Darkness in the Twilight
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
By Psycho Ferret and LunarCrystal
Pain
Peace guided Celena's steps. She knew these trees well, having relearned the paths of roots and vines within the past two years since being reunited to her only family. Occasionally she would climb down a small incline, where the roots of a tree made a wall of earth. There were always such fantastical games played here when she was young. Such carefree bliss and not a worry to be found.
Walking among the trees now and thinking of such memories had even made her smile briefly. She was safe here. Now, it was well known that highwaymen existed in certain parts near Palas. But there were such places, so beautiful and full of memories as these, that it would not have occured to be wary of a watchful gaze.
"Well, aren't you a pretty thing," said a man. He was leering. His voice cut through the fog like a sword, and made Celena stumble in surprise. She looked towards where the man had spoken from. The mists cleared just enough to reveal a small camp, crude as it was to even be called a camp. A small fire in a clearing with a beat up cooking pot was set in front of a small canvas tent.
"Who are you?" demanded Celena instantly, keeping her distance from the man. She did not like his gaze upon her, even as he suddenly tried to be friendly. His face was scarred and needed to be shorn. There were wrinkles around his eyes that said he'd seen too many hours under a hot sun. She was glad he hadn't advanced upon her.
"Oh, who I am is really none of your business." He answered coldly.
"It is when you trespass. These forests belong to me." A cold chill ran down her spine that her woolen cloak could not have prevented - for it was not the dense fogs that caused her to shiver. It was the look of mockery and arrogance - and it suggested lust. Celena took a step back.
"You own these lands?" he barked out a laugh, "You are but a woman. Come, come. Your husband must surely think you fowl for stealing his pride."
"Leave these lands immediately, sir! Or I will be forced to take drastic measures." But as soon as she spoke her words, in confidence, she knew it was a mistake. The man drew forth a sword that had been hidden behind the tree he leaned upon. Cursing herself for not bringing a sword with her, she turned to run. Cursed as their family was, she had the bad luck to trip on a thick root of a tree, the forest being full of them.
There was hardly any time to scream, her head being wrenched back by her silver hair. The sea weathered highwayman forced her onto her back, sneering at her. "I'll be doing the drastic measures here, missy. I'm sure your husband won't mind."
Her mouth was covered by his dirty hands, her body wracked with panic. It couldn't have been more plain what this man wanted - his wantonness was obvious. The highwayman had just managed to lift her skirts as she lay on the ground, and she bit his fingers. His hand flew away from her mouth and for the precious brief moment, she let out a mighty wail for help.
All for naught, for the next moment she was gagged. Her muffled screams would not be heard by anyone, and she was pinned underneath the heavyset highwayman. Frustrated, he had struck her across the face more than once during his pleasure hoards on her, violently thrusting in and out of her and taking the virginity from her once chaste blossom.
He'd carried her away from his camp, careful to conceal his whereabouts, once he'd finished with her. Far enough away, he threw her onto the hard rooted ground, taking back his gag and laying one last, disgusting kiss on her swollen lips.
She whimpered, as it had all happened so fast. Her body ached, and she felt herself bleeding between her legs but she was helpless to do anything about it. All she could do was lay where she'd been dropped, and cry from the horror that just befell her.
Gaddes had come to the house in hopes of hearing yet... more frustrating news about his once energetic commander. Finding neither Celena or Allen there, told they'd gone for a walk, the soldier decided he'd join them. Likely it would be disturbing, to see the listless manners of the blonde.
On horse back, he wandered about the huge lands, through the fields and came upon the forest. He recalled Allen speaking once about how they'd played here when they were younger... lucky for Celena he decided to venture in there. Gaddes frowned slightly... in this fog, he'd likely missed them. And Allen probably left his sword, too. He took his pace slowly, one hand on the sword at his side. He didn't think anyone would attack him.
And then he heard it. Crying. His brow furrowed... was that Celena?
