"Midnight"
"So you really did..." Sorian's eyes were wide as Lileina told her, in whispers, about what exactly had happened the night before. Her cheeks were red as she nodded, and Sorian's eyes traveled slowly to the ring that was on her friend's finger. "Wow. Guess it's for real now. So what are you two going to do?"
"I don't know," Lileina said softly, thinking of what she had told Valtier about going to Karal. She had been serious when she said it, but as she looked at Sorian's worried eyes she wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing. "I'm really...not sure." There was a knock on the door of Lileina's bedroom, and they looked up at the exact same moment.
"Excuse me, Ladies." It was one of the younger mikos, and Sorian smiled at her. "I don't mean to disturb you, but the chief elder had called a special meeting of the council, and they want all the elders, mikos and available guards to attend." This girl was much younger than either Lileina or Sorian, and she looked a little scared. The pair on the bed stood up and headed for the door to walk with the girl down the hall. Once they had reached a part of the sanctuary where there were more people, they let her walk in front of them a little and lowered their voices.
"Wonder what this is about..."
"Maybe the message your friend Artemis brought last night," Sorian said, biting her lip a little. "Do you think the Ancient Dragons agreed to give the elders the weapon? Maybe the whole fight is over and you and...you know who can live together here or maybe in his town!"
"Hmm..." Falling silent for a moment, Lileina thought about what Sorian had said. It really didn't sound very likely, but she didn't say anything.
They walked into the council hall and up the stairs to the second row of seats where the mikos were allowed to sit during full council sessions. Lileina and Sorian sat right next to one another, talking merrily about a painting Sorian was working on, their happy words belying the nervousness they both felt.
It wasn't long before the chief elder entered the room and all the talking ceased. He looked rather uncomfortable in his long blue and white robes, and Lileina began to fidget a little. Her fingers toyed with the end of her braid and were about to pull out some of her hair before Sorian reached over and gently took her friend's hand.
"Don't worry, Lileina. Everything's going to be all right," she whispered reassuringly. "I'm sure they're going to give us good news."
"Can I have quiet, please?" The chief elder looked around the room, and all eyes turned silently to him as he cleared his throat. "I'm afraid I have some rather bad news to tell you, so I would like to ask you all to remain calm." As he spoke, Lileina squeezed Sorian's hand tightly.
"Everything's going to be all right," Sorian repeated softly, glancing over at her friend's worried face. So much for good news.
"Last night we had a message from the council of the Ancient Dragons. As some of you may know, our council has been trying for many moons to try and reason with them to turn over the ancient weapon to us. With the onset of the war with the demons, securing this weapon became even more important because it would have given us power over the demons of Hellmaster that threaten us and every other Dragon race.
"Unfortunately, their final answer is that they will not turn over the weapon under any circumstances, nor will they use it in any attempt to defeat the demons. We have tried reasoning with them, and we have tried threatening them, seeing as how we are in the unique position of being located in a place more prone to attack by the demons. Living in the sanctuary puts us in danger, ladies and gentlemen, because it is a sacred place which, if destroyed, would give the demons immense power.
"By refusing to give us the weapon in order to protect ourselves, the Ancient Dragons have sentenced us to death because they are too proud and too stubborn to entrust us with their treasure. They are unwilling to concern themselves with our safety, so the inner council along with myself believes that we are no longer in a position to concern ourselves with theirs." A murmur went through the crowd as he paused, and Lileina turned to look at Sorian.
"No...it can't be. That can't be true, they wouldn't just turn their backs on us...Valtier..."
"And so, until this war is over," continued the elder, speaking over the murmur and holding up a hand for silence, "I am afraid that we will have to impose further restrictions on the leaving of the sanctuary and hereby decree that the following laws concerning relations between the Gold and Ancient Dragons be put into effect.
"First, no member of the Gold Dragon race is to speak to any member of the Ancient Dragons race, nor associate with any member of the Ancient Dragon race unless it is unavoidable in the course of armed service.
"Second, no member of the Gold Dragon race will be allowed to send or receive any type of letter or communication to or from any member of the Ancient Dragon race.
"And finally, any member of the Gold Dragon race found breaking these laws shall be charged with high treason against the Fire Dragon Lord and condemned without trial to exile or death, the punishment to be determined by the inner council according to the nature and severity of their actions." The tone of the elder's voice was harder than any in the room had ever heard it, and Lileina was squeezing Sorian's hand so tightly that the tiny bones of her fingers rubbed rather painfully against one another.
"Ouch, Lileina," she murmured, looking over at her friend, whose face was white as her eyes locked onto the figure of the elder at the front of the room. Unseen by either girl, Rinoa's eyes flickered over to Lileina's ashen cheeks and a tiny smile of contentment spread over her face.
"This session of council is now dismissed, with the exception of the inner council members and the chief of the guard." As the chief elder was surrounded by his inner council, the rest of the sanctuary's inhabitants began to file out. As soon as they were in a somewhat deserted area, Lileina grabbed Sorian by the arm and pulled her around a corner into a dark alcove where they could talk a bit more privately.
"Lileina, what's..."
"Did you hear what he said, Sorian? If anyone but you finds out that I'm Valtier's mate, I'll be sentenced to death without even a chance to explain myself!" Struggling to remain calm, Lileina tried to keep her voice down. Her face seemed to have been drained of all its blood, and Sorian looked at her with wide eyes.
"Calm down, Lileina...I'm sure they wouldn't kill you..."
