It was dark. Everywhere. No sounds, no light. Just blackness.
Where am I?
The thought rippled in the space around her, crashing into her like waves, then breaking into nothingness.
It was cold and silent. Eery.
Have I died?
Her mind probed; a shot in the dark, looking for logic in this stagnant place. The answer came slowly, like a snail's movement. No, she wasn't dead. But she was on the brink, hovering in limbo between life and death.
She walked (at least, she felt she did), looking left and right for something, anything in the black. There was nothing. Her walk turned into a stride, a jog, and then a full out run. Eyes darted in every direction but still there was nothing to be seen. She was alone, isolated; a single body walking through an unknown.
Far out in the distance, she heard a slow thump. Over and over again in a steady rhythm. She stopped to listen.
"Melia?"
The voice drifted through the air, calling to her in a hesitant voice. A warm voice, her memory said. One that was filled with laughter. It had the melodious sounds of an embrace. She recognized it, but the name to who it belonged was clouded in a nebulous smoke. Its identity itched to be brought to the forefront of her mind, but would not come.
Once more the voice called out to her. She grasped at it, trying to capture and hold it to her. But it was gone, like a wisp of smoke.
And then she sank into the darkness.
"Melia. I know you can hear me."
This time, the voice growled. She was awake now. Her ears perked up and she whirled around, looking for the origin. It was a different voice from the one she'd heard before. This one was edgier, harder. As if it were commanding her to awaken: to emerge from the darkness she occupied. She clamored towards it as it spoke again.
But then she paused, abruptly halting in her tracks.
These voices wanted her to 'wake up'. What did it mean to 'wake up'? Did she want to 'wake up'? She asked herself and her mind searched inward for the truth.
Pain.
Sadness stirred and a numbness bled within her. Why? Why did she feel this way about the world outside?
The voice called once more, a note of desperation buried underneath the gruffness: "Melia, you better not die."
But this time she stepped backward, away from the voice.
"Please."
Why did it want her to come back? Why would it ask her to leave this place and return to pain?
She knew the answer. That voice belonged to someone...close to her. Someone she cared deeply about.
But who?
Squeezing her eyes shut, she clamped her hands over her ears, trying to drown out the voices outside and inside.
A hand in the darkness reached out and pulled her under once more.
"Melly! Melly, wake up! Riki miss Melly!"
The urgency of the voice twisted her. Orange. She saw orange tinted with blue. What was this feeling that cut her inside? The need to run and heal that voice rose within her.
She needed to do something. Had to.
But she hesitated. Doing something meant waking up which meant pain and was that something she wanted?
The voice wailed again, its suffering cracking the blackness around her. Shards of obsidian glass flew out of the abyss. One cut her right leg, another cut her left arm. She shrieked. Cracked, the blackness vibrated around her with a deafening silence.
She couldn't breathe. She needed to get out. Get out now. Follow the voice.
The black loomed over her, threatening to drown her again.
Desperate, she pulled. She was pulling at something invisible in the dark. What was it? It didn't matter. She kept pulling.
A burning fire ripped through her as she pulled. Pain. So much pain.
In that moment, the darkness sucked her under. Darkness. Relief.
"Melia."
Another voice. Another she knew. But this one was different. It knew how each word it spoke penetrated into her, and always would. It was the voice that she knew by heart. It was the voice that calmed her, soothed her, like a caress.
Who was it? The name was on the tip of her tongue, but it would not reveal itself.
"Melia, please come back to us."
The call washed over her, and she rose, trembling. Something in her wanted to follow it and find its owner. Something needed her to do so.
"Come back to me."
An appeal. A request. A plea. There was a thundering within her upon hearing the note of anguish.
Exiled in limbo. She knew she could no longer stay. Not when these voices whispered to her their wishes to see them again. Not when that particular voice begged her to return. Return to what, she still did not know. But she knew she had to leave where she was. She had to get back to them. No matter what lay ahead, pain or no pain.
She grabbed ahold again and pulled. She pulled with every last ounce she had. Redness bled through the black. Splatters of Scarlett exploded across the obsidian landscape with each stabbing pain.
But she continued to pull. She would not give in.
Everything felt strained. The weariness clawed at her.
Muscles and bones screamed with each tug.
She opened her own throat to scream as the pain ripped through her.
No, she did not stop. Would not stop.
Light burst out into the black, piercing, overwhelming, snuffing it out in every corner. There was no spot left of the darkness, just a beautiful yellow light.
She had pulled it open.
She let go, falling.
She breathed.
The room was bathed in the oranges and yellows of the early morning sky when the Empress woke. Her eyelids fluttered as she regained consciousness, eyelids resisting the body's desire to open them. Taking a deep breath in and out and tasting the warm air, the High Entia studied her surroundings. Above, the ornate ceiling greeted her with its picturesque scenes of the world has it had been thousands of years ago. As she studied the engravings, her bare arms slid across silky fabric, bringing her hands together to rest on her stomach. The movement caused her to grimace. Every muscle in her body felt sore. But she knew she was in bed. Her bed.
Her bedroom...how did she end up there? Poking into her memory, Melia sifted through the cloudy mess that was her mind. Flashes of her dreams came to her: darkness, voices and light. But these were not what she wanted. No, they were too soon. Closing her eyes, the Empress backtracked. First, she had realized Nae'ell was the saboteur. Then she and her bodyguards had entered her room to discover the corpse of Camar. After, James and Elrich departed to search for the woman, leaving Melia with Dunban. Her memories flushed red, and her back slightly arched as she remembered the emotions and sensations accompanied with that recollection of the intimate encounter.
Entertaining those thoughts a minute more, they passed, and she remembered awakening to a sound. Then the communicator; Nae'ell had been on the other side of the line. Melia's heartbeat quickened feeling the dread rise within her but she pursued the memories further, chasing them down as they fled into the labyrinth of her mind. She remembered dressing, writing letters, and flying off the balcony. Sneaking onto the landing bay, she commandeered a shuttle. She had arrived at Hovering Reef 9 twenty minutes later. Nae'ell was there, awaiting her arrival, with Miriall as her hostage.
Miriall had died, tossed over the edge by Nae'ell's hand.
