Hey guys, MT here!

Oh my gosh! I was finally able to finish this!

So guys, let me give you a run down of my life so far and why the chapter I meant to post within the first week of January is coming out NOW

After Christmas, I went on vacation for a week, I got home and immediately started the new semester at college, and my work needed me to work extra hours because holiday season. I also had to reorganize my house, help my dad dismantle one of the rooms in my house so he could turn it into an office, go with my parents to see family and friends of the family that I didn't really want to see and, on this long list of things I've had to do, I was sick for about a week and a half with a lingering headache and congestion that messed me up enough that I couldn't write properly.

Anyways, I ramble ENJOY!

Chapter 74

Saito and co exited the World Door finding themselves in Gallia. More specifically, in the royal palace. There were several guards around, shocked to see them suddenly appear but one of them came up to them after a minute of tension.

"You…you all are them, correct? Two of the famed Void mage and Duke Hiraga?" asked the guard. Saito nodded and the guard's expression seemed to light up. "Wonderful! I had heard rumors of your death Duke Hiraga but now that they have been disproved we must go and see Her Majesty so as to reassure her!"

"How has Tabit- I mean Charlotte, been recently?" asked Saito as the guard guided them through the courtyard. He seemed to put on a somber expression at Saito's question but still answered clearly.

"Her Majesty has been in quite the rut as of late. Hearing of your possible death has caused her to be extremely unresponsive and she weeps often. Her mother decided to allow her to rest while she took temporary control. Many of we guards have been quite worried over her reactions and have wondered how to help her," explained the guard. Saito frowned worried about Tabitha who was suffering. He looked around once they had entered the main part of the castle and they found an old maid walking by with two younger maids behind her. The older maid caught Saito from the corner of her eye and she came to an abrupt stop, the two maids behind her almost running into her.

"Dear me 's that Duke Hiraga?" asked the older maid, shocked. She came up to Saito to get a better look, waving the guard off with a simple wave of her hand. "Well bless my soul, it is! Oh great news 'tis this. Quickly, quickly now, we must go and see Milady Charlotte immediately. Ah, where are my manners, I'm the head maid here, Sir Duke. We 'an speak more later, though. We must hurry up and see Milady."

Saito, confused as were the others, followed the old maid who had so randomly approached them and hastily spoke in an accented voice.

They were nearly in a sprint up the stairs, the old maid keeping a fast pace very well. Once they made it to the top of the two flights of stairs, they ran down a hall, stopping in front of two rather luxurious doors and the old maid took a breath to stop her panting.

"Milady, I've brought guests," said the old maid as she opened the doors. Saito peered in to find Tabitha sitting on her bed, around ten open books around her, all open to the first ten pages. She had a book in her face, not looking over to them. "Milady Charlotte, I believe I've brought some guests you 'ill quite like."

Tabitha slowly moved the book from her face and peered past it at the old maid. The moment she looked in the old maid's direction, though, her eyes clearly latched onto something else, her eyes widening as she took it in.

Saito, knowing she was looking at him, smiled, sheepishly, and waved.

"Hey, Tabitha," said Saito, wondering how she would react.

Tabitha's grip on the book she was holding relaxed the book fell out of her hands onto her lap. Saito took a hesitant couple steps towards her, still worried about how she would react. Her face immediately contorted into a mix of pain and happiness, tears welling in her eyes. She scrambled to get out from under the covers, knocking most of the books on her bed off. Once out of her she all but leapt at Saito, throwing her arms around his neck and pushing her face into his chest.

Saito wrapped one arm around Tabitha's waist, his other still occupied holding Louise's hand. He could feel Tabitha trembling a bit in his chest, her sniffles filling the relative silence in the room.

After a few minutes, Tabitha's trembles seemed to die down a bit and the maid left, probably to left Irukuku and Tabitha's mother know about the situation.

Tabitha had calmed down enough that they could move to the bed and sit down. She didn't release him completely, but Tabitha relaxed her grip enough that the others could see her face which was streaked with tears.

