"Angelica?" Ardwulf stared in awe at this young woman as she laid into more and more with each sentence. 'She is...crying for me and because of me once again.' He sighed and shook his head slowly as she sobbed into his chest. When she spoke of how easy he made her happy, and that she wanted him and how no other man could replace him, Ardwulf himself started to sob softly. 'How? How does she know just what I need to hear?' He wrapped Angelica up in his arms and swept her off her feet with relative ease. "I could never hate you, either, Angelica. I don't know what I'd do without you. That's twice you've saved me from losing myself in the darkness. I don't know if I can ever repay you."
"Ardwulf..." Angelica blushed when he swept her off her feet and into his arms. When he spoke of never being able to repay her, she giggled innocently. "You'll spend your whole life with me trying to repay me for that." She smiled beautifully as she locked eyes with him. 'He...is all I'll ever want in this life. When the time is right, Ardwulf, I'll tell you. I promise.' She thought to herself and buried her face into his neck. "Are you okay?" She nuzzled her face into his neck.
"My whole life, huh?" Ardwulf blushed and scratched his cheek shyly. "Well, I shall endeavor to make you happy, though I might fail many times." Ardwulf chuckled softly when she nuzzled her face into his neck. "That tickles, my lady. Yeah..." He sighed softly. "I think I'm okay, because of you, Angelica." He held her tightly in his arms. 'For my own selfish reasons, I won't let them take you. I don't understand it yet, but I want you to myself.' Ardwulf thought to himself and smiled softly.
"If you fail, just try harder. As long as I know you gave it your best, I'll be happy just being by your side." Angelica snuggled closer in his arms and closed her eyes. "You make me feel so safe when you hold me like this, my handsome knight." She blushed slightly. "We never discussed your salary as my bodyguard." She whispered sheepishly, trying to change the subject. 'He's got my body feeling so hot. It's a new feeling for me, but I don't dislike it.'
"Everything I do is always at my best." Ardwulf blushed as she shifted in his arms and pressed herself against him more. "I'm glad you feel safe in my arms, because I will never let anything happen to you." He blushed softly when she called him handsome. "My fee, huh? Are you sure you want to know? It can get pretty expensive. My particular and unique skillset is in high demand, after all." He explained and smiled alluringly.
"Oh? How expensive are we talking here?" Angelica blushed softly. 'That smile could melt any woman's heart.'
"Hm. I'd say for you, my lady, five dates minimum should cover your fees." Ardwulf chuckled softly.
"Five? That's completely outrageous!" Angelica played along and overreacted dramatically. "You get three! And, if, and that's a big IF, I happen to enjoy myself, you may be lucky enough to receive the rest of your payment." She grinned at Ardwulf and winked at him shyly. "You are such a dork." She sighed happily and kissed his cheek gently. "How are you still single?"
"Three? That's highway robbery! I'm taking a huge risk for you." Ardwulf tried to keep playing but he started laughing softly. 'She makes it so hard to keep a straight face.' Angelica kissed his cheek and he smiled softly. "That's twice you've called me a dork, my lady. You are so rude." He leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers. "I'm not entirely sure, but you seem to think I'm someone worth dating, so maybe it's true?"
"A-Ardwulf...?" Angelica's face lit up when his face leaned in close and their foreheads met. "Well, you are a dork, but more importantly, you're my dork." She gently rubbed her nose against his. 'Mine and mine alone.' She thought to herself. "Well, I would date you." Her face turned even more red. " Wait..I mean...that's.." She started to stumble over her words.
"Your dork, huh? So, that means I'm being monopolized?" Ardwulf joked and chuckled softly. When she rubbed her nose against his, even the stalwart Knight's face darkened. "Well, technically, you will be dating me when go out on our date." He corrected her and placed a finger to her lips. "You don't need to fret, my lady. I'm happy to hear that you would, though."
"Who taught you to flirt so well?" Angelica sighed happily and fanned her face once more. She gently kissed Ardwulf's finger when he put it to her lips. "I meant it as the highest of compliments. Hehe. I'm excited to see how are date goes."
"Hm. A combination of people I suppose. One of my comrades who served under my command was a notorious flirt. I can't tell you the number of times he came back to base with a firm handprint across his cheeks, but somehow he still found women to keep him warm at night. I'm still at a loss on how I managed to control him. Then, my fath...well, Robert, became a womanizer after mother's passing. So, I've seen my share of flirtatious men." Ardwulf chuckled softly. His face tinged pink when she kissed his finger. "I am, too. It will be my first, if I'm being completely honest. Well, shall I put you down now, my lady?"
