Together In My Dreams.55.html

Together In My Dreams

(Part 5- The Touch of Death)

By Alria

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the FF9 characters or settings.

Author's Note: Hello! I just got back from a week's vacation, so I'm sorry I haven't updated. Also, my best friend has (finally) decided to start an FF.net author's account! Yay! When she gets around to putting it up, I'm pretty sure her penname will be "Rowen's Rebecca." Neway, keep an eye out for her; she's a really good author but she never believes she is. So, if you get the chance, check it out! We'll both appreciate it!

~ * ~

Kevin, his pale, skinny arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders, lay shivering in the newly fallen snow. Once again, Tolin had demanded he sleep outside in the freezing cold because of his "weakness." Kevin closed his eyes as he tried to ignore the tiny frozen crystals that danced on his face. He hated the cold; hated winter. But he didn't hate being a soldier. Ever since he was a little boy the thought of those big muscular men in glistening armor had appealed to him. Tolin may have been strict, but he was helping him reach his life-long dream. Someday, he would be the one giving orders, someone that everyone loved and respected. Kevin sighed as he curled into a tighter ball. Someday…

A sharp, powerful kick in the back knocked the wind out of him as he landed face first in the white snow. Kevin, startled and hurt, looked up to see his attacker. There, looming over him like a great storm cloud, was General Tolin. Kevin muffled a gasp as he immediately leapt to his feet.

"General! Good to…see you," he said meekly. Tolin scowled.

"Enough with the pleasantries, Mouse. I have come with a mission for you," he said. Kevin's heart leapt with joy. The General was trusting him with a special mission! Finally, a chance to prove himself! A broad grin on his face, Kevin stood at attention.

"I'd be honored to go on a mission for you," he said cheerfully. Tolin grinned.

"Good, good. I like to see that in a soldier," he said. Kevin's smile widened.

"Just tell me what it is, General, and I'll get it down in no time," he said. Tolin, grinning, reached his hand in the pocket of his jacket. When he pulled it out, he was holding a small black box.

"I want you to go to Alexandria Castle with this box. When you're there, I want you to open it," he explained. Kevin looked at the man quizzically.

"That's it? You want me to open a box?" he asked. Tolin nodded.

"I know it doesn't seem like much, but it may be the most important blow to our opponent," he said. Kevin nodded, though not fully understanding what he meant. Tolin then took the boy's hand in his own and opened it. He gently placed the box in Kevin's pale hand, and the curled his fingers around it. But before he moved his hand away, he looked Kevin in the eye with a firm glare.

"Remember, don't open the box until you get to Alexandria," he warned. Kevin nodded.

"Don't worry, I won't," he said reassuringly. Tolin left his hand on Kevin's for a few more seconds, just to prove a point, and then left the black box in the boy's hand.

"Good, I'm sure you won't. Now go quickly to Alexandria; the sooner you can open that box, the better," he said. Kevin nodded and saluted the stern General.

"I'll be there and back before you know it!" he said cheerfully, and then started running off in the direction of Alexandria Castle. As Tolin watched the boy go, his face melted into a wicked sneer.

"My dear boy, I'm afraid you won't be coming back. At least not as anything more than a corpse," he snickered to himself as he walked off to attend to the nightly duties.

~

It was nearly mid-night by the time Kevin reached the cobblestone streets of Alexandria. The air was rigidly cold which made the going slow, but he had finally made it there with the box. Kevin smiled. Finally, a chance to prove himself to the General! He would follow orders no matter how…quire, they seemed to be. General Tolin would be so pleased!

Hardly able to contain his excitement, Kevin took the small black box from his pocket. Before he opened it, however, Kevin fiddled with it around his fingers. What could such a small box contain? Tolin had said it was important…but how could something so small aid them that much? Kevin shook his head. There had to be some logical explanation, and Tolin knew what he was doing. If the general said it would help them, it would help them. And so, pushing all the questions out of his mind, Kevin took the box in both hands and gently pulled the lid open.

The instant Kevin opened the box a great beam of black lightning shot out of it and into the night sky. The force was tremendous, and it knocked Kevin off his feet. Eyes wide with fear, Kevin watched as the black lightning shot straight up towards the sky. When it was almost out of sight, there came a tremendous bang and a brilliant flash of light. When Kevin could see again after the flash, he looked back into the sky. What he saw made he face drain to a ghostly white. There, hovering just above his frightened eyes, was an ebony black skull.

