Author's note: Hello! So, I had left this fanfic, mainly because I didn't know what to do with it, however I have decided to continue with it because I have sorted out a storyline. It is actually a rather huge and complicated one, but hey, it's there so I'm going to continue. Of course, Theobald and Elsa will always remain the focus however you will in this story come to know how Elsa got her powers! (my version anyway). But the focus will be the romance I promise! I hope you enjoy, please comment and review, I would greatly appreciate it! In the mean time, happy reading everyone! Warning: bad language here. And things get a lot darker and complicated from here on in….

Chapter 9

Theobald breathed out into the cold night air and looked back at the castle for the last time before turning away. He could still see Elsa's face in his mind, looking utterly lost. It made him nervous. But it was also exactly why he had to leave. As he rubbed his gloves together, carrying his travel case on his back as he walked towards the harbour, he could hear fireworks going off in the distance. He had left the ball soon after saying goodbye to Elsa, not wasting a single minute, not wanting his brothers, whom he had spotted and made eye contact with at the ball, to notice that he had left. He had only a few days to escape before they realised what had happened. That he had run away…

No, not run away, he was protecting Elsa and-

"Theobald."

The voice had come out of nowhere, and it immediately sent a shiver down his spine. He knew that voice, and it wasn't one that he'd wanted to hear. In fact, it was the very last voice in the world that he wanted to hear.

"Going somewhere were you?" came the sly voice of his brother, Ferdinand, the 5th Prince of the Southern Isles, from behind his back through the darkness.

Theobald proceeded to turn around slowly, the hood of his coat low so that it covered his face. Just. He could try and pretend to be somebody else, but he knew it was futile. This was his brother, a distant brother, a cruel brother, but a brother nevertheless.

"Hello Theobald," spoke Richard, the 6th Prince of the Southern Isles, his voice coming from the right. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Likewise," muttered Theobald, sighing in defeat as he reluctantly lifted his hood.

As he looked up, his vision was flooded with that of his two elder brothers, Ferdinand, as intimidating as ever as he was strikingly handsome, and Richard, rather less so but far more unpredictable and therefore dangerous. Ferdinand had his hands behind his back, looking deceptively regal. Of course, this was a facade. Richard on the other hand was leaning against a lamp post on the side of the road, casually smoking a cigar. He was what you might call volatile. And that was an understatement. Both were still in there formal attire, so they had clearly been following him.

"So," spoke Ferdinand slowly as if he had all the time in the world, swiping back his black mane of hair away from his face. "You weren't thinking of leaving were you? Because based on your last letter, it seems you weren't quite done wooing the freaky ice bitch. In fact, it sounded like you had just gotten started."

"Don't call her that," replied Theobald, his eyes guarded and voice surprisingly low. "She's a queen, and a true royal, unlike you."

Richard barked with laughter in response, sliding down the lamp post. "That's the very last thing that creature is, she's a freak!"

"Richard," warned Ferdinand sarcastically, his gaze still directed towards Theobald. "Not so loud."

Theobald continued to stare at his older brother, but he made sure his expression gave nothing away. Inside his gloves however, he could feel his hands starting to feel clammy.

"You do understand that if you choose to defy our father, you, not only, are giving yourself a death sentence, but you are also killing your own brother," muttered Ferdinand, before lighting a cigar himself.

"What?" stammered Theobald, taking a step towards Ferdinand.

Ferdinand smirked, amused at Theobald's immediate response.

"Unfortunately we have still not located Hans, however you know, as well as I, that eventually we will, and when we do, if you are not here, if you defy your country, if you refuse to cooperate, you will find yourself with blood on your hands. It was never our father's intention to kill either of you, but it seems this is the only way. Hans will be killed if you decide to not do as you are told. And you care about him, right….?"

Theobald swallowed slowly, staring down the ground, Ferdinand's mocking voice unnerving him. Did he still care? After what he did? Maybe he didn't.

