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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 basked in the shimmering light of the nearest Shillien Elders magic and sensed Nathavin’s presence as he took up a position beside her on her immediate right. Her eyes carefully scanned over her brethren as she raised her voice to them, trying one last time, imploring them not to listen to Asterios’ lies. “Is this truly what you feel? Do you truly believe his lies?” Silence greeted her questions. As the shillien elder turned his attention to Nathavin, Caellia took the opportunity to take two steps ahead of him and face one of her fellow ranger’s, one she had trained with many years ago. She asked him, “Will you really force me to shoot you?” She turned to the nearest temple knight; a captain in the royal guard. “Please, look at the numbers; you must realize this battle is already lost.” Caellia had known her attempts to convince them would be in vain but she had to try one last time anyway.

            Nathavin closely watched those surrounding Caellia for any sudden movement that would signal an attack on her. She was standing far too close to the enemy for his liking, but he didn’t have the heart to tell her to back away from them.

All he could do was tensely watch her and those around her while the Shillien Elder cast his spells. Nathavin swept the opposing Elven forces with a quick and coldly calculating glance before returning his attention to Caellia. His sharp ears picked up her last sentence and he noted the silence that fell like a death knell afterwards. “Fools.” He snorted lightly under his breath. If they wouldn’t listen to her and they couldn’t see for themselves that his forces were vastly superior to their own, then they deserved to die with Asterios! A barely audible sigh of relief slipped past his lips as Caellia backed away from the other elves and came to rest at his side again.

            Caellia released a growl of frustration as she faced her kinsmen from beside Nathavin. “Yes they are.”

            With one eyebrow raised he turned to look at her. “What?”

            “They are fools.” Caellia didn’t turn to look at him but continued to stare straight ahead, satisfied at last that she had done everything in her power to avoid this.

            Nathavin had been unaware that he’d spoken his comment aloud, let alone loud enough for her to have heard it. Before he could say anything to her Kattath approached them.

            “My Lord, all is prepared.”

            Nathavin caught Caellia’s eyes with his own as she turned to look at him, silently asking her if she was ready.

            Understanding Nathavin’s unvoiced question, Caellia simply nodded as she reached for an arrow in her quiver and resolutely secured it against her bowstring, drawing it slightly taut.

            Grinning ever so slightly, Nathavin nocked an arrow of his own against his bowstring and took aim at Asterios. He caught the look of panic in the High Priests’ eyes as he sighted down the shaft of the arrow and a low predatory laugh filled the air.

            Nalia who had remained silent suddenly sprung forward and placed herself between the two archers and Asterios. “No!”

            Caellia’s eyes narrowed, “Move Nalia!”

            “No! I cannot allow this!”

            Caellia’s eyes hardened. “You cannot allow what? You can’t allow me to take back my throne?! Is that what you can’t allow?!”

            “No!” At Caellia’s furious gaze Nalia lowered her voice. “I mean…” Nalia shook her head in frustration. “I can’t let you fight your own people. You are right Queen Caellia. They deserve to know the truth.”

            Asterios raised his voice in warning. “Nalia, do not let yourself be swayed! Caellia has turned her back on her heritage!”

            Turning to face Asterios, Nalia challenged him. “When did she do that? When did you allow her the freedom to do that? You have ruled in her stead until recently when she first came of age to rule! But then she was abducted by Nathavin and you still ruled in her stead! She is my friend, and she is my Queen!”

Asterios’ face reddened in anger as he sensed a tell tale shift in the atmosphere. Nalia was undoing everything he had worked for! How dare she question his authority?!

Looking over at the gathered light elves Nalia began to speak to them. “High Priest Asterios has played us against our rightful Queen. He is the one that has been corrupted, not Caellia. He has grown too accustomed to wielding a power that is not his.” Nalia turned to face Asterios, “He has long planned to take Caellia’s birthright from her. If it hadn’t been this incident he would have found another one.” She turned once more to the light elven forces. “I, Nalia, High Commander of the Queens’ Royal Guard, order you to stand down. You are not to attack Queen Caellia, nor are you to attack Lord Nathavin.”

