Chapter 3:

The Truth About Aaron

A/N: Hello there readers, sorry for the late update, but I was focusing on my other story 'Stranded With You." Here's the new chapter. Enjoy!

Eric awoke early the next morning to meet Isabelle. He hadn't been able to sleep all night; too preoccupied with what she was going to reveal to him. As he made his way downstairs, he ran into Thomas, who was holding a rifle.

"Hey Eric! Are you ready to go shooting?" he asked.

Dammit. He had completely forgotten about spending the day with his brother shooting. It would have to wait. This was much more important, but he couldn't let Thomas know that. He'd just keep pestering him about it. But maybe the meeting wouldn't take too long. He could meet up with Isabelle, hear what she had to say, and then be back to go shooting with Thomas.

"Yeah, I just have to take care of something first. I'll meet you at the shooting range when I'm finished."

"Ok. Don't take too long!" Thomas said, running off.

Once Thomas was out of sight, Eric exited the castle, and headed for the town square. The village was bustling with life, crowds of people swarmed the streets, vendors were selling all kinds of products, and even animals were running around. Eric had only been in the village once before when he was young, so he wasn't too familiar with his surroundings. He knew the landmark he was looking for: a large fountain, which in all honesty shouldn't be too hard to find, but with the size of the village, he had his doubts. Politely making his way through the crowds, Eric looked down every street and corner that he came across. Surely he couldn't miss a fountain.

As he made his way through the crowd, Eric felt someone grab him by the arm, and pulled him into a nearby alleyway. It was so fast that Eric barely had time to get his bearings. All he could see was a cloaked figure, slamming him against the wall.

"Hey look! I don't want any trouble! You can have all my money, just don't hurt me, please!" he begged.

The hooded figure continued to stare straight at him; Eric couldn't see his face, but he could feel his eyes burning into his own. He could have sworn the figure was going to kill him, but instead It removed its hood, revealing the same blonde-haired woman from the night before; Isabelle!"

"It's you! The woman from the party!" Eric cried. "You scared me to death! I thought I was being mugged!"

"Don't be scared, Eric. I would never hurt you," Isabelle comforted. "I'm glad you came. I would have met you by the fountain as we scheduled but it was too crowded. In needed to find a place where we could talk in private.

"Well, you could have just said so," Eric said.

"I apologize for that," Isabelle said. "But what I'm about to tell you is very, very important. Tell me, Eric, what do you know about your Uncle Aaron?"

"Not much. All I know is that he died before I was born, he had fire powers, and that my mom and dad don't like to talk about him for some reason."

"I see. It figures that your parents would want to hide the truth from you."

"The truth?" Eric asked, puzzled.

Isabelle leaned closer so that she was inches from Eric's face, and whispered softly.

"Your parents, are cold-blooded murderers," she said.

"What?" Eric cried, baffled at the statement he just heard. "You're crazy lady. My parents are the king and queen of Arendelle. Do you know what they could do to you if they heard you spreading lies about them like that?"

"Eric, please listen to me. Your mother and father are not the good-natured people you think they are. For fifteen years they've been keeping dark, terrible secrets from you and your brother. Secrets that they don't want you two to know about. I can tell you everything, if you'll let me."

Eric was skeptical at Isabelle's words, but he decided to humor her nonetheless. He doubted that he would believe all of what she told him, but she was willing to talk to him about Aaron, so he might get some kernel of truth."

"Fifteen years ago, your father, and his brother, Aaron, came to Arendelle to meet Queen Elsa. At the time, there were many men seeking her hand in marriage, and Paul and Aaron were two of them. Eventually, your mother fell in love with your father, and Aaron was cast aside. But your father was greedy, and wanted more than just the kingdom of Arendelle. He wanted to rule Urvea as well! But how could he if his parents were still alive, and Aaron was in line for the throne? He murdered them that's how."

Eric's eyes widned in surprise and fear. He knew his father was a strong man, but he never imagined him killing anyone, let alone his own flesh and blood. Something wasn't right here, but for now he decided to remain quiet and listen to the rest of Isabelle's story.

"He lured them to a barn one night, locked them inside, and set it on fire. They died a slow and painful death. Afterwards, your father knew that Aaron would likely suspect foul play, so he knew that he had to get rid of him too. He threatened to frame Aaron for the crime if he didn't leave Urvea forever, and surrender the throne to him. Seeing that he had no choice, Aaron agreed to your father's twisted demand, and left that very night. Paul later told everyone that Aaron had perished in the fire as well. This was easily believable, seeing as how no traces of the bodies were ever found. So now that Paul had two kingdoms, and his wretched ice witch, he was happy as a clam. The two of them basked in their treachery, divulging in all the things that the throne had to offer. But their peace wouldn't last forever. After months of traveling from country to country, Aaron returned with an army to reclaim the throne, and dispose of your father and mother. Aaron was smart, oh yes, and he fought with the strength of a hundred men, but even that couldn't help him defeat your mother and father. He took on your mother in a fierce battle. With her icy magic, and the help of her lover, she quickly overpowered him, and beat him into submission. After the witch had her fun, your father killed Aaron by shooting him at point blank range in the head with a pistol, savoring the moment with every ounce of dastardly glee. They quickly disposed of Aaron's body somewhere in the grounds, and then decided to pin everything that had happened on Aaron. They fire, the death of their parents, the invasion of Urvea, all was Aaron's attempt to get the throne, and claim Elsa for his own. Remarkably, the people of Urvea were foolish enough to believe this lie, and your father went down in history as the hero of Urvea, and Aaron as the villain."

