Chapter 6: A Plea for Help

The cold, grey stone walls of the palace seemed to close in around Hans as he lay on his bed, his wrists and ankles bound by thick leather straps. The restraints had been a necessity, a desperate measure to prevent him from harming himself or others. But as he gazed up at the ceiling, Hans couldn't shake the feeling of suffocation, of being trapped and helpless. The palace staff had been kind, but firm, when they sedated him and secured him to the bed. Lars, his brother, had been the one to give the order, and Hans had seen the sadness and worry etched on his face. But even Lars' concern couldn't alleviate the sense of despair that had settled over Hans. As he lay there, Hans' mind began to wander, drifting back to the events that had led him to this place. He thought of Anna, of Elsa, of the throne of Arendelle that he had so desperately sought. And he thought of his own failures, of the mistakes that had brought him to this point. The door to his room opened, and Lars entered, his expression somber. "Hans, I know this is hard for you," he said, his voice soft. "But it's necessary. You can't keep hurting yourself, or others. You need help." Hans didn't respond, didn't even look at Lars. He just lay there, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as the sound of his brother's footsteps faded away. Days passed, and Hans lost track of time. He was fed, bathed, and tended to by the palace staff, but he didn't really live. He existed, trapped in a prison of his own mind. And then, one day, Lars returned, a letter in his hand. Hans watched, curious, as Lars read from the page. "Anna has agreed to come," Lars said, his voice filled with hope. "She'll help take care of you, Hans. She'll help you get better." Hans didn't react, didn't even feel a spark of emotion. He just lay there, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as the news washed over him. Lars sat down beside him, his hand on Hans' shoulder. "I know you don't deserve it, Hans, but I'm asking Anna to come and help you. She can be stubborn, but I know she cares about you, despite everything." Hans' gaze drifted to his brother's face, and for a moment, he saw a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Anna could help him. Maybe she could reach him, even when no one else could. Lars handed the letter to Hans, and he took it, his fingers tracing the seal. It was from Anna, and as he read the words, he felt a small spark of hope. She was coming, and she would help him. The door to his room opened, and a servant entered, a small package in her hands. "I've brought some clean clothes and a basin of water, Your Highness," she said. Lars nodded, taking the package from her. "Thank you. I'll take care of Hans from now on." The servant nodded and left, leaving Lars and Hans alone. Lars looked at his brother, his eyes filled with concern. "I'll get you out of these restraints, Hans. And then we'll get you cleaned up. Anna will be here soon." Hans nodded, a small smile on his face. For the first time in weeks, he felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could get better. Maybe he could find a way out of this darkness. As Lars began to untie the restraints, Hans felt a sense of relief wash over him. He was going to be free, at least for a little while. And with Anna's help, maybe he could find a way to escape the darkness that had consumed him. With the restraints removed, Hans felt a sense of vulnerability wash over him. His wrists were raw and sore, and he knew he needed a bath. Lars seemed to sense his needs, and he nodded to a servant who brought in a basin of warm water. As the servant began to clean Hans' skin, he felt a sense of relaxation wash over him. It had been a long time since he'd felt human, and the gentle touch was a balm to his battered soul. The cleaning process was a slow, gentle one, but Hans felt his tension ease, his muscles relaxing as the servant worked. And when they finally finished, he felt... different. Cleaner, somehow. More human. Lars smiled, his eyes filled with hope. "You're going to be okay, Hans. Anna will be here soon, and she'll help you get better." Hans nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards his brother. Maybe, just maybe, he could get through this after all.