A/N: EDIT: Not much feedback on this one it seems. Guess that happens when we have a -relatively!- peace chapter. T_T
Added some more content, alas, no one seems to have noticed, either.
I wanted to wait until July as promised with the rest, but I had folks beating down my inbox.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story...and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs with ever increasing hours so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
Two jobs keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Now for thine questions, comments, and concerns. We'll keep it short this time!
Q: What're you updating next?!
A: I'd prefer to update Elden Ring and the Boys weekly, but I don't want to neglect my other works. Gotta work on RWBY and the rest, too~!
Q: How's your health?
A: Got my x-rays and tests done a little while ago, now its just a matter of waiting for the results.
Q: Dare I ask how many clones has wandering about?
A: He only has the one clone in Limgrave/Weeping Peninsula. The rest of the lads are in Caelid.
Q: ...why do I have a bad feeling about Malenia? Does Naruto hate her?
A: He was good reason to dislike her, certainly. She's responsible for a lot of what he went through in Caelid; but conversely, if not for he, he wouldn't have met Milicent and Greyroll. But thanks to her he's got a meddling Outer God to deal with, not to mention Radahn's death.
When they finally meet, its going to be an...interesting encounter. Probably a bloody one on both sides.
Q: More warm fuzzy moments! Don't you DARE make Naruto cry again!
A: ...? No one's perfect. He can hardly save anyone, and you know what they say, failure makes us stronger. Radahn's death has marked him to be sure, but nothing keeps our boy down for long. He just needs a bit to bounce back.
Lucky him, then, that he's got people there for him.
Alright then, this old man has kept you long enough! I'll let you enjoy this sappy little story.
As ever, I own no quotes references, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one!
Now then, I'll not keep you. Get ready to smile~!
Minor verbatim for ingame dialogue.
Won't be a thing much longer.
"Take this opportunity to learn to master your emotions.
"Worry not, I take no offense at your outburst. But others are not always so forgiving.
Some take to anger, other, sorrow. Bonds are fragile things, wont to break under strain. And once they're broken, everything is lost, with naught to gain. Do your best to protect them. Safeguard them. Strengthen them. In the end, that is all anyone can do."
~A Wise Turtle.
Bend no Knee to Thee
Melina found breakfast a lively affair.
Truth be told, it came as a surprise to the Kindling Maiden; after last night's disaster, everyone's exhaustion, and subsequent retreat to the Roundtable Hold, she'd expected it to be something of a dour affair. A sullen and somber repast with little in the way of words or camaraderie.
It was not.
Come morning, most of their merry little band had licked their wounds; not enough to be fit for combat, not yet, but enough to move. Those that couldn't were carried to the great table by Naruto's clones...whether they liked it or not. Once there all were greeted by a most startling sight.
"Come and get it!" one of Naruto's clones banged a ladle against a cracked pot. "We've got a bit of everything for ya!"
The weapons had been plucked free from its surface and set aside, making way for a grand banquet, all while that large shard of grace hovered above.
Melina couldn't help but balk at the sight; she didn't even recognize some of those dishes. Here she spied a rasher of bacon, there, bowls of porridge served with a side of eggs and some fruit besides...but that was where her admittedly limited expertise ended. There might have been a bit of mutton off to the side, and there were strange circular bits of what she assumed to be bread dripped in honey and syrup. She knew at once who was responsible for this...what she didn't know, was when he did it? How could one man make such a feast in only a few hours?
For all its bells and whistles, the Roundtable Hold was still a place where champions gathered. Champions had to eat. And eat they did.
Once word spread, Tarnished descended upon the table en masse.
D even deigned to join them, removing his helmet for the first time in her living memory. Quite pale he was. Handsome, too. Who would've thought? And there was sorcerer Rogier, lively as ever, limping only a little now that his legs had been tended to. And there was shy little Roderika, breaking away from her spirit tuning long enough to fetch a plate for Master Hewg. Therolina went with her, simple soul that she was.
Others proved more lively.
