There was a deep breath followed but the creek of the floorboards when Lyn stepped past the fallen door.

  The inside was just as simple as the out, a small entrance that led to what remained of a small kitchen that connected to the main living area that had a single door on the right-hand side.

  On the living room walls painted photos were hung. Lyn found her obsidian eyes locking onto the one that was hanging over the fireplace it was a blond-haired man with a smile, standing next to a setting brunette woman in front of the building as she held something wrapped in a blanket.

  But before she could look any closer as she entered the living room, her body cringed as her feet ran cold.

  The sight of the same blond man snat against the wall. His eyes were void of life. In his right was a sword and in his left was a knife. Sitting on the floor next to the door, it was like he was ready to spring back to life at a moment's notice. Dozens of wounds were painted on his body and a sword piercing his chest.

  “I… I was too late.”

  Scanning the scene hoping, looking for some sign of life, something else became clear. This man didn’t go quietly.

  There was a severed head of a Nergalian soldier whose body was mere inches away from another body, that had a knife in his chest as he was hanging out of the window. Other soldiers had similar wounds and bloody streaks stained the house.

  Her hand reached and gripped the doorknob, the slight crack as it turned causing the crying to pick up in volume once again and the man’s body fell to its side. Even in death he was trying to stop anyone from entering.

  Lyn tenderly removed the blade from his chest and helped lay him down in his back. Her hand moved down his face, shutting his eyelids, so he could finally rest… he was slightly warm to her touch.

  “I’m sorry. Please… rest.”

  Her hand retook its hold on the doorknob, but her breathing became heavy as her chest grew tight. With a deep breath as she tried to calm herself, reading herself to face what was on the other side the door opened.

  The pounding of her heart echoed in her chest, grew faster, faster than her fight with Grizen and his wyrm. But once the door was opened, the sight in front of her, the cry that called her here caused her heart to sink.

  There in front of her was a wounded young woman with free-flowing brown hair laid in bed wounded. This woman appeared to be in her twenties, likely the same age as herself.

  The woman just ignored Lyn as her full attention was on the source of the crying that brought her here. Her hand gently rubbed the crying baby, trying to end its crying as her soft, silk-like voice spoke.

  “Shush, calm down, you're alright, your father drove the bad people away.”

  But her voice wasn’t just soft, it was weak. A weakness that made Lyn stop in the doorway, a weakness she had learned to recognize.

  Petrified at the sight, her body couldn't move, it was like her feet were made of lead. Her voice couldn’t utter a word at the sight, as if a weight fell in her stomach.

  The only sound that could escape her were quiet gasps.

  However, her presence didn’t go unnoticed and soon that same voice joined in acknowledging her. It was the opposite of scared crying that filled the room. It was calm, welcoming. “It’s ok you can come in.”

  Having been welcomed, Lyn shook her head and dragged her feet to the bed trying to look for a place to sit, only for the brunette to flash her a smile, tapping at the stop next to her and the crying baby. As she stepped close, she took notice of the dark red damp spot on the young mother’s side, it slowly dripped through her clothing staining the bed sheet as it fell to the floor.

  At the sight Lyndis simply began another quiet chant, her hands started to glow a faint green, and reached out to the woman before her. Pressing her hands against the woman’s side, but the wound didn’t seem to close and her completion didn’t improve.

  ‘I… used too much in the fight, I barely have any magic power left.’ Her head shook violently as she glared at her glowing hard, forcing it to become brighter. Only to watch the light flicker. ‘No! Come on, you’re Lyndis! You have to do this! I’m not going to let another life be lost if I have a say!’

  “It's ok, you don’t need to waste your efforts on me Lady Lyndis.” Her voice only seemed to grow weaker as she spoke.

  “Please you don’t have to be so formal. You can just call me Lyn. I don’t mean to brag but when I was a girl I was quite the prodigy when it came to magic.” Her voice had a calm, the complete opposite of her mind, as she tried to alleviate the situation. “So just leave this to me.”

  “I thank you Lyn, but I’m afraid my time is limited, even he knows it. That’s why he hasn’t stop crying.”

  As she spoke her gaze moved towards the baby that lay beside her. Lyn followed her gaze and finally got a good look at the one who called out to her. He had tufts of brown hair and his eyes were shut and his white skin had turned a reddish-pink color due to the constant crying. He wore simple gray clothing and was covered in a small blanket.

