Welcome Back!

Thank you to those who have read the story so far My stories don't normally get read much so im happy that this story is at least getting some attention even in its infant stages where I now im not making it so easy to read.

This chapter will be the last Mason focused chapter for a while and should allow the story to really steam ahead after this. ill let you read on now!

It would have gone so well if it hadn't.

Captured by some guards as green as grass, both in physical, thanks to their green uniforms, and metaphorical terms. Yet It would have been embarrassing if he didn't get to meet the Queen on the way. Instead of feeling shame, Mason got to feel the joy of fun, albeit solely him. Judging on the reaction he received he could fairly easily deduce that the Queen did not share in his fun. Quite of opposite actually. It was now indeed possible that she now lay in her room, terrified that he may break out and see his demands completed, so to speak. She had seen the trouble her guards had restraining him so who was to say an escape want possible.

But Mason had no intention of really doing what he said. He had never done such things and had no real desire to do so. It was too easy. There was no glory of honour in doing it.

"Oi, are you listening to me?" demanded a bold and scruffy interrogator outside Mason's cell.

"What? What is it?" quickly said Mason, annoyed that this man would rudely interrupt his thoughts.

"Your name! What is it?" the interrogator asked to only a sigh from Mason. The man had been asking such a question, among others, for over a quarter of any hour now, stupidly expecting an answer to the repeated questions he asked.

"I don't want to tell you that" replied Mason with a smile.

"Where are you from? Why are you here?" the bold fool kept asking.

"Give me strength" Mason said under his breath. "Why do you keep asking the same questions you idiot?" Mason asked with agitation.

"You have committed crimes and insulted the Queen" was the reply Mason unfortunately had to receive.

"Well done!" exclaimed Mason with a fake smile. "Well done for telling me how I got into here! Bloody idiot!" Mason said, resting his against the cell wall. "Go get an education. The life of an interrogator is not doing you any favours".

Obviously the interrogator would not take too kindly to such an insult, but Mason feared not any consequences. The man could just rage on the other side of his cell bars, or he could unlock the door and take justice into his own hands, an act that would of course not end well for him. Sadly for Mason though, he never got the chance to see how such a provocation would pan out as the interrogators name, who Mason did not care to listen to, was called, prompting him to leave.

"Bye. Look forward to you failing at your job later" Mason smiled to an angry face. For now, Mason closed his eyes, content in his relative peace at a time in which the odd guard with a certain nerve would come and "visit" him and express their anger for Mason comments towards the Queen. Though with this peace came time to think. The most concerning and immediate of these thoughts were preciously the ones he did not want to care for, and neither thought he would, this thought being the repercussions of this incident should his name be known. Such a realisation would no doubt spread like a firestorm, allowing all in Arendelle to know that in their cell lies a family member of their oldest allies. This was, of course, the lesser of two evils that came with such knowledge as once his father found out that he had been captured by mere guards, a fact that Mason himself cursed himself for, not God himself could save Mason from his Fathers anger. And yet, Mason did not let go of the fact that neither he nor his Father cared greatly for each other, perhaps even going as far as Edward Vane feeling he now had less weight on his shoulders, now that his least favourite son was no longer roaming free. A loving Father indeed.

But Mason was still aware that his Father was a man of Pride and power. He would not like anything that would make his family look weak. Loved or not, Mason was his son and such an embarrassment may not ignored for long.

Then once again ripping him out of thought, this time probably for the better, Mason heard the gentle, yet still audible sound that came with a hand gripping a cell bar.

"If you're here to insult me then just bloody well get on with it!" Mason said with his eyes still closed, annoyed of his interruption. Though there was no response, prompting Mason to open his eyes to see who this person was, if not an angry guard.

To his surprise, was a young girl with strawberry blond hair and a pretty face staring right at him, not seemingly happy at all.

"Yes?" asked Mason slowly. "May I help you?"

The girl cleared her throat and attempted an obvious put on attempt of looking professional with her back straight and head held high. "I…I am Princess Anna, sister of Queen Elsa" she said rather surprisingly.

"Princess hey?" Mason said wide eyed, getting up and approaching her. "Why would one as fair as you come down to this dark place?" Mason said as charmingly as he could, somewhat emulating the start of the conversation he had with the Queen earlier.

