Masquerade

(A/N: Incoming Helsa moments, amongst others. Focusing on some of the suitors, and on conversations and dynamics between them, or dynamics that will eventually develop. The next chapter or two the story should pick up a bit in general. Here is another historical tidbit: Harald Scharff was engaged to a woman named Camilla Petersen. They never married because he fell in love with a ballerina named Elvida Moller instead and married her.)

"The ball is a masquerade. This should be interesting," Calcas said to his brothers as they were all preparing for the masquerade ball that night. He lifted his selected mask and put it on.

"Scaramouche. A classic choice," Mael remarked.

"I know," Calcas replied, smirking.

"I have another classic," Iscawin remarked, slipping his own on. "Pierrot."

"A pity Franz wasn't here to play the Harlequin," Connyn said, smirking. "I chose Orpheus," he said, putting it on. "For reasons that should be obvious."

"You are the best instrument player among us," Calcas admitted, albeit slightly begrudgingly. "However, we're all about equal in singing."

"I'm wearing the Artist," Coth said, adjusting his mask. "Mael, Forgotten Poet suits you. I'm glad you didn't choose Dark Sorcerer."

"A masquerade is a time to be something you aren't," Mael stated. While he was a poet, and had written many anonymous poems that had even been published, his more identifying traits were historian and sorcerer. He looked over at the third youngest brother. "Your mask will be among the most stunning, Kelin-Sel. The High Elf King is rarely seen, and no one could pull it off better than you; say for perhaps the elf king himself."

"You flatter me, brother," Kelin-Sel replied, smiling. "Hans, what of you?" Hans hesitated then sighed, opening the case containing his own mask. The others looked at it and started. "Fire Elemental," Kelin-Sel realized, examining the silver, gold, and red mask. "Wow, that's…bold. Really bold. Not a lot of people can make that creation work."

"Yeah? Well, I think I'll manage just fine," Hans said, slipping it over his face. "Let's go."

"Hmm. It flatters you. What do you know?" Calcas said. With that, the brothers left their rooms to go to the ball.

Frozen

"You look beautiful, Anna," Kristoff said to Anna, who wore a Spring Princess mask.

"Thank you. But I'm not as beautiful as Elsa is," Anna said, a hint of despondence in her tone as she looked at Elsa, who wore a stunning Ice Queen mask crafted of her own ice, elaborate without being too elaborate, simple without seeming plain or common. Elsa did indeed look stunning.

"Hey, you're every bit as beautiful as Elsa. A different kind of physical beauty, maybe, but just as beautiful nonetheless," Kristoff said, grinning gently at her.

"Thank you," Anna replied, smiling up at him and nuzzling his forehead. "I love your Troll Prince mask. You look strong, powerful, unafraid to stand up to these men who'd probably be looking down at you otherwise."

"Hey, if Elsa's going to convince them I should be officially acknowledged as a prince, I might as well try to look authoritative and regal. At least during formal events. Any other time, though, I'm not wearing the monkey suits these guys put on," Kristoff said.

Anna giggled and grinned at him. "Dance with me," she said.

"I'm not very good at…" Kristoff began.

"I don't care. It's you," Anna replied, taking his hands and pulling him out onto the dance floor. He grinned down at her lovingly.

Frozen

Elsa watched her sister dance and smiled softly at the scene. She was happy for Anna. The sooner she could get things cleared up here, the better. Perhaps she would send her sister and Kristoff to the Southern Isles. It would give them their chance to elope, and as Hans had said, Moren would be sure a proper ceremony was given there in secret. She would speak to Mael about arranging for Anna and Kristoff to go with the princes back to the Isles, maybe. "Queen Elsa, if I may," a voice said. She looked over and smiled. She recognized the voice. Harald Scharff.

"I don't know if I could keep up to you," Elsa said.

"I can slow down," Harald replied. Elsa smirked and took his hand, letting him guide her out onto the floor. She wondered, briefly, who of these men on the floor were the princes of the Southern Isles. She couldn't afford to wonder long, though. Soon she was challenged to keep up to Harald's movements. He danced so gracefully. He must have been dancing his whole life.

"Have you been treated well, thus far?" Elsa asked.

"Yes, but I don't dare believe it'll keep up," Harald replied. "When they become more confident in their positions, or when they've decided the odds of victory for them aren't high, they'll turn again, I suspect."

"Come to me, if they do. I'll make certain they don't belittle you again," Elsa seriously said.

"As you wish, your Majesty," Scharff said.

"How did you come to meet Hans and his brothers?" Elsa questioned.

"They attended a ballet. My first starring role, in fact," Harald answered. "I never noticed them, of course, until after the show when the theatre owner came to my dressing room and told me that there were some patrons of great importance who wanted to speak with me. I followed him and was introduced to the princes of the Southern Isles and their parents. The king had been favorably impressed with my performance, and the queen as well. We talked for a while. Hans and his brothers were quiet throughout, though Hans stood out in that he looked like he was ready to burst with questions and inquiries that the others weren't bothered with wondering. The King and Queen left to talk to other distinguished patrons and I was left alone with the princes. They were cordial enough, but none really gave the impression of wanting to know much more about me other than the basics. Eventually they returned to their parents' sides. Well, most of them. The triplets went to speak to the orchestra and maestro. Hans remained. Unrestricted, he stopped holding his tongue. He had about a million questions about the theatre and dance and my story and past. He was enthralled with it all and wasn't shy about giving constructive criticism."

