The Brave Kfnight: The Beginning of the End
By J. C. Onyx
Chapter Two: Powerful Young, the Princess of Belvilance
She was absolutely beautiful. Her flowing brown hair fell down to her elbows and she wore the most elaborate white dress defined with bronze and gold threading. Her tiara which she wore to symbolize her power was emblazed with rubies along the sides until they lead to the center which bore a large topaz gem. Her face had just the slightest trace of a tan and her eyes were a brilliant bright blue hue. Her smile revealed her beauty even greater, and I could feel a droplet of sweat fall down my face as I realized how much she symbolized the Belvilance Kingdom.
"You're Highness. These men have come to discuss the current situation with Delmeroy. There have been reports on a group of Dismallians marching towards the town and they need your assistance with their crisis," said the castle guard bending down on a knee.
"Yes, we have heard of the rumors Orison, and I have been trying to get the current situation under control, only to find that Avilouce was to stop me from reporting this to the princess," Fredrick retorted turning in the direction of Avilouce, giving her a disquieting glare.
"Is this true, Avilouce?" asked Topaz turning in the direction of the holy knight.
"Yes, you're Highness. I did not wish for Fredrick to interrupt you in your prayer."
"That is very kind of you, but the next time an urgent situation comes up like this, I would only wish for you to interrupt my prayer and tell me of the state in which my kingdom is in," she said placing her hand on Avilouce's shoulder.
This was good. Topaz said that she thought the situation was urgent, meaning that Delmeroy may not be in danger much longer. I raised myself from my knee and placed my hand over my chest.
"My name is Blade. I am the one who came to Bellivance to ask for assistance in fending off the Dismallian troops. I was sent by Old Jeremy, he said that the Valiance family would be able to understand our crisis and would understand that we would need help as fast as possible."
"Old Jeremy, how long has it been since I have been to see him…" strayed off Topaz as she gave me a small smile. "Yes, I understand fully, which is why he should understand that I will personally bring him the best group of militia he has ever seen in his long life."
"Why, you're Highness. You can not possibly be thinking of traveling to Delmeroy during the attack. That would be far too dangerous and you know neither I nor your parents would allow such a thing."
"They would understand that I am merely traveling there to comfort an old friend in his time of need," countered Topaz. "And besides, this is the first attack Dismallia has made across our border. If I am not there to lead our forces, some people might lose faith in the Valiance family. You know we can't accept that, for we need the support that our citizens bestow upon us."
"She is right Avilouce. This kingdom was set up from the trust of the citizens of Belvilance. If our people were to stop believing in the Valiance family now, all might go to hell."
Avilouce stared into Fredrick's eye, seeming to be challenging him before dropping her head to show that she had given up on the quarrel. "That is true, if it were not for the people, Belivance would not be what it is today. If you wish to lead our men into the battle outside of Delmeroy, I will proudly stand next to you and fend off every foolish man who tries to strike you down," explicated Avilouce with valor and spirit, raising her hand to her chest and kneeing down in front of Topaz.
"I am pleased that you understand my situation and I know that no man will get through your iron defense in a reckless attempt to challenge me," Topaz said bending down, lending a hand to Avilouce to help raise her from her knees. "We must assemble the troops as fast as possible. If we are to reach Delmeroy in time, we must make haste." Turning in the direction of Orison she ordered, "Gather the troops, we must be ready for combat. If Dismallia is so determined that they plan on continuing this ridiculous war, a war is what they are going to get."
"Yes your Highness!" bellowed Orison before quickly turning and rushing out of the monastery gardens.
"So Blade, how has Old Jeremy been doing? Are his old bones still as strong as they were ten years ago?" asked Topaz starting to walk in my direction towards the castle halls.
"Yes, he is as tough as ever. I do not know when those stubborn bones will begin to fail him," I said smiling at the memories I had of him training me with sticks and stones the ways of close combat. "He's not even close to becoming bedridden like most men his age would be."
"I am glad to hear it, I will be pleased to see him once again. It has been to long," she stated pulling out a necklace which was hidden under her dress. "This was given to me as a gift when I was a child. He told me to never lose it, for it belonged to his beloved wife which passed away before I was born."
"I heard she was once one of the most beautiful women in Delmeroy. How I wish I could remember her. I was three when she died. Liana was one of his only treasures and he never was the same after she passed away. I recall him holding on to that necklace as if it was only source of comfort for months afterwards," I informed her in a quite voice. "I am amazed that he gave away such a precious valuable. I wouldn't let that necklace out of my sight if I were you, for if you did lose it, you would be losing one of the most cherished memories of Old Jeremy's life. Guard it with all your might."
