Disclaimer: I do not own Winx Club.
AN: Okay then. After I started writing my other story which involves Layla and Helia, I started to really wish to see a story where the two got together somehow. And the idea wouldn't stop annoying me, so I wrote it down. It's a bit rushed, but it's because I don't think I could do anything else until I have posted it. I'll probably go over it later to edit any mistakes. Hope anyone who reads this enjoys and reviews!
And if you don't like it, well...then don't read this.
This had to be a nightmare. Some sort of crazy weird nightmare that I can't wake up from. Layla's thoughts and mind were in a whirl. She couldn't concentrate on anything else that her parents were talking about. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. This had to be some sort of elaborate prank on them or something.
Alright, backtrack.
How did this all begin?
A few weeks ago, the Winx had been called in to Andros to visit. The Specialists were currently studying for their finals, their Senior year finishing later than the girls at Alfea, and so they weren't there to go. Of course, Stella moaned nonstop about how her 'snookums' wouldn't be there to enjoy Andros' waves and sun with her, but the other girls had blocked her out about an hour into the trip.
The trip to Andros had been near-perfect. If Bloom hadn't accidentally gotten herself lost and crashed into a lady who had skin as pale as snow, dark hair that could either pass off as a dark navy blue or black, and large almond-shaped electric blue eyes framed with long eyelashes.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Bloom's hand covered her mouth as she quickly helped the lady up. "Are you alright?!"
The woman laughed it off, accepting Bloom's hand. "It's alright, dear. And I'm fine." She stood up with a grace that Bloom envied, and made the Keeper of the Dragon Fire feel quite small and insignificant in comparison.
Bloom smiled nervously at the woman, before looking around, biting her lip. The woman followed her roundabout gaze. "Are you lost, dear?"
The redhead ducked her head in embarrassment. "Yes. I got separated from my friends, and I'm just visiting. I'm trying to find the throne room. I was supposed to meet my friends' parents there."
The woman laughed. "I see. It is quite easy to get lost in palaces, isn't it? I often got lost back home as well."
"You're…a monarch?" Bloom asked, racking her brains. The woman didn't seem familiar, not like any key figures that currently ruled any dimension that she knew of.
The woman nodded, a fond look in her eyes. "I come from Dorchadas."
"Dorchadas?" Bloom asked, her eyes lighting up as she finally remembered. "I learnt about that in my class. They were involved in the War with the Three Ancestral Witches and Domino, weren't they?"
The woman nodded. "Indeed. We participated in the early stages of the war, but we had to pull out eventually to face another enemy that the Ancestral Witches sent to prevent us from staying in the War." She sighed, and she looked older than she did a few second ago. "We suffered heavy losses."
"I'm sorry." Bloom said, and found that she actually meant it. This woman displayed the grace that all Queens and Kings needed, yet she had a warm aura around her.
The woman smiled wistfully. "I suppose that a war was inevitable with the Ancestral Witches - Dorchadas knew what it was getting into when we decided to ally ourselves with Domino and help fight on their behalf."
Bloom nodded, face clouded with sorrow. The woman suddenly looked back up again, and her face lit up. "Ah, I know where I've seen that face and hair before. You're Bloom, Princess of Domino, are you not?"
Bloom blushed, but nodded shyly. It was not a title she was accustomed to yet.
"Well, Bloom, it is a pleasure meeting you."
"You too." Bloom chirped.
The woman looked up. "Ah. I believe we are here." She nodded at the guards, who moved aside. She opened the door with a flourish, walking in, almost gliding across the floor. A man, who shared the same pale skin and dark hair was standing next to who Bloom recognised were Layla's parents, King Teredor and Queen Niobe. The rest of the Winx were already there, and looked quite relieved when Bloom joined them, shooting them a quick smile.
"Ah. Bloom." Teredor nodded at her. Bloom curtsied back.
"Your Majesty."
Teredor and Niobe turned to the woman and the man. "Layla," his daughter turned to the two. "I would like you to meet the King and Queen of Dorchadas, Adin and Imogen."
Bloom's eyes widened, but Layla only curtsied to them. "It is a pleasure meeting you, your Highnesses."
The woman smiled. "Likewise, Princess Layla. I have heard many great things about you."
"I believe their son is a good friend of yours?" Teredor raised an eyebrow.
Layla looked at him, confused for a second. She examined the monarchs of Dorchadas again, before her eyes widened as she got to the same conclusion that the other Winx got at the same time. The hair, the pale skin, the electric blue eyes, the gentle nature? She felt so stupid. She snapped her head around to the Winx, mouthing Helia? to them.
Flora's eyes were unusually wide, while the other girls looked shocked.
Layla quickly turned back, plastering a smile on her face. It wasn't hard, actually. Despite not having much contact with the dark-haired Specialist, he had a gentle manner to those around him, avoided fighting unless he could help it, was respectful to the girls, and treated Flora as if she was his world. It was hard not to like him.
"Yeah. Helia, right?"
Imogen smiled, amusement dancing in her eyes at their shock. "Yes. He's not very vocal about the information, though, is he?"
It was both a statement and rhetorical question rolled into one.
Layla nodded.
Imogen and Adin turned to Layla's parents. "We will take our leave now and return soon."
