From Present to Past

@ katahdin
Hearing about Theo's father, Aelia sighed and looked down. How should she possibly reply to anything else that was being said right now? She couldn't, she was speechless. So, instead, Lia just finished scooting closer to him and rested her head against his shoulder.

"The sunsets are really pretty here." She murmured quietly.

--

Hearing that Helena liked demons nearly caused Orion to trip over his own two feet. "You.. do?" He asked, not really sure if she was being serious or not. Although, he wouldn't admit himself that he thought they were cool as well.

"I don't know, we're just seeing if more crystals are growing." He admitted.

@ FallenHope95

Theodore smiled a bit, nodding as he glanced over at her, happy that she was back to being pleasant with him. "Yes, they're quite beautiful.. People tell me my mother used to like them." He signed, shifting to wrap an arm around her shoulder, making sure she wasn't cold.

---

Helena glanced up at him with a serious expression before cracking into a grin. "There's no such thing, silly." She nudged him, looking around the walls to see if there were any crystals growing. "I dont see anything.."

@ katahdin
"Really?" Aelia asked quietly, happy to have Theo share something so sweet with her. Then, her lips slowly grew into a small frown. "What happened to her?" Lia's voice was quiet as she spoke. "You don't have to tell me."

--

Orion did his best to push her remark to the back of her mind. Instead looked around the walls once more. "Maybe they just haven't started to re-grow yet?" Orion suggested, shrugging his shoulders. "Should we keep going or turn around?"

@ FallenHope95

Theodore shook his head a little when she spoke, chuckling a little. "It's fine. I don't mind.. She died when I was very young. Shortly after my younger sister was born, although she also died soon after." He explained with a small shrug. "I'm not surprised that my father acts the way he does.. After everything he's been through."

---

Helena looked around as well, shrugging a little. "I can't help but feel like the further we go, the more likely we are to stumble into danger or have something go wrong.." Helena laughed, looking back toward the way they had came. "Plus, I'm sure you're getting hungry. And, at the very least, we saw a bat." She smiled, giving his arm a little squeeze.

@ katahdin
After hearing everything that Theo had been through, Aelia couldn't help but feel so much sorry for Theo. He's gone through so much trauma in his life so far. "Do you ever wonder what it'd be like to have them around still?" Lia asked quietly. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

--

Glancing down at Helena Orion just shrugged his shoulders. "Fine with me." He said as he turned and started to walk them back towards the entrance. His interest in looking for any kind of crystal diminished. "Yeah, that was cool." He said, offering her a small smile as they walked out of the darkness.

@ FallenHope95

Theodore hummed a little in thought, smiling as he nodded. "Yes, I do think about them sometimes.. I often pray to the Goddess to resurrect them, as they didn't deserve to die... But it seems that she won't answer me." He shrugged. "Do you have any family?"

---

Helena looked up at him, giving his arm a little squeeze. "I'm sorry you didn't find any crystals.. Maybe we could come back sometime and look again?" She offered with a small smile, worried he was disappointed that they hadn't found what he had hoped. Her smile widened when he smiled at her, unable to help the faint blush that rose up her cheeks as the thought of this being a date went through her head.

@ katahdin
Today seemed to be a day of heartache, as all they seemed to be talking about today was upsetting things. "I do. I have a mom and a dad, and supposedly a half sister." Lia murmured quietly. "My dads ex-wife took my sister somewhere though and hasn't been able to find her."

--

At Helena's words, Orion just shruggedm knowing that this was the only chance he'd get to look at the mines before they'd board it up. They needed to make sure it stayed safe inside for incase people tried to steal the kingdoms crystals. "Most likely not, but sure. If you think so." Orion murmured quietly.

@ FallenHope95

Theodore nodded a little. "I'm sorry you never found her.. I'm sure you two would have gotten along." He smiled, knowing it would be unlikely for her to get the chance to go back to her home and find her sister.

When it began to get colder out, he stood and offered her his hand. "Should we head back inside? Get some dinner?"

