Chapter 15
Hours later, Anna, Hans, and Donny made it to get on land and made a fire to keep themselves warm. Donny lied with his chin over his front paws staring at the fire, then rolled his eyes up at the princess, which was warming up her hands on the fire along with Hans. Anna looked at Hans, which held his hands close to the fire, then she took them back and looked at his arm, which had a bandage around it made of one of Hans' sleeves. Anna untied it up to take a look at his injury, then covered it up again.
„You don't feel any pain?" Questioned Anna making Hans shake his head. „Not even a little?"
„I just felt a little tingle as you uncovered it," Commented Hans. „I had no idea you knew how to cure wounds from shooting," Mentioned Hans making Anna grin.
„Well back at the castle I had every sort of book. Dramas, Romance, Comedy, Thriller, non-fiction. The latter one are actually quite useful in emergencies like this one,"
„It really had one about curing them?"
„It had for every sort of wound," Commented Anna. „I'm not sure if a simple person like you or me would ever make use of that page, but anyone else fleeing from the law like the pirates back there would,"
„Perhaps now I would be one of those persons now. As you see the pirate boss could tell, that I was wanted,"
„She really did," Agreed Anna, then remembered of the conversation between her and the farmer. „And you're a prince. I had no clue you really were one,"
„I could have said anything about that, but I didn't feel like it was any important,"
„It's okay, you don't always have to tell everything about you," Stated Anna making Hans nod.
„Right," Commented Hans, then sat back looking up at the dark skyline and saw into the flame again. „You were a pretty long time inside that castle with the bears and the talking snowman. Didn't this make you feel….uhm you know…."
„Lonely?" Questioned Anna making Hans nod.
„Well In a way it felt for me like I was lonely there, but Olaf was there for me this entire time. He made my time in there more bearable. Even on days I felt more lonely than usual and my only way to keep my sanity was to cry," Explained Anna. „Olaf then would climb on the bed and sit beside me, caress me on my back, say anything comforting. On rougher time he would tell me jokes or weird, unique stories," Added Anna followed by a chuckle. „I'm not sure how you would react, but just the way he does act makes it ten times better. Perhaps if we had stayed back and you could witness it, you would understand it,"
„I believe so," Spoke Hans. „What about dinner and lunch? Did you make it by yourself?"
„This probably sounds odd, but Olaf did it. I as well did things I could from following a book recipe and from the available ingredients we had around, which weren't a lot, to be honest,"
„And he cooked well?" Questioned Hans making Anna snort at his question.
„I'm sorry, I didn't expect this question was serious,"
„I'm not used to seeing talking creatures around. I thought eventually…."
„Sure, sure I know what you mean. Forgive me," Apologized Anna.„Actually, he's pretty decent if he stays within the recipe. The other thing there is just that we don't have the chance to make anything more, than that. I barely had eaten any meat or fish there. Just very, very rarely,"
„The total opposite of what you would expect back at home at your kingdom, right?"
„Exactly," Answered Anna. „And as you're now talking about that, you had to learn a lot as you left your own kingdom and landed on that farm you're….trying to get back,"
„I had to learn a lot there. I just wanted to be far away from my home and then I learned all the work I had to do as a farmer. With the time I become costumed to it,"
„Was it easy for you to get used to that new life? It sure was a big change for you,"
„I….well to be honest I barely remember. I didn't really pay attention. I just was focused on trying to stay away from the negative side of the Westergaards for as long as I could,"
„And you never thought about going back?" Questioned the princess making Hans shake his head.
„I did not even try it. I was certain my return would not be wished in any way and if it is, it's just for me to pay for the accident, that happened years ago with the prince from Finland,"
„Well, maybe you're right. There was that poster you told me about," Commented Anna making Hans nod.
„At the year I ran away I had thought a lot of times about writing a letter to my mother and tell her, what really happened. I have never achieved it, cause I feared she wouldn't believe it or anyone else from my family would get to the letter first and reveal my location or anything. So to be safe I always kept it for me,"
„You never thought about any other way? Like asking a friend or one of your adoptive parents to do that in your place?"
