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Forever With You

Chapter Eleven

Ike spent the next day in a haze. A curtain to shroud him from the harsh reality that had come to pass. A curtain that fell the moment Soren's body had been removed from his arms. Since then, the bluenette had been little more than a ghost, and his life felt like a series of nightmares during a restless night's sleep, fragmented bits that made little to no sense, most of which cannot be recalled.

Somewhere, he came to, only to notice that Titania was at his side, her hand on his shoulder. She had been speaking to him. "Titania?" he moaned groggily. He was sitting at a long, wooden table, an older man in front of him and Almedha and Titania standing beside them.

"It's okay, Ike. They're reading Soren's will," she informed regretfully.

Her words seemed so foreign to Ike, she might as well have been speaking another language. "What?"

He became aware of Almedha rambling in the background. "Did he leave a successor?! Did my son acknowledge another to take his place?!"

"Yes," The gentleman answered, placing his bony finger on a long slip of parchment. "A man named Ike is to take the throne, so it says..."

Ike felt a wave of utter confusion sweep through him.

"What? Me, King?" He stood up slowly, shaking his head. "But... Soren is King..." he muttered, staring at the table's wooden surface. The man reading the will looked to Titania, then Almedha, who covered her face and burst into tears.

Titania squeezed Ike's shoulder. "Ike… It's going to take some time to come to terms with, but... Soren is gone, Ike. Someone killed him." At this, Almedha shrieked, and went crashing to the floor as if she had been speared. The commander shook his head.

"Titania... you don't understand. He was fine! Everything was perfect! There's no way... there's just no way!"

"Do you want to lay down, Ike?"

"No!" He stepped away from her, covering his eyes and trying to think clearly.

"Well, I think you should. You've been through enough in the last few hours, and with the cremation tomorrow--"

"Cremation?!" The bluenette shouted, causing the man at the table to jump. Titania swallowed. Ike looked away, tears springing to his eyes. He was unable to fathom his lover going up in flames. His mind boggled at the suggestion. Burn... Soren? You want to burn him? Ike nearly pushed Titania to the ground as he stalked past her and narrowly avoided tripping over the weeping body of his late lover's mother. He felt those blasted tears coming back as every crack in the wall reminded him of his spell caster.

He soon found himself running. Catching the startled glances of the servants and subjects in mourning, he carried himself to the room where he knew they were keeping Soren's body. He ran until he reached the door, coming to an immediate halt in front of it. He didn't want to touch it, didn't want to accept what lay on the other side. He gently rested his forehead against the wood and closed his eyes.

Soren is in there. Not moving, not breathing.

Not smiling, not looking at me. Not saying my name.

His grit his teeth together and his hands balled into fists. He opened his eyes, and with one deep breath, he opened the door and entered the room.

xxxxx

His eyes fell immediately on Soren's body, which lay on an enormous four poster bed amidst a sea of roses and lilies. Ike looked down and covered his mouth, but after a moment, looked back again. Soren's ebony hair was brushed but not tied back -- Like he always wore it! -- and it lay in a splay that contrasted the color of the flowers surrounding him.

Tears welled up and spilled over Ike's cheeks as he felt the ability to breathe leaving him. Before he realized it, he was on his knees next to the bed, Soren's cold, pale hand laying limp in his larger one.

It's cold. His skin was never this cold. More tears came as he brought the fragile hand to his lips. But even as his lips caressed the cool paleness, something else was tugging at his heart. Something powerful.

Anger.

It was because of some stranger that red eyes that should have looked at Ike everyday were now permanently closed. A voice that should have been in Ike's ears everyday would never be heard again. A love that Ike would never again in his life experience was gone forever, and he was alone. Not one other person in this world could be there for him now. Not Mist, not Titania, not Sothe... There wasn't anyone. Soren was his everything, and without him, there was nothing.

Except this burning urge.

Ike gave Soren's hand a final, shaky kiss before standing. He leaned over and stroked the sage's Brand. "Y-you're still... mine... my beautiful..." Two tears splashed onto Soren's dead cheeks, and Ike pulled away before his sanity threatened to leave him again. He turned his back on the late king and went to the door.

He was going to kill whoever did this. And it would more than likely be the last thing he ever did.

xxxxx

Ike did not sleep the night before the funeral. He laid awake all night long, holding Soren's pillow to his chest. The bed was far too big and too cold for one man alone. He longed for his partner; the one he was promised a lifetime to spend with. The one that he was robbed of a lifetime with.

