Warning! This chapter contains aggressive, triggering content.
"Lahabrea." Gaius addressed as the Ascian entered the command central tower. "I hear we have captured the very Scion who tried to defile the law and power of the Garlean Empire but only a day ago. And that she too is imbued with the gift of the echo. Since Livia had no such success extracting Information from our last source, I expect you to not disappoint me."
"I will see to it immediately."
"She is nowhere to be seen!" Yda panicked, reporting to Minfilia who has spent all morning pacing the Solar in fearful thought.
"Yda, Y'shtola, Tataru..." Minfilia ordered gently. "Please check Thancred's old room for any clues as to what might have happened to her. She MUST be found!"
While the three girls searched, everyone else had gathered in the Solar. After a few minutes, Yda and Y'shtola entered from the sleeping chambers holding a piece of paper.
"Minfilia..." They Miquo'te confronted, "We found this on the desk." She handed over the note.
"And her armor is still left on the chair" the Hyuran woman added.
Minfilia nodded to them in thanks of their search and took the note, reading it aloud.
"My family, I am truly sorry I left without so much as an explanation. I have a plan so I need you to listen carefully. Between the Scions, Twin Adder, Maelstrom, Immortal Flames, and all of the Eorzean's willing to fight, there is but one weakness. That weakness also just so happens to be our biggest advantage. although incredibly risky. I will take to Castrum Meridianum alone, to alleviate some of that risk. You need someone on the inside who can't be touched. I have something they want. Do not worry, I will not give it up willingly nor otherwise. My presence here will draw much attention. I will be heavily guarded at all times, weakening their defenses as well as the minds of those that seek my knowledge. I've gone over every possible solution many times and this is the only one that works. Given my current condition, I am too weak to bear arms against their numbers from the front lines. At least for now. But there is something I can do. I'm so sorry I couldn't explain in person, but I have to leave now before my chance at this is gone forever. Together we will destroy Ultima Weapon, and we will bring Thancred home.
"P.S. When you're here, Cid try to interfere with their communications reception so you can contact me via linkpearl. Also, don't forget to bring me my bow and armor. See you soon, Farrah Vilentris."
Minfilia set down the letter in disbelief. Then Tataru came forward, a grim expression on her face.
"My Lady..." the little Lalafell began. "There is something else..."
"What did you find, Tataru?" She encouraged with worry.
"There was blood in the bed."
Minfilia gasped and picked the note back up and re-read one of the lines. "I have to leave now before my chance at this is gone forever." The Scion leader sighed and fought hard against the threatening tears. "Oh, Farrah..."
Alphinaud, perplexed by the situation, spoke up in thought. "The baby is the advantage." He borrowed the note from Minfilia, reading it over again to himself. "She's betting on Thancred's protection of her and his child. If she's right..." He paused to think again. "...this just might work."
"But how is that possible?! Thancred is possessed by an Ascian. An Ascion Overlord at that. You said so yourself." Yda questioned.
Minfilia, beginning to understand, was the one to answer. "Thancred is still in there somewhere. We know this because he must have had the spirit of Lahabrea in him for a few years now. Even if he withheld his power. If she is able to at least cause a bit of doubt or complication between the possessor and the will of the host, it's enough to ultimately pause the Empire's efforts with Ultima Weapon. Only an Ascian can harness the full potential of such a weapon. It is possible that Thancred's desire to protect Farrah and their unborn child is strong enough to create such a rift in the internal connection. This alone can't cure him, but it will buy him and us time."
"Hmm. I see..." Y'shtola thought. Then the healer had another idea. "Something is wrong with the baby... And of course she chose Castrum Meridianum..." Everyone looked at her confused. "After our query yesterday, that fortress by now will house their most imperative officers that have fled from Centri. They must have a well experience Doctor or healer. Due to their need for the echo they cannot risk losing her. This plan, Farrah was able to ensure the survival of her baby."
Papalymo began speaking next. "And she's right, her presence there will draw much attention to ensure they don't lose her like they did us. Especially after the mess we made. If that's the case, It leaves Castrum Meridianum and their allied bases at a significant disadvantage."
Cid nodded. "Yes... And Gaius, Livia and the other more Influential comanders will be too busy trying to get the Echo. Especially since we know our girl won't give it up easily." His laughter boomed. "They're going to have their hands full with that stubborn spirit of hers."
