Chapter Twenty-Eight: If Not Love, Then Purpose
Laeso, Capital of the Southern Isles
May 18, 1813
"Is this real?" Caleb asked with a raised eyebrow as soon as he saw the story in the newspaper already two days old. The headline of the paper was heralding another potential encounter between the Prusso-Russian troops with the French army in Saxony territory just days after a previous bloody encounter in Lutzen. However, Caleb wasn't referring to the main news report. He was pointing to a smaller story at the bottom of the page.
Swedish General and Former Southern Isles Prince to Marry the Ice Queen of Arendelle
"Oh it is true," Leif replied as he helped himself to the bottle of port on the side table of Caleb's office. "Holford has written to confirm it. He has no idea what has gotten into Hans. I warned him about her and I'm certain Lars has too. Hans didn't listen to either one of us. But you know how that runt is. He likes to learn things the hard way. Most likely he'll learn his lesson when his wife keeps him hard and not in a good way." He snorted at his joke.
Caleb didn't join him. "Put the bottle down Leif," he warned.
His brother frowned.
"And wipe that smirk off your face or I'll have you sent to the frontlines with the Prussio-Russian forces the way I did with Lucriff," Caleb ordered.
The threat quickly sobered Leif up and he reluctantly returned the bottle to its place.
"Hans has a plan. He hasn't been forthcoming with them but he appears to be working on his own and so far I am seeing this as progress."
"Progress?" Leif repeated. "How is this progress? He's marrying the wrong sister."
Caleb rolled his eyes. Normally, Leif was smart enough to see these things, however, it seems his penchant for drink was starting to dull his senses, and he always had a blind spot when it came to his prejudice against Hans. Caleb however, could now see that Hans was growing up to become just as devious and independent as Lars. His youngest brother could be a valuable asset in the future if he continues in this trajectory.
He tossed the paper in Leif's direction. "Read it again carefully. Second paragraph."
Leif took up the paper and read it aloud. "The relationship is a true love match as Queen Elsa appears to be completely enamored of the dashing young general ever since he rescued her from her French captors. He is just as devoted to her in the way he has won back her kingdom and has been building her local defense force during the day. At night, he is believed to be spending much of his time with her and her family."
"There," Caleb interrupted. "A highly flattering piece of fiction that I presume Hans created. He is ingratiating himself with her people, much like he did the first time he was there. And now he has their Queen wrapped around his finger or at least convinced her to release this romantic piece to appease the masses. He doesn't need to sleep with her. Being married to her is enough to advance himself. I will bet you, a few months down the line, he will be crowned king of Arendelle and he would have his army on top of the Swedish one he already has. Once he has that much power, we have another ally in our arsenal, one that may prove useful in the long term if Sweden stretches its borders even further."
"You can't be certain of that," Leif replied. "He could really be in love you know."
Caleb stared at him in surprise.
Leif stared back, a twinkle brightening his eye.
They both roared with laughter at the same time.
Caleb had to admit, Leif had the best sense of humor among his brothers.
"Send Hans a wedding gift with my compliments," Caleb told him. "Let him know he is welcome to take back the Westergaard name. We can't have that whore's name 'Jorgenbjorgen,' as the family name of the ruling house of Arendelle, can we? Tell Hans it's best he makes the name change before the wedding."
"I'll inform him right away," Leif answered. "But she has the option not to take his name though. She could very well retain the Oldenberg surname."
There were only a handful of times that a woman of higher rank married a man of lower stature and there had been no precedent even among the long history of Westergaards of a queen marrying someone of lower rank and retaining her name instead of using her husband's. However, there was at least one incident of a princess that a Westergaard man had been wedded to who had chosen to retain her maiden name due to the name being more established and long-standing within the kingdom.
"Queen Elsa's surname is not exactly an illustrious one," Caleb assured. "Her direct ancestor who first sat on the throne only goes back five generations when her great-great-grandfather inherited it from a distant cousin after he failed to have direct descendants. I am certain she would gladly take the Westergaard name instead. Our family name is known for centuries. It will afford her better prestige."
"Lars told me she could be stubborn," Leif said. "She's known not to be as malleable as her sister."
