Thanks for the reviews everyone, please keep them up! I originally thought this story would be ten chapters long, but it is definitely moving right along. I will try and make the chapters longer as well. Please leave your suggestions, questions, and words of encouragement! - marth
The dungeon was at least a comfortable temperature. Sure, it was no mountain chalet, with its boarded window and stone mattress, but it was better than being outside in those godforsaken woods. Hans readjusted his position on the bed, his back rioting against the unforgiving wall. He brought his hands up in front of his eyes, studying them with apprehension. They looked like his normal hands; hands that had pulled him up onto his horse, had animated his childhood friends, had defended him from his brothers, what little they could. Memories from home crowded his mind and his fingertips started to tingle, small flames seeming to melt from them. They entranced him, but also frightened him greatly.
Hans' reverie was broken by the creaking of the heavy wooden door. He stood quickly and shoved his hands into his pockets. A stout, older woman bustled in with full arms; a tray of food with some dark material tucked underneath. She placed the items on the narrow table on the other side of the room, then turned to face him. The aged skin on her throat and cheeks quivered when she began to speak. "Queen Elsa has commanded you be given fresh garments, a midday meal, and a bath. You are not to speak unless asked by her majesty herself." She gestured to the tray and clothing. "You will receive bath water after your meal, then her majesty will determine whether she will see you or not." She turned and walked out.
As soon as the door closed with a thud, Hans pounced on the food. It was nothing extravagant, merely a fish broth with vegetables, fresh brown bread, and plate with gooey white cheese and whiter butter. It was enough for the prince, and he set his spoon down satisfied. The woman burst back into the room almost on cue, dragging a huge metal bucket of water. It was left in the center of the room while she gathered his dishes, then left once again. Hans peered into the bucket, and was met with solid ice. He sighed and timidly drew out his hands, touching them to the frozen surface. With a little concentration, his hands were soon moving through the ice like it was liquid, melting it until it was steaming. Listening for footsteps, Hans stripped and hopped into the bucket gingerly, groaning with pleasure as the hot water soothed his aching muscles. There was even a scrap of soap stuck to the tub, just enough to scrub his scalp.
He was almost as limp as a noodle when the old woman walked back in. Hans was glad he was facing away from the door when he heard her gasp; he cringed. She had seen the scars that he had almost managed to forget about.
"You just, just wash up, dear, and I'll go get her highness," the woman nervously evacuated the room. Hans sighed and slid deeper into the water.
Elsa was pacing her sitting room again. She had written her plan down again and again, going over every possibility in her mind. She would help Hans, accept an apology, and as a token of loyalty and friendship, the Southern Isles would provide trade with Arendelle. Seeing as Hans was in her debt, the plan could hardly go wrong. The gauzy train of her dress seemed to float around her as she paused by the window, looking out towards the North mountain. For a moment Elsa imagined Marshmallow playing in a howling snowstorm, a smile crossing her lips as she wished to join him. She left the window and was about to make her way to Hans' cell when her other snow person popped in through the front door.
"Olaf? What are you doing back so soon? Are Anna and Kristoff with you?" Elsa grabbed the bread from her lunch tray and perched herself on a stool next to the snowman, munching quietly.
He smiled up at her innocently. "Actually, they told me to find you! Anna said that they were going to spend the night in the mountains, or maybe a few nights."
Elsa blanched,"But why? It's not like there's much to see up there, besides snow. I would know."
Olaf stared at his feet for a second before answering, "I think Anna said something about meeting Kristoff's family, and he has a lot so it might take a while. But she promises that she is safe."
Elsa rose and stalked over to the window again. Anna would really rather spend time with trolls than with her? How could she run off to meet someone else's family when her own family still felt like they were strangers? Trying not to seem too upset, the queen swallowed a sigh and turned back to the snowman. "Thank you, Olaf. I would very much appreciate it if you would go back to where they and continue to keep an eye on them for me." The snowman beamed, then started back out of the castle. Elsa returned the bread to the rest of her untouched meal. She was going to confront Hans, and the thought seemed to erase her appetite completely.
