Another long day of running around managing the small minute things that Elsa didn't concern herself with had Kai up well into the night. No one in their right mind would typically be up this late but he knew that Elsa was still in her study trying to get a head start on next week's matters as she had likely reviewed every matter this week. Anyone who paid attention noticed that she had fallen into her old habits of working herself to the bone.
With the recent state of affairs, that wasn't unexpected given that the village was still being rebuilt. All the dead had been accounted for and services had been rendered for each of them. The people at first demanded that Hans and the Duke face death for their crimes but were convinced that there was a longer strategy that required the two of them. Rebuilding had only gone so well thanks to that little weasel, so he was in no real danger.
Hans on the other hand had gone much too far.
Kai knew that Elsa could look over the attempts on her life, no matter how unfair and infuriating it was, she forced herself to accept it was the burden of being an Elemental. He didn't comment or question that decision as he knew it was something engrained in her by the late King and Queen. They were famous for their open and forgiving nature, which made it even more powerful to know that guarding them was Walter who had proven time and time again he'd destroy anyone foolish enough to take advantage of them.
Kai also knew that Elsa could not look over her people and home being attacked. Elsa had focused on rebuilding Arendelle but he was still an ever present concern in her mind. He had watched her pour over Arendellian history of how past rulers dealt with their enemies. Most of them ended with their enemy being executed while others had less severe punishments but none of them had committed the crimes of the same gravity Hans had.
When in public, her Queen persona was strong, refined, and decisive. However when she was behind closed doors, she wrestled with the reality that she had to send Hans to die. It ripped his heart apart to see her suffer like this. He wanted to go to her and say something that would help but he didn't know what to say.
On one hand, he wanted Hans dead. He had done too much to the two women he considered daughters even without the late King asking him to look after them as such. It hurt to bring him food every day, Kai wouldn't force that on any of the other staff members, especially since they had been put in danger by the man. He also made sure that none of the prisoner's food had been poisoned, no matter how justified he felt that would be, it was Elsa's decision.
On the other hand, Kai knew that killing would never sit right with Elsa, nor that it should. For a majority of her life, he watched her shoulder the burden of caring for everyone's safety by looking herself away so that she couldn't hurt anyone. She had been groomed into the perfect ruler that always put the kingdom first but Kai had felt she hadn't been allowed to be the person she was naturally.
Elsa was absolutely devious. Whatever trouble that Anna and herself got in, it was planned by her and would've gone off without a hitch if not for her younger sister being too excited. Harmless pranks here and there with the staff members and guards that made them think there were ghosts wandering the halls due to flying sheets and sudden chills.
The blonde was also very maternal as shown when she cared for her people, Anna, and Olaf. looking at her reminded him of the late Queen showering her daughters with affection and being fiercely protective. He had wondered many times what it would be like to see Elsa have her own children to look after. His first thought would be a concern that the man who would father her children wasn't after her throne but when Edward came along…
Kai's face dropped a bit thinking of the young man. It had been several months since they had heard everything down in that cell. After he was released, Edward had walked out of the castle and not looked back. He and Gerda had tried talking to him after a few days but his dead eyes and dismissive, yet polite attitude made it clear that he wasn't ready to return.
It had been a lot to take in, that Edward was this Wrath creature who supposedly killed the person whose body he was in right now and that person had almost killed Walter and was the reason Walter became Wrath and ran away. Garret had said that there was a chance that Walter was still in Wrath right now and could possibly return to Arendelle. Kai couldn't wrap his head around most of it but he did have faith in Walter as a person.
Walter would be back.
Kai was well aware of how it sounded in his head and how unlikely it was to happen but nevertheless he continued to believe. If there was anyone who would know what to do next, it would be Walter. The late King had asked Kai and Gerda to be like parents to the two daughters while Walter was to be their guardian. Being pseudo parents to Elsa who had locked herself away was difficult as she wouldn't allow them into her room, but would open her door for a small chat when they brought her meals.
After she had come out, they were able to become even closer and the bond was still there. Despite the fact she was a Queen and he was just a lowly overseer, there were times she looked for his approval as a parental figure. The same went for Gerda as she was more expressive when it came to affection.
