Sitting on the couch was a young couple in love, one holding the other in a warm embrace. "Are you comfortable?" Sitting within his arms, Huedhaut whispered in your ear. Looking up at him you nodded, "Yes, thank you." You smiled. Ever since you married Huedhaut you have lived in the heavens. It has been a happy life. Growing up, you never imagined that one day you would be married to a god and living up in the heavens. In the past you would have believed such a place to be a fantasy or something of a dream but now you believed in it with all your heart and of the beautiful gods who lived there. Since the wedding you both have started a new life together, living separately from the palace but still remained close by. It was your own happy abode where the two of you could spend time together in peace.
Still holding you close with one arm, Huedhaut lowered the other to your belly, "I can't wait to see our baby." A content smile played on his lips. The day he found out of your pregnancy filled him with such emotion he was almost driven to tears. To think he was having a child with the one he loved so dearly that their bond was unshakable he would even give his own life for...It filled him with indescribable joy.
Your heart overflowed with warmth hearing his loving words, "Me too. I really am so happy." Smiling, you closed your eyes and leaned your head against Huedhaut's shoulder, a calm washed over you; you felt safe and protected in his embrace.
The other gods couldn't have been happier about the new of your pregnancy, each one of them giving you their blessing. Even The King was in high spirits, though he wouldn't freely admit it, his demeanor was always more gentle when you were around.
However, there was one god in particular who held a great hatred over your union with Huedhaut. Upon finding out about your pregnancy his hatred only grew. He had been watching from afar, keeping his eye on you and waiting for the right time...The time he could enact judgment upon you for violating the heavens.
When you fell asleep in his arms, Huedhaut gently lifted you up in his arms and carried you to bed. Softly he set you down and looked at you with tender eyes before leaning down and placing a soft kiss on your forehead, "Sleep well, my love." He whispered before carefully laying on the bed besides you and once again holding you within his arms; you were something so precious to him that he never wanted to let you go- you were his most precious treasure and his guiding light. You were so precious in his eyes and such an important part of his life that he couldn't imagine life without you.
A happy smile formed on your lips from feeling his warmth around you as you slept. Though he didn't need sleep, Huedhaut would always join you in bed, holding you all night and making sure you were never alone. Sometimes it was hard to tell if you needed him or if it was he who really needed you. Huedhaut was also smiling as he held you close and gently rubbed your belly and thinking about the future when he would meet his child for the first time - this thought filled him with joy.
You both thought this joy would last forever, that you both would always be happy and create a warm, loving family together. Little did you know your happy family wasn't to last... Something so great was just lurking around the corner, a disaster so great that its aftermath would rock the heavens to its core.
The next morning when you woke up you were surprised to see the bed vacant and Huedhaut nowhere to be seen.
Looking around the room you called out to him, "Hue?" When you received no response you hopped off the bed. For some reason you felt rather anxious and grew worried, your stomach twisted into a knot. You hurried out of the room in search of Huedhaut. With your fears growing you scurried around checking all the rooms before finally coming upon him in the kitchen.
"Hue?!" You screamed his name when you found him on the floor, gasping and looking pained. You quickly dashed to his side and knelt down besides him, "Are you okay?" You breathed in concern, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Shaking his head in a daze, Huedhaut noticed your presence and turned towards you, "_? ...Sorry, I didn't see you come in." His voice sounded strained, "I am okay. Don't worry." He assured you and stood up. Though he wasn't been totally honest with you. In truth, he had a frightening vision of the future, the vision was so great it had drained him of his strength. Because in the future he saw... You were completely absent from it. He was all alone, there was no you or his child, just emptiness and sorrow.
Huedhaut looked at you with a face devoid of emotion, he knew if he even tried to smile he might crack, "I am going to go to the library and read for a bit. I will see you later." And with that he turned around and with a hastened pace vanished from sight.
You were left completely dumbfounded and troubled over what just happened. You knew something was off, Huedhaut wasn't acting like himself, but you were at a loss on what that something was.
Still feeling anxious, you decided to go to the palace in hopes that talking with the other gods might help you to forgot about the troubling scene you witnessed that morning. Walking through the palace, you were scraping your feet along the floor as the anxiety welling up within was getting to you when you heard someone call out to you from behind.
"_? What are you moping about for?" It was Leon who had caught sight of you.
You turned around at his voice, your eyes widening slightly, "Leon... I hoped a walk through the palace would help me forget about my troubles but it seems it is only making it worse." You sighed, still looking deeply troubled. Everywhere you looked only reminded you of Huedhaut and the pained expression on his face when he was hunched over on the floor.
