Chapter Twenty-One: Earning Trust is a Messy Business

"Guards have been posted at equal distances along the northeastern wall, outside the village, and at the ports. There are men on patrols in the streets all over the Capitol and tomorrow we can begin placing additional security within the nearby villages."

"Thank you, General Mattias. Everything looks well-organized. I am sure we will all sleep better tonight," Hans praised.

"Sleep might not be easy to come by this evening with the celebrations going on." The elderly General said as he nodded towards the nearby lights coming from the castle square.

From this distance, they could both hear music coming from within the castle. The melody sounded familiar to Hans. He remembered hearing the same tune years ago right before Elsa's coronation. A group of musicians in the village square had been playing a merry piece just minutes before he bumped into Anna for the first time. He remembered because he was feeling so dejected at that time after his disastrous meeting with Elsa that he had been wandering in the village with Sitron and paused to watch the troupe of young players in their performance of fiddle and drum. He remembered dropping a few coins into the hat laid in front of the performers before walking away towards the pier where his inevitable first meeting with Anna occurred. It was almost as if the music heralded his new hope of a good future. He was back in Arendelle and into Anna's life. He was determined not to screw it up this time with her.

The euphoria of their tearful meeting this morning was something Hans could not yet get over with. He had been so apprehensive at the thought of seeing her again after they parted so badly, that he could barely believe she had forgiven him so easily. But then again, he should have expected that from her. Anna was just that special kind of person with the ability to see the best of people even after they did her harm. He didn't deserve her forgiveness, but he was infinitely grateful for it.

There was so much he wanted to say to her but he hadn't had a chance. He barely had time to speak to her after their first meeting this morning when the threat of the mysterious ships from the Southern Isles appeared in the fjord. He immediately set out with Elsa to intercept the ships and found his brother Holford leading the small fleet. He saw through the plan the moment he laid eyes on his brother: Typical Caleb was now fielding two Southern Isles princes to secure a permanent Arendellian alliance through the marriage bed. It was not uncommon for the Southern Isles kings to send more than one prince to do the job if the potential alliance was important enough. Previously, Caleb even pitted two or three of his brothers in a competition to see who can bed a powerful royal bride first. His older brothers had taken it rather good-naturedly and even thought of it as a sport to show off their prowess against each other. Hans couldn't help but feel it rather distasteful now.

We're all just royal whores being used by someone else to gain power, he thought bitterly as he reflected on what Lars had told him on the night he took Hans to his first brothel when he was thirteen to be "educated properly" in the Westergaard way:

"Now remember Hans, be gentle and kind to her," Lars had said to him just before he was about to have his first sexual encounter. "Treat her with utmost respect and reverence."

"Respect? Reverence?" Hans had asked, puzzled by the advice. "She's just a prostitute."

"She's not so different from you and me."

"What do you mean?"

"Hans," Lars heaved a sigh. "You should be old by now to know that the only difference between a brothel whore and a Westergaard is we have better opportunities to serve patrons that can move us up in the world. Treat the whore you make love to tonight and anyone else like her with respect. Right now, she is your teacher and knows more than you in the ways of the world. In a few years, you will be in her position, even if the bed you lie on each evening is more luxurious than hers. In the bedroom, your role and hers is the same: to pleasure your patron so she grants you the key to your advancement and that of the Southern Isles. That is your duty and primary goal in life."

Hans used to think fulfilling the so-called "Westergaard duty" was all that he could ever gain to accomplish. For years, he accepted it as normal, until Anna showed him that his life could be more than that and that love is a reality within reach.

In that short moment when Anna held him so tightly once more, Hans vowed he would protect her and all she loved with his life. I will never let her feel pain again. I will shelter her with every fiber of my being. As long as I hold breath, she will never have to worry about being afraid again. I will guard her against the Baujeus, Bonapartes, and Calebs of this world, even if I fight every battle to keep her and the ones she loves free.

