Mischief Mage: I know I've been writing at about one chapter a day. Perhaps it says something about my social life?
The sun that had slid across the clear sky the next day brought a sense of hope and purpose for most of those who saw it. But not Vanessa.
In the dining hall, she had picked a table with those she did not know well, afraid that Syrene might notice her red eyes, swollen from tears shed during her sleepless night and her tearful day. She pushed her slab of bread sadly around her plate, her usually ravenous appetite failing her.
Before long, there was a call for all of the guests who were travelling with Ephraim to go to Mansel's royal hall. Vanessa dragged herself through the corridor behind the happily talking crowd.
In the hall, the group stood before Mansel's throne. Vanessa picked a spot behind Duessel, the general's armoured bulk hiding her from view. She half listened as Mansel agreed to part with the stone of Rausten, partly upset that the journey was not going to end here as there was still a glimmer of hope of defeating Lyon.
Just then, the large doors of the hall slammed open, a battered guard stumbling in.
"My Lord Mansel" he gasped, "Grado, they've surrounded the castle! Our patrols were no match for them!"
Ephraim turned to the frail pontifex, "Fear not, we will protect you, as payment for the Rausten stone, your hospitality and your allegiance."
He then turned back to his silent comrades, "I want Eirika, Seth, Franz, Amelia, Natasha, Forde, Kyle, Vanessa, Syrene, Tana, Innes, Neimi, Colm, Joshua, Lute and Artur to stay here with me. The rest of you, I want you to split into groups and check the rest of the castle, protect those who need it. Prepare yourselves."
The group ordered to patrol the castle, marched briskly out the large, double doors, discussing how to divide up with the guards.
Now Ephraim spoke to those left over, "There are three entrances into the hall. I want Tana, Innes, Natasha and Joshua heading to the Northern entrance at the end of the corridor. The rest of you, stay here to guard lord Mansel from the other two entrances. Don't forget to carry your torches. It's getting dark."
It was true, Ephraim, Eirika had been talking with Mansel for most of the day, retelling their story.
Vanessa looked up; she had been ordered to stay in the same group as Forde. She looked around Dussel to see Forde looking sourly at Ephraim. She saw him whisper something to Tana who had just fetched her Pegasus from the woman who had just led the horses in. Tana had been walking towards the Northern corridor but now returned to the rest of the group, Forde taking up her position in the group of four. It seemed that an exchange had taken place.
Vanessa didn't understand why this upset her. She fetched Titania from the stable woman and gently embraced the pegasus's smooth head. She knew that if Forde had stayed, she would have probably sustained an injury on top of the one that had only just healed enough for her to fight again. She had tried to think of something to say to the paladin, but the words that had flowed so easily to hurt him, seemed to only trickle out, drying up in her guilt and shame.
She looked around her, only now, after having surely destroyed the only chance of love on this journey, did she notice the love that the others felt for each other. Franz and Amelia chatted happily, sitting easy in their saddles; Colm comforted Neimi after upsetting her about one thing or another; Artur chuckled after confusing Lute with a simple discussion of human emotion; Joshua and Natasha had walked off behind Forde and Innes, hands just touching.
Vanessa sighed one last time before leaping up onto Titania and trotting to her post, squinting through the darkness. There was the occasional flash as the rising moonlight caught the blade of whatever was lurking in the shadows. She pulled her sword from its sheath and sat ready for whatever planned on springing out from the darkness at her.
The battle had seemed to drag on for an age, but it was finally over. Vanessa sat slumped against the wall, shattered. Her lack of sleep meant her accuracy had been way off and she was forced to strike more than once, sapping energy from her already depleted store. Her emotional burden hadn't helped either; everyone had seemed to be working in pairs. Franz and Amelia had fought looking in opposite directions, protecting the other's back; Lute finishing off any enemies that survived a blast from Artur; Colm directing Neimi's arrows with his trained, thief eyes; Joshua darting around Natasha, sword flashing while she cast spells over his shoulder. Not a single enemy had gotten through to Mansel's throne.
They had fought through the night, so once the sun crept above the horizon, they were off again. Vanessa riding once again on Titania's, allowing the Pegasus steer itself. At the moment Vanessa's days held no structure or direction, the light slipping in and out of night without her notice. Syrene had tried to approach her sister, concerned for her, but she was turned away by Vanessa's determined silence.
Vanessa thought it felt ten lifetimes before they arrived at Darkling woods, but it was really only a week.
Vanessa dismounted and gazed into the dense forest, its presence seemed to put a fire in her mind. The quest was almost at an end. Soon she could return home to Frelia, forget about what could have been and what really happened. So it was with a calm, directed mind that she joined the line going past the wagon for weapons and items. With the journey coming to an end, Ephraim felt that this would be the most opportune time to use their best weapons. Vanessa did not receive any of the legendary weapons but was given a brave lance which would work well with her natural agility.
Titania was tied to a tree, close to Franz's horse, which the paladin was gently stroking. Once again, the young man's innocence put her at ease and loosed her tongue. However, he spoke first.
"You ready for this?"
"Absolutely" Vanessa said purposefully.
Franz looked up in surprise.
"I don't understand, a moment ago you looked as though there was a storm cloud above your head, we're faced with an almost impossible task that may well be the death of us all, what do you mean you're ready?."
"To be honest, I'm sick of this, this war, this journey. I want it to end. I now fear that my life will go on like this more than I fear death. No matter what happens, this battle will end the war for me, either by our victory, or by my death. That's why I'm ready."
Franz stared at Vanessa in awe, a light seemed to glow from within her, and he felt warmed.
"You're right. Except…I'm still scared, scared of losing those that I love. My brother, General Seth, that person I told you about…"
Syrene. Vanessa hadn't thought about that.
"I suppose I'm scared for my sister as well. She knows me better than I know myself, I think. She has been like my mother while I've been away from home. I sometimes get frustrated when I can't be more like her but somehow, I think I like her up there ahead of me, someone to aspire to that still reminds me that I am who I am."
As before, Vanessa's feelings were laid before her. She did not need to try and be exactly like her sister to keep up to her and to look up to her.
"Well, Forde's like my best friend. He and I are so different but he knows that I look up to him. Forde might not seem it but he will always be loyal to you, he will never give up. If I needed him, he would never leave my side."
"Well" said Vanessa, laughing slightly, "You've done a good job of quelling my recklessness and making me scared again!"
"Oh no! Tell me I didn't! Because you've made be much readier for what we face." Franz exclaimed looking so dismayed that Vanessa couldn't help but laugh. He soon joined in, the laughter of two younger siblings shared making for a bright moment before they plunged into the dark forest of the unknown.