Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ FF8: Tales Of The Surly Knight ❯ Act I: My Lady Fair ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: All FF8 characters are courtesy of Squaresoft Enix

 

 

Tales of the Surly Knight

 

“What, my dear Lady Disdain!

Are you yet living?”

 

“Is it possible Disdain should die

while she hath such meet food to feed it

as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself

must convert to Disdain if you come

In her presence.”

 

o - o0o - o

 

ACT I

My Lady Fair

 

 

In Lady Dincht's Keep...

 

“Ouch!”

 

She'd pricked her finger again! Unconsciously, she lifted the injured finger to her mouth and sucked it, frowning at the same time, `Who was the sicko masochist that said women are most proficient at fine point embroidery? By the gods, give me a whip anytime!'

 

“Awww! Quisty Onee-chan! You pricked your finger again!”

 

Lady Selphie Tilmitt was highly amused at seeing the scholarly Lady Trepe, her friend and mentor, try her hand at such a …well, not-so-Quistis task! …But then, Lady Ma -as she was called by everyone- was a force to be reckoned with! She'd been horrified when she found out that both Quistis and Selphie, as royal wards, were completely ignorant in the finer points of keeping house. She'd even had the temerity of berating Queen Edea for failing to teach them both to be more ladylike! In this, Lady Dincht completely disregarded the fact that the women of Balamb's royal house had always been raised as shieldmaidens, able to hold their own in case of battle…

 

“You're a fine one to talk Selphie-chan! Your fingers may have been spared, but your embroidery is a mess…”

 

Her good humour restored, as Selphie knew it would, Quistis smiled and continued valiantly to struggle with the supposedly `feminine' handicraft.

 

“Do you know that Rinoa-Hime might be coming here for a long visit?”

 

“Hmmn? It will be nice to see her again. The last time we met she was just a little girl, sooo cute!”

 

“Geez, Onee-chan! You make it sound like you're an ancient crone, and not barely one year our senior!”

 

“Ouch! Tsk! Whoever invented this ought to be hung! … … I suppose His Majesty, King Caraway, is sending his only child out of harm's way. Galbadia is situated between the two warring Goblin Kingdoms…”

 

“Oh, I hope the boys are okay!”

 

“By `boys' you mean Sir Kinneas, don't you?”

 

“Weeell… I do worry about the others too, y'know!”

 

There was an evil look on Lady Selphie's angelic face when she said.

 

“Oooh! Many ladies will be saddened if Sir Almasy fails to return!”

 

As Selphie expected, Quistis's lovely face twisted into a grimace.

 

“Humph! That philanderer! Is a mystery how he hasn't been skewered by more than one jealous husband!”

 

“Admit it Onee-chan! You find him handsome too!”

 

“The day I find that… that… arrogant, good-for-nothing…”

 

“Methinks the lady doth protest too much!”

 

“Selphie-chan! I know what you're trying to do! But remember, it's not me you will be showing your, uh, half done tapestry…”

 

The auburn haired girl ignored her friend's rebuke, and with an impish smile on her lips continued teasing her friend.

 

“The ladies like Sir Leonhart too!”

 

Quistis face softened. It always did whenever Squall's name was being mentioned.

 

“He's definitely a more discriminating gentleman! And he doesn't `distribute' himself as that loose cannon Almasy does!”

 

“Awww, Onee-chan! You're too hard on the poor guy! `Sides... that's what the ladies like `bout him!”

 

“Who precisely are you calling `poor guy'? I'll let you know…”

 

Lady Ma Dincht, the undisputed ruler of the keep interrupted the girl's talk to announce with an excited voice.

 

“Come! Come! My dears! A messenger has arrived from the battlefield!”

 

o

|

o - o0o - o

|

o

 

 

Inside Lady Dincht's kitchen...

