THIS IS FOR ALL OF Y'ALL WHO READ CHAPTER ELEVEN BEFORE I EDITED IT A MILLION TIMES.
So, I need to say I messed up...AGAIN!
Instead of Deea going to the front lines, I originally planned for her to go and settle with the rebelling Ice Tribe. That was the direction I wanted the original chapter to go. For some reason, while I was editing, I forgot how I wanted the story to Progress and was like, oh wait no, that's not how the game goes. So yeah sorry guys, I went back AGAIN and changed it, but this is for those who read the previous chapter the first few times I updated it. so sorry to all of you who follow my story, and as always thank you so much for your patience, for reading my story, and I hope y'all enjoy and keep enjoying!
Deea sat on her bed reading the book Leo had given her, the pale girl silently mouthed the words as she read.
A soft knock interrupted the silence. "M'lady, are you prepared for the journey?"
Deea closed her book and quickly and hopped off the bed. Deea was already dressed in her uniform and her sword laid against the bed.
She opened the wooden door to her room to be greeted by her peppy pink haired friend. Behind Felicia, stood her rigid sibling and her mysterious butler.
Felicia had a medium sized, brown pack, in her arms. Deea assumed that was for her, since everyone else had bags of her own on their backs already.
Deea grabbed the bag and walked out the door, followed closely by the others.
When they reached the castle gates the royals were all gathered along Elise, who was already on her horse. A few bags were tied to it's saddle and the young princess's guardians were close by her side.
Deea sighed, mentally preparing herself for the interaction.
Felicia, Flora, and Jakob all walked towards the group. Felicia stopped and turned to Deea with a questioning look. "What's wrong?" She asked quietly.
Deea shrugged. "Nothing, just don't want to deal with the crazies."
Felicia giggled and walked to Deea. "They are a little strange, but they always look like they enjoy your company."
Deea groaned, the real reason she was anxious hidden deep in her throat.
"Deea C'mon! We gotta leave soon!" Elise yelled from her horse with a wild wave.
Deea cringed and blushed, but trudged towards the group. Felicia covered a giggle and followed behind the smaller girl.
"Well look at you, your first mission! I'm so proud, you'll do great!" Camilla strutted towards the young demon and wrapped her in a tight hug.
Deea grunted, and tried to squirm her way out of the death grip.
"Let her go Camilla, we don't want her to die before her first mission." Leo groaned walking towards his elder sister.
"Oh don't worry, I have plenty of hugs for you too." Camilla cooed and wrapped the young prince into a hug as well.
Elise laughed and with the help of Effie climbed out of her saddle. "Yay, group hug!" She cried joining the group.
Xander chuckled, "while this is heartwarming, I believe Elise and Deea need to leave soon. They are losing daylight already."
"Awww but I don't want to let my precious little sisters go out into the cold hard world! Especially without me to protect them." Camilla squeezed Deea and Leo tighter with a heavy sigh.
"Yeah, Deea and I need to go before we get into trouble!" Elsie let go of Camilla's back and tugged Deea's hand.
"If nu tu brph." Deea's muffled voice mumbled.
Elise groaned tugging on the pale girl's hand.
"Camilla let go, I think they are suffocating.
Camilla whined, but let go, Leo and Deea staggered back breathing heavily.
"Jeez woman, do you want to kill me." Deea growled glaring at the elder princess.
Leo fixed his collar and hair with a huff. "Some things never change."
Camilla just smiled and ruffled Leo's hair again.
Jakob cleared his throat. "I hate to bother you Lady Deea, but we must get moving, or else we will be behind schedule."
"Yeah let's head out." The red eyed girl moved towards the gates and horse.
They all walked in silence for most of the day, Deea and her servants in the front and Elise and her retainers close behind.
Elise trotted her horse up to Deea, making sure to get on her right side so she did not surprise her. Though the young princess had learned that no matter how hard she tried, she never could sneak up on Deea. when the young princess asked, Deea explained she had a sixth sense, Elise didn't understand what she meant by that.
Deea glances over at Elise as she comes by her side, a question in her single, red eye.
"So, have you ever seen snow Deea?" The princess asked randomly.
Deea scrunched her eyebrows in confusion at the question. Elise often asked random questions that surprised her but this one she actually had an answer.
"Once, I only saw it outside and couldn't play in it, snows that white cloudy stuff right?" Deea asked, looking up to Elise for verification.
A light giggle came from Deea's left. "You'll see it when we get close to the mountain." Felicia added with an amused smile.
Deea groaned. "I know what it is, it's not that important anyway, it's just snow. Besides, wouldn't the king have a heart attack if he figured out we were goofing off?"
Elsie sighed, "yeah that is true, but what if he doesn't know? If no one here tells him." She said with a mischievous smile.
Deea lifted a brow. "I didn't take you as the rebellious type. I mean you did break two enemy soldiers out of prison, but you always seem to follow the rules."
Elsie's smile seemed to grow and she winked at Deea. "That's because I'm the youngest, I also don't wield a sacred weapon like Xander and Leo, and I'm not strong like Camilla. So I'm free to do whatever most of the time as long as I stay out of father's way."
Deea smirked and looked down to the path, Elise Had proven to her numerous times that she was more than meets the eye. She and The princess often had adventures together in the castle of Nohr. Both girls seemed born for mischief, much to the chagrin of the other people in their lives.
They eventually did come upon snow, they had managed to make it to the base of the mountain before nightfall. Snow littered the floor in small patches, and a chill had risen in the air. The group made camp, and Deea silently noted how much colder it was getting already and the strange silence of life and noise. If it's one thing the red eyed girl hated, it was the cold.
