AN: Hello again readers, I'm back with chapter 21 of my first crossover. I'd like to thank those who reviewed, I really like getting feedback, it makes me feel good to know that my story is liked.
To Love-Familiar
Previously on To Love-Familiar: After returning home and giving Louise the antidote, "How… How horrible! This is the biggest mistake in my entire life!" Louise yells.
Rito steps away fearful, "Aaahhh… I thought you would forget everything when you turn back into normal!" He tells her, That's how it was when Lala had that personality changing disease. He thinks back.
"No I remember all of it!" She yells, "Ugh! To think that I'm into doing this and that is horred!" She yells as she moves in to hit Rito.
"Come on! Don't take it out on me!" Rito says putting his arms up to defend himself, "Montmorency made the aphrodisiac and you drunk it! You guys are the ones at fault here!" He says.
Louise glare at him and starts hitting him harder, "Shut up! You… YOU DOG!" She yells.
"Huh?"
The window suddenly opens and a cloaked figure enters.
"Who… who's that?" Louise asks looking up.
"I see you've been loud here as always." The figure says sounding familiar.
Rito looks over, "Can it really be...?"
"Ah… Princess?!" Louise says as her friend removes her hood.
Chapter 21
"It's Princess Henrietta!?" Louise then rushes to her, "Wha... What's the matter Princess? What's wrong? What are doing here by yourself so late at night?" She asks with her hands outstretched.
Henrietta stretches out and holds Louise's hands in her's, "I have a request, a most urgent request I must make the both of you in secret." She tells them, she then walks to Louise's bed and sits down.
Louise follows and pushes Rito to the ground and kneels herself lowering her head.
"After some thought, I've decided to marry into a family in Germania." She tells them
Louise looks up, "What did you say? You're going to marry into a country full of savage, upstart nobles?" She questions.
Henrietta looks away, "There's nothing I can do about it. To keep our small country of Tristain safe from harm my family must form a strong alliance with a much more powerfull kingdom." She says sounding sad.
"Marriage of convenience for the country?" Rito questions, "That's just isn't fair." He speaks his opinion.
Louise turns her head, "I don't want to hear another word out of you!" She yells at him. She then looks back, "I know you are doing this for our country, but to face such a hardship."
Henrietta then stands up and walks to the window, "It's okay, I am the Princess of Tristain. I don't mind making sacrifices and putting the country's needs before my own." She says looking at them, "However, there is one thing I must do before I can marry." She says.
"What Princess, if there is anything I can do to help you, just tell me. II'll do what ever you ask of me, no matter what."
"That's very kind, I thank you Louise Francoise." She says then turns away and looks out the window, "I would like you to retrieve a certain item." She tells them.
Louise stands up, "A certain item?" She asks.
"I want you and Rito to journey to the country of Albion and recover a letter I sent to Prince Wales." The Princess requests.
"Albion?" Louise questions.
"If the world finds out about that letter, my engagement will be called off." Henrietta says still looking out the window.
"Princess Henrietta." Louise says concerned.
Rito stands up, "I wonder what kind of letter it could be that it could ruin a marriage?" He asks under his breath while looking up at the ceiling.
Louise then steps on his foot hard, "I thought I told you to keep your idiot mouth shut! She yells at him.
"You have to be incredibly careful, Albion is in a terrible situation. Politically, it's unstable." Henrietta warns them.
"I heard that the noble have started a coup d'état and that the royal family is about to fall." Louise says in a worried voice.
"I am so sorry that I'm even asking an old friend, such as yourself, to undertake this journey for me. But the only people in all of Tristan, are the two of you." She says and from the sound of her voice you can tell that she's holding back tears.
Louise steps forward and kneels before her, "Thank you so much, Princess." She says.
Henrietta turns to her friend, "Why are you thanking me Louise?" She asks.
Louise looks up, "That you would trust me so much to request that I take on such an important mission for you and Tristan." She says then places her hand over her heart, "I couldn't be any happier than I am right now."
"Oh Louise, then you'll go for me?"
Rito watches then then hears the door creak open behind him, "Who's there?" He asks alarming the other two.
