The Sour Far Thing
In an alternate universe during a time of darkness; lived a young Princess whom no one loved but everyone cared for as if she where an inanimate object. She will have to be brave and learn for herself that there are people who love her, that the most powerful and silent might also be shy and lonely, and above all; that she is more important then she could have ever imagined.
!!Cagalli's Point of View!!
I can hear the sound of approaching footsteps behind me.
I have to keep running.
There are more than one soldier I can be sure of that but I don't have time to even look back as I rounded the corner or the stone hallway, shouts of "there she goes", "keep after her" behind me.
If my Nanny saw me right now would she scold me for my improper attire? It was considered un-lady like to be running anywhere let alone wear nothing but a night dress and bare feet.
She would just have to forgive me. Since I was awaken from my sleep by the sounds of screaming and yelling. As I made my way to the window I had realized that the west wing of the castle was being stormed by soldiers and knights from the kingdom of Zaft. The red coated soldiers had forced their way through our weakened defences and where making their way into the inner wall and into the castle.
The cold breeze made its way through my wheaten hair that had grown longer over the years by my Father's wishes. My Father had played a major part in my life without even being there. I could almost count on my hands and feet the amount of times he had actually seen me.
In my almost 16 years I have been primped and polished to be the best prize a man could win. I knew that in my Father's eyes that's all I would be good for, a way to expand the kingdom. My Father had my older twin brother to guide and mould, that being all he ever wanted. Then there was me who could one day open lands for him through my union in marriage to one of the kings or future princes.
The first time I had met my brother Kira after birth was by accident when I was eight years old. From then on, I had seen him the same number of times I had seen my father. I do however, wish I saw Kira more, unlike my Father, Kira was kind and gentle. He was the type of man a king should be, not like my father who is a tyrant.
It saddens me to know that he never loved my mother and when she died she was happy to go peacefully into death knowing it would be better than her life. Not even the knowledge of her two healthy new born twins made her happy enough to keep on living.
I was afraid of Zaft knights because the Leader of the federation was a king as evil as my Father. King Patrick Zala.
My Father had hated him with a passion and would alley himself or takes over countries that surrounded Zaft's territory.
More and more broke through, mercilessly killing our Orb soldiers. They must be after the royals inside the castle. It is not a secret that this castle hosts many nobles so why not a princess. A spy must have got word out that I was here, there's nothing like a princess hostage to cause an even more passionate fight.
I turned from my window to do the only thing I know how to do when faced with an army of thousands intent on killing me, I ran. I knew this castle well as it is the Fall castle I'm sent to every year and as a child I had my share of hiding places and escape roots I had previously used.
It I am taken hostage by Zaft, my father would do very little to get me back; Kira would but my Father would look at my being killed as an opportunity. An opportunity to scream revenge for the people. Revenge for the "Innocence of the Princess", "Revenge for the Beautiful and kind princess Cagalli who loved her people and who cried when her people were killed and starved by the Kingdom of Zaft". He would have the people of Orb fight until I was avenged and he was the ruler of World.
I had no time to change as the soldiers moved faster throughout the castle and closer to my room. As I reached the end of the hall I almost stumbled over my maid in waiting.
She was crouched down and sobbing heavily into her knee's.
I remember the first day I met her, it was the third time I had ever seen my Father and brother. Father had come to a formal ball in the area and was on his way back to the main castle when he stopped in to inspect my process.
!!Flash back!!
"Now, now, princess, let us see if we can't get all these knots out of your hair before the King arrives." Mana said as the brush passed over the end of my shoulder length golden hair.
"He doesn't like me in the least so why should it matter?" I said looking into the mirror. For a thirteen year old, my skin was perfect, free of blemishes. In my "perfection" as all the maids had put it, I was the most happy with the fact that my skin wasn't red and irritated with red blemished. It actually surprised me that it wasn't since it was caked in mud and dirt when I was younger.
"It should matter little missy, because if you don't meet your Father's expectations this time, the whole house hold will be punished." Mana had finished brushing and started to style it in all directions before she pulled up the side pieces of my hair and pinned them in place.
"I will try not to disappoint anyone this time." I said in a flat tone. I have never really been loved by anyone and I don't expect to be in my life.
"You had better not; your spoiled life style has you thinking more of yourself and little of other." She places some flowers in my hair, the same white colour as my dress.
I really did care for my care takers but they had always seen me as someone who hated her life and who would try and run away even though I had the perfect life.
"I care for my people very much." I told her with more forcefulness than the last time. I wasn't allowed to leave but I would always try and help those who need it when they pass by and ask for my help. I would even send presents to the children at Christmas time and send servant's to the streets in winter to feed homeless or poor people.
In my opinion, it was just the overpaid house staff that wanted more money.
"There you are, done and just in the nick of time. Now Princess, I do hope you find your manners and act as you have been taught." Mana said standing me in front of her to look down sternly at me. She was a hefty Nanny I'll tell you that and she really knew how to crack a rod down on someone's back.
"Yes Mana, I will not let you down." I turned abruptly and walked with my head held high. Down the hall and to the left; down the stairs and stood before the door leading into the throne room.
The guard acknowledged my presence and waited for my Nanny to arrive, being short, plum and old has its disadvantages.
