Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

The Ties that Bind	By : Lady_Kae Category: +M through R > Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Views: 2280 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters used from the game Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. All characters and game related material, plus any lyrics, save for original content is property of their respective owners and no money is being made from this

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
A/N: I am so terribly sorry it has taken so long to update! Life has gotten in the way, but I promise that this story is still going strong! Things have recently changed at work which will afford me a little more time to get some writing in on a daily basis now, as opposed to the sporadic little sessions I've been trying to get in over the last few months. Thank you all for those who've stuck with me for this long! Book 2 is coming to an end very soon and then the fun really begins in Book 3! I can't wait until I get those chapters up! For now, here's the newest chapter and hopefully I'll have the next one up soon! Enjoy!
~Kae
Book II: Bond

Chapter 10: Aftermath
A Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Fanfiction

Gascon leaned over the balcony morosely, the pain...No, utter heartbreak he felt from Amara was driving him to seek comfort elsewhere for now. She hadn't been taking care of herself properly since Marion's death three weeks ago, though she always made sure that their son was always attended to. His sad, brown eyes looked over his shoulder into their chambers and they settled over his wife. He wanted to console her, wanted to see her smile again. But it was as if Amara was steeped with guilt for what had happened.
And she refused to let it go.
Slowly, Gascon padded back into their bedroom once he heard his son grunt a little from his crib and he leaned over the railing. A soft smile crossed his face as he looked at his newborn son. Tamrand would definitely favor him in looks, but he had honey brown hair. That he had to get from Amara, because no one in Gascon's line had that color. The poor boy had his nose though, but it was too soon to tell if Tamrand would be relentlessly teased for it as he had been by Amara in their younger years. Two bright and wide blue eyes met his and the babe cooed a little as his father came into view. Gascon reached in and smoothed Tamrand's fuzzy hair down a little; he was praying the poor boy would have Amara's easily tameable hair when he got older, and his fingers traced over the delicate point of his ears. Now those he definitely got from his mother. He thought with a chuckle. Reaching inside, he picked up Tamrand, being mindful to support his head and Gascon shushed the baby gently as he began fussing a little. He noted that Tamrand's nappy was wet and Gascon shook his head. There was nothing for it, he wasn't about to wake Amara to change him. Dutifully and tenderly, Gascon set to replacing the cloth diaper and he tried his best to swaddle the baby again. He'd get it right with some practice.
Tamrand was still fussing a little as Gascon walked around the room with him. His tawny eyes were soft with wonder as he gazed at his son.
Then again, Gascon was fearful that he would have never gotten to even hold him once.
Tamrand's fussing soon turned into full blown wails and Amara bolted up in bed at the sound. She smiled softly at the sight that met her though, as she couldn't deny that she loved watching her husband interact with their baby. " Bring him over please, darling. I'll get him fed." She said sweetly, albeit tiredly.
Gascon nodded and he padded silently across the room. Amara pushed one side of her nightgown away and she nestled the babe close. A little hiss escaped her as Tamrand latched on and Amara let go of the breath she had been holding. " I don't know if I'll ever get used to that." She murmured as her husband chuckled. " And don't you think about doing what you did the other night, Gascon." A glare was shot in his direction and Amara's blue eyes flashed a little menacingly.
" You did say it's supply and demand, love. I can help increase your supply with my demands." Gascon purred as he crawled across the bed towards his wife. Seeing his wife's breasts swollen with milk made his mouth water. Even before she had gotten pregnant with Tamrand, Gascon had loved to suckle and tease her like that. This wasn't going to be any exception. " Besides Amara, I can't touch you in any other means right now. You've all but said that making love to you is off limits so that you can heal." Gascon's hands pulled away the other side of her nightgown and he heard Amara hiss again as she was bared on the other side. " Please let me worship you." His voice was a sensually seductive in her ear as his fingers trailed down her collarbone. " Let me love you in this way if I can't show it in another." His lips began following the trail his fingers had followed, and Gascon smiled as her head lolled to the side to give him better access.
Amara couldn't fend off her husband too well while she was nursing their son and she groaned delightedly as his lips gently wrapped around the other breast. While Tamrand was contentedly sucking away for his meal, Gascon was sweeping his tongue across the sensitive bud, rolling it between his lips, and ever so carefully nipping every now and again. " Damn you, you randy bastard." She moaned. Amara hadn't been lying that her body needed time to heal after having Tamrand. The baby had weighed almost ten pounds when he was born. " You do realize you're making it that much harder on me, don't you?"
Gascon released her breast with an audible pop and Amara gasped at the sensation. " I'm going to have you so damn randy for me that you're not going to be able to walk straight Amara." He whispered promisingly. " Besides...We have some rather creative positions to try courtesy of Andi and Sean."
Amara blushed brilliantly in the moonlight and she felt Tamrand unlatch with a grunt. " You definitely are a randy bastard, Gascon." She mumbled. Admittedly, she could remember a lot of those positions and Amara couldn't deny she wouldn't mind trying them. She was just glad she could remember Andi for who she had been in her short time of self-consciousness.
