Chapter 30, Broken princess
It was too light.
With a low groan Lise tried to lift her hand to cover her eyes, finding that she hardly could move her arm. It felt so incredibly heavy for some reason… her head too.
Hard to think…
"Hmm…"
A soft mumble of a familiar voice, sounded like the person was just waking up. Movement… Kevin…?
Slowly she managed to fight her eyes open and found his golden crystals watching her, filled with worries. But why… she couldn't remember…
"Wh-what…" she slurred, finding that her tongue was hard to control as well.
One of his big hands came to her cheek, and as his warm arm moved away from the spot of her that it had been warming Lise shuddered of the realization of how cold she felt. Immediately Kevin's other arm -placed under her neck- gently pushed against her back to get her closer to him. In compare he felt boiling hot, but it was welcome.
"It's alright, Lise," he murmured, "you be fine."
"But-t wh…"
A hissed breath rasped her throat as the memories came crashing down and her eyes widened in horror. Carefully Kevin's hand moved down to confine her fingers as they without any strength clumsily fumbled for her neck.
"Shh-sh…" he whispered, shaking his head and tenderly drawing her closer, "Wisp took care of poison. Not dangerous."
"Goddess…"
Lise shuddered again and buried her face against his chest, somehow managing to draw her knees upwards to her stomach in order to retain the little warmth she could assemble. As she did, Kevin let go of her hand and reached down to collect the blanket and wrap the loose piece of it around her.
"Thanks…" she whispered, still stuttering a bit.
He didn't speak, just warmly grunted something. His hand came back to her cheek, the pointing finger carefully caressing her chilly skin. She more saw than really felt it, feeling numb all over. Forcefully, if that was the word in her state, Lise pinched her eyes shut and bit her lower lip against the tears that threatened to explode from within.
She felt so helpless and exhausted as she laid there, and that fused with the tenderness from Kevin made it almost overwhelming. So tired that she just wanted to cry…
No, no, no, no…
"It's alright, Lise," Kevin mumbled.
"No…" she more or less groaned, "I p-promised I wou-wouldn't cry again…"
'No, I can't cry… please don't make me, I can't…'
"Nothing wrong, I cried before too," he said in a slightly indistinct whisper, "thought Jagan killed you…"
"Kevin…"
Lise trembled, biting her lower lip again for more than holding back tears.
"Shh," he mumbled, still stroking her cheek, "just rest now."
Inwardly he sighed, feeling the smell of her weak tension as she fought not to weep. He knew that she'd probably feel much better if she would just let it out, yet also knew that she wouldn't allow herself such a "sign of weakness". But suppressing all her pain…
Kevin held back a wish to shake his head.
She'd always done that, sooner or later she'd have to let go or break down. He'd just have to make sure he was around whenever either happened. By the way… was there even any difference?
Subconsciously he drew her closer again.
'I'll be there, I promise.'
"Kevin?"
He drew back a little and met her tired gaze.
"Hmm?"
"Wh-what about you? And the Flame Kh-khan, Wisp and the stone…" Lise hoarsely asked.
Kevin shook his head and gently placed his fingertips over her lips.
"Stop worry," he grimly and at the same time tenderly ordered, "you hurt, let us worry for you now."
'Please stop that, I don't want to cry…' Lise thought, her throat a burning knot.
She wasn't sure whether she imagined Kevin's light sigh or not.
"Haven't checked on the Kahn," he muttered, "Wisp is fine. Karl and birds helped us drive Jagan away."
"The stone was…" Lise whispered.
"Yeah. We couldn't do anything, no blame."
"We killed the demons…"
"They kill us otherwise. No more now, Lise. You rest."
She was pretty sure that he kissed her forehead, but couldn't feel it. However his mane swung in over her face and created a thin curtain against the sunlight. And with Kevin's hand moving up to fully shadow her eyes the dusk was enough for her to be able to sleep again. Very slowly Lise relaxed, afraid that if she did it too quickly then she wouldn't be able to contain the stupid tears anymore.
Finally the tension left her and her breath deepened as she fell back into the slumber she needed. Kevin shook his head, silently watching the amazon princess.
She was still very pale, of course… even though the shadow of his hand made her skin seem a bit darker. Now there was only peacefulness about her as the sun played with her hair and turned it into golden silk.
When she looked like that, she was breathtakingly beautiful. But at the same time, it was a fake beauty. She had no strength; she was weakened and Lise could not be herself if she couldn't be the strong woman she really was.
And she was still pushing herself, even though she didn't have the power.
And apart from that…
Kevin closed his eyes and battled the hateful growl that wanted to break through his bounds and take over him completely.
