22
The conversation between Olaf and Hans continued, with Hans asking more questions about Ahtohallan many of which Olaf couldn't answer. They were quite cordial to each other and Olaf started thinking, 'how did this man do such bad things?'
Finally, Olaf's curiosity couldn't be restrained. "Prince Hans, why and how could you want to murder Elsa and Anna?"
"I ask myself that a lot Olaf to," he replied, "tell me, how is your relationship with Elsa, Anna and Kristoff?"
"It's wonderful, lots of love, warm hugs, consideration, laughter."
"You're lucky," responded Hans, "my family was all about taunting me, making me feel guilty, despising me, no love, very little consideration and lots of ridicule."
"Oh dear, that's so sad," said Olaf.
"Yes, it is, and I don't need to tell you what they thought of Elsa and Anna."
"I heard they said some pretty nasty things," said Olaf with a little venom, 'I also heard that they upset Elsa too just before."
"Yes, I am sorry about that," he said seemingly sincerely, "but if they are trying to figure out why I did what I did four years ago, don't you think it's important they also know the views of my brothers?"
"I suppose so," answered Olaf, "why were they so cruel?"
"I don't know, I didn't think that way and that's the honest truth, I guess it gave them someone to talk down to other than me. I actually decided to write to Elsa," he said trying to look heroic.
"You did, why?" asked Olaf.
"Well, to be perfectly honest, it was part of my plan, though back then there was nothing sinister about it. I thought that Elsa might be as lonely and upset as I was because she was separated from everyone and she could use a friend. Of course, I wanted to befriend her to create a relationship that could lead to our marriage so that I could brag to my brothers that I am not a loser, but also, I was sincere in that attempt because I could have done with a friend and a good relationship as well."
"Well," said Olaf, "that seemed like a good idea, even with your ulterior motive."
"Yes, but Elsa never responded," continued Hans, "I even wrote to her after the death of her parents and again nothing. So, I gave up on that approach, though I do understand now that her parents didn't want her to have my letters because they might have triggered her powers."
"Well, Elsa didn't have any control back then." Replied Olaf.
"If I am honest, when I think about it now, if my letters had of succeeded and I discovered about her powers, I would have been actually thrilled, I mean, it would have been so incredible to have a wife with those powers."
"That's great Prince Hans, but how did you become a homicidal maniac?"
Hans looked at him with a surprised expression.
"Homicidal maniac!" then he calmed down because of the reality, "yeah, I suppose I did become one, well, lust for revenge, frustration with my simple plan falling apart and circumstances with Anna having a frozen heart which I couldn't cure because I didn't have anything that would have been a true love gesture and Elsa, unable to stop the winter and then so depressed about Anna. It was numerous things Olaf and the scariest part about it, and I will admit this, how easily I became that homicidal maniac."
"So, are you sorry for what you did?" he asked.
"Of course, I am sorry, though I am also sorry that I didn't show my brothers that I am not a loser and the incidents of four years ago made me look like an even bigger one."
"So, you still want revenge on your family?"
"Yes, damn it yes, I do!" Hans exclaimed, "but rest assured, no one other than my brothers will get hurt this time, I have no desires on the Arendelle throne, in fact after I am finished here, I plan to sail across the ocean to somewhere where they don't know me so I can start a new life."
Olaf looked at him sadly, "it's sad you feel that way."
"Yes, I know, but I can't change my heart, it's path is set," Hans said emphatically.
Anna, Elsa and Kristoff waited in the games room with General Mattias as they talked strategy over how they would confront Hans in regards to what they believed was his plan to try and exact his revenge on his brothers by making Elsa so angry that she would lash out at The Southern Isles.
Chances are he would deny it at first, but then realise that he has failed again and then lash out in some other way. Or he could admit it and then secretly try another strategy. They all agreed that they should keep him in Arendelle for as long as it was safe to do so, or if they found out some way of changing his heart and redirecting it another path.
Elsa, decided, with agreement from the others that the first thing she should do tomorrow morning is give him a little demonstration of how powerful she has become by demonstrating what Brunei and Gale can do just to intimidate him a little. Though, he might see through that because of what happened up in Elsa's ice castle four years ago. But she wouldn't be averse to letting Gale spin him around a bit.
Suddenly the doors to the Gaming Room opened up and Olaf strolled in.
"How did it go with Hans?" asked Kristoff.
"It actually went quite well, he opened up to me a bit." He replied.
"What did you find out Olaf?" asked Anna.
