30
There was an awkward silence for a few minutes while everyone sipped their drinks. No one seemed to want to make the first move, but just before the tension was about to break Kai walked into the room and announced.
"Your Majesty Queen Anna, dinner is ready, if you and your guests would like to take your seats, we will begin the first course."
Anna sat down at the head of the table with Kristoff on her right and Elsa on her left. Further down the table was General Mattias on Anna's right and then Olaf and Hans on her left.
"Hans," began Anna, "I hope you enjoy the first course; we have a traditional Arendelle fish soup made with salmon."
"Sounds delicious," responded Hans.
The staff brought out a large serving bowl and walked around the table carefully ladling the soup into their bowls. The aroma from the soup was very appetising as the dinner guests carefully folded their napkins onto their laps. Anna then gave a short prayer of thanks and invited everyone to start eating.
"Oh, this is excellent," complemented Hans, "I've never had this before."
"It's an old recipe Hans," remarked Anna, "our great, great grandfather actually perfected the recipe."
"That's very interesting," replied Hans, "Olaf, you're not eating?"
"Oh no," smiled Olaf, "I have no need to eat, though I wish I could because I can smell that soup and it smells heavenly."
"Actually," began Anna looking at Elsa, "Elsa didn't like soup when she was young."
"Anna" responded Elsa a little embarrassed.
"You didn't like this, Elsa?" enquired Hans.
"Tell them what we used to do Elsa," encouraged Anna.
Elsa sighed, "well, yes, I wasn't fond of soup when I was young, so I would sneak into the kitchen and turn the soup cold whenever they cooked it."
There was a bit of laughter from around the table.
"I imagine that drove the kitchen staff mad Queen Elsa," smirked Mattias.
"Yes, until our father caught me and Anna," half smiled Elsa, "and that ended my dislike of soup."
Elsa paused for a few seconds as the light hearted mood around the table fell away.
"Hans," she began, "one thing I have been meaning to ask you?"
Hans, feeling a little uncomfortable on what the question might Be. "Yes, Queen Elsa."
"What did you write in those letters you sent to me?" she asked.
"Oh, well," started Hans, relieved that it wasn't a question about four years ago, "I was only twelve when I first wrote to you, so I simply asked how you were, if you were lonely and if you could use a friend. Plus, I described my position and how my brothers had treated me and that I could identify with your situation."
"Did you tell your brothers that you wrote to Elsa?" asked Kristoff.
"No, I didn't," answered Hans, "I didn't want to give them any more ammunition to ridicule Elsa and me. As a courtesy, I won't say what they said Elsa, because I don't want to upset you now. But, let's just say, it was a lot worse than the things I have already told you."
"That's okay Hans," responded Elsa with an air of confidence, "I'm over the initial shock of what they said and it wouldn't bother me because frankly, I don't care. I know who I am now and I am very happy with that."
Hans thought Elsa came across a little arrogant, but, with her powers, he would allow her that.
"The letters I sent after your parent's death," started Hans again, "I expressed my condolences as you should, and once again, I offered you friendship and someone who would listen to you. I must admit though, I was quite disappointed when you never replied, but I understand why, in fact the moment you revealed your powers at your coronation I understood why."
"That was an interesting inauguration night," spoke Anna, "but, we promised we wouldn't talk about that here."
"Actually,' began Hans, "General Mattias, I would love to hear about your experience with the Northuldra. They fascinate me and believe it or not, I think I would enjoy living with them."
"You would?" asked Mattias in reply.
"Yes," replied Hans, "it's a simple but fulfilling lifestyle from what I have read. No pressure, no expectations, just do the simple things that are required. Being the youngest of thirteen boys as I said to Anna, I am never going to ascend to a throne unless I marry into it and I don't want to get to it like I tried four years ago. In fact, I'm not interested in a throne at all now. I just want a good life, a better life than what I have had so far."
"Well," started Mattias, "the Northuldra are a very proud people and great warriors when they need to be. But you're right, there is a lot about their lifestyle that is appealing, but they don't welcome strangers lightly. Me and my men did have a truce with them which lasted until Queen Anna and Queen Elsa showed up. We did see the Northuldra surround them and threaten them, so we did what we were trained to do and came to their defence thinking they were citizens from Arendelle who had finally broken through the mist."
Olaf leaned over to Hans, "I straightened all that out by the way."
Mattias laughed a bit, "Yes, Olaf, you told the story of Anna and Elsa which helped break the tension until the fire spirit showed up. But getting back to the Northuldra, they are very much in tune with nature, that's why the spirits cooperate with them and share with them. They don't take more than they need, everyone is equal, no one wants. For you Prince Hans though, it will be so completely different to the life you are leading now, which, from what I have heard about how your brothers treated you, is why it sounds so appealing to you."
"Hans," spoke up Elsa calmly, "I live with them now and yes my life is very fulfilling and happy. But and I know we weren't going to discuss this, if you want any chance to live with them, you have to let go of your hate, that's something I know they won't tolerate."