Kevin screamed in terror and covered his face with trembling hands. There he crouched, shivering from cold and fear, until he could muster up the courage to look again. When he was ready, Kevin timidly opened one eye. Much to his relief, the skull was gone, and he opened the other one. Kevin sighed and glanced down at the open box. Kevin's eyes widened in shock. Now, something else was coming out of it! Only this time, instead of lightning, a thick, black haze was seeping out from under the lid. The fog poured out across the Alexandrian streets, weaving like a deadly snake through alleyways and street corners. Kevin, dumbfounded, watched as the thick smokey substance enveloped the crown city of Alexandria like a blanket, pouring into the windows of the peasants' houses and elegant castle alike.

Suddenly, the haze began to flow towards Kevin. In a state of panic the young man leapt to his feet and started to run. He heart was pounding in his chest as he raced through the woods, frozen snowflakes stinging his cheeks as he ran. His legs carried him as quickly as they were able, but even with that kind of speed he was no match for the black cloud. Soon the ebony fog had enveloped him in its clutches. Determined not to breathe the thick fog, Kevin diligently held his mouth shut. But try as he might, he couldn't hold it for very long, and soon his burning lungs forced him to exhale the stale air. Involuntarily, Kevin took a big gulp of the thick cloud.

Almost immediately Kevin's head began to throb as if it had been hit by a mallet. As the black fog flowed through his body, it felt as if all the energy in his body had been sucked dry. Slowly, his body aching with pain, Kevin pulled himself to his feet. Kevin groaned with the effort as he began to walk on his sore muscles towards General Tolin's camp. What had he gotten himself into?

~

When he finally arrived at the large soldier camp, it was clear Kevin had gotten much worse. He was burning with fever, his muscles aching with every step. The freezing cold winds didn't help his condition at all. He staggered into the camp, dazed and in pain. To his surprise, there was no one there. It startled him at first, but then he decided they were probably out training. Kevin was just about to go faint into his nice warm bed when he caught a glimpse of light coming from the general's tent. A smiled inwardly. All he had to do was go tell Tolin of his…success…and then he could be off to bed. And so, in a groggy daze, Kevin stumbled towards the tent. He was just about to barge in when he heard some thing made him stop. It was the voice pf a woman. There were no women in the general's camp! What was going on? Kevin pressed his ear to the tent flap as he tried to keep his eyes open.

"So, you did it, then? You awakened the Touch of Death?" the woman asked.

"I sent Mouse out earlier today. He should have activated it by now," Tolin responded.

"It should wipe out the entire Alexandrian army with in a week!" the woman cackled. There was a slight pause until Tolin finally responded.

"I cast a spell on the box before it was opened. The spell will not affect the army right away. Though he sure they will be stricken within the next month or two," he explained. The woman groaned.

"Tolin! Why in the world did you do that!? We don't have that sort of time!" she snarled. Tolin snickered.

"If you kill the mother bear, the cubs will grow up to come after you another day. Kill the cubs…and you wipe out the clan for good," he said.

"You mean…"

"I've designed the spell to wipe out Alexandria's youth."

Kevin slammed his hand over his mouth to muffle a scream. Children!? He had activated a spell that was going to murder millions of children!

"Dear spirits, forgive me," he murmured. Suddenly, the general spoke.

"Oh, Flara. You are…taking care of this…Dreamwalker?" he asked.

"Yes."

"And he hasn't…unlocked his powers, yet?"

"No, not yet. But Garren will tell me if he does," Flara explained.

"Flara, speaking of Garren, is he-"

"I'll take care of it," Flara said bluntly. Tolin sighed.

"Good. You had better. We can't have him allying with the Dreamwalker. If he had an ally like Garren…who knows what could happen. He may even be able to…you know…"

"Counter the curse? I doubt that will happen. No one knows he can do that except you and me."

"Yes…and let's keep it that way. You can't tell a soul…not even Garren…until you're sure they're loyal. I won't tell any of my men."

"Of course. I won't tell."

"Excellent. Now, all we have to do is wait. The castle will certainly have its hands full with nursing their sick. I don't really care who is killed, just as long as she is stricken down."

"The queen, Tolin?"

"Yes, the queen. Now, I'll see you soon, Flara. And don't forget about Garren." There was the sound of chairs moving as the two stood up.

