Chapter ten: Confrontation
"Father!"
Elsa walked into her father's office, the room where he was most of the time.
Agdar looked up. He was sitting behind his desk, looking through a few documents. When he saw Elsa and Jack walking into the room he stood up.
"Elsa, what is it? I'm busy right now..."
Elsa stopped in front of his desk with a frown. "Father, it is about Hans..."
Agdar groaned in annoyance and stood up. "What did he do?"
Elsa swallowed nervously. "Nothing...but...he has been acting stranger than usual ever since you defeated him in combat."
"Oh? He is still bitter about that?" Agdar chuckled. "It was just a little fun I had, nothing more."
Jack scratched his head and whispered; "He was ready to dethrone you, you know..."
"No, but I think.." Elsa put her hands against her chest. "He is going to do something...I don't know...I...just be on your guard, dad."
Agdar smiled at her. "I'll be fine, Elsa. I never go out without my sword. But thank you for worrying about me."
Elsa lit up. Her father almost never said 'thanks' to her. Jack saw her lit up and chuckled a little.
"Now, how about you study and we have some lunch together this day?" Agdar asked.
Elsa nodded. "Yes, sir!"
She made a small bow and then left the room together with Jack behind her. When she closed the door Agdar sighed and buried his head between his hands.
Why did he suddenly started to love her?
A few days went by and on one day Hannah was at the whorehouse, cleaning up after a busy night.
It was quiet, but Hannah couldn't concentrate. She kept thinking about the night of the ball.
The night were she met her father, a man who wanted nothing to do with her...even though her sister wanted to...
She sighed and slammed with her hands onto a table. Gerda glanced at her, but was quickly distracted when Kristoff tapped her on her shoulder and asked her something.
Hannah sighed again. Why did her father even tried to get rid of Elsa? She was pretty and a good image for the kingdom...and why was she always wearing gloves? Hannah groaned. It all didn't make any sense to her...
But why did Elsa and Jack came out of the dressing room.
Hannah clenched her hands until her knuckles turned white. Who was she kidding? Of course she knew...she was such an idiot!
"Hannah?"
Kristoff suddenly appeared next to her and Hannah jumped up.
"Ah, Kristopher! You surprised me!" Hannah yelled out.
Kristoff chuckled. "Sorry, sorry...but I have a surprise for you!"
He pulled a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. Hannah gasped and blushed. She immediately felt a bit better.
"Kristoff...what..."
"Just a small present for my own princess. So, here ya go!"
Kristoff grinned from ear to ear. Hannah took the bouquet from his hands and smelled the flowers. It were beautiful red flowers.
"I bought them with the money I made last week by working for Gerda."
"Well, thank you...you always know how to make me feel better." Hannah giggled. "Really, thank you..."
"No problem...but, Hannah?"
"Yeah?"
Kristoff blushed. "I...uh...I think that..."
"Hm?"
"Well..how...about we...we go out tonight?"
"Who? us?"
"Y-yeah, together...unless, you don't want to!" Kristoff put his hands up with nervousness in his voice. "I mean, I know you like Jack and I..."
"Then, you want to go on a date?"
"A date?! No...way...we can just go as friends. Let's go for a drink, so that you can forget about those problems for a bit."
"I don't have any problems."
"Yeah, right...come on. Let's go."
Kristoff grabbed Hannah's hand with a big smile and Hannah cracked a smile back.
"Elsa, there is someone at the window."
The young Anna looked at little Elsa with a frightened look while she sat right up in her bed. The small girl put on a candle on looked frightened at her big sister.
"Elsa..."
Elsa sat up too and yawned. "Anna, there is no one. It's probably a bird."
"A bird?"
"Yeah...a bird..." Elsa yawned again.
Anna jumped out of bed with a scared look. She walked over the floor to her sister's bed and laid down beside her.
"Lemme sleep with you."
"Okay, but don't pee in bed or slap me in my face like last time, understand?!"
"Alright..."
"And it was just a bird. Nothing else...now, go to sleep. Or papa will get mad."
"Papa is always mad...is it because you make snow?"
"Probably. But don't worry. He won't be mad for long. Now go to sleep.." Elsa laid down again. "There is no one at the window, it would take them too much time to climb up..."
All of a sudden the window doors slammed open.
The girls both sat up and looked with big eyes at the silhouette of a man who slowly walked into the light.
"Who..." Anna grabbed Elsa's arm with fright.
