Unexpected Arrangements ~ Chapter V, Part 2

[Caliborn]

<i>~Relena~</i>

The white envelope had looked so innocent, lying there, situated perfectly in the middle of a small silver tray. I had walked right past it, hands already at work removing pins from my hair. I had frozen halfway to my bedroom, hands in a comical, doubled-back position to get the worst of the hairpins.

Hilde was strangely absent. Usually my best friend was here by now, ready to hop up and help me get ready for our usual night out.

. . . Well, I certainly wasn't going to stop my nightly routine just because the Prince had arrived. Or even just because he'd caught me before. He was fun to play around with, certainly, but since trapping myself into this deal, I was craving the freedom that night brought even more.

Things had been going well. Within a week, the Prince and I had the entire palace thinking we were falling for one another; that, indeed, we were to be married. It was fun, actually -- having to slip on our masks whenever we saw a servant come around the corner, never quite sure who could be trusted. It had become a game. Daily the two of us would meet for breakfast and exchange pleasantries over the table, then, just after, leave "on a walk." Of course we would be followed, but the spies on our tails were always thrown off easily, with my knowledge of the palace's passageways and Prince Yuy's stubborn endurance. Once free of the palace walls, we would discard our "costumes" and make idle wagers of when an answer from Lord Barton would arrive.

We didn't always spend the day together, either-- usually we would go our own ways, meeting again int the late afternoon to don our masks once more and return to the palace arm and arm. At first, I had bought myself flowers or jewlery at the marketplace and then carried them back proudly, as if they were trinkets of Prince Yuy's affection. Lately, though, Heero had met me just before we were to return and presented me with something of his own-- The first such item, for example, was an exquisitly crafted glass-blown figurine. Where he found it, I'll never know, but it now rested on a self in my drawing room for the servants to gaze at and gossip over.

The white, undiscrepant envelope rested not far from it. I had seen it when I walked in, but had not registered it, wondering instead where my friend was. Lately she'd been gone for strangely long periods, but never had an entire day gone by without my seeing her.

I had asked her just yesterday what she'd taken to entertaining herself with, and to my surprise, she had simply blushed and changed the subject. Hilde's absence was puzzling, but I decided to give her a few more moments before worrying. I could at least change by myself, certainly.

I was in the middle of my own deep thoughts on my various, day-to-day problems --A fake betrothal, impending war, preserving my country, that sort of thing-- when I finally realized that the envelope was entirely out of place. Turning slowly, I faced it again, letting my arms fall in front of me. I had managed to dislodge the last hairpin, and so my hair quickly tumbled in disarray about my shoulders. Ignoring that, I frowned, walking quickly over to the silver tray bearing the paper.

A servant had brought it in, obviously. But how? Why? Any message I was likely to get should've been handed to me in person, not left on a counter for me to find. Pulling it out, I examined the paper, my name written in flowing cursive across the back. The handwriting seemed familiar to me . . .
Flipping it over, my eyes widened at the scarlet wax seal. I knew that family crest. Putting two and two together, I knew, even before I opened the letter, who it was from.

The message was simple and to the point. Some of the lines were smeared slightly, showing haste.


<i>My Lady,
Please, come and see me immediately. I leave with the moon and must speak with you before I go.
Lucrezia Noin</i>


I frowned again. This made no sense. Why was Lady Noin being so secretive? And why in the world did she wish to speak with me?

Lady Noin, like the other powerful nobels, had been there at the Welcoming Feast the night before. She, like a few of the others, had choosen to accept the hospitality of our castle and stay for a while. But why was she leaving now, at such an odd hour?

It certainly pequed my interest.

Lady Noin still wore black since . . . since what had happened to my older brother. It had been lightly rumored around the court that she and Millardo had been involved. I, being closer than most to the both of them, knew the rumors to be truth. The gossip had died out, though, out of repect, since Noin had recluded to her private estates and immersed herself in black. She almost never came out any longer, and smiled even less. It had been a shock to see her at the feast.

This was perplexing indeed . . . I glanced over my shoulder, half-hoping to see Hilde. Yet she was still not there. Where <i>was</i> that girl? I sighed and moved to grab my cloak, fastening it quickly about my neck. It looked like I was going to take another moonlight walk about the castle . . . into a different set of rooms, though.

It took me only a few moments to reach the guest's quarters, and only a few more before I reached Lady Noin's doorway. I knew where she was staying because I myself had personally shown her to her rooms-- she had been a dear friend of mine, though we'd grown apart since . . . everything had happened.

At my knock, the door swung open, and it was Lady Noin who stood just inside. Shadows cast over her features; I almost didn't recognize her at first. She seemed . .. different. Shadowed. Regretful. Before I could ask anything, she motioned me to silence, then gestured for me to follow her inside. I frowned, but followed. What was going on?

"Lady Noin--"

"Relena," She interupted me, sounding strangely pained. "I'm sorry. I truly am."

I turned to look at her, eyes narrowed in confusion, when abruptly I felt a sharp, blinding pain to my skull, as if something had tried to crack it open. A gloved hand snaked around the back of my head to cover my mouth before I could utter so much as a squeek. I felt strangely light even as my legs gave out underneath me; a black monster was lifting me up, filling my vision. As my gaze dimmed, I thought I registered a mark on the glove as it flashed in front of my eyes -- an insignia. Then the black monster swallowed me whole.

<i>The House Kushrenada . . . </i>

[Caliborn]

Man, did that "I WILL post something before Easter" come back to laugh in my face . . . Not only did it have time to do that, but it marched across my driveway waving a flag and singing the national anthem. Oh dear . . .

But better late then never, right? ^_^ Hope you enjoy!

[Morrighan]

O. M. G.

You guys drop out of existence for weeks, and then you leave us a <b>cliffie?!?!?!?!</b>

More!!!

[melrose_stormhaven]

Wahahahaha! Good one Cali! It was well worth the wait. I didn't see that coming quite yet.

But wait, does that mean I'm next? It's been so loooong....

I'l probably post sometime next week.... Be nice!

[Kaili Charmer]

I'l probably post sometime next week.... Be nice!

I'm holding you to that! Interesting chapter, Cali- different in that there wasn't much interaction between heero/relena, but enough to bring up a...KIDNAPPING?? Sheesh, you people absolutely kill me! Great job, just get out next part quickly please!!!!! :razz:

[Andrea]

Um... Mel? There's really no rush! Really!!... I'm not the next, am I?

Whaaa!!

[melrose_stormhaven]

OK, ok...I won't rush...hehehe...I have my internship you see, which requires me to go places I have never trod before...and come home too exhausted to think...

[Andrea]

Scratch what I said. I swear I'll have to read the whole darn thing again because I don't remember anything! Melrose! Where in heavens are you! We're all wondering what's happened to you!

[Kaili Charmer]

Is mel lost???? WAAAHH!! We have to find her!!! I don't like losing people! Especially if they're writers of stories I'm reading...
Mel! Where are you? Don't frighten me with your absence!

[Caliborn]

Wow . . . I forgot about this. *Sheepish look* It's been . . . many months . . . anmd summer's almost over. *Wail* Melrose! Come back!