The Harbringers of the End

[WalrusesInMyKitchen]

The assassin was thrown across the throne room, hitting the marble floor with a sickening crunch and rolling to a stop. Features contorted in pain, the boy still somehow managed to stay consciousness, one hand wrapped around his broken blade. And as the young lad struggled to his feet, Joachim Revyn couldn't help but to allow himself a slight smile. Mortals were usually so flimsy, and yet this boy was something else. He had broken through the defenses, had reached the throne room, and had even survived a hit. If the kid hadn't been so stubborn, Joachim probably would've offered him a position in his little army.

The lord leaned back in his throne, resting his head on his fist. "You really are a naive little bastard, aren't you?" He inquired lazily, a small yawn escaping his lips. "...like a cockroach, or a-" He didn't get the chance to finish, as the assassin let out a sharp cry, and broke into a sprint once. The boy didn't seem to care that his insides had been turned into paste, nor did he mind that his blade had been snapped in two. He was going to kill Joachim, or die trying...by god, this was definitely more entertaining than the usual night.

The assassin was close now, and the yell reached its peak as he swung the sword downward, aimed right at the dark lord's head. Dodging it was all too easy. Joachim leaned his head to the left, the blade missing by only an inch and instead colliding with the throne. He could see the shock in the boy's features almost immediately, and once more the man brought his arm back, and slammed his fist right into the boy's stomach.

Just like before, the assassin was thrown back, landing on the floor in a crumpled heap. "...still alive, huh," He glanced to his right, to the woman sitting in the throne besides his. "Would you mind finishing him off, dear?"

 

[Lady Nōhime]

Having been surprised that an assassin had snuck into her bethroleds keep, let alone into the throne chambers the inner most sanctity of the keep. The boy was naive, young and very stuiped all traits that youth seemed to excel in at some point another, it seemed more than obvious his cause was worth dying for but had failed to see how futile his attempt on her beloveds head was. It was suicide to try to take his head, the man was half demon her love, so the task was near impossibile but it never failed to bring those who tried. The young man certain had the stamina to endure his wound, that much she did give him but his stuitidy out weigh the fact that he had even tried this stunt.

Yet again Yeles had watched the pitiful young man charge without any knowledge of the consequences of his actions, but still watched already knowing the cause and effect of the young mans attack on Joachim. Intently watching her soft field green colored eyes. Her eyes never left the assassins blade, from arc to the striking only mere inches from Joachims head. A smirk had formed, knowing that this was only a ploy to toy with the assassin. Still reslient the young man had taken another punch from Joachim.

Yeles nodded to him, all to happy to oblige anything he had asked from her. Dressed to kill a light red dress was cling to her lithe form, pale skin from her left leg was seen from the slit in the side. Locks of hair waved like the current of a stream, but vibrante red in color looked more like flames. Fleshy red lips covered in black, a posion that had only bee non toxic to her and Joachim, threw antidote and his greater immune system. Approaching the assassin in a slower manor, savoring the moment before she would ultimatly kill him.

Kneeling before the young man, eyes focused on him as the assassin was clueless on how she was going to kill him. Left to only watch the last pressing moments of his life. < Too bad your too young and stuiped, you would of made it far with us. > These were the last words he would hear... while he was alive. Pressing lightly onto the assassins lips, but only lightly the posion was fast acting and very potent. Soon, not thirty seconds afterwards he start convulsing as the posion was constricting and closing the blood veins threw his body. His face now black from the toxin, smirking as he fell dead to the floor like a slaughtered pig. Leaving the corpse Yeles walked back to her own seat, but stoping to kiss Joachim on the cheek. <It is done love.> Decieding not to take her own throne, but stand by his.

 

[WalrusesInMyKitchen]

A small smirk made its way onto Joachim's lips as the corpse was pulled away, the boy's features frozen in fear. It was a shame, honestly. These humans showed such a large amount of potential, and yet in the end they squandered it all with sheer stupidity. Slowly, the man pulled himself up into a sitting position, leaning forward as he watched his love making her way back towards him. Offering her a warm smile the half-demon reached out, stroking her soft arm as the body disappearing from sight. They'd probably hang him from his ankles high above the fortress, and allow the others to see what would happen if they just so happened to cross him.

With a slight groan, Joachim pulled himself out of the throne, pulling his jacket around him. His manner of dress was hardly extravagant, for a lord that was. He wore a tattered jacket which dropped down to his knees along with a pair of simple pants and boots. Beneath the jacket, the man wore nothing, allowing all to get a glimpse of his muscled body. Running a hand through his hair, he gave Yeles a quick glimpse, motioning for her to follow him as he made his way towards the exit.