Seeing Arendelle's political instability first-hand made Hans realize he had his work cut out for him. Even though Anna had managed to recapture her kingdom from the French, he noted how she neglected to even place defenses surrounding her castle and the immediate vicinity. Once Holford's forces were identified as an ally, her attention was turned to checking on the wounded and preparing for a celebratory feast to welcome their new allies. She was completely oblivious to the idea of any further dangers to her surroundings.

Hans could not blame Anna. He was certain she had no military background to know how vulnerable she allowed her kingdom to be and the remaining subjects she had lacked the proper training to identify other potential threats. Elsa, by comparison, was at least, more aware than her sister of the gaps in her kingdom's security. However, Elsa did consider both him and Holford a threat. It felt tremendously heartening to hear Elsa back him up earlier against Holford. Hearing her refer to him as "an esteemed ally" had been reassuring, but he knew she was just keeping up appearances. If Hans hoped to keep Anna and Arendelle safe, he needed Elsa to trust him enough to allow him to implement some essential changes.

His first strategy was to gain the favor of her military adviser, which was why he had spent the rest of the afternoon helping General Destin Mattias in setting up the security posts. The man was also naturally suspicious of him but Hans hoped he could gain some common ground tonight.

"Are you joining the celebrations, Sir?" Hans asked. "Perhaps you could join me for a mug of ale? I would love to hear more about how you and Princess Anna planned your successful insurrection against the French."

The corners of the man's mouth lifted with a slight smile. Hans internally felt relieved that his praise was getting to the man. However, his lips straightened back almost a second later.

"Perhaps another time," Mattias replied. "I will need to catch up with my daughter. We have a lot to talk about."

"I'm sure you do," replied Hans. An idea sparked into his mind. What the older man said was just the opening he needed. "Miss Mathilde is a fine young woman and remarkably exceptional. In the short time, I've known her, I noticed she is quite interested in navigation. She had so many questions for my crew during our voyage here and she seems to know much of the basics already."

"I've trained all my children equally, although Mathilde has fewer opportunities than her brothers to pursue her interests," Mattias said as his eyes lit up with pride. "If she wasn't a woman, she could have served as a Captain in the French army with her abilities. I suppose I should be thankful for that or I probably would have lost her as well."

"There's no reason for her not to be a Captain in the Arendellian army," Hans put forward. "I am certain Queen Elsa would be more than willing to give her that rank. I would personally want to see her advance in her knowledge and be acknowledged with that title."

Mattias' smile faded and he stared back at Hans, his brow furrowing. "General Jorgenbjorgen, is this your way of appealing to me to help you form another Arendellian army? One that will be called again to fight this time on the side of the Sixth Coalition?"

Hans stepped back. He understood this man was not one to be flattered so easily. He decided that honesty was the only way forward with him. "Sir, I know that you more than anyone would have reasons against Arendelle being called again to send troops to fight. I have spoken to your daughter and I do sympathize with what you have lost. However, I respect you too much to give you any pretenses and promises. I will not say that the possibility of Arendelle being asked again to join its allies to war is never going to happen. I applaud your success today with recovering Arendelle with Princess Anna. But you must see that we are still a region at war. At some point, you may not have a choice but to fight, even if it's just to keep your nation free. You need to be prepared for that inevitable circumstance. I am willing to offer you the means to prepare you."

"In what way then?" the older man asked doubtfully.

Hans sighed. "Sir, with all due respect, I've seen what Arendelle has in terms of military assets. Your firearms are outdated, your ships are at least a decade old. You barely have any men left with any solid combat training. Few know to even manage a ship to intercept any invading force that comes into your fjord. Should France strike back, you won't stand a chance."

Mattias said nothing, but Hans could see the older general agreed with him though he wasn't willing to admit it.

"I want to set up a training program for you and any able-bodied Arendellian man or woman who is willing to be trained," Hans continued. "I can bring you up to speed on how to handle the latest weapons the world uses. My men and I will engage yours in combat exercises and provide both theoretical and practical military knowledge. But we will need to actively obtain recruits from all over Arendelle in the soonest possible time."

