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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
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Book II

Chapter 11: Futility
A Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Fanfiction

AMARA!
The panicked tone of Gascon’s voice only briefly heralded the agony Amara suddenly found herself in. Her throat suddenly felt as if she had swallowed hot coals and her hands flew to her neck as she found herself unable to breathe. No sooner had that briefly passed, Amara's hands flew to her chest. Her heart was tearing itself apart, twisting and seizing in her breast. The princess screamed in her agony, unable to push herself through the tortuous experience.
Amara had experienced pain, had been able to mentally force herself to overcome it and continue on as if all was right with the world. But this wasn't any kind of pain that one could easily block out. Amara had felt this before, when she and Gascon had been affected by soul rend, but this time it was so much more intense! Not only did it feel as if her heart was coming asunder, but her very soul as well. Her body arched high on the floor, not that Amara knew she was on it at the moment, and her entire world went black.
" Princess Amara!" came the desperate voice of the woman whose husband she had just been healing. " Go get the healers from next door! Something's wrong!"
Amara's head was spinning as she lay against the floor. Gascon? What's wrong? she said through their link. Something felt weird about it, however, and Amara concentrated harder on her husband. Her chest felt odd, as if it was lighter than it had been in years. Her heart hurt, by the sun, moon, and stars did it hurt so much, and Amara felt tears start flowing down her cheeks. She bolted up where she had lay prostrate. The longer she tried to feel Gascon, the more she realized that she couldn't feel him any more.
" What happened?" Amara asked the woman beside her in a panic. The pain, that blinding pain came back to her all too suddenly and Amara gripped her chest with both hands.
" You suddenly started acting as if you couldn't breathe, princess. Then you hit the floor, and went into seizures, all the while screaming. We've been trying to rouse you for the last half hour your highness. I've already told my husband to grab one of the healers from next door."
Amara was barely paying attention as she tried to focus on her husband and her worry for him started to take her over. Was something wrong? Why couldn't she feel him?! Amara's eyes went wide in realization and she quickly pushed herself to her feet. The pain she felt in her breast was starting to throb worse now.
" Princess! Wait!" the woman cried out to her as Amara began running from the cottage.
No! That can't be it! He has to be unconscious! That bastard probably got himself knocked upside the head by some rubble! Amara told herself, though the tears would not stop coursing down her cheeks. The pain she was in, the terror of the unknown state of her husband, Amara was beside herself in her panic. She ran, not caring about the confused looks she got from those she passed by in her haste. Amara looked upwards and she shook her head. The palace was much too far away at this pace. She brought her fingers to her mouth, not even pausing a single step to do it and Artemis burst from Amara's creature cage with a trill. Amara took a slight left, and she began pouring on the speed. There was an overpass this way and it was perfect for what she needed to do.
Are you sure about this? the thunderbird asked her.
" Yes, now get ready!" Amara ordered. She dashed as fast as her legs would carry her up the ramp and she jumped off the side of the overpass. Artemis dived at the same time she did and he matched her pace. " Shrink!" she intoned, using magic to give her a smaller stature. She landed on Artemis' back and she grabbed a handful of his feathers to keep herself from falling off. " To the palace as fast as you can Artemis!"
You've got it Amara! he replied as he took to the sky again. He could feel her worry, her fear, and the underlying grief. He also knew Rosie was beside herself as well inside the creature cage. Artemis had a bad feeling about all of this and he looked over his shoulder to where his mistress was looking forward with a grim look on her face.Why are you so frightened Amara?
Amara shook her head. She didn't dare voice it, though the pain her heart was in was growing more and more poignant with each passing minute. " Just fly over the palace! I'll get off there." she said defensively. Amara didn't dare give those fears voice. She didn't want to think it was even possible considering that they had finally been victorious. Vana and Grimlock were dead! " There over the garden!" She called out.
