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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
- 5
- 6
- 7
Book I: Link

Chapter 5:The Blood Stained Plains

A Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Fanfiction

Tarin swore as he realized that he had tucked something away in Gascon’s pack that he needed in order to get back into the city at this late hour. “ Your guardianship, if’n you don’t mind a moment, can we turn back? I need to gather something from Gascon before we reach the city.” the dwarf asked, a tad embarrassed.
I don’t see why not. Palisanther replied, skidding to a quick stop and heading back to the glade.

Amara felt her breath catch in her throat at the look in Gascon’s eyes and she quickly moved away in an effort to put some distance between them. “ Don’t think for a second that you’re getting away scot free. I’m still upset with you for coming back into my mind after I sent you away.” she said, hoping that her tone hid the apprehension she was feeling. She was a little nervous that there wasn't anyone or anything to serve as a buffer between her and Gascon.
“ I couldn’t leave you to him Amara...I honestly thought I had lost you.” Gascon retorted softly. He could remember every single thought that had crossed his mind at that particular moment as well. Mostly that he would have gone willingly into the afterlife if it meant living his life without her in it.
“ And you didn’t jump at the chance to be rid of me?” Amara said, scoffing a bit. She began gathering firewood and Gascon grabbed a dry log that would stay lit for a long time.
“ Give me a good reason to be.” he grunted as he settled the log over his shoulder, though he was smiling as he said it. Gascon’s tone was teasing now, the mirth evident in his voice. He knew why Amara was attempting to push him away. She was afraid to be alone with him right now. Gascon knew she was only chiding him out of habit at this point in an attempt to keep him distant, not that it was working of course. Then again, Gascon would have felt odd if she hadn’t scolded or chided him for that matter. They had been fighting for as long as either could remember after all, though the eldest of the porcine princes was more than ready to settle those quarrels and move on to what he really wanted.
And she was right in front of him.
Amara looked over her shoulder, unable to fight the smile that was forming on her face. Their friendship was slowly strengthening the longer they spent in each others company. In all honesty, Amara was glad Gascon had been there to help her. She would have never beaten Palisanther on the mental realm if Gascon hadn’t been there to distract him after she had faked her death. “ I never did thank you...For coming to my aid then I mean.” she said softly, her eyes averted to the ground in an attempt to stay the blush creeping up her cheeks.
Gascon dropped the log down when they got back to where their travel packs were and he wiped the sweat from his brow as Amara began arranging the wood she had gathered over it. She lit the fire once she was done and stood slowly, every nerve as ablaze as the wood before her. She shivered a bit, not due to the cold, but due to Gascon’s proximity behind her and she felt him turn her around.
“ You’re welcome...” he whispered, dipping his head in to capture her lips. He felt Amara gasp as he held onto her shoulders and his lips were drawing closer and closer still. Why did it feel as if time was slowly slipping by him with this? Finally, Gascon was going to get that kiss he had been wanting since they had first arrived in Uzrathane.
“ Gascon! I left something in your pack!” Tarin called out as he jumped from the guardian’s back.
Amara’s eyes snapped open and her hands shoved Gascon away none too gently as she screamed in frustration, storming off in the opposite direction. To hell with this! That damn dwarf was a jinx!
Gascon took a deep breath before he turned to his friend, his own temper rising to the fore now at having been hindered once more from his current goal. “ You’re timing is impeccable as always Tarin.” he said, his tone clearly annoyed now. There wouldn’t be any chance in hell that Amara would come back until Tarin returned with the ale if he came through on that.
Tarin smirked. Apparently he had stayed them yet again and the dwarf chuckled a bit at the porcine prince’s ire. “ Everything alright?”
“ Fine, Tarin. Everything is fine. Please, get what you need. I need to attempt to calm Amara down now.” Gascon replied as he felt his right hand lift of it’s own accord. Shit, she must be really good and pissed if she was invoking the magic his father had placed on them. They hadn't tested the link’s limits since they had left the dwarven city. Gascon dashed off after Amara and Tarin chuckled at his retreating back.

Amara narrowed her eyes on Gascon as he came running over to her and almost immediately her fist flew out. “ I would highly suggest keeping your distance, Gascon. I am in no mood for...For...GAH! Just get away from me and let me alone, will you?!” she said irately.

Palisanther visibly chuckled as the man left. Dare I even ask what’s going on? he asked Tarin, his tail twitching curiously. His green eyes were following the taller of the two men and he could see barely Amara in the far distance gesticulating wildly as she screamed in her ire. If Tarin could only hear what she was saying about him, Palisanther mused with another chuckle.
“ Those two won’t admit it, but I know for a fact that there’s more than just camaraderie between them. Gascon told me about how he and Amara have been at odds since they’ve first met. I know when a man is interested in a woman and his eyes are set on her. Let me tell you, they’re going to snap by the time we reach the Briar in a months time.” Tarin said with a chuckle. “ Apparently, and Gascon nor Amara has said anything yet, but I’ve interrupted every moment they’ve nearly had.” He crowed a bit triumphantly as he pulled the keyring from Gascon’s bag. He had forgotten to get it back from him after they had divided all of Amara’s things between them for carrying purposes.
Palisanther’s jaw hung loosely as he laughed out loud. I dare say you aren’t the only one guilty of that then. the guardian added, kneeling a bit to allow the dwarf back onto his shoulders. It was probably best to leave the two of them for now. Things were getting heated if the sounds of their arguing were anything to go by.

