Daughters of Light, Sons of Darkness

(A/N: Finally got my computer back so I can start posting this story again. Here's an extra long chapter to make up for the time I was gone. Enjoy.)

Anna was practically hopping up and down, a bundle of nerves. "I can't believe this is happening. You actually invited them!" she exclaimed to Elsa as she stood with her sister and Kristoff on the balcony, overlooking the ocean and the ships coming in.

Anna still couldn't believe what her sister had told her a week ago. No tact, no nothing, she had just come into her room and said, "I've invited the king and princes of the Southern Isles to Arendelle to discuss our political relations in the wake of Hans's treachery." Anna had been frozen in disbelief. All she'd been able to do was look at Elsa with wide and shocked eyes and blink. Elsa had awkwardly cleared her throat, looking a bit guilty, and left.

"What were you thinking?" Anna asked for probably the dozenth time.

"We have already lost Weselton as a trading partner. We can't afford to lose another ally, Anna," Elsa answered.

"These allies are the brothers of the guy who tried to kill you two and take over Arendelle," Kristoff bluntly said, grimacing. "For all we know his brothers are worse than Hans! I mean look at the ships they're bringing. There might be more. What if they're planning an attack?"

"You're being paranoid," Elsa replied, rolling her eyes. In reality, though, she was nervous too. She had already run every scenario she could possibly think of around in her head. She was stressing over most of them. They'd never ended well for Arendelle. None of them. "We can't continue on being paranoid about our political allies and their intentions."

"Yes we can," Anna said.

"Anna," Elsa warned, frowning at her sister in a silent message to back off.

"I got the impression his brothers weren't exactly the greatest guys around, sis," Anna bluntly said. "Three of them pretended he didn't exist for two years."

"Did he say anything else that hinted at them being creeps?" Elsa deadpanned.

"Well, no, but…" Anna began.

"Enough. I've heard enough. Everything else he said was a lie, why not that too?" Elsa replied.

"Right. For all we know he doesn't even have 12 brothers," Kristoff said.

Elsa cringed. She knew otherwise. "Besides, even if he was telling the truth about them ignoring him for two years, that doesn't change the fact they couldn't bring themselves to sentence him to die. That counts for something, at least," she said. "If nothing else it's proof they're more merciful than he was. Or King Moren at least, if none of the others."

"Elsa…" Anna began.

Elsa smiled reassuringly at her sister. "Hey, I've got this, okay?" she said, putting her hands on Anna's shoulders. "Trust me."

Anna sighed. "Okay," she replied, smiling. She grinned as Elsa hugged her with a giggle. The two pulled apart and watched the ships. "I wonder what they look like," Anna said, mind spinning with a million different ideas. "Not all of them can be as good-looking as Hans was, or even in his league."

"Hey!" Kristoff protested. "What am I, chopped liver?"

Anna grinned teasingly at him. "Don't worry, Kristoff. I'll bet they're all hideous. I bet they're old and wrinkly, or fat and slovenly," she said. "At least one of them has to be. I mean what are the odds the King and Queen of the Southern Isles gave birth to thirteen children as gorgeous as Hans?" Kristoff harrumphed.

The ship pulled into port and was efficiently and promptly docked. The gang plank was being lowered. Curiosity eating him up as well, Kristoff took a telescope and peered through it at the deck of the ship and those disembarking. His eyes widened and he gasped. "What is it?" Elsa asked, immediately on the alert. Weapons, maybe? Hidden troops?

Anna, for her part, was oblivious to the possible threat Kristoff's gasp could mean. "What is it? Are they fat? Old? Despicable and dirty?" she giggled.

"Uh-uh-uh…" Kristoff stammered.

"Come on, spit it out," Anna eagerly said, grinning excitedly up at him and holding her hands together eagerly as she hopped in place.

"Well, um, it depends. Wh-what are your feelings towards facial hair and glasses?" Kristoff questioned.

"I hate both. Separate or together?" Anna asked.

"Um, together," Kristoff answered.

"I knew it! One of them is hideous!" Anna said, snatching the telescope and peering through. She gasped, mouth dropping.