'When I get my hands on that damn vampire…!'
When he finally looked up after the inner wrestling match against his own hate, he found Wisp and Karl silently watching him.
"Yeah?" Kevin said, trying to smile a little.
"They'll both be fine, the danger is over now," the elemental warmly said, "it'll take a day or so before the Kahn wakes up properly though."
The young half blood breathed out deeply of relief. Even if Lise had come awake he had still been a bit worried.
"But I was thinking," Wisp said, a bit sheepishly, "you've only got bread and dried meat for food, right?"
"Yeah," Kevin grimly agreed, "won't do."
"Well…"
'Silent…'
'I know!'
'Shh, relax. Too excited.'
'Sorry.'
'Don't worry, concentrate…'
The night was still apart from the whispering of wind in the trees and the peaceful sound of the pouring water in the river.
'Found something…'
'Yes, I feel it too. Well done.'
Pride.
The moons shed their silvery light over the ancient plateau where the holy kingdom of Light once had been, weakly illuminating leaves in trees and bushes. And on the ground many curvy, almost round things that in the darkness might as well have been rocks.
'Ready?'
'Yes.'
'Good. Now!'
Without the slightest warning two shadows, one smaller and one much bigger, exploded from the bushes. Claws slashed through the night and through flesh several times before a warning screech was heard and the still mobile birds fled towards the dark sky in panic.
'Easy!' Karl snorted, proudly holding his prey between his teeth.
'You did well,' Kevin smiled, assembling the two wild geese he had managed to get before the rest fled.
Apart from the fact that his instincts at first made an attempt to make him eat his quarry right away, raw and with the feathers, the hunt was a success. These geese and their ancestors had been living on the plateau for ages, and with no enemies around they had grown fat and careless; easy preys.
Still Kevin did not like killing, especially not if the killed never had a chance of defending themselves, but he was a beastman and hunting was in his blood.
Plus, the fact that he was hunting for Lise's sake and also taught Karl how to do it in the process lit some kind of instinctual feeling of pride within him.
There were a few screeches and swooshing sounds from above while the couple on the ground walked back towards the camp. The two birds from the Moonlight forest were also hungry.
It was dark when Lise woke up again, apart from a dancing, reddish light coming from somewhere on the ground a few yards from her feet. Something really smelled good.
Very slowly she managed to sit up, wrapping the blanket around her with still weak but a bit stronger fingers. As she did, Kevin looked around. He was sitting by a campfire in his werewolf form, guarding a couple of headless and drawn birds which were being roasted on a stick above the flames.
"Good hunt?" the princess said and even managed to smile a bit though her voice still was hoarse.
She felt much better now, feeding a strong suspicion that Wisp had been filling her up with healing energy while she slept.
"Yeah, Wisp tell me and Karl about geese," Kevin said as he stood up and walked over to her, "you and Kahn need better food."
"That's sweet of you," Lise smiled, "look, I feel better. Really."
The last was added as he sat down and put one arm around her shoulders and the other hand behind her head, gently pushing/laying her back on the bedroll again.
"Won't be better quicker if starting to move too fast," he pointed out.
Once again some far back part of the vanadis' head was amazed that she didn't fear having a big hairy head equipped with a crazy set of fangs just a few inches from her face.
She reached up and buried her fingers in the silken hair of what probably was Kevin's cheek. Which proved true as he carefully reverted his transformation, somehow managing to keep the light down.
"I hate being weak," Lise muttered in a low voice.
"I know. Be sick instead," the half blood softly replied.
She had to chuckle a bit at the tender matter-of-factly tone in his voice.
"But I hate that too," she said.
"Don't think wound cares."
"Probably not…"
Fondly Lise stroke the warmly reddish cheek.
'I should get nervous or something, he's bending over me and holding me like… but I'm not,' the far back part thought, warmly.
She smiled back when Kevin did so as well, probably feeling the smell of her tenderness born from his care. He bent his neck a bit a placed a light kiss on her lips before reluctantly letting go and straightening up.
"Can't let dinner get burned," he grunted.
Lise nodded understandingly and watched him as he went back to the fire and sat down there again.
The thought of him going hunting felt a little alien… but he did for the sake of her and the Kahn. The princess warmly smiled to herself, not saying anything as she kept looking at the half blood.
There was a happy snorting sound and a warm furryness nudged at her back. Just as Lise was about to roll over and reach out to stroke Karl's fur the pup strutted around her head and curled up against her stomach and chest with a yawn. The warmth was welcome since Kevin had left.
"You've still got feathers here," Lise friendly chastised the young wolf and carefully, slowly removed the pieces of bird from his paws and face.
