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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Book I: Link

Chapter 7- Thorn Pass

A Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Fanfiction

Palisanther was sniffing about his territory and he growled a bit. The goblins had been growing bolder in trying to recapture him and the guardian snorted a bit in disgust. He wanted to drive those menaces from these lands for good, if not obliterated completely. He jumped down from his perch and began bounding southward at a brisk pace.
He could smell an intruder nearby, and the smell was human.

Drummond scowled a bit as he looked at the last two men of his crew. " You lot realize that these goblins we're meeting could very well kill us." He snapped, his gray eye narrowed in displeasure. Drummond's rage took over him a moment as he fiddled with the eye patch over his left orb and he swore as he brushed against the still tender scar that was forming from Gascon's viscious attack. Wait until he got his hands on that damn prince! He was going to take those homely brown eyes and shove them down Gascon's throat for this!
" They won't Drummond. We've got a common enemy after all." Randall said reassuringly. His eyes snapped to the side when a twig broke audibly and he smirked. They were here.
" I hear you have a proposition for us." one growled out, looking side to side as if they were expecting an ambush.
Drummond smirked. " We're trailing a dwarf and two humans, one of them a magic user. I hear you may have recently had an encounter with them." he said as he stepped forward.
The goblins hissed at the mention of magic. " That elfin bitch will pay for what she did to us." another seethed, revealing a jagged scar along his neck from where he had been hit by Amara's last spell as they had fled the nest. He was one of three survivors of the Abolition spell. It had been nothing short of devastating to Ravenmurk's keep.
Elfin bitch? Drummond thought, his interest piqued now. " You're certain she was an elf?" he inquired curiously. He was more than positive that the swan of Cygnus was human. She didn't have the golden eyes or hair the elves were known for. It was a very distinct possibility she was only half elven though...Which would explain her prowess in the healing arts...he thought as he tapped a finger to his chin. And she would not allow any fatal harm to befall her intended either, as she had proven when Gascon had been run through by one of his subordinates. Any attack on him would be met with a vicious one in turn.
" Goblins and elves used to be the same once. We would know the stench of our sun loving brethren anywhere." The leader, Grimlock, said with utter distaste. He was Ravenmurk's only surviving heir to the title of the fifth warlord. " She stole my family heirloom; a great beast that does not die, and the dwarf killed my father. The man they were traveling with deserves death as well for his part in the beast's insurrection." he growled out. He was going to send the dwarf's head to Thaden as a warning, and that elfin bitch? Oh Grimlock couldn't wait to get his claws on her. He was going to ravage that wench until she died from the abuse. He would not allow her a moments rest either, nor would he allow anyone else to touch her. No, Grimlock was going to make her suffer by himself, and more than likely torture the Hamelin prince while he was at it with the sight of her being so severely abused. Yes, the goblin surmised, they were going to suffer greatly before he would even fathom allowing them to die.
Drummond couldn't keep the malevolent smile off of his face at the glittering flame of malice that had sparked in Grimlock's yellow orbs. " Lucky for you I know who they are. That information doesn't come free however." the bandit purred, circling the goblin warlord appraisingly. Maybe they could form some sort of alliance in this instance. And if Grimlock was correct about Amara, she woud be making her way through Thorn Pass on their way to the Bright Briar in the south, more than likely to see Dagaron. With his information and the might of the goblins, Drummond would be able to not only get revenge on the Porcine Empire, but now the Evestan Kingdom for Amara's part in the slaughtering of his syndicate. He wanted both of them dead.
Grimlock sneered. " We have no qualms in helping you hunt them down. I've had trackers following them since they left the mountains a month and a half ago. They should be nearing the Vale of Shadows soon enough. If we move quickly, we may be able to head them off before they reach the elfin borders."
Drummond shook his head. " Let them reach the Briar. If we can garner enough strength we can attack the city directly."
Grimlock seemed thoughtful for a moment. This human was suggesting that they gather all the goblin tribes for an all out war. They would need to get Vana’s blessing if they were to go through with this, but it was hopeful she would allow such a thing. She was just as eager to rid herself of the elven menace for reasons unknown to the fifth goblin warlord. If he was cunning enough, Grimlock could manage to talk to the other fourteen warlords about lending him their stregnth. All together that would put the invading force at nearly twenty thousand strong. That should be nearly twice that of the elves. The humans they were allied with were the only concern he had. " You are certain we can best them?"
Drumond nodded. " If we attack on the autumnal solstice we should be able to catch them off guard." Drummond replied. He had been living on the Evestan continent long enough to know when the elves celebrated their holidays.
Grimlock's eyes settled on Drummond's sole grey one and both smiled malevolently. " Then tell me who they are human." He purred nastily.
Palisanther growled a bit from where he was hiding. He needed to warn Amara and the others of this new development. Silently, he began back tracking and once he was far enough took off at full speed towards the Vale. It was imperative to reach them before they reached the other side or they would die when the force attacked Galaniath! No! I will not allow such a thing to happen to those who granted me my freedom once more! Palisanther thought resolutely.

