Chapter Five

Chapter 5: Ulterior Motives

TALYA

Well that could've gone better, Talya thought silently as she and Val settled down opposite each other in the dining hall. She'd known that things would be awkward and tense, but she had hoped things wouldn't come to an argument. It nearly had, what with the whole disagreement about their ancestral history and the idea that the myths were true.

It is true, she insisted to herself. How can it not be when I have the same sorcerous abilities as the famed Snow Queen herself? But of course, she couldn't tell Val that. Nor could she tell anyone. It was still her most well-guarded secret, thanks to her gloves. Val had glanced at her hands a couple of times, but he hadn't asked her about them yet. He'd seen her wear them every time he returned home for the holidays or their parents' funerals, but he'd never questioned it. It was a good thing too, for Talya honestly didn't have a good answer for him.

Val and herself sat wordlessly at the long table. It was just the two of them, for she had really wanted to use this time to catch up with him and attempt to re-establish a sort of working relationship with her brother. It wasn't working very well, apparently. Instead of sitting at the head of the table like she normally would, she sat at the corner of the table's long edge, right opposite from Val. Though his face was mostly blank, she could tell that he was uneasy at being back here in the palace and honestly, Talya couldn't blame him. Being abroad for most of his life, he had never really had a chance to properly grow up at home, and he hadn't had the chance to bond with her as siblings. She hoped that she could change that.

"So, Val." Talya said as they waited for the food to be served.

"Hmmn." He looked up from staring at the plethora of golden cutlery.

"How has things been abroad? I heard you graduated top of your cohort." Talya said, eager to sound as though she had been paying attention to his life.

"Ah," He fiddled with his spectacles. "Yes."

"I'd always known you had a gift for engineering and tech."

"Thanks."

Monosyllabic responses so far. That's not good. Internally, Talya grimaced. Come on, Val. I'm trying here. The least you could do is reciprocate.

A couple of servants swept in with large plates of food. Roast pork, sautéed vegetables, traditional fårikål, steaming pumpkin soup, freshly bread with a sweet scent and countless other dishes were placed before the two siblings, along with a bottle of wine. Val and Talya sat in silence as one of the servants broke the seal of the bottle, popped the cork, and poured a glass of wine for both of them.

Talya waited for the servants to excuse themselves before continuing. "Chef Lorne's really outdone himself this time. I haven't seen a spread this good in a while."

"Hmmn." Val took a sip from his glass of wine.

"Wait till you see desert."

Silence.

"So what exactly have you been doing after you graduated from college?" Talya pressed on determinedly, motioning for him to help himself to the food. She herself took a good serving of baked potatoes dribbled with expensive melted butter and a generous side of roast pork.

"I've been taking some time to work on a couple of ideas." Val scooped steaming pumpkin soup into his bowl with a large golden ladle, and took a helping of the baked bread. He did look impressed by the spread, though he didn't audibly admit it.

"Such as?"

"Sketches, blueprints and potential designs for some new tech." Val said.

"What does it do?"

"Hopefully improve our kingdom's security." Val chewed a great mouthful of bread and downed a hearty amount of soup.

"Ah, yes. I heard that on the news." Talya said. I guess it's time to broach the subject. "You have plans to join our military's intelligence sector?"

Val sipped his wine. "That's right."

"And you have no interests in royal duties here."

"That is also correct." Val's face was cold, unfeeling as he regarded her with his intelligent brown eyes from behind his glasses.

"Well, I'd hoped you would discuss that with me first before publicising it to the world." Talya said, unable to hide the slight vexation in her voice.

"And why is that?"

"We need to present a united front to the world. The people can't see us having disputes or disagreements."

"No one said anything about a dispute. Of course," Val lowered his glass of wine and began cleaning the lenses of his spectacles. "Unless you feel that we are at odds here."

"No one said that," Talya paused. "It's just-"

"Just what?"

"Just that…a member of the royal family has duties here. Being a prince means that you have obligations to fulfil in the public eye."

