Chapter 2
Up and down
Rosa carefully opened the door to the study, only to see her husband sitting hunched over a sheet of paper, writing concentrated with his back turned to her. She slowly approached Cecil, her white slippers making hardly a sound and peered curiously over his shoulder, curls of her golden hair falling into his face.
"Here you are. What are you writing, darling?"
The Paladin blew some golden hair out of his face and signed the letter. "It's a message for the Elder of Mysidia. I would be grateful if he would inform us on anything his scholars find out." He folded the paper. "So, ready!" he exclaimed, looked up and gave his wife a tender kiss. "Sorry that I've been away the whole morning, but there was so much to do..."
"Don't worry. I've been busy, too!" the beautiful Queen of Baron laughed, circled the chair and dropped in her husband's lap. Since Cecil had come back from Mt. Ordeals, the relationship between the couple was better than ever before.
"I heard from Rydia that you comforted her. You're really sweet..." Her blue eyes sparkled warmly.
Cecil blushed a bit and took her hands. "No big deal... We both know that she is having a hard time at the moment and thus needs all the support we can give... I wish all this hadn't happened." Once again he felt how the weight of the current situation was pressing on his shoulders.
Rosa squeezed his hand. "Now don't start to ponder again! Is Edge coming with us to Agart, too?"
Her husband smiled -- Edge seemed to be a main problem for everyone -- not only for Rydia. "Guess..."
Rosa sighed. "Well - I hope he behaves. Do you think he will ever grow up?"
"I don't know - he was very happy to get invited. I hope it's not just because of Rydia, but because he slowly understands his duties as a ruler."
The looked at each other for a moment; then shook their heads: "It's because of Rydia." Both had to laugh.
"He just can't express his feelings..." Rosa stated and added with a mischievous grin, "We know how fast misunderstandings occur, don't we; my dear Cecil?"
A slight blush began to colour the cheeks of the Paladin. "Now don't start with that again..."
"Don't worry, I've better things to do!" Rosa bent down for a passionate kiss.
"Ahem..." a familiar voice could be heard from behind. "I... I am coming back later..."
The couple loosened his grasp at once and exchanged knowing glances.
"No, Kain! You are disturbing no one!" Cecil said hastily.
Rosa quickly wiped away some traces of lipstick she had made on his face and then jumped to her feet. "Cecil is right! Please come in..."
The man with the long blond hair in red uniform still stood in the doorway, frowning and looking a bit afraid. "I don't know..."
Immediately, Rosa rushed to him, followed by Cecil. "Now don't be silly! We're friends!" The King and Queen of Baron grabbed the baffled looking fighter on each side at his arms and dragged him into the room.
"Sit down, Kain..." The Ex-Dragoon was pushed on a chair, flanked by his two longest friends who sat down beside him.
"What can we do for you?" Cecil asked, smiling.
Kain's glance changed back and forth between the warm-lit faces of his companions.
"You're really overdoing it, you two..." he mumbled.
Since the time he had confessed to Cecil his true feelings for Rosa but also his wish for friendship, the Paladin and his wife had done everything they could to make him feel "home" again -- also, they had tried him to help him getting over his feelings for the young queen.
Rosa looked at him in concern and grabbed his hand, but seeing Kain blush, pulled it away swiftly. "It's nice to see you, Kain! How was the ball, yesterday?"
"What ball?" the Dragoon asked, slightly angry. He already knew what was coming now.
"Well the festival at the town market place," Cecil informed him.
"Oh, that..." Kain said, trying to build up suspense. "I--"
"Yeess?" Rosa asked curiously.
"I wasn't there," Kain replied with a grin.
"What a pity," Cecil sighed, "I've heard that many young ladies..." Rosa glanced at him. "Err...I've heard that many nice people were there..."
"It's hopeless, Cecil. I wish you two would stop trying to marry me off to someone! I don't deserve this much attention from you..." He dropped his gaze.
"Kain... Maybe we are really overdoing it, but we only want to help you. We think that you should get more under people..." Rosa said softly.
"Sorry, but I need some time alone after all what has happened. That's why I'm here. I heard that you were forming a party to go to Agart - I won't be coming..."
"What?" Cecil looked at him, his eyes big. "But Kain, why? We can need every helping hand..."
"I'm sorry if I let you down, but I just don't feel like it... I guess many of our friends are still angry about what happened after my return and besides I feel responsible for the happenings at Agart... If I had told you everything sooner, maybe--"
"Stop it, Kain. It wouldn't have changed much - we all know this. Anyway, if you insist on staying here..." Cecil sighed, knowing that Kain wasn't likely to change his opinion.
"Thank you, you two..." Kain stood up, bowed slightly and started to leave the room. As he reached the door he turned around and managed a smile: "I really don't deserve your understanding at all... Please take care..."
"So do you..." Rosa shouted after him and then looked at her husband. "I feel sorry for him..."
Cecil stared at the door. "Yeah - it's a difficult situation for all of us. Maybe it will do him good to be alone for a few days..."
"We'll see. Anyway, we should finish our preparations. The airship will take off soon."Rosa stood up and straightened her dress. "By the way: I was wondering why you didn't protest when I decided to come with you..." She studied her husband curiously.
Cecil looked at her, confused. "Well... It's just a scouting trip, nothing dangerous at all..."
"So if it was a dangerous trip, I couldn't go?"
"I didn't say that..."
"Maybe it gets dangerous..." Rosa said provocatively, causing her husband to frown.
"You sound as if you want it to get dangerous…"
"No, but I want you to understand that I can take care of myself."
Cecil stood up. "I know this..." he said tenderly, then added with a quick grin, "And if you can't, there's still me, Yang, Cid, Rydia and Edge to take care of you." Laughing, he dashed out of the room, before his wife could reply anything...
xxx
At the airship landing place of Baron Castle was a big turmoil. It had taken several days to repair the damage that Edge's ship had caused at his arrival and still parts of wood and metal were lying around. Cid stood on the plank of his airship Falcon and shouted instructions to his workers, helped by Cecil and Rosa who made last checks.
From out of the castle two laughing girls emerged, one being Rydia, the other, red-haired one being Diane, Cid's daughter. Not surprisingly, Edge was at their side at once. He bowed exaggeratedly, then faced Rydia with a nearly embarrassed expression: "Still angry with me?"
Instead of an answer both girls burst out laughing. "Is it right that you locked yourself in the wine cellar and were only worried that you couldn't open the bottles?"
"I was thirsty..." Edge muttered. "Why does everyone know this story, anyway?"
"We shouldn't be too hard on him..." Diane smiled.
"Ah -- you're too soft hearted, Diane!" Rydia replied. "Our hotshot here needs some cooling down -- right Mr. Monster?" She gave him a little nudge and then hugged Diane. "I must go now... Bye!"
