Chapter Thirty Two
Prisoner
ELSA
Sighing, Elsa rested the back of her head against the masonry wall of the dungeon. This was a familiar sight, she mused dryly as she hugged her knees close to her chest. After all, this was the third time she was being stuck in a prison cell.
The first being back in Arendelle shortly after her coronation, then again when she had been captured by Ingrid Grendstav and the League of Sorcerers, and now here she was, a prisoner of the Empire of Exon.
After the First Imperial soldiers had dragged her, Jade and Will out of the Maine club, they had blindfolded the Warriors and bundled them into a cramp and stuffy carriage. The three prisoners had been forced to endure the unpleasant journey as the carriage jolted and bumped across rocks and pebbles. No doubt they were going down some path off the beaten track. Somewhere secret on a road less traversed, probably.
The next thing Elsa knew, she was being roughly tossed into a spacious cell by herself, and a steel door had been shut on her. The blindfold had been removed, but the damned cuffs were still clamped tightly around her wrists, limiting her range of motion.
There was nothing for her to do but wait. And soon, she could tell from the lack of light streaming through the window that it was now past sundown. Her stomach rumbled. Surely someone had to come with food soon.
There was some rattling of keys outside the steel door, and Elsa stiffened. The door creaked as it swung open.
"Good evening, Queen Elsa." Kane strode into the room. "Or is it just Elsa now? Or the Pilgrim?"
"Kane." She narrowed her eyes. "How are you even alive?"
His lip quirked, but neglected to answer the question.
"What are you doing here?"
"Here with the Empire?" he asked. "Or here in your cell?"
Elsa stood to her feet, the chain on her cuffs jangling as she did so. "Both."
Kane smiled and laced his hands behind his back. "Well, I wanted to see for myself. I heard the stories about the new Pilgrim. The new leader of the League of Sorcerers who brought them into the light for the world to see." He gave a small chuckle. "Do you remember when we fought for the first time?"
"You called me an Elemental Sorceress."
"And how right I was."
"And you don't believe that I could lead the League of Sorcerers?"
"No, I don't doubt you did." Kane said. "I'm just surprised. I always thought you were more of a quiet girl who would rather keep to yourself. You dabbled a little too much in the world of magic, and look where that landed you?"
"I assume you didn't just come here to gloat."
"No," Kane admitted. "Not really. I came to tell you that I have orders to begin the march on Arendelle tomorrow. Consider it as revenge for playing a part in foiling my quest."
Elsa gritted her teeth. "Your quest? You mean genocide."
"Call it what you want." Kane said. "Those days are behind me. I don't need magic to do what needs to be done anymore. I have a bigger purpose now."
"Serving the Empress? What good does that do you?"
"That's none of your business."
"She promised you something, didn't she?" Elsa guessed. "Otherwise you wouldn't just work for her voluntarily."
"Hmmn." Kane looked impressed. "Perhaps you know me a little better than I gave you credit for."
"She promised you your family back, didn't she? How is she going to do that? You really think she's going to deliver after she's done with you?"
"I said that's none of your business." Kane inched towards her.
"And what, now you're going to break my spine like you did to Janus?" Elsa stood her ground unflinchingly.
"Bold, even without your powers." Kane mused. "But no, I wouldn't hit a woman. Certainly not a defenceless one."
Defenceless? "Take these cuffs off me and I'll show you defenceless. I owe you for what you did to Janus."
"No, I like things the way they are now." Kane said calmly. "With you as a prisoner and out of my way."
"So that you can do the Empress' dirty work for her unhindered? Be my guest."
"Be smug all you like." Kane said. "It makes no difference to me. We'll see how clever you are after Arendelle has fallen to the Empire." He turned to leave. "I suggest you get comfortable. You're going to be spending a long time in here."
Elsa gave a tiny growl as the metal door clanged shut, the sound reverberating throughout the entire room and bouncing off the stone walls. She hated the fact that she was powerless in every sense of the word. Kane was about to attack her home and she couldn't do anything to stop him, and she didn't have her powers to break free from her wretched restraints.
Plonking back down on the slab of stone that was supposed to pass for a bed, Elsa leaned against the masonry wall again. There was nothing she could do but wait and hope that the Insurgency would mount an effort to rescue her and the others.
Elsa was bubbling with anxiety, her mind racing with the scenarios of what had happened to Anna, Melody and Maui. As she was being escorted out of the Maine, she had heard glass shattering and had looked up to see Melody, Maui and Anna up on the third floor of the club.
