DISCLAIMER-- i do not own the inheritance cycle.
Scene 1
Characters
ELIANA
TAHLIAN
QUEEN ARYA
GUARD
Setting
Within Queen Arya's chambers in the Elvin city of Elesmerana. A cool night in middle autumn.
[Queen Arya has summoned Eliana and Tahlian. She stands at the window, waiting for them to arrive, a look of apprehension marring her beautiful features. She hears a knock, and turns toward the door]
ARYA
You may enter.
[the door opens, and a guard enters]
GUARD
Eliana Lúthien and Tahlian Bælathodor request an audience with you, your majesty.
ARYA
They may enter.
[the guard bows, then exits. Eliana and Tahlian enter. They stop before Queen Arya, and bow]
TAHLIAN AND ELIANA
[in unison, with a respectful voice] Greetings, your majesty.
ELIANA
I trust you are well.
ARYA
As well as can be expected. [pause] I have received news that Kethnæ Verældeth has been captured by King Maidethon's troops. She is being held in Yadethíhel. I would like you two to travel there and rescue her. I have chosen you to go because I believe you are the only two who can succeed in this mission. Tahlian, you are my finest warrior, and Eliana, you equal Kethnæ with your skills as a mage. Your skill with a sword and bow is nothing to sneer at either. Are you willing to set out on this mission? I warn you, it won't be easy. The trip to Yadethíhel alone will prove dangerous enough, but once you reach your destination the danger will only increase.
ELIANA
[sinks down to one knee] Your majesty, I would be honored to travel to Yadethíhel to rescue Kethnæ, regardless of the danger.
ARYA
Thank you Eliana. [Eliana rises. Arya turns to Tahlian] And you Tahlian? You do not seem as…willing.
TAHLIAN
With all due respect majesty, I think this mission is impossible. Yadethíhel is the home base of our enemies! King Maidethon is most likely there to interrogate Kethnæ, and as important as she is, is she worth the lives of us as well? If we die, who will our people rely on? Is there anyone in Elesmerana that equals our strength? Don't you think it's a bit foolish to risk our lives when Kethnæ may already be dead? [Eliana gasps, and Arya's face grows hard]
ARYA
[speaks while slowly advancing on Tahlian] You would do well to remember who you are speaking to, and to remember your place warrior. Your successes in previous battles seems to have gone to your head. If I thought it was foolish I would not have SUMMONED YOU!
[Tahlian takes a step back as she yells the last two words, then bows deeply]
TAHLIAN
Forgive me, your highness. I forgot myself.
ARYA
You are forgiven this time, but in the future I may not be so lenient. You may rise. [Tahlian rises] Now, as for your doubts, King Maidethon has not yet been notified of Kethnæ's capture, and is occupied at the moment in Laván. You will likely be able to arrive at Yadethíhel to rescue Kethnæ before he is even notified. It is extremely important that she is rescued, for she has been gathering crucial information for me that could shift the advantage in this war. If you should die on this mission, it would be a terrible loss for our people, but the people would still rely on me to get us through this war, as they do now. Do you think the people would still respect you if you sat here cowering all day, doing nothing to throw off Maidethon's cruel reign? Your life is risked whenever you go out to battle, or on another seemingly "safer" mission. It is risked by simply walking through the village, for there are most likely Maidethon's spies and assassins among us. So I ask you again, would you rather stay here doing nothing to help and disgracing yourself in the process, or would you rather accept this mission, and gain honor in doing so, not to mention possibly saving our nation in the process?
TAHLIAN
I accept the mission your majesty. Please forgive me for my doubts. I was only thinking of what would be best for the people. I did not realize the outcome of the war could rest entirely on this mission.
ARYA
You are forgiven, warrior. In the future you must trust me to do what is best for our people. Now, go gather what you think is essential for the mission, and stop by the kitchens before you leave. I advise you, make haste. The sooner you arrive at Yadethíhel the better.
[Tahlian and Eliana bow, then exit. Queen Arya turns back to the window and gazes out at the forest]
ARYA
[whispering] Our fate rests in your hands. For the sake of us all, I hope you succeed.
[curtain]
End Scene 1
