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Araya Lucaris (Elora Krisara x AndrewS)

It was almost as though Kelaria could feel Alexandra's exhaustion and she didn't need to feel it from Regis. It was obvious just looking at him. She let her magic reach out to them both, continuing to warm them and providing them with a bit more of her strength. She focused on trying to replenish some of the energy Alexandra had lost helping Regis and healing her. Her magic wove itself into the water the same way she used it to seep into the earth, commanding the waves to her will. She knew her magic wasn't an endless supply and she understood now more than ever that she needed to give it time to recover and replenish itself. She better understood and respected the boundaries of it but right now it was stronger than it had been in a very long time so she used it to help get them to safety without worrying too much about the exhaustion that would follow if she kept it up. Right now, it wasn't an issue and she'd hopefully have the chance to rest soon.

Kelaria shifted the waves to that they steadied around them then continued to manipulate them to help propel the group forward, hoping to ease some of the strain that carrying Regis would put on Vander. She seemed to realize shortly after Vander, where this route would take them, and she wasn't sure how to feel about it. It was where she had met Vander and begun this journey with him. It was the place she had begun to build some hope for her people by acting as a healer. It was also the place she had condemned many to die with just her presence.
 
"What...is this?"

Balthier Albright had returned to the realm of the living. And with that impossible feat, he found himself within a pitch-black castle. The walls on the inside were afflicted the same as the outside, completely covered in demonic malice, blotting out any light from possibly getting inside. It was foreboding, dark, as if he had awoken within a cave, having turned a building that was once a home into grave.

"You're back already?"

Balthier turned his head, slowly, towards the source of the voice. Standing at the entry way of hallway he had died in was Marley, her eyes still flaring with demonic red. "That's no fun. I was hoping I'd get a little bit more time in charge of this place. Oh well." She sighed, shrugging her shoulders. She got a little closer to Balthier, leaning in as if examining him. "So, how'd you do it? Blood magic? Did you fake your death?"

Marley had a child-like wonder about her still, even as her body and mind were warped by Alzahar's dark magic. She had retained that youthful vigor, but it somehow only made her more dangerous. Her innocence was being plucked at by what had corrupted her, and she was a soldier on top of that. With more time, she could have been every bit the warrior that Alexandra was, and that was something to be concerned about.

"I didn't do any of those things." Balthier told her, truthfully. "Alzahar did this. He would not let me die."

"Lucky." She crooned, poking where he had been stabbed with her right hand, testing to see if the wound had been healed. "Hm.."

"Where is he?"

"Where's who?" She questioned, playing dumb to annoy him.

"Alzahar." Balthier scowled as he replied. He was in no mood for games right now.

"So grumpy." With a sigh, Marley stepped aside so that Balthier could see the end of the hallway. The door she had walked through seemed to be pulsing dark energy. "Through there. He's in a bit of a mood, though. The intruders fled the coop."

For a brief moment, Balthier seemed relieved to have heard that, but it quickly faded as the dark magic swirling in his chest refused him the right to feel that emotion. "Take me to him. We need to talk."

~~~

The small village that had once been so hospitable to both Vander, and Kelaria, was a shell of it's former self by now. It had already been in a state of disarray and destruction before Vander had arrived, but when they had led his brother's forces to it, even more damage had been done and more lives had been taken. Much like most places he had visited in Arellia, he was shamed with guilt for having played a part in the siege that had been laid onto Kelaria's home land. He wasn't sure if anybody would even be there anymore, or if they'd even want them around. They could have used a glamor spell to hide themselves, just as they had before, but neither of them would be strong enough right now to uphold it, and it just felt like avoiding responsibility again.

Even in her over-exhausted state, Alexandra could pick up on the change in their body languages as they moved past the wooden gate that been destroyed by Finlay's raiding party. "You two have been here before, haven't you?" She asked them, curious as to why they both seemed so pensive. She was cold, and tired, she wanted this to be a place of rest.

"Yes." Vander answered, shortly. "It's where we met. The people here pulled me out of the water and Kelaria healed me after I barely escaped my brother."

"Oh."

"We led more of my brother's men to this place...."

"Oh." She responded, a second time, feeling that weight and making sense of the dire feeling her companions were sharing.

"She is their queen." Regis reminded them, talking slowly. His eyes could barely remain open, his legs hardly keeping him aloft. If not for the support of his younger escorts, he wouldn't have made it this far, his tired body weighed down even more so by the water that had clogged his clothing and the chill the breeze made as it met the damp cloth. "They know that this was not her fault."
 
A look of pain flashed across Kelaria's face at Regis's words. Immediately she thought of the family in the throne room. As each fearful and horrified face flashed through her mind it was like a stab to the heart, ending on the father's look of complete betrayal. That look of self-loathing returned to her features but this time she did her best to hide it. "That's not true." Kelaria argued. "Many blame me for more than you know." She had let down her people far too many times. She turned, noticing Regis' slowed speech. She stepped towards him and laid a hand on his shoulder, allowing some of her healing light to pass through to him, hoping to grant him a bit more strength and a bit more warmth.

