Like Kristoff, Grand Pabbie didn't sleep a wink all night.
He took his sweet time rolling home, so to speak.
By the time he returned to the valley of the trolls, everyone else was fast asleep. Grand Pabbie was grateful as he desperately needed time to think.
He headed to his favorite spot underneath a nearby oak tree.
Then he sat down and stared off into the distance without really focusing in anything in particular. The night was peaceful. The stars glittered like diamonds in the sky. There was a full moon illuminating the entire area. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky.
But Grand Pabbie was too preoccupied to notice the beauty of nature.
For the first time in his life, he was questioning his decisions.
Grand Pabbie wasn't delusional enough to think he was omnipotent or omniscient. But given his age and his powers, he liked to think that he knew better than most beings.
Humans, trolls or otherwise.
There was a great burden in seeing the past, present and future.
Despite what Elsa and Anna thought, Arendelle had a really dark history. King Runeard and his own ruthless father, Stoiske, were cut from the same cloth as Hans' family.
In other words, both were warmongering, powerhungry idiots.
Grand Pabbie lost count of how many times they tried to conquer the various Northuldran tribes and the Enchanted Forest. Both of them feared magic and like most humans, they tried to destroy what they feared and couldn't understand.
Of course, Runeard's reasons were more complicated and personal.
The same could be said of his father.
But in the end, when it was all said and done, father and son wanted to turn Arendelle from a tiny kingdom into a vast empire. They wouldn't have stopped with the Enchanted Forest if they were allowed to succeed with their vile plans.
Grand Pabbie felt such high hopes for Agnarr and Iduna.
Unfortunately, they failed to fulfill, much less live up to, his expectations.
Now, in their defense, with the mists surrounding the Enchanted Forest, it would have been impossible to make peace with the Northuldran tribes trapped inside. Elsa wasn't fully grown and she was struggling to control her powers.
She wasn't ready to become the Fifth Spirit.
Still, Agnarr and Iduna failed.
Both were too preoccupied with (futilely) helping Elsa control her growing powers. She became the center of their universe while everything else fell by the wayside. They did the best they could. But to Grand Pabbie, they didn't do nearly enough for Arendelle.
It was a vicious cycle.
Either they had ruthless rulers, or they were weak and ineffectual.
That wasn't the worst part for Grand Pabbie. In their zeal to protect their children, to keep them isolated, Agnarr and Iduna would shelter them from the truth.
To this day, the sisters didn't know about Arendelle's bloody history.
Grand Pabbie knew in this day and age, it was unbecoming for a woman to fight.
But Agnarr didn't have any sons, nephews, uncles or male cousins of his own for the line of succession. Elsa and Anna were all he had. It was all well and good to raise them to be demure and ladylike.
But Elsa was going to be queen someday, albeit briefly.
Anna herself would eventually be crowned.
Neither female was prepared for war. It was why Grand Pabbie had to intervene so many times over the years. Agnarr and Iduna had no idea how many times Arendelle came to war because of their decision to keep themselves quarantined in their palace.
Elsa and Anna had no idea how to fight.
Much less lead armies or come up with strategic tactics to fend off their enemies.
Grand Pabbie had seen how much damage Arendelle's past rulers could do. So many people suffered to appease their ruthless ambitions. So many trees were cut down to make weapons or cleared away so that military bases could be constructed.
The lands were bathed in blood.
Watered by corpses of innocents and fallen soldiers.
It was why he was so determined to keep Elsa and Anna under control. He didn't want them following the path of their colder ancestors. Grand Pabbie could witness possible futures. It was entirely possible that Elsa and Anna could have turned into their ancestors.
He also feared what damage Elsa could do the world with her powers.
So, he obtained the "ends justify the means" philosophy.
It was why he turned Hans into a sleeper agent. If Elsa failed to unfreeze Arendelle, Hans would know what to do. But if Elsa succeeded, there was nothing that would point any blame towards the trolls. It was why Hans made for such a convenient scapegoat.
Grand Pabbie also took advantage of the events he witnessed.
Like he told Asger many years before, he knew that Kristoff would eventually be king.
