Darkest Nights: a RWBY Story

Chapter 45: Just One More Night...

Around midnight, everyone said goodnight to one another before heading off to heir rooms. They all knew, although none of them would say it, that this might be the last time they were all together.
Blake stood on the balcony of her and Jason's room, gazing out over the treetops.
Somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted softly.
After a few moments of peaceful silence, she felt Jason's hand on her shoulder.
"You nervous?"
He asked, rubbing her shoulder gently.
Blake nodded, her eyes still fixed on the view of the forest.
"I think it would be wrong if I wasn't."
Then she smiled.
"Last time I was anywhere close to this nervous, I was standing on a balcony in Atlas, preparing to tell my best friend of 12 years that I was in love with him."
She said, winking at Jason.
Jason chuckled softly.
"Well, I'm glad you told me."
There was a moment of silence before one of them spoke again.
"There's something you're not telling me."
Blake said, glancing at Jason.
Jason, for his part, glanced off into the distance, purposely avoiding her gaze.
Then Blake sighed.
"It's okay. You can tell me at the celebration dinner once the battle is over."
"Yeah..."
Jason said, with no hint of enthusiasm in his voice whatsoever.
"Once the battle is over..."
Blake nodded, then realized what his tone meant.
"You don't think you're going to live... do you?"
Jason turned to her, once again placing a hand on her shoulder, and shook his head somberly.
"What makes you say that?"
Blake asked, an oddly strained note now present in her voice.
"When we were on the island, Salem's island I mean, she showed me a vision. The Guardian's lifeforce after the battle. It was empty, burned out... dead. At the time I thought that it was just Salem trying to mess with my head."
"But?"
Blake asked.
"But when I had my last vision of Sienna, she mentioned something similar."
Blake had her eyes closed, the expression on her face showed she was trying to fight back tears.
Jason pulled her close sp her head rested gently on his shoulder.
"But I promise I will do everything in my power to come back to you."
Blake nodded and opened her eyes, wiping away the tears that had beef making their way down her cheeks.
"I love you."
Was all she could think to say.
"I love you too."
Jason replied, looking down into her eyes.
Then he reached a hand into one of the pockets of his jeans and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper.
He handed it to Blake.
"I've thought about it and... I want you to have this. In the event of my death, you and your family will be given everything I was set to inherit. Money, land, that kind of thing. Everything except my right to the throne, that goes to Talia."
Blake gave Jason a tearful smile.
"Let's just hope I never have to use it."
She said, pocketing the paper.
"Does Talia know? About what might happen to you?"
Blake asked gently.
Jason nodded.
"I told her before we landed this morning. I asked her not to tell anyone though."
"Kathar Salo Sen."
She murmured.
"My champion." Jason repeated, gently touching Blake's dark purple ribbon which he still kept around his arm.
After a few moments, the two headed off to bed. They would need their rest for what was to come the following sunrise.