Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ FF8: Tales Of The Surly Knight ❯ Act IV: Those Who Influence Fate, Part I ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: All FF8 characters are courtesy of Squaresoft Enix

 

Tales of the Surly Knight

 

 

Sir, sir, be patient.

For my part, I am so attired in wonder,

I know not what to say.

 

-Much Ado, Act IV.i. -

 

ACT IV, Part I

Those Who Influence Fate

 

 

 

Balamb Castle Rose Maze…

 

Quistis kept running. Left, then right, left, left, right, left… She lost track of the number of turns made, and in which direction, but the disgusting waft of the fleeing goblin was enough to guide her correctly. From time to time, she turned slightly to flash a disgusted look at the tall `shadow' who'd been silently following her. Somehow his presence both annoyed, and relieved her at the same time!

 

Seifer was rather amused by the killer looks she kept casting his way. What the hell could she be thinking, running off like that after the smelly little fucker?! `I better not go there!' He always became highly irritable whenever he thought of Lady Disdain's overprotective attitude towards Sir Puberty… Even as children, she would always be defending him, no matter what! `I dunno how Squall can stand it! Argh! …' In spite of himself, there he was, doing it again! Fucking thinking about it!

 

“-hiss- Seifer…!”

 

Quistis had stopped in front of a gaping hole in the ground. Seifer, distracted by his own thoughts bumped into her. Had it not been for lightning quick reflexes, which made him shot out his hand to grab her upper arm, he would've sent her down the rather large crevice. The most chivalrous thing to do would've been to let go after he'd `rescued' her from falling, but he was not ready to allow her to jump willy-nilly into that huge gap.

 

“Let go! -hiss- I'm following that thing! … … I don't care!”

 

She'd followed the path of his eyes as they landed on her cumbersome skirts. It had become rather torn in places, and heavily soiled in others. He raised a blonde eyebrow at what he considered to be her ridiculous stubbornness, and said softly with just a slight hint of mockery.

 

“Tch, tch, Lady Disdain… Gentlemen first.”

 

After saying that, he coolly lifted her out of his way and jumped down the hole. Quistis tried not to swear, she truly did, but the provocation was too great and Lady Ma wasn't around to berate her for sporting `unlady-like' behaviour. Gathering up her skirts so they wouldn't get stuck anywhere, she muttered to herself.

 

“Dammit, Seifer! You prick! How dare you go in before me!”

 

And jumped inside.

 

- o0o -

 

Darkness

Total darkness

 

(Rinoa…)

 

…

…

 

(Rinoa!)

 

…

 

(…Wake-up…)

(Wake-up, child!)

 

…Hmn?

 

(Wake-up)

 

Pain…

Darkness...?

 

…

 

Wh-where…

Where am I?…

 

…

 

- o0o -

 

“EEek!”

 

A voice whispered in her hear.

 

“Such a girly cry… Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Lady Disdain.”

 

“Dammit! Let me down!” She hissed back.

 

She had somehow landed on Seifer's outstretched arms. Instead of setting her on her feet, she felt those arms tighten around her as his lips whispered in the vicinity of her ear, so close their proximity sent shivers up her spine…

 

“Shush! The littl' fucker's not alone. It seems they left a rearguard... ”

 

Quistis quietened immediately. From the sounds of it, they were quite a few of them nearby. Whatever her issues with Seifer, this was not the time nor the place to engage in their usual verbal battling. Nevertheless, she shoved her hand against his shoulder, signifying to him that she wanted to be set down. He didn't reply, but slowly set her on her feet; although he kept one arm wound tightly around her waist, thus successfully pinning her against him. Again, she placed a palm against his chest in another attempt to free herself, but to no avail. If anything, his grip on her tightened! Defeated by his stubbornness, she decided to look around her. Once her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she realized they were in some kind of …wine cellar? They were hidden from view by a tall rack of King Cid's favourite merlot, Château Monterosa, a gift from the previous Duke of Dollet `Huh?... We must be in His Majesty's secret wine cellar!'