His first reaction, his first thought was that something had happened to Allen. It would be easy enough, after all. Following the sound, he came upon her. No... no, it wasn't Allen. Gaddes was shocked to silence for a long moment before he slid off his steed and scooped her up in his arms carefully. He could smell it, the scent of sex and quickly banished the anger that rose up within him. "Allen... Celena, where's Allen, what happened?"
She was in no state to respond to his inquiries, only able to shake her head fiercely as she sobbed. Her hands held herself - to quell the bleeding, as if the parts that made her feminine were to spill out if she did not force them to stay inside of her. Body trembling, sobbing, it was almost a miracle she was still awake. But she found no voice in her shock, it was all just too terrible - already her mind was forcing the memories away, trying to banish all thoughts of that horrid, disgusting man who'd taken advantage of her.
Gaddes bit down on his bottom lip lightly, carefully nudging her onto the horse and climbing up behind her. He turned the steed about, heading back to the manor. There, he left her with the servants, giving them explicit instructions to clean her, to be careful, gentle. Though he knew they would anyway. He hesitated in the doorway for a moment before he slid out, taking his horse again into the woods to find Allen.
When he ran upon him, he hopped off his horse and scooped the blonde up onto the horse as well, surprising the ex-knight. With that, he turned about and headed back, not aware at the moment of the presence of the highwayman huddled away in the forest.
When it had been explained to him what had occurred, or what tiny bit Gaddes knew, Allen slipped into shock. He blamed himself. It was all his fault... if he hadn't tested her limits...
Celena was settled into her bed by the servants, all of the females working to stop the hemorrhaging. Thick cloths were quickly saturated with blood. Several cloths were stained before the bleeding finally stopped, and the broken girl was left pale and tired but no longer in any pain. Her face had become bruised, her lip swollen.
Even as she lay there on a soft feather down mattress, her body remembered being shoved down onto hard soil and tree roots. Her mind tried to forget the man's wrinkled, whiskered face, his eyes crazed with lust. Her head turned and buried deep into her pillow, and still the visions and the pains plagued her memories - the sharp slap of his hand across her face . . . the horrible thrusting and throbbing between her legs.
She let out a cry into her pillow, suppressing a sob at first before letting it free itself from her constricted throat. All she had left were her tears soaking into lavender scented linens.
Allen pushed past the maids in a flourish... the most emotion they'd seen from him for a long while, Gaddes quieting them and shutting the door behind him. He knew his way around her room, he didn't need their aid.
"Celena," Allen murmured, feeling his way over to her bedside. He sat on the edge of the mattress, unmoving besides that for a few moments. "Celena, I'm so sorry... It's my fault. All of this is my fault and I'm so sorry... I was to wound up in my own misery that I didn't... I didn't see what it was doing to you. I'm sorry that it had to be this that got me to see..." Allen grieved, feeling out for her shoulders and when he found them, pulling her close to his chest, wrapping the blankets around her.
"Gods, I'm sorry... you don't deserve this, you don't deserve any of this..."
At first she'd only lay stiff and tense in his arms, wary of a man's presence - but this was her brother. When that realization came, her arms flew around him and she held him with a vengeance. Her fingers clenched and twisted his shirt under her grasp, and she sobbed into his golden hair. There were no words formed from those sobs.
She wanted to scream at Allen, even though she had been wronged by another. She didn't need his guilt, and she finally came to that conclusion - she needed his love, and goddamn it he was too stubborn and brooding to give it! This tender embrace from him - that was all she needed in the world. His love, his affection, made it strangely soothe away her demons.
Allen bowed his head against her's, long golden hair slipping over his shoulders. Even that seemed to have life in it once again. "I promised when you returned to me that I'd protect you... but I've been too selfish to do it. I hope you can forgive me for my wrongs done unto you... I'll help you now and on in later years."
But he couldn't hold onto her forever, could he? She would need to get married eventually. She didn't deserve such a life, aiding her blinded brother like so.