Leon raised an eyebrow at your demeanor, he could tell something wasn't right, "Something is troubling you?" He asked, it was surprising to hear the arrogant god be concerned about a mere human.
You looked at him for just a moment before quickly looking away and biting your lip, "Maybe it was just my imagination. Maybe I am just overthinking things..." You mumbled in hopes you could convince yourself everything would be fine but the dread growing inside of you was still growing.
"It's to do with Huedhaut, isn't it?"
"Huh?" Your head shot up at him in astonishment, you weren't expecting him to pick up on it so fast.
"I see. I was right." Now smirking, Leon looked proud with himself. "What has got you so down? It is better to speak of your trouble than just bottling it up." He raised an eyebrow at you knowingly. You sighed in resignation, you knew he was right and decided to tell him about what happened that morning.
"This morning I saw Huedhaut crumpled on the floor gasping for breath and in pain..."
"Hmm..." Leon deeply thought about it for a few moments before speaking, "He might of had a vision. By the sounds of it, it wasn't a pleasant one."
You gasped, thinking what he could have possibly seen. This did nothing to relieve your worry but only made things worse.
After that, you returned home and waited for Huedhaut to return. When you saw him walk through the door, you greeted him with a smile and a kiss on the cheek but there was still a heavy atmosphere hanging in the air. Everytime he looked at you his eyes shook, like he was looking at something precious he couldn't lose, but at the same time those eyes were constantly on the verge of tears, shrouded in pain.
Huedhaut did his best to smile at you and gave you a kiss in return, "I am sorry for leaving you earlier." He apologized. You shook your head and smiled, "Don't worry, I understand." You replied and at that same moment, Huedhaut had encircled his arms around you, "_... What would you do if there was a world where the other wasn't in it? If the one you loved with all your heart suddenly ceased to be..." He spoke in quiet, painful breaths like it was hard to speak.
Your body froze at his words, you didn't know what he was trying to say, it was all too much for you to take in, "Hue... I don't know. I would be pretty lost I imagined." You honestly replied, you then noticed he was slightly trembling as he held you.
Huedhaut leant back just enough to look you straight in the eyes, he remained like that just gazing into your eyes. It was then you noticed the pain concealed in the deeps of his azure orbs, a pain that ran so deep you couldn't even fathom how he must be feeling.
"_, I never want to let you go..." Huedhaut suddenly spoke in a strained voice. Bringing a hand to his cheek, you smiled tenderly, "I'm not going anywhere. I will always be with you. As long as you love me our hearts will always be connected. We are apart of each other, never forget that."
Huedhaut slightly calmed down at your words. Taking in a deep breath he placed his forehead upon yours never breaking off eye contact with you, "You are right... I shouldn't worry about things that have yet to happen. I will just do all that I can now to always keep you safe and ensure your happiness." Huedhaut calmly breathed, he could tell you were worried about him so he tried to act calmer for you but inside there was still a great darkness building up inside of him that threatened to swallow him whole. The future he saw... He couldn't let it come about. Huedhaut would do everything in his power to protect his most precious treasure.
A few days had now passed, Huedhaut had still been on edge ever since the day had that vision. You too were still feeling uneasy but both of you tried your best to go on with life without letting everything bring your down. You noticed he was still agitated and something was bothering him as he was holding you tighter than usual at night and during the day there was hardly a moment when he would leave your side. You assured him you would be fine but he just ignored you and stay close by regardless.
As time went on and nothing happened, Huedhaut relaxed somewhat and turned his attention to your growing tummy, his excitement to see his child, something you created together, grew by the day.
With smiles on your faces you packed a picnic lunch, together, as you were going to take some time out to take your mind off things.
"I really am at my happiest around you." Huedhaut smiled brightly. Standing besides him you were also smiling, "I feel the same way about you." As you packed the lunch, Huedhaut was very careful in what foods to bring as he didn't want to harm the baby. He was very particular on what you should eat and what was best for you and the baby's well being. You were grateful that he cared so much even if sometimes he could be a little overbearing, the fact he was doing it out of love for you and your child only furthered your love for the man.
Hand in hand you left your quaint little home and set out for the gardens where you would enjoy your picnic lunch, together.
"It is so nice today. The heavens are always so beautiful." You took in a deep breath of the fresh air and sat on the vibrant green grass. "Nothing is as beautiful as you." Huedhaut casually remarked and you grew hot. "You are embarrassing me..." You turned away and Huedhaut chuckled, "Only because I love you." Soon nothing but the melody of laughter from two people in love filled the air.
Huedhaut looked at you with eyes full of love while you looked back at him with a tender heartfelt gaze, nothing else mattered in the world as long as you had each other. Your only wish that day was these happy moments would go on forever, to always be able to see his smile and be close to the man you loved.
