Day 46:
She paced.
It was stupid even to think, but this wait was making her wish she had simply gone to Niflheim on her own before the others woke, not least of all because if she had never heard Father's plan to come with her to Angelgard, she could justify accidentally leaving him behind. Now she wouldn't be able to.
Servants had come to clear away the remains of breakfast. Noctis sat in his armchair. He had always looked so disinterested before; it was strange to see him so invested in a process that was little more than talk at this stage. Cor was leaning against a wall. His eyes followed where she walked.
The elevator opened not long after Father had stepped away to make his call to Cid. Ignis stepped out and took in the state of things in one glance.
"What have I missed?" He asked.
Reina looked at Noctis. Noctis looked back.
"You explain," he said. "It was your dream thing."
She began. Halfway through, the elevator opened again and Iris stepped out.
She started over. When she reached the end, Iris was staring at her with her mouth open. Ignis removed his glasses and cleaned them slowly.
"It goes without saying that we also intend to accompany you," he said at length.
Reina sighed. "Yes, that's what I was afraid of."
Cor was staring daggers at her, just daring her to make an objection so he could crush it. She didn't. There was no objection she could make that sounded reasonable outside the chaotic mess of her mind. They were all highly capable people. They had rescued her from the Messengers. But that didn't change the fact that she feared losing them and the only way she could ensure she never would was to protect them fiercely—even unnecessarily.
"Dear me, little Dreamer, did you truly think you could escape without us?"
If Ardyn had been there all along, Reina hadn't noticed. But then again, she hadn't noticed him entering, either.
"I knew, at least, that I would never escape without you," Reina said.
"Nor should you try." It was uncertain, between the intense look he leveled in her direction and the light-hearted tone of his voice, whether this was an offhand comment or a warning. Likely it was neither, but a bit of both and born of his lingering unwillingness to trust that she would truly follow through with what she had promised him. He wanted to trust her and still struggled to do so.
Down the hall, Father's door opened. His steady footsteps—almost unrecognizable without the accompanying sound of a cane—drew closer and closer until he rounded the corner. By then they were all waiting.
He stopped just around the corner, finding five pairs of eyes on him. "The prototype is intact."
A collective sigh swept through the lounge. Even Cor stood a little less tensely—if that was possible for him. But Father's tone had suggested a 'but' was to follow.
It did.
"It has never been tested and it may yet require a great deal of work to make it sky worthy. However, if you, Reina, and your retinue were to aid in repairs, he estimates it could be ready within a few days."
A few days. A lot could happen in forty-eight hours. Was it worth the wait for an untested prototype airship? Or should she gamble on finding an imperial ship and someone who could fly it within the same time? Neither were her solution of choice. But a perfect answer was rarely available, even in the best of times.
Ignis, Iris, and Cor were watching her for some sign or affirmation. Ardyn considered his fingernails. She glanced between them and her father and Noctis.
"We leave immediately for Hammerhead," she said.