Alexander : Hello Everyone. I'm new to the Tales of Symphonia fandom I hope I did a good job on my first fic!
Griever : There are few things we would like to go over before the read. We hope you don't skip.
Alexander : We learned about Tales of Symphonia mostly from watching the OVA. Wikipedia and Youtube videos. So here are few things that will be implemented in the story.
1. We know that Kratos and Lloyd are father and son. But this is slightly AU. So they won't be.
2. We might not have gotten the directions or descriptions of the towns right. So it would be great if you corrected us in your reviews.
3. Tethe'alla and Sylvarant are already one.
4. We haven't studied the characters personalities very well. So forgive us if we get them slightly wrong.
Griever : Wish us luck! We have no ownership of the Character nor places of Tales of Symphonia
Alexander : Enjoy our story : Flames of the Heart
Chapter One : Don't Be Afraid.
"When my father passed away I had excepted to live with Genis and Raine until I was able to take care of myself but I never knew that Dad had already taken care of everything. He was always thinking ahead but I never expected him to think THIS far ahead"
' Lloyd Irving-Aurion
"No matter how many times you read that letter it isn't going to change Lloyd" Raine spoke gently from behind him.
Lloyd Irving looked up with bloodshot eyes before directing them back to the now wrinkled letter in his hand.
It was from his foster father Dirk, he had found it three days after the dwarf had passed away and thoroughly convinced himself that the contents of the letter were nothing but a sick joke.
He wanted to so badly burn the paper and scatter the ashes to the wind but found himself hesitating every time he faced the fireplace at night. It was one of the last few pieces of Dirk he had besides his memories of the dwarf and couldn't find it in his heart to do such a thing.
Raine laid her hands on the brunette's shoulder and almost retracted them when she felt how tense the boy was.
He had every right to be, when Dirk passed away Lloyd went into a state of shock that took days to snap out of and it hurt the teacher that she could nothing about it.
That's when she found the letter, she had hoped it would cheered the boy up but ended doing the exact opposite.
"Married. I'm getting married to a complete stranger…"
Raine watched the boy start shaking his head as if trying to erase what he just read. The teacher didn't something unexpected.
She pulled him into her arms. Raine felt Lloyd tense but ignored it and hugged him tighter, she looked down to see tears trailing down the boy's face.
"It's okay" she soothed. "Everything will be okay…"
"How?! Dad's gone?!"
Raine reached up and ran her fingers through the boys soft hair and gave him a reassuring smile.
"I just know. Everything may seem bad now but they'll turn out for the better Lloyd, you'll see.."
Raine's thoughts were broken when she heard the sound of Lloyd's chair scrapping against the floor when the boy stood up and pocketed the letter.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. Just sit and wait for this Kratos Aurion to come to Iselia, he is my fiancée' after all"
"You don't have to do this. I'm not going to sit back and watch you force yourself to go through with this"
"It's okay" he told her with a strained smile. "If it makes you feel better I'll give him hell for agreeing to this"
Raine merely gave the other a smile that failed to reach her eyes.
Over the next three weeks things had return to a relatively normal state. Lloyd had almost returned to his usual lazy self much to Raine's despair.
He had started living with Raine and Genis. It had made things more lively and for that the half-elf woman was happy if not a little stressed out at all of the arguing and teasing.
Lloyd looked up from his assignment at the sound of horses. He stood up, ignoring Genis' questioning gaze and walked towards the window.
He parted the curtains to see a auburn haired man dressed in a black cloak step out of the expensive carriage, almost immediately Lloyd felt a knot form in his stomach, he wanted to hide but his feet wouldn't cooperate with his brain.
Three firm knocks echoed throughout the house and Lloyd felt himself freeze at the sound. Raine gave the boy a concern look before opening the door and immediately felt herself drawn into ruby red eyes.
"Good Evening, can I help you?" she asked. Raine sized the man up, the way he held himself spoke volumes he seemed like a man who knew what he wanted and stopped at nothing to get it.
"Yes, I'm looking for Lloyd Irving, I apologize for coming at such a late hour"
"I-It's fine. Please come in out of the cold" Raine moved aside and shivered when the man walked passed her. She hated to admit it, but if this man was Kratos Aurion then she felt pity and envy towards Lloyd at the same time.
Colette felt heat rush to her face when she stared the man, he was gorgeous. Was this Lloyd's future husband?
Lloyd fidgeted under Kratos analyzing gaze and the sudden silence of the room. So this was the man he was supposed to marry? He did reluctantly admit that man was not that bad looking but he felt a coldness and arrogance about him that made Lloyd instantly dislike him.
"You're Lloyd Irving?"
"Yes, you must be Kratos Aurion? My Dad told me about you in his letter. How did this agreement even come up?"
At the question, Kratos crossed his arms and shifted his weight. "He save my life, and return offered your hand to me"
"You just accepted it? Just like that?"
Lloyd knew in his heart that Dirk wouldn't just offer his hand to a complete stranger unless he knew of Kratos status before he even saved the man's life. Was Dirk sick even back then?
"I owed him my life. It was the least I could do, I heard of his passing, I'm sorry for your loss"
"Thank you, but what are we supposed to do know? My father has passed away are you still tying yourself to this agreement?"
Lloyd felt the slightest sliver of hope, if he could convince Kratos not to take his hand then he wouldn't have to leave Iselia or his friends, he looked up and met the mans blank gaze.
I've never seen red eyes before, they're beautiful…
What was he thinking?! He couldn't be attracted to Kratos this quickly could he?
No, No of course not.
"In the event of Dirk's passing I still hold myself to this agreement, but I will not force you to do the same Lloyd"
Now he felt guilty, Dirk could've asked for anything and he was the first thing on the dwarf's mind and here he was trying to get out of it. What kind of son was he?
"I…I didn't say I wasn't going to do this"
Kratos gave the boy a sympathetic look, he somewhat understood the position that Lloyd was in he wouldn't force him to decide right this instant.
"Tomorrow. I will stay in Iselia for the night and come back here in the morning I'll trust you'll have made your decision by then?"
Lloyd gave the older man a stunned look, he merely nodded and watched the man open the door, he was halfway out when he suddenly turned back and gave the brunette a stern look.
"I'll also trust you not to runaway in the middle of the night and find you gone come morning?"
"I'll be here. I won't run away" Kratos stared at him for what seemed an eternity before leaving and shutting the door firmly behind him.
Lloyd released a sigh of relief he himself hadn't realized he was holding. Genis bit his lip before giving his sister an uncertain look. Was this really okay? Was it okay for them let Lloyd leave so easily like this? Shaking his head to rid himself of the sudden negative thoughts, Genis reluctantly returned to his studies.
Lloyd warily watched Kratos climb back into the carriage and take off to an nearby inn, he had less than twelve hours to make his mind.
Sleep would not come easy to him tonight.
Alexander *comes out of hiding* Well? Hope you diehard Tales of Symphonia fans like it.
Griever : Please Review. Criticism is welcome. But not flames!