Chapter 3 - Into the Abyss
The kingdom of Arendelle atmosphere was filled with sorrow and grief. The news of Flynn's death had spread like wildfire. Villagers wore somber expressions, and the castle walls echoed Anna's mournful cries.
Hans couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. As he wandered the castle grounds, his mind swirled with doubts and suspicions. "There's more to this," he muttered, gripping his sword tightly.
He pauses and takes a look up at the family painting, they had it done months back, he studies the smile of both sisters, and then turns his attention over to Flynn. It finally hit him, that he'll never see him smile again, they won't share a laugh again, or spare, he won't hear that dumb excuse of why a guitar would make for a great weapon.
It all hits him like a ton of bricks, he falls into his chair, head leaning down and his eyes closing. The tears he was holding back were finally falling, he failed Flynn as a King, but worse of all as his best friend.
A door begins to creak open causing Hans to look up. Right in front of him was Elsa, eyes bloodshot, her once noble, untouchable appearance was now hagged. Hans starts to stand up but Elsa pushes him back into his chair, slowly wrapping her arms around him. Neither said a thing to one another, they sat there in silence for a while. The only sound being heard was the cold wind blowing.
Elsa was the first one to finally speak, "Anna's resting now, she...cried herself to sleep.", she confesses. "Hans, what are we going to do? Why did this have to happen? just a few days ago he was planning to ask her to marry him and now..." Elsa couldn't find it in herself to finish the sentence.
Taking a deep breath, "I can't shake the feeling that there's something suspicious about this all. It wasn't...it can't just be a random act of violence. " Hans spoke, his mind trying to piece all of the events together, looking for an answer that he won't get, at least for now.
Elsa looked up at Hans, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and curiosity. "What do you mean?" she asked, She too had felt that there was something more at play.
Hans sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, but I intend to find out who did this. We owe it to Anna to uncover the truth." The two fall quiet again, choosing to spend the rest of the evening wrapped in eachothers arms.
Anna sat alone in her room, shrouded by darkness. Her heart heavy with grief, she couldn't shake the image of Flynn's lifeless body from her mind. As tears streamed down Anna's face, a sinister presence materialized in the shadows.
As tears streamed down her face, Anna could feel a presence in the room. A chill ran down her spine, and she turned to see a figure watching her from the shadows. "Who's there?" Anna's voice trembled, but her determination to face whatever it was remained unshaken.
The figure stepped forward, the dim light revealing a pitch-black silhouette with glowing yellow eyes. "Why are you here?" Anna's voice wavered, but she refused to let fear consume her. She needed answers, and she was determined to get them.
The figure remained silent, his piercing gaze never wavering. Anna took a step closer and reached out a hand, her voice filled with a mix of hope and desperation.
"Please, talk to me. Tell me what you want." But as Anna's hand almost touched him, he vanished into thin air. Confusion washed over her as she stood there, her hand suspended in the empty space. "A ghost? Flynn?" she called out, hoping he would reappear and give her some answers.
The room remained silent, the only response being the echo of Anna's voice bouncing off the walls. Frustrated and overwhelmed, Anna sank onto her bed, her head in her hands. She couldn't understand why the figure had appeared and then disappeared without a word.
Memories of Flynn flooded Anna's mind, and she let out a choked sob.
She missed him so much, and the pain of his loss felt unbearable. She wished he were there, comforting her, making her laugh with his mischievous smile.
Suddenly, a soft humming filled the room, quiet and comforting. Anna lifted her head and looked around, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Flynn?" she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and longing.
But there was no response, no sign of Flynn's presence. The humming continued, growing louder and more ethereal. Anna felt a strange warmth wash over her, a sensation that brought a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.
As the humming filled the room, Anna closed her eyes, allowing herself to be enveloped by the familiar melody. Images of her and Flynn's happiest moments flashed before her eyes, their laughter and love echoing in her ears.
The humming grew louder still, intermingled with soft whispers that seemed to caress the depths of her soul. Anna opened her eyes, her heart pounding with anticipation. "Flynn, if that's you... please give me a sign."
And then, in the distance, Anna heard it. A faint voice calling her name, carried by a gentle breeze. She followed the sound, her body moving almost on its own accord, drawn towards the unknown.
The voice grew louder, clearer, until Anna found herself standing before an old mirror adorned with intricate carvings. It shimmered with an otherworldly light, seemingly alive with the essence of magic.
Anna hesitated for a moment, her reflection meeting her gaze with curious eyes. With trembling fingertips, she reached out to touch it but was interrupted when Elsa entered the room calling her.
Elsa sat on the edge of Anna's bed, her eyes filled with worry as she watched her sister silently weep. "Anna," she said softly, reaching out to touch her arm. "How are you holding up?"
Anna looked up at her sister, her cheeks stained with tears. "I miss him, Elsa," she whispered, her voice cracking with sadness. "I miss Flynn so much."
Elsa's heart ached as she wrapped her sister in a comforting embrace. "I know, Anna," she murmured, her voice filled with sympathy. "We all miss him."
Anna clung to Elsa, finding solace in her sister's presence. "He was such a wonderful person, Elsa," she said, her voice choking with emotion. "He brought so much happiness into my life."
Elsa nodded, her own eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "He changed all of our lives," she replied, her voice filled with gratitude. "Flynn, Rapunzel, and Hans... They showed us what true love and friendship could be."
Anna sniffled and wiped away her tears. "Remember when I first met Flynn?" she asked, a small smile tugging at her lips.