The light elves looked back and forth to one another in a moment of confusion before lowering their weapons and stepping back.

Nalia looked back at Caellia and began to take a step forward, however, a warning sound from Nathavin made her stop. Nalia carefully considered her position and options. It was quite clear that even though she wanted to speak to Caellia she would have to ask Nathavin if she could. He was the one who, despite Caellia’s vehement protestations to the contrary, was in control. And whether Caellia realized it or not, she was treating Nathavin as if he was her Lord, and not just a mere allied Lord. Nalia looked upon Nathavin and gathered her courage, “Lord Nathavin, I humbly request to speak with Caellia, with your permission of course.” Nalia then gave a low curtsy and held her position.

            Nathavin looked down upon the woman and then looked back at the light elves, ignoring Asterios’ nonsensical attempts to regain control over them. As he kept his bow steady he considered what he should do. Looking back at Nalia he raised his eyebrow at her, silently asking without words if she would accept him as her Lord and would thus obey him.

            Caellia lowered her bow and stared at Nalia and softly whispered “What are you doing?”

            Never raising herself from her curtsy Nalia answered “I am asking Lord Nathavin for permission to speak with you.”

            Caellia asked “Why?”

            “Because, my Queen, if I wish to speak with you I must get permission from him first.” Nalia answered, as she glared up at him from her curtsey. Her eyes conveying the message that she understood his unspoken question and that she would indeed accept him as her own Lord and follow his orders

            Eyebrows furrowed in complete confusion, Caellia again asked “Why?”

“I’m afraid I cannot answer that. Lord Nathavin has not given me proper permission to speak with you.” Nalia tilted her head back down, signaling that she was done speaking with Caellia until she had proper permission to do so.

By this time Nathavin had lowered his bow and had settled into his usual relaxed stance. “Nalia, I will grant you permission to speak with Caellia, providing you do so in front of me, with no other person present.” He had to give Nalia credit; she had realized his role in Caellia’s life even if Caellia herself hadn’t just yet. “You may speak to her when the current situation has been properly seen to.”

Nalia raised herself up and gave another sweeping curtsy as she answered him with her most humble and respectful voice “Of course, my Lord, as you wish.”

Caellia’s eyes widened and she couldn’t stop herself from staring at Nalia in a state of shock. She had never known Nalia to be that respectful to anyone, herself included! To see her act this way toward Nathavin was puzzling. And why had she used the deferential, ‘my Lord’? Nathavin wasn’t the Lord of the light elves; therefore Nalia should not have used the deferential term.

Nathavin wasn’t finished with Nalia yet. “Do you command these forces?” He asked, nodding to the light elves.

“I do.” Said Nalia.

“Remove them from the village entrance so that we may enter, also” he looked to where Asterios stood. “Bring the High Priest to me.”

“As you wish.” Nalia then turned smartly around and began giving orders to the light elves.

Caellia jumped at Nathavin’s voice. “It appears that you are about to be reinstated Queen Caellia.”

“So it does.” Caellia replied distractedly. She was keenly curious as to what had just happened to Nalia.

High Priest Asterios watched nervously as Nalia approached him, flanked by two sword singers and two silver rangers. “Nalia, I demand that you cease this heinous act immediately! The consequences of your actions will affect all of us!”

“No. Caellia is the rightful ruler. She will not be used as a puppet for your own personal gain.”

Asterios turned his attention to the sword singers and archers. “Why do you listen to her, to them? They are aligning us with the dark elves! We have been warred with them for years! They have killed countless numbers of our people! Will you betray our fallen brothers and sisters’ memories so easily?!”

“It is not our place to decide how Queen Caellia rules or who she sees fit to ally us with, as long as it’s for the best of our people.” Nalia answered. She gave a nod and the two sword singers grabbed Asterios and began to pull him towards Caellia and Nathavin. Nalia and the archers watched from behind to make sure he would not be able to get away if he managed to shake loose of the two sword singers.