" You love me that way, rabbot." Gascon chuckled sexily. " Let me take him while you clean up. I'll make sure he burps. It's the least that I can do considering I've got you wound up worse than a bumbler making honey at the moment." Admittedly, this was the most at ease he had felt her in the last few weeks.
Amara handed Tamrand off and she pulled her nightgown away so that she could wash herself. It had gotten wet the minute she had heard the baby as it was, as his cries had triggered her let down reflex. That was going to take some getting used to. Amara noted that she needed to keep something absorbent over her breasts while she was nursing. It wouldn't do to be busy with someone and then get embarrassed because the front of her gown had suddenly become sopping wet with her milk. She poured some water into the wash basin, only to look over her shoulder when Tamrand burped loudly. Gascon only chuckled at the bewildered look on her face, as the baby only ever did that with him. He always gave Amara little quiet burps until she was sure he wasn't gassy any longer.
" Let me rock him back to sleep, dearest. Then we can try to get some sleep ourselves." Amara said as she pulled a fresh nightgown on. Her father had put the rocker Marion had used with Amara in their room for them. Looking at it made her heart ache all over again and a few tears sprang to her eyes unbidden as Gascon settled Tamrand into her arms." I miss her so much already..." she whimpered. Her fingers gently trailed over Tamrand's cheek and his tiny hand grabbed her index finger.
" I know, Amara. I do too..." Gascon replied softly. Her family had known so much heartache over the last five years. First her three cousins during the attack on Thorn Pass, now the death of the queen? Gascon could only pray that there weren't any more casualties from this needless war the goblins were intent on raging. He was going to do everything in his power to make sure of it. He rubbed her arm consolingly as she held the baby a little tighter to her chest and Gascon leaned over to place a kiss on her temple. " We don't have long until Vana and her ilk make their move."
Amara tensed at the mention of the goblin queen and her thoughts went to the goblin warlord. " I'm going to kill that bastard when we cross blades again." She hissed. Amara could feel a core of darkness settling inside her at that promise, the need to avenge her mother's murder a open, festering wound on her heart. She could feel Gascon's love trying to settle over that core of anger, attempting to soothe her and comfort her.
There was no comfort to be found while Grimlock still walked. Amara was going to kill that bastard for taking her mother's life.
Gascon scowled a little at the rage he felt coming from Amara. " Don't give into that darkness, love. It's a false power, both of us know this. We're stronger than that. We'll avenge Marion's death, Amara. Don't doubt that for a second." He told her softly. His own anger at the goblin warlord was starting to come to the fore the longer Gascon felt such negative emotions from his wife. " We both need to calm down now before we get in too deep with these emotions. Remember what happened in the Golden Grove, love.
Amara nodded in understanding. Gascon was right that they both needed to curb their tempers until the time was right. " I wish we had never left Russet, Gascon." She whimpered. None of this would have happened if she hadn't forgotten to cast that damn contraception spell. Then again, she wouldn't be holding Tamrand now either.
" Everything happens for a reason, Amara." Gascon replied. He laid a gentle kiss on her head as he stood straight.
" For good or ill. I just...Mum would still be..." Amara hiccoughed as she tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to take over and she felt her husband take the baby from her. He had already fallen asleep now that he was clean and full. She leaned forward in the chair and she put her face in her hands. Soft sobs were racking her body, making her shoulders jerk sporadically.
Gascon pulled Amara into his arms and her head tucked itself under his chin. He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, but the midnight sky was starting to turn pink with the encroaching dawn.

Tarin looked around cautiously, and he took a tentative sniff of the still mountain air. It was heavy, full of the stench of blood and death. There had been another skirmish fought near here he was sure. He was praying that the squad he had sent out last night was well, but these were not good tidings to find in the least. The dwarf went on point when he heard a twig snap and he turned around quickly. Who was there? If they had been trying to sneak up on him it wasn't going to work. Tarin raised his axe a little, fully intending to swing first and ask questions later, and he swung the blade around in a horizontal arc as he turned towards his back. Steel met rusted steel and the goblin that had attempted to ambush him snarled menacingly. Tarin bellowed a battle cry as his hammer came up next and it found purchase against the scout's head before he could sound the alarm. " Damn!" He seethed. He whistled shrilly in a pattern known to the rangers under his command and he took off running in the opposite direction. Well, now he knew why the other squad had not checked in.
More than likely, they were dead. The goblins had been growing ever bolder in how close they were encroaching on Uzrathane. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Tarin had a bad feeling that there would be another raid on the main gates of the city very, very soon.
