Eight
"Lesson one: fear. If you want to freely use your power, you can't constantly be crippled by it. So today we're going to try and stamp all that fear out."
Elsa was already starting to regret this decision. As she stood in Hans' new room, she felt naked without her gloves. Yes, she'd been getting along without them for a good long while, but performing magic in front of this man was nerve wracking. Would he judge her poor control? What if he thought her performance to be laughable? And why do I care?
This was a terrible decision.
"Fear. Okay," Elsa said, trying to hide the fact that she was well beyond fear and was now wandering the land of the terrified.
"Gloves off, check," Hans said, taking inventory with his eyes. "Empty space, check. Window open, check."
"What does the window open have to do with it?" Elsa asked, turning to see the early September sky.
Hans' mouth turned up slightly in a way that was surprisingly unmocking. "I'd missed the taste of fresh air."
His appearance now was a dramatic change from what he'd been only two days ago. His matted hair had been scrubbed back into something that didn't resemble a swamp on fire. It didn't look anywhere near as neat and perfect as it had when she'd first met him at her coronation, and still needed to be cut. But the way it fell down in his face and the quick swipe back he often did wasn't necessarily unattractive.
The dirty clothes he'd worn were either being washed or thrown out; Elsa didn't care either way. He now wore a green and purple outfit- Arendelle's colors.
His gloves had also disappeared, which added to Elsa's discomfort. Not that she was afraid of him, really. She could easily defend herself if the need came. It was just... irregular. Everything about this room and what was happening in it was irregular.
"So, fear. Tell me what you most fear, your highness," Hans said, swiping his hair back again.
"I thought these were lessons, not therapy," Elsa said, trying to postpone answering.
"Of course they are," Hans answered. "But if I'm to teach you, then I'm going to have to know exactly what to beat out of you."
"Interesting way of wording it," Elsa muttered under her breath.
She stared down at her hands. Bare. Cold. Shaking.
"I...I'm afraid of hurting people," she confessed.
"And?" he prompted.
"That's it," Elsa said, glancing up from her hands. Hans was squinting, analyzing her every move. She felt it harder to breathe when he looked at her.
"I don't think so," he said, shaking his head. "There's something else."
Elsa frowned in return. "I think I'd know if there was anything more."
He only shook his head again and brought his hand up to the level of his chin. From his palm burst a flame, blazing to life and then dancing in the air.
"There's something familiar in your eyes," he said, staring into the flame. His focus then snapped to Elsa and he raised his head up a little higher.
"For this exercise, I want you to freeze your sister," he said.
Elsa's head cocked ever so slightly. "What?"
Hans tilted his hand so the palm was nearly level with the floor. The flames flowed like silk, but instead of spreading, they began to filter into an invisible mold. When finished, the flames had become a firey replica of Anna.
Elsa's heart stopped. "An-Anna?" she whispered, knees weak.
"Elsa?" the fire spoke and pierced straight through Elsa. "No, get away!"
The queen's head whipped to Hans, who was rubbing his hand with the other and watching her. Elsa's expression was ferocious.
"What are you doing?" she hissed.
Hans nodded in the direction of the fire Anna, who looked down on Elsa with disgust.
"I don't want her here, she's only going to hurt us!"
"Is this some kind of sick joke?" Elsa sputtered at Hans. "This is your idea of teaching me?"
Hans once again nodded towards the fire Anna. "I want you to freeze her."
"I nearly killed her last summer," Elsa snapped. "And you want me to do it again?"
"It's not the real Anna," Hans said, crossing his arms. "Would the real Anna say such terrible things?"
As if summoned, fire Anna began speaking again. "Don't touch me with your ice! You'll never be like the rest of us. You're a danger to everyone around you! You monster."
"The only way to save Anna is to freeze her," Hans reiterated.
But the words were wrapping around her mind and squeezing like the grasp of a cobra. Monster monster monster.
"Monster," Elsa repeated.
"That's right," fire Anna spat. "You're nothing but a monster."
"If you freeze her, she'll stop saying it," Hans added.
