31
The night passed peacefully while the Northern Lights put on a spectacular display. For the first time in a long time, Hans slept more or less at peace with himself as he believed he was on the verge of a new home. Elsa, Anna and Kristoff also slept well thinking that maybe they had turned a corner with Hans and that they may have taken him off his dangerous path of revenge, or at least shown him a better way.
Slowly the Northern Lights gave way to the rising sun in the east as Arendelle was being blessed with another beautiful spring day with the temperature rising to a pleasant level encouraging more of the trees and plants to flower filling the air with wonderful aromas that soothed the nerves of all. The kingdom slowly began to stir for the new day.
The Palace staff had begun their daily routines with breakfast being made, cleaning and preparing the castle for another perfect day. Elsa awoke first, stretching in bed and giving Brunei a little pat and some snowflakes for him to enjoy. She got out of bed and walked onto her balcony to take in the new day and enjoy the warmth of the morning sun.
Down the hallway, Anna began to stir trying not to disturb her husband Kristoff whom she knew liked to sleep in a little longer. She had her duties to attend to and there was something she would like to discuss with Elsa before breakfast. An idea that she started to turn over in her head after last night's dinner and she wanted Elsa's opinion as Anna valued them very much.
She got out of bed and put on her morning outfit, the one she wore before she got into her clothes for the day, fixed up her hair which was always a bit of a tangled mess when she got up and quietly made her way out of the room. There were some palace staffers in the hallway which she greeted warmly remembering each of their names and made her way to Elsa's room.
She did her usual knock-on Elsa's door and Elsa invited her to come in.
"Morning Elsa" she said as she went to hug her sister.
"Morning Anna," replied Elsa as she hugged her back.
"Elsa," began Anna nervously, "based on how the dinner went last night I have been doing some thinking regarding Hans."
"Yes," replied Elsa, "I was thinking about him as well, but go ahead."
"Well, I was thinking that maybe for now, we might invite him to stay here, of his own free will of course, "she said a little unsure, "I feel that he would like that and I think it would negate his feelings of revenge, in fact it might even sort of satisfy them."
"What do you mean?" said Elsa inquisitively.
"Think about it Elsa," replied Anna, "he comes back here, a place that he was banned from because of what he tried to do us and he gets invited to stay after all these years. I think that would be something he could brag about to his brothers."
"Yes, yes," said Elsa, "I do believe it would make him proud and that he could tell his brothers I told you so."
"He could," started Anna, "Olaf was right, show him better and it seems to be working. Once we are satisfied that he no longer has any tendencies for revenge, I will allow him to leave to anywhere he wants to go if he doesn't want to stay here." She stopped for a moment to think, "I suppose if he stays, we will have to give him something to do, a job, a title. Wow, talk about a change of fate."
Elsa sort of laughed, "yeah, who would have thought."
"If all goes well today," began Anna, "I might remove the guards from him, let's have breakfast first and then we will tell him and see how he reacts?"
"Sounds good Sis, I'll just get dressed first," responded Elsa.
Meanwhile, in Arendelle Harbour a ship approached the kingdom flying the flag of the Southern Isles. The Harbour Master saw it and went down to the docks to enquire what business it had in Arendelle this day as ships from the Southern Isles weren't allowed by royal decree to enter the Arendelle's Harbour unless they had permission and he not heard from the Queen or anyone else to expect a ship from the Southern Isles.
The ship pulled aside the dock and the captain appeared at the top of the gang plank in full dress military uniform.
"Excuse me Captain," spoke the Harbour Master, "but you are not authorised to dock here."
"I know," said the captain in an arrogant tone, "I am here just to deliver this and then return to the Southern Isles."
The captain handed the Harbour Master an envelope with the Southern Isles royal seal on it.
"Please see to it that it is delivered to Queen Anna as quickly as possible," he commanded.
"I will," responded the Harbour Master as watched the ship manoeuvre away from the dock and then turn to head back out to the open sea.
