.

Henry Hyde

The carriage pulled up to the asylum and Hans was immediately on guard, frowning curiously. He peered into the guard posts. No one was there. He looked around the yard. Utterly silent. He looked towards his companions. They consisted of Kristoff, Anna, Edvard, Louise, Meleagant, Franz, and to everyone's surprise, Utterson. He had come along citing a bad feeling something had gone wrong. Now that they were here, they couldn't help but think he'd been right.

"This is eerie," Anna said. "I can't even see anyone through the windows! Why is it so dark?"

"I mean, it's evening. Maybe early bed?" Kristoff said, looking worried. He looked to Meleagant for confirmation. Meleagant was gravely silent, expression grim. The moment the carriage stopped, he was the first one out followed by Utterson. The others came after, uneasily looking around.

Utterson ran up to the doors and knocked on them. The knock echoed through the building, and his heart twisted in his chest. He heard none of the sounds he had heard the first time he had come here… He let out a breath. Meleagant approached and tried to open the door. He frowned when he couldn't. Kristoff came up to try and help. It creaked a little bit and the others joined him in helping to shove it open. Eventually, it gave in, and they peered inside.

Hans put up his hand to the others, drew his blade, and cautiously entered. Meleagant drew his own sword and followed with Franz, who did the same. The rest of them waited uncertainly. Meleagant moved behind the reception desk and caught his breath. "Oh my gods."

Hans looked quickly over. The knight was pale. Meleagant cursed and began to run. Hans, alarmed now, went to where Meleagant had been and caught his breath, paling. "Oh gods!" he exclaimed, covering his mouth.

"Hans?!" Anna called in.

"Be on your guard! Watch each other's backs," Hans called back in a tone that caused chills to race up their spines.

"Why? What's happening?!" Utterson demanded, hurrying inside with the others.

"Death. A lot of it," Hans answered. Anna gasped. Kristoff was pale. Edvard and Louise looked stunned. Utterson came around the counter and his eyes widened in horror. "Blunt force trauma," he realized numbly. Hans looked quickly at him, eyes wide.

"What-what does that mean?" Louise asked.

Utterson raced into the back room and soon let out a cry before running back, eyes wide and filled with dismay. Jekyll's cane is missing! Oh gods. Henry!"

"What does that mean?!" Louise demanded in despair.

"It means Hyde," Franz grimly said, eyes narrowed. He turned to the others. "He got loose." Louise covered her mouth in horror.

"Wh-what should we do?" Edvard asked.

"Make sure we're not the next victims," Franz grimly answered.

Meleagant entered the room, pale and sick-looking. The others looked quickly at him. He looked up at them numbly. "They're dead," he numbly said. "Every single one."

"Every doctor?" Anna fearfully asked.

"No," he answered, shaking his head. "Everyone. Doctor, patient, nurse, staff… They're dead."

"There's no way even Hyde could have pulled that off! We need to search for survivors!" Edvard insisted.

"What you need to search for is Edward Hyde," Meleagant said, tossing his sword to Anna, who caught it with a gasp. "I can't be here. The Dark Prince is being triggered. Excuse me while I lock myself in a room." He marched quickly passed them towards one of the wards. They numbly looked after him.

"S-so what's the plan?" Kristoff asked.

Hans frowned, determined. "Find Jekyll and hope it's actually Jekyll," he replied.

"But-but survivors…" Anna began.

"I'll go with you to search," Kristoff said.

"So will I," Edvard added.

"If anything seems to be going wrong, retreat," Hans warned.

"We have to find Henry. Come on," Utterson said, heading off quickly. The rest of them followed him while Kristoff, Edvard, and Anna began the search for survivors.

Frozen

They entered the Lost Wing carefully. It was so eerily silent… "This is where they kept him," Utterson whispered. He didn't know why he whispered. It just seemed like the safest, smartest thing to do right now.

"Oh gods," Louise whispered, clinging to Franz's arm. Franz's lips were pursed tightly in fear.

"Henry?!" Utterson carefully called out. No response. They crept through the ward and the buzzing flies, trying to ignore the pools of blood and the corpses littering both floors and rooms.

"Oh god, oh god, oh god," Franz said with a gasp, repeating the statement over and over. "This can't be happening. This can't…"

"It is," Hans said.

"Hyde is one man!" Franz blurted.

