A songfic from Cloud's point of view, reflecting on Aeris and her death. Please note that Cloud and Aeris are not intended to be lovers in this story, their relationship (in my view) was more platonic. It is set to Cat Stevens' song 'Lady d'Arbanville'                 * dodges tomatoes * which is very medieval in my view, but oh well.^_^ ~Lady d'Arbanville~

by Belladonna Sinistra

My Lady d'Arbanville

Why do you sleep so still?

I'll wake you tomorrow

And you will be my fill, yes you will be my fill

My Lady d'Arbanville

Why does it grieve me so?

But your heart seems so silent

Why do you breathe so low, why do you breathe so low?

Why, Aeris? Why did you go down there? You must have known that Sephiroth would find you, and you must have realised that he would kill you. But maybe…maybe you didn't think you would die at all, but you planned on coming back all along. Is that it? You knew you had a job to do, and you went down there and did it. You saved us all, and we'll never forget you. I know you had to go, Aeris, but it still hurts, and I still grieve for you…

My Lady d'Arbanville

You look so cold tonight

Your lips feel like winter

Your skin has turned to white, your skin has turned to white

I loved you my lady

Though in your grave you lie

I'll always be with you

This rose will never die, this rose will never die…

It was awful down there, Aeris, surrounded by those cold crystal walls, watching you dying, and knowing I couldn't do a damn thing about it. I was…frozen, I couldn't move, I couldn't stop him, I couldn't stop myself, I couldn't save you…You looked so cold, lying there on the dais, your skin so white, your body so crumpled, like a rose crushed in the cruel hand of death…I loved you Aeris. We all did. You were like a beautiful, delicate flower rising from the swamp. I'll never forget you, Aeris, nor the lessons you taught me- trust, friendship, bravery, acceptance…This rose will never die, I'll make sure of it…