Act 3 Scene 1
The sun was only beginning to rise over the Kingdom of Arendelle the following morning. Gossip spread around the town about the events that happened with the Queen, and it was dividing people up. Some were cautious about Elsa, believing that her powers were a curse and would be used to hurt the residents. Others remained loyal to the monarchy, believing that the Queen would never hurt anyone since she clearly wouldn't have shown her powers or be as fearful of them if that were the case. Then there was the neutral fraction, who weren't sure one way or another given the lack of information. Needless to say, the country was in a disarray. Not only were they now Queenless, but the port where the ships were stationed had been frozen over. The water was so thick with ice that it was impossible for any of the boats to leave the harbor. Which meant all the guests that arrived from other islands near the Kingdom, could not go home. The royal guards had called forth the Ice Harvesters, special people that bust through ice to collect the crystals within the mountains. They were trying to thaw out the harbor, but the frost was thicker than they thought. They weren't sure how long it would take them to get even one boat out, as the water had been thickening for miles.
Hans was currently in his room, he had been lucky enough to have one of his own away from the twins since the castle had so many to spare. He was sitting against the window sill, wearing his clothes from his home county while reading one of his many books he brought with him to Arendelle. He hardly slept much, given what went down at the party. Between Elsa's powers being revealed, her running away and the Kingdom divided on where she stood by them, it was a lot to process. The youngest prince of the Southern Isles never would have expected such a scandal on such a scale. Sure, that was the plan according to his brothers, but to think that Elsa had magical powers of ice and snow. Not even he would have foreseen such a thing. Though the young royal was mostly worried for the princess of the Kingdom. Anna seemed fairly crushed when Elsa ran off, not that he blamed her. The sisters were close with one another despite the struggles they faced over the decade. Now all of that progress they made was washed away because of the fiasco of last night. Even though Hans knew he shouldn't have gotten close to Anna due to his brother's plans, after spending the evening with her, he did grow to be sympathetic with her. And a bit envious since she had a much more stable and healthy relationship with her sibling compared to him.
With the sun coming over the horizon, Hans figured it was best to try and see what was happening. He wasn't sure if anyone would be up at this hour, but he also doubted anyone would be asleep either. The young prince opened the door to his guest room, looking down the halls. Oddly enough, he didn't notice any guards around the doors. He remembered last night that many of the servants of the castle had escorted all of the foreign visitors to their rooms and instructed that they were kept there for the time being. Yet Hans didn't see anyone patrolling the halls at the moment. He figured now was a perfect opportunity to get intel on the situation. Mostly, he was curious about Anna. Sure, he wasn't supposed to make any kinds of connections, yet Anna was kind to him. And in a way, it was his brothers' fault Elsa ran off. The least he could do was see how she was coping.
The Prince searched, but didn't know what room was Princess Anna's. Then again, would she even be in her room at this point? Hans contemplated trying to ask any of the servants for her whereabouts, even though he doubted he would get any answers. His thoughts were interrupted when his eyes caught the sight of a figure running through one end of the hall to the other. He was surprised, seeing the person in such a rush. His curiosity got the better of him, and before he knew it, the Prince followed them. He went around a few corners, down some corridors, until he found himself right out to the courtyard entrance of the castle. The person that he had been chasing was wearing a cloak of the Arendelle blue shades, with a ribbon tied around the neck.
The hood of the clothing was removed, showing a familiar red-hair that was connected to a female with peach skin and freckles. The Princess was wearing different clothing than last night. She wore a traditional 'Bunad' of her people, consisting of a medium-length, dark blue skirt with a lavender round-cut linbing with points. Each rose and periwinkle print was similar to a rose around the skirt on each point, and each periwinkle bush-like print on each of its round edges. She also had a black bodice with a gold trim and green, red, yellow and purple rose prints on it. A light blue long-sleeved blouse and black heeled leather boots with gold linings and magenta soles. Anna also had on a magenta bonnet with purple lining, lavender fluff and matching white print on the back as her hair was now in twin braids. Her hands were covered with blue mittens, a magenta cape attached to her back with purple linings and tassels at the edge with a silver brooch consisting of a snowflake attached to her cape.
Hans's eyes widened as he saw Anna walking towards the gate, where Gerda and Kai waited for her. The male servant held the reins connecting to a snow horse that had a mane of white and black. While the female servant held a basket of what could only be holding food within.
"I made sure to pack a wide array of different foods for your trip. I made some brunost, lefse, and grovbrød. There's also some cloudberries, lingonberries, raspberries and apples if you want a light snack. I wanted to pack some meat or fish, but I didn't know how long you would be traveling and meat is not a good thing to carry around. Especially in such a small basket." Gerda explained.
Anna gave a warm smile to the mother figure, who she had looked up to after her parents death. "Thank you, Gerda. This should be more than enough." Anna reassured, taking the basket as she was grateful to have such a caring friend.
Kai stepped forward, holding the reins of the animal. "Aksel here is the toughest horse we have in the stables. He's not easily spooked, been around the mountain plenty of times, and he was your father's favorite horse before he passed. He's a bit old, but has the experience."
Anna reached up to the animal, gently placing her hand on the snout. She looked into the blue eyes of the white horse and already felt a sense of connection. "We have a long road ahead of us, Askel. So we need to be strong and trust each other." She told him. The horse neighed, signaling he understood. The princess felt ready, and was preparing to head out.
