[Lauchenoiria]

Gabrielle Pierre was already exhausted by the time she was allowed into Eiria. Being a current member of the Kerlian military, and probably her family name also, meant the Eirians were taking every possible precaution before permitting her entrance into their country. By the time she made it out of immigration, it was late and so she went straight to her hotel, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, she set off for the Robinson residence. She was fully aware of the EICA tail following her everywhere she went, even to the little coffee shop she stopped in. But she wasn’t doing anything wrong, so she paid them no mind. All she wanted to do was talk to Camille, and encourage her to come home. If she wouldn’t, then Gabrielle would find out exactly what it was Camille wanted, and they would go from there.

When she reached the Robinson residence, she rang the bell and waited, like a normal guest. After a couple of minutes, Natasha Robinson came to the door, opening it and then pausing in surprise. Natasha’s pregnancy was starting to show a little; it wouldn’t be immediately noticeable unless one was looking. Gabrielle was looking, but without any level of judgement. She was Kerlian, after all.

“Gabrielle,” Natasha said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“Hello Natasha,” Gabrielle said politely. “Congratulations on the baby, and my commiserations regarding the patriarchal dipshit of a father. I would like to speak with my sister, Camille.”

Natasha snorted at the mention of Kristofer. “Thanks; I should’ve known better than to trust him in the first place, but it is what it is. Come in, I’ll get Camille.”

Natasha stepped aside, letting Gabrielle into the house. She showed Gabrielle into the sitting room while calling up the stairs for Camille to come down. “Would you like any tea or coffee?” Natasha asked Gabrielle. “I have decaf as well.”

“Oh, I stopped for some on the way here,” Gabrielle said. “Wasn’t sure how you’d react to my visit, you know.”

“The blood feud? Water under the bridge; honestly,” Natasha chuckled, sitting down. “Why should I have to bear grudges around the actions of our great-grandmothers?”

“Indeed,” Gabrielle nodded. Camille appeared in the doorway.

“Oh,” Camille said, simply.

“Hi Camille,” Gabrielle said softly. “Please don’t be worried, I just want to talk.”

“Is Mother here?” Camille asked.

“No, she’s not allowed in Eiria,” Gabrielle replied. “She wanted to be, though. She wanted to apologise to you for what happened, and tell you that she loves you very much. She wishes you would come home; we all do.”

“I, uh…” Camille said, biting her lip. And then the front door burst open.

*

Concurrently

As soon as Gabrielle approached the Robinson property, the EICA agents tailing her contacted their superiors, who in turn immediately called Carmen Robinson, who was in the middle of an Eirian lesson. She excused herself and took the call.

“Hello?”

“We’re sorry to bother you, but we thought you’d like to know that Gabrielle Pierre is at your house.”

“What!?” Carmen said. “Get her out of it, immediately! She must be up to something! Are my daughters safe!? Arrest her!”

*

The EICA agents burst into the Robinson household, approaching where Gabrielle was seated on the couch. One of them grabbed her arm, pulling her up.

“Um, what’s going on?” Natasha asked.

“Orders,” one replied. “Your mother has instructed us to remove this individual from the property for trespassing.”

“I wasn’t trespassing,” Gabrielle replied. “Natasha invited me in.”

“I did; she just wanted to speak to Camille,” Natasha confirmed.

“Your mother says she is to be removed; it is her house,” the EICA agent replied, tugging at Gabrielle’s arm to force her to come along.

“This is silly,” Gabrielle declared. “All I want to do is see how my sister is!”

“Ma’am, you are under arrest for trespassing,” the EICA agent informed her. "Please step out now, or we will have to remove you with force."

“Surely this is going a bit far,” Natasha said, alarmed.

In response, the EICA agent produced a pair of handcuffs and put them on Gabrielle’s wrists. The Kerlian looked down in surprise, then up to meet her sister’s eyes. Camille had been standing in the corner, watching proceedings with a look of utter confusion.

“See who these people are, Camille? The truth of it? I came here to tell you how much your family loves you, and they have me arrested. Are these really the people you want to stay with? Do you really trust these Eirians?” Gabrielle asked.

“Enough,” said the agent, dragging Gabrielle out of the room. She stopped resisting, and looked away as Camille’s eyes followed her sister as she was led off. Both Natasha and Camille watched as the EICA agents departed with their new prisoner, matching looks of confusion and upset on their faces.