Chapter Thirty Two

The New Face of Immortality

ANNA

"I still think this is madness," Hansel said freely as he rode alongside Anna in the saddle. "You're out of your mind."

On her other side, Gretel shot her brother a sharp look and he deflated almost instantly.

"Maybe," Anna looked straight ahead, hands on the reins. "But it's our best shot to buy the Coalition more time."

Decidedly more subdued, Hansel shrugged. "It's your funeral."

"Well, hopefully not." Anna's lip quirked upward slightly. "That's what you're both here for."

"Fine with me," Hansel adjusted the barrel of his long rifle. "Just as long as we get paid, right?"

Gretel shook her head and glanced at Anna. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

"It's not like we can turn back now." Anna turned her gaze to the Queen's Guard Frederick had insisted she take with her. Forty soldiers had spent the past day riding with her back the way they'd come to meet Hans in the valley of Turaköl. "The Coalition's counting on us to buy them time. I just need to stall Hans. Beat him at his own game."

From the peripheral of her eye, she saw Gretel exchanging a silent look of bewilderment with Hansel, but she ignored it. She couldn't allow her doubts and fears to creep in and erode her steely resolve. Not now. She had to do this, for the sake of the Coalition. A pang of emptiness sat deep in her stomach, and she felt Kristoff's absence rather acutely.

It'd taken a whole lot of energy and arguing to convince him not to come with her. He'd been indignant and furious when she told him that he couldn't follow her to the rendezvous with Hans, and he'd insisted on being there to support her. However, the truth was the Coalition needed Kristoff more than she needed him, and he knew it. His talent for administration and leadership had brought the Coalition through countless tough spots before, and this time would be no different. Together with Frederick, they would lead the Coalition closer towards the city of Korynes while she bought them all time.

The entourage arrived at a hill overlooking the valley of Turaköl the night before the arranged parley. And right on schedule too. It gave the Witch Hunters enough time to scout out a good vantage point that they could perch from tomorrow morning, and enough time for Anna to go over what she wanted to say to Hans. She knew that going into a psychological battle with Hans unprepared was tantamount to suicide. There was no way she was going to let him get the upper hand in the exchange tomorrow. As such, she began rehearsing every possibility and scenario imaginable.

"Your Majesty," Lieutenant Evans, commander of the Queen's Guard, drew her out of her preoccupation.

Anna looked up from the small fire that she'd been staring into. "What is it?"

The lieutenant cleared his throat respectfully, and held out a bowl of classic army stew. "It isn't my place to advise, but please keep your strength up. It isn't much, but it's all we could make given the circumstances."

"Oh," Without Hayley around to remind her about meals, Anna had completely forgotten about food. She'd been so absorbed in her own mind during the journey that the moment they'd reached their planned campsite, she had dismounted and sat down with her back against a large boulder. She hadn't even realised that the soldiers around her were setting up tents and cooking dinner.

Gratefully, she took the bowl from him. "Thanks, Evans. It means a lot." She forced a smile.

Lieutenant Evans ripped off a perfect salute and excused himself to return to his men who were having dinner not far off. Alas, snow began to fall again and Anna's mood soured as she drank from the bowl. Again? But after a couple of minutes, she realised that it wasn't going to be a snow storm, not like the ones that had been incessantly plaguing them. It was regular snow, which was nothing to be worried about.

Anna's thoughts turned to Elsa as she shifted her gaze out towards the snow-peaked mountains and hills in the far horizon. Was her sister still out there somewhere? Trying to find her way back after escaping from Hans' clutches? She could only hope that Elsa would return to her, because Anna sure as hell didn't know where to start looking. Come back to me, Anna offered up a silent plea as her eyelids grew heavy, and fatigue that she'd been holding at bay rushed in to consume her.

###

The morning came way too quickly. Anna's eyes flew open as someone patted her shoulder, and she sat up jerkily, half expecting that they were already under attack.

Gretel knelt beside her, a faint look of pity in her eyes. "Your Majesty." She offered Anna her hand, and pulled her to her feet.