Curiosity got the better of Hans, even though he knew this didn't concern him. The Prince approached, calling out to the royal. "Princess Anna?" The servants and her turned as the man stepped forward. Kai didn't seem pleased as he walked up to them, but Gerda tried to reassure her brother. Anna stared at him with her warm, turquoise eyes as the Prince she had befriended yesterday was here.
"Hans…" She breathed, surprised he was awake at such an hour.
"What's going on?" He asked her. "Where are you going?"
Anna seemed like she was about to answer him, only for Kai to step in between the two and spoke out. "What the Princess of Arendelle is doing does not concern you, Prince of the Southern Isles!" He pointed right up at Hans, trying to intimidate him despite his size and stature. "Considering what your brothers have done yesterday, you are lucky we are even allowing you three to stay within the Castle!"
"Kai… it's alright." Anna stepped up to place a shoulder on the male servant. Hans was expecting Anna to have this chubby man tear the Prince a new one. Yet Hans was yet again impressed with her patience. The male servant looked at the Princess, as she had a genuine expression displayed. Seeing the young royalty made his tough exterior melt. Kai finally calmed down and went over to his sister, while Anna wanted to speak with Hans.
"I'm… sorry for intruding." Hans started to apologize, as he could tell he and his brothers had caused a lot of damage already. "I just… I couldn't sleep and woke up early. So I went on a walk and… I was trying to find you and see if you were… I mean that you were feeling…" He wasn't sure how he could have explained the situation to her. He didn't want to appear intrusive to the Princess. The last thing he wanted was to make Anna hate him, especially when he was enjoying spending time with her. Then again, how could she not hate him or his brothers after the way they accused her sister? Yet how was one supposed to react when you see someone performing witchcraft? Even though Hans should have known better than to judge magic, since he was interested in that subject.
Anna kept that warm smile on her face, but it was smaller than usual. "It hasn't been… ideal. But, there's no point in me complaining about the bad things." She tried to explain, fiddling with her fingers while piecing her words together. There was a bit of silence, as Hans didn't know what to say. He wanted Anna to keep going since it seemed she had a lot more on her mind. "I… should have listened to you last night." Anna continued. "About waiting to talk with my sister. This mess is all my fault."
Hans stepped towards her when she spoke. "Not all of it," he tried to reassure her. "The Queen and my brothers had just as much a part to play in it all."
"But I instigated it." Anna protested. "And now, Elsa is still gone. And the harbor is frozen over." Hans was surprised to hear that last part. Sure, Arendelle was mostly covered in snow and ice, but the harbors rarely got encased to prevent boats from coming in or going out. But if what Anna said was true… "As long as the port is encased in ice, no one can leave or enter Arendelle. I'm not sure how long it will be until it can naturally thaw out either." The auburn Princess looked back at her horse and the two servants. Her eyes sparkled with determination. "That's why I'm going to find Elsa." Anna finally admitted. "If I can talk to her and make her see that coming back won't be scary, she might be willing to come home. And maybe she can unfreeze the harbor."
Hans was stunned to learn this plan. He knew that Anna was an optimistic person from the short time he spent with her, but to think she was planning such a dangerous trip? "Princess Anna… Are you certain this is wise?"
"I know that my sister may be anxious and secluded. But that's only because of her regalness! I'm sure it had nothing to do with her birth powers. Well, I mean, I'm certain they were a part of it. Otherwise, why else would she keep her powers a secret from us for so long. Although I knew about her abilities, I just forgot due to the accident. Not that I hold it against her, I know it was an accident and she suffered more than me which explains why she became the way she is." Anna rambled on. "But deep down, she is still my sister no matter if she has magic or not. And Elsa is the only family I have after the death of our parents. So of course I still care and love her, I just don't think she understands how much I am willing to stick by her side. So, maybe if I go and talk to her, convince her that I'm not afraid…" Anna trailed off, her tone softening as she was wrapping up her explanation. "Then maybe… she'll come back. And we won't be apart again. Because, I lost her once before. And I…" Anna lifted her head up so she could look Hans in the eyes. Her pupils sparkling with longing and hope. "I don't want to lose her again, Prince Hans."
The Prince of the Southern Isles could hear the sincerity in her voice. It was clear that Anna loved her older sister, there was no doubt about it. She was willing to risk her safety just to ensure Elsa would come back home and not have any fears. Hans couldn't believe the lengths Anna was willing to go through just to help her sibling. He knew none of his brothers would have done that for him if such a situation occurred. Still, as much as Hans was skeptical about this plan being full-proof he knew one thing for certain: "You aren't going alone, are you?" He asked Anna.
The Princess looked at him, hearing his question. "I figured it would be better to go alone. I doubt Elsa would want to be confronted with a large group. She might mistake it for an angry mob. And the last thing I need is for her to have even more reason to fear returning back. If it's just her and me, I'm confident I'll have a better chance at convincing her." Anna explained. To be fair, that was a pretty logical plan that even Hans could understand. Given how shaken up Elsa was with the crowd last night, she probably didn't want a big group to confront her. "Besides, I can't risk putting anyone else in danger. With Elsa away, I'm the monarch of Arendelle and need to ensure that my people are cared for. Even if that means leaving them while I find a way to bring Elsa back. But Kai and Gerda will be able to look after everyone and ensure they are protected. They may be Castle Servants, but they have served our family for decades and me and Elsa trust them with our lives." Anna looked over at the siblings, who smiled at her as they were grateful to hear her praising them.
