Title: Eldunari

Author: Katarin Kishika

Characters/Pairing: Haruno Sakura X Uzumaki Naruto

Type: Continuous (Incomplete)

Genre: Adventure/Romance

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine.

READ ME: Oh, right, THIS IS AU! I know I still have a few projects but I really wanted to write this one. I used a combination of the Tamriel culture (languages, religion, etc.) of Skyrim and some Ancient Languages from the Inheritance cycle. Enjoy!

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O_O_O

Eldunari

(Heart of Hearts)

O_O_O

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PART II:

Found

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Ino scowled. And tried digging holes on Sakura's head by glaring at her. Really, she did. Her insolent charge wouldn't share her plans on her, no matter how much she begged, bribed and threatened the girl. Even 'the look' which she had just perfected recently (an exact replica of how Sasuke would glare at their stubborn Kulaas) wouldn't work. She tried whining (no matter how demeaning), the infamous girl talk (which wouldn't work no matter how much she tried) and even threatening to telling her secret plan to Kakashi (which they both knew she wouldn't do).

At last, she was exhausted on trying. Ino sighed.

And speaking of Sasuke… Ino paled and gulped audibly. The dark-haired Blade would surely gut her once Sakura continued with her reckless plan. How did she know it was reckless? Simple, really. Sakura often confided with her or Sasuke with her plans; often asking the minor details and the holes and how to fix it with them. Her Kulaas may be brilliant but she knew her limitations and besides three heads is better than one, as what her retainer, Kakashi, would often say. And with her behavior now, all the secrecy. Ino knew that she and Sasuke wouldn't like her Kulaas' idea, no matter how well thought it was.

Ino panicked a little. Yes, the thought of Sasuke gutting her fueled her for another round of questioning her highly secretive Princess.

"My Kulaas?" Ino tried gaining the attention of the stubborn pink-haired woman. The young woman in question turned her body slightly from her place on her steed, an inquisitorial brow raised. Arranging her face accordingly and marching her steed so it would be by Sakura's side, Ino with lowered voice tried again. "Would it be so hard to share your plans, Sakura? You often do that with us. It is highly disconcerting to know that you have a plan and you didn't even ask for our opinion." Ino breathed, now time to blow her conscience. And Sakura knew Ino only use her name if she found the situation dire. Sakura was a lot of things, but her compassionate heart and her need not to worry other people was something that really defined her character. "You're worrying me, Sakura. And if Sasuke was here, he would be too."

Sakura averted her gaze and bit her lip. Ino waited patiently and with baited breath; staring Sakura with those worried eyes. She saw Sakura's left brow twitch and she knew it would only be moments before her Kulaas would fall…

Hook,

Line,

And sinker.

Sakura sighed resignedly, Ino danced in her mind in triumph. And Ino knew that Sakura wouldn't escape her promise to tell her most loyal Blade (well, aside from the obviously possessive, secretly obsessive, dark and spiky-haired other Blade) her plans.

Yes, everything was alright.

:::

Everything was not alright.

They were inside the tent, camped a few meters away from the other guards so they wouldn't hear their conversation. Ino listened to Sakura's plan. Her face a blank mask, perfected since she was a child as she trained as one of the Blades. But inwardly, her mind was screaming for her to stop her Kulaas' ridiculous plan. "Kulaas… You do know that not all of people would be… welcoming of your decision, right?"

Sakura turned her malachite eyes to her best friend. Ino sighed and recognized the stubborn glint on Sakura's eyes, the determination set on her chin, the defiance on her stance. The way she straightened her back further showed that the decision has already been made. "I promised Jarl Minato that I would protect his family. This is the most effective way to do so. By this way, Orochimaru wouldn't have the chance to plan an arranged marriage for me. It'll also quell Skyrim's rebellion if they knew that the son of their leader would marry the Princess of Tamriel. This is a smart move, I think and I'd say we're striking three birds on one stone." Sakura breathed in, trying to pass reason to Ino.

Ino scowled, she made a great point. But still, she had to try, right? "But Sakura… if this marriage would be based on political one, wouldn't the people of Skyrim be angrier? It would seem that you're cornering them and that you planned it all along."

The young woman smiled and her mischievous eyes glittered, "That's why we would make it appear that we loved each other right?"

Sometimes… Sometimes, Ino hated Sakura's impish streak. She gritted her teeth and at a last ditch effort said, "But what about love? True love?" There, she said it. The sappiest reason she could think of. Ino inwardly groaned. She believed in love yes, but it was so hard to find it these days.

Sakura stood up from her seat and walked till she was in front of Ino. When Ino stared at her viridian eyes, she saw resignation, defeat. Something a seventeen-year-old shouldn't have. "Ino, we both know that it is impossible for me to have that one. Not in the past, back when Mother was still alive and certainly not now when Father was being controlled by that corrupt snake. He has too much power on the court. If I let him play it on his hands, if we didn't do anything soon, everything would really fall apart."

Ino understood, of course. "What would you do if the boy was already on a relationship?"