„No"
„I know for sure your mother would be glad to know you're alright. That you've found people that took care of you and raised you up into the man you are today,"
Hans smiled courteously at the princess, which responded with an angelic one, thus lasting for a moment and the husky Donny, which lied on the ground looked up at the duo, which got quiet and noticed the two humans, that had bonded over their life differences. Donny tilted his head curiously watching the two adults mesmerized at how long it seemed that both adults were gazing at each other. Donny raised his snout to nudge Hans on his arm taking him out of his distraction, followed by Anna and looked down at Donny, which stared at the duo.
„You're okay, buddy?" Questioned Hans watching Donny blink.
„I was just curious, why both of you were so silent after the conversation," Commented Donny, then Anna slid around Hans to get beside the dog, so she could pet him on his back.
„Are you sure?" Questioned Anna. „I felt like you were looking for attention," Spoke Anna passing her hand up at his head to pat him, making him pant. „Aww you're liking it, I knew you're looking for that, wasn't I right?" Asked the woman, then scratched him behind his ear making Donny lean his head against Anna's lap, that continued her deed and watched the spike-ear of the dog move, making the princess smile and insert her finger into it to scratch it making Donny lie his head back relaxed from sensing her finger inside his ear causing him delight. Hans grinned at seeing Donny's joy, then sat back while the princess toyed with the canine.
The next day the princes had prepared their horses, awaiting for the queen to show up, so they could depart.
„What's your horse's name?" Asked Prince Hugo adjusting the leash on his horse's face. „Mine's called Beau,"
„Valiente," Responded Rollan caressing his pet on his face. „I own him since he was a foal,"
„I've got him after he was trained," Commented Hugo. „You were present during yours then?"
„Most of the time," Commented Rollan. „I enjoyed our bonding time thought," Confessed the Spaniard, then heard the voice of the queen and watched her come along with a guard and the young woman Gerda, which was talking to the silver-blonde woman.
„They're already here," Commented Prince Hugo making Rollan nod, then both walked along with their horse several steps forward to encounter the women.
„Good morning, gentlemen," Greeted Elsa. „If you two don't mind, we're taking our own horse. It's been a while I've led one and I should get back to it again,"
„Sure," Responded Rollan making Hugo nod at Elsa's comment, then Gerda showed the princes a list of what they were going to do today.
„It looks short, but I'm sure it will be enough for you two to show what you're worth for as a future ruler. Have simple chats with the villagers, get to know, what most of them do for a living. Open them your arms and show them, you're a trustful person…..That's it for now. All four of us will be together and we can always communicate when something's up,"
The duo nodded, then climbed up on their horse waiting for Gerda and Elsa to get up on their horse as well, getting ready to leave the stable.
„Gentlemen, follow me. We will stop by the first crossroad and find out the first stand. I think they're the ones from the book store at the northern side of Arendelle," Spoke Elsa making the princes nod, after that Elsa moved the leash so the stallion of hers would move on and the princes got behind her leaving the place through the arc of the castle.
„What kind of breed is your horse, your majesty?" Questioned Prince Hugo making Elsa shrug her shoulders.
„I think it's a Norwegian fjord," Commented Gerda. „I know most of the breeders from around own this breed,"
„Perhaps it's that," Commented Hugo making Elsa nod.
„What about your horses?" Questioned the queen watching Rollan proudly lift his hand to point at his steed.
„Valiente is a Gelderlander," Spoke Rollan. „Well he's not 100% this breed, his father was another breed. They just were bred due to their good skills,"
„My horse is a Kabarda," Mentioned Hugo. „Our region only has those breeds at the moment,"
„Arendelle at the moment I have seen with ones resembling Kjekk here," Spoke Elsa.
„Jch….uh okay," Rollan let out unsure how to pronounce the name he just missed.
„Kjekk means handsome," Commented Gerda making Rollan nod. „It's Norwegian,"
„He in fact is pretty. The hair above his head in black and white is amazing," Commented Rollan making Elsa smile.
„Glad you liked it," Spoke Elsa making Rollan smile, then the Belgian prince approached Elsa from the other side to look at them.
„A beautiful horse like him can't compete with a beauty like you," Complimented the blonde making Gerda chuckle and Elsa grin.
„Aww that's sweet from you," Commented Elsa turning her head further and feel a little incomodated by the prince while he also looked a little unconvinced about his own comment.
„I see plenty of people there at the crossroad," Warned Rollan making Elsa nod.
