Chapter Thirty: Being Loved
Being loved deeply by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage.
-Anonymous
xxXxx
Baron did his best to keep his mind calm and collected. This was quite literally it; even if he was interested in turning back, it simply wasn't possible anymore.
He had managed to hide the bag before the soldiers came for him, and the firebird feather was now deeply tucked into his shirt and under his winter riding coat, so that no one would see the light and know that Vulcan had given him comfort to last through the cold winter's night. He had wanted to walk to the ritual, but the soldiers knew about his weak body a little too well. Still sympathetic to his health, they carried him by the arms until reaching a point where they would be seen. Then they had no choice by to drag him down the stairs and hallways to a balcony overlooking the courtyard. Right below them was the first of the cauldrons, smelling strongly of boiling milk. Toto was clearly seen on the far side of the courtyard, looking terribly worried and surrounded by soldiers ready to hold him down if he tried to interfere.
The dead tired little kitten was currently standing between the two guards, doing breathing exercises as the king revealed himself on the same balcony, and waved grandly as he took one of the only two seats that had been provided.
The old pain in the crown was outfitted in fancy wedding attire, finer than Baron had ever seen him before. "So nice of you to join us, babe. Sleep well, did you?" he smirked wickedly.
"About as well as can be expected, your majesty," Baron responded almost mechanically, one eye on the seat next to him. It was only a little less ornate than the one the king was providing himself.
It had to be for Haru.
The king tapped his armrest impatiently, and checked his watch as the sun slowly began to rise. "Where is she?" he muttered to himself angrily. "Natori said he'd be right back out with her."
Baron's heart froze in fear, although he couldn't explain why. Whatever his faults were, he was certain that the high advisor was at least loyal.
Right?
Without warning, Vulcan's flaming form was clearly seen as it flew from the other side of the palace, and began a long spiraling climb that was miles above the ground! Maybe over a thousand!
"Hey, what's he doing, babe?" the king asked, standing up from his seat in suspicion.
"I haven't the foggiest idea, my king," Baron answered honestly, since Vulcan almost never showed off if it wasn't required.
But then again… today was a pretty important day for the kingdom. Perhaps a little showing off was in order.
When he appeared to only be a golden star in the fading heavens, Vulcan decided to close his wings, shooting straight at the palace like an arrow! Baron's heartbeat quickened until it was beating faster than the drums could keep up with, although he didn't know why.
But he found his answer as Vulcan swooped elegantly over the courtyard, making the aristocracy and general populace present gasp and even scream in fright as he circled once around the courtyard, and then once around each of the cauldrons before landing on the balcony, behind the chairs.
Baron's mouth was open in shock as Haru climbed off the firebird's back with every bit of grace he had ever taught her. He could tell that it was her when Vulcan had drawn closer, but now he could behold her in all her bridal glory.
She looked lovely, there was no doubt of that. In fact, he doubted that it was possible for her to look anything less.
But he had to be honest with himself; the large puffy dress didn't suit her at all. If a wedding cake could be translated into an outfit, he was certain that it would be something like what she was wearing.
"I hope that I didn't keep everyone waiting," she said politely as she adjusted the clasp of her cloak, the tone being the same as if she were merely late for tea.
"No, not a bit," the king assured her as he helped her into the slightly less ornate chair. "We were actually about to get started. Boys!"
The guards were less than happy to obey, but started picking the runt up by the arms.
"The boon you promised, my king?" Baron cried out as they prepared to toss him over the edge.
"You're not getting out of the ritual, little kitten," the king snarled, raising his hand to give the okay to dump him over the edge.
"I don't want out of the ritual."
The king stopped cold, as did the guards gripping him like a basket of slightly heavy trash.
Baron took a breath to steady his nerves. "I wish for you to tell the guards to set me on the railing. I want to jump myself, if it would not inconvenience you."
The king eyed him suspiciously. "… You aren't trying to escape, are you, babe?"
"I doubt I could, even if I had the inclination. Please, your majesty. I will never ask you for anything ever again if it works."
Baron didn't know if he'd be able to keep that promise, but he did not want to be thrown in like his childhood nightmares. If the spell didn't work, that was not the way he wanted Haru to remember him.