Greyroll descended upon the meat dishes with gusto; alas that brought her into conflict with Trish; the Tree Sentinel not at all keen on sharing.
Milicent alone had yet to make an appearance, but she suspected the redhead would be roused soon enough by the ruckus.
Truly, her Tarnished had a frightful penchant for attracting the most unlikely allies.
Everyone tucked in, grateful for their meal. Those who weren't fond of such gatherings didn't linger overlong; Coryn and Diallos took their portions and departed to their own corners of the hold to feast in private. Some, like the All Knowing, didn't deign to show their faces at all, and thus it fell to the ever-silent Ensha to fetch food for him. She even glimpsed the warrior woman Nepheli for all of a moment. She snatched a plate and scurried away before anyone else could notice.
But of Naruto himself, he was nowhere to be seen.
...troubling. She could see his clones surely enough, flitting from one Tarnished to another as they served foot, but the original wasn't among them. Her eye told her that much.
And so she left the feast in search of him.
The Roundtable Hold wasn't overly large; she was certain it would be an easy task. Indeed, it was imperative that she have words with him. She'd seen the pain in his eyes; muted, buried, but still present nonetheless. For better or worse, his failure with Radahn had marked him. What manner of mar that would be remained to be seen. She would have to watch him carefully in the following days, lest he break.
"And if he does?" Once more that little voice nagged at her as she glided through the corridors. She'd begun to fear that it, her conscience, would never let her be. "What will you do then?"
...then she would find another.
"Liar."
Nonsense. She cared not a jot for what happened to him.
"Liar, liar."
No. She could not care. She could not afford to care.
"Liar, liar, liar...
"Your champion carries a great burden. I pray it does not break him."
Melania scowled at the soft voice as much as the newcomer's approach. She'd been so fixated on the search that she hadn't sensed her arrival. Sure enough, when she craned her neck back, she found a familiar hooded visage gazing back at her; that fair face with green eyes downturned, wearing only a faint smile.
Fia.
Of course it would be Fia. She should have known that wily woman would try to get her claws into her Tarnished. What manner of poison had she poured in his ear to make him act this way-no, focus. She would not give this woman the satisfaction of seeing her stress; no matter how tightly wound she was at the moment.
"His fate is not yours to know." she scowled at the deathbed companion. "Leave him be."
"That is his choice to make." her retort was gentle, but she sensed the steel in her words all the same. "You cannot do so for him."
Milicent yelped somewhere in one of the adjacent rooms. "My lord, no! I can walk!"
"Nope! Up you go!"
"Wait, wait! Its embarrassing! You don't need to carry meeeeeee?!"
Judging by the way her words trailed off into a squeak, the matter had been settled. Naruto was nothing if not stubborn. Still, for him to be so forward...
An ugly thought dawned.
...what have you done to him?"
Fia leaned against a crumbling bookshelf, the very picture of decorum. "You already know."
Melina most assuredly did not! She only suspected Fia's misdeeds and the appalling lack of certainty gnawed at her. Anger coiled in her heart, an ugly twisted root more grotesque than Godwyn's ghastly form itself. She bit down on it with all her might, smothered the desire to strangle the woman before her, and comported herself once more. Only then did she dare speak.
"I would have it said."
"If you must." the damnable black-robed harlot smiled softly, a small secretive smirk of triumph that made Melina's blood blaze anew. "I emboldened him. He came to me last night, at his wits end-and I comforted him. As is my purpose."
Must. Not. Kill. "And what manner of comfort didst thou bequeath to him?"
"I held him when he cried." her words rang true, making Melina recoil. Cry? She didn't think he could cry. But the deathbed companion was still speaking, and with each word, so did her resolve falter. "When he shouted, I listened. When he faltered, I set him upon the path once more." those full lips pursed into a scowl. "Would that you had done the same, he would not have come to me in the first place."
Any fury Melina might have felt guttered out, taking the fire in her with it. "Explain thyself."
...are you truly so blind, dear girl?" Fia stepped in. Laid a hand on her shoulder. Lips like ice brushed her ear, sending a succulent shiver shooting down her spire. "How naive you are; how little you have done for him." she tried to pull away, but that cold grasp, those biting words, held her fast. "Art thou not his maiden, Melina? Is it not thy purpose to aid him in all things?"