Anna, Elsa and Kristoff gathered in the same dining room as last night for breakfast, Anna had already explained Kristoff of her decision regarding to Hans's future and he was surprisingly supportive of it. In his mind, Hans staying in Arendelle would probably mean less chance of trouble from him. All in all, they were in a good mood because it appeared that they had achieved what Grand Pabbie told them needed to be done for both the sake of Hans and Arendelle.
Anna decided she would tell him personally after breakfast and maybe even invite him for a morning walk with her and Olaf. She might even introduce him to some of the people explaining what had happened. Anna had confidence in the people of Arendelle that they would eventually make Hans feel like one of their own after the passage of some time. It wouldn't be easy because there was a tangible resentment towards him and The Southern Isles in general, which considering the circumstances of the events of four years ago was understandable.
Anna still had feelings of mistrust towards him, but she was willing to give Hans a chance after last night. She just hoped he realised the chance she was giving him and hoped he grabbed the opportunity with both hands and enthusiasm. Of course, she did have to negotiate the new trade agreement with the Southern Isles, but at this stage she wouldn't enter into one without Hans's support. Anna didn't want to risk the gains that they had seemingly made with Hans on a trade deal.
Of course, she thought, he could be acting like he did last time, but she was willing to gamble that he wasn't this time as she had far more support this time in Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, General Mattias and all of Arendelle.
They were just finishing up when Kai came into the room with some urgency.
"Queen Anna," he started a little nervous, "a ship from the Southern Isles just dropped off this letter to you at the docks."
"Wait what," said Anna a little loudly, "The Southern Isles know their ships are banned from our harbour unless specifically invited."
"Yes, your Majesty," answered Kai, "the ship left as soon as its captain dropped the letter off."
Anna took the letter from Kai and grabbed a knife, and looked at Elsa, "it's got the official seal of King Klaus on it Elsa, it's from Hans's oldest brother."
"This can't be good Anna," replied a nervous Elsa.
Anna broke the seal and read the letter, and the more she read the more worried she looked.
"Oh no," she whispered.
"What does it say Anna?" asked Kristoff now worried about his wife.
"It's an ultimatum," said an upset Anna, "they are demanding that we return Hans to the Southern Isles as they believe we are holding him against his will and they accuse him of stealing from the Royal Treasury."
"When do they expect us to turn him over Sis?" asked a concerned Elsa.
"They want him when the ship that just dropped off this letter returns with King Klaus and a platoon of soldiers from the Southern Isles," Anna started to get a little angry, "that gives us about three days." She paused as the anger began to build, "how dare they do this! After everything we have achieved, they stick their noses into it, this is going to really upset Hans and I fear ruin everything we have done."
"Anna,' spoke up Elsa, "I'll stay on and help you resolve this."
Anna sighed as she regained her composure which was helped by Kristoff putting his arms around her, "thanks honey and thank you Elsa, I know I can always rely on you. Now I suppose we need to tell Hans, Kai?"
"Yes, your Majesty," replied Kai.
"Can you ask General Mattias and Hans to meet us here. Also, get the kitchen to send in some really good tea."
"Straight away Queen Anna," said Kai as he immediately left the room.
Hans was enjoying his breakfast on the balcony and thought that this morning he might just go walking through the town and maybe buy some of the nice berries and fruits he knew would be available in Arendelle right now. He really did feel good about himself this morning and thought how amazing one little dinner could change so much for him. He was confident Anna would let him stay, though he expected to have a guard with him for a while until he showed they could trust him, which he intended to do.
The tea was especially calming that he was drinking and he thought how interesting it was going to be living in such a magical kingdom and was sure its people would come around to accept him eventually. No more bullying, no more guilt trips, no more being made to feel inadequate. Finally, he could show his brothers that he was something by achieving this, something they thought he could never do or would never happen.
There was a knock on his door and he heard the voice of the head of the staff Kai call out.
"Prince Hans are you in there?"
"Yes Kai," he said happily, "please come in."
Kai opened the door looking professional as always and before he could talk.
"How are you this morning Kai?" asked a happy Hans.
