Asta and Noelle
After the Royal Knight's exam a defeated Asta and not-so-proud Noelle travel back to the hideout on foot. On the way they run into a traveling caravan of families who offer a ride for protection. Asta and Noelle admit they're both totally out of mana and exhausted from the exam but the drivers say that the Magic Knight cloaks are enough. Only, they aren't. Whumptober! Plenty of hurt Asta, angst and fluff.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Each Black Bull had asked her in their own way before they left as a group.
"I'm fine. I'll hire a ride back once he wakes up it's no big deal." Noelle replied smartly. She knew it was more important that he slept. It became obvious to her, as it had to her cousin, that Asta wasn't just physically exhausted but emotionally as well.
The king's personal wizard had transported them to a room in the castle for the night. There were two beds, in the same room, which made her blush.
"Not that I need rest or anything!" She squealed.
Asta, barely standing but only with her help, sounded as defeated as ever when he replied. "Why not, you won. You gave it your all." He let go, took a few sloppy steps and plopped face first onto the bed on the left too tired to care either way.
Her feet froze at the realization, she had unwillingly drove another arrow into him. Another stab in the back that pulled him further into his self loathing.
Good job.
His breathing let out a slight snore. He had immediately fallen asleep. At that, she walked over to the other bed, sat on the edge for a bit with her hands in her lap, and eventually laid down on top of the covers. She too, would fall sleep quickly.
The beds were separated by a modest nightstand holding a porcelain pitcher of water and a glass. The moonlight turned to crystal beams off of the clean smooth white of these items as it poured in the tall window positioned there. Enormous curtains tucked aside, were made to match the maroon covers on the beds. The room was peaceful like that until Noelle was woken up in the early hours of the morning.
Something started to pull her out of the nice dream she was having. It was something she wouldn't be able to remember so she fought to stay in. But the something pulled at her again and again and eventually won.
Noelle was aware of her surroundings again, surprised for a moment that she wasn't in her room at the hideout. Asta, who was thrashing lightly and moaning as if he was yelling in his own dream, brought her to reality.
Noelle moved next to him in a heartbeat. She took his hand and called out his name when she squeezed it.
That was enough.
He woke startled with confusion drawn all over his face. He looked at the royal like she was his only anchor, gripping her hand tighter than she offered.
"Calm down, Dork-sta!" She ordered stiffly.
"But... you..." He mumbled, let go and moved in the bed looking at his own hands disgusted by them.
"What?" She added.
His body shook slightly and so did his words. "You... were dead. I killed you."
"That was just a dream. Geez, what kinds of things do you dream about?!"
He was not phased by her underreaction and was still hyper focused on his hands.
"But the Queen... she..." His eyes widened with more fear. "There was blood and those crosses... You..."
Noelle had never seen him like this so she softened her words. "Yes, the Queen of the witches tried to control you but you fought it and we won. You never killed anyone."
"I did! You and Finral. With my sword. With these hands. Right into two..."
"I think I would remember being cut into two." Noelle remarked smartly trying to snap him out of it. "Do I look like I've been cut in two?" She leaned over trying to avert his angry hand gazing.
His eyes shifted and stared at her neck. There wasn't even a scar. He then became aware a girl was hovering over his bed.
"I guess... It was just a nightmare. I'm sorry... Thanks Noelle." His words were completely devoid of his normal pep. It was painfully obvious that he had not recovered.
"Since we're up let's get back to the others. I'll get us a ride and..."
"You go ahead." He cut her off. "I'd rather walk." He said monotoned and started to put on his shoes which he had kicked off in his sleep.
"Walk?!" The royal would never have imagined anyone walking that great a distance. "But why!?" She shrieked.
"Gotta think about stuff." He started for the door in a dull walk, hands in his pockets.
Noelle jumped to join him and grabbed his shoulder to turn towards her slightly.
