anna staggers back as her nervous hand pats the dust-filled counter. "You've got to be kidding me," she scoffs.
"I'm afraid not," Victor adds. "You see...even through his failure in Arendelle, Hans showed us an opportunity. Your kingdom could be a viable asset under our banner. My wife, may she rest in peace, used to say the same. We'd just have to be smart about how we acquired it this time."
"Our invasion would've been subtle," Marcus continues. "Much more strategic once Anton finished brokering treaties with you. But fate had other plans."
"And we men of the Southern Isles always get what we want," Rowan growls.
"It really was such a shame that this lighthouse burned down in the chaos tonight," Damian murmurs as a sadistic grin creeps across his lips.
"Pity that Arendelle's beloved queen didn't make it out of the fire," Leo cackles and closes in.
"You kill me and you'll still have to contend with the monster," Anna jeers while sliding her hand across the counter.
"We'll survive," Victor boasts. "We always will." He peers up at his eldest son and says, "Do it."
"With pleasure, Father." Marcus affirms as he and the others advance on Anna.
Fear fills Anna's eyes as the burly Rowan takes the first swing. Once she has him in position, she drops her timid act and swipes her arm across the counter. An immense dust cloud puffs forward and blows into Rowan's eyes. While he's disoriented, Anna notices a gap between his legs and delivers a ferocious kick to his crotch. Rowan buckles forward, howling in pain as Anna shoves him into Damian. A swing from Leo barely nicks Anna's shoulder before she topples a display case over to block his path.
"I'll kill that bitch!" Prince Rowan snarls. His eyes are scorching red as he clutches his aching groin.
"Idiots," Marcus grumbles and flourishes his sword. "I'll get her, Father." he assures King Victor before passing the final chair leg to Ben. "Benjamin," he orders. "Go upstairs and deal with the other two."
Ben's mustache quivers. "But Hans is one of us."
"Then make sure he's on our side," Marcus scolds.
"His fiancé won't be," Ben insists and Marcus grows impatient.
The elder prince angrily taps on the makeshift club in Ben's hands. "Then you know what to do!" he yells before chasing after Anna. Ben is left to reluctantly stumble up the stairs while King Victor oversees all.
"Anna!" Kristoff haplessly shouts. He hasn't felt this desperate to find her since she nearly froze to death on the fjord. "Anna!" Sven grunts alongside him while the madness carries on. Flames rage across the cliffside while screams and roars obscure all else.
Ben slowly creeps upstairs until the smell of smoke and ash returns. He can hear Hans and Lynn calling out to one another as they fire arrows from the balcony. While he watches them work together, he can't help but contemplate what he's about to do. Despite all that Hans has done, Ben has always strived to take it easy on him. The elder brothers have never made life simple for the thirteenth prince, and yet here he is. Although living a lie, he stands beside a woman worth fighting for. In Ben's eyes, perhaps it is enough. Any thought of negotiating with Hans flees his mind. The idea of even striking Lynn is nonexistent as Ben's weapon plummets to the floor.
The ensuing clunk has Hans and Lynn spinning around. "Ben?" his little brother worries. "What are-" Hans freezes up. While annoying, his big brother has always been a symbol of dashing confidence. Hans has never seen Ben so broken and distraught as he lurches forward.
"H-Hans," he utters. "There's no time. I'm...so sorry." Lynn raises a brow as he pleads to them. "Father and the others," he nearly chokes on the words. "They're going to kill Queen Anna."
"Hold still, damn it!" Rowan shouts and takes another swing at Anna. The queen uses the environment to her advantage, knocking over anything that isn't nailed down. In an effort to flank her, Damian charges in from the left. Anna weaves just in time and the brothers collide with each other. "You drunken fool!" Rowan grunts and shoves Damian off.
Anna dashes back towards the first room now that the door is clear. While there may be flames outside, she'll take her chances versus the killer princes. On her way back into the room, she notices King Victor still sitting patiently. His smirk is brief and his eyes dart slightly beside Anna. Before she can comprehend what he's looking at, a tremendous thud sounds. At least that's what it sounds like for Victor.
To Anna, all she feels is a sharp sting amidst an explosive bang. It's as if someone has cracked a whip and struck her with a sled all at the same time. She stumbles forward with a wail and impulsively clutches the back of her head. Whatever's hit her has done so with enough force to make the world spin around her. King Victor becomes a cackling series of anomalies in her dazed vision. Waves of insurmountable, throbbing pain crash against her head until nausea takes over. Unable to stand, Anna collapses against a display case and sends it crashing down with her. She lays dizzied among a pile of shattered glass. The ceiling boards spiral above her while an incessant ringing torments her ears. A nearby prince's cheering is muffled to her senses.