 

Quistis and Selphie followed Lady Dincht, and entered the Keep's enormous cavern like kitchen, the centre of which was dominated by a huge hearth fire. Seated at one of the trestle tables was a dark skinned warrior stuffing his face with a large serving of the delicious roast that was turning on the nearby pit. The three ladies recognized the messenger immediately as no other than Sir Raijin, Lord Almasy's most trusted retainer. He was clad in a tunic fashioned in the greys and reds of the Almasy family. Beside him, lying on the floor next to Quetzalcoatl, his enormous halberd, was his steel grey armour ornamented with the Almasy Fire-cross crest and its familiar inscription: Invictus Ignis Pectoris

 

“My dear boy, can you stop eating for a moment, and tell us how are things on the battlefront?”

 

Lady Dincht, ever the anxious mother, wanted to know the fate of Zell, her only child. Unable to contain herself, Quistis also added her own question.

 

“Yes. Do give us the good news! Has Sir Almasy finally been skewered by some lucky goblin's lance?”

 

With her usual good timing, Quistis had caught poor Raijin during the mid swallow of a huge mouthful of roast. He turned all the hues of blue, before managing to gulp down the half masticated chunk of meat. As expected, he rushed to his friend's defence, slashing the air with his hand, which was still clutching a substantial piece of roasted meat.

 

“There's no way Seif Nii-san will allow that, ya know!”

 

“Humph! It would only be poetic justice that Sir Almasy be taken down by a lance, given the amount of jealous husbands he'd left in his wake!”

 

“Awww, Raiji-kun! Don't let Onee-chan get to ya! She's just being a meanie! Do tell us how's everybody!”

 

“Yes, my dear boy, do let us know! How many did we lose this time?”

 

Lady Dincht cast Quistis a repressive look, while encouraging Raijin to speak at the same time. There was no doubt in her mind as to the reasons this incredibly beautiful young lady remained unwed! Even Queen Edea had remarked on the fact that all of Lady Quistis's numerous suitors had been scared away by the young woman's sharp tongue and biting wit…

 

“I've got good news! Ya know? No loses, just a few people hurt!”

 

Lady Dincht clasped both her hands to her ample chest, feeling very relieved! Selphie was not so reticent. She started jumping up and down, full of joy! She made Raijin relinquish his precious food so she could whirl him around the kitchen, making the poor warrior dizzy!

 

“Booyaka! I'm so glad everyone is okay!”

 

“Just for that, my dear boy, I'll double your portion of roast!”

 

Quistis's eyes widened at Lady Dincht's statement. In her -humble- opinion, Raij-kun was eating more than his fair share! Looking at the warrior's flat stomach, she asked herself `Where does he tuck it all in?' She saw Lady Fujin enter the kitchen at a dead run only to stop at the sight of Raijin being twirled around the huge central fire by a overenthusiastic Selphie.

 

“RAIJIN”

 

At the sound of Fujin's voice, Raijin stopped abruptly causing the diminutive Lady Selphie to bump against his massive chest.

 

“Ouch! Hey, watch it Raij-kun! That hurt!”

 

Selphie craned her neck to glare up at Raijin, and noticed that the mighty warrior had a very foolish smile on his lips. She followed the line of his gaze, and started grinning when she spotted a lovely silver haired girl with an eye-patch over her right eye, standing next to Quisty Onee-chan. She raised her hand to wave at the newcomer.

 

“Hi'ya, Fuj-chan! Raij-kun here, brought over some very good news! We only suffered mild injuries in the battlefield!”

 

Large green eyes turned to question Sir Raijin.

 

“Sooo… Like, when are they gettin' back?”

 

Raijin placed a hand to rub behind his neck. A blush was suffusing his rather good-looking face.

 

“Uh, I forgot, ya know, to mention that King Cid wants me to escort you ladies, ya know, to the castle. King Caraway's there with Rinoa-Hime Sama… OUCH!”

