What Lies Beneath

On the front Eldarion and his men fought desperately for their lives. The Northmen, in an attempt to cut off their supply lines launched a sneak attack against their camp followers and everyone, commanders included rushed to defend the men and women that helped an army function. Cooks, clerks, seamstresses and healers were being slaughtered and Eldarion himself was in a pitched battle for their lives as well as his own. Two Northmen tried to get in under his defenses but he was better trained and faster then they were. However their blunt ferocity had its advantages and they managed to wound him though it cost them their lives.

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Gulbrandt poured himself a cup of wine. His body was covered in sweat as he and Laenaya had just had a vigorous moment of lovemaking. She still lay in their bed covered in the sheets and wasn’t facing him. In all reality, it was more than it was her and he knew it. Since they arrived in Minas Tirith, since she had been reunited with her family Laenaya had not been the same. Not how she had been in Gehenna. He put on his pants and sat on a dressing chair not far from the bed. He turned back and looked at her.

“Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong Laenaya? It’s like your miles away from me more than you’re with me. Is this the beginning of the end for us? If it is, will you speak it plain? Must I beg for the truth from you?” he asked softly.

Kressara and Boraden had learned of the fighting on the front and had quickly mounted their horses and and raced that way. At first Kressara hadn't been sure if Boraden would want to fight the people he grew up with, but he had reassured her that this was what he wanted. By the time they reached the front they found the Northmen slaughtering the soldiers and innocent people who took care of the army. As her eyes scanned the frantic scene she spotted someone very familiar...her brother Eldarion! He was fighting two Northmen at once. She tried to get to him in time, but saw one of the Northmen injury him before Eldarion killed them both. She rushed over to his side and wanted to cry because she hadn't seen him in over two years.

"You look like you could use some help," she teased with a smile, though tears shone in her eyes.
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Laenaya's body glistened with sweat and she worked to catch her breath. She hadn't moved yet from the bed. The lovemaking had been a temporary distraction, but now all of her worries and concerns returned. She rolled onto her side with her back to her husband as he got out of their bed to pour himself a cup of wine. She felt as if they were just going through the motions of husband and wife, but that what had once been between them was now gone. She sighed softly as he called her out and she slowly turned over to face him. She sat up and pulled the sheet up around her.

"Things are...different between us now. With...Aslan being taken and now this war between our peoples I feel as if we are caught in the middle. We barely talk anymore. We used to lie awake for hours talking in the dark together. I feel...lost and I feel as I am losing you too."

Eldarion winced as he turned at the sound of voices. It looked as if he and his men had repelled the attackers but alot of damage had been done. He held his side as one of the Northman’s swords scored deep along his ribs. Seeing Kressara after so long...he barely recognized her. “Kressara, is that really you?” He asked as if he was afraid his eyes were playing tricks on him. Bodies of both his men and the Northmen were littered all around him. He nearly was killed and oddly he began to laugh as the adrenaline that had been coursing through his body began to shallow out.

“What...how did you get here?” he asked as he found a crate to sit on. His left hand that held his side was covered in his blood and he groaned as he sat and he held his sword still in his right hand. It was covered in blood as well. Boraden said nothing and he stepped up toward him. “Let us have a look at that wound,” he said and Eldarion glanced at him and did not recognize him. “Who are you? You are not one of my soldiers,” he said as he turned his gaze toward Kressara questioningly.

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‘Aslan is out of our reach,” Gulbrandt said though they both knew that. “I’ve tried to give you everything you’ve wanted. And still it does not seem to be enough. Perhaps it is me you do not want? And you blame me for Aslan’s kidnapping?” He asked pointedly.

Kressara smiled at her brother and took his hand to help him up. His wound would need to be attended to quickly to prevent infection or extensive blood loss. She began to go through her pack to pull out what items she and Boraden would need to clean and stitch his wound. She saw her brother look at Boraden when he asked to see the wound and then her brother's gaze turned to her. This was not the best time to do this, but Eldarion wasn't going to let Boraden touch him until he knew who he was.

