PART 3
The group was together once more with the exception of Adray but he had good reason to not be there with them.
Nel spoke, "The wedding is to be held under the eyes of Apris in the chapel in the Aquios castle. Lord Lias may have some objections but Clair is to have her wedding nowhere else, her father had made sure of that."
Fayt nuzzled into the dark hair that was so similar to his own belonging to Maria.
She looked at him giving him a mysterious smile.
He whispered softly to her, "Maria, you're so beautiful… I just want you and nothing else."
Her smile seemed genuine as her eyes seemed to show happiness, "Fayt…"
Maria's eyes looked around and for a split second hers and Sophia's as she was watching them but it passed and it was made as nothing more then just a casual glance.
Sophia sweetly smiled briefly at her before letting her gaze wander once more but she stayed oddly quiet of anytime in her life she felt more alone then any. When she was in custody of the Vendeeni she still had Fayt's parents to keep her company but not even that now.
"Fayt and Maria seem happy together. Cliff and Nel look like they have missed each other a lot for the past 2 years. Mirage is keeping an eye on Peppita and Roger, just laughing at them. And Albel's in the alone but that's normal. Then there is me…there is nothing for me," were her thoughts.
Suddenly she wanted to be more alone because of the way she felt. Her feet slowed saying, "My shoe's untied. You all just keep going. I'll just catch up in a moment."
She smiled widely so no one would think any of it. Everyone passed her and Albel was last to do so, glancing at her kneeling down and noted to himself her shoes don't tie but he said nothing. He passed her like all else.
She was starring at the ground and watched the footsteps until she knew everyone had passed her. Her pace slowed and she started to walk, taking in the entire world around her.
They had passed Peterny and nothing had changed except Welch who had made it big in her inventing gig.
No one took notice that she was lagging behind by much so when they reached Irisa Fields, the last road before Aquios she turned around and walked back past Peterny and made the long journey by herself to the Arias, occasionally needing her Symbological prowess to stun the enemies but she made it there fairly safely.
Her mind had made it clear she wanted to go to the Airyglyph Castle to see snow just once more. The sun was fairly high in the air so she continued. Once she had entered Airyglyph territory, the soldiers still recognized her but as the girl Fayt courted or as one of the many accomplices of Fayt. She didn't want to hear that anymore but kept a smile on her face nodding as they gave her a ride to Airyglyph. She was happy the seemed not to be interested on why she was not with him right now.
The guards let her in the castle and she made her way to the watchtower, like it was any normal visit to Airyglyph. She stood a top, watching the snowfall liking this peacefulness but she was still alone, again…
Truly, not one had noticed the disappearance of Sophia, when they reached Aquios. They each took a room inside the castle, the one they had each stayed in, when they were a guest in the castle before but Maria and Fayt seemed to want to share a room, as did the Nel and Cliff desire to. The Aquarians welcomed them with open arms and many thanks.
Peppita jumped around, finally noticing the smaller group, "FAAAYYYYT! WHERE'S SOPHIA? Where is she? Albel's gone too! Fayt! Fayt! Fayt! Where are they! Tell me! Roger's not here either!"
Mirage came up behind her, hearing Roger's name, "He went back to Suferio when we were in the Irisa Fields. But Fayt she's right. Sophia and Albel are nowhere to be found."
Fayt looked at them, "Sophia's probably around here, looking at the flowers or something, she always liked that. And we can never find Albel. He's most likely off training and killing enemies, it is what he likes to do."
Peppita was extremely skeptical, "Fayt are you sure?"
He didn't hear here but just walked into the room with Maria.
Mirage knocked on Cliff and Nel's door. There was a brief pause where there was a lot of muffling noises before Cliff opened the door, only a creak, "Yeah? What?"
Mirage suddenly didn't really care what they were actually doing in their, "Nel! The wedding in half a week right?"
There was a muffled yell of yes.
She looked at Cliff, "Then Cliff, I'm going to work on getting our ship out of the mud. I just need the password."
He nodded and gave it to her.
Mirage left and she heard Nel scream but took nothing of it, Cliff was there to protect her.
Peppita went around looking for other little children to bother, maybe along the way look for Albel to bother him as well.
Sophia fell asleep while being outside, she was shivering but that made not different to her. At this point she felt like nothing mattered especially not herself. When she awoke, she was in a warm bed.
Her eyes opened to see Albel leaning against the doorframe glaring at her, "You stupid worm." And that was all he said to her.
She rubbed her eyes, "Wha- What are you doing here?" He crossed his arms, "Let's see, this is my territory and this is my room."
At his words, she looked around and noticed she was still in Airyglyph territory for it was still snowing outside her window.
The fire was crackling and she noticed her we clothes had been changed into a white nightgown, "Did you-?"
"No. I would not do such a meaningless task, I want nothing from you but so that Fayt does not make a large deal of you having such a high fever and you running off."
She inwardly smiled in relief that he did not change her but looked down when he mentioned his name, "Fayt would not care," was what she whispered.
"Care to explain?" She kept silent to his question.
He shrugged and started to leave toward the outside of the door saying, "If Fayt does not care, then I have done the task of saving you from the cold for nothing and I shall take my leave right now."
She sat up, "Because…"
He turned around and closed the door, sitting on a chair next to the window. "Because, he probably hasn't even noticed that I've walked away."