"Cid, Biggs, Wedge, will you be able to connect us to Farrah's linkpearl like she said?" Alphinaud asked.
"Piece of cake!" Biggs piped up while Wedge gave a double thumbs up.
"Thanks to Farrah's efforts in our last rescue mission, we already have the communications frequency codes. Get me close enough and we will have her." Garlond finished.
"By the Twelve... Watch over our Warrior of Light and let this plan carry to fruition." Minfilia prayed. "Godsspeed, Farrah."
Farrah opened her eyes to realize she was laying naked on the end of a bed. Thancred kneeling on the floor between her legs. She felt his gentle hands on the inside of her thighs, pushing her knees apart. Then, without warning, he licked her center. Bottom to top. Spreading his tongue wide to satisfy as much sensitive area as he could. She gasped in pleasure at the long awaited touch. after repeating this motion a few more times, he moved a hand from her knee and pushed two fingers deep into his lover's entrance. Stretching the walls of her insides, Farrah moaned, her breathing increasing.
"Oh, gods. Thancred!"
While pushing and pulling his long fingers in and out of her, he began softly flicking her most sensitive area with the tip of his tongue.
She moaned louder, getting more and more wet. "Ugh!... Yes!... Just like that! Than, I'm so close please don't stop!"
Just then, right as she was about to climax, all movement stopped and he lifted his face. Farrah's heart sank as she saw the evil grin under a glowing red mask. Suddenly, she realized her wrists and ankles were bound by shackles. She couldn't move. The Ascian possessed man climbed on top of her as she struggled to get away. Pushing his hand to her jaw, forcing her to look at the twisted face of the man she loved, he shoved himself deep Inside of her.
As Lahabrea kept forcing his hard cock in and out of her smooth, tight entrance he laughed. A laugh that did not belong to her Thancred. Screaming and begging him to stop, she felt his body tense, filling her insides with his hot, thick cum.
The young adventurer awoke from the nightmare, panting heavily, clutching her baby bump.
"Is that really my baby?" She heard a voice from the shadows question.
Scared, Farrah quickly looked around. She was laying on a wooden cot in a solid stone room. The only light coming from the narrow gaps of the iron bars on the far wall.
"What? Who's there?!" She said trying to quickly sit up.
"Please, don't move" the voice came again. Then, Thancred, still dressed in the Overlord garb (minus the mask) stepped into the faint light.
"Thancred?! Sweetheart, is it really you?!" Farrah began to sob happily trying again to get up and go to him.
"I SAID DON'T MOVE!" He hollered at the young woman.
Farrah was stunned by his tone, her smile turning to fear and laid back down on the hard bed.
Thancred sighed, stress and exhaustion present in the sound of it. "I'm sorry." He shook his head. "No, I'm not Thancred, not completely. But I'm not exactly Lahabrea either... I just dont-" He sighed again pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Please just answer my question... Is that my-Thancred's baby growing in your womb?"
Farrah nodded. "of course it is. There has been nobody else. My heart belongs to him."
The handsome, cloaked man slowly walked towards the woman laying in front of him. Looking back and forth from Farrah's eyes to her undeniably pregnant stomach, he knelt on the floor in front of her. Carefully he lifted her gown just over her bump. Farrah began to panic and squirm nervously, fear from her nightmare in her gray eyes.
the man looked in her eyes again and tried his best to say calmly "please... don't... move." She stopped moving. He hesitantly put his hand on her belly and instantly their baby kicked against his palm.
Something happened to his face. It grew softer and he began to smile, a small happy tear running down his cheek. She knew this time it was the real Thancred. Farrah put her hand on top of his. "Than?..."
He looked at her with familiar gentle eyes. "We're going to have a baby?!" He asked, a large smile spreading from ear to ear.
The beautiful archer nodded, crying happy tears. "Oh, Thancred! I've missed you so much!" She sat up and hugged him, putting her lips to his. He hugged and kissed her back but slowly his lips turned into a stranger's.
The man next to her shook his head again, slowly laying her back down. "If you move you could hurt the baby."
"Oh" She said sadly, putting a hand to her swollen abdomen. "What happened? I remember bleeding, then..."