A nostalgic twinkle appeared in Elsa's eyes. "Of course, I remember," she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice. "You knocked him out with a guitar, didn't you?"
Anna giggled through her tears. "Yes, I did," she admitted, her laughter mingling with her sadness. "I thought he was a thief, but he turned out to be the love of my life."
It was a night like any other in the grand halls of the castle. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the polished marble floors. Anna, restless and yearning for adventure, found herself wandering the corridors, her mind filled with hopes and dreams.
As she turned a corner, her eyes widened with surprise at the sight before her. A man, clad in dark clothing, was skulking through the shadows, his movements swift and silent.
In an instant, Anna's instincts kicked in. She needed to protect the castle and its treasures. With a determined look in her eyes, she reached for the nearest object she could find - a guitar leaning against the wall.
Swinging the guitar with all her might, Anna struck the intruder on the back of his head, causing him to crumple to the ground.
With a triumphant grin, Anna wasted no time in securing the stranger. She hurriedly fetched some ropes and swiftly bound his hands and feet, ensuring he wouldn't escape.
The man groaned as he regained consciousness, his eyes fluttering open as he found himself tied up and at the mercy of a princess.
Anna crossed her arms, giving him a stern look. "Who are you? What were you doing in the castle?"
The man blinked, taking in the sight of the fiery princess before him. "Name's Flynn, and I might have been...a little lost," he replied, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.
Anna rolled her eyes, not buying his charming act. "Lost, huh? Well, I'm not just going to let you waltz out of here. Maybe we can work something out instead."
Flynn's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Work something out? What do you have in mind, Princess?"
Anna smiled mischievously. "Well, as it turns out, I have a bit of a problem. I find this castle so confining, and I long for adventure. So, my proposal is simple. If you help me sneak out of the castle from time to time, I'll give you access to the royal jewel collection."
Flynn's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You're willing to give me access to the royal jewels? That's quite the offer, Princess. You've got yourself a deal!"
Anna couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. It was risky, a secret pact with a thief, but something about Flynn intrigued her. Together, they might just find the adventure they both craved.
Elsa's smile widened, her heart swelling with sisterly affection. "It was quite the beginning to a beautiful relationship," she said, her voice filled with warmth.
Anna sighed, her laughter fading into a wistful sigh. "I never imagined falling in love with a thief," she mused, her voice tinged with a sense of wonder. "But Flynn... he was so much more than that."
Elsa placed a gentle hand on Anna's cheek. "He was a kind and caring person," she said softly. "And he loved you with all his heart."
Tears welled up in Anna's eyes again, but this time they were tears of gratitude. "I'll forever cherish the moments we had together," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
Elsa leaned in, her forehead resting against Anna's. "And I'll be here for you, Anna," she vowed, her voice filled with a sister's love. "We'll get through this together."
Anna nodded, her heart finding solace in Elsa's words. "Thank you, Elsa," she murmured, her voice filled with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Elsa pressed a kiss to Anna's forehead, a silent promise passing between them. "You'll never have to find out," she whispered, her voice filled with determination.
Suddenly, a soft knock sounded at the door, interrupting their moment of solace.
Elsa gently pulled away from Anna and moved towards the door, her eyes still filled with concern. "Who is it?" she called out.
The door creaked open, revealing Hans standing in the doorway. He glanced at the tear-stained faces of the sisters, his own expression filled with empathy.
"I hope I'm not intruding," Hans said softly, his voice filled with sympathy. "I just wanted to check on you both."
Anna forced a smile, grateful for the support of her sister and Hans. "Thank you for being here," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Hans stepped into the room, his gaze shifting between Elsa and Anna. "We're a family," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity. "We're here for each other."
Hans hesitates, his hand shaking slightly, before finally mustering the courage to speak, "There's something I need to tell you both. It's something I discovered.."
Anna looks at Hans with a mixture of curiosity and concern, her voice trembling, "What is it, Hans? Please, tell us." Hans takes a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper, "I found a torn piece of fabric near...where Flynn was... it bears the symbol of the southern isles."
Elsa's eyes widen in surprise, her mind racing to comprehend the implications. "But Hans, Why would criminals from there travel all the way to Arendelle?" Anna's brows furrowed in confusion, Hans worryingly asked, "Did they demand anything from you? Were they after something specific?"
Realization dawns on Anna's face as she speaks, "No... they didn't demand anything. They were trying to harm us." Hans nods solemnly, the weight of his realization heavy on his shoulders. "Someone had a vendetta against us.."
Anna gasped, her hand instinctively going to her mouth. "But why? What could they possibly have against us?" Hans hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts and trying to find the right words.
Hans shook his head, his grip tightening on the torn fabric in his hands. "I don't know, Anna. But I intend to find out," he declared. "I'm going to travel to the Southern Isles and talk to my father about this."
Elsa, who had been quietly observing the conversation, spoke up unexpectedly. "I'm going with you," she said firmly, her voice resolute. "I won't let you go alone, Hans." Hans reached out and took Anna's hand, squeezing it gently. "I promise, Anna," he whispered. "I won't rest until we have answers."
"Hans, I trust you will." Anna's voice quivered as she spoke again, her grief-laden words laced with determination. "Please, both of you, promise me that you'll take care of yourselves. I can't lose anyone else." Elsa pulled Anna into a tight embrace, her voice filled with reassurance. "We'll be careful, Anna. We'll find answers and we'll come back to you."