YOU CANNOT READ THIS STORY UNLESS
YOU HAVE READ(and reviewed!) SEA OF FIRE!
Seriously, this story won't make any sense if you haven't read Sea of Fire. I warned you. I don't want to see any reviews complaining about how the things don't make any sense. This story is a direct continuation of SEA OF FIRE. So, click my pen name and go look under the list of stories I have authored.
As for the rest of you..
Chapter 1: First Night
The desert had always been notorious for it's scorching heat. The unblinking stare of the high noon sun was enough to make even shadows wither up and die. The golden sand that had once been seen as beautiful now became a blinding stretch of land. Each diamond-like grain felt like red-hot coals against the bare flesh of uncovered feet. It was truly a sea of fire to any traveler that was unlucky enough to be caught amidst its sandy waves.
The dangerous combination of a merciless sun and shy waterhole was enough to drive any man insane. The heat alone could shrivel the strongest man into a pile of bones. It was because of this unforgiving weather that small towns, such as Velden, were built. It wasn't a place where anyone would want to live. It was a place where travelers could escape from the sun and greet two old friends: Water and Shade.
Seifer:
"What are your plans?" A young man with uneven, dark brown hair and cold blue-gray eyes asked after taking a long drink from his water cup. His expressionless face was gazing at the person in question—a tall blonde with a handsome face and a pair of sharp green eyes.
"Our plans, Squall, our plans," the blonde stressed the pronoun while flashing the other a teasing smile.
It made Squall tense and look down at his now empty cup. It took only a few seconds for the brunet to resume his icy stare that he raised to clash with the vivacious jade of the blonde's eyes. "I don't seem to have any choice in where I am going, so the plans are not ours, Seifer."
The blonde shook his head in momentary defeat. Every time he tried to talk of them being together as "we" and "our", Squall would always find a way to separate himself from everyone, everything. It sounded like a lonely thing to do—Seifer had no clue, he was still learning the quirks of the former slave known as Squall Leonhart.
"We," Seifer began to answer the first question while ignore Squall's attempt to be a prisoner of war in their travels. "—are going to head east."
Squall look as if he had swallowed his tongue. His whole body twitched then froze against the chair. His eyes lost their blue hue, leaving Seifer to peer into a depthless pair of slate gray eyes. It took a few moments of odd looks on Seifer's part before Squall could manage to breath a reply. "Why?"
Seifer arched his golden eyebrows in suspicion of his new companion. It irked him ever so slightly to hear that particular question. Squall was always asking why—and it was up to Seifer to magically figure out what the brunet wanted to know. Honestly, Squall could put a few more words into his vocabulary; it would make communication so much easier—and heaven forbid that it might even become enjoyable for once. With this growling thought circling his mind, Seifer decided to give a stupid response just to grind at the other's nerves.
"I heard they have trees there. Can you imagine such a thing? Trees, Squall, trees!" Seifer let the words fly out then he falsely smiled to stress the sarcasm.
"Wha—" Squall cut short with a frustrated growl when he realized it was a joke. The storm began to brew once more in his eyes, which he narrowed at the blonde jester. "Can't I just stay here? I don't want to be part of this stupid escapade of yours."
Seifer slowly frowned at the words that had managed to prick at a sensitive nerve. Ever so gently, subtly had Seifer been suggest that they stay together during their travels—that they should be together. But every time he got knocked down before he could even stand. Perhaps Squall did not mean what he said because there seemed to be a deeper meaning to the negative comments. Seifer could tell because as soon as Squall said it, he looked away to hide his face—which was maybe to hide his eyes that seemed to swirl with an indecision that Seifer could easily picked up on. It was a habit of the brunets that the blonde was growing accustom to—it meant that Squall was holding something back.
Regardless, instead of trying to pry his way into 'the glacier', Seifer adverted his own gaze to examine the small room they occupied. It was an undersized shady building that was built around a deep well. A man by the name of Ward owned the place and he had opened it up for travelers to come in, rest and refill their waterskins. The master of the house was absent, but one shady figure sat harmlessly in the corner. Despite how secluded they were, Seifer dropped his voice so Squall had to strain to hear, "I'm not trying to drag you around to meaningless places. The east is the only option we have open to us. You don't know my father. He is a stubborn, ruthless man that will not forgive the humiliation I gave him this morning. Soon he will send out men to come hunt us down. If they find me, I will be forced to return to Zamir and receive judgment from the Gods. But you.. they will most likely kill you on sight. This is not a vacation, Squall, this is an escape.."