"Soren," he whispered into the still night, not even aware that he had been crying until he heard his own hoarse voice.

The air was still and cold, like the corpse of his lover, and likewise gave no reply.

xxxxx

The cremation took place outdoors, in full public view, as was customary for Daein. Ike felt nauseous, and had almost refused to attend. Titania had convinced him otherwise, and he now stood at the front of the crowd, as he was the new King and husband of the man they were about to put to rest. Titania had to physically restrain him when the torch was lit. Every cell of the bluenette's body commanded him to rush down and save his lover from the flames, but there wasn't a thing he could do. The time for saving the spell caster had passed, and the commander had failed him.

Ike had to look away when the torch was lowered to Soren's robes. He stared with watery eyes at the ground, his stomach hurting and his breathing painful. Titania let slip a few tears as well, though more for Ike than for Soren. She put her arms around his neck and shushed softly into his ear, as a mother would. He clung to her.

"He didn't deserve this..." He managed, and Titania stroked his head. "He wasn't supposed to be lonely anymore..."

The red head squeezed him tighter. It truly was not fair.

xxxxx

Two empty weeks passed. Ike had assumed the throne in his beloved's place and began immediate assembly of an elite team to track down Soren's killer. He ignored everyone and anything that didn't involve his plans.

He wouldn't allow himself to remember. He knew life was pointless now, and didn't plan on living it once he avenged his lover.

The door to the large council room opened, and entered a quiet cleric. "Ike," Mist called to her brother, who turned his back on her to focus on his plans. She tugged on his sleeve. "Brother, answer me!" she pleaded. The bluenette whirled around to face his younger sibling, and she gasped at how cold and dead his eyes were.

"What, Mist?" he demanded, his gaze not holding an ounce of love for his remaining family member.

The girl flinched away. "I came to visit... we never talk anymore..."

"Mist, unless you need something, you need to stop wasting my time," the king stated coolly, again turning his back on his sibling.

So Titania was right; he has changed...

"Um... what are you doing?"

"Tracking down the murderer, and doing my best to ignore a little pest who can't take a hint."

Mists eyes clouded with tears. "Brother... you never used to be so cruel... what happened? Where is your heart now? Frozen?"

The bluenette shook his head. "No. Quite the opposite, really... It burned the day of the cremation." Mist narrowed her gaze at her brother. She shook her head slightly.

"Soren wouldn't want you to be this way." she stated flatly. She yelped when the bluenette's fist came crashing onto the table with enough force to break it.

"GET OUT!" he yelled harshly, his voice booming around the room and startling those who were helping him. Mist recoiled and she felt the urge to cry. She left the room in a hurry, and the door clanged shut behind her. Once his sister was out of the room, the King directed his glare to those he had assembled. "Well?!" he demanded, causing everyone at the table to flinch back.

"Your Majesty!" A soldier called from the door. "We have a new recruit! He claims to know the murderer's whereabouts," He informed, shying away from the heat of the King's anger.

"Send him in!" the commander bellowed. To his surprise, Sothe entered the room with his newfound lover, Kieran, following close behind. "Sothe?"

"Ike." The emeralde greeted. He nodded his head, and Ike demanded any information he had. "I know it was Micaiah, Ike. She has many connections in Daein. I asked around, and they admitted to helping her sneak inside the castle grounds."

"Ike ruined you, Sothe."

"I also know that when I last saw her, she had a steep grudge against you."

Ike's eyes widened and his mouth opened, but no shouts came through. He noted Kieran standing so protectively behind Sothe. It pained him. "Micaiah...?" his voice was low but soon the room erupted with his loud, angry shouts. "Find every person that this man spoke with! I want them executed!" He turned to glare at Sothe. "Where is she?!" He asked loudly as everyone around him moved hesitantly to carry out his orders.

Sothe stepped back and his back hit Kieran's chest. "I don't know where she is." Ike angrily lurched forward, but Kieran's arms wrapped around Sothe's chest. Ike stopped and glared at him.

"...You will help me find her." Ike said through gritted teeth.

"What do you want me to do?" the emeralde questioned, nudging Kieran's arms away.

