Wake the Dragon Lord

Chapter 8: Recovery Pt 1

The monitors on Gwendel beeped in time with his heart and breathing. Greta watched over her uncle carefully, cuddled up next to him while Yuri and Wolfram were being worked on.

“Uncle Gwen please wake up…” she prayed, clearing her eyes of tears. She rested her head on her uncle’s chest gingerly, listening to his heart beat with her own ear. She closed her eyes and clung to the blankets around Gwendel, praying that she wouldn’t loose another she loved.

“Uh…ahhh….” Greta blinked and sat up looking at Gwendel as his eyes squinted hard before slowly opening to the bright lights of the castle.

“G-Gwen…?” Greta asked cautiously looking into her uncle’s blue eyes. Gwendel looked at Greta and gently lifted a hand to stroke her hair, making sure that he wasn’t dreaming.

“Greta…Thank god…I’m back then.” Gwendel sighed and winched slightly before realizing and remembering the horrors he had seen. Sitting up suddenly he wrenched the I.V. out of his arm and he yelped grabbing his elbow.

“Uncle! Stop! You’ll hurt yourself!” Greta got on her knees and tried to push Gwendel back to lie down. “You’re not healed all the way!”

“Where is Gunther? Greta, please answer me. Where is Gunther?!” Gwendel turned to his adopted niece and held her shoulder with his free hand, looking into her eyes. Greta swallowed and looked away afraid to tell her uncle.

“I…Anissina said…that he was gone before she got to the top of the wall. Ulrike tried to bring his soul back but…” Greta hung her head and began to cry. “He’s gone, uncle!” Gwendel froze, looking at his niece and slowly bringing her into his lap and wrapping his arms around her. It was as much for her comfort as it was for Gwendel to be feeling another’s arms wrapped around them. Trying to set his jaw, he fought back his emotions as he was trained in the military and as he had trained his own troops. Slowly, though, his reserve failed and he buried his face into Greta’s soft brown hair and began to cry.

“Gunther…why did you do that…? You fool…” Anissina was in within moments after hearing Greta’s cry.

“Greta? Gwendel?” Anissina rushed over and stopped short, hearing that it was more Gwendel who was being comforted than Greta. She watched as Greta rubbed her uncle’s back as he shook with grief. She walked over slowly and sat on the side of the bed to gently put goze over the hole in Gwendel’s arm from the I.V.

“Anissina…is he really dead…?” Gwendel looked up to his childhood friend, his eyes red and swollen with tears. Anissina’s heart broke for him, it was the first time in so long that she saw Gwendel cry, and let his feelings take over. She swallowed and nodded slowly.

“Yes…” she said softly before brushing a stray lock of hair out of her eyes, to cover her whiping her own tear away. “He was gone by the time I came to the top of the wall where Gunther was fighting off Yama’s control over you. We tried to revive him, and did so, but…his soul is gone. His body is technicly alive, but his systems are shuting down one by one. Ulrike can’t find it anywhere in the spiritual realm or the physical realm. Gwendel…I’m sorry.” Anissina frowned and gently took Gwendel’s hand. “Greta, go see you’re fathers. They’re recovering in their room. Just don’t get Wolfram too riled up, his hand and back need to stay stable.” Greta blinked and nodded looking over to Gwendel and hugging his neck.

“Have faith Uncle, don’t be afraid to cry,” she said with a sad smile before leaving the room. Gwendel watched as Greta walked out of the room and he laid down slowly, biting his lip to keep from crying out in pain. He could feel that his body was still trying to recover, his abdomen in the worst shape of his entire body. Anissina helped him and propped up some pillows so he was at a slight angle.

“I don’t know what to do, Gwendel. He always seemed to pull through but…”

“He won’t, Anissina. He called upon Aiko in the spirit world to have Yama destroyed.” Anissina looked wide eyed at Gwendel as he stared up at the celing. “I can’t protect anything that I care about. When I thought that Conrad was dead, and when Wolfram ran off to find Yuri. I couldn’t even help to save my own father. Yet, this is the worst I’ve ever been through. I lost the only man in my life…who I loved more than anything.” Clenching his fist and eyes tight he fought back another rush of emotions. “I couldn’t save him! Not even Bernt could save him, even if I wanted to protect him!” Anissina frowned and held his other hand letting him release his pent up anger.

“Because spirits of the elements can’t counter act each other. It’s what keeps magic in balance. I’m so sorry Gwendel…” Anissina frowned and looked at her best friend and saw the pain in his eyes. Gwendel looked away from his best friend and fought back another wave of tears. It felt as if part of his soul had been ripped from him, and the pain was unbearible. He looked back up to the celing and remembered all of the chances he had to tell Gunther how he felt. One came to the surface more quickly than any others.

~“Even if I beg?”

“My answer is NO!” Gwendel tried hard not to look at Gunther with that crown upon his head. When Anissina suggested that that could be the option, a small part in Gwendel swelled up with strength. He could use it as an excuse to show Gunther how he felt. Yet when the time came, he wasn’t able to do it. It took Anissina’s shove to get him to fall into a kiss. Even then, it wasn’t even on Gunther’s soft lips, but on the jewel on the crown. Yet, even the smile that Gunther gave him, after lifting the cursed crown off his head, gave Gwendel the hope that one day he could tell Gunther his feelings.~

“I’m a coward, Anissina…” he said his face lined in resignation of his own faults. “I was afraid of what would happen if I told him, but more afraid if I didn’t. That’s how Yama overpowered me. I’m a coward and a weakling, and because of that…I lost the man I loved and nearly the entire kingdom was destroyed. It would have been better if I had just died…” Anissina gaped at him, never before seeing this side of the stoic general.

