Disclaimer- I do not own Final Fantasy VII

The Wolf Prince

Chapter 10

The Lords of Jenova

Aerith and her companions stared at the castle. Something about the castle and its surroundings made it much more eerie than any previous castle that the princess has ever seen. Her home was warm and inviting, Cloud's was pleasant and beautiful, but this castle was simply creepy. Before them was a pair of large white doors that reached around ten feet tall. Aerith studied the door for a moment before turning to her friends.

"It seems like there is no other way inside." She noted.

"Perhaps we could sneak in through a window," Cait Sith suggested. "I highly doubt the lord of this castle will kindly let you see Prince Cloud."

Aerith looked up and shook her head. "There is no way I would be able to climb up the wall."

"So you believe knocking will help?" Nanaki asked skeptically.

Aerith shrugged. "I have no other choice."

Aerith reached up and knocked as loud as she could on the door. She then stepped back and waited. When no one answered, Aerith looked at Nanaki and shrugged. She knocked again.

She knocked again and again and still no answer. When she reached for another round of knocks, a shadow descended upon her. The three spun around and Aerith let out a gasp. Standing before her was the most intimidating man she had ever seen. Ghostly pale skin, jade green eyes, long waist length silver hair, and garbed in black clothes was the lord of the castle.

"Are you the master of this castle?" Aerith bravely asked, and yet she already knew the answer.

The man eyed her suspiciously.

"I am Princess Aerith and I have come here to inquire the whereabouts of Prince Cloud."

The man smirked. He knew exactly where Cloud was.

"You waste your time here Princess," he said. "I know very well who you are and you will not cross the threshold of my castle."

"Please, your highness, Cloud is…" she hesitated. Could she honestly call him her fiance anymore? Regardless she used it, "my fiance."

He smirked again, studying her closely. Aerith swallowed hard. This man frightened her more than any beast she had faced on her journey. While those beasts were powerful, this man was power. It radiated off him like a dark wave. She found herself trembling in his gaze.

"Cloud," he purposely left the prince's title out, "is my slave now and you are no longer his intended. Now, go home to your mother and father little girl."

Aerith clenched her fists. She disliked it when someone called her a little or a child. Yet, now she knew Cloud was indeed here and she could not give up, not even to such an intimidating man.

"I will not!" she stated loudly, surprising her two companions as well as herself. "Cloud is the man I will marry and I demand that you allow me to see him."

Aerith nearly regretted her words when she felt the lord grab her face, holding her tightly. Aerith grimaced while Nananki growled in warning. The silver-haired man ignored the red beast as well as Cait Sith who was more so cowering behind Aerith's leg. He forced her to look him in the eyes. The princess whimpered.

"You are either very brave or very foolish to speak to me in such a way in my kingdom." His voice was low and threatening. "I suggest you hold your tongue or you might end up at the bottom of the lake."

He let go, making Aerith stumble backwards.

"Go home, child," he ordered.

Aerith stood her ground. "I will not leave until you allow me to see Cloud."

Suddenly a black wing sprouted from his back. Aerith fell back against the castle doors in shock.

"Then my dear princess," he said, his wing flapping, "you will be waiting forever."

The silver-haired man launched himself into the sky and disappeared from sight. Several of his black feathers fell to the ground. When they landed they dissolved into dust and blew away in the breeze. Aerith let out a breath she had been holding before looking back at her companions.

Nanaki spoke first, "Princess are you all right?"

Aerith nodded.

"I cannot believe you spoke to the Son of Jenova, Sephiroth, in such a way," Cait Sith gasped, moving from behind her leg.

Aerith slumped to the ground, shaking her head. "I must be complete fool to even try and challenge him. He will never allow me entry to his castle and I cannot even pretend to threaten him. He could see right through me. I was so frightened by him."

Cait Sith patted her hand, "Maybe you can give him something of great value?"

"He is a king," Nanaki spoke, "we have nothing that would be of interest to him."

Aerith rubbed her temples in frustration. She had nothing aside the trinkets that Cloud had given her and by the look of this castle, they would not be worth anything to Sephiroth. The three sat, pondering what to do when Cait Sith snapped his fingers.

Nanaki and Aerith looked at the little cat who was grinning. "I have an idea he announced."

Ten minutes later, Aerith found herself on the other side of the lake with her companions. She was shaking her head, her face as red as a ruby. Nanaki was growling angrily at the little cat. Cait Sith on the other hand was trying to sound reasonable.

The little cat had suggested that since there was nothing of material value to offer that they use another thing to barter with. The "thing" however turned out to be the princess herself. Cait Sith suggested that Aerith use her feminine charms to entice the Lord of Jenova. When Aerith declared her charms would not work well since the lord already brushed her aside, Cait Sith suggested she use her physical appearance to entice him.

