Long Ago
The Tale Of A Dead Mother
Inspired completely by a fanfic entitled "Thoughts On A Forbidden Romance" by Lady Nephenee Ranulf. I must give this writer credit. Just from reading this story it has given me the inspiration to write this fanfic. I don't own Tales Of Symphonia or its characters, just wanted to write something about them. SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE GAME DO NOT READ THIS FANFIC! Finish the game first and be a good little fan. SPECIAL THANKS TO LADY NEPHENEE RANULF, TAKAMINEROCKS, KRATOS WILDER, Lyra the Sorceress of Scholars, Scaff, Sunfrost, Vincent's Angel of ChaosTabatha is MartelFehizeWindRyu HyrokoServant of Mother Earth, Sapphire-luna232, kopakanuvafan20, RedDiamondWarrior, Lloyd-forever, ToS.Lover5, kaiaurion, burnstar, Alaia Skyhawk, Kranna 25, -SnapAshandarei-, Twilight Ilia, SilverFinDragon, Sarinna, Brendan Aurabolt, CBK, andy, Hiddenwaveprincess, Rydia Asuka, Ashyx, eyes of the infinite galaxy, AND CLEARHEART FOR REVIEWING!!
Chapter 25---Birthday
"It'll be Lloyd's first birthday tomorrow, Kratos. What should we do to celebrate it?" Anna questioned lightly as she folded the extra clothes Lloyd had grown out of and packed it away in a small crate Kratos built. The morning was just coming, the mist still covering most of the grass as the sun heated the dew.
"A…birthday?" Kratos questioned, giving her a confused look. Anna gave him a raised eye brow in response, smirking gently.
"Forget what a birthday is, Kratos?" Anna asked cockily. "I didn't think you were that old."
"Your sarcasm does not make you more attractive," Kratos responded, before a thought popped into his head. "Anna…"
"Yes, Kratos," Anna bid him on with his question as she slid the crate under their bed as to keep it within known quarters.
"Your birthday is in the winter, correct?" he asked in a quieter manner. Anna stood up abruptly and her eyes became wide. She had forgotten she even had one…
"Yeah, a few months ago," she answered in a distant tone. "In the wintertime."
"I remember you saying that," Kratos said, "but we have never celebrated it, not since we have arrived, and it has been nearly two years since the escape."
"It just never crossed my mind," Anna responded. "I haven't had a celebratory birthday since before I was taken by the Desians. After a while, you just forget you're born at all."
Kratos stood closer to Anna, swiping his fingers through her loose hair and letting her slowly lean harder into his chest.
"But we're off the real subject," Anna sighed. "This is about Lloyd, not me."
"I do not remember what birthdays are like," Kratos said seriously.
"Well, usually there is a dessert served, and a present," Anna said in thought.
"What sort of present?" Kratos asked.
"Whatever they like," Anna replied with a light smirk.
"That would be a toy," Kratos answered.
"Yes, he is just a baby," Anna responded, her eyes and head turning to the side to look into his face.
"He has enough toys," Kratos said in a stern manner.
"You're just saying that because he has a good arm," Anna replied, "And aims at your face."
"I could go to Triet and buy a new story book," Kratos stated. "He seems to like new stories."
"How long will it take you?" Anna questioned slowly, worried about the trip there and back.
"It will depend," Kratos responded. "Flying, I could be caught, on Noishe I could be back by tomorrow morning, would that be enough time?"
She nodded slowly.
"You don't think anyone will recognize you?" Anna asked worriedly.
"I will go in merchant clothes," Kratos answered.
"You can pick up a few other things for me," Anna said quietly.
"Are you going to give me another list?" Kratos sighed heavily.
"Might as well," Anna answered. "Unless you want me to go instead."
"Hmph."
"That's a no," Anna answered as she glanced out at the small sprouts outside their window, the garden beginning to grow again just as the year before.
Kratos whistled loudly, Noishe slowly wandering down the hall towards the bedroom door, sticking his large head and ears to see what Kratos wanted.
Kratos turned Anna around slowly to face him, her face turning to the side slightly as she blinked slowly at him.
"Make your list," Kratos said quietly, "I would like to leave soon so I may come back as fast as possible."
"Oh no. Will I have to kick out that other handsome swordsman I have coming?" Anna joked commonly like she usually did. Kratos kissed her deeply on the lips to keep her from talking further. Noishe snorted in anger, before turning and heading back into Lloyd's quiet room and settling on the floor.
"I need to make my list," Anna said in a breathy tone as she pulled away from Kratos and tilted her face down, knowing if he could kiss her again he would try. Kratos backed away from her slowly and walking out into the hallway and down into the basement of the Inn.
After packing some spare money, food and the list Anna had written down on a piece of thinned bark, Kratos said his goodbyes to his son and his wife, before setting out towards Triet once again.
Kratos arrived just outside the Triet wall, having killed a few small monsters along the way and strapping their remains around his belt to look more like a merchant. He jumped off Noishe, patting him on the head lightly and stating,
"Stay outside the city limits, I will come find you when I am done tonight."
Noishe whined at Kratos, his eyes fearful.
