The cell below the deck of his Southern Islandian ship was dark and wet and cold. Hans moaned and shook his head, wincing as a Southern Isle dignitary opened the door to the outside and the sun shone in.

"Get up. The ship will be docking soon and you have others waiting on you." Hans tried not to flinch as he sat up, running a hand through his hair and picking out the straw. Heaving a sigh, he pushed himself to his feet, wincing as his muscles and bones popped and cracked.

"How do I explain this to Dad?"

He felt the great ship jolt as it made a soft contact with land and the anchor hit sand, and was momentarily thrown off his feet. It could have been minutes or hours that he waited, and when his barracks door was thrown open again, he felt his mouth run dry.

"Mom."

Queen Alvilda, or Viddie for short, was a tall woman, even by Southern Isle standards where most women stood near 5 foot 11. Her bright green eyes could bring the hardest criminal to their knees shaking, and the sharp angles that made up her face and body aided in making her seem unapproachable to most. She and the king had married both at the age of sixteen, and by the time of their tenth anniversary she had borne eight children for His Majesty the King- seven boys and a girl. By name they were Vale, Radford, Dagny, Hania, Egil and Einar the twins, and Cadmael. Another ten years had brought eight more children to the throne of the Isles, six boys and two girls. These were the twins Jabari and Jabez, triplets Vada, Oakley and Percival; Zain, and the twins Freya and Fahim. Before she hit 'the change' at forty-five, she had bestowed three last children for the king, the three being Iliana, Johannes, and Eindride.

Her long years of child bearing had kept her spirit soft, although her body had hardened and aged far beyond her years. With her aging had come a wisdom as she tended to the eighteen children as her husband ruled, and all of the children had extreme respect for her and her methods. She had ruled the home with a gentle yet firm hand and although each of her children were different, they all had agreed on one thing.

Disappointing her was not an option.

Queen Alvilda strode forward, eyes critical as she looked Hans up and down. "You have disgraced us, Son." Her tone was sharp, cutting; but even as she spoke her voice softened as she looked at his stricken face. "Johannes, why, my son? We gifted to you the change of a lifetime when you journeyed to Arendelle. This was how you saw fit to repay us?"

Her question made Hans' throat go dry, and all the excuses and begging he had planned to do flew out the window. At his silence, the queen straightened and stared him down.

"Have you no togue? Answer me!"

The demand was enough to break Hans out of his trance, and he stumbled forward onto his knees, grabbing the hem of her dress. "Mother… mother please, oh please forgive me. I didn't-"

The fabric was jerked from his hand, a look of anger and disgust on the queen's face as she stepped back out of his reach. "Find your feet! Even a disgraced prince does not beg on his knees. Not one of my blood!" She grabbed his bent form, throwing herself back and forcing him up. "You will not beg in this way. Not to me, not to any of us. Face your grievances like a man. Stand up and go out. Your brothers await to accompany you to His Majesty."

She turned away, marching out as rigid as ice. Only the trained eye of the youngest prince knew that she was deeply troubled and saddened by this turn of events.

As Hans stood and walked down the boat, he froze as he saw the entourage waiting for him. All seventeen siblings stood on the dock, and as he searched their faces, he gulped at the expression in the eyes of his two oldest brothers. Vale strode forward, his soft red locks brushing his shoulders, and he frowned at the youngest prince. "Come. Time is a precious commodity that you will not take up."

Hans flinched as the second eldest nudged him harder than necessary. "Radford, I can walk, thank you very much-oof!"

The second born slapped Hans across the face, catching him with his other hand before the prince could fall. "Shut up. You'll hold your tongue and mind yourself. The King had great mercy with you. Had I been king, I would have the Arendellians slay you there." The green eyed, strawberry blond prince sneered at Hans before turning, keeping a hand on his sheathed sword. "Come."

Holding his cheek, Hans picked his battle and followed silently as his siblings surrounded him. Up the steps, through the village and through the merchant's commons. As he walked he burned with shame, feeling all eyes on him. From the youngest child to the elders it seemed they all knew what he had done.

