one more chapter, and Bound will be complete.
The courtyard was singing, sharp hisses of steel clashing together, scattering amber sparks all over the air, dying before they hit the earth. To everyone near it was a warning that an intense sparring match was going down. Silver cut hard against white, the red design looking grim and worn compared to the vivid green painted over the white sword, straight and strong in contrast to the curving jagged sword.
As the two gunblades clashed and tore at each other, the wielders danced around them. They swerved, swung, duck, rose, blocked, struck, backed away, pressed; all the while their eyes stayed locked, light blue staring intently into determined greens, neither faltering as they listened to their blades sing, listening to where they wanted to go.
For in Niflheim, its strongly believed that weapons are partners, comrades through life. If there was one that was going to get the fighter to survive, it was the weapon, experience, and instinct.
But here in this relaxed competition, it was their gunblades the two fighters listened too, not the instinct to kill; simply settling for challenging their experiences.
Blazefire and Alexander tore away from each other, their owners leaning away from each other, before charging, the two gunblades meeting in a furious lock as the two lent their weight into it, trying to shove the other off balance. Normally, with her height and strength, Claire usually won at this point, but she smiled proudly as Hope stood his ground, his teeth gritted in concentration as he narrowed his eyes at her, intent on standing his ground, at the very least.
"You've been practicing," she noted.
"Been working with Rygdea, Fang, and Cid," Hope managed out. Usually he'd train with Odin and Claire, but since one was married away in another kingdom and the other busy with politics, Hope had to settle with whoever was open. Sometimes he'd even try training with Snow, but that never usually worked out since the man only knew martial arts.
Being here to spar with Claire again was like a breathe of fresh. His body felt alive as she met his challenge, and patient enough to let him move anyway he saw fit. All other men that he tried training with (besides Odin), all saw that he should increase his physical strength. Both Farrons encouraged him to learn about speed. It was what they thrived on more than physical strength. Their speed, agility, and flexibility was what they were truly known for.
Hope would like the Esthiems to be known for it as well.
He felt Claire give a little on their lock and dove in, intent on knocking the gunblade from her hands only to find himself slashing at air, Claire's body swerving around to his unguarded back, Blazefire lightly pressing at his shoulder blades. A feint he realized. Behind him she hummed aloud, "I win."
Pouting, he let Alexander drop and switch close, the blade locked within the gun and stashed in his black case. He turned to face Claire as she slid Blazefire in her own crimson case. Meeting his gaze with a smile, she eased, "You lasted much longer. You are getting better. You just need to learn to pick up your feet a little more."
"Which is hard when everyone fights by keeping their feet on the ground," the teen bemoaned, stamping his feet in exasperation. "I wish you could just stay in Niflheim," he grumbled.
She tilted her thoughtfully at the wish, her eyes calm as she considered him. "I do wish that too," she admitted.
"Then why don't you come back?" Hope asked, excitement rising in his tone. "Are you really needed here?"
"I am married now," she told her adopted brother patiently, guiding him off the training grounds and into the garden so that they could cool down and relax. "I have a duty to stick by my husband and his family in their time of need."
"And you own family?"
"This is my way of helping our own family. I sealed an alliance Hope. With that alliance, most if not all the nobles in Niflheim have turned away from your grandfather. I think all he has left is his kingsguard. And I heard from mother, Serah, and Fang that even that loyalty is dwindling. It won't be long now." She eyed the koi pond that Noctis' mother had adored, watching the gold, white, black, and orange fish all swim around in graceful calm. "We'll have a new king."
"But you won't be back home," he murmured, glum.
Reaching up, dragged Hope to her side so he could lean on her in a one armed hug. "I'm sure we'll see each other enough." She cracked a grin at the thought. No doubt she'd be sent up a few times to help with negotiations. They were sure to see each a few times at least. "If not, I'll make time to visit. Besides," she added with a tease, "who else is going to perfect your training?"
He quirked his lips up, chuckling at that as he lent his head back on her shoulder, breathing in the odd assortment of vegetation around him. Very different from the salt fresh air of the ocean that sat near their home. Opening his eyes and staring down at the pond, he knew without asking that she missed the beach. It might be a long while before she could walk along the sand bare foot.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, startling her, "if I was a little older and stronger, you might not have been married off."
"That's something out of your control," she said simply, running her hand through his ivory hair. "Don't dwell on what could, only on what is and will be. What's done is done."
"All you can do is move forward," Hope quoted, a famous term from the Farrons.
She hummed, watching one fish splash at the surface, diving into the middle of the school and startling all the others. Her hand moved to his shoulder as she offered, "Lets get something to eat. I haven't had lunch yet."
