Another Change
"What should I do?" Shadow asked, unsure of what he should do now.
"You'll come with me." Liber said. He still didn't trust him, so he wanted to keep an eye on him. Shadow nodded; understanding the mistrust.
"Celt, get some rest. You'll need your strength. "Dt said before she left.
"Bane, protect her." Nate pulled him aside. "Don't worry so much about certain things. Don't beat yourself up."
"Yeah." Bane said.
"I'll send Robo in a few weeks to check in. "Liber said. "Don't let your guard down; there's no telling what he'll do next."
"Thank you." Celtic smiled at Liber. "I know I can be stubborn..."
"It's both a strength and a weakness. "Liber squeezed her shoulder and then he and Shadow left. Nate soon followed.
"You can leave too, Bane. "Frost stood near the cottage; arms crossed over his chest.
"Frost!" Celtic looked at the General. "Don't you have dragons to tend to?"
"Fine." Frost said and headed to the Cold dragons.
"As do you, Andy." Celtic said when she saw Andy hovering.
"But..." Andy pouted. "Fine, I'm going."
"I know I should rest, but I should check on Neon and the others." Celtic said after a minute. She went to grab the basket, but Bane beat her to it.
"You're not going alone." Bane thought she was going to protest but she only nodded. They gathered some treats and then headed towards the Opposite hybrids.
"You're awfully quiet." Celtic said as they were walking along the path.
"Just thinking." Bane glanced at her
"Anything you care to share?" Celtic asked when he didn't elaborate.
"Not really." The truth was, he wasn't sure what he was thinking or why.
"Oh, okay." Celtic said. She failed to hide the disappoinment in her voice but she wasn't going to press the issue. They continued down the path in silence for a while.
"..." Bane sighed. He glanced at Celtic and noticed the look on her face. "Celtic, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Her reply was short. She was getting tired and her mind kept wandering to that kiss. She kept telling herself that it didn't mean anything.
"No, you're not." Bane stopped. "You're getting tired. You shouldn't push yourself."
"I said, I'm fine." Celtic started to walk forward but Bane pulled her back to him.
"Stop being stubborn." Bane watched as the fight left her eyes. "You haven't been sleeping, you're still recovering from the injury, and now your pushing yourself. Let others help you... let me understand."
"I'm fine." She repeated and looked away. The visions were becoming worse and she couldn't shake them... even when she was awake.
"I thought I deserved the truth?" Bane used her words against her. "I thought we were friends?"
"We are..." Celtic's head snapped up.
"Then let me understand; let me help if I can." He saw the saddness in her eyes. "If I did anything to hurt you..."
"Bane, don't." Celtic placed a hand on his cheek. "The reason I can't sleep has nothing to do with you. The visions are getting worse... and more frequent." She turned away from him.
"Tell me?" Bane grabbed her hand. "I want to help if I can."
"This is one burden you don't need." Celtic started to walk but Bane would not let go of her hand. Giving up the fight she turned and buried her face in his chest as the tears poured.
"It's one burden you shouldn't have to carry alone, Star." Bane held her tight as her sobs shook them both. After a few minutes she straightened.
"I'm sorry." She played with the fabric of his shirt; not wanting to look at him.
"Celtic..." Bane placed one hand on hers and used the other to lift her chin. The look on her face nearly broke his heart. "I'm here for you, no matter what."
"I hope these visions don't come true... to lose everyone would be tragic..." Celtic paused. "To lose you..." She looked away as more tears spilled over. "To lose you would be like losing a part of myself."
"..." Bane stood in shock as the words sank in.
"Sorry." Celtic stepped back; heat rising to her cheeks." I shouldn't have sai..." Before she knew what was happening, she was pulled into a hug.
"I'm glad you did." Bane pulled back to look at her. "You may be the 'Enchantress of the Elements' but you are more than that to me." He ran a hand through his hair and tried to find the right words. "Celtic..." Not finding the words, he bent down and kissed her. At first, Celtic wasn't sure what to do, but as her heart took over she melted into the kiss.
