Drakengard: Imbroglio

Disclaimer: Drakengard belongs to Square Enix and Cavia. Not me.

Note: Thanks for sticking with me this far. I'll be hoping to get us into the actual meat of the story soon, but, well...that's still in planning stages. But, I can say this happily: Angelus and Caim chapter ahoy! Please enjoy, even if it is a little short. I've been longing to draw more often than write lately--I think it's because my arm is getting better now. (me equals: bad case of tendinitis in right arm) As always, read, review and lemme know what you think!

. . .

Verse VI: Before the Storm

It was nightfall by the time they returned to the Grand Shrine, the grayed clouds now gone, leaving only small puddles in their wake--the only tell tale sign that it had rained while the Knights were away. Down below, the Shrine was alive with activity and warmed by the bright glow of dancing firelight. Men cheered and sang, all toasting their victorious battles, awaiting the return of another platoon just as eagerly as Angelus herself. But really, she could have cared less if none of them returned--none, that is, save for Caim. She impatiently flew circles around the Shrine, her scales glimmering with the lights that reflected off her hide. Her wings ached, but she had long since ignored them, losing track of the number of times she flew around the large structure in favor of scanning the skies for the tell-tale sign of their approach--for that stupid blue dragon to make his appearance. Just when she was about to pick up from the last number she remembered counting to (six hundred and twenty three, if memory served) her golden eyes caught sight of a certain speck in the distance, approaching swiftly. She caught a familiar scent in the air and let loose a small sigh of relief. They were returning at last. "They're here." she said aloud, her sibilant voice startling all the men down in the courtyard, beating wings drowning out all their needless questions as she flew forward to greet the other dragon. Her sharp eyes picked up two passengers on the other dragon--one the dragon-child, the other her own human. "Caim.." there was a hint of relief in her voice, unguarded as it was sent his way. Her Pact-Partner perked up, glancing her way, and she smiled a toothy grin. Down below was the thunderous pounding of hooves, the female Knight, Eris, leading the troop with the Manah girl on another horse, looking rather pleased to be on the ground.

She (reluctantly) greeted Legna with a small growl and he, too, returned it (although he was probably just as reluctant as she was). Still, she knew she had to be civil with the other dragon, least he decide to roll unexpectedly and knock her human off his back. She did not like the idea of a bed-ridden Caim or, in the worse case scenario, a dead Caim. She would curse that blasted male dragon with her dying breath, that was for sure.

"He's still alive if that's what you're worried about." Legna grumbled, continuing his fight towards the Grand Shrine, trying desperately to ignore the crimson dragon that flew circles around him, "Don't act like such a midwife."

"I need to make sure you land properly and don't kill him in the process." Angelus hissed in return, still flying close.

"Killing him would shut you up at least…"

"What was that?" the dragoness snapped her jaws dangerously close to his neck. Both the human's saw where this was going…

"Legna, that's enough," the dragon-child chided, patting his companion's dark hide, "Now take it back. It's rude to say such things to a lady." Well, at least the child was sensible.

"I don't see any ladies…"

"Legna!"

"Alright, alright…" the blue dragon sighed in defeat, "I take it back. Now can we land? I'm starving and I need to hunt!"

Angelus could not have agreed more. The sooner they landed, the sooner she would get to rest knowing that Caim was safe and nearby. She looked her Pact-Partner over before Legna landed, eyes searching his body for some sign of injury. Fortunately, the blood that stained his outfit did not smell like his own--this brought her some more relief. She felt him prodding into her mind and purred happily when she heard his voice. 'You know, I'm not so rusty that I no longer know what I'm doing. Have faith in me, Angelus.' he said, his voice directed only to her. He gave her a confident smile, which she returned in her own toothy way.

"Yes," she said softly, "I know."

The troop on horseback were the first to enter into the main courtyard, greeted by many smiling soldiers and the Hierarch. Legna and Angelus landed next, waiting to find a clearing among the people before doing so. As soon as Caim and the dragon-child dismounted, though, they were bombarded by dozens of questions, all from men who must've had a little too much to drink. They ignored the Goddess' snarls and dragged her Pact-Partner away and into the heart of the celebrating, Nowe in tow. Legna could only chuckle at her frustration. "They're only human." he said, unfurling his wings and ready to take flight again, "Remember, it was you who saved this race."

Angelus turned her head away in exasperation, sighing, "I didn't do it for them…" she said, voice softening, "I did it for him. I did it…so that he could live."

