Baragor had learned how to hate his brothers. Hans, with his scheming, and now Kristoff...
Ah, now why had the dumb blond done something so foolish as to leave Elsa alive? Sure, she was his love's sister, but shipping her and Hans off together had been a monumental mistake. There was absolutely, positively no way she could be allowed to live.
If she lived, she could make a case for returning the throne to her. If she lived, she could inform Hans she had never signed the treaty which meant Hans would know that Baragor had misled him for months, and, since Hans knew now who had been the actual Black Spot, he could pay back the queen by informing the international consortium of the Westerguard's misdeeds.
Which is why they had to die.
He rubbed his forehead trying to ease the pain of his headache. Why did this always happen to him? Sure, he'd schemed and murdered and occasionally betrayed his family, but... overall he wasn't the bad guy! Hans was bad. Hans was evil. Hans committed the unspeakable crime- he'd been afraid.
Baragor laced his fingers in front of him. This was a real problem. If he were being honest, this was why he truly hated Hans. Of course, there were many reasons to hate Hans; how high the cost of his war with the Black Spot pirates ranged, his weakness which kept him wracked with fear most nights, his failure in Arrendelle... and now he was off with that witch. Honestly, it were as though he were trying to make things worse!
But what to do? Why would Kristoff send Hans off? Why not just kill him? And how come Elsa was still alive?! More questions arose.
There was one reason, and one reason alone; Anna. Somehow, Kristoff was going to win her back using Elsa. And Hans was alive because...
No... that didn't work at all.
Why, why, why...? What did Kristoff know that Baragor didn't?!
...It couldn't be that Hans was conspiring with Elsa, could it? What if she'd already told him the truth? What if the youngest Westerguard was on his way to the International Consortium in an attempt to convince them to arrest his brothers?!
...there was only one choice left.
"Kai!" He called. The steward immediately appeared, "Summon the council!"
The servant bowed, and left. Baragor straightened himself up, straightening his cravat, and loosening his belt a bit. Striding down the halls, the elder prince went over his practiced speech.
"Gentlemen," He called, "We need to talk."
The council swallowed harshly.
"See," continued the royal, "We've run into a bit of a snag- too many royals, as it were. Now, you can either have Anna, or Elsa. NOT BOTH! They are too much of a pain as they are."
The council muttered to one another nervously.
"Worry not," the orator continued, "You will have a ruling family, but I need something more from you."
More nervous muttering.
"And what would that be?"
"I need you to announce the engagement of my brother to the fair," He stopped a moment, deciding whether 'fair' was the right word considering how 'unfair' and irrational she could be, "Princess Anna."
Shocked gasps erupted.
"We didn't know about any engagement!" Proclaimed one.
"That's because you're going to create it," Smirked Baragor.
The council was silent for once.
The prince took this as his cue to speak, "Now, now, everyone, let's not point any fingers that itch to do so. The fact of the matter is that Elsa is an embarrassment. Ignoring the fact that she's a freak, she also has little to no idea how to control herself. Just because she didn't sign a piece of paper doesn't mean she has leadership qualities."
Of course, that was exactly what her refusal had shown. And the council knew it. If the International Consortium found out that it was Arrendelle's council not its queen that had made the deal, Elsa could sue for harassment. And nobody would profit from that.
"What of the queen?" Asked one elderly councilor. Baragor sighed. Elsa was nothing if not beloved. For whatever reason, even after betraying her, they still felt loyalty towards the blond-haired witch.
"She's indisposed of for the moment. We need to focus on Anna. Marrying her off to Kristoff will end our problem. The Southern Isles has been fighting the pirates for generations. Once the princess marries my brother, he'll sign a paper officially joining our countries, and then nothing any of us has done will be illegal. But."
He held up a dramatic finger, "If we don't finish the job, we are all going to be hanged for treason," He adjusted his collar, "Now, I ask of you, is it too much to ask that you announce an engagement?"
The room broke into discussion. Baragor sighed. They were all too afraid. Well, it was time to add to the pressure. He sent a guard to arrest Anna. Let her stay in a dungeon for a bit, see if that would break her spirit.
Of course, Christopher would object, but that was no big problem. Once his lover came begging, he'd forget about all the little things he'd had to put up with.
Then Hans and Elsa would die. Then Baragor could sail home and forget this all ever happened. The end.
And they all lived happily ever after?
There was the small chance that Hans and Elsa would work together. As improbably as it was, he did have the power to testify against Baragor, and she had the power to seize back the throne. If they had one another's backs, they would be unstoppable. Fortunately, they hated each other, and would soon be at the bottom of the sea.
Baragor smiled. Things were finally back on track. And just in time too.