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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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Nathavin awoke abruptly to the sound of banging on the doors of his and Caellia’s rooms. Taking care not to disturb her, he flung himself from the bed and raced to the door and jerked it open.

            “They are here Nathavin.” Shi’nryne said simply. “They number in the thousands. We sent two scouts out, only one returned. I fear the other has been killed.” He briefly explained where Shardaer had seen Asadar’s armies.

            “Wake the others and sound the alarm.” Nathavin bit out tensely. “How long before they reach the castle walls?”

            “An hour, perhaps two if we are lucky.” Shi’nryne stated somberly. “They couldn’t have chosen a better night. The cloud cover blocked both the moonlight and starlight, and there is a heavy fog hugging the valley floors. It is unlikely we would have seen them approaching until it was too late if we hadn’t sent the scouts out when we did.” As it was, Shi’nryne feared they’d sent the scouts out too late.

            Nathavin nodded, taking in the information. “See to it that our battle plans are carried out as we discussed previously. I want Andraos with us when the attack happens. He will prove a vital help. I will join you shortly.”

            “Caellia?” Shi’nryne questioned, wondering if Nathavin would allow her to fight, or barricade her deep within the castles innermost recesses where she would undoubtedly be safest.

            Closing his eyes in thought, Nathavin answered slowly. “She will be with me.” Unless Shillien takes pity on me and Caellia miraculously decides to stay where it will be safest for her and the baby, he thought to himself.

            Nodding in understanding Shi’nryne raced away to carry out his orders.

            As he was about to close the door, Nathavin noticed Zarvynaar lurking in the shadows. He cast the younger elf a questioning look with a slightly upraised eyebrow.

            “I am a member of the Queens royal guard. My place is with her.” Zarvynaar said resolutely, staring Nathavin down and proving where his loyalty lay.

            “So you are.” Nathavin said, somewhat impressed by the younger males brazenness to stare him down. The stare down was just shy of being a direct challenge. Perhaps Caellia had been right to place him back on her guard detail. Not bothering to reply any more, Nathavin swiftly returned to Caellia.

            “Nathavin? What’s going on?” Caellia asked sleepily as she sat up. He’d been out of the room for a while.

            “The castle will come under attack in about an hour.” Nathavin told her bluntly as he began to gather their armor and weapons.

            Caellia immediately jumped from the bed, now fully alert. “Where are they and how many?” She asked tightly as she grabbed her armor and weapon from him.

            He repeated what Shi’nryne had told him and then stopped her, grabbing her shoulders and staring at her. “Caellia, please, reconsider your decision to fight today.” His right hand trailed down to her belly and rested over their child. “I don’t want anything to happen to either of you.” He said in a strained voice.

            Looking into his eyes she stated in a calm firm tone as she reached up and lightly caressed his cheek. “I will not change my mind Nathavin. I know you want to protect us, but please understand that I want to protect you as well.” She closed her eyes and a shuddering sigh escaped her before she continued. “I left Goryn, twice, when he needed me.” Her eyes opened, revealing the depths of her determination. “I will not leave you.”

            Nathavin nodded wordlessly before he drew her into a fierce embrace, kissing her deeply. Pulling away, he prayed to Shillien that they survived this.

            Zarvynaar pulled himself upright the moment he heard the door swing open. Nathavin and Caellia stepped out, both looking awake and alert for battle. Neither showed any outward sign of nervousness or fear. Falling in step behind them, he promised himself that he would not allow Caellia to come to any harm.

            They met Shi’nryne, Kattath, and Andraos on the ramparts. As Nathavin looked around and began to ask Shi’nryne a question, he caught sight of a person he thought he wouldn’t see again. “Hontas…” He growled lowly, anger flooding through him.

            Hontas shivered uncomfortably and was glad that Andraos stepped in front of him and spoke up. “He has come delivering news. Asadar’s forces are not in peak condition.”

            “That is correct.” Hontas spoke up as he bravely stepped around Andraos and faced Nathavin. If I’m going to be of use to him, I can’t cower behind Andraos, he thought to himself.

