Author's note: Woah! I can't believe this fic has one year already, on one side am a little disappointed for a slow I had written this, and on the other side and so happy you guys had been with me all this time.There will be more notes at the end so for now please enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 13
The Pilgrimage
There was a big difference between being a person with renow and an actual celebrity. When Iris became famous thanks to her outstanding skill to kill daemons, she didn't feel like it was different to her previous status at all. Sure, every time she entered the hunter's base she will be greeted by almost everyone with warm and laughs, there were even some that will flirt with her.
But now, now being the Oracle was at a complete different level, not only that but Noctis make the announcement of their engagement the day after the celebration. Fortunately Iris had already left to Altissia that morning so she didn't have to deal with the press right away.
She was sitting in one of the elegant living rooms of the ariship that was taking her to the ancient city. She was nervous so she decided to turn on the TV to calm herself, maybe they would be broadcasting old shows.
Oh but they weren't, in it's place almost every channel was an army of reporters saying the same thing.
She settled on one channel from Accordo were a reporter was talking to the camera with Altissia's air dock as background. And there were people, lots of people. Iris felt like he wanted to puke.
"Good morning to you all" The reporter said with an upbringing voice "We are here at Altissia International Airport were me along with almost fifteen thousand people are waiting not only for the new Oracle to arrive and bless the new temple but also we are waiting for the soon to be new queen of Lucis."
"Fifteen thousand people?!" Iris repeated with a much high pitched voice than normal.
"Astral protect us all" Liam said who was standing near the door, he was a good bodyguard but quite still inexperienced so this will.be a challenge for him too.
The reporter continued.
"That's right folks, for those who couldn't see the celebrations in Tenebrae, King Noctis Lucis Caelum gave a final announcement just before leaving and that was his engagement with the new appointed Oracle Iris Amicitia who has been training for the last year to fill her role. As you all know, eleven years ago, just before the Long Night, our dear King was engaged to the last Oracle Lunafreya Nox Flouret who died in Altissia during the rite of Leviathan. Now, is this a new political move or do we have a real blooming romance in our hands?"
Iris turned off the TV "Well that's not freaking sensationalist at all" she said with sarcasm.
"Well you got to admit, this is the best new people had heard in a long time" Liam said shrugging "It's been way too long since people got to care about celebrities and their affairs. I remember my mom was very into magazines about that and she was expecting for the Royal wedding which of course never happened."
"I never thought I'll be this nervous" she said "It's kind of stupid if you think about how I'm able to fight monsters like nobody's business but I'm really scared of talking to the cameras"
"Well, look at this from another angle, this will help the people to forget about mourning and they can start healing"
Iris thought about it for a second, it was a good point. Usually this kind of news helped people forget about the bad things, maybe it was something more beneficial that she actually thought. So what did it matter if they will ask about her personal life, after all she kind of asked for it when she accepted Nostis' proposal.
"And how bad could it be?" Liam continued "You just talk about how you met, how was your relationship between your families, what you expect for the wedding, how many kids you are planning to have-"
"Oh Astrals!" She said covering her red face with her hands.
"Did I make it worse?"
"Just shut the hell up Liam"
They arrived an hour later and every single metter they descended onto the ground made Iris' anxiety grow. She wasn't attired with any super fancy or extravagant dress. She was just using an elegant gray longcoat over a black and white dress. Still, she was caring the sword of the Mystic in her back. Iris didn't want to make the wrong impression, she wasn't a princess, she was a warrior and damn good one at that, so she wouldn't start to act differently from what she was.
The giant metal door opened and the soldiers from Tenebrae made a perimeter through the crowd to make a safe pathway for Iris.
To her side, Liam and Owain gave her a securing look, she took a deep breath and started walking out or the ship.
Erion Soleana The First Secretary was waiting for her at the end of the path but Iris didn't just looked at him, she knew she had to make everyone see that she wasn't just a formal figure, she had to connect with the people somehow.
Between cheating and clapping, and the flashes of the cameras and few questions from the reporters here and there she felt a little rush of blood that was thankfully subsiding with each step. She then started to waive at the people, and even shake a few hands, she didn't plan that but it was better than just walking emotionless.
"It's a pleasure to have your presence in our beloved city, my lady" The secretary said offering his hand.
"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Secretary"
"Please, follow me"
They both walked to one of the canals reaching a small boat with their respective bodyguards. Soon Iris felt the salt breeze sliding through the alleyways and under the bridges of the beautiful city.
"Is this your first time in Altissia?" Erion asked.
She shook her head "I came here when I was six, a few months after my mother passed away. My father wanted to make some good memories together before my brother started his training as the king's shield"
Iris remembered those time fondly even though they came with a grain of salt. Her father was an stoic man and it was unlike him to take vacations been not only Regis' most powerful and trusted bodyguard but also one of his best advisors.
