Zestarri smiled, if not a bit awkwardly, "Oh yes, we have this wheat whine, it tastes like the fruit from the snow mountains. Called the winterberry." While Zestarri did enjoy alcohol, she reserved it for late nights, dinner, or celebrations mostly. Finding it to be not as calming as tea. Zestarri looked around the table, Elora had been gone for some time. Zestarri assumed she was with the human prince, but she couldn't help but worry. Elora was...delicate, and the young prince was the first to catch her heart.
Naexi laughed at the comment, covering her mouth to do so feeling the outburst had come suddenly. When the younger brother spoke she turned her attention to him. She grimaced at the details of the facts soon regretting her question. She cleared her throat and nodded as Leo remarked, "I see." Her sentence trailed off and things grew quiet for the time being.
___
Elora looked at him surprised, was she really that red? When he reached out and touched her she jumped a bit, his hand was much cooler than her burning face. She looked up at him sheepishly. "I-I am not sick. A-and I need no medical attention!" Elora protested and pouted a bit until he pointed out that he was joking. Elora sighed and placed her hand on her chest. So he could hear her heart, she felt even more embarrassed and closed her eyes to let the red fade from her cheeks.
When he spoke she left one hand on the balcony to face him, she opened her eyes before looking him over, she could feel the change in the atmosphere. Looking up she met his eyes, "What could there be to know?" She rose her brow and tilted her head slightly. Her hair shifted to fall to her side. When he spoke she looked at him as though he had grown two heads, "That's preposterous, my father would never!"
Elora watched his brows knit and looked at him in disbelief if not a little defensive. She couldn't help but clench the railing as he continued to speak. As naive as I appear? What is he going on about? She thought, scanning his face in hope that this was some joke on his part. "Archie there is no way my father did such a thing-" She watched as he drew something from his pocket. Her eyes drifted from his pocket to the watch that dangled in front of her eyes.
At first, she could bring her eyes from it, how did Archie have her father's watch? Her breath caught as he spoke, she looked up at him confusion filled her eyes. When he said the marriage was off she took a step back, her expression changed from confusion to immediate hurt. He hadn't asked her to hear for a conversation, he had asked her here to confirm his suspicions and break things off. She couldn't help the tears that filled her eyes, she wasn't sure how to feel. "Y-you must be jesting, surely..surely yo-you are mistaken. M-my father is not that kind of man! He-he would never-" Elora's words were frantic as though she was trying to convince both him and herself. Her words caught in her throat as he placed the watch in her hand and walked away.
A small sound escape her lips, almost like a sob. Was everything her father said a lie, was she really being fooled? Was this whole marriage a charade. She clenched the watch in her hand and a tear fell down her face as her gaze pulled away from the object in her hand to the doorway Archie walked through. She lifted a hand to run through her hair before the feeling she might collapse came to her, she gripped the railing with her free hand and lowered herself to the ground. Elora felt like she couldn't breathe, her father had planted the poison in their lands. There was no way that could be true, but the evidence was there. She held her arm clutching the watch tightly in her hand. Elora felt her world shift as she hung her head and let the tears fall.
___
The Elves watched as Archie walked back through the doors, Aiduin glanced at the door expecting Elora to trail in after him red-faced. When she didn't he watched as the prince leaned towards his father and whispered something in his ear and whispered something. Aiduin couldn't help but raise his brow a little confused. Kolvar was smiling at Alistair, "Oh uhm alright. We wish you the best night then." He watched as the humans gathered the plates and the royals left with little hesitation.
"Well, that was strange," Katyr spoke wearing the same look of confusion mirrored across the table. Aiduin looked at where the royals had left and then the door Archie walked through, "I'm going to find Elora." He quickly got up and rushed out of the doors, he had and inkling something had happened to her. Ad though he hoped that wasn't this case he feared the worst.
Kolvar cleared his throat and suggested everyone head to bed for the days ahead of them, there was collective nods and small words of good night before everyone parted and headed to their respective rooms.
