TW: Blood, discussions of death

The moment that the portal crumbled behind her, Roche felt the weight of her exhaustion. She turned away from Tigris, fighting the weariness that had sunken into her bones. It was a struggle not to crumple to the ground and simply lie there.

"Are you alright?" Tigris asked gently as Roche sucked in a few breaths while easing the queen to the ground. She nodded tightly.

"I just need a second," she muttered, glancing around the clearing. She wished she could summon some light to get a good look at their surroundings, but she needed to save her strength to heal Tigris.

She had to heal her queen. The notion of any other outcome filled Roche with jittery energy that made her want to scratch her skin off. The thought of losing Tigris... it was unthinkable.

"Well, it's good that we have plenty of time," Tigris said brightly. Roche turned back around, lifting her brows when she saw the queen sprawled out on the ground, somehow looking perfectly at ease despite the ragged wound in her side. Roche's heart stuttered in her chest when she noticed fireflies floating lazily around the queen's face, settling around her multicoloured hair like a crown. The light stretched down Tigris' pale cheeks, highlighting the blood and dirt staining the queen's skin. Tigris reclined back, her green eyes glowing like a cat's. She patted the grass beside her, startling a few fireflies.

"Come. Sit." Tigris murmured. Roche huffed slightly, the muscles of her legs aching longingly in response.

"I shouldn't," Roche replied tightly, scanning the darkened trees around them. "I need to secure the perimeter. And I need to prepare to do the enchantment. And-"

"Roche," a sterner quality entered the queen's voice, "You look dead on your feet. Sit down."

Roche couldn't find it within herself to deny Tigris. Not when the queen peered up at her with wide, pleading eyes that sparkled in the darkness like a torch. Roche glanced at her, her resolve weakening as the playful twinkle of Tigris' eyes faded into something unsure and hesitant, like she thought Roche would disagree.

Like Roche would leave her to die alone, just as Finn had said.

A lump formed in Roche's throat. She stepped closer, hyperaware of the crunch of fresh grass under her feet and the fireflies that flitted around her as she neared the queen. She leaned Tigris against a tree before stiffly lowering herself to the ground. Cool mud sank into the bottom of her gown, a stark contrast to the soft warmth bleeding from Tigris' side.

"How long until Circe gets here?" Tigris asked quietly, her breath coming in a puff of warmth that caressed Roche's cheek. Roche hoped the darkness hid the sudden flush of her cheeks.

"I'm not sure," she answered, hushed as she stretched her mind out, "They're not replying. I think they're saving their strength."

Tigris hummed in reply, staring out at the clearing. Roche followed her gaze, feeling the knots of tension loosening from her shoulders as she peered out at the moonlit grass. Up above, the clouds parted to reveal tiny pinpricks of light.

"Do you ever think of her?" Tigris asked after a moment.

Roche blinked at the abrupt break in the silence. "Who?"

"Your lover," Tigris hesitated before adding, "Medea."

Roche waited for the name to trigger a rush of devastation or an overwhelming cloud of grief that would make it difficult to think. Instead, she only felt a bittersweet ache in her chest as the memory of beautiful grey eyes filled her mind. She gazed at the moonbeams and flickering fireflies, her mind drifting to Medea's grove.

"All the time," Roche admitted quietly when she realised that Tigris was still waiting for an answer. A rueful smile twisted her face before she could stop it, "She was an amazing woman."

Tigris bit her lip, sobering. "I'm sure she was," the queen murmured, "I'm sorry. It's my fault she's not with you."

Roche paused. "I never blamed you, Tigris. I don't think Medea did either, in the end. She always wanted to be free from her curse. You granted her that. I've never felt anything but peace from her when I visited the grove. She's moved on and has a higher purpose now."

"Still," Tigris said quietly, "I'm sorry."

Roche dipped her head in concession. They sat in companionable silence for a moment before Tigris' head tilted towards her. "Do you want to talk about her?"

It was a surprising question. No one had ever asked about Medea before. Roche smiled, her mind filled with the memory of warmth and laughter and stars.

"She was brave," Roche said after a moment, pausing when she felt Tigris shift by her side. She snuck a glimpse at the queen, her grin widening when she found the woman listening intently, like Medea's story was the most important she'd ever heard. Roche canted her head, memories rushing through her mind. "When I went to rescue her, I first saw her pissing off Draven. He forced her to be quiet, but that didn't cow her. The moments her chains were loosened... she ran faster than me. She never looked back either."