"Tabitha…I'm alright now, okay?" said Saito, soothingly.

"…I," began Tabitha after another moment of silence. "I didn't know how to react when I heard it. That you… I just kept working. When they told me I couldn't work anymore. I tried to read but…no matter what I did, Saito's face…his smile, didn't leave my mind."

"It's okay, Tabitha. You don't have to worry about that anymore. I won't die like that again, I promise," said Saito, calmly.

"…I know, that I'm not Louise but…could I ask for you to be with me when I'm sad…?" said Tabitha, a bit hesitantly. There was a moment of silence before Tabitha pulled her face off Saito's chest and smiled up at him, her eyes still glassy. "No, I will be fine if I can just see you often."

"We'll see each other a lot more after this, okay? We'll all get together more often. Have fun, like we did back at the academy, okay?" said Saito, a bit serious. Tabitha smiled at him and nodded before letting him go, only gripping the edge of his parka with one hand.

"Sissssssssss!" shouted a familiar voice as a person burst into the room. It was Irukuku and she threw herself at Tabitha, knocking the poor girl over in the process. Irukuku was rubbing her cheek against Tabitha's lovingly. "Sis, are you better now? I heard from the old maid that Saito was back and I was hoping you were better."

"Fine now," said Tabitha, back to her usual form of speech. Irukuku made gleeful sounds as she hugged Tabitha, rubbing all over her in a frenzy, causing most to laugh a bit, the previous tension dissipated.

Once Irukuku had calmed down enough, Tabitha had a chance to ask Saito about the present situation.

"Dwarves," said Tabitha, simply.

"Ah, well, we've found out that they have a new king and are formally declaring war on us. Seems things are getting heated again," said Saito, seriously. Tabitha seemed to think for a moment and then nodded to herself.

"Gallia will be ready. I will fight with you," said Tabitha, seriousness in her monotone voice.

"Are you sure you're alright, Sis? You're just starting to recover," said Irukuku, worriedly.

"Fine. Attacks won't start immediately," said Tabitha, calmly. "Go. Others need to get ready."

"Will you be fine, though?" asked Saito, concerned. Tabitha nodded and let go of Saito's parka before getting up.

"Go," said Tabitha, simply. Saito nodded after a moment and turned to the others.

"Next to Albion," said Saito, seriously. Louise nodded and cast World's Door, everyone waving Tabitha and Irukuku goodbye before passing through.

The group exited the World Door to find themselves inside the throne room of Albion's castle. They found themselves interrupting some kind of report being given to King Harold, who stared at them, surprised.

"Ah, um…hello, Uncle," said Gwen, a bit embarrassed to have entered in such a way. Harold hopped up from his chair and ran over to her, giving her a tight hug.

"Oh, my dear Gwen! I was so concerned when you suddenly disappeared. Between you and your sister I haven't any idea on how to comfort you both. Are you alright, my dear?" asked Harold, a bit flustered.

"Yes, Uncle. I am now that I know Saito is still alive," said Gwen, surprising Harold.

"What?- Oh my! I didn't even see you there, my boy. I am elated to see you alive and well. It was grave news to hear of your death on that mission," said Harold, patting Saito on the shoulder. "I suppose you all are here to see Asuna?"

"Yes, is Asuna-nee still in her room?" asked Gwen, worriedly.

"Yes, she is. She still hasn't eaten, either, which is quite worrying. I believe you had said her body uses up more energy so she must much eat more but she's gone so many days without food or water," said Harold, worriedly.

"We should see her soon. You might want to prepare something easy on her stomach. Once she snaps out of it, she'll probably be hungry," said Saito, calmly. Harold nodded and gave a signal to one of the nearby servants before bidding the group good luck.

The group was guided by Gwen to Asuna's room and Saito opened the door, quietly. He peeked inside to see everything neatly organized until his eyes landed on Asuna laying down on her bed on top of her covers. Her silver hair was sprawled out around her head in a mess and she was wearing nothing except a large shirt that Saito recognized as one he had given her back when they were still dating.