What wasn't emulated and did not happen it the slightest was a swift and straight punch he received to the face, from none only than the Princess. "My oh my" Mason said, rubbing his cheek and surprised at how hard a girl of her stature could hit. "That wasn't very princessy" he smiled.

"I heard of what you said to my sister" the Princess said, still acting as professional as she could.

"I said a lot of things to the Queen. What is it that you refer to now?" Mason said as he continued regardless of his red cheek.

"You know" she said, rather angry at this point.

"I think I do" replied Mason.

"You're disgusting!" she said as she saw a small smile appear on Mason's face who at this point, only seemed interested in messing with an apparent over serious Princess.

"I'm a nice guy really. Let me out and I'll show you" Mason said seductively, but to no avail.

"Men like you deserve to stay in prison" Anna said, crossing her arms and snapping her eyes shut.

Mason gave a quick laugh. "There are no men like me".

"There are always men like you" Anna replied immediately.

"Trust me Princess, there aren't. In fact once I-"Mason attempted to say before being cut off with the call of the overly serious Princess's name. The Princess left shortly after this, giving one last stare of disgust at Mason who thought it best to remain standing for he knew that the voice calling the Princess was that her sister, the Queen.

"You're Majesty, a surprise it is that I find you here" Mason said, going back to sitting. The Queen had only came down here to ask more questions, something in which Mason had no intent of answering truly, regardless of who it was.

"I came down here to apologise" she said sympathetically.

"Apologise?" replied a shocked Mason. "Your Majesty I know what I did and if I may speak truly, have no regrets but an apology from you is not required. I do not accept it" It was an unnecessary kindness and as Mason had ensured he kept away from in most situations in the past, he knew kindness could be the death of you.

"Well- well you still don't deserve to be down here in the dark and cold" Elsa replied, still seemingly saddened by the fact a criminal was in a cell.

"Well it's sad to say your Majesty but I've seen worse, much worse" Mason said with a smile.

"I bet you have…" she replied quietly, managing to return a small smile of her own. She said nothing after that, instead just opting to look at the ground, possibly in thought, or maybe in regret that Mason had been put in this cell.

It was a quality that Mason did not like. Such regret the Queen was now probably feeling was just an abundance of mercy, and her mercy was now being used in all the wrong places, such as wasting it on Mason who knew he was the last person who deserved such a thing.

"Why are you here, your Majesty?" Mason eventually said, breaking the silence. This seemed to startle the Queen, but she quickly recovered to seem as regal as possible despite wearing a blue sparkly dress that actually did the opposite.

"To find out who you are" she simply replied.

"Ha!" laughed Mason. "You're wasting your time then. I have no intent in telling. I did not tell the countless men sent down before you and the situation will not change because of you." Mason said, walking up to the cell bars and making the Queen take a few steps backs. If she feared him now, Mason dreaded to think how many steps back she would have to take once she knew who Mason was. "Are you afraid of me your Majesty?" Mason said with a smile.

"No" she attempted to say with courage.

"You needn't be, not with the gift they say you have" It was a surprise that reports of such a power had not yet spread faster. Maybe because no one believed it, or maybe because no one cared. But the latter was not a possibility that Mason found likely. Not with the things he had been through. It was a past and topic that Mason did not wish to dwell on, and never wanted to again. He immediately regretted mentioning it now.

It was lucky for Mason that the Queen did not also dwell it also. She did not reply to Mason's comment and only smiled at his curiosity. Perhaps she thought Mason to fear her, but he knew not. He had only discovered that the Queen was a person of great kindness and nothing much else.

"Captain Williams wishes me to keep you down here, and that I should never visit you" Elsa said.

"Captain Williams?" Mason replied, leaning against the bars, happy to have changed subjects.

"You broke his nose in the marketplace" Elsa said.

"I remember" Mason chuckled. "And yet you object to his advice. Why is this?

"Because I know that people only do bad things when they have a good reason" Elsa replied in a tone that suggested she had experienced such things.

"So murderers, rapists and the like should be excused?" Mason replied, enjoying the game that the Queen was playing. It was a fair point, and one that the Queen could not come back from presenting Mason with a massive disappointment of that the Queen might not be so interested in such moral and ethical dilemmas.