"I-I got her!" Leo rejoices and raises his chair leg victoriously. Determined to prove his worth, he deepens his voice to boast towards the eldest prince. "Big brother! Big brother! I got her! I waited around the corner and bashed her over the head with-"
"Out of my way," Marcus scoffs. He shoves Leo back as if he were nothing more than an irksome peasant. Victor chuckles from his seat as his eldest son steps towards Anna.
All the queen sees is an ominous blur lurking towards her. Each of his colossal stomps blast against her ears as she faintly makes out his sword. Even though she's disoriented, Anna desperately feels across the floor and clutches a piece of the broken display case. She raises the glass shard and dizzily raises it towards Marcus.
"What are you gonna do with that?" the prince mocks. She can hardly point it at him as he laughs. "A fighter to the end," Marcus brings his voice down to a malicious whisper. "I'll make sure that's on your epitaph." As he raises his sword to finish her off, an arrow zips through the air and punctures his shoulder. Marcus howls in pain as the others gasp in alarm.
Lynn is done with warnings. She's finished playing politics with the scum of the Southern Isles. Without hesitation, she fires a second shot towards Marcus' head. Her arrow narrowly misses because something makes the prince hunch forward. Not only does he have an arrow in his shoulder, but Anna has driven her shard into his calf.
"Got...you," Anna grunts through her dazed state.
Marcus leaps for cover in the other room, leaving a trail of blood behind. Victor bolts from his seat while the other princes form up. "Benjamin?" Victor stammers when he sees him alongside Hans and Lynn. "What are you doing?"
"This is wrong, Father!" Ben decrees. "I won't go down this path any longer!"
Infuriated by all that's transpiring, Victor descends into madness. "Then you are no son of the Southern Isles," he growls while staring him down. With a swift wave of his hand, he issues a daunting decree. "Kill them."
Those blindly loyal to him charge just as the others come down. Hans and Lynn launch their arrows while Damian and Leo take cover. Meanwhile, Rowan tackles Ben into a wall. The blonde kicks his burly opponent back and flourishes his chair leg. A scowl forms on Rowan's beard as he does the same.
"Looks like it's time for a rematch," Ben quips. Rowan lunges as their makeshift weapons collide.
Leo and Damian dodge enough arrows to get in close. The former tackles Lynn and makes Hans gasp. "No!" he shouts until Leo swings at him. Hans narrowly avoids the club and jabs with his bow.
The malodorous stench of alcohol descends from Damian's lips as he pins Lynn. He forces his head towards her ear and whispers, "It'll be a shame to kill you. You could've been my girl-" Damian's cocky bravado falters with his rising screeches. Leaning into Lynn only gave her full permission to bite down on his ear. His screeches only make her bite harder until he's forced to back off. While he's still recovering, the huntress delivers a headbutt to break free. The maneuver disorients them both, but buys her time to get away.
Hans strikes Leo across the head with his bow, but his big brother recovers sooner than anticipated. He uppercuts Hans with his club and takes a moment to compose himself. While Hans is down, Leo notices Anna barely make it upstairs.
Damian angrily rubs his throbbing forehead. "I'll-I'll get you for that!" Before he can run at Lynn, Hans punches him across the face. As the two wrestle, Lynn scrambles to recover her bow. Once she takes aim, she struggles to get a clear shot with her fiancé in the way.
"Get off of him," she asserts with an arrow steadily drawn. "Hans! Get off of him!"
"Regroup!" General Mattias orders again. His routed soldiers reassemble as he asks. "Where is Queen Anna?"
"We lost sight of her somewhere in the fire," Tomas reports. "Sir, we can't keep this thing back. It's barreling through us!"
Mattias peers across the inferno and barely spots Anna's fiancé. "Kristoff!" he hollers.
The mountain man turns towards the call and guides Sven leftward. "Mattias!" he shouts back and flails an arm.
"Have you seen Queen Anna?" the general asks until he notices Kristoff's frantic state.
"Behind you!" the young man warns.
Mattias quickly spins to see the beast surging through the flames. His troops brace themselves, but Mattias interposes himself between them all. Any effort to swing his sword is futile as the monster scoops him into his claws.
"No!" Kristoff cries out.
"General!" Tomas screams and prepares to retaliate. Before he can do so, he suddenly observes a befuddling sight.
