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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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Hontas shuddered under Nathavin’s furious gaze. He’d been caught trying to sneak away with scrolls containing the numbers and plans of the dark Lords’ legions that he’d managed to pilfer from an unguarded desk. It was plain bad luck that he’d been caught and subsequently brought in for interrogation when Nathavin was already in a foul mood over delays that had slowed their departure for Rune by several days. He had thought that since they were busy loading the ship that he would be able to snatch the scrolls unnoticed. How very wrong he had been!

Nathavin was now positively seething. Obviously furious at having yet another delay piled on top of scores of others. Hontas cursed himself a thousand times for not waiting until the ship had left. Nathavin’s barely coherent hiss brought him back to the present and he huddled closer to the cold dank ground. He hoped that the closer to the ground he was, the less likely he’d be injured from the next kick that he felt was sure to come his way. So he was rather surprised when it didn’t.

            “How long did you honestly think you could get away with this?” Nathavin’s voice was absolutely arctic. His face twisted into a cruel mask as he picked Hontas up by his neck and slammed him into the cold stone wall of the lowest level of the caves that served as the dark elven home village. “How long have you been spying on them?! On us?!” Nathavin spat venomously at Hontas. “What information have you already given Asadar?!”

Hontas felt his bones grind against each other from the force of the impact against the stone wall. “I already told you! I didn’t get a chance to give Asadar any information! The light elves would not allow me into their meetings regarding their defenses!” Hontas refrained from saying that Asterios had been too smart to allow him into the meetings. He knew that if he even mentioned the Priest’s name Nathavin would likely kill him.

“I know nothing!” Hontas pleaded desperately for his life. “I had no choice! King Asadar would have had me killed if I didn’t do as he bid me!” Alarm lined his bloodied face and he winced in pain as Nathavin increased the pressure against his neck, dangerously close to crushing his airway. As he fought to bring air into his burning lungs he caught sight of Nathavin’s eyes. They were the darkest black he’d ever seen. A cold chill shot down his spine as alarm gave way to panic. “Please! I beg you have mercy! I did not want to do this!”

“If you did not want to do this then why didn’t you simply vanish and not approach the light elves at all?! Asadar would’ve assumed you had died at their hands! Or mine!” Nathavin gave an extra squeeze to Hontas’ throat for emphasis before he released the whimpering human with a grunt of disgust, letting Hontas fall to the ground in a disheveled heap. Nathavin was beyond furious, the sniveling human had told many stories, none of which made sense, and all of them contradicted one another in some way. “For the last time, tell me what I want to know you pathetic little fool!” He’d been at this for hours and was bone weary and sick of alternately beating and threatening the detestable human.

Eyeing Hontas guardedly, Nathavin felt that something wasn’t quite right and he’d had that feeling for several hours. His finely honed battle senses were telling him that this human was not all that he appeared to be and he’d learned to trust those senses early on in life. There was something more to Hontas than met the eye. Something about the humans responses were slightly, off. He couldn’t credit any one aspect of Hontas’ responses with triggering the feeling. Nathavin’s sharp eyes and keen skills of perception simply led him to believe that Hontas was not quite telling the truth about being a simple healer. The human was simply too resilient to his constant beatings to merely be a healer. There was a certain stubbornness about him that only warriors of one form or another carried. Deciding to trust his instincts, Nathavin abruptly changed his line of questioning. “What are you?” He demanded in a guttural growl. His eyes were narrowed and his voice could have frozen the lava in the deepest pit of the Blazing Swamplands. “And no more lies.”

Taken aback by the sudden change of questioning, Hontas blinked rather stupidly at the dark Lord. “What?” What had tipped the dark Lord off? He mentally went over all his answers of the past few hours, nothing he’d said should’ve given him away.

Cursing explosively and expressively in his native language Nathavin violently gripped Hontas by his robes and bodily hurled him to the floor. Nathavin then repeated his question in an ominous growl, incensed at having to repeat himself.