Kelaria allowed herself to lapse into silence as they approached the village. It was in rough shape, even from a distance that much was obvious. Most of the buildings were completely destroyed or in shambles. Only a few still stood. The ground was still disturbed in many places and pillars of earth still cropped out from the ground in some places. The closer they got to the village they could start to make out the shapes of people, survivors, that were working to rebuild. Off in the distance some of the villagers were working to bury the dead, some were tending to the injured, and others were working to rebuild the houses. Kelaria had feared there would have been no survivors at all, however her relief to see them was short lived and was replaced with fear. Her pace slowed, allowing Vander and Regis in front of her. She was tempted to turn the other way to avoid the village all together. She was pondering now throwing up glamours over herself and Vander so they wouldn't be recognized. "Maybe we should go..."

The decision was taken out of her hands when a child, no older than seven or eight, who was gathering water by the lake spotted them. She looked at the strangers with a bit of fear in her eyes. Leaving her bucket behind, the girl ran further into the village to get the attention of some of the survivors. Soon the village was full of the sound of whispered speculations as many stopped their work to assess the newcomers. Kelaria's whole body tensed.

As Kelaria and her companions stepped into the village, Kelaria allowed herself to step up to the front of the group again, ready to face whatever reaction the survivors here would have to her. For a long moment they just stood there as the eyes of the villagers assessed them, the whispers and murmurs continued. Finally, a woman stepped forward. Kelaria recognized her as the mother of the first child she had saved. Had her child survived the attack? What would she think of her now?

"You!...You're alive." The woman approached hesitantly, afraid this was somehow a trick, or a trap laid by the enemy but there was no way the dark magic of the enemy could replicate the light that still surrounded Kelaria's appearance. She continued to step closer to the group. "Are you truly here? You survived the attack?" There was confusion on the woman's face. A man approached, joining the woman's side. He assessed the Princess before turning to the others. "It's her! The Princess! She's alive!" he faced Kelaria again. "Thank the gods. We feared you had died the day the village was attacked." He dipped his head to her, unable to fully bow at the moment.

The confusion was evident on Kelaria's face. It was more and more obvious that these people didn't blame her for what happened. Many of them had been refugees that had fled from other destroyed and ransacked towns. A good number saw what happened as just another one of those attacks. The princess had been in the wrong place at the wrong time because she had tried to help them. They saw the attack as inevitable with or without her presence. She was still hope for them. If she lived that meant there was still someone fighting for them.

"How is it you have returned? Many saw you die that day! They saw darkness surround you. They saw it swallow you whole until you were gone. They saw him kill you!" His eyes landed on Vander, finally recognizing him. His relief quickly turned to hostility. "The other Albright Prince. We took him in. Sheltered and fed him. We harbored a villain and a spy! He kil-"

"No." Kelaria's voice was firm now. "I'm still here. He did not kill me. If I feared for my safety or the safety of my people in his presence he wouldn't be standing here. Vander is not his brother's pawn. He has saved me more times than I can count. He fights for us not against us."

Both the man and the woman assessed Vander and the way Kelaria seemed to at ease in his presence.
 
There was a sense of relief amongst Kelaria's companions when the attention of the villagers seemed to be directed towards joy that she was alive, and not blame for what had become of their home and their families. The other side of that, however, was the fact that Vander was still with her at all. He had been seen as the enemy. Surely Alexandra, who was still wearing clothing of Astellian design, with the Albright family crest, would also stick out like a sore thumb to the people who had seen countless soldiers baring the very same crest raze and pillage their village into nothing but fire and rubble.

Kelaria rose to defend them, immediately, putting herself at odds with the expectation of her people. While her vouching for him was appreciated, he doubted that it would be enough to exonerate them.

"I am not your enemy. The usurper king...my brother, is dead. By my own hand. I understand if you do not trust me, but I have dedicated myself to fighting at the side of your princess, and I have done so honestly and wholly." The way Vander was speaking was more befitting of royalty than any of them were used to seeing from him. His voice carried weight, gravitas, his tone stern yet without lack of compassion. If he had followed the footsteps of his father, this was the type of man he would have become, one who could talk his way out of anything and reason his way through politics easier than a battlefield. He tended not to slip into that role, it felt undeserved, but he had assumed it here without even noticing. Regis nodded, proudly, while Alexandra took a few steps forward as well, preparing to speak. Vander's arm outstretched, holding her back.

"If it brings you peace, I will not stay within your village. Me and my companion will find a place outside, and we will keep watch. When the princess has rested and is ready to move again, we will retrieve her and be on our way. The only thing I ask of you is to please, take care of my retainer. He is very wise, he is the most honorable man that I know. He fought countless times against my brother to try and protect your people from his tyranny. He is but an elder, aged and tired, cold and in need of rest. If you do not trust us, that is fine, but please, I beg that you grant him respite here."