  At the sight of the crying child, something internal took over. Lyn, without knowing why reached her hand out to the crying child. Placing her hand on top of the boy’s small hand, this simple act caused the ear-piercing cries to slowly grow quiet as the tiny hand gripped her finger.

  “Go on. You can pick him up.”

  Lyn could only pull her gaze back to the brunette before her, only to turn her gaze back to the child she was connected to. “I… I can’t do that.

  “Sure you can, just be careful and make sure to support his head.” Her kind voice only continued to encourage the red-headed royal as Lyn felt powerless before her as the woman helped guide the baby into her arms.

  Gently moving her hand behind his head and picking him up as if he were a frail butterfly wing, she began to cradle him. Because of this simple action and to Lyn’s surprise, he stopped crying and began to calm down. She felt him snuggle into her chest as he fell asleep in her embrace.

  “Hehe.” The lively chuckle caused Lyn to turn her head to face the dying woman, her pale face reflecting the sunlight that entered through the window. “Looks like he likes you. I'm happy he was finally able to calm down, he’s always been a little bit of a crier.” This sight caused the brunette to smile.

  Black eyes swapped from mother to child. She felt each breath from the small life she held. She tried to fight this feeling that continued to rise, but this wasn’t a battle she could win. “I’m sorry. I… I should have been stronger, I should have—”

  She was silenced by the weak hand of the woman in front of her, caressing her cheek, removing her tears. There was a faint warmth that still lingered in her touch, as it fought to stay alive.“No you're here now, that’s what matters now.”

  The two didn’t move, only their eyes traveled to the soft breathing of the sleeping baby, who lay still in Lyn’s arms.

  “Lyn, would it be alright if I made a selfish request?” Breaking the silence. Her voice only grew weaker with each word. Hearing the words she spoke, Lyn’s obsidian black eyes made contact with the dying mother’s soft morning blues.

  “Please tell me your request and I promise I’ll honor it”

  “Lady Lyndis, please, I beg you to take care of my little Red, his all that we have left in this world. So please can I ask you to treat him as your own, raise him with love. Can you please, I don’t want him to be alone.” Her voice could only break as she forced out each word, trying to secure a future for her little one.

  Lyn only felt her spirit break as her eyes moved from the child to the mother. Each word of her request pulled at her heart as if something was trying to tear it out.

  “I’m sorry if I’m—”

  “Of course, I’ll honor it, but first I can ask you the name of this child’s parents and the cause of his name, Red isn’t a very common name.” Her words were calm as Lyn handed the boy back to his mother, so she could hold him one last time. She couldn't help but flash a warm smile at Lyn.

  “Its Wendy and his father is Hilbert. As for his name you’ll see when he wakes up, he’ll leave you mesmerized.”

  While Wendy spoke, Lyn’s right hand reached to her side and pulled her knife from its sheath. Wendy felt the heat it gave off. It was a calming warmth, like fire on a winter’s night. However much to Wendy’s confusion, she watched Lyn place the blade in the palm of her opposite hand, gripping the blade.

  And ran the blade against her flesh, cutting herself. She didn’t flinch when the blade sliced her hand, instead she simply let her blood cover the blade. Wendy could only watch a flame spread up her left arm. This action only filled her with worry.

  “Lyn what are you doi—”

  “On this blade I make a vow of fire and blood. I promise to raise Red and treat him as if he came from my body. I will teach him to be kind, scold him when he does wrong, support him on whatever path he takes and help guide him so that he can live a life that you can be proud of. On my honor as Lyndis Riser next Queen of Ielos, Wendy I give you my word.”

  With the vow made the flame slowly dissipated as Lyn put the knife back in its sheath. Watching Wendy laugh slightly at the scene, she looked him over. “I think he’ll be in good hands.”

  Simply lowering her head, meeting his head to plant a kiss on his forehead. Pulling away, an obsidian gaze watched as Wendy fought with every single fiber of her being to let go of the small baby, while her mind forced her to give him away, telling her it would be the best for him.

  But the one who had the final say, the one who gave her the final push, was her heart. With each beat it slowly broke and in a rare moment her heart and mind agreed as they forced her body to hand him off.

