Chapter 2:

Old Wounds

In the following days since Paul had received the letter from his cousin Daniel, Eric and Thomas eagerly awaited the ball that they would be attending. Remembering the promise they made to their father, Eric and Thomas kept to their studies, earning good marks as well as positive comments from their tutors. But as excited as he was about going to Urvea, Eric couldn't help but still think about his Uncle Aaron, and his father's reluctance to talk about him. Why wouldn't he talk about his own brother? Did he not have a good relationship with him? Or was his death just too painful to talk about? Eric had asked Elsa if she knew anything about Aaron, but the Snow Queen didn't give him any information either. "You heard your father, there's nothing you need to know about him," she said, albeit a nervous look on her face.

When the day arrived when they were to set sail for Urvea, Eric took the time to ask Anna if she knew anything about Aaron. Eric adored his aunt, and had a close relationship with her and her husband, Kristoff. The couple had two children, twins, named Jack and Jasmine, who Eric also was very close too. That afternoon, as Paul and Elsa were attending to matters aboard the ship, Eric snuck off to visit his aunt. He found her in the parlor, playing with Jack and Jasmine. The princess smiled as she saw her nephew enter the room.

"Hello, Eric! Good to see you!" she said. "Are you excited for the trip?"

"I sure am. I haven't been to Urvea in years, so it'll be good to see the kingdom again."

"That's nice. Urvea is a wonderful kingdom."

"We've never been," Jack said.

"Yeah, we've never even been out of Arendelle before," Jasmine added.

Anna laughed, and gave them both a kiss on the cheek. "When you're a little bit older you can go wherever you like."

"So Aunt Anna, I've been meaning to ask you something," Eric started to say.

"What's that, Eric?"

"Did you know my Uncle Aaron?"

Anna's expression instantly changed. Her smile faded, and her eyes widened. She looked terrified.

"Um…not really, sweetie, why do you ask?"

"It's just that mom and dad never talk about him, and I don't know why. I mean he's family, even if he's dead shouldn't we still preserve his memory.

Anna took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, thinking of how to best proceed with the matter at hand.

"If your parents don't want to talk about him with you, then I think its best that I don't either," she said.

"But why not? I just want to know what he was like, that's all," Eric pressed.

"I'm sorry, Eric, but I can't help you," Anna said, the words sounding extremely painful as she said them.

Eric didn't bother to press the issue further. He changed the subject by asking what game she was playing with Jack and Jasmine. Eric joined in their game, and before long, the subject of Aaron was completely forgotten.

When everything was in order, Paul and Elsa went to retrieve Eric and Thomas. The two then instructed Anna and Kristoff to look after the kingdom while they were gone.

"We should be back in a few days," Elsa said. "Until then, hold down the fort here."

"No problem, Elsa," Kristoff said, giving his sister in law a hug. "You all have a great trip."

Kristoff and Anna waved to the family as the ship exited the harbor. Olaf had arrived just in time to see them off, telling Paul and Elsa to give King Daniel his best regards.

As they sailed to Urvea, Eric thought more about what had happened when he asked Anna about Aaron. By the look on her face, she looked as startled as his mother was. What was it they were hiding? Was it something bad? Something that they really didn't want them to know? Maybe I'll find answers in Urvea he thought. After all, this is the place where Aaron was born, surely someone will be willing to talk about him. I mean, the truth couldn't be all that bad, could it?

That evening, the Royal Family of Arendelle was given a grand welcoming by King Daniel. Paul was amazed at how much he missed Urvea. He was pleased to see that nothing had changed in the castle. The furniture was still the same, the paintings that he had grown up seeing were still on the walls, and even the ballroom looked exactly the way it did when he last saw it. Memories of his childhood came flooding back to him in an instant, and Paul found himself thinking of his parents. His missed them dearly. Not a day went by that Paul did not think about them. He wondered if they would be proud of him for all that he accomplished. Part of him thought that they would be.

