"Can't sleep?" Hélène asked as she approached Louise.
The warrior sighed. "I suppose so."
"I can't blame you. A lot of things happened today. You almost witnessed your best friend's death and that's something you'll never be able to forget."
"I feel like Viviana and I have a special connection. Even though we're so different we managed to become friends so fast. She'd say our meeting was fate or something like that. At that time I … I was terrified." Louise admitted.
"That's only natural."
"So were you though." When she was met with silence, she continued. "You lost someone, didn't you?"
"What makes you say that?"
"I just noticed. I'm a soldier so it's not uncommon to see people who've lost someone important."
"Yeah, you looked like a really thoughtful person. However, is what happened today the only reason you can't sleep?" Hélène questioned.
"Not quite." Louise admitted. "Family things."
"Family things, huh? Could it be because of your sister?"
"So you knew."
"Well I notice things, too. Today it was proven to me yet again that the world is small. And Julchen always used to brag about her little sister with blond hair and blue eyes who looked like and angel and was the most adorable little sister of the most adorable little sisters." The princess chuckled. "I have to admit she was a weird person."
Louise nodded her head. "Indeed. I don't remember much of her because she left when I was about ten. She was really loud and annoying but she was kind, too. She wouldn't admit it though cause it would ruin her reputation."
"So she was the same when she was younger, huh. I bet she'd still be like that when she is an old woman."
"I wouldn't be surprised." Louise agreed. "For how long have you know her? Do you know where she is now?"
"I met her five years ago, the same time I met Isabel. The three of us traveled a lot and they managed to pull me out of a depression that had lasted far too long." Louise supposed it had something to do with the person the princess had lost. "I owe your sister a lot. It is a shame we parted."
The other woman sighed. "So you don't know where she is?"
Hélène shook her head. "Unfortunately not. If I did, I would have already told you. I really haven't heard of her for a long time. But she's alive, I know it."
"How can you be so sure?"
"It takes a lot to kill her." Hélène chuckled. "You'll see her again, you just have to keep searching."
And at that moment realization hit Louise- she really did want to find Julchen. It surprised her simply because she had spent such long time hating her for leaving. She missed her.
"Now it's time for the kids to go to bed." The princess mumbled as she stretched.
Louise frowned. "I am in no way a kid so refrain from calling me one, please."
Hélène laughed wholeheartedly and putted Louise on the head. "True. Sometimes I think you're more of an adult than I am."
"More like always." The warrior corrected her. "I do think I should head to bed though." She admitted as she suppressed a yawn. Louise started to walk away but stopped when Helene spoke.
"You two are more alike than you think."
Despite falling asleep late, Louise still woke up before Viviana. However, she had nothing to do so she figured that it wouldn't hurt if she got a little more rest. Unfortunately the ship only had two spare beds. After a lot of persuading Sakura had agreed to take one of the beds and Louise and Viviana had to share the other. It was pretty big and they were both comfortable but that wasn't the point. Sleeping in one bed with the amazon was simply embarrassing. Viviana was a huge snuggler and every morning Louise found her pressed against her chest even though they hadn't fallen asleep next to each other. But Viviana was warm and the warrior had to admit it actually wasn't half bad.
"Mmm Louise…" She heard the amazon mumble, she smiling and drooling on the pillow.
Louise couldn't help but laugh. She was so glad her friend was alive. If she had to be honest, she didn't think she had been so afraid in her life. Not even when she had almost drowned in the river one winter when she was only seven. She usually didn't let other people get so close to her but with Viviana it had happened naturally. Before the warrior even had time to think about it she had started to worry about her. Louise wanted Viviana to stay by her side and that had never happened before. Not with someone who wasn't a family member.
She caressed the other girl's soft hair and closed her eyes. Then, just like that, she dozed off again.
"Louise, wake up." She heard somebody say and then something pressed against her cheek.
The warrior tried opening her eyes but the room was so bright that she instantly closed them again. The person giggled and poked her cheek again.
"You have to wake up. It's almost lunch."
Upon hearing that Louise's eyes shot open and she sat up. Now fully awake, the warrior looked around- the sun was high in the sky and both Viviana and Sakura, already fully clothed, were standing next to the bed.
"It's rare for you to oversleep. Actually I think it's the first time it has happened." The amazon admitted.
"Well, Hélène-hime said she had gone to bed late so it's only natural."
"To be honest I woke up rather early but didn't feel like getting up. Apparently I've fallen asleep again."
"But then again, it's also unlike you to lay in bed after you've woken up." Viviana said.
"Well it was warm and nice and…" Louise started blushing bright red.
"Oh my, I completely forgot." Viviana gasped. "You see, big sister Hélène wanted to see you." The amazon explained.
