One Option

*Nearly two months prior*

Eliana was tending her garden by the house when she saw a small knot of people approach her from further up the hill. Leaving her fall pumpkins behind, she shielded her eyes to view the guests. Her heart lifted when she saw the figure of her lovely sister and the handsome Sir Taran.

"Dania!" she called, lifting up her skirts slightly to run at the group.

It only took one look at the fake smile plastered on the brunette's face to know that something was terribly, horribly wrong. Dania hurried forward and hugged her older sister before Taran could speak.

The younger woman quickly whispered in Eliana's ear. "Don't try to fix this, please."

It was so contrary to the blonde's nature that the elder sister immediately knew the situation was dire. "No promises," she replied into her sister's hair before pulling away. Already a pleasant mask of welcome was on her face.

"Dearest Eliana," Taran said with a handsome smile. He came forward and embraced the woman and kissed her on the cheek. "We have come with glad tidings! May we come inside? My friends, of course, can wait here."

"You look well, Taran," Eliana replied in a pleasant tone. "This home is as much my sister's as my own, so she may invite whoever she likes into it."

Dania flicked an anxious glance toward Taran, who nodded almost imperceptibly. "Come in, Taran. I am sure my sister can accommodate us on such short notice. Eliana, perhaps you could check the fishing lines and bring back a cod or two for dinner?"

This was a code that the girls had developed with their parents long ago. Because they did not live very close to anyone else, when a stranger came that seemed questionable, their parents could gently tell them to catch some cod for their guests. They children would go find a safe place to hide and wait until the danger had passed.

The river had many fish but no cod.

Eliana's eyes opened slightly wider. Although she did not want to leave her sister, she hoped perhaps she could get some help and stop whatever questionable activity was occurring. Despite her sister's pleas, she would solve this problem.

However, Taran stopped whatever plan she was concocting in its tracks. "My friends will head down to the river for us and bring back anything on the lines. I do not want to miss the chance to catch up with my future sister-in-law."

The nobleman motioned to his men, who headed down to the water in the woman's stead.

"Always so thoughtful," Dania tried to sound sincere, but Eliana could hear the despair in her voice.

"Of course, my dear. Anything for you," Taran took the younger woman's hand.

The blonde's eyes opened wide as she processed the nobleman's claim. "Future sister-in-law? Do you mean…"

Taran flashed a charming smile. "I guess I ruined the surprise. Let us go inside to talk more about this joyous event." He placed his hand gently behind Dania's back and offered his arm to Eliana.

Trying not to show her hesitation, the blonde looped her arm through the man's and allowed him to escort her indoors.

"So, how did it happen?" Eliana asked as neutrally as she could.

Dania opened her mouth, but Taran squeezed her hand. "Allow me, my dear. When I recommended Dania to the University, I had only thought of how much good she could do for humanity. But then something changed, and I realized that I could not live without her. I told her as much and she accepted my offer of wedded bliss. Isn't it wonderful?"

"Is this true," Eliana searched her sister's face. The brunette's eyes were such a shade of charcoal grey as the older sister had never seen. 'So much sadness in those color-changing eyes,' Eliana thought.

"It is true." Dania gave a smile that did not reach her eyes. "We will be married, just not any time soon. Don't worry."

"Quite right. We will have to talk to my father about such things and get all the plans in order. Do not worry, I do not expect you to pay for anything. Though I admit, I have half a mind to elope just to save us all the trouble," Taran seemed full of emotion, though Eliana could not describe it as love.

"Do not be hasty, Taran. I will not marry without my family safe and with me for the event," she smiled at Eliana genuinely. "I would never want a wedding without my sister."

"The love of family is very important," Taran answered sincerely. Pulling out a chair from the table, the nobleman indicated for his fiancée to sit.

Tucking her skirts under her, Dania rested upon lacquered wood. "I am glad we can agree on that."

One of Taran's men entered without knocking with two large fish dangling from hooks. "These were what was on the lines, my lord," he said.

