Chapter Nineteen

Siblings Reconciled

VALLOKEN

He couldn't believe it. Then again, he'd seen a lot of weird things as of late, so this shouldn't have counted as too big of a surprise. But who would have guessed that a bunch of tribal, ancient people had so many talented modern mechanics and engineers among them?

The plane had seemed quite irreversibly damaged to him, but in the span of a couple of days, the Northuldra's best and brightest had patched up the plane and Val had to admit, it did look ready to fly again.

"Impressive, no?" Aslak said, coming up to stand beside him on the small plateau where he was watching the Northuldra put the finishing touches on the plane. "You did not expect our people to be capable of this."

"Yes, I'll admit." Val nodded and shook Aslak's hand in greeting. "Their technical expertise is something even the best and brightest back in Vjor or Arendelle could hope to possess. Your people are truly talented. Thank you for your kind assistance."

Aslak waved dismissively. "Think nothing of it. This is the least I can do for accidentally harming the descendant of the great Warrior Queen." He still looked abashed. "I believe I am still indebted to you."

"Well, there is something." Val said slowly, though he too felt a little embarrassed. He had to be thick skin if he was going to get Aslak's help, but something told him the Northuldra Chieftain wouldn't be too eager. "My people are being oppressed, as you know."

The elderly man nodded, watching Val closely.

"In case my sister's plan fails and we cannot acquire the help of the Snow Queen, we might need to assemble a militia." Val paused. "The Arendellian Field Army has been rendered powerless in their own homes and the intruders have been swarming the bases, keeping them locked up. If we're going to win this thing, we're going to need an army of our own."

"I see. And you would like us to participate."

"Yes." Val avoided eye contact. Maybe it was too much to ask of the peaceful tribe.

"I'm afraid I cannot ask my people to do that." Aslak looked apologetic. "Back during the War of the Exonian Empire, the Northuldra joined forces with Arendelle and the rest of the Confederation."

Val nodded. He'd studied war history for one of his tougher modules back in Vjorman University. "The Danish and the Northuldra were said to be the best guerrilla fighters on this entire continent."

"We were but it came at a high cost. The war with Exon almost cost our entire tribe their lives. Our race was nearly wiped from existence." He shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. I understand your predicament and as much as I would like to help, the cost is too high. As Chieftain of the Northuldra, it is my duty to protect what's left of our culture and heritage. I am sorry."

"No, no. I get it." Val said hastily. "Perhaps it was too much to ask of you."

Aslak bowed with sincerity. "If it were anything else, I would oblige. I would like to make up for the ambush."

"Forget it." This time it was Val's turn to wave his hand dismissively. "Think nothing more of it. You value your privacy and I fully understand, because I do too. It was just a spot of bad luck, I suppose."

"Nothing is by chance, Prince Valloken." Aslak said. "I believe that it was fate that brought us together."

Val had to stifle a snort. "The Northuldra believe in fate?"

"Yes. And I believe that it is your sister's destiny to find who she has been looking for."

"The Snow Queen."

"Yes." The Northuldra Chieftain had a look in his eye that told Val that he wasn't joking at all. "I believe that fate led the three of you here too."

Val raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

"For you to believe."

Sighing, Val crossed his arms. "I…I have never really been a believer in things I don't understand."

"You are a man of science and reason."

"You're very perceptive," Val chuckled. "But yes."

"Then may I suggest that this entire detour was for you to open your mind?" Aslak waved at the plane below. "You have already opened your mind to believe that the Northuldra are capable of more than just reindeer farming. Now why not do the same for your sister?"

"I'm not sure what you mean." Val glanced at his sister who was watching the repair process from the bottom of the slope.

"Believe in your sister." Aslak said in a sagely tone. "She will need your support in the coming days. You don't know it, but she secretly hopes to make amends for whatever grievances you have against her. She needs you on her side, and you can only do that if you start trusting her and believing in her quest."

