Dark Paths (Helsa)

One

I know I promised (and I will get to it) a sequel of Heated Ice but this idea came to me and for you guys who love Helsa I'm sure will be just as happy with this :) as for this story, I'm going to say that fate has a twisted way of working things out but eventually everything comes together. Enjoy another take on Helsa.

One:

Queen Elsa of Arendelle sat in her council room amongst the rest of the council, she was quiet most of the session and was focused on listening to King Arden of their neighboring country, Asilon.

"I just think our marriage would benefit the both of us. I'd have a beautiful wife and you'd have two countries, protection from both countries and it's better to have a husband and king for the country." He said. "I'm going to leave my offer out for you. If you would like to take it, please tell me before I leave for Asilon."

"I'll consider it. Thank you, Your Grace." She said and smiled up at him. King Arden was a handsome man, tall and lean with light brown hair and the darkest brown eyes Elsa's ever seen.

"No. Thank you, Queen Elsa. I do hope you will consider my offer." He smiled and bowed his head to her, leaving the room promptly and once he left she let out a long sigh.

"I do hope you are going to take his offer." The head of the council, Lord Silas, said and stacked papers together and handed them over to her. It was the marriage contract that would bond Elsa and Arden together for the rest of their lives. "It's in Arendelle's best interest. Also, if you do marry him you can produce heirs and keep your family line going."

"I don't love him." Elsa muttered but felt silly for it. She knew what Silas would say.

"Royals do not marry for love. They marry to make peace, stability and for Arden, heirs. You are the perfect candidate for him and he for you." Silas scoffed and stood from his chair and looked over to Elsa. "You'd be a fool to not take this opportunity." He said and left Elsa to consider what her choices were.

~~~~~~~

Elsa had decided to marry King Arden and even though she didn't love him it was convenient for Arendelle, Arendelle's best interest was always important to Elsa. They decided to marry right away but to stay in their own countries and rule, they kept in contact with letters and random visits. Elsa had heard of Arden having publicly claimed a mistress named Victoria, at first for Elsa she became angry with him but then realized she couldn't do anything about it so she ignored it all and stayed to herself in Arendelle.

It had been two years since they were married and now Elsa was twenty-three years old, still with no children, while Anna was twenty and married to Kristoff for a year now but still no children.

----

Elsa sat quietly in her library, books upon books were stacked up around her on shelves, tables and even seats. Most of her time was spent reading, mostly fiction, but sometimes she went through these periods where she focused on one thing and wanted to learn all she could about it. As of now, she was reading a book about a woman who had been cursed by a witch with powers that only turned people away from her, but by the end of the book her true love comes and saves her, killing the witch and returning his true love back to her previous self.

"Elsa?" Anna called from outside of the door.

"Come in." Elsa said and watched with a smile as Anna came in. Books and Anna were the only things that seemed to cheer her up anymore. Only she never let anyone know she was extremely unhappy with Arden.

"You're still reading that book?" She asked and plopped down on a chair across from her.

"No, I finished it a few days ago. I picked it back up today." She said and Anna noticed she was already half way through. She could never read that fast, or for the long periods of time like Elsa did.

"I was going to go out into the village and see the flea markets, maybe buy some nice nicknacks they have there. Would you like to come? I haven't been spending much time with you anymore." Anna frowned, thinking about how much she missed Elsa.

"Of course. I'll go get dressed for the warmth outside and meet you downstairs." Elsa smiled and pressed down the corner of her page, making her own bookmark, and shut the book.

"Yay! I'm so excited." Anna jumped up and down, clicking her knuckles together, excited to spend time with Elsa. "I'll meet you downstairs." She said and they left the library, separating down the halls for Elsa to go into her own bedroom to change.

When she arrived into her bedroom she saw Arden standing over near the bay window, staring outside until he heard Elsa and looked over to her. She was shocked at first to see him but remembered he did say he would be visiting soon.

"Ah, Elsa! I figured you'd come in here at some point." He said and adjusted his sword, messing with the hilt nervously. "I looked everywhere for you, our old bedroom, the grand hall, the ballroom, the council room."

"I was in the library." She said and shut the door quietly, walking over to her closet to find a dress for the weather. It needed to be a light weight and flowing dress for the summer weather. "I'm almost always in there, and if not, I'm in here reading."

"You like reading?" He asked, Elsa rolled her eyes and sighed. Of course he didn't know I love reading, Elsa thought to herself and tried covering her sigh with a cough.

"When did you get here?" She asked and went behind her changing screen, starting to undress and hoped he wouldn't come around the screen.

"Just this morning but I'll be leaving tonight, or possibly sooner. Victoria is meeting with her family tonight." Arden muttered and watched as Elsa come out from around the screen wearing a tight blue, flowing dress that hugged her figure nicely. "I want you to be sent to the Southern Isles. We need to keep up the peace and discuss more trade routes or increase what we send and receive. We just need to keep the peace."

"When will I leave?" She asked, fixing her hair back into a braid and pulled it over her shoulder.

"Tonight. There will be a boat ready to take you at nine o'clock. You should be there by the early morning." He said and walked over to the door. "I'm glad you aren't a normal Queen and that you can do business." He said and watched as she applied a light pink lipstick then her deep purple eyeshadow.

"I'll be there tonight then." She said and watched in the mirror as Arden looked at her for a second, his eyes softening just a little but hardened almost as quick as it came. He turned away from her and walked out, somewhat wishing their marriage would have worked out differently.