### Chapter 9: The Descent

Iduna's heart ached as she gazed at Hans, her mind made up. She would adopt him, give him a forever home, and help him heal from the wounds of his past. As she looked at her daughters, Elsa and Anna, she knew they would support her decision. The three of them had grown close to Hans during their diplomatic visit, and Iduna could see the positive impact they had on him. With a newfound sense of purpose, Iduna summoned the castle staff and informed them of her decision. She instructed them to prepare the necessary documents and to make arrangements for Hans to receive any medical attention he might need. However, Iduna's decision was not met with universal approval. News of her plan to adopt Hans reached King Westergaard, and he was furious. He saw Hans as a means to exert control over the royal family of Arendelle, and he would not let him go without a fight. As the days passed, Hans struggled to come to terms with his new reality. He had grown accustomed to his life in the castle, and the thought of being part of a new family was daunting. Iduna and her daughters did their best to make him feel welcome, but Hans's past experiences had left him wary. One day, as Iduna was checking on Hans, she noticed that he seemed particularly troubled. He was pacing back and forth in his room, his eyes fixed on the floor. Iduna approached him cautiously, sensing that something was wrong. "Hans, is everything all right?" she asked gently. Hans stopped pacing and turned to face her. For a moment, Iduna thought she saw a glimmer of the old Hans, the one who had been trapped and helpless. But then, his eyes clouded over, and he looked away. Iduna's instincts told her that Hans was on the brink of something. She sat down beside him and took his hand, her voice soft and reassuring. "Hans, you can trust me. Whatever is troubling you, I'm here to listen." Hans looked up at her, his eyes welling up with tears. Iduna could see the pain and the fear in his eyes, and she knew that she had to act quickly. In a sudden, desperate movement, Hans pulled out a small, sharp object from his pocket and pressed it against his wrists. Iduna's heart skipped a beat as she quickly grabbed his arm, holding it firmly. "Hans, no! Don't do that!" she exclaimed, shock and concern etched on her face. The castle guards rushed in, responding to Iduna's distress call, and quickly subdued Hans. They took the object away from him and administered a sedative, trying to calm him down. As Hans was restrained and placed in a straight jacket, Iduna felt a wave of sadness wash over her. She had been so hopeful that Hans could find happiness and peace with her and her daughters, but now she realized that his wounds ran deeper than she had thought. The road to recovery would be long and difficult, but Iduna was determined to help Hans heal. She sat with him, holding his hand and whispering words of comfort, as the castle staff worked to stabilize his condition. In that moment, Iduna knew that she had made the right decision in adopting Hans. She would do everything in her power to help him overcome his past and find a brighter future.