Queen Rosales reached up to fasten the tie in front of her husband's cloak, resting her hands on his chest. "You won't need that for long," she pointed out. "Not where we're going."
"I know." Zenith smiled down at her, his black wings folding against the thick cloak. "I'll leave it with you when we leave, hmm?"
Tekno snapped his fingers. "Come on, lovebirds, there's plenty of time for that on our walk." Zenith shot him an irate look, but relented, turning around to face the Nether portal.
They had gathered by the portal, all of them that had attended Notch's meeting. Evangeline stood with Herobrine beside one of the great pillars that ringed around the charged portal, her free arm linked with Meryl's on her left. Zenith, Tekno, and the Queen would be leaving shortly, and would drop off her majesty at her castle before Zenith and Tekno departed for Null's fortress. Evangeline could feel herself struggling not to be anxious about it, though she tried her best to remind herself that it wasn't her problem. Tekno and Zenith were both competent fighters, she knew they would be fine… but she couldn't help but wish that she were there to ensure it.
Notch was waiting beside the portal with a compass in hand, offering it to Zenith as he neared. "This has already been bound to a lodestone on the Nether side of this portal," he told him. "You should not have any trouble getting back here, no matter where you may end up."
"Thank you, my lord." Zenith accepted it reverently, tucking it into a fold of his cloak. "Getting to our destination may prove slightly more difficult."
"Perhaps," Notch agreed. "But I have been assured that your companion has quite the sense of direction." Tekno puffed up his chest.
"Yeah, they don't call me 'the human compass' for nothing." He jabbed a thumb at himself, and Zenith gave him a funny look.
"Be safe." Notch clapped Phillip on the shoulder, giving Tekno a fond smile. "I will expect to hear back from you soon."
"Yes, my lord." Zenith reached out for his wife's hand, she took it, and Evangeline watched as the three of them plunged into the portal.
The platform remained silent for several moments after they had gone, until Notch broke it by saying, "I must return to my duties." He offered them all a smile. "I hope to see you all soon." With that, he vanished, and Evangeline turned to look at Meryl.
"I suppose you should be going as well."
"I should." Meryl leaned in to give her friend a kiss on the cheek, and Evangeline drew her into a hug.
"It was good to see you," she murmured. Meryl gave her a squeeze, and Evangeline stifled a wince as her injured wing was disturbed. "I'll see you soon?"
"Very soon," Meryl promised. With that, she released her, and took several steps away before beating her wings and taking off into the Aetherian sky.
Evangeline stood quietly for several moments longer, watching her fly away. Her withered wing pulsed with pain as she drew it against her back, as it often did when she was reminded of what she had lost. It wasn't until Herobrine nudged her that she snapped out of it, blinking up at him to find him studying her face.
"Ready?" He asked. Evangeline nodded. "Come on, then." He rested a hand on her shoulder, guiding her around towards the bridge. "Let's go home."
David stretched his arms above his head as they passed beneath the castle gates, tilting his head back to stare up at the Nether ceiling. "I feel like a traitor to my kind," he commented. "But… yeah. Walking is way less efficient than flying. That took forever."
"Oh, hush," Phillip scolded him. "You'll have plenty of time to fly once we leave." David just shut his eyes with a sigh. On Phillip's left, Trixtin remained quiet.
It was not a long walk from the portal back to Trixtin's castle, though Phillip had taken it perhaps a bit slower than he needed in an attempt to prolong his time with his wife. He couldn't deny that the subject of their mission unnerved him somewhat- Null had been quite the intimidating foe. But Tekno and Herobrine had professed that there was no further sign of him after Herobrine had dealt the final blow, so there should be no further cause for concern.
"I'm going to go round up supplies," David announced as they made their way down the entry hall, and he broke off from them, disappearing down an adjoining corridor. Phillip responded by linking his arm with his wife's.
"You've been quiet," he murmured. Trixtin pursed her lips.
"Can you blame me?" She muttered. "This will be the longest I will have been apart from you since we were married."
"Oh, Trix…" Phillip squeezed her hand. "I won't be that long, I promise."
"Travel alone, even in the air, will take you at least a week," she insisted. "There and back. And that's assuming you don't get lost."
"Well, that's what I have Dave for." He cracked a little smile, but she didn't return it. "Come on, Trix, I'll be alright. Are you worried about me?"