"You know as well as I do that they would, Sorian, I can hear it in your voice. Because I'm a miko, I'm supposed to know better, and because I'm not just receiving letters from him or talking to him or even associating with him, I am his mate! That can't be changed, nor do I wish that it could be, but I am no longer safe here." Closing her eyes, Lileina shook her head. "There is...only one thing that I can do now. I have to go..." She turned to leave, but Sorian grabbed her hand.
"You...will be coming back, won't you?" Her voice was suddenly shaking, and Lileina looked at her with eyes that reflected all the sadness in the world.
"I don't know. I can't promise anything, not now. But if I don't...please...don't forget that I love you. I always will, my sister." Afraid she was going to cry, Lileina reached over and hugged Sorian tightly to her chest. "Good bye." Turning, she began to run down the hall, looking back only once at her friend. Pressing her hands to her bosom, Sorian looked down with tears in her eyes.
"I...love you too, Lileina."
* * *
For once, it was Lileina who was late to meet Valtier. He was waiting by the pond where they had first met, sitting on the same rock he had first seen her sitting on, pressing her handkerchief to his face. After last night, he could hardly believe that this wasn't all some beautiful dream. She had actually agreed to consider living in Karal, living with him, and he hoped that she could give him an answer about it soon.
A figure dressed in white came running through the trees, and he stood up to catch her in his arms. Lileina hugged him for a long time, not caring that she was crying all over his shirt. Realizing that she was upset, Valtier frowned as he looked down at her.
"What is it?"
"I can't stay at the sanctuary any longer," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "They'll kill me..."
"Who will kill you?"
"The council," Lileina murmured, still in tears.
"What crime can you have possibly committed that could warrant death, my dear?" Sounding concerned for her safety, Valtier leaned his head onto hers.
"Only loving you," she whispered, tears running down her cheeks as she shook her head.
"What do you mean?" Still holding her close to his chest, Valtier listened as Lileina explained the new laws that the elders had passed, growing angrier as he heard more about it. "Damn them," he said softly, once she was finished. "They don't understand a damn thing. Artemis said they were mad about the weapon, but he didn't say anything about this."
"Valtier...I'm scared...what if they find out about us? What can I do?" Her eyes turned up to his as if she were asking him to tell her how to make the whole world go away, and he smiled gently at her, trying to comfort her a little.
"Say you'll come live with me, here in Karal. I'll take care of you, I promise. we can even have one of those human ceremonies you like that means we're mated. You're all I need to be happy, Lileina. Just say you'll stay with me, and I'll do everything I can to protect you." Lovingly, he wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Please."
"All right," she said resignedly, nodding her head. "But I have to say goodbye to Sorian. She's been my best friend for so long, and I know she's scared for me. We can meet tomorrow at noon in the field of flowers, and find our way from there." Lileina hoped he wouldn't argue with her about this, and much to her relief, he did not.
"Very well, my dear. Why don't we talk to your friend the elder in Karal while we're here? Maybe he can tell us about somewhere we can live until we both find jobs." Putting an arm around her, Valtier motioned towards the path that led to the elder's house. "I don't know what kinds of jobs humans have, but I'm sure there's something I can do."
"I can work, too," Lileina said softly. "I would feel just terrible if I made you do all the work. But I'm not good at sewing or cooking...maybe I can work at the bookseller's cart. He's always been so kind to me." The more they talked, the more at ease Lileina found herself becoming. She walked alongside Valtier towards the elder's house, taking his hand after a few moments. Valtier smiled over at her, and she sighed peacefully. He always knew how to make her feel safe. A soft breeze blew over the pond, sending ripples lazily across its surface as Lileina and Valtier disappeared between the trees.
As they did, the bushes on the other side of the lake rustled and parted, and Rinoa came out of her hiding place. She smiled, an ugly, cruel smile, and tried not to laugh aloud. It had been so easy to follow Lileina because she had been completely distracted. And now she knew why. Sneaking back out of the forest, Rinoa smiled to herself. This was going to be wonderful.
A few hours later, after the elder has assured them of a place to stay and all the help he could offer them in finding work in Karal once they were settled, Lileina and Valtier made it out into the middle of the city. Both Jacob, the elder, and Elaine were so excited that they had offered to give the young couple their wedding, since they had never had a daughter to marry off. Of course Lileina and Valtier had tried to refuse, but the more they tried to back away, the more Elaine and Jacob had advanced, until they had placated them by agreeing to consider it. In the end, it had been the only way they could get out of the house.
Now, as they walked through the center of town, both Valtier and Lileina felt as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Everything was falling wonderfully into place, and Lileina had almost been able to forget everything that had happened in council earlier that day. She leaned her head on Valtier's shoulder, sighing peacefully. It was breaking her heart to think that she was leaving Sorian behind, but she knew that if she didn't stay in Karal with Valtier, she would never be able to see her friend again. At least this way...there was always the chance that one day she would be able to see her once again. And at least she would have the chance to say goodbye.
"Are you hungry?" They were passing by an inn, and Valtier looked over at her, breaking her out of her thoughts. Lileina realized that it had been quite a long while since she had eaten, and nodded up at him.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am. I was so...caught up in my own world this morning that I didn't eat much at breakfast." Music was emanating from the tavern on the lower level of the inn, and Lileina motioned towards it. "How about here? It looks like a nice enough place."
"Whatever you want right now, my dear. My main concern at the moment is making you as happy as I can. Before long, we're going to have to spend our days working, and we won't see this city the same way we do now. I want you to enjoy everything as long as you can." Leading her into the tavern, Valtier chose a good table by the wall and helped her sit down. They were silent for a while as they watched the people who shared this small space with them.