 

Fujin had gone over to where Raijin was standing, and had given him a kick in the shins. She was wearing very heavy boots underneath her long skirts. She was the Keep's Master- of-Arms, but she was also a lady, so Lady Dincht made her wear a dress during evenings. Of course, Fujin only half complied with the mandate as her present attire revealed.

 

“Awww, Fuj! Why did ya do that for? You could've hurt yourself, ya know?”

 

The warrior stared down at his lady with a concerned look on his face.

 

“IDIOT!”

 

After saying that, she placed her arms around his neck to pull his head down for a welcome kiss. The warrior was quick to follow his lady's lead by encircling her slender waist to lift her up to his level, and deepening the kiss. They completely forgot that they had a very avid public…

 

“Ahem!…”

 

Quistis and Selphie kept on staring at the couple engaged in a quite a torrid embrace. Lady Dincht harrumphed again before raising her voice.

 

“AHEM!… I THINK we should give them some time together, my dears. We should go get ready to depart to the castle.”

 

After saying that, Lady Dincht left the kitchen fully expecting Quistis and Selphie to follow her.

 

o

|

o - o0o - o

|

o

 

 

 

Earlier that day, in the Throne Room at Balamb Castle...

 

Queen Edea stared at the four young knights kneeling before her with great fondness. They had all done her so proud! She stared at Lord Almasy's golden head, and thought that his lady mother would've been overjoyed had she been able to witness what a handsome man her boy had grown up to be! `I've tried my best, Freyja, to be like a mother to him, but I know he misses you…' Seifer's mother had been her best friend. She had sworn on that terrible day to care for her small son. Her gaze then strayed to the figure of the black knight, and smiled.

 

“Please rise, my young knights, the King and I are extremely pleased with your performance!”

 

The Queen turned to face her husband who was standing beside her, quite content to let her do the talking, “Isn't that right, DEAR?”

 

King Cid, a most beloved figure in the Palace and around the entire kingdom, jumped a bit at his wife's raised voice, and smiled rather absent-mindedly at the four young men, as if recalling he had the duty to address them as their sovereign.

 

“Well fought, my young lads! We are very proud of you for beating the forces of that rascally Gluck!”

 

He beamed at them. After waiting a few seconds, Edea sighed mentally, and addressed the young people again.

 

“Please rise, my children! We shall be holding a fête all day tomorrow to celebrate your victory! I will be sending a messenger to Dincht Keep, so we can summon the ladies Quistis and Selphie home! And of course, to invite Lady Dincht! She would be most anxious to greet her son”

 

The Queen paused to wink at a red faced Zell, who had overheard Almasy mutter, `Mama's boy' under his breath, before he took a step closer to the Queen to say.

 

“Your Majesties,” He bowed low.

 

“Please, my dear boy, no need to observe the formalities.” Edea elbowed her husband (discreetly), “Right, dear?”

 

“Ahem! Yes, yes, no need. No need.”

 

The tall grey knight stood ramrod straight. The arrogant cast of his clear cut features, coupled with deep sea-green eyes and blonde hair made him very desirable in the eyes of many of the people around court. He received many appreciative glances, and some downright lustful ones. But then, all four of them got that sort of thing quite often.

 

“Your Majesties, if you please, I would like to offer Sir Raijin to act as your messenger…”

 

Edea smiled, “Indeed, Raijin-kun's services will be very welcome, my dear!”

 

“Yes!” King Cid interjected, “Very good. And now if you will excuse me, I, uh, have a very important meeting that I must attend! …My dear…”

 

The King gave his wife a quick peck on the cheek, and hurried out of the room. This time he had devised a strategy that would make Martine, his Chamberlain, pause! He rubbed his hands together with glee, `Humph! We shall see who emerges as the Castle's Chess Champion!' The Queen ignored her husband's retreating back, knowing full well where he was headed; instead, she gazed at the four young knights.

 

“You are to stay here at the castle! I've had rooms prepared for all four of you, and your various retainers.”

 

Queen Edea clasped her hands, and suddenly a group of castle attendants materialized as if out of thin air.