Louise got up and got dressed in about five minutes. Then Viviana and Sakura lead the way to the princess' office, which they had apparently visited earlier this day. Louise finally had time to look at her surroundings. Viviana had changed clothes- she was wearing a white, knee-length dress. It was really different from the clothes she wore before, a brown top and skirt made from animal fur. The new dress really suited her though, she looked beautiful.
When they reached their destination, the warrior entered the room as her two friends waited outside. Hélène was wearing red leather pants and a strapless top of the same colour. Her brown hair, usually tied up in a french knot, was let down today.
"Hello, dear. Did you sleep well?"
"In fact, yes. It's nice of you to ask, princess."
"Princess is so formal. You can call me Hélène like Viviana."
"No, princess. I don't feel all that comfortable doing that."
"Suit yourself." Hélène opened the lid of a bottle and gestured to the chair opposite her own. "Sit down."
Louise did as she was told raised an eyebrow when the other woman started pouring the drink in two glasses.
"Rum." Hélène replied to the unvoiced question. "Just because we're not pirates it doesn't mean we can't enjoy it."
Louise accepted the glass and took a sip. "So why did you call me here?"
"Are you, Viviana and Sakura going to stay here a while?"
The warrior shook her head. "We'll get off when we reach land."
"It's such a pity. You could become a part of my crew."
"We only got on the ship because we needed to get Sakura's heirloom. Besides, after what happened yesterday I'm pretty sure we both prefer walking on ground."
"Yeah, you're right. And here I thought I could get to know Julchen's sister."
"It's not like we won't see each other again so you'll have other opportunities to get to know me, if you really want to."
"I guess I'll have to do just that."
"Can I ask you something?" Louise suddenly asked.
Hélène blinked at her. "Of course. Go ahead."
"What happened between you and captain Alice? I'm sorry if it's a personal question."
Nobody said anything for a while. Hélène was obviously debating if she should tell her and Louise already regretted asking her at all.
"You don't have to answer." The warrior hurried to say. "I was just curious."
''The person I loved died because of her.''
''What do you mean?''
"It happened ten years ago. He was a priest but even so I'm pretty sure he loved me back. However, he loved what he did too so I knew he wouldn't give up on it just to marry me. And yet, just being with him was more than enough for me. But then Alice and her crew came into town. They robbed and burned it down. He died while trying to save the people in the burning church.''
''I'm sorry.''
''It's okay. I wouldn't have told you, if I didn't want to.''
''So the depression that had lasted far too long was …?
''Yes.'''
"Do you think he would have wanted you to do that?" Louise questioned.
"Bye, big sister Hélène. I'll miss you." Viviana said as she hugged the princess.
"I'll miss you too, darling."
"What are you going to do now?" Louise asked.
Hélène thought about it for a minute. "I think I'm going home."
The warrior couldn't help but smile. "It's the mature thing to do."
"It's rather embarrassing that a kid like you is more mature than me."
"I'm only three years younger so, please, stop calling me a kid." Louise argued.
The other woman laughed. "You can come visit me anytime you want. The doors of the palace are always open for you.'' She said and pulled Louise into an embrace.
The warrior returned it somehow awkwardly. ''Thank you for everything. Especially allowing my horse on board.'' She gestured to the beige animal.
''I should thank you. And this horse it's obviously important to you.''
''It is.''
''I figured as much. Unfortunately I can't stay much longer. I haven't been in home in years and I need to hurry.'' Hélène ran back on board and waved at them before she disappeared.
''So where are we headed now, Louise?'' Viviana questioned.
''Hmm, I don't know. What do you say about Greece?''
I am not dead. After more than a month I'm back with a new chapter. And I actually have sort of a good explanation for being gone for such a long time. I had to read Illiad and I still do because I actually haven't finished it yet. God, this is one of the most dull things I have ever read. I like the story but I hate the way it's written so yeah. And because I hate this book so much I read Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince, then came the clampfemslahweek on tumblr and I had to make something about it and then suddenly I was hit by a huge writer's block for this story.
I actually started a new fic too but haven't updated it either because I just wanted to update this one first and somehow two weeks passed. Sometimes I hate myself so much. The other fic is based on Once Upon A Time and it's also a Hetalia fic so read it if you want to. I will try to update both fics every week, October & April on saturday and If My Heart Keeps Singing on sunday. I will do my best so such long breaks won't happen again.
I have decided to go with my original idea and have omakes about the past after every arc is over so sorry you won't learn more about Isabel until this new arc is over. Please, do not hate me.
By the way, the story about Hélène's past will also be told in detail eventually. Though I suppose most of you know who her lover was.
Please leave a review. Love and hugs for everyone.