"Eldarion, this is Boraden...my husband."

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"No, I don't blame you," Laenaya said as tears came to her eyes. "I blame myself. I was the reason we left the clan and I was the reason you forsook your family. They sought revenge because of me and I was unable to protect my own son."

“Then why do I feel as if you’re punishing me for it all? I know our marriage was arranged but I thought you had come to love me. Has that changed or had it ever been so?” he asked as he took another drink of wine. He still looked at her and spoke calmly but it was hardly what he was feeling inside.

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Eldarion looked up sharply at Boraden who moved onto one knee and seemed all about the business of lifting up his coat to see the wound. “Uh...husband?” he asked as he looked from her to Boraden and back to her again. He winced as Boraden lifted up his coat. “I’m guessing you didn’t involve mother and father then?” He said and then whistled between his teeth the way he used to when one or more of his sisters told him about the mischief they had done and wanted him to clean it all up before their parents found out. Well, he couldn’t fix this, he thought and chuckled.

“Father is not going to like that,” He said plainly and groaned when Boraden worked his coat off of him and ripped at his shirt.

Laenaya looked at her husband as tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "Of course I love you Brandt. But do you still love me?"

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Kressara began to hand Boraden what he needed to clean the wound in her brother's side. "Yes, we've been married a little over a week now. Aunt Lindariel actually performed the ceremony. Don't worry about Mother and Father. I've already written to them and explained everything. Everything happened rather...quickly so I wasn't able to write to them before. How is Mother doing? I only just learned that she nearly died by poisoning of White Snake Root."

“This will need stitches,” he said plainly. “With your...permission? I’ve done this many times but you could wait for a healer,” he added as he waited to see what this Eldarion would do. He had never seen Eldarion before but Kressara had said he was her only brother so he wanted to make a good impression. Boraden was older than Kressara by a fair bit and had more experience in such things that didn’t involve swinging a sword.

“Aye, she did and I doubt she’ll ever fully recover from it,” he began but Boraden cut him off. “1 part Mandalay Root and 1 part dried Fern lily brewed in a tea do much to lessen the lasting effects of Whitesnake Root poisoning,” He said as if he were talking about the weather. Eldarion jerked when he poured a clear alcohol onto the wound. “Stitch or wait?” Boraden said and Eldarion flashed him an irritated look. Partly do to the pain, partly do to how this Boraden spoke to him. “I thank you to speak to me with more respect sir,” Eldarion said as he scowled at him. “Save the speech for one of your soldiers or subjects, I am not one of them,” Boraden said as he held up the needle and thread suggestively. Eldarion’s scowl turned to Kressara and he looked at her questioningly.

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Gulbrandt looked at Laenaya with more than a little incredulity and quite nearly gaped at her. “How could you say that? Look where we are? I’m doing everything I can for your happiness Laenaya!” he said angrily and loudly. He stood and threw his cup onto the floor. Red wine splashed across the floor tiles.

Kressara felt the tension between Eldarion and Boraden begin to increase drastically as the seconds ticked by. She had hoped for a better introduction. She knew that her brother felt vulnerable and rather exposed and she had just dropped this bombshell on him that she had just gotten married. Boraden was only trying to help and she guessed that he felt a little threatened by her brother who was a Prince. To compound all of that he was now fighting against the people who had raised him. She decided against telling Eldarion about that right now. She could only assume that it would not make him happy.

"Eldarion, this wound needs to be stitched up now and Boraden knows what he is doing. I cannot sit here and babysit you two when there are many other people who require help. I expect you both to behave," she said also looking at Boraden and giving him a sharp look that said she meant it. "Now, with that settled I will check up on you both in a little while." She then got up and walked away from them both, leaving them to handle this situation while she tended to other wounded.

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Laenaya visibly jumped at the sound of the cup hitting the floor tiles and it did little to curb her tears. In fact, the tears began to come faster now and she was on the verge of sobbing. "I don't know what's wrong with me," she said as she looked away from him.