"So..." The man spoke with a deep and gravelly voice. He had black, messy hair and wore cheap clothing with a cape. "You two are the princesses...well, I need to take the one named Elsa."
Elsa saw how the man walked up to them. She had to protect Anna!
The girl quickly shot an iceboat towards his feet. The man took a step back out of surprise. Elsa took this moment and jumped with Anna from the bed and ran with her sister towards the door.
"Hold on, princess!"
The man threw a knife into the wall close to the door.
Elsa and Anna both stopped and gasped.
"I don't want to hurt you two girls...I just want to take one of you with me."
Elsa jumped in front of her sister. "Anna, stay back...I will fight him off with my ice powers!"
"Elsa...no..."
Elsa put her hands forward and fired a few ice shards towards them. The man grinned and pulled his sword. With his sword he hacked the flying shards through half.
Elsa stomped onto the ground and a little bit of the floor got covered by some ice.
"Do ya think any of that works?!" The stranger walked towards her. "I think I'll take you, little brat..."
Elsa swallowed. What did she need to do? That man was very big and she couldn't...
"Stay away from my sister!"
Anna ran up to the man and kicked him against his leg with all her might.
"Anna, no!" Elsa yelled.
It did nothing and the man pulled Anna up by her arm. Elsa gasped and ran forward to grab her sister's hand.
"Let her go!" Elsa reached her hand towards her sister. Everything went in slowmotion. She saw Anna's desperate eyes and her little hand reaching back. If it were just a few more centimeters she would have been able to grab her, but...
"She's mine!"
The man disappeared through the window with Anna in his arms. Elsa stumbled and fell hard on her knees.
"Anna!", she screamed out of despair.
There was no sound back. No yell, nothing...Anna was gone...Elsa stood up and wrapped her arms around herself. She suddenly felt how could the wind coming from the open window was...
"Elsa!"
Her mother suddenly ran into the room. She kneeled by her daughter with a worried look and grabbed her shoulders. She immediately pulled her into a hug. "Elsa, what happened?!"
"A...a...strange man came into our room..." Elsa explained it all through her sobs. "He grabbed Anna and I tried to stop him, but he was strong..he...he took Anna away through the window..."
"What?!" Her father yelled throughout the room.
"I'm sorry..." Elsa rubbed in her eyes. "Mommy, daddy...I..."
Suddenly she was somewhere completely else.
A room which was covered with ice. Elsa turned around and noticed her reflection in a mirror in the middle of the cold room. She walked up to it and saw that she was now 18 years older.
"W-what...?" Elsa touched the mirror. Her reflection blurred and changed. It slowly changed into her own mother. Elsa gasped and pulled her hand back.
"All your fault..." Idun tilted her head with a smile. "Why hadn't you been taken instead of my Anna?"
"Mom..." Elsa started to cry again. "I never meant for everything to happen...I'm sorry..."
"Anna is gone, I'm dead...how much do you need to destroy, Elsa..."
"Mom..."
"How much?!"
The mirror suddenly shattered as her mother screamed. Elsa covered her ears out of fright.
When the mirror was gone Elsa pulled her hands away from her ears. She stared at the glass which was laying at her feet.
"Elsa!"
She shrieked and turned around. Her father was suddenly behind her. He violently grabbed her arm and raised his hand.
"Your mother is dead because you shattered the mirror! Now you are going to get it!"
"Father, no!" Elsa pleaded. His grip was too strong and she couldn't get herself free.
"Father?"
Elsa stop struggling when she heard his voice change. It wasn't her father who held her arm, but it was Hans!
He had a strange look in his eyes, one she did not recognize.
"I'm your husband! And don't even think of Jack anymore! That jerk got what he deserved!"
"Hans..." Elsa cried. "What are you saying..."
"Look around you, sweetheart!"
Elsa looked around and gasped. Thousands of bodies were on the ground. And the closest bodies she saw were from her mother, father, Hannah and Jack...
"No..."
Hans laughed evilly. "You dug their graves, Elsa! And it's all your fault!"
"NO! MOM, DAD, HANNAH, JACK!"
"AAAAAH!"
Elsa jolted up from her nightmare. She looked around with big eyes. Sweat was covering her forehead and her breathing was ragged.
Her whole body was trembling. The thoughts of their bodies flashed through her mind and she put her hands in front of her mouth to muffle her panting.
Was Hans really that dangerous? What if he really would hurt her friends and family? He wouldn't right? Because if he would, then...she couldn't do anything against it...
"Princess Elsa!"