"One man in cahoots with the jotun," Hans grimly said. "There's no way Carbis didn't play a part in Jekyll and Hyde becoming one again. There can't be."

Utterson softly gasped from up ahead. They all looked and hurried to his side. He was peering numbly through a window into one of the rooms. Almost afraid to look, the others slowly turned. Louise gave a grieved cry, covering her mouth.

"Henry…" Franz numbly said. The man was seated on an armchair, reading through a book as casually as anything. Like nothing at all was wrong. Like there weren't murdered, desecrated corpses rotting outside his room. "Henry?!" Franz called more urgently.

The man looked up curiously and smiled at them as casually as anything, like all was right with the world. "Oh. Visitors. Hello," he said. "I would greet you more formally, but I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a predicament right now. Do you think you could open the door for me please?"

"Henry?" Utterson said. This did not sound like Henry, he realized numbly. Or like Hyde…

"Yes, my name is Henry," he said as he stood. Like he didn't even recognize them. "To whom do I owe the pleasure."

"Henry, it's us. It's your friends!" Hans couldn't help but blurt, unable to keep his composure.

"Friends? Oh! You must be acquainted with Dr. Jekyll. He's my cousin you know. We share the same name, so I can understand the confusion. I'm afraid I'm not Henry Jekyll. My name is Henry Hyde. Edward's brother." Louise gave a cry of dismay, covering her mouth as tears began to spill from her eyes. The darkness implied in that chosen name went unspoken. Henry Hyde… Henry, hide. Henry frowned in concern. "My dear, whatever's the matter?" he asked. She shook her head in denial. Franz swallowed over a lump in his throat, tears burning his eyes.

"I… she-she's very close to-to Jekyll," Utterson stammered. "Henry, what… what happened here?"

The man's smile vanished. "Ah yes, that grisly sight. I'm afraid I'm not clear on the details. My brother was supposed to have been locked up tightly. So he couldn't hurt anyone anymore. I'm not sure how he got out, but he did, and he's gotten quite good at mimicking Dr. Jekyll, so I suppose no one really knew the difference until it was too late. All I remember is walking in, seeing the dead littering the floor, and realizing I needed to hide myself away to be safe. I locked myself in this room so the murderer couldn't get me as well, but I'm afraid I forgot to give myself a way out. If you would be so kind…" He gestured to the door.

Louise broke down and turned, racing away in tears. Franz stayed put, lips pressed so tightly together they were as thin as a line. Utterson let out a shaking breath and swallowed painfully. "Where are the keys?" he numbly asked.

"I'm afraid they are likely on one of the doctors or nurses. It won't be pleasant, but it's the only way I know to get out," Henry said. "My apologies. Is… the girl alright?"

"No one is alright," Hans hollowly said. Utterson shook his head and went to investigate the bodies. He winced, covering his nose and mouth and coughing a bit. They had to be at least a day old by now… He fished in the pockets and soon drew out a set of keys. Swallowing, he rose and went to the cell door, numbly unlocking it.

"Thank you old chap! You've been most accommodating. Allow me to get my cane and…" Henry began.

"I'll get it!" Hans blurted, hurrying into the room and beelining for the cane. He grabbed it up before Henry could get his hands on it.

"Oh! Thank you, sir," Henry said. "If I could…"

"No. I'll hold it for now. You should-should probably just take a walk around without it for a bit," Hans said, not sure how to actually deter him from taking it. "It's… heavy."

"Lead tipped! Stained with gore as well. I suppose my brother used it in his little murder spree. The cad," Jekyll said. "Shall we go?"

"Yes," Hans numbly answered.

Frozen

They returned to the lobby to find the others already there, Edvard and Anna in tears with a sobbing Louise. Kristoff was just in complete shock. They turned upon hearing them approach. "S-survivors?" Hans asked.

Edvard sniffed. "None," he said. "Not man, woman, or-or little child. None. There's none! Godsdammit, there's none!"

"There were signs of a fight. Some didn't go down easy," Meleagant's voice suddenly said. They turned quickly. "A soldier, a friend of his… It looked like they were trying to protect a nurse and… and a little girl… There are stories in those bodies… There was an elderly doctor and a younger one down below, and four nurses. It seemed the younger was killed first, trying to defend the older with two of the nurses. Then the next to die were the remaining two nurses, the last front between the attacker and the older doctor. The older doctor didn't look like he died fast…" Anna began to sob. Meleagant looked over at the group. "Get the civilians out of here," he grimly said.