A wave of horror and grief overcame Melia and she gripped the silky sheets. The woman had fallen, screaming, and then she had been nothing more. Miriall, an innocent bystander stuck in the war between Nae'ell and Melia.
Pushing these thoughts to the side, Melia's mind shifted to the battle. She and Nae'ell had exchanged blow after blow, both physical and ether-based. She remembered Nae'ell's dagger, and her earth magic. She remembered feeling as though she had the upper hand. Until finally...
Terror sent shivers down her spine. Her stomach recalled the free fall and crunched in on itself. She remembered screaming, desperately trying to fly up and away from the black abyss that awaited her below. But she had fallen into the darkness, and her body was enflamed by pain.
And that was it.
Melia sat straight up, wincing as her body became vertical. Her heartbeat hammered. How was she alive? How was she still here?
Bringing her knees to her chest, the High Entia wrapped her arms around her legs and leaned her chin on her knees, gritting her teeth against the pain of the movements. The pounding of her heart hurt; she had to slow it down. Melia took a breath in and out, concentrating on slowing down the heart rate. A few seconds went by of repeated breathing. Finally, the beat resumed its normal pace, no longer feeling the need to burst from her chest.
Inhaling once more, Melia breathed in a multitude of sweet aromas. Turning her head right to see the origin of the scent, she winced. Pain slithered up the side of her neck, but dissipated after a few seconds. If she could, the woman would try to keep movement to a minimum should her current situation allow her. At least, until she had a medical examination. As it passed, her eyes focused on a vase of Mystic Dhalias placed on the nightstand next to her. The corners of her mouth turned upward at the sight. No matter her mood, flowers, especially these, always brought her joy. They shimmered in the early morning setting, their yellow petals glowing silver after an evening of absorbing moonlight rays that penetrated the curtains of her room.
Moving her eyes from the vase, the Homs Entia cast them over a figure slumped in a chair next to her bed. Her heart leapt at the sight of him. Her body seized with relief.
Dunban.
From the steady rhythm of the rising and falling of the chest, she knew that he was asleep. She opened her mouth to speak his name and wake him, hesitating as she quivered in fear and anticipation. Would he be angry with her? Would he want to speak to her after she had enchanted him and left?
But she knew that none of that mattered to her. She had almost died and not confessed her feelings to him in an effort to shield herself from the pain of his eventual departure. All she wanted was to look into was to look into his eyes and hear her name on his lips. How she wanted to speak with him, hold him close to her and feel the strength of his body envelop her own.
As Melia tried to say his name, no sound came from her mouth. Confused, the woman tried again, pushing her vocal cords to form words, but they refused to materialize, leaving her throat empty. A gush of panic plunged through her, and she swallowed, feeling the dryness of her mouth.
Her voice was gone.
Pursing her lips together, she laid a hand over her neck, as if the mere touch would heal it and give her voice back. Her shoulders slumped with this new reality. Looking up at the sleeping figure, she considered not waking him, and waiting until there were more in the room (should she have more visitors). But her inner voice disagreed; now was the time to connect with him, regardless of her situation. Leaning towards Dunban, she felt her muscles scream in protest and laid a hand on his knee.
At the physical contact, the man awoke. His eyes widened as they took her in, seeing her awakened. A smile appeared on his mouth, reaching his eyes and lighting up his whole face.
It made her heart rise and fall.
"Melia."
Dunban pulled his chair closer to the bed and grasped her hand in his. Closing his eyes, he brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles one by one. The softness of his lips on her skin jolted her nerves to life and her stomach filled with butterflies. If only she could feel those kisses on her lips and neck and even more...
"How are you feeling?"
Dropping her eyes to the right, Melia sighed. She wanted to tell him how happy she was to see him. Express her confusion and ask what had happened to her. Most importantly, the woman wanted him to hold her.
But she was bereft of expressing any of these sentiments. Without a voice, all she could do was gesture and nod.
A part of her raged and with her free hand, the Empress clenched it into a fist. Why was this happening to her? Hadn't she been through enough in the past eleven months? Another part of her despaired and circled on the worst-case scenarios. What if she never recovered her voice? How would she communicate with everyone for the rest of her life? Finally, the last portion of her soul did not care. She had given up thinking anything in her life would ever be easy now that she was Empress. This was just another obstacle she was forced to overcome. It was as if the gods were testing her ever step of the way, seeing if they could break her resilience.
But Melia knew that there were no gods.
His eyebrows furrowed and he squeezed her hand, bringing her back to the present moment. "Melia, what's wrong?"
Turning her gaze back to him, the woman touched her mouth and shook her head. His gaze was surprised, shocked. Hopelessness filled her eyes and she could feel them warm with emotion.
"You can't speak?"
She nodded, feeling tears dot the edges of her eyes and creep onto her lashes. No, this was not how she wanted their reunion to happen.
"We'll find a way to get your voice back." He whispered, cupping her cheek in his hand. "I promise."
As if he were thinking the same, Dunban leaned in and kissed her. His lips were warm as they met hers, filled with a joy that could only be described as relief. Soft kisses dotted her lips and she blossomed at their touch. Over and over he worshiped her with each brush of their lips, each kiss signifying a prayer that had been answered. His prayers and hers.
Pulling away, the man left only an inch between their faces; the tips of their noses touched, wanting to maintain physical contact between their bodies. His brown eyes gazed into hers and he said in a low voice, "I didn't know if I'd ever see you again."
At those words, she leaned into his hand on her cheek and closed her eyes. After what she remembered, when she fell from the reef, neither had she. Squeezing her eyes shut, she felt tears collect behind her eyes once more and her throat closed. The thought of leaving him alone was too much to bear, especially when she had not said what she needed to say. The thought of never seeing him again even more so.
"I'm going to get Bella and the others. I'll be back."
Shaking her head, the woman opened her eyes and grabbed the hem of his shirt, gently pulling it towards her.
"You want me to stay?"
She nodded.
"Are you sure? I think it would be best t—"
Before he could finish, her lips were on his once more. Her lips melted to his, dragging out the kiss as their mouths embraced. Her lips took control, each kiss longer than the previous, dripping with sensuality. Shivers ran through her body and down to her hips as he moved his hand to the small of her back, bringing her body closer to his. Pressing her chest against him, Melia pulled back, her chest rising and falling quickly, overtaken by the sensuality of their intimacy.