The door slammed open and Jack ran into the room. He sat down next to her on the bed and put his hands on her shoulders while looking her into her blue eyes. He noticed that she was very shocked and that her body was trembling.
"Princess Elsa, are you alright? I heard you scream and I..."
"Jack!"
Elsa suddenly put her arms around his torso and laid her head against his chest. She hugged him tightly.
"You're alive!"
Jack became red and his heart skipped a beat.
"P-princess E-Elsa...what..."
"You were dead..." Elsa let out a trembling sigh. "Everyone...mother, father, Hannah, Gerda...you...the whole town...everyone was dead."
Jack suddenly understood the situation. He put his hand on her head and petted her gently.
"Princess, did you have a nightmare?"
Elsa nodded silently.
"I see...then, it wasn't real, right?"
Elsa pulled away from his chest and looked at him with a teary look in her eyes. "But what if it becomes real?"
"It won't...I won't die easily like that..."
"Oh..." Elsa took a deep breath and calmed down. He was right...it was just a nightmare...
"Do I need to grab a glass of water for you, princess?"
Elsa put her hands against her chest. "No...just...stay here until I fall asleep..."
Jack nodded. "I understand..."
Elsa laid down while Jack stayed seated on the bed. He looked down at her with a smile on his face.
Elsa sighed. "Jack...the weirdest thing about my dream was...that Hans was the only one who was alive."
"What do you mean?" Jack asked curiously.
"He was holding my arm and laughing...he told me that I shouldn't think of you anymore and that everything was my fault...Jack, do you think he knows about what we did?"
"No. If he did...then something would already have happened."
"Now, what do you mean?" Elsa asked, also out of curiosity.
"Well..." Jack rubbed his neck. "I know that you two are married and everything, but I also know that Hans wants power. If he had any type of information like that, then he would surely use that for his own good."
Elsa yawned. "Yes...still...you never know with him."
"Hm." Jack yawned too. A long silence followed after he yawned. Jack could hear Elsa's breathing getting calmer by the minute. He thought that she was asleep until she suddenly spoke up again.
"Jack?"
"What is it, princess Elsa?"
"I think I want to avoid everyone's death. If I become queen, then I am going to protect everyone. I promise you."
Jack chuckled. "I know, princess. I'll hold you by your promise. Now, go to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day."
Elsa nodded and dozed off to sleep. And when she fell asleep Jack slowly stood up and left the room.
"AAAAH!"
Hannah jolted up in bed.
She put her hand against her chest to calm her breathing. It was just a nightmare...
Hannah had a nightmare about her past. She dreamed that a young girl tried to protect her when she was just a little girl, but a dangerous man was able to get her and...
She suddenly heard a loud snore next to her. Hannah turned her head and gasped.
Kristoff was laying next to her. He was shirtless and snoring loudly. His hair was a mess and she could see some hair on his chest.
"Kristopher?" Hannah poked him against his cheek. The man didn't wake up. She groaned out of frustration raised her hand up. If he didn't wake up from a small poke, then she had to use her full force.
She clenched her fist and punched with her fist onto his chest.
"Argh!" Kristoff's eyes flew open. His sat up and coughed loudly while holding his hand against his chest.
"You are a heavy, sleeper, Kristoff." Hannah pulled the covers from her body and stepped out of bed. She combed with her hand through her messy hair and walked up to her dresser. "Get dressed, we have a busy day..."
"Hannah..." Kristoff coughing and blushed nervously. "About...about last night..."
"Forget about it."
"Huh?"
Hannah pulled a brown dress from her closet. She walked to another closet and laid the dress over it. She grabbed a comb and a small mirror. She slowly started to fix her hair.
"Hannah..." Kristoff coughed again. "Can I ask...why?"
"Because we are friends. And friends don't do the things we did last night."
"Let me guess, you would rather do them with Jack?"
Hannah stopped fixing her hair. She glanced over her shoulder at the man and sighed. "No."
"What?"
"He is in love with the princess...and I wouldn't want to do it with someone who won't go 100 percent for me."
"But I..."
"And, I have a lot of things I need to do." Hannah groaned.
Kristoff jumped out of the bed. "Hannah!"
Hannah turned around to face him. "What?"
"I like you!"
Hannah felt her heart skip a beat and became red. She slowly turned around and asked; "Are you sure?"
Kristoff nodded with a red head as well.
"T-then..." Hannah swallowed nervously. "This night...it meant something to you?"
