Episode 133 We Face This Together
We Face This Together
Cerian searches the woods, keeping still as he holds Arisanna to his chest.
Where did Nebula go? He tied the horse to a tree. He remembers doing it.
But there’s nothing tied to the tree now.
Arisanna doesn’t ask questions, much to his relief, though her heart pounds, and she seems to be holding her breath.
“Breathe,” he whispers in her ear, and she takes a slow, silent breath as Cerian considers the possibilities.
Perhaps he tied the knot wrong, and Nebula simply wandered off.
Or someone untied the horse.
Cerian was on high alert as he accompanied Arisanna, though. Surely he would have heard something if that were the case.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he whispers to Arisanna. “I’m going to speak.” She nods, and he calls out, “Show yourself!”
No one answers or steps out of the shadows.
Wouldn’t someone have revealed themselves by now if they were trying to confront a Prince of Lostariel?
More likely, they would have attacked when Cerian was helping Arisanna with her trousers.
So what happened to Nebula?
“I’m going to check for tracks,” he says quietly. “Stay beside me.”
He loosens his hold on her, but she doesn’t leave his side as he studies the ground where they left Nebula. Of course, their footprints are there, along with the horse’s.
“Can you tell which way he went?” Arisanna asks.
Moss covers much of the ground around them.
“It’s difficult to decipher.” Cerian expands his search radius until he spots horse tracks leading north toward Darlei. “He went this way, but I don’t know if he decided to go home without us or if someone took him.”
“Didn’t you tie him to the tree?”
“I thought so. Perhaps Nebula is more devious than Lightshorn. Lightshorn barely needs to be tied up at all.”
“Lightshorn is your horse. He might be a bit more loyal to you.”
“Clearly,” Cerian mutters. “In any case, no one has attacked us or surprised us. I don’t think we’re in any more danger than before, other than being on foot now.”
“Are we closer to Feressa or Darlei?”
He looks up at the sky and the trees. They still have quite a ways to go to reach Darlei, especially on foot.
“We’re closer to Feressa, but I think we should keep going. I’d offer to carry you to get there faster, but it would be harder to watch our surroundings that way.”
Not that he’s done great so far. Tharios won’t be happy when he finds out they lost his horse. At least Cerian has his knapsack still.
Arisanna’s hand slips into his. “Lead the way, my elven prince.”
He tightens his hand around hers before nodding and stepping north toward Darlei and Windhaven.
And hopefully, Tharios’s horse.
Elowyn sits by the window, watching the people passing on the street. At least her nap helped restore some of her energy.
“Coffee, love?” Rominy asks as he holds out a mug. “I drowned it in sugar and cream, just the way you like it.”
She smiles up at him as she takes the offered cup. “Thank you.”
“I know it’s hard being here instead of out there, but you’ll be on your feet in no time.”
She sips the creamy, sweet concoction. “You’re just trying to cheer me up.”
“Is it working?”
“A little.”
She lifts the mug to take another drink but freezes with the cup hovering in front of her as a curse slips past her lips.
“Why are we swearing?” Rominy whispers, and she’d laugh if dread weren’t knotting her belly.
“It’s Grandmera.”
Rominy follows her gaze out the window, and his heart rate increases. “Is she alone?”
“Pera’s elite warriors surround her, but no one else from my family is with her.” Elowyn’s own heart flies into a frenzy. “Why is she alone?”
“Perhaps they split up? Let’s try not to panic.”
“You’re already panicking.”
“And you’re not?”
“Deep breaths. For both of us.”
“Right.”
They both focus on breathing as the band of elves approaches the hotel.
It helps a little.
“I can’t decide if I’m more terrified that she’s alone or that we’re about to face her wrath for letting Cerian leave with Arisanna,” Rominy whispers. His heart still races despite both their efforts to calm themselves.
And hers isn’t much better.
“Your fear is not misplaced,” Elowyn says. “I neglected to consider that we will bear the burden of revealing that piece of news.”
“Now you tell me. Why did we let them go?”
“Because it was the right thing to do. And I have a feeling.”
“Well, as long as you have a feeling.”
“Are you mocking me, my love?” She looks up at him, and he sighs.
“I’m sorry. Just flailing for anything to relieve the terror drowning me at the moment.”
“Come here.” She sets her coffee on the window ledge and pulls him down to press her forehead to his. “We face this together, my love.”
“Stronger together?”
“Always.”
As he kneels before her with their foreheads touching, both their thrumming hearts slow.
