(Some of you might have read my story, Artemisia. Some of you who read it asked for a longer story. Well, here it is! As we all know, I don't own Final Fantasy VIII and neither do you, but all the characters in this story are mine! You can't have them!... Well, I'll let you borrow them, but only if you ask me for permission first and as long as there's no graphic sex.)

Artemisia: An End to Seclusion

by Spirit Lovelorn

*****

CHAPTER 1: The Forbidden Castle

"Why doesn't that witch just go away?"

Eighteen year old Keith Swordstrife sat alongside his friend, Evan Archer. They were best friends, but contrasted fiercely. Keith was dark-haired, with green eyes and an extroverted personality, while Evan was fair skinned, fair haired, blue-eyed, and had a bit of a self-reserved personality.

"She won't leave because she knows we're scared of her," Evan said.

"I'm not scared of her," Keith stated boldly.

"...Really..." Evan replied sarcastically. "Prove it."

"How?"

"Go up to the castle."

"Go to Artemisia's castle!?"

Everyone who lived in Centra City knew of Artemisia. She was the daughter of Ultimecia, the sorceress who had tried to destroy all humanity. They believed her to be an evil warmongering demon and feared that she too would one day wreak havoc on the world.

"Yeah, tough guy, the castle," Evan said. "And you need proof too."

"O-okay, s-sure." Keith accepted the dare. "I'll go tonight."

"I'll pray to Hyne that you come back in one piece." Evan still sounded sarcastic.

"I don't need you to pray for me and I will do it."

"Best of luck to you then. Now, the boss is gonna get mad if we don't get back into the shop."

*****

"Oh, Hyne..."

Keith had left his house after his father thought that he was asleep and went to the old stone house by the beach. It was in a state of dilapidation, no one had lived there for centuries. It used to be an orphanage, ironically being the childhood home for the legendary SeeDs who came from the past and defeated Ultimecia, ending her reign of terror. All that remained of the house was rubble and ghosts.



Next to the condemned home was a bridge of chains which led to the castle of the damned one, a crumbling fortress which floated over the waters off of Centra. Keith gulped and crossed the bridge. The sun disappeared upon his entering of the castle grounds.

He had to admit to himself, his cockiness tended to get him in a lot of trouble. Now he was risking his own life (who knew what Artemisia would do to him if he got caught) just to save face. He walked up the steps and pushed open the door. When he saw that the coast was clear, he went inside.

The front foyer seemed to still be in decent condition. A chandelier hung suspended above, glowing with the light of a hundred burning candles. Keith found it both stunningly beautiful, and eerily creepy. Now he just had to use something as proof that he was there.

"What can I take? What can I take?"

He moved slowly, keeping his feet as quiet as possible, for fear of being caught. He carefully scanned the surrounding area, until he came across a spooky-looking little statuette of a bleeding angel.

"If Evan saw this..." Keith grinned.

He carefully picked it up out of it's spot in the wall. He held it delicately, not wanting to break it. He grinned in triumph, proud of his accomplishment.

"What are you doing?"

Keith froze. His hands began to tremble as they held onto the statuette. He turned around slowly to face the person behind him.

Angry yellow eyes glared at him from a slender pale face, a face that hadn't seen sunlight for a long time. Long white hair hung loose, draping over her shoulders. A simple black dress stretched from her shoulders to her ankles. Small bare feet peeked out from underneath the skirt. This was Artemisia.

"Why are you taking that?"

"Uh..."

"It was my mother's." Artemisia's voice was calm but stern. Keith was on the verge of begging for mercy. He cried out as she approached him.

"No, please don't kill me!" he cried.

"Why are you here?" Artemisia asked.

"A dare from a friend," Keith confessed. "He told me to bring back proof."

"That doesn't make it okay to come here and take things from me," Artemisia said.

"I'm sorry! Please let me live. I'll never bother you again!"

Artemisia stopped and turned her glance towards the stone floor, her white hands curling into tight fists. Keith put the statue down and backed into the wall.

"Why ... do you hate me?" The young woman choked on her question.

"...What?"

"You all hate me," Artemisia whispered. "You all fear me. It's my punishment for being the daughter of Ultimecia, isn't it?"

Keith was quiet, unsure of what to say to the crying young woman in front of him.

"Go, take the damn statue," she said. "Be a hero to your friends. Pretend you did a deed worthy of honor."

"...I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Saying sorry won't help." Artemisia wiped her eyes with her hands. "Now get out of here and let me be."

Keith quickly bolted out of the door and across the bridge of chains. He stumbled through the crumbling stones of the old orphanage and made his way back home.

*****

Keith worked in Centra City's local item shop stocking shelves. It was the morning after his encounter with Artemisia, and his guilt still burned inside of him.

"Hey, Keith." Evan was walking towards him, carrying a crate of Potions. "You do know that you're staring out into space and that the Elixirs go on this shelf, right?"

"Huh?... Oh, sorry." Keith started moving the Elixirs over to their correct shelf.

"Hey man, what's with you?" Evan asked. "You're like totally off it today."

"...I upset someone," Keith said. "I don't know how to make her feel better."

"Her?" Evan's voice had a teasing tone to it.

"Yes, a girl," Keith snapped, "and I'll ask you kindly to not make fun of me for it."