“Do you want me to go bring ‘him’ back? I won’t succeed if I try. And instead of just losing a brother, Auriela will lose a father too,” Gulbrandt said angrily. He was an emotional and passionate sort, letting his feelings show most of the time and when it came to his son, Aslan, He had alot of pent up grief and anger over his kidnapping that he knew would never truly heal. “But if you ask me too, I will go and try to bring him back!” He said as he stood by the end of the bed.

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“Kressara, stick your sword in any down Northmen you see,” Boraden said before she departed. “I’m not her subject, I’m her husband. And I’ve proven my loyalty to her. To her and no one but her. A marriage on itself does not make me one of your family nor does it mean that I’ve given oaths to Gondor or King Elessar. My oaths are for Kressara alone and where she goes, I go to watch her back,” Boraden said as he began the first stitch. Eldarion winced but did not flinch as he wanted to.

“So you would fight and kill those you called kinsmen then?” Eldarion asked bluntly and expected him to say he would not. “I will. I will not seek out their lives for I have no open blood feud with them but I no longer call them my kinsmen nor is the Northern territories my home. Kressara is my wife and my home now and anyone who intends to do her harm, will I kill,” Boraden said plainly as if he were saying water was wet. He would not seek blood and killing but he would not shy away from it either.

Laenaya continued to cry. She was upset over quite a few things that had happened and it was all coming out at once. She and Brandt had once been quite close and she had felt as if she could talk to him about anything, but now she felt they were worlds apart and she truly needed him. She shook her head when he asked her if she wanted him to go and try to bring back Aslan. She knew he would just be killed and that the Northmen would probably also kill their son. "I...I just want things to be as they once were between us. I feel as if you have put up a shield around yourself and you don't talk to me as you once did."

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Kressara nodded and stepped away from the two men. She hoped that they would eventually get along. She knew her brother could be rather protective of his sisters and she hoped that he would see past the fact that Boraden was raised by the Northmen and see his good heart. She did as Boraden instructed and she stuck her sword into all of the down Northmen she came across. She spent some time helping the wounded and gathering up spilled supplies before heading back over to her brother. Boraden had finished stitching him up and stepped aside for them to talk.

"I love him Eldarion," she told him gently. "I feel connected to him like no one else I have ever known. And I know he loves me. I hope that you can be happy for me and see the good in him."

Gulbrandt just shook his head as he listened to her words. Was she really saying these things? He wondered. What did she think he was trying to do? In that moment he felt that no man ever tried to be content with their situation as he had tried. “You tell me you’re not happy in the North and we come south. You tell me you’re not happy in Gehenna and we come to Minas Tirith. We lose ‘our’ son...MY boy! And the rift between us is MY fault!” He shouted and then he heard Auriela crying from her room. The sound stopped them both up short and Gulbrandt just held up his hand to Laenaya. A sign to her that he would take care of her, and he briskly walked out into the hall to tend her.

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Eldarion watched Boraden wrap a soldier’s thigh as he listened to Kressara. “The light knows we all deserve to be happy but as of late, father’s stance on that have changed. He confided in me that he had hoped that his daughters...and his son as well, could have made matches that would ensure peace between the nations of middle earth that could have lasted generations. He was ‘disappointed’ that we married for love only,” Eldarion said. “I can appreciate his point of view but I feel he puts to much responsibility on us to bring peace to the world in this way,” He added and wiped a bit of grime from his face with his forearm. He looked at Kressara. “I’ll not begrudge you for your choices Kressara. God knows I’m not perfect, but we’ve made it more difficult for our family, for the future. Part of me agrees with him but each time I look at Calista and my boys I know I’d never change anything or take back my choices. The world is changing and the world of men struggles against itself. I can feel it in the air. Smell the blood and doom of our existence,” He said as his eyes took on a distant, glazed look as he thought of all the death that he had seen lately. “How many lives are worth giving up one person’s happiness? I can’t dismiss what he wanted for the nations of the world. And now he must expend flesh and blood to achieve what we could have if we gave a thought to anything but ourselves,” he said almost bitterly as he looked into her eyes.