Val took a minute to absorb and ponder what Aslak had told him, and nodded. "I understand. I will try."

"Your sister needs you more than you know," There was a firm but encouraging tone in the old man's voice. "Support her. Help her find the Snow Queen and save your people from their oppressors."

This time, Val nodded more firmly. "I will." With that, he began making his way down from the plateau and down the slope cautiously to where Talya was watching the mechanics and engineers finish up with the plane.

"We're almost set." Talya remarked as Val joined them.

"Where's Peggy?" Val asked.

"She's back at the settlement. Honing her weapons and trying to gather field intelligence from the Northuldra." Talya answered.

There was a slightly long drawn silence. Val wanted to say something to her, but couldn't the words. Fortunately, Talya saved him the trouble.

"Val."

"What is it?"

"I…I think that now might be a good time for me to…you know," Talya looked uncharacteristically awkward. "…apologise to you. And to tell you the truth about my secret."

Val sat down at the edge of the slope to signify that he was ready to listen, and Talya did the same. He didn't show it on his features, but he was genuinely inclined to hear what Talya had to say and to make amends at last.

"The truth is, our parents kept us apart because of my sorcery." Talya began with a light sigh. "They were afraid."

"Afraid that I would get hurt," Val said, fiddling with his spectacles. "After learning about your powers, it didn't take me long to figure it out."

She nodded slowly. "Yes. They sent you off to Vjor's boarding schools so that they could keep us as far apart as possible. So that I could use the time to learn how to control my sorcery. Only then would Momma and Papa have called for your permanent return." She inhaled deeply and sighed. "But I never did manage to figure it out before they died. I was scared, now that there was no one left to turn to.

"And so I decided that the easiest thing to do was to push you away again. To let things get back to the status quo. Because that was the only thing I knew how to do." Talya looked at him, and he could see her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I made the same mistake my parents did, and for that I'm truly sorry. I don't know how I can ever make up for the time we lost as children, but I would like for us to begin afresh. I would like to have a chance to get to know you properly for the first time."

"But you already have," Val allowed a small smile to penetrate his stolid expression. "The past few days have been the most time I've ever spent with you. And for once in my life, I've gotten to know the real you. And I'll never admit having said this, but I wish we'd gotten the chance sooner."

Relieved, Talya let out a breathless chuckle and wiped her eyes. "Me too. I'm sorry about everything, Val."

His grin widened slightly. "You better stop apologising, or I might just decide to stay here on the mainland and let you go find the Snow Queen by yourself."

"You would come? After everything we've been through? After our plane freaking crash landed in the middle of a freak storm?"

"Don't say anymore, or you might just change my mind."

Though surprised, Talya nodded and smiled. "Alright. We'll find the Snow Queen together."

"Heads up!" Peggy came running towards them at breakneck speed even though the terrain was uneven with slopes, roots and numerous rocks. "Talya, Val!"

"What is it?" Talya was the first to respond, and Val looked on in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"The Northuldra." Peggy didn't even take a moment to catch her breath. "Some of them spotted intruders. The villagers tried to stop them, but they couldn't."

"Sorcerers?" Talya asked.

Face grim, Peggy nodded. "Bjorn sent more assassins."

"Damn." Val muttered. This was the third time. Bjorn was absolutely relentless and determined to see their heads on spikes.

"We have to stop them before they tear the village apart." Talya said, beginning to climb the slope in the direction of the village. "Come on!"

"Wait!" Val called after her, but it was too late to change her mind. She was already gone.

Author's Commentary:

I guess what I really wanted to try was to paint ancient cultures in a new light and portray that people can evolve over time. And I really love creating and developing new cultures. Researching and world building are two of the factors that make being a writer exciting and intellectually stimulating to me.

And there's the whole siblings reconciled thing. I love writing cathartic moments, though I feel I still have a lot to learn when it comes to writing compelling, emotionally driven dialogue.