Come Back To me

Alwis continued to appear. In the mornings and then again in the afternoon. Most of the time he was his same...terribly annoying self. Always throwing quips and jokes at her, trying to raise her spirits. The only time he thought she might actually smile was when he had made a comment about Lord Dobrain’s nose. It was likely the longest they had ever seen and the man himself was completely oblivious of it. Which made the whole thing that much funnier. The only time we was serious was when he was Falconing. Hunting with a Falcon took skill, patience and a little bit of bravery. He had began to teach her the craft with his own Falcon, Astral, a Female. She was a massive bird and twice now Calene had successfully gotten her to do what she wanted. It all involved a series of words, whistles and clicks with her tongue. There was more to it but those were the basics and Astral had caught 2 field mice for Calene.

Calene had also gained an audience. Sometimes her friends, her mother, her sisters or her brother were nearby watching her. Others to as well and when the Falcon did something special they all clapped for her.

Calene was still depressed over Deshane, but she knew her parents wanted her to choose a suitor and so she continued to allow Alwis to court her. She wasn't happy with him, but he actually seemed a better choice than the others. She still didn't like his jokes, except the one about Lord Dorain's nose. That time he actually got her to smile and almost laugh. However, the one thing that actually impressed Calene about Alwis was his falconing abilities. She quite liked Astral and was excited when he agreed to teach her some of the craft. She caught on very quickly and soon had the large, predatory bird doing what she wanted. She began to wonder if she might be able to get her own bird. While falconing she was able to temporarily forget about Deshane and how upset she was. She was able to focus on something else entirely and let her sadness slip away...at least for an hour or two.

The days came and went with no sign or news at all about Deshane. It had been as if he had fallen off the face of Middle Earth. Alwis also had began to look at her differently she would see. He took her hand when they walked and his jokes and quips seemed to become less and less as if her disapproval had meant something to him. She noticed her mother gave her extra time away when she knew Alwis was going to be seeing her. It was like everyone conspired to have her spend time with him except both he and she had been left out of it. Alwis had responsibilities just as any nobles son but he did tend to spend most of his free time near her if he could not be with her directly.

Eldarion and Calista had stayed in the city for a while and she had had to play referee for them more than once. They argued and stormed at one another but she had caught them making up..rather passionately more than once as well. Alwis had kissed her, once last evening and kissed her knuckles fondly before he left her for the evening. She would know that he’d push for more eventually though she might sense that he began to understand that her heart really belonged to someone else.

On the 7th day she had been at court all morning. There was two days of rain just prior and alot of crops had been damaged. Nobles and farmers were lined up to tell of their needs and it looked like her day would be filled once again. Unbidden, Alwis and Arina came up to sit near her and oddly her sister fidgeted like she always did when she ached to tell some secret or gossip. The chancellor had thus far been able to handle whatever it was the people in line needed. Alwis narrowed his eyes at her and she settled but she certainly didn’t look happy about...whatever it was she knew and couldn’t speak of.

“Carene...did you know we have a visitor to the palace?” When she looked at him blankly...this could well be just another one of his pranks and she had fallen for it twice already. “Yes, well...I believe he went straight away to your father’s offices. Arina thought that he looked like he was about to wrestle a bear but I wouldn’t know...I’ve never met Deshane,” he said as if he was only speaking of the weather.

Calene had regretted allowing Alwis to kiss her. She had been rather vulnerable at the time and never should have let it happen. He now seemed more determined than ever to have her as his wife. She was still desperately trying to stall having to make a decision about any of her suitors. She knew that her time was waning, however. If she didn’t make a decision soon one would be made for her.

Calene had been stuck in court all morning. The past two days she had been stuck in the palace all day due to the rains and she was starting to get anxious to get some sunshine. That made it even more difficult for her to listen to nobles and farmers who came to state their case for certain things that they needed or wanted. Suddenly, Alwis and her sister Arina came to sit next to her her. Arina seemed fidgety this morning...like something was on the tip of her tongue that she wanted to tell her, but didn’t dare in front of everyone else. As Alwis suddenly began to speak about a stranger in the palace Calene knew that this must be what Arina wanted to talk to her about. She suddenly felt her heart begin to beat harder as she wondered if it might be him. Could he have come back to ask her father for her hand? Was that what he was doing right then? She held her breath as she waited for any indication of who it might be. When Deshane’s name suddenly flowed off of Alwis’ lips Calene felt tears come to her eyes. She wanted to jump up and leave court immediately, but she couldn’t. She was stuck there and it was pure agony. Nothing else mattered to her right now, other than the fact that Deshane...her Deshane had returned.