"I've never put it down, for it rests upon my chest while I even sleep. I do not know how losing a loved one feels like, but I do know that losing one twice would be even more dreadful," Topaz trailed off turning her head in my direction. "You seem to feel his pain, how well do you know Jeremy?"
"I have lived with him ever since I could remember, because I was abandoned as a child. Nobody knows who I am, where I'm from, or how I survived, but he took me in none the less. I owe Old Jeremy my life."
"You're the boy who helped him out setting up the table when I went to visit him in my childhood years. You were so scrawny then, but look at you now. You look like a trained knight ready to fight for his country, without the battle armor. I'm surprised you just didn't go out to challenge the dismallians by yourself."
"Jeremy just didn't teach me the ways of the sword, he also taught me common sense. I knew that I wouldn't be able to challenge a fleet by myself, only maybe a small faction of ten or less. So I sought out the help of the royal family."
"That was a wise decision. You are much stronger then most men in our days. Not in physical strength but in mental, as most men would just barge their way onwards to slow them down, even at the cost of their own life."
"Getting such a complement from you is an honor, I do try not to be as brain dead as some swordsmen," I said stopping to allow the princess to walk through the castle doors first, as was customary.
The sun was now about to rest on top of the Hokutien Mountains to the East, reminding me how much time we had left. I rushed back to Topaz's side.
"We don't have much time. If we wish to make it to Delmeroy before the Dismallians attack, we have to make a quicker haste." I said in a frantic rush.
"Do not worry, we will receive the fastest transportation we have at our disposal," exclaimed Topaz before a machina vehicle drove its way up towards the gates. It was the sleek new design imagined by the few engineers that still existed in Belvilance. I always wondered how they came to be so lucky to stumble upon the machina treasures of the past. I remember that Old Jeremy told me that they originally staggered across the resources in Ivalice back before it went into the depression. But before Allaistar and Christiana made their way across the seas they made sure to board some engineers, as they new that their knowledge would become quite useful for the future that was ahead of them.
"Here you are your majesty," said Avilouce opening the door for Topaz to step through. After which Avilouce continued to hold the door open. "Well go on, we don't have all day you know."
"Oh, yes. Sorry," I said bashfully as I realized that she was holding the door open for me. Although I felt also slightly surprised. I was being allowed a ride with the princess, this was a rare occurrence, since I am only but a teen but also nowhere compared to the status of the other passengers.
Avilouce took a step inside and closed the door behind her. "You didn't think that I would allow you to walk after all the distance you traveled on foot already to reach us, did you?"
I looked around the vehicle to see that there were six seats in the back. Two hid behind the driver and passenger seats which one Topaz was sitting in and the other was now occupied by Avilouce as she took her seat. There were two across from me, Fredrick took his seat in the one closest to Topaz, which left the remaining one to his right empty. I was seated next to Jahnon who was being given a ride back to the capitol gate. I then remembered that Jahnon had taken a seat farther away from me when we got on, but he was now at my side. I looked down to see that the chairs automatically slide in front of the entry doors after they close, leaving behind a small counter which had hid beneath them during my entrance. Looking out the window across from me I could see the Bellivance fountain. We were almost out of the capitol already, which gave us a lot of extra time for the travel over to Delmeroy.
"I guess this is goodbye, it was a pleasure to meet you Blade. And an honor it was to see you your majesty," said Jahnon as we came to a halt at the capitol wall. His seat seemed to glide back over the counter and the door opened up for him. Departing, he made his way over to the gate where they soon opened up for the all of us. He gave us a goodbye wave before making his way back toward the guard.
The vehicle slowly made its way through the gates and what greeted us was one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen in my life. About a thousand men stood in ordered lines based on rank and class in front of us. The knights stood at the far back since they would be leading us through to Delmeroy, an assortment of archers and lancers stood in the second row, making a sort of cress cross pattern. A few priest and white mages made a thin line for a third row, a streak a vikings and axe-men made a fourth row, swordsmen lined the fifth, black mages created a sixth, and a line of longbow-men formed a seventh.
A familiar face began to walk up towards our vehicle. Orison made a stand in front of the door before it opened up for him. Taking a step in he sat in the seat which would soon be besides Fredrick's. After allowing the door to close and his seat to slide over, he bent over towards Topaz.
"We are waiting for your orders, your majesty."
Thank you Zephyter0 for the one and only review for my story at the moment, I did try to bend Sephiroth to make him seem like one of my own characters.
I hope you guys enjoyed the second chapter in The Brave Knight. I did feel that the beginning felt a little rushed, but I think I recovered well after first ten paragraphs. Please review and continue to return to see if I have made any updates.