In the name of Yevon, you shall marry the Maestor of Bevelle and erase this aging town's suffering

My dreams recently had been drowned in those repetitive words. Over and over they would bubble through my head, each time my eyelids lost the energy to remain wide any longer. As night time came and the weathered city was swallowed by shadow, my dreams would play through the same dreams like a broken record, scratching through the good parts and highlighting those that held my fears. Yet, suffering the torture of my mind time and time again would not stop me from freeing my people from their sorrows.

So I chose to ignore it, the resolve within me burnt with power un-tainted by sadness... by sorrow. The hope for my town and my people; that was me, and I couldn't not show my fears, for that would bring equal fear to those I sought to save. Nothing, and no one would stop me from saving my peoples...those were my original thoughts.

Chapter 1- The Contract

Morning dawned early today, or perhaps it was just me, eager to escape the first of many bad dreams that I could already see coming. It had been a vacant dream, lacking in visuals but exhausting in vocals. Voices that mutated and merged into each other. I had heard my fathers many times then it had morphed into that of his fellow council members. I recalled Sir Auron's and Sir Jecht's but I was unable to account for who had released which words. I only remembered the words that matched those voices of my true memories. Memories of the day gone past.

I had sat behind the curtains, listening remotely as my father addressed his council. Their conversations of politics had never served much interest to me before, I just had a tendency to sit and listen to his voice. It was hearty yet light, calming and full of sorrow...sorrow and joy I think. He would address his fellow leaders with tones of friendship and gratitude because they were his friends, loyal to his thoughts and commands. He was their mentor and their voice, but he was also their comrade.

But that was not what I respected him for most. It wasn't even because of his role in society as ruler of our small town. No, it was his absolute dedication to his people, his unconditional love and sacrifice to bring them hope and the smallest instance of peace.

"Besaid has seen its calm come and go once more; Bevelle is back on the offence in the simplest example that our treaty may not be continued. My wife has taken death and with her the freedom of our town. Bevelle has now given us the option to continue the ritual of marital alliance or to be destroyed. And so we must decide who is to sacrifice their freedoms of choice for the sake of our people."

Papa's voice drifted to me, through the vacuum of air that resolved in their room, under the thick draperies which I was then hiding behind. The lights of the room caused the little space between the materials barricade and that of the wall, each touching one of my shoulders, to turn a vibrant crimson. But my lungs felt no claustrophobia, calm breaths filled me, my chest rising and falling rhythmically, normally. It was his voice that kept the nerves away, fighting the fears of being caught.

And even at such a naive age, where, at 17 I should have been ignorant of the methods of the world and the traitorous happenings that occurred even within my simple town, I was able to understand exactly what the elders were discussing at that very moment.

It was the very reason I adored my father so very much.

It was in his early years of adulthood that he had left me, it was not exactly a long absence but during those few months my heart had ached for my father's attention. I had feared his permanent disappearance, that he would become dead to me; his unknown daughter. My mother had told me, as I awaited his return one night, just as I did every night when his presence was not within my home, that he may not return to me. He had left to be wed, she had told me to which I blasted her with mass amounts of questions.

"But Mummy, aren't you married to Papa?"

As a child I found it difficult to grasp the concept that ones parents were not married; were not conjoined as I was to them. It was this fact that bothered me most, more than, as I soon realised, that my father was to be with another woman and that this women would soon become my mother.

The fears of my mother were proven unnecessary when my father later returned home, four months after his departure, a young woman by his side. I had watched on in the streets as they entered the town, adorned in glorious jewels and robes of violent colours of royalty, accompanied by lines and formations of people with guns, and ribbons and kites. Music veered through the streets, crowds grew quickly around the scene and their voices easily hid the sound of my cries. I chased the hovering vehicle as it slowly strolled through the main roads, pushing my way through the aggressive sea of disjointed limbs.

Physically I managed to escape their holds but my shouts to him failed in their journey.

