Loved - Hans

Loved - Hans

Prince Hans of the Southern Isles lowered his arm and ripped the crossbow from the young guard’s hand.

Fool, Hans growled in his head. He had been fairly sure that the men the duke had volunteered would try to kill the queen. That was why he had engaged the snow monster directly, besides it looked heroic. Weselton’s young bodyguard had taken far too long to take the shot and he had had to go do something that at least looked like he was trying to save the queen. No one would ever believe that was intentional, though he had counted on a certain amount of luck to hit the chandelier.

The room echoed with the sound of ice falling to the floor as he moved. Everything was covered in sharp shards of shattered ice. His cloak was looking worse for wear for deflecting the ice. Arendelle was taking quite the toll on his wardrobe.

He took a breath to re-orient himself.

“Is everyone alright?” he asked, looking over to the ice-covered guards who had volunteered to find Anna. Her trail had lead to this amazing palace made of ice.

“Yes, sir.” Came the replies, though they all looked shaky.

“Good. Thanks men. Take them into custody.” He gestured to the bodyguards. He could see the one on the balcony gripping the wall that had pushed him to the brink trying not to fall into the abyss.

Handing the crossbow to one of the guards Hans walked over to Elsa’s prone form.

He saw his hand shake as he came down from the excitement of combat, moving the braid from the queen’s face. She was unconscious but still breathing. He let out a breath that could be easily mistake for a laugh. She was durable, you had to give her that.

When she had slipped he had been sure she would have been crushed by her own creation. But she had gotten her feet under herself and sprinted out from under it. The impact lifted and flung her across the room, and still she lived.

He would have to be careful of her. The Arendelle royal family had a reputation for kindness, but Elsa had been working on slowly impaling one guard while flinging the other into a deep chasm. Too bad he had publicly pledged his love to Anna, Elsa might have made a worthy queen for him. Anna was deliciously desperate and gullible, which is useful to him to get a throne, but not so good for a queen.

“Oh, Elsa. Whatever are we going to do with you?”

“Sir, the prisoners are secure.” Hans looked back and saw that the guards of Arendelle had the bodyguards of Weselton tied and ready.

“Thank you. Good work.” Hans thanked the guard then turned to glower at the bodyguards. “I will be having words with your Duke.”

“How is the queen?”

“Unconscious but she doesn’t seem to be harmed. Come on, let’s get her home.” Hans picked her up in a bride carry and they all started back.

As he descended the stairs he thought it probably was just as well she hadn’t been killed. Killing a witch dissipated their magic and released their victims. That would have been problematic on the second story of a tall palace.
And on the wrong side of a deep chasm from the horses, Hans noted as they crossed the ice bridge, stepping carefully around the shards by the broken railing.

On his whistle, Sitron came over and knelt allowing Hans to step into the saddle with the queen in his arms. It looked heroic and the men would tell the tale to others and his fame would spread quickly.

“We need to return Queen Elsa to Arendelle. Keep your eyes peeled for signs of Princess Anna or her companions.” Hans ordered. He had to at least look like he was still looking for Anna.

They had followed her horses trail back to Oaken’s Trading Post, the sauna still tempted him. There he had learned she had joined up with Kristoff, an ice harvester, to go to the North Mountain. He had followed the reindeer sleigh tracks into the forest and had seen the evidence of the battle they had fought with a pack of wolves. He had not bothered to search the wreckage as he could see their tracks continue on the other side of the ravine. He had lost precious time finding a way around to pick up the trail.

But then they had picked up another companion in a willow grove and the tracks were unlike anything he had ever seen. Whatever it was it had fallen, and he learned that it wasn’t large, about the size of a young child. His men had whispered to each other about that.

That worried him slightly, unknown quantities had to be kept to a minimum. He was so close to having this kingdom. The queen was now literally in his hands. Hans settled the unconscious woman in front of him for the ride home.

“Sir, look! Tracks leading that way.” One of the guards said. Hans looked and saw the tracks: small boots, large Sami boots split from the reindeer and that other things tracks. He directed his horse over to the ridge. He could see that the humans had slid down the mountain here. The track was steep and long.

“Who has the map?” Hans asked.
One the guards came forward unfolding a map. Hans scanned it, determined where they were and where the trail led. At the bottom of the hill was a cliff, they could go around in the direction the reindeer went but now with the queen and prisoners he didn’t have the resources to go after Anna anymore. Especially since it looked like the trail led even further from Arendelle.

“Bother. We can’t take care of Queen Elsa and the prisoners and continue after Anna all at the same time.” He looked at each of the six men to show them he was counting each of them as he listed everything he was trying to do.

“We’re sorry, sir.”

“Yeah, so am I. It’s getting dark. Let’s get back to Arendelle.” Hans ordered.

Once Elsa woke up she would be able to stop the winter and bring back summer. Then Anna would be safer and finding her should be easier. He could then marry Anna as hero of Arendelle and Elsa would have no choice but to bless their marriage. Then he would wait a year or two before making sure Elsa had a little “accident” which would allow Anna to be raised to the throne and he would then crush her spirit and have her declare him king.

He had to be somewhat cautious, he couldn’t kill Anna anytime soon. Princess Rapunzel had a better claim to this throne as a cousin then he did, but now he was a hero and that gave him nearly equal status. To be sure he would have to wait until she ascended the throne of Corona. Her father was getting older and it should not be too much longer before he dies. Then she would be too busy dealing with Flynn Rider.

Hans shook his head. He had gone to Corona when they had announced the return of the Lost Princess. Everyone had sent representatives, though he had heard of a few grumblings from some kingdoms that had been hoping to capitalize on the loss of their royal family. He had attempted to woo Princess Rapunzel but she was besotted by “Eugene Fitzherbert”, the hero that had saved her, and rebuffed him. The thief had cast himself as the humble hero and was now well on the way to stealing the throne of Corona for himself. He had silently toasted Flynn Rider at the well-played game at a banquet.

Hans had vowed to up his game and Queen Elsa going ice crazy had handed him the perfect opportunity. He would not mess this chance up. He would take the throne of Arendelle.