“Gwendel! Stop saying that! You’re not a coward! Please, Gwen, you have to be strong. What would Wolfram, Yuri and Conrad do if you died? I…you’re my best friend, Gwendel. If you died on me, I don’t know what I would do. You’re a brother to me Gwen. And what about Greta? She adores you…! Please Gwendel. Don’t give up. If you die on me then you are a coward…but I know you’re not.” Anissina looked up when a shy knock came to the door.

“Excuse me…I’m sorry for bothering you but…” Gisela walked in her head hung slightly. “May I speak with you, Sir Gwendel?” Gwendel sat up a bit more, winching and drawing a worried look from Anissina. The red head propped up pillows for him to lean back and got up.

“I’ll leave you to then. I’ll be back later to check on you, okay Gwendel?” Gwendel nodded to Anissina and watched as Gisela came and sat down in a chair. It was then Gwendel realized how much other people were suffering becaues of Gunther’s sacrifice. It wasn’t just him, but also, Gunther’s adopted daughter, as well as Yuri, Wolfram, and many others who were feeling the same pain as Gwendel.

~I’ve been so selfish…~

“Gwendel…”Gisela looked at him, her green eyes red with tears. Gwendel frowned and reached for her hand and swallowed.

“I’m so sorry, Gisela. I should have done more to save Gunther. If there’s anything I can do to help you…” Gisela blinked and took his hand and held it.

“It’s all right, I just…I want to know if he told you how he felt. Father was always trying to find a way to show you how much he loved you, but he…he could never figure it out. I want to know that…” Gisela frowned and bit back a soft sob. Gwendel smiled softly and gently squeezed her hand.

“He did…and I wish I could have stopped him from acting so foolishly. Gisela…if you wish, I will be here for you. It’s my fault for what happened to your father. I…I’ll take care of anything you need.” Gisela frowned and looked up sniffling and nodding before smiling slightly. They weren’t that different, Gunther and Gwendel, to her eyes. She smiled and cleared her eyes with her handkerchief.

“Thank you, Gwendel. Here, let me see if I can do anything for the pain.” Standing up, she gently reached over Gwendel’s lower abdomen and began to use a spell so that the pain would not be as strong. Gwendel sighed and relaxed allowing his lover’s adopted daughter do as she wished. He felt the pain in his abdomen lessen to a more tolerable level, yet the pain in his heart was still there.

“Thank you, Gisela. I…I think I’d like to be alone for a while.” Gisela nodded and got up pausing for a moment before giving Gwendel a gentle hug. Startled for a moment, Gwendel quickly recovered and returned Gisela’s embrace, hoping that the love he felt for her father would help her to cope with his loss. Smiling sadly Gisela left the room and Gwendel in silence.

/////////////////

~Why have you summoned such a meeting, Aiko? ~ Aiko looked up from her curled state as the other spirits arived deep within the Spirit relm, on the border of the void. Bernt was the first to speak up. He was a massive bear, the size of a full grown dragon in the physical world, with a shield pendant around his neck. He was the spirit of Earth and Protection.

~There is an impass…~ the dragon said simply her voice radiating in the minds of the other spirits. Raheem, the great spirit of Fire and Passion, sat upon his haunches, upon the top of his head an open hand with a heart in the middle. The lion rumbled and looked at the two.

~An impass?~ he questioned. Masako looked up from their thoughts, the twin water serpents each having a pair of scales upon their foreheads. Justice would be posponed until all had arrived.

~Let us wait for the others to arrive,~ they said in unison.

~Of course…~ Aiko said waiting as the other four elements, the rarer of demonic magic arrived. Tao was the only spirit that was human in shape. Though the spirit of life, he was known better as the Blood Mage. Tattooed upon one hand was a rose, and upon the other a sythe in deep red. He had few followers, and one he had lost long ago. Next to come was Thanos, death himself. Last to come were Konane a great yellow bird as bright as the sun and giving off the light that she embodied and Mauli a black wolf with one eye the color of the moon. Shinou watched the proceedings and listened carefully.

~Lord Shinou, Spirits of the elements, I requested this meeting because of a strange occurance I encountered with Sir Gunther Von Christ.~ Shinou sat upright upon his throne and leaned forward.

~Strange Occurance? Aiko, explain yourself, please.~ The other spirits looked expectantly at the dragon who lifted her head and gently uncoiled her body to show as well as explain.

~His death, will kill another. His soul is bonded with another,~ she said simply looking down into her warm coils.

~Imposible…~ He whispered as he looked closely. A connection was that strong that the loss of one would kill the other had never before been seen or heard of. Even with Conrad and Julia with their strong connection was not as drastic as this. He could see that already the second soul was beginning to fade slowly from the Physical realm.

~Lord Shinou, his sacrifice is his very soul for the destruction of the Dragon Lord. I have not in my heart to destroy him with such a strong bond. What shall I do?~ Shinou frowned and leaned back. The soul already was fading, his body releasing it to the spiritual relm.

Sir Gwendel Von Walde would die.