"Bane?" When she pulled back she couldn't understand the look in his eyes. "What's wrong?" Panic started to set in.
"Was that one of your visions?" Bane asked. The moment he felt Celtic respond to the kiss an image popped into his mind. "We were all lifeless... You and Liber were the last two alive..."
"What?" Celtic's eyes grew wide as she realized what might have just happened. "Oh..." Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about the vision Bane had just seen.
"Hey, it's okay." Bane kissed her forehead and then pulled her into a hug again. "No wonder you're not sleeping."
"It's horrible... none of these visions are good." Celtic pulled back to look at Bane. Understanding shown in his eyes, and for the first time since the visions started, she felt at peace. "As long as you're here, I'll be okay." She nestled into his chest.
"I'm not going anywhere. As long as I am welcomed, I'll be here." Bane said holding her tighter.
"You will always be welcomed... at least by me." Celtic said and then sighed. "As much as I could just stay in this moment; Neon and the others probably miss me."
"Yeah." Bane smiled. He bent down to grab the basket and they headed towards the Opposite hybrids once more. This time there was laughter and conversation.
"She's fully recovered." A man entered the throne room.
"She's stronger than I thought." Kululu growled. "Eddie, find her weakness."
"Wouldn't that be obvious?" Eddie replied. "Her friends..."
"I know that!" Kululu spat. "I want something that will crush her spirit in one blow."
"Kill Sir Bane." Eddie said. "They seem to be really close."
"That is an intriquing idea." Kululu thought. "Justin!"
"Yes?" Justin came a few minutes later.
"I have a job for you... one I think you'll enjoy." Kululu grinned. "Kill Sir Bane."
"Sire?" Justin wasn't sure what to make of that order.
"You heard me!" Justin nodded and the left to follow the order. He'd wanted to get Bane out of his way for over three years but something didn't feel right.
"Ugh... those two are always together now." Frost said. He and Andy were standing by the cottage while Bane and Celtic were with their dragons.
"Yep." Andy said. "You're just going to have to get used to it."
"I guess..." Frost shrugged his shoulders and headed inside.
"At least she seems happy." Andy followed. "With everything she's gone through... she deserves that much."
"What?" Celtic noticed Bane staring at her. They'd been talking and laughing but he suddenly stopped.
"It's good to see you happy." Bane smiled and reached for her hand.
"..." She smiled and blushed, unsure of what to say. "It's good to feel happy... you being here makes me happy."
"I'm glad." Bane pulled her closer. "You make me happy, too."
"Go for a walk?" Celtic asked. Bane nodded. "We're going for a walk!" She called out.
"Okay." Andy popped his head out the window.
"Where to?" Bane asked.
"I don't know." Celtic said with a smile. "Wherever we end up."
"Sounds good." Bane took her hand in his and they started down the path.
"Well, this was too easy." Justin's voice stopped them. "I thought I would have to wait longer... I was hoping that you would be alone, Bane."
"What do you want, Justin?" Bane said, positioning himself between Justin and Celtic.
"You know what I want." Justin looked at Celtic and then back at Bane. "You're in the way, again, Bane." Justin drew his sword.
"Don't do this, Justin." Bane's voice was tense. Celtic felt the air shift.
"Then get out of my way." Justin wasn't backing down.
"The only way to get rid of me is to kill me." Bane tensed. Celtic took a step back when she felt a shift in energy. She watched Bane's hands began to glow as an incredible energy grew.
"I was hoping you'd say that." Justin grinned.
"You don't want to do this, Justin." Celtic stepped in between them.
"Get out of my way!" Justin grabbed her arm and flung her to the side.
"You really shouldn't have done that." Bane said firmly. His want and need to protect Celtic only further fueled the changes he'd been feeling.
