Medley of Treason

by Elskidor Xell

  "Are you sure you're aren't representing your feelings instead of Bella's? Your self-doubt and belief that you are not equal because of your background? Because Bella has never seen herself as inferior based on her upbringing, but confident of herself and her future,” Laelliandir argued, but his tone was not angry. He went on to explain. “My mother ceremonially titled them as part of this house so they will always belong with us to be cared for. I would have insisted the same done to you if I had been here. I respect you as part of the house Javalla regardless and don't see you as an orphan or commoner any more than I see Fern, Bella or Luminear. You are all welcome, Markus, as a part of our family. Whatever you think of me because of how I've treated Bella is unfair. I don't have to explain myself to you and justify my actions. My life is not a simple as you make it out to be, and I do not make decisions without careful consideration of all involved. Try to trust me." It was true that Markus saw himself as unworthy because the people who should have loved him most had abandoned him leaving him an orphan. Although his life had changed in dramatic ways thanks to Bella, Luminear and the Javalla house, he still carried doubt in his heart. He was too proud to accept someone else’s surname to make him feel important.

  "I don't need your name. I know who I really am, but I am grateful for your generosity, because I love Bella, I keep my expectations high. I ask you to let her go. Walk away if you don't share her feelings. It will cause her nothing but heartache and pain. Don't lead her on to abandon her. That's all I ask. I'm sorry for my ill words, but I can't see her...”

  "I understand." Laelliandir interrupted. "I have much to consider, but I assure you Bella is safe. I won't put her in harm's way, and I will make clear of my intentions. She knows of my struggles, and I will make her aware of my thoughts." Markus sighed.

  "I hope so. I hope you know what you are doing." Laelliandir hoped the same, but for far more than just Bella. He could not share the complexity of his worries. Burdened with far greater concerns than Bella alone, Laelliandir had much to consider. He spared his other thoughts and gave Markus the only answer he needed.

  "I will make it up to Bella tomorrow, and when I make a promise to her, I will keep it. Worry no more, Markus. Your best friend is very important to me as well. You don't have to trust me, but I intend to earn that faith from you." Markus wanted to believe him and knew he had left nothing unsaid. He regretted the harsh way he addressed the man who had given him so much. He kneeled next to Laelliandir again and picked up another small pebble deciding to end the night on a better note.

  "Rock throwing contest?" Markus asked with a smile. "Best of three. Whoever can skip the furthest wins, you pick the prize." Laelliandir returned a smile.

  "I can go for that. I'll wager ten gold coins."

  "Sounds fair. I may need to borrow some from you though. I'm broke again." Laelliandir laughed and agreed to the terms.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Sword Practice

  Returning to places I want to be in my dreams is never certain, but for over a year now, I've almost always seen this Twilight Prince when I sleep. I very much looked forward to seeing him last night especially. I almost felt betrayed and hurt; he was nowhere to be seen. But the blame is for me to carry alone. I was so nervous, heart aflutter yet eager too. Yesterday was such a good day, but I can't remember a thing about my dreams. I woke to a pounding in my head and deeply regretted accepting that wine. It was foolish of me. I can't be mad at Lonewolf for offering, but I can blame myself. Will my prince be mad? Was he waiting for me and I never came? Or did I see him there in our haven and now not remember it? There's no point thinking of it now. Until we meet again, I'll see you in my sleep, Sagus of the Stars, my Twilight Prince.

  -Luminear's Journal

  T he following morning Bella and Luminear woke up to the sound of servants knocking on their chamber door and bringing them steaming hotcakes with fruit preserves and freshly squeezed orange juice. Along with breakfast in bed, they received a delivery of two bouquets of flowers from the florist in town, and a letter addressed to Bella Luna. This extraordinary treatment came with the compliments of the lord of the house, Laelliandir.

  Luminear suffered a slight headache from the wine the night before, but it was nothing a good breakfast wouldn't fix, and Laelliandir had written Bella an official apology for not making it to their scheduled meet and requested a rendezvous with Bella that morning. Luminear was also invited.