Amara looked upon the Vale in wonder. They had just reached the forest earlier that morning and she smiled brightly in her delight. She loved the scent of the trees here. So sweet and musky at the same time. " You gents up for a rest or shall we continue? There is a village not far from here." She chirped. Her blue eyes were alight with excitement and Gascon smiled back at her.
" If the village isn't far I say we should keep moving." the prince replied, his brown eyes alight himself. He had yet to explore this wood and would more than love the chance to do so.
Tarin leaned against his knees a bit as he tried to catch his breath. " If it's the same to you, young prince, I would like a moment to rest. The pace you travel at is faster than I'm used to." He said, smirking. " We dwarves are built for sprints, not marathoning like the two of you, especially you." He added, pointing an accusatory finger at Amara.
Amara laughed and nodded. " Very well. We'll break here for a few hours and continue on at Tarin's pace. It's not as if we're on any sort of timetable to return to Cygnus. Right Gascon? " she asked teasingly. She could feel Gascon's eyes all but boring into her back intensely for her cheek as she made work on setting up her bedroll.
Gascon's eyes glittered at Amara knowingly at that particular statement. She knew full well why they were making the Briar the last leg of their journey; with the two of them returning to her home city after a day or two amongst the elves of course, and why he wanted them to return as soon as possible. The last four weeks they had been traveling since leaving the abandoned farm house had been nothing short of torture for the porcine prince, as they were still contending with the weather while traveling on the plains. He had moved into the courting stage with her recently since and every moment they found themselves alone grew heated quickly. If not for the spell their fathers had placed on the scroll, Amara would have surely been deflowered by this point.
Tarin chuckled at the heated look in Gascon's eyes. Well, if anything, they would certainly have one hell of a wedding night.
Amara smirked a bit and the three companions began setting up camp for the next few hours. Tarin had been awake since three as he had taken the last watch and looked due for a bit of rest. “ From what I can gather, we should be safe here for a bit. I’ll go scout the immediate area and fill our water skins should I come across a creek or lake.”
“ I may as well join you, considering the spell we’re still under.” Gascon said. He wanted a moment with her anyways, if only to pay her back for her teasing. While they were unable to take things as far as they would like, Gascon and Amara were certainly enjoying the closeness they could share otherwise. Any initial hesitation she may have felt about the bold touches and caresses they had shared since that first night was long gone and Gascon’s eyes heated up a little at the thought of Amara’s hands on his body again. He was used to being the sole giver when it came to pleasure, and Gascon had come to learn that Amara had no qualms in returning the favor. If he didn’t know any better, Gascon would swear that Amara loved giving as good as she got. She's not the only one either...he thought lasciviously.
" Well I'm going to get some much deserved sleep." Tarin grumped as he unrolled his sleeping gear.
Amara's eyes were glittering like sapphires in the sunlight as her gaze settled on Gascon. They both had just finished setting up camp, and Gascon had a fire going now. There was no telling if they were going to eat soon. Gascon's eyes flitted over to their dwarven companion and he saw that Tarin was already sleeping peacefully.
The smile on Amara's face spoke volumes. " Catch me if you can." Amara purred, darting into the trees after she discarded her cloak.
Gascon's smile grew broader as he threw his cloak off and darted off after Amara. He couldn't wait until he caught her. His hair was flowing as he darted through the trees after her, his breathing not at all labored as Gascon saw Amara just in front of him and he poured on the speed. Amara gave a little shriek when she spotted him and she laughed brightly when Gascon's arms wrapped around her waist. They both went crashing to the forest floor, and Gascon's lips met Amara's almost instantly even as her arms wrapped around his neck.
" Caught you." he panted against her lips, his tawny eyes shining happily as Amara smiled brightly.
" That you did. What would you claim as your prize then, my prince?" Amara replied softly, her fingers flowing through Gascon's mid-shoulder length locks.
" I think that goes without saying Amara. A certain spell notwithstanding of course." Gascon stated, his voice rich with desire.
Amara's gaze went hot when he said this. What she felt for Gascon was so much deeper than desire; though the evestan princess could not deny that she wanted him, and meant so much more than the friendship they had grown into. She could feel the difference in herself whenever her betrothed came to mind or whenever their eyes met. Most importantly, Amara could feel the difference in the way she felt about herself whenever her thoughts turned to their intimate moments and she was glad to note that she didn't feel any self loathing or any of the other negative emotions that used to wash over her when Amara surrendered to Gascon's passionate caress. While unable to fully consummate what they had, Amara found herself whisking Gascon away at every break they took just because she needed to feel his touch, needed to immerse herself in the emotion she could feel flowing into her from Gascon.
" Might as well find some sort of water. I haven't had a proper bath in two weeks now." Amara said, smirking all the while. " You're more than welcome to keep me company of course."
" It would be my pleasure to do so." Gascon replied, leaning in to capture her lips at the same time.

Grimlock was down on one knee as he knelt before the goblin queen. The other leaders of the tribes were gathered as well due to the sensitive nature of this summit.
" You would go to war with the elves to reclaim your honor and your prize?" She intoned coldly, sitting on the edge of her throne. Whatever she had been expecting from the fifteen warlords, it had not been that.
" Queen Vana, I would go to war to rid ourselves of their very presence to the south. This has nothing to do with honor and everything with revenge. That beast was my great great grandfather's trophy, and that elf bitch stole him from my family. The other warlords and I have conferred that the elven menace cannot be tolerated any longer. I will have that elf bitch's head only after I've used her for my own gains." Grimlock snarled.
Vana's cold golden eyes settled on the fifteen warlords before her. Their numbers allied together would be great and if this plan worked would rid this world of the elves for good. She stood up, her long silver tresses hanging down her greyed skin, wrinkled and scarred from years of self abuse. Her lips were a very pale shade of pink, and her nose slightly large and aquiline. " Grimlock, you are certain you can defeat them?"
" Yes my queen..." he replied cocklily. " All In your name of course. And once the elves have been eradicated we can move to the humans and dwarves next." His yellow eyes were downcast as he spoke.
Vana sneered, her face twisting horribly. " Then by all means, raze everything in your path on your way to Galaniath. Kill all who get in your way." She ordered. " Move onward to war!"

