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( Spoilers ahead, story starts a little after the beginning )

( Constructive criticism and reviews are appreciated. No flames. )

…

"It's time to go, now. Shall we?"

The ripples her hand made while she gently stirred the cool oasis water grew larger and larger. The sun gleamed high above the afternoon sky, radiating the gold of her hair and the paleness of her skin. She stood slowly, watching the careful descent of the water droplets on the ground and on her skirt. She turned to look at Jade, a sharp contrast of blue and red, and replied with a small smile.

"Yes, I'm coming."

…

It took me by no surprise when Emperor Peony the IX announced that I would stay in the palace at Grand Chokmah for a special assignment. Though I was well-aware of my lack of government position, I knew beforehand that I would be formally introduced to my fiancée while I was to stay under the watchful eyes of the Emperor's lackeys. I suppose, in a way, I was waiting for such an event. After all, the colonel and I have never met before. It was also in my understanding, that the Emperor and my soon-to-be-husband are close friends. It explains the fact that our meeting seems to be very well-guarded, like we were to discuss top secret military blueprints rather than marriage (and in a humorous point of view, may I add that they don't seem to be that different anyway). I left my home after three days of the announcement, and immediately I was awe-struck with the grand interiors and marvelous spectacles such as the waterfalls, that the palace offered.

As I entered the wide throne room, the sound of the waterfall gushing towards the ground quickly took my attention. It soothed my nerves as I approached the Emperor, still young and blooming, and was currently signing paperwork with his legs crossed and his eyes drooping. A messenger announced my arrival, and I focused my all my attention on him once the messenger left. His head quirked up, and a grin spread across his face. I bowed before him.

"Ah, Sophia! I'm glad you could make it on such short notice. I must say, the rumors about your beauty give you no justice. No justice at all. Come on now, don't just stare at the ground. Let's go to somewhere more quiet than here. Keep up with me, dear, you're falling behind!"

I expressed my sincerest gratitude, but two guards nudged me towards a door leading to a small room, right behind the chamber where I entered. Before I could call out to him, the Emperor disappeared, and I had no choice but to follow him. Was he in a hurry? I hope I didn't come at a bad time.

The next hallway that followed was darker than the throne room. Small fonon-powered lamps lit the way, and the stone walls were cold and smooth. A door was opened at the end of the hallway, and as I entered, Emperor Peony was already seated and cross-legged, holding a glass of what looked like lemonade. I made my presence known, and took a seat in front of him, a long spread table stretching from his side to mine.

"May I ask why I have been summoned to see His Majesty?"

I folded my hands together as politely as possible. My heart would not stop beating. I've heard many rumors about Jade Curtiss, and not all of them were necessarily of good status. My emotions were mixed at that moment, but I could not stop myself anyway. I felt my blood run cold, colder than the walls I passed through to get here. The Emperor waved his hand and took a gulp of his drink. It took all of my power to stop rubbing my toes together.

"So formal, you," he replied casually. "Anyway, I'm pretty sure you know why you're here. Jade took his time off before leaving to tell me how you should be met and treated and, you know. All of that." I took in a silent breath. Was he to return? Right now? Oh my, I can't stop my heart from beating so fast!

"Unfortunately, I'm going to have to be the bearer of bad news. Jade's on a first priority mission, and as such, I can't send him back here for something that isn't what he's been ordered to do. I'm sorry."

Oh.

Unconsciously, I released the breath I was holding all that time. He laughed, and shook his head solemnly.

"I hope you understand."

Of course, I told him. I can wait a little longer, so please don't mind me.

"He'll be back a lot longer than you might think. You see, his mission right now isn't exactly the safest we've sent him to do. I don't know when you'll see him." By that time, the Emperor had already finished what little was left of his drink, and so I scanned the room and saw the counter where a pitcher stood, sweating out the ice. I offered to get him some more.

"No, it's fine. I'll get some myself," he answered. He stood and tipped the pitcher towards the mouth of his glass. I stared at the juice, and how he drank it, blanking out. I wasn't going to meet him after all. After all the mental preparation I had put myself through, just so I wouldn't gape and talk out of my place. I was excited, however, when you were to be wed to a man everyone dubbed as The Necromancer, I wouldn't blame myself for fearing him just a little. It was against my breeding, and so I apologize in advance, but it seems I've been too occupied with my own thoughts that I failed to notice Emperor Peony waving his hands in front of my face to grab my attention once more.

I blinked rapidly, and apologized profusely. I hoped I wasn't giving the wrong impression that His Majesty wasn't...interesting.

"It's okay. I sort of ruined the day for you, so I should be the one saying sorry like that. Anyway. I'll think about the next course of action for you, since Jade did leave your care to me." He stood and dusted his pants. I did the same, though more discreetly. I was still swimming in my own world, until I heard him mutter some sort of affectionate curse word.

"E-Excuse me?"