“ For what, Amara?” Gascon purred teasingly. He danced out of the range of another loose flying fist and he chuckled a bit. “ I'm fairly certain that you're only going to exhaust yourself doing that.”
“ Then get the hell away from me, you sod! Between you and that ill timed, ale swigging, skirt chasing dwarf, I never get a moments peace!” Amara screamed in her frustration. She started stomping back towards the tree line again and Gascon laughed a bit even as he pulled her back.
“ Come on now, Amara. I'm not all bad.” Gascon retorted. His eyes went wide and he ducked before Amara's fist could collide with his jaw. She didn't look as if she were pulling them as she was wont to do when they had sparred here and there in the last couple of weeks. They had to keep their aggression towards one another at bay somehow after all.
“ I said to leave me be, Gascon! For as intelligent as you are, you're certainly thick headed! I need to be alone, enchantment or not, and you seem more than content to foist yourself into my presence!” Amara nearly screamed.
“ You weren't telling me that two days ago when you pulled me onto the mental plane with you, Amara.” Gascon retorted, his tone unmistakable. “ In fact, if I recall, you didn't want any regrets...Why is that I wonder?”
Amara shook her head. “ You bastard...How dare you bring that up.” she hissed, turning back towards the tree line in an effort to reach it. She was going to perch herself in the highest tree and use him as target practice at this point if Gascon kept pissing her off. She could feel the self-damning emotions that she had been experiencing since their first encounter in the pool washing over her once more and Amara wanted nothing more than to escape the prince's presence so that she could have a good hard cry in privacy. She didn't want to feel this at all.
“ You're attracted to me Amara...There's no use in denying it. Otherwise...” Gascon began, only to be slapped rather strongly by Amara. Dammit, he had let his guard down again with her.
“ Shut the hell up! The only thing that's happened is that you keep thrusting yourself into my personal space and you...” Amara blushed even as Gascon smirked at the choice words she used. “ Will you look at the bigger picture and stop thinking with what's between your legs for heaven's sake Gascon?! I didn't ask for any of this. I don't wan..”
Gascon's brow furrowed and he roughly pinned Amara against a tree. “ That's a blatant lie, Amara, and you damn well know it.” he growled out. He could feel the overwhelming urge to take her right then and there, knowing the moment that Gascon had her where he wanted Amara, she would most definitely be singing a different tune. On the same note, he wasn't willing to chance that she might cry rape, which would most certainly hamper his aspirations of courting her. He grunted slightly as his fiance shoved him off and she began stalking towards the forest once more. “ This isn't over Amara, running isn't going to solve a damn thing! Now get back over here and talk to me dammit.”
“ I don't want your company, you bastard! Now get the hell away from me or I will make you suffer worse than I ever have in the past.” Amara seethed. Her blue eyes were glittering in the moonlight now and despite the anger he felt at the moment, Amara had never looked more alluring than she did right there. Her cheeks were flush in her ire, her blue eyes like gemstones shining with their own iridescence, the way her chest was heaving as she sought to catch her breath.
Gascon growled a bit at the threat, and he bristled at the thinly veiled mention of her target. Like hell was he going to allow her to get away with something of that magnitude! She had never even entertained that idea in the past; which he was more than thankful for all things considered, but that was going a little too far now. “ I'm not done yet Amara...I will say my piece dammit. To hell with your threats.” he whispered heatedly. Gascon quickly grabbed her by the arm and Amara recoiled almost instantly but she didn't lash out as she had said she would.
“ Don’t touch me!” Amara seethed, pulling her arm free from Gascon’s grip. Her blue eyes were narrowed and full of fire as she leveled them on her betrothed. She didn't want him touching her just for the simple fact that things could easily spiral one way; which would be another fist fight, or the other and Amara was in no means ready emotionally for that level between them, despite her body's screams for what Gascon had to offer her. “ Every single time you get near me in that manner, I begin to hate myself all the more. Please, for both our sakes, keep your distance.”
Gascon's rage left him almost instantly with the pain he heard in her voice. That defeated, remorseful tone was not how he wanted her to sound, it was such a far cry from the courageous woman he had come to know. However upset he had felt at her a moment ago was gone when Amara said those words. “ What do you mean by that Amara?” he asked her softly. Gascon chanced a few steps closer to her and Amara shook her head.
“ Gascon, I am in no mood for this. If I want to talk about it, I’ll come to you, but right now is not the time to be harrowing me for answers.” Amara’s tone was more than enough to put a gruffian into submission, it held the promise of danger and violence.
Gascon’s eyes narrowed in annoyance, and both his fists balled up at his sides in an effort to keep from lashing out himself this time. “ You need to stop bottling everything up, Amara. It’s going to kill you someday, mark my words. I know I’m one to talk, but at least I’ve been fairly upfront with you if something has been bothering me. You don’t have to keep it to yourself. I’m more than willing listen if you need me to.” he replied a bit more hotly than he intended.
“ I’m still trying to build my trust in you! Seventeen years, Gascon. We have been at odds with one another for the last seventeen years! Yes, we have started moving on, but I can’t fully heal just yet. In battle, I know full well that I can trust you explicitly. However, when it’s just the two of us like this...I can’t help but keep myself guarded. There’s something I actually need from you that you haven’t given me yet. Unless you know what that is deep in your heart at this very moment, there is nothing more to say.” When Gascon looked a bit dumbfounded, Amara shook her head. He needed to come to apologize to her on his own, not have her tell him that he needed to. “Now please. Leave me alone.” Amara finished this softly as she called Rosie out. “ I’ll follow you close enough so that you can be near the fire. Just warn Tarin I’m not in any mood to be disturbed.”
Gascon sighed heavily and rubbed his neck as he weighed her words. There was little he could do but give her her space as Amara had asked him, especially now that he knew she had been berating and mentally abusing herself for everything that had transpired between them. “ Fine, Amara. Just remember, I’m here if you need it of me. While it’s not much, I can offer you friendship if you’ll have it. It goes a long ways off from what I want, but that’s neither here nor there now.” Gascon began walking away, his footfall silent as Amara kept her back to him. She was shutting him out again. He shook his head in his melancholy and Gascon swore a bit under his breath. He had gone and done it again, he had forced her away though this time that was not what he had intended.
He didn’t see Amara look at his retreating back curiously as she scratched Rosie’s neck. A long ways off from what he wants? What the hell did he mean by that? she wondered. As promised, she followed at a distance so that he could sit by the fire and Amara leaned against her embursa. “ What should I do, Rosie?” she pondered aloud. She had summoned her bag over by way of puppet string and was in the midst of patching her cloak once she had pulled her needle and thread out. She needed to mend the rest of their clothing tonight for that matter.
Honestly, if I were you Amara, I’d just get it over with already. the embursa replied sleepily as she settled her head on her paws.
Amara jumped for a moment. She hadn’t cast Nature’s Tongue yet and then she remembered what Palisanther had told her about the gift he had bestowed upon her. She no longer needed magic to hear animals speak?! That was amazing!
Rosie seemed a bit shocked as well. Please, for the love of the great bear in the sky, tell me you did not hear that! she pleaded. Her green eyes went even wider when her mistress smiled cheekily. Rosie knew Amara had to use magic to be able to hear her and the embursa was careful with her words whenever Amara did. What in the heavens name had happened to her mistress?
“ What did you mean just get it over with already, Rosie?” Amara sat up now, leaning forward with her arms on her knees. Her eyes were narrowed curiously on her familiar and a smirk was plastered on her face.
Oh my, look at the time! I’m going to try to get som...Rosie began, looking around for somewhere close to the fire to sleep.
“ Not happening Rosie. Just how long have you been mincing your words with me?” Amara demanded gently. Oh, she was going to squeeze every little detail out of the embursa, that was for certain now.
Ever since you learned Nature’s Tongue. Rosie replied, groaning all the while. You’re not going to let me off that easy, are you?
“ Not a chance. You may as well just be upfront with me from now on. That guardian I saved granted me a very useful gift...” Amara purred playfully, shoving Rosie at the shoulder a bit.
Fine! What I meant is that you both should just hurry up and mate! You two have been driving the six of us babanas for the last three weeks alone! Rosie huffed, sitting up and folding her paws across her chest as she did so. All of us familiars feel the same way. Bear in mind that we’re part of you, we can feel what’s in your hearts. Both Sarge and I alone know how long you two have been bickering back and forth Amara as we’ve been with both you and Gascon for over ten years. Artemis and Ze have only been with you half of that.
Artemis as a thunderbyrde that Amara had raised from the point of which it had been a hatchling, and Ze was another evesta native, the feroon and an elven favorite. Ze was the descendant of one of her mother’s familiars for that matter.
Amara. I also know that you’ve been berating yourself because you find yourself attracted to Gascon. You should be so lucky as to feel anything towards him because of your rocky past. And don’t even get me started on Gascon, Amara...Rosie began. Her eyes visibly softened here and Rosie's head turned towards the fire. The porcine prince had not been her favorite person because of his and Amara's tumultuous relationship in years prior, but everything had changed the minute he had called Rosie into his creature cage. Familiars could sense how their master's felt, what their deepest, sometimes even most desperate desires were. Gascon wanted Amara to love him and that very thought touched Rosie greatly.
Amara harrumphed. “ What is it Rosie.” It was more of a demand than a question and the embursa snorted a little derisively. Amara was certainly cantankerous at the moment. “ I’ll get it out of you in the long run so you may as well be out with it.”
It isn’t my place to say, Amara. Rosie said stubbornly. She knew that if Gascon were able to, he would move both the heavens and earth for her mistress. Again, it was something she hadn’t learned until a few days ago, but it was promising to the embursa. If she were unable to protect Amara, Rosie knew that Gascon would no matter the cost.
Amara’s eyes narrowed on her familiar a bit and she sighed as she looked back towards the fire. “ It’s only a physical attraction, Rosie....” she whispered. That's all she was going to admit to even herself. Amara didn't want to even consider the possibility that there was more between them like Gascon claimed many a time. She sighed heavily as her self-revulsion washed over her again and she tamped it down. That wasn't going to do her any good. Her blue eyes were watching Gascon as Tiny set a tree trunk near the fire and Gascon clapped the steam man on his belly happily as he pulled out a treat for his familiar. Once he called him back, Gascon sat down and leaned against the trunk, pulling out his sword in order to keep it maintained.
The hell it is, Amara. Why do you find yourself wanting his companionship even now? Trust me, I’m glad the two of you are finally moving away from the animosity you had as children, but he’s not just a friend to you. He hasn’t been just a friend to you for almost a month. You want me to be honest with you, Amara? Well I hope you’re prepared to hear what I say, even if you don’t like it. Rosie finished firmly, her hackles raising just a bit in her ire and then she looked at her mistress appraisingly after a moment. Is it that you’re afraid to voice what you feel for him? You’re not even being honest with yourself, Amara. You need to come to grips that you are a grown female who is interested in a male. I know it’s not that simple for you humans, but that’s the only way I know. Now, am I going to have to drag you back over there, or are you going to come with me willingly?
Amara looked at her familiar in shock. Rosie certainly had no qualms in telling her how she saw it. Amara stood up and scratched Rosie’s neck affectionately. “ Let’s go, girl.” Amara said.

