Chapter 10

Baralai's P.O.V.

A couple of days passed relatively peacefully, Paine and I were on speaking terms, which is always good. I spent the morning of the wedding wandering about the forest. I didn't count on anyone coming to find me until much later, caught up, as they were, in wedding preparations.

"Mr Praetor," said a harsh voice behind me.

It was the dark-haired mage from the island.

"Call me Baralai," I said politely.

Damn, is it me or does she seem angry. Very angry.

"You're in love with Paine," she told me, as if I didn't already know.

"Uhm… excuse me?"

"You're in love with Paine," she said again.

I nodded slowly.

This only seemed to anger her further, "why don't you tell her that?"

"I… Yevon, look, I've already got Gippal on my case-"

"As he should be!" snapped the mage, "have you any idea what you're doing to her?"

"I never meant to hurt her," I said.

"Well you did-"

Okay, so I know it's the right thing to do… she deserves to know, but…

"Baralai! Come quick! We've got trouble?!"

"Rikku?" said the mage, turning around quickly.

"By the airship-" she panted, "Bevelle guards- they've come for Yunie!"

The mage groaned and glared at me, "if you had anything to do with this-!"

"I didn't!" I swore, and the three of us ran for the Celsius.

Like I didn't have enough problems.

-

Lulu's P.O.V.

We came upon the Celsius in total chaos. I could still see Yuna- she and Paine were fighting back-to-back against a whole swarm of guards. I was about to help them when I saw Wakka, keeling over in the corner of my eye- trying to protect Vidina and fight at the same time.

I doublecast everything I could think of, over and over, and ran to help him, praying that Rikku and Baralai could help the others.

-

Rikku's P.O.V.

"Put some back into it, Brother!" I yelled, bursting back onto the scene.

Brother was busy with some guards to my right, but even though he was a completely trash fighter, I knew I had to help Yunie first.

Shinra was helping too… or trying to.

"Keep those bombs coming, Shinra!" I called and he was too busy even to reply with his trademark 'I'm just a kid' thing.

Tidus was busy with some randoms over that way and Kimahri was trying to fight past another group to get to Yunie.

Damn, pregnant ladies should not have to deal with this!

And on Yunie's wedding day too!

"This," I yelled, joining Yunie and Paine, "is a private wedding!"

I saw Baralai equip his deadliest rod nearby, but before he could do anything, he was struck with a sleep dart from behind.

Okay, so I didn't bring a fucking remedy- I honestly didn't think I'd need one. I'm a pregnant woman at wedding, after all-

Shit!

-

Paine's P.O.V.

Rikku was struck down.

I swear, if Baralai sent these goons-

"Yuna, run- they're too strong!" I yelled and I struck the heart of a man who tried to stop her. She ran off quickly, then paused.

"Hurry! I'll follow later!"

Yuna nodded nervously and ran.

Great, more for me…

Too much more.

I fell too.

-

Narrative P.O.V.

Tidus was soon dragged out of battle (kicking and screaming) by Wakka, and shoved off after Yuna. After that, it seemed like everybody lost the will to fight. Yuna's lone defenders fell, but at least she was far away, and safe.

"What now?" snapped the leader of the Bevelle guards, "do we take the Praetor back? And what do we do with the party guests? …Lord Rottwood is gonna kill us if we don't bring back the bride-to-be…"

"Leave them- let's take ourselves a better prize."

"Like what?"

The second goon gestured over to Paine's unconscious form a little ways away, "Master Gippal says that the Praetor will do anything for that chick… maybe even find the High Summoner for us…?"

"Do you reckon?" said the first.

"It's better than bringing back nothing," he shrugged.

Vidina wailed in the background.

"Right… do we shut the baby up?"

"Just another sleep spell," the other goon shrugged and his command was met.

"Let's get out of here," the leader turned to his troup- there were four men left standing. "What are you waiting for?"

"Shouldn't we pay reverence to our dead?" asked one nervously.

"Fools, we haven't got time!"

"Why don't we just finish them off now?"

"Because that bitch of a summoner will have our heads! Now move out!"

Slowly the clearing began to empty as the guards trailed away- taking Paine with them.

-

Yuna's P.O.V.

"We shouldn't have left! What if something terrible's happened? They said they'd follow us!!!"

"Calm down, Yuna- there's no point stressing," said Tidus, "let's follow the trail back and see what we can find."

I moaned loudly, "oh, Yevon… what about Rikku- what if they hurt the baby?!"

"Calming down now, Yuna. Calming down."

"You're right…" I sighed, "let's just go- before it's too late."

-

Narrative P.O.V.

Baralai was the first to awaken- he looked around him and froze as he saw that Yuna and Tidus were gone, then saw that Paine was gone also. He heard footsteps and stood up, holding his rod out defensively, "who's there?"