The sounds of a fight broke out to his left and the dwarven prince made a beeline for it. He had to get the men under his command back to the city now! They had to start making the preparations for the main goblin force he was sure was heading their way! Tarin's axe began glowing with an unreal light as he charged into the fray and the blade found the neck of a hapless foe. The goblin screamed brokenly into the night as the flesh on either side of the edge bubbled and blistered painfully. Tarin silenced him just as quickly and he turned to the ranger to his left. “ Get the others back to the city now! I’ll cover you! Warn the king that another attack is coming!” Tarin ordered desperately. He helped the others to their feet though he shoved the dwarven rangers closer to the mountain and the prince turned around quickly to kill another pair of goblins that had tried to attack them. “ GO!” he bellowed this time at one straggler. His nephew, Bragfin, and barely a tweener. His brother would never forgive him if he let the boy die.
The ranger took off running after another moment’s hesitation and Tarin stood his ground. There was another reason he wanted them all out of the way and the dwarven prince smirked. If only Amara could be here right now…

The night was still. The stars above seemed dimmed, and there was little noise being made. Slowly, the telltale beat of footsteps had made itself known, and a low whistle echoed through the night air.
" Is everything ready?"
" Yes my queen. All the preparations have been made and the troops are ready to storm the city." A pair of pale golden eyes lit up in the darkness and Grimlock snarled a bit as he looked over the main gates to the city of Cygnus. There was minimal guard activity by the look of things at the gate. Those simple, peace loving fools. Soon they would learn that not even their great capital was safe from the goblin's wrath.
Vana's cruel sneer reflected horribly in the moonlight. This had been her youngest sister's city, and her niece's refuge from them. Not for much longer. She would not allow Amara and Gascon to escape her again. They would both die here, and she would claim their babe as her prize along with their heads. " Good. Let's give the city a rather rousing wake up then, shall we?" she purred hatefully.
Grimlock snarled in appreciation. " At once, my queen." He let forth a resounding bellow, giving the troops the signal to storm the capital.
Just wait until that elfin bitch and her husband learned of the surprise they had in store for them.

Amara was sleeping peacefully for once, Gascon noted as he looked over to the bed. Word had just come back from up north that Uzrathane had been attacked once more, and Tarin had not been found amongst the dead. Gascon’s brow furrowed as he took a long drag off of his pipe. He hadn't smoked for a while now, not since before he and Amara returned to Cygnus, but Gascon's nerves would not be settled even by a couple of drinks.
The fact that Tarin was missing did not bode well, and Gascon felt entirely too restless because of this. That restlessness must have suddenly carried over to Amara as she was whimpering a little in her sleep as she began tossing around on the bed.
Golden eyes were permeating Amara's dream all too suddenly and Amara felt an oppressive force bearing down on her. Darkness was ensconcing all the light and life she had been thinking of, and a cruel, shrill laughter echoed malignantly through her mind.
" We're coming..."
Without warning, Amara bolted up on the bed with a small scream and she looked around wildly. NO! Not tonight! Why now?! She could feel the force moving in to the city now and her heart nearly stopped cold. " Have the trumpets blared yet?" She demanded quickly. She was already climbing from the bed and she crossed the room to the armoire while Gascon looked on, utterly bewildered.
Why the hell was she getting dressed?
" No they haven't love, not that they have any reason to sou...." Gascon began, only to be cut off by the alarm of an attack. His eyes went wide and he too began dressing fully. " How did you know?" He asked her.
" I felt them coming, I can't explain it. But I could feel them, see them, in my mind's eye, Gascon. Both Vana and Grimlock are here. You remember what we covered right?" Amara opened a chest at the foot of their bed that held their armor. It had been a long while since they had worn it last. Gascon quickly grabbed his cuirass and guard while Amara grabbed her gloves bracers first. The enemy wouldn't be able to see her rings because of them.
" I'll take Tamrand to my parents as soon as I'm done." Gascon replied. His mouth was set in a thin line at the mention of the goblin warlord. That bastard was going to die tonight for Marion's death if Gascon had anything to say about it. He finished strapping on his armor and he pulled out his old, worn cloak. Seeing it brought back memories of the two of them tramping about over Evesta five years ago. " See if you can take any prisoners..."
Amara's jaw squared at the suggestion and she nodded. They needed to know if Tarin was behind enemy lines. " I make no promises, but I'll relay the message." She replied tightly.
Gascon nodded. He understood all too well her desire to not let a single one of those pale, vicious bastards survive. They had witnessed their depravity firsthand, had been hunted by them for the better part of a year. Now there was a chance that they either had killed or imprisoned their best friend in the world. Gascon was in the mood to let their blood run in rivers tonight himself. “ Be safe love.” he whispered as he kissed the top of her head. He walked over to Tamrand’s crib and he carefully picked up his sleeping son. “ Shh...Easy Tam…” he whispered as the baby grunted a little as he was settled against his father's chest. Amara kissed the top of their son's head quickly before rushing out the room to raise the alarm in the rest of the palace. Gascon wrapped another blanket tight around Tamrand and he flicked his left hand to bring his wand down from it's holster. Even after coming back to the palace, the eldest porcine prince could not sleep easily without it there. He doubted he would ever again.
