Treason | By : Dagian Category: +G through L > Lineage 2 Views: 832 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I own nothing, NCSoft regrettably does, I make no profit off of this story that is based on Lineage2. |
**Installment 25**
Caellia sat silently on her strider and reflected on her conversation with Nathavin. ‘Trust me’ he had said. Why had he looked to be in pain? Also, was that worry she had seen in his eyes? She lifted her head slightly and looked ahead and across to her left at Nathavin’s back as their striders ate up the distance to Rune. Sighing, she shook her head. She would never understand dark elves. Caellia gave a speculative glance behind her at Kattath. The woman knew something about Nathavin that she wasn’t telling, and Caellia vowed to learn what she knew. Twice now Kattath had tried to warn Caellia when she pushed too far. Yes, the dark elven female definitely knew something she wasn’t divulging.
Kattath felt a pair of eyes on her and looked toward to Caellia and found the princess watching her. She opened her senses to read Caellia’s aura. Caellia’s aura was light blue and yellow, the colors of sharpened perception, understanding and confidence. The princess was on the verge of understanding, or had already come to understand a significant problem.
Caellia narrowed her eyes at Kattath and gave her a pointed glare, intent on getting the message across that the two of them needed to speak. Kattath nodded her head slightly, the message was received. They would speak tonight when they stopped to rest.
Nathavin cursed as the strider stumbled from its lack of night vision. They would have to stop for the rest of the night. Nathavin looked back to Caellia, only to find that she had already dismounted her strider and was heading straight to Kattath with a very determined look upon her face. He glanced upward at the stars and quickly judged the distance they had put between them and the castle. All things considered, they had put considerable distance between themselves and Goddard. A sharp shout brought his attention back to Kattath and Caellia. They were fussing with a knight over something. Frowning, he approached them.
“I just want to speak with Kattath in private! You do not have to guard me every single moment when I’m with her! Now leave us!” Caellia turned furious eyes to Nathavin. “I will not tolerate this guard following my every step any longer! I have not attempted to escape since I made my vow! Why must my every step be watched?” Her chest heaved with her angry breathing and her eyes flashed dangerously in the moonlight. She had her limits and she’d reached them. Kattath was as good a guard as any one of the knights or blade dancers Nathavin could summon to guard her.
Nathavin looked at the knight, “Your shift doesn’t start until morning. Why are you following the two of them?”
“My Lord, I only wished to ensure that Caellia,” his voice turned bitter as he said her name, “did not attempt to escape again.”
“You do not trust that I can handle one silver ranger alone?” Kattath arched an eyebrow haughtily at the knight.
“You couldn’t handle her when our castle was besieged by Goryn. Why should the situation be any different now?” The knight challenged.
“Enough! Kattath can handle the princess on her own.” Nathavin ignored Caellia’s annoyed huff at being talked about as if she weren’t there. “If she cannot, then there is nowhere Caellia can run off to as she is not yet skilled enough to survive this close to the Varka Silenos outpost alone.” Nathavin watched the knight closely, something was out of place. He had ordered that all of the guards being considered to watch Caellia have no deep rooted will to kill light elves. They had to be above that and fiercely loyal to him and him alone to watch her. Nathavin’s eyes narrowed, he would watch this knight closely.
“As you command my Lord.” The knight muttered contemptuously. He caught and held Nathavin’s gaze for a brief moment before he stalked away. Curse Caellia for causing Nathavin to intervene! If only the foolish girl had stayed silent! He seethed silently to himself, he would succeed next time.
Caellia turned to Nathavin, “Do not speak as if I am not present Nathavin. My name is not ‘the princess’.” She glared fiercely at him and was further annoyed when he completely overlooked her again and addressed Kattath instead.
“You will accompany Caellia a bow’s shot length away from the camp, no further.” Nathavin turned to address Caellia, “You have precious little time to discuss whatever it is you wish to speak with Kattath about. I will come to collect the both of you when camp has been properly set.”
“Nathavin, I warn you, do not disregard my presence.” Caellia drew in a deep breath ready to continue but was stopped cold as it became apparent that he had not finished.
“Caellia, I was not disregarding your presence. Indeed, I could never disregard your presence. Nor have I forgotten my discussion with Faeraonar from earlier tonight. I will be watching you the remainder of the night.” Nathavin watched her closely as whatever she had been about to say died on her lips and she stood speechless for a moment.
“Nathavin I really do not require a guard, I will not attempt to run away.”
Kattath watched them quietly, she had been forgotten it seemed. Her heightened senses could tell that Caellia was truthful and sincere in her pledge to not attempt an escape, her aura was white and blue. Would Nathavin allow her to be without a guard?
Nathavin turned to face Caellia and studied her mutely before responding, “Make your discussion quick. The camp is almost set.” He then turned and set off to tend to other, more pressing matters. The strange encounter with the knight was foremost on his mind.
Caellia cursed inwardly and dutifully walked the requested length away from camp and halted. By Antharas he could be infuriating! She huffed angrily and turned to face Kattath and said without preamble. “I know you are withholding information from me regarding Nathavin’s mood of late.”
Ah, so she’s discovered that there’s a reason for his mood swings towards her, Kattath thought to herself. Now, how to explain this? Or, should I explain this? She pouted in concentration as she fought with herself. She made her decision and faced Caellia. “Nathavin is more than he appears to be Caellia. What do you know about our peoples’ histories?”
“I know enough to understand that our parents bound me to him and that there are two scrolls that will confirm that fact.” Caellia watched Kattath closely. The older woman was not comfortable with this discussion.
“I assume you found out about the arrangement recently yes?” Kattath continued at Caellia’s affirmative nod. “Do you remember how surprised you were? How upset and confused you were? You’d been taught all your life to distrust us, to fear us even. Then you find out that you were legally bound in a marriage contract with your most hated nemesis, and by your own parents’ decision no less.” Kattath watched the emotions pass across Caellia’s face. “Nathavin was just as surprised and shocked as you no doubt were. Possibly even more so, until recently he had no idea that he was the rightful heir to the Lordship. He had to fight for it. He’s gotten as far as he has on his own, fighting every step of the way.”
“What has this got to do with his current baffling mood shifts?” Caellia stared hard at Kattath.
“Caellia, I’m saying that he is confused. He is no longer sure his goals and plans are correct, or if they ever were. He is for once uncertain on how to proceed.” That was true enough, he had confided in her that he was no longer sure on how to handle the light elven situation. “His plans have been cast into doubt because of those scrolls. They detail that the alliance forged between our people was to protect both races. Your betrothal to him sealed that arrangement. He now has to make a choice between the two goals…” Kattath frowned as Caellia’s eyes brightened in an apparent revelation. What had she said to cause that?
“That’s it! That’s it!” Caellia clapped her hands excitedly. If he could bring those scrolls before the other Kings of the land to force her to marry him as he had once threatened, then she could also bring those scrolls to their attention and force him to leave her people alone!
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