He reached up, stroking her back softly, comfortingly.
"You don't deserve any of these wrongs done to you... when you were younger, and now... I don't want you to get hurt anymore." He tightened his embrace protectively, closing unseeing eyes. "I'll protect you, I promise. I'll make it right for you..."
"Allen," she breathed into his ear, rubbing her cheek against his, nuzzling into him. He always smelled so good, and for now she was just content in his hold. His arms were still strong, there were still muscles underneath the silk of his shirt. She smiled against his skin and cried, "You're finally talking to me again."
"I was stupid not to before... I was being selfish and I didn't see how much it was hurting you. I'll protect you now, I promise. I'll work to get you the life you deserve, I'll ease your pain... I don't want you to cry, please," he whispered against her hair.
But even at his request, she cried harder. "My - purity was taken from me. . . Allen, who will marry me now? I'm soiled and sullied. Gods, what do I do now?"
"What man would not marry you? You are still beautiful, Celena. You did not go into this willingly, they cannot fault you for that!" Granted... any man that would brush her aside for such a thing, Allen wouldn't let near his sister anyhow.
The words would not console her. She pulled back to hide her face from his blind eyes, burying her sobs into her pillow. "No one will want me. I am ugly to the world. He beat me - my insides are twisted and soiled. I cannot . . ."
Allen gave a soft, strangled cry, shaking his head. "No! No, you are not... please believe me, Celena. You are still as wonderful a woman as you were before, it not more so now. What man would not want a gentle, patient soul like you at their side?"
"Soiled . . ." she cried, her tears beginning to subside. Even then, a horrible pain ran through her from her depths of womanhood. She let out a cry of pain, holding herself and suddenly so very glad that her brother was blind to it all.
Allen started slightly, reaching out to touch her arm. "Celena, please... just... just rest. You must... you had no part in that, don't worry over your purity. You... you are still pure to me in the greatest sense."
You are still pure to me . . . Those words were somehow able to calm her tears. Her breathing was ragged against the pain she felt in such sensitive places. Would her brother truly be the only one to think of her as pure now? If so - perhaps she was destined to spend the rest of her life with him. She was broken and sullied, so who else would ever want her? Who else would ever love her more than Allen himself?
Celena hadn't turned to look at him, to see the distraught expression on his face, his sightless gaze searching desperately through his darkness for a glimpse of her. How it pained her so to see him as he was. How it drove a dagger through her heart when he had stopped confiding in her. How it took something so horrific to finally bring him out of his stupor.
"You will be the only one then," she said finally, her voice choking.
"No! No... though no man would be worthy of your presence, Celena. My dear sister, no... no one will ever be worthy of you." His fingers found and stroked her hair softly, anguish leaking into his pretty features.
Celena was about to turn him away, to send him out of her room when he touched her so - too similar to the nightmarish man that would now likely haunt her dreams. But strangely, it did not make her flinch when he stroked her silver tendrils, now damp against her forehead from sweat, and still in short ringlets. She'd kept it short ever since that day she was found.
A hiss passed through her lips when his fingers found a spot next to her face which was bruised blackish blue. Her swollen lip trembled and she whimpered.
Allen paused, drawing his hand away. Even if it had been unintentional, he had harmed her. He sighed softly, shaking his head. "Have they done anything for it?"
Better yet... he called out to Gaddes and the man stepped in, respectfully averting his eyes.
"Go and retrieve a healer, and be quick."
Gaddes was relieved to hear that commanding tone begin to come back and smiled broadly despite the situation, nodding. "Sure thing, commander." With that, he left, traveling back into the depths of the city to find a healer. Even if he had to drag one back, by God, he'd get it.
"Gods, Allen," she groaned, "No healers, please."
"I won't have you feel this pain, Celena. Please, just bear it... I don't want to hear you hiss like that, I don't want you to feel the pain you do..."