"Anna, what's wrong?" Elsa asked. Anna was silent, flabbergasted. "Anna?" Elsa asked.

"Ooh… um, suddenly I'm not so anti-glasses and facial hair," she squeaked. Elsa started and snatched the telescope, looking through. Her mouth dropped.

Frozen

One of the first to depart was a man in his thirties with neatly tied back auburn hair, wearing glasses and sporting a soul patch. The one following him was grinning teasingly, poking his annoyed brother's—and they were definitely brothers—back. He had brown hair and sported much more facial hair. Full facial hair, in fact, and his hair hung loose, long, semi-curly, and wild. So someone please explain how the heck he could possibly look so good? The one coming after him was a young man with short black hair and no facial hair. He looked young for his age, you could tell that much at least. Oh how he looked younger than his age. He wore clothes reminiscent of a buccaneer with a good dose of highwayman thrown in and was, for lack of a better word, gorgeous. Following him were three young men who looked strikingly similar. You could hardly tell them apart. They had red hair, a little darker than Hans's had been, and immediately Elsa began looking for tells. Okay, one had a beauty mark on his neck. Another had a birth mark on his chest—which was slightly exposed, might she add, by the partially unbuttoned shirt, and not at all unattractive to look at—and the third had a scar from something or other on his jawline, though the scar only gave him a more rugged feel.

After the triplets—they had to be triplets, right?—came a man who made her heart skip a beat. She heard Anna swoon and Kristoff growl angrily. He wore a long cloak. His hair was black and hung shoulder length and loose, semi-curly. His eyes were black as well, or seemed that way, but not in a good way. In a really freaky way that made her shiver as much as it made her heart thump. He had to be the most beautiful of the bunch! Even Hans couldn't compare. Ooh, but this next one was giving him a run for his money. Wavy titian hair, eyes that were Hans's green, and a smile that was brilliant and white. He wore a long cape fastened at his throat by an intricate brooch, and his boots were tall. After him came another young man. He looked a good deal like Hans in that his hair and eyes were the same, but his face was of a different shape and he wore the clothes of a commoner, which indicated he was very sympathetic to the plight of the poor and wasn't as stuck up as most royalty she had seen. Coming after him—and lecturing him on his dress no doubt—was a man who had no extremely defining features, though he was no less beautiful than the rest, say for the birthmark on his neck. Birthmark? Wait. Her eyes widened. That was a brand! Which meant something had happened to him at some point that had left that mark. She almost dreaded to know what, because the symbol looked eerily familiar. As in pirate familiar. Had he faced off with the dread pirate Meilic? Wow, brave guy for someone who looked like he preferred staying at home to wandering.

After that one came a large man. Very tall and very, very well built. Almost more so than even Kristoff. He had no hair, but somehow the look worked on him well, especially given the accenting facial hair he had—it was of a blond tinge, an odd contrast to the rest of his siblings—that made him look younger than he was. And he was very pale. She saw a large scar on his head and cringed. He seemed a warrior, to her. Perhaps he was. A very good looking one, she inwardly noted. Following that one came the last two, Hans and the one that was definitely King Moren. She had to double take. She couldn't believe it. They looked so much alike, only Moren had a goatee, and a well-tended one at that. The only other difference was the eye color.

Frozen

"They are all gorgeous?" Anna numbly said. "That shouldn't be allowed! No couple should be able to have thirteen children and have all of them be beautiful!"

"And we get to mingle with them all," Elsa said. Anna squealed along with her sister as they held hands. Elsa, wasn't usually one to much care for such things, but it was fun to tease her sister's beau.

"Right here, girls, right here!" Kristoff jealously shot.

"Oh lighten up," Elsa said, smiling at him. "You can get revenge on Anna by looking at some of the women that will be attending the party."

"Don't you dare," Anna said, frowning at Kristoff.

"What? You get to 'appreciate the scenery' and I don't?" Kristoff teased.

"I won't look if you don't," Anna joked back, smirking. No matter how good looking any of Hans's brothers were, they wouldn't compare to Kristoff. Not in her heart. And especially not if they were all like Hans. The thought made her inwardly grimace and feel like throwing up.