Amara smiled as she looked down at the pool of water before her and she took a few steps back as she readied herself. It was a solid ten feet to the water after all. Gascon was already in the water as it took Amara longer to get undressed, though she would be joining him soon enough. It wasn’t often she got to do this. Her smile was ear to ear as Amara broke out into a run and she lept off the edge of the rock she was on with a rather unladylike whoop. She landed in the crystal clear pool with a resounding splash, hitting Gascon with the wake she caused and she pushed her hair from her eyes as Amara broke through the surface again.
“ That wasn’t fair Amara.” Gascon said, though he was laughing all the while. How could have he never noticed that Amara was a half elf? She positively loved nature; especially if her reaction to their entrance of the vale had been any sort of indicator, and she loved mischief as did most of her elfin brethren. After all, she had gotten him with many a good prank when they were children, though Gascon was no slouch himself in that regard. He chuckled as one series of pranks between them came to the fore of his memory and he shook his head.
It had happened just about eight years ago, right after their first fist fight actually, and in retaliation of the punishment he had endured at his father's hand Gascon had slipped a magical dye into Amara's shampoo. Her scream had been so loud he had heard it clear across the palace even as Gascon guffawed loudly that he had gotten her back. Her brown locks had been colored a rather bright and gaudy red, which made wearing her favorite hues of pink and red almost impossible for the duration of the summer. Amara had gotten him in turn though, and Gascon had to admit she had trumped him better than he thought possible. The dye she had concocted had given his own locks a rainbow like layering from left to right. No amount of trying to dye his hair back to it's original color had worked either. But that is neither here nor there now...Gascon thought as he treaded water.
Amara swam up closer to Gascon, her eyes glittering playfully all the while. “ No...This isn’t fair.” she remarked, dunking Gascon under the water and laughing at the look on his face. There was certainly something to be said about how much fun they honestly had together, could have had if they had made their peace years ago. Amara’s thoughts were soon driven from her mind as Gascon returned the favor, his chocolate colored orbs bright in the late morning sun as he shoved her shoulders first under the surface.
The two played in the pool for a long while, laughing and splashing each other repeatedly until Amara used her magic to topple Gascon with a wave of water.
“ That’s how you want to play then Amara?” Gascon purred promisingly, his eyes narrowed on her playfully now. He had his own wand strapped onto his arm to be on the safe side as his gun was ashore.
Amara smirked. “ It wouldn’t do to get into an all out magic fight here Gascon. Both of us know I’ll win that one.” She shrieked a little in surprise as Gascon swept in, gliding through the water like a hot knife through butter and he pinned her against a rock in the shallows. Her arms flew about his neck as his lips crashed down to hers, and Amara groaned as his length pressed against her ardently even as her legs wrapped around his waist. “ Gascon...” she breathed softly against his lips, her eyes half lidded now as the flaming tendrils of desire began snaking their way through her system.
“ Shhh...” was all he replied as Gascon’s fingers began making their way south. Gascon’s tongue tapped against Amara’s bottom lip, soon twisting and curling with hers as she granted him access into her heat. She tasted still of the wild berries that she had picked for them shortly after they had come into the vale. Berries, honey, and coffee. Gascon thought, his eyes closed in pleasure as he kissed Amara soundly, savoring the flavor that had imparted itself on her. Amara was much sweeter than any berry he had sampled, and the thought of her honey was enough to make his mouth water. He couldn’t hold back the smirk that crossed his face as Amara gasped prettily against his lips once his fingers had found their mark. “ Just let me worship you Amara...” he whispered seductively against her ear.
Amara found herself unable to do anything but.

The three companions decided to stay in the little glen they had made camp until morning. It would give all of them a chance to catch up on some much needed rest. Tarin was fast snoring away at this point, as it was nearly three in the afternoon and he would be taking the first watch that night. Gascon was asleep as well, his head in Amara’s lap as her fingers ran through his mahogany locks. She was looking down at him with a soft, content smile on her face and Amara sighed a little despite the happiness she felt.
Amara knew that she needed to resolve with herself about how she felt for the man dozing in her lap. As much as she wanted to love him, Amara was terrified to do so at the same time. Due to her half-elven nature she was afraid that if she were to lose Gascon in any sort of tragic manner that her heart would shatter near instantly. It nearly had already once when Gascon had been run through on that bandit’s blade several weeks ago. Amara knew it was dangerous to love him until they were safely back at the palace in Cygnus. Elves that lost the one they loved were said to either wither away in the despair and loneliness they felt from losing the other half of themselves or turn into vengeful shadows of who they once were. Amara did not want for that in the least, for either of them. No, it’s better that I keep a little bit of distance emotionally until we’re back home. she thought a bit sadly. She knew the porcine prince would never admit it to her out of habit due to their past, but Amara had an inkling as to what Gascon felt for her. She could feel it resonating deep in her own heart as well.
Amara didn’t want to admit it to herself that she had irrevocably lost her heart already.
Trudge, trudge. Stomp, stomp.
Palisanther came to a skidding halt the moment he heard those footsteps. The goblin force had already mobilized and reached the vale?! Damn them! They must have been using the rain to their advantage to travel as much as possible in the daylight hours. The situation was much more grave than he thought. He could smell Gascon, Amara, and Tarin somewhere in the forest, but the trees were doing a good job at masking their scent in effort to keep them from being found. Here me! If there is indeed a human man, a dwarf and a half elf woman in these woods, keep them from being found at all costs! Do not let them know the danger they are in at the moment, I will appraise them myself! Palisanther ordered the flora. It would be difficult to get another forest to obey him, especially if the guardian of this wood was anywhere nearby; which Palisanther suspected and he would deal with her when the time came, but this was a dire situation! He needed to find them as soon as he could!
Ordering my trees about, are we? came a soft, feminine voice like the wind. How rude, not even finding me to say hello first.
Sparah! Palisanther exclaimed happily. It has been a long time, my dear friend. The hawk like guardian landed on the ground before him and Palisanther gave her a curt bow. This was her forest after.
That is has, Palisanther. What brings you to my wood? I had only heard of your inssurection but a month ago. Sparah replied as she flexed her wings a bit.
The goblin force that is moving through your wood must be stopped! They are hunting those that freed me from my captors as they make their way to the briar. I do not wish to see any harm come to them or the residents of Thorn Pass! Please say you can help me Sparah. Palisanther pleaded, his chest heaving a little in his emotion.
Sparah lowered her head in silence. There is little I can do to hamper them from the village. There are just too many for the two of us, even as guardians to take ourselves. I will allow you free passage to find your friends, but that is all I can do without fear of retribution. I am sorry Palisanther, I wish I could do more for my allies and friends of Thorn Pass. I am quite attached to the Hughes family as they came to me to ask for my blessing to found the village in my wood. I will do what I can without raising suspicion, but I will not risk my life on the same note. Is that acceptable? the guardian spirit of the forest asked him, her bright, lavender colored orbs settling on Palisanther's jade green ones.
The more we can lessen their numbers the better. Palisanther agreed. Come morning, can you do a favor for me?
And what would that be? Sparah asked him, her wings spread as she made to take to the air.
We need to call the Guardians together for a moot. It'll be the first one since...
Since you were captured! Palisanther, you surely can't be thinking of joining the war these blasted pests are trying to monger, are you? Sparah seethed, her sharp beak snapping in her displeasure with her fellow guardian.
I am willing to do anything to rid those vermin from the Evestan shores! Palisanther snarled, his hackles rising at the rage he felt welling up inside him. You have no clue the torture I was forced to endure, the helplessness I felt for three hundred years, Sparah! I will not allow them to think of doing the same thing to another guardian while I still draw breath! You all once looked to me for leadership, and look what it got me! I was cocky, brash. I felt myself untouchable! I learned how easily one can fall from such grace. So please, gather the others for a moot. I will find my friends and bear them to the Briar with much haste, and then meet you in the old stone circle. These goblins must be dealt with! Palisanther finished this with a rather hard flick of his tail and Sparah's purple orbs met the ground sadly.
Yes, he had fallen hard from grace, and it was a very thorough lesson indeed. Very well then, Palisanther. I shall gather the other three guardians. she conceded. She was not looking forward to traveling into the western desert where Cynan lay. Sparah hated cleaning the sand from her feathers.
Thank you Sparah. I will meet you, Cynan, Pimrald, and Duskan in no less than three days at the stone circle near the edge of the Giant's nest. Palisanther said. Cynan would be the most difficult to reach, as his gleaming white scales would blend him in with the sand of the desert to the northeast of Cygnus. Pimrald would be difficult as well, as the toad like guardian was not to keen on being in the same presence as the snake like one. Duskan would come no matter what. The stag like guardian had a deep sense of justice that would not allow the plains guardian to rest until the menace to human, elf, dwarf, and guardian alike was finally quelled.
At least Palisanther hoped that to be the case. Three hundred years was a very long time to be out of touch with them after all.