When a knock sounds at the door, Rominy rises to answer it.
“I love you,” Elowyn says as he goes, and he smiles back at her, though it looks forced.
“I love you, too.” He opens the door, and to no one’s surprise, Grandmera stands in the hallway, a grim expression on her face.
Rominy ushers her inside, and once the door is closed, they both look at her expectantly.
“Where is everyone else?” Elowyn asks, dread filling her. “Are they all right?”
“Yes, my elfling.”
Relief fills Elowyn.
“Tharios was near death when we found them,” Grandmera continues, “but he will recover. Your parents stayed with him while I returned to you.”
“Thank the fates,” Elowyn breathes. “What happened?”
“It was as Viala explained. A band of rebels encountered them in the woods, and an altercation ensued. A rebel was pierced by Stardust’s horn, and Tharios fought against the unicorn’s magic to keep the elf alive for questioning.
He was unsuccessful in his attempt and almost paid a heavy price for his efforts, but he will survive. ”
The account sends both Elowyn’s and Rominy’s hearts racing again.
Rominy speaks first, though. “Why did the rebel elves attack?”
“Where is Cerian?” Grandmera asks. “It would be best to speak to you all together.”
Rominy glances at Elowyn, and she grasps for a response. “He’s with Arisanna. We can fill him in later.”
Grandmera eyes her before sighing and nodding. “Very well. It’s the same complaint as ever. They are unhappy with the changes your parents have brought about in Lostariel.”
“You speak of equality among elves from all stations?” Rominy asks.
“Indeed. Whether a full rebellion is brewing or these elves acted in isolation is impossible to say.”
“Which is why Tharios fought to keep that elf alive? To question him?” Elowyn asks. This doesn’t feel real. The rebellion ended before Tharios was even born. Why are they fighting now?
“That was his goal. Instead, your parents will return the remains of Werithen Balenothi to his kin decades after he was declared a traitor to Lostariel and presumed dead.”
“What happens next?” Rominy asks. “For all of us?”
“Elowyn’s parents wish me to accompany you all to Darlei as soon as Elowyn is able to travel. But it occurs to me now that her movements are no longer under the purview of her parents, and I will leave your next steps up to you.”
Rominy swings his gaze toward Elowyn, and her chest constricts. It never once occurred to her to walk away. Surely Rominy wouldn’t favor such a response to unrest in Lostariel. Would he?
Eventually, Rominy turns back to Grandmera. “I’m a Prince of Lostariel now. I won’t abandon Lostariel in her time of need.”
Without thinking, Elowyn launches from her chair toward him, and his eyes grow wide as he runs to catch her before she stumbles to the floor.
“Perhaps it was too soon for that,” she says sheepishly.
“Perhaps?” Strained laughter tinges Rominy’s voice as he holds her steady.
“I’m not convinced you’re well enough to ride all the way to Darlei tonight,” Grandmera says.
“I’m sure I’ll manage.”
“You’re the only one in this room who believes you, love.” Rominy returns her to the chair, and she frowns as she claims her coffee again.
“I am of the same mind as Rominy,” Grandmera says. “No. We will leave tomorrow, and you will ride Nebula together so Rominy can keep you in the saddle.” She turns to Rominy. “I assume you can manage a stallion?”
He nods, though he glances uneasily Elowyn’s way. He told her he watched Cerian and Arisanna ride out on a black stallion while Elowyn slept earlier.
It must have been Nebula.
“Good. Cerian and Arisanna can ride Starlight and Erlos.”
“Starlight is still here?” Elowyn asks. “My poor girl. I completely abandoned her.”
“You were a little under the weather,” Rominy says.
“Indeed.” Grandmera smiles faintly. “Now, I need to speak to Cerian. Is he in his suite? I’m surprised he left your side after being tasked with guarding over you in your parents’ absence. That seems unlike Cerian.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Elowyn says.
Rominy gawks at her.
What else is she supposed to say? These may be the last moments of their lives once Grandmera discovers the truth. Best to prolong them.
But Rominy’s gaze eats her alive, and she sighs.
“Elowyn,” Grandmera says, her voice serious. “What are you hiding from me?”
Elowyn closes her eyes and whimpers before looking up at the ceiling and finally meeting Grandmera’s gaze.
There’s no avoiding it now. “What I’m hiding...is that Cerian isn’t here.”
“He what? He left?”
“He did. He did leave, yes. Because...I sent him home.”