Sakura frowned and nibbled her lip. "When that time comes, we'll improvise. Let's just hope he was not."

As far as the idea of Sasuke not gutting her… well, Ino could kiss her stomach goodbye. Her Kulaas was brilliant, intuitive and creative with her plans to boot. But she was emotional and her plans tended to lean more to those feelings than rationality. Ino wanted nothing more than to mess her platinum blond hair from its tight ponytail. She glared exasperatedly at her charge who was still muttering her plans out loud. The different routes she could take; the possibilities.

And Ino must admit that her plan, no matter how ridiculous, no matter how crazy was a good one. But still… it was so very dangerous. Ino didn't know the after-effects, the consequences of her plan and that made her hesitate to agree with Sakura. Too many variables, too many unknowns. Oh, if Sasuke was here. They would have had another brain to find loopholes or any other plan.

But as much as Ino would have loved to devise a new plan, she knew that her Kulaas was already decided on this one, the perks and she must agree that the timing suited their situation now. And since some people from a travelling caravan saw her sang the lullaby to the dying Jarl and saw her made the directive of a proper burial to those who perished whichever side they played with, the Princess' popularity to the masses, supporter of the imperial or not, skyrocketed.

She could only hope that words travelled fast… She wouldn't want to be held captive and thrown to a jail once they reach Windhelm, Jarl Minato's city.

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The terrain towards Windhelm was harsh. The snow was thick and the cold seeping into the bones, but the Princess' party carried on. They already sent Volaan, Sakura's fastest bird, to carry a message to the Jarl's widow, Kushina. Hopefully, they would have a warm welcome… well, at least a civilized one.

Ino watched as the large wooden gate of Windhelm opened. The guards stationed on the entrance allowed entry when a courier from the queen arrived. Their party, consisted of her, her Kulaas, and three more elite guards (to avoid too much attention) entered the cold city. Ino, under their heavy cloaks and with the noise made by their boots as it crushed the snow under their feet, observed the city. They may be welcomed but it didn't mean they could lower their defenses. Until they talked to Lady Kushina, they were still on the enemy's premises.

She observed the people. The woman cowered and hid on their houses, the men, as far as she could see, scoffed at their presence. No one was hostile… yet. Ino then turned her baby blue eyes to her charge. Sakura's shoulder was set. Her steps were sure, her gaze straight ahead. Her robes swished with the wind, her hood was up to conceal part of her face. Good, she's not having cold feet.

At last they reached the Palace of the Kings, the Jarl's residence. Servants got their cloaks from them to be stored. The three guards were instructed to wait on the castle's barracks while Sakura and Ino, as her Blade, made themselves presentable for the Lady of Windhelm.

As they were being led to the throne room, Ino subtly walked beside Sakura and with whispered breaths asked, "Are you really sure about this?"

There was no tremble on her voice as Sakura answered her question. "Yes."

Ino sighed. She knew Sasuke would kill her after this. And then probably feed her remains to the dogs.

The large wooden door opened. Sakura, with all the refine ingrained to her mind since she was a child, walked regally. Her royalty obvious with the way she carries herself making Ino proud of her. Her Kulaas was sacrificing a lot for coming here. If that Snake knew what she was doing, hell knew he would accuse the Tamriel's princess with treason.

Lady Kushina, a woman with flowing fire-like mane, bowed to the princess. Her eyes sparkled and she donned a kind smile. "My Kulaas, I've read your letter and heard from my people of what you did for my late husband. I welcome you here on our land, Windhelm. For surely it was something that Minato would have wanted too." At this the woman's breath catched but still she continued, "I understand that there are things you couldn't enclose to your letter. But please, let us fill our stomach first. A feast to celebrate your presence was made."

Sakura smiled. "Thank you, Lady Kushina." Pleasantries were exchanged. Ino couldn't be bothered with that as she scanned her surroundings for potential danger. Her eyes scanned the halls and something caught her eye. A young man who looked so much like his father with his blond hair and blue eyes, scowled at the princess. His glare was fierce but when he noticed someone watching him, he turned around and disappeared on the darkness.

Ino followed him with her gaze and if her guess was right… Well, things were not looking good.

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O_O_O

つづく

O_O_O

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AN 1: Dovahkiin will be updated after a few hours. Anyway, if I receive at least 5 reviews, I'll update Dovahkiin chap 4 next and this one too.

AN 2: I'm sorry it was late, I spent my Christmas at the hospital because of a 24-hour shift duty. Then, I got sick, caught the flu or something. And I must say internship sucks. Sorry for the cliffhanger. But it wouldn't do for Naruto to be so agreeable ne? They will meet up next chapter. I am so excited for that one. Hehe

AN 3: Next chapter would finally be on Sakura's POV. I just love using other people's POV. And Sasuke is very much alive, he was at the Imperial City and he would have a somewhat major role. Lol.

I would love to hear from you and again THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR TIME TO READ THIS and PLEASE READ AND REVIEW and NO FLAMES please.

~Katarin Kishika