Even so, there was this nagging feeling inside of the Prince. Something pushed him to learn about this 'magic' that Elsa possessed, and the urge to want to ensure Anna's safety. Stepping forward, Hans made a request. "Please allow me to accompany you on this journey."
Both the servants and Princess were stunned to hear his words. While Kai was the one who seemed offended, Gerda and Anna looked at Hans and heard him out. "You are the only other monarch Arendelle has. If Queen Elsa is unable to come back, it is up to you to rule the Kingdom and find another solution."
"Hans…" Anna stared at the Prince as her turquoise eyes gazed at him.
"In a way, my brothers are partly to blame for the Queen escaping. As such, I take the responsibility of their misinformation and try to use it to make your people go against your sister." Hans knelt on one knee, showing his humility towards the Princess. "The least I can do to make up for our inexcusable behavior is to go with you on your quest and ensure your safety."
Kai scoffed as he found this to be a pathetic attempt on the Prince's part. He did not trust Hans or his brothers after the slander they accused of their Queen. If it was up to him, he would have told Hans off yet again and made him be sentenced to the dungeon until Elsa came back. Gerda had her own sinking feelings about the intentions of the Princes from the Southern Isles. Though she could sense that Hans was nothing like the twins. He seemed to genuinely care about the well being of people even if they were not ones he truly knew. In the end, it was not her decision to make. The female servant looked up at the Princess and waited for her response.
Anna was moved by Hans' decree. She had a feeling he was a lot more reliable and capable than he believed. The Princess was happy to hear Hans wanting to join her on her quest. Even though she knew it would be better to confront Elsa on her own, she figured that some company wouldn't be too harmful. "Very well," Anna finally agreed, which made Hans look back up at her in shock. Yet the bright smile upon her face proved that she was not making a joke. Turning to her family servants, she made a request. "Kai, get another horse from the stable for Prince Hans. Gerda, pack a few more snacks for the both of us." The siblings nodded, following her orders.
Hans grinned back up at Anna, happy that he was invited. "Thank you, Princess Anna."
The auburn woman beamed at him. Part of her was excited to have him along, as it could help ease her fears. "You can go to your room and gather what you need. Be quick though, we have a long journey ahead of us. But, don't feel like you have to rush either." She told him.
Hans nodded, reassuring her he would be back. He turned on his heels and headed towards the Castle doors so he could gather all he could. He only prayed that he could get his stuff and leave before his brothers managed to meet up with him. Even though he knew that such a wish wouldn't be granted, it couldn't hurt to still think it. His feet made him hurry back to the room he was given within the Castle walls. Hans grabbed his satchel and tried to think of what he should take. Most likely he would need extra layers of clothing if they were going against the frozen elements. Thankfully he had been given some extra clothing with padded thickness since his attire he arrived in had not been given back to him yet. He grabbed a cloak of the Arendelle coloring and symbol which he placed around his body. He also saw his books that he brought with him, stories about tales of a civilization and magic that roamed the lands centuries ago. They were nothing more than folktales now, but they meant so much to his mother that he had to keep a close hold on them. He decided to pack that as well, especially if his theory about Elsa was true.
Once he had everything, Hans grabbed his belongings and started to make his way towards Princess Anna. No sooner did he turn to face the door, two brotherly figures blocked his path. Hans looked up at the towering duo, seeing the smirks on their faces. "Morning brother." Rudi greeted his younger sibling.
Hans adjusted the strap on his satchel as he felt smaller when being in their presence. Mostly because they were older and taller than him. "Good morning Rudi… Runo." He nodded at them both while trying to not appear frightened. The last thing he wanted was for either of them to get involved with the Queen or the Princess. Considering what they tried to do yesterday, they would no doubt try and continue this scheme of theirs if it meant securing Arendelle for their own.
"Still no sign of the Queen, eh?" Runo questioned, keeping that vile smirk on his face that he shared with his twin. Hans didn't want to answer them, they already knew anyway. "I hear the Princess is going off to find her sister. Sounds pretty dangerous."
Hans was stunned to hear they already knew this. Either the word about Anna's journey had already spread around the Castle, or his older brothers had spied on their conversation. He didn't get a chance to speak as Rudi talked again. "That Princess really is a courageous one. Willing to risk her life for her sister who abandoned her and her people. Or maybe that just makes her stupid. Either way, it sounds like she won't be going alone." Their eyes turned back to Hans, as the youngest of the trio realized that he would become a pawn yet again in their plan. Still, he had to not get them angry which meant choosing his words carefully.
"I… volunteered to go with her." Hans explained, trying to sound convincing. "I figured that if she can lead me to where Queen Elsa is… perhaps I can convince her to stay away from the kingdom." Hans explained. Hearing this piqued the twin's reaction, as they stared at the youngest Prince. Hans tried to elaborate more for them to understand. "Our goal is to take over Arendelle, correct? So, if Queen Elsa is willing to denounce her rights to the throne, then we can be one step closer to securing Arendelle for ourselves."
Rudi and Runo looked at one another, as Hans feared that his words would not be enough. Runo rubbed his chin as he thought it over. "But do you believe that she would just abandon her people and home?" He asked the youngest.
Hans, realizing he was getting through to them, kept the ball rolling. "Based on how terrified she was last night, it's possible she is more scared of us than we are of her. Despite her powers, Princess Anna assured me that Queen Elsa would never hurt anyone intentionally. Therefore, if I can convince Queen Elsa that her people and kingdom are safer with her gone, we do not have to worry about her posing any challenges we have in securing the land."
