Vex had just happened to be sitting outside the sun tree having a picnic with her family when the trunk spilt revealing a familiar green portal. “Thanks sun tree.” Wise and a little more hollow said druid walked through the portal instantly smiling at the sight before her.
“Aunt Keyleth!” All the children screamed swarming their aunt. Vex and Percy sat in the back patiently waiting for their turn as all the kids talked over one another telling Keyleth too much information at once.
“Alright, let’s give Keyleth some room to breathe.” Percy sagely interjected shooing the kids away. “It’s good to see you.” He gave her a quick hug then pulled away not wanting to show he was in fact human.
“Hello Kiki.” Vex swaddled her best friend in a hug tighter than she needed to. She sighed into the embrace feeling Keyleth hold her back just as tightly. For a second too long they stayed there relishing in familiar arms then pulled away holding each other still. “What brings you here out of the blue?” Hazel eyes danced through Keyleth’s reading her like a book no matter how practiced she was at keeping her face neutral. She won’t be able to look at her, her chest already heavy with the weight of the world. Vex’s gaze would be the thing to knock her off her feet, her eyes her weakness.
“I just missed the kids so much I thought I’d drop by. You’re here too.” The druid laughed at the mock of a scoff from Vex, Percy rolling his eyes at his kids boosting about The Voice of the Tempest loving them more. It made Keyleth genuinely smile. “I do need to have a conversation with you two some time today.” She added creating butterflies and flowers for the kids.
“By that tone of voice it sounds like sooner is better than later.” Percy gravelly filled in sighing heavily.
“Why don’t we go inside? We’ve been out here for so long already.” Vex went about picking up the freshly laid out picnic blanket and barley eaten food.
“But we just-” Gwen started before Vesper scooped her up.
“Race you all!” She took off towards the castle carrying Gwen on her back. Vax’ildan took the neatly set basket from his mother with a nod then tore after the rest of his siblings, the twins already caught up with their oldest and youngest sisters.
Keyleth was death gripping her staff staring after them feeling anxiety building in her chest. Maybe it was better she kept her friends in the dark. Maybe it was better to keep them as far away from the problem as possible.
“I haven’t seen that look in your eye since the fight with Vecna.” Vex’s voice turned hoarse. “What’s going on Keyleth?” She was breathless.
Keyleth sighed. This what she came here for anyway, she might as well say it. They… Vex would never forgive her for keeping it a secret now. “Ludinus Da’leth has assembled something called the Mallius Key. If he succeeds life as we know it will change, or end.” She said it with the poise of a leader and the shakiness of a friend. “From what I understand he wants to let loose a god eater trapped on Ruidus.” Her eyes wouldn’t meet the ones ogling at her.
“A god eater on the red moon? How ridiculous.” Percy pinched the bridge of his nose. “Seems like just the thing to pull us back-”
“No.” Keyleth nearly shouted. Her tone hard catching the Lord and Lady off guard, their witty arguments hated. “This isn’t a recruitment mission.” Her heart was pounding. She was sure she did the right thing by the tell them, but it still felt awful to see them so hurt, even if it was just her periphery. Shew as too much of a coward to look at them directly.
“Keyleth.” Vex said her name like it was cursed. It made her chest tighter, her breaths shorter. “Don’t tell me you plan on fighting?” The words were desperate as the ranger stepped forward into the druids space. So much did Keyleth want to step forward into her familiar embrace and forget the world the was ending. Stay in their own perfect world for as long as they wanted. But the world needed saving. Her family needed to stay safe. So instead she kept speaking her rehearsed speech unable to bare the emotions pouring off of her friends.
“He’s amassed an army of people born under Radius’s flares. Exaltants, those who’ve gain immeasurable power from the moon.” She took a step back feeling the bark of the sun tree tickling her back. She couldn’t stay that near Vex and her over powering aura. “They have more power than anyone in Exandria can handle. I have to go.” She softened her face smiling despite the situation. It clearly made the Lord and Lady angry. She couldn’t think of anything else to do, it just felt right.
“This is a suicide mission.” Percy bluntly stated looking the druid with steeled eyes. “And you expect us to just sit back and do nothing?” The bite to his words was one of betrayal.
“Yes.” Keyleth stood taller. “You have a family Percy.” She stated like it wasn’t obvious. Percy shut his open mouth, for once his witty retort fell away from him. “It won’t be for awhile, I don’t have the exact time line yet.” Her shaking voice steadied. “I’m free all day if you have the time.” She felt like her awkward twenty three year old self under the immense pressure of the De Rollo’s and their intimidating stares. Some things never change.
“This conversation isn’t over.” Vex took Keyleth and Percy by the hands leading them back to the castle without a single fuss.
————
Vex, Percy and their children were in their family room laughing and chiding each other. The twins were ragging one another about who was better at what bringing a serene sort of smile to Vex’s face. Vesper and Vax’ildan were sat on either side of the sofa chatting with their parents, Gwen laid on their laps in the middle butting into the conversation when she felt like it.
“Mommy!” Gwen whined sitting up. “I’m thirsty.” She broke out into laughter at Vesper tickling her sides.
“You’re a big girl Gwen!” The eldest sibling playfully scolded. “Give mom a break! She’s getting older, needs the- Ow!” She glanced to her mother who was already on her feet, a skillfully thrown cookie smacking her in the face.
“I could save the world, again I might add, with my eyes closed.” The lady of the house was on her feet chuckling as Vax’ildan picked up the tossed cookie eating it with a smirk.
“Traitor!” Vesper yelled. “Get him!” The twins and Gwen dove onto of their brother as Vex left the room giving a very disgruntled Percy a wink. A wistful sigh left her lips. If she’d told her younger self where she was now she wouldn’t believe herself either. Loving husband, children, friends and… Vax. The thought of him was still heavy, but she knew he was proud of her and always watching over her.
