Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim to own the characters involved in the Bastard! series, they belong to Kazushi Hagiwara. I only claim ownership of Elira and Rosalia as they are of my own creation as well as any kingdoms and royalty that appear here.

Haunting Melodies

Chapter 11 - Captured

Sounds echoed around her mind, red irises snapped open, immediately she knew what was happening, Zephyr had awakened as well, and the Tidal Knights soon after. Elira followed the knights out of the tent, the dragon bounded after them, they all gazed up at the night sky, many fireballs had been launched, and they were falling towards the camp. Everyone was frozen but it was Elira who spoke her spell, instantly, a sphere of water surrounded the area, it was large, and the fireballs fizzled out as they hit the shield, they rolled against the wave of water, and fell onto the ground. The Tidal Knights looked at her as well as everyone else, she looked up at them, and smiled. "Metallicana is my home too and all of you risk your lives to protect it, I can risk mine too."

Redford smiled, "My wife was right about you."

"Wife?"

"Yes."

"Ah! Evelyn from the village!" He laughed while Elira smiled, "I thought your name was familiar. Be careful out there Redford."

"No worries, I've got you protecting me." He showed her the seaweed band she had given him, Elira smiled while they moved out to their proper areas. The water shield was brought down, Zephyr touched his nose to her, and she kissed his head; his scales shimmered which drew the attention of the nearby knights. They stared at one another before Elira gave him the command to take flight, the Argonite spread his wings, and jumped into the air; his wings spread out in a glory of translucent blue. She was watching him while a smile played on her face as he circled high into the air, Zephyr turned slightly to see the enemy encampment, and to relay it to his commander on the field below.

"Be safe my little Zephyr." Red orbs were drawn to the attention of the knights running around to protect their camp and their kingdom. Elira did what she could by brining supplies from one end of the camp to the other, she moved some tents around, healed a few minor injuries, and eventually she removed her shoes. "Much better." A few of the knights noticed her bare feet, they chuckled to each other, but noticed that she glided across the ground, she exuded grace without the shoes on, and they could feel themselves renewed with vigor. They left her to protect the camp, she paused by the left flank, the forest was foreboding, she stared into those dark depths, something inside shifted. "Friend or foe?" As the enemy charged from within, Elira was about to release Lumus but the roots of the trees grabbed them, pulled them into the ground, and they disappeared. "Thank you Rosalia." There was an echoing chuckle in the forest, Elira grinned while returning to her duties as healer.

She set up a tent for the wounded, they were brought in on stretchers, as the night wore into day, the fighting eased back, and she wiped her forehead after the fourth patient. Elira opened up her medicine bag, she placed some enhanced kelp on the man's arm, and she comforted him. Lars had entered, he was sitting in a chair, his green eyes watched her as she healed those that she could, and helped to heal the ones that held injuries too horrible for her to heal fully. Once everyone had been patched up, she brought the soldiers food, she helped the ones that couldn't do it themselves, and one whispered something to her. Elira smiled, "I would be delighted." Everyone had their fill, Lars watched as she cleared her throat, it was then that he noticed her bare feet, and she placed her arms in position. She began to sing in her native tongue but the melody was joyful, she danced around as if there was some sort of jig going on, a festival of sorts, and the soldiers clapped her along. He chuckled while watching her enjoy herself, still he felt his blood tingle, his heart started to pound harder, and Lars gripped his chest. The prince's green eyes glowed with power, this time he concentrated on his body, and he could feel his strength increasing; not only that but he felt Zephyr's as well.

"She truly is special," he whispered. When she finished, the soldiers cheered for her, her face was flush but she was happy, and glad that she made them feel better. Elira picked up her bag and left the tent, saying that she had to gather more supplies. Lars followed her out until they were in a spot where no one was around, he tapped her shoulder, she turned around and greeted him. "You're very kind to them." Elira nodded and stated that they protect the kingdom with their lives and it's the least that she could do. "I know, they love you very much." Elira nodded and he leaned down towards, he whispered, "As do I." Lars placed a kiss on the corner of her lip, she stood there shocked, "Be careful Elira, I'm not sure what I'll do if you disappeared." He left her with those words, she was speechless but giddy inside, and could barely contain her joy. There was a shimmering in the sky, red irises glanced up, and Zephyr was shimmering in response to her joy.

