A Very Riviera Christmas
DISCLAIMER: Don't own Riviera, but my CG collection and voice clips are -almost- full. I'm just missing the Cierra ending stuff. :3 Oh yeah, and though Thalia the Tiger gave me some ideas for that lemon scene last chapter, it still belongs ENTIRELY to me. (laughs evilly)
Author's Note: Hi guys, me again! XD XD Well then, how'd you like the promised scene? The last chapter was fourteen pages long in all, and the lemon took up the last five. XD Hehehehehe. Yes, I am possibly the world's biggest pervert, but that was important to the story, or I wouldn't have included it. I'd just have put up some separate lemon thing, although I would've had to construct some sort of plot around it. Plotless lemons that are just basically scenes of characters having sex with little to no explanation irk me. :x Bleh. Anyway, I really want to know how I did. There were a few minor redundancies and things, but I'm too lazy to go back and fix 'em unless they really bothered my readers, and besides, I really do want your input as to what you think worked and what you think didn't. However, you will still be kind, because otherwise I will sic Envy on you.
Envy: Meh?
Me: Yes, I will. And knowing Envy, he'll probably have Lust or Wrath or somebody tagging along with him, and they will absolutely p0wn your lame 4ss. So there, nyeh. I worked hard on that chapter! It's important, and it helps define the bounds of Ein and Ledah's relationship, and, and... okay, dammit, it was just plain fun to write and I hope it's making the rabid fangirls happy! So I wanna hear what you think!
I've also been working hard on my Riviera game; I've finished both the Fia and Serene endings while writing the past few chapters. The first time I fought Malice, I beat her with Rose. XD (If you don't know how to get the Rose attack--FYI, you need the Fire Emblem for Ein; instead of another Katon-no-jutsu attack, he learns a technique to summon Rose as a level-3 OS. There are two Ein voice clips for it, if you're trying to complete your voice collection. And if you win the battle with it, you get to hear the third of Rose's elusive quotes: "You're such a slave-driver." :D cute!) It was fun, but the end of Riviera always leaves me depressed... it's largely because the music they play ("Time Has Passed") is the same clip that's used during the scene where Ledah dies, which gives the end a somewhat melancholy feel that doesn't quite fit the cute, happy tone of the scenes with the girls. I need a hug... XP that stupid Yggdrasil scene always makes me cry. (kicks Sting)
Anyway, we've only got this chapter and the epilogue left in the story, unless the little curveball I'm throwing here decides to draw stuff out longer. No, there will not be any more lemons, nor will there be uber-limey things. Yes there will probably be at least one more sex scene, but as it's not quite as important, it won't be nearly as graphic and will be far, far shorter. XP Don't like it, oh well.
One of the more hidden sides to Ledah will be exposed in this chapter; readers may not have noticed too much change in him because he usually does keep his slightly apathic defenses up. However, on the inside, he's actually quite different--and you will see how easy it now is to win his sympathies, even if you're one of the more unlikely people to do so.
Going more into that--friend and fellow author Thalia and I have come to the conclusion that whatever it is that an angel has to give up to achieve Grim Angel status is emblematic of the person they are. Think about it--when not angsting about his duties, Ein is a really carefree and happy spirit; the wings he lost were sort of a symbol of his former lifestyle. Malice (who did sacrifice her future, in her own way), went into the Grim Angel trial with her past in shreds and her life a ruin--the hope that things would be better was probably all that carried her forward. And our cold and uncaring Ledah, therefore, was most likely a complete and total sweetheart--loving, accepting, and far more in touch with his own emotions than most guys usually get. He's still quiet and passive, but you'll see what I mean about the bleeding-heart bit soon enough...
Once again, if you're enjoying this fic, go check out my others, "Diary" and "Adieu". :3 I worked hard on them, too, and they're also good. I'm especially proud of the sweet, angsty way "Adieu" turned out... and besides, it's the only fic out there that DOES have official information on parts of the Grim Angel trial. So there.
Readers familiar with some of my other works probably looked at the description of Ledah's tragic love life prior to meeting Ein and went "wow, no history of rape? I'm shocked", knowing my reputation. XP Feh. There is a reason for that--Ledah's personality type is completely wrong for that kind of thing. For me to have made a character a rape victim (which I have done to quite a few... -sweatdrop-) they need to have either the helpless, childish innocence and naïveté that would make them become tragic, shy, and introverted and develop the tendency to blame themselves, or a prickly side and the fear and need to cover it up or protect themselves that would give them a cold, cruel, and sadistic outer shell. While Ledah is sweet, quiet, and generally fairly submissive about sex, he also has the kind of maturity that would either help him overcome that kind of trauma largely on his own or lock him so deeply into the cycle of pain and guilt that Ein wouldn't have been able to reach him. He's gone through pain, but it's a different kind of pain (having been used by someone he loved, the trauma of having his heart ripped out) that's actually conducive to his relationship with Ein :3. I spend a lot of time thinking about this, you know. I needed him to become dependent without being too clingy or OOC.
Besides, if there was really any one character in Riviera who was likely to have had a history of sexual abuse, I'd say it'd be Malice, for the reasons described above. So, there ya go.
And a side note on the "spiritual heart" thing--I'm going on the principle used in a number of works (including Kingdom Hearts) that a living being has four central parts: the body, the mind, the heart, and the soul. The body is the exterior, with the greatest contact with the outside world; the mind is the center of thought and decision; the heart is the source of emotion, intuition, and instinct; and the soul is the part on the inside, which is what's really you. The heart (located at about the same area as the heart muscle that directs the circulatory system) is often inextricably tied to the soul; if someone loses their heart entirely, then their soul often fades out of existence or enters a sort of coma-like state. Ledah's heart was extensively damaged rather than destroyed; but because emotion is such a huge part of it, his emotional capabilities couldn't be effectively "removed" without other parts of his heart undergoing damage as well, including the instinctive ability to tell right from wrong (which may be why it was so easy for him to be manipulated by Hector). Most of this is conjecture, but once again, Thalia and I have allowed the theory to bounce off each other, and it seems to work, so I adopted the idea for the fanfic.
Okkkk, I think I'd better say it right now: The use of feathers as an aphrodesiac was not my idea. Thalia actually came up with it, surprisingly, although she's dead-set against Ledah/Ein. Long story there... mostly an insane late-night discussion during a sleepover when she was very very tired and so susceptible to my incessant poking... but the main point is, not mine, so kudos to Thalia for such a good idea. XD
I finally have a reason that this wonderful pairing is listed opposite to the dominance rule! It's because the abbreviated version of the pairing, LxE, has to be listed that way because ExL means Ein/Lina! See, I knew there was a reason. Just didn't quite know what it actually was, hehehe. :3
Oh, and just as one final note... umm, just for reference, Megaolix, I'm a girl. Always have been, always will be. Come on, how many guys do you know who happen to be yaoi fiends?
End of author's note! (nyu) Wow, this was a long one.
Envy: See? We did tell you.
Me: Oh, shut up. Story now.
---
Slowly, Ein came awake, opening his eyes to stare at the ceiling with a soft, reluctant moan. It was morning, and the only thing he was really aware of was the strong dislike of the idea of having to get up. It might've been just that dislike, but the sheets seemed softer this morning, warmer in some way.