It wasn't me… how do I tell them this?

His musings cut off as the gates of the palace beheld him. His forefathers were not known for subtlety, and the very gates were adorned with as much finery and decor as the bricks could withstand. On earlier journeys to and from the kingdom, it had always made him relieved to pass through the gates, for it meant that he was one step to being near his mother and sisters again. Hans sighed as an unseen sibling nudged him forward. The comforts of home seemed to mock him now.

There was no time to wait or to calm his nerves as his mother lit a torch inside the castle and led to the throne room, her posture stiff and foreboding. As they entered, Hans flinched as the large throne met his eyes. Out of pure reflex, he stepped back and then winced as two large hands grabbed his arms and dragged him forward, throwing him to the ground at his father's feet. One of them grabbed him by his hair and forced him to look up, his chest and stomach lifting off the ground. His father's dark blue eyes flashed, and he held up one hand, the other grasping his scepter.

"Enough!"

His voice thundered out, and Hans' face met the floor as his brothers backed away instantly. "Vale, Radford, Dagny- you will stay. As the first three in line for the throne, I will take counsel with each of you- I find it only fair you have some say in Hans' punishment. The rest of you, leave us."

One by one, the entourage filtered out and the king paused as his wife stayed, eyebrows raised in question. Wordlessly, he beckoned her forward and she curtseyed to him slightly before taking her place beside him on the second throne. His eyes roved to his youngest son trembling on his knees before him, and he sighed, rubbing his temple. "Hans. Stand before me, my son."

Hans stumbled as he found his feet, bowing his head slightly. His father watched him for a few long moments, scrutinizing him before he spoke.

"You are the last one I would have expected this treachery from. You were rarely punished as a child, prone more to yourself and your books and toys than learning proprieties or finding trouble for yourself. You kept to the hem of your mother and besides the swords of your brothers instead of inviting mischief. So imagine the shock I felt when my courier brought to me Arendelle's proclamation of crime and wrongdoing, and listed the crimes against you. Had the queen not been so very gracious, you could have been rightfully hung there. She declined to wage war upon us, but if this situation is not smoothed over, she warned she was not above it. She takes the heart of her sister and the throne of her father quite seriously, and these are the things which you tried to steal." The deep disappointment in the king's eyes made Hans flinch, and his sire continued. "This could have been your chance to find love and to find your own place in the world instead of being buried under the many fruits of your mother and I. I expect an explanation from you, Hans. We raised you better than this."

Sitting back, the king finished his speech and Hans licked his lips, stealing a glance at his mother and his brothers. The young men looked furious, and as he went to speak, Dagny drew his sword. "You do not deserve such mercy from the king. Father, I am the strongest of us. Allow me to-"

The queen shrieked, her calm appearance fading as Dagny brought the sword to Hans' nape, measuring his swing. As he brought the weapon back to gain momentum, the king stood, grabbing part of the sword's hilt and throwing it across the room with an angry growl. "You will not dishonor my throne in this way. Had I desired him to have no trial, I would have given him back to the Arendellians. Until the time comes for me to do that, I expect you and your brothers and sisters to keep your hands and weapons to yourselves. Do not make me regret allowing your involvement."

His Majesty stood, a storm brewing in his eyes, and Hans immediately cast his gaze to the floor. "Johannes, I still await your answer. We sent you because we thought you might have a chance at becoming king-consort, or at least a good friend of the queen or princess. You went there to strengthen the ties between our kingdoms, and I find you have broken them possibly beyond repair. Son… an explanation might save your life."

Hans sighed, letting out his breath slowly before responding. "My life isn't worth saving, Father." He lifted his head, finally meeting his fathers' eyes, and spoke again, voice quiet and meek. "I do not remember most of what happened. It seemed as though a mysterious force had taken hold and I had no choice but to-"

"A MYSTERIOUS FORCE?! DO YOU HEAR THIS SH-!" Radford bellowed angrily, pulling at his hair and going for his own dagger, curling his lip at his youngest brother. His last word was stifled only by their mother hitting him with the scepter.