Kristoff nodded again. Hannah her eyes widened and she grabbed her dress to hide her body when she realized they were both naked.
"Kristoff! Why are you staring at me!" Hannah looked away with a blush. "Don't you have any decency?"
Kristoff rolled with his eyes. "Says the prostitute..."
"Hey!" Hannah pointed towards him. "I wasn't the one who made the first move last night!"
"Yes, but you did kiss me back!"
"I didn't!"
"Yes, you did!"
"No, I-"
"Do you even feel the same?!"
Hannah stopped talking and stared at Kristoff with big eyes. Did she feel the same? I mean, she always liked Kristoff, he was cool to hang around...but being more than friends? To be honest, she never tried to look deeper in their relationship...she just liked him as he was, but romantically?
"I...uh..." Hannah stuttered. Her heart was beating rapidly.
"Oh, right, you only like Jack!" Kristoff pulled his pants on. "I'm so sorry for not being someone like him!"
"Kristoff, I didn't..."
"Just stop." Kristoff pulled his blouse on and walked towards the door. "I'm going to work. See ya later..."
Kristoff left and Hannah felt very awkward. She clutched her dress closer to her chest and looked at the ground.
She just ruined her relationship with Kristoff and it strangely made her heart very hurt and confused.
Later that day Elsa was sitting in the library of the castle. Jack was sitting next to her.
It was very quiet and they both didn't speak a word. Jack was flipping through the pages, but a lot of thoughts were running through his mind.
Elsa was also flipping through a few pages. She was thinking a lot too, but not about their latest rendezvous.
"Jack..." Elsa put her book down and looked at him. "I think...I need to...visit the town."
"Why?" Jack closed his book. He sighed. "It will be a lot of trouble to go through..."
"I want to see Hannah...no, I need to see Anna."
"Princess Elsa, Hannah has already made her decision to stay away from you and your father...I know that it's not my place, but I don't think that Hannah would like to see you..."
Elsa nodded. "I know...but...I need to ask her something in person. Something very important."
"Does it need to be in person?" Jack asked. "What if I take a message?"
"No, thank you. I really need to ask her myself."
"Then, what if I bring her to the castle?"
Elsa raised her eyebrows. "Is that even allowed?"
Jack smirked a little. "Probably. But there are so many people in this castle. And if she is with me, then people surely won't ask questions...I hope. At least it's safer then when you sneak out of the castle!"
Elsa gave Jack a playful slap on his arm.
"I do not sneak out!"
"Yes, you do!"
"No, I don't! Last time I went out...okay, not with permission, but I wasn't alone! And...it isn't as dangerous as I thought!"
Jack chuckled and moved a bit closer. "Well, it seems like you are caught in a web of lies, princess."
Elsa gave him a small push. "Just go and get Hannah. That's an order."
Jack stood up and made a small bow.
"Yes, princess Elsa."
Later Jack went out into town. While he was gone Thiana was looking after the princess.
Jack walked through the town into the whore house. He immediately asked Gerda, who was busy cleaning the bar, where Hannah was.
"Hannah?" Gerda scratched her head. "I think she is doing some grocery shopping. But she should be back soon."
"Then, I'll wait here for a bit." Jack grabbed a chair and sat down at a table.
Gerda cleaned a few glasses. She put them down into a cabinet and then turned her attention back towards Jack.
"Why are you looking for Hannah? Is something wrong?"
Jack leaned in his chair. He shook his head. "No, but the princess wants to have a little word with Hannah. And bringing the princess out here is too much trouble nowadays. Her father won't allow it. So, I'll take Hannah to the castle and then bring her back here."
"Oh...alright." Gerda went back to cleaning more of the glasses.
Jack leaned on his elbow and made small circles with his fingers on the table. He was wondering what the princess wanted from his friend. Hopefully she wouldn't make the situation any worse...
"Hey Jack!" Kristoff suddenly stood next to him. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for Hannah."
Kristoff narrowed his eyes. "Right, Hannah...she should be back soon."
Kristoff turned his back on him, but Jack grabbed his sleeve. He noticed how distressed Kristoff looked.
"Kristoff, are you alright?" Jack asked with worry. "You seem a bit..."
"Stressed?" Kristoff yanked his arm back. "I'm fine. Especially now that I know that the girl I like doesn't feel the same about me."
"The girl you like...wait..."
"But of course she loves you...I...never mind. I need to get back to work." Kristoff quickly walked away from Jack, up the stairs.