Arthur and Effie went scouting ahead for any trouble, while Elise and Felicia set up camp. Deea, Flora, and Jakob went out to gather more fire wood and to see if they could get dinner.
Deea would be lying if she said she felt comfortable, she was with Jakob who had as much personality as a gargoyle, and Flora who hated her guts.
The Gladium was never one for small talk, she normally gave a snarky comment then remained silent. The air had taken a heavy weight, Deea wanted to break it but the words just created a lump in her throat.
"So, any advice on taking on the ice tribe?" Deea croaked out awkwardly. Flinching inwardly at the stupid question.
This received a glare from Flora, while Jakob hummed, still searching the ground.
"They specialize in ice magic and probably would use the cold to their advantage. I suggest we surprise them and take out their leader first, that should make them surrender." Jakob summarized calmly.
Deea picked up some smaller sticks and dried leaves, Nali and Kubo had taught her to use smaller things as a starter, Big logs were harder to use.
"So like, they can just make ice? They don't need a book or glyph, that's a powerful ability. Why do they serve Nohr if they can do that?" Deea asked intrigued.
"Why were you a Gladiator for so long when you can lift and break almost anything, and form claws and weapons from your arms and legs? You always say you want your freedom and with your weird powers you can achieve that, so what's keeping you tied here?" Flora shot back with a glance as she gathered.
Deea growled, turning quickly towards the ice maid. "The first problem is I lived in a prison cell for most of my life, so I have no idea what's out beyond the castle. Second My powers were not that strong or developed when I was younger, so I couldn't have broken out or known where to go."
Flora's face seemed to soften for a moment, but then regained its glare. "Well, while my tribe may control ice, Nohr has an army and mages with fire. My tribe is not an empire, nor do we want anything to do with war. So either way, we must bow to Nohr, we have no choice."
"You keep saying we, but you work for said empire, and Felicia has mentioned that both of you came to Norh as young children. So who is to say the ideals of your tribe have changed while you and your sister were gone?" Jakob spoke not too far away.
Flora huffed. "While I may have not been with my tribe in person I am always with them in spirit. My loyalties have not and never will change, I hope you two can at least somewhat understand that."
Deea nodded while Jakob looked to his mistress. "As a young boy, My parents shoved me on the steps of Nohr and I thought my life was over. However, I have never felt more at home until I met all of you. I still fondly remember that time Lady Deea had first cup of tea, her face was so surprised. She proceeded to make me, you and your sister all sit down, drink and eat together." Jakob had a small smile and blush as he spoke.
Deea smirked remembering that day as well, she understood what Flora meant by loyalties. She was loyal to her small group of misfits, and when she was younger she had made friends during her prison days.
Deea was interrupted from her thoughts as she sensed movement to her far left, an electric jolt of movement moved. Deea quickly turned, her single eye catching the outline of a large horned beast.
"Hey, heads up to the left." she whispered, keeping still. Both servants turned and stilled as well.
Flora took out her daggers, while Jakob waited for an order. Deea's long ears twitched, her skin was itching to just charge at her prey, chase it down and rip it to shreds. Deea had no Idea what this strange beast was, but her instincts were telling her it was not a threat.
The creature was not looking at them, just grazing along the floor. Deea slowly crouched, and tried to quietly stalk towards it. Nali had taught her a few ways of masking her movements, and since she refused to wear shoes, for multiple reasons, this often made her silent when she moved. However, the leaves and grass beneath her were dried out and dead so even the slightest twitch caused loud noise.
"Mistress please wait, it will flee at the sight of danger. We must surprise the deer before it catches sight of us." Jakob whispered, taking out a long dagger from his vest.
Deea growled, not wanting to stay still, but Jakob and Flora knew this creature better than she. "Listen to them, they have more experience about the outside world than you do. Remember last time you didn't take advice? Fight your instinct and use your brain, idiot." Deea chastised herself mentally. She looked to her comrades and nodded, signaling for them to show or tell her what to do.
An idea popped into her head, and a few of Leo's tactics came to mind.
"How far can you cast ice, and how far and fast can you both throw your daggers?" she whispered, keeping her eye trained on the thing Jakob called a deer.
"Not that far, it needs to be closer for both my magic and weapons." Flora replied grimacing.
"I could make it, but it may not be strong enough to kill it in one hit." Jakob answered.
"You think you could get its leg Jakob?" Deea asked, still crouched and ready.
"Well yes, but if it runs we may not be able to catch it or track it. We must not stray too far from camp." Jakob warned.
Deea's heart quickened and she crouched lower. "Leave that to me, Flora, follow close to me, I'll Chase it towards ya and you take the kill."
Flora scrunched her face at the plan, but remained silent. Jakob lifted two of his daggers between his fingers, then with a flick of his wrist the daggers vanished.
Deea took off as soon as she felt the wind shift with movement past her. The deer cried out as the daggers embedded themselves into its right thigh. She ran around the deer trying to get it to run towards Flora. The deer was running deeper into the dead forest, Deea growled, trying to think of a way to get the deer to change directions.
"Flora, cut off to the left!" Deea roared.
Flora nodded and ran to that side, Deea ran to the right and sped up. The deer still was quick even with its injuries, the blood burned in Deea's nose making her brain scramble in bloodlust.
"Focus idiot, what are you doing right now? Hunting a thing called a deer for food to feed your allies. Don't give into instinct and screw this up, use your human brain."
Both girls were too far from their prey and they were running out of steam. Deea crouched down on all fours and pushed off of the ground into a long leap. She crashed into the right back end of the deer but rolled off and slid across the floor.
The deer slid on the ground long enough for Flora to get close and throw a knife into its neck. Deea grinned at their small victory.