If Kane had the time to come down for a visit, then that most likely meant that everything was well and fine with the Empire. Which probably meant that something had happened to Anna and the others. She bit her lip, wishing she could do something, and yet, there was nothing she could do but sit and wait.
She didn't know how much time had passed, and she'd probably fallen asleep at some point, but she sat up with the reflexes of a cat the moment a noise came from the door again. This time, it was Hans and the Empress who walked into the cell.
"Prince Hans," she stared coldly at him. "I'd heard that you were lurking around with the Empire somewhere."
"Actually, it's Consul now." He was all smiles.
The Empress cleared her throat. "Good evening. How should I address you now that you're no longer the Queen of Arendelle? The Pilgrim? Snow Queen?"
When Elsa didn't dignify her question with a response, the Empress gave a chuckle. "Elsa it is, then." The Empress walked to the window and looked out of it. "My, the view here is actually quite depressing."
"Where's my sister and the others?" Elsa asked in a clipped tone.
"Straight to the point. Alright." Eleanor turned to her. "I don't know why you're in such a hurry. You've got all the time in the world, anyway. Until tomorrow, that is."
"Tomorrow?"
"We're going on a little trip, you and I." Hans laced his hands behind his back. "We never really did get a chance to be properly acquainted at your coronation, what with you losing control of your powers and all."
"What is he talking about?" Elsa ignored Hans and stared straight at Eleanor.
"I'm afraid it's true." Eleanor said, and Elsa thought she heard a pang of sympathy. "After tomorrow, you won't be my prisoner anymore. You'll be his."
"I would rather be executed on the spot than be his prisoner."
"I'm a little hurt at that. I thought you liked me. Oh well, it's not like you have a choice." Hans said mildly. "But if it's death you're after, I can guarantee it'll come by the end of tomorrow."
"I must say though, I am a little disappointed." Eleanor said. "I've been admiring your abilities and your exploits over the past two years. I was genuinely delighted to meet you back at the Confederation Summit a while back, remember that? I really thought that you coming here to Denmark, you actually posed a threat to the Empire I've built." She shook her head. "Guess I was wrong. Seeing you here, now I know why they say never to meet your heroes."
"Where's Anna and the rest?" Elsa repeated. "What did you do with them?"
"Oh, your sister?" Eleanor laughed. "I sent her and her friends far away from here. You won't be hearing from them any time soon, if ever again, considering that after tomorrow, you'll be dead."
"Where are they?" Elsa almost shouted, close to tears. "Where's my sister?"
"I really don't understand why you're so worked up." Eleanor genuinely looked puzzled, cocking her head to one side. "Sisters aren't that great. Take it from me, I had a horrible older sister."
"I know, the one you betrayed."
A look of shock crossed Eleanor's features. "That's…a family secret. How did you know about that?" she shook her head. "Never mind. Suffice to say, where your friends and sister are isn't going to matter to you anyway. Hans is going to kill you tomorrow."
"That might prove harder than you think."
"Oh, don't worry," Hans smiled at her. "I'm a patient man."
"Humour me, since you've pretty much sentenced me to death anyway," Elsa probed. "Where are my sister and friends?"
Eleanor sighed and relented. "If you must know, I used my powers to send them far away to another world."
Elsa blinked. "You're a sorceress too?"
"Sorceress? No, no." Eleanor laughed at the suggestion. "I have abilities, yes, but they're not the typical sort of magic you're used to dealing with."
"You said you sent them to another world?"
"Don't look so surprised. There are other worlds out there besides ours, contrary to popular belief."
"If you two are done exchanging notes about magic, could I have a moment alone with the Snow Queen?" Hans said. "We have something to discuss. I'll be quick."
"Of course." Eleanor planted a kiss on Hans' lips, which alarmed Elsa considerably. She had not seen that coming at all. "Farewell, Elsa. I doubt we'll be seeing each other again. If it's any consolation, I wish it didn't have to end this way. We could have been allies. Unstoppable together. But…" She gave a disappointed sigh and shook her head.
Hans waited for Eleanor to leave before he spoke again. "Oh, don't look so surprised. What, you really think that Anna was the only girl I would ever fall in love with?"
"You never fell in love with my sister." Elsa gritted her teeth. "You're a cold hearted monster and a perfect match for Eleanor."
