## Chapter 2: Confinement

The damp, musty air of the castle's dungeon clung to Hans like a shroud, suffocating him with its oppressive weight. As he lay on the narrow bed, his wrists and ankles bound by thick leather straps, he couldn't help but feel like a wild animal trapped in a cage. The cold, grey stone walls seemed to close in around him, their unforgiving gaze a constant reminder of his failure. Days blurred together in an endless cycle of darkness and despair. Hans's mind, once a razor-sharp instrument of manipulation and deceit, had begun to unravel, thread by thread. His thoughts were a jumbled mess of fragmented memories and half-formed terrors, his grip on reality tenuous at best. As the hours ticked by, Hans's agitation grew. He thrashed against his restraints, the sound of creaking leather and scraping metal echoing through the narrow corridors. The castle staff, tasked with caring for the troubled prince, moved with a quiet efficiency, their footsteps light on the stone floor. But despite their best efforts, Hans's condition continued to deteriorate. His eyes, once bright with ambition, now seemed dull and lifeless, his skin pale and clammy. His hair, once neatly trimmed, now fell in tangled locks around his face, framing the haunted expression that had become his mask. Lars, Hans's brother, stood in the doorway, his face a picture of concern. "He's getting worse," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We need to do something, or he'll be lost to us forever." The castle's physician, a gruff but kind man, nodded in agreement. "I've tried everything, Your Highness," he said. "But his mind is beyond our help. We need someone with a... gentler touch." Lars's eyes narrowed, his thoughts turning to Anna, the princess of Arendelle. Despite their troubled past, he knew she was the only one who could help Hans. He sent for her, hoping against hope that she would agree to take on the task. As the hours ticked by, Hans's restlessness grew. He tossed and turned, his body aching with a deep-seated fatigue. His mind, once a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, had begun to quiet, the stormy waters lapping gently against the shores of his sanity. But just as it seemed like he was drifting off to sleep, Hans's eyes snapped open, his gaze wild and unfocused. He thrashed against his restraints, the sound of creaking leather and scraping metal echoing through the corridors. It was then that Anna arrived, her face set in a determined expression. She stood in the doorway, her eyes taking in the scene before her. Hans, restrained and helpless, his eyes wild with a mixture of fear and despair. Without a word, Anna stepped forward, her movements quiet and efficient. She stood beside Hans's bed, her eyes locked on his, and began to speak, her voice soft and gentle. "I'm here, Hans," she said. "I'm here to help you." As she spoke, Anna's eyes roved over Hans's body, taking in the raw, red marks on his wrists and ankles. She nodded to the physician, who produced a large basin and a pitcher of water. With a gentle touch, Anna began to clean Hans's body, her movements soothing and calming. The water, cool and clear, seemed to wash away some of Hans's agitation, his body relaxing beneath Anna's touch. But as she worked, Hans's mind began to wander, his thoughts fragmenting into a jumbled mess of memories and half-formed terrors. Anna's hands moved with a quiet efficiency, her touch gentle and reassuring. She cleaned Hans's arms, his torso, his back, and his armpits, her movements soothing and calming. She washed his face, her fingers tracing the contours of his cheekbones and jawline. As she worked, Hans's relapses grew more frequent, his body tensing and relaxing in a rhythmic pattern. Anna's hands moved with a quiet efficiency, her touch gentle and reassuring. She spoke softly to Hans, her voice a gentle stream of comfort and reassurance. And slowly, incrementally, Hans began to calm, his body relaxing beneath Anna's touch. His mind, once a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, began to quiet, the stormy waters lapping gently against the shores of his sanity. As the minutes ticked by, Hans's gaze locked onto Anna's, his eyes searching for a glimmer of hope. And in that moment, Anna saw something that gave her pause - a glimmer of the man Hans once was, a man she had thought she knew. But it was fleeting, and Hans's eyes dropped, his body relaxing into the mattress. Anna's hands moved with a quiet efficiency, her touch gentle and reassuring. She finished cleaning Hans's body, her movements soothing and calming. As she stood back, her eyes took in the sight of Hans, his body clean and relaxed. She nodded to the physician, who moved forward, his eyes locked on Hans's face. "Let's get him comfortable," he said, his voice low and gentle. And with that, Hans's restraints were removed, his body sinking into the mattress. Anna's eyes locked onto his, her gaze searching for a glimmer of hope. And in that moment, she saw something that gave her pause - a glimmer of the man Hans once was, a man she had thought she knew.