Chapter 11--Over the Hills and Through the Woods
Squall and his friends entered the Chocobo Holy Forest to see the Chocobo Mothers from each forest gathered in a circle. They were each from the seven chocobo forests around the world and had gathered for some unknown reason in this one forest. No one ever knew why they had gathered there, but now Squall knew the reason.
"There they are," Rinoa said. "What do we do now?"
"We talk to them," Ondine said. They all got off of their chocobos and held onto their reins so they wouldn't run away. The largest of the Mothers stepped forward and bowed her head.
"You have spoken to Nicnivin," she said. "The way is open for you."
Squall and the others looked around, but they saw that nothing had changed.
"This forest is full of illusions, because the elves live here. Just like Esthar had a mechanical shield to protect it from outsiders, the elves have a magic shield, and it cannot be taken down, except by the King. We were told to guard this secret," the Mother said. "And in return, the elves help us guard our young ones. It has been this way for many, many years. You will pass through the forest now and this time your eyes will not deceive you."
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"That was weird," Quistis said as they guided their chocobos through the forest once again. "Chocobos talking....."
"I know what you mean," Seifer said. "That was weird."
He was interrupted by an arrow embedding itself into a tree just in front of his face. He looked around, trying to figure out where it came from.
"Stay where you are!" a voice yelled.
"Who are you?" Seifer yelled back.
A figure leaped down from a tree branch in front of them, dressed in a green tunic with a quiver of arrows on his back. He had a bow in his hand, raised and ready to fire again. He had short red hair and green eyes. However, the most interesting feature he had to offer were his long ears. They were not as long as Nicnivin's, but they extended from the side of his head, instead of straight back like 'normal' human ears. (But, who's to say what's normal, anymore?) Squall thought. (We've seen so much we've never seen before, there's no standard for normal anymore. Who's to say we're not the ones that are 'strange'?)
"I'm Orlan," the boy said. He wasn't any older than Squall, evidently. "Who are you?"
"We need to see the Elven King, Weslan," Squall said to him. Orlan burst into laughter.
"Who do you think *you* are...?" he asked.
"It's not important to you who we are, unless you know the King," Seifer said to the elf.
"I know the King," Orlan said dismissively. "He's my father. I can take you to see him....But, on two conditions. You're from the Outside, right? I mean, outside the forest? Outside the canyon?"
"Yeah," Zell answered. "We're from the 'Outside', if that's what you call it."
"First condition: I want out. Out of this forest, out of this God forsaken place," Orlan said.
"Why?" Selphie asked.
"Being cooped up in this forest all my life, I want to see the world!! I want to see things no elf has ever seen before! I want to see snow, I want to see mountains! I want out of here," Orlan replied. "Second condition: I need to know why you want to see my father. I can't just waltz in there and say 'hey, I met these guys in the woods and they wanna see the King.' I am the Prince, but I can't just do anything. And what are your names?"
"I'm Zell," Zell said, and turned to his friends. As he stated their names, he pointed to them and they held their hand up. "That's Squall, Rinoa, Irvine, Selphie, Seifer, Fujin, Quistis, Raijin, Kildare, and Ondine."
"Whoa...Rinoa? As in, Sorceress Rinoa? Wicked!!" Orlan exclaimed, as Rinoa turned red. Orlan stumbled over his last word. "Umm...what I meant to say was.....cool."
"Does the name Jasper mean anything to you?" Zell asked casually.
"Jasper...? That's bad hocus pocus, right there. C'mon, I'll take you to see my father," Orlan said. He took a small flute out of his pocket and played a quick tune. "Toby!"
"Who's Toby?" Rinoa asked. She quickly got her answer.
"Wark! Waark!"
Coming down through the treetops was a large, black--
.....chocobo?
It landed right next to Orlan and the yellow chocobos took a step back at seeing a variation of their species. The chocobo had ice blue eyes and what looked like a red bandana around his neck. Orlan smiled.
"Oh, a black chocobo! He's cute!!" Selphie squealed. Orlan's expression quickly changed to indignation.