Even more slowly, the memories of the past night began to filter back in.
Edging himself up on his elbows, Ein looked to his right. Yup. Ledah was lying there, still sleeping deeply, in exactly the same position Ein had gently arranged him in after realizing that his lover was too weak to move on his own. If the wingless angel had been any more awake, he would've had to sit on his hands to keep himself from reaching out and running his fingers down the soft bare skin on his lover's side.
Sighing, Ein levered himself into a sitting position, then attempted to rub sleep out of his eyes. With a glance out the window, he was able to vaguely determine that it was some time between late morning and noon; he wasn't nearly as adept as guessing the time from the sun's position as Ledah. He'd have to get up soon, like it or not.
Oh, gods, last night was... it was... amazing is the only word I can come up with. Even now, I still feel tired, and I can't believe that Ledah's actually still sleeping... it took so much out of us, but it was still so... so perfect... Looking himself over, Ein realized something else. ...I really need a bath... I've still got old sweat and gods only know what else all over me. I suppose that like everything else, this has its drawbacks...
Sparing a glance towards his lover, Ein smiled to himself. ...But they aren't very large ones, considering...
Carefully as he could manage, the wingless angel slid off the side of the bed, padding softly over the floorboards as he collected his various items of clothing and dumped them, as well as Ledah's discarded robes, in the laundry basket near the door.
Pulling out a new outfit--this one with a long-sleeved undershirt, as the Christmas gathering would be taking place in the town hall--Ein padded down the stairs even more quietly. He didn't want to mess up his fresh clothes, and the washroom was downstairs--he just prayed that none of the girls would be awake or aware enough to see him.
Luck was with him. It looked as though Lina, Fia, and the others were out. Just in case, however, Ein still tiptoed on his way to the old white tub in the back room.
Setting down his clothes and locking the door behind him, Ein headed over to the tap at the side of the wall. Carefully turning it, he filled the wooden basin set there, shut the water off, and dumped it into the tub, repeating the process until the ancient marble hollow was full enough for him to get in.
Immersing himself in the water, Ein winced. It wasn't as though it was cold--he'd had the water set to its fullest, which in winter meant it was lukewarm (the pipes ran beneath the freezing ground, and even the boiler in the Magic Guild couldn't manage to keep it hot for very long in these conditions)--but rather, he'd forgotten the damage done the previous night when Ledah had raked his back. As soon as they were below the water, the scratch marks started to sting.
Despite the pain, Ein decided he could forgive his lover for the vehemence of his throes. If the act itself--and the task of holding Ledah off the mattress, which had been considerably harder than he'd expected--hadn't taken so much of his energy, he probably would've done the same. He was getting to understand why people described orgasm as a state of complete ecstasy--the pleasure had completely driven rational thought from his mind. The soft whispers and cries of his name, the tender helplessness of the other angel in his arms, and the pure wonder in the fact that two wholly separate people, if only for a moment, could become almost like one were well worth a little annoyance.
Ein let his thoughts drift and tried to ignore the incessant stinging in his back as he scrubbed himself free of sweat and the crusted traces of semen across his body. He wanted to take his time; maybe that way, everyone would be back by the time he was done and he'd be able to figure out what they were supposed to be doing...
As soon as he realized that the water was starting to go cool, the wingless angel minced his way out of the tub and pulled the plug in its floor that would allow the water to drain into the soil below. Once that was done, Ein grabbed a towel and vigorously dried himself off, shivering all the while and trying to ignore the protests of his still-sore muscles. As soon as he was free of water, he slipped back into loincloth, pants, undershirt, and jacket, hoping that warmth would return to his body soon.
Hanging the towel back up, Ein unlocked the door and headed out.
As he headed back over to the stairs, he heard the front door creak and turned. It was Rose.
"Well, well, look who's finally awake!" the former familiar exclaimed, planting her gloved fists on her hips. "We've been waiting long enough--it's almost noon. And that's when the gift-opening's going to start. Nobody will get to theirs until you come, and if you're late, I think Lina just may strangle us all. Where's Ledah, anyway? The two of you need to get your lazy butts down here."
Ein shrugged. "I think he's still asleep."
Rose stared. "Oh my gawd. Even with the day he decided to take a nap in the big chair, Ledah never sleeps in this late! Go wake him up! You never know if something's really wrong!"
Ein winced. "Okay, okay..." Chastised, he headed back up the stairs.
...Yeah, he's still sleeping. Reluctantly, Ein sat down on his side of the bed, casting around for some way to wake his lover up. After a moment's search, his gaze lit on one of the many feathers Ledah had shed over the course of the night.
Somewhat hesitantly, Ein set the feather's soft tip to his lover's side and twitched it. No response. Frowning, he twitched it again, drawing it across a greater range of skin.
Finally, a reaction--letting out a tiny groan of protest, Ledah shifted slightly, curling just a fraction closer in the mess of the sheets.
Ein's heart melted. Leaning down, he gently pressed his lips to Ledah's, staying there until he felt the blonde begin to respond to his touch.
"It's past time to wake up, hon," he murmured. "You have to get up and get dressed now."
"...Can't..." Ledah managed.
"I'm sorry, but we do have to..." Tenderly, Ein caressed Ledah's wild golden tresses, which spread unevenly along the bedsheets. "It's Christmas morning, remember? Lina's rabidly awaiting our arrival so she can start tearing her presents open."
Ledah groaned, opening his eyes the barest slit, and visibly tried to get up. While he was able to shift his limbs, he didn't seem capable of resting any weight on them; though he strained to raise his body even an inch off the mattress, nothing happened.
"It's... not a matter of... having to," the seraph said softly. "I can't."
Ein grimaced. "Is there anything I can do...? If you're in pain..."
"...No..." Ledah let out a long, exhausted sigh. "I'm too drained... I just... don't have the energy... that's all. I just need a little more time... just a little more..."
"Sorry, Ledah," the wingless angel murmured, reaching out to touch his lover's cheek. "It's my fault you're like this..."
The fair-haired seraphim gave him a stern look, carmine eyes hard and sharp. "I don't want to hear you talk like that, Ecthel. I would not give up last night for the world, do you understand?"
Face flushing, Ein nodded and smiled. "Y..yeah..." Lovingly, he tousled Ledah's hair. "Now, get some rest, okay? The sooner you're feeling better, the less chance there is of Lina going on a rampage."
"... ..." Although Ledah didn't give any spoken reply, he smiled back, closing his eyes again.
Heading back downstairs, Ein made a face at Rose. "Is there anything you can think of to let us stall for time...? Ledah's in kind of a delicate state right now..."
The former familiar groaned, running a hand through her short black hair. "Don't tell me that last night was Ledah's first time? Jeez, Ein! I'd think that even you would know that you need to be careful with someone in that condition..."
Ein, who'd been staring dumbfounded, managed to grumble out an answer, face blazing crimson. "No, it wasn't. Yes, I was careful. And how the hell do you seem to know everything about my sex life!"
