The Wedding
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or the world of Cephiro.
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Fuming to the point he could almost feel the steam coming out of his ears, the Mage stormed through the castle. He somehow ended up in the ballroom and started to stride across, still running the conversation, and the scene, in his head. He sought the outside entrances of the ballroom and slammed the doors open. Swinging shut behind him with a boom, he almost missed the voice calling his name.
"Clef?" He looked up belatedly. Presea stood on a ladder, hanging decorations for the wedding. He furrowed his brow and just lifted his lip, eliciting an almost animal-like snarl. Presea couldn't help herself. Bursting out laughing, she was forced to hang on to the top rungs of the ladder to keep from falling.
Clef's anger cooled quickly to icy rage at the humiliation. Still giggling, she glanced at him as he glared at her. "I'm sorry Clef, but you reminded me so much of Selece in that moment," she trailed off as the giggles overtook her once more. Naturally, the mention of Selece only added to his anger, but he tamped it down. It wasn't fair to take out the rage Umi had caused on Presea, who had done nothing wrong.
Controlling herself, Presea slid down the ladder with ease. "Are you ok Clef?" she asked. He sat on a bench with his head in his hands. The staff had slid down to the ground, but he hadn't seemed to care. Sighing, he shrugged.
"I'll be alright. I just need to cool down."
"What happened?" He seriously contemplated telling her for a moment, but decided against it.
"Just frustration," he answered. She nodded sympathetically and patted his shoulder.
"Well, now that you aren't snarling anymore, help me with the decorations?"
Nodding, he stood and followed her to the ladder. She climbed back up the rungs and reached down to take the decoration he was handing to her. At the moment she was off-balance, Primera and Mokona came zipping through. Trying to evade the fluffy creature, the fae slipped through the lower rungs of the ladder. Ignoring where he was going, Mokona bumbled into the ladder, knocking it to the ground.
Presea gave a small shriek and fell into Clef, who had been reaching up to her anyway. She tumbled into him, knocking them both into the ground. The position they ended up in was…compromising, to say the least. She was straddling his waist with her head on her chest. He had reached up to catch her and now had his arms circled around her shoulders. They were both breathing heavily from surprise and Presea had been blushing.
Then Umi came chasing after Clef.
Feeling ashamed of herself, though she didn't know why, Umi fled through the halls of the Palace, not exactly sure what she was running away from. She was pretty sure it wasn't Ascot, since it wasn't his fault at all. No, it was Clef's fault. She was sure of that.
Emotions and thoughts tumbled through her mind, each one being only coherent for a moment. A few tears escaped her and slid quietly down her cheeks. How could Clef think that she loved Ascot? Or that she was….she gulped, unable to even finish the thought. He knew that she didn't return the Summoner's affections, so why did he say that?
"Because he is a fool," Selece said, his voice resounding in her head.
"But he's not usually like this," she whispered.
"Because he's usually not a fool. Only in these matters is he such an idiot."
The Water Knight almost burst out laughing. Imagine! Selece calling Clef an idiot.
"Ye find it amusing?"
She snickered. "Sorry Selece. But what do you mean these matters? The wedding?"
"Nay, something else." Silence fell, almost as powerful as the Rune-God himself.
"Selece…" she used a warning tone this time.
She swore she heard him sigh. "Seek him out my Knight. Tell him your feelings. Perhaps than all this will be resolved."
"But what if he rejects me?" she whispered.
"Ye are MY Knight, the knight of strength. Not courage of the fire, but the strength and power of the ocean. Ye can withstand anything, especially if I stand with ye."
Smiling, she nodded. "Thanks Selece." With that, she set off to find Clef. It was fairly easy to follow his trail. Doors had been thrown hastily open in his escape and soon it was clear he was headed outside. Umi practically skipped through the halls, certain now that this matter would soon be cleared up.
The last door had actually been shut and she swung it open with a smile on her face. The smile froze as rigid as ice at the scene before her. Selece groaned. "Fool," she heard him whisper, but it did not register in her mind.
All she saw before her was Clef and Presea. Locked in a tight embrace. Laying on the ground. Clips of words and images flashed through her thoughts, each one nastier than the last. Her anger built like a rising wave and soon she exploded, just as the two heard her and had turned towards her, Presea still straddling Clef's waist.
"And you call me indiscreet!? At least I was in a room with a closed door!" she shrieked, her rage pouring forth. She panted heavily, eyes two narrow slits of blue. Clef blushed deeply, but Presea looked confused.
"Umi what are you talking about?"
Umi hissed. "I will not stand and be accused by a hypocrite. You asshole!" Despair had begun to overpower the rage and tears shimmered in her eyes. "Find yourselves a room!" By now they had stood but Umi had whirled and slammed the door behind her.
Clef bowed his head, bangs hanging over his eyes. Now he was the one who felt deeply ashamed. Presea though, was still confused.
"Clef, what was she talking about?" But Clef, instead of answering, simply picked up his staff and walked away.
A/N: Whoot! More misunderstandings! And Selece is having wayyyy too much fun messing with Clef yeah?
