For he was to be her king...
x
When the two kingdoms of Zaphias and Dahngrest were promised an end to the war and times of peace, no one could have been happier than Estellise Sidos Heurrassein, princess of the former. All the bloodshed, the tears, every friend and family hurt by the death of a loved one or the injuries that left others crippled - so pointless and painful to watch.
That was why her agreement to the marriage between kingdoms was firm and resolute, without any hint of hesitation in the slightest. It didn't matter whether it would leave her miserable and heartbroken. As long as swords would stop clashing and people stopped dying, she didn't care.
Everything for the people.
Estellise sat on her lavish bed, staring at the floor as her best friend - her sister, if she could call her that - paced around the room.
"I don't get why you have to get married, Estelle. Can't you find an alternative way to bring peace? Trade routes. Exportable goods. Make someone else go through this marriage. Why does it have to be you?" The brunette threw her arms out in frustration, rustling the small yellow flaps of her dress.
"You know I can't do that, Rita," the pink-haired princess replied, hands clasped in her lap. "I need to do this, otherwise the war will never end."
"But why?" Rita scowled, swinging an arm out again. "Weren't you waiting for that guildsman Lowell to convince everyone on his side of the war to stop fighting? And then when that worked, the two of you-"
"I know that, Rita." Estellise stared distraughtly at the open space in front of her and bit her lip. For the first time, Rita noticed her white knuckles. "But that can't happen anymore. It's..." The princess shook her head slowly. "This... This is the only way. The only way to stop all the unnecessary fighting. It's safe, a-and no one will get hurt."
"You will get hurt. It's not the only way." Rita crossed her arms, foot tapping. "I..." She looked up, determined to do something. "I was nothing before your family rescued me from the remains of Aspio after Tarquron massacred everyone." She spat the words out venomously. "Everyone in this castle raised me like I was your family. I'm... I'm practically your sister, even if we're not blood-related. So I'm as close as they can get to royalty. They'll listen to me."
"What are you saying, Rita...?" Estellise refused to look up, shutting her eyes instead. Please don't say it...
"I'm going to stop the wedding." She glared. "And I'm going to stop the war. Somehow, someway, and people are going to stop dying."
"The wedding is in three weeks, Rita."
"I know. That's why I'm going to stop it."
Estellise shook her head again. "Nothing you say will convince them. It's decided, and it's my choice."
"Like hell it's your choice!" the brunette exploded. "You're supposed fix things on our side while Lowell fixes things on his side! And then when that's all done, the two of you are supposed to marry each other and make him the stupid emperor of Zaphias, or- or give the title to Ioder so-!" She put her fingers to her forehead, breathing deeply to calm her anger. When she glanced up a moment later, she froze.
Spots of grey were forming on the white fabric of the pink-haired princess's dress, rumpled in her lap.
"I know that, Rita. I know that... But it doesn't change anything." Her voice was shaky and uneven, but it didn't crack.
A princess was never to let her speech be hampered.
"I... I'm sorry, Estelle. I... I didn't mean to make you cry." Rita looked at her helplessly, but Estellise just shook her head and wiped her eyes with a weak smile. "It's just... Nothing ever happened because they let things happen. Things happened because someone did something about them. And I'm going to stop everything before it's too late."
x
"I'm sorry, my lady, but the arrangements have been set. The contracts are in place and are undergoing review by the council."
"I refuse to believe it! Take me to the advisor. We will stop this war without the marriage."
"... I'm sorry, my lady, but none of this can be done. There are twenty days until the wedding ceremony, and we must prepare for the treaty."
"You have got to be kidding me."
"... My lady?"
"Get out of my way!"
"M-my lady!"
"I said MOVE!"
...
"Your highness! Your highness!"
"Yes? What's the matter? You look pale..."
"It's- It's Lady Mordio! She's-"
"Oh, no... No, no, no."
"- She's gone! Her clothing, her spell books, a horse from the stable-!"
