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umbravirtus · 2 months ago

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Starter for @wintersovereign

Hans waited again outside his father's office. All his duties were done earlier, so he could see him as he retired for the night. It's been their routine for 2 months now, Hans waits outside the red and gold doors and Ulrich pretends he's not there, but today, The King of the Southern Isles has decided to indulge him. With a disappointed, nay tired sigh Ulrich motions for his youngest to enter his office, and Hans follows. The doors are closed behind them by the guards. Hans feels the stuffy air of the place and remembers how small he felt every time he entered, how his father's booming voice and presence seemed to fill the space, asphyxiating him. But he has a mission today.

Everything in the king's office was a testament to his prowess, his accomplishments, and more. Hunting trophies mounted to a wall above the chimney, sports trophies and medals won by himself and his sons on a glass case, war game trophies behind his tall rest chair. Without saying a word King Ulrich invited Hans to sit, interested in whatever his youngest had to say, and sat himself, the chair under him made a sound as if the weight of the king was too much to bear.

"You've been persistent and patient, waiting me out daily for months. You're also shooting too high as I shall remind you, you're a stable boy after your stunt in Arendelle, and no stable boy can speak directly to his king, there are channels you have to go through, so clearly, whatever you have to say must be important." He makes a pause

"Important enough to let me know you have too much free time, to wait for me and need more duties added to your plate." Ulrich sentences and watches his son in front of him, determined, unwavering. Interesting he thought, but kept to himself. His expression is unmoving.

This was, as far as he was concerned, out of character for Hans.

"You may speak." Ulrich finally says. This better be good. Hans swallows, doing everything to hide how his hands shook as he put a paper on his father's desk and spoke with firm conviction but an even tone. "Your grace," he has lost the right to call him father, per his punishment, but he should address him differently for even in his fallen status he was still his blood and above the common rabble, or so Ulrich said.

"Queen Elsa of Arendelle has been sentenced to death by Pyre by the church." Hans goes straight to the point. Ulrich arched a brow amused, raising a hand for Hans to stop talking, he interjected.

"And you're here for what reason, exactly, vindication? To say you were right and she's a witch? Everyone with eyes present in Arendelle saw that, Hans." Urlich scoffs, shaking his head "But if you must hear it, boy, you were right, she is a witch, still, the perception remains you're a regicide and have stained the good name of the Westergaards, you either shouldn't done heroics, like the rest of the present or should have succeeded in taking an empty throne, but you did neither." Ulrich felt like he knew this was a mistake and that he regretted entertaining his son, he was about to stand up, and this was him making excuses again when he heard Hans speak out of turn. "We should save her, your grace." The younger says, eyes fixed on his father.

Ulrich knows the fear his sons have of him, he worked hard to put it there, so Hans, meek, sensible, goofy Hans speaking out of turn was a welcome surprise. He sat down again.

"Are you guilty, my boy?" He asks "Perhaps, taken by her?" he questions hand on his chin. "I was, taken by her your grace, but not anymore." Hans fessed up, he suspected his father knew about his letters.

"Really" Ulrich sounds amused and surprised. "And why should we save her, boy?" he wonders "What's in it for us, for our kingdom?"

"I won't insult your intelligence by telling your grace, she would be a powerful ally, nor will I say, this is the way to Arendelle, his grace was waiting for, since with the Queen gone the kingdom is ripe for the taking by our allies in Weselton, I won't either pretend to know what's right given my shortsightedness for which you've granted me the chance at penance, I will say, your grace, the most powerful reason is that she's a mouse."

As far as he was concerned Hans just spent half an hour stating the obvious but he was not wrong if he had given him any of those reasons to save Elsa he wouldn't have. "A mouse?" the king repeats. "How so?" he was actually interested in what Hans had to say, nay, for the first time in his youngest life.

"She's a girl without a father's guidance, she's been alone for the best part of her life, in seclusion, and she's got the prowess but she's scared, that's who I saw on the fjord, a scared girl that needs a father and a mentor, she's a mouse."

Ulrich listens intently. The truth was, he never wanted to hear Hans' version of events, but he knew enough to know what he was talking about "And yet, you decided to kill her." He points out, watching for his reaction.