The three of them needed a rest after dealing with her mother's sickness, it had killed her so fast that Iris was still in shock state. Even though right now she couldn't remember much of the trip, she always remember the few smiles his father and brother shared.
"I'm sorry to hear that" said the Secretary.
"Don't be, it was fantastic. Actually I was specting for my schedule to clear off a little and to spend a few days in here."
"Aren't you staying here?"
"Oh no, High Priest Sylvain has a tight schedule for the pilgrimage and I'll only have time to go to the temple, give a few interviews and go back to the ship. It's really tiresome but it never gets bored."
Erion made a small laugh shaking his head "Just like politics. But I suppose this is just a rehearsal compared to what comes later"
Iris directed a glance to the ring in her finger "Yeah, I guess it is"
It was high noon when they arrived to the temple, it was actually more like a great cathedral. The colossal twin towers reflected the sun with their white and green paint and few statues decorated the main entrance and the gardens.
"Miraculously, this was one of the few buildings unaffected by Leviathan's rampage, but this ten years haven't been kind to it." Erion point at a few wooden ledges and other construction materials on a corner of the towers. "We are still on restoration process"
"It's okay, I'll just need a few hours for the ritual to be completed"
"Would you need anything else?"
"No, just some privacy. My bodyguards will stay outside. I'll reunite with you later."
"Of course. Good luck"
Erion made a small nod and went back to the boat along with his bodyguards.
Owain looked at the building "Is this the first time you commune with the Astrals?"
"More or less. I did it once on Tenebrae but my connection with them was still weak. Now it's for real"
Liam made a worrisome look "Lady Iris, I'm no expert but, didn't Lady Lunafreya sacrificed some of her lifespan by communing with the the Astrals?"
Iris let out a sight "Yeah."
"Would that happen to you too?"
"I...I don't know"
It was true, she accepted the job knowing that could shorten her years alive. This was the duty she accepted to save Noctis and the world, it was the sacred oath she made with Phoenix.
Iris turned to the two men and smile "Don't worry. I'll be fine"
She then opened the doors to the cathedral and entered.
-O-
The days after the engagement were tiresome at best. It was a complete surprise for the council and the citizens since Noctis and Iris kept their relationship discreet. Now Noctis was dealing with awkward questions in every interview, she hoped Iris was doing better than him.
He sat in the council chamber reviewing a few construction projects for the expansion of Insomnia. They had to buy some machinery from Niphelheim and bring architects from Altissia, it was an important project and wanted to do it right.
Still, he couldn't take his mind off Iris and how she had been doing in her travels. He even wondered if this is how she felt during the time he and the guys were on their trip.
Nonsenses, Iris wasn't fighting magitek soldiers and daemons, she was just praying and giving some interviews...and yet.
"Trying to take your mind off simple matters?" Gladio said with a small laugh which made Noctis almost fall of his chair.
"The hell! How long had you been there?"
"Just the last five minutes. You looked so concentrated that I didn't want to disrupt your concentration." Gladio saw the papers and Noctis noticed that they were upside down. "Although I think you didn't need me for that"
"Is it that obvious?" Noctis said with a smirk.
"If you were going to be this upset about the engagement, you should have wait a little more"
"I'm not upset, I'm just nervous. Isn't that normal?"
"I hope so, wouldn't want any of you two to back down at the last minute" Gladio said that while cracking his knukles
"Of course not"
Well, it is true that it was the first time Noctis felt this way. Marriage was something natural to any person in a normal relationship, it shouldn't be this hard to assimilate the circumstances. On the other hand, Noctis and Iris weren't precisely normal people. They were on the center of the spotlight right now, two of the most powerful people on the face of the Earth. This marriage was way more than just love, it was a big responsibility with the people, to be the couple who everyone will look up to.
Gladio ripped him out of his thoughts by hit him in the back "Stop, thinking about complicated stuff, you're gonna hurt yourself. Come on, let's get something to eat"
"Send somebody with the food here, I have to keep working"
Gladio looked at the papers and suddenly threw them to the floor. "Screw that, let's go out, Libertus recommended me a very good place"
"Couldn't you just say that without making a mess?"
"Dramatic effect, now come on"
Noctis was practically dragged out of his office, before going out he grabbed some casual clothes amd a hat, just like he did on his travel.
They left Ignis working in the reports and went out by car.
Noctis admired how far Insomnia had gone since the year before, the whole city was thriving with life, the destroyed buildings and broken roads were nothing but a bad memory.
He old statues hadn't been rebuilt yet but Noctis was planning to do it just before the expansion.
The arrive to one of the more populated areas during the war, it was a residential area with refugees, although now that the old territories were claimed most of those people had already returned home. Another step in the right direction.
