The hermit and the heiress

Prologue in the snow

Author's notes:

Today's posting day!!! I'm so inspired by my new Jewel CD, I can't stop writing ^.^

As I finished "The sky above" today with such a sad ending, I choose to write my new "epic" with a joyful beginning. But don't get fooled by this chapter, it's supposed to become a mixture of romance, drama and action.

Please review, it always brightens up my day to hear from you. Btw, how do you like the title? I kinda like the sound of it…

Snow had fallen and the region around Balamb Garden had over night turned into a winter wonderland. Students as well as instructors spent every free minute provoking or preventing snowball fights and even the Garden's elite could not resist from throwing one or two. Or, in case of Seifer Almasy, some more.

"Very funny, Almasy!", Selphie hissed, as she watched the tall blond forming the next snowball, while she was still spitting the rests of the last one out.

"Next time, there'll be a stone in it", he promised with a sly grin to the smaller girl, only seconds before Rinoa landed a snowball right between his eyes.

And war began. Irvine and Zell soon joined the party, while Quistis and Squall stood beside, watching the scenery.

"I'm glad he's okay now. He sure had a hard time", the blonde woman said, a content expression on her beautiful face. Her eyes rested on Seifer, who laughed heartily while rolling with Selphie in the snow. The young man had grown very fond of the brunette girl, for he seemed to like her cheery, outgoing manner and seemed to fit perfectly in the role of her elder brother. Irvine, who was still Selphie's flirty boyfriend didn't seem to mind, and was, in fact, quite happy that his hyperactive girl had found another object to torture with good mood.

Squall responded with a light smile. His rival had finally become a friend, not a very close one for there was still a huge barrier between them, but a friend.

"Are you going to the Christmas ball with Rinoa?", Quistis asked and shivered in her new blue jacket. Squall, having only eyes for Rinoa, did not realize it, but Quistis today looked lovely in her new winter-clothes. Seifer, pretending to be totally absorbed by his little Selphie-friend, however did.

"I think so", he answered, his eyes following his lively girlfriend as she ran after Zell threatening to kill him with her next snowball. "She likes such stuff."

"And you don't", Quistis observed.

Squall shrugged. "As long as she's happy, I am."

The blonde led out a long sigh, her eyes following Seifer as he bashed Irvines head again and again into the snow.

She lifted an eyebrow and excused herself.

Squall watched as the blonde instructor – they had made her one again – hurried down the hill towards the two men, grabbed a handful of Seifer's blonde hair and pulled him off poor Irvine. Seifer played her game, gave Quistis his famous "puppy-eyes" and promised her never to torture Irvine again. Irvine, on the other hand, stood up from the snow, and as soon as Quistis had turned her back on them again, he was the one bashing Seifer's head into the soft snow. 

Squall smiled at them, at all of them. They were so happy, there was no way even for Seifer to play the bad guy.

Seifer had changed.

They both had, and both for the better. Squall still was a bit introverted, but his behaviour had drastically changed, and from time to time, Rinoa and the others heard a hearty laugh from him.

Oh, had he only known what horrible things were supposed to happen in just a few days, he would have enjoyed this carefree time with all his heart. But as he didn't, he just stood and watched, smiling, and following Rinoa with loving eyes.

TBC.