After a few silent moments alone in the throne room, Edward crouched beside Anna’s lifeless body and gathered her into his arms.

"Come, Anna –" he whispered gently into her hair. "—I am taking you home…"

He carried the girl from the throne room, leaving behind the odor of smoke and blood and death…he descended a staircase that led deep into the underground.

The tunnels smelled dank and stale and mold clung to the eroded stones of the narrow walls. It was nearly pitch-black in the royal burial chambers, but it felt calm and serene…soothing…As Edward stumbled over the crevices and debris littering the passage, he began to speak to Anna:

"Anna, my love…we are in the burial chambers of the royal family of Damcyan…"

Moisture dripped incessantly from the ceiling of the narrow tunnel.

"There is little light here --" Edward admitted guiltily. "—But this darkness can still not hide your beauty…"

Soon Edward passed tremendous iron doors, each bearing the crest of Damcyan; names were engraved on the shields of the crest, proclaiming the titles of the late rulers of the nation.

"You will rest peacefully here –" Edward assured the girl in his arms; he pressed his lips into her hair. "—But I shall be tormented until I rest at your side…"

He entered a dark, cramped chamber; and cobwebs clung to his hair thickly…the stringy mass of cobwebs hung in the chamber like mist…Edward lowered his head and pressed onward into the chamber, ignoring the sticky strands…

"Anna –"

His voice nearly startled him in the oppressive silence.

"—I am sorry that it is not properly furnished –"

He spoke bitterly…

"—But when I return, I shall make certain it is…"

Suddenly a chill coursed through his body…those words…when I return…do you know when that will be…?

He shook his head quickly to get rid of the depressing thoughts…at last he approached the dias standing forlornly in the center of one of the musty burial chambers…He placed Anna’s body gently upon the ancient altar and kneeled at her side for a long time…

"Oh my love!"

His voice broke the stifling silence abruptly.

"Why did you have to leave?"

Edward lowered his head and blinked away tears.

"I know that you are now lying in the arms of the angels…and this cold, dark bed means nothing to you…"

The prince clasped one of her hands tenderly and pressed it to his forehead.

"Anna…you are lying in the burial chamber of the ancestors of the Kings and Queens who have reigned here in Damcyan –"

A single tear escaped from the corner of his eye.

"See the space beside you, Anna?"

A pause…it was as if he expected an answer from the cold and lifeless body…

"By our love I swear that I shall rest there beside you in death –" he declared in determination. "—Or may I forever be plagued in Hades!"

His voice echoed through the room…Edward stared around in terror as if his voice had actually been the voice of one of the inhabitants of the burial chamber…When he spoke again, it was nearly a whisper:

"In the chamber next to you, Anna, lies the warm bodies of Mother and Father…they were locked away for eternity only hours ago, yet I have already lived my life without them."

Tears began to flow unchecked down his cheeks.

"Look down the bright path, Anna!" Edward stated earnestly, his voice rising. "Do you see them there, walking together?"

He began to sob miserably

"Run, Anna! Run to them! They are not far ahead!"

Edward moaned piteously and threw himself upon the dias over her body...

"Tell them what I could never tell them when I had the chance! Please, Anna!"

He shouted hysterically, his voice sounding terrible in the burial chambers…

"Tell Mother and Father that I love them very much and I have always loved them!"

Eyes blazing feverishly, the prince leaped to his feet. He stared around the room, his ivory hair flapping against his cheek…suddenly as if the idea just occurred to him, Edward leaped to the stone wall and pounded on it wildly until his knuckles were bleeding…

"Mother! Father! Do you hear me?!"

He screamed into the darkness…his voice resounded through the dank tunnels…

"I love you and I have always loved you though I never said it when I should have, and if I said it forever, it could never be enough!"

He flung himself beside the altar where Anna’s body rested, whispering desperately:

"Anna, my love, tell them I am sorry...Tell them I am sorry –"

The prince of Damcyan breathed deeply, his breath drifting in the still air. He knelt beside the altar for a long time before he spoke again…When his voice broke the silence, it was calm and thoughtful…

"There is something I wish to ask you, Anna –" He reached a trembling hand to her face and stroked her hair.