"Well, that probably could have gone better, but we managed in the end." Flora sighed, whipping her hands together.
Deea got up and went towards the deer Jakob joined them. It was a large stag and would hopefully be enough to feed them all.
Deea picked it up and placed it over her shoulders, while the other two picked up the wood. They returned with their catch and had a large meal, Arthur shared some of his wild stories about his horrendous bad luck. Elise told a few stories about her adventures with her siblings, and Felicia joined in awkwardly from time to time with her own stories. Effie stayed focused on the food and seemed content to just listen, as did Flora and Jakob. Both servants busied themselves with the luggage. Deea asked if they needed anything but she kept getting berated for even thinking of helping. Jakob had given her a warm cup of tea, everyone else seemed comfortable and warm around the fire, except Deea who had a slight tremor shake her.
"You're still not warm? You have a blanket, tea and are sitting very close to the fire. I don't see how you're still cold." Arthur said with surprise.
Deea grimaced, wrapping the blanket tighter around her as she shivered again. "I've always been more cold natured than most people. Don't know why, just another weird thing about me to add on."
"I don't remember getting this cold so quickly though, we are only at the base of the mountain so it shouldn't be that cold yet right? Even in the dungeons I could stay warm with just a long sleeved shirt, or jacket. Maybe it's getting worse, I am changing as I grow."
Deea sighed looking to the cave floor, a deep frown forming as her heart clenched in fear. Oftentimes the Gladium tried to forget her ever changing body and senses, it scared her to know as she grew her abnormalities grew as well.
"Just a friendly reminder of what I really am and what i'll never be able to be." she thought darkly.
"Well if you're this cold now you won't survive the trek up the mountain. It only gets colder from here, and that's not to mention the storms and low food sources." Flora said smugly as she folded the bed pallets.
"We'll be fine, we have two people who know their way around the mountain so we won't get lost!" Elise jumped in feeling the rising tension between the two girls.
Deea noticed both Ice tribe girls flinch and look panicked, neither met anyone's eyes and busied themselves with small tasks.
"Besides, anyone who survives the slums of the prison and arena so long must be made of something tough." Effie added poking the fire nonchalantly.
Deea grunted, hoping the conversation would die or change. "Hey, I bet you have some pretty neat stories! Care to share some of your adventures with us?" Arthur leaned towards Deea and jabbed her shoulder playfully.
Deea curled further in on herself, she had very few good memories and most of her past had been lost.
"Well I do have one," she started her voice strained.
She felt everyone's eyes on her and that made Deea want to stop and go to bed already.
"It was a snowy day and I was by myself in the cell, I was cold and bored. Just screwing around with what I had, when a little boy came to my window. I forget his same, but he asked a lot of stupid questions. He asked if I wanted to play, so He brought games we could play through the bars. He told me about the outside world and he promised he'd come back stronger and show me the world." Deea smiled at the memory and the promise that they had both made after their adventure. While the boy did come back, their meetings diminished as the days moved on.
"So, you did have a friend before becoming the king's retainer. That's so cute!" Felicia smiled warmly at her.
"While this is all touching, I believe it is time for us to retire. We need to wake early for our journey." Jakob announced behind them.
Deea stretched her limbs popping her joints. "Who's taking first watch?"
"You needn't worry about that Milady, I shall take first watch." Jakob said with a soft smile.
Deea nodded, looking to Effie and Arthur. "I'll take third then if one of ya'll want to take second?"
Felicia and Flora both looked like they wanted to say something but Deea did not give them time too.
"I will, no offense Arthur, but with your luck I don't think I'll be able to sleep very well." Effie lifted a brow at her partner.
Arthur placed a hand to his chest, faking hurt. "My lady you wound me, then again, I sadly cannot argue."
They all settled down, and as Deea went over to her pallet and got ready for bed. Felicia came over and bent down to speak to her. "Lady Deea, why would you not want us to take a shift? Do you not trust us?" Felicia whispered with a hurt expression. She noticed the other sister watching her closely and probably listening as well.
"Naw, y'all need your rest cause you're guiding us. I don't want y'all being too tired and get us lost ya know?" Deea said hoping that would appease her friend.
Felicia had a thoughtful expression for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I see, I think I understand. Next time though I'll be sure to take a shift, and you better not say no." She then got up and slid into her makeshift bed.
Deea sighed in relief, while it was not a full lie it was still half of one. Deea was surrounded by people she did not fully trust. Even though her maids and butler were close to her as was the princess, she still felt on edge with sleeping.
Flora probably did not believe the lie, but she did not have any arguments. They all fell into a quiet sleep, Deea kept her sleep light and she curled in a ball to reserve heat.
The night went by quietly, and soon Deea was woken for her shift. She wrapped up in her blanket and walked towards the entrance of the cave. The night sky was chilled and felt nice to her lungs. Sitting underneath the stars was a nice change of scenery, she smiled as she thought of her two mentors.
The sun slowly began to rise and everyone quietly gathered their things and set out. While the mood was fairly cheerful at the start of their quest, Deea noticed the ice twins had grown rather somber as they neared the village. She understood why, if she was fighting her own family, if she had any, she'd find it weird too. Even though she had friends they still could be enemies at any moment. The only two people she considered family members were already long gone due to her own actions and stupidity. Deea had learned that anyone close to her often had bad luck, and she was not ready to let anyone close to her again.
As they traveled the icy wind picked up and Deea sensed something in the air. She stopped and looked around. Everyone noticed and turned towards her. "What is it?" Jakob asked.
"Somethings not right." She growled then a fierce wind blew past them.
