Elsa paced her room nervously. Nothing about this made sense. Nothing. Relying on Hans, Kristoff's lies, Anna's absence. Nothing made sense anymore.
The queen forced herself to stop and make sense of the situation. Her sister was missing. Kristoff had immediately recommended she meet with a war council (which made sense if he was an over-protective boyfriend, but still...). Then Baragor had shown up, claiming knowledge of the incident, and proposing a deal.
"What do you want?" She asked the air. That was what was wrong here; Kristoff wasn't the kind to send an armada off for his girlfriend, the Black Spot pirates had made no demands, and Baragor gained nothing from this whole deal!
Elsa sighed into her hands. A year ago, she would have deemed this train of thought paranoid. Now? It was definitely something worth considering.
And really, there was only one thing that bothered her. Hans was going to die. Period.
No matter how this fight went, he would perish. Looking over his records, it became increasingly apparent that, no matter how one fought the pirates, there was no such thing as 'winning'. Hans had only managed stalemates. And even then he had walked over piles upon piles of corpses to get them.
"He's unpredictable."
Elsa jumped slightly.
"My apologies," Bowed Baragor, "I didn't mean to scare you."
"I am not afraid," Insisted the queen.
He smiled, "Soooo... I was thinking; since the Southern Isle has been so forward with you, volunteering our confidential information..."
"Which we are ever so pleased about," Elsa grit out.
That smile stayed, "I was hoping to ask for... a blessing."
"...of what kind?"
"I want Hans' offense... cleared. It's embarrassing. Besides," Laughed Baragor, "Once he's served his purpose, he's as good as dead."
Elsa stood up straight, "If he survives this, he will be a free man."
"Oh," Said Baragor, "I think not..."
The prince then bowed before leaving, heaping even more guilt on the poor queen.