"Anna…my dear –" Edward looked toward the ground and uttered a breathless laugh. "—I want to ask you…to…marry…me…"

His whisper died away…silence settled into the chamber again as Edward remained kneeling by her side…awaiting an answer…there would be none, that was certain…The only sounds from the darkness were his quick light breathing and the occasional drip of moisture from the low ceilings of the tunnels…

Finally he sprang to his feet and clutched one of Anna’s hands, a tear trickling from his eye and falling onto her cold face.

"Anna, I am sorry I could never ask you –" He touched her pale face. "—I always found an excuse for myself: I was distracted…I was not ready…I was…afraid –" He gave a mirthless laugh. "I used that one most often –"

Silence…

"But I could never find the way to ask until now!"

He burst into tears again and pressed his flushed cheek against her forehead. When he lifted his head, Edward leaned close and gently kissed her cold lips. Still gripping her hand earnestly, Edward kneeled beside her.

"Look, Anna!" he whispered loudly, indicating a gold ring on his finger. "It is the ring I wanted to give you when we were married!"

He slipped the ring from his finger.

"But even in death we will be together --"

Edward slid the wedding band upon her cold finger.

"--Because as I leave this chamber, I leave my heart concealed behind this iron door!"

Suddenly Edward realized that he was very cold…a numbing cold crept into his limbs…the moisture made the air even chillier…His face was hot and feverish but he still shivered…Stepping away from the dias numbly, he listened to his steady painful breathing…for a moment it seemed that his breaths were those of someone in the chamber near him and he whipped around with a cry…there was no one else there…Edward solemnly reached a hand to his chest and laid his hand over his heart…

"Nothing dwells in here now --" he declared miserably. "--It was left behind me on the cold damp altar!"

He tentatively touched the huge iron door of the chamber and stepped into the doorway…Turning around one last time, he stared at Anna's lifeless body…his Anna…she has been living only hours earlier…how could this be happening now? A tear trickled down his cheek; there was nothing else to say…he felt so empty and emotionless and lonely and depressed…he had given his heart away…there was nothing where it used to be …At last he grabbed the moist handle of the iron door and with a cry pulled it open, where it smashed into the wall with a resounding clang…Edward stood in the darkness until the echoes died away…until he could hear the sound of his breathing…until he heard something to prove that he was still alive…The prince rested his cheek on the cold hard iron door and sobbed bitterly.

"The dying echo was the final beat of my heart --" he moaned against the door. "It was taken away with Anna…my love…my will…my life…"

As he spoke, Edward felt as though his heart were constricted, each breath more agonizing than the last. He began to stumble hastily through the tunnels, slipping on the loose stones and damp puddles littered across the floor. His thin leather boots pounded on the rough ground as he scurried through the burial chambers of the von Muirs…his breath squeezed from his lungs in ragged gasps…Behind him Edward imagined hearing the iron doors crash open…the corpses dashed after him to take the only thing in him that they wished to have…The place was cold and suffocating…there were footsteps behind him as he quickened his pace…the dead ones would be on his heels…Edward couldn't breathe as he tripped and fell to the mildewed floor, a bone-chilling hand gripped his ankle he would have sworn it was real and he screamed breathlessly, crawling to his feet in a run…He ran up, up, up the winding stairs two at a time, struggling to catch the light that always seemed to be one more step ahead of him…

At last Edward burst from the underground chamber of the castle and found himself in the courtyard...Rivulets of sweat crawled down his face and his ragged clothes clung to his damp skin…even the memory of the destruction was more welcome than what he left behind in the burial chambers…he felt feverish…his eyes burned…the entire event was a dream…a nightmare…

Edward glanced toward his hand…

The gold ring was not there…

The prince sighed…He hadn't expected it to be there…with a shaky cry he dropped to the ground and leaned against the stone wall, weeping silently…

* * * * * *

Cecil and Rydia waited patiently outside the ruined castle when Edward appeared at last. Rydia shrieked when she saw him and quit jangling on the harp long enough to hop off the ground and run to him. Edward's face was pale, his hair disheveled…his eyes were blood-shot…

"Edward?"

Rydia skipped to him and grabbed his arm.

"You look like you saw a ghost!"

He smiled weakly…

"I am…fine…"

Cecil scooped his dark helmet from the ground and walked toward Edward and Rydia.

"Edward --"

He eyed the prince curiously.

"Is everything okay?"