Tigris' lips quirked. "I doubt anyone would walk slowly after being freed from a bounty hunter's cart."

"Maybe," Roche agreed, "But not many would follow a stranger into the pouring rain without any other explanation." Roche smiled fondly. "Not many people could do what she could either. Her inkblood... it was beautiful. She made stars, just like those ones." Roche pointed upwards.

Tigris' eyes tracked the movement. Something wistful flashed across her face.

"It sounds beautiful."

"It was," Roche murmured, "So was she. She had the most beautiful smile. And her laugh, oh, it was hard to make her laugh at first. But she came around."

"Charmed her, did you?" Tigris asked with a wry smile. Roche chuckled, leaning back to peer at the stars.

"I suppose I did." Roche saw patterns among the pinpricks of light in the sky, forming small constellations like she and Medea used to make. "She was also intelligent. She had this look in her eyes. Like she had wisdom beyond her years."

Tigris' lips curled slightly. "I think I remember that."

Shock rolled through Roche. "You do? How?" she demanded.

Tigris' eyes were still focused on the stars above her head, "Just before we fought, she was still in her human form. We spoke. She... she asked us to let her go. But not for her sake. For ours." The queen's throat bobbed, "She didn't even try to plead for her life, she only cared for those around her."

Roche's heart squeezed in her chest. "She had the kindest heart."

"She reminded me of you," Tigris said softly after a moment, dragging her eyes away from the sky. She stared at Roche with eyes as bright as the stars above them. "She had your heart. And that look in her eyes that you spoke of? I saw it, and I still see it in you."

Roche's throat went dry at the fierceness of the words. Before she could muster up a response, Tigris' gaze slid away. Roche could see a slight flush creeping up the queen's cheeks. "She was an incredible woman. She is lucky to have loved you. It is a blessing to be spoken of so highly posthumously. I wish for the same when I'm dead." Tigris murmured thoughtfully.

A jolt went through Roche. She stiffened, turning to face her lady fully. "If," Roche corrected, the word sticking in her throat, "Not when."

Tigris met her eyes then. "I have to die, Roche."

"Yeah. When you're old and grey."

"No, Roche," Tigris said gently, smiling sadly in a way that made Roche's blood bubble and boil. "We both know that I will die tonight."

"Don't you dare say that," Roche hissed, panic tightening her chest. She grabbed Tigris' arm, careful not to jostle the injured queen's wound as she fiercely growled, "You're not dying."

"There's nothing you can do. You need to let me go." Tigris informed her, her voice patient but firm. Roche's mind went white, a blast of fear and panic taking over. This couldn't be the end. She was the Ala. She was Tigris' protector. She wouldn't fail, Tigris couldn't die-

"This kingdom isn't what it used to be," Tigris was saying, her keen eyes wiping away all rational thought from Roche's mind and leaving white hot panic in its place, "That's a good thing. Aodh and I spoke about this day. When you go back to the city, a new law will be put into place. Inkblood will be decriminalised. You will be free."

Balance would be restored. It was all Roche could have ever hoped for. But the words meant nothing to her now. The victory would always feel hollow without Tigris there to celebrate it.

"You deserve to enjoy the rest of your life without having to worry about keeping me safe," Tigris whispered, reaching forward to clasp Roche's hand. Her eyes bloomed with warmth and kindness so potent that Roche wanted to scream. Tigris' fingers tightened around hers. "You deserve freedom, happiness, and safety. And I'm sorry I couldn't give that to you while I was alive. But now-"

"You brat," Roche interrupted, surprised to find that her voice was thick with tears. Tigris jolted at the heat in the words as Roche lifted her gaze, feeling her eyes burn as bright as smoldering coals. "Do you think that protecting you is a burden?"

Tigris flinched. "Well-"

"Protecting you," Roche bit out, her chest heaving with emotion that made her chest tighten, "Is the greatest honour of my life. No destiny could have forced me to stick around and clean your chambers. No destiny could force me to follow you into battle. And no destiny could ever force me to sacrifice my life for yours. I did it all because you're my friend. You're the only person I trust with the throne, and I'll be damned if you throw it away over a little stab wound!"