Kressara listened to her brother as he spoke. She remained quiet, but her expression changed slowly as he continued on. Her jaw set more firmly and she had to force herself to un-clench her fists. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could he or their father believe that they had been selfish? She had to look away for a moment before she looked back at him and responded.

"We haven't thought about anything but ourselves? Laenaya had her pick of no less than 8 different suitors, but she agreed to marry a Northman to try and bring about peace between our two peoples. She left home and went with him to the North. Even after the peace talks failed she remained married to him and watched as her own son was kidnapped by the Northmen right in front of her! Calista, your own wife, put up with you publicly cheating on her and stuck by you as you repaired your image to our people. She then gave you twin boys to carry on our family line and secured the throne. Calene married a man of Dunedain descent to carry on that bloodline and I strongly feel that Boraden is of Dunedain descent as well. I am also willing to give up my life to end this fight and bloodshed. Boraden is my soul mate and he gave up the right to return to the only home he has ever known for me. No one will ever be able to convince me that what I or any of my sisters did was selfish."

She turned and walked away from him and over to where Boraden was tending to a soldier. She gave him a loving look before looking back down at the soldier. "How can I help?"

The next morning Laenaya was asked if she and Auriela wanted to have breakfast with Nauriel. There was a small table set outside for them to enjoy the morning sunshine and warmth. Nauriel was dressed in a pale yellow dress and white embroidery that only exposed a little of her cleavage. Elessar liked such dresses on her and since she was still to weak to...satisfy him in the way she knew he needed, she chose other ways to keep him thinking about her and part of her liked how he looked at her when she wore such dresses as well.

There were breads and sweet rolls as well as an egg, cheese and vegetable dish that Laenaya loved as the main course. To drink their was tea and also a berry drink mixed with a sweet white wine that was a bit sweet for Nauriel but she knew Laenaya loved. She waited patiently for her daughter and granddaughter to arrive though she was disappointed that Elessar could not attend. He had meetings with his generals all morning and likely all afternoon to discuss the war.

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After a few hours, soldiers had come to replace those that had been killed in the ambush. The supplies and camp-followers were sufficiently protected which meant that Kressara was free to join the fighting if she wanted.

When Laenaya woke up the following morning Brandt was nowhere to be found. Echoes of their argument from the night before still rang in her head. She didn't know what they were going to do to save their marriage, but they needed to do something. She knew that ultimately blame could be placed equally on both of their shoulders, but what did blame matter at this point? Blame wouldn't fix what was broken and she knew that she did want to fix their marriage. If she was being completely honest she had been scared and unsure going into this arranged marriage with Brandt. She knew little about the Northmen apart from what she had heard. But Brandt had come in and had been just as unsure as her and overtime they had opened up to one another and had ultimately fallen in love. It had taken time, but she knew that she did love him. Seeing him hold their son Aslan for the first time had brought tears to her eyes because she had seen just how happy he was. They had thought they were safe in Gehenna and they had each let their guard down. Aslan's screams of fear and cries for help still haunted Laenaya's dreams at night. She wanted him back, but the risk and cost were just too great. She would lose either Brandt or they would kill Aslan, or both.

Laenaya got up and began to dress, wanting to go find Brandt and talk to him, but before she could a servant delivered a message from her mother asking for Auriela and herself to join her for breakfast. She was hungry and she knew Auriela would be too so she finished dressing and then dressed her daughter for breakfast. Together she walked with Auriela down to her parent's apartments and was shown in by a servant. Laenaya was dressed in silver and Auriela in green. Laenaya could smell the sweet rolls and eggs before even stepping out onto the balcony. She curtsied to her mother before placing Auriela into a chair between her mother and herself and then taking the seat across from her mother. Though she tried to hide it with a smile, the worry she felt for her marriage, was reflected in her eyes.

"Good morning Mother. It was wonderful of you to invite Auriela and I to join you for breakfast. This all looks amazing."

