Authors note: Welcome to the next chapter, the last we left Hans was heading back to Arendelle to get closure... and maybe something more in time. (Wink)
Yes the relationship ended, but it happened due to several factors, the biggest was the lack of communication and the mixed signals on both parties. Agnaar took advantage of that and knew what button to push to get the result he wanted and Hans was not alone in that situation as you will soon see.
I will not reveal too much as I want to keep the rest a secret, a secret which I hope will delight all of you lovely readers. (Wink). Any way on with the new story, please tell me what you think and what improvements I can make on it as your opinions matter.
Speaking felt good, having somebody to talk to and somebody who listens helps a lot.
All the pain he went through opened up old wounds as he spoke, but as he continued on he could feel his wounds heal again as he was reaffirmed how far he had come and how much he had changed as a person.
The blind old man stared in awe, he could not see, but his face showed all the emotions without conveying them with words as Hans told his story and finally finished telling it, his eyes had some tears but he had a smile as he did not regret what he did or went through.
Nodding his head the beggard said "That is quite a story",
Hans looked down and said "I know it's crazy, but it's the truth and nothing but the truth"
"Have you though about it?",
"About what?" asked Hans,
"Going back to Arendelle? Getting closure for what happened there" Explained the beggar,
"Not going to happen, if I set foot there they will kill me, no questions asked" said Hans shaking his head, he still remembered Agnaars threats and what made it worse was that he did not know where he stood with Anna and Idunna. So the chances were that a horrible death awaited him if he went back to Arendelle.
"Oh I am sure you won't be killed, who knows? Maybe you will be welcomed with pomp, splendor and celebrations" said the beggar mysteriously.
"How can you be sure?",
"I just know... Do you trust me?".
There was silence as Hans though about it. On the one hand he did wanted closure, but on the other he risked certain death... should he trust this blind beggar?
After a while Hans nodded before saying "Guess I am going to Arendelle, hopefully people will see me as John Winters, not Hans Westergaard"
Never had Hans had such a stressful travel. He could not bare to leave the old beggar behind, so despite the insistence he brought the old beggar with him.
Hans has asked his name several times, but the old beggar refused and never told him his name, so Hans left it at that.
Together they took a coach to Denmark and from there they took a boat, Hans volunteered in the boat as he missed working in one while taking time to make sure the old man was taken care off as he was completely dependent on Hans due to his lack of hands and it did not help that Hans was a bit of a worry wart when it came to the old man.
When they arrived to Arendelle they disembarked into town. "Stay close" said Hans as he kept a hand on the old mans shoulders as they made their way through the town. All the while Hans was tense, praying he would not be recognized even when he knew it was impossible as he looked so different compared to how he looked before. It was as if who he was now and who he was before were two very different people, not the same.
But still Hans could not help but keep looking over his shoulder every so often, afraid he would be recognized and sent to jail to be beheaded.
"John, where are we going?" asked the old beggar,
"We will look for work for me then we will go from there" answered Hans,
"Work?" asked the old beggar,
"Yes, I can ask for free lodging in exchange for work" explained Hans as they arrived to the board the town used to announce news. Looking over them Hans read "Shoe cobbler... no, too close to town", "Night guard? No, have to share barracks and old man cannot come", then smiled when he saw what he was looking for "Farmhand wanted, free lodging and food included with little pay". Taking that flyer Hans folded it and placed it on his pocket when his line of sight spotted a flyer.
This one compared to the others was big, very elaborate, it screamed for every bodies attention. How Hans did not notice it at first he did not know, but now that he saw it it had his complete attention.
On it was painted Elsa, she was dressed in a very elaborate dress of white fur and blue velvet, her hair was done in an elaborate bun made out of beautiful braids, adorned by a silver crown with a single blue diamond.
"The Olaf diamond" muttered Hans as he remembered Elsa telling him the history of the diamond on her crown before reading what the flyer said.
In shiny gold bold letters it said "Do you have what it takes? Are you strong, clever and worthy enough to rule by the queens side? Come to Arendelles castle and pass three trials! All are welcome and whoever passes all trials will have their lives changed forever!"
Hans looked down and said "Let's go" before pulling the old man away.
Later that day:
It was a barn. That was their home for now. Hans looked at it, it was old, run down, the roof definitely needed some repairs, but he had stayed in worse places before.