Walter was a special case as he largely left the sisters to their own affairs unless they actively sought him out which he would then impart some of his wisdom. From teaching Anna how to defend herself to revealing how flawed the late King was to show that no one's perfect. Kai had wondered many times what Walter would say to Elsa now, would he reassure her that killing Hans was the right decision or would he advocate that she spare him once again.
The plump man wanted to say something, anything to help her make her decision but it wasn't his place. She was the Queen and the final say in matters such as these, plus he didn't even know what to say if she asked. He was horribly conflicted by one side of him wanting Hans dead and the other trying to preserve Elsa's spirit by not letting her spill blood.
Each step down to the dungeon was harder than the last. Kai wanted to throw the tray in his hands on the ground and let the bastard starve but Arendelle treated its prisoners with respect. He walked up to the door that led to the secret cell that had its now third occupant. He knocked on the door twice before opening it and stepped into the room.
Hans had looked better, his clothes were stained with sweat and grime as he had worn those clothes for the last few months. Ice shackles bound his wrists and ankles to the wall, there was enough slack to allow him the freedom to walk around the room but he could not reach the door. A wave of his stench hit Kai's nose but to the plump man's credit, he didn't react to it at all. As he was not allowed to leave, the royal could not wash himself and when he needed to relieve himself there was a bucket next to his bed. Kai coldly stared at the royal who looked up from his sitting position on the bench and dared to smirk.
"Good evening to you Kai, what's for dinner today?"
Kai said nothing as he laid the tray down in the same spot he did every day, picking up the empty meal next to it, before turning to leave the cell.
"Do you really have nothing to say when a royal addresses you? What happened to your manners, every day since I've been in here you've refused to utter a word to me. Have you perhaps become mute?"
The overseer would not give Hans the satisfaction of receiving a response. He knew that Hans had likely figured that Elsa was hesitating to kill him as he had been left alone for months. It was very likely he would try and goad a reaction out of a guard to go behind their Queen's back and then try to escape but he didn't count on Kai being in his cell everyday.
The plump man would not allow any cracks or slip ups to occur during Hans' incarceration. He arrived everyday and while it infuriated him to see Hans still alive, it was damn good seeing him in such a pitiful state. The door closed behind him as he walked back to the kitchens and placed the previous plate to be cleaned.
When he was pretty sure all the staff had fallen asleep, Kai had let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. It was relaxing to know that there was no one to manage right at this moment and allowed him to focus only on himself. He was passing the kitchen when the scraping of a chair sounded in his ears. Curiosity getting the better of him, he opened the door and saw Gerda by herself sitting at a lone table.
He could see in her hands was a cup of tea as well as one across from her. It slipped his mind that Gerda was the only person who likely stayed up later than he did. He knew of her routine to sit at the table and have tea in the middle of the night. The sight brought back the memory of him speaking to Walter after Elsa and Edward fought.
You should join her sometime, keep her company.
Back then, he tried to figure out what Walter wasn't saying. What secrets did he know before he was gone? Kai tried to keep those thoughts out of his head as he knew that he'd torture himself for no reason trying to figure out why Walter did what he did.
He almost left, this was something between Gerda and the late Queen. Plus, a small part of him was angry with the Captain and didn't particularly feel like doing anything he said when he wasn't here. However, he found himself sitting in the chair next to the cup that wasn't in the older woman's hands.
Gerda stopped sipping her tea and gave him a warm smile. "Hello Kai, how was your day?"
"Just another day fulfilling my duty by serving the crown." She chuckled at the dutiful answer appropriate and typical for a man in his station. Gerda had long since seen through his dry persona that he adopted whenever he was in public. He was a very proper and meticulous man making sure everything in the palace ran in tip top shape. Despite his demeanor however, she had seen a side of him that he kept hidden, he could be playful and passive-aggressive in doing the little things.
Like calling the Duke of Weselton the Duke of Weaseltown, twice, to his face. He knew full well the actual pronunciation of the kingdom but all the same threw in that small remark since he knew from day one that little weasel was a threat.
Kai wasn't the most expressive person but once you got to know him he did open it up and it was a great feeling being the one to do that.