Squall's brows together and the corners of his lips turned down in an almost invisible frown. "Why not the southern or northern kingdoms? Why does it have to be the east?"
Seifer turned his eyes back to the brunet in order to try and read the other's thoughts by taking in the body language. But Squall was simply an unhappy piece of frozen stone with no inscriptions to be read. "My father has allies in both of those places. I am highly recognized in either territory. However, in the east there is an uprising of people who rebel against my father—he would not dare step foot there because of the risk of starting a war.
Squall's head rolled forward and rested against the inside of his arm. It wasn't visible, but the brunet was scowling darkly at the logic of Seifer's words—but it did not make him any happier.
"It is as that saying goes," Seifer propped his elbow up on the table and rested his chin on his upturned palm. He looked down at his opposite with interest flickering in his green eyes. "Into the den of the lion."
"You have no idea," Squall raised his head with an apathetic expression once again gracing his features.
It confused Seifer. The blonde had no idea what to assume from the mixture of reactions from the other. He knew Squall was keeping secrets, but he also knew that there was no way that the brunet was going to open up and share the knowledge. Ice was not meant to be picked away at with a chisel—or it would crack, and then shatter to pieces along with the secrets on the inside. Instead, if one would take their time and slowly melt the ice, then they would find what had been hidden for so long.
"All in due time, Squall," Seifer let his hand drop to the table as he smiled knowingly at the other.
"What is that suppose to mean?" Squall arched a single eyebrow at his traveling partner. It was a cold, meaningless question but curiosity still filtered into his eyes as faint shades of dark blue.
"Eventually you will warm up to me," Seifer jested then smirked when Squall's eyes snapped back to an opaque shade of gray. If I say anything even slightly suggestive he immediately shells himself away.
"I don't want anything that has to deal with the word 'warm'. I had my share of that out there in the sun," Squall's retort came a bit late, but was welcomed by Seifer none-the-less.
The tanned blonde rose from his chair and reached over to lightly flick the end of Squall's nose—earning an annoyed scowl. "Tell me that again in a few hours. I think by then you will have changed your mind."
Squall:
"I doubt it," Squall mumbled and watched as Seifer started to leave. The brunet began to rise as well, but a subtle gesture from the blonde made him sit back down in his chair. Quietly Squall watched as the ex-prince exited the building.
What is he doing? He can't just leave me here..
Squall gazed around the vacant room. His cobalt eyes fell on the stranger seated in the corner. Even though the cloaked man posed no threat, Squall suddenly felt exposed. Sure he liked the silence and solitude, but this was now different. The situation had changed and now Squall had a price on his head. Funny that he wanted to avoid that, since not but a month ago he would have gladly given away his life for death. Besides, right then he didn't have Seifer to get him out of trouble.
I can take care of myself, Squall narrowed his eyes at the stranger in cold anger. The emotion soon passed and Squall folded his arms over the wooden table as he reminded himself that the only 'solution' he had ever made was to run away from home—then by some miracle he has survived and had then hid in Zamir. That was no longer an option, and once again Squall found himself 'running away'.
At least I am not alone this time, Squall frowned and focused his gaze on the empty chair across from him. It felt nice to have someone around—even though Squall hated to rely on others for anything; especially something as foolish as 'company'. But, didn't he owe it to Seifer to at least accompany him to as far as the eastern borders? The blonde did leave everything.. for nothing.. it was one big mistake. Although, right then Squall didn't have the other's company and he was alone. He did not like the distress that came with the state of being.
Impatiently Squall drummed his fingers against the hard wood table. The noise echoed mockingly through the small room. He would wait for Seifer—there was no other option. The brunet snorted at the last thought. Since when did he not have a choice? Was he not a free man?
