14

"Your Grace, Your Grace, "whispered the Captain to Hans whose eyes flickered open, "Your Grace we're about an hour from Arendelle time to get up sir."

Hans yawned, "thank you Captain, I'll be on deck shortly and if it's okay with you, I would like to sail the ship again and bring her into port, after all it may be the last time I get to sail for a while."

"I don't mind at all," smiled the Captain, I'll be on deck waiting for you."

The captain left Hans's cabin as he stirred himself awake and got out of his bed on the ship. He freshened up with some fresh water, trimmed his beard and picked out his best dress uniform, after all he wanted to make sure he looked his best for his execution, figuratively speaking of course. He smiled at himself with that thought, but he expected a dressing down from Anna and Elsa.

It took him about ten minutes to get prepared for the day that was coming and he strode confidently up onto the deck. Today, he thought, was in fact the first day of the rest of his life and he was determined to make it count and show his brothers once and for all that he was as good if not better than them.

The crew members greeted him and he asked one what was for breakfast and if he could have some taken to him at the wheel. Looking around from the deck he recognised the cliffs of Arendelle in the distance and the entrances to the fjords that dominated the country side. As he approached the wheel, he dreamt of what today and the following days may bring and smiled at the thought of getting some revenge on his brothers and them begging for mercy.

"Prince Hans, the ship is yours," spoke The Captain.

"Thank you, sir," he replied as he took over control and thought that maybe just being a ship captain exploring the world from the seas may be a good fit for him as sailing was one of the few things that gave him peace and fulfillment and allowed him to escape from the torment of his brothers. Plus, and he knew it even though his brothers never admitted it, he was much better at it than they were, as well as horsemanship, none of them could ride like he could.

It was all part of his drive to show them that he was as good if not better than they were. He even thought that being requested back to Arendelle, the first person since the events of four years from The Southern Isles, which included his older brother the king showed his superiority. But again, his thoughts turned to why, well he would know soon enough as he tacked the ship towards Arendelle's Harbour. The idea of getting Elsa angry at his brothers still played in his mind, he wasn't interested in being king anymore, just revenge so that his brothers could feel the pain they caused him for all those years.

Hans also knew he had, what he thought a fair bit of ammunition to get Elsa mad at them, he'll play that game for now, if it doesn't work, well, he would try something else. He steeled himself for the hostile reception he would get, which he perfectly understood after the stunt he tried to pull and he had read how beloved the two sisters had become in Arendelle. He also expected his accommodation would be the same cell he put Elsa in all those years ago. Well, it would be quiet, but not comfortable.

He took a deep breath and sighed; destiny awaited he thought as the castle came into view.

Meanwhile, in the castle, Kai approached Anna and Kristoff's room and knocked on the door.

"Queen Anna, Your Majesty, the ship has been sighted."

"Thank you, Kai, Kristoff and I will be out shortly, please inform Elsa and General Mattias," she replied.

"So, he's here," said Kristoff who was dressed a little more formal than usual, "are you ready for this?"

"I think so, do I look like a Queen?" She asked.

"Always," smiled Kristoff.

He then took her arm and led her out of the room and walked towards Elsa's room, the door opened and Elsa came out to greet them, though they were taken a bit by surprise.

"Woah Elsa," exclaimed Anna.

"Oh, this old thing," replied Elsa referring to her original outfit she created four years ago when she built her ice castle, "yeah, I thought I'd put it on for Hans for familiarity and as you can see, I braided my hair again. Figure the familiarity might make him more comfortable to answer questions."

"Some mind games there Elsa?" remarked Kristoff.

"Yes." Replied Elsa

"Well, you still look great in it" smiled Anna, "I am looking forward to seeing his reaction to me being Queen now."

"That should be interesting," said Kristoff, "and me as your husband."

"Oh, I imagine that will make him very upset," laughed Anna.

"Well, let's go confront him." said Elsa and they walked down to the palaces' major ballroom.

At the base of the main stairway leading to the ballroom, General Mattias was waiting for them.

"Good morning Your Majesties," he smiled, "any final instructions Queen Anna?"

"No," replied Anna, "just meet Prince Hans at the dock and escort him here to the main ballroom before showing him to his room."

"Very good Your Majesty," responded General Mattias who then turned and walked out of the palace to where ten Arendellian soldiers awaited him and accompanied him down to the docks to greet Prince Hans's ship.

