Wake the Dragon Lord

Gwendel watched out over the land as repairs were being made to the castle and the town. He sighed and went to put on his robe, to see his brothers, his king and say his goodbyes to the man he loved. As Blood Pledge was being rebuilt from the dragon attack, everyone had been transferred to the Original King's temple for treatment. Gwendel limped slightly as he left his room to see Conrad. Anissina had told him that he had a severe concussion, and was just now coming around. He knocked gently on the door and Yozak opened it.

"Gwendel. Hey." It was obvious that Yozak was upset and worried about his lover. Gwendel nodded and looked to the bed, seeing his first brother sleeping quietly, his head wrapped carefully.

"How is he?" he asked looking at Yozak again. Yozak swallowed and let Gwendel in before closing the door.

"He's okay. I'm just being a softy I guess. The healers said that the hit he took wouldn't do any permanent damage. He doesn't remember much of that night though when he's awake. Gisela said that it would return with time." Gwendel went over and looked at his brother frowning. He nearly killed his brothers. Regardless of what everyone else would say, it was his hands that harmed his brothers and his king, and sent the man he loved to death.

"I'm so sorry, for what I've put everyone through. I should have informed the Maou earlier. I should have taken more precautions…" Yozak looked at the general and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, don't say that, you didn't know what was going on. It's not your fault. Trust me if it was, you wouldn't be standing here right now." Gwendel pulled away from Yozak's hand and looked at his brother.

"He's right, Gwendel…" Conrad said quietly, his voice rough. Gwendel blinked and looked down at his brother.

"I'm sorry if I woke you, Conrad," he said softly, feeling even more horrible.

"It's no big deal, I wasn't really sleeping anyway. Yozak is hard to ignore. But he's right. It isn't your fault what happened to you. Stop beating yourself up over it. You're supposed to be the strong one of the family, remember? You're the one who has to make sure that Wolfram and I don't do anything stupid. Well more Wolfram than anything." Gwendel blinked and smiled sadly chuckling.

"Right. Well, get some rest, Conrad. You need it." Conrad nodded slightly and sighed closing his eyes. Yozak smiled at Gwendel and shrugged sitting back down in the chair where he was earlier. Gwendel limped out of the room, glancing back as Yozak took his lover's hand and rubbed it, trying to nurse Conrad back to health. Turning away, he closed the door and headed to visit his youngest brother and Yuri.

*******************

Yuri sat next to Wolfram as his back was wrapped with a support and his hand healing, gently rubbing his lover's head. Wolfram sighed and smiled, enjoying the attention from his future husband, and from his adopted daughter who was cuddled up with them both. Greta smiled and sighed glad that her fathers were going to be all right.

"How's your head Yuri?" Wolfram asked looking up at Yuri who had several stitches in his forehead along with a massive black eye. Yuri smiled and shrugged trying not to move his one arm, which was in a sling.

"I'll be okay. It wasn't that serious to begin with…" Yuri smiled and then frowned his entire body slumping as if a great weight had been laid upon him. Greta looked up and frowned.

"Yuri? What’s wrong?" she asked sitting up slightly. Yuri frowned and sighed.

"I can't believe that he'll only be around for two more days. I can't believe he would do something like that. " Gwendel stopped at the door for a moment, hesitating to go in.

"Yuri…stop. I don't want to think about losing him any more than you do. As much as he was a pain in my ass and lusting after you…Gunther…was a good man. I really don't know what to do about this…" Gwendel heard his little brother say sadly. He frowned and turned to see Gunther. He was only going to be alive for two more days before his body gave up on the soul, he wanted to see the man he loved one more time before the end.

******************

~Time is running short…~ Bernt said a frown upon his muzzle. ~ With such a strong connection to a powerful Earth Mage, he is under my protection but he's under yours first, Aiko.~ Aiko frowned and gently stroked Gunther’s lavender hair.

~It is Shinou's decision. It is his child, we merely give them their ability to do magic.~ Aiko frowned and nuzzled her student lovingly. Bernt growled and looked next to Gunther as the faded form of his own prized student's soul was becoming more apparent.

~Even if Gunther is not taken to the void, Gwendel will die long before his time. How could such a connection happen without anyone's notice?!~ Raheem growled. Shinou glared slightly at the lion and sighed.