The king thought about it, giving Haru a small glance as if to ask for her opinion.
Her gaze was steely cold. "You're making Baron do it?" she asked in an equally icy tone.
"Well, I need to make sure that it's safe for me," the king tried to reason as Baron struggled to keep a reign on his emotions.
'She didn't know he would do this? No, she's just acting again. I trust you, Haru. I trust you.'
Her disapproving glare increased. "Then I think you owe him this small favor, your majesty."
The king grunted, and nodded at his guards. They carefully set him on the stone railing of the large balcony, looking slightly relieved.
Baron dared a peak over the edge. The thick steam of the boiling milk hit him in the face, making it colder than before as he leaned back a bit to avoid it. He cast his eyes to the boiling water just beyond it, and to the partially frozen water behind it.
On the other side was erected a small platform, made almost crudely with wood. He started feeling dizzy again, and had to close his eyes and take a deep breath for courage.
"Get on with it!" the king yelled at him impatiently, but the tawny kitten didn't dare turn and risk looking at him or Haru.
Baron swallowed hard, and repeated the same words that he had been saying for almost half of his life.
"Yes, your majesty."
Now. If he didn't do it now, he'd have one of the guards push him. With one hand on his beloved hat, he took a deep breath, crouched down as low as he could… and jumped.
Falling seemed to be different this time than when it had happened back at his estate. For one, he had been preparing himself for it since last night, unable to sleep a single wink. For another, despite whatever the king thought, Baron wasn't doing this for his monarch, or even his kingdom.
He was doing it solely for Haru. Anything less than a future with her wouldn't have given him the courage to jump.
Baron couldn't tell if the milk was hot or cold as it claimed him in a possessive embrace. Even as he exclaimed from the undecided temperature, the milk flowed into his lungs and through his body, until it was almost like he was one with the creamy liquid. Nothing more, and nothing less.
He was reminded of when Haru saved his life, almost feeling her comforting arms around him again.
'Haru…'
His feet suddenly made contact with the bottom of the cauldron, and he could feel the flames dance underneath him. With strength he didn't know he possessed, his legs were somehow able to propel him out of the milk.
He took in a deep gasp of air before sinking into the boiling water, before he could tell the reaction of anyone else.
Boiling hot, freezing cold; he was at the point where he couldn't even tell the difference. He could almost feel his brim in one fist, keeping it firmly on his head as he began sinking again.
This time, he dared to open his eyes. It was still obvious that he had been dripping with milk when going into the second pot, because he could see beautiful threads of white weave into the plain colorlessness of the bubbling water. The light from the sun was becoming more obvious now; adding a glorious splash of color to the one cloud far above the palace.
It was beautiful.
His feet touched the bottom of the second cauldron. Again, his legs found the strength to kick himself out of the scalding liquid.
Unable to see or comprehend anything, Baron took in a deeper breath than ever, even as he fell into the last cauldron.
Going from extreme heat to extreme cold didn't really seem to register to his body. It all felt the same by now.
His eyes were open, and gazing upwards as his body came to rest at the bottom of the large iron kettle. He could see the floating ice at the top connect to each other, and slowly form into a solid sheet over his head until the dim sunlight was almost impossible to see.
Baron could feel nothing. Only the need to breathe.
The tawny feline stood up inside the cauldron… and clicked one heel against the bottom of it.
In the years that were to come, he would often get asked about this part. How it felt to emerge from the last of the cauldrons as if from a gushing geyser, and to step onto the platform as calmly as he did when dismounting Toto. The first few times, he really would try to describe the feeling, but never found a way to do the sensation justice.
The first thing he heard was a large and collective gasp as he took in a grateful breath of fresh cold air, one hand adjusting his hat to be sure that it truly was still on.
Then he noticed that he wasn't wet. Or tired. Or even weak.
If there was anything he felt, it was alive!
He opened his eyes, and beheld something he had never seen before. It wasn't that everyone was staring at him; he had grown used to that over the years of being the king's errand boy.
But this was the first time, even when courtiers thought he reformed Haru, that he had ever been given such looks of complete shock, and, dare he even think it?
Admiration.