"Very well," she resigned without emotion. Maybe it was just better to give into his wishes, after so long of dealing with his silence. His voice she cherished now, but she would not utter another word. Sleep would not come to her easily that night.
Icarus came having been fetched from the apothecary, and had apparently insisted that it was he who would treat Celena. When he entered her rooms, he saw Allen by his sister's side. There really wasn't much to be done.
He'd ordered the former knight to stand aside while he examined her, and noted how wary Allen was when he'd asked him. There were bruises on Celena's pretty face, and Icarus felt a pang of sorrow for her. He never complained if it was their house he'd been called to, so long as he would let his eyes fall upon her fair face. Of course, he was too tactful to make advances. Had the circumstances been different, Icarus would have gladly asked her to a lunch outing.
Icarus was careful to examine her, where the intruder entered, tried to reassure her not be embarrassed. Some tissue was torn, but he was glad the damage was not too great - it seemed the man took his pleasures quickly. The bleeding had subsided, but it would most likely pain her if she moved too much. Settling her blankets back over her, Icarus told her to rest and she did, or at least she attempted to.
It was then that Icarus took Allen outside of her room, so that his words would not fall upon her ears. Icarus shut the door behind them. They stood in the hallway, Gaddes having waited outside of Celena's room for nearly an hour. He stood once Icarus began to speak, "The damage to her body is minimal. I'm urging you not to let her up from her bed for more than the necessities."
"So she'll be okay?" asked Gaddes worriedly. Icarus gave him a cold glare.
"Whether she'll recover from this or not is up to you two gentleman." said Icarus warily, "I would not like to think what goes through an innocent girl's mind after she'd been ravaged by an animal of a man - nor would I wonder at her insecurities with two men in such close proximity to her. Even her brother and his good friend."
"Well, you can rest assured nothing will happen to her within this home, especially by my hands or Gaddes'. Though I am aware it is not you who must be reassured by those words." Allen nodded slightly to him. "I had figured she'd best stay bedridden for now. Is there an approximation of when she would be healed?"
In the face of his sister's injury, Allen had stepped forward to be stern and commanding, falling easily into the long unused habit. Gaddes shot him an amused glance, though relief shook through him. It looked like Allen had finally drawn himself from his constant, morose silence.
"I will do what I must to keep her safe."
"The wounds will close within a week. But it's her resolve that I worry about. She is no doubt strong. But even I cannot fathom the horrors she endured." replied the alchemist.
"Nae... neither can I. However, she will get through this one way or another." Allen was strong in his belief. She had been through cruelties before, after all. "I suppose we will see you within the week, then?"
See. Hah. He wouldn't see him there, no more than he did now. However... it was something of another sign of his stubbornness renewed to let this rule over him.
"I would be - most honored to tend to your sister, Sir Allen," bowed Icarus. Gaddes groaned inwardly.
Allen arched a brow slightly, but didn't argue. Not now. Not at this moment, no...
But, by God, if he asked for Celena's courtship... then there would be arguments and questions. "Very well. As you have done me well with my injuries, thus I will trust you with hers." Of course, there was that subtle brotherly, protective threat that lingered in his tone.
Gaddes watched Icarus bow again and leave them in the hall. He turned to Allen, who simply stood facing nothing in particular, his eyes never settling and always staring. It was horribly gut wrenching, but Gaddes of course, would make no mention of it.
"Are you alright, boss?" asked Gaddes, "I mean, hell, you're finally out of that haze just when something like this happens . . ."
"Far better than I have been, Gaddes, in a way." The blonde shook his head slightly. "She was in the forest when you found her, yes?" Already his mind was working, forming a plan. Yes... he'd get his revenge alright.
"Yes. . ." answered the soldier carefully.
"Mm... to think we have men like that wandering around in our lands. In my lands."
"Well - they've been neglected for a while now, boss. I mean, ever since you resigned from the . . ." Gaddes had to stop himself before the words came, but he feared it might have been too late.