..Even so, Squall couldn't think of one place to go. He was not familiar with the lands around the western kingdom. He would have to rely on Seifer to guide him to safety. There it was again, bitterly having to rely on someone else for support. Or maybe.. Squall did want to go with the renegade prince—they had so much in common, but Squall wouldn't dare explain himself to Seifer. What if the blonde became angry and just left Squall to fend for himself?
I can't risk losing him, Squall though. His eyes swirled with blue as he reflected on his inner turmoil when he analyzed his own words. Surely he was not interested in becoming close to the other—but it wouldn't hurt to travel together for safety reasons.
The man in the corner rose and stretched his tired limbs. From looks it appeared to Squall that the stranger was built like a palace guard—broad shoulders, intimidating height, and an air of authority hung around him. It made Squall even more uncomfortable. Should he run—where? Into the blazing hot sands without food or water? Should he sit and vainly cling to a thread of hope that perhaps the man was not one of the guards Seifer had been talking about earlier?
Option two seemed the more logical choice.
Squall wrapped his hands around his empty water cup. He adverted his eyes to the dirt floor when the stranger began to walk towards the exit (which, regrettably, was next to Squall's table). The stranger shuffled by with Squall closely watching the passing feet. Curiosity kicked in and Squall let his eyes flick upwards to the man's face just before he passed. A dark-skinned face centered around two onyx eyes gazed back at him. Squall snapped his eyes back onto his cup. It was a mistake to look up—now he had drawn attention to himself.
"Heeey, don't I know you?" the gruff, accented voice of the stranger asked while pausing in step.
No. No… go away.. please.. Squall played deaf to the other and stared intently at a small drop of water that clung so desperately to the bottom of his cup, like how Squall was clinging to a thin thread of hope that the stranger would leave.
"You're from the palace ain't ya?" the stranger bent down to attempt to look at Squall's face.
Gods.. no.. I don't want.. to go back there.. Squall tilted his head forward so that his long bangs shadowed his face. This cannot be happening..
"Hey.." A hand came down onto Squall's shoulder—as if to seize him—to capture him and drag him back to Zamir in order to be executed.
The small action and physical contact was enough to finally break Squall out of his ice and cause a reaction. The brunet dropped the cup to roll off the table and clattered against the floor. Without hesitating, Squall knocked the man's hand away and swerved around as he jumped from his seat and made a break for the exit—only to run into a solid chest of another broad-shouldered man that grabbed Squall's shoulders in order to prevent them both from falling.
"Whoa, what's with you?"
Squall was trapped. They had cornered him in this building. Seifer had left him—left Squall as bait in order to distract the guards while he escaped. How could Seifer do that after talking about traveling together? Was Squall so meaningless after all? Just a slave to be tossed to the dogs?
"No!" Squall jerked out of the new man's grasp. He began to slip past when the stranger snared his wrist with a powerful grip.
"Squa—" The man began but was cut short when Squall's hard fist connected with his jaw.
The brunet's wrist was released but before he could make his escape two muscled arms encircled his upper torso in a rough hug that pinned both of his arms to his body. Foreign lips brushed past Squall's ear and were followed by calming whispers. "Squall, it's me. Calm down. What happened? What's wrong?"
Squall stopped thrashing when the voice had taken on a famliar tone. It was Seifer. The blonde hadn't left him after all. "I don't want to go back.."
The grip around Squall's chest loosened slightly as Seifer pulled away, "go back where? What do—"
"Prince Seifer..?"
Squall felt Seifer tense, then suddenly the protective circle was gone as the blonde dropped his arms in order to turn and face the stranger. Without thinking, Squall spun around and rested his forehead against Seifer's back while subconsciously clutching the blonde's black shirt for a sense of security. The warmth of the other's body against his head comforted Squall, it reminded him that he was not alone anymore.
I don't want to go back..
Seifer:
For being gone only a few minutes, things certainly did take a sudden turn in events. Squall was certainly upset over something, but 'what' was the question Seifer found himself stumped upon. He could only wish that the brunet had missed him—but that was only feeble wishing.
However, the way Squall was currently nestling up against his back made him re-think his thoughts. Upon someone calling his name, Seifer straightened himself to his full height and felt the need to protect the brunet from the stranger. Had the other man assaulted Squall? Hurt him? Threatened him? What was going on?
