Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own anything but the plot… and Shardan… and Rowan… and the twins …
A/N: Thanks again for the reviews. Chapter 3 is here.
Cursed Heart by xrhayne (writing as 83rd Twilight)
Chapter 3: Foundations of Hope
The sounds of the night broke through the dense prison of thick trunks and lush leaves. The steady rush of a stream hidden behind some nearby foliage, the chirping sounds of the cricketfrogs, the songs of the hummingowls, and the occasional howls or wails of some other nocturnal creature haunted the silence of the woods.
Light from the bright full moon above, peeked through the canopy of leaves illuminating the forest floor.
Soft, royal blue cloth rustled slightly with the cool night time breeze as the expensive fabric kissed the moist, grass covered ground. Hasty feet treaded through a seldom travelled path in the woods leading to the exit of the dense forest.
Stepping unto open ground, the wind shifted westward, caressing the velvety fabric of a hood pushing it backwards to reveal golden threads glittering under the moonlight. Their owner marched onwards with nary a care, wearing a slight frown and a contemplative look on his beautiful face.
He was late for dinner. Again. He can already imagine a certain someone fidgeting by the porch, brows wrinkling anxiously, tanned fingers nervously tapping the wooden railing as sock-covered feet walk back and forth.
He gave a small smile at the thought. He had a good twenty-minute walk ahead of him if he continued at his present speed, thirty if he slowed down to a more relaxed pace. His sadistic side decided to do the latter.
After all, there's always something about walking under the full moon that inspires an introspection of sorts.
Leisurely dragging his boot clad feet, Wolfram von Bielefeld contemplated about the changes in his life during the three months that he had left his home, Shin Makoku.
It was indeed on a similar night such as this, a night of the full moon, when the broken-hearted mazoku prince stole away from the castle like a thief.
Taking only what was left of his pride and the remnants of his broken heart.
He decided then to embark on a journey to find some reprieve from his sorrows, bring back some peace in his soul and find a purpose for his existence.
Fate perhaps had found a little mercy in her heart to bless the young broken soul with two wondrous people reaching out to him in his dark hours. He would ever be grateful for those moments when a now dearly-loved uncle decided to stay by his nephew's side, and when a certain loyal soldier selflessly offered his services and his friendship to his dispirited captain.
And now here they are, living in the outskirts of this old village in Lacrimea. This vast rural settlement at present is comprised by two large villages, each modestly thriving on agriculture and trade. This is also the place that kept the secrets to the dark blood heritage of Wolfram's family for many millennia.
Upon reaching the town, the trio, tired from their harrowing four-day ride, checked in at the nearest hostel where they stayed for a couple of days. Wolfram was terribly weakened and sick. He needed some time to recover his strength. Rowan stubbornly stayed by his side to take care of him, leaving only to fetch food and to attend to personal basic body rituals.
Shardan, meanwhile, having been in the old town before, mingled and charmed his way among the locals. So it was no surprise that after barely even two days upon arriving, he found a small isolated property for sale at the northern end of one village, it was conveniently located near the large forest where he found the temple ruins many years before.
After purchasing the land, he took the others to see the modest property as soon as Wolfram was well enough to move about. The land had an average sized cabin built at the center of it. The place had two small bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining area and a sitting room. The structure was in dire need of repairs though, as it had not been used for many years. The roof had holes and the worn down doors needed replacement. The interior of house was filthy and had no furnishings whatsoever. The garden or what used to be a garden was now home to a variety of grass, weeds, creeping vines and other wild flora.
It took another two weeks before they were able to occupy their new lodgings. Shardan managed to hire several skilled labourers to see to the repairs of the house and personally oversaw the work. The two younger mazoku on the other hand, employed their skills with scouting the village for furniture and household items trying, without much success, to compromise Wolfram's aesthetics with Rowan's sensibility. Arguing with a volatile, pregnant demon prince that a dark red couch doesn't match bright orange curtains with big pink flower prints is a sure way of getting your clothes nearly burned to a crisp and your hair singed at the edges. The end result though of the exasperating ordeal was a quaint little place with simple, basic, practical, if slightly mismatched furniture. It was a far cry from the lavish environment the young mazoku prince was used to, but it had a warm, comfortable atmosphere that Wolfram decided, it simply will have to do.
Now, over two months later, Wolfram von Bielefeld found himself adjusting to this simple life, without heavy responsibilities or obligations, a life where he is not chained to title or rank or image, where he is not expected to act or speak a certain way. A life where he is free to be just plain Wolfram, and actually have some people outside his own immediate family appreciate that. Despite the heartache and tears that he had shed over his lost love in the days and weeks that followed his departure, Wolfram found a semblance of peace here in the land of his ancestors. It dulled his pain, giving him moments of rest to gather his strength for the future that lay before him.
The days found him exploring old temple ruins deep within the forest. Sometimes he comes with his uncle, but most of the time he wanders there all alone, like today. Hoping to find something that could shed light to his bloodline's lost past. He felt an odd connection to the ruins. For some reason, it was as if he had found another sanctuary, like the abandoned tower back at Covenant castle.
