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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.

Chapter List
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Caellia turned to ask Kattath if she knew how much longer the trip would last and fell silent as she noticed Nathavin coming toward them. She looked away from him as she worked to quell her nervousness. She was confused, had been ever since that night she’d hurt her ankle and he’d had to carry her. Her feelings toward him were changing and she was frightened of the changes she was noticing.
Kattath greeted Nathavin first as he drew closer to them. A quick glance to her right confirmed that Caellia was once again avoiding looking at Nathavin. She seemed to find the sails immensely interesting all of a sudden. “Caellia, weren’t you about to ask me a question a moment ago?” Queried Kattath.
“Hm? Oh, I forgot what I was going to ask you. It wasn’t important anyway.” Caellia nervously answered taking fleeting looks at Kattath while studiously avoiding looking at Nathavin. She turned back to face the water and drew her arms close together as she leaned over the rail of the ship.
Kattath cast a doubtful look in the girls direction before turning to face Nathavin again, “How much longer do you think it will be before we reach the harbor?”
“We aren’t going to Gludin Harbor.” Nathavin replied absently, focused on Caellia.
“We aren’t? Then where are we going?” Kattath asked disbelievingly.
“The ship is going to anchor offshore at the beach near our homeland. We will avoid detection best that way. We will be in our lands and will not have to worry about spies or ambushes this way.” Explained Nathavin. His eyes narrowed, why wouldn’t Caellia look at him? “We should arrive there within the next day. The ships crew is already making preparations and has turned the ship toward the shoreline.”
“It will be good to see our homeland again.” Kattath cheerfully replied. “I haven’t been back in ages.” She turned to Caellia, “I will show you where some of my favorite places were, especially the ones I used to hide out at.” She frowned when Caellia only nodded mutely and looked questioningly at Nathavin.
Nathavin turned to Kattath and motioned with his hand vaguely in the direction of the stern. He knew Kattath would understand and was not disappointed as she made an excuse and began to make her way to the back of the ship. Caellia, having noticed Kattath’s imminent departure began to follow her. Nathavin turned to face the sea. “The sea is beautiful don’t you think Caellia?”
Caellia turned to face Nathavin curiously. As a light elf, a follower of Eva, she thought that this was a rather strange question. “It is.” Came her simple answer before she again turned to follow Kattath.
“It’s so peaceful out here. The realities of being Lord don’t seem so harsh.” He continued to look out to sea, “Being a Lord is no easy task. You are constantly under enormous pressure; every mistake is analyzed for possible weakness.”
Caellia didn’t know why he was discussing this now, or with her. “I’m sure it isn’t an easy task.” She haltingly answered as she took another glance in Kattath’s direction while trying to think of a reason to follow her.
“It’s also very lonely work, being a Lord.” He glanced at her to see her reaction to his apparent babbling. His plan was working, she was not leaving and she was too distracted by having to listen to him to formulate a reasonable excuse to leave with Kattath.
Caellia turned to face him briefly saying, “I can’t imagine that it would ever be easy.” She then turned in Kattath’s direction, “Kattath appears to need some help.” As Caellia was starting to walk away, she felt Nathavin grasp her wrist and pull her back towards him slightly.
“Why are you avoiding me Caellia?”
“I…I’m not.” Caellia stammered nervously.
“Yes you are. You won’t even look at me.” Nathavin turned to face her, noting that although he had her right hand in his and had partially turned her to face him, she still had her head turned to Kattath. “Even now you refuse to look at me. What has caused this?” Nathavin however was forming a suspicion, and if it was right, he’d far exceeded his goal of making her forget Goryn. If he was right, he had replaced Goryn in her thoughts.
Sucking in a breath, Caellia debated on what to tell him. How could she tell him that simply being near him caused her insides to quiver? She didn’t even know why she was reacting this way. If she couldn’t understand her own actions and feelings, how was she to make him understand? The only one she would’ve felt comfortable confiding in was back in her homelands. Even then, she doubted Nalia would understand how she felt.
“Caellia? What has happened?” Nathavin prompted impatiently.
“Nothing has happened Nathavin.” Huffed Caellia. How dare he get impatient with her? “I’m fine, just uncomfortable being on this ship for so long.” She hoped he would believe her fib.
