~~~Part 12, begin~~~Reyson POV~~~
"SHE CAN'T BE DOING THIS!!!" I screamed to myself. I watched in disbelief as Cenna and Elincia planned what they would do. I was so frustrated that I wasn't even listening to them plan. I was standing off to the side, totally uninvolved.
"Reyson." Cenna said suddenly. I looked up and saw that everyone but us had left. Cenna took two steps to stand in front of me. "Are you okay?"
"How can you be going through with this?" I asked her.
"Reyson, we'll be fine. The stand that Elincia and I will make could change this war."
"But the stone-"
"I can resist. I did for many years; I can for a few hours." She rested a gently hand on my cheek. "I need you to trust me. And now, I need you to leave."
"What?"
"I need you to go back to Tibarn, and tell him what is happening. Imagine if he comes and sees me just standing there."
I could imagine it. He would be furious.
She smiled at me. "That is why I need you to go back. To protect my brother from getting hurt."
I sighed. "I'll do it. Should I leave now?"
"No." She said quickly. "I want you to stay tonight."
"When are you putting on the necklace?"
"In a few hours. I need to get used to the…effects, before having to meet with Begnion."
"Effects?"
"The worst one is pain. And weakness. Because laguz are naturally strong in body, to suddenly be like a beorc is a big shock. It would even shock a heron, it is so bad." She looked up at me. "I don't want to be alone when I have to deal with the pain. And with waking up in the morning. I don't know if I can do it alone."
I watched a tear fall from her eye.
"Please don't cry, Cenna. I really don't like it."
That got a smile out of her. "Elincia said that she had a tent erected for us. I am tired, so I am sure that you must be." She took my hand. "Let's get some rest." Cenna pulled me out of the meeting tent and diagonal across camp. She paused at a tent, pushed the flap aside, and led me in. A mat had been laid out for us, so we laid ourselves out on it and curled into each other.
Cenna woke me up what seemed like twenty minutes later. A quick glance at my surroundings told me that it had been hours.
"It's time." Was all she said. Cenna reached into her shirt and pulled out a leather bag attached to a cord. She pulled the bag off, revealing a small, black, spherical stone. She looked at me, eyes bright. "I love you." Was all she said before releasing the cord. I saw a spark, then she fell forward into me.
"Cenna!" I whispered to her. Already, her skin looked sullen, unhealthy. "I love you too." I laid her back down and kept her close to my chest as I fell back asleep.
Once again, I awoke because of Cenna. It was now morning and she was changing into regular beorc clothes. "Morning, Reyson." She said suddenly.
"Good morning, Cenna. How are you feeling?" I asked standing up.
She turned to face me. "I'm…okay."
She didn't look it. Her skin was still pale, grayish, and it looked like her body was out of place in itself. And her eyes! They had sunk in, and even at her most exhausted, they hadn't looked this tired. Usually, their gold colors shone and were exceptionally bright. But now…now they were faded, almost rusty in color. She took a step toward me, and I saw how unsteady she was. It was horrible. I could see a small grimace on her face as she made different movements. "Cenna…." I gathered her in my arms and kept her close.
"You should be going, Reyson. You have a long trip ahead." She murmured into my chest.
I didn't want to leave her like this. But just as I thought that, Geoffrey called from the outside. Cenna asked him to enter and he did. He took one look at the two of us embracing and said, "I'll take good care of her, Prince Reyson. I did the last time, when she first came to us, and I will again."
I nodded. "Thank you, Sir Geoffrey. I cannot thank you enough."
Cenna unwrapped herself from my arms and Geoffrey led her out, me behind. Almost immediately, she collapsed into Geoffrey's waiting arms. I took a hasty step forward, but a word from Cenna stopped me. "Don't, Reyson. I'm ok. You need to get going. Do you remember the way?"
"Yes." I replied. "Please be safe, Cenna." I stepped forward again and she let me as Geoffrey released her. I took her in my arms and placed a loving kiss on her head. "I'm leaving my heart with you."
"And you are taking mine." Was her reply. Geoffrey had pulled a horse around and was holding it, ready for Cenna's use. She took a step back from me. "Give me a boost?"
I laced my fingers and held them like a step close enough to the ground for her to reach in her weakened state, yet high enough up to help her into the saddle. She lifted a foot to my hands and then the stirrup. Once she was seated safely in the saddle, Geoffrey handed her the reigns and she held them perfectly. He then mounted up and waved to me.
