Chapter Twenty-Nine
A shower was all she needed to clear her mind. The water beat softly against her bare skin, almost like a caress since it was so gentle. Elia sighed feeling the warmth spread from the tips of her toes to her inner core letting her cares drain away with the soothing drops of water.
Myles had escorted her back to her chambers, she secretly thanked Noctis for the bathroom for not being to large for her liking. She wondered what he was doing right now, probably with the council still, she figured. She sighed placing her hand against the smooth tile of the shower's wall. Why should she be here when she could be probably be needed out there?! Elia snorted closing her eyes trying to calm her anger that had heightened at the thought of being locked out. She thought about the water, how warm it was and how she would sleep in her bed and dream good dreams. Then she'd go kick Andreas's ass when that moment came! That thought made a smile tug at her lips.
Something bumpy touched her fingers; she looked finding her fingertips wrinkled. Startled realizing at the long period of times she had spend in the shower, Elia shut off the water quickly wrapping an ivory, velvet soft towel around her midrift. Her hair ends dripped still wet over her shoulders as she stepped out of the bathroom and with quick strides made her way to her bedroom across the room closing the door behind her. Elia sighed gazing at her bedroom and rummaged through her drawers to pull out her onyx night gown, pajamas Noct had given her after their begun friendship, absently she placed her hand upon its glossy surface trailing her fingers along its silk surface.
Her thoughts stared beyond the fabric; she had known the Noctis to be a somewhat cold figure when they met. But still, she felt so sure of him that surprised herself, so confident in the man's abilities. Digging deep into her memories, she scanned for the same anger she had for him as she had done earlier. But again, it was gone because it had taken a new personality, a new face and name. Elia felt her heart fall back in silly love again, a part of her felt idiotic as another felt so fuzzy in a good, happy way. But, she recalled with a scowl, she couldn't let herself love him. What good would that do? Besides, he was already engaged to Sera, so why should she even try? Yet she still loved him, sometimes it was hard to act normal with him around, especially with those eyes of his that kept taking her breath away.
Suddenly, she froze feeling her private mind shattered as she felt the presence of another being come to her senses. The door leading into her bedroom opened soundlessly, deliberately she turned, her eyes wide frightened and shocked as her dark haired friend adjusted his body as if to enter and by how his eyes were blank, his mind was elsewhere. She studied him feeling exposed inside and out even with the towel concealing her. His chest stilled as he held his breath seeing her, his own blue eyes wide with pursed lips. It was a one full second of silence before she cringed back letting out a startled scream. Her cry broke through whatever he was thinking because Noctis blinked before slamming the door behind him. Her breathes came in giant heaves clutching her towel tighter and closer then ever.
Doesn't a prince know how to knock?
Quickly, hoping not for another intrusion, she slipped on her nightgown trying to relax her knotted gut before she would go out again. The embarrassing heat burned her face making her to bury her face into her pillows as she collapsed in a heap. After a few moments with some deep breathing, she placed her palms against her cheeks and then in the mirror, she saw her usual fair color again. Elia inhaled, almost endless to her and reached for the doorknob pulling back the door a crack. He was still here. Elia watched Noct stand in her living room, his back towards her facing the windows that were to the far left of her room.
"I thought that the Prince of Tenebrae would know that it's polite to knock when entering someone's bedroom." She said stepping out trying to keep her voice nonchalant though she, herself, wasn't quite sure, "Or did Myles and Victoria skip that part about courtesy?" Then she smiled.
His head cocked at the sound of her and looked back giving her his full attention. His glorious eyes gleamed, "I did knock but you just simply didn't hear me." He said lightly, his lips twitching, "Were you thinking? That may be been the reason you didn't hear me knocking."
"I would have heard you." Elia snapped back, though not a sharp as she intended it to be.
Noctis turned his entire body around saying nothing and only folded his arms across his chest in a pose that almost look lazy. His eyes narrowed and how he acted made him look like a lullaby could knock him out. It was a good act. Then the look in his eyes made it clear that he doubted her comment. She scowled.
"I came to see if you were sleeping. I saw the trail of water when I came in and—"
"Trail of water?" Elia interrupted.