“I am but a mere bishop Lord Nathavin.” Hontas meekly replied while he struggled to stand upright. A feeling of dread came over him. It was clear from Nathavin’s sinister look that the dark elf didn’t believe him.

“I don’t think you are.” Nathavin began to stalk in slow circles around Hontas. “Something about you tells me you are not just a ‘mere’ bishop. Your actions are too, staged.” He paused a moment for emphasis. “And why would Asadar send a simple bishop to spy on his enemies?” He stopped behind Hontas and stepped disturbingly close behind him. Close enough that he could see individual strands of hair stand upright on Hontas’ neck as the human quaked in fear. “A mere bishop, a healer, would not know how to tell important battle plans apart from complex practice drills. Yet you did with astonishing ease. Why?!”

Hontas began to shake as Nathavin circled him, much like a sharp talon tiger would circle its prey before it attacked. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise due to Nathavin’s close proximity behind him and he remembered the deadly dagger strapped to Nathavin’s thigh. “I told you already! I didn’t know what those scrolls were! I just grabbed a handful off the desk! I didn’t know exactly what I’d grabbed! Asadar would have had me killed if I didn’t bring him back something!” Hontas mentally begged the dark Lord to believe him.

Nathavin’s voice thundered from behind him, nearly deafening with its ferocity. “Do you really expect me to believe that little tale when the only scrolls found on you were battle plans?!” He kicked Hontas squarely behind the knees, his sharp toed boots leaving deep bleeding gashes as he did so, dropping the human to the floor. “Do not lie to me you misbegotten son of a Falibati! If you had really just grabbed whatever you could get your hands on, there almost certainly would have been other scrolls mixed in, but there weren’t! The only scrolls you had were detailed battle plans! You knew exactly what you were after!” Nathavin snarled viciously as he slipped his dagger from the sheath strapped to his leg and placed its massive serrated edge against Hontas’ throat. His next words were spoken quietly, though no less deadly in their intent, like the soft kiss of a vipers tongue in Hontas’ ears. “If you do not value your life then by all means, continue telling me these lies!”

Swallowing convulsively around the dagger Hontas rasped out. “Alright! You’re right! I’m not just a simple bishop.” After a brief pause he continued at the not so gentle prodding of the dagger at his throat. “I have had extensive training in necromancy.”

Nathavin deliberately kept his voice even as he replied without ever letting up on the pressure on the dagger in the least. “Go on.” However his senses were now on heightened alert. If Hontas was telling the truth, and Nathavin believed he was, he would be a devastatingly formidable opponent. Nathavin had faced few people who were skilled in necromancy and did not wish to repeat those experiences anytime soon.

Sucking in a breath as best he could without slitting his own throat Hontas muttered. “I suppose you want to know why I abandoned such a powerful profession after all those years of training and became a healer?” His voice was pained and bitter. He really didn’t want to relive the experience that caused him to abandon his previous training.

Taking Nathavin’s silence for a ‘yes’, Hontas explained, his perpetual guise of the spineless bishop shedding away, revealing his hidden inner strength and brilliance, as an angry resentment filled him. “Asadar.” He spoke the name with much hatred and loathing, making it clear that Asadar and Asadar alone had caused him to abandon his training. Taking a deep breath he began to elaborate. “He’s a lunatic. He sees threats where there are none. He’s ruthless to his enemies and allies alike.”

Bitterness crept into his voice. “He fell in love with my sister, a powerful sorceress in her own right. But she spurned him. Maryn said that he was a vile creature, unworthy of love or even of companionship. She believed that he was far more vicious than he needed to be.” Hontas’ voice became filled with hate. “He tried to get me to force her to marry him. I refused, knowing that she was right, and he deserved no love. I said that she was free to do as she pleased. She was not royalty and any children she bore him would not become heirs to his throne, so there was no point in forcing the marriage.”