"I could see that," Elsa said with a soft laugh. "Admiral Westergaard is rarely shy about speaking his mind, it seems. When it suits him to."

"How well I know. We got to talking and hit it off. We kept in contact after that, sometimes sending pictures to one another. On occasion he would show me a poem or a bit of a story he was writing. He made it a point to try and attend every theatre production I was in, and we would spend a good deal of time together until I moved to the mainland. We still kept in contact, but rarely saw one another unless he was in Denmark or I was on the Isles again." Harald trailed off, frowning. "But… but after their mother's death… Just suddenly all contact was dropped. The Queen meant everything to Hans and to lose her... Enough said. I kept trying to write, but my letters went unanswered. Soon I gave up. I never saw or spoke to him again until only today. I was absolutely thrilled to see him here. Part of the reason I dared dupe the Duke of Weselton into believing I was a nobleman was because I had hoped to make contact with him again."

"You're very close to him," Elsa observed.

"I half believe he may have started to develop something of a big brother complex over me," Harald replied with a chuckle. "Which was definitely a novelty for him,seeing as he was the youngest in a brood of thirteen."

"And you?" Elsa asked. "How did you view him?"

"He became a role model to me, a brother… I will admit, though, it did happen that on occasion I wondered, in passing, what it would be like to try for a less… conventional, shall we say, relationship with him," Harald answered.

"So Mael's assessment is correct?" Elsa asked.

"That either or suits me fine? He is," Harald replied. "Though I tend to lean more towards the fairer sex. I am engaged, you know… She is beautiful… Her name is Camilla Petersen."

Elsa frowned. "But…?" she pressed, sensing something was wrong.

Harald sighed. "But I believe I'm falling in love with another young maiden, Elvida Moller. She is a ballerina. She dances so beautifully, and she is so kind..." he said. "And frankly I don't know what to do about it. I don't want to hurt my fiancée, but… but my heart does not love Camilla like it loves Elvida."

"Well, for one you're much too young to be thinking of things like marriage," Elsa said. She suspected heavily that he was younger than 18. "I'd advise you put your engagement on hiatus and wait until the three of you grow up a lot more before making a final decision. Maybe in time things will become clearer for you all and it'll be easier."

"Yes… Yes, that may actually be a good idea. Thank you, Queen Elsa. I will keep your suggestion in mind," Harald said. Just then the song ended. "Thank you for the dance, my queen," Scharff said, bowing to her.

"Thank you," Elsa replied, curtsying. "I hope to dance with you again, later."

"Count on it," he promised with a smile. With that, he moved away from her. She smiled after him.

Frozen

"Queen Elsa?" a voice asked.

She turned curiously. "Which suitor are you?" she questioned.

"A masquerade is about the mystery, my lady," the man replied. "But then I suppose mystery won't get me anywhere now, will it? Not if I impress you and then you cannot determine who I am afterwards."

Elsa smirked. "Does that mean you'll answer or no?" she asked.

"Given my behavior earlier today, I'm not entirely sure you would accept a dance if you knew who I was," the man answered.

"Ah… Edvard Collin," she said. She took his offered hand. "Why did you behave as you did?"

"Petty spite," he answered. "I have no other excuse. Though, in my defense I have been standing up for and guarding Harald ever since, out of guilt. Perhaps some affection as well. He is very pleasant company, once you get to know him a bit."

"He is," Elsa confirmed. "Keep yourself in check from this point on and you may yet be able to redeem yourself for your morning display. It was certainly amusing to see someone keep up to Prince Hans. At least someone who wasn't one of his brothers."

"Thank you, my queen. Hans is proving an interesting case to me. I will look forward to getting to know him better," Edvard said.

"You two might make great friends," Elsa said, smirking.

"Perhaps," Edvard agreed. "It's worth attempting it. Somehow I don't see Hans having many people he can call 'friends'."

Elsa was quiet, thinking. Aside from Harald Scharff, she didn't know who else could be considered his friend either. Well, he and Kristoff seemed to get along lately, so that was one budding friendship. He was at least acquaintances with Prince Eric too. She was Hans's fiend, she supposed. There really wasn't much use denying she'd grown a little fond of him. At least, fonder than she'd ever intended to. Okay, more than a 'little fond'. Quite fond, if she was completely honest with herself and ignored the feelings of guilt she had for feeling that way towards him, given what he'd done to Anna. "I think, for the most part, that it's only him and his brothers."

"Then it's high time he extended his social circle," Edvard stated.

Elsa smiled. "I don't believe many can handle the personalities that come with the princes of the Isles," she remarked.

"You would be right," Edvard replied. "They have quite a history… A good deal of things to sort out even in themselves. Their personalities are dynamic, unpredictable, dangerous, and more people are scared of them than curious about them. Rumors fly, my lady, and damage names beyond repair sometimes. There are horrible rumors spread about the princes."

"Dare I ask?" she questioned.