---

Helena frowned a little as she looked up at him, stopping and grabbing his arm. "Come on, lets go a little further. I'm sure we'll find them. If you promise to protect me from the bats, I'll protect you from the demons." She promised, holding out her hand with her pinky raised for a pinky promise, although she wasn't sure if he'd understand what she meant by it.

@ katahdin
A small sigh escaped from Aelia in response to Theo. She couldn't say that she would or wouldn't get along. After all, she was with her dad, how would she know how her older sister would fee? Looking up, Aelia slowly nodded her head. "kay." She murmured quietly, taking his hand as she stood up.

--

The thought of adventure and excitement filled Orion's head. He would have loved to have found something cool in the mine. Surprise his father and the other nobles, but, now it was all done. Glancing down, Orion blinked in confusion as he listened to Helena. "I thought you wanted to leave." He murmured, then looked at her oddly as she held up her pinky. "What? Does it hurt?"

@ FallenHope95

Theodore smiled, linking their arms before heading into the castle, leading her back to her room after speaking with a maid to ask for supper to be brought to them. "Would you like for me to sit with you while we wait for dinner, or would you rather I left you alone to relax and bathe if you'd like." He asked.

---

Helena shook her head a little. "I don't mind, I want you to be able to find what you came here to find." She said, smiling as he asked about her pinky. "No, where I'm from, sometimes when people make a promise, they call it a pinky promise, and they lock pinkys to make it." She smiled, wiggling her finger. "So come on. Pinky promise you'll protect me from the bats, and I'll pinky promise you that I'll protect you from the demons, and we can head back and keep looking."

@ katahdin
It felt like a prison walk, going back to that room she was to call her own. Lia was starting to hate it. Sure, it was beautiful, but, she felt like those were the only walls she's seen for days. "I'd like for you to stay." She said quietly as she looked up at Theo.
Slowly, Aelia started to drag Theo into her room. Not letting him have the choice of leaving her alone for the rest of the night.

--

Slowly, wheels started to turn in Orion's mind. He wasn't really sure what to think. Did he want to continue like he wanted or force Helena to leave and suffer the consequences of not being happy? A small sigh escaped from the Prince.
"I still don't get this pinky promise thing." Orion murmured quietly as he reached up and raised his pinky for her to connect with.

@ FallenHope95

Theodore nodded a little, about to step into the room himself when she began to pull him in, surprised at first although he began to chuckle afterwords. "I wasn't going to run off, Princess. No need to pull." He teased, smiling down at her. Once she released his arm he moved to take a seat by the table, sighing contently as he settled down in the comfortable chair, having had a long day.

---

Helena beamed when he linked his pinky with hers, turning their hands with their fingers still linked so that his hand was closest to her, before leaning forward and kissing his knuckles. "No take backs. It's a done deal." She grinned before releasing his hand, turning back to look further down into the mines before setting off, although she didn't go too far ahead as he had the light.

@ katahdin
A small giggle escaped from Aelia as she listened to Theo, offering him a small smile of her own. "Wel, you never know." She retorted as she let him go. Moving to sit across from him at the table. Her arm rested on the arm of the chair and she raised it so that she could rest her chin in her hand. "I think we need drinks after today." She murmured quietly.

--

Even though Helena explained the whole promise thing to him, Orion still felt quite confused about the whole ordeal. "You come from such a strange time." Orion murmured as he slowly turned to follow her into the mine once more. His footsteps slow as he started to look around at the dark walls that surrounded them. "I think there's a turn up ahead, so lets go right."

@ FallenHope95

Theodore chuckled a little, shaking his head as he looked over at her. "I'm not big on alcohol.. Father on the other hand loves it. But if you would like something, just ask the maids and it will be brought to you." He explained, running his hand through his hair as he relaxed.

---

Helena giggled slightly, stopping at the turn to wait for him, worried she'd run into a bat or get lost if she wandered too far away. "How about come to live in my world. Then you'll be the crazy one." She teased, squinting as she looked down the path ahead, trying to tell if there was anything ahead.