"I understand Queen Elsa," replied Hans as he finished his fish soup, "that's far easier said than done, I won't go into my life again as I promised tonight. By the way, that soup was excellent Queen Anna."
"Thank you, Hans," came the reply from Anna, "I will pass your compliments unto our chef, there is more if you would care for some more."
"Yes, I would," came the enthusiastic reply from Hans as the palace staff member came over and put another ladle of soup into his bowl.
"Queen Elsa," began Hans, "I am curious about the Fifth Spirit, how did you become it?"
"Well," started Elsa, "I started hearing a voice in my head, it was singing to me and somehow I managed to wake the forest spirits and they stopped all the water in Arendelle, there was no fire, no wind and the earth, well it pulsated. Fortunately, all of Arendelle was evacuated to the cliffs and that's when Grand Pabbie told us there was something not right with the past and the only way to find out was to go to the Enchanted Forest to find the truth about it."
"Excuse me Elsa, Grand Pabbie was the one that took away Anna's memories" asked Hans.
"Yes, he's the leader of the Rock Trolls," cut in Kristoff, "he has magic as well, at the time, they thought they were doing the right thing."
"I see," replied Hans, "please continue Queen Elsa."
"Thank you," responded Elsa, "well we went to the Forest, which led me to Ahtohallan where I in essence discovered myself, I was the Fifth Spirit and that's how I found out about how our grandfather tricked the Northuldra by building the dam and our grandfather murdering the Northuldra leader. In order to make things right, Anna broke the dam and therefore brought everything back into balance again."
"I see," said Hans finishing his second bowl of soup, "what caused the spirits to be angry in the first place, was it the dam?"
"It wasn't just the dam," spoke up Anna, "As Elsa said, our grandfather killed the Northuldra leader and was attempting to make the Northuldra bow to his will, General Mattias was there and he can best describe what happened."
"Yes," said Mattias, "a brutal battle began between the Northuldra and us, The King was lost with another senior tribe member of the Northuldra." He paused, "the battle must have lasted a good half hour when all of a sudden the wind became gale force nearly blowing us off our feet, the forest erupted into flames, the water poured onto the shore in huge storm waves and giant boulders were being flung at us.
That stopped the fighting and the storm lasted, I don't know, ten fifteen minutes maybe, but to us it seemed forever, anyway, it just suddenly stopped and this mist descended on the forest. A truce was called there and then between the parties and the Northuldra escorted us to the border so that we could go home only to discover that we had been trapped.
There was suddenly a lot of sorrow with the Northuldra as they commented that the Fifth Spirit had been killed in the battle and that her daughter was missing. Of course, we didn't know the significance of that until last Autumn."
One of the palace staff approached Queen Anna, "excuse me your Majesty, are we ready for the next course."
"Yes Eliza," replied Anna, "please clear the table."
"Yes, your Majesty."
Hans spoke up again, "what was the significance of the Fifth Spirit's daughter being missing?"
"Hans, the Fifth Spirit's daughter was our mother," beamed Anna, "she saved our father that day by getting him out of the forest before the mist fell."
"Oh, I see." Replied Hans.
"Unfortunately," started Elsa, "she also broke the connection to the forest as our mother was supposed to be the next Fifth Spirit as it runs in our family. The first-born daughter of the current Fifth Spirit becomes the next one, hence why I am now the Fifth Spirit," she said proudly.
"So are all Fifth Spirits magical like you Elsa?" asked Hans.
"No, well not quite, they all have a certain amount of magic, but rarely are they as powerful as me. Apparently, I had to be this powerful in order to find the truth about the past and restore both the Enchanted Forest and Arendelle." Elsa paused and looked to Anna and smiled, "actually it took both of us to achieve that."
Anna smiled back with love for her big sister as the two clasped hands.
"You see," started Hans a little sad when he saw that, "I have never known anything like that, not for my whole life."
Olaf leaned over to Hans to try and console him, "we know Prince Hans, and we're going to try and show you better, that's why I suggested we invite you to dinner tonight."
"Hmm," sighed Hans, "try and show me better, that wouldn't take much and I appreciate it Olaf, to all of you I do."
Just then the second course was brought out, a very tempting aromatic smelling slab of roast beef with carrots, potatoes and cabbage.
Hans looked at Anna, "May I assume Queen Anna that ice cream is for dessert?"
"But of course, Prince Hans," she replied with half a smile.
The dinner continued with the conversation remaining civil and the guests enjoying the food. As promised, they stayed as much as they could off the topic of Hans's memory, the events of four years ago and why Hans attempted to steal the throne of Arendelle. Elsa retold her story of her interference in the kitchen in regards to ice cream which brought some much-needed humour to the group.
Olaf of course, chipped in with his whimsical wisdom that seemed very sound at times. For the first time that he could remember, Hans was actually enjoying himself even though he could sense there was still tension between him and the rest of the group and he knew that would probably never go away. How do you forgive someone who tried to kill you? He thought and he knew it would take a special sort of character to do so and somehow, he sensed that Anna, Elsa, Olaf and even Kristoff and General Mattias were capable of this act of mercy.
