Another One Goes Missing

The following days were a flurry of activity for Eldarion and Calista. They began to acquire gear for their travels and take care of what they needed to so that they could pass off their duties to another. That was what they did during the days. During theirs nights their love took on a life of its own as Eldarion seemed to come home in a mood that would send Calista running for him to take her in their bed. If she didn’t he’d likely have at her where ever they were at the moment. 

Eldarion shared his maps with her. He wanted and needed her input and Calista seemed delighted that she would have a say on the paths they would take. The thing he thought she liked most was that it would only be them on this trip, no one else. 

The day before they left however Arina had left a note for Nauriel on her sitting room. She had only put the word ‘Mother’ on the outside of the envelope.

Mother,
     I know you and father will not be pleased but what he did to Lucas was unfair and unjust. I love him mother, like the day is long I love him and we have left the city so that we can finally be together. I know you will not approve of what I’m doing nor of him but what is is what is. I’ll thank you to not try to follow us. I intend to make a life with him.

I’m sorry mother that I can’t  be the daughter you want me to be. Tell father I said I’m sorry as well. And Krassara,Carena and Eldarion too,

        Arina

Calista's mood improved greatly and she hardly went a moment without smiling over the next few weeks. She felt that things were finally starting to heal between Eldarion and herself and she was greatly looking forward to just the two of them getting away together and going on an adventure. She wasted no time in making sure that everything would be taken care of, even ensuring that their servants had other employment until they returned. She also made sure that she had appropriate clothing. After talking with Nauriel she opted for leggings and a tunic and boots, although she did plan to take at least one or two dresses in case she needed them. She also spent time with Eldarion going over maps and planning their route. She was now counting down the days until they planned to leave.

Nauriel sensed that something was wrong...she could feel it deep in her soul. She walked around to find her children and quickly noticed that Arina was nowhere to be found. She started walking all over the palace looking for her and as she walked into her sitting room she spotted the envelope on one of the tables. She knew immediately it was Arina's handwriting. She picked up the envelope with growing dread and opened it. As she began to read the letter her eye's widened and she felt her mouth go dry. Arina had eloped! With the letter in hand she quickly went to find Elessar, knowing that he would not be happy.

When she showed him the note he closed his eyes and shook as he crumpled up her letter. The anguish and anger in his heart, she would feel that being so close to him filled up the bond completely. He turned away from her and leaned up against his desk as if his body would not support him. After the initial shock wore off, it had taken time he stood and looked over at her. He could tell she was upset to, quite upset and he realised that he had ignored how badly she needed comfort as well. He hugged her to him and murmured soothing words to her.”We’ll find her my love...we will,” he said over and over.

That night, it had taken that long just to calm down about it and not do something rash they talked about what they should do. For this they brought in Eldarion, Calista, Deshane and Calene. The four of them entered the small dining room but what they assumed would be a small repast, tea or luncheon was obviously something else. Maps littered the table and Eldarion looked at Nauriel inquisitively. Until now Arina’s eloping was kept a tight secret. The crown could not have another emergency so close to the last one. And not after things had seemed to be going better after what had happened.

As the others bowed and entered Eldarion did not and he moved up to his mother who looked pale and tired with worry. Calene looked equally concerned, they were her children after all and seemed to know something dreadful had happened. Calista and Deshane, now feeling the tension in the room increase ten fold, no longer held smiles on their faces. Calene reached Nauriel first but Eldarion was the one that spoke first.

“Mother...what has happened?” he asked and turned to face Elessar whose face held a grim expression.

Calene could sense something was terribly wrong the moment she walked into the room with the others. She had thought that things were settling down and getting back to normal, but that did not seem to be the case. The worry that filled the room was quite evident and fear immediately filled Calene's heart. She immediately approached her mother, but before she could ask her what was wrong, she heard the words come from Eldarion. She then paused and waited for an answer.

Nauriel sighed and glanced over at her husband before looking at her children and their spouses.

"Arina has eloped with that soldier, Lucas."

“What? How...Where?” Eldarion asked but it was Elessar who moved up to them and answered. “We believe they’ve headed South around the mountains and then will go west,” he said as he traced a line on his map that was laid out on the large table. Eldarion joined him to look where he was pointing. “Father, if he was the man Arina picked….he began but Elessar cut him off. “Arina is a head strong, willful child who knows little of the world. We need her brought back before its to late. “Deshane...Eldarion I ask one of you to do this,” he said coldly. It was obvious what he meant by ‘too late’. If she got with child there would be little then anyone could do. Eldarion gestured for Calista to join him at the table to look at the maps. Calene did not however which might make Nauriel wonder if she was not feeling well or...or with child herself.

