**Chapter 9: A Royal Welcome**

Queen Iduna's warm smile and gentle hands immediately put Hans at ease as he stood before her, shivering and bedraggled from his ordeal in the snow. Her brown hair, styled in a coronet braid, seemed to gleam in the soft light of the palace, and Hans felt a sense of wonder as he gazed up at her. "Come, child," she said, beckoning him forward. "You must be frozen to the bone. Let's get you warmed up and comfortable." Hans followed her, his eyes taking in the grandeur of the palace. He had never seen such opulence before, and he felt like a small, rough-hewn thing, unworthy of such luxury. But Queen Iduna's kindness and gentle manner put him at ease, and he began to feel a sense of belonging. As they walked, Hans caught glimpses of the palace's inhabitants. There were servants and guards, all of whom seemed to be watching him with curiosity. Hans felt a flush rise to his cheeks, and he looked down at his feet, feeling self-conscious. Queen Iduna led him to a cozy room, where a fire crackled in the hearth. She sat him down on a soft couch, and began to gently remove his wet boots and socks. Hans winced as the cold seeped out of his feet, but Queen Iduna just smiled and wrapped him in a warm blanket. "You're safe now, Hans," she said. "You're among friends." As Hans warmed up, Queen Iduna brought him a cup of hot soup, and he drank it gratefully. He was starting to feel more like himself, and he looked up at Queen Iduna with gratitude. "Thank you," he said, his voice shaking slightly. Queen Iduna smiled, and patted his hand. "You're welcome, Hans," she said. "We're glad to have you here." Just then, the door opened, and two young girls entered the room. They were laughing and chattering, and Hans's eyes widened as he took in their beauty. One of them, a tall, regal-looking girl with icy blue hair, seemed to radiate an aura of power and control. The other, a smaller, more energetic girl with a wild tangle of curly brown hair, seemed to be bouncing with excitement. "Mom, who's this?" the curly-haired girl asked, her eyes fixed on Hans. "This is Hans, sweetie," Queen Iduna replied. "He's a young boy who got lost in the snow. He's going to stay with us for a while." The regal-looking girl, Elsa, nodded coolly at Hans, while the curly-haired girl, Anna, bounced over to him, a huge grin on her face. "Hi, Hans!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. "I'm Anna! And this is Elsa." Hans smiled, feeling a little overwhelmed but also grateful for the warm welcome. He shook hands with Elsa, who seemed a bit more reserved, but he could see the kindness in her eyes. As they chatted, Hans began to feel more at ease. He was starting to realize that he had stumbled into something special - a family that cared for him, and wanted to help him. And as he looked at Queen Iduna, he felt a sense of gratitude towards her. She had taken him in, and was treating him like one of her own. As the day wore on, Hans found himself growing more and more comfortable in the palace. He played with Anna, and learned more about Elsa's powers. And through it all, Queen Iduna watched over him, a warm and gentle presence. As night began to fall, Hans realized that he was tired, but he was also happy. He had never felt so accepted, so loved. And as he drifted off to sleep, surrounded by his new family, he knew that he was exactly where he was meant to be.