"Of course I am!" Trixtin hissed, taking him aback. "I worry about you whenever you go out. You're immortal, yes, but you're not invincible! And now you're going to Null's very fortress, with only a single man for backup! Why shouldn't I worry?!" She buried her face in her hands, and Phillip froze in momentary panic as she drew in a shuddering breath.
Tentatively, Phillip wrapped his arms around his wife, drawing her against his chest. "Trix… Null's dead," he reminded her softly. "His skeletons crumbled when he died. There's nothing more there to fear."
"To our knowledge," Trixtin stressed, her voice muffled. "And the Nether is rife with danger regardless-"
"Yes," Phillip interrupted gently. "It is. And I do only have one man for backup, but that man is the most terrifying fighter that the Nether has ever seen, who has gotten me out of more than a few bad situations. I'm in good hands. Promise." Trixtin was silent for several long moments before she shifted, resting her cheek against his chest.
"I'm getting too old for this," she mumbled wearily.
Phillip chuckled. "You don't look a day over two-hundred-fifty." Trixtin smirked, but it didn't last long. "I promise I'll be back before you know it," he added on softly. "Promise." Trixtin was quiet for a while.
"Alright," she finally said. Phillip gave her a squeeze, then kissed the top of her head.
"Come on," he said, finding her hand again. "Help me get ready to go, hmm? I'll spend the night here, we don't have to leave until morning."
Meryl beat her wings lazily as she passed down through the clouds, the towering pine trees of Mosenta rising up from the ground below her. A cold wind hit her and she shivered, clamping her arms against her chest as she dropped into a spiral towards the gates on the outskirts of the manor town. She would need to check in with her commander before she returned to her post.
She could see farmers and their families sowing seeds out in the newly-tilled fields, taking advantage of the clear and comparatively warm weather in order to begin their planting for the season. The town was bustling with cheer and activity, the midday sun illuminating brightly colored flags and streamers all about the center of town.
At the gates, Meryl spied a glimpse of white, and she angled her body to slow her fall as she descended the last hundred feet to alight on the cobblestone road.
"Commander Celeste," she greeted her breathlessly. The older valkyrie turned to look at the sound of her voice, breaking into a smile.
"Meryl! Welcome back." She waved away the young cadet she had been speaking with, giving Meryl her full attention. "How was your trip? What did Notch need you for?"
"It went very well," Meryl reported. "I was considered for a special mission, but Notch ultimately chose someone else."
"I see." Celeste nodded thoughtfully. "In that case, I would like you to head back to the manor and join the door guards there."
"If you don't mind," another voice interrupted, and Meryl jumped as a warm cloak was draped around her shoulders. "I would like to borrow her for a bit, first." Lord Lancaster's smiling face appeared on her left, his blue eyes sparkling in the sunshine. "Hello, Meryl. Welcome back."
"My lord," Meryl greeted him, feeling a flush begin to creep up her neck.
"Of course not, my lord, go right ahead." Celeste shot her a smirk, then bowed, and Steven gave her a smile and a nod before beckoning Meryl with him through the gates.
"How was your meeting with Notch?" Steven asked as Meryl tucked the cloak around her shoulders, falling into step beside him as they made their way into the town square.
"It went well," Meryl told him with a smile. "I got to see Evangeline."
"I'm glad." Steven smiled down at her, his hands met behind his back. "And Herobrine? How is he?"
"He didn't enjoy being at a social event." Meryl had to smother a grin. "But… they seem to be very happy together."
"I'm very pleased to hear that."
Meryl tilted her head back, shutting her eyes and letting the sunshine dance across her face. She had been stationed in Mosenta since late fall the previous year, spending much of her time watching over either the manor town or Lord Lancaster's home itself. The winter temperatures were fairly uncomfortable for her, but she had done her best to endure until his lordship had discovered her weakness. Since then, he had made an effort to make sure that she was warm, even into the spring.
They had a history, of course- Steven was the only reason that she had been cured of the black magic inflicted upon her by Sirben so many years ago. But surely even that could not warrant the special attention that he paid her, ensuring that she was comfortable and well-fed and engaging her in personal conversation. Not that she was complaining. Lord Lancaster was an excellent man.
"I came to town to join the sowers in their planting," Steven told her as they neared the fields. "And I happened to see you arrive. Would you be willing to join me?" He offered her a hand, and Meryl accepted it with a smile.
"I would love to," she told him, and together they walked out into the fields.