When Isabelle finished telling her story, Eric looked at her with disbelief. What a ridicous tale that was. His own father and mother killing family members all because they wanted two kingdoms to rule? That didn't make sense at all. There's was one large hole in Isabele's story.

"If what you say is true, then how come King David is in charge of Urvea, and not my mother and father?"

"Very good question, my boy. After Aaron was murdered, your father decided that in order to prevent any suscpians, they would give up the kingdom of Urvea to your father's cousin, David. Thus, he has ruled for the past fifteen years. But I fear that an old evil is rising from the ashes, Eric. I believe that your mother and father plan on killing David to seize the throne for good this time! I don't know what they are planning, but it's bound to be something wicked. That's why I need you, Eric! You're the only one who can stop them. After all, you inherited your mother's ice magic, right?"

Eric nodded, and held up a hand that formed a snowball.

"Yes! And with that you could stop them! You could avenge Aaron, and prove to the world what Paul and Elsa truly are! Selfish cold-blooded murderers!"

Eric could not believe what he was hearing. No, he refused to believe it. All his life his mother and father had loved him and his brother dearly, always reminding them that kindness, and generosity, were the most admirable traits to have. Eric rememerbed his mother specifically telling him as a child that no person is better than the other, no matter what class they are born into. Everyone was a human being, and everyone was loved the same by God. In addition, his father always told him that violence usually never solves anything, and should only be used for self-defense. Why would he teach him that if he so cruelly murdered his own flesh and blood? No. Isabelle was crazy. There were no two ways about it. He had enough of this bullshit.

"You're crazy lady, leave me alone!" he said, pushing Isabelle out of the way.

"Please, Eric, you must listen! I'm telling you the truth! Your mother and father are not what they seem! Terrible things will happen to Urvea if you don't do something!"

"Enough!" Eric hollered back, sending a blast of frost up the walls of the alleyway. "If I ever hear any more of your lies, I will personally see to it, that my parents execute you for treason! Now go away!"

Isabelle hung her head low. She knew that there was nothing more she could do right now.

"As you wish, Eric. But if you ever want to talk, just come by home. Here is the address." She handed Eric a small slip of paper with the address written onto it. Eric quickly shoved it into his pocket, and stormed off, leaving Isabelle alone.

"And if you need further proof, Eric. Just look at your mother. She's covered in third degree burns. Burns that were inflicted by Aaron! Just get her to show them to you!"

But Eric ignored her, and continued to walk away.

"You'll come back, little one. I know you will. Your curisiouty has gotten the better of you, and you'll only want to search for more answers. In time, you will do exactly what I want, and Aaron will be avenged."

When Eric arrived back at the palace, he saw his parents and brother waiting for him in the entrance hall. They all scowled at him as he approached.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"You were supposed to go shooting with your brother," Elsa said firmly.

"I waited for an hour for you, but you never showed up!" Thomas exclaimed. "I thought we were going to shoot together!"

Dammit, Eric thought to himself. He had been so caught up in talking to Isabelle that he completely forgot the promise he made to his brother.

"I'm sorry, Thomas. I lost track of time. I'll go with you some other time."

"You lost track of time? What were you doing?" Paul asked.

"Nothing, just taking a walk through the towns square," Eric answered.

"And you somehow forgot all about the promise you made to your brother?" Elsa asked, skeptical.

"Yes, I did. It was such a nice day out, and I just got carried away. I'm sorry."

"Well, that's a fine way to show your commitment," Paul said. "When you inherit the throne and you promise to do things for your people, and don't, what are you going to say to them? That you simply forgot? That's not the way a ruler should behave. A good ruler puts others before himself. He knows that it's his responsibility too…

"I said I was sorry, alright!" Eric cried, sending a long line of icy spikes across the floor.

"Young man, do not talk to your father that way!" Elsa snapped. "And control your powers, you know better than to use them in a disorderly conduct!"

"Yes, ma'am," Eric acquiesced.

"I think you should spend some time thinking about what you've done," Paul said. "Go to your room and stay there for the rest of the day."

"What about supper?" Eric asked.

"Excuse me?"

Eric knew that there was no point in arguing. His parents had him beat.

"And before you go, kindly dissolve this ice, please," Elsa ordered.

"Why can't you do it?"

"Eric, do as I say."

Eric waved his right hand, and quickly dissolved the ice to nothing, and then headed upstairs to his room.

His parents always overacted to everything! Why couldn't they just let something slide just once? Why were they so uptight? Eric thought back to what Isabelle had said to him earlier that day. He still believed it was hogwash. His parents were too concerned with righteousness to do anything that wicked. Still, the thought remained. Why was Isabelle so desperate to tell him these lies? Did she like messing with his head or was it something else. Isabelle was the first person to ever openly talk about Aaron with him, and even if he didn't believe her story, it would explain why his parents were so reluctant to talk about him. This just didn't add up. There had to more to the story, some missing pieces somewhere. And he knew just where to look.

A/N: Sorry for the long, break. As I said, I was finishing my story "Stranded With You." Now I can focus full time on this one. Hope you're still enjoying it!"