The fire was roaring as the three companions laughed loudly in between the music and song that was filling the glen. They were enjoying the rest of their ale as they hadn’t had a chance to finish it off at the farmhouse and Tarin had long since pulled out an intricate looking pan flute. He had been playing it for a for a while now and Amara was dancing brightly around the fire. Her long locks were flowing around her as she spun and twirled, and Gascon’s eyes were glued to every movement she made.
Amara was nothing short of entrancing to watch. Add to the fact that she was singing as she frolicked happily and Gascon was held in awe of her in Amara’s sprightliness.
Tarin was smiling as he kept playing and Gascon was clapping to keep time as Amara sang a little ditty, her tone light and mirthful and a playful gleam in her eye.
“ Come on now, lazybones! Have a dance with us!” Amara said, hauling Gascon to his feet. Her blue eyes were sparkling in the firelight as Amara pulled him up with a bright smile.
“ No no no. I’m more than content to watch you in your elation, Amara.” Gascon said gently, trying to pull away from her. Amara wasn’t having any of it however and he laughed a bit as her arms wrapped tightly around his waist in an effort to keep him from sitting down again. She had been growing bolder with her displays of affection lately. Unable to resist, Gascon dipped his head in to kiss her chastely.
Tarin’s eyes were sparkling merrily as he watched his two companions. Well, he had certainly called it. They both had cracked well before reaching the Briar. “ I believe it’s your turn to weave us a tale tonight Amara.” Tarin said. The three of them had been exchanging stories since they had set out together.
Amara looked contemplative as she allowed Gascon to break away from her and she tapped her chin thoughtfully. “ How much elvish do you both know?”
“ I know enough, Amara. No worries there.” Gascon said with a chuckle. He was much more fluent in the language than he let on.
Tarin chuckled. “ I’ll be fine Amara. I'm sure I can have Gascon translate what I don't know if I don't get the gist of something. What tale have you for us tonight?” he asked her as he stoked the fire a bit.
“ One both of you have been asking me for a while now. The Lament of Vanluviel and Barador.” Amara said, her eyes looking over to Gascon a moment. He needed to hear this if they were going to continue on the road they were in their new relationship. She began weaving her magic a bit as she stepped near the fire and the glow from the rune settled into her palm like a fine, shimmering powder. Amara drew a deep breath as she stood in front of the flames; throwing a smile to both men as she did so, and blew hard on her hand to make sure every little bit of the dust she conjured hit the blaze. This was almost exactly how her mother had told them their bedtime tales when she and Gascon were children.
Tarin and Gascon were already at attention as the flames flared. They loved it when it was Amara’s turn for a story. She always went for the dramatic but the effect was impactful. Slowly, an image began forming just above the flames and Amara’s voice soon joined in.
“ Long ago when man was young,
When elf was spry playing in the sun
came a tale of lovers two
of different worlds but love so true.
Barador as a prince of man
Kind in heart and strong in hand.
Just and wise, he lead with grace
with ever a smile on his handsome face.
Vanluviel was a maiden fair,
of elfin kin with golden hair
In spring she frolicked amongst the groves
with the feroon she found repose.
Dagaron’s gift she was aptly named
and was sought for the treasure for which she was famed.
In the fields so lush they doth met,
And love they found they would beget

They were married on the first of spring
Around the fires their voices ring
They danced as one as the flames would rise
Beneath the stars of the midnight sky
Their hands they cut and their blood they mixed
Their union bound by a single kiss
Their passion rose, the magic done
As morning rose, their hearts were one

