Chapter 12: An Unexpected Turn

Warsaw, Poland

December 23, 1812

Anna hummed a somber Christmas carol as she strung the handmade paper decorations on the little tree the hospital staff had set up. It was a poorly made holiday decor for all they had to dress it with were the odds and ends of used filling paper cut into an assortment of odd shapes. She was no artist like Elsa and so far all she'd done were crude little misshapen things that didn't at all resemble angels or stars or candles that she imagined them.

She reached into her basket for another decor and found several perfectly made three-dimensional paper snowflakes, like the ones Elsa used to make when they entertained the orphans at Christmas with paper cutting projects. She marveled at the object and realized they were from the pile that Hans brought in half an hour ago.

Hans had been recovering well enough over the last few weeks that he didn't need to be constantly in bed. He started helping out with the nurses in the hospital in small ways. This morning, Anna had roped him into doing some cutouts for her. She hadn't had time to look into his work before as she was busy stringing some odd balls she made herself. Now that she did, Anna was surprised Hans actually had a talent for these things that could rival her sister's. She remembered how beautiful the decorations were every Christmas whenever Elsa took charge. Elsa had an eye for design unlike anyone Anna knew. Anything Elsa made, whether it was done out of her magical ice or even simple paper, always looked magnificent.

The memory of her sister's beautiful decorations saddened her as she stared at her own poor handiwork. Hans' cutouts may be shaped perfectly but as it was just made out of plain paper, it lacked the sparkle of the tinsel Elsa used that really made the decors pop out with holiday cheer.

It's the thought that counts and anything is better than nothing. Even a poorly decorated tree can still bring some holiday joy to the sick soldiers that need it most, she decided.

Anna was struggling to find her own holiday cheer. Weeks had gone by and there was still no news of Kristoff. Since the start of December, she had received new information on a total of 184 Arendellian soldiers. A hundred and forty seven of them were confirmed killed in action or died of injuries in medical facilities. The rest were reported to be recuperating in the other hospitals across Poland and Russia. None had ended up in her hospital so she had no opportunity to question them. She continued to rely only on the official reports and the occasional soldier that had scant information.

The latest report a few days ago said the last of their forces had already pulled out of Russia three weeks ago. The war was essentially over. A lot of the hospital staff and the recuperated patients had already packed up and gone home to their respective countries. Anna was given the option by her superiors to leave as well, but she had opted to stay. The fjord surrounding Arendelle was already frozen at this time and the ports wouldn't be open until mid-January at the earliest. If she left Warsaw, she would end up waiting until the snows melted to get home. She did have a standing invitation from her cousin Rapunzel to spend the holidays with her family in Corona but she politely refused. There were still poor, sick soldiers that were trickling in beaten down carriages, weary horses, or on foot. Their stories were all the same: trudging through hours of snow on empty stomachs, while wallowing in disease and the anguish over their fallen comrades. Only the thought of reaching home kept them alive. Anna couldn't bear to leave them when the hospital staff was already thinning and there was a chance that one of them might know something about Kristoff.

Anna abruptly stopped humming as she remembered her sweet dear husband. She now carried his last letter and those of Elsa's and her children's in a satchel she tied around her neck everyday as a way to keep her family close. She took Kristoff's letter out once more, read his loving words and softly murmured them to herself. It brought fresh tears into her eyes. Unable to hold them anymore, she knelt in front of the makeshift nativity next to the tree and offered a prayer.

"Lord, keep him safe. I hope somewhere another woman is taking care of him and making his holiday brighter while I take care of all these poor souls you send my way. I promise I'll stay here and take care of all of them. Just bring him safely home to me."

She heard a soft gasp behind her and she turned to find Hans carrying a basket full of newly handmade decors.

"I... I'm sorry for interrupting. I can come back," he said as he began to turn away. However, he noticed her tears before she could wipe them and he paused. "Are you alright?"

She nodded pathetically but the tears just kept coming. Hans placed the basket on a nearby table and came over. In the next instant, she was in his arms. It was the first time he held her after his confession about his childhood. Anna clutched at him desperately and cried openly without words. Hans said nothing as well but his tight embrace said enough.

Finally, she was able to calm down and Hans handed her a handkerchief. She blew her nose on it and Hans held her chin up to stare at her.

"You'll be okay. You're the bravest person I know," he said. "Maybe you should leave the hospital like the others. Go to Corona. Stay with cousin Rapunzel for the holidays. You've done more than enough for me and all these men."