Caellia’s anger returned as she watched the High Priest being dragged toward her and by the time he was unceremoniously shoved to the ground at her feet her anger had nearly reached its zenith.

As much as Nathavin wanted to kill the High Priest, he restrained himself. This was solely a matter between the light elves and he could not interfere any more than he had already. He had been prepared to storm the village in Caellia’s aid if the light elves had decided to make a fight of it, but instead Nalia had turned the tide. Now the problem was once again squarely in Caellia’s hands. He took two measured paces back, visually signaling to the light elves that he would not have any say in just how Caellia decided to handle the situation. But he stayed close enough to serve as a warning that should she need his help again, he would provide it without pause.

Nalia watched both Caellia and Nathavin closely, if Caellia noticed Lord Nathavin’s small retreat, she didn’t show it.

Caellia took a steadying breath before she began to speak, “I trusted you. I trusted you as a friend, a mentor. You were as close to me as a father. How could you?” Her voice trembled, “How could you do this to me?” Anger filled her voice, “You threatened me, attempted to take my birthright from me and all for what? Power? Greed?”

Asterios looked up at her from his position on his knees and said nothing for a long tense minute until finally, “I did what I believed I had to do to keep our race from falling into anarchy. I would do it all again if given the chance.” Hatred filled his voice, “I raised you as I would my own child! You had the best scholars and trainers! The best our people had to offer! I taught you that the dark elves were never to be trusted! Never!”

Asterios’ gaze slithered over to Lord Nathavin before returning to Caellia. “When I found out that he was making plans to attack us, I contacted King Goryn and arranged for the two of you to be married. Even though you denied it at first I knew you loved him, and would not be overly distraught at the arranged marriage.” He snorted derisively. “I had not counted on King Asadar to betray Goryn.”

At the mention of Goryn Caellia’s eyes misted slightly before she blinked the unshed tears away.

“Neither did I count on you being as weak willed as your father!” Asterios spat bitterly. “I thought I had raised you better!”

Caellia snatched an arrow out of her quiver and placed its tip directly under Asterios’ chin and spoke in a deadly undertone, “My father was a great leader! You will not speak of him with such disrespect!”

Gulping painfully as the arrows sharp tip cut into the soft flesh under his chin Asterios spat out venomously, “Your father was a fool! And you are just as foolish! It would have been better if Asadar had killed you as well as Goryn!” Asterios screamed at Caellia.

The light elf forces stood in shocked silence, unable to believe what they had just heard.

Caellia smirked victoriously, another of Nathavin’s traits that she had picked up, and said in a nearly sing song voice. “Thank you, you have just saved me the trouble of having to convince our people that you are the true traitor.”

She then turned to the gathered light elves. “I am reclaiming my throne. If anyone here disagrees, come forth and state your reasons.” Silence filled the air for two long and intense minutes.

“I will assume that since no one has come forward, that none have issue with my reclaiming the throne. You are to disperse and allow Lord Nathavin’s forces into the village without incident.” After she was certain that her orders were being followed she turned her attention back to Asterios, aware that Nathavin had come back to her side.

“Nalia, take him to the temple. I will meet you there.” A cough from Nathavin had Caellia quickly revising her statement. “We will meet you there.”

Nalia nodded and watched as the sword singers once again hefted Asterios up and dragged him toward the temple. As she reached the topmost steps she turned to face the bridge. The dark elves were making their way into the village unimpeded as Caellia had ordered. One of them, a female spell howler began making her way up the temple steps. Nalia watched the exaggerated sway of the dark elven woman’s hips rather enviously a few seconds, before turning her attention to Caellia and Nathavin. She only looked at Kattath again when the woman stopped in front of her. They eyed one another warily before Kattath turned back to look at Caellia and Nathavin.

“You do realize he loves her?” Kattath asked the lighter elf without looking at her.

“No, I didn’t.” Nalia turned to look in the direction Kattath was facing and saw Caellia standing far closer to Nathavin than she had been previously. The two were having a quiet conversation.