"You had a stress induced hemorrhage. I had you sent to the infirmary." He sighed once again. "The doctor said you must be on bed rest or you could relapse and cause a second, killing our-" Whether this was fully the real Thancred or not, it was clear the thought of anything happening to this unborn child deeply troubled him. "Lahabrea is supposed to be down here questioning... torturing you for information on the echo. I can't do that. I don't know why, but..." He groaned in frustration, standing and pacing the cell. "In order for this to work, you HAVE to do what I say! Do you understand?!"
Farrah nodded. Just then her tummy growled. Thancred stopped pacing, looking at the Scion prisoner's exposed belly. He then walked over and very carefully rubbed it. "Are you hungry?"
She too placed her hand on her belly and rubbed. "Yeah I guess we are. I haven't really eaten in a little while"
He looked at her. "How long has it been since you have last eaten?"
Farrah began to tear up, feeling bad for not taking better care of herself. She sighed. "About two days."
The partial Thancred shot a glaring look at the Scion carrying his child, disapproving. With a few deep inhales and exhales and great concentration, his eyes softened. "You need to eat." He stood up and pulled Farrah's gown down back over her protruding stomach. "I'll see to it you get fed often... Also, hide our baby. Don't let anyone know." And with that Thancred left.
Turning to the guards down the hall from the cell, the hooded figure ordered them to deliver the prisoner her meal immediately. "And increase her meals from once a day to three."
"But, Overlord, sir... there is only so much food for the soldiers as is. A-are you certain-" One of the guards started.
The white haired Ascian threatened, "Do as I say or Gaius Van Baelsar will here of your insubordination."
"Y-yes, my lord... right away."
several hours had passed and the day is nearing it's end. The gorgeous, hooded man spent most of the day in his room, pacing and thinking. Trying desperately to force down the ever threatening Ascian possessor, taking much strength, while hiding his doing so. Thancred's, ever internally changing, form was ordered to report back to the circumstantially unaware Garlean ruler.
"I trust you've had some luck?" Gaius interrogated.
"She is... difficult."
"Hmm... I see. Such a shame. I am sure tired of disappointment" Gaius replied, staring at the former Scion curiously. "It seems a different approach perhaps... She is quite a beauty. And not so often are my men in the company of beautiful, accessible women." Thancred clenched his fists in pure anger and disgust, knowing where he is going with this. Gaius continued. "Maybe I send a few of my men to be a bit more... persuasive. Unless you would like her first?" He laughed.
Through clenched teeth, hovering above the ground covered in a dark purple smoke, Thancred spat "Nobody will touch her! I alone can harness the power of the one true god, Ultima. If you wish to make all of Eorzea yours to rule, I suggest you abstain from harming her."
Gaius belted out laughing. "You've gone soft for the girl. HAHAHA! An Ascion Overlord, taken kind to a pathetic Scion! Maybe there is still some human in you yet... Very well. Fuck her, beat her, I don't care what you do to her, but you will not fail me. Because if you do, well... I'll leave that to your imagination."
Thancred turned and began walking away. "Oh, Lahabrea." Gaius called after, making him pause in his step. "I can't speak for all of my men here... some of them just have a mind of their own, one might just hear such rumors. You want to keep your little pet? Best keep an eye on her." Taking notice of the threat, once out of the room, the conflicted man hurried back to the holding cells.
Grunts and screams of struggle could be heard throughout the Castrum's Dungeon. Running as fast as he could, he noticed the rotated guards were not at their post. Fueled with a fiery rage, the Thancred Lahabrea ran towards the opened cell.
Farrah's arms were pinned down by one guard while the second was attempting to undo his pants, standing between her flailing legs. In the course of fighting back, the hem of her gown flew up, exposing her bump.
"Holy shit, look at that... The Scion bitch is pregnant" the one holding her down exclaimed.
"Who gives a fuck, keep her still." right as he was about to enter her, Thancred (shrouded in the purple smoke) grabbed his head and slammed it into the wall with such force the Garlean soldier died instantly. He then grabbed the throat of the one holding her down and squeezed till he too was dead, throwing his body across the cell. The cloaked protector ran to the mother of his unborn child.
the weak woman was gasping and sobbing, reaching for her lover.
Thancred carefully held her as she passed out in his arms, only just then noticing the fresh blood that was under her. "FUCK!" He held her close and took off as fast as he possibly could back to the infirmary.