"Thank you." Looking around her, Anna realised that she had fallen asleep outside her tent, and no one had wanted to wake the exhausted queen. Instead, a thick sheet of fur had been draped over her to protect her from the chill.

Gretel gave a short nod and her hand returned to the bandolier across her chest. "We found a good vantage point down below. A ridge on this very hill."

"We'll have a clean shot too." Hansel added, coming up behind his sister with his long rifle barrel leaning against his shoulder. "With the wind at our backs, our line of sight will be clear and we won't have to compensate too much for our shots. Today's as good a day as any to assassinate an emperor."

"No," Anna immediately fixed him with stern eyes. "Remember the deal. You're not to kill him. If you do, you won't get your money."

Hansel gave her a quizzical, almost childlike look. "Why not?"

"We usually make it our policy not to question our clients, but I'll have to agree with him on this one." Gretel tilted her head slightly. "We have a clean shot at five hundred yards. Our long rifles will make up for the distance. We won't miss."

"We never miss." Hansel emphasised.

"No, it's not that." Anna frowned. "I have no doubt the both of you can. But we shouldn't. We can't afford to kill him. If we do, there'll be no stopping the Imperial Horde. Any chance of brokering a deal with the Exonians will be gone. Kane will come after us with everything he has and he won't stop till every soldier of the Coalition lies dead in the snow." She drew in a deep breath. "As much as I would like to finally be rid of Hans, we can't."

Hansel snorted. "You sure that's not your antiquated sense of morality talking?"

Before Anna could respond, Lieutenant Evans marched up to her and saluted. "Good morning, Your Majesty. The scouts have spotted the emperor and his entourage approaching the valley."

Anna peered over the crest of the hill. Sure enough, she could see from this distance that there was movement down in the valley below.

"The emperor's here." Hansel checked the powder in the pan of his rifle to make sure it was dry. "You really sure you don't want us to shoot on sight?"

"No. You only have permission if he's about to kill me," Anna grimaced. "But hopefully it doesn't come to that."

"Here's hoping, then." Gretel tipped her hat to Anna and set off for the vantage point together with Hansel.

Turning back to Evans, Anna inhaled deeply and squared her shoulders. "Alright. Let's go see what the emperor has to say."

As Anna and her entourage rode towards the valley, her muscles tightened and her stomach flopped about non-stop. It didn't matter that she had the best, most well trained soldiers of the Arendellian army with her. No matter how battle-ready they were, the Queen's Guard wasn't equipped to deal with someone like Hans. No one is.

With one hand, Anna pulled her thick overcoat on tighter and drew herself up as they rounded the bend. There, in the valley, the Exonians waited for them. There was a mixture of the standard soldiers in their muddy red uniforms, and then there were those in white. The Imperial Blitzguard, Hans' private elite unit, much like Anna's own Queen's Guard.

The regular soldiers in red were already dismounted, armed with muskets and bayonets attached, standing in front of the rest of the entourage and forming a compact screen. The Imperial Blitzguard were still mounted, rifles shouldered and waiting. And at the centre of them all, Hans sat on a dark brown stallion, dressed in an Exonian military uniform and a thick white winter coat. His hair was slicked back and he was clean shaven, looking every bit the noble who was ready to parley.

Involuntarily, Anna's jaw clenched at the sight of Hans. From here, she could already see his cunning, wolfish eyes staring right at her. Her stomach flopped again and this time she felt nauseous. Taking a deep breath, she swallowed and quelled the feeling. No. This time, she'd come prepared. Hans would not catch her off guard.

Anna held out a hand to Evans, who barked the order to the Queen's Guard to stop. All the horses were reined up and came to a halt fifty yards away from the Exonians. Her eyes not leaving Hans, she dismounted slowly, careful not to reveal the anxiety that was threatening to consume her.

"Stay here," She told Evans in as firm a voice as she could muster. "No one is to open fire unless I say so."

"Ma'am, I can't allow you to go alone. It's not safe," Evans protested in a whisper. "At the very least, please allow me to accompany you."