Hontas gulped painfully around the dagger. “For my recalcitrance, he disfigured her and then killed her while I was away visiting my parents.” Tears sprung to his eyes as the horrible past events replayed themselves in his mind yet his voice remained steady. “He called me to a sparring session. I had just returned from the visit to my parents’ home back on Talking Island to announce that I had finally advanced enough to undertake the final stages of my training. I had no idea that my sister was dead. To be called to spar with him was a great honor and I rushed to the practice field, too excited that he’d finally seen me as a worthy opponent to test his own skills with to bother looking for my sister. I was foolish to have ever believed he saw me that way.” Self recrimination filled his voice as he continued. “As we began fighting I realized that I could not utilize my talents to their fullest because there were no corpses nearby. He seemed to understand this when I explained how my magic worked and had a guard bring in a corpse.”

A bitter look crossed his face and his voice became full of regret and sorrow. “I realize now that he’d planned for there to be nothing for me to use and had intended on forcing me to ask for a corpse from the beginning.” A single tear slipped down his cheek for not having recognized the obvious set up at the time. “Anyhow, I had believed it to be the body of one of the many transient vagabonds that would often crowd Aden’s busy thoroughfares. One of the ones that were always attempting to scam the townsfolk out of their hard earned money and items and so I paid the corpse little attention.”

His voice grew harsh with pent up sorrow, regret and self loathing. “I cast my spell to summon the corpse into an undead, mindless being that would do my bidding. The corpse stood up and turned around to face me, as all the undead creatures I had summoned in the past did. This time however, I found myself staring into my sister’s lifeless, mangled face instead of the face of a stranger. Asadar then uttered these words to me. ‘Let this be a lesson to never go against my word and deny me anything ever again.’” Hontas took a ragged breath. “That was the last time I worked that evil magic. I swore then that I would forever after use my knowledge of magic to heal and help people, not to take their lives. Never again to take their lives.”

Silence filled the air as Nathavin released Hontas and watched dispassionately as the human’s fingernails scraped against the stone ground in anguish. “Tell me Hontas, do you know of Asadar’s plans?” His voice was cold and completely unsympathetic.

“I only know that he intends to take Caellia as his wife and he will utterly destroy the light elves through her. He also intends to destroy the dark elves.” Hontas found himself shoved roughly into the ground.

Nathavin’s tenuous grip on his patience began to snap. “I know he intends on this! What I don’t know is how he intends to accomplish it!” How long did he have to question the insufferably dimwitted fool before he got a useful answer?!

“I don’t know how he intends to do it!” Hontas’ own angered growl was muffled against the moldy dirt. “Only that he does!”

Nathavin’s lips twisted upward in a sinister smile as he swung the dagger in lazy circles in his hand as he stepped away and allowed Hontas to regain his sitting position. “Considering how much you obviously hate him I’ll make you an offer. Swear your allegiance to me and provide me with detailed information on the defenses of Aden castle, and I’ll let you live instead of killing you right here.”

Hontas looked up, surprised. “You’ll what?” He asked incredulously, not quite willing to believe what he’d heard.

Nathavin’s gaze hardened as his anger spiked upward several notches. Nathavin cursed creatively in dark elvish before biting out between tightly clenched teeth. “I will not make a habit of repeating myself!”

“My apologies, Lord Nathavin.” Hontas shuddered from the obvious insults flung his way in dark elvish. He had no idea what Nathavin had said or called him but he was sure the comments were vicious in nature judging by Nathavin’s tone and the dark callous look.

Nathavin snorted in derision before saying arrogantly. “You’ve had enough time. Make your decision.”

Hontas thought quickly, “If Asadar finds out that I’ve deceived him he will surely kill me.”

Nathavin’s lips thinned into a straight line as his patience suddenly evaporated. “If you turn down my offer I will kill you here and now! If you take my offer you will live at least a little while longer.” He sneered unpleasantly at Hontas as the dagger flashed menacingly in his hand. “It makes no difference to me if you die now or later! Make your choice fool!”

