I don't own Gundam Seed (although I wish it was).

It's just that I was bored and wrote this story in my mind and decided to put it online. This is an AsuCaga fanfic and for the first time I'm using Lacus as an antagonist.

I'm not really a good writer so thank you for motivating me with the review and all

Note:

SORRY FOR THE WAIT

Those italized with apostrophe are words spoken

Those that are not, are character thoughts

Thanks for the reviews by the way…

So that's it enjoy reading: D

###

Trees…

Trees…

A tiny squirrel

And trees…

The place has been the picture of what vegetation really must look like. Trees grow unhindered and seem to enlarge as much as they prefer it so. After the old man left her, she decided to once again wander alongside the path following the direction of the river. She didn't have any idea of what was in store for her when she went with the old man towards the edge of the continent. She thought there would be a cliff but what she saw didn't follow her imagination. And she found herself getting tired and strained but still giving her best effort to find a mysterious plant in hopes that there really was one that could grow in Neo Verona. if he said that the flower grew from the dead, then the first thing to do is to go to a cemetery isn't it? But she was surprised to that he didn't bring her to a graveyard, to say the least.

As fatigue shook within her she rested for a moment. She went near the riverbank and went to have a drink from the waters. The river was a mirror, calm and ever so pure; it could create a clear reflection of anything. She relinquished her thirst but began to notice something different. At the other side of the river, there was a spot that all trees and plants seemed dried up and all dead. It was a very noticeable place after seeing the greenery from the path that she cavorted back. When her curiosity finally took over, she went to found a way to get near the spot and found that those parched bush are trying to conceal an opening.

"It was a cavern…" she whispered to herself. It was a dark subterranean area there was no possibility of seeing what's ahead. She knows that she shouldn't go and proceed into such pothole because there was this feeling that the place was draining out all her energy and she was getting dizzy. But despite the warnings, she still decided to proceed towards the darkness because it marked such mystery in her that she knew she had to unfold and it would pain her whole lifetime if she would not risk it.

The cavern was indeed dark and its path that she stepped on was slippery. The pounding on her head was growing more and more painful as she advances. Her vision turns hazier by the minute that she grabbed on to the side for support.

Freedert, No!

Come back!

. She could hear Escalus and she was forbidding her to go on. She felt as if her head was breaking in half and she was coughing for air. Her senses were all being blocked and she could feel nothing but numbness. She couldn't feel her feet anymore but forces herself to still continue towards what she was unsure of.

"Come back to me"

"My Child…"

"Freed…"

As she proceeds, the echo that Escalus made within her head became a blur and was gone. Maybe it was really dim-witted for her to go in a place, much more enter a cavern for no good reason but curiosity. But it was too late to turn back now, she never felt so alone and weak. There was something in this place that removes her of all her energy. This place doesn't want her because she could feel its force pushing her to go back. But as she struggles to go on, she saw a light on the far end. She pushed herself towards it, uncaring of what monster it may conceal, she reached out her left hand and that was the last thing she saw before she finally lost consciousness.

###

Escalus! Could you hear me?

Now mother would surely give a mouthful of insults once she hears about this. This isn't good. Oh Haumea, protector of all of Neo-Verona guide this nonsensical priestess you've chosen.

What was that? Water?

Indeed, it's from a waterfall

Where am I?

" …"

Someone's humming…

" … "

"Please, is there anyone who could hear me?"

###

Her eyes began to reveal ones more the enticing color of amber, now awake but her vision still in a blur. Despite the failure to have a clear vision there was this shade of lavender that her eyes failed to make known to her. It took her awhile to finally regain her strength and as she began to take control of her senses, the shade of lavender finally revealed the bodice of a woman seated in the far side of where she was. The woman's back was facing her and she was humming a beautiful melody that sounded so well together with the percussion of the waterfall. Freedert decided to rise up and she realized that she had been sleeping in a bed of beautiful flowers. It seemed that this was a place at the top of a waterfall that mysteriously flows from a lake and bit by bit…

The dream flowed just like the water…

The view is more of a garden than that of a graveyard. More like a sanctuary for the living than that of the dead. Flowers bloom everywhere, butterflies fluttering here and there. The sky was clear and so is the water from the lake. I've known no lie neither have I spoken one, for I've seen the place with my own eyes. Because here lies the memories of my childhood, the memories I've shared with…

"Just like my dream…This is-"

"You don't belong here" immersed rushed through, discovering that the place in her dreams existed and they were the exact picture of what she had seen. It was all true and she couldn't wait to tell this to Miriallia. The flowers, the lake and also those colorful butterflies. She was all drawing them, imprinting them to be the same on her mind. She was in awe taking notice of everything that she failed to realize that the humming has seized and the woman with her long lavender shaded hair was now approaching her.

