Chapter 14

Aaron's heart was beginning to race as he made his way up the stairs. As reassuring as his conversation with Kresta had been, the moment he left his nerves began to creep up on him again. It was one thing to talk about facing his sister again and quite another to actually do it. Especially considering he still hadn't gotten over the shock of what she'd shown him.

When the flames had sprung from her hands, and her eyes had opened to reveal the same molten core he carried each and every day… there had been no words. No lingering excitement, no cloistering regret. Just a dull, aching void as this new reality poured through him. Considering how difficult their reunion had turned out to be, having that smothered on top of it was beyond overwhelming, to the point that he just needed to escape. To capture a few moments away from her in a vain effort to even remotely come to terms with what she was.

Fortunately Kristoff and Anna's departure had given him an excuse to do exactly that, but not before Helena made him and Elsa swear. The gravity with which she'd instructed them not to breathe a word of this imparted how imperative it was that her secret remain exactly that, a secret. The magnitude of that secret, though… the fact that his own sister had actually been like him all along was maddening. So much so that he'd nearly blabbed it to Kresta at the first chance he got. Fortunately he'd managed to catch himself but that didn't make it any less difficult to contend with as he traversed through the castle.

Yet as difficult as their meeting had been for him it seemed even harder for Helena. Between how she'd struggled to remain calm throughout their conversation and the way she'd hastily rushed from the room, claiming she had important matters of her own to tend to, Aaron wasn't the only one suffering. Still, despite either of their billowing consternation, he found that he just had to see her again as soon as possible. To know her again like he used to.

So, he swallowed his doubts and drove himself into the eastern wing of the castle. There, several rooms had been set aside to accommodate visiting dignitaries and while many were being vacated the end of the hall was not. There a pair of guards swathed in the scarlet red of Ildonen stood watch, barring the way to the chambers beyond.

Aaron knew he'd find her there so he marched directly up to one of the guards, ignoring the glinting halberd the man held and said, "Excuse me. I need to speak with Lady Helena."

The guard looked him over quizzically before glancing at his counterpart and muttering something in a guttural language, only to get a shrug in response. He then sneered at Aaron and uttered through a thick accent, "And who 're you?"

He made no effort to move so Aaron straightened to his full height and fixed the man with a harsh stare. "I'm the Lord Protector of Arendelle and I wish to see her. Now."

Realizing that Aaron was probably more trouble than he could handle, the guard dropped his gaze but refused to step aside. "Apologies, milord, but you'll 'ave to wait. She's with his magnificence the king."

He probably could have forced his way past but Aaron hadn't come to make a scene, instead simply replying, "Very well," and waiting.

Fortunately he didn't have to tarry for long before his sister emerged from the room at the end of the hall. Only she didn't exit alone, followed shortly by none other than King Cyrus himself. Even after Helena told him she worked directly with the king of Ildonen he'd hadn't been entirely convinced of it and yet there they were, conversing in what sounded like the same language the guard had used. Seeing was believing but he was still impressed as one of the guards made his way towards the pair.

They hadn't noticed Aaron yet as Cyrus emphasized something to Helena, instructing her firmly as she nodded dutifully. Cyrus was massaging his right hand as he spoke, although he stopped when she commented on it, gesturing for him to stop. Before he could reply they were interrupted and Helena finally looked down the hall to spot him.

As soon as their eyes met he felt his stomach clench but he refused to let his apprehension show, instead dragging out a smile and a nod. She didn't return the smile, however, instead just giving him a stony stare as Cyrus also looked up. He only regarded Aaron for a moment before saying something to Helena and retreating into his chambers. She in turn gave him a passing bow and yet she wavered before giving a visible sigh. With that she finally strode down the corridor towards Aaron.

He wasn't entirely sure what to expect after their first meeting but he realized he'd hoped for more when she came to a halt before him and coolly said, "Lord Aaron."

