Tesca Chronicles (IC)

[Fythalen]

INTRO
As the mist rolled through the valley, Cael was reminded all too well of the success in the Battle of Ildrosgod. Only in fog this thick where you could stand two yards away from a person and be unseen could an army manage an ambush across an open field and attain complete and total surprise. The horses panted with the labor of having climbed to the lip of the valley they were now descending. The air was cold and painful to breath but the men were silent and complained only in the warmth of their own minds.

Pulling his cloak tighter around him, he was pleased with the progress they had made. Once in the valley they were no more than a few hours away from reaching the town, they would easily arrive before nightfall. Cael was still restless over the news that had sent him and his men on this journey and unsure of what was waiting for them in Oakhurst. He had been awoken two nights ago in the middle of the night by a runner with news, requesting for aid against an unknown raider that had been recently plaguing the town. The two towns always having been in good relation didn’t hesitate to pass a vote that Everett should lend aid and so, Cael and his men were sent out immediately to help.

A loud sneeze snapped Cael out of his daze and he looked over at his miserable friend who had at least three coats and a cloak on.
“I thought you liked the snow.” Cael couldn’t help but smile.
Tyron wiped his nose and glared. “Bastard…why did you have to drag me along, I could be at home and warm in bed.”

“You would have missed me.”

“Like I miss my cat.”

“Liar, you’re practically in love with your cat.”

Tyron opened his mouth to speak but stopped and glared at the trees. “That’s not the point…the point is!” Tyron tried in vain to talk over Cael’s snickering. “I think you just didn’t want to be alone when you see her again.” That stopped Cael’s laughter, Tyron just smiled knowingly.

[Zhaliora]

INTRO
Evelynn was staring out through her bedroom window on the third floor, "*Sigh* Just because there are some raiders in the area, I am stuck inside of the castle. It's always like this, the least hint of danger, and I am banned from leaving." She looked out across the landscape, as far as she could due to the fog at least. Most of the town was visible, but not the beyond and the snow made it even harder to look into the distance. "I guess the weather is moving according to my mood. It's been snowing or there have been lying a heavy fog over the area since I was banned from leaving the castle. Even if I sneaked outside like in the old days, there would be no one to be with. Most of my friends have left the town, seeking their fortune elsewhere, even him. It's already been six years, six long years" she sat in the open window and hung her legs outside, playing with death in the strong wind. "Guess it's no use lamenting about it, life goes on even if I don't like it" she said aloud, trying to break her depressing thoughts.

While she sat there, the door to her chambers opened behind her, "my lady! You should not be sitting there, you might fall!" one of the maids called out to her. "Would it even matter if I did?" she said without turning her head towards the maid. "It's not like anyone know my name anyway, they all just say, my lady, just like you. I don't even think you care about me part from getting paid for your services and thus taking care of me." "M-my lady" the maid stammered, now knowing what to say. "Fine, I'll get down. Is there anything you wanted since you came here?" "Ah....yes, the Queen called for you. She said that it's time for your etiquette lessons and after my lady are done with those, the Queen also requested that you attend in the throne room when the soldiers from Everett arrives" she said and made a small curtsy before leaving. "After all this time, I still hate those lessons and then I have to sit in the throne room *sigh* this day just keeps getting better and better" she thought and resigned to her fate, making her way towards the study.

[Fythalen]

The men were silent for the rest of the trip, even Tyron was trying to conserve his hot air as Cael was nice enough to point out as his friend shivered beneath his layers. As they turned the corner and the town came into view, Cael's stomach did a small backflip. It had been a long time since he had seen his old home. How little the years had changed it indeed.

"You're smiling." Tyron pointed out before he was punched in the shoulder.

"You would be too if you were coming home."

They rode down into the valley and up through the gates where they were welcomed by the castle guard. Their presence had been requested in the main hall upon their arrival so after seeing to it that the men were properly quartered and a change in attire was made. Cael and Tyron as the two commanding officers followed their escort into the main hall. Cael had never really been inside the castle before so it was all very new to him. The grand hall by far was the most impressive. Built out of marble and limestone, the walls were covered in tapestries depicting the heraldry of the realm and the numerous legends surrounding it. The room was warm, thanks to the large fire pit located in the center surrounded by cushions. And at the head of the hall was the throne, currently empty at the moment. They were told to make themselves warm by the fire and that the family would be with them shortly. Thrilled to be in front of a fire Cael and Tyron stood happily next to it discussing the trip and small matters. Waiting...

[Zhaliora]

After a very boring etiquette lesson about how to behave during public affairs, Evelynn left the study and went towards the kitchen to grab a small snack. "Mister Vael's teachings are so exhausting, and boring, I could not keep myself from yawning. I just want to go to bed now, but there is the matter in the throne room to attend to first" she sighed while taking out some cookies from the pantry. "Who want to behave like a lady anyway? I just want to be, normal."

Despite stopping by the kitchen, Evelynn was still the first person from the family to enter the throne room. She looked around and saw the men sitting at the fire, warming their bodies. "Wait a minute.........that voice. Could it be?" she looked towards the men again, inspecting them as they sat around the fire. "I have to make sure" she thought and steeled herself, moving ever closer towards the group until she stood just a few yards away.

"Those looks, and the voice. It might have been six years, but I'd recognize them everywhere" she thought and grabbed a nearby pillow, stalking up behind Cael, making hush signs towards the other man. She raised the pillow high over her head before brining it down on Cael's head with a loud smack. "You got nerves Cael, returning here without a word after six years. What do you have to say in your defence?" she said as she smacked him with the pillow again.

