Prompt: Will
I don't own Blackbird. Blackbird is copyright of Shilin.
"And you?" Blackbird asked, turning so that her steel eyes glared into the back of Veloce' jacket. "Do you not use that boy for your own intentions?"
"... I cannot say." Veloce began, keeping her back to the assassin. "But I do know this... To save his life, I would gladly give my own."
The silence was deafening, save for the cracking of the church's candles. Blackbird looked down. It was easier to show that you were unharmed if the damage was not done to your physical body. She clenched her fist as she felt the bile build in her mouth.
Weirin enviously watched a young couple from a distance. Her own obsidian eyes flared as she watched them laugh lean and held each other. "Keri..."
The twisting of her chest was not something that was easily elevated by medicine; she knew better.
Veloce and Keritzel
"Lady Luck must hate me." Weirin muttered, as she watched with disdain as the couple disappeared. "He was first, mine; but I suppose someone must end the cycle of hatred somewhere..."
Keritzel never thought of her romantically and considered her as a close friend.
No matter how sincere his words, Weirin still felt as if someone had repeatedly crushed her heart.
Of the corner of her eye, Weirin spotted a familiar red scarf, and as she approached, the figure of the assassin loomed clearer.
"Blackbird! Have you come in search of me?" Weirin asked, feeling that perhaps her self-pity moping had taken longer than she thought.
Blackbird's white eyes regarded her absentmindedly, as if she had been looking for someone else. "I have not." She sighed, running her callused hands through her thick locks. "I must admit, I knew naught that you were alone. Where has Iriel ran off?"
"He is visiting Meron by the bridge."
"That explains the flowers." Blackbird chuckled, her warm smile spread upon her face. Just as it appeared,
Blackbird's face darkened once more, as a grimace appeared on her features.
Weirin frowned. "What troubles you?"
Blackbird did not respond right away. Her moon-like eyes observing the life around them; the flapping wings of birds to the whispers of the grass beneath them. "Will you walk with me?"
It was a whisper that Weirin would not have heard if she paying attention. She nodded her agreement, and the two began walking, dragging their boots against the cobblestone.
"Veloce has excelled in her skills with a blade." The assassin mumbled.
"Yes she has." Weirin nodded. The recent battle of the King of Kronzel and his new army of troops had proved Veloce's new skills; mixing magik into her bladed attacks were more than enough to stop the onslaught.
Though as much as she wouldn't admit, Blackbird knew that one day, Veloce's skill may surpass even her.
"Her power grows each time I see her." The assassin sighed.
"I'm sure she thinks the same of you." Weirin smiled, adjusting her bow over her shoulder.
"I know not."
"Did you speak to her, prior to the King of Kronze's attack?"
The assassin stopped, and stood rigid. "I did."
"... Did she say something to upset you?" Weirin paused, and turned around, her violet tresses flowing in the wind.
Taken back, Blackbird bit her lip and said nothing.
The archer rubbed the bridge of her nose. "If it is something you do not wish to speak of, then I will not press you." She said firmly. She knew better than the push into other people's business, but she was becoming impatient between the constant tug of wars between the assassin and the sorceress.
"No, no." Blackbird shook her head, as if to shake herself out of her stupor. "I do wish to tell. I must confess, however."
The two women sat down under the shade of a large oak tree.
"Confess what?" The archer pushed on. "I'm sure Veloce will protect Keritzel and he will protect her-- I swear it."
"Yes. Certainly, Keritzel is one of Veloce' priorities."
"Did she say that?"
"Yes." Suddenly the assassin sounded pained.
"I don't understand," Weirin leaned back. "Why does this trouble you? Do not not like Keritzel?"
"It's not that."
"Then what might it be?"
The assassin scratched her neck and looked up, her steel eyes twinkling. "Have you ever loved anyone?"
"What?" Weirin asked, her face turning red. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"I thought you've willing to listen?" Blackbird grinned, quickly wiping her eyes at the end of her sleeve.
"Well…" Weirin blinked, poking her fingers together. "Keritzel… and I grew up together, so I guess you can say that I bear a great love for him."
Blackbird hummed merrily, not speaking.
Weirin snapped. "What does this have to do with Veloce?" Almost immediately, the answer seemed obvious. "Does that ungrateful rascal claim to be in love with Keri?"
"I guess so." Blackbird sighed, her eyes focusing on something in the distance.
Weirin looked down and bit her lip. "Do you… have feelings for Keritzel as well?" Perhaps it was a love for him that Blackbird would risk being captured by the King and his troops.
"Keritzel is a good man." Blackbird muttered; her voice monotonous. There was sourness in her voice that Weirin couldn't put her finger on.
Blackbird took another breath, and stood, brushing off the grass from her shorts. "Thank you for listening, Weirin."
"Wait; you hadn't told me what ails you!"
Blackbird gave her a sad smile. "I suppose that even I am too abstract for the average. I shall say it plain: Jealousy or Envy is indeed the sin of humans."
"Jealousy…? Don't mock me with poetic words!" Weirin snapped, her left hand reached for her arrows in reflex.
Blackbird merely pursed her lips and turned away "There, I have told you. I, for one, am not a person who likes to repeat."
"So you're jealous of Veloce?"
"I am not."
"Then, on who's behalf are you jealous of?"
"Is it not obvious?"
Weirin never considered herself to be a dense person. She had always thought the constant bashing between the assassin and the sorceress was due to their close friendship, formed from the heat of battle. Blackbird had no reason to travel with their faction, other than to be around the sorceress.
She had a feeling, that even the most feared sorceress would test the chains of fate the proclaim her love for another, but so long as Veloce and Keritzel are together, Blackbird's words would be wasted breath.
Gently, Weirin walked forward and placed a firm hand, on the assassin's slumped shoulder. Blackbird didn't look at the archer. Instead she placed her own battle-worn hands on top of the archers as if to comfort herself.
"Hm...You must think this strange." Veloce whispered, turning her head a bit as if to look at the assassin.
But she never did.
Blackbird turned away, for a moment, her eyes betrayed her mind and moistened. "No... I know only too well."
-FIN-
Not one of my better works but oh well.