"It's a blizzard!" Flora cried, grabbing her sister's hand.
There was no time to make a choice as the blizzard was upon them. Deea searched around for cover, they were on a sheer cliff with a wall of rock.
"Great! Just great I hate the cold!" Deea hissed.
She stalked forward and grabbed everyone's hand as she went dragging them along with her. Her sharp eye was blurred due to the storm but she would at least try to keep everyone together.
"Stay close!" She yelled.
Bad idea, I aloud crack sounded and above them snow began to fall harshly towards the group. Deea's grimaced and stopping she used her strength to throw her companions hopefully away from the falling avalanche.
Deea woke to a pounding headache, foggy mind, and sore limbs. Mumbling was heard all around her and she blinked slowly.
"What-" she coughed harshly.
"Oh, lady Deea! You're alive!" Jakob exclaimed happily.
"You idiot what were you thinking!" Elise yelled pounding Deea's chest.
"Wait, Jakob Elise, Arthur...where are the others." Deea's mind flooded with panic. She turned towards the entrance of the cave.
"Wait Deea where are you going! You just woke up and you're sick!" Elise cried after her.
Deea ignored her and ran back out, not the storm, she closed her eye and tried to use her senses.
"C'mon, c'mon I have to find em!" Deea staggered around in the wind and snow.
"Flora! Felicia! Effie! Can you hear me! Guys, answer me!" Deea yelled over and over.
"Deea!" A voice called weakly. Deea turned towards the voice and followed it.
She found Effie and Felicia, Felicia was pinned under the snow and rock while Effie was trying to lift it.
"Let me help! You grab her and I'll lift!" Deea yelled, Effie nodded.
"On three! One, two, three!" Deea lifted with all her might.
Felicia slid out and laid limp in Effie's arms, Deea grimaced looking to Effie to see if she was ok.
"She's just unconscious! I'll take her back to the cave then come back to help search for Flora!" Effie yelled.
Deea then searched for Flora, her heart racing with every second that passed.
"You better not die by a stupid storm Flora!" Deea prayed silently.
"Flora! Where are you!" she yelled out into the wind, Deea had lost feeling in her feet and fingers. She knew it was a losing battle to stick out in the storm and that the cold did not affect the ice twins as badly as her. However, she would be a moron to not try and at least help.
"Deea!" a voice called, Flora came towards her slowly. Deea smiled widely and ran towards her.
"You're alive!" she yelled as she approached the blue haired maid.
Flora scoffed, "course I am! I would not be of the ice tribe if a mere blizzard were to hinder me! I was looking for Felicia and Effie, have they been located yet?"
Deea sneezed, and shook harshly but nodded. Flora groaned, "Good, thank you for looking for me but you need to get out of this storm. Come on.." she grabbed Deea's hand and lead her back to the cave."
As they returned Elise healed Deea as best she could and they tried to keep warm. The Group had a hard time resting that night, but thankfully the storm passed by morning.
Everyone was freezing by this point, even Jakob shivered slightly. Everyone sniffled and shivered as they worked, and a heavy silence had settled over them. Flora and Felicia on the other hand, were unaffected since they were used to the cold.
Poor Deea was the worst, her nose was running heavily, her body shivered harshly and her fangs chattered.
Everyone gave her concerned glances and tried to help her get warm. However, Deea refuses to admit she was cold or sick probably because of her background.
"Welp, tomorrow's the day, are we going in charging or should we try to talk to them?" Arthur asked, trying to alleviate the tense air.
Everyone remained silent, unsure of what to say.
"Will they listen, they already have taken out our caravans running through here. I doubt they'll listen to people from Nohr." Effie mumbled as she sipped her warm tea.
"we should at least try, these are Flora and Felicia's family. So we should give it a shot, maybe we could resolve this without fighting!" Elise interjected hopefully.
Deea scoffed as she shook. "N-not evvvveryrhing can be resolved by t-talking pp-princess"
"That may be true in some regards malady, but I'm afraid you could say the same thing about violence. The world is an ever changing place, different situations call for different tactics." Jakob added.
Deea rolled her eye. "Sure, like that ever helped me in the past. The one time I tried that I got beaten within an inch of my life."
"I mean it would save us some time and resources if we could just talk to them." Arthur agreed.
Everyone fell into silence again, and carried on with their tasks.
They all slept poorly that night due to the cold, while Felicia, Flora and Arthur took the night shifts.
"Lady Deea wake up, we need to move." Deea groaned curling tightly into herself. "Lady Deea, wake up!" Deea was then shaken roughly until she slowly opened her red eye.
Flora stood above her, her face showing annoyance. "We've been trying to wake you for a while now. You're pretty warm and quite flushed, are you feeling alright?" Flora asked, placing a cold hand to Deea's face.
Deea knocked it away, with a weak growl. "M'fine."
Flora huffed and glared at her mistress. "Fine, sorry for worrying about you."
Deea was definitely not fine, she was hot, cold, and everything was swaying slowly. She shook her head and forced herself to steady, Deea had been sick before and fought while being ill. She survived then she could do it again, Deea had grown and was stronger now than she was in the past.
They made it to the ice tribe village by midday, it was in a small little circular indent in the mountain. It was a cute village with little houses covered in snow and smoke coming from the chimneys.
"It's just as I remember it Flora! Do you think father will be happy to see us?" The younger twin turned to her sibling with a wide grin.
Flora smiles warmly, her eyes filled with excitement.
Deea watched the two, a warm feeling filled her chest. No, it was not because she was sick, she had never seen the twins this happy or animated.
"Well let's go, the faster we get down there the faster we can get out of this cursed cold." Deea sniffled and walked down towards the village.