"We're all getting out of here," Franz numbly said, staring at Jekyll.

Meleagant turned to the man, who looked a little uneasy. "Jekyll," he greeted.

"It's not Jekyll. His name is Henry Hyde," Utterson numbly said.

"No. It's Jekyll now," Meleagant said.

Utterson started and turned quickly, eyes wide. "H-Henry," he said. Jekyll was utterly quiet, staring at the others then looking around. "Henry…" Utterson began again, reaching out for him. Jekyll quickly pulled away. "Henry, it wasn't…" Utterson began, voice breaking.

"Don't!" Jekyll cut off sharply, starting to pace and fret. "Don't. Just don't, dammit, don't!"

"Henry…" Louise began.

"Enough!" Jekyll shouted. "I don't want to hear it, I can't hear it, I can't… Oh gods on high!" He dropped to his knees with a sob, covering his mouth and shaking his head. "Oh gods," he tightly said. "Oh gods on high, please."

"Everyone out!" Meleagant ordered simply. "At the very least the civilians."

"We're not leaving our…" Edvard began.

"He's not going to be your friend for long," Meleagant said.

"What do you mean?!" Edvard exclaimed.

"Henry Hyde formed because Henry Jekyll couldn't take the trauma of what he'd done. Identities can form in response to such things at any age… And one did," Utterson said, watching as Jekyll seemed to melt away.

"Why am I on the ground?" Henry asked.

"You tripped," Meleagant lied, pulling him up. "We should go. All of us. We have to alert the authorities, and we need to get out. Now." What really could they do from this point, after all? There was nothing to be done for the dead… Shaken and in shock, they filed out.

Frozen

Jekyll returned just out of the gate. He sat now, numb and quiet, forehead pressed against the glass of the carriage and lips parted in shock. He permitted no one to try and speak to him. "It was Edward Hyde," Utterson finally said before Jekyll could shut him up.

"Don't," Meleagant warned, frowning at him. It wasn't what Henry needed to hear right now. Jekyll closed his eyes tight, shaking his head.

The screams, the tears, the looks of betrayal and terror when they realized it wasn't the good doctor they were speaking to… Stevens trying to protect Davies. Dying for it with the nurses. Davies' horror and dread. The pain etched on his face as he was murdered as slowly as could be gotten away with. He'd been last to die…

Jekyll heaved and covered his mouth quickly, shutting his eyes tight. He shook his head in denial. "Stop the carriage!" he blurted. Immediately Hans made sure they did so, and Jekyll threw himself out, running to the side of the road and vomiting.

"Henry!" he heard Louise cry in dismay.

"No Louise! No," Franz ordered, keeping her back. Jekyll continued throwing up.

The little girl… Oh gods, the little girl! Little Harriett. He couldn't remember what he'd done to them. Any of them! He just remembered the aftermath and snippets of memories that seemed like they'd just been nightmares until… He threw up again.

He felt a hand rest on his back and shuddered. He let a sob escape his lips. He knew who it was. Meleagant. He felt a switch, and just like that Henry Jekyll was gone…

"Oh my. I'm afraid I get quite sick on carriages," Henry Hyde declared, ruefully looking down at the vomit. "Apologies."

"Sure," Meleagant replied, unimpressed. He pulled the man to his feet, gave him a canteen of water for him to rinse his mouth with, then led him back to the carriage. About ten minutes later, as they were nearing city limits, Jekyll returned and was silent. Meleagant signaled for the carriage to be stopped and took the man out of it, leading him away a bit. Jekyll was gravely silent, staring back in the direction of the asylum.

"End my life," the man suddenly said.

"Not here, not now," Meleagant answered. "One day, but not yet."

"You're oddly compliant," Jekyll whispered.

"Because I've been there," Meleagant said. "And not once in my life had I ever felt more in control than I did the day Lancelot ended me… Was I glad to die? Hell no. Was I relieved? Hell yes. Did I want to die? Hell no. It's a funny sort of double-edged sword to fall on."

"Can I be saved?" Jekyll asked.

"Maybe, but you can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved," Meleagant answered. "By the time I went down, I didn't. At all. I just… I gave up… I hoped to spare you from that kind of end, but, well… I know the point of no return when I see it. Goodness knows I crossed it loud enough."

"I'm afraid," Jekyll whispered.