" I am offering you a chance to be let free as long as you apologise for the wrong you have committed in my Kingdom and tell me your name" Elsa said, again changing subjects.

Mason could only sigh at the Queens lack of cunning. He needn't tell her his name at risk the chance of seeming broken by her justice. He would wait here and await a chance to escape using intellect and skill, so a shake of the head was his response.

"Well I gave you the chance to be honest" Elsa said, pulling out a piece of paper. "Did you know what my guards found at our dock?" Mason did not reply, curious to see where this was going. "A sack, full of very interesting things, including various letters" she again paused to see if Mason would react, to which he didn't. "One very interesting letter was in that sack, written by a man who identified himself as a ships first mate." Now alarm bells rang within Mason.

Surely not. Surely he would not do such a thing. Mason thought.

"A man with the name of George. His letter stated that his ship was the one that brought you here" Elsa said, being the sole person smiling now. Mason placed his hand around a bar, squeezing it in anger.

I'm going to kill him!

The traitorous pig George had, in spite most like, probably written down who exactly Mason was and placed whatever possessions Mason had left on board in the sack, most notably old letters from his Father Mason cared not to read but neither cared for removing the Vane family seal off the letters.

"I had many experts work on to see if the contents of the sack were true to their appearance. They came up with a conclusion" Elsa said, strangely confident. She should have been fearful or maybe even rejoice full that they had a Vane in their cell, but alas, she was neither.

"Written on this paper is the name that they are confident you own. I have yet to read it." Mason rose an eyebrow.

"Why?" he said simply, not in the mood anymore for games.

"They did not wish to tell me yet. They wanted to tell you themselves." Elsa said.

Mason understood know. Elsa was not yet fearful because she probably had not even contemplated that Mason may be a Vane. Instead she likely thought that Mason was some well-known criminal had now she had power over him with that piece of paper. All the question asking was obviously just so that they may see him be honest, thus seemingly breaking under their justice.

"Why don't you read what it says your Majesty?" Mason smiled. Now the tides had turned. Mason's identity would be exposed, but now, he would ensure what came after would benefit him far more than staying nameless in a cell. So Elsa began to unfold the paper, and then she read the words.

Her reaction was a swift one yet sweet as sugar to Mason. Her mouth opened, letting forth a small gasp and her face took one of horror. True to his predictions as well, she took extra steps back as well.

"Why-why are you here?" Elsa said, as fearful as Mason knew she would sound.

"I'm looking for someone?" Mason said.

"Me? Anna?" Elsa said, now having difficulty composing herself. "My Father told me of your Family. Are you here to kill me?"

Mason smiled. She truly did fear the Vane's, despite any interactions with each other's since long before she was born. "No your Majesty, im am not. I care only for an escaped criminal who has been reported in these parts" Mason said truthfully.

"How do I know you are telling the truth?" Elsa almost squeaked.

Mason studied her reaction. Fear in her eyes. Uncertainty clouding her mind. Why should she trust him? He was a Vane, by most accounts he should be her natural enemy considering the consistent rivalry of the past, something she was evidently now realising.

But now his identity was in the open, he needed to escape, and fast. A possible feat to be sure considering what he had already been through in his young life, but even with freedom the fact remained, he had come to Arendelle to find a true criminal, with little to no progress. Should he escape, guards will be sent after him, word would be spread easily that an old and dangerous enemy is on the loose. His target would hear of this within an hour most like, only serving as a warning that even Arendelle wasn't safe from Mason. Mason needed to get out of this cell, but remain in Arendelle in low profile all without word being spread that he was a Vane.

"Are you afraid Elsa? Because I'm a Vane that makes me a monster does it?" Mason said, using the Queen's name to seem personal.

"I fear for my people. My kingdom. Your people and mine have been at war too many times" Elsa replied, trying to control her nerves.

"And so you should!" Mason immediately replied, somewhat aggressively, startling the Queen. "I trust you know my Father? Edward Vane?" to which Elsa nodded.

"Father told me of him a few years back. He said your Father has kept your Family weak and quiet" Elsa said. Mason almost smiled at this, though he knew he shouldn't. It seemed that his Fathers years' old plan to make the Vane's seem less of a force was working. It allowed most to turn a blind eye to what was supposedly a small and insignificant family. If only Mason could tell the truth.