Twenty days to the wedding.
x
Rita exhaled and straightened her back, wiping the sweat off her brow. Her brown horse snorted, pawing at the grass beneath its hooves.
"I know, I know. I didn't think things through clearly."
It stared at her, unblinking.
"I know it takes days to get to Dahngrest. That's why I brought you along." She dug through her leather pack and offered an apple, which the animal lipped on before eating. Still, it looked at her with an unblinking eye. "Shut up. I'm sending you home when we get three-quarters of the way to the border. It might take two, maybe even three days at the pace we've been going. I don't want to overwork you. Besides, everything about you just screams Zaphias Castle. If I want to live- if you want to live - I have to make the rest of the trip on foot."
The horse snorted and flicked its tail.
"Since when could you understand human, anyway, you big oaf?" Rita placed her hands on the gelding's muzzle and leaned her head against it. "If I die on my way there - which I won't - then..." She closed her eyes as the animal puffed air in her face. "Thanks for everything, Damuron."
She stayed like that for another few moments before pulling away to roll up her black sleeves. She'd stopped by a lake to catch a rest; hopefully no one would find her.
No. No one could find her. Magic sure was useful, especially when it was used to cover up her presence and her tracks.
She knelt low to cup a handful of water, splashing her face with the cool liquid: a refreshing feel compared to the burning anxiety she'd felt as she left the castle grounds. Beside her, Damuron dipped his head low to drink.
Nineteen days to the wedding.
x
"Now where's a lady like you goin' off to?"
"Who the hell are you?"
"Easy now, easy now, I ain't here ta hurt anybody. Look, empty hands, see? Please. Stop the glowin' thing."
"What is your name? Tell me."
"Pushy pushy." Finger in ear. Waggle. "Just a wanderin' fellow tryin' ta get away from the war."
"Your name or I blast you."
"Whoa, okay, okay. The name's Raven, at your service. It's dangerous fer a girl out here all by her lonesome."
"No last name?"
"Nope, none. May I ask yers now, ma'am?"
"No."
"Aw, c'mon. Where're ya headed? Zaphias is all the way behind ya, if yer tryin' ta stay away from the fightin'."
"... I'm going to Dahngrest."
"What? Why? Aren't ya somebody from Zaphias? They're gonna kill ya!"
Shake of the head. "I'm crossing the border to talk their king out of this marriage nonsense. This war will end some other way."
"Y'sure sound sure of yerself. What's it to you if the princess here gets married ta that ol' fogey?"
"This marriage will ruin her." Fiery eyes. "She won't show it, but the thought of it is already - already! - killing her on the inside!"
"How do you know?" Simple curiosity.
"... I just do."
"Welp, luck must be on yer side, lady. I wanna end the war too, and I'm from Dahngrest myself- whoa whoa whoa! Glowin' thing! Away! Please!"
"Spy!"
"I ain't such a thing! I just said I was tryin' ta get away from the war! Look, I can lead you to the king. I don't want nothin' in return but fer all the fightin' ta stop. I'll walk in front of ya so you can blow me up if I do anythin' wrong."
"... Out of my way."
"I'm serious."
"..."
Spread arms. "... Go ahead. Kill me 'cause I'm from the other side. It'll never stop the war."
An internal struggle. "... Walk. And keep your hands where I can see them."
A triumphant grin. "Yes ma'am. May I have yer name now? We can't be travelin' mates if I don't know your name."
"... Rita."
"No last name?"
A touch of colour to her face. "... No."
Eighteen days to the wedding.
x
"That's a mighty fine horse ya got there, by the way." Raven remarked as Rita slid herself off the saddle. The animal couldn't carry the weight of a human all the time.
She ignored him and gathered Damuron's reins in her hand, patting him and giving him a once-over.
"Say, what's his name?"
"That's none of your business." she turned her nose up, crossing her arms. Her nostrils flared cutely.