 

She lifted her gaze to Seifer's face, but his attention was focused on the source of the noise. Hyperion was firmly held in his other hand. Quistis winced when she heard the sound of bottles being shattered not too far away, and the unmistakable sound of goblins getting smashed on the king's priced wine.`O-oh... His Majesty's going to be very, very put out...'

 

“Quis!”

 

Seifer whispered her name, his lips so close to her ear they slightly grazed the delicate cartilage. He felt a tremor go through her body, `Very interesting... Could it be that Lady Disdain is not so unaffected as she pretends to be... ?' His original intent by pinning her against him had been to stop her from careening into the goblins, but the feel of her had temporarily driven that thought completely off his mind. The little witch was curved just right in all the proper places... When he felt her palm against his chest trying to push him away, the perverse part of him had made him tighten his grip around her. The din created by the drunken goblins was getting louder and louder... `Too bad, no time to find out how affected she really is... We need to act now!' It was a well known fact that although goblins could not hold their liquor, they were still compulsive drinkers...

 

“I'm gonna be following `em. You, go back up and alert everyone!”

 

“No! You go back up, and I'll deal with them!”

 

Exasperated at her stubbornness, he stared down at her face illuminated faintly by the moonlight that filtered down the crevice.

 

`Dammit! I'm the fucking knight here, my lady!”

 

“And I'm a dammed shieldmaiden! So don't you dare pull rank at me, sir!”

 

In their hissing altercation, she'd fisted both her hands on his tunic and had lifted herself on her toes to make her point as clear to him as possible. He'd bent his head so low that their noses were almost touching. Quistis and Seifer were so engrossed in each other that they failed to notice the receding sound of marching goblins. They were leaving.

 

“Since when has watching over your pretty neck been called pulling rank?”

 

“I can watch after myself, you arrogant beast!”

 

They were now close enough that their lips were only an inch apart. Unable to stop the attraction, as if pulled by a powerful magnet, their lips made contact...

 

- o0o -

 

(Do not open your eyes, child!)

 

Huh? Qu-queen Edea?

 

(That's right, child. Just keep still. Don't move.)

 

Groggy... I feel very groggy...

 

(We were both hit by a very powerful paralysis spell)

 

Spell?... -Groggy- ... What spell?

 

(The spell that's rendered us both immobile and unconscious)

 

I-I can't open my eyes!

 

(The spell is very strong! I'm so glad you've regained your consciousness)

 

But... but how can we be speaking to each other?

 

(We are communicating through our thoughts)

 

Wow... Ca-can we do that?

 

(As sorceress we can do this.)

 

Squall?

 

(He's doing fine now)

 

I'm so glad!

 

(Rinoa, I need you to do something very important)

 

Yes, Queen Edea

 

(Listen very carefully to my instruction... )

 

...

 

- o0o -

 

Oblivious of everything, their lips fused with each other in such a heated exchange that would've liquefied even the hardest of metals. She laced her arms around his neck in an attempt to mould herself closer to him. Breathing was completely forgotten. He dropped something he was holding to use his freed hand to cradle her nape, and deepen even more the searing contact. Both her feet were suddenly off the floor...

 

CLANG!

 

Seifer had relinquished the hold he had on his prized Hyperion! An item he valued over everything else! Startled by the sound of cold metal hitting the hard stone floor, they broke contact with each other, pulling apart. Still dazed from their searing kiss, they could only stare at each other in stupefied silence... Until they both realized that it was quiet. Rather too quiet. The goblins were gone! Seifer was the first to recover. Swearing under his breath, he retrieved his blade from the floor and grabbed Quistis's wrist.

 

“C'mon! Let's try to catch up with `em!”

 

 

o

|

o - o0o - o

|

o

 

Southern side of Raha Cape...

 

Irvine examined the insignia carefully. There was a guild for every craft in Balamb Kingdom, and all the members of the various associations carried with pride the distinctive symbol that would identify their craft and rank. The emblem sewn into the torn tunic his people had found, carried the distinctive mark of the docking guild. The rank alone made Irvine narrow his eyes, `Now, why would the tide wash ashore a dock master's tunic?' He looked around, `And in such a remote place, away from the main port?'

