A Tale Of Two Tieflings

Chapter 8 - For Better Or Worse

(... In which Valakas finds his previous actions catching up to him and finds that plans do not always work out as intended...)

Today was the day. The grand house loomed in front of me, the sun gleaming off of its white and gold stonework as I walked up the stairs to approach the door. Although today it felt particularly more foreboding and intimidating than usual. My knock on the hard, dark wooden surface reverberated back through me, or was that nerves? Likely nerves at this point, and I combed my hair back to ensure I looked presentable.

"Lord Montgomery?"

"Hey Morven, is Elluin home?"

Harrowford frowned at me and lowered his voice. "Yes, he is, however so is his Lordship... Are you sure you should be doing this now?" he asked, spying the small box I held tightly in my hand.

I nodded. "I don't care what Rathal thinks. I've made my decision and I now need Elluin to make his, before his father does anything to jeopardise this."

The door slowly opened, and I strode past into the large entranceway.

"Elluin! I need to speak with you!" I yelled out, my voice echoing slightly in the open space between me and the high ceilings.

"Archibald... this is a surprise."

Turning to my right I saw Rathal approaching from his study down the hall, his usual steely gaze boring into me and I bowed my head briefly to him. "Lord Rathal, good to see you."

"Archie?!" Elluin appeared at the top of the stairs, and he ran down to greet me, staggering me slightly as he threw his arms around me in a hug. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask him the same question." Lord Rathal muttered.

Ignoring his presence, I gently pulled Elluin off of me, stepping back slightly and gulping back any remaining anxieties before taking a knee. I looked up into his face, seeing his eyes widen, and I noticed him glance between his father and me.

I lifted the box up towards him, the whole room and everyone else in it feeling as though it had fallen away as I began to speak words I had practised over and over to myself for the last few days.

"Elluin, since the day we met I've found no contentment in my life. Things have felt as if something is missing, and time seems to drag on. That is, anytime I'm not with you. Any moment without you is spent counting the minutes until we are together again, and my moments with you feel far too short for my liking. I wish to make our time together last forever and so, Elluin Lumaer," I opened the box to reveal the ring. "Will you be mine, forever and always?"

His eyes sparkled with joy, a light glimmer of happy tears visible, and I prayed in my heart that he would say the one word I was waiting desperately to hear.

Just then, a loud, harsh knocking rang out, breaking both of us from the moment, and Rathal held up a hand to stop Harrowford as he began to attempt to answer the door. "I wonder who that could be..." Rathal muttered, moving over and opening it before stepping back to allow whoever it was to enter.

Why would he open it himself? Wait, something wasn't right here...

On the other side of the door stood four of the city guards in their armour with their swords out and, as they came in towards me, my heart dropped through the floor. How had they known I was here, had they been watching the house? I hadn't seen them nearby when I arrived.

"Finally!" The one closest to me shouted, grabbing my arm and pulling me up from my stance, grappling my wrists behind my back as he began to attach manacles to them. I was stunned, struggling to process what was happening and I saw Elluin looking confused as my head began to spin. This must be a nightmare... I thought to myself.