Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter 22: The Return of a Warrior




Ellie had to say, she quiet enjoyed the hot bath she got right after Dreyden had given his little speech.
She had only gotten out long after the water had cooled, and then a maid helped her into a robe of thick wool.
   “Shall I fetch a dress ma’am?’ The maid asked.
   “Uh…yes. Of course.” Elowen hesitated. She wasn’t use to someone being at her beck and call. The maid ran off, leaving Ellie alone in her large room.
She slipped her feet into a pair of fur slippers to protect her from the cold stone floor. Walking out from behind the changing screen she gazed at her room.
Drey’s friend, Gregory, had ordered servants to show them to their rooms and to draw up baths for each of them. She had been slightly hesitant to leave the boys, but once she saw they were only down the hall she felt better. Plus, Drey promised to come fetch her before supper.

The room she got was trimmed in furs for the winter. The large four poster bed had purple drapes so she could have some privacy at night. There were three windows in her room, two were just slits, but the third was larger and trimmed in stained glass of different colors.
Heavy wooden furniture had been placed around the room, a table and a chair for meals she wanted to eat alone, a vanity table with a stool, and a mirror so she could do her hair, and then a massive wardrobe that held thousands of different dresses.

“Here you are ma’am.” The maid had returned with a green dress that was the most fanciest item of clothing Ellie had ever laid eyes on.
The maid helped get the dress on, tightly lacing up the stays in the back.
She had even gotten a pair of matching shoes that were extremely uncomfortable.
   “Shall I fix your hair?”
   “No!” Ellie hadn’t meant to shout and startle the poor girl. She quickly composed herself.
   “No thank you. Um…I think that will be all for now.” She said, not wanting to sound rude. But the maid didn’t notice, she just curtsied and left the room.

Elowen waited a few moments to make sure she was gone, then kicked off the painful shoes and replaced them with her boots.
   “Ah,” She sighed with relief. “Much better. I don’t know how girls stand walking about all day in those shoes…” She moved stiffly to the looking glass. “Or in these dresses for that matter. I can’t even breathe!”
She rolled her shoulders trying to loosen the stays but to no avail. Groaning she gave up.
If she was allowed to say so, she thought she looked quiet pretty in the dress.
The green fabric made her eyes seem bigger, and her hair redder.
It was trimmed in fur, including the collar and the sleeves that draped open, but those were just for fashion, the real sleeve was skin tight to her arm. The skirt had lots of material, and had intricate designs running down it in gold thread.
It was beautiful, but she refused to think how many yewns it cost.
She pulled her hair over one shoulder and braided it quickly, wanting it out of her way.
Once that was done she decided to explore the castle a bit.
As she went for the door, she paused at the large wardrobe, then finally opened it up and grabbed a dark red cape before leaving her room.

Outside her room she was shocked when she saw everyone running in the same direction. Everyone was running, the servants, the nobles, the cooks. Everyone.
Elowen pushed against the flow and moved towards Merek’s door, pounding on it once she got there. After pounding for a few more moments she gathered up the courage to open the door and walk in.
She found Merek standing by the window, with nothing but trousers and boots on.
   “Oh for goodness’ sake!” She cried picking up a tunic from the open wardrobe and throwing it at the back of his head. Merek turned around, shock to find her in his room.
   “Get changed. Something’s happening outside.”
He picked up the tunic and threw it over his head. She noticed his hair was still wet, and he was clean shaven.
   “What is it?”
   “How should I know? I only just came out of my room and found everyone scrambling about so I came to find you and Dreyden.”
Merek ran a hand through his hair as he looked at her.
   “Aye, you clean up nicely lass.”
Ellie scowled at him before punching his arm.
   “What? I meant that in a nice way, and of course I know you belong to Drey, so no I wont be getting any ideas. Besides,” He gave her a half smile as he opened the door. “You’re a little young.”
Ellie rolled her eyes as she followed him back out into the hallway. She followed in his wake as he pushed past people.
She let him do the pounding on Dreyden’s door, while he tightened his weapons belt. Drey opened his door immediately, unlike Merek.
He paused once he saw Elowen, now in her new clothes and clean. She sighed and decided to get to the point.
   “Come on, let’s see where everyone’s going.” She said, taking off with the flow before either boy could react.