The lithe blonde's eyes looked bright blue as she realized the guard had cut the line instead of removing the hook. That would mean much more work for her later. Eliana sighed and went to take the fish from the guard.

Taran stopped her. "No, sister. Please let him prepare the fish. I insist."

The guard reached for the knife at his side and pulled it from his belt. Eliana pulled back quickly, bumping into the table to avoid the brandished blade. Both she and Dania gasped.

"Clean the fish outside!" Taran hissed. He looked apologetically at Eliana and rubbed his temples. "Forgive him, ladies, he is uncooth."

The nobleman pulled the blonde's arm gently as the guard left the dwelling to clean and cook the fish outside.

Under the man's urging, Eliana joined the other young woman around the table. "No sister of mine needs to raise a finger while I am here. We are family and the love of family is very important," Taran repeated his prior sentiment. "In fact, it is that love that brought us here so you could hear the news first!"

Rather than relieve the tension, Taran's gesture made Eliana feel trapped. She wasn't able to run her own home or move about freely.

"I appreciate you bringing your news personally," the blonde said, choosing her words carefully. "How long will you be staying before you head back to the University?"

"We will be heading out right after we eat," Dania said, "but we're are not going back to the University."

Taran laid his hands on top of Dania's and she fell silent. "My love is right, we have some things to take care of so we are taking a small sabbatical from our University duties. Oh! Dania, did you not have a request to make of your sister?"

Dania reluctantly nodded. "Of course. I should have remembered." The woman's cheeks tinged pink. "We left in quite a hurry from Valiant because of all the excitement. I managed to leave my notes behind. Do you have the copies I sent you?"

Eliana scratched behind her ear and pushed her lovely golden locks behind her shoulder. "I am not sure what you are talking about."

"I sent you a package via a University courier about a week ago," Dania prodded her. Her mood ring eyes had shifted to a dull green. She was becoming frustrated, or maybe anxious. "Please, Ellie, I need the copy."

Pressing her lips together, Eliana rose from her seat. "I did receive a package, but after reading the note, I did not open it."

The blonde debated if she should get the papers, but she at last saw no other choice. From a small chest beside her bed, she pulled out a bundle of papers.

"If I had known it was your notes, I would have looked through them. Care to share with me your find…" Eliana tripped, and the large bundle of papers in her arms broke open, sending the papers flying. The home was filled with a flurry of pages, with some even flying into the lit fireplace.

"Oh no!" Eliana gasped.

"Curses!" Taran's anger flared before being contained. "We will pick them up, sister. Accidents happen."

While the man gathered the papers closest to the fire, the sisters made their way around the bed collecting pages. While Taran was distracted, Dania pushed two notes under her sister's mattress and gave Eliana a meaningful look.

Once the pages were collected, the three ate a meal of fire roasted fish and greens. The time together was strained and Eliana felt guilty for being relieved when they were through.

"Forgive our rudeness for leaving so abruptly," Taran gathered the papers and placed them in a pouch. He glanced up and down Eliana's body. "That is all of the papers, correct?" He asked suspiciously. "You didn't accidentally keep any of them…"

Eliana felt her body tense. "I gave you what I had, brother." She swallowed.

Taran stared at her long and hard before walking toward her. He kissed her on the cheek. "Very good, sister. It is not good to keep secrets from me. I only want to protect you."

His hands not so covertly ran across her stomach to confirm her words. Fortunately her apron pockets were empty.

Taran's words of 'protection' sent a shiver down the woman's spine. "Are you sure Dania cannot stay the night? I have a few things I need to say about marriage…"

"Another time," Taran took the brunette's hand and led her out of the house.

"I love you," Dania called softly. "Farewell." The scientist's eyes turned light blue, a mix of hope and sadness.

"I love you too," Eliana watched helplessly as her sister went with the men. Her own eyes were now a sullen shade charcoal.

For the first time, the Eliana was unsure how to fix a problem given to her. There was only one option. She rushed to her mattress in hopes the clues left behind would help.