"Zephyr you always know." He shimmered once more before going out to scout the terrain once more, Elira gathered up her items for restocking then turned around to head towards the camp once more. She was grabbed by the shoulders by a strange man, immediately a spell was whipped up, those tentacles from the deep, emerged, encircled the man, and her glowing golden eyes glared at him. "Who are you?" A single tentacle removed itself from his mouth so that he could speak, "Who. Are. You?"

"I'm a friend."

"Who sent you?"

"Prince Zeke."

She released the man, he gasped for air, "I'm sorry about that but you startled me. What is it that the young prince wants?"

"He wanted me to warn you and the others that his brother is planning a coup d'état on the castle, so you need to get back there."

"But we cannot leave the front lines."

"I know, that's why I was sent by his lordship to warn you. This way you'll know of the impending attack."

Elira's eyes softened, "Thank you for that information. I'll be sure to tell Prince Lars."

The man nodded but looked back, "Healer?" She stared at him, "Be careful. Prince Ike seeks to capture you for himself as does Bastion. They will fight over you and most likely torture you if you are captured."

"I'll be careful, thank you. Travel through the forest and tell the trees that you are a friend of Elira." He nodded, "They will protect you." He nodded once more before sneaking back into the forest, she turned around, sighed, and immediately trotted through the camp to find Lars. The moment that she did, she told him what she was told, and he rubbed a hand across his face. "If you can't send any one back then let me do it."

"You? You're needed here!"

"I know but someone needs to return to the castle to make sure it's safe. Zephyr has a plethora of spells as well, don't let him fool you but I can return to the castle then here if I need too and I can help prevent a coup d'état."

Lars considered it, there was a familiar voice in the back of his head, he recognized Zephyr's, and he sighed. "Alright but be careful Elira."

"I will my liege." She handed her medicine bag over to the other nurses who had joined the cause, Elira took in a deep breath, and started towards the forest, it was safest for her. She entered, "Rosalia, I'll need to head to Metallicana, the fastest path?" She was told that there was none but a friend would be coming to guide her. She tilted her head, perplexed by the words, she didn't have to wait long as a wolf appeared from the forest, "Hello there." She smiled, "I remember you. Thank you for your help!" The wolf stared at her and she immediately followed after him. He lead her through the game trails, off the path, through rivers, all of it to hide her scent, and her trail so the enemy wouldn't find Metallicana's camp.

-::::::-

Shoes quietly stepped out of the forest, the wolf stayed in the shadows, she nodded her thanks to the beautiful creature, "Thank you my friend." The wolf watched her enter the castle, she made sure her feet were light and sure footed as she traversed the empty market. It all seemed a bit surreal to her, familiar but foreign all at once, but she was determined to get to the castle in order to help prevent a coup d'état. There were no people in the market as she passed through, once inside the castle, there were no signs of servants either. The more she pressed on towards the throne room, the more worried she became for her home, and the moment that she entered the room, a net was thrown over her. "What in all the seas?!" She was tangled in it, unable to get free, it was only when she was forced to the ground, that she realized what had transpired. Elira watched with angry eyes as Sheila laughed, the servants had all been locked up with the people from the market somewhere, and Ike was standing there grinning down at her.

"Seems she fell right into the trap," stated Ike. Elira looked around for the man that had warned her, she saw him not too far from her, only he didn't have his head. She bit her lower lip, held in her tears, and only glared up at the older prince of Erlendale. "She'll do nicely as a wife for me. She's not obedient but I'll break her as I break all of them."

Sheila asked, "What number wife would this make for you?"

"I don't know, about number thirteen."

"That's such an unlucky number."

He shrugged, "It's worth it to have such a creature as her by my side, even if she'll be in chains; she'll still be beautiful."

Sheila nodded, "Yes and it prevents my brother from falling in love with whatever she is. It's not healthy for a human to get mixed up with a creature."