Nauriel began to feel upset again as she quietly listened to Elessar explain where he thought they would have gone. She looked away with a few tears growing in her eyes as she felt guilt wash over her. She felt responsible for this. She should have done more, but had been distracted by Calene's kidnapping and then wedding.

Calista moved forward to look at the map with Eldarion and Deshane. She hadn't noticed that Calene remained behind. Calene felt her mother's eyes on her and glanced at her and then at her husband. She wasn't sure, but she strongly felt she was with child, but she hadn't told Deshane yet.

“Are you with child daugher?” Nauriel whispered to Calane as Deshane became more involved with the map. “Tell me now,” she asked equally as quietly but in a more forceful tone. If she were they’d have to stay behind and Eldarion would go. He and Calista had been having...problems, that was known but she could not trust this to a soldier nor someone that didn’t really know Arina. Arina had unwittingly caused quite a dilemma but as usual Elessar only worried about her and the rest was an afterthought. Another scandal would not do right now and someone within their inner circle had to try and bring her back.

Calene glanced at Deshane to be sure he didn't hear before replying to her mother. "I..I'm not sure Mother. I don't know anything for sure. I just feel I might be."

Meanwhile, Calista spoke to Eldarion while looking at the map. "This looks very close to the route we were going to take..."

Eldarion nodded as he agreed with her. He inked in their route and it did indeed seem almost identical. He rubbed his chin in thought a moment then looked up at Calista. “Well, we were going to go anyway, will you still go with me Calista?” he asked. He wasn’t going to take her for granted anymore. She was her own person even if she was his wife. A strong, independant woman who could handle herself if she needed to. In Fact he’d need her abilities if they were to find his sister. He needed her with him.

Calista nodded. "Of course I will still go with you. When we find Arina I believe it might be better if I speak with her."

She looked over at her father-in-law. "What are we to do if she refuses to return home or..." She couldn't bring herself to finish her question, but Elessar would know she meant if Arina was pregnant.

It was difficult to keep the worry and Anger out of his voice. He had never really had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Calista and so she might take his words harder than she might otherwise.

“Tie her hand and foot if need be,” he said in a soft but grim voice. “She is no less beholding to propriety and tradition than the rest of us,” Nauriel would have heard him and as she stood to debate how he was presenting this he cut her of. “That is my final word on this wife...And she can hate me if that is what must be. As for this...this man she had left with,” he said. “He is a deserter, treat him as such. If he fights against you, do what you must but Arina comes home...is that clear?” He said in a voice that sounded like a knife being drawn against a sharpening stone. It was directed all at Calista though Nauriel had tried to interject. Even Eldarion swallowed hard, he had never seen his father act so...unsettled and he gestured to Calista, a soothing gesture when she gazed over at him like she did.

Calista could see just how much this all was affecting the king. So much had happened in such a short amount of time between Calene's kidnapping and now this. She just hoped that they would be able to fulfill their promise.

"Of course M'lord," she responded before walking back over to Eldarion.

Eldarion squeezed her hand then put his hand on the small of her back. “Then it’s settled then,” the King said confidently. “Eldarion and Calista will go,” he said as if everyone agreed though he knew nauriel did not, not completely. Not the way he presented it. She knew he wanted this soldier she was with gone from her life, one way or another and he would toss him in chains for desertion no matter if Arina really did love him or not. Elessar departed the room and everyone, including Deshane breathed out a breath of relief as if they had been holding it in this whole time. Eldarion came over and got on his knees to hug his mother. Calene just leaned over and added to it then Calista joined in. Deshane did not and he looked down at the floor while they eventually let go of her.

“Uh, mother, is there...anything else you’d like to add?” Eldarion said suggestively. Proof he did not like his father’s mandate at all and felt she did not totally agree with it either.

Nauriel sighed and looked at her son. He was right to think that she did not completely agree with his father's mandate.

"Judge the situation for yourself," she told him. "If Arina is already with child then leave her. While I too am deeply upset by what she has done I will not separate a child from its father. If she is not with child I leave the decision up to you as what to do with Arina. Whatever decision you make I will support you and take responsibility for it when it comes to your father. Just...just make sure she's alright."

OOC-I remember we had discussed having Arina already be with child when Eldarion and Calista find them. She was then going to almost be pretty much not welcome back in Minas Tirith, nor given any help by her parents. I was thinking that maybe over a few years she has several more children and then Lucas is killed or gets sick and dies and she is forced to return home, seeking help from her father. I can imagine quite a bit of tension between her and her parents. She would still be quite young...young enough to marry again if we wanted to take it that way.

ooc-new thread