“They are comfortable around each other.” Kattath continued after a slight pause. “Almost, as if they were ‘destined’ for each other.”

Nalia turned sharply to face the dark elf. “What are you implying?”

Kattath merely laughed and gestured behind Nalia. “Your subordinates require your attention.”

Nalia turned to see that her subordinates did indeed require her attention in handling Asterios. Heaving an irritable sigh, she marched up the remaining steps and into the temple.

Kattath stayed put and waited for Nathavin and Caellia. When they finally made it up the steps to her, she greeted both before asking Caellia. “May I have a word with you?” At Nathavin’s curious glance she elaborated, “In private!”

“Of course.” Caellia answered as she led Kattath to a quiet corner of the balcony adjoining the stairs. “What is it?”

Kattath opened her gift of sight, the gift that allowed her to see other people’s emotional auras. Doing so would better aid her in what to say next, at the right time. “I see the way you look at him Caellia.” She broke Caellia off when she would have interrupted her. “And even if I didn’t, it wouldn’t take long to figure out that you care for him. What I can’t fathom is why you won’t admit it!”

“At who?” asked Caellia.

“Lord Nathavin. Do you love him?”

“I…I…” Caellia trailed off, not knowing how to respond. She had not expected this.

A frustrated snort escaped Kattath as she admonished Caellia. “If you can’t admit it to me then at least admit it to yourself Caellia.”

“But I don’t know how I feel about him!”

“Yes you do! Stop denying it!” Kattath rounded on her angrily. “And he loves you!” Kattath angrily watched as Caellia shook her head no. “Everything he’s done is because he loves you Caellia! He is risking everything for you!”

“No. He can’t!” Whispered Caellia as she stubbornly refused to believe it; having been forced to hear this, to confront it now, was too frightening! She wanted to stop talking about this, now!

“What are you afraid of?!” Kattath whispered harshly.

“I’m not afraid!” But Caellia knew that was a lie. She was afraid. She didn’t know why she was afraid, but she was. It was almost an instinctual fear and just as primal.

Kattath grasped Caellia’s’ hands in hers and glared at the younger elf. “Do not lie to me! And do not lie to yourself! For too long I have sat by and said, and done nothing!”

“Kattath I…”

“Do you love him?”

Caellia stared at Kattath. What had provoked her into starting this conversation? “Kattath, I’m just not ready to answer that!”

“Why, what are you so terrified of?!” The two elves stared hotly at one another until Nathavin approached them and broke the tense strain between them.

“Caellia, they are awaiting your presence inside. Kattath, if you will excuse us.”

Kattath merely nodded at him and turned to leave, but not without giving Caellia a parting shot. “This conversation is not over.”

Caellia’s face tightened in anger as she looked away from Kattath. How dare the dark elf insinuate that she loved Nathavin?! The current subject of her thoughts interrupted her angry musings and she forcefully put her argument with Kattath to the side.

“What were you two fighting about?” Nathavin calmly asked. He didn’t miss Caellia’s slight twitch.

Mentally cursing, Caellia airily answered vaguely, “We weren’t fighting. We were having a…intense discussion.”

Not one to be dissuaded so easily Nathavin repeated his question, adding. “Kattath doesn’t usually get that angry unless she truly believes in something. So, what was it?”

Caellia fidgeted uncomfortably, “It was simply a debate.”

Nathavin turned her to face him. “You expect me to believe that?” When Caellia didn’t answer him he spoke again. “Whether I find out what this ‘debate’ was about from you or from her, I will find out what it was about. You can’t keep secrets from me Caellia.” He then turned away from her and walked back inside the temple, leaving her to follow in his wake.

As Caellia stared back at him in silence she couldn’t help wondering, just what were her feelings regarding the dark elven Lord? And why did her stomach feel as if there were butterflies in it every time she thought of him? The more Caellia thought about it the more frightened she became. Shuddering suddenly, she resolved to no longer dwell on the matter and sincerely hoped it never came up again.
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Treason