"I don't think Serah has either," Hope added, perking up as he tried to find his other sister in the garden. When they first arrived, Serah was quick to insist to see the garden that Noctis's mother was known for. Hope and Claire instead headed out to the training grounds, eager for a spar, leaving their mother alone to see the king.
Noctis was currently out with his friends, going out to meet with the lords in between Niflheim and Lucis, and to gather a little more information. So far, Niflheim has been stuck in a cold war. Idola locked himself away in his castle while her father has been hosting meetings all over the place, trying to find a suitable lord to stand in till Hope was old enough to take the throne. Of course there were lords that sought the throne for themselves or refused to serve under some other lord.
She knew Caius Ballad desired the throne.
Jhil Nabaat just wanted everyone to bow at her feet.
Galenth Dysley loved the thought of being king.
And Yaag Rosh, head of the kingsguard, frowned at the thought of serving a young King Hope.
Then there were a small handful that wanted Odin to be king, specifically the lords in between the two kingdoms like Lords Cecil, Firion, Lady Garnet... Claire sighed. She wasn't even there for all the political drama and she was getting a headache still. Shaking her head, she pulled Hope along, suggesting that they should try and find Serah, then they can all dine on lunch together, just like old times.
From above, Averia watched her children from the king's window, her hands grasped together behind her as Regis stood next to her, observing the Farron siblings curiously. Answering the silen question, Averia said, "They don't know."
"You don't think Claire has a right at the very least?" Regis mused.
"She does," Averia agreed. "But she has enough to focus on already."
Just a few days ago, Eldercapt has made a move. Small in commoner eyes, but foreboding for a noble. Eldercapt had sent them a ruin of their sigils. A horse, once proud and tall was headless and cracked, one rear leg missing. Glued to its side were crooked black wings that hung limply at the statue's sides. The memory made Averia shiver. Idola was going to hit hard when he came.
"She's proven to be quite an asset here."
"So I'm hearing, is it true that she's rivaling young Lord Scientia." She grinned at the fact, her eyes playfully. "How is he handling having some competion?"
"Not as well as I hoped, but well enough I suppose. We have views, tactics, and opinions from both inside and out." In truth be told, Ignis and Claire have taken up a friendly rivalry in this meetings. It started with Ignis distrust for the future queen and with her eager to meet any challenge. As they offered ideas to the table, they sought ways to combat them. They were becoming quite the team.
The king paused for a moment before turning to Lady Farron, eyeing like a plotting crow, the sigil that represented the Caelums. He had a question that was heavy and tense. Averia suspected that it was one that tested her own loyalty. His polite silence made her chuckle. "You're free to ask what Eldercapt is planning," she told him, "be aware that no one knows for sure."
"Claire suspects that he might come on water, sailing up Acqua Fredda."
"It is a very Eldercapt plan," Averia agreed, her smile finally dropping as she frowned, her bright eyes dimming darkly. "Personally, I don't think its one that he'll go with. I don't even know if he has a plan. He's locked himself away not long after the wedding. And this solitude has only addled him further." She glanced up at Regis, her expression grave and serious, a sight rare and strange on the usually relaxed noble's face.
"Keep a close eye on your son Regis. He's on his last string, and its breaking. I don't know who he's going to come after, Noctis or my husband, but if he's going to move, its going to be to one of those two."
Noctis slouched back in his seat, face held by a fisted hand. As the car drove through the streets, Ignis at the wheel his eyes locked on the road, Noctis barely moved in the back seat as he waited for the trip to end, only sign that he was even still conscious was the annoyed twitch of his eyes when light flashed over the window as the car sped down the highway. From where he sat, the lights was just another minor annoyance to add to these days.
The meeting had been a total waste of time in Noctis' opinion. Sent down to supervise and see if he could find anything new, any news on Eldercapt or anyone in Niflheim that could hint at what the man was plotting; Noctis was grim to learn that he found none.
Eldercapt has yet to move.
The only perk that came out of it was something he already knew, the lords in between promising their support to him and Claire, along with a few words of encouragement. It would end soon, they promised him. Cold wars always seem to last the longest.
For the prince, the cold war hasn't felt as long for him as it has for others. He just been preoccupied to focus much on it. He's heard bits and pieces, but since neither side of Niflheim has moved much, nothing has demanded his serious attention. What has kept his attention was his wife.
Since their wedding, from days, turning to weeks, and starting to turn into a whole month afterwards; he liked to think they've come far as a couple. It was official after their first date that the bed was continuously shared between them. Awkward and very conscious at first, Noctis was starting to find that he couldn't bare with the idea of sleeping alone for once, to have Claire elsewhere.