  With waiting arms, Lyn took her most prized possession into her arms, watching as Wendy leaned back into the bed, her eyes grew heavier.

  “August 6th.”

  “What?”

  “His birthday, it’s August 6th. And you see that photo on the nightstand. When he turns fifteen please give it to him.” She stretched her hand out and rubbed his check, her calm happy voice started to break “I’m sorry I have to leave you. Red before I go, remember to do your best, don’t give up even when things get hard. There were so many things I wanted to do and see with you, but from now on I will always be able to watch over you. So do your best ok.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Her weak hand fell from the boy's cheek only to be caught by Lyn, who softly brought it back to the boy’s cheek as she simply held it there.

  They were stuck there for what felt like an eternity.

  Sadly this golden moment couldn’t last, her eyes started to fall for the last time, but she was happy that the last picture she got to see was of her Red, her boy had fallen asleep, and that of the woman who would care for him in her stead. She could only helplessly watch Wendy’s eyes slowly shut and her mouth tried to speak a final thank you before drifting off to an eternal sleep.

  Lyn didn’t want to move from this spot; her thumb could only rub the back of the hand she held. No matter how many times, no matter how many hands she held like this. The feeling of a faded warmth being replaced by a deathly cold was something she could never handle.

  Delicately she placed Wendy’s hand at her side and Lyn’s view turned from Wendy to a black and white photo. It showed the small family with Wendy sitting on a chair in front of the home with Hilbert to her left and in her arms was the same child she currently held. With a free hand she took and placed it in her pocket. Making her way out of the boy’s home she stopped by the body of Hilbert.

  “Hello Hilbert, I’m sorry for disturbing you earlier, please forgive my rudeness. But you should know your son is safe, I’m sorry for arriving so late. If I'd been better I would have been able to save Wendy, so please forgive my weakness.” Bowing her head to the departed, her hold on the boy became absolute.

  “If you need to curse me, smite me, damn me, I understand and one day when we cross paths again I accept whatever judgment you both see fit. But in the meantime, Wendy asked me to look after Red for you both and that’s a promise I wouldn’t break, so please rest easy.”

  Lyn tried to smile at the deceased man before her. But her heart and mind could only lament their passing.

  “I should have been better.”

  It had barely been thirty minutes since she entered the house but to her it felt like an eternity.

  ——————————————————

  Achilles ran though the field following the damage that the battle left. The scorched and scared earth, that massive beam of fire that changed the weather from a rain storm to clear skies.

  His feet trampled over flowers and tall grass as he ran past destroyed, scorched ground and the wyrm’s feather, his feet splashed in the small puddles with each step. In his worry he even out paced Maryan as she followed each step he took

  “Achilles slow down! You wouldn't be much to Lyn if you collapse the moment we find her.” Still even, she tried to calm him down, to get him pace himself. Only to find herself trying to keep up with the armored man he took off.

  He didn’t let his feet rest, but following the damage, it led him to a damage, small house. The sight that made his heart and legs pumped fast. Leaving Maryan to groan as he took off, faster then before.

  Walking out of the building, only to be met by the sun’s light, but its light didn’t have her attention. The only thing that held her focus was the small life that rested in her arms.

  “Well Red, I’m happy to meet you. I just wished it was under better circumstances.” Looking at his sleeping face, watching as Red seemed to smoosh his little head into her chest, a yawn escaped from her. “Honestly a nap would be nice, its been a long day for us both hasn't it.

  “There you are!” A voice cried out, pulling her gaze away from the child and out of sheer instinct, her hand caught fire. Only to go out and return to its position under Red as Achilles, but Maryan came into her line of sight.

  “Achilles, Maryan.” The sight of the pair caused her smile to grow larger and before she knew it, she found herself trapped in his arms as held a strong yet soft hold on her.

  A hold that gave her all comfort she need to just, left her guard become nonexistent, letting her head rest against his chest. Allowing the echo of his heart to wash away any thought of acting like a stong warrior. A sound, a comfort that let het escape from reality. Right now, in this moment she wasn’t Lyndis Riser, Ielos’ current princess or the adventurous woman known for taking on colossal monsters with a smile on her face. Right now she was just a simple woman who was enjoying comfort and protection of her lover’s embrace.

