The Search

Gordon Jelonie looked nervously out onto the street. His face had a bit of grime on his left cheek and his dark hair was so damp from sweating it clung to his head. The curtains only allowed a sliver of light into the small room as he stooped to look to see if anyone had followed them. A woman, his wife Halena held Meliara to her breast and bounced her up and down. Meliara’s face and eyes were red from crying but she now only wimpered. In her hand was a carved, wooden wolf that she held to her and she looked around the dark room in confusion and uncertainty.


“Dey closed the city Helana, we gots ta stay here a bit more,” Gordon said as he peered out from the window. “Just a day or two me thinks then we kin ride outta ere,” he told her.


“Two days? Two days Gordon!? The kings guard is out there!” Keep yur bloody voice down!” Gordon said sharply as he turned back from the window to scold her. Helena scowled at him then began to bounce Meliara again when she began to fuss once more. “We ain’t gotta lick ta eat an if anyone finds us ere Gordon...If they find us…” She said worriedly but they both knew what it would mean. There plan was to get out of the city and ride to the farm. A simple enough plan but as they sat their horses, Meliara was crying and guards had run up to the gate they were at. He didn’t blame the girl really, they just weren’t quick enough. Now they’d have to wait until the gates were re-opened. This store room obviously hadn’t been used in ages. Dust and cobwebs were everywhere and the wooden shelves sagged from the weight of the cloth-wrapped clay and pottery making devices that filled them. He barred the door from the inside and set the lock back on the door but not through the ringlet. The door looked secure at a glance but a closer inspection would reveal that it was not.


Einor had squads combing the street. They had found the discarded blue dress and officers uniform in the merchants quarter. They were inside an empty crate. He was going to find Ariana’s daughter if he had to tear the city apart!


Calista held a cool compress on Ariana’s forehead as she lay on her bed in her apartments. 6 hours had passed since Meliara was taken and still Ariana didn’t speak or seem to react to anyone or anything. Eldarion came into the room, as he gestured for the guards behind him to stay where they were. He closed the door behind him and came up to the bedside.


“No change?” He asked Calista who had a concerned look on her face. She was just a couple weeks away from birthing and she stifled a groan as the babies kicked from inside of her.

To say that Calista was worried about her sister-in-law would be an understatement. Of course she didn't blame her. As an expectant mother herself she knew that if something like that happened to either one of her children she would react the same way. Ariana had tried to go out to look for her daughter, but when she had been stopped she had broken down again and that was when the healers had ordered her taken to bed. Ariana's eyes were open, but she didn't speak or react to anyone. She simply clung to Meliara's favorite stuffed toy. Her daughter was out there somewhere and she didn't know if she was hurt, or cold, or hungry. It upset Ariana even more to know how scared she probably was.

Calista lightly pressed the cool compress against Ariana's forehead. The healers were worried about her and decided that if she didn't sleep soon that they would slip her something that would make her sleep. Calista heard the door open and looked over to see Eldarion. She hoped for a moment that he brought good news, but she could immediately tell that wasn't the case. She sighed and shook her head when he asked her about his sister.

"Any word from your father?" she asked quietly. A messenger had been immediately dispatched to bring word of what had happened to the King, though no one knew how long it would take him to get back to Minas Tirith.

Eldarion shook his head silently to her question. With embers of the possibility of real war on the horizon, The King had the difficult task of ensuring that the companies posted on the edges of Gondor were in good order. It would take time just for a message to get to him and more time for him to return, if he did return early. The Harad were still out there and had been testing their forces. Small probes to count their men and horses.

“I’ve sent a messenger to Gahanna as well but the same problem exists there too. Mother is a fast rider and will likely arrive in 2 or 3 days. Any messenger will take 4. That means a week from this morning at the absolute earliest,” he explained. “We are on our own wife and Kressara is holding court, a task she, and I quote, ‘Would rather muck out stalls than sit on the that throne’”, he said plainly. Normally he would have made fun but with his niece gone, taken by...someone, a man? A woman? More than one? He didn’t know, he could find no mirth in anything right then.

“Floran has been asking for her,” he added as he looked down at his sister, concern grew on his face as he did so. “He says he wants to help look for Meliara,” Eldarion said. “He did give me the idea of offering a reward though for Meliara’s safe return,” he said as he rubbed his chin in thought. “What do you think about that Calista? Would that encourage more people to do things like this?” He wondered to her.

Calista sighed and nodded. She knew Eldarion was right of course. It would take days for any messenger to reach either the King or Queen. They were on their own in this and Calista could only hope against hope that her niece was returned safely. She couldn't imagine how Ariana would react to anything else.

She looked over at her sister-in-law and rubbed her stomach as the twins kicked. She listened as her husband told her that Floran was wanting to help look for Meliara and had suggested offering a reward for her safe return. She motioned for Eldarion to help her stand and then she walked with him into the study where Ariana wouldn't be able to over hear them. She didn't want to upset her any further.

"I am not sure if offering a reward is a good idea," she replied honestly. "While offering a reward may not directly encourage people to do something like this again in the future, we may not want to advertise that we are willing to pay either. However, we need to get Meliara back." She was quiet a moment before looking at him again. "Has any word come of why Meliara was taken? Are they wanting money?"