"Probably not. They have been called the Borgia family of this century. Enough said," Edvard replied. Elsa cringed. That was bad. "I feel pity for them, you know… Caleb is a good man. At least, a better man than his father could have ever been. The old king tried. He just, he wasn't exactly a stellar example. He didn't have one himself. He didn't know how to be a father, only how to be a king… I don't think he could love even when he tried. I believe he was incapable of the emotion. At least in its true form. But then again, the way he behaved around his queen… Once, maybe, he was able to love… Then it was just gone and I don't know why or how it came to pass."

Elsa was quiet, looking down. "His children can still be saved where he wasn't, can't they?" she wondered.

"I believe so," Edvard answered.

The dance came to a close and he bowed to her. She curtseyed in return. "I feel like my first impression of you may have been wrong, Mr. Collin… I'm glad for that… Perhaps we will dance again later," Elsa said to him.

"Nothing would please me more," Edvard replied, smirking. Turning, he left her to dance with whichever other suitor would come her way.

Frozen

It was Duke Carl Alexander who took her into his arms next. He was bold in his embrace. Almost too bold, but not quite. "You play dangerously, suitor," she remarked to the man.

"I much prefer things that way," the man answered.

"Which man are you?" she wondered.

"I am Duke Carl Alexander," he replied.

"You're blunt," she said, smirking.

"Why waste time teasing and dancing about with words, when getting to the point works just as well without all the eloquent nonsense?" he answered.

She giggled despite herself. "You are certainly no writer, then," she remarked.

"God no. Let the young prince of the Southern Isles play that game," the Duke said.

"Do you like any fine arts, or are you one of those typical brute types?" Elsa asked with a scoff.

"You've formed you opinion of me so quickly, Your Majesty. And on what have you based it? The fact I do not dress up my language?" the Duke asked. She blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed and ashamed. "I do quite appreciate the fine arts, actually. I simply prefer more outdoorsy sorts of things. Hunting, sparring, etc."

"If I've offended you, I'm sorry," she said, blushing a little more.

"You haven't offended me. Amused me, yes, offended me, no," Carl stated. "Neither my intelligence or pride has been hurt by your quick judgement. Frankly I cannot say you're far from the truth of the matter. I do prefer physical activities to intellectual ones, though that is not to say I'm incapable of carrying on an intellectual conversation about such cerebral things. Just after a time it gets very dull. At least for me."

"Nonetheless, I feel I owe you that apology at least," Elsa said.

"Then I will take it. Thank you," he said. "Tell me, Your Majesty, why you allowed the Southern Isles into this matchmaking game? Everyone who is anyone knows of Hans's treachery to you and his attempted regicide."

Elsa blushed and shifted. "Political relations with the Isles are in the process of being patched up. King Caleb, King Moren, is not responsible for what Hans did, nor are his people. Besides, I couldn't afford to cast them off as trade partners. We had already lost Weselton!" she insisted.

"And now you have Weselton back. You have no need for the Isles anymore," Carl Alexander stated.

"I believe in second chances, Duke Alexander. I stand by the Isles and their rulers," Elsa firmly stated, frowning.

"I do not suggest you leave them. I'm just wondering why you haven't," the man answered.

"Because maybe I've gotten to know and like the princes," Elsa defended.

"Interesting…" the young Duke said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Elsa asked.

"Many things, your Majesty, but you don't need to worry. They are my own private musings. They have nothing to do with you, or very little," the young Duke replied.

Elsa tilted her head, examining him quietly. "You're a different sort than I am used to," she soon remarked to him.

"Good. I would not settle for being plain," the young Duke replied. "I am open minded, but also set in my actions when I determine the course of them."

"You're an interesting mix," she said. "Like Admiral Westergaard, like Edvard Collin… You three would get along."

The young Duke scoffed. "I have no affection for the Southern Isles and even less interest in them. They are a stone in the way and so I must deal with them. And will," he said. "As to Edvard Collin, well, he's another matter all his own, but ultimately just another stone in the path to deal with."

"What are you implying?" Elsa suspiciously questioned.

"The prince's treachery really struck you, didn't it?" the Duke remarked. "I plan nothing against you that would hurt you, Queen Elsa. Only them. And by hurt, I certainly don't mean to the degree Prince Hans was willing to go."

Elsa tensed slightly, looking down. "Don't… bring that up, please," she said.

"Apologies, my queen, but it can't be forgotten," the Duke replied.

"No. It can't. But it's in the past now. He isn't that man anymore," Elsa said.

"Isn't he?" the Duke questioned. Elsa was quiet. She wished she could say with certainty that he wasn't. She couldn't, though. "In the depths of his heart, that man is still there and will always be." Elsa closed her eyes. She wished she could tell him he was wrong, but she wasn't even sure herself anymore.

The song soon ended. The young Duke and the Queen bowed and curtseyed to one another. "You will be open for another dance later, perhaps?" Elsa asked.

"Perhaps. If you should want one. Thank you, your Majesty," Carl Alexander replied, bowing then turning to leave. Elsa watched after him. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of the man. The last time she hadn't been entirely sure what to make of a man, it had ended in Hans's treachery. It put her on edge, but even still she was curious about him.

Elsewhere, Hans eyed the young Duke suspiciously and guardedly. He didn't like this. At all. Nor had he liked Edvard's honeyed words to her. He harrumphed and sipped at the champagne in his hand before turning back to his brothers and mentally putting Edvard and Carl high on his mental 'to be watched and dealt with' list.