Jack stared with wide eyes at the ground. Did Kristoff really feel that way about Hannah? Why didn't he tell...wait, they weren't even friends...of course he wouldn't tell...and now he hated him because Hannah apparently liked him.
Jack put his hand against his forehead. How long did Hannah feel that way about him? Years, months?
The main door opened and Hannah walked into the room with a heavy bag slung over her shoulder. She groaned and put the bag down on one of the tables.
"Gerda, I bought the groceries..."
Hannah stopped mid-sentence when she saw Jack. Her eyes went wide.
"Jack?" Hannah took a step forward. "What are you doing here?"
Jack stood up and straightened his back. "Princess Elsa wants to speak with you."
"So? If she wants to speak, then she can just come here, right?" Hannah put her hands against her chest.
"You know that she can't leave the castle...please, I'm begging you, come with me just this once and listen to what she has to say. Maybe it's important."
"Fine. But I can't promise to be nice to the princess."
And so Jack brought Hannah to the castle.
No one was suspicious of Hannah, the maids thought she was a visitor or something and the guards thought that she was a new maid.
The princess was waiting in her own room. She was staring out of the big window and turned around when Jack and Hannah walked in.
"Princess Elsa, I have brought Hannah." Jack said and made a small bow.
Elsa made a small nod. "Good...how about you wait outside the door? Otherwise my father might disturb us."
"Understood...oh and if I may ask, where is Thiana?"
Elsa lowered her eyebrows. "The sorcerers is back in her lair. She told me that she wanted to do some experiments and that I was a grown woman who didn't need a 'watchdog'."
"Typical." Jack shook his head. "Well, then, if you excuse me."
He made another bow and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
Now the two girl were left alone. There was a long and uncomfortable silence until Elsa pointed to a chair with a small smile and spoke up.
"Would you like to sit down?"
"No. I'm fine." Hannah said shortly. She walked up to a desk and touched the wood with her fingers. There was no dust on it and the wood wasn't old. She turned around and walked to the other side of the room to a bookshelf. There were a few old books which were perfectly ordered. She wondered if they had a big library in this castle...
"Do you want to read a book?" Elsa asked.
"N-no..." Hannah turned around to face her. Everything here seemed so expensive and pretty...was this really how royals lived?
"Then why did you..."
"Princess Elsa, why did you call me here?"
Elsa stopped smiling. "Because I had to talk with you. Hannah, Anna...you like Jack, am I correct?"
Hannah became red and looked away with a pout. "So, what if I did?"
"Then, maybe I can make sure that..."
"I don't like him anymore." Hannah turned her head back towards Elsa.
"Excuse me?" Elsa asked a bit confused.
"I don't like him anymore. Plus, he likes you...tell me, why did you two come out of the closet at the party? Let me guess, you two did the deed?"
"What?! Hold on, wait, that is not why I wanted to talk to you!" Elsa took a step forward. "Hannah, I know that it's none of my business, but I really think that you should stop doing that job at the whorehouse..."
"Oh, are you starting to act like the big sister now?" Hannah scoffed.
"I'm not...Anna, you..."
"Don't call me by that name!" Hannah yelled suddenly, making Elsa almost jump. "I never needed a big sister or a cruel family like yours...we might be sisters by blood, but I surely don't feel like we are."
Elsa clenched her fist. "B-but I...I..."
"I don't want any advice from you. I hate you! You disgust me...monster!"
"That's enough!"
The door flew open and Agdar suddenly appeared in the doorway with Jack behind him.
Hannah shrieked and took step back. The king stared in anger at her.
"I don't care that you are my daughter, you don't say such things to your future-queen!" Agdar walked up to Hannah and slowly raised his hand. "I need to teach you a lesson as a good father would-"
"Hold on!"
Elsa quickly jumped in front of Hannah and held her arms out. Hannah her eyes widened and everyone looked in surprise at the princess.
"Elsa, move." Agdar said in a low and dangerous voice.
"No, you don't get to hit her! This is all my fault! I was the one who provoked her, I should be punished! She didn't do anything wrong!"
Hannah felt a familiar feeling in her heart. It seemed like this had happened before...
"Elsa, must I repeat myself?" Agdar had a dark look in his eyes. "Step away from her."
Elsa shook her head and stood her ground. Agdar groaned.
"Elsa, this time you are not to blame."
"I am."
Elsa didn't hear the words coming out of her mouth. Instead she heard the words coming from someone who was standing behind her father.
Agdar looked over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes at Jack.
"What did you say?"