Gascon looked up as Amara came over to the fire, and he sighed a bit as she sat on the other side. He most certainly wouldn't have minded if she had sat beside him. Gascon was starting to feel a little chill despite the fire before him. “ Rosie force you back over?” he asked, smirking a bit.
Amara chuckled. “ Actually, yes...” she admitted, her blue eyes looking over to Gascon as his hand slid his whetstone over the blade confidently. “ Can I ask something of you?”
Gascon stopped what his was doing momentarily and looked at Amara curiously. “ Anything. I thought you knew that by now, Amara.” he replied, his tone much gentler than it was half an hour ago.
Amara smiled softly and she stood up to walk over to him. Gascon met her in the middle, almost as if he were drawn to do so, and he felt Amara take his hands in hers. Amara looked down a moment as she steeled her courage with a deep breath in. “ I need you to give me time, Gascon. We steadily forged a friendship, which is more than what we started with two months ago, but there have been moments between us that have been...” Amara began, her eyes shutting as she forced down the feelings of self revulsion and hatred that she had been feeling as of late.
“ I’m sorry Amara. If I had known sooner I wouldn’t have...” Gascon began, his eyes narrowing a bit. In all honesty, he should have seen it sooner. Amara’s constant mood swings when they were alone should have been the biggest giveaway. Hell, that had even happened when they had been running from Palisanther in Amara’s mind. He pulled Amara into his arms and Gascon felt her hands come to rest on his shoulders.
“ If I hadn’t been bottling it up, it wouldn’t have come to this now.” Amara admitted softly as her fingers twirled a lock of his hair in her nervousness. Gascon's very touch was making her stomach do back flips. “ I need to move on from our past Gascon, but I can’t do that without something from you in turn. I understand if you’re not ready yet. I’m willing to wait, but just know that I can’t bury the hatchet between us before that.” Amara looked away as she finished, as tears had sprung to her eyes and she didn’t want Gascon to feel worse than he obviously did at the moment.
Gascon sighed and lifted Amara’s chin to have her look at him again, his thumb gently caressing her cheek as his cocoa tinged eyes met her cerulean ones. “ I can accept that.” he whispered, pulling away from her. He needed to figure out just what Amara needed from him. What she was waiting on so that they could bury the hatchet once and for all?