"I cannot do this!" the princess cried.

"It is degrading!" Nanaki shouted at the cat.

Cait Sith winced, "But you said there is nothing to trade. Well, this is the only other option!"

Aerith wanted to argue. She did not want to go ahead with Cait Sith's plan. His plan involved the young princess to strip into nothing and bathe in the lake waters. Yet, what else could she do. She looked at her pet for an answer but he could not come up with another. The princess sighed miserably.

"I cannot believe I am doing this," Aerith said.

"Bugenhagen said you must be willing to give up yourself," Cait Sith reminded.

The princess sighed again. She hugged her arms around her, her face still burning red. Was it the only way? She could not think of another and she was sure that neither her nor her pets could sneak inside. Regardless, she hated the idea.

Aerith stared at the lake. Even though the sun was out the water would be freezing. She looked back at her faithful pet who nodded reassuring at her. Cait Sith gave her a thumb up to reassure her that he too was watching over her. The princess took a deep breath and removed her cloak, hanging it on a nearby branch. She kicked off her boots and slowly began to undo the buttons on her dress. Nanaki turned his head away as Aerith stripped off her clothing. Cait Sith would have continued to watch had Nananki not smacked the cat with his paw.

The warm sun kissed her skin as she hung her dress on a branch of a tree near the lake. Once completely naked, Aerith stepped into the water. She let out a cry at the stinging cold.

"It's freezing," she gasped.

"You can do it princess," Nanaki assured. "You are doing this for Cloud."

With Cloud in her mind, Aerith slowly entered the water. Once submerged from the chest down Aerith breathed. She undid the braid in her hair, letting her locks fall down, sprawling down to the water. Her hair provided a shield for her naked body,

She moved her hands together, cupping them. She got a scoop of water and let it fall on her head. She winced at how cold the water was; surprised her entire body was not numb.

"It's so cold," Aerith said, her teeth chattering.

Yet, she continued splashing the water over her body. Ten minutes went by as Aerith bathed. Nanaki laid at the edge, his eye carefully scanning the area. Cait Sith's idea seemed ludicrous but it if it allowed her entry into the palace then she had to do it.

Aerith bathed silently, her mind thinking only of Cloud. She wanted to save him and to have him forgive her. Even if he shunned her forever, she wanted to say she was sorry for breaking her promise. Being so absorbed in her thoughts, Aerith did not see a man approach the bank. Nanaki, however, sensed him. He was watching him suspiciously.

"Maiden," he called, his eyes staring at her intently.

Aerith gasped, spinning around in the water. Her arms hugged her chest, to avoid any exposure. The man before her looked similar to Sephiroth only with much shorter hair that came to his chin. They had similar eyes and even wore similar black leather clothing. Aerith sunk slightly in the water, feeling vulnerable. His eyes were scanning her, devouring her beautiful, innocent image.

"What is such a fair maiden doing out here in this lake no less?" he asked.

Aerith turned away slightly. "I am washing myself."

"Come out of that cold water my dear and I can take you to a palace where you will bathe in warmth."

Aerith looked over at Cait Sith who was shaking his head. The man before her was staring with such intensity that it made the young princess greatly uncomfortable. She thought for a moment. She had to be clever. She could see the lust swelling inside the man and it sickened her. His eyes lowered from her face to see the simple chain resting around her neck and then lower. She could use this to her advantage. She turned away, uninterested.

"No, I am bathing so I may be presentable for the man I am engaged to." Aerith said. She held out her hand so that he could see the ring clearly on her left hand, ring finger.

The man before her pondered her words. "And where is this fiance to leave you in such a place."

Aerith pointed toward Sephiroth's castle. The man before her inclined his head and his eyes widened slightly. Realization hit him. He now knew exactly who this woman was and who her fiancé is.

"Might I be able to persuade you to join me inside?" he asked.

Aerith pondered for a moment and then spoke, "Only if I am able to see my future husband."

The man smirked. "I'm afraid that is impossible."

Aerith turned to look at him, her eyes showing determination. "Then I'm afraid I have no reason to speak to you any further."

She submerged herself completely, brushing off the silver haired man. If he would let her into the castle, there would be no way he would allow her near Cloud. When she reemerged, the man was gone. Aerith sighed and swam toward the bank.

"Why did you not go with him?" Cait Sith asked handing her clothing to her.

"Because," Aerith said, taking the clothes, "If I did there is no guarantee I will be able to see Cloud. For all I know I could be locked up in a tower or something. Besides, that man had no good intentions if I were to leave with him."

"Lust," Nanaki snorted in disgust, "I could sense his desires for you my princess. Be weary of him."

Aerith finished dressing. "Agreed, but it is him who I believe will allow me entry to the castle and to Cloud."

