A Royal Obligation
Chapter 212: Ella’s Anger

Chapter 212: Ella’s Anger

The Valeidio procession finally reached the kingdom’s borders as the dense forest began to thin, revealing the familiar landscape.

The group’s pace slowed, and the sound of hooves on dirt softened as they approached.

Ella was the first to spot them, standing near the edge of the border where she had been anxiously awaiting their arrival. Her heart leaped at the sight of the familiar faces, but her relief quickly gave way to frustration.

Her gaze immediately locked onto her brother Theo, riding near the front of the group. As soon as he dismounted, she rushed toward him, her emotions boiling over.

"Theo!" she called, her voice trembling with a mixture of relief and anger.

Theo turned just in time to see her before she barreled into him, her fists pounding against his chest.

"Why didn’t you take me along?" she demanded, her punches weak but filled with frustration. "Why? You know I’m as worried about Eirik as anyone else!"

Theo caught her hands mid-swing, holding them firmly. He didn’t speak at first, instead pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Ella," he murmured, his voice steady but filled with understanding.

Ella squirmed in his arms, trying to free herself, but Theo held her close. "Let me go!" she protested, her voice breaking.

"No," Theo said softly. "You need this, you thick head."

Eventually, her resistance waned, and she collapsed into her brother’s chest, sobbing quietly. Theo’s grip tightened protectively, his hand gently stroking her hair. He knew how much Eirik meant to her, how deeply his kidnapping had been weighing on her.

"I’m not sorry for leaving you behind," Theo said after a moment, his tone gentle but firm. "It was urgent, and you were out with the scouts. We couldn’t wait."

Ella didn’t respond, her tears soaking into his uniform. Theo held her a moment longer before stepping back slightly, though he kept a hand on her shoulder.

King Xavian and Theron approached, dismounting from their horses. Xavian’s presence commanded immediate attention, his expression unreadable but firm.

"We need to take this inside," the king said, his voice cutting through the moment.

Theo reluctantly released his sister. Ella quickly wiped at her face, trying to hide the evidence of her tears as she turned to greet her uncle. King Xavian’s gaze softened slightly as he looked at her, his features briefly betraying a flicker of empathy.

"You’ve grown stronger since I last saw you," he said, his voice quieter now. "Eirik will need that strength from you."

Ella nodded, though her throat felt tight.

Theron, reached out to ruffle Ella’s hair roughly, his grin teasing. "Still a crybaby, I see."

Ella slapped his hand away, glaring up at him. "Stop that!"

Theron laughed, and the sound drew a rare chuckle from both Theo and King Xavian. The brief levity was a balm against the tension lingering in the air.

Ella’s attention, however, was quickly drawn elsewhere. Her gaze swept over the group, searching for something, or rather, someone. It didn’t take long for her eyes to land on Sadiki, who was being pulled roughly by the guards at the back of the procession. His hands were bound, and his head hung low, but there was no mistaking the figure.

Her blood boiled. She marched toward him, her fists clenched, her steps furious.

"Ella, no!" Theo called, stepping quickly to intercept her. He grabbed her arm just as she reached for Sadiki, pulling her back.

"Let me go, Theo!" she shouted, struggling against his grip. "I’ll tear him apart! He deserves it!"

Sadiki didn’t lift his head, but his shoulders tensed at her words.

"You can’t do this right now," Theo said firmly, scooping her up into his arms as she continued to thrash.

"Let me down!" Ella screamed, her anger bubbling over.

Theo carried her into one of the tents set up near the border, ignoring her protests. King Xavian and Theron followed closely behind, their expressions a mix of concern and exhaustion. Once inside, Theo finally set her down, though he kept himself positioned between her and the tent’s exit.

"Ella, enough," he said, his voice low and serious. "We have more pressing matters to discuss. Please, be calm."

Ella froze, her brother’s tone catching her off guard. Theo rarely spoke to her that way. She looked up at him, her anger faltering as she noticed the tension in his expression. Something was wrong.

She turned to Theron, her voice softer now. "Cousin... how is Eirik? Is he back in Zephyros?"

Theron sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. His earlier playful demeanor was now absent, replaced by a somber seriousness. Beside him, King Xavian blinked rapidly, his jaw tightening.

Ella’s stomach churned. She could feel the weight of bad news hanging in the air.

"Let’s sit down first," Theo suggested, gesturing to the small table in the center of the tent.

They all took their seats, King Xavian at the head of the table, his presence as commanding as ever. Ella watched him intently, her heart pounding.

"Is everything okay with Eirik?" she asked again, her voice trembling.

Theron finally spoke. "Eirik is safe."

Ella let out a shaky sigh of relief, but her instincts told her there was more. The way Theo avoided her gaze and the way Xavian’s expression hardened confirmed it.

"But..." she began, only to be cut off by Theo.

"He’s not back in Zephyros," Theo admitted. "He’s still in Neomenia... with Kaelix and the twins."

"Why?" Ella asked, confusion and frustration mixing in her tone. "Why couldn’t he come home? I just want to see him, to hug him..."

"Ella," Theo interrupted, his voice strained. He hesitated, glancing at King Xavian.

"There’s no need to beat around the bush," Xavian said, his voice firm. "Eirik lost the baby."

The words hung in the air like a physical blow. Ella’s breath caught, her vision blurring as the weight of the revelation crashed over her.

"What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Xavian continued, his tone steady but not unkind. "Eirik is unconscious and unfit for travel. He needs time to recover."

Ella shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "No... no, this can’t be."

Theo reached out to her, pulling her into another embrace as her sobs broke free. She clung to him, her hands gripping his tunic tightly as she cried.

"It’s not fair," she choked out. "Eirik didn’t deserve this... he didn’t deserve any of this."

"I know," Theo said quietly, his voice filled with sorrow. "I know, Ella."

For a moment, the tent was silent save for Ella’s muffled sobs. But King Xavian eventually spoke, his tone firm.

"Ella, we don’t have time for this," he said. "I know you’re hurt, and I know you’re grieving for your cousin, but we need to focus. There are important matters to discuss."

Ella pulled away from Theo, her face streaked with tears. "I can’t... I can’t do this right now," she said, her voice breaking. She stood abruptly and stormed out of the tent, her emotions overwhelming her.

Theo moved to follow her, but Xavian stopped him with a raised hand.

"Let her be," the king said. "She needs to grieve in her own way."

Theo hesitated, torn between his desire to comfort his sister and his duty to remain.

Xavian turned to Theron. "We need to send a message to Zephyros. King Reagan needs to understand the situation. And you and I need to continue to the capital."

Theron nodded, though his usual confidence was subdued. He’d been quiet throughout the conversation, his frustration and sorrow showing in the way he tapped his fingers against the table and avoided meeting anyone’s gaze.

"I’ll handle that," Theo said, as he stepped out to call one of his messengers.

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