Thanks to 2-Dragon-Slayer-2 whom helped me with Artemis's lines
Chapter 6
"I-I was just about to make bunny stew." I mumbled in reply as I stared towards the bewildered Sting wondering what he thought of the scene where I was reaching for a knife. "You don't cook." He laughed grabbing the knife away from me. The only thing that was keeping me from going to slay my own mother. "He said honestly that he would help you find the proper answer" A voice whispered as I glanced up nodding. "Who are you nodding at?" Sting asked tilting his head as I shook my head. "Oh no it's nothing, anyway..let's g-get some sandwiches. He's probably up reading again or something." I grumbled beginning to make sandwiches as he inched closer beginning to help. "Well Artemis said she was looking for you." Sting replied as I nodded almost done making the sandwiches. "Do you want one, too?" I asked glancing at him as he shook his head. "I'll make my own, besides I wanted to get Artemis something." He said as I nodded.
"So are you excited about being a new husband and king?"
"Actually...it's a pretty scary thing, but at the same time i'm really excited."
"Cherish her."
I smiled picking up my sandwiches and begun to head out of the room before he glanced at me. "Did you visit Rogue earlier? You smell like him." I felt my neck turn red as my feet told me to keep walking so I wouldn't have to answer any questions. I turned back looking towards him as a faint blush lit his cheeks as he made a realization. "I interrupted something, didn't I?" He hesitated. "No...he won't even hold my hand anymore...you probably didn't interrupt anything." I glanced at my plate of sandwiches before heading out the door. I kept walking down the hall wondering if I should look for Artemis first or head towards Ryos and hand him my sandwiches. I felt a frown forming on my face as I stared down towards the sandwiches that I had cut in the shape of Frosch. "Hey Celestine." Sting called from the door of the kitchen causing me to look towards him. "I'm no Ryos, nor Artemis..but you can talk to me if you need anything." He explained as I nodded, acknowledging him, as I was trying to hide my tears of confusion as I begun walking once again.
"Celestine! Celestine!" Artemis's voice shouted it was happy as I could hear her footsteps running up behind me, I rubbed my eyes rubbing the water away already coming up with an excuse of why I was crying as I pulled an eyelash out. That would be enough if she asked I wouldn't even need to make up an excuse. "What is it?" I faked a smile turning towards Artemis who had a joyous smile on as if she was about to say the greatest news in the whole world to me. "Well uh, I don't really know how to say it but uh...heh, geez trying to figure out the right way to even say it has my heart racing!" Artemis said excitedly. I glanced towards her confused. "What is it?" I smiled my grip tightening on the sandwiches. "Wait is something wrong?" She mumbled as I glanced at the silver on the plate, even though she didn't have the dragon slayer's main senses that didn't mean she lacked common sense to tell that my eyes were blood shot. "Oh it's nothing. I just got done removing an eyelash." I smiled wondering what her "big news" was as she smiled excitedly at me. Like a kid in the candy store would be the expression to use for the face she was making a me. "Are you sure?" She asked once again as I nodded in reply wondering if I was going to drop my sandwiches. "Those are cute, you guys seem to be getting along well." Artemis smiled looking towards the Frosch shaped sandwiches. "yup." I nodded wondering if the answer really did sound earnest. As I was waiting for her news that she was excitedly trying to tell me what it was. She was obviously going around it as if she was waiting until she figured out how to say it properly. "Artemis...come on." I chastised waiting for her answer as my feet shifted from side to side.
"I'm pregnant!" She blurted out while looking towards me her green eyes shone full of hope. I sucked in a breath wondering what was the proper thing to say to another in this situation. Was it worrying and asking if they had everything they needed? Of course, she did she was queen of SaberTooth. No it wasn't worrying it was...congratulations? Was that it? Or was it getting medical bills ready? I sucked in a breath hoping she wouldn't misunderstand as I tried to speak to her. "Go with something simple." My mind buzzed. "Oh wow!" I smiled looking towards her as she nodded. Something simple...What was I to say? Wait...wait I knew what to say! "Have you picked out any names yet?" I smiled looking towards her. "Well I don't even know the gender yet but I think I already have some picked out, yeah! If it is to be a boy I'll definitely name it Weiss after Sting's father! For a girl though I have a lot of options I like...hmm maybe Kalypso or Rae could be nice...No! I got it! Peyton! That's perfect! My mother always loved that name after Artemis! I guess I'll have to run them over with Sting first though huh? He deserves a say too..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes wandered, her thoughts flying from her mouth with her having any realization of it. "I'm sure he'll love anything you pick out. You should have seen him standing in the kitchen impatiently wanting to tell me himself but knowing how excited you were to tell me so he stayed quiet." I smiled back towards her as I set the tray of Frosch Sandwiches down upon a stand nearby while we chatted quietly. "Actually I was thinking about what it would be like to have some children of my own...but that obviously isn't happening." I explained as there was a silence. "Artemis, I think he's afraid of me..." I whispered. "Hey, don't say things like that...I can see that Rogue loves you a lot Celestine. He's not afraid of you he's...he's probably afraid of having you hurt again, he's afraid of hurting you, himself again. That's probably why he's acting the way he is. I can see it in his eyes Celestine, that gleam...it's the same one Sting has when he looks at me so there is no way that anyone could deny that Rogue loves you." Artemis whispered her words of comfort as she gently rested one of her hands on my shoulders.
