Triplet Queens' mysterious Guard

Little details & little fights ?

Elle had her cup of wine in her hand and had left the kitchen; she stood in the corridor separating the kitchen from the fireplace at the entrance to the house waiting for Jon to return from changing out of his jacket. She could have easily followed after him but didn’t want to send the wrong message by going straight to his bedroom when he was only going to put on a different shirt. There was a room next to her just opposite the kitchen with a slightly opened door and this time, her curiosity urged her forward. She was someone who hardly got curious but right now a part of her really wanted to see what this room could possibly be.

She stepped in to see books on shelves and a table and chair on the far side as well as lanterns on the desk and torches on the wall that were yet to be lighted, she was in his study. She stepped forward to look at the books and was surprised by what she saw. They were books on the histories of all the kingdoms on the continent as well as the families that ruled those kingdoms, every single book was up to date and bound in leather which meant they were expensive books. She saw books on military campaigns from past and present as well as strategies most often used in war; she was not very skilled at the art of war. Of the triplets only Bella had studied warfare and strategy. Nirvana had had no need to go to war since Queen Isabella became Queen and Elle hoped that would continue for an extended period of time. She looked over at the next shelf and took out a book on money and wealth written years ago by her grandfather who was still regarded as one of the smartest and wealthiest men in the history of the continent apart from being recognized as a past King of Nirvana. She saw books on many different things and was getting much more impressed. She had met Prince’s and generals of great armies who had little or no knowledge at all on most of what Jon seemed to have studied.

She was sure he had read every book in his study because she saw the notes he made with ink on the edges of the pages she turned. This was even more surprising to her than the fact that this man who was just a hunter and a trader of sorts had such a love for knowledge. She saw the most beautiful sword she had probably ever seen fixed to the wall behind the desk and she could see from where she stood that it was a perfectly made blade with a sturdy looking handle and ruby attached to its hilt. Even the scabbard of the sword looked more expensive and regal than any she had ever seen before including her father’s which shocked her. She walked to the table hoping to get a better look at the sword when she hit her foot against something on the floor she couldn’t see earlier because of the dimly lit nature of the room. She was down on her knees in no time to look at the bag that had been left on the floor. It was open and she could see purses of gold, clothes and signed papers that would serve as proof of ownership for various assets in the large leather bag. She realized immediately that this must have been Jon’s bag which he packed for his trip yesterday, now that she had seen the contents of the bag she was sure he had no actual plans of being around for her birthday. The contents of the bag made it very clear.

For the first time since she had known Jon, for the first time in months, she felt really angry with him. She felt hurt and even betrayed by the fact that he could just wake up and leave her without a word. He had done it on her birthday and that made it even worse. With the money and clothes in the bag it was easy to deduce that he planned on being gone for at least some weeks if not a month or more. She got up to her feet and let out a deep breath when she heard the door swing open behind her and heard those sturdy footsteps, she didn’t need to turn around because she knew exactly who it was.

“For someone who considers himself a mere hunter, you read quite a lot and quite extensively. Your books are not as much as those in the study of a noble but they are carefully picked out to give just as much information if not much more. Most people buy but don’t read, you however have read every single book here and that is a remarkable feat.” Elle said looking only at the sword on the wall and trying to control her voice. She had no plans of turning to look at him when she was trying so hard not to let him know just how hurt or angry she felt.

“My dad made sure I learnt to read at an early age and made sure I enjoyed reading on everything a well read man should know.” Jon said in a calm way, he obviously wasn’t impressed by his own knowledge even though he knew so much. Elle was just realizing just how sophisticated the words he used from time to time were, he could definitely be was way more than just a hunter with all he had learnt.

“Why are you learning strategy then? Not all men learn strategy and tactics of warfare, some never do. The sword back there, how good are you with it or with swords generally?” Elle asked honestly interested in his answers before she asked the question that would probably change the night for both of them.

“My Dad was in the army before retiring and he had been teaching me to use a sword and other weapons since I was just a boy. He believed learning to defend those you care about is the duty of every man irrespective of what your actual occupation is. I had a serious accident as a kid where I hit my head hard and that messed with my memories but he made sure I never lost the skills I was thought. I think him wanting me to be a real man was why he thought me about strategy and how to use weapons. He has passed away now but I still love studying strategy, it’s a part of me at this point.” Jon said stepping closer to her and noticing that her gaze was locked on the sword. He was about to explain when he saw something glistening drop down her cheek. He wasn’t sure why and instantly got confused when he saw that single tear run down her face. He was about to speak and his hands were about to touch her face when she stepped back and cut his words off with hers.

“Jon how long were you planning to stay away when you travelled yesterday?” she asked finally turning to face him after wiping off that single tear from her cheek as quickly as she could so he wouldn’t notice it.

“I just wanted to get something done in a town not too far from here. I had to leave the capital and Nirvana completely but I knew I would be back yesterday.” He lied. He was telling her a lie for the first time and he hated how it felt, he knew he couldn’t tell her the truth right now. He feared the truth would send her back to the palace and away from him permanently.

