Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 11

Nyx lay on his sleeping bag, staring at the tent ceiling. He had a lot of trouble sleeping ever since…but who could blame him? The memories of Galahd had been bad enough, adding that day on top of them was too much. Keeping the Oracle and Ring safe was basically all that was keeping him going now. There was a new, uncrowned King, but nothing would ever be the same again. What hope did they have of beating the Empire now with what little was left of their forces scattered across the continent trying to stay alive?

Seeing her wake the Archaean…that had been beyond anything he had ever imaged, not to mention absolutely terrifying. Hopefully not all of the Astrals would be that…cranky. He was sure the earthquakes since were due to him but why? To get the King's attention? Hopefully he would reach the Disc soon and they would stop. He didn't like working blind, with no clue where the Royal party was. They were making for Ramuh next, hopefully the old man would be in a better mood. He absently touched the bead in one of his braid that bore the Fulgurian's mark, of all the Astrals he was the one most prayed to by his people, most of them carried his mark somewhere.

He wondered what had happened to the Guard who had stayed to keep Glauca off them, had he survived or had the traitor claimed another life that night? There'd been no word of the General since then, but that wasn't unusual…because he'd been living undercover in the city. He hoped the guy had made it out alive and taken Glauca down at the same time, things would be easier if that man was dead.

There'd been no word on the young King and while Nyx had his phone, he didn't have his number or that of anyone in his group. It was a pity because it'd be a lot easier if they could coordinate their plans and meet up, that way they could pass the Ring on to its rightful bearer and try to coordinate action against the Empire.

He glanced over at the young woman sleeping exhaustedly on the other side of the tent. For Royalty and someone who hadn't had to rough it, she was handling things rather well. At least there were no ships around for her to throw herself off either, especially since he couldn't warp anymore. She didn't complain about the food or tent and just kept walking. Thankfully, she could store her Trident much like the King could otherwise her disguise would never have worked. She was a better travelling companion than many of his fellow Glaives had been, he just wished it wasn't necessary.

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Harry sat on the side of the bed and checked Prompto's temperature, seeing the flush to his face. It seemed the cold of the cavern behind the falls had not done his health any good, even with the warming charms he'd used since they hadn't had jackets with them. they'd retrieved the Arm, but it hadn't been easy between the ice and the daemons. While he did have Pepper Up potions he was wary of giving Prompto one. Technically, Prompto was using Noctis' magic, he wasn't magical himself and not all potions could be used on non-magical people.

He glanced up as Noctis left the bathroom, freshly showered only to see them and frown. "What's wrong?"

"Prompto's got a fever and it looks like a cold," he answered and Noct grimaced, walking over as Prompto blearily opened his eyes.

"You look terrible," Noctis admitted, checking on him and Prompto just groaned. "We're meant to be checking out the Disc today…"

"You're just going to the outlook right? I'll stay here with Prompto, we don't all need to look through the viewfinders."

"You sure?" Noctis asked, obviously worried about Prompto who looked utterly miserable, barely able to keep his eyes open.

"Yeah, go have fun looking," he leant over to kiss him and then Noctis left to tell the others.

"S'rry," Prompto mumbled and Harry smiled, brushing blond hair off Prompto's face.

"Don't worry about it, get some more rest." He went into the bathroom and dampened a cloth, settling it over Prompto's forehead as the other drifted back to sleep. His fever wasn't high enough to warrant a trip to a doctor, but he'd keep an eye on it.

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Ardyn turned to face the young King and his companions, surprised to find one was missing, not that it mattered. "What a coincidence," he smirked at them, tipping his hat in greeting.

"I'm not so sure it is," the Shield glared at him.

"Aren't nursery rhymes curious things? Like this one: 'From the deep, the Archaean calls… Yet on deaf ears, the gods' tongue falls, The King made to kneel, in pain, he crawl'," he recited to them.

"So how do we keep him on his feet?" Scientia asked, obviously very wary of him, smart boy.

"You need only heed the call. Visit the Archaean and hear his plea. I can take you."

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"What do you think?" Gladio asked, not liking the fact their party was split in two, not when dealing with this man.

"I don't know," Noctis admitted, glancing over at the stranger and then back to them. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "We take a ride…"

"…but watch our backs," Gladio finished.

"Fair enough," Ignis agreed.

"Let's do it." Noctis glanced over at the stranger who smiled and began walking away. "Text Prom's phone," he murmured as he moved to follow.

"I'm not one to stand on ceremony, but such an occasion calls for an introduction. Please, call me Ardyn. Come with me to the car park. That's where I left my automobile. She's a dear old thing. Pales next to your Regalia, but she's never let me down," he explained as they walked, seeing a small car near the Regalia. "So we take two vehicles—a convoy of sorts. Shall we?"

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Harry picked up Prompto's phone carefully, reading the message from Ignis. He frowned; he didn't like the idea of them facing an Astral without the whole group…he didn't like Noct facing one at all. From what he'd learnt about them while with Death, most were rather indifferent to humanity and Bahamut's prophecy…well. They would definitely be having words over that. If the Astrals had reacted better to the Scourge and then the first try of Chosen King then none of this would be happening. They had screwed up, but it was the people who had paid the price for that mistake, the Lucis Caelum more than most. He would certainly be taking a closer look at that Ring the next chance he got.

Prompto coughed and Harry turned back to his patient, finding bleary blue eyes looking up at him.