However, those happy days were fast coming to an end... The both of you were so enraptured by the other that you failed to notice a presence in the distant. Slowly, a shadowy figure approached the both of you.
Huedhaut seemed to have picked up on it as his head perked up, "Hmm." He looked around but saw nothing there.
"What is it?" You asked in concern. Huedhaut looked back at you with a smile, "It's nothing." But then at that moment something lunged out at you. In an instant, Huedhaut shot up, "Who are you?!" He screamed at the figure.
"I am Jaku and I have come to kill her!" His face twisted into something evil as he glared at you. Huedhaut gasped at this and momentarily felt weak, "No..." He shook his head but then turned serious, "I won't let you!"
But Jaku started to cackle, he was truly deranged, "I have waited for this moment. When you two would be alone... Now she is mine!" He said in a high pitched shriek. He tried again to attack you but Huedhaut stopped him and deflected his attack, "_, run!" He ordered you as he held him off. "Pathetic. Don't think you can escape me. I refuse to allow a human bare the child of a god!" Jaku screamed and at that moment bit into Huedhaut, "Ahhh!" He cried out and held his shoulder.
Huedhaut fell to the ground, he felt his power slowly fade, "What is this...? I can't move..."
Jaku cackled and looked down at him with a malicious grin, "I have temporarily paralyzed and neutralized your powers." And then turned his dark gaze to you, "Time to die." Huedhaut's eyes grew wide and he begged for you to get away, "GET OUT OF HERE!" He pleaded you to go. But you were also paralyzed...paralyzed by fear.
"Hue... I can't move..." Your legs had turned into jelly causing you to fall to the ground. Being helpless and watching as Jaku closed in on you, Huedhaut felt his life flash before his eyes... His vision he tried so hard to change seemed it would come true after all. Trying to change fate... It was pointless after all.
You watched in horror as Jaku creeped up to you with a very threatening look, "Hue... I am sorry! I love you Hue...! You cried out to him and in that moment, Jaku had grabbed you and pulled you to your feet. "Noo... Stay away from her!" Huedhaut tried with all his might to get up but was completely drained and couldn't move, instead he was forced to watch as Jaku callously murdered you.
Your whole body trembled as Jaku dug his nails into your skin, holding you from behind. "No matter how much you struggle or where you run I will find you," He breathed in a low, terrifying voice,"Now say goodbye... You two will never see each other again." He cackled. You looked straight at Huedhaut whom was looking back at you with horror. 'Hue... I am sorry our happiness wasn't to last...' You could feel tears streaming down your cheeks and noticed Huedhaut was also crying, helpless to save you.
Jaku brought out a knife and held it above you. A cool breeze suddenly blew in the air chilling you to the bone and there upon it carried the scent of death, foretelling of what was to come.
"Hue!" You felt completely helpless in his hold. No matter how much you struggled you couldn't escape.
"Nooo...! _!" Huedhaut screamed and at that moment Jaku sent the knife plunging into your heart.
"Ahhh...!" Clutching your chest you fell to the ground, you could feel your energy fading fast. After finishing what he came to do, Jaku dropped the knife and quickly fled.
At the moment he saw the knife plunge into your heart, Huedhaut felt all the color drain from his face,"_... _! Don't leave me!" Huedhaut used all his strength to crawl up to your weakened body. He looked down at you with tearful eyes and picked you up in his arms, the blood slowly pooled around you covering his hands and clothes.
"Hu...e... I...wish we...could have...been together...longer..." You choked on your words, struggling to get them out. Huedhaut pulled you close to him and with shaky hands stroked your hair as he held you against his chest, "Don't speak. Save your strength." He begged you with a trembling voice but you knew it was too late and so did he.
"I love you, Hue..." You did your best to smile and tried bringing a hand to his cheek but at that moment the life left your body, your hand losing its strength began to fall but before it hit the ground, Huedhaut caught it with his own.
Holding your lifeless body within his arms, Huedhaut started to scream out your name, the pain of losing you was too great. The tears in his eyes now flowed freely, one by one they dripped onto your cold body.
"Why... Why didn't I save you... I couldn't save you the first time and I couldn't save you now..." Huedhaut cursed his own weakness, "I didn't deserve to have your love if all I brought upon you was death. I am sorry..." He cried out through his tears, clutching your body to his chest, "I never wanted to say goodbye to you... We vowed to always be together... I promised I would protect you but... " His words were filled with pain and sorrow, everything he foresaw in that vision had now come to pass. The pain in his heart had ripped a hole so big nothing would ever be able to fill it. He knew this time there was no bringing you back, you were truly gone, forever. At realizing his, whole life began to crumble around him, Huedhaut would never be the same.