"No," Her eyes were still set resolutely on Hans as he gingerly stepped out of the saddle and started walking past his escorts. "I'll handle this myself. That's an order, lieutenant."

Before Evans could say another word, she started walking across the snow covered valley to meet the man in the middle. Her legs wobbled slightly with each step, though she knew not why. Mind racing, heart palpitating, Anna fought to keep her features calm as she approached Hans, who approached alone as well with an easy smile on his face, much like the one he'd shown her before he'd first revealed his true colours.

"Anna," Hans was the first to speak as they came finally face to face. "It's so good to see you again."

"Can't say the feeling's mutual," Anna kept her face straight, standing tall before him. "Let's dispatch with the pleasantries. What do you want?"

"Oh," Hans' face fell. "No small talk then? We did have so much to catch up on."

"Like what? Your grand plan to overthrow the Empress and usurp the throne?" Anna couldn't help the acid in her voice.

"Ah yes, there's that, among so much more. You wouldn't believe the events that've transpired since we last met." Hans smiled cordially. "And what about you? Any fun I've missed?"

"Tell me, is Eleanor really dead?" Anna stared into his cold, soulless eyes which for some reason seemed more terrifying and unsettling than usual. "Or is it all part of another elaborate ruse?"

Hans neglected to give her a straight answer, instead answering with a light chuckle. "So many questions. I understand. You must be thinking: 'how did he pull it all off?'" His calm, good humoured laughter died down. "But on a more serious note, yes, we do have matters to discuss. This is a parley, after all."

"Where's my sister?" Anna's well thought out answers from the night before went out the window and her face twisted in a snarl. "Is she still alive?"

A tiny quirk turned Hans' lips upward. "Oh yes, of course. She's still alive. I'm not done with her yet. I still have big plans for your dear old sister. In fact, I think it's just common courtesy that I inform you," the smile widened. "Once the war is over, I intend to marry her."

Anna's heart leapt into her throat. Her eyes grew wide and her face went pale. She struggled to find the words through her fury and indignation, but failed. "You-"

"Elsa wasn't very keen on the idea, of course," Hans went on. "But don't worry, she'll come round. Eventually, they all fall for my charm."

"No…" Anna trailed off, speechless at the revelation. In all the scenarios she'd planned, never had she expected…this. She stared daggers at him, fists clenched tightly. "And what about the rest of my friends? What did you do with them?"

"You mean your Warriors? The ones who tried to destroy me?" He shook his head. "I'd heard so much about your formidable Warriors. I've even seen them in action. So imagine my disappointment that not one of them posed a challenge." He paused. "Only one came close. The masked man. Elsa's knight in dark leather. Ironically the only one who doesn't have any sorcery of his own came the closest to killing me. I was impressed."

"What happened to them?"

"Frankly, I have no clue." Hans said dismissively with a light wave of the hand. "They retreated before I could finish with them. A wise strategy, if I may say so myself."

Then why aren't they back here? Anna thought in bewilderment, her eyebrows furrowed and eyes narrowed. If the Warriors had escaped, they should've been back with the Coalition by now. Something must have happened to them out there.

"As I was saying," Hans' tone went serious. "We should really get down to business. I don't have all day."

"You got somewhere you need to be?"

"Yes. Being the emperor isn't exactly as glamorous as you might think. We rulers actually have things to do, as I imagine you would know."

"Well then, what do you want? Why did you call for a parley?"

Hans clasped his gloved hands behind his back and began to pace slowly. "My dear Eleanor allowed this war to drag on for far too long. You see, war costs not just blood, but resources and money. I'm afraid the longer we allow this to drag on, the more it'll hurt both sides."

"You should've thought of that before you joined up with Eleanor."

"On the contrary, I intend on rectifying her mistakes." Hans glanced at her, his features poised. "That is why as my first act as emperor, I intend on bringing this war to an end."

"Oh?"