"Hungry?" he asked and Prompto shook his head. "Alright, but you need to drink something," he told him, gently helping him sit up enough to not choke.

"They back?" Prompto asked tiredly, leaning into Harry.

Harry moved to sit with his back against the headboard, settling Prompto against his side, the blond relaxing, shivering thanks to the fever. "They're heading to the Disc with a guide." he ran his fingers through limp blond hair.

"Should go w'th 'em," he was already half asleep again.

"They'll be fine, I'm not leaving you here alone," not with him sleeping so much and the Imperial presence in the city. He would be too easy a target should they work out the Prince was in the town. He did leave briefly to knock on the door of Gladio's sister, warning her to be ready for a quick getaway in case something went wrong at the Disc…which it did.

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Harry appeared at the Haven near the Chocobo post and set the tent up in a second, setting the disorientated Prompto inside. "Stay, the wards will protect you," he ordered and Prompto nodded, looking rather green. He vanished, heading for the Disc. He'd shoved Iris and the two Hester's into a car before leaving with Prompto as the ground shook continually, slapping some emergency wards on the vehicle as they tore away from Lestallum and hopefully to safety at Caem.

He reappeared some distance from the Disc, seeing an Imperial drop ship rising from the crater…and no sign of the Astral who should be holding up the meteor. The whole area was going crazy with seismic activity and he took to the air to get a closer look, seeing no sign of the party as lave rose up in the crater. They were…great, they were on the ship, which was heading towards the ranch. Why would the Empire give them a lift? He followed, wings beating the air, magic enabling him to keep up despite the ships normally greater speed.

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"Here's hoping you find that car of yours," the Chancellor called after them as they left the ship, turning to watch it warily as the ramp closed and it took off. No one noticed the black raven watching from a nearby tree.

"Great," Noctis muttered.

"We need to retrieve the Regalia and return to the others," Ignis pointed out.

They all jumped as a black bird swooped down, the form shifting until Harry landed easily on his feet beside Noctis, grinning at the shocked looks. "Well, we're not in Lestallum anymore. I got everyone out when things went crazy." He looked at Gladio. "Your sister said they're heading for Cape Caem? Prompto's at the Killiam Haven, safely in the tent but he was looking pretty green when I left. The wards on the tent will keep him safe," he explained, and the group relaxed even as Harry crossed his arms. "Do I want to know how you ended up on an Imperial ship?"

Noctis grimaced put pulled out the Chocobo whistle. Thankfully, they weren't too fat from the outpost and therefore the Haven. They mounted the birds and took off. "Our friendly stranger turned out to be the Chancellor. No clue why he helped us, though the Empire did attack Titan who was attacking us at the time, I got his blessing before we nearly got drowned in lava. It was accept the lift or die." He saw Harry grimace at that. "How's Prompto?"

"A bit better after sleeping the day and night, his fever's come down some. The cough isn't settling into his chest either which is good. I wasn't sure taking him to a doctor would be safe or not and while he can use magic he's not actually magical himself, making me reluctant to use most healing potions from home on him."

"There is a real difference between those with and without magic?" Ignis asked as they rode.

"Magicals tend to live longer, are generally healthier, and are a bit hardier," Harry explained. "Potions use magical ingredients from plants and animals and sometimes they can react badly or even be deadly, to those without their own magic. Some, like the calming potion I gave Prompto in the mine, are fine. I'd never give a non-magical something like Skele-Gro or the Draught of Living Death."

"Isn't Skele-Gro what you had in second year?" Noct asked and Harry grimaced.

"After that idiot vanished the bones in my arm, yeah. Not pleasant at all, I was very happy to be knocked out for most of the night."

They rode up to the Haven and dismounted, making for the tent. They found Prompto inside, sprawled on the couch under a blanket, mostly awake, and relieved to see them. They settled in to tell the two exactly what had happened at the Disc, Prompto's eyes going very wide at Gladio's recounting of Noctis actually parrying the Astrals blows.

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A few days later, Prompto was mostly over being sick, thankfully. Unfortunately, there was no news on the Regalia and Harry was kicking himself for not hitting the car with tracking charms when he could. Once they found it, he would be ensuring they couldn't lose the old girl again. While Cindy was calling around the various garages, they were all pretty sure they knew who had it, just not where.

The sudden storm and downpour where a surprise, Prompto quickly moving to help get the Chocobos under shelter, Harry helping as well. Which meant they missed out on meeting Gentiana but the whole group set out to find the runes of Ramuh, deciding it was safest to stay together, Harry shielding them from the rain. Last thing any of them needed was to become sick from the weather.

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Harry watched Noctis hold his hand out to the tree, purple lightning lighting up the air around him, arching into his hand, Noctis' eyes changing colour in return. While shocking to watch, it was far more peaceful than Titan had been.

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Noctis lay beside Harry in their bed, happy for the magical tent with the storm still raging. He felt bad for the people, but it was too dangerous for them to continue with the night coming. They would reach Fociaugh Hollow tomorrow and he would gain Ramuh's blessing. That would make two out of six Astrals, though with Shiva and Ifrit dead he wasn't sure what that would mean.

Warm lips pressed a kiss to his bare shoulder, and he turned his head to look at Harry who smiled. "Stop worrying," the wizard murmured. "You need to relax Noct."

Noctis grinned and rolled over to face him. "I can think of one way to relax," he offered and then kissed him. Harry was right, worrying about tomorrow wouldn't change anything.

TBC…

Short but at least it's something