Ike turned back to his worktable and took slow, calming breaths. "…Micaiah pines for you in a fashion that disgusts me, but I'm sure that we can use it to our advantage," the King finally said. "You'll leave the castle. Make up some story about how things ended badly with you and Kieran. Start rumors through your network of friends that you're looking for her. I'm sure she'll come running."

"How… tactful." Sothe commented, not liking the plan at all, but willing to help Ike in any way possible. In a lot of ways, his relationship with Micaiah had gotten the commander and late sage involved in this mess. Now he felt a duty to make it right.

"I know. I have a brilliant tactician, and his plans never fail me," the King replied, clutching a small vial that hung around his neck. His eyes widened. He realized that he had indirectly referred to Soren and didn't feel upset, angry, or the urge to cry. Are you fading away already, Soren?

Sothe turned away after a moment of silence. He and Kieran moved to leave the room, but Ike stopped them. "Sothe needs to stay here." He said flatly, his expression and voice devoid of emotion. "We have to discuss this at length. He'll be leaving before tomorrow morning."

Sothe looked up at Kieran, who was glaring at the King. The thief gently nudged him out of the room. "It'll be fine," he whispered, nodding reassuringly at the red head. They were at the doorway. Kieran pecked his lips and the two shared a short moment before they parted.

"Be safe." Kieran said before backing away and leaving Sothe to the raging King. The bluenette's fists clenched at the display of affection. It painfully reminded him of all the sweet moments that he would never share with his husband.

"Sothe," he growled, growing impatient.

The emeralde turned and faced Ike's icy glare. "I'm going to give you a story, and you will relay it to whoever knows where this bitch is hiding. You will know this story by heart."

The thief swallowed thickly.

xxxxx

"Tibarn!"

The Hawk King's meditation was broken by the cry of his White Prince, who came rushing down the halls as fast as his wings would beat indoors. "Tibarn!"

"Reyson, calm down. Where's the fire?" the larger laguz chuckled, catching the Heron in his embrace.

"I've received word from Leanne!" the Prince informed urgently.

"Is everything okay? Surely no harm would befall her within Crimea!" the larger man growled.

"No, nothing like that! She's doing well, actually, but while she was with the Queen, she overheard disturbing news about Daein."

"Hmm..." Tibarn nodded once. "Ike's most trusted assistant assumed the throne, did he not? A silent little beorc, perhaps troubled, but he seemed a sound ruler. And I know that he and Ike shared a bond like no other…"

"The Daein King is dead." Reyson interrupted. "He was assassinated about three weeks ago, and Leanne claims that Ike has taken the throne," Reyson informed gravely.

"Ike, King of Daein?" Tibarn seemed shocked. "This is a true shame... but how is it that Ike came to the throne?"

The White Prince pulled back and broke his gaze from the Hawk's face. "How indeed. I asked Leanne and found that Ike and his assistant were much closer than anyone ever imagined."

"How close?"

The Heron blushed. "Much like you and I, Tibarn... The two were lovers. From what I've heard, they even married, and in the young king's untimely death, he left the throne to Ike... his husband."

"I... never would have guessed. This is indeed tragic, but your expression informs me that there is more news to come?" The Hawk King asked, releasing his lover and allowing him to pace.

"Yes. You know me quite well. Lady Almedha, the Dragon Princess, has been returned to Daein. Through Queen Elincia, as well as recent news flowing through Goldoa, it would seem that Soren is not only the Mad King's lost heir, but Dheginsea's only grandchild."

"... And he is dead?"

The white winged laguz hung his head. "His body was burned two weeks ago."

"And the Dragon King?"

"As unaware as ever of beorc affairs..."

"Hmm. Well, since the king is so well known for his temper, I believe that I should deliver the news, seeing as I am the only one who could out fly his wrath."

Reyson snatched his lover's hand. "And I will go with you!"

Tibarn grabbed the prince's wrist, gently. "You will do no such thing. I can't risk anything happening to you, Reyson. You will stay here and continue to monitor the situation in Daein. Now is not the time to be stubborn," he informed, and kissed the Prince. "I shall return within a few days time."

"Just... be careful, Tibarn."

Tibarn moved past Reyson to leave, but a weak hand grabbed his arm. He turned, only to come face to face with his blonde heron. Reyson didn't speak, but every time that Tibarn left him, he prepared himself for anything that may befall his King. He knew the possibilities that the creatures of this world put forth, and the situation in Daein was nothing but an example.