Everyone followed, Effie and Arthur stayed behind and squished Elsie protectively. Deea's long ears picked up multiple pulses of movement, and her heat senses were going wild. However, she could not pinpoint each reading as they jumbled together and moved.
"Why is no one outside, are they trying to ambush us?" Effie hissed, clenching her spear and shield tightly.
They followed the twins towards the largest building in the area.
As they neared, people came out from behind the building carrying multiple weapons and slowly surrounding Deea's group.
A large man came out wearing a huge silver crown on his forehead and silver armor that exposed his muscular chest. He crossed his thick arms and glared as they approached, However, his expression quickly changed as Flora and Felicia neared.
Felicia started running toward him, arms outstretched and a wide smile on her face.
"Father!" She yelled, running into him and giggling.
The man laughed and hugged her back, swinging her around in the snow.
Flora sped walked towards them and the man, their father, lifted an arm for her to join them.
Deea had never seen Flora so touchy with anyone except her sister; she also noticed the other tribe members smile and whisper how much they have grown and how much they missed them.
"You two finally managed to come back home! How did you escape that cursed place, and who are your companions?" The man asked, looking to the others.
Both twins tenses and looked down with sad smiles. "I'm sorry father but we did not escape, we are still servants of Nohr. This is Lady Deea our master, Jakob our fellow servant, Princess Elise, and her two retainers."
Deea was confused, she thought the twins served Nohr because of their loyalty or because they got left like Jakob. So why did they fraze it like they were forcefully taken?
The man grimaced, "I see, well you're both home now. Let us take care of these Nohrian scum, then have a celebration of your return." He took a fighting pose. "My name is Kilma, I am the chief of this tribe and father to your servants. If you do not leave this place peacefully we will be forced to engage in battle."
Jakob Steele's in front of Deea, pulling a dagger out of his sleeve.
"Wait, we just want to talk! I'm sure we can make a peaceful solution between Nohr and the ice tribe!" Elise yelled while riding her horse beside Deea.
Effie and Arthur quickly came in front of her and drew their weapons.
Kilma shook his head, looking to his daughters he nodded.
"Enough talking, Nohr took my daughters and killed my wife! They have controlled this village long enough, today we fight for our freedom!" He roared, everyone lifted their weapons in unison and cheered.
Deea watched the twins carefully, secretly hoping they would come back over to her. A little voice in her head told her otherwise.
"Please don't make me do this, not again." Deea begged them internally, she hoped her face and eye did not show the torment she was feeling. Deea was not in the right mind or health to fight so many, she swayed on the spot and her body ached.
Flora glared at Deea, then took a deep breath and drew her dagger, Felicia did not look at them as she bit her lip, her eyes teared up, then she looked to Deea and mouthed. "I'm sorry" and took out her own weapon.
Deea felt her heart drop, her chest hurt and she felt tears build in her eye. Deea's chest hurt and she did not know if it was because she was sick or hurt. "Of course they would choose their home over you dimwit. You're a beast on a short leash remember. But, that doesn't mean it hurts any less."
She drew out her own blade, and walked forwards. If it's one thing Deea knew well, it was how to fight and that normally helped her forget. "Fine, looks like we'll have to make ya understand." She crouched low and put on a wicked grin to hide her pain.
Everyone charged with battle cries, a fierce cold storm sprung from the air and surrounded Deea's group, Cloaking their enemy. "From a circle around Elise, keep a defensive position!" Deea cried.
Her body slowed with the increase of cold, but Deea forced her limbs to move. The first man came at her with a club, she blocked it and pushed him off. Deea then went in for the killing blow. "Wait Deea, don't kill them! These are your friends' people, they are scared and desperate. We need to weaken their leader so we can talk things through!" Elise yelled while healing Arthur.
Deea grunted and knocked the man with the jolt of her blade.
"Are you frekin crazy! They are trying to kill us princess, did you not see Flora and Felicia betray us!" Deea roared back blocking another strike.
Elise huffed. "Please Deea, like Jakob said, aren't there more ways to settle things than just killing? Do you really want to kill your friends, aren't you tired of just fighting and killing everyone?"
Deea growled getting frustrated as she knocked another man into the side of a building harshly. "They're trying to kill us, if we drop our weapons they won't hesitate and if we leave, your father will be furious! I don't want to be punished again or executed, and who said I was tired of fighting! I never get tired of bloodshed and fighting!"
Elise bit her lip. "Do you really want to kill your friends Deea?" She asked softly.
Deea felt the hair on her arms and neck rise, and it was not because of the cold. Those words shook her to the core, unwanted memories and noises forced their way into her head. Her heart went to her throat and she felt like she could not breath.
"No not again, never again! I-I can't go through with that again. How can we stop fighting if we don't fight? I don't want to kill Felicia and while Flora is annoying I don't wish her dead."
"Fine, we'll do things your way this time princess." Deea relented.
Elise smiled, healing Deea of her wounds.
"Lady Elise whole this is sweet we need to hurry the cold is making it very hard to focus and fight!"
"Any ideas?" Effie asked blocking an ice attack with her shield. "We're sitting ducks here, we need to live or do something!"
Deea looked around, even though her senses were muffled she could still sense people.
"I know where to go, follow my lead and stick close together." Deea trudged forward slowly and carefully. Blocking attacks and trying not to break any bones, they were lucky she was weak right now. Effie stood beside her blocking as many blows as she could and shielding Deea from the wind just a bit. Arthur and Jakob hung behind taking on the ones that tried to strike from behind or hiding in the fog. Elise healed as much as she could, though she herself was getting tired.