"Yer mighty cute fer a snob, ya know," he teased.
"Say what you want," she glared, face a tad warmer and hands itching to throw a fireball at him. If he was to lead her to Dahngrest and stay away from the battlefields, she needed him alive and able to walk. "What someone like you thinks of me doesn't matter."
"Aw hey now, that's a bit harsh. Look, you're even blushing! How cute." He stepped up to the horse beside her - she moved a few steps away - and looked the animal in the eye.
Damuron puffed air out his nose, watching the new fellow in front of him.
"Well aren't you a good horsie," Raven smiled cheekily, stroking his muzzle. "Don't even have ta tie you up ta keep you here. Sure are loyal to the feisty, mean lady here." His hand ran over a number of scars. Eyes sharp, he looked at her. "What happened here?"
She fidgeted. "... He was being abused."
"Come again?" He looked almost startled for a second.
Rita grit her teeth, clenching her fists. "Couple of good-for-nothing bastards were supposed to be taking care of him in the castle stables. One day, I found them whipping him, and you could see his ribs. They weren't feeding him." She shook her head to clear it, shaking herself. "... I gave them one little burn and they ran away. Ended up being killed by an assassination attempt meant for m- the princess."
"Poor fella," he found thin scars on his back leading up to the saddle. There was probably more under there, he thought.
She unclenched, and clenched again. Why was she telling this stupid stranger this? "I fed him until he was healthy again. I had someone heal his wounds. I practically raised him, I guess. I don't know. He's saved my life more than enough times now." The horse turned his head to eye her and she gave a helpless smile. "Sometimes it seems like he can understand us, and then the next minute he gets stupid as hell. Like a human."
"Hah," he snorted. "What were ya doin' around the castle, anyway?"
The hostility came back. "None of your business."
"All right, all right, I got it, sheesh. Just curious, that's all." He put his hands up in his defense.
They walked forward in silence.
Seventeen days to the wedding.
x
Blood. Blood blood blood.
So much blood, everywhere.
Stop the war. Stop it. All it brings is pain and suffering and hurt and-
Death.
Death and blood and tears and pain and neverending hatred and oh god why does it have to be like this-
Don'tlookdon'tlookdon'tlook-
Those two girls, those two girls, one with green hair, one with red hair, their - father? - they just wanted to protect, protect, dead, dead, deaddeaddead-
They shouldn't have even been near this place.
Hurry up, hurry, or it will never end, never nevernever.
Stop it. Stop it. Stopstopstop!
"LOOK OUT!"
x
Damuron lay breathing heavily on the ground, blood pouring out from the wound in his chest. Rita held her hands over the hole above his heart, trying to stop the bleeding. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
"I sent you back yesterday! Yesterday! Why did you follow us?" she cried out with a sob. "This is a battlefield! You're not a war horse, you were supposed to go back! I told you it was dangerous, you stupid horse!"
Despite the pain, Damuron just flicked his tail at her, as if to say don't be stupid. Like I was going back without you.
Rita's hands slipped against the skin, slick with blood. She pushed back on the wound desperately. "You're not supposed to die here, you idiot! You were supposed to go home and wait for me to come back! Don't," she swallowed, blinded by tears. "Don't die here."
Raven watched from behind, wishing things had gone any other way that wouldn't bring pain.
"I know! I'll- I'll cauterize the wound. Th-that will stop the... the bleeding. We'll wrap you in a lot of bandages, you stupid horse, a-and we'll-"
"Rita."
"We'll get you to a... to a healer. We'll get you there as soon as poss-"
"Rita, it's no use."
She whirled around, glaring blindly. "What do you know what can be done or not? There's still... We can save him! I'll just... cauterize the-" Her whole body was shaking so much.
"That won't stop the bleeding," Raven reasoned with her helplessly. "It might look like it, but he'll still be bleedin' on the inside no matter what ya do, and it'll hurt like hell. I'm sorry."
