Chapter 2: A Royal Reprimand

The cold, grey stone walls of the Southern Isles' castle seemed to close in around Prince Hans as he was dragged back to his family's grasp. The charming smile that once won over the hearts of the Arendelle royal family had faded, replaced by a scowl of defeat and desperation. His mental state was in shambles, a shadow of the confident prince he once was. As he was taken to meet his father, King Westergard, Hans's anxiety grew. The king's harsh rule had left the Southern Isles a unhappy and struggling place, and Hans's failure was seen as an embarrassment. The king's twelve sons, including Hans, had only added to the misery, their cruel and arrogant nature perpetuating the kingdom's darkness. Lars, Hans's brother and third in line to the throne, stood before their father, reporting Hans's failures. "Father, Hans has returned a broken man. His attempt to take over Arendelle has failed, and he has brought shame to our family and our kingdom." The crown prince, Caleb, stood tall, his eyes gleaming with disdain, while Rudi and Runo, fifth in line, whispered amongst themselves, their faces twisted in cruel grins. King Westergard's face turned red with rage as he listened to Lars's words. "A failure!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the castle halls. "A weak and feeble prince, unworthy of the Southern Isles' throne!" The sound of the king's wrath sent shivers down the spines of the castle's inhabitants, a reminder of the fear that gripped the kingdom. The king's anger was not a surprise to Hans, who had always known that his father's expectations were high. But he had never imagined that his failure would be met with such contempt. As he was taken into custody, Hans was subjected to physical and emotional abuse, which further exacerbated his instability. The king's men were tasked with keeping him under control, but Hans became increasingly unmanageable. His behavior became so erratic that he was placed in restraints on a bed in a specially designed room. The cold, grey stone walls seemed to close in around him, suffocating him with their bleakness. He continued to struggle and rebel against his confinement, but his efforts were futile. As the days passed, Hans's mental state continued to deteriorate. He was trapped in a living nightmare, with no escape from the darkness that surrounded him. His wrists were raw and sore from the restraints, and his mind was filled with thoughts of despair and hopelessness. In a last-ditch effort to save his brother, Lars made a difficult decision. He would reach out to Anna, the sister of Queen Elsa of Arendelle, and ask for her help. Anna, still bitter about Hans's past betrayals, was not an easy person to convince, but Lars hoped that she would see the good in helping his brother. Lars sent a messenger to Arendelle, hoping that Anna would agree to come to the Southern Isles and help Hans. As he waited for a response, Lars couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He knew that his brother's condition was dire, and that time was running out. The fate of Prince Hans, once a charming and confident prince, now hung in the balance. Would Anna's help be enough to save him from the darkness that had consumed him, or would he be forever lost to the shadows of his own mind? The Southern Isles, a kingdom plagued by darkness and fear, seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the outcome of Lars's desperate gamble.