Chapter 2- Childminder

Tifa was woken up with a start. Her head felt heavy and groggy, her vision blurred and hazy. Her wrist bindings were yanked forward and she felt a pair of thick, muscular arms circle around her waist. Her body refused to move, denying her the ability to fight back. She was draped over someone shoulder as the person began to move. All she could see were lights and dark shapes. She groaned loudly, a splitting headache setting in.

The last thing she could clearly remember was trying to escape the camp before getting knocked out. Hazy images filled her mind of Angeal brining her strange drinks that made her feel drowsy. There was no telling exactly how long she was out. She knew that her clothes were stained with blood, sweat, grass, and coal and that her face was caked in grime. Her hair appeared more like a mane; completely tangled and sprouting off in every direction. She felt weak, no doubt from malnutrition.

She was plopped unceremoniously on a tiled floor in a seated position. Tifa couldn't move any of her extremities, including her head. She was vaguely aware that her mouth was open and she was drooling on the smooth, cool stone. Her head lolled to the side, unable to support itself. She felt the presence of many other people in the room. Her bindings were taken off.

"My Generals, you have returned from your long journey. I trust you were successful in delivering my message?" A gruff, deep voice said from the other side of the room. Tifa deduced that the room was large and spacious by the echoing of his voice. She painted a picture in her head of a prosperous, wealthy man speaking. He had called them his generals which meant that he was most likely King Shinra. If she could panic, she would've. Instead, another warm string of drool rolled down her chin.

"We were, my king," A soft male voice that Tifa imagined belonged to Genesis spoke. "We have also acquired six dozen new recruits along the way."

"Excellent. We shall have a welcoming feast tonight in your names!" He clapped his hands loudly. Tifa heard the scurrying of feet. Her vision came into focus. She saw elaborate black and white marble stone floor tiles. The young woman could not move her head to look around the room. Her eyes would not move. The only motor control of her body she held was over her eye lids. "And what have you brought with you?"

Tifa immediately felt uncomfortable, feeling as if she were the centre of attention. An unconscious shiver shot up her spinal column.

"A woman blacksmith from Nibelheim. She fought three of your men and assaulted a general. We have brought her back for trial." Sephiroths deep voice spoke, Tifa felt he was standing just behind her. She mentally cringed.

"Well, lass, what do you have to say for yourself?" The king asked. Tifa couldn't reply. She felt someone kick her lightly in an attempt to get her to speak. She fell over on her side. After a moment of silence the man continued, "Why, I hardly believe such a mentally incompetent creature could pull off something like that." He let out a loud guffaw.

"Sire, she is quite the live one. We had to drug her in order to get her back here." Genesis spoke up.

"Why do you bother me with such trivial things?" The king spoke, irritation evident in his voice. "Throw her in the stockades to rot for the rest of her life and repent for her crimes." She heard the heavy clanking of armour moving towards her, no doubt guards moving to escort her to the stockades.

"If I might speak, my lord," Angeal cleared his throat. "The woman was only defending her child who had been murdered at the hands of one of your men. The assault on the general was purely a defensive reflex. She was very, very protective over the child and was willing to get herself killed for him." Angeals words seemed cryptic; like there was something he only wanted the King to understand.

"I see, I see." Tifa was able to move her eyes towards the king as he nodded in confirmation. As she had guessed, he was a plump man. He sat on a large silver throne surround by an assortment of courtesans, knights, guards, courtiers and noblemen. He had bright blonde hair and deep blue eyes.

"Reno, Rude, put her in the holding cell for now. General Hewley, I would like to see you in the study."

Tifa heard the clinking of metal before she was hoisted to her feet and thrown over someone else's shoulder. Only able to stare at the before of the man carrying hers legs and the floor, she passively watched as they left the nice polished floor to gravel courtyard to a dirt road. She could hear towns people off in the distance over the clinking of armour. They stopped and one of the men fished in his armour for a set of keys. There was a light click followed by the loud screeching of rusted hinges. She was dropped onto her back on a pile of hay. The iron barred door was shut and relocked. She caught a glimpse of flaming red hair before the two men disappeared.

