Let Love Be chapter 4 surprises
She stepped into her room exhausted from the day's adventure.
Dropping her daggers, her thoughts began to wander. She had given up on questioning Damien for the time being but she had nonetheless found out so much about him. His life after amaranthine had been a hard one. And even though many people accepted his connection to the Queen, he had confided in her, sharing all the whispers and hatred he received from the shadows. She felt for him. She truly did. The whispers and the stares she had gotten at the banquet were only a small portion of what she knew.
She took a deep breath and collapsed on her bed.
"All men are the Work of our Maker's Hands, from the lowest slaves, to the highest kings." she whispered the words of the chant as they came to her mind.
Closing her eyes, she remembered the days of her past, before the running. Before mages had been outlawed and forced into hiding.
"Wise words from such a young girl." Necarrii's head shot up and she stared to the door, energy burning the tips of her fingers.
"Forgive me, mi' lady," the small elf bowed and smiled up at her. "His majesty requires your presence in his quarters."
She forced herself up, letting the magic evaporate as she moved her fingers. "Ah yes. I shall be only a moment." she gave the small elf a warm smile before waving her off.
For only a moment she had thought it to be Damien, come to comment on their time together. She moved to the mirror, letting her hair fall she picked up the brush and began to untangle the knots the water had left her with.
She knocked lightly on the door, pushing it slightly and entering Sebastian's room.
"Come, lass. No need for such shyness at this hour." His smile welcomed her. Setting aside his papers, he moved from his desk and closed the door behind her. "You mustn't mix shyness with being careful, uncle. You of all people should know eyes and ears are in even the safest of places."
Sebastian nodded his approval. "You are very right."
"I have learned from wise people." she gave him a soft smile, curiosity nipping at her brain. "I there a reason why you called for me, Uncle?" she asked no longer willing to wait for Sebastian to explain their visit. She had too much on her mind to sit and chat with him.
"Yes, as a matter of fact..." his words drifted off as he moved off to the window. "It has come to the attention of some of the other staff that you have gain some sort of," he paused as he struggled to find the word.
Necarrii shifted un-easily. She had to know where this was going. She shouldn't have even tried to fool herself, thinking she could escape the seeing eyes and the gossip that surrounded her all her life. As much as they may dislike her connection to Sebastian they could not ignore it.
"I know what and who you speak of." Sebastian turned in slight shock, a chuckle escaping his lips.
"Then you know of my warning." his voice was fierce and serious. Any trace of the humor in which he normally spoke with has been drowned out. Necarrii watched her uncle's reflection in the window. His eyes staring off into another distance. Another time. Another place. She moved to speak but quickly thought better of it. Instead she nodded. What ever thought he was having would be explained another day. For now she was content with staying in the dark.
"Trust only those who would do you the same." he closed his eyes and took a deep breathe.
Slowly she approached him from behind, resting a hand on his shoulder. He reached up and took her hand in his, taking in her comfort.
"You need not worry. I am my father's daughter."
Sebastian smiled, letting his hand fall. "Yes that you are." he moved back to his desk mumbling, "As well as your mother's."
Necarrii laughed moving to the door. "Now if you will excuse me, Menrin is waiting for me to go into town."
"Be careful. I do not have to tell you that-"
"The Hunters are in town and we mustn't stand out amongst the crowd." She stopped herself from rolling her eyes.
"My family status can-"
"Only get us so far. You have told me time and again. We will be careful. Promise." she gave him her best smile before opening the door and exiting into the dark hall.
"That should be it." Menrin placed the last of the items into his satchel and climbed onto his horse. The sun had set long ago, leaving them riding in complete darkness up the road toward the castle.
"Wait." Necarrii pulled Lysander to a stop and perked up her ears.
"What is it? I hear nothing."
She closed her eyes and focused. That was exactly it. She heard nothing.
She reacted quickly, moving as the sound came closer. Leaning back off of her horse, she quickly grabbed her daggers off the saddle and sent one flying to the nearest shadow. It crumpled behind the tree as her blade hit her mark.
"Bandits!" she called to her cousin as she ran to retrieve her dagger from inside the dead man. Six or seven men began to move from their places. Menrin moved off his own steed quickly, shooing the beast away as he too joined the fight.
