Chapter 12: Henrietta Chooses Her Love
As dawn crawled out of the dusk a restless Kazuko laid in his bed with nothing but a calm peace of mind in his thoughts. Only a picture, a memory, one single image that he thought through the night was Henrietta.
He could not stop thinking of anything else. Not even his own brother, whom he has not seen for almost a hundred thousand lifetimes length did not enter his attention-span.
He awoke with much pride and joy eager to see her again. Hoping to receive an answer from her. Even if she declined, though not preferred by any means to Kazuko, just seeing her gave him a sense of simplicity to his life.
Like he was living it, no lives hung in the balance and there was no dangers to face. Though officially he did need to know the origin of his familiar mark, it did not matter regardless.
All that mattered was how he approached her in trying to start for now a stronger friendship with her highness. But his happiness faded the second Itsuki came in and delivered an urgent message to Kazuko, Saito, and Louise. "Everybody! Someone took Henrietta late last night!", Itsuki screamed trying to convey the seriousness of the situation.
Itsuki brought them all in one room to explain all he knew. "Currently Agnes, of her majesty's musketeer's is conducting search parties around the area. But they have only been able to produce a general area of where Henrietta is being taken to. Lagdorian Lake.", Itsuki explained.
"So you came here to ask for our help correct Itsuki? I mean you of all people should be out there looking for her.", said Kazuko.
"Indeed I doubt that your answers are no, but I had to tell you anyway. I will head back to the captain and rejoin the search party. You three should catch up soon correct?", asked Itsuki.
"You bet were all responsible for Henrietta and if we don't help her she may not make it in time for you to show up. No offense.", said Saito. Itsuki left on his horse and rode back to the search party. Meanwhile Kazuko , Saito, and Louise were going to catch up in the WWII plane. Though not finished it's repairs, it could still fly and that's all that mattered.
Kazuko stood by on one of it's wings while Saito piloted it and Louise stood on his lap in the cockpit. Louise and Kazuko were the most worried about Henrietta, with Kazuko trying not to lose his anger. His rage could only be tempered for so long but having Henrietta in mortal danger made his rage only more uncontrollable.
Hours Beforehand...
In the palace Henrietta alone in her room looked upon her box that contained the Tristain ring of the royal family. She recalled of the time of her first meeting with Prince Wales, the love of her life. That night at Lagdorian Lake she and Wales made an oath to the water spirits confessing their undying love for each other.
She had mixed feelings about Kazuko though. He was the person responsible for his death, but it was not of his own doing. And she has a connection yet to be realized by himself. Her feelings were mixed on two men who meant a lot to her. Yet she still missed one who she was willing to spend her life with.
She wondered if she could even go on without the fact he was alive. She cried at the fact Wales was dead and prayed for a miracle. Her ring flashed blue and a voice echoed the room. "My beloved Henrietta, it is me Wales.", a shadowy figure said outside her room."Wales, no it can't be you are dead!", said Henrietta.
"No. The one who died was a decoy. Fooling the demon who orchestrated my demise was no simple task. Even the one who, rumor has it executed that task unintentionally believed I died. Let me prove I am who I say I am.", Wales held out the royal ring of Albion. Flashing purple as did Henrietta's ring flashing blue. Only those two could create a rainbow together.
Water and wind create a unifying beauty unparalleled. She ran in to his arms happy beyond belief to see him alive. "I want you to come with me to Albion my darling. To be together forever.", said Wales. Henrietta refused knowing the danger he would be in if he returned. She hoped he'd stay with her in Tristain instead.
"It is a prince's duty, I must go. I love you Henrietta come with me.", Wales said trying to get her to come with him. He succeeded and they rode off in to the night to spend their lives together. But Henrietta was still conflicted about it.
Back to the present...
Henrietta laid in Wales' arms as they rode to the place where they first met. Wales reassured her that they would be together no matter who got in the way of their love. Wales accelerated his horse knowing he was being pursed. Itsuki, Agnes and the gunpowder squad gave chase as they were on Wales' tail.
"I see her. Pick up the pace I want that kidnapper alive and interrogated!", said Itsuki to Agnes. Then a blast of magic came toward Itsuki. He yelled out, "Evasive Action!", barley letting the blast hinder their pursuit. Wales then fired another wind spell not allowing his goal to be stopped.
"If you have to aim then aim at the horse. Rather have to deal with some bumps and cuts on the queen than a hole in her head.", said Itsuki. Agnes tried to catch up to them but Wales shot out another blast and this time Agnes didn't react quickly ' wind spell hit Agnes directly at her knocking her and Itsuki off their trail.
Henrietta did not understand the point of his attacks and asked why he was doing such drastic measures. "Wales what are you doing that's the representative of The Order! He won't be merciful if you continue this!", Henrietta said trying to temper Wales.
"Forgive me but I will not allow anyone to stop us. Just follow the oath and we will be together. my love.", Wales reassured her.
Henrietta was conflicted about it but she loved him. She didn't want to lose him yet she was putting herself in danger. She wondered how would Kazuko react to this.
She thought he'd be enraged for letting him try and kill his own brother. She felt ashamed, her mind was swimming in confusion. With no definite answer to help her decide for herself.
Meanwhile Saito was having trouble piloting the plane. The engine was still damaged and Saito tried his best to keep them from crashing. "Hey Saito! Any ideas on how to make sure we don't crash and burn?", asked Kazuko.
"No I say were going to crash unless you teleport us off safely to the ground.", Saito suggested.
"At the same time we won't catch up to Itsuki!", Kazuko said. Then the planes engine started to fail and they all started nose-diving to the ground. "Hang on! I'll get us down! But you have to get out of the cockpit and grab my hand!", yelled Kazuko. Saito tried opening it but the hatch was stuck. The force of gravity kept the hatch shut.
