Sorry if these last few chapters have been plot heavy. I'm just trying to finish with the same idea I had in the beginning. Normally I like to throw in some love scenes but I couldn't fit it in. Remember, this is still my first ever story.
Two things registered at once. Firstly she still encased in giant hands though the grip had loosened. The second was knowledge that Hans stood directly behind her attacker, a sword poised but unmoving.
The room was so quiet it may have been a dream. Not even the terrified guests dared utter a sound. So when Hans spoke with certain clarity, the very walls seemed to shake with the force of it.
"Hands. Off. My. Wife."
Silence broken only by muted gasps from around the room.
The iron hold that seized her small hands let go, allowing her a moment to rub them together assuring her they were not broken.
But she wasted no other time. Elsa called forth her giant, right there in her grand ballroom. The ice beast rose tall and looked wildly about already sensing danger, spikes of sharpened frozen daggers an intimidating sight. She watched as the scattered crew's eyes went wide with fear, as a few even crossed themselves. But they were not her objective. The scum with his arms around Anna was her current target as Hans had clearly stunned Brand into an unmoving, open-mouthed fool.
The tanned man with the rotten teeth raised both hands and backed away as her Giant lumbered towards him. Anna turned with all the grace of a princess and proceeded to kick the man square between the legs. With the rumbling laughter of Giant, she knelt next to Kristoff as he began to stir, groaning. Elsa began shouting orders, as one by one, the Captains men lowered and dropped their weapons. Giant herded them into the corner and sat, like a dog would, insuring the men would not move. And they wouldn't by they look of pure terror on their faces.
Hans watched and waited, sword ready to drive into his brother if he so much as sighed. The rage he felt when he saw Elsa crying out, her hands being crushed by this vile bull of a man, was tangible. He tasted the fury on his tongue, bitter and hot.
But now the people were safely out, having been escorted by Anna to the main hall. With a hard nod to Elsa, the young princess closed the door. It was a sign of trust in them both. Elsa turned to brothers, hands raised with fire in her eyes. She looked primal. A single eyebrow raised as she studied the Pirate.
"Captain Brand, may I introduce the King of Arendelle? My husband, Hans." She smiled viciously with victory in her eyes.
"Wha-" Hans heard the gasp. Watched as his brothers shoulders fell from their defensive position. His head of black hair spinning to catch sight of Hans.
"You can't take him. He'll never have to suffer at the hands of his brothers again." She spat, the room becoming cold again. Frost began to cover the windows and Hans saw her losing control. He had to calm her, knowing she truly didn't want to hurt anyone. But it was the very man who spoke first.
"I was never going to let them have him." The breathy confession rang in Hans's ears. This was getting more and more confusing.
Elsa noticed too, her hands lowered slightly, but only just. She glanced to Hans, her eyes mirroring his.
"Explain." She snapped.
"Of course. Once my baby brother lowers that weapon." Brand grumbled. His head jerked to the side indicating the presence of steel.
Hans tossed the steel blade aside. He wanted many things in that moment but settled for one.
He moved swiftly to stand in front of the man who had hurt his wife. Without much thought and faster than one could see, Hans drew back his arm and soundly smashed his brother's nose. The older man stumbled back but did not fall, his hand coming up to pinch his bloodied face. Even now, Hans saw no anger in his eyes, though he himself was fuming. He felt Elsa's hand at his shoulder and stepped back. He would let his brother explain, then maybe he'd get a few more in. He turned to look at his wife, her eyes full of worry and anger. He wanted to kiss her, to have her tell him she's not hurt, or that she wants him to make Brand regret touching her.
But he could not.
His brother looked back and forth, his brows pinched and a frown gracing his rugged face. His fine clothes could not hide the pure maleness of the wearer as he raised his large hand and ran it down his face, groaning in confusion.
"What did you mean?" Elsa demanded, though her voice held no venom.
The large man chuckled, his eyes starting to smile as he processed what he was seeing. Hans however still itched to knock him out. His knuckles felt bruised but ached for just one more. Not yet, he reminded himself.
"Nearly two months ago I sailed to the Isles. I had the express plan of commandeering the ship that held the prisoner." He looked pointedly to Hans, identical eyes stared back. "Imagine my shock when I found the person I had come to save from my ruthless brothers had vanished." The man was downright too cheery. His smile was large, perfectly even teeth shining white among the red and black. A strange sight among seafaring men.
Elsa couldn't help but think he was handsome, in a primitive sort of way. But his words had hit her hard. He had been trying to save Hans? Had she misjudged him?
"But why?" She wondered aloud, not realizing it until Brand took a step closer. She flung her hands up, sparks of ice reminding him he held no power here. She didn't like the idea of hurting him, but she would if she had to if it meant protecting her lover.
The large man sighed, his mirth gone. Both hands came up and rubbed his now weary face. Finally he looked at his brother, eyes full of sadness and regret.
