Section Three: Memento
Chapter Eight: Reminiscence
It had been several months since Aisha and Elsword confessed to one another, and they spent time with Chung and Eve constantly. Eve and Chung were overjoyed months ago when Aisha told them she was with child. The pregnancy was going well, and the baby was due sometime soon. Aisha, Chung, and Eve all sat on the balcony on Chung's bedroom, drinking some tea Oberon had brought up. Below in the courtyard, Elsword was performing the ceremony for the initiates graduating to become fully fledged guards.
"So Aisha, how is it?" Chung asked, eyeing Aisha's large stomach. Aisha smiled.
"It's been manageable. The sickness has been annoying, but every time he-Oh!" Aisha suddenly lunged forward slightly, clenching her stomach. She almost dropped her tea, but Oberon swiftly held her arm steady, and helped her sit back upright.
"Did he kick?" Eve asked, and Aisha nodded.
"Little kid wants out soon." She sighed and looked at the courtyard, "As do we. I sure hope it's a boy." Eve placed her hand on Aisha's.
"We'll be behind you every step of the way Aisha." Aisha suddenly looked saddened, and closed her eyes.
"Still, I don't know why Rena has been avoiding me since I got together with Elsword." Chung and Eve looked at each other.
"Apparently, Raven has been pretty hostile towards Elsword since then as well." Chung said, "What is their problem? They're constantly at each other's throats."
"I don't know, but Elsword says he thinks he almost knows why Raven hates her." They all thought, "Can't help but wonder. And what is the deal with him and that tree carving in the maze?" Chung shrugged.
"No clue." Chung noticed Elsword had finished the ceremony, and left the attending captain in charge as he entered the castle. Aisha noticed as well, and began to pat down her dress and straighten her hair. Eve giggled.
"Even I'm not that concerned about how good I look." Aisha pouted.
"I feel like he deserves me looking at my best." They heard a knock on the door.
"Come in!" Chung called, and Elsword soon walked up to them on the balcony. He gently kissed Aisha before sitting down.
"Any luck?" Eve asked, and Elsword smiled.
"Indeed. I finally figured out why he hates Rena."
"Why?" They all asked, deathly curious.
"Well, let's start with the story behind the tree carving." Everyone stared at him, "Apparently, a few years ago, Raven had a girlfriend called Seris. He always let her into the castle grounds after nightfall, and they would sit in that field. One day however, Seris died of an unusual sickness."
"What does Seris have to do with this?" Aisha asked.
"Well, Raven has a picture of Seris in his room." He looked at Chung, "The one he never told us who it really was?" Chung gasped.
"What?" Eve asked.
"Seris looked just like Rena!" Elsword nodded.
"But, their personalities are polar opposites. Seris was so kind, caring, and gentle. Rena is so cruel, and condescending. It's like he's living with a bad version of the one he loved." Aisha spoke up.
"Actually..." Aisha looked at Eve, who nodded.
"What?"
"Rena and Seris seem to be exactly the same. Rena is mean to Raven because she told me she doesn't really trust him, and his constant silence even in times of crisis annoys her to no end. By herself, she's just like Seris it seems."
"Hmm..." Elsword smiled, "I have an idea."
Raven slowly walked through the thick maze, lost in his thoughts. Why couldn't he stop thinking about her? Ever since she came here...I can't stop thinking about Seris. Raven stopped in front of the tree carving, staring at it pathetically.
"What should I do Seris?" Raven fell to his knees, "What am I supposed to do?"
On the opposite side of the field, Rena watched as Raven collapsed to the floor. She was surprised, not expecting to see Raven like this. Interesting. He's so vulnerable right now. I could totally get back at him right now. Nah...not satisfying striking a man while he's down. Rena turned and walked off. She left the maze, and sat down by the fountain. She saw Raven leaving the garden, and they coldly nodded their heads at each other.
"Raven."
"Rena."
Raven ignored anything else about her, and headed inside into the castle. He walked through the corridor near the infirmary, heading towards his quarters. The infirmary door flew open, and Chung was standing there, frantic.
"Raven! Please, help!" Without clarifying, Chung pulled Raven into the infirmary. Raven saw Aisha on the bed, her legs raised and visible pain on her face, "Aisha's in labor and the doctor is on a city call!" Without pausing, Raven kneeled down in front of Aisha, holding his hands in position.
"Aisha, I know it hurts, but push as hard as you can." Aisha nodded, and screamed in pain. Elsword held her hand tightly, "Come on Aisha, push!"
"Aaahh!" Aisha screamed in agony, the pain overwhelming. She panted heavily, "Oh god!"
"Push, he's almost out Aisha." Aisha pushed as hard as she could, screaming loudly. She suddenly felt a wave of relief.
"Is...it...over?" She panted, Elsword rubbing her hand gently. Raven nodded, and wrapped something up in a blanket. He handed the cloaked object to Aisha, and she sighed.
"A healthy girl." Aisha stared at Raven, her eyes beginning to close.