~I do not know what to do, but Gwendel must be informed of this; as well as Gunther.~ Passing his hand over the mage he undid the amount of damage to his soul from being partially consumed by the void. ~This will ease Gwendel's pain, and slow his own destruction. Awake Gunther and tell him. I must speak with Ulrike.~ Their orders given, Shinou left for the temple where Ulrike awaited.

*************

Gwendel frowned and opened the door to Gunther's viewing room. Already it looked more like a funeral room than a hospital. Flowers were on pedestals, and on the ground around Gunther's bed. Anissina was watching over the monitors and turned to see her long time friend at the door.

"Gwendel…are you feeling okay?" Gwendel nodded slowly and limped over to Gunther's bed. Even though his body was harmed so badly, Gunther looked at peace. Anissina went over to Gwendel and gently rubbed his shoulder. "He only has about two days left to come back to his body. There's still a chance that he will be coming back." Anissina smiled trying to give some hope to Gwendel.

"I doubt it," he said simply gently reaching his hand to stroke the porcelain skin and silk hair. "He sounded so sad when he told me he loved me. I think…that he believed I didn't love him." Realization slowly dawned on him and he cursed under his breath at Yama. "It must have been Yama's manipulation. Gunther must have thought that…I loved you and not him…" Gwendel looked down at Anissina. The red head gaped and glared to the side.

"Idiot…! I should have just told him right then and there that his love was returned. I have been trying so hard to get you two together!" Gwendel frowned and looked at her.

"Why? What would cause you to think that it would even blossom?" Anissina looked up and smiled.

"Because when you were with him, even before I noticed you starting to have feelings for him, you smiled more. You were good friends, and good sparring partners together. You went together…like Yuri says, like Peanut Butter and Jelly. I loved it when you smiled, I knew that Gunther could do that for you, so I set up some things. But most of the time they didn't work out so well. So much for playing match maker." Anissina frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. Gwendel smiled and nodded before turning again to the man lying on the bed. He winched a bit and put his hand to his chest, the pain spiking slightly before fading again. Was his heart really breaking? It felt as if it was being ripped out of his very body piece by piece. Anissina frowned and looked at the taller demon.

"I'll be fine…don't worry about me. It's just a broken heart is all…" Gwendel said standing up to his full height after the pain subsided again.

"Just a broken heart? Gwendel, let me run some tests. You did take a lot of injuries and I may have missed something from before. Let's get you back to your room. That's an order." Gwendel blinked and nodded.

"All right." Gwendel looked at Gunther again and reached out to brush away a stray hair, his fingers brushing over the claw marks from the battle. He winched and fought back a wave of emotions, as well as a feeling of being pulled away from everything. He pulled himself back to reality and walked back towards his room

*******************

~Ulrike…~ Shinou called to his first maiden waiting for her to reply.

"Shinou…" she said softly, pausing in her search for Gunther's soul. "What is it you wish of me?" she asked hoping that Shinou had heard her prayers and would help her find the mage's soul.

~Ulrike…you do not need to search any longer for Sir Gunther Von Christ's soul. He is with me.~ Ulrike gasped and swallowed before nodding.

"I understand…I shall tell Anissina to remove the life monitors upon his body."

~Now now, don't jump to such a conclusion. There is a direr situation than we perceived. Gunther's soul is bonded with another. This bond is so strong it is dragging the other soul into the spirit realm as we speak. Gunther has not yet awakened from his trials here, Aiko is informing him as we speak, hopefully.~

"The bond is that strong, Lord Shinou? Who is the other soul? I must inform them immediately! How could this have happened…?"

~As I wrap my mind around it, perhaps it's because of his sacrifice he made for him that the bond was set in stone, as it were. You must inform Sir Gwendel Von Walde. A soul binding of this magnitude will kill Gwendel if Gunther is unable to be revived. The window is closing for Gunther to be returned in safety. Gunther is a fool, but he did it out of his love and urge to protect this world. We must hurry, Ulrike.~ Ulrike nodded and got up.

"Of course…I'm on it Lord Shinou." Ulrike got up and rushed to the doors to see Gwendel and the others.

*******************

Anissina looked over the readings that her inventions gave her on Gwendel's condition and sighed.

