Yeah, I'm not too happy at how this chapter turned out... but Chapter 11 is so cool that I kinda rushed through this one. Oops. So yeah, hope you still like it! :D
Chapter 10 -- Rebirth
When Lucrezia finally arrived at the Tanas estate the next day, she discovered that it was completely abandoned. She wandered throughout all of the hallways, even the dungeons. Not a single soul was in there. She saw evidence of some sort of battle: scorch marks from Fire spells, broken lances, even a few blood stains on the rugs.
I wonder if someone tried to steal his possessions... he has so many of them...
Lucrezia finally gave up searching the estate and decided to ask townspeople in the surrounding villages. There were rumors flying about of a group of mercenaries that defeated some of the duke's best soldiers and ran the duke out of his estate. No one knew where the duke had gone, nor why the mercenaries had attacked, other than that the mercenaries had been hired by the apostle herself. One person even told Lucrezia that he had seen a winged angel fly out of the estate. Lucrezia hoped that this "angel" was Prince Reyson.
I hope the apostle did this to free the laguz slaves! It's about time something was done...
She decided to go to Sienne and find these mercenaries. Surely one of them would have seen Prince Reyson if they cleared the entire estate out.
Once again, Lucrezia found herself flying toward the capital. Fortunately, it was not very far from Tanas, so she figured she would be there in an hour. However, when she was halfway there she began to feel a familiar sensation.
This is... this is like when I was in Serenes!
A song began to formulate in her head, one that she had heard when she was just a child. She started to hum it a little, and then she remembered.
Rebirth! The galdrar of rebirth! Only the royal family is supposed to know that! Prince Reyson must be singing it!
Lucrezia turned around and soared back to Serenes, hopes extremely high. As she neared the woods, she saw the once-dead trees come to life. Everything was once again green and full of vitality.
I had almost forgotten how beautiful it was...
Tears began rolling down her cheeks. She never thought she would ever see the forest be reborn. She excitedly dove down into the forest and flew through the trees, slowly becoming reacquainted with her homeland. The song was coming from the heart of the forest, where the altar had been. Finally, she saw the stone structure ahead of her, with two white-clad herons standing in front of it.
"Prince Reyson!"
Lucrezia rushed up to the prince and hugged him, sobbing into his coat.
"Oh, Prince Reyson! I thought they had hurt you! I wanted to help you, but you're okay! Oh, thank goodness you're alive!"
"Lu...Lucrezia?"
Lucrezia looked up and realized she had made a very informal gesture. She quickly backed away and posed herself into a humble bow.
"My lord, I apologize." She giggled. "I was just so overjoyed to see you! I was in Duke Tanas' estate when I saw you and Naesala, and..."
"You were there, too? You mean you were enslaved as well?" Reyson was shocked.
"No, my lord. I was under the guise of a troubador. I've been on the run from Daein for about a month now." She looked up at her prince. "My lord, it was Naesala..."
"Yes, I know." Reyson's face looked deeply troubled. "I know he sold me to that repulsive duke. I... I don't think I could ever forgive him for it."
A soft voice interrupted them. It spoke in the old language of the herons.
"Are you the Lucrezia who was my brother's best friend?"
Lucrezia had almost forgotten about the other heron. She looked over to see a girl with blonde hair and white wings identical to Reyson's.
"L-Leanne? Princess Leanne?"
The girl nodded. "It's so nice to see another heron after so long!" she exclaimed in heron tongue.
"Leanne was protected by the forest during the massacre twenty years ago," Reyson explained. "I had thought she was dead until today, when I saw Ike protecting her."
"Ike? Who is that?"
"He's the leader of the group of mercenaries who defeated Duke Tanas and saved both my sister and me," he answered. "They were ordered to by the apostle of Begnion. She wished to apologize to the herons on behalf of Begnion for their atrocious acts toward us twenty years ago."
"You mean the beorc have apologized?" Lucrezia was astonished.
"Yes, and I have forgiven them on behalf of the herons. We plan to work together to restore friendly relations between the beorc and the herons."
Lucrezia grinned. "Wonderful! This will make traveling much easier!"
Reyson's face turned grim. "Lucrezia, I would ask that you leave beorc lands and go to Phoenicis."
"M-my lord? But why?"
"There are still plenty of dangerous beorc out there. While I am strengthened at the knowledge that my sister is alive, there are still very few of us herons left. If anything were to happen to you, Father and I would be devastated."
Lucrezia sighed. "Please, my lord, let me look for Naesala. I want to take revenge on him for the treachery he has committed against the heron clan... and against me."
Reyson looked at her in surprise. "Lucrezia, you have changed. You never harbored such anger before."
"His actions are far worse than what you know," Lucrezia explained.
The prince thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose I must confide in you that I myself plan on going to Daein to join Ike and his men in their fight against Daein. They are part of the Crimean Liberation Army, and I owe him much for saving us. I want to help him out in combat."
Lucrezia's eyes widened, and she started laughing.
"What is it, Lucrezia?" the prince asked with a confused expression.
"Nothing, it's just..." Lucrezia stood up. "You always despised beorc so, even before the massacre. And now you want to help them out! You really have changed, my lord, if I may be so bold to say. Does this mean you plan on fighting?"
"No, of course not! I have the ability to rejuvenate tired souls, you know."
"Ah, I see, my lord. Well, we both have reasons to head out into the danger then, don't we?" She smiled.
"I suppose so."
Leanne turned to her brother with pleading eyes. "Reyson, can't I come along with you?"
"No, Leanne!" Reyson sighed. "I just got you back! I don't want to lose you again!"
"But how come you get to go?" She frowned. "It's just because I'm a girl, isn't it?"
"Maybe..." Reyson shook his head. "I shouldn't even be going, but... I guess I just feel like I owe them something."
Lucrezia giggled. "Princess, you're just as stubborn as your brother!"
"S-stubborn? How am I stubborn?" Reyson crossed his arms.
"My lord, you're just as desperate to go as she is." Lucrezia smiled. "I suppose stubbornness is a quality of all of the heron tribe. I'm desperate to go after Naesala, and you and Princess Leanne want to help your new beorc friends."
Reyson sighed. "Yes, you're right, Lucrezia. But I'm still worried about Leanne being out there in all the fighting." Then he turned to his sister. "Leanne, just for a little while, stay with the hawks in Phoenicis. Father will want to see you again, I'm sure!"
Leanne suddenly smiled. "Oh, right! Father's there! I do want to see him again!" She nodded. "Okay, I'll stay with the hawks. But you and Lucrezia have to promise me that you'll be safe!"
"I promise, my lady," Lucrezia said with a bow.
"I won't let myself get into too much danger, Leanne. Don't worry about me," Reyson replied.
Leanne giggled. "Okay! Take care of yourself, Lucrezia! My brother's counting on you!"
"Thank you, Princess. Well, I must be off!" Lucrezia stretched her wings and prepared to take flight.
"Lucrezia!" Reyson called before she had cleared the trees.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Don't get yourself killed!"
"The same to you, Prince Reyson! Take care!" With that, Lucrezia once again left her beloved homeland to start on another journey.