Chapter 27

"Helena! Have you lost your mind?!"

Elsa could barely hear Aaron's yell over the flames but she didn't have time to worry about that. Rather she just focused on holding the inferno at bay as it swirled all around her, restrained by nothing more than a thin veil of frost. Like before, she couldn't see much beyond the curtain of fire, although occasionally she would catch a glimpse of Helena flashing by. She was out there, somewhere. Probing for any weakness to exploit, only Elsa wasn't about to show her one, nor was she about to lash back. All she had to do was endure.

Sure enough, before long the blaze faded away to reveal the vale around them. Even though wisps of steam rolled off the lake's frozen surface beneath her feet, she made sure to keep the ice nice and thick even at the heart of Helena's barrage. She had to, if she didn't want to go for a swim. Aaron stood off to one side, his arms folded and his expression locked in an aggravated frown. He'd encouraged and even helped to bring Elsa here, but given the look on his face this level of intensity was not what he had in mind. Although they would have to find a more suitable location for next time. It was nice and secluded away from prying eyes, and yes, in the past being carried by Aaron as he flew had been exhilarating, but it was more than embarrassing in front of his sister.

Helena, meanwhile, stood across from her with her hair, eyes and arms burning. Elsa had expected her to kind of enjoy their bout, given how eager she'd seemed while coming here, and yet if anything she looked even more annoyed than Aaron as her eyes narrowed. Circling around Elsa at a slow pace, she silently studied her for a while longer before simply stating, "Again."

With that the assault was back on, only different. Whereas before Helena unleashed her fury in a broad, smothering wave, now it came in concentrated blasts as she suddenly flashed into motion. Gliding just above the ground, she was everywhere at once and unlike Aaron she did not hold back. If Elsa didn't keep up with the barrage coming in from all angles… well, she suspected Helena was unlikely to show her leniency.

That was hardly Elsa's primary concern, however, as she extinguished each approaching flame with a wave. As Helena drove her deeper and deeper within herself just to endure she could feel the forces rising with each burst, baying to be released. After all, she could probably have ended all of this in an instant if she wanted, she just wasn't willing to pay what that would cost. So instead she kept her powers on a tight leash, although the concentration required to not slip up was proving far more demanding than keeping up with Helena to the point that she was beginning to feel woozy.

Fortunately she didn't have to wait long before another brief respite came as Helena slid to a halt on the ice. In spite of Elsa's ability to keep pace, she still looked disappointed. As though she could sense Elsa's reluctance. "Again," she barked, only to frown when Elsa ignored her, instead placing her hands on her knees while staring down at the lake between winded breaths. Stalking close, Helena gave her no time to compose herself before ordering, "I said, again."

Still neglecting the command, she just shook her head. It was considerably more difficult to fight while keeping a hand behind her back than she expected. "I… I'm not sure if I can do this."

"Really?" The scornful disappointment in Helena's voice was beyond palpable as she belittled, "You lock half the world away and you can't even handle some light sparring?"

At the very least her blatant disrespect managed to annoy Elsa as she flashed her a glare of her own. "I can. I'm just more interested in not hurting you."

Helena appeared to already have her retort ready but Elsa's response made her pause. Only for a moment, though, before her frustration returned, although it was off somehow. As if it were being propped up to hide whatever else she was thinking as she quickly asked, "Who told you to worry about that?"

"No one, I just-"

"Then don't," Helena snipped before walking away. Her shoulders were tight and she gave her head a quick shake before sending back an arrogant glance. "Do you really think I'm so fragile?"

The question nearly made Elsa scoff. Compared to her, everyone was. "I know you are."

Helena didn't share her concern, however, as her gaze burned brighter. "Oh Elsa. I'm not so sure even you could handle me at my best."

"Is that so? Care to demonstrate?"

If anything Elsa half expected her to actually accept the challenge, given how confrontational she could be, but instead Helena just let her eyes drift up towards the clouds draped across the mountains. "Another time, perhaps," she mused before turning back to face Elsa. "But this isn't about me. This is about you learning how to let go."

Just like that her rising defiance was doused by shame and doubt as she retreated inward. She'd done that before, after all, and look how it turned out. "I already know how to do that."

"Then by all means. Show me."

"No."

"No?"

Shaking her head, Elsa dared to stare her down. "It's too risky."

"I'll be the one to decide what's risky verus what's necessary," Helena retorted before sinking into a crouch. "But if you won't show me then I guess I'll just have to make you."

Just like she sprang back into motion without warning. Elsa was barely able to catch the first flare in time but by then the second was already upon her, followed closely by the third and the forth. Whereas earlier Helena had been pushing her, now she was going even harder. As though everything up to that point had just been a game they'd been playing and now the game was over.