"Mm, yes, true enough." Allen shrugged slightly, relenting a nod.
Gaddes had to raise an eyebrow at how nonchalantly Allen took the reminder of his resignation - perhaps things really had changed, at the price of the poor man's sister getting tortured.
"Allen," he said, and he hardly ever used the man's first name, "What do you intend to do?"
Allen was silent for a few moments, still... before a small smile began to creep onto his lips. "Surely it's beginning to get dark. Lead me to my rooms, will you?"
Allen's second in command had been there since the beginning of this whole ordeal, even when the rest of his ship's crew were dispatched to other parts of the country. Even Gaddes had to admit that he'd never seen such a clear look of revenge written across the nobleman's gentle features. It was unnerving, really. But being obedient to his friend, he did what was asked of him and led the knight inside his own bedchambers.
"Alright, boss - I think I know where you're getting at. But just in case, I missed it, remind me." All this was said even as Gaddes secured the sword at his own belt.
Allen changed clothes, with Gaddes' aid, into something more... foppish, really. A nobleman's garb. "If he is the predator I think he is, then me, by my lonesome--you will trail me in however manner you wish, but you must stay out of sight--will give him the perfect opportunity. Not only am I a young nobleman, I most certainly look defenseless, mm? And, on top of that, I am blind. What better a target?" Allen smirked slightly, hanging the sword at his back so the long cloak he pulled over his shoulders would hide it.
"Well, it's hard to tell at first glance." said Gaddes honestly, "You might need to use that cane of yours to complete the ruse."
"Oh, I plan on it." Allen nodded slightly. "Very well, shall we go downstairs? I believe it's there."
Gaddes didn't answer, and simply led the knight back downstairs and handed the man his cane. "I don't think he'll suspect a thing." he said with his usual smarmy tone, and the whole plan reminded him of old times back at the fort, ambushing highwaymen who have done too many wrongs too near their posts.
"Good." The only difference between then and now... was that Allen intended on having his own personal vengeance. His own justice. No court, no trial. Nothing.
Their strides were quick across the grass, Allen using the cane as intended and Gaddes hardly bothering to lead - somehow figuring that Allen would just follow the sound of his footsteps. But when they reached the edge of the forests, it was evident, for Allen's cane had caught itself more than once on a bed of roots.
"Are you sure you'll be fine on your own, boss?" he asked for the last time.
Allen shook his head. "I'll be fine. I have my sword and I know these woods well enough. Just remember how it's supposed to play out." Allen nodded slightly to Gaddes, then, carefully, began on his way, the cane leading him.
The highwayman was quickly alerted to the presence of another approaching through the fog. When he saw it was a cloaked man, he didn't bother dousing the light of his campfire. He was on his guard, figuring that this must be the husband of the wench he took earlier.
"Evening." greeted the man.
Allen lifted his head slightly, turning his head sightlessly towards the man, making more of a show of it than usual. "Ah... good evening, sir." Allen inclined his head slightly to him, pausing his walking.
"You lost there?" asked the man, take full note of the cane that extended before this . . . guest. Blind then, was he? The man, wicked and evil as he was, could not help but think how lucky he could be in one day.
"Ah, I might so be. This is the path to town, isn't it?"
The highwayman had to grin, and strained to push it from his voice without much success. He stood from his camp, where he'd been warming himself by the fire.
"'fraid not, sir." he answered, "You've wandered quite far from the path to wind up here. But it's obvious from that cane you hold in front of you. A blind man wandering the roads at night - well - no deficiency there. But quite dangerous if you cannot defend yourself from evils."
Allen looked affronted, startled, and did a rather good show of it, too. "Why... then... I guess I am lost, sir. Would you be so kind as to lead me back?" The blonde frowned slightly, holding out his free hand a bit, reaching for the man, as if looking for his guidance.
