Author's note: loads of plot and loads of talking in this one! There's a lot of expanding going on here and it's largely to do with the princes of the southern isles, who will be playing a major part of this story. Don't worry, there will be more Elsa and Theobald to come! In the meantime I hope you enjoy this chapter, don't forget to like, follow and review! (Reviews really mean a lot to me haha) Happy reading everyone!

Chapter 14

If he ever seemed out of place, nobody commented on it. He had appeared as if out of thin air, a mysterious, bearded man, who seemed to have nothing but the thin rags on his back, the long wooden staff he would frequently use to lean against and a big, black, scruffy-looking dog. He had no name (at least he had never given one) and although the locals had tried their best to figure out where he'd come from and what age he was, they were left just as clueless and nonplussed as they were the first time they noticed him on their sandy coast. For five days they watched the scruffy, dirt covered man from the shadows of their jungle as he started to build a hut from the bits of wood and coconut leaves lying around the beach. He went about his business in a nonchalant manner, as if he wasn't at all concerned that he might be invading somebody else's territory (which he was). After careful observation, the locals came to the conclusion that he was not a threat to them. After a while, they took no notice and acted as if he had always been there. He did not seem to care about them either, and rarely socialized at all.

Nobody questioned him. Nobody talked to him.

Nobody, that is, but the children, who found amusement in spying on him, much to the horror of their elders. For some reason, the strange hermit did not seem to mind them. In fact, he sometimes even spoke to them, much to the amazement of everybody else.

Such was the case on one fine, sunny day when he was busy cutting up firewood. The children had emerged as they often did from the bushes, running and laughing excitedly towards the water. As soon as they noticed 'the hermit', as they liked to call him, they made a beeline towards him, but he knew what they wanted even before they reached him.

"Oi, you boy, come over here!"

One of dark-haired boys froze as if he had seen a ghost before proceeding to sprint towards the hermit, who was sitting on the beach at the water's edge.

"Here," said the strange man gruffly, picking up a makeshift fishing rod and shoving it into the young boy's hands. "You know what to do, go to the river and teach the rest, it'll be easier to catch them there."

The boy beamed down at the hermit before running off to join the others, who all proceeded to ogle at him and attempt to grab the rod from his hands.

"Better that they learn how to survive than spend the rest of their days begging," muttered the man cynically to himself.

Staring into the crystal clear water, he wondered to himself whether it had been wise to talk to the children.

Surely, there was no harm though. None of the people who lived on this island had ever ventured beyond their own shores.

"Brother…."

It was faint but firm, and the hermit recognized it immediately.

He felt his heart sink as he stared into the water, watching reluctantly as the sunshine sparkled perhaps a little too brightly on a particular patch of water, slowly manipulating a small, circular part of it to become unaffected by the tide, as if it were a small pond.

These communications were becoming all too frequent, and the fugitive did not appreciate it. If this kept going, he would have to move far away, to a different location and erase all traces of magic. Again.

Magic…. It disgusted him now, for whenever he thought about it, it reminded him too much of his past.

He did not bother to reply to the voice but chose instead to check his surroundings to make sure the children had left.

The beach was deserted. He was alone.

He sighed in relief just as a voice began to speak, sounding almost as if it were vibrating against the water, desperately trying to escape from underneath the surface.

"Theobald is in trouble."

The hermit closed his eyes. This was not news to him, but nevertheless it pained to hear spoken out loud. It seemed to make the situation even more real.

He wasn't sure if he really wanted to know the details.

"Yes, I know," he replied heavily, holding the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger.

"Yo- you know?" came the voice again, this time sounding rather surprised.

The hermit didn't bother to reply.

"In any case," continued the voice hastily, "he needs help."

"Yes, I know."

What followed was an awkward pause, during which only the waves of the sea could be heard. Clearly this hadn't been the response his brother wanted.

When the silence was finally broken, it was the fugitive who spoke.

"It doesn't change the fact that I cannot help him," he said gruffly. "If he needs aid he can turn to you or Frederick."

"You know very well that I cannot do anything from my position, which is why I have contacted you, at risk if I might add!" replied Prince Erik, the current heir to the throne of the Southern Isles. "The situation is extremely delicate, beyond what you could possibly imagine. I think the King is starting to suspect me of not being entirely on his side."

"Well he wouldn't be wrong about that would he, since you're here talking to me," muttered Casper, the "Lost" Prince of the Southern Isles.

"Listen to me brother-"

"Listen to you?!" interrupted Casper, sitting up a little straight and glaring down at the water. "The reason I left that retched place was because I didn't want anything to do with it anymore-"

"Theobald may be our chance!"

His brother spoke hoarsely, but the words forced Casper to stop his train of thought, much to his annoyance.

"What do you mean?" asked Casper slowly after a moment.

"You know exactly what I mean."

He recognized the optimism in his voice of course. As well as the hope. The daring, nervous and yet thrilling energy that takes over when opportunities arise.

But Casper knew better.

"I used to think like you" he started gently, staring hard down at the water, remorse etched on his face. "When I was younger, ignorant, unaware of the consequences of my actions. I don't regret what I did but I realize now that what I had dreamed of was an adolescent boy's fantasy. I will not raise a rebellion Erik. Most people believe that I am dead. I would like to keep it that way."