"And financial resources must be diverted to the endeavor and the support of the Queen would be essential to draft the order to involve her citizens," Mattias finished for him.

"Yes, that is also necessary," Hans agreed. "I hope to speak to Queen Elsa about it."

"Is she aware of your proposal for a military recruitment and training program?" Mattias asked.

"I am hoping to tell her about it tomorrow in detail. I have requested a meeting with her at ten 'o clock and I hope you can be in attendance so I can bring forth my ideas for your review."

"Very well then, General Jorgenbjorgen, I will be there."

"Thank you, General Mattias. Until tomorrow."

They shook hands and they parted ways. Hans decided it was time to see Anna if she wasn't too busy. He walked steadily back to the castle, passing common folk laughing and celebrating in the streets. A group of young men he passed by near the local pub, however, immediately fell silent and eyed him with apprehension. The boys were in their middle to late teens. They were just the age that would qualify for his training program and they would most likely be drafted if Elsa consented to his plan. However, Hans recognized the distrust in their eyes and he immediately realized he was bound to meet some resistance. He needed to manage this program carefully. If he seemed too eager, it could easily backfire on Elsa. It can erode the people's trust in their monarch, and push them further towards groups like the Purification League. For now, he needed to find a way to earn their trust.

He tipped his hat to them, gave them a polite nod, and went on his way. There was time enough to mingle with the locals later. For now, he had to join in the celebrations in the castle and be seen as an ally of the royal household. He was nearly at the bridge that led to the castle gates when he felt a sudden tug on his sleeve. He looked behind and saw a little girl, who looked no older than five holding out to him a bunch of wildflowers tied haphazardly with string.

"What's this?" he asked as he smiled at the child.

The little girl smiled back and continued to thrust out the flowers at him. Hans took them carefully and noticed a piece of paper carefully stuck in the middle of the bouquet. He looked back at the child to ask, but she scampered back into the heart of the village. Hans knew chasing after a child in the night would make him look bad to a group of people who already doubted him. He stayed rooted on the spot and unfolded the paper and found it sealed. He broke it easily and recognized Lars' handwriting. The text was written in one of the native dialects of the Southern Isles, one that was rarely used outside of one particular province. Even most of the Westergaards couldn't understand it. Lars knew it since he had been governor of that province for a time and Hans had lived with him there and learned the language. It had been Hans' and Lars' secret way to communicate on sensitive matters. He immediately knew this was one message that was of great importance and proceeded to read it with haste.

Dear H,

If you are reading this, then I trust you have succeeded in liberating Arendelle from the French. I left this for you before I returned to the Northern Isles. The last piece of news I received is that E was captured by pirates. You make a fine pirate little brother and E is a good enough ransom to win A's heart back. I could not plan it better myself.

I am rather surprised though at your query in your last letter. Why the curiosity on E's wedding night? I know you once thought her preferable, but in this matter, I now agree with Caleb. You are much better off marrying A. Leif did not exaggerate when he related that sordid tale. E did quite some damage to her husband. The bastard deserved it of course since he left E in such a horrible state that night. I'm almost certain I wasn't even faking the consummation of her marriage when my wife asked me to help. There was blood enough on the sheets. How much of that was due to the blow to her head or trauma in more intimate parts, I cannot say. However, she is a fighter and she was calmer than he, which I find quite admirable given the circumstances. She is no fool. She can be quite cunning in her own way and as stubborn and practical as a Westergaard. She will prove a challenge for you, but her sister has always been her greatest weakness. Play your cards right with her and you have everything to gain on this.

I have more to say when I see you once you send word of your victory. For now, I have pressing matters to deal with so I will allow you to work on your own.

L

Hans folded the note once he finished reading it. He then tore it into several pieces, then tossed them into the sea. Lars' confirmation on what happened to Elsa disturbed him that he was glad Knudsvig was dead or he probably would offer to end the man's life.