" Thank you for waiting princess," Mana was out of breath and unimpressed with me at the moment "would you please announce the arrival of Princess Cagalli?" she said to the guard.
"Yes ma'am." He said in a foreign accent and opened the door.
After I was announced I made my way in with Mana and stood before my father who was seated in the throne room's high chair. My brother was standing beside him.
"Maid, I would like to know how the princess is doing. Do you believe she will become a fine wife?" Nice. He doesn't even ask me.
"Oh yes your Majesty, she is demur and is the essence of an obedient women." No I wasn't.
"Very good. I have arranged for her to have a maid in waiting so as she can be prepared even more for the time of her marriage." Oh no, not another stingy old women who will keep me captive.
"Yes sir." Mana was almost thrilled with the news. It was then that I peeked to where Kira was sitting. My brother, I wish he would visit me more often.
He was looking at me the whole time and when he saw me look at him he gave me a warm smile.
My head wiped back to my Father.
"Your highness." I said though I had never actually talked to him before.
"I would like to request my own choice of a maid in waiting." Hell if I was going to spend the rest of my life with only a maid in waiting as a confidant and I sure as hell would like a choice. Even if the request gets me a thrashing, it was worth a try.
"My princess seems to have a bold tongue." My Father said. Mana looked horrified and I felt a little sympathy for her.
"I have already brought you one but if you don't want her I will have her put to death for not pleasing you, will you be able to live with that on your conscious?" Kira's smile disappeared and I knew my father was serious.
"I will accept your Highness is too kind to have saved an innocent girl's life." I will never endanger anyone's life so long as it was only about me.
"Bring her in." All heads turned to the front door.
It was then a young girl about the same age as I was brought in. She was dress all in black, as maids in waiting were always dressed. She had a very sweet face and lovely blue eyes but it was her pink hair that really held her beauty.
"This is Lacus, she will be your maid in waiting," my father rose from his chair with Kira in tow. My Father walked pass Lacus and looked down on her hair and then across to mine. "And servant," He said with his back turn, directing his comment to Mana, "I would like to see the princess with long hair the next time I return."
"Yes your highness." Mana said as he left but I was too busy looking at my new servant. And although she will forever be seen as a servant by my father I was defiantly going to be friends with her. I was never allowed to play with other children and other than Kira; I had never been in the same room as anyone the same age as me.
I walked straight up to her and stared at her bowed head. She looked like she was afraid of me.
"Hello Lacus." I said in a cheerful voice and a smile adorning me lips. "You are officially my best friend." I said as I looped my arm around hers and lead her confused form up to my room.
Mana's plum body trying to keep up.
!!Back to the present!!
I had just stumble over Lacus and her head shot up as I said her name. Tears rolled down her face.
"Oh Cagalli!" She said embracing me, trembling so hard my vision started to shake with her.
"Lacus, we have to run, come with me, we can us some of the escape roots I found as a child." I pushed her off gently and took her hand.
"I'm so sorry." She said as I tried to pull her dead weight.
"Come on Lacus, if we don't move quickly we'll be captured." I was not going to get captured; I can fight these men without the disapproval of my maids.
"This is my entire fault, Cagalli you have to understand, I had no choice. My family, I just couldn't let them get hurt." Lacus had removed her hand from mine and covered her face in shame.
"Lacus?" What had she done?
"My family and I live in Zaft and they were going to kill us!" She looked at my face. "I'm so sorry!"
"Lacus, whatever you did I forgive you. I even commend you for saving your loved ones but right now isn't the time for these words. We HAVE to go, NOW!"
I put all my force into moving her and we ran. Down the halls through short cuts, in and out of doors.
"Do you here that?" I asked Lacus as I pressed my ear up against the stone wall.
"There on the other side of this wall." I said in shock and fear. Lacus was a mess; I realized that if she got caught she'd be killed, knowing too much information was bad.
"This way." I whispered.
We made it to my destination, a room with a high window that leads to the roof and down the back to a hill and through the stable. Then it's freedom. I thought this way would be best since the window was large enough for a sixteen year old to fit through. The other escaped where tested when I was ten and even then it was getting to be a tight fit.
The only downside to this particular escape was that the window was too high to reach without help. Kira helped me find it on our second meeting, one of the few times I got to be alone with him and the only time I got to 'play' with another kid.
"Lacus, listen to me. When you reach the edge of the roof where the hill leads down to the stable you have to get on a horse and ride it as fast as you can to the Capital city, remember Heliopolis?"
"Wait, your highness, what about you." I put her hands on my shoulders and grabbed her foot, hoisting her up to the window.
"You have to find Kira and tell him what happened." She was sitting on the window sill.
"You have to come too; here I'll pull you up." She lowered her trembling hand.
"They'll follow me if I go with you, and I'll have to make a distraction." I looked over my shoulder.
"Kira, loves you, you know. He'll be very upset if you get caught and they kill you. He'll protect you, now go."
I turned away from her and ran out the door.
"There she is!" A soldier called and the rest of the large group turned around to look.
It was then that the leader dressed in the finest of clothes; wearing the royal seal turned to looking at me.
I will never forget his stunning green eyes as I took off as fast as I could in the opposite direction.
This is my attempt at another fanfic. Please review and tell me if it was any good or not. I also have another one to try out so I'll be putting that one up soon. Thank you for your patience and time.
Evilace