He too felt the desire that bubbled between them, for his face was flushed and a fire burned in his eyes. "As you wish, Empress." He murmured between breaths, and then resumed the kiss, moving onto the bed and holding her against him.
"Well, everything checks out fine. Your vitals are stable, Empress. All you need is rest." Bella said from her position next to the clinic bed. Upon learning of Melia's awakening, Bella declared the Empress be remitted to her care in the clinic where she could run the appropriate tests. There was no fear of public backlash; her admittance would be consistent with the story that Melia had been ill. Besides, people had begun whispering conspiracy theories about the Empress' claim to illness.
"Why can't she speak?" Dunban asked, standing on the opposite side of the bed, arms crossed over his chest.
"My best guess? It's a side effect of the transformation. I think her voice will return in time, but I can't be certain."
Sighing, Melia scribbled words onto the notepad that had been given to her. She passed it to Bella and the healer read the words.
"Your soreness? Your body went through quite a bit of ether radiation. You'll be feeling the physical effects of that for a while, Empress. But I can give you medication to manage the pain and get you up on your feet quicker."
Melia nodded. She still wasn't entirely sure what had happened to her. Her last full memories were of falling from the cliff into the ether pocket. Then there were glimpses and shards of memories of flying through the sky, falling, crashing, preying, skimming the sea. Chronologically, the Empress wasn't sure which went where, but it didn't matter. She also had fragments of darkness; she did not know what those were, and if she would ever. The woman hadn't asked Dunban that morning; all she had wanted was to lie next to him and feel her hand wrapped in his. The reality of death had made her long for him in an insatiable way.
"I do recommend that you get exercise. It will be painful and uncomfortable, but your body must readjust to its humanoid form." Bella's voice interjected into her thoughts.
Melia nodded.
"I'll bring the medication to you in a little bit." Bella said and turned to Fiora and Riki (Shulk and the others had been caught up in communications with the Homs colonies). "The Empress needs to rest, so I suggest you give her some space after you say your hellos." Without another word, she gave Melia a small bow and headed out of the room, closing the door behind her, but not without a glance at Dunban.
A ghost of uneasiness passed through the Empress at that glance.
"Melly! Riki so worried about Melly. But now Melly awake, Riki can play with Melly!" Riki jumped up onto the bed and snuggled in the crook of her arm. She smiled; the Nopon always knew how to make her smile. His fluttering heartbeat vibrated against her skin and she wrapped her arms around him, propping him on her lap. She ran her hands through his fur and he began to purr.
"Careful, Riki." Dunban warned.
"Riki careful. Riki take care of Melly."
She giggled, her body bouncing silently.
"See? Riki make Melly laugh!"
With her free hand, the Empress wrote "Thank you."
"Riki bring Melly lots of sweets to make her feel better."
"That would be much appreciated, Riki."
"Melia, I'm so glad you're alright." Fiora said, sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes wide with relief. "I was so scared."
"So was I."
"But it's over now." Fiora beamed. "We can go take another beach day. You'll need fresh air after being cooped up inside here. Would you like that?"
"I would enjoy that very much."
"Good! I'm going to plan it. We'll go in a few days."
"Only if she's up to it, Fiora. Don't push her." Dunban reminded. "Maybe next week is better."
Fiora rolled her eyes. "Fine, Dunban. Riki, let's go plan out Melia's party."
"OooO. Riki like parties!" The Heropon hopped in place, then nuzzled the side of Melia's face. "Riki be back soon, Melly!" With a flap of his wings, he jumped into Fiora's arms.
With an armful of Nopon, Fiora winked at Melia. "I'll come by here later." Then she turned and left.
Just as the door was about to close, leaving Dunban and Melia alone, it burst open, banging against the wall with a loud clang. "Empress! You're safe!" Serenity exclaimed and rushed to Melia's bedside, seating herself by the bed, tears streaming down her face. "I was terrified you were gone! I'm so thankful you're alright."
"Serenity, she's fine." A stern voice came from the doorway. Tyrea walked in and shut the door behind her, assuming a spot at the tail end of Melia's bed. The Empress glanced from her assistant to the newcomer, observing an unreadable expression in Tyrea's eyes.
"I'm just expressing how happy I am to see her." Serenity sniffed, placing her hands on her hips.
Melia reached out and took the younger woman's hand. The Empress squeezed it, an appreciative smile curving on her lips. "Thank you, Serenity. I am grateful to see you as well."
With a gasp, Serenity reached out and wrapped Melia in a hug. An involuntary squeal escaped Melia's throat as her body burst in pain and Serenity jumped back, panicked. "Oh my gods, I am so sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Are you okay? I'm so so sorry."
Melia shook her head and patted Serenity's hands, her eyes saying it was quite alright, though the aftereffects of the hug still shook through her anatomy.
"You know going to Nae'ell by yourself was a pretty stupid thing." Tyrea said, examining her nails, looking at the Empress out of the corner of her eye.
"Tyrea!" Serenity exclaimed.
Melia narrowed her eyes.
"I know why you did it. Doesn't mean it wasn't stupid."
"I did what I thought was right."
Tyrea raised her eyebrows. "Didn't you hear me? I know that. But you clearly didn't think about how it was going to affect everyone else."
"Of course I did. But I didn't have any other recourse." Melia's free hand clamped into a fist. Guilt gushed through her, but was quickly replaced by resolve. She had done what needed to be done, and they all understood despite the emotional responses. That's all that mattered. She was Empress and had to do what was right for her people and friends.
"Always the martyr."
Melia looked up and saw a cruel, mischievous gleam in her stepsister's eyes.
"If you'd like to spend your life as a target, be my guest. I will abdicate right now and bestow this blessing upon you."
Tyrea paused reading the note, and laughed. "Touché! I forgot that you can be snappy when you want to be. I missed that."
Then she went silent, her face clouding in red. Melia blinked; had she heard correctly?
"I...I mean..." Tyrea whirled around, her back to the others.