"Well, I'm kind of nervous to meet him. He sounds like a real handful." Angelica smiled softly when he spoke of his subordinate, but frowned a bit when he mentioned his father. 'So, he doesn't really call him dad or anything? I guess we both don't exactly have the Father of the Year.' She looped her arms loosely around his neck. "Well, let's make our first date a memorable one for both of us. Why would you put me down, Sir Knight? Are perhaps your arms getting tired?" She teased him.
"Yes, I'm looking forward to having a good time with you." Ardwulf gently put her down on her feet. "I'm ashamed to say, that if I have it my way, you'll never meet those who served in my company." Ardwulf's face turned into a frown. "I need a smoke." He pulled out his pack, grabbed a cigarette, and lit the tip in one fluid motion.
"Wait. Why wouldn't you want me to meet them? What happened Ardwulf?" Angelica puffed up her cheeks when he put her down and lit his cigarette.
"I'm a traitor to my King, Angelica. Even though they served under me, they've probably received orders to bring me back or..." Ardwulf took a long drag and exhaled slowly. "They've been ordered to kill me."
"That's funny, Ardwulf." Angelica chuckled softly. "I didn't take you for a joke...ster..." She stopped when she noticed tears form in his eyes. "You're serious...?"
"I am." Ardwulf took another long drag on his cigarette. "I've betrayed my King, My People, My Comrades, and myself most of all."
"Ardwulf..." Angelica grabbed the sleeve of his shirt. "What happened? You can talk to me."
"...I'll tell you some other time. Please, my lady. Can we let this conversation wait a little longer?" Ardwulf sighed heavily as he finished off his cigarette.
"If you need time, then take as much as you need, my foolish Knight. I'll be by your side the whole time, though, okay?" Angelica buried her face into the sleeve of his shirt. 'He's hurting so much. I can feel it. My sweet Ardwulf, what did they do to you?'
"Thank you, my lady, I won't forget this kindness, and when the time comes, I'll tell you everything." Ardwulf reached over and gently rubbed the top of her head. "We should head up front, it's about time for us to dock. We can see Throywich now."
"I'll hold you to that, Ardwulf." Angelica wrapped both of her arms around his right arm. "Well, would you care to escort me, Sir Knight?"
"Thank you, my lady." Ardwulf smiled softly. "It would my honor to walk with such a beautiful woman on my arm."
"I figured you wouldn't mind." Angelica blushed and giggled softly.
The two of them made their way to the front of the ship as The Stormy Serpent pulled into port.
"Hey, you two. Anything interesting happen?" Tamm questioned nosily as they walked to the front.
"Not particularly." Ardwulf scratched his cheek shyly. "We'll be getting off as soon as the ship is docked, Tamm. I'll swing by at some point after we've decided on our future plans."
"Works for me, Ardy. Just remember, seven days. After that, I won't be able to wait, not even for you." Tamm shrugged her shoulders.
"We'll decide before then, Tamm. I'll make sure of it." Angelica piped in her thoughts.
"Alright, men, prepare to drop anchor!" Tamm shouted and sit about to working her men.
Port City Throywich is everything you would expect of a city on the coast. Many fishing boats were fastened to the piers and seagulls flew around overhead. In the middle of the city, sat a broken stone statue, two hundred and fifty feet high.
Atop this statue, a hooded figure cloaked in black, eyed the newest ship like a hawk. "It's about time, Captain Estald, or should I say Black Whirlwind?" A soft feminine voice flowed from the hood. A mischievous grin could be made out from under the hood. 'I can't wait!'
"You've found him? Good work, Azalia." A firm voice echoed from behind her. "You know he is no longer our Captain, child. He betrayed us, our King, and our country."
"I'm well aware of that." Azalia replied. 'But you're wrong, it was you who betrayed him. I know where my loyalty lies, and it isn't with Valarin. It's with my....' She thought to herself and smiled. 'I wonder how much he's missed me.'
"Hey, Ardwulf. What's that massive stone monument?" Angelica questioned as she gently tugged on the sleeve of his shirt.