Deea felt a presence in front of her and she turned to lock blades with Flora. Deea grinded her sharp teeth together, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her. Half of Deea wanted to tear the traitors apart then bathe and drink their blood. The other half wanted to just cry and go to sleep.
Flora's face was scrunched up, and her eyes held no emotion. Deea hissed then lifted a leg and kicked the maid away, she then ducked down and extended her other leg she swooped around and tripped her. However, Flora jumped over and threw a knife towards Deea. Deea tried to rise back up but her body was too slow and her head felt stuffy. The knife embedded itself deep in Deea's right thigh, she grunted and staggered backwards.
Flora's eyes widened and she stepped forward like she wanted to help but stopped herself and replaced her emotionless mask back on.
Deea reached down and pulled the knife out with a grunt. A wild grin spread along Deea's features, and she smiled broadly showing her long fangs.
"Fine, if you aren't going to hold back. Then I won't either!"
Deea turned around to check on her group only to find snow, ice and fog. She was alone in this fight, all she could do was hold her ground and hope the others held out.
She ignored her wound and ran towards Flora, sluggishly dodging the ice and daggers. Flora dodged Deea's strikes and fought back just as fiercely. Flora had given Deea multiple shallow cuts while Deea was having trouble focusing and landing any hits herself. Flora drew another dagger and ducked under a sideways strike from Deea she then took one dagger and slashed her left thigh then took the other dagger and struck her side.
In her hazy mind Deea relished something, strange about Flora.
"She's not making any vital cuts. Does she not want to kill me? I need to be careful too, like Elise said. This is not the arena, we don't have to kill each other like animals here for once. Remember what Gunther taught you, focus on her fighting style. Flora is aiming for my legs, so she's trying to slow my movements. She's trying to cripple me so I'll stop fighting. Well, I'll return that back to her, if I can land a hit hard enough to knock her out I can move on and end this!"
Deea sidestepped two flying daggers, her eyesight was hazy making it difficult to see Flora amidst the storm.
"So your whole plan was to lead us here and kill us huh? That kinda stupid if ya ask me, wouldn't the kind be angry if his daughter was dead?" Deea asked, tilting her heavy head.
Flora stood straight and did not waver, her lips were set in a thin line. "The princess was not supposed to come. It was just meant to be us, Jakob and you. We wanted to see if we could persuade you to understand the situation!"
"Well you're doing a fantastic job aren't ya?!" Deea bit back charging and swinging to the right of Flora.
Flora backed up, while Deea staggered forward.
"I don't want to hurt you Deea, you and I may not see eye to eye, but you have cared for my sister and even me. You have shown you have a caring heart underneath all that bite. Please understand why we do this!"
Flora dodged another sloppy strike from Deea "My sister and I were taken from our home at a young age by the king and forced to be slaves. That way he had the ice tribe under his boot, father would not dare fight back if he knew his daughters here in danger! For years we have suffered under Nohr's rule but now we can finally be free! Just leave us alone!" She drew up an ice wall between her and Deea.
Deea laughed weakly. "So you both waited till this to get back home? Where will you go, the king knows where y'all live. Even if you heat us, he'll send more soldiers."
Flora grimaced. "We planned to go into hiding, and find a new place to live. Far away from tyrant rulers and war."
Deea growled slamming her fist into the ice wall, it broke and cracks formed along the walls. Deea's knuckles bled slowly but she ignored her self inflicted wound and glared at Flora.
"And what about me? You think you and your sister can just leave,after everything we've been through together? If I let you go and go back to the king and he finds out I failed you honestly think everything will be fine? You forget that I'm the King's pet right? What happens when a pet disobeys? they get punished, and you've seen what happens when I screw up. You're not the only one with high stakes here!" Deea hissed, then coughed raspily multiple times.
"You're not well either are you? You're sick and still trying to fight, please lower your weapon and I can get you out of this storm!" Flora lowered her weapons and took a hesitant step forward, reaching a hand towards Deea.
Deea slowly started to lower her sword, she swayed in place and her eyelid was starting to grow heavy.
No, she betrayed us! We must make her pay, she's just like everyone else! Always using us till they get what they want, and then throwing us away like a dang pet! We must destroy all in our path and make them bow to our supremacy! Drink the blood of all betrayers and devour those who oppose us! all must bow or burn!" Deea shook her head and bit her lip to clear her head. Her mind felt like it was about to explode, Deea was losing the will to think rationally she wanted to give into the bloodlust, finish the battle quickly so she could rest. However, the demons of her past kept her from fully giving in, reminding her what happens when she lets her instincts fully take over.
"I don't want to hurt or kill Flora, she may be a pain but I don't want to kill her!" She argued with herself.
Deea felt a cold hand on her arm, causing the warrior to jerk her head up. Pale ice eyes met one red. "It's ok to give up, I don't want to fight you either. We may not be on the greatest terms you and I, but I have no will to actually end your life."
Deea growled and Jerked Flora's hand off as she staggered away and weakly lifted her blade, the tip shaking and barely hovering above the ground. "I-i d-d-don't need your h-help! You betrayed me!"
"Flora, where are you!" a deep masculine voice came behind Flora.
The chief of the ice tribe ran quickly towards them, his tome open and a ragefully look on his face.
Deea bit the inside of her lip. "If he's here then where are Elise and the others?"
"Father, hold on!" Flora jerked back towards her father lifting a hand to stop him.
Too late, Kilma summoned the ice from underneath Deea's bare feet to spike up at her. Deea screamed as ice tore through her legs and feet, she tried to break free while trying to ignore the searing pain with every twitch. Deea used her tired arms to break the ice, but every icicle broken a new one would grow. She was cornered, and Deea could already feel her fangs and nails growing longer and sharper. Deea began breaking the icicles and throwing them at Kilma and flora, though she missed easily every time because of her blurred vision.