"I won't. I could never forget about it. Good night, Tolin."

"Good night, Flara."

Kevin threw himself out of the way as the tent flap burst open. Kevin watched from the shadows as a relatively tall woman with long black hair walked out. Kevin stared, dumbfounded, as the woman walked further out to reveal a long silky ebony wing.

Kevin forced his eyes away from the young woman as he sat shivering in the dark. So, he was stricken with the "plague." That must have been what the black mist was…Kevin bit his lower lip to keep from crying in sorrow. To think of all the innocent people he had sentenced to death…if he had only known what was in that box! Kevin groaned as he leaned back on the green grass, his head throbbing with fever. If only there was something he could do to help…

Suddenly, his ice blue eyes shot open, a smile on his pale lips. There WAS something he could do! He was one of the only three people in the world who knew about the cure! Though he had no idea who or what this…Dreamwalker…was, the people at the palace might be able to figure it out before it was too late. He was going to die anyway; he might as well do something to help instead of hurt. And so, his aching body filled with new hope, Kevin staggered towards his bed to get a pencil and paper to write his letter.

~

Dagger, her face creased with worry, walked swiftly down the elegant hallway, her simple cloth shoes sending a faint tapping sound echoing through the walls. She was wearing a simple maid's dress rather then her usual elaborate gowns and her hair was pulled into a messy braid. Today, she wasn't the queen of Alexandria; she was a friend and a healer.

Ever since sunrise she, as well as Beatrix and the other palace healers, had been working their fingers to the bone. Adults of all social classes had come to the gates of Alexandria Castle with their sick children, begging for help. Dagger couldn't turn down the poor, frightened little faces of the children, and by noon the palace was filled with feverish babes. They all seemed to have the same disease, what ever it was, and nothing seemed to be helping much. At least her spells could take away a little of the pain.

Dagger ran chaffed fingers through her tangled hair as she quickened her pace. So far, no one she had known had been stricken down…but only minutes ago an urgent message from Steiner had beckoned her to come. And so here she was, prying against all hope that it wasn't what she thought it was.

And yet as she approached the opened doorway she felt her spirits sinking. What else could it be? Dagger nibbled her bottom lip nervously as she walked up to the door and gave it a quick knock before she entered. The room was dark, a single candle the only light fighting the blackness. In the dim light she could make out the figures of Steiner and Beatrix huddled next to a small bed. When Steiner heard the young queen enter, he lifted his head until his dark eyes met with hers. Even in the pale light she could tell that his eyes were swollen and red from crying. Dagger felt her throat clench in rising fear. She couldn't quite make out the figure in the bed…but it didn't take much to figure out who it was. Still…she could be wrong?

"Your highness, I'm so glad you came," Steiner said, voice quivering with sorrow. Dagger, trying to control her terror, looked up at him with firm eyes.

"What is it?" she asked bluntly, trying her hardest to deny the obvious. At this neither Steiner or Beatrix could answer without bursting into salty tears. Without saying a word, the two guards stood up and backed away from the small bed leaving a small path for their queen. Dagger, her face ashen with impending doom, walked quietly up to the bed. With a cry of sorrow crystal tears began to roll down Dagger's dirt-smudged cheek. There, lying helpless in the sweat-soaked bed, was her dear friend and companion, Vivi.

Dagger made no attempt to wipe away her tears as she slowly knelt down beside the pillow. Her heart was screaming in pain as she watched the little black mage laboring to draw in each raspy gasp of air. Dagger reached over and took Vivi's small hand in hers and stroked it comfortingly.

"Vivi, can you hear me? It's Dagger, I'm here for you," she whispered softly into his ear. The little mage's large amber eyes opened at the sound of his friend's voice, and he looked up at her.

"Da..Dagger. You came," he murmured. Dagger, rivulets of salty tears rolling down her face, nodded.

"I…I came as quickly as I could," she said. Dagger felt the little mage tighten his grip on her hand as he stared up at her, amber eyes filled with fear.

"I…I'm so scared. My head hurts so much…and I'm freezing," he stammered, voice shaking with tears. Dagger placed her hands on Vivi's forehead. She winced when her fingertips touched the skin; he was burning with fever. Trying to push her own fears out of the way, she closed her eyes and began to focus her attention on Vivi's pain. With a mental surge of her power, Dagger pushed her soothing healing magic into the Vivi's little body. To her relief, Dagger felt his breathing slow, and his quivering muscles began to rest. But the little mage was still in much pain, pain even the most talented healers couldn't have helped. Vivi suddenly jerked on Dagger's hand, pulling her down to his level. Once her ear was right above his mouth, he whispered to her in a voice quivering with tears.