  The flowers were a variety of colors and types, handpicked by Laelliandir himself for the two. With winter approaching, flowers were scarce, with only a small variety to choose from. Bella and Luminear were pleased with his choices and devoured the food. Bella responded to his thoughtfulness by forgiving him on the spot, and Luminear was happy to go along. While she was skeptical of Laelliandir's intentions with her sister, and as worried for her as Markus was, she was not the nosy type. Luminear happily supported those she cared for and kept her opinions to herself. She figured Bella would discuss Laelliandir with her when ready.

  After breakfast, Bella threw on her green fighting garb while Luminear put on a long black dress with gold fringe that wrapped around the collar and stretched down past her navel and to the floor. While Luminear wore her black hair loose, Bella's was held in a typical ponytail, to keep as much of it out of her face as possible. Luminear had no interest in sword fighting but often watched her sister fight. When younger, Bella displayed an aptitude for the sport while playing with swords, but now her swordplay was an art to be admired. The little things Lonewolf had taught her when she was younger mixed with Laelliandir's training and her instructor’s made Bella an accomplished combatant. She was skilled at proper dueling as well as spontaneous and sometimes ruthless moves.

  Lonewolf advised her to do whatever it takes to win, and that included playing mind games with the enemy. Bella often made her adversary think she was about to do one thing only to change strategy and do the opposite. "There is no right way to fight. As long as you come out alive, that is all that matters." Lonewolf used to say, although when Bella met Laelliandir, he told her, "The greatest fighter will never have to rely on trickery." Well, Bella took a little of everyone's advice and believed if she ever got the chance, she would be a real menace. What Bella wanted most was to be respected for this skill of hers. She would have preferred Laella Javalla promote her to knighthood or at least acknowledge her creditably and raise her to Guardian of Garroth to be a part of that program. Instead, she was lumped in with her sister and enjoyed the same privilege and respect as a noblewoman of house Javalla with town meetings. It didn't mean as much to her as it did Luminear.

  By the same token Luminear did not share her sister's desire to fight, but she respected it. She saw great honor in their current positions as young ladies and expected Bella would, in time, have the opportunities she sought; however, Bella underestimated the value of what Laella offered them. Gaining the respect of the people and bringing them happiness would most definitely lead to more prospects and better opportunities. Luminear understood her sister had a chance to get to know the very people she would protect if nothing else. It was a valuable lesson for both.

  After preparations were complete, the sisters headed down to the falls behind the keep to meet Laelliandir and were relieved to find this time he was waiting for them. Dressed in loose white fighting robes and armed with his Novanian sword with a blue lion hilt, Laelliandir greeted them both with a smile by the water's edge. Bella gave him a little playful attitude at first for his behavior the night before, but let it go after he apologized a few more times. Luminear found a shady gray stone to sit on under the trees, while Bella and Laelliandir practiced swinging against one another, warming up. It wasn't too cold outside, other than an occasional chill wind blowing through, but the sun's rays still warmed them.

  Bella's rudimentary broad sword was light enough for her, but powerful enough to deal significant blows. The hilt was also a basic silver hilt. Laelliandir had commented more than once it was abou
t time, she got a sword made more for a warrior than a soldier. Bella saw herself as neither a soldier nor a warrior as she had never tested her skill against anyone other than friends and practice objects, but she was not at all opposed to having a better sword one day. After about ten minutes of basic sword clashing and moving up and down the river, Laelliandir suggested Bella come at him with all she had.

  "Everything?" she asked with a smile as they sparred back and forth. Laelliandir nodded.

  "Yes. Come at me with everything."

  "Don't be too hard on him, Bell." Luminear hollered from her safe distance away.

  "Too hard on him? Don't count on it. If I trained a hundred years, I still could not best him."

  "Nonsense. You don't give yourself enough credit," said Laelliandir. "You can wield two swords adequately. Do you realize how difficult that is?" Bella was confident in herself, but Laelliandir's skill was cited alongside Neighraellium and Orion. That title is conferred only on knights who are considered the greatest swordsmen in all the land.

