For a long time I sat there, frozen.. simply staring at the delicate parchment, re-reading the words over and over again. So many thought were chasing each other around my mind. Surprisingly, the most prominent thought was, why had Nicholai lied to me.. just when I thought we were getting close, I find out ... 
I sighed raggedly, his betrayal stung me more than anything. Slowly, anger seeped in, warding off the hollow feeling in my soul. Boiling rage coarsed through my blood, I wanted to leap at him, biting and clawing for all I was worth. 
I quelled my rage, I needed to think rationally, if I was to do carry out my father's instructions. Thankfully, the rage was exactly what I needed to snap me out of my shock induced trance. I thought quickly, and realised that if I was going to escape from here, this was the best time.. as now no - one would be around, or looking for me as Nicholai had instructed the servants to leave me alone when I was by the fountain. Breathing fast,  I slowly got up, and slipping my sandals on I began walking out of the courtyard, for the first time, it occured to me that  I had no idea how to get to the Woods of Elkannoe from here. As if by magic a slight breeze picked up and the thin parchment blowing it towards my feet. I bent to pick it up, and found that on the back of it, was a map scrawled in ink....

Nicholai's point of view...

"Luciel, have you seen Celia anywhere?.. I haven't seen her since I returned" 
I was aware that my voice sounded slightly panicky.. but I didn't care, this was very unlike Celia. Something was wrong.. I could sense it.
I sighed as my personal advisor, shook his head. 
"Just, keep an eye out for her, ok?" I mumbled, waving an arm to signal his dismissal. She must be in my mother's garden.. I thought to myself.
Wearily, I rose from the large antique bureau, as I trudged down the dark hallway, a thought occured to me, not for the first time, I wondered if I should follow Luciel's advice and let Celia see her parents again. 
It would be wey easy to arrange, have them brought over to the castle, then afterwards a simple potion woud erase from their minds the events of that day. It would make Celia very happy indeed.
They would undoubtedly remember Celia after spending a little while with her. The potion they'd been given wiped most memories of Celia, but they'd always have a vague recollection of their beautiful daughter. 
where is she,  I thought... I was starting to really get worried...

Aghast, I read the breif note over and over again. The betrayal ripped at my heart. The words began swinming before me, as tears of rage clouded my eyes. The deceptive bitch... for months she'd led me to beleive they were developing... well.. something...
and.. and now she runs off with some bastard!.. H e flung the offending note down onto the desk and stronde out of the room, slamming the door so violently, it rattled the entire room.

The note read..

My darling Nichlai..
I regret to inform you, that
I have eloped with my true love..
don't try to find me.
I never cared for you.
so leave me be.....

~Celia~