Gascon drew the travel rune with astounding speed. Thanks to Amara his wand work had gotten much more proficient over the last couple years. In a blinding flash of light, father and son disappeared.

Vigo yawned a bit as he walked from his study. He was currently in talks with Al Mamoon to finagle their trade routes, and writing the proposition he had to the Cowlipha had taken a little longer than he had wanted. Well, it was time to turn in for the night and get a fresher start on it in the morning.
" YOUR MAJESTY!"
Vigo stopped short as he turned. A chambermaid was frantically running his way from the other side of the hall and he met her halfway. " Dory? What's the matter?"
The chambermaid was out of breath as she came to a stop. " It's....It's Prince Gascon! He's suddenly arrived just a moment ago with the young prince in tow!" she exclaimed. Dory's eyes were wide and fearful as she looked up to the emperor. " He's dressed as if he's going into battle, your majesty!"
Vigo immediately began making a brisk pace for the entrance hall. " Where is he?"
" The sitting room off of the throne room!" Dory replied.
" Get the crib and have it moved into my chambers. Do we have any nursemaids on staff at the moment?"
" Yes your majesty! I'll get right on it!" Without another word, Dory began taking off again in the opposite direction as Vigo began making his way back downstairs.

Gascon sighed in relief when his father walked into the room. " Father, there isn't much time, the goblins have attacked Cygnus directly this time." he said hurriedly. Even from this distance, he could feel Amara's ire and pain. Not a physical one, but the one that had settled over her heart with her mother's passing. That pain was quickly starting to fuel her rage and it worried Gascon. They both had been careful about letting their emotions getting the better of them in the heat of battle because it flowed from one to the other thanks to their bond.
Vigo looked at his son. Even though he had just seen him not even two months ago for Marion's funeral, it seemed as if that little bit of time had aged Gascon. His eldest son looked haggard. " I understand son. He'll be safe here. I daresay your mother is going to be ecstatic with this turn of events as she hasn't even had a chance to meet her grandson but once." Vigo said with a small smile despite the circumstances. " Just be safe. Come back for him once everything is done and over with. He's safe here Gascon."
Gascon nodded as he gently handed the boy over to his grandfather. " I'll be seeing you soon Tamrand." he whispered as he nuzzled the baby's fuzzy head. " I love you." Tears stung his eyes as Tamrand whimpered a little in his grandfather's arms and he turned on his heel to head out the door. " Say hello to mother and Marcassin for Amara and I please."
" I will, and again, be safe Gascon. We just had to bury someone dear to us. I pray that won't be the case again tonight." Vigo replied. Gascon was already out the door and towards battle. He only prayed that nothing happened tonight.

Amara's blade found the throat of a goblin that had attempted to ambush her in the hall and she took relish at the sight of the black blood pooling on the pristine marble floors. Gascon had yet to return from Hamelin, but she knew he was on his way now. It would only be a moment more until he appeared. She carried on forward and two more goblins rounded the corner to find her. The fingers of her right hand traced her rune faster than they could catch and the goblins screamed as daylight flooded the hall. They crashed to the floor, their skin blistering and burning, and the evestan swan put them out of their misery. None of these bastards would be safe from her wrath tonight. Amara felt Gascon's presence in the palace a moment later and she smiled in relief. Tamrand was safe. Their son was more important than either of them now.
Are you ready to give these bastards what for? Gascon asked her through their link. She could hear the smirk he more than likely had plastered on his face.
You're late to the party darling. I've already gotten a head start. Amara shot back playfully even as her sword felled another goblin. I'll meet you in the garden. I'm assuming you're in the foyer?
Yes, and I'll be there in a moment or two. Even as Gascon spoke, Amara heard gunshots from twin pistols ring through the palace. They were Gascon's new favorite guns that he had just finished earlier that afternoon. Talk about a hell of a field test for them. Amara hurried through the halls and down the stairs, all the while taking on the opposition as she passed. She stopped briefly to help her uncle and the two managed to clear the room within a minute.
" When did you get so good with a sword?" Magnus teased, though he made for a grim sight. His face was bloodied and the man was breathing heavily.
Amara scowled and she switched her blade to the other hand to heal his wounds. " Thank my husband for continuing my studies, uncle." Amara said once she knew Magnus would be alright. " Where's Aden?"
" More than likely whisking his wife and child off to the briar.” Both of them were distracted when a series of gunshots rang out close by. “ Go join Gascon, hurry! It’s safer to be in pairs. I’ll continue on this way with the evacuations. There are plenty of guards this way. Now go!”
Amara nodded and she took off running towards the gunshots. Upon reaching the stairs, she quickly to gauge how dire things were. Gascon and Aden were back to back, both their faces grim and bloodied as they both used their strengths to cover one another. Aden's wand was constantly alight, blasting the goblins surrounding them with light as Gascon's twin pistols blazed with a fury of their own. There were at least a good sixty goblins swarming around the two. Amara's face set into a scowl as she took perch on top of the barrister, and she cast levitate on herself the moment she kicked off. She summoned a second blade into her left hand and she spun as she came towards the floor, appearing like a shining steel twister to the first goblins her blades cut into.