Rose shrugged. "I was still awake proofreading, as compared to everyone else. You two were pretty loud, you know--I could still hear you through the ceiling and two closed doors." The tip of her tail twitched slightly. "It's not like I meant to eavesdrop or anything."
"Suuuuure ya didn't," Ein said flatly, giving her a sidelong glare. "Ledah told me himself that all he really needs is a little more rest. And I don't hear you volunteering any brilliant ideas about the Lina situation."
"Well..." Making a face, Rose spread her hands. "I suppose we could let her start a little early, and the rest of the children as well. The rest of us can wait, but I dunno... this won't buy you much time. I'd say fifteen minutes to half an hour, tops."
Ein headslumped. "Fine, fine. Whatever it takes. I'm just hoping that Ledah will be able to drag himself out of bed by then... he didn't seem to be doing too well there..."
"You and me both," Rose agreed, ears flattened. "Well, good luck, you two. And try not to get him in this state the next time you decide you wanna have a little 'fun'. It's a pain in the arse." With that, she headed out, closing the door behind her.
With only a long, drawn-out sigh, Ein sat down at the table and prepared to wait.
---
Lina had just finished squealing over Cierra's gift to her, a bow with a string that would never warp or break, when the two angels walked in.
While most were just happy that Ein and Ledah had finally put in their appearance, Rose noticed that the blonde seraph seemed to be leaning fairly heavily on his lover under the premise of a walking half-embrace. Ein was murmuring something that even her sensitive cat's ears couldn't detect; from the worried expression on his face, it was probably some kind of apology for having to make Ledah go through the effort of walking so early. As a response, the robe-clad angel simply shook his head with a wry smile and softly kissed Ein's cheek.
"PRESENT TIME!" Lina shrieked, jumping up and down.
Rose rolled her eyes. That girl would probably always act at least five years too young for her age, it seemed.
"Okay, okay..." Still carefully maneuvering to allow for Ledah's weakness, Ein gently tugged his lover over to the series of cushions around one side of the massive pine tree hauled in from the forests and sat them both down. "As you've gotten so impatient, Lina, we'll deal with yours first."
"YAY!"
"Since I see you've already got it in front of you, open that one first," the wingless angel continued. "Almost everyone's presents are from both of us, but Lina has two. This is the less-important one."
Barely even listening, the carrot-top tore the scratchy burlap off the lumpy package she'd been holding. Finished, she stared at her gift in pure delight. It was a package containing various kinds of dried fruits, many of which the little archer had never even seen before.
Grinning at his young friend's response, Ein explained. "On our way back, Rose spotted those in a shop in a town we were passing through, and it was just too perfect to pass up. Hope you like 'em--a lot of these have been imported from all corners of Midgard."
Nodding, Ledah removed a dark green scroll-case from the underside of his cloak, passing it to Ein, who then gave it to Lina. "This, too... although the actual gift will most likely have to wait until you're a little older."
Looking somewhat puzzled, Lina removed the top of the case and carefully pulled out a worn, rolled sheaf of parchment, which she removed with equal care. Seeing what was inscribed upon it, the young girl gasped.
"What is it? Lemme see," Serene commanded, edging so that she could peek over her friend's shoulder. "What the... a map...?"
Ledah nodded. "This map shows the ancient trail to Ælfheim, the birthplace of your race, which was one of the progenitors of today's Sprites. Unless I'm quite mistaken, you have a great deal of Ælf blood, Lina--it would explain your deep love for the fruit of the earth, as well as your natural skill at archery, certainly."
"That's not all," Ein added. "Ælfheim is an abandoned city of a very ancient, very magical people. There are said to be a lot of undiscovered treasures and artifacts there, but no one has ever been able to reach the citadel before. There are too many traps, too many wards against those without any Ælf blood--and too many monsters."
"You, as well as those of the Pixia race, have just enough Ælf heritage to get through those wards," Ledah stated, starting to smile. "And as for the monsters... well, I highly doubt that they would be able to stand for very long against one of the heroes who helped to save Riviera."
Lina stared at the two angels in open wonder. "How... where... did you...?"
"The man who healed my heart was a scholar as well as a doctor," Ledah explained. "Ein and I found this in his library. He told us that we were free to take it, as he no longer required it." His expression sobered, and concern drifted into his deep carmine eyes. "But, Lina, understand this: A quest such as this one is perilous, and will require a great deal of preparation. You will need at least one person to go with you. So... the only thing we ask of you in return is that you wait to embark on your journey until you pass your fifteenth birthday."
Lina nodded, still dumbstruck.
"Good. You're our friend--we don't want anything bad to happen to you," Ein told her, smiling.
"Th..thank you...!" Light brown eyes positively glowing with joy, Lina ran up and threw her arms around both angels, hugging them tightly.
"Anytime," Ein replied, his smile becoming a grin. "Although this is going to be one hard gift to top next year..."
"I'm sure we'll be able to come up with something," Ledah said vaguely.
"Okay, it's your turn now!" Lina announced. Beaming, she held out a velvet pouch to Ein.
"What's this?" Curious, Ein opened it, drawing out a long string of marbled blue beads on a gold chain, with a golden cross on one end. Expression becoming suspicious, he turned to the girl. "Hey... isn't this...?"
"Yep!" the bouncy archer replied. "I got Chappi to fix it after you left!"
"What the...?" Serene began incredulously. "What the heck is that?"
"If I'm not gravely mistaken, this would be Ein's rosary," Ledah told her, sounding amused. "Like mine, it was a gift from the Seven Magi. All Grim Angels are authorized to carry one... they hold angelic power, and we generally tap into their strengths in battle. Ein's was broken during the fight with Aghart two years ago."
"Yeah, it is..." Laughing awkwardly, Ein slipped the pendant over his head. "Thanks, Lina!"
"These were worn by Balder's Grim Angel guard, the Death Bring Angelix, in Ragnarok," Ledah explained to Serene, who looked fascinated. "Like our Diviners, which are forged in the image of sacred weapons such as Longinus and Fanelia, they're holdovers from ancient times... ways that the Magi held on to the customs of old. You wouldn't think it, but they tend to be quite nostalgic... after all, each one of them is over a thousand years old."
"And this one's for you," Lina announced, holding out a second velvet pouch to the blonde.
Wordlessly accepting the archer's offering, Ledah pulled the pouch open, and drew out a delicate chain with a bemused expression. The look on his face quickly became shock as the pendant attached turned out to be a fragile golden bell, adorned with wings on either side of the ring through which its chain was threaded.
"Well?" Lina asked cheerfully as Ledah closed his grip around the bell, hands shaking.
"This... this is..." he began, his voice reduced to a husky whisper. "I thought I lost this years ago... Lina, where did you...?"
Ein blinked, raising his eyebrows. "Hey, isn't that... the bell I found in Heaven's Gate...?"
"I found it," the little archer announced proudly. "It's important, right?"
Ledah smiled, holding the little bell to his chest, eyes overbright in the midday light. "Yes... yes! This bell is very, very precious to me. ...Do... you want to know why...?"
Lina nodded enthusiastically.
Ledah's smile grew, trembling slightly. "Because... Ein gave this to me, years ago..."