Papa! Papa! Papa!

He smiled to the crowds solemnly, his eyes scanning the crowds and floating over me time and time again. As my voice finally broke he turned to the woman beside him, his smile lifting in emotions slightly, and he took her hand in his. I broke through the final layer of the wall of people, air filling my lungs as a continued to watch his display; he lent towards her, the hover turning the corner as I pictured their lips meeting and my lack of importance in his life...

That final gasp of air acted as the stigma for the lake of tears that fell from my eyes and the last breath of consciousness.

The next thing I remember was waking up in my mothers arms, her velvet voice lacing her gasps as the solidity of the ground behind me disappeared and I bounced around in her grip. Her breathing was accompanied by another, much deeper and an awesome hint of calamity that reached me through the air between us. The sky was black, the shadows eating the walls of the stone buildings that flew by us as four feet carried me through the maze I was unaware of.

And suddenly they came to a stop. Both parties took in an eternal gasp of air that had been stolen from their lungs in their haste. The ground sparred at me, gravity leaving me as my mother fell to the ground. I felt droplets drizzle on my cheek. I first thought rain had graced us but then I heard the idle sobs that matched the hectic jolts of my mother's body. I watched her face as tears rolled down my cheeks, tears that were not mine. But their sorrow matched mine completely.

We were no longer needed.

"You cannot leave us! Please...please! We need you...I need you!" Mother begged, placing me on the icy ground. Stone tiles of the pavement bit at me with their coldness. It stung for the little moment I was not numb to anything but the occurrence before me.

Mothers feet left my side, I herd the desperation in the air, could feel it. It ensnared me, my fingers twitching with the urge to have someone beside me, to be cared for.

The sound of my father's suit seemed loud enough to break glass, only because the silence was so intense. I tilted my head in their direction, my vision blurred as wetness overcame my eyes. The outline of my mother being nursed by my father was detectable.

"Don't leave me. Don't leave me."

"This is for my people. I am sorry I could not look after you my love...I am so sorry."

She wailed those words over and over and he felt unable to reply. When she had calmed down he pulled himself away, leaving her curled up on the ground. I had expected him to turn away then, but his eyes trailed to me and I stared back at him, my mother's words exploding through my eyes. His face glitter, a single tear sliding slowly down his cheek as he stepped away from us. My hand twitched as I tried to reach for him.

Papa! Papa! Papa!

His footsteps began. One Two Three. Fading. Four Five Six...

There was a flash of silver in my mother's direction, her hand dancing around her legs.

Seven Eight Nine...

I herd rain fall then, it splattered over me in a single falling. Drooling down my face slowly leaving a sticky trail on my sweating skin. My tears disappearing in its mass, my clothing soaked in it. It was warm. Protecting me from the bitterness of the night's air. A metallic taste filled my mouth as a single droplet licked at my lips.

My body froze as the sound of choking echoed through the nights airs, chewing at the inside of my ears. Mother clutched at her neck, she sat upright now, her eyes staring at the ground where a silver knife gloated, enthralled with its thick coating of pure red. The moon reflected from its surface, stained the colour of blood.

I saw Papa's eyes rip wide, threatening to take over his face. He was unable to move, paralysed like me.

We both watched her, silently. She grew quiet also. It was...quiet. Everything was quiet. Nothing moved. Nothing made a sound. Just our heartbeats, unmatched by hers.

"MAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

He had taken me then. I lived in his house, unheard of by the people of Besaid until such times as he had discussed my existence with his wife of Bevelle. I was introduced at the age of 7 to the civilians as the child of Sir Braska and Lady Tsukue, no longer ignorant of the reasons for my mother's death.

She had died because of Papa's lacking of love for her, his love belonged to the people of his home and he had married another woman, a Maester of Bevelle, to uphold the treaty invented to save his home from destruction.