Meleagant nodded. "I know… You wanted a lifetime…" he said. Silence. "Fortune is a cold and evil bitch." Jekyll was quiet. Meleagant turned to him. "Keep fighting until you know you can't anymore… That you're still alive now? That tells me you still have something left in you. Don't let it go until you've really let it go."

"It's selfish," he answered.

"You won't succeed if you try it before you're willing to," Meleagant answered dryly. "Believe me. I know. I wanted to press on. For my friends, for my father, for everyone I'd ever given a damn about. I wouldn't let go. I don't regret not letting go. Not for one second. I stopped fighting the Dark Prince only when the things he did began hurting the people I cared about more than could be fixed…"

"Did he ever massacre an entire castle?" Jekyll bitterly asked.

Meleagant was quiet. Jekyll frowned, looking at him in concern. Meleagant let out a shaking breath, bowing his head. "Try an entire village," he answered. "I hung on though. Even then I hung on."

"Should you have?" Jekyll asked.

Meleagant shook his head. "It's about that time I began easing them into the idea of living a life without me in it anymore," he confessed. "I knew at that point it was only a matter of time… They talked me down. I listened to them… I try not to think about whether that was the right choice or not," he replied.

"But I do," Jekyll said.

Meleagant was quiet. "Guess that's the age difference talking then," he said. He looked at him. "If you wanna let go, let go, but you have people who love and care about you that you're going to have to ease into it with and explain things to. People who I doubt will be any more inclined to let you go than my friends and family were inclined to let me go."

"There is the difference between you and me. I am not so easily swayed," Jekyll answered. Meleagant was quiet. "If I must hang for this, I must hang," he finally said.

"Fine," Meleagant said. "But don't spring it on them out of nowhere. For their sakes." Jekyll nodded.

Frozen

"No!" Louise immediately protested. She was echoed by all the others, to no one's surprise.

"You're of more use to humanity as a whole alive, Henry!" Hans said. "Regardless of what you think! Please, think this through!"

"Jekyll should not have to die for Hyde's deeds!" Utterson agreed.

"Jekyll and Hyde are not separate, John. In mind yes, in body no. Body is all that matters. No matter what you would like to believe. If stopping Hyde requires sacrificing Jekyll's body, then that is what it requires," Jekyll said.

"You can't go! I won't let you do this!" Louise protested, shaking her head frantically. "Please! Let us try a little longer, a little harder. There has to be a way to save you, there has to…"

"There is no way to save me, Louise," Jekyll firmly said, looking solemnly at her.

"You're giving up when you don't need to!" Louise said. "If every person with your condition tried to…"

"Not every person with my condition has a lustful, murderous, bloodthirsty psychopath for a counterpart," Jekyll bluntly said. "Even fewer have a lustful, murderous, bloodthirsty psychopath for a counterpart that is controlled by an evil hybrid hellbent on taking over all of Europe if not the whole world." Louise could only stare at him in grief. "This needs to happen. Everyone here knows it. They just don't want to accept it."

"Give us time. Please," Louise pled again.

"We'll find a way to fix this," Hans said, voice wavering. "We have to!"

Jekyll sighed, closing his eyes. "For as long as I deem it safe, I will hold on," he at last relented. So much for his talk of not being so easily swayed, he bitterly noted to himself. He'd given no timeframe though. He opened his eyes, frowning at them. "But you must be prepared for the worst, and you must be prepared for it to possibly be sooner than any of you are ready to accept," he said.

"Time is all we ask for, Henry," Edvard solemnly said. "To prepare, to say goodbye, to come to terms with it all… Time is all we want." Jekyll nodded and glanced at Meleagant, who stood at the side with arms crossed. The knight shrugged his shoulders casually like he'd seen this coming a mile away. And he had, Jekyll realized… He had… He supposed a thousand-plus years in Avalon would really give you time to think. He sighed in frustration, looking away.

Arendelle

Elsa listened in horror to the story her husband was telling her. "Oh gods. Henry," she numbly said. "How much more can one man suffer before the gods give him a break?!" Hans opened his mouth to reply. "Don't answer that," she dryly said, holding up her hand.

"I mean, you asked," he replied.

"I know I did," Elsa said. In the cradle, Kay began to cry. She crossed over to the baby and picked him up in her arms, gently rocking him.

"At least he had respite for a little while," Hans said, watching them both.

"Did he?" Elsa asked.

"Some things don't go away," Hans said. "He was probably a mess even before Hyde."