Ike chuckled, "I disagree. Imagine the power the next line could have! She can heal with water, that's unusual and very handy." The princess laughed with the prince, this only made the woman on the ground even more angry. "I'll make as many children as I can with her."

"What if she dies in childbirth?"

Ike shrugged, "I'll move on to someone else." Once more the royals laughed together. Elira ground her teeth together, she wanted to release Lumus, she wanted the Kraken loose upon those in front of her but she knew that they would most likely destroy the castle as well. So she kept her mind shut from the book, she would bide her time, perhaps he would take her to his camp, the enemy camp. She felt shackles placed on her feet, then she was hoisted into the air, a pair were placed on her wrists, and one around her neck once the net had been removed from her body. "Even now she's obedient." The amnesic kept silent, she could feel Rosalia wanting to help but she made sure to send her intentions to the Dryad. Ike descended the throne, he grabbed the chain that was attached to her collar, he approached her, and leaned down. The moment that he was close enough, Elira lunged with all of her weight up, her skull connected with his face, he yelped, fell backwards, and felt blood run down his chin.

Elira stood as mighty as a tree, "I will never break no matter how hard you try."

"We'll see about that. I'll give you to Bastion's princess, she'll break you." With that a black sack was placed over her head, she was lead away by another guard, and she kept her senses open in case of more danger, and kept Lumus on guard. The last of the ground left her feet as she was placed over a horse, they galloped away, and still she kept Rosalia away from her, she wanted her to help the knights as she could take care of herself, she just wanted their location.

It felt forever, her stomach had been placed on the saddle, she could feel the horse tiring, so she reached down one of her hands, her index finger touch the skin of the horse, and she sent a small bit of her energy into the creature. It felt renewed, the horse ran harder, and Elira only smirked under that hood; her captors thought they were in control, little did they know that she was giving the information to Rosalia so that she could map out where the camp was situated.

She was yanked from the back of the horse, pushed forward, then shoved into a tent, her body was forced into an iron chair, her shackles removed, then her hands and legs were placed in clamps attached to the chair, and her hood finally removed. Her crimson eyes stared up into the glowing lavender ones of a woman she was unfamiliar with. Long raven hair framed her face, trailed down her back, her skin was pale, and she wore a dress that only accentuated her unusually large bust, thin waist, and round rump. Elira only kept her eyes locked onto those lavender ones as the woman leaned back, she ushered the others out of the tent.

"So," came her steely voice, "you're the one that Ike's all worked up about. Magic user or not, you're not as full in the chest and rear area and yet you still exude more beauty than myself. I cannot have that, especially if Ike is going to have you. I'll need to break you of your vanity and your will before he can even get near you." She grinned as she reached over to a table, on it was various tools that Elira had never seen before, and the amnesic kept her fear at bay; she knew Rosalia would want to come. But for now, she forced herself to be brave. "Any last words before I gag you?" Elira shook her head, she was not going to speak in front of these enemies of her home. "Alright then." She put a piece of leather in her mouth then wrapped a piece of fabric around her face to keep it from moving. Elira clamped onto the leather, took in a deep breath, and gripped her fingers on the chair, squinted her eyes shut, and growled as the blade of the knife cut along her forearm. "You really are tough. I guess I can tell you my name, I'm Princess Yaria of Bastion and I do love me some torture."

Elira glared up at the woman before her, she dangled a piece of skin in front of her while the Healer breathed heavily through her nose; saliva dripped from her mouth, staining the gauze, and leather. Yaria giggled, she was giddy at the excitement of torturing someone so beautiful, and yet Elira still held her resolve. "You're going to be here a long time and I'm going to make sure that you're not beautiful any more." With that Elira shut her eyes, delving her mind into that spell book, passing it by, and reaching out to Rosalia. Telling her friend to protect the knights from the enemy and letting her know to tell Lars that she'll get free as soon as she can because she doesn't know where she's being held.