 

“They will take you to your quarters. Baths have also been prepared for all of you!”

 

She tried not to giggle when she saw them blush and grimace at the same time. The smell of white goblin's blood was rather pungent… As the four made to leave, she called out to the black knight.

 

“Squall, a word, if you please!”

 

The other three shrugged their shoulders, and waved at their friend, leaving quickly to the bliss of the promised bath. The dark knight bowed at the queen, but did not approach her. He knew he stank to the seventh emanation of heaven.

 

“My Queen?”

 

Edea nodded as the other three took their swift leave from her, and smiled at Squall.

 

“I just wanted you to know that your father, King Laguna, shall be paying us a visit. In fact, he should be arriving sometime tonight. Perhaps at the same time as King Caraway, who's also expected.”

 

She saw the young man wince at the sound of his father's name, and sighed inwardly. She knew there was a vast rift between father and son, and wondered -not for the first time- if the manner in which Queen Raine had died could be the main cause. `I know that she would not have wanted this, but young Squall can sometimes prove to be very inflexible…'

 

After he had finished fostering with them, they had all expected Squall to return to Esthar, and assume his duties as Laguna's designated successor… But the stubborn young man had stunned everyone by kneeling before King Cid, and swearing his allegiance to the Crown of Balamb based on some obscure plots of land owned by his mother's family! `Thank the gods that Laguna is a reasonable man, and understood his son's rebellion… or Balamb and Esthar would've been at war instead of being allies!'

 

“I see.”

 

Edea knew that would be the most she would hear him say on the subject, so she waved him away.

 

“Go to your bath, dear.” She added with a wink, “I know you're dying to..”

 

The knight blushed, but bowed low to his queen, and headed off to the bathing room.

 

o

|

o - o0o - o

|

o

 

At nightfall in Balamb Castle…

 

"Ouch! What the fuck was that for!?!"

 

Seifer had jabbed an elbow into Irvine's ribs. The archer was wearing his court clothes, so there was nothing to shield him from Almasy's sharp jab.

 

"Shut-up, Kinneas! Geez, you're almost as bad as Sir Wuss!"

 

"Almasy, you asshole! I heard that!"

 

"Will ya both shudup! I'm tryin' to show ya somethin'! Check out Squally-boy over there..."

 

The other two followed Seifer's sea-green gaze, and found to their amazement and subsequent amusement that their comrade was staring at a dark haired girl as if he were mesmerized, before he bowed down awkwardly to kiss her hand. They also noticed that the girl was trying to hide a giggle behind her fan as she tended her hand to the dark knight, who was dressed as was his want all in black. Standing behind the young couple, the sovereigns of Balamb were deep in conversation with two distinguished looking gentlemen. One of them was wearing a coronet with Galbadia's distinctive royal symbol of two intertwined Iguions breathing fire.

 

"Meh! What's with that furry white thingy he insists on wearing as trimming around his shoulders?"

 

"I wouldn't call myself an arbiter of fashion anytime too soon, Sir Wuss..."

 

The grey knight eyed his friend's rather loud red attire with yellow and blue trimmings dubiously.

 

"WHY, You...!"

 

The shorter blonde bristled, as he usually did, when the taller one pushed his buttons.

 

"Stop it you two! Like, you're missin' all the fun! Heh, heh! Is that like a blush on his face? Dude, he's..."

 

"Man! Squally-boy kinda looks like someone who's just hit puberty!"

 

"Hah! Rinoa-Hime has grown up to be real pretty! Was it only three years ago that she was runnin' around like some kinda tomboy?"

 

“Oh, yeah, Kinneas… Your family's seat is in Galbadia, right?”

 

"Why're we standing here like a bunch of losers? Let's give Sir Puberty over there some competition!"

 

After saying that, Seifer proceeded to put his words into action followed closely by the other two. As the three young men got closer, the dark-haired girl looked at them and perked up considerably.