"We must go down now, Anna. Soon it will be time to welcome the King and Princes of the Southern Isles," Elsa said, collecting together her dignity and cold demeanor again. Her cold demeanor made those she dealt with feel intimidated and reminded them exactly who they were in audience with. It demanded respect and gave her something of a foothold. If they respected her, despite her young age they were less inclined to try to take advantage. All grace, Elsa moved down through the palace. Anna and Kristoff followed.

Frozen

Elsa stood tall and proud on the steps of her castle, Anna at one side and an awkward looking Kristoff at the other. The servants stood behind them. Towards them came the thirteen princes of the Southern Isles, the King in the lead looking every bit as majestic and royal as Elsa, his long cloak dragging behind him. She would have expected servants to be picking up the train, but there weren't any. He let it drag behind without any shame or disgrace. Flanking him were the black eyed and beautiful yet frightening young man, and the one who dressed as a buccaneer and highwayman. Behind them were the triplets, breaking the age pattern. After those three came the young man with glasses, the muscular one, the one with the brand on his neck, and the one with wild long hair. In the back were the last of the sons of the Southern Isles, consisting of the titian haired one wearing a cape—who was almost as lovely as the black eyed one—the young man dressed in less rich robes than his brothers, and Hans. From above it would have seemed they walked in the shape of an arrowhead.

The King stopped before her and raised his hand, silently commanding his brothers to bow and show their respect. This they did accordingly, bowing to Elsa and Anna. Anna, flabbergasted and open mouthed, found herself curtseying in return, flustered at the display. Kristoff bowed awkwardly. He was amazed at the control the King seemed to have over his siblings, though he got the sense it was a rehearsed thing done for show and that the king really didn't have as much authority over them as he would have liked. Still, it exuded a sense of power and let you know these men weren't to be trifled with.

"King Moren Westergaard," Elsa greeted, nodding elegantly with hands clasped in front of her.

"Queen Elsa," Moren greeted, nodding in turn.

"This is my sister Anna, and her fiancé Kristoff," Elsa said, beckoning first to Anna, on her right, then to Kristoff, on her left. "Welcome to Arendelle. I expect things to go well." It was as much a warning as a respectful remark.

"I expect as much as well," Moren replied, glaring pointedly over his brothers, each of which shifted uneasily. "From second born down, these are my brothers. Jürgen," The one dressed as a buccaneer, Elsa noted. "Mael," The most beautiful and frightening of them, she saw. "Rhun," The one with the glasses and soul patch. "Duach," The well-built and bald one. "Justic," The one with the brand. "Franz Neb," the one with the wild hair and mischievous glint. "Calcas, Connyn, and Coth," The triples, Calcas the one with the beauty mark, Connyn the one with the birthmark, and Coth the one with the scar on his jawline. "Kelin-Sel," The second most beautiful one, the one with the titian hair and the cape. "Iscawin, forgive his dress but he believes in making statements no matter how inappropriate they are at a royal meeting," He was the one who dressed poorer than his brothers, and who was now gawking at her in starry-eyed amazement that made her flush ever so slightly; my, but he was good looking. "And Hans, of course, you have met," Moren finished, gesturing coldly to Hans. Elsa's eyes hardened, as did Anna's and Kristoff's. Hans never graced them with a bow, only glared equally as coldly back at them, no sign of remorse or regret in his gaze.

"We have," Elsa icily said, glaring at Hans.

"A pity you didn't bring him in chains," Anna bitterly said.

"Anna!" Elsa shot sharply and warningly. Anna bit her tongue and backed down.

"Believe me, it was considered," the one named Jürgen dryly stated, glaring back at Hans. Hans sneered at him then went back to brooding quietly.

"Welcome to Arendelle," Elsa said to them all. The people watching the meeting clapped loudly, cheering. Elsa turned with Anna and Kristoff to lead the thirteen princes inside. They followed obligingly.

Frozen

"You tried to kill that?" Iscawin hissed at Hans in shock, pointing at Elsa.

"Drop it," Hans warned.

"Were you out of your mind?" Kelin-Sel questioned, just as stunned by Elsa's beauty.