"Not enough," she shook her head. "I need to stay and help then maybe then God will give him back to me. I can't bear it he's dead! I can't go home to my children without him! I told them when we left their Papa's off to win a war. Here look." She took out one of the letters Elsa sent that enclosed a drawing made by her son Agdar. It depicted a stick figure of Kristoff in uniform with his hand in a salute. Underneath were the words 'Lt. Kristoff Bjorgman, hero of 1812.' The writing was made by her daughter Idunn who can already spell properly at age four.

"What will I say to them if I come home without their Papa?"

Hans stared at the drawing and seemed to recoil at it. He abruptly pulled away from her. "Anna I..." he said but it ended there. He began to pace, his hands clenching and unclenching in a manner that was so unlike him.

"Hans... is there something wrong?" she asked, thinking the drawing must have triggered something about his unpleasant childhood.

Hans had opened up to her over the last few weeks about his family. Being ignored by his brothers was only one of the abuses he received. Some of them were cruel to the point of being violent. There was the time they tricked him into diving into a lake to retrieve a ball they lost. His brothers left him and Hans almost drowned had not Lars passed by and fished him out in time. There was his father's birthday where his brothers got drunk and threw bottles at him for fun. And then there were the verbal mockeries. His brothers called him the "son of a whore" to his face after news of his mother's affair with Anna's Papa became common knowledge in the Southern Isles court. Throughout his childhood Hans was belittled as the cast off son whose mother was the mistress of two kings and his father did nothing to stop it. It was a wonder Hans managed to survive at all with such a family.

Hans stood still, his back to her and said nothing that Anna thought he might not have heard her.

"Hans?"

"ANNA! Anna, come quickly!" Fria came bursting in through doors. "Something wonderful just arrived!"

Anna's heart immediately jumped. "Is it Kristoff? He's alive?"

Fria immediately stopped and frowned slightly. "Errr... no, I'm sorry. But it's a delivery of supplies and gifts from Arendelle."

"Elsa!" Anna gasped. She no longer bothered to wait for her friend but took off running towards the hospital entrance. Elsa must have managed to send out a last minute package before the ports closed. She had written Elsa about their dwindling supplies on the first week of December and she even included the news about Hans being here. Although, she explained to Elsa she had forgiven Hans and that they had become friends, she was careful not to say anything more private about him and his relationship through their Papa. Details such as those were just too intimate to be explained via letter and she did remember her sister's warning that she should be careful what she wrote. Instead, Anna focused more on the sad plight of the hospital and her decision to stay on until after New Year. Elsa surely understood her need and must have sent this for her. If she did, she would certainly send a letter as well with news.

Anna burst out into the courtyard and found a covered wagon filled with crates bearing the Arendelle crest. A man stood before it with his back to her and was ordering two men to unload the crates. He was tall, lean and had the same strawberry blonde shade of hair as she had. For a moment, she was reminded of her own Papa for he was built the same as this man. However, the spell ended when he spoke in a harsh, almost sneering tone.

"Be careful with that one! Those are medicines that are worth more than what you'll earn in ten years and would cost you another ten for the shipping cost!"

Anna frowned at him and cleared her throat. The man turned around and Anna was astonished once more to see that he looked like an older version of Hans down to the shade of eyes. The man seemed equally surprised to see her and stared at her from head to foot in a way that made her extremely uncomfortable.

"Madam?" he greeted, his tone hinted of snobbery.

Anna kept her chin up. "Princess Anna of Arendelle. I believe I haven't had the pleasure of your acquaintance."

His manner immediately changed at the moment she mentioned her title. He smiled openly in the manner that reminded her of Hans the first time they met. "Princess Anna! A true delight to meet you. I am Prince—"

"Holford!" It was Hans who spoke and in a moment he was beside her.

"Hans," Holford said evenly. "So glad to see you're alive and well."

Hans said nothing. Anna imagined he was too busy thinking of something to say that wouldn't bring up unpleasant memories. Hans did tell her Holford was brother number six and was one of his siblings who pretended he was invisible for two years. He was the same brother who was responsible for setting fire to Hans' wooden toy soldier collection, the last birthday present Anna's Papa had given Hans as a child. It was one of the cruelest things his brothers had done to him and Hans never quite forgave him for it. Holford never even bothered to apologize for that incident and never showed any remorse.

"He's not completely well yet but he's recovering under my care," Anna said to Holford, with emphasis on "care". It was her way of telling him Hans was under her protection and she was not going to let him abuse his younger brother.

If Holford sensed her threat he did not show it. "You have my deepest gratitude Princess Anna. My brothers and I were quite apprehensive that we lost Hans with no news coming in from the front these months."