"No! There has to be a way! Don't die on me, Damuron. Don't die on me, goddammit!"
She could feel his life slipping away. She sobbed harder and heavier, hands slipping and returning, shifting and sliding.
The horse, with a shuddering breath, used the last of his energy to bump his head with her shoulder, almost as if to tell her don't worry, I'm fine.
Then, he went still.
Rita cried out, hands pushing harder on the injury. "Don't joke around like that! It's not funny! Get up, damn you!"
"Rita."
Her shoulders jerked, and she stilled as reality hit her like a ton of bricks.
"... I'm sorry. He's gone."
Rita pulled her hands away, staring at her blurry red palms. The blood blended with her gloves; the only indication that there was blood was that it stained her fingers. They couldn't stay still.
None of her would stay still.
Something wrapped around her, warm and heavy. Rita turned around to find herself in Raven's arms, staring into his bright teal eyes. He held her gently, like she would break at even the lightest touch. But when she buried her face in his chest and clung on desperately, sobbing, he held her tighter and tighter until there was nothing left in the world but him and her and sorrow and a need to be with her-
One silver-haired man - traitor to Zaphias and everyone but himself - lay dead in the field, lone arrow in the chest.
Fifteen days to the wedding.
x
One tombstone, one plot, one cross, one horse.
Two prayers, two people, two hearts, one source.
Enough tears and sadness and pain and wishing-
Determination and fire all over again.
x
"We should be about half-way ta the city by now," Raven commented out of nowhere. "Should take us a couple more days ta get to the capital."
"Good. The sooner we can get there, the better." She fiddled with the things on her clothes - the little pocketbooks and the pens and even the large book she'd attached to the back. It was something he learned that she did when she thought of magic and inventions and people. "We need to hurry up and get this over with."
It had become an increasing habit for her to fiddle with her tools.
The edge of a town appeared in the east; Rita could tell it was well-populated and bustling. There was even a coliseum.
"Agreed." Raven spread his arms out wide. "Man, I can't believe how much land there is between Zaphias n' Dahngrest. If I were king, I'd put one, maybe two new cities along this route. Y'know, fer people ta live and for trade and that kinda crap. I'd call it..." He stroked his chin. "Heliord. Or... somethin' like that. Maybe."
Rita scoffed. "Heliord? That sounds like the kind of place nobles would go to take advantage of everyday-people who work hard. I bet they'd promise to allow them to become nobles if they work hard enough. Too bad that's not how it works."
"How does it work, then, O'Knowledgeable One? If ya don't mind my askin' if that is." Raven waved a flimsy hand around.
"You can't work to become a noble. They won't let it. The only way is to be born a noble, or to be raised in a noble family - but then you'd be a lesser noble. It's stupid, really. That's why nobility is stupid." She wasn't insulting herself. She was insulting every member of nobility who thought they were above anyone and everyone. "Or if the emperor chooses to give you a title of nobility, or something like it."
"And you know this how?" Again with the questions.
"It's... none of your business." Again with the same response.
"Stingy," he cross his arms behind his head and hmmed. "That's why Dahngrest ain't a city of nobles an' royalty. Only strong leaders have the right to take over. Always through a fair fight, though. The place hates assassins. Kill the king while he's sleepin' and yer exiled. Fight in a fair match with him and win - but he doesn't hafta die - and yer the new king."
She mulled over it. "That... makes sense, I guess."
There was a pause as they walked forward.
"... What would ya call it then?
Rita looked up. "Call what?"
"The towns. Y'know."
She looked thoughtful for a moment. Estelle had always liked the name... "Aurnion."
"Aurnion, huh?" He stroked his chin. "That has a nice ring to it. Somethin' like the land a' hope, right?"
She paused, flabbergasted. How did he...? "Yeah, something like that."
"Don't look at me like that, lady," he looked back with a crooked grin. "I'm not illiterate. That name comes from a pretty popular book." He faced forward again.