"Is that really you, Seif?" Another question came repeated the blonde's name.
Seifer narrowed his eyes at the cloaked figure. The man was familiar, yet not. The feeling of Squall tightening his fist in the black shirt made the blonde untrusting of the newcomer, "Who are you?"
"Er, it's me, Raijin, can't ya tell?" The tall dark-skinned man pulled the hood off his head to reveal a head of thick, black hair.
It did look like Raijin. It sounded like Raijin. Seifer had never seen the former guard in civilian clothes—but he knew one thing for sure, "You're dead."
"Huh? What? No—" Raijin shook his head and stepped forward to look at his prince more clearly. "I'm not dead! I just, uh, well.."
The action caused Squall to press closer against Seifer's back. The blonde picked up on the hostility and glared at Raijin, warning him to keep his distance. "What did you do to him?"
"Er," Raijin appeared stumped at the question, then his eyes lit up at the glimpse of brown hair over Seifer's shoulder. "I was just saying hi to him—ya'know, 'cause I recognized him by his eyes. You said he had beautiful eyes n'all."
Seifer felt a warmth spread through his cheeks, but it didn't lessen his hard glare. Raijin continued his explanation. "But he wasn't listenin' to me so I went to shake his shoulder and he flipped out!"
"Whatever. I don't care anymore. What are you doing here? Rinoa showed me your head in a box. What kind of scheme are you playing a part of?" Seifer shook his head in confusion.
"Seifer, my prince, I would never turn against you!" Raijin raised his hands in a surrendering gesture. "It was like this. We camped out in the desert like you asked. That night we snuck into Rinoa's camp—but she was just sittin' there, waitin' for us! The whole place erupted in chaos and then she began to glow. It was scary ya know? There were all these flashes of lightening, so I took cover. Afterwards she found me. Oh boy was she angry! She said some nasty things about you then told me that I better not return to the city or she would chop off my head—and I'm kinda attached to it, ya'know?"
The former guard laughed dryly while slowly withering under the harsh glare of the ex-prince. Seifer took in the details and allowed himself to relax, as it seemed the danger had passed. It still didn't make him happy to hear the past news. "Why would she show me a head—like yours—in a box? It doesn't make any sense."
"I dunno, maybe she wanted to scare ya.." Raijin shrugged.
"Or make you fear her," Squall softly added his opinion while lifting his head away from it's comfortable rest against Seifer's back. "Because you don't.."
The blonde glanced over his shoulder at the brunet, who backed away a few steps. Seifer frowned at the loss of contact—the moment had been brief and probably by accident, but it had been nice. Now that it was gone Seifer couldn't help but feel a small hollow spot form inside of his chest.
"What are you doing here?" Raijin's question brought Seifer back to current events.
The ex-prince turned away and picked up a bundle of items that he had dropped upon running into Squall at the door. Three full waterskins, two knapsacks full of food, one dagger, one shirt and a pair of sandals. He handed the shirt and sandals to Squall. The brunet began to dress without being told. Seifer then fixed his attention back onto Raijin. "Listen to me carefully, Raijin, you never saw us in this town. You never talked to us. Nothing. This meeting we had never happened. Got it?"
Raijin's face twisted in confusion. Seifer didn't leave any chance for questions. He handed Squall one waterskin and a knapsack. "We need to get moving."
"Wait, where are you going?" Raijin burst as he watched Seifer throw on the remaining two waterskins, knapsack and dagger.
"I can't tell you," Seifer spared a glance to the guard. If one person could find them so easily, then it was only a matter of time before someone of real danger found them. If by change they found Raijin, Seifer couldn't allow information to slip from the former guard's mouth. "If you swear your are loyal to me, then you must forget that you saw us."
One nudge from Seifer was enough to send Squall walking. Seifer followed close behind and they left the building to enter the heat of the evening. Raijin hounded after them with desperation burning in his eyes, "Wait, can't I come with ya?"
"No," Seifer almost shouted. Squall looked up in alarm at the harsh response. His brows knitted together with questions. Seifer pinned his gaze onto Raijin who dejectedly looked aside, but shifted hopefully foot to foot. Why didn't he want Raijin to come? Seifer glanced thoughtfully to Squall who stood an arm's length away. Logic said it would be safer to travel in a group.