Caleb snickered as an entertaining idea flitted through his head. "Well, then it will be a test of Hans' control on her. Tell him I expect that 'Westergaard' will be the name of the next king of Arendelle, the same as its current queen."
"You seem quite confident in Hans' ability to bend her to his will."
"Oh, I know Hans loves a challenge. I'm sure he will find a way."
"But if he fails?" Leif asked doubtfully.
"Then tell Holford to keep on standby. If Hans is not king a year from now, you can inform Holford I expect him to be the King of Arendelle or at least his sons with Princess Anna, all bearing the Westergaard name."
May 24, 1813
Arendelle Castle
Hans stared at himself in front of the mirror and ran a hand through his hair to part it neatly. His hair had always behaved so well that even with one hand brush it would immediately fall into place. It looked just as impeccable now as he stood in his freshly washed and neatly pressed uniform. He looked exactly as he did when he was about to head off to battle. Right now, he felt he would rather join the Prusso-Russian forces that were fighting the French rather than head over to the chapel where he was due in half an hour to marry into the royal family of Arendelle.
This had been his dream when he was a child. Yet now that it was happening, he could not rejoice. For days he seethed at Elsa's manipulation. He had not seen or spoken to her since that day in the library when she forced him to marry her. All the preparations for the wedding had been conducted with efficiency and anything that needed his involvement had been coursed through her people. He had distanced himself even from Anna and made one excuse after another that he was busy training troops to join them in their usual dinners or family night games. He even made up a lie that it was the tradition in the Southern Isles for the groom to be away from his bride and her family for up to a fortnight before the wedding ceremony to ensure a lucky marriage. Fortunately, Anna bought the lie. He was sure Elsa didn't but it was a convenient enough excuse for them not to interact.
Since he woke up this morning, his stomach had been in knots and the feeling of dread engulfed him. This wasn't how he intended it. Anna was supposed to be his bride, not Elsa. This marriage was supposed to be his way to prove his love to her. Instead, he was once more being maneuvered like a puppet on a string for political purposes.
It seems it is my fate to be this way. My family raised me to be this pawn. Even after I've run away from them, I end up with a future wife who has taken up the same Westergaard cause.
He hated that name so much.
Days earlier he received a message from Caleb congratulating him on his upcoming nuptials. The congratulatory note came with a revised birth certificate that proclaimed he was once again officially a "Westergaard" and a Prince of the Southern Isles. He understood that Caleb wanted him to use his former name and title when he signed his marriage certificate and allow Elsa to take on the Westergaard surname legally.
He tore the certificate and the letter as soon as he read them and tossed the pieces into the fire.
When Kai came up yesterday and asked him to fill out the forms for the marriage certificate and asked how he should be addressed by the Arendelle court, Hans didn't hesitate to fill in his name on the document simply as "Johannes Kristian Jorgenbjorgen." He included his honorary Swedish title given to him by Prince Carl John once he assumed command of the army but gave strict instructions to Kai to refer to him only as "General Jorgenbjorgen." He left out any instruction to be addressed as "prince," "his royal highness" or any trace of the "Westergaard" surname. As far as the legal documents were concerned, Elsa was marrying a minor Swedish Lord of the lowest rank, just one step higher than a commoner. He may be steered into this marriage by force, but he was done doing Caleb's bidding.
There was a knock on the door and he bid whoever it was to enter. The Duke of Weselton's head popped through the crack in the door. "It's time," the older man said.
Hans didn't move. He avoided the Duke as well for he suspected the older man was somehow involved in this marriage trap.
Lord Ragnar merely smirked at him then added in his usual acerbic manner: "Are you still sulking?"
"I do not sulk," he protested as he adjusted his uniform one last time in the mirror.
"Very well then, we should be going. You shouldn't keep your bride waiting. And cheer up. You look like you are going to a funeral."
Hans rolled his eyes at him.
Lord Ragnar answered with a raised eyebrow. "I never thought of you one for dramatics General. You are marrying a queen, a most powerful one with rare beauty and the grace of a goddess few men will turn down. You should be rejoicing."
"How come you're not marrying her then?" Hans asked.