„That's where the market is. People are getting there as well now," Explained Elsa.
Moments later the quartett got in the middle of the road watching owners of certain markets stand in front of their stand with their materials to sell.
„Wow those hand-made frames look fantastic," Commented Rollan looking at them making the vendor on the stand smile. „Are those real shells?" Questioned Rollan making the vendor nod, then got up to pick one up and show it to the prince.
„I have a good connection with Portuguese sailors, that fish around here for cod and other variation of fishes. In exchange for shelter they offered me shells, conch, and various oddments, which I can use to make these," Explained the man watching Rollan get down of his horse to look closer at the frame.
„That must be a lot of work to make," Commented Rollan making the man shrug his shoulders.
„It's not as hard as it looks, to be honest. The only challenging thing is to avoid creating stains on it," Said the vendor, then remembered something and looked down under his counter and took out a small canvas with the Finland flag on it made with white and light-blue colored shells. „I have at the moment three canvas here, where I used shells as well. This one they're in their natural colors, then I've got this one, where I had to color each of the shells and after they dried out I stuck them on the canvas," Explained the man taking out another frame, which had on it the flag of Norway. „At the moment I have made a few easy flags. I just recently started this. I'm meant to sell picture frames, but this I have to offer as well,"
„Sure," Answered Rollan looking around the table with the various frames and his attention was caught by a blue one, stuck with various white shells over it and Rollan picked it up to check it out. „How much does this one cost?"
„10 Thaler for a friend of queen Elsa," Answered the man, then Rollan looked back at the queen bewildered, which smiled at him and Rollan looked back at the man, which smiled waiting for Rollan's decision. Rollan took out from his pocket from his pants a bag to take out a couple of silver coins to hand them out to the man.
„Thank you," Responded the man watching Rollan insert his frame into a satchel his horse was behind the horse set. Rollan watched Hugo stand in front of the next stand chatting with a florist, then looked at his horse, which glanced at him neutrally.
„Vamos," Called Rollan walking to the next stand, while Queen Elsa went further stopping by to look at the stand filled with autumn and winter decoration.
The next stand Rollan was looking at was one exhibiting books of every genre, then Rollan picked up one book, which had the title. „Uh….."
„You're illiterate?" Questioned the vendor unpleased, then Rollan shook his head.
„In Spain, we don't have Norwegian classes," Spoke Rollan making the man nod. „I was trying to read the title, simply,"
„Kjærlighet er en åpen dør," Pronounced the man making Rollan grin at how hard it sounded to him.
„Charl…..open dör?" Pronounced the prince making the man chuckle.
„Perhaps you could use a language book, but at the moment I don't have one for you here. Tomorrow if you're interested you could pass by my book store. It's located near the water fountain in the center," Offered the man making Rollan nod. „You're new here?"
„I'm one of the three suitors for the queen," Answered Rollan. „Prince Rollan of Alicante,"
„Welcome in Arendelle, Prince Rollan. I hope you'll feel well here," Said the man making Rollan smile, and moved further to the next stand to see two women sitting together, an older woman and a younger one selling on their table knitted clothing and smaller sewed towels and kitchen aprons. Rollan gazed interested at an apron, which had in cross stitch a horse stuck on it and Rollan pointed at it earning his horse's attention, which nodded after releasing a puff.
„We have a large variety of daily materials for use. Aprons, bibs, covers, decoratives. I've got more samples down at the store as well," Told the young woman taking out a small box to put it on the table. My mother here has ideal for the wintertime pullovers, scarfs, berets, and socks," Said the woman looking to her mother, which began to use her hands to use sign language making Rollan curious from meeting a mute person. „She's saying, they're available in single colors, duo, and more colorful ones. The berets we brought are the only ones who are in one color only. The rest we have down at our store," Translated the woman making Rollan smile.
„I'm curious, have you gotten a coat for my steed?" Questioned Rollan. „Or any type of cover'?"
„We got a few ones inside here," Spoke the woman taking out four covers all with the same sketch on it but in four different colors. „What about the red one? It would fit your harness,"
„Hmm I'm more fond of the green or the blue one," Commented Rollan making the woman chuckle.
„It's up to your taste, sir," Commented the woman, then Rollan looked at his horse, which looked across at a vegetable stand making Rollan shake his head.