The thunderbird swooped in low and Amara jumped from his back. She reverted back to her own size as she fell and she landed with a small grunt. Her body still ached from when she had been hit by the troll. She began looking around frantically, as Gascon had promised her he would be out here when they had checked in with each other last. That had been two hours ago. " Gascon!" Amara couldn't hide the fear in her voice. " Gascon, where are you?!"
Amara! Look near the north entrance! Artemis called out to her. He had been searching from above as well. I can't see who it is, but there's someone laying down against the grass over there.
Amara's heart stopped cold for a solid minute. The troll's body had been by the northern entrance to the garden, as had Vana's and Grimlock's. " No..." she whispered fearfully. Gascon Roman Moritan! You had better answer me right now! Her voice was only echoing through her own mind, meaning that the message hadn't even gone over to her husband.
There was only one way for that to happen.
Amara began running frantically for the north side of the garden and she spotted the person Artemis had spoken of after a couple of moments. She could hear voices from behind her as the guards began coming back from taking the body of the troll away.
Martin paused his men when he saw Amara dashing madly across the way towards where he had left Prince Gascon. Something told him something was very, very wrong at that moment. " Go get the king and the steward." He ordered to the man to his right. " Princess?!" Martin called out to her, though her pace hadn't slowed in the slightest.
Amara hadn't even heard the captain of the guard as she began running to the prostrate form in the grass. " Oh gods..." she half sobbed. " GASCON!" She didn't recognize the sound of her voice as she crashed on her knees beside him and Amara turned him over. " NOOOOOOOO!"
Martin's very blood froze when he heard Amara's anguished scream and he stopped mid stride. His men were all ashen faced as he looked them over. There was no mistaking what had happened in their absence from the prince's side and a few heads bowed in shame as they listened to their princess' heartbroken sobs. " Start fanning out over the garden and work your way through the palace! Anyone suspicious is to be taken to the dungeons." Martin's voice had an edge to it that his men had never heard there before and they all dispersed without a single word.
The captain of the guard began walking over to Amara, though there were tears shining in his eyes. He had known Gascon since he was four, Amara since the day she had been born. It was always under his watchful eye that they had played; granted they bickered more often than not, and it had been through him and Vigo that the two had learned how to fight. Martin still remembered the day that Vigo and Percivical had told them that they were going to marry, their simultaneous reaction had carried into the hallway where he had been keeping guard. He had laughed long and loud at that one for days on end, as had the king whenever their eyes met. Now, Martin felt cold as he looked at them. Amara was clutching Gascon's shirt tightly as she sobbed brokenly against his chest, completely too far gone in her grief to move.
Amara lifted her head after a couple moments and she reached a shaking hand to Gascon's cheek. His color was paler than she had ever seen it and the reason was a long, jagged cut marring the flesh that she had loved to kiss and nibble on. His eyes were shut, his face soft in his new found serenity and Amara traced her fingers over his lips, though she could not stop them from trembling. Gascon looked as if he were only waiting to spook her, though that wasn't the case. Who could have done this? Their enemies were dead! Amara's heart nearly seized in her breast the longer she looked at the cut traveling the width of his neck. The front of his clothing was sticky and wet with his own blood, and she numbly realized that she was covered in it as well. Her bottom lip trembled as she spelled away mess and she healed the gash. She knew it wouldn't do any good, but it hurt too much to look at. Her mind was a jumbled mess, the pain she was in was clouding any judgement she would be able to make rationally.
Magnus and Percivical ran out into the garden, having come quickly with the soldier that Martin had sent to fetch them, and the king's heart dropped in his chest at the sight that met them. Amara was still sobbing uncontrollably over Gascon’s still body, and even from where he stood, the evestan king could see the large puddle of blood around his son in law. His feet felt like lead as he stepped quietly over to where his daughter was hunched over her dead husband’s body and he took a knee beside her. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came. What could he say to this? He and Marion had been married for over thirty years, and while the thought of her death still hurt, Percivical had come to terms with it. His wife had sacrificed her life for that of their child’s. There was no more noble reason than that. However, Gascon had been killed when no one had been watching, and now Amara was the one paying the price of their inattentiveness. More so than that, Gascon and Amara had been bonded in the way of the elves. Marion had told him that elves that had lost their life mate were never right again. Half of them was missing for all eternity. Most faded away from the broken heart alone. Only a few, like Vana, had become twisted and hideous shells of who they once had been. Percivical was going to lose Amara as well.