He was happy to say he wasn't the only one.
Besides the council meetings and strategies to prepare, Claire spent a good while mentoring recruits and cadets. Exhausting work that made her dead tired by the end of the day. He never saw her falter till they were both alone in the room, her firm pressed up to him as she slept.
The comfort of sleeping near each other wasn't the only thing that grew between them.
Touch was becoming something common.
Before where they paused and considered if touching was ok, they now did it without thought. Leaning on one another, a hand on a shoulder, arm wrapped securely around a torso. And kissing. What was once shy now bloomed to something bolder, calmer even. When they kissed, it was natural and without thought. Whether and the cheek, nose, forehead, or on the lips; it was becoming a natural phenomenon.
And he still enjoyed each one, as did she.
His lips quirked up into a small, shy smile. They were making work. They truly were.
They still had their fights, something common as the comfort grew, but most those fights were small. Complaints about his snoring (which he still didn't believe), how she "fought" in her sleep and bruised him with her kicks and punches (she nearly broke his nose once with a sharp jab of her head), how she couldn't go wandering in Lucis alone, how he loved climbing trees too much, how she loved water too much, or teleported away when he was done with a conversation and how she blew up with she was pissed.
They weren't perfect, but they were making it work. And they were enjoying it. To the prince, that was all that mattered.
Laughing to himself, he couldn't help but think what their kids were going to be like. Would they have her pink hair? Or would it be something darker? His black? Or something lighter than that, perhaps brown? And their eyes. No doubt they would inherit the crystal's power, turning their eyes red for battle or when they were angry, but would their natural eye color be? Her icy blue? Or his deeper shade?
Noctis shifted uncomfortably as it clicked in his head what he was thinking about, turning his pale cheeks pink. Sex was a matter that hasn't be breached quite yet and neither side were pushing to do the act.
There were times that were leading up to it. When kisses grew to passionate, either from frustration or just falling too deep into the moment. Her back to the wall or him on the garden floor while she loomed above. Her body was always soft the few times he caressed her, roaming his hands up her torso to her firm shoulders, feeling her soft hair tickle his finger tips. Her own hands were just on his body, pressing all the right spots with just the right pressure. He found it hard to think when her hands moved along his chest and curved around to his back; it was even harder when he caught sight of her eyes.
Her eyes had always had some sort of ethereal glow to them, and they always seemed brightest in these moments of love, lust, and passion.
They never got too far since there was always a distraction. Someone walking in on them, or one of them realizing that there were more important matters at hand.
Any progress was put on hold, and the fault laid with both sides. They both stopped when they felt that they needed too.
He had a kingdom to prepare for, and she had family stuck in the middle of a coming civil war.
She always made a point to tell him, she loved how his eyes flared red in their moments of heat, which never failed to make him blush and stutter. Most were caught off guard by the change.
Noctis shifted a little in the backseat, watching the world go by and trying to distract himself from their close moments of passion. Efforts were in vain. He noted absently that they never had these moments in their room, where they were welcomed and secure to have them. Most of the time they were just too tired.
Maybe, maybe it was time though.
They've been married for almost a month now. Didn't most couples do it on that very night, and the for almost every day there after?
They were both comfortable enough with each other, and had plenty moments of passion leading up to it before it was stopped. It was... it was time for them to enjoy each other.
Claire swiped and cleaned the handgun Noctis was learning to use, securing that there was nothing that would deter its performance when they practiced. After he showed her the shooting club, Claire has become quite a regular customer, much to Noctis' wariness.
She decided then after his first lesson that they would continue. While they offered combative tips to each other, helped them both improve their skill with swords; she was very insistent about him learning to use a gun. Noctis was against till she shot him a dark evil eye. "If we end up in war with Niflheim, there's going to be a lot of guns against swords," she told him on his forced second lesson, adjusting his shotgun, "I'm aware that in close combat, the sword will win out. But guns have distance over most, if not all, blades."
She pointed the gun at him to add to her statement. "I want you to at learn how to snipe before you get sniped."
Noctis couldn't help but smile, his hands raised as he tried to ease, "I'm sure I'll be fine-"
"Shut it. I'm not going to become a widow at fucking twenty one. Now learn how to use it before I call Prompto in here, and Stella to back me up on this matter." The prince accepted the lessons then. Last thing he wanted was for the two blondes to gang up on him, siding with his queen. She noted it annoyed her husband a bit that she that she got along with the sharp shooter.
He was a little on the intolerable side, but was the only one beside herself that knew how to use a gun.
It offered something they both could talk about.