Hontas realized that he was being left with only one option. If he wanted to live to see the light of another day he would have to swear his allegiance to Nathavin. And if he were truly honest with himself, he believed that Nathavin was a far better ruler, though still a bit cruel. But to be fair, Nathavin was only being cruel to him because he considered him to be a threat. He’d seen Nathavin act with courtesy and, if not exactly kindness, fairness, towards those he considered allies. Perhaps one day Nathavin would come to see him as an ally too. “I will tell you all I can about the castles defenses.”

“Then I shall inform my chief strategist of your ‘decision’ to help us. He will be here shortly. He will also give you some information to pass along to Asadar. You will then inform us of what he makes of that information.” Nathavin intentionally did not inform Hontas that it would be false information. Honestly Nathavin did not care whether Hontas died or not at Asadar’s hands. While Hontas’ story was tragic, he harbored no sympathy for the human. In Nathavin’s mind he should have removed his sister from the castle and its town before taking his ill-fated trip to the island since he had known his King had a penchant for needless cruelty. As he turned to leave, waving the guards to stand watch, he heard Hontas’ quiet remark.

“Thank you, for your confidence…” Hontas would have said more but Nathavin cut him short.

Whirling around Nathavin retorted angrily. “Do not mistake this request for your allegiance for trust, human! You were sent here to spy on us! You were caught attempting to flee with several scrolls containing detailed military information!” He finished with a loathsome hiss. “You will never earn my trust!”

*****

Caellia nimbly ducked behind one of the many crates that were supposed to be loaded onto the ship before peeking around the corner. Sighing in relief that her pursuers weren’t in sight she relaxed briefly against the crate. Catching her breath she looked toward the ocean. She didn’t get to rest long. Before she knew it she could hear them approaching her from different directions. Looking at all possible routes of escape, she chose one and made the short sprint for the nearest open grassy area. Letting loose a shrill shriek, she ran past a couple of male spell howlers in what appeared to be dark bluish robes with a golden cross design on the front, ignoring the odd looks they gave her. Soon she could hear five sets of footsteps gaining on her. She then did the unthinkable and purposely shortened her strides and allowed them to catch up.

They had caught her and were now whooping and hollering in victory, with their assorted and decidedly worse for wear weapons trained on her. One of them, a young dark elven girl, stepped forward bravely and in her best intimidating voice said, “You are our prisoner now!”

            Caellia took in the array of weaponry pointed at her, from the small blunt daggers to the rusted swords and battered leather shields to the most crooked bow with the strangest looking arrowhead she’d ever seen, and said archly. “You will not take me!” With that she turned and sprinted away again, listening to the young dark elven children as they began their chase with renewed vigor. She ran a short distance before allowing them to catch up to her again and noted that this time they surrounded her instead of standing in a single line altogether as they had before.

            Nathavin observed them from his concealed location as they played. He was still ill tempered over the business with Hontas and had searched for Caellia in hopes that being close to her would help relieve him of his stress. He had not expected to find her playing with dark elven children and found the situation very entertaining and had hid himself so that he wouldn’t interrupt their play. They had evidently been playing for quite some time as all the children and Caellia herself seemed winded. He was amazed at the fact that not only was she playing with the children but how she’d even managed to find the time to play with the youths in the first place with so much that needed to be done.

He’d been watching them long enough to realize that Caellia was purposely provoking them into chasing her. He’d also realized that she was actually teaching them how to catch her. Every now and then she’d stop to point out how they could better orient themselves and work more efficiently together. While she continued with the pre-text of ‘play’, he noticed that she was accomplishing setting them up to work in a very cohesive unit. Although it was apparent the children didn’t recognize the fact that they were being taught. They were too preoccupied with simply having fun and getting the game ‘right’, and she laughed and joked back with them, all the while continuing to guide them through the proper steps of how to ‘capture’ her. Now they had her completely surrounded and he strained his ears to hear what was being said and his head tilted back in a subdued laugh at the children’s decidedly less than inventive threats.

            “Don’t try to escape us again! We’ll catch you!” The dark elven boy did his best impression of his father’s intimidating voice while brandishing his sword in what he hoped was a threatening manner, though he was having a hard time keeping from laughing.