"Do you want an answer?" Hans asked.

"Not really," Kelin-Sel said.

"You were sane and you tried to kill that?" Iscawin repeated, still bowled over by the action.

"My first plan was to marry her," Hans defended. "Of course the odds of that happening were zilch. The woman is as cold as ice. Best not get too infatuated. She won't spare you a second look. She won't spare any of us one."

"I'll take that challenge," Iscawin said, unable to take his eyes off of her. Hans rolled his eyes. "My god she's beautiful…" Hans was quiet, watching her. He wouldn't deny that. Anyone with eyes to see couldn't hope to. But beauty wasn't everything. Beauty was a mask and a lie.

"Hi there!" a voice said suddenly. All of the princes turned. Their mouths dropped. A snowman stood in a doorway waving cheerily at them, a little flurry over his head.

"What the he…!" Duach began before Jürgen clamped a hand over his mouth. Duach pulled it away, glaring. "I was going to say heck," he weakly defended.

"Yeah. Right," Jürgen replied.

"My name's Olaf, and I love warm hugs!" Olaf said, eagerly prancing up to the princes.

"Olaf, I told you to stay hidden!" Anna exclaimed. The princes weren't ready to see this!

"Why?" Olaf asked.

"It-it's a talking snowman!" Rhun said. "That isn't possible!"

"Yes it is! Here I am," Olaf cheerily said. "Who wants a hug?"

Franz suddenly burst into laughter and went right up to the snowman. "Why not? What a cute little creature you are," he said, grinning at the snowman, intrigued and impressed. Olaf grinned. "Come here, you!" Franz said, kneeling and giving the snowman a bear hug. Elsa and Anna giggled in approval, suddenly much more interested in Franz. He, at least, seemed nice. Kristoff himself couldn't help but smirk.

"Yay!" Olaf cheered. Franz laughed, pulling away. "Where did this come from?" he asked.

"Elsa created me!" Olaf exclaimed. Franz started, smile falling to surprise. All eyes went to Elsa, who was pale.

Frozen

"I-I, he means Anna and I built him and… something brought him to life," Elsa covered, though she was being purposely vague. The princes let it go this round, but Elsa was acutely aware of the suspicion in the eyes of a good deal of them.

"Well then, Olaf, come along with us why don't you?" Franz said, smiling at the snowman, slipping on a glove and offering his hand to it. Hmm, he would make a good father, Elsa noted. She kicked herself for the thought. She, personally, wasn't interested, but the fact remained he would.

"You mean it? Wow! Anna thought you guys would destroy me or something ridiculous like that," Olaf said, taking the hand. Anna blushed deeply and grinned innocently at the brothers, who were looking incredulously at her, say for the triplets.

"Oh, we used to destroy snowmen all the time," Connyn said, smirking evilly at Olaf and not even looking at Anna, hardly fazed by the accusation. Olaf started and gulped.

"Mostly mine," Hans grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"You were the one that liked snowmen," Coth replied, shrugging. "Iscawin and Kelin-Sel preferred forts."

"And you destroyed a good deal of those too," Iscawin coldly said to his brothers. The triplets shrugged innocently.

"Jerks," Kelin-Sel said, rolling his eyes.

"Behave," Moren darkly warned his siblings, who seemed ready to get rowdy. They all blinked and fell silent, getting back into formation. "Forgive them, your majesty. Most have never been away from the Southern Isles and so do not know how to behave when being hosted by other lands."

"It's alright," Elsa assured. "Anna seems to have that problem as well," she added, glaring at her sister who was giving the evil eye to Hans none too subtly. Anna started and cringed, clearing her throat and going back to poised, trying to ignore the fact Hans was back again and not locked up.

Frozen

"This will be the hall where you all will stay," Elsa said, gesturing down the hall at the various guest room doors. The grand one will be reserved for you of course, King Moren," she added.

"As my lady wishes," Moren said, bowing his head to her.

"Who will be sharing with Hans?" Elsa questioned, subtly reminding Moren of his promise that Hans wouldn't be left alone for a moment as long as they were here, and up until his trial and sentence. Moren looked expectantly back at his brothers. None of them spoke up and in fact avoided his eyes.