Rudi hummed, a smile drawing on his face as he seemed pleased with the concept. "It would be less work to just chase the Queen away rather than have to slay her ourselves." He admitted.
Runo nodded in agreement. "Doesn't matter what becomes of her, so long as she is out of the picture. Though what about the Princess?" He pondered.
Hans felt nervous when they mentioned Anna, fearing the worst for the female royalty of Arendelle. Until Rudi made a remark. "The Princess should be easy to manage. She may be a weird one, but she seems easily trusting. We could use her as a bargaining chip into this royal bloodline if we have to." Rudi stated with confidence. Hans highly doubted Anna would ever consider marrying either of his brothers, considering the damage they caused to her sister. Still, he did worry for what the fate of Princess Anna would be at the hands of his brothers. Then again, it was better than just surrendering her life, Hans thought.
"For now, let's worry about the Queen and ensure she doesn't return." Runo declared, turning back to Hans. "Looks like we'll leave this task to you, little brother."
The youngest of the three kept gripping the satchel strap. He knew he had little choice but to obey his elder brothers. With a nod, he had to take this mission with uncertain results. As he tried to step forward, his brothers blocked the doorway. Runo reached into his left pocket, taking out a small but sharp dagger. Holding the blade end, he reached it out towards Hans. He hesitantly took it, already knowing what it was for before Runo could even speak. "If the Queen gets any ideas on wanting to come back, don't hesitate to use forceful persuasion to make her think otherwise." Hearing those words sent a shiver down Hans' spine. He had never hurt any living being, let alone kill. However, his brothers weren't asking this task of him, they were demanding it.
Placing the knife in his bag, Hans looked back up at the twins before nodding to them. Signaling to the pair that he would not fail this mission. That was all they wanted to hear. Rudi and Runo would leave the fate of Arendelle in the hands of Prince Hans. A burden he did not wish to be given, but it was the only way he could please the twins. With little choice, he took their gift and headed out. A weight falling onto his shoulders as he escaped out of the bedroom and down the halls.
By the time he managed to get to the courtyard, Anna was waiting for him next to another horse. Hans stepped over to where the Princess was as his eyes looked up at her. Anna smiled at the Prince. "Got everything?"
Hans readjusted the strap of his satchel, not answering verbally but giving a nod. Hans lifted himself up onto the horse, who neighed a bit. He was worried the animal didn't like him at first. Anna reached over and rubbed the nose of the other animal, which helped calm them down. "Jakob hasn't been out of the stables in a long while, so I'm sure this mountain trek would be good for him."
Hans looked at the creature, a bit nervous being on him as he had a strong feeling the horse resented him. "I don't think he likes me." Hans retorted, which made the horse shake his head.
"He doesn't get along with anyone, so it's not personal." Anna reassured. Hans didn't believe that should make him feel better, but he couldn't ask for another horse right now. With the royals in tow, Anna ordered the gates to be opened. She led the way as the horses trotted across the courtyard. Hans followed behind, holding onto his reins. They walked through the gates, heading out onto the bridge towards the edge of the Kingdom. As they walked along the road, Hans took a glance over at the harbor. The ships were trapped within the thick ice that covered the water for miles. Many sailors and ice workers were trying their best to see through the thick solid to get the boat out. Though based on the little progress they made, they had a long way to go.
Anna gazed at the direction Hans was looking towards and saw what was happening. She realized how much her people were struggling, but doubted they would be able to break the ice. Since it was magic, there was no guarantee that human-made items would be enough. The Princess and Prince stopped for a while to watch the men attempt to thaw out the boats. "I can't believe Elsa could do all of this." Anna muttered, stunned yet worried by the power her older sister possessed.
Hans could tell that Anna was having mixed feelings about this mess. The last thing she needed was to be conflicted in their mission. So, he tried to change the subject. Looking over the large body of water, his emerald eyes looked up to see the large Mountains that towered over the valley and protected it from outsiders. "If I were someone wanting to run away and not be seen, those mountains might be the best place to go." He pointed at them.
Anna turned to see the landmarks, eyes widening at Hans's words. "The North Mountain… They say it was the domain of Skadi herself. But it's a dangerous climb to those that don't know how to take the right path."
"But for someone who can control snow and ice, it would be an ideal location for them." Hans pointed out.
Anna nodded in agreement. Elsa seemed to have been heading there last night when she ran off. Even if it was dangerous for the average person, with the abilities the Queen possessed she would have no trouble staying up there. "It would take about a day just to reach the top of the Mountain. Which means if we want to make it there by tomorrow morning, we'll have to head out now." She declared. Hans nodded, as their objective was clear. Controlling their horses, the Princess and Prince headed across the bridge, through town, and out of the Kingdom of Arendelle.