“Are you sure?” Nathavin questioned her. He knew she was lying, her actions the previous minutes proved it. And if she simply was uncomfortable with being on the ship why would she have been so reluctant to say so? He frowned as she snatched her hand out of his. “In our village you will not be allowed to show such disrespect Caellia. Nor will you continue to avoid me as you have done on this ship.”
She turned to face him fully and arched her right eyebrow in disdain. “I’m not a child Nathavin. I will not be lectured to by you.” Turning on her heel, she stormed away from him.
Nathavin grinned openly at her retreating back. In his eyes, a challenge had been issued, and he was more than willing to take it up. Before he could chase after her however, the ships captain, a strange man of mixed heritage, probably human and dwarf, approached him with intentions of discussing the safest location to anchor the ship. As Nathavin began discussing the details of the ships position he felt that he was being watched. Turning quickly, his dark eyes met with Caellia’s sky blue eyes.
Caellia had been watching him for only a moment before he’d noticed and had turned to face her. His eyes locked with hers and she felt unable to turn away, caught in his gaze. As they continued to stare one another down Caellia began to feel trapped. Her heart rate sped up and her breathing came faster and shallower. Time seemed to slow down and stop altogether as she grew more panicked. Finally, she could stand it no longer and wrenched her eyes away from his, blinking rapidly before darting below deck.
Nathavin let a low chuckle escape. Caellia had been unable to hold his gaze for more than mere seconds before she had run. Although he couldn’t be entirely sure, it seemed his suspicion was correct, he would have fun ‘proving’ his suspicions. His attention was sharply drawn by the ships captain as the man gave a high pitched whistle that was painful to his highly receptive ears. Scowling, he fixed the captain with a chilling glare, “Do not do that again if you value your life.”
The captain grinned widely, “If I could have gotten your attention by another means I would have you can be sure. However, you seemed rather…ah…absorbed with the young lady and did not respond to several of my attempts at regaining your attention.”
“You have it now. What is it you wish to discuss?” Nathavin was irritated and fought to keep from massaging his still ringing ears. He mentally envisioned several arrows landing in various parts of the captains’ anatomy while listening to the man prattle about the ships location, water currents, and wind direction. After several minutes Nathavin growled, “When are we expected to arrive at our destination? That is all I am concerned about.”
“Are you sure that’s all you’re concerned about? Looked to me like you are concerned with a bit more than that.” The captain guffawed loudly, “My private cabin is as safe as any castle. You have plenty of time before we reach…. ” Before he could finish the rest of his crude statement, he was thrown roughly against the railing of the ship with Nathavin’s dagger pressed painfully into his throat.
“You will not finish that comment!” Snarled Nathavin, incensed with the captains audacity. “You will not speak of matters that do not concern you and of which you know nothing!” Nathavin continued to put pressure on the mans throat even as he noticed Kattath’s presence appear beside them. “Do you know who that lady is?” His eyes narrowed to mere slits as the captain struggled for air. “She is the Princess of the light elves, and my future Queen. You will show more respect for her!”
The captain felt the jagged edge of the dagger bite into the flesh of his throat as a trail of liquid warmth trickled down the sides of his neck. “My-my apologies!” He gasped for air and his face scrunched in pain as he felt the dagger slice further into his throat. “I…I had no idea who she was! Had I known I would never have said that!”
Nathavin dropped his face closer to the captains, his nostrils taking in the coppery scent of blood, “See that you never make that mistake again! Or it will cost you your life!” He jerked the dagger away from the captain, dragging the dagger further through the mans flesh as he did so, leaving the mans throat in tatters. As he stepped away to allow the captain to rise, Nathavin calmly wiped his blade clean on the nearest cloth he could find as he stormed away.
The ships bosun said nothing as his sash was ripped from him to clean the dark elven lord’s blade.
Kattath watched Nathavin closely, his dark blood had been sparked by the captains’ irreverent and reprehensible remarks toward Caellia. Likely the captain had no idea just how closely he’d come to losing his life. Although his words were crude, they held a certain truth to them. She needed to try to hurry this trip along and get them all back to Goddard for the ceremony as soon as was possible. Nathavin would snap eventually and lose to his dark blood.
            “Captain,” she began, “how much longer before we reach the coast?”
            “Three hours, perhaps two if the wind holds.” The captain shakily croaked through his torn throat. The ships doctor was busy applying emergency bandages to the wound to stop the bleeding. “I meant no harm to the lady.” He muttered.