Melia scribbled a note and gave it to Serenity, gesturing to Tyrea. Serenity nodded and went to the Homs Entia, handing her the note. After a moment, the woman turned around, her cheeks still pink with embarrassment. "Ugh, this is too sappy. I'll be by tomorrow with something strong." Dunban eyed her. "What?"
He didn't respond. Melia detected an undercurrent of irregular challenge in Tyrea's question. Of course, the woman always had a brusqueness to her words, but it felt different. Perhaps her unknown fate had caused strained relationships between those closest to her. She would have to help repair those bonds.
"I heard Fiora say we were going to the beach?" Serenity asked, hopeful, changing the subject.
"If she feels up to it." Dunban responded.
"Alright alright. We will be sure to get your approval on anything health-related for Melia. Or anything at all. No need to be so dictatorial. " Tyrea sauntered to the door. "I'll see you later, dear sister. Don't let this one spoon feed you too much." She shrugged and then sneered. "Or do. It could be quite amusing to watch. The great hero playing nursemaid."
Serenity rose and curtseyed. "I am happy to see you well, Empress. I shall send your best wishes to the cabinet and People's council."
"Thank you, Serenity."
As the two women exited, a slight bickering was heard as they walked down the hall and away from the room. Melia inwardly smiled. At least some things were the same.
"Shall I let you rest?"
Melia turned her face upward and gazed into Dunban's deep brown eyes. Her body sighed. If only she could wake up to those eyes each morning. Her eyes drifted to her lips and her mind recalled their morning together. She needed more of that: feeling close to him.
"Perhaps. Though I do not feel as though I can sleep just yet."
"I'll sit with you until you do."
He pulled a chair over to her bed and laid his hand onto her knee.
Hesitating, she wrote: "What precisely happened, Dunban? To me when I fell into the ether pocket?"
It was time for answers, regardless of the anxiety that twisted around in her chest. His face clouded and she felt a spike of adrenaline electrify her physique. "What do you remember?"
"I fell into the ether pocket. Everything was very painful." She paused before resuming her statement. "I only have fragments now of what occurred after that. I remember flying in the open sky. Diving down towards the water. Feeling freedom." Her eyebrows knit together as she pushed her mind. "There were yellow shots. More pain. I think...I fell? I remember these beautiful lavender lights." She shook her head. "I'm sorry. That all sounds so silly."
"It's not."
He fell silent and a cold pressure weighed down on her chest but she said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
"You turned into a Telethia."
The pit of her stomach dropped.
"How is that possible?"
With a neutral tone, the man proceeded to unfold the story of the past week and a half. He held nothing back: the aftermath of the battle with Nae'ell, the discoveries by Bella, the attempts to capture her, and finally the race against the Royal Guard.
Absorbing the information, Melia felt the room spin around her. A Telethia? How? Why? Of course, Bella had explained it: a gene mutation. The Scepter had overloaded her system with ether, which seemed to be a reasonable explanation. But why would the Scepter do something like that? What was the purpose of that?
And what exactly did that mean for her? She was a different sort of life form now, not entirely High Entian, not entirely Homs. As Bella had indicated, her cells were not like a regular High Entia's: similar but different. Her muscles tensed. How would this affect her life? There were too many questions, and no answers.
"I think I'd like to rest now."
His brow furrowed.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded. She wanted to be alone right now.
"Alright. I'll come check on you in a few hours."
"Thank you."
He kissed her forehead and left. It was not that she were angry with him. Quite the contrary: she wanted to share her concerns with him. But they were too personal. The knowledge left her feeling disconnected from anyone and everything. It was something she'd have to come to terms on her own.
Lying back into the bed, she closed her eyes and exhaled. The questions continued to swim in her brain, plaguing her. But exhaustion overtook the woman, and she soon fell into a blissful, dreamless sleep.
Three days rolled by as Melia found herself cycling in and out of wakefulness. Presumably, she believed she would feel her anatomy rest and relax, gradually rejuvenated by the lack of stress on her constitution and the administered medications. However, the woman only felt the inklings of restoration each time she woke, for her sleep was increasingly dotted with dreams. Well, they were not truly dreams, she reasoned. The glimpses of images and the patches of sounds that filled her mind were those experiences most likely from her time as a Telethia.
It was done purposefully though, filling her unconscious moments with these recollections. The Empress wanted to see those memories and understand them. She desired to remember as many moments as possible while she was the creature, both out of curiosity and an unnameable need. In some deep part of her instinctual consciousness, the Homs Entia knew the whole of the memories lived. All she needed to do was unlock them. There was a feeling in her bones that she had once or twice taken control of her body from the primordial creature, but she knew not why nor how.
And in the bottom of her heart, she knew the Telethia gene was part of her heritage. It could provide a clue to her current genetic state. In truth, she wanted to connect with it.
As the sun set over the horizon on the fourth day, painting her room with oranges and yellows, the door opened and James and Elrich appeared. She and her bodyguards had yet to have a full conversation since her retrieval, and she doubted it would be a happy one. After all, the Empress had slipped past them to confront Nae'ell. Inferring from her previous experience with Elrich, the Homs Entia imagined they weren't too please with her decision.
As they strode towards her, she knew that was quite an understatement from the expressions they wore.
"Empress." James murmured and the two men bowed.
Her heart quivered in her throat. "It is good to see you both."
"For us as well."
Melia's eyes flickered between James and Elrich, who remained silent. Melia felt her shoulders sag. The glare in Elrich's eye and the rigid posture of his body said it all: he was furious with her. And she knew he had every right to be.
"I'm sor—"
"Don't apologize." Elrich said as he watched her begin to write the words.
Melia glanced at him, sorrowful.
James scrunched his brow and shifted back and forth on his feet. Melia watched him, seeing his mouth open once or twice, and struggle to speak. Fearfully, she crunched the hospital blanket with her hands, knuckles turning white. Finally, he met her eyes with an expression of disappointment. Swallowing, Melia felt her heart fly into her throat and kept herself rigid, waiting for the blow to fall. "Empress...it is not our place to question the actions of our monarch. We must abide by her decisions, despite any reservations or concerns or disagreements we may have." James took a breath and continued, "That is not to say we weren't worried or angered by your decision to leave without alerting us, for it's our sworn duty to protect you. A duty that we do not take lightly as you are more than just the Empress to us. But, despite our feelings, we are simply grateful that you are back, alive and well."