"I don't get it. There's no more internal bleeding, you're ribs are all wrapped and are healing nicely, you're lungs aren't punctured, and you're heart is fine. Why are you in pain…?" Gwendel didn't say anything, his own mind knowing why. His heart was breaking because of his weakness to not protect the one he loved the most. He didn't deserve Bernt as his provider for his abilities. He still felt as though it was his fault for the pain his brothers, niece and king were going through.

"Lady Anissina, Sir Gwendel…" Gwendel looked up hearing Ulrike's voice. Upon seeing the First Maiden Gwendel sat up, hoping that it was good news about Gunther's soul.

"Ulrike…what is it?" he asked, throwing away formalities to find out what the First Maiden had to say. She frowned and bowed her head slightly before looking back up.

"I've received a message from the Original King, for you Gwendel," Ulrike said moving closer to the bed, which Gwendel rested on.

"From the Original King? What for?"

"It's about your soul, Gwendel. It's bonded with the soul of Gunther von Christ."

"What…?" Gwendel whispered in shock. He looked down at the bed and gently raised his arm to clutch his chest.

"Yes, such a strong bond has never been seen before. Your soul is being taken to the spirit realm bit by bit. Shinou is going to try to bring Gunther back if he is willing to save both of your lives."

"But I thought Gunther's soul was being sent to the void?" cried Anissina. Ulrike nodded and sighed.

"It was, but the price of loosing Gwendel as well as Gunther was too much for Shinou to allow. I believe he has more in store for both of them. Right now, though, we must try to keep Gunther's body alive, and Gwendel's soul from leaving his own body." Gwendel barely heard the conversation and swallowed. His soul and Gunther's were joined. It explained the pain he was feeling as Gunther's connection with his body was fading. He looked up at Ulrike and Anissina determinedly.

"I'll do anything to bring him back. Just tell me what I have to do."

**********************

Aiko gently nudged Gunther into consciousness. The lavender haired demon groaned slightly before opening his eyes to see the deep spiritual realm. He looked up at Aiko and frowned in confusion.

"Aiko…? What's going on?" The dragon gently helped him sit up, and he saw all of the spirits of the elements gathered as well as the Original King, Shinou. "Shinou…" Gunther bowed his head in front of the Original King.

"There's no need for that, Sir Gunther von Christ. There has been quite an issue with your sacrifice, you know." Gunther looked up at Shinou and fidgeted a bit.

"What do you mean?" Aiko gently combed her claws through Gunther's hair.

~Your soul has been bonded with another, Gunther. The sacrifice you offered for the destruction of Yama is too much with such a bond.~ Gunther looked at the Dragon and the other spirits.

"Bonded? With whom?" Shinou smiled slightly and chuckled.

"With Gwendel's. As your soul and body separate more and more, Gwendel is being pulled into the spirit realm with you. There is little time left for you to return to your body. There is so much left for you and Gwendel. It's far too soon for you to join me here." Tao looked up suddenly his eyes flashing.

"M'lord, forgive me for interrupting, but time has been shortened once more." Shinou frowned and looked expectantly at the Spirit of Life.

"What's happened?" Gunther asked, standing and looking at the winged human.

"Your body has crashed. Life is leaving it and Gwendel's soul is leaving faster. We must hurry to the bridge between the physical world and the spiritual now, or else all will be lost."

*************

"Damn it!" Anissina cried trying desperately to restart Gunther's heart. Gwendel sat on a bed nearby, his own body feeling heavy and useless. He looked at Gunther and swallowed wishing to see Gunther again, but not like this.

"Gwendel…! Gwendel, stay with us all right?" Gwendel fought back unconsciousness and looked as Gisela started CPR on Gunther, as Yuri had shown them.

"I can't…so tired…" Ulrike held his hand and looked him in the eye.

"Please, Gwendel, this is not what is meant for you and Gunther, stay here just a little longer, Shinou will make it right…!" Gwendel's eyes faded and he frowned.

"I can't…I'm sorry…" Ulrike cried out again as Gwendel's body fell into suspended animation as his soul left his body.

*********************

Gunther gasped suddenly and wavered. It was as if someone hit him with a bat from Yuri’s world. He looked around in the spirit realm close to the border with the physical plane and saw a very familiar form lying there. Tao, the spirit of life rushed over with Gunther and gently stroked his hand over the black haired head.

“Ohhh…” Gwendel said his cobalt blue eyes fluttering to life in the spirit world.

“Gwendel…!” Gunther cried rushing to the general’s side. Gwendel blinked and looked up at Gunther, his brows furrowed in question.