All Elsa could do, however, was stand at the center of it all and just try to endure. Unlike Helena she couldn't fly so she just had to root in one place while pivoting all around. Even so, in spite of her best efforts the flames were creeping steadily closer. She still managed to intercept each one but she was steadily falling further and further behind as the heat around her grew to unbearable levels, to the point that she was sure her braid was going to catch fire.

In spite of the fact that the vale around them still looked like the very image of winter she was beginning to sweat profusely as Helena paused again, only not out of pity. Up to that point she'd just looked annoyed but now she was wearing a sadistic smirk as she chuckled. "You might want to try harder than that, your majesty. If you don't want to get singed, that is."

Elsa wasn't about to let that sting to her pride go, yet she wasn't the one to respond as Aaron spoke up. "Don't you think you're being a little extreme, Helena?"

He'd been content to let her prove herself, to the point that she'd nearly forgotten he was there, but it appeared that his patience only went so far. It couldn't have been easy to stand there and watch his sister attack her but he trusted Elsa to fend for herself.

All his comment got him, though, was a scathing glower from Helena as she snapped at him. "And you don't get to talk. Not unless you're willing to contribute."

"And how exactly would I do that?" he replied, refusing to be cowed by her ire.

At first she looked like she just wanted to yell at him some more, but then Elsa saw her smile return as an idea occurred to her. Rather than saying it outloud, she instead began to casually wander off to one side. Until Elsa was positioned directly between the siblings and she gave her brother a knowing grin.

He wasn't about to share her enjoyment as he balked. "You can't be serious."

"Why not? We both know she's capable of more than just this."

"Even so, this isn't a game. Someone could get hurt if we're not careful."

"Then by all means, scuttle back to the castle. In the meantime we'll be doing the real work."

Her jabs got the desired response as his expression tightened, his eyes narrowing. That didn't mean that he wasn't wary as his gaze slid to Elsa and he asked, "Is this alright with you?"

Elsa's gut response was to say no, that it was too risky, but she didn't as she glanced at Helena, who was watching expectantly. Everything she'd done up to that point had been to push Elsa, after all. Helena clearly had high expectations of her, otherwise why would she be doing any of this, while Aaron would never give her more than he thought she could handle. And if they both believed she could do it then perhaps she just needed to believe in herself.

So instead she nodded. "Yes." Although she couldn't help flashing Aaron a meek look. "Just, maybe go easy on me at first?"

"Oh, of course," Helena retorted, already flashing back into motion.

This time, however, Elsa was better prepared as she caught the first wave as she tracked Helena's flight across the ice. As she kept her at bay, it occurred to her that they were the only ones participating as she flashed Aaron an inquisitive look. His expression was beyond reluctant as he watched them, not wanting to push her too far or risk hurting her. But Elsa's confidence was already climbing as she gave him a nod. She could handle it. So, with a heavy sigh, he contributed his own blaze to the fray.

Whereas Helena preferred to be everywhere at once, Aaron put all his effort behind a single wave. A mounting blast that grew stronger by the second yet never moved. All she had to do was keep it in check while continuing to fend off Helena. At first she wasn't entirely sure she could handle it, shielding against an attack on one side while parrying one after another on the other, yet nothing got through. Every flame was extinguished before it could even hope to touch her. All the while strength was never a concern considering she still had so much more to spare as she fought the pair to a draw. Perhaps she was capable of more.

This time when Helena came to a halt she didn't look annoyed as they paused. She just looked calculating as she remained poised to continue. "Better. Although still disappointing."

Elsa's assuredness had been steadily climbing yet she still felt it take a hit as she frowned. "How so? I'm keeping up."

"And yet you haven't retaliated against either of us once."

"Of course not. Why would I?"

"Why?" Any enjoyment Helena might have been feeling disappeared as her brows furrowed and she asked, "What do you think we're doing here?"

"Like you said, sparring. It's not like we're actually trying to hurt one another."

Helena's glare slowly returned, her jaw locked in grim determination as she leaned into another predatory lunge. "Is that what you think?"

With that, she pounced. Only she didn't content herself with attacking from afar like before, instead closing the distance between to little more than an arm's breath in a flash. All at once her fury was everywhere, a storm of fire that threatened to swallow Elsa as it flowed all around them. It wasn't enough to just encase herself in a cocoon of frost, instead having to sever each tendril before it could strike as they dueled. Like before, though, Elsa found herself almost enjoying the bout as she twisted and turned with each block, her own powers steadily matching and even overwhelming Helena's.

That is, until Helena took a step closer and Elsa felt her legs being swept out from under her as Helena's forearm came crashing down on her chest to send her sprawling on the lake, the air forced from her lungs. Before she could collect herself, though, Elsa looked up to see Helena crouching over her with a flaming fist drawn back to strike.

"Hey!" Aaron protested, although they both ignored him. Instead their eyes locked, hers in shock and Helena's in harsh focus.