Something bright in the sky caught his eye. He looked up to see a dazzling spectacle of crystalline-like shapes formed into what appeared to be a reindeer running past trees that magically appeared in its background. The image melted away and the swirling crystalline light reformed into a line of penguins, each one appearing behind the other and following its predecessor into a waddling walk before they started skating almost comically along a frozen river.

So this is another show of one of Elsa's powers, he thought as he marveled at how someone as damaged as she can still create such beautiful moving images with her snow. He ran forward to the castle with his gaze partly held up to the sky for he wanted to catch a glimpse of Elsa herself as she created this spectacle without losing one moment of this unique show.

The penguins had now reformed this time into a huge whale jumping into a line of ice crystals that represented the sea. It spouted water before diving into the waves and shaking its tail. Hans couldn't help but giggle at the utter cuteness of that image. Elsa must have quite an imagination to conjure up such details and create them with her ice. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised. He had seen her ice castle before. The intricate design of it was truly an astonishing sight.

He reached the inside of the square and saw Elsa at her balcony with her arms waving in the air as she reformed the whale. The next image that appeared in the sky was familiar. It was his Swedish ship moving along the waves majestically towards the image of Arendelle. Hans couldn't help but smile at it as he imagined Elsa must have good memories at least of being on his ship for her to conjure such a detailed picture. Her homecoming theme struck a personal chord within him and he couldn't help but feel a tear well up to his eyes. He applauded her along with the rest of the crowd as she made her final speech and disappeared.

Once she was gone, Hans turned his gaze back to the crowd in search of Anna. He found her seated in a corner with Holford. She looked rather uneasy and Hans strode directly to rescue her from his presence. However, Lord Ragnar beat him to it and engaged his brother in conversation. Hans took the opportunity to sweep in before Holford could get away from the Duke of Weselton's clutches.

"Enjoying your evening?"

"Hans!" Anna exclaimed delightedly. "Get me away from here while they are distracting each other!"

Hans let Anna lead him to a quieter area away from the two men. "Are they bothering you?" he asked.

Anna sighed. "Not really. I mean Holford was a little annoying, but Lord Ragnar… he's the Duke of Weselton by the way, in case you don't know…"

"I do know," Hans laughed.

Anna frowned at him.

"That was not a jibe at you for not knowing his name," Hans quickly defended. "Most people don't know his name beyond his title."

"Okay good to hear," Anna said. "Anyway, it's not that he's bothering me. I mean he is bothering me but it's for a really good reason. You see he lost his son during the war and I was his son's nurse before he died."

"I know that too," Hans replied. "He told me or rather I told him. That was the main reason he agreed to help liberate Arendelle, so he can come here and talk to you about his son."

Anna's face looked crestfallen. "Oh, now I'm even more pressured to remember his son."

"Wait—what?" Hans asked. "You don't remember his son? But you told me…"

"Yes, I told you I nursed a soldier, a nobleman from Weselton for three days who asked me to write a last letter to his father and then died holding my hand," Anna said as she bit her lip uncomfortably. "Hans, there were five other soldiers like him at the same time, two of them even had his same last name. The Duke of Weselton's last name is kind of common."

"No surprise there," Hans said. "That's why Lord Ragnar never uses his legal surname, just his title. He doesn't want people to think he was a Weselton commoner because he shares the same surname with a lot of them."

"Well anyway, I wrote letters for all six soldiers and all of them died holding my hand… well at least most of them held my hand, one was clutching my arm, another my sleeve…" She stopped and shook her head as if she realized she was going off-topic. "I mean it doesn't matter… It's just that I watched a lot of them die that week. After some time, the details kind of blur together. I can't even remember which one said what…" She heaved a great sigh. "Lord Ragnar kept asking for details and I can't recall much of what his son said… so I sort of… well kinda told him bits and pieces of what each of those six soldiers told me… at least from what I remember they told me…"

She stopped and buried her hands in her face. "I told Lord Ragnar his son said to me he will remember his childhood with fondness because of what his father had taught him. I'm pretty sure, one of the other men said that, not his son. But I just had to say something to Lord Ragnar. He looked so desperate for details and the way he smiled when I said it… I couldn't very well take it back after I said it." She emerged from hiding her face but kept her head down as she looked utterly miserable at him. "I'm a bad person, am I?"

