Author's note: Hi! I appreciate all the reviews! Anyway, here is another chapter for those who have been reading this!
Chapter 3 - A Hero's Sacrifice
He ran a hand through his blue hair and sighed. Why did he do that? Something must be wrong with him. Vahn walked down the hallway to his room and closed the door behind him. He landed on his back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. It's been months or maybe even years since he saw Noa. Did he really miss her that much? If it was years, then Cort is withering away. Nothing could help him now, except pray for his well being. Noa cares so much for Cort and Vahn could only imagine what it must be for Noa if she loses her only family left in the world.
"Get out of here!" A shout came from the hallway. Vahn was startled and jerked his head up to look at the door. He quickly got up and opened the door, to see Gala standing in front of him and was glaring at someone. Vahn followed his gaze and saw a man around his twenties, holding a knife. He had long dark hair, tied into a ponytail. Vahn gave a questioning gaze towards Gala.
"What's going on?" Vahn asked, stepping beside him and faced the man.
Gala clenched his fists and glanced at Vahn for a second, before turning his attention back at the man. "He has stepped inside without consent and promised me he is out to kill the demon child. Vahn, take Noa and Cort and get out of here!"
"Yes, boy! You best do that!" the man spoke, with a deep, resounding voice. He pointed the knife towards Gala, his face still turned towards Vahn. "You better listen to what he says so this will give me a challenge to hunt you all down! That child must die!"
Vahn stepped forward. "I will not let you through, vermin! You leave the child alone!" He clenched his fists.
"Vahn..." Gala whispered.
Vahn jerked his head up at Gala and shook his head. "No! If he wants the child, he'll have to go through me first!"
The man snorted. "You want to challenge me? If you do kill me, what are you going to do with the rest of us?" He looked over his shoulder and twenty some men appeared from the corner, with hatred etched on their faces. They were all holding weapons. One man with short brown hair, was holding an axe.
The young man's eyes widened. They are going to kill a child with an axe? A hand was placed on his shoulder. Vahn looked behind him and saw Gala shaking his head.
"Vahn.... you best leave. Flee and take Noa and Cort with you..."
"But, Gala...." he started, but the older man just turned him around so he was facing Noa's door and pushed him towards her room.
"If you care so much for her, then you go and take them with you," Gala repeated. "I will be fine, my good friend." Soon, more monks appeared and Vahn was left with the urge to stay and the urge to go. They all lined up in front of the intruders, blocking their way towards the child. Vahn couldn't leave Gala, but he couldn't leave Noa either. He has to flee. That was the only option left. With one last nod, Vahn opened the door and saw Noa sleeping soundly on her bed, with Cort in her arms. Vahn enjoyed watching her there, but he knew he had to take action and interrupt her serene look. He walked over to her and shook her gently.
"Noa.... we have to leave," Vahn whispered.
Noa opened her eyes slowly. The eyes Vahn found so captivating, blinked, her green eyes lighting in alarm. She sat up quickly, lifting up Cort with her and stared at Vahn. "Why?" was her only reply.
"There's no time for explanations. We have to leave now. Maybe we can leave through the window..." Vahn helped Noa up on her feet. Noa adjusted the baby in her arms and nodded. Vahn walked up to the window and opened it slowly. He peeked his head out and looked down. The ground was not that far. He looked behind him and told her to come closer. Noa did and cradled Cort in her arms. Vahn pointed to a nearby tree by the window and looked at Noa.
"We can climb down from that tree," Vahn suggested.
"How?"
He stared at her and, without thinking, wrapped an arm around her waist. Noa blushed. "You'll have to hold Cort tightly. I'll carry you both while I climb down."
"How? With one hand?"
Vahn smiled. "Of course."
Noa's eyes widened. Before she could ask anymore, the door flew open. A dozen men ran inside, with weapons in their hands and charged at the two. Vahn forced Noa's arm around his neck and jumped as far as his feet could take him. They were falling fast and Vahn has to catch one of the branches or else they die. Noa screamed. She closed her eyes and held Cort close to her heart. She kept her eyes closed and tightly held on to Vahn's neck. They were falling awfully fast.
Vahn grasped one branch, but it snapped and broke. They were once again falling. The ground was getting too close for comfort. It was too late to grab anymore branches. There was only one thing left to do. Quickly, Vahn shifted himself so that he was underneath Noa, while the girl and the baby were on top of him. Noa looked at him, wide eyed in shock and bewilderment. He wrapped both his arms around Noa's waist and removed her arm from his neck. He placed her arm, instead around the baby's small body. The baby cried, then stopped. 'What is he trying to do?' she thought.
"Noa... close your eyes," Vahn whispered.
Noa obeyed. She felt her body slam to the ground, but there was no sign of pain on her body and the baby was still tightly in her arms. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Her heart stopped. Her breathing became ragged. Vahn had his back on the ground, while she laid on top of him. Vahn's eyes were closed. Noa slid off of him and decided to put the baby down on the ground for a second. She went back to him and shook him gently.