She scowled at her. "I have aided him!"
"Have you, now?" Those piercing green eyes pierced her lone orb. "T'would not seem so."
"And what do you know?" Melina's temper slipped its leash. Quick as a flash her hand flitted out, seizing the other woman's chin. "While you hid away here, I have fought by his side in battle, and guided him on the path to being a lord."
Fia didn't waver. "And yet you do not know his heart as I do."
The words were a blade in her heard.
Her peace said, Fia released her and sashayed away. Melina watched her go, wishing nothing more than to drive a dagger through her back. Alas, the Hold prevented such gratifying violence. Even if it didn't, she knew such an act would ruin everything. Damn. Damn her. Damn that deathbed companion to the darkest pit...because her words rang true.
He should have come to her. Why didn't he?
Had she not tried to assuage his guilt aft the battle with Radahn? She had! Had she not offered to turn his runes to strength time and time again, only to be rebuffed? Had she not spoken kind words to him, congratulated him on battles well fought? Had they not been honest with one another? She'd done all these things and more and yet it was not her counsel he sought. Naruto often went his own way of his own will, and to hell with the consequences. The best she could do was aim him in a given direction.
A seed of doubt planted itself in Melina's fractured heart.
They had an accord, he and her, the two of them.
Slowly, inexorably the seed took root.
What if he cast her aside?
Now it sprouted.
Her vision tunneled, world darkening around the edges as her breath hitched in her throat. She caught herself on a wall to steady herself. He'd already heard Greyroll call her a Kindling Maiden. Did he suspect? Was that why he avoided her? He must never know her true purpose; for if he did, he would surely seek to stop her. It had to be this way. She mustn't get attached. She was meant to burn, and in doing so guide him unto Destined Death. If he learned what would become of her, he wold usurp her purpose. The reason for her birth, her creation, the sole reason Mother had made her. To lose that...it would destroy her.
Such a thought, she could not bear it...but what if it came to be?
Her fingernails bit into the wall. Calm. Be calm.
She spurred herself forward once more.
After what felt like an eternity, she found Naruto in the kitchen. Pan in hand, he flipped a strange fluffy white-on-brown...thing into the air. End over end it spun, yet he caught it with ease, hummed to himself, laid it out upon a plate. One of his many clones came quick to sweep it away to join the others, snatching up a bit of butter and pitcher of what smelled like syrup as it went. Or perhaps it was honey? In her frazzled state, she couldn't be sure.
...what is that?"
"Pancakes." he grinned over his shoulder at her approach, bright as the sun. "Wanna try one?"
Melina knew not what these "pancakes" were, but they smelled wonderful.
Still, there was her dignity to consider. "I have no need of food-
Her stomach growled. She flushed.
Naruto grinned. "C'mon~!"
Quick as a flash, he carved off a descent bit of said "pancake", stuck an iron fork into it, and offered the confection up unto her. Leaning back availed her naught; he all but jabbed her lips with it. Her lone eye flitted down, eyeing it with mild trepidation. Part of her wanted to denyhim. But he looked so proud. Refusing now would be like kicking a puppy.
...very well."
She opened her mouth and let him feed her.
"Well?" he grinned as she chewed, swallowed now. "How's it taste?"
.
..
...delicious.
Her pride would never allow her to admit such of course. Nay, she'd call it adequate and-
"Wonderful." Curses! Betrayed by her treacherous tongue again! Course correct! Now! "I wasn't aware of your culinary skills."
"Great! Good to know I got a batch right! I screwed up so many times...
She glimpsed it again; that sliver pain in his eyes as he spun away but dulled, distant as he returned to his tasks. He'd done well to keep himself distracted. Perhaps that was the true reason for this fantastic feast. He was busying himself with so many projects, the better to bury it. Far be it from her to tell him otherwise.
