20
Hans jumped as there was a knock at his door just after the explosion. After a brief moment of composing himself, he finally answered "Yes."
"Prince Hans, Queen Anna has given you permission to walk around Arendelle accompanied by four guards."
Hans smiled as he didn't expect that at all and was very, very pleased. "Come in good sir, I'll be ready in a minute."
"Okay," said the guard and he entered the room.
"What is your name soldier?" asked Hans, "I feel so impersonal with you, plus, what was that explosion I just heard?"
"Ahh," stumbled the guard, "my name is Erik Prince Hans and that explosion, well they finally began blasting for the Arendelle Railway's tunnel."
"Oh, is that what that was Erik, it gave me a bit of a fright," he answered as he adjusted his dress uniform, "okay, I'm ready."
"Right this way your grace,"
Hans walked towards his room's door and saw the other three guards waiting for him.
"Good afternoon gents," he said in good spirits. To which there was no reply from them.
"Anywhere in particular you would like to go Prince Hans?" asked Erik.
"I do like ships and the open sea being from the Southern Isles, so I would like to see the harbor first if that's okay?"
"That's good sir," replied Erik.
Hans and his guards left the room and walked down the stairs to the main entrance of the palace. When he stepped outside, he took a deep breath in and smiled at the guards.
"That air smells wonderful." To which he just got some affirmative nods.
He then walked towards the docks and couldn't help notice the stares he was getting from the Arendellian people, which were quite cold and piercing. Hans expected this and being honest with himself, if he was in their shoes, he would have viewed himself in the same way. A far cry from when
Anna left him in charge when she went off to try and find Elsa four years ago. The people adored him because he was doing the right thing by them and seeing to their needs and standing up to that weasel Wesselton, who he never liked.
That was until they found out that it was all big lie because his plans were starting to unravel at that time and he wasn't sure what action he could take to get them back on track. He was hoping that Anna would return with Elsa and she could end the winter. But when Anna didn't return, Elsa couldn't reverse the winter and then Anna was dying from a frozen heart, he turned on them and attempted to kill their beloved Queen and Princess for his personal gain.
Those thoughts left him as they approached the harbour and Hans noticed a small sailing ship docked and to him, it was a thing of absolute beauty making him think of one of the few things that actually brought him joy through the years, sailing, and he knew he was damn good at it, better than all his brothers at least.
"Erik," he spoke up, "what is that beautiful sailing boat there?"
"Oh, that's the Queen Elsa," responded Erik.
"The Queen Elsa?" enquired Hans.
"Yes, she was a gift for Queen Elsa just before the events of Autumn last year from Arendelle's master ship builder Janus Norstrum."
"Yes, I have heard of Janus, he is a great ship builder," responded Hans with admiration.
"She is a racing boat designed to be crewed by five, but one person can sail her, we are hoping to enter her in some races this summer." Informed Erik to Hans.
"Well, she's a beauty, you do know that I am a very good sailor," boasted Hans with pride, "I would love to go sailing on her, but probably not, right?"
"Unfortunately for you, Prince Hans, that would be very doubtful."
"Yes, yes I know and for what it's worth, I wish to apologise to you and your fellow Arendellian soldiers for what I did, it was completely unacceptable and I take full responsibility for my actions," said Hans with remorse.
He paused to see if there was any reaction, but no, except a slight nod from Erik.
"Okay," he continued, "is it alright if we go have a look at your new railway line? That blast has got me curious, then I am happy to head back to my room."
"Very well Prince Hans," responded Erik, "this way your grace."
Hans turned around and he could see the main balcony of the palace and sure enough, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and little Olaf were standing on it watching him. He resisted the thought to wave at them as he was pretty sure that would not be appropriate.
After Anna gave permission for Hans to take a walk outside, her, Elsa and Kristoff made their way to the main balcony of the castle that looked out over the courtyard so they could keep an eye on Hans and where he went.
They watched as he and the four Arendellian guards left the palace and walked into the courtyard and were curious to see Hans headed straight towards the harbour.