The door open fully revealing, "Guiche!?" Rito and Louise say together surprised.
Guiche then walks in closes the door behind him and walks up next to Louise and kneels before Henrietta followed by Rito, "I have heard everything that has been said this night my lady." He says.
"You mean to say that you where eavesdropping just now!" Louise says angrily, trying not to raise her voice.
"Please ask of me, Guiche de Grammont, anything you with." He continues.
Rito looks at him without moving his head, What is he up to now, maybe he wants an excuse to get away from Montmorency. He thinks.
"De Grammont?" Henrietta says remembering the name, "Oh, so that must mean you are General Grammont's..."
"Yes Princess, I am his son." He says interrupting her, while Louise glares at him.
"Then you're saying you're willing to be of service to me as well.
"Yes my lady." He says.
"I'll leave it to you three then." Henrietta says, she then removes a ring with a blue gem embedded on it, "This is the Ruby of Water." She says kneeling in front of Louise, "My mother entrusted me with it." She says lifting Louise's right hand up, "I'm afraid that this is the only reward I can offer you for doing this right now." She says slipping it on Louise's finger.
Louise looks at the ring, "Oh Princess." She says looking up.
"I will send one of my loyal guards with you, he will guide you on your way and lead you to Albion." She says standing up, "He will meet you the morning after tomorrow." She tells them.
"I understand Princess, I will not fail you." Louise says bowing her head.
The next morning, Rito is outside washing Louise's laundry, "I can't believe that Guiche is seriously going to tag along with us. What a pain, his just going to get in the way." He then stands and hangs one of Louise's panties on the line to dry. He then hears someone approaching him, "Oh, hey Siesta." He says noticing the maid.
"I am so terribly sorry." She says bowing, "About the aphrodisiac, I heard it was true. I'm sorry I was so rude to you Mr. Rito." She apologizes.
"Oh don't worry about that Siesta." Rito says with a kind smile as he kneels down to pick up another piece of cloth. "We managed to return Louise to her old self." He tells her, then remembers what the water spirit had said. "Again with the Gandálfr stuff." He whispers to himself. "Hey, Siesta..." He says standing up again, "Do you know if there is any one at this school with a detailed knowledge of history?" He asks.
"Hm, history..." She thinks.
0o0
Later in Mr. Colbert workshop or lab area, "Well, originally along time ago there were five elements of magic not just fire, earth, air, and water." The teacher explains while mixing some vials, "The five elements were said to be the pentacles of the pentagon." He says swirling the liquid around in the vile he's holding then stops, "The fifth element, the lost apex of the pentagon, is the element of Void." He tells Rito, "And this Gandálfr you are inquiring about was the familiar of the now legendary Void Mage." He says.
"Familiar of a Void Mage?" Rito questions.
"However, no mage in modern times has ever been confirmed to possess Void magic." Mr. Colbert continues looking away. "That rune, the one that appeared on your hand closely resembles the rune of a Gandálfr." He says pointing out said runes, "But unfortunately the Void mage no longer exists, we can only speculate but we have no way of knowing whether or not you are actually Gandálfr."
"Okay, I understand what you're saying." Rito says looking at the runes, "This is just hypothetical..." He says looking back to Mr. Colbert, "If... if I was a Gandálfr then wouldn't that make Louise a Void mage then?" He asks.
"Theoretically... it would, but as I've said before 'we have no way of knowing'." He tells him.
Rito lowers his head, "Yeah, right." He then sees a vile with a light brown liquid in it, "I thought I smelled something a little weird." He says taking a closer look, "It must be this stuff."
"Oh, yes. That's dragon's blood." Mr. Colbert tells him.
Rito looks at it from another angle, "Did you say... dragon's blood?" He asks.
"Ages ago two dragons never before seen by man appeared in the skies accompanied by a tremendous roar." Mr. Colbert says with much admiration in his voice, "Shortly after one of them disappeared from the skies, as for the other dragon, they say it plummeted to the earth below." He says as he picks up the vile, "I happened to come across some blood rumored to have been shed at that time, I'm currently in the middle of replicating it." He tells Rito.
Rito looks at the vile again, "So this is really blood?" He asks then covering his nose, But it smells so familiar. He thinks.