...haven't really perfected this yet," his grin was almost sheepish as he rambled on on. Fitting, given some of the fare he'd made. "Clones found a buncha old cookbooks back in Caelid. Read 'em, too. When they popped, I got their memories."
"I see...?"
Melina really didn't; much less understand the concept of his clones but far be it from her to ruin his good mood...and what was he doing?! With neither word nor warning, he flitted sideways with vulpine grace and took her by the arm, tugging her away. A spreading flower of red bloomed across her face. Was she blushing?! No! Nay! Never!
In the end she let him lead her back to the table and guide her into a seat. He took the one beside her, grinning fit to burst.
"There you are." Greygroll grinned at him. "Finally decided to join us, have you?"
"Yup." he laughed as he slid into his eat. "Sorry for being late. Everyone enjoying the food?"
A chorus of assents answered him. Milicent granted him a demure not. Trish pumped a fist into the air.
They were certainly a motley crew all things considered. A man from another world, herself a Kindling Maiden, and a Tree Sentinel. One mustn't forget the dragonkin woman nor their resident redhead. Toss in that fulsome fop of a Finger Maiden alongside timid Roderika and a few others and they had the beginnings of a...
"Is this what I think it is?" Rogier laid his plate down with a rueful grin. "Are we calling a war council?"
Greyroll bared her fangs his way. "Silence, sorcerer. You're only sitting here at all because he took pity on you."
"Hey, hey!" Naruto raised both hands before things could escalate further. "Calm down. We're all friends here. There's nothing wrong with helping someone if they're in pain."
Rogier bobbed his head, setting his hat swaying. "For which I'm quite grateful, friend. And here thought I'd never be able to walk again. I'm in your debt."
"Speakin' of which," Naruto pivoted in his seat, "Don't think I've forgotten about you over there, Trish!" Sure enough, the Tree Sentinel wilted under his stoic glare. "I haven't given up on giving ya back your voice; I still wanna know who messed you up like that." When she looked fit to protest again, he changed tack, clever boy that he was. "You want me to fix up that arm of yours again while I'm at it, Mil?"
Milicent rubbed the stump of her arm thoughtfully, not meeting his gaze. "Later, perhaps."
"Something wrong?"
"I...well, yes." She squirmed a little and hung her head in sullen shame. "I'm...considering leaving. On a journey. I've started to recall, however dimly...my destiny."
Roger made an intrigued noise. "And what destiny is that, my fair lady?"
"In truth? Milicent peered into her porridge. "I am not sure. It feels as if something's calling me to the North...
Melina's gaze snapped toward, alarm crying out in her heart. Had she begun to remember her origins? That might prove problematic. How much more would Milicent yet remember in time? If allowed to go her own way unsupervised she might well become a problem in the future...to say nothing of her sisters. Under no circumstances could they and Malenia be allowed to meet. They would bloom and bloom and bloom again, rotting all in their path. It would be a disaster.
"Not alone, you're not," Naruto's response brought her no small amount of relief. "We can talk about that once we've finished here."
Their resident redhead perked up. "My lord?"
He grinned. "Ain't no way I'm letting you do this by yourself."
Milicent's pale face flushed to the very roots of her hair. "As you wish...
D stood and tugged his helmet back on. "My thanks for the meal, but I've no interest in a council. My path is my own."
"Fair enough." Naruto flicked a lazy wave his way. "We'll be here if ya change yer mind. Good hunting."
The hunter paused, then inclined his head. His gaze swiveled over then, alighting upon Trish. Melina thought she saw a spark of something there. Whatever the cae, the silent Sentinel granted him a grave nod of her own, and though she could not speak, some unseen message seemed to pass between the two warriors.
...to you as well." D said at last, and went his way.
"That's just the way he is." Rogier's affable laugh wiped the tension away like a warm summer's breeze. Still chuckling, he rose from the table and snatched up his cane. "Once again, many thanks for the feast." he gave a polite bow as best his recovering legs would allow, then turned as though to hobble after his friend. "I'll go have a word with him...please, carry on without me in the meantime."