"I'm not returning without you. And I'm also not letting you go alone. You're too weak to travel so I'll escort you, I guess." She blushed a little thinking how they needed the escort for being alone together.
"Nah. I'll be fine. I used to do this all the time." He shrugged off her hand and put his hand in the handle of the door. "Unless you need to think too?" He added.
This kind and thoughtful offer was something Noelle wasn't used to. Time to think? Like actually processing one's emotions? Seemed wild but also too good to pass up.
"I...um...yeah okay, that's actually sounds kinda nice." She brushed her bangs aside.
The corner of Asta's mouth lifted just enough for Noelle to notice but before she could say anything Asta grabbed her hand again and yanked her down the hall to leave.
On their way out they stopped a maid and asked that a message be sent to the Black Bulls about their plans. The maid insisted that they stop by the kitchens on their way out for some food on the road. Asta wasn't about to pass up free food so they did so happily.
Noelle was given a side-satchel of breads, cheeses, four apples and a canteen each of water and wine. Asta had been strapped to a wicker backpack with two wool blankets, a small pot, a knife and little things to make their journey easier and tastier.
The two knights were set off properly with plenty of supplies at the kitchen staff's delight.
The pair walked for about an hour outside of the city wordlessly. Then several more hours into the afternoon. But Noelle's mind was working rapidly. She was asking herself questions and didn't stop to determine the answers. Like:
Are there snakes out here?
What about bears?
I wonder if my brother will be impressed?
What would mom think of me now?
What will my next spell be like?
Did Asta just trip a little?
Can a dirt road road get any filthier?!
Wait. Are we gonna sleep outside?
I wonder if the others are worried.
Are there bandits in these parts?
Did my cousin make a move on Asta in the recovery room?
Did I really win?
Do I actually deserve this? Or was it just luck that I was paired with Asta's friend?
Are we there yet?
"Hey, Noelle?" Asta slowly came to a stop. His pace hadn't been anything impressive but Noelle had dutifully followed behind him. She jumped a little being pulled out of her own thoughts.
"Huh? What is it?" She ordered.
"Mind if we sit for a minute or two?" He begged quietly.
She immediately noticed the sweat on his brow, the red in his cheeks and other signs pointing to how tired he actually was. Normally she would have said something like royalty doesn't need breaks but that if he insisted she could manage a quick respite. Instead of her normal teasing and name-calling however, she replied softly.
"Okay... Whatever you need."
Her concern passed over him unknowingly as he sat on a large rock along the road.
Asta put the wicker pack on the ground, sat and hunched over resting his elbows on his knees.
Noelle handed him the canteen of water which he took and gulped.
While he drank she spoke meekly. "Are you sure you're okay to do this journey? I mean you're a meathead who's out of breath after a little walk. How about I carry that?"
She reached for his pack. But he blocked her and held her hand.
"What kind of knight would I be..." He had to stop to breath. "If I let a girl carry all the stuff with my hands empty?"
"I'm a knight too! What kind of knight would I be letting an injured teammate carry the heaviest load?!" She crossed her arms and thought of a compromise.
"We'll trade." She held her side saddle up.
"Still no." He crossed his arms, still with elbows on knees.
"Asta! Listen here! You're not okay! Let me help! I'm here for a reason!"
Asta ignored that and turned toward a dust cloud being pulled along by a wagon caravan coming down the road.
The head wagon stopped right in front of them and the other five or so behind it.
"Well hello! Fancy meeting you here!" Said a joyous man holding the reins of the first and largest covered wagon.
Noelle was a little stunned by the whole sight but Asta was ready to chat.
Asta replied with as much happiness as he could, which Noelle knew he was faking. "Hello to you too!" He waved and stood up.
"I tell you what, you being here is an answer to my prayers! See we're heading through a rough forest coming up here and we'd sure like a few fine knights protecting us. We heard tale of bandits in these parts." His light colored beard bounced with delight even when he spoke of the bandits.
