**Chapter 11: Caretaker and Patient**

The castle's dark corridors seemed to stretch on forever, its stone walls bearing witness to the whispers and footsteps of its inhabitants. Iduna navigated its passages with a quiet reverence, her eyes adjusting to the dim light that filtered through the narrow windows. She had been a guest in the castle for several weeks now, and yet, she still felt like a stranger in a strange land. As she walked, Iduna caught glimpses of the princes as they went about their daily lives. Caleb and Rudi were arguing over some trivial matter, their voices raised in a heated debate. Runo was laughing with a group of courtiers, his eyes gleaming with mischief. Lars was sitting in the library, reading a book and ignoring the commotion around him. And then there was Hans, the youngest prince, with his Auburn hair and bright blue eyes. Hans was a sensitive soul, always getting caught in the crossfire of his brothers' cruelty. Iduna had seen the way he looked at his brothers, with a mixture of sadness and longing. She had seen the way he tried to stand up for himself, even when it seemed like a lost cause. Today, Hans was in a state of distress, his mind reeling from the humiliation he had faced in the great hall. Iduna had watched from a distance as his brothers mocked him, their voices rising in a crescendo of ridicule. She had seen the pain in his eyes, the desperation that had driven him to try to take his own life. Iduna's heart ached with compassion as she thought of Hans. She knew that she had to do something to help him, to support him in any way she could. She made her way to the queen's chambers, where she found Queen Ravina pacing back and forth, her face etched with worry. "Your Majesty," Iduna said, her voice gentle. "I think I can help Hans. I've seen the way he's been treated, and I know that he needs someone to talk to, someone to care for him." Queen Ravina stopped pacing and looked at Iduna, her eyes searching. "You'd be willing to do that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Iduna nodded, her heart aching with compassion. "Yes, Your Majesty. I'll do everything in my power to help him heal." Queen Ravina smiled, her eyes filling with tears. "Thank you, Iduna," she said. "I knew I could count on you." As Iduna began to care for Hans, she showed him motherly love and compassion. She gave him a sponge bath, using a rag to clean his body, and wore her brown hair up in a coronet braid. Hans slowly began to open up to Iduna, and a bond formed between them. Iduna shared stories about her daughters, Elsa and Anna, and Hans found solace in her words. For the first time in a long time, Hans felt like he had found someone who truly understood him. As the days passed, Iduna's presence in Hans' life became more and more significant. She protected him from his family's abuse, standing up to Queen Ravina and the princes when necessary. She became a source of comfort and strength for Hans, and he began to heal. Iduna's offer to care for Hans had been a turning point in his life. It had given him a new sense of purpose, and a newfound hope for the future. And as he looked at Iduna, he knew that he would always be grateful for her kindness and compassion. The air in the room was thick with the scent of Hans' sweat and tears. Iduna gently washed his face, her hands moving with a soothing touch. She looked into his eyes, and saw the pain and the fear that had been driving him. "It's okay, Hans," she said, her voice soft. "I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you." Hans looked at Iduna, his eyes filling with tears. He felt a sense of peace wash over him, a sense of safety that he had never known before. And as he looked at Iduna, he knew that he would never let her go.