From the atmosphere in the tavern, it was almost hard to believe that there was a war going on, and that this small town had been attacked by demons not much more than a week earlier. A small band was playing a spirited tune in the corner, and a group of men and women were dancing in couples by the fire to the music that danced like the flames in the hearth. The hum of voices mixed together in discussion and song made the place seem both lively and cozy at the same time, and Lileina smiled gently. How could she ever see this place as anything but magical? A young, rather busty barmaid came over to their table, a bright smile on her rosy checked face.
"Good evening! Well, what can I get for you two?" She beamed at the two of them as she held her serving tray close to her body and leaned on the table. "The roast beef is excellent tonight."
"Then we'll have that," Valtier said as Lileina nodded her agreement. "And a bottle of your strongest wine, please." The barmaid went to get their order, and Valtier winked at his dinner partner. "Let's see if this wine is as weak as the last bottle we had."
"Oh, Valtier...you know they don't have the stomachs for the wine we brew. You're going to have to get used to it if we're going to live here." She smiled as the food was brought to their table, and allowed Valtier to talk her into having a few more glasses of wine than she was used to. It was stronger than she had expected, and her cheeks grew redder with each glass, glowing in the firelight like embers.
Torches were lit along the wall as the sun began to fade from the sky, and by the fire the men and women were still dancing to the music that seemed to pour endlessly from the instruments of the band. Lileina looked over at them, her eyes fixing onto one particular couple who seemed to have been dancing together since she and Valtier arrived at the tavern. They looked happy together, and she wondered as she watched them if people looked at her and Valtier this way. Just another happy young couple. No worries, no cares, only...
"What are you looking at?" Smiling, Valtier leaned on his hand as he looked over at her and Lileina motioned over to the couple she was watching. The song had ended, and now the two were hugging by the firelight as they ended the dance with a flourish.
"Those two, dancing by the fire."
"Would you like to dance too?"
"Oh, no..." Shaking her head, Lileina sipped her wine. "I was just thinking about how happy they look together. I wonder if they've been together a long time...if they worry about the same things we do." Following them across the floor as they began another dance, Lileina lifted her glass back to her lips. "Hmmm."
"It's getting dark out there," Valtier commented, glancing towards one of the large windows. "Maybe you'd better start back to the sanctuary."
"Not yet," Lileina replied softly, finishing the wine in her glass. "I'm hoping to sneak back in there later tonight when it's darker. We can stay here a little *hic* longer." Putting a hand over her mouth, Lileina blushed as she realized she had hiccuped. "Oops."
"Maybe you had better not have any more wine." Pulling her glass away from her hand, Valtier gave her a little smile, and Lileina turned even redder.
"Maybe you're right." Pushing her plate away as she nodded, Lileina rested her head on her arms. "We could go watch the stars on the hill if you want."
"That sounds nice," Valtier said, pushing his own plate away and stretching. Rummaging around in his pockets, he pulled out some gold and tossed it onto the table between the plates. "We'd better hurry before the sentinels get too nervous." This made Lileina laugh a little, and Valtier frowned, wondering what she was laughing at.
"Guards, they're called guards here." Standing up a little too quickly, Lileina suddenly felt herself become extremely lightheaded. Swaying a little on her feet, she grabbed at the edge of the table for support and Valtier caught her as she missed it.
"Lileina?"
"I'm...okay, just a little...dizzy." Her face felt very hot, and she leaned on Valtier's chest with a smile. "S-sorry..."
"Are you drunk?" The look on his face was more amusement than concern, and Lileina shook her head firmly at him. This only made her head spin more, and Valtier choked back laughter as best he could. "Are you sure?"
"Maybe...I had a little too much to drink." Still smiling, she sighed. "I'm sorry about this..."
"Don't apologize. All you need is to lay down for a few minutes. I'll go get us a room so you can rest. After all, I wouldn't want you to try and fly home like this." Helping Lileina back into her seat, he went over to the bar and talked for a few minutes to the busty girl who had served them. A moment later, he returned to help her back up and lead her up the stairs to the bedroom.
Opening the door, he helped her inside and onto the bed. Lileina leaned back onto the headboard as she watched him close the door and lock it before heading towards the bed, loosening the ties on his shirt.
"What are you doing?"
"May as well get some rest myself. Are you wearing your boots still?" Kneeling by the bed, he fought back another burst of laughter as he lifted up her leg and pushed her skirt up a little so he could pull off her boots. As his hand brushed her bare leg, Lileina felt herself blushing again. A memory of lying completely naked in his arms came back to her from the night before, and her heart began to beat faster. Her dizziness seemed to have disappeared as suddenly as it had come, and there was only one thing on her mind at that moment. "Sometimes you can be so odd..."
"Valtier?"
"There." Tossing one of her boots beside the bed, he pulled the other off quickly and looked up at her. "Are you feeling more comfortable n..." His words were cut off as Lileina leaned down and kissed him firmly on the lips. Surprised by her sudden action, he dropped her other boot onto the wood with a thud. Lileina didn't seem to notice it, the whole world had disappeared, leaving only a desire to be close to him, as close as they had been the night before, and feel his hands running over more than just her bare legs.
Unlike the night before, however, Valtier didn't hesitate to return her sudden advances. As if reading her mind, he began to return her kiss with all the passion he had in his body. Kissing Lileina only led to Valtier crawling up to join her on the bed, and from there it wasn't long before they were lying in one another's arms, falling down into the feather bed of oblivion.
