Along the Great Divide

Chapter 19--Heno's update; Ludwig's mind


The next day when Mamoru went into work at the temple and Ludwig sent him off with some good food, the Head Mage found that Heno was now up to his feet, Grato tenderly caring for him as if he were made of porcelain.

"Heno, I'm glad to see you on your feet."Mamoru said sweetly, going to take Heno's hand gently though getting a wary glare from Grato. A soft smile told the healing mage's guardian that it would be alright.

"It's good to be back up on my feet. Being down on a mat is not really good for my aging back."Heno said, giving his lower back a pat. Grato immediately started to rub the spot for him.

"You don't look a day over 20."Mamo complimented.

"I'm about twice that now I think…Time passes quickly nowadays."Heno said with a chuckle.

"Your only 30."Grato said bluntly, but he cracked a smile just slightly as Heno gave him a look.

Mamoru grinned, looking down a moment to the lacquer box in his hand, wrapped up in a picnic cloth. "Oh, I almost forgot. Ludwig packed you another lunch today, Heno. One for myself and Lord Frei as well. Speaking of which, he wanted to talk to me. Sent a message this morning."He said, putting a hand to his chin.

Heno's face and Grato's brightened up when they saw what was on his ring finger, looking at him like they were about to eat him. "Oh Mamoru! Was it Ludwig?"Heno said with surprise, stepping forward and taking the hand.

"This? Of course. He proposed last night…Oh and did he do a clever job."Mamoru said with laugh and a blush. "But I do need to go see his Lordship. Do you two know where he is?"

"Congratulations to you both."Grato said with a nod, prying Heno away. "I think he's in his office as usual. The man never seems to leave there."

"Thank you. Enjoy your Lunch Heno…and you too Grato, you better not be a pig."Mamoru said with a smile, narrowing his eyes to the vampire. Grato just smirked, Heno smiling and blushing. The mage headed toward Frei's back office, peeking in and finding the Lord Mage having a card game with none other than Yuri.

"Mamorruuu!"Yuri said, getting up and going to hug him tightly. Mamoru struggled to breath under the mage's tight grip.

"Yu--ii….Can't…breath!"Mamoru said, squirming and gasping for air when the mage let go. Mamoru doubled over, holding up his lunch sack that also contained Frei's. "I brought lunch again. Ludwig packed your cake in there again."

"Good, I've been having my usual cravings again."Frei said as he placed a card on the desk. "Gin, Yuri."

"Aww, you beat me again. You cheat so much that it would make a sane man go crazy."Yuri huffed, going back over to his seat across from Frei and plopping down again. "What brings you here other than Frei's sweet tooth?"He asked, pulling all the cards together with a quick sweep.

"I don't know, that's what I'm trying to figure out."Mamoru said, looking to Frei with a questioning eyebrow. Frei had pulled out his usual pipe, lighting it with a quick flick of his finger on the end. The Lord mage rose, gliding over to Mamoru and lifting his hand to look at the ring on his finger.

"He's done quite the job on that ring. I hope you take good care of it."Frei said with a long draw from his pipe, exhaling a little stream from his lips.

"Ring?"Yuri piped. "Sweet Goddess on high, did Ludwig propose? Ooooo, I'm so excited!"Yuri said, nearly flying out of his seat to hug onto Mamoru again who was quick on his feet enough by now to dodge. "Hold still, you're getting a bigger hug then the one before."

"I like my ribs intact thank you!"Mamoru said, pulling Frei's box out from his lunch sack and setting it on his desk. "What was it that you wanted?"

"Just to see what he's been working on and to know just how he did it. He specifically requested that he let me hear you say what went on when he proposed. 'To make it more exciting'."Frei quoted.

"He went that far? Really?"Mamoru asked, taking a seat in Yuri's chair while Frei leaned against his heavy oak desk.

"He asked for a pass to go into the mountains to do some mining for the diamonds inlaid in it, did a lot of bargaining and promises to make that ring on your finger…Did you never ask him what he did that entire time?"Frei asked curiously.

"I did but when I asked he would just say 'working on earning money for our home'."Mamoru said with a frown. Well, he couldn't say that he was too happy about Ludwig keeping secrets from him but he was happy about all the hard work he had done. In the end, he must have made quite a bit for them to be able to afford his kitchen supplies and to furnish their home with what they didn't take from the old mansion.

"I see…Well, it was a good cause. Now…Do tell me about his proposal…before Yuri starts clawing at the walls."Frei said, glancing at Yuri who peeked up from his desk with eyes filled with awe.