"It's an accessory used by angels," Rose supplied. "They consider them to be powerful good-luck charms. That one just dropped out of the sky as the three of us were traveling Heaven's Gate to enter Riviera for the first time."
"I offered it to Rose, but she seemed to consider it demeaning, so I gave it to Ledah instead," Ein continued, laughing now. "I didn't really think I needed luck then, since I had friends like them." Watching Ledah slip the chain over his head, he went on. "These were really popular among girls in Asgard around the time the initial Grim Angel trials took place... I seem to recall that Malice used to have a silver one."
"Fell from the sky..." Fia murmured, her brows knitting.
"Do you suppose...?" Cierra thought out loud, also seeming concerned.
"It probably isn't," the healer said softly, "but still..."
"Hm? You say somethin', Fia?" Serene asked, blinking.
"Oh... nothing, nothing." She smiled. "Anyway... what next, then?"
"I think it's your turn now," Ein said decisively.
Instantly, Fia went crimson. "Y-you didn't have to..."
"C'mon, do you really think we could've gone through all the trouble to get gifts for everybody else, and then neglect you?" the wingless angel pointed out. "Fia. You're our friend! It's our job to spoil you, same as we do everyone else here!"
The green-eyed healer mumbled something too indistinct for anyone to hear, still red-faced.
"Go on, get yours and open it, Fia!" Lina cheered.
Fia mumbled desperately, but picked up the oblong box fastened with twine that had her name marked on it. Very carefully, she undid the binding strings and lifted off the lid, then gasped in surprise and delight.
Lying inside the box was a beautiful, fragile rapier. It was made in the style of the ancient fencing foils used in the age of gods and demons, and from a pair of ivy leaves skillfully wrought with silver sprang a delicate spiral of fine-spun copper that encircled the fine blade to its tip.
"It's wonderful!" the fencer cried, removing the weapon from its encasings with the utmost care. "Oh, Ein! How did you get this?"
"Ledah would know more about it than me, it was his idea," Ein said modestly.
As Fia stared in open wonder, Ledah explained, a crooked smile on his face. "There are certain lands to the far, far east that have not known war since the days of Ragnarok. There, fighting is an art, not a necessity, so weapons are generally made far more extravagantly than in Asgard or Riviera. This rapier was meant as a purification aid and a piece of metalworking, not a tool to fight with. As a priestess-in-training… I thought you would appreciate something like it."
"And I thought he was perfectly right when he brought it up in the shop… although it blew one huge hole in our wallet for the rest of the trip," Ein said ruefully.
"Don't brag about how expensive it was, you idiot, that's not the point," Rose said with a scowl. But Fia was looking at the two of them with tears of joy in her eyes.
"Oh… oh… oh!" Setting the beautiful weapon back in the box, Fia launched herself at Ein and Ledah, throwing her arms around both of them. "I can't thank you enough!"
"Like I said, it's no big deal," Ein managed, blushing badly. "We both owe you our lives, Fia. It'd feel cheap if we didn't spend time getting something nice for you on a holiday."
"Now it's your turn," Lina chirped.
"I… I already gave Ein and Ledah their gift," Fia murmured, giving Ein a significant look (as if he'd forget the little box that sat like a lead weight in his pocket!). "Please… let's go on to someone else."
Although Ledah shot a somewhat confused look at Ein and the other girls raised their eyebrows at each other, Ein nodded. "Sure. That sounds good to me." With a wide grin, he jabbed his forefinger into the huddled semicircle of his friends. "And our next victim is… you, Serene!"
"Wha--hey, what do you mean, victim?" the last Arc asked indignantly, her entire face going crimson. "Suddenly I'm worried about opening any of these…"
"We didn't get you anything like that," Ein clarified. "Your presents are a little smaller, so there's more of them."
Still giving Ein a dubious look, Serene tore the wrapping off the box in her lap, dug in the wood shavings inside it, and pulled out…
"A… book?" she said, quite plainly confused.
"We know how most ordinary books bore you, but I believe that this one will hold your interest," Ledah said with a smile. "It's a series of epic poems from all over the world… a few are even from your own clan of Sprites, the Arcs."
Seeing that Serene was now eyeing the book with upraised eyebrows and an intrigued expression, Ein grinned. "That's not all, though. Keep looking."
Obediently, Serene went back into the shavings, this time digging out what looked like a small, fist-sized white stone.
"You're not just contributing something out of your rock collection, are you, Ein?" Rose asked mildly, sounding a little amused.
"No, no! …This is a whetstone, Rose," Ein clarified. "See the seal on the bottom? It's a really high-quality one, too. Diviners never lose their edge, but I've dealt with enough swords in my time that I know how much of a pain it is when they start to dull. This one's guaranteed to make even the worst piece of crap of a weapon hold its edge."
"Nice, Ein," Serene said appreciatively.
"One more," Ledah told her. "And this last one is from me."
Curiously, the last Arc dug in the shavings a third time. What she pulled out made her burst out laughing: It was a fan, its folds formed of woven-together black feathers instead of paper or fabric--pinions formed its outer fold, with soft, fluffy down feathers at its base.
"I took your request two weeks ago to heart," Ledah said simply. "Although, I did have help from Soala on this one."
"Who'd expect a gag gift like that out of you?" Serene managed, wiping away tears of hysteria. "You must be getting your emotions back, to pull this."
"Oh, but it has practical uses, too," Ledah told her. "May I?"
Nodding, Serene passed the folded fan to him, base-first. Standing, Ledah unfolded the fan with a snap and slashed it through the air. There was a white-gray flash like light on a blade, and the tip of one of the large pine tree next to them's branches dropped to the ground.
Handing the fan back to the surprised Arc, Ledah explained. "The ribs of this fan are steel blades, enchanted to keep sharp. You can use this if you ever need to carry a concealed weapon with you--no one would suspect a lady's fan."
"Cool," Serene said appreciatively. "Okay, boys--your turn!"
"Should we start being afraid now?" Ein murmured, laughing.
"Oh, shut up," Serene shot back. Digging in her pocket, she held something out to Ein.
"What's this?" Taking it, he held it up. "A pendant?"
"It's a good-luck charm," she muttered, looking evasively away. "See the insignia? It's an old Arc spell for good health. …'Cause I think you're sick of excitement now, what with everything that happened two years ago."
"Thanks! I'll be sure to keep it around," Ein said, grinning, as he slipped it over his own head, next to his now-repaired rosary.
"And, for you…" Reaching beneath the tree, Serene dug out a huge, heavy, musty old book and dumped it in Ledah's lap. "Personally, I think it's the driest, most boring and obnoxious book in the world… but knowing you, you're gonna love it. It's a history of the Arcs that was written by some of my own people, before… everything that happened."
Ledah didn't say anything, but the way his eyes had lit up told the story well enough.
"Weirdo," Serene laughed.
"Cierra, it's your turn now," Ein said cheerfully. "We sorta took a leaf out of Serene's book--"
"--but we think you'll enjoy it, all the same," Ledah finished, holding out two large tomes to the scarlet witch.
"They're books on the angelic spells and history of Asgard, and no, you can't get them anywhere here," Ein told her.