This treaty involved a sacred marriage between one child of each generation to join our two societies together for eternity. As the hierarchy of our world, Bevelle's would choice the heir to the throne and future Maester to be wed and our city would choose their highest suitable candidate to continue the tradition. This person, however, had to be approved by the chosen Maester.

And that was my father, his role was to save us and he did it at the price of love and happiness and to see his soul mate die. This was why I respected him, why I hid behind the curtains that lined the conference room each day and listened to him, why I aspired to help my people just as he did.

"Braska, the heir to the throne exists no more; Lord Jyscal has passed onto the farplane so the decided heir cannot claim the throne unless circumstances are met!"

"One of which is marriage, is it not Auron? Maester, or should I say, that which is soon to be, Seymour has offered his people continued peace with the rest of Spira and they have agreed that should he be married by the end of the month he will take the thrown. It is in our best interest to assist him and I have been given a personal request by Seymore himself."

"And what is that?" I herd Auron wonder aloud, his voice seemed nonchalant but I sensed concern hidden within.

The room felt silent...it was odd. Needless to say, nerve wracking for me. And I could feel their gaze on me before anyone made any noise or gesture.

"Yuna...would you come out from your hiding spot please" Papa's voice broke the silence, yet even though I felt like I had been caught for murder his voice was calm and caressing. I slowly stood, still feeling their eyes piercing me through the cover that was obviously invisible to them. I wondered how long they had known, my cheeks blooming with red as I realised how stupid I must look to the elders now awaiting by appearance. I fixed up my outfit hastily as I emerged from the veil. All their eyes were as gentle as my father's voice...they all seemed to giggle to themselves at my powdered face so I tried a little smile to hide any fear that might have snuck from the cage in my mind and revealed itself to them.

"Yuna, my daughter, you have listened to our talk...what are your opinions on Lord Seymour?"

I fiddled with my wrist, my eyes stalking the ground as a felt my face grow hotter at the thought of the man mentioned. I had only herd of the man before, people had described him to me; handsome, gentle, polite, but never had my own eyes laid upon him nor hand my heart been exposed to his persona. But I could not bring myself to voice this whilst such intense urgency be placed upon me by my father. What if I should say the wrong this in front of him...of all things, upsetting my father was not something I wished to do.

"I...uh...umm..."

He chuckled at me sweetly and I gazed at his smile; its genuine nature was hardly ambiguous. So I decided to share his example and be as pure as I could.

"Papa, I don't know the man, how could I ever make a judgement? It would be rude of me to base my opinion on those of others."

"Yuna, you strike me as more amazing each time I'm with you. I was truly blessed to have a child like you."

I bowed thankfully before him, a glorious smile threatening to tear my skin apart. My happiness never ceased in his presence, even when opposing feelings came, joy still lived. He began playing with his fingers as I looked in his direction again, Sir Jecht and Sir Auron also shared my curiosity, we all awaited the release of that which was obviously bothering him.

We simultaneously sighed inwards as he finally looked up at me, longing for his words. I smiled lightly to urge him to speak and he vaguely returned it before uttering almost silent words.

"Yuna...I have received a request from Lord Seymour...for you to...to..."

"Marry him?" I finished.

He nodded in response, his eyes heavy I gathered as he seemed unable to look at me.

Author's Notes

Haii!

This is my first individual writing on this site; normally I'm writing with my friend origamidresses, but I decided recently I would like to write about things I actually have some knowledge of, soz papa!

The idea for this story took ages to come up with, final fantasy is a hard series to expand on with an actual storyline let me tell you! But I'm on the way. Please excuse if I slip out of character but I'm trying to twist the characters into the new situations as best I can without making their reactions too over the top or of too little interest.

Also, sorry if there are lots of mistakes, I don't have someone to Beta read but if you're interested I will love you forever!

Please review if you read! –Peer pressures- !!

I love feedback and its what has helped me improve to the degree I have now, I'm also willing for suggestions in storyline as I haven't thought the entire thing out yet :P

Well, Baii baii for now!

Gingy