19
The conversation continued in the gaming room as Anna, Elsa and Kristoff tried to see if they could find a way to diffuse Hans's desire for revenge. They even called in General Mattias to see if he could contribute to the conversation based on his experiences.
"Thanks for coming General," said Anna, "first thing, can you advise Prince Hans that there will be no further questioning today, but we will resume tomorrow morning at ten AM."
"I'll get the guards to inform him your Majesty," responded General Mattias.
"Now general," started Elsa, "we would like your thoughts on a delicate matter we are trying solve regarding Hans?"
"Happy to help Your Majesties."
Anna stepped in, "now, we believe we have uncovered what Hans's scheme is this time, and even though it doesn't threaten anyone's life directly or the crown, it could have devastating effects on Arendelle's reputation."
"What do you think his plans are?"
It was Elsa's turn, "well General, Hans saw me at my ice castle four years ago he saw me very angry as I was fighting for my life against Wesselton's men and I was using my ice powers, well, there's delicate way to put this, I was trying to kill them before they killed me."
"Your Majesty," responded Mattias in shock.
"Yes, exactly," said Elsa.
"Yes," continued Anna, "and we believe that Hans's tactics this time is anger Elsa again with the hope that my sister will do something bad to The Southern Isles."
"Wait, why would he want Elsa to do something bad to The Southern Isles."
"Because," started Elsa, "at Ahtohallan we saw that Hans was badly mistreated by all of his older brothers and his father was a little uncaring."
"What about his mother?" enquired the general.
"His mother sadly died before his first birthday," replied Anna, "and all of his brothers blamed him for it."
"That's terrible and explains a lot."
"Yes, it does," replied Anna, "his brothers also said a lot of disparaging remarks about Elsa and I when we were separated and he's using these to upset Elsa and try and get her mad."
"I see, but how is Elsa going to hurt The Southern Isles from Arendelle?" he asked
Elsa sort of giggled, which she knew was inappropriate but couldn't help it, "you see three years ago I wanted to give Anna the best birthday in order to make up for all those I missed, I just wanted it to be a perfect day.
But I caught a cold and, in my delirium, I insisted on blowing the birthday bugle horn and, unknown to us at the time, sent a very large snowball all the way to The Southern Isles that hit Hans."
Mattias couldn't help laughing at this as well. "Yes, that is funny your Majesty, I gather he told you this?"
"Yes, when he first appeared before us," answered Elsa, "however, what we need your advice on is that Pabbie advised us that driving force behind what Hans did four years ago and what he is trying to do here is revenge, revenge on his family for the years of abuse."
"Yes General," interrupted Anna, "we want to know if you have had any experience or suggestions of how to diffuse that anger, that desire for revenge?"
"Actually, I may have Queen Anna," replied Mattias, "after we got trapped in the Enchanted Forest, most of the men under my command wanted revenge on the Northuldra for killing King Runeard your grandfather.
But I had to remind them that we were incredibly outnumbered and any such attack would be suicidal. That dose of reality cured any feelings of revenge very quickly."
"I guess it would," said Anna, "just how did you survive all those years in the forest?"
"Well," started the General, "we sat down with the Northuldra under a flag of truce and agreed to keep to ourselves, we reminded them how the spirits reacted to our fighting and they agreed. It just seemed logical, we did have contact from time to time and they even helped us sometimes when it came to food and shelter, it was sort of in their nature. We got quite good at living off the land there."
Anna and Elsa smiled at him. "You are a good man," started Elsa, "Anna did the right thing putting you in charge of the Arendellian Guard."
"Thank you, Queen Elsa."
"Yes," began Anna, "I would like you to be in the throne room tomorrow when we tell Prince Hans that we are unto his scheme, plus, if you think it appropriate, give him some advice regarding his anger and vengeful tendencies, Pabbie said we need to focus his heart onto something better. Unfortunately, I don't think we have something as logical as you had in the forest to steer Hans away from his desire for revenge."
"Well," started Mattias, "maybe we can find something, I will be there Your Majesty."
Just then Kai came back into the room, "Your Majesty, Prince Hans has been informed of tomorrow mornings session."
"Thank you, Kai," said Anna.
"Also, Your Majesty, he has made a request," he enquired.
"A request, what request?" responded Anna.
"He has asked if he could take a walk outside, under guard of course, so he can stretch his legs and get some fresh air."
"Go for a walk?" asked Anna with suspicion, "Elsa, Kristoff what do you think?"
"I wouldn't trust him," spoke up Kristoff, "we know he is still scheming, this maybe his plan B."