Noelle spoke before Asta. "I'm sorry to say my friend and I are very weak and out of magic power from a recent plight and therefore would be little help to you. However, we could pay you for a ride as I said we are very tired."
"No need for that! The cloaks on your shoulders are all we need!"
"Are you sure?" Asta turned to Noelle. "I thought we were walking?" But Noelle's stern face stopped him from continuing. He understood immediately. "If that's what you want." He was defeated.
The man, having not heard their little private argument continued. "Absolutely! Just sit up here with me!"
Soon enough they were situated on the front bench of the wagon with Noelle in the middle. The horses were restless to begin again and with a thwack of the reins they were off faster than most brooms.
A few minutes into the ride Noelle realized that she had grabbed onto Asta's arm and she blushed when she whipped it back to her person.
"Hmm?" Asta turned having not really cared either way. "It's okay, I don't mind." He said matter of factly with no obvious intentions.
"Well I do!" She shrieked over the sound of hooves and wheels. She wanted to change the subject so she turned to the driver.
"Tell me, why do you travel by wagon? Can no one in your group fly? What are your goods anyway?" She had to raise the volume of her voice to be heard.
"Well Miss Knight, we're a traditional group of folks who don't use magic if we can help it. Most just forget how. We live on farms and provide for our own well enough. We're traveling to our sister land because ours' flooded last week when a damn broke. We begged the king to fix it years ago but we were ignored. There's no fixing it or the land for now. Maybe we'll return someday but for now we're headed East. As far as our 'goods'... Well just take a look yourself." He turned to open a slit in the wagon front cover. Noelle and Asta looked over their shoulders to find: people. They wore traveling clothes and bonnets. A little boy and girl played a clapping hand game together while the few adults read a book or chatted with a neighbor. Everyone seemed content.
The leader continued as he shut the canvas. "We've got about seven families altogether. One couple with a wee babe in tow."
"You're all... So brave." Noelle barely spoke loud enough over the horses.
He chuckled. "Not at all, Miss Knight! Simply adapting to change. Like we all need to do as we grow. Just some changes we don't expect. That's all. You gotta know what you can change and what you can't."
Noelle sat, watching the horses' hair weave in the wind thinking about what he said for sometime.
At some point Asta had fallen asleep, even though the ride was rough and bumpy. His head bumped up and down matching the ride upon Noelle's shoulder. She both loved and hated it but did nothing to wake him.
"You weren't kidding about being tired." The driver mentioned after a long while. "They working you too hard, Miss Knight?"
Noelle was confused by his concern, a stranger. "We were being tested. Him more than most."
"And you?" He added gently.
"I...I exhausted all my magic power and I fought hard but my team was carried by someone stronger. We would not have won without him. I'm not sure if I deserve this."
"Don't fret Miss Knight! I'm sure that's not the first and I know it won't be the last chance to prove your worth! Learn and grow from this opportunity!" His beard seemed extra joyful when he was giving advice.
She nodded and held his words close to her heart where she would mull over them later. That 'later' that she craved was abruptly stolen by a sudden explosion that emerged from the road beneath them.
The front wagon was thrown into the air, the reins snapped, horses went flying and the people along with them. The leader, Noelle and Asta flew forward and into the crazy legs of frightened and injured horses.
The second wagon halted so fast it crashed into the rear of the recently landed first evoking many screams. The others behind also stopped abruptly with the help of the deep gullies on either side of the road. The wagons were nearly falling over from the angle.
Another explosion.
More screams.
Asta and Noelle still trying to get their own bearings couldn't tell which way it had come from and felt it more than heard it, their ears ringing from the first blast.
Noelle crawled over to Asta who was also on his hands and knees.
Asta more calm than afraid spoke. "Tell me this is a bad dream. I'm dreaming right?"
Noelle, out of breath, simply shook her head side to side and swallowed before they both dared to look back at the carnage. They used eachother to stand slowly.