"Vahn?" No response. Noa felt her heart sink low, until she couldn't breath. She shook him again. "Vahn!" she called. Nothing. "VAHN! NOOO!" She kneeled down, frozen in disbelief. What was happening? Is this the end? Noa shook him, harder this time. Tears fell from her eyes as quickly as the rain could drop. She pounded on his chest, yelled in his ears, anything to get him to respond. When his eyes did not move or his breathing did not return, Noa pulled him for an embrace, wrapping her arms around him vigorously. She cried in his chest, calling his name every time she could breath.
Feeling insecured without his sister and upon hearing his sister cry, Cort began to cry as well, as if feeling the loss of someone he knew so well.
Nothing. Noa leaned down and kissed Vahn's lips, which were still warm. She regretted of ever letting go of the kiss she has longed for all her life. More tears fell, landing on his shirt. Noa kissed his lips, his cheeks and lastly, his forehead. She closed her eyes and kept her lips locked on his forehead. He had sacrificed himself to save them. At first she didn't believe they had kissed that night. She thought it to be a mirage, but now she knew how much Vahn really cared for her. Maybe even how much his death meant his love for her.
"There she is!" a loud, deep voice echoed.
"Run, Noa! Run as fast as you can!" Noa looked up and saw Gala holding a man with the knife. He had an arm around his neck and was fighting to get the knife away from him, while the man was trying to stab Gala with it.
She nodded, then turned back to Vahn."Good bye, Vahn...." she whispered. With one last kiss on the lips, Noa stood up and picked up Cort in her arms. She ran to the trees ahead of her and disappeared through the woods in the darkness.
****************
Four years later..........
"Where are you?!" she called. A brown haired, four year old boy popped his head out from one of the trees and ran to her,
Noa opened his arms to him and the boy jumped in it and hugged her as tightly as she could. "Sis! Look what I found!" He opened his closed palm and showed his sister a blue lilac with brown stems. The blue lilacs were very rare around these parts, but there was one special place that both sister and brother found while walking in the woods. The blue lilacs were special to her. It reminded her of the man she knew a long time ago. The one who died with honour and.... love.
"Sis! Can you tell me the story of that hero again?" Cort asked, putting the lilac in his pocket.
She nodded and smiled. "Of course!" She adjusted him in her arms and carried him back inside their new home. Someday, she'll come visit his grave and put the blue lilac on it. She prayed that he would come back, but she knew nothing could bring him back. Not even if she tells the heavens how much she loved him.
GoodGurl: Heh! Heh! Don't worry readers! Its not over yet! I hope you're enjoying yourself so far! See ya on the next chapter!!!!!!!
Chapter 3 - A Hero's Sacrifice
He ran a hand through his blue hair and sighed. Why did he do that? Something must be wrong with him. Vahn walked down the hallway to his room and closed the door behind him. He landed on his back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. It's been months or maybe even years since he saw Noa. Did he really miss her that much? If it was years, then Cort is withering away. Nothing could help him now, except pray for his well being. Noa cares so much for Cort and Vahn could only imagine what it must be for Noa if she loses her only family left in the world.
"Get out of here!" A shout came from the hallway. Vahn was startled and jerked his head up to look at the door. He quickly got up and opened the door, to see Gala standing in front of him and was glaring at someone. Vahn followed his gaze and saw a man around his twenties, holding a knife. He had long dark hair, tied into a ponytail. Vahn gave a questioning gaze towards Gala.
"What's going on?" Vahn asked, stepping beside him and faced the man.
Gala clenched his fists and glanced at Vahn for a second, before turning his attention back at the man. "He has stepped inside without consent and promised me he is out to kill the demon child. Vahn, take Noa and Cort and get out of here!"
"Yes, boy! You best do that!" the man spoke, with a deep, resounding voice. He pointed the knife towards Gala, his face still turned towards Vahn. "You better listen to what he says so this will give me a challenge to hunt you all down! That child must die!"
Vahn stepped forward. "I will not let you through, vermin! You leave the child alone!" He clenched his fists.
"Vahn..." Gala whispered.
Vahn jerked his head up at Gala and shook his head. "No! If he wants the child, he'll have to go through me first!"
The man snorted. "You want to challenge me? If you do kill me, what are you going to do with the rest of us?" He looked over his shoulder and twenty some men appeared from the corner, with hatred etched on their faces. They were all holding weapons. One man with short brown hair, was holding an axe.
The young man's eyes widened. They are going to kill a child with an axe? A hand was placed on his shoulder. Vahn looked behind him and saw Gala shaking his head.
"Vahn.... you best leave. Flee and take Noa and Cort with you..."
"But, Gala...." he started, but the older man just turned him around so he was facing Noa's door and pushed him towards her room.
"If you care so much for her, then you go and take them with you," Gala repeated. "I will be fine, my good friend." Soon, more monks appeared and Vahn was left with the urge to stay and the urge to go. They all lined up in front of the intruders, blocking their way towards the child. Vahn couldn't leave Gala, but he couldn't leave Noa either. He has to flee. That was the only option left. With one last nod, Vahn opened the door and saw Noa sleeping soundly on her bed, with Cort in her arms. Vahn enjoyed watching her there, but he knew he had to take action and interrupt her serene look. He walked over to her and shook her gently.