            “Explain.” Nathavin demanded tersely. His voice dropped dangerously, “Do not dare try to lie to me. I hope you haven’t forgotten that I can sense when you are lying to me, human.”

            Drawing himself to his full height, Hontas replied in a slightly affronted voice. “I swore my allegiance to you back in your homeland. I will not lie to you now.” He chanced a look at Caellia, risking the dark Lord’s wrath. “She is in better care with you. I do not want Asadar to get his hands on her.” A look of deep sadness crossed his face. “I know all too well how cruel he can be to women who refuse him.”

            Shaking off his momentary lapse, he explained quickly that Asadar had pushed his men too hard for too long. Asadar had forced his troops to undergo long, grueling training sessions with little sleep or food for weeks.

            Andraos nodded and spoke, gaining Nathavin’s attention. “I’ve seen him do it before Nathavin. Hontas tells the truth.”

            Nathavin took all the information in and nodded in acknowledgement. Turning his fierce gaze on Hontas, he noticed the human again staring at Caellia. It irritated him and he purposely placed himself in front of her, blocking her from the humans view.

            Tensely, he looked along the castles walls, taking in the positions of their fighters. The dark elven fighters were exactly where they were supposed to be, as he’d expected. The light elven regiments were also at their designated positions, much to his surprise. They had protested initially about their placement on the field and he’d half expected them to try to stage a small revolt as soon as the castle was threatened. Clearly Caellia had straightened them out. The human units from Giran and Dion who rounded out the castles interior defense were also in their assigned areas and stood at the ready, waiting for their orders.

            Seeing his unease, Caellia stood closer to him and leaned against him slightly, giving him her support.

*****

            Asadar glared at the mighty fortress as he listened to the cat rumble ominously at his side. “Lord Nathavin, you will die this day. I swear it on the soul of Einhasad.” He grinned maliciously. “But first, I will make you watch as your castle burns to the ground and your kind dies all around you. And then,” he paused and then continued with great relish, “if you are truly unfortunate enough to have given Caellia a child, I will make you watch as she swears allegiance to me and agrees to become my wife, in order to spare that child’s life.” His head tilted back and an unholy laugh filled the air. “I will take your castle, annihilate your kind, and then take your wife and child from you!”

            Naldorl watched him closely. “If you think my brother’s castle will fall that easily…”

            Asadar backhanded the chained blade dancer furiously. “Shut up!”

            Naldorl spun around and fell to the ground heavily from the force of the blow. Gaining his feet unsteadily, he spat out the blood that was pooling in his mouth, wincing as he did so. Shillien he wished Asadar would just kill him. Death would be far better than this life of imprisonment and servitude. “Why have you brought me here?” He demanded bitterly. “I’ve already told you I won’t divulge the castle’s weaknesses, so kill me already.”

            Grinning evilly, Asadar murmured, “Oh but this is torture for you as well, dark elf. You get to watch your brother’s castle fall for a second time.”

            “Half brother.” Naldorl corrected with a hiss of dislike. He glared angrily at Asadar over the reminder that it was his fault the castle had fallen the first time to Goryn.

            Asadar waved the correction off dismissively as he replied, “Details, details.”

            “Yes, it’s all in the details. The little things.” Naldorl said sarcastically. He looked toward the impressive castle. Details were what his half brother was best at. His eyes scanned the walls and towers of the castle noticing the differences in the placement of key units. A look toward the far valley opposite of where he now stood confirmed his suspicion. He looked over at Asadar and grinned despite the pain it caused him. The fool had no idea.

            A high ranking general came up to Asadar. “We are ready.”

*****

            “Here they come!” Shouted Shardaer as she raced back toward the castle on her fenrir.

            Nathavin and the others stood anxiously as they watched the huge force advance on the castle swiftly and engage the first lines of defense at the outer walls. Soon the attacking force was close enough so that the mages on the walls began to cast spells at them rapidly. The air crackled with the sound of magic spells.

