The Open Book
The Open Book
By: KellyCRocker59
Chapter Thirteen: Changes
Wow; it's been a REALLY long time. Sorry about that. Anyway, I went crazy with typing (I did this entire chapter in about an hour), so I hope it turned out alright. Enjoy!
The small group rose early the next morning, Forde being the last one to get packed up. He mounted his steed and rode up next to Vanessa.
"Sleep well?" He asked.
She nodded.
"Thanks about the talk last night, Forde. It gave me something to think about."
He nodded.
"Glad to help. I mean, I hate to see anyone not able to be with someone they love."
"Everyone, the ruins are just over these hills. Prepare yourselves for anything." Moulder interrupted.
"What do you think about this place?" Vanessa asked.
Forde shrugged.
"I dunno. No one's ever supposedly left here alive, but whatever. I'm not going to let that stop me from returning home."
"Well, I hate to burst your bubble, Forde, but we still have a war to go back to when we leave these ruins." Vanessa said.
"Well, my home is mobile." Forde said, mind wondering to those last fleeting times he had had with Kyle before leaving.
This seemed to baffle Vanessa, but by then they had crossed the final hill, and before them stood the ruins.
"This is it, everyone." Moulder said.
Forde's eyes scanned the area. It was huge; a massive expanse of dark stone that spread over the land. It was dark and quite mysterious; a strangely negative aura lingered over it.
"It's time, everyone." Moulder said, and the group followed the bishop down the hill and toward the ruins.
The army rose fairly late the morning after the encounter with Lyon; Kyle was one of the early risers, packing his things and heading out to the diminished campfire, where he saw Syrene sitting quietly, eyes focused on the lightly smoking logs.
The falco knight looked up at the knight as he stood beside her.
"Good morning, Kyle. How did you sleep?"
"Very well; you?"
She nodded.
"It was nice; I actually felt safe sleeping with such a large group as this."
"Well, I hope that feeling lasts, but I don't know; we are in the middle of a war."
She nodded once more.
"Yes, I know. Remember; we spoke of all of this yesterday."
Kyle sat.
"True; but what about now? I don't exactly make friends easily, and it's nice to have someone to talk to."
"You mean you have gone this entire campaign without a single person to speak with."
"Oh, no. I do have this one guy; he's a knight too, and we've known each other since we were infants. We were…very close, but he actually left with Vanessa on that trip to the ruins that I told you about."
"Oh yes. Why is it that they went there?"
Kyle shrugged.
"I don't know. Lord Ephraim makes the decisions; I simply follow orders."
"Yes, and you do take those very seriously." She replied, returning her gaze to the logs.
"What do you mean?" Kyle asked.
"Well, I mean that…don't you ever question your orders? I know that when I was with my battalion of knights, I was constantly thinking about the orders my commander was giving, like 'is that really a good idea?' or 'why are we going this way?', or even 'doesn't she know what she's talking about?' Just in this short time that I've known you, I've seen how you just execute the commands that Lord Ephraim gives you without hesitation. How do you do that?"
Kyle shrugged.
"I don't really know. I mean, I've done that all of my life, so I never really thought about it. I guess I just think that Lord Ephraim or Lady Erika are in the position that they are in for a reason, you know? They know what they're talking about, and if I die from one of the orders they give me on the battlefield, it is because I wasn't strong enough to execute it. You know what I mean?"
Syrene nodded.
"Yes. I wish that I could think of it that way, but I just can't shake off the feeling that maybe I could do the job better. Not so much with Lord Ephraim or Lardy Erika, but with my past commanders. Is that wrong?"
Kyle shook his head.
"No; it's human nature to question things. I guess I'm just weird when it comes to the battlefield."
Syrene smiled.
"You're right; you are weird."
"Oh, thanks." Kyle said, smiling at her.
She reached over a placed a hand on his, which rested in his lap, and Kyle felt his face get red.
"I really enjoy talking to you, Kyle. I feel like we really talk about meaningful things, you know?"
Kyle nodded, swallowing hard. Syrene blushed a bit as their eyes locked, but then stood, Kyle standing as well.
"It looks like the rest of the army is rising. We should grab our stuff."
Kyle nodded, and they headed back to where their luggage was.
The first battle of the ruins was the most difficult fight that Forde had ever experienced. The enemies had appeared out of nowhere; The Wights had emerged from the ground, and the Cyclops had run at them from seemingly out of thin air, the Maelduins rushing at them on their horse legs.
They had all gotten separated in a way; Knoll and Ewan blasted through the enemies, steadying being back into a corner while Dozla and Ross both fought to try to reach them. Moulder, with his ability to slay monsters more easily then any of the others, switched between using light magic and healing with his physic staff.