Noct straightened his posture walking towards hers. Then he was close. She focused on breathing and kept her eyes on something else. The floor was polished, she thought. But still, somehow, his presence made her glance back up. He reached for at the side of her face towards her dark hair as if to touch it. Then he cleared his throat looking away adverting his eyes.
"You're hair." He said still avoiding eyecontact.
"Oh." She felt her cheeks tingle, "Go on."
He turned away, "It led to your door, and I felt your presence…."
"Felt my presence?"
His azure eyes shushed her, "May I?" he asked skeptically, "I don't need to tell you this if you're not going to listen."
The warmth in her cheeks was defiantly burning now, "Sorry."
Noctis stared at her face for a few moments before resuming back to the story, "I wasn't sure if you there sleeping, you were…quiet. I knocked, and then a second time and did it again for a third time but still no answer. So…" he trailed off, "well… you know the rest."
Elia smiled embarrassed, "Sorry then, my fault."
"You should get some rest." He suggested in a low voice, "Get that drug out of your system."
"Yeah," she agreed, "Good idea." It was her turn to look away scratching her lower side of her cheek. Giving him an apologetic smile, she walked back to her bed feeling exhausted from an anonymous source and quietly pulling back her covers settling herself in. As much as she snuggled into the pillows, she found unable to sleep with thoughts raced through her head. Her eyes stared into the darkness of her closed eyes and imagined warmth of her blankets that seemed a bit chilly for her. Still, no luck. Elia sighed wishing that she could sleep. Her ears listened for any sign of Noct in the other room. Silence made her curiosity grow until she couldn't help to wonder if he was still here.
Did he leave? She opened an eye to check and then stared. Her eyes spotted Noctis watching her, his silhouette of his figure leaning against the open doorway of light. Confused she asked, "Do you need anything?" He didn't answer and she wondered if he was listening, "Noct?" she asked again sitting up.
His posture straightened as her voice called into his focus and when he did, she could feel his gaze digging into her metallic blue eyes, "Hm?"
"Is there something you need to talk to me about?"
He tilted his head puzzled but then understood what she was referring to, "I was just going to watch you sleep."
Her face flushed hot and cold, "I'm not an animal," Elia said irked. Then she added, "And I can't fall asleep when you're in here…"
"And…?"
Elia adverted her eyes to her low right, "Plus I can't sleep right now. Being drugged and knocked unconsciousness can mess up a person's sleeping habits." With that said, she flicked a small lamp besides her on. She blinked at the bright light and then opened her eyes to look at Noct.
Without bothering to ask to come in, he walked towards her and sat on the edge of her bed. He studied her silently tilting his head. The light gleamed off his eyes.
She choked for a breath dazzled by his eyes that were partly shrouded by his dark hair. Her gaze stared at the palms of her hand instead and watched them tighten its hold on the fabric of the blankets. Again she had the feeling to withdraw from him. She felt foolish again by the emotions that once again, somehow, managed to escape from the barriers of her heart.
"Did I do something wrong?" Noct asked narrowing his eyes at her.
Elia blinked at him but the force of his azure eyes made her look away again, she cursed herself mentally for wishing a desperate hope that he would look away, "Why do you ask?"
"Do you really need to ask that?" Noct said, his eyes roaming her face in silent puzzlement as she grimaced at her spoken name, "You hardly talk anymore and you don't even look me in the eye when I talk to you."
"Is that what a lady should do? Have those manners?" Elia asked still staring at the bed sheets, "Look at whomever is speaking to her?"
"Well it would be polite to," he agreed with a dark tone, "and plus it shows that she's not hiding anything for him."
"I'm not hiding anything."
"Then why aren't you speaking to me?" Nocts demanded, again sharp but confusion colored his tone no doubt frustrated by her actions, "Didn't you say that I could talk to you whenever I pleased and that you would listen? Well, I'm talking to you and you better hear what I'm saying." Elia's lips barely opened before he interrupted her by his eyes that eyed her flatly, "Don't tell me that you're not hiding anything from me because I know you are." His words picked at her making her body cringe back slightly at the truth of his words. Again, his sharp eyes caught the action, "You thought I wouldn't notice?"