Eldarion rubbed his temples, he had a raging headache that had come on soon after he woke. Though he slept very little. He allowed Calista to take over with the rubbing and sighed. “No, there is no word. And you know I can’t keep the gates closed for much longer,” he said and looked deeply into Calista’s eyes. “Every man, woman and child friendly to the crown is looking for her Calista. I don’t know of much else I can do!” He said in a pained voice. “I can’t protect my own family!” He added, putting the blame for this upon himself though he had already handed out new orders for the guards. No man or woman unrecognized is to be allowed access to the palace or the courtyard. Guests are to have an escort. No exceptions.

Eldarion hardly ever cried but he looked as he wanted to now, and he did want to. Little Meliara...as sweet as sweet could be. Elfwine and their own children due soon...he ‘had’ to protect them. He had to! He thought. She’d see the guilt begin to take its toll upon him as the whispers of failure and ineptitude tossed doubt around his head like dice.

Einor busted down another door with a hard kick. Wood from the frame cracked and splintered as it fell in to reveal 3 men who were taken completely by surprise. The first though didn’t hesitate to draw out his sword then rush at him. Boxes and barrels were all around the small room along with 3 makeshift cots and blankets. A for bloomed in the small hearth and the smell of over cooked meat and moldy cheese filled the room. Einor allowed the man to rush him before he simply turned his body and evaded his thrust. With a gauntleted hand he grabbed hold of the man’s wrist then shoved him outside. The man fell to the ground amongst several soldiers who seized him immmediately. The others put their hands on their swords but then raised their hands and went onto their knees.

“Quarter! We give up, quarter!” They screamed as if he had drawn his sword with the intent to skin them alive. “Oh do be silent!” He said. As guards came in and disarmed them he singled out the one that looked the youngest and most frightened. He took him aside and peered down at him with angry eyes.

“I’m looking for a small child between 1 and 2 years old and those who took her. “Speak me where they can be about and you might only get the stocks,” he said plainly. The one that had attacked him was already in irons and was being ‘softened up’ by the soldiers outside. His groans of pain as they struck him made sweat pour from the younger man’s forehead.

Calista sighed softly as she began to gently rub Eldarion's temples. He was tense...very tense and she could see how truly worried he was about his niece. He had come to love Meliara like she was his own and was extremely protective of her and Elfwine. She knew that he was going to make an excellent father.

"No, Eldarion don't you do that...don't you start to blame yourself for this. This was not your fault and I won't allow you to place that burden on your shoulders. This should never have happened, but that does not mean you are to blame."

She wrapped her arms around him and held him as best she could considering she was heavily pregnant with twins. "We will get her back Eldarion. Einor has his best men out there looking for her and I doubt he will rest until he finds her." She was quiet a moment before remembering something. "He came to speak to you the other day, didn't he? Was it about Ariana?"

“Aye...he wanted to know about Lucas and Bree and what his prospects might be socially and professionally if he married Ariana,” he said softly into her neck. “Apparently Ariana had...led him on though she was also with Lucas. And then she was gone,” he explained. “He’s courting Merylan Dilliard and isn’t certain what to do,” he continued. “If he court’s Ariana, Merylan will not want him back or so he says. I love my sister but I can understand Einor’s trepedations. But he will need to figure it all out soon I think. Floran really likes her,” Eldarion said. “I’m just not certain if Ariana wants an older man, though I think she’d be the perfect fit for him. I think she has eyes for Einor though...what do you think?” he asked.

Calista listened quietly to what Eldarion told her. It didn't surprise her that Einor was still interested in her. She could still remember how he would wait around the palace for hours just for an opportunity to see her...even if it was just for a moment or two.

"Ariana is slowly redeeming herself. She is not the same person she was two years ago. She had grown and matured and is now a mother who understands the hardships life can bring. She clearly cares very much for her daughter and is willing to do whatever she has to in order to ensure a good life for her. We all have made mistakes and we all have grown from them. I personally think Einor could find no better woman to marry than Ariana. However, the choice is his. As for Floran, he is a good man but I have observed Ariana with him and there isn't the same look in her eyes for him as there is for Einor. That doesn't mean it won't develop in time though and he would be able to provide for both herself and Meliara."

“That’s what worries me,” he said and lifted up his head tough he kissed her on her neck once before he did. “She gets all googly-eyed when she sees him. And yet, I feel Floran would be more attentive. That and Floran’s occupation is...less dangerous. I worry that if anything happened to Einor, Ariana would not recover from that loss. The decision is hers ofcourse but Einor has never encountered loss. Everything has always been easy for him. He is strong and tall and fast and smart...and good looking. Floran lost both his wife and unborn babe in the same day and has had to work for everything he has. I’ve seen the way he looked at her too,” Eldarion said then sighed and looked over at Calista. “And I know we all make mistakes,” he added and his brow furled at her right then. He was certain she was talking about him and that obviously upset him just now.

Calista put her fingers under Eldarion's chin and forced him to look at her. "When I said that I was making a general statement...not one aimed at you so you can unfurl your brow. Ariana will have to make this decision on her own and I'm sure whoever she chooses will be the right man for her. Right now though we need to focus on getting Meliara back. Is there anything I can do to help?"

ooc: new thread, let me know if its ok or not.