I sucked in a breath wondering if Artemis would approve of my plot that I had been planning all of this time...no it wasn't right. It shouldn't be a burden she would have to carry. This would be a plot she would never know about. Not while I was alive at least. I smiled. "Would you like a sandwich? I can see that you two are really excited, I should probably leave you alone while you both get everything together. I'm actually planning on visiting my mother soon. Do you want me to bring something back from our kingdom?" I asked as my mind thought "yeah she would like news of not murder" as I sushed my conscious. "Well I don't need any souvenirs really but I appreciate the offer. I'd like you to say hello to my aunt for me though. I'd go with you but finding out I'm pregnant it'd probably be best to stay here for awhile." Artemis giggled softly as her excitement still had her all hyped up. She grabbed one of the small sandwiches off of the platter and thanked me before cautiously and slowly running down the hallway towards the kitchen where her husband was still probably waiting. I smiled towards her and headed towards Ryos's room. "Hey Ryos are you still in here?" I smiled opening the door as I looked at him nose deep in a book as I approached feeling choked up as I stared at which book it was. It was a photo album of when he was a little child. There was no answer to my call as I sat on the bed sharing nibbles with Frosch of the sandwiches. "They look like Fro...Why are you eating Fro's head?" Frosch asked her eyes beginning to water. "I'm sorry I'll go back and remake them." I called shaking my hand as Frosch shook her head. "No...it's fine." Frosch grumbled.
"Do you want me to make them to look like Lecter next time?"
Frosch began crying once again. "Why would Frosch eat her friend?"
"Wait! I'll make it look like Sting's head is that okay, better?"
Frosch remained crying but slowly turned to a slower sob.
"H-How about u-um fish i'll make them look like fish next time."
Frosch nodded as I glanced towards Ryos who hadn't even come out of his book with all of Frosch's crying. I sighed you would think he would have come out for Frosch's crying, the smell of food, or at least an intruder within his room.
"Ryos, why won't you look at me? I'm your fiance aren't I?" I whispered leaning towards him as he pulled the book down remorseful eyes looking towards me. "I've already talked this over. I'll be fine." I whispered showing him my shield as it lit up. "What's the matter?" I whispered there was a silence as we both stared at each other. The first physical eye contact that we had, had in months. And it was filled with remorse. "Do you regret saving my life?" I whispered pulling myself closer as I glanced towards him wishing he would pull me closer into a more endearing position. "Ryos..." I whispered as he glanced at me, no answer. There was no answer I felt my eyes fill up for the second time that day with confusion. "I-I can a-always go back to P-PhantomL-lord if you feel that w-way...I don't want to be something that's j-just in the way." I stuttered even though I knew Artemis had reassured me earlier, she wasn't able to see scenes such as this behind closed doors. The scene were he wouldn't reply for minutes on end. "Ryos...Ryos...say something." I whispered my hands shaking, his eyes flashing. I knew what that meant, he was questioning how I could say such a thing. And yet he wasn't replying. "Ryos?" I muttered wiping away my tears. "It's okay...Totomaru knows the way...I-I'll take us home. He's probably dying to visit his little sister's grave." I mumbled my hands shaking as I begun to stand up. "Don't do this. Don't do this. Don't do this. Don't do this. Don't let me leave without saying anything!" My mind demanded as I glanced at my clock. It was late, Totomaru would be mad. Really mad. I gulped he would just have to do it. Why was I threatening to go back to PhantomLord and not run home to my mother? "R-Ryos?" My lips begged one final time before I stood up preparing to leave. I could feel everything shaking as I glanced towards him. He loved me and I knew it. And yet I was the one putting us through this mess. But I couldn't stop my own lips from moving.
"Celestine." He sighed finally as I glanced towards him setting his photo album down. It was several pictures some of my mother, some of his, some of him and Sting, and the final one...the apparent only one in existence was of me the day I was born before I was kidnapped. I gulped wondering what he was going to think. "I've already almost lost you not once but twice, maybe even more now." He started as I felt myself bite my lip. "I can't keep worrying threw that...one of those times was my own fault." He whispered as I glanced at him throwing my hands closer to him. "No it wasn't! I hit my head in my kingdom! We were attacked on the way here and I hit my head! Artemis said something was wrong when we got out! I was the one that didn't tell you!" I shouted. "It's still my fault!" He shouted back as I felt tears prick at my eyes, he had never yelled at me, much less anybody before. I felt myself begin to pull back, no he barely talked to anyone that meant either he was really mad or he trusted me to stay after this fight. "I have my shield!" I replied wanting to tell him that would protect me. "It didn't work that day!" He replied as I pulled away, standing up. "Celestine. Please...don't go there." He whispered going to grab my wrist, but suddenly pulling back. I glanced at his figure he was still shirtless like before except he had a shirt sitting next to the dresser now waiting for if I returned. "I'm not going to break." I whispered as he looked down at the book once again. "Ryos." I sighed as he looked up again. "Tell me you love me." I whispered waiting for an answer.