Tifa twitched her index finger on her right hand. She looked down at her filth covered digits. Although she was not raised in the richest conditions, she had prided herself on her general hygiene. This was the dirtiest she had ever been. She sniffed; the cell smelt of vomit, urine, and feces. Soon all the fingers began to move on her right hand. Slowly she wiggled her toes inside her worn boots. The burnet rolled her neck, gaining full control of her head again. She jerked her right shoulder forward, shaking out her right arm. Her legs began to tingle as if she was being pricked by thousands of tiny needles. She groaned at the pain.

Tifa laid still as she let to pain subside before she tried to shake her legs. Her left arm remained inactive. She cursed and stopped moving again. Her thoughts travelled back towards little Tius. A silent tear escaped the corner of her eye and rolled down her face, landing in her unruly hair. She began to sob, now that she was awake and alone. Her chest heaved at the sharp intakes of breath. She covered her eyes with her right forearm.

The girl immediately stopped when she heard footsteps heading in her direction. She ducked in to the shadows, out of sight. "Master Lockhart?" Angeal stepped up to the iron bars and looked in. Tifa lunged at the bars, grabbing one of them with her only useful hand. He took a step back, surprise crossing his features before he returned to a stoic expression.

"You!" She shouted angrily at the man. "You did this to me! All of you damn soldiers!"

"I regret what happened to your son, but assaulting Shinra troops is a criminal offense. You must reap what you sew." He said coolly.

"What I sew? What I sew?" She shouted. "I have news for you buddy! I worked my ass off on the forge for 365 days a year for three years to support the only living relative I had left in the world. I've lived in poverty, went nights without food, suffered in silence as an entire town looked down on me with pity and judgement in their eyes. I dropped everything to earn your money for fixing that sword of yours. As soon as you left those bastards attacked me because someone told them I was a prostitute! What should I have done instead, all mighty general?" Her words were dripping with sarcasm and hatred. "Let those pigs rape me in front of a child?" Her attention went back to her numb extremity. "Why the fuck was I unable to move? Did someone steal my virginity while I was unconscious? HUH? Answer me damn it?"

"Your virginity? Did you not have a child already?" Angeal stared at her in shock and confusion. His forehead creased as he watched the girl slide down the bar and slump to the ground. "No one touched you while you were unconscious. You never left my side."

"You soldiers are always bad news..." She mumbled softly.

Angeal scratched the back of his head. "Your punishment has been decided." Tifa shrank a little as she waited for the verdict. "You will become the governess for Shinra's children." Her head shot up to look at him, attempting to discern if he was pulling her leg or not.

"What?" Her voice was low and raspy from shouting.

"You will work as the governess until King Shinra's children reach a point where they no longer require you. The last governess passed away and the king has been looking for someone to take over the position."

"Doesn't a governess teach the children?" She frowned in confusion.

"In your case no," Angeal folded his arms across his chest, swaying a little. "They have private tutors. Your job will be to just make sure the children do as their told."

"So, a nanny, not a governess," She mumbled.

"Yeah," he scratched the back of his head again. "You need to be cleaned before you are introduced to the children." Angeal unlocked the door and lead the young woman out of the cell. She looked around the courtyard. The cell had been more like a barred shack pressed up against a massive stone wall with several other shacks. He escorted her through the gravel courtyard up to an enormous, towering castle. Tifa gawked. She had never seen a building so grand.

Angeal lead inside, passed some guards standing at attention. A group of maids came up to her and started pulling her in the opposite direction of the dark haired man. She didn't know him that well, but he was the only face she recognized. Tifa turned around in their grip and reached out for Angeal. He shook his head at her. Tifa was yanked backwards by the maids, dragging her towards the bathroom. Just as she was about to round a corner she saw him whisper something to an older maid who nodded in return.

Tifa was thrown into the bathroom. As soon as the door closed the young women began tearing of her dirty clothes. One of them turned the tap to the bath tub and the porcelain bowl began to fill with water. Soap, oils and other scented products were added to the water. Tifa protested loudly. She hated being touched. The young burnet was shoved towards the now full bath tub. The back of her knees hit the edge of the basin and she tripped. She fell into the scalding water, half of it leaving the tub when she became submerged in it. She bolted upright, gasping in surprise and for air while she wiped her damp hair out of her face.