"Which reminds me!" Naruto declared apropos of nothing, "I wanna break Hewg outta his chains, soon. Thoughts?"
Milicent nodded her approval. Roderika nearly spat out her tea.
"Is that even possible?" the poor spirit tuner sounded almost hopeful as she looked to him. "He was cursed by Queen Marika herself...
Melina knew he was going to try regardless. He had that look in his eye, the one that mad the impossible quite possible.
Sure enough, his fist thumped down on the table. "Curse or not, it ain't right. I think you might be able to help."
Roderika sputtered. "Me? I'm just a spirit tuner, not even a very good one!"
"Nonsense! You're great
"Well, we do have two great runes." Therolina finally found enough courage to interject. "Perhaps we could go to the Capital right now and seek an audience with Queen Marika-
"No."
Naruto all but bit off the word, plunging the room into silence.
"No?" Therolina flinched, doelike eyes gone wide. "My lord? Whyever not?"
Melina's spirits sank all the way down to her ankles. Whatever was he up to now?
"Not yet, at any rate." he wiped his mouth with a bit of silk cloth, polished off his drink, and leaned back in his chair. His posture rather reminded Melina of someone she'd seen before, and the memory pricked her most painfully indeed. "I want to help people, but Caelid was an eye-opener for me. We can't go in blind like that again." His gaze swept over each of them in turn. "I don't wanna see any of ya get hurt."
Milicent perked up.
Greyroll and Trish looked away.
Melina felt a curious pang in her heart. She tried to ignore it.
"Was it truly that bad?" Roderika inquired. "I know the demigods are terrifying...
Still, their Finger Maiden tried to rally. "But to become Elden Lord, you must seek the Erdtree!"
"And I will." Naruto reassured her. "When I'm good and ready." he looked away, scratching his cheek. "Okay?"
"And when will that be?" Melina cursed herself even as she spoke. Gods above, was she really siding with her? Of all people? "This is not something you can put off forever. This world is in dire need of repair."
"And," he enunciated slowly, making his point clear, "I'm gonna do my best to fix it. You have my word. Trust me. I don't think we should rush this." Absently, he began to rub the rune-ring on his finger, massaging the glowing trinket in careful strokes. "I think something awful might happen if we do. We gotta be careful, ya know?"
Melina stilled. He knew. Or suspected something, at the very lest.
Still, his words seemed to be enough for Trish and Greyroll. Neither protested. Milicent and Roderika merely nodded.
Therolina looked fit to argue, then demurred with a pained nod. "As you command...my lord."
"Then I suggest we return to Limgrave." Greyroll put in. "I have a child there in need of...discipline. Another in Liurnia of the Lakes, as well. They would make for powerful allies."
"Wait, I though you said you were leaving once we dealt with Radahn?"
She made an amused noise. "I've decided to extend my stay."
Naruto perked up. "Sure, don't see why not...
They all agreed, one by one.
Not a single one of them took her side.
It was too much. Melina couldn't bear the way they looked at him, even now.
No, this was more than that. If he didn't go to the capital, If he did not seek the Erdtree, then things would remain as they were. If things remained as they were she could not obtain the Rold Medallion; without which she wouldn't be able to guide him to the Forbidden Lands, and if they did not go there...then the Erdtree would not burn. It had to burn. It must burn.
Her sealed eye begin to twitch anew.
She settled her hand on his.
"May I have a word?"
(.0.0.0.)
She'd not thought to find him here.
There it was, the bitter truth.
Nepheli hated it.
She'd fled from Naruto in shame; run from her weakness -and the look in his eyes!- like a scared little girl. Father had chided her for it, even as she relayed news of Godrick's death. Conduct unbefitting of the Roundtable, he'd called it. He'd been right. Her will had faltered; she'd been granted a glimpse of her own death and fled from it as a craven would from the battlefield.
And now she'd stumbled upon him here.
He'd changed in her absence. Nepheli could see it in his eyes, that fire was still there but it was tempered now. Banked by loss.