 

“Ha! I knew she would be attracted to my charms.”

 

“Yeah, Almasy! You're so full of it!”

 

The girl said something hurriedly to Squall. Whatever she told him must have confused him because the dark knight had a rather bewildered look on his face. Not waiting for his reply, the girl gathered up her skirts to dash (as lady-like as she could manage) in the direction of the approaching trio.

 

“Heh, heh! Told ya ladies found me irresis… … Huh!... …”

 

“Irresistible, eh? You were sayin' Almasy…”

 

The princess had just zoomed by them so quickly that they had to jump out of the way, or she would've collided with them!

 

“Quisty Onee-chan! Selphie-chan!”

 

Seifer tried to repress a pained look on his face when he heard the name of his arch-nemesis. By the time Rinoa had reached the newcomers, the trio had already rejoined Squall. The four knights watched with various degrees of amusement and/or chagrin the happy reunion amongst the ladies as Rinoa-Hime threw herself into the arms of a surprised Lady Quistis. Lady Dincht was too happy to see her boy alive and well to harrumphed (as she normally would've) at such unsuitable behaviour for a Princess.

 

“Seifer Nii-san! I brought `em over safely as you instructed, ya know?, and told `em it was by King Cid's order, ya know?…”

 

Four heads turned in the direction of the highly recognizable voice. Squall had gone over to join his friends.

 

“Good.” The grey knight smirked, “Milady's sharp tongue may slay the most fearsome of knights, but it won't be of much use against any goblins lurking around the area…”

 

“Nah! It was a pretty quiet ride, ya know? Our chocobos are pretty fast, ya know?”

 

“Ane-san has her whip, Almasy, and Selphie-chan took her boomerang.”

 

The dark knight had the pleasure of watching a surprise look cross his friend's face, before it was quickly replaced by a smirk.

 

“I see… I knew those long skirts hid somethin'!”

 

As if in unison, all five young men turned to look at the ladies who were chattering away as if they didn't have nary a care in the world. Queen Edea had gone to join them, and was laughing at something Lady Dincht was telling her. Even Fujin, who usually sported a very sombre mien, was caught with a slight smile on her face.

 

“I don't get it! Like, where the fuck would my Selph be hidin' her boomerang?”

 

“Hey, I know Fu has a kaiken concealed in both her long sleeves, ya know? `cause Lady Ma Dincht will make her wear skirts when she's not training, ya know?”

 

All of them knew why Fujin was obsessed with being armed. Her lands were in Trabia, a goblin occupied territory. She was the only one in her line to survive the massacre at her family's keep. She had only been a child of six. On that fateful day, Fujin had lost an eye, and her faculty of speech. She had witnessed her entire family being slaughtered by white goblins. She was spared because her older sister, with the last of her strength had drenched her in her own blood, and had ordered a terrified Fujin to keep absolute quiet. Treachery had been at work that day… But by whom? No one ever found out.

 

“I told Ma she shouldn't make Fu wear skirts `cause they're a nuisance, but oh no, who am I but just her son?”

 

Zell had his arms crossed over his chest. He usually adopted this posture when he thought he was making an important pronouncement.

 

“Yeah, sir Wuss, we all know you're everyone's style guru…”

 

Irvine hastily intervened before Zell exploded.

 

“So…Raij, like, did ya try the roast? … Man! Zell was tellin' us all `bout it!”

 

“Yeah, it was real good, ya know! Lady Ma gave me double portions, ya know!”

 

A blissful look crossed Raijin's face as he recalled the delicious meal he'd just had over at the Dincht's keep.

 

“Bwaah! If Ma gave you double portions there probably won't be any left for me!”

 

“Take it easy, man, like…since when has Lady Ma not kept…”

 

As Irvine, Zell and Raijin discussed the merits of Lady Ma's cuisine, Seifer turned his attention to Squall who was still gazing at Rinoa-Hime.