@ katahdin
A tired sigh escaped from Aelia as Theo turned down another thing that she brought up. It was like this guy did nothing in his spare time. "Theo, do you collect stamps?" She asked, feeling like she was going to flip a table in frustration if he agreed. "You're a very boring guy, you know that?" She said bluntly but smiled sweetly so that he knew she meant no offense. Just stating her opinion of him.

--

Snorting, Orion rolled his eyes as he listened to Helena. Shaking his head a little at her words. Although, he secretly knew that she was right. "I don't know if the goddesses would allow that, but sure. I'd love to see your world." He said as he caught up with her. Then, Orion shined the light crystal toward the path that they were going to be walking down. "Seems safe." He murmured as he started to walk.

@ FallenHope95

Theodore laughed at her comment. "No, being a Prince is a very boring job. It's a duty and a job and there isn't a lot of time for non boring things." He grinned, glad when the maids finally brought them dinner.

They ate dinner and talked for a while longer before Theodore excused himself for the evening. Over the next few weeks he tried to be less boring for her, teach her how to ride a horse, showing her the crystal mines under the city, going on walks through the forests. Theodore was also worrying about the upcoming conference with Crearia, knowing that the outcome of it was very important for both of the kingdoms.

A few days before the conference was to begin, those who were going set off to the location of the conference, which was on a small border town that had a history of having members of both kingdoms living in it. Because the town was technically within Vidour's borders, they arrived first to set up everything for the conference, the royal family and advisers, including Aelia, given residence in one of the larger homes in the town.

---

Helena laughed, heading down further into the mines. They continued further down and managed to find some crystals, which Helena was very excited about, gratefully taking a crystal when Orion offered it to her before they headed outside to have their picnic before returning back to the castle.

Over the next few weeks she anxiously awaited traveling to Vidour for the conference, knowing that Orion was nervous about it as well. She spent part of the time before it explaining to Orion how the Rhallean's had been staging attacks in both kingdoms while blaming the other, telling him which documents to look for in order to bring the information to the conference to help prevent war. Of course she stressed to him that he was the one that figured it out, worried that if he said it was her that she wouldn't be believed and then war would break out anyway.

She was very nervous the day they headed to the site of the conference she felt very nervous, keeping mostly silent instead of joking around like she usually did with Orion.

@ katahdin
This was so exciting for Aelia, getting to visit a new location within the border of Vidour. Sure, she got to travel through the mines, and see the forest that surrounded the castle. This though, this was a whole new location. There were new things for the young girl to see and there were new people to meet. An excited squeal escaped from Aelia as she did a little twirl in her pretty dress, holding onto the hat that went with the outfit.

The skirts for the dress twirled around perfectly as Aelia moved. Only swaying a little bit as she stopped and looked out over the beautiful view that they were given from the land the house they were staying at provided. "Oh! Prince Theodore!" Aelia called using his full title as she knew his father was around somewhere.

Lia went off to go find the Prince, hoping to bother him a little before the meeting that night. "Did you see the view from the back of the house?" Lia asked the Prince once she finally found him. "It's beautiful!" She gushed, twirling once more in excitement in her dress.

--

The ride in the carriage felt rather stiff as Orion looked out the window. His father sat across from him, a book in his hand and a very unpleased look on his face. Now, normally, Orion would try and make conversation with the older gentlemen, but. With Helena here, he wasn't sure what to talk about. As it would be impolite to not include her and well, they didn't seem to have a very good start.

First, it was because the King shut down the idea of allowing Helena to wear pants more often around the castle. Given, it was Orions idea, but still. He gave him the most disgusted look at the time. Then, when he asked if it was alright for Helena to train with the troops for a bit, he outright laughed.
The man was outright old-fashioned. Given, Orion got the idea that it might be too much for a lady to fight. The pants thing though, he could let slide. Another thing is though, Orion hasn't told Helena this whole time that he asked his father about her doing this stuff, so she doesn't know he's actually angry at her.

"So..." Orion started after they were mostly to the conference location. "Are you excited?" He asked, turning to Helena. The information she had given him running through his mind.