"You will be fine," Kratos replied before stepping towards the opening to Triet.
The city in the early afternoon was bustling, filled with life. People wandered by him, a sea of heads and voices before him as each called out for something, someone or to voice over the others.
His face changed from clam to slightly annoyed with all the bodies, not used to so much human contact in a somewhat closed area. He sighed heavily but trekked his way forward into the pathways.
He sold a few things to open shops, earning a little more money along the way towards the part of town where they sold books. He bought the food listed from Anna, toting it inside the bag he had thrown over his shoulder before heading towards the book stores.
That was when the problem presented itself, Desian soldiers, two patrollers standing along the side of the pathways just a few yards in front of him. Kratos ducked into a small side alley and pressed his back against the cold, sandy stone. It was possible they weren't looking for him, that they were sent there for mere patrol duty, but then again they may still be looking for someone in particular. Kratos slipped the hood on the merchant's robes over his hair, keeping his face low as he tried to become part of the crowd walking by them. His heart raced as he stepped closer. He wasn't afraid of them, he could easily have killed them if they did attack but the uproar from the outburst would attract Kvar, even Ygdrassil's attention and they would be forever closer to Anna and Lloyd.
The Desians chatted with each other, their helmets scanned the crowd walking by them, Kratos keeping his face down and his ears pinpointed to their voices. Any sign of a problem and he would have to try and disappear within these people.
The Desians stopped talking suddenly as Kratos walked by them, their glances curious and concerned all of a sudden. One of the Desians reached out and grabbed Kratos by the wrist and yanked him from the stream of things. Kratos let the mana travel to his hand as the Desian pulled Kratos to face them.
"How much for that Beast Hide?" he questioned suddenly, pointing at the item attached to Kratos' belt. Kratos twitched his head back in surprise before untying the item and handing it to the Desian.
"It is free for you," he answered in a sort of hoarse voice.
"Well, here," the Desian growled, handing him a satchel of money. "Take it. It's free for you."
Kratos took it slowly and placed it in his merchant robe, standing there for a moment before the Desian ordered,
"Well, go on! Get!"
Kratos moved his way back into the crowd, hearing the Desian say,
"Poor old beggars. You gotta give them something."
Anna would not know of this close call, Kratos thought to himself, it would just slip his mind if she asked.
"A children's book, you say?" the vendor repeated Kratos' request. "What sort of story?"
"Anything you have would suffice," Kratos answered in a slight growl.
"Here, I'll show you a couple," the shop keeper said excitedly, pulling out three books bound in leather and flipping through the hand written and drawn pages.
"How much is it for all three of them?" Kratos asked. The vendor looked taken a back at the request.
"750 gal—"
Kratos tossed the satchel the Desian had given him onto the table, it clinking with the heavy amount.
"I have one more inquiry," Kratos stated as he collected the three books and placed them carefully inside his bag. The shop keeper looked up at him as he still counted the money in his hand. "Do you have any jewelry?"
"Now you're speakin' my language, sir," the vendor answered, pulling the money under the table he had and from underneath pulling a long drawer full of glistening bands, pendants, rings, stones and trinkets. Kratos examined the items carefully and suddenly became very lost in what exactly he was looking for. The shop keeper raised an eyebrow at him as he had gone rather quiet.
"May I ask as to who this is for?" the vendor questioned.
"My wife," Kratos answered.
"Ah, so this is for an anniversary?" the vendor inquired further.
"Her birthday," Kratos corrected.
"Ah, having it soon then?"" the vendor requested.
"It was in the winter," Kratos answered as he picked up a small bracelet, silver and dark blue jewels. The vendor's eyes grew slightly, before a slow smirk covered his face.
"I…see…a sort of apologetic gift then," the vendor decided, pulling up from the groups a thin gold chain with a small red jewel pendant dangling at the end of it. Kratos didn't say a word to the vendor but gave him a questioning look at the item before him.
"A garnet, for those who are born in the wintertime," the vendor explained as he gently handed Kratos the necklace. "Perfect for your plight."
Kratos watched carefully as the necklace swung back and forth in between his fingers wondering then how it would look on Anna's collar bone. Would she like it? Would she be upset he spent the money? Would she understand its meaning like the vendor?
Kratos bought it, hoping inside his gut he had made the right decision.
Lloyd's eyes peeled open from the sunlight blazing in his face. He rubbed his small fist against his eye awkwardly to try and rub the sleep away.
"Momma?" he questioned the air as turned himself onto his stomach.
Noishe pushed the door open with his nose and stepped inside, his soft paws hitting the ground without a sound as Lloyd spotted him through the breaks in the wooden bars.
"Niss!" Lloyd squealed in excitement. Noishe lifted his head over the top of the crib and stuck his nose against Lloyd's messy hair, licking Lloyd's ear in greeting. Lloyd giggled with the tickling feeling, rolling onto his back again and hiding his face from Noishe's wet tongue.