She's so Beautiful…

And indeed she was, when Cagalli took notice of her nearing figure she noticed how breathtaking the woman in front of her was. She wore a dress that seemed to match her lilac hair. She had a beautiful voice and eyes were formidable. The flowers looked as if they are bowing down on her radiance. Catching sight of her could really make anyone ignore the magnificent place around her for she was not only alluring but the mystery she casts on one's eyes abrogates disregard. Her beauty was unique; no one in Neo-Verona could possess what she already has. She has no faults aside from the ash gray orbs, uncaring, lifeless.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't intend to intrude" Cagalli said as a sign of courtesy in invading someone else's place as she came face to face with the woman.

"You should go…" came the lifeless voice from the nameless contessa.

"Do you live here? I got lost and have no clue where I am currently-"she stopped on her tracks when the object behind the woman caught her attention. She made a run past the woman for it to confirm her gut feeling of what it was.

"White petals with thick thorns, this is…" she compared the flower to what Gattaca said it would look like seemingly excited. She pressed a finger on one of its thistle and watched as the pallid floret turned into a blood crimson blossom

"A Savia".

There was a whole bunch of them and she was so glad that she was able to find the plant that could finally help Miriallia regain her health when suddenly the woman behind her imposed a whisper.

"A bud from its roots would be of no use" she heard her say, mysteriously aware of what she intends to use the flower for. Once again, she viewed the plant and noted its thick spikes around the stem that revealed for itself that the user must to pluck the plant one way or another. But she failed to bring with a blade that could cut through it and it lead to conclude that she must use her bare hands. She looked at the woman behind her and noticed that she had been staring at Cagalli. Those eyes were mesmerizing for they were beautiful as its owner, but it cradled no emotion inside it. Cagalli couldn't get through to what the woman was thinking.

"You'll get your hands tainted" she warned her as Cagalli realized that she knows what she would be attempting. Cagalli too, was afraid. The thorns were of no light humor and her hand would definitely bleed to no end. But she couldn't give up now that she had found the plant. Gattaca gave her a chance and she would not waste it on a whim of cowardice. She grabs one of the stem and forced to pluck one of the flowers. The pain, the sharp pain that stings quickly went to her senses. She pulled and watched as her blood flowed out from her palm. She covered it with her other hand and used the force of her body to pull it from the ground. The flower seems to attach to the earth in an inseparable manner. The pain brought by the thorns and by forcing it, they were all reaching her in a matter of seconds. Deeper and deeper her finger pierced and her forehead promulgated with sweat. She saw how a bunch of them had turned crimson already; pointing out that few of them are left that could be used. She was pulling and wincing in pain. She was thinking how her hand will be dysfunctional for the coming days but that would be out of the question for now. She gathered up all that she could gave out and with one last pull that made her stumble back to ground, the plant was finally detached with few of its flowers still white.

Cagalli looked over to the bunch, her chest heaving, that she had managed to extract, she rejoiced for it and forgot that her palm had flesh pits on it and is still bleeding. Her breathing was irregular because of exhaustion but she still gave out a fit of laughter on a stunt that she had managed to pull through her own efforts.

"I did it..! Hahaha! Did you see that-"

Oh how happiness could end so quickly, she looked back at the supposedly woman behind her but was in a sudden awe when the woman was suddenly replaced by a man. He stood gallantly in front of her disheveled form. He was no ordinary stranger, he was one that she knew and at the same time, was unfamiliar of... She had intended not to meet him again despite the knowledge that meeting him on a daily basis is inevitable from now on. Oh! How Haumea, could put her in such situation, wherein she won't be able to regain what was lost of her pride when he had just showered her with insults upon his arrival. Her face was now unreadable, for in front of her was such an incredulity. Her childish laughter gone. He was staring at her. Both of them waiting for a word to come out from the other until she decided to stand up and fix herself at the best that she could, uncaring of what he may say to her.

"What are you doing, Go Back to the palace" he said with somber. His tone was that low, serious and sounded as an imperative. He was indeed a proud man, Cagalli thought to herself. And if he's form had managed to pester her, his voice achieved the triumph of making thins worse.

"Can you not wait for me, to go back until you could shower me with your litany of sarcasm?" she refused to look at him. Oh how it irks her to see his emerald Orbs and his Azure locks. She could not erase the memory of him insulting the Goddess herself but she knew she could not avoid him and this made her more irritated than what she already feels.

And yet he was still looking at her. Steady and unwavering. She picked up the untried remnants of the plant while his gaze pursued her every movement. She fixed her hood and tried her best to ignore the man in front of her. It was a ridiculous act but it was the best way that she could think of while her fingers are still leaking out blood.