But all good things are meant to end
For time is fickle and no ones friend
Away was Barador called to fight
Slain in battle for the light
Vanluviel would search the plains
Forever calling her lover’s name
She withered away to nothing more
Calling the name of Barador.” Amara softly sang in elvish, a tear slipping from her eyes as she finished the tale. She hated this story for everything it symbolized, but loved it for the lesson it taught as well. To not take a single day for granted when you love someone, because you never know when it'll be the last.
The images had played out in the fire and Gascon felt his chest tighten as he looked to Amara. Is this what would happen to her if he died? By the ancients he hoped not. Gascon swallowed a bit as Amara’s eyes met his and he understood immediately why she had told them the tale this evening. It was because of him...Of their relationship. Amara wanted him to understand just what Gascon was getting himself into in pursuing her. If something were to ever happen to him, Amara wouldn’t be far behind out of sheer grief.
The thought was sobering in the least. Gascon and Amara both laid down as the flames died a bit, the light softening. Amara could feel the difference her story had made in Gascon if how tightly he was holding her was any indication. That was the embrace of someone who was terrified to lose the one they treasured.

Gascon was still feeling a bit weary as the three of them walked up the path to the village, his eyes scanning the area out of habit and he felt Amara pull away from where their hands had been joined as she ran forward a bit. There was something just a bit off about this place, Gascon mused as his face fell slightly and the smell of smoke reached his nostrils. He pulled his gun to be on the safe side once he switched his blade to his left hand. Thank the heavens for his ambidexterity. With every step they made inward, Gascon could feel something was amiss.
Amara held her hand out to stay both her companions as she listened intently. It was much too quiet. They should have heard the hustle and bustle from the village by this point. Tarin was guarding the rear at this point, his back to his comrades as Amara drew her sword as well. “ Something isn’t right...” she whimpered. Thorn Pass was a village her aunt Lara and her husband had founded years ago when Lara abdicated from the throne. She had no desire to rule and felt that her twin brother was more suited to the role. “ Cover me...I need to go find my aunt.” Amara said, though she felt as if the worst were yet to come.
She never hated being more right in that moment than when her eyes overlooked Thorn Pass as many of it’s buildings burned still. Most were smoking slightly and the great arch that had been the entrance to the village was cloven in two as if by a giant ax.
Amara shook her head even as abject terror filled her like never before. " No..." she whispered. She took a minute to still her breathing in an effort to keep herself from hyperventilating, and took off at a break neck pace for the village.
Gascon and Tarin stayed within the distance the link spell allowed Gascon to be away from Amara as she searched the ruined houses and cottages for any sign of life. Quite a few had been razed to the ground already and Amara looked about in tears. She had spent so much time with the people of this village, as she would escape the palace for a month or two after Gascon left with his family to return to Hamelin. She needed the time away to destress. “ AUNT LARA?! UNCLE JONATHAN?! RUSSEL, IVAN, CAREY, DAMIEN, MICHAEL!?!” she called out to the empty village. “ WHERE IS EVERYONE?!”
A faint cough reached all three of their ears at the same time and Amara sprinted for it. She knew every single person that lived in this village, though had only bonded with her family that lived here. If she ever found out who had devastated her home away from home, there would be absolute hell to pay, Amara would make fire rain down from the heavens if she could! Amara dashed into the house that the cough had come from and it took both Gascon and Tarin’s restraint to keep from running to her side when she screamed in dismay.
“ Michael, don’t talk! Just let me heal you first!” came her voice, clearly panicked now.
Michael is her youngest cousin! Gascon thought, his chest tightening at the fear he heard in his beloved's voice. “ Tarin, I’m just going to the door.” Gascon said, his heart feeling heavy.
“ Where’s mum and dad?” Michael asked Amara softly. He was wheezing at this point.
“ I don’t know and don’t talk until I’m done...Please Michael, just hang on!” Amara pleaded. She was trying to pull away his shirt where it was stuck wetly to him. By the sun, his shirt was completely stained red! How long had he been like this?!
The sight that met Gascon’s eyes was enough to draw tears to them. Michael, a young lad of fourteen, was laying in the ruined framework of the house he was in, a grievous sword slash across his chest that was slowly bleeding out. His color was very pale, which made Gascon worried the boy wasn’t going to survive. Where the hell were the rest of Amara’s relatives here?
“ Amara, listen to me...The town was swept over by goblins...A great...horde of them...I think they’re headed for the Briar...” Michael wheezed, coughing all the while as he tried to tell her what had happened. His blue eyes filled with tears while Amara was working as fast as she could to heal him. He knew he didn't have much time left. He was just glad to have seen her once more before he died. Michael loved Amara dearly. “ It’s too late, cousin...Just find my mum, please.”
Amara shook her head even as she finished drawing the rune for the spell she was looking to cast. “ Don’t you dare die on me!” she cried, though tears were blurring her vision at this point. This was a very heinous wound, and her chest clenched at the thought of how much pain her little cousin was in.
“ Find my mum and hurry to the Briar...You need to warn your grandfather. Tell her I love her and that I’m sorry. I love you too, cousin...” Michael breathed out, his eyes closing just as Amara pressed her palm to his wound.
“ Gascon!” Tarin called to him, forcing the Hamelin prince to look away from his intended as she strove to beat the clock.
“ What is it?” Gascon asked, rushing over to their friend.
“ There was an all out massacre here. No more than just a couple hours ago...We would have been with them if we hadn’t stayed put yesterday.” Tarin said solemnly, as he pointed over his shoulders. It was nothing more than unspeakable carnage behind him and Gascon’s brown eyes went wide. Man, woman, and child all lay dead where they had been felled, their age not mattering to those who had attacked.
“ NNOOOOOOO!!!!!” Amara screamed, putting both Gascon and Tarin back on point as their attention was brought back to the cottage. “ Michael no!” Her sobs carried out into the street where both her companions were standing.
Gascon’s eyes clenched shut at the obvious pain in Amara’s voice. More than likely, she had never lost anyone she had set into her mind to heal before. Not only that, it was someone she loved, someone she had known for their entire life. Michael was only six years younger than she was and had been her favorite cousin to play with when he finally had coaxed her into it. Michael had refused to let Amara retreat into her shell away from everyone. Like Gascon and Aden, Michael would not allow Amara to be left to her own devices and she had adored him for it.
Gascon gingerly made his way into the cottage where Amara was crying brokenly at this point, clutching the boy to her chest as she bent over him. He knelt beside her and placed both hands on her shoulders to pull her away. “ Amara...He’s gone. Let’s at least bury him and see if we can’t find the rest of your relatives here.” he said gently.
“ I didn’t get here in time...If only we had been here yesterday like we could have been, this wouldn’t have happened.” Amara was shaking her head, refusing to let go of her cousin now.
“ We would have been part of the casualties, Amara.” Gascon said, his tone harder than he meant it to be. “ Tarin told me that the attack was only hours ago. If we had been here yesterday, all three of us would have fallen. I know your immortal Amara, but there is still only so much even you elves can take before the gift slips away from you.”
Amara looked at Gascon with narrowed eyes even as she thought about what he had said. This was no one tribe that had attacked. It had to have been at least four or five for the numbers Michael had been describing. “ How many are dead in the streets?” she asked softly, her gaze growing tender as she looked down on Michael’s face in his new found serenity. He was much too young to have died like this.
Gascon eased the boy into his arms as Amara got to her feet. “ Too many to count to be honest. What was the village’s population?”
“ Nearly four hundred if I recall last year's census.” Amara stifled a sob. She needed to get to work. Every body that lay in the street needed to be afforded it’s own grave. Mass graves were thought by the evestans to disturb the dead from their peace. She needed to find her aunt first and foremost and depending on that would need to send a missive to her father via Artemis detailing the attack the village had undergone. If there were any survivors at all, they would need help rebuilding or need help in seeking asylum in the city.
“ Let’s get to work then. I’ll start looking towards the eastern quadrant. I’ll send Tarin to check the west and southern ends while you take care of the rest of the northern parts here. I’ll only be as far as allowed, but I’ll be sending Willow and Sarge out to find those I cannot reach.” Gascon said gently.
“ Hold on...” Amara replied, following Gascon out. “ There is an easier way to go about this...I’ve got a spell I can use. Lucky for me coming across it when I had before we left Cygnus...” In fact, she had found the spell the very morning they had been sent off on their journey. That was nothing more than providence in Amara’s eyes. She went over to the fountain in the center of the village square and cleared her thoughts. She needed to keep calm in order for her magic to work right. That more than like had been why she hadn’t gotten her spell off as fast as she could have with her cousin. She had been emotionally compromised after all. Amara trembled a little at the grief that was trying to grip her once more, but she centered herself. There were more lives that could be saved if she put herself to the task. She used both hands to draw the rune, softly intoning the word ‘ Seek’ once she had finished. The spell rose into the air and all three watched as close to seventy lights broke away, though most of them went into the eastern part of the city.
“ Tarin! Go get the five in the western quad. Gascon, send Sarge and Tiny to the southern end for the ten or so there. I’ll be sending Ze along as well with them. The villagers know her. I’ll meet you in the northern section where the three blips were at there.” Amara ordered even as she summoned forward the feroon. “ Ze, Sarge, Tiny...Go to the south end of the village and look for golden beacons. Those are people who are in need of rescue.”
On it! all three familiars said to her, and Ze led the bone baron and steam man to the sector Amara wanted them to cover.
Amara dashed off with Gascon not too far behind her towards the north. There was hope yet!