"Yes, Your Grace, for she had stricken her sibling's heart with a blast of magical ice and she was, as far as this servant was concerned on death's door; her limbs and face covered in frost with nothing this servant could or should do for her aid," Hans licks his lips but his eyes remain trained on his father. "I took regretful actions to the detriment of the youngest princess and I am not proud, but I will stand by my actions towards the sovereign, for it was an act of mercy." Ulrich looked at Hans, in front of him and nodded. "Gustav," he calls his chamberlain, his office was to the left of the King, and the doors opened "Yes, Your Majesty."

"See that Prince Hans is given back his titles, and that he looks as princely as he should upon my return. Prepare Berzerker, tell Franz, Viktor, and Lars we're departing as soon as the ship is ready." "Yes, Your Majesty," Gustav says and leaves, to start the machinery needed to put the massive vessel in motion.

Hans was astounded. Frozen in place. Ulrich finally stands and pats his shoulder, "I'll go fetch the Queen, Hans" Hans, not boy.

Hans knew this would come with a cost, but he was willing to pay the price. "We'll talk about this when I come back," Ulrich announces and leaves the office to ready himself for the travel, once Hans is left alone in the office, he collapses into the chair in his arms, finally shaking, releasing his breath he had been holding, tears threatening to fall. What just happened? he wonders.

To Ulrich, Hans was right, she was a mouse, but a mouse that had managed in three days what he couldn't, she, singlehandedly took his youngest from a boy to a man, from a mouse to a lion. From someone who gave excuses and was meek in his speech to someone who didn't see him with his gaze downcast, whatever she gave him, he needs more of that.

And if he found an excuse to piss off the church, gain more allies, save face to his current allies, and expand his territory while at it, he was all too happy to do it.

(...)

The southern Isles' fleet arrived in Arendelle as a show of force. Berserker was followed by three other ships and by the looks of it they got there just in time.

When the dock master tried to stop them, they said they were there to stop the execution so at a great risk to himself, he let them through. The people of Arendelle loved their Queen, so insurrection and chaos were the feeling and moment, but a foreign, well-trained, well-funded army was able to quickly take over the small army of Arendelle and everyone had heeded the Queen's request of no bloodshed.

Ulrich guessed the redhead that was being held by three soldiers so she wouldn't run into the pyre was the younger princess. The one Hans was briefly engaged to. The red capes of the four men parted the crowd as Moses parted the sea, and with good reason.

Westergaards came in all shapes and sizes but Ulrich had handpicked the biggest and broadest. There were giant wardrobes of men flanking him, Ulrich himself was smaller but still stood proudly with his 5"8' height yet it was his presence and the air he carried himself with that took space. The experience of kinghood one could guess, and it was easy to see where Hans learned his charm from, the man has a sharp, angular face with high cheekbones, piercing expressive eyes, and a slightly prominent nose. His features often lend him a look of gravitas, giving him a timeless and dignified appearance.

There was an army behind them, nobody wanted to engage just yet but it was clear they would.

The deacon held the unlit torch in his hand when he saw the group arrive. Ulrich and the church already had their issues, they were known enemies, so the deacon recognized them on the spot.

"I presume his majesty is here to witness the execution? perhaps finally bridge the gap between the church and your kingdom by vindicating your son's actions in detaining this foul, evil witch?"

Ulrich's rich, deep, and smooth voice echoed through the crowd His enunciation is precise, and the way he spoke with a measured cadence, giving his dialogue weight and sophistication. All planned.

"Ah, Au contraire, monsignor" Ulrich clocked the man's rank just by his robes. "I am here to take the kingdom from the vile, zealots that hide under a false god and feign righteousness such as yourself" He smiled like the cat that got the cream. He points at Berserker, she has, in the time this interaction has taken place turned around on the docks, the canons, the three rows of them totaling 158 canons, now are facing Arendelle.

The clergymen looked at it nervously. Just when did this happen and how did they get there "My ship has instructions to fire if they see a column of smoke or my signal, none of us, is making it out of here, and my gods will receive me with glory, women and thunderous clap in their hall meanwhile yours, well, might be a little disappointed that you choose" He looks around "This many lives over a little peace agreement."

"You cannot possibly be serious, Majesty this is madness." the man with the torch in his hand spoke. "Queen Elsa," Ulrich spoke directly to her. "You need my aid and my son needs a wife, say yes, so this puny excuse of a man knows, just how serious this is."

#tw church #tw religion #wintersovereign #✎ TT #✎ 1 #ℋ » Love is an open door. (C: Hans)#ℋ » Fear Fire Frost #tw pyre #✎ Listo (Notion)#ℋ » This isn't redemption (Helsa)

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