Palisanther and Tarin returned as the sky was beginning to brighten and they found Amara sound asleep next to Gascon as he sat watching the fire. Rosie wasn’t too far off from where they were, and her head rose up to look at them.
Gascon was running his fingers through Amara’s hair while lost to his own musings when he heard movement behind him. He swiftly went to his feet, drawing both his sword and gun as he stood protectively over Amara. His eyes weren't really seeing who it was just yet as he looked between both Tarin and Palisanther nervously. He thought that some goblins may have tracked them here due to their magic.
“ Stand down, young prince.” Tarin said placatingly, holding his hands out to stay Gascon.
Gascon sighed a bit and lowered both his weapons. That was definitely Tarin. He was forever calling Gascon that. “ You didn’t take as long as I thought you would.” he said, holstering his gun first and then sheathing his sword. He smirked a bit as he watched the dwarf prince lower a large keg of ale to the ground. “ You can bet that we’ll be breaking into that tonight.”
“ You’re damn right ‘bout that!” Tarin boomed, laughing all the while.
Palisanther would have smirked if it were possible and he padded over to where Amara was sleeping. He purred as he rubbed his large head against her ribs and Amara flinched at the contact, unable to stifle the giggle that consumed her in her sleep, curling up into a ball in order to subconsciously protect the sensitive spot. The great cat rubbed against Amara again in an effort to rouse her and Gascon shook his head.
“ Good luck waking her. She only got to bed about two hours ago. I’ve been keeping watch since.” Gascon said mirthfully. Amara was ticklish on her ribs? Oh, that was filed away for later, that was certain.
Palisanther shook his head and his tongue darted out to sweep along Amara’s cheek. Her blue eyes went wide as her head was lifted and Amara gave a little shriek of surprise. That was not how she had envisioned being woken up. What was that Gascon? the guardian replied with a chuckle.
Gascon shook his head. “ It’s your funeral.” Amara hated being woken up too early.
Amara was indeed glaring at all assembled and Palisanther nuzzled her again. I’m sorry to wake you so soon, but I wished to say my goodbyes for now.
Amara sighed and her arms wrapped around the great cat. He was purring contentedly and Amara felt him pull away.
Thank you once again for freeing me from my captors. I will be forever indebted to you for my freedom, Amara. When you and Gascon do take the evestan throne, just know that you will forever have an ally in myself. Palisanther said.
“ Thank you. Until next we meet, and may they be on happier terms.” Amara replied softly.
The great cat bowed to her one last time and Palisanther bounded off into the forest and he soon disappeared amongst the trees. For the first time in nearly three hundred years, the guardian of the mountain was free to do as he pleased. He would never take such liberty for granted ever again.

Gascon was in deep thought as he sat before the fire, his thoughts on the conversation he and Amara had last night. Amara was sleeping once again, as was Tarin now, and Amara sighed a bit in her slumber. Her head was near his lap and Gascon smiled down at her softly as he ran his fingers through her hair again. There wasn’t anything that Gascon wouldn’t do for her which, would make it all the more difficult for him to abide by Amara’s wishes to give her space and time. Every fiber of his being was telling Gascon that he needed to pursue her and let Amara know that he was more than interested in her. He would give her the time she needed though. Gascon could do nothing but.

The three companions made slow work traveling over the Verdant Plains that lay between the mountains and the forest where the Briar lay to the south. The summer storms the area was known for slowed their progress down as they had been traveling for over a month now since leaving the mountains. There was another patch of forest that they would pass through, The Vale of Shadows as it was known, and then the three of them would only be about a week away from the Briar. Once they reached the borders of the elves, Tarin would leave their company. No dwarf had ever set eyes upon the city of the elves before.
Amara smiled brightly as she ran ahead a bit. “ Well as I live and breathe...I don’t believe it! Gascon, Tarin! We have a shelter for the night!” Amara shouted to them as she came upon a run down farmhouse. Her eyes traveled skyward as her face fell. Not a moment too soon either it seemed. There was mighty thunderhead rolling in over the plains, bringing the promise of rain and lightning. “ Tarin! See if you can’t hunt down some game! We still have some of that ale left and we might as well make a night of it! Gascon, head off and grab some wood! I’ll set to work on the house!”
“ Right-o Amara!” Tarin shouted, running off towards a herd of deraboo that were grazing off in the distance.
“ On it!” Gascon replied, running towards a thicket that wasn’t far off at all.
Amara turned towards the house and she cracked her knuckles as she whistled lowly. This was going to be a real fixer upper. She smirked a bit as she found a broom inside and cast broom-broom on it. “ You get the floors and any cobwebs. I better not find a single one or I’ll use you for tinder.”
The broom jumped at the threat and began working on the cobwebs immediately. It certainly didn’t want to be used as tinder for a fire.

Gascon grunted as he carried a bit of the wood he gathered into the house and he watched Amara hard at work on repairing anything that needed fixing with magic and cleaning by hand as she went. He had been gone at least an hour and Amara had made amazing headway already. He dropped the armful he had and dashed out to grab more. That storm was nearly upon them now.