"Oh I would, if she asked me but she wants you for obvious reasons. And no it is not any of your charms that motivates her. You currently have the advantage of an army and Swedish influence. She is a practical woman and one I have come to greatly admire of late. I would settle for her friendship and yours in the days to come."
"You desire my friendship, yet you conspired with her to entrap me into this marriage." Hans accused directly for he knew the Duke was not one to beat around the bush.
"Conspire?" Lord Ragnar laughed before his expression turned somber. "My dear boy, I have not conspired with her to trap you into anything. From what I heard, you and Queen Elsa were caught in a rather salacious position. Men do not end up in such positions unless they want to be. In fact, to my knowledge, it is often the intention of men to be caught in such positions to compromise young women to acquiesce to their desires. You Sir are a rouge if you dare lay blame to Queen Elsa on this. So if you do not come to that chapel with me in ten minutes and speak anything but 'I do' when the time comes, then I will have no choice but to defend her honor."
Hans was taken aback by his words. Lord Ragnar was not one to challenge anyone to a duel, much less someone with his experience, but the diminutive man appeared to be deadly serious.
"This is ridiculous. I am not going to fight you," Hans told him. He knew Lord Ragnar was most likely bluffing but to call him out on it would be just a waste of time.
"Good. The matter is settled. Come along then," Lord Ragnar remarked as if he was addressing a petulant child.
Hans chose not to reply to that and merely followed him out of the chamber. They paused at the closed front doors of the castle and waited for the servants to open them as tradition.
"What are you getting out of this?" Hans asked.
"I invest in relationships for the future General. I have an instinct for ones that can benefit me long term. I have a strong feeling yours with hers will prove valuable for me. Or perhaps I have a touch of sentimentality that makes me want to bring together young couples who are too stubborn to see the great love before them. Who knows, you might find the fulfillment you are seeking with her."
"She's not who I wanted," Hans scoffed at him. He believed Lord Ragnar's first statement about his instinct for long-term benefit. Lord Ragnar's previous attempt at matchmaking Hans' mother with his father yielded significant lucrative trade contracts for Weselton in the past, but great love was never born of that union.
"You are a fool if you think we get what we want. You make the most out of what you get. So make it count. Treasure Queen Elsa as a wife and one day perhaps you may see my wisdom and even name one of your children after me."
Hans couldn't help but laugh out loud at such a ludicrous statement. "That will never happen," he said as he thought once more of Elsa's situation. Their little encounter in the library didn't prove that she could bear a child, only that she was capable of lying and seducing him. If Lars' theory was correct, Hans would most likely be spending his wedding night and perhaps even the rest of his marriage alone in his bed. He expected that after the ceremony, she will be laying out her terms on how they can live separately in private while keeping the appearance of a loving couple. She certainly wasted no time in crafting such a tale in the newspapers that had shown up all over Europe about their fairytale romance.
Hans never heard the Duke of Weselton's reply or if he replied at all for the castle doors opened and the roar of the cheering crowds outside drowned out any further conversation. Almost everyone in Arendelle village had turned up for the wedding and crowded in the castle square. However, they respectfully cleared a path for him to the chapel.
Hans immediately felt his royal training kick in as he smiled and waved to the crowd. Once inside the chapel, several men in military garb formed a line on the aisle and raised their swords to salute him. As he passed through each raised sword, he noticed that they were a combination of both his Swedish men and the Arendellian recruits. He figured Elsa had given this instruction to show to the people that they were now united, committed to defending each other with this final act of the marriage of their queen to the general of their allied country.
He stopped in front of the altar and was greeted by the familiar bishop who had also been the one to crown Elsa more than half a decade ago. Both Lord Ragnar and his brother Holford stood as his groomsmen and official witnesses to his wedding along with a few of Elsa's selected courtiers.
Hans felt a sense of deja vu as he watched the chapel guests settle into their seats and the choir began their song. The music was still majestic but it had no somber tone like it had during Elsa's coronation. It was all light, airy, and joyful. It was the perfect setting for the perfect wedding.
A woman appeared at the aisle, dressed in blue with a bouquet of blossoms in her hand. He recognized Anna walking towards him, her smile radiantly glowing as she met his gaze. He couldn't help but smile back, as the warmth of her familiar countenance overcame him. His eyes, however, saw beyond her frame. As Anna stepped to the side to occupy the front pew, the chapel aisle was lit by an even brighter sight.