James glanced at Elrich, prompting him to continue with his eyes.
There was a long pause before Elrich spoke: "What you did was courageous, Empress. And we are honored to serve you." He knelt and James followed his example. A small smile played on Elrich's lips for what Melia thought would possibly the first time she'd ever seen.
"Your father would have been proud." James added.
Melia gasped at those words, feeling the weight of them burst through walls of insecurity she had built in her heart. The woman gestured for them to come to her bedside. Obediently, they rose and came to her side. Taking each of their hands in her own, she bowed her forehead to their knuckles: a gesture of gratitude amongst the High Entia. One the monarch rarely bestowed upon anyone. As she raised her head, Melia could see shocked expressions on both of their faces.
"Both of you have been at my side every step of the way and I cannot express with enough words what an important part you have played in my life. And for that, I thank you."
James shrugged. "I'm just hoping we don't have to deal with anymore saboteurs or anything for a while."
"I completely concur."
"And you're still recovering so that means you can't really wander off." He joked.
She was about to retort, but her hand stopped mid sentence and instead scribbled, "Where is Nae'ell?"
Elrich's face shifted back to his customary frown. "She's in the dungeons, awaiting trial."
"We've gathered all of the evidence we can against her, and the eyewitness accounts of your battle should be enough to condemn her." James added.
"Good. Then we shall sentence her when I am well enough to resume my duties."
There was a knock at the door and Melia nodded.
"Come in." James called as he and Elrich took a step backward from the Empress, the intimate moment abruptly coming to an end.
Through the door walked Dunban. He looked so very handsome that a flush of warmth could not help but rise in her cheeks.
"Apologies, I didn't mean to interrupt."
"No, you were not." James said, but Melia could detect the slightest hint of irritation in the undercurrent of the statement.
Oh dear.
This was not what she wanted. Just as it had been between Dunban and Tyrea, there was something that had occurred between her protectors and Dunban. But she hoped it was not unrepairable.
"What can I do for you, Dunban?"
"I wanted to see if you were interested in joining me and Fiora for dinner, but another time."
Melia kept a straight face. She wanted to accept his invitation, but knew she needed to give her time to James and Elrich. After all, they were her surrogate brothers and they had yet to spend quality time together since her evolution.
"I appreciate the invitation, however I have already agreed to dine with James and Elrich this evening."
Dunban read the note and nodded. She couldn't read his face, and a wave of discomfort poured through her. She hoped he wouldn't be too disappointed.
"Could I join you for dinner tomorrow? I would very much like to do so."
"Absolutely." He offered a smile to her, bringing a flood of relief to the woman. "Have a good night, Melia."
"You as well, Dunban."
With that, he exited the room, taking a piece of her heart with him.
Turning back to James and Elrich, Melia gave a smile to her bodyguards. James smiled at her and Elrich nodded. She thought she could see a twinkle in the latter's eye. "Where shall we go?"
"You did what?!"
"It's highly amusing that you're writing out the punctuation."
That morning Melia had been moved from the clinic back to her apartment in the Villa. It was late afternoon and she and her stepsister were in her parlor, the Empress seated in a cushy armchair while Tyrea lounged on the sofa adjacent to her.
Melia glared at her guest, who raised her eyebrows.
"You can't be mad at me. I was trying to save you."
"I know. And I thank you for that."
Had she any other recourse, Melia knew the Homs Entian woman would have done her best to keep those shuttles intact. However, the electromagnetic pulse weapon that rendered each shuttle inert had lead to the shuttles being broken beyond repair after their fall to the bottom of the canyon. Luckily, no one was injured. The pilots had initiated evacuation procedures, parachuting out of their aircrafts, landing safely on the floor and calling for help from Alcamoth.
Nonetheless, that meant there needed to be an explanation for what had happened, why exactly Tyrea and the others had sabotaged the Royal Guard in their pursuit of the Telethia.
A shiver ran up Melia's spine, spasming through her body. The stone cold truth was that Tyrea was responsible for keeping her alive. Had Tyrea not triggered the electromagnetic pulse, the Royal Guard could have tracked Melia down and killed her. This she was sure of. It was only by Tyrea's fast-thinking problem solving that Melia had been saved.
Unsurprisingly, the Royal Guard had already petitioned the Empress several times for an explanation in the past day and a half. They were an adamant bunch, which made them essential to the security of Alcamoth. She had to answer them, and figuring out a plausible reason was rather tricky.
"Well, they shot first." Tyrea said. "That has to mean something."
"But they will want to know why you were there in the first place."
"Can't you make up some reason? You were concerned about the 'safety of your people'? Sounds good to me."
"Then why would I have sent you? The Royal Guard already fulfills that purpose."
"Fine."
"Tyrea, it needs to be rational. Otherwise I have to put you in jail."
Tyrea smirked. "As if a jail cell could contain me."
"I have no doubt you would escape. That's not the point though. But all the same, I would have to do it for optics. You did disobey a direct order from the Commander of the Royal Guard, which is against the law."
The woman rolled her eyes and flipped onto her stomach, resting her chin on the armrest to stare straight at Melia. "Alright, so what do I do?"
"Nothing. It's my responsibility. I will see this situation gets resolved."
Looking away from Melia, her stepsister cast her eyes to the ground. Her face was expressionless, but Melia knew better. These few months with her cousin had afforded her to understand a few of her tells about her emotions. A pang of guilt bounced around in the Empress' gut. She hadn't meant to make Tyrea feel bad. "Tyrea, I'm grateful for what you did for me. Truly. Do not think anything of this as I will get it taken care of. You saved me and I will ensure your safety as well. I promise." Her pen hovered over the page, and then she added, "You are my sister. It is important that we take care of one another."
A slight blush rose in her Tyrea's cheeks and Melia smiled. She felt no need to dance around the truth: the brush with death had made her a little more open to sharing her emotions, especially after Tyrea's comment in her patient room.