Aiduin rushed down the hall, he knew she wouldn't be in the infirmary. Asking a maid she said that the young couple had walked to the balcony. Aiduin turned and rushed to the balcony. Throwing open the doors he saw Elora sitting on the ground, holding her shoulders and sniffling.
"Elora?!" Aiduin rushed to her side, crouching to look at her. She looked up at him hopelessly. "What happened Elora? Did he hurt you?" Aiduin's eyes grew dark until she shook her head no tears streaming down her face. Aiduin wiped her tear and held her face, "Then why do your tears run free my dear Elora?" Elora took a shaky breath and leaned into her brother's hands looking at him before sobbing.
"W-where i-is father?" Elora spoke between helpless breaths and sniffled. The shimmer on her fees trailed down her cheeks, she looked beautifully broken even in this state it was a sight to behold. Aiduin helped Elora up carefully and held her by her shoulder as he walked her to her parent's chambers. The walk was filled with her quiet sobs and Aiduin's soothing words. Their father was sitting at a desk while their mother laid in her bed. An elven maid opened the door and turned to the couple. "Excuse me your Highness, Princess Elora and Prince Aiduin are at your door. they say it is urgent."
"Let them in and take your leave then," Kolvar spoke looking up from his papers, the maid nodded and let them in scurrying out of the door. Zestarri was the first to notice Elora. She quickly sat up and rose from the bed to Elora's side. She grabbed her, gathering her in her arms. "My goddess, Aiduin what is going on?" Aiduin looked to his mother and shook his head.
Elora pushed herself out of her mothers arms, a fit of sudden anger rushing through her, almost helplessly. She walked over to her father's desk and slammed the watch on the table. Kolvar looked at his daughter's glimmering tear-streaked face and then followed her hand to the watch. "How did you get this Elora? I left this in my desk drawers before leaving for supper?" He looked up at her confused.
Elora frowned and narrowed her eyes, "Prince Archie. He has said that you placed the poison that plagues their lands! They found this in the Haunted Forest, a-and not only that but a squid as well. O-one only found in Elven waters! Father tell me the truth I beg you-" Her voice cracked and she felt the anger turned to despair again as tears filled her eyes once more. "H-he has canceled the m-marriage." The words were almost a mumbled and she felt her hands lift to wipe her eyes. Zestarri stared shocked looking between Elora and her husband. She rushed to Elora's side and gathered her in her arms once more smoothing her hair gently.
"Shh, my child all will be well. There must be some misunderstanding your fathers watch was placed in the drawer. I saw it with my own eyes." Zestarri glanced at her husband, whos brows had furrowed in an unsightly manner. Aiduin clenched his fists, he shouldn't have let Elora go alone.
Kolvar looked at Elora buried in his wife's arms, "Elora I swear to you I had nothing to do with the Shadow. It is not something I or anyone else can control...And I will find why there is such a heinous rumor. Elora, I will fix this I swear it. For now please rest my child. Aiduin, take your sister...stay with her if needed." Aiduin nodded and walked to his sister gently grabbing her as she hugged him tightly. He scooped her up princess style and hesitated a moment before leaving, he was angry, to say the least.
Zestarri stared at the door for a moment before turning to Kolvar. "What are you to do?" She looked at him her expression filled with worry, He folded his hands together over his mouth and shook his head before standing, "I have yet to know. I only hope...I only hope the humans see reason beyond these false truths."
Aiduin carried his star to her room, he stepped out as the maids bathed and changed her into her night attire. The usual laughter that would fill the room was not there, Aiduin leaned his head against the wall as he waited. He clenched his fist tightly. When the maids left the room Aiduin walked in, he went to walk towards Elora. She curled up pulling the covers closer to her chin.
"I-I wish to be alone brother." Her voice was small and quite different from the cheerful banter he was used to. Aiduin sighed and nodded before leaving closing the door softly behind him. Elora laid in the bed and curled up squeezing her eyes shut, in hopes that the pain in her chest would fade. But all she could hear were Archie's words and cold gaze replay in her mind. Elora wanted to believe her father, but she was so confused. As time passed, she slowly cried herself tired and drifted off to sleep.