The Queen's Admiral

Chapter 21: Once Upon A Time

It must be almost noon and I was afraid I overstayed my welcome in Lieutenant Andersen’s house.  The tea had long ago grown cold and the biscuits were just mere crumbs and yet I longed to stay on and listen more to what the young sailor had to say.

The old baker groaned from his bed and his son went on to check on him. 

“I beg your pardon Prince Fredrik,” Lt. Andersen said.  “But I will need to start making lunch soon by the time Papa wakes up.  Would you mind very much if I continue our story while I do some chores?”

“Of course not,” I said.  I was glad that at least he wasn’t kicking me out of the house.  “How about I help you?”

“I wouldn’t dare to presume…” he began but I shook my head firmly.

“Oh please do let me, it’s no trouble.  My father lets me and my sisters help around the kitchen once in a while.  He says it’s important that I learn how to cook and do things for myself.  He said he’s always done so when he was growing up and he believes it builds character.”

Lt. Andersen still looked uncomfortable.  The thought of a prince doing chores around his house must seem odd to him.

“Alright think of this way, Lieutenant,” I told him.  “I’m going to pester you the whole day for your stories that I’m going to keep you away from your work.   Let me at least pay you back for your time by helping you.”

“Prince Fredrik, you don’t really need to do anything.  I’m already much obliged…”

“I would be happy to.”  I picked up a basket of vegetables lying in one corner of the kitchen.  “What do you say you start the water boiling while I peel the potatoes?”

The young soldier shook his head but nevertheless gave in to me.  He fetched water outside and filled the pot while I set about my task.  When he returned he settled down to help me.

“So who is Chip, Lt. Andersen?” I asked while our hands went busy.

“He’s probably the most interesting person I’ve ever met.  It turned out he was an old friend of Admiral Westergard’s and it was lucky that we met him.  He not only helped my wounds, he also sheltered us when we most needed it…”

Chip used a bottle of his own wine to clean my wounds before replacing my bandages.  He made better wrappings that both Queen Elsa and Captain Westergard could that I was grateful.  He then then offered us bread and fruit from his store.  While we were having our little meal, Chip talked non-stop and told us how he and Admiral Westergard met.

“He was just a little boy of eight when the royal family of the Southern Isles stopped at Rose Inn managed by my family,” Chip recounted.  “A thunderstorm swept the countryside days earlier and left the roads with so much mud the royal carriages couldn’t move forward.  So they stayed for almost a week at the inn.  I didn’t care much for the older princes.  They were guests that were nearly impossible to please.  They complained about everything from the food to the rooms to the silverware.  Our entire staff was at their wits end and even dear Father Adam, my lord and owner of the inn was nearly tempted to have the princes thrown out.”

“He probably would have too, if they weren’t royalty,” Captain Westergard agreed.  “My brothers can be incredibly obnoxious.”

“They weren’t just obnoxious Hans, they were cruel,” Chip said.

“What did they do?” asked Queen Elsa.

“On the morning after the royal party arrived, I found little Hans tied to a tree in the woods behind the inn shivering in the cold.  They left him there all night in the rain and he almost caught pneumonia.”

“Why would they do that?” the Queen asked Captain Westergard.

The Captain didn’t meet her face and he looked uneasy.  “I’ve always been picked on as a child.  My brothers had their little games and I was often at the losing end of it.  That wasn’t the first time they did that to me nor was it the last.  It’s just the way my brothers are.  It wasn’t just me though.  Sigurd and my oldest brothers picked on the ones younger than them, and in turn they picked on the even younger ones.  I was just on the unlucky end. ”

“That’s not how siblings should act,” Queen Elsa protested.  “I would never do that to my sister.”

“Well Anna’s fortunate,” Captain Westergard shrugged.  “For the longest time I thought all families were like mine.  I simply accepted it as fact until I met Chip and his family.”

“I took him to Belle, Father Adam’s wife who nursed him,” Chip continued.  “She read to him and told him stories.  This man here has an appetite for stories like you won’t believe your majesty.” He clapped the Captain in back like he was still a boy and to my surprise Captain Westergard colored.

“Look, it was the first time anyone ever read to me okay,” Captain Westergard said.  “And Belle was a great storyteller and knew so many tales.   She introduced me to her library and told me I can explore any place I want by reading books.   When I got back to the palace, I escaped to my family’s library.  That’s how I became a voracious reader.  It’s because of her.”

“She seems like an interesting woman,” Queen Elsa said. 

“She is indeed your majesty.  And she has an even more interesting story, even magical I should say.  Would like to hear it?”

“Why yes of course,” Queen Elsa replied eagerly.

“Well I’ll be happy to tell it to you while we travel.  You are all going to be guests at the Rose Inn and don’t worry about paying us.  It’s on the house.”

“Thank you, Chip.  But I don’t think Belle or Father Adam will want me there,” Captain Westergard said.  “After what I’ve done…”

“Nonsense, Hans.  They’ve forgiven you.   We’ve all forgiven you a long time ago.” He put a comforting hand on the Captain.  “It wasn’t your fault you know.  Come home, even for a short while.  You need to see Father Adam again, at least before it’s too late.”

The Captain hesitated but finally nodded.   I wanted to ask Captain Westergard what happened between him and this couple that he seemed to admire but he didn’t appear open to sharing the details.  I let the question hang. 

Finn and I were helped up the wagon.  Queen Elsa created two new ice horses to pull the cart.  We were soon travelling in relative comfort and the pleasant Chip proceeded to tell his tale.

“This is a magical story and though it may seem unbelievable it is completely true.  So I suppose I should start with… how is that phrase Hans?  How do we start a fairy tale?”

“Once Upon a Time?” Captain Westergard offered. 

“Yes,” smiled Chip.  “Once upon a time.  Once upon a young prince lived in a shining castle.  And although he had everything his heart desired the prince was spoiled, selfish and unkind…”

***

Author's Note:  Remember the narrator at the start of Beauty and the Beast?  That's actually Chip telling the story to Elsa and company.