"Asuna?" said Saito as he slowly entered the room, followed by the girls.

There was no response and, as he got closer, Saito could see her blank look in Asuna's eyes.

"Asuna-nee, are you okay?" asked Gwen, worriedly.

"Ah…" croaked Asuna, not moving her eyes or face to look in Gwen's direction. "Nee-san, you returned. I had heard…you disappeared. I thought you just went to see Louise…so I didn't think much of it."

"Oi, Asuna, I'm here," said Saito, trying to get her attention. When she didn't react to his words he waved a hand in front of her face and then leaned over her, looking her straight in the eyes.

"Ah, look, my imagination is acting up again…I wish it wouldn't torture me like this," said Asuna, her voice cracking a bit as her eyes became glassy.

"Asuna-nee, it's not your imagination. It's Saito-san. He's not dead like we thought," said Gwen, worried.

"Saito isn't dead, Asuna," said Louise, quietly.

"Eh? Louise is saying something so crazy so maybe it is true. I wonder if I could be lucky enough not to lose Saito again…though I guess Louise has lost him once more than I have," said Asuna. She reached out a hand towards Saito's face and hesitantly dragged her fingers across his cheek. When she confirmed the warmth she felt from his skin, her eyes focused, gleaming a bit from the tears welling up. She threw herself at Saito, yanking him down onto the bed with her, her arms wrapped around his neck.

She began to sob, though the sobs seemed more like yelps in pain than sobs the other girls made. Asuna and Saito stayed like that for a while, Asuna unable to let him go.

After some time, Asuna had calmed down enough and Gwen went to tell a maid to bring some food and water. The maid brought some porridge and a glass of water and Saito helped Asuna, exhausted from the lack of food or water for so long, to eat.

Once finished, Asuna glanced around a bit.

"Chichi, where are you?" asked Asuna. After a moment, they heard some rustling and then a small monkey appeared.

"Ah, you're back to- Ooo Ooo- normal, Master," said Chichi as he hopped onto her bed. He sat on her lap and he pet him a bit, smiling.

"I'm alright now…Saito, what are you all going to do?" asked Asuna, worried for the future.

"Well, for now, we're going to every capital to talk about the coming war. Though, I don't know if you'll be able to join us until you recover," said Saito, worriedly.

"I'll be fine if you give me a night's rest, though I don't know if I'll be able to fight properly for a while," said Asuna, worriedly.

"What do you mean?" asked Saito confused.

"Come on, Gandálfr. You know that the familiars of Void are supposed to rely on certain things for their powers. Gandálfr is emotion, Myoznitnirn is desire for knowledge, Lifdrasir is a love for the Void mage you're giving power to, and Vindalfr is will power. Her will is going to- Ooo- need some time to recover," explained Chichi.

"Now I get it…well, there shouldn't be any battles for a bit at least. You should be fine for some time, Asuna. And we should probably break here for today. It's getting late and we haven't eaten much. Siesta, can you go with Gwen and explain the situation with the Dwarves to King Harold? Also, tell him we plan to spend the night here," said Saito, receiving a nod from Siesta who then left with Gwen.

"Saito…" began Asuna, causing Saito to turn back around. "I think I speak for Louise and I when I say…please don't die like that again."

"Don't worry, Asuna. I've already promised not to die like that again. The next time I go, I'll be an old man," said Saito, grinning a bit. Asuna and Louise smiled a bit at him before glancing at each other.

Their thoughts were synonymous. They were going to protect Saito, no matter what.

So? What did you guys think?

Quick update by the way, so I've noticed the past few chapters that, despite having similar view counts, I've gotten significantly less Reviews. I love and appreciate you guys that have continued to Review and I know the ones that have been have been with me since the beginning but I do wonder. Is it that you guys don't have anything to say or have the chapters not been as good as you have hoped. I've been writing this story for a LONG time so I do still want as much feedback as I can get to properly guide the story. Just something to think about.

Anyways, I plan to try and get the next chapter out by Valentine's so look forward to that, until next time...byeee :D