You're Home (Blake)

[Bailey Oleander]

Even from here, the ground shook where the castle had fallen.  Out on the balcony, Bailey's hands gripped the carved stone railing until her knuckles turned white, her heart in her throat.  It had gone by so quickly, mere hours after Blake had left.  But one thing they both were uncertain of was how long it would take for him to come home.  If he came home, but that thought barely existed in her head.  He'd ouvercome so much before; this wasn't going to be his final mission.  She could feel it.

but there were things to do other than stare at the sky.  Shutting the glass doors behind her as she ewnt inside, Bailey would make her way out of the room to leave the castle.

[Blake Oleander]

Blake was exhausted, the castle had fallen and his job was done. But he was far from happy. Trudging home, his clothing in tatters, blood covering most of his body from his wounds, and his skin incredibly pale from the blood loss. It was a wonder he was able to even make it back to the palace before passing out. By the time he got the main doors, he felt ready to collapse. Just as Bailey would be leaving...

[Bailey Oleander]

The second the doors open, it was hard to miss the familiar figure of her husband. Exhausted, worn, covered in blood and looking like he'd gone a week without sleep at least.

"Blake?" He was back already, but the happy reunion would have to wait. She stepped up to him, looking him over and finding no wounds, like she expected. She raised a hand to rest on his chest, looking up in concern before it slid to his back instead Intimate, but he also looked like he was ready to topple over.

"Whose blood is it?" she asked quietly, shifting to open the door further so they could pass. At least the rest of the city was outside celebrating.

[Blake Oleander]

He put an arm around her when her hand moved to his back, shifting some of his weight to her, but not much. She was still pregnant and he didn't want to burden her. Dante sat on his shoulder looking behind him at where the castle fell dejectedly.

"Mine."

[Bailey Oleander]

She inhaled a nearly silent breath as he spoke, feeling the weight shift even as he held back. She let the door close behind them as she began walking them both towards their bedroom and the bath attached to it. Her mind started running through checklists of what he'd need and what she'd need to look for.

"I'd hate to see the other guy," she murmured, gripping some of the remains of his shirt tighter in the poor attempt at humor.

"I'm glad you made it back safely." More than glad. Relieved. She had every faith he'd make it back to her, but this soon? She wasn't sure if that worried her more or not.

[Blake Oleander]

"A few scratches..."

Was all he'd say with a deep inhale. The best he could do amounted to a few scratches.

[Bailey Oleander]

She fell silent at that as they walked, knowing he wasn't being modest. A few scratches, and this had been the cost. Even if he had succeeded.

When a servant caught sight of them, she ordered food to be brought in and hot water run, caught between late pregnancy waddle, his fatigue, and the desire to move quickly so Blake could actually rest.

"Are you okay?" It was a habit she asked, even with him sometimes, but it was more than the potential for injury. Blake had been able to push through so much, fight back against what felt like impossible odds and still beat them. A few scratches meant he'd be pushing himself even harder.

[Blake Oleander]

"My wounds are healed."

Dante just shrugged at her. It was too soon to tell.

[Bailey Oleander]

That wasn't what she meant, but given the fact that Dante still stood at his shoulder and provided a silent answer to what she assumed was her intent, she nodded.

"I think I'd be more worried if they weren't," she admitted, shooing away the staff with a somewhat possessive look and leaving her to care for her husband.

"What happened?"

[Blake Oleander]

"With Virgil's help, I was able to find someone who might lead the people of the Iron Lands to prosperity when I left. We assulted the Castle and made our way to the King's chambers. His powers were different than anything I'd seen or felt before. Stronger than anyone I've ever seen."

He closed his eyes thinking about it, matching it to memories that were not his.

"Maybe even the Dragons in their prime."

It was hard to tell with how different his powers were.

"I bought time while I could for Virgil to find the crystal. He had me switch with him, he had some plan. I don't know what happened to him..."

Clenching his eyes he swallowed hard at the lump in his throat, trying to get it to go away. He'd lost friends in battle before, but this was different. It was part of him, and he had promised to protect them. Dante's shoulders slumped down with Blake's as they both sighed in unison.

"At the door to the crystal, the monster said it was time to unleash him. I did. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen. The hatred was gone. It saved me and healed my wounds before giving me the ability to get away. The King found us, Virgil, nowhere to be found. The Beast faced off against him, and I gave him my swords... I don't know what happened to any of them after that."

Virgil... The Beast... Quinn. All of their fates were unknowns to him.

[Bailey Oleander]

She'd started washing off the blood as he spoke, but her hand went still as Blake mentioned the man he fought being even stronger than Dragons as they had been. A pinnacle people reached for, what they had known in the territories. He'd fought against that, and lost so much.

He could switch with Virgil? Given his expression, she didn't press, letting Blake speak more to her than he had in some time. Virgil was a part of his soul, part of who he was and his capacity as leader. He relied on the sprite, the two of them uncertain of what happened to that piece as Dante mirrored his sigh.

It also explained silent shrug to her question. How do you measure that, after losing more than just one part of yourself? After losing it when the hatred was gone after over a year of carrying it inside of you?

"I'm sorry, love." No wonder he looked exhausted. She wasn't even sure how to respond to that. He had come back to her, to Aurora, at a cost.

[Blake Oleander]

"It didn't turn on me. And we were right, without it, I am just human."

He wasn't sure if he was more relieved or worried about that. One thing was for sure, it meant no more regenerating. He was mortal once more.

[Bailey Oleander]

"True. You had a chance to work with each other, without hatred binding you." She nodded. "I'm glad you had that chance."

"I'm glad that's what happened when it was released, then." Considering some of the other options they'd thought of. The fact he'd be human alone worried her, especially for the regeneration. Blake always went at one hundred and ten percent, no matter what it was. That security net was gone. But he'd also gone without it for years, and it wasn't like she'd be home-bound forever. It didn't stop the twist of worry in her gut, though she didn't say it out loud.

She remained silent after that, letting the words sink in for them both.

[Blake Oleander]

He just nodded in silent agreement.

[Bailey Oleander]

The silence continued for a while unless Blake felt like breaking it! Her fingers began working at the knots in his neck, trying to keep the fussing contained. There was a lot of unknown for all of them.

"What can I do for you?" She wasn't sure if there was anything. The cheers had been filling the air when he came to the castle and Bailey was certain there'd be celebrating all night long. Right now, her world was much smaller and full of wondering about the future, what she could do for him as queen, as well as for Aurora.