"And what is an Archer going to do without his bow." Justin was too confident that he would finally be rid of Bane.
"Element Shroud!" Celtic called out the command. A shield formed by all eight elements surrounded Bane.
"You fool!" Justin hurled an energy blast at Celtic.
"Metal Shroud!" She called just in time as a metal shield deflected the blast.
"I'm not even close to being done!" Justin shouted. His anger was growing.
"Neither am I." Bane said. His voice was stern. "If you ever come near her again, I will kill you."
"To make good on that threat, you'd have to be alive after this." Justin took a step towards Celtic. "She will be mine."
"I will never belong to you." Celtic hissed. She managed to move out of the when he tried to grab her. "Lightning Shock!" She threw lightning bolts at him.
"That won't hurt me." Justin laughed as he absorbed the lightning. "I'm from the Lightning clan."
"Fine, then, how about this?" Bane raised a hand to the sky. "Tsunami!" A ball of water formed in his hand.
"What?" Justin stood wide-eyed at what was happening. "That's impossible..."
"Water Spout!" Celtic called on the water element. Now, she, too, had a ball of water ready to attack.
"Leave now, or else." Bane said. He could see the energy draining from Celtic. She still wasn't strong enough to use as much power as she was.
"Ahh!" Justin charged at Bane.
"No!" Celtic hurled the element at Justin.
"Ahh!" Bane cried out as Justin's sword sliced his arm. "Tsunami!" This time he hurled the attack at Justin, knocking him to the ground.
"Bane!" Celtic ran over to him.
"I'm fine. It's just a scratch." Bane reassured her.
"This... this isn't over." Justin stood on shaky legs.
"Give Kululu a message: if he ever tries to kill Celtic again he won't live another day." Bane stood tall. He watched surprise flicker across Justin's face.
"..." Justin nodded and then took a step towards Celtic. "If only you'd chosen me..."
"I didn't... and I never will." Celtic stepped closer to Bane who wrapped his uninjured arm around her.
"Now get out of here before I change my mind about letting you go." Bane glared as Justin. Without waisting another minute, Justin left.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Celtic said as she noticed the blood pouring down Bane's arm.
"I'll be fine. Are you okay?" Bane smiled at her, she nodded.
"Tired, but I'll be okay. We should get back." She started to walk but Bane grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. "What are you..."
"Let's just spend a moment here." Bane smiled at her... the attack forgotten for a moment.
"What is it?" Celtic asked when she saw saddness fill his eyes.
"I could have lost you..." Bane kissed the palm of her hand. "There have been too many times recently when I could have lost you."
"I'm still here." Celtic felt her heart quicken at the look in Bane's eyes. She quickly turned her face away as heat rose to her cheeks.
"Celtic?" Bane couldn't figure out what happened.
"No one has ever looked at me that way before." She still didn't look at him.
"And what way is that?" Bane tried to fight the smile that tugged at his lips. His tone made her look at him.
"Are you teasing me, Archer?" Celtic smiled at the thought.
"No one else better look at you that way... I'm the only one who can." Bane was still teasing, but he was also serious.
"You've never struck me as the jealous type, Archer." Celtic said as they headed back to the cottage.
Bane took her hand in his and interlocked their fingers. "Maybe I've never before had a reason to be jealous."
"And now you do?" Celtic teased.
"Now I do, Enchantress." Bane kissed the back of her hand and smiled deeply at her.
"There you guys are. Robo's been here for a while, waiting on you." Andy said when Celtic and Bane got closer to the cottage.
"What happened?" Robo noticed Bane's arm.
"Justin attacked us." Celtic said.
"Please tell me you killed him." Frost replied.
"No. He's taking a message back to Kululu." Bane replied.
"..." Frost shook his head.
"Robo, once Bane's arm is tended to, we need to see Master Argyos and the others." Celtic said, ignoring Frost. She looked at Bane. He understood.
"Certainly." Robo replied.