Gascon looked to his right for a moment when he heard the screeches of their fallen foes, and he smirked when he saw a few take to the air. " And Amara said I was late to the party..." he quipped sarcastically to Aden.
Aden chuckled darkly. " She's been clearing the upper floors with my father. If anything, she took too long getting down here." He replied, spelling a blade into his free hand and cutting down another one of the grotesque kobolds.
" I heard that!" Amara called over the din. " Get down, both of you!" Even though she was nearly twelve feet away, the two men could see the glow of her spellweaving.
Gascon and Aden hurriedly followed Amara's directive and not a moment too soon as a gigantic, glowing hammer swept through the throng. Their enemies scattered, Gascon and Aden quickly got back to their feet and they recommenced their counter assault on the invading force. An irate roar from a blazursa met their ears and Aden winced when he felt the heat of Rosie's flames from where he stood.
Just how strong had Amara and Gascon grown during the five years they had been gone? Aden had never seen Amara this ruthless before.
Before he could ponder further on that, Aden had to cover his ears as an answering bellow echoed like cannon fire through the foyer. The young lord stood dazed for a moment, his ears ringing and head spinning. He couldn't hear a thing.
" LOOK OUT!" Amara screamed shrilly. Aden still didn't move and she quickly wove another rune, this one puppet string, and she latched it onto his clothing. With a quick tug, she pulled her cousin to her and out of the way of a gigantic club that had just come down where he had been standing. Her azure eyes were wide in both fear and shock upon the monstrosity that had just come into the foyer.
Gascon was just as shocked to see a ten foot tall troll there. It's jowls were dripping drool as it stared blankly at them with beady, coal black eyes, and it's nostrils flared as it took in their scent. In an instant, his disarming gaze turned murderous as he looked at Amara specifically, and the porcine prince looked to his wife. Oh gods no...It had to smell the elven part of her. " Amara! Get out of here! Rendezvous at the garden like we initially planned!" he shouted, though blind terror was coursing through his veins and numbing him over.
The troll swung again with another roar, and Aden hurriedly shoved Amara in the opposite direction before rolling out of the way himself. He quickly cast pulse, fully intent on knocking the brute's club away, and Aden found himself dodging again before he could complete the spell. " What the hell are you waiting for Amara?! Get out of here and let Gascon and I handle this! Set a trap if you can! We'll bring him to the garden soon!"
This served to rouse the evestan princess from her stupor and she nodded quickly before booking it back up the stairs. I swear! the two of you are bat shit crazy for taking on a troll by yourselves! You had better not... Amara began, mentally talking to her husband through their link.
Die, I know Amara. Do you honestly believe I would let you be rid of me that easily? There is no force in this world that I will allow to take me from you and our son. Gascon replied. Amara heard the boom of his rifle echo through the walls as she skidded around a corner and out into the garden. She didn't have a lot of time.
Amara groaned internally as she thought over Gascon's words. Only he would try to put such a humorous spin on such a dire situation. " I swear, if that man survives this, I'm going to kill him myself." she grumbled under her breath as she set to preparing a trip rope. If they could get the damn brute down, they might just stand a chance.
Gascon quickly rolled out of the way as the club came down heavily and he nodded to Aden to start making a break for it. The troll had done them the favor of felling the last of his allies blindly for them and Aden cast the pulse spell again to garner it's attention. The answering roar told them that he had achieved his goal just a bit too well. " I think that was a bit overkill Aden! Gods! Not even I would aim there!"
" He's following us, isn't he?!" Aden retorted hotly. He looked over his shoulder and dove out of the way as the troll swung it's club again, narrowly missing the top of his head. He heard gunshots echo over the walls as Gascon attempted to divert it's attentions and Aden cast another spell at it.
" Aden, I've got it from here! Go get more help!" Gascon ordered quickly. It was going to take more than the three of them to bring this ugly bastard down. At least he and Amara would be able to keep it contained to the garden once he got it there. Amara, I've sent Aden to go get more help. I should be there in just a moment. he said to her through their link.
I've got a trap ready for when you do get here. For the love of all that is good and holy, please be careful! I can hear it from here! she replied frantically. Her fear was starting to bleed over to him and Gascon attempted to soothe her. It wasn't going to work until this night found them victorious.
Easy now. I'm right here. Gascon said as he darted through the entrance. He came to a pause by Amara with a small smile on his face. " See, all in one pi..." he began.
Before he could even finish speaking, Gascon was blindsided from behind by the troll's club and he went flying across the garden. He came to a sudden stop just as fast when he hit the stone wall across the way face first. His eyes flew open in shock and agony and he collapsed to the ground dazed. The club hit him again on his back before he could even roll out of the way and blackness overtook him.