"I love you."
It wasn't the words I was expecting it sounded dry and unstable, unserious. "Ryos." I whispered questioning what I really meant to begin with. "Hey, don't say things like that...I can see that Rogue loves you a lot Celestine." Artemis's voice echoed in my head once again. His hand slowly let go as I stood up attempting to wipe away my tears. I headed down the halls my foot steps clunking down on the floor as I headed towards Totomaru's corridors wondering if he would hear me coming. I looked up watching as fire lit up the main hallway. "What's going on?" I whispered tears still flooding down my face as I glanced towards the scene, Sting and Totomaru were standing back-to-back as they were surrounded with an enemy patrol. "What's going on?" I shouted wondering if I should get into the action. "Where are your female dragon slayers?" One cackled as I felt my foot back away attempting to find ground behind myself. I watched as Totomaru created a rainbow of flames circling around the entire hallway. "Hey! Remember this is our house!" Sting shouted as Totomaru nodded sending a few profanities back. "I won't let you guys lay a single finger upon my wife!" Sting shouted as I asked again what was going on a loud thud echoing behind me. "You want to know what's going on girly? Well all's you ever have to think about is what happened to the women in every war that was lost." He smiled as I felt bile rise up in my throat as I begun to back away.
"Like hell I'm just going to let you touch her!" I glanced up towards a figure standing in front of me, blocking the pathway towards me, I bit my lip wishing it was Ryos. As I looked at Totomaru who gave me a quick glare. "Why don't you have a shield up already? Are you trying to endanger yourself?" Totomaru snapped as I nodded my hands going up as the orange flashed, causing Totomaru to glance at me on occasion as if he was noticing my shield was unstable. "Get that shield up!" Sting shouted he almost sounded angry with me as I glanced towards him and back towards where Totomaru had finished dealing with his opponent another coming down the hallway. I felt Totomaru's hands on my arms. "Do you remember what knights in PhantomLord said? When Jose was still ruler. What about the maids that would disappear? The one's he didn't execute. Please...get that shield up, or it will be PhantomLord all over again." He said as I nodded my shield finally stabilizing as Totomaru turned back towards his opponent. "I'm going to go find Artemis." I whispered as Sting glanced towards me at the mention of his wife's name. "It's safer that way isn't it?" I whispered looking at the troll like people.
"Are you sure that's safe to do?" Sting asked back punching another in the face, all of the enemy were already congregating as they surrounded the hall. Maybe it was easier since they had already known where I was. "Celestine, we had a talk about that power. It's even more unstable than the shield itself!" Totomaru called back, he was chastising me for considering it's usage.
"It's just something I've got to do." I whispered it was important that I protected Artemis at this moment in time. I felt myself flash before my hands slowly disappeared sliding towards the rest of me. I would make sure that she was safe. I slipped my dress off dropping it to the floor as I headed out past the troll like men. "Get back here right now missy! Put some clothes on and then become visible in that order!" Totomaru shouted as I ran invisibly down the hall.
I ran and ran, passed Ryos's room with the door slowly becoming ajar, passed the kitchen, passed were Artemis and I were talking earlier, passed a lobby, and even passed were retired King Weisslogia seemed to be fighting another set of attackers. I glanced at him wondering if he would need help. "Keep running Celestine." He grunted as I nodded knowing he couldn't see me anyway and then continued my running towards where I had finally found Artemis sitting up just before a locked attic. "Artemis it's me." I whispered as she turned around smiling with a dress in hand.
"Here." She sighed handing me a dress.
"How'd you know about this power?" I whispered slipping the dress on before becoming visible, learning from the last time I had made the mistake. "A little shadow told me." she giggled as I made a face, now seriously wasn't the time for that joke. "What do you think they're after?" I whispered pushing her into the safe-zone of the attic and heading in myself. I would just serve as an extra guard. If I was waiting outside it'd be a dead giveaway of where we were. I would still fight. I locked the door. Artemis and I both frowned to each other, we already knew what they were after. We would have to live with things like this for most of our lives. "If I should thank Jose for anything at all...it should be hiding from everyone that I was a dragon slayer and keeping me safe well at least physically from everything else." I sighed as we both shuddered, owing Jose? Anything at all? That seemed preposterous.
"Do you think Ryos has noticed yet?" I whispered remembering the ajar door from before.
"Of course he has." Artemis replied.
I nodded in reply. The door swung open suddenly to reveal Totomaru's face. It was strange looking at such a calm man with such a strong demeanor looking so confused and frazzled as he attempted to talk to us.
"We've got to go!"
I felt my heart skip a beat at this unnatural situation.
We were evacuating.