The Promise (2)

Fiona glanced at the Dragon Lord hearing my words. If she was unhappy that she was put to sleep for a week by him, she didn't show it on her face. Seeing the two hold another staring contest with each other, I hugged her even tighter and nuzzled myself against her warmth.

It has been over a week since she's in my arms after all... and the feeling and her fragrance was addicting. I never want to let go!

"Daddy, let me go..." Fiona grumbled after the hug got too uncomfortable. She struggled to break free from my embrace, pouted, and resorted to using a wisp of her spiritual qi.

The Dragon Lord and I watched with amusement as she grunted and the frown on her face grew more apparent. Fiona paused, drew in a deep breath, and pushed with all her might. Her spiritual qi erupted, but to her expectations, nothing happened... She looked at my left arm, my right arm, then down at my legs, then finally raised her head upwards to my grin.

"W-what?!" Her eyes widened in realization. "Daddy, y-you--!"

"Daddy what?" I said innocently. "My little kitten is throwing a tantrum again... so cute. It tickles."

"Y-you you you! How?!"

I loosened my arms and Fiona fell into a princess carry again. I leaned in. Her cheeks grew red at my breaths and she gave up on flailing around knowing it was useless. "Nervous that I'm able to bully you from now on?" I teased.

My voice was a whisper but the coughing fit and 'ahem' from behind made me flush red in shame. And that was Lura's voice... I felt like facepalming. She returned at the worse time. The thought flashed red like a blazing siren in both our minds. We froze. T-they're cultivation bases are high... they heard everything...!!!

I was the first to notice that Fiona's hands were trembling... and knew that I maybe probably definitely took things a little to far this time. I cleared my throat and put her down under the disgust-ridden watchful eyes from around me. Fiona shot me a warning glare and harrumphed. As I straightened myself after bending down, Fiona gave a cute slap onto my cheeks. It was quick and she didn't use any force but it still stung. The room fell into a state of shock, surprise and silence.

"No more... bullying," Fiona stammered. Her voice grew softer at each words. At the end, she blushed again, and hid herself behind me.

I scratched the back of my head. It was the first time I've been slapped by Fiona and it certainly did not feel right. The other times she threw a fit and refused to talk to me or let me hug her for a few hours. My hands returned to pat and cradle her head.

"Yes, no more bullying, only you can bully..." I coaxed.

The slap was better than receiving the cold treatment. And plus, Fiona was so cute as she held her breath daring herself... I wouldn't mind taking one again. She's now hiding behind me too; just too cute for me to handle. It was worth it! The slap meant that she grew closer to me again!

Lura and the Dragon Lord were speechless as they watched our love-hate interactions with each other and my shameless grin. If I wasn't shameless, of course I would lose the chance to take advantage of Fiona. And why would I give that up when she's such a cute and adorable little kitten, hmm?

They seemed to get the message I was trying to convey with my eyes. The Dragon Lord closed his eyes and exhaled. The amount of air pushed the boulder to the entrance of the cave and blocked it off.

"Yes, Princess Fiona, your father underwent training under me. He is far too weak to protect you from what's to come," he agreed.

Fiona's smile turned upside down. She listened to the his next words intently, fiddling a drum with her fingers on my arms.

"You have spent far too long within the Forbidden Lands. The next Great War is inevitable and it looms over us. And once more, I am warning you, Princess Fiona Idaroth Anslein. You must not participate for it means... certain death."

I shot a glare at him. This wasn't what he told me would happen. The Dragon Lord ignored me and continued but Fiona interrupted him.

"B-but... Glendora and mommy has already dragged me in to all of this. She... she stills have the secrets of Daddy's death!" she yelled with exasperation.

The Dragon Lord paused, unbothered by her words. "She has not dragged you into the Great War, Princess Fiona. She cannot. Your status as Mishadow's heir, your engagement to the King of the Azure Frost and your illegitimate status of Glendora's princess means that it is up to you entirely to enter the war or not. Wille's decreed has spread all across the continent; everybody knows your position in the world. And not everyone knows he's dead. Princess Fiona. You cannot be swayed. You cannot act rashly."

Silence befell the three of us. Lura, who stood unnoticeable started to sharpen the arrows in her quiver.

"If you're truly still concerned about your mother, she does have the secret news of your Wille's death. It is somebody under her, whose name and identity I cannot reveal," The Dragon Lord whispered solemnly. "They will do everything they can to blackmail you and force you into the war."