Inside the castle, Sephiroth was sitting on his throne, enjoying a drink and some food with his brothers, Loz and Yazoo. Both of his brothers looked extremely similar in appearance with the same hair, eyes, and pale skin. The only differences were Loz's short hair and chiseled features and Yazoo having soft features and hair down past his shoulder blades. Both men also sported black leather garments. The three men were enjoying their food, courtesy of their new servants when the doors to the throne room opened.

Sephiroth shifted his jade green eyes to his third and youngest brother walking down the length of the room. He was the man who only moments ago had spoken to the princess by the lake. Sephiroth lifted his chalice and drank deeply from it before he acknowledged his brother fully. His youngest brother bowed at the waist out of respect.

"Sephiroth, brother, I need a word." He said.

Sephiroth looked at his other two brothers. He nodded and they took their leave. One the middle two brothers left the throne room, Kadaj spoke freely.

"The princess is here," he spoke.

"I am well aware," Sephiroth mused, "I have had the pleasure of speaking to her and I assure you she is of no threat to me."

"I desire her."

Sephiroth's eyes widened slightly. "Kadaj, you are a fool."

Kadaj's eyes narrowed at his older brother. Unlike his older and calmer brother, Kadaj had a shorter fuse and did not like to be called a fool.

"I want her to be mine," Kadaj said.

Sephiroth stood up and walked over to the window, overlooking the lake. He spotted the princess and her companions on the far edge of the lake doing nothing of importance.

"It's best to ignore her. She only wants her prince."

Kadaj was not willing to give up. "Brother, I have never desired something so much. She is a maiden and different from any other woman I have seen."

"A maiden in ever sense but she will not come to you or your bed."

"Brother," Kadaj said determined to have his brother see things his way, "She wears the white materia around her neck. I have seen it. The wolf prince had given it to her, obvious for safe keeping!"

Sephiroth turned to his brother, skeptical.

"I have seen it!" Kadaj countered.

Sephiroth turned back toward the window, staring out at the princess. His mind was whirling with thoughts. Kadaj grinned, realizing his brother was now pondering this. He knew his older brother wanted the white materia for it was a scared relic that was powerful. A relic that he had wanted from the wolf prince from the moment he cursed him. Yet, when the prince became his slave, he did not receive the materia as expected but now knew the reason why. Cloud had given it to her and since Aerith was not under the curse, the materia remained out of his reach.

Kadaj joined his brother at the window. He knew his brother wanted the materia and would do anything to have it. Of course, the princess has to give it willingly to him as well.

"Give me the princess for my bride and you shall have your materia, brother," Kadaj whispered.

Sephiroth closed his eyes and nodded slowly. "We must be careful though... very careful. She is fully determined to rescue Cloud. So much she even had the courage to attempt to stand up to me. She has a strong will but…"

"I have a plan brother," Kadaj interrupted.

Sephiroth arched an eyebrow as his younger brother preceded to tell him his plan.

Out by the lake, Aerith had finished braiding her hair when Kadaj returned. He was grinning at her, which made the princess quite uncomfortable. She shifted in her spot as Nanaki moved closer to her.

"I have an offer for you my dear maiden," Kadaj said. "It will allow you entry to my brother's castle."

Aerith tilted her chin up, "I'm listening."

"I will allow you to see your fiancé for three nights. Only during the night, you are allowed to visit him. He will be asleep when you enter the room. If you are his true love, you will have the power to awaken him. If you can awaken him, he and his servants are free to go. However, if you fail he remains my brother's slave. Are you willing to take my offer?"

Aerith looked at Cait Sith and Nanaki. Both of them nodded. She looked back at Kadaj, standing up. She would have accepted right then and there, but Kadaj held out a finger revealing more of the deal.

"However, I must mention that for each night you spend with your fiancé you must pay a price that I deem worthy."

"And those would be?" she asked calmly.

"You're engagement ring, your necklace and…"

Kadaj moved forward, suddenly taking her chin in between his thumb and forefinger. Aerith winced as Nanaki let out a warning growl. Cait Sith himself went on the defensive, ready to whip out a set of his dice at any moment.

"…your hand in marriage."

A collective gasp escaped the three. Kadaj eyes narrowed slightly, enjoying the surprised look upon her face. He let go of her chin and Aerith took a step back. Kadaj held out a hand to her, for her to shake.

"Do we have a deal?" he asked.

Aerith took a breath as she looked at the waiting hand. This would be the only way to save Cloud. She remembered Bugenhagen's words ringing in her ears. She had to be willing to give herself up to save Cloud. She was determined to do anything to do so. She lifted her right hand and grasped the silver-haired man's hand. The two hands closed, and the two shook firmly, sealing the deal.

"I accept," the princess said.

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