They found a little stand with some tables and chairs around it and a TV next to it. The smell of smoked meat and vegetables made Noctis' stomach roar.
"Hey, your Royalness!" They heard Libertus waiving at them "You managed to drag him out of the cave Gladio"
"A pretty accurate description" Noctis nodded shaking hands with the new captain of the Crownsguard and taking a seat next to him.
The menu was a mix of meat, chicken and various vegetables on a stick, it remembered Noctis to the old days, and the taste was different but equally good as the one Ignis made.
"This are delicious"
Libertus made a smirk "Of course they are, because they finally started using spices from Galahd. Isn't that right Morty?"
The man on the stand was coming while sending a complicing smile to Libertus.
Noctis took a sip from his beer. "So Captain, how are you enjoying your new post?"
"Well it's mostly the same as the Glaives, it's just more focused on security. I'm way too old for actual fighting anyway so I think this is a perfect job for me right now. Although the planning for the wedding, oh boy, now that's a complicated matter"
"Complicated?"
Gladio looked up from his food "Noct, Ignis is already setting everything up"
Noctis swallowed hard "What?! We haven't even decided on a date yet, hell Iris is not even back!"
"You how how Iggy is, just let him set some things, he doesn't like surprises and you little man just dropped a bomb on him as on everyone else"
Noctis sighted "And then you tell me not to panic"
Just as he was going back to his food they heard the TV on the stand show the news and the man turned up the volume while everyone in the little restaurant turned to the screen.
It was an interview show with a guy with too much gel on his hair.
Libertus made a sad look "Man I miss Dino"
The reporter from Galdin Quay was an invaluable source of information before and during the Long Night, Noctis felt his heart sink a little remembering seeing his clothes abandoned in the dock when he came back to Eos.
The reality stuck Noctis again when he saw who was the guest in the show.
"What the hell" he said, the picture of a Iris with her gray warrior outfit, she looked stunning.
The host turned to the camera "This is Arvis Lyanun from the Sea Messenger, reporting live from Altissia and today we have our most important guest in the last decade." a few laughs could be heard coming from the audience "None of the than the New Oracle and soon to be Queen of Lucis, Iris Amicitia"
Iris waived at the audience "It's a pleasure to be here Arvis"
"So let me start with a very simple question: Please tell us about you, where you were born, your family, likes and dislikes, just general stuff"
Iris answered the questions with simple language and a little bit of jokes here and there, of course Noctis knew all that information. He knew she loved stuffed toys, she liked to wear sweet and soft perfume, her favorite color was crimson red.
Then she talked about how they met when they were kids, Noctis hadn't heard that story from her side. It was quite embarrassing but Noctis felt his heart made somersaults in his chest.
"I got lost in the woods of the Palace even though my brother told me to wander off. Everyone freaked out looking for me for hours, and then he found me."
"Your prince in shinny" the host said.
Iris blushed a little bit "Yeah, he brought me back and even took the blame for me getting lost. Andâ "
"And that's when you fell in love with him"
Iris smiled again "Yeah"
"I see, a truly magical tale. Was this always the same? Even when he was engaged with Lady Lunafreya?"
Noctis frowned at the question "That's a little out of line"
Gladio simply kept eating "Don't worry, she can handle it"
Iris turned a little more serious "Well, by that time there was a lot going on, I wasn't a kid anymore so I understood what Noctis had to do in order to gain peace with Niphelheim. After that, everything got more complicated and, well all of you know what happened next"
"It is known that the Oracle can explore some of the past memories of her predecessors. Is it true for you too even though you are not from the same bloodline?"
"Yes it is, and yes, I managed to communicate with Lady Lunafreya once. But please, do not ask me to tell you what we talked about. That knowledge is only for our closest friends and family"
"I completely understand, thank you for being honest and so open with us. Do you have a last message for the people at home before we conclude the segment?"
Iris looked at the camera and Noctis felt something stir inside him, like she was trying to say something only to him, he just knew that look.
"I know I'm no princess, and I wasn't train on the ancient arts since birth. But I had train all my life not only to protect Noctis but the people of the world, and I did because I wanted to. I wanted to help give everyone a world were we can all smile and live happily with the people we love. And I will keep working towards that goal now as an Oracle and after as a Queen. That's what Luna and King Regis wanted what my father and all the people who died during he war and the Long Night wanted. It is our future now."
The program ended with the host saying goodbye to the audience and shaking Iris' hand.
"Gladio" Noctis said.
"What's up?"
"Do you know the schedule of the pilgrimage?"
-O-
The elevator was playing a simple version of Far from Home,the tune made Iris bounce his feet to the rhythm.
Even though the pilgrimage was taking a big toll on her stamina she was happy to know that everything had gone smoothly and her arrival to Insomnia was closer with each day.