He placed his lips to the scar adorning Tibarn's cheek in a delicate display of intimacy.

"Come back to me," He whispered. Tibarn pulled the fragile blonde into his arms and lifted him bodily into the air. Their lips met gently.

"I will, I promise." He placed Reyson back on his feet, where he wobbled slightly from the daze that the hawk always put him in. When Tibarn morphed and took flight, Reyson lowered his head and said a quiet prayer in the ancient Serenes' language. It was for Tibarn, but more so for Ike. He knew the young King well enough, and hoped that his loss was not hurting him too badly.

How wrong he was.

xxxxx

"I don't care what the odds are, I want us moving out!" Ike bellowed to the commander of his small team, and the powerhouse of a woman flinched slightly. "Sothe has been gone for six days. That is more than enough fucking time for him to have made it to Begnion. Let's move!"

"Y-your Majesty!" A tiny voice met Ike's ears. He whirled around angrily.

"What?!" Ike couldn't understand why no one was more eager to track down Soren's killer. It was his drive, the very reason his lungs were still working. And when Micaiah fell, he would rid the world of his hideous existence.

The young maid who had entered the room shied back, but delivered her message. "Y-you have a visitor, sir! He claims to be Tibarn, the Hawk King of Pheonicis."

"Tibarn?" For the first time in weeks, Ike was not yelling.

The bluenette found the noble Laguz in a separate meeting room. He looked battered and annoyed, but happy to see his friend from the Mad King's War. "We meet again, Ike."

"What happened to you?" the Daein king asked briskly.

"I went to visit with Dheginsea, and inform him of recent events--"

"I was hoping Almedha would attend to that, but the woman can't keep herself together these days. Surely I expect his support as I invade Begnion?"

"That's just it. He refuses to enter the war, even though it was his own family who was killed. He's adamant that you cease your activities before you anger the apostle. Begnion and Crimea alike have feared what you are doing now. Daein is starting another war, and this time the whole continent may be involved," the Hawk king explained.

Ike's eyes narrowed and he clutched the crimson vial around his neck. He glared up at his old friend, and growled, "If I have to burn all of Tellius to find that silver-haired girl, I won't hesitate to do so. Nothing matters more than watching the light leave her eyes as she slumps against my blade... She took the most precious thing in the world from me, and I cannot go on, letting her live, without doing something to end it." The golden wedding band that also adorned the bluenette's necklace lightly tapped against the crimson vial that held his deceased spouse's ashes.

The Beorc king looked the Hawk in the eyes when he did not seem convinced. "Would you stop searching for Naesala if he killed Reyson?"

Tibarn visibly stiffened and his once wise gaze turned into a deadly glare.

"I would make sure Naesala rested at the bottom of the ocean, as I would anyone who dare harm Reyson. But would I really throw this country into war again?" Tibarn knew that yes, he more than likely would set fire to all of Tellius to avenge his innocent heron love if something were to happen. But it didn't help his case, and it didn't help Ike. "Ashnard put this nation through hell once, are you really that ignorant of a man to do it again without reasonable cause?!"

"AVENGING SOREN IS MORE THAN A REASONABLE CAUSE!" Ike practically screamed. Why did no one understand? "I was the only person he had! All he wanted was a calm life, with me, and he couldn't have it! He deserved it! And once I kill that wench for taking him from me, I'm going to kill myself for not being there to protect him!" Tibarn's logic was not going to get through to him.

The Hawk was not so naive as to think that he could reason with a suicidal king, so he changed strategy. "Then perhaps we should team up. With our combined strength, perhaps we can find this girl quicker, and end this war before it begins."

Finally. Someone who will help..

Visibly calmer, Ike took a seat as a humorless smile graced his face. "That would be appreciated. Neither of us wants a war."

The hawk Laguz felt a strange, sick feeling that 'us' somehow did not include him. Ike and Tibarn discussed the matter at length, and it was agreed that Tibarn would send his right hand men, Ulki and Janaff, to at least locate Micaiah and Sothe. And once Ike knew her location, he would move in and finish the job, and end everything. Including his life.

After a long discussion, Tibarn made up an excuse that he wanted to return to Reyson for a short time. Ike nodded and allowed him his leave. But what he really wanted was to inform someone of Ike's suicidal plans. Perhaps he could still save the poor man.