Jonathan had his blade at the ready. He and several of the other men who were in hiding were guarding the door in an effort to protect the women and children. He had lost two of his five children in the initial raid, though his youngest was nowhere to be found here. Russel and Ivan were his eldest sons and had fallen protecting their mother and sister from the goblins that had been trying to kill the two of them in earnest. He heard something hitting the door through the barricade that they had erected and all twenty of them tensed. This was it, a last stand.
Without warning, the barricade started dismantling itself. That meant that there was a magic user on the other side!
“ HELLO! UNCLE JONATHAN ARE YOU IN THERE?!” came Amara’s voice through the door.
Jonathan’s eyes went wide. He and Lara had received his brother in law’s missive about how Amara and Gascon had been forced out of the cities to learn to work together. How had they found themselves so far north of the briar? “ Start moving everything out of the way! You four, start checking on the wounded! There’s another healer here now!”
Amara was clearly straining as she used her magic to manipulate the door into opening for them and Gascon quickly stopped her before she collapsed.
“ You’ve done what you can. I can hear movement in there as we speak. They more than likely barred to door to prevent entry.” Gascon said, his hand on her shoulder now. “ You need to calm down Amara. I know this is harrowing for you as your relatives are hopefully on the other side of that door, but you can’t just go about wands ablazing. You’ve been testing your limits with your magic as you've healed every injury of the survivor's we've found thus far and I won’t allow you to harm yourself in an effort to help others. Rest a bit first.”
Amara leveled a glare on Gascon. He wouldn’t be saying this if it were his relatives in this position. “ I’m fine, Gascon.” she bit out. She was just about to use her magic again when the doors opened and she ran forward. “ Uncle!” she cried out, running forward to meet him in the middle. Her arms wrapped around his chest even as Jonathan’s embraced her as well.
“ Amara! Oh my dear niece you have never been a more welcome sight!” Jonathan said, his voice thick with emotion. “ When did you get here?”
“ A little over four hours ago. Where is Aunt Lara, Damien, and Carey?” she asked him, her blue eyes filled to the brim with tears. Amara had already found the fallen forms of Russel and Ivan near their home.
Jonathan tensed and held her at an arms length. She hadn't said anything about his youngest son. “ Why didn’t you ask about Michael?” he breathed out. “ Where is he Amara?” His voice was desperate now as he gripped her shoulders tightly. Tears were starting to fill his green eyes as Amara's silence said everything.
Amara’s head fell in shame. “ I tried to save him...He’s gone uncle.” she whimpered softly. Tears were coursing down her cheeks once more.
Jonathan felt his heart drop at those words. He had lost three of his children that day. Could this get any worse? “ Lara, Carey, and Damien are all fine. Lara and Carey are resting, as they’ve been trying to heal all the wounded on their own. We lost just about every magic user in the village.” he said, his tone defeated.
“ Goblins can sense magic, that’s why. Was Michael studying magic as well?” Amara asked him. The boy had been cleverly hidden in the house she had found him in, there shouldn’t have been anyway for him to have been discovered.
“ Yes, he wanted to be a healer like you. Michael adored you, Amara.”
Amara nearly broke down at these words. I love you too cousin...his voice echoed through her mind hauntingly. She needed to concentrate her efforts on helping the wounded. “ Is there any sort of coffee in our stores, Gascon?”
The prince nodded as his eyes met Amara’s pained ones. “ I’ll do what I can to help as well. I might not be as skilled as Amara, but I can help to treat some of the lesser injuries.” Gascon offered.
“ I can get food going so that we can get these people fed. I’ll need at least three men so that we can hunt down enough game for the survivors.” Tarin offered. He had been silent this entire time, but he was sure that they would be able to find enough game for the hundred or so that needed to be fed. It would take a couple of trips, or even a cart if they could spare it, but the dwarf knew they could get enough food rounded up to cook.
“ I’ll need to send a missive to my father first. At least this way we can get supplies and aid for you to rebuild.” Amara said solemnly.

