A painful promise
She almost threw Michiru to the bed as they reached the woman's room.
"There is no point in locking the door as you may fly through the window, right?" Haruka said full of anger. Damn it, I fell for the traitor. Of all women in this world I was blinded by the one who wants this kingdom dead."
Michiru didn't respond, but stood up and started looking around.
"I am sorry for the pain I caused you…" Michiru whispered, her voice broken. "You can't understand right now and I can't explain it…" she said taking her violin in her hands.
She looked at Haruka with her eyes in tears, closed them and stroked the violin with her bow. Music filled the room, the castle, the land. At first Haruka thought she heard thunder growl outside, but, as she approached the window, she realized it were screams. Angered sounds mixing in screams, like someone trying to enter a locked room. Michiru played and played, her presence seemed to be somewhere far away, as the voices raged. The sky lightened up in different grey shades, all trying to approach, but hitting an invisible force.
Haruka felt her body weakening. She recalled her nightmare, her pulse ran up. Michiru broke the song for a second. She approached the woman who had fallen to her knees and also kneeled. Her arm went around Haruka's neck and she started playing again. Haruka placed her palms on Michiru's arm, which was embracing her and felt her body calming. Hours passed until the growling shadows of the sky were silenced. And, as they vanished, Michiru put her violin on the ground. She stood up and approached the bed, sitting on it. It all went black for her.
Michiru was still asleep, breathing slowly. At her bedside, rested Serena, looking worried. She had installed herself in the woman's room; the moment the storm outside had ended. Haruka was on the floor, her back rested on the wall, eyes closed. The prince was also there with Darien in chains. Outside the room, the hallway was full of soldiers.
"Serena…" Edward tried saying.
"No. Something happened here last night and she, whatever she is, saved us. I felt it. You felt it. We all did. We have all faced death and this woman sent it away. I won't let you take her or judge her," she said stroking Michiru's hair.
The prince pressed his lips together.
"So what…happened?" he looked at Darien.
"Will you believe me when I'll tell you, or are you just asking me to pass time?" the man asked, staring at Michiru.
The prince sighed.
"I don't know…what to believe anymore. I heard you clear and loud and I also don't understand why you hid her. But I also can't seem to comprehend what happened here last night and I see everyone is affected…" he looked at Haruka. "Some more than others," he bent to the woman. He tried unbuttoning her shirt a little as he thought his first general couldn't breathe well enough.
"Don't touch me!" Haruka pushed his hand away. "What's gotten into you?"
"I'm sorry…I thought your jacket was chocking you…" he backed up.
Darien looked down at the two, with surprised eyes.
"That's something new for your land…a prince asking an apology from his general…" he spoke.
"Haruka and Edward are very close. I don't think any of these court rules have ever applied to them."
Edward sat in front of Haruka worried for her.
"I've never seen you so broken before. It's like life is running out of you."
"That night you had the nightmare…Michiru woke you up?" Darien asked.
"She did…getting into my room through a locked door…"
Serena looked up.
"If she had to get to you to wake you up personally that means you have been in greater danger than I imagined. There is a spell on this kingdom, one which Michiru managed breaking through her music, but your heart has been poisoned."
"What would have happened if she wouldn't have woken up?" Edward asked.
"Turned to stone," Darien approached. "Unchain me," Darien said.
"Why?"
"So I can take the poison out of the general's heart."
"Why you?"
"Because Michiru couldn't until she found out I was still alive. And now…her powers have weakened and it will take her a while until she recovers them. She has used all her energy to keep everyone safe and…the fact that the general is still alive means she really has gotten to the bottom of them."
Haruka opened her bloodshot eyes and looked at Darien. The prince stood up and unchained the man.
"Don't try anything stupid, or I'll cut your throat myself," he warned Darien.
"Edward!" Serena looked at her brother with frowned eyebrows.
"Your grace, don't trust everything you hear. I can understand the words I have exchanged with Michiru might have sounded like treason to you," he said approaching Haruka. He carefully placed his hand under her neck and whispered words no one understood. A small shadow came out of Haruka's mouth and vanished in thin air. Darien stood up and sat on the bed next to Serena.
"She will recover, don't worry," she said to the blonde princess. He looked long at her.
"Are you the one that has…" he started saying, but heard Michiru moved. She opened her eyes.
"Are you better?" Edward asked Haruka, helping her up.
"Yes, my mind is clear again," she nodded.
Michiru rubbed her forehead and raised her upper body.
"Are they gone for good?" she asked.
"For now," Darien responded.
"Haruka! I need to take the poison…" she looked around the room, scared.
"You can't," Darien placed his hand on her palm. "Your powers are weak for now, but I did that for you."
"You did?" she looked at him.
