"NO!"
As if those words served as a provocation, another rock troll rolled down a nearby hill. She slowly unfurled herself and grimly stomped towards Grand Pabbie, pointing a thick, rocky finger under his bulbous nose.
"You are NOT using MY son as a pawn!"
"Peace, Hilda." Grand Pabbie held up a hand. "Kristoff won't be hurt by my plans."
"No, I refuse to agree to this." Hilda shook her head. "Grand Pabbie, you're the strongest and most ancient of the rock trolls. I had to stand by and watch as you manipulated the memories of the princesses and implanted vile spells inside them. But THIS is going too far! Not to mention you're playing games with this young man who hasn't done anything to you!"
"It has to be done, Hilda." Grand Pabbie insisted.
"Why?" Hilda demanded.
"Like I said, if he marries Princess Anna, Arendelle and the surrounding areas would be engulfed by war. As cruel as it sounds, this is the only way to keep the peace."
"But you're manipulating this young man's mind and warping his personality!" Hilda exclaimed.
"Everything I do is for the Greater Good." Grand Pabbie insisted.
"No, Grand Pabbie, not this time." Hilda hissed. "I'm sick and tired of you using your so-called 'Greater Good' personality as a blanket that you use to justify your actions. You're going to turn this poor boy into a villain. Why do you fear him so much?"
"This boy isn't the problem, at least, not directly." Grand Pabbie admitted.
"I don't understand." Hilda said flatly.
"His eldest brother is the problem." Grand Pabbie said.
"What are you talking about?" Hilda asked.
"Krig is the Crown Prince of the Southern Isles." Grand Pabbie said. "He has warmongering ambitions and wishes to use Hans' visit as a means of getting information on Arendelle, its vulnerabilities, its martial prowess, its strengths and weaknesses. In other words, he wants all the information he requires for a potential invasion."
"He wants to invade Arendelle?" Hilda was horrified.
"Arendelle is rich in natural resources." Grand Pabbie said. "The Southern Isles are entering the beginning stages of a depression and they are dependent upon exports to keep their economy going. While Hans is nothing more than a pawn in his brother's plan, it doesn't change the fact that he brought many spies, albeit unknowingly, from the ship he used to arrive in Arendelle."
"Then why are you sitting here instead of trying to stop them?" Hilda demanded.
"I already took care of the spies and altered their memories." Grand Pabbie said.
"But you still need to alter this boy's mind and personality?" Hilda said.
"Yes." Grand Pabbie said.
"Why?" Hilda said.
"Krig would use Hans' wedding to Princess Anna as an excuse to invade." Grand Pabbie explained. "He would even go so far as to kill Queen Elsa and his own brother. In Krig's eyes, Hans is nothing but a pathetic weakling. Then Krig would marry Princess Anna to legitimize his rule. Once she provides him with a son and heir, then she would suffer an 'accident'"." Grand Pabbie made air quotes with his fingers.
"Are you sure this is the only way?" Hilda asked.
"Yes." Grand Pabbie said. "Krig will give up his invasion plans and look elsewhere once Hans reveals his 'treachery'. He is smart enough to know that he cannot act as Hans' betrayal would cast a suspicious eye upon the Southern Isles. If he makes any move against Arendelle, the entire country would be up in arms within moments."
"And Kristoff?" Hilda asked.
"He is going to fall in love with Princess Anna." Grand Pabbie told her. "I love that boy as if he were my own son. Trust me Hilda, she would be the best thing that ever happened to him. Eventually, he would be king of Arendelle."
"And what of Queen Elsa?" Hilda asked.
"Her future doesn't remain in Arendelle." Grand Pabbie said cryptically.
Hilda tried to protest one more time, but Grand Pabbie wouldn't be dissuaded from his insane plans for Prince Hans. He placed his hand upon the boy's forehead and implanted more instructions into his mind.
Once he was done, Grand Pabbie stepped back.
He motioned for Hans to stand.
While Hans complied, it was clear he wasn't in his right mind. His movements were stiff, awkward and somewhat jerky as he got to his feet like a marionette entangled in its own strings. His expression, alongside his eyes, were blank as he stared at nothing in particular. His poor horse was in the same state.
