A/N: I realized reading back that I had the wrong year for the current events. It is 1843 not 1842, and has now been a full 5 years since Frozen I. I apologize for the mistake- I will go back and fix this in the previous chapter later this evening. Also, I got into nursing school so my updates will be sporadic (not like they aren't already…) but this will be finished!
"Well, lad. I'm here to release you from your sentence. Yet, I bring news I fear you will not enjoy."
Hans stood from the prison bench, rocking his sleeping daughter. "My ship left in the night without me. I have watched the fjord since my imprisonment four nights past." Hans' voice flattened as he thought of how he'd been in the cell three days longer than originally planned, for reasons not explained to him. "I suppose it is too much to expect any captain of yours to be journeying towards the Southern Isles in the next days?"
The constable winced and then shook his head. "We do not participate in trade with the Isles these days. And I do not see the sense in chartering a ship for only one man. You are welcome to board a boat of your own-"
"I don't have the finances for that!" Hans spouted, fury lacing his voice. "What am I supposed to do? Just wait here until the next ship comes in?"
The constable shrugged. "If that's what you desire. As I said, we rarely conduct business with the Southern Isles, so any ship there will need to be one of your own invention. And one of the Southern Isles returning to our moor is unlikely, as we are not in a direct trade path between them and any other kingdom."
Hans ran a hand through his beard. "I've no skills to build a boat, where would I find the craftsman for this task?"
"Builder Dagfinn, might I have a word?"
Hans entered the carpenter's store, his eyes roving to the many unfinished works around the shop. Bouncing his daughter as she whimpered, his eyes fell on the Master builders crafting tools as a loud voice boomed through the shop.
"Greetings! What can I do for yeh?"
Hans stuck out his hand and they shook as he hastily explained. "...and so, I was hoping you could build me a boat. It would only need to be big enough for myself and my daughter plus our supplies. I've only got a little money but I'm willing to apprentice under you, or make a deal for payment."
The carpenter waited until he was finished and then went to one of his work benches, looking out to the sea from the open tent. "Yeh've any crafting experience? I, and those who work under me, are responsible for the ships flying under the command of the royal navy. I will not tolerate any shoddy workmanship or allow one without knowledge near my tools."
Hans shrugged lightly, adjusting his hold on his daughter. "My past is a fair bit muddled but I have memory of the barest of knowledge of your mastery. That which I do not know, I vow to seek out your approval and say-so before I make what might be a fatal strike of hammer or nail."
July 1843
"Kristoff? May I speak with you?"
The blond stood swiftly, his brows dipping as he took in his ex-wife and daughter.
"Anna! Sarah."
He moved, letting them in his small house, taking Sarah from her mother and bouncing the baby. "What brings you here, Anna?" His voice held worry, but it evened out as his ex responded.
"I- I came to drop off your copy of our agreement. I take Sarah during the Harvest season, so you can keep up with the demand for ice. You'll have her during the Planting and we split the Yuletide."
Laying down the parchment affixed with the Arendellian Seal, she paused. "I thought I would give you the afternoon with Sarah."
"So gracious, your Majesty. Do you want a cookie?"
She shook her head, hands lingering on the doorframe. "This hasn't been easy for anybody involved. Not myself, not Elsa, not Hans-" her voice broke off, and she closed her eyes as they watered. The fight with Elsa revealing Hans' death the month prior still shook her to the core. She and Elsa had spent little time together since then, but she'd lately begun feeling like making amends, and she knew it started here. But her forgiving mood evaporated when Kristoff's voice bit into the air.
"What about Hans?"
"I only meant, everyone has suffered. Don't sound so bitter, Kristoff. You shouldn't speak ill of the dead."
"The… the dead?" Stunned, Kristoff sunk into a chair, trying to understand how the man he'd falsely accused the month prior could have met his death, and why Anna hadn't come to him in a rage. Surely if she'd been notified of Hans' death, she had been told by someone in town what he had done.
Anna nodded, explaining about the Southern Isles Dam, and then switched topics, not wanting to dwell on her past lover. She failed to notice the smile of relief that sat upon the ice harvester's face. "Kristoff, I just wanted to explain myself a bit."
Seeing him motion for her to continue, she spoke. "At first, I was willing to forgive you. We went on about our lives… I may have stayed a bit reserved, but I was willing to try and push past the hurt your relatives had caused. But when I found out we were expecting a child-!" She broke off, reaching for Sarah and then retracting her hand, seeming to think better of it.
"I thought of how much they'd meddled. How much they twisted our lives so we would end up together… in even more ways than we knew then. They made choices for us, Kristoff. I've spent my entire life having my life decided for me. It's exhausting in ways nobody who hasn't been born into royalty could possibly understand."
He snorted in disbelief, but she continued as though she'd not heard.
"The question became how much more would the trolls bend? Would they cause our child harm if it suited their ideals? Would they harm us if they thought she could have a better life story without us? They decided the subtle flirtation between us was enough to warrant cursing Hans and essentially ruining his life. Can you tell me they wouldn't do that to us if they saw fit? When you took me to Pabbie for healing, they had us roped together in a wedding ceremony in minutes. Tell me none of this concerns you!"