The king took a steadying breath as he realized this and he set both hands gently over his daughter’s shoulders. “ Amara...Come on sweetheart…” he whispered, though there were tears in his eyes. He tried to pull her away, but Amara would not be budged. “ Amara, he’s gone. There’s nothing we can do for him now.”
“ I’m not leaving him!” Amara screamed brokenly. Madness was quickly taking over her, the pain her in breast was too much to bear already. “ Get away from me! I won’t let you take me from him!” Amara shook off her father’s hands and she shoved him away with magic. She was unintentionally manifesting it without even casting so strong was her crazed will.
“ Amara! Gascon is dead! We’ll find out who murdered him, and they will pay dearly for it, I promise you! You need to come to your senses! What about Tamrand?!” Percivical snapped, completely overcome by the thought that they had to bury another member of the family much too soon.
Amara went stock still at the mention of her son. Tamrand still needed her. She had to pull herself together, but how? She was forever broken now, the other half of her soul and heart had been ripped away when Gascon had died. Amara looked upon the peaceful visage of her husband and her bottom lip trembled as she fought to stave off a fresh wave of tears. They were supposed to have grown old together, were supposed to have watched their children grow into fine adults. Gascon was supposed to have taught Tamrand how to shoot, wield a sword, and so many other things that he had always whispered to the baby that he wanted to do. Amara had wanted them to have a daughter some day, one with his beautiful mahogany curls and her face. Her fingers trembled as she ran them down his jawline again, and her head fell against his chest.
There was too much left unsaid and undone.
Amara scowled as she looked back up, her gaze focused yet unseeing on the wall nearby. She wasn’t going to let it end this way, she couldn’t let her son grow up without either of them. Amara knew that even if she didn’t sucumb to the madness threatening to flood her mind, she would be gone within a year from her broken heart. “ That’s not going to happen.” she hissed, her voice radiating purpose. She sat up straight and her fingers began tracing the rune she had in mind. There was only a fifty fifty chance, but Amara liked her odds.
Magnus’ eyes went wide when he saw the magic his niece was weaving. “ Amara, no! That spell is forbidden! It always comes with a heavy price!” he cried and the steward of Evesta began dashing over to stop her.
Amara threw up a dome, better known as the elven shield, with her other hand as the other kept drawing the strokes she needed. “ I don’t care! I will pay any price this spell requires of me if it means that Tamrand has both of us.” Amara retorted. “ May the ashes of resurrection allow you to rise once more.” she intoned powerfully as she drew the last stroke.

Absolute serenity.
That was really the only way he could describe it. Gascon was enveloped in a soothing warmth, and his eyelids felt so heavy that he didn’t want to open them. Something was compelling him to open them however and Gascon blinked a few times before coming into a shocked wakefulness. Where the hell was he? What had happened? The only thing Gascon remembered with astounding clarity was repairing the wall in the garden and then…
Gascon’s brown eyes went wide even as they filled with tears. Vana had gotten the drop on him and she had killed him. Oh by the stars, what had happened to Amara?! Dread filled him as he thought of what had happened last night when she had feared him for dead. Was that happening again?
No, she hasn’t lost her grip on sanity. came a voice from everywhere and nowhere at once.
“ Who said that?” Gascon demanded as he turned around in midair. At least he was sure he was in midair. It was like he was in an endless space right now, there was no sky or ground. Just stars for as far as the eye could see.
I am you, just as you are me. I am Barador, Gascon. I wish I had more time to explain, but you have a decision, a rather hard decision for that matter. Amara has cast the forbidden spell.