 
For a long moment the villagers were silent, seeming to consider Vander's words and Kelaria's as well. The man in front of them was eyeing Alexandra's attire with disdain and a bit of fear. The woman turned to the people behind her, as though looking for confirmation. A younger woman, a little younger than Kelaria, stepped forward from where she was tending to a couple of the younger children. She walked up to the group without fear, moving closer to Vander in order to assist Regis. "Lean on me" she told him as she helped him to where the rest of their injured rested around a fire under a makeshift roof.

Finally a woman that looked only a bit younger but more fit than Regis, stepped forward from the village. "If our Queen believes in and trusts the Albright Prince and his lieutenant then who are we to argue with her?" She walked up to the two. "Surrender your weapons." She looked at Vander "you will be put to work while you're here."

Kelaria knew that having them Surrender their weapons wouldn't be an issue, given their ability to call them.
 
"I'm not his lieu-" Alexandra was ready to argue, since that title did not belong to her, but she shook her head, dismissing it. Baring a smile instead, she removed her sword from her side and handed it over, carefully, holding the blade horizontal with it's flat side downward so that the woman wouldn't harm herself on it's edge.

Vander watched Alex take the initiative before doing the same, nodding his head. His attention had mostly been on the person helping Regis. "Thank you. Your kindness is very appreciated. We will work while we are here in exchange for your accommodation."

Turning back to Kelaria now, Vander checked with her to make sure that she was okay as well. Now that they were safe, at least for a little while, they would be able to rest. There was still the issue of the literal shadow looming over them, encasing her castle, but for now, Balthier Albright was gone, and Alzahar seemed confined to that castle itself. Until he decided to send more demons after them, they had a chance to do some good for some people who were in desperate need, while also recovering a little themselves.

"We can't stay for long." He told her, quietly. "I do not wish to bring any more harm to these people."

As the crowd dispersed, Vander watched them each go back to their duties. They were cleaning the rubble, rebuilding their homes, tending to their wounded dutifully. It was wonderful to see the sense of community in this place had not been lost with the lives and the belongings that had been taken from them.

"We need some help over here. Prove yourself, Albright."

Giving one last look to Kelaria for confirmation, Vander turned to greet the man politely. Alexandra moved to join him, but he shook his head. "Rest first. There will be time enough for you to help later."

"Van, I'm fine. I can he-"

"Alex." He cut her off, that sterness in his voice returning again. Alex stopped pushing him, falling in line. "Rest."

"...alright."

Vander walked in the direction he was needed, leaving Kelaria to get Alex to some place where she could rest and be tended on.
 
Kelaria's tension eased a bit as they village seemed to accept Vander and Alexandra, even if begrudgingly. She was grateful for the chance to rest but eyeing the huddled-up group of injured villagers, Kelaria knew she wouldn't be allowing herself to rest much. She simply wasn't capable of allowing herself that when there were others that needed her, especially after the trouble she had caused them. Kelaria nodded at Vander's words. "We'll stay long enough for Alexandra to recover but we can't stay long." She looked away from the shelter that Regis was being led to in order to look at him. "You need to get some rest as well. Neither of us has gotten any real rest since we left the Nither. Help them rebuild but get some rest as well."

After Vander left Kelaria lead Alexandra to where Regis was resting. She didn't touch or guide the woman physically, she just walked alongside her. "He's right. You need the rest first. There will be time to help. You've earned the rest. Stay here I'll check and see if there's someplace else, they'd rather you go."

It turned out resting with the injured seemed to be the best place for Alexandra. She was able to rest near the fire and was given a blanket and some food. Several of the villagers tried to offer Kelaira more comfortable accommodations, though they could hardly offer anything they saw as fitting for royalty. Of course, Kelaria politely declined it all. Instead, she made herself useful tending to and healing those who were sick or injured. While Kelaria knew she had to be careful not to overextend herself, it was easy for her to forget that while she was working. They would only be here a short while and she was determined to do as much as she could before they left.

As day turned to night Kelaria found she had done as much as she could for the time being and the village seemed more than grateful for her help and even for Vander's help with the building. After a few hours the woman who seemed to be in charge relieved Vander from his duties so that he could eat and rest as well. A couple of the older children had gathered a couple bedrolls and blankets to offer in attempt to make their princess more comfortable for the evening.
 
In comparison to all of the fighting and suffering, lifting some logs and sifting through debris seemed like child's play for Vander. He wasn't accustomed to hard labor, but he had done some work here and there before, it was easy enough for him to fit in to the role. He just needed to use his strength, which he still seemed to be able to muster despite his tiredness, perhaps out of his inner need to try and prove himself worthy to these people. For someone who had come from a place of royalty, he was surprisingly concerned about what the people on the ground level of this kingdom though of him. They were Kelaria's to be concerned for, but the guilt ran too deep for him to simply pass it off and to not take this duty, however mundane it was, seriously.