He stayed silent implying for her to continue.
She didn't know what it was but finally being able to share how she felt to any living creature seemed like what she needed right now.
"Everyone has someone, has something to live for. What is it that I have? I can't kill anything, I don't want to but it just hurts so much inside, just seeing Fayt and Maria happy. You and Nel."
At this his scoffed, "Nel and I are no more. If you have not noticed since you were lost in your silly world, she has taken to Cliff."
Her eyes flashed at his anger towards Cliff when he said his name, "Why are you so angry?"
He turned away from her and she knew he had too much pride to answer that question. She knew what was his answer was even if he did not say it.
Her words were soft, "I guess this means we actually have one thing in common…Maria and Cliff."
He inwardly laughed at how right she was, never thinking that between himself and Sophia he would find such a common bond.
The fire went suddenly out and the wind rattled against the window, harsher then before. The snowfall quickened until it looked to be a blizzard just outside the window only in a few moments had this arisen. The room's temperature dropped and it did not help Sophia's fever.
She started to shiver and a very morbid thought of herself, floated through her head, "I guess I was meant to die after all."
Her breathing was very erratic but very fast all the same. She seemed to be gasping for air, still shivering.
Albel swiftly moved from his spot and placed his unclawed hand over her head.
She was in a cold sweat and she needed to get warmer but with the blizzard out, there was not enough wood for a fire.
It did not help that she was the symbologist and not he for now he could not cast a powerful enough Firebolt spell. In her mental state, she could not access her ability to concentrate. If he opened the door, the little heat left in the room would surely leave. As strong as he was, he would admit it was rather cold and for him to think like that, for Sophia's body especially now in sickness could not handle it.
Her body started to shake violently as much as she wanted it to stop. She squeezed her eyes shut, knowing that death would soon be upon her and no one else in the world she had gone beside the man standing over her.
Instinct, from the many battles and warriors he fought and killed, told him she was going to die if he did not do something. He had too much pride to be doing what urgently came floating to the top of his head. His pride and any compassion he actually had left came in frenzy with her hope of survival waning.
Her shaking worsened so what he did next came only because he realized, that no one probably noticed of their disappearance and no one would ever notice, not even she for her mental abilities to comprehend anything that went on would not remember anything he was about to do.
Albel climbed into the bed next to her, under the covers and held her to him. He felt her shivers begin to subside but she still seemed cold. He wrapped his arms around her waist tighter to him. He felt this to be very odd for him because it was something he was never accustom to, but there was something that was very content about this position. If Sophia ever remembered this, he'd make a note to threaten her, if she told anyone she would not like the consequences.
Slowly he felt her breath slow down to a more normal pace as she drifted into slip against him. He didn't realize how small her frame was until he held her like this but he cared very little for this fact. Her heartbeat, which was, finally steady, lulled him into sleep himself.
Fayt sat next to Maria, alone in their room in Aquios. There was an occasional knock on the door but other then that, fairly quiet.
Maria looked into his eyes with her green eyes as Fayt gazed back, no choice but something stirred in him.
His body was suddenly overrun with desire for Maria, to just have the soft touch of her skin against him.
Maria seemed to be on the same wavelength as Fayt, knowing his thoughts, somewhat emotionally linked.
When Fayt rushed to her side, drawing her into a deep kiss, she returned it like she knew it was coming.
Maria pinned Fayt down onto the bed that they sat on at the time, with her hands upon his shirt.
He was a bit surprised at Maria's movement but wasn't displeased. He seemed impelled to start to lick her lips, wanting the entrance into her mouth so he had a piece of her inside of him.
She obliged him and opened her mouth, letting their tongues meet. He filled her mouth and his hands moved to cup her breasts. She moaned into his mouth and her hands went down, into his pants and started to rub her hands up his length, which was hardening now.
He cried out a little in surprised at what Maria was doing, surprised at her but she simply smiled at him with her hands still in his pants. Fayt moaned and knew this was what he desired that Maria triggered in him.
He put his hands on her, removing them from his body, looking away, "I'm sorry."
There was something in his heart or was it instinct that told him it wasn't right. He had always been so formal and just couldn't go through with something like this, not yet. He didn't want to look at her just in case he couldn't control his hormonal rages the next time.
Maria was frowning half in anger, the other in her disappoint of what she wanted then.
When his urges finally did subside he looked up at her and she smiled at him, "You don't have to be sorry for anything. It was time. I just couldn't resist because it's you." He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, whispering, "I lov-." The same something in his heart that made him stop letting Maria touch him had made him stop speaking the words that were to come out of his mouth.
She saw him form the words and the sound coming out of his mouth and she was anxious in anticipation of what she knew was to come but saw him stop. She knew what was happening because she understood it perfectly; she knew this would just have to take time.
Now this was not the case for Cliff and Nel for both were completely willing to give into each other's desires for they both had not seen each other for so long and when they were in range of each other once again, the flame was relit. They each felt alone and need solace in someone's company that felt the same. They had taken refuge in the room of Nel in the Aquois castle on the other side of the halls where no one could bother them.
From the room were gasps, bedspring noises, and unearthly noises that were not meant to be heard right now. Faint words escaped the room that could not be deciphered from the screams and moans mixing together. No silence or peace would be the air of the room for some time.
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