Jack made a bow. "I brought my friend Hannah here to talk with princess Elsa. I thought that it would bring them closer together, but I was wrong..."
Agdar sighed and glanced back at his daughter. "Elsa, is this true?"
"Of course not!" Hannah yelled nervously. "Jack, what are you even doing?!"
"I was not asking you." Agdar said coldly.
Hannah immediately went quiet. She didn't want to anger the king any further. He might seriously hurt someone. But if Elsa would tell the truth, would she get hurt? Why was Elsa even protecting her? She thought her sister didn't care much about her...
Elsa looked at Jack. He was still bowing, but she saw him looking at her with a reassuring smile as if he wanted to tell her that it was going to be alright if she lied against her father...
"I..." Elsa swallowed. "Y-yes...it was Jack's idea...but I..."
"Then it's settled. Jack will take the punishment."
Agdar turned around. He grabbed Jack roughly by his sleeve and took him out of the door. Elsa and Hannah both stayed behind.
"Jack..." Elsa put her hands against her chest.
Hannah glared at Elsa. "What have you done? Now Jack is going to get punished for something he didn't do! What if the king beats him to a pulp?"
"Jack will be fine...he is my servant."
"Yeah, right...you royals are truly cruel." Hannah walked to the door, but stopped in her tracks and looked over Elsa with a cold stare in her eyes. "If something happens to Jack, then I will kill you."
Elsa bit on her lip. Hannah sighed and walked out of the door. She closed it with a loud bang behind her.
Elsa immediately fell down on her knees. She put her hands in front of her eyes and started to sob uncontrollably.
She wanted to make amends with Hannah/Anna...and she just ruined everything again. And now Jack was even going to be punished...she couldn't do anything right...she was so stupid...and such an idiot...
"Aaaaaaaah!"
Elsa let out a saddening cry. A few ice spikes flew out the ground around her and the ceiling and floor immediately got covered by snow.
She put her hands against her mouth to stop herself from screaming. It felt as if her heart was about to explode from the pain, but she had to hold her powers in or she might freeze the entire castle...
Agdar took Jack into his office. There he released the man who immediately took a few steps back.
Agdar closed the door and then turned towards Jack. He grinned at the young man.
"Jack, I know that you took the blame for Elsa."
Jack raised his eyebrows. "Oh...I'm sorry, your majesty."
"And even though I do recommend you for your bravery, I still need to punish you for your lies..."
"I understand, sir." Jack made a bow.
"Straighten your back, Jack." Agar's voice sounded monotone.
Jack straightened his back again. But before he could even look Agdar in his eyes he was met with his fist and stumbled back.
Jack put his hand against his nose. He felt a warm liquid leaking out...blood.
Agdar grabbed him by his arm and hit him again. A bruise was slowly forming on Jack's cheek. The young man put his free hand against his face while Agdar still held him by his arm and stared in annoyance at him.
"Jack, you should know that I am not actually punishing you for lying to my face."
"W-what?" Jack asked confused.
"I'm punishing because I know that you slept with my daughter."
Jack his eyes widened and he gasped. Suddenly he understood why Agdar was hitting him.
Agdar chuckled because of Jack's expression. "I hit the head on the nail, did I not?"
"Your majesty, I don't mean to hurt you."
"I know."
Agdar threw Jack against the ground. Jack groaned in pain. He hit his head hard on the floor.
"Why did you sleep with her?"
Jack groaned again and slowly sat up on his knees. He looked up at the king with a small smirk on his bruised face.
"Because I love her."
Agdar stared in silence at him for a second before he suddenly started to laugh loudly.
"Hahaha! I know, idiot boy!" Agdar chuckled. He let out a small sigh and straightened his face again. He glared at Jack with a bit of amusement in his eyes. "No...I need to know that when my daughter doesn't love you anymore or requests something horrible from you if you will still stay by her side."
"Of course."
"What if she asks of you to hurt your friends?"
"I'm sure that she won't request that."
Agdar chuckled. "You don't know that. Remember, a young impressionable mind like hers can easily be tainted. She is a royal, after all. One day she will become a ruthless ruler."
Jack stood up and wiped some blood away from his nose.
"I know, your majesty. But I also know that the princess will always trust me and rely on me, no matter what...and I know my responsibility for that."
Agdar nodded. "Good. But what if she gets pregnant with your child?"
Jack got a bad feeling in his heart as he spoke the words.
"Then we will have to follow protocol, your majesty. Take the child once it's born and dispose of the damage."