Cierra squealed and hugged both books. "Thank you sooooooo much," she gushed happily. After about a minute of enthusiastic squeaking, she grinned and pushed a large wooden crate towards them. "My present is for both of you… and I hope you'll get some… enjoyment out of these when you decide to try them out."
Exchanging mildly worried looks, Ein and Ledah levered the lid off together, then stared.
The crate was packed with candles of various scents and colors; they were grouped in dozens, held together by twine, marked by tags that had words like "transcendence", "rapture", and "euphoria" on them. In the three-inch crack between the candle packs and the side of the wooden box lay a few carefully hand-labeled clear bottles of lightly colored liquid.
Pulling one bottle out, Ein read the inscription to himself. "Gently warming massage gel… mild solution to be rubbed directly into the skin; should begin to heat promptly on contact. Will also prevent you and your partner from feeling any discomfort…" Okay, what the…?
Seeing the distinctly embarrassed looks on the boys' faces, Rose scooted over to Ein's side. "What is it? Lemme see!" Despite the wingless angel's attempt at pulling the bottle away, Rose got a clear enough view of it to get the general gist, and burst out laughing.
"Oh my gaaawwwwd!" she managed, hunched over with a hand on her stomach as her entire body shook in her spasmodic fit of hilarity. "Cierra, you got them lubes?"
"And scented candles," the scarlet witch announced cheerfully. "I made them myself!"
"What's a lube?" Lina wanted to know.
"You'll understand when you get older," Fia said meekly.
"They're even flavored, if that's what you're into," Cierra told them, beaming.
"Too much information," Serene groaned, looking disturbed and clapping her hands firmly over her ears.
"Talk about support," Ein managed, laughing awkwardly and rubbing Ledah's shoulder supportively; the blonde had gone scarlet-faced and silent as soon as Rose had started. "Um… thanks, I think."
"You'll have to tell me what you think of them," Cierra told them. "I put a lot of work into these, and I'd like to know how they turned out!"
"Uh… sure…" Ein said with a nod, putting the bottle away and sliding the crate's lid back over its contents. "It's your turn now, Rose."
Taking a deep breath and shaking his head as if to clear it, Ledah spoke. "Unfortunately, we didn't have as much time to search for your gifts, but we hope you'll like these anyway…"
With a mild grin, Ein held out a small inkpot to his old friend. "This is very special ink that I'd love to see you writing with sometime."
"And the catch is…?" Rose asked, one eyebrow upraised. "Come on now, I'll find out sooner or later, you know."
"It changes color as you write," Ein announced. "You'll have no idea of knowing what it'll turn out as. That's what makes it fun!"
Wincing slightly, Ledah took hold of a loose pinion on his right wing, carefully yanked it out, and handed it to Rose. "From me… you get a lifetime supply of writing quills. You seem to have liked using the last one you picked up, at least."
Grinning, Rose took the feather. "Sure, sure. Now… my present is for all of you." Taking a deep breath, she held out her book. "It's finished, finally. And as promised, you're all gonna get a chance to read it. But…" Smiling, she pressed it into Ein's hands. "You get first dibs, Ein. After all… it is dedicated to you, you know."
As he held the product of his former familiar's past two years of toil, Ein realized that he had no idea what he was supposed to say.
"FOOD TIME!" Lina shrieked, and ran off to the tables bedecked with the breakfast Fia and so many others had labored over.
As Rose grinned at him, Ein thought that perhaps his silence and Lina's interjection summed it up perfectly.
---
Two full hours later, Ein and Ledah headed out of the hall, hand in hand, enveloped in personal silence. Squeezing his lover's hand, Ein steered the two of them down to a more secluded section of the snowy walkways.
"I didn't forget you back there, you know," he murmured, staring mischievously up into Ledah's beautiful crimson eyes. "I just wanted to give you your Christmas present in private."
"Nor I you," Ledah murmured. "My delay was for the same reason… but you first."
Drawing and releasing a short breath, Ein dug into his pocket, feeling his hand close around the box. "Fia helped me out a lot with this, just so you know. You wouldn't be getting this if it weren't for her… we owe her a lot, Ledah."
"I know." From his eyes, the wingless angel could see that his lover did know… perhaps more than Ein himself did.
"But…" Taking out the box and passing it from hand to hand nervously, Ein went on. "Ledah, I… I've lived most of my life with you. I love you. I can't imagine living the rest of my life without you. So I…" Words deserting him, Ein simply opened the box and held it out to Ledah, watching for the other angel's reaction.
Ledah gasped openly and stared in wide-eyed wonder. "Ein, this…" Trembling, he reached out with his right hand, seeming almost afraid to touch the ring within. "For me…?" he asked shyly, meeting Ein's gaze with a delicate pink flush across his cheeks.
"Of course for you," Ein replied. "I love you. I want to be with you… forever. Okay?"
"Okay…" Ledah said softly, his blush deepening to red.
Taking the ring out of the box, Ein slipped it onto Ledah's right ring finger, clasping his lover's hand in both of his own. "Forever," he whispered, as if to seal the covenant between them.
"Oh, Ein…" Overcome, the two of them held each other tightly, clinging desperately for an unknown length of time that could have been from minutes to hours long.
"Ein, Ecthel, dearest…" Shaking his head, Ledah pulled back at last. "You've done so much for me over these past two years. I owe you my life, my heart, my happiness… everything. I… I have no fancy, expensive gifts to give you, nor can I even help you reclaim your greatest loss." Without warning, Ein felt Ledah's gentle hands on his back, right along his still-vivid scars. "But there is one thing I can do."
Before Ein realized what was going on, Ledah had slipped an arm beneath his lover's legs and flipped the younger angel bridal-style into his arms. Holding Ein tightly, he murmured "Hold on" and beat his wings heavily, and then the ground was rushing away from them and the old sweet lurch of excitement ran through Ein's abdomen, the sensation he'd almost forgotten…
Just like that, Ledah was gently releasing his hold, and the two of them gently set down on one of Elendia's many rooftops, still clasping each other's hands.
"I cannot give you back your wings, but I can give you mine. You will know flight again, my wingless angel, my Ecthel. Fly with me, beloved. Ask me whenever you have the need to feel the sky, and I will take you wherever you need to go. This I swear to you on this promise ring, and on my own heart."
Knowing there was nothing he could say, Ein simply leaned towards Ledah and kissed him long and sweet, holding the other angel tightly and letting his passion convey his gratitude.
When they came apart, Ledah swept Ein into his arms again and carried him down to earth again in a slow and graceful glide.
"I can't thank you enough," he whispered.
"Nor can I," Ledah replied with a smile, gently kissing Ein's forehead. They stood in silence for a moment; then Ein squeezed Ledah's hand and began again.
"After we drag all our stuff back to the house, I'm going back to help pick up the hall, okay? And no, you're not coming with me. You've had more than enough excitement for one day. Go back upstairs and get some rest, Ledah-my-lovely."
Knowing better than to argue, the blonde only smiled. "I know. I will. Don't worry."
---
When Ein finally made his way back up to his and Ledah's room at about 4 in the afternoon, he couldn't have been more shocked at what he saw.
"L-Ledah? What the… what the hell are you doing?"
