Hello everybody! Whoa man, the amount of research for this fic is pretty high. My eyes are sore from it so there might be more typos (sorry XP). Ages of the siblings, when Azura was kidnapped and Corrin was taken, when Elise was born (that one's been solved kinda at least), and the rise and decline of characters, countries, and so much. I will do my best to include and keep everything on point however, if I miss a thing please let me know. Lucky me, I did find an age chart for all of the siblings someone made and did an amazing job with, I cry for how long it must have taken them and will be going off that for the story. When it hits the time that the main story begins, Elise will be 16, Sakura 17, Leo & Takumi 19, Corrin & Azura 19 as well, Hinoka 21, Camilla 22, Xander and Ryoma 25. Ascalon will be in about the 22-24 range as his age has always been uncertain, although he's pretty sure he's 8, and it'll stay kind of obscure since he doesn't know. Unless our boy gets his memories back of course.
Also, bless everybody that has commented, favorited, followed. GrimaxNaga holy moly you are so great! Like, idk what I did to get so many nice reviews but hot dang I appreciate the heck out of them. Legit, thank you! Without further ado, here's the chapter folks.
Warning: Grown Lady being a piece of trash that needs to be set on fire
Chapter Six: Arete and Azura
[1 Week later, Ascalon]
It was strange that Ascalon had an evening on his own. The siblings were all caught up in lessons, Rosalynn was with Captain Phier and learning important tips and tricks for surviving in the wild, and Arcturus had a stack of paperwork that threatened to consume him if he didn't work on it right away. All his chores had been accomplished for the day and no one needed his help as far as he knew. To pass the time he had chosen to better familiarize himself with Castle Krakenburg and the Royal Villas that most of the concubines and children lived in.
Wandering through the quiet homes he wondered if he was ever going to meet Princess Azura. Many times, the others had tried to take him to meet her, only to be thwarted by chores, classes, or fleeing Princess Jezebel. He had heard what she looked like, what her mother Queen Arete looked like too, and yet a cloud of mystery hung around the pair. Sometimes at night when people thought he was asleep, or he was out of people's sight, he listened to the many rumors and stories that entrapped the pair, and that a few residents here believed he might even be related to an extent. They had showed up in a similar fashion to him, out of nowhere and with a past that they never spoke about.
Too late did his wandering mind catch up with his present and he knocked into someone the opposite of the ones he had been thinking about. Taking a few steps back he only had a moment to catch sight of the blonde hair with green streaks before a claw like hand, nails long and concealed by extravagant metal talons, reached forward in a flash and painfully took hold of his right ear. The sharp tips pierce through the skin and tissue, earning a yelp from him as the cruel lady pulled him forward, holding her other claw at his throat.
Giggling in the save disturbing manner that her daughter did, Sinistra gazed down at Ascalon, a sick please in her eyes as she watched the squirming stop. In a low tone, oozing glee and venom, she said, "Well, well, well, it's the boy that hurt one of my daughters and hid the other…alone with no one to save you. Not even your dragon could hear you scream from this far away. Tell me, where is my missing daughter?"
Terrified and not wanting to speak he did something that would later become a bad habit in life and sassed her at the worst time due to anxiety. "Oh, she's somewhere. Why don't you ask the one that tried to kill her? I'm sure that'll work."
Thin lipped she glowered at him, digging the metal deeper into his ear and hoping he would start begging and crying. He did not though, and she tried again. "Oh, you are quiet the comic little fool. Maybe I should let my daughter play with you some. Or I could discipline you myself. I'd rather enjoy that."
As she spoke the hand precariously in front of his throat began to glow purple, an uncomfortable draining feeling emitting from it, and she pressed the other nails deeper, two of them fully piercing through his ear. He tried his best to stay strong, to not cry and ask her to stop, but this was worse than what she'd ever done before and he almost broke. His saving grace was a powerful yet elegant voice that came from the shadows to the left, gentle heel clacks following after the newcomer spoke.
"I'm sure you would, until King Garon banished you for mutilating one of his most promising young soldiers. I heard as well that your daughter has been damaging graves as well, some of them those of royals. That's not too great for you either, is it?" The lady told her, almost mocking Sinistra at the end.
"You bitch, coming to the rescue of every lost puppy out in the world. Let me guess, you wish for me to release the child? He's withholding valuable information about my daughter."
"As I'm withholding valuable information about her as well. Now do as I say, and I will keep her secret from my husband. Deal?"
