Chapter 4: A Meeting with Lars

The cold, grey stone walls of the castle seemed to close in around Hans as he was led to a small, sparse room deep within the castle walls. The air was thick with the scent of dampness and mold, and the only sound was the creaking of the wooden door as it shut behind him. Hans felt a sense of despair wash over him as he collapsed onto the narrow bed, his body aching from the long journey. Lars sat down beside him, his eyes filled with concern. "Hans, what happened?" he asked, his voice low and urgent. "You look like you've lost your last marble." Hans shook his head, feeling a sense of shame wash over him. "I...I don't know, Lars. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't take over Arendelle," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. Lars' expression softened, and he reached out to put a hand on Hans' shoulder. "It's okay, Hans. We'll get through this. But Father...he's not going to be pleased. He's changed, Hans. He's become even more brutal and tyrannical. You need to be careful." Hans nodded, feeling a sense of dread wash over him. He knew that he was in for a rough ride, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to face whatever lay ahead. Lars stood up and began to pace back and forth across the small room. "I've written to Anna," he said, his voice soft. "She'll come and take care of you, Hans. She'll help you get better." Hans' eyes widened in surprise, and he felt a pang of regret. He hadn't expected Lars to reach out to Anna, but a part of him was grateful for the offer. "But, Lars...I don't know if she'll come," Hans said, his voice filled with doubt. "She was hurt by me, and I don't blame her if she doesn't want to help me." Lars stopped pacing and turned to face Hans. "She'll come, Hans. She has to. You're in a bad state, and she'll want to help you. Besides, I've told her everything. She knows what happened." Hans nodded, feeling a sense of resignation wash over him. He knew that he was in a bad state, and he needed help. He just hoped that Anna would be able to help him overcome his demons. As Lars left the room, Hans felt a sense of despair wash over him. He was trapped, with no way out, and his mental state was deteriorating rapidly. He knew that he needed help, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to face his demons head-on. The door to the room creaked open, and a servant entered with a tray of food and a jug of water. Hans' stomach growled with hunger, and he reached out to take the tray, his hands shaking with weakness. As he ate, Hans couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into the abyss, with no safety net to catch him if he fell. But he knew that he had to find a way to overcome his demons, and he was determined to survive, no matter what lay ahead. The silence of the room was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of Hans' ragged breathing. He felt like he was drowning in his own failures, and he didn't know how to keep his head above water. Just as he finished his meal, Lars returned with a look of determination on his face. "I'll make sure that Anna gets here as soon as possible," he said, his voice firm. "In the meantime, I'll make sure that you're comfortable and safe." Hans nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards his brother. He knew that he was lucky to have Lars on his side, and he was grateful for his help. As the hours ticked by, Hans couldn't help but wonder what the future held. Would Anna come to his aid, or would she leave him to his fate? He knew that he had a long way to go before he could recover from his ordeal, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to face whatever lay ahead. But with Lars' help, and Anna's kindness, he might just have a chance to survive.