Chapter 5: A Letter to Anna

The cold, grey stone walls of the castle seemed to close in around Hans as he was led to a small, sparse room deep within the castle walls. The air was thick with the scent of dampness and mold, and the only sound was the creaking of the wooden door as it shut behind him. Hans felt a sense of despair wash over him as he collapsed onto the narrow bed, his body aching from the long journey. Lars sat down beside him, his eyes filled with concern. "Hans, what happened?" he asked, his voice low and urgent. "You look like you've lost your last marble." Hans shook his head, feeling a sense of shame wash over him. "I...I don't know, Lars. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't take over Arendelle," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. Lars' expression softened, and he reached out to put a hand on Hans' shoulder. "It's okay, Hans. We'll get through this. But Father...he's not going to be pleased. He's changed, Hans. He's become even more brutal and tyrannical. You need to be careful." Hans nodded, feeling a sense of dread wash over him. He knew that he was in for a rough ride, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to face whatever lay ahead. Lars stood up and began to pace back and forth across the small room. "I've written to Anna," he said, his voice soft. "She'll come and take care of you, Hans. She'll help you get better." Hans' eyes widened in surprise, and he felt a pang of regret. He hadn't expected Lars to reach out to Anna, but a part of him was grateful for the offer. As Lars sat down at a small desk in the corner of the room, he began to write the letter to Anna. He wrote about Hans' condition, about how his mental state had deteriorated rapidly, and about how he needed Anna's care. He wrote about the castle, about the harsh conditions and brutal rule of King Westergaard, and about how Hans' brothers were similarly awful people. Lars sealed the letter and handed it to a servant, who was waiting outside the room. "Make sure this gets to Anna in Arendelle," he said, his voice firm. "She's the only one who can help Hans now." The servant nodded and took the letter, disappearing into the castle corridors. Lars turned to Hans, a look of determination on his face. "She'll come, Hans. She has to. You're in a bad state, and she'll want to help you." Hans nodded, feeling a sense of resignation wash over him. He knew that he was in a bad state, and he needed help. He just hoped that Anna would be able to help him overcome his demons. As the hours ticked by, Hans couldn't help but wonder what the future held. Would Anna come to his aid, or would she leave him to his fate? He knew that he had a long way to go before he could recover from his ordeal, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to face whatever lay ahead. But with Lars' help, and Anna's kindness, he might just have a chance to survive. The silence of the room was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of Hans' ragged breathing. He felt like he was drowning in his own failures, and he didn't know how to keep his head above water. Just as he began to drift off to sleep, Hans heard the sound of footsteps outside the room. The door creaked open, and a servant entered with a tray of food and a jug of water. Hans' stomach growled with hunger, and he reached out to take the tray, his hands shaking with weakness. As he ate, Hans couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into the abyss, with no safety net to catch him if he fell. But he knew that he had to find a way to overcome his demons, and he was determined to survive, no matter what lay ahead.