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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 glared around the room before hissing out angrily. “How dare you act as children?” She leaned against the table, resting her weight on her hands as she continued to glare at each general. Her gaze landed on Shi’nryne before flickering over to Zarvynaar. “These two are not guilty of anything more than simple poor judgment. They do not deserve such insults.”

            A high ranking general, a templar of Shillien, scoffed. “Neither do they deserve compassion either. Or have you forgotten that it is you that they have placed in greatest danger with their ill thought out scheme?”

            Caellia cast him a frigid glance, “I am not in any more danger now than I was before.” She took a bracing breath as she remembered the day Goryn’s forces had been ambushed by Asadar and the forces of Aden. “Asadar targeted me long before this. He’s intended on trying to capture me for a long while now.” Her voice softened somewhat as she gazed at the two blade dancers. “Their actions have not changed anything.”

            Coming around the table, she came to stand in front of both of them. She looked both in the eyes, “I do not hold either of you responsible for anything.” Her gaze swung to Shi’nryne, “I still value the training you have given me, and I will continue to value the training you will provide me in the future.” She turned her gaze to Zarvynaar, “As of right now, I am restoring you to your previous duties as a member of my personal guard staff.”

            Again the general began to protest loudly. “You are entirely too forgiving my Queen!” He venomously stated that neither blade dancer had done anything to regain the trust and respect that they’d lost. Seeing that he was not gaining any ground in his argument with Caellia, he turned to Nathavin. “Surely you do not intend on allowing this nonsense to continue?”

            The room fell completely silent. Hardly anyone dared to breathe as they waited to see what Nathavin’s reaction would be. Would he overturn her orders?

            Caellia snapped her gaze to Nathavin. If he countermanded her now she vowed he would pay for it later. Her eyes narrowed in silent dare.

            Slowly Nathavin nodded his head once at her in silent agreement before raising his voice to carry across the room. “I will not go against the wishes of my Queen.” Coming away from the wall where he’d been quietly watching the room, he moved to stand in front of the two blade dancers. “However, understand that it is only because of her faith in you that you are being let off so easily.” His voice dropped to a low warning rumble. “If you disappoint me again, no amount of persuasion on her part will save you.”

            He turned to the still protesting general. “Enough. The matter is settled.”

            Andraos cleared his throat to draw everyone’s attention to him. Picking up the miniature figurines that Caellia had tossed, he set them back on the table. “Nathavin, I respectfully suggest that we wait for Asadar to attack us.” He placed the figurines around the structure that represented Goddard castle. “Goryn broke through your defenses here and here, using these machines. If we strengthen these areas along the walls and place archers along these walls here,” he said as he pointed out various locations, “we can successfully stave off the attack and destroy his armies in the process.”

            Nathavin understood that Andraos was attempting to diffuse the tense situation regarding the blade dancers and allowed the blatant distraction, readily taking up the discussion of battle tactics. Leaning over the table to better see the replica battleground, he pointed to a few more structures of the castle while picking up several of the miniature figurines himself. “If we place the forces from Dion and Giran here, we can use them as a diversion.”

            The battle planning lasted several hours with everyone including Caellia taking part in the discussion. After the fifth heated debate broke out on the placement of several key units, Nathavin looked over to see Caellia leaning wearily against the wall. She had dropped out of the conversation quite some time ago as exhaustion began to take its toll on her. Shi’nryne and Zarvynaar were standing on either side of her, covertly helping her to stand up straight. Excusing himself from the table, he came to stand in front of her. When she raised her eyes to his he could see that the outer edges were slightly reddened from her over exhaustion.

She began to tilt to one side slightly and Nathavin didn’t miss the way Zarvynaar shifted his weight subtly so that she could right herself using him for support. He caught the blade dancers’ gaze and wordlessly gave the barest of nods, both acknowledging and praising the younger males’ action before returning his attention to Caellia. Reaching out to her, he gently pulled her to him and away from the watchful gaze of the blade dancers.

Andraos and Kattath kept the generals busy with the battle planning so that Nathavin could lead Caellia out of the room in relative secrecy.

Caellia didn’t protest as Nathavin led her away from the war room. As they passed several windows on the way to their suites, she noticed for the first time that the sun had risen and was rapidly clearing away the early morning fog that often times surrounded the castle.

“You shouldn’t have stayed up so long.” Nathavin mildly admonished her with a sidelong glance. “You need your rest more than ever now with the baby.”

“I wanted to stay up and help with the planning.” Caellia answered tiredly through a yawn.

“You have helped plenty enough for now.” Nathavin assured her as they crossed into their rooms. “Now what I want you to do is lay down and get some sleep.”

Too tired to protest, and honestly she really didn’t want to anyway, Caellia nodded and allowed him to help her prepare for and climb into bed.

After seeing that she was sound asleep, Nathavin stepped out of the suite to return to the war room. As he stepped outside their rooms, he noticed Zarvynaar already taking up a guarding position by the door. “You do not have to assume your duties so soon. You need your rest as well.” He kept his tone at least civil if not exactly friendly. He still wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about Zarvynaar keeping watch over Caellia. If she hadn’t spoken up for both Zarvynaar and Shi’nryne he would have seriously considered exiling the two.

Zarvynaar held Nathavin’s gaze for a moment before answering. “I owe her.” His chin rose slightly. “For saving both my reputation and my life.” He honestly believed that had she not intervened and stood up for both him and Shi’nryne that they would have been killed. Even if Nathavin himself had not ordered them executed, one of the generals would have seen to it that they both died. But Caellia’s actions had assured that both he and Shi’nryne would not face execution, either from Nathavin or any of the other generals. “I will stand guard until you return.”

Nathavin stared at him for a moment longer before conceding the issue. “I will not take long.” The thought of leaving Caellia under the protection of one he’d so recently believed to be a traitor still rankled, but he forced himself to remember that she herself had placed Zarvynaar back into her personal guard unit. It was by her own choice that Zarvynaar was there now. If she was to have the same level of authority and respect in the castle as he did, he had to set the example and respect her wishes and authority as well. Pushing his misgivings aside, he returned to the war room.

Zarvynaar slowly released the breath he’d been holding as Nathavin walked away. He’d been unsure for a moment if Nathavin was going to honor Caellia’s wishes. It had seemed for a long moment that Nathavin had been considering sending him away. Not that he would have left without a protest.
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Treason