"He committed treason, he lied to everyone, including me, so there is no reason for me to still care-"

"Liar," snarled Ferdinand, his face suddenly centimetres away from Theobald's. "You were the only one out of all of us that ever gave a damn about him. You wouldn't leave him alone, like you should have done, like you were told to do. He may have lied to you, but I know you care. You were always soft on him. He wasn't meant to be one of us, and he clarified that himself by going off and fucking up all of father's plans. He's a liar, and that's the very thing that father hates the most. Liars. So don't you go off parading away as a liar too Theobald. That would be a very stupid thing to do."

Richard, who had seemingly become bored with the conversation, groaned out loud as he leaned off the lamp post and approached his two brothers.

"I don't think he gets it," he spoke bluntly, his eyebrows raised. "I don't think he understands why the King has asked him to do what he's doing."

Ferdinand swivelled his eyes towards Richard in surprise. He was not exactly renowned for his intellect nor his sensitivity.

"What do you mean Richard?" asked Ferdinand, folding his arms, pushing his shoulders back in frustration. It was a little too chilly for spring.

"He doesn't get why he has to woo the Queen, or why it's him that's doing it, why it isn't one of us."

Ferdinand looked back towards Theobald before narrowing his eyes.

"Is that true Theobald? Do you not understand?"

Theobald looked towards Richard who was flicking his cigar butt into the harbour before reverting his eyes back to Ferdinand, who was impatiently waiting for his answer.

He couldn't leave. It suddenly dawned on him. Of course he couldn't. He'd just figured it out. Elsa would be in even more danger if he left. He would simply get replaced by one of his other brothers, whom he knew would do his job a lot quicker and show absoloutely no mercy. But what his father was really planning, something he knew that his two ignorant brothers definitely did not know, what his real intention was, was anyone's guess. And till Theobald knew, Elsa was unsafe, her future uncertain. Until he knew, he realised, he had to play the game. In order to protect her and.. if need be... to warn her.

But he couldn't deceive her. That he knew as well. Because… Well, who cared what he felt or whether she cared. Even if she ended up hating him, if she was safe…..

"I understand. My father can't blackmail you or any of the others to be a pawn in his little game. But he can with me. Because he knows that I can't refuse him, that I have my hands tied because I let a man accused of high treason roam free. He knows he has power over me, because I-"

"Because you care?" interrupted Richard, his voice mocking and intentionally dopey.

"Yes," replied Theobald, his face somber, refusing to look at Richard. "Because I care."

"Good," muttered Ferdinand, before finally releasing Theobald from his gaze. "So we are clear, yes? No more attempts at running away? We don't want you to become the second legendary Lost Prince of the Southern Isles now do we?"

Theobald looked up at his brother's retreating figure and felt suddenly this dangerous urge to... He could stab him from here, point blank.

Instead, he merely smirked. He ain't lost you bastard.

"Report in one week, brother, remember, report in one week," whispered Richard in Theobald's ear, causing him to jump. Richard still made him nervous, ever since he 'accidentally' shot him in the foot while they were out hunting as young boys.

"Pop your letter in the usual place," he whispered, before skipping off to rejoin Ferdinand, who was already several paces ahead.

As they turned at the corner of the street and fell from view, Theobald let out a huge ragged sigh before leaning against the brick wall behind him for support.

Now what? There was no escape, but he couldn't go on. Not like this.

He needed help.

If you really need my help, if you honestly have absolutely no alternative….

Theobald stood up and straightened his jacket before walking back towards the harbour where he had left his belongings. As he pulled them onto his back and walked back towards the castle, his resolution became clear. He couldn't do this on his own. There really was no alternative.

Dear Mr Epirus,

You once told me that if I was in serious need of help that I reach out to you. This letter may have come a lot sooner that you might have wished it to, but I truly believe that such a moment has arisen. No one has considered that I know what I know, however there is a chance, no, more than a chance, a certainty that something much greater than the past is currently at stake. It is the future, and a whole kingdom, and you are my only ally, the only one who can understand, the only one who will believe me. I am where I said I initially would be headed. You need not come, but please, I need your help. For now, I only need your assurance that I have got it. If I indeed I do have your support, then I am forever in your debt.

Yours sincerely,

Your only true living relative