"That may be so, but you know of the power we once wielded and you know we don't handle insults very well. We may not be as strong as we once were, but by God, imagine what my Father would do if he knew his old enemy captured his son? He would see it as war." Mason said getting the right reaction from Elsa. Uncertainty and thought. She was considering her options.

Mason waited. The Queen did not seem to acknowledge his words as a bluff for she was still fighting a battle within her to decide what would come of this situation. It was entirely possible that the Vane's reputation was so bad here, that once the children of Arendelle were told of their old enemies, they considered them a sort of fairy tale monster, like dragons and demons. This was working in Mason's favour now.

"I have an alternative though, your Majesty" Mason said, gaining Elsa's attention. " I will formally apologise what I have done wrong in Arendelle, I will in future totally obey your rules with a promise of no further trouble and you will-"

"Let you out?" Elsa said, cutting him off.

"Yes, but let me finish" Mason said with a soft smile. " You let me out, without being let free into Arendelle unsupervised, a foolish act if there ever was one, and you would let me serve you" This certainly got her attention if it hadn't already. Her eyes widened at Mason, confused at such a request.

"Wh-what? Why-why would you even want to do such a thing" she asked, still shocked.

"Your Majesty, you fear me, I know it. Your words and sentences have been abnormal since we first met. They have been awkward and carefully chosen. All this because of who you think I really am." Elsa tried to speak but Mason cut her off with a hand. "The world is getting smaller Elsa. Nations are getting stronger and more numerous. Why, not but a few years ago mere colonists won their independence from the mighty British Empire! In a few decades these once rebels will grow in power and strength while we, small once mighty powers of a bygone age will only appear smaller and smaller to a growing world." Elsa looked confused, she didn't know where he was going with this. This allowed Mason to carry one. "Should you allow me to serve you, I will be the bridge that will connect our two people's finally putting aside our shameful pasts and allowing relations to improve, in turn allowing a new partnership to flourish with trade."

"But how can I know you speak honestly?" Elsa said, somewhat desperately.

"You're Majesty, my Father. How many sons does he have?" Mason asked seriously.

"One" Elsa said after a few moments of thought, allowing Mason a smile which he knew was coming.

"One. Or so he would have you think. The son of whom you speak is my brother, Richard. I am the forgotten child." Mason said, sitting back down to seem emotional which, given the subject, was actually occurring in reality. "I've never been the pride of the Family, hence why Father lets the world know that he only has one son. Did you know that until I was twenty my Father made me think I was an only child? He hid Richards's true identity from me for two decades to make me independent and strong. It worked in a sense as I know longer care for my Father word. I am the disappointment. The Vane who isn't a Vane" Mason said, his head held low as he thought of his unloving Father, a thought that only served as the anger that now boiled throughout him.

"I- I'm sorry" Elsa seemed to say.

"How could you be!?" Mason said, legitimately annoyed now, stomping back over to the cell bars. "You only see me as some old evil. I saw your face when you read that piece of paper. Horror it was."

Elsa thought for a second, Mason's words seeming to have an effect on her. "If I let you go, how do I know you won't attempt an attack on me? How can you serve me when you care not for you own Father?"

"Those two points contradict each other Elsa. I know my Father has no intent on attacking Arendelle anyway, and even if he did, I would want no part in it. I would receive no glory or celebration. Only resentment from my Family that their disappointing child will now make it in the history books. And your second point. If father does not approve of my service then I get to show him the severity of his neglecting of me." Mason said. "And we don't even have to let others know who I am your Majesty." He said gaining a curious look from Elsa. "If you are truly worried of the outside repercussions of my service then pretend I am no one."

Elsa did not reply, but she seemed convinced in what Mason was saying. "What of this woman you say he search for? How can you do this in my service?"

"Should you allow it, I would commit to the search in my free time. And trust me when I say it. It does not serve in Arendelle's interests to let this woman roam free, attempting to live a life here. She is a pirate and a murderer, you don't want to let her be free".

Another moment of silence then began between the two. Elsa was now thinking of her final decision. "If I let you go, how would you serve me? What can you do to help Arendelle?" Mason saw this question as one as confirmation of allowing Mason to be set free.