0o0
Later after Rito helps Louise get dressed for bed, "Prince Wales of Albion and our Princess Henrietta are cousins, did you know that Rito?" She asks still with worry in her voice.
"No I didn't." Rito says stepping away, "But that would explain why she's so worried about him." He then ses Louise with a sad expression, "Louise?"
"I can't use magic worth anything Rito. She's given me an important job and I'm wondering if I can really do it." She says doubting herself.
Rito walks in front of her and grabs her shoulders, "You can't get anything done if you worry." He tells her after she asks him what he's doing, "Everything in the past, we somehow managed to get through it all, right?" He says.
Louise turns away, "You're lucky you're so optimistic." She says as she goes to her bed.
Rito "You know Louise." He says as she gets in bed.
"What is it?" She asks looking at him after getting under the covers.
Rito turns away, "If something were to happen I would do anything to protect you." He tells her turning back.
She looks the other way to hide her sudden blush, "Of course is it expected. You are my familiar." She says a little loud.
"Oh ya that's right." Rito says as he moves to put out the light.
Louise then glances behind her to see him lying down on his bed of hay. She then lies down herself ans pulls the covers over her head.
The next morning, a very foggy morning, Guiche and Louise are sitting on the backs of their horses while Rito is packing them. Louise looks down at the ring Princess Henrietta had gave her when they last saw her. "Where is this guard already? I would think he would have showed up by now." She says getting impatient.
Just then a mound of dirt starts forming in front of them and out pops a large mole. "Verdandi." Guiche says he then jumps off his horse and runs over to Verdandi. "My cute, precious Verdandi." He says kneeling down and hugging the mole, "You though I'd leave you behind again because I left to the lake without you. You touch my heart so much my Verdandi. Adorable Verdandi." He says smothering the mole with love as Louise and Rito walk up to them.
Louise looks away irritated, "This is ridiculous. We absolutely can't take a mole with us." She says sternly.
Verdandi starts sniffing the air then crawls out of the ground and jump at Louise, knocking her to the ground. "What is it doing!" Louise yells as she the mole holds her down sniffing her hand."Get it off me!" Louise yells at Guiche.
Guiche looks over and sees that the hand Verdandi is sniffing has the ring on it, "Oh I see. It sees the ring." He informs them.
"Ring?" Rito asks looking to him.
"Yes. My little Verdandi is very fond of gems."Guiche tells him, "He especially likes any gems of value."
"Get this big thing off of me." Louise says as she struggles to remove the mole from her person, "This ring has the ruby of water, it was given to me by Princess Henrietta herself and no mole is going to eat it." Just then a heavy wind blows through and knocks Verdandi off of Louise and ten feet away knocking it out on its back.
Guiche runs up to Verdandi in a panic and kneels beside it, "Verdandi!" He says worriedly, he then stands and looks around, "Who did that!" He demands.
Rito looks around then up, when he hears a flapping sound, "Up there." He shouts pointing up.
They all look up to hear a low groan as a shadow comes out of the fog. Out of the fog a large a horse like animal with eagle features coming in for a landing with a rider. "A griffin!" Guiche identifies it, "Who are you! Identify yourself!" He shouts with his rose in hand.
The rider gets off the griffin planting his feet on the ground. He wears a large brim blue hat and cape. He has a mustache and a goatee. "I'm Wardes, leader of the Griffin Squad and I've been asked by Lady Henrietta to accompany you on your journey." He tells them.
"So, you are?" Louise says with shock in her voice.
"You are really one of the famous magic guards?" Guiche asks amazed.
"Ah, Louise." Wardes ignores Guiche and walks past him and Rito to Louise and takes her hand, "So Sorry to surprise you, but I was under the impression that my fiancee was in trouble." He says.
"F-f-f-fiancee!" Rito says shocked and surprised.
"He's kidding right?" Guiche says equally shocked and surprised.
Wardes then picks up Louise with and holds her bridle style, "Ah, you my little darling are as light as always, just like a bird's feather." He says to her.
Louise looks away, "It has ah, It's been quite awhile." She says nervously, "Hasn't it, Lord Wardes."