"He's not cute! He's a war-chocobo! Made for battle!" he declared. Toby stomped his right foot and nodded his head sharply.
"Wark!"
(Oh, boy...) Squall thought.
"How come Toby can fly?" Rinoa asked, pacing around the black chocobo.
"Toby's a part of the Royal Circle! That means if there's a war, he goes into battle with a member of the Royal Circle and no less," Orlans said, climbing up on Toby's back. "That means me!"
"That still doesn't explain why he can fly," Squall pointed out. "I've never seen a black chocobo before, let alone one that can fly."
"No kidding. Only the members of our army have one. They're bred by royal breeders for battle only," Orlan said. "But, the Royal Circle are the best of the best of the best. They can run faster, fly higher, and fight better than any other chocobos in the world. They--"
"Let's just skip the rest of the story," Seifer said. "Take us to the King."
"NOW!" Fujin replied, scaring her chocobo almost out from underneath her. Raijin moved up closer to Orlan.
"Best not cross Fujin, ya know," he whispered just loud enough for the elf to hear.
"Let's just go," Squall said.
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"I need to see my father!!" Orlan shouted outside the counsel door to the guard. "We've got news!"
"I told you, your father is in counsel and mustn't be bothered, Prince Orlan," the guard said calmly. Orlan's face grew scarlet red.
"Don't call me 'Prince'! And I have to see my father!! If I have to break the door down, I'll do it!" Orlan yelled. "I order you to let us in!"
"I can't *do* that, Orlan," the guard said. "Your father told me specifically not to let anyone inside the counsel room and anyone means *anyone*! Unless there's a good reason."
"We have a good reason!" Orlan objected. "One that is beyond your understanding and can't be told to anyone until my father hears it first and decides what to do! These humans have talked to Nicnivin and the Mothers and need to see the King!"
"Nicnivin and the Mothers...?!" the guard exclaimed, suddenly becoming frightened. "O'okay...I'm gonna quote you on that if I get in trouble for letting you in here!" The guard opened the large wooden doors, revealing a large room with balconies full of finely clothed elven dignitaries, men and women. Most wore some shade of green or red, the colors of the elven kingdom. Green for humility, red for their righteous nature and ability to become very cross if wronged in any way. The elves were a proud people and disliked being tricked. What was the saying? 'Deceive me once, shame on you. Deceive me twice, shame on me.' The elves firmly believed this and would not be toyed with. Do attempt to do so would be a death wish.
The palace itself was located inside the canyon wall, but on the inside was outfitted with the finest drapes and tapestries that Squall and his friends had ever seen before. It was not a sight to be missed. Most tapestries that hung on the walls in the corridors of the palace had gold dragons depicted on them or they told a story of times long passed when their palace was raised highover the canopy in Grandidi Forest when they didn't have to live like lowly dwarves inside a suffocating mountain. Of the times before Jasper's coming.
In the balconies, women covered their mouths and men gasped in astonishment at the sight of what followed behind the guard and their prince. Had it not been for Orlan, the humans would have been bound with rope and placed in the dungeon upon their arrival. There was a man in the middle of the room, oddly dressed in a purple cape and white tunic, with black pants. He turned around at the intrusion to look at what was so important as to interupt his argument.
He pointed a rigid finger at the humans behind the prince and demanded, "Who is that...?!! There are no visitors allowed here!!" The blonde-haired man approached them quickly, but was stopped by another man up in one of the balconies.
"That will be quite enough, Jenner," the man said, a golden crown on his brow, adorned with rubies and emeralds. "Orlan, you have been told time and time again, I am not to be bothered when I am in counsel. Not even for...." The King noticed that the people behind his son were not elves, but human beings from the Outside world. "Humans...? Guards, seize them!"
"No!" Orlan cried, drawing his bow and switching aim from one guard to another. He had the bowstring pulled back almost to the point Squall thought it would break. The guards hesitated, looking at their king for guidance.
"What are you doing, Orlan? Put your bow down!" Weslan said, standing up. "There is to be no contact with the Outside and you know this! Anyone who sets eyes upon this kingdom must be kept here or killed! You know this!
