Darkness in the Twilight
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
By Psycho Ferret and LunarCrystal
Second Fall of Fort Castelo
Like they had done so many years before, the sick and wounded were moved to the underground level of the fort. Many still writhed on the floors of the apothecary and many more were being carried in, severely maimed, mutilated, or dying to beyond the call of aid. Basram had attacked with such swiftness - especially after learning that Asturia now had their secret of gunpowder.
Parts of the fort had already collapsed, the only safety being in that the hangar was still left unblocked and in direct access of the wounded in the apothecary. The underground level, was of course, the safest place to harbor the Schezar child - the only place, really. The moment Basram struck with their cannons, Allen had rushed to get his daughter out of the barracks. He stole her from her bed and flew downstairs to place her in Melzin's safe keeping. But she wouldn't let go.
Allen insisted, looking over at Melzin imploringly. He had to go, he had to fight. "Princess, I have to go out there! They need me! Melzin will take good care of you, just... just like he is Hans." He didn't know about the soldier's state, but he didn't care at the moment. He couldn't leave his soldiers alone up there. He had to be there.
The Basram soldier jerked awake. The cannon fire, he knew it so well. The pull in his side made him groan weakly, his eyes barely open. But... this wasn't his encampment. This wasn't anything familiar...
"No, no!" she said loudly, clinging to his neck, locking her arms around him. "No, the pirates'll get you! They'll get like Hans! And then you'll go away like Mother! Please don't leave me, father!!" Melzin could only give the distraught father a look of sympathy. He had a duty to uphold, true enough. But he risks his life for his daughter, and she's already without one parent. But the healer said nothing.
Gently, he nudged the little girl away from her father, and she immediately started asking for Basram soldier. It was Melzin's turn to look imploringly toward her father.
Allen sighed softly, looking over at Hans. That man wouldn't be doing anyone any harm at the moment. Allen nodded to Melzin, his approval. He trusted the healer...
"Ah... I'll have Ethan brought to you later. He... well, he might be in need of some of you attentions. He was taken by Basram when she was." Allen pursed his lips, as if to consider saying more, but he didn't. He was sure Melzin could figure it out from there. "I'll come back, Princess, I promise," he murmured softly, turning and stalking calmly out/
"Hans, Hans," she cried into the healer's shoulder, "Where is Hans?" And Melzin brought her over to the Basram soldier, trusting his instincts and gently laying her next to him on the table. She was so little that she fit perfectly right along side the fair haired soldier. He made sure to put her on the uninjured side, and the moment her hands met his skin, she felt along his chest and up to his face - she gave him kisses like she had before, recalling once a story about a prince who needed a princess' kiss to wake him from eternal slumber.
"Hans," she whispered, her voice so small and innocent, "Hans."
The young soldier's eyes flickered open slightly, faintly responsive. He was a little paler than he should have been, but that was to be expected. At least the flow of blood had stopped. "K-katzchen," he murmured softly, the accent thicker with his weakness. He didn't move to stroke her hair, but now... now he knew where he was... and just why he could hear the roar of the cannons.
"You *are* a prince," she declared brokenly through her tears, letting her nose come to rest at the soldier's cheek and rubbing fondly against his pale skin. She sniffed and finally managed to say, "We're being attacked by pirates. The pirates got you, but you're okay now."
Pirates... what pirates? They were the men who had saved her, her father's men... but he didn't say anything about it. Let her thoughts of it be disillusioned, let her believe her father never hurt anyone. She would be better off that way. She was lucky that she couldn't see...
~
The battle was horridly underestimated. Where the fort only had guymelefs and now hand made bombs to throw at the masses of Basram soldiers, Basram had brought in several small airships - each of them holding explosives that could have easily leveled the whole swamp. But Asturia hadn't seen their destruction yet. The cannon fire was immense this time. And entire line of guns that took out most of the eastern wall with one round.