            “You don’t stand a chance against us! We are part of the mighty dark elven empire!” Another girl said laughingly as she thrust her small dagger at Caellia. This was fun! They hadn’t had anyone to play with besides each other in what felt like ages! All the adults and sentries had been too busy lately.

            Caellia gave them her haughtiest look, and sniffed disdainfully at them while her eyes twinkled with mischief. “Do you know who you are talking to? I am the Queen of the light elves, release me at once!” She thought she was doing an admirable job at not giggling at them. They were so much like the youths at her home village! The young archer, a boy, drew her attention.

            “You are Queen of the light elves?”

            Caellia raked him from the top of his head to the tip of his boots and back to his eyes with a mockingly stern glare, noticing that the tip of his arrow was quivering erratically as he endeavored to hold the bow drawn taut. “Yes I am. Now release me at once!” Her lower lip trembled and she bit down on it to keep from laughing.

            The little archer said in a firm, determined voice. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

            Surprised by how confident and serious he sounded, Caellia took a second, closer look at him. The young archer showed promise. “And why not?” She took a step back and to the side quickly, testing him, and noticed that while his arm was shaky; his aim was already near perfect as he stayed trained on her. She moved in several different directions just as quickly, watching with an appraising eye as he stayed with her. A few minutes ago she had been sure he couldn’t have done this. Very impressive indeed, she thought to herself.

            “Lord Nathavin would not be happy if you were to go away. My father says that you are to be Lord Nathavin’s bride and that he got really sad and upset when you were taken away from him.” The young child pulled the bowstring even tighter. “I will not let you leave and make Lord Nathavin sad and upset again.”

            Caellia looked the child over, assessing him, he was quite serious. “Well, with so many of you against me I’ll never make it back home. You win.” She then took a seat on the dried grass and put on a great show of huffing in apparent frustration. A sidelong glance at the child showed that he wasn’t convinced and though his bow was lowered, it was still held at the ready. As she continued to put on a show for the other children’s sake, she didn’t notice Nathavin quietly approaching the little group. So it was a complete surprise when all of the children suddenly ordered her to her feet at once. She gamely went along with them, thinking they were still playing, complaining in apparent bitterness about the lack of respect towards prisoners all the while.

            Nathavin watched the children as they noticed him approach and saw them order Caellia to her feet. Hiding a smirk, he kept his face as blank as possible. It was not easy with all the commotion Caellia was putting up. They had been pretending to do this as if it was a real event earlier. Why not go along with their little game and let the children hand Caellia over to him as one of his actual guard units would do? He had wanted to see Caellia anyway and this was the perfect opportunity, not to mention a good distraction from his recent problems. He almost burst out laughing when Caellia jumped at the sound of his voice. “Children, you have done a fine job of recapturing Queen Caellia for me.”

            Caellia spun around so quickly she nearly lost her balance. When did he get here?! How had he snuck up on her so quietly?! She stumbled backward in an attempt to gain some distance from him. Looking more closely at him she noticed the barely visible upward tilt of his lips as he looked at the children, listening to them explain how they’d ‘caught’ her and then responding that he would take her into his ‘custody.’ He was playing with them! The very idea that he was actually taking the time to play with the children was shocking to her. She had never thought that he would actually take the time to do so. Dark elves in general had always seemed so serious and austere that she had just assumed that they never took the time to play with their young ones.

The young archer spoke up quickly. “We would not let her run away and make you sad again.” He looked down, suddenly unsure of himself. His father had said that Lord Nathavin did not want people to know that the loss of the light elven Queen had saddened him. Had he spoken out of turn?

            Nathavin looked to the boy briefly, noticing the child’s sudden gloomy look, as if he’d just realized he’d overstepped some boundary. Nathavin sent the boy an approving look, silently telling him that he’d done nothing wrong and that there was no cause to be upset. “I appreciate that.” As soon as the child’s face brightened a bit he turned his attention to Caellia. His eyes locked with hers as he listened to the multiple voices of the children as they all spoke to him at once about her recent attempt to ‘escape’ and how they had managed to stop her. “Queen Caellia, why were you attempting to escape? Surely you knew that any such attempt would be met with failure.” If her expression was anything to go by, she was surprised by his willingness to join in the children’s fun. With his lips tilting upward in roguish grin and his eyes alight with mirth, he silently dared her to bring the game to a halt.