"Hold on I'm going to- WHAO!", Kazuko fell off the plane unable to hold on any longer. Saito and Louise thought for sure they'd be dead but then a gust of wind balanced out the plane. Tabitha and Kirche followed the three on their mission on Tabitha's familiar and went to assist them. Kazuko was on Tabitha's familiar safe and sound hanging on one of it's legs.
Luckily they all found Henrietta with Wales as they reached the lake. The plane then swooped around the ridge of the lake causing Wales' horse to drop the two off of it in panic. Wales was surprised by the plane having never seen it before. But he knew that they would interrupt him and Henrietta from making their vow.
Kazuko looked down and could not believe that Wales was alive! "That's impossible! I killed him! Did he survive? Wait a second?", Kazuko recalled the incident and remembered he didn't just kill him but his anger practically would've had to incinerate his body. "The ring of Andvari! Nightmare must have reformed his body and used the ring to bring him back to life!", Kazuko had to get down there and stop Wales.
Saito and Louise landed on the shore of the lake trying to talk Henrietta in to coming back with them. "Henrietta! You have to come back!, Wales isn't he same one you ounce knew.", cried Kazuko.
"Stop speaking nonsense. She desires to be with me. And what would persuade her to do otherwise?", taunted Wales.
"Wales don't tell me you used the ring of Andvari to revive yourself?", said Saito.
"Hehehehehe...The Ring of Andvari eh? I may have heard of it. I heard the myths surrounding it, they say that it grant's the dead another life. And if that's true then it may be a quite a dreadful problem among you all.", Wales said.
"Kazuko, Saito, Louise.. All of you! This is the Wales that I knew and loved! Please stop speaking such strange things!", pleaded Henrietta.
"Your majesty that isn't Wales! It's an ancient spirit. Please believe me! I would never try to make you of all people unhappy. But that isn't him!", Kazuko said trying to convince her.
"Ah you seem to be showing real feelings toward her. Well sorry to burst your bubble but she loves me! And I won't lose her to some filthy person like you! What would she see in you?", Wales taunted. As the setting grew bleak the weather reflected upon the ordeal. "Now step aside you have no chance against me.", Wales gloated.
Tabitha thought there to be no other option and fired icicles directly at Wales. They all sharply passed through him and cut through his body. Yet he still was alive. "It is useless. Your attacks can't harm nor wound me.", Wales said. Wales then shout out his wind magic spells knocking out Tabitha and Kirche.
"Princess you saw that! He isn't the man you knew!", cried Louise. Henrietta was in a stalemate. She saw that the man she loved attacked her own friends, yet she still stood there. She saw something different in him that proved Louise was right. But she wouldn't let that deter her from her love. But she stopped and looked at Kazuko, her most trusted friend and possible lover.
She looked at his face. Sadness, depression, and fear were all on his face, like a mask that would make anyone feel pity. She thought to herself how could she do this to him? He was her familiar and if he did not take her side on this then where did she stand at all?
She looked upon Wales and saw something that made her fell far less sympathy. She made her choice and had to live with the consequences. "Wales...", a long pause filled the air and the pouring rain was yet another reflection of the sorrow she was feeling. The rain felt like hail, as bitter as her heart was feeling.
"I can't... I can't follow you on this anymore... not like this...", Henrietta said in softness and depression. Wales was astonished by this outcome.
"How could you?! We made and oath together! We proclaimed our love for each other under the spirits! How could you turn back on us now!", demanded Wales.
She could not answer. He then pointed his wand at Henrietta forcing her to do it. "If you do not join me, then what do I have left to lose?", he said somberly.
"No! Don't you have any bit of your old self left in you?! If you truly loved her then let her go!", cried Kazuko.
Wales knew for a fact that Kazuko was right. His words spoke truth. And then he did the unthinkable. He used his last spell on himself dispelling the magic that was keeping him alive. He pointed the wand at his head and casted the spell. He fell to the ground as his life began fading away.
Henrietta screamed in horror of the sheer extremes of Wales' act. She went to his side and held him in his final moments. Wales used the last of his strength to do one last deed. "Henrietta, before I leave I want you to make an oath with me. And forgive me...", he said wiping away Henrietta's tears.
"What oath?", Henrietta asked.
"Forget about me.. Make an oath to forget about me and fall in love with someone more worthy than I...", he said. "I want to hear those words with the water spirit as our witness...", Wales continued.
"I can't make an oath like that!", Henrietta cried out.
"Please do it for me... So that you are free...", Wales said. "I can't Wales! Please.", Henrietta pleaded.
"I'm running out of time...", Wales gasped.
Henrietta's tears flowed down like a water fall. She tried to hold herself together yet she could not. She looked at Wales and she slowly whispered, "I will...", she said as his life gave him one last sentence of his undying love for Henrietta.
"I love you Henrietta and I always will, forgive me... I will love you forever...", and with his final words he died peacefully this time.
Henrietta cried as his hand dropped to the ground signifying his death. Everyone watched in silence. Louise hugged Saito with his arms around her trying to comfort her in the drama. Kazuko kneeled down near Henrietta slowly holding out his hand to her.
She looked at Kazuko and wrapped her arms around him hugging him. He held her close trying to comfort her and said nothing. He looked at Wales and knew that no matter what happens now in Henrietta's life no one loved her more than him.
He coddled her and he himself shed tears from his eyes knowing he caused her pain that no weapon could ever inflict. The weather changed with the clouds splitting apart and spawning a rainbow over the horizon.