Huedhaut brought your lifeless body back to the palace and saw to it you got a proper burial. The first human to be buried within the heavens. There was hardly a dry eye as everyone mourned your death and that of your unborn child. You had made such an impact on everyone's lives that it was hard to believe you were gone. The heavens truly were shaken to its core. But no one even came close to feeling like Huedhaut, to lose his wife and unborn child had taken a great toll on him.
Huedhaut returned to your once happy home now filled with nothing but empty memories of times you once shared. Everything reminded him of you. Nothing was okay. His life was a mess, his spirit broken. Losing you once already tore him him apart but then he gave you another chance at life but now... There was no second chance, he would never see you smiling at him again... To never see the child you both created, together, filled him with great sorrow. The very thought of imagining what his child may have been like was enough to send him into further despair. The bed you once slept upon now lay bare, never again would he hold you as you slept. Everything was now just a painful memory because he would never again feel the happiness he felt with you.
A few days later, everyone was gathered in the throne room. The King was not nearly as calm or gentle as he had been days prior, he too was devastated at your death. The gods too still looked shaken up about it as they stood before The King.
"The man who killed _ will be brought to justice." The King's mighty voice resounded in the room. It was issued that the god who so mercilessly killed you would be hunted down and receive a hefty punishment for his crime. Huedhaut was devoid of emotion as he listened, all he felt was anger, hate. Those feelings left him emotionless and his face stone cold. Huedhaut held a great hatred for the man who stole you away from him. He wished for nothing but revenge upon him. 'Jaku... I will kill you.' And it was for this reason The King next spoke, "Huedhaut, you are to be confined to the palace and under watch by Leon at all times."
Huedhaut's eyes grew wide and he gasped, this news greatly bothered him, "What...?" Leon also looked irritated by this, "Why do I have to watch him?" He frowned.
The King looked at them both with an authoritative, stern gaze, "There is a great rage growing within you. You cannot be trusted at this time and thus you are to be watched over until Jaku is brought to justice." And with that The King waved everyone off and left the room. He still couldn't believe what had happened, this tragedy had greatly affected him but being The King he had to stay composed at all times. He thought about abusing his power to change the past but he knew that would only bring about a calamity and knowing this only made it harder. Even being the ruler of the heavens meant nothing when it came to saving one life. The King truly felt powerless and cursed himself for being so.
Huedhaut was brought to his room with Leon, there he would be under strict watch until Jaku was found. Neither, though, was very happy about this.
"You really would do something foolish wouldn't you." Leon furrowed his brows as he looked at Huedhaut whom was blankly staring at the floor as he sat on his bed. "Wouldn't you if you lost the one you love?" Huedhaut coldly replied. Leon shrugged, "I have never been in love." Huedhaut sighed at this. "I understand you greatly miss her... We all do." Leon's tone was actually light and gentle this time, shocking Huedhaut. But then his face turned bitter, "You don't understand how I feel... No one does!" He slightly raised his voice. Leon shook his head, it was true he didn't understand how Huedhaut was feeling but what he did know it was also hard on him to see someone he was close to suffering so much, after all, it was you who taught Leon the importance of valuing your friends.
Time slowly went on, seconds felt like minutes and minutes felt like hours, Huedhaut just wanted to escape from his room and hunt down Jaku but that was exactly while Leon was keeping an eye on him to prevent him from doing something out of his blind rage. However, It didn't take long for the murderous god to be found. He had been found and was being brought into the palace. It was then, Huedhaut devised a plan to escape. Waiting for the opportune time. Huedhaut closely listened into a conversation between Leon and Zyglavis and learnt of the location where Jaku was being held and using his intellect he created a distraction in the room and in their confusion he set down to where the god who murdered you resided.
Standing before the door that housed him, Huedhaut took a deep breath and with eyes filled with hatred he slammed open the door. There he saw Jaku with his arms bound laying on the floor. "You..." Huedhaut breathed in a low, murderous tone. Hearing his voice, Jaku turned around and upon seeing Huedhaut his face twisted into something deranged, "Hahaha," He started laughing as if he was enjoying seeing the pain on Huedhaut's face. "How do you feel to have lost someone so dear to you? It hurts doesn't it. Humans and gods should never be together!" He screamed. But Huedhaut didn't flinch, instead his hatred only deepened, "Who is for you to say who can be together and who can't? You don't know a thing about a love!" Huedhaut shouted back at him, clenching his fists and his eyes shooting daggers at the man.
