Chapter 14: Sweet and Bitter Love

When Brad awoke he couldn't lift his body. Nothing was stopping him but he just felt a weight he had never felt before, A new burden to bare. Finally when he felt good enough, he sat up and opened his eyes, for a moment he couldn't find his sword and he started to panic. He soon spotted under the bed where it had apparently fell while he was sleeping, "There you are" he said lazily and picked up the sword. He Began to walk down the halls and noticed not many people were in the castle, "Hello?" he called but no one answered. He began to panic until he heard a crowd talking from the arena, and he began to make his way there. Soon, he saw that the air lift to Regalia had already started, and he had missed nearly the whole thing. They had decided to go in groups, that way if they were attacked, they wouldn't lose anyone, Gregor had shown the first group back to Regalia and took five soldiers back with him to begin leading the rest of the people away. Apparently Gregor hadn't left with his group yet because he was still talking with Reynaldus about seating plans for the remaining children and people without fliers. Brad walked over and when Gregor saw him, he smiled. "Finally awake hmm? You've been asleep for a long time now!" he said exhausted. "How long have I been asleep?" Brad asked worriedly, Reynaldus answered, "For quite I while now, it is almost midday! But we figured considering your current...awakening you needed to rest". Brad felt a stab of guilt, first of all, it wasn't because he was upset about his past, it was because he was a heavy sleeper, and he needed to get over that. And secondly, even if it was because of his past, he couldn't sleep in and put everyone he knows at jeopardy. "Oh! I apologize, I should have been more responsible, however it's too late for this now, how can I help?" he asked Gregor. Gregor explained the routes to him, it turns out Gregor was a great king...he had already chosen 3 paths to take, and said they would each take one path per trip, this would ensure a good amount of people moving, and if the cutters were to attack, they would have to choose only one group. Brad was pretty impressed, and even said under his breath, "A king indeed". Gregor must have heard because he smiled and thanked him, and then told him that he would be taking the 3rd route with the last of the survivors, Reynaldus would be taking the first, and Gregor the second, with their groups. Brad mounted Thanatos, who had been working with several other humans before he woke up and said, "Hey Than, I am so sorry about sleeping...you know about this problem.". Thanatos just laughed and teased, "Do not worry yourself, I am well aware of your laziness.". They both laughed and assembled the team of people that would be following Brad back to Regalia, his team consisted of 150 people, Gregors of 150, and Reynaldus's of the last 135 people, and soon, they all set off.

The ride back to Regalia was actually, much, much easier than the ride to the Kingdom of Chimor. They had a good amount of people so if someone got tired, they could sleep on the bats, and if the bats got tired, the strongest bats could carry the weaker ones. It was actually a most uninteresting trip...a bad sign, if the cutters didn't attack them, that means two things, either the cutters had attack one of the other groups, or Regalia was already at war. Brad moved the group as quickly as possible, and everyone felt the same, if they had to stop, they stopped quickly, the longest stop being a 2 hours stop to rest when the bats just couldn't handle it anymore. But even they were eager to see Regalia, one of the big bats who Brad never found out the name of actually asked to fly ahead to tell Regalia that they were approaching. Of course, Brad didn't let him go, the bat didn't even know the way, and even if it did, they would already know. Soon, they were all in sight of the city, and most of the people stood in awe at the sight of it. Brad let out a gasp of relief, Regalia was fine, it wasn't being attack, and it seemed as if the groups hadn't been attack either...what were the cutters even doing? This was a question to be answered later because he was soon being waved down into the arena by Mareth who seemed happy to see him, "Ah! You live! We thought the cutters had attacked you, as they have not attack any of us yet." he said with a sigh of relief. "Yes, we live, tell me, how is Luxa?", Mareth smiled and said, "She is awake, and she does not seem to have any long term injuries, however she is to stay in the hospital for today and will be released tomorrow, you may see her if you like?" asked Mareth. Brad nodded, they seemed to have everything under control now so seeing Luxa would only help Brad clear his mind, however, he knew of another person who would want to come with him. "Gregor?" he called and soon Gregor was at his side, "yea?" he asked. "I am going to see Luxa, you are welcome to come with me if you would like?" he asked and soon him and Gregor were running to the hospital. She they reached the room, Luxa looked up and smiled at them, she was ok after all.