"I left after mother died. I became a cabin boy on uncle's ship. I knew my brothers would not have noticed my absence." He looked to Elsa, his large calloused hands palms up. He was pleading and the very look of him pulled at her heart.
"I wanted to come back for you before they tainted your mind, turned you into one of them. But Hans, I never thought they'd be cruel. I didn't know what they did to you until I received a letter from Abigail." He paused. Elsa watched as the Captains face was tormented and angry. She knew then that he had come to free his brother; that he risked death to go against his own kin to save one.
"Abigail was my childhood nurse. She died years ago." Hans accused. His voice still cold, rage clearly battling pain. Elsa wanted to take it away, to make him see the truth. She moved to stand between them, if only slightly, but Hans held her back.
"Yes, and I hadn't been to port in nearly a decade. I stayed away after father's death. I sailed with many questionable ships. I didn't want to bring you into that world. It wasn't until I had my own that I sailed back to the Southern Isles. I got the missive years after it was written. You were already here in Arendelle." Elsa watched as several emotions crossed both brothers faces. How much they looked alike stunned her. She lowered her hands hoping to quell the animosity, but her heart began to ache from it all.
"But why?" Was all Hans could choke out, his face becoming more and more childlike. She grasped his hand, just the one, in hopes of comforting him. He looked at her, his green eyes still not seeing the truth of his brothers words.
"You are my brother. I didn't want to see you dead. I knew that is what you would find in the Isles. And then I came here and found your bloody clothes in that ice palace hidden in the hills. I thought that the Queen had tried to kill you." Brand barked, clearly frustrated with Hans's stubbornness.
Hans, however, was fighting the urge to flee, to run from this confusing mess and find the reason and rightness he had known for the last three weeks. A soft hand squeezed his, grounding him. He never thought he'd have a brother who cared. Especially not one who he had never met.
Elsa chuckled softly, surprising both men.
"Oh, I tried to. Shot an arrow of ice though his chest." She smiled ruefully at him, her crystal blue eyes glowed with her own wounded soul. He hoped she'd forgive herself one day.
"After I tried to kill you." Hans corrected. He brought their joined hands to his lips, kissing her knuckles. She felt him giving in, his green eyes no longer on fire with fury.
The Captain stared, eyes wrinkling at the edges, but still held a bit of confusion. He began to shift his feet, looking as impossible as it sounds, like a young boy, scolded by his nurse-maid.
Elsa turned to Brand, her heart lighter than it had been all week. It was high time they cleaned up this mess. Too many misunderstandings and a few secrets shared.
"It's a long story." She started. Her pale cold hand still wrapped around Hans's warm one. "Just know that we are wed and there's not a force that can separate us." Even though she was positive of the Captains intentions, she still felt the fear of losing Hans so soon after finding his true heart.
"I don't doubt that." Brand smiled abashedly, his hand raised to rub the back of his neck. "I suppose I owe you an apology." He was trying to be charming, but the effect was somewhat lost by the blood that was beginning to dry around his nose.
"I think you owe her a bit more than that." Hans shouted. Elsa could see the battle on his face. He wanted to believe his brother, but he feared rejection. He didn't want to hope. She couldn't stop him as he began to move.
His steps echoed off the tall walls as he strode on long legs. Hans stood before this stranger who shared his blood. The man who would have saved him from his own family. He saw his eyes, the same color as his, the chin and nose identical. He held firm, although his stomach had begun to knot again.
"You would risk the wrath of our Brothers? You would commit treason?" Hans's voice was like stone, his face neutral. Cold even.
"It wouldn't be the first time. On either account" The other man smiled, white gleaming teeth showing through a trimmed black beard. He did indeed look like a pirate.
"I don't even know you." Hans mumbled, his defenses falling to pieces. He would have run away too. He would have become a pirate, or a cabin boy, or do anything other than living in the hell he had. Brand was lucky to have gotten away.
"I'd like for that to change." Rumbled the older brother, his voice raw with an unexperienced emotion. Hans wasn't sure of many things, but he knew that this one brother was different than the rest. His face held the same looks, but he was no more one of them than Hans was.
"What now." Hans questioned softly though he was sure everyone who remained had heard.
Elsa watched the exchange with a heavy heart. She knew the feeling of long lost family. She had firsthand knowledge. Although she never expected it to come from this swashbuckling privateer, Elsa wanted them to experience the joy she had felt. So she up her mind. It was simple, really.
She marched to the grand doors and threw them open. Her arms held wide as she tried to quiet the crowd that was beginning to form. There were many people gathered and she feared they would not understand. But she will try.
Ok. ok. I now. some of you were hoping for an Evil Brand, but I really couldn't do it! I had a dream about this, about one pirate brother who wasn't like the rest. He was the reason for this whole story (mostly.. sort of... I mean Helsa is my otp so)!
Now we just have to wait and see how Elsa is going to handle the people and how they will react to her news.
Find me on tumblr BTW. throw me some asks and junk. XD
-MoonandWinter