Hans fought to hold back his chuckle at the adorable way she could think this was such a bad thing. He used his thumb and index finger to lift her head so she could stare at him.

"You're not a bad person, Anna. Far from it. You wanted to relieve the pain of a father who lost his child and you're doing the best you can. It doesn't matter if it's not his son who said it. If he finds some comfort with the words of another dead child longing for his father then just let him. It will do him more good than harm. So just keep telling him whatever you remember any of those men said to you and don't think about it too much."

"But what if I accidentally said something to him that's not true about his son. I mean, what if I said his son wanted me to tell his family to take care of his younger sister or keep his dog and he doesn't have a sister or a dog. I don't know anything about his family."

"Then don't go into those details," Hans replied. "And for the record, Lord Ragnar's son doesn't have a living sister. His only sister died before he did and the entire family is famous for being all allergic to dogs so they are not likely to keep one as a pet. Look, I can tell you more about what I know about Lord Ragnar's family if it helps you. I know a lot about them. He's technically a Westergaard cousin so I would know."

He paused as he noticed Holford from the corner of his eye had managed to extricate himself from Lord Ragnar's company and was headed their way. He offered his hand to Anna. "Look, we can talk about Lord Ragnar's family all day tomorrow if you want. For now, just come dance with me."

Anna's smile lit up. "Alright, fine. I do miss dancing."

"With me?" he teased.

"Dancing in general. I haven't danced since the last time we did it together in Copenhagen and that wasn't so much fun. I was worried the whole time during that ball."

Hans decided not to comment and bring up the sad episode of their parting in Denmark. He just took her to the middle of the floor and they were immediately lost in the rhythm of the music. It was just like Elsa's coronation all over again. They were moving together so harmoniously that Hans couldn't help but feel a bit daring. He put all his energy into the dance and Anna kept up with him the whole time with her exuberance. When it was over, Anna held him close and her laughter was like a ray of sunshine wiping away all the gloom of his past life.

This is the life I want. I want to always be in the light of her sun, he thought as Anna pulled away to join a group of children. She makes everyone happy wherever she goes. I don't deserve her but I will find a way to make her happy. Even if I didn't rescue Anna, I'll ask Elsa to marry her so I can protect her. Certainly, Elsa will see reason in that especially when I am committed to protecting her for the rest of my life even if our marriage will just be a platonic relationship.

He felt something prickle at the back of his neck and he sensed that he was being watched. He looked up and immediately saw Elsa on her balcony. He was suddenly haunted by the image of her lying among the reeds. The way she looked at him felt like she was seeing what he was thinking about her and he felt his face flush, forcing himself to break her gaze. He peered back up a moment later to find her gone. His breath, however, still felt ragged as he contemplated the possibility of marrying Anna but desiring his sister-in-law.

I could just marry Elsa instead.

He shook his head at the thought.

Even if Elsa allowed me to marry her—and she will not because she hates me—I would be doing it for what? For lust? No good will come out of it. We would end up trapped in a political marriage that eventually would lose advantage when she and I fail to conceive an heir, which we will because she most likely would not even permit me in her bedroom after what happened to her. She may be incapable of even becoming intimate with anyone so this stupid fantasy of mine is just an illusion. And if two years into the marriage we are still childless, Holford is going to sweep in again and attempt to marry Anna and we are right back where we started. I would have lost the opportunity of getting Anna out of the situation. No! I am marrying Anna. It's the only way. I'll talk to Elsa tomorrow and renew my proposal to her.