 

“So…you like her?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Hmmn… She's not as beautiful as Milady Harpy, …but then few truly are…” Seifer said the latter under his breath, but Squall heard him because he snorted. Seifer continued, “Rinoa-Hime's cute enough. You gonna go for her?”

 

Squall's slate-blue eyes widened at Seifer's casual query.

 

“How can I?”

 

It was Seifer's turn to narrow his green eyed gaze at his comrade's obtuse remark.

 

“What the fuck d'you mean by `how can I'? …Think, Squally, think! You-” He used his index finger to point at his friend, “Daddy Laguna-King. Her,” Seifer indicates with a nod of his blonde head, “Daddy Caraway-King.”

 

Squall stiffened whenever his father's name was mentioned.

 

“I don't care for that connection.”

 

“Don't be such a dumbass Squall! …”

 

“Well, well if it isn't Sir Surly! Don't listen to a word he says Squall-kun!”

 

The new voice belonged to no other than Lady Quistis, who had approached them with Selphie, Fujin and Rinoa in tow. Lady Dincht and Queen Edea had gone to rejoin the older gentlemen.

 

“Ladies! What a great pleasure to behold such beauty!”

 

The archer bowed deeply at the four newcomers. Although Sir Irvine had betrothed himself to Lady Selphie, he could not quite abandon his flirtatious ways.

 

“My Lady Disdain! What an unpleasant surprise!”

 

Quistis felt sea-green eyes look her over with an insolent smile, before it changed into a charming one to greet the other three girls.

 

“Hey, Seify-kun! You haven't met Rinoa-Hime yet have ya?”

 

As usual, the bubbly Lady Selphie interrupted what could've become a match of wits between a disdainful Quistis (who truly was disapproving of Seifer's philandering ways), and Seifer (who was of the opinion that Quistis was too stuck-up for her own good).

 

“I have the pleasure now, thanks to you Selphie-chan…”

 

The grey knight replied lazily, and took Rinoa's hand to give it a very appreciative kiss making the girl blush, and his friend Squall frown.

 

“Hey, Selph! How `bout me? You forgot Raij too!”

 

The stage whisper was by Zell, who was feeling a bit left out.

 

“Awww, Zelly-kun! Raij-kun is kinda busy…”

 

Selphie gazed pointedly at Raijin who was too busy mooning over Fuj-chan. She tried not to giggle, but it was just too funny watching the powerful warrior make a fool of himself over a girl who was half his size; although she knew Fuj-chan to be a very impressive warrior herself. Selphie grabbed Zell's hand, pulled him over to where Rinoa was still blushing over Seifer's gallantry, only to hear Onee-chan's remark.

 

“Be careful, Rinoa-Hime! Sir Seifer might charm you, but he's up to no good!”

 

“I'm always up to anything you might throw at me, Milady Disdain.”

 

He gave Quistis the briefest of bows. It was almost insulting in its brevity. Quistis felt very proud of herself for not blushing at his innuendo, and frowned at Irvine when she heard his guffaw. Ignoring Seifer's obnoxious remark, she focused her attention on Squall and her gaze softened. `My, he seems quite smitten with Rinoa-Hime!' She thought it over while she watched Selphie's antics as she introduced a blushing Zell to the princess. `Humph, I think is a good match! The princess is the kind of person who wears her heart on her sleeve, while Squall tends to be rather secretive…'

 

“Almasy”

 

Seifer was surprised enough to allow Squall to pull him to the side.

 

“What, Leonhart?”

 

“You think Rinoa-Hime might go for me?”

 

Seifer crossed his arms over his chest, and stared at his younger friend. He knew that Squall, unlike the other more vocal (not to mention loud) two, was more of an introvert. The fact that he would drag him away from the others to ask him that question meant that he was more than a little interested in the princess. He noticed Quistis shooting Squall an inquisitive look, and quite deliberately blocked her line of vision with his tall frame. Her never-ending interest in Squall fucking annoyed him.