"Roche-"

"No!" Roche roared, fully aware of the hysteria leeching into her voice. She tore her hand away, feeling tears leak down her face. Her breath was coming in short bursts. "We can fix this, Tigris. You'll come home. You'll get to see how beautiful inkblood really is in a kingdom that has freed it!"

"Roche-"

"You'll be happy," Roche's voice was thin, breathy with panic. Her head was spinning, the forest whirling around her. The only thing that was steady was Tigris' green eyes, boring into her. "You'll be safe. Finn won't ever hurt you again. You'll live a nice long life and you won't die. You won't! You-"

"Roche!" Tigris' hands had seized her face, holding her tightly. Roche's breath shuddered, half a sob escaping her as Tigris' hands sandwiched her face. The queen's cool, nimble fingers swiped away her tears, leaving iciness wherever she touched. "Roche," Tigris repeated, softer this time. Her lips trembled. Roche numbly realised that her oldest friend looked thoroughly shaken by her outburst. The queen's thumbs swept away a fresh swell of tears. "Roche, you have to let me go."

Roche's breath quavered. Her blood roared in her ears. She shook her head vehemently. "Don't ask me that. Don't you dare!"

"Stop," Tigris begged, "Please, don't cry. I'll grant you anything, just... calm down."

Roche was almost whining now, her desperation manifesting as a fiery burn in her throat. "Live. That's all I ask."

"Anything but that," Tigris whispered, wincing as she drew herself closer. Her eyes were glazed with pain, but she still drew closer to Roche. The crushing wave of emotions in Roche's mind drew still as she realised just how close they were. How close their lips were.

Her breath trembled. She watched Tigris go still, her sparkling eyes, so very alive, dropping down to Roche's lips. Her cheeks prickled, under the queen's watchful eyes.

"Roche..." Tigris trailed off. Roche's mind went soft at the intoxicating sound of her name on her lady's lips. She pressed close, so close that their lips were almost touching.

Tigris' breath stuttered. Fierce heat flashed in her eyes. And for the first time since they'd met, Roche let herself dream.

"Anything?" she repeated, the words sticking to her lips like honey. Tigris watched the movement of her mouth, her cheeks blushing prettily as Roche asked, "I can ask anything?"

"Yes," Tigris whispered back instantly, like she'd been waiting her entire life to say the word.

Roche closed her eyes. For a moment, she saw stars. Then she opened her eyes and found Tigris' green eyes glimmering like jewels.

Roche's throat was dry as her lips parted to whisper, "And if I asked you to kiss me?"

Tigris smiled. Her thumb stroked Roche's jawbone, sending a rush of warmth unfurling from the depths of Roche's stomach. "Then I'd tell you I've been waiting ages for you to ask me that."

"Tigris," Roche murmured. The name was sweet on her tongue. Need filled her. "Please. Kiss me."

The queen was as sure as she'd always been. She swept forward without hesitation, her lips crashing against Roche's with the force of a tidal wave. Roche's fingers shot up, cradling Tigris' lithe body carefully as they pressed together. They fitted together seamlessly, like their kiss had been written in the stars too. The world seemed to pulse and glow as Roche dissolved into her queen's lips, wondering how destiny could taste so divine.

Tigris gasped against her lip, and the sweet friction of her made Roche melt.

"Oh, Roche," Tigris murmured, somehow still regal after the infinite moments of their cosmic embrace, "Roche."

Roche answered her call. She always would. She sucked at Tigris, curled against her body, the body and soul that she'd protect and loved for five years. The queen she'd protect and love for eons. This, Roche decided, her mind fogged with the saccharine and heavenly warmth of Tigris' lips, was destined. It had to be. Because she would endure a million lifetimes of suffering for this woman, her queen, her Tigris.

She pulled back, tears dripping down her cheeks.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice shaking. Her hands drifted up Tigris' neck, stopping right beneath the sharp curve of her jaw. A weakening pulse pounding against her fingers. "I love you, Tigris."

The queen's eyes widened. Her lips, swollen from their kiss, curved with words that Roche physically ached to hear.

But she never got the chance.

Her inkblood froze in her veins so suddenly that it ached. She folded over in surprise. Tigris' hands fluttered through the air in surprise, begging to know what was wrong. Roche opened her mouth to answer when an invisible hand curled around her.