"Safe travel, Reyson."
I nodded. "And safe…whatever it is these two women have planned." I saw Cenna smile. "Goodbye."
Geoffrey led her away from me and I headed for the camp's exit. Once there, I shifted quickly and began to fly.
The flight that had taken us nearly a day only took me about six hours. Once I saw the edge of the Laguz army, I shifted and angled down. I landed carefully in the middle of camp. Tibarn had seen me coming and rushed out to meet me, anger plan on his face when he saw that I was alone.
"Where's Cenna?" he demanded.
"She stayed with Elincia." I panted.
"Why? Why didn't you bring her back?!"
"Don't you think I tried?" I replied, rubbing my temples in a frustrated manner. "Do think I want to her to do what she is planning?"
"What? What is she planning?"
"Tibarn." Called Ike's voice. "Can't the interrogation wait until Reyson has had a chance to sit down and eat a little? He's dead on his feet, if you haven't noticed."
Tibarn paused thoughtfully. "I'm sorry, Reyson. It's just-"
"You're worried about Cenna, I know." I interrupted. "I'll tell you everything, once I sit down."
Tibarn and Ike led me into a tent and offered me a seat. I gladly took it and sighed, finally being off my feet. A second later Ike, Soren, and Titania joined Tibarn, Skrimir, Ranulf, and I, Titania carrying some bread in her hands.
"Here Reyson." She handed me the loaf and I tore into it, like the graceful heron prince I was.
Ike laughed. "Slow down, Reyson; you don't want to choke on it!"
I finished quickly. "Thank you." I stood, already feeling much better. "What Elincia and Cenna have planned is…peace. Elincia wants to hold a peace talk with Begnion, and Cenna has decided to support her. Both of them intend on going out unarmed."
"How is Cenna managing that?" Tibarn asked.
"A stone. It's a weird, black, spherical shape. When it touched laguz skin, to nullifies our abilities. But the effects," I shuddered uncontrollably, "are horrible. The laguz is left weak, a mere shell of his or her former shelf." I turned my face away from the group of people that could have possibly loved Cenna more than I did. "I could barely looked at her." I finally whispered so quietly that I thought no one could hear.
A hand appeared on my shoulder. "Reyson, we all know that Cenna is headstrong and fearless, just like another member of hawk royalty that we know." Titania said. "She'll be fine; Geoffrey won't allow any harm to come to either of them."
Now Ike spoke. "We need to get moving. I want to reach them as fast as possible. Titania , tell everyone to get packed up. Ranulf, will you go to the laguz?"
"Of course." Both replied and left.
I sat back down, suddenly exhausted again. I closed my eyes and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. A blanket was draped over me. "Get some rest, Reyson." Tibarn said. "We won't be leaving for an hour."
"Thank you." I whispered. Tibarn and I were quiet for a minute. "I'm sorry, Tibarn. I couldn't do anything to bring her back. If I thought that something, anything, I could have said would have brought her back here, I would have said it."
"I know that, Reyson. I know that you love her. And I know that you tried."
I looked at him for the first time since landing. "Thank you, Tibarn."
"Can I ask a question, though?"
"Please."
"Why did she send you back? I also know how much she loves you, and whatever made her send you back must have been great. I want to know what-"
"It was you. She sent me back to tell you what she was doing, that way when you saw her with Elincia on a horse you wouldn't freak out as much."
He chuckled. "My sister knows me all too well. Thank you, Reyson. It couldn't have been easy for you to just leave her like that, with people you barely knew."
"She trusted them. I figured I could give them the same honor." I stood. "But I want to get there as soon as possible." I took a weak step forward. Tibarn grabbed my shoulders to support me.
"Rest a little bit more, Reyson. I'm not going to stop you from being in the battle, but I am going to ask you to stay safe and if it becomes too much to just stop. Ike, Janaff, and Ulki will be watching, so don't try to get away with anything funny."
"Alright. Do you mind if I just rest outside? All I need is a few minutes to lay down."
"Of course." He handed me a blanket. "Use this."
"Thank you." I accepted the blanket, exited the tent, and found a spot out of the way to lay down. I used the blanket as a pillow, and slept peacefully for a short time.
"Reyson, it's time to wake up." Tibarn's voice woke me gently. I stood quickly and brushed myself off. "Feel better?"
"Much. Let's get going."
We began to march.
~~~Part 12, Fin~~~