I guess it's my special talent…
She tried not to but her thoughts inevitably went back to the memories of the time when she and Walter were together. She remembered that she found him attractive and mysterious, like he was hiding something from all of them and that made her want to know. It was easier said than done to get Walter to divulge his deeper thoughts.
During their time together, Gerda had seen a more personal side that most others never knew existed. She had seen his scars, knew that he didn't sleep well, and when it came to carnal pleasure; his mind was far away from their bed. He wasn't dismissive, she never felt ignored by him as he could easily recount anything she had said to him if she asked but she always felt that his heart was never with her.
Knowing about his deceased wife raised a line of thought that perhaps his heart still belonged to her but Walter had told her once that the only thing tying him to his late wife was his daughter, nothing more or less. It was a cold way of saying that he had no lasting feelings for his wife but personally, Gerda thought that he had no other way to express that sentiment.
That it wasn't his choice he felt that way, that with the way he lived, it only made sense for him to bury those feelings. It bothered her that he always had a wall up around him that no one seemed capable of breaking through to get to know him completely. The late King had become a close friend to the Captain but she didn't think even he knew who Walter Stonewell was completely.
Her failure at connecting with him was what led to them splitting apart.
Walter heard light knocks coming from the door, setting down the paperwork in front of him, he crossed the room to open the door for his visitor. The warm inviting aura of Gerda prickled at his senses as he scanned her over quickly when he noted that her typical smile wasn't on her face. Wordlessly moving to the side, he allowed her in before closing the door behind her.
Normally, he'd go back to his desk and continue his work and allow her to speak while he multitasked but from her expression, he thought it'd be better if he gave the illusion of his full attention.
"Walter, there's something I need to ask you."
She received a stare in response.
"We've been together for quite some time but I keep getting the feeling that you're keeping something from me. At first, I let it go since we were just getting to know each other, but it's been four years. I've seen your scars, I haven't shied away from you after hearing of your past, and I haven't judged you for the things you've done. Yet I can tell, everytime someone gets close to you, you build a wall. Like you're telling yourself to not get close to anyone."
"I hear facts, ask your question." His voice wasn't harsh, it was matter of factly, like he knew that sooner or later, they'd have this conversation. She wasn't put off by it, the way he spoke rarely phased her.
"Why do you distance yourself from us, from me?"
Gerda expected a swift reply but for once, Walter actually looked like he didn't know what to say. She could tell he had an answer, maybe even a couple but it was like he didn't know which one to pick. Moments passed as he just stared at her before he finally spoke.
"Because it'll make it easier."
She had no idea what he meant by that, was there something he needed to do and they were making it harder for him? Did it have something to do with his position?
Since becoming Captain of the Royal Guard, Walter had devoted himself completely to the protection of the King and Queen. There was never a time he didn't know where either of them were or who they were with. While his opinions greatly differed from King Agnarr's, Walter was never far from the man's side and would eagerly lay down his life for the monarch.
The one time Walter wasn't with the King and Queen was when they departed on the ship that was lost at sea. After their passing, Walter had become even colder and more distant than how he usually is. Their relationship had become strained, the small window that he had made for his life was closed and now it feels like she's talking to a gravestone.
He was physically present for her, assisting in small mundane things like moving some furniture or helping with her duties when he had a free moment and the whim to do so. He also indulged her carnal desires whenever she wanted but the more time they spent together the more glaring it became that there was a wall between them.
Walter Stonewell wasn't an overly emotional man, she'd rarely seen him smile, laugh, or even be sad. Most would say that anger or frustration was a usual emotion for him but she knew that it was a mask. The anger he'd exhibit when he barked at the guards was simulated. She knew that deep down, he only faked the anger to get his point across and make people think that's how he was.
In actuality, he was a cold calculating person that measures every word that comes out of his mouth to achieve a result that he desires. Which made it somewhat puzzling why he never addressed or brought up the state of their relationship.
Gerda knew full well that he was smart enough to know exactly what to say to her and do to keep her content if he truly wished to, yet he chose not to, which led to their current conversation. Was he shutting her out because he was done with them being together, if so, then why not just say so?