Mamoru let a little sweatdrop slide down the side of his face before telling the two Lords about Ludwig's very sweet, very erotic and very exhausting marriage proposal. Yuri could barely contain himself and Frei laughed a little towards the erotic bits.


As they were winding down and Mamoru was ending his story, Heno and Grato came in to see them all looking very cheery. "Ah, Heno, come in. Mamoru, you may want to stay for this."He said addressing the Head Mage.

Heno and Grato took seats on some pillows on the floor, sitting with worrisome faces. What surprised them more was when Ludwig showed up with a small lacquer box in hand with a confused look.

"What's…going on? Why did you want me to deliver this Frei? I could have sent Chester."Ludwig said, Mamoru rising to his feet.

"You need to be here to hear this. I'm sure your delivery boy can mind the store while your gone, he's done a good job before."Frei said with a wise gaze. Mamoru sat back down and Ludwig joined Heno and Grato down on the floor pillows, Yuri doing the same.

The room was quiet when Frei looked to Heno, who seemed to shy away towards Grato a little uncomfortably. Frei, with his emerald eyes, could be intimidating. "Tell us what you remember from the encampment."Frei said, tapping his pipe and filling it again with a purple-colored tobacco.

"Well…When I escaped they were trying to do something new with Malacai's blood. The vampires who were in the undead army are still under his service but they came into the medical building and started pulling mages out from work. When they came back…they were changed…They didn't so much feel like vampires but like something had been pulled from them. Like their free will was completely gone…"Heno said, looking down. Grato rubbed his shoulder gently, encouraging him to continue.

"Go on."Yuri said softly.

"A-and then they came for me and another mage, Maharen…They took us into Malacai's office, put us on our knees and made us sit there until that man came in with two vials of blood. It wasn't vampire's blood…it was something…evil mixed with human blood. First they made Maharen drink it and then tried to do the same with myself…."Heno said, shivering a little. "That metallic, dirty smell is still in my head…Malacai said something while I was trying to resist."

"What was it?"Mamoru said with urgency.

"He'll take us there."Heno said with a whimper. "I didn't drink the blood, I swear Lord Frei…I would never do anything nor let Malacai control me to bring harm to this country. I escaped before they could even get it to my mouth and fought with all of the strength the Goddess gave me to get here."

"Heno…I believe you. While healing you, I saw the events that played out through your mind in a clear picture. What you say is true."Frei said as he rose out from his chair, moving over to the mage who trembled, leaning heavily on Grato. "I'm just glad you made it here safely. We all are. Please, take a little more time to rest and we'll talk about your work here at the temple."He said before looking to Mamoru and Ludwig who looked petrified.

"They're…trying to control the mages now?"Ludwig shook, bringing his hands through his hair, gripping it. Mamoru rose from his seat and knelt beside Ludwig, giving his shoulders a squeeze.

"I'm sorry this had to be after your happy moment….but this is a very dangerous time. I just hope none of the mages who fell under Malacai's control knew of this place…that's the only thing we can be hopeful for."Frei said as he went to lean on his desk again.

"And thank the Goddess none of them were Lords as well. Think of how much devastation they would have caused if they got a hold of one of the nine."Yuri said with a furrowed brow. "We should warn the others…and bring Rhoma here."

"Rhoma is supposed to be coming so you don't have to worry about that at least…"Ludwig said with a long breath, moving his hands away from his hair. "So long as they don't find out about this place…I think we can sleep a little easier."

"Ludwig…"Mamoru said, bringing his hand to pet his dark, raven hair. "Frei, would you mind if I…"

"Of course…Take him home."Frei said, excusing them. His eyes fell on Heno and Grato. "As for you, it's safe to say that you must remain here and cleanse yourself. That is all."The Lord said with a wave of his hand.


The news had been devastating to them both. Ludwig closed the restaurant though let Chester take care of the remaining deliveries for the day. They both sat in their bedroom, Mamoru stroking Ludwig's hair gently. Even though he had regained his memories, hoping that it would blot out the horrible ones Malacai scared him with, it still sent a cold chill down his spine, cursing him with nightmares.

"Shh…Ludwig…It's alright. We just have to pray to Reyah that he won't find this place."Mamoru whispered, bringing the back of his warm hand along Ludwig's cold cheek.