 

“Sir Kinneas?” One of the riders asked tentatively.

 

“Hmn... ?” Irvine was a bit distracted by his conjectures.

 

“My family's from the small town of Raha...”

 

“Yeah...?” Only half listening, Irvine was still trying to figure out the kind of circumstance that could make a garment which looked to be almost new to be ripped the way it was, from top to bottom... `Almost like the work of a very sharp claw... `

 

“One of my uncles is a fisherman, and I would often go with him...”

 

“And?”

 

“Well, because of my uncle Knox I know this area quite well... “

 

Irvine was quickly losing his patience, “OK, out with it!”

 

“Uh, I think the tunic belongs to old man Barley, Sir Kinneas!”

 

“And who is he?”

 

“The Dock Master for Raha Cape, my lord!” There was absolute certainty in the rider's voice.

 

“What makes you say that, Thomas?”

 

“Old Master Barley was a real curmudgeon, and he valued rank. When he obtained his Master ranking he prized his insignia above everything and everyone! Sir Kinneas.”

 

“Very well, since this is the only clue we have seen all night, let's go speak to this Barley. Do you know where he lives?”

 

“Yes, my lord!”

 

“Lead the way.”

 

“As you wish, Sir Kinneas.”

 

o

|

o - o0o - o

|

o

 

Underground Balamb...

 

Quistis and Seifer tracked the goblins through the vast network of narrow tunnels they discovered underneath the castle. They found that the nasty creatures had managed to penetrate into the castle through a large trap door located on the stone floor of Balamb Castle's second wine cellar. They were also surprised to see no indication of a forced entry! It was almost as if the trap door had been left wide open just for such an occasion. Unwilling to suspect Sir Galuf, who had been castellan even before Queen Edea's birth, they tried to come up with a more likely suspect. However, the only people who could've possibly known the existence of the second cellar would be the King himself, Queen Edea and maybe perhaps the Lord Chamberlain, and Lady Dincht... However, these people were above and beyond suspicion.

 

Deciding that their time would be better employed by tracking the kidnapped princess, they followed the goblins through the trap door. Apart form giving each other a furtive glance from time to time, no mention was made by either one of the fiery kiss they had exchanged. This silence was, however, short lived.

 

It happened during their descent into the tunnels. Quistis long skirts had gotten caught on something. Exasperated with that impediment to her mobility, she lifted her skirts revealing a sturdy pair of long-boots, and unsheathed a small dagger from the left boot. Seifer just lifted a brow at such an unlady-like display, but said nothing, preferring to keep watch. Just in case. It was only the sound of tearing fabric that made him turn to watch. Quistis was trying to hack off the thick velvet material of her long skirts with the small knife. Annoyed, because the dagger was not sharp enough to slice easily through the fabric she said to him.

 

“Don't just stand there looking! Give me a hand will you?”

 

“Whatever pleases My Lady Disdain.”

 

With two swift slashes of Hyperion, Quistis's dress from mid-thigh down, fell off her. Looking at what he'd bared, she flushed a bright red. When she asked for his help, all she'd really wanted was for him to take out his own dagger, which was longer and much sharper to continue hacking where she'd let off... At mid-calf! Just slightly below her knees!

 

“Seifer, you dumbass! See what you did!”

 

“Humph... A great improvement...” He frowned as his gaze slowly travelled down her shapely long legs, “I don't like sharing...but I suppose it's alright. I'll be killing the little fuckers anyway, once we find were they've taken Rinoa-chan...”

 

“Dammit! Will you be serious for once! I'll never hear the end of it from Lady Ma! ... Eek!”

 

Seifer had grabbed Quistis by the waist, and lifted her off the small mound of fabric that surrounded her to set her down by his side, his arms still around her.

 

“It's okay, babe, we'll think of somethin'!”