Tarin was in the midst of divvying up the cuts of his catch when he stiffened. There was someone coming up on him now. He turned too late as a staff hit him hard on the back of his head and Tarin went to the ground, groaning in his unconscious state.
“ Well now, lookie who we got here...” said a cruel voice.

Gascon rushed back into the house as he shook the rain from his hair and whistled at the transformation the inside had taken in the half an hour he had been gone this time. “ It’s certainly much cozier now than it was two hours ago, Amara.” Gascon praised kindly. There was a nice warm fire roaring in the fire place and Amara already had a simple vegetable stew going to pair with whatever Tarin brought back.
“ Thank you. I’m starting to worry about Tarin though. He’s been gone a long while and he normally doesn’t take this long on a hunt.” Amara replied. She looked to the door and shook her head. Something was bothering her greatly at this point.
Gascon noticed this and he shook his head. Amara was like a mother bear with her cubs when it came to him and Tarin. She was insanely protective of both of them and had no qualms in fighting any who dared to hurt them in her presence. They had gotten into it with a passing band of trolls the week before and Gascon smirked as he recalled the memory. Amara had been terrifying in her wrath, but so mesmerizing to watch even as they had fought back to back. Amara had truly grown in their current exile from their respective kingdoms. He settled a hand on Amara’s shoulder and she patted it in turn. In all honesty, giving Amara her space over the last month had actually brought them closer than Gascon thought it would. The friendship they built had formed into something much stronger that Amara or Gascon would never give up for anything.
“ You stay here and warm up Gascon. I’ll go out and take a look around for Tarin.” Amara said, grabbing her cloak from where she had hung it up.
“ Like hell you will. Not alone at least. I’m fine Amara. The rain had just barely sprayed me when I came in.” Gascon retorted, his hand grasping her by the arm before she could go out the door. " Did you forget about the enchantment both of us are under? "
“ Gascon, really now! I understand the male pride and honor thing with you, but I am more than capable of handling myself. Please, take a moment to rest and warm up by the fire.” Amara pulled the hood over her head and she smirked as she dashed out the door. “ I'll only go as far as the spell permits.”
“ That's a lie and you damn well know it Amara. Why the hell are you so stubborn to accept any help?!” Gascon cried out, his tone exasperated. He quickly threw his hood over his head and followed Amara into the rain.
“ Why are you so hell bent on protecting me from every little thing, Gascon?” Amara cried out in annoyance. Well, it looked as if they were about to get into a squabble and a half here. They hadn’t done that in a long while.

Silver eyes watched carefully as they heard the dwarf’s companions coming towards them. Their bickering had alerted him to their presence.
Amara sighed heavily and stopped a moment. “ Gascon, be honest with me. Why are you so hell bent on trying to protect me from every little thing?! It’s not like I don’t know how to fight. You know this! What aren’t you telling me?” Amara demanded.
Gascon shook his head. “ You don’t want me to answer that Amara.” he replied, his tawny eyes boring into Amara’s cerulean ones. He was already of the mind to pin her against the tree beside them and snog her senseless for her cheek. Oh, he could keep coming up with much more pleasurable ways to settle their squabbling, but Gascon kept his distance emotionally as promised. He went on point when he heard a twig snap behind him and Gascon motioned to Amara to keep quiet as he drew his sword silently. “ That’s not Tarin. Be ready to hell out of here if I give the signal.” he whispered.
Gascon turned to go look about their immediate area and Amara did as he told her to do. She didn’t like being left behind, but there was nothing for it. Despite her elvish heritage, Gascon was much sneakier than she was and had proved it time and again when he had snuck up on her more times than Amara cared to count. The man would have been an excellent thief if not for his lineage. Amara tried to keep from jumping as Gascon’s course shout rang out and the sounds of steel clashing made themselves known. The urge to run to his side was overwhelming, but Amara stayed put.
“ AMARA! GET OUT OF HERE! IT’S A TRAP!” Gascon bellowed to her. He was running back to her, his brown eyes wide in terror. The two of them were sorely outmatched here. There were at least twelve bandits giving chase.
Amara quickly traced the travel rune with her fingers, her location set firmly in her mind. The farmhouse was far enough away that these bastards wouldn’t chance the storm to go looking for them. It was getting worse out there. The lightning was peppering the plains with bright plumes of light, and the wind was veritably howling its rage into the night. Amara was worried there might be a twister out there with as bad as the storm was.
Gascon was tackled from the side and his fist flew out to punch his assailant. Both of them got to their feet and circled each other a bit. Amara had since dispersed her travel spell and had her eyes narrowed as she aimed an arrow of light. Gascon stopped to where the man before him was in front of Amara, giving her a clear shot and Gascon smirked as he saluted a bit with two fingers. The man before him was smirking as well and Gascon’s face fell a bit. Why the hell was he smirking?
He felt the pain all too late as his eyes went wide in shock and agony. His chest was burning, as if white hot coals were settled directly over his chest and the porcine prince looked down, shaking a little as his breathing was labored. The front of his gray shirt was steadily turning black with the blood seeping from the wound he could see there and there was the tip of a blood stained sword currently stemming the flow of his body's most precious fluid. “ No...” he whimpered, his voice cracking a bit in his terror.
Amara let her arrow fly and her eyes went wide in fear as Gascon came into view as the other man fell to the ground dead. The porcine prince was stock still as he looked down at the sword that was protruding from his chest bewildered. “ NOO!!!! GASCON!” she screamed, drawing her blade as she ran toward him.
Tha-thump.....Tha-thump...Tha-thump... Gascon could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears as the muscle tried to pump the remaining blood through his body in order to keep him alive. He cried out again as the blade was wrenched from his ribcage, his entire torso jerking from the force of it and the prince took a single step forward.
“ GASCON!” came a faint voice. He could barely hear anything at the moment he was so stunned.