"Give... give me someone else," Elsa gasped, tightly sealing her eyelids. "I can't hurt Anna."
Hans frowned. "If you-"
"I don't care, just give me someone else. Don't make me freeze Anna again," Elsa said, shaking her head as if it would make it all go away.
She didn't actually expect him to have such mercy, but fire Anna hadn't said a word. A dark chuckle broke the silence.
"Monster," the voice purred, though it was much deeper and menacing than Anna's had been. Elsa opened her eyes to see a Hans in the place where Anna had stood. He looked like the prince had last year, and comparing him to the man behind resulted in an astonishing difference.
Fire Hans grinned a terrible grin. "You didn't think you could ever be more than a monster, did you? It's not your fault, after all. Monsters can't control whether or not they're one. All we can do is kill them."
Elsa couldn't tell if this was more or less disturbing than fire Anna had been.
One thing this faux Hans had done was strike the real man silent. He stared at the firey image with something akin to terror written deep in his face.
"How unlucky to be born with a curse. From the moment you first took a breath, you were destined to not fit the image. You think wearing a crown will someone reconcile all that?" fire Hans continued, but the flaming man wasn't speaking to he. It turned to the real Hans behind it, moving closer.
Hans was still as marble, eyes fixed in horror on the figure that was closing in on him.
"No one wanted you, and no one ever will," the horrible creature crooned. "Thirteen is an undesirable number already, so it's no wonder that your life will never be for good. You're destined for nothing but trouble. Why not end it all? The world would be better for it."
As Hans was starstruck by the terrible image of himself, Elsa found her strength and crept quietly up behind it, unbeknownst to either version of the prince.
The blazing apparition reached out to Hans, its hand resting on his cheek.
Elsa crept closer, her hands hovering in the direction of the beast.
"Oh, Hans," it purred. "If only there was someone out there who loved you."
Elsa struck, ice bursting from her palms and fingertips. Ice met fire and the creature let out a hiss as it became nothing more than steam.
When the steam cleared, Elsa was left with a hollow sculpture of the creature that had once been fire and an unblinking Hans.
They stood for too long, not knowing what to say after such an encounter.
"You can create life?" Elsa finally asked, quietly.
Hans seemed to slowly twist out of a trance, looking up ever so sluggishly. "No... not create. I can mimic. Though they never have anything worth listening to."
Elsa thought back to Olaf, whose life she had created just last year. He'd been 'adopted' by Arendelle's home for orphans, and she hadn't seen him since before Hans' reappearance. He was a good fit there, Anna assured. It was her idea in the first place. Olaf was too precious to be kept in the castle for so long without any fun, anyway.
"I... suppose the lesson on fear has taught us something," Elsa murmured. "We've got a lot of work to do, the both of us."
Hans was silent again, and only nodded.
"It's nearly three o'clock," Elsa observed, hearing the bells outside chime for two forty-five. "I... have to go."
He still said nothing, just standing there like his shoes were stuck to the floor. Elsa pursed her lips and made for the door.
Grasping the handle, Elsa couldn't help but turn one more time. He was still there.
"Hans?" she asked, forcing herself to choke his name out.
He turned slowly, feet moving but remaining in the same location.
"Maybe we start with something easier tomorrow?" she suggested.
It took a moment for him to nod. "Yeah... yes. I apologize for today."
Elsa nodded once, then left the room to head for tea with Anna. Anna who loved her and wasn't her inner doubts and worries and demons brought to life by fire.
And if Anna had been Elsa's inner demon, then she now knew a hell of a lot more about Hans.
"Hey, I know you're queen and I'm supposed to totally trust your judgment and all..."
"But?"
"But..." Anna hesitated, biting her lip as she strolled along with her sister.
The two had finished tea early when Anna suggested they spice things up and go for a walk through the stables. At first, Elsa thought Anna had just wanted to find Kristoff, but as they strolled and glanced at animals, Anna seemed to only have focus on her sister.
"But, uh, I'm kinda failing at the trust business," Anna finally muttered.