"Hans?" he recognized Anna call out to him. He turned around and saw her waving at him from the Elsa-made ice skating rink. Hans immediately ran to join her.

In the next few hours, Hans fell back into the familiar role of the charming prince as he skated with Anna and was introduced to dozens of children and castle servants. One of them was a young lad he recognized had been among the party of youths that had been eyeing him with doubt earlier this evening. Anna introduced him as Arvid, a young ice harvester apprentice. The boy had joined in late on Anna's impromptu games and Hans noticed that the lad seemed to be watching him constantly. Past midnight, when the party had thinned out and even Anna announced she would retire for the night, Hans noted that Arvid looked apprehensive and appeared to want to say something to him. Hans decided to take the matter into his own hands.

"I can't help but notice that you wanted to speak to me," he told the boy after he bid Anna good night.

"S-sir…" Arvid hesitated. "I was hoping you could join me for a drink at the pub. I have some friends I want to introduce."

Hans sensed that something was off about him, but recognized that this was also an opportunity to gain ground among the locals. The local pub was most likely a good place to start winning the trust of the villagers whose support he will need later if he wanted his training program to work. He nodded his assent and followed Arvid to the now empty village streets. They were about two blocks away from the pub when the boy turned to a side alley.

"I believe the pub is that way," Hans told him.

"It's a shortcut, Sir," the boy replied rather curtly.

Hans didn't believe him. They were now standing in a dark area of the village where all the shops have closed for the night. There was not another visible soul. Hans saw a flicker of the shadow from the alley where the boy was leading him to. The General had his pistol out and pointed to the lad even before the younger man could draw out his weapon.

"Don't even think about it," he warned the boy. "Any weapon in your coat is no match to the one I have. And I highly doubt you even know how to fire that." Hans stared around the deserted street and raised his voice. "To the rest of you, you might as well give it up now. Come out and we can talk."

There was no response but he could see young Arvid was shaking with fear. Hans lowered his weapon and called out once more. "I've already put the gun away. I have no intention of harming anyone. I only want to talk and it would be most helpful if you are all in the light."

A shadow finally stepped into the light, followed by another, then another, and another. Hans counted five boys in total, all barely out of adolescence. He recognized the same young men who he encountered earlier before going into the castle.

"Good," Hans said. "Now, what is it you want from me?"

"Leave," one of the older boys cried out. "Get out Arendelle! This is not your land and we don't need you."

Hans expected such an answer. These were young boys who probably have never even set foot outside of Arendelle and knew nothing of the world beyond their village. As ignorant as they were, their youthful brashness was more likely to get them killed if no one sought to correct it. "I'm afraid I can't do that," Hans said calmly. "My army is the only thing standing between you and another French invasion."

"We defeated the French! Queen Anna had them locked up in one night."

There was a general murmur of agreement among the other lads. Hans cringed inwardly at such foolish confidence. He realized Arendelle needed more than a training program. It needed an education program, one that can give these children a better perspective so they don't make dangerous presumptions. Right now, though, he needed to calm these boys down before they hurt themselves.

"You will get no argument from me that the Arendellian soldiers are very brave. However, the French garrison in Arendelle is but a small spec of the French army. They have canons that can blow up Arendelle castle and this village into pieces even away from shore. Their men have been training as soldiers for years and have been fighting for almost a decade. And they carry guns, just like mine."

He suddenly pointed his pistol at a bottle that was lying on the ground several meters away and shot it. The sound of the gun firing and the glass shattering reverberated through the night. Hans could see the boys shudder at his skill.

"I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm here as a guest of Queen Elsa to protect and defend Arendelle."

"Liar!" a voice called out into the night. It appeared to be a boy who has not yet shown himself. "You tried to kill Queen Elsa during her coronation. My father saw you swing the sword at her!"

Hans bowed his head and knew he could not deny what he had done long ago. "I do acknowledge that. I was mistaken about her and I thought her death was the only way to end the winter. I regret that and I vow I would never hurt her or anyone from Arendelle."