"Mamoru, I know he will. I can feel it. It's like every day he's getting closer. I'm scared…"Ludwig admitted, holding onto Mamoru for dear life. "I don't want to go in the dark again…"

"You won't, you won't…"Mamoru cooed, kissing his forehead and wrapping his arms more around him. "I'll make sure of it."

"Thank you…"Ludwig sniffed, burying his face in Mamoru's chest. Mamoru cooed, humming a little song and petted the vampire's hair until he had been lulled into a comfortable sleep. While the undead halfling slept, he decided it would probably be best to peer into his mind to see how it was fairing with this new found information.

--------------------------------------------------------


Mamoru could see himself standing in the same field inside Ludwig's head before. Yet, instead of a desolate, desert-like place, it was green and filled with flowers of all kinds though there was just a chunk that was still a desert. The little child Ludwig was sleeping peacefully in the grass, curled up on a patch of white flowers. The boy stirred, peering up at Mamoru with a sleepy smile.

"You're back…"He yawned, Mamoru kneeling down to pet his hair.

"I came to check on everyone…Why is just that one patch dead?"Mamoru asked, indicating to a dry patch. The child Ludwig frowned, lying back down on the grass.

"Momma is buried there. Nothing grows there. I'll always remember Momma…"The child said, rubbing his eyes. "Can I go back to sleep now?"

"Of course…Sleep tight, little one."Mamoru said, kissing the child Ludwig's forehead as he started to drift off to sleep. The mage rose, starting to walk in the direction of the cabin that contained a slightly older Ludwig. This time, he was up and awake, baking something. When he saw Mamoru in the window, he ran to the door to greet him.

"Hiya Mamo!" Teen Ludwig said, giving the mage a hug. "Your just in time, that white cake that I always make is about to be done. Would you like to have a piece? It's your favorite, remember?"

Mamoru laughed, returning his hug and ruffling his hair a little. "Of course. You can tell me how you've been doing since my last visit."Mamoru said as he sat down at the table. Teen Ludwig hopped up on a stool and started scrubbing away at some dishes. However, Mamoru noticed that out of one window of the cabin, it was the green fields and the other, a roaring sand storm. Something he hadn't paid attention to since the last time he visited.

"Why are the windows two different places?"Mamoru asked as Ludwig stopped to dry his hands and pull the cake from the oven.

"It's my happy place and my sad place."Ludwig explained, pulling the cake out and waiting for it to cool before he could frost it. "It's always been like this. My happy place, I'm with everyone…But my sad one…My sad one everyone is gone. I don't have my Mamoru there."

"But I'm right here."Mamoru said with a tilt of his head.

"Not big Mamoru, Little Mamoru. Let me show you."Ludwig said as he trotted over, taking Mamoru's hand and pulling him to a set of stairs that lead up instead of down into the basement. Upstairs there was just a single room yet it was divided like the outside. One side of it was old and falling apart but the other side contained a bed with a small curled up figure in the middle of it, the sheets and everything scattered with red and white rose petals.

Ludwig moved over to the bed, leaning over and brushing a tuft of white hair. Mamoru followed though was a little surprised to see his younger self looking to elegant and beautiful instead of clumsy or tired from mage training. "Is this how you saw me as a child?"He asked, blushing a little.

"Of course!"Ludwig said with a grin. "You are everything to me, Mamo. Oh, but we better go get the cake finished."

"I'll come back for the cake, Ludwig. There is much more to see."Mamoru said with a soft smile. "Will you make sure little me gets a slice of cake? He's looking a little thin without your good cooking."

"Right. Have fun, Big Mamo!"Ludwig said with another bright smile. Mamoru left the cabin feeling a little better and heading towards the stoney, decrepit, temple-like area where the living Ludwig stood. He wasn't moving, just looking up at the now clear-blue sky instead of the forbidding black.

"Hello Ludwig…."Mamoru said as he gently tapped his shoulder. Ludwig's ear twitched, the man turning around and looking at him with a gentle smile.

"Hello Mamoru. I didn't expect to see you here. Is everything alright on the outside?"Ludwig asked, taking the mage's hand and kissing it lovingly.

"Your scared…and sad. But I think you'll be okay with some time…"Mamoru said as he blushed when Ludwig licked the underside of his wrist, trailing the tip of his tongue up. "Ah, c-can y-you tell me why it's so rocky here still?"He stuttered when Ludwig started to hold him, kissing and nibbling along his neck.

The affections stopped.