"No!" she retorted sharply at the thought of him leaving, "I…I knew you'd know. You're not blind, I can see that. It's just…." Elia trailed off unable to answer. She didn't have an answer but raw feelings alone that burned her.
"Just what?" he asked firmly, "What did I do?"
What did he do? Nothing! Nothing at all. He's been the one who's been there for her and he's been the one asking what's been troubling her. Things that she said she'd do for him. But the emotions that haunted her footsteps were getting in the way. They tied her tongue before she could ask and stole her breath before she could speak. But as the more she thought about it, he did do something: he stole her heart. Unintentionally and obliviously took it away from her with every gleam of his eyes and every word he spoke. His eyes…they were traps and she was the victim. A victim confused on how it ended up to be this way. Noctis could never know what he had done to her, befriended her, and changed her.
"You did nothing." The words were wrenched out of her, "Nothing at all." Elia hung her head, this time not trying to hide color that flushed to her cheeks but in shame. Her shoulders shook though didn't spill any tears that threatened to overwhelm her. "I'm sorry." She murmured, "I'm sorry for causing you so much frustration. I was being selfish with my own thoughts and didn't see that it was affecting you. But please know that it has nothing to do with you. Times have been so strange for me…I think…that its hitting hard now. I'm sorry for letting you worry."
And more importantly, she was sorry that she could never tell him what was really bothering her. Words locked behind the iron bars of her soul though its emotions leaked like tears out of it.
His gloved fingertips sent a calming chill in her cheeks to cool the burning. Noct sighed gazing at her, "Why is it that I always seem to make you cry nowadays?" he asked himself.
Tears? Her eyelashes fluttered as she glimpsed something glimmer in the soft lamplight and slowly slid off her cheek. She closed her eyes feeling the tears cascade down her cheeks and showed no plan of ridding them. My grasp on my emotions is slipping, she thought.
Her metallic blue eyes opened at Noct's touch as he brushed the small droplets away. He held up a single tear upon his forefinger gazing at it. She blinked and then his hand was already stroking away another tear. Did he…her eyes gazed at his lips…then thought back to the tear upon his finger. But the idea left her as her eyes landed something beyond him. It was like a ghost, barely shimmering in and out of her vision. She had seen it many times before but never thought to ask. She looked at him realizing that he had been saying her name. His hand had left her cheek as the other almost reached for her as to shake her shoulder to break her out of her trance.
"What is that?" She asked softly, "That object by you." Elia added as she was met with a his raised eyebrow that questioned her wellbeing.
This surprised him, "You can see it?" he asked as if afraid he had misheard.
Flashes of guarded thoughts showed through his eyes though she didn't even attempt to know of what. Carefully, she watched his hand grasp the object by the hilt and somehow the strange weapon crystallized before her eyes taking the form of his prized weapon she had seen him fighting with. He held it out to her, who stared at it lost for words on what had just happened.
His sword just appeared from thin air, his power was far more then she had realized. A fighter with unearthly abilities that made him almost not human: both feared yet respected. She thought about her crystal that hid beneath her nightgown. Was it possible that his crystal gave him those powers? Could hers give her the same kind of powers? Tenderly she tugged at the thin chain and propped the small crystal against her palm. She stared at it and fingered it as if it was a fragile baby bird's egg. Noct too stared at the crystal when she glanced up at him pondering his silence. The light of her crystal lit his azure eyes that made it appear like a star in his gaze.
Elia released the crystal and instead trailed her fingers over the blade that rested upon her lap and stroked its smooth yet sharp surface. It wasn't metal, or else it was cast with special spells to keep it from rusting. Her metallic blue eyes focused on the strange engravings that were carved in the middle of his sword beneath the strange motor hilt.
"What's this?" she asked brushing her finger against it, looking up to him. Carefully, she placed her hand on the hilt letting the strange words shimmer in lamp light, "I don't understand them."
His long finger touched the runes besides her trailing fingertips, "It's Latin that in scripts the name of the blade." He said hushed that sent chills down her skin like a soft caress, "The only people who have seen these markings were the men I killed. So they never got a chance to ask."