People were evacuating toppled, burning wagons with children in their arms. Horses lay still on the earth. Dust slipped through the air but did nothing to stifle the screams. Noelle saw the leader with the joyful advice, under their wagon surrounded by blood among other things. She herself screamed at the sight of the broken body and immediately hid her face into Asta's shoulder who just as quickly wrapped his arm around his teammate.
Still holding her he yelled over the panic. "Get off the road!! It's trap magic!! Get away from the road!!" He was out of breath and Noelle noticed him leaning into her along with the bleeding head wound on his forehead.
"I'll go." Noelle jumped into action focusing the confused and rallying the able bodied. Asta was sincerely astonished at how quickly she overcame the trama. It had not been five minutes since the first explosion and now the trap setters were about to make themselves known.
A foreign fierce force had suddenly closed around Asta's neck. Something metallic that was tight and uncomfortable but not trying to strangle him either. He instinctively reached to try to pull it, it was difficult but he took care of it easily. He snapped the metal and shattered it but somehow the pieces clung together on the ground.
They were magnetic.
He looked up to see others struggling with their own unwanted chokers. He took a few uneasy steps intending to help before hearing an unfamiliar voice rattle off a magic spell name, something to do with magnets. This was followed by Asta's teammate's spell that could shield herself and others in a water bubble.
Noelle was struggling to keep up the Sea Dragon's Lair that engulfed herself and about five others huddled around her feet. Her arm and face bleeding from the explosions, soot in her hair from the fire, a look entirely unbefitting of a noble. This couldn't have been the first spell she used and here she was with little rest and even less mana protecting people with her life.
Asta didn't have time to admire the bravest girl he'd ever met, instead his adrenaline kicked in and he soon found himself, sword in hand, between Noelle and her assailant.
A large shouldered man surrounded by three more with matching long dark green cloaks stood amazed by Asta's anti-magic. Our hero was used to that response and said nothing, he had to focus on standing.
"Asta!" Noelle yelled.
"Get them out of here!" He called back without taking his eyes off the group of bandits. A warm line of blood fell further down his cheek. The number of bandits kept changing from four to maybe six, or was it eight?
"Noelle! Go!" Asta called again but there was no reply. Noelle and all the others had been lifted up into the air about ten feet and we're struggling for air as the collars choked them. Asta looked up, mouth open and in that moment was caught.
Before he knew it there was a man on either side holding his arms and his sword clanged on the ground. He was easily taken.
"I know who you are, Mr. Anti-magic black bull. You can't cut the invisible force of magnetism!" A pair of brass knuckles made of something black floated onto the man's fingers gracefully
With that he punched Asta in the gut, hard. Then again and again.
The other with him covered his entire fists with metal magic and enjoyed sinking his punches into Asta's body too. Each one evoking another short pained sound from the young Black Bull.
Noelle, though suspended, could hear what was happening, she tried to call out but couldn't. Her wand wasn't in her hand. It was lost. Not knowing what to do she cast a blind water ball towards the sounds and of course, missed.
"Hey now. Little missy. That's not polite." The man gestured and dropped all the people who now gasped for air. He floated Noelle over to himself and dropped her so she sat on her knees grabbing at the metal noose around her thin neck.
"HA! It's our lucky day! I know that hair and cross symbol anywhere! You're from house Sylva! We'll get a pretty penny for you, that we will. Mark my words! Change of plans men! Forget the wagons and horses. Just the cattle and this little song bird."
"Cattle?" Noelle breathed. There were only horses but then it struck her. He meant the people.
"What about him?" The metal fisted man asked, notably tired from his workout. Noelle's attention flew to Asta. His face was hidden with his chin dropped to his chest. Arms still forced out straight, as his feet dangled.
"Asta!" Noelle yelled which earned her a sharp slap across the face. She persisted. "Let him go!" She earned a second slap that sent her facedown into the ground. She tried a quick spell but it didn't work.
"Tsk. The jewellery I gave you will suppress any magic power you have. Now behave."