"Oh, that's where Throywich gets its name. The full name is, Port City Throywich, City of The Broken Blade That stone monument used to be double in size and was modeled after one of the Heavenly Blades, sent to us from the Heavens themselves." Ardwulf explained. "Nobody knows exactly what happened, only that one day, many years ago, the top half broke. It started falling towards the city, but before it made contact, it just disappeared." He shrugged slowly. "That's all I know."
"Oh, that's so cool. You seem to know a lot, Ardwulf." Angelica giggled. 'Nothing sexier to me then an educated man.' She blushed softly at her thoughts.
'I have to tell her. She deserves to know the truth. The only person in The Sapphire Wolves that I...' Ardwulf smiled softly at Angelica as they pulled into the port and brought the ship to dock right on the pier.
"Is something wrong, Sir Knight?" Angelica grabbed his hand and squeezed gently.
"Hm? Oh, yes..." Ardwulf scratched the back of his head with his free hand. "Angelica, there's something you really must know if you wish to stay by my side."
"Ardwulf...?" Angelica looked at him quizzically. 'What's on his mind?'
"Let's go grab some dinner. I'll explain everything during our date." Ardwulf sighed heavily. 'This is going to go either really well....or really bad...but she deserves to know the truth.'
"Dinner sounds delightful, Ardwulf. I look forward to hearing what you have to tell me." Angelica held his hand tight and leaned into him as they both walked off the ship and down the pier, leaving the Stormy Serpent and her crew behind.
"Well, if it's still running, this place I know makes a mean roast and noodles." Ardwulf bragged. "No other country has anything half this good."
"Oh, my mouth is watering already. Where is it?" Angelica exclaimed eagerly. 'I'm still anxious to find out what's got him so serious all of sudden.' That nagging sensation in the back of mind reappeared. 'He's not...gonna try and leave me...is he?'
"Patience, my lady. This place is nowhere near as big as Laham. We can get there in a minute or two. It's around this corner and up this street." Ardwulf explained as he gave Angelica's hand a reassuring squeeze. 'How will she react when she finds out...?'
As they entered the main thoroughfare of Throywich, they were bombarded by all sorts of smells and sounds. People shouting, haggling, and advertising their wares, and cooks boasting they had the best food in this city.
"Ah, good. Luigi's is still here. It's there at the end on the right." Ardwulf pointed out happily. "That's the place, my lady."
A small mom and pop looking diner was filled to the brim with a waiting line of almost ten minutes. The old man who was busy manning the outside looked over in their direction and immediately dashed to stand in front of the young couple. "Ardwulf...little Ardwulf...?" The man inspected his face closer.
"Well, I'm not so little anymore, Luigi." Ardwulf corrected.
"True, very true indeed. And this beautiful young maiden must be your wife?" Luigi smiled.
"W-wife...?" Angelica's face lit up and she twirled side to side nervously. "Not for lack of trying..." She whispered sheepishly and looked up at Ardwulf.
"Um. Well, I mean...I would count myself the luckiest man if I were to be wed to such a sweet and wonderful woman like her. Isn't that right...sweetheart..." Ardwulf blushed and brought her into his chest gently. 'Why did I...do and say that..?' He mentally berated himself.
'S...sweetheart!!' Angelica squeeled loudly in her mind and nearly fainted into Ardwulf's arms. "Well, you would be the luckiest man, baby, because you're the only man who has ever brought these feelings in me to the surface." She giggled softly. 'I just called him baby!! I'm so embarrassed.'
"Haha. I knew you two were hiding something from me. Well, I'll tell ya what, come inside and I'll set you up in one of our private rooms. I'll even give you the cutest couple discount." Luigi bellowed loudly and brought them inside. He led them through the packed restaurant and into the backroom. "Have a seat, lovebirds and I'll be right back."
"Cutest..." Angelica looked to Ardwulf as they followed Luigi.
"Couple...?" Ardwulf finished Angelica's thoughts. 'Well, I guess being as affectionate as we are right now, I could see how people would think we are together.'
"Hehe." Angelica giggled as Luigi left. "I don't mind that they think that." She looked up at Ardwulf and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Angelica..." Ardwulf blushed once more and looked down at the table.
"Do you...not find me attractive enough to date?" Angelica puffed up her cheeks and pouted softly.
"What...?" Ardwulf looked up quickly. "You know that isn't true, Angelica!" Ardwulf gazed into her eyes and his heart nearly jumped out his chest. "You're...very beautiful. I meant what I said to Luigi. You are truly a sweet and wonderful woman. I just..." He scratched the back of his head nervously. "I don't know if I deserve to be with someone as wonderful as you...and I'm not sure if I can make you happy. I've never been emotionally involved with a woman before."