Rather than tear Mattias to pieces, the beast simply holds him. Its ominous, glowing eyes stare down at him before it roars in his face. In fact, the creature appears more frustrated with Mattias than anything else. It furiously squeezes his body, only to throw him down. The other soldiers are prepared to attack when Mattias raises a hand. "Hold!" the general commands. His troops are quaking in their boots as the monster towers over them.
While it doesn't attack, Mattias whispers to Tomas. "Is...everyone in our company accounted for?"
"I believe so sir." Tomas realizes. "Some of us were knocked around but-"
"It's not killing us," Mattias realizes. "Even during the attack in our castle. It merely shoved me when I got in the way."
Kristoff catches up alongside Sven to observe the bizarre phenomenon. "But...it chased us," he says.
Mattias shakes his head as all becomes clear. "The servant went on about Southern Isles sins before turning himself into that thing. As far as we know, it's only killed princes from the Southern Isles." Mattias' eyes shoot open. "Kristoff. Who was in the sled with you and Anna during that chase?" Kristoff gasps as Mattias issues a new order. "All troops, stand down. Our new priority is finding Queen Anna."
As his soldiers cautiously oblige, Mattias glances up at the creature. While they don't speak to each other, it's as if they've reached some form of surreal understanding.
Anna's head is pounding as she crawls up the stairs. Smoke billows up towards the clouds while she reaches the lighthouse's upper level. The railing sways as she observes it a few feet ahead of her. If I can just get to the edge- she urges herself. -I can call for help.
Between the smoke and her aching head, Anna feels like she could pass out any moment. A sudden clang from her neck has her looking downward. It's her father's necklace...the very cross that's been her family's salvation. She can still hear his words to her.
"Your Papa gets frightened just the same, especially for you, Elsa, and Mama. And my mother would get frightened too. But, she'd hold on to this and it would help see her through the most trying of times."
Agnarr's words grant her courage as Anna grits her teeth. She sternly grips the cross in her hand and rises like the queen she is. "Come on," she grunts, limping towards the balcony. "Come...on." Anna stumbles, using what strength she has left to fall against the railing. Catching her breath, she looks down and searches for others among the fire. With faith on her side, she spots Kristoff with Mattias and the others. A faint grin of relief takes hold as she raises her arms to alert them. Yet as she prepares to scream their names, something stops her.
It's as if her voice is ripped away by a stinging sensation. It's different from her aching head wound as she suddenly feels several fingers tighten their grip. Anna's head is abruptly thrown back when Leo pulls her down by the hair. Kristoff looks up towards the lighthouse mere seconds after Anna's been dragged away.
Leo throws her to the floor, perpetuating her head pain. Dizziness returns as he rants over her. "I caught you," he hisses. "And they still treated me like nothing? I'll show them. I'll show them all." He throws himself on top of Anna and savagely seizes her throat. "Once I kill you-" He flashes a toothy grin. "-they'll have to respect me."
Anna feels his grip tightening as she wheezes for air. Realizing it's useless to try and pry at his arms, Anna fights to reach his face. He uses his weight to keep her down as her hands desperately try to claw at his eyes. With an unwavering leer, Leo lifts his head just out of reach. Anna haplessly scratches at his chest and shoulders, but her strength is dwindling. Her heart races as she grows teary-eyed, struggling to fend him off. The queen's legs flail beneath Leo. He cackles when her movements slow down.
"That's it," he hisses. His dark hair dangles just above his soulless gaze. "Just let it happen."
Anna feels drained as she stares into her assailant's eyes. He's no different than the demon she'd faced years ago. For evil is but a choice, and those who act upon it are ever-willing. Anna's experiencing every pain and nothing at the exact same time. Memories speed past her as she considers her demise. She imagines what could wait beyond this heinous act. An eternity of regret? A reunion with loved ones lost? Elsa and Kristoff's voices become faint whispers in her mind. Joyous and broken murmurs of people that she may never see again. She focuses on what memories she still has of her parents. Agnarr and Iduna's benevolent faces pass like angelic visages within. They stand in a glistening doorway beyond the shadows. Its frame is adorned in celestial intricacies as Agnarr and Iduna extend their hands through the darkness. It's them. The real them...calling Anna home.
Mother...
Anna's hands stop clawing at Leo and fall to her sides.
Father...
Leo tightens his grip on her neck.
I'm sorry...
As Anna's right hand falls, her numbing fingers touch graze a smooth object. The likes of which has fallen from her pocket.
I'm sorry...but I'm not ready to go home.