After a nod from their magnetic leader the two men tossed Asta toward her. His limp body kicked up dust as it rolled. It stopped to let him lay on his back with an arm over his torso.
She lunged to side, tears welling up for fear he was already dead. She laid her head on his chest and heard a heart beat. She stayed longer to make certain her aching ears were correct.
"Brother, look. He broke your collar!" One exclaimed.
"That won't happen again. Break his hands." He gestured to the metal fist member of the group to step forward.
"No!" Noelle screamed and gripped at his shoulder and over his head affectively protecting him with her own body.
"No?" The leader replied. "What insurance do I have he won't break the next one?"
She yelled, unmoving, into her friend's chest. "You nearly beat him to death! You think he could do that again? Take our grimoires! Take my wand! Money! I'll do whatever you want! Just please stop hurting him! " She started to tear up against his shirt. It smelled of blood, dirt and sweat. Still, she never lifted from him.
The leader leaned in and spoke eerily low. "I'll hold you to that promise, little thing."
At that, her eyes opened wide as a chill ran down her spine. She gripped Asta's cloak and whispered to him.
"Asta, wake up. I need you." She stayed low, and just breathed.
The boss ordered. "Bring him too, as insurance"
One among the bandits used spacial magic and went to work clearing the road back to its original condition. The trap magic user released two unused traps while the two metal users sat and drank something from a barrel that survived the fires.
The people were gathered up into one area off the road and under some trees. Asta received another magnetic choker but otherwise was left alone. The people tore clothing and bandaged their injuries as quietly as possible with muttered sobs for the dead. It wasn't long till someone offered to help Noelle with her own scrapes, one in particular was a good gash on the back of her forearm that she didn't notice till the others pointed it out. Asta on the other hand needed much more material. Noelle removed her light white cape for the task of tightly wrapping his ribs and also a strip for his head, especially since his headband was missing. He was already hurt enough than beaten till he was senseless. Noelle wondered if her cape would do any good but the members of the caravan seemed to know what they were doing.
"SILVA!" The leader's voice boomed and made Noelle jump. She was then floating in his direction. She twisted her neck. It was unbearable to be held up like this.
"Poor me a drink." He ordered when her feet landed near him. He used his magnetic magic to pull out the flask of wine in her satchel and held out a cup that was found amongst the wagons.
Disgusted by the mere sight of him she took a half step back.
He took notice. "I'm assuming that you prefer your friend's hands to remain attached to his body?"
She gulped, took the flask from it's floating position before her, unscrewed the cap and poured.
"You'd be prettier if you smiled." He whispered when she was close.
She was certain that some bile threatened to come up her throat. Did he just flirt with her? It was wildly misogynistic but was it a flirt?
She feared what making eye contact with him would do so she avoided it at all costs.
"That hair is so childish. Wouldn't you rather be ravishing? He added and pulled her close forcefully. He ripped the elastic holding in each pigtail and yanked, taking some pieces of hair with him.
"Ugh. I'm done with you for now. Go back over there!"
She dragged her feet while massaging her scalp. The people gave her concerned looks but she returned them with a courageous one.
Soon enough the people were herded into a spacial magic portal that led to a barred cell. Noelle and Asta's grimoires were taken, they were the only ones who carried any. Even though the others offered to help her, Noelle insisted on carrying her squad mate on her own. There were plenty of other injured who needed help anyway. She found a spot along the wall and started to roughly set the unconscious Asta down off her shoulder.
"Please Miss Knight!" One woman stepped forward to help. "You must be careful with him. These broken ribs could easily harm his organs in this state."
Noelle took her aide, nodded and moved to kneel next to him. She looked at his placid face and thought. Never had she ever had to think of Asta as fragile. He took all kinds of beatings plenty of times but this time was different.