-::::::-

Days passed by, Lars had gotten worried but Rosalia echoed words into his mind, currently he ground his teeth together, cursing himself for letting her go. They were trying to get through to the camp to rescue Elira but the enemy hoard was too much and they weren't sure exactly where she was being held. Eventually he had to ask the Four Lords for their aid, even they began to have trouble getting through as well. Kall-su landed, his Ice Sword stained with blood, "There seems to be magic that's preventing us from going much further than we already have."

"Yeah, I figured since Zephyr couldn't even get through."

"Most likely from Bastion's princess, she can use magic."

"How do you know?"

"I've heard."

Lars sighed, "Elira..."

Kall glanced at him but refocused his efforts, "Wait for the monsoon."

"What monsoon?" Lars saw Kall smirk while he looked up at the sky, the rain clouds gathered quickly, and the drops began to fall. The Argonite landed, his wings folded behind him, and he was grinning, "You can summon rain?"

The dragon shimmered, "When the need arises and now we need it." His face turned towards the enemy hoard, "You would do well to tell your soldiers to regroup around the front lines as they will need to be huddled together when the event occurs." Lars knew better than to question Zephyr so he immediately had the factions reform and create a tight group around the area. They were able to keep an eye on their enemy, Kall looked up at the sky, then towards the enemy throng. It was then that he felt the powerful aura, it was similar to a hard punch in the abdomen, Lars looked over and Zephyr grinned but that grin soon faded. The prince felt that familiar vibration in his blood, it was Elira's power, he knew that she had used some sort of powerful spell but his green eyes watched the Argonite. His draconic brow knit with worry, "She did not summon him...my mistress called him." Kall had regained his composure and the three looked towards the enemy numbers, the two men wondered what the dragon knew that he was not sharing.

"Called who?" asked the prince. Zephyr only glanced at him while returning his gaze towards what lay beyond the enemy soldiers, to an unknown place where his mistress was being held captive, a place where he couldn't reach her. He snorted, Lars and Kall watched as a trail of steam floated from his nostrils, and they could see that there was a light in his stomach. "She's strong, she'll get out." Zephyr nodded but that didn't placate his anger towards the princess of Bastion.

Meanwhile, Elira had endured many days of torture, her skin was flayed in various places, they were in the shape of floral patterns, and Yaria made sure to make them artistic. There was a spot on her neck, it was the shape of a thorny vine, and her legs had been given the same treatment. Her clothing had been torn so that only a short piece of fabric covered her lower torso while the same piece covered her chest. She still kept her resolve, refused to speak, and it was then that Yaria became angry; the princess grabbed her tongue, and was about to singe it off. "You're a little bitch. I'm going to cut your tongue out so you can't speak any more and then I'm going to scalp you and wear your hair as my own. How would you like that? Perhaps Lars would love me if I wore your hair." The amnesic's eyes snapped open, she glared up at the princess, who only tittered, but that laugh soon faded as she saw those crimson eyes fade to orange then gold. "What the hell are you?!" Yaria tried to singe her tongue but only succeeded in singing thin air, Elira had retracted her tongue, her hair flowed out around her, and those clamps rotted before the princess' very eyes. "What the fuck?!"

Water tendrils emerged from the ground, they wrapped around the princess, she was going to yelp but one covered her mouth, Elira stood up as if her injuries didn't bother her, she gingerly rubbed her raw wrists, the flayed skin on her body glowed with an ethereal blue light, and the captive stated with a smirk, "You talk too much." The princess was shocked at the raw power that she was exuding, Elira sauntered through the tent, she emerged into the heart of the enemy camp, her eyes laid upon Ike, immediately tendrils grabbed him as well. He was going to shout but he was dragged towards Yaria, they were held together, while a figure emerged from the falling rain. The figure was a male, he was large with a stout build, very tall, standing nearly three heads taller than the tallest male in their ranks, and his eyes were a very pale lavender and his skin dark blue. Those water droplets accumulated into a human-esque form, they watched as he stood there, his legs were shaped like a canine's, each foot had three scaley toes with a sharp claw digging into the ground, and they gazed upon his torso. It was bare with a single jagged scar running up the center, it went from naval to collarbone, and he held broad shoulders. Shoulders were attached to strong bulky arms, they were human hands but his index and middle finger were fused together as were his ringman and pinky finger. The thumb was separate, between them was thick webbing, they could see spikes emerging along his spine, they coasted down, and a tail formed. A spike on the end of it, the sharpness of a spear tip, and just as powerful as any snake. It flicked back and forth, while scales littered his body, his lower half was covered in a loin cloth, his face was strong; square jaw, sharp nose, and his hair hung at his shoulders, stringy and dark purple; along the curve of his skull two black horns formed, they followed the same curve of his skull before tapering out behind him. Those lavender eyes glared at them while Elira studied the camp, she was deciding what to do with the men.