"A...Ardwulf?" Angelica blushed deeply. "You really mean that?" She touched her hand to her hot face and grinned ear to ear. "I've never been involved with a man in anyway before, but I wouldn't mind if it was with you." She looked down at the table. "If not you, then who should be with me?"
'Who should...be with her...?' Ardwulf's chest felt a jolt of pain. 'Me...?' He thought to himself. 'She should be with me.' He thought once more and reached his hand over the table towards her. "It may be selfish of me to say this, but..." He gently grabbed her hand and laced his fingers together with hers. "I want to...be with you. There is much you must learn about me first. We can start working together to that end, but, I won't ask you to wait for me. That would be utterly selfish of me." His blushed face darkened even more.
Angelica giggled happily when he laced their fingers together and her heart started pounding loudly against her chest. "You wouldn't have to because..." She tucked another strand of hair behind her ear. "I would wait for you even if you didn't ask..." She whispered softly. "Now, what was it you had to tell me? I'm curious, and I want to know more about you."
"Angelica..." Ardwulf chuckled softly. 'You are something else, my lady.' He thought to himself. "There isn't an easy way to do this, so I'll just come out and say it." He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I have a daughter."
Angelica swallowed hard as she watched him work up the courage to speak his mind. "Wait..." Angelica's mind started spinning wildly. "A daughter?!" She half shouted. "I thought you said you were never in a relationship before!?!"
"It's a...complicated story. Luigi should be back in a minute. Can you wait until we order? This conversation is top secret. I'm trusting you with this knowledge, my lady. That should tell you how much I care about you." Ardwulf spoke softly and squeezed her hand gently.
As if on queue, Luigi came back with a bottle of wine and two menus. "This..." He placed the bottle of wine and two glasses on the table. "...is on me. Here are your menus. Can I get you something to drink?"
"Um...yeah...sweet tea...." Angelica whispered softly. 'A child...? He has a daughter...? How old is she?' Her mind started spinning once more.
"I'll have a sweet tea, as well, Luigi." Ardwulf looked to Angelica. 'What's running through her mind?'
"Very good. I'll be back with your drinks and find out your orders." Luigi bowed and left the room.
"So, how do you have a child, how old is she, and where is she? And who's her mother and where is she at, too?" Angelica rambled off several questions back to back in a rush.
"I'll tell you, my lady. Let me start before her birth." Ardwulf gently rubbed her hand with his thumb. "Her mother...is no longer with us. She died giving birth to our daughter. I met her when I was fifteen. She was in her early twenties and a widow. No children and no family. She was seeking validation and attention. I was a young boy, emotionless and seeking to feel something. Anything. Both of us needed something from the other. After about a year, she finally invited me to her home. We never spoke about anything, and never saw each other unless we wanted to...well, you know. I never felt anything for her, and I'm certain she felt the same way."
"Ardwulf..." Angelica blushed. "So it was just a...booty call thing...?" She shook her head. "I'm guessing she doesn't know...about her mother, I mean."
"No, I've never told her. Anyway, after some time, around my sixteenth birthday, she came to me and told me she was pregnant." Ardwulf sighed softly. "I sent her away then. I told her we couldn't have anymore contact, but that I would pay for everything the child would need."
"Why...Ardwulf, how could you that?" Angelica sobbed softly.
"It was a complicated situation for me, Angelica. I was on the fast track to a career in the army. I had garnered much attention and even more enemies. Enemies who would have jumped at the chance to take them hostage and use them against me. I couldn't put my unborn child in danger like that. I didn't feel anything for her mother, but when I found out I was going to be a father, something inside me clicked. For the first time, I felt something. I felt pride, happiness, joy, and...horror, sadness. For her to be born in Valarin during a time of great internal strife, if somebody found out, they could have controlled me through them."
"I...I see, and in order to protect them, you cut off all contact?" Angelica sighed softly.
"Yes, but...the Gods are cruel." Ardwulf shook his head slowly. "Her best friend came to me under cover of darkness. Something went wrong during her labor. I rushed to her side, to hell with the consequences. I arrived to hear the crying of a small baby girl, but by the time I arrived, it was to late. She had died giving birth to our daughter. I took her from that place, and I hid her away in a home that I bought under a fake name. Live in maids, cooks, the works. None of them knew my true identity. I raised her in that place for eight years. Leaving only at the behest of General Estald or King Theoden."