Nauriel had heard of Deshane’s return, she had people all over the palace who informed her of just about everything that went on there. She sat outside her husband’s office with her embroidery hoop and basket. Her keen ears making every effort to hear what was being said. Apparently Deshane’s father and brother had been killed during the war, they had held an inner gate but the reinforcements had taken to long to arrive. He blamed Elessar for that...he had been called Aragorn then. She heard raised voices from both men, Deshane had backbone that musch was clear by how he spoke to his King. Elessar was troubled by his accusations and it warred with his daughter actually marrying this man. If he decided against it...she knew full well Calene might never forgive him. It was a shock that a vase broke and someone pounded on a desk with their fist. It was obvious to her how Deshane felt for Calene and she doubted he may not take ‘no’ as an answer.

“Calene is mine and no others! I love her and will never love another...Now...will you give us your blessing or not!?” he shouted at the top of his lungs. She felt Elessar's anger, it was stronger than anything else but there was hope as well. For what she could not say.

“Yes...I give it...now...get out!” Elessar shouted then he flipped his desk which sent everything on it clattering to the floor just as Deshane stepped out. He paused when he saw her rise and only gave her the smallest nod of a bow before he stormed off down the hall. Elessar stood with his back to the door and hadn’t heard her enter.

Knowing how Calene felt about Deshane, Nauriel was quite keen to hear what her husband had to say. She therefore sat just outside of her husband’s office, listening intently to what was being said inside. The raised voices surprised her, but she quickly learned that Deshane blamed her husband for the deaths of his father and brother. Unfortunately, everyone seemed to have lost someone during the war, but placing blame would not change what had happened and her husband had fought hard to save Gondor. At first she wasn’t sure that Elessar was going to give his blessing for this union...especially after how Deshane spoke to him. She jumped at the sound of things being broken inside the room. She held her breath as she waited for her husband’s answer to Deshane’s near demand for his blessing. She was both surprised and relieved when he gave it. Although he did not sound at all happy about it. Nauriel rose as Deshane exited the office and quietly stepped inside. She surveyed the damage and sighed a little.

“You are not to blame for the death’s of Deshane’s father and brother. He just wants someone to blame, that is all.”

He didn't respond immediately but after a few moments he half turned his head. “If you don’t mind,” he began in a soft, sad voice. “Could I be alone...for a while.” he turned back to face the window and would say no more to her.

Deshane on the other hand had brought Calene a ring. His family was quite wealthy and this one was an heirloom that had been in his family for generations. The band and setting were Mithril worked delicately to hold a massive diamond with smaller ones all around it. It was the only one of its kind, part of the hoard brought back from the Lonely mountain. Confidently he strode through the halls though he hadn’t really taken time to freshen up when he arrived. His boots were dirty, his pants saddle worn and his jerkin had sweat stains on it. He had on a different cloak, Calene had kept the one he gave her and he would not ask for it back. He reached the main hall but he frowned when he saw that it was literally packed with people. Some he even knew. He would not cut ahead of these good people, that wasn’t his way either. However Arina had spotted him and she smiled as she turned to Calene who looked and sounded impatient. The last farmer almost had his head bitten off when he tried to argue with her. Arina cleared her throat then sat back and tried to look casual. “He’s here,” she whispered and she pointed a finger nonchalantly toward where he stood in the line.

Ooc: it would be neat for her to address him formally and keep a straight face. He deserves a little verbal slap i think. She could call him out of line and like everyone else, have him step forth to present his issue to the court.

Nauriel gently nodded and walked back out of the office without another word. It wasn't often that her husband didn't want any company, including her own, but when he did she gave it to him without question. Much had just happened and she was sure he needed to think it all through.

Calene was going through a whole host of emotions. On the one hand she was overjoyed that Deshane had returned and had probably just asked her father for her hand. On the other hand she was extremely upset that he had left her in the first place after she had told him she loved him. Unfortunately for those who came before her she took out her emotions on them to some extent. She hadn't meant to snap at the farmer, but she was nearing a breaking point. Suddenly, she heard Arina whisper to her that he was there. She knew immediately who he meant and she looked up and her eyes quickly scanned the crowd. It didn't take long for her to spot him. He was tall and stood out amongst everyone else. Instead of looking happy, she maintained a neutral, if not slightly angry, expression. She decided to make him wait in line to see her. He was forced to wait half an hour before coming before her. She waited a moment to see if he would bow. He did not. She frowned a little at him.

"Lord Deshane...it is necessary to bow when one comes before a member of the royal house."

For a moment...a brief moment his eyes were blue fire toward her. The kind of look her father had held sometimes when he was particularly angry. On the dais he was forced to look up at her and she looked ‘quite’ satisfied that he ‘did’ have to look up at her. Well, she would get no such from him and he didn’t care a whit who saw. He didn’t care if she were the King himself.