            “Nathavin is not one to be trifled with captain. Anyone who threatens what is his will pay. Even we are not exempt from that. You are lucky, he’s killed many more over less.” Kattath quietly informed the man before walking below deck.
*****
            Caellia lurched to the left side of the small boat as a wave caught it and unexpectedly sent it skipping atop the waves. She tried to concentrate on the bottom of the boat to avoid becoming seasick. After several long, stomach churning minutes, she felt the bottom of the small craft scrape against the sandy bottom of the shallower water. The ships crewman leapt from the boat and noisily splashed through the water, dragging the boat onto the beach.
            Caellia followed Nathavin and Kattath as they exited the boat and stood on the small, silent beach. There were cliffs as far as she could see to both the right and left. As she looked closer, she could see a steep, winding trail leading up one of the cliffs. She jumped slightly as Kattath came up beside her.
            “Have you ever seen our homeland Caellia?” Questioned Kattath.
            “Once. Many years ago I was requested by one of elders to speak with a dark elven witch to obtain some stardust to help save the mother tree in our homelands.”
            Kattath watched her and wondered what the princess would think of their lands after she had seen them.
They both jumped in startled surprise when Nathavin seemingly appeared from nowhere behind them, “We must hurry the light is beginning to fade.”
Caellia sighed and fell instep behind him as they began their trek up the steep slopes of the cliff.
*****
Nalia quietly slipped into the cavern as the sentries chased the young dark elven child she’d paid to distract them. As she raced quickly down the long winding tunnel she could feel the air growing cooler and damper. She soon came to the main cavern and sucked in a deep breath at its sheer size. The place was massive. She quickly scurried to the nearest corner and knelt down as a pair of knights marched past her, their spirit orbs glowing brightly over their shoulders.
She waited patiently for them to pass and once they were out of range she ran swiftly behind a shop before stopping to check her location. Nalia needed to find as central a location as she could to hide to ensure that she would see Caellia when she arrived. Carefully easing her head from behind the dark steel wall, she surveyed her choices. There weren’t many and she mentally ticked them off in her head almost as soon as she spotted them.
There was a small area near the temple that would be a good place to hide. But with so many people going to and leaving from the temple, the risk that she’d be spotted was simply too high. She looked around and deftly crossed the wide walkway and hid behind what appeared to be a weapons shop. As she glanced around she saw an old building that looked as if it hadn’t been used in years. Taking a deep breath she cautiously entered the building. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light filtering through the doorway she realized the building was unoccupied. She closed the door until there was only a small opening then peered through it. Nalia almost shook with excitement. She had a nearly perfect view of the center of the village and could perfectly see the hand of Shillien rising from the abyss and the crackling blue energy surrounding it. She settled down and began her wait, wondering what had become of her comrades.
*****
Tazair and Baelthal glanced at one another and came to the same conclusion. There was no possible way for them to get into the dark elven cavern. The sword singer, Tazair, whispered quietly to the elder, “We will wait near the path we came from for Nalia. When she comes back with Caellia we will use your magic to get us safely out of here.”
Baelthal nodded in agreement. They’d had two close calls and luckily Tazair had been able to defeat the sentries, but only just. Baelthal had found his abilities taxed nearly to the breaking point very quickly with those battles and had demanded that they stop and allow him to rest a bit before they continued. It frightened him to think that his abilities as a healer might not be sufficient for this mission. It also disturbed him that they had not heard from Feratahl, the plainswalker or Tradul the silver ranger in quite some time.
*****
The two dark elves stared somberly down at the trespassing light elves, their cold eyes taking in the blood seeping into the ground as the invaders died slowly from their wounds. Vornlochar snatched the silver ranger up by his hair and pressed the bloody dagger at his throat, “Why did you come here?”
Tradul spat blood and glared hard at the dark elf without replying. He could not reveal the nature of their mission. He gurgled helplessly as the dagger bit into his throat and felt his blood spilling faster from his body. His vision was growing dark at the edges, he would soon see Eva and took comfort in this fact.
“Why did you come here?!” Yelled the dark elf, but it was too late, the ranger had passed into the next world and Vornlochar removed his dagger from the elf’s throat. He then turned to his partner, Imarkah the female phantom ranger, “The other one is yours, it appears they will not talk with me,” he said with a slightly amused, and deadly, look on his face.