 

“Yeah! I told you that before, Squally!”

 

The dark knight glared at his friend.

 

“All you said was that our… families,” He almost choked on the last word, “Would be happy with the connection! I don't give a fuck about that!” He made a sweeping gesture with his right hand. “What I want to know is if Rinoa will like me!”

 

“So…It's `Rinoa' now, is it?”

 

Seifer narrowed his eyes as he stared at the buoyant princess who was now clapping her hands at something Zell was saying. In his opinion, women were in general a fickle lot. He didn't want Squall to suffer from the inconsistencies of the gender, simply because he knew that his younger friend would be very deeply affected by it. Of the four, he surmised Squall would be the most prone to melancholy if rejected. Irvine, their archer, was an accomplished flirt. Zell, their best weaponless fighter, did have the unfortunate tendency to blurt out his thoughts, but they were both very thick skinned. Squall, on the other hand, although he considered the dark knight to be his equal in swordsmanship, was quite a newbie in the field of love…

 

Squall stared at his friend, and not for the first time asked himself how he ended up asking Seifer for advice! Snorting, he answered his own question, because the grey knight seemed to be able to get in and out of relationships with the most beautiful ladies in court quite unscathed… `Well, except for one' Without meaning to, his eyes strayed to Quistis who seemed to be saying something very seriously to Fujin-chan and Raijin. `But then, what knight has been able to conquer Ane-san's heart, ever?'

 

“Humph, if she could only keep her mouth shut forever, I might say that no lady can ever hold a candle to Milady Harpy's beauty.”

 

Seifer had intercepted Squall's gaze. Placing a friendly arm on his friend's shoulder he said.

 

“As to Rinoa-Hime… Why don't I get Irvine to tag along with me at tomorrow's fête and try to find out how she feels about you?”

 

“Why Irvine?”

 

“He's from Galbadia.”

 

The dark knight nodded his consent.

 

“Okay! So it's set then. Let's rejoin the others before they think you and I have somethin' goin'…”

 

Seifer laughed out loud when he saw Squall blush a deep red.

 

“Man! That's twice already! Must be a record, Leonhart!”

 

“Shut the fuck up, Almasy!”

 

And on that friendly note, the two young men rejoined the others.

 

o

|

o - o0o - o

|

o

 

 

That same night at Balamb Castle…

 

… `Humph…I see…The wind blows in that direction. The dark knight wants to court Rinoa-Hime… How inconvenient for me!' The figure detached itself from the shadows, where it had been hiding. After waiting for a few moments, the mysterious figure left the area unnoticed by everyone present. The only thought occupying its mind was,`That courtship and its highly predictable outcome cannot be allowed to happen… This plan has taken too many years to come to fruition! I will not allow anything nor anyone to interfere!' Once it reached the relative privacy of the castle's garden, it raised its hand and a smaller figure appeared shrouded from the sight of others by the darkness of a cloudy night sky which served to blanket the brightness of an almost full moon.

 

“Yeeessss…”

 

It's sibilant voice was most unpleasant to hear, and the putrid smell that invaded the nostrils was very hard to ignore.

 

“Take this to your master.”

 

The repulsion in the voice was unmistakeable, but the shrouded one ignored it and took the proffered package.

 

“Now, get out of my sight!”

 

The shrouded figure cast the taller one a malignant yellowish eye not unmixed with fear, before blinking the lidless orb, and disappearing into the darkness, leaving in its wake the nauseous smell of rotten flesh and sweat.

 

`This treachery better be worth my while... There are still loose ends that must be dealt with… I have been rather slack all these years…' The figure darted a furtive glace around and having assured itself that it had been unobserved, started walking towards the castle, `Lady Fujin will have to meet a suitable end… And the beautiful Quistis will make me a most splendid Queen!' With these happy thoughts, the traitor returned to join the very people it would be betraying.

 

o

|

o - o0o - o

|

o

 

End of Act I