Ellie was growing impatient as the flow of people wound their way through hall after hall. She finally gave up trying to be slow for the boys and ran off through the crowd, dodging people, holding her skirts up in her hands as she did so, to avoid tripping on them and ruining the beautiful dress.
Finally she was spit out onto a wide balcony that had a view of the courtyard they had walked through just several hours earlier.
She looked around at the sudden space she had. Then moved towards the rail of the balcony to look over the edge. On a balcony opposite of the one she stood on was the council that Drey had spoken to. They were quietly arguing amongst themselves, pointing down at the courtyard.
Ellie looked down and came near to fainting.
   “Elowen?” Comforting arms caught her before she could hit the floor.
Drey and Merek were by her side as soon as they had caught up with her, when she nearly fainted Drey’s heart almost gave out.
Once she was in his arms, she shook her head and regained her feet.
She took off once again, running back the way they had just come.
   “Elowen!”
Drey and Merek looked down at the courtyard and then back at each other.
There was a girl in the courtyard, not one that fit in with the other girls in Falion.
She wore a silver breastplate and leather pants, her boots were high, past her knees. A red crimson cape flapped in the wind, a sword hung against her hip, her long red hair looked familiar.
   “Who’s she then?” Merek asked. Drey shook his head, not knowing the answer.
   “Come, lets find Elowen.” Drey said, walking back into the castle.

Elowen took the stairs two at a time, not caring if she stumbled on her dress. The door to the courtyard was full of people curious, but scared to venture out. She shoved her way through the crowd, people hissing sharply at her but letting her pass.
Running into the courtyard, she stopped, starring at the figure before her in disbelief. Her eyes trying to take her in but it seemed impossible.
The girl was doing the same to her, her green eyes growing wide in surprise.
She took a step towards her, hesitant and unbelieving.
   “Elowen?” She breathed.
Ellie let out a quiet sob and ran forward.
The two girls met in the middle, clashed together in a hug so tight the life might leave them.
   “Jedika I never thought I’d see you again!” Elowen cried.
Jedika gently pulled Elowen away and looked at her. Tears streamed down her face as she smiled.
   “You didn’t think I’d leave my little sister to fend for herself did you?” She said with a chuckle.
   “Look at you! My little sister all grown up. No longer little anymore. Quite a lovely lady. Is it safe to say you have caught a husband yet?” Jedika winked, but noticed the blush upon her sister’s cheeks.
   “Oh! So there is.”
   “No, no.” Ellie glanced over her shoulder as Dreyden and Merek ran in to the courtyard. “Not yet at least.”
Her sister smiled.
   “You always did have high standards Ellie. And falling in love with a prince?…” She rubbed her sister’s cheek affectionately. “Mother would be proud.”
Elowen cried again and hugged her long lost sister.
Jedika turned to the two men who had followed her sister.
   “Have you come to a decision about the throne?” She called out to the tall dark one. He glanced at his companion, but nodded just the same.
   “Good. Eleyos will be glad to know his plan is working. Where is Kade?”
Ellie was shocked when her sister demanded to see Kade. There were a few mysteries that had yet to be solved.
   “Go fetch him for me will ya?” Jedika called. The prince motioned to his companion and he ran off back into the castle.
   “Jedika, where have you been?” Elowen asked.
Jedika gave her a sad smile.
   “All will be told in time, but now is not the time. Prince, I do believe you have a council meeting that I am to escort you too.”
Dreyden gave her a confused look but turned to the council members that had grown silent on the balcony.
   “Right then, I suppose we reconvene now. Meet me in the council room in fifteen minutes.” He called.
Drey disappeared into the castle as well, and Jedika took her sister’s hand.
   “Come little sister, we must be apart of this meeting.” She said, leading the way into the castle.
   “Oh wont you say where you have been? Or just give a hint?” Elowen pleaded.
   “Let’s just say I have been a guard of a very important object, for a very long time, shall we?”
Ellie shook her head and led the way through the castle, following Dreyden’s distant form.