**Chapter 5: Iduna's Recovery**

Days passed, and Iduna slowly regained her strength under the care of King Westergaard's court. Her brown hair, done up in a low braided bun, framed her face as she lay in bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. The king's advisors and doctors attended to her, their whispers and murmurs a gentle hum in the background. Iduna's body was battered and bruised, but she was alive, and that was all that mattered. As she drifted in and out of sleep, Iduna was aware of the king's presence, his warm smile and kind eyes a comfort to her. She remembered little of her ordeal at sea, but the king's words were etched in her memory - "You are safe now, Queen Iduna. You will stay here, in the Southern Isles, until you are well enough to return home." Home. Iduna's thoughts turned to Elsa and Anna, her daughters, who were waiting for her in Arendelle. She hoped they were safe, that they had not worried too much about her. The king's staff kept her informed about the outside world, telling her of the letters sent to Arendelle, reassuring Elsa and Anna that their mother was alive and recovering. As the days turned into a week, Iduna's strength grew, and she began to take short walks around the castle, her feet bare, her hair loose. The king's advisors watched over her, their eyes curious, but respectful. Iduna was grateful for their kindness, and she began to feel a sense of belonging, of being part of a community. One day, as she walked in the castle gardens, Iduna caught a glimpse of a young man, sitting on a bench, staring at the sea. He was handsome, with auburn hair and piercing blue eyes. Iduna felt a pang of recognition, but she couldn't quite place him. The young man looked up, and their eyes met. Iduna smiled, and he smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hello," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I'm Hans. I live here, in the Southern Isles." Iduna's heart skipped a beat. She knew that name, Hans, and the family he belonged to. She had heard stories of the Southern Isles' royal family, of their cruelty and harsh rule. But there was something about Hans that seemed different, something that drew her to him. As they talked, Iduna learned more about Hans, about his life in the Southern Isles, and his struggles with his family. She saw the pain in his eyes, the desperation, and she knew that she wanted to help him. Little did she know that their fates were intertwined, that their lives would soon become entwined in ways she could never have imagined. For now, Iduna was content to enjoy Hans' company, to talk to him, and to learn more about this strange new world she found herself in. She was recovering, slowly, but surely, and she was grateful for the kindness of the king and his staff. As she walked back to her room, Iduna felt a sense of hope, a sense that she was exactly where she was meant to be. She had no idea what the future held, but she was ready to face it, head-on.