"I was never lost Holford. I was sent away," Hans replied scathingly. "You can't lose something you deliberately threw out."

Holford's face immediately looked apologetic. "Hans, I am sorry if you felt that way. I'm not here for a fight and I'm sure Princess Anna is inconvenienced enough standing out here. May I ask if we can speak somewhere comfortable inside? I have news for her as well from our sister."

Anna noted his mention of "our sister" in reference to Elsa and somehow felt insulted that he would dare associate himself with her family after what he did to his own brother. However, Anna said nothing and merely led the way inside.

The parlor where the hospital clerks entertained visitors was empty at this time and it already had a roaring fire going so she brought them there. Fria, offered to bring them tea and closed the door to give them privacy.

"So what brings you here, Prince Holford?," Anna asked. "This is a long way from the Southern Isles."

"Not too far for me. I am the Southern Isles ambassador to Prussia. A trip to Warsaw is only a little distance. And please do call me Holford. We are family after all."

Anna knew he was expecting her to reply that he should call her just "Anna" as well but she said nothing. Something about this man made her uncomfortable. She didn't want to give him the benefit of being on a first name basis just yet.

"Why are you here Holford?" Hans went straight to the point. "The army is on the march back to France. You're going the wrong way."

"Oh no, brother dear, you see Caleb sent me over to help supervise the retreat. This war left us in quite a mess. I'm here as an administrative visitor to ensure all our citizens still in Poland gets repatriated back to the Southern Isles."

"Repatriated?" Hans frowned. "Why would Caleb need to do that? We're in allied territory."

"For now," Holford replied seriously. "That might not last much longer. You've been so isolated out here for the last few weeks that you might not have heard yet. Tensions are rising all over Europe after this fiasco of an invasion. There's talk that Austria and Prussia are about to switch sides. If that happens, there might be conflict among the ranks and our poor soldiers can get caught in the middle. I'm here to make sure our citizens get safely out before things get bad. I have letters of safe passage for every single Southern Islander conscripted in this war. That includes you Hans."

"So you're here to take him home?" Anna asked.

"Yes, and you as well Princess." He pulled out a thick package from a large bag he carried and laid it on the table between them. These are personal letters from Elsa and your own documents of safe passage obtained from every state you need to pass through until you get to Copenhagen. There's also one for every Arendellian not yet declared dead."

Anna opened the package. It was just as he said. Underneath Elsa's sealed letters was a neat pile of certificates of safe conduct for her and more than a hundred other Arendellians. Kristoff's document was placed directly underneath hers. "Elsa sent this to you?"

"Of course. She sent it through Lars. He and his wife Amelia were spending the holidays in Arendelle with their children. Elsa told Lars you had written that Hans was alive and with you so Lars sent word to Caleb about it. When Caleb heard, he ordered me here immediately. I was more than happy to bring you Elsa's letter and some supplies that our compassionate sister so generously prepared. Extracting additional letters of safe conduct for the Arendellians was no trouble at all."

Anna knew she should feel grateful to him but she still couldn't shake the feeling of doubt around Holford. "Thank you," Anna said evenly. "My people and I appreciate it."

"It's nothing dear sister," Holford replied. "As I've said, we are now family through Lars, Amelia and Elsa. We can put any unpleasantness behind us." He glanced at Hans and Anna understood what he meant.

Maybe he's trying to apologize not just for what happened between me and Hans but for his own offences to his brother. If Hans can change, perhaps he could too. I should give him a chance.

"As family, Caleb and the rest of our brothers are committed to ensure you are safely returned home," Holford went on. "I have arranged for your transport out of Warsaw on the 26th."

"The 26th?" Anna questioned as she remembered her vow to stay on. "It's so soon, just after Christmas. I can still stay..."

Anna abruptly stopped as Hans shook his head. "Anna, I know you want to continue helping in the hospital but it might not be safe for you here anymore."

"My brother is right," Holford seconded. "There have been reports that the Russians are moving west and they might not stop at their own territory. It won't be long before they get here and another war may break out. When that happens we might not even know which country we're allied with and which ones will allow us safe entry through their borders. It's best to get out while we can."

Anna felt the panic rise within her as she realized that things could get as drastic as that. What of Kristoff? He's still out there. What if he gets caught in this and he can't get out? I need to find him!

"I can't... I can't leave. My husband… My people… I need to find all of them." She hated to beg Holford, but perhaps he's the only one who can help her now. She got up from her chair and stood in front of him. "Please take me with you. We can go to the camps and hospitals all over Poland together then maybe I can find him!"