Kirche comes to the window in her nightgown and looks out. "What's all the commotion so early in the morning?" She asks, then notices Wards, "And who that good looking guy?" She asks, she then sees Louise in his arms, "Louise!? That conniving little witch!"
0o0
Later they're riding down a path with the griffin, whom is being ridden by Wades and Louise while and horses. Rito and Guiche are riding their horses. "The top of the elite, the noble leader of the griffin squad personally escorting us to the town of Stardust. I can't do anything here but just sit here in awl." Guiche says with great admiration.
Rito turns his head, "Yea, great." He says not really caring.
"Honestly I was surprised to see you." Louise says, "I had no idea that you would be the one to escort us."
"It would be next to impossible to move the whole griffin squad on a secret mission." Wardes informs her, "So, when I was asked by the Princess to do something about her letter I personally requested to guard you."
"You personally asked to guard us all?" Louise asks amazed.
"But of course I did my Lady." He tells her, "There's no way I could not take action when I heard your name."
"Thank you Lord Wardes." She says happily, she then looks back at Rito.
"What's the deal with this 'Lord Wardes' thing? Huh?" Rito says looking away with his eyes closed.
Wardes sees Louise giving a dirty look to Rito behind them, "Something wrong?" He asks.
Louise looks back at Wardes and smiles, "Ho, nothing." She tells him.
0o0
Later, "Ah, hey, aren't we supposed to be going to port? Why are we climbing up a mountain?" Rito asks as they ride up a rock mountain road.
"You really don't know anything do you." Guiche says causing Rito to look at him.
"Are you tired my dear?" Wardes asks Louise.
"Oh no, not at all." She tells him.
"This is a good chance for the two of us to catch up with everything with the time we spent apart." He tells her.
"Ho, yeah right." Louise says lowering her head. She then looks over at Rito.
"Well, either way, no matter what comes my way it won't surprise me." Rito says to Guiche, he then notices Louise looking at him she then turns away making a disgust face. What did I do to put her in a bad mood now? Rito asks himself.
As they reach the top, "It's within sight now. La Rochelle." Guiche says spotting their destination.
0o0
The sun begins to set as they ride down main street of La Rochelle. "Every building in La Rochelle was carved out of one giant bolder. The work of true artisans, created by a group of squared class mages. It's pretty amazing wouldn't you say?" Guiche informs Rito with a hint of amazement in his voice.
Moments later they stop in front of an Inn embedded in rock, Wardes dismounts and sets Louise down, "We will spend the night here and depart tomorrow evening. Is that understood?" He says looking at the other two.
"Yes, yes I understand Mister Wardes." Guiche says as Rito gets off his horse without saying anything.
Louise steps up to him, "Rito, the lease you can do is answer him. Don't you think your being rude?" She says.
"It's alright Louise." Wardes tells her, she looks back at him, "I don't really care much for the trappings of nobility." He says then turns away to walk into the lodge.
"There we go." Rito says as he sets the supplies on the ground.
Louise then walks up behind him. Louise "Just so you know, I'll tell you this much." She says.
"What?"
"My parents were the ones who decided this whole Fiancee thing." She explains to him.
Rito looks out over the balcony in front of the Inn, "Hmm."
"What! What was that Hmm about?" She asks.
"He's stuck-up," Rito answers, "But he seems to be the most decent of all the nobles I've met. So he's a good enough guy. Right?" He continues.
Louise is taken aback a little, "That's right. Ever since I was a little child I looked up to Lord Wardes. He's gone through so much, he lost his parents early on and worked hard to become the leader of the magic guard. As opposed to you." Rito looks back at Louise. "W-what is it?" She asks with a surprised look on her face.
"Nothing, I don't know." Rito says as he shrugs his shoulders then turns away looking out into the distance. "Hey Louise, are you in love with Wardes?" He asks her.
Louise steps back eyes wide and checks red, "W-why would you ask such a thing!" She shouts.
"Because if you'd said 'no' then I'd have to oppose your engagement." He says turning his head to look at her with serious eyes.
Louise's blush deepens, "Wh-what a-are you s-saying?" She stutters.