The next round took out the barracks. And on top of everything, hordes of footsoldiers with rifles and five steady guymelefs bearing the Basramese seal were keeping the Asturian forces at bay. It was intensely unfair, and it wasn't before long that the western wing of the fort had collapsed as well under the heavy fire of cannons.
Fear rose. Allen, even in Scherezade, couldn't keep them at bay for much longer. Likely the other forts along the border were being attacked, no aid would come from them. They didn't ahve enough power, enough skill...The blonde knight gritted his teeth tightly. They had to find some weakness. They had to have some kind of advantage over them somehow. But what, Allen had no idea. And if they didn't figure it out soon, Asturia would likely be crushed.
While Allen was in Scherezade, Gaddes was leading troops on foot. But they didn't stand a chance. He had seen how quickly the first wave of his men were shot down, and hastily tried to make them seek cover behind barricades. Katz and Teo had been there, and both were mortally shot with the lead bullets from Basram rifles. Gaddes dragged them along the crowd in their retreat, but it had already been too late.
A shout came from the footsoldier's with rifles, just as Gaddes was running for cover. He was hit. The cold earth was hard when he fell to it, his back pierced by at least three bullets.
Allen didn't have time to worry, he couldn't. Locked in a battle with the enemy's guymelefs, he could do nothing but fend off their attacks. "We're going to lose," he murmured softly to himself, gritting his teeth. How could they possibly win? How could they possibly, ever beat such heavy forces?
"Damn it," he growled, taking down one ot the melefs, turning to the next. Already he was growing weary. He couldn't keep it up much longer at all. Not at all...
Gaddes was dragged by his comrades, much in the way he had dragged the late Teo only to die behind makeshift shields. It was Kio who grabbing him. Gaddes, on his stomach and bleeding from his wounds, could hardly speak, but choked out orders to his crew, "Send Riden . . . Crusade . . . Signal to Allen. Do it!"
Riden had heard, so Kio did not need to relay the message. Being the fastest, most agile of all of them, Riden ran full tilt to the underground cave that held their escape. Kio ordered Pyle to gather the injured from the apothecary and start moving them to the airship. Meanwhile, Oruto cheekily chucked a knife to Scherezade, implanting it just low enough so that he could get his commander's attention. He would be able to see well enough his own soldiers retreated toward the back of the fort.
Allen turned his gaze shortly enough to catch the sight of the others leaving and he made note to fall back as soon as he could. They'd go on ahead, he'd go after them. Three on one... he didn't like the odds at all.
Later, when he dust would settle for the moment and fighting would stop, the lieutenant would not be among the counted Basram dead, the news relayed to his father, the general.
And all along, the Asturians were oblivious to just who they had in their grasp. But for now, Allen had his work cut out for him, his focus remaining on the melefs he fought now. He would prove a distraction long enough for them to get away all over again. It was a replay of before... only this time, they didn't have Escaflowne to save them.
Allen didn't notice the bruises and scrapes from being jolted about within the melef, smacking his head back against the metal again. Though it was far less severe this time, it made him dizzy for a moment. He moved just barely in time to avoid getting impaled. He had to stall them longer, he had to make sure everyone got out.
~
Pyle was dashing about madly. Two of his comrades were dead, many more were wounded, and he needed to move these poor soldiers down below, passed the hangars and into the caves. The soldier's who could still walk helped those that couldn't. And he had to help many of them to their feet. "Quick! Go to the caves," he kept shouting at him.
Melzin was hastily filling a bag full of medicines, herbs, and tinctures so he could treat the wounded on the ship. Pyle finally came to Angelina and Hans. The little girl was frantic, but she refused to let go of her prince, despite how she was nearly pried from him. "Hey, Basram! You need to stand up." Yelled Pyle, rather unkindly, to the soldier, "We're evacuating."
Hans was awake enough to just barely register the words. Evacuating. Another hard shake of the ground nearly knocked him off the table and he groaned, lightly colored hair spilling against it. With effort, the man pushed himself weakly up. "Katzchen," he murmured softly, fondly to the girl, "you have to go..."
