A few things: I want to remind you how grateful I am for you reading and reviewing. I just started school again and this year already feels insurmountably stressful and to be honest, your support it a large part of how I recharge and feel any sense of accomplishment. That being said, I'm going to emphasize again that posting might be sketchy from here on out. Between my workload and my own piece of personal (non-fanfiction) fiction that I started writing, I may not be as diligent as I have been over the summer. So forgive me. But, here's an exciting cliffhanger, so enjoy.
Parties brought that same deeply ingrained feeling back to Soul, that eternal wish that Wes was still available to be the center of attention, a stage that, when alive, his brother had never shied from. Soul refused to grow into the limelight because he hadn't been forced to, he'd lived with the expectation that he could be a nobody. Even with the marriage, the crown, the potential mantle of Kingship to be passed, Soul still let a small part of him yearn for that and to wonder what it would have been like to live a simple life.
It was easy to imagine being back in the village outside Marie's, Maka cradling a lively but entirely normal infant in her arms that in less than a year would chase him around to the sweet tune of 'papa, papa' as he came home after whatever work he could take to keep them supported and happy. It was a divine daydream, something that was so far from his grasp as he watched Maka put on the perfect show of princess, carrying a baby inside her that turned her blood black at will, and knowing that there would be no coming home to her tomorrow. It was all a bitter pill that he had to swallow while he played the handsome prince.
The night ebbed and flowed smoothly enough, the King and Queen seeming to have forgotten the turmoil of the other night, or at least put it aside to shower well-wishes on the heir Maka carried. His mother even surprised him, finding her whispering in Maka's ear more than once without disturbing the smile on either of their faces. It was almost too much to bear, the idea that this could be a beautiful time for their family to come together, for them to be in love, but it was just fate to have it stolen away.
Soul edged to the side, finding Black Star leaning against the wall. "Anything else from the girl?"
"I told you last night was useless," Black Star shrugged. "This afternoon cost her the rest of her fingernails and still nothing. Meanwhile, Medusa's here in the crowd like she doesn't deserve to be gutted."
He suppressed a grimace before forcing a nod. "I'm going to check on Liz, make sure she's ready along with the carriage."
Black Star raised his eyebrows, "You sure you don't want me to do it? It's your night."
"It's her night," he urged from his mouth in the evenest tone he could manage. "I need some air anyway."
"I'll give you ten minutes," Black Star huffed. "Unless Medusa moves, then I'm coming straight for you."
"Fifteen." Soul tried to send what he hoped looked like a disinterested glance Medusa's way, feeling his stomach turn at the joy on the physician's face. "And I almost want to say if she moves just fucking kill her."
"Don't tempt me," Black Star grumbled.
Wordlessly, he patted a hand to Black Star's shoulder before pushing past him and into the hall. There were brief pauses along the way since too many guests had trickled into the entryways for him to get completely alone. It wasn't until he ducked into the kitchen stairwell that the interruptions stopped and he could fasten his feet to the liveliest part of the castle. There was nothing but hustle and bustle between pots, with trays, and flagons of wine passing in front of him. He was lucky that this was a place he often used to frequent so he received little attention besides the errant congratulations that sounded heartier than any he dealt with in the hall.
He edged into the storeroom and then down the stairs to the cellars, cutting last-minute into the corridor that led to the back exit from the kitchens to the yard. The door was only open a crack and a hooded figure was eyeing the outside. "Sorry to keep you so bored," Soul stifled a laugh as he made the person jump.
"I suppose if it's for prince and country," Liz offered with a roll of her eyes as she slipped the hood off her blond hair. "At least Patty's been sneaking me some food. It's better than the wedding."
"Well, Mother was about as excited about that as a funeral, but this…" Soul offered a helpless shrug before he sighed.
"She'll be fine," Liz urged as she peeked back out the doorway. "And if it helps, it's been quiet. The carriage has sat out there without even a mouse running under it."
Soul let a wan smile sit on his lips. "In fifteen minutes I'll bring her down and we'll set you off in the carriage. Over the south bridge and onto the main road and you should be to Marie's in four weeks at the latest. You'll wait for Maka there, whenever she gets there," he finished glumly before digging into his pocket to retrieve the letter. "Can you give this to Marie?"
"Me?" Liz took the paper regardless of the incredulity. "Why not Maka?"
"Something might happen," he had to pause as his stomach churned at the idea. "Or she'd probably read it and maybe not give it to her."
"Oh?" Liz wiggled her eyebrows at him. "And who's to say I'll deliver it like a good girl if my lady would prefer that it didn't reach its final destination?"
Soul let out a sharp breath as he ran a desperate hand through his hair. "Because no matter what the fucking danger is, Liz, I need to be there when Maka has that baby, got it? I have to. So deliver the damn letter and if you really want to be a good friend urge Marie the hell along."
"Maka wants you to be there, Soul," Liz chided.
"She does, but maybe not enough that she'd dare to put me at risk, not even a little," Soul prodded into his chest almost in an attempt to keep his heart from splitting his ribs. "And while we both know I'm overprotective, sometimes I think I've got nothing on Maka's fear of losing me."
Liz's sigh was protracted as she hid the letter in the pocket of her cloak. "Fine, fine. But if she finds out, I'm not getting in the middle. You'll make up some extravagant lie about how Marie got the idea to send for you."
"As long as I'm there for her," Soul grumbled as he waved off any more from her and started back down the corridor. As he hit the split, Soul paused listening to the soft echo of footsteps. Telling the direction was impossible so he stayed motionless, trying his best to gauge location. His waiting was fruitless, only giving him the sound of fading away steps before he started up the stairs and back into the lively kitchen. Even though everything felt out of place, none of it looked like it, so he let the momentary sidetracking fall away from him. Instead, he was quick to get back to the hall, exchanging glances with Black Star before coming to Maka's side, a sharp nod and a hand at the small of her back telling everything he couldn't.