Rita eyed the back of his head suspiciously. It was popular, alright. Popular around nobles. Not enough commoners were taught to read or write, let alone have enough money to scrape by.
Either this scruffy man was a literate thief, or he was hiding something from her.
Eleven days to the wedding.
x
"Hey. Old man."
"Hm?"
"That, over there," Rita pointed. "That's the city of Dahngrest, right?"
"Oh. Uh, yeah." He had a faraway look in his eyes.
Rita eyed him suspiciously. "What's the big deal?"
"What?"
"That!" He looked at her, startled. "You've been out of it since yesterday! What's the matter with you?"
"There's nothin' wrong with me. I'm perfectly normal! Fit as can be!" He held up his arms, flexing in a pose.
"I'm not falling for that." She gave him the stink eye.
"Ain't nothin' ta fall for, my dear." Raven gave her the sketchiest smile he could muster. It was bright and soft and kind and clearly something must have been up.
Nevermind that something stupid in her nearly skipped a beat.
Seven days to the wedding.
… Just a few days before the king and Estelle leave to meet at the border.
x
"He never wanted ta' start the war, y'know."
"What are you talking about?"
"The guy you call the king a' this place. Never wanted to start the war."
"... Then why did it happen?"
A sigh. "He can't control anythin' these days. Everythin's been done by other guildsmen under 'im - and spies. It's sorta somethin' like what the Zaphias Council guys are doin'." Hand through hair. "Doesn't wanna get married, but it was the only way he could think of to stop those guys from takin' the war even further. Doesn't hurt anyone too bad."
Clenched fist. "It hurts Este- the princess."
"... What would you do to help her?"
"Anything. Anything and everything."
A mutter. "... We'll see about that..."
"What was that?"
"Nothin', my dear."
…
"Look, I'm sorry, but this is the farthest I'll go."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm a bit of a wanted man here, ya see. Can't get very far when there're guards everywhere."
Skeptism pushed to the back of her mind. She'd deal with it later.
"Then..." Faintly flustered. "Thanks. For all the help."
"Anythin' and everythin', darlin'." A kiss to the forehead.
Gone.
x
Rita hadn't even been walking for ten minutes when a trio of guards had stopped her.
"Halt!"
"I say, Halt!"
She glared at them, fingers itching to throw fireballs at them. "What do you want?"
The burly man saluted, hand in a fist over his heart. "My lady, our Lord Monarch wishes to see you."
"... Lord Monarch?" She held back a snort of laughter. "Can't you just call him a king?"
"I say, do you mock us?"
"How infuriating!"
"Silence!" The burly one whipped out his arm to shut them up. "Yes. Many of us do call him a king. It is just that I-"
"Okay," she interrupted him. "I'm pretty sure you've got the wrong person. I'm-"
"You are Lady Mordio, correct?" She stared at him, shocked. "Our Majesty has declared that you are to be a guest. He has instructed us to bring you to his castle."
Rita narrowed her eyes. How would he-?
"Take me to him."
Six days to the wedding.
x
"These are your quarters while you're here, my lady." The maid with the antennae bowed. Rita looked around the room, scanning the hearth and the fresh clothes laid out on the bed. "The king has said that you will probably appreciate a hot bath before meeting with him." She gestured to the door to the bathroom. "We trust it has been a long journey."
Rita looked at her. "... You're enjoying this too much."
"Oh, my, what do you mean?" She had a gloved hand resting on her cheek as if she was surprised.
"You're not a maid, are you?"
"You could tell?" The "maid" smiled.
"Yeah."
"You're correct. I'm not a maid, but It is fun though," she remarked with a beautiful smile. Rita looked at the small object handing from one of the antennae.
… Damn, it was cute.
"What's your name?" Rita watched her clasp her hands behind her back and lean forward.
"Oh, you'll find out eventually. I'll leave you to your bath, now." She winked, shut the door, and was gone.
