Legend Reborn

Chapter 38: Eagle Temple

"Have you ever been here before?" Ludwig asks.

"Uh huh," I answer with a nod. "A while ago when I lived in the capital. Kiku's been here once before too, right?" The Eagle nods in affirmative.

The clouds silently float back over the crescent moon, and the Temple disappears in darkness once more. Silence settles over the group as if brought on by the sudden cover of blackness. I ruffle my wings quietly, which makes me realize how tired my body is.

"We should set up camp," I say eventually. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I need a break."

"I agree," Ludwig says. "It's been a long day." A hint of bitterness colors the Bear's deep voice, and I imagine he must be thinking about today's previous events.

It's been rough for all of us, but I decide to help Kiku put up our tent instead of dwelling on the topic any further. The Eagle lays the thick, water resistant material on the grass covered ground and begins to put in the wooden poles. I grab a few of them and start slipping the poles into their place in the tent. Loose rope dangles from the corners of the tent, and I use my foot to pound the staked ends into the ground.

"Thanks, Elizabeta," Kiku says once we finish.

"No problem." I stand up and stretch my aching muscles. "Time for bed."

"Not until I say goodnight." Gilbert wraps his arms around my waist and nuzzles his face into the back of my head near my ear.

"Mmmmm," I sigh. "Goodnight, Gil."

"Goodnight, Lizzie," he replies in a low voice. "You should wear your hair like this more often. It's nice."

I turn myself around to face the Bear. "That means you have to put it up like this for me."

"With pleasure." He leans in and claims my lips. The kiss lasts for only a moment, but I could spend an eternity with my lips pressed against Gilbert's. "You should get some sleep," he says after we break apart.

"Okay," I say a little reluctantly. "I'll see you in the morning."

"You can count on it." Gilbert kisses my forehead, then releases me to go to the tent he shares with his brother.

I watch him go until a big yawn forces me to close my eyes. It must be a sign for me to go to sleep, so I slip into my tent. Kiku turns to look at me as I settle under a thick blanket. I turn my gaze to the Eagle and smile.

"We're almost done, Kiku. Are you ready?"

"Yes...and no," he replies. "I am ready to fight, but..."

"But what?" I ask curiously.

"But I'm not ready for what happens next."

"Oh, that." My thoughts turn to Oblivion and my role to defeat Kirkland. "Yeah, I don't know if I'm ready either."

The Eagle gropes for my hand in the dark, and I help him find it. Instead of linking pinkies as usual, we just hold each other's hand tightly. My eyelids flutter closed, and I focus on my breathing and the warmth of Kiku's hand in mine. I begin to fall asleep, but someone whispers something softly before I do.

"This is it." I never figure out if it was Kiku or my imagination.

I wake up fairly early the next morning and exit the tent without disturbing the sleeping Eagle. A light fog hangs in the air, but it begins to burn away in the bright sunshine. It's one of the few sunny days we've had in a very long time. Most days the sky has been covered in a thick cloud cover, which is rather unusual, even for this time of year. Despite the clouds, it never rains or snows. It's just dark.