“I saw your bag Jon.” Elle said pointing at the open bag just few meters between her and the table, it was darker down there and Jon had totally forgotten he had flung the bag in here after bringing her home from the Inn yesterday. Jon didn’t flinch or show any signs of being caught in a lie, he was someone who knew how to maintain composure but in his mind he knew he had been caught and now he could see the hurt in her eyes. He could hear the hurt in her voice as well. He wanted to say something quickly and stop the hurt but he was not quick to speak and watched as the hurt in her eyes quickly turned to anger. “If you can wake up and just leave me here and plan to be gone for a long period of time then you probably don’t care about me as much as you or I think you do.” Elle said and with a shake of her head turned on her heels and walked out the door as quickly as she could.

Jon stood there, everything in him telling him to grab her by the hand and stop her from going. Telling him to tell her exactly why he wanted to leave the capital for some time, telling him to kiss her. He knew in his heart that he didn’t want her to leave but at the same time he knew telling her anything right now would lead to more explanations. He couldn’t tell her how he felt yet, he felt like the time was totally wrong for that. Telling her how he felt would only quicken their inevitable split. She was going to realize soon what he realized weeks ago, there was just no way that they would work, there was just no way they could have a future together even though he really wanted that. He just stood there hearing her footsteps as she got farther away from him. She was already past the corridor and at the entrance already when she suddenly stopped walking. He heard her soft footsteps stop and could deduce that she was already at the door.

“I know you can probably hear me from there Jon so let me say something before I leave.” Elle said loudly so she was sure he could hear her, he could hear her clearly from the entrance of the study. “There is something we should talk about and I don’t know when the right time would be to talk about it, but never talking about it would be worse than talking about it at the wrong time. I think if we really want something then there’s nothing stopping us from having that thing we want.” Elle said speaking the words without thinking about what they really meant. “I hope you don’t just give up like that, that would make you a coward and I don’t think you are a coward, but what you prove to me about yourself is more important than what I think about you.” Elle said pausing for a bit, all she could hear was his breathing as the room remained totally quiet. “I’ll spend the night at the Inn tonight, maybe we’ll see next week if I also don’t decide to be in some other city or kingdom before then.” She said stubbornly and angrily before opening the door and walking out with closed eyes as the tears she held back begun to sting her eyes. She closed the door behind her with her eyes still closed.

“Is there something wrong my dear?” was the question coming from a very soft voice that prompted Elle to quickly open her eyes. There she was standing in front of an elderly lady with tears running down her cheek not knowing who the stranger was or what to say to her. Elle stood there not knowing what to say and feeling tired. The older lady came closer to her and hugged her. This was a complete stranger but at that moment she found out she really needed a hug and just stayed there for some time till she was stable again.

“I don’t know what he did but I do know only a fool would make a beautiful girl like you cry. On behalf of my foolish son I would like to say that he is very sorry for whatever he did.” The older lady said warmly squeezing Elle’s hands that were still in hers.

“You are Jon’s mother.” Elle said quickly realizing who she was speaking to.

“You can call me Jane my dear, and yes unfortunately Jon is my son.” The much older Jane said with a warm laugh that made Elle smile and almost laugh herself. “You must be Elle, I don’t know what he has done but please don’t give up on him. You are honestly the only girl he has ever told me about and that just means he loves you more than he loves anyone else on this continent. He is young so forgive whatever mistake he made today; he will correct it in time. That’s how he is; he tends to be very stubborn from time to time.” Jane said smiling at Elle and the Queen knew instantly that the older lady would never lie.

“I am really glad to finally meet you.” Elle said smiling back at Jon’s mom and giving her another hug.

“I have asked to meet you many times but he has stubbornly refused, he said the time was not yet right but here we are.” Jane said laughing as she spoke. “I know you meet every week, I don’t know what happened in there but I would like to go in and check on him as well, but first you have to promise me something.” Jane said looking a little bit serious now.

“What can I do for you ma?” Elle asked looking into Jane’s kind eyes.

“You will come and see him next week my dear, please do that for me.” Jane asked still holding Elle’s hands.

“I will.” Elle said with a smile knowing full well she wasn’t going to just let Jon go so easily.

“Hope to see you again soon.” Jane said dragging her into one final hug before letting her go. Elle would leave Jon’s mother to go in and see him while she got back to the Inn and got the best room to spend the night.

The next morning she would find Jon sleeping in front of her door having spent the night outside her room at the Inn. They would make up and have breakfast together without bringing up anything from their argument the previous day.

Elle’s coach and driver were back from the country as planned and took her back to the palace under the pretense that she had spent her birthday and the day after that at the countryside. It had been month ago and many things had transpired between them since then.

10th September, 1340

As Jon stood next to the canal remembering the wonderful and chaotic birthday and the day after that he realized now that Elle knew exactly why he tried to leave the capital back then. He had finally told her how he felt even though she had to say it first. Now he wondered what was going to happen, she had stormed off back to the palace obviously angry at him. He wondered now what she could possibly have told Ferran to tell him, why didn’t she tell him herself and right there? He wondered

“What could she have told Ferran?” he asked himself running a hand through his long hair as he got visibly frustrated. “That traitor named Ferran spoke to Elle behind my back.” Jon said getting angry now and knowing exactly what to do. He knew he wouldn’t find Ferran tonight; Ferran knew him well and would probably avoid him all night. He knew exactly where his best friend would be tomorrow morning though. He knew Ferran worked at the stables on Saturday mornings. He would beat that secret out of Ferran if he had to. He couldn’t wait more than a day to know what it was. If Elle couldn’t say it herself it meant two things. It was quite an important piece of information and a distasteful one at that; he had to know what it was as soon as possible.