"Man, we should get Elsa to make more ice staircases. Climbing is a pain," Anna whined as she trailed behind Kristoff. They had ridden his sleigh as far as they could, but the last mile to the hot springs was too treacherous to burden Sven with the heavy vehicle.
"We aren't even climbing, Anna, we're walking up an incline," Kristoff responded, trying not to laugh. Anna looked like a strange duck, pulling her feet all the way out of the snow before taking another step. The young man idled for a moment to let her catch up to him.
"So, how did you manage to get a troll family, anyways? I mean, you're human, although you might be as dirty as a troll," the princess asked while fighting a giggle. The snow stuck to her clothes like frozen powdery lint.
Kristoff's smile dimmed, and he was quiet before answering. "Well, I was an orphan. My parents... The man at the orphanage told me that they died from fever, I don't know any thing else. When I was old enough to lead a reindeer, I started helping the ice pickers." He paused, his eyes lost for a moment. "Then I stumbled into the hot springs and the trolls took care of us. The other men figured I had gotten adopted by a family in town, and never asked questions." He turned to Anna.
The young girl looked pensive as she absently fiddled with a braid. "My parents..." But before she could continue, they were both alerted to the sounds of rocks rumbling very closely to them. Kristoff smiled at her, the grabbed Anna's hand and ran with her towards the springs, Sven loping beside them. All talk of depressing pasts was soon forgotten among the cheerful trolls.
"Your highness!" Elsa had descended upon the last stair when the cry stopped her. The stairway led from a side hallway near her quarters to a storage room with three exits; one led to the kitchen, one to the hallway of dungeons, and one to the stables. There were many routes to these destinations hidden within the castle, but Elsa had decided to return her own dishes and thus had gone left towards the kitchens.
"Grethe? How can I help you?" She asked the out of breath cook.
Her face was red with exertion, but her eyes held a hint of confusion and sympathy. "It's the captive, Hans. He's, well, your highness, you need to have him seen by a physician!" Her thin lips were missing their usual stubborn smile, and instead were being dragged down into a worried frown.
Elsa placed a gentle hand on the staff member's shoulder. "I will attend to Prince Hans, don't fret. Things will be sorted out soon enough." She handed her lunch tray to Grethe and started down the hallway to the dungeons.
Upon entering the room, nothing seemed to be amiss. Hans was laying on the bed, looking almost as good as new with clean skin and fresh clothing. Elsa closed the door behind her and positioned herself on the wall parallel to the bed. "Did you enjoy your bath?" She smirked; freezing the bath water had seemed like an easy way to covertly punish Hans, while also getting to understand the capabilities of his powers. It may have been childish, but it still served a purpose.
The prince did not move, his quiet reply was, "It was good practice, at least."
The queen lost her smirk And got down to business. "Why are you upsetting my household, Hans?" Annoyance tinged her voice.
He sat up and kept his face guarded. "I had no intentions of doing any such thing, your highness. I sincerely apologize for any distress I have caused."
Elsa scoffed. "So what is this about you needing a doctor?" He looked healthy enough, to her anyway.
Hans noticeably stiffened. "I have some injuries, but they are mostly healed. There is nothing for your grace to concern herself with."
"Anything where you might try and get me in trouble is a concern to me. You're not going to die in my dungeons and leave me more political work to do. Where are you harmed?"
The young prince grimaced, then stood and turned away from her. With stiff movements he pulled the loose linen shirt over his head, covering his chest but exposing his back. Hideously angry, waxy, blotchy scars covered his skin. It looked as if there had been multiple large blisters, but now there were slightly shiny scabs. One burn scar that started on his shoulder wrapped around to his front, so Elsa carefully turned him around and tugged the shirt away. This scar was far worse than the rest; while the others were the color of new pink skin, this burn was refusing to heal. It weeped clear fluid between tight cracks in his flesh.
Elsa glanced up at Hans' face. This time there were no tears, only humiliation and pain. Elsa handed the man back his shirt, and turned away with flaming cheeks as he donned it. Her mind raced and her heart was threatening to burst out of her chest. There was something awfully wrong with this situation, and she was almost scared to find out. The queen hurriedly stepped out of the room and weakly muttered something about bandages, then took off down the corridor. Yes, something was very, very wrong here.