FIC START!
Sakinah barely registered what was said during the dinner discussion, even though the conversation was about her. She had a hard time concentrating on much of anything. She hardly ate, which Edward said was to be expected after one's first battle. He ordered a plate be set aside for her for later, as he knew her appetite would only be gone for as long as her mind felt as drained as it was.
"The boss specifically wanted Sakinah," Kain said firmly. "Said she smelled of the crystal."
"Did you not say she was 'blessed' by the crystal in Troia?" Edward asked.
"I have seen her speak with the Earth crystal. It reacted to her words," Kain continued.
"I wonder if this has anything to do with the Creator," Edward suggested. "Even though we defeated him, the eight crystals still remain here. Might she be a Maenad?"
"I doubt that," Harley said. "Even Cuore still retains a non-human element about her, while Sakinah has a shine in her eyes that those manufactured maidens never had."
"Why did the crystal react to her, then?" Edward asked again. "Many have claimed to be servants or acolytes to the crystals over the years, but they never reacted to any human's words."
Sakinah's eyelids felt heavy. She wanted to give her opinions, let her voice be heard. But before she had the chance, she slipped into sleep.
Kain turned his head to his left, taking another bite of his bread. "I suppose I'll have to take her to bed, then."
"Before you do, as she might keep you, Kain..." Edward said, finishing the food on his plate. "...it sounds as if this attack will not stop. I imagine if the master of that pack can summon those to come after Sakinah, then they will continue."
"Our airship was attacked, probably by the same 'master', whoever he is."
"They must be tracking you very carefully if this is the case. To know you were on the Red Wings, to know you weren't in Kaipo but in Damcyan?" Harley asked as she frowned. "Think about that. Why was there no attack in Kaipo when the two of you had Desert Fever? None of this really makes any sense. If they wanted to capture her, why not when she was unable to even move?" She looked over to Edward.
"There must be a reason to all of this," Kain said sternly. "And I intend to keep Sakinah safe, to stay at her side as long as she will have me."
"That's love for you," Edward chuckled, reaching over to tap Kain on the shoulder. "Won't Cecil be happy for you!"
"He will never stop teasing me over it." The dragoon groaned at the thought. Everyone he knew asked him if he was ever going to find someone to share his life the way that they had, and even his own apprentice had an easier time with his feelings than he did. Kain knew that everyone they came across was going to say something about it, and for the love of the crystals, he all ready knew how annoying it was going to be. Even if he was inwardly happy to have someone who understood his walk in the shadows, his confrontation with depression, and eventually the feeling of recovery into a brighter, more open version of oneself.
"Yes, but you'll smile the entire time, because it doesn't matter what he says about it. What matters is what you feel." Edward added. "Take her to bed, then."
"I destroyed the door of the chamber you had us in before," Kain said.
"You don't need a door. You won't be doing anything inappropriate tonight, because I know how you are, Kain."
Kain carefully lifted Sakinah from her chair into his arms, letting her head rest upon his shoulder. She slept deeply, not even feeling that he was carrying her. His mind wandered as he carried her back up to the room where he confessed his feelings. He had known Rosa so long, and yet he never managed to tell her how he felt about her, but with Sakinah it was like the words fell out of his mouth before he even had the chance to reflect on his feelings. He really didn't want to say anything... but in battle, she confessed that even though they had known each other such a short time, she felt the same? Was this right?
Kain placed Sakinah in the bed they argued about using earlier, covered her up. He sat next to the bed, leaning on it so she was right behind him. He was tired too, now that he had slowed down. With a yawn, he let himself fall onto the floor and started snoring almost as soon as his head was parallel with his feet.
The very next morning, when the sun rose high enough to peek through the open window, it landed right on Kain's face enough to wake him up. He blinked a few times before sitting up to see that Sakinah was not where he left her. He panicked for a moment, but only just then, because he heard her voice from down the stairs.
"Do you need me to wake him?"
Kain pulled himself to a sitting position quickly. He realized that Sakinah had a similar situation happen to her in Kaipo once he realized what he was doing.
"No, if he needs the rest, then you should let him, no?"
"You're right, Edward. He did do an amazing job keeping me safe... ever since he met me, in fact. I really hope to repay that one day."