"We should get moving, you're going to lose a lot of blood"

"You don't have to care…" she answered back with bitterness

"Playtime's over-"

"I'm not!" now Emerald met her amber ones as his accusation was the final blow that Cagalli could take from the wielder. He was a proud man and now, his tongue promoted him into a prejudice.

"Who does this man think he is? His proud and he won't back down. What does he understand anyway? He was the Prince of Arc Aile, meant to be the famed knight and wielder but lacks decorum. He dragged my sister into sin, spit in the image of the Goddess and he even dare accuse a priestess."

"I'll escort you back, hurry, we don't have all day" he stood steadfast despite the anger that was brewing inside the priestess. They were meant to be civilized but they look the opposite of one another. He was indifferent, gallant and calm while the female was aggravated and enraged. And as all courtesies and greetings were already set aside, the situation was now confirmed to be an argument. A fight of whose better at silencing the other.

"And what if I don't" her answered back with a challenge that she awaits his reply.

"A punishment awaits you when you arrive, the longer you stay in this place, the more caustic it would turn out" and yet she could not shake his ego. She wished for him to vanish in front of her. She has no idea of where the Mysterious songstress had gone but she wanted to him to disappear as well. The whole kingdom may have already been aware of her escape but she was not grateful that he was the one who found her.

"How did you reach this place?" she asked in annoyance

"How did you reach this place, my lady?" he replied as he was now looking at her wounded hand.

"I wanted an answer!"

"Doesn't mean I could not ask in return"

"What did you just say? Don't you have any resp-"

"Respect begets itself, and as of now, you have failed to become capable of acting with one" he interrupted her sudden outburst in search for homage.

"You may have been deserving of respect for your deeds, but it's still a choice to bow down to someone isn't it or will you push your title against mine?" and there it is again, her title waiting to be reminded towards the wielder. Among all the probable insults that he could have said, she has to admit that it was the one that have hurt her the most. Being a priestess isn't a privilege for her, so that people would bow down and serve her but an important duty, so that she may have a purpose in this world. But hearing that's how this man in front of her thinks about her, she felt limp on her knees and decided to dismiss this exchange of words. She walked past him without even looking at him with her head down in defeat.

"Where do you intend on going now…" he asked her with the same tone he had used to belittle her.

"I'm going home…by myself" with one last statement, she ran away towards the exit that she has been forced to look for just so she could be away from this man. How satiric it is, that the same place, same person established a different memory from what she held. She cherished those memories. It was the place where they played and spent their times together. He was always smiling and incapable of belittling anybody. She believed that he could have been happy for her when she became "Freedert" but all he did when he arrived was give her the cold shoulder. He was her friend back then, but he made her cry for the first time after being apart for fifteen years and much more, he refused to chase her back.

In her absence Elliot had a chance to look at the place of his memories. It has been fifteen years since he became who he is. Since his decision to abandon Innocence and create for himself a dark persona. This is crypt of the Lilac priestess that gave birth to the darkness, the one that his most familiar of. He saw the spirit of Amelia that has guarded this place for so long but pretended not to have when she saw Cagalli. The Savias were proof enough of her death but he wanted the truth away from the amber priestess.

"We set of and find her just so you could make her cry?" Came that familiar voice of the beast inside me

"She's not supposed to be here, this place is guarded by a curse. She wouldn't survive in here"

"Well, must you go outside and see if she could live after what's about to happen?"

One mere statement and he knew…

"Cagalli's in danger"

###

She tries to run as fast as she could. She could no longer stay and hear him with his words so no matter how long it may take, she prefers to travel back alone. The cavern as an outlet was a lot easier to pass by compared to being an access inside the crypt. She felt less dizzy and felt that she had regained her lost energy when she went back. She held the white Savia and could no longer bear the thought of her hand was still bleeding. She arranged herself, tried to breathe normally and ceased from weeping

…when blades and swords appeared from nowhere one by one being held by savages. They were all eyeing her and she realized that they may have been following her and are therefore after her. She attempted to run but one of the men held her and brought up his dagger to slide on her neck.

"Oh Haumea, don't let this dagger end my fate, I have yet to serve your precious people. Please someone save me…" I closed my eyes and surrender myself to what fate may decide. It may have been a mistake to escape but Miriallia needed the Savia. I have no regrets so if I could just give this to-"

With her eyes closed, the man that held her seemed to lighten up his grip and finally let go of her. She checked on what has happened to him and noticed that a sword has plundered him to die and bathe in his own blood as a broken agglomeration. She went to find the one responsible for the man's death but was dragged on by…

"Athrun!" She called out to him quivering, noticing his sword was drenched in blood. She wanted to ask him what he has done but ad midst the threatening chaos…

"Run…run away as fast as you can…" he said as he tried to use his body to shield her from any attempt. The barbaric men were now surrounding both of them and forecasting no escape. He wield his sword and created an opening for her to escape, he pushed her and hesitantly ran away seeing that she would only be a burden to him.