The celebrations continued on until late in the night, but by then all the loud noise had settled down to low murmurs and laughter, soldiers sitting with their food and ale in hand. Some men actually had too much to drink, falling over themselves and other people, making noise in general. Angelus hoped, for their sake, that they didn't have anything important to do the next day. The dragoness had found herself a small, isolated corner to curl up in the shadows, keeping a close watch on Caim, who was still sober and looking around, as if searching for the perfect way to take his leave and hide away for the rest of the evening. Unfortunately for the silent man, there seemed to be no escape. "Fools, the lot of them," Angelus chuckled inwardly, sending her thoughts into Caim's mind, "Just keep them drinking and eventually they should pass out. That will be your opening."

Caim did not look pleased, 'That could take the entire night…' he grumbled, trying desperately to look interested in his 'conversation' with a stammering sot. The man could barely keep himself upright.

Angelus snorted, "One down…" She turned her attention elsewhere for a moment, curious to see how many sober soldiers where left. There was a surprising lot of them…perhaps Caim had rotten luck and was held captive by the drunken grunts. He'd be free in no time, though. Tiredly, she let her head rest against the cool stone below, a low, long sigh escaping her as she slowly shut her eyes, focusing on the crackle of the nearby torches. Someone had approached her hesitantly and she lazily opened a glowing, yellow eye, looking up at the human. It was the dragon-child--Nowe, if memory served. He smiled down at her and carried his half eaten plate of food with him.

"Good evening, Goddess," he greeted, and she was surprised to hear that he could speak the dragon tongue so well, "Do you mind if I sit with you?"

"Why…?" Angelus lifted her head to look at him more clearly. He did not reek of alcohol like the other soldiers. If anything, he smelt a little like her human. It made her feel a little safer.

The dragon-child smiled sheepishly, "Well, because all the seats are currently taken…and Eris and Manah have already retired for bed. I'm getting bored fast." he plopped down beside her head, absently nibbling on the leftover meat he had.

"Why do you humans have such odd celebrations?" she couldn't help but ask, sounding slightly vexed as another man stumbled around Caim.

"Well, they don't happen very often, believe me," the boy laughed, "But today is an important day, not just because of the battles won, but because Heavenly Time has its Guardian. Now that all the Seals have a Guardian in each district you will be safer. The Knights will always protect you and the people of this world."

"Hmph," the crimson dragon snorted, thumping her tail on the ground, "A dragon does not need protecting. You be sure to tell everyone that."

The young man chuckled again, letting aside his now empty plate, "Well, you may not need such protection, and while I'm sure that all you want now is freedom from these chains, I can assure you that the motives of the Knights are pure." Angelus did not say anything. The boy, curious, followed her gaze to her Pact-Partner, watching the man as he contemplated shoving his way out of the crowd of drunkards and into the Grand Shrine. Angelus watched him longer, even as she felt the dragon-child's eyes on her, "Say, Goddess," he began, "Do you love him?"

The question made the dragon turn her head to the boy, yellow eyes wide, "What?" It was difficult to tell if dragons could blush, and even more difficult to tell if (and when) a red dragon was blushing.

"Do you love him?" the lad repeated nonchalantly, staring up at her expectantly. Of all things to ask…!

"He is my Pact-Partner," came her cool reply, "I must care for his life, for it is my own. He is a part of me now…"

"You're happy with him, right?"

"Yes."

"And he is happy with you, right?"

"Yes…" Before he could continue asking silly questions, Angelus cut to the chase, growling softly, "Why do you ask such foolish questions. Does a child like you even know what love is?"

The dragon-child shrugged, "I was just curious…" he said, letting the subject drop. A peaceful silence settled between them but the child was the first to break it, sighing in content and gazing up to the sky, "It sure is peaceful…" he said.

Angelus followed his gaze up, allowing herself a smile, "Yes. Yes it is." It certainly was peaceful. And peace meant that it was a world free of strife…a world where Caim could be safe.

. . .

The world around him was falling. Falling into oblivion, spiraling further into a realm not unlike hell. People where screaming, dying, begging for mercy and calling for help, but nobody came to the aid of these civilians--not the Knights of the Seal, not their own Goddess. No, the Knights were decaying heaps of meat in rusty metal, and their Goddess, Angelus, was nowhere to be found. Where was she…?