"I think I've gotten everything planned out for this week," He told her, quickly turning the corner and slipping into the wide hallway, "...we're going to be raiding Treavin, a country smack dab on the coast. Hardly a challenge, but with access to the sea we'll be able to tackle bigger fish. I'm thinking that by the end of the month, we'll have access to Rinaldo,"

The Rinaldo Empire was both respected and feared amongst the general populace. Known for holding an army that dwarfed even Joachim's, it had already laid claim to a sizable portion of the nearby continent. Soon, it'd be making its way over, and honestly the young lord wasn't in the mood to be forced to compete with them for land. He was going to strike at the heart of the Empire, and take it on over before they could cause any more issues.

A small grimace appeared on his lips, and the man rolled his stiff shoulders, "I have to admit, I'm looking forward for the chance to finally relax..." He muttered. It had been quite a year...

 

[Lady Nōhime]

The fortress of late had been strung with the dead corpses that ravens feasted on, a gruesome sight that did its job well to deture any would be assassins or other war monger that tried making war against Joachim. Giving her husband a slight bow when he stroked at her arm, the affection he lavashed on her was bliss, Yeles throughly enjoyed it. He was crude but it gwas one of his chief traits that she did attract her to him; her elegance and poise with his strength and brute force. Even his attire symbolized that feature that gave him that extra fear factor amongst his own men to keep them in line. The glympse Joachim had made towards her in the notion to follow, so she gave chase to him. Being the moments that they talked in private unhindered by military politics.

Yeles listend to Joachim, his tactical prowess despite his nature was actually very well versed; this gave him a hidden power of sorts that made people underestimate him. A fact that she had heard of first hand from others serving with him. She didnt give him advice much just tid bits of affectionate comments. <Remember expected the unexpected love, but I trust I will be with you right?> A generally loving smile never came to Yeles and if it did it was only and only in Joachims company. Sliding her arms around his right, walking along with him down the wide hallway with her head leaning against his arm. It was true that she was clingy but she loved him and would go crazy if she didnt have his company.

Her walk stoped, forcing Joachim to stop to. Taking her arms from his to his chest, tracing along the lines of muscle that lined his stomact. <You wanting to relax, that is very unlike you Joachim. I thought you enjoyed your game of blood and steel.> He was taller than she was, much taller but looking up to him. Her eyes fixed on his, <Do I not help you relax enough?> Curiously she asked him, outstreching her arms around his neck. <Wanting an honest answer, but if it was a lie it would be suffcient to some exstent.

 

[WalrusesInMyKitchen]

"Oh I will never grow tired of the carnage you and me create, my love," The lord smiled, reaching out and grabbing hold of her hands, holding them tightly. "But at the same time, I look look out for our child's future as well. If we leave them nothing to conquer, nothing to destroy, then they will grow weak and smug. A stronger force will come, and topple them. And I really don't want to see our legacy ending on such a sour note," His voice became a bitter at those final words, and his eyes closed. Yet, the damper quickly lifted, and without a word he pulled himself out of the woman's embrace, continuing down the hallway.

Sticking his hands into the pockets of his coat, an amused chuckle escaped the man's lips, and without stopping he looked over his shoulder and back at Yeles. "It's hard to imagine that we actually came so far, that I was forced to spend my childhood locked in some blasted orphanage eating moldy cheese," His mother had been a mage of one of the higher circles, and was known for her ambition and greed. She had summoned a demon to prove her worth, and said demon offered her power, though for a price. A very steep price. Nine months later, he was born, and in order to prevent the other mages from discovering the deal she ended up throwing him in an orphanage. He'd managed to piece most of that together after having left the damn place...

Joachim came to a stop in front of a rather ornate door, and with a creaking it was pushed aside. On the end was his and Yeles's room, a large bed standing right in the middle. Stepping onto the dark blue rug, the man glanced to his side, looking out the huge window that stood besides the bed. Through the window the plains surrounding the fortress could be seen, dark clouds hanging over them. A storm was coming...good, Joachim always enjoyed the thunder.

Turning away from the window, the man let his jacket hit the floor, leaving his torso completely exposed. And not even bothering to push it aside he fell onto the bed, rolling onto his back. Legs still dangling over the edge, the man closed his eyes, his mouth curving down into a slight grimace as a bolt of pain shot through his stomach. It was a shame, really. He was young, and yet was already growing stiff. If it wasn't for the demon blood in him...

 

[Lady Nōhime]

Yeles was surprised, she hadnt told Joachim about her pregnancy not yet; she had wanted to keep it a secret for just a little while. In the fortress though word had gotten around so it wasnt too big of surprise that he had found out. It kept her from having to tell him. Feeling flush in his embrace was almost a euphoria of sorts, but as her beloveds words turned bitter the flush feeling had drifted away. Continuing down after him trailing by a couple of feet after him to thier personal chambers were her conception had taken place.