"That's another lie!" the hidden boy called out. "You killed my father and four other Arendellians in cold blood!"

Hans frowned. Whatever rumors have been circulating must be bad if they are now blaming me for murders I did not commit.

"I assure, you whatever you heard is untrue—" Hans began but he was immediately cut off by the boy who finally came into the light. The moment Hans saw his face, he realized what this was about even before the lad started shouting names. The boy's resemblance to one of the men who stood before him with frightened eyes in that makeshift French courtroom months ago gave it away.

"Bjarne Stigson! Jarl Nygard! Daniel Kjelmstad! Kristoff Bjorgman! And my father: Kjekk Eskelson! You executed them! I don't know what you said to Princess Anna or what threats you made to Queen Elsa that forced her to hide what you did but I know the truth. I heard it from the soldiers who came home with Princess Anna."

Hans hesitated to reply. Elsa confirmed to him Kristoff was alive, but not the other four men. He had no idea of their fates but it would be almost impossible to even imagine that all of them survived. Somehow, letting them escape into the freezing Russian winter, unarmed and with only sparse provisions felt like he killed them just as he would if he shot them.

"You don't answer, because it's true," the Eskelson boy accused him.

Hans knew if he wanted to build trust with the Arendellians, he had to settle this without deception. However, Hans couldn't reveal that Kristoff was alive and use him as proof that he was not a murderer. Revealing Kristoff was still living will automatically nullify any chances he had of wedding Anna. He had to do this discreetly.

He slowly put his pistol down to the ground and held up his hands in the air in a gesture of surrender. "I didn't kill your father or any of his four companions. Let's all put weapons down so I can explain everything."

Arvid, the first boy that lured him here made a gesture of lowering his ancient pistol and Hans expected the other boys will soon follow.

But then he heard the clicks of rifles and a shout.

"Drop your weapons!" a more mature voice called out with full authority.

Hans saw from the corner of his eye two familiar figures: Lord Ragnar's henchmen armed with rifles. The threat sent all the boys to train their weapons back on Hans, while the Eskelson boy who accused him of murdering his father had grabbed at Hans' abandoned pistol.

"Stand down! All of you!" Hans shouted, indicating to Lord Ragnar's men it included them as well. He was hoping it was one of his men which he had placed on patrol that would have heard the gunshot he sent out. It was just his bad luck that Lord Ragnar's men had gotten here first. He didn't trust these two thugs. They had been too eager to pull triggers the last time he encountered them.

Eskelson pointed Hans' gun at him with shaking hands. "This is a trap, but you won't kill us like you killed my father!"

"No one is going to get hurt if you just put that down," Hans told him before eyeing the Weselton men to do the same. However, they ignored him and moved to one of the boys. The taller man gave one blow to the back of the teenager's head with the rear end of his rifle and the boy crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

"I said stand down!" Hans addressed the men but they quickly moved to a second boy, Arvid who by now was shaking so hard he had fallen to his knees.

"Leave him alone or I'll shoot him!" Eskelson threatened. The older men merely laughed and sent Arvid gasping with one punch to his stomach. Desperately, Eskelson fired at Hans. He missed completely and the force of the shot made the boy stagger that he dropped the gun. One of the Weselton men advanced at Eskelson. Hans moved instinctively to protect him by bringing himself in front of the boy.

He landed right into the fist of Lord Ragnar's bodyguard.

Hans' last thought before he lost consciousness was that gaining the trust of the Arendellians is bound to be more challenging than fighting a battle with Napoleon or seducing a queen.

A/N: Happy New Year to everyone! I know this is a long time coming, and this chapter was particularly difficult to write with all the details involved. Hans' family background is a challenge to conjure up and I've been trying to find a way of bringing out this rather uncomfortable aspect of Westergaard early "training for royal conquest," while shedding light on Elsa's own painful experience without being too explicit about it. Let me know what you think about this.