"Always," he smiled.
Haruka sat on an armchair and Darien stood up.
"Here," Serena handed a glass of water to Michiru.
"So, now, I am ready to hear you out and try to understand whatever of an excuse you two have for what you were talking behind the bushes. Because I am sure I heard the word target followed by our names," the prince said sitting at the end of Michiru's bed. He looked long at her.
"You forget that we both are from another land. The way we talk might seem strange in your ears," Darien said.
"And there was a fourth target. Who is it? The Duke of the South Land? Maybe my…"
"Your cook," Michiru said, taking a deep breath of air.
"Makoto?" Serena asked.
"Yes and you are not targets to be killed. All four if you might be the legend soul. This is what I meant by target."
They remained silent and looked surprised at her.
"When you found out who the guardian is, the Stone Nation was alarmed immediately. The spell of nightmares makes them able to understand what people think. The fact that the one with the poisoned heart heard it, made the information reach their ears immediately," Darien explained.
"So you knew all this would happen…" Edward said.
"Not like this, no. Not so fast. They are more powerful than I ever thought. Michiru has banned them for now."
"And? Why didn't you tell me she was the guardian? You said you don't know where she is."
"Because if you knew they would have attacked us, dummy," Haruka said. "He just explained it to you."
"We wanted to find out who the legend soul is before I would tell you about Michiru. We would have been prepared to face them," Darien explained. "But now her power to recognize this soul is weakened and I…" he sighed.
"That's it? We're…doomed?" Edward asked.
"Of course not," Michiru stood up. "There are more ways. But one requires and item that is hidden in your castle. Tell me…who has warned you about my late night meeting with Darien? Both of you?" she looked at Haruka who was resting her head in her hand. She closed her eyes, she couldn't look at Michiru.
"I was warned by Lady…" the prince said.
"So was I," Haruka said.
"And how could she have known?" Michiru asked.
"I stopped wondering about that years ago," Edward shrugged.
Michiru looked at Darien and he nodded. Haruka observed them shortly.
"Give me a few hours. Meanwhile you must prepare. If we are going to face the Stone Nation I think it would be better if we would do it on the edge of the kingdom. We should leave tonight. Until then we will know who the legend soul is," she said.
"No. I cannot trust you. How can I know this is not a plot? How can I…" Edward flamed up.
"Edward…she just saved the kingdom, Darien healed Haruka what do you want more?" Serena asked.
"Serena…you may have a good heart, but you are so naïve. Just…please keep out. You are only in my way."
"Edward…," Haruka sighed. "Don't be so harsh with her."
Serena pressed her lips together.
"You always call me naïve. Everything I do: Serena, you are naïve. Not once have you trusted my guts."
"Because this is not an issue to trust your guts, you are not choosing a new dress!" he exploded.
She remained silent and nodded with a cold face. With one move, she left the room.
"You will take Darien and prepare everything for our leave. And I am going to talk to you in private," he looked at Michiru.
Haruka growled and stood up. She made a sign to Darien to follow her. Michiru nodded at Darien. She remained alone with the prince.
"If I am going to trust you, I need a vow from you," he said.
"Words?" she asked.
"Not just simple words, but a vow that binds you to this land. I know you, North People. You belong to your land you can't betray it. And if you marry me, you will vow to this land. It will become your land," he said very serious.
"Marry you?" Michiru asked surprised.
"Yes, marry me. Will you marry me, Michiru?"
He approached her before she could say anything.
"If not I will execute Darien for treason."
"Without Darien I cannot find your legend soul! You'll be executing yourself!"
"Don't make it harder on me. I have no wish to execute that man! I don't want any more blood to be spilled, but right now I am so confused about whom and what to believe I would go that far. Make me trust you, I beg of you! I don't know what path to choose, I am destroyed!" he took the woman by her shoulder.
His eyes were desperate; he was breathing fast, his mind unclear. He was serious with what he was saying and one step away from going insane. Michiru thought of Haruka and decided that the woman's safety came first. Even with the cost of a shattered heart.
"I will marry you," she whispered, feeling her eyes water, but holding her tears.
She looked up at him, at his bloodshot eyes in tears. He swallowed his tears and nodded in a thankful way.
"Tell me what you want me to do. Is Haruka the legend soul?"
"I can't tell right now. I thought it was you."
"You did?"
"I am not sure, but I will find out very soon. Prepare for the trip, we can leave tonight. When we arrive, I should already know who the soul is."
"You have a plan…"
"I do. And it involves taking the Stone Nation by surprise."
"When we get there, we will have a short ceremony," he said and walked out.
Michiru was also broken, but didn't have time to think about it.
Note: Please don't hate Edward just yet :)
Thanks for reading