            “Don’t let them get near the gates!” Nathavin roared at the mages. “Kill them all!” He heard the sound of an arrow being drawn and loosed. He turned and saw Caellia firing rapidly at a human mage who’d strayed too close to the outer wall. Before he’d even had time to draw an arrow of his own the mage fell to the ground dead. Looking up at Caellia, he found her staring at him with one eyebrow arched delicately and an amused expression on her face.

            “You were too slow Nathavin.” A small smile played around her lips. Catching sight of a dagger user trying to sneak up on one of the castles defenders, she smirked as she took aim. “I spy with my little eyes…” The arrow sang through the air and slammed into the back of the woman at the same time as a blast of air ripped into the woman’s abdomen. Caellia looked up to find the source of the spell and was met by Kattath’s eyes. “You took my kill.” She said in a falsely hurt tone.

            Smiling, Kattath replied mischievously, “I only wanted to get a kill before Nathavin did.”

            Nathavin snorted, so they wanted to play like that did they? He took a look at the battlefield below, and chose a target. “Watch and learn.” He taunted them. Pulling an arrow from the quiver, he set it against the string and infused the bow with an incredible amount of power as he drew the string back. When he let go there was a loud concussive sound as the added magic propelled the arrow forcefully through the air.

            To both Caellia’s and Kattath’s astonishment the arrow sailed clean through the front of his chosen target’s chest before exiting out the back. It finally landed in a shower of dirt ten paces away from where the target had fallen. The bishop never knew what had hit him.

            “Questions?” Nathavin asked them with a smugly superior tone.

            “Only one.” Caellia replied.

            He raised an eyebrow at her.

            “When will you be teaching me that?” She asked cheekily as she stared at him, blatantly envious of his ability.

            Nathavin laughed at both her expression and tone of voice. “I’m afraid that, that particular death shot is outside of your abilities Caellia.” He answered.

            “We’ll see about that.” Caellia groused. “I just need to train with Shi’nryne some more.”

            Nathavin laughed again. In truth, the skill was within her ability to learn. His telling her that it wasn’t would only increase her ambition to learn and master the skill, and that was what he wanted. “Perhaps.” He conceded. “But that will have to wait until after the baby is born.” He whispered to her as he leaned down close and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Soon there was no more time for playful banter as the fighting began in earnest. The small forays that Asadar’s men had been engaging in gave way to full fledged assaults.

*****

            “Take the gates down!” Asadar yelled angrily as he watched the sorcerers set the wooden gates ablaze. “You!” He hollered at a nearby unit mounted on striders. “Have those beasts attack the gates! Their hide is tough enough to withstand the flames!” He watched as the striders began battering the castle gates with their massive clawed feet.

            A loud roar from his left caught his attention and he looked in that direction to see his cat chasing after one of the castle’s defenders that had fallen from the ramparts. A savage smile lifted his lips as he chased down the lone light elven mage. It wasn’t hard to catch up to him. The cat was exceptionally good at tripping up slow runners. He slammed his shield against the mage’s back, the pain of the blow stunning the poor elf momentarily. “Where do you think you’re going?” Asadar snarled.

            The mage didn’t answer but instead cast a lightning fast spell, propelling a huge spear of ice at Asadar, thrusting him away from the mage. Two more lightning fast spells burned and singed the air around them, turning Asadar’s own malignant aura against him. “Caellia will never be yours!” The mystic yelled furiously.

            “You stupid fool!” Asadar laughed openly at him. “You would rather she stay with the dark elf?! Bear his child?!” With a mighty roar, Asadar brought his sword up and slammed it against the elf’s shield, splintering it in one blow. “She’s betrayed your kind! She lies with him at night! She could already be carrying his child!” He laughed at the outraged look he received. “Don’t be stupid boy! Surely you know what happens…” He was cut off mid-sentence as a mighty bolt of lightning crashed down from the heavens.

            “Do not speak of such things!” The elf howled angrily.

            “Struck a nerve did I?” Asadar gloated as he backed away from the angered elf, silently giving his cat the command to attack from behind the elf. The cat did not disappoint him. Two swipes from its lethal claws and the mage was dead.

