resurgere ex cineribus
@nooseofthorns
The scents of smoke and ash carried by the cruel winds that sweep over the crumbling city behind them fill his lungs with every unsteady breath, adding insult to injury. As much as he wanted to stay, to fight alongside his father, he was forced to flee with precious cargo en tow—the fate of the princess queen of Lucis beneath his protection. A shield’s strength is not honed in times of peace, but with the hardships of war. The weight of being the shield to the last Lucian royal weighs like an iron mantle upon his shoulders—the responsibility has never felt heavier than it does now.
Gladiolus can see the dawn begin to blush across the skies. The night is over, but their journey has just begun. Calloused fingers curl tightly around the pads of delicate flesh of her hands, hoisting her upward from the ravine. He squints against the glare of sunlight that slices across his eyes. Gold. It’s just a haze at first, then he’s greeted with twin points of blue when she tips her head upward at him. He steadies her once she’s on even ground, meets her eyes, smiles faintly.
“You alright?” he asks a needless question. She’s covered in dirt, soot smudging the point of her cheeks, but the determination in those eyes. “Hammerhead is a few hours walk from here,” he continues, looking at the familiar shapes of the rocky formations in the distance, “I’m sure Cid is expecting us. Do you need to rest for a bit before we continue?”