* * *
At the Fire Dragon Lord's sanctuary, Sorian lay wide awake in her bed. There was still no sign of Lileina. She supposed she should assume that if she hadn't returned yet, she wasn't going to return at all. But still, something in her heart made her want to believe that her friend was still thinking about her, and would return for one final farewell.
Getting up from her bed, Sorian went next door to Lileina's room to see if maybe she had returned and not come by to see her. Hesitating only a moment, she knocked softly on the door and waited for a reply.
"Lileina? Are you there?" Only the sound of silence greeted her, and she moved to knock again. Just before her knuckles hit the door, though, she stopped suddenly. Sadly turning away from the door and went back to her own room, leaning on the closed door with a sigh. She wasn't coming back.
* * *
The sun rose an hour earlier than usual the next morning, and Lileina opened her eyes slowly as a beam of light trickled through the window and fell over her face. Looking up, she realized that she was laying, completely unclothed, in Valtier's arms. A feeling of contentment came over her for just a moment before she remembered that she had told him that she needed to return to the sanctuary to say goodbye to Sorian.
Gently shaking Valtier, who was still very much asleep, she smiled a little. He didn't wake up right away, and Lileina took the opportunity to look at him a little longer while he slept. The sun was falling over his face in just the right way so that it illuminated his features, over which a few long strands of his aqua-blue hair lay. He looked so peaceful that Lileina hated to wake him, but she wasn't about to leave him without saying anything.
Bits of a dream came floating back to the top of her mind, and she smiled softly as she watched Valtier's bare chest rise and fall slowly beneath the sheets with each breath he took. His face moved a little, and she realized that he was about to wake up at any moment.
Please...just a few more moments. I know I'll see him like this every morning from now on, but please...please let me remain here, like this...just a few moments longer... Lileina reached out as if she was going to touch his face, then drew her fingers away at the last moment, just before they touched his skin. Valtier...
"Good morning, my dear." His eyes opened slowly as he reached up to run a hand through her silken hair. "You look happy this morning."
"I...was having a dream. A very nice one..." Smiling down at him, Lileina took his hand as he pressed his palm to the side of her face. "Valtier...I have to go. I need to go back to the sanctuary to say goodbye to Sorian. There are also a few things I want to get from my room."
"All right. I was thinking about going back to the City of Ancients to say goodbye to Artemis. He's been my best friend since we were hatchlings together, so I guess I owe it to him." Sitting up, Valtier kissed Lileina's forehead. "We'll still meet in the field of flowers like we promised, but just after noon so I have time to see Artemis and maybe Aleris. How about that?"
"Sounds perfect." Lileina bit her lip as she tried to smile. "It's kind of strange, talking about this as if I'll never go back after today. I never thought I'd leave the sanctuary... Whenever I was younger, I always...always felt so safe there."
"Don't worry about a thing," Valtier said, lifting her chin gently so he could kiss her. "Everything will be all right. As long as we're together, we'll find a way to make it all right."
"I love you, Valtier."
"And I love you," he said, smiling gently at her. In the morning light, with her long hair hanging all around her face and shoulders, she looked as if she had fallen from the sky just to be near him. "What was your dream about?"
"I'll tell you when I get back," Lileina said, smiling secretively. "Right now, I'd better get back to the sanctuary before Sorian completely gives up on me."
"Okay." Climbing out of bed, Valtier searched for his pants, which had somehow gotten thrown across the room and were hanging from the back of a chair. While he dressed, Lileina found her dress and slip and put them on quickly.
A few minutes later, they were back down on the main street in front of the inn. After sharing one more quick kiss, they prepared to part company for the last time. Lileina smiled up at Valtier, her eyes laughing in the sunlight.
"I'll return soon," she said, going towards the forest. Valtier nodded, turning back to the doorway of the inn. He still needed to pay for their room.
"Be careful." Going back into the building, he didn't see her taking a detour through the marketplace. He paid the woman at the front desk quickly and hurried back out into the street, towards the forest so he could return one last time to see his friend. For some reason, he suddenly wanted very badly to see Artemis.
* * *
A short burst of knocking at her door awoke Sorian from her restless sleep, and she opened it to find Lileina standing outside in the hall, a purple silk drawstring pouch clutched tightly in her hand. She was smiling a little as she looked into the room.
"Hello, Sorian. May I come in?"
"Of course! Please, come in...hurry..." Pulling her inside the room, Sorian looked concerned. "Drassi has been looking everywhere for you. And...he looks really strange...like he's either really angry or really happy. And the weird thing is that I can't tell which it is."
"That doesn't matter right now, I'm only here for a moment. I had to get some things from my room, and of course I could never leave without saying goodbye to you." Lileina opened the drawstring bag and rummaged around inside it for a moment before finding what she was looking for and extracting it with a smile. Reaching over, she took Sorian's hand and pressed something into it with a smile. "Here, I want you to have this. You've been my best friend for so long...stood with me no matter what happened. I'm going to miss you so much..."
"I'll miss you as well." Sorian looked into her hand at the present Lileina had given her, and her mouth fell open with surprise. "Lileina...this ring..." In her palm was a wide band with little flowers carved into it and a pink Taria stone glittering in its center. "I can't take this..."
"Yes, you can. And I want you to wear it, too." Closing her hand over Sorian's, Lileina smiled. "And whenever you look at it, think about me...and know that I'll be thinking of you."
"Will...will I ever see you again?" Tears filled Sorian's voice as she closed her fingers around the ring. She didn't know how to tell Lileina that she would wear it every day, and think of her more than she would ever know.