End Chapter Eleven

Description
Forever With You

Chapter Eleven

Ike spent the next day in a haze. A curtain to shroud him from the harsh reality that had come to pass. A curtain that fell the moment Soren's body had been removed from his arms. Since then, the bluenette had been little more than a ghost, and his life felt like a series of nightmares during a restless night's sleep, fragmented bits that made little to no sense, most of which cannot be recalled.

Somewhere, he came to, only to notice that Titania was at his side, her hand on his shoulder. She had been speaking to him. "Titania?" he moaned groggily. He was sitting at a long, wooden table, an older man in front of him and Almedha and Titania standing beside them.

"It's okay, Ike. They're reading Soren's will," she informed regretfully.

Her words seemed so foreign to Ike, she might as well have been speaking another language. "What?"

He became aware of Almedha rambling in the background. "Did he leave a successor?! Did my son acknowledge another to take his place?!"

"Yes," The gentleman answered, placing his bony finger on a long slip of parchment. "A man named Ike is to take the throne, so it says..."

Ike felt a wave of utter confusion sweep through him.

"What? Me, King?" He stood up slowly, shaking his head. "But... Soren is King..." he muttered, staring at the table's wooden surface. The man reading the will looked to Titania, then Almedha, who covered her face and burst into tears.

Titania squeezed Ike's shoulder. "Ike… It's going to take some time to come to terms with, but... Soren is gone, Ike. Someone killed him." At this, Almedha shrieked, and went crashing to the floor as if she had been speared. The commander shook his head.

"Titania... you don't understand. He was fine! Everything was perfect! There's no way... there's just no way!"

"Do you want to lay down, Ike?"

"No!" He stepped away from her, covering his eyes and trying to think clearly.

"Well, I think you should. You've been through enough in the last few hours, and with the cremation tomorrow--"

"Cremation?!" The bluenette shouted, causing the man at the table to jump. Titania swallowed. Ike looked away, tears springing to his eyes. He was unable to fathom his lover going up in flames. His mind boggled at the suggestion. Burn... Soren? You want to burn him? Ike nearly pushed Titania to the ground as he stalked past her and narrowly avoided tripping over the weeping body of his late lover's mother. He felt those blasted tears coming back as every crack in the wall reminded him of his spell caster.

He soon found himself running. Catching the startled glances of the servants and subjects in mourning, he carried himself to the room where he knew they were keeping Soren's body. He ran until he reached the door, coming to an immediate halt in front of it. He didn't want to touch it, didn't want to accept what lay on the other side. He gently rested his forehead against the wood and closed his eyes.

Soren is in there. Not moving, not breathing.

Not smiling, not looking at me. Not saying my name.

His grit his teeth together and his hands balled into fists. He opened his eyes, and with one deep breath, he opened the door and entered the room.

xxxxx

His eyes fell immediately on Soren's body, which lay on an enormous four poster bed amidst a sea of roses and lilies. Ike looked down and covered his mouth, but after a moment, looked back again. Soren's ebony hair was brushed but not tied back -- Like he always wore it! -- and it lay in a splay that contrasted the color of the flowers surrounding him.

Tears welled up and spilled over Ike's cheeks as he felt the ability to breathe leaving him. Before he realized it, he was on his knees next to the bed, Soren's cold, pale hand laying limp in his larger one.

It's cold. His skin was never this cold. More tears came as he brought the fragile hand to his lips. But even as his lips caressed the cool paleness, something else was tugging at his heart. Something powerful.

Anger.

It was because of some stranger that red eyes that should have looked at Ike everyday were now permanently closed. A voice that should have been in Ike's ears everyday would never be heard again. A love that Ike would never again in his life experience was gone forever, and he was alone. Not one other person in this world could be there for him now. Not Mist, not Titania, not Sothe... There wasn't anyone. Soren was his everything, and without him, there was nothing.

Except this burning urge.

Ike gave Soren's hand a final, shaky kiss before standing. He leaned over and stroked the sage's Brand. "Y-you're still... mine... my beautiful..." Two tears splashed onto Soren's dead cheeks, and Ike pulled away before his sanity threatened to leave him again. He turned his back on the late king and went to the door.

He was going to kill whoever did this. And it would more than likely be the last thing he ever did.

xxxxx

Ike did not sleep the night before the funeral. He laid awake all night long, holding Soren's pillow to his chest. The bed was far too big and too cold for one man alone. He longed for his partner; the one he was promised a lifetime to spend with. The one that he was robbed of a lifetime with.

