Although mentioned in only warrior songs and poetry, there is a point, after life, between heaven and hell that a soldier's soul finds himself. It lies in knowing the agony of loosing one's life, and, by extension, the soul of those they fight for, on the field of battle, and taking something from the enemy, and the knowledge that you have taken it from him.
Hans, in that spot between Heaven and Hell, found himself... unsurprised. Ever since his trip to Elsa's coronation, life had been a series of bittersweet moments. The victory of fooling Anna coupled with the defeat of trying to kill queen Elsa.
As his spirit floated back down to his body, the pain and confusion filled his mind as he became conscious again.
"Ow." That was all he allowed himself. Voices from outside. Two men in servant's garb swung into the window on ropes. A third rappelled down the side of the castle and into the dungeon. Although still disorientated, Hans found this somewhat dubious.
"He's dead," One of them announced upon seeing the fallen Westerguard's body.
Hans started the feel his body's agony. Great. He suppressed a cough as the trio made there way to the queen. She lay on her side, arm splayed against her breast. The moonlight brought her ice to life, sparkling beautifully. One of the men lifted her head by her snowy hair.
"Arrogant trollop," He said, "Giving orders. She should learn how to have shut her mouth and minded her place."
Hans completely agreed. Then again, she did show him a certain amount of respect, and that counted for something. He suppressed his need to breath again as the burning sensation made its way across his body. His finger trembled, knocking a single rock loose.
Oops.
Opening the one eye only partially-covered in dust, Hans watched the men scalp Elsa. Her gorgeous lock were severed roughly by a knife. She moaned in pain, beginning to come back to life. Her eyelids fluttered as she tried to focus. The pain in her hair was intensifying. One pale hand made its way to the source of discomfort.
The queen startled as she found the locks severed.
"Nuh... noooo..." She moaned. The men laughed.
"Don't worry, you'll be dead quick enough, I'm sure."
Finally, Hans could suppress himself no more. He burst up, wheezing for air, coughing out the rock and dust.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The men stumbled backwards, afraid. Hans landed on his feet.
"AH! AH! AH!" His entire body ached. But his anger was greater. The young prince hefted a rock and threw it into the open mouth of one of the men. Bulls eye, the thug went down, spewing blood. Hans then grabbed a chunk of a wooden beam, the metal screw still imbedded in a hunk of the wall.
He swung on the second man, sending him to that space between Heaven and Hell.
Finally, he sighed to himself. Hans raised himself to full height. He was free. The cool night air brushed across his skin. The first man spit out his teeth, sobbing. Hans picked up the rock he had thrown and silenced the man permanently. The third had run off, which was not Black Spot pirate behavior. They were more along the lines of "I'll eat myself, and the eat the flesh of my enemies". Although their mania was... off-putting... it followed a certain logic. And therefore was predictable.
So... who was this?
Hans felt the powerful urge to hunt down the third man and... persuade him to talk. The rumble of canon-fire brought Hans back to the gaping hole. These cells were crap; couldn't keep him in, or Elsa.
Arrendelle was in flames. Screams echoed through the night as savage pirates attacked citizenry. Death would take many, many innocents tonight. Hans didn't care.
He turned back to look at Elsa. She wasn't as beautiful now that the blood from her forehead had dried. Between that and her damaged locks, she looked somewhat manish. He laughed. She stirred.
"I bid you, goodnight," He snickered, making his way towards the door. He stepped on her hand on the way out, one last insult before...
before...
before...
Hans swore. He turned and picked the groaning blond up.
"I'm not getting paid enough for this," He assured her. He head bobbed up and down as if she agreed with him. Arrendelle soldiers ran up and down the castle, untrained for this kind of attack. Hans complained to his unconscious captive that it was no wonder he almost managed to kill her.
"Here," He said, turning to one soldier, "Take the queen to the portrait room."
The soldier stared at him, dumbfounded, "But-!"
"It's the last place the pirates will attack," He added silently, "And they know the layout of the place perfectly."
And now he could walk right out the door, debts paid, with no reason whatsoever to stick around.
"You three," He said with authority, "Come with me."
They knew who he was, but the soldiers still followed him. He was the only stable person around, "You in front. That's the safest job."
"How is that the safest job?!" Demanded the youth.
"Because," Hans explained as they came onto a stairway, "All you need to do is tuck and roll."
He then pushed the young guard down the steps into the path of attacking pirates.
"AH!"
They stumbled, and Hans stabbed one of them with the knife that had severed Elsa's hair. Why didn't he think to just kill the queen, let the assassin's take the blame?
He didn't want to think about that right now, not with his fingers in someone else's eyes. That's what no one explains about combat- it's disgusting. Blood and vomit and waste filled the channel. Within seconds, the guards took control, ending the lives of three of the pirates. The rest ran back.
Hmmm... more atypical behavior. Must be a trend.
"Happa Hans! Happa Hans!" They screamed.
"What's that mean?" Asked one of the guards.
Hans snarled angrily turning to the window. Out in the city, the cannonballs from... his ship?! cleared a straight path from the bay to his current location in the castle. As if on cue, dozens of screaming pirates charged into the clearing, running into the castle.
"It means two things," He sighed as the guards looked on in terror. He rubbed his eyes, "First, it is a curse to describe animal procreation, in this context that I am copulating with some beast. The second? That I'm not paid enough for this."
"Huh?"
"They're here for me," He explained, "This attack is to finally kill me."
a.n. read and review for a chapter. I feed off your love! :D
Also, trying to decide whether or not to make this Helsa. :( On the one hand, I want to keep him focused on how afraid he is, and deal with that. On the other, major drama. Oh, what to choose, what to choose?!