 

Startled at the way he'd just called her, she could only stare at him. With his signature smirk, he bent to give her half opened lips a quick kiss.

 

“What? Cat got your tongue?” He bent his head to taste her lips again, “Nope, still there!”

 

She thumped him lightly on the chest, “You beast! I'm not one of your... ”

 

He cut her off with another kiss. “I know, My Lady Quistis.”

 

There was a very serious look in his sea-green eyes. One she had seen only once before, when he was knighted by King Cid, and took the oath upon his honour to protect Queen Edea as her most loyal knight. Blushing at the implications of that gaze, but not wanting nor willing to think about it at the moment, she said.

 

“Let's go! I hate saying this but the stink of goblin is growing fainter and fainter!”

 

Seifer was not fooled by her quick change of topic, but he let it pass. He was willing to give her some breathing space. At this very moment, getting Rinoa back was the more important task. The next generation of Almasys could stand to wait a bit.

 

- o0o -

 

(Do you understand what you must do?)

 

Yes.

 

(Very good! You are a courageous young woman!)

 

This mental linking is a very warm feeling...

 

(To be a sorceress, child... Is both a curse and a blessing.)

 

I've been scared of my powers for so long...

 

(It's alright to be afraid. Never forget what our name means.)

 

I was never told... What does it mean?

 

(Our name is derived from `sortiarius' a word in a language

that has been long forgotten by most)

 

Uh, what is `sor'-`sortuirus'?

 

(A `sortiarius' is `one who influences fate'... )

 

Wow! You mean like change things around... ?

 

(Yes. But remember, Rinoa, nothing is ever

free nor without consequence. Remember when

you almost burned down a keep?)

 

Ye-yes!

 

(What were you thinking at the moment?)

 

Well... Galbadia's winters are terrible!

They are so cold and humid! Sometimes it's nigh

impossible to build a proper fire to warm the Great Hall...

 

(Please continue...)

 

The keep's castellan is very elderly and I know

he and his wife suffer from arthritis... I didn't want

to leave the keep without making sure that they would

be okay, but my father was getting impatient...

 

(You stared at the weak flame burning in the hearth... )

 

... And wished with all my might that it would... grow... Oh!

 

(Exactly. Everyone, yourself included,

almost died of incineration, and yet it was just

such a trivial wish. A normal person could've

made it without the same outcome. For us these two words:

power and responsibility must be continuously applied.

It is a burden we sorceresses must carry and share.)

 

I understand, Your Majesty!

 

(I expected no less from someone who had brought

the black knight to his knees! He's awake now and

calling for you!)

 

I'm so glad he's alright!
I want to go back to him,
I'll do my best to do the task you assigned!

 

(Very well, it's up to you Rinoa-chan... )

 

Yes, Sensei-sama

 

...

 

- o0o -

 

For the first time, Quistis and Seifer were actually grateful that white goblins had such a pungent smell, specially when coming upon chambers where the path could be split into two or three ways. In such cases, Quistis would cast a minor fire spell to create some extra light while Seifer sniffed hound-like the various tunnel openings. They did not bother to look for a ground trail as they both knew that goblins were extremely light-footed. Unless they were moving in very large numbers, and wore heavy armour, they left no trail worth following.

 

They also discovered that all kinds of nasty crawlies made their home underground... For example, the huge Caterchipillar that blocked their way through one of the tunnels almost succeeded on catching Seifer inside one of it's webs. Had he been even a bit slower in his reaction time, Quistis would've had to cast a curative spell on him for Caterwebs are known to make the victim extremely sluggish. Thankfully, the element of surprise had been the only advantage the creature had over them, when it surged out of the ground aiming its web at Seifer. Once that was over, Hyperion sliced the monster easily with one single slash. To her annoyance, it had taken Quistis longer to unfurl her whip...

 

Three gigantic Scorpions, two Buels, and a whole bunch of red bats later, they realized that mixed with the pungent stink of goblin there was the unmistakable salty smell of seawater... At one point, the tunnel they were traversing seemed to be wounding upwards, in almost a circular motion. The smell of seawater kept getting stronger every time they turned a corner, always going upwards. It felt like they've been underground for ages! But they were getting closer to the exit.