"Hmm, wonder why he wanted to see the harbour?" asked Anna.
"Hopefully to find a ship and leave," responded Kristoff with a little bit of venom.
"Well, he does come from an island kingdom, so maybe the smell of the sea and water attracts him," responded Elsa.
"That actually makes sense," replied Kristoff.
"He seems to have taken an interest in The Queen Elsa?" said Anna.
"Yes, again, I remember that the Southern Isles are really into sailing," answered Elsa.
"I hope he's not thinking about anything," started Kristoff, "that boat can be sailed by one person."
"Yes," replied Anna to Kristoff, "but it takes a highly skilled sailor to do so like Janus."
"I know, but we should be cautious."
"Don't worry honey," answered Anna, "I will put a guard by the boat."
"Hey guys," came the familiar voice of Olaf, "this where you are, what are we looking at?"
"We're looking at Hans Olaf," answered Elsa.
"Hans," expressed Olaf with concern, "you let him out of his room?"
"Yes Olaf," responded Anna, "but he has four guards with him to make sure he doesn't try anything."
"Plus," began Elsa, "Gale is nearby, so I can keep him in check as well."
"Oh, that's good, I suppose he isn't interested in that book I brought him."
"What book was that Olaf?" asked Anna.
"The one about the Northuldra, he did express an interest in Ahtohallan and that was the only book I knew that had anything about it in it."
"Oh," said Elsa, "did he give a reason why he was interested in Ahtohallan?"
"Something about wanting to understand you more Elsa."
"Hmm," she responded, "I suppose there's nothing to it, he's probably just trying to learn if there are any other ways to push my buttons."
"That's probably right Elsa," replied Anna, "but this time I think were one step ahead of him."
"Yes," answered Elsa, "though I think tomorrow morning I'll properly introduce him to Gale and Brunei, that should intimidate him a bit from trying anything else."
"It would me," said Kristoff, "but, remember what Pabbie said though, we have to try and get his heart to refocus on something other than his lust for revenge."
"Yes honey," responded Anna, "and that is the most difficult thing to do, how do you turn years of hate into something positive?"
Hans and the four soldiers took about ten minutes to get to where the railway line was being built. They had to keep a safe distance from where they were blasting for the tunnel, but from the vantage point they were able to get to, the tunnel was clearly visible, well after the dust had settled as there was a second blast while they were walking towards it.
"Wow,' said Hans, then facing the other way and pointing, "I assume the station is going to be down there?"
"Yes," responded Erik, "the first section should be completed by this time next year."
"That's great, of course, being surrounded by water, it's a bit hard to build a railway line to the Southern Isles," he smiled, to very little reaction.
"However, we have built a short line from our docks to certain places on the Isle to transport freight."
Again, there wasn't much reaction, just a nod of approval and he realised how big chasm was for him to gain the trust of anyone in Arendelle. But it didn't matter, their approval wasn't a part of his plan he was formulating. He had noticed a shed near the entrance to the tunnel they were building with danger signs all over it and he assumed that was where they were storing the explosives for the tunnel.
Keep that and the boat in your mind he thought as it may be important for his plan B or even a plan C. He didn't want to hurt anyone in Arendelle this time, let alone Anna and Elsa, but he hoped he could somehow manipulate them into hurting his family and the Southern Isles.
But, don't get obsessed like last time, he thought to himself. Must not make the same mistakes, this time you are going to succeed and your brothers will beg forgiveness.
A grin came across his face as he turned to Erik, "thank you gentlemen, I am happy to return to my room now."
"Very well your Grace, this way please," said Erik.
They made their way back to the castle and again he noticed Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf, on the balcony watching him, but this time he gave them a little wave and smile.
"Don't worry ladies," he said to himself, "you will help me this time, but you won't be harmed."
Again, he turned to his memory of the giant snowball hitting him and smiled, "if Elsa can reach the Southern Isles from here," he thought, "that would be perfect, but now, back to learning more about the Northuldra and Ahtohallan, they may give me my inspiration for a plan B."