A/N: So the guys will arrive at Wolfkrone but someone will meet them when they got there. What will happen? Let's find out. Btw, thanks again to snuggle boo for reviewing. I guess he is the only one who reviews my works at the time being and I appreciate that. Hope to get more reviews.
As the night goes on, both Mitsurugi and Maxi have already hit their sacks. Sophitia on the other hand was still busy watching over her sister. Siegfried then entered their tent.
"How is she?"
"She's resting now. I've cleaned her wounds and wrapped her body and her arm with bandages so that they would be stable and could only produce minimal movements. She will still need medical attention though so that her fractures can heal faster. But the thing I'm worried about the most is that she was coughing out blood a while ago which is a sign that something's wrong inside. I still can't say that she's out of harm's way and that's why I'm staying all night to watch over her."
Siegfried then just stood there in silence as he can't help but feel guilty on what happened to the young Athenian.
"Sophita, I apologize for everything. If it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have run away and got hurt." Sophitia then got silent for a while. Suddenly tears began to fall from her face.
"Siegfried, just like I told you earlier, it's alright. It wasn't your fault that you've became that monster and it wasn't your fault for what had happened to her. In fact, I am grateful to you for saving my sister from being killed back there. If you didn't found her at the right time, then we might have been mourning for her death until now. So thank you Siegfried." The older sister then gave the knight a smile. Siegfried on the other hand lowered his eyes and closed his eyes to prevent his tears from falling. She then stood up and gave an embrace to the knight.
"You have to remain strong for her. She needs you by her side during these times. After all she will need all the love that she can get to get through this especially from you." Siegfried then broke free from her embrace as his eyes widened in surprise that Sophitia figured out his feelings towards her sister.
"W…What are you saying?"
"Don't play dumb with me Siegfried. I know that you've treated Cassandra differently since the first day you've met her." Sophitia then giggled.
"How did you know about it?"
Sophitia then explained to Siegfried what she saw whenever the two are together and the time in Zenith when the three of them went to the marketplace and the bakery.
"I guess there's no use in hiding it anymore. I do, I do adore Cassandra." Sophitia then giggled at the knight.
"I knew it! That's why you always wanted to spend time with her and always handle her with so much care. She's so lucky to have someone like you in her life."
"Uhm… Sophitia… Can you keep this a secret? I wanted to tell her myself if you wouldn't mind." The Athenian then giggled.
"Of course, your secret's safe with me."
"Thank you. By the way can I stay here with you? I can't sleep worrying about her."
Sophitia then nodded her head. Siegfried then sat beside the older Athenian and watched over Cassandra.
"Sophitia, can I tell you something?"
"Uhm… sure what is it?"
"I don't know if this is appropriate time but, back then when we first met, I really admired you a lot."
Sophitia's face then turned read as she was shocked with the knight's confession.
"Wow! I didn't realize that. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I guess I was still half mad back then. I was only thinking about myself and my goal. I do apologize for being selfish especially with running away with the sword."
"Well I can forgive you for that and I have something to tell you as well… I too admired you back then… But you were just too serious and snobbish for me to show it to you." After a moment of silence, the two then laughed at each other for being so ignorant.
"Well I guess destiny works in mysterious ways. Maybe we were not destined to be with one another. Maybe we were destined with someone else like you and Rothion."
"And you with my little sister"
"But we can still be friends right?"
"Of course, after all I need to know better and have a good relationship with my future brother-in-law."
"What?"
"You are planning to marry her right?"
"Well of course but why so soon? I still want to spend more time with her as a single man."
"Well alright. But you have to promise to marry her one day, or else, I'll kill you." The knight then laughed at the joking threat of Sophitia.
"I promise."
As midnight arrives, Sophitia had already fallen asleep. Siegfried then covered her with a blanket to protect her from the cold weather. He then continued to watch over Cassandra until he falls asleep. Two hours has passed since Siegfried has fallen asleep when suddenly Cassandra screams out loud in pain. Siegfried and Sophitia then woke up and attended to the wounded Athenian.
"Cassandra snap out of it" as Sophitia was shaking her sister to wake her up, thinking that she was experiencing nightmares.
"Cassandra, hang in there!"
"Are these nightmares?"
"I don't think so. When I was having nightmares last night, Cassandra easily woke me up." He then checked the side of her body which was gravely injured and is currently throbbing in pain.
"Cassandra please forgive me for doing this." He then pressed it gently as the Athenian screamed louder. Siegfried quickly removed his hand.
"Sophitia, quick, remove the bandages." Sophitia then rushed and cut the bandages in her mid-section to remove it faster. Cassandra then stopped screaming. She then started to pant and to sweat hard. Her older sister then wiped her with a cold towel to lower her temperature and to make her more comfortable. Cassandra then returned back to her slumber.
"How did you know that it was the problem Siegfried?"
"I saw the side of her body throbbing in pain, but I was still not sure that it was the source of the pain until I pressed it with my hand. When she reacted to it, I figured that it was the source. I think that something in there is piercing the inside of her body. That's why I asked you to remove the bandages to loosen the pressure in there."