"It was the worst part of my life…being without you…without our fathers…It was a very lonely time. I see the others go and play but for some reason I can't leave here. I've tried. The field and the cakes look inviting, the house there across the way looks inviting…but I can't leave."Ludwig said as he let Mamoru go, brushing his warm fingertips along the Albinjian's pale cheek. "I'm happy you came to visit…"

"You're having a hard time moving on from that time we were away…I can always tell in your eyes when you're thinking about then…"Mamoru said as he held Ludwig's hand to his cheek. "You'll be able to leave this all behind one day…And when you do, you'll be much happier."He said, looking over across the way to a sunny field with a single house that was the former forbodding mansion, now with a happier coat of paint and a garden.

Yet there was a stream of heavy smoke coming out of the side.

"Uh-oh…Look's like he's set another dish on fire again."Ludwig said with a chuckle, giving Mamoru's bottom a pat. "You better go help him out."

"Sweet Reyah!"Mamoru said, summoning his staff and hopping on it. "I'll be back another day."

With that, Mamoru left the Living Ludwig back at the rocky area, flying to the house and nearly running into the door. He pulled it open, running back into the kitchen to see the undead Ludwig, still in the army uniform, trying to put out a fire on a frying pan.

"Put a cover on it!"Mamoru said, looking around and grabbing a metal plate that went over a frying pan and smothered the flames. "Goddess, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, it just caught fire. I didn't even put any oil on top."Ludwig said, flicking his hand. It had gotten burned a little but it was healing. "Hearing that frickin' name always destroys my dishes."

Mamoru sighed, rubbing the corners of his eyes. "Ludwig…You don't have to worry."He sighed, moving over to the vampire and wrapping his arms around him. Ludwig stiffened but relaxed, holding him, burying his face.

"I'm afraid to go upstairs…I'm afraid that he'll be there again."Ludwig said, nuzzling the side of Mamoru's neck. "And you'll die…"

"I won't, there's no way I'd leave you alone."Mamoru said, trying to comfort him. Slowly around the kitchen, where the smoke had stained the wall, it was beginning to fade and restore to its normal color. "Feeling any better?"

"Slightly…but what are you doing here?"Ludwig asked, rising and looking down at his mage.

"I was worried about you…outside, you're scared to the point your shaking. I love you so much…and I want you to be happy all the time."Mamoru said with a soft smile. "Why don't we go see the upstairs? That way, you're not alone and you can stay in a room other than the kitchen."

"I love the kitchen."

"I know you do."

"What if he's still up there?"Ludwig said, looking away.

"Then we'll take care of it."Mamoru said reassuringly, grabbing the vampire's hand and pulling him from the kitchen towards the stairs. Everything had been cleaned up from the fight with the mage and then some. They took the long walk upstairs to the room that had been filled with corpses. There, was a sleeping current Mamoru that rolled over and rubbed under his nose a little. The rose petals, like the teen Ludwig's home, were scattered everywhere.

"You know, the third floor room is much bigger."Mamoru said as he looked to Ludwig who seemed to be entranced by the figure on the bed. A little nudge brought him to attention.

"Huh? What? No, I won't allow him to sleep up there alone. I like having him right here where it's closer. I can make sure he's alright this way."Ludwig said with a wry little smile.

"I see…"Mamoru said with a little smirk. So this is what he thought of him. Some form of etherial sleeping beauty that he decorated with rose petals and slept on white sheets made of silk. And naked all the time. "Why's he naked?"

Ludwig flushed purple. "I find him the most beautiful when I can really see all of him. The robes he wears just over-cover him so much."He admitted, looking down to the mage with a smile. "And why aren't you naked?"

"Because it's cold in the house."Mamoru said with his cheeks puffed. "And Nosferata isn't exactly the warmest place on Reyah's earth."

"Right, right…"Ludwig chuckled as he was pulled along towards the final staircase that lead up to the last floor. The vampire froze uncomfortably, peeking at the stairs with the corner of his eyes. "Do we really have to go up there?"

"You can't overcome your fears until you face them."Mamoru assured him, pulling him along up the stairs. However, instead of a hole in the floor, there was now a proper door that lead into the room. Inside the room, there was still the damage from the fight yet slowly it was sliding across the floor and repairing the hole Mamoru had blown into the side of the mansion, though it didn't show on the outside.

Ludwig hesitated, stepping forward and looking around cautiously. "It is…roomy…despite what was here before."He said as he ran the toe of his boot along the floor. Something banged underneath the floor boards the startled them both.

