Chapter 10: The Great Escape
The 6 friends were all sitting in the dungeon trying to think of a plan to escape from the fate that was awaiting them thanks to the newly appointed dick king of the Southern Isles. "How in God's green earth are we going to get out of here?", Jacob asked. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. I can't use my powers with these gloves on and these cuffs are tight enough that I can't pull them off.", Elsa said. "What I'd like to know is exactly what Hans did to his brothers to make them obey his every order.", Anna said while frantically looking around the cell in hopes of finding an escape. "He said he resorted to his own magical ways, but he didn't go into any more detail than that.", Kristoff pointed out. "We can figure out how he did that when we find our way out of here.", Sven said. "Sven's right. We have to escape first and then free Anders and the other brothers from whatever voodoo shit Hans did to them.", Jacob said. "And most importantly stop Hans.", Kristoff said. "My fist is eager to have a reunion with his face.", Anna said. They all stopped talking when they heard the cell door open again. They were all in terror as they worried it was already time for them to be executed. But they were surprised to see Bertram the butler enter the cell. "You?", Jacob said in shock. "Shhh! Be quiet! I'm here to get all of you out of here.", Bertram said. "You get us out of here? Why would you do that?", Anna asked sounding suspicious. "Because it's not right what Hans is doing and it's my fault all this happened to begin with.", Bertram said with sorrow in his voice. "What do you mean this is your fault?", Elsa asked. "I was the one who told Hans a way to get control of Anders and the rest.", the butler admitted. "What? Why would you do that?!", Kristoff asked. "Yeah, that's not a cool thing to do.", Olaf added on. "Believe it or not, I thought I was helping Hans.", Bertram said. "Helping him do what?! Help him enslave his family? Trick us into coming here so he can kill us?!", Anna asked angrily. "You don't understand. Hans didn't have a good childhood here in the Southern Isles. He was abused constantly by his entire family, especially by his brothers. After his sentence got extended, I thought of a way he could get back at his brothers at least in some way. I thought he would just pull a prank on them or something. I didn't know he would go this far and I didn't know how warped his mind had become.", Bertram said. "Well, you obviously didn't hear too good about what he did to us last summer.", Anna said. "Of course, I did. I thought a year would have been enough time for him to see his crimes against you were wrong and he was back to his old self from when he was a boy. But I was wrong.", Bertram said. "You think so?", Sven said sarcastically. Bertram picked the key for Elsa's cuffs from his pocket and said, "I was able to swipe this from Hans when he wasn't looking.". He used the key on the tight cuffs and pulled the gloves off her hands. "Thank you. Now, how do we stop him?", Elsa said/asked. "How Hans got control of the others was through a magic sprite that lives in an old house in the woods not too far from here. It gave him some dust that he used to mind control them.", Bertram explained. "I'm assuming the sprite can help reverse the effects.", he said. "Can you lead us there?", Elsa asked. "Yes. But the only way out is through the castle and the brothers are posted all throughout it. We have to be as quiet as possible.", Bertram said. "I don't know if we should trust this guy. He said it himself, it's all his fault this is happening.", Kristoff said. "Well, it looks like we have no other options at the moment. Let's just follow him for the time being.", Jacob said. Bertram then led the heroes out of the dungeon and up to the castle halls where a few princes were surveying the halls. All 7 of them were as quiet as mice in order to avoid detection. They were nearly spotted a couple of times before quickly darting around a corner. Bertram then spoke up quietly, "We're nearly at the exit to the stables. When we get outside, follow the path to an old stone cottage that you should come to in a couple miles. You can't miss it.", Bertram said. "Okay, thanks.", Jacob said. They all went ahead of Bertram towards the back door. All but Anna and Bertram made it outside as a pair of hands grabbed both of them and covered their mouths so the others wouldn't hear their cries. Anna was trying to make her voice heard but the hands covering her mouth made it impossible to alert the others as she and Bertram were taken around a corner and out of sight. Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, Sven, and Jacob made it out the door and started to make their way towards the cabin and were completely unaware that Anna wasn't with them. Anna and Bertram were grabbed by Leif and Erik and held in place as Hans, Anders, and a few others were standing in front of them. Hans looked pissed while Anders and the other brothers still had zombified looks due to the magic dust. "Your sister and friends got lucky, Anna. But you were too slow.", Hans said to her. He then looked at Bertram and said, "I'm disappointed, Bertram. I thought you were the one person I could count on no matter what. I thought you were my one true friend. But now, you betray me by helping my enemies escape.", Hans said. "You've gone mad, Hans! This is not what I wanted you to do when I suggested find some way to get back at your brothers. The Queen, Princess, and their friends are innocent.", Bertram said. "Shut up! I'll deal with you later. At least for the time being, I'll still be able to enjoy my beloved ex-fiancée's execution.", Hans said to Anna. "Just so you know, you would have never had a chance with me if I wasn't so naïve and desperate for love last year.", Anna said. "Either way, Elsa and the others will see that I'm missing eventually and come back for me.", Anna said. "Oh, I'm counting on that. I know they'll be back to rescue you. And when they do, I'll be ready. I should say, we'll be ready. Right, brothers?", Hans said. "Right, Hans!", they all said in unison almost with no will of their own. Anna and Bertram looked at each with concerned looks hoping that things will work out for the better.