            Caellia, unable to break off the play for fear of disappointing the children, had no choice but to go along with him and tossed her head in a defiant manner. “I will not be held captive by the likes of you!”

            His eyebrow raised in amusement at her answer. “Is that so?” He took two threatening steps toward her, rumbling laughter escaping him as she took two uneasy steps back.

            Caellia twitched nervously, perhaps that wasn’t the best statement she could’ve made. Mentally cursing herself for allowing him to see her tenseness, she stopped edging backward and held her ground. By Eva! He made her nervous even when he was only playing!

“Go on then. Run. I will give you a head start.” Nathavin laughed inwardly at her bewildered and somewhat spooked look. He further taunted her. “What’s the matter? Are you afraid?”

            The children watched their Lord in awe as he dared the faster light elf to run away from him, uncertain if he would be able to keep up with her. They turned to look at her, curious as to what she would do.

            Caellia looked back and forth between Nathavin and the children. On the one hand, she really didn’t want to have to run from him. She was actually quite tired from the earlier playing. Not to mention that there was a time not so very long ago when she’d been chased by him and they hadn’t been playing. It had been very real and that memory was still fresh and vivid and it frightened her to the very center of her being. On the other, she didn’t want to disappoint the children by cutting their game short as they so obviously wanted to see her try to escape him.

As she debated what to do, she inwardly questioned Eva on how such a simple game had turned so complicated so quickly. She snorted lightly in irritation as she said a quick spell that would help boost her speed and endurance. She’d been easy with the children, but if she was going to play chase with him she would have to make use of every advantage she could get. Once done casting the spell she didn’t waste any time and simply dashed away to the cheers and laughter of the children. She ignored his taunting laughter.

            Nathavin let her get a good ways ahead of him before taking off after her in a sedate lope. He knew the land far better than she did and intended on using that knowledge to his advantage, and didn’t rush after her in a needless burst of speed, preferring instead to take his time and plan out his chase. Following her movements with his eyes, he cut a diagonal path across the open field, intent on cutting her off. His eyes narrowed as she suddenly changed direction, going the opposite way from where he was. Had she realized his plan and made a purposeful change of direction or was it coincidence? Putting on a sudden and short burst of speed he decided it didn’t matter as he quickly narrowed the distance between them.

            Zipping past an odd boulder Caellia pivoted neatly and abruptly changed her direction again to run back past the children. This whole show was for their benefit and she didn’t want to run out of their range. This posed a unique problem though. She now had to run back past Nathavin. Lowering her chin in fierce determination she barreled toward him at full speed while readying herself to leap away when he made to reach out for her. All the while the children continued to watch them, cheering each on in turn as they engaged in a light verbal sparring match as well.

            Nathavin and Caellia continued to play for quite some time to the delight of the children. Circling around the small group and making use of large boulders and an unfortunate treant, they played and slowly Nathavin’s stress melted away as he became lost in the game. He would catch up to her and lightly hold onto her before allowing her to pull away. They made sure to keep well within the viewing range of the youths. Neither Caellia nor Nathavin spoke much to each other with the exception of the occasional verbal barb that neither took seriously, both of them enjoying the chase far more than they would ever admit.

            After a while Nathavin decided to bring the playtime to a close and ended the chase in a decisive victory. Snagging Caellia around the waist with one arm, he allowed her forward momentum to spin them both around in a half circle before she collapsed to the ground as she attempted to fly past him again. “That is enough for today.” He said as he courteously helped Caellia to her feet. The children groaned and began to protest but immediately hushed when he leveled a reproachful glare at them. They began to shuffle off, leaving the two alone in the fading sunlight. Nathavin waited until Caellia had caught her breath. “Are your belongings already aboard the ship?”