If he were still alive, Gascon would have certainly had heart failure right at those words. “ That crazy half elf! She damn well knows why that spell is forbidden! The toll to cast it is always too steep!” Gascon shouted , deeply worried for his wife. His brow furrowed when he thought over Barador’s words. “ What did you mean by a decision?”
It’s not known to anyone, considering that those who are brought back with the spell can never remember anything from their time in the inbetween. But those who have died and have had the ashes of resurrection cast upon them can either choose to return to their mortal life, thus inflicting a heavy toll on the caster, or to remain dead, and move on into the eternium.
Gascon’s shoulders sagged with the weight burdening him. “ I see.” he whispered. Barador must either have quite a bit of knowledge about the spell itself or he had learned from personal experience. “ How do you know this?” Gascon demanded, looking everywhere. “ Show yourself for that matter.”
I cannot dwell on the same plain you are on right now, Gascon. But I know because Vanluviel tried to bring me back using this very spell.
“ Then why didn’t you go back? Do you realize how many people would still be alive now if not for that decision?! How much heartache you could have saved all of us, including you and Vana?!” Gascon seethed.
The price was much too steep…Barador answered sadly. I do know how many lives could have been saved if I had gone back, but I was not going to allow the toll to be my child. You’ll understand soon enough. The spirit is coming now, I hope you’re ready because you only get to tell him once what your choice is.
“ Your child?!” Gascon gasped in surprise. The spell would have taken their unborn son or daughter as payment? Even he had to agree that was much too great a cost to pay. What would it require of he and Amara though? Gascon didn’t have much more time to ponder as a brilliant golden light enveloped him and when he opened his eyes again, he was on a white plain this time. Amara was to his right while a shrouded spirit was to his left.
“ This is the one you would call from beyond the veil?” it asked. The grey scarves it was ensconced in were flowing as if they were caught in an eddy, and Gascon could make out two bright lights behind the ones covering it’s face.
Amara nodded as she looked up at her husband with red rimmed eyes. “ Yes, he is.” she replied softly.
“ And what say you? Do you wish to return to the land of the living?” it asked Gascon directly.
“ What will the cost be?” Gascon demanded. He wasn’t going to allow any harm to come to his wife if he could help it.
“ It has already been decided, so answer yes or no. Do you wish to live?”
Gascon looked over to Amara as her head hung low. What was that insane woman giving up in return for his life?! “ Amara, what is it?”
“ Gascon, it’s of little consequence. Just answer already!” Amara snapped. What if he didn’t want to come back? What would that mean for Tamrand? Both of them were going to die if he said no. “ Just remember one thing. If you refuse, I won’t last the year. What about our son Gascon?! Would you force him to grow up an orphan?!”
Gascon was hit with the vision of himself holding his dying father again, though he looked nothing like himself. Could he honestly throw caution to the wind like that and just accept that Amara had everything in hand? His chocolate brown eyes met her tear filled sapphire colored orbs and Gascon was reminded of the night that he had nearly died five years ago. Amara had had that very same look, that haunted, terrified gaze in her eyes that night once he had come to. He had trusted her then. He needed to trust her now. “ My answer is yes. I want to live.” he finally replied after a moment.
The lights that made the spirits eyes dimmed just ever so slightly, but Gascon was almost certain that it was smiling at his answer. “ Then it is done. A life for a life.”
Gascon’s eyes went wide as he looked at Amara. “ What?! No! Amara!” he called out to her even as another beam of golden light enveloped him again.

Gascon suddenly felt as if his chest were on fire and he took a deep, ragged breath as his eyes flew open. What in the hell had happened?! Why was he on the ground? He looked about wildly, unsure about what was going on around him and he saw Amara laying on the grass beside him. Her palor was very pale and she was barely breathing. “ Amara!” he gasped in horror and Gascon pulled his unconscious wife into his arms. “ Amara wake up!” He shook her a bit and tears filled his eyes as she stayed unresponsive. Gascon looked up, surprised to see not only the guards, but Percivical and Magnus as well. “ Percy?! What’s going on? Why is Amara looking as if she’s in her death throes?!”