Agdar laughed loudly and evilly. "Good boy! You truly understand what it means to be her 'watchdog'!"
"Jack, don't do something like that ever again."
Jack was in the infirmary together with the princess. They were sitting on one of the beds with Elsa scolding her servant while putting some lotion on his wounds. She looked very worried at him.
"Yes, princess Elsa."
"I mean it!" Elsa put her hand against his cheek, but retracted it when she saw Jack's flinch a little.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to..." Elsa bit on her lip and looked away from him. "I..."
Jack suddenly grabbed her two hands with a soft smile on his lips.
"I'm glad that you are so worried about me, princess. But I would do it again and again to protect you from any punishment you don't deserve...speaking of which; what happened to Hannah?"
Elsa looked back at him. She sighed. "She got angry because you got the punishment. Then she called me 'cruel' and left."
"Oh..."
"Do you think that Hannah and I will ever get back to normal? And be honest, Jack."
"Okay...I don't think you two are normal in any sense...but I think that once Hannah has calmed down a bit, you two might become friends again. And once you two are on good terms again, then you might be able to get your relationship back on track."
Once Jack was finished Elsa stared at him with a pout.
"Pessimist." The princess said.
Jack released her hands. "You asked me for my honest opinion!"
"I did, but you shouldn't take much of what I'm saying seriously."
"Oh, I shouldn't?!" Jack raised his eyebrows. He moved forward with a mischievous look on his face and put his arms against her sides and he started to tickle her.
"No, no, don't tickle me!"
Elsa laughed and tried to push him away. They both stumbled laughing on the bed with Jack on top.
Jack laughed too and tickled the princess underneath her arms. Elsa giggled and tried to grab his arms, but she couldn't.
"J-Ja-hack, stop!" Elsa laughed.
"If you tell me you're sorry, then I might!"
"Fine, fine! I am sorry, I am sorry!"
Jack chuckled and stopped tickling her. He looked down at Elsa with a soft smile while leaning on his arms and hovering above her.
Elsa blushed a little. She could see the sparkles in his brown eyes and his signature smile on his lips. She quickly shook her "Uhh...can you please move away?"
"Of course, princess Elsa."
Jack stood up and helped her up too. The princess quickly checked fixed her hair and dress with a nervous look on her face.
"I hope no one saw us." Elsa said with a small giggle.
"Yes, let's hope not. Otherwise it might shake things up and we don't need that again, now do we-"
Elsa suddenly wrapped her arms around his chest and pulled him into a hug. Jack immediately stopped talking.
"I really am sorry, Jack. You don't deserve to be beaten up by my father...it was all my fault and you took the blame..."
Jack grabbed her by her shoulders and pushed her gently away. With one hand he then gently lifted her head up.
"It's fine. I took the blame and I would do it again. So, please, don't feel guilty, my beautiful princess..."
Elsa slapped his hand away. "Alright, I understand...don't act so romantic, Jackson. It's an embarrassment."
Jack just chuckled a little while Elsa shot him a small glare.
The following days flew by.
Hannah was making her shifts like normally and they had more clients than the month before.
However, she was not feeling too well. After one client she even sat down on the bed after he left and just stared blankly at the ground.
When did everything become such a mess? She just wanted to live a normal life, maybe marry Jack one day...but now, she had royal blood, her sister was none other than the princess and future-queen, Jack liked her sister, Kristoff liked her, but they weren't friends anymore...
Hannah sighed. Why was everything so difficult?
"Hannah?"
Hannah looked up to see Kristoff in the doorway. He frowned at her, which might not be a good sign.
"Kristoff!" Hannah jumped up. She quickly grabbed her dress and pulled it on. "I'm so sorry, I was thinking to myself and you know that I'm not really good at that and now I'm gonna lose my job and..."
"Hannah." Kristoff interrupted her again. Hannah immediately stopped rambling.
"Yes?" Hannah asked with her dress halfway up her waist.
"I'm leaving."
"Huh?!"
"Tomorrow-morning. I'm going to Corona together with Sven. It was already in my plan. I'm going to poker there and then we might find a motel to sleep in and then I'm going to extend my business and...what are you doing?"
Hannah's eyes started to water. Her lip trembled and her hands were shaking a bit.
"Wha...what do you think I'm doing?!" She asked through her tears. "I'm sad because you're leaving me, you jerk!"
"No, no, no, I'm not leaving you! I was just here to get some money and to rest a little! I never said that I would stay here!"