"What is it called?"
His blue eyes shone with some enigmatic emotion, "Ego addo Denique Somnus."
Elia puckered her eyebrows hearing the words that made her ears ring, "I don't know Latin." She said making him sigh.
"I bring the Final Sleep."
She frowned, "What?"
Noctis eyed her squarely, "Its name: I bring the Final Sleep." He gripped the hilt of his blade to take it away, "I've only told it to a certain few: Myles, Gareth, Felix, Durante and now you. I guess…it's because I can trust you."
"Is it that big of a secret?"
"It's a secret name." he replied as he lifted his blade an arm's length away. Then he crooked his head to gaze at her, "But I trust you well enough to not speak of it."
Elia nodded, "I won't." Her fingers crossed over her left breast where her heart was supposed to be.
He said nothing and released the sword from his grasp. Instead of falling it hovered in midair untouched by gravity making her watch in wonder. Elia slowly reached with her fingertips but before she could, a strange force took hold of it making the weapon disappear to resume its invisible state. She sighed folding her hand limply on her knee and then fixed her gaze to Noctis who watched her vigilantly.
"You must get some rest." He said finally, "I don't want to be the reason of you being exhausted tomorrow."
Elia's petite eyebrows knit confused, "What am I doing tomorrow?"
Noct stared at her tilted head, "You're coming with me to show the men how to defend themselves during the battle. Felix, Gareth and Durante are going to come as well. It was established today."
"Oh, ok." With a nod, he reached and with a simple flick of his gloved finger turned of the lamp. He rose up fluently and walked towards the open door. Elia watched him go feeling pity arouse in her, not for him but for herself. She wanted to cast aside the feelings that were a burden to her and return the friendship they shared before. She felt uneased still, unsure whether Noct had forgiven her for her keeping to herself. "I'm sorry." She said to him, "I should bet the one you should be turning to and I failed but please, give me another chance. I want to help you so…just keep talking or if you need to talk to me, I'll be here waiting and listening." His face was concealed by the shadows as he turned to gaze at her but she felt his eyes on her, "Will you forgive me?"
Noct stood at the doorway he hesitated as if he was unsure that he wanted to go or stay. His blue eyes glanced back at her watching figure and his face softened in the dim light of the room outside.
Before she could question the tenderness in his eyes that shone with a mysterious light, he murmured in a soft voice, "There is nothing to forgive." Elia smiled feeling forgiveness wash over her like a soothing tide. It sent her shivers everyone and with a warmth that grew into a calming fire.
Even though the room was dark, he must have seen the relief that softened her face. "Sleep well Noct." Something about his posture didn't make her close her eyes just then. It was almost bewildered, strangely unease as if unused to such a warm inclination, "Hasn't anyone wished you 'good-night' before?" she asked surprised.
His head shook slightly, "Being a prince I could say that I've never received such." He shifted his weight to the other foot as if speaking about this made him feeling embarrassed, "Being the heir of the only crys—only known crystal makes it hard to hear such simple things."
Elia let out a laugh that sounded like a weary sigh, "Well then if this is your first time reciving a warm wish of sleep, I'll be more then happy to say it to you. Good-night Noct…and thank you."
Noct's eyes seemed to dig back into her eyes as he stood in the dark. Then he nodded with a silent welcome and he turned his back to her with a hand on the doorknob to close it. He paused then he said turning his head slightly back so he knew that she could hear him, "Good night Elia." Her eyes widened as the door clicked shut as he closed it behind him encasing her in darkness.
DRAMA! Yeah, a skill I may need to work on.
What are your thoughts on this chapter? Good I hope. :)
A quick favor (optional): Can you guys paste your fav comment or scene of this chapter? I want to see what you thought was cool. Like I typed earlier, its optional. But I'd like to know FYI because I liked this chapter immensely! :3
Oh and what do think about the name of Noct's sword? I bring the Final Sleep, I made it up. (It was 'To give the Final Sleep' but another author friend of mine corrected me. Yuki Minamoto)I thought it would work with the whole 'Somnus' theme that Final Fantasy Versus XIII game has. Do you like it?
So until next chapter, Bye!
~Animangame02freak