Frozen

Some hours went by before the queen found anyone else she was willing to share another dance with. Some men had been too dominating, some disgusting, some ridiculous, some utterly moronic, some lewd, some apparently no more thrilled about being sent to court her than she was in receiving them. Those ones she had directly asked whether or not they were there by choice and if they wanted to leave. For the most part they were honest, on occasion they spoke of other loves that they had left back home in order to come here in accordance with the commands of their parents or kings. She promised these ones they would be sent back. Just because she was going to end up in a potentially loveless marriage didn't mean they had to.

She took the hand that Calcas offered her. She had identified the triplets quickly enough because about three songs into the ball, they'd taken over the music aspect completely until only recently. She smiled at him and let him lead her onto the floor. He took her to Connyn and Coth and all three of them together danced with her in something of a circle. Soon enough she was laughing and joking with them as they spun around with her. Loveless… Would it really be loveless? She could love any of the princes of the Southern Isles, she determined. Even if not romantically, then at least close enough. She wouldn't mind marrying a dear friend. Friends with benefits, she believed the new term was? She hated that term. It didn't seem exactly right anyway.

She didn't believe any of the triplets would be the ones she chose. Not because she didn't consider them serious contenders, she most certainly wouldn't mind being with any of them in fact, but more because it seemed they were subtly making it known to her that they didn't want her to choose any of them. Their dancing with her all together instead of individually told her they weren't looking to be more intimate with her beyond dear friends. For that she was glad. She could take them straight to the finals and it would cut down her choices by three and make the whole thing easier while still putting on a show... Though, as this game went on, it was becoming less and less of a show... She was finding herself quite drawn to a few different ones that weren't of the stock of the Southern Isles.

"How has the dance been, your Majesty?" Calcas asked.

"It was fun, for the first while. After the first three dances I shared in, though, things got boring," Elsa replied.

"No wonder. Most of these men seem a bore," Connyn said, smirking.

"They are! All they talk about is politics and wealth and their power and all their land… It starts to sound the same after a while," Elsa said. "I mean, the politics can be exciting at times, but to hear it constantly? I don't think so."

"Here's to the Queen!" Calcas said, clapping for her. "Their boasts do get pretty old."

"I love telling them we have over thirteen private islands," Coth said, smirking.

"That isn't true," Elsa said, smirking. At least not the 'private islands' business. The Southern Isles were a chain of regional islands. The main one wasn't the only one where settlements and towns resided.

"No, but if they're ignorant enough, they buy it," Coth said, smirking. "And even those who know about our kingdom can be tricked with word play."

"You deceitful rogue," Elsa teased.

"Hans picked up a good number of tricks from Coth," Connyn boasted for his brother.

"Really, though, is that something we should boast?" Calcas asked, laughing behind his hand.

"Oh, I suppose not, but oh well," Connyn answered.

"He picked up a good deal from each of us those two years we ignored him," Coth said.

"Well, he picked up things from you and Connyn. He just ended up thinking me weak and pathetic for not dumping you two to the side for the sake of father's appreciation. I suppose, though, that has something to do with how after that, I went ahead and abandoned him, Iscawin, and Kelin-Sel," Calcas said.

"We all did. Not that we were ever much better off than them," Connyn scoffed.

"It must have been very hard," Elsa remarked.

"Not as hard as you might thing. Not until we looked back on it, when we got older, and realized just how far we'd all fallen. Then we began to see ourselves through the eyes of our mother. We hated what we saw. By then, though… It was too late," Coth said. "Hans was gone, Iscawin was teetering on the brink of giving up and taking everything passively like a puppet, and Kelin-Sel was fighting a war alone that he was drowning in."

"At that point we realized we'd been fighting our own war alone too. We opened up to Kelin-Sel, who in turn pulled back Iscawin, which in turn turned our older brothers' attention and made them start to see all that they'd done to us, for the most part. But…" Calcas began. He trailed off.

"But Moren, Jürgen, Rhun, Duach, and Hans remained stagnant. Moren had long ago become a puppet of father's who followed him without question and just did what was commanded simply because it was easier and more survivable. Now we know he was actually lying in wait for the day he could seize the throne and right father's wrongs, but back then we didn't see. We just saw a broken puppet. Jürgen was just… He'd given up long ago and decided to carve his own path separate from the throne. As we now know, that path led to becoming Meilic and living a totally different life altogether with a clean slate he probably would have broken off onto completely, if not for some last remnants of loyalty he felt for us. Rhun and Duach just took the blows and shut out everyone but each other. The drama wasn't worth the prize, in their eyes, until only very recently. Like Hans returning in chains, recently, at which point it hit them like a ton of bricks," Connyn said.

"And Hans?" Elsa asked.

The triplets were quiet. "Hans was too far gone at that point to be drawn back," Coth finally answered.

"Every offered hand or semi-kind word we gave was seen as a plot to gain his trust before ripping it away… We couldn't really blame him for thinking so. Every time hope had seemed to reach him before, it was always ripped away like that. It was the same with all of us, I suppose, but Hans… I don't know," Calcas finished. "Hope wasn't exactly a nurtured trait in the Southern Isles royal line."

"Like love?" Elsa asked, recalling Gerda's words.