Rita looked grimly at the grime-covered clothes she was wearing. She was caked with blood and dirt.
With a last glance to her once blood-soaked hands, Rita pulled off her clothing and stepped into the bath.
x
Rita walked into the room wearing the clean clothes she had stored in the very bottom of her leather pack - clothes that showed who she was, and that she was from Zaphias, and that she was someone to listen to.
Someone sat on the throne - presumably the king, but the lights of the blastia beside him shone brightly in her direction. She couldn't see his face at all. The "maid" from before nudged her foreward, encouraging her to speak first.
"My-" Rita cleared her throat, which had become as dry as sandpaper. "My name is Rita Mordio, of- of Zaphias." She licked her lips, squinting her eyes against the blinding lights. "I... would like to request that..."
He waved a hand, indicating that she go on. Her eyes narrowed when she noticed the laidback way he had his legs crossed, left cheek leaning against his knuckles. He wasn't taking her seriously.
Gritting her teeth, Rita sank low onto her hands and knees.
"Please," she raised her voice desperately, face to the floor. The workers of the castle gasped slightly - nobility did not bow on their hands or knees; that was what commoners did! "Stop the war. Stop the war without marrying Princess Estellise. She's going to die on the inside if she goes through with this. I," she swallowed, eyes shut tightly, then touched her forehead to the floor. There was the clank of metal boots - the sound of someone standing. "I beg you."
"Get up," the voice ordered. "There is no need to beg, especially on the floor."
Rita stiffened, not looking up.
"Get up and tell me," she could hear the tilt of his head as he asked: "What would you do to help her, this princess of yours? What will you do to keep her happy and stop this war?"
Rita swallowed, then spoke to the ground. "You know the answer, you rotten old bastard."
"Humour me."
She stood up, glaring into his teal eyes. "Anything and everything."
The tan, clean-shaven face of Schwann Oltorain smirked at her fire and determination as the blinding lights faded.
"Then," he extended a metallic gloved hand towards her, "will you be my bride instead?"
Thoughts ran throughout her mind as she glared heatedly.
"The princess will be spared, and the war will end. Neither council nor guildsmen will allow the war to end should a marriage between our two kingdoms not occur." He looked her up and down, eyes showing approval at her strong stance and fiery eyes. "You are not true royalty, but you have been raised as one. No one can object if we are to wed. I ask again: will you be my bride?"
He would have been dead ten times over if looks could kill, given the deathly glare that never left her face.
"... I accept."
"Excellent," he grinned predatorily. "I will send a courier to the Zaphias Castle to alert them of the news." He turned to the "maid" with the antennae. "Judith."
She nodded to him. "I'll call Ba'ul."
"How long?"
"At most, two days." The king and the pretend-maid nodded, and they all watched as she left the room.
Schwann turned back to Rita. "Now, my queen, shall we have the preparations set?"
She grit her teeth, fighting a whirlwind of emotions.
"If that is what you wish, my king."
x x x
A/N: ...
That's right. I turned Damuron into a horse. 8D
I uploaded this from google docs onto ffnet, and the weirdest thing is how google docs said 4400-ish words, and ffnet says 5300-ish words. Huh. Oh another note, an update! Yeah. Alternate universe mumbo jumbo, Dahngrest being a kingdom, Rita being a noble? And Schwannisakingwtf. My friend gave me the prompt, and suddenly I had so much in my mind that I just... wanted to make it into a multichapter. But I slapped myself and said no, you have Blast Heart. Hurry up and update, dammit. Yeah. This one is very snippet-y with a couple of styles and an unintentional sort-of-poem.
On another note, I will probably continue on in this world with Queen, because I had so many ideas. Maybe. It almost makes me want to pull it apart and make it a multi- in the future, just by pulling out each snippet and adding more for a chapter. But... I don't think I'll do that. Too much to do~
Sorry. I'll get back to working on Blast Heart now.