"ROCHE!" Tigris' ragged scream made every hair on Roche's arm stand on end as Roche was dragged away and thrown into the air. She scrambled to summon her inkblood as her body spun. She didn't have the strength to do anything to protect herself as she crashed into the thick trunk of a tree, her vision going dark.

Tigris' cry muddled in her ears, but Roche's mind focused on another sound filtering through the eerily silent forest.

"Hello, Tigris."

Roche cracked open her eyes, blearily focusing on the haggard form of Finn.

"Finn," Tigris' voice cracked. She sounded horrified. Roche felt similarly as she dazedly took in the traitor prince's form. Finn looked awful. His clothes, once regal and fine, were torn to tatters. He swayed on long, muscled legs with large, fleshy chunks torn out of them. Inkblood leaked from him in thin, oily streams that reeked like rotten meat. His arms were similarly ravaged, and he held them awkwardly from his body, like his bones were straining at the confines of his skin. A flap of skin waved like a flag from his collar. He fingered it absentmindedly as he prowled towards his sister, somehow still able to walk. Roche couldn't see his face with his thick mat of curls blocking her view, but from Tigris' pale features, she could guess that his features were just as terrible.

Finn swayed as he stood over Tigris' limp body. The queen twitched towards her weapon's belt to retrieve her sword, but winced when her wound tugged.

"Oh, Tigris," Finn's voice was soft, almost sympathetic. He kneeled down beside her, his fingers seemingly tender as they reached up to trace Tigris' jaw. The queen didn't fight. She sat there, looking gutted as Finn whispered, "Look at you now."

"Finn," Tigris breathed, horror dripping from the single syllable, "Brother. What happened to you?"

Finn stiffened. "What didn't happen to me?" he hissed, venom and bitterness filling his voice, "The uska still demand their feast. The living ones, anyway. I sent them away, back to their realm. I don't need them to deal with you now." He cocked his head. Roche could hear the smile in his voice as he stroked Tigris' cheek again, "You've lost. The prophecies were right. Orpheus has dealt you a mortal blow."

Tigris remained silent. Finn leaned closer. "Well?" he goaded, his fingers tightening around the queen's chin when she didn't reply, "Just as I thought. You know it. You will die soon, sister. The world will be a better place without you."

"I could say the same about you," Tigris murmured, but she didn't sound angry. She sounded devastated. Her eyes sparkled with tears as she met Finn's eyes. "I never thought I would say such a thing about you, Finn."

Finn huffed. "Liar. You always belittled me. You always thought I was weak. That I couldn't fight."

"No, Finn," Tigris replied sadly, "I thought the world of you."

Finn was as still as a statue. His brows furrowed. "You never trusted me. You spurned me. You betrayed me."

"I trusted you more than anyone," Tigris insisted, her voice still gentle, "I would have given you my throne if you had asked. I would have named you my heir, once."

Finn sputtered, a wheezy sound. "You-"

"I loved you, brother," Tigris murmured, closing her eyes like the words pained her, "I raised you. I remember Leinos bringing you out of the infirmary from which you were born and handing you to me. As the kingdom fell apart, I watched you grow from a child I could hold to a man I could trust. I thought I could trust you to help me rebuild our kingdom."

Finn flinched like the words were a slap. Then his face hardened. He sneered in disgust. "Yet you spurned me when given the chance. You let me suffer as our father tortured me. You took the man that I loved just because you could. You turned on me when I gave you the truth."

"I turned on you when you killed our people," Tigris retorted, her voice weak and thready.

Finn's lips curled. He crossed his legs, lowering himself further to the ground."You are not faultless, Tigris," the inkblood murmured, "You betrayed me. And it is the greatest gift that life has granted me to watch you die."

Tigris watched wordlessly, looking utterly defeated as Finn grabbed her chin, yanking her face up towards his as he hissed, "I will enjoy watching you pay for all the suffering you have caused me. The uska will gorge themselves on your blood. They will wipe you and your traitorous people off the face of this planet. They will bring balance to this forsaken world and when I rule, generations will curse your name. They will know you as the Queen of Fault, the queen who was meant to fall. They will rue the day you were born and hate you for all of eternity. Just as I will."

"I never took you as a liar, Finn."

Roche felt empty as Finn turned towards her, his face glowing with hatred. She stood, swaying unsteadily as she reeled from her impact with the tree. Still, she managed to stand tall as Finn snarled at her.