            As Asadar turned to go back to the front of the castle, he heard the unmistakable sound of the massive wooden gates collapsing. “Ready or not, here I come…” He whispered in demented glee, recalling the popular cry of a child’s game that started the frantic dash to get to the safe base before you were caught.

*****

            Nathavin cursed viciously as the gates splintered. “Fallback NOW! Everyone inside! Move! Move!”

            Zarvynaar snatched Caellia by the arm and began dragging her towards the castle. “Come on!” He yelled at her as she stubbornly tried to keep shooting.

            “But I can finish him off! Just a couple more arrows!” She yelled back desperately.

            “No!” He yelled back at her as he continued to drag her away. “Nathavin said everyone inside the castle! That means you too!”

            Caellia looked around for Kattath for support but the spell howler had disappeared. Sighing in frustration she gave in and followed Zarvynaar inside the castle’s inner keep.

            “Lord Nathavin,” Andraos yelled to be heard above the din of battle, “we need to go inside the castle! If we don’t we could be caught here!”

            “I want to be sure everyone is inside!” Nathavin yelled back, his eyes scanning the castle grounds.

            Shi’nryne shook his head. “Everyone that could get inside is! We must go inside now and close the inner gates or they will overrun us and take the castles interior!” He looked to the people that were still fighting against the humans. “We cannot wait for all of them!”

            “Where’s Caellia?!” Nathavin yelled in concern. They had gotten split up when he’d gone to help the mage units out.

            “She’s inside with Zarvynaar!” Andraos answered him. “I saw him drag her inside the castle as soon as the order to fall back was given!”

            Nodding in relief, Nathavin conceded. “Alright, we go in and close the gates.” As the three of them raced inside the castle, Nathavin prayed Shillien would watch over those who would be sacrificed and left outside.

*****

            On the hill overlooking the far valley across from the castle, a templar of Shillien stood up and motioned for the orcs behind him to stand as well. “The gates have been brought down. We will give them a few minutes to ensure that the majority of their forces are inside the courtyard before we attack their base camps.” He glowered darkly at the orcs. “Kill everyone who is not with us. I don’t want prisoners…” He looked back at the camps with Aden’s banners fluttering in the breeze. “I want corpses.”

            The orcs behind him laughed menacingly.

*****

            Asadar sucked in a large breath of air as he climbed over the broken remains of the massive castle gates. “Lord Nathavin! So sorry about your gates! I’ll make sure the dwarves make higher quality ones after I see how much money there is in your vaults!” He yelled across the courtyard to the laughter of his men “Now come out of hiding! And bring your pretty wife with you!”

            Yaran looked at his sister as his wing fluttered in irritation. “I thought he said we were going to get this castle? He’d better not be trying to double cross us!”

            Rolling her eyes, Ardista retorted. “He’s taunting them. It’s just another tactic to rattle them and set them on edge.” She cast her brother a withering look. “Honestly, I don’t want this castle. It’s ugly, dark and altogether depressing.” Her gaze settled on Asadar as she watched him continue to taunt and insult Nathavin. “I want his castle.” She muttered, thinking of the bright, clean and crisp white stones of Aden.

*****

            “Nathavin!” Caellia called out in relief as she rushed up to him. “Where were you?! I was so worried…”

            “I’m fine Caellia.” He shushed her, drawing her into a quick embrace before releasing her. He glanced at her quickly, looking for injuries. Seeing none aside from a few minor scrapes, he felt himself relax a little.

            Andraos cleared his throat. “Asadar will not wait long Nathavin. He will attempt to gain access to the inner castle within minutes.”

            Nodding, Nathavin looked to Caellia. “Take two archery units and stand on those ramps,” he said, pointing out the ramps that were directly over the doors. “Kill anyone who crosses the threshold. Have Kattath take two mage units up there as well.”

            “Nathavin,” Caellia started slowly and with great hesitation, “I haven’t seen Kattath since before the order to fallback…”

            Silence filled the air as Nathavin stared at her.

            “Damn.” Andraos swore softly as he realized the woman must’ve been caught outside.
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Treason