It didn't take much to see why. She recognized the second Great Rune carved into his arm, burning like wildfire. He and his companions had faced General Radahn. They'd not come out unscathed either. There were new faces at the table; a woman with draconic features, a wounded redhead, and a bashful young woman clad in the robes of a Finger Maiden.
She had no right to approach him again. Even now, hurting as he was.
That was a right she must earn - a pride to reclaim.
She could only watch him from afar. Watch as his Maiden laid a hand on his, leaned in, and whispered something in his ear. She forced herself to be still, to observe now, as the pair made their excuses and departed for a smaller room. Her mind conjured forth wild images of what they might be up to and unbidden, she found herself stepping forward. She caught herself a heartbea tlater.
Until their paths crossed again.
Until she redeemed herself.
Until then.
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto knew a storm when he saw one.
And the look in Melina's eyes? Stormy as they came.
He let her drag him to an empty room. Allowed her to shut the door shut behind her. She didn't bother to lock it; because the moment she those doors closed, she leaned against them. One hand fisted roughly against the wood, and she almost seemed to lean against it for strength. Her head kissed the worn wood with a sigh.
"What art thou doing, Tarnished?"
He didn't like her tone; liked even less that he couldn't see her face, that she wouldn't look at him.
"Is this about Therolina...?"
No response. Not even a twitch.
"Could you stop sulking? She needed a place to belong."
"How kind." Melina rounded on him, eerily calm as she looked up at him. "And how many more misfits will you take in before this is done, hmm?" Her visible eye blazed a bright, molten gold. "How many do you intend to bring to the Roundtable?" still her voice did not waver. "Well? I would have your answer."
"As many as it takes to fix this world." Naruto palmed his face and exhaled in a sullen sigh when she didn't bude. "You're going to be difficult about this, aren't you?
"Difficult?" He knew it was the wrong thing to say; because the moment he did, the kindling maiden stomped on his foot and seethed up at him. "Considering you've taken a second maiden into your service? Yes, I think I'm going to be difficult about this."
"Why do you even care?"
Melina hissed out an angry breath. "You dare?"
"Damn straight I do!" He bulled forward to tower over her. "I respect ya, and I value your input, but you've been pissy ever since Therolina joined us. What's your problem?"
She biridled. "You took another Maiden-
"No." he shook his head, sensing the lie. "Nice try, but I'm not buying it. There's more to this than that. Is it because I won't go to the capital yet?"
Her emotions blazed. He couldn't make sense of them, much less discern her answer. Yes? No? Maybe so? He risked a glance over her shoulder and spied Radahn's specter in the shadows. The dead demigod stared back and spoke again. He still couldn't hear the words. No, no, no. He was not seeing that. Another thought struck him, then. Frantic for a distraction, he seized on it.
"Earlier, Greyroll called ya a kindling maiden. What does that mean?"
Her jaw snapped shut, and with it, his anger began to boil anew. So secretive, this one. He hated secrets.
"Not gonna tell me? Fine. I'll do this my way." he thumped a fist against his chest. "I won't let anyone else die. So don't worry."
...just as you didn't let Radahn die?"
Her words tore open the wound in his heart.
Naruto's gaze snapped into scarlet slits. Beneath that smoldering stare, Melina flinched. He could see that she regretted what she'd said, but it didn't change the fact that she'd said it in the first place. She'd wanted to hurt him for a moment, and she had. Even now she tensed, expecting an outburst. He wanted to give her one. To rant and rave and rage at her, as he'd had toward Fia...
.
..
...no. I'm better than that.'
He closed his eyes. Inhaled. Exhaled now, breathing out his anger with it. When next they opened, those smoldering scarlet orbs were blue once more. Melina didn't budge an inch. So stubborn. Even scared out of her wits she was just so damn determined. He didn't blame her. He was much the same. He stood his ground. So did she. Something had to give.
Eventually, one of them did. Had to happen, sooner or later.
...rely on me more." Melina whispered suddenly, startling him. "Confide in me. Let me share your burdens."
Her head snapped up. He glimpsed a flash of tears.