Edward's eyes flickered dully…

"Yes…" he whispered, "What's done is done…"

Cecil immediately knew that he was not okay…he did not persist…Rydia stared at the prince of Damcyan curiously and for a moment Cecil though that she would insist that he explain everything, but Edward continued before she had a chance to speak:

"There is still something left undone, and that is seeking the sand ruby from the lair of the ant lion…"

Rydia thrust his harp toward him.

"Do we get to ride in the hovercraft?

She was nearly glowing with excitement. Edward nodded and pointed toward the northern side of the castle.

"It was stored back there; I am afraid it might not work," he admitted guiltily, pulling the strap of the harp over his back. "But we can certainly try it…"

He motioned for them to follow and they made their way around the rubble of the castle with Rydia prancing in front and pausing often to ask Edward if this or that were where the hovercraft was hidden…Seeing the ruins of the castle depressed the prince…it seemed that he could never get the image from his mind…even if he were hundreds or thousands of miles away…

At last Edward stopped.

"I believe it was hidden here somewhere…"

Cecil stared in dismay…

"--A stone wall," he stated. "It's just a stone wall…"

The prince shook his head and surveyed the stone wall before examining it closely…

"I know…there is some way…to get into it --"

He kicked at the base of the stone wall, sending clouds of sand into the air.

"--But I cannot recall --"

He frowned.

"Oh…here it is…"

There was a handle buried at the edge of the wall…Edward leaned toward it, gripping it tightly…

"I suppose…it…opens…somehow --"

He clenched his teeth and snatched hard on the handle…Cecil gestured to Rydia to help Edward, and together the three of them managed to heave open the secret door…it lurched forward with a creak…

They stared into the shadows at a squatty vehicle resting inside the compartment.

"Wow!"

Rydia's hazel eyes were open wide.

"Come on!"

She darted toward the hovercraft.

"Let's get in!"

"Wait!"

Edward shouted to the eager little girl before she clambered upon the vehicle.

"I am not certain how long it will work…we should not waste its fuel right now --" He smiled ruefully. "We do not know how long we need to use it…"

Cecil silently agreed then surveyed the land around the castle of Damcyan…in the east was the hazy outline of the gulf of Damcyan…

"Can we push it to the shore of the gulf?" Cecil inquired, gazing at the sandy beaches spreading around them…Edward regarded the land with a scowl…

"It appears to be the only way to get it there without using fuel…"

He walked to the rear of the hovercraft, studying the inflatable rubber buoys underneath the vehicle. Cecil followed him.

"Let's get started…" he said with a discouraged sigh…this might take forever…but, if it was the only way…Rydia also didn't appear too happy with the arrangement…

"We don't get to drive it?"

Cecil nodded quickly before she became too downcast…

"The faster… we …get it …to the shore --" he managed to gasp between furious pushes. "The faster…we…get to…drive it…"

Without hesitation Rydia flung herself toward the hovercraft, nearly knocking Edward down.

"I'm helping!" she declared exuberantly, heaving herself against the machine.

The little girl's eager mood didn't last very long; pushing the hovercraft to the shore proved to be quite a chore. Although the air was quite chilly, the sun beamed down on them continuously. Sweat poured down Cecil's face and dripped from the tips of his silver hair, but he never once complained…it would be useless…At one point Edward declared that he must lose some clothes so he stripped off the ragged shirt. Rydia also declared that she should take her shirt off before she died of a heat stroke, but Cecil hastily insisted that she would be okay. Edward began to laugh aloud despite the heat and hard work, and they had to rest a moment while he regained his breath. As they pushed the hovercraft toward the channel, Edward took the opportunity to speak to Cecil.

"So--" he started awkwardly, glancing from the corner of his eye. "--You are a former member of the Red Wings? Why did you choose to leave?"

Cecil didn't say anything for a few minutes…God, if he could only narrow it down to one perfect reason…there was not a perfect reason…there were several reasons…Mysidia…the Crystal…King Odin…How could he explain with one reason why he left the Red Wings?

Finally Edward spoke again, quite shamefully:

"If you had rather not talk about it, I understand…"

Cecil shook his head.

"No, I don’t mind…"

He grimaced.

"I just can’t find the words to describe it…"

Edward agreed with the Knight with a reluctant nod.