Angelina argued loudly, still clinging to another object of her affections - her father gone, and now she must leave Hans too, "No! No, you're coming with me!" she said, hugging his neck fiercely. Pyle pried her off and she was set off screaming and kicking, blindly reaching out as she was pulled away from her love.
Melzin felt horribly heart broken, looking at the man on the table, and the girl he stared after as she was ungracefully carried by her middle and out the door. The old healer went to soldier - they were last ones left. His pack was secure on his back, full of tonics and elixers to heal the wounded and ease their pain. He sidled up next to Hans, and took his arm without so much as a warning, forcing him to stumble along toward the hangar.
"I won't have you die," he said, "It's not my job."
"I am... Basram," he murmured weakly, looking at him, "why...?" He couldn't understand why he'd help him. They were the ones that started this whole mess, they were the ones that snatched the girl, they were the ones that attacked. And yet... he had been brought back here and cared for... and this man was refusing to leave him behind.
Hans looked terribly lost and confused. His father would have never had such a heart.
"No talking now." said the healer, forcing him alongside of him as they made their way passed the hangar and into the must caves. The air quickly became thick with moisture. Underground rivers, and the currents above the surface that leaked through the ground at the same time. The waterfall at the end of the tunnel could be heard, dripping prominent from the cave ceilings. Angelina's desperate cries were still echoing among the limestone.
It seemed a difficult task to reach the docked airship, floating steadily in the chasm. They boarded, and the Basram soldier was quickly put to rest with the rest of the wounded.
Hans felt sorely out of place here, among Asturian soldiers. And he knew they disliked him being there, but he hadn't had the strength to argue with the healer... nor the drive to.
~
It seemed like forever before the heavy weight of Scherezade fell onto the back of the Crusade, and even longer before the blonde slipped inside. Three were missing. And one of them...
"Gaddes," Allen whimpered softly, fright fluttering in his chest as he turned, his fast strides taking him to the healer's. The door was shoved open and Allen quickly located Melzin, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Where is he...?" If he wasn't there, then... Allen pushed the rest of that thought aside. He couldn't think like that, not at all.
Melzin solemnly motioned over to Gaddes. The solder was already treated, laid on his side, the bullets painfully removed from his back and one from his spine. But the good news was he wasn't bleeding anymore. He simply lay there, hardly able to breathe but strength enough to open his eyes and see Allen.
"Allen . . ." he cried weakly, trying to get up to meet his lover - but his body was simply too tired to response. Only his arm moved, reaching to him.
Allen padded over to him, worried, grasping his hand. "Don't be stubborn, idiot," he admonished fondly, looking at him. "Just... let me take care of you for once. It's... always the other way around." Allen felt his heart wrench, reaching up with one shaking head to wipe away his tears. He didn't care that others were in the room. Just...
"I... was afraid you were still out there when I didn't see you on the bridge..."
Weakly, he just shook his head, already sensing something wrong with his body, but spoke nothing of it. "Nah . . ." he coughed, "I'm fine, see? The boys brought me . . . Katz and Teo didn't make it." He looked sorrowful for a moment, resting his head on his arm. "But I'm still alive and kicking."
Allen put his arms around his lover, bowing his head against the man's shoulder. "You'll be okay... I love you," he whispered softly, kissing his temple in a tender movement. If Gaddes had fallen, he wouldn't have known what he'd have done. He couldn't have made it through losing Gaddes and Celena both, not so close... not ever.
He closed his eyes to the kiss, not even having the strength to throw caution to the wind - it was already gone and he didn't care who saw. He loved him, that's all that mattered. They loved each other and there wasn't anything anyone could do a damn thing about it. "I love you too," he whispered fondly, only for Allen's ears.
The agony suddenly gripped him, and he let out a clenched cry of pain from his constricted throat, cursing loudly. His hand was tightened around Allen's, and the knight's presence made it bearable enough to deal with for now. He thanked him silently for that.
