Again Lucida couldn't get a wink of sleep. Broad awake she lay on her back, staring at the bottom side of the upper bed. That double loft bunk was pretty convenient. It was a bit narrow, but they managed to accommodate five men. Definitely way more comfortable than that small tent they spent the night in last night.
Then Lucida sat up, leaning against the wall next to the bed, bending knees, and ran her hands through her hair.
Tomorrow is the day. She will meet her father for the first time of her life, if everything goes according to the plan. Will he reject her? Thinking about it made her even more nervous than she already was. She hid her face in her hands. Suddenly she could hear footsteps coming closer and closer. She looked up and recognized Ignis silhouette sitting down on the bed. Immersed in her thoughts she didn't even notice him being away in the first place.
"Can't sleep again, Your Highness?", he whispered and looked at her briefly after he took off his glasses. He was about to go back to sleep, but knew that she was full of insecurities and doubts by merely looking at her.
Shaking her head Lucida responded, "not one bit." Then she glanced at him, noticing him without his glasses on. As her eyes opened wide she lowered her head again, to hide her affection. He was gorgeous.
After a few seconds Ignis muttered, "you do not need to worry. It will come out alright."
As Noctis's understanding consultant he learned a lot about his personality and his family, thus he can almost predict what will happen next. And He knew that the next act won't include abandoning his sister. It's quite the opposite. Noctis has taken her to her heart already. And King Regis will do so too, Ignis assumed.
"Maybe", she murmured softly. After that Ignis came closer, leaning against the wall and sat right next to Lucida. "I understand your concerns" he whispered then after a pause proceeded "But worrying will never change the outcome."
Lucida nodded slightly, "you do have a point there."
"So do not keep that sad face, Your Highness", he whispered wrapping his arm around her. They remained silent for a while, until he added, "But for now we should catch up on some sleep."
"Yeah", Lucida muttered with a slight smile and lay her head on his warm shoulder. She could sniff the scent of hair gel and a little bit of sweat, but he also smelled a bit spicy. Probably because he is always the one cooking.
They closed their eyes, Ignis trying to sleep, and Lucida still thinking about what might happen tomorrow. She wondered what her father is like. All her life she lived without a father figure, and that left a big hole in her heart. Being hold by Ignis arms made her feel like she never did before. She felt secure and appreciated – nothing she can talk about back at home. Thinking about her mother's last words before she left, "I wish you were never born" made her come to the thought that it can't get any worse, even if she gets rejected by her father. Getting back home was no option. There clearly was no turning back. If you start something then you should make sure to finish it.
Overthinking for too long once again, Lucida heard Ignis already breathing slowlier. He must have been very tired, since he fell asleep that quickly. She made full use of Ignis not wearing his glasses and gazed at him for seconds, memorizing every detail of his beautiful face. After that she stroke his chin, then ran her hand through his soft hair and gave him a gentle kiss on his forehead. Resting her head on his shoulder again, she closed her eyes ti fall asleep as well.
After Lucida woke up she looked around. Strange, she thought. Where are the others? She remembered Ignis putting his jacket on the chair, but now its not there. The Cup on the table and even the car key was gone. No one was here
She got up frantically in total panic. Did they leave her? Did they really leave her after all? It can't be possible. She rushed out of the Caravan, searching for one of the four boys, noticing that the car is not there. Where the hell are they?
Taking a few steps backward she broke down completely in despair , gasping for air. She was alone again. Tears were streaming down her face.
She sat on the ground with her face downcast, until she heard an engine drone and pebbles crackle. It was the boys car. They parked and hopped out of the car, approaching her. But it were not only the four men. There was another familiar face.
"You're such a burden", it said with a voice, she already heard before. Lucida looked up and saw her mother looking down at her. "I wish you were never born", she said with disgust. Those coldblooded words felt like her heart was being stabbed. As Lucida gasped for air heavily, not able to handle the situation, they turned her their back and headed for the car, abandoning her.
"Luce! Wake up!", Prompto yelled, raising her out of sleep by shaking her shoulders frantically. She jumped awake with wide opened eyes, breathing in and out fast. Letting go of her cold shoulders he said, "you scared me!" She sat up covering her face with her hands. "You tossed and turned like fury just now. Had a bad dream?", Prompto asked almost with a cheerful voice as always. "A nightmare", Lucida muttered.