  “So who is this?” His voice brought her attention back him, even seeing Maryan with a curious look on her face.

  “Well, Achilles, you know how we talked about kids right?” As she spoke, Maryan slowly came closer, her eyes fell to Lyn’s arms.

  “Yeah, I recall that conversation, before all of this started. I think we agreed to wait a little longer, right?”

  “I know this isn't how we would have planned it, but… Say hello to Red.” Her voice was happy trying to cover what she felt but her eyes betrayed her.

  Achilles couldn’t help but look at the sleeping child confused. He didn’t know how to respond to this until he looked back at Lyn, her eyes left the boy for only a single moment to wander back to the small house she had just exited, seeing the sight, his arm around her only tightened.

  “I‘ll always have your back through thick and thin, this is just another step for us.” Lyn’s smile grew at his words “After all, looks like he gets his hair from your mother.”

  “You don’t say.”

  “I just hope he won’t take after either of you too much. Lord knows that will only cause me a massive headache having to deal with a miniature version of you both.” Maryan finally spoke, causing the two to laugh slightly.

  However, Lyn’s laughter was cut short, Achilles swept her off her feet, and he started to carry her.

  “Let’s head back, it’s starting to get late.” Achilles' voice was comforting to her and right now she didn't mind letting her guard down, as long as he was here. So the small group made their way back to base camp with their new family member, preparing to inform her father that he has been promoted.

  ——————————————————

  The quartet soon found their way back to base camp. There were tents where many people were seen resting after the battle. There were many different races from humans to a race of fair-skinned, long-eared individuals, whose beauty was unrivaled in the eyes of many, and a natural affinity for magic called elves.

  Then there are the short stocky people, whose beads seemed to grow as long as they were tall, were known as dwarves. Many have claimed to have seen them survive even the most ridiculous of situations. One man claimed to have seen a boulder the size of a house fall, crushing a dwarf only to shrug it off as if it were a mosquito bite, it helps they knew how to hold their drink.

  The beastmen are a race of people with animal-like characteristics who were blessed with high end senses and immense speed called zoophians. Rumors say that they smell even a single drop of blood from hundreds of miles away.

  Then there was the race of small people called hobbits, who while not very strong physically they made up for it with their iron wills and their ability to see through the darkness caves commanded respect.

  Finally the draconian, a race of people similar to zoophains but whose dragon-like scales that covered their arms and back, with tails matching the color of their scales, many considered their kind to be the physically strongest of all races. Some have claimed that they have fought dragons with nothing but their bare hands.

  Walking through they drew the attention of many at the camp, many bowing to the pair showing their respect, others drank, holding up their mugs toasting over the victory, but few wondering what their lady was carrying with her.

  However, while there were those who to cheered at their return, there were those who were covered in bandages sitting back as they struggled to eat and drink while others count be seen sleeping in the medical tent under the watch eyes of their medical staff.

  The pair made their way to the resting area in the center of camp in order to see the leader of the army and, more importantly, Lyn’s father, Igneel Riser.

  In the tent there was an older man with tired blue eyes; his short scarlet hair had a faded color due to the man’s age. He had just finished up a meeting with some of his generals and was looking over what remained after the battle and he was looking over maps of the terrain that would lead them into Nergal and towards their capital. However, that wasnt the only thing that held his attention. To his left was a list of the supplies they left, but what haunted him were those wounded and worse of all those who wouldn't be greeted home.

  “I hope you're ok, Lyndis.”

  The stress, regret and pain of those lives lost soured today’s victory. A victory that led them one step closer to ending this conflict. Trying to give himself a moment to ease his mind to reach for a drink to and try to alleviate those thoughts. However, he stopped when he noticed the presence of someone outside his tent.

  “Who’s there?” His voice was gruff and firm.

  “Hello my lord. May I enter?” The voice that called out was rather timid when addressing the current king of Ielos.

  “You may.” The man who entered his tent was an older man, but unlike those who were recovering from today's conflict, this one's clothing made it clear. He was a civilian. “What can I do for you?”

  “You see your highn—

  “Please drop the formalities, there's no need for that here. What is your request?” Igneel tried to keep this interaction civil but with all the death that had happened during the day, all he wanted right now was a drink. And right now the main thing that was in his eyes wasn't the man before him but his whisky. However, that soon changed when he saw him before kneeling, planting his head to the ground.