Allen almost whimpered, putting his arms protectively around Gaddes, holding him as if he could protect him from the pain. He wanted to... he wanted to ease his pain as he had done for him so many times before. "It's okay, Gaddes, it's okay... I'm here... I promise, I'll be here. Always. When you need me, I'll always be here for you..."
"I believe you," he swallowed, managing to quirk a grin even through his pain. "I know . . . Allen, go find Angelina. I've been worried about her since the cannons hit the fort. I know she was safe, but . . . please go make sure for me. For us?" he pleaded.
Allen seemed afraid to let Gaddes go for a moment. He sighed, brushing his lips against the other's, then stood, fingering some of the dark hair for a moment before he looked around for Hans. And just as he suspected, there she was, curled up close to the soldier who had, once more, fallen unconscious.
Riden ran in, having been the last one to receive the news of his commander coming back. The little soldier was Allen's elder by a year or two, but that didn't stop him from giving him an intense hug about the waist. "Boss! I'm so glad you made it!" He would have bounced Allen on his feet had the younger man not been so much taller than he was.
Allen blinked a bit, then smiled, returning the hug fondly. "I'm glad to see you're alright, Riden... I was worried about all of you, I wasn't sure if I could buy enough time." The blonde looked at the older man fondly, reaching up to wipe at his tears with the back of his hand. He'd been thinking about Gaddes, about the fear he'd felt.. but he'd be fine. Gaddes always came out fine.
~
The Crusade was not a large ship, but it was definitely not the smallest among the Asturian populace, or its army. It's just that most of Asturia's ships were merchant vessels, the very country being a pacifistic trade country, thriving on its ports and merchant economy. Not really known for technology.
The ship glided along a ravine that was many miles from the waterfall and the Fort Castelo they had called home for so long. It would take Basram to spare one of their smaller bomb holding skiffs to follow them - but they didn't. For now, they were safe, but their home was destroyed, for all anyone knew. And what few soldiers survived were quickly fading.
Angelina never left Hans side, and no one could possibly understand her attachment to the soldier. They could only think it was part of the common syndrome of kidnappee falling in love with their kidnapper. But she slept peacefully as long as her silver head lay upon the crook of the young man's arm. Gaddes was not so lucky in slumber. The pain in his back and the strangeness of the numbness below his belt was almost overwhelming. He had been moved to Allen's quarters, to lay upon the bed there.
Allen had, when he'd finally gotten to sleep, lay down beside Gaddes, a careful arm around him. He was always at Gaddes' side when he could manage it. He didn't want Gaddes any more uncomfortable than he could help. He was curled up, his head resting against his shoulder, but not on it, careful not to put pressure on the man's injuries, or his injured back.
Hans slept, for the most part, easily, though it wasn't of his own choosing. Constantly enough he'd wake, his disorientation clear in the way he looked about. And then again after a few moments, he'd slip back into unconsciousness. But he would live.
Ethan had finally been convinced by Kio--whom he'd been frightful to let go when the battle had started and had clung back to him when he came to retrieve him--to at least see his brother. It was late when he shuffled numbly into the room his brother was staying. He still hadn't gone to see Melzin, though he knew he probably should have. He stared, shaking, at his slumbering brother for a long moment before he walked over to the bed, the pants and shirt one of Allen's, Up close, he looked at his brother again, feeling that sharp twang of unworthiness. He had been spoiled, dirty... he didn't deserve to see Chris like this, to do as Kio had instructed him to do and spend time with his brother.
Still shaking, frightened, Ethan slipped under the covers behind Chris, curling up on his side and burying his head in the other man's shoulder. Chris was warm, familiar, the scent that clung to him, Ethan knew, had known, since he was a child.
Chris had not entirely been asleep. He'd heard the door open, knew who it was, and kept his eyes closed. That familiar warmth coming so close to him, all Chris could do was snake his arm around his brother's waist, tenderly and protectively, and hold him close. He was his little brother, and he loved him so no matter what sort of bickering and arguing would take place between them.