Gesturing at nothing in particular, Tyrea complained: "It's stuffy. Let's go out onto the balcony."
"Alright." Melia responded, understanding Tyrea's need to change the subject. The young woman turned her head to the left and eyed the wheelchair a few feet away. Every time she sat in the moving device, she felt like a convalescent, and she would not get better. Slamming the negative thoughts down, the Empress took a deep breath in and out. She had to stay positive. Her current condition was simply a phase that would pass in time; she would regain her physical strength. At least, that's what she repeated to herself each morning when she awoke.
Tyrea wheeled the chair over to Melia and the Empress pushed herself up. Strength drained from her arms as she rose from her current seat and then lowered herself into the chair. "Thank you."
As the black-haired woman wheeled the Empress out to the balcony, a warm breeze greeted the sisters. The sun was high in the clear blue sky, not a cloud in sight. It was a beautiful day, reminiscent of the one when she and Fiora and Serenity picnicked at the beach. Immediately, the Empress wished she could take a walk outside in the rose garden, or down on the shore. Even a trip to Prison Island would lift her spirits after being stuck inside for almost a week.
"So...are you giving this up soon?"
"What do you mean?"
"You can't do this forever."
Ah.
"Father did."
"Well, that was him. You're you. Stop feeling like you've got to do things for him."
Melia didn't respond.
Tyrea gazed out into the Eryth Sea and continued. "Don't tell me you haven't thought about it before."
"I believe any ruler has. Managing a kingdom would make anyone weary."
"Stop being diplomatic. I'm not going to tell anyone what you say." Tyrea sneered. "Especially now that we've 'bonded'."
Melia rolled her neck to the side in contemplation. At the bottom of her soul, she knew she wanted a break. Needed one. A vacation would be nice. But something in her yearned for a permanent one from the business of ruling. And the feelings of freedom she remembered when she was a Telethia had been so tantalizing. If she could feel that in her present state...
"The monarchy has stood for thousands of years. It cannot be disposed of."
"After everything you've been through, I think we can make an exception."
Biting her lip, she cautiously wrote: "I do have to say it would be nice to take a vacation."
"With a certain someone?" Tyrea said suggestively.
Melia pinked but did not write a response.
"Since you are sleeping together, it would make sense to really take it to the next level."
"What?! Who told you that?"
"Oh sister of mine, you just did." Tyrea winked. "I suspected from something Dunban said."
"Dammit, Tyrea!"
"Calm down. You're so uptight sometimes. I'm not going to tell anyone. Though it would be fun to hold over your head in case I ever need something from you." Tyrea gloated.
"That is called blackmail. I could charge you with treason."
"And?"
Melia rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
"As I should be. Anyway, how is it?"
Embarrassed, Melia averted her eyes, feeling her body warm at the intimation of the question. Hesitantly, Melia drew letters on the notepad and stopped. "We haven't actually..."
Tyrea looked at her, wide eyed, silent. After a moment, the Homs Entia spoke: "You haven't had sex yet? How is that even possible? Wow, Dunban is one patient man." Tyrea leaned down, putting her face next to Melia's. "Are you scared?" She teased.
Melia swatted at her. Tyrea jumped backward, laughing. "You know, it's really not that big of a deal."
Raising her eyebrows, the Empress looked at her companion skeptically.
"Okay, it is somewhat of a big deal. But not huge."
"How do you know?"
"Because I've been there."
"I gathered that. Who did you sleep with?"
"That's private."
"And my romantic endeavors are not? Seems hardly fair."
"Life isn't fair. You should know that by now."
"I'm going to bother you until you tell me."
"Then you're going to have to wait for a very long while." Tyrea scoffed, placing her hands on her hips.
Smirking, the Empress turned her eyes outward to the view.
"I already know."
Tyrea spun to face Melia. "No you don't."
Melia gave her a side glance.
"Prove it."
Melia waved at Tyrea and she leaned down. The Empress scribbled a name on a note the Homs Entia's eyes widened. When Tyrea pulled away, she murmured, "How did you find out?"
"It is my job to observe people. Calm down, 'dear sister of mine'. I will not tell a soul."
Tyrea paused, then laughed, the sounds rising up into the air loud and joyous.
They fell silent, listening to the squawks of gulls and the wind whistling in their ears. It was a companionable silence between the two women; neither felt the need to shatter it as they watched the landscape. Despite everything terrible that had occurred in the past few months, Melia knew that her growing relationship with Tyrea was one good thing that had arisen from all the turmoil. And she was grateful for it.
"Melia." Tyrea interrupted her thoughts.
"Yes?"
"You really love him, don't you?"
That evening, Fiora arrived at Melia's suite at 1900 hours, right on the dot. An hour and a half before, the Homs Entia had begun readying herself for dinner. She knew she needed to afford extra time to perfect her appearance considering the injured state of her body and the slowness at which she moved. Instead of wearing her customary bun, Melia had opted for a half up, half down hairstyle. This was not an occasion of state matters; it was one between friends. Silver tresses poured over her shoulders, onto the capped sleeves of her black dress. It was a simple dress: no cinches in the waist or ruffles. The silk cloth flowed straight down her body to the ground, though as she moved, her thin figure could be seen underneath the fabric.
The scoop neck perfectly framed the silver necklace she wore; it had a heart shaped pendant hanging in the center of the chain, a small diamond set into it. Briefly, Melia wondered if she should change to a dress with a deeper neckline, knowing she was to see Dunban. The thought had her blushing the moment it popped into her mind and she shook her head. No, that was certainly not be appropriate with Fiora present. Regardless though, was she ready to be provocative?
But those thoughts dispersed upon the announcement of Fiora's arrival. When Fiora stepped into the room, she saw Melia standing, holding onto the sofa. Her knuckles gripped the back of the couch as she kept herself upright. Only seconds before she had been practicing pacing the room, a daily routine to bring strength back into her legs, the thoughts of her dress to distract her from the pain. Looking up, Melia took in the appearance of her friend. Fiora wore a strapless pink dress that ended just above the knees, her hair done up in a messy bun that made her look effortlessly beautiful. It was something Melia envied about her friend, for such a look would only make the Empress look sloppy.