"The longer your precious Coalition runs, the longer this war drags on. Kane sends the Imperial Horde after you, your brilliant Field Marshal manages to fend them off, and the pursuit continues. How long do you think you can keep it up before every soldier under your charge starves or freezes to death? You're just prolonging the inevitable," His lips formed into a hard line. "I'm willing to put our differences aside for the sake of this continent. For the sake of my empire."

Anna narrowed her eyes. This, she'd anticipated. "Go on."

"Ruler to ruler, I'm offering you a chance to end this." Hans continued. "Surrender and lay down your weapons. The Empire will treat every Coalition soldier appropriately under the conventions of civilised war."

"As I expected." Anna scoffed lightly. "You're growing predictable."

"Excuse me?"

"I foresaw that you'd try to pull something like this. And I was right."

"I see. And what's your answer?"

"Simple. Go to hell," Anna puffed out her chest. "You can take your little band and return to the rest of your lackeys. You know me well enough to know I won't surrender."

"You could be saving tens of thousands of lives." Hans frowned as though confused. "You're making a huge mistake."

"No. No, I'm not." Anna squared her shoulders, planting her feet and straightening, exuding more confidence than she actually felt. "The Coalition will never surrender. I won't forfeit the lives of everyone who looked to me to lead them. I don't trust you, Hans. There's no way you're going to keep your word. Who's to stop you from executing us all if we surrender?"

The tightness in Hans' face dissipated. "Fair enough, I suppose."

"We started this campaign to stop the Empire. And if we're going down, we're taking you with us." Anna's voice dropped to a growl. "We will never succumb to the Empire."

"Have it your way," Hans took a menacing step towards her, and she back-pedalled a step. "We will show you no mercy. We will hunt you down like dogs and execute every last Coalition soldier. And you?" He reached out with a gloved hand to grab her arm and she flinched. "I will make sure you die a very slow and painful death."

Two thundering, ear-splitting cracks echoed across the landscape and two lead balls whizzed through the air. Before anyone could react, the two lead balls sunk themselves straight into Hans' heart. Blood spraying, he staggered to a knee, the snow staining a crimson shade.

Anna glanced over her shoulder at the hill she'd come from. Somewhere back there, the Witch Hunters were perched on the ridges with their rifles. They did their jobs.

As she turned her eyes back to the fallen emperor, she heaved an internal sigh of relief. She hadn't wanted it to come down to this. Killing the emperor would ignite a new fire within every Exonian, which meant that they were going to bear down even more ferociously on the Coalition with everything they had. It was going to be a fierce fight, but at least with Hans killed, the Empire had lost its head.

And then right before her very eyes, Hans began to lever himself back to his feet. Her mouth gaped open and her eyes grew very wide. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Blood seeping from the wound where the two lead balls had bored their way into his heart, Hans stood upright and sighed.

"That's going to be hard to wash." he lamented, staring down at his blood stained clothes.

"What the hell?" Anna blurted out in bewilderment. "How…what-"

"Oh," Hans finally looked up at her, his formerly white gloves now a disturbing crimson. "I suppose the secret's out." He gestured at the wound. "Would you like to hazard a guess how?"

"You-you should be dead!" Anna balked, feeling weak at the knees and taking an involuntary step backwards. "But-" she grew pale. "The Eternal King."

"Yes." Hans smiled, walking towards her again.

Immediately, the weapons of every Queen's Guardsman went up, barrels aiming at the emperor. The Exonians did likewise, bringing their rifles and muskets to bear. Within seconds, everyone had weapons trained on their enemies.

Stopping in his tracks, Hans motioned with a finger for his men to lower their weapons. They did so slowly, though the Queen's Guardsmen kept their firearms trained on the emperor. He sighed.

"You might want to tell your men to lower their weapons. It won't do them much good anyway."

Still at a loss for words, Anna slowly signalled to her people to back down. She'd seen him do the impossible. The Witch Hunters' shots had signed his death warrant, yet he had risen from certain death. No one could stand up and shake off two lead balls to the heart. No one except an immortal.

"You're a demon host." She whispered in horror. "You're the Eternal King."