Baron looked down at himself, a little surprised at how far away his feet were now. He had to be double his original height, at least! He experimentally extended one hand as far as it could go. It seemed to stretch on forever! Even his clothes had grown with him, thank heaven. A slightly wild laugh of happiness escaped his lips as he looked past the crowds, past the cauldrons, and to the balcony.
The king was also staring at him, falling back in his chair in almost a dead faint. But Haru had long abandoned her seat, both hands on the rail as an ecstatic smile of relief spread over her lips.
Vulcan was standing up from behind her, and extending his wings in preparation for flight. "Hold up your hand, Haru," he ordered firmly.
Still beaming at Baron, the slim brunette immediately did as she was told, which made it easier for him to grab it and carry her out of the balcony.
"Hey? What are you doing?" the king demanded as Vulcan carried the girl over each of the cauldrons until reaching the platform.
Almost like it was rehearsed, Baron reached up and grabbed Haru by the waist as Vulcan let go of her arm. He didn't see what happened to the firebird as he set her down next to him, because all he could notice was that he was now a good head taller than the love of his life.
It was hard enough to keep his eyes off her without hormones, but he could already tell it was going to be right next to impossible with them.
"How do you feel?" Haru asked worriedly, placing one warm hand on his cheek.
He grinned, and placed his hand over her own, loving the feel of her touch. "I've never felt better in my life!"
Good heavens, even his voice had changed. It had turned deeper, though not as deep as his father's, but it was surprisingly close to the warm, comforting voice of his memories.
"… How do I look?" he asked shyly, wanting more than anything to know her first impression of his improved body.
She grinned at him. Not the courtly smile, but her real one. "Before, you were cool. Now you're hot, too."
An uncontrollable desire filled his body, one that he couldn't have countered if he tried. Smiling wider than he ever had before, he grabbed her by the shoulders, permanently ruining the puffy sleeves as he pulled her close for a possessive embrace. He was too happy to worry that she might not want it until after she had her arms around his solid chest and squeezing him back, rubbing one cheek against him with real affection.
Oh heavens, it felt wonderful to hold her when he was like this! Never again would he feel like a child in her arms.
"Get your filthy hands off her!" the king howled angrily, having finally recovered from a multitude of shocks. "She's mine!"
Baron could feel a small laugh ripple through her body as she loosened her hold just enough to look at the aging monarch.
"Actually, I said the only way I'd even consider marrying you was if you went through the spell of renewal. Until you do, I don't have a reason to step away from Baron, and I really don't want to step away right now." She tightened her grip on Baron, just enough to make him start purring again.
It had turned deeper, and more pleasant than it had ever been before.
The king gave Baron a look filled with pure hatred as he struggled to get onto the railing, almost falling off several times in the process. "When I get over there, you are dead! Do you hear me? Dead!"
Baron stiffened, and turned Haru enough so that she was behind him. "Any more brilliant ideas, love?" he asked softly over one shoulder as he stood in front of her protectively.
"A pretty good one, actually," she whispered, both of her warm hands on his back. "Wait and watch."
He looked at her in confusion. "What?"
"Just watch," she repeated, keeping a firm grip on one of his shoulders as she leaned to the side enough so that she could presumably see the king. "I wouldn't do it if I were you, your majesty!" she called out sweetly.
"If it'll work on the runt, it'll work on me!" he hollered back, finally giving up on being able to climb onto the railing. Instead, he made gestures for his two bodyguards to help him over the edge.
They looked less than enthused about having to toss the king, who easily weighed more than the two of them together. But that didn't stop them from doing as the monarch ordered.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," Haru called sadly, wrapping Baron's arm around her shoulders, since the sleeves were ruined anyway.
The tall lord looked at her worriedly. Why was she so calm about what was about to happen?
"Here I go!" the king cried out in anticipation as the soldiers kept trying to help him stand on the edge, but the old monarch slipped on his footing, falling headfirst into the boiling milk below with barely enough time to scream. The white stuff splashed spectacularly into the air, much the way the sea water had done while Haru was saving Lune.
It was only then that Baron noticed that the snow around each of the three cauldrons was partially melted away, although the hotter liquids had less snow around them.
"Well. That's that," Haru said, sounding strangely melancholic. "I hope Lune forgives me for this."