“Gunther…? What are you doing? I thought…you were taken to the void.” Shinou stepped forward and shook his head.

“Well he obviously isn’t. You and he must return to the physical world. I can’t allow true love like yours to be taken so quickly to death. Besides…I doubt that your families would want to loose both of you.” Gwendel stared in wonder at Shinou.

“I…I don’t want to die, but Gunther’s body is dead. Anissina has done all she can. Ulrike told me that I couldn’t live if Gunther is dead.” Tao smiled a bit and stood up.

“True, but Gunther is the brother to one of my lost students. I shall revive him, but there is something that I need to do first, if Lord Shinou will permit it.” Shinou looked at Tao and nodded, knowing well what Tao wished to do.

“Of course.”

“What do you mean?” asked Gunther.

“Your bond to your body, Gunther, is weak, but Gwendel’s is still strong. There is a way to tie you both to the physical realm, and then revive Gunther’s body, but it will mean sharing a part of each other’s soul.” Gwendel looked at Gunther beside him and reached for his hand.

“I’ll do it. I said I would do anything to bring you back, Gunther, and I meant that.”

~You already act as though you share a bit of each other’s element. You’re willing to sacrifice anything to bring him back, Gwendel. And I will give you my blessing.~ Aiko said brushing a claw gently over his forehead.

~Your willingness to protect your world and your love is more than enough to give you the power of the earth. So take my blessing as well.~ Bernt lowered his nose onto Gunther’s forehead. Both felt a new connection to each other’s element, though weaker than the one that they had originally made a pact with. Tao came forward and lifting one hand to each of their chests, transferred a small portion of their souls into one another.

“You will be bound to one another, by soul and element. Come, the window is closing.” Tao quickly jumped the gap of the physical and spiritual world. Gunther and Gwendel looked at each other with new eyes, before bowing their respects to Shinou and their shared spiritual guardians.

“Hurry now, and give my love to the Sage will you?”

“We will,” Gwendel said, before grabbing Gunther’s hand and returning to the physical realm.

********************

“Gwendel don’t give up on me!” Anissina cried, trying desperately to restart the black haired demon’s heart. Gisela worked feverishly to revive her father, but it seemed a lost cause.

“Anissina…”she said frowning. “They’re gone…” Gisela held her father’s hand and tried hard to keep back her tears. Anissina glared angrily at Gwendel’s body, shaking in anger and in grief.

“YOU COWARD!” She slammed her fist down onto Gwendel’s chest above his heart and sunk to her knees, burying her face in her hands. She couldn’t have lost her best friend. Ulrike gasped suddenly and moved over to Anissina.

There standing in their midst was the Spirit of Life. His hair was long and silver in color. It waved in a wind that did not exist. His body was covered in red robes, and upon his back were two black wings folded up. Anissina gaped at the spirit. Gisela was frozen in amazement as the tall being, his head nearly touching the ceiling ten feet above, walked in between the two beds.

“Tao…” Ulrike said in awe. The being smiled and nodded in response, before resting each hand upon the breast of Gunther and Gwendel, and giving the bodies a spark of life again. Almost immediately the two bodies began to breathe, their hearts beating in a normal rhythm. The three women saw as two glowing orbs descended into the bodies. Tao smiled and just as suddenly as he appeared, faded into a mist. Gisela came out of her shock as the hand she was holding gave her a gentle squeeze. Looking down, she saw her adopted father’s lavender eyes shine back at her.

“F-father…?” she asked unsure if this was all just a dream. Gunther nodded.

“I’m back. Don’t worry dear.” Gunther turned his head and watched as Gwendel began to regain consciousness.

“Gwendel…! You’re alive! You stupid ass! Don’t you ever do that to me again!” Anissina said giving her friend a glare. Ulrike cried out in joy and hugged him before moving to hug Gunther as well, though gently.

“Just tell me I won’t be a part of your experiments for the next month or two, and I’ll be fine, Anissina. And keep it down, my head hurts.” Gwendel said half-heartedly. Sighing and smiling before giving his hand a squeeze, Anissina nodded.

“You got it. I think you and Gunther both deserve some kind of break. But one month, then you’re at my beck and call again!” Both men groaned slightly but smiled despite the threat. They caught each other’s gaze and smiled. A lot would change in that month, and they were sure of it.