"Us!" Yuna called.

"Thank Yevon!" Baralai sighed. "Yuna, Tidus, help me with everyone- wait! Isn't Paine with you?"

"You mean she's not here?" asked Yuna, horrified.

"Remember your happy place, Yuna," said Tidus, groaning.

"Yevon, this is all my fault…"

"They've taken Paine," said Baralai, throat dry and aching.

"Let's get everyone cleaned up," said Yuna shakily. "We'll find her, don't worry."

"You're worrying," said Baralai.

"I don't count," Yuna told them, "now help me move people onto the airship."

-

Lulu's P.O.V.

I opened my eyes tiredly and took a moment to take in my surroundings… a bed on the Celsius. Okay, that's fairly normal. I rolled onto my side and found that it hurt. Yevon! Where's Wakka? Where's my son?! I dragged myself out of bed, finding my way to the Bridge in a daze.

Shinra was the only one there.

"Where is everyone?" I croaked. Was that my voice?

"Everyone's slammed," said Shinra and I wasn't sure what he meant. He paused a moment, then elaborated, "they're sleeping." He turned around in his chair and I saw that he was holding Vidina, he passed him over now.

"Is he alright?" I asked.

"Just sleeping," Shinra replied, "you should get some sleep too."

I shook my head, "where's Wakka?"

"Sleeping," said Shinra, shrugging.

"Yuna?"

"Sleeping."

"Tidus."

"Sleeping."

"Ri-"

"Calm down," said Shinra, "everyone is alive and accounted for… except for Paine."

"Where's Paine?" I asked quickly.

"They took her- when everyone's better, we're going to find her."

"Is the Praetor here?"

"I think he's with Gippal, in the louge."

"Thank you."

I went to the lounge, as directed, but found the Praetor alone.

"I'm sorry," I said.

He looked upset.

He just shook his head, though, "are you two alright?"

I hugged Vidina close and nodded, "do you want to talk about Paine?"

"There's nothing to talk about," he said. "I'm going to find her- so I can tell her that I love her. I have to."

I nodded acceptingly and we sat in silence for a while. Then Wakka stumbled in and I passed Vidina to the Praetor so I could go to help him.

"You look gruesome, Lu," he said and I chuckled weakly, hugging him.

Then Shinra came in too, "Mr Praetor- there's a call for you from the Bevelle CommSphere."

"Who is it?" he asked quickly.

"Meyvn Nooj."

The Praetor stood up, nodding, "alright. I'm coming."

-

Narrative P.O.V.

"Okay, man," said Nooj, over the SphereComm. "First- why the hell wasn't I invited to Yuna's wedding? And second- do you know that the woman you love was just kidnapped by the Council?"

"I was unconscious," said Baralai irritably. "Is she okay?"

"Also unconscious," said Nooj. "She's been locked up- the council are practically searching for some reason to give her a life sentence at this very moment!"

"Yevon…"

"Unless…"

"Unless I marry Lady Yuna, right?"

"I'm sorry, man," said Nooj, nodding.

"Tell them no," said Baralai, standing determinedly. "I'm going to go and perform Tidus and Yuna's marriage ceremony right now."

"But Paine-!"

"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to her, I promise."

"You'd better know what you're doing, man…"

"She'll be alright, Nooj. I'll find her."

"Finding isn't the problem." Said Nooj. "The guards aren't going to let you near her unless you marry Lady Yuna. They want a safe future for Bevelle- they want you to marry someone you can leave at home while you go off saving Spira and all that. Do you really think Paine could be that kind of wife? She wouldn't be content getting left behind."

"This isn't about me and Paine- it's about Yuna and Tidus. We have to help them."

"Man, this has always been about you and Paine. Everything you do these days, you do it for her. It's called love."

"Okay, one minute it's like you're telling me to forget Paine, the next you're all love, love, love- what are you trying to say?"

"I'm trying to say… Paine is more important than your job as Praetor."

"You're saying that I… wait… what?"

"I warned you not to hurt Paine, now I'm giving you one more chance: take Paine and run away- elope, whatever. Screw Bevelle- screw the Council. Take your love and leave."

"I can't… they need me there."

"And you need Paine. What's it gonna be, 'Lai?"

"I'm going to talk to Mr Rottwood…"

"So he can sic the guards on you again?" said Nooj, shaking his head. "There only one person you need to talk to right now."

"Can you help me get past the guards?"

Nooj grinned, "yeah," he said. "Yeah, I can."

-

Dear Faithful Readers,

Crappy, I know, but bear in mind that half of this was written at four in the morning, seeing as I couldn't sleep :P

Cyaz!

Xx-Bex-xX