Anna's bloodshot eyes sway towards Leo. With her final ounce of strength, she recovers her bronze stamper and jabs it upward. She strikes with all of her might, fracturing her attacker's windpipe on impact. Shock and terror fills Leo's eyes as he instinctually reaches for his own throat. Once his hands leave Anna, she coughs and wheezes for air. Her attack leaves a bold and bloody, Arendellian crocus embedded on Leo's throat. He stumbles back towards the railing, raspy and mortified. As he struggles to figure out what's happened, a beastly claw rises from behind the balcony. By the time Leo turns, the monster is already reaching for him.
Screaming only strains his fracture further as the monster drags him down. When it grips him by his arms and legs, Anna hurriedly averts her eyes. While she does so, Leo's silhouette is ripped in half and tossed into the flames. A dreadful silence follows and the queen is left graciously clutching her father's cross.
The monster's brute exertion causes it to strike the tower and dishevel those inside. Lynn rolls as wooden boards come undone. While Hans wrestles Damian, Rowan and Ben are locked in a deadly duel. Their clubs clack against each other thrice. By the third strike, Rowan breaks through Ben's chair leg, causing it to splinter. "Come on then!" Rowan taunts. "Is that all you've got!" He knees Ben in the gut and clubs him to the floor. "Is that it?" As he raises his arms to strike, he falls right into Ben's trap.
His younger brother weaves away and jabs upward. By breaking his weapon, Rowan has unknowingly turned Ben's club into a spear. He proceeds to skewer Rowan in the chest before sending his body toppling over. "Yeah," Ben huffs. "That is it."
In that instant, King Victor emerges and pulls Ben into a headlock. "Disgraceful traitor," his father hisses and puts a dagger to his neck. Ben reluctantly drops his weapon just as Hans punches out Damian. "You!" he calls to Hans. "Surrender or I kill Benjamin."
"Like hell I will," Hans scoffs. He snatches a glass shard from the ground and dips it to Damian's neck. "Stop this, Father!"
"You lost the right to call me that!" Victor barks and shakes Ben. "You were always a problem, and still I gave you a chance."
Hans lowers his voice. "You're not gonna kill your own son," he says.
"After what you two have done-" Victor murmurs. "-I'll make an exception." He lets his dagger knick Ben's flesh. "You on the other hand. You won't kill Damian. Your mother was always right, Hans. Only the strong endure and you don't have it in you. You never did. Even after everything she gave you."
"Mother was a monster," Hans utters.
"Spoken like a true weakling," Victor taunts and observes the prince's trembling hand. "You're shaking, boy. We both know that you're not going to slit Damian's throat. So unless you want Ben's blood on your hands for-"
In that moment, an arrow darts from the second room and stealthily strikes Victor. The elder collapses with a yelp and Lynn emerges from the shadows. Ben clasps his freed neck and gulps. "Nice shot," he tells the huntress.
While King Victor writhes on the ground, Hans steps away from the groaning Damian. All Hans wants to do is embrace his fiancé, but a rising shadow has his heart sinking. "Right..." he whispers. "-the monster."
The beast smashes one of its claws through a window. The lighthouse's foundation rattles as the creature forces itself inside. Bricks come tumbling down while the remaining window panes burst. Those inside are exposed to the open air as the monster pulls its way in.
"Run!" Ben shouts and urges his companions to flee. Eyeing Damian first, the beast surges forward and chomps down on his leg. The prince screeches and flails until his attacker flings him into the rising flames. The creature's bulky head snaps towards Hans and swipes its claw.
"Hans!" Lynn gasps and holds her fiancé tight.
"No!" Ben shouts and throws himself in front of Hans. The youngest prince shudders as the creature's claws dig into Ben's torso. The strike is brief as Hans and Lynn quickly pull him back. As they drag the wounded prince upstairs, the beast sets its sights on Victor.
The king can hardly remove the arrow from his shoulder as the monster approaches. A nearby shuffling has Victor peering leftward. Badly injured but far from dead, Marcus hobbles out of the second room. Blood dampens his shirt and pant leg. "M-Marcus!" the king pleads. "Help me, son! Save me!"
Marcus glances out of the lighthouse's gaping hole before turning back to Victor. "Sorry Father," he says with a shrug. "But someone has to rule once you're gone."
Shock and betrayal fill the king's eyes as he watches his so-called loyal son depart without him. Such a painful sight will be his last as the beast digs its claws into his shins. Victor screams in agony before the monster drags him towards its sharp and merciless fangs. The creature hurriedly bites into King Victor's frail body and pursues Marcus outside.