"Flora, strike her down quickly while I have her pinned!" Kilma yelled while dodging another throw from Deea.
Flora looked between her father and former master. "Father please, she's sick and not the enemy!"
Kilma grunted but kept his eyes on Deea. "have you lost your senses my daughter? She is a Nohrian, they are all the same, corrupted devils always seeking lands to conquer!"
"They were planning to talk things through with us! We started the attack, they are trying to defend themselves! You never said we would kill them, just make them retreat!" Flora argued.
Kilma looked at Flora with a frim, disapproving look. "Enough! I'll speak with you later, since clearly you do not fully understand the situation!"
"Ah!" Kilma narrowly avoided another onslaught of icicles coming at him. While he was distracted by the ice, Deea charged towards him and body slammed the ice chief to the floor. Both rolled along the icy floor, Flora moved to help but found it nearly impossible to discern who was who because of the storm.
Kilma was surprised by the small girl's strength, he and his tribe had summoned a storm to blind her and her group yet Deea still tracked his movements easily. Kilma lifted his knee and plunged into Deea's stomach, the pale girl gasped and her grip loosened. However, Deea quickly placed her left forearm on kilma's neck and leaned heavily on him.
Kilma tried to wrench himself free from Deea's death grip, however, even as he kicked and punched her Deea remained unfazed.
Flora ran and tackled Deea's back, she wrapped her arms around the small girl's neck and tried to push Deea off of her father. Deea grunted and mumbled something too quiet to hear, however, she still held Kilma down. Flora's father was gasping for air and grabbing whatever he could reach to get breath.
"Why won't you go down! Just faint and this fighting stops, you're sick and badly injured Deea, so just stop fighting already!" Flora grit her teeth as Deea made incoherent, animalistic noises while trying to get Flora off of her.
"Lady Deea please, he's my father! Please let him go, I won't let anyone else be taken from me!"
Deea threw her head back and collided it into flora's nose, a loud crack sounded and the girl cried out as she was flung backwards into the snow.
Deea's vision went white and she fell off to the side of Kilma. The man gasped for air clutching his throat and coughing.
Deea's vision slowly cleared but swam around, nausea swirled in her stomach and she felt blood gather in her mouth.
"I'm sorry Lady Deea, but I had no choice!" Felicia stood before her with a large tree limb. "You were going to kill father!"
Deea groaned, spitting up a wad of blood. "I wasn't gonna kill him dingus, he was going to kill me! Look at me, I haven't hit anything vital or drawn blood yet I got holes in my arms and legs!"
"Then surrender." Kilma's hoarse voice and footsteps sounded as he came beside Flora and helped her up.
"You, you think that hasn't crossed my mind?" Deea slowly sat up and coughed pitifully.
"First off I have no place to go, and no people for help, sure I can live in the wild and run but I'll be hunted down for the rest of my life. Secondly, I've never been out of the dungeons or Castle in my life, and while I hate to admit it, I got no idea how to survive out there. Either way I'm screwed, only choice I got right now is to keep following that crazy king's orders." Deea spat as she glared at her used to be friends.
Felicia looked to Flora and a silence fell among them, both seemed to be speaking to each other through their minds.
Felicia stepped forward with a gentle smile on her face. "Maybe you don't have to anymore Lady Deea."
Flora followed close behind with a strained smile herself.
"What on earth are you too doing? She's down, take her out!" Kilma stomped towards Deea forming an icicle in his hands.
"Wait father, please listen!" Felicia pushed her father to a stop.
Kilma looked confused, "has she poisoned your minds! Flora, finish her, surely you understand what needs to be done!"
"While this is a bit of a gamble." Flora started looking at her father, then she turned to Deea with a small shy smile.
"We both look pretty rough don't we Deea? Something you told me awhile ago was you were tired of ceaselessly fighting. I'm also tired of fighting, hiding and being afraid every single day I wake up, so." she stopped in front of Deea and lowered her hand. "Can we settle things for now and pick this up later?"
Deea looked to the two maids before her, Flora had multiple cuts and bruises while blood dripped from her broken nose. While Felicia had a few cuts and bruises herself, both looked worn out and haggard, but had stupid grins as they moved to help Deea up.
Deea Glared at the hands outstretched to her. "Can i trust them? They literally betrayed me two seconds ago."
"What's gonna happen now?" Deea groaned out.
"You can come with us!" Felicia said, clapping her hands together. "I've always wanted another sister!"
Flora rolled her eyes and stood straight. "I don't think it would be so bad to have you come along. Your battle prowess and abilities could come in handy in the long run."
Deea smirked, "that's all huh? What about Elise, Arthur, Effie, and Jakob?"
"I highly doubt she will be blamed, the royals almost always turn out fine." Flora said with a shrug.
"Come on, we've spoken long enough." flora said as she and Felicia helped her up
As Deea rose, her smile fell as a cold shock washed over her, then a warm dripping feeling down her stomach. She looked down to find a sharp icicle punctured her stomach. Deea did not even feel the pain, and only stared, a high pitched noise buzzed in her head and was growing quickly.
"Fight back you Idiot you're going to die if you just stand there! see , they are traitors, they tricked you! Everyone here deserves to die a slow and painful death! it doesn't matter what that little princess said! They are traitors! Traitors! Traitors!"
"Traitors…." Deea mumbled slowly rising her hands to the bloodied icicle.
Deea's head slowly rose to the ice twins who stood in place in shock.