"Noa.... we have to leave," Vahn whispered.
Noa opened her eyes slowly. The eyes Vahn found so captivating, blinked, her green eyes lighting in alarm. She sat up quickly, lifting up Cort with her and stared at Vahn. "Why?" was her only reply.
"There's no time for explanations. We have to leave now. Maybe we can leave through the window..." Vahn helped Noa up on her feet. Noa adjusted the baby in her arms and nodded. Vahn walked up to the window and opened it slowly. He peeked his head out and looked down. The ground was not that far. He looked behind him and told her to come closer. Noa did and cradled Cort in her arms. Vahn pointed to a nearby tree by the window and looked at Noa.
"We can climb down from that tree," Vahn suggested.
"How?"
He stared at her and, without thinking, wrapped an arm around her waist. Noa blushed. "You'll have to hold Cort tightly. I'll carry you both while I climb down."
"How? With one hand?"
Vahn smiled. "Of course."
Noa's eyes widened. Before she could ask anymore, the door flew open. A dozen men ran inside, with weapons in their hands and charged at the two. Vahn forced Noa's arm around his neck and jumped as far as his feet could take him. They were falling fast and Vahn has to catch one of the branches or else they die. Noa screamed. She closed her eyes and held Cort close to her heart. She kept her eyes closed and tightly held on to Vahn's neck. They were falling awfully fast.
Vahn grasped one branch, but it snapped and broke. They were once again falling. The ground was getting too close for comfort. It was too late to grab anymore branches. There was only one thing left to do. Quickly, Vahn shifted himself so that he was underneath Noa, while the girl and the baby were on top of him. Noa looked at him, wide eyed in shock and bewilderment. He wrapped both his arms around Noa's waist and removed her arm from his neck. He placed her arm, instead around the baby's small body. The baby cried, then stopped. 'What is he trying to do?' she thought.
"Noa... close your eyes," Vahn whispered.
Noa obeyed. She felt her body slam to the ground, but there was no sign of pain on her body and the baby was still tightly in her arms. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Her heart stopped. Her breathing became ragged. Vahn had his back on the ground, while she laid on top of him. Vahn's eyes were closed. Noa slid off of him and decided to put the baby down on the ground for a second. She went back to him and shook him gently.
"Vahn?" No response. Noa felt her heart sink low, until she couldn't breath. She shook him again. "Vahn!" she called. Nothing. "VAHN! NOOO!" She kneeled down, frozen in disbelief. What was happening? Is this the end? Noa shook him, harder this time. Tears fell from her eyes as quickly as the rain could drop. She pounded on his chest, yelled in his ears, anything to get him to respond. When his eyes did not move or his breathing did not return, Noa pulled him for an embrace, wrapping her arms around him vigorously. She cried in his chest, calling his name every time she could breath.
Feeling insecured without his sister and upon hearing his sister cry, Cort began to cry as well, as if feeling the loss of someone he knew so well.
Nothing. Noa leaned down and kissed Vahn's lips, which were still warm. She regretted of ever letting go of the kiss she has longed for all her life. More tears fell, landing on his shirt. Noa kissed his lips, his cheeks and lastly, his forehead. She closed her eyes and kept her lips locked on his forehead. He had sacrificed himself to save them. At first she didn't believe they had kissed that night. She thought it to be a mirage, but now she knew how much Vahn really cared for her. Maybe even how much his death meant his love for her.
"There she is!" a loud, deep voice echoed.
"Run, Noa! Run as fast as you can!" Noa looked up and saw Gala holding a man with the knife. He had an arm around his neck and was fighting to get the knife away from him, while the man was trying to stab Gala with it.
She nodded, then turned back to Vahn."Good bye, Vahn...." she whispered. With one last kiss on the lips, Noa stood up and picked up Cort in her arms. She ran to the trees ahead of her and disappeared through the woods in the darkness.
****************
Four years later..........
"Where are you?!" she called. A brown haired, four year old boy popped his head out from one of the trees and ran to her,
Noa opened his arms to him and the boy jumped in it and hugged her as tightly as she could. "Sis! Look what I found!" He opened his closed palm and showed his sister a blue lilac with brown stems. The blue lilacs were very rare around these parts, but there was one special place that both sister and brother found while walking in the woods. The blue lilacs were special to her. It reminded her of the man she knew a long time ago. The one who died with honour and.... love.
"Sis! Can you tell me the story of that hero again?" Cort asked, putting the lilac in his pocket.
She nodded and smiled. "Of course!" She adjusted him in her arms and carried him back inside their new home. Someday, she'll come visit his grave and put the blue lilac on it. She prayed that he would come back, but she knew nothing could bring him back. Not even if she tells the heavens how much she loved him.
GoodGurl: Heh! Heh! Don't worry readers! Its not over yet! I hope you're enjoying yourself so far! See ya on the next chapter!!!!!!!