They walked together side by side as the two rode off into the forest. They began to climb the slope, but it was still a long way to go before they could catch up to Elsa. At first, Anna called out to her sister in the hopes she was nearby and would respond. Hans doubted that such a plan would work, but he didn't want to discourage Anna. After a while of getting no replies, the Princess ceased her actions and they continued to ride along in silence. After a while, Anna was the one to have broken it. "I don't see her anywhere." She mentioned Elsa. "There's no sign of her trail either. Oh! I knew I should have gotten one of the hunting dogs! Kai advised me, but I didn't think I would need it. Plus, I never knew how to really train one so I doubt it would have been much help! And I figured we already have the horses to take care of, and now you're here. But with how little progress we've made so far, I'm starting to worry we might not catch up with her. She had a head start last night, so she must at least be halfway up the mountain by now. Though it isn't like she can get too far, since there aren't many caves and shelters around for her to hide in. And food can be pretty scarce the higher you are. Then again, I don't know what all her powers can do, maybe make an ice house? Though that would probably be cold, yet she never minded that kind of temperature. Now I know why, which makes perfect sense. As for the food aspect, I guess she could try and hunt but she was never really good with weapons. Even if she could make a bow and arrow from ice, though I imagine that might not be efficient. And I don't think she would be good at hunting, mainly because she never got into it even when we were young. I guess she could try and learn if she became desperate, but she is so graceful and uptight that she probably wouldn't kill any animals, let alone try to cook them herself…" Anna continued to ramble while Hans allowed his ears to listen. He didn't find it too annoying, it passed the time at least. And he knew Anna was worrying for her older sister, so it was better she got it out of her system.
Anna sighed, leaning forward as she had exhausted her lungs from over-chatting. Hans glanced her way as she ceased speaking, and decided to make commentary on the situation. "Well, I know if I was Queen Elsa, and I didn't want to see my younger sister, I would probably stay away from people. And if she could hear your voice from a mile away, she'll probably run in the opposite direction."
When the Princess heard that, she straightened up and turned towards Hans. He half-expected her to call him out for his disrespect, not that he was trying to hurt her feelings. Yet Anna merely looked flustered as she realized what she was doing. "Sorry, I… don't usually talk that much. Only when I'm really anxious or excited… and trying to make some points in an argument, even if I lose my train of thought. I guess I just have a…"
"Hard time articulating what you want to say?" Hans finished her sentence. Anna merely gave a shrug with a smile, indicating he was correct. "At least you have no problem speaking your mind. I struggle with trying to express myself." He turned his eyes straight ahead as he continued to ride his horse.
"Really? You seemed pretty talkative last night at the party." Anna retorted.
"You did most of the talking. And the things I talked about were mainly things that interested me. If you hadn't noticed, most of my brothers don't take an interest in my hobbies."
Anna raised a brow at him as she tried to keep up with Hans. "Well, I may not understand a lot of that mythology stuff, but I find it fascinating." She told him. "Of course, I'm not as knowledgeable as you in the matter. Hence why I like listening to you talk about it, because you seem to understand it. And when you explain it, it makes a lot of sense even if I don't understand the concept." Hans couldn't help but muse at her compliment. He wasn't used to being praised for his interests, so he took it to heart. Anna kept her head down as she continued to speak her mind. "It's… all the more reason I want to get my sister back. The Kingdom of Arendelle needs a leader, they need their Queen. And Elsa is the only one who can rule."
Hans turned towards her when she said that. "But you're a royal as well," he reminded her. "If anything happened to Queen Elsa, you would be next in line to inherit the throne. So Arendelle wouldn't be without a ruler so long as they have you."
Anna shrugged as she didn't seem to be fond of that notion. "It's true that technically I would be the one to rule should Elsa be unable to stand on the throne. But that's not something I want. I mean… I've always been better off as just a…"
"Spare?" Hans questioned.
"More like moral support." Anna corrected. "Don't get me wrong, I love helping my people and being involved with projects. But… I doubt I would be as good of a ruler as Elsa. She was the first born, so she was practically made to take over after the death of our parents. She spent her whole life dedicating herself to taking over the Kingdom. Me… I've had those same lessons but, I just don't see myself as patamonie and pageantry. I like being the care-free and cheerful of the sisters, I can't see myself being uptight and bossy. Not that Elsa is that way, it's just something I don't think I would be good at." She fully admitted.
Hans was somewhat surprised, learning about how Anna seemed to want to reject the very thought of claiming the throne of her home kingdom. For Hans, he would have jumped at the chance to even be next in line to rule his lands. So hearing another royalty that had zero interest in such an honor… baffled him. Who wouldn't want to jump at the chance of claiming such an inheritance? Hans readjusted himself on his horse as he tried to engage in the topic. "Well… I for one would gladly accept such a position. If and when the opportunity struck me."
"I thought you gave up on the idea of being a King and wanted to focus on your studies of ancient myths?" Anna reminded him..
"That doesn't mean I still don't fantasize about wanting to rule a Kingdom. It's just more in the back of my mind because my chances are fairly slim to achieve it. But being a scholar, that is a path that I can walk on with no obstacles. Even so, I would like to one day rule a Kingdom, even if it is through marriage." Hans admitted. Anna smiled over at Hans, something he noticed she did often. Was it just because she was that kind to everyone around her, or was there something else? Hans tried not to gaze at her bright features too long, and attempted to continue the conversation. "Besides, there's a lot more to being a King or Queen than just looking presentable."
Anna raised a brow at his remark. "Like what?" she questioned.
Hans turned back to face her as she asked. He wasn't prepared to answer that question, but he didn't want the conversation to end or to leave Anna to her thoughts. So, he tried to come up with some examples. "Well… for one thing, they're in charge of taking care of the people. They need to make sure that their citizens are fed, have shelter, and are able to be healthy and happy. They also have to appoint or dismiss ministers, summon Parliaments, and give royal assent to bills that are passed by the Parliament."
"The… Par-la…mint?" Anna tried to repeat that word while having trouble pronouncing it.
