**Chapter 6: Taking Care**

Queen Alice led Iduna to a quiet wing of the castle, the soft rustle of their dresses echoing off the stone walls. They walked in silence, the only sound being the gentle creaking of the wooden floorboards beneath their feet. Iduna's eyes were fixed on the queen, her expression sympathetic. As they entered a cozy bedchamber, Iduna saw Hans lying on the bed, his eyes sunken, his skin pale. Queen Alice approached him, her face etched with worry. "Hans, dear, I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I should have been there for you." Iduna watched as Queen Alice gently helped Hans onto his bed, then tied him down to prevent him from harming himself. The queen's hands moved deftly, her movements a testament to her experience in caring for her son. "Iduna, I need you to take care of him," Queen Alice said, her eyes pleading. "He needs someone to watch over him, to make sure he's safe." Iduna nodded, her heart going out to the queen and her troubled son. She took a seat beside the bed, gently taking Hans's hand in hers. His eyes fluttered open, and he gazed up at her, his expression vacant. Over the next few days, Iduna devoted herself to caring for Hans. She fed him, bathed him, and talked to him, trying to coax him out of his dark mood. She spent hours sitting beside his bed, listening to his ragged breathing, and watching as his face slowly began to regain some color. As Hans's condition slowly improved, Iduna began to notice the small things about him. The way his auburn hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck, the way his eyelashes fluttered when he slept. She found herself growing more and more fond of him, and she knew that she had to help him overcome his struggles. One day, as she was checking Hans's bandages, Iduna realized that he needed a proper bath. The wound on his arm was starting to heal, but it was still tender and needed to be cleaned regularly. She decided to give him a sponge bath, using warm water and a rag to clean his body. She called for a servant to fetch a pitcher of warm water, and then she carefully poured it into a basin. She added a few drops of soap, and then wrung out a rag, ready to begin. As she gently began to wipe Hans's face, neck, and arms, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. This was what she had been trained for, to care for those in need. As she worked, Iduna chatted softly to Hans, trying to distract him from any discomfort. She talked about her daughters, Elsa and Anna, and about her husband, Agnarr. She told him about her life in Arendelle, and about the people who lived there. Hans listened intently, his eyes fixed on Iduna's face. He seemed to be drinking in her words, and Iduna could see the tension in his body begin to ease. As she continued to bathe him, she made sure to be gentle around his wound, careful not to cause him any pain. She cleaned his legs, his feet, and then carefully lifted him to clean his back. As she worked, she felt a sense of connection to Hans, a sense of understanding that went beyond words. She knew that he was struggling, that he felt lost and alone, but she also knew that he was strong, that he had a deep well of resilience that would carry him through. As she finished the bath, Iduna smiled softly, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Hans looked more relaxed, more at peace, and she knew that she had done something good. She dried him off, and then pulled the covers up to his chin. "You're going to be okay, Hans," she whispered, her voice soft. "I'm here for you." Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Lars, one of King Westergaard's sons, entered the room. "Mother said you might like some company," he said, his eyes scanning the room. "I've brought some visitors from Arendelle." Iduna's heart skipped a beat as she saw Elsa and Anna, her daughters, standing in the doorway. They looked a bit hesitant, but their faces lit up with smiles as they saw her. Iduna's eyes welled up with tears as she hugged them tightly. "Mother!" Elsa exclaimed, her voice full of emotion. "Mother!" Anna chimed in, her eyes shining with happiness. Iduna felt a surge of joy, and she knew that everything was going to be okay. She had her daughters back, and together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.