Elsa appeared as an ethereal vision in a white gown that shimmered each time she moved. She wore her hair in a neat updo similar to her coronation day, but this time, ice flowers were adorning it. The veil that hid her face flowed from her head and down across the floor sending crystalline-like sparkles. Her head was cast down and her eyes seemed trained on the ground, as if she were afraid to see what was before her. She looked so fragile that Hans seemed to feel her tremble with each step. He was certain she was as hesitant as he was in this ceremony. Did she feel guilty for trapping him this way? Did she even care?
He wished he had not ignored her before this day. Perhaps if he had taken time to have at least spoken to her perhaps they could have cleared the air. Somehow even having a screaming match with her before this ceremony was better than not knowing where she stood.
Look up! Hans wanted to tell her so he could see through her eyes if she felt any shame in this.
As if she heard, she slowly tilted her head up until her blue eyes rested on his.
He saw her pity. Her regret. Hans realized she took no joy in this affair.
She may be manipulative, but she can't be as heartless as my family. That knowledge comforted him enough that he lent her a smile.
She stopped walking and looked bewildered for a moment as if his smile had thrown her off, but then she seemed to remember where she was. She looked around at the people in the chapel who all had their eyes on her. He could see that she felt their anticipation and he understood that she knew she could not let them down. She smiled back at them and her countenance changed as genuine joy lit her face. She stepped forward once more and as she did, shots of ice emerged from her feet, zigzagged across the aisle floor, and broke into sparkling little lights that crawled like vines upon each pillar of the chapel until they formed ice flowers across the ceilings to the bewildered gasps of the guests. With each step she took, a rain of snowflakes lit her path but when they fell to the ground they crystallized into tiny ice petals.
Hans marveled at the beauty of her creations and felt the elation of Elsa's love, not for him, but for her people.
She's doing all this for them and I can't blame her. Did I not also feel how good it felt to have people to protect and defend and be responsible for when Anna left me in charge here, no matter how brief that had been? With this marriage, I can have that with her. She will never name me king. She's not stupid enough to do that, but perhaps she can be inclined to at least give me some kind of significant role that can still make my life a fulfilling one here in the same place I have always dreamed of ending up. If not love, at least I would have purpose and perhaps that can be enough.
The rest of the ceremony was a blur as his mind raced at the implications. Suddenly, Lord Ragnar's earlier words seemed to make a lot more sense.
When it came time for the bishop to ask him to take Elsa as his wife, he wholeheartedly accepted her with an eagerness that seemed to stun her for a moment. However, he gave her an easy smile, a sign of the truce he was offering her. She immediately recovered and demurely voiced her assent to accept him as a husband. Their vows were standard fare he had no trouble reciting them with her.
The pair of rings that were brought to him on a cushion was plain gold bands without a single jewel embedded into them. When Kai had shown him the assortment of rings yesterday to choose from, he didn't give it much thought and he told Kai he would go with whatever Elsa chose. He was pleased that she had gone with the simplest ones. As he held the ring to place it on her finger, he noticed an engraving on the inside with just four simple letters: "Hans."
He supposed Kai probably thought it would be a sentimental gesture to engrave his name on Elsa's ring. He figured his ring would also have Elsa's name. Most royals he knew took the engraving inside the ring to rather ostentatious levels. They would try to fit all their titles in or to have some kind of motto about submission stamped on it so the bride would always be reminded she was tied to her husband forever. The idea of having just his name and Elsa's in their rings sans titles was somehow reassuring. An equal partnership, he thought. It would be more than I can ever hope for with her.
He slipped the ring on her finger easily and she did the same to his. The bishop spoke his final blessing and then declared them man and wife. They stood in front of the congregation and waved to the crowd for several minutes.