"It is a universal affliction --" he mused. "--Not being able to find the words to say what you wish to say…"

How true those words are…Cecil thought…how many times had he found himself struggling to say something but not really knowing how? It happened too often…

"Becoming an ex-member of the Red Wings wasn't my choice --" Cecil revealed at last. He still couldn't get rid of his regretful tone when he spoke of his former position. "--It was the King of Baron's decision…"

He dug his feet deep into the sand and strained to push the hovercraft forward.

"But you must have done something to be suddenly dismissed…"

Cecil halted…Edward looked at him quickly, almost ashamed as if he felt he had pursued the subject too eagerly… Cecil was not at all discouraged by his curiosity…it felt surprisingly good to talk about the past events…

"I…didn't share…in the King's…ambition --"

The knight felt a slight blush in his cheeks…it wasn't the absolute truth…but it wasn't a lie…anyway, that's all I can say…He began to push the hovercraft again with sudden determination…Edward sighed and leaned forward again, gripping the back of the vehicle.

"Ambition is Baron's tragic flaw --" He added hastily: "--In my opinion…"

Cecil nodded but frowned thoughtfully.

"Ambition and the will to rule the world are completely different --" He gave a small laugh…regretful…"--King Odin wants to rule the world --"

He grimaced, brushing sweat from his forehead.

"--Possibly something more…"

Edward cocked his head to one side curiously.

"Is that why he seeks the crystals no matter what the cost?"

Cecil paused, blinking away the hot stinging sweat that found its way into his eyes.

"He knows more about the crystals than we do --" he revealed in a low voice. "--A whole lot more…"

"He should not drag the lives of innocent people into this!" Edward argued as if Cecil claimed otherwise. "--It is outrageous!"

Cecil halted again and turned to the prince of Damcyan guiltily.

"If I hadn't been dismissed as captain…I would have been chosen to…get the crystal of Fire…"

Edward lowered his head to the ground and said nothing…Cecil wondered if he should have even made the comment…Rydia was perched on the back of the vehicle, swinging her skinny legs back and forth against the steel frame of the hovercraft. As the two men spoke about Baron, she leaned toward Edward secretly and whispered:

"Mean people live in Baron and I don't like 'em --"

Cecil felt the heat rush to his cheeks…God, did she have mention Baron too?

"--But I like Cecil!"

The little girl concluded, leaning back with a broad grin. Edward offered her a weak smile…

"That is…sweet --"

He pressed his back against the hovercraft and heaved against it.

"--We cannot judge people only by their past actions…"

Cecil knew the prince's words were aimed at him…as some sort of apology…Rydia giggled as the hovercraft began to slide across the sand again…She leaned toward Cecil and whispered:

"I like to hear Edward talk!"

She leaped giggling from the back of the vehicle and landed on Cecil's foot. Cecil grunted in pain, drawing his foot toward his body; and the little girl stared down at him in amazement.

"Cecil! I'm sorry!"

"I'm okay --" the Knight raised his hand hurriedly to assure her that he was okay and didn't need any assistance. He continued pushing the hovercraft as Rydia hopped beside him merrily.

"Cecil --?"

He glanced at her to see her hazel eyes glittering brightly.

"--Can I ride on your back?"

"Umm --"

Sweat dripped down his chin, splashing into the and…It was scorching in the sun…

"--I--"

"Rydia --"

Edward interrupted Cecil's vain attempts to answer the little girl.

"--I think sir Cecil should save his strength for pushing the hovercraft to the shore…"

"Oh --"

Rydia appeared crestfallen

"--I guess you're right --"

She turned to Edward joyfully.

"Can I ride on your back?"

"Errr…no, Rydia --" the prince fumbled for an excuse; suddenly he craned his neck to glance around the hovercraft and his eyes lit up.

"--Look! We are almost there!"

Rydia scampered around the hovercraft and stared with delight at the sandy white shore of the gulf of Damcyan.

"Yippee!"

She clapped her hands happily and urged them to push the hovercraft a few more feet. Finally with a jolt and a splash the hovercraft was at the water's edge…Edward and Cecil collapsed into the powdery sand, exhausted…Cecil glanced back toward the castle of Damcyan…how strange…from here it looked as if nothing were wrong at all…he was relieved to be far away from the ruins of the castle…it only reminded what he might have done if he were still the captain of the Red Wings…