"Maybe. Once this war is over and everything has settled down again...if there is a way for us to meet again, I'll find it." Leaning over a little, Lileina softly kissed her friend on the cheek. "Besides, I want you to meet Valtier some day."
"What's in the bag?" Hoping to stall her friend for a moment or two longer, Sorian turned her gaze to the purple bag. Understanding what she was doing, Lileina smiled as she patted it.
"Just some things...a few books, some gold, the sketch I made, Valtier's letter...and some gold and jewelry, just in case we don't find work right away." Reaching over to take Sorian's hand once more, Lileina's smile turned sad. "I do wish you could come."
"You do know it will be hard, don't you?" Saddened as she realized that Lileina would be leaving in a few minutes, Sorian squeezed her friend's hand gently as she nodded solemnly.
"I know. But we love each other very much...so I know it will be okay." Lileina fought back tears as she held Sorian's hand tightly. "I have to go now. If anyone asks, just tell them I left. And...tell the elders not to be too angry with me. It's not that I'm ungrateful...I just can't live my life being so closed-minded." Going to the door, she smiled as a few tears slipped out. "Goodbye, Sorian. Take care of yourself for me. I know we'll see each other again someday." Turning away before she cried any more, Lileina hurried out the door and down the hall.
"Goodbye..." Gazing at the ring in her hand, Sorian refused to wipe the tears from her eyes as they dripped onto her miko robe. "Goodbye."
Standing on the topmost ledge of the spire that stretched high above the sanctuary's towers, Lileina closed her eyes and stretched out her arms. Knowing there wouldn't be any guards this high up, she had climbed up to the very top to make her last departure. The wind blew across her face, and she opened her eyes to check the purple pouch that she had tied tightly around her waist. It was still in place, and she turned her gaze out over the sanctuary. It was a large building, stretching over quite a lot of land, housing so many creatures and so many lives...and now she was leaving her whole life up to that time behind. And for what?
Love, she thought as she stepped forward off the ledge and leapt out into the sky. Stretching out her arms and legs, Lileina allowed herself to free fall for a few moments through the morning air, her hair flying up around her face as she smiled. For love...
Just moments before she would have hit the ground, Lileina transformed into her dragon self, her golden wings shining bright in the sunlight as she turned and flew towards the field of flowers, enjoying the feeling of the air beneath her wings, pushing her upwards, carrying her higher and higher until even Sorian could no longer see her from the window of the study.
* * *
"You're insane," Artemis said matter-of-factly as Valtier stood in the doorway of the study of the Hall of Records. "You've gone absolutely insane."
"Somehow I knew you would feel that way. But look on the bright side. At least you and Aleris won't have to cover for me any more." Putting his hands on his hips, Valtier smiled in an attempt to make his friend do the same. "Come on, I thought you'd be at least a little happy for me."
"It's not that I'm not happy for you....I just worry. The Gold Dragons' council was really angry when I took them that message, but yet they haven't said or done anything about the weapon since then. And I would really hate for you two to get caught up in the middle of this." Sighing, Artemis closed his book. "For a supposed higher race, the Gold Dragons can be surprisingly stubborn." Standing up, he managed a smile. "But I don't think they could ever hope to match you for hardheadedness."
"I don't know whether I should thank you or punch you."
"I'm happy for you, okay?" Going over to the doorway, Artemis' smile brightened as he extended a hand to Valtier. "Guess I'm just a little jealous. Lileina really is an amazing creature...there aren't many like her in this world."
"Believe me, I know. She's...wonderful." There was an awkward pause, which was broken as Valtier reached out suddenly to pull Artemis closer and embrace him in a brotherly fashion. With a small sigh, he shook his head. "Goodbye, old friend."
"Old?!"
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah....I know."
* * *
Lileina reached the field first, just after noon, and looked around for Valtier. He was nowhere to be seen, and she smiled to herself. Males always wanted to pretend that they weren't as emotional as females, but when it came right down to it...
The sun shone warmly on the field, and Lileina waded into the flowers slowly, almost reverently. All the blooms seemed to be brighter than usual, and she smiled gently as she gazed at them. This was their field, hers and Valtier's, where they had first learned of each other's true nature, and where they spent so many afternoons together, just sitting side by side. Had the flowers been as bright back then?
Kneeling down, Lileina drew something from the pocket of her robe as she set aside the purple silk pouch. She clasped the small item in both her hands as she closed her eyes. Even though she was no longer at the sanctuary, and in her mind no longer even a miko, she still believed that the Fire Dragon Lord deserved some thanks for the happiness that she felt so strongly at that moment. Lileina's heart beat faster as she thought back to the day when she was supposed to be praying in the temple but had been thinking of Valtier instead, a day that seemed so far away now. Silently, she murmured a quick prayer.
Great Fire Dragon Lord...I know I wasn't always the best miko, but yet somehow you still saw fit to send me someone as kind and wonderful as Valtier. And although it was dangerous, you helped me find the way here...I still don't know why. Thank you so much, for all you have done for us...I never thought I would be able to learn what love was or how to show it to another, but now I do. Was that...was that your plan all along?
Though her prayer was finished, Lileina's eyes remained closed as she lost herself for a few moments in a scrapbook of memories that seemed to fill her mind, as well as the dreams of the future that she hoped would come true. Sighing peacefully, she tightened her grasp on the thing in her hands, keeping them clasped as if in prayer.