For a second neither of them spoke as Elsa fought to catch her breath. She knew that Helena could be demanding but she never expected her to cheat as the other woman spoke in a menacing hush. "I'm not Aaron, Elsa. I'm not here to fight fair, nor am I afraid to hurt you. I'm here to train you."

With that, however, she once again did the unexpected as the fire around her hand extinguished and she offered it to Elsa. At first she was unsure whether or not to accept it, considering it could be another trick, but eventually she took it. Helena had asked for her trust, after all. Even if she could be a little crafty.

As soon as she'd helped Elsa back to her feet Helena quickly pulled away, however. Almost as though she was suddenly uncomfortable touching Elsa as her gaze dropped and she stepped back. There was something almost unsettled in her expression as she turned away to walk across the ice. Whatever was bothering her, it didn't last long before her determination returned as she warned, "To make you into something greater than you were before. And if that means I have to break you first then so be it!"

Her voice climbed back to a roar as she suddenly spun on the spot, her inferno rushing back to life. Once more Elsa was quick to catch it, only now she was more careful as she shifted away. Helena may have gotten the drop on her once but she wasn't about to let that happen again. Also once more, she glanced to see Aaron waiting again, unsure of what to do. That is, until Elsa yelled for him to hear her. "Come on!" He still hesitated after her insistence yet only for a moment. Then both blazes were renewed with Elsa caught in the middle.

Of course, she didn't have to be in the middle. For her entire life she'd always been so hesitant to explore her abilities, to see what she could really do for fear of hurting someone. But perhaps she didn't have to be around these two. Aaron knew to be cautious around her and Helena had demonstrated nothing short of absolute confidence up to that point. Perhaps she could try experimenting as she glanced down at the frozen lake beneath them. With something small for now at the very least.

All it took was a twitch of her finger for a plinth of ice to erupt upwards in Helena's path, causing her to veer sharply around it as she broke off her attack. Part of Elsa was worried she'd only get mad again but instead she just looked surprised, which didn't linger for long before it melted into what almost looked like admiration. Emboldened, Elsa shifted her focus to the inferno Aaron was still throwing at her. If his entire approach was predicated on her standing still, what would happen if she didn't? After all, she couldn't fly but that didn't mean she couldn't try other things.

Under normal circumstances she probably would have gone for something more elegant yet for now she went for simple as twin blades of ice materialized beneath her boots and suddenly she was also gliding along the lake's surface. The move caught Aaron off guard as the flames lagged behind before he shifted to track her only for her to go faster. In spite of her qualms the whole experience was almost exhilarating, with the wind whipping in her hair as she raced to stay ahead of the glowing storm while setting her sights on a different target.

There was now a broad smile on Helena's face as she retreated backward, matching Elsa's pace while trying to cut her off. When Elsa threw another frozen column behind her she skirted around it once more only now Elsa was paying attention as she did it again only to get the same response. Interesting. Perhaps she could use that. Although she'd only have a moment before Aaron caught up from behind.

When the next spike emerged Helena moved to dart past it only to be blocked off as it continued to grow, quickly morphing into a wall that stretched around her. In the blink of an eye every way she looked was ice, except for the way she'd come, and before she could escape Elsa was there. She quickly wheeled around to face her but by then it was too late. She was open, exposed. If Elsa struck now there would be nothing she could do to stop it.

Which was exactly what Helena wanted, wasn't it? For her to lash out. To prove how strong she was. But even as she felt the ice coiling within her she found herself pausing, unwilling to strike as memories from the North Mountain came flooding in. Helena claimed to be impervious to her attacks but Aaron had once made a similar claim and it had nearly cost him his life. Could she really risk attacking Helena too…?

As these thoughts rushed through her head, though, Elsa realized that Helena had righted herself and the window had passed. However, rather than launching into a new barrage of fire her face split into a scowl as she gave a scornful bellow. "What was that?!"

Surprised by the intensity of the shout, all Elsa could do was come to a halt while quietly replying, "I'm sorry?"

"Why did you hesitate?!" Helena snarled, only seeming to grow more irate at the meekness of her response.

Even though Elsa was a queen, even though she was the one who possessed real power, it was still hard not to cringe meekly before such wrath as she forced herself to hold firm. "I didn't want to hurt you."

At first Helena was going to yell some more only to catch herself, choking down her anger behind gritted teeth and balesome eyes. It was all she could do to calm down as she struggled to sound reassuring. "You're still afraid. You'll never be able to recognize your full potential if you're too scared to make the plunge. Just let go, Elsa."

"Careful, Helena," Aaron warned from behind, having caught up with them. He was starting to look worried as he cautioned, "I still don't think you realize how powerful she is."

"No, you don't realize how powerful she can be," she snapped back before her amber glare locked onto Elsa once more. "Again!"