"These people are my friends," Orlan declared, spawning howls of disapproval throughout the room. Even his father didn't approve of his choice of friends. "They've come here for help! They--"
A man stood up from his seat in 2nd level balcony, and shouted. "We have urgent problems of our own!!! Let the lower creatures fend for themselves!!"
The entire population of the room burst into cries of agreement and others stayed silent, pondering how they could use this situation to better their own position in the counsel without jumping to conclusions.
"They've talked to Nicnivin and the Mothers, therefore there must be a good reason for them coming here," Orlan shouted over all the yelling and clamor. "They've come to see you, Father. Jasper's return is upon us if you don't hear them out. And here, standing amongst them, is the *Sorceress Rinoa*! Would you deny them your ears for a few minutes?" At this, Orlan whispered to Zell, who stood next to him, "I hate talking like that. But, it's what I have to do to get them to listen to me."
The mention of Jasper and Rinoa really put the room into an uproar; Jenner raised his hands in the air, calling silence. "Enough!" He bowed to the prince and in turn, to Rinoa. He bent down on one knee and kissed her hand. "Forgive the illtemper of my colleagues. It would be an honor to assist the Sorceress Rinoa in any way." Jenner turned to the king up on the highest row of balconies. "Might we not listen to them? If it concerns Jasper, it concerns us all." Jenner then backed away to a small stairway that led up to the higher balconies. A man stood there in the doorway dressed in a red robe, as if waiting. When Jenner reached him he looked around carefully, making sure all eyes were on the ones in the middle of the room and whispered.
"They're humans, Jenner, why are you--"
Jenner covered his friend's mouth and pulled him into the stairwell so none could see. "Be quiet, fool! I will tell you of this later, when the time is appropriate!" Rahn nodded nervously to his friend and they returned to the doorway.
About an hour passed as Zell and Squall related to them how they had come to be there and their current situation. The King pondered this for a moment.
"Hmm...I should not have to hesitate in deciding on what to do about this. You will have my army at your disposal after I speak with the rest of the counsel on the subject," King Weslan said. "Meanwhile, make yourselves at home in my palace. Orlan, you will show them around, yes?"
Orlan smiled. "Of course!"
"And for the love of archery, change your clothes, child!" Weslan laughed. "You are covered in filth! If your friends would like other clothes to wear, that is perfectly fine. They seem to need a change as well."
Orlan looked down at himself, as did Squall, Zell, and the others. It was true. They hadn't even bothered to look at themselves they had been so busy. They were covered in dirt and all were in need of a bath.
"Tika," the King said to a servant girl that stood near the door to his balcony, "go and make sure our guests are well taken care of, that they are fed, bathed, and clothed. Have them given rooms to rest in as well. I am sure they are tired from their journey."
"Yes, sire," Tika said and bowed her head as she backed out the curtained entrance. She walked quickly down the stairs and was soon on the bottom level in the counsel room. She ushered them out of the room the way they had come and back into the white hallway. The guard shut the doors and stood in front of them.
"Prince Orlan, you will take the men and I the women to be bathed and given a change of clothes," Tika said to him. "If that pleases you...?"
"Yeah, yeah, Tika," Orlan said dismissively. "You know I don't like formalities, so cut the 'prince' thing, okay? It's bad enough that I have to be told how to dress and how to speak in front of people. When I'm king, that'll be the *first* thing to go."
"Yes, Orlan," Tika said. "Now, for them...?" She gestured to the humans, who were obviously becoming uncomfortable in the new atmosphere.
"Guys, with me," Orlan said. "Girls, with Tika."
They separated into two groups and went their two different ways.
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Squall watched as countless female servants entered, each pouring a bucketful of water into a large silver tub in the middle of the bedroom he had been given. It was a nice room, white walls, an oak bed covered in green blankets and pillows. The elves certainly lived the highlife in the palace. This was comparable to, if not superior to, the Presidential Palace in Esthar. The bed was somewhat too large for himself alone and he decided secretly that he and Rinoa would have to fix that if given the chance. There was an oval green rug near the bed, with golden tassles. But, except for that small piece, there was no carpet, only white tile and only a small closet. However, there was a small desk in the corner, adorned with books stacked on top. It was a room obviously made for guests.
