French Fantasy 1x1 Anna and Echo

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"I'm not going to be okay," Callias snapped. "I need you." He held him close, trying not to break apart. "I.. Please. There must be something I can do..." He abruptly got up, letting go of Lucien. He rushed to his office without a word. A few moments later he had sent a letter to England, saying that he requested Lucien to stay in France with him, but he would sent others in his place.

"I'm not considering anything," Abel snapped. "Are you insane? I'm just looking." Was he grouchy because he knew Gale was right but wished he wasn't? He didn't stand a chance with the princess, and he couldn't stand her anyways. And she could handle herself. She didn't need to be handled like she was fragile.

[AnnaCat17]

Lucien stayed on the floor where he left him, picking up the pieces of his broken heart. He gathered up the letters and shakily went to the room he had been staying in, starting to pack his things as tears rolled fatly down his face.

Gale rolled his eyes and got up, brushing the dirt off himself. "Well good luck with that." He said before returning to Eloise

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias had guards go to Lucien's room and lock the door with Lucien inside. He had to keep him here, regardless of the consequences. He would not let him go.

Abel watcher him go to Eloise. He watched her, pretending he wasn't staring.

[AnnaCat17]

Lucien looked over confused when he heard the door shut. He walked over and tried to open the door, gritting his teeth when he found it locked. He banged on the door before yelling. "You cant do this callias! You dont know what you will be causing!"

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

The guards didn't say anything as they stood by Lucien's door.

Callias was in his office, tapping his fingers nervously on the desk. He had sent Ilaria to wait exactly by the post office to bring him any letter address to him immediately. He knew a reply from England wouldn't come soon, but he didn't want to miss it when it did.

[AnnaCat17]

-that night-

Lucien had tried everything to get out of the room but beyond risking breaking a leg by leaping from the window there was nothing he could do. He laid on his bed stairing at the wall blankly. He had hoped he would be able to spend his last night with Callias but he was being too stubborn and had elected to ignore him. He heard the rattle of a carriage as the people arrived to bring him back to London. A shudder ran through him and he squeezed his eyes shut.

Eloise slipped out into the gardens in her night dress. The stillness of the night and the darkness soothed her as she walked quickly through the garden, her bare feet welcoming the feeling of the dewy grass. She was determined to climb the tree she had seen earlier, free of the prying eyes of others.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

The guards notified Callias of the carriage. He was in the entrance of the palace, pacing nervously with his hands folded neatly behind his back. He tried not to show his fear and anxiety, glancing at the door nervously. The guards were outside as well as with Callias and throughout the palace. Several waited outside Lucien's door. He didn't know who was coming to get Lucien, and if they'd fight to bring him back.

Abel was cleaning up his tools and placing them in his wheelbarrow to take to the shed. He heard movement, but thought nothing of it. As he was pushing the wheelbarrow away, he heard more movement, like someone was wrestling on the ground with another. He grabbed his shovel and silently made his way over in the direction of the noise. He saw a guy had pinned Eloise down and was shoving a cloth into her mouth to silence her. Abel swung his shovel and hit the man on the back on his head. He wouldn't be getting up anymore.

[AnnaCat17]

A high ranking soilder got out of the carriage and bowed to Callias. "Your Highness, we are sorry to bother you at such an early hour. We have been sent to collect Mr. Baudien." He explained formally.

Eloise shook in fear on the ground, even as the man fell limp on the groubd hal ontop of her. She could feel bruises forming where the man had grabbed her but otherwise she was unharmed. She didn't look to see who was there, or even remove the gag from her mouth, terrified they had something even worse in store for her.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"Mr. Baudien will not be coming with you," Callias said, his voice firm. "He will be staying here with me. I can either send someone else in his place or you can leave with no one."

Abel knelt down beside Eloise and removed the gag. He carefully picked her up and began to carry her, his hand gently smoothing her hair. "Shhh," he murmured gently. "It's okay. I've got you."

[AnnaCat17]

The soilder checked his paperwork before looking back at him. "Mr. Baudien isnt married to a french citizen and has not been granted citizenship. He is here only for work but his services are now required by the english military. Either he leaves with us now or we will be back tomorrow and drag him out in handcuffs for avoiding the draft. Your request to keep him for continued work was denied personally by the queen." He explained calmly, clearly used to this sort of behaviour.

Eloise didnt fight with him when he helped her off. Her eyes watched the dead body over his shoulder until it was blocked from view, continueing to quiver in fear in his arms as her nightdress, wet with dew and sweat, clung to her body.