**Chapter 12: A Glimpse of Abuse**

The grand ceremony to welcome the envoys from the Southern Isles was a lavish affair, with intricate details and precise choreography. Iduna, resplendent in her formal gown, stood on the balcony of the palace, her brown hair styled in a coronet braid, as she gazed out at the sea of faces below. Her daughters, Elsa and Anna, stood beside her, their faces somber and their eyes fixed on the proceedings. As the ceremony progressed, Iduna's attention was drawn to the envoys' servants, who stood at attention near the edge of the crowd. She noticed that one of them, a young woman, was favoring her arm, and another had a bruise on his cheek. Iduna's instincts told her that something was amiss, and she leaned over to whisper to Elsa. "Look at the servants," she said, her voice low. "Do you see anything unusual?" Elsa followed Iduna's gaze, her eyes narrowing. "Yes, Mother," she said. "They seem... nervous." Iduna's eyes locked onto the young woman with the injured arm, and she could sense a deep-seated fear emanating from her. Iduna's instincts told her that the woman was being mistreated, and she felt a surge of anger and concern. As the ceremony drew to a close, Iduna excused herself and made her way down to the courtyard, where the servants were gathered. She approached the young woman with the injured arm and spoke to her in a gentle voice. "What's your name?" Iduna asked. The woman hesitated, then replied, her voice barely above a whisper, "Gudrun, Your Majesty." Iduna smiled and took Gudrun's hand. "I'm so glad you're here, Gudrun," she said. "Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?" Gudrun's eyes darted nervously around the courtyard, and Iduna could sense her fear. "I...I'm from a village in the Southern Isles," Gudrun said. "I was taken by King Westergaard's men to serve as a servant." Iduna's grip on Gudrun's hand tightened. "And how have you been treated?" she asked. Gudrun's voice dropped to a whisper. "The king's sons...they can be cruel," she said. "They take what they want, and no one dares to speak out against them." Iduna's heart went out to Gudrun, and she could feel her anger and concern growing. She knew that she had to act quickly to protect her kingdom and her people. As she turned to leave, Iduna caught Hans's eye across the courtyard. She smiled and beckoned him over, grateful for his presence. "Hans, I need to speak with you," she said, her voice low. Hans excused himself and made his way over to Iduna. "What is it, Your Majesty?" he asked. Iduna glanced around the courtyard, ensuring they were out of earshot. "I think King Westergaard's men are involved in some sort of abuse," she said. "I need you to investigate and gather more information." Hans's face set in a determined expression. "I'll do everything I can to help, Your Majesty," he said. Iduna nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Hans. She knew that she could trust him to help her uncover the truth. As the sun began to set on Arendelle, Iduna couldn't shake off the feeling that she was on the cusp of something much larger than she had initially thought. She knew that she had to be careful, but she was determined to protect her kingdom and her people at all costs.