"I see why you're afraid. He's still in your mind but he's just been nesting under the floorboards here."Mamoru concurred, Ludwig having retreated back to the door but Mamoru grabbed him by the back of his undead army uniform and pulled him back.

"Can I go now? Please! I just want to cook!"Ludwig whined but Mamoru gave him a knock upside the head with his hand.

"Calm down! The sooner you can get through past him, the better. If he comes, you have to be ready."Mamoru demanded of him, pointing to the floor. "Now rip up the floor board and get him out of there so we can take care of him."

Ludwig looked at him in awe but he was frightened by all means. He shrank a little, furrowing his eyebrows and kneeling down. He punched his hand through, ripping up a floorboard and getting flung back by the black mass that shot out from underneath it and slipped back under the floors.

"Oh no you don't."Mamoru said as he summoned his staff, ramming the end into the hole in the floorboard and sending a white light shooting underneath it. There was a painful, hot scream that sounded off from under the boards, then silence.

Ludwig, up against the wall, stared though he glanced around the room. The shattered remnants of the wall that was destroyed had reformed into a new wall, the floorboard nestling back into the place nicely. The room had now a warm feeling to it, things like a fireplace, a bed and a couple other things. "What's…"He started.

"We finished him off. I think. Your fixing the room that you didn't want to go to and you can live here now."Mamoru said with a smile, moving over to check on him. Ludwig was in awe all the more, both of them jumping when the other Mamoru in the room downstairs came into the room, slinking down into the bed that had grown in the room with a content sigh.

"Warm…"He sighed before he fell back asleep.

The other two in the room stared but smiled, Ludwig wrapping his arms around the clothed mage and nuzzling him. "Thank you…"He breathed.

"Your welcome Wiggy…"Mamoru said with a kiss to his temple. "But can you do me a favor? Help the Ludwig in the stoney place come out of there….It would make me happy and you."

"If you want, I'll do it."Ludwig smirked. "If you can promise me something too."

"What is it?"Mamoru asked, tilting his head.

"Come here naked."Ludwig teased, getting a odd look from Mamoru but the mage smiled and laughed, hugging him.

"I'll try. Good Luck, Wiggy."Mamoru said with a soft smile, giving the undead form a kiss before rising to his feet. He went to the window, flinging the shutters open and hopping out, sitting on his staff and flying toward the sky.

Yet something made him stop there, causing him to trip in the air and land in a white room there. Patting around for his staff, he found it and rose only to find that he was just on a clear glass, down below them being the clouds. And he wasn't alone.

A figure stood there with his back to the mage. His hair was long and white like Mamoru's but he wasn't as short. He was tall, strong and lean, a strange sword wielded at his hip with the same sort of hakama that Mamoru had to wear for his ceremony. His hair was long, nearly hitting the back of his legs but it was tied in a braid. "Who…"Mamoru started, the figure turning to look at him.

Now he could see who the man was. His face was smooth and creamy, his eyes big and not nearly as almond-shaped as Mamoru's. He could tell from the eyes, the skin, his stance that this was no ordinary man in Ludwig's mind. "Your his…father….but how? You're dead…Ludwig's never mentioned his father…ever…"He said with a gasp.

"I'm just a memory…not a ghost or spirit."The man spoke, his voice soft yet deep. "You must be Mamoru…"

"I am…But…I don't know your name."Mamoru started, stepping forward.

"Ren…"Ludwig's father spoke.

"Ren…"Mamoru parroted.

"It means 'Water Lily' in the common tongue. Though…your name is something special Mamoru."Ren said as he stepped forward and placing his hand gently on the side of Mamoru's face, just like Ludwig would.

"What does it mean?"Mamoru asked, his head tilting.

"'To Protect'"Ren told him, running his fingers along Mamoru's cheek. "And I hope that you would use your name well…Mamoru…in taking care of someone that I could not."

"Whatever happened to you…"Mamoru asked, his eyes saddened.

"The massacre…Which I'm happy to know that you and Yuri survived as well as Marumi."Ren said as he looked off to the side for a moment, hearing the sound of a bell off in the distance of the white room.

"Who's…Marumi?"Mamoru blinked, tilting his head.

"Ask Ludwig."Ren answered.

When Mamoru blinked in his mental form, he woke up to their bedroom in Nosferata. Ludwig was still fast asleep. Looking down, the vampire had a much more content look to his face and had managed to worm his face under Mamoru's robes, his cold skin feeling like ice to his warm skin yet he was comfortable with it.

Just who was this 'Marumi'?