"It's basically what the monarchs use to exercise their authority in accordance with a constitution. Basically, it makes it so the monarchs are not the only ones making the decisions. But they still have the final say to accept or deny that choice. This is to ensure the monarchs don't just go around making new laws and removing old ones at whim." Hans elaborated.
"Okay… that makes sense…" Anna realized, though she seemed still confused. But she didn't want to admit that she was hardly keeping up, so she tried to make it seem like she understood. Hans however doubted that, but didn't question her on it. "But… I still don't think I would be good at it. I mean, taking care of my people and Kingdom is one thing. But the logistics of laws and knowing who to put in power for big decision making… I feel that is where I would struggle and mess up."
"Well, that's why it's important to have yourself surrounded by people that you trust." Hans explained. "You want them to not always shoot down your ideas, but also not easily agree with everything you say. They should be able to bring up the pros and cons of rules or actions the Kingdom should take, while also respecting your opinion at the end of the day. Most importantly, you also have to treat them not as friends, but advisors. Meaning if they do anything to mess up, you can't forgive them. They have to be punished for any crimes they commit."
"Wow… you really know a lot about royalty stuff…" Anna chuckled.
"I am still a prince. The 13th one, but still one regardless." Hans pointed out. He tightened the grip on the reins while he continued. "Still, it's because of that reason I've been unable to truly pursue my dreams of being ruler of a Kingdom. Instead, finding solace within the studies of the ancients." He sounded pretty depressed when he mentioned that. Anna could sense that Hans really wanted to be King. It was clear that he had the knowledge and understanding of ruling a Kingdom, but his status was preventing him from obtaining it. Even if he could get to rule through marriage, the land wouldn't be his to own, but rather his partner and their offspring. That was how it worked, even Anna knew that.
Anna urged her horse to move forward, so she was neck and neck with Hans. "Well, if it makes you feel any better. I think you would make for a perfect King." Anna reassured the Prince. Once again, hearing such words from the auburn woman made the man raise a brow in interest. He gazed at her, her bright smile never leaving her cheeks despite the situation they were in. How could she still be happy, Hans wondered? "I mean, you know way more about the technicalities of ruling a Kingdom than I do."
"Oh come on, you surely must know some things." Hans told her.
"Eh…" Anna seemed hesitant to speak up, rubbing the back of her neck as she appeared embarrassed. "Most of those lessons are about royal duties and training… I hardly paid attention to it."
"Well that explains why you don't have much knowledge then." Hans pointed out. "You can't be an expert in something if you don't understand the basics of the subject. Then again, you can't expect anyone to learn something if they aren't interested in the topic."
"Probably why you took up the interest of mythology?" Anna questioned.
Hans shrugged. "Between my mother and brother, it had a strong presence in my life." He admitted.
The Princess agreed with him, but her mind wandered back to her own life. "When Elsa was younger, she told our father how proud she would be when it was her turn to wear that crown and sit on the throne." Anna began her long rambling. "I remember how she would constantly ask our mother to fashion Elsa different outfits for her coronation. She wanted to know which dress to wear when she would have her crowning moment. It always changed each and every year because she didn't like the last design. But our mother kept all of the designed dresses for Elsa, making sure to work on them so they would fit her even when she grew. Mom wanted Elsa to ensure she had the options, just in case she changed her mind again. Because she could not like something today, but when you look back, the nostalgia might cloud your judgment and you'd realize it wasn't so bad. Our mom always told us those wisdom phrases that even I still don't understand to this day. But Elsa probably got it… that's how smart she was. I even remember when she would be invited to the meetings our parents had with the other court members, in regards to new laws and regulations being passed down. She helped my dad balance out the pros and cons of raising up the taxes for the more wealthy and lowering the taxes for the poor. She came up with this incredibly thoughtful program that allowed for the lower class to get money.
"The program was to have the wealthy families give up a portion of their money, and give it to a charity. That charity used the money to give to the families of the lower class in exchange for their services around the Kingdom. Like cleaning up the streets, decorating during festivals, and showing hospitality to foreigners. That way, they could work for their money and get it to support themselves. And the work they are doing is charitable, so it counts as them paying for taxes. Even the rich who give up that money get a tax break because it goes to a charity." Anna explained as her smile widened and her eyes held a bright light. She reminisces of the younger days, the ones that were simpler before Elsa and Anna had that door between them. "She was proud of that project… and my dad worked hard with her to make it a reality. Because of her, poverty in our Kingdom declined. Elsa told me that it was that day she knew… she wanted to be Queen and ensure the safety and longevity of our people." Anna's smile started to fade, as the happy days of the past were washed away with the reality of the present.
"Elsa cares for her people and family, that's why I can't understand her just… running away." Anna questioned, as it pained her knowing the sister she looked up to would throw away everything Elsa stood for. She couldn't fathom why Elsa would abandon everyone and everything so easily.
Hans could sense how upset Anna was about this ordeal. Despite their obstacles in the past, it was clear Anna cared for her sister and knew her well. Aside from not knowing of Elsa's powers, but that was only due to a spell. Princess Anna wanted to make sense of the last bit of her family leaving her. As much as Hans wanted to comfort her, he wasn't sure what he could say. Especially since he didn't have all the information about this family drama. He kept his mouth shut, as they continued to walk up the mountain. But the longer they were in silence, the more hurt Anna appeared. Perhaps she was thinking about the worst case scenarios of what would happen when she confronted her sister? As much as the Princess tried to be optimistic, her quietness was a sign of intrusive thoughts. It pained Hans to see Anna like this, especially since for the little time he has known her, she was always peppy and care-free. He doubted anything he could say would comfort her though, as he was not good at pep talks. So, Hans figured the best approach was to take her mind off of what she was thinking about with a distraction. "You know…" The Prince began. "I had a fun time last night getting to know you but… I feel there is still so much we don't know about each other. And, thinking about that reminded me of a game my mother and I used to play."
