Imprisoned
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything except this story, and the plot.
Notes: The main coupling here is SethEirikaLyon, with a few hints of other couplings. Its setting now will be a few days after the fight with the Demon King. Enjoy!
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Prologue – An End to the Fight?
Cold. An abyss of nothing. I sank sluggishly, letting the slow tendrils of darkness crawl over me, inspecting, questing. Their touches were silent, but were nothing like the silence that pressed all around me, beating into my ears like drums. I wasn't even sure I even had ears anymore.
I was calm, at last. There was no pressure anymore, no pressure to be king; no pressure to be as good as Ephraim; no pressure to make the right choices. No pressure…to wonder aimlessly whether Eirika could possibly love me…
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"Lyon…"
Eirika gazed down quietly at the heavy Sacred Stone, which was, at that moment, lying harmlessly in her hands.
If she didn't know better, she would've mistaken it for an unnaturally round rock, only more lustrous. She sighed and gently rolled it in her palms, remembering the events of only a few days past.
Ephraim looked over at her, sadness hidden in his pale blue eyes. "Sister. I know you are an excellent rider, but even you cannot ride without holding the reins."
Eirika started, and almost unbalanced, remembering all of a sudden she was atop her white mare.
The horse snickered, tossing her head skittishly, reins swinging free. A gloved hand quickly snatched the reins out of the air; another patted her mare soothingly on the nose, quieting her.
"Princess, you should take more care in your surroundings."
A quietly deep voice spoke to her, holding out the reins for her to take. Almost unwittingly, the owner of the voice moved slightly closer, his bay horse's flank bumping kindly against her leg.
Numbly, Eirika took the leather straps, mumbling thanks in Seth's general direction. Her teal hair swung forward to cover her burning ears.
After all the effort she had put forth to gain her knight's trust so he would stop trying to do all her fighting himself…she could bludgeon this to nothing if her mind kept wandering. She coughed faintly, willing the flush on her face to disappear.
Both concerned voices spoke as one, worried eyes locking onto her like homing beacons. "Are you hale, sister?" Ephraim questioned, a frown beginning to form on his face. He was followed immediately by Seth. "My liege, do you wish to rest?"
Eirika gave an inward sigh. Truly, she appreciated their concern, but there was such a thing as becoming overprotective…
"I am fine! Thank you for your concern."
Eirika looked up and forced herself to smile at the two, trying to adopt a L'Arachel-like persona. Then she dropped it quickly as she realized it would probably only scare them.
Only L'Arachel could get away with being L'Arachel. Eirika smiled at the thought of anyone trying to imitate the loud and self-confident princess.
Reassured by her smile, her twin and guardian looked away, content with simply riding alongside her.
Behind her, Eirika could hear the sounds of the Frelia prince and princess arguing about something, Tana's indignant voice was louder, carrying further than Innes's more serious, irritated one. High above, the sky bloomed a light azure, white clouds scudding across its canvas. A far cry from the dark, fiend filled one a few days ago.
She gave an involuntary shudder as she remembered how it had seemed so opposed and angry, the minutes before they entered the Darkling Forest. Purple and bruised, swollen with cursing, grey storms.
The air had been sour, filled with the wing beats and screeching of Deathgoyles, the choking smell of rotting Revenant flesh…in fact, no matter where you were, Darkling Forest had become an impermeable thicket of decay and death.
The temple hadn't stood out in the mess; with moss crawling up the moldy marble walls like veins, black creepers swinging ominously over the small entrance. Wild vegetation had grown over it until it looked like a wave of dark green had risen above. It looked right at home. And inside…
Her hands clenched on a fistful of white mane as she fought back the pain and loss bubbling up within her, her mind struggling to wipe out her last moment with Lyon, her dear friend, and perhaps more, if he had survived…
If only she had realized. It was so obvious, so painfully, absurdly obvious…how could she have been so blind? How could she have let him slip away, after seeing his pale, haggard face, day after night, until eventually, he had avoided them altogether?
How could she not see his body wasting away, violet eyes losing their bright, serene shine that had always seemed a part of him; not seen the way his body steadily lost its health?
How could she not have recognized the ache that flashed in his eyes every time she had bade him farewell, as she left, laughing, with Ephraim? Why hadn't she realized Lyon could be jealous of Ephraim? Weren't females supposed to be sensitive?
I couldn't have known all this. Eirika shook her head, trying to ignore the accusations swilling in her mind. He hid it too well. He hid all his pain away, tucked further in his soul than others knew to look.
Lyon…her close friend for three years, yet still a stranger in all aspects.