"Soren," he whispered into the still night, not even aware that he had been crying until he heard his own hoarse voice.

The air was still and cold, like the corpse of his lover, and likewise gave no reply.

xxxxx

The cremation took place outdoors, in full public view, as was customary for Daein. Ike felt nauseous, and had almost refused to attend. Titania had convinced him otherwise, and he now stood at the front of the crowd, as he was the new King and husband of the man they were about to put to rest. Titania had to physically restrain him when the torch was lit. Every cell of the bluenette's body commanded him to rush down and save his lover from the flames, but there wasn't a thing he could do. The time for saving the spell caster had passed, and the commander had failed him.

Ike had to look away when the torch was lowered to Soren's robes. He stared with watery eyes at the ground, his stomach hurting and his breathing painful. Titania let slip a few tears as well, though more for Ike than for Soren. She put her arms around his neck and shushed softly into his ear, as a mother would. He clung to her.

"He didn't deserve this..." He managed, and Titania stroked his head. "He wasn't supposed to be lonely anymore..."

The red head squeezed him tighter. It truly was not fair.

xxxxx

Two empty weeks passed. Ike had assumed the throne in his beloved's place and began immediate assembly of an elite team to track down Soren's killer. He ignored everyone and anything that didn't involve his plans.

He wouldn't allow himself to remember. He knew life was pointless now, and didn't plan on living it once he avenged his lover.

The door to the large council room opened, and entered a quiet cleric. "Ike," Mist called to her brother, who turned his back on her to focus on his plans. She tugged on his sleeve. "Brother, answer me!" she pleaded. The bluenette whirled around to face his younger sibling, and she gasped at how cold and dead his eyes were.

"What, Mist?" he demanded, his gaze not holding an ounce of love for his remaining family member.

The girl flinched away. "I came to visit... we never talk anymore..."

"Mist, unless you need something, you need to stop wasting my time," the king stated coolly, again turning his back on his sibling.

So Titania was right; he has changed...

"Um... what are you doing?"

"Tracking down the murderer, and doing my best to ignore a little pest who can't take a hint."

Mists eyes clouded with tears. "Brother... you never used to be so cruel... what happened? Where is your heart now? Frozen?"

The bluenette shook his head. "No. Quite the opposite, really... It burned the day of the cremation." Mist narrowed her gaze at her brother. She shook her head slightly.

"Soren wouldn't want you to be this way." she stated flatly. She yelped when the bluenette's fist came crashing onto the table with enough force to break it.

"GET OUT!" he yelled harshly, his voice booming around the room and startling those who were helping him. Mist recoiled and she felt the urge to cry. She left the room in a hurry, and the door clanged shut behind her. Once his sister was out of the room, the King directed his glare to those he had assembled. "Well?!" he demanded, causing everyone at the table to flinch back.

"Your Majesty!" A soldier called from the door. "We have a new recruit! He claims to know the murderer's whereabouts," He informed, shying away from the heat of the King's anger.

"Send him in!" the commander bellowed. To his surprise, Sothe entered the room with his newfound lover, Kieran, following close behind. "Sothe?"

"Ike." The emeralde greeted. He nodded his head, and Ike demanded any information he had. "I know it was Micaiah, Ike. She has many connections in Daein. I asked around, and they admitted to helping her sneak inside the castle grounds."

"Ike ruined you, Sothe."

"I also know that when I last saw her, she had a steep grudge against you."

Ike's eyes widened and his mouth opened, but no shouts came through. He noted Kieran standing so protectively behind Sothe. It pained him. "Micaiah...?" his voice was low but soon the room erupted with his loud, angry shouts. "Find every person that this man spoke with! I want them executed!" He turned to glare at Sothe. "Where is she?!" He asked loudly as everyone around him moved hesitantly to carry out his orders.

Sothe stepped back and his back hit Kieran's chest. "I don't know where she is." Ike angrily lurched forward, but Kieran's arms wrapped around Sothe's chest. Ike stopped and glared at him.

"...You will help me find her." Ike said through gritted teeth.

"What do you want me to do?" the emeralde questioned, nudging Kieran's arms away.