"And then what...?" Angelica stopped and looked at the door as Luigi came back inside carrying their drinks. "Here you are. You ready to order?"
"Yes, can we get two orders of your famous pot roast and noodles?" Ardwulf smiled softly at Angelica.
"I should have known. That's the only thing you ever ate when you used to come here. It'll be ready in twenty minutes." Luigi laughed and took the menus from them. He left as quickly as he arrived.
"I didn't know what you wanted, I hope I didn't choose wrong." Ardwulf whispered softly.
"No, you did good, my knight. So what happened when she turned eight?" Angelica questioned.
"She was my daughter, and like me, she was vastly intelligent and extremely powerful. She wanted to go to school, so I sat her down and explained to her who I truly was and what I did for a living. I told her that she couldn't mention anything about me or where she lived. You know what she did? She crawled into my lap, hugged me tightly, and simply said, I understand Papa." Ardwulf felt tears of joy and pride slide down his face.
"Aww. She sounds adorable. You never told me her name, and what happened when she went to school?" Angelica tried to extract more information from him.
"Her name? Oh, right. Her name is Azalia Ronnuth, it means God has spared. I thought it appropriate given her unfortunate origin. She could have just as easily died during the birth, too. I gave her the last name of her mother to avoid suspicion." Ardwulf smiled warmly. "She went to school and quickly proved her abilities. She jumped grade after grade and then, at the age of ten, she enrolled into the military academy. She was granted special permission given her abilities. When she turned twelve, she graduated from the military academy and was quickly promoted into my unit. That wasn't my doing, by the way. I became her Captain and the ploy continued. Outside of our home, she's never addressed me as dad, father, papa, or anything. It's always been Captain Estald."
"Azalia Ronnuth, that is beautiful. You couldn't have come up with a better name for her, sweetie." Angelica squeezed Ardwulf's hand gently. "What then?"
"Well, for the last year, she's been my subordinate. It's been hard not to give her preferential treatment given that she's my daughter, but I found the strength, only because she told me she understood. I've been waiting for The Sapphire Wolves to find me, so I could rescue her. That's where things stand right now." Ardwulf finished his explanation and sighed heavily. "That's my story. So...?" He looked to Angelica who had gone quiet.
"That's...quite a lot to take in, but..." Angelica rose to her feet, walked over to Ardwulf's side, and gently sat down in his lap, a deep red tinged her cheeks.
"A-Angelica...?" Ardwulf was at a loss when she sat down in his lap.
"Can I meet her?" Angelica locked eyes with Ardwulf and placed her hands flat against his chest.
"I...I would love that, yes..." Ardwulf blushed and placed his head on her chest. "You are the first and only person I've ever told." He sobbed softly. "It's so good to be able to boast openly about how magnificent my daughter turned out to be."
"Hehe." Angelica giggled softly but squeeled when his head came to rest on her chest. "Ardwulf, not...here..." She stopped when she heard him sobbing softly. "Oh, my poor knight." She wrapped one arm around his neck and placed her other hand on the back of his head. She started to stroke his head lovingly as he sobbed into her chest. "Get it all out, my handsome knight."
"...Thank you, Angelica...for hearing me out." Ardwulf sniffled softly. "I just know she'll love you."
"So, other then her maids and the like, she's never had a female role model?" Angelica questioned and kept gently stroking the back of his head.
"Only one. Cora, my second in command. Azalia respected her strength as a woman, but her papa would always be number one, she used to tell me. So, I'll be counting on you, Angelica." Ardwulf pulled himself together and reluctantly pulled away from her embrace. "Well, what say we crack open this wonderful gift from Luigi?"
"Hehe. She sounds really devoted to you, Ardwulf." Angelica pulled away and returned to her seat as Ardwulf popped the top off the champagne. He filled both glasses halfway and handed one to Angelica.
"To happy memories..." Angelica raised her glass towards Ardwulf.
"And a full and happy life for the three of us." Ardwulf smiled warmly and they tapped their glasses together gently.
"Here, here." Angelica teased and took a sip of her wine. "Oh, that's yummy." She took another sip as the door opened.
"Oh, Luigi you're back..." Angelica looked up in time to see Ardwulf leap in front of her.
"Ggh." Ardwulf groaned as a rapier was thrust through his heart. "Siegfried..." Ardwulf growled.