"What did your dream about?", he asked.
Lucida sighed. "You guys left, and my mother ...", then after a pause she proceeded "I was... alone."
Prompto gave her a comforting look. Noctis already told him a bit about her problems with her mother. When Lucida mentioned her mother being involved in her dream, he immediately understood. Then he jumped next to her looking at her with a smile, saying with the aim to cheer her up, "You know what I once dreamt about? There was this bi—g behemoth and he was running after me. I was so afraid. When I woke up I was being headlocked by Gladiolus. Said it was the revenge for pulling back the chair as he wanted to sit down."
Lucida smiled. "Prompto is just Prompto." He tilted his head and gave her a confused look. "Keep that smile. You may not know it yet, but your enthusiasm is priceless, so don't ever change."
"Uh-" , Prompto exhaled then said kiddingly with a grin, "you making me blush."
She laughed as a response, then stood up and asked, "Say, where are the others?"
"Buying potions and stuff. Preparing for the battles which lie ahead of us in Niflheim."
"Ah, so they're – ", she got interrupted by the heavily opened door, which made Prompto and Lucida startle. They watched Gladiolus coming in, squashing through the small door of the caravan. By some wonder he managed to get his wide shoulders inside.
Indeed, Gladiolus was a man of large built and an imposing physique, but even more cheerful and affectionate. Nothing that Lucida expected at first. She thought he'd be smug and grumpy. But she quickly realized, that he is a truly faithful man.
As Ignis and Noctis came inside as well, she greeted, "Morning!"
Somehow she was relieved to see all four men right in front of her, after that daunting dream. She had the strong urge to just hug all of them, after all they've done for her, in only two short days. It still was strange and she still felt a bit insecure, but she knew she is in safe keeping, not like back at home.
"Morning", they responded. "Finally up and about, Luce?" Gladiolus added and ruffled her hair messy. Lucida glowered at him through the strands of hair that were covering her face.
"Sis, are you ready?", Noctis asked as he rested his hands on his hip. "Yes", Lucida nodded. "Good. Time to hit the road", he responded. "Indeed, it's high time", Ignis added.
They went out of the caravan and got into the Regalia. Ignis sitting at the wheel, next to him Gladiolus. Prompto, Noctis and Lucida sat in the back of the car. The driver started the engine and drove off. The road was clear, thus they got on fast. After five hours of drive they decided to have a short rest at a petrol station. While Gladiolus was busy tanking up Prompto and Noctis stretched their legs. Lucida crossed the road and went to a meadow full of red little poppies across from the petrol station. It was windy and the sky was overcast. She kneeled down, plucked a poppy and stood up again. She dropped every petal and let it be blown away by the wind.
Suddenly she noticed someone standing beside her – It was Ignis. "We will arrive Niflheim soon", he said. She winced slightly, then said, "Yes", and brushed her hair behind her ear to glance at him. He adjusted his glasses. "Before we reach Niflheim", he started saying after a pause and turned around to face her properly, "I want to give you this." He put out a silvery necklace from his inside pocket of his blazer and held it high. Lucidas eyes opened wide. It was the necklace with the wolf on it, they looked at in the shop next to the station yesterday. Immediately she started grinning broadly and took a few steps closer to him. "You shouldn't have!", she exhaled. Ignis smiled, "You wanted to have the necklace, or am I wrong, Your Highness?" "Uh... Yes, But – ", she paused and didn't know what to say. "Please, accept it", he requested with a slight smile. Nodding slightly Lucida turned around and hold her hair up with her hands so that Ignis can put the necklace around her. He placed the hair that Lucida didn't grab aside and closed the clasp click of the necklace. Letting go of her long brown hair, she turned around touching the wolf-pendant with her fingertips. The gift made her truly happy. Giving him an intense gaze she said with a tender voice, "Thank you, Ignis!" He put his hands on her shoulders, then she leant her body against his. Putting his hands on her back he pulled her even closer so that her head rested on his chest. She wrapped her arms around him, but under his blazer, so that she could feel the warmth of his back. Remaining in that position for a while, they enjoyed the silence only hearing the sound of the wind. Then they slowly let go of each other. Ignis hand still lying on her shoulder, and Lucidas hand still grabbing his blazer, both of them constantly making eye contact.