With that it was on again, only the enjoyment was lost. Any confidence Elsa had been feeling quickly withered at the thought of striking Helena, or anyone for that matter, as she instead just held Helena back. Only Helena would no longer be restrained, unleashing what could have been her full might but for all Elsa knew there was more behind it.

Her scowl was back as she tried to envelope Elsa in a wave of fire, her words booming over the flames. "You're stronger than this, Elsa!" she roared as whatever patience she had left broke. "And I won't let you cower from who you were born to be!"

The heat around her steadily grew as she fought to hold the assault back only for it to crush inward closer and closer. Try as she might, Helena would not be denied unless she was willing to demonstrate real power. As she tried to resist doing exactly that, however, she felt something else surface within her as her own frustration began to peel back her fear. Didn't Helena understand how perilous this was? Couldn't she see that she was putting herself in danger?

Helena's demands only grew as the inferno swelled.

"Stop holding back!"

"No!"

Just like that a single pulse of anger slipped through and Elsa felt it erupt from her in an insurmountable wave that ripped through the surrounding blaze. Aaron had had the sense to retreat to a safe distance but Helena only had a moment to respond, her eyes widening in surprise as she instinctively threw up a wall of flames before her. The blaze might have shielded her from the frost yet when the two forces met they detonated in a deafening explosion that sent her hurling back, only to crack the ice as she crashed into it.

Elsa hardly noticed any of it, though. She just stood there as the wave dissipated, panting through tight breaths. It had been oddly relieving to release it, to allow herself to relax for just a moment after so much struggling not to. Like taking a breath after years of holding it. Without the threat of the fire constantly harassing her, any lingering resentment quickly fled to make way for a somber calm as she glanced down at her hands and what lurked within them.

"Helena!"

Aaron's cry instantly evaporated that calm, however, as she looked up to see him rushing to his sister's side as she struggled to climb back to her feet. Panic instantly tried to take root when she saw the pain clawing at Helena's face as she waved him away, forcing herself upright. In spite of all of that, even though she was forced to hunch over Helena was nearly smirking as she strained, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Just a few broken ribs." She then gave a sharp wince after a small shift and muttered, "Maybe more than a few…"

"Helena, I…" Elsa tried to say something but couldn't. A lump was already forming in her throat as she tried to speak through her mounting dread. "I'm so-"

"Elsa," she quickly retorted, her smirk quickly fading into irritation. "I said I'm fine. Watch."

With that she closed her eyes, grimacing through the pain yet still concentrating as her skin suddenly began to glow a soft orange. All Elsa could do was watch as the agony began to melt away. Her expression lightened, her back straightening as whatever she was doing soothed her pain until, after a few minutes, she looked completely fine. When her eyes reopened they shone with confidence as the glow faded.

"See?" she teased light-heartedly for giving a proud smile. "That was perfect. Now, I want you to try to do that again, only this time-"

"No." Elsa's blunt response cut her off as her smile vanished, only she didn't reply, instead just listening grimly as she spoke. "I… I can't. I won't. Not after what happened last time. I'll never put anyone in danger ever again."

The shame of it all was nearly too much to bear as memories plagued her. Of the Frost, of the Frozen Heart. She had to be more careful. She couldn't let something like that happen again. Although she also couldn't just hide from it forever.

Either way, it didn't help when Helena frowned at her for a moment before turning away. "Then I guess we're done here," she called out as she strode across the ice.

Utterly dumbfounded by the abrupt switch, all Elsa could do was watch her go as her mind instantly went blank. "What?"

Helena ignored her, however, and looked about to take off before Aaron roused from his own surprise. "Where are you going?" When she didn't respond he rushed after her. "Helena! You can't just leave!"

Whirling on the spot, she gave him a harsh growl while waving towards Elsa. "What do you propose I do, Aaron? She refuses to let herself go and I can't help her until I know what I'm dealing with. So unless you can come up with some way of coaxing it out of her then there's nothing more I can do today."

Elsa just watched them in mute shame as he raised his hands in submission, doing his best to calm Helena. "Can't you just show her some smaller things for now while she grows more accustomed to your way of doing things?"

"Why would I waste time teaching a bird to crawl when she was born to fly?"

"Please, Helena." She could hear the desperation in his voice as he pleaded. "Let's just try this first and see how it goes. Please."

For a long pause Helena said nothing, just looking up at him in annoyance and disappointment before eventually conceding with another shrug. "Fine." She then glanced at Elsa while gesturing at him. "Elsa, Aaron is going to help you with some of the basics of control. But when you're ready to continue the real work let me know."

With that she turned away again, flames erupting beneath her as she lifted into the air before rocketing off in the direction of the fjord without so much as a look back. All they could do was watch her go as Aaron's shoulders slumped in defeat and Elsa felt those old fears begin to fester again.