"I am very good your Grace thank you," he replied courteously, "Queen Anna has requested your presence in the main dining room as soon as possible Sir."
"Okay," replied Hans, "I will be right down with my escort."
"Very good sir." Said Kai, who then turned and left the room.
Hans was actually quite happy to be called down, he would ask Anna there and then if he could stay in Arendelle. He quickly finished his tea, then dressed appropriately, made his way out of the door and greeted his guards, then made their way down towards the dining room.
Within a few minutes they were there and Hans entered the room and immediately felt the tension there and he knew that something was wrong, very wrong.
"Good morning Hans," said an emotionless Anna, "please sit down."
"Is there something wrong?" he immediately asked as he sat down and saw that everyone who was there last night were present, all looking sullen and worried.
"I am afraid so," responded Anna, "I received this from your brother King Klaus this morning."
She extended to him the letter from his brother.
"What, why would my brother send anything!" he exclaimed slightly and began to read the letter and his rising anger became quite visible.
"What is this!" he exclaimed again, "what nonsense is this, I am not being restrained, I didn't steal anything, did someone here say something to my brother!"
"No Hans," said Anna trying to keep calm, "this has come as a big surprise to us as well, we only got it about an hour ago. I sent Kai up to request that you meet us here just as soon as I had read it."
"Damn it!" he exclaimed again, "this is so typical of my brothers, they can't leave me in peace, they never have and just when I'm on the verge of something good they pull this! I am beyond angry!"
"Hans," began Olaf but he was cut off.
"Don't bother Olaf, no, sorry, "he cut in, "but this is why I need my revenge, I need to humiliate my brothers just like they have humiliated me here!"
"Hans," said Elsa, "look we don't believe them and we have no intention of turning you over, but about them accusing you of stealing, why would they say that?"
A now enraged Hans turned towards Elsa, "because they can, yes I did take money from the treasury but they damn well know that it was my money that I am fully entitled to!"
Anna looked at Hans trying to be comforting, "look Hans, it was our intention to invite you to stay in Arendelle."
But Hans cut in angrily again, "yes but now you intend to hand me to my brothers how convenient."
"No!" exclaimed Anna, "I don't intend to hand you over to your brothers, what your oldest brother is doing is almost an act of war against Arendelle and I will not be dictated to in my own kingdom. But please understand, this is a very delicate diplomatic situation that I can't let spiral out of hand."
"I'm sure it is Anna," said Hans with a bit of venom, "why don't you ask your sister to freeze them when they get here, that's what they damn well deserve."
"Hans!" yelled Anna trying to assert her authority, "Elsa will not be using her powers for that. But we will sort this out, I can promise you that."
"Well, when you have a solution," he spat out, "let me know, I'll be in my room if I am allowed to leave?"
"Yes," she answered, "please have some faith, we will sort this out to a favourable result, you have my word."
Hans just grunted in response as he angrily left the room with his escort. Anna turned to the others.
"That went a lot worse than I expected," she said, "General Mattias, please have the guards pay special attention to Hans, but don't do anything to provoke him further."
"I will your Majesty," said Mattias still stunned by Hans's outburst.
"What do I do Elsa?" Anna asked desperately.
"Just keep trying Anna," she replied, "you did so well with him, but I don't blame Hans being mad, I think the Southern Isles can forget about that trade agreement for a while."
"Oh, you can bet on that sis." She replied.
Hans marched angrily into his room and he felt like throwing things, or at least kicking something he was that angry.
"Klaus couldn't just leave well alone," he mumbled to himself, "well if he wants to do this, then he will feel my wrath."
He looked at his newly made-up bed and then walked to the balcony.
"Tonight, we go," he said wickedly smiling to himself, "by the end of tomorrow, his ship will probably be on the bottom of the sea."
The idea of revenge now fully possessed him, he would carry out the plan he had thought up the other day and dreamed of the consequences for his brothers and the Southern Isles would endure. The thought of what could happen to his brothers and the Southern Isles made him smile even more, almost an evil smile.