"Then don't stay here!" Hannah wiped her tears away and quickly pulled her dress on.
"Don't act as if you care!" Kristoff took a step forward. "You only care about Jack!"
"That's not true!"
"Oh yeah?!"
"Yeah! I also care about Gerda, the people in this town...and I cared about you! I also used to care about Elsa and Jack, but they both used my feelings..."
Kristoff rolled his eyes. "Sure they did. Just because you don't remember your youth too well, that doesn't mean that Elsa sold you. And that doesn't make Jack less of a friend, even when he likes someone else...is your friendship really that weak?"
Hannah's eyes went wide. She shook her head and quickly pushed him aside.
"I don't know. But I know that ours is non-existent right now...I have to work, excuse me."
She walked past Kristoff with teary eyes. She didn't look at him...it was not that she couldn't, it was more that she did not want to see him after everything he just said to her...
She had never felt so hurt before...
The next morning Elsa was sitting at another meeting together with her father. It was a part of her lessons in order for her to become queen.
All the members of the council stared at king Agdar. He groaned in annoyance as the council just told him that a few other kingdoms started to become wary of each other and that the possibility of a war could be sooner than they thought.
"Are you insane?" Agdar glared at the men. "Corona is on our side, the Southern Isles are on our side as well...there is no problem. And if there would a be war, we would prepared."
"Well..." One of the man nervously fidgeted with his hands. "I don't think that we can...we don't have enough armor. And our army...I think that the knights don't have enough training...if I may speak freely, then I suggest that we put them through a special training program to strengthen their bodies and boost their confidence."
"Good idea. And we should also import some armor." Agdar said.
The other men all nodded and the one man who suggested it smiled like a child who just got his candy.
Agdar nodded towards them. "Good. Then, first we need to import the armor. Elsa, from where should we import it?"
Elsa blinked a few times and looked up at her father. "Hm? Oh! I think...we should import it from...the kingdom of Berk. I heard they have good armor there."
"But they are ruthless...negotiation will be difficult." One of the council-men said.
Elsa frowned and put her gloved hands against her chest. "I understand that they might be dangerous folk. But if we give something in return they might give us a lot of armor. And if we befriend those brutes, then we have another strong ally we can use..."
Everyone stared at her in silence until Agdar started to laugh a little.
"Ha! Great thinking, Elsa!" Agdar smiled at her. "I knew you would get us out of this one! I shall write a letter to Berk and we shall hope everything goes well..."
Elsa blushed a little with a smile. It had been long since her father complimented her and his little appreciation of her thoughts made her feel a little bit happy.
"Now, this meeting is adjourned!" Her father slapped with his hand on the flat table. All the members of the council sighed. They made a small bow and then excused themselves as they left the room one by one. Agdar looked back at his daughter. "Elsa, join me for lunch. And this is not a question."
Elsa nodded happily. "Of course, I would love too!"
"Good."
Elsa felt as if everything was going to be right for once. She had loving father for once, a normal marriage, Jack loved her and their kingdom was slowly blooming more...the only problem was her sister, but once she fixed that she might live a happy live.
She was more than content this time...
"Are you really leaving?"
Gerda and Hannah were standing outside as Kristoff and Sven were saying goodbye to them.
Kristoff swung his bag over his shoulder. "Yes...sorry. I have to do this."
Gerda nodded. "Fine. But once you become rich, then don't forget to pay us a visit, okay?"
"Okay..."
Kristoff looked at Hannah. She was sniffing loudly while averting his gaze.
"Hannah..."
"Just go." Hannah looked back at him. Her eyes were tired from crying. "Our friendship is apparently not strong enough to keep us together...so, just leave before we truly become enemies."
Her voice sounded rough. Kristoff had never seen her like this before. He wished he hadn't said those things last night...but one part of him also wanted more than just a simpel friendship...he really cared about her, but if she only loved Jack, then there was no reason for him to stay in her life.
"Then...I better go or I might miss the boat to Corona."
He turned around and started to walk down the street together with Sven by his side. Hannah looked at his back. Kristoff didn't look back once to wave at them.
"Hannah..." Gerda looked at her. "Is this okay? You two used to be so close...are you sure that you want to leave it here?"
Hannah turned around. "Yeah...our friendship is too weak to survive. It wouldn't make any sense for him to stay here when I have nothing to offer him."
She walked towards the whore house with a heavy heart. Everything was so messed up right now...
Would life ever return to normal?
TO BE CONTINUED