The grin that Allen could not see was truly a manifestation of evil and greed. The highwayman took a knife from his belt, silently. He would take this slowly, if he could. The man leered, "What is it worth to a noble gentleman such as yourself?"
"I have money, sir, if you would wish it." Allen offered hopefully, turning his head toward the man's voice. He noted the sound of the metal being unsheathed and set his senses on higher alert, waiting, though seemingly agitated from losing his way.
It seemed too easy that this man would willing give up his coin, and the highwayman had no pity for him, blind as he was. It only made his job easier. His footsteps were slow, and he advanced only a few steps toward the fool he was about to rob and kill.
"Just set it down there on the ground."
Allen knelt, reaching inside his cloak for the money pouch he had, careful to listen to the man's footsteps as he moved forward. Sure of where he was now, Allen pushed off the ground and launched himself towards the man, slamming his shoulder into him hard.
The blonde rolled when he hit the ground, springing to his feet, the trusty rapier in his hand, dragging the tip of the blade lightly across the ground until it nudged the man's neck.
He knew Gaddes had his back in case the man tried anything.
Allen slowly smiled. "I pray you found pleasure in the atrocities you did to my sister."
"Oh," said the man, moving his hand ever so cautiously to where his knife fell in the foliage, "I did, mate. Every second she screamed was a pleasure to these ears."
"Well, it's a good thing, too, isn't it?" He nudged the side of the man's neck with the blade, nicking the skin. "Because I think tonight I'm bound to have a little bit of fun."
This bandit was a tricky fellow, and despite all of his gloating, lies, and wickedness, he moved fast. He rolled out from under Allen's blade, picking up the knife he'd dropped from this noble's attack, and readily impaled it into Allen's thigh.
Now, a wound like that was insanely difficult to ignore. In fact, you had to be a friggin' tank to ignore it.
Or focused completely on being bloodthirsty.
While his leg wouldn't work right at the moment because of it, the burn of sharp pain went pushed aside, and as the man retracted his hand, Allen grabbed it and twisted, slamming his elbow into his arm and hearing the satisfying crack of bone.
"This is what you get for being a fool of a man. I feel no pity for you, for you showed none to by sister when you wrenched her pride from her."
The cane was turned in his hands, gripped tightly and yanked back against the man's neck, the pressure hard enough to discourage, but not to strangle. Not yet. The blonde pressed his weight forward until the man was down again, Allen on his knees behind him.
The cane aside, Allen trailed his hands up the grizzled neck to the other's temples, grasped his head tightly and proceeded to viciously, primitively slam his head into the ground, the blonde's shoulder's heaving with the effort.
More than simply the fact that he had raped his sister... Allen continued to beat the man's head into the ground with a fury borne of his own frustrations. Losing his knighthood, his sight, how much he had hurt his sister... it all formed together in one raging ball of angered heat.
And the poor man beneath his hands was his victim. Allen wasn't the strongest man in the world, but neither was he the weakest. He ignored the smatters of blood against his hands, even as they were slick with it, angered, frustrated cries slipping from his lips each time the man's head collided with the hard ground beneath.
For once, Allen let himself go. He didn't care what it might have looked like, how savage it may have seemed.
He'd forgotten Gaddes' presence nearby. All that mattered was the stilling man beneath him.
Gaddes saw the scene take place before him, and he was wide-eyed and stricken with horror. He'd had his sword drawn, but now with what he saw, the blade dropped to the ground and he rushed to Allen, pulling him off of the fallen bandit - or trying to.
The soldier grabbed Allen's shoulders firmly, and wrenched him free from the corpse beneath him.
"He's dead, boss." said Gaddes breathlessly, "You did it. You killed him. Holy Jechia, you killed the guy."
Allen's breath came heavy from the onslaught of his emotions, the rush of them, as well as the exertion from, well... beating the man to death. He'd never killed someone like that before. The blonde winced as the wound in his thigh pulled and his bloody hands found the dagger. Best to leave it in until they get back where they could take care of it.