It seems like such a long time ago that I worried that Valtier wouldn't be able to love me because I was a Gold Dragon...but it has really only been a few months. When I first saw him, though, I knew I didn't care if he was a human or anything else...loving him seemed to come so naturally to me. I wonder...if it's possible for a creature to be too happy. That seems like such a silly thought, doesn't it...but I really don't know, do I? At this moment...right now...this is the happiest I have ever been, because I know that Valtier loves me, and that any time now he will come from between the trees and tell me...tell me...
There was a soft rustling sound behind her back that Lileina failed to hear until it was a moment too late. Then, a sudden silver-hot pain drove into her back and sliced its way through her entire body. Gasping for breath as the pain threatened to envelope her, Lileina looked down to see a dark red stain spreading across the center of her white gown. It took her a moment to realize that it was blood, her blood, and she frowned at it, not seeming to understand why, in the center of the stain, just under her ribs, there was a large blade protruding from her body.
"Wha---" It was painful, terribly so, to talk, and Lileina turned to look over her shoulder to see who was there. "D...Drassi?"
In the air, Valtier felt a sudden pain race through his chest, causing him to lose a little altitude. Instantly, he remembered the last time he had felt a pain like this, and flapped his wings ever harder in an effort to make himself fly faster. he had to get to Lileina. Something was very wrong.
"Yes...it's me, Lileina. I know all about where you've been going all this time and what, or should I say who you've been with." Drassi's golden hair fell over his eyes as he leaned his full weight on the sword, surprised that she was still upright on her knees. "You're stronger than I gave you credit for, my dear."
"I...I will never..." Glaring up at her assailant, Lileina's blue eyes were icy. "...never let...myself be on my...hands and knees before you..." Each breath she took caused the blade in her chest to draw back against her lungs, and she gasped softly.
"Hurts, doesn't it?" Cruelly, Drassi tightened his grip on the sword, making sure that it moved a little in her chest as he did. "I told you, Lileina, that we are meant to be together. And if you won't be my mate, so help me, I'll see to it that you're no one's." Lifting the sword up with his strong arms, Drassi hoisted Lileina's entire body off the ground with the blade, driving it further upward into her chest. No longer able to control herself, Lileina screamed so loudly that it reverberated off the trees in the forest and echoed back to her ears. At that moment, Valtier burst through the trees, just in time to see his mate being lifted off the ground on the end of a sword.
"NO!" Shouting at the top of his lungs, Valtier ran down the hill and towards Lileina, whose eyes were fixed on his, begging him not to look at her. Startled by the sudden appearance of someone who might prove to be a formidable enemy, Drassi dropped his sword and let Lileina's body fall to the ground. She fell forward into the flowers with a tiny cry of pain and lay motionless among the bright blooms. Pulling his sword quickly out of her back, he kept his eyes on Valtier, who was still running at him. "Son of a bitch! I'll tear your head off!"
"Will you now?" Drassi was trying his best to sound unafraid, but as he spoke he noticed that Valtier's eyes were beginning to glow an odd color. Suddenly deciding that he didn't want anything to do with an enraged Ancient Dragon, he backed quickly away towards the hills on the other side of the valley.
"Don't you dare run away," Valtier snarled, his voice more like a demon's than a dragon's, and he could feel his dragon self on the brink of losing control. Sensing this, Drassi ignored his warning and took off over the hill to transform. "Damned coward!"
"Val...tier?" A tiny voice from the field of flowers brought him instantly back to himself, and he turned to see Lileina propping herself up on one elbow, reaching weakly towards him.
"Lileina!" Running to her so fast that he tripped over a rock and stumbled a few steps, Valtier fell to his knees at her side and looked over her. "Oh, god...Lileina, what did he do to you?" There was so much blood on her body and on the ground that he didn't know what to do, or if he should try to pick her up.
"I'm...I'm sorry." Her eyes filled with tears as she fought back a burst of pain that traveled through her neck from her chest. "I...should have...come...later..."
"No, this isn't your fault...don't you blame yourself..." His eyes were wide, and there was a spark of panic in them that Lileina had never seen before. "What can I do? Please, tell me there's something I can do for you..."
"Just...just hold me...?"
"Of course..." Pulling her gingerly onto his lap, Valtier felt his stomach drop into his lap as he realized that the back of her dress was soaked in even more blood than the front, and becoming redder with each passing moment. He was silent as he tried to think of something to do, and Lileina looked up at him.
"Please...talk to me...I...I want to hear...your voice." Her breaths were becoming more and more shallow, and Valtier felt his eyes growing hot with tears.
"Isn't there something I can do to help you? Somewhere I can take you?" There was a note of desperation in his voice, and Lileina shook her head as best she could. "Please...I can't just let you die, Lileina..."
"There's nothing...nothing that...can be done..." The light in the back of Lileina's eyes that Valtier had so treasured was quickly fading, and he realized that she was right. All he could do for her now was hold her and try to make her comfortable. "Except...after I'm gone..."
"Y-yes?"
"Just...make sure..." Gasping again as she tried to catch her breath, Lileina pressed her clenched fists over the wound in her chest. "...make sure...you take me...to...to the Silent ocean..."
"Lileina..." Unbidden, tears had risen into his eyes and he reached over to caress her cheek. "I promise...I'll do anything you want." It was obvious from the way her skin was paling beneath his fingers that she would be gone very soon, and he shook his head as he cradled her in his arms. "Please...just don't leave me yet."