@ FallenHope95

Theodore had been meeting briefly with his father and his father's counselors, discussing the schedule for the conference later that day as well as what their plans would be. They had just learned that the ancient Princess of Vidour had shown up in Crearia, and that she was also being brought to the meeting. There had to be a brief discussion of what would happen to the two princesses, before the men were dismissed to rest before the conference.

Theodore left the study where the meeting had taken place hurriedly, going to find Aelia so as not to leave her alone for too long, having grown quiet attached to her over the course of the past few weeks. He grinned when he ran into her, nodding a little as he watched her twirl, glad that she was excited. "Yes. It's quiet beautiful here. The view of the mountains is extremely nice." He said, offering her his arm. "Would you like to explore a little? We still have a few hours before the Crearians arrive with the Princess."

---

Helena sat comfortably next to Orion, reading one of the books she'd taken from the library back at the castle and occasionally adjusting the skirt of her dress, finding the dress beautiful but uncomfortable. Luckily, she'd packed a pair of pants without anyone noticing, despite knowing Orion would disapprove. She had remained silent mostly because of nerves, not only because of the conference but also because of the presence of the King, Orion's father, who seemed to despise her. She hadn't interacted with him much, but she'd obviously done something to upset him, and she didn't understand what.

She looked up when Orion spoke to her, nodding a little as she closed the book, sticking a slip of paper between the pages to keep her place. "Yes.. I'm nervous, though. Especially about meeting the people who are supposed to be my relatives, as well as the other Princess.. Are you excited?" She asked.

@ katahdin
It was almost like an instinct now, as Theo offered her his arm, Lia took it. Looking her bare arm with his as she grinned up at him fondly. "Yes! Can we?" She asked, hoping he wasn't just pulling her leg and she'd be left alone for long. Even though Lia wasn't against exploring on her own, she had some of his guards looking after her, she still preferred the Prince.

Then, at the mention of another Princess, Lia's lips slowly faltered. "Other, Princess?" Lia asked the nervousness showing in her voice. "Like, a real royal princess?" Lia gulped, feeling nervous. "Theo, I don't know how to act like a real royal Princess. What if I embarrass myself in front of her?" Aelia's voice was quiet as she looked up at the Prince's face. Worry showing all over her features.

--

A single surprised laugh escaped from Orion at what Helena mentioned. He had a moment of forgetfulness and forgot that they were indeed her relatives they were going to meet. Given, they're probably far down the line related now, but still. Related none the less. "I'm sure they're excited to meet a beloved relative that's come back to them, Helena," Orion reassured, offering a small smile.

"As for myself? I'm more nervous than excited." Orion confessed, glancing towards his father. Catching the older man looking at him before looking back down at the book. "The looming threat of war is not one to be looking forward to," He murmured, then sighed as he rested his head back against the seat. "So ancient Princess, how do you like carriages compared to horseback riding?"

@ FallenHope95

Theodore smiled, leading her out to the back yard to explore the grounds some, having heard that there was a little pond located on the property that could be quiet pretty this time of year. He walked with her slowly along the path, looking around for any signs of the pond, although he was hoping that they wouldn't have to wander off the path to find it. When she began to get nervous about the other royalty coming her frowned, pausing as he turned to look at her. "Everything will be alright, Aelia. The other princess is the ancient Princess Helena, who supposedly appeared in Crearia the same time you did. If you're both from a different time, I'm sure she's just as nervous about this whole thing as you are." He reassured, giving her hand a little squeeze before continuing on their walk.

---

Helena smiled back at Orion as he smiled at her, nudging him a little with her elbow at what she could only assume was teasing, although when she realized that Orion's father wasn't pleased with their conversation she fell silent, the smile disappearing from her face as she looked back down at the book in her lap. She looked up again when he spoke to her, growing stiff as her eyes widened a little in surprise, the King having not spoken to her beside a polite but curt "Good morning" before they left the castle. "It's very different than horseback riding, your majesty.. Much easier for a lady." She murmured, blushing as she recalled the incident a week or so ago when she'd had to horseback ride in a dress because his father had accompanied them somewhere, which resulted in her falling off and spraining her wrist, although she'd tried not to make a fuss about it even when it happened, feeling like a fool.