"Mind your tongue, Radford." Her sharp rebuke caused her second born to nod, looking sheepish and putting away his knife.

"Sorry, Mama."

Ignoring him, she looked to Hans, her eyebrows raised. "Now, Johannes. Just tell us the truth, explain to us what happened to you over there."

Hans eyes lifted to his mother, anger flashing through them as he knew she didn't believe him and so he continued, "There was a creature...a Jötnar, he called himself. He took control of my body and mind, possessed me. I watched from the sidelines, out of control of my own body and mind."

"Pfft, yeah, you're out of your mind alright!" Vale chortled, slapping a hand over his mouth as he laughed hard and long, soon joined by his two brothers. "Mother, Father, he turned crazy! Lost his mind!"

Hans shot forward with a snarl. "I am NOT crazy!" He flung himself towards Vale, only to be knocked aside like he was nothing more than a leaf. Hans landed a foot away in a heap, moaning and holding his cheek. He shot to his feet, teeth bared as he lunged again. "How could you! You're supposed to believe me! I'm your brother!" The wild desperation in his eyes was frightening as he pulled at Vale's clothes.

Vale curled his lip as he brushed Hans aside again, this time pinning Johannes to the wall, his other hand brandishing a dagger hurriedly torn from his belt. "Now look, you little weasel. I'll gut you right where you stand for what you have done for the Isles' reputation. You keep testing me, and it will get you killed."

Queen Alvilda grabbed Vale by the shoulders, jerking him backwards to stand in front of her lastborn son, her eyes burning with the resolve of a mother bear protecting her cub. "You will not threaten his life like this, not in front of me."

The king nodded his agreement, motioning for all of his sons to kneel before him, and he sighed. The king, for the first time in Hans' life, looked old and worn down. "Johannes, your explanation for your crimes was…" his brows furrowed and he seemed to be tasting his words, before continuing. "Confusing, at best. At worst, it was straight faced lying and avoidance of responsibility for those which you have wronged. Such will not and can not be tolerated given your fine bloodline and raising which was afforded to you." The king's eyes were gentle yet guarded, and he heavily sighed again, rubbing his jaw with his hand. "Due to the actions of your brothers, they will not be taken into conference for your sentencing. So it is I, King Anders of the Southern Isles, who bestows upon this day in the year of 1839, that you, Prince Johannes, are found guilty of crimes most severe: kidnapping, two counts of attempted murder, a count of conspiracy against a crowned authority, and three counts of high treason."

Hearing his crimes spoken out loud made Hans' heart drop. I am doomed. I might as well say goodbye to my neck now…

King Anders continued, his fingers tap-tap-tapping on the arm of the throne. "I sentence you to be stripped of your title. You will receive fifteen lashes for your wrongdoings, and they are to be carried out in no more than a fortnight, after which you will be branded so that others will know the shame you caused your great country. In addition to five years time of dredging our great waterways, building our roads, and aiding in the construction and upkeep of the village buildings, you will also spend two years time as a servant to the castle. You will be the stable-boy, the shoe shiner, the dock-boy, the page for my own services, and every other menial task I can think of to assign you. During your servitude, you will be paid a wage which will go directly to the Arendellians' treasury to aid in appeasing the queen and princess. At the end of that time served, you will enter our fishing lines for a time which is yet to be determined."

The king paused for a moment as the queen lightly touched his forearm, eyes begging him something that Hans couldn't make out, and then spoke again. "I will amend that. Should, in seven years time, I and the Queen find you to be rehabilitated in the entirety, you will receive a choice to either enter Her Majesty's service in the Royal Navy, or to become a resident on our line of fishing ships. Should you prove successful in either of those endeavors in a years' time, I will present the option for you to reclaim your royal title, as long as all those who you have associated with during your punishments can agree you are worthy of it again."