Anna, Elsa and Kristoff entered the ballroom, the same one where they had Elsa's inauguration party four years earlier. Three chairs that had been arranged by Kai on the platform just above the ballroom floor for them to sit in. The centre seat was the Throne of Arendelle for Anna to sit in, on her right was Kristoff's chair with Elsa's on her left.

Anna thought it best that Olaf not attend the initial meeting as she believed it might upset him a bit coming to face to face with Hans, so she told him to stay with Sven for now promising that he would get his say later.

The three of them took their seats and Anna remarked "This is the first time this seat seems a bit uncomfortable."

Kristoff grabbed her hand to reinsure her. "You will do fine Anna, you got this," he smiled.

"Yes," spoke up Elsa, "and if he plays up, I'll just freeze him, or Brunei here will burn him."

That brought a smile to Anna's face, "I wouldn't mind seeing that," she laughed.

Meanwhile, General Mattias and the Arendellian Guard had reached the dock just as Hans's ship entered the port.

"Remember men," he started, "we are to treat Prince Hans with both dignity and suspicion, I wasn't here for the events of four years ago, but I imagine most of you were and have strong feelings towards this gentleman."

They all answered in the affirmative as they were all in the service four years ago, in fact, the two guards who threw him into the brig on the French Ambassadors' ship were among the ten guards.

"Okay," spoke General Mattias, "if I was here then, I would have kicked him in the butt as well. Trust me, from what I have been told about the incidents of four years ago, I want to do it to him now."

Laughter came from the guards.

"However, we must be professional and show how we proudly serve Arendelle."

The guards came to attention with pride as Hans's ship came alongside the wharf and was quickly secured to the dock. The crew of the ship then lowered the ramp from the ship onto the dock so that all could disembark.

Hans thanked the captain for letting him to sail the ship into Arendelle's port and went to disembark from the ship. He looked around at the familiar scene that he remembered from four years ago and breathed in the fresh salt air. The one thing he did notice was that the castle now had a permanent coating of frost on its roofs and turrets, which he thought was quite stunning in its beauty.

He approached the ramp and noticed the Arendellian soldiers there to escort him to possibly the dungeon that he believed would probably be his accommodation for however long he was going to be here. He recognised many of the guards, including the two that threw him into the brig on the French Ambassadors' ship. Hans held no grudge against them, they were just doing their job and taking into account what he attempted last time, he didn't expect any different.

There was one man there though that he didn't recognise and he appeared to be in charge, must be someone new that Arendelle hired since he was here four years ago.

General Mattias looked up at the top of ramp and recognised Prince Hans straight away.

"Prince Hans of the Southern Isles?" he asked

"That is correct," responded Hans, "and you are?"

"General Mattias, commander of the Arendellian Guard, I'm here to escort you to her Majesty Queen Anna of Arendelle."

"Very good, I'm sure her Majesty isn't looking forward to seeing me, you're new, I don't remember seeing you here four years ago?"

"Not new Prince Hans, let's just say I was away from my post for an unexpected length of time."

"I imagine you will want to place my hands in chains," said Hans offering his hands to be cuffed.

"No that won't be necessary Prince Hans," smiled Mattias, "but thanks for the offer"

"Oh," responded Hans, "that's surprising and better than I expected."

"Prince Hans" spoke Mattias as he turned and faced Hans with a stern look on his face, "I am well

aware of the events of four years ago so yes be grateful that Queen Anna has instructed that we do not put you in chains at this moment. You're not under arrest for those events, you are here to answer questions about those events, understood?"

"Understood clearly," responded Hans a bit taken aback.

"Now," started Mattias, "the Queen has requested you pay her a quick audience before we take you to your room. My men will take your luggage to your room, now please follow me."

"Lead the way my good man," responded Hans.

Three of the Arendellian guards boarded Hans's ship to retrieve his belongings while General Mattias and the rest of the guard led Hans towards the castle.

"Tell me General Mattias," started Hans, "what exactly happened to Queen Elsa?"

"Let's just say she became more than she was Prince Hans," he responded.

"Oh, you mean more powerful?"

"You can say that."

"Well, she was scary powerful last time I was here."

"Prince Hans, she has complete control of it now as you can see from the roof of the castle."

"Yes, I noticed that on the way in, it is quite stunning."