Mr. Never-give-up was fresh out of fight already. The nerves, the courage, the fight or whatever made him so darn annoying all the time had already been removed after losing to Yuno. He wanted to walk and think for awhile to restore that, perhaps. Noelle gripped her fists as she tried to make sense of it. Come to think of it, she had never seen him so calm before. Even when he was injured before his breathing was heavy or he'd talk in his sleep. This time he was still as death. She could barely see his chest rise and fall with each breath. His mouth was closed and he held no expression. It was... wrong. He had been off since her and Yuno won the Royal Knights' exam. Asta only lost because Finral's younger brother got that evil aura. That shouldn't have been an official fight. The wizard king should have stepped in. All these thoughts were enough to paint a pretty harsh expression on her face, enough to grab the attention of her cellmates.
"Miss, why don't you rest too?" A boy, maybe the same age as her and Asta suggested wearily, afraid of upsetting her more.
"I...I should watch over him, all of you." Noelle whispered as the children and some of the others were already settling down to try to sleep after the horror of the day. Many cried softly as to not disturb the others.
"It's alright." He replied. "My father and I will take turns keeping watch. We're shepherds, so we're used to it! You'll definitely be the first one we wake if anything happens. Does um, does that sound alright?"
"Actually, yes it does." She looked down.
"We'll get through this." The boy offered a small smile which she returned. It reminded her of something Asta would say but he would have yelled it with an added fist punch to the air or something.
It didn't seem right to lay alongside Asta so she laid head to toe with her arms curled up under her Black Bull robe as much as possible.
Sleep didn't come easily to anyone that night but it came to most at some point. The floor of the cell, as well as the ceiling and three of the walls were hard dried earth.
The fourth wall was metal bars, probably created by magic. Oddly enough there was no door. They must rely on the spacial magic user to get in and out. The cell took up most of the space but the bars cut across the underground space leaving a small area with a little wooden table which had a dim gas lamp in the darkness. From there, down a thin tunnel with a second flickering gas lamp, there were stairs leading up to the unknown bandit hideout. The worst part of all was something Noelle would never take notice of and the others wouldn't speak of it either. Bringing it up to someone who hadn't noticed yet would be absolutely unforgivable...
The walls were covered in scratch marks.
Thousands of them.
Noelle awoke to someone gently moving her shoulder. The same woman that helped her lay Asta down carefully.
"Young miss, are you feeling alright?" She asked politely.
"Yes? What's wrong?" Noelle mumbled and sat up.
A man answered. "Nothing. It's just been quite awhile since you fell asleep. We don't know what time it is but by our thinking we think it must be late afternoon."
"What?!" She twisted to look at Asta then around the cell and finally down the tunnel to find that nothing had changed. Even the lighting was exactly the same. "They didn't come down at all?" She questioned.
"No. These two watched all night." He motioned to the lookalike father and son who now slept peacefully.
"We need to come up with a plan for when they do. Does anyone have a weapon? Even the smallest thing? Or magic? Any kind of magic?" She looked around.
The kind woman answered. "No. We don't take grimoires and are taught not to use magic at a young age. Of course, accidents happen but we learn to suppress it. This way of life brings us peace and allows us to focus on prayer and the power of God rather than our own power."
"That... Makes sense." Noelle looked to her and offered no judgement.
"I have this." A young boy came forward and offered a tiny pocketknife no bigger than his longest finger. "It was my dad's." The tears in his eyes explained his father must have died in the attack.
"Then I'll be sure to use it in his memory." Noelle took it in her palm. "And I'll return it to you as soon as this is all over. Don't worry. This is perfect, thank you." She patted his head before he ran back to his mother. Asta was normally the one who could speak to children so easily. Noelle could only offer the kind things she wished she had had growing up. A smile, some nice words. She hoped it was enough.
The plan formulated between the adults, among whispers and dim, flickering lights.
While they were still talking someone started pounding down the stairs to their cell.
A voice boomed. "SILVA!!!"
Noelle stiffened up but then motioned for the others to get into position.
The largest bandit, the one with the magnetic magic, stomped down the hallway and into the space on the otherside of the cell bars.