Backed into a corner with no way out the concubine cursed, spitting on the scared child before reluctantly removing her claws, angrily stomping away without another word. Ascalon shivered and numbly went to reach for his ear, only to feel a hand grab his and stop him. Startled he jumped in place and looked to the person, fearing Sinistra had returned only to find a new face, one that was pleasant and had a worried smile on it. Her light blue hair shinned in the moonlight as her gold eyes met his, filled with a familiar warmth. Brushing the hair from his face she laughed lightly and patted the awe-struck child's cheek softly, bringing him out of his panicked stated.
"Well, you must be the boy my husband speaks so proudly about, what with bringing all of our men and women home and making friends with his children. Your name is Ascalon, right sweetheart?" She asked him, a melodious sound trickling through her words.
"Ye-yeah. I'm him. My dad is Arcturus and my dragon is named George. Who are you?" He asked slowly, still lost in wonder.
"I am Queen Arete, King Garon's wife. Let me take you to my home; you don't look well."
"Okay. I follow you your majesty."
Again, she gave a sickly sweat laugh and held his hand in hers, leading him through the complex and to the building she resided in. Dazedly he went where she did, vaguely feeling the blood running down the side of his neck and the strange discomfort on the skin that had been near Sinistra's magic. Every so few steps the queen looked back at him, checking that he was still awake and not going to faint, biting her lip when she found him stumbling a little and unable to focus on what was in front of him. His condition grew worse and quickly she took him in her arms and jogged the rest of the way.
Once home she closed the door with a nudge from her hip, calling to her daughter to come help her, and then proceeding to set him on a large cushion near the fireplace. Staying calm, she pressed part of her dress to his ear, patting his cheek to keep him awake. Azura came down right as her mother told the boy to try counting to ten, pausing as he spoke in a tongue that she had never heard, before promptly passing out. Arete sighed in slight annoyance, figuring this would happen but hoping it would have been after she patched him up.
"Azura honey, could you bring me the water jug and a cloth from the kitchen?" Arete asked her daughter, voice cool and collected.
Nodding the young princess went to gather the items, heading over once she had them all and asking, "Did you want me to go and bring the medical box? I know where it is."
"Yes please." Her mother answered, grateful that her child did not shy away from situations like this. As Azura left she busied herself with cleaning the poor child up, cursing about the awful lady under her breath, wondering if there was any way she could banish her so that the castle could be just a bit safer. When her daughter returned, she said, "Thank you. You can sit; I'll need your help."
"Alright. Mother, what language was he speaking in? Do you know it?"
"Well…I've heard it before. It is not from here and it's been a while since I've heard it spoken. The language is that of the dragons Azura."
"Oh. That would make sense. Camilla told me a child here has a dragon that he hatched. She's quite fond of him."
"I'm glad she has a friend. What else has she told you about him?" Arete asked, hoping there would be nothing of consequence.
Fifteen minutes passed as her daughter told her the exact opposite, explaining how and where the child had been found, the rumors that the staff of the castle had spread about him, his odd connection to George, everything that further worried the queen without realizing her mother's concern. Finishing with a small huff her daughter got up and went to go to the bathroom, saying she would be quick, and leaving the internally stressed parent with the unconscious boy. Once her daughter was out of sight Arete looked down at Ascalon, eyes wide and hands shaking. Not just because of what her daughter had relayed to her, but about the things her child didn't know.
The chances he was royal were very slim, almost nonexistent, but him being from Valla…that was not too far-fetched. Many people had fled her homeland when she did, most of them scattering and then dying due to the curse that was activated when anyone spoke of that hidden kingdom. Here was a child that had missing memories and was found with peculiar items, including a creature that was not common. Nervous and feeling her stomach do flips, she patched up his ear and examined the damaged skin on his throat. Tsking she shook her head, knowing she would need a healer to fix this.
Returning Azura watched her mother for a moment, noting how odd she was being about the boy, her hands hovering for a second above him while the queen muttered to herself. Her mother caught sight of her soon though, giving a reassuring smile and motioning for her to come over. She did, sitting next to her mother, and the two spent the evening settling the boy on the cushions and then going to sleep for the night.
[Arcturus and Phier in The Barracks]
"Arc? Buddy? Come on paperwork surely cannot be enough to kill you." Phier said in exasperation, hands on her hips as she stared at the snoring man at the desk.
It was late in the night and she had already put Rosalynn to bed. As the girl slept peacefully her ward had sought out her friend, wishing to check on him and inform him of the latest update to their plans. Now here she was, friend dead to the world with ink smeared on his face and child missing. Her frustration rose as she tried, yet again, to wake him and only received a grumble and him shifting in his chair. Done with this the wyvern lord did the only thing she knew would work for sure, knowing she would get an earful later. She proceeded to stick her finger in her mouth, cover the digit in spit, and put it inside his ear.