Even though her rigid formality stung a little he opted to respond in kind, at least so long as they weren't alone as he replied, "Lady Helena. I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Hardly. Just wasn't expecting to see you again quite so soon." As she spoke, she dismissed the remaining guard with a glance.

Aaron waited until he'd withdrawn beyond earshot before giving a sheepish shrug. "Likewise. But I figured since you don't know your way around the castle you could use a guide." When she hardly reacted to that he added, "I also wanted to show you something."

Her gaze sharpened at that as she asked, "Oh yeah? And what did you have in mind?"

"That would be telling. Assuming you have the time, of course."

Hesitating, Helena glanced over her shoulder towards Cyrus's chambers before answering, "No, but for you I'm sure I can make an exception."

"Great. Um, shall we?"

After receiving an almost reluctant nod, Aaron turned to lead back down the way he'd come. She quickly fell into step beside him, although given the way both of them remained silent neither was in a hurry to speak up. Just being around her again stirred up all kinds of unresolved guilt and questions but this obviously wasn't the right time. Given how conflicted she'd been at times earlier, Helena needed more time to pass before she even began to relax around him. Which suited his unease just fine.

Still, Aaron's anxiety couldn't quite drown out all of his excitement for seeing his sister again. As nonsensical as it was, part of him had expected to find that young girl he knew long ago. So it filled him with pride to find that she'd managed to grow into a woman all her own, even if he hoped that at least some of that girl remained.

That pride was somewhat dampened, however, when he glanced down at the twin blades still sheathed against her back. He wasn't sure how or why she carried them but he'd certainly never imagined his baby sister ever needing to arm herself as he asked, "Do you really know how to use those?"

Following his gaze, Helena replied, "What, these? What makes you think I wouldn't?"

There was something inherently defensive about the way she said it as Aaron quickly corrected her. "I'm not saying you don't, I'm just surprised you have them at all."

Not even breaking stride, she reached back to unsheath one, idly tossing it in the air before snatching it by the tip. It all happened so quickly Aaron found himself shying a little further away as she flipped the handle back to her hand while saying, "In my line of work sometimes it pays to have something more subtle than flames."

That only aroused more of his questions from earlier as he nervously eyed the blade. "And what exactly is it that King Cyrus has you do?"

She'd been twirling the dagger some more but his question made her pause, returning it to its place while her expression darkened. "Whatever his grace requires."

"What does that-"

"I'm sorry, Aaron, but I'm not comfortable sharing that with you at the moment," Helena interjected, coming to a halt as she cut him off. Her hands were beginning to crush back into fists as she frowned down the hallway. "It's still hard just being around you again, much less discussing things I don't talk about with anyone."

"Oh. Right." Smarting at her rejection, he tried to smooth things over by saying, "Like I said, just didn't expect you to carry weapons."

Her eyes were still sharp when she glanced up at him but there was still some puzzlement as she asked, "Do you not?"

Aaron's mouth opened to respond yet he hesitated, his mind wandering to the sword waiting for him in his quarters. He'd been in such a rush this morning to answer Elsa's call that he hadn't even taken the time to strap it on. Considering why he had it, he supposed it wasn't that different from Helena and her daggers. "I do. Never would have expected my baby sister to have her own, is all."

Helena's lips twisted at that and she continued down the hall without him, grumbling, "I haven't been that in a long time."

Hurrying to catch up with her, Aaron immediately regretted his choice of words as he stared ahead. As he'd feared she still held a great deal of pent up frustration towards him that even time hadn't healed. But that didn't mean he was about to give up on reconnecting with her so easily. Besides, perhaps there was a way to get through to her.

Coming to a halt before the door that led into his chamber, Aaron sucked down his fears as he opened it while saying, "Here we are. After you."

There was another pause before Helena willed herself through the doorway, her gaze sweeping around the room. Situated in the southwest corner of the castle on the third floor, a door on the far side opened to a small balcony and a decent view over the harbor and the fjord beyond. In the event of an emergency a short jaunt down the hall would deliver him to the southern tower anchoring the castle's outer walls while dropping down a nearby stairwell led to the southern gate. Of course, he had other ways of getting around if he was in a hurry.