Cracking an amused smile, Claire rolled the gun over in her hands, content to see that it was clean and ready for practice. With Noctis getting a rare day off tomorrow now that his trip was done, she wanted to try and get at least an hour of shooting in before whisking him away to his favorite bar, 7th Heaven. She was sure Tifa would be excited to see them.
Just as she set the gun down with the few others she was able to scramble up, her cell rang loud and clear in armory. Not thinking about it, she pulled it out of her pocket and answered.
"Claire," an unmistakable voice rang, worried and tense.
She paused at the tone, her eyes sharpening and alert like a predator looking for its challenger. "Rosch," she returned warily. Yaag Rosch was the head of the kingsguard, and a somewhat rival of hers that she tolerated. He never called anyone unless it was serious business.
"King Eldercapt is gone."
Claire's blood turned cold at the warning, instinctively she looked around the room, as if the old king was there, watching her. She was alone as before, no one else in sight. "Any idea where?"
"None. But I think he might come after you, your husband, or your father. We're not too sure."
"Thanks for the heads up," she said, hanging up before he could stop her. Grabbing her gunblade and sealing it in her crimson halter, Claire left the armory and wandered out to the garden, her eyes searching for the secret intruder that may be there. Idola wouldn't know where Noctis was since the prince was on the move (or so she reassured herself), she didn't know if he was truly bold enough to confront her father, but to come to her? She could see the possibility.
After a moment of consideration, she turned and left the Caelum's gardens. She walked on and on, through the castle doors and off the royal property, into the city her husband didn't liked her going into alone.
She saw him immediately as soon as she stepped out.
He stood out like a ghost against the small crowd outside, his body hunched and tired, his ivory clothes wrinkled and worn. He looked much older the last time she saw him. His eyes were still sharp, cold, and furious as they peered at her, the silver flecks against his green irises burned bright in silver city of Lucis. Claire approached him, never breaking contact with his gaze. Stopping in front of him, she nodded off in one direction as she offered him, "I know a good sushi place."
She wondered if he walked the whole way to Lucis.
His hand shook fiercely as he stabbed each roll with a fork, barely able to keep it up as he brought it to his waiting mouth. Across from him, Claire observed carefully, her own chopsticks held perfectly in her hands. He was thinner than the last time she remembered too, his eyes sunken in a little, making him look a little owlish. It was added by the red bags under his eyes.
He looked like he was going to give at any moment, not a mad king about to start a war.
Claire sighed to herself as she bit into another piece of her meal, rolling the avocado, raw crab meat, seaweed, and rice on her tongue. She wasn't as mad as she thought she'd be when they finally met again. She felt more... sad. Perhaps that was the best word to describe it. Sad and disappointed.
"How... is your marriage," the old king asked, a croak and tremor in his once proud voice.
"Its going very well," she answered honestly. Something she couldn't quite believe herself. By the way Idola looked at her, his eyes cold and furious, he didn't believe her either. If anything, he looked like he was betrayed. He kept himself composed and calm though, continuing to eat and not making a scene. Knowing it wouldn't do much good, she couldn't help but add, "I'm happy Idola."
"You are not happy," the king snapped, talking more to himself than her. "We've been enemies for too long. You can be happy. You're a prisoners."
"Then I'm a willing prisoner."
He scowled at her, shaking his head like she was insane. In his riled state of mind, he probably thought she was. "You should be home," he said, "home with your people, your family, people you belong with. Not here, amongst these lying faulty crows with their tricks and their lies." He looked up at her, his dark eyes wild. "Ancora thought she could trust them too. And look where that got her."
"This marriage was made in a mutual agreement."
He didn't seem to hear her as his eyes drooped and his body slumped forward, looking exhausted. "My precious granddaughter," he whimpered to himself. "My little girl, they can't have you. They won't have you. They can't take you too."
Claire reached out, grasping his hand and squeezing, making him look up into her strict gaze. "Grandpa," she said, "they can't take what was never stolen."
His eyes widened and his face seemed to crumble, for a mere minute, it looked like the great King Idola Eldercapt was going to cry. Then his face hardened as he withdrew his hand from her, the wrinkles more defined, looking like cracks on his face as he stood up with a serious front. He considered himself for a moment, choosing his words carefully as he stared down at her. When he spoke, his voice was grave, but strong once more. "Know that I have and will always, love you."
"And I you," Claire returned.
Idola looked sad for a second be he shook his head and left her alone at her table, murmuring, "We'll see when all of this is done. I doubt even you will forgive me in the end."
From where she sat alone, Claire offered no reply as she watched him leave feeling only disappointment and sadness as she watched the great king crumble away.