"Save them!" He shouted to the Doctor, watching his family on the table. "I don't care what you have to do, but save them!" The Ascian Overlord was pacing frantically, still enraged.
What felt like an eternity to the father, the Elderly man finished. "Okay, so..." Thancred was by them instantly, rubbing his secret lover's pregnant belly, waiting to hear. "Luckily the bleeding was not another hemorrhage, but in fact some tearing. I was able to heal her up just fine. However the fact still remains that it is entirely possible she could still relapse, especially given the new stress. Give it about two days time. Bring her here everyday for more healing treatments. By then, if all is well... the worst should be past." The good doctor looked at the Ascian's protective hold on the Scion's baby bump. "This is your child, isn't it?"
The white haired man stared menacingly at the doctor. "If you say a word to anyone-"
"Don't worry, I'm sworn by patient confidentiality. Your secret is safe with me." Thancred relaxed only slightly. "Although, I strongly suggest you do whatever possible to make this young woman more comfortable. The chances of recovering from another incident like this... aren't very promising."
"I understand... Thank you." He ever so gently picked her up bridal style off of the table and carried her to his room. He was careful to take the long way so nobody would see them.
Once inside, the cloaked man softly laid her on his bed as she slept. After a few minutes of pacing in deep concentration, fighting his inner demons (In this case Lahabrea), Thancred looked again at the beautiful woman asleep there on his bed. The handsome Ascian sat beside Farrah, softly rubbing her cheek and pushing the hair out of her face. glancing down her body he sighed, looking at the old blood stains on her clothes. So he stood up and went to his closet grabbing one of his shirts while changing out of his own Overlord robe, putting on something much more simple. Gently as not to wake her, he took off her gown and slipped his shirt over her, pausing looking at her bare stomach. The man sat back down beside her on the bed and put a hand on her extended abdomen, rubbing it softly. Their baby began moving and stretching against his palm. Still fighting the possessor over this body, he hesitantly laid his head on his lover's belly gently and listened to the unborn child stirring inside.
"Hey there, little one. I'm sorry your father can't fully be here to tell you how much I know he loves you. I'm sorry it has to be this way... And I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you... This is from your daddy." Thancred kissed the top of the sleeping Scion's belly, massaging small circles with his thumb. "Stay strong, little one. I'll do what I can for you and your mommy." He went to stand up but was stopped when he felt a small, smooth hand grab his.
"Please stay." Farrah begged.
Just then the Ascian turned to see her cheeks and eyes wet with tears. "Are you alright? Do you hurt?" He asked with growing concern.
instead of answering right away, Farrah looked deeply into his eyes as if she was trying to find something. "I know you said you're not Thancred, but... I've spent the last two moons looking for you... Beginning to believe you were dead, only until a couple days ago... I...I can't bear to lose you again. So please... I beg of you... stay." She reached her hand to his cheek continuing to stare into his beautiful eyes.
Thancred sighed, giving into her touch. "I believe you misunderstood me... It's not that I'm not Thancred. In a way I am. But I can't be the Thancred you want or need me to be."
"What exactly do you mean?"
"He is in here. I can hear and feel him. but there is something else too. Something much stronger."
"My Thancred, you can hear him? Like he talks to you?
He nods. "We are but one. I am him and more, but he is not me. Similar to how all crystal is glass, but not all glass is crystal. What he thinks, I am inclined to think as well. What he feels, I must too. It is his will I am here now. If not for 'your Thancred's' love and protective instincts over you, this form would be all consumed by the Ascian Overlord."
"how do you possibly keep such power at bay?"
"It's not without difficulty. It has taken me great strength and concentration to keep Lahabrea away internally. I didn't even know it possible until you showed up. If I had, I never would have..." He paused sadly. "There is no surefire way to know Lahabrea won't overcome this mind at any given moment." Thancred sighed gently placing his hand back on Farrah's belly. "That's why I have to be so careful around you. Why you have to do what I say. I understand your lover's thoughts and feelings for you and for that I'm drawn to you."
"I see... Earlier, in the cell, I saw him. But only for a moment. I know it's a mental struggle, but can he not come forward?"