Maddiah was a small city in the north of Duscae, another temple for the late Astral Titan was there, so she did the praying and the communion with Phoenix and the others.
Now she had dismissed Liam and Owen for the night since she wanted to sleep in the hotel instead of spending another night in the airship.
Her feet were killing her while walking out of the elevator and to her room.
She opened the door and knew something was weird when she noticed the lamp on the nightstand was turned on, and she was absolutely sure housekeeping couldn't be since the smell of fresh desinfectant wasn't present.
Iris took the sword of the Mystic and slowly walked in.
"I hope you have a good reason to be in this room" Iris said with menacing tone "Because I'm able to cut an iron giant in half. Think this through before doing anything stupid"
Then he heard a strange sound coming from the bathroom, like a muffled shot. But a gun would be no problem, she casted protera around her.
A figure emerged from the bathroom when the light was turned off, Iris raised her sword ready to obliterate the crap out of the intruder.
"Whoah! What the-" he heard Noctis say.
"Shit!" Iris made an awkward swing with her sword, barely missing the King's head and the lamp.
The sword landed on the carpeted floor.
"Is that how you receive your fiance?" Noctis had two glasses of champagne in his hands. "I don't wanna know what you're gonna do when we fight"
Iris let go on the sword and put her arms around his neck "Noct, what are you doing here?"
He let out a laugh and gave her a one of the glass "I wanted to see you, Gladio helped me to keep things quiet. So almost nobody knows I'm here."
"I take it you saw my interviews" Iris tried to hide her red face.
"I did, you looked beautiful"
"You weren't embarrassed, right? I just wanted to be honest"
Noctis took a sip of his glass and then gave her a peck on her lips. "Of course not, I hope it wasn't awkward for you"
Iris laughed a little "Just a little"
"Well, you can tell me everything over dinner" Noctis walked to the balcony were a little table was already set for them with food already served.
They ate and talk, about the work in Insomnia and the pilgrimage, she takes about Liam and Owain.
She also found out that the temple of the city was almost ready, also she found out about Ignis' preparations for the wedding.
"I hope the pressure is not getting to you" she said jokingly.
"Oh, the pressure is there. I'm just dealing with it. Besides, your brother would kill me if I step back on the altar"
"Not if I kill you first" They both laughed for a few seconds but she actually turned serious even though she was still smiling "You still want to go through with this, right?"
Noctis placed his hands on hers. "I am, I had never been more sure of anything in my life"
Iris looked at his eyes, those silver beautiful eyes were reflecting the soft light of the moon casting a spell in her heart more powerful than anything she could ever feel.
None of them knew who leaned into who, but Iris found herself feeling her lips against his, the soft and tender sensation was invading her like a tsunami. Noctis laid his hands on her neck and waist while she put her hands against his chest. He was turning into a better kisser, he now knew the perfect way to move his lips and massage the insides of her mouth.
They both stood from their seats and headed into the room and onto the bed, they kept kissing and exploring one another. Iris could feel a massive fire lighting up inside her stomach. His the young king's hands were traveling around her arms and her legs, he was a true gentleman even though he was probably more aroused than her.
They seperated from each other breathing hard, she felt his hot breath against the sensible skin of her neck.
"I love you" he said looking at her eyes. It was such a beautiful moment, such a perfect moment.
"I love you too, Noctis." They kissed again. "Would you stay the night with me?"
Noctis arched his eyebrows "Weren't we gonna wait for after the wedding?"
Iris rolled her eyes "And we will, I just want to spend the night with you. I want to wake up tomorrow looking at you"
"Well, you're in luck. I'll stay until morning, with you."
They turned off the lights and covered themselves with the comforter. Noctis held her firmly in his arms.
"Just a few more weeks before going back to Insomnia" she whispered with her eyes close.
"Everything will change after the wedding, won't it?"
"Everything is already changing, but it will be indeed a big step"
"Speaking of big steps. You didn't say how many children we would have, right?"
Iris buried her face against his chest dealing her cheeks going red again "Nobody asked, and please, don't ask me that again"
Noctis laughed a little and after a few minutes they finally fell asleep.
Author's Note: This was a short fluff and I know is not the big anniversary chapter you deserved, but I assure you that the next chapters will be a lot better. We are almost at the end and actually the epilogue it's already written, very emotional indeed.
I want to let you know that I'm still looking for beta readers to review my grammar since English is not my mother language.
Finally I wanted to tell you that I started a new fic on Fire Emblem Three Houses, if you had played the game go read it, it's a very ambitious project. And if you haven't play the game, do it, it's good stuff.
The Resident Evil and Bloodborne fics are still at work.
Again thank you for putting up with my wacky English and my stories.
Walk Tall, My Friends.