Val set his utensils down. "I really don't think you're in a place to lecture me about obligations."

"It's not a lecture." Talya said quickly. "But you do have responsibilities now that you've come back home to stay."

"Oh, so now you want me to stay." Val said impassively.

"It was never my decision, and you know that."

"And what about after Mother died?" Val's voice went very cold as he stopped cleaning his spectacles. "Who called the shots then? The Prime Minister?"

Talya felt her throat go tight. "It was mine."

"I rest my case."

"Look, I've made mistakes in the past. I wish I could explain them to you."

"And what's stopping you?"

Talya shook her head. Don't you see, Val? I can't. As much as I want to. She swallowed and took a deep breath before continuing. "We can't change the past. But I invited you back home because I wanted to make amends."

"Oh, I thought it was because you needed me here to attend the coronation."

"Which you didn't show up for either." Talya blurted out before she could stop herself. She could feel the frustration mounting in spite of her best efforts to reach out to her estranged brother who really wasn't making things easy. Her face was growing hot but she was sure it wasn't from the wine because she hadn't touched it yet.

Val gingerly set his spectacles back on the bridge of his nose. "My apologies. I was held up elsewhere."

"Look, Val-" She cleared her throat and started again in a more formal tone. "Valloken, I have something I need to discuss with you."

"There we go." Val pushed aside his food and rested his forearms on the table, steeping his fingers. "I was quite sure that there was an ulterior motive to this little dinner reunion. Let's get down to business then."

Talya sighed. In a way, he was right. She had had an agenda, but she genuinely wanted to reach out to him to make amends. Not that he would see it that way.

"I…I need you to make an announcement to the press." Talya said, and watched with unease as Val raised an eyebrow. She swallowed. "I need you to retract your statement from this afternoon."

"Absolutely not."

"Val, I need you here in the palace. By my side. We have work to do and appearances to keep up." She said exasperatedly. "The public needs to see us as united."

"Why lie about it? We aren't united."

"Val, you have duties as the Prince of Arendelle." Talya locked eyes with him, dreading the card she was about to play. "And as the Queen of Arendelle, I'm demanding that you fulfil them."

There was a long drawn silence as both siblings stared at each other, neither flinching or giving the other ground.

"So that's it, then." Val broke the silence, his voice quiet. "I refuse to comply and you pull the queen card on me. I hate to break it to you, but unlike everyone else in your life, I don't answer to you."

"Damn it, Val. I'm the queen." She argued, knowing that she wasn't helping her case in the slightest. "Whatever I say goes."

"Not this time." Val glowered at her. "I haven't come home to play second fiddle to you. I've come home to live my own life and to build my own career away from the throne. I want nothing to do with the crown or your politics."

"You know very well that you can't just abandon your royal duties without the queen's approval. And you know very well that I won't let that happen. If you don't retract your statement, I'll have to overrule that decision publicly." Talya said helplessly. Things were spiralling out of control, and there was nothing she could do to salvage the situation. Not anymore.

"So you'll humiliate me in front of the whole kingdom?"

"No, no I won't. Please don't make me do that."

"So you actually care." Val's tone was cold as ice. "Could've fooled me, sis."

Talya glared at him. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Never mind." Val stood up, his chair making an unpleasant screeching noise as it was dragged backwards. Eyes narrowed and fiddling with his spectacles, he glowered at her. "It seems you've left me an ultimatum. Comply, or be humiliated."

"Valloken, please." Talya felt tears pressing her eyes.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to enjoy desert by yourself." He strode towards the door. "We're done here."

Talya watched as he left, angry tears trickling down her cheeks. She wiped them away in frustration and exhaled sharply, glaring at the door as it clicked shut behind Val. So much for making amends.

###

The next day was tense, to say the least. Talya knew that of course, Val would have to comply, or risk being overruled in front of the entire kingdom for directly disobeying the queen's wishes. She had never wanted it to come to this, but he'd been so insistent on his ambitions that it had brought them both to a heated argument the previous night over dinner, and Talya couldn't help but feel like their already strained relationship had just deteriorated even further.