###

She escaped as fast as he said it must. The more distance that set her apart from the scene the less she could hear the clashing of swords that have started. She paced until she could no longer hear them. She fears that their number would cause him to lose and be held captive by those savages and this made her feel more responsible to what has happened.

"He was right after all…I should have just come home immediately"

"I'm sorry"

She decided to return back even if it kills her. If he dies because of her then her dolt endeavor to find a damned plant together that bore the effort to escape from those thieves motivated by fear must also be punished by death as well. She put up with her courage and advances towards where he was when suddenly…

"Ah!" a snapper clasped its metal teeth on one of her ankles, causing her to fall back and let go of the Savia. It made her ankle bleed and taint the earth with its color. She winced in pain. It was unbearable and immense just like what she felt a while ago with her hand. The sun has shone its light and glared at her face causing her to see nothing.

"I knew you it, such an easy prey you are. Just like what she told me" a man she failed to recognize hovered over her vision.

"It's one of those men. Who is he? I can't see anything…"

"Red, his eyes were red, and…and his hair…dark …"

"It's your lineage, which made us suffer since the very beginning" the man spoke to her and grasps her neck in one of his hands.

"Huh?"

"I can't…I can't b-breathe"

"It's all of your fault that this Continent has flourished itself and looked down on us like were nothing but parasites, we were left to die because were not the same as you" the grip tightened around her neck and the snapper is still clenching its teeth on her, sinking further. The men may have been from Idola if she thinks about his words. He intends to kill her that's for sure, feeling his fingers creating pressure on and crushing her airways. His anger was contemplated. There was only madness and nothing more fixated on her. She retaliated pushed his hand away and crawled to reach to the Savia she accidentally let go. She pushed herself to stand up but she could no longer do so. The pain and her breathing, everything unendurable. She extended her hand to get the flower but the man began stepping on the metal and this made her cringe in pain even more.

She looked at the man, prepared to face the maker and begged for him to stop when suddenly a sword's edge appeared and passed through the man's body. The man started to scream as blood was gushing out. It all happened in a swift with her, still lying on the ground. But in an instant, Athrun was standing over her. He glanced at her perturb form; inch by inch as he looked at her, he grew more in rage. He went back to dispense his anger on witnessing her with a metal squashing her leg towards the man responsible for her assault. He will kill him; balling his fists, he would definitely finish him off, Cagalli thought to her. If he was here, then those men would have been a bunch of corpses by now, she knows. He carried that stench, of one who had learned to kill and his face shows it. She feared for his victim's life.

"Don't!" she held on to his ankle as he made his move towards the already wounded man and begged him to spare the man's life.

"Please, no more!" she continued to plead. She was so weak when she finally caught his attention. Blood was coming out from her limbs and he couldn't take the bare sight of her in such excruciating pain. He looked back at her unsure of what next to do but could only attend to her, leaving the man to run off.

###

The coldness of the breeze kissed her cheeks and woke her from her slumber. With her eyes barely being opened, she saw a canvass of the sky and the mingling colors that sunset was bringing, proclaiming the end of the day. The sound of flapping wings can be heard and she felt her legs hanging and yet her body was being held. She concluded that she was riding a Pegasus up in the sky. Slowly, she began to see clearly, there was this scent that was teasing her senses and it contained with it a form with such warmth that made the pain on her ankle more bearable. For once, despite all the hardships, she felt safe. To be held by this person, maybe she could stay like this a little longer.

"I can see you're awake already" that cold voice that she had been hearing since this morning surely became an opener. She then took notice of his arms preventing her from falling in such a height as they were flying in the sky. Oh how she prayed that it wasn't coming from the person she thought it was but…

"Elliot" she looked up straight at his face with her mind still trying to fight the truth that he saved her a while ago despite him being a despicable man that she knew. All of sudden she pushed her body away from him. The warmth no longer lingering. She was just staring.

"Let me down this instant" she ordered him. She knew she was now in debted to him because of what he had done but she just couldn't stand him and much more being held by him. She felt the awkwardness to be seen in her moments of vulnerability and she doesn't want him to be the first person to see.

"What a feisty princess thinking that she could do everything she wants" he answered back with his eyes looking at what's ahead.

"Please just get me down. You may have saved me but-"

"Let me get this straight. I saved you to save my reputation. It would have been a dilemma if they knew the priestess died with me as her escort. Don't you think?"

She began to look at him in an ill-tempered way. Here she was beginning to think that he could bear some respect and goodness in him but he was nothing but arrogant that made himself known as the knight of Neo Verona.