  "Not good enough." Bella ignored the remark and came at Laelliandir swinging fast. Laelliandir caught her sword in every clash, but she continued to pursue him offensively. Every time he jabbed or sliced at her, she countered with her own swings.

  "Why don't you work with your brothers and sisters?" Bella asked as she forced Laelliandir to back up to avoid her mighty strokes.

  "With a blade? I'll bring out the wooden ones while I'm here when I can. You're first in line," he responded in between breaths. "My father, uncle, mother, and I, to a lesser extent, trained them as soon as they were old enough to lift a sturdy stick. It's been a rough two years, but as you are well aware, the school's swordmasters are experts, and I'm sure they are turning out more than fine. They are still young," Laelliandir ducked and countered an aggressive Bella while he spoke. She was enjoying herself, keeping Laelliandir on the defense and in a constant struggle to thwart her.

  "They're good, but not experts. The swordmasters here."

  "Have you bested them?"

  "No. But I have not lost to my tutors in months. They say there is nothing else they can teach me. They are certainly not you," Bella said as she attempted a winning stroke, knocking Laelliandir's sword down, and swaying toward his neck. She had no intention of hitting him, but she would at least win this match. Laelliandir saw Bella's sword ripping through the air and quickly dodged downward as the sword flew overhead. He lunged forward reaching under her sword arm and swung Bella around, wrapping her into his arms. Then he clenched his arms around her pinned arms and brought his mouth to her ear.

  "Not too aggressive," he warned, as Bella groaned. She tried to wiggle her arms, but Laelliandir's grip was vise-like.

  "Ya. I know." Bella replied in frustration. Laelliandir turned her around toward him.

  "Don't get so angry. Anger allows for mistakes, and mistakes will get you killed," Bella looked up to him, wondering how he could stay so level-headed all the time. He rarely got provoked while in a fight. Other than the times she'd seen him around Albatros, she had not witnessed him losing his temper. After a moment, she realized Laelliandir was frozen in place with his eyes locked on her. She stared back at him, not knowing what to say or do as he seemed to have lost all concentration. After a moment, Bella broke the silence with a smile.

  "All right. What are you staring at?" Laelliandir didn't answer but looked away and released his grip on her. Bella sighed as she stepped away and practice swung in the air. "You could have kissed me again. I wouldn't have minded." Laelliandir was still silent, but now he looked uncomfortable. "You are so shy. It's cute."

  "No, I'm not. I'm just-," Laelliandir looked at Luminear looking for support.

  "She's right. What has come over you? It's just Bella. She doesn't bite." Luminear couldn't resist joining her sister in teasing him.

  "I am not shy or embarrassed."

  "Well no, not usually ever, but..." Bella agreed. Then she decided it would be better to show him what she meant. Bella took a few paces forward and leaned in to kiss him on the lips again, not a short kiss either. She caught his lower lip with hers and made it last a few seconds before stepping back to look at him. Bella was far from experienced at kissing but was not nervous about it. After the day before she wanted to kiss again. He did too. If only Laelliandir weren't so reserved, he might have, but he looked lost as if he didn't know what to say or do. He watched Bella as if he wasn't sure if he wanted to kiss her again or bury his head and hide. His face had turned as red as a tomato. Bella pointed to Laelliandir's boyish confused look and shook her head with a smile. "You are very shy, Lae. Don't worry. I like it."

  "Bella. Quit picking on him,” Luminear scolded playfully. Uncomfortable, Laelliandir had never been in a situation like this. He had never been around a girl he liked and one that wanted him too. He kept his distance from such encounters, but his feelings for Bella had slipped up on him.

  "You two couldn't be more wrong. This is some sort of punishment for last night." Laelliandir argued as Bella started toward him with her sword once again.

  "Punishment?" Bella smiled. "You need to learn how to talk around me, Lae. A kiss as punishment?" Bella laughed it off, knowing his distress. "Don't worry about it. I was teasing, and you deserved it." Laelliandir raised his sword to spar once again. Up and down and back and forth, the two returned to their swordplay.