"Hello! I am so glad to see you" she said to them and soon Gregor was at her side, Brad just leaned on the door way and joked with her, "wont anything kill you?". She got the joked and teased him back, "why of course not! They would rather kill the strongest one's first, I guess that mean you right?". Brad smiled and noticed the rat for the first time, "Ripred, how have you been?" he asked. "Oh yes, I have been well, just worrying my hide about my poor bond." he said with a smile, Luxa snorted, "Oh yes, for if I died, who would have the chefs make Shrimp and Cream sauce for you hmm?" she said sarcastically. "Why of course! I could never have that now could I your highness?" Ripred replied with a grin. For a moment, the war seemed to be nonexistent, just a bunch of people, joking around with each other, Brad started to wonder why it couldn't be like this all the time, before his mind replied, "It can, if you hope it can be". He smiled to himself, but then remembered that he needed Ripred's help. "Ripred, you and I need to speak alone for a few minutes.", Ripred sighed, stood up and walked out of the room, once they were out there, Brad began. "Ripred, I have been trying to train Gregor how to fight better with and without his weapon, he is learning well, but perhaps it's better we both train him together, you have known him much longer than I." Brad said and Ripred looked amused. "You? Train the overlander? ...why?" Ripred asked. It took Brad a moment to think of this question to realize...he didn't have any real answer, most ragers learn through war how to fight, not through training, and Brad Replied with, "Well...you taught him...why can't I?". Ripred just laughed, "I taught him how to just echolocation, not how to fight, I gave him tips, but I didn't show him what to do. You can't Train him, just let him learn." Ripred said as he walked away. Brad didn't know what to think...Ripred was right but...Gregor needed to control himself. Soon, Brad found himself walking back into the room, to find Howard getting Luxa ready for bed, and Gregor getting ready to leave. "Hello Howard, how are you?" Brad said civilly, Howard didn't Reply, he simply stared Brad down with a Cold, Angry face, and left the room. "He is mad because he was not allowed to come on the adventure to the kingdom. You have medical training, and I believed it was best he stayed here. He is angry with you because I did this...and because I came home wounded." Luxa said softly. Brad started to worry, but soon let it go when he saw Luxa's eyes starting to fall. "It's ok, I will talk with him, sleep well, Luxa." Brad said and then him and Gregor left the room.

Gregor POV

When Brad and Ripred had left the room, they left him a Luxa alone, which was the time Gregor could tell her all of his thoughts. "Oh Luxa, I was so worried about you...I thought you wouldn't make it." Gregor said feeling the weight lift off of him with those few words. "I am fine, it was a simple head wound. I should have payed more attention to my surroundings before running to the exit" she said in a frustrated tone. They were silent for awhile before Luxa said, "Oh! Tell Brad to be careful, Juliet is angry with him again, and she wants to fight him...again.". Gregor laughed, nodded, and then just sat there and held her hand...he was so happy to have her back again. Her eyes stared into his and he felt that old feeling of love. He hadn't felt that feeling in a long time...4 years to be exact. Soon, he felt his face coming closer to hers, her head moving up from the pillow, they were just about to kiss, when a man cleared his throat at the door. Howard stood there eying the two angrily, but didn't say anything about it. Instead he turned to Luxa and said, "It's about time you sleep, you wont get any better by staying awake.". Gregor started to get ready when Brad walked back in the room, looking confused, he said hello to Howard but Howard didn't say hello back. Howard was angry with him, for letting Luxa get hurt...but there was nothing any of them could do. Soon, after a few more words, Brad and Gregor left Luxa to sleep.