The triplets each visibly cringed at that. "Yes… like love…" Calcas said with a sigh. "But… let's not talk about that anymore. This is a ball, Elsa, enjoy yourself and don't get weighed down in dark talk."

Elsa looked torn between protesting and agreeing. Finally, though, she nodded. "Alright," she agreed with a smile as the song ended. "Thank you for the dance. Maybe later we'll do it again," she said.

"It would be our honor," Coth answered, bowing to her along with his brothers.

Frozen

"Alright, your turn to go to her, Iscawin," Mael said.

"Finally," Iscawin said, grinning.

"Then you, Hans. I want Kelin-Sel to finish with her," Mael said.

"Why him?" Hans demanded.

"In case you do something foolish and ruin her fun," Mael answered.

"Foolish?!" Hans demanded.

"Like being you and repeating what happened the last time you danced with the Queen," Mael bit. Hans cringed, looking slightly embarrassed. "Kelin-Sel can swoop in, then, to cover your error and salvage the night for her and for us. At least then she won't leave off with an entirely bad impression of the Southern Isles."

"I'll get her away from the dancing and into the gardens," Kelin-Sel answered. It would be something different. And a respite. Elsa had been dancing a lot tonight, with only minimal breaks in between every five or so scores. It would do her good to get some fresh air. Him as well, for that matter.

"Your faith in me is flattering, Lars," Hans deadpanned. Mael gave him a cold look. Hans cleared his throat and looked away. Okay, so Mael had every right in the world to slam him with that. Again, the way he'd twisted his brother's advice before into an attempted, and very nearly successful, treason… Enough said. Frankly, Mael was showing more faith in him than he'd expected to ever be shown again.

"Right. I'll uh, just go," Iscawin said, quickly moving off to join Elsa. Hans sighed. Kelin-Sel snickered. Hans gave him a sharp and unimpressed glare.

Frozen

"Queen Elsa, may I have this dance?" Iscawin questioned, approaching her and smiling.

Elsa smiled at him. "I'd be honored," she replied, holding out her hand. He took it lightly and bowed his head to her. He pulled her onto the dance floor and the two began to dance slowly.

She sighed, leaning against him a little. He blushed. "You seem tired," he noted.

"It's been a long night," Elsa replied. "And will be longer still, I suspect. I've never stayed up this late in my life."

"Not even as a rebellious teenager?" Iscawin teased.

"Stop it, you," Elsa replied, smirking up at him. "I never really got a chance to be rebellious much. Didn't really hit that phase like Anna did. Being locked away in a castle kind of does that to you."

"It was the opposite for most of us," Iscawin said. "I can't even count all the times I snuck out under the noses of everyone. I just… I wanted to get away. Kind of was holding onto every semblance of individuality I had. Dad would have loved us to have a sort of hive mentality. Him as the queen bee, us as the mindless drones. He didn't really clue in that his kids were each their own people. It threw him for a loop. A big one. I couldn't hack him trying to push us into being clones of one another, and of him, so I just kept leaving. It was that or succumb."

"You thought Moren had succumbed," Elsa noted.

"That was proven wrong soon enough. We learned quickly enough that he had only been biding his time," Iscawin replied, dryly laughing. "Dad was alive, when Hans sailed for Arendelle. When Hans came back, Caleb was on the throne. Father was a strong man, and healthy. Or so we'd thought. As time wore on he got weak increasingly fast. I think, I know, that he was poisoned to death. Slowly. Not by us!" At least not as far as he knew, though he suspected otherwise. "Certainly not by Caleb either, as I'm probably making it sound, but I'm… I'm almost certain Moren realized, at some point, what was happening. He did nothing to stop it or warn father, so in a sense I guess he's an accomplice to our father's murder. Probably for the best. Otherwise, the only letter you would have received from the Southern Isles regarding Hans would be the one that told you he had been executed for his crimes."

"I'm glad it didn't come to that," Elsa admitted.

"So are we," Iscawin replied. "But enough talk of us. You look beautiful, Elsa. Your mask is the most lovely and intricate in the room, yet somehow also one of the simplest. Smallest, rather."

"Thank you," she replied. "I didn't want to be too showy, but I also wanted to stand out a bit."

"You do," Iscawin said. "Believe me you do." Elsa blushed. He blushed too and cleared his throat. "If-if that was too bold…"

"It wasn't, Iscawin," Elsa assured. "Not in the least… You dance very well…"

"Thank you, my lady. I can't exactly hold a candle to Rhun or Franz, but I try," he said.

"You're more than good enough," Elsa said, giggling. He grinned, blushing more. "What was your greatest crime against your brother?" Elsa questioned.

Iscawin was silent, grin slowly falling. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "I… took him into a swamp, set a pack of wolves on him, snared him, and left him to die." Elsa started, eyes widening.

"It's… a long story," Iscawin said with a sigh. "And one I'm not proud of. I've hated myself ever since… He trusted me… I threw away that trust, and for what? A chance at power and recognition from a man who couldn't have cared less if I lived or died? God, I could spit at myself, looking back on it now, among worse things… I think I may have been the cause of… I was the start of Hans's downward spiral. At least the kick start. He'd been slowly slipping, but my betrayal… It kind of put the last nail in the coffin…"

"You don't have to tell me in detail," Elsa gently said to him. "I imagine all of you, Hans included, did horrible things to one another that are best left never looked back on."