His voice was gravelly, "You two shall be spared for something special, my lady wishes that you are brought to Metallicana along with most of these men but the influential ones are to be food." The two captives stared at Elira, her hair was still billowing around her, while this strange male approached her from behind, "Shall I use my children? They hunger for the flesh of men."

She stated, "Of course Lumus. You may feed them but do leave some, we cannot leave Bastion defenseless but do take the ones that don't have family." He nodded, immediately ghostly apparitions appeared from the falling rain that had transformed into a torrential downpour, those apparitions were the Kraken, large squid-like creatures with large emotive eyes. Their tentacles latched onto any single male, they screamed, and clamored to get away but to no avail. They were drawn into that beak between the tentacles while others appeared and the soldiers began to scramble towards the Knights of Metallicana. "Come, we must return home." Elira looked over her shoulder, "I do apologize for Calling you here Lumus. I know it must be hard to leave your children behind."

"Nonsense my lady. I am here to aid you as you see fit. My children can survive without me being present. This is only part of my physical body so you have no need to worry. You saved them once before and I still owe you my life for them. They have become much stronger since the last time your saw them and can fend for themselves in the trench."

She smiled, "Thank you Lumus." He nodded while following her but he noticed that she stumbled, so he moved to her side, hoisted her up, and placed her bottom on his shoulder, careful of her wounds that were being protected by her power. "Thank you." Lumus looked up at her, gave a small smile, happy to help out, and proceeded to walk through the scrambling soldiers, his liquid tendrils kept Yaria and Ike close to them while Elira surveyed the area with her golden eyes. "You should meet Rosalia."

"I would enjoy that but only when you are better. Only time with Zephyr and rest can heal your wounds." Elira nodded as she felt the rain drops fall onto her flayed skin, it burned even though her power was protecting the damaged skin but slowly she became accustomed to the pain as they progressed through the camp. "I have more stamina than forty of the strongest knights in the land so I can carry you for as long as you need." She leaned over, placed a gentle kiss on the top of his head, and his scales shimmered just as Zephyr's had. Lumus smiled and continued to watch with joy as his children snatched the soldiers left and right. He clucked his tongue, the apparitions disappeared while the rest of the soldiers were forced towards Metallicana's knights, Lumus kept his slow pace, he could see from the distance that it would take a few more days of walking to reach the other camp.

"Zephyr cannot reach us."

"No he has been blocked by her magic."

"Remove it." The woman shook her head, "So you can only create and not diffuse. You're pathetic." Yaria glared at her but one look from the large warrior caused her to fall quiet, even Ike had still been in shock at Elira's power. "I am hungry." Lumus lifted his hand, there was a sea cucumber there, she took it, "Thank you my friend."

He nodded with a small smirk and watched as she nibbled on the delicacy, "I shall stay by your side my lady. You can dismiss me at any time but I will still stay by your side just as Zephyr does. He and I can come and go as we please now that you have Called us here, I appreciate the gesture, your strength shall return to you. Once we rejoin the others you can release the spell." Elira nodded, "Very good my lady." Once more they fell into silence as the camp was all but destroyed and the fleeing soldiers scattered, Lumus held a stoic expression while Elira nibbled on her food and drank from the water that fell from the sky.