Hans was glad that the Arendellian wedding customs were so much more formal than the rowdier Southern Isles traditions. The bishop required no bridal kiss at the end of the ceremony. Instead, they were led directly to a side table to sign the marriage contract. It was all done in such a solemn business-like manner. The only time it became awkward was when Holford held up the line and wore a confused expression on his face when it was his turn to sign in as a witness. Hans knew Holford would eventually question him about his lack of name change, but for now, he simply chose to let his older brother wonder in ignorance until after he spoke to Elsa. Lord Ragnar, however, was not one to wait. While the rest of the witnesses were lining up to sign the documents, he momentarily slid next to Hans.
"Bold move going with such a name. I'm not certain it's a wise choice," the older man whispered.
"I don't see my bride complaining," Hans whispered back.
"Does she even know you can be a Westergaard prince again?" Lord Ragnar asked. Hans didn't know exactly how Lord Ragnar knew about Caleb's latest offer but was not surprised by it. Nothing seems to get past the Duke of Weselton, but Elsa was another matter. As he told no one about Caleb's "wedding gift" before destroying it, he was certain she knew nothing.
"She doesn't need to know," Hans replied.
"You're so sure about that? The Westergaard name can open doors for her as well as for you."
"I prefer using windows."
Lord Ragnar shook his head. "Yes, you seem to be doing that a lot lately."
Hans' attention was turned once more to Kai who ushered their return to the altar, where they can begin their recessional march out of the chapel. From there, it was a simple matter of waving and smiling at the crowds back to the castle for the reception ball.
The next few hours were a flurry of activity. Hans stood by Elsa as they greeted guests and accepted gifts. They didn't have a moment to speak to each other, but they worked together with such synchronous energy that Hans felt rather elated. Elsa, he noticed, was not a person with a golden tongue for flattery but she could carry on conversations with intelligence and tact. She could be a bit stiff with some of the foreign diplomats, but with him by her side to ease the way, their interactions with their guests the entire night seem to just flow naturally. She seemed much more at home with the local people who had come to personally provide their well-wishes, and he enjoyed these encounters even more. When Kai called for a dance, Hans was more than willing to be drawn with Elsa to take part with a large crowd on the floor. For a few minutes, he indulged the crowd in a community dance with him and Elsa taking the opposite ends of the room. However, when Anna and Lord Ragnar took the lead and had almost everyone partaking in much of the revelry, Hans took the opportunity to slip away to get some much-needed air.
He remembered one of the more private balconies Anna had taken him during Elsa's coronation and decided to head there for a breather. On the way, someone tugged at his waistcoat. A small girl, he recognized before as the same child that had given him Lars' letter weeks ago, greeted him with a shy "Congratulations" before handing him a folded piece of parchment. He accepted the letter and the child ran off once more like the way she did when they first met.
Hans headed onto the balcony and was glad it was still covered much the same with heavy drapes as the entrance to offer him some privacy. He hurriedly opened the missive from his brother.
Dear Hans,
I suppose I should start with congratulations on your nuptials. I had hoped to come to your wedding but matters in the Northern Isles compel me to stay. You will hear about it in due time, but I want you to be the first to know that I will become king soon and my daughter with Amelia will be made our legitimate heir to rule as a queen in her own right one day. You may spare me the congratulatory messages for perhaps we shall soon celebrate together as two monarchs of adjoining kingdoms.
I must admit, I am surprised by the news of your chosen bride. I have warned you of the challenge of taking Elsa as opposed to taking the easier path with her younger sister. However, I do trust your judgment and I know that you have some other trick up your sleeve that you may not be too keen to reveal until the right time. You need not tell me, but I would very much enjoy Caleb's reaction when you succeed in your way without heeding his bidding.
Enjoy the hunt, Hans. I salute your conquest in whatever unconventional way you do it.
Felicitations, future King of Arendelle!
Lars
Hans carefully folded the note and hid it in a secret pocket of his jacket. Lars was one of the few people whose opinion he valued. Letting Lars know that Elsa entrapped him into this marriage instead of him scheming his way to it was not something Lars would approve of. His older brother could never understand why he would give up an opportunity to advance himself for love. Lars had taught him that love was a weakness to be exploited, not something he should aspire for himself.
You meant well Lars, Hans thought. And I know you only wanted what's best for me. But you were wrong. Some things are more important than power. A life fulfilled by love, by purpose. Those are the ones that make life worth living.