 

Seifer looked back at Quistis. He knew she would berate him for being frivolous at a time like this, but hell she looked damned hot in that sexy littl' getup! Even with her hair tied back haphazardly with a torn piece of fabric, and her beautiful face smudged with dirt... He wondered if there was ever a time in which she did not look good. He could admit it to himself now, he'd been fucking jealous of Squall! He resented all the attention she gave him! Although he knew quite well that the love she had for Sir Puberty was purely fraternal, he couldn't help but begrudge him even the tiniest morsel of her care...

 

It was a pretty crazy feeling! Squall was one of his best friends... When he realized that other people found him desirable, he'd started flaunting that fact to Quistis. First it had been Lady E, then Lady M, and on and on. He realized now that it had been a very childish gesture to wrestle her attention away from Squall, but instead he only succeeded in creating the adverse effect. She started to move further and further away from him, until her fondness became disapproval... And Quistis being Quistis, she was most vocal and articulate about it! Of course, his overweening pride had not allowed him to retract his actions nor to take her constant criticism of his behaviour lying down... Hence their constant bickering. He realized that his childish jealousy had made him waste a lot of time! He would not allow the situation to continue any further; likewise he would be damned if he allowed her to be given to that upstart Dollet! Even if she didn't want to be with him, he would never allow her to go to another against her will!

 

Quistis stared at Seifer's broad back. She caught him frowning when he'd turned briefly to look a her.`I wonder what triggered that...' It was just unfair! Even though they've been trudging through these tunnels for what seemed to be hours, he looked like he'd just stepped out of a grand reception (which he did - they had). The red tunic with argent trimmings he wore, suited him very well. It drew attention to wide shoulders that tapered down to the lean hips encircled by Hyperion's ornate sheath. Powerful legs in their customary chausses, were encased by shiny greaves and solleret. `I'm amazed he's so nimble! That steel casing he's wearing on his feet must weight a ton!'

 

After a brief argument, they had decided to take turns on who would lead and who would guard the rear. During the last junction, it had been his turn to take the lead, but she hadn't realized this last tunnel would be so long and winding! She wondered how he would take the suggestion that they change places now. She was mildly irritated by his rather over-protective attitude. She was more than capable of taking care of herself, and thanks to him, her mobility had improved one hundred percent... She tried not to think about how short her dress was now... Nor how it felt to be pressed to that hard muscled body as he kissed her senseless...

 

Distracted by the direction of her thoughts, she bumped into him. He had stopped at the point in which the narrow passageway they were traversing made a sharp turn to the left. From the looks of it, the exit had to be quite close as the darkness surrounding their ascent had gradually been giving way to light. Also the smell of goblin had grown almost unbearable, as well as the noise they made with their high-pitched squeaks. However, what caught Seifer's attention, and had made him stop on his tracks was not the din created by the goblins, but the sound of human voices...

 

“... This here be the prin-cesss...”

 

-SLAP!-

 

“Yeowch! Wha'd'ya do dat fer, Boss?”

 

“Don't touch `er!”

 

“She's real purty! Ain't she?”

 

“She ain't fer the likes of you n' me, Stevens, jes `member that! Yer live longer!”

 

“Why's she ain't moving? She ain't dead, is she?”

 

“Nah! That nob gave me sumethink to make her real quiet like...”

 

“I betcha we'd make more by sellin' `er!”

 

“I fucking tol' ya, you fuckhead! She ain't for fucking sale!”

 

“Shudup you two n' start gettin' the boats ready to ship them littl' fuckin' stinkers to `Eldbeak...”

 

“Jeez, sum' times I thinks I don't gets enuf pay!”

 

“Me, I'm surprised they `aven't ate `er!”

 

“Git your asses on gear! Those littl' stinkers kept their teeth off the littl' lady `cause they fear that nob more than their own stinky boss!”

 

o - o0o - o

 

Act IV (To be continued…)