About half way to the kitchen a warmth light up on her chest. Her blood ran cold as she fumbled to find a long since cold necklace sitting on her chest. She’d dug it out of her jewelry box the day after Keyleth’s last visit. She told herself she wouldn’t need it, it was just a way to know everything was okay. “No. No no no.” She repeated over and over feeling her knees go weak. For years the gems have been dull, one forever darker than the rest. “Per-Percy.” She barley made his name out in a whisper feeling the gem pulse. “Percy!” Her scream echoed down the halls of the castle blood curdling and broken.
“Vex!” Her husband shouted her name terrified. She couldn’t respond past gut wrenching sobs sending her to the floor holding the necklace in shaking hands. “Vex’Ahlia!” He yelled even more desperate, his slamming footsteps approaching her quickly. “Are you hurt? What’s happened?” He had his hands on her shoulders inspecting her carefully, eyes wide and scared.
Vex couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She just held up the necklace curling into her husband. His quiet stuttered breath told her everything she needed to know even if she couldn’t think straight.
They stayed like that in the middle of the hall until Vex had run out of tears to cry. Percy got her to her feet getting them to the bedroom where Vex collapsed onto the bed unresponsive and inconsolable, the necklace still pulsing.
Percy laid behind his wife spooning her the way he knew she needed. Her love languages gifts and physical touch. She turned over to face him. Her eyes were puffy, red, and still watering. No words were spoken. She just balled his shirt in her hands feeling the constant heartbeat of the pulsing necklace against her chest.
She hated this. Not knowing if her best friend was alive or dead. She hated the way she could do nothing but cry and wait and hope and pray to Pelor, if he could even her her anymore.
And then the pulsing stopped. Her own heart stopped. The tears started again and she couldn’t breathe. Percy tried his best to comfort her. She was so far gone in her grief none of it mattered. Nothing registered in her mind past the hurt and emptiness she related to only one other person in her life.
——
It was a gorgeous day. Blue skies, fluffy white clouds, with the most perfect of breezes. Yet the air was heavy. Silence suffocated the hundreds of people gathered to mourn. Zephora was dressed to the nines in blacks and funeral flowers cast by local druids in a mournful mock of festival decorations.
It would’ve been beautiful if it were anyone else. Vex thought as she stared at the scenery distracting herself from what was coming next. Convincing herself that she delayed it it wasn’t real. Her hand squeezed Percy’s hard. His squeezed back without a complaint. They’d been sitting in silence with the rest of their friends at the front of the crowd sitting around an empty hole in the ground under the Raven Tree. Scattered around she saw familiar faces. Allura and Kima, Gilmore, Kash and Zahra, so many others who’ve fought along side Voxmachina.
Somber, too somber music filled the air. Crying violins and wailing lyres swirled around one another lead by Scanlan as the crowd parted. Vex couldn’t bring herself to look. Her heart was pounding, she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t look. She can’t… She did. Her eyes tailed down the parted sea of crying faces. Korrin and Villia walked down the center shaking, sobbing with their heads held high. In between them was a wrapped cloth, poking out the top a familiar antlered crown.
Vex’s knees buckled. Her stomach swirled threatening to spill the nothing she’d eaten for days. The hand in hers tightened, another larger one catching her arm holding her up. One smaller hand was on her lower back, another taking her free hand and squeezing with a surprising amount of strength.
Her friends were there holding her together. Her bottom lip quivered, the Tears she’d been holding for the end of everything betrayed her falling freely down her face.
Korrin and Villia fell to their knees resting Keyleth’s body into her grave. One handful of dirt from Korrin, Grog, Pike, Scanlan, Percy, and finally Vex. Villia steeled her shaking hands just long enough to cover her daughters body fully. They wept. The crowd, already weeping wailed. Ravens cawed and Vox Machina screamed.
Hours passed. The crowd long since left giving those closest to their fallen Tempest to grieve. Shimmering light streamed from the sky turning everything it touched to gold. It was silent once again. Vex was alone sitting on her knees just staring at her headstone.
‘Here lies The Voice of the Tempest.’ Short, and to the point. The way Keyleth would’ve liked it. Vex thought scoffing a small terrible laugh that racked through her chest. She would’ve loved this whole thing, minus all the praise and tears in her name. Vex laughed lightly placing a soft kiss to the stones smooth top.
“I never got the chance to tell you before life took us in separate paths.” Voice hoarse and quiet her eyes watered. “It would’ve been you. If not Percy, it was always going to be you.” Her voice cracked upwards. Her breath caught in her throat. Of course there was no response. A breeze blew though the air. It caressed her face as gently as the touch of a lover. She closed her eyes imagining it was her. Then it was gone leaving everything to feel too final.
Dusk was settling in, the sky awash with reds, yellows, pinks, and blues. Vex was still there sitting with her back against the Raven tree beside her headstone. She saw him coming with a sorrowful look in his eyes. He had his mouth open to say something. She cut him off.
“It’s not fair Percy.” Hands clasped to her chest she laid against him as he sat at her side. “She was supposed to out live us all.” She buried her face into his neck.
He held her tightly in his arms. “I know.” He never was the comforter of the group, but Vex still adored his attempts. She melted into him feeling content in his embrace. She numbly reached into the top of her dress. It was a bad idea, that much was obvious. Yet her eyes were trained on a dull, unbeating necklace now scored with two permanently dark gems sat directly next to each other.
In all the irony and grief at least there was one consistency. Her life is filled with tragedy. It will always. Always. Be filled with tragedy.