The Remembered (Elements II)

Chapter 45

Movement caught Nahara's eye, and she glanced up from her meal. The banquet was well under way, all the nobles in the city having being invited to the palace for the night. Despite her swollen belly, knowing she was close to having her baby, she'd insisted that she would go, much to Aiden's consternation. He'd only given in after she'd promised that she would take it easy, and not overwork herself. So she was at the table, sitting next to him, enjoying her meal thoroughly. The conversation was pleasing to her, not that she would remember any of it, but the movement that caught her eye distracted her.

As was normal, a servant was whispering in the king's ear, so as not to disturb the rest of the guests. Also as normal, none of the nobles were taking any notice. It was a common enough occurrence in all the households for it to be second nature. What wasn't normal was the king's face.

He'd gone pale, his eyes brighter than they had been before the servant had started speaking, almost like he'd had too much wine. But that wasn't the reason. Whatever the servant had told him was the reason for his change.

After a moment, she watched the king nod slowly, and the servant melted away. She couldn't take her eyes off him, and felt a jolt when he looked down the hall, seeming to meet her eyes. Young as he was, there was a wisdom there that she hadn't expected to see.

To her surprise, and secret amusement, he winked at her, just as the great doors into the hall swung open. The conversations around the room came to an abrupt halt as everyone looked towards them, wondering what the interruption was for. A man stopped in the middle, whom she recognised as the head footmen, and lifted his head.

"Presenting Isla, water elemental, and chieftess of the elementals."

A gasp ran around the room, and King Pablo stood up as the dark-skinned woman entered. Nahara watched her closely, meeting the dark green eyes when they searched her out.

"Isla." The king's young but strong voice carried through the room, silencing the last of the whispers. "You are always welcome here."

"As I should be."

Her blunt, uncompromising answer made Nahara smile, and she ducked her head to hide it. She glanced at the king, waiting for his response, as were the rest of the nobles. He didn't disappoint them.

"You bring news?" He stepped around the high table and off the dais, going to meet her in the middle of the room. The elemental didn't answer straight away, instead studying the young man. Silence fell in the hall as they all waited for her answer.

The answer, when it came, wasn't from the elemental. It came from the head footman.

"Presenting Her Royal Highness, Princess Catriona, sister of His Royal Majesty, King Pablo."

The time, the gasp was followed by loud talk, as speculation and rumours began to fly about where the princess had been. Nahara took no part in the discussions, her eyes fixed beyond the footman. The young girl walked through, looking like she had never been missing. The colour of her dress, a dark amber edged with gold, suited her complexion perfectly, and with her hair simply flowing down her back, she looked almost like a queen.

Pablo was staring at his sister, his eyes once again bright. The noise of the nobles around him was ignored, maybe forgotten as he walked forward to meet her, brushing past Isla. The two siblings met and studied each other for a long moment, and then the king wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her as she hugged him back, to the applause of the nobles. When he swung her in a circle, a few cheers rose, but they soon died down as everyone remembered the rumours of what she might have been through.

Nahara watched the reunion with a fond smile, foolishly wishing that she could have the same. A hand took her own, squeezing it supportively, and she looked over at Aiden, smiling at him.

"Thank you," she murmured, resting her other hand on her belly. She was tired, beginning to feel the stress of being out, and out late. She wanted to go home.

"I will ask the king's leave, Nahara," Aiden whispered to her, but she shook her head.

"No. Not yet. He's still with the princess. Let him stay with her."

He nodded, returning to his resumed conversation with the other nobles around him. She kept silent, looking back to where Isla had been, and blinked.

The elemental was gone. Nahara couldn't understand it. She was sure that Isla hadn't left out of the doors she had come in through, yet the young noblewoman couldn't recall seeing her leave. With a small frown, she shook her head, and watched the two royals make their way to the dais, where the king settled his sister before sitting to eat himself. They soon became deep in conversation, and Nahara was loathe to interrupt them, but she had to leave. She was nearly falling asleep.

As one of the servants went past her, she lifted a hand, catching his attention.

"Yes, my lady?" he murmured, keeping his voice low as not to disturb the men and women around them.

"Please relay my regards to the king and princess," Nahara said softly. "And beg their forgiveness, for I must take my leave. The child." She gestured at her swollen stomach, and the servant bowed, understanding.

"Of course, my lady. One moment, please." He hurried off, setting his platter down on a side table, and made a swift and unnoticed path to the king, where he bent and whispered in his ear. She met the king's eyes for the second time in ten minutes, and he kept his eyes on her as he spoke, sending the servant away with a flick of his hand.

He returned to her. "His Majesty grants you leave, my lady, and wishes you all the best for you and the child. Do you require assistance?"

She shook her head. "No. Thank you." She laid her hand on Aiden's leg, and he took it, squeezing it in acknowledgement. Regretfully, he finished his conversation, and turned to her.

"You are ready?"

She nodded, thankful that the music had started, and other nobles were beginning to get up and dance. They would easily be able to slip away without making a scene, which was all she wanted.