The blonde looked up. He was lounging on the bed, lying on his side with his head propped on the heel of his right hand and his wings folded behind him. He was also stark naked.
"Waiting for you," Ledah said softly, his voice a dark purr as he sat slowly, giving his lover full view of the torsion in his waist as he did so.
Ein swallowed hard. "Y-yeah, I can see that, but…" Self-consciously, he closed the door behind him, locking it even as his hands trembled on the bolt.
Ledah stood, walking slowly over to Ein, and put his arms around the other angel's body, beginning to gently tug him towards the bed.
"Are you sure, Ledah? I mean… after last time…" Ein said helplessly, although he didn't resist.
"All I know is that I need you," the blonde murmured, slipping off Ein's long jacket even as he brought their lips together.
Coming up for air, Ein grimaced. "You just want to try out our new toys, don't you."
"…Maybe."
Seeing the bottle of gel already sitting on the sheets, Ein rolled his eyes and held out his hand. "Give it here."
As Cierra's labels claimed, Ein did feel the skin of his palms start to heat up slightly as soon as he'd dumped a blob of gel onto each. But before he could let it start to set and sink in, he beckoned to Ledah, then ran his hands slowly over his lover's sides, spreading it over the other angel's body instead.
Maybe it was just that it was an excuse to touch his lover; maybe it was the soft warmth that spread between them as the gel began to work. But there was just something… something about this primal tenderness that Ein instantly took to. After covering Ledah's sides, back, and chest in a thin layer of Cierra's carefully prepared elixir, Ein took still more of the stuff to spread as he ran his right hand firmly down the taut contours of Ledah's belly. Prepared for his lover's tiny wince and hiss, he slipped his left arm around the blonde's back and murmured softly to him, even as he kept the slow steady movement of his hand going, sliding along Ledah's right thigh and then between his legs.
Ledah's light grip became fierce, his breath uneven; he let out a low, almost anguished moan as Ein worked, whispering "Oh gods" in a soft and shaking voice.
"There," Ein murmured, kissing Ledah's cheek and then hesitantly looking at the bottle again. Well, if it is supposed to be a lubricant… With a slight shrug, he moved his gel-covered hand back towards himself.
"Wait… let me," Ledah said softly, and before Ein could do anything, he'd taken over.
Ein bit back a cry as he felt the sudden soft heat against his skin, unable to keep himself from shuddering as Ledah's deft hands spread the clear gel over his groin. He understood, now, his lover's shivers and suppressed moans. No one had ever warned him that this was going to feel so good.
"Ugh… if you keep… keep torturing me like this… I'm going to pull the feather on you," he warned, panting, now undeniably aroused.
"After I took all of that without complaint?" Ledah asked softly with an arched eyebrow and a smile. "I think that's a little unfair." He paused for a moment, and then his touch was gone. "I'm done anyway."
There was a moment of silence as Ein got his breathing under control and rolled the two of them over, stubbornly maintaining his position of kneeling just over Ledah. And then--
"Flavored."
"What?"
"Flavored," Ein repeated, unable to help but grin wickedly at the utterly confused look on Ledah's face.
"Ein." Ledah was shaking his head and smiling, but his tone of voice plainly said, Somehow-I-don't-think-so.
"Ledah." Raising his eyebrows, Ein stared a challenge at his lover, the intonation of Since-when-do-you-get-to-call-the-shots-when-you're-on-the-bottom? very clear.
"I suppose that if that's what you really want, no one's going to stop you." Playfully, Ledah shoved at Ein's shoulder. "But you'd better remember that as soon as we change positions, you are in very deep shit."
Taking the reluctant agreement as it was given, Ein simply leaned down and began to kiss along his lover's body again.
This time, he did not stop at Ledah's navel.
"AH--! Oh, gods, Ein…!" Twisting helplessly, Ledah arched his back inwards, clenching his hands on the already-crumpled sheets beneath him. His voice already cracked, the fair-haired seraph cried out again. "Ein… Ein…! I can't… I can't stand this…! Ah… nnh… I don't think I can…"
But Ein wasn't listening. And as Ledah trembled with the effort of holding, he very gently continued to nudge his lover along with little nips and caresses of teeth and tongue, letting his fingers drift tantalizingly along Ledah's hips and the small of his back.
"Ein, I… unnhh… ah… oh, dammit!" Ledah cried, now fighting just to keep his hips relatively still through his vehement release. Spent, he slumped back against Ein's arms; the wingless angel finally let him go, wiped his face with the back of his hand, and held him tenderly, knowing what Ledah's futile struggling had cost him.
"You didn't need to try that hard, you know," he murmured softly, rubbing Ledah's back supportively. "You knew it wasn't gonna matter in the end." Then, almost as an afterthought: "You taste good."
"Pervert," Ledah managed between deep gasps for air.
"But you love me for it," Ein told him, grinning.
"Don't ask me why." The blonde seraph sighed. "Just… just give me a moment, alright?"
"Okay." It was the least Ein could do, he thought to himself; he only ever wondered if he'd been too demanding after the fact, and the lost gods only knew what it was costing Ledah. Letting a few minutes pass, he leaned in, kissed his lover, and asked softly, "Are you feeling better?"
"More or less," Ledah replied dryly. "Hurry up. I just may fall asleep if you don't."
Ein paused, considered, and ran a hand over Ledah's body, making a point to gently, gently press down his nails as his fingers grazed his lover's belly and groin.
Ledah hissed and swore softly, though Ein felt his body responding regardless. "You little sadist. I am going to get you for this if it's the last thing I do."
"I notice that you get off on it, though. Does that make us sadomasochistic?"
"Shut up, Ein." Despite his irritation, Ledah was laughing. "Either you do it, or I will. And since you managed to suck off that lubricant, I don't think you'd like it if I did."
"Point taken." And before Ledah could start again, Ein kissed him, fierce and tender all at once. Feeling the bite of nails on his back and the soft pressure as the blonde's legs wound around his waist in a desperate grip, he sheathed himself in his lover's body, coming hard and fast as Ledah cried his name.
---
He was dreaming. He knew that with the odd certainty that dreamers have, but for some reason it didn't seem to matter at the moment.
He was walking down a forested path that reminded him vaguely of the manalith roads of Yggdrasil. There were other figures walking here and there, but he paid them little mind; they were faint, hooded and cloaked, carrying spectrally luminescent candles as they walked forward in a daze.
There was a gate before him, tall and magnificent, shining a faintly pearlescent green. His fellow travelers simply walked through it, their candles blazing brighter and brighter as they neared it.
But Ein's attention was drawn to a figure that sat next to the gate, curled into a desolate ball, the candle it had apparently carried flickering lower and lower by the moment, guttering, the flame nearly dead. Whoever it was, they were sobbing--long, hoarsely, and hard, as though their heart would break. Ein's heart was instantly wracked with pity, and he wondered why this person wasn't passing through with the others.