"Should you be doing that?" Fiora asked as she crossed the room towards the Empress, biting her lip in concern.
Melia leaned against the sofa and scribbled a note, handing it to Fiora. "I assure you, this is necessary. Bella told me so." The woman forced a smile though her legs felt shaky underneath her.
"Alright..." Fiora said, uneasily. "Well, you look very pretty! Are you ready?"
Melia nodded. Fiora helped her into her wheelchair and wheeled her out of the suite.
"Will Shulk be joining us this evening?"
"No. He's in the lab investigating the Scepter." Fiora sighed. "I'm a little disappointed, but I can't really say anything. It makes him happy and I won't ask him not to do it. I mean, we don't have this kind of technology in Colony 9, so this is the only time he gets to play around with it."
"Perhaps in the coming months, Colony 9 and Alcamoth may reach a trade accord that would include the sharing of High Entian technology."
"Really Melia? That would be amazing!"
"I cannot promise anything, but I will attempt to enter it into my next conversation with the Mayor."
They arrived at the suite and Fiora knocked. After a few seconds, it opened and Dunban stood in the entryway, an image of perfection. His hair was tied back just as it had been on the eve of his birthday, and he wore a clean white tunic and black vest with black pants. The tailoring of his clothing was impeccable and only added to his debonair appearance. A warmth blossomed in her lower body and she swallowed, thankful she could not speak. Had she not already lost her voice, the Empress would have found herself tongue tied and most likely in a rush to say something, would've probably faltered with some nonsense.
"It's really warm in here." Fiora said.
It certainly is, Melia agreed inwardly.
"Is dinner ready?"
"Almost." He stood to the side and smiled at Melia. "I hope you're doing well."
Those eyes. Melia nodded as Fiora wheeled her into the room. A variety of scents wafted into her nose and her stomach grumbled. Blushing, Melia looked up at Fiora and the Homs giggled. "I'm glad you came with an appetite."
"Bella did mention that my metabolism was affected by the transformation."
"Good, 'cause I think Dunban overdid it."
He frowned at her. "You weren't complaining an hour ago when I told you what I was cooking. Would you rather I take our dinner to the others? I'm sure Riki would enjoy gobbling it up."
"No, no no. I did not say that at all."
"I'm going to go finish things up." He said and retreated to the kitchen.
Fiora rolled Melia into the parlor. She paused at a large table close to the balcony and took a seat adjacent to Melia. "How are you feeling today?"
"I'm well. I went to see Bella this morning for a follow-up appointment. She provided me with more medicine, which has helped me feel well."
"Good." Fiora glanced at the kitchen, leaned over, and whispered: "So...how's it going?"
Goodness, did everyone want to hear about her love life?
"You mean with Dunban?"
"Of course!"
It seemed there was no way of escaping the conversation.
"I'm not sure what to say. I'm happy to see him and I believe the feeling is mutual."
"Oh, the feeling is definitely mutual."
She kept her expression blank, but inside, Melia rejoiced.
"But he was out of his mind when you were missing." Fiora confessed. "We all were."
Another wave of guilt cycled through her. Taking her pen, she wrote, "I'm sorry to have pained you so. It was not my intention at all, though I must admit I knew it could be a byproduct. I was compelled to do what was right and necessary. I hope you understand and forgive me."
"Melia, you don't have to apologize. I'm not angry. I'm just trying to say that..." Fiora took a breath.
Confused, the Empress pulled back.
"I mean...when I first met you...there was that whole thing with Shulk and I felt really weird about it afterward." Fiora paused and continued. "I didn't think you would really want to be friends, which I completely understood, and so I just kept my distance as much as possible. You know I'm not very good at that. I like to be friendly with people."
Melia nodded, still unsure of where this line of thinking was going.
"I'm not explaining this very well. Um...look, regardless of what happens with you and Dunban, not that I'm saying anything bad will happen!" Fiora said quickly, "I just want you to know that you're my best friend and that's never gonna change."
Melia blinked a few times. That was certainly not what she was expecting.
"Shulk is...well, Shulk. He's in a different category. But I'm really glad I came here to Alcamoth and got to know you better. I wish I'd done it sooner." Fiora gave her a sad smile.
Best friend, Melia thought. She'd never had one of those. She'd always wanted one: a person to share all of her secrets with and go on random adventures. Someone that would always be there and understand her, no judgements. And someone she could do all those things for as well.
To that extent, she realized that she had two: Fiora and Tyrea. But Tyrea was her sister, so that was a different category. How strange. She'd been alone for so long, she'd never truly considered that the classifications of her relationships had changed, despite the natural emotional evolution.
"You're my best friend as well, Fiora."
A light illuminated in Fiora's eyes and Melia felt the corners of her mouth curve upward. Fiora reached out and squeezed Melia's hands. "I'm so glad you're okay, Melia. But next time you want to save the world, take me with you!"
The hours ticked by and the evening passed in a wonderful way. The three of them enjoyed wonderful conversation, despite the lack of Melia's physical voice. Much of the conversation was spent reminiscing about their journeys together, the non consequential arguments Riki and Reyn found themselves in, Shulk's penchant to wander off and explore in the Makna Forest, Sharla's ability to find the tastiest fruit wherever they went. They spoke of the best times on the road, recollecting one evening they had camped in the Satoral Marsh and Riki refused to sleep because he thought to ghosts would get him. Fiora deftly guided the conversation away from any mention of Mumkhar, aware that both may still be coming to terms with the villian's actions and Melia in turn reminded them of the strange adventure through the Nopon black market that lead to a night club in Alcamoth. Both Dunban and Fiora traded stories of their upbringing, trying to out-embarrass the other, leaving Melia to watch the amusing display. Melia offered her own tales of growing up in palace, keeping the conversation as light as possible by only sharing stories about her maids, her mother and Kallian.
At a half hour to minute, Fiora yawned and stood. "Alright, I'm going to leave and go to bed."
"Remember: we're running in the morning. Don't think you're getting out of it." Dunban said as he walked his sister to the door. Melia turned her wheelchair towards the pair and followed.
"Sure. If you're still up to it. I don't know how late you're planning on staying up." Fiora winked as she looked back and forth between Dunban and Melia.