Deea's red eye seemed to glow abnormally and a blue mist flowed around her body mist flowed from her nostrils and mouth. As her fangs lengthened and long black claws scrapped along the ice. Flora could see scales growing on Deea's face and a strange evil, presence chilled the air.
"Traitor!" Deea roared with a distorted voice, she broke the icicle easily with her clawed hands and crouched on all fours in the snow. Blood dropped from her mouth and wounds painting the snow a deep crimson.
"L-lady Deea what's going on? Why are you like this!" Felicia yelled shivering from the strange aura her old master was emitting.
Both girls backed away from the small girl, as Deea prowled along the snow like a predator stalking its prey.
"Father what did you do!" Flora yelled, glaring at him.
Deea roared and charged towards Kilma, he summoned a cold wind to blow her away. However, as Deea flew back to the floor her claws ceased her sliding, she growled and decided to go for someone else. Deea ducked under a strike from Flora and clawed at her left leg. Flora cried out and slashed her dagger towards Deea. Deea jumped away and dodged Kilma's icicles, she jumped on Flora and pinned her to the floor.
Felicia couldn't move; she had never seen Deea express such animalistic rage. Kilma ran to assist his daughter, ramming into the injured Deea and slamming her to a large tree.
Deea roared, bit and clawed wildly at the man all while screaming in a otherworldly voice. "TRAITOR!"
"What's going on with her!" Felicia yelled to her sister. The pink maid had tears in her eyes but they did not fall.
Flora shook her head and sucked in a breath, putting pressure on her wound. "I don't know, but if we don't help father I fear she may rip him to shreds!"
"But-"
"Felicia please! Whatever is happening it's making Deea insane! She is in survival mode right now and if we are not careful she could kill all three of us!"
Flora ran toward her struggling father, her twin close behind.
"Help keep her busy, she's lost a lot of blood and should lose consciousness soon! Flora, find some rope, Felicia, help me restrain her!"
Deea's claws had torn into Kilma's arm and his chest. Her claws tore through his armor and skin like paper, the ice chieftain knew he was running out of time.
Felicia looked between her father and her former mistress.
"Don't just stand there freez her! Ahh!"
He screamed as Deea bit into his forearm, he punched her face for her to let go. Deea did not let go as he punched, kicked and jerked her around.
"Let go of him!" Felicia cried.
Felicia drew her dagger and jumped onto Deea's back tightening her hold around Deea's neck.
"Lady Deea whatever's going on with you please stop. You're hurting yourself!"
"Felicia do something besides talking!" Kilma growled, took his free hand and dug one of his fingers into Deea's remaining eye.
Deea howled and let go, clawing at her face, she bucked wildly trying to get Felicia off her.
Felicia held on tight and begged the gods Deea would tire herself out quickly.
While Deea was busy with Felicia, kilma grabbed a dagger from the ground, ran at Deea and stabbed it as hard and deep as he could into her foot.
Deea howled forgetting Felicia and thrashing around towards Kilma.
"Let go Felicia!" He ordered.
"No! If I let go you'll kill her!" Felicia argued back.
"If you don't she will kill all of us!" The chief argued back. "Where do your loyalties lie Felicia? your people and family or this Norhian monster?!"
Deea jumped in the air and fell harshly on top of Felicia, she quickly rolled away while Felicia tried to regain her breath and senses, then Deea slammed her fist hard onto her skull.
"Felicia!" Flora screamed.
Deea turned towards the scream and dashed towards the elder twin with a large twisted grin.
"Raaaaaaaaahhh!" Deea pounced on Flora just as she drew another dagger and lifted it up to defend herself.
Deea dug her claws into Flora's shoulders while snapping at her face. Flora went and slashed at Deea's face and even though the dagger cut it drew shallow cuts that did not seem to affect the smaller girl.
Meanwhile, Kilma did not know whether to run to his younger daughter laying still in the snow or his other daughter who was fighting the feral girl.
He formed an ice blade with a firm hand, he would end this horrible thing's life and save his village. He lifted his blade and went towards Flora, right before he was about to make contact Deea turned around and grabbed the blade in her right hand. Her face was covered in cuts and her eye glowed brightly. Flora used the distraction to take her dagger and drive it deep into Deea's chest.
The young girl's eye widened and she broke the ice blade in half. Kilma then took the broken blade and shoved it towards the stunned child. Deea lifted her palm and let the blade slide into her hand and redirect it to her left shoulder. The blade tore through her hand and sank shallowly into her left shoulder, she then slammed her face into his then took her right arm and slashed her claws across Flora's neck. Both sank to the floor clutching their wounds, and groaning.
Deea stood shakily, her left hand still pinned to her shoulder, she grinned wildly at her victory.
"Lady….Deea…" Felicia's trembling voice pleaded. Deea tilted her head at the pinkette, her smile still present. The young maid looked so broken and hurt, blood flowed down her face and her eyes were glassy. "Why? Why, I loved you!?" She asked weakly.
Deea's smile slowly fell and the blue mist surrounding her ebbed away.
"What?" She whispered as she looked around her wildly at the damage she caused.
Flora clutched her neck gurgling wildly while trying to breath. Kilma was on the floor out cold, and Felicia had also fallen unconscious.
"No...no…" Deea grabbed her short hair with her good hand while stumbling backwards in panic. "Not again!"
Deea's wounds throbbed and her head spun. "I didn't-I don't- I'm sorry-I! Not again, please, please!" Deea sank to the floor, shivering and mumbling sorry repeatedly.
"Deea! Deea are you over here! Sorry we got separated! Jakob has been driving us insane trying to find you, are you ok?" A soft voice called through the blizzard.
Elise's comered face was the last thing Deea saw before losing consciousness.