She'd tried her best to make amends, only for the whole thing to blow up in her face. Things had been tense since his arrival, but the argument really reached fever pitch during their private dinner, and now Talya feared that she'd driven yet another wedge between herself and Val. She so badly wanted to hit herself for botching things the way she had, and was still wrecking her brains for a way to salvage her already non-existent relationship with Val.

The two of them had spent the morning and afternoon together at various events and functions, as an official return visit for Val and also for publicity's sake. The Prime Minister had stressed the importance of the public seeing the two of them attend events together, as the kingdom needed to see that the royal family was united. Or what was left of the royal family, seeing as how Talya and Val were the only ones still alive. Needless to say, things were extremely awkward between them, but they both had to put up a facade, talking and laughing amicably in public. In private though, things reverted to a sour silence.

Talya still wanted a way to reconnect with her brother, but didn't know how. What he'd said the night before had hurt her, and she was still angry. But deep down, she knew that he was right. She had shut him out for his entire life, only to impose an ultimatum on him and a threat to veto his plans the day he arrived back home. How could she explain to him that her parents and her had been trying to protect Val from getting hurt by her sorcery? She couldn't, which meant that they were going to be stuck at this status quo for a while.

Returning to the palace, their servants prepared them for dinner separately. Talya relished the absence of tension as her servants helped her with her hair and makeup. She'd known that things would potentially get difficult with Val's return, but she hadn't expected their relationship to spiral further out of control this quickly. Whatever the case, she just had to survive tonight's banquet - which had been arranged in his honour - and then she could figure out her next step with him. Every dignitary, minister and member of the upper echelon of society was going to be there. They just had to put up the facade for a couple more hours.

Dressed in a formal dark green dress with frills and jewellery hanging from her neck, wrists and ankles, Talya walked down the corridors of the palace in painfully high heels, escorted by the Valquerson Rifles. They were not using the dining hall today, instead, the largest ballroom in the palace had been prepared for the celebration of the Prince's indefinite return. Val, dressed in a sleek black suit and flanked by more of her own soldiers, was already waiting outside the big doors of the ballroom.

Drawing in a deep breath at a distance, Talya approached as calmly as she could. Just a few more hours of this. She stopped in front of Val, who gave her a tiny bow, posture upright and face pleasant.

"Would you mind giving us a minute?" She said in a voice loud enough for the staff and guards to hear. They backed away, giving Val and herself some space.

"What are you doing?" Val looked apprehensive.

"Nothing." Talya shook her head. "I just wanted to say-"

"Forget it. We have a job to do. Put on a good show, smile, wave and navigate the multitude of politicians." Val cut her off in a low voice. "Our relationship here is strictly professional, but for your sake and my own, I'm willing to put up with this."

Stifling her words, Talya bit back a reply. She wanted to apologise, but decided that now wasn't the best time. She would find a way to do so in a more meaningful way, but only after tonight. Like Val said, they had a job to do. Straightening up, she turned her body so that Val and her stood side by side. Nodding at the footmen by the doors, she drew in another deep breath as the doors swung open and the forerunner introduced both her and Val in a loud voice.

Together, both of them swept into the ballroom in the most dignified fashion, smiling and nodding at the men and women who bowed to them as they passed by. Everyone was present, and the ballroom was packed full without an empty seat. The ballroom itself was stunning and brilliant, stretched out by a long red carpet, with intricately designed chandeliers, pillars and architecture which detailed the best of Arendelle's culture. As always, journalists and photographers were present from every major establishment in the kingdom, along with the broadcasters and their video crew. A large screen at the front of the ballroom broadcasted the entrance of Talya and Val in real time, and Talya had no doubt that the rest of the world was watching.

Finally, after what seemed like minutes of walking, smiling and nodding, Talya and Val found their seats at the table where the Prime Minister and a few of the other distinguished cabinet members were waiting. They remained standing until the two siblings took their seats, and immediately, the rest of the ballroom were at ease once more.