While hardly even close to being considered large, the room was still more substantial than his original quarters when he first moved to the castle. That had been little more than a glorified closet tucked off to one side, although his promotion to a lord had necessitated something more appropriate for his newfound status. Even so, he'd hardly had enough to fill that cupboard, much less all this. As a result there wasn't much to the room, just a bed in one corner across from a desk strewn with various papers and documents that he really ought to have been tending to, his trusty sword leaning against it. An equally neglected bookcase stood beside it, filled with charts and references, but apart from a chest and a wardrobe that was it.

Helena took it all in as she strode forward, coming to a halt in the center of the room. Her eyes missed nothing as they darted from one side to the next, lingering on the desk before she glanced back at him. "Is this your quarters?"

"Yes," Aaron replied as he followed her in, shutting the door as he went so that they wouldn't be distrubed. "What do you think?"

"Looks rather sparse."

Smirking, he thought back to how empty his old cabin had always been. "I'm not used to having many possessions."

"At least that's something that we have in common," Helena muttered as she looked around again, although she clearly didn't intend for him to hear that as she said, "So what did you want to show me?"

"Oh, right." The admission that there was still some common ground between them after all had been enough to distract him for a moment before he shook his head. Walking over to the desk, he slid open a drawer towards the bottom. Whereas the rest of the desk was overcome with various administrative muck, that drawer was practically empty. That is, except for a single, small frame nestled at the bottom.

His heart gave a solemn throb just like every other time he saw it but now there was also a faint ring of hope as Aaron gingerly lifted it before turning to offer it to his sister. "Here."

He didn't know what to expect as she looked down at the picture within. To be fair, there wasn't much to it, just a clumsy charcoal drawing depicting a pair of figures that was obviously drawn by a child. It had also seen better days, given how wrinkled it was and the light burns around the edges. To him, though, it meant the world and he'd hoped that Helena would share at least some of his sentiment.

As such, he had to bite back his disappointment when her gaze returned to him blankly as she asked, "What is it?"

"Don't you recognize it? It's a drawing you once made for me when we were still children."

That got the recognition he was looking for but only for an instant as her attention shifted back to the drawing, completely expressionless. "Oh."

Aaron found himself hardly breathing as she looked it over, almost as though he was expecting some tremendous moment of revelation that never came. When all she did was continue to stare at it he quietly asked, "Is everything alright?"

Helena hardly reacted to the question, continuing to study her handiwork from years prior as her fingertips brushed across its surface. Her voice was distant when she eventually said, "There are times when I can hardly remember that part of my childhood. To the point that I even find myself wondering if it ever actually happened at all." As she spoke her touch drifted towards the black char crinkling the page's edge. "Or if I was always…"

With that Helena tapered off, lost in thought. She only snapped back when Aaron asked, "Always what?"

"Nothing," she replied brusquely, finally looking up from the picture irritably. "Never mind."

Chidding himself for interrupting, he said, "Helena? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

Helena didn't allow him to finish, though, as she handed it back. "No, it's fine. I just haven't thought about those days in a long time."

Accepting her rejection, Aaron did his best to hide his dismay as he looked down at the piece. So much for that idea. "You don't want it?"

"Keep it. I gave it to you, after all."

"I guess so. I just thought you might want something to remind you of our childhood."

That strained edge returned to Helena's voice as she replied, "Why would I need something else when I already have you for that?"

With that he fully expected her to make a hasty retreat, only she didn't. Instead, as she turned towards the door she paused, her eyes narrowing as they swept across the room once more. Given the way she drew in a deep inhale, it was almost as though she could detect a faint odor as she asked, "What is that?"

As he looked around, though, all Aaron could offer in return was confusion when he saw nothing amiss. "What is what?"

Ignoring him, Helena continued to study her surroundings before drifting forward a step. One of her hands rising before her as though to guide her, she advanced hesitantly as she made her way towards his desk. Once there, she paused again to scan its surface before her attention settled on the blade beside it and realization clicked within Aaron. Ah. Of course she can sense it.