Run. That was all that Caim could think to do. He was without a weapon, defenseless, and every sword and shield he came across turned to dust in a touch. The sky was falling around him, shattered pieces of a once blue, puffy clouded sky crashing down on a screaming, wailing earth. What replaced the blue sky looked like a rippling blood red ocean, the moon, the stars, the sun even--everything crumbled once it touched the ocean of red, leaving the world of human's in shadow. "Angelus!" Caim called out for his Pact-Beast, running blind through a valley covered in bodies--he only knew this because he tripped all over them. As soon as the red sky created a moon all its own light returned to the world, illuminating the path of bodies, showing the horrors of monsters raiding towns and villages, setting fire to houses and consuming the livestock. It was a portrait of hell, something he had never hoped to see again. A terrifying sound pierced the air--a scream. Angelus' cry. She was in pain… He ran and ran, avoiding the bodies, ignoring how they all stared up at him pleadingly, ignoring the monsters that snarled and laughed at him and those who called out for help. Angelus…He had to help Angelus!

It started to rain. Thick, warm globs splattered against his shoulders and on his head. He held out a hand and caught a droplet in his palm. It was dark, but even in the dim moonlight he could tell it was raining blood. He heard his own name being called and he looked up, ocean blue eyes widening in shock. The blood that had been raining down did not come from the sky at all. No, it came from his beloved companion, the crimson dragoness hanging limply in the arms of strange creatures that laughed and sank their fangs into her, ripping and tearing at her wings, pulling her mighty body apart, causing more blood to fall down around him, until he was sure he would drown in it…

Caim's mind did not let him witness a moment more as it forced him to jerk awake. Flinging his covers off, Caim stumbled off the bed and out of his room entirely. He ran down the halls, running towards the inner bailey where he knew his dragon companion usually slept. Sure enough she was there, sleeping soundly, curled up against the chilly night air. Caim looked up at the sky, confirming it's color, but it did little to still the rapid beating of his heart. His nightmare had been so vivid. Though he was wet with sweat, he was sure that it still felt like the blood in his dream. The sky was blue, not blood red. The moon was theirs, the stars still there. No monsters howled, and no people screamed…everything was just fine. Knowing this, though, did not calm his frazzled nerves one bit. Slowly, very slowly, he approached his precious companion, listening to the steady sound of each exhale, letting each breath confirm her existence. His Angelus was still alive… 'My Angel…' he thought to himself, feeling his heart throb at the strange confession.

She replied by stirring awake, her golden eyes brighter than any star. "Caim?" she sounded surprised, and looked around as if curious to know the time. The moon was still in the sky, which was dark with its youth, and she looked back down at him, puzzled, "Why are you up at this hour? You should be asleep, like a good little human." She chuckled a little, but when she got no immediate reply from him she tilted her head to one side questioningly, "Caim…?" The man looked back at her, his blue eyes bright even in the darkness. They were unusually bright, and filled with an emotion she did not know he could feel: fear. Worried, the dragon craned her neck over to him, nudging his chest with her muzzle. His heart was pounding furiously in that frail little human chest. "Speak to me." she ordered softly, carefully withdrawing her head.

He reached out and stroked her scaly muzzle, hands trembling slightly as he felt each bump and curve there. 'I dreamt I lost you.' His thoughts finally reached her mind, quiet and subdued. The man knelt down and bowed his head, still trying to compose himself, 'The world was a horrible place…and I could not get to you. I was helpless, and I watched you die.'

"But I am alive, Caim. Surely you can tell a dream from reality, can you not?" the crimson dragon replied, reaching out carefully with a powerful wing and pulling him closer, trying to nestle him between her pale belly and the one wing. He did not struggle against it, instead, he welcomed it, pressing his head against her warm belly and willing those horrible images away. He was so focused on them, in fact, that the images seemed to be just as vivid to the dragoness herself. She shuddered inwardly and brought her head close to him, nuzzling the man gently, hoping to shoo those images away. "Sleep. It was nothing more than a dream, I assure you. We will never be separated anymore, not ever." It was a promise that she made to herself, so fervent and powerful that something in her stirred--her feelings for the human, a man who had once been driven only by revenge and bloodlust, a man who had bled with her, and a man who had shed tears for her. She truly did love this human of hers, this creature that only opened up to her, that had become a part of her. She was privileged to have him, and truly happy. The deep sounds of her purrs lulled the man to sleep, and his exhausted body sagged against her, hopefully drifting off into a dreamless sleep. Angelus watched him for a long time before she, too, drifted off to sleep as well. How long moments like these would last, it was uncertain, but for now...there would be peace between them, like the calm before a dreadful storm.

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