"Come now, lass. No need to be so fiesty." the biggest one stood in front of her, holding his great sword proudly and smiling. "Just give us what we want."
"I wouldn't even grace you with the words of the maker." she spat at him and took her stance.
"That's a lot of nerve, coming from some Knife-ear." the one to her left spoke. A skinny man holding a crossbow. "Perhaps we should show her how to respect her betters." his face turned up into a smirk.
"Perhaps." she smiled.
The man brought up his great sword in an offensive position, ready to strike. But just as he dashed off, Necarrii moved avoiding his blade and brought her dagger across his left side.
"If you can catch me that is."
The one holding the crossbow took his aim but he was too focused on her. Menrin quickly brought his foot up knocking the bow out of the man's hand and hitting back with the hilt.
Two down and four to go.
By the time the last bandit had fallen, the two were out of breathe and heaving.
Replacing her daggers onto her back, necarri began to shift through the unconscious bodies.
"Who are they?" Menrin came up behind her, searching the forest with his eyes for any other unknown attackers.
"I don't know." she shifted through the man's pocket, finding only a note. Barely glancing at it, she placed it in her pouch. "But uncle will-"
The arrow just missed her head, but her reaction was just as fast. She sent a spike of ice up into the tree, listening for the sound of the body as it fell, dead from the tree.
She smiled slyly. "You missed one." she went to laugh; the sound had just barely escaped her lips when she heard the soft thud hit the ground.
Menrin stood on his knees, clutching at his stomach where the tail of the arrow was lodged.
"MENRIN!" she ran to catch him in her arms just as the tears began to fall.
"NO, NO, NO!" she moved quickly, letting the lyrium take control as she reached for the arrow. Her hand glowed white as it faded through her cousin's flesh. She pulled the arrow out, throwing it as far as she could before gently placing him on the ground.
"..Carrii..."
"Shut up!" she hissed at him as she moved her hands over the wound, letting the magic flow as it patched and repaired the damage.
"You will be fine." she whispered as his eyes began to flutter shut. He had to be.
"Mi'Lady!?" the sound of steeds galloping broke her concentration. Her head shot up as the newcomers came into view and she sighed with relief as she recognized Sebastian white steed. beside him Damien and Lias, Sebastian's Captain.
"Sebastian!" her hands fell and the worry set in.
"What happened?!" he jumped off his horse and went down beside her. He quickly began examining his unconscious nephew.
"W-We were attacked. Bandits." She glanced around at the 7 unmoving bodies. "I thought we had gotten them all. But then," She looked to the body holding the ice spear. "I had heard it too late. I wasn't quick enough." tears began to fall as the whispers left her lips.
"You. Check over to the left. Do not go more than a meter from this spot. Circle round. Anyone you find, capture." Lias barked at Damien before moving in the opposite direction.
"I know what you said. About using magic. But it all happened so fast. And the blood..." The blood just wouldn't stop, she thought
"Hush, child." he cupped her face with his hand. "You did well. It is what would be expected of you in such a situation. Never doubt yourself."
Necarrii nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes.
Sebastian gently lifted Menrin from the ground. "Take the horse back with Damien and request a carriage be sent. Lias?"
"Your majesty?" the man bowed before him and waited for his orders.
"Search the bodies. Report anything you find that may help us in regards to who these people may be."
Necarrii's eyes shot open and she immediately reached into her satchel to retrieve the paper she had found earlier. "Uncle!" she ran up to Sebastian as he moved to set Menrin down by a tree. She handed him the paper.
She watched carefully as his face changed. Shock and fear were present but they were quickly replaced by anger.
"What is it, uncle?" necarrii peaked over his shoulder and felt her heart drop.
There on the very top of the page was the mark of The Hunters.
A/N I am so sorry for the delay in this chapter. Personal issues have sadly had me occupied but i promise to upload as soon as i can. so here we know that some know what Necarrii is at least. now the hunters are after her. thanks to all those who have waited and please let me know what you guys think!3
FAN QUESTION: what do you guys think is happening in relation to the hunters? who knows? what will the outcome be? how will hawke and fenris react to the attack on their family as well as CArver and Merrill?