"Oh really, I supposed I need not pay my gratitude to you then. I'm walking myself home. Get me down"

"Are you asking me to push you from this height?" she responded and made it clear that she wants to be away from him but he just returned it to her as it is. Sarcasm

"Seeing that you have been rude these past few minutes to me, I don't see why incapable of doing that" she tried to fight his words back.

"I doubt that you'd survive" he grinned at her. Making it discernible that he won from their banter and she should just keep quiet, as a consequence of losing.

"At this height you'd definitely end that immortality of yours. But unless you're capable of praying to Haumea to grant you this wings same as a Pegasus, feel free to ask me to do the honor of pushing you anytime" he was increasing the distance of his victory against hers.

"I came out of my way, to save you without even finishing the breakfast that your servants have earnestly prepared. It may not look like it but I have certain affairs to look forward to her in Orb and missed it all because a certain woman important to this country have not been following the norms of being a priestess. You ran into a group of bandits and I killed them all for you sake. So stop being ungrateful, sit back and keep quiet"

Everything he had uttered was a reprimand that made every attempt to reply to him, collapse. He had been the same arrogant knight she fought with during dinner but at a certain degree, she knew he was right. She may have been a nuisance to everybody back in the castle and she ought to be repentant for that.

The pure white Pegasus continued to flap its wings against the gushing cool winds. Aboard the flying creature was a priestess now conscience-stricken on what she did. She got scolded by the knight supporting her with his arms. And she found herself unable to speak anymore from the guilt that she came to realize.

"Why can't you just become the child I once knew" she mumbled to herself without knowledge that he heard her.

"The same goes for you" he declared. He found both of them having the same wish. To go back in those times when they were still together and no boundaries were built in between. When things were just as simple as going for an afternoon game and there were no such things as a fiancée and a continent to pray for.

"What?" she heard him speak and raised her head to him but failed to interpret what he meant.

"It's nothing" he dismissed the topic without even looking back at her. Often, when sleep fails to save him from the pain of being awake, he would often think what would have happened if Amelia hadn't killed herself. They would have been together; she would have always looked at him and only him. She would not have lived forever but certainly, he was that sure, she could have been happier. With him.

But prayers and wishes, his wishes, remained futile and unheard. Because it was the Goddess that betrayed him. And he has no choice, but to resort to his ways.

"I noticed you're silence. I wonder what caused you to be that way" he began to talk once again. Because he noticed it, and he knows he was the one causing her to be upset. How fate can be so playful at times, when he just managed to save her and yet, he was also the one hurting her now.

The quietness led her eyes to notice everything on her surroundings. She may have had a lot of trips outside the castle gates but, this was the first time she rode a Pegasus over the clouds. She scanned the form of the flying horse and was amazed on how majestic it can be. It was white, unique and only few of its kind. The ash gray ones being used by the castle guards were also admirable and also, Gattaca's black horses were great but a lone white horse flapping its wings is apparently exceptional. She began to caress its fur and found little happiness in doing so.

"I remember, Gattaca's horses were also one of a kind. They were all black without a tinge of any color, it was like the night and I haven't seen anything like it, before. I wonder where…"

"Uhmm…tell me…have you seen black horses before?" she looked back at him, somehow anxious if he was going to properly answer her or not.

"Black horses? They are the ones being used by generals in the past" he answered her with the same coldness and gallance that she had irked her but nonetheless, he still replied.

"Why? Where have you encountered such?" she heard him ask with a slight curiosity

"I met an old man, he had two of them and they were really pretty. But he's a merchant and not of the military" explained the priestess.

"He may have bought them from another town. After all, he was a merchant. And black horses are no longer used today. Since the famed General Vesalius on Arc Aile went missing, a few years back. He had a penchant for raising those horses but when he vanished so did those species"

"I see…"

"And how have you possessed this fellow right here?" she inquired pointing at the aegis, still rubbing her palms at the softness of its fur.

"I had it since before my mother died"

Lenore Zala, the queen of Arc Aile that died from an unknown illness years back. When she was a child, she remembered his mother would always give a treat whenever she visits them in Orb. She had a beautiful, tranquil and always calming. Her hands were gentle and soft and she was very kind and smart. She died before she could even be a priestess and didn't even have the chance to see her grave. The past was rushing back at her and those that came, were never the pleasant ones. Suddenly,

His declaration made her regret even asking him about how such a fine horse got into his hands. If she had only known that it would cause him to think back those sad memories, she wouldn't have inquired about it.