Having a distate for the past but kept her mouth quiet and allowing him to speak of the pittyful childhood he had endured in a place short of hell itself. She herself had grown from prestigious family but a pitiful one at that since she had left them. It wasnt till she ran and offered herself to Joachim, despite problems of her own and of his, starting of as a lowly concubine. But in this postion she had killed the others effectivly taking her seat of power by his side. Having been her sadistic nature in killing the other wives that she grew an impression on him. <That is true, but look how far youve come love.> Consouling him, easing the painful past.

Following Joachim in there after an eventful evening, thier room seemed plain to her tastes but never argued about the decor letting her husband have his ways. A passing bolt of thunder had struck, letting a small smile form, it was almost symbolic in a way; he loved the thunder, she loved the rain. Going to the bed laying with legs exstend but sitting up, laying Joachims head on her lap running a few fingers threw his hair while looking down at him. < You dont have to worry about me or our child my love all will be fine, so carry out your own ambitions to your hearts content.> Take his hand, placing it where thier child was growing inside her.

 

[WalrusesInMyKitchen]

A sincere smile made its way onto the Demon Lord's lips; he could feel the life within her, could feel it slowly growing with each passing second. Soon he would have his heir, and no longer would he have to worry about his legacy. Removing his hand from his beloved's stomach, the young man reached up, grabbing her face and slowly pulling her down so their lips were only inches apart. His dark eyes stared right into her hers, and surprisingly a twinkle of warmth was able to be seen within them.

"Let's hope our child grows up to be strong and healthy..."

And with those words, he closed the gap between them, his lips meeting with hers.

----

The next morning, Joachim found himself rudely awakened by a frantic knocking at the door. Clad only in a pair of trousers that dropped to just above his ankles, the man grumbled to himself, running a hand through his disheveled hair as he stumbled out of bed (careful not to awaken the sleeping Yeles, of course) and made his way on over to the door, yanking it open.

"Yeah?"

A royal guard stood on the other end, clad in full armor. His features were surprisingly pale, and Joachim had to wonder if it was because of the news that he was about to share or if the man was just scared shitless about having to talk to the big bad boss. Maybe even both. Narrowing his eyes, he listened as the guard began to speak, voice shaky.

"S-sir," He began, giving an awkard salute, "...we have just received our spy's report," He held up a crumpled piece of paper and with hardly a word Joachim snatched it from his hand, unfolding it and glancing over the hastily scribbled letter. And as he did so, the guard continued...

"The Empire has already made their way move...some of their ships have already landed in Traevin and word is that the...that the..."

"...that the Emperor has already landed, huh," A slight grin appeared, and re crumpling the note he threw it over his shoulder, letting it land on the bed.

 

[Lady Nōhime]

Lettin Joachim's hand guide her to him, eyes locked in a gaze and though his were dark near black in color there was a type of warmth flickering if gazed upon carefully. Only Yeles had been able to see the dismal warmth within his being, but it burned brighter not only for her but for them; them and their unborn child. The gap between their fleshy lips closed in a soft but passion felt kiss, how she longed for it since she he rarely showed affection beyond the doors of their chamber. Savoring each moment of the lip locked embrace.

Yeles slept in the nude, bare with out clothes except for the light sheets that covered both her and Joachim during the nights sleep. Her hair spread amongst the sheet and pillows the lay over the bed, feeling Joachim get up but was too comfortable to get up so she lay there in the beds fading warmth. Slowly opening her eyes, fixed on the plains in the distance watching and waiting. Letting business go by as usual, but grown restless Yeles couldn’t sleep and rose from their bed.

Covered in the crimson sheets wrapped about her torso, covering the most part of any cleavage she did have showing, the tossed paper had hit a barren bed as she was already up and coming to him. Holding the blankets in place to avoid exposing herself to a man lesser than Joachim. Coming from his right side Celes's free hand ran over his chest, looking to his and the guards expressions. Shooting a deathly glance at the guard followed by a hand gesture for him leave. Closing the door behind the guard, returning back to his side. Reaching up bring his head down slightly, again she had locked lips with him; but fully embraced the moment. Connected at the lips for a mesmerizing ten second, letting go of Joachim staring up hardly clothed as her hand rested light on his chest.

"Will I be allowed to come? I am still of use my love and not so far along that I cannot be of some use." Hating the fact of becoming utterly useless and more of burden, she longed to go with him on his exploits but would follow his word to her own end.