Fiona was on the verge of tears. I picked her up and stuffed her into my embrace again. My back was cold, deathly cold. How could any father bear to see his daughter break down from the pressure and the stress of her multiple identities and positions of power, their estranged family troubles and the looming prophecies of her imminent doom from a second world war? How can I?

The tear droplets in her eyes slowly crystallized into fine ice. They pricked my chest, my heart especially as they crumbled, leaving behind a wet stain on my shirt. It hurt. I was at a loss of words on how to console her. I could only give gentle, rhymatic pats and knead her shoulders and stroke her hair. She bawled.

"Fiona, don't cry, you'll look ugly. Daddy, Lura and the Dragon Lord are all watching you!" I hurried to say. I stammered for words as I tried to relish our happy memories and our future when this was all over and told terrible dad jokes but their tears seem to have surged out faster.

"Crying isn't shameful, little Fiona," Lura spoke up. "Cowardice from the known future is. Be confident in yourself and everyone around you. Don't stress about it, your mother and the war. Take it one step at a time and be in the present moment. The future will pass before you even know it, and you'll be happily in your father's arms at the end of things."

Her words seemed to have done the trick. Fiona sniffed twice and even her echoing "wuuu's" stopped. I shoot Lura a grateful look and set Fiona down. She was still teary-eyed--the gently sky-blue jewels that were her eyes were blurry with water. A little mucus dribbled from her nose that entered in and out as she sniffled. Her body--so frail, so little, and so dazzling adorable trembled as she held back the threatening tears.

My shadow loomed over her face as I walked closer to her. Fiona froze temporarily when I stood over her. She rubbed her eyes with both her hands slowly. I dropped down, my left leg flat on the ground my right propped up. The light, a prism-marine blue glow from the decorative crystals gleamed on her hair. Her little fingers were still curled into a ball of fists and she darted her gaze back and forth.

"D-daddy," she squeaked, antsy as a mouse. I suddenly felt that she wasn't the little kitten no more, but I was the stalking hunter cat. So I stared at her.

Fiona squirmed and squirmed and didn't meet my eyes. She didn't even see that the Lura was struggling to keep her laughter in, or that the Dragon Lord was holding a slight smile even though she clearly glanced at them back and forth.

Fiona struggled and struggled until she took two steps and stomped before me. Her cheeks were glowing red, a invitation for me to come and pinch them. I didn't. Fiona harrumphed and crossed her arms. For once, she actually acted and looked like a lofty princess, and was terribly cute doing so.

Her voice said so otherwise; it was barely an whisper and befitting of the current her, but she met eventually met my eyes. Underneath them I could see finally see the reflection of myself. "Daddy. Will you... stay with me even when I cry for Willes? I-l'll cry and dream and have nightmares and bite back a-and mistake you for him as I--er, we search for the truth. Will you stay with... this selfish daughter of yours?"

It was this moment that I lived for all my life; the words 'your daughter' and her finally addressing her late father by her name. She wasn't selfish at all. I was. I laughed aloud, thinking back about my childish ways to console her. Fiona was only 7 years old, the most mature 7 year old I've ever met. She didn't need happy memories and care and pampering and affection to acknowledge me as a father, but the grit and determination to move forwards. She needed someone to protect her, from inside out, as she embarks on the journey of maturity and of life.

"Why are you still trembling? Don't cry so much," I muttered to her.

The worry across her face disappeared.

"Fiona. You know the answer already. I don't need to tell you every time, do I?" I asked with a obvious fake-annoyance.

"Don't you like telling me this, daddy? Well, I-I like it too...!" She was sheepish.

"I love you, Fiona. You're my darling princess and my little kitten. Litten. I won't ever, not in a million years, leave you."

Fiona twirled her one of her fingers in front of my nose. "Pinky promise?"

"A promise to the heavens," I answered. Encased under a blanket of ice, I hooked her by our pinky fingers, brought it to our hearts, and sealed the long-standing vow with a kiss.

*Authors Note:

I cannot express my shock and gratitude to those still donating power stones. It really helps brighten my day, considering my mental health has taken a dumps since my new semester has begun. My grades are at an all-time low, I've been eating and sleeping poorly and family troubles atop of all that... It really does make these weeks go by better especially since I worked on these chapters throughout the month with the little time I have. So, once again, I thank you for all your support. The least I can do is promise that I'll try writing more. I'm in EST so happy late Lunar New Year and early Valentine's Day to those celebrating! The sweet kiss at the end is my celebration :) and don't worry, i assure you there will be no incest (to those that care)