"Well, he is still wanting vengeance on his family, though he did say that nobody other than his brothers would get hurt this time."
"Really," started Elsa, "we believe he is trying to upset me so that I will lash out in anger against his brothers."
"He is?" questioned Olaf, "so that's why he told you all those nasty things his brothers said."
"Yes" replied all them almost as one.
"Hmm and here was I thinking he was becoming nice," Olaf paused and began shaking his head, "okay, well he also went into the letters he sent you Elsa."
"What did he say about that?" she asked.
"Oh, just that, yes he was trying to form a relationship with you through correspondence, but I do believe, as he said, he thought you could use a friend because he could relate to you being locked up and feeling alone, as he did with the abuse he got from his brothers. He seemed genuinely disappointed you never answered."
"Oh," came the reply from Elsa.
"What else did he say Olaf?" asked Anna.
"He was very interested in Ahtohallan and the Northuldra," he paused, "I really got the impression that he would like to go live with them, that he no longer wanted to be a Prince, just live a simple fulfilling life. Unfortunately for him he realised that they would probably never accept him after what he did to you Anna and Elsa."
"He would be right with that," spoke up Kristoff.
"Anyway," continued Olaf, "he did mention that after he got his revenge, or he is done here, he plans to sail east across the ocean to somewhere where no one knows him, or his reputation, again so maybe he could live in peace."
"Well, he seems determined not to go back to the Southern Isles," spoke up Anna, "I find the fascination with the Northuldra interesting though."
"Why Anna?" asked Kristoff.
"Well, Pabbie said we needed to find a new direction for his heart to take him off the path of revenge, to be honest, our Northuldra friends could be the answer, if they were willing to help, it will be a hard sell."
"You are correct there Your Highness," spoke up Mattias, "we were there for over thirty-four years and it wasn't until you freed the forest did, they really accept us. We were tolerated, but never accepted, of course we didn't find out why until Elsa found out the truth about King Runeard."
"I doubt Yelana would trust him right now," said Elsa, "unless we could give them a much better reason to."
"And right now," continued Anna, "we can't."
There was a pause between them as they all realised that turning Hans was every bit as hard, if not harder than Grand Pabbie had said it would be.
"Let's take a break guys," began Anna, "besides it's nearly time for dinner, we can discuss this further later, plus how we confront Hans tomorrow morning and try and come up with as many scenarios that could happen when we do."
"That sounds good," said Kristoff, "I am getting a little hungry."
They retired for dinner and discussions continued about what to do with Hans and his fascination about the Northuldra people until Kristoff spoke up.
"Do we need to think about where he went for his walk today?" he asked
"Why Kristoff?" replied Anna.
"Well, he went and looked at the harbour, especially the Queen Elsa, if I am not correct the people of the Southern Isles are really into sailing."
"Yes, so?" asked Anna.
"Well, he might think of escaping using it."
"Impossible," spoke up Mattias confidently, "the only way out of his room is through the doors, unless he wants to break his legs jumping off the balcony."
"Yes, but trust me, people have a habit of finding a way out of a prison, he also had a look at where they're blasting for the tunnel, though I must admit I have no reason why for that with the exception that he might just like trains."
"Okay," spoke up Anna, "how about we change the topic to anything but Hans."
"I know," started Olaf enthusiastically, "who wants to talk trivia."
"Olaf!" came the reply from everyone.
"Okay then, how about who will have the first-born daughter?"
This time Elsa and Anna went "Olaf!" while both blushing a little.
"What's this about the first-born daughter?" asked Mattias
Olaf was about to speak, but Elsa interrupted him.
"I discovered that the Fifth Spirit runs in our family, General Mattias. Our mother was supposed to have been the next one after her mother. That's why the forest got cut off when she rescued our father and why I had my powers. The Fifth Spirit is the first-born daughter of the current Fifth Spirit, which is of course me, but as it is highly unlikely, I will have children, Anna will probably be the mother of the next one after me."
"Oh" replied General Mattias, "that's very interesting, but Elsa, don't be so sure of things, I have found that things happen very differently to our expectations. Just look at me, I went to the Enchanted Forest and got trapped there for thirty-four years and then found out we were betrayed by your grandfather. Now, who would have expected that?"
Elsa smiled, "I suppose you're right, but right now I am very certain."
"Queen Elsa," replied Mattias thoughtfully, "the only certainty there is, is that things change."
"You can say that again," said Anna, "this time last year, you were Queen Elsa."
"Yeah," said Elsa with a smile, "I was and I wouldn't have never dreamed that I am what I am and who I am now."