"Hello, Captain. As sharp as ever, I see." A hooded figure stood in front of them, a rapier held in his hand. Ardwulf's blood trickled down the blade. "Hm. I'm curious how you're not dead. I did pierce your heart, after all, didn't I?"
"Heheh. You were always slow on the uptake, Siegfried. So..." Ardwulf grabbed the blade of Siegfried's rapier and with relative ease, pulled the blade from his chest.
"Ardwulf!" Angelica screamed as she looked up to see the blade pierce her knight. "W...what...?" She watched in awe as he removed the rapier from his heart. 'How?' She thought to herself.
"Azalia." Siegfried called and another hooded figure, smaller than Siegfried, appeared behind Angelica.
"Forgive me. Just trust me, lady." Azalia whispered so softly in Angelica's ear so that Siegfried couldn't hear. She grabbed hold of Angelica and placed a blade to her throat. "Captain. Don't move." She commanded. 'I won't hurt her, Papa.'
'There you are, my sweet child.' Ardwulf sighed in defeat and adopted the role of the fool. "I see. I should have known. Who else has come here seeking me?"
"Just us, but, The Blazing Witch is on her way to Belorast, Captain." Azalia replied.
"Shut it, child. That is classified material!" Siegfried shouted.
"Don't you dare raise your voice at her, Siegfried!" Ardwulf shouted.
"Why do you care? You aren't our Captain anymore. You're a traitor. I don't have to listen to you." Siegfried laughed. "And with her as our hostage, even the Mighty Black Whirlwind is a mere kitten in my presence."
"Haha....hahahahahaha...." Ardwulf started laughing maniacally. "You think you've tamed the tiger? All these years under my command and you're pathetic, tiny little brain still can't grasp the concept? You are not now, nor will you ever be, my equal, Siegfried The Rogue." Ardwulf started laughing once more as his power exploded outward. Jet black waves of energy surged forth from his body.
"Don't....don't you care about that woman at all? You're bluffing. Well, I'm not, Azalia now!" Siegfried ordered. The room was silent except for Ardwulf's power blasting around them. "Azalia! Azalia...?"
"You still don't get it, Siegfried." Ardwulf started walking towards him slowly. The open wound over Ardwulf's heart slowly closed back up.
"Wh...what are you?! Stay away!" Siegfried stabbed Ardwulf over and over, but nothing worked. "You...you really are a monster!!"
"I didn't want it to come to this, Siegfried. You've always been a friend to me when I needed it. I didn't want to kill you, but you've left me no choice." Ardwulf raised his hand slowly and pointed his finger at Siegfried.
"Captain, no...I...I'm sorry!! Please don't kill me! Please! I'm begging you, Captain!" Siegfried dropped to his knees and sobbed heavily.
"You beg...? You mean like those women and children...? The one's I ordered you to save, before General Estald usurped my command? What gives you the right?" Ardwulf snarled.
"You don't understand, Captain!" Siegfried shouted.
"Make me understand, then!" Ardwulf growled. "Quickly, because you know I grow impatient easily." His eyes turned murderous and cold, like how they looked when he was first found on the battlefield, covered in blood.
"They took our Mother, Captain! Signa and I have had to follow every one of General Estald's twisted orders! If we even breathed a word of this to you, or decided to second guess any order he gave us, Robert would have killed her! You have to understand, Captain!" Siegfried shouted loudly as tears streamed down his face. "She's all my sister and I have in this world. We betrayed you, Captain, for her, because of that, she's the only thing left to us in this wretched world." Siegfried slammed his fist into the ground over and over.
"Siegfried..." Ardwulf's power slowly died down as he took a knee in front of his subordinate. "You still could have come to me, my friend. I would have helped you. I can still help you." He extended his hand down towards Siegfried. "Let me, my old friend."
"C-Captain...?" Siegfried burst into tears again as he grabbed Ardwulf's hand firmly in his own. "I wouldn't have blamed you if you decided to kill me, Captain. I betrayed everything you stood for." He bowed his head low. "I wish to be under your command once more, my Captain!"
"Very good. Azalia, you can come out now, my love." Ardwulf called into the darkness.
Azalia stepped from the shadows with Angelica in tow. "Hehe. It's good to see you again. I've missed you ever so much...Papa." Azalia's hood bounced off her head as she jumped into Ardwulf's awaiting arms.