Sophitia then just stared at amazement of what the knight just said.
"I'm impressed Siegfried. I never saw it that way. Wait, maybe that's the reason she was coughing out blood a while ago."
"Probably, it's the only reason that I can think of as well."
Suddenly, Maxi and Mitsurugi barged inside the tent with their weapons in hand.
"What's the problem?"
"Yeah, we heard someone screaming."
"Ssshhhh!" as Sophitia puts her finger in her lips. "Be quiet. Can't you see my sister's resting? Go back to sleep."
The two then exited the tent and returned back to sleep with confusion on their minds.
"Siegfried, I was just wondering about something?'
"What is it?"
"Why didn't you do anything when Cassandra almost tried to kill you a while ago?"
"Well… it's because I don't have the strength to hurt her and if ever she had killed me a while ago, it would have been fine with me. Being killed by her is nothing to me compared to her, killing me with anger, hate and despise for as long as I exist."
"Well I'm sure that she will never hate you. After all, why did you think she didn't kill you back there? It's because you're important to her the same way she is to you."
"What? Are you telling me that she loves me too?" Sophitia then giggled.
"I'm not saying that she does Siegfried. You have to find out that for yourself when she wakes up."
The knight was then delighted, hoping that she also feels the same towards him. But just as his smile appeared, it quickly vanished.
"After what happened a while ago, I think it is impossible Sophitia. You heard her a while ago didn't you? She said she can never forgive me." She then tapped the knight's shoulder.
"You'll never know until the time comes." The two then went silent for a while. As minutes passed by, Sophitia started to yawn. This caught the eye of Siegfried.
"Sophitia, you better go to bed and rest. I'll watch over her until then."
"Are you sure? But we still have a long way to go for tomorrow. You have to rest as well."
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
"Alright then, I'll leave her to you until I wake up."
Siegfried then nodded as Sophitia went to her bed. He then stroked Cassandra's hair with his hand.
"I'm sorry Cassandra. It's my fault that you're going through all this pain because I wasn't there to protect you when you needed me the most." With that he lowered his head as tears started to fall from his face.
"I swear with my life that you will never go through all of this ever again." He then continued to watch over Cassandra and to resist falling asleep. Before sunrise, Sophitia had already wakened up. He then turned to Siegfried.
"Siegfried, you can rest now. Let me watch over her this time." With a smile on his face, he then lowered his head, closed his eyes and fell asleep.
"I think he is the man you've been waiting for Cassandra. I can tell that he is the right one for you because he will do everything just to keep you safe and happy. He even risked his life for you when you tried to kill him just to remove your hate in him. You're very lucky dear sister."
As the sun rises, Siegfried wakes up. He then saw Cassandra who was still sleeping, gave her a smile and stroked her hair. He was then greeted by Sphitia who had just been cooking breakfast inside their tent. "Good Morning Siegfried, slept well?"
"Good Morning as well Sophitia, just sleeping beside her gave me all the rest that I need." Sophitia then giggled.
"Aw… That's so sweet of you. Here, dig in. I know you're hungry from watching over her all night long."
"Thanks Sophitia"
Suddenly, Maxi and Mitsurugi entered the tent.
"Hey, Good Morning everyone"
"We smelled something's cooking so we made our way here." The two then greeted them back.
"Grab a plate you two and help yourselves."
"Chow Time" as everyone ate, Mitsurugi then approached Siegfried.
"Hey Siegfried, what was all that screaming a while ago?"
"Oh that? It was Cassandra, screaming in pain."
"What? So she's in a worse state than we thought."
"That's why we need to reach the kingdom of Wolfkrone as soon as possible."
After breakfast, the warriors then started to pack their things for their departure. They then decided to put Cassandra in a thin bedlike structure (a stretcher for short), which is light in weight and has handles on each end so that they can carry her while she was still sleeping. They then continued to Wolfkrone. Before noon, they have were already outside the city but just as they were about to enter, they saw a number of soldiers who were heading their way. The soldiers then surrounded the group to prevent them from going anywhere.
"Place your hands behind your head." as one of the guards commanded them.
They then dropped Cassandra gently to the ground as they raised their hands.
"What's the meaning of these?" complained Maxi.
"Please, were just travellers who are passing by" Explained Sophitia
A knight, holding a spear that bears the symbol of the wolf, then came down from its horse. As it removed its helmet, long red hair started to fall and a face of a young girl who is probably not yet on her twenties greeted them.
"I am Hildegard von Krone, ruler and princess of the kingdom of Wolfkrone. We are here to serve justice against the once Azure Knight, Nightmare for his crimes against humanity and the kingdom of Wolfkrone. That would be you Siegfried Schtauffen." Everyone was shocked that they have already known who Siegfried was.
"Hold you horses there your highness. Do you have evidence to prove of you allegations to our companion?"
"Of course we have. The people of Wolfkrone do not accuse anyone without concrete evidence." She then signalled somebody from the back to come forward. Suddenly a man riding a horse with a glove on his left hand appeared to them. Siegfried then recognized the man.