“I came back for my cloak,” he said in a cold voice. “And you owe me a horse...Princess,” he added in an even harsher tone. He took a forward stance toward her. His left hand on his hip, his right leg forward. Arina’s eyes bulged and suddenly there wasn’t a farmer or a noble in the hall that didn’t want to suddenly be somewhere else right then. Most turned aside as if they had just remembered something. Some scuttled back out faster than they had come in. Everyone else just tried to look distracted, and hoped that they wouldn’t be next.

ooc-lol, sometimes, i crack myself up.

While Calene felt justified in her tone towards him, she was visibly startled by his tone. She blinked and clearly didn't know quite how to respond. Because they were in public she couldn't say the things she really wanted to. She began to look as if she might cry.

"Fine..." she finally managed to say. "I'll ensure you get just what you want."

She then quickly got up and stepped down without another word. She maneuvered her way through the crowd and out of the hall as tears began to slip down her cheeks. Perhaps he hadn't actually come back to ask for her hand after all. She felt her heart breaking for a second time now over Deshane. She wasn't sure just how much more of this she could take.

Deshane was both angry and completely in love with Calene. The crowd parted for her and he followed right after her. After they left the hall the crowd turned and faced the dais. Arina was the only one there and her eyes went large once more as she stood and moved to sit down on the throne. She had never sat there before but she had seen her mother and sister do this a hundreds of times. She narrowed her eyes at the milling crowd of people and lowered her voice an octave.

“Well...who's next...the crown doesn’t have all night!” She barked as if she were angry. Alwis, who was content to just sit and watch it all happen turned to grin at her approvingly. It took all she had not to grin back.

Deshane had much longer legs than she and his gait was quick and confident.Once he had gotten close enough to her he raised his voice. “Calene! You, stop right there!” He said in a commanding tone. He had traveled a long way back to claim her. To finally once, do something for himself. The world had had its way with him. This time he would get what he wanted and it was her. He knew that down into his marrow. He would love her until she was filled to bursting with it. He had had enough of being alone and a tool to be used when someone needed him. He lurched forward to turn her around to face him.

“How DARE you walk away from me Calene, I protected you, I went after you...I bled for you and...I am in love with you,” he said and both his voice and eyes softened on the last part greatly. He took her face in his hands and gently wiped her tears away. “It...it just took me a moment to see it,” he admitted. “I’m not perfect Calene...leaving you...it was the biggest mistake of my life,” he added as another admission to her.

Calene could hear his footsteps close behind her. She tried to walk faster, but he had much longer legs and therefore only had to take one stride for her three. She heard him command her to stop, but she continued walking. Suddenly, she felt one of his strong hands on her upper arm. He pulled her to a stop and in one swift movement had her turned around to face him. She was trying to still be angry, but it was difficult with the tears streaming down her cheeks. Hearing him say that he loved her too was all it took for more tears to fall from her eyes. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deeply. After a long moment she pulled back and looked at him.

"I almost had to marry Alwis!"

“Calene!” He said annoyedly. “You were ‘almost’ killed and ‘almost’ married. Stop worrying about ‘almost’ and,” he continued but got onto his knees before her. “And worry about what is. And what is is that I love you and want to marry you. Will you marry me Calene and make me the happiest man in the world?” He said as he looked up at her. His hair was dirty and he had a smudge of grime on his cheek. She however looked and smelled clean and wonderful. She was young and strong and alive. He produced his ring for her and without taking his eyes off of hers, hers shifted to the ring and they followed it as he slowly slipped it over her finger.

While she had known his proposal was coming it still was overwhelming to see him get down on one knee in front of her and ask her to marry him. Looking down at him Calene could tell that he had ridden hard to get here. He was somewhat dirty, but incredibly handsome. She would not have had him any other way. She was beginning to tremble as he took her hand. Upon seeing the ring she actually gasped. It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen in her life. She watched as he slipped it onto her finger and she felt new tears fill her eyes.

"I could never love any other man the way I love you so yes, I will marry you."

ooc;ok, new thread, post marriage, or did you want trouble during the wedding?

OOC-I'm good with whatever in regards to that. We also shouldn't forget about Arina and the soldier, Lucas.

OOC-It might be interesting if there is actual trouble during the wedding ceremony.

ooc-hmm, interesting! then we will have to brainstorm to come up with something good.

OOC-Yeah, I can't think of anything right now except that maybe raiders or something get into the city and attack during the ceremony.

ooc-Maybe one of the survivors of the kidnapping tries to murder her?

OOC-that would be good

ooc-new thread