Brad POV

When Gregor had told him about Juliet, Brad had to admit, he wasn't surprised. It was always this way with them, it was either, they were happy together, or angry together, No in between's. Usually she hated him for something she didn't even know, or just wanted to fight someone and he was the target, but this time, it was Brad's fault. The last time they talked she kissed him, it was a moment to write down because she had never done this with anyone, and even if she never admitted it, Brad knew she loved him. But then, Brad went off on adventure without even saying goodbye to her...well lets just say, she has a very hot temper, and she would probably kill him if it wouldn't be punishable...and if she didn't like him so much. Brad knew that he had to apologize today, if he didn't, she would look for him, and she would find him...and after that Brad didn't even want to think of the things she would do. Soon, he found himself walking straight to her room, he wanted to see her and get this over with, it would be one less thing to think about. Once he opened the door, only Hestia hung from the ceiling, "Is Juliet here?" Brad said calmly, Hestia looked at him and said, "No, it's a good thing too, you should leave quickly.". She didn't seem to be upset, only warning him about her mood, he replied with, "I know, I have come to apologize for my actions..." Brad said softly. Hestia smiled and said, "Well Brad, you and I would both know how she acts when she is angry, if you are serious about this, then I will go find Thanatos...where is he?" she asked. Brad had been suspecting for some time that Thanatos and Hestia had a crush on one another, although if they did, neither of them ever told their bonds. "He is at the arena, or in my chambers, you can find him there." Brad said, and Hestia flew out of the room. Brad sat down on the couch and began to think about how he would start, most likely, she would try to fight him until he calmed her down, she always did this. Then, after that, they would talk...but not a nice talk, she would usually yell, and disagree with everything he said until he was angry. After that, they would finally calm down and begin to ask apologies...and then after that, Brad had always hoped that something more could come after that...but he couldn't think anymore about this, because she was now in the door way, glaring at him.

"Listen, lets talk about-" Brad didn't even get to finish his sentence before she had throw something at him. He caught it and put it down only to be attack by her, he could usually block and dodge most moves that someone threw at him, but Juliet knew Brad, and was fast enough to counter each block with another move that Brad didn't have time to react to. Soon, he tasted blood in his mouth, she had made his nose bleed, and had cut his arm and left a nasty gash on his chest. He didn't know where she had gotten the knife, but she had one, and apparently, Brad was wrong about her, because she was actually trying to kill him. Her words soon hit Brad's ears and they broke his heart, "YOU LEFT ME ALONE! I SHOWED YOU I LOVED YOU AND YOU STILL LEFT!" she screamed. Brad was about to answer when the blade made contact with his jaw, slashing a huge gash right next to his wind pipe. He had to get that knife away from her, but someone was already on it, soon, Hestia had entered with Thanatos and the both easily restrained her. She wouldn't dare swipe at Hestia but she did take a few swipes at Thanatos, though, he easily dodged them. Soon, when they had her calmed enough to hear his words he spoke, "I came to apologize Juliet! I'm tired of always fighting you! I don't want to be hurt anymore...can you please just stop? Look at what you are doing!" brad said in a raspy voice. Apparently she must have done some damage to him because he couldn't talk normally. But he would be fine. She was very resistant for almost an hour, until finally she told the bats to leave and had them take all her weapons away. "fine, you can speak to me now, you better make is good soldier.", she called him that when she was angry with him, he hated to be called "soldier". He ignored her and began to speak, "Listen, I love you, I always have, you probably already know this. I didn't say goodbye because I didn't want to believe that it would be our last time together, I would be coming back. We were pressed for time and I didn't have time to say anything to anyone, only to leave. If you are going to hate me forever because I didn't say a few simple words to you then it's better you don't speak with me anymore. However you know that if you ever need me, I wouldn't turn you away. I have spent my life fighting for two things, and you're one of them, so you need to accept me, or forget me, because I wont have my heart crushed any longer." Brad said. Whatever he had said had been enough, her eyes went from angry and defiant to worried and upset, she must not have known how much he cared about her. "You...you mean it?" she said still not wanting to forgive him so easily, but responded, "You know me love, if I didn't mean it, I wouldn't say it.". With that, she let herself calm down, and then soon, was in Brad's arms, he could tell that she didn't want to say it, and she still wanted to fight, but she couldn't fight him, not after his words. "Brad...I have loved you for a long time too, but I didn't want to believe it...we were too...argumentative, I was scared to tell you because I had played with your heart. I was afraid that if you knew...you would play with mine.". Brad had known this for a long time, she didn't like anyone to get the upper hands, and almost no one did...except her bond. Hestia and her used to fight, but when Hestia started to discover her secrets, Hestia managed to win almost every argument. For her to tell Brad the truth...well, it was a good thing, it meant she trusted him. And for the whole night, Brad and Juliet stayed in her room...and began to "forgive" each other.

Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. ya get it? :D

so yea, this chapter isn't as action packed as some of the others but I feel is shows a lot.