Far Too Long

Ch 2. - Reunion

Ardyn Izunia gave his approvals to the Emperor to invade certain parts of Eos. He joined in on a airship along with a dozen troopers to mark a new territory for Niflheim. This was just a normal ordinary day for the chancellor. Nothing new and it pleased him to know that Niflheim kept expanding
"Now that his radiance is in control of these lands, oh I do wonder what surprises he would throw to these mortals."

Him stepping foot upon the pavement below, Ardyn tipped his fedora forth as he took in the view of where the Disc of Cauthess lied.

From afar, the regalia sped towards their direction as the Bros tried every corner of land, finding airships. Surprisingly, they found Ardyn with troopers looking at the Disc "oh dear. Seems his majesty found us. Do be ever so useful and take care of him," turning around, the Regalia stopped and Noctis shouted at the chancellor "hold it!" The troopers kept their guns pointed at the car and the Bros protected Aera "We brought someone with us and surely you'd like to see her too, Ardyn."
The imperial chancellor rose a brow as he chuckled to the sudden remark "yes? And who is this 'her' that would like to see me?" Noctis held a arm out in defense for Aera "tell them to lower their guns and I'll let Ignis escort her here."
At the command, Ardyn smirked as he nodded his head; commanding the troopers to lower their guns.

While watching and waiting for a signal, Ignis placed a jacket over Aera's shoulders. The blond kept her gaze on Ardyn. She didn't recognized him at first "is that...Ardyn?" The advisor sighed and nodded his head "I may not know how he was in the past, we never heard of him being a healer, but yes. That's the Imperial Chancellor. We mustn't let our guards down. You may mistake him for someone else, be warned, if he attacks, we'll be ever by your side protecting you, Lady Aera."

With the signal from Noctis, Ignis got out of the car and helped Aera out. From a distance, Ardyn watched, as he seen Aera step out from the Regalia, his smirk died down and dropped to a frown. Somehow, Ardyn felt nothing anymore. Seeing Aera was like he was being tricked. "Are they really fooling me by dressing Lady Lunafreya in her clothes?" Ardyn rose a hand and commanded them to open fire. Leaving back into the airship.
Noctis cursed under his breath and with Ignis' help, fought and killed most of the troopers.

Ardyn stood by the door as he watched each of them being killed off, he seen the blond lady leave from the Regalia, running towards the airship. Surprised that she didn't get hit.

Yet.

As Aera ran up the steel door of the ship, she ran towards Ardyn but unfortunately got shot in the arm by a trooper, then the MT got killed by Noctis. The chancellor summoned his armiger to protect them both from the troopers (or what remained) and Noctis and Ignis watched "shit. Now she's with him." Noctis stated, Ignis nodded and with Noctis, ran off towards the ship "damn it, if you harm her, you sick bastard, I'll have your head—" Ardyn chuckled as he placed a hand upon her side lightly and tipped his hat forth "of course, but do yourselves a favor and handle these troopers first~"
Ignis and Noctis turned to see another drop ship, with more troopers falling "come on, Ignis!"

Leaving the scene, Ardyn and Aera sat in the back. The first Oracle winced to the wound on her arm "ow. Dear Ardyn, I didn't expect you to harm me in such a way. I thought you were happy to see me." The chancellor kept his silence and picked out the bullet from her arm. Keeping the silence, Ardyn finally spoke, keeping it low for them both "I'll ask you this once...Are you truly her? And I don't want lies." Aera looked at Ardyn. She grew a bit shocked to see him asking such a question. She couldn't believe it. Then again, he hadn't seen her for two millennia "Ardyn..." the chancellor frowned as her soft voice rung in his ears. Him taking a clean cloth, gently wrapping it around her wound—securing it after using a potion on it "how about this. What did you promise me?" Aera kept her soft gaze on the male "if others forget, I will always remember"

No one knew of that promise. Since Ardyn was imprisoned in Angelgard, that promise was the only thing that remained in him. "I can never forget you, Ardyn." Aera said. The imperial chancellor frowned as he focused entirely on Aera. He seriously can't mistake it.Even his eternal darkness wouldn't trick him. He knows his past fiancee well. He just couldn't figure out how the hell she came back. Can't mistake her. This is her. His Aera. "Aera....." Ardyn finally said. Slowly hugging her, he kept his guards up, of course, but he knew this must be a trick "How long has it been since I last seen you, my dear Ardyn?" Aera smiled, caressing the chancellor's hair. Smiling to her past lover, the chancellor hadn't answered her question. The older male took hold of her hand gently and huffed out a bit "far too long, my beloved Aera."