Defeat

"It was an accident! Ellyn has apologized over a hundred times! Besides, I'm fine now."

Her indignant tone was not convincing me of her being alright.

"That may be, but that still does not excuse her behavior."

She shakes her head, tossing her hair over her shoulder, and wipping her tears.

"That was over two years ago, it doesn't matter. Are you prepared to depart tomorrow?"

Was her own self worth really so small, that she thinks almost perishing at the hands of her own sister, didn't matter? Her subject change was not at all subtle. 

"About that, I need to discuss our... contract marriage." 

Her expression turns from a nnoyance to curiosity so quickly I want to shake her. That girl was extremely confusing.

I take a deep breath. "You shouldn't come with me, Ellanor. My family is dangerous. It isn't necessary for you to get involved."

"What!? Lord Cassius, I'm not sure what you might think, but our marriage is quite nessecary. I won't allow war between our Kingdoms if it can be prevented."

Why must she be so stubborn, yet have no survival instincts? My family would break- no, destroy her. Ellanor Daelyn must live, no matter what she said earlier.

"Ellanor, you-"

She interupts me.

"No, Lord Cassius, I promised my father I would go through with this, and I can't bare to leave Ellyn all alone. We should go inside before we catch colds."

I know a losing arguement when I see one. Clearly, I won't convince her. Alden would tell me to leave it up to her. If she wants to come, let her. I follow her inside, angry that I thought of Alden's advice at a time like this.

"It's around dinner time. Why don't you go change and meet me for a meal?"

Ellanor agrees to this, at least. I sigh and sink into a hard, wooden chair, frustrated at her persistence and my own defeat.