Ike turned back to his worktable and took slow, calming breaths. "…Micaiah pines for you in a fashion that disgusts me, but I'm sure that we can use it to our advantage," the King finally said. "You'll leave the castle. Make up some story about how things ended badly with you and Kieran. Start rumors through your network of friends that you're looking for her. I'm sure she'll come running."

"How… tactful." Sothe commented, not liking the plan at all, but willing to help Ike in any way possible. In a lot of ways, his relationship with Micaiah had gotten the commander and late sage involved in this mess. Now he felt a duty to make it right.

"I know. I have a brilliant tactician, and his plans never fail me," the King replied, clutching a small vial that hung around his neck. His eyes widened. He realized that he had indirectly referred to Soren and didn't feel upset, angry, or the urge to cry. Are you fading away already, Soren?

Sothe turned away after a moment of silence. He and Kieran moved to leave the room, but Ike stopped them. "Sothe needs to stay here." He said flatly, his expression and voice devoid of emotion. "We have to discuss this at length. He'll be leaving before tomorrow morning."

Sothe looked up at Kieran, who was glaring at the King. The thief gently nudged him out of the room. "It'll be fine," he whispered, nodding reassuringly at the red head. They were at the doorway. Kieran pecked his lips and the two shared a short moment before they parted.

"Be safe." Kieran said before backing away and leaving Sothe to the raging King. The bluenette's fists clenched at the display of affection. It painfully reminded him of all the sweet moments that he would never share with his husband.

"Sothe," he growled, growing impatient.

The emeralde turned and faced Ike's icy glare. "I'm going to give you a story, and you will relay it to whoever knows where this bitch is hiding. You will know this story by heart."

The thief swallowed thickly.

xxxxx

"Tibarn!"

The Hawk King's meditation was broken by the cry of his White Prince, who came rushing down the halls as fast as his wings would beat indoors. "Tibarn!"

"Reyson, calm down. Where's the fire?" the larger laguz chuckled, catching the Heron in his embrace.

"I've received word from Leanne!" the Prince informed urgently.

"Is everything okay? Surely no harm would befall her within Crimea!" the larger man growled.

"No, nothing like that! She's doing well, actually, but while she was with the Queen, she overheard disturbing news about Daein."

"Hmm..." Tibarn nodded once. "Ike's most trusted assistant assumed the throne, did he not? A silent little beorc, perhaps troubled, but he seemed a sound ruler. And I know that he and Ike shared a bond like no other…"

"The Daein King is dead." Reyson interrupted. "He was assassinated about three weeks ago, and Leanne claims that Ike has taken the throne," Reyson informed gravely.

"Ike, King of Daein?" Tibarn seemed shocked. "This is a true shame... but how is it that Ike came to the throne?"

The White Prince pulled back and broke his gaze from the Hawk's face. "How indeed. I asked Leanne and found that Ike and his assistant were much closer than anyone ever imagined."

"How close?"

The Heron blushed. "Much like you and I, Tibarn... The two were lovers. From what I've heard, they even married, and in the young king's untimely death, he left the throne to Ike... his husband."

"I... never would have guessed. This is indeed tragic, but your expression informs me that there is more news to come?" The Hawk King asked, releasing his lover and allowing him to pace.

"Yes. You know me quite well. Lady Almedha, the Dragon Princess, has been returned to Daein. Through Queen Elincia, as well as recent news flowing through Goldoa, it would seem that Soren is not only the Mad King's lost heir, but Dheginsea's only grandchild."

"... And he is dead?"

The white winged laguz hung his head. "His body was burned two weeks ago."

"And the Dragon King?"

"As unaware as ever of beorc affairs..."

"Hmm. Well, since the king is so well known for his temper, I believe that I should deliver the news, seeing as I am the only one who could out fly his wrath."

Reyson snatched his lover's hand. "And I will go with you!"

Tibarn grabbed the prince's wrist, gently. "You will do no such thing. I can't risk anything happening to you, Reyson. You will stay here and continue to monitor the situation in Daein. Now is not the time to be stubborn," he informed, and kissed the Prince. "I shall return within a few days time."

"Just... be careful, Tibarn."

Tibarn moved past Reyson to leave, but a weak hand grabbed his arm. He turned, only to come face to face with his blonde heron. Reyson didn't speak, but every time that Tibarn left him, he prepared himself for anything that may befall his King. He knew the possibilities that the creatures of this world put forth, and the situation in Daein was nothing but an example.