"Dagger…am I going to die?"

Dagger, trying her best to suppress her breaking heart, shook her head.

"I won't let you die, Vivi. I'll so everything I can to help you," she murmured. Vivi nodded weakly and closed his eyes.

"Th…Thank you. Goodnight," he whispered, and his head then rolled to one side. Dagger felt panic sneaking around the corners of her mind, but when he saw Vivi's chest rising and falling as usual, she relaxed a bit. As she watched the little black mage groaning and turning in his feverish sleep, she could feel the familiar trickle of tears on her cheeks as her eyes became blurred with water. After she could bear it no longer, Dagger threw herself into Steiner and buried her head in his chest.

"Steiner, I can't stand it anymore! First Zidane, and now Vivi. I'm so confused! I wish Zidane were here…he'd know what to do," she sobbed. Steiner gently patted her on the shoulder.

"Garnet, you can't dwell on Zidane. He was carried off by a sorkin, and I doubt he'll contact us if he hasn't already. I know it's hard, but we have other things to worry about. As for the others, cheer up. We'll get over the sickness here soon, I'm sure," he said comfortingly as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. Dagger smiled meekly and gave Steiner a firm squeeze.

"You've been just like a father to me since I came here. Thank you so much, Steiner," she said quickly, and, with a final smile at her two knights, walked back out of the room to attend to the other children. As Steiner and Beatrix watched their young queen go, a sullen air surrounded the room. Beatrix looked up at Steiner, brown eyes filled with worry.

"You didn't tell her about Eiko, did you?" she asked. Steiner shook his head sadly.

"I couldn't. If she knew Cid had brought the girl in earlier with this sickness…I don't think she'd be able to handle it," he said. Beatrix nodded.

"Poor Garnet…it really killed her when Zidane disappeared and now this," she murmured. Steiner shook his head.

"She doesn't deserve this. Listen, we'd better get back to work. You need to take care of those kids, and I'll go get some water to bring to them," he said. Beatrix nodded as she stood up.

"I'll see you soon, my love," she whispered. As she started for the door, Steiner gently grabbed her around the waist and spun her around. He bent down and kissed her tenderly on the lips as he pulled her close. When they parted, the two stood gazing lovingly at each other.

"Be careful, my dear wife. I want that baby of ours to be healthy and strong," Steiner said, a smile on his face. Beatrix grinned and playfully punched him in the shoulder.

"If it's anything like you, it will be. Now we have to go. See you later," she said, and walked nonchalantly out the doorway. Steiner grinned and ran his fingers through his hair as he walked out of the dark room after Beatrix.

~

Steiner, his face soaked with sweat, slumped down into a small wicker chair. Finally, he could have a chance to rest. It was nearly one in the morning, and the poor, burly knight had been working his fingers to the bone. Back and forth the muscular man had carried pitchers of water to feverish, aching children. There were times Steiner had thought of quitting and retiring to his quiet sanctuary of a room, but every time he looked into the wide frightened eyes of the pale children, he had been more then glad to go back and get more water. And now, finally, everyone was asleep. And now, he could rest, too. Steiner sighed as he ran dirty fingers through his thick mop of black hair. His small, quaint little room has never been so inviting. Steiner smiled warmly as he gazed down at the mat in the corner. There Beatrix slept quietly as she snored softly. She had given her all to helping those children, and the instant they had been able to go home she had collapsed on the mat. Steiner grinned as he sipped at the steamy cup of warm tea. She was so beautiful and kind-hearted. He was lucky to have her as his wife.

Suddenly, a loud knocking sounded from behind the door. Startled at the loud noise, Steiner's head jerked up.

"Who is it?" Steiner demanded.

"Um…It's me, Karen," came the meek reply. Steiner visibly relaxed. One of the palace sorkins who hung about the large stone building.

"Come in," he beckoned. The wooden door to the knights' room creaked open to reveal the face of a frightened young woman. She walked silently into the room, her eyes large with terror. Steiner smiled warmly at her.

"What's the matter, Karen?" he asked, a bit concerned. Karen bowed his head.

"There's…someone…to see you," she said quietly. Steiner looked at her quizzically.