Forde fought through the Wights, a trio of Maelduins nearing him with axes ready. He swung powerfully through the last of the Wights and then switched from his lance to his sword, hurrying at the creatures. He narrowly dodged one of the swings and slashed that beast's throat, riding around the other two, both horse-men stumbling to keep up with his swift movements.
He stabbed forward and through one of their chests, drawing his blade back and getting ready to slay the other one only to hear a familiar voice cry out. He turned to see Vanessa's pegasus spiraling to the ground, wing with an arrow through it. Several Wights gathered around below her, all with bows.
The paladin rushed toward her, drawing his lance and swinging powerfully, taking out four of the monsters at once. The other six or so turned to him only to be taken out with another savage swing.
Forde had slain them all just in time to have Vanessa crash right in front him with a loud thud. The blonde dismounted and looked around for enemies only to see their allies clearing out the last of them.
"Vanessa, are you alright?" He asked, kneeling in front of her.
The knight sat up slowly, panting.
"Y-yes. I'm afraid for my pegasus, though."
"Here, I'll look at it." Forde said, reaching forward to inspect the animal.
It looked like it only had a few deep bruises, but then there was the arrow that had pierced its wing. Forde grabbed the limp wing and then the arrow. The pegasus laid completely still as the knight yanked quickly, removing the object easily.
"We'll have Moulder check him over; I'm sure we'll be camping out tonight." Forde said.
"Thanks Forde; he's used to being treated for pain. I had a lot of accidents when I was starting out.
Forde smirked.
"Well, it looks like it paid off. You're great now."
She blushed, and then the others were heading toward the two.
That night, the small group camped out in an alcove, Moulder warning them many times that this was not at all as safe as being with the army was. Everyone set up tents, and Forde headed over to Vanessa's that night to make sure that she was alright.
He entered and found her sitting quietly, eyes on her sleeping steed.
"Is he okay?" Forde asked, closing the flap behind him.
"Yes; Moulder healed his bruises, so he should be ready for battle tomorrow."
Forde smiled, and sat down beside her.
"Well, I'm just glad your okay. I mean, when I saw you falling, I was afraid that you might not make it."
Vanessa blushed and reached out, touching Forde's arm.
"Thank you, Forde. You have been so kind during this trip."
Forde smiled, and then Vanessa leaned over, her face getting closer and closer to his in the dark area. Forde grew hot suddenly, and then her lips were pressed against his. The blonde sat there, frozen, not knowing what to do. And then, Vanessa was in his lap, hands pulling and the buckles on his armor.
That was when he pulled away, pushing the pegasus knight back. She looked up at him, eyes filled with shock and sadness.
"Vanessa, I…"
"Forde, what's wrong?"
"Vanessa, I'm with Kyle! I can't just cheat on him!"
Her hurt eyes shifted to ones filled with understanding.
"Oh, you two were…oh. You were…together."
Forde nodded.
"It would be best if you left." She said.
"I agree." He said, and stood, leaving the tent.
The army camped once again that night, no one really knowing where they were going. Kyle sat in front of the fire when Syrene joined him.
"So; it's been a pretty easy day today."
"Yeah, I mean we both basically talked the entire time."
"Well, I just have so much fun when I talk to you."
"I feel the same way." Kyle said, eyes lingering on Syrene's.
"Oh, that reminds me; I'd like to ask you about this sword that I have. It's back in my tent; will you look at it for me?"
Kyle nodded, and the two stood, walking back to the pegasus knight's tent. They entered and Syrene sat down on her bedroll, grabbing a sword and unsheathing it. Kyle sat down beside her and the pegasus knight lit a candle.
The green-haired looked the blade up and down.
"It's interesting. It has the slight curve of a killing edge, but it is made of silver. Where did you get it from?"
"It was a family heirloom. My father gave it to me before Vanessa and I left. My sister has the lance counterpart. I was just wondering if it had good use in battle."
Kyle nodded, turning to her.
"Yes, it's…"
He was speechless as his eyes locked on the falco knight. Her hair had fallen over her face, the candle lightly illuminating her cheeks.
"What is it?" She asked.
Kyle shook his head.
"It's just…you."
She laughed softly.
"What do you mean?"
"You're so…beautiful."
Syrene suddenly stopped laughing, and Kyle reached out, cupping her cheek. They both leaned forward and their lips pressed together, hands moving along one another's bodies. Before he could think, Kyle was shirtless and unsnapping Syrene's bra. His mind was blank as he made love to the woman; only pure desire filled his thoughts.