"…When I didn't think back then that I would be alone…Aegis was the only one who was there for me"

"But you weren't alone back then…"

"I was with you…"

She wanted to reason out to him. Make him remember that he was not alone and she was there with him. She was his friend and most of her happiest memories were with him. But all at once, Cagalli hesitated. She felt the regret if those words would come out of her mouth and it manages to reach him. She doesn't know why but since she met him again, his eyes would always reflect that emotion. That feeling that she was guilty for something and he was suffering for it. She ceased to talk when she saw him looking at her.

"Did you know the story about white horses?" his introduction deviated her from thinking what to say to him next. He shifted the topic with a smile on his face that she never knew he had and she couldn't help but stare at it as if it would disappear any moment

"Huh, what story?" it flicked her interest a bit.

"There was a God that fell in love with a mortal woman. For them to meet he gave her a white horse that possessed its wings to help in their tryst…some say, the woman also fell in love with the God and every day she would ride the flying horse and meet him up in the sky. No one knew it for the horse had the same color as the clouds…"

"But one day, there was a jealous goddess whose love had remained unrequited who knew about the two of them. Her anger transpired her to pretend to call the mortal up in the sky. The woman went up thinking that it was her beloved but when she finally reached up, the goddess turned the enormous white clouds into clouds of storm and she dies in the end."

"The mortal thought the god was the one who killed her. While the God thought that the mortal woman already left her. Although some says, he still gathers up the clouds in the sky as a calling for her. Waiting."

"How sad…they should have been together…" she started to become upset once more.

"Don't be so upset about it…"

"How can I not be, when the Goddess killed her" she reasoned out with a grimace on her face.

"They were wrong to begin with, he's a God and she's a mortal. That's forbidden. I supposed you already learned that." It may not be his intention but his statement made her think what a metaphor that story was to what she currently is. A god falling in love with a mortal, a priestess falling in love with a single man. She needs to fall for no one, because both of them might end up with the same tragedy.

"You wouldn't fall in love with a knight, are you?" all of a sudden he looked at her with a smirk on his face and ridiculed her.

"O-Of course not! Just like you… how you wouldn't fall for a priestess" How can he read what she was thinking? Of course she wouldn't she's a priestess after all.

"Oh well, maybe someday I'd try asking you again but you would find yourself answering a different one…" she saw him smile that day without even realizing what he meant by his words. Today, might have been a bad day for the both of them, with her dragging him along but, for her this day made her remember that happiness that she thought she would no longer feel. It was that same feeling when they use to be together. But bit by bit, it pains her to feel that she wanted to see him smile more and go back to those times when she was still a child.

"What are you sayi-"

"Oh, I forgot to mention. Even though the story was on a myth, the Goddess' name was Haumea"

Her happiness came and went by just like the winds. They reached the ground and soon…

The journey came to its end.

###

"Lacus!" her father had suddenly caught her attention.

The kingdom had been flustered since this morning due to her sister's disappearance. Her mother was nowhere to be found and she found herself worn out from hearing those gossips that the maids were sharing in thought that she wouldn't hear them. She was waiting since the kingdom got word. And now, the sun was beginning to set with the castle guards assembled back to the castle. They failed on their quest of returning her sister, her own Fiancé, suddenly drifting off to somewhere without further notice and she just stood there waiting, and this made her frustrated.

"It's going to get dark soon, let's head inside" her father told her as he had noticed her waiting in the terrace and looking out in the horizon.

"I'll be fine, Father, I'm waiting for Freedert and Elliot." She replied with a smile to console her father about worrying about her.

"Let's just hope Elliot has found your sister. Peculiar isn't it? How he had extended a hand in helping to find Freedert" her father has always been an optimist. He always looked at the better perspective of everything. But when he spoke of Elliot and his action her thoughts got diverted into something else.

"Father..." she trailed

"Hmm…"

"Mother's first fiancé …was your older brother, isn't' it? Her question was about something that rose up deep inside her. It was an inquiry that sounded so simple but yet to prod on what was hidden in the past.

"Yes, as much as I would hate to recognize that he's my brother, it's true" came the reply with the absence of its usual candidness

"Does mother love him?" she asked another

"Emotions are entitled to oneself, your mother's feelings for him is something I do not know of. Maybe she does or not"

"Is that so…" every question mirrors her very thoughts… This discussion carries with it a mystery, those that were hidden and were about resurface.

"Then why do you stay?" with such sorrowful voice she asked her father who seem to have the answer she seeks more than anyone else

"Because, I love her" she heard her father proclaim refusing to face his daughter. The feeling of being unloved would hurt the most but being unsure of what the person you love feels about you, being forever in the dark where everything becomes hidden for the truth may become too painful to be accepted. That is what both of them are sinking into.

"When father was given the chance to see the truth, he blinded himself to be a fool forever"

"What is real suffering anyway; to know about the truth or forever turn your back on it and bathe in that false happiness?"