She didn't have time to recover. The maids were on her in an instant, rubbing soap in her hair and grabbing her arms so they could scrub. One of the maids reached into the tub and pulled her leg out to wash it. The maids washed her until her scalp and her skin was pink and raw. Then something happened that she had not expected. The maids took thin, sharp daggers and removed all her body hair. She was pulled out of the dirt and hair covered tub and toweled off. The older maid walked in, followed by another maid who was holding a set of clothes. The older woman walked up to her, circling her a couple of times.

Tifa suddenly felt self conscious, she brought her hands up to conceal her breasts and lower region, noticing that her left arm was working again. The woman snapped and her hands were pried away from her by two other maids. The woman moved closer to Tifa. The feeling of dread rose from the pit of her stomach.

"Spread her legs," The older woman ordered. The two more maids moved to do as the woman ordered.

"Get the fuck away from me!" Tifa snarled at the younger girls. They didn't listen and pulled her legs apart. The older woman stuck a bony digit inside Tifa's womanhood for a split second. Tifa yelped and jerked in their grip at the unwanted intrusion. "HEY!"

"Dress her," The woman ordered as she washed her hands. Tifa was thrown into a long black dress, white stockings, and a pair of black buckled boots. The dress was adorned with white lace around the collar, hem and cuffs. The material was tight against her bosom but not tight enough to restrict her breathing. Her haired was combed out and done up into a tight bun. The older maid dragged her out of the bathroom and down the hall. They stopped when they saw Angeal leaning against the wall. He looked at the older maid expectantly. "She is intact." Tifa frowned in confusion.

She had little time to dwell on the woman's words before she was whisked down that hallway again, passing numerous expensive paintings. There was a slender woman waiting by a pair of large mahogany doors. She had short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She beamed at the older maid and Tifa as they walked towards her. The woman wore a dark blue dress that looked simple yet refined.

"Greetings! Welcome to Midgar!" The blonde woman said. "Thank you Dolores, I will take it from here." The older maid grunted in reply before leaving Tifa with the woman. "Hello there, I'm Elena!" She spoke animatedly, waving her arms around.

"Tifa," the dark haired woman replied.

"So you are to be the new nanny," She smiled at Tifa, flashing her ultra white teeth. "The children are having their lessons at the moment, but I'll show you around and tell you a bit about them." The woman pushed open the double doors to reveal a wide and spacious room with massive windows on the far wall and a high ceiling. Tifa couldn't help but feel tiny in comparison to such extravagant architecture. The room was filled with books jammed into shelves, parchment covered desks, and various children's toys. In the centre were white couches surrounding a glass table with white legs. "The children's bed rooms are over there, as well as the nursery and bathroom." Elena pointed to a white washed door with golden door knob.

"Nursery?" Tifa looked at the woman. "I have to look after infants?"

"No, no," Elena laughed lightly. "Not at the moment. The king is unmarried. Although I'm sure he will take a third wife." She clasped her hands together. "You main duty will be attending to the children, keeping them entertained but in line. Nobility doesn't like to see or hear children so you have to keep them out of their parents' hair. The maids clean up after them and the cooks feed them so you don't have to worry about that."

"How many of them are there?"

"There are six." She said enthusiastically. "Lazard is 19, Scarlet is 14, Rufus is 13, Denzel is 9 and Marlene is 6."

"That's only five," Tifa recounted the names.

"Ah, yes, Elena is 17." She pointed to herself.

"Your majesty," Tifa bowed slightly. The girl shook her head and laughed again.

"No, I'm not royalty. Only Scarlet, Rufus and Denzel are. Lazard, Marlene and I were all born out of wedlock so we can never ascend to the throne. Marlene, Scarlet and I wouldn't anyways since we're women."

"Do you get tutored like the others?"