The eldest brother can only limp so far, and immediately finds himself trapped behind a wall of fire. "No," he grumbles while hunching forward. His eyes desperately scour the terrain for an escape route. "No! No!" His heart skips a beat when the beast stomps behind him. "Not like this," he panics, losing all sense of bravado. "Not like this! I am Prince Marcus of the Southern Isles! Future king and-"
He isn't even worth a clawing or mauling to the monster. Instead, it raises one of its clawed feet and stomps on him. With a rigorous and crunchy twist, his muffled cries are silenced. The beast squashes Marcus like an insect and then returns to the lighthouse.
Back within Odin's Torch, Hans and Lynn continue to drag Ben up the stairs. Profuse amounts of blood seep from his gashes and soak the flooring. "You're gonna be alright, brother!" Hans assures even as Ben's body weakens.
"Set me...down," his big brother whispers. His gentle gaze falls upon Hans as he knows to take him seriously.
"Lynn," Hans says. "I spotted Anna heading up here during the fight. Make sure she's okay and keep an eye out. I still haven't seen Leo and he could be springing a trap." The huntress nods and dashes upstairs while Hans sets Ben down. "Hold on, brother." Hans urges and takes Ben's hand in his. Blood dampens their palms as Ben shakes his head.
"It's...too late for me," his big brother coughs. Blood trickles from the corner of his mouth and stains the tip of his mustache. "Too late for...any of us."
"No, you're going to be fine. I'll-"
"Hans," Ben asserts even as he lays dying. His wavering gaze steadies on Hans when he continues. "We're a family of sinners. S-s-serpents in God's garden."
"But-" Hans chokes up. "-you weren't like the others. Not like me. Surely you've proved that tonight. What have you done wrong, Ben?"
As Ben clings to his frightened sibling, he's taken back to a time long before.
The air is dark and ashy as flames ascend with the sunrise. The screams of those dwelling in the Crescent Isle echo far beyond its waters. The young and old flee for their lives while the less fortunate are cut down. At their king's command, the soldiers of the Southern Isles burn homes and slaughter all who oppose them. Led by King Victor's sons, the raid sends a fearsome message to all who should further question his rule.
Prince Anton tramples a patron beneath his steed and thrusts his hand towards a farm. "Marcus," is all he has to say.
"I'm on it," his brother assures and leads men into a barn. Marcus torches the structure while soldiers round up fleeing cattle. Anton glances over at a family of three and observes the fear in their faces. Realizing it's their home, Anton smirks and raises a hand. A soldier gives him a torch and he rides towards the family's dwelling. Every intricate piece of floral decor means nothing as Anton stomps up to the porch. Unbeknownst to him, one of the family members is charging forward. Fury replaces fear as the young man boldly shoves Anton from behind.
The prince is caught off guard and the farm boy wrestles him for the torch. Suddenly, the youth's strength fades just as quickly as it ignited. His head hangs and his body collapses with a crossbow bolt in his back. As Anton recovers, he sees Prince Ben aiming his crossbow and nods.
"Nice shot, Benjamin." Marcus admits.
Ben is in a daze. He doesn't hear a single compliment from Marcus nor any of the other siblings. All he hears...is a mother's cries. Naomi's chaotic and agonizing cries. He just stays there...watching as the parents drop to their child. Naomi cradles his corpse while Anton sets her home ablaze. Her haunting screeches blaze their way into Ben's mind. "I was protecting Anton," he tells himself in an effort to block out her wails. "I was only protecting my brother."
"What have you done wrong, Ben?" Hans asks while cradling his brother.
Ben snaps himself back into the present moment. Despite excessive blood loss, he musters his strength for a final breath. And with it, he whispers, "I...justified it."
His grim words make Hans tremble. Ben's head falls back and the light leaves his gentle eyes. "Ben?" Hans murmurs while still clutching his hand. A single tear drips from his freckled cheek. Hans wants to tell himself otherwise, but like so many things...he knows the truth. His brother is gone and the guilt is ceaseless. As Hans ascends the stairs, he can hear the beast approaching. When he discovers that only Lynn and Anna are present, he faces a cold realization.
I'm next, he thinks and his instinct is to reach for Lynn's hands.
Anna is still recovering next to the balcony, but she can hear the creature climbing. The entire foundation shakes as Hans holds his fiancé close. "Lynn," he blurts. "I love you. I love you more than anyone. More than anything." His eyes keep darting back towards the approaching creature.
