Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ FF8: Tales Of The Surly Knight ❯ Epilogue

Disclaimer: All FF8 characters are courtesy of Squaresoft Enix

 

 

Tales of the Surly Knight

 

There is no staff more reverend than one tipped with horn

-Much Ado, Act V.iv. -

 

 

Epilogue

 

Balamb Castle…

 

“Ouch!”

 

“You're joking, right?”

 

“It fucking hurts, milady!”

 

Quistis looked at Seifer, and shook her head in disbelief. Did this…this great lummox truly think that she would believe that? She'd heard him laugh and taunt the Duke even after being tossed around like a rag! And now he complained… because she was applying his bandages too tight!? She pulled the bindings around his chest even harder than she'd originally intended. If he wanted to whine, at least she would provide him with a real excuse!

 

“YEWOuch! You don't have to pull so fucking hard!”

 

“Does Seify want Quisty to baby him?”

 

She asked the question in the tone of voice she normally reserved for the very young. Seifer turned his head away from her.

 

“Laugh away, but it hurts! Dammit!”

 

Quistis stared at his stubborn profile. She knew what he wanted. She looked at the simple gown she was wearing. With all the commotion that had been going on, Lady Ma had been too busy to enforce the cumbersome court dress she always insisted they wore! … `Oh, just as well!' At least she would be unencumbered by heavy skirts! With a wicked smile on her lovely face, she hoisted her gown up and clambered onto the bed, sitting astride him. Just as she thought. She now had his complete attention. He was lying supine and motionless with his arms resting on the side, but sea green eyes were watching her every action with a very interested look in their depths. Daringly she leaned closer, supporting herself by placing a slender hand on either side of him. She was on all fours now, with only her knees actually touching him.

 

“Ok… My brave warrior, where does it hurt?… Wha-!...”

 

He wasted no time on idle chit-chat. Quick as lightning, large hands grabbed her, and with a quick flick she was the one now on her back, lying beneath him. Since he'd planted himself firmly between her thighs, her flimsy skirts and the thin sheet separating them did not serve to conceal his very obvious interest. Gasping for breath, she wanted to berate him for being so careless, as the sudden movement could've easily reopened his wounds, but the moment he lowered his head and buried his mouth on her neck, all rational thought was driven from her mind. After tasting that particular region thoroughly, he whispered huskily in her ear.

 

“I'm very eager to start the next generation of Almasys, My Lady Disdain…”

 

“Oh! …And who…Hmm!” He was tracing her collarbone with his lips, “…Who does Sir Surly have…in mind?”

 

He lifted his head to gaze into her eyes.

 

“I'll give you three guesses, My Lady…”

 

He went for the other side of her neck. For a while, she was again speechless with pleasure.

 

“Is it… Hmmn… Lady Sel…?”

 

“Wrong! It'll cost ya!”

 

Turning them around, so that Quistis was sitting astride him again, he made quick work of the laces at the back of her dress. She hadn't recovered yet from the dizziness caused by the speed of his sudden move, when she felt a draft of cool air on her bared back.

 

“Seifer!”

 

“What? No undergarments? You hussy!”

 

He was lowering the loosened garment off her shoulders when she prevented it by just placing her hands on his.

 

“Wait!”

 

At his raised eyebrow, she asked.

 

“Is it the Baroness…?”

 

“Wrong!”

 

Without giving her the opportunity to protest, he swiftly whisked the dress off her. Pure reflex made Quistis cover her bared breasts, causing him to admonish.

 

“Tch, tch… Not allowed!”

 

His hands seized her delicate wrists, and uncovered her to his gaze. Turning a bright red at his darkening gaze, she tried to cover herself again, but he had a firm grip on her hands now, which he held clamped to her sides. Undefeated, she shook her head, causing some of her long golden hair to stream down over her shoulders, so that at least it provided her with some partial coverage. Suddenly, her blue eyes widened into saucers. Her wiggling had affected him. Seifer smirked at her.

 

“Is not something I can hide, baby… An' it's not only the wiggling, I'm also reacting to other stimuli…”

 

She had no idea how hot she looked sitting astride him, an impudent nipple peeking out of the silken curtain of golden hair. Her delicate ribcage rising and falling to signal the agitation she was too proud to admit; her slender waist his hands could easily span curving into shapely hips… And that secret part of her, protected only by a pair of flimsy white briefs, that he greatly craved for… The lady herself and everything about her, beckoned him and tempted him beyond reason…

 

“Seifer!… Let go!”

 

“You still have a third guess, My Lady…”

 

“Let go, and I'll tell you…”

 

“You know, it's quite unfair…”

 

She looked at him, perplexity clear in her beautiful eyes.