As he drew closer, he began to feel as though he should know this figure, this woman (for whoever she was, she was female). The details of her appearance became clearer as Ein headed towards the gate--blood-spattered white dress, tattered blue cape, sand-blonde hair blazing like a beacon in the hazy dream-world, pale hands with delicate-looking fingers interlaced at her knees in an almost clawlike grip… and most unsettling of all, ragged black wings…
Ein grew cold with shock even as his feet carried him onward. It couldn't be…
She looked up at him, breath still hitching audibly, bright tears on her cheeks, the skin directly beneath her eyes red and slightly swollen from the prolonged contact with the salt as she'd cried. Those eyes… those unmistakable, onyx-black eyes…
Ein stared, barely three feet from her, his mouth suddenly dry.
"Malice…?"
---
Ein jolted awake with a start to find that Ledah was already sitting up beside him, a troubled expression on his face.
Shaking his head, he ran a hand through his hair, mopping away sweat. "Gods. What a dream."
"Dream…?" Ledah asked, turning to his lover with a pensive expression.
Making a face, Ein explained as best he could, realizing to his alarm that the look on Ledah's face was growing continually grimmer as he spoke. "I don't really understand it… it was just so strange. What could it have meant, do you think?"
Ledah was silent for a moment. "Do you…really want to know?"
"Of course I do! This is too weird!"
"Ein, I… I've been having the same dream for about a week now."
That got Ein's attention. "What? But… but how could that be?"
"Do you know what that place is?" Ledah's deep baritone dwindled to a grave, shaken whisper. "Ein, do you have any idea what that place is?"
"N-no… how could I?" the wingless angel asked, bewildered. "It looked kinda like Yggdrasil, but it couldn't've been, could it?"
"That place… still haunts my darkest dreams," Ledah said softly. "Ein, it's the gate to Valhalla."
"WHAT?" Ein stared, wide-eyed.
"I still remember… two years ago, I was walking that path myself. And I've had that dream enough times that I understand, Ecthel… Malice… she… she can't get through."
Ledah's gaze was distant, pained; he sat hunched forward with the sheets still drawn to his waist, elbows resting on his knees, his interlaced fingers a few inches below his chin. His wings were angled forward so that Ein couldn't accurately read his expression, but there was more than enough ache in his voice to make Ein wonder.
"How can you tell?"
"We walked that path together, Ein, although I stopped to look back along the way, wishing that I would be able to see you again. She should've gone through by now. If she'd been destined for Hel, she would've walked the road to Niflheim instead of Valhalla's. But she earned her rightful place in the Halls of the Slain. The only family that ever loved her is waiting on the other side of that gate. She'd have no reason to just stop like that, Ein--she wouldn't, not for any reason. She's stuck… she hasn't committed enough sin to be damned, but she's killed too many people, stolen too many souls to be let through. There's nowhere she can go anymore…"
"Don't worry so much about her, Ledah. She tried to kill you, over and over. Maybe this is what she deserves."
Ledah rounded furiously on Ein, glaring sharply into his lover's eyes. "I never want to hear you say that. No one deserves treatment like that, no matter what they've done. Malice has suffered more than enough."
Ein blinked, then spread his hands and shook his head. "She was Hector's little servant, Ledah! She stabbed us all in the back--and you! You nearly died, twice! She would've seen everyone in Riviera dead, just to further Hector's insane little cause. He used her, but she was willing to be used. You heard the things she said--she believed in all the crap he was spewing!"
"He used her. That's exactly the point, Ein," Ledah told him, eyes flinty, voice grim and cold. "No one can know just what Hector did to her. He was rough enough with me, and I wasn't even the pawn he'd pegged his twisted dreams on. Malice was strong, but she was no Grim Angel. She made mistakes… too many mistakes. And you and I both know that Hector didn't forgive mistakes easily."
Ein's insides went cold. "What are you saying, Ledah?" he asked in a whisper.
"Torture, brainwashing, perhaps even rape--who knows? Malice was a victim of her life's circumstances. Or have you forgotten what happened to her parents? He used her, betrayed her, and in the end, he killed her. She's gone through enough. Don't make her suffer any longer, Ein. No one deserves the nightmare she's been living."
"But… she was…" Ein fumbled, his defenses crumbling.
"She was once our friend," Ledah said softly, his words falling like heavy blocks of ice and granite. "And I can't just stand by as her soul dies slowly. I have to do something."
Aren't we Mr. Bleeding-Heart all of a sudden? Ein thought to himself. "But what can we do? We're only angels. We can't undermine the will of the gods."
"This is Hector's will, if anyone's," was Ledah's bitter reply. "And you forget: I'm a priest, twice sworn to the gods. There are certain purification rituals that absolve the soul of sin, as long as he or she who undergoes the rite truly desires and deserves forgiveness."
"The ceremony tonight…" Ein whispered, his eyes widening in realization.
"Exactly." Ledah sighed. "I'm… sorry I got angry at you. But I can't just sit and watch people suffering any longer… I've had enough of that to last me a lifetime."
Ein's heart melted. "Aww… don't apologize to me. You're right, and besides, this is what it means for you to have your emotions back. …I don't really think I want Malice separated from Rizuna-san any longer, anyway."
With a smile of relief, Ledah slumped against Ein's side as the younger angel slipped an arm around his waist. "Thank you…"
"I'll help if I can, but I'm a little out of my depth here," the blue-eyed young man confessed. "Besides… I have a feeling you've decided this is your cross to bear. You're not alone, okay? I'm sure almost everybody will feel the same way."
Ledah sighed contentedly and snuggled closer, his eyes half-closed and tranquil.
---
The day passed by slowly in the hours that led to the ceremony Ledah had planned with the Elder's permission.
For the most part, Ein avoided the other villagers, not sure whether or not he could face up to Serene in particular. He knew that they were all curious about Ledah's rather clandestine plans, and he didn't know what he was going to say to them if they asked. What would Serene's reaction be if he were to tell her that he and Ledah were trying to save the soul of the woman who was responsible for the deaths of her entire race…?
Ledah had retreated to the company of Graham and Ladie, conversing with them in grave, quiet tones. He was as obviously unwilling to share what he was doing as Ein was unwilling to talk to the others about it, and he had his own ideas in mind about what he was supposed to do. The wingless angel only hoped that his friend had a way to rescue Malice without invoking Serene's wrath or depression. His life was peaceful now; as selfish as it might have been, he didn't want to give that up.
Night fell.
Slowly, speaking in curious whispers to each other, the residents of Elendia began to arrive at the base of the World Tree in twos and threes. Graham and Ladie stood to either side of a tall block of what looked like some type of stone at the Tree's roots; Ledah himself stood in the center of the ring the various Sprites of Elendia formed as they arrived, about a wingspan or so away from the small monolith
(Lithograph?)
that gleamed in the ethereal light of the various white candles that had been laid over various small stones and pedestals around the scene. Ein felt a momentary surge of pride in his lover; Ledah had arranged all of this out of nothingness, all to save one soul. If the two of them had remained in Asgard, what a high priest the blonde, scarlet-robed angel would have been!
Taking a deep breath and steadying himself, Ledah began to speak in low, even tones, his soft but beautiful voice resonant with purpose and dignity.
"I know that you all have wondered why it took Rose, Ein, and myself two years to return to you… let me confess to you now that the fault is largely mine.