"If you love her, won't you fight for it?" she was begging for answer, because she may found herself in the same circumstance as her father was years ago. She may have been suspicious of her own Fiancé's emotions for her, but it pains her more to see him prove it. More and more she grew more anxious. But every time her mistrust and dubiosity starts to become apparent, she would suppress all of them because she trusts him and because he means the whole world to her

When she was disinherited as the priestess and everyone turned to look at her younger sister and bow down to her, she was left alone. The dream of having a lot of people become closer to her, with her title finally stripped off had turned into a nightmare. No one paid attention to her. Almost everyone took a liking to her sister, the people wanted Cagalli but when he came, he was the one, the only one who showed care for her. He would bring her flowers, and tell her that he cherishes her so much. She fell in love with him in a single breath and she was willing to fight for his love no matter what. Deep inside she was struggling, but her father's answer would create the storm in her heart…

"What's there to fight for, when your supposed enemy already won before you could declare dissension?"

The last statement carried with itself a revelation. After his answer, her father became less cheerful and established such serious demeanor. He was also thinking, Lacus thought. Thinking about himself, his wife via and Brother Malchio. How anger doesn't stop eating up its prey and how it never dies in the passing of years.

"Your Highness!" came Halca's voice, catching the attention of the two royalties. She wanted to order her hand maiden not to disrupt them in their contention for she wanted to ask her father about those interweaving speculation until Halca told them the news.

"The High priestess and the Wielder, is back"

Without further explanation, both of them rushed to where her sister and fiancé was leaving the hand maiden with her insidious exterior unknown to them.

###

The wielder's Pegasus, known as the Aegis had successfully arrived within the castle grounds. The winged animal carried both the prince and the priestess with it and their travel, up the skies of Neo Verona, had been safe yet awkward. The bleeding on her limbs had merely stopped; the cloth that he had tied around it had colored from white to a damp crimson. The pain was still insistent to be felt and cause her to wince even when she does not move.

Landing from the height of his horse would be a struggle. She tried looking down and she knew for sure that aching sensation would definitely comeback as her feet kisses the ground.

"On the count of three…"

"One…

"Two…"

"Th-…Huh?"

He pulled her down his horse and carried her in his arms without even asking her opinion about being hauled in front of a waiting crowd. She shrieked and her eyes were in deep awe on what he had done, lacking the time to think on what was happening, wanting to scold him, the urge to hit his face, suddenly brewing on her mind. But his eyes were steady, his face reflected that seriousness she could back down from and even the crowd of servants that welcomed them, seemed to have no malice about his movements towards the priestess. He was only concerned they thought.

"Please do not retaliate anymore; I cannot afford to cause you to fall, the mere sight of you bleeding is enough for the day"

"How could you even say your concern when you weren't even facing me…?"

"You're highness, you're bleeding"

"Call the Doctor Immediately!"

"Oh Haumea, where did you wander to, your highness."

One by one, the servants started to encircle her cradled form. She looked at them and they all bear that same sad, worried faces and she felt guilty about it. It was her fault. She had caused them these emotions. She was a priestess, meant to be worthy of honor and yet, she became a burden to everyone. Soon, her face became a picture of liability, feeling nothing more but shame on committing to her whims without even taking into consideration how these people had been concerned of her. She noticed him looking down and staring at her with the same cold features.

"I'm sor-"

"Freedert, where have you been?"

"Father!"

"Where did these gashes came from? My goodness Freedert, who had caused these?"

Her father rushed to her side when he knew of their coming. They were still just past the gates but her father was already enraged when he caught sight of her. Clearly, she gave him another reason to be mad at her by committing the same offense of escaping and going to places she was not even allowed to. But this time, with bruises, which made her father be put to a state of acrimony.

"Who did this?"

"Where have you been going to?"

"Father, allow me to explain…I-"she tried to calm her father but it didn't do.

"What is there to speak of, or even utter? When these bloody wounds speak for themselves!"

"I can't tell him that I went to Amelia's Crypt. He wouldn't believe me. Father would never allow me to wander alone anymore, much more; he might even order the guards not to take their sight of me. I don't want that! I don't want this…my freedom being taken away. But I can't lie, my vows, they're…"

"My king, if I may intrude…" the voice nearest to her ears came out and afflicted her fears.

Suddenly his cold voice interrupted the air of anger rushing through her father. The rage that she has seen caused her to forget her current circumstance. She was still in his arms, being held securely while her body involuntary curves to fit his broad chest.

All eyes were on him, for his bravery. For it would surely take a lot of courage to step up in front of an angered king such as Kalos.

"The High priestess, did wander around without informing her servants…"

"…and you have every right to punish her"

"What?" she was again in awe about what had just uttered.