"Hans?" Lynn worries. She gasps when he runs towards the rising beast. "Hans!"
Its glowing eyes narrow on him as it opens its jagged maw. The creature's colossal claws dent the railing as it pounces at Hans. Time seems to slow when the monster descends upon him. Realizing there's no going back, Hans clenches his fists and braces himself. "I have sinned!" he yells. While the creature lurches forward, it snatches him up instead of going for the kill. Still, its claws remain inches from his throat and prompt Hans to speak quickly. "I have sinned!" he screams even louder. The beast roars in his sweat-drenched face. "I betrayed everyone," he confesses as Lynn's brows furrow below.
"What?" the huntress whispers and Anna holds her breath.
"This is not my first time in Arendelle," he admits as the claws dangle near his face. "I came long ago for Elsa's coronation. And of my own free will, I sought to claim Arendelle's throne as my own. Through my efforts-" Hans hangs his head in shame. "-I almost killed both her and her sister."
Lynn's eyes widen as she slowly turns to Anna. All the queen can do is grimly nod.
"I was exiled for my crimes against Arendelle," Hans continues as the creature's grip loosens. "When I returned to the Southern Isles, the political situation had only worsened. In order to avoid further publicity against my family, I was sent into exile. My misdeeds were covered to shroud all weakness and scandal in our family." Hans' ensuing silence dissatisfies the beast and it tightens its grip once more.
Realizing there's no escape, Hans exhales. "I met a woman," he confesses. "And I fell in love with her so deeply, that I wanted nothing more than for her to be my wife. And yet I couldn't bear the shame of my past, knowing I'd never stand a chance with her...or anyone if I told the truth. Because all which I had committed is unforgivable. So I lied to her...and I lied...and lied. I have nothing left to hide," he utters through broken breaths.
To Hans' shock, the creature's forearm relaxes. He can fully breathe again as it drops him to the floor and rises towards the railing. Unable to harm a fully repented individual, the beast's directive is fulfilled. It raises its claws to the moon and emits a resounding howl. The likes of which extinguish all flames and quell the very seas below. Its body then flakes apart, ascending like a lunar essence. Betwixt the floating particles, Hans can faintly make out an ethereal, human figure. David's spirit travels to regions unknown and fades into the night sky.
A heavy silence fills the air. "It's over," Hans whispers. As he remains on his knees, the sudden shuffling of boots catches his attention. His stomach drops when he sees Lynn behind him.
"It would appear so," the huntress answers. Any hint of endearment is gone as she coldly stares at him. She doesn't kneel nor sit beside Hans, for she's done lowering herself to his level. Despite her efforts to hide any brokenness, Hans can see the pain festering in her eyes.
The sight drives him to tears as he says, "Lynn...Lynn please...I swear that I truly love you."
"And yet you lied," she answers. "Over and over. All of those sleepless nights...all of those panic attacks were rooted in guilt, not trauma. And I dared to take pity on you."
Only when Hans hangs his head does he feel the tears streaming down his cheeks. "I was afraid," he pleads. "I was terrified of the truth and what it meant for us." Hans can barely find the strength to rise and meet her. Lynn doesn't budge as he stands up and says, "I'm...sorry."
She softly shakes her head and replies, "I would've stood by you, you know. If you had just come clean from the start." There's a hint of sternness as she adds, "We could've moved on together!" Lynn huffs when her temper causes Hans to shudder. She raises a hand to dry the tears from his cheeks and says, "Hans...I know you're sorry. And I do believe that you can still find happiness in this world." He faintly smiles as she takes his hands in hers. Any rekindled joy fades when he feels an object press against his palm. His resolve shatters as Lynn returns the engagement ring. "Just not with me," she says and closes his fingers around it. "Goodbye, Hans..." she whispers and slowly steps back.
"Lynn?" Hans stammers as she walks towards the stairs. "Wait, Lynn. Please don't do this. Not you. Please!" Although her eyes are filling with tears, the huntress never looks back. "I can't lose you too!" Hans sobs and drops to his knees all over again. Still, Lynn stays true to her resolve no matter how much it breaks her heart. Hans is a teary wreck as her head disappears beneath the stairs while Kristoff emerges.
"Anna!" he rejoices and pulls the queen into his arms. He's taken aback at first, for Anna's blankly staring at Hans. For the first time in possibly ever, she truly feels sorry for him. There weeps Hans...the sole surviving royal of the Southern Isles.