"Oh, and you, Ala, will be the most hated of them all. Traitor to your kin. Traitor to anyone who breathes except your queen. I will drink your blood and curse your name until the stars burn to ashes." Finn snarled.

Roche cocked her head. "No you won't. This war ends today, Finn. And you were never meant to win." Roche summoned the last of her strength, a thin arrow of inkblood forming in the air between them.

Finn's skin blanched white for a moment. He was weak, Roche realised. Any defense he could muster would be paltry.

But Finn straightened after a moment, smirking at her. He grabbed Tigris, hauling the queen up roughly. Roche tensed as he held his sister in front of him like a human shield.

"Try it," Finn whispered, triumph written into his face, "I guarantee you that the only person you'll hit is your beloved queen."

He wasn't lying. He may not have any inkblood left to use, but he could still sense the direction of Roche's enchantment.

Tigris weakly scrabbled at his fingers, her face bone white with agony. Blood dripped from her side, seeping through her bandages.

They were running out of time.

Roche's jaw clenched. She raised her hand, inkblood swelling in front of her. It exploded, shooting off into the trees. Finn's eyes darted around, waiting for an errant arrow to strike him. When none did, he barked with harsh, discordant laughter.

"Was that supposed to scare me?" he taunted, staring at the arrow still hovering between them.

Roche grimaced. "No," she replied.

There was a wet thunk.

Tigris collapsed to the ground as Finn's fingers loosened around her neck. For a moment, Roche feared she'd hit her.

But then Finn let out a choked sound, blood spurting from his lips. Tigris' sword was stabbed straight through his ribs, nearly a mirror image of Tigris' wound. But unlike Orpheus, Roche had studied with Leinos.

She knew how to aim for the heart.

His death woud be a swift one.

Finn gasped, agony draining the blood from his face as he collapsed onto his knees. Roche tightened her inkblood around the queen's blade, the blade she'd summoned with seemingly errant bolts of ink like Finn had used to enchant Orpheus, and yanked the sword out of the traitor prince's back with a wet squelch.

Finn's eyes bugged out of his head. His breath came in terrible wet wheezes, his fingertips staining red as he scrambled to press his fingers against the gaping hole in his chest. Roche neared him, her inkblood arrow of death following her as she kneeled by his side. Finn tried to incant a healing enchantment, but Roche knew it was futile. She could barely feel any ink still within him.

She stared into the face of a prince she'd once known.

"I'm sorry it had to end this way, Finn," Roche whispered, beckoning for the death enchantment to near him. Finn let out a terrified gasping plea as the arrow approached him. It wasn't a humane death, but Roche had no more strength within her for anything else. She tilted his chin towards her, trying to draw his attention away from the arrow. His eyes were accusatory as she murmured, "I will always blame myself for what you've become. But I cannot let you fall further. Goodbye, Finn. May death be kinder to you than I was."

Roche flicked her fingers. Finn let out a breathless scream as the arrow neared him.

"STOP!"

Roche froze, and the inkblood arrow froze a hairbreadth from Finn's skin. The prince didn't dare move as Roche turned to the queen with inquisitive eyes. Tigris struggled to breathe as she levered herself up and met Roche's eyes.

"There's someone else who needs to see him," Tigris said gravely.

It took Roche a moment to understand.

"What are you talking about?" Finn wheezed venomously as Roche studied him. He wouldn't survive for much longer. He wouldn't weasel out of death again. "Answer me, you fools!"

Roche didn't reply as she took the inkblood from the death enchantment and gave it a new purpose.

"Leynuo."

"What are you doing?" Finn gasped breathlessly as Roche grabbed him by the shoulders, her muscles coiling, "What are you-"

He was cut off when Roche shoved him through the thin, flickering portal that formed before them. She watched him stumble and crumple to the ground in the infirmary, several healers shouting out in surprise as Finn flipped on his back. His accusing eyes burned her as the portal began to crumble into flecks of ink.

"Goodbye, Finn," Roche whispered for the last time.

She didn't know if he heard her because the portal was gone.

A/N: Holy moly, this chapter was such a roller coaster. After 194 chapters, we finally, finally, have a kiss between our two favourite protagonists :D WOOOOOO!!! I've been waiting to this since the start of the book lol.

Also, we have a very unique chapter coming up next. Chapter 195 will be in Finn's POV! :O Any thoughts on what's coming next?

As always, happy reading!