"It's up to Anna, as long as he is closely guarded and you want the guards to tell you exactly where he walked and any questions, he had for them." Replied Elsa.
"That's good thinking Elsa," said Kristoff, "then I'll change to yes under those circumstances, maybe we can get ahead of him again."
"Okay then," said Anna, "Kai tell him yes, General Mattias I want four guards to go with him."
"Very good your Majesty," responded Mattias and Kai in unison.
"Wait a minute Kai," spoke up Elsa.
"Yes, Queen Elsa, "he responded.
"I just thought of something else I need to talk to you about regarding Prince Hans regarding his father King Bjorn."
"Yes, what would you like to know Queen Elsa?"
"What can you tell us about Hans's father?"
"Well," began Kai, "he and your father became fairly close, he did have a good relationship with your grandfather, but when he died, he sort of took your father under his wing a bit, helping where he could and giving advice as to how your father could be a good king.
But, when his wife, Queen Isabella died, he was heartbroken and sort of withdrew into himself, she was by all means the love of his life. He didn't visit Arendelle as much, though he did express concern Queen Elsa when you and Queen Anna were separated. However, your father never let him know why you were separated.
"Your father also confronted him when he heard some of the rumours as to what the Princes of the Southern Isles were saying about you and to his credit, he was honest about it and promised to quell his boys immediately. Which seemed to happened, because we didn't hear much more about it from the Southern Isles, though we never heard much from King Bjorn as well.
He was at the memorial service for your parents and even talked to you Queen Anna."
"He did," responded Anna, "to be honest, I don't remember, but then again, I don't remember much about that day at all except sitting in front of your door Elsa."
Elsa looked at her with a sad face and just nodded.
"Well, he did ask where Queen Elsa was and you said that Queen Elsa was to upset to attend the ceremony."
"Sounds like what I would say, I imagine I said that to a lot of the dignitaries there that day, which ended up being true." She said, looking sadly at Elsa.
"I'm sorry Anna, that day still haunts me to," responded Elsa, "anyway, thank you Kai that was very informative."
Kai bowed and simply said "your Majesties," and continued with his duties.
While the conversation was happening in the gaming room, Hans started looking at the book Olaf had given him hoping to find some information about Ahtohallan but soon realised Olaf gave him a book about the Northuldra people to the North. At first, he was annoyed, but started reading anyway simply because there was nothing better to do to pass the time away.
As he read, he somehow found himself becoming more and more interested in the Northuldra to the point where he started to become slightly envious. A simple but fulfilling life, no pressure, no need to live up to expectations and everyone treating each other like family. He even thought that maybe that would be a good place for him to stay.
But, the Northuldra had become close to Arendelle with Elsa and Anna so there is no doubt his reputation was known to them and they would never accept him. He knew he couldn't go back to the Southern Isles, especially if he satisfied his thirst for revenge came to fruition, his plan was to simply sail east across the ocean and settle in a whole new land far from the Southern Isles, Arendelle and all the local kingdoms, somewhere where no one knew or had even heard of him.
Then suddenly as he was reading, he saw the myth and legend of Ahtohallan and his eyes lit up. According to the book Ahtohallan was in the far north and was a place where all the memories of the world were stored. Plus, it was the home of the mythical Fifth Spirit.
"Fifth Spirit," he said to himself, "that's what Elsa calls herself now, maybe it's not such a myth."
The book also included the words of the lullaby that Elsa and Anna's mother sang to them. He actually found the words quite moving and wondered how the song went, maybe Elsa and Anna could sing it to him.
Suddenly there was a knock at his door.
"Prince Hans?" came the voice of his guard.
"Yes, what is it, good sir?" he replied politely.
"Just to inform you that Queen Anna has scheduled the next session for tomorrow morning at ten am."
"That's fine," he replied, then a thought came into his head, plan B, "excuse me guard?"
"Yes, Prince Hans, what is it?"
"Well, seeing I am going to couped up in this room for the rest of the day, can you ask Queen Anna, with her permission of course and under guard, if I could go outside for a walk, you know, to stretch my legs and get some fresh air and sunshine?"
"I will ask, Prince Hans?"
"Thank you, good sir."
The guard left and Hans thought that it was highly unlikely Anna would let him out, even under guard, but if she did, it may give him some ideas for a plan B.
He returned to his book while he waited for the guard to return, though he knew it would only be a few minutes and sure enough, he was right when a knock came upon his door.
"Prince Hans," began the guard.
I'll be right there sir," responded Hans as he got up to answer the door.
Suddenly though, he heard a loud bang that rattled his window and he looked outside and saw some dust and smoke rise in the sky.
"What the hell was that?" he said to himself.