Rito looks away, "I believe it's wrong to get married to someone you're not in love with, as it can lead to much unhappiness." He answers her, "I wasn't sure about him at first, but now... I think it'll be alright to leave you in his care." He says.
Louise glares at him, "You are a familiar, Rito!" She yells causing him to look at her, "You can't just pass me along like a... like a... gah!" She yells then turns and walks away.
Rito then sits down on one of the packs. "Oh man... It's just... I don't know." He says looking at the ground.
Derflinger pops up, "What's really going on? Are you in love with Louise or not?" He asks.
Rito turns his head to look at the sword on his back, "I'm not in love with her. I just want what's best for her, that's all." He says.
"Ok, fine then. So, why do you seem so depressed since we left this morning." Derflinger asks observantly.
"I'm just wishing I hadn't said something so..." Rito says, he then scratches his head frustrated, "Gah, WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME!?" He shouts loudly, It must be this world. He thinks standing up, I got to find a way home before...
"Rito! Hurry it up!" Louise yells from within the Inn.
Rito turn to the entrance of the Inn, "Alright."
0o0
Later, they are all eating at a table in the Inn. "So you summon a human familiar. I would expect nothing less Louise." Wardes says praising his Fiancee.
"I wouldn't think you would say anything like that Lord Wardes." Louise says irritated.
"I honestly didn't mean it out of sarcasm. This is a amazing thing you done Louise." Wardes says, he then looks at Rito and Guiche, "I heard you two had a duel. Is it true?" He asks leaning over the table slightly.
Guiche starts choking on his food and starts hitting his chest, "Wel-, well ah acutely…" Guiche says after recovering.
Wardes turns to Rito, "It also marks the first time you wheeled a sword, is that true?" He asks cutting Guiche off.
Rito lowers his fork and looks at him, "Ah well ah yea." He answers.
"I also heard you used the staff of destruction to captured Fouquet the Sculpture. Is that true as well?" Wardes continues asking.
"I guess so." Rito says, he then looks at Wardes questionably, "You really seem to know the details about me."
Wardes sits up straight, "Being in my position I'm privileged to all sorts of information." He says.
"Even information about a peasant familiar like him?" Louise asks causing Rito turn his head annoyed.
"That's why I have an interest in you." Wardes says still looking at Rito, "I was thinking of engaging in a practice match with you."
Rito looks at him, "Ah what?"
"What?" Louise says in surprise.
"Our ship doesn't leave until tomorrow evening." Wardes says, "And it'll be rather dull sitting around idle."
"But Lord Wades!" Louise protests.
"Naturally I wouldn't force you." Wardes continues.
"It's ok. I don't mine." Rito tells him taking a bite of his food.
"Stop messing around." Louise yells at Rito, but not too loud, "Lord Wardes it's no time to be engaging in this kind of …" She says turning to the man.
"Don't worry Louise. I'll try my best to hold back a bit." He tells her as he stands up. "It is time for us to retire to our room, Louise. Are you ready?" He asks taking her hand.
"You're in the same room now?" Rito asks a little shocked as Wardes pulls Louise up.
"I, I can't. It wouldn't be right. We aren't married yet." Louise says looking away
"It's perfectly alright. We are engaged." He tells her.
"Yea but."
"I have something to tell you." Wardes tells Louise in a low voice causing her to fluster, the two then walk out of the room past a hooded figure with long green hair.
0o0
"It has become the most romantic evening." Guiche says looking out the window of his room.
"Not really." Rito says laying on the bed.
Guiche then turns around, "It's just a shame that you're the one lying next to me." He says.
"I feel the same way Guiche."
Guiche then walks across the room, "Oh! I just remembered, I have something to do." He says.
"Something to do?" Rito asks sitting up.
Guiche stops at the door and turns around, "When we were eating earlier, I spotted this young lady in the room. I must find her and speak with her. It would be rude not to, wouldn't it." Guiche says turning away and leave the room.
"What's with that logic?" Rito asks. He then stands up, grabs Derflinger and walks to the window, "Hay Derflinger."
"Yea? What is it partner?" The sword asks popping up.
"Do you know anything about Gandalfr?" Rito asks out of curiosity.