„I think he's more interested in something else. I may pass by another time," Commented Rollan lifting his hand to thank the woman and stepped beside the stallion to avoid him to approach the vegetables. „Hey Amigo, it's not time yet for apples," Commented Rollan placing his hand on the nose of the horse, which nudged Rollan shrieking him at his surprise. „Oy, your nose is wet!" Commented the prince making the vendor of the fruits laugh, then from behind him got up a woman in brown dress got up carrying above her shoulder a stick holding a bucket on each side filled with water.
„Thank you for letting me use your water hose," Said the woman earning a thumb up from the vendor.
„No problem Una. If you need more don't hesitate in coming back," Said the man making the woman smile, which moved further into the road carrying the water above her shoulders earning Rollan's attention, which noticed the woman moving on carefully.
„Excuse me," Spoke Rollan passing by the woman to have eye contact with her as she was walking. „Can I help you with it?" Offered Rollan earning a warm smile from the woman.
„That's really gentle of you, young man," Responded the woman, then Rollan took the stick off Una to place it behind his shoulders. „You're one of the princes that have been around Arendelle, right?"
„I'm Prince Rollan of Alicante," Introduced Rollan.
„Una is my name," Responded the brunette. „My stand is down there. It's the one with the shoes,"
„Ah and you're selling shoes?" Questioned Rollan making Una nod.
„I also sell hand-made mirrors. They're from my husband,"
„Cool, is he around?" Questioned Rollan causing the woman to sigh, which made Rollan wide his eyes neutral by having eventually hurt the woman. „Uh I shouldn't have asked this? Right?"
„It's alright, you couldn't know," Answered the brunette. „My husband….it's a long story. 14 years ago my husband passed away,"
„My deepest condolences," Spoke Rollan making the woman smile a little.
„Thank you," Responded the woman. „After his death, I was all alone with my first child. The village I lived in before wasn't the same after a new reign started. I left soon as I had the chance along with other villagers and thinking my life couldn't have gotten any worse our ship had wrecked and half of the people lost their consciousness including me. A healer took care of me and other ones, that made it through, and my daughter, well my first child I haven't seen since before our shipwreck. I know nothing about her. If she survived, if she didn't make it, anything,"
„That's rough. Losing two important people of your life in such a short time," Spoke Rollan, then encountered the stand with the shoes and saw there a teenage boy sitting in front of it drawing on a canvas, then he locked up to see the woman come along with Rollan and waved at the woman. „Who is that?"
„This is my son, Kai," Commented Una. „I figured months later after I left Denmark, that I was pregnant from my husband and I got him,"
„He does look like a good boy," Commented Rollan, then Una guided him to the back of the counter to show the place, where Rollan could drop the buckets.
„He really is. Despite having grown up half of his life without an older sister nor a father. He indeed earned the heart of his father," Mentioned Una, then helped Rollan put the buckets down.
„Who's that, mother?" Questioned Kai making his mother smile watching Rollan get up to adjust his shirt.
„This is Prince Rollan. One of the princes visiting the kingdom,"
„I think when I came from school the other day I saw him along with queen Elsa at the port," Mentioned Kai getting up from his seat to approach the two.
„Yes. That was the first day I could get to spend an afternoon with her to get to know her," Mentioned Prince Rollan. „It's not really easy to impress her and at the same time for me, it's hard to know, that being yourself may not always work,"
„Being yourself is the most right thing to do. Pretending to be someone else just for her to like isn't good for both of you,"
„Yes, this is what I don't want to do. My father believes this is wrong, I should do the other way around,"
„Your father should know, that this is not the right way,"
„Perhaps he does, but…..he wants me to be the one to take her hand at the end of the year and be her future husband. I couldn't look on my own outside his eyes for a queen or a princess. Anyone who would like me. Not because she has to. Like me because she really does. Because we both get along with another and…..simply everything between us happened naturally, not forced by any other persons,"
"That's correct" Commented the woman, then glimpsed at the table. "How about you try out a pair of shoes? Or slippers?"
"Perhaps some warm slippers would be nice," Commented Rollan. "I could use them while I'm here,"
"Do you have a color preference?" Questioned Una watching Kai take from under the table a box filled with various types of slippers.