However, the desk made him remember one very important thing, something that he had not thought of since they left The Temple of the Lost. (The journeybook!!!) Squall thought. He took it out of the pack that he had lain on the bed and opened it. Sure enough, there was a message written there, in small neat letters:
'3/5/00. I know where you are at all times, Squall. You must not forget about this book and its capabilities. I will contact you when I have advice on what to do next. I have my journeybook with me at all times and check it regularly. You have written nothing as of yet, and you should have many questions as to elven culture and their ways. Do you not?--Dileja Lucca'
Squall took a pen from the bag as he sat on the bed and began to write in response.
'3/6/00. Do you know where I am now, Lucca? Can you see me?--Squall'
Across the world and under the sea, letters began to appear in Lucca's journeybook, forming words as they glowed gold for a moment, like sunlight, and then turned to black ink. She began to reply, sitting in her chambers, surrounded by her books.
Back in the elven kingdom, the same scene replayed, day-star letters materializing and magically fading into black as they were scrawled across the page.
'3/6/00. Yes, Squall, I see you now. You're in a bedroom, sitting on a bed with green blankets and pillows. What do you wish to know?--Lucca'
Squall stopped and thought for a moment. (What do I want to know? God, that's a horribly vague question. I want to know a lot of things. Where did Danda come from? Is the prophecy that Zell gave going to come true? Is he going to have to fight us?)
'3/6/00. Squall, you think too much. You are full of questions, but you cannot put words to them. So like your mother.--Lucca'
Squall stopped and looked at the words on the page. (My mother....Raine...?) He quickly scrawled down his question, his handwriting becoming messy.
'3/6/00. How do you know my mother??! Danda knew my mother. How did he know that? Tell me. Please.--Squall'
'3/6/00. Please do not become angry. I know your mother only by her being. I have never spoken to her in my lifetime. I, however, have watched her. I was...attached to your mother, by a birthbond. When she was born, I was attached to her spiritually. I am hundreds of years old, but every 50 years, I am attached to a child so that I may become familiar once again with the surface ways. I do not interfere with their lives, I only watch through the windows. Your mother was a very kind woman. She loved you very much when you were born. I watched you be born. I was there and I wasn't. Her last thoughts were not with Laguna, but with you and her hopes for you. She named you Squall for the time you were born, during a passing shower in the middle of the night. She died holding you.--Lucca'
Drops of water hit the journeybook paper and sank into it, making the ink run. Across the world, it was shown there on Lucca's journeybook.
'3/6/00. Do not weep for her. Do only your best to live the best you can, so as not to betray her memory. You have done so much in your young 17 years, Squall. You and Zell, Irvine, Selphie, Quistis and Rinoa. You have done so much and yet, you ask for so little in return. You only wish to never be left alone again. For Zell, he wishes only for the strength to protect and be loyal to you and the others in times of adversity. For Selphie, it is her want to protect those who cannot for themselves that drives her. I know what drives every one of you. What makes you continue on, even though there is nothing for you to have faith in. Believe in yourselves and in each other, and you will be victorious in this new war. I am retiring for this night, Squall. I will return to give you what knowledge I may tomorrow. Godspeed.--Lucca'
Squall wrote another message as fast as his fingers would let him write.
'Wait Don't go!!'
He waited a moment, but there was no reply. He wiped his eyes and shut the book. He placed it back in the pack and watched the women fill the basin with water until they were finished. They had seemed to pay no attention to him and his book.
They lied a towel and a washcloth on the end of the bed for him to use and put a rectangular bar of soap on the side of the tub. They stood there after that, as if waiting for something. The situation was becoming quite awkward.
"I...like to bathe alone, if you please...?" Squall told them. They blushed. The tallest in a brown robe that reached the floor spoke.