"YOU!" He reached out and pulled Noelle to the bars by the collar around her neck. She fought the urge to grab at it febily so that she could keep the pocketknife hidden just inside the bandage on the back side of her forearm.
He screamed in her face. "WHAT THE HELL?! We contacted your family for ransom and they had the nerve to... LAUGH." He nearly pressed his face against the bars, where her own currently was.
Noelle let out a hint of a chuckle. "I could have told you that I'm worthless to them. Too bad for you!" At that, she revealed the knife and began to swing to stab it in his throat with all her strength.
The knife stopped at the last centimeter. From farther away, in the darkened space of the cell, it appeared that she had managed to stab him successfully so the strongest among the people rushed to the bars and grabbed anything they could on the burly man pulling him against them.
Noelle yelled. "No! Get away!" But it was too late.
Soon everyone that had charged him was flung to the back wall in a heap. Noelle however still hung there unable to let go of the knife.
"You think that's going to scratch me?" He used his magic to bend the knife into a curve.
"No!" The boy from earlier called out.
He whispered his threat to her. It was something she couldn't make out but had to do with something only he would enjoy. The darkness in the corners of her eyes sunk further inward. She was losing oxygen and therefore consciousness.
"You're all such a pain in the ass." He finished.
"Maybe if you treated us as good as animals and gave us water we wouldn't be such a handful." Startled, she screamed as she was lifted higher and grabs at the collar trying to relieve any pressure on her throat to breathe.
"You are animals. I'll trade you like animals and sell you like animals. Especially you, pure breed."
"Let. Go." A scratchy, gruff voice filled with anger came suddenly from her side. Just as swiftly a short but strong arm wrapped around her thighs releaving some of the pressure on her windpipe. The arm held her close but not inappropriatly. All the men in the caravan were married afterall.
The sound of her blood rushing and her heart racing filled her ears and she couldn't turn to see which of the men had come to save her.
"No...Stay back." She used the new found space in her throat to squeeze out a warning to the civilian.
Next thing she knew, the villan holding her throat was being punched square in the stomach though the bars and she found air again.
The arm that held her bought her down to rest on her knees and came to hold her shoulder for support.
She coughed and coughed. The other arm came to her other shoulder, bare from having given her robe to Asta's wounds.
Someone said her name. The oxygen wouldn't come in fast enough. Breathing was her number one priority. She didn't think she'd ever be able to get a real full breath but soon the agitation was calm enough for her to look up.
Asta was kneeling in front of her looking concerned into her eyes.
"Noelle, tell me you're okay!" He begged and gripped her shoulders tighter.
She was shocked.
Noelle, the royal blood prissy, fell apart in front of him right then and there. Asta was awake. He saved her from that filthy man. He was sitting in front of her asking if SHE okay after she had solely been concerned so deeply for him this whole time. She dug her face into his shoulder and cried into his tattered Black Bulls robe.
Asta was forced to akwardly move to hug her. He looked up to the others for help but they all just smiled.
"Um...hey, um there, there. It'll be okay." Asta tried to console her the way Sister Lily always did. It felt weird. He was amazed that it seemed to work when she sat up wiping her face.
The two knelt, facing eachother. Asta on one knee with Noelle sitting back on her ankles. He gave her a weak smile.
"Noelle, are you alright?"
"Yeah." She sniffled and looked around. "No, not really." She added and pulled at the metal around her neck.
"Who did this to you?" Asta examined it. "Don't move." He squeezed in a few fingers against her neck and with one quick movement snapped the circle in two without further injury.
She was startled but he immediately checked her delicate neck. It was red, even bruised all around and even bleeding a little where it had really rubbed. He barely touched her collar bone as he leaned in.
Just then the other members of the mob scrambled down the stairs. Asta's back was to them but Noelle had a clear view.