Gascon had blood flowing down both his chin and from the wound in his chest as he fell to his knees. Tha-thump... Everything seemed as if it were passing by in slow motion and he looked up at Amara as she ran to his aid, her blue eyes filled to the brim with tears. Tha-thump... Amara spun even as she slit the throat of the man who had stabbed him and she went to her knees to gather Gascon in her arms. Tha....Thump....Gascon shuddered a little due to the chill settling over him now. His heart was slowing down. He didn't want to die! Not yet!
“ Stay with me!” she cried, clearly panicked. Tears were streaming down her face and mixing with the rain as more bandits came rushing towards them. Amara’s eyes narrowed into fine slits and she snarled. There was no way in hell they were getting any closer. She cast the quake spell, her rage giving more fuel to the spell and the bandits began retreating back to their headquarters. “ Don’t you dare die on me Gascon!” She drew the travel rune as fast as she could, the two of them disappearing in a flash of light.

Gascon coughed weakly as he and Amara appeared back at the cottage, and Amara dragged Gascon in as fast as she could. His breathing was extremely labored and he winced as Amara pulled him up and into one of the beds that she had mended that afternoon. “ Amara...I’m sorry.” he whispered.
“ Don’t talk Gascon. You’re going to be alright.” Amara said desperately. She drew an intricate rune and swept her right hand over Gascon’s torso. His shirt, cloak, and cuirass all disappeared off of his body and Amara choked back a sob at the stab wound. It had barely missed his heart, but had torn completely through a lung. By the ancients, she had to work fast or he would bleed out! His skin was already paler than the olive tone that she had grown accustomed to seeing.
“ I know I’m going to be alright.” Gascon softly replied with a smirk. He needed to hold onto that hope and he gave her what he thought to be a reassuring smile. It was a horrifying sight to Amara considering how bloody his face was. “ That’s not what I was apologizing for...” He winced and coughed a bit, wheezing as he did so. Damn it was getting so hard to breathe.
“ Be quiet.” Amara ordered him this time. She was concentrating on one of her most potent healing spells. “ Please, don’t talk Gascon. I’m honestly trying to concentrate.” She cupped his cheek with her right as her left rested on his chest.
Gascon groaned a bit in acquiesce and he watched Amara through half-lidded eyes as she poured her energies into the spell. He could veritably feel everything slowly knitting back together, though sensation was a little sickening. The bones of his ribcage that had been so unceremoniously severed were slowly coming back together and hardening once more. The muscles and sinew were forming their taut bond again, and Gascon had to fight off a wave of nausea that threatened to consume him. He could feel that same sensation inside of him, fixing his lung and Gascon closed his eyes tightly. If he kept focusing on that, he was going to really get sick and that was the last thing he wanted to do to Amara at the moment. Amara’s eyes were closed in deep concentration as she kept left her hand over his wound and Gascon reached up blindly to grab her right hand, needing the comfort she was offering him in this moment. A brilliant gold light was starting to envelope him and Gascon felt a warmth like he had never felt before settle over him.
It had taken a few minutes for the spell to do it’s work, but Gascon had been healed without nary a scar.
Gascon sighed heavily. His color was still a little pale, but Amara noted that he looked to definitely be on the mend. “ Amara...” he whispered, tiredly. He felt completely drained after all that. Then again, Gascon mused derisively, he had just come very, very close to knocking on Death's door. It was a miracle he had survived.
“ Rest, Gascon.” She replied just as softly. “ I'll protect you, I promise.” She began to soothingly run her fingers through his damn locks, her other hand still clenched firmly in his.
“ That's supposed to be my line.” the prince shot back playfully. His brown eyes were steadily drooping the longer she kept doing that. “ We need...To...” he began, though the call of sleep was truly upon him now. Gascon never did finish his sentence as he weakly fell flat against the pillows, the hold he had on Amara's hand relaxing in his new found repose.
The evestan swan showed herself from the room quickly and slumped against the door in sobs. That had been much too close. Amara had needed to use part of her own life force to keep him from truly dying and the sight of him run through on that blade was seared into the back of her eyelids. Amara covered her mouth in an effort to stifle her sobs, but it was no use as they broke through violently. Guilt, remorse, regret, longing, affection....They were all slamming into her at once and it was completely overwhelming Amara.
If only I had accepted his call to a truce four years ago...This is all my fault...Gascon nearly died because of my childish behavior. I'm never fighting with him again after this...I almost lost him...I can't lose him...I...I...Amara lost her train of thought as she convulsed harshly in her tears, her wails making her familiars' hearts ache as they felt the despair that had settled over their mistress.
Finally, Amara settled into soft sniffles and she stood up weakly. Tears were not going to be of any use here. With Gascon out of commission at the moment, Amara needed to spend this time strategizing. The Verdant Plains were said to be haunted...Amara's eyes narrowed a bit here. She needed to go out into the storm a moment. She had spotted some Kill-of-the-Wisps not too far and within range of the link spell over the two of them. She needed to hurry. Time was of the essence and those bandits would not stay at that location long now that they knew they had been found.