"I'm sorry...it is custom for men to be bathed by women and women to be bathed by men in the palace. But, we will leave if that is your wish," she said and the women filed out of the room. Squall, thankful for privacy, started to undress. And then a thought hit him.
(Rinoa!!!!)
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Fortunately, Rinoa, too, expressed her need to bathe alone, as did everyone else. Except *maybe* Seifer and Irvine, but that's another story. They all rested after that, until nightfall came again. Zell wondered what Danda was doing, what he was planning. He wondered about the girl they were supposed to find, Naomi.
Zell's room layout was the same as Squall's, with the oaken bed and rug, except his blankets and the rug were red, accented with gold. He lay in the bed with his eyes closed and he in his 'new' clothes. He had unanimously decided that he looked ridiculous in the set of clothes he had been given. Doubtless, he believed that the others felt the same.
A burgundy hooded robe with a golden tassle around the waist and long sleeves. Underneath, he wore a white tunic and brown pants with leather boots. He wanted his old clothes back as soon as they were done being washed.
He heard a knock on the oaken door and he looked up from the bed. "Come in," he replied, sitting up and stretching. A small male servant he hadn't seen before stepped into the room and bowed her head.
"The King wishes all in the throne room, sir," the young boy said. He was so young he shouldn't have even been able to roam the palace by himself. His small elven ears poked out from his bowlcut black hair. The elves were as diverse a people as humans, Zell observed. All colors of hair and eyes. But, their eyes remained the same shape: almond. That and their long ears were signatures of an elf.
"Alright, then," Zell said, and uprooted himself from the bed. He was almost attached, it was so comfortable. He walked across the red rug and out the door into the white hallway. The boy took his hand and started leading him down the corridor. His heels clicked on the tile floor as he walked with the young boy. Zell looked down at him and smiled.
"What's your name?" Zell asked amiably. He smiled at the young boy, hoping to learn more about how he lived. The boy glanced up at him.
"Fili."
"How old are you? You don't look any older than this tattoo on my face," Zell told him as they rounded the corner. There was a great number of people gathered outside the throne room entrance, all dressed in different colored robes and coats.
"Shhh," Fili said. He then whispered. "You're not supposed to be talking to me." Zell pulled him back into the empty hallway. He squatted down in front of him with his back to the wall.
"Why not?"
"Servants no' supposed to talk t' guests of the House," Fili whispered. "It's inpo-impoli-" Fili struggled with the word for a moment before Zell helped out.
"Impolite. Where're your parents, Fili?" Zell asked. Fili looked around to make sure no one had seen them.
"Don' have no parents or brothers or sisters..." Fili said. "...orphan."
"How old are you, Fili?"
Fili thought about this a moment and held up one hand with his fingers spread wide. "This many," he said proudly.
"You're five?"
"No," the boy corrected, sure of what he was saying. "I'm Fili."
Zell laughed and picked him up, holding him on his hip.
"No, I get in trouble!" he whispered, struggling to get down.
"Don't worry about it," Zell said to him. "You're too young to even be walking around this place by yourself. Besides, you won't get in trouble if I take responsibility for it. Have you ever seen the King?"
Fili's eyes went wide. "Uh-uh! I've only ever seen Orlan. He sneaks me some food from the kitchen sometimes," Fili said. "I like Orlan."
"Would you like to see the King?" Zell whispered. Fili nodded.
"Only if you say you wanted me to see him, okay?"
Zell put him down and started walking toward the throne room again. The number of people who were there, chatting about this and that, stopped to look at the small servant and guest. The guard stopped them on the way in the throne room. He eyed the boy, who cringed behind Zell's robe, pulling it over his nose and mouth as a shield.
"He stays," the guard said, pointing the end of his bow to the child. The guards held their bows at their sides, with quivers of arrows on their backs.
"He's supposed to come with me," Zell lied. He didn't know why he was doing this. He wondered if he felt sorry for him, being so young and living a servant's life.
The guard eyed Fili, who looked up at Zell. The guard snorted and held his bow back to his side. "Alright. If he's supposed to."