ONE WEEK LATER
Winter's beauty is best experienced away from the wiles of civilization. Yet Hans can't be bothered to focus on any of it. He stands amidst a gentle snowfall, letting his dark boots sink into the powder beneath him. His grief-stricken eyes remain fixated on Lynn's engagement ring as he rolls it in his palm. He lets the frosty air chill its metal and sting his hand...just so he can try to feel something. He waits before a forest like no other. And while its trees bear no leaves, they glisten with fresh layers of frost. Four tremendous monoliths tower ahead of the woodlands. Unique symbols lay etched across each as they stand guard over the mysterious territory. Hans runs his fingers across the ring, as if trying to savor any sensation of Lynn's.
"I hated you," a voice remarks and snaps Hans out of his trancelike state. Snow clings to his beard as he glances beyond his ebony collar. Kristoff finishes feeding Sven a carrot and locks eyes with Hans. "I put your name and face on every struggle Anna endured. I used to tell myself that only a truly heartless being could do those things. But-" Kristoff sighs. "I was wrong. To think you'd always be heartless, anyway. For what it's worth-" Kristoff murmurs. "-I wish you well."
Hans offers a subtle nod as twigs snap beyond the monoliths. Donning a magenta coat, Anna emerges from the treeline. "Hans," she declares. "It's time."
Hans takes a breath and pets his stationary steed. It's as if he's asking Sitron for strength before following Anna into the expansive woodland. Hans still can't believe that he's setting foot in an Enchanted Forest. But after everything he's experienced, reality becomes easier to sink into. Anna and Hans' boots crunch the snow along their trek.
The queen glances back and notices him fidgeting with the engagement ring. "She's gonna be alright," Anna assures. "She and Naomi left for a fresh start in Corona."
"Even Naomi?" Hans mumbles.
"The whole situation is a tragedy, but I've seen what those runestones can do to a person. Even before all of this. Arendelle will rebuild, just as they will rebuild their lives."
As Hans listens to her benevolent words, he is reminded of her poise and dignity. "That's good," he says. "They deserve fresh starts."
Anna pauses amid a frosted clearing. "We all do," she adds.
Hans starts shaking his head in self-loathing denial when something chitters in the trees. "What was that?" he asks as Anna remains silent. Hans looks up to see several leaves swirling in a surreal formation. They spiral downward and joyously wrap around Anna. As if possessed by an unseen force, the blustery leaves chirp in her ear before darting away.
"Thanks Gale," Anna tells the departing breeze as if it's signaled her.
"What in the world?" is all Hans can whisper before a mighty chill falls over the clearing. An icy breeze has Hans clenching his coat while Anna slowly backs away. A new sensation of fear pries at the prince when the winds pick up. His breaths hasten as a series of tumultuous gallops echo throughout the woods. It sounds as though something is stomping from all around him as Hans braces himself. "Anna?" he worries and turns to find her gone.
A sharp whinny makes Hans snap his head forward. He gasps when a luminous entity rides in atop an icy steed. She is unlike anything Hans has ever seen. Sunlight streaks through the trees and shimmers against the fractals on her pale dress. Intricate symbols flow across the hem and rest against her valiant mount. The horse's eyes glow like its rider's gleaming, platinum blonde hair. The frigid air has those free-flowing tresses cascading down her shoulders. From where she stands, the sunlight leaves a saintly, celestial glow behind her head. Her skin is as white as the snow itself. Her essence is truly one with the wind and sky. And despite each of these wonders, Hans can never forget Elsa of Arendelle.
It's her eyes that have him gasping. Those bright blue pools are as inquisitive as they've always been. Yet unlike the ones in Hans' plaguing memories, Elsa's eyes are now relaxed. Her thin brows hardly furrow as she dismounts and approaches Hans.
As she descends to his level, Hans drops even lower. Elsa's eyes briefly widen when he collapses to his knees. She thinks he's going to bow, but instead the disgraced prince breaks down. Hans can hardly utter a word as he falls forward and grasps at the snow. He's a whimpering mess as he clutches the very edge of Elsa's dress and buries his face in it. He weeps into her garment, ashamed to have even looked at her with his corrupted eyes. "I'm sorry," he murmurs. "I'm so sorry." Hans trembles until a cold palm meets his shoulder.
"Hans," Elsa says calmly. When he shakes his head in shame, she squeezes his shoulder to guide him upward. As he nervously lifts his head, Elsa says, "Sit with me." Her elemental horse stares Hans down while she guides him to a snowy log. "Don't worry," she assures. "The Nokk won't hurt you."