Amara's eyes went wide with terror as Gascon's pain flared all over her body and she screamed his name even as she launched to her feet, the trap she had prepared forgotten. He wasn't answering her, wasn't moving. The terror she felt was fast giving way to rage the longer he lay still. Her rings lit up as she traced a rune, the aura dark and murky as opposed to the bright, clear light it normally exuded. Amara loosed her magic on the troll as it rose it's club again to deal the final blow on her husband's prone form, and a black hammer hit it hard upside the head. The club clattered to the ground as it staggered backwards away from Gascon, and Amara darted in the moment she called both blades to her hands. Her eyes were wild as she sliced into the flesh of his ankle, tearing through the achilles tendon like a hot knife through butter. The only thing she could see was red, the only thing she could feel was pure, unadulterated fear. Darkness welled up from within her as Amara repeatedly stabbed the troll in the back, her only thought to destroy this beast who dared to take her husband from her. The only vision she could see in her mind's eye was the lowering of a casket bearing the royal seals of both Hamelin and Evesta, the only markings on the coffin to signify that it was Gascon she was burying.
The troll ripped Amara off his back and he threw her towards the wall with an enraged bellow, though she didn't even feel the pain when her left arm broke from the impact. Amara picked herself up from the ground and she felt her breath suddenly leave her when the troll slammed it's fist into her back, knocking her down to the stonework and dirt once more. Again, she picked herself up, and Amara launched herself skyward as the troll roared in displeasure that the little woman had withstood his attack. She screamed in return as her blades pierced through it's eyes and the troll howled in agony. It's scream was silenced the next moment as Amara plunged her blades through his neck. The troll fell to the ground and blood began pooling around them, but Amara did not cease. She kept hacking and slashing away at it's face, all the while with tears flowing down her face and mixing with the blood of her fallen foe.
Magnus and Aden ran out into the garden followed closely by Percivical, and all three men blanched in terror at the sight that met them. " I'll tend to Gascon, you two find a way to stop her!" Percivical ordered desperately.
Aden didn't need to be told twice. He hadn't even waited for his uncle's directive as he ran over to Amara's side and he pulled at her shoulder. " Amara! It's dead! We have to keep going, now...DAMN!" Aden shouted in surprise as his cousin turned her blades on him, not recognizing friend from foe in her berserk state. " Father! Use magic to bind her! Hurry!" Aden quickly parried Amara's twin blades as she spun towards a potential blind spot and he grunted in pain when her foot landed hard against his ribcage.
Cold, yellow eyes glittered with malignant glee as he watched that elfin bitch turn on her own kin. It was taking all three men now to attempt to pacify her long enough so that she would calm down, but even Grimlock could see that there was no stopping the rampage the petite woman was on. He smiled ferally as he looked up at Vana and she nodded. Now was their chance to obliterate the rest of them.

Gascon groaned as pain flared through his entire being, feeling for all the world as if he had been trampled by a herd of tuffaloo. There were still the sounds of a battle commencing nearby. What was happening? His eyesight was bleary at best as he tried to take in the fight before him, and the porcine prince pushed himself up as best as he could. Shaking his head a bit, Gascon looked once more only to feel his heart freeze over in terror. Amara! Her rage was all too palpable as it began flowing over to him, and Gascon tried to call her name. Fat lot of good it did, as it seemed as though Amara couldn't hear anything anymore past the blood pounding furiously in her ears. Her magic lit up around her as she readied a spell and Gascon tried to push himself to his feet. Her aura was completely black, she had fallen into despair so suddenly!
Gascon crashed back to the ground, feeling like a newborn kitten for as weak as he was at the moment. Every movement made all the muscles and bones in his body burn. He tried to push through it, especially when Amara managed to knock away Aden, Magnus, and Percivical from her with a huge pulse blast that made his teeth rattle in his skull from the force of it. " Amara!" he called out to her again, though she paid him no heed once more. Gascon began reaching through to her through their bond, trying to desperately latch onto the light that always shined in Amara's eyes when she looked at him. He needed to bring that light to the fore!
It was movement behind her caught his attention and forced Gascon into action despite the agony he was feeling from all his injuries. Though Amara was steadily advancing on the prostrate forms of her family, the glimmer of a blade made Gascon feel like a rocket being launched as he propelled himself to her side frantically. AMARA! he screamed at her telepathically.
Amara immediately came to her senses the minute Gascon's panicked voice entered her mind. She saw him running toward her, faster than she had ever seen him go, and she looked up and behind her. Her face paled in terror when she saw Grimlock standing over her, the goblin's blade ready to land a fatal blow. She was suddenly wrenched backwards as the jagged sword came down in an arc, and Amara grunted as she landed against the bloodstained grass. Gascon had already reached Grimlock and he jabbed both pistols against the goblin's chin.