(These guards are so stupid,) Zell thought as he opened the door, leading Fili into the throne room with him. It was just as he expected it to be. Green, red, and gold tapestries hung from the ceiling, along with the white marble columns that lined the hallways. A bright red and gold carpet divided the white room all the way up to the King's throne, and next to it, a smaller throne undoubtedly for the Prince. He saw all his friends, who looked better in their clothes than he did. Irvine, in a blue robe, looked over from the group and shouted. Zell's eyes had to adjust for a second, as Irvine didn't have his hat on.
"Hey, Zell!" he said, waving him over to their small group. He looked down at Fili, whose eyes were darting around the room like mad. He was scared of the sudden number of bright-robed people. Zell took his hand.
"C'mon, these are my friends," he said. "They'll like you." They walked over to the group and Zell introduced his new friend.
"Guys, this is Fili," Zell said, pulling him out from behind his robe. Fili looked up at the new faces, who were now watching him with the utmost interest. His gaze stopped on a scarred face. The figure, in his sandy robe with hair to match, glanced down at the boy, smirking.
"Hey, kid."
Fili immediately retreated back behind Zell's robe again. They all laughed as Fili pulled Zell's robe over his nose and mouth again.
"Now, Fili," Seifer said, rounding Zell and making the little boy run around to Zell's front,"what's to stop me from simply walking around Zell to get to you, hmm?" Fili ran over and hid behind Selphie's dark orange robe.
"Stop that, Seifer, you're scaring him!" Selphie scolded. "Meany!" Selphie turned to Fili and knelt down in front of him. "That's Seifer. He won't bite, he just looks like he will."
"I thought servants weren't supposed to be in here," Squall said quietly. To Fili, he was almost scarier than Seifer. Squall noticed the little boy eyeing him. "I'm Squall."
"Hi," Fili said weakly.
At that moment, the trumpeters played fanfare, as the King was entering through a side door near the throne. Guards walked beside him, bows in hand and full quivers on the back of their hunter green capes. Silver hair, the both of them.
(They must be members of the Royal Circle,) Squall thought, watching them as they stood next to their King. The King had mid-length red hair and green eyes, like father like son. A small portion of his left ear was missing, and on his head, a golden crown with rubies and emeralds set inside its masculine design. Attached to his shoulders was a crimson cape that reached the floor, fine black boots to go with black pants and a white button-up tunic, with gold buttons. He looked nothing like any of the other people Squall had seen in the palace and rightly so. He was King, after all.
Orlan followed him in, dressed the same, but no cape and the crown and buttons he wore were silver. They stood in front of their thrones, calling the room silent.
Weslan stepped forward and looked around the room at his guests and his advisor, Jenner.
"There will be a feast this night, to welcome you to our kingdom, as small as it is. My troops are preparing for war as we speak, the women making arrows, men repairing the chocobo bridles and saddles. We feast tonight, we war tomorrow."
Orlan was astounded. He had not heard of his father's plans for this. "We should be preparing for war along with everyone else, Father! Just because we live in the palace, we shouldn't be--"
The King shot his son a look of anger and Orlan promptly closed his mouth. At hearing Orlan's voice, Fili poked his head out from behind Zell's robe. Jenner spied the little boy and pointed at him.
"What's he doing in here?" Jenner asked the guards. Fili took refuge behind Zell once again.
"Please don't punish him," Selphie pleaded, looking at Weslan. "He hasn't ever seen you before and he only wanted a look, m'Lord."
"Let him attend the feast with us, Father, if you would?" Orlan asked his father. Weslan pondered on this for a moment, rubbing his bare chin. Elves could not grow beards. He spoke.
"Would you like that....what is your name?" Fili revealed his location to the King once again and glanced at Jenner.
Fili was thrown into a fit of embarassment, having been spoken to by the King. "F'Fili....sire..."
"Fili, then. You shall attend our feast, if you could behave yourself like a good child, yes?"
Fili nodded eagerly and then calmed down, realizing again to whom he was to be speaking. "Yes, sire, I should like that! Please, sir?"
Weslan laughed. "Then you shall have your wish. Orlan, take him and get him cleaned up. The feast will be soon."