Nauriel’s eyes and her heart brightened when she saw her daughter and granddaughter enter on to the terrace. Having her daughters here with her was a extravagance that she fully intended to enjoy while it existed. “Could you help serve Laenaya?” She asked and began to pour them some tea. “I’ve asked to servants to leave us to ourselves this morning,” Nauriel said and smiled as she filled Auriela’s cup with milk that was slightly chilled from the larder. After the food and drinks were served and they were all settled back to sitting Nauriel picked up a sweet roll and took a bite.

“You must tell me everything you’ve been up to, how are you and Brandt? I see Auriela has grown and appears to be healthy and happy,” She said as she looked at her and tickled her chin playfully as she took another bite. Auriela giggled as she ate a piece of melon.

Laenaya served them each a plate with a helping of the egg, vegetable quiche, some fruit, and a sweet roll. Auriela received the same, but on a smaller plate. The six year old was content to just sit there, enjoying the sunshine and listening to the birds. Laenaya took her seat again and began to eat some of the fruit. She tried to maintain an appearance of happiness, but underneath it all a deep crack was forming that threatened to shatter the facade she had put up. At the mention of her husband's name a change momentarily came over her expression. She picked up her tea up to try and hide it.

"Auriela has been growing quite like a weed lately. She's going through a growth spurt and it seems that as soon as I have new dresses made she has already grown out of them. She is quite happy to be here though and able to spend time with her grandparents."

Nauriel saw a change in Laenaya but it was gone before she could really know what it was that she saw. “Aye, she is getting so big!” Nauriel mused as she playfully grabbed hold of Auriela’s toes and shook them lightly as she laughed. “She’s going to be so beautiful, like her mother,” She said then took a sip of the tea. This was such a treat to have so many grandchildren within reach. She was beside herself with joy each time she was able to spend time with them. “We’ve received word from Kressara. She is well. And...she is...married,” Nauriel said with a sigh. “I’ll have to wait to learn more. She appears to have...her mother’s wanderlust, it appears,” she said and tried to make her expression a dry one but she couldn’t help but grin at that. She truly hoped that she was alright. ‘Light, play she is alright!’

“I did want to talk t you about something Laenaya. I chose to speak to you first instead of making my request to Brandt directly,” She said and took a bite of her egg.

Laenaya smiled at her daughter and couldn't believe how big she was getting. She still remembered how small she had once been and now she was running around and playing and was already asking for her own horse. She put down her tea cup and picked up a sweet roll to take a bite, but before she could her mother informed her of Kressara's marriage. Her eyes grew wide in response and at first she wasn't sure what to say. She knew that Kressara had been involved with two different men, but one had been killed in battle, and the other had married another woman and was now living in the city. Clearly, their parents had not been aware of her relationship with this man which made her think this all happened rather quickly.

"Well, I hope she has finally found lasting happiness. She truly deserves it. I look forward to meeting the newest member of our family in the future."

She took a small bite of the sweet roll and dabbed the corner of her lips with her napkin as her mother went on to tell her that there was something specific she had wanted to talk to her about. She began to fear that perhaps she and father knew about the problems with her marriage to Brandt. The thought embarrassed her, but she went on as if this was not the case.

"Oh? What was it that you wanted to speak to me about?"

Nauriel didn’t respond immediately. She took another bite of the egg, it was quite good, and then another sip of her tea. “Elessar and I are...concerned about Calene and Deshane. We’ve not heard from them in a while and considering our recent troubles AND the war...well, every soldier we can spare is riding to join the front,” Nauriel said then shifted her attention to Auriela who was pounding on her plate and almost tipped it over. “We’d like Gulbrandt to go check on them and deliver a message,” She said as she smiled at Auriela who was trying to talk to them.

OOC-I just glanced back at how old Auriela is at this point and she should be 6 years old right now so I think we've both been playing her a little younger than she really is lol

IC-Laenaya took a few bites of the egg dish while listening to her mother. Auriela was eating happily and was trying to imitate herself and Nauriel in their movements. She hadn't heard from Calene herself in a while. She thought it would be nice to go see her sister, but her mother only mentioned Brandt going. She took another sip of her tea and set the cup down carefully.