"Melina, wait a sec-
She most certainly did not; she growled, shoved him against the wall and stepped in, blocking his body with hers. Scarred hands reached up, grabbed him by the face, and yanked his lips down to hers. It was not a gentle kiss by any means of measure, an act born of equal parts frustration and misery on her part. Their teeth jarred together with a harsh click and he felt something sink into his lip. Pain sparked and he grunted in surprise.
"Mmph?!"
It lasted all of an instant; then the Kindling Maiden jerked back, face red, chest heaving, lone eye glaring great golden daggers at him. Her mouth worked wordlessly, trying -and failing!- to form proper words. She looked horrified, as though she couldn't believe what she'd just done. That made two of them. He couldn't believe it either. Who would've thought that fiery, feisty woman was capable of such.
"Look what you've made me do." When she finally found her voice, it emerged as a hoarse sob. "You've ruined everything."
Reflexively, his hands tightened around her waist in a vain attempt to comfort her. It spooked Melina instead; she dissolved in his arms, vanishing into so much blue dust before he could so much as utter a word. That dust hurtled through the cracked door, leaving him with his thoughts and the shock that followed.
...well, that happened."
Naruto touched a finger to his mouth. Winced, as it came away bloody. He blinked slowly, still not quite comprehending. How could he? Kurama had gone quite silent; as such he was left to stew in his own thoughts. They weren't unpleasant ones. Did she really think he'd been ignore her? Was that why she wanted him to rely on her more? He hadn't meant to ignore her at all.
Someone eased through the door, pushing it open. Greyroll slipped in. "I'm not interrupting, am I?"
Not anymore. "No, he muttered, still dazed. "You're good...
She looked about. "And your Maiden? Where is she?"
Probably hiding from him. "...she ran off already."
Her smile worried him. "Did she now?"
"Oi." he scowled, trying to quell the sudden flutter in his stomach. "What's that look for?"
"Nothing." said smile became a smug smirk. "If she wishes to throw a tantrum and flee like a child, then I care not a jot." she stepped to him and idly, he noticed her tail. Unlike her wings -folded neatly against her back-it almost seemed to be swaying in thinly veiled glee. Almost made him think of a dog. He didn't dare utter the words aloud.
Thankfully he didn't have to; for her words filled the silence between them.
"Dragons prize strength above all else." another step now, her fail flicking out to slam the door shut behind her. "Strength of character, strength of arms, strength of spirit. You've shown me all this and more. If she cannot see such, or rather, if she refused to, then 'tis her loss.
"Is this going somewhere...?"
"It is." Greyroll stepped into him fully, linked both arms behind his neck, and pressed her forehead to his. "Mate with me. Now."
Naruto's jaw clicked open with an audible pop.
One word came to mind.
"Bwuh?"
A/N: Bwuh, indeed.
As we all know, dragons respect strength. Naruto's shown more than enough.
Had to save the Liurna/Limgrave bits for the next chapter. Would've felt rushed here.
Latena next chapter, though. More Nepheli, too~!
Well? Did you like this story? Yes? No? Maybe? Speak out! Make yourselves heard! Your voice matters~!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story.
If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs during the holidays so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas....Review, Wouldst Thou Kindly?
And have some previews. Some are quite off, but still...
(Previews)
"So, did you two...?"
"SHHHH!"
Castle Mourne was a madhouse. Piles upon piles of corpses.
He almost envied Irina her blindness. She'd never have to see this. But he had. The sight was seared into his soul.
"Right, that does it. No mercy for you bastards!'
"Two great runes, as I live and breathe. It would seem I've underestimated you."
"Boc, at your service, m'lord. Thank you for that rescue. I'm afraid I don't have much to offer you...
Milicent blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice.
She was seeing things. Had to be.
Wasn't she?
"Does this please you, my lord?"
You don't understand. He's attracting the attention of the Outer Gods themselves. The Lady of Rot has already been made aware of him. How long until the Formless Mother takes notice? Or worse...!
...are you really gonna take this lying down? Here, lemme help ya up."
Latenna knocked an arrow to her bow.
Revenge? Yes. She would start with revenge.
R&R~!