The blonde woman shook her head. "My mother was a young maid, I lived with her until she passed away when I was 12. After that King Shinra gave me a higher status in exchange for working around the castle. I pretty much oversee social functions and make sure things go according to plan. Lazard's situation is a little different. His mother was a courtesan but the woman could not afford to keep her son and his majesty let him live within the castle. Lazard was taught by some of the finest teachers across the land. He looks and acts like nobility, but he will always be the bastard son of the king. He is an excellent strategist and is well versed in the ways of war though he will never actually enter combat because his body is weak and frail. You don't have to worry about Lazard or myself, we do our own thing and do not live within the children's wing of the castle."

"What about the other four children?"

"Scarlet is a bitch," Elena frowned. Tifa quirked her eyebrow at her bluntness. "She hates other woman and ugly or poor men. She is only 14 but she acts much older. She will have to find a husband soon, I pity the man who has to put up with here. She isn't going to like you very much but don't take it personally. She's a shallow jealous leech. Rufus is the next in line for the throne. He is being groomed to become the king. Denzel is the only child born from the King's second wife, Eleanor. Nobody really knows how Marlene came to live here. Some say that the King adopted her others say that he sired her. I have my own theory."

"And what is that?"

"Well, anyone related to the royal family can be instantly told apart from everyone else. You see, we all have light blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Denzel's hair is a tiny bit darker than ours but he has the trademark Shinra eyes." She pointed to her face, showing off her eyes. "Marlene has dark brown hair and brown eyes. I don't think she has a drop of Shinra blood in her. But no one questions the King."

The door behind the two women opened. Three blonde haired children and a dark haired little girl walked into the room. "And what do we have here? Some dirty street urchin trying to make it in the world?"The oldest spoke. Tifa identified her as Scarlet. The girl was wearing a long red dress with her hair half done up and cascading down the sides of her face. Her lips were painted the same bright red as her dress. The dress hung low with no arms and had a long slit up the side to reveal her thigh. Tifa thought she looked more like a harlot than a princess. Scarlet the Harlot. Tifa smiled to herself at the nickname.

"Don't be mean!" The youngest boy, Denzel, scolded Scarlet, stamping his foot on the floor. He wore a blue and grey tunic with matching velvet shorts. His sandy blonde hair was wild and unruly. Rufus rolled his eyes and sauntered off to the couch where he plopped down. He brought his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. He was wearing a similar outfit to his younger brother but his was a black button-up tunic with blue shorts.

"What did you say? How dare you speak to me like that?" The girl raised her hand. Tifa quickly ran up behind the girl and grabbed her tiny wrist.

"We mustn't hit," Tifa frowned.

"Get your filthy hands off me you grimy criminal!" Tifa released the girl who stormed in what Tifa guessed was her room. She turned towards Denzel who stared up at her with bright eyes.

"Are you alright?" Tifa asked. Denzel nodded happily. They turned to see Elena covering her mouth as she tried to contain her laughter.

"You will do just fine here," Elena said.

Tifa spent the rest afternoon playing with Marlene and Denzel. Rufus had been content doing his own thing and Scarlet had not been seen, much to Tifa's relief. The two youngest had shown her was she would sleep at night, inside the children's wing next to Marlene's room. They ate some snacks during mid afternoon. It wasn't enough to satisfy Tifa's unbearable hunger but enough to keep her from collapsing at any moment. When it came time for the feast, Tifa was asked to escort the children to the dining hall and then blend into the shadows in case she had to take a child back to their room.

Her stomach rumbled loudly but she had been told she was not allowed to eat until after the children had gone to sleep. Tifa stood in a dark corner watching as dozens of people sat around a long wooden table. The younger soldiers ate in the main dining hall, out of sight of the dignitaries. King Shinra sat at the head of the table. On his right was a rat-like man with dark haired pulled behind his head and circular glasses. To the kings left was a slender blonde haired man with bright blue eyes and thin, rectangular glasses. The next two sets of seats were occupied by a woman with light chestnut hair tied in a high pony tail wearing a purple dress and man with short dark hair wearing glasses as well. Moving down the table were two light brown haired women looking to be mirror images of each other. One had braided hair tied back into a bow and the other let her long wavy hair flow. Upon closer inspection Tifa found that the one with the braid was appeared younger than the other. Tifa guessed they were either mother and daughter or distant sisters.