He smiled. "You see, there were always two parts to my plan. And you failed to see both. What's the point of becoming ruler of an empire if I'm just going to succumb to the passage of time and die like any other ruler that's come before me?" He shook his head slowly. "No. I intend on ruling for a very long time. Exon has had kings, queens before, and even an empress, but I am Exon's Last Emperor."

"You sold your soul to the Eternal King."

"And I got immortality in exchange. A small price to pay." He clicked his tongue and spread his hands. "And now, I never have to fear failure ever again. Because if I ever lose, unlikely as it may be, I always have another century to try again. Even if I fail, no prison will ever hold me captive. I will outlive every single person and rise again and again across the ages to come. The world is mine to conquer."

"You're insane." Anna felt her world spinning and she stared at him. "No one has ever conquered the entire world."

"I intend on being the first and last one," He said with an air of confidence that told Anna he meant business. "This continent will fall, like all the others to come. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will stand in my way ever again. No Warriors, no League of Sorcerers, and no Coalition can stop me."

Anna stood her ground, narrowing her eyes. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Then you will probably die bolder than most," Hans paused. "But not today." He turned to return to his horse.

Glaring at his back, Anna was at a complete loss for what to do next. She'd anticipated every possible outcome. But this…this was not possible. She had never expected this. How could she?

"You say I'm growing predictable," Hans glanced over his shoulder. "But I could say the same about you. I knew you would never surrender. All I had to do was goad your men into attacking."

"This was all a ruse?" Anna felt her world crumbling. "Just to show me that you're immortal?"

"Of course. Don't forget that I know how you think. We're old friends, after all. I knew you would agree to the parley only to buy your Coalition time. But it won't matter. Nothing escapes the Imperial Horde. And I will be there to watch you die knowing there's nothing you can do to stop me." He chuckled light heartedly and swung himself back into his saddle like a man who hadn't just taken two wounds to his chest.

"This isn't over." Anna gritted her teeth.

"You're right. It's not," Hans agreed, calling out in a loud voice. "This is so much better. I could crush you right now, but no. I want you to live with the anticipation of being destroyed. To have your hope slowly drained from you like blood from a wound. To have everyone lose their faith in you as they realise the wrath you've brought upon them. To feel so mortal."

"You really think you're immortal?"

"I am immortal." Hans spread his hands. "And I will sculpt the new face of immortality in every history book. Every generation will learn of my name."

Anna felt desperation rising in her. "You're mad."

"Mad or brilliant?" Hans cocked his head curiously. "It's subjective really. Of course, I don't expect you to understand. After all, you're not a genius." With that, he wheeled his mount about grandly and set off in the opposite direction with the rest of his entourage following suit.

Author's Commentary:

Perhaps my favourite character dialogue to write in any of the books I've written thus far is Hans'. He is so cunning, calculating and precise. Always the smartest and most dangerous man in every scene he's in. A man who believes he's fit to be a god. Being in his presence alone brings chills down people's spines. And every word he says is measured, calculated and planned.

Writing Hans has always been the greatest challenge, because it forces me to ask myself: what would a cunning, intelligent madman say or do? How would he scheme and turn the heroes' plans against them? How does he manipulate his enemies and carry out his plans right under their very noses? To hide his real goals in plain sight this whole time?

All of that, and so much more. Not only has writing Hans as the ultimate villain been my greatest challenge, but it's been my greatest fun too. If I'm being honest, ever since Hans made his return in Book 3 when Eleanor rescued him from his prison, his path was more or less set. I knew that his presence in the series was his chance for twisted redemption, to rectify his mistakes and succeed at usurping the throne this time. I knew from the start that I wanted Hans to end up becoming the Warriors' greatest villain. My only problem was how to get him there. Ever since his return, he never needed a character arc (because why do insane men like him need to change?), but he needed a hell of a journey to get to the throne.

And honestly, I'm pretty proud of what I've done with his character. Out of all the villains I've written thus far in this series, his has been the best. Let me know what you think of Hans!