 

“What is unfair?”

 

“I'm completely naked, while you're still clad…”

 

“What? You call this being dressed?”

 

She blushed again as she stared down at the flimsy piece of fabric that covered her, and suddenly remembered she also had her boots on! Following the direction of her gaze, his smile turned downright wicked...

 

“It's okay, babe, if you miss the third try, I'll let you keep the boots on…”

 

“Seifer, you pervert!”

 

She hit his chest with her fist, right on the bandaged area, this time causing him real pain.

 

“OUCH!”

 

“Humph! You deserve it! Pervert!”

 

He imprisoned her hands again. This time to ensure she would not hit him again.

 

“Well?”

 

“Well, what?”

 

“What's your third and final guess, My Lady Disdain?”

 

She gazed down at him, and suddenly realized how beautiful he truly was… Even though his chest was bandaged, the bindings did nothing to conceal that wonderfully muscled torso, nor could they hide those smooth wide shoulders…`Is this what it feels like to desire someone?' Suddenly, she smiled at him, making him catch his breath.

 

“Let go of me first…”

 

He released her wrists reluctantly, but placed his hands lightly on her hips… Just in case. She wasn't going anywhere. He wished she would make up her mind soon. She was killing him! Quistis swallowed a gasp, the feel of him was incredible! She knew how men reacted in theory, of course, but she had no idea they would feel like this! Nor could she imagine herself feeling… `I'm not blushing! I'm not!'

 

Seifer had no idea what was going through that complicated mind of hers, but he knew that he would soon be reaching a point of no return!

 

“Lady Disdain… Your…guess…”

 

He knew his voice sounded strained, but dammit…!

 

“Okay… I'll tell you my third guess…”

 

She leaned down to whisper her answer softly in his ear. Whatever she told him, made him smile at her widely before tenderly wrapping his arms around her to bring her completely against him, his lips seeking hers to seal his approval with a soft kiss. Soon her briefs were discarded, and the thin sheet that separated them gone. Lifting his lips just slightly from hers he asked her softly.

 

“So… shall be get started, My Lady Disdain?”

 

“You were always… one to place… the cart before the… chocobo, …Sir Surly!”

 

The rebuke was belied by the gentleness of her caressing hands, and her lips which rained soft butterfly kisses on his wide shoulders. Seifer had to suppress a loud groan to answer in kind.

 

“It's not the cart… I'm thinking about… placing right… now, my love…”

 

When she was able to speak coherently again, Quistis framed his face with her hands, and asked.

 

“Will you go gently with me?”

 

“Hmmn… I'll be as tender as summer's breeze…”

 

o

|

o - o0o - o

|

o

 

Almasy Castle, late summer…

 

He was not home. Good. She looked at one of maids who had spotted her, and lifted a finger to her lips conspiratorially. Giggling, the maid nodded. The entire staff at the castle knew about the ongoing `difference of opinion' between their lord and lady. Although they understood the reasoning behind their lord's intransigent demands, they were also sympathetic to their lady's revolt. Overall, they wisely sided with no one, and stuck to their neutrality, leaving the main players to slug it out on their own!

 

After clearing the main hall, Quistis turned left towards the long gallery that would take her to the eastern wing of the castle, where their chambers were located, `I'm so glad Raij-kun and Fu-chan asked him over to their keep! He's driving me insane!' Her thoughts became gleeful, `I should send a missive to Selph-chan to invite them over... With Irvine-kun here, both of them can go on a hunting expedition!…Selphie-chan and I can go for long walks in the woods! Yay!' Quistis understood Selphie's situation completely! It would be nice to have her! She could get caught up in court gossip! She could get rid of Seifer! She hurried to her chambers…

 

“So… What's the rush, My Lady?”

 

Quistis came to a dead stop. Seifer, arms crossed over his chest, was leaning casually against one of the columns facing the row of splendid stained glass windows that graced the eastern hallway. He was dressed very casually in a grey tunic with crimson trimmings, Hyperion strapped to a very plain leather baldric. She wasn't fooled by the relaxed pose and calm voice. One look into those darkened green eyes was enough to tell the true story: He was furious.

 

“Seifer! What are you doing home so early?”

 

“Oh! Missed me, Lady Disdain?”

 

In one fluid motion, he'd detached himself from the wall. A couple of long legged strides later, he was standing in front of her, as close as her ever expanding stomach would allow. Scowling, he stared into defiant blue eyes which regarded him with a glower of their own. He placed restraining hands on her shoulders, and asked her in a voice that seemed to herald an early winter.

 

“Don't we have an agreement?”