"Good evening, Your Majesty." The Prime Minister said.

"Thank you, Johan." Talya said graciously. Johan was a man in his sixties, already balding and he'd neatly combed back what remained of his grey hair. The man had served as Arendelle's Prime Minister for over a decade, ever since her father had been king. He was competent and wise, and Talya felt safe entrusting her government into his hands.

Johan turned to Val. "And welcome home, Your Highness. You've been away for a long time."

"Thank you, Prime Minister." Val nodded in gratitude. "It's good to be home."

"Are you ready for your opening speech, Sir?" Johan asked.

Talya looked over at Val. Apparently he wasn't.

"I've glanced over the content." Val answered with an air of confidence that was quite obviously feigned.

"Very good, Sir." Johan stood up, waving Val to the podium. "After you."

Talya watched as the Prime Minister escorted her brother over to the centre of the stage at the front of the ballroom, where all the cameras focused on him. She only hoped that things wouldn't go badly on live television.

"It is my privilege," Johan called out in a loud voice, and the ballroom went silent. "To welcome home His Royal Highness, who will be gracing us with his opening address. His Royal Highness, Prince Valloken of Arendelle."

The ballroom erupted into polite, controlled applause, which died down in a matter of seconds as Val stood in front of everyone with a microphone in his hand and an unreadable look on his face.

"Thank you, Prime Minister." Val said. "And thank you all for being here. First of all, I would like to once again congratulate my dear sister on her coronation."

Talya smiled as the people clapped again, knowing that the cameras would be aimed at her at this very instant. In her mind, she fervently hoped that Val wouldn't go off script and embarrass them both.

"I have been away for a long time." Val went on. "Many of you know that my parents sent me to the University of Vjor to pursue engineering and cyber security. And I would like to thank them, God rest their souls, for their love and relentless support even though we were separated by miles of land and sea. I must admit that-"

"Your Majesty," Orm whispered in her ear.

Talya turned to see her secretary Orm standing behind her with an uneasy expression on his face.

"What is it?" She asked curiously.

"Not here, Ma'am." Orm said in a low voice. "Outside, if you don't mind."

Talya raised her eyebrow but didn't object. Motioning to her guards to stay put, she got up as discreetly as she could, and followed the man through a side door that led to a private hallway used by the chefs and servants. The Prime Minister waited for them outside, accompanied by a soldier in the uniform of the Arendellian Field Army.

"What's going on?" She glanced at the two men.

"Ma'am, this is Colonel Torrien of the Military Intelligence Sector." Johan, looking unsettled, introduced his companion. "He has an urgent message for you."

"Your Majesty." Colonel Torrien bowed perfectly with all the practice of military decorum.

Talya regarded Torrien. He was sweating evidently, and it seemed that he was making every effort to restrain himself from twirling his long, brown moustache.

"I have some pressing news about the Southern Isles."

"They've made contact?" Talya asked. Strange. She would've thought that the news would have come from her foreign policy minister or the ambassadors of the kingdom. Why was this a military intelligence matter?

"No, Ma'am. It appears they are-" Torrien swallowed hard. "-attempting an invasion."

Author's Commentary:

During the conceptualisation phase, I was actually going back and forth with the idea of using Prince Val as an antagonist to Talya. But then, we've kind of already seen that sibling rivalry played out on a grand scale in Book 3 between Deirdre and Eleanor during the war with the Empire. If you don't know what I'm talking about, do go and check out my other stories! It'll lend a lot more context as to what's going on in this world I've created :)

And I'm really glad to hear that y'all are enjoying the originality of the story. Believe it or not, I was actually a little inspired by the sequel trilogy of Star Wars. Yes I know about the bad rep it gets and I agree with most of the unfavourable feedback, but the one thing they did right was building up Luke Skywalker's legend long after he'd vanished. That kind of atmosphere is what I'm trying to build in this story.

But without further ado, let's await the next chapter where things kick into the next gear and the invasion begins :)