"Before?" Elsa asked.

Hans shifted. "He told us about his father," he said. "It... wasn't a pretty relationship."

"What do you mean?" Elsa asked, looking curiously at him.

"Let's just say patricide isn't exclusive to my family among our friend group," Hans said.

"Was it Jekyll who did it or Hyde?" Elsa asked.

"Hyde. It's always Hyde," Hans said. "Hyde is the brash and bold one. Jekyll is the timid and cowardly one."

"What role does the third alter fill?" Elsa asked.

Hans was quiet. "No one knows yet," he finally said. "From what we've seen, he's the balanced and practical one. A perfectly pleasant individual who prefers to remain oblivious to both Jekyll and Hyde's exploits. Maybe what Jekyll might have been if his home life hadn't been like it was and Hyde had never come about."

"Is Jekyll here?" Elsa asked.

"For a little while," Hans said.

Elsa's heart sank. "Only a little while?" she asked. Hans was quiet. Elsa waited a moment more before continuing. "He's our friend."

"I'm not losing my wife and son to the version of him that isn't," Hans said.

"Hans..." Elsa began.

"You didn't see what he did, Elsa! You didn't see the... It was like walking into a nightmare..." Hans said, starting to pace restlessly. "There were-were children... Hyde didn't care. If it breathed, it was prey. He hunted them down. All of them. You could see the fear on their faces. You could see their last moments in their positions on the ground. I wish I could forget what that's like..."

Elsa was quiet. "Bring me to him," she at last said.

"Kay stays here," Hans immediately said.

"No one is touching Kay," Elsa said. "Least of all Edward Hyde." Hans hesitated but soon nodded in agreement.

Frozen

Elsa carried her child into the palace museum. At least that's what she'd taken to calling the area around the treasury. It was where most of their art, artifacts, and sculptures were kept. There she saw Jekyll completely engrossed in the displays. Only she didn't think it was actually Jekyll. Jekyll wouldn't be casually perusing an art collection like nothing in the world was wrong. Hans paused briefly, watching. "Henry?" he soon called.

The man looked over curiously and smiled. "Ah, Admiral Westergaard, good day." He looked towards Elsa. "Oh, you must be the queen of Arendelle. Your husband speaks very fondly of you. Elsa is your name, correct?"

"Correct," Elsa said.

"Ah, you have a child! How wonderful! He's absolutely beautiful. Healthy too it seems."

"Are you a doctor?" Elsa asked.

"I am, yes. About on par with Jekyll in fact, though I don't share my cousin's flare for science. Probably for the best, given the trouble poor Henry gets himself into."

"What trouble?" Elsa asked.

"You know, I'm really not quite sure. Edward knows though. I would of course recommend you ask Jekyll before you ask Hyde. The other Hyde that is, not me."

Henry, hide.

Elsa felt a lump in her throat. "I'm pleased to meet you, Dr. Hyde."

"No, no, the pleasure is all mine I assure you," he said, bowing to her. He looked to Hans. "Whatever happened to the young woman and her brother who were with us in England? Are you quite sure she's alright?"

"No one is alright, Henry," Hans said.

"I don't suppose I should expect them to be after what they witnessed. Such a horrific and appalling thing."

"Where's Jekyll?" Hans asked.

"In England I would assume, unless he came across the sea with us to Norway," Dr. Hyde replied. Hans nodded, head bowed.

"Will you be staying in Arendelle for long, doctor?" Elsa asked.

"No. Not long I'm afraid. I should hardly want to foul up the streets with my presence."

"What does that mean?" Elsa asked.

"Just a turn of speech, your majesty," Jekyll replied. "Not everyone is fond of the British on their shores."

"Where is Henry?" Hans asked again.

"Hans," Elsa murmured.

"Where is Henry?" Hans repeated.

Henry Hyde stared blankly at him, confused, but soon began to blink rapidly a few times before his expression crumbled. Elsa knew immediately it wasn't Henry Hyde anymore. "Jekyll..." she said, moving towards him.

"Don't! Not with the child. Please, please not with the child," he begged, holding up his hand.

Elsa stopped, eyes wide. "It wasn't you," she said.

"Is that all anyone can think to say to me?! It was me, dammit Elsa, it was me!" Jekyll shouted, starting to pace. "What I did. All those people... Dammit it was me!"

"It was Hyde!" Elsa said.