When finally relieved, he felt as though he had at least given himself a leg to stand on in the morning should anybody question again why their village would be harboring the brother of the man who destroyed it. It was also very nice to have a chance to take a proper, warm bath, though it was only in a tub, and the water wasn't nearly as hot as it could have been had there been better facilities left behind. He had been graciously offered some clothing, a simple, cloth shirt and pants, both of which were a little too small for him, but he graciously accepted. They were clearly hand-me-downs, or left overs, a little dirty and tattered, but miles better than what he had been wearing during their journey thus far.

As he stepped back outside, he felt refreshed as the cool night air hit his freshly washed skin. His ears heard the sound of a gentle flute, playing errant notes, in the direction of the water. Rather than head towards the fire, he followed the sound instead.

"Close." Alexandra smiled, looking down at the small boy sitting at her side. He was carrying a flute, but it had seen better days, much like most of the things in this village. She had a blanket draped over her shoulders, given to her by the townsfolk to keep her warm.

"How about this...?" The little boy asked, blowing into it again. The note wavered and Alexandra shook her head, gently.

"Almost. Want me to show you again?"

The boy nodded and lifted the flute upwards. Alexandra took it and blew into the windpipe, playing a soft melody, perfectly, despite the damage on the instrument.

"I'll never be as good as you..."

"Sure you will." She smiled, handing it back to him. "You just need to keep practicing."

Vander smiled to himself, turning back towards the fire. From where he was standing, he could see the faint outline of Kelaria, with the villagers, as well as Regis, who was huddled by the flame. For a moment, it almost felt like they were living.

Not running. Not fighting. Living.

Vander had almost forgotten what that felt like.
 
By the time Vander spotted Kelaria again she was also bathed, her hair in a long but simple braid down her back. She wore the new clothes she had grabbed from her bedroom back at the castle. She was now dressed in travel attire. Her dress was nicer but sturdier than the servants gown she had escaped the castle wearing. It was still a simple dress and while it was nicer than most villagers would wear it was simple enough not to draw too much attention to them on the road. This would handle their journey better and she had a pair of trousers packed in case she needed them. It had taken a great deal of convincing to lure Kelaria away from the injured but Esmerelda, the woman who seemed to be in charge, finally shooed her off. She had done all she could for the day.

She did her best to make sure Regis was comfortable and tended to. The survivors noticed how much concern Kelaria seemed to have for the older man, though they weren't sure why, which lead them to treat him with as much care as they could afford.

Feeling eyes on her, Kelaria turned around to see Vander off in the distance looking in her direction. For some reason Kelaria found herself blushing, grateful that he was too far away to see it. She turned and gathered him a bowl of the soup that was being served around the little encampment of survivors. With a bowl in each hand, Kelaria made her way towards him. Once she reached him, she offered the bowl to him. "Won't you join me for dinner?" she gave a playful smile and made a show of giving a small curtsy.

"They offered us cots inside one of the standing buildings, but I told them no. I hope that's alright. I'd rather someone who needs it more to have it. I figured it'd be best to stay outside in case anything happened anyway. Of course, if you'd rather stay inside, I'm sure they'd still be willing to let you. I set up a bedroll for myself over there." she gestured towards a spot near the edge of the town. "But I figured I'd let you decide where to put yourself." she blushed when she realized she was rambling. They hadn't had much down time since this all began, and she found she didn't really know how to act around a man she held this kind of affection for.
 
Vander saw Kelaria's head turn, meeting his eyes from across the distance. They shared a smile, but he thought nothing more of it, wishing to give her some peace and quiet with her people rather than interrupt. He knew that although he was building a rapport with them, he was still very much an insider, viewed as a potential enemy, so he didn't want to push his luck too much. Despite that, she was coming towards him instead, a bowl cradled carefully in her hand that was intended to be offered to him.

Vander watched her curiously as she got closer, curtsying in front of him. He couldn't help but laugh a little bit, lamenting the fact that in that moment, she had been so cute that he wouldn't have been able to deny the offer even if he wanted to. He took the bowl into his own hands, feeling the warmth fight against the early evening chill, giving her a grateful nod. "I'd be very pleased to share dinner with the guest of honor," he teased, keeping the playful air that was only possible now, in a moment of calm amidst storms.

Her kindness continued to show no bounds as she gave up a soft bed in favor of sleeping on the ground just so somebody else injured could have her place. She was so tired from the journey, her body must have been aching even with her light suppressing the damage, yet still, there was not a selfish bone in her body. He only wished he could become as selfless. "I think I would rather stay with you, if that's all right." He told her, honestly, realizing he'd best explain himself a little better before any improper connotation was taken from that statement. "....to make sure that you remain safe through the night. We are not yet free from danger..."