" I told you before that I would kill you before you could lay a single finger on her, you disgusting piece of shit." Gascon seethed. His tawny eyes, normally bright like cinnamon sticks, were dark as pitch and murderous as he locked his gaze with Grimlock's stunned and frightened one. Gascon had one foot pinning the warlord's blade to the ground, making it impossible for him to counter and Grimlock refused to let go of his weapon. " Now go back to the pit from whence you crawled." Without even thinking it over another second, Gascon pulled the triggers to his pistols.
Grimlock fell to the ground, lifeless, and Gascon turned to look at the troll. There was no doubt in his mind that Amara had been behind this amount of carnage. Before he could even say a word, Amara crashed into him, and her arms wrapped tightly around Gascon as she began sobbing brokenly against his chest. He holstered his guns, and Gascon gently wrapped his arms around in turn. " I'm sorry love. I didn't mean to frighten you like that." he whispered against her hair.
" You bastard! I told you!" she screamed, though her voice was muffled against his torso. " I was so scared that troll had killed you! You weren't responding to anything, you weren't moving! I..." Amara hiccoughed as a fresh wave of sobs took her over and she felt Gascon tip her chin up. His lips pressed against her own, full of sweetness and sorrow. That had been much too close, Amara was terrified that she would have been forced to bury her husband less than two months after laying her mother to rest.
" I'm sorry..." he said once more, and Gascon kissed her forehead tenderly. He shouldn't have been that careless, no matter how good the odds would have been in their favor once Aden had brought reinforcements. That carelessness had nearly cost him his life, and Amara her sanity. It was something Gascon would never do again. " There's truly nothing I can say to take back what just happened. Just remember Amara. I love you, whether if it's this life or the next. My heart is always yours. Always."
Percivical, Aden, and Magnus were all silent as they watched the exchange between the two and Magnus got to his feet.
" Amara...Once we've managed to clear the city, you need to go visit your grandfather for a bit. You need to learn to control your emotions. If what just happened is any indication, you'll become just like Vana. A shade of your former self because you lost the one you love." Magnus said worriedly.
" Like you know anything of what I've been through." came Vana's venom laced voice. All five of them looked around, trying to find her but to no avail. Why had she sounded so close by? Without warning, she landed behind Gascon and the goblin queen blasted Amara away with magic, taking Percivical, Aden and Magnus out at the same time. " And you, Barador! How dare you make that vow to someone else! I've loved and mourned you these last eight hundred years!" Vana raised a dagger high above her head in preparation to stab Gascon in the heart and she was just as quickly knocked away from Gascon.
" How dare you try to kill what is mine, Vana!" Amara seethed as she got back to her feet. " Make no mistake, Gascon is my lifemate. He may look like your Barador, but that man has been dead and gone for almost a millenium, you dried up old hag! I dare you, attempt to take him from me again in front of me, and I'll do the same to you as I did to that troll!" Amara quickly put up a ward as Vana sent a bolt of black ether at her, their magic sparking and clashing brightly in the dim garden.
Vana's eyes went wide. She had only come across the fight between the four members of the royal family, she hadn't seen the battle between the heirs to the throne and the troll she had sent on a rampage. There was no way this mere slip of a woman had defeated the troll by herself, was there? Not even giving into despair could have lent her that much strength! " I'd like to see you try!" Vana retorted as the two began going toe to toe in an all out magic battle.
" Should we try to interfere?" Aden asked Gascon as the porcine prince helped him to his feet. With Amara distracting the goblin queen, the other four men were able to recoup if even for a moment.
" And chance pissing my wife off even further? I don't think so." Gascon replied, though he quickly pushed Aden away as a bolt of magic ricocheted in their direction and it passed between them. His eyes weren't even looking at Aden as he spoke, the four of them were watching the duel in shock and awe. At this point, it was a safety hazard to not watch, as they could easily be hit by a stray spell.
" I knew my daughter was powerful, but I've never seen her display such raw force before." Percivical said softly. The two women were going all out, and while Vana was fresher in the battle than Amara was, the swan of Cygnus still showed no signs of slowing anytime soon. Her hands were tracing runes faster than the four of them could see and the bright blue aura Amara exuded was starting to overtake Vana's black, oppressive one. That aura had been cast over the entire garden when she had made her presence known. The two women could be heard trading insults back and forth and the king's brow nearly rose to his hairline. Where had Amara learned such vulgar things?!
" Goblin whore!"
" Elfin bitch!"
Amara dodged Vana's spell and she closed the quarters between them. " And damn proud of it!" Her fist flew out, socking the witch of the void strongly in the jaw, and Amara smirked as Vana crashed against the ground. That had felt so, so good to do! " This ends tonight, hag! I will not allow you to leave this palace alive. Your threat ends here, Vana." Amara seethed as she pulled the witch up by her hair. Vana was on her knees before her and Amara felt white hot fury settle over her again as she thought of her missing friend. " Where's Tarin?" This might be their only chance to find out where he was.
Vana spat blood over the front of Amara's cuirass. " Go to hell."