She didn't bother with asking for permission before stooping down to lift his sword by its scabbard, scanning it closely as she did so. After glancing at him briefly she proceeded to unsheath it one long, fluid motion only to gasp when she revealed the writhing blade beneath. Flames roiled within its translucent surface in an endless storm of fire as Helena stared at the seamless weapon in her hand. Formed from a single flameshard over several months, Aaron had worked tirelessly to grow it to its full length, tempering the edge until he had a sword that could cleave through steel. It had been an exhausting process that had taken all his effort but the end result was nothing short of spectacular and he even felt a tweak of pride as she admired it.

Or at least he thought she was admiring it until Helena gave him a look of bewilderment. "What is this?"

"Do you like it? Of all people I'd think you would." When that didn't answer her question he added, "It's a sword formed and forged from pure fire."

His answer only seemed to confuse her further as she returned her focus to the blade, holding it close to her face so she could examine every inch of it. "But how? How did you do this?"

"Through a lot of time and effort," Aaron replied, puzzled by her incredulity. "Why? Can't you do this?"

"I'd never thought to try."

Still my little sister after all. "I suppose we all can still have some learning to do."

That burst the fog around her as Helena cast him a sharp glance, only this time it wasn't just with wariness or apprehension. Now there were hints of a defiant pride as she sheathed the blade and returned it to its place beside the desk. As she did so she said, "You might be surprised by what I can do."

Setting the picture still in his hands back on the desk, he opted to goad her just a little more. After all, his sword appeared to have awoken something within her as she faced him with new interest. "Oh really? Like what?"

He was still nervous about pushing her too far so it was to his relief when she smiled for the first time since entering the room, although there was something mocking about that smile. A brazen taunt as she made her way towards the door to his tiny balcony. Opening it slowly, she looked over her shoulder long enough to say, "Like this."

With that, Aaron felt his heart give a lurch as she suddenly threw herself from the balcony.

"Helena!"

Panic tore the name from him as he rushed towards the platform, instinct driving him to save her. In his alarm, though, he still heard a faint whump from below and was brought to a halt by a familiar warmth as his sister rose back into view. Suspended in the air before him, it was only when her feet had drifted into view that he saw how she managed to stay aloft.

Twin juts of flame flared from beneath her boots, accompanied by a faint roar and a billowing heat as they propelled her higher. Now it was Helena's turn to adopt a brash swagger, her apprehension completely morphing into triumph as she stared down at him with her burning eyes, her hair relit once more. Waiting patiently until the blaze had lifted her level with the balcony's railing, she took a step forward. The fire beneath her leading foot cut out just before it could singe the polished stone as she effortlessly strode out of the air, the other continuing to burn until she took another step, prancing confidently back onto the platform. With that the flame in her hair and eyes vanished as she placed her hands on her hips, her gaze scornful.

"Now who has some learning to do?" she asked defiantly.

At first all Aaron could do was gawk at her as his initial shock faded, only for him to find himself chuckling. It started out small but quickly grew into a laugh as he pressed a hand to his face, incredulous at the case of deja vu. So that's what that feels like.

As amusing as he found it, though, Helena didn't appear to share in his mirth as her smile faded. "What's so funny?"

Rather than explaining, however, he let his hand drop with a shrug. "You had to be there." Still, he wasn't about to let her challenge go unheeded as he readied himself. Especially not since this was the most engaged she'd been since they were reunited, her gaze watching him intently. "But if you think you're the only one who's learned to fly then guess again."

And there, just like that, Aaron watched the first glimpse of enjoyment slip across his sister's face as she considered his words before stepping off to one side and gesturing towards the balcony, smirking at his defiance. "Is that so? Well then, by all means."