Anna lifted her head to meet with Hans, as her ears picked up on his words. "A game?" She repeated, getting her interest.
"Yeah… It's called 'The Favorite Game'. You ask the person a question about what their favorite thing is. From animals, to colors and hobbies. They also have to explain why they like that thing, and the person who asked gets to answer as well. Then the person who answered first gets to take a turn and ask someone else what their favorite thing is. And so on and so on." Hans explained. "I mean… we don't have to, it's just… I really liked spending time with you last night. And I wanted us to get to know each other better. After all, it's still a long journey ahead of us and it would help make the time pass." Hans trailed off, becoming embarrassed as he was realizing that he was rambling which he never did unless it was about ancient history and mythology. He wasn't usually this chatty, which was odd. He turned away to hide his red face, thinking he was making a fool of himself.
Surprisingly, Anna was curious about this game and had to give credit to Hans for cheering her up. Forming a smile, she kept her eyes on the Prince. "Could you start off?" she asked him.
The Prince managed to glance over at her, seeing her bright features. He was still hesitant about this idea, though he figured it was better than walking in silence. "Alright… favorite animal?" he suggested. It was a basic question, but he had to start somewhere.
Anna hummed. "Oh this is a trick one. I love a lot of animals." She admitted. "I like dogs, reindeer, horses…" She petted Askel as she added that, making the horse neigh as if he was pleased. "I like all of them so it's hard for me to choose one specifically. And I never had a pet of my own, so even then I don't have a bias. But… I wouldn't mind seeing one of those fire foxes you mentioned last night. I bet they would be cute and cuddly!" Anna giggled at the very thought. "But, I doubt I'd ever be able to see one. They are mythical for a reason." She realized, though wasn't too disappointed by it.
Hans smiled and mused as she answered. "Well, I'm the same. When it comes to finding an animal. I prefer the creatures that are from the olden tales, even if they could kill humans."
"Well, every animal is capable of hurting anyone." Anna remarked. Hans nodded, as that was true. "Alright, your turn. Ask me anything about my favorite thing."
Anna tapped her chin as she tried to come up with the question. "Oh! How about your favorite hobby?"
Hans chuckled. "Easy, studying ancient histories and mythologies. I could get lost in those old stories and never want to leave. Learning about how those cultures came up with such concepts is baffling but intriguing."
Anna should have figured, but she was enjoying the game. "Alright, I like spending time in the snow, so any snow related activities. Snowball fights, ice skating, sledding, building snow sculptures like snowmans. When you live in a place that constantly snows and has it on the ground all the time… pretty much the only outdoor activity you can do." Anna explains.
Hours passed as they made distance, with Anna calling out for Elsa again. Hans decided to join in with the calls to help the Princess feel better. They shared the food they brought and tried to make light conversation to take their mind off heavier subjects. They asked each other small questions to get to know one another better. "Alright… favorite color?" Anna asked as they were talking while the sun was setting over the snow.
Hans hummed as he thought about the answer before he responded. "Forest green. Like my eyes. It also reminds me of my homeland with lush fields and valleys. What about you?"
"Definitely teal, I would say seafoam but only in pictures. Our waters are pretty dark and deep. I saw images in books of clear waters though, and imagined myself swimming through those waves." Anna admitted.
"I guess it would be pretty hard to swim in temperatures near freezing." Hans mused. "Okay… let's see. How about… favorite food?" Hans asked.
"Anything that is chocolate." Anna answered.
"More specific?" Hans urged.
Anna rolled her eyes. "Alright, uh… oh! Kokosboller! Those are my favorite, especially with how the fluffy marshmallows mix with the chocolate shell covering them."
"They are pretty good," Hans admits. "Mine would be bread pudding. It was the treat my mom and I shared while she was on bedrest the remainder of her life. Even now, I always think of her when I have a slice."
Anna was touched when she heard that answer. "I never had it before, is it easy to make?" She questioned.
"If you know the recipe and have the ingredients. Surely your kitchen staff must have that recipe?"
Anna shook her head. "If they did, we would have had it before. It's not something we ever had. Then again, our cuisine is different compared to the Southern Isles. Which is odd because didn't the Southern Isles used to be part of Arendelle at one point?" Anna questioned.
Hans gave a nod as he explained. "Are you familiar with 'The Great Flood'?"
"I… think I remember hearing about it in the history lessons?" Anna wasn't certain she had any knowledge on that topic. History wasn't her strong suite, which Hans was aware of. Even so, he was willing to fill in the details as best he could.
"Well, in short, Arendelle and the Southern Isles used to be connected to each other. They were also connected to the land and it was a giant continent. But there was a major flood from the sea, creating larger bodies of water like lakes and rivers. Parts of Arendelle were swallowed up by the ocean, making the land smaller and isolated from the mainland. Eventually being called the Southern Isles. The people who were trapped on the island didn't know what to do, as they feared being away from their homeland without any support. But eventually they managed to create their own community for themselves. They even enjoyed their freedom. Then the Kingdom of Arendelle was reestablished after the flooding died down. Got a new monarch, and wanted to reclaim the land that was lost to them by the sea."