Moren shook his head hopelessly at them. "If no one volunteers, he will stay with me," he said. Elsa raised an eyebrow at the princes coldly. Were they really going to let the King put off his honor in order to share his room with a criminal? Okay, maybe that was a bit prejudiced, but still.

Iscawin caught her cold look. He decided quickly he didn't want to make a bad impression on Elsa and stepped forward. "My lady Elsa—I mean, my queen—I will share a room with Hans. Happily I will. I should be able to keep him in check." Elsa tilted her head curiously at him then caught on. She smirked. He was infatuated with her. Hmm, in a way it was sweet.

"As will I, your majesty," Kelin-Sel offered as well. "Hans is the better swordsman between them, and I will not run the risk of the two getting into a fight that will end… not too cleanly."

"Your vote of confidence is reassuring, Kelin-Sel," Hans deadpanned. Kelin-Sel shrugged, unapologetic.

"Very well," Elsa said, smiling. "Show them to their rooms," she commanded her servants. "In one hour the banquet will begin. Settle yourselves and then join us post haste," Elsa commanded.

"As you desire, Queen Elsa," Moren answered. Elsa nodded, beckoning for Anna and Kristoff to follow her away. They did so, leaving the Southern Isles princes to get comfortable.

Exiting the hall, she looked at the guards posted outside of it. "Keep a close eye on them," Elsa commanded. She wasn't ready to trust just yet.

"Yes, your majesty," the guards said together, saluting her. Elsa nodded and continued on, Anna and Kristoff following.

Frozen

Hans wandered towards the stables. It was Connyn, Mael, Duach, and Kelin-Sel accompanying him out there. He was leading Sitron and inwardly complaining about being babysat by his siblings. At the same time he was disturbingly flattered that they felt that four of them would be needed to ensure he didn't make a break for it. It meant they saw him as more of a threat with a sword than he'd suspected, and that was good. He brought the horse into the stables. They heard a sound and looked over.

Duach's eyes widened. "What is that?!" he exclaimed, pointing at something.

"It's a reindeer," Mael said.

"They have a tame reindeer?" Duach dubiously asked. How weird was this royal family?

"It belongs to Anna's fiancé," Hans said. "He grew up with that thing. They're best friends."

"Guy doesn't have much of a social life, does he?" Connyn remarked. Hans smirked at Connyn in silent agreement. Connyn shared the disdainful smirk with his brother.

"He is the princess's fiancé. You two have no place snickering at his expense," Kelin-Sel said, frowning at them.

"Who's snickering?" Connyn questioned.

"You know what he means," Mael said, looking warningly at Connyn.

Connyn cringed and was quick to look away from Mael's gaze. He sighed in annoyance, rolling his eyes. "Fine," he agreed.

Franz approached with Olaf still tagging along. The two were laughing. Franz, spotting his brothers, went to them grinning. "This snowman has to be the funniest little thing I've ever met," he said to them.

Hans glared coldly at Olaf and rolled his eyes. "It's a snowman," Duach deadpanned.

"A living one!" Olaf said.

"I wonder how long it would take to break you into bits," Connyn said, smirking at it. Olaf's eyes widened in fear.

"Enough, Connyn," Franz warned his sibling.

"Oh come on, I'm only teasing it," Connyn defended.

"It's a he," Franz said.

"It would be you to get attached to a snowman," Duach said, shaking his head.

"Ah, but no ordinary snowman. One with quite the personality if you care to get to know him," Franz said, smirking mischievously. He turned attention to the reindeer, frowning. "Uh, explain."

"Oh, that's Sven! He belongs to Kristoff. They're best friends and I'm Sven's best friend too!" Olaf said.

"Guy doesn't have much of a social life, does he?" Franz deadpanned.

"Thank you!" Connyn said, looking triumphantly at Mael.

"Down," Mael darkly warned. Connyn blinked then looked away, folding his arms and muttering.

"Creepy son of a…" Duach began. Mael shot him a dark look and Duach bit his tongue savagely. He winced in pain but made no complaint.