"Valtier...you made me...happy...I want you to...to know that much..." Coughing, Lileina closed her eyes as she expected a rush of pain to move through her chest. Strangely enough, though, her pain seemed to be fading away, only to be replaced by an odd chill. "Valtier...I'm...I'm cold..."
"Don't try to talk," he said softly, his voice breaking as he brushed her bangs away from her sweaty forehead. Holding her as close as he dared, Valtier kissed her forehead gently. "You made me happy, too, Lileina. So happy...I'll never forget how much you mean to me. And I'll always love you. Always..."
"I...remembered my...my dream," Lileina said, her eyes slowly closing as she coughed a little more, and a thin rivulet of bright blood ran from the corner of her mouth down her chin. "I...was happy in it...I was...your...your wife..."
"Lileina..." Closing his eyes, Valtier leaned down to kiss her pale lips despite the blood that was on her chin. Looking down at her face, he felt tears beginning to flow over his face. "I...had that dream, too." Smiling, Lileina opened her eyes once more to look up at him.
"Don't...cry...it doesn't hurt so...so much now..."
"They won't stop," he said softly, shaking his head. Lileina's gaze traveled over his face and settled onto his eyes. Her eyes seemed like little more than blue chips of stone, having lost almost all of their light, and she tried her best to focus on his face.
"Promise...me...that you'll visit...Sorian...sometime? She...wanted to meet....you..."
"Yes, of course..." Hoping that by talking to her, he could keep her with him a few moments longer, Valtier brushed her face again with his fingertips. "Tell me, what else can I do?"
"Don't...know..." Turning her face to the side, she tried to sigh. "I'm so...tired...I just want to...close my eyes..." Her voice was trailing away with every word she spoke, and Valtier gently rubbed her cooling cheek with the back of his hand, wishing he could rub some life back into them. "You know...I..." Gasping softly, she was unable to finish her sentence as her chest heaved one last time. "V...Valtier...you know I...I'll always..." The last of her breath was running out, and she managed a tiny smile as she closed her eyes. "...al...ways..." Her head fell against his chest as the last of her life drained away, and suddenly she was so still and so small in his arms. Lileina's hand fell away from her body, her lifeless fingers opening as her hand hit the ground, and something clinked on the ground softly. Frowning, Valtier reached over to pick it up. It was a plain gold band, exactly like the one he had given Lileina, only this ring was reddened with his mate's lifeblood. The moment he realized what it was, Valtier felt himself on the verge of losing control. No matter what he did, no matter how long he sat there holding her, Lileina was never coming back.
A scream of anguish escaped his lips as he hugged Lileina to his chest, the ring clutched in his hand, hoping that somehow he could bring a spark of life back into her still form. She remained motionless, and Valtier found himself breaking into tears.
"LILEINA~!"
* * *
Back at the sanctuary, Sorian walked slowly towards the inner temple. She was missing Lileina already, and wanted to say a prayer for her and Valtier in the hopes that everything would turn out all right for them.
As she turned the corner and entered the main hall, Sorian noticed a figure standing near the entrance. She moved a little closer and saw that it was Drassi, and immediately resolved to steer clear of him, especially in his current humor. While she was searching for an alternate path to the temple, Sorian noticed that he was cleaning something. At first this seemed unimportant, and she continued on her way until she caught a glimpse of the cloth that he was using to clean his sword.
Her heart seemed to stop for a moment as she saw that the cloth was covered in something that was a strange reddish-brown color. Catching her breath, she pressed herself against the wall. Blood? But whose blood could it be?
Suddenly frozen in place, Sorian almost didn't hear the elder behind her telling her that she was needed in the council hall for another full session of council to discuss the ancient weapon and what the council planned to do about it. Nodding slowly, she followed the elder out of the main hall and to the council hall, not realizing that she was trembling.
* * *
As if in a trance, Valtier walked slowly across the sand of the Ruined desert with Lileina's limp, motionless form cradled in his arms. Her beautiful white dress was now almost completely stained red, and her head leaned against Valtier's chest as he walked. She seemed so small now, so light in his arms, as if she were no more than a rag doll. He tried not to think about that as he walked on through the sand. If he stopped now to think about the reason why he was walking toward the Silent ocean, he might break down again. And he couldn't risk that, not yet. He had promised Lileina that he would take her there.
Looking up, he thought he saw a large structure looming before him, and he shook his head. The sun was playing tricks on his eyes. As he took a few more steps towards the building, he realized that it was no mirage, that he was really standing before the Fire Dragon Lord's sanctuary. For a moment, he considered just walking on past it, but as he looked up at the sanctuary, anger like he hadn't felt in years rose in his chest, and he knew he couldn't just walk away. They had to know...there were consequences. Holding Lileina's body a little tighter, he turned and walked towards the entrance.
Inside the council hall, the elders were preparing to discuss the actions they had decided up on in regards to the Ancient Dragons and their refusal to turn over the weapon. In the upper gallery, Sorian sat against the wall, her eyes flickering over to where Drassi sat with the guards, looking unusually subdued. The empty seat next to Sorian seemed to make Rinoa, who was sitting a row behind her, smile a little wider than usual, but Sorian didn't see it, she was more concerned with just who Drassi had cut with his sword.
Just as the chief elder stood up to give his position, the doors at the back of the hall burst open and slammed against the walls. The room fell silent as Valtier walked slowly down through the center of the room, carrying the body of a woman that they all recognized as Lileina. A collective gasp went through the room, and Rinoa suddenly looked as if all the wind had been knocked out of her. Of course, this was what she had wanted but now...seeing Lileina's body...