  "Lumi?" Laelliandir asked as he fought.

  "Yes?" She replied.

  "What happened to you and Fern? Before I left, you were talking about fancying him. Did it not work out?"

  "What?" Lonewolf's question startled the three as none of them had seen him coming. He'd strolled from the forest behind Luminear as he chewed on an apple. Laelliandir caught Bella's sword with his, and they paused. Laelliandir grimaced at the unwelcome company while Luminear rose to her feet and playfully hit Lonewolf's shoulder.

  "Do you have to scare people when you make an entrance?" she scolded. Laelliandir tried ignoring him and clashed his sword with Bella's again to continue the spar.

  "It's one way to get your attention." Lonewolf stepped over the gray stone and asked, "Care to share your seat?"

  "First, you scare me. Then you want to share seats?" Luminear smiled as she was only joking. "Go ahead, I don't really care."

  "What were you doing out there, Wolf?" Bella kept Lonewolf and Luminear within her sights while focusing on Laelliandir's strikes.

  "Apple," Lonewolf explained as he took another bite from a green apple he had found in the woods. "Breakfast and all that."

  "We have cooks." Mirthless was Laelliandir's tone. Lonewolf shrugged and took a seat, with Luminear joining him.

  "Aye, but I hate to make more work for the servants. Anyway, I like apples."

  "I guess everyone wins." Laelliandir had not determined what to do about Lonewolf, but he and his mother had agreed the night before to hear Lonewolf's full plan before deciding.

  "What did I hear about you and Fern?" Lonewolf asked Luminear as the two enjoyed the ongoing impressive duel. Luminear covered her head in her hands for a second.

  "Laelliandir!" Luminear complained. "If we are trying to shame people, then Bella is next." Luminear blushed while Bella laughed, knowing the story behind Fern and Luminear and why she didn't like talking about it. Fern had been a victim of gossip that had gotten out of hand a while ago. When Luminear had first begun seeing the Twilight Prince of her dreams and spoken of having an interest in someone, it had been Fern who Laelliandir, and Bella had incorrectly fingered as the object of her passion. At the time Luminear and Fern had been spending a lot of time together. Although the two were dead wrong, Luminear couldn't correct their mistake without everyone thinking her an unhinged lunatic because she took her dreams so seriously.

  "I was just curious," admitted Laelliandir. Lonewolf put his elbows on his knees and peered over to Luminear.

  "Oh, no. You like Fern? That boy Bella introduced me to?" Lonewolf smiled as he asked. Luminear blushe
d, unsure how to answer.

  "Hey, Fern is a good guy. Don't you go picking on him, Wolf," Bella ordered. Lonewolf laughed though.

  "Poor Lumi. Poor Lumi. Yeah, heck of a good chap from what I saw of him, but-" Lonewolf paused.

  "What?" Laelliandir asked.

  "What do you mean what, golden boy?" Lonewolf asked in jest. "I met him for but an hour, and I could tell. The boy fancies boys." Lonewolf looked to Bella and Luminear for reinforcement. "Right?" Luminear's face was still bright red, and Lonewolf put his arm over her shoulder. "I'm sorry, dear. I could have told you if I had been here." Luminear was actually thankful Lonewolf had guessed Fern's preference so quickly and hoped the subject would be changed getting her out of the spotlight.

  "How do you do that, Wolf?" Bella asked as she ducked Laelliandir's swing and came back with a lunge. "Know things about people, I mean. It is creepy." Bella was aware of this about Fern too. He was honest to the girls and Mark about it.

  "Just a skill, I suppose. Like people who build things or people that paint or sing. I read people. Gift or a curse is still up for debate. I'll let you know when I know. The verdict is still out."

  "When you're finished with your work, will you move here to the city?" Luminear asked, hoping to change the subject while Lonewolf exchanged glances with Laelliandir. She replayed her conversations with Lonewolf of the night prior, and although some of them were foggier than others, she remembered how direct she had gotten with her uncle and wondered if she should have. She was no longer certain her early speculations were justified and hoped she hadn’t acted brashly.