Jaku started to cackle, "So what are you going to do now? Kill me?" His tone was practically egging Huedhaut on to do something reckless. Huedhaut momentarily looked to floor before turning back upon the man with rageful eyes, "Yes, that is exactly what I will do. You killed someone most precious to me and now you will pay for it with your life." He said, a great light enveloping his hand and within it formed a spear, a spear of pure destructive light.
Jaku looked at him with a dark expression, "So be it. Just know that no matter what you do, nothing will bring her back. Nothing!" Jaku shouted, taking in delight the fact he had forever ripped you two apart. "Shut up!" Huedhaut shouted with a most frightful expression and at the same time threw the spear in his direction.
"Wait! Stop!" Voices called from outside, they appeared to be those of Zyglavis and Leon but it was too late, the spear was already on course. Seeing the spear coming for him, Jaku's face twisted into something terrifying and evil. The spear pierced right through his chest and in a moment a great light surrounded him and upon it vanishing the god was no more; he had been completely incinerated.
"No... We were too late." Leon and Zyglavis looked on in horror when they saw nothing but the gods ashes on the floor and near him was Huedhaut overcome with grief as he kneeled on the floor.
Huedhaut now stood before The King in the throne room about to be punished for his impulsive actions.
"Huedhaut... My poor Huedhaut. I know you are suffering greatly but what you have done is not something that can be taken lightly. Killing another god, regardless what they have done and out of cold blood is punishable by the law of the heavens." The King spoke clear and firm, it was times like this he wished he wasn't The King of the heavens as delivering punishments to those whom he viewed as his children and were already suffering greatly...pained him deeply.
Huedhaut waited in silence to hear what his punishment would be, his hands balled into fist and his teeth clenched.
"I hereby sentence you to the life of a human. You will be stripped of your status and sent down to Earth." The King having delivered his punishment awaited for Huedhaut to respond.
"Life as a human... Is this some kind of cruel twisted punishment?!" Huedhaut turned towards The King with eyes full of pain and misery, he knew this punishment would be too great for him. To live his life alone on Earth a place that would only remind him of you... He wanted to live no such life.
"Huedhaut! What are you doing!" The King's eyes widened and he jumped from his throne when he saw Huedhaut pull out a dagger, the same one that killed you. Everyone else in the room also grew worried.
"Hue, don't do something stupid!" Leon shouted. "Hue, I know you are hurting but don't do this!" This time it was Dui who called out to him. "Hue, think this over!" Karno cried out, and one after the other all the gods called out to him. But Huedhaut didn't hear any of them, his head was clouded over by the pain of his punishment and the thought of never seeing you again.
Huedhaut looked down at the dagger in his hand, "The dagger that killed her would now be what ends my life... _, soon we will always be together. Like shining stars we will shine upon the heavens and the earth, may our lights never fade..." Huedhaut raised the dagger in the air, completely ignoring the cries of the other gods who had broken out into a sprint to stop him but it was too late, Huedhaut plunged the dagger into his chest piercing his heart.
The gods had now surrounded him and looked down upon him in terror but Huedhaut didn't want to be saved. "Just leave me...I don't want to be without her any longer. Losing her a second time... My life is meaningless now." Huedhaut pleaded that they leave him be, even though the other gods wanted to save him they abided by his wishes.
As Huedhaut laid on the floor with blood flowing from the wound in his chest and from his mouth, The King slowly approached him and kneeling down took him within his arms, "My poor misguided child... Your love is what saved and doomed you. To know a love as strong as you have, it really must be wonderful." The King spoke in kind words as the dying Huedhaut rested in his arms. "I am sorry I failed as a god of the zodiac..." Huedhaut closed his eyes and embraced the pain that consumed him. The King shook his head, "No, you didn't fail. Sometimes love is so strong it will bring even the greatest of men to their knees. You did well my child. Now sleep. May you find peace amongst the stars." And with that Huedhaut breathed his last, dying within the arms of The King. Knowing he was no longer of this world, the gods were so overcome by shock they could feel no pain, no sorrow, all they felt was emptiness in knowing a great man had just passed away.
After laying him to rest, the palace was very quiet and sombre, not even Ichthys was his usual smiling self as it was all just too sad. What was supposed to be a glorious occasion of a god and human having a child in the heavens ended in total darkness and nothing but despair. The King was shaken from having lost one of his own, even if he wasn't his son The King treated him and all the gods like they were. Huedhaut dying within his arms affected him greatly even though he wouldn't admit it, he was The King of the heavens after all and had to stay strong for those around him. Through the years, you and Huedhaut were never forgotten, being told in many tales as the love that spanned centuries and a love so deep that nothing would ever keep you both apart. You both would always be present in the memories of the gods.