[Fythalen]

Tyron was rolling on the floor laughing as his friend rolled over onto his back to look up at his assailant. "E....Eve?" He would have recognized her anywhere, her eyes, her expressions they were exactly how he remembered. But wait..."What.....what are you doing in here? And why are you dressed like that?" He questioned himself for a moment. Did he really think this was the girl who used to throw clots of mud at his head? Now she stood there wearing a red dress fit for royal...ty...

Struggling to his feet he looked her up and down one for time to be sure. Thinking back, the signs were there now that he was old enough to recognize them. The games of 'pretending' to dodge the guards. How she acted at times, especially around adults, little things. Could she really have been a princess that whole time? Reaching forward with his hand he hesitated and then finally he pressed his palm against her cheek just like he had when he had first found her to comfort her. And like so many other times when she had been hurt, or been sad. And then he knew, there was no doubt that this was Eve and slowly he pulled his hand away. He couldn't help but let hurt enter his gaze as he bowed formally. She's the bloody princess... A series of mental curses and profanities ensued.

[Zhaliora]

When Cael bowed to her, Evelynn looked offended, hurt even and she smacked him with the pillow again, this time not as hard though. "Why are you bowing? I thought that we were friends" a tear streamed down across her face. "Six years and all you do is stammer and bow to me" she turned her back to him and sat down by the fire. "Never bow to me again, if you do, I'll have you imprisoned" she said grumpily before hugging her legs close and resting her head on her knees. "I thought you were dead you know, not a word, nothing for this many years. Do you know how many times I snuck out of here and waited in our secret spot? Do you know how many times I snuck out of here and went to that alley? Always waiting, and when the others left the town to seek their fortunes, I was all alone, just like before I met you. Being the princess suck.

She finally turned back towards Cael, "So, what excuse do you have for not visiting in six years? If it's a bad one I'll keep smacking you with the pillow until you pass out. Would that not be a great gossip story? Solider beaten to unconsciousness by princess with pillow in front of another soldier in the middle of the throne room."

[Fythalen]

Cael opened his mouth as if to speak and when he found he couldn't, he simply sat down and Tyron spoke up in defense all the while shaking a pillow at her. "He's been fighting a war that's where he's been. Against the western pirate colonies, you know, the ones that used to give you and your father constant head aches interrupting the trade route? Yeah those. Gyah I'm still freezing." Grabbing a blanket he wrapped himself in it and curled up on a pillow.

Cael stared frowning into the fire for a moment before looking over at Evelynn. "I didn't mean to offend you, it's just a little shocking that the girl I grew up with was my princess is all....why didn't you tell me?" He was dreading her parents or someone, anyone walking in at that moment. Who knew when they would get the chance to talk again.

[Zhaliora]

She looked towards the other man at the fire "They only gave me the problem of being banned from leaving the castle. Not like anything has changed, I am still not allowed to leave much, and if I do, I have to have a lot of guards with me. And I bet they hated it too, having to watch over some princess they don't even know the name of while she strolls around."

She then turned back to Cael, "Does it matter? You can't choose whom you are born as, I never wanted to be the princess. Do you remember all the times when the guards were searching in the town? They were chasing after me, making sure that I was not permitted to do anything that I wanted to do. The only thing that I was looking forwards to during the days was when I might be able to sneak out and play with you and the others. I...." "Evelynn!" a strong voice echoed throughout the castle "*Sigh* Guess it's time for my freedom to end" she said and stood, making her way over to the throne, sitting down on the left of the throne, in a smaller one. "I am in the throne room, father!" she shouted back, the rock hallways making sure that her voice could be heard a long way.

[Fythalen]

Cael listened intently to Evelynn as she spoke, his thoughts his own and ever analyzing the situation. To some extent he got the feeling that Evelynn was brushing off the fact that for years she had lied to him about who she was but then again, all she had ever wanted was to be free. Would telling him who she was at that age have changed how he acted around her? Possibly, even now he felt as though he needed to be more formal around her.

Both he and Tyron stood up and stood at a relaxed attention as the royal family walked in. Cael continued to stare at Evelynn, his mind racing with thoughts….

[Zhaliora]

As her father and mother walked into the throne room, Evelynn was deep in thought. Now that she had been reunited with Cael, what to do next? He would probably treat her different now that he knew, just like the others whom found out about her secret. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she even missed that her father was welcoming the soldiers into Oakhurst and thanking them for coming here. "Evelynn, Evelynn!" "Huh, what?" "*Sigh* I said, have you greeted them?" "Yes father, I did before you came here, like a princess should" she did not mention that she knew Cael, nor that she had beaten him with a pillow. If her father found out either, she would probably be reprimanded for her actions and her father would most certainly connect Evelynn's "adventures" with him and who knows what would happen then.

The King turned back towards Cael and Tyron. "As you both know, we have had bandit raiders plaguing the area and that is why we requested for assistance. We don't have enough soldiers to both guard the town and hunt down the bandits" When her father said that, Evelynn thought; "All due to your overprotection of me, no doubt." "We ask of you to find the bandits lair and destroy them. Try to find information if they are acting on their own behalf or if they are following someone else orders. They could be remnants of the western pirates and thus have a grudge against us."

The King walked up to the two men and shook their hands. "Before you leave for this mission however, I would like for you to stay for a small dinner session. I will not have guests feeling unwelcome in my town. Do you accept my proposal?"