The pair were still walking through the main road that would lead them to the knights, Elira had finished her food, and it was only then that she began to feel the fatigue, Lumus kept a strong hand on her body. "I'll be fine Lumus. I can hold on until we get there." He nodded, the downpour faded out to a drizzle, they entered the forest, and they heard a growl. Lumus stopped, Elira looked, and saw the wolf that she had helped from before, Lumus put her down, and she smiled, "My friend you are doing so well. He is my friend as well, be not afraid." The wolf looked behind him as a much larger one exited the forest, Elira curtsied as best she could in her clothes, the larger wolf was white with amber eyes.

"You healed my son and gave him your energy for nothing in return," came the strong female voice. Elira nodded, "For that you have my gratitude. What can I do to return the gesture?"

She shrugged, "I don't want anything in return. I simply wish to help those that need it, whether they are human, canine, feline, draconic, of the land, of the sea, of the air, in the ground, underground; it matters not to me. I only wish to help."

"You are kind." The wolf howled, it echoed around, and a canine the size of a horse appeared from another part of the forest. This one held blue eyes and sleek black fur, "This is Kanshi, he will be your aid beyond the castle walls as well as inside. Your dragon should not have an issue."

"I understand. Thank you Great Wolf," she curtsied once more as Kanshi trotted up to her, Lumus helped her onto the back of the black wolf. Elira's golden eyes looked upon the Great Wolf with gratitude, "If there is anything else that I can do to help you then don't hesitate to ask. I'll be glad to do it."

"For that you have my eternal gratitude. Take care." Elira bowed as the small wolf and the larger one disappeared into the forest.

The party continued on, Elira was comfortable on the back of the wolf, she stroked his neck affectionately, "You are too light." She blinked a few times, "Only few of us can speak." She nodded, continued to stroke him, and he added, "You need more food." On cue, Lumus produced another sea cucumber, she took it, and began to nibble on it once more. Kanshi nodded his head as they progressed at Lumus' pace since Elira needed to travel gently due to her injuries. Blue eyes looked over at the strange male, "You are?"

"Lumus."

"Kanshi." The two nodded to one another, Elira finished her cucumber and laughed at them, the sound echoed around as bells. Kanshi continued to walk through the forest, immediately he asked, "Lumus can you stride on fours? You have the legs of a wolf."

The sea male smirked, "Yes, I stride on fours as well as two. Why?"

"Mistress is fatiguing too quickly before the camp. If we can hurry we may be able to get there in two days instead of longer." Kanshi asked, "Can you hold on?" Elira nodded, she leaned forward, gripped his fur in her hands, "Don't be afraid to grip harder, I can endure pain well enough." She nodded once more while stroking his fur affectionately. Her golden eyes watched as Lumus placed his hands on the ground, his stance was similar to a wolf, Ike and Yaria were placed on his back, being held in place by his liquid tendrils that emerged from his back, and he looked at the wolf. "Let's go." On cue the pair began to run through the forest, Lumus was behind Kanshi since the wolf knew the forest floor, the pair ran through the forest, jumped over logs, padded through streams, and wove through trees.

The movement jostled Elira's wounds but she bore it well enough if only to return to her home and to Zephyr. Her mind wandered to him, Don't worry, I'm coming Zephyr. I'll see you soon and then you and I can rest until our hearts are content. I'll get Princess Sheila back for this, she had no right! Her golden eyes glowered at no one in particular but Lumus could sense her emotions, he stayed silent as they continued their path through the forest. Eventually, Kanshi slowed down, Elira looked over at Lumus, he only nodded, and she released the spell. Her golden eyes faded to orange then red, she laid on her stomach on Kanshi's back, and her eyes fluttered closed. "Zephyr...I'm coming little one."

"She tried her best," stated the black wolf.

"She did. Now we travel slowly but she'll be able to regain some strength."

"Can you not give her any?"

"No. She's not ready to endure the energy that I have. Zephyr is the only one that she's able to accept right now."

"Why?"

"She has amnesia."

"Pity."

"Yes but she's remembering, slowly."

"Good. It would not do well for someone like her to forget who she truly is."

"I know." Kanshi smirked while Lumus grinned and they fell into silence in order for Elira to get more sleep. They were careful with their footsteps through the forest, Ike and Yaria were still wrapped up with tentacles over their mouths to keep them silent.