It was an excuse, but he sold it well enough, or at least he would have if she had been somebody who hadn't known him better.

He let an awkward moment rest between them before lifting the bowl to his lips, sipping some of the soup from it to fill the void. He wondered if Alexandra would take the offer of sleeping inside. At least he didn't have to worry about Regis, he was being well-tended to by the villagers here.

Vander and Kelaria shared their moment together, unbeknownst that at least one person in the village was watching them, unhappy that they had made an appearance tonight.
 
Kelaria wasn't fast enough to stop the look of relief that seized her features when he expressed that he'd like to stay with her. After the absence forced upon them by his brother, Kelaria was a bit anxious over the thought of separating from him for so long. She also recognized that she really shouldn't feel that way. Perhaps she was becoming too dependent upon him, but she wasn't particularly motivated to change that at the moment. His nearness brought her comfort and that's exactly what both of them needed at the moment. Kelaria smiled softly and nodded "Of course, for safety..." she was more than aware that his explanation was only half of the truth. She wasn't sure how she knew; she just knew. Did she know him that well already?

After an awkward silence, Kelaria found a comfortable place to sit so she could enjoy the first hot meal she had since the day they fled this very village. She looked up at him and patted the spot beside her. "Sit down and rest for a moment. You've earned it." She fidgeted her hand a bit before taking a sip of her soup. She looked out towards the water as they lapsed back into silence for a moment. She felt the need to fill that silence but her inexperience with men, or even friends, made her unsure how to proceed. She followed his gaze towards where Regis was being cared for. "They'll make sure he's comfortable tonight." she couldn't help but smile. "It's comforting...being here and knowing that some of my people still have faith in me, even when I don't deserve it. These people have every right to hate me and blame me for what happened. I still blame me, and the guilt is still there, but they have faith in me, and I can't pretend that doesn't motivate me a little more. I have to do right by them." She looked back at him, knowing he was harboring his own guilt.

"Eat up. I have something I want to show you."
 
Vander nodded his head at her assessment of Regis' condition. He too felt comfort in knowing that his allies were in safe hands, at least for one night. Despite that, Vander showed an obvious dislike for the way Kelaria was speaking of herself, once more falling deep beneath her guilt. He was glad to hear that she was at least using it as motivation, but he was still unhappy to know she was putting herself down, still.

"They have faith in you because you are to become their queen." He told her, bluntly. "If not you, who else could they believe in? Who else could they trust? There is nobody in the twin kingdoms like you, Kelaria. You are their light when all is dark, you will always be that light, no matter how badly you want to blame yourself and take responsibility for what became of your people." Vander shook his head, knowingly. "You and I both know that the demon is to blame. It is up to us now to assure that this never happens again. What's done is done, what's broken can be rebuilt. Homes, mementos, towns...they come and go..., but you are one of a kind, and cannot be replaced." Was he speaking on behalf of her people? Or was he simply speaking on behalf of himself?

She had something to show him? What could she have possible found during their short time here that required such a statement?

"Oh?" He asked, sipping from the bowl a second time, a longer sip than the first. Perhaps he had an eagerness to see what it was she meant. "Now I'm curious. Tell me."
 
Vander spoke with such conviction it was hard not to take what he said to heart. Kelaria found herself a bit surprised by the absolute certainty in his voice. She was surprised by how highly he spoke of her. Was that really how others saw her? Was that how he saw her? A blush rose to Kelaria's cheeks. She tried to let herself believe him. Luckily, he was making it surprisingly easy. She gave a faint smile and looked at him. "Thank you..." she wasn't sure what else to say. "For saying that..." It was obvious his words weren't going to magically allow herself to forgive herself, but they were certainly a step in the right direction.

Kelaria picked up on his eagerness and couldn't help but grin. "Nope." She let her lips pop, annunciating the 'P' sound. "I won't tell you. I plan on showing you." she watched for his reaction with a playful smile. She returned to her own soup, going slower than him but still seeming a bit eager and maybe a little bit nervous.
 
Vander wasn't sure if it was anticipation, or anxiety, that was brought on by her refusing to give him even a hint, but either way, he wished the feeling would past. He shot her a glare, though he wasn't actually mad, the look having more of a playful air around it rather than something meant to be serious or hurtful. "Right." He grumbled, taking another sip of the soup before lowering it down. The hot liquid had given him a warmth inside that had long since replaced the cool night air. Though they weren't near the fire, he felt warm enough that he didn't need it, though perhaps part of that was her presence moreso than the meal they were sharing. "This better be good." He continued to taunt, jokingly, as he went back to work on finishing his bowl.

That was the requirement, after all. He needed to finish eating before she'd show him what she had in mind.

When he was done, he tilted the bowl downward so that she could see, but now, he was noticing that she was being particularly slow in finishing her own. A low, almost inaudible groan followed suit as his eyes cast back upwards to meet hers, a sense of impatience urgency within them that was not outwardly spoken. "Please don't tell me you plan on going for seconds..." He jested, though only slightly.