Hypnotized and suggestible.
"Prince Hans of the Southern Isles." Grand Pabbie said. "You are going to return to Arendelle. You will forget all about magic and meeting the rock trolls. You will forget that you ever came to this valley. You won't fall in love with Princess Anna. Instead, you are to use her as a means to an end towards becoming King of Arendelle. If there is no other recourse or alternative, you will kill Queen Elsa if she fails to regain control over her powers and remove the future curse from Arendelle. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master." Hans said emotionlessly.
"Good." Grand Pabbie said. "Now return before you are late for the ball."
FLASHBACK ENDS
With a gasp, Hans sat upright.
He was pale, his body shaking even as he automatically wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Hans reached out with a shaking hand towards the glass of water resting on the nightstand. Now he knew why he was getting all of those headaches. His mind was trying to tell him something: he had suppressed memories.
Everything came rushing back.
Hans couldn't believe it.
Feeling like he was going to be sick, Hans barely put down his glass in time as he ran to the privy. Soon, the sounds of retching and vomiting filled the air.
He couldn't get past the shock.
Not only were the trolls real, they manipulated his mind and warped his personality.
While Hans could easily believe his vile brother could come up with those murderous plans for Arendelle, in his mind, this didn't excuse what the trolls did to him.
He didn't know that the ship was full of spies.
Krig would definitely never let him know his plans.
As Grand Pabbie said, his brother felt he was little more than a weakling. Hans could easily remember the contemptuous sneer his brother gave him as Krig gleefully announced his exile once the Spanish ambassador dropped him off at the Southern Isles.
His parents were too disgusted with his actions to tell him in person.
Now, he wondered if it was because he failed to conquer Arendelle.
Life in the Southern Isles wasn't easy. Krig was the spitting image of their father, King Hjerteløs. Both men were ruthless, master manipulators and eager to expand their wealth and power. His wife, Queen Hensynsløs wasn't any better.
Survival of the fittest might as well be the kingdom's unspoken motto.
From the moment of his birth, Hans was nothing but a disappointment to his parents.
To his siblings.
Nothing he did was ever good enough.
If he succeeded at hunting, his parents would sneer and tell him all his brothers did it far better and at a superior speed. Not to mention they would bring home bigger game.
If he won a duel, his parents wouldn't praise him.
Instead, they would mock his prowess with a sword.
Hans wouldn't be surprised if they were privy to Krig's plans. Since he (inadvertently) ruined his brother's schemes, Hans had a feeling he would only have "redeemed" himself if he succeeded in getting rid of the Arendellian princesses and brought the kingdom to heel.
Grand Pabbie used him.
Hans felt a rising swell of guilt and anger.
All he could feel was nausea as he recalled using Anna and telling her that no one loved her as he coldly left her in some room in the palace to freeze to death. All he could do was press a hand to his roiling stomach as he thought about approaching a devastated Elsa from behind with his sword unsheathed.
Ready to kill a defenseless woman so that he could seize Arendelle.
But all he could feel was regret as far as Anna was concerned.
There was, indeed, a mutual attraction when they first met. It could easily have developed into love if the damnable rock trolls didn't intervene.
Now that he thought about it, Hans realized that he subconsciously tried to fight the spell. He remembered feeling a genuine interest as he danced with Anna at the coronation ball. They interacted easily and had a great conversation.
Especially as both knew what it was like to have problems with families.
Eventually, Grand Pabbie's spell was too difficult to resist.
Hans continued to empty the contents of his stomach, until there was nothing left. Feeling wretched, Hans quickly cleaned his teeth and used more soap and water from the bucket.
But he still felt dirty and polluted as he got dressed.
The worst part was, he was stuck here.
Who would believe that rock trolls were responsible for his behavior? His father was a rational man and didn't believe the stories about magic in Arendelle being true.
Hans had no proof that his actions were induced by a cruel, manipulative troll.
All he could do was sit in the corner of his room, hug his knees to his chest and cry.