Ethan quivered slightly, especially at his brother's touch, but he steeled himself and didn't pull away. Instead, he ducked his head against his brother's embrace, his eyes closing, though he was too scared to go to sleep. The soreness in his body had not yet eased, especially since he hadn't seen the healer. but he paid little mind to it. Ethan recalled that his brother had said he'd loved him... and he felt like laughing. He loved Chris so much... but he couldn't possibly know or accept just how much. It was wrong...
Allen and Celena had reasons... but Ethan had lived with his siblings his entire life. He knew them as his siblings.
At the same time, Gaddes had moments when he would writhe in the pain from his back. He knew it had shattered, could feel it. Melzin had done all he could to patch him together, but it wasn't much use. All he had left to do was heal, and endure the pain that wracked his spine. He would sweat, forcing his head back onto the pillow, eyes screwed shut and teeth clenched. His muscles burned and tightened, and his fists would ball up. He breathed heavy breaths through his nose, gulping as he tried to moisten his mouth. A growl was emitted from his throat. Gods, the pain. . . he never would have imagined such pain in his life.
Allen bit down on his bottom lip when he was awakened by his lover's pain. Almost empathetic, really. He'd nestle close to him, stroking his hair gently, hurt that he could do nothing to ease the pain for him. He felt helpless... and he was sure Gaddes had felt the same on several accounts with him. "You'll be okay," he whispered softly, staying strong for Gaddes. Idly, he stroked the older man's stubbly cheek, speaking of pleasant things to try and distract him.
"You know . . ." said the sergeant brokenly, choked by his own agony for a moment before it finally eased a bit and he was able to relax. He panted, gulping again, "I - I always liked your house back in Palas."
"We'll go there. You and I and Angelina, we'll go there and have our family. I love you, I'll be with you always." Allen brushed his lips against his lover's cheek, looking sorrowfully at him. "You don't deserve this pain, but I'll help you through it just like you've always helped me."
"I know you will." he said, his tone heavy with sorrow. Something was wrong. He would have gladly spent the rest of his natural life with the young man, his golden knight - but how happy will they be now? It made him wonder just how badly things would be from then on, but he couldn't say anything on it. He only leaned into Allen's kisses, knowing he was loved - there was no one else he could possibly want to spend the rest of his life with. "Gods, how did I ever fall in love with a fop like you?" grinned the sergeant, a weak smirk on his lips.
Allen smiled softly at him, idly running his fingers through the man's hair with gentle motions. He'd pushed his gloves aside for now, and the silken feel of his dark tresses was nice to feel. "I wouldn't know. But I have to ask myself the same question. And how did I let myself fall in love with a ruffian like you hm?" Again, he brushed a tender kiss against Gaddes' cheek, looking at him.
Another wave of pain hit him, and once more his face contorted in that frightening look of agony, the cry from his throat desperately quelled to no avail. Gods, how was he going to get through this. Every few seconds, it almost became too much to bear.
Allen's heart wrench, his stomach twisting every time his friend and lover felt the pain. The blonde looked at him worriedly, stroking his hair gently. "My poor Gaddes," he whispered softly, resting his forehead against the man's shoulder. "My poor, sweet Gaddes..."
Gaddes coughed, wincing with every painful spasm that constricted his lungs. But again, after very long, agonizing moments, it passed. His skin was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, but even through all his pain, he managed to reach across his chest to touch Allen's golden hair. "Don't - don't you worry about me. I'll be just fine."
Allen, brushed his fingers through the other's hair, shaking his head slightly. "Let me worry over you... I'll do it anyway." Allen smiled softly, almost sadly. It hurt to see Gaddes in such a state and, obviously, worried him as well.
Weakly, the sergeant nodded, trying to sleep but he knew it would not come. So he settled back as much as his aching body would allow the comfort, content in Allen's presence and worry. He was so good to him, thought Gaddes. He only wished that he could be that good to Allen in return. So his arm managed to come around Allen's narrow waist, and loosely held him there.
Allen would have immediately said that Gaddes had done far more for him than he could ever repay, but he didn't know the older man's thoughts. With a soft sigh, his head resting lightly against Gaddes' shoulder, he smiled at his closeness and let himself relax.