He'd slow us down, Seifer attempted to argue with his common sense. Besides, he might be acting as a spy. I can't take the risk.
The blonde adjusted the straps over his shoulders then turned and began to walk away. He lightly touched Squall's arm to lead the other towards the end of the town. Deep down inside he knew the reason why he was leaving Raijin behind. He just selfishly wanted to be alone with Squall—it was hard enough to get the brunet to open up with just himself present. Seifer didn't want to attempt to try and converse with Squall when more people were around. That was… not in Seifer's plans..
"Raijin, I have one last order for you," Seifer turned to address the former guard. Raijin stood straight; ready to receive the final command. "If anyone comes looking for either one of us, I want you to prevent them from following us. I'm counting on you to carry out that order."
Seifer then turned away to continue walking with Squall out of town. Silence settled between the two once more as they marched out into the burning sands of orange and red. Seifer had a few question lying on the tip of his tongue—but they didn't want to fall out into the open to be heard. Instead, Seifer merely watched the landscape change. It was his favorite time of the day—when the prideful, evening sun sank below the horizon to surrender the land to the calm blue of the night. As the last rays of sunlight faded, Seifer began to notice how truly dark it was—because there was no moon in the sky. Traveling by mere starlight was proving difficult because Seifer could no longer make out the Estharian cliffs. He could use the stars as directions, but Seifer had never really been a big fan of astrology..
"You.. tried to kill Rinoa?" Squall's voice broke the long silence much to Seifer's surprise.
"It wouldn't be the first time that I've pulled such a stunt. I don't know if I really wanted to kill her.. maybe scare her into stopping her from pulling her stunts.." Seifer pulled at the straps digging into his shoulder. He had shared the information so freely. If anyone else had asked they would have received some kind of sardonic remark. However, maybe opening up to Squall was the key to getting the brunet to open up in return..
"And at the expense of someone else's life?" Squall's words stung.
Seifer winced at the scolding while mentally noting to not share so much information. Did Squall ask that question just to make Seifer twist on the inside? Fine. If he wanted to ask questions that stepped on each other's toes, then Seifer could return what he was given. "What happened earlier in town between you and Raijin?"
"I thought he was one of the guards you were talking about," Squall mumbled, his voice barely reaching Seifer's ears.
The blonde spun around with a smirk of satisfaction on his lips. Squall had just walked into his verbal trap. "Is that why you ran to me, for protection from the big bad guard?"
Squall narrowed his eyes at Seifer. The color of the eyes blended in with the blue sands of the desert, but unlike the calm landscape, Squall eyes were guarded as he responded defensively. "I seem to recall punching you."
"And I seem to remember you burying your face into the back of my neck and clutching my shirt like a lost child," Seifer cooed, then immediately regretted his words. The memory was slightly evoking, causing Seifer to swallow an invisible lump in his throat.
"I did not.." Squall's eyes were focused on the sand. It was getting difficult to see without the sun to light up every grain of sand. There were so few stars out, and their light seemed to be sucked into the dark of the black velvet sky. So intent on seeing his own two feet, Squall missed the way Seifer stopped walking, thus causing the brunet to run straight into the tall blonde. "Erf.."
"We better rest for the night," Seifer dropped the waterskins and knapsack—keeping the dagger secure at his waist.
"What? Won't it be better if we travel under the cover of night, then rest during the day to avoid the heat?" Squall frowned despite that the gesture was lost in the darkness.
"It would be if we were wandering aimlessly, but I need to be able to see where we are going so that we don't go too far south, or too close to some of the more busy towns.." Seifer sat down in the sand and gazed up at Squall.
Squall blinked down at his opposite, catching the way the starlight shone with a strange luster in the other's green eyes. "I guess that makes sense.."
Seifer quietly watched as Squall sat down besides him, but out of reach. Smirking, the blonde laid back and used one of the waterskins as a pillow between his head and the sand. He rolled onto his back and stared up at the moonless sky, not feeling the least bit tired but he knew it was better to try and sleep.