It wasn't just a matter of keeping his surrogate son happy. Grand Pabbie had no wish for Arendelle to return to war and conflict. Kristoff was at a very young, impressionable age when Hilda agreed to take him in.
Grand Pabbie didn't believe he was necessarily brainwashing the boy.
It was more like he was encouraging Kristoff to believe in his ideals, his visions.
Kristoff was raised to believe that war and bloodshed were wrong. He would respect nature and seek to find more diplomatic answers to potential conflicts. He would also realize that the trolls were to be trusted absolutely and without question.
Grand Pabbie would eventually become a trusted advisor to the royal couple.
He truly believed he could lead Arendelle to a brighter future.
Anna and Kristoff were destined to have many children. If he could influence their children and their descendants, he could lead Arendelle to peace and plenty. He would make sure to become a trusted friend to the couple's firstborn son.
It seemed like everything was going according to plan.
Elsa was able to control her powers and lift the curse.
Three years later, she became the Fifth Spirit, abdicated the throne and agreed to live in the Enchanted Forest. Anna ascended as the Queen of Arendelle in her place.
She agreed to Kristoff's marriage proposal.
To Grand Pabbie, this confirmed that he was doing the right thing all along.
Grand Pabbie was feeling smug and chuffed. He was completely confident that everything was going according to plan. Especially since Kristoff couldn't stop rhapsodizing about Anna and their marriage plans during his weekly visits.
Then, as she was wont to do, Anna threw a spanner into the works.
"Once again, I feel this mighty urge to hurt you." Anna hissed. "You are so focused on the so-called Greater Good, you can't see the forest for the trees. You have no idea how much your plan made us all suffer. It was only when it was time for the curse of the Enchanted Forest to be lifted that you realized that Elsa's powers were needed."
It was the first time in a long while that Grand Pabbie began to feel guilt.
Anna was right, he realized.
Grand Pabbie was so focused on achieving peace for Arendelle, he forgot the damage he was doing in his zeal to prevent a potentially tragic future. Due to his machinations, his Machiavellian approach to things, Elsa and Anna grew up alone and isolated in the palace. Elsa feared herself and her powers as she was kept locked in her chambers. Anna was ignored and neglected by her parents. She was also unaware of why the palace was in lockdown, why Elsa kept on telling her to go away.
Hans was altered and brainwashed into becoming his puppet.
As a result, he would spend the rest of his life in exile.
Grand Pabbie regretted his actions for another reason. Sooner or later, Kristoff would head over to the valley to confront him. No doubt he was going to feel used.
Eventually, he would learn about Grand Pabbie's plans for him.
Don't get him wrong, Grand Pabbie loved the boy like a son.
But that didn't change the fact that Kristoff became another means to an end for the ancient troll elder and leader. Elsa was viewed as an obstacle alongside Hans. So, he used every spell he could think of to make sure that Kristoff and Anna became king and queen.
FLASHBACK
"How do you know that your charge will become king?" Asger said once they were alone.
"I have foreseen it." Grand Pabbie said. "It's why I agreed to take him in when he was just a child. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered."
"I don't understand." Asger said.
"You know about my powers." Grand Pabbie said. "One such ability is the power to sense when someone important is born. Though he was born a commoner, I knew that Kristoff would be important for Arendelle in the future."
"That's why you let Hilda adopt him." Asger realized.
"And why I did nothing to intervene when his parents were murdered." Grand Pabbie said.
"Wait a minute. You could have saved them?" Asger said.
"Yes." Grand Pabbie said. "But it would have altered the future too much to risk it."
"You better hope Kristoff never learns the truth." Asger said.
"He won't do anything." Grand Pabbie said confidently.
"What makes you so sure?" Asger said.
"Kristoff has been under our care for years." Grand Pabbie said. "While I don't wish to brainwash him, being able to influence the future king of Arendelle is always a plus."
"You wish to use him?" Asger was horrified.
"No, to advise him carefully about what he is meant to do." Grand Pabbie corrected.
"I don't understand." Asger admitted.
"We both know about Arendelle's bloody history." Grand Pabbie said.