 

Trying ineffectually to shake off his hands, she replied.

 

“You agreed, but I did not! Therefore there was no agreement!”

 

“You did not protest, therefore, My Lady, you agreed by virtue of keeping silent!”

 

“You are demented, Sir Surly!... If you think I'm spending the last three months of my... EEK!... Seifer!… Damn you! I'm too heavy! Put me down!”

 

Without much ado, he'd scooped her up, and had started walking with her in arms towards their chambers.

 

“I said. Put. Me. Down! I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own! I'm only pregnant, not invalid!”

 

When he stubbornly ignored her request and kept on going, she thumped his chest with both her fists, causing him to groan out loud. She didn't care what he thought. She was no delicate flower.

 

“Ouch! Don't fucking do that, dammit! You almost made me drop you!”

 

“Why are you so obstinate?!”

 

Looking at the precious cargo in his arms, he answered her question with another.

 

“Why are you?”

 

She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind when she caught the glint of fear in his sea-green eyes. She sighed inwardly, and wished for the umpteenth time that Midwife Kadowaki had kept her own counsel… She allowed herself to relax against him, and rested her head on his shoulder. Looking at him, she looped her left arm around his neck and lifted her right hand to caress his face.

 

“Seifer…”

 

She reached up to kiss his lips, but he didn't respond to her soft caress. Silent, he kept walking towards their quarters. Unsurprised, she sighed again -this time loudly- placing a soothing hand on his chest where she could feel the steady beat of his heart. A strong beat.

 

“Seifer… I'm not my mother. Midwife Kadowaki says I'm much stronger than she ever was…”

 

He stopped. They were on the landing of the set of stairs that led up to their chambers.

 

“I know, babe, but…”

 

She felt his arms tighten around her as his head descended to claim her lips in an all consuming kiss. When their lips parted, all she could manage was…

 

“Your arms must be tired…”

 

Seifer started to ascend the winding staircase that lead to their turret chambers.

 

“ -Groan- Fuck! You must've gained another twenty pounds since yesterday!”

 

That comment certainly cleared the hazy feeling produced by the kiss! She glared at him, and thumped him hard on the shoulder again.

 

“Put me down, you lout!”

 

“Tch! tch! Watch your words, Milady Disdain! We're gonna be parents soon!”

 

She really did stare at him, for once rendered completely speechless.

 

“Are you for real!?”

 

They were entering their chamber. Smirking, he walked to their bed, and placed her gently on it.

 

“Take a nap.” He ordered.

 

Ignoring him, she clambered out of bed, and asked, her exasperation at his stubborn refusal to acknowledge her wishes clearly marked in her tone of voice.

 

“Since when does a `don't overstress yourself,' become a `cessation of all activity'!...”

 

When all he did was just stare at her with his arms crossed over his chest, she took advantage of his passivity and hurried to the door adding as she made to pass him.

 

“Besides, I'm not even closed to tired!”

 

Unimpressed by her little display of temper, he reached out and once again swept her up his arms.

 

“Midwife Kadowaki advised frequent naps…”

 

She was back on bed again. Frustrated, she glared up at him. This time he had barred her from getting up by the simple expediency of sitting on one side of her, while placing an arm on the other. He glared right back at her.

 

“I don't need to nap!”

 

He bent his head until their noses were merely one inch away.

 

“I say you do!”

 

“And I say, I don… Seifer!… Quick!”

 

She grabbed his hand, and placed it over her distended belly. His sea green eyes widened and stared down into hers. The blue eyes were glowing at him with a deep sense of completion. Their quarrel was completely forgotten.

 

“Babe, are you alright?” His voice was laced with fear.

 

“Seifer, that was our baby moving inside me!”

 

At his look of wonderment, she placed her hand over his. For once, they were in deep harmony with each other…

 

And thus, dear Reader, we'll leave them be. It is for certain that their contest of wills shall resume sometime in the very near future, having both the possession of a stubborn and obdurate personality. Nevertheless, for now, while they are still at peace with each other, we will bid them farewell…

 

- FINIS -

 

 

Thanks for reading! I hope everyone enjoyed the reading as much as I enjoyed the writing of this tale! Who knows, perhaps in the future (a very distant one) I might revisit Balamb Kingdom and snoop on Squall's courtship of Princess Rinoa, or Zell's handling of the lady archivist or take a peek in the lives of the bubbly lady Selphie and her beguiling archer… One thing I can assure everyone, life will never be boring at Almasy Castle!

 

And of course, I would like to acknowledge my debt to the bard himself for Much Ado About Nothing, without whom all my delicious epigraphs would've been impossible!