"Maybe it should," Hans says before cautiously sitting next to Elsa. "I've tried to find meaning in all of this," he laments. "But all I've discovered is that the world is better off without me. Everyone's moved on. I mean...look at you." Hans gestures to her very essence. "Anna tells me that you're the fifth...fifth-"
"Fifth Spirit," she answers for him.
"Practically a goddess among us," Hans mumbles. "And your sister's an amazing queen." Hans huffs. "I'm sure she's told you everything about me by now." Elsa nods and he sighs heavily. "I thought the truth would set me free, but all it did was prolong this curse."
"Curse?" Elsa queries.
"Living with the consequences of my actions," Hans answers. "I'll never be free."
Elsa purses her lips and ponders for a moment. "Perhaps telling the truth did set you free, Hans. Maybe you just can't see what it set you free of yet."
Hans painfully furrows his brows as if the burden is physically crushing him. "I've lost everything," he says. "My family, no matter how messed up...is gone. And I cost myself the only woman who ever truly loved me. What could I possibly have left?"
Elsa squints as if searching beyond Hans' tired eyes. He cannot get over how calm and collected she's become. "I know it may be hard to see right now-" she begins. "-but you haven't lost everything. You still have yourself, and you alone are enough. By telling the truth, you are no longer a prisoner of your past. Now only you get to choose what happens next. Whether you grow yourself into something new or not is completely up to you."
Hans thinks over her words and looks across the snowy forest. "I wish I could believe that," he says and rises from the log. "But there's no going back."
"But that's just it," Elsa says and stands up with him. "You're right. There isn't any going back to who you were. For now you can begin anew. You are all the Southern Isles has left, Hans, and they will need a king to lead them out of darkness. The question is...will you be that ruler?"
Hans briefly shuts his eyes at her words. When he does so, he envisions a shadowy field. The ethereal embodiments of his parents and brothers stand before him, all of which tote judgmental glares except for one. Amidst a sea of spite and strife, Ben stands tall. He looks at Hans with a gentle and hopeful gaze. And while the late prince doesn't say a word, his undemanding and bold smile declares: "Be better."
Hans opens his eyes and says, "The Southern Isles should be free of serpents. Its people deserve prosperous lives."
Elsa nods to him. "That just depends on the future that you build for them."
In that instant, Hans' body tenses up as Elsa kindly embraces him. Her gentle arms slide and wrap around him like an angelic entity. As she pulls him closer, Elsa whispers something that the prince has never heard in his life.
"I forgive you, Hans."
Every reiteration of 'unforgivable' melts with the Fifth Spirit's words. Hans feels his mind cleansed with each tear that flees his widened eyes. In that instant, Hans dares to hug Elsa back and weeps against her shoulder. His sobs are muffled as he cries harder than he ever has. Elsa's chilly palms pat his back while she adds, "Now it's time to forgive yourself."
He sniffles as they part from their hug. "I'll try," he whispers and scrubs the tears from his cheeks.
Anna waits for Hans as he emerges from the clearing. There's a newfound calmness to him and his bold nod speaks volumes. As Hans steps out of the Enchanted Forest, a lively blur darts between the trees. Its speckled feathers contrast vividly against the gentle snowfall. "A sparrow," Hans rejoices to himself. He slowly grins upward as the bird spreads its wings to the clouds above.
"Do you...hear that?" Hans asks as he traverses the snowy field.
Anna and Kristoff exchange a bewildered look. "No," Kristoff says.
"I don't hear anything," Anna concludes.
Their answers solidify Hans' blissful smile. "Exactly," he says. Gone is the voice of Hans' inner demon. Queen Brielle fades into the past where she belongs. Hans lets the engagement ring slide out of his hand and into the snow. He then unbuttons his coat and drops it behind him. A refreshing, winter breeze blows against his white undershirt. Like the sparrow spreading its wings, Hans extends his arms to catch the wind. As he basks in the tranquil sunlight, he whispers, "Isn't it beautiful?"
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading "Haunted Arendelle 2." It was an absolute honor and pleasure to entertain you throughout the month of October. Frozen is a franchise near and dear to me, so I do my best to provide quality stories for you all to enjoy. If you had a good time on this chilling adventure, it would mean the world to me if you left a review or comment.
Here at GoldenHeart Stories, the adventure always continues. "The Frozen Force" updates every Friday and is currently on its third season. As for my next standalone Frozen story, keep an eye out for an Agnarr x Iduna fanfic currently in production. You can follow GoldenHeart Stories on Instagram so you never miss a story update!
Long Live Imagination and I'll see you next time!
~ Michael