Chapter 8: A Mental Break

The grand hall of the Southern Isles' palace was abuzz with the murmur of courtiers and advisors, all gathered for a crucial meeting. King Hans, seated at the head of the table, fidgeted with his gloves, his eyes fixed on his brothers, Rudi and Runo. Iduna, still getting accustomed to the intricate politics of the Southern Isles, observed the scene with a keen eye. Rudi, one of the eldest sons, stood up, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Brother Hans, we've been discussing the recent tax reforms," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "And we've come to the conclusion that your... leniency towards the common folk is misguided." Runo chimed in, his voice equally scornful. "Yes, Hans, you're too soft. The people need to be kept in line, and the only way to do that is through strict taxation and punishment." Hans' face reddened as his brothers' words cut deep. He had always tried to advocate for the welfare of the common folk, but his brothers saw it as a weakness. Iduna noticed the distress in his eyes and felt a pang of sympathy. The meeting continued, with Rudi and Runo taking turns to belittle Hans' ideas and undermine his authority. The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly tense, and Hans' face grew paler with each passing moment. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "Enough!" he shouted, slamming his fist on the table. "I won't be lectured by the two of you. You have no idea what it's like to be in my shoes." Rudi sneered. "Oh, poor Hans. You're not fit to rule. Maybe you should just step down and let one of us take over." The room fell silent, with all eyes on Hans. Iduna could see the humiliation and anger burning in his eyes. She knew that he was on the verge of a breakdown. As the meeting adjourned, Hans stormed out of the grand hall, leaving his brothers and the courtiers staring after him. Iduna followed him, concern etched on her face. Later that night, Hans found himself in his chambers, staring at a small vial of poison. He had had enough of his brothers' humiliation and his own failures. He was tired of being weak. With a shaking hand, he opened the vial and raised it to his lips. But just as he was about to drink, he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Hans, no!" Iduna's voice was firm but gentle. "You don't have to do this. You're not alone." Hans turned to face her, the vial still in his hand. Iduna's eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Then, slowly, Hans' eyes dropped, and he slumped forward, the vial slipping from his fingers. Iduna caught him, holding him upright as he swayed. Queen Alice, Hans' mother, appeared in the doorway, her face etched with worry. "What's happening?" she asked, rushing to her son's side. Iduna helped Hans onto the bed, where he lay unconscious. "He had a mental break, Your Majesty," Iduna explained. "He tried to harm himself." Queen Alice' face crumpled, and she sat down beside her son, holding his hand. "Iduna, I need you to take care of him," she said, her voice trembling. "Make sure he's safe, and help him recover." Iduna nodded, taking charge of Hans' care. She began by gently cleaning his wounds, and dressing them in soothing bandages. She helped him with his physical needs, and stayed by his side as he slept. As Hans lay in bed, Iduna sat beside him, watching him with a mixture of concern and compassion. She knew that he had a long way to go, but she was determined to be there for him, every step of the way. The next day, Lars, one of Hans' brothers, arrived at the palace with two young girls, Elsa and Anna. Iduna's heart skipped a beat as she saw her daughters, whom she had thought she would never see again. Elsa and Anna ran to their mother, hugging her tightly. Iduna was overjoyed to be reunited with her daughters, and she knew that they would help her in her mission to help Hans recover. As the days passed, Iduna, Elsa, and Anna worked together to help Hans overcome his mental health crisis. They sat with him, talked to him, and encouraged him to open up about his feelings. Slowly but surely, Hans began to recover, thanks to the love and support of Iduna and her daughters. And as he grew stronger, Iduna knew that he would eventually find the courage to stand up to his family, and to rule the kingdom with kindness and compassion.