"It's never good to hide the crimes of your past. When they're found out, and they usually are, you risk losing everything," Iscawin quietly said.

"I don't believe there's anything any of you could tell that would drive me to turn my back on you," Elsa said.

"Don't guarantee it… There is blood on all of our hands. Too much, on the hands of some," Iscawin replied. Elsa was quiet. "But now we're back on the topic of us. It's you I want to hear about."

"I hardly know what I could say," Elsa answered. "I never really got a chance to figure that out. I'm afraid I couldn't tell you much. I mean, I could lament my being prisoner in this castle and locked away from the world, I could weep for hours on end for the time I lost with my sister, and I could curse my parents eternally for their choices regarding how to deal with my gift… It wouldn't do any good, though. The past can't be changed."

"Maybe not, but I would willingly listen to every one of your woes," Iscawin said.

Elsa smiled gently up at him. "Thank you. It means more to me than you know," she said. The dance ended and slightly reluctantly the two pulled apart. "I enjoyed myself. I hope to do it again some time. Perhaps later tonight, if there's still time."

"I'll look forward to it," Iscawin replied, bowing. "I feel I should warn you, Elsa, that Mael has this whole courtship process planned out. He's the one who has been dictating which brother dances with you and when."

Elsa laughed good-naturedly. "He's doing a good job," she said. "Perhaps, though, the rest of you should go off plan next round. It might work to your advantage. I eagerly await your next step." Iscawin smiled and backed away from her.

Frozen

Returning to his brothers, Iscawin said, "She's tired. Not sure if putting her through one more dance will be a good idea. She needs a respite."

Mael looked at Elsa, who did indeed looked fatigued with this all, and pursed his lips. "Hans, can I trust you to behave, if I let Kelin-Sel take her to the garden before I let you dance with her?" he finally asked.

"Oh for the love of… Yes, Lars!" Hans replied in annoyance. "It's not going to be a repeat of the first time we danced."

"It had better not be," Mael warned, glaring at him darkly. "For your sake, little brother." Hans cringed and nodded.

"Then I'll go speak to Elsa," Kelin-Sel said, going towards the Queen. Mael gave Hans one more warning glare before returning to his seat and sipping at wine. Hans slipped away to go to the dance floor. He wasn't up to dealing with a moody Lars, let alone a moody Lars with alcohol in his system.

Kelin-Sel went to Elsa and paused at her side. "Queen Elsa, you're tired," the prince remarked.

"Hmm? Oh, yes," Elsa replied, realizing she'd spaced out.

"This is no time to ask you for a dance, I see," Kelin-Sel said. "However, if you would like to get out of here I find the fresh air very invigorating. We can stroll in your gardens."

"Unchaperoned? You're bold," Elsa lightly teased. "Or I am, for agreeing."

He chuckled. "Come, my queen. Humor me," he said, offering his hand. She nodded, taking it, and inconspicuously the two of them slipped outside.

Frozen

"So, Pierrot, the Scaramouche, Orpheus, the Artist, Forgotten Poet, High Elf King," Elsa said, reciting the masks each Southern Isles prince wore as the two of them strolled down the garden path. "Which, by the way, is beautiful. You pull it off so well."

"Thank you, my lady," Kelin-Sel said, bowing.

"The only mask I have yet to figure out is Hans's," Elsa said.

"When you hear him speak, you'll know him. You may even suspect when you first see him," Kelin-Sel stated. "He made a bold choice with it, I will say that."

"Bold?" Elsa curiously asked.

"Bold as in few who wear it, or variations of it, can actually pull it off to its full effect," Kelin-Sel explained.

"I look forward to seeing it for myself, then," Elsa said. For a time they walked in comfortable silence. "You were right. The fresh night air is invigorating," Elsa soon said. She felt more awake already, and also very serene.

"It always helps me clear my head," Kelin-Sel agreed.

Elsa was quiet, thinking. "Kelin-Sel, may I ask you something?" she soon asked.

"Anything, your Majesty," he answered.

"Why are you here?" she questioned.

"Moren's command," Kelin-Sel answered.

"No other reason?" the queen asked.

Kelin-Sel was quiet. "I wish to ensure that you are not forced to make a choice that will ruin your happiness," he said after a moment. "In situations such as these, it is so easy to settle… I suppose, though, that no matter what happens you will be settling… I'm sorry for that."

"Do you want to marry me? I mean, would marrying me be alright for you?" she asked. Kelin-Sel was again silent, pausing with her along the garden wall that overlooked the sea. She hoisted herself up to sit on it, looking down curiously at him.

Soon the prince looked up at her. "I would marry you, and I would be content… But I don't want to… No, it wouldn't be alright. It wouldn't because as much as Moren totes these 'marry for the sake of peace and politics, love will grow' spiels, I don't want to wait for love to grow. I don't have the strength within me to wait. For the life of me I could never handle the question that would always linger over my head."

"What question is that?" she asked.

"What if love doesn't grow?" Kelin-Sel answered. He looked up at her. "I love you dearly, Elsa, but not as a romantic partner. A friend. A potential sister… But I don't have the power of mind and heart, or the strength of will, or the patience, to take that chance… If I marry, I want it to be for love. I need it to be. I can't hope to learn to love someone."