 
"It will be good." I hope. Kelaria couldn't help but worry a bit that it either wouldn't work or he wouldn't like it. Despite her anxiety about it, she simply smiled at him and enjoyed the playfulness between them. It was a nice feeling, getting to exist with him without the immediate urgency of needing to run, hide, fight, or flee. She knew this night wouldn't last forever but maybe this would be a turning point between them. They still had a long way to go together, and their relationship had taken a very big turn from the last time they left this village. Things would be difficult with Alexandra around; she didn't want to make her uncomfortable or bring her pain but maybe in some ways they would be able to find some joy in the journey together despite the dire circumstances.

A mischievous smile crept onto Kelaria's face as he waited impatiently for her to finish. "Are you kidding me? This is the first hot meal I've had in ages! Of course, I'm going back for more." She giggled and shook her head. She couldn't possibly eat more. Her stomach was adjusting to being full again. If she ate any more, she was pretty sure she'd be sick. Once she was done, she lowered her bowl. "Done." She turned her bowl over, mimicking him. "Why don't you go take our bowls back and get your bedroll. I'll meet you over there and you can set up and then I'll show you." She stood and offered a hand to help him up.
 
Vander was fairly certain she was just messing with him, but he couldn't have known for sure until she had actually finished her meal. He was beginning to feel foolish for being so anxious about it. He wasn't a child, this wasn't the first time he felt this way about somebody, yet it had somehow thrown a hardened fighter into the same nervous anticipation that somebody who had never been in love before would feel. Had it not been a shared feeling, he'd have felt much worse about himself than he did, but it was pretty obvious that she was feeling the same, and they were both hiding it behind their banter.

"Finally." He chided, jokingly, as she finished. He was feigning impatience, but it wasn't too much of a stretch to say that he had indeed been a little eager to figure out what it was she had in store for him. Vander wasn't used to the waiting game, or even really having someone care about him enough to even think ahead enough to plan surprises. It was a nice feeling, albeit one that made him impatient nonetheless.

Her instructions were clear, and while it was simply a distraction from the task at hand, he took them dutifully. He stood, retrieving her bowl as well as his own, stacking one on top of the other to more easily carry. "As you wish, your majesty." He nearly laughed, emphasizing the word with such sarcasm. With a nod of his head, he was off towards the makeshift kitchen to hand over their empty containers and give his thanks to whomever had prepared the delicious meal. By the time he made his way back to her, he had a bed roll tucked neatly underneath his right arm and there wasn't a bowl left in sight.
 
At "Your Majesty" Kelaria couldn't help but roll her eyes, though the smile stayed on her lips the whole time. She watched him walk away with their bowls. She stood there for a moment, feeling a bubble of anxiety in her stomach. She was completely out of her depths. She had so few friends growing up, there hadn't been time for them. She had even fewer suitors. There had been one or two crushes but none that had gone anywhere. The simply wasn't enough time and too many expectations. This was all foreign territory for Kelaria and she was afraid of messing things up. She didn't know to act around a boy she loved. Loved?! Was this love? Kelaria didn't know what love felt like, not in the romantic sense. Surely it was far too soon for love but even watching him walk away for a few brief minutes was nearly painful, given all they had been through.

Kelaria shook away the thoughts before she could completely chicken out. Instead, she retreated to where her bedroll was set up. A couple of the older children, of which there were few left, had set up a small campfire for her and brought extra blankets but she didn't think she'd need them. Kelaria knelt by the intended campfire and lit it quickly with a small spark of magic. It was low but would provide them with a bit of warmth and light.

By the time Vander arrived Kelaria was fidgeting nervously. She looked up as he approached and smiled shyly. She waited for him to set up his own bedroll before she patted the spot beside her. "Come here." her voice revealed a bit of her anxiety. "Do you remember before...When Balthier captured me? I spoke to you in your head. It's not an easy thing to do. I'm not sure if I was able to do it because I am growing in ability or if I was just desperate enough...or if I'm familiar enough with you that it became easier. Your nearness, your magic, just you. I want to try again, and I want to show you something." She waved for him to scoot closer. Next, she held her hands up, making it obvious she intended to touch his face, but she gave him the chance to back away.
 
Vander's bed roll found it's way out of his arms and onto the ground, laying out a resting place for him alongside Kelaria's. They were close enough to the fire here that they would have enough heat to get them through the night should it get cold, but also far enough away from most of the rest of the village that they would have some peace and quiet from everyone else. Most of the other people here had places to stay and sleep, or were injured and would need medical attention throughout the night, they were the only two likely foolish enough to sleep outside save for Alexandra, should she decide it.

Taking up residency in his space, he found the roll blanketed the ground enough to not totally feel like he was sitting on dirt and stone. His head turned towards her as she began to speak, picking up on the shy and anxious way she was acting before she even finished her way through her first sentence.