"Hey, Iggy!", Prompto suddenly shouted from the other side of the street, "I got some coffee for ya! Ebony coffee, that's what you like, right?"
Immediately Ignis and Lucida stepped aback so that there was at least a one meter gap between them. "Just a moment", Ignis responded loudly and pulled at the collar of his blazer.
He started approaching Prompto to go and get his coffee and asked Lucida, "Do you want a coffee too, Your Highness?"
"Uh – ", She began to say, "I think I'm already nervous enough. Coffee will do no good." He smiled, "I suppose so."
When they reached Prompto, he gave Ignis his beloved Ebony coffee. Then Prompto said with a cheeky smile, "I'll leave you two alone again", and pushed them a bit closer. Both of them sighed and gave each other a look, but Lucida looking way more confused than Ignis. Then they looked back at Prompto and watched him jumping away in amusement.
"Highness", Ignis said as Noctis passed by and got hold of him, "I suggest we make plans how to invade the palace in Niflheim."
"Gladio! Prompto!", Noctis shoutet. "What?", Gladiolus asked as he looked over the car to the three of them.
"We gotta forge out a plan", he answered. Prompto and Gladio made his way to the group, then Gladio asked, "So, what's the plan?", and looked around in the group.
"Simple. We go inside that Palace, look for King Regis and sneak out again", Prompto said with a grin and rested his hands on his belt.
"It's not that simple", Gladiolus said with a slight smile and put him in a headlock. Flailing around Prompto whined "Let go of me!"
Ignoring the fact, that Prompto was being teased again, Ignis advised, "Indeed, we should not take the main entrance."
"Dead sure they expect us there", Gladiolus affirmed and tightened his arms around Prompto's neck even more. Prompto tried to get out of the headlock but failed.
Then Noctis said, "Even if we would go in the backway, they are expecting us everywhere."
"So you wanna take the front door?", Prompto asked as Gladiolus finally let go of him.
Noctis nodded slightly. Then Ignis asked, "Your Highness. Are you sure?"
"At the slightest indication of our presence, all hell will break loose.", the prince explained. "It won't make any difference how we invade, so we'll just fight our way through."
Gladiolus sighed, "This is gonna be tough."
"This is to be expected", Ignis added as he rested his arms on his hip.
"We'll beat the hell out of them!", Prompto said almost in anticipation. "Everything's settled?", Gladiolus asked. Noctis nodded at him then focused on his sister, who remained abstaining from the whole conversation.
"We still don't know where exactly our father is located in that palace, but I'm sure we'll find him", Noctis said with the aim to comfort his sister at least a little bit. "Yeah", she muttered and didn't even look at him.
As Gladiolus, Prompto and Ignis went back to the car Noctis asked her, "You are dead nervous, am I right?"
"huh?", she exclaimed in surprise. "How do you know?"
"It's written all over her face", her brother answered. Lucida stroke her forehead. Then she glanced at him and asked with a stressed expression "Aren't you nervous?" He nodded and assured, "I am". After a pause he said "Don't be afraid. Everything will be fine in the end"
Noctis slipped into his brother role again and tried his best. Lucida expected her brother to be rather cold, someone who doesn't talk about his feelings. And he really did not talk about them a lot, but she appreciated his consideration he showed just now. In this short amount of time they grew extremely close. "Thank you, Noctis", after a brief pause she added, "I mean it." Her voice was shaking and she just felt the urge to cry, but she hold her tears back. From now on she is not the same as she used to be. She has to be strong now to save her father, and for Noctis. She owes him a lot and doing her best now is the least she can do. He responded with a slight smile, then looked around, noticing the others already waiting in the car, "We should leave. Are you ready, sis?" After she nodded they headed for the car and pulled away.
Fear is temporary. If Lucida doesn't overcome her fear now, she will regret it forever. Courage is a decision, and she chose to not let fear rule her life. If you start something then you should definitely make sure to finish it.