Sitting the old man outside under a tree Hans set up to work. Borrowing some tools, nails and such Hans began to fix up the roof, every so often he would stop and check on the old man before going back to work.
The sun had set when the roof was fixed up, heading back down and returning the tools Hans walked into the barn and cleaned it as best he could, fixed a stove that was in there and prepared a spot to sleep for him and the old man before bringing the old man inside.
"Thank you" said the old man as he lay down on the cot Hans made for him out of some old blankets and some straw.
"It's nothing" said Hans as he put firewood on the stove to keep the place warm.
"It's not nothing" exclaimed the old man "If it would have been anybody else they would have abandoned me",
"If your going to tell me that I am some hero, I am not" said Hans honesty,
"Don't sell yourself short" said the old man then added "When will you see her?",
"See who?" asked Hans playing dumb, he knew who he was talking about,
"Your old love who else?" said the old man then added sadly "You miss her don't you?".
To that Hans bit his lip in hesitation. The truth was, yes he missed her, terribly so and an even greater truth... despite what happened, despite all the time passed... he was still in love with her.
He did not know why he still loved her, he just did, maybe he was holding unto the happy times they had together? Or maybe he was torturing himself with all the what could have beens or something?
The time they spent walking outside, all the times they went to dinner, the dances, the tender words of love they shared with one another.
"You still love her?" asked The old man, this Hans did not answer as he sat down on a bale of hay, looking into the fire of the stove.
"I will be here when you want to talk" the old man finally said.
He was a coward. Hans told himself over and over as he worked by moving the bales of hay into the barn, tossing them inside before going back and getting some more.
For days Hans had tried to enter the Arendelle castle, to try and get an audience with Elsa, but every time he tried he chucked out before he could even take a step into the courtyard.
"Some fine specimen you are, you face all manner of evil creatures and people but are too chicken to speak to her" though Hans bitterly as he finished tossing in all of the bales and proceeded to organized them and stack them up till they were all nice and neat.
"So when are you going to?" asked The old man a he sat on a wooden bucket near the stove.
"Go where?",
"To Arendelle? I bet your love will be happy to see you" chirped the old man,
"Not going to happen, if anything a slow and painful death is waiting for me if she sees me" Hans though then added "Worse if her sister sees me first",
"John" began the old man,
"Let's just drop the subject for now" said Hans as he turned and left the barn, leaving the old man alone.
Hans had just arrived at the field to resume his work when a horrified scream stopped him in his tracks. Clutching at his scythe, he ran towards the direction of the cry where he found a group of farmers and herders comforting a distraught young shepherdess. Several others could be heard uttering fearful whispers. As he squeezed his way into the huddle, Hans was greeted by the sight of a gruesome bloodbath.
Animal carcasses – of cattle, sheep, pigs, and even reindeer – lay scattered all around the field. Their innards were missing, torn out and eaten by some ravenous predator.
"It's those blasted wolves," muttered a farmer, pointing at the paw prints embedded into the soft muck. They were indeed wolf prints, but they were massive! Hans's own feet fit perfectly inside, which meant this wolf was at least three times bigger than any wolf in existence.
"What's going on here?" a woman called out.
Everyone turned to greet the newcomers, and as they approached the group, Hans's eyes widened in recognition.
'Anna… Kristoff…'
Though they were familiar faces, at the same time it was clear that they had changed a lot. They were both well-dressed and well-groomed, but that was probably the best thing Hans could say about their appearance. Anna no longer looked anything like the flighty, young woman she once was. Instead of the bright colors and finery of her girlhood, she now dressed in a more somber, conservative fashion, much like a hospital matron, and she looked like she had aged 20 years since he last saw her.
However, the biggest and most shocking change was with Kristoff. When Hans last saw him, the blond mountaineer was hale and hearty, with a clumsy way of moving and a practical yet prickly demeanor that, at times, bothered Hans. But upon seeing him his current state, Hans would much rather be greeted by Kristoff's uncultivated manners and his trademark gruffness. As of the present, the blond sat in a wheelchair, completely paralyzed from the neck down with a sad, defeated look in his eyes.
Hans could feel that cold, hollow sensation growing in the pit of his gut yet again. 'What happened to them?'
"Lord and Lady Bjordman... the wolves have attacked again" said a farmer in fear while Hans turned his back to hide himself from Anna and Kristoff, pretending to focus on the dead deer, while hearing what was said.