She began to wiggle and cause thrashing movements, after he said those words. She could not care anymore if she falls and another pain might break her, as long as she can get away from him. For a moment, she thought he was genuinely concerned for her and was about to save her but…

"Indeed, he truly was a self-centered imbecile, after all"

"I'm listening" the king declared fixing his robe and giving a light cough. Her movements went to a halt in disbelief because his father's rage was calmed by this one emerald eyed man who wishes to put her into mortification. She had no choice but resign to what awaits her, for her fate was now in his hands. The king had strong faith in him but without his knowledge, he may have been using it to his advantage.

"As I was saying, her punishment rests in your hands but…"

"Her wounds were no one's responsibility." He stated with such courage as if he held the truth in his hands and no one else's.

"What did happen then?" her father inquired who had seemingly became a underling to the truth that the knight proclaims.

"She fell…" he answered back

"You fell…?" her father faced her and asked

"I did?"

"There was an undiscovered cliff just beside the town and I found her there" he silenced everyone with his revelation. The king had changed from mad to worry as he was made knowledgeable about the fact that his daughter fell from such a height. She felt a little bit thankful for him but she couldn't take away the thought that he forged the truth and fooled everyone although, it may have been for her sake. Is it?

"Is that True Freedert?" She remained to cling on his arms, steady and unmoving until her father asked her for affirmation

"I can't lie. This is against what I have vowed for. To protect the truth."

"Father…I-"he made it easier for her despite the lies just so she could escape her father's punishment. Indeed she had been grateful for him redeeming her but she just couldn't continue and affirm to stories that weren't even true. She could just tell the truth but it would then prove his dishonesty and her being ungrateful for what he did. For a moment it felt like choosing between two roads that both had dead ends.

"Father I'm sorry but-"

"Freedert!" she saw her sister run towards her, with the same sad face that the people around her had manifested. She was followed by Halca, who seem to care more about Lacus sprinting in the hallways than her current condition. She was the one who told her about the Savia but Cagalli wanted to believe than she meant no harm to happen to the priestess when she told her that story.

The people of Idola, harbors a great amount of unresolved anger within them. They are angry at the Goddess, angry at the people of the Sky continent, angry at their own brethren and even their own children. That's why; Savia's grow vast on their graves. It may even turn a cemetery into a bloody garden.

To doubt such goodwill is a sin. That's what she wanted to believe. So she remained silent about what really happened and never told about anyone that Halca was the one who encouraged her to go on a journey. She refused to deem that the handmaiden wanted her to encounter a tragic death and she let the idea of Halca not being able to foresee that those hardships would happen to her mingle on her mind... She was trying to save her despite the brewing suspicions that her subconscious was telling her.

"Lacus, you must not worry anymore. I'm here now" she tried to secure her sister not to worry anymore. She gave out her best smile ad midst the aching injuries and she saw that her father no longer sought for her affirmation anymore.

"I'll go call the doctor" when you have been nothing but worried since this morning, and you kept on waiting like there's no tomorrow for a lover who didn't even listen to your opinion and you saw him arrive with your sister in his arms, what must be the perfect reaction? How do you conceal the jealousy that is definitely uncalled for to what was already happening? The sight of her sister being carried in his arms was something that she cannot stand. If the one he had in arms was a stranger, she might have sentence her on the guillotine or just killed her herself. But she could have done none of it, because it was Freedert, a priestess, one that does not marry and is not allowed to love a single mortal.

"No need" her fiancé, uncaring to what her next words would be, interjected and refused the offer she had made.

"But Elliot my sister is bleeding profusely; we can't just leave her like that" she exclaimed after hearing the absurdity that he spoke of.

"Order Halca, and send some hot water and a few bandages to the priestess' quarters. I'll take her to her room" he seemed not to care about anything she said. The woman he was carrying was now bleeding, his fiancée was choosing whether to show jealousy or worry and he was marking his words final. And despite both princesses retaliating, he treads the hallways past the crowd.

"To doubt is to sin. No matter how trivial it is. I must not doubt my sister. They had been friends in the past but it ended the moment she became who I must have been and he accepted the truth. But did he? Further and further, my heart becomes suspicious and I fear the day that all would reveal itself without me doing any action. I must return to Arc Aile. With him. I'm sorry; I may have been under a delusion that you want to be with my sister. I may be the one making a mistake, but I will not stand as a fool when everything was happening right before my eyes. As I watch what is mine slowly being taken away"

###

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Thank you so much for waiting.!

I have to say, I'm really sorry for the huge delay

I have to say, shifting back to writing this fic while doing

After my happy ending...sure is hard

for certain reasons that the characters takes a 180 degree turn

from realistic to fantasy...hahah please do support my fics and i'll be writing another one

so watch out for that..THANK YOU..