In the days since he had first stepped within the ancient temple grounds, he and Shardan only found two things that might be of use later on. First was a stone tablet with inscribed ancient characters and a defaced half-carved flower on a small round marble disk. Other than that, little other progress was made. But Shardan von Christ, being the scholar that he was, would always smile encouragingly at Wolfram saying that patience will yield rewards before long. He wished he had his uncle's optimism.
His reminiscing was halted at the sight of their torch lit porch where a familiar figure moved to and fro the wooden floors.
Approaching the wooden lodge, Wolfram espied his former subordinate and smiled inwardly.
"Excellency, you are so late!" Rowan cried out, half in relief and half in worry as he caught sight of the Bielefeld heir.
"I'm sorry, I was at the ruins," the blonde explained. His companion had been long brought into confidence about the curse and their efforts to find a way to end it. "I lost track of the time. And for the millionth time, it's Wolfram."
"You shouldn't be out so late, sire. Not in your condition," the red haired mazoku began to fuss over him, leading him inside the house, taking his robes and escorting him onto the couch.
"I'm not an invalid, you know," the other muttered sitting down.
His companion stood over him, arms akimbo and a scolding frown on his lightly tanned face.
"That's not the point; the wind is very cold tonight. It will be winter soon. It's not good for-"
The imminent lecture was interrupted by a new voice.
"I'm home my beautiful, little-"
A book went flying towards the direction of the door, hitting its unprepared victim's shoulder.
"Ouch, what the- hey, I was reading this!" The protester picked up the heavy tome with a frown.
"Leave your filthy boots out! I just scrubbed the floor, you barbarian!"
"No need to get violent. Is it that time of the month?" Silver blue strands were flicked elegantly as a white robe was taken off and hanged by the door.
"I'm not some woman you-"
"Alright, enough already!" a slightly frustrated voice from the occupant of the couch called. "You're always at each other's throats. Honestly, two months in and your already bickering like some old married couple."
"I am not old." Shardan's smooth, baritone voice retorted.
"I resent the marriage part." Brown eyes glared in opposition. "I'd rather throw myself off a cliff."
"Are we going to have dinner or what?" Wolfram asked, changing the subject after seeing his uncle about to retort with a predatory glint in his eyes.
"Of course, sir. I made some soup and grilled fish and apple pie. I got good bargain on the fish, apples and the vegetables. Your Excellency should eat lots of green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits."
"Stop it with the formalities already Rowan, we've been here over two months, start calling me Wolfram for Shinou's sake!"
Sitting at the dinner table, the trio began to eat quietly. The food was delicious as always. Rowan proved to be a very able cook. Not to mention a promising housekeeper. Wolfram didn't know what they would've done without his ex-soldier. He shuddered to think being subjected to Shardan's exotic (read: inedible/poisonous) cooking.
"Well then Wolfram? Have you been out late again my dear nephew?"
"Yes Uncle, I went to the temple, but I didn't find anything new today."
"You shouldn't be working too hard. The cold is nearly biting at this hour. It's not good for your health."
"And you shouldn't go alone either, sire- I mean Wolfram, your condition limits your use of maryouku and you need someone to assist if ever something should happen."
"Yes, the little woman here actually has a valid point."
"Stop calling me a woman!"
"My woman then."
"When heaven burns and hell freezes over, bastard."
"Watch your language, my sweet, sensitive ears are listening."
"Wha-…oh. OH! I'm so sorry your Excellen- Wolfram, sire...err…"
Dinner was spent pretty much that way, with lighthearted banters mixed with some serious interludes. Wolfram thought to himself, it was like a family. Certainly not like his family back in Shin Makoku. They may care very much for each other, though they usually have interesting ways of showing it, and his mother was certainly affectionate (understatement) enough when they are together, they (as a family) were never this laidback. Their dinners always had a formal air even at its most casual with proper manners and decorum carefully observed.
Then he painfully remembers the time when he was embraced by Yuuri's family as one of their own, try as Jennifer might to make him especially welcome, it still felt like he was outside looking in most times, especially with the uncertain knowledge then of his fiancé's feelings disturbing his happier moments with the rest of the brood. Yuuri's family was warm and refreshing, but now that the engagement was broken and all…
Though he missed his mother and his brothers (yes, even Conrad) a lot, he thinks to himself, that it might not be so bad to have another family as he starts his new life. Not to replace the one he left behind, but to build a foundation of hope for a future of great memories that he can take with him when he goes.
And as he saw Rowan inconspicuously flick a pea that landed straight into Shardan's nose, he laughingly reflected that he would have quite an interesting family to work with here.
He rubbed the now noticeable bulge of his abdomen.
He wouldn't mind raising his children with a family such as this.
When he felt two sets of little feet kick inside him, his smiled even as he gasped.
And when Rowan began to make a fuss over him and he met his uncle's concerned eyes, he affirmed to himself that: yes, he truly wouldn't mind.
His twins seemed to agree after all.
End Chapter 3
A/N: About the cricketfrogs and hummingowls: well they have bearbees in the anime right? (snickers) don't sue…
Thank you for reading…
Chapter 4 will be fixed by tomorrow.
Ja ne.