"Of course." Layla's parents nodded, and then the two monarchs of Dorchadas left, the door closing behind them.
Little did Layla know that that would be the last time that she would see the two monarchs of Dorchadas.
And…back to the present.
Earlier in the week, she had been excused from class for about a week or so due to some matter back on her homeworld. She had left during lunch, so her friends had the opportunity to see her off. So imagine her surprise when she stepped out of the school building and found Helia waiting by the ship.
Flora had grinned and immediately ran to hug Helia, Helia barely catching her and preventing them from falling although a similar grin was on his lips. They talked together quietly for a few minutes, before Layla walked up to them. "What're you doing here, Helia?"
Helia frowned at this. There was something in his eye that told Layla that he didn't like what he would be doing. "Remember the trade agreements between Dorchadas and Andros?"
Layla nodded, frowning thoughtfully as well. "They were drawn up nearly half a century ago, and have been kept to ever since."
"Well, after the Great War, Dorchadas' supplies immediately dwindled down and we needed to borrow a large amount of supplies from Andros, which the ministers are now demanding back. We've recently discovered of a large portion of land that hold minerals that we can use in exchange, but only at a fair rate that my parents have already negotiated."
Layla noted that Helia didn't seem to mind now mentioning his position as Prince of Dorchadas, but the way he phrased it, you never would've guessed that.
"However, there are still a lot of loose ends to tie up, and my parents are currently overseeing the mineral collection. They're trying to get the minerals before Winter hits and it'll be impossible to get. So I'm going with you to Andros to settle a couple of things."
Layla nodded. She couldn't find a flaw in that. "Alright. When will we be back?"
Helia shrugged. "About a week, give or take. Longer if necessary."
With that, the two turned and said goodbye to the rest of the Winx before boarding the ship.
A week had passed since they first arrived in Andros, and the loose ends had been tied up nicely. However, as her parents now told her, the ministers demanded something in promise that Dorchadas would keep their word - just a written or verbal promise was not enough for them - they had to have something that would bind them for a long time to come.
And this was where she came in.
Layla had thought that the arranged marriage thing was over - at least, now that she had Nabu and was happy with him. But her parents had quickly quashed down that idea, claiming that while marrying Nabu would've kept the bloodline pure since he was from the same dimension, just in another province, marrying Helia would not only benefit their trade, but strengthen their alliance and all that jazz that Layla had blocked out.
The Princess of Andros snuck a look at Helia. The Prince of Dorchadas was currently looking up at Layla's parents, face unreadable. He had not shown any surprise to this, which made Layla suspect that he had known something about this before.
As soon as the two were excused and left, Layla immediately rounded on Helia.
"Did you know about this?"
Helia slumped against the wall, looking up at Layla out of tired eyes. "Yes and no."
Layla frowned at him, glaring. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"My parents talked to me before I went to Andros. They told me of the ministers' grumblings, and had told me about the alliance and the possibility of marriage. I was against it, but," Helia sighed, rubbing his temples. "My people desperately need this trade."
"Why?" Layla demanded. She couldn't find fault with the fact that Helia's people needed this, she could understand it, being a Princess herself with similar responsibilities, but she needed to know why.
Helia sighed again. "The ministers threatened to cut off all supply we need and declare war on us if we do not pay the debt within three months."
"What?" Layla demanded, this time horrified. This was not right. They could not declare war on Dorchadas, especially after its rough history. Dorchadas was well-known amongst the royalties of the Dimensions, though not by the civilians. Dorchadas used to be a very self-sufficient Dimension, but after the Great War, they were left crippled, with most of their crops, fields and factories destroyed. They had had to borrow a large amount of goods from their allies, most specifically Andros, and owed huge debts that they still did today. The treaty about the trade now would change that - it would give Dorchadas a chance to pay back their debt while at the same time continuing trade between the two Dimensions.
"Yep." Helia exhaled heavily. "I don't want to break up with Flora, nor do I want you to break up with Nabu, but my people need this. Andros is our main supplier - if they cut off all trade, we'll be left crippled again, and we're only a few months away from Winter. People will die if we don't get the minerals over and quickly continue the trade."
Layla rocked back on her heels. Now she could understand the situation. Winter was always a feared season for any Dimension that happened to have them. Dorchadas - from what she had heard - wouldn't last if their supplies got cut off once Winter hit.
Helia turned pleading eyes on her. "I've tried, Layla, and I'll keep on trying to find a way out of this, but I've read almost every single book to do with these sort of trade agreements back at home, and I've found nothing. Should I not be able to find one…" he trailed off, looking depressed.
Layla inhaled. "Then we will have to honour the agreement with marriage." She straightened up, mind made and determined. "C'mon."
"Where are we going?" Helia asked, following her.
"You said you read every single book to do with this at home. We'll go through the library here. We have some more updated manuals that Dorchadas might not have. We'll do through every single book until we find something."
As they made their way to the library, Layla turned to Helia curiously. "Have you told anyone about this?"
Helia shook his head. "So far, only my parents know.'
Layla groaned. "I can't keep this sort of things from the girls…I don't even know how I'm going to face them when I talk to them. Especially Flora."
Helia let out a sad smile. "Well, we can extend our stay here. We'll find something. We have to."