“You are too hasty to bloody your beautiful dagger my love. You should allow your victims time to see the beautiful orchid design on the blade before you kill them. Let them relax before you land the final death stroke. You will get more answers that way I’m sure.” The phantom ranger enjoyed teasing her lover, he was quite skilled as an assassin and she knew it, however she still enjoyed teasing him. She was not disappointed when he replied back to her.
“And you enjoy playing with your victims far too much. I would rather face my own form of interrogation than yours.” He stepped back and watched as his lady merely laughed and turned her attention to the remaining elf and began to question him in her low, sultry voice. Vornlochar could only marvel as he watched Imarkah use all her skill and cunning, not to mention the endowments bestowed upon her by Shillien, to gain the information they sought.
*****
Caellia looked at the landscape before her in horror. The deadened trees and grasses were heartbreaking to witness. How had she missed this on her previous travel to these lands all those years ago? A nearby treant caught her attention with its sickly yellow toned leaves. Caellia broke away from the group, unaware of the calls for her to rejoin them, as she slowly approached the sickened creature.
Nathavin, his attention drawn by the calls of Kattath and several others turned to see what Caellia was doing. He watched as she approached the dying treant and hesitantly put her hand upon its withered bark and looked up at it as it shook itself, trying to rid itself of the many parasites within taking advantage of its weakened condition. Nathavin looked to the others and silently waved them to continue on as he approached Caellia quietly.
“What caused this?” Caellia painfully whispered.
Nathavin remained silent as he studied her. What would she say if he told her?
Caellia took a shuddering breath as the treant once again shook itself in obvious pain. She turned to look around and could only stare in disbelief at the condition the land was in. Caellia turned to face Nathavin and repeated her question. “What caused this?!” She locked gazes with him and refused to look away.
Nathavin carefully gauged her reaction, she seemed genuinely interested in what had happened and decided to risk telling her the truth. “Your ancestors placed a curse upon this land many ages ago as punishment for us learning dark magic, which they had deemed to dangerous to learn.”
“No! That cannot be! This curse is the result of dark magic!” Caellia cried in saddened outrage.
“I know this.” Nathavin replied evenly.
“We don’t practice dark magic! This curse could not have been placed by my ancestors!” Caellia could not believe her ancestors had done this. This was beyond cruel!
“You have been lied to Caellia. There were those of your kind that practiced it many years ago and they deemed it to dangerous because they could not properly control it. Before long the practice was completely abolished, however there were still those who knew enough of it to cast this curse upon our lands when it was discovered that we were able to control the dark power with near perfection.”
Caellia shook her head as she looked back at the treant, almost unwilling to believe Nathavin. However she could not shake the feeling that he was telling her the truth.
Caellia didn’t know how long they stayed quietly observing the treant before she was startled by Nathavin as he stepped closer to her.
“Caellia, what are you thinking?” He had to know, it was important to him that he know. Nathavin wanted her to believe him however unlikely he knew that to be. He knew he could show her the scroll that Goryn had snatched from Asadar and had later given to him, but he wanted her to believe him without that scroll. She turned to face him fully and stepped closer to him. Nathavin worked hard at not showing his surprise at how close she was willingly standing to him. “Caellia?”
She slowly raised her eyes to his and softly asked him, “Are you certain my ancestors did this? Can you truthfully tell me that they are the ones to blame for this?” Her voice cracked slightly as she continued, “Swear to me Nathavin that you speak the truth!” She did not want to believe that her ancestors had caused this, but Goryn’s words as he bid her to trust Nathavin were ringing through her head.
“Caellia I would not lie about this. I swear to you on my honor and on my title that what I have told you is the truth.”
She studied him closely as she struggled to make a decision. If her ancestors had truly done this despicable deed, she, as the current Queen, had an obligation to correct it. There was no justifiable reason for her ancestors to have cursed these lands, no matter the provocation.
Nathavin watched as she slowly closed her eyes in obvious thought. What was she thinking? He clenched his fists at his sides as he repressed the urge to question her again. Nathavin would trust her to tell him on her own time, he was not to be disappointed.
“Nathavin,” she began slowly as she opened her eyes to look at him, “if what you have told me is the truth, I will do whatever I can to help you remove this curse from your lands.”
She could not have just said that, could she? If she didn’t know the curse had been placed there she most certainly couldn’t know of the requirements for removing it. He had read those requirements and had scarcely believed them himself. He had to give her a chance to reconsider, it would not be right for him to do otherwise. “Perhaps you should hear what the requirements are for lifting the curse before you make that pledge Caellia.” Before he could continue and inform her of the exact way the curse could be lifted she shook her head and talked over him.