Gascon wiped the sweat from his brow as he concentrated on healing a nasty looking gash. Amara had needed to prepare a huge batch of her antiseptic before she could even start healing the thirty or so people who needed attention and it was slow going at best. Most of them had a multitude of injuries due to fighting back against their attackers. Carey and Lara had only been able to get to ten of them before their magic was at its limits, but they had been the most grievously injured of the bunch.
“ I need some more clean cloths and another bowl of the wound wash please!” Gascon called out. “ There we are. Right as rain now.” His brown eyes were soft as he looked down at the girl he had just healed. She was no older than ten.
“ Thank you mister.” she replied, a smile on her face as she was able to move her leg without pain. " Oh excuse me...Your highness." she amended after she was chided softly by her mother.
" Yes, thank you Prince Gascon." the girl's mother reiterated tearfully.
“ You’re welcome. The other children are over there playing for now. No worries, ma'am, she's going to be just fine. I wouldn't allow her to go jumping or climbing anything for a week though.” Gascon said with a smile. He would never admit it, but he greatly wanted a little girl of his own someday. One with Amara’s face and his curls, with Amara’s blue eyes and his skin tone. Yes, Gascon wanted more than just Amara now, more than a life with just the two of them living out their most adventurous fantasies. He wanted a family as well. And to think, if our fathers hadn’t put that damn spell on the contract, we would have already been in the works of starting that family. Gascon thought just a bit bitterly. Oh yes, his father was certainly going to get an earful for putting that damn abstinence spell on him.
One of the other villagers came running over with the supplies Gascon had requested. “ Will that be all, your highness?” he asked.
“ How’s the princess fairing? She’s been pushing herself all day so far.” Gascon inquired, his gaze turning to where Amara was concentrating deeply on a man’s bloody stump. He had lost his leg and had been lucky not to bleed out from the wound.
“ She’s insisting she’s fine, but she’s had a lot of coffee so far. I’d have to wager at least five to six cups of my strongest brew and each of them two at a time. AH! She’s calling for more coffee, excuse me Prince Gascon.”
“ Thank you.” Gascon replied. He looked down the line of the ten villagers he had been given to heal. There were only two more, as the other half of the wounded had much more serious injuries beyond his skill to mend. He was just about to move down when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“ Please your highness, go rest. I’ll handle the rest here.” A young maiden of sixteen said sweetly. Gascon knew who she was the moment he saw her eyes. Lara, like Percivical, had the same blue eyes as Amara did.
“ Thank you Carey. Where’s your mother?” Gascon asked her even as he started cleaning the wounds on the next person despite Carey's gentle demand that he rest. He could handle these last two so that she could concentrate on the ones with the more severe injuries.
“ Over there with my cousin now. By the look of things, my mother may need your help in forcing Amara to rest a bit. I know how stubborn she can be sometimes when she gets like this.” Carey said softly. Her eyes looked a bit pained and tears shined a bit in them. Her father had told her what had happened to her little brother. Her brow quirked as Gascon healed the five gashes the man had sustained, as well as the quick diagnostic he ran to gauge that he had no other injuries.
“ He has a concussion as well." Gascon whispered under his breath. He cast another spell to heal that particular injury and gave the man's wife explicit instructions to keep him well rested. " I’m sorry you lost your brothers, Carey. I might not have known them as well as you or Amara, but I do remember how much Ivan wanted to join the royal guard and how Russel was being groomed to take over for your parents in a couple of years. And please, call me Gascon. We’ll be family soon enough anyways.” He moved on to the last in the bunch, a boy that was no older than Michael had been. Gascon's chest clenched a bit even as he thought of the heartbroken wails that had come from Amara with his passing. He never wanted to hear her cry like that again. Her sorrow had been all but palpable.
Carey smiled a little ruefully here. “ I’m surprised Amara isn’t raising cane about being forced into a marriage with you. You both have never gotten along in all the years I’ve seen the two of you interact.” Carey had joined her cousin at the palace more times than she cared to count for the summer time. She had witnessed first hand how badly they had gotten into it. " You're just a stubborn as she is!" she exclaimed as Gascon healed the boy's broken arm.
“ Take it easy on that arm for a week or two. Ease it back into your normal routine, alright?" Gascon said to him before looking up at Carey with a smirk. " Stubborn? Me? Then I guess you’ll be surprised to hear then that Amara and I actually made our peace about a month ago. We were going to be heading back to Cygnus once we've visited Amara’s grandparents in the Briar.” Gascon patted the girl’s shoulder gently for a moment as he stood and he used the last of the clean cloths that he had to clean his face with. That had taken a lot out of him to do.
Carey was surprised to hear this, but happy nonetheless. Now she didn’t have to be used as a buffer for Amara any longer. " I'd better go help my mother with the others then as you've finished all the rest over here." she snarked.

