NOTE: I've already gotten through A LOT of my story, and I'm way behind on posting it here. XD; So, I'll post it one by one, and you guys give me feedback plrs. <3




"Auria!" A young girl's voice screamed, filled with panic. Both of her cerulean orbitals would open slightly, as Auria lifted her head to have the blurred face of a fellow priestess bent over above her.

"Are you alright?! Are you hurt?!" Rose's voice came in clear, now, "I've found her, Yoshi, over here!" Auria slowly brought herself to a sitting position, that sweet gent of Armaros' still grasped firmly in her right hand, pressed against her chest. Where was she? How long had it been?

"We've been worried sick about you!" Yoshi grabbed Auria's arm lightly, pulling her to her feet.

"How long have I been out here..?" Auria inquired, dazed.

"Almost two days.." Yoshimi answered, keeping a hand firm on Auria's shoulder, so she didn't double-over.

"We've been worried sick about you!" Rose cried, "If it weren't for Armaros, no one would've been able to find you. Hell, we couldn't even find him for the past few days. Elethria brought him home, and said.." Roses words became quiet, but her mouth kept moving. They were there, but her mind had tuned everything out after the mention of her name.

"Eltheria.." Auria repeated.

"Hm? Yes, she brought him home. Said that you guys ran in to some High Orcs, and lost you in the battle. Shame, really, Armaros probably won't get out of bed for awhile. ..Though when I saw him he seemed just fine.. Elethria and him haven't come out of his room since they've gotten back.." Rose ranted on to herself, not unusual, and just like her. A slight scowl dug through Auria's expression, as she shrugged herself away from Yoshi, and turned her back on the both of them.

"Don't forget your Tiara!" Rose yelled, placing it lightly on Auria's head and smiling, "wouldn't want to lose something Armaros gave you, would you?"

"No.. I don't suppose I would," Auria remarked, looking down at the gent which almost seemed crumpled in her hands. After what happened before she had been knocked out, she knew things would never be the same. Though, for that moment in time she was able to be in Armaros' arms again, she was happy, truely happy. He had always wanted her to smile, he always wanted her to be happy, and hated even the thought of her sadness.. but he wouldn't get the smile this way, not anymore. Auria sighed softly, as she began her way towards the Dark Conquest castle. The hills of Izlude still sang, no more.

---

That young, blue-haired assassin bust through Armaros' bedroom doors. He was alone, however, and Ryurai blinked in confusion. He didn't remember Elethria ever even leaving the room, but he shook his head, that was unimportant.

"They've found her," Ryurai murmured, "right where you said she would be, she's back in the castle, y'know." Armaros turned slowly. There were bags under his eyes, giving him the distinguished look what seemed to be days without sleep. Though his face slightly lit up with a sense of happiness.

"Please, Ryurai, bring her up here..?" Ryurai nodded, and treaded out of the room, sighing to himself - he knew that today wasn't going to be a good day for someone, it was almost a premonition. The light footsteps against the cement floors distinguished Auria's coming. Armaros stood from his bed, and the moment he saw the face of what would-be his lover, he almost literally broke. Before she knew it, Armaros had taken a firm lock on her shoulders, and drug her towards him, locking her in one of those tight embraces, what seemed like a "bear hug," something she also fell in love with.

"Ange-"

"Please don't call me by my real name, Auria." He pleaded, keeping her face buried within those golden tresses, "Please.. I curse that name, that name which hurts you so.."

"You're Angel. You're Armaros. They're both the same person, because they're both you. Why should it matter what I call you by? It seems as if you're taking us through some Shakespearean play 'by which name, would a rose still not smell as sweet?' I'll call you by what I please.." She pulled back, placing both hands gently against his cheeks, staring hard, "because that same person is who I fell in love with, and it doesn't matter what his name is, s'long as he stays true, and takes what he wants - not what he thinks best." Armaros sighed, the anxiety of Elethria returning any moment, building slowly, he knew she would go farther than she did at Izlude Hill, if she were to see them like this again.

"Auria.."

"Yes?"

"..I love you." He whispered. And that was it. Both knees gave in, as Armaros, the man and guildleader who was known to stand proud and strong, no matter what, collapsed to the floor beneath them. However, he would not weep, nor spit any anger, but sit there in silence, becoming an inhuman statue. Auria would lower herself to her knees, reaching behind her, and pulling the sweet gent which rested within the belt around her waste, off, and reaching it out to him. Armaros only stared, confused.

"I believe this belongs to you.. Please, take it back." But Armaros only shook his head, reaching out to push the sweet gent back towards her.

"It's yours now."

"But, you've kept it for so long," Auria pleaded.

"Yes, I have. And it is yours to keep.."

Both cerulean hues would lower to rest upon the chocolate-colored hat, a gentle sigh escaping her.

"I'm leaving Dark Conquest.." She whispered.

"What?!" Armaros lifted himself slightly, anger and hurt beginning to boil in his chest.

"It's what's best, I don't want you to hurt anymore, and I don't want what happened between Elethria and I to occur again," She lifted her face slightly, hoping he wouldn't have the heart to care at all, but she knew that would never happen.

"I don't care about what's best! And I damn well don't care about what she sees, or what happens! God damnit, Auria! I can't lose you! Please.." His voice went from a roaring yell, to an almost pleading whimper, causing her to whince slightly, "You know I love you, you know that I don't want you to go.. You know I want you.."

"I do. But I don't see it happening," Auria began to slowly stand, Armaros doing the same.

"Just give me time, Auria. A week! That's all I ask for!" He begged.

"I've given you time, and I don't think I can spare you anymore, Angel." She slowly began to turn her back towards him, before he would reach infront of her, locking her body against his own, from behind.

"I won't let you leave.. I won't," Armaros' voice began to shake and falter, tears streaming down both cheeks, burning them slightly, "I won't ever.. I'll show you, and I'll make you believe. I will make you mine again.. just you wait and see."

A fist formed in Auria's throat, as her lips quivered in what felt like agony. If felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her, as if she were being choked. Her own eyes welled with tears, but she forced them to stay back, she made them remain sheltered by false emotion. No longer would that weakness show, no longer would she let him see her tears. She wished she could believe him, oh how she wished it so. But she knew, she would always only be the best friend. Just that someone who sat pretty in his life.

"Prove it.." She whimpered.

"I will." He retorted.

"Prove it, now." Auria's voice began to raise.

Armaros was at a loss of words. How was he supposed to prove it now, what could he possibly do?

"What do you want from me, Auria? How do I do such a thing for you? How do I make you smile, truely?" Auria's hand reached up, placing itself against his, which rested against her chest, still in his tight embrace from behind.

"This.. This is what makes me happy. Being able to be held by you, to be loved by you. Being able to not hide it from anyone, and showing who we really are.. what we're capable of, together. Give me your gift of your love and you, and I'll give you my gift of my love and trust.." Armaros closed his eyes slowly, his nose and lips pressing gently against the back of her temples, and in to those golden locks. She still had that same, beautiful aroma, and he his natural scent which loved-so, "Nothing has changed, Angel.. You just need to be able to take it for yourself, while you still have the chance, and keep it close to your heart.."

"I love you, Auria.." Armaros whispered.

"I love you too, Angel.."