"Look, let's just get back to the palace. The banquet will start any minute. Moren will have our heads if we enter late," Hans said to them, ensuring Sitron was comfortable in his stall. The others nodded in agreement and headed back.

Frozen

They were seated around the banquet table, now, close to Anna and Elsa's sides. Numerous other guests were chatting animatedly with one another. "He has a reindeer?" Coth questioned, unsure he's heard correctly.

"A tame one. And smart. It seemed to understand everything we were saying," Duach answered.

"Guy doesn't have…" Coth began.

"We've heard it before. Twice," Hans said, rolling his eyes. "No, he has no social life. The man was raised by trolls."

"Trolls? Wow. I wonder what that was like," Coth remarked.

"You're sitting not that far from the guy. Ask," Hans said, shrugging.

"This is hardly the appropriate time to bring up the peasant's past," Coth said. "Not in front of all the nobility. It would humiliate him, and Anna too."

"You really don't know much about them, do you?" Hans asked, smirking. "Trust me, he's more likely to boast about it, and she'll enthusiastically speak of them too."

"She's different," Coth said, looking ponderously at Anna.

"Forget it, Coth. You won't take her from under Kristoff's nose. It's more likely you'll get your head bashed in," Hans said.

"More's the pity for it," Coth said dryly, shaking his head. "Kristoff, I have heard interesting tales about your past. Trolls, I believe?"

Kristoff looked curiously over then immediately brightened. "Y-yeah. Oh they were great! Grand Pabby, the others, they were good to me and Sven. We didn't have anybody else. They were the best!"

"And also darker than you know," Mael murmured. Kristoff frowned, glaring at him.

"Are you insulting them?" Kristoff demanded.

"You have not heard…" Mael murmured.

"Heard what?" Kristoff suspiciously asked.

"About an ancient mirror, a magical one, a cursed one. Shattered in the sky by the trolls. The splinters rained down from the heavens upon the earth. Some got a sliver in their eyes, some in their heart, some in both. Should a sliver land in the eye, all things beautiful that they saw would appear distorted and hideous and ugly. Slivers that struck the heart froze it solid so that no love could be felt, only cruelty and wickedness without remorse," Mael murmured.

"That would explain Hans," Kristoff bit at Hans.

Hans stiffened, looking at his food. Sharply he looked up, eyes narrowed. "Not everything can be chalked up to cursed mirrors, mountain man," he bit.

"Really? Because you certainly don't seem normal to me," Kristoff said.

"You will refrain from insulting our brother, Sir Kristoff," Moren's voice coldly said. They were aware, suddenly, that all had fallen silent and were listening.

"Sorry," Kristoff muttered, not wanting to make a scene. Hans, eyes flashing, suddenly seized his glass of wine and splashed Kristoff with it Kristoff gasped, standing up. "Why you little…" he began, lunging and seizing Hans's shirt. Hans scowled at him, ready to fight back.

Calcas quickly rose, prying the two apart. "Will you stop it?! This is a royal banquet, behave like the adults you are!" he shot. Kristoff and Hans grimaced but separated. Calcas glared at them then sat down. "Tell us more about your troll family, Kristoff. It sounds interesting." He glared over at Mael. "Please don't start spinning your tales of the evil trolls of old. It's apparent they've toned it down if Kristoff's story is anything to go by."

"Or they have hidden it well," Mael muttered, picking at his food.

"Don't go there, brother," Calcas warned. "This is a banquet and no one wants to hear your grim stories or listen to your nihilist viewpoints. Just… stay silent, why don't you? You couldn't say anything happy if your life depended on it. Kill joy."

"What is there to be joyous of?" Mael questioned.

"Don't even," Calcas warned. Mael shrugged and fell silent accordingly.

"Well handled, brother," Moren said, smirking at Calcas. Calcas blinked then grinned widely. He hadn't heard a word of praise or an acknowledgement from his brother since god knew when. It had been years.

"Well, the trolls found us when Sven and I were in their territory…" Kristoff began, feeling the tension dying and finally daring to open up a bit more about the past. With an occasional enthusiastic addition from Anna, the next hour or so was spent in mirth, laughing about the trolls and the antics Kristoff spoke of.