"Yes, I remember." He nodded along, raising a brow in curious contemplation. "You...what?" She wanted to try to speak to him again in that manner? They were already speaking normally, there was no need for such an...intimate connection, but perhaps that was why he was resisting the thought. Still, her hand raised aloft, towards him, and he found it difficult to turn her down. She wanted to try, and he was willing to let her, as long as it made her happy. "All right. I trust you."

Leaning forward, closer to her, some of the distance disappeared and he allowed her hands to touch his face.
 
"All right. I trust you." Kelaria couldn't describe the feeling those words gave her. On several occasions she had already had to prove her trust in Vander but he rarely had to do the same in return. His words filled her with a warmth she was unused to, even for a woman always filled with warmth and light. He trusted her. Even if it was just for something so small, he trusted her.

Kelaria gently placed her hands on either side of his face. Her touch was feather light and her hands trembled just slightly. He would be able to hear and feel her take a few deeper breaths to calm herself down. "It will be like before, my voice in your head. Hopefully easier this time with you consciously letting me in. It will be different though. I want to show you something rather than tell you."

Her hands were warm where they touched his skin. Slowly she began to trace the features of his face, curiously exploring him while also settling herself down. She stopped her wandering fingers before they could reach his lips. Instead she settled her hands back on his cheeks with her fingers spread out towards his temples. "You know what my magic feels like. Open yourself to it as though I'm going to heal you, except this time open your mind to it. It might feel uncomfortable at first but it shouldn't be painful. Though your magic is dark so it might be painful for a moment but only if you fight it. I promise I won't see anything. If it works you should see the image I'm projecting towards you."

Her hands grew warmer and a soft purple light spread from her palms and finger tips across his face. Her light prodded gently at his mind as though knocking on a door. If it worked and the connection was established he should be able to see the image of a kitten chasing a butterfly in some sort of garden.

"If at any point it's too much or you change your mind just tell me. I'll stop." Kelaira's voice was slightly strained.
 
Vander wasn't sure if he was supposed to close his eyes, or not, for this to work, but he thought that to be a better choice than to simply stare ahead into her eyes while she attempted to connect them once more. It wasn't that he was opposed to that, he just didn't want to make it awkward. There was something so intimate about what she was trying to do, and how she was holding his face, that made him suddenly feel self-conscious of the way that she was looking at him so intently. Her fingers seemed to shake, ever so slightly, not enough that he could easily notice but present enough that he couldn't ignore it. She was nervous. What was she trying to 'show' him?

The instructions she gave to him were simple in practice, but a little harder in execution. He couldn't really control the way the dark magic in his body reacted, especially when in contact with her light. Even when he was in fatal condition, it fought against the healing of her light, meaning that it wasn't as easy as simple 'letting her in'. His eyes closing helped add to his concentration, however, as he felt the two opposite energies interact. Vander pictured Kelaria's face in his mind, he remembered moments from their past. The first time she had healed him, the pain he felt when she had been taken, the softness of her lips...

The dark magic receded, letting her light overwhelm it into submission. Vander didn't push back, he didn't stop it, he allowed her magic to wrap around his own, containing it and spreading throughout his mind the way she wanted to. Suddenly, it felt like he could feel everything she could feel, like their connection had intertwined them in a way he had never felt before. It was fascinating, it was nice, like an endless embrace that required no physical touch to initiate.

"Can you hear me...?" He asked, within his own head, not out loud. He was wondering if this connection went both ways, his heart beat picking up in his chest naturally from the intimacy that came along with the tether she had formed between their minds and bodies. "...what do you want to show me...?" He asked, as an image pushed through to the front of his eyes. A kitten pouncing through beautiful flowers, chasing down an elegantly fluttering butterfly. It wasn't real, he had never seen this before, but yet it felt like it couldn't be anything but a part of his reality, or a memory he had forgotten. "I see it." Vander informed her, surprised and confused.

Was this what she wanted him to see? Or was she simply just testing their connection?
 
It was strange, even for Kelaria, as she smiled in response to his attempt to speak to her the edges of the images she was projecting towards him seemed to grow brighter as her happiness was almost tangible. This was still fairly new to her as the only time she had experienced this before was during her mother's rather painful lessons. Kelaria flinched as for a moment the images projected into Vander's mind were of those memories with her mother. Kelaria quickly wiped them away and replaced them with the kitten scene again. "Sorry. This is still new to me as well. I have to control my thoughts better." she spoke in his mind.

"It was difficult but not as difficult as I assumed it would be to establish a connection. I want to show you something, but it won't be pleasant at first. Is that ok?" she didn't want the whole night to be dwelling on negative things, but she wanted them to understand each other better and there were just some things she couldn't say out loud.
