Title: Word of the Day v. FFIV
Author: Garnet Eyes
Archived: fanfiction .net, livejournal .com
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2011
Summary: 07 July 1999 edition.
Rating: K+
Characters/Pairings: Cecil, Kain, Cecil x Rosa
Author Notes: gnomic, adjective;
1. Uttering, containing, or characterized by maxims; wise and pithy.
Disclaimers: Final Fantasy IV is owned by Square-Enix and I in no way, shape, or form profit off of my writing. This is simply for my own pleasure, and may at any time be removed and/or modified as I see fit.
...
The sickness had taken its toll on everyone in the kingdom. An epidemic of sorts, but it hadn't struck so terribly that more people died than average for any disease. The ones who suffered the worst from this illness seemed to be, much to the court's and kingdom at large's chagrin, Cecil and Ceodore. Rosa, of course, had been overcome with worry that both her husband and her son would be lost to her. Ceodore had recovered first, but Cecil had all but fallen into a coma and had nearly died at least eight times over the course of the illness. After a certain point, Kain could no longer deny his own fear for the paladin's life, but he chose to handle his emotions by forcing the dragoons into top shape and making sure that his king would be safe for his eventual recovery. The blonde knight refused to consider that Cecil might not make it.
When the paladin eventually did manage to come around, it had been nearly a year. Rosa was acting ruler in his stead, and Ceodore had been studying furiously to understand all that he needed to know to take over, in the case that his father died. It was such a relief when emerald eyes fluttered open and actually appeared to be coherent. Still, it was a long road to recovery after that, and Cecil had lost most all of his physical strength and stamina from his overly long stay in bed. It frustrated Kain on many levels that his best friend and closest companion was weak now, because that made Baron's king vulnerable in ways that were new and terrible. More irritating than that, however, was Cecil's apparently blase attitude about the pace at which he recovered. He was still a scrawny thing after about a month, and Kain had long grown weary of worrying over his king's health. Trying to get Cecil to understand was another matter entirely, and the dragoon had finally resorted in calling for a duel, which the paladin had of course not denied him. The spar did not go exactly as planned to get his point across, or Kain would not be standing with his head jolted back and the tip of the king's blade gently prodding his bared neck.
"You see, Kain, strength with no cunning will always end in defeat sooner or later."
Cecil relaxed his pose and slipped his sword from resting against Kain's throat, standing tall and yet much too skinny once more. The dragoon relaxed as the blade retreated, only pausing long enough for the paladin to be off his guard before lunging into the slender king and grappling with his best friend, pinning Cecil's arms to his sides.
"Those who lack in strength can be overthrown, however."
Sighing, the paladin shook his head and turned bemused eyes toward Kain, who was still wrapped secure at his king's back.
"I've nothing to worry about, since you have been my strength all along."
Perhaps more frustrating than anything else, in the dragoon's mind, was the knowledge that Cecil was incapable of distrusting him.