Holford shook his head. "It's too dangerous."

Anna turned to Hans and gave him a pleading look but he also shook his head. He stood up as well and clenched and unclenched his fist again before he spoke without looking at her. "Anna, the best way you can help your people is to leave Warsaw and go home."

"Why?" she challenged him. "I'm not afraid!"

"It's not about being brave Anna," Hans replied before he slowly turned to face her. He led her to sit down and he knelt before her, his face grave. "You're a princess and Elsa's heir. If you get captured by the Russians or any state that switches sides, they'll use you to convince Elsa to switch sides as well. If Elsa does that, the French officers can retaliate on any Arendellian soldier left under their command."

Anna's mouth fell open as the meaning of Hans' words sank in. I could be used to hurt Kristoff! To hurt my own people!

Holford stood as well and gently offered his hand to hers. "It's alright. I'll be visiting the camps and the hospitals all across Poland and Prussia over the next few days to distribute the documents and facilitate the transports for both the Southern Islanders and the Arendelians. If I find Prince Kristoff I will personally see to his safety."

Anna felt a little relieved at that. I suppose I can't do anything about it but leave. She nodded at him and muttered a barely audible "Thank you."

"You need not worry dear sister," Holford continued. "You just go ahead with Hans to Copenhagen. Uncle Frederick has already agreed to host you both for the New Year in his winter palace. From there, Hans can personally escort you to Arendelle when the ports reopen."

"Escort her to Arendelle?" Hans asked. "I am to go to Arendelle?"

"Elsa has extended an invitation for you to come to Arendelle," Holford explained. "Here's the official invite."

Holford brought out another piece of sealed paper and handed it to Hans. Anna caught the words "Colonel Johannes Kristian Jorgenbjorgen" written in what was clearly Kai's neat handwriting. Hans carefully broke the seal and read through the letter.

"She invited me to stay... indefinitely," he said as confusion marred his features. He looked to Anna and a silent question passed between them. Hans was wondering what exactly did Anna wrote to Elsa enough for her sister to offer an invitation to him.

Anna merely shrugged. She did plan on asking Elsa permission for Hans to visit Arendelle but she intended to do it once she returned home and explained the entire situation to her sister. She imagined Elsa would have some reservations on welcoming Hans and she already readied her arguments. She was quite astonished that she didn't need to argue with her sister at all.

"There you are Hans, it's settled. You'll take our sister Anna home as soon as the ports of Arendelle reopen and—."

"I can't," Hans interrupted.

"Why not?" Anna asked. She was beginning to imagine bringing Hans and introducing him to Elsa as their "should-have-been-brother." She can't think of why he would protest now.

"Holford, you know I can't just go anywhere I want. I'm still serving a sentence under the French army. I can come with you to Copenhagen and report to the regional war office there. But I have to stay until they reassign me, most likely to Paris with the Emperor."

Anna had forgotten about that and felt extremely disappointed. Now that she had gotten it into her head that Hans could be part of her family, it would was cruel to leave him behind to face another possible battle with their own former allies.

"No you don't have to Hans," Holford grinned. "Not anymore. I didn't just come here to bring letters."

He pulled another document from his coat and gave it to Hans.

"This is from our brother Caleb. He's granted you a full pardon. You're a free man."

Author's Note: Here's another historical note to give this chapter proper context. The Russian Invasion of 1812 ended in December with the French army withdrawing and the Russians chasing after them. By January 1813, the Russians took over Warsaw and in just a few weeks the War of the 6th Coalition began with Russia, Austria, Prussia, Poland, Sweden some German states going against France. I haven't found any historical narratives how that went on among the populations of these countries, but you can probably imagine that the weeks before the declaration of war by the 6th Coalition must have been a very confusing and dangerous time among the ranks of the diverse French army. With such ambiguity among the allies, both Caleb and Elsa would certainly try to get their citizens out as soon as possible.

The "Uncle Frederick"' mentioned here by Holford refers to King Frederick VI of Denmark-Norway. In this story, he's a common relation by both Anna and Hans.

The idea of Hans and Elsa being able to make beautiful paper snowflakes came to me when I saw an interview with the cast of the Frozen Broadway show. The actors were asked to make their own snowflakes using paper and a pair of scissors. The actress that played Elsa, created a perfectly made three-dimensional snowflake, while the actor that plays Hans created probably the most intricate fractal pattern of a folded cutout among the entire cast.

Thanks again for those who keep reading and reviewing this story. I appreciate your words very much and they encourage me a lot to keep this story going.