"You're right on all accounts, my dear." Hans said mildly. "But this-" he waved at their surroundings. "-this all seems somewhat familiar doesn't it? Me talking to you in a prison cell. Only this time, you aren't begging me to let you go."
Elsa narrowed her eyes and clenched her jaw as she stood toe to toe with him. The man had a knack for getting under her skin, or having the upper hand in any given conversation for that matter.
When she didn't answer, he simply turned away and walked over to the side of the cell where her belongings had been set aside and inspected the items. "Hmmn."
He picked up the pair of tinted glasses that sat atop her folded blue coat. "This is new." He admired them. "I think it suits you. What were you trying to accomplish with them anyway?"
Elsa glowered at him quietly.
"You thought that you could somehow infiltrate the city, and topple the Empire's regime while keeping your true identity concealed?" Hans laughed in amusement. "You're delusional."
"Is there a point to this conversation?"
"No, not really." Hans set aside the glasses. "I'm just here to warn you that I'm going to make sure you suffer tomorrow."
"And what have I done to ruffle your fine feathers?"
"You and your sister humiliated me. Sent me back to the clutches of my father. I spent the last two years in a filthy zoo." Hans started towards her dangerously and she back-pedalled slowly. "Two years. Do you know what it's like to lose all hope that you'll ever be free to breathe fresh air again? Do you know what it's like to have everything taken away from you?"
Elsa bristled. She didn't like the feeling she was getting - anymore than she already did anyway. There was a certain manic energy that the man possessed, and she had never really detected it before. Maybe it was because he had made a good effort hiding that side of himself from everyone, but apparently he wasn't attempting to hide it anymore.
"Well, you're about to." Hans had his face inches away from her as he whispered into her ear. His smooth, cunning voice made her want to flinch, but she resisted the urge. "Aren't you in the least bit curious why I'm doing all this?"
"I'm dying to know." Elsa said dryly, steeling her features.
"I'd always had somewhat of a soft spot for poor Anna, even after I went to prison. I never really blamed her for what went wrong, you know. You're the reason everything went south. If it wasn't for you, I would've been on the throne by now. He paused thoughtfully as if carefully considering his options. "Can I tell you a secret?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Before your coronation, I had my mind set on winning your heart the right way. To genuinely fall in love with you and live happily ever after like in the fairytales." Hans began. "But when I learnt that you were a shut-in, I began to lose hope. That's when I met your sister, and well, the rest is history."
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint." Elsa set her jaw. "But even if I wasn't a recluse back then, I wouldn't have fallen for a snake like you."
Hans grabbed her arm and leaned in close. His unreadable eyes flickered and Elsa thought she saw emotion there, but she couldn't place it.
"Everything would have been so much simpler. Arendelle would have known peace. We would have all had our happily ever after, Anna wouldn't have gotten hurt, and I wouldn't have needed to try to kill you."
"Say what you like, Hans, but we both know that you never loved anyone."
"Oh, but I was so ready to give my heart to you." Hans said. "But no, you just couldn't let it happen. A love that never existed turned into hatred. And now, you've only got yourself to blame for being in this situation."
He's quite mad. "If you're planning on hitting me," Elsa locked eyes with him unflinchingly. "Stop posturing and just do it."
"Oh, no. Nothing that pedestrian." He frowned and loosened his hold on her arm. "That would be too easy, like kicking a defenceless kitten. I'm not going to break you like how the general snapped that mercenary's spine. No. I don't need to lay a finger on you to make you suffer. I've learnt of a few creative ways. You can't go to prison and not learn a few things."
"Oh I'm sure." Elsa muttered under her breath and rubbed her arm.
"When I'm done with you, you'll wish you were dead," Hans whispered in her ear again, his voice sending chills down her body. "And then you will be."
He lingered for a while, to her increasing discomfort. Finally he removed himself from her personal space, much to her relief, and strode towards the steel door. "Sleep tight. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
Author's Commentary:
Among the three villains, I think Elsa's altercation with Hans was the most interesting to write, because they have a storied history as enemies, and also because he's such a terrifying force that's impossible to understand.
He's vastly intelligent, subtle, cunning and devious, a million pistons firing inside his head. This was intensely difficult to compose, as I had to dive into his complex psyche and twisted state of mind.
Now let's see what creative ideas Hans has in store for Elsa. Do review and let me know your thoughts on this intense altercation :)