"Oh! Oh no, not you. Jade. Forget it, let's go back and get you settled. I'll have a few servants get you some clothes and refreshments."

He motioned for me to follow him, and I did. However heavy my worries and fears were on meeting with my designated husband, my disappointment equaled. I was ready, I told myself, settling my tired body on the soft sheets of cotton the maids left behind. I was more than ready. I closed my eyes and counted in my head. One, two, three...more than. I've waited for him for approximately fifteen years. I don't know how long I can keep putting it off anymore.

And that was the last thought I had before I drifted into a dreamless sleep.

The morning afterwards, I awoke before the sun and left my room silently, careful not to make any loud, sudden noises. Three maids were already up and about, cooking breakfast and preparing dishes for the Emperor. I offered my help, but I was politely declined to. Returning to my room, my thoughts drifted towards the colonel once more.

I didn't realize the time, and when I broke free from my thoughts about the colonel, it was already 9:30 AM and my presence was required by the Emperor and his right hand men. I dressed quickly. I rushed to meet him in the dining hall, where the Emperor himself was nowhere near as dressed as I was. I suppressed a chuckle.

"Good morning, Sophia. I hope you slept well." the Emperor motioned for me to take a seat next to him, and I nodded in agreement. I answered him, yes I slept well, and, the sheets were warm enough. He coughed twice before starting once more.

"Since the arrival of Jade's squadron is, at the moment, unpredictable and unreliable, we've arranged that you yourself will meet and accompany him at the checkpoint of Kaitzur. A company of soldiers will be enlisted to escort you there, and Count Almandine will also be there to meet you and entertain you while you wait for Jade. I hope this is to your approval? We really have no choice at the moment, and I don't want you thinking I'm not being a gentleman and made you wait for Yulia knows how long."

His tone of voice was light, carefree even, so I didn't know what to think. Was the Emperor serious? I voiced out my opinions before he could start again, silently hoping I didn't intrude in his own thoughts.

"Your Majesty, I'm very sorry for this, but may I ask why? I have had no prior training after all. I would be a hindrance to the colonel's mission."

"We're killing two birds with one stone, really,"

What?

It seemed like the Emperor had said the wrong thing, because his councilmen started giving him strange looks of apprehension, and his grin was lopsided, like a child was caught in the act. Killing two birds with one stone? What could that possibly mean? He changed the topic quickly, I noticed, and offered me bread rolls. I shook my head and thanked him anyway. Should I push the topic further? I would not mind at the latest, however, my curiosity is aroused. I suppose my initial fear of stepping out of bounds stopped me from discussing his statement further, but I still cannot shake the feeling the Emperor meant what he said.

"Anyway!" he clapped his hands and rubbed them together.

"We'll give you some time to think about it. Just know that the best of the best soldiers in the Malkuth military will be accompanying you towards Kaitzur. If his mission is prolonged, I'm sure it'll be no big deal. He's very capable of protecting you, should anything go wrong. But, I won't force you. You always have the option to wait here until he returns."

Somehow, I found his words to be more than convincing.

I left the room after a few jokes and discussions. I felt heavy. I felt confused. I really don't know what to choose. Should I be selfish and choose to go with the colonel, traveling with the heavy burden of knowing I myself, am, a burden, or stay here? And wait? Wait until...until...

I felt myself wander off into my own world again, as a took a seat in my room and stared at the blue sky above. It was dinnertime when I was once again called.

...

"You almost revealed it to her, Your Majesty!"

"They are but strained remnants of the past! You cannot be so lax when it comes to such matters!"

"Especially when you intermix two different problems all at once! Sire, we must be cautious in speaking to the Lady!"

"Have we informed colonel Curtiss--"

"I know, I know. Jeez, you guys just keep going on and on, don't you?"

Coughs.

Peony finished off his letter with a flourish of his signature on the dotted line. The paper was crisp when he folded it twice, placing it inside an equally crisp envelope. Taking a hot piece of rubber, he embellished the front of the envelope and blew on it to dry. He quirked his eyebrow and gave the envelope to the nearest councilman, who caught it in a hurry. Peony stretched in his seat, and sighed.

"We're sorry for the redundancy, Your Majesty, but we cannot divulge top secret information just like that."

Peony made a sound with his mouth and waved it off again.

"You worry too much."

He sent for a messenger to take the letter to Sophia when she departs (seeing as how neatness was never his strong point). His actions were questioned by the majority of his councilmen, ("You already assume she will agree to this?") but he proceeded nevertheless. Peony gave a sly smile, and motioned for his list of activities for the day.

"Remember," he said, grabbing his pen and signing forms. "We're killing two birds with one stone."

...