"What do you mean?" Baron couldn't help but ask as he tightened his grip on her. "Isn't he going to come out as well?"
Haru shook her head firmly, her eyes still sad. "He didn't jump, and he didn't have a pure heart. Plus I'm pretty sure that even if he could swim, he wouldn't be able to in boiling milk."
As if to accent her point, the frothy cream slowly turned pink, and then red with diluted blood. Those who could see into the cauldron gasped and screamed in horror, including the two guards that helped him over the edge.
"The king is dead," Vulcan said in a somber tone, spreading his glorious wings out, as if to greet the rising sun. "Long live King Lune!"
Baron swallowed once, still unbelieving that the king was truly gone, but repeated the firebird triumphantly. "Long live King Lune!"
The cry was soon taken up by everyone present, until it felt that the very stones were echoing the joyous strains.
"Baron?" Haru whispered tiredly, once the tumultuous noise was almost deafening. "Can we go home?"
He smiled warmly, knowing that for once, she wasn't speaking of her world, or even of the lighthouse.
She was speaking of Piaal.
He loved it when she referred to his home as her own. "Right now, if you wish," he assured her as he looked around the platform. But judging from the lack of any way to get down, it was obvious that no one had expected him to live through even the first cauldron.
Somehow knowing that his body could now handle it, Baron grinned and released her in order to jump off.
The people that had been crowding close immediately backed away, so there was no interference as his feet made a solid connection with the cobblestones. Hardly even feeling the impact, he immediately straightened up, and turned enough to smile up at Haru.
She grinned, and also jumped in order to land in his arms. His knees buckled slightly, but he couldn't help but wonder if it was from the weight of the dress, not her. With loving care, he set her on the ground, since the skirt was far too full for him to consider carrying her to Toto, and offered her an arm.
Smiling happily, she held onto it with both of her own arms as they began walking away together towards the crow.
"Wait, the chapel is this way," one of the soldiers tried to stop them, but he didn't actually dare to approach. "The wedding is meant to happen today, after all."
Baron looked at him, and then at a slightly nervous Haru. Did he want to marry her?
Absolutely. But… not like this. Other than Vulcan and Toto, none of the courtiers or servants present could truly be counted as friends. Not to mention the fact that he was not dressed for a wedding, and Haru's crushed sleeves had a bit of a comedic effect. Her dress was comedic enough without crushing the sleeves, almost illustrating his silent opinion.
He didn't want their marriage to start like this. After everything else she had been forced to give up, Haru deserved a wedding of her choice, and when she was ready for it.
Striking on a sudden revelation, he looked up at a smirking firebird. "Vulcan. Did you say that the wedding was to happen on Winter's Solstice, or to prepare for Winter's Solstice?"
The gold and red bird laughed, covering the gesture with a flaming wing. "I said 'prepare'."
Baron shook his head happily at the dead king's assumption, and smiled at Haru. "Shall we find Muta and more suitable riding attire for you, then?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed happily, hugging him harder than she had ever dared to before. "I hate this dress with a passion," she confided as he led her back into the palace.
"You don't approve of wearing a pastry impersonation?" he couldn't resist from teasing.
"I still think if the king liked this design so much, he should have worn it," she retorted with a wicked smirk, looking over her shoulder. "Any soldiers still close to Toto when we get back are going to be visiting the hospital wing!"
They immediately backed away from the crow with fearful expressions, making him smirk wickedly. But even through the smirk, one could see tears of happiness in the bird's small black eyes as he watched his newly reborn friend escort his future mate into the palace.
ooOoo
The first thing Natoru noticed as he came to was a pounding headache. The second thing was getting a face full of half-frozen water.
He sat up with an unhappy yowl as his father stood up; his soaking robe saying that he had already been doused.
"What do you mean by this? Don't you know who I am?" Natori demanded angrily at the captain of the guard.
"Well, I know who you used to be," the captain said stiffly, snapping his fingers once. "But I doubt the king will be willing to keep you as his advisor, after what Lady Haru told me of."
"W-What did she say?" Natoru asked fearfully as he was dragged to his feet, and his hands were harshly bound with manacles.