"Yes." Asger nodded.
"For so long, this land has been wracked with death and destruction." Grand Pabbie said grimly. "So much pain, bloodshed and death. Another approach is needed, Asger. Kristoff grew up amongst the trolls. He trusts me completely. He would look to me as a trusted advisor after he marries Princess Anna and becomes king."
"I see." Asger realized. "You would guide Arendelle into a better future."
"Kristoff knows that peace and diplomacy is the way to rule." Grand Pabbie nodded.
"And you would be able to advise their son when he becomes king." Asger said.
"Precisely." Grand Pabbie said.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Grand Pabbie winced.
He knew he was starting to see Elsa, Anna and Kristoff as mere chess pawns.
To justify his visions for the Greater Good, Grand Pabbie would ignore and suppress the slightest hint of guilt. He knew that he should have intervened when Kristoff's human parents were about to be murdered. But Kristoff had to become to them at the right age.
If his parents were allowed to raise him, he wouldn't trust the trolls.
Wouldn't see them as proper advisors who knew better than anyone.
As Anna stated before, Grand Pabbie believed that he had to achieve his plans by any means necessary. Morals and consciences became nuisances in his eyes.
A distant memory.
Abstract concepts that should be shrugged off and ignored.
But in his zeal to influence the future king, he forgot that losing his parents would hurt his charge immensely. In his zeal to control Elsa and Anna, he forgot they would be raised under a cloud of fear, pain and confusion.
That Elsa would be stuck in her room.
That Anna's only friends would be books and portraits.
The damage to their sisterly bond was immense. Anna spent the bulk of her life supporting Elsa and putting others before herself. She didn't know how to express her emotions properly and she was dealing with sixteen years of suppressed anger, bitterness and resentment. Elsa grew up fearing her powers, wanting to be normal and trying to find her place in the world.
She was clearly traumatized after she hurt her sister.
Grand Pabbie only made things worse.
FLASHBACK
For a while, Anna didn't speak again.
"Tell me Grand Pabbie, you warned Elsa that fear would be her biggest enemy, correct?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Grand Pabbie said.
"Then let me ask you this." Anna said. "You knew that Elsa was only eight years old. She was traumatized from hurting me. You said that she shouldn't let her fear overwhelm her. But then why did you scare her with images of the future, showing that a crowd would attack her? Since when is it smart to frighten a traumatized child even more with those images."
"She had to be warned-"
"No, I think there's more to this than you're letting on." Anna cut in.
"My queen?"
"Before we left for the Enchanted Forest, I remember what you told me."
"So do I."
"Anna, I'm worried for her." Anna recited. "We have always feared that Elsa's powers were too much for this world. Now, we must pray they are enough."
"I remember." Grand Pabbie said.
"You also just admitted that you didn't need to remove my memories of her." Anna said. "You took five years away from our lives. You also put the fear of God into an eight year old child. She grew up alone and isolated in her chambers, scared of herself, of what she could do, of what she might to do to others. I grew up alone with no one able or willing to spend time with me. Mother and Father ignored me, Elsa kept pushing me away and we were all locked up in that palace like we were under quarantine. Did you plan this?"
"My queen?" Grand Pabbie said.
"You told me you feared her powers." Anna said. "You also did nothing to interfere when Father locked the gates and separated me from Elsa. Was this part of your plan?"
"Yes." Grand Pabbie admitted.
"Explain." Anna commanded.
"Your Majesty, you must understand." Grand Pabbie said. "There is always grave danger when a person is either born or cursed with powers. We knew that her powers would only grow. We feared the danger, the damage she might do to the world. So, we sought to limit her influence. We knew that your parents would keep her hidden in her chambers in a bid to help her control her powers. As long as she was locked in the palace, she wasn't a danger."
"Is that why you never told her the key to controlling her powers?" Anna said.
"Yes." Grand Pabbie said after a lengthy silence.
FLASHBACK ENDS
As if that weren't bad enough, he sent an assassin after her if her powers proved to be too much for the world. Hans was a good man, but the rest of the world didn't know that.