Sorian pressed a hand to her mouth as she looked down at her friend, taking in the blood that covered her dress as well as the entire front of Valtier's clothes and suddenly putting together the location of the stain on her friend's dress with the blood Drassi had been wiping from his sword. This isn't happening, Sorian thought as she closed her eyes and started shaking her head as she pressed her hands to her temples. This...isn't real…It can't be happening...
"What is the meaning of this?" The chief elder exploded, pointing at Valtier from his place at the front of the room. "Just who do you think you are!?"
"I am Valtier, a sentinel of the Ancient Dragons," he said, his voice echoing through the council hall with all the anger in his chest. Even he couldn't believe just how much contempt he felt towards these creatures, who seemed more concerned that Lileina was getting blood on their floor than they did with her death. All around the room, he could hear their whispers.
"An Ancient Dragon? In our sacred hall?"
"An outrage!"
"What is he doing here?"
"I am here," Valtier continued, searching the room with his eyes for the one he knew had killed Lileina, but his vision was clouded by anger, and he turned his gaze back to the elder. "Because one of you killed my mate...Lileina." This caused a stir in the room, and Valtier's jaw hardened. "Since whoever it was didn't have the courage to face me, I will warn all of you in the hopes that he is listening. I have come here to tell you that nothing you can do will ever make me forgive what was done to Lileina, in the name of your laws." Scanning the room for any sign of emotion, he was further angered by the fact that he saw none. "I don't care how long it takes...one day I will have my revenge."
"She knew the penalty for her actions," the chief elder said, his blue-grey eyes cold as he looked at Valtier, his dislike for the Ancient Dragon evident. "Although none of us gave the order for her demise, Lileina understood all too well the consequences of the path she took."
"That may be so," Valtier said, his golden eyes glinting angrily as he looked at the elder. "But now, so do you." Looking around the room, his voice turned ever colder. "All of you." Having said all he came to say, Valtier bowed his head and walked out of the council hall, leaving the denizens of the sanctuary in shock as he made his way down the main hall and back out towards the unforgiving heat of the Ruined desert.
"Wait!" A voice from behind him caused Valtier to turn slightly, and he saw a tall, slender young woman running towards him, wearing the same robes he had seen Lileina in before. "Wait, please, wait!" He turned to her, smiling sadly.
"Sorian."
"H-how did you know?"
"You were the only one I saw crying." There was no trace of the anger he had been emanating in the council hall, and he tried to smile a little more. "She wanted me to meet you."
"You're exactly as she said," Sorian murmured, reaching over as if to touch her departed friend's face. "She looks so...so happy. May I say goodbye?"
"Of course you may. She loved you a great deal, you know." The words seemed to come from someone else's mouth as he watched Sorian gently stroke Lileina's face, tears pouring from her eyes as she looked over the lifeless body. "I'm glad I...got to meet you at least."
"Where are you taking her?" Sorian's voice was a whisper as she turned her eyes back up toward Valtier's face.
"To the Silent ocean. It's what she wanted...what she asked me to do."
"Then you must go. Before Drassi and the other guards come out here." Shaking her head, a frown crossed her face. "I'll bet it was him who did this to her." Leaning forward, she gave Lileina a soft kiss on her forehead and smiled sadly. "Take good care of her."
"I will." Turning, he began his long walk across the sand to the Silent ocean, and Sorian pressed her hands to her mouth as she watched him go, holding back a sob. The pink Taria ring shone on her finger as she closed her eyes.
Oh, Lileina...
On the shore of the Silent ocean, Valtier took a last look at Lileina's face before he started into the water. Sorian was right, somehow she did look happy. If nothing else, he supposed he could take some comfort in that.
Wading into the shallows of the ocean, he moved slowly out towards the horizon, knowing that somewhere nearby there was a drop-off point where the depth of the water suddenly plunged from a few feet to the bottom of the ocean. It was here that countless Dragons had been placed after they took their final breaths, and here that Lileina wanted to sleep beside them. Once he was in the water up to his waist, Valtier felt the water around him suddenly become cold, a clear indicator of its changing depth.
Reaching out, he placed his hands under her back so that she looked as if she were floating just on the surface of the water. Carefully, he folded her hands over the wound in her chest, Valtier looked down at her serene face with its long blonde hair floating like a halo around her head. Having put the ring she had intended to give him on his finger, he placed his right hand over hers so that their rings were side by side.
Goodbye, Lileina. Your dreams from now on will be of nothing but happiness. I only hope that every now and then you will dream of me. You were too good for this world, my love. If only...you could have stayed in it... just a little longer. Releasing her body, Valtier watched as the water rose up over her still figure, drawing her beneath the surface, into the depths of the Silent ocean. Goodbye, my angel. We'll be together again soon...perhaps not in this world, but in the next.
A ray of sunlight glinted off the ring on Lileina's finger as she sank ever deeper into the darkness beneath the water. Unable to watch any longer, Valtier waded back to the shallows, choking back a fresh wave of tears. It was over. The beautiful dream was over. A memory of her voice echoed in his ears, as if it were carried by the wind.
"I never would have believed that miracles could truly occur until I met you..."
All the strength seemed to disappear from Valtier's legs, and he collapsed onto his hands and knees in the ankle-deep water as he remembered everything. The sound of her voice, the feeling of her arms around him, the warmth of her skin against his...it was all suddenly too much for him, and the ocean silently accepted his tears as the sun shone onto his back, warming him almost like Lileina's loving embrace. And in the wind, he could almost hear her voice.
Goodbye...Valtier...