Crimson & Clover {OC x GUTS} Berserk

4. Shift

It had been five and a half months since Griffith left with the Band of the Hawk and left with Guts. Every day Marcella watched as Charlotte trembled in fear. Fear of losing a man she barely knew. The man who had her wrapped around his finger.

She was an easy target. An easy target for the Queen. For Griffith.

Marcella loved Charlotte. She had since the moment she had seen her. But as time went on, the love she held for her became one of the most painful things she had to endure.

She poured her hurt into learning her new skills. She visited the Bakiraka more often. She still couldn't get them to tell her their names, but they revealed to her different methods of killing and different methods of survival.

Now she stood before the Bakiraka. The had been called before the King to serve him on an assignment. They each had a parting gift for her.

A dagger. Various vials of poison. Throwing knives. Smoke bombs. Explosives. And a beautiful leather bag to carry it all in.

"For you, Princess," Aniya said as she presented the bag to Marcella.

Marcella hesitated to take the bag.

"What's wrong? You don't trust us..."

I met her eyes and shuddered, she looked to each of the clan's members, "I'm going to miss our time together."

The thin and tall Bakiraka began to walk away with the others, "We will be together again. You are promised to our master, after all."

Only Aniya stood before her now, "This is my parting gift to you Princess."

"You really... You have already done so much," Marcella began to protest.

"Shhh. Drink this."

Cold liquid touched her lips as Aniya tilted her head back and poured the elixir into her mouth.

Ecstasy. Pure ecstasy. Marcella's body was warm for a brief moment a flood of lightness flowed through her, "What is it?"

Aniya grabbed Marcella's face and pressed her lips to hers. Her cool tongue snaked into her mouth. She was sweet and gentle, albeit strong. As Aniya deepened their kiss, she pressed a small velvet pouch into Marcella's palm.

Aniya pulled away, "I am going to miss you, Princess."

Marcella only stared. It was dim and cold in the crypts but whatever she had been made to drink strengthened her vision.

"Aww," Aniya cooed, "Princess, you aren't upset with me, are you?"

Marcella shook her head.

"It is time," Aniya spoke softly as she turned to follow her clan.

"Wait," Marcella said as she grabbed onto her wrist, "You..."

Aniya pulled her arm away, her jaw clenched. The urge to abandon her clan and disobey the prince had never felt so strong, yet she resisted, "Use only a pinch at a time," she said as she made her way into the darkness of the tunnels.

~~~

Two weeks later and the Band of the Hawk rode back into the city. A grand celebration was thrown to welcome them back. Their victory meant the One-Hundred Year War was over. It felt rather surreal. Marcella always thought it would be years until the war ended, that she would merely be engaged to the Kushan prince forever. But now, it was a done deal.

Her heart ached. She didn't want to be reduced to a wife and made to stand in the background, doing whatever her husband demanded of her. Marcella longed to be on her own.

She didn't really want to see the Hawks be paraded through the city, but she was a little curious to find out if the man she had grown to idolize was still alive after all this time.

Marcella made her way through the streets, dressed in brown pants, a loose ivory colored tunic and a dark green cloak. The hood hid her long hair, the dagger gifted to her by the Bakiraka was strapped around her waist, hidden on her lower back.

The people adored the Band of the Hawk. It was loud and chaotic as they paraded up to the castle. Women threw flower petals their way, children reached their little hands out to touch the men who had won the war. In their eyes, they must be on par with the gods. Griffith. He led the front, appearing humble but internally soaking it all in. Was that really so wrong? After all, he did end the war. But still... there was something so ingenuine about him.

A few hundred feet behind Griffith rode Guts. He was alive and he caught Marcella's gaze. She could tell right away he noticed her and recognized her. He raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth to speak before one of his comrades got his attention.

She could have left the city right then and there. The palace staff was so wrapped up in welcoming the heroes they wouldn't even notice. Something told Marcella to stay and find out what it is Guts would have said to her there in the streets.