"But with Theobald on our side, if he succeeds in having the support of the Queen of Arendelle-"

"Then we will be no better than the King of the Southern Isles. I was used as a pawn during my youth. I will not do the same to Theobald."

"If you do not act brother that will be his fate."

There was something true about Erik's words that Casper could not deny. But everyone paid sacrifices in life, including him, despite his quest for freedom. Theobald was a good boy; if he just kept his head down, perhaps he would not have to suffer half the loss and suffering Casper had had to endure in his life.

"Theobald did not seem to even contemplate that things would go that far, that he would have to pay so much for his act of treason," replied Casper, his voice somber as he stared out across the glittering ocean. "I told him to be careful. Becoming a puppet monarch... I feel sorry for him. I truly believe his heart is the purest of all of us. I would hate for him to turn bitter and cold like our father. I warned him about magic, I warned him to not use it so freely. He reminded of our mother so much when I finally met him..."

Erik listened in astonishment as he tried to gather his thoughts. He did not know that Casper had managed to meet Theobald. He did not press on the point but nevertheless he was surprised to hear that Casper knew so much. Although he had never given it much thought, his elder brother was right; Theobald did actually remind him of their mother, who had grey eyes like him. Which made what he was about to tell his closest sibling all the more painful.

"I wish I could do more Erik but I can't. Theobald will have to manage on his own-"

"You clearly don't understand."

The tone in his voice made Casper come out of his nostalgic state.

"Don't understand?" he repeated with unease, fearing his brother's response ever so slightly.

"I overheard him speaking with Benedict the other night. You know how our father is, how dangerous he is. He is always thinking about the future and doesn't care if he has to wait an age in order to exact revenge."

Casper sat up and felt his body tense. He didn't like this. He didn't like this at all.

"What is he going to do," spoke Casper slowly, his voice wavering ever so slightly.

"Their plan is to eventually kill the Queen. I don't know how, I don't know when, but I am sure that when they do, Theobald will be in danger, especially if he is suspected, which he undoubtedly will be."

"But that's completely absurd. How could they possible succeed? Surely they can see what a great risk it is to even attempt to do such a thing, even with magic. If Theobald were to be suspected and wrongly convicted then they would lose all power over Arendelle anyway. Why would they go to such lengths-"

"You, along with me and Benedict, know exactly why father is obsessed with Arendelle. This isn't just about power. This is personal. Father, I suspect, did not realize that Elsa would be able to succeed in becoming Queen and live prosperously and happily. He sees it as a failure."

Casper at this point was stunned into silence. It was as if a huge weight which he thought he had gotten rid of was suddenly back on his shoulders again, this time however, feeling even more heavier because of all the lives at risk. He had only had to think for himself before. Now it seemed, that was no longer the case.

"Are you certain?" he asked bluntly, staring resolutely down at the water.

"I wouldn't have told you otherwise. As I said, I am speaking to you at great risk. We have to do something before this all escalates. Benedict seems to be the main one helping father, along with Ferdinand and Thomas. God knows about the others, but of course they would side with father."

"Out of fear," replied Casper roughly. "But we might need their aid."

"There were so many of us, and yet only you defied father. It confuses me sometimes… After all, if we had all followed you, then maybe..."

"This isn't about numbers Erik. Do not blame yourself about the past. What is important is that we stop him now," replied Casper, standing up and brushing the sand off his knees. "Is the King still convinced that you are the heir to the throne? Are you still in his favor?"

"Yes."

"Good," replied Casper, taking a deep breath. "Let's keep it that way. But be careful Erik, you have a family after all..."

"That doesn't ma-"

"It does matter Erik," interrupted Casper, smiling wryly as he stared out towards the horizon. There was nothing surrounding the island but miles and miles of Turquoise Ocean. But that was merely a façade. Out there was the world, waiting for him to return to it.

"I have no one, and you're right, I have the upper hand in that nobody knows my whereabouts, let alone that I'm alive."

Erik, who was in a forest up in the mountains of his native country, bent down as he stared into the freshwater river which he had used to create a connection to his brother. He felt the urge to ask his mysterious brother why he had not wished for a family, but he felt like that would be stepping over an invisible line. In all truth, he was not so sure that he knew Casper anymore. But he was his brother, and he was on his side.

"So what will you do?" he asked eagerly.

"I can't tell you. It's for the best."

Erik reluctantly nodded his head as he felt his magic waning. If he were caught, he would be putting everyone in danger. It was better that he didn't know anything.

"When will we speak again?" he asked, feeling sweat drift down his shirt. He should have broken the connection ten minutes ago, but this was important.

"I don't know. Not for a while in any case. I won't do anything rash, that much I can assure you."

"In which case, I will say goodbye for now brother. I wish you all the luck in the world for your journey ahead. And… be careful."

With that, Erik felt the connection break and the water start to run down, as it naturally should have done. He proceeded to collapse onto the grass in exhaustion. He had done his duty, the best he could. Now he would have to keep his head down low until his brother succeeded in helping Theobald.

He wondered what his brother had in mind.