He placed his lips to the scar adorning Tibarn's cheek in a delicate display of intimacy.

"Come back to me," He whispered. Tibarn pulled the fragile blonde into his arms and lifted him bodily into the air. Their lips met gently.

"I will, I promise." He placed Reyson back on his feet, where he wobbled slightly from the daze that the hawk always put him in. When Tibarn morphed and took flight, Reyson lowered his head and said a quiet prayer in the ancient Serenes' language. It was for Tibarn, but more so for Ike. He knew the young King well enough, and hoped that his loss was not hurting him too badly.

How wrong he was.

xxxxx

"I don't care what the odds are, I want us moving out!" Ike bellowed to the commander of his small team, and the powerhouse of a woman flinched slightly. "Sothe has been gone for six days. That is more than enough fucking time for him to have made it to Begnion. Let's move!"

"Y-your Majesty!" A tiny voice met Ike's ears. He whirled around angrily.

"What?!" Ike couldn't understand why no one was more eager to track down Soren's killer. It was his drive, the very reason his lungs were still working. And when Micaiah fell, he would rid the world of his hideous existence.

The young maid who had entered the room shied back, but delivered her message. "Y-you have a visitor, sir! He claims to be Tibarn, the Hawk King of Pheonicis."

"Tibarn?" For the first time in weeks, Ike was not yelling.

The bluenette found the noble Laguz in a separate meeting room. He looked battered and annoyed, but happy to see his friend from the Mad King's War. "We meet again, Ike."

"What happened to you?" the Daein king asked briskly.

"I went to visit with Dheginsea, and inform him of recent events--"

"I was hoping Almedha would attend to that, but the woman can't keep herself together these days. Surely I expect his support as I invade Begnion?"

"That's just it. He refuses to enter the war, even though it was his own family who was killed. He's adamant that you cease your activities before you anger the apostle. Begnion and Crimea alike have feared what you are doing now. Daein is starting another war, and this time the whole continent may be involved," the Hawk king explained.

Ike's eyes narrowed and he clutched the crimson vial around his neck. He glared up at his old friend, and growled, "If I have to burn all of Tellius to find that silver-haired girl, I won't hesitate to do so. Nothing matters more than watching the light leave her eyes as she slumps against my blade... She took the most precious thing in the world from me, and I cannot go on, letting her live, without doing something to end it." The golden wedding band that also adorned the bluenette's necklace lightly tapped against the crimson vial that held his deceased spouse's ashes.

The Beorc king looked the Hawk in the eyes when he did not seem convinced. "Would you stop searching for Naesala if he killed Reyson?"

Tibarn visibly stiffened and his once wise gaze turned into a deadly glare.

"I would make sure Naesala rested at the bottom of the ocean, as I would anyone who dare harm Reyson. But would I really throw this country into war again?" Tibarn knew that yes, he more than likely would set fire to all of Tellius to avenge his innocent heron love if something were to happen. But it didn't help his case, and it didn't help Ike. "Ashnard put this nation through hell once, are you really that ignorant of a man to do it again without reasonable cause?!"

"AVENGING SOREN IS MORE THAN A REASONABLE CAUSE!" Ike practically screamed. Why did no one understand? "I was the only person he had! All he wanted was a calm life, with me, and he couldn't have it! He deserved it! And once I kill that wench for taking him from me, I'm going to kill myself for not being there to protect him!" Tibarn's logic was not going to get through to him.

The Hawk was not so naive as to think that he could reason with a suicidal king, so he changed strategy. "Then perhaps we should team up. With our combined strength, perhaps we can find this girl quicker, and end this war before it begins."

Finally. Someone who will help..

Visibly calmer, Ike took a seat as a humorless smile graced his face. "That would be appreciated. Neither of us wants a war."

The hawk Laguz felt a strange, sick feeling that 'us' somehow did not include him. Ike and Tibarn discussed the matter at length, and it was agreed that Tibarn would send his right hand men, Ulki and Janaff, to at least locate Micaiah and Sothe. And once Ike knew her location, he would move in and finish the job, and end everything. Including his life.

After a long discussion, Tibarn made up an excuse that he wanted to return to Reyson for a short time. Ike nodded and allowed him his leave. But what he really wanted was to inform someone of Ike's suicidal plans. Perhaps he could still save the poor man.

End Chapter Eleven