"There are various sizes in it. I'll be putting them out. Here we have 39 in blue, 39 green, 40 in green, brown, black and red. 41 in black and red, 42 in red and black. And so on and so on,"
"Nice," Spoke Rollan taking a look at the slippers, thereafter Gerda came along and passed her hand over Valiente's neck. Gerda watched the prince look at the availability of shoes, then stood beside him to look at the other shoes in front of her.
"Did you know Elsa's favorite color is dark blue?" Questioned Gerda making Rollan shake his head. "What do you think? Will she pay attention to them?"
"I don't know. To be honest, I haven't even seen her footwear this week with the dress size," Commented Rollan making Gerda grin.
"Perhaps you're right," Commented Gerda looking at the woman taking out a mirror that mirrored Gerda's reflection and it showed the image change and display a blue-eyed baby lying happily on a woman's arm cooing. Gerda shook her head, followed by rubbing her eyes afterward with her hands to stare back at the mirror to see her normal reflection, then Una placed it down on the table next to a few other mirrors.
"Okay," Whispered Gerda, then Una looked at her and showed her the displayed objects.
"Are you interested in buying a nice pair of boots?" Questioned Una taking some from the ground to show it to Gerda. Gerda smiled at the look of them, then took a look at the ones, she was currently wearing.
„I'm actually fine with the ones I have, but I could use a second pair for the future," Answered Gerda getting Kai's attention.
„You could pick even two pairs," Suggested Kai removing the slipper pairs off the table while glimpsing at the girl. „You sure earn more money for working for our queen. Don't you think it's better than being in the orphanage you were before?"
„It is, but I don't feel great in giving out my money like crazy," Commented Gerda making Kai nod.
„Not all orphanages do treat their orphans as slaves as you've read in the books," Commented Una making Kai shake his head.
„Filip and Olga said otherwise," Mentioned Kai making his mother sigh and place her hand on the son's shoulder.
„I'm sorry for your friends," Commented Una earning Gerda and Rollan's attention.
„Life at the orphanage isn't an easy bite. Sometimes you gotta straighten up yourself and put yourself stronger to get over that. It sure isn't easy for everyone in there," Commented Gerda. „If you knew the many nights I wished I could find my parents,"
Rollan heard Gerda's comment and remembered she had told her about her past, then approached the lady.
„You have any memory of what happened to your parents?" Asked Rollan making Gerda shake her head.
„No, but as I was in the orphanage we knew plenty of things from our past due to our adoption papers and files kept in the housemaster's office. According to mine I was found on the coast along with a few other people, then got brought to an orphanage," Explained Gerda making Rollan nod. „They never knew who my parents were, just assumed they passed away or drowned,"
„Which coast were you found if I may ask?" Questioned Una making Gerda shrug her shoulders.
„I don't know. This is basically everything I know," Spoke Gerda making Rollan feel bad about the sad story from both sides.
„The orphanages you are talking about are from here?" Questioned Rollan making Gerda nod. „You know, we could talk to queen Elsa about it and see if she has an idea or suggest her one,"
„We could suggest her to pass by a few orphanages to see how they are. Talk to a few kids there. I find this is a good idea. Elsa sure finds it too," Stated Gerda making Rollan smile, then his stallion pushed Rollan against Gerda, which held him back by his chest, shrieking and redding up at the situation.
„I'm sorry," Apologized the prince stepping aside to look at his horse, which neighed and moved his face towards Una, which adjusted the shoes that are displayed. „I know Valiente. I promised to get some,"
Valiente neighed again, making Gerda chuckle.
„I think he meant something else," Mentioned Gerda watching Rollan pat the horse on the front.
„I'm sure it has anything to do with what I was on," Commented Rollan. „By the way, how much do my two pairs cost?" Questioned Rollan watching Kai hand him out the ones Rollan chose.
„36 Thaler," Responded Kai, then Rollan took from his pocket out the coins handing it out to the boy. „Make it 40,"
„Thank you," Responded Rollan taking them into the bag of his horse, then grabbed the leash. „Let's move on?" Asked the Spaniard, then walked further followed by Gerda, which waved at the duo that responded with a smile.
„Do you sometimes wonder, what animals would say if they could talk?" Asked the boy making the mother curious at his question.