"Very interesting things, to say the least. I'm certain that King Lune will be most interested to hear my report of her findings once he returns to the palace.
"…King? The king is dead?" Natori choked in disbelief. "What of the Baron?"
The captain grinned almost evilly. "Let me put it this way; if he did not look like a child until today, he would have had even more attention from the ladies than the new king ever did."
"Impossible," Natoru whispered in horror, remembering the way the runt had looked at his Haru at the engagement ball.
His Haru… "What of the Sea Maiden?" the chubby feline asked frantically.
"Oh, she's just leaving with Baron, Vulcan, and her bodyguard. Apparently she didn't have to get married today, after all."
"She's taking Vulcan?" Natori shrieked in outrage as some soldiers bound him as well.
"Yes, he said it was nearly time for him to return home, and I know better than to argue with someone who can light entire regiments on fire."
"But-"
"Enough, high advisor. On the strong advice of the Sea Maiden herself, I am placing the both of you under arrest until such time the new king decides the two of you are worthy of release."
"But the prince hates us!" Natoru blurted out, trying to override the sound of his heart breaking.
"That's not my problem, now is it?" the captain smirked, gesturing at the guards to take them away.
Natoru tried to struggle. He kept trying to escape both his bonds and captors as both he and his father were dragged down the hallway and down the stairs, towards the common dungeons. All the while, the brown cat tried to get the guards to tell him that it wasn't true, that Haru wasn't choosing Baron.
All that earned him was a punch on the mouth and some scornful laughs. By the time he recovered from the shock of actually being struck by a guard, he and his father were being thrown into one of the cells, and the door locked behind them.
"Enjoy your time in here, boys. The king might not be so gentle when he hears my report!" the captain said cheerfully as he and his soldiers left them alone.
Natori got to his feet immediately, scowling as the chalky dust on the floor collected on the wet parts of his robe. "Wonderful. Just wonderful!"
Natoru slowly sat up from his fallen position, and watched his father pace the small cell.
"Vulcan must have provided her with real tears for the bodyguard. That's why she didn't give my offer much thought," Natori mused in an irritated growl.
"… What are we going to do, Father?" Natoru asked in a small whisper.
"Well, getting out of here is simple enough." He extracted a skeleton key from the folds of one sleeve. "However, once we make our escape, we will have no choice but to return to the Human Kingdom."
Natoru gasped in horror. "Father, no!"
"What choice do we have?" Natori snapped. "The prince has hated us for years, and we'll be wanted criminals in this world. Even if we managed to get to Piaal in time to stop the wedding, Vulcan has made his bias for the runt more than clear. Her fate is decided."
Natoru's heart broke from the words. "But… but…"
"Of course, perhaps it was too much to hope for, that she would marry the likes of you. I'm your father, and even I can barely stand you some days," Natori grumbled as he started fumbling with the lock through the bar-laden window in the door of their cell.
Natoru's heartbreak seemed to freeze over. His father had never said that before, but his serious tone made it clear that he meant it.
His own father didn't like him? He wasn't very affectionate, Natoru was used to that, but… he didn't even like him? His own son?
Finally, Natori worked the door loose with a smirk of satisfaction. He slowly opened it to slip through, and glared at his only child. "Well? What is it to be; vagabondage or the headman's block?"
'If I choose vaga… vaga… running away, I'll never see Haru again.'
"Should I save myself the trouble and lock you up again?" his father growled impatiently, his hand shaking against the door as if he wanted to slam it.
'But… if I stay, I'll still never see her again.' With a heavy heart, Natoru stepped out of the cell, and followed his father through the secret passageways while avoiding the stray servants that knew about it.
But as he and his father unlocked the gate surrounding the Human Portal, something seemed to snap inside the ex-Junior Advisor.
For the past eleven years, the runt had always been taking what was really his. A baronetcy, glory and honor; even the greatest prize in the kingdom, Haru, was now in the runt's possession.
As he searched the skies for a sign of the long gone crow, he realized that things were far from over.
Before following his father into the portal, Natoru made a vow, one that only he could hear. That one day, he didn't know when, or even how, but karma would fall to a complete circle.
One day, Baron Humbert von Gikkingen would pay for his deeds, and pay dearly.