Next to the younger girl sat a boy with midnight spiky hair and brilliant blue eyes. Tifa had to do a double take, thinking he was Angeal. Across from him was another Shinra-esk looking man with spiky blonde hair and the trademark Shinra eyes she had heard all about. Next to the two boys sat Angeal and Genesis. Next to Genesis sat Sephiroth. Tifa had watched Scarlet weasel herself next to Sephiroth. Next to Angeal was a slender dark haired man with crimson eyes. The word vampire crossed her mind at the sight of him. Next to him was Denzel. Across from Denzel sat another dark haired man with some sort of mark in the middle of his forehead and next to him sat Elena. Across from Elena sat a young dark haired girl. Next to her was a large dark haired man dressed in foreign clothing. Marlene sat across from him. Table was filled with many more noble looking people with Rufus sitting at the other end of the table, looking bored.

Tifa clutched her stomach as it let out another loud rumble when the food came in. "You get used to it after a while," a monotone voice spoke next to Tifa, startling her.

"Gah!" Tifa gasped in surprise as she turned to see a young scullery maid with orange hair and pale blue eyes. She looked very young, anywhere between 9 and 13.

"My name is Shelke Rui, do not be frightened," She said in the same monotone voice.

"Tifa Lockhart," The dark haired woman replied. Tifa turned her attention back to the people stuffing their faces and filling their gullets. "Who are all these people?"

"Most of them work for the king but there are a few who do not. Of course you know King Shinra; next to him is his son Lazard Duesericus and the royal advisor Hojo. Next to the Hojo is his wife Lucrecia Crescent. Across from her is Professor Gast, the castle doctor. Next to Gast is his wife Ifalna Gainsborough and across from her is their daughter Aerith. Next to Aerith is Zack Fair, a general. Across from him is Cloud Strife, the Kings nephew and a general. Then there are Genesis Rhapsodos and Angeal Hewley, both generals. Next to Genesis is another general, Sephiroth Crescent, the only child of Hojo and Lucrecia. Then there's the sixth and last general, Vincent Valentine. Of course you've met the children. Scarlet has it bad for Sephiroth, which would be an ideal match but he doesn't seem to care for her. The man next to Scarlet is the captain of the guard, Tseng. Elena spends all of her free time in his company. The foreign pair are Emperor of Wutai Godo Kisaragi and his daughter Yuffie Kisaragi. They claim to be here on business, but everyone knows that he's trying to set up his daughter with Rufus."

"What do you do here?" Tifa asked the small girl.

"I am not a maid Miss Lockhart. I do not clean up after people and I do not serve them." Shelke returned her attention to gathering of people

"What do you do then?"

"I merely observe. My job is to blend into the shadows and watch. Then I report any suspicious findings to the King. He is very paranoid. They call me Shelke the Transparent, or at least they do when they think I'm not around. But, I see everything."

"What do you mean you see everything? That isn't possible."

The girl lest out an exasperated sigh. "Scarlet pressed her thigh against Sephiroth's, Sephiroth shifted away slightly, uncomfortable by her attention. Aerith and Zack's hands touched as he passed her some wine, the two are embarrassed and haven't looked at each other in a while. Denzel is talking off Vincent's ear. Godo keeps whispering something in Yuffie's ear which makes her divert her attention from Vincent to Rufus." She paused for a moment. "Earlier today Angeal brought you into the castle from the holding cell. He asked the head maid to check if you were a virgin."

"EH?" Tifa took a step back, blushing a little. "Why would he do something like that?"

"It might have something to do with the fact the he keeps glancing up at you when he thinks no one is watching." Shelke didn't talk for the rest of the feast.

After desert, Tifa took Marlene and Denzel back to bed since it was getting quite late. She tucked them into bed and blew out the candles. The only light in their rooms was the moon shining in the windows. She waited a few moments for the children to fall asleep before she ran back to her room. She yanked the blankets off her bed, tying the ends of them to each other. She pushed open the large window in her room after tying one end of her makeshift rope to her bedpost. Tifa looked out the window. There was a balcony a little ways down that she needed the sheets to reach then she could scale the wall until she reached the ground since the lower part of the castle bricks jutted out all along the wall.