Karl just snorted again.
"Was his first hunt," Kevin said with fondness, "he did well."
"I'm sure he did," Lise smiled and scratched Karl's ears, "do you hear that? You're almost a grown wolf now, and a strong one too."
Whether Karl's delighted whimper and bark was for the compliment or Lise's scratching was yet to be determined. The main point was that he was feeling great; proud over his success in hunting and having someone stroke and scratch him.
And Kevin felt guilty… watching Lise tenderly caress Karl's fur the son of Beast King couldn't help but feel a bit jealous.
Of a wolf. Get a grip…
"How are you, princess?" a familiar, singing voice concernedly said.
Both the humans and the wolf looked up at a transparent, chubby figure.
"Hello, Jinn," Lise said and smiled, a bit surprised, "I'm getting better, thanks."
"I told him what had happened and he got worried so I called him here," Wisp explained, floating beside his companion.
"I have to check on my warriors, you know," the Wind spirit said.
"Thanks," the princess said with a smile, "how's Rolante?"
"Oh, they're doing fine. The rebuilding is going well. At this pace the biggest damage should be repaired by the start of autumn, luckily. The stone cutters in Palo found a new place with good stone up in the caves now that the wind god statues can be controlled again."
"That's great. Will you please tell everyone that I'm alright, Jinn?"
"Right away," the chubby spirit smiled and nodded to Kevin, "just wanted to take a look on the two of you. Take care now."
And he vanished after hearing their goodbyes.
Lise smiled for a moment longer, then she turned to Wisp and the lighthearted look decayed.
"I'm sorry about the stone," the princess said.
The holy elemental shook.
"You couldn't have done more than you did and at least you're alive."
"But what if the god beasts are released and Duran fails?" Lise concernedly asked.
"There's not much we can do but trust them, and I am certain that troop could take on anything if they just wanted to," Wisp said in a calming voice, "once they get the sword of Mana nothing will be able to stop them."
"Yes, but…"
"Lise, stop worry."
Kevin's warm arms encircled her waist and shoulders, drawing her up to his chest as he lay down behind her.
"Don't worry," he muttered into her hair, "everything will be alright."
"But Kevin, I…"
"You worry too much, princess," Wisp agreed, "it's not good to do that, especially not in your state. Don't make me ask Dryad to put you to sleep until you're healed."
Lise watched the grim elemental with a sigh, closing her fingers around Kevin's hand by her shoulder. He gently rolled her over on her other side and drew her closer still.
"You're mean," she mumbled as she moved her arms around the half blood's neck, "not letting me do what I do best…"
"Care just for yourself now, Lise," Kevin stated, "we'll worry, not you."
'Why you… I don't want to cry…'
"I'll… I'll try," she muttered in a peculiar voice even though she fought to keep it normal.
"Good," Wisp said and floated away, probably only because he wanted to give the two warriors their privacy.
Karl curled up against Lise's back after her earlier movement had caused him to stand for a moment.
In the dusk only torn by the dancing fire it was hard to see properly, but it didn't matter that much either. Kevin didn't say anything, but his right hand's fingers slowly massaged the foundation of Lise's neck through the tunic's cloth. The relaxing kneading of her muscles managed to make the princess for another precious moment let go of all the whirling thoughts and concerns for Eliott, Rolante, all the time that would be wasted because of her need to rest…
"You're good at that," she mumbled with closed eyes, without noticing bowing her head a little to give Kevin better access to her back.
"Beastmen know relaxing muscles after training and battle is as important as strength," the half blood replied with a small smile that turned into a frown as he moved his hands a few inches lower, "you got knots like fists here."
"Ow! No kidding…" Lise hissed while Kevin quickly eased the push that had caused her wince.
Though knowing that pressing the nerve tie out of existence and letting the pain be there at the time was the most efficient way, the prince felt abhorrence at the possibility to harm Lise. Anyway… doing it more carefully would take longer, but did they have anything better to do at the time? In fact, this situation didn't exactly feel unpleasant.
"Hm…" the amazon princess mumbled and shifted a little, hooking up her left hand on Kevin's shoulder and rubbing the area of his back that she could reach with her three longest fingers.
Kevin grunted as she drove her fingertips down at a stone inside his back.
"Ow!"
"You're not much better than me," Lise pointed out and gently circled the spot with the little strength she could use for the matter.
"True," he had to admit.
Her back almost squeaked in protest when his hand left it. But it was just for the short moment he needed to catch her arm and with care place it along her side.
"I take care of you now," Kevin kindly stated, "you can massage me later."
