Chapter 6: Nothing without you

Helena felt the jerk and almost fell backward. She turned her head and felt relief: Pavel's hazel eyes were full of anger, yet these were the eyes of someone she loved.

''Pavel, I can explain''.

''Oh, yes? Well, go on then''. She's never seen him angrier and a thought went through her head that she might need to be more careful than she initially planned to.

''I have made friends outside, they need me'' honesty was the best she could do for her beloved brother.

''Friends? Out there? Please, Helena. Would your so-called friends make you steal 50 crowns?''

''They are starving, Pavel! And I didn't steal them, I planned to return the whole sum... eventually. Just please, can you keep quiet about it?''. Upon hearing her words, his expression changed, but she wasn't out of the danger zone yet.

''Is this why you wanted to go to the farm and asked all of these questions?''.

''Yes, brother. My friend decided to work in the mine. He's barely twelve. I cannot let him continue to do this.''

''You cannot? Who do you think you are to intervene?''.

''I am a royal princess'' for the first time, she felt anger towards her eldest brother. How could he not understand her position?

''And do your friends know that?''.

''...No. But it doesn't change the way I feel about this. I will do what I can to help them''. Her brother sighed but she could tell that he wasn't holding back anger anymore.

''I cannot let you go like this''.

''But...''

''Helena, I'm responsible for you. As the crown prince, I need to ensure everyone's safety. Do you understand?''.

''Please, let me go, just this once. Nothing will happen to me, I promise!''.

''Do you promise that it is the last time?''.

''What?'' her eyes became glassy. ''Brother, I don't know how much longer they will need me and...''

''I don't care, Helena. All I care about is your safety right now. Can you promise me that this is the last time I'm seeing you here?'' Helena took a deep breath upon realizing the hidden meaning behind his words.

''Yes, brother, you shall not see me here again''.

''Very well. I have no idea how you found out about this flop'' seeing her opening her mouth, he quickly added ''and I don't care. But no one can ever run into you like this again, do you understand?''

''Yes, I will be on my way then'' she gave him her special younger sister's smile and went down the flap before he could change his mind.

To her dismay, just outside the entrance, she ran across the band of boys who had tried to hurt her before. She didn't have enough time to avoid them and once they noticed her, they quickly besieged her. Her day couldn't get any worse. Or could it?

''Well, well, look who is here, what a shame that Rion will never be able to help you again, isn't that right boys?'' Helena's heart sunk.

''What are you saying?''.

''Oh, you didn't know?'' The leader of the pack visibly enjoyed seeing the terror in her eyes. ''Your boyfriend had a little accident in the mine. He will never be like himself again''.

''You're lying!'' with all her fury, Helena threw herself at him and scratched his face. Other boys tried to pull her away from him but her range was unstoppable. ''Liar, liar, liar!''. A strong hit came out of nowhere and knocked her out of the boy. The adrenaline in her veins was still giving her all the energy that she ever needed. She got up and run as fast as she could as if a devil himself chased after her. She entered Rion's house and saw Rachel crouching over a figure laying on a bedtick.

''Rachel!''.

''Elena!'' Rachel fell into her arms, crying. ''My brother, he is not waking up!''.

''What happened? Have you sent for the doctor?''.

''They were working in the tunnel when it caved in. My brother fell and hit his head'' she started to cry even harder. ''The doctor said that if he doesn't wake up within a few days, he will die due to the lack of food and water''.

Helena fell to her knees, shaking. ''No, this can't be true'' she mattered. Rachel's weeping continued and eventually, she fell asleep exhausted. Helena looked at Rion's face, as motionless as ever. She caressed his cheeks, her hand going up to his brow. ''Rion, please wake up'' she pleaded quietly. ''I can't go on without you''. Her pleas were left unanswered.

While curled up next to him, Helena prayed like never before. He couldn't die and have the last memory of her back, turning on him, abandoning him. Her hand kept stroking his cheek, harder and harder. ''Please, Rion, give me one more chance, I will make things right''. At that moment, she would give anything she had to give, and anything she was about to become, just to be able to steal him from the grasp of death.

The night was long, with never-ending pain that ravished her body. With every passing minute, a piece of her was dying. It almost began to dawn, the grey hour never weighed heavier on her. She held back the scream rising inside of her. ''Rion, I'm not going anywhere, do you know that? I would never abandon you'' she cried on his chest. She had to go home before her family and maids were to notice her absence but she couldn't bear the thought of him passing while she was gone. ''Rion'' she whispered for the last time.

Suddenly, she felt a twitch underneath her. She gasped and jerked her head. Rion squirmed, his beautiful face in pain. ''Rion? Do you hear me?'' he moaned weakly in response, but she couldn't hold back her relief. ''Rion, I'm here for you, you're safe'' she grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

He looked at her, not understanding. ''What happened?''.

''You fell on your head and slept for a few days. How are you feeling?''.

''In pain'' the words came out with difficulty. ''Who are you?''.

Helena froze. ''You don't remember me?''.

''No, should I remember you?'' his face grimaced.

''Rion!'' Rachel jumped to her brother's side. ''Thank God''. He embraced her, a weak smile playing on his chipped lips.

''Rachel, you look good''.

''Oh, please don't joke right now. You don't even know how worried we were. You cannot go back to the mine ever again.''

''To the mine?'' Rachel gave Helena a look. It was time for her to take over.

''Rion, we're glad that you are awake. Your new employer shall expect you once you recover, I will convey your condition to them.''

''My new employer?'' they both looked at her in awe.

''Yes, don't you remember, Rion? You were supposed to start as a new stableboy. They will send for you once you are all better''. She had to seize this chance before it was too late. She put a smile on her face and grabbed Rachel's hand. ''Rachel, would you be so kind as to go outside with me for a moment?''.

''Of course'' she quickly collected herself, patted her brother's arm, and headed outside with Helena.

''I'm sorry Rachel, I cannot bare to see him go back to the mine, either. I indeed found another position for him'' Helena felt guilty for not letting her react. ''I promise I will find something suitable for you, too''.

Rachel looked at the sky, slowly preparing for the dawn. A light smile began to blossom on her face. ''Very well Elena, you know that I trust you. We really cannot stay here, especially now that our father hasn't come back in weeks and we have no food to put on our table''.

''I will be back'' she promised. ''It seems your brother doesn't remember anything, but maybe it is for the better?''.

Rachel looked at her sharply. ''Do you really believe so?'' she paused before continuing after noticing pain on Helena's face. ''Let's not lose hope, Elena.''

She nodded and gave her a hug. ''Everything will be alright''.

Helena didn't know how she managed to come back home that morning; all she remembered was falling on her bed and drifting away immediately. She woke up suddenly, feeling a soft hand stroking her cheek.

''Are you alright, my little sister?'' Olivia's voice sounded like a melody.

''Yes, I am just a little tired.''

''It is a shame, I hoped to show you my dress for the engagement party. I hired the best seamstress in the whole capital''.

''Wait'' Helena's heart began to beat rapidly. ''Is the seamstress coming here, too?''

''Of course silly, she has to see how the dress fits me''.

''I would very much like to watch you in this dress, too'' she quickly put her feet down, ready to leave her bed. Olivia laughed.

''How come you are so full of energy after hearing about my dress? I thought you never cared for such things''.

''Well, you never know, right? Maybe I will need beautiful dresses one day for myself, too''.

''Come to my room in a quarter then, we will be waiting for you.''

Olivia left, closing the doors behind her. Helena let out a long breath. She knew exactly what she had to do. After all, who could refuse a little princess?