Officially, he was a traitorous prince who tried to steal another kingdom.
And commit regicide in the process.
After all, who would believe that a troll was responsible for changing your personality and forcing you to do things you normally wouldn't?
FLASHBACK
Once the ceremony was over, he decided to explore the area.
He made a mental note to return in time for the ball.
According to the stories, this was a mystical area and that ancient creatures were supposed to exist. Creatures that only existed in myth and legend.
The town was surrounded by a vast forest.
Curious, he looked around with his horse in tow.
He stopped, his brow furrowing. Was that a rock rolling forward...deliberately? As if it were operating under its own steam? Confused, he decided to follow the rock.
Eventually, he reached a valley.
A valley full of rocks of varying size.
Instinctively, he crouched behind a nearby tree. He had a feeling he couldn't afford to be spotted. His suspicions were confirmed when two of the boulders unfurled themselves.
Trolls, he thought.
The stories were true!
"Grand Pabbie, you know what's about to happen." One of them said.
"Yes, Asger. The queen's powers are going to be revealed."
"I thought your spells would prevent that from happening."
"Unfortunately, the guards intervened before I could reapply the spells."
"But that means her powers would be unleashed upon the world!"
"Not if the fear I implanted inside her kicks in."
"What do you mean?"
"The moment her powers are revealed, she would flee and seek to isolate herself."
"What of her sister?"
"If the aversion wards still hold, she won't go after the queen."
"Grand Pabbie, we are not alone."
"I know."
Stiffening, he turned and tried to run.
The key word being tried.
Unfortunately, many rock trolls unfurled themselves and attacked him at the same time.
The next thing he knew, he was lying on the ground against his will. Many rock trolls were holding him down by the hands and feet.
The troll known as Grand Pabbie looked grim as he slowly approached.
"I'm sorry I have to do this, but it is for the Greater Good."
He struggled, but the trolls wouldn't allow him any purchase to move. All he could do was watch helplessly as Grand Pabbie placed a hand on his forehead and rendered him unconscious.
He felt like the scene should have gone black after that.
Somehow, he could still see what was happening.
"There." Grand Pabbie said a few minutes later. "It is done."
"He won't remember anything?" Asger asked.
"Yes." Grand Pabbie nodded. "In fact, he will tie into our plans perfectly."
"What do you mean?" Asger asked.
"If something goes wrong, nothing would be tied to us." Grand Pabbie said.
"You mean to make him a scapegoat." Asger realized.
"It has to be done." Grand Pabbie said grimly. "If the queen is beyond any type of salvation, he would be necessary towards doing what should be done to save the world."
"You mean..." Asger's voice trailed off.
"If need be, he'll kill the queen." Grand Pabbie said.
"And if it isn't necessary?" Asger asked.
"He'll still try and take over Arendelle." Grand Pabbie said.
"Why are you so eager to get rid of him?" Asger asked.
"I've seen the future." Grand Pabbie said grimly. "He genuinely cares for Princess Anna and it would eventually grow into love. But I see nothing but doom and disaster if he becomes the king. Besides, it would interfere with my plans for Kristoff."
"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.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Grand Pabbie felt a momentary twinge of anger and resentment.
He really underestimated the magicks that governed Ahtohallan.
All of his dirty little secrets were being revealed. His burst of anger came and went as guilt filled the void. His plans were unraveling, but he couldn't bring himself to care.
All he could see was the damage he'd done.
Grand Pabbie was too lost in thought to realize something was wrong.
Not only was it a little too quiet, the other rock trolls weren't asleep. They had been, until just a few minutes ago.
Grand Pabbie was caught off guard by a giant burst of ice magic.
Before he could defend himself, he was engulfed in a large block of ice.
It covered him from his neck downwards. Gale lifted the block of ice to forcibly turn Grand Pabbie around. His eyes widened in disbelief. The other rock trolls were frozen solid, their equally frozen features betraying their sudden shock, alarm and fear.
Elsa stood only a few feet away.
For once, she was betraying her anger as she glared at the troll elder.
"Hello, Grand Pabbie." She hissed. "We need to have a little chat..."