"He's dead," he murmured softly, a little wonderingly. It had been so simple... too simple for a man of such evil.
The fine coat and shirt were splattered with blood, just as his hands and cheeks were.
Gaddes went to pick up their fallen blades, sheathing own and handing the hilt to Allen, who at first didn't know it was being offered to him. "Your sword, sir." he said.
Allen lifted his head slightly, grasping the hilt in a blood slick hand and sliding it into the sheath. He grabbed Gaddes' hand and pulled himself to his feet, wincing again.
Gaddes let out a deep, anxious breath. His commander, for he will always be as such to him, looked a ragged, bloody mess. It was unnerving, how bloodied he'd gotten himself with one man's death. The look of rage upon his face was one that Gaddes won't soon forget. He took Allen's arm across his shoulders, leading him away from the mess.
"What should we do with him?" he asked softly.
"I... I don't know," he murmured softly, shaking his head. He could feel the blood beginning to dry, but he didn't bother with it.
When they returned home, the servants they ran upon stared in horror, knowing full well that if he was moving that well, then that blood most definitely wasn't his.
"Just... I hope she doesn't see," he whispered softly. Celena shouldn't have to see such a thing, not him like that.
"Don't worry, boss. We'll get you cleaned up before she ever sees you." Gaddes assured the man quietly. There were orders sent for a bath to be drawn, and Allen stayed in the bathing room very nearly the rest of the night. The soldier, of course, tactfully waited outside. It was like a ghost had claimed him in place of his friend, seeing him emerge from the room clean and pale.
"Did you need me for anything else, Allen?" he asked kindly.
"The healer, boy... I can hardly walk with this damnable wound." Allen hissed softly as he moved, guided by the wall. "And tell Celena, if she wonders at any time while I was gone, that I was on a walk. And I'll simply pray she doesn't find out about the wound."
"Right, the healer." Gaddes stood, guiding the fallen knight back to his room. "Maybe you should rest for a while, boss. I can take care of the wound until we can find a healer tomorrow. I don't know if you knew this but - it's a bit late at night right now."
"Ah, is it? No, I hadn't known. Very well..." Allen eased himself onto the bed with a soft sigh, nodding to Gaddes. "I trust your hands with my wounds. It won't have been the first time, after all."
Gaddes started to reply, but stopped and remained silent. There were left over linen bandages from when Allen was injured by the riots, and the soldier gathered those and some iodine. "It's deep but it's clean." he said, examining the wound from beneath Allen's bed robes, and he immediately began applying the iodine.
Allen let him take care of the wounds, forcing the quivers out of his hands. Looking back on what had happened, he was startled by his viciousness, his bloodthirsty manners.
"Let us simply hope that there's no infection or anything later, mm?"
"Well, we sure don't want a one legged blind man hopping around." Gaddes quipped, though his humor was short lived. He dressed Allen's wound just as he promised he would.
Allen smirked a little, shaking his head. "Would you check on her since I obviously cannot...?"
"Of course." said Gaddes, and with Allen's thanks, he left. He wasn't gone very long, Celena's room being just down the hall from Allen's. Gaddes came back to Allen's bedside. "She was asleep just a second ago, before I popped my head in there to check on her like you said. But she's asking for you now."
"Ah? Alright, then..." Allen sighed softly, nodding. He stood, careful not to put more weight than he had to on his leg, using the wall to guide him to her door. "Gaddes... you know how much I appreciate all of your help," he murmured to his friend, clasping the other's shoulder tightly before he turned, sliding inside. "Celena...? What is it?"
"I had a bad dream." Celena admitted readily, quietly. She couldn't watch her brother, as all the lights were turned down in her room and the curtains were drawn that would not let in the moonlight.
Allen shifted to her bedside, drawing the curtains aside after a moment of grasping for it. He sat down on the edge of the bed, sighing a little, opening his arms. "Come to me... come here... it was just a dream."