Melia turned crimson and gave a side glance at Dunban, whose cheeks also had a slight pink to them.
"Fiora..."
"Goodnight!" She skipped gleefully out of the room and down the hall away from Dunban's grasp, clearly proud of herself for embarrassing her brother one last time that night.
"Sometimes I think she'll be the death of me." Dunban shook his head.
"She just wants you to be happy."
"I know." He gave the Empress a small smile.
Silence fell between them. The air dripped with anticipation as their eyes were locked, waiting for the other to speak.
"What woul—"
"Shall we—"
They laughed, their nerves dispelling with each joyous note.
"It's a warm night. Would you be interested in taking a walk through the garden?"
"Yes, that would be lovely."
Minutes later, they were out in the open air, passing through the grounds in front of the Villa. Despite that the sun had fallen, the air was still warm. Almost as warm as it would be on a summer night in Colony 9. It was a rare night, and Melia treasured it. As they neared the beginning of the garden maze, she pushed herself up from the wheelchair. She didn't want to roll herself around on this evening stroll, not in this moment. She wanted to walk next to him, even if it were rather difficult. Of course, that meant she would have to leave her notebook as her focus would be on steading herself, but she knew it was a give and take.
The High Entia wobbled on her feet and felt Dunban's arm encircle her waist. "Are you alright? Are you sure you want to stand?"
Melia nodded.
"You can lean on me then if you need to."
At that, she turned her face up to his and smiled, the moonlight radiating onto her pale skin, making her glow. Slowly, Melia took a step, and then another, wrapping her inner arm around his waist to balance herself. After a few practice steps, the woman felt a little more rooted and confident she could possibly make it to the end of the maze, though getting back to her chair would be the iffy portion.
"Shall we?"
Together they entered the maze, the grass walls rustling as they passed.
"I guess we'll have to speak in yes and no questions."
She frowned; having no voice was becoming increasingly cumbersome. The woman wished it would return to her soon. And now, walking in this garden, free of prying eyes, she could not entertain the way she would have liked. It felt like the conversation would be stilted.
As if reading her thoughts, he squeezed her arm. "Melia, don't worry. I'm just happy to be spending time with you." He gave her a sly grin. "Hopefully you won't get too dizzy nodding and shaking your head."
She elbowed him.
He laughed. "I guess nodding isn't the only way you can communicate."
Melia raised her eyebrow at him.
"I apologize, I shouldn't tease you."
She gave him a coy smile and they continued on in silence for a few steps, the sounds of their feet crunching the grass the only indication of their stroll in the night.
"Did you enjoy this evening?"
Melia nodded.
"Good." He said. "How are you though? Are you still experiencing a lot of pain?"
Melia shook her head. The pain was beginning to pass, though the strength was slow in returning to her limbs. Inwardly, she hoped that she would be able to walk without assistance in the next few days.
"Will you be resuming your responsibilities soon?"
In response, the woman nodded. She sighed. She had to do so, regardless of her physical condition. She'd left her kingdom alone long enough. Granted, now that she was back in the Villa, Serenity was able to inform her of any crises that were occurring, and to her relief, there were none. It seemed the People's Council and the Cabinet were taking care of everything easily.
"I take it you'd rather not."
Giving another nod, Melia wrinkled her nose to express her immense displeasure. It was interesting how her muteness required her to find creative ways to express herself that she would never have done before. The Homs Entia wondered if these actions would carry over once she regained her voice.
"Earlier, I was thinking about Shulk's birthday a couple months ago."
Melia tilted her head to the side in question.
"I was remembering confronting you on the balcony. You seemed...lost."
Had that only been three, no four months ago? It seemed like ages in comparison with how much had happened to her. Her mind zeroed in on their conversation; she remembered the champagne in her blood stream, his firm words, the anxiety she'd felt.
"I considered not asking you if you wanted my help. I thought that you would think it an affront to your abilities."
She had hesitated whether to accept his offer or not. It had been a dance between what she had thought was right and what she felt she needed.
"I'm glad you said yes."
Nodding, Melia felt her mind wander. What would have happened had she said no? Would she and Dunban had ever connected in a romantic way? Or would they have remained somewhere in the space between acquaintances and friends? The High Entia pushed the thoughts away; she did not want to think on such things.
As they turned the corner, her foot slipped, tripping her and pitching her body forward. But the arm around her waist gripped her tightly and pulled her body back towards his to prevent her from falling to the ground. Instinctually, her hands gripped his shirt and she hugged him to her. Melia gazed up at him, finding his eyes equally searching hers as well. They stood there, face to face, locked in a tight embrace for what seemed like eternity, the only sounds to be heard were the crickets and soft whistle of the breeze.
"Melia..." he whispered as he moved his face closer to his. Those kind, thoughtful eyes stared directly into her own, piercing the very core of her soul. She could feel every inch of his skin that touched her own, invisibly burning into her cells' memories. She could smell the small amount of cologne he wore this evening, noting that he'd never worn it before, possibly meaning it had been deemed a special occasion.
A special occasion...spending an uninterrupted meal in the intimate company of himself and his sister.
A family dinner.
A walk in the garden, remembering the beginning of their journey.
Maybe she was reading too much into it. But right then, she didn't care.
Her breath hitched in her throat and her eyes widened upon the realization. His nose touched hers and she blinked, moving her hands from his chest to rest on either side of his beautiful face. Full of warmth, the Empress could feel her heart close to bursting. Her eyes group warm and tears dotted the sides of her lashes. How she longed to say it. Not to write it or think it for him to read on her face. She wanted to say it with her own voice, falling from her lips.
How cursed she was.
It would simply have to wait. So instead, she pressed herself against his chest, closed the distance between their faces, and brushed her lips against his. Moments passed as they stayed interlocked in their kiss. Gradually, they pulled away, never breaking eye contact.
"Stay the night with me." Dunban asked, brushing a lock of her hair out of her face. "Just to sleep. I want you near me."
She nodded enthusiastically and wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning her head on his chest.
A/N: Hello friends! We're almost to the finish line! Only a few more chapters left. Thank you for all the reviews: they're very motivating and I'm so glad to hear you all are enjoying the story ^_^