"Sea Dragon's ROAR!!" She screamed the spell as the water creature thrust out of the cell, bending the bars like aluminium. It hit it's target. All of the targets and the people all ran out of the cell.
"We'll go get help!" Someone told her.
Another said "You stay put and rest now!"
"Thank you!"
"Be back soon!"
"You're amazing!" More voices praised them.
"You're my favorite magic knights!"
"Can't wait for the wedding!" More called out as they escaped.
In minutes it was quiet again. Even the bad guys were taken up the stairs too.
Noelle nervously broke the silence.
"You've been out for at least a day now."
"That feels about right." Asta took a hand and placed it gently to cradle his ribs. It was obviously hurting him.
"Here, lay back down. You shouldn't be up. And don't argue with me!" She ordered royally.
"M-kay." He mumbled agreeably, to her surprise. He had no strength to argue.
She helped him lay down right there on the spot and, as if it was a regular thing, she placed his head on her thighs.
He closed his eyes immediately.
"Does it hurt?" She begged an answer.
"...No."
"Asta, stop it and tell me the truth. We've all been so worried about you."
"If I say yes..." He paused to swallow with a wince."...Will that make you feel better?"
She was going to smack him for making her blush. She was going to retort something about how she wouldn't care either way. But she did nothing of the sort. She could have sworn she felt his body tense up, preparing for the blow.
Instead, she cupped her hand around his fluffy hair.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. Of course it hurts." Her words were nearly a whisper.
"I hated that." Asta matched her tone.
First, she started to take offense as if he hated resting on her but she quickly understood and replied.
"I know." Her gentle reply shocked him out of his loathing.
"... You do?" He opened his eyes to look up to her face.
"Well, yeah. I felt it too. We we're trapped and helpless. Unable to do anything to help these people or ourselves. But of course, even you found a way to protect me still. You're so strong." She finished quietly and squeezed her eyes trying not to cry.
"Noelle..." He looked on at her struggle. "I'm not... I'm not strong. I lost. I couldn't help Finral. I couldn't fight Yuno. He beat me. I tried but..." Asta started to lose it.
The hand that cupped his head began to brush his hair gently. The motion kept his own tears from rushing.
"And that's okay, there, there." Noelle repeated his earlier sentiment as best as she could. "There's value in losing sometimes. It helps us grow." She again tried her best to repeat the lesson the butler had for Rill. "Be glad that wasn't a real battle and there weren't innocent lives on the line. You'll learn from this."
"That's true, I guess." He paused. "But what about now?"
She didn't know what to say. Asta was directly looking to her for encouragement and she was at a loss for words. This whole time she was just repeating others. Then she thought of one more lesson she had learned. Something important she had learned from her favorite Black Bull.
"We're not giving up." She smiled and was soon returned with a smile. "For now, get some rest. I'll wake you if there's trouble."
"Umm okay. It's okay if we stay... like... this?" Asta blushed.
Noelle should have blushed more but the feeling of his hair between her fingers was too soothing to care about being embarrassed.
"If you're comfortable." Her calm voice surprised him. This was totally out of character for her. A side of Noelle he never got to see and quite enjoyed.
"Yeah, I mean, yes ma'am, very comfortable!" He stiffened up but she closed her eyes and kept petting his hair just slightly. He watched her content face for a little bit wondering what she was thinking about that made her smile so beautifully.
Asta spoke. "You used that spell without your grimoire."
She squeaked. "I did WHAT?!"
Asta chuckled. "You didn't even notice! Seriously though, you're super strong and amazing."
She blushed high in her cheeks but gained composure to flip back her long hair.
"I am royalty, afterall."
"You changed your hair." He spoke calmly.
"That... Was involuntary."
"What do you mean?"
She grimaced. "Big boy in charge...he..."
Asta had heard enough. "WHAT DID HE DO?!" Rage filled his body. "They took him upstairs, right?!?" He was getting up slowly but with determination.
"Yes, but, Asta!" She tried to reason with him but he was already climbing out the hole of the cell.