The stars looked down at the ex-prince, taking their individual turns at shining more brightly than the stars next to them. It was like a mystical language, some kind of message from Gods. There were priests that devoted their lives to staring at the burning points of colored light that dotted the night sky. Seifer had never been one to take interest in the activities of priests.
What are you trying to tell me? Seifer mused to himself while folding his hands behind his head. The cold of the night was starting to bite as his skin now that he was no longer moving to keep warm. It probably would have been a good idea to bring bedrolls, and blankets—but then he would have to buy so many other things to go along with that, and the haul would prove to be too much during the daylight hours. They would survive without those items. Squall had yet to complain.
To ignore the cold, Seifer focused his attention on the stars—watching their rhythmic sparkling. I think you are trying to tell me to sleep..
Green eyes centered on a small red star that appeared separated from all the others. Subconsciously Seifer laid one of his hands on his chest where his fingertips brushed against the bump in his shirt, where beneath the linen fabric laid a metal ornament connected to the silver chain circling his neck.
Griever..
The red star burned brightly, then faded. Seifer watched as it repeated the pattern several times. His fingers followed the rhythm by tracing the lion cross. I need to return this to Squall..
The red star faded until Seifer could no longer single it out from the others. The trance was fading and soon was shattered by the lone howling of a stray torama.
"I did it.. because.. I didn't want to be alone anymore.." Squall's voice soon followed in the silence after the hungry animal's cry.
Seifer stilled against the sand. Was Squall talking to him—did the brunet know he was awake? The blonde bit down on his lips, not wanting to say anything that would cause Squall to stop talking. To his joy, the brunet continued after a moment of silence. "You wouldn't understand.."
There was noise of the other moving in the sand. Seifer closed his eyes in order to not be caught listening. He didn't think the brunet was actually talking to him—well, he was talking to him, but not expecting to be heard in return. Suddenly Seifer felt something brush against his arm and side. Squall was lying down next to him? What are the odds of that happening?
"You don't know how it feels to be alone for years, then to have someone you don't know give up everything they know, and say they want to be with you, want to get to know you.." Squall murmured, but it was nearly inaudible so that even though his lips were practically next to Seifer's ear, he sounded far, far away. "It doesn't feel real.."
Seifer kept his silence and mulled quietly over the words. He listened as Squall shifted his sleeping position so that he was lying with his back resting against Seifer's side. A tremor ran throughout the brunet's body, unintentionally telling Seifer that he was cold. It sent a smirk across the blonde's lips.
"Then after hearing that someone wants to be with me, that person leaves me without saying a word and I am faced with trying to figure out what to do in a land I know nothing about. I thought everything was going to be fine, like they said, but then one of my fears approaches me and I don't know what to do.." Squall talked softly to the sands before shivering again.
"I wouldn't leave you behind.." Seifer finally spoke up and smiled at the tensing of the body next to his. That confirmed his suspicion: Squall indeed did think he was asleep. The blonde rolled onto his side and pressed his back up against Squall's. It would be warmer for the younger that way—it would be warmer if Seifer could turn the other way and wrap his arms around the brunet, but he thought that too bold of a move. "Now, I thought I told you that you would change your mind about wanting anything to do with the word 'warm'"
Silence filled the air. Seifer remained smirking until he felt Squall relax back against him. It was a small bit of acceptance, and that was all Seifer needed to finally let his eyes fall to a close..
End Chapter.
A/N: Ahh, I'm so happy that I still have my old reviewers! (Canyon, Redrum, Love Witch) LW, I would never want to lose you! Redrum, you have so many good stories you need to finish too! Canyon, you are going to see a lot of action in this half of the tale.
I hope my sequel begins to satisfy all the questions my last one surfaced. Eee, I thought you guys just disappeared into life. It makes me happy to see you are still around 3
So, yes, forgive the lame title. Sea of Fire. Sea of Ice. They are not random. The first story, Fire, was more about Seifer and his land. This sequel, Ice, is venturing more into Squall and his land. Fire and Ice. Do I symbolize that enough in the story? Lol. Anyway.. so much to write now. I better get to work. Have I mentioned that this Quick Edit thing is awesome?