After all, he was loved throughout the kingdom of Arendelle, he had two beautiful sons, and an amazing wife, wouldn't be proud of that? But another part of him said that he would be greatly disappointed in him, especially after what he did to Aaron. Even fifteen years after his defeat, Paul still couldn't accept the reality of what he had done. He had murdered his own brother! Elsa had told him numerous times that it wasn't his fault that he only did it save her life, but that didn't matter. Aaron may have been a terrible person, but he was still his brother. Now, because of his actions his children would never know their uncle. Paul believed he should have approached things differently that day fifteen years ago. He should have apprehended Aaron and had him institutionalized instead. Maybe he could have been treated, find out why he was the way he was. Nobody is born evil after all.

And now his children were asking questions about Aaron, and he had to lie to them and say that it wasn't important. He knew deep down that he would have to tell Eric and Thomas eventually, and he dreaded the day when he had to do so.

"Eric, I thought I told you to comb your hair," Elsa said, licking her hand and patting her son's hair.

"Oh mom, stop it! We're in public!" Eric said, cringing in disgust.

"Exactly. That's why I want you to look your best," Elsa said smiling.

"Mom, I'm fifteen years old, I'm not a baby anymore."

"No matter how old you get, you'll always be my baby," Elsa said, giving Eric a kiss on the cheek.

Eric groaned. He loved his mother, but sometimes she could be a little too motherly.

"I'm going to go talk to Uncle Daniel," Eric said.

"Ok. I'll see you later, sweetie."

Eric walked away from his family, and went to find Daniel. He found him talking to some noblemen at tone of the tables. Upon seeing his nephew, his face lit up.

"Eric my boy, are you enjoying the party?"

"Yes, I am, very much so," Eric said. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, my boy! Ask away!"

"What can you tell me about my uncle Aaron?"

There was an awkward moment of silence. King Daniel looked flushed as he thought of a way to respond to his nephew's question.

"Well, Eric, that's…quite the question," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"What made you ask that?"

"I just want to know what he was like, because mom and dad never talk about him, and I would like to know something about him. I mean, he's my uncle, you know?"

"Well, my boy, I really am not at liberty to say anything about this matter," King Daniel said, hoping Eric would take the bait, but the young prince wasn't going to take no for an answer. "Uncle Daniel, just answer the damn question!" he cried.

"Young man, you do not talk to me that way," Daniel warned. "I am older than you, and I'm the king. You will show me respect. I told you that I'm not at liberty to say, and that is that. Have a good evening."

King Daniel walked off to join another group of nobles talking about hunting, leaving Eric alone with his thoughts. "Unbelievable," he muttered. Eric started to make his way over to the table where his family was sitting, when someone grabbed his arm.

When he turned around to see who it was, he saw a middle-aged woman standing there. "Excuse me, are you Prince Eric of Arendelle?" she asked.

"Yes I am."

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with King Daniel. You said you wanted to know about Aaron?"

"Yes, I did," Eric said, unsure of where this was going.

"I can tell you many things about Aaron of Urvea, but now is not the time. Meet me in the town square by the fountain tomorrow afternoon. There I'll tell you everything about your beloved uncle."

Eric was surprised at what he was hearing. Some stranger was volunteering to give him the information his own family refused to give him. This was weird, but at the same time, it was kind of nice.

"Ok. I'll see you then," he said. "By the way, what's your name?"

"My name is Isabelle," the woman said. "It's nice to meet you."

Before Eric could respond, Isabelle walked away, disappearing into the crowd. "Ok. Bye,"

Eric joined his family as one of the tables. As soon as he sat down, his presence was noticed. "Guess what, Eric?" Mama says it's OK for us to go target practicing tomorrow! Thomas cried. "Isn't that exciting?"

"Uh, yeah, should be fun," Eric said, still thinking about Isabelle.

As the Royal Family began to eat their dinner, they didn't notice Isabelle watching them from the other side of the room: a look of hatred burning in her eyes.

"If only you could see them, Aaron. You'd be just as disgusted as I am. But fear not, they will not get away with what they did to you. With the boy's help, I shall avenge you. Your death will not be in vain."

Quite the cliffhanger, huh? A lot of you are probably wondering who is this Isabelle woman, and what is her connection with Aaron? Answers will come soon I promise. I will however tell you, that Eric is the key to her plot.

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PS: For those of you who are currently reading my other fic "Stranded With You" the King Daniel in this story is not the same King Daniel in that story. They are two entirely different characters.