"Make what easier, breaking up with me? Did you really need to make that easier instead of just talking to me?"
Her voice was calm, the two of them were adults after all and this wasn't their first relationship. With how he was as a person, she expected him to man up and tell her directly to her face instead of pussyfooting around like this. In her younger years she would've screamed at him and given him a large piece of her mind but now she was going with a more subtle approach.
There was no knocking Walter Stonewell off balance, yelling at him would only accomplish wearing herself out.
Walter tilted his head and his eyes changed into a look she had never seen from him before. They had become pinpricks and she felt that he was intensely focused on her in a way that made a chill go down her spine but she stood her ground.
"Talking to you is easy, because the truth is regardless of how much I told you, you'll never know the true me Gerda. The reason you feel that I'm keeping all of you away is for the simple fact that I'm not being truly me when I speak with any one of you. So what if you've seen my scars, know all of my past sins, and can guess what I might be feeling on any given day here. Even knowing all of that, you don't know who I am."
Walter lifted his hand with his palm raised and barely touched her cheek with his fingers. "The moment anyone meets the real me, they die. Every person I meet, sooner or later I find myself wondering what it would be like to kill them. For as long as I could remember sooner or later everyone I meet, I have a strong desire to kill them."
The Captain dropped his hand before walking over to his desk and fishing out a cigar from a drawer. Placing it in his mouth he produced a match from his coat and was about to light it when Gerda snatched it out his hand and faced him with a stern expression.
"You're going to choose now to have a smoke after saying something like that? That no one can ever know the real you because it's so dangerous? That's a load and you know it." The woman got into his face more and more with each word while he impassively stared at her as he reached back into his coat for another match.
Gerda watched him pull out another match and tried to snatch that one but Walter already had both her wrists in a gentle grip before she could even attempt it. He lit the cigar and took a few deep puffs of it before finally letting go of the woman's wrists.
"Happy that you got your fix of tobacco?"
Walter stared at her for a long moment before speaking.
"I don't smoke tobacco."
Gerda's face turned to one of confusion and was about to ask when he spoke first. "There are a vast number of plants and chemicals in the world that have vastly varying effects on the human mind. Some of them, if mixed in the appropriate proportions can numb a person's reflexes to the point that they aren't able to react as they would like. In fact that person would have to control and initiate every single 'reaction' their brain would instinctively do for them. Such a person would appear very deliberate and controlled but they would in fact be barely using their brain."
The woman absorbed the information slowly and didn't know what to think about it until the smell of smoke hit her nose. After hearing what Walter just said she took a step back out of instinct but then she realized something.
Walter still had the match in his hand.
It had gone out shortly after he lit his cigar but she hadn't seen him wave it out nor blow the flame on it. The little sliver of wood was still in fingers looking ready to blow away at the slightest breeze after being burnt by the flame from the match head.
In fact that person would have to control and initiate every single 'reaction' their brain would instinctively do for them.
Surely Walter could feel pain and he'd react to that pain? It made her think back to all her interactions with him. He was meticulous which led to him being thorough in all his endeavors, he never rushed things, and all of his words carried with them great thought. All of these qualities she thought were because of how he was as a person, if it was because he couldn't react instinctually then that showed him in a new light.
Immediately she thought that was a good thing as it allowed him to be more thoughtful but remembered that Walter never seemed to enjoy himself in anything. If he had to make an effort to show everything he was feeling, she couldn't imagine how exhausting that would be.
"You don't have to worry."
Gerda's attention was brought back to Walter who looked at her with his usual expression. "For the chemicals in my cigars to affect you, you'd have to take in a tremendous amount, most people don't notice the insignificant delay in their reactions day to day when they catch a whiff around me. Also soaking my clothes in tobacco makes it easier to sell to keep people away and getting a whiff."
She didn't know how to take that, frankly it sounded like he was making this up to get her to accept that they drifted apart. She knew that Walter wasn't above lying, if he thought it would give him a better chance at success, he'd lie and it'd be hard to tell if he was lying or not since he'd make it a logically sound lie.