Gascon started rousing slowly, but he was aware that everything hurt like hell. Dammit! What happened, did I get trampled by the deraboo that Tarin went off to hunt or som....TARIN! Gascon suddenly recalled everything that had happened and his eyes filled with tears at the pain he had seen and heard in Amara's. “ Amara?” he called out to her. “ Amara are you out there?”
The swan of Cygnus entered the room as quickly as she could and looked at Gascon worriedly. Her blue eyes were wide in fear though the expression was steadily being replaced by unspeakable sorrow and she sat gingerly on the side of the bed. Amara shook her head and threw her arms around Gascon’s neck as she began sobbing for all she was worth.
Slowly, Gascon wrapped his arms around her in turn and he sat up to hold her a bit more comfortably. “ I’m fine Amara.” Gascon said in her ear, his eyes screwed shut as Amara’s tears hit his neck. His throat went tight as he strove to keep his own at bay now. “ I’m so, so sorry about everything. By the ancients, this is all my fault. All these years could have been so much happier if I hadn't been as horrible as I was to you as a child, could have been avoided if I had only atoned for my transgressions against you long ago. I'm sorry it even came to this. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, nor do I deserve the friendship you’ve given me, Amara. Please, don’t cry...It kills me inside to see you cry.” He whispered, his own tears slipping into her hair as he cradled her in his lap now. It was hurting Gascon to see her like this. Ever since they had first set out and he had seen her in tears in the rain, Gascon had never wanted to see her like that again. Not at this level at least. It made it so much worse that he was the cause of her distress, that he had caused her to feel such despair and doubt. “ Easy now....”
Amara looked up at Gascon as her sobs finally settled once more and she shook her head in negation. “ You weren’t the only one in the wrong Gascon, wasn't the only one who was horrid and nasty. I was just as bad if not worse than you were. I can't say I remember the reason we started fighting in the first place, but I should have taken your call for a truce on my sixteenth birthday. Who knows, we might have...” Amara paused here and she blushed brightly even as she remembered the kiss he had given her. It was without a doubt the most intense birthday present she could ever recall getting. If Amara had accepted the truce and Gascon's apology then, they might have already married by this point, though Amara could admit that she wasn't sure if she would make it to her wedding night intact. Not with the way the prince made her feel. She smiled softly and scooted back onto the bed as her hand came up to cup Gascon's cheek. “ And for my part in everything I apologize as well. You have my forgiveness, provided you can find it in your heart to do the same for me.” Amara whispered, her fingers smoothing a few stray locks away from Gascon’s face. Her fingers gently caressed his cheek and her eyes were soft as they met his tawny ones. “ Both of us went about everything wrong Gascon. The only thing that matters now is that we’re in this together.”
Gascon smiled softly and he brought his hand up to hold the one caressing his cheek. “ That’s that then? Hatchet buried?” he asked. Gascon sat forward a bit even as he pulled Amara closer to him. This time, he wasn't going to let anything stop him. Not those bandits, not Palisanther; though however unlikely, and sure as hell not Tarin. Gascon was fed up with the dwarf's seemingly innocent intrusions.
“ Buried and gone.” Amara said with a smile as Gascon’s other hand came to rest on the back of her neck. She could feel his fingers lacing through the fine wisps of hair that fettered along her neck and she shivered a little in anticipation. Her eyes were steadily closing of their own volition the closer they got.
Before their lips met, both of them looked to the door as if Tarin were about to come bursting through it, merrily exclaiming his freedom and desire to drink and eat. Gascon laughed a bit even as he shook his head at the mental image that caused and Amara chuckled herself, almost picturing the same thing.
“ I’m going to kiss you this time, Amara. Interruptions be damned.” Gascon purred, his eyes glittering up at Amara now. He could feel her breath tickling his lips as Gascon pulled Amara back in.
“ About damn time.” Amara murmured in response. Her breath caught in her throat as Gascon’s nose rubbed her own. Her left hand was sitting over the area that Gascon had received that stab wound in and the fingers of her right hand were entwining with his now as they drew closer.
Their lips met in a slow caress even as Amara gasped against Gascon’s mouth at the feeling of electricity that coursed through her at the contact. Gascon couldn’t hold back the pleased groan that escaped him as Amara closed the distance between them, her weight settling above him now as their kiss deepened and intensified. Between them, every nerve was set ablaze with that one kiss, every muscle tensed and ready for so much more despite the relaxing mood that was settling over them.
Gascon felt Amara roll to the side and he followed her, unwilling to break this sweet connection between them. His hands settled tight against her hips in an effort to keep her in place; not that Gascon needed have worried of course as Amara was more than content where she was, and Amara felt his tongue tap her bottom lip, begging her for entrance. Amara granted him access, and she sighed against his mouth as their tongues began twirling and twisting around one another. She sighed a little dreamily his weight settled fully over her, and the feel of his lithe, hard body nestled against hers nearly took her breath away. He felt beyond perfect just like this...
Gascon broke away from her a moment and his eyes met Amara's in a silent exchange. This is what had been between them the entire time, what he had felt missing for the last several years. Passion, acceptance.
Love.
Gascon claimed Amara's lips once more, this time with more urgency than before. There were so many maybes of what could happen before they returned to Cygnus, too many what ifs than either cared to count. Hell, if Amara hadn't healed him when she had, Gascon could have very well died that night and he knew it.
Amara felt Gascon pull away once more, a contemplative look adorning his features. " As much as I would love to continue, I can't in good conscience do so when our friend is in such dire straights. We need to go back once the storm settles. They more than likely have Tarin as a prisoner, and won't be expecting both of us." He whispered, though Gascon was pained to be stopping so soon. He could feel the desire and love he held for the evestan princess pooling in his loins and he tried to think of anything possible to rid himself of the urge. There wasn't anyway in hell he was doing that with Amara around. “ We need to come up with a plan...” Amara nodded silently and she smirked as he looked to her. Gascon knew that smirk. Amara was already planning something, quite nasty in fact...
" What is it Amara?" He asked her, his gaze curious now. It didn't stop him from grinning like an idiot however. Normally, Amara's plans were very, very sound, though his were a bit more tactical.
" I've got a plan. Do you trust me?" Amara asked, though there was a gleam in her eyes that belied something a little darker to Gascon. It didn't bother him in the least. Everyone needed a little bit of light and darkness to keep them balanced.
" With my very life." Gascon replied with a smile. What was Amara up to?
" There's a rumor that these plains are haunted...I think it's time to sow a little bit a fear with a divide and conquer approach." Amara was smiling almost devilishly now.
Gascon couldn't help but return the smile. This was going to be too good to miss.

There was a great fire roaring when Tarin came back to consciousness. His head was throbbing and he could feel that his arms and legs were bound behind him. He suppressed a groan as he tried to roll over a bit and he stopped cold when he heard voices coming his way.
" There's no chance the other man survived Drummond. Charlie ran him through before he was killed by the woman. She magicked them off somewhere, and would be a fool to try to come back for the dwarf."
" You had better be certain of that Randall. That was no ordinary man. That was none other than the eldest of the emperor's sons. More than likely the woman with him was the evestan princess. Though how they came to be in the company of a dwarf is beyond me." The man named Drummond said thoughtfully.
Tarin smirked as he listened to them speak. Oh Gascon had survived if Amara had anything to say about it. He heard a terrified scream not too far from where they were and Tarin listened intently again.

