Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Squaresoft Enix. Apart from the additional characters created by me.

A/N: Thank you to everyone that has reviewed so far, it really means a lot to know that you like the story so far. JD

THE HOOD

Chapter Ten - Credence

As he strode towards her, a simple heartbeat could not help but flutter within her chest. 'How could a man she hardly knew cause such feelings?' This man. This now labelled outlaw of Balamb. Why she trusted him, she did not know. Here she was now travelling with men that her Father would instantly disapprove of. Perhaps these feelings were being caused by the current situation she now found herself in. Rescued by outlaws. One of which was claiming to be a Knight loyal to King Laguna. It was a foolish thing to declare in such dangerous times, especially if it were not true. His actions so far had certainly not caused her to doubt him. 'But what if this was a charade and she was nothing more that a ransom to them. Who was this man, this Knight who inflamed her very soul?'

"Milady, may I ask where in Dollet your Father resides?" Asked 'The Hood'

It was the one question that she feared to be asked. For now she needed to make a choice. If she told him now the whole tale of events that had occurred before she was taken to Balamb. He would not want to risk his life and the lives of the men with him, just so that she could check on her Fathers well being. No, he would wish to direct her from this path and head, where? There was really nowhere else for her to go. He could even decide to abandon her and Edea at the very place they now stood. No, she could not divulge her tale. There was only one option open to her at this time. Continue this pretence and hope that they reach the outskirts of Dollet safely. 'But if he truly was a Knight, she could ask him for his help. Was he?'

"He is in the town which lies within the protection of the castle wall. Why do you ask?" She questioned.

His immediate thought was that escorting her to the town of Dollet would be almost the same as taking her back to Norg himself. That would put her in the same situation she was in before and the Sheriff was without doubt going to head to Dollet at the first opportunity. 'No he would perhaps be able to divert her from this direction to somewhere safer.'

"Milady. The Sheriff is not a fool. Once he has been released from his bindings, he will not hesitate in heading straight for Dollet to inform this Norg of all that has occurred within Galbadia Wood and how he lost his gold and silver taxes." Stated 'The Hood'.

"I fail to see how this will affect me. For it was not I who stole the taxes. Surely it is you that the Sheriff will be chasing?" Responded Milady.

"True, we did indeed relieve him of his gold and silver blood money. But it is not that of which I speak. As the Sheriff was escorting you to Dollet to see your Father. He will expect you to head there at the first opportunity. Therefore, once he discovers that you are indeed in Dollet, the first place he will go to is your Fathers residence and you will be back within his grasp." Stated 'The Hood'.

The inner turmoil she was now facing was apparent. She wanted to see her father again, for that they could be no doubt. But to be captured by the Sheriff once again filled her with dread. 'Why did he have to bring the Sheriff once again into the equation? Why did it matter to him? If she was captured at least then she was guaranteed to see Father. Had he not promised to allow her this privilege.'

"Why does this concern you?" She asked.

He thought 'did she have no regard for her own safety?'

"Because Milady, you agreed to accept my offer of escorting you. Therefore, your safety is of my concern and walking straight into town without first establishing all the facts would be most foolish."

She felt the anger begin to rise within her. 'Foolish. All the facts'. She was beginning now to doubt if he would escort her to Dollet. 'Maybe he had no intention of ever taking her there. Maybe he was nothing but an outlaw. What right did he have to call her destination foolish?'

"Foolish indeed! Where do I begin? I have gone from being escorted by a man that I detested, to a man who claims to be a Knight. What proof do I have that you are what you claim to be? Those are the facts!"

The anger and hurt spoken through her words was nothing compared to the fear that remained evident in her eyes. He heard the words, for that there could be no doubt. But, he also saw that her eyes betrayed this emotional outburst. Anger may have been the front that she had presented, but it was really fear she felt. 'Was she frightened of him or was it something else?' This thought repeated in his head.

He was now faced with an option. He could reveal to her his true identity, but that idea he soon dismissed, for it would not be wise. He did not know her well enough to trust her and his instincts told him that in her current state and the need she had to see her Father, could easily drive her to betray him to achieve it. No, there was only one thing he could really do to obtain her trust and that was to prove he truly was a Knight.

"Tell me Milady, do you know how a man is honoured and made a Knight of the King?" He asked.

"Of course I do. You forget that I am the daughter of a Lord!" She responded.

"Then Milady, you will know that only a nobleman who has performed a great deed of courage in serving his King may be rewarded with the honour of being knighted by his Kings own hand."

"Yes indeed, for anyone that is peasant to nobleman knows of this," she replied.

Slowly he moved his cloak from his side and removed his sword that had been hidden from sight out of its sheath. Placing it in the ground between them.

"This sword was presented to me by the King's own hand on the day I was dubbed a Knight. It bears the royal crown as do all the swords of King Laguna's Knights." He said.

At first when he removed his sword, she was unsure if he planned to strike her down with a single blow. Taking a step back as she covered her mouth with her hands in shock. But when he placed it in the ground between them it really surprised her. She felt drawn to look at it. While the blade seemed to act like a mirror in displaying her reflection. The deep blue sapphires that had been set across the guard of the hilt sparkled in the sunlight. The grip had been covered with black leather, no doubt to aid the sword wielder. Finally, there at the pommel, the very end of the hilt was an engraved royal crown. It was truly a magnificent weapon.

"This sword may bear the royal crown, but it is hardly authentication to your claim of Knighthood. For you could have easily obtained this by deception," she stated.

"If you dispute this sword, then it would indeed be pointless for me to show you the scar behind my left ear, which I obtained from the King as he dubbed me with this very sword."

"Pointless indeed. As you could have obtained a scar in any number of ways," she responded.

She now started to believe that her earlier fears of him not being a Knight could be true. 'Had she now made a terrible mistake in allowing this man to escort her? Should she have headed for Galbadia instead and not asked him to escort her to Dollet?' When he started to speak again it interrupted these thoughts.

"The Milady, there is only one thing left for me to show you in order for me to regain your trust. Do you Milady know the 'mark of Laguna'?"

She did indeed, for her Father had shown her his mark many years ago for it was only given to those most loyal. He had told her the tale of how the mark had come into being. When the King was no more than a Prince, he had married a beautiful woman whose name was Raine. They had been deeply in love, but it was a tragic tale. For she had died in childbirth and the baby boy was rejected by him. He blamed the child for her death and while he grieved for the loss of her, the child was given away. But, years later the guilt began to tear at his very soul until he could take no more. So he went looking for his son and heir. Alas he was unsuccessful in his quest. He begged his dead wife's spirit for forgiveness and vowed to never rest until he found his son. So he paid homage to her and prove his vow was true by using the very flowers that she had loved so much and had them engraved as his own personnel mark.

"Yes I know the mark," she said.

Kneeling before her and his sword. He began reciting his Knights code as he started to untie the leather brace covering his left arm.

"With this mark, I swear to defend the honour of the King.

I shall at all times uphold justice in the name of the King.

I promise to be a defender of the weak and aid them in their times of need.

This as a Knight I swear."

Turning his arm so that she could see his wrist. A mark the size of a ring was branded into the skin. It was of three simple lily flowers.

She could do nothing else but gasp.