Heirot

Rai covered her ears at the sound, watching in awe at the guards and their largely spread wings as they soared over head behind them. “We made it!” she exclaimed as they grew closer.

Now, filled with sudden anxiety at seeing the tower again. Her mind filled with memories that she had long forgotten, or pushed to a place she didn’t remember. A place where many other things lurked, a shadowy void that held the dark parts of her life, the only thing that saved some fragment of her innocence.

Rai turned a pale at the site of the door that they had entered… how long ago? She didn’t even remember. She felt it had been many, many years, but knew deep down it hadn’t.

Blade stopped the sled and held his hand out to his sister with a confident smile. The guards landed before them and as they touched ground they kneeled.

"Prince Blade, son of Gabriel! We are glad for your return!" they said in union. blade helped Rai out of the sled and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"I see you men and ask you rise. I have need of your skills," he told them quickly, eye always serious in the face of his people. All three men stood, their large black wings tucked behind them, but still standing tall. "My family is stuck in Darkwood. I will give you their location and a message if you would pick them up for me." They saluted readily. Always onboard for a mission.

"Your mother, sire?" one asked.

"Yes." Oddly, they were almost joyfull to hear.

Rai stood just behind Blade and watched him as he took his role as prince. Suddenly becoming far larger than just her brother. She was proud of him, she thought as she watched him work. She lowered her hood from her head, the wind tossing the blond curls around her shoulders.

On of the men's eyes strayed to the girl next to Blade, and he ended up staring. Not from any kind of recognition, just a little bit of awe.

"Zaphil close your mouth!" the solider next to him jabbed the one called Zaphil in the side. Zaphil flinched. Blade laughed.

"My... sister," The men gaped at the word, "Has grown beautiful, but unfortunately I'm going to have to staunch any romantic ideas from here on forward." He winked at Rai, and beckoned they all went inside. For Rai's sake, he used the front door instead of flying up. Really, they only had a door for their non-Dark Angel visitors.

They were entering into the Grand Hall. It connected them to all the other sections inside of the fortress and out into the village within. It was almost maze-like, but everyone knew their way around. Blade wanted the War Room, so he could have his scouting party organized, and to find Siren. She was usually always there now.

Flanked by his men, they walked down the hall into another. Always they passed other Dark Angels, and they bowed towards Blade. No one recognised Rai at all, nor did they even really know the name of that little girl who had single handedly killed Gabriel. Though, it was probably best that way. It was bad enough they were DEFFINATLY going to recognize Soran. Blade would leave them with instructions about not getting alarmed.

They entered the War Room and Siren was the first to get up with a rather large smile on her face.

Rai blushed, glancing from the Dark Angel that was staring at her to the snow at her feet. She smiled softly as Blade mentioned her.

Rai moved nervously, but was confident that Blade would protect her if anyone did recognize her. The further they went the more she realized that no one seemed to be able to put two and two together.

She stayed to the back to be out of the way so Blade could do his job. She glanced towards the Dark Angel who had stared at her earlier, finding herself feeling oddly curious about him. She bit her bottom lip as she thought, wondering what he had been staring at.

Siren and Blade hugged each other like relatives.

"I assume you found them right?" Siren asked excitedly.

"Yes," Blade started, and then began to tell her everything that happened. When he finished, Siren gapped at Rai.

"You! Look at you! Dear gods that body! Little girl became a big one with a huge-!"

"Siren!!" Blade interrupted blushing. Really, she was his sister. Siren stuck her tounge out at him smiling and gave Rai a big hug.

"I bet you're making daddy crazy." she winked playfully.

Rai smiled. "I guess, I don't know. We haven't been with them much since it happened," she pointed out. "So do you think I make a good adult?!" She twirled around in her cloak and dress, the fabric billowing around her. "I'm getting used to it." She leaned in towards Siren. "For some reason people keep staring," she whispered faintly, glancing back to the rather cute Dark Angel, Zaphil."

Siren had a devilish smile on her face. "Ohohoho!" Already the ideas were falling into place.

"Siren, please," Blade tried to distract her back from whatever plans she was undoubtly making, "Getting my mother and fa-Soran." To call Soran father here would be untactful and garner unwanted questions.

"Right right!" She waved her hand and went back to the table. There was a map of all of Heriot on it, covering the whole table. On it, Blade marked the location of Mizuki and Soran. He organized a small troop under Siren (otherwise Soran may not come quietly) to go retrieve them. He scribe a letter, quick and not too long, for Siren to carry and give to his parents. Siren beamed at the idea of seeing them again. It would be, almost, like old times.

"That settles it then." Blade announced and turned to his sister. "Do you want tour of the fortress?" he was smiling, he wanted her to have fun and forget whatever bad memories she had of this place.

Rai glanced to Blade and looked his face over for a moment. At the mention of a tour it brought back memories of that god forsaken snake pit where she and Soran had amost died. The poison had nearly killed them both. She remembered the room they forced her to change in to prepare for Mizuki and Gabriel's wedding.

Rai felt her stomach churn at the thought of his warm blood on her hands.

She shook the thoughts from her mind as she blinked, smiling back at Blade. "Yes, that would be nice," she told him, grabbing his arm and looping her hands around it. "Please."

Blade walked her around through all the rooms and halls, pointing out historic facts as well. As they went though, Rai found that the snake pit was no longer there. It was a long tour, since the fortress was huge. He himself was getting kind of bored by it. But, for Rai, he didn't know what else to do for her to entertain her. What was it that girls liked anyway?

Rai was happy that the snake pit was gone. It was a wretched place. She found it much more comforting to think that no one could throw her there.

"Blade," she said as they walked down the halls. "You are a very important person to these people. It is nice, and it makes me feel safe to know that. It must be hard to be a leader."

Blade thought about it and realized that yes... yes it was. "I have to keep a straight face with everyone, but Siren really. It-It's not bad really, it's my birth right anyways." He didn't really know how to describe it. He could joke with Siren and maybe a few of the soliders, but the diplomats and politicians in the fortress and the other kingdoms... When he meet with the Queen of Ighten he thought he was going to pass out.

"Really, Queen Sinead is an impressive person to be in front of." He admitted to Rai, jokingly. They were passing the Overview room, which was pretty much an excuse to make a room completely out of windows that overlooked the village. And it was a beautiful village. He stopped to let Rai look. "I know you've had bad times here, but I rule this place now, and it has changed."

Rai paused in front of the windows, watching the flurry of snow fall outside. "I know," Rai whispered softly. "I just need to replace my old memories with new ones. This helps," she told him as she stepped closer to the window.

She looked down at the village and at the edge of the forest that surounded the fortress. There was a figure standing at the edge of the tree line. He was leaning casually agaisnt the trunk of a tree, staring up. He was looking right at her. He had a patch over one of his eyes, and the one that wasn't covered burned into her. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

After a while she just closed her mouth and let it go. It could be anyone after all. "Is there a place I could take a nap?" she asked. "I'm feeling rather sleepy."

"Uh, really?" He was a little disappointed, but he imagined that she must be feeling like she was walking on eggshells. He took her to his chamber. The bed within was large. "You can sleep in here, no one will disturb you, and you'll be well protected. I'll be in the sitting room next door waiting for you." He gave her a smile.

Rai smiled. "Thank you," she told him as she walked towards the bed. She pulled the cloak from her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. She crawled lazily onto the bed, curling up on her side. She didn't know why she felt so exhausted, she just did. She closed her eyes, giving a heavy sigh as she let herself sink into the softness of the matress. Possibly the most comfortable thing she had ever laid on.

It didn't take her long before she fell a sleep.