He smiled at the thought of that. Kain never expected anyone to ever feel this way about him in his life. It was enough to lighten his mood, brighten his day, and lift his spirit higher than any flight on dragonsback could ever have taken him.
"So. Are you comfortable standing where monsters can hit you?"
"I don't think so. That blow to my arm hurt worse than almost anything I've ever been through - and I once fell on top of a pile of hedgehogs in the forest outside Troia."
"Ouch. Yeah. You're better suited for long range weaponry then. Whips, archery, boomerangs? We've got a couple you can try out."
"Sure. I'll do what I can."
"And once you get a good hold for your weaponry, I'll bring in some of the monsters from the outside for you to practice on. That way you know you can use it in battle."
Kain stood up at that moment, starting to head out the door he broke open just the night before.
"King Edward, I'm not sure if you should let monsters in your castle."
"I don't have a choice. Down in the basement, the monsters from the desert are able to get in. Some of the walls were never properly rebuilt after Golbez's attack during the War of the Crystals."
"Huh? Why not?"
Edward was silent, but Kain had a decent guess as to why Edward didn't rebuild a part of the castle that wouldn't be shown off to any visitors from other nations or royal families. He knew how much he hurt after losing his first love, and just listening to that silence was all Kain needed to figure out Edward was still not over her. It was as if he could hear Edward's tears and feel the cloud of depression that seemed to not let go even now. Perhaps Edward needed a trip to Mount Ordeals as well. He was planning to head there anyway. Why not bring the world-famous Bard King along?
"Because I have other uses for the holes in the castle. Weak enemies like the ones outside are perfect for training new guards that come to Damcyan, but have never had much battle experience, for example," Edward answered Sakinah eventually.
Kain headed down the stairs to see that Sakinah was being fitted for light armor by Edward and a few guards. Sakinah didn't notice him as she was so busy being fussed over.
"Does it fit right?" Edward asked. "If not, I'll find some other proper battle attire for you."
"It doesn't fit well at all. The chest is too broad and I don't think I can move easily in it," Sakinah answered. "Maybe it's because I don't have much strength that it feels heavy." She tried to walk around in the armor, which is when she saw Kain standing there behind her. "Kain! You're awake!"
"And not too soon," Kain replied. "If you aren't able to wear armor, try vests or robes. Be glad you are not clad in metal like knights are, or you would really have a hard time moving. With experience, you'll have more constitution, and then you'll be able to handle heavier equipment."
"Vests do sound like the best option," Edward agreed. "We'll take this armor off then."
As the guards untied the pieces of leather armor strapped to her body, Kain noticed that Sakinah was not wearing her Troian robes or dress that he had always seen her in. She wore very little under that armor. He had never seen her figure as the clothes she wore were never form fitting. He wanted to hold her to him at that very moment, letting his hands quest all over her body. Oh, it took every bit of self control not to take her back to their room.
"So, Kain," Edward said when he saw Kain blushing at the sight of Sakinah in a single form-fitting white gown. "How are you this morning?"
"I... I think everything is just fine. Maybe even perfect." Kain replied, not even bothering to look at Edward.
"Do you need a minute with Sakinah? I can see what other armors we have around here."
Sakinah ran over to Kain so she could hug him tightly. "Good morning, Kain!"
Kain put his arms around her, kissing her forehead. "Oh, good morning, Sakinah... Please, may I have a moment with you? I just wish to speak to you alone for a moment."
"Yes, of course," Sakinah said with a nod. "Edward, give us a minute, would you?"
"I'll let you have all morning if you need," Edward said, turning to leave. "I'll find all the armors in the castle for you to try on. Be back in a bit." He winked at Kain before he damn near sprinted to the nearby door.
Kain immediately snatched Sakinah up off her feet and back up the set of stairs. When he knew they were alone, he pulled her chin in for a kiss much stronger than the one he gave her the day before. "I needed that," he said quietly.
"No, I think you need more than that," she whispered, kissing him again.
His hands finally had the quest he wished for them. Somehow he ended up pinning her against the wall and she had her legs wrapped around his waist after only a few moments of passion. He stopped himself, afraid of taking it any further until she looked directly in his eyes as if pleading for more of his affection.
"Sakinah, may I-"
"Kain, please. Make love to me."