  “Please, sir, I’m the elder of the nearby village that was caught in the middle of the conflict, many of our people have lost family and friends, so please I ask you to help give them a proper burial so that they can rest in peace. We don’t have much but I’ll compensate—

  His words were put to rest as he felt a sturdy hand on his shoulder.

  “Don’t, there's no need. I’ll gather up a group to help give your people a proper burial. After all, its my role as king to make sure the people are looked after, and even in death they are still my people.”

  He tried to speak, he wanted to thank him but was stopped by Ingeel’s voice. “Don't, there is no need for thanks; if anything, I should be the one to apologize. This happened under my watch, so please go home and rest. It's been a long day for everyone.”

  With that said he left, returning home, without ever needing to give his name. Igneel had made his way back to his desk and let his tired body rest in his chair, reaching for his drink, only to be interrupted again from having a small bit of relief as he felt the presence of another visitor.

  “Hello Father, may we enter?”

  Upon hearing the soft voice of his daughter, he stood up and went to the entrance of the tent ready to happily see his family return. But once he opened the tent door to greet them. Watching Maryan and Achilles entered first, but when Lyn entered seeing her a smile grew as he stepped to meet her.

  But as he got closer, his excited face became softer as he took notice that there was another person who accompanied them.

  “What do we have here? Who might you be?” His gruff voice turned calm, looking at the small baby who was sleeping in the arms of his daughter as he reached his hand out gently and poked the cheek of the small child, causing him to squirm, and a small groan was heard from the child.

  “Father... say hello to your grandson, Red.” A bright smile was painted on her face, a sight that only became rarer as the days passed by.

  The sound of her voice caused the child to stir, waking him and for the first time seeing his new family. They were smiling once the child began to wake, opening his eyes. Red, for the first time, got to meet his new family, which caused him to grin happily. But the one who was stuck in a trance, once they locked their gazes, they weren’t looking into the eyes of the waking baby, but the one who held him.

  “She was right, your name does fit you.”

  “Lyn? What do you mean?” Achilles asked, not really understanding why his wife said that.

  “Look at him, his eyes. I’ve never seen such a bright shade of red before. They even make rubies look dull in comparison.” Lyn was mesmerized by those crimson orbs, however, she wasn’t the only one. Both men couldn’t help but smile not just at their new addition but at the smile on their loved one’s face. It was refreshing to see an honest smile from her after so long.

  Maryan joined the smiling gallery as she looked at the red-eyed baby.

  “Well, I guess you have a greater responsibility than the one here on the battlefield.” Igneel said, taking his hand away from his new grandson, watching as the child tried to squirm deeper into Lyn’s hold.

  “Yeah, I guess so, just don't go dying on us, I’d hate for Red to lose this grandfather after just meeting him, although knowing you I wouldn’t be surprised if you made the invaders surrender by the end of the week with this new motivation.” Lyn replied jokingly, trying to hold back her laughter. Knowing that if motivated, her father could do the impossible.

  During this, Achilles stood at attention. “Sir Igeenl, if you wish, I will lend you my aid until this conflict is over.” He spoke, getting down on one knee, bowing his head.

  He was only met with laughter. “No, you aren't getting out of this so easily. After all, I need a man back at the house to look after the rest of our family.”

  “I will, sir, I promise that no harm will come to either of them.”

  “And I’ll make sure he doesn't stumble and fall on his face.” Maryan’s sly comment kept the mood up as she stood at their side.

  “Well, that’s good. I'm happy to see a street rat turn into a proper man, although you still need to learn to loosen up.” He couldn't help but smack his son-in-law’s back. This act only made his daughter laugh as she watched her husband try to stay on his feet.

  “Now, Lyn, I think you should make your way home soon. I wonder how your mother will react.” He said, chuckling, imagining how Hellia would react to the news as he handed Lyn a black ring with silver ruins.

  “But Father, how will you get home?”

  “Don't worry about it, the only thing you need to be worrying about is this little one and how you plan to explain this to your Mother.” He couldn't help but laugh towards the end of that thought.

  But hidden among their laughter, they couldn’t help but wonder how they were going to explain this to her mother. The only thing that stopped this moment was the giggling of Red, who was unaware of the adventures that waited for him in the future.