" Not before you do." Amara replied hotly. She jerked Vana's head one way strongly, forcing the bones in her neck to crack and break disgustingly. Amara soon repeated the motion on to the other side and she dropped Vana to the ground. The witch of the void was laying front first against the stone walkway, but her eyes were skyward unseeing. The evestan princess turned back to the four men and she met her father's eyes. " We need to finish driving the menace from the city."
Percivical nodded and he looked to Magnus and Aden. " Let them know that their queen is dead. They'll scurry like rats before this night is done." He ordered imperiously. The goblins would pay for attempting to sack this city.

The dawn came, and with the first rays of light it brought a sad, but burgeoning hope. The evestans had successfully managed to decimate the invading force from the night before and the able bodied men who had not been too grievously injured were helping to clear the dead. Amara was moving through the town with several talented healers in tow and they began the tedious and draining process of aiding those who needed their talents. The more they could get healed, the faster the dead could be buried. As drained as Amara was, she kept pushing on. She had only tended to her most pressing wounds; the broken arm, a couple of broken ribs and a nasty gash that must have been caused by when the troll had thrown her into the wall, and she felt the ache all too keenly as she used what magic she had left to completely heal those in need.
Gascon was busy at the palace as well, moving with the guard to make sure that none of the goblins had managed to find a hiding spot within the castle walls. There had been quite a few found, and they had been taken prisoner. Gascon had every intention on interrogating them to find Tarin's whereabouts. The dwarf was not going to spend another moment in captivity if the eldest prince of Hamelin had anything to say on the matter.

Gascon shook his head as he knelt beside Vana's still body. Her face was still facing skyward and he gently maneuvered her head so that he wouldn't have to look at her. Like this, while she was at peace, Vana greatly reminded him of Amara for some reason. Maybe it was because she was his wife's aunt, though Gascon had no clue how the corpse before him would have looked in her prime. She was probably breathtakingly lovely, as she was Dagaron's kin. The elf king put some women to shame with as beautiful as he was, and that man was over twelve hundred years old! Gascon couldn't keep his fingers from trailing through the ash grey locks of her hair and he ran his index finger over the tip of her ear just ever so slightly. That motion seemed all to familiar for a brief moment, though Gascon knew he had never done such a thing to Amara. Maybe Vana was right about him being her dead husband's reincarnation. He breathed a heavy sigh even as he bowed his head in a silent prayer for her to finally know peace after so long. For as much as he hated her for the living hell she had put he and Amara through, Gascon found himself pitying the former elven princess. She had fallen into darkness because she had lost her lifemate, and had somehow created the goblin race. What had happened to her for Vana to become this? Is this what would happen to Amara if anything were to happen to him? Gascon prayed that would never be the case. Amara didn't have herself to think of anymore, neither did Gascon for that matter as he mulled it over. They both had their son to keep in mind. It wouldn't do for either of them to die before he was even a year old. Gascon vowed silently that he wouldn't let it happen if it were in his power. " For as much as it's worth, I'm sorry." he whispered to the fallen queen. He got to his feet as Martin, the captain of the guard, came over to him.
" You may want to head inside a moment for now, your highness. The rest of the men and I are going to get this ugly blighter out of here." Martin said, pointing over his shoulder to the body of the mutilated troll.
Gascon nodded. " I will in a moment. I'm going to fix up the walls a bit where the troll smashed his club first." Indeed, the entrance to the garden was in dire need of repair first and foremost.
" Alright then. We'll be back before long, your highness." Martin replied. The guard saluted Gascon, which he returned and Martin walked away while barking orders to his men.
With another heavy sigh, Gascon pulled his wand out and he drew the rune for rejuvenate. This was going to be a very, very long day, he surmised morosely. The last piece of stone was set back into place and the archway smoothed over without so much as a single crack or divot from the trauma it had suffered hours ago. He cast the spell again, this time pointing to some planters, all the while consumed in his thoughts. Gascon couldn't understand why he felt as sad as he did about Vana's death. Amara had been fairly merciful in giving the queen such a quick end.
His thoughts were cut quite short and were replaced just as suddenly by surprise as Gascon was sent crashing to his knees, also sending his wand skittering across the garden path. His head was snatched backwards by his hair, and he felt the touch of cold steel against his neck. Fear filled him. He had no leverage, he was completely unarmed as his pistols and rifle were upstairs, and even if he tried to grapple the knife away, Gascon would still have his throat slit. The blade was that snug against his flesh. Dread filled his heart and tears began coursing down his cheeks in small rivers. Gascon would never get to see Tamrand grow into a fine young prince, wouldn't get to grow old with the love of his life. Amara would either go mad like Vana had, or she would die from a broken heart! Tamrand was going to be an orphan because he had once again been careless.
It was over.
" Did you honestly think it would be that easy to end me? I still have my immortality, you fool!" Vana hissed against his ear. " I don't want or need your pity, Barador. Just your life."
AMARA! Gascon called out mentally just before the blade against his neck traveled from east to west.
- 21
- 22
- 23
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Ties that Bind