The Fear Within

Neo Naissance

"One... two... three...," the voices echoed aross the courtyard, dancing over the stones and to the ears of the parents who watched their children play with gentle eyes.

Beyond them lay the Kingdom of Baron, a land whose military might was beyond that of any other on the world, but its people were happy and prosperous, and it was an era of great peace. The King had decided to take an excurtion into the forests outside the city to survey his Kingdom and the outlying land, and he had taken a small entorage of attendants with him, his Dark Knights and his Royal Gaurd, both groups small but elite.

It was in this forest that they found the boy.

He was huddled up againt the trunk of a tree, his head buried in his hands. He was crying softly, his shoulders shaking as he held himself, trying to stave off the cold. The boy could be no more than two years old, and his face was dirty, tear streaked. He was a most bizarre looking child, his eyes bright and alert green, his skin unusually pale, even for a babe, and his hair unruly silver grey.

"What is this? A little boy?" One of the Royal Gaurd asked, reaching out for the child, who stummbled backwards.

"N-no! Get away! Stay away! I want Daddy!" he had pressed himself into the tree, staring with wild eyes up at the armored men.

"Get away from him!" someone commanded ", can't you see that you're scaring the boy?"

It was the King himself, dismounted, who came to kneel by the child, who was still shivering, sobbing ", What's wrong... are you lost?"

"It was Teddy!" He blubbered, though no one knew what he meant. "He didn't come!"

"... What's your name, little boy?" the King questioned, holding out a comforting arm.

The boy didn't respond at first, staring at the strange man's arm with curiosity. A moment later the boy flung himself into the King's arms, burying his face in the silken robes. The Gaurds around him tensed for attack, but the King sent them a warning glare ", He's but a harmless babe. What can he do to me, the King of the strongest country in the world?"

"Cecil," the boy muttered, though it was lound enough for only the King to hear.

"Cecil? Well, Cecil... you seem to be alone... how would you like to come home with me?" The King asked, to the astonishment of his entourage.

"What about Daddy and Teddy?" the boy looked up at the King, his wide eyes now dry, an almost comically concerned question on his face.

"... Well, if they come looking for you, I shall have to return you, but it's not nice to leave someone in the woods alone, is it, Cecil?" the King patted the child's head affectionately, a smile on his face.

"No," the boy concluded.

"Come on now, little one," the King said, lifting the boy into the air ", let's get you back to Baron and cleaned off."

He turned to one of the attending Dark Knights, a man by the name of Alec, and began to issue an order ", Go ahead and have the servants prepare a place for him. I want a bath run and food prepared. Tell them to make it food that a tot would eat, and hurry. Take my horse, we will return on foot."

Alec bowed, pivoting and mounting the horse. A moment later he was gone, riding off twoards the palace, which was only a fourty-five minute walk from the forest.

Cecil was settled against the King's chest, his tiny hands clutching the King's robe tightly. The King himself seemed to be quite content with having the boy there, almost as if it were every day of his life that he had a little boy curled up againt his chest.

"Your Highness...," one of the attendants muttered. " Do you intend on keeping him?"

"He looks like her," the King muttered ", if you look at him just the right way. It's her eyes he has, don't you think?"

"... I don't konw what you're talking about, Sire," the attendant admitted.

"Cecilia. He looks like her," the King looked down at the boy, who was dozing off in his embrace.

"... Lady Cecilia, your Highness...?" the man stared at the boy for a bit. "I suppose he does... do you think...?"

"It could be, but either way, he doesnt' have a home,does he? I'll see to it that a home is just what he gets."

"... I'm sleepy," Cecil mummbled somewhat incoherently.

"Yes, I know," the King brushed his caloused fingers against the head of the boy with uncharacteristic tenderness ", sleep, and I'll wake you up in a little bit."

"Okay..." the boy yawned and curled himself up in a ball, his head buried in the folds of the Kings heavy robe.

The King refused to let go of the boy all the way to Castle Baron.

... ... ...

"Who... is he?" Baigan asked, watching the King bounce the tot upon his knee, Cecil squealing joyfully.

"Truthfully, I have no idea, but I think he may be Cecilia's son... though he certainly is unusual... I have never seen hair quite like his before," he smiled as the boy clamboured all over him, his chortling echoing off the walls of the Throne Room.

"Cecilia's... son... mi'lord... is that why...?" the young man asked, watching as the boy reached up to touch The King's crown.

"That may be part of the reason," the King admitted ", but the boy needed a home, and I have no children of my own... I wanted to make him a part of my family... He has strong eyes, doesnt' he? I predict great things for this one."

"He certainly is curious, isn't he?" Baigan questioned, watching the King settle the boy back in his lap.

"Oh, yes... just the other day he asked me why I wore "the shiny thing," and "why do we have two moons instead of one?" unfortunately, I could only answer one of his questions," he chuckled, playing absently with Cecil's hair.

"Why do you have such a big chair?" Cecil suddenly asked, his emerald eyes inquisitive.

"Becasue I'm King, Cecil... I help guide people to make good descions. You'll understand when you grow up," he set Cecil down on the floor. " Unfortunately, I have work to do, so you have to go out to the Courtyard and play."

Cecil pouted but did what he was told despite this.

" I wonder what kind of man he'll be when he grows up?" the King mused to Baigan."Will he be brave and bold? Shy and gentle?"

"You really are investing alot into this boy, aren't you?" Baigan said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"Yes, that child... I want him to think of me as his father..."

"His Father, your Highness?" Baigan asked with more than a bit of skeptisisim aparent in his voice.

The King smiled softly, amused by the mans bewilderment ", Yes. I have no heir of my own, no wife, and I'm getting old. What other alternative do you see?"

And to that Baigan could say nothing.

... ... ...