Percivical shook his head sadly. “ Amara cast the ashes of resurrection on you, Gascon. When we came upon the both of you, you were dead.” the king whispered sorrowfully. “ I can’t help but fear what has been taken from her to pay the price of using the spell.”
Gascon thought back to the story in the companion of the princess who would not cry. She too had cast the same spell his wife had and her memory of what had happened during her imprisonment had been the collateral. It offered the princess a happy ending however, as she was able to start anew with the prince she had saved with her magic. What if Amara’s memory was stripped from her? They had known one another almost their entire lives!
Slowly, a little color began returning to her and Amara’s eyes fluttered as she began regaining consciousness. Gascon almost cried in relief and he hugged his wife tightly to him even as her arms wrapped around his neck in turn. “ You crazy woman!” he whispered, though his voice was full of emotion as he spoke. He kissed her deeply, and Gascon planted another kiss against her brow as he held her tighter still. “ Dare I ask what you gave up?”
Amara couldn’t speak for a moment, she was trying to rein in her tears. She planted kisses all over Gascon’s face and he took them without complaint. He could only imagine how she must have felt when she found him. “ A life for a life.” she whispered.
The words sounded so familiar to him and Gascon’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t recall much of anything after he began repairing the wall. “ What is that supposed to mean?” he asked her. She was obviously alive and well before him or else it would be his turn to grieve.
“ My immortal life for your mortal one Gascon. I offered my immortality as the toll.” Amara replied with a small smile. Thank the sun, moon, and stars he was alive. Her joy waned quickly as a dark look crossed her face once more. She needed to find out who the hell had done this. " Do you know who did this to you?"
Gascon began mentally retracing his steps as he thought over everything he had done since entering the garden. " I helped the men clear any goblins from the coridor there, and we were able to take a few prisoner as well. Then we came out here and..." Gascon paused a moment and he looked around. There should have been three bodies out here. The troll's and then Vana and Grimlock. The latter two were missing and he was sure that none of the soldiers had removed them. " Where are Vana's and Grimlock's bodies?!"
Amara looked around as well, stunned further into silence by the question. Sure enough, the goblin queen and one of her warlords were missing amidst all the chaos that had happened in the last hour or so. " You don't think..." she began as she locked her fearful gaze with her husband's. No! Not when victory had been so close at hand!
Gaccon mulled it over further. " For what it's worth, I'm sorry..." he whispered. He could feel Amara's curiosity washing over him and he scowled. " Those were the last words I said to her after moving her body slightly. I only moved her head, if only so that she would be able to be laid to rest properly. She must have been able to heal herself somehow. Then I fixed the archway there, and moved to repair the wall. Then..." Gascon rubbed his temples as his head began pounding. " Then I was suddenly forced to my knees and my head was snapped backwards with a knife pressed to my neck. I was completely disarmed with no way to counter. Vana whispered something and..."
Amara pressed a finger to his lips to quiet him. She had heard more than enough. Vana had killed him, she had dared to inflict the same pain and suffering on Amara that the goblin queen herself had been feeling for the last eight hundred years. The princess' shoulders shook in her rage and she flung her right hand out, letting loose a bolt of raw magic that exploded a nearby planter. " You said those goblins that were captured are in the dungeons?" she asked quietly. Pure, unadulterated anger was present in every syllable and her eyes met his once more, causing Gascon's breath to hitch in shock. Her eyes were blood red, Amara was so enraged. Her husband only nodded quietly and Amara immediately got to her feet.
She would find out where Vana was, more than likely finding Tarin in the process. This war was going to end by her hand if she had anything to say about it.

A/N: I want to apologize for the amount of time that's gone by since I last posted. However, I have a rather severe writer's block concerning chapter 12, and I'm waiting on my betas to get to the point I'm talking about. Last I spoke to them; which was yesterday, they both need to reread everything over because it's been such a long time. I can't say I blame either of them for that matter. I am attempting to work on other chapters though while I try to get out of this damn block. Book II is nearly at an end!
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The Ties that Bind