So the story continues. ^^

To Moonlight M3lody: ^^ Yeah, I don't want to imagine that either. xD I don't know ... Well, she's a strong woman. xD

Ah, ok, that makes somehow sense. xD That's probably the reason why they chose that name. Yeah, I love RPGs too. =) Yeah, that's right. ^^ I don't know Suikoden Tierkreis yet but I want to play it someday and Suikoden IV as well. ^^

A short while ago I saw a Japanese Drama (I love them =3) where some people spoke German ... At least it was supposed to be German but I couldn't understand a word. xD

To silent romantic: Here's the update. xD I hope Zelos will still live after you've read the chapter. xD

^^ Yeah, I like the Illusion Projector too. =)

Chapter 14: A fateful agreement

"My … fian … cée?" Zelos asked confused.

The next moment a woman ran towards Zelos. She had long dark green hair and ultramarine eyes and wore a tight summer dress whose color seemed to be one moment green and the next moment blue. It had to be an expensive cloth which probably contained magical fibers. She gave Zelos a rapturous hug and exclaimed: "Oh, Zelos, I've missed you so much!"

Zelos tried to free himself out of her clinch but he was unsuccessful. Searching for help he looked at Sheena. However, when he saw how hurt Sheena seemed to be it broke his heart more or less.

"So that's how it is … I should've known this …" Sheena murmured in a trembling voice before she ran towards the door.

"Sheena, wait! That's a misunderstanding!" Zelos shouted but she had already left.

Ashton gave him a last deadly glance before he followed Sheena.

"Who was that?" Zelos' fiancée asked.

"Laureen, what are you doing here? Why do you claim that you're my fiancée?" Zelos wanted to know angrily.

"I don't claim it, it's the truth! Our parents got us engaged when we were still children," Laureen explained and finally let go of him. "Aren't at least a little bit happy to see me after all this time?"

Zelos ignored her question and turned towards his butler who still stood beside them and didn't know what to do. "My parents got me engaged? Sebastian, is that true?"

"I overheard something about an engagement back then but I don't know anything else," the butler answered.

"If you want to have it in writing … Here's the agreement which both our parents have signed back then," Laureen said and got a single paper out of her bag.

Zelos read the agreement and recognized the signature of his mother. If the signature of his father was real or fake he couldn't tell because he had barely known him.

"How could they do something like this?" Zelos couldn't believe it. How had his parents get him engaged this young? Above all, it wasn't a tradition anymore to get one's children engaged at a young age. And neither his nor Laureen's parents had been in need of a coverage.

"It's advantageous for both our families," Laureen said. "Being the wife of the chosen I would be like a princess, at least I would have such an influence on the people here –"

'Only you believe that … Do you really think my far too devoted groupies would see you as a princess? They would rather lynch you the moment the priest makes us husband and wife … Hmm … No, they will rather send you to the other side with their deadly gazes when they get to know that we're engaged … So you should prepare for your grave,' Zelos thought.

"– and for you this marriage would be advantageous as well," Laureen stated.

Zelos raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? In what way?" It didn't really interest him; he would probably get some territories by marrying her. As if he wanted them …

"Like you probably know Meltokio and Flanoir don't have a friendly relationship. To be more precisely, Flanoir is the only area that hasn't pledged loyalty to the king. That's why it's no wonder that the king had tried several times to convince the duke of Flanoir, my father, to make a deal – unsuccessfully."

"You don't have to tell me; I know all that," Zelos interrupted her impatiently.

Laureen didn't let herself be distracted. "But your father finally made him an offer he couldn't refuse. By getting us married he promised my father great influence on Meltokio. The chosen is the most important churchly person after all. The people can do without a pope but not without a chosen because he symbolizes their hope. But of course your father had an advantage as well: A good reputation by the king because he had tried many times before to make a deal with Flanoir. And with that our marriage had been decided …"

For second Zelos thought to see sorrow in her eyes but the next moment she looked the same as before so that Zelos wasn't sure if it hadn't been just his imagination.

"And if I don't want to marry you? I could simply tear the agreement apart and everything's fine," Zelos said and was about to fulfill his words.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. If this wedding is canceled … Flanoir will go to war against Meltokio. Our marriage is so to speak a peace treaty."

Zelos was shocked for a moment and drooped the paper but then he smiled. "Meltokio has powerful allies. Flanoir wouldn't stand a chance."

"Flanoir has many allies as well, Zelos. Besides, not every region is really loyal to the king. Flanoir probably wouldn't win a war but there would be definitely a great bloodshed. And you don't want to tell me honestly that you would be fine with innocent people dying only because you refuse to marry me," Laureen replied.

Zelos grinded his teeth. Of course he couldn't allow something like that … He wouldn't be able look in the mirror anymore if he were responsible of so many deaths. So he had no other choice … He had to agree to the wedding … But what would happen to Sheena then? If he married Laureen, he would lose Sheena definitely … But did he have a choice? Was him his personal happiness so important that he would abandon thousands of people to their fate? No.

He sighed. "When's the wedding supposed to take place?"

"Today."