"Aeon Calcos?"
"Good to see you again Sir Schtauffen…" as Aeon lowered his head with the feeling of regret.
"Why did you tell them?"
"It was… the only way to be acquitted for my sins in the past. They said that if I can bring them the Azure Knight, then I will be rewarded with a royal pardon. At first I thought that it was impossible to be done but then when you confessed your past with me, I then had hope. Then you've started explaining about how I reacquire back my soul, I then doubted myself if I still want to do it. I then thought of the baker who saved my life. I was the only one he can rely one to help him in his life. I'm… the only one that he has close to a family. I know what I did was selfish in my part but please I wish that you can forgive me as well…"
"Why you little tattle tale." Before Mitsurugi can even approach the man, Hilde ordered her men to restrain the samurai. Siegfried then approached Aeon slowly. The soldiers then blocked the knight's path to him but Hilde ordered them to stand down as she sees him as not a threat for the time being. Siegfried then put his hand on Aeon.
"Don't worry about anything Aeon. I forgive you." Tears then started to fall from the man's face as he nodded and moved away from the knight.
"Aeon Calcos, as Princess of the kingdom of Wolfkrone, I now gave you a royal pardon and atonement you for all of your sins as a servant of the evil sword." He then bowed his head with gratitude to the princess and rode away back to the baker's house.
"Your Majesty, I will only come with you peacefully if you will let my companions free. They are just ordinary travellers. "
"Brother, don't" as Mitsurugi tried to stop him.
"I'm sorry I cannot allow you to be punished for the sins that I've committed."
"But we still have a job to do. "
"I guess you have to continue without me Maxi." Sophitia then approached Siegfried.
"What about Cassandra?"
"…I'm sorry Sophita. But this is not the burden that all of you have to bear with me. Cassandra and everyone's safety after all, is more important to me at this time…"
"But…" He then tapped her shoulder then moved away from the Athenian.
"Do you accept my conditions your Highness?"
"Alright then"
"And please, let my companion be treated of her injuries. She is in a very bad condition."
Hilde then stared at the Athenian who was lying down and couldn't help but pity the girl.
"Please I beg you." as Siegfried knelt down to the ground which shocked the princess.
(Is he really the dreaded monster who terrorized people from all these years?)
After a moment of silence, the she then nodded to the knight's request.
"Thank you." The guards then took him away in custody as the others carried Cassandra to their clinic. Hilde then whispered something to a guard.
"Could you please tell the alchemist to attend to her? Tell her that I am the one who is requesting."
The knight then bowed down. "As you wish your Majesty" Hilde then approached the group of warriors.
"I apologize for what we did to you earlier. Please make yourselves at home in the city while you wait for your companion to fully recover."
"Your Highness, isn't there any way to change your mind about him?" as Sophitia approached the princess.
"I'm sorry for I can't change my decision. He has already killed a lot of people throughout the years and became a threat for my kingdom. He has also a lot of sins against humanity and therefore must be brought to justice. Please understand why I cannot change my mind on this matter." Hilde then walked away to her horse and rode back to the city.
"What the hell? Can't this day get any worse, Cassandra is still unconscious and Siegfried got arrested. What next?"
"Calm down Mitsurugi. Sophitia, where do we go from here?"
"Let's just stay at the inn and wait until Cassandra wakes up."
"And just forget about Siegfried, how could you?" as the samurai protested.
Sophitia then confronted Mitsurugi.
"Do you think I like how things have turned out huh? Do you think that it's okay for me to lose a friend? Do you think it is fine by me that the man that gives the reason for my sister to fight through what she is currently going through get killed?"
"What? How did you know? I was the only one who knows about that? "
"Well not anymore. He told me everything last night while we were watching over Cassandra. He told me how important she is to him and I know that she feels the same towards Siegfried." Mitsurugi then lowered his head.
"I'm sorry Sophitia. I thought that he meant nothing to you."
"It's okay Mitsurugi. I know that you're just upset and I can't blame you. Besides, if the same thing happens to any of you, I would feel the same way." The Athenian then smiled at the samurai.
"Let's go to that inn then." The two then agreed and proceeded to their destination.
"Wait a minute, why am I the only one who doesn't know about Siegfried and Cassandra?" The two then laughed at the pirate who was didn't have any idea on the said topic.
"Seriously guys why haven't anyone told me about that?" He then saw the two who continued walking.
"Hey wait up!" He then followed the two.
Meanwhile, Siegfried, Hilde and the guards had just arrived at Wolfkrone castle. The princess then sat on her throne, about to pass judgement on the knight.
"Siegfried Schtauffen, for your crimes as being the Azure Knight, I, Hildegard von Krone, by the Wolfkrone judicial system, herby sentences you to be executed in three days… Do you have anything else to say?
"No your majesty"
"Very well, guards, take him to the dungeon." Siegfried was then taken to the dungeon and was imprisoned until the day of his execution.
A/N: Woah! Sigefried's going to be executed. Will Cassandra wake up before it's lights out for him? Stay tuned…
Don't forget to review guys and thanks for reading.