            Nodding her head, Caellia replied. “Yes, they were put aboard earlier today. Where were you? Kattath was looking for you.” Caellia looked sharply up at him at his disgruntled snort.

            Nathavin felt the massive headache start again at the reminder of his earlier unpleasant activities. “I was attending to another matter.” He sighed heavily, the cumbersome burden of responsibility crashing back down on him. “Did Kattath say what she wanted?” He asked tiredly.

            Caellia shook her head no, thinking to herself that even if she’d known what the dark elven woman had wanted, she wouldn’t have told Nathavin while he was in this state. “What matter were you attending to?” At his wincing expression she said quickly. “Never mind, if you wish to discuss it later we can.” She could see that he was obviously distraught and wondered what she could do to help him. He’d helped her so much in the past week and she wanted to help him in whatever way she could. She turned to face him fully. “Nathavin, is there something wrong?”

            He looked into her clear blue eyes and whispered, all his pent up anxieties and worries he’d been feeling coming through in his voice despite his attempt to keep them hidden. “I’m alright, I’m just tired.” His eyes as well gave away the frustration and turmoil that he felt. The overwhelming responsibilities of his position and his lack of adequate sleep were catching up to him. From the ceaseless activities of planning for a war to merging two unique races with a long history of hate and everything in between, Nathavin was mentally as well as physically exhausted.

            Caellia studied him closely. She saw what lay hidden behind his assertions that he was okay and was simply tired. He wasn’t simply tired, he was drained and overwrought. The constant stress and worry was wearing on him and she could see it just as plainly as she could see the sun. Caellia intuitively knew he was purposely keeping things from her so that she wouldn’t worry. But he was causing himself more grief in the process. She stepped closer to him, closing the gap that separated them before shyly asking, willing her face to not turn red in embarrassment. “Nathavin, how can I help you?” She studied him for a bit longer while he remained silent. “I want to help you. Please let me help.”

            Nathavin looked back toward the ship, his sharp eyes noting that there were still crates to be loaded. There was still so much left to be done. So much that needed organizing and planning. He still needed to meet with his advisors regarding the best way to handle Asadar.

Caellia noticed the direction his eyes had traveled. “Kattath is taking care of all that needs to be done with the loading of the ship. Relax and let her do her job.”

He looked down at her as her voice once again captured his attention. He needed a break. Some time to simply relax, unwind and allow himself to escape the harsh realities of being Lord. He wanted so much to take her up on her offer. They had a little time before the ship would be ready to set sail. Should he take her up on her offer?

            “Come over here.” She led them over to a brownish yet somewhat soft patch grass, mentally frowning at the grim reminder of the curse upon his lands that was still to be lifted. She knelt down, tugging him down with her. She nibbled on her lip for only a moment in indecision before she firmly cast off her shyness and drew his head down to her lap. He was the one in need, she could help him, and there was no reason for her to be shy if all she was doing was attempting to ease his suffering. She began to run her fingers through his hair, mimicking the actions that he often used to soothe her when she was upset. She hated seeing him so depressed and tired. It filled her with a sense of sadness and she was determined to help him any way that she could.

            Nathavin followed her down and allowed her to place his head in her lap. Feeling her fingers as they brushed gently through his silvery gray hair he closed his eyes and breathed deeply, taking in her sweet smell. He began to speak but stopped when he felt a delicate finger brush his lips and Caellia’s relaxing voice reached his ears.

            “Go to sleep. I will wake you when the ship is ready to depart.”

            Nathavin breathed in contentedly, relaxed and stretched his aching muscles. This was what he’d needed. A nice, quiet and peaceful moment to let his guard down and simply be himself, not Lord Nathavin, ruler of the dark elves. Nodding slowly at her in acceptance, he turned his head to a more comfortable position that allowed her to more thoroughly run her fingers through his hair and fell into what was quite possibly the deepest and most relaxing sleep he’d had in quite some time.
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Treason