"In truth… we could have been here several months earlier, but my dear friends allowed me to travel the whole of Riviera before we came home. Not even they fully knew the reason I wanted to do so, at least at that time."
Ledah sighed and then shook his head sorrowfully.
"One thousand souls," he whispered, but all heard his words. "One thousand souls. That was the cost to release the seal that bound Seth, the Sprite of Death, in all her terrible innocence and fearsome power. One thousand souls were stolen and sacrificed to see the Magus Hector's twisted dreams become reality. One thousand lives."
There was a moment of silence.
"As a final gift to Ein before her power at last ran dry and she returned to the dead realms where she belonged, Ursula resurrected me. Me, alone out of one thousand sacrificial victims. Me, and only me. I walked the road to Valhalla. I saw the sheer number of lost souls searching for the gate. Nine hundred and ninety-nine lost souls, some of which were forgotten by this world the moment they died.
"Forgotten by this world… but not by me. I could never forget that sight. Old men and women, warriors cut from life in their prime, even children. The murdered, the sacrificed, the betrayed… all, all… As a Grim Angel… as a priest… as a living being in this world… I couldn't let things stand as they are. Too much has happened; too many have died. The pain of the families left behind, the pain of the Earth as she watches her scattered children suffering… must be remembered when the story of Ein's heroism is told. Because all the future generations must know that this is a true story… because the dead must be cherished and remembered for their horrible, unwilling role in it.
"And so… I traveled Riviera. And I acquired all nine hundred and ninety-nine names."
There was a long, very pregnant hush.
"They have already been inscribed here, upon this memorial, so that they may never be forgotten… neither in Elendia, nor in all of this world."
Turning, his face bleak even as his crimson eyes were soft with sorrow, Ledah began to read, slowly and gravely, pausing after every name on his heartrending list.
And Elendia listened.
There was no one among the many who had not heard at least one of the casualties. Lost in their memories, they listened, respectfully silent. There was no small outbreak of tears along the way; as Ledah came to the names of her lost friends and family, Serene completely lost control and sank to the snowy ground, sobbing into her hands. Lina and Rose, standing on either side of her, bent to offer what solace they could, though neither of them spoke.
The moments in the charmed circle seemed to stretch into years, though none could allow their attention to waver from the soft poignancy of Ledah's voice, which came very near to breaking itself a few times. Even the smallest children were silent, listening to the gentle cadence of the angel's speech as he made his way down the list.
Gods, Ledah, Ein thought to himself, awed. You never even said a word about it, and you'd been planning this all along… you must've just incorporated your desire to help Malice into your own plans. You're amazing, dearest… no one in all the worlds could've done it better.
"…Katya Blackram… and Malice Ructor."
Raising both hands imploringly, Ledah turned his gaze to the deep, star-studded skies. "Balder, child of Frigga… by thy kind and noble heart, guide and guard the spirits of the deceased on their path to your realm. Hela, dark mother to us all, cherish and keep thy dead. And Odin, my liege and my lord, ruler of us all… bless your fallen children. Allow them passage to the highest halls of Valhalla, for they have died the deaths of the most courageous heroes." Ein caught sight of the faint glow surrounding his lover and friend's hands, and realized that Ledah was invoking a spell of the most ancient angelic power. "Until thy covenant is fulfilled and your return draws nigh, as your servant, I beg of you…" Lowering his hands, Ledah knelt and clasped them, level with his heart. "As your Grim Angel… this I pray…"
There was a long silence, during which many of Elendia's residents also bowed their heads in prayer; finally, Ledah stood, bowed deeply to the lithograph, then to Graham, and backed into the space left for him next to Ein.
Giving his lover a proud, fleeting smile, Ein slipped his hand into Ledah's and squeezed it. "Good job, you."
In response, Ledah simply smiled and returned the squeeze.
Graham cleared his throat to speak. "May these names and this ceremony never leave our hearts. Thank you, Ledah. And now… let us travel our yearly paths, and think of lighter things, in honor of the dead, of the gods, and of the heroes who have returned to us at last."
Each taking a candle, the members of the circle formed a filed line and began to traverse the snowy paths of Elendia.
Ein had no idea who it was who first began to sing--only that the song, a very old and beloved carol, was taken up by every member of the line. He himself had an okay singing voice; it was nothing special, but there were no outstanding faults to it, either. But he made sure to keep quiet enough that he was able to hear Ledah beside him.
If confronted, the seraph would always deny it, but his singing voice was beautiful--smooth, rich, and possessing a range of enough octaves that he could get through most songs with ease. His melodious baritone was always soft out of shyness and deep embarrassment for his own inherent skill, but along this simple, well-known song, it was doing a crescendoing, supporting glide that seemed to be the driving force behind the blended voices of Elendia's Sprites.
Ein thought to himself that he had never loved Ledah more as the two of them trailed at the end of the line--the way his lover seemed to be haloed in holy light, his soft blonde hair wild and fluffy as ever, his carmine eyes alight with the harmonious peace and love that surrounded their village, his pale cheeks flushed with the delicate happiness of friendship, his black wings folded easily at his back. He wanted nothing more than to stand and listen to Ledah sing, to hold him and tell him the depths of the pride he had inspired during his ceremony, to take him home and love him in sweet tenderness, running his fingertips along every inch of his soft, beautiful, luscious, and utterly kissable skin. He wanted all those things and more… but it was enough to just walk side by side with him, their hands clasped together as a sign of their eternal bond, the tiny heart-shaped stone on Ledah's promise ring resonating with pure love.
As soon as his whirlwind of thoughts subsided, Ein was able to hear the faint sound of a blunt, brassy, confident woman's alto behind him.
But Ledah and I are last in line…?
At the same moment, he and Ledah whirled, staring in open shock as the translucent, faintly glowing form of a certain young woman headed down the path several yards behind them, fully clothed in her blue-and-white battle wear, her pure white wings open behind her, arms crossed behind her back, that old, crooked, well-if-you-don't-like-it-then-fuckya smile at last returned to her face as she belted the little Christmas carol at the top of her ethereal lungs. Seeing the two of them standing before her, she stopped, winked, and waved jauntily at them, then faded from their plane of existence, heading back to where she belonged.
Ein and Ledah could both clearly see, even from their distance from the World Tree, that there was now a blue-white, Diviner-like axe resting against the memorial there.
Starting to grin out of pure wonder, Ein took both of Ledah's hands and squeezed them happily.
"You did a good thing tonight," he murmured.
They looked at each other for a moment, then began to head after the people of Elendia again, both their voices raised once more in song.
---
In the higher realms of the world, Malice Ructor headed through the gates of Valhalla into her mother's waiting arms, laughing and crying all at once.
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NEXT TIME: The epilogue is at hand. Holy CRAP this chapter was long! (22 pages, to be precise!) Well, there are just a few more loose ends to tie up, and then this fic is over and done with. Thank you, God!
Sorry about the format changes in the middle of the chapter, by the way. While I was working on it, our old computer finally spazzed and ended up with a hard-drive error that we don't know how to fix, so we got a real live Pentium-III Compaq that has real live Microsoft Word on it, OMG… although I still have no home Internet. So I had a program update, yayness. That's all. :3