Hans' first instinct was to jump up and scream in anger, but his mind flashed back to how to Jotnar had used him and his emotions against him, and so instead he dipped his head in submittance and nodded wordlessly. The king stood, moving to stand in front of his youngest son. The disgraced prince's eyes watered, but the tears did not spill as the king ripped off the epaulettes and ornamental beading on his dress jacket. It was dingy and dirty from the month long journey within the cell block of the ship, but it was still a symbol of pride and status. The king tossed the adornments in a corner and then nodded to himself. His sentencing finished, the king turned to his older sons and his brow creased more than it had with Johannes. "Vale, Radford, and Dagny. Stand before me." As the eldest prince did so, the king frowned heavily.

"As much as Hans has disgraced us with his actions in another country, it is you and your two brothers who have forgotten your lessons in etiquette today." Vale opened his mouth to protest, but the king stopped him with a stern glare and a wave of his hand. "No, do not speak. I was briefed on how you greeted your own brother at the docks by one of my servants. And as I have held his trial here, I have witnessed each of you behave dishonorably. Vale…"

The eldest prince stood, bowing his head slightly. King Anders regarded the man with what could only be called scorn. "Vale, you are my oldest son and until today, my pride and joy. Mere moments ago, I watched you threaten your brother's life. I have never, and will never, tolerate bloodshed amongst the lot of you. Because of your cruelty shown to me today, I am stripping you and your wife and children of your ability to inherit the throne. You will keep your title of prince, however. You may maintain your private suite within the castle, and your financial backing will, of course, continue. Radford and Dagny, you both will receive this punishment as well. Dagny, as you have no wife yet let it be known that should you take one, she nor any children you might begat with her can come into the throne."

The infuriated look on Vale's face frightened Hans, and Radford held a similar look. However, Dagny only looked concerned, and he tipped his head, questioning.

"So who will rule?! Surely not Hania, she's… well, a female. Eigel and Einar are the same age and would have to co-inherit according to the law, and Cadmael is already holding a rank within the army. Jabari disobeyed our marriage laws and so he would have to divorce his commoner wife to inherit, and divorcing would make him ineligible, unless you kill the biddie off." Dagny ticked his siblings off on his fingers, brows furrowing. "Jabez is the royal war strategist, he would be next in line and the best fit, but he is weak in body and his frequent illnesses would impede his rule and make an early death more likely. Vadai, Oakley, and Percival are triplets, they would have to be held to the same standard as Eigel and Einar, and separating our kingdom into thirds will only bring wars and famine to the front." Dagny's eyes widened and he stiffened. "Surely not Zian. You might as well gift wrap the country and give it to our enemies. He's too… sensitive to rule."

Instead of answering his question, King Anders raised a brow. "Your brothers are livid, why are you not?"

Dagny shrugged. "I was already sixth in line behind Vale, his children, and Radford. I had long ago accepted I would not have the crown, and have never wanted it. As long as I can keep my comforts of living close, and still be permitted into the royal stable, I don't care about my place within the monarchy." Pausing a moment, he added, "However, I am loyal to my kingdom and it's ruler, both present and future. I despise what Johannes has done, and would willingly strangle him for making Maman cry when we received Arendelle's letter…" At this, he sent a hard look towards his youngest brother accompanied with a curl of his lip, and then bowed his head to his king and queen, "However, I openly respect your decision of taking away our inheritance. If it is what you believe best, then so be it."

The king nodded, considered the prince's words, and smiled faintly in approval. "Spoken well, my son. Spoken well."

A/N: A/N: I decided that having only brothers for Johannes wasn't super likely given the odds of having only one gender or the other are pretty skewed. So he's got sisters he just doesn't mention...and in the era Frozen takes place, why would he, really? Also, the "full" name of our poor, sweet Prince -Hans is a masculine given name. In German, Danish, Dutch, Faroese, Norwegian, Icelandic and Swedish, it was originally short for Johannes or John but is now also recognized as a name in its own right for official purposes. The earliest documented usage was in 1356 in Sweden, 1360 in Norway, and the 14th century in Denmark. So, you'll see it used in all three alternatives within the story: Hans, Johannes, and John. Some characters will be more prone to use one name than others. I've got Chapter 3 almost done, so should be up in a few!