Anna listened to the history lesson, compelled by the past until her brain clicked. "Oh, I remember now! That was the Island War, where Arendelle sent reinforcements to try and take the islands so they could be part of the Kingdom again." Anna added, which impressed Hans that she was able to remember those bits of history from her home. "I don't know a lot about the details, but I know it was a long war that lasted years, with many casualties and lost resources."
"Yeah… about ten or so years if I recall." Hans told her. "Eventually, the Southern Isles were able to keep up with the Kingdom since they had a home field advantage. Between the many losses in resources and people with no progress on either side, the Isles and Arendelle came to an agreement. They would allow the Southern Isles to be an independent nation in exchange they agreed to create their own Kingdom and would become suppliers for Arendelle."
"So… I guess it worked out, huh?" Anna questioned as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, we got our independence." Hans answered. "But… The Southern Isles worked better as a Community rather than a Kingdom. Actually, my family is still technically new to knowing how to run a Kingdom, even though it's been nearly a century after the war." He seemed depressed when he mentioned that, and he ceased talking about the Southern Isles after that. Anna wanted to ask more, but could tell Hans didn't want to express anything else about his homeland. Even though he had some fond memories, it was clear there was more to the Kingdom than just his family which made him bitter.
The Princess turned to face the road ahead of her, before a chilly breeze washed towards her. Anna held herself and rubbed her arms, shuddering. "Is it just me, or did it get colder?" She questioned, trying to warm herself up.
Hans felt the change in temperature and copied her action. "It's probably because we are closer to the top of the mountain." He noted, looking around to realize how thicker the snow was, bouncing off the light of what was left of the sun as it was nearly set. "And… getting darker."
"I knew I should have wore some thicker clothes…"
"You're wearing a dress? When you were going to head up to the mountain?" Hans questioned, realizing how foolish that was.
Anna looked over at Hans as he asked that question. "Well… you don't look dressed for a hike." She pointed out.
He wanted to argue, but looking at his clothing from his home land and just a small cape, he admitted that he was in the same boat. "Fair enough…" He reached into his satchel, trying to dig around for some food as he was becoming hungry again. His hands only felt the leather of the material, making him groan in annoyance. "And… we're also out of food."
Anna winced as she heard Hans's complaint, realizing it was getting late, cold and they were hungry. "We should probably find a place to rest and restock supplies." Anna suggested.
"Princess, with all due respect. We are halfway up a steep mountain covered in snow and ice with very few animals out. We also haven't seen any people since we made this trip." Anna ignored his words, steering her horse to keep going while Hans followed behind. "So I highly doubt we will be able to find any man-made shelter that will provide us with supplies and…" Anna stopped in her tracks, forcing Hans to do the same. Her teal eyes shone as they reflected off a light in the distance. The Prince noticed her expression, following it as he too saw what she found. A large lodge of wood with a stable next door not too far from where they stood. Smoke came out of the chimney, indicating there was a fire inside with lights to show someone was home. Anna was giddy as she saw salvation up in this terrain, while Hans was grateful yet baffled. "Arendelle never ceases to amaze me." He remarked.
The two royals marched towards the house, getting there quickly so they could take a break and restock their resources. Once they were at the porch steps, the two climbed off their horses and headed up to the front door. Anna noticed a wooden sign hanging above, which she read outloud. "Wandering Oaken's Trading Post."
"Well, we can stay here for the night to rest up and restock. Then we can continue our search in the morning." Hans advised.
Anna didn't seem to agree with that, as she looked at Hans with defiance. "What?! No! We have to keep going! We're already a day behind from Elsa!"
Hans was taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor. Usually she was a people pleaser and agreed to everything someone else said, but when it came to her sister she wanted to draw a line. Even so, Hans did not want to keep going in the condition they were in. "Princess, we're out of supplies and traveling in the dark with no source of light and thin clothes would be suicide."
Anna scoffed, unable to argue such a point with the Prince. "I know that… but I can't be apart from my sister any longer."
Hans tried to keep persuading her. "I highly doubt Queen Elsa will travel far, the mountain doesn't have too many hiding spots. Besides, we both could use some new clothing and this place might have it. At the very least, let's take a break and figure out where to go from here?" He tried to reason with her, at least give them a few hours so they could plan their next move and recover their energy.
As much as Anna wanted to continue in search for her sister, their current state wouldn't get them any further in their adventure. If they could change outfits, stock up and find a new path to take, they could still make up for lost time and catch up to the Queen. Giving in, Anna sighed. "Alright, but one hour. Just for us to warm up and get what we need." Anna declared.
Hans nodded, agreeing to that as it seemed reasonable and that was the best he was going to get from her. They turned back to the door, only to be met with snow that fell from the sign above them. It was blocking a smaller wooden board with two words written: 'With Sauna' it spelt out. "A sauna… never been in one of those before." Hans noted.
"Me either… I bet it would warm us up real quick." Anna realized, liking the idea of sitting in a sauna with the hot steam to melt away the shivers. The idea plagued her mind, making her second guess leaving the sanctuary quickly. Turning back to Hans, she tried to seem professional while using her voice. "Two hours… tops." She decided, adding more time to their stay. Hans rolled his eyes, but wouldn't fight it as they gained another hour. Still, he would make the most of this break as their journey was far from over.