Chapter 6: The Abuse

As Iduna entered the stables, she couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust at the sight before her. Hans, Prince of the Southern Isles, lay on a pile of hay, covered in manure and bruises. His eyes, once bright and full of life, now seemed dull and lifeless. Iduna's heart went out to him, and she felt a surge of anger towards his family. Prince Lars, who had accompanied her to the stables, nodded in the direction of his brother. "I'm afraid Hans has been through a lot," he said, his voice soft and gentle. "Our brothers, Rudi and Runo, have been cruel to him for a long time. And Father... well, he hasn't been much help." Iduna's eyes widened as she took in the full extent of Hans's injuries. She could see that he had been badly beaten, and the smell of manure and sweat filled the air. She turned to Prince Lars, her expression determined. "Tell me what happened," she said, her voice firm. Prince Lars hesitated, as if unsure of how to begin. "It started a few days ago," he said finally. "Rudi and Runo, they have always been jealous of Hans. They resent the fact that he's a kind and gentle soul, and they take pleasure in making his life miserable. Yesterday, they took it too far. They beat him severely, and then... and then they threw him into the stables, covered in manure." Iduna's face set in a determined expression. She would not let Hans suffer at the hands of his family any longer. She turned to Prince Lars, her eyes locked on his. "I need to help him," she said, her voice firm. "Can you help me get him cleaned up?" Prince Lars nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Of course, Your Majesty," he said. "I'll get him cleaned up. But first, I need you to help me get him moved to a safer location." With Prince Lars's help, Iduna carefully lifted Hans onto a nearby stretcher. As they carried him to a nearby room, Iduna couldn't help but notice the extent of his injuries. She had never seen anyone beaten so badly before, and she felt a surge of anger towards his family. When they reached the room, Prince Lars nodded for Iduna to begin. "I'll leave you to it, Your Majesty," he said, his voice soft. "Just let me know if you need anything." Iduna nodded, her eyes locked on Hans's face. She gently began to clean him up, using a warm cloth to wipe away the dirt and manure. As she worked, she talked softly to him, trying to reassure him that everything would be okay. Hans's eyes flickered open, and he looked up at Iduna in surprise. For a moment, he seemed to forget his pain and his fear, and he simply stared at her. Iduna smiled, her eyes locked on his. "You're safe now, Hans," she said, her voice soft. "I'll make sure of it." As she continued to clean him up, Iduna couldn't help but think about her own past. She had always been protected by her sister, Elsa, and her friends, Olaf and Kristoff. She had never had to face the kind of abuse that Hans had endured. And yet, as she looked at Hans, she felt a sense of connection to him. She knew that she had to help him, no matter what it took. With Iduna's help, Hans slowly began to recover. And as he did, Iduna found herself growing more and more determined to protect him from his family's abuse. She would not let them hurt him again, not while she was around. And as she looked at Hans, she knew that she would do everything in her power to keep him safe.