"What if, when that love grows, it ends up something beyond magical for you?" Elsa asked.

"What if it never does?" Kelin-Sel repeated.

"That wasn't my question," Elsa said.

Kelin-Sel was quiet. "Love is a tiresome game…" he soon murmured. "No matter how one goes about it. I just can't see myself, personally, being strong enough to do what you're doing here."

"I wonder what it would be like... Marrying for love," she mused.

"For you? Boring. Hardly a challenge at all. I can't see you going for something that isn't a challenge. Work for your reward, and all that. You will find love because you are willing to fight the battle to enter the heart of another. You have that special strength. You have the power to reach into the hidden depths of someone's soul and mine into it until you see the reward hidden away. I, on the other hand, can't dig through layers and layers of blackness to reach light like you can," he remarked, plucking a flower from its place and twirling it in his hand before raising it to his nose to take in the scent. Of course it was his own interpretation of her, he could be wrong, but ah well.

"When have I done that?" Elsa asked.

"We have changed, Queen Elsa. All of us, since first we met you and your sister," Kelin-Sel answered. "I believe… I believe you are saving us from ourselves, bit by bit. The two of you. You reached into us and found humanity there and tried to bring it out. Your demeanor in itself drew us farther away from darkness. Especially Hans… It's been too many years, since I've seen him like he is now… You and Anna are the first ones to have ever fought to find more within us than the superficial. For that I will be forever grateful." Lightly he tucked the flower into her hair.

She reached up, lightly adjusting it. "Thank you," she murmured to him. "For this. The talking, the walk… everything… The woman who marries you will be so, so lucky. More than she will ever know."

He smiled and reached up, to her face, lightly bringing it down and dropping a soft kiss on her forehead before nuzzling her gently. "You will find happiness. Whichever way you choose to go about this marriage business," he said to her. She smiled at him. "Come on, let's get back inside. There is an hour or two left before the ball ends. You can get a few more dances in, hopefully. Try to stay on your feet."

"I'll manage," she assured, giggling. Elsa slid off of the wall, holding Kelin-Sel's hand, and the two headed back to the palace. From the window of the ballroom, however, eyes watched.

Frozen

"I foresee a challenge. One we can do without. A threat… She may have selected her suitor already," a man remarked to his companions. Duke Carl Alexander. A group of five other suitors were at his back.

"Then we need to be sure he is out of the game before it's too late," one said.

"Death?" a second questioned.

"No death. That will get our hands too dirty," Carl stated. "Besides, war with the Southern Isles is the last thing anyone needs. He's done nothing deserving of death… Just deserving of 'disappearing'. Temporarily. In time he'll be sold back to his brothers or returned to them."

"You are cold, Duke, if it suits you," a third remarked.

"I am. Gentlemen, we have planning to do regarding the third youngest prince of the Isles. Planning that cannot get back to his brothers," Carl Alexander stated.

"Understood," a fourth suitor said, nodding.

"I will inform Edvard of what we have seen," a fifth stated.

"No. Leave Edvard out of this," Carl Alexander said. "He is too smitten by the queen to be trusted."

"We are all competing for the queen," one of the other suitors pointed out. "By that logic any of us could go to her now, call conspiracy, and have ourselves raised up in her eyes."

"And if you did, you would end up impaled by my sword," Duke Alexander threateningly warned them. "This matter does not concern Queen Elsa. It's our own personal game. Consider it the next competition, in a sense. Try for blackmail first. If that doesn't pan out, kidnapping."

"Then murder?" a second suitor asked.

"You're a blood thirsty bunch, aren't you? No death," Carl warned them seriously. "That's final."

"Very well," a third agreed for them all. With that, they separated. The young Duke turned back to the window, watching Elsa return with Kelin-Sel. Dammit, why hadn't any of them thought to switch things up for her? No woman could dance a whole night through without rest. They'd been selfish and it was costing them now. But it wouldn't cost them for long. He felt eyes on him and turned. From the side the youngest prince of the Southern Isles was warily watching him. He pursed his lips. The young man would prove an interesting challenge in himself, Carl determined. He looked away from Hans.

Frozen

Elsa entered the ballroom again with Kelin-Sel. He bowed to her and moved off through the crowd. She smiled after him and looked around. The ballroom was dim. The only light, now, was the light of the candles and the flickers of moonlight drifting through the drawn drapes. It was a hauntingly beautiful sight, all these faces hidden behind masks, moving through the ballroom as if they were apparitions. The song being played and sung, this one by the triplets, was haunting and beautiful, reminiscent of a medieval chant but also not. She closed her eyes, lifting her face towards the roof and taking it in in silence.

Seeing Kelin-Sel enter with Elsa, Mael looked towards Hans, who was keeping to less populated areas of the ballroom in shadow. The youngest prince was beyond done with this little party, Mael knew. Hans never had really had much fun at these things. Mostly because he had rarely had a partner to dance with. Most women had been after the princes closer to the throne, not the ones farther from it. Hans was literally the last priority. A good number of women had chosen to be wallflowers over dancing with the thirteenth brother at a ball. Generally, if Hans asked, a woman would accept. Hans had had an eye, though, for knowing which ones weren't worth his breath and which ones were. Suffice it to say, more often than not the women in attendance weren't worth his breath. He had more pride than to be used to incite jealousy or to spite someone. Hans glanced over at him, meeting his eyes, and subtly nodded. He knew it was his turn on the floor now. Mael hoped to god he didn't blow this for them.