 
Something seemed to flicker, not unlike the flame of the fire pit they had gotten comfortable near. It seemed to breach through the vision she was giving him, replacing the field and the kitten with a woman who looked very much like Kelaria. She seemed to be speaking to a younger version of the woman Vander had come to know, scolding her, teaching her. There was a pain and sadness in the young Kelaria that seemed to be shared to him, if only briefly, through the connection they had formed, but it disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. That fleeting glimpse into Kelaria's past left Vander with a hollow feeling. He had heard from her, briefly, how her relationship with her mother had been, but seeing it directly pulled him into his own head with regards to how his father treated him as well. There was a similarity in the pain, in being instructed how to live a life neither of them were ready for and felt as though they couldn't live up to the expectation of.

Kitten and butterfly, again, replaced the vision, locking it away once more into the recesses of Kelaria's mind. She spoke as if him seeing it was an accident, and Vander believed it, feeling the pain it had caused all too well.

"Don't apologize." He reassured her. He couldn't imagine how difficult this must have been to pull off, especially when her chosen partner was someone whom her magic resisted the very presence of. "It's all right, Kelaria."

As she confirmed that this flower field wasn't what she truly wanted him to see, Vander nodded his head, though he wasn't sure if she could see it given the space they now shared. His heart beat picked up a little more, he was certain she could feel it somehow, through their tether. Now, he was anxious for what it was she wanted to show him, especially as she had prefaced it by saying that it wouldn't be something pleasant at first. "That's fine. Don't worry about me. Show me."
 
Kelaria took in another deep breath. "It won't be pleasant." She warned him again before she pulled out the memory that hadn't left her mind since it occurred. He saw the throne room from her perspective. She rushed through the first half of the experience, not wanting to linger on her pain. Her pain wasn't the point of this exercise. Her pain wasn't the focus but Vander would feel the heavy pain of her guilt before he even saw the family of three being dragging into the throne room. The guilt grew worse as the family looked at her like a hero, like their savior. It grew worse still as they begged her for their lives in exchange for the information. There would be no doubt in Vander's mind that at the moment that Kelaria blamed herself for that death as the father gave her that cold look of betrayal like she was no better than Balthier and Alzahar.

Balthier's words echoed through the memory. "Their deaths are on your conscience, not mine."

Kelaria let the memory fade away, unable to focus on it much longer. Instead the scene faded away to a dark forest lit up only be the moon.
 
The vision before him was not one of his own mind, but rather, one from hers. A memory of a shared moment in time, within a space they had both been in, long before they knew one another, or how important they would one day become to each other. There was guilt, pain, regret...it hung heavy, like a fog, thick and unrelenting. It seemed to circle around him where he stood, seeing the view point of a broken girl who had to watch her people die. The way the family stared back at her, desperate for an answer, for saving, only to realize there was nothing she could do. It was haunting. It was heavy.

It was pain.

"What is this...?" He asked her, as the scene lingered just for a moment before flickering away. She couldn't hold it, or maybe, she didn't want to. "Why show me that?"

Now, Vander was confused. Beneath the command of his brother, she had seen countless tragedies, perhaps that was just the most recent, but another in a long line of horrible acts committed by somebody he once loved onto somebody he was beginning to. But he couldn't understand the point just yet of why she would show him that and have him experience the trauma.

Moonlight bathed him, nestled within the embrace of a forest, but there was no comfort to be found. Vander awaited two things; an answer to his question and, perhaps more worryingly, what she would show him next.
 
"In a somewhat backwards attempt to help you understand that what happened today, what happened to your brother was not your fault. I know you can feel the guilt I felt in that throne room. I felt responsible for the death of that innocent family. I probably always will in a way, but I think I better understand now that it wasn't my fault. That's in large part thanks to you, so thank you for helping me find that small peace of mind. I wasn't responsible for the death of that family. Balthier and Alzahar are. If I had tried to spare the family, I would have doomed the rest of my people and I'm not sure that they would have been spared anyway, but that didn't stop me from feeling the weight of their deaths. It didn't stop me for feeling like the one who ordered their execution. Even if I couldn't save them, I didn't kill them. Instead, I helped them in the only way I could."

"You are not responsible for what happened to your brother. Alzahar is. You might not have been able to save him, but his death is not your fault. The person you killed wasn't your brother. Balthier and Alzahar forced your hand the same way they forced mine it just feels less obvious because you were the one wielding the blade. You helped him in the only way you could and in the end, he was himself and that's more than Alzahar" Her thoughts were quiet for a moment before she finally continued. "I know you'll probably always carry today with you but I need you to know that you weren't the man who killed your brother today. You were and are the man that set him free and the man that fought to protect his people and the man who saved me. When you carry this day with you, carry that part too." When she carried this day with her, she was going to do her best to remember all that she accomplished, rather than the harm she caused.

She knew it was an odd way to try to comfort him, but she didn't have much experience with these things. She knew he was too much like her in the sense that blaming himself was too easy. She had hoped that by making the comparison between the two of them, given how resistant to putting her down he was, he'd be able to see the merit in his own actions.
 
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