"With pleasure," he replied, only he didn't bother moving towards the balcony. Instead he simply rolled his shoulders, feeling a faint pop and wincing at the sting that came from his right shoulder. Considering what lay beneath his shirt and how painful it could be, he didn't do this too often these days. But for his sister he was willing to make an exception as he took a deep breath before beginning.

Helena remained completely unimpressed when twin geysers of fire erupted from his back that were identical to the blazes that had been coming from her boots not moments ago, only unlike her he didn't stop there. Harnessing and sculpting the inferno roaring behind him, Aaron condensed them until they began to coalesce, sculpting the raw flames as they gave way to a soft glow while definitive shapes began to emerge. Flickering fire morphed into slender feathers and sturdy mass until he stood with a pair of massive wings outstretched from his back.

The papers on his desk rustled as he gave them a few flaps before tucking them against himself, their tips trailing along the floor as he looked at Helena expectantly. Her face remained expressionless throughout the entire transformation but she certainly wasn't indifferent anymore as she took a step towards him.

Still, she wasn't about to give him any satisfaction as she circled around him, saying, "A little ostentatious, don't you think?" while inspecting his newly formed apandeges.

"Maybe a little, but you have to admit they're impressive," Aaron replied, holding still so she could look closer as she reached out to run a finger along them.

Her expression became more intrigued when she encountered a tangible surface and stroked against a single feather. When it shifted under her touch she made to pluck it, only to have her fingers slip through when she squeezed. Seeing such a thing must have enthralled her beyond belief yet Helena still refused to show her full interest as she rounded back in front of him while continuing her examination.

As she did so she said, "More like excessive. I prefer something more practical."

"I'd be saying that too if I lacked a little imagination."

The jab caught her unaware as her eyes jolted to his, narrowing as she retorted, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Something about seeing her so fascinated helped to put him at ease as he smirked. It was so much easier to talk to her without all the agitation and aversion in the way. "Nothing. You probably couldn't keep up with me anyway."

"Is that a challenge?"

"So what if it is?"

Helena fell silent for a moment before giving into a grin of her own, folding her arms and daring him to continue. "What did you have in mind?"

Not that he was about to back down as he gestured outside. "There's a river at the end of the fjord. First one there?"

For all her bluster he wholeheartedly expected and even wanted her to say yes only to have her smirk fade as she followed his gaze. "Oh. No. Sorry, but I can't do that."

"No?" Not even trying to hide his disappointment, Aaron frowned as he replied, "Why not?"

She was already beginning to withdraw back inside herself as she gave him a firm look. "Because, unlike you, only a few people outside this room know who or what I am. And I'd like to keep it that way."

His first inclination was to object but then he thought back to her request for anonymity earlier. While he might have been comfortable showing the world who he was, she clearly wasn't yet, so who was he to make that decision for her? With that in mind, he allowed himself to relax and his wings to wither back out of existence as he said, "Right. Sorry. I guess there would be a few too many witnesses for that."

"Exactly." By then all the fun had completely drained from her as she glanced towards the door, back to her distant self. "And I really should be going."

"Already?" Aaron had known she probably wouldn't have stayed for long but he'd still hoped for more as she nodded.

"I have duties that I really shouldn't be putting off any longer." With that she took a step away from him, only to hesitate before looking back. Her eyes lingered on the floor as she said, "But thank you. This went… better than I thought it would."

That was at least something as Aaron found himself smiling and he nodded. "I thought so too. And I'm glad we at least got to share something," he replied as he glanced at the drawing still laying on his desk. Things may not have gone as he planned but they still managed to find something in the end.

As she silently continued towards the door, however, he realized there was something else he had to say. "Helena?"

Pausing again, she turned once more only this time she was able to look him in the eye. "Yes, Aaron?"

"I'm glad you found me again. I've missed you."

The words rang between them and he felt lighter just for saying them. She, meanwhile, remained motionless as her gaze dropped to the floor again. All that pain and resentment was starting to ripple through her once more but she still eventually managed to look back up and give a strained smile. With that, she wordlessly strode towards the door and opened it while stepping into the hall, closing it behind her as she went.