"Whatever you wish. I have experience in battle and governance, such is the requirements my father set out for me to learn when I was young"

Again Elsa gave herself a long period of thought. "Ok then. I will let you out" She finally said, almost reluctantly. "On one condition" she said sharply.

"Whatever you wish my Lady" Mason said charmingly.

"I want you to promise that you will never plot against Arendelle. To never act against its interests for as long as you are in my service" Elsa said with a tone of command and leadership Mason had not yet here from her,

"I can do one better" Mason said, uncovering a small yet sharp blade he had hidden in his sleeve which, stupidly, the guards had let him keep his current attire. With the blade, he proceeded to cut a long thin line across his hand, letting blood flow. "I, from now on, do solemnly swear by the ancestors of my Family and my life that I will serve Queen Elsa of Arendelle. To never lay a hand against her and never do anything that would Arendelle dishonour or regret. This I promise" Mason said, clenching his cut fist in a blood promise. Elsa seemed somewhat shocked at this, but knew its importance.

"You could had used that blade against me" she said.

"I could have, but I didn't, and I still don't" Mason said with a smile.

"Then you can go. I will tell no one but those I trust of your true identity." Elsa said regally.

"Thank you your Majesty. Should you go and fetch a guard to unlock my cell?" Mason replied, happy that his position now did not jeopardise his current quest or allowing his Father to know where he was.

"No need" Elsa said with a smirk, revealing a set of keys.

"Your Majesty…" Mason said smiling. "I never thought you such a person" he continued to smile as he was let out.

"We all have our secrets" Elsa said, returning a smile and showing her true beauty.

"I guess now begins a new chapter" Mason said, meaning every word. "I feel I must apologise for the reasons that put me here in the first place. I never meant to scare you with what I said" Mason said, ensuring that his words that he said in the courtyard did not still linger without an apology.

"I accept, but let us not speak of the past now. I should show you around what will now be your home" Elsa said, leading Mason past guards who stared at him with disbelief that that the Queen had let him go. "I'm sure you will make some friends. My Sister, judging on the "fun" you were having with the guards some time ago, will get along with you just fine. You both seem…wild to say the least" Elsa said happily, a welcome change from the fear she displayed not but a few minutes ago.

"You have judged me with great accuracy your Majesty, but I fear me and your Sister are not exactly compatible. She did not seem this way when she spoke to me."

The Queen laughed at this, a first. "She's very protective, sometimes foolish. I don't think she would act so serious should she know who you were. Actually, she may have had the nerve to come in the cell and attack you herself" Mason smiled gently in return, content in the fact that the Princess wasn't such a bore.

The two then began a short tour around the castle. The Queen ensuring Mason knew the basic layout. "And I think this room should do you fine for the time being. I will ensure that you are not heckled by the guards for being here." Elsa said, allowing Mason to enter what was a very nice and luxury bedroom.

"You show an old enemy great kindness. Why?" Mason said, actually humbled.

The Queen looked at Mason for a short while before speaking. "Enemy or not, you families blood is noble, and I don't wish to treat you like a common criminal" Mason nodded understandingly. "Also, I believe that you should treat others with respect, care and love. That is the right thing to do, and I can tell you are not really a bad person" Elsa said smiling but turning to leave. "Oh and I apologise! I know your surname but I never asked you for your first name" Elsa said somewhat awkwardly.

"Mason your Majesty. My name is Mason" he said with a smile to which Elsa nodded and began to leave.

So here he was now, in a fairly good position. His quest had not changed, just delayed for faults of his own. But he was happy where he was, and with an "alliance" with Arendelle, he knew his life would not be the same, as long as his Family and past didn't come back.

Elsa was not her enemy and she admittedly, was a good and honest person. It was just a shame that she was wrong in her judgment of Mason.

He was a bad person, and even while he was content in his current position, like always, only darkness and destruction would follow.

Thanks for reading this relatively boring chapter if I must admit.

That was the last Mason centric chapter for a while. I needed to establish his character somewhat and his position in Arendelle so with that out of the way, we can focus on other characters and plot lines that isn't all about the Vane family.

Also, I must apologise for a butchering of Elsa and Anna's character here. I will definitely try and make them seem more like they should be in future chapters.

If you could literally just give a few seconds typing a review I would be in your debt

Thank you