Elsa pulled her lips together, blood washing cold with guilt. This was about Hans. She'd had three lessons since he moved into his new room; the second and third getting more accomplished than the first. The queen had been dreading to tell Anna about her decision to move the prisoner, especially since she couldn't explain everything. Anna still didn't know about Hans' powers, so giving the reason that Hans was going to be her teacher didn't make much sense.
Instead, Elsa had only been able to say trust me.
She'd already let Hans get this far. She couldn't tell Anna, who was her anchor to the realm of sanity, or she might drift away. Saying to trust her made Elsa feel like she was slowly killing Anna. After all those years, only to finally know each other and still not have enough trust to be honest. The look on Anna's face was a smile, but Elsa saw the hurt. There was nothing behind that mask besides hurt.
Elsa closed her eyes, feeling her heart pound. Not now, not now. Positive thoughts.
There weren't many positive thoughts nowadays. The letter, Hans' release from his cell, the hurt she inflicted upon Anna, the first day of lessons that had gone less than desirable...
But, there were a few. After all, Elsa would soon be in control of her magic nearly as completely as Hans was of his. But after their first lesson, she was beginning to doubt herself. Was Hans even in control? Still, the second and third lesson had been actually helpful. Elsa could now freeze the walls without being afraid she couldn't melt it. And considering she'd never caught on to his secret before, she supposed he was as close to professional in the field of control as she could get.
Anna never caught on either, and you're hardly professional.
Elsa nearly ground her teeth. That kind of thinking was going to be the destruction of herself.
"I understand that it's hard to go on trust alone," Elsa said carefully as they passed a feisty stallion. "And... and I know we promised to be close and honest."
"Uh-huh," Anna agreed not-so-subtly.
"But this is something I need to do by myself," Elsa said, her heart breaking as she spoke. Although she didn't look at Anna, she could just feel the disappointment in the air.
"Elsa, you know that you don't have to do stuff alone anymore, I'm-"
"Enough," Elsa said, stopping and holding her hand- which was gloved- out to cut the conversation.
Anna halted and closed her mouth, but the hurt lingered in the air more than any words or looks could. Just a little while longer. You'll learn, he'll leave forever, you and Anna can continue your lives.
"Have you... had your fill of the stables?" Elsa asked calmly.
Anna wordlessly nodded and turned on her heel, speedily walking away.
With every step her sister took away, Elsa's distress increased. She found her arms curling up, hugging her body in what seemed to be relapse into her old habits.
The sooner Hans is gone, the better.
Elsa caught up to her sister eventually, but they didn't speak a word. There was so much to be said, but they had nothing to say. As they reentered the castle, they were greeted by Elsa's favorite member of staff- Kai.
"Your majesties," he greeted politely with a bow towards each sister. They both smiled and nodded in return, but Elsa's smile dropped with her stomach when she saw the letters in his hands.
"As you asked, the mail," Kai said, holding the papers out to the queen.
Elsa was stuck. Anna was right there, watching the entire exchange. She'd definitely blab to Ingvalda about the irregular occurrence, to which the former custodian would certainly be suspicious of. Her wide eyes darted to her sister, who was looking at the mail with a slightly cocked head.
Elsa cursed herself for not explicitly stating that their exchange wasn't to be known to Ingvalda and Anna, but it was too late now.
With a smile in return, she took the letters and quickly held them to her chest in case Anna tried to glance at any names.
"Thank you, Kai," she said dismissively.
Kai, who was looking at Anna and seeming to realize he'd made a mistake, bowed again and took his leave for the sisters to stand in silence.
Elsa couldn't look at Anna. How could she explain this?Trust me? That was going to get old very, very quick.
"So... you're having the mail delivered to you now?" Anna asked quietly.
"I am the queen," Elsa said, defense her only option, it seemed.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm not saying you're not," Anna began to ramble. "I'm just saying that you've been kinda weird lately because I mean tea seems to always get interrupted and you're wearing the gloves again and the gates have been open for a year but you still don't have any friends and you're letting our attempted murderer out of jail, and now you're getting the mail and you've never had any interest in the mail before and I just..."