The two bandits keeping watch at the cave were stunned In fear. There was a woman who was gliding towards them, her hair flowing ethereally behind her.
" Ghost!!!" One screamed in sheer terror. He notched an arrow and let it fly, only for it to pass harmlessly through the apparition coming toward them.
" Barador! Where is my Barador?" She intoned softly.
" Vanluviel..." one whispered. Oh by the ancients, they were up against the ghost of the elven princess whose prince had been slain in a battle long ago?! The elves became vengeful spirits when their love was torn from them tragically.
" You! You killed my Barador?!" The spirit shrieked, her blue eyes suddenly turning blood red in her rage. Her white skin took on a putrid green color and she flew to them with great speed.
Amara was controlling the image that was being projected over the kill-o-the-wisp and she whispered something to the little lady that was giving her aid tonight. In fact, the wisp was only covering Gascon as he snuck in.
“ Give him back to me!” the projection shrieked, her eyes wide in her madness.
Neither had a chance to scream again as their throats were slit by Gascon's deft hand.

Drummond was on point now. There was something amiss and he wanted nothing more than to get the hell out of dodge. He ran to the front of his hideout, and immediately blanched. Five of his best bandits were dead. Adding the two he lost earlier there were only five of them left. Two more strangled screams met Drummond's ears and he began shaking a bit. What the hell was going on?! Movement caught his eye and Drummond's eyes narrowed as he made for it and he sneered as he snuck up on a young woman that wasn't part of his syndicate.
Amara stiffened all too late when she sensed someone behind her and her magic fell with her loss of concentration. She didn't even have the chance to scream as a hand covered her mouth and her air supply cut off.

Gascon snuck his way through the series of caves towards the back. He was attempting to find Tarin at this point while Amara took care of keeping the others running around like chickens with their heads cut off. He was amazed that she had managed to ask a kill-o-the-wisp for help, hence how he was taking out the bandits slowly but surely. There were only a few more left, but Gascon did not want to chance having them find him at this point, it was too quiet now. His blade was already wet with enough blood as it was. He heard a series of grunts that could only be the dwarven prince and Gascon smirked. “ Do you realize how easy it would be for me to just sling you over my shoulder to make the escape?”
“ You do that, and I will kick your ass from the underhalls to Hamelin, young prince!” the dwarf seethed. The expression on his face changed in an instant. “ BEHIND YOU!”
Gascon quickly brought his sword up and deflected a blow that would have easily killed him this time. Oh no no no...Not happening again. Amara and I have finally made amends and I fully intend to court her in earnest now. I’m not going to make her cry again, ever. he thought resolutely. Gascon’s eyes narrowed on the man before him. “ I learned my lesson the first time mate.” he hissed. Gascon turned and pulled his gun, leveling the barrel of it on the man trying to kill him. Their blades began dancing in earnest now, and Gascon deadlocked Drummond to get him close enough to shoot point blank. He wasn't expecting the bandit before him to pull a gun of his own and soon both men were looking down the barrels of each others guns.
Drummond’s eyes were fine slits as he looked to Gascon and he snapped his fingers even as he sneered. “ Lower your weapons. As you can see, the rouse is up...I daresay it was a clever trick and all. The princess is much more skilled that I thought she would be in the magic arts. I was told with the utmost assurance you were dead.” he said, his voice full of confidence that he had won.
Amara was bound and gagged with her hands covered in cloth to keep her from casting. This bandit learned quickly it seemed. She had the makings of a black eye already forming and her nose was bloodied. Someone had ambushed her and beat her viciously it seemed. She said something that couldn’t be deciphered through the gag, and she struggled hard against the two goons holding her in place. Her eyes landed on Gascon and she shook her head. That was a clear sign to get out of there.
“ As you can see, the rumors of my death are greatly premature.” Gascon stood straight and set his sword down. “ What do you want with us?” he asked, laying the hilt against the floor just right so that he could kick the blade up when he needed to.
“ To be frank, I can just ransom the princess off, but you oh prince of Hamelin...” Drummond spat this out like a curse as he began circling Gascon. “ I owe your father a return favor. He had my eldest son put to death, and now I get to cast the same judgement on his eldest son!” He charged Gascon with his blade drawn high, his eyes wide in his madness now.
Gascon kicked his sword up from the ground and parried and not a moment to soon. The man before him was damn good with a blade, but Gascon knew for a fact he was better. He just needed to get on the offensive. Sparks flew high at the collision of their blade and Gascon holstered his gun as he pulled his dagger. All he needed was for Drummond to slip up once.
Drummond and Gascon were fighting in earnest now as Amara’s eyes went wide in fear. She hadn’t known that this bastard would be out for blood like this! They needed an edge here, something that would give them time! She closed her eyes and began concentrating on Gascon. Call Willow and have her use Darkness Beckons! That should be enough to blind the three of them! Have Sarge free me while you get Tarin! she told him via telepathy. Please, I don't want to...
Calm down Amara, there's no chance of that happening a second time. I promise...Gascon replied as he struggled to press his dagger closer to Drummond's windpipe. That would definitely work however. “ I’ve love to stay and play around a little more...But I have much more pressing matters at hand now than dealing with you.” Gascon said, grunting in his exertion. He summoned Willow and the wisp used her darkness ability to cover them and Gascon took this chance to slice the knife in a downward stroke. If he couldn't kill this bastard, Gascon would hamper him from following them as the three made their escape. Drummond's scream of pain and surprise met him, and Gascon smirked darkly. The prince knew for a fact he had just blinded the bastard. He heard two course shouts a moment later as Sarge freed Amara and the porcine prince grabbed Tarin.
Well, Gascon mused, it was worth throwing the dwarf over his shoulder in the end as Amara found him and got them the hell out of dodge.
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The Ties that Bind