"This is the fourth time this week! We cannot let this continue!" Said one farmer,
"Yes! We need the reindeer for winter!" Said another and soon all were clamoring for something to be done post haste.
Kristoff and Anna looked, thinking even a bit panicked as people began to yell, demanding actions right this instant.
"I will do something!" They heard, a hush as they all turned to face the person who spoke up. Looking down Hans made sure that his face was concealed by the hood he wore as he raised his hand and said "I volunteer to dispatch the wolf for you, free of charge".
There was hushed whispers were exchanged between those who were there before Anna asked "Are you sure?",
"Yes" said Hans softly, begging all the while he would not be recognized.
Anna and Kristoff seemed to think, they looked at one another before nodded "Very well, you may try", then Anna added "If you back off there will be no shame",
"I don't plan to" said Hans as he turned around and left the area. He had things to do before nightfall.
That night:
The old man was distraught, he begged to Hans, pleaded to him on his knees to abandoned this task. But no amount of dry tears and heartbreaking cries could change Hans mind.
With a hug and a kiss on the forehead Hans tucked the sobbing blind old man unto the cot with a promise "I will see you in the morning". He only stayed, soothing the old man crying with a soft song.
When you walk through the storm Hold your head up high, And don't be afraid of the dark. At the end of the storm Is a golden sky, And the sweet silver song Of the lark. Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain, Though your dreams be tossed, and blown. Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone, you'll never walk alone.
The old man continued to cry, eventually as Hans sang the old man fell asleep. Tucking him in Hans got up, took a bag he had prepared and left.
Lighting a lantern Hans made his way down to the fields where the reindeer were grazing. Arriving there he made a small fireplace and started to prepare some meat for him to eat while he waited.
Sitting down on the ground Hans took out his leather journal he flipped it open to find a blank page when he stumbled upon an old drawing. It was that of a young girl, she was plain in looks, brown hair and brown eye, but to Hans, she was the most beautiful girl he ever met.
Stroking the picture a small smile spread across Hans face when he heard a growl. Pausing he looked up to find himself staring face to face with a huge, dark ferocious wolf.
It was bigger than Hans though it was, its pelt was as dark as night, it's eyes a shiny red, the most distinct feature it had was on its forehead. It was a mark of an eclipsed moon which adorned its forehead.
Growling it stood over Hans, but despite this Hans was not scared, this wolf, it was not like other wolves, if it was it would have attacked him and torn him apart. So instead of attacking Hans decided to go another route.
"Good night lord wolf, hope your hunt is going well" Hans greeted it with a light bow from where he was sitting. This caught the wolf by surprise causing it to stop growling before he nodded and said "Its not going too well as humans have taken my and my sons forests, killed my pack, have not seen wolves in years",
"I am sorry about that, we can be selfish at times" apologized Hans then gestured to the meat he was cooking "It is not much, but would you like my food as some compensation?",
"You would give me your food?" asked the wolf baffled even a little skeptical,
"Yes, we took your food so it's only fair you take mine" said Hans offering the meat again.
To this the wolf though before nodding and said "You are right human, so I will accept".
Quickly Hans finished preparing the meat before offering it to the wolf. Looking over it with judging eyes the wolf smelled it before eating, as he did Hans prepared some milk and honey before presenting it in a bowl.
"For your thirst" Hans said, the wolf once finished smelled it and said "Honey, the gold most rare" before drinking it up.
Once satiated the wolf got up, turned and left the field, leaving the reindeer alone.
Hans sighted, he did not think that would work, but was glad his gut feeling was correct. Sitting back down he leaned against the tree and looked out into the field before muttering "Jane my angel, if you are here, thank you for protecting me".
With that the sun rose, announcing another day.
To be continue...
Fun fact: Hospital Matrons were not necessarily old, a lot of times hospital matron back then was just the tittle of the nurse in charge. (A lot of them were very pretty too)
Authors note: A lot has changed and unknowing to Hans, he was not alone in his situation. What happened to Kristoff? Why is he like that? What happened to Anna? Why did she changed so much?
Any way hope you all enjoy the last chapter of this story! It was long and hard work! Please review to let me know what you all think, but for now I bid you adue and will post the sequel of this story as soon as possible. Take care.