~
The Asturian frigate Crusade was floating down low to the ravine, where the river rushed just underneath and where they were able to draw the water when they needed it. It had been a few days now since the Fort was destroyed, and the soldiers from the monstrous battle were still recovering. Sadly, however, several died. Only a few remained, and of those, many were maimed or disfigured. One soldier had his arm torn clean off by a cannon ball. Others were shot by the rifles, in their legs and bodies - and couldn't understand why some extremities didn't work as well as they did before. Nightmarish didn't even begin to describe what the slaughter at Fort Castelo had caused.
Angelina had hardly moved from Hans' side - except those times when she got really hungry or had to go to the chamber pot. Her father was mostly occupied with taking care of Uncle Gaddes, and so she was mostly left in Melzin's charge. Hans was finally able to wake up a little more, and she was glad for it. She had managed to steal some dried steak strips, sweetly seasoned, from the supplies after much cajoling with Riden. Now she squatted in front of Hans and held it up to his nose.
"I got you some food." she said.
Hans still slipped in and out of unconsciousness, but he could focus a little more, actually hold some small bit of conversation. He hadn't seen the blonde commander everyone spoke of, the man Angelina spoke of so fondly. But he hadn't tossed him out of the ship, so he figured the man had some heart somewhere within him.
At the scent of the meat, he jerked a little, flickering his eyes halfway open. Bloodied, dirtied hands had been washed, along with the rest of his body, by Melzin a bit ago, when he'd had the time to be able to check the extensive wound. He would forever have a scar there, at the least. The blonde man weakly took the dried meat into his hands, chewing quietly at the tough strips. He didn't speak much, especially after noticing the distinctly angry glares he got from those soldiers awakened around him.
The little girl hugged him then, as he chewed. She had her toy bear back, so she would take very good care of him. Like a pet - only much bigger and warmer. She liked him.
"Are you still sick, Hans?" she asked of the soldier.
Hans coughed a little, as if on cue, biting back a groan as it tugged at his wound. "Ja, katzchen," he murmured softly, "but you shouldn't worry over me." His words were still clipped with that thick accent, sometimes struggling over the Asturian wording.
"Io ti voglio bene," Angelina said to him, scooting up, her hands finding his face and she kissed his cheek fondly. "You need to get better so that we can play again."
"Ach, katzchen, as you say." He nodded faintly. He was still overly surprised he wasn't dead. For one because of the injury... and now because he was in the middle of a group of rather... angry Asturian soldiers.
Hans was not very hardened from his life as a soldier. He'd been one for at least 3 years and he had seen skirmishes and fought, killed men. He'd sustained injuries, but nothing like this one. Nothing that hurt, that burned so much.
"Why is she so fond of a monster like you," growled one soldier, the one with the missing arm. His whole upper body was exposed save for the enormous amounts of bandages that covered his front and all of his left side where, clearly, an arm should have lain. His head was bandaged as well, and they all looked freshly dressed.
Hans turned his gaze to look at him. He had known what their weaponry would do... but to see it so close, first hand, without adrenaline pumping. He felt his stomach lurch and he glanced away, biting down on his bottom lip gently. He didn't answer... what could he say? It wouldn't matter in the end.
The soldier was angry, that much was certain - but even he, with all his pain and anger, would not strike out at the Basramese man with their princess present. She was that precious to them, and just seeing her alive and well - though doting on man worthy of a criminal - was enough for them. Just her being there made them happy enough to continue on.
"She is our princess," said the one-armed soldier bitterly, "I wonder if a heartless bastard like you would even know what an honor and privilege it is that she cares for you."
"Die Katzchen ist kein princess," he murmured softly, tipping his head back against the pillows, closing his eyes again. "aber... ein goddess." It was she, really, who had saved him. It was her who insisted on his being brought back.
It was all her. And even if he faced charges here in Asturia for being who he was--of which no one actually knew--he wouldn't question them.