Author's notes:
This fic is going to become an AU one, and it's original – I didn't model it after anybody else's fic – though it is heavily inspired by the tragedy of Camelot. You know, the story between Arthur, Morgan, Gwenhwyfar and Lancelot. Its my absolute favorite of all time ^_^.
Since it has a really archaic setting, the language might sound more formal than usual. But that's supposed to help enhance the story, sort of. Wasn't easy, I can tell you.
You know the usual legal crap – Rheon, Griflet and Conri belong to me, though – so don't sue. No money.
Oh, and it's a Quall fic, don't like, don't read. Flames are rather discouraging, you know. Not really Rinoa bashing, but she does suffer a great deal – actually they all do – but then, you seldom get Qualls that favor Rinoa, and I'm not that compassionate kind of author. *evil smirk*
Summary: Ellone's been working on her powers ever since Ultemicia's defeat. Now, not only can she send people to the past, she can also send people to their previous lives. And when a distraught Quistis comes to Edea for help, there she is at hand…
On to the story! *dum dum ta dum! *
***
Solace from the mists
Book 1: Fey Daughter
By Winter's angel
Prologue
"Married!" The exclamation from the usually cool Instructor reverberated off the office walls, seeming to magnify a hundred times in her head as she struggled to regain her composure. It was rare, the young blond gunblader observed, to see Quistis Trepe so caught off guard. But then Squall Leonhart had always been a touchy subject around her.
Politely he waited for the usual cool expression of serenity to mask her face again, but after years of being around her, Seifer had long since learned to read her like an open book. And the smirk that graced his deceptively soft looking mouth told her so, mocking her for that involuntary slip, and in that instant, she hated him for being able to do so.
"That's a step I never expected him to take," She remarked with illusory calm, absently shuffling the papers on the desk. Seifer's eyes, however, were sharp enough to detect the slight shaking of those slim, graceful hands, and she felt raw, exposed, as though he could see through her to the wild hammering of her heart.
Seifer shrugged. "They're in love. What else did you expect them to do?"
"Squall's a SeeD," she pointed out, as if that explained everything. "Commander, no less. How's he ever going to find time for family?"
His eyes were hard green emeralds, boring mercilessly into her cobalt sapphire ones. "The kings of yore had time for families. Why not our commander?"
She held his gaze steadily, never betraying the heartsickness she felt within. But Seifer Almasy was the unspoken victor in this little exchange, and well they both knew it.
***
"Goodness, my Quisty, you've been staring off into space ever since you got here!" Edea commented. Flushing slightly, Quistis quickly swept the brush through Elaine's hair one last time, then, with smooth practiced ease, braided the shining fair locks and secured the end with a ribbon.
'Here' was the Orphanage, and the only reason she was here was because she'd offered to bring Edea the package she'd had delivered to the Garden. Hyne in Heaven, but it was so difficult to think about anything else, what with that – that – angrily she pushed the rest of the thought out of her head. She'd known she'd lost Squall to Rinoa ever since their last visit to Edea's House – here, in fact. It was not seemly for her to still think of Squall as a lost love, and of the marriage as impending doom.
The little girl twisted around in her lap, meticulously feeling the smooth braid all the way down to the tip. "Thank you, Quistis! Matron never has the time to plait my hair for me – " and she threw her arms around the Instructor's neck and kissed her soundly. Quistis's usually grave visage broke into a spontaneous smile – the first since she'd heard the news.
"Something wrong, my dear one?" Edea had been watching her, and now she set the child in her arms down and gave him a little push. "Run along and play, sweetheart. You too, Elaine. I want to talk to Quistis."
She waited till the two children had toddled – there was no other word for it – out down to the flower field, then seated herself down next to the younger woman on the couch. "What's bothering you?"
"Nothing serious."
"I can tell, little one – you always used to stare off to space like that whenever something was seriously bothering you. Especially when Squall and Seifer fought, and Squall was too angry to come play with you – "
Quistis made an involuntary movement.
"So its still Squall, is it?" Edea stroked her hair gently. "What of him?"
"He and Rinoa are tying the knot." Quistis replied tonelessly. She forced herself to smile at Edea. "See, nothing serious."
"And he didn't bother to inform his Matron." Edea smiled. "You were always so attached to Squall, Quistis. Everywhere you went you wanted him with you, and you hated it when he took time to quarrel with Seifer."
"At least I outgrew that childish resentment," Quistis said humorlessly. "Hyne knows how I've been trying to get them to work together ever since I partnered them off in class."
"And now they're best friends, isn't that so?" Edea rose from the couch. "You shouldn't fret so, dear – it's only fair to Rinoa, after all."
"What?"
Edea sighed. "How to explain? It has to be shown." She raised her voice. "Ellone! Elle, dear, I need you!"
"Ellone?" Quistis gave a wordless cry of delight and sprang up from her seat. Ellone, with similar excitement, enveloped the younger girl in a suffocating hug. "You didn't tell me you were here!" Quistis reproved.
"I was concentrating on my studies, dear. It's exhausting work." She exchanged a glance with Edea.
"Its time to see if you've mastered the ability, then. Try it on Quistis. I want her to see –" She made an obscure gesture with her hand.
Oh, no. She was, Quistis felt, definitely missing something. "Wait – I don't – "
"Trust me, my Quisty." And the blonde felt a strange, soothing compulsion to do just that. "You need to see, to understand… so that you will bear Rinoa no grudge. After all, he was yours in the life past."
By this time Quistis had already fallen unconscious. Edea laid her down on the sofa, tucking a cushion under her head. She touched the younger woman's temples and kissed her brow. "See, then, little one, and come back when you are ready…"