"What? At this hour?" he asked. Karen hesitated as she shuffled her feet nervously. There was a long pause as the poor girl tried to find the words to say, until finally she was ready.

"I think…it would be best…if you came with me. It's important," she said quietly. Steiner sighed. And just when he was about to get some sleep.

"Alright. I'll go," he said as he pulled a robe on over his nightshirt. Karen smiled.

"Thank you. Now come on, we don't have much time," she said, and hurried out of the door. Steiner stared with a quizzical look. Not much time? What was she talking about? Steiner sighed as he followed Karen through the hallways. Oh well, he would find out soon enough.

Once the two had walked down the many stone staircases of the castle, they arrived at a small room near the entrance. That was odd, if it were some dignitary, they would be brought into the main hall, not stuffed in a small kitchen.

Karen, the look of fear in her eyes once more, rushed up to the door and threw it open with all her might. She ran into the miniscule room and past a small wooden table. Once there, she stopped cold in her tracks as if she had run into an invisible wall. Then, ever so slowly, she turned to face Steiner, her face suddenly ashen.

"We're too late," she murmured, her pale lips trembling. Steiner, utterly baffled by Karen's behavior, slowly walked up to where she was standing. Without a word, she bowed her head and pointed down at the cold ground. Almost afraid to look, Steiner forced his dark brown eyes downward. He was prepared to see one of his soldiers slain or a gory wound. But nothing could have prepared him for this.

There, lying curled up in an old, tattered blanket, his knees tucked up to his chest, was Mouse.

Steiner gasped in surprise and dropped to his knees. He gently took the pale boy in his arms and shook him softly.

"Mouse, wake up. Can you hear me? It's Captain Steiner. Come on, say you can hear me," he stammered, voice becoming more desperate with each word. Not getting any response, Steiner gripped him by the shoulders and shook him a bit more firmly. Mouse's head nodded loosely forward and rested against his chest, sending tangled strands of brown hair into his dirt-smudged face. Steiner, unable to deny the truth any longer, leaned the boy's pale face against his chest. Steiner was startled to find that Mouse was unusually warm to the touch. The knight placed his large, burly hand to the boy's forehead and sure enough he was burning with fever.

"I'm so sorry…he was knocking on the door quite forcefully and I couldn't turn him out in this weather. I tried to get him to go to a healer, but he was only interested in talking to you. I knew he didn't have long, that's why I was trying to hurry. The poor thing…it must have been that awful weather," Karen said quietly. Steiner looked up with a grim expression on his face.

"It wasn't the snow. If it was, he'd be freezing cold. He has a terrible fever, just like the other children at the palace. I'm not positive, but I'd bet it's the same thing. But I don't get it. Why would he come to me?" he asked. Karen bowed her head and sighed.

"We'll give him a proper betrayal, to be sure," she said. Steiner nodded and slowly rose to his feet as he glanced sadly at the skinny corpse.

"Yes…I'll help you prepare the body, if you want," he said. Karen nodded.

"Thank you."

With a heavy heart Steiner bent down towards Mouse. The poor child…if only he could have done something! What was a knight worth if he couldn't save a little lost boy? His eyes watering with salty tears, Steiner gently pulled away the ripped blanket from Mouse's body. But before he did anything else, something caught his eye. Clutched tightly in the boy's left hand was a crumbled white piece of paper. Curious, Steiner reached down and gently pried the paper loose. Much to his surprise, written across the top were the words Captain Alderbret Steiner. Intriguied, Steiner uncrumpled the letter and began to read.

I am a murderer. Yesterday, under General Tolin's order, I released a horrible plague onto Alexandria. I didn't know what I was doing, I was told only that I must release this magic. Only later did I find that what I had done would infect nearly every child in the land. This plague, which I am stricken with even as I sit here writing, is known as the "Touch of Death." It is always fatal, and there is no cure, save one. I don't really know anything about it, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. The counter to this curse is one named the Dreamwalker. He has some sort of power that can stop it. You must find him quickly, or Tolin will have him killed. I don't ask you to forgive me for what I've done, but please attempt to find the cure

Sincerely,

Kevin (Mouse)

~ * ~

(Sniff)…poor Kevin…I liked him. Zidane is getting pretty good at his powers. What fate awaits him when he finally releases them? Who else will fall sick to the plague…and will they survive? Find out next time in part 6!!!