“No Nathavin, I will not shirk my responsibility. Whatever must be done will be. I will not allow the wrongs of my ancestors to continue to plague your lands.”
“Caellia, I’m offering you a chance to know what it is you are committing yourself to. I urge you to hear me out. If you refuse to hear me out now I will not offer you another chance, nor will I allow you to renege on your pledge. Any attempt of that will be met with severe consequences.” He had to make her understand the seriousness of the situation. If she allowed him to explain and decided against it he would be disappointed. But if he did not give her this chance, he would not be able to forgive himself later when she did find out about the unusual requirements.
“Nathavin, I’m prepared to do whatever is necessary to correct this.” Caellia looked questioningly at him, she had thought he would be enthused about her willingness to help him, not trying to dissuade her from it.
“Last chance Caellia, will you listen?”
“What is there to listen to Nathavin?” Now she was getting irritated. This was ridiculous, “There is nothing to listen to. I have sworn to aide you in ridding this curse and I will, no matter the circumstances.”
“Then I will accept your pledge Caellia, Princess of the light elves. Know that you have forfeited any chance of being allowed to discontinue your pledge for any reason. It will not be allowed.”
Caellia began to wonder just what she’d done as he continued. She’d never seen him take such a formal stance regarding her vows. If she remembered her lessons correctly, he was reciting a formal alliance pledge.
“Any attempt to disavow your pledge will be treated as an act of treason against our alliance.” A little harsh, but he was not going to allow her to leave him now. She had made her pledge heedless what was needed to bring her promise to fruition. He had tried to warn her. There would be no turning back for her, he continued, “Any such attempt will be dealt with swiftly with harsh consequences.” He withdrew his dagger. His eyes never left hers as he purposely gave himself two cuts, one in his right palm, the other a shallow wound on the left side of his neck as he continued with the ritual. “I, Lord Nathavin Rilynmitore, command that this alliance be deemed legal and binding by blood.” He then handed her the blade.
Caellia swallowed as she took the dagger from his hand, it seemed unnaturally heavy. She’d heard this dagger often referred to as a ‘soul separator’ and right now she believed that it really could separate ones soul from their body as she gave herself matching cuts before returning the blade to him.
“Let this alliance be bound by our blood.” Nathavin concluded the alliance ritual as he placed his bleeding right palm over the bleeding wound on her neck. He then waited for her to do the same.
Caellia breathed shakily before she recited the final lines as she placed her wounded hand on his neck, “I pledge myself and my people to this alliance.” She faltered slightly as the reality of what she was doing, and what she hadn’t done, particularly the fact that she had allowed him to set all the terms, became clear to her. “I…I agree to the terms set forth and will abide by them accordingly.”
“It is now official, the alliance has been established.” Nathavin said as he lowered his hand to his side as she did the same. They stood silently regarding one another for a while longer, each contemplating what they had just done before Nathavin broke the silence. “We should be going, night will be upon us soon.” He motioned for Caellia to proceed ahead of him as he pointed her in the direction of the cavern. As he fell instep behind her a satisfied smirk crossed his features as he thought over the events of the past few minutes. You have pledged yourself to me in more ways than you thought Caellia, and by your own lips have you pledged yourself to me! You are mine!
Nalia stretched her tired and aching muscles as she peered through bleary eyes at the outstretched palm of Shillien. She was exhausted from waiting cramped in the entranceway of the unused building. Yawning and scrubbing at her dry eyes, she risked standing up and bouncing lightly on her toes to loosen her muscles and get her blood flowing again.
As she struggled to ignore the tingling sensation in her legs, movement in the center of the cavern caught her attention. Nalia knelt down swiftly, her discomfort forgotten as she tensed. What caused this sudden stir of activity, she mused quietly. She watched as a veritable regiment of dark elves and orcs filed past the hand, splitting into smaller groups and dispersing at the command of a female mage.
There was no sign of Caellia or Lord Nathavin, yet the female mage continued to look towards the southern entrance of the cavern as if she was waiting for someone. Nalia continued to observe silently as the last of the large group dispersed as ordered. The mage remained near the hand, impatiently tapping her large silver skulled staff on the steps as she paced back and forth. Before long however, even she disappeared. Nalia leaned back against the doorframe and lazily began to braid her honeyed curls as she prepared again for a long wait in the dank shadows.
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Treason