Hans turned attention back towards the queen who stood in a beam of moonlight, face turned upwards and mask sparkling in the light. He moved around the perimeter in the shadows, closing the distance between them slowly but surely. She seemed to sense him, as suddenly she looked his way. Her eyes fell on him, but he kept moving towards her. She tilted her head in intrigue. Part of her suspected, then, who he was. Didn't know, but suspected. She would know for sure who he was, soon enough. "Your turn now, Fire Elemental?" she questioned. Hmm, it was a bold choice. It worked on him.

"Best for last, Snow Queen," he answered, bowing to her.

"Best, hmm?" she asked. "I'm not so sure. I've had some wonderful dances and conversations."

"Must we ruin it with conversation?" he questioned.

She looked at him and said nothing. Finally she held out her hand in silence. He took it in his own and drew her close, leading her out onto the dance floor. One hand lightly fell on her hip. The fingers of the other entwined through her own gently. She subtly shivered at the touch. Her own fingers curled around his and she looked at their entwined hands silently.

His touch so warm, hers so cold…

She looked up at him again then placed her hand on his shoulder. He bowed his head to her then began to dance with the queen gracefully, moving with her around the room. A song like this was not something easily danced to. A rhythm was hard to find, the movements hard to master in a way that would match the beauty of the music. A lament wasn't meant to be danced to… Yet here they were, dancing to it and doing it justice. Hans was faring well at this game. The twirls, when they came, weren't rapid. They were slow and consistent. Once, twice, three times, four times. He caught her to him, her back against his front, and softly he rocked her like that.

He was so close…

He spun her to face him again and continued the steady movement. This was the slowest he had ever danced, he noted to himself, but he didn't half mind it. Of course a part of him wished the triplets had chosen a better song for dancing, but most of him thanked them for their choice. The song was beautiful, meaningful, and had her completely captivated… And if he were to be honest, it had enchanted him as well…

He felt her every movement against himself…

He drew her nearer ever so slightly. She didn't protest the contact. In fact, she dared to lay her head against his chest. Perhaps fatigue was clouding her judgement, but she hardly cared… She felt safe… She felt safe in the arms of a traitor, and she knew she shouldn't, but she did. She closed her eyes, letting him lead her.

She'd never listened to the beat of a heart before. Not like this… So real, so there, so steady, so alive…

A fleeting thought crossed her mind.

Never let it stop… Never let it go silent…

He felt numb as he swayed with her in his arms. He stared ahead at the fading candles and the faces hidden in darkness watching them as they danced. For once he didn't notice the eyes, or feel them judging… He was judging himself, though… Why was she trusting him like this? Why did she feel safe here, in the arms of the man who had tried to kill her? Why did she trust him not to hurt her? That question tormented him more painfully than anything else ever had. As if sensing his concerns, her hand tightened ever so slightly on his and she looked up at him, meeting his eyes.

He felt as if he was seeing all of this from somewhere high above but wasn't actually there…

In a mere gesture she conveyed her answer to his unspoken question.

Because I can see and feel what you hide away…

He felt a sudden urge to take her lips with his and never withdraw them. He drew in a slightly shaky breath, violently stuffing that thought into a chest in the back of his mind. What was he thinking, dammit?! It wasn't as if she would ever accept such a gesture anyway. Not after everything he'd done. You could forgive and forget, but some things shouldn't be forgiven or forgotten. And if she'd forgiven, she certainly wouldn't pretend the past had never happened.

I want to love y…

Quickly he cut off that train of thought. But it was just thought… What harm could come of a thought?

I want to love you. Let me love you…

There, he had let the thought enter his mind. It didn't mean it would come to be. It was a fantasy. A wild story in his head that he could later convert to paper using different characters and names and settings. Those words were something he could have spoken once upon a time, but once upon a time was over and done with now. 'I love you' was not something he would ever say. He couldn't. He was incapable of feeling love, anymore.

So then what is this feeling growing within you?

The song ended. Hardly a moment too soon. He released her immediately, looking at her with fear in his eyes. Thankfully, the mask hid that fear. She was looking away from him. Of course she was… He was the monster that haunted her dreams… He thought to try and say something. Thank her for the dance? Apologize? The words were in his mind, but his tongue couldn't find them. He wouldn't force it to either. He simply bowed to her then turned, walking swiftly away.

Elsa watched after him, feeling numb as Gerda's words echoed in her mind over and over and over again. The night needed to end now, she decided. Right now. She needed to go to bed and… she didn't know… Pretend this never happened?

You can't run from this!

His words from so long ago echoed in her head. She closed her eyes. He was right… She couldn't run from it and she wouldn't. It had happened, end of story. There was no denying it had happened. Not a word spoken… And yet what had passed between them in silence and gesture and touch and a glance, became more meaningful than any sort of conversation could have ever hoped to be.

You want the feeling back… You want his arms around you again…

She was silent. Soon she turned and called an end to the ball, dismissing all guests.