They approached the main square of the castle and Hans could not help but notice the glaring stares he was getting from the Arendellian citizens, not that he didn't understand why they would look at him with such disapproval, but it did make him uncomfortable.

Two members of the guard opened the main doors and Hans walked inside the castle remembering every detail of it from four years ago. He actually thought to himself that this would have been a nice place to live if things had turned out differently four years ago, but it didn't and he doubted they would invite him to live here now, even as a normal citizen.

They approached the doors to the main ballroom, the same one where he began sweeping Anna off her feet in his attempt to win the throne by deception by making her fall in love with him. He recognised the head of the house staff as he stood at the door awaiting their arrival. Hans got the same look of disdain from him as he had from everyone on his short walk from the dock to the palace.

"Kai, can you announce to Queen Anna that we have arrived" spoke Mattias formally.

"Very good General," responded Kai, "please wait here."

Kai then entered the main ballroom where Anna, Elsa and Kristoff were seated.

"Your Majesty, Prince Hans has arrived."

"Very well Kai, please show him in,"

Kai then went back to the door and opened it and motioned for Mattias and Hans to enter, he then turned again to Anna "Your Majesty, Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."

Hans bowed before Anna and simply said "Your Majesty."

Anna, had to fight the conflicting emotions in her on seeing Hans again which ranged from screaming at him to marching down to him and wanting to hurt him again, but she composed herself and responded "Prince Hans, thank you for responding to my request so quickly."

"Queen Anna, thank you for requesting my attendance, I am not sure why I am here, and am very surprised, but before I say anything let me extend to you, your sister Elsa and you're the entire Kingdom of Arendelle my most sincere apology for my actions of four years ago, I am a different man now."

"Prince Hans," started Anna a little angry, "though I do appreciate your apology, I am sure you will appreciate that a simple apology will not suffice, as for the reason you are here, well we are going to investigate and try and find out why you did what you did four years ago, I expect honest answers from you and will not tolerate any bad behaviour on your behalf. Trust me, any such behaviour like last time will have serious consequences."

"Queen Anna, I fully understand and I will co-operate to the best of my ability but I must ask, why have you called me now, four years after the event."

"Prince Hans," began Elsa, "we have come across some information in regards to what your motives may have been and we want to see if they are true and if so, how to prevent something like what you did ever happening again."

Hans looked at Elsa, she hadn't changed at all in the four years, even had the same outfit on from when he last saw her. He did notice Brunei sitting on her shoulder and wondered why she had a creature like that with her.

"Queen Elsa," he began, "I'm sorry, what information do you have and how, I'm puzzled."

"We will let you know that later Prince Hans, but I imagine you would like to go to your room now and freshen up, your lunch meal will be brought up to you and we will reconvene here at two o'clock," said Anna more because she was finding it hard to control her emotions talking to him and just wanted to get this first meeting over and done with.

"Very well," responded Hans, "however, I do have one enquiry if I may as I have waited almost three years to ask this."

Anna looked at Elsa and Kristoff, a little worried about Hans's question but they both shrugged their shoulders as if why not.

"Very well, what is your enquiry?"

"Well about a year after I got back home from Arendelle I was mucking out the horses stall when I got hit by a giant snowball and I just want to know if you knew anything about that? My brothers made even more fun of me over that as they didn't believe me."

Anna and Elsa turned to each other and couldn't help to giggle.

"Oh," started Elsa, "unfortunately yes that was me, but it was purely accidental," again she was having trouble controlling her amusement at this revelation, "you see, it was Anna's birthday and I wanted to throw a great celebration for her."

"Yes," cut in Anna smiling at the thought, "unfortunately Elsa caught a cold and when she blew the birthday bugle horn, it sent a giant snowball into the sky."

"Exactly,' giggled Elsa, "I'm sorry, we didn't aim it at you, in fact it wasn't aimed anywhere, we thought it would have just landed in the sea, but well, sorry."

Hans found himself seeing the funny side a bit, "well, at least I know it happened and how, thank you for that, now if I can excuse myself, I would like to go to my room?"

"Yes of course," responded Anna, "General Mattias please show Hans to his room."

"Very good Your Majesty," he replied and motioned Hans to follow him out of the main ballroom room and head towards the stairs that led up to the third level of the castle.

As the door closed behind them, Anna, Elsa and Kristoff couldn't help but burst into laughter.