Something was strange in the air today that Lloyd felt, unfamiliar smells eddied from the hallway and made him more than uneasy. Letting out a whimper and slight cry, Lloyd grabbed hold of Noishe's nose to find some comfort in the unfamiliar air. Noishe licked his tears away as best he could, before slipping from Lloyd's grip and reaching around the back of Lloyd's sitting body, grasping the back of his shirt and lifting him from the crib gently. Lloyd curled his legs and his arms close to his body as he whimpered further, Noishe walking towards Kratos and Anna's room and pushing the door open.
Kratos was wrapping the necklace he had bought secretly in their room as Anna had taken all of the ingredients he had bought and ran into the kitchen without another thought. The creaking of the door surprised him and made him tuck the canvas wrapped necklace into his shirt. He turned just in time for Lloyd to whimper again and see his hands reaching out for him.
"What is wrong?" Kratos asked in a lower, concerned voice, picking his son from Noishe's grip and holding him against his shoulder. Lloyd pointed at the door and whined again. Kratos sighed heavily, bouncing Lloyd slightly and trying to keep his eyes and nose running any further. He wiped Lloyd's face clean with his sleeve regretfully, bouncing him a little bit more before Lloyd relaxed against his shoulder and neck.
"You know about what I am trying to do for your mother, don't you?" Kratos asked his son suspiciously. Lloyd looked up at him with a searching look, trying to figure out what he had just said but his vocabulary didn't reach that far.
"Hi dada," Lloyd answered, thinking that was enough for his father as an answer.
"Hm," Kratos said, rubbing his son's hair before setting him down on the bed, making sure Lloyd had himself balanced before letting him go.
"Momma here?" Lloyd questioned.
"Yes, your mother is downstairs," Kratos answered.
"Momma gone," Lloyd said in a smaller voice and a pouted look. Kratos pulled the necklace back out of his shirt and opened it to show Lloyd what he had.
"This is for your mother," Kratos stated.
"Fow momma?" Lloyd said in a questioning manner as he stared at the gold chain.
"But you cannot tell your mother I have it," Kratos said in a quiet voice, folding it back away and taking the ribbon off of his wrist, tying the ribbon around the canvas piece and placing back into its hiding place.
"Ssss…" Lloyd said as he covered his mouth slightly with his palm. "Sewet."
"Yes. A secret," Kratos said quietly.
"Kratos!" Anna called from the hallway.
"Momma!" Lloyd yelled out at the sound of his mother's voice. Anna walked into the bedroom, smiling slightly as she glanced at Kratos.
"He found his way to me," Kratos commented.
"That must have been a feat since he can't walk yet," Anna joked, picking Lloyd from the bed and swinging him around. "Are you ready?"
"I suppose," Kratos mumbled, trying to keep his composure stern as Anna stepped out of the room.
Downstairs they traveled, where Anna had made a form of dessert for Lloyd's first birthday, finding a smaller candle to stick into the puffy bread-like substance covered in a thin layer of honey. Kratos lit it, and Anna sang to him several songs before she cut the dessert and Kratos slowly fed his son small bits. Lloyd seemed to like it, and tried to steal more of it from Kratos as Kratos ate his own piece.
Lloyd did not understand the books at first, thinking they weren't even books at all until Kratos opened the first one and Lloyd flipped through the pages quickly, babbling away as if he were reading the pages himself and making up a story as he went along.
Even if Lloyd didn't understand what the celebration of the day was, it was enough to let him know how much his parents loved him, what they would do for him and that he was protected.
Anna leaned heavily on the bedroom door, Lloyd having been put to bed after Kratos read all three of his new books to him. Kratos stood in the bedroom, his mind nervous but his face composed and stern.
"That was wonderful," Anna said with a grin on her face, untying her ribbon and letting her hair fall down against her shoulders and back.
"Was that like all your birthdays?" Kratos questioned lightly.
"ALL my birthdays? Are you implying I'm old Kratos?" Anna snapped with a grin on her face. Kratos let the breath in his chest escape slowly, shutting his eyes for a moment.
"Anna," Kratos said in a serious tone.
"I was just playing," Anna responded playfully as she brushed passed him and laid down on her side on the straw mattress and blanket.
"You are always playing," Kratos replied, settling next to her and reaching into his shirt, pulling out the canvas tied with the ribbon. He set his hand on Anna's leg, her eyes looking at his back before he pulled his hand away, revealing the small wrapped gift. Her eyes frowned in puzzlement before she picked it up, sitting up next to him and untying the red ribbon.
"What is this?" Anna questioned with a hint of curiosity as she unfolded the fabric. Kratos didn't say anything as the gold chain revealed itself to Anna, waiting to see Anna's face first before he would say what it was for.
Her eyes watered, no sobbing from her mouth, but she was crying.
"Happy birthday," Kratos said quietly against her ear, kissing her temple lightly. Anna's arms wrapped around his shoulders slowly the tears soaking into Kratos' clothing.
"I did alright then?" Kratos asked quietly. Anna nodded into his shirt, before containing herself and breaking from him. "Would you like to put it on?"
"No, I'd like to stare at it," Anna giggled as she still recovered from the shock. Kratos slipped it onto her neck, hooking it under her hair and letting it settle against her neck. It had looked just like it had in his mind before, perfect against her skin.
End Chapter 25