"Well, I can certainly ask him and see if he would be willing to do that," she said as she smoothed out the napkin on her lap a few times. She looked away from her mother and turned her attention off the terrace for a moment. "I'm sure it won't be a problem though."

Nauriel had been watching her daughter more closely this time when she had gotten around to getting to the point of calling her to breakfast. What she saw was someone, a woman, her daughter, was hiding something. Or at the very least keeping something to herself. And it likely had to do with her husband.

If Nauriel was completely honest, she did not really care for Brandt. But she felt that he really did love her. Love alone was never enough however. And so she decided to pry a little.

“Laenaya, is there...something wrong? I don’t mean to pry,” she said though she actually did. “Are you and Brandy...happy?” She asked.

When her mother finally spoke up and asked Laenaya if something was wrong, Laenaya felt a few tears come to her eyes. They never fell, but they shimmered there in the morning sunlight. She didn't want to break down and cry in front of her mother and daughter, but she needed someone to talk to and she always felt that she could talk to her mother.

"Yes, something is wrong," she finally replied while barely keeping herself together. "We're both...unhappy and I don't know how to fix it. We had a terrible fight last night and he left and I haven't seen him since. Ever since Aslan's kidnapping I know I haven't been the same. I feel like a part of my heart was ripped from my chest. I know Brandt feels the same, but he won't talk to me. We just don't talk anymore."

Nauriel’s heart went out to Laenaya. A woman who sounded as if she still loved her husband and wanted to fix what was wrong. Nauriel kneelw she shouldn’t get involved. But she saw real pain there, in Laenaya’s eyes. She felt herself tearing up as well. The problem was, what could she really do? She looked at Auriela who was uncertain of what was happening but the girl seemed occupied with what was on her plate at them moment.

“When was the last time you and Brandt had just been...you and Brandt?” Nauriel asked. She saw Laenaya thinking and she smiled warmly at her as the idea formed in her head. “What if you accompanied him to see your sister? We could watch over Auriela while your gone,” she suggested and reached over the table to take her daughter's hand. “You could just be alone for a while, talk things out,” she added.

Laenaya thought about her mother's idea for a moment that she accompany Brandt to see Calene and Deshane while her parents watched Auriela. It had been a long time since they had been alone together like that. She loved her daughter deeply, but she felt as if some time away from...everything might be good for Brandt and her. Perhaps they could finally talk and work things out. She wasn't ready to give up on their marriage yet. There needed to be some way to make this work.

"If you could do that I would greatly appreciate it," she said as she gave her mother's hand a gentle squeeze. "Brandt and I have a lot to discuss and I'm not ready to give up on us just yet. There has to be a way to fix this."

Not long after he woke, Elfwine was dressed and out of the palace before anyone realized he was gone. He took what he had before, more coins from his allowance that had grown sizable do to the fact that he never really used or thought of it. Recently though he had learned that money could make those less fortunate than himself happy. He didn’t understand how someone could go hungry when there was food to be bought on every corner. He hoped Asterin would be along soon and he bought an extra loaf of bread like before to feed the ducks with.

Doretha was surprised when Elfwine hadn’t come down for breakfast. He normally liked to eat the first meal more than the others and she always made sure he got what he liked and alot of it. This morning though he hadn’t come so she sought him out in his rooms but after a short search she noticed his boots and the knife he was never without was gone. Frantically she checked all the places he could be including the privy but he was nowhere to be found and no guard she passed had seen either. She knew The queen was not going to be happy about it but she had to tell her that Elfwine was missing.

As Nauriel and Laenaya changed the subject to a much lighter topic, the upcoming ball, Doretha, Elfwine’s nanny entered and stepped up to the terrace. She was flanked by two guards and all 3 held worried expressions upon their face. “My queen...Princess…” Doretha said and curtsied low. “I’m so sorry for disturbing you but Elfwine did not come to breakfast and...and” She began but her eyes filled up with tears and her lips trembled. “He’s gone missing my lady,” She said with difficulty.