She tossed the blankets out. The vermilion eyed girl tore her black dress so she would have more mobility. It stopped about mid thighs. Tifa stood on the ledge of the window sill, holding the blankets firmly as she began to slide down. She stopped when she heard the balcony doors open. The burnet held her breath and clung to the sheets for dear life, praying that they had not seen her.

Genesis, Angeal, and Sephiroth walked out into the cool night air. "It sounds like you two are getting old." Genesis said.

"No, I just think it's something to consider." Angeal replied as sat on the edge of the balcony.

"Speaking of something to consider," Sephiroth casually changed the subject. "You sure went out of your way to help that girl. You took care of her the entire trip then got her the job as the childminder."

"Yes it does sound like our dear Angeal is pining for a young lass," Genesis said lightly. Angeal shot him a death glare.

"You're more like your cousin than you thought," Sephiroth added.

"Zack and I are nothing alike. And what about you?" Angeal pointed at his silver haired comrade. "Scarlet seems quite taken with you, why don't you just ask to become betrothed so you can marry her when she comes of age."

Sephiroth shook his head, his silver hair swaying as he did. "I do not like her. She would be the death of me. Not to mention I'm almost twice her age. I like smaller age gaps."

"And you, what about Cissnei?" Angeal directed his attention to Genesis.

"She's nice..." Genesis said. He stretched and fake yawned. "Well, I'd better get going. New recruit training starts bright and early." Genesis left the two in silence.

After a moment, Sephiroth said, "I best be going too." He left Angeal alone.

Angeal stared out over the city of Midgar. Tifa's palms were beginning to grow moist from sweat. She held on even tighter, not wanting to be caught. Angeal stood up and headed for the door. Tifa lost her grip and slide down the blanket. She was unable to stop herself from falling. The young woman landed on Angeal, knocking him to the ground. She quickly rose to her feet.

He groaned and clutched the back of his head where he had hit it off the ground. "What are you doing?"

"None of your business!" Tifa said, running over to the edge of the balcony. She threw one leg over the side. "You didn't see me."

"I can't just let you escape," He scowled. Angeal righted himself and grabbed her arm. "Where would you even go?" Tifa frowned, tears threatening fall. She had lived for Tius. Now she found herself without a purpose.

"I want a life that is mine," She tried, unsuccessfully, to pull out of his stone grip. "I do not serve others."

"Who are you really, Lockhart?" Angeal pulled her off the ledge so she was standing just in front of him. He did not release her from his grip. He grabbed her other wrist with his hand, staring into her eyes. "You raised a child that was not yours, learned a man's profession, fought against three men who were much bigger than you, and tried to escape from the custody of trained soldiers, twice now. You refuse any help offered to you and you wear clothing unbefitting of a young lady. You also have the mouth of coal miner."

"I do what I need to survive," Tifa said matter-of-factly, trying to pull out of his grip. His hands only tightened. "Stop touching me!"

"What is your story, Tifa Lockhart?" His eyes were intense and Tifa felt uncomfortable under his penetrating stare.

"You people are all the same! Demanding and greedy. I hate soldiers! All of you. You think you can just get people to do whatever you want! Like we should bend to your will. I had dreams of my own! I had wants and desires." The tears quickly fell as she shouted.

Angeal pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms securely around her small frame. "What happened to you?" He whispered, more to himself than her. She sobbed against his chest, her shoulders shaking.

"No one came. I'm was all alone."

A/n: I sincerely hope the people reading this are not like eww! When they read this chapters contents. I made it longer than the last chapter because I challenge myself to make each chapter a little bit longer than the last. Lots of new characters to meet, sorry, I had to get it out of the way. Oh, some of you may be like, why does he care about her virginity? Well, to that I say, Tess of the d'Urbervilles. *Wiggles eyebrows.* When I started writing this chapter, the era came out more Victorian sounding but without electricity. Indoor plumbing is a must; I don't want to write about chamber pots. That's gross. Let me know what you guys think... all 2 of you that actually reviewed.