Restraints

As the days passed, Hans' condition continued to deteriorate. The crew of the ship did their best to care for him, but it soon became clear that he needed more help than they could provide. The captain, a gruff but fair man, had tried to intervene, but even he was at a loss for how to help Hans. One day, as Hans was thrashing about in his cell, the captain made the difficult decision to put him in restraints. They were leather straps, soft and padded, but still strong enough to hold him down. The captain and his crew worked carefully to secure Hans, trying not to hurt him as they bound his wrists and ankles to the bed. At first, Hans struggled and shouted, but as the restraints held fast, he slowly began to calm down. The crew breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that this would be the solution to their problem. But as they looked into Hans' eyes, they saw a glimmer of something that chilled them to the bone. It was a deep and abiding despair, a sense of hopelessness that seemed to have consumed him whole. The captain knew that he had to act quickly. He sent a message to King Westergaard, Hans' father, informing him of his son's condition and asking for his help. But deep down, he knew that it might already be too late. Hans was beyond salvation, lost in a sea of his own making, and it was unclear if anyone could bring him back. As the ship sailed on, Hans lay on his bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as he stared blankly into space. The restraints seemed to have calmed him down, but the crew knew that this was only a temporary solution. They had to find a way to help Hans, to bring him back from the brink of madness before it was too late. The days passed slowly, with Hans lying on his bed, his body still and quiet. But as the crew looked at him, they saw the signs of deterioration. His skin was pale and clammy, his eyes sunken with fatigue, and his hair was matted and dirty. It was then that the captain received a response from King Westergaard. He had received the message and was sending his son Lars to take care of Hans. The captain was relieved, hoping that Lars might be able to do what they could not. As the ship approached the shores of the Southern Isles, Lars stood on the deck, his eyes fixed on the brig cell where Hans lay. He had heard about his brother's condition, and he knew that he had to act quickly. He was the third in line to the throne, and he knew that his father's harsh and brutal rule had taken a toll on their family. He had always tried to distance himself from his father's cruelty, but he knew that he had a duty to help his brother. Lars had grown up in the shadow of his father's tyranny, watching as his siblings, including Caleb, the crown prince, and Rudi and Runo, were molded into ruthless and cunning individuals, willing to do whatever it took to maintain their power and status. He had always felt like an outsider, unable to connect with his family's values and traditions. As he looked at Hans, he saw a shadow of his own family's darkness, a reminder of the destructive path that they had all been on. He knew that he had to act quickly, to try and save his brother from the abyss that had consumed him. With a heavy heart, Lars made his way to the brig cell, his eyes fixed on Hans' frail and broken form. He knew that he had a long and difficult road ahead of him, but he was determined to try and save his brother, no matter what it took.