Kristoff paused in bouncing Sarah, putting the baby down, watching as she started to half scoot, half crawl across the floor. "I have been disappointed that you would not forgive me for something I had no direct hand in. I have been angry. But… I suppose I can see what you're saying. I don't know what the trolls would do if they wanted to write Sarah's history differently. I know I was an orphan living among my uncles, and the trolls took me in and gave me what felt like a proper family. I know I owe them my life.
But I also know they can be tricksters; can change memories and control the forces of nature to a point. I know they use many words when only a few will do, and I know they do that to confuse those who seek out their knowledge. I know they live isolated and keep their rock forms so they can remain anonymous and in hiding should the need arise. And now, apparently, they have use of spirit creatures like the Jötnar, and have no concerns regarding their morality. Yet, again Anna, I point out I had no hand in their actions. But still you fault me."
"Had you known, would you have said? What would you have done?"
Kristoff stayed silent for a long time before answering.
"I would not have spoken out against those to whom I owe my life, no."
"Not even for me? Even for our daughter?"
Kristoff clenched his fists, staring at the floor. "I do not know. I would like to think I would stand against any who would dare pose a threat to Sarah. That I would stand before anyone, man or spirit, and challenge them for my child. However, I will not lie to you. I don't know if I would be able to tell the difference between their trickery and the desires of a human. I do not know if, were it revealed to be those who raised me, I would be able to stand firm in my conviction to protect my daughter. Or you, or anybody else." The horror in what he'd admitted echoed in his voice, and he felt a chill run down his spine.
Anna nodded, and without another word she left his home.
The Southern Isles
Main Isle
July 1843
"Captain Jean! I'm so glad your ship was at last able to find safe harbor on our shores. Though I admit, we expected you quite some time ago."
Captain Jean bowed swiftly, nodding to his king. "Your Majesty, I deeply apologize. Zee rains, zee ship took damage. Ve had to dock in Arendelle while zee repairs were made and supplies gathered. Zere vas a problem ven our main navigator Hanz abandoned us in our time on Arendellian land. But ve journeyed on to you."
The captain almost fell overboard when the king swiftly turned toward him, face pale and stricken. "What name did you say?"
The captain quickly recounted his time with the red headed gentleman he had begun to mentor, and watched as the king slumped against a few water barrels. The king loosened his cravat and stared offshore, in the general direction of the Ice kingdom. "He- he's alive?"
"I- My son, are you certain?" The dowager mother watched her son pack his trunks hastily, and tried to keep a hold on her own emotions. He had burst into her wing of the castle a few hours ago, ave she had followed him to his own suite as he explained what the captain had told him.
"I'm not sure of anything anymore, Maman. If he lives, why did he never return? He's shown himself to be most honorable, and would not abandon us so willingly. And, I must consider, it may not be him. Johannes was a common enough name some years ago. I know I must go and find out. If nothing else, I need to repay the debt we are in now, to Arendelle. I cut trade with them those years ago for a reason. It won't do for Elsa to think they've got an open line of trade and communication with us."
"Son. Listen to me, please." Dowager Alvilda's soft voice bid her son to force his body into stillness and she reached out and grabbed his hand.
"I want him back more than any of us. However, you must think of your kingdom as well. It is July. Harvest will soon be upon us, as well as our heaviest trading season. You'll be needed here. Why not send one of your brothers, or me?"
Zian pulled his hand free, turning from his mother. "What if I lost you too, Maman? No, I will be the one going. I have provided an heir to the bloodline, so if something does happen, our land is provided for."
Across the room, Prince Consort Bertil spoke up, eyes narrowing as he watched his husband and mother in law argue. "Stjerne still needs his father to teach him how to be a king, Zian! I cannot-"
Zian snapped his trunk closed, whirling towards his husband and infant son. "He's my brother."
"How could you! You're supposed to believe me! I'm your brother!!"
Zian shook his head from the memory of Hans pleas, and then sighed when Bertil laid his hand on his shoulder. "Zian, I'm not saying to not go. I'm saying, wait. Wait until Harvest is done. If your brother is in Arendelle, he must surely be safe. Queen Elsa dropped all charges, after all. Go after him, by all means. Bring him back. I only ask you to wait until the land you gave an oath to needs you less."
Zian closed his eyes, picturing the wounded look of the youngest brother the day he told him Elsa had journeyed to the Isles and absolved Hans of wrongdoing.
"I just, I don't want to betray him. He asked for forgiveness for a crime he did not commit, he bore pain and suffering for laws which in truth went unbroken. I've already been less a brother to him than I should have. I cast him aside and let my familial bond mean nothing when it should have meant everything."
Bertil nodded, shifting their son into Zian's arms. As the king settled and pushed his face into his son's hair, he breathed in the sweet scent of an infant and he felt the anxiety over his missing brother begin to settle.
"Maman, Bertil, you both have excellent points. I will wait until the Harvest is over. However, when that comes, I will search for Hans without yield."
A/N:
Shorter chapter, but I wanted to get this out this morning. My nursing classes officially started today so there's no telling what my schedule will be. The next update will be here, but fair warning: time skip.