Normally Lise probably would have protested with that she could wait instead, but right then just lying there in the warmly lit up dusk and having a set of strong fingers erase all tension and troubled thoughts felt all too alluring.
"Alright…" she mumbled, leaning her forehead against his collarbones.
Kevin softly smiled and put his hand back against her tunic.
For a while the biggest trouble he had was to keep his arm from knocking into Karl's sleeping form while working on the princess' uptight nerves.
"I think the geese are ready," Wisp reluctantly announced after a handful of minutes, unwilling to disturb the tender moment but also knowing it wouldn't be fun if the food got burned black.
"Coming…"
Kevin sighed when letting go of Lise again, but she shook her head to show that it was alright. While her dear friend walked back to the fire to finish preparing the meal she slowly sat up and stretched a little to make her muscles return from the dreamland.
Goddess, that had been needed… after just that short time she felt much better. At least her neck and back, the strength had yet to be recovered.
Carefully taking the fairly straight stick from its placement between two roughly Y-shaped branches stuck in the ground on either side of the fire, Kevin moved the geese to hang between a second pair of Y-twigs to keep the meal from the ground.
There was a low, zipping sound and using the fact that it was nighttime the half blood beastman grew his nails into fierce claws. Just in order to rip off pieces of roasted meat from one of the birds without burning himself. He put the food on one of three big leaves waiting on the ground and went over to the sleeping/unconscious Flame Kahn. Wisp followed him and sent a shower of healing stars over the older man. The leader of the ninjas slowly sat up, his eyes just partly opened.
"Here," Kevin said and offered the Kahn the leaf.
"Mgh… thanks…" a slurring voice mumbled.
Slightly shaking hands took the improvised plate.
"I'll take care of him," Wisp kindly said.
"Is he awake?" Kevin wondered, watching the Kahn move like a zombie while slowly eating.
"Let's just say he's starting to be awake. It's a sort of drug spell he's been exposed to."
The half blood grimly nodded and went back to the waiting geese. A few minutes later he sat beside Lise on her bedroll, both of them enjoying something different to eat for a change. Kevin hadn't exactly had much to spice the birds with, but just eating something else than bread and dried meat again was definitely refreshing.
After they had eaten Kevin supported Lise over to the river to wash their hands and drink a little. She could walk, but was very shaky so the help was needed.
"Don't have to be strong all the time," the half blood pointed out as he noticed Lise's frustrated smell in the dusk, "you told me."
"Hmm?" the vanadis said, turning to him while trying to shake the water off her hands.
"On the ship, after Rakadra."
Lise had to go through her memory bank for a moment. The anger over the way Kevin had been treated by the humans, rage against the half demon and sheer frustration towards the possible suitors clouded her mind at the point.
But yeah, she'd said that, hadn't she…
With a sigh she lowered her hands to her lap.
'I see now, it's not that helpful…'
"Well, thanks," she said in a low voice.
She looked up at him again and tried a smile.
"You don't seem as controlled by hatred against Rakadra now," she pointed out.
Kevin slowly shook his head.
"No, he's dead…"
'And I'll make sure he stays that way too, should I have to go to Hell and throw his soul deeper down!'
"… But I will kill Jagan."
'Kevin…'
"And what about me?" Lise said, putting her slightly chilly hand on his cheek before slipping her arms around his neck as he spoke.
"Can kill him together."
They both moved closer, helped by each other's tender arms.
"I know you're mad, I understand," the vanadis mumbled with her cheek against his, "but don't let the hatred take over."
"No, never again," Kevin growled.
Lise's fingers pleasantly, slowly played with the foundation of his mane on the back of the half blood's head while he spoke.
"Lost mind in Moonlight forest when hear Deathjester," he snarled, "we both could have died."
The princess shook her head and straightened up to lightly kiss him in the darkness. It seemed like clouds had swallowed the moons now, and the campfire was shrouded behind the bushes. But the vanadis could still see her dear friend's silhouette.
"You prevailed, Kevin," Lise softly said.
"Failed you with Jagan," he bitterly pointed out, their lips brushing against each other for the first couple of words until he drew back as if he felt unwanted.
"No, no… I'm right here, aren't I?" the princess said with a concerned frown.
Kevin let out a deep breath and his hand came to her cheek, one finger gently caressing her face.
"I get afraid," he said in a low voice, "lost Karl, lost friends…"
"You got us back…" Lise softly mumbled.
"I know, but…"
He shook his head before he could continue.
"… Fear to loose you, gah…"
The dusk made it impossible for Lise to properly see the half blood's face, but she gently pushed his head forwards to lean his forehead against hers.