He heard all the stories of how Anna and Elsa were separated, which he understood was bad for them, but if he had been separated from his brothers, it would have been wonderful for him. But there was one thing he had to ask and he hoped that they wouldn't take it the wrong way.
"Elsa, I hope you don't mind me asking this?" he started.
"Well, I won't know until you ask Hans," replied Elsa a little less apprehensive than earlier in the night.
"Okay," started Hans, "after your accident with Queen Anna and the advice the Trolls gave your parents for you get control of your powers do you think that maybe the trolls meant more of how you have control now and not trying to conceal them?"
Elsa, was quiet for a bit because it was a difficult question for her. "To tell you the truth Hans, I don't really know. I mean when I look back, I can see the merit in your question, if they had allowed me to develop my powers so I could control them like I do now things would be much different now. I mean chances are Mother and Father would still be alive because they wouldn't have gone to Ahtohallan to try and find out about me. But I would still have because the Fifth Spirit would have called me and may have called me much sooner, like around my eighteenth birthday, which from what I have discovered at Ahtohallan is the age the next Fifth Spirit starts her, well training."
"Sliding doors hey," responded Hans, "but why did they decide to try and make you hide your powers."
"Simple," said Elsa, "fear and as Grand Pabbie said fear would be my enemy and that turned out to be true. I was terrified of my powers after I struck Anna and our parents were terrified of them getting out of control and damaging Arendelle's reputation and hurting more people."
"Of course, and on the night of your coronation, when Anna and I announced our engagement," spoke Hans, "you lost your control, especially when Anna took your glove off."
"Yes," replied Elsa, "the gloves were simply a symbol that gave me the illusion of control, but they seemed to work. When I had that confrontation with Anna, I simply lost it and well, the rest is history."
Hans sort of smiled, "yes history, a history I hope we can put behind us, well at least a little bit, if I may be honest Queen Elsa, I admire you, even back then I admired you. You put your people and family first even if running away wasn't the best policy, but you thought it would protect your people from your powers. Plus, as I have said, that ice castle you built is simply amazing and I would really like to see it again one day, plus this little guy here," Hans said pointing to Olaf, "well, he is absolutely amazing as well."
Olaf blushed a bit and Elsa actually smiled, "well thankyou though I don't know if Marshmallow would be pleased to see you."
"Marshmallow?" asked Hans.
"Yes, my giant snowman that if you remember, cut off his leg." Elsa replied with a smile.
"Oh yes, he survived?" enquired Hans.
"Very much so," cut in Olaf, "and he and I are best friends now, I'm sure I could talk to him for you."
"Thanks Olaf," responded Hans as he finished the last of his ice cream.
Hans then stood up, "well if you don't mind, I might retire to my room now, it's surprisingly late and the good meal and good company has tired me out, again thank you all very much for this, I've had the best evening I can remember for a very long time."
"You're welcome" spoke Anna as everyone stood up, "and good night, we'll talk more in the morning about your situation."
"That sounds good, now goodnight your Majesties, Kristoff, General and of course Olaf."
With that, Hans left the room and was immediately escorted by his four guards back to his room.
"You know," started Kristoff, "that went much better than I thought, I think we may have helped him tonight."
"I think you're right darling," responded Anna, "he actually looked genuinely happy, but he did do the same thing four years ago."
"Yes, he did," said Elsa, "but I do think it's different this time, as you said Olaf, I think we successfully showed him better."
"You may be right there Sis," jumped in Anna, "he was right about one thing though."
"What's that Anna?" replied Elsa.
"It is late, I think it's time for bed honey," said Anna smiling at Kristoff.
It only took Hans a few minutes to get to his room and he found himself feeling slightly happy because it had been a good night and he couldn't remember when was the last time he had such a good night when he wasn't scheming anything like he did four years ago.
For the first time in his life, he actually felt the urge for revenge on his brother actually slipping away. Anna and Elsa had shown him better and he liked it. He poured himself a night cap and went out to sit on the balcony to enjoy the stars and realised he had an extra treat tonight as the Northern Lights were shining in all their glory.
Out of habit, he did look over the edge of the balcony and repeated to himself, 'now how would I have gotten down from here?' But he dismissed the thought because maybe there may be no reason for it anymore, if the dinner was a sign of things to come, he would happily stay in Arendelle. In fact, when he thought about that he thought that, that was a perfect form of revenge on his brothers. They said he would be thrown in prison here but instead; they invite him to stay here. Him, the guy who tried to usurp the throne and kill Elsa and Anna, forgiven and allowed to stay in Arendelle. He could really rub that into his brother's faces he thought and smiled.
He laughed as he finished his drink and then got ready for bed. However, when he pulled back on his sheets and blankets to get into bed the answer to the question, he had been asking himself suddenly made itself known. He could use his bed linen to climb down from the balcony, there should be enough here to get him close enough to the ground where he could safely jump.