"Whoa, no need to be so touchy," Evan said defensively. "Didn't it occur to you to apologize?"

I did apologize, but that isn't gonna cut it," Keith answered.

"...What'd you do?"

"You wouldn't believe me."

"Okay..." Evan folded his arms across his chest. "...Maybe flowers would make this chick you're into feel--"

"I'm not really interested in her. I just want her to know I'm sorry," Keith said.

"I really don't know how to help you," Evan told him, "but I'm wishing you luck."

"Evan, get your ass over to the cash register!" the shop owner yelled.

"Later!" Evan ran over to the front of the store.

Keith sighed. What exactly could he do? Flowers were a nice gesture, but he doubted that they would work. What could you do to cheer up a girl living by herself in a castle?...

"Be a friend," he whispered.

*****

"So, did you take up my challenge yet?" Evan asked Keith as they sat in the neighborhood pub, where they ate dinner after work.

"...No," Keith lied.

"Knew you wouldn't," Evan said. "You wouldn't be stupid enough to go face that psycho-witch."

"Um, yeah." Keith sipped his soda. "Which flower shop has the nicest flowers?"

"My mom's shop, doofus," Evan replied. "Why? Decided to give that girl flowers?"

"That's part of what I'm gonna do," Keith said.

"Well, my mom has fresh cut Winhill flowers," Evan told him. "Are you sure you don't like her?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I don't."

"Okay, just checking." Evan was quiet for a few moments. "Do I know this girl?"

"Sort of."

"Who is she?"

"You'd be surprised," Keith said.

"It's not Rebecca, is it?" Evan asked. "You know, she's a sl-"

"No, it's not her," Keith assured his friend. "Now, drop it. I'm not telling you who she is."

*****

Keith held a single white flower in his hand, it being all he could buy with the remaining Gil in his pocket. He had returned to the old castle, hoping to make amends with Artemisia. He knocked on the door, and waited a few minutes before pushing it open. He heard music in the distance, but was unsure of where it was coming from. He walked up the stairs of the front foyer, the steps creaking under his weight.

Another door greeted him at the top of the steps. Keith pushed it open and saw the only way to precede any further was by walking across a chandelier. He began to walk across it, but about halfway through, the chandelier creaked loudly and fell, plummeting to the floor below. Keith jumped, landing hard onto the floor.

"Ow..."

Keith heard the music abruptly stop. He sat up and saw that he had landed in what appeared to be a dining hall. The doors to the north opened, and Artemisia's head peeked in. She immediately noticed Keith and her jaw tightened.

"You," she hissed. "Why can't you stop harassing me? What do you want from me?"

"I-"

"If you're sorceress hunting, give it up," Artemisia said. "I'm not a sorceress. Never have been, never will be."

"I'm not here to kill you..."

"I'd be better off dead anyway."

Keith got up and picked his flower up off of the floor. The stem had snapped. Artemisia watched him curiously.

"What is that for?" she asked.

"It was for you, but the stem's busted," Keith answered.

"For ... me?" Artemisia was genuinely surprised. "Why?"

"To tell you I'm sorry and as a sign of friendship."

Artemisia was quiet. She reached out and took the broken flower from Keith's hand. She gently touched the white petals. Her yellow eyes glistened.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Keith nodded a 'you're welcome.' "What was that music I heard?"

"I was playing the organ in the chapel," Artemisia said.

"Really?" Keith realized he never told her his name. "I forgot to introduce himself. I'm Keith Swordstrife."

"Artemisia, but you already know that."

"Yeah, I do."

"...Are you hurt from your fall?" the young woman asked.

"Just bruised," Keith answered. "Nothing serious... Not to be rude, but how have you been able to live here all by yourself?"

"I've been taking care of myself ever since I was small," Artemisia told him. "I had to. My mother..."

"What about her?" Keith inquired.

"No ... forget it," Artemisia said.

*****

"So, did that girl forgive you?" Evan asked Keith as he walked into the shop.

"Yeah, we're cool," Keith replied. "I'm gonna meet her later."

"Oh?"

"Cut it out. We're just friends."

"I really don't believe you."

"Tough. You're going to have to."

"Can I go with you when you see her later?" Evan asked.

"No," Keith said.

"Why not?"

"You don't need to know."

"Fine, be that way," Evan frowned. "There are crates of Gyshal Greens in the storage room. You're supposed to refill the bins with the fresh greens."

Keith groaned and went back into the storage room to retrieve the crates. After work, he was going back up to the castle. Artemisia promised to give him a tour. He found himself quite excited at the thought of going back there. He was becoming quite fond of his new friend.

*****

"You sent him to me, didn't you?"

Artemisia stared at the small wooden cross she had hung in the chapel three years ago when her mother was killed. There was never a body to bury, meaning no grave. This little cross was what Artemisia turned to when she needed a listener.

"You did," she whispered. "I know you did. You didn't want me to be alone anymore. I won't take this for granted. Thank you, Mother."

*****

(Well, that concludes the first chapter of Artemisia. Let me know what you think. If this gets at least one positive response, there will be more chapters in the future. I like this story; something different and a little more original in the fics. I think a few of my fics are original, not necessarily great, but at least sort of original... Not all of them, mind you, but some of them. Well, more chapters soon! Second chapter should dwell deeper into the story.)