**Chapter 6: Confronting the Past**

The days passed, and Hans' physical wounds began to heal, but Iduna knew that his emotional scars ran deep. She had seen the pain in his eyes, the desperation for validation and love. As she sat beside him, watching him eat a simple meal of broth and bread, she knew that it was time to help him confront his past. "Hans, I want to talk to you about your life in the Southern Isles," Iduna said, her voice gentle but firm. "About your father and your brothers." Hans' eyes dropped, and he nodded slowly. Iduna could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands clenched into fists. "It was a hard life," Hans said, his voice barely above a whisper. "My father was... brutal. He only cared about one thing: power. And he would do anything to get it." Iduna nodded, her heart aching with compassion. "I know," she said. "I've seen the way he treats you, Hans. The way he belittles and humiliates you. But I want you to know that you are not defined by his actions. You are not a failure, Hans. You are a kind and brave young man." Hans looked up at her, his eyes searching for reassurance. Iduna smiled softly and took his hand. "My husband, Agnarr, used to say that a person's worth is not measured by their power or their wealth, but by their kindness and their compassion," Iduna said. "Arendelle is a kingdom that values love and community, Hans. We care for each other, and we look out for one another." Hans' eyes widened as he listened, and Iduna could see the beginnings of understanding. "But... but what about my father?" Hans asked, his voice hesitant. "What about the way he treated me?" Iduna's expression was gentle but firm. "Your father's actions are not a reflection of your worth, Hans. They are a reflection of his own failures and fears. You do not have to be bound by his cruelty, Hans. You can choose to forge your own path, to create your own destiny." As Iduna spoke, Hans' face changed, his eyes clearing of some of the pain and confusion. He looked at her with a sense of wonder, as if he was seeing a new possibility. Over the next few days, Iduna continued to talk to Hans, to help him confront his past and see a new future. She shared with him her own story, about her life as a Northuldra, about her struggles and triumphs. Hans listened, entranced, as Iduna's words painted a picture of a different way of living. As they talked, Iduna could see the change in Hans, the way he stood up straighter, the way his eyes sparkled with hope. He was beginning to see that there was a different way to live, a way that was not defined by cruelty and ambition. But Iduna also knew that Hans' journey was far from over. He still had his darker impulses, his ambition and his desire for power. Iduna could see the tension in him, the way he struggled to balance his desire for redemption with his own flaws. As she looked at Hans, Iduna knew that she had made a decision that would change the course of their lives forever. She had given Hans a chance at redemption, a chance to start anew. But she also knew that their journey was just beginning, and that the consequences of her actions would be far-reaching.