The Knights Of Laegovhar

Moonlit Knight

As Eliana entered the bedroom once more, Cayde closing and locking the balcony door behind them, a knock echoed on the bedroom door, the sound causing Eliana to freeze, her eyes wide on the door.

"It's my mother," Cayde said as he passed the frozen woman to answer the door, his head bowing slightly as the older woman entered.

"No time for that. The pair of you need to listen."

Eliana watched as Isilde took the door from her son and closed it firmly before adjusting the nearly perfect hair style on her head. Not a hair sat out of place, but still the woman preened for a moment.

"Your father is adamant that you will take the throne."

"But- "Cayde began, but his mother cut him off with a single raised hand.

"You will provide him with a wedding and an heir first."

"But- "Eliana started, yet the woman cut her off in the same way.

"I know this is what neither of you want, but this is the only agreement he will take. I have already informed him of how thin the ice is beneath his feet." The woman huffed and lowered her hands to straighten out her perfectly sitting dress. "I almost refused him outright this evening-"

"Mother- "

"I know, dear." Isilde rested a hand on Cayde's shoulder for only a second before she approached Eliana. The younger woman opened her mouth to speak, to say anything, but her mind flooded with possibilities of what the woman seemed ready to say to her. "Eliana, my darling." Eliana felt the queen take her hands gently. "There is a lot for you to learn, in such little time and honestly, I don't know where to begin."

Eliana nodded and opened her mouth to speak, but words failed her yet again. Instead, Cayde stepped nearer, the movement catching Eliana's attention for her eyes to meet his. "Most of the history you know from training."

Isilde sighed heavily. "That's another thing, knights- "

"We never took the oath," Cayde admitted quickly. "You were sick, weren't you?" His eyes flicked between the two women before resting once more on Eliana. "El?"

Eliana felt her mouth move, yet still no words emerged. Gently, she pulled her hands from Isilde's before turning to face the window. Her hands found their way to the robe as she wrapped it tighter around herself. Her breathing increased as her heartbeat raced.

"It's all happening so fast." Eliana heard Cayde utter to his mother. "Father surely has to understand-"

"He is angry with her, punishing her for figuring out his plan. Had you two not mated, you would be on the throne right now instead of your brother."

"And if he had taken a woman?"

"You know as well as I that Mik would never have taken a woman."

"Yes but, what if?"

"Then he would be on the throne and I'd be having this conversation with him. Your father needs you to have an heir, and fast."

"Mother- "

"Fast, doesn't mean now, Cadell." The woman audibly sighed. "She needs time to adjust. Come the morning, I will begin her lessons and-"

"No," Eliana said calmly as she turned to face the pair. "I will not sleep tonight. Give me some reading material so I may begin, please." Isilde nodded her head and smiled sadly.

An hour later, Eliana sat in a chair by the window, reading in the light of the moon and a single candle flame. Cayde led upon the bed, his attention seemingly on the ceiling above him. Eliana read through the history book swiftly, her eyes skimming information she didn't deem all that important.