Amara shook her head fervently even as she tried to pour more power into her spell. “ I’m fine Aunt Lara. I can probably help you with a few more of the people needing to be attended.” her voice was nothing short of weary as she spoke. There was only so much coffee could do to replenish her magic. What Amara needed was a bath and a nap, and in that exact order. She needed to wash all the blood away from her before she could sleep.
“ No you’re not and you’re coming with me.” Gascon said, hoisting Amara to her feet once she had let the light fade and he threw the half elf over his shoulder. “ I’ll make sure she’s taken care of, Matron Hughes. No worries.”
Lara had to suppress the urge to bust out laughing at this. Gascon certainly had no qualms in forcing Amara away from a situation. Amara was already raising hell as he strode strongly from the church the villagers had sought shelter in, and towards the house Jonathan had told them they were welcome to use for the time being. The family that had lived there had been slaughtered earlier that day.
Lara turned back to her patient full of melancholy and set to work on healing him. She had lost three of her children and it was weighing very heavily on her.

Gascon used the last of his magic to cast Amara’s privacy spell on the house the moment he closed the door. “ Now you listen to me. You are going to take a bath and rest, willingly or I will have no qualms in making you do so. You have been pushing yourself much too hard for the last few hours and I’m not going to allow you to neglect yourself like this!”
Amara’s eyes narrowed on him and she shoved herself off of his shoulder. “ Who the hell do you think you are?! I still could be there helping them Gascon!” she seethed, swearing under her breath as he caught her wrist when she moved to slap him across the face for treating her so roughly.
“ You’ve done quite a bit! More than you realize Amara. As for who I think I am, I am your future husband Amara. You are my responsibility while you’re away from the palace, but furthermore I’m the man that...” Gascon stayed his words before he said something in the heat of the moment that would possibly come back to bite him in the ass. That had been much too close!
Amara’s glare leveled on Gascon and she kept him from retreating away from her. “ You’re the man that what, Gascon? So help me you had better be honest with me or I will...” she began, pulling on his arm to make him face her again.
“ You’ll what Amara? Quite frankly I know you have me beat in the magic department, but in hand to hand or swordplay I’ve got you by a country mile. I don’t want to get into it Amara, so please, just do as I ask and take care of yourself for once!” Gascon snapped as he pulled his sleeve from her grasp. “ Don’t be stubborn about this. I will hold true to my threat and put you in the bath myself if you don’t get upstairs in the next two minutes.” His voice was low and dangerous, chock full of promise as he mentally prepared himself for the fight that was sure to come if he had to take matters into his own hands.
“ I’d love to see you try.” Amara hissed, her blue eyes narrowed as she locked onto Gascon’s tawny ones. His eyes were just barely slits themselves.
“ Alright, the hard way it is then.” Gascon replied dangerously.
Amara was expecting him to sweep in and she dodged accordingly, ducking past him in an effort to lock herself in one of the bedrooms. Didn’t he understand that she could have helped to save more people back there?! That they would have survived where Michael hadn’t?! The thought of her youngest cousin made her heart ache all over again and Amara’s movements slowed enough that Gascon lifted her up into his arms.
“ I can’t say I understand what you may be feeling right now, but I know that Michael’s death is what’s driving you past your limits Amara.” Gascon said gently even as he walked up the stairs. Thank goodness he had asked Tarin to get this ready for him before the dwarf left to hunt. He could see the steam billowing from the bathroom still and smiled. Tarin must have just left before they had arrived. Gascon set Amara down on her feet again and he felt his heart clench when he saw the tears streaming down her face. He couldn’t imagine having someone you love die in your arms like that. Without warning, what seemed like an image of his father, beaten, bloodied, and barely gasping for breath came into his mind, with Gascon himself holding the emperor about his shoulders in an effort to get him comfortable. Where the hell had that come from and why the hell did Gascon look such a fright?! The version of himself that he had seen had been gaunt, in ragged, well worn clothing and his hair was nothing short of a mass riot of curls. Gascon shook his head to clear the image. There was no way in hell that had happened at all, had it? Not only that, he needed to concentrate on Amara right now. “ Don’t forget that you can talk to me about anything, Amara...” he whispered, bringing her chin up to look at him. “ I’m here for you, through thick and thin, better or for worse. We’re in this together, remember?”
Amara’s faced scrunched up slightly as she threw her arms around Gascon’s neck, finally letting go of the pain and anguish she had been feeling since their arrival that morning. “ I feel useless! If only we had left sooner, if only..” Amara sobbed brokenly. “ If only I hadn’t let my panic get in the way of my casting Michael might have survived....”
Gascon winced inwardly. She was blaming herself for her cousin’s death. “ Amara, don’t blame yourself like that. You did what you could...We have no clue how long he had been laying there bleeding to death. Not only that, you did try to save his life. You didn’t allow him to suffer needlessly, though he might have been in pain when we first happened upon him. In the end, he had someone he loved and looked up to with him when he passed. I think that means more than you would believe.” he whispered tenderly. “ I know it’s hard to lose someone you love, but the living have to live. Michael wouldn’t want you to feel this way.”
Amara shook her head against his chest even as she beat her fist against it ineffectually. She had so much pain, and inner torment welling up within her. She needed to work it out of her system before she imploded on herself.
That, Amara learned, was something that never came easy or came quickly.
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The Ties that Bind