Maka met his eyes, a soft smile aching on her lips before she moved back to the dais and ascended. "The prince and I would like to thank you all for celebrating this joyous occasion with us." She risked another glance at him, hating the saccharine smile he was projecting when she could see the tension in his eyes. "A child brings happiness but also responsibility, and much of that is tied to traditions that we hold dear. To honor those long-held ceremonies, I will return to my home for long enough to complete a ritual at the temple there. The prince and I have decided that honoring our past is just as important as taking care of our future, so I hope you'll add hopes for a safe journey with your well-wishes tonight."
It felt sick to go through the motions, to touch tenderly at her stomach and stare lovingly at her face while most of the crowd murmured in agreement. Stein hadn't been wrong, this had stirred the older vassals in just the right way, frothing up murmurs of the return to old ways. Which if you all remember includes witches, Soul thought bitterly as he edged Maka closer to the King and Queen. He was surprised by his mother's lack of a reaction, only her eyes tugging at him silently with something close to pleading. Soul could hardly offer her more than a soft whisper next to her ear, "This is what will keep her safe."
The King and Queen did nothing more but give what Maka asked for, short murmurings of 'safe journey' and looks that struck Soul as oddly mournful. But really, isn't that what I'm doing too? Thinking about all that I could lose and already feeling like it's gone? He tried to tuck that away as she led him back the way he had just come, Black Star close on their heels.
He paused just before the kitchens, grabbing Soul's arm. "I'll meet you two in a little bit."
"We should spread out the times, anyway," Maka dismissed him with a wave. "Just don't be later than twenty minutes."
"Yes, princess," Black Star snorted as he waltzed away before the comeback.
Maka flicked her hair as she turned back on the trail, wandering into the kitchen as Soul followed dejectedly behind. They'd hit the first step on the way to the cellars when she screeched to a halt. Soul barely got a handle on his steps, having to clutch to at her shoulders to steady and keep from taking a tumble. Even with his hands firm, Maka turned and clutched at his collar, bowing his neck enough that she could firmly plant her lips against his.
He wanted it to be sweet, perfect, but all he could feel was the chill of it. "I thought we said no goodbyes," he grumbled hoarsely.
"It's not," she murmured as she opened her eyes slowly, wishing to still find his closed but seeing nothing but that red burning back at her. "I'm just saying I love you."
Something too weak to be called a sigh left his lips, "Always."
Maka nodded her head as she nibbled at her lip. "Would you do something for me?"
"What is it?"
She reached for one of his hands, plucking it from her shoulder and bringing it between them. Her other hand was reaching into the folds of her gown, taking out a little purse. Undoing the drawstring required both hands but she paused to sigh as if forlorn to let him go before opening it. She plucked out a simple gold ring and pressed it into his palm. "If you can, will you wear this while I'm gone?"
"A ring?" He turned it over between his fingers before testing it. It was snug but fit well enough on the finger named for it.
"It's my mother's," she whispered before reaching out and letting her finger trace the gold on his skin. "It's blessed, supposed to keep a person safe from demons and witches. My father gave it to her when they married and… it's the only thing she left behind."
Why would she leave it? Soul bit that back on his tongue as he moved his hand to caress her cheek. And we both know that she left more than that. "I'll keep it safe. Though should I be concerned that it fits me just as well as it fits her?"
Maka managed a short laugh, "You do have fine hands, Soul."
"Are you calling them lady-like?" he grunted as he used those hands to smooth over her cheeks and tilt her head close enough that he could breathe the next sentence out across her lips. "You like them well enough when we-"
She caught the rest of the sentence in a kiss. When they parted it was for the woeful cry to eke from her lips. "Just let it keep you safe, please."
"And this will keep you safe," he pressed a hand to her stomach. "I'm going to believe that."
Almost unwillingly, Maka stepped one rung lower, leaving his hands slowly slipping from her. "We should go." At that moment, Maka could read it in his eyes, that wonderful daydream he had of the two of them, that secret wish for that normal life. She let it linger in her own mind for just another second before turning and continuing down the stairs. Without thought, his hand reached and clenched into the back of her cloak, not stopping her movements but keeping a lifeline as they turned into the corridor. "Hello, Liz," Maka called sweetly.
"Everything end up alright in the hall?" Liz flashed a smile before tucking her hood up, obscuring most of her face.
"Every last bit of pomp and circumstance," Maka muttered as she moved to stand across from her, a hand turning the sliver of open door to a full crack. "Just stay safe on the journey to Marie's. I'll see you there when… well, just before it's time." The girls exchanged soft touches to each other's hands, offering just the modicum of comfort that they could before Soul took Liz's arm.
It was simple. With just a hint of golden hair and the prince escorting her out, there was no reason for anyone to believe that this wasn't Maka being led to the carriage, gently lifted in by her loving husband, and closed away for a safe journey home. It was even more believable as Soul took a few shaky steps into the yard, watching the dust kicked up by the wheels. He moved far enough that he could see straight down the road, eyeing the south bridge that would be the last line to cross before the main road.
Anyone watching would have swooned at the romance of it all, since as soon as Soul reached that spot he turned sharply, running back to the yard to grab a horse and mount it. To unassuming eyes, it was just the prince riding after her probably wanting one last sweet goodbye. But if anyone was to look from Soul's perspective, they would see the real horror of the moment: a small, silver-haired head had peeked too soon from the underside of the carriage and a terrifyingly hulking man, a visage so large that it was clear to see, was standing in the middle of the bridge.