Thancred shook his head. "No. He wants to desperately, but I'm stronger. When his mortal self takes control, it weakens this body and Lahabrea can regain control. We are lucky it did not happen earlier. But the Ascian will not delay were it to happen again. I contain the soul and body of Thancred, but the power of Lahabrea. And I share their minds."
"Can you hear his thoughts and feelings as well?"
Thancred just nodded not wanting to talk about the horrific things he is forced to think constantly.
"Thank you..." Farrah said with kind eyes. "Thank you for everything you have done and endured for us. And I'm sorry that... that I wasn't able to protect you from this fate. The guilt I bear of not having done enough to save you from the Ascians-" Farrah's apology was halted as he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her passionately. She melted under him and kissed him back.
Certain feelings arousing in the gorgeous, Hyuran man, he stopped the kiss as to not go any further. Leaning over Farrah he told her, "Don't think like that. You have done more for him than you could even imagine. Meeting you made his fate bearable. It is the fault of nobody's but his own. Trying to prove himself for Luisouix, there was a hole left that not even you could fill. He had hoped that power to do more, be more, would heal that wound... But it's done nothing but make it bigger. This..." He gestured to his body "...was never his intention." He stroked her cheek and rubbed his thumb over her soft, pink lips. "So please don't blame yourself, darling."
Hearing the name her Lover would call her in secret, shocked her. Farrah reached her hand up twisting her fingers in his soft, white hair. "Thancred? But I thought-"
Once more, the man over her shook his head. "No, but it's getting easier to differentiate the wills of the Scion and the Ascian. Thancred wanted to kiss you, so I wanted to kiss you... So I kissed you... And I really want to again..." He lowered his face to hers again and with a gentle lick to her bottom lip she gasped opening her mouth, letting him in. Even though she knew it wasn't fully the man she loved, he kissed her just like she remembers. After a little bit they both pulled away to breathe. Thancred was panting, looking into the beautiful gray eyes of the woman under him. "He loves you."
With light, happy tears, she looked back into his eyes searching for his soul. "I love you too, sweetheart." Just then, something he said dawned on her. "Wait... You said I made his fate bearable? Does that mean... when we... you were already..." She couldn't bring herself to say it.
Thancred hung his head and sighed. "It's been two years..."
Farrah instantly felt like she was going to throw up. "But... how is that possible? If it's so hard to fight Lahabrea now, how did you do so for two years? And be your real self? Or...or were you never...? Was I being used?! I-Is this baby... Lahabrea's?!" She began hyperventilating and remembered her nightmare, grasping her baby bump in fear.
"Shh Shh, Farrah... Calm down. Look at me. No. Gods no. Please let me explain." He rubbed her belly soothingly. "The connection in the past was different. For a very long time Lahabrea hid in the shadows of Thancred's mind. Just observing. He made no action. He did not pursue control, so he was still able to be himself. Yes there were times Lahabrea would take over and be responsible for horrific things when best suited him. And believe me, Thancred lives with the incredible guilt that it comes with. But every single moment with you was real. Him meeting you, falling in love with you. Every intimate moment, including the conception of this perfect child... all were your Thancred. It's hard to fight against him now because he needs to be in power to carry out his evil plans. We are in the eleventh hour, and he's desperate."
Farrah began to calm down slightly, slowly coming to understand the complicated situation. "But this baby... can the power of an Ascion, in control or not, pass through the host? Could our baby be..."
"I don't believe it works that way, love. An Ascian is a formless spirit. It can take over the mind, and control the body, but it cannot alter the biologic properties of the possessed. Do not fear. This baby in your womb, is tied solely to you and the real Thancred, made with love." He leaned forward and kissed her belly button and then her lips.
Feeling much more at ease, Farrah carefully shifted her weight, moving to rest her head on his chest as he lay beside her. Thancred was about to protest her movement, but the smile on her face was enough to keep his mouth shut. She looked down and saw that her clothes had been changed. Pulling it to her face, she inhaled the scent. "mmm... It smells like you." Feeling the comforting familiarity, she yawned and began closing her eyes
Thancred gently pulled her body to his, feeling her growing belly pressed up to his side, their child kicking against him. He kissed the beautiful woman's forehead and rubbed her stomach. "Get some sleep now, both of you. We have a difficult path ahead of us." He too laid his head back and began to fall asleep.