There was a tap of heels behind and then a voice roared out even before Hans could turn. "There you are! Brother I was looking all over for you! Have you come to hide from your bride? Has she scared you so soon after the ceremony?"
Hans groaned audibly as he faced Holford with a jolly grin on his face.
"Leave me alone, Holford!"
"Come now, Hans," Holford cajoled. "It's your wedding and I've been tasked by everyone to look for you so I can give you and your lovely new wife my toast for your good wishes and happiness."
"Holford, spare me the— "
Hans never got to finish his protestation, for Holford had pulled him almost roughly by the neck and dragged him back into the packed ballroom. And as soon as they were back into the light, Holford began calling out at the top of his lungs.
"Everyone! Everyone! Your attention please!" He grabbed a champagne flute from a nearby server and lifted it in the air. "It is my privilege to see my younger brother be wed to your esteemed Queen Elsa. I would like to say a few words to honor this glorious day when we all become witnesses to this rare romance coming to fruition."
"What are you doing?" Hans whispered desperately to Holford as he tried to pull away from his brother's chokehold.
"Allowing you to prove your worth as the new royal consort of Arendelle," Holford snidely said back to him before he raised his voice again. "Please everyone gather round. Queen Elsa! Please do join me here so we can all toast your union."
Hans saw this trap from a mile away but there was no way to warn Elsa who approached and was soon beside him.
"Dearest friends," Holford continued. "As you see before me, my dear brother and his new wife are here together not just to celebrate their union but to share with you their joy and their love. For it is true love that brings together these two wonderful people as I have had the privilege to witness. Please raise your glasses in a toast to their health, their happiness, and their future heir: the new life they will create together… starting tonight."
Hans gulped and he could see Elsa looked just as scandalized by Holford's direct references to something so intimate.
"In the Southern Isles, we have a tradition, that a royal bride and groom be brought together to the bridal chamber by the wedding party and we shall wait in vigil until the wee hours of the morning to ensure that neither of them leaves their chamber to ensure a proper consummation. And tomorrow we shall have proof of it, or we will do this all over again!"
"Holford, that tradition hasn't been performed in the Southern Isles for over two hundred years!" Hans protested hotly as Elsa blushed bright red.
However, his words were drowned out by the crowd's eager assent. Holford kept on encouraging them, calling the tradition a celebration of love and the true testament to their commitment to each other and the Arendellian people. Hans suspected Holford had planted people all over the ballroom and even outside the courtyard to echo his sentiments beforehand because soon the crowd began chanting "Bring them to bed!" in unison. A series of bawdy expressions got thrown in the mix until even Hans felt his cheeks flush.
Suddenly, the crowd surged towards them, chanting and pushing. Hans felt himself lifted into the air by several arms and he could see Elsa being accosted the same way by a group of women. To his horror, Anna was leading them, even encouraging them to continue.
Hands began reaching for his clothes, tearing at his uniform coat and shoes. He caught sight of Elsa's panicked expression as her veil was torn off her head. She had her arms crossed against her chest as if she was trying her best to calm herself amidst this confusion. She appeared to have been rendered speechless with embarrassment. Hans wanted to reach out to her but the arms of the men that held him wouldn't budge. As he was carried upstairs to Elsa's chamber, he wondered if Elsa could control her powers enough not to kill him or any of their guests tonight.
A/N: Some historical context here: The news report on the encounter between Prusso-Russian and French troops in Lutzen that Caleb was reading was an actual encounter that happened on May 2, 1813, and was among the earliest campaigns of the Sixth Coalition against France. Another bloody battle happened on May 20-21 in Bautzen in Saxony, which was a separate state back then but is now part of Germany. Sweden had not entered the fighting arena yet but eventually, they will towards later battles. As I am timing all the events of this story around actual events during this period, at some point, Hans will be recalled to join the Swedish forces to fight against France.
I am drawing much of the inspiration from Hans' story arc with the real-life general-turned-kingJean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte. Bernadotte's surname, which is still the legal name of the ruling house of Sweden today, came from a maternal line a few centuries back. That's sort of my nod to Hans preferring his mother's name Jorgenbjorgen instead of the more established Westergaard. In Hans' case, it was a deeply personal preference due to his hatred of his original family name.