"It's alright, Kevin, I'm afraid to loose you too," she said in a low voice.
For a moment all that was heard was the whispering sound of Kevin releasing a deep breath.
"When I went berserk before, by Maia and in forest," he mumbled, slowly and almost stumbling on the words as he sought for the right ones, "was because Rakadra hurt you, I couldn't help. Then other monsters wanted to attack you, and… I was afraid and angry. So I attack."
'He didn't even touch me in compare to what he did to you for heaven's sake,' Lise bitterly thought but kept from saying it.
Not finding any words suitable for comfort she just hugged him closer and buried one hand in his thick mane.
His grip of her tightened, carefully but firmly. Lise kept stroking his hair as he did so, the distant feeling of his heartbeat through his torn shirt and her tunic sending a tickling warmth into her chest.
'This is dangerous…' some anxious part in the back of her head piped up.
Oh will you ever shut it, Duty?
Lise forcefully closed her eyes in frustration at the stupid little voice and fully leaned at the prince of the Beast kingdom with a sigh.
'Jagan!'
'Don't you try it!' Lise snarled back at the panicked memory that Duty tried to summon against Kevin's embrace.
The vampire's arms had been colder than ice, there was no possibility she'd be able to draw a line between the two.
Yet when Kevin's warm hand slowly stroke her hair she couldn't ignore the goose bumps appearing on her arms and had to see the warning for what it was.
"Come on, let's go back there," she muttered, cursing her own personality for not allowing herself a moment's longer tenderness just because something unplanned could happen, and by submitting to Duty's warning probably making Kevin feel pushed away in the process.
But he just nodded and his grip loosened. Still, that made Lise feel even more guilty, anxious about worrying him unnecessarily.
Just what the heck did Duty think could happen anyway? Wisp, the Kahn, the birds and Karl were all around, it wasn't like there was any privacy… and in any case, Lise knew she was still weakened and Kevin wouldn't ever try anything he didn't know she'd approve to.
'Idiotic hyperactive… huh?'
All of a sudden Lise found herself above the ground, securely held between the beastman's arms. Kevin backed through the bushes to save her face from the twigs with his own body.
For a moment the princess considered protesting that she wasn't that in need of help, but thought better of it and hung her right arm around the carrier's neck with a warm little smile.
When tracking down facts, perhaps both of the warriors had a little bit of romantics within.
Carefully Kevin sat down on one knee on his bedroll, placing Lise on her own simple mattress. They exchanged glances and chuckled at the situation they just had gone through.
"That was sweet of you," Lise smiled at him.
And she chuckled again when he got that shy look back at her remark.
"Ah, Kevin…"
Straightening up she moved her hand to the back of his head and gently pressed her lips against his.
"What?" he mumbled, smiling as he hugged her tighter again.
"You're just adorable when you give me that look," the vanadis tenderly replied, moving her head back a little to be able to speak properly.
"Ah… nothing…"
"Now you're doing it again."
They looked at each other and laughed for a second time, just hugging.
And not even Duty could make itself heard when facing the power of Kevin's shyness.
"Aww, they're so cute!" Wisp whispered, watching from the spiritual plane where he was invisible for mortals but could communicate freely with those of his elemental friends that had been assembled by the fairy.
"Have to agree on that," Luna warmly smiled, "I'm so proud of Kevin."
The others glanced at her and smiled to themselves. Their sister of the Moon was perhaps not really as present as it would appear.
"Still, I think they should consider care," Shade pointed out in his usual emotionless voice, "I have noticed that humans tend to face difficulties when lost to feelings."
"Point there, oh dark one," Gnome agreed, his normally permanent grin faltering in concern for a moment.
Jinn shook his head.
"They are aware of it, you know," he pointed out and scratched his head, "and trying to struggle."
"It won't work," Shade flatly said, "remember Richard and Valda?"
"Oi, oi, oi, oi…"
Gnome and Undine exchanged rather tired glances, thinking of the rulers of their countries. They too had been pushed onto a quest in their youth, just like their daughter now went with Duran and Carlie. It had been the first battle between the crown prince of Forcena and the Dragon Emperor, but not the last. Valda had not been able to help him during the next journey however, as she needed to take her place as the Queen of Reason in Altena, and mother of Angela.
"Shade is right…" Luna calmly said.
She turned to Wisp.
"… And it's your job to talk with them."
"Wh… excuse me?!" the elemental of Light choked.
"They're in your vacancy. And you're the only one with a spell that can help," Luna said with Arceia's mercilessness.
The rest of the divine group nodded with more or less hidden, teasing smiles.
Wisp sunk towards the ground with a groan, his flames getting a hint of pink.