By some strange twist of fate, I agreed to the Emperor's plan. It did nothing to quell the raging storm inside of me, the one that went against all the things I thought I already knew about my mysterious fiancée. It wasn't that he was a complete mystery; it was more of myself acting as an enigma, for who would not know the famous and feared Jade the Necromancer? Like I had previously mentioned, neither waiting for him in the palace nor going to him in Kaitzur did nothing to quell my raging thoughts, emotions.

I also cannot forget what the Emperor told me beforehand. Two birds with one stone. I still don't understand, and I suppose it's futile to think of its meaning, but for some reason, I cannot let it go. For now, at least, I can keep myself focused on the matter at hand. I cannot be certain the next few days, though.

The border of Kaitzur! I can see it now. The soldiers are from Kimlasca, judging from their uniforms and armor. I almost forgot that the Naval Port was a checkpoint in crossing from Malkuth to Kimlasca. Why are the elements against me? Nothing is helping this feeling that makes me stomach lurch erratically. I can only hope I can muster enough energy to talk properly once we meet. Once we see one another, in the flesh.

There it goes again, my stomach. I should not have eaten that sandwich before we left.

I met the Count a few minutes after my escorts left the border. I was briefed momentarily of the colonel's position, his time of departure, and his approximate time of arrival. I was also informed of his companions, though I cannot fathom who they are at the moment. They don't sound like any person I have ever met before. As I was, once again, lost in my thoughts, thinking of the possible en routes to where and how our conversation could go wrong, or right if I played my cards right, an explosion in the third tent from ours caught me off guard. The sudden shock of the explosion made me go off balance, and I fell on my bum from the impact. Someone was attacking the base!

A few moments after the initial turmoil in the Naval Port, I received word from numerous soldiers that were running about. An engineer that maneuvered the ships was captured by a God-General; more precisely, Arietta the Wild. Was she not just a child? Why in the world would she kill so many people and capture an innocent engineer? Surely this has more to it than meets the eye? I cannot be certain, and so I stayed inside the tent until I was called for, though I was itching to walk and see what was going on. How were the people faring?

I find myself drifting towards a standstill whenever I get time alone. Sometimes, I don't even think of anything in particular; my mind simply sleeps. I feel nothing but my own breathing and see nothing but whatever is in front of me. It's empty, when I enter such a state of mind, but thankfully, some sudden urgent business comes up and I'm forced to think of something. Nowadays, it's all been of one man. Shameful, yet inevitable.

The time suddenly came and hit me from behind. The colonel and his companions have arrived in the port, receiving word of Arietta's capture of the engineer. I do not think twice when I say he must have already accepted the responsibility of rescuing the poor man, but if I was wrong, would he be coming here? At this very moment? To see me? He must have been told of my presence! My hands are sweating. My heart! I think it's palpitating. I could be overreacting, but I don't know how else to describe this!

Footsteps.

They're coming!

I fight the urge to pace around the room in circles. I fight the urge to even move at all. Stay calm, I repeated. Stay calm. Don't make a bad impression on the colonel. Don't don't don't.

My mantra seemed to be working, because I suddenly found it in myself to really, just stay calm, and take in steady breaths. Voices are but a murmur from my point of view, and I could have sworn their group was smaller than what I had in mind. Glimpses of colors, Count Almandine talking, this must be it. A knock on the door confirmed my thoughts, and I took in one more breath. It's now or never. I didn't even have time to think of what I must have felt if I was in Grand Chokmah, still reading in the library, still anticipating his return. I suppose it wouldn't have been any different from my anxiety now.

"Colonel Curtiss, I would like to introduce to you your fiancé."

"WHAT!"

"C-Colonel! You didn't tell us, you..."

"Well, this guy is just full of surprises, isn't he?"

"My, my. Calm down now, you might scare her away."

I almost blushed at the sound of his voice. It was so smooth. So...indescribable. It wasn't as lively as the Emperor's, but still. I couldn't help but smile. Was he handsome?

My question was answered almost immediately when I took my first few steps outside the door. The colonel was in front of three or four more people. He wore a different sort of uniform as compared to the other people I have met, and somehow, his entire aura was different too. He was smiling, and the one thing I saw first was his eyes. Crimson red, just like the finest wine, or even...the brightest of blood. Auburn hair, tall stature...there was no doubt he was one lady killer (though I hope not literally).

"It's finally nice to meet you, colonel. It's an honor."

I thanked the gods above. I managed to say it without stuttering at least. I bowed my head slowly, breaking eye contact as I gazed on the floor. It was so intense. His presence overwhelmed me like waves crashing and shaking my very foundations. I feared that if I kept eye contact longer than I should have, I might have broken out into a wide grin and drooled like fool.

I heard him speak, and as soon as I raised my head to face him again, I couldn't help but return his smile.

I suppose it wasn't such a bad idea after all, to meet with him like this. I just fear that things will break, and this moment will be one that I will regret.

"My sentiments exactly. The honor is all mine, Sophia."

RE-WRITTEN ON JANUARY 1, 2009!
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