Anna took an enormous breath, but didn't continue. Elsa had looked up as Anna ranted, and their gaze had locked.
"I'm worried, Elsa," Anna finished. "I feel like nothing's changed."
Elsa wrung her hands together, wanting badly to wrap them either around herself or around her sister. Instead, they stayed clasped with each other.
"There's a lot of change coming. And I'm trying to figure it out. Right now I'm only trying to keep you safe, and- I know! I know, don't interrupt me," Elsa said, holding a hand up as Anna's mouth opened. "And I promise, promise, that I'll tell you everything. Just not yet."
The princess looked sad, but put on a brave face that was almost worse. "O-okay."
Elsa nodded and walked away, not sure how to end the conversation. With each step, her face fell further.
She's never done anything but be honest-
"Stop," Elsa growled, shaking her head and bringing the letters to her attention. A few were pieces she'd let Ingvalda handle, but letters from the Western Chain and Changeshe were of particular interest.
She made a stop at the study to place the other mail on the pile, then made a beeline for the comfort of her own room.
Sitting atop her bed, she tore at Queen Simone of the Western's Chain's letter first.
It was a plead for help, not unlike the one sent from Aleksander in the Northern Settlement. The Queen spoke of how her king consort, Francis, has now been missing for months;
I hope to put recent relations aside concerning the loss of my delegate, and especially apologize for my brother-in-law's behavior, though he too has gone. I doubt the disappearances are related, though. We can only pray Francis doesn't meet the same watery grave his brother did.
Elsa read it quickly once and thoroughly twice, then picked up the one from Princess Ning of Changshe.
With slight wording differences, she told the same story; a husband of high power missing under strange circumstances and a cry for help.
"No wonder he had throne envy," Elsa muttered. It made sense that Hans had been craving the crown so bad as to kill her and Anna. Prince Campbell was to inherit the Southern Isles, Prince Francis was king consort of the Western Chain, Prince John was married to the heir of Changeshe, and Prince Aleksander was archduke of the Northern Settlement. And those were only his four oldest brothers. Who knew what kind of power the others had?
There were a few things that stuck out at Elsa, though. For one, neither letter mentioned any of the other brothers going missing. Same family, same circumstances. This wasn't a coincidence anymore; this was something higher than that. Whatever- or whoever- was causing the disappearances knew what they were doing.
She wondered briefly if it was a curse. After all, thirteen was an unlucky number, wasn't it?
The number thirteen stuck in her head. Something else was number thirteen, besides Hans. What was it?
Something clicked inside her head that caused the queen to sit up straight. Her mouth opened in a soft 'o' before she quickly stashed the letters and ran into her study for a pen and paper.
After scrambling for writing material, she made a list of Arendelle and their trading partners;
Arendelle, Weselton, Northern Settlement, Eastern Territory, Western Chain, Changeshe, Aruna, Corona, DunBroch, Agrabah, Maldonia, Southern Isles
There were twelve kingdoms in their chain of trade. Elsa furrowed her brow, frustrated. She was sure there had been some kind of correlation. She tapped the feather end of her quill against her lips as she thought. Was she trying to find a connection that didn't exist? What was the mistake?
Mistake.
Hans had said something about a mistake... what was it? Elsa closed her eyes tight and thought as hard as she could.
"The thirteenth child, the mistake that made a perfect balance of twelve screwed up."
Elsa opened her eyes with a gasp. The perfect balance of twelve... of course. It was no coincidence that Hans' four oldest brothers were in high positions of power in so many places. The chain of twelve kingdoms wasn't just for trade; it was a menu for the brothers.
And Hans was the spare.
*strums chords to Imagine Dragons' Demons*
Lots of emotional issues here for everyone, and on top of that, a pretty big plot point that involves the brothers. Are you guys having fun yet? ;)
Oh, and this link may be particularly helpful with the Westergard family. It also provide a bit of geeky explanation as to their names lol (make sure to remove spaces)
h0tbread. tumblr. com post/71462158430/wow-okay-so-since-im-a-big-friggin-dork-ive