"Is that the reason why you've been so distant, that you smoke these cigars that numb you to everything around you? Walter, that sounds like you're addicted to them and you need help-"
"Every time I've touched you, I've always wondered what sounds you'd make as I watched the light fade from your eyes."
Her mouth closed shut, the simple way he said that struck a chord in her that had sent a chill up her spine.
Her mind was trying to tell her that he didn't mean that and he was only trying to scare her. It made sense if he was, he could be telling her all of this to deflect from him smoking a lot and damaging his lungs, that he's been a poor partner by allowing to drift apart and not doing anything to stop that.
Her mind kept making logical reasons why he could be lying but she looked him in the eye and knew he wasn't. His usual expression of borderline boredom and focus was a contradiction that could only be found in his gaze but a moment ago, those prinpicks eyes he had earlier hid everything from her and she didn't know why it felt like someone was suffocating her when she finally had his full attention.
She took a steadying breath and broke eye contact with him. "Walter, what do you want me to do? What can I do after what you just told me?I know that you aren't the monster you think you are. I know there's more to you than you're willing to accept, I want to help you really laugh, smile, enjoy your life here. Please tell me what I can do?"
Walter didn't blink as he watched her sniffle then wipe her nose and he realized he got what he wanted. He knew that she would see that he was pulling away from her and would eventually bring up this confrontation. She was right in thinking it was after the late King and Queen had passed, only she didn't truly know the reason why.
Regardless, all he had to do was say the right thing and forever push her away so that he could do what needed to be done if the time came. A selfish or crass remark would do the job, any of his usual words would work as well.
"You don't have to do anything, I have enjoyed my life here in no small part thanks to you."
She remembered that he refused to say anything more after that. He fell back into his normal routine but after what had been said, she couldn't do the same. She watched him more closely and found herself overthinking all of his actions. Eventually the wall between them grew until she couldn't stand it anymore and they finally split apart. Kai immediately noticed the change and asked her about it as a friend. When she wouldn't say anything, he went to Walter to ask.
That same day Kai punched Walter in the face.
Kai had done it in the courtyard in front of several guards. All of them expected Walter to retaliate in a brutal fashion but to their surprise, he only commented 'Not as hard as I imagined.'. The guards took it as an insult that Kai's punch didn't hurt enough to warrant a response, but Kai and Gerda both knew that Walter saw it coming a mile away and did nothing to stop it.
After that, Kai and her grew closer until they were at the point they were today. Walter of course, had no problem with it, or one she could tell. He spoke to both of them the same, more toward Kai because of the newfound respect. Back then, it was weird to see him intentionally pull away from them, she thought the deaths of the late King and Queen had rattled him more than he was willing to admit and he needed to heal but he remained as focused as he ever was, more so in fact.
He took his job even more seriously with their passing, he was aware of everything that happened in Arendelle. From what decisions the counsel made for Arendelle to Oaken restocking his 'winter department'. Which made it quite odd that he wasn't on top of both the fiasco that was Elsa's coronation and her kidnapping. There was even the time when he disappeared during the invasion.
While some may have thought that suspicious, Gerda simply felt that Walter had something on his mind during those times that illustrated that there were still a great many things that she didn't know about him. She set her tea down and sighed, she didn't know why she was thinking about Walter now.
Her path with him had diverged and she was now happily walking one with Kai, yet it bothered her. When she saw Walter run off with that otherworldly face and that man Garret explaining that Walter had gone with Wrath, she found herself sitting there thinking about it more and more. During the invasion, he looked more tired than she had ever seen him, like he was dreading whatever came next despite seemingly being completely confident in their position.
Arendelle was lucky to remain standing after that invasion. She had seen things that she never thought possible and Arendelle as a whole had lost many lives but Walter seemed to know more than he was sharing. Even when Edward fought that monster and then that Rahim person almost killed Elsa. Walter appeared out of nowhere and knew so much about Rahim as if they had known each other.
Another thing was he fought despite needing a wheelchair to get around. She wasn't an expert by any stretch of the word but his leg injuries shouldn't have been completely healed yet. However he gave Rahim a fight she couldn't follow. She had seen Edward and Walter fighting once before and was well aware of how skilled they both were and she would've thought he'd be at a disadvantage, but she still had every faith in him to find some way to win without killing Edward.