She went to him, lifting herself carefully so that she may embrace him. Something inside of her nagged and tugged at her heart when she did it, when she let him hold her. The strength of his arms frightened her and she tensed, but he was her brother. She forced herself to relax, trying to convince herself that she would be safe within his touch.
"I will never love anyone so fully," she whispered, "I could never love anyone above you. I might have been wicked as a child. But even then, you were always like a prince to me."
"Don't say that, Celena... you were never wicked. You deserve only he who would never hurt you. No man is worthy of your love, though I take it with the utmost gratitude and I return it tenfold." He hugged his sister tight, though still gently, the damp warmth of his body, still slightly wet from his recent bathing, was comfortable, meant to be soothing. "He won't harm you again, Celena... no one will, I promise. I'll always be your knight..."
"Always?" she asked breathlessly.
"Always and forever, I promise..."
As he spoke, she began to move her head, where it was nuzzling into the curve of his neck and her cheek rubbed against his own. He smelled of rosewater, clean and refreshing. His hair was damp against her nose. Slowly, so slowly, she moved and nuzzled - her nose brushing with his and her breath trembling.
Allen blinked slightly at the intimacy of the movements, but he didn't pull away, his heart beating quickly in his narrow chest. She smelled finely, as she always did, her closeness made him feel easy and comforted, warm.
It was dark in her room, and her body still ached from the violation - but here before her was the only tangible thing that made it bearable, that made her forget her pain and sorrow. And in the dark, she could not see his face, knowing who it was she was giving affection to. She could not see his eyes as they stared in their personal darkness.
Her breath was still trembling, her lips parted slightly and moistened. "Then am I a princess?" she whispered.
"You are more. You are a queen," he murmured softly, his breath a warm puff against her flesh so close. He would do anything for her, to save her. Anything at all that she asked. He was her knight, as he had pledged.
"Then kiss me. . ." she pleaded softly, so sadly. It did not take sight to be able to tell that her face must be twisted in sorrow and pain.
The request should have startled him. It should have repulsed him. He should have hesitated.
But what she asked for was what he did. Slowly, he closed the slight distance between them, brushing his lips tenderly against hers, his arms still comfortingly around her. These movements he had made many times before with many other men and women, but with her, it was different...
Hot trails flowed down her cheeks, she moaned as if in physical pain - and in a way it was physical. Her heart suddenly ached, but it was mixed feelings. Confusion wracked her mind and plagued her, but love filled her heart. She knew who it was that she was kissing, had never touched these lips with her own, and yet they felt so familiar to her . . . they fit her own.
She whimpered and pressed herself further into the forbidden kiss, her head cocked so that their noses just barely touched and snoodled. He was so delightfully warm, her breasts pressed against his chest in their embrace, and she never lifted from the kiss to take breath until she felt she truly had no choice.
Allen drew his soft lips faintly away from hers, though close enough he could still feel her hot breaths. His body became suddenly aware of her closeness, the warmth that emanated from her... and how right it felt. They fit together perfectly, the two of them, as if they were made for one another.
The gentle hand at her waist was one that had lovingly cupped her cheek or patted her hair, grasped her own and led her around excitedly. That, too, seemed to fit.
"I don't want a husband," Celena cried softly, licking her lips and taking shaky breaths. "I don't want one when I have you, Allen. I don't ever want to leave you for another man."
"No one would be worthy," he murmured, shaking his head slightly. He held his sister on such a high pedestal... no one could ever be even with her. No one.
"Stay with me, Allen." She pleaded, embracing him again, "Do not go back to your rooms. Stay in my bed tonight."
"I'll protect you," he whispered against her cheek, nodding slightly, tightening his hold on her slightly, protectively.
"Kiss me again, so that I may know you are real." she said.
"As you ask," was the softly murmured reply as he leaned in to softly brush his lips against hers. Again, the actions were familiar, but different. They meant more.
That night, all they did was hold each other.