"What are you talking about, this late in the game?" Derflinger asks
Rito looks down at the sword, "Huh?"
"What are you, who are you partner, if you're not Gandalfr." Derflinger tells him, "For six thousand years from past to present my partner has always been Gandalfr and that's you." Rito looks it surprised.
0o0
Louise and Wardes are sitting at the table in their room talking of days long past, "Your father was always comparing your magic to your older sisters. And you always pouted in that small boat." He says holding a glass of wine.
"Oh gee Lord Wardes." Louise says sitting across from him.
"Even back then I felt an aura emitting from you unlike any other or since." He tells her
"An aura unlike any other?" She asks.
"You have a very special power Louise and you're the only one who has this power." He says looking into her eyes.
"But that's not true. I've always failed when trying to do any magic." Louise says looking away while frowning.
Wardes suddenly stands up, walks over to her and takes her hand, "When this mission is over, let us wed. Marry me." He says surprising her with a straight up statement.
0o0
"We just happened to buy something I found from the bargain rack of an armory. It was just a coincidence." Rito tells the talking sword.
"In this world there is no coincidence." Derflinger tells him
Just the will of God, right? Rito thinks.
"You always have been my partner Gandalfr. You are Gandalfr that's the only reason I'm here." Derflinger continues.
"If that so, why haven't you told me until tonight?" Rito asks.
"That because you've never asked about it." Derflinger
"Well that's true I guest." Rito says, he then looks at his hand with the runes on it. "The power to freely use weapons."
"I'll tell you it is the power to use weapons that were made to be weapons. Not ornamental weapons like that shiny sword you wheeled that time we fought that Golem." Derflinger tells him.
Rito then looks at the sword, "Alright then, so if I wheeled you in battle I'll win. Even against this Wardes guy?" He asks.
"Are you stupid. It's up to you to win or lose. I'm just a sword here dummy."
Rito looks up at the sky, "Right."
0o0
Louise is staring at the table while Wardes is standing behind her with a glass of wine in his hand talking to her. "So you know, I don't want to the leader of the magic guard forever. Someday I would to rule a country, better yet to long be a noble and to be able to move the whole world of Halkeginia." He tells her.
"Ah umm, why the thought of marriage Lord Wardes?" She asks nervously.
"I need you by my side my darling." He tells her standing next to her.
Louise looks away, "Well ok, but it's so sudden." She then turns towards him.
Wardes bends over to hold her chin in his hand and looks into her eyes, "My Louise." He leans in and she closes her eyes, "I'll do anything to protect you."
Louise then remembers Rito saying something Louise in a low voice "Rito."Wardes surprise look on his face and backs off. Louise in a panic "No! No wait! That not what I meant! Rito, I summon him from another world and he doesn't know anything about this world. I'm responsible for him." She explains panicly.
Wardes stands up straight, "It does seem someone is starting to live in your heart." He says.
"That can't be true." Louise says then looks at the table.
"That's alright. I'll wouldn't press you for an answer right away." He says as he turns and walks toward the door, "I think one more room is needed." He says.
"Lord Wardes, listen to me." Louise says standing up.
Wardes grips the doorknob, "By the end of this journey your heart will be mine completely. But for now let us rest till tomorrow morning." He says turning the knob and walks out the door. "Good night my Louise."
"Good night, Lord Wardes." Louise says in a low voice standing by the table with a dazed look on her face.
0o0
Outside the Inn Guiche is going in to kissing a girl, but she slaps him and walks away. "Wait! Hold on." He says trying to stop her. "Shish. I was only going in for a little kiss. These mountain girls are so innocent." He says in a lower voice. He then turns and enters the Inn unaware he is being watched by to figures hiding in the shadows.
A/N Okay, that's chapter twenty-one, I hope you all liked it and I'd like to thank those who reviewed the last chapter they really encouraged me to update this and I hope you look forward to later chapters. I know I used Gundolf in the last chapter and Gandálfr in this one, FUN FACT* Gandálfr is "Gundolf" in the Geneon anime, so I'm not really sure which one to use for this story. Fav/Follow if you want, but leave a review with your thoughts and opinions.