She didn't expect him to be stabbed in the chest.
Her heart stopped when it happened and she couldn't breathe. It was a wonder she didn't faint but then she would've missed Garret coming down and saying that he could perhaps save Walter and Edward's life. He did, as Edward was still alive and Walter's body had moved but with Wrath's face instead of his own.
Guess he did find a way…
She didn't want to think it, but when she looked at the whole picture and took into account that any action that Walter took had an intended purpose, she couldn't help but think he had been planning something ever since the King and Queen had passed. It would explain why he said such a vague expression when they grew apart. Did he see this invasion coming back then, and if he did, did he plan on having his body taken over by some hell beast or demon?
Her logical mind said no one could plan for something that far back but her gut told her to not rule anything out with Walter Stonewell.
"Kai?"
The plump man looked up from his cup with a patient expression. "Do you…do you think Walter actually liked being here, in Arendelle I mean?"
The overseer tapped his fingers on the side of his cup rhymically as he considered the question. "I think, if Walter wanted to leave, he could at any time. The fact that he stayed so long meant something was important enough to him to stay."
Gerda nodded quietly, both her cover and real question not being answered but Kai's answer spoke volumes. He didn't know exactly what went on in Walter's mind but he knew the fact Walter stayed in Arendelle and his actions had ensured Arendelle remained standing. Those two actions alone were enough for Kai to have every faith in the old man, no matter what he may or may not have been planning.
After that the two fell in comfortable silence, both Gerda and Kai had refilled their cups of tea as well as the two empty cups next to them.
Before, it used to just be Gerda and Queen Iduna's cups…
…now Kai and Walter's cups were at the same table.
Alrick had a frown on his face as he walked through a village it took him a great deal of time to get to. The blistering cold winds did little to calm his anger as he walked the empty streets. The reason for his irritation stemmed back from his capture in Corona to his abduction. The loss of his arm didn't help but more than anything else, he found himself falling back into his old habits.
That ship that had taken him from Corona under the guise of being from Blackdust was actually more remnants from Rakat's army. By the time the ship docked at this village, he was the only one remaining alive. All the others had been brutally and similarly butchered. Alrick's first thought was to find a way back to Blackdust but things had become…complicated during his capture.
Which was why instead of searching for a way home, he was on the way to meet someone here.
He almost didn't notice the pair of eyes that belonged to the only person in the village tracking him walking down the street. Drumming his fingers along a table with his typical frown on his face, Walter Stonewell sat in front of a diner-like building. The first thing the king noticed was that he lacked his usual cigar and something felt off about him. Alrick stopped in front of the old man and faced him, the feeling he was getting was the same one he got whenever they were together back in the day.
The one that warned him when Walter was about to lash out.
For a moment, only the wind blowing and the sound of Walter's fingers tapping were the only sounds that echoed between them. No words needed to be exchanged as they both came to a silent agreement with what was about to happen.
"Well well well, the gang's all here."
The two of them barely acknowledged Asger sitting on a nearby rooftop with his arms on his knees with his hands dangling, looking quite relaxed. Oddly enough, instead of wearing some sort of battle armor, he wore a simple white collared shirt with a black tie going into a black vest. Propped against his shoulder was a long object completely wrapped in cloth. When it was clear that neither of the men below him would speak, the one eyed man spoke again.
"Come on you two, we should be celebrating! It's not everyday I get to see my rival and my little brother together. How you doing Walnuts? Last I heard you were babysitting some brats down in Arendelle, did you finally kill them already?"
Walter's eyes went up to meet Asger's single one and he continued to silently glare at the man. His gaze plainly expressed why he came all this way and it had Asger chuckle. He reached up and rubbed the scar that went over his eye whimsically.
"First Dad and Ingrid, now you're looking to finish the job you started when you took my eye. Are you planning on killing everyone in the family? That includes your daughter, you know, and I don't know how I feel about you killing my niece."
Walter's fingers stopped drumming and Asger's grin turned into a skeleton's smile.
The snowstorm could not silence the sound of the diner being destroyed.