Zelos' eyes grew as big as the noble porcelain saucers of the aristocratic ladies. "WHAT? Why so soon?"

"In the agreement it is written that the wedding shall be today," Laureen explained.

Not only Zelos was outraged; Sebastian waved his arms in astonishment as well. "But that's impossible! How am I supposed to prepare everything in time? Someone has to inform the priest and invite the guests; food has to be bought, a room has to be arranged …" Sebastian finally remembered that he was only a human as well and needed to breathe air because of that.

"Don't worry, everything's arranged. The priest is already preparing the marriage ceremony, the rings had been bought, my servants and maids are the guests, we don't have to worry about the food as well and a room in the castle is available for us. Your suit is in your room, by the way, Zelos," Laureen said.

Zelos gawped at her. This very day? That was too soon! He even hadn't the time to prepare for the wedding mentally!

"Everything should be ready in one hour. Until then you can do what you want, go for a walk, think about everything … resolve things you have to resolve now …"

Zelos assumed that the latter was a hint on Sheena and he had the suspicion that Laureen also hadn't agreed to this wedding by choice. But right now he hadn't the time to think about this; he had to find Sheena and explain everything to her, so he left the house without saying another word.

However, he had unfortunately no clue where Sheena could be. Maybe she wasn't even in the city anymore? But after he had looked in the shed where the Rheairds where he knew that she still had to be in Meltokio.

Zelos ran through the city searching for her. He looked in every little corner, kept an eye on the roofs and trees as well and asked people on the street if they had seen her but he just couldn't find her.

And he hadn't so much time left … He had only left a quarter of an hour until he had to be in front of the altar and Martel would witness his marriage to a woman he even didn't want to marry.

He kicked a stone while sighing and walked slowly to his favorite place: the sewer. With a lowered head he walked further and saw the person that was sitting at the water not until he was standing before them.

"Sheena!"

"Hello … Zelos …" She tried to smile but she wasn't really successful.

How come she was sitting before her like a picture of misery and even tried to smile? That wasn't like her! Normally she would've yelled at him, she would've beaten him until he couldn't be recognized anymore and then she would've rushed away like a steaming locomotive.

"Sheena … I …"

"Go away!" Ashton exclaimed who was sitting next to Sheena.

Zelos realized the little boy only now.

"It's fine, Ashton," Sheena said.

"No, it's not …" Zelos replied. "I'm sorry, Sheena … I didn't know about all this … But my parents got me engaged with Laureen when we were both still children and I don't have a choice but to marry her …"

"One always has a choice!" Ashton protested angrily.

Zelos shook his head. "No … Not always."

"When's the wedding going to be?" Sheena asked quietly.

"In ten minutes …"

"What?" Sheena and Ashton exclaimed at the same time.

"Yeah … This day was chosen back then …" Zelos couldn't look at Sheena. He couldn't stand to see all the sorrow and pain in her eyes.

"I see … Then we should go soon … You still have to change your clothes," Sheena replied.

"I'm sorry, Sheena," Zelos murmured until he walked back to his mansion.

:::

A short time later Sheena was sitting next to Ashton and Sebastian in the little temple that was next to the castle. Ashton had tried to convince her not to go but Sheena somehow felt obligated to come. Even if she was sure that the whole thing would break her heart.

The priest had begun his speech long ago but Sheena didn't really listen to him. She just stared the whole time at Zelos who was standing beside his fiancée and gave Sheena every now and then sad glances.

The marriage ceremony was nearing its end and the priest came finally to the important part.

"Laureen Vilid, will you take Zelos Wilder to be your husband, your partner in life and your one true love? Will you cherish his friendship and love him today, tomorrow and forever? Will you trust and honor him, laugh with him and cry with him? Will you be faithful through good times and bad, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?" the priest asked.

A brief hesitation, then a clear "I will" could be heard.

"Zelos Wilder, will you take Laureen Vilid to be your wife, your partner in life and your one true love? Will you cherish her friendship and love her today, tomorrow and forever? Will you trust and honor her, laugh with her and cry with her? Will you be faithful through good times and bad, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?"

Everyone in the temple seemed to hold their breath as they waited for Zelos' answer. Sheena especially didn't dare to breathe. An eternity seemed to pass and Sheena wondered if maybe there was still hope left.

But then Zelos sighed and said: "I … will."

And so it was decided. Sheena's eyes filled with tears and the last thing she saw before she ran away was how Zelos and Laureen exchanged rings.

Poor Zelos, poor Sheena ... But that's fate. xD

Well, I think you can imagine that that's not yet the end. Zelos and Sheena will be together but it will take a while. ^^

I found the words the priest says in the internet. I first thought of translating the sentences I have in the German version but then I thought it would be better if I have the 'right' words ... Although I think there's too much with 'love' in it ... Zelos and Laureen don't love each other after all. But whatever, it doesn't matter anyway.

So ... How will things go on? Will Zelos maybe divorce Laureen so that he can be with Sheena? Will Flanoir go to war against Meltokio? Or will maybe ... a murder take place? *evil laugh* Well, you'll see ...

To be continued ...