"Raven...thank you..." Aisha's eyes closed, and she snored softly with their newborn child in her arms. Elsword gently picked her up, and smiled. Raven turned, and left the infirmary and headed to his quarters. Rena had seen the whole thing, and was surprised yet again. Raven helped Aisha? Hmm...interesting.
Raven sat down at his desk in his quarters, and sighed. He stared at the picture of a green haired woman in front of him. He placed a hand on the picture.
"Seris...I'm so confused. What...am I supposed to do? What do you want me to do?"
Morning came once again, and Rena stood beside Chung and Eve alongside Raven. Both guards glared at each other, making their masters sigh.
"Please relax you two." Delilah spoke up, "I'm sick of your squabbling. If I see or hear of any fights between you two, you will both be punished."
"Ma'am." Raven said calmly, shining a small fake smile in Rena's direction. Rena mimicked the lie before they both looked away from each other. Raven smiled, and turned to Delilah, "Ma'am, might I be excused? I have some important documents to tend to." Delilah nodded, making Rena glare at him. Raven walked off, and Delilah raised her hand.
"Hold Raven. I will accompany you; some of these documents might be of interest to me." Rena smiled, but Raven remained calm. His lie was not a lie at all; he did have work to do.
"Certainly Majesty. I also believe you wished to discuss a little...event with me?" Delilah gasped.
"Oh yes! Oh Raven, where would I be without you?" Delilah and Raven laughed, and left the dining hall. Eve and Chung looked at each other.
"Event? Is there going to be a party soon?" Eve asked, and Chung shrugged. Rena stared at them.
"You forgot?" They stared at her.
"Huh?"
"A week from today is your anniversary." Chung and Eve stared at each other, and face palmed.
"We are so stupid! How could we forget the last three years?" As if forgiving one another for their bad memory, they kissed each other sweetly. Suddenly, Rena turned away, and felt a tear run down her face.
"Rena?" Eve was concerned.
"Permission to be excused." Was all she said. Eve sighed.
"Granted." Rena instantly walked out the back to the garden, and entered the maze.
Rena, not caring about the danger, sat in front of the tree carving, in tears. She didn't know why this was happening, why all these memories were coming back. Good memories, hard memories, sad memories. She held herself tightly, sobbing under the pale, cloudy afternoon sky.
"Salind...why did you have to go?" Rena sobbed again, not caring if anyone, even Raven, saw her sorrow, "You never...asked me...to marry you. I never...You never...came home...to make me smile."
"Salind!" Rena cried, running up to the mounted warrior she loved. He stopped moving, falling behind as the rest of the army moved on through the city streets. Rena was in tears, as bouquet of white roses in her hands, "Please...don't go..." Salind placed a hand on her cheek.
"Don't worry Rena. I will come home, and I'll make you forget the pain of my temporary leaving." Rena sobbed, and handed him the flowers. He took them, and nestled them in the crevice of the saddle, "Farewell Rena, I will return home soon." Salind had fallen behind the rest of the army, and galloped off. As he vanished into the distance, Rena fell to her knees, crying in the same manner as several other women in the crowd.
Months past. The nights were long and lonely. It had been a year since Salind had left, and everyday Rena woke up to, she was praying he would be there beside her. He never was. And when he returned, he never would. Rena was making breakfast when someone knocked on her door. She opened it, and saw two Elven generals standing with a family crest in one's hand.
"No..." Rena knew what this meant, and fell to the floor, hands on her mouth. They said nothing as they laid the crest on the floor in front of her, and walked off to the carriage which had a coffin on the back. Salind's coffin. Rena sobbed, "Why? I begged you not...to go...You didn't...have to...leave me!" Rena wailed, and it took her several minutes before she retired to her room, and cried the rest of the day away.
The night rose high into the sky, and Rena finally got up and left the field. She hurried back to the castle, and when she arrived she found Aisha waiting for her in front of her quarters. Elysha, her and Elsword's daughter, was sleeping soundly in her arms.
"Hello Rena, I wanted to talk to you."
"About?"
"Don't you think you should take a vacation? You've been working so hard recently, even though Eve and Chung have not been attacked in years." Rena stared at her, and sighed.
"You know what, you're right Aisha. I'm going to my home, since it's so close by."
"Okay, see you soon Rena." Aisha said as she walked off. Rena didn't bother packing, and left for the stables.
Meanwhile, Raven laid on his bed awake, and heard someone knock on his door.
"Enter." Elsword walked into the room, "What do you want Elsword? It's late."
"Well, it seems that Rena is going somewhere for a few days."
"So?"
"What if she's planning something?" Raven sat up, intrigued by this assumption, "Why don't you follow her, and I can watch Chung."
"Very well, I'll see you soon Elsword."
"Good luck." Elsword said as he left the room. I hope this works.
Vayne: Sorry for the late update and short chapter, but some stuff has been bothering me lately, and I've been really distracted. I might be taking a break for a while, so fingers crossed. Either way, next chapter might be the last.