"There is no distinction!" Jekyll yelled, rounding on her and for a moment sounding like Hyde. Hans was swift to move between her and him, drawing his sword instantly. Jekyll froze, realizing how he'd suddenly sounded, and let out a sharp breath. "Oh damn. Oh dammit, he's coming. He's coming! He's coming!" He held his head in his hands. "No, no, no. Hyde, damn you, stay away! Stay away!"

"Henry!" Elsa cried in dismay.

"Henry!" Hans echoed.

They didn't dare approach though. Not because they couldn't defend themselves, they most definitely could, but the fewer triggers there were around Jekyll the better.

"My name is Edward! Remember it," the man practically roared, whirling on them and storming in their direction.

"I'll kill you, Hyde. Don't think I won't," Hans calmly said.

"Then kill me," Hyde sneered, getting right in Hans' face. Hans hesitated. Hyde darkly laughed. "How the mighty have fallen! There was a time, Prince Hans, where you would not have thought twice. Is Jekyll really that special to you? Friend? Brother? Father-figure? All of the above? You were better when your heart was frozen."

"Leave him alone!" Elsa immediately said.

"You're equally as pathetic!" Edward snapped at her. "When will you people see there is nothing left of Jekyll to be saved?"

"Are you so keen for the hangman's noose?" Hans challenged.

"Sire, let them try," Hyde said, spreading his arms wide. He laughed, throwing back his head. "I am unstoppable," Hyde sneered, looking back at them. "Not least because not a single one of you will put him to the sword. Or noose. Or axe. Or any other method of execution there might be."

"Stop," Elsa said, eyes narrowed and tears threatening her eyes again.

"Will you spare him still when I hold the mangled remains of your child in my hands?" Hyde mocked. Hans lunged. Hyde whipped out his cane with a flourish and held it up, defending against Hans' blade.

"Hans!" Elsa shouted. Hans met Hyde's eyes darkly. Hyde grinned maliciously back

"Go ahead, King of Arendelle. End his life," Hyde said. "See where it gets you." Hans grunted a little at the force with which Hyde was pushing back. Jekyll was a bigger man than he. "Give into it," Hyde sneered. A dark scowl blossomed across Hans's face until he heard Kay begin to cry. Immediately he snapped out of it and looked back.

"Hans!" Elsa cried.

Hans realized his mistake immediately and spun back around in time to see the cane stop just short of his head. He stared at the man before him with eyes wide. He wasn't sure who it was at this point. He only knew it wasn't Edward Hyde anymore. The cane was soon lowered. There was silence.

"Which Henry are you?" Hans finally dared to ask.

The man stared at him a moment more, then turned and left. Hans let out a breath. "Jekyll!" he called. "Jekyll, please!"

"I'm returning to England," Jekyll said.

"They'll be hunting for you," Hans said.

"Let them have me, gods damn you, Hans! Let them have me!" Jekyll replied, turning on him.

"You don't deserve that fate," Hans said.

"This fate I am living is the fate I don't deserve!" Jekyll replied. Hans and Elsa were both quiet. Turning, Jekyll stormed out.

"The switches... they're so rapid now," Elsa said in concern.

"Too much is going on in his head. He can't handle it," Hans said, shaking his head. "He can't..." He trailed off. "I don't know what to do anymore. No one knows what to do!" Elsa was silent, head bowed. She didn't either... Hans let out a breath and leaned against a wall, crossing his arms and looking down. "When are we leaving for Yuwabe?" he asked.

"You're bringing that up now? When Jekyll..."

"We're done talking about Jekyll! We're done," Hans said.

"We can't run from it," Elsa said. Hans was quiet. "Should we really leave at a time like this?" she pressed after a moment.

Hans closed his eyes, turning his head from her. "There's nothing more we can do."

Elsa was still. "Maybe you should stay," she eventually said.

"And watch him drown in his grief and misery? No thank you," Hans said. He sighed. "Maybe I'm as much a coward as he is."

Elsa watched him in concern. She couldn't pretend to know how this was affecting him. She wished she could. "If you at any time feel you need to leave Yuwabe early, I'll send you on my icy sleigh," she soon said. Hans was quiet. "Could you forgive yourself if you did nothing and something happened to him? Gods forbid it ever does." Hans turned to her hopelessly. "Consider it," she said, coming up alongside him and touching his cheek lightly. Hans took her hand gently and nodded.