The yell of alarm and outrage that he gave made it worth the scolding that was sure to come. Laughing at the sight she watched Arcturus turn to glare at her, giving the dirtiest look possible, and trying to speak only to be cut off as she asked, "Where's your boy?"
Dumbfounded he froze, mouth partially open, and turning his gaze to the floor as he thought. Groggily he answered, "He told me he was going to go explore, since I had work to do. Why? Is he okay? Is he hurt? Did he go somewhere he shouldn't have? Did he eat those dang berries I told him not to touch last month? Ahhhhggg, I need to find him!"
Roaring with laughter Phier planted her foot on the man's chest and shoved him back into his chair when he tried to run off. Gathering herself she said, "I'm sure he's fine; if not I take full blame and will make it up to you. I came here to see how you were anyway, and to let you know that we're leaving in five days."
"Oh. Uh well, I'm alright. Drowning in work but I'll live. I am still deeply bothered by the whole twin sister issue and well Sinistra existing. She came by the training ring today, asking me if I had seen her daughter."
"And? What did you tell the witch?"
"Where the disturbed sister was. She was not pleased with me and that earned me an ever so pleasant smack from her tome. My cheek is going to be bruised for days."
"You poor dear, whatever shall we do. It's not like people can heal you with magic. Did Ascalon see it?" She asked as she leaned on the edge of his desk, arms folded over her chest.
"Yeah, unfortunately he has good eyes and can spot close to anything. I told him I had slipped on a step and ate shit but…he looked at me, folded his arms, and raised his eyebrows in disbelief. I was able to distract him with food though." Arcturus answered, giving a smile and thumbs up at the end, to which Phier rolled her eyes at.
"He's smart. A bit too smart. And almost out of nowhere he's started to become quite sassy and sarcastic. I wonder where he learned it from. Big mystery here."
"Probably George. Who knows what they gossip about. He knows about Nix and Hela though…what happened to them. During the scuffle in the graveyard he had run into Nix's headstone and asked me about it later."
Lowering her arms at the unexpected news, Phier held her friend's hands, she gently said, "I'm proud you told him Arc. I know it must have been hard, to have to tell that to a kid. You did good though."
"I don't feel that way though. I'm glad that he's melded into this new place so seamlessly but, his adventurous nature keeps getting him in trouble and he wants to know so much. I want the world for him but that simply isn't possible with the way things are between the kingdoms. If I didn't have you kicking my ass half the time I don't know where I'd be. Right now, I feel like I'm just lost in a familiar land."
"Being a parent isn't easy man. I have no clue what to do with Rosalynn but thankfully she's smart and self-reliant. She also has taken an interest in flying combat. I can't get too close though because she'll be gone soon."
Smiling some he offered, "You could always get attached to Ascalon. He needs the guidance and discipline. Also, I'm sure you're doing a fine job with the girl. She's like a baby duck with the way she follows you around."
"Well, I'm sure he could always do with a father figure in his life. Do you think he'll call me father one day?" She asked, gazing off at the invisible future while feigning worry over the idea. After Arcturus lightly slapped her side, she looked down at him and smiled genuinely, her eyes glimmering like rubies in the candlelight. "You know I'm kidding some. We could both be dads for him."
"Ugh, you're unbelievable. He'd probably appreciate it though. Thank you Phier, for everything. I don't know what I did to earn such kindness but I'm very grateful for it, and to have someone like you always there to help me."
"You did a lot to earn this so don't sell yourself short. Even when the world turned on you, you still helped others. I wouldn't be here, have my rank, anything, if you hadn't gone out of your way to train me and push the king to give me a chance. I'm unsure why you seek out underdogs and lost causes but, it's part of why you're one of the best captains out there. Never forget that. You've helped so many and we're all grateful."
Arcturus rose to his feet at that last statement, moved by her praise and words, and hugged his dear friend closely. She didn't make anymore jokes or pull away when it seemed like it had been too long for most others. Right then, in that moment made just for them, the pair that had weathered many storms and trials held close to one another, forgetting where they were and just enjoying the company. Neither one was certain if there was something more and didn't push it. Later though, as the night passed, and a messenger told them that Ascalon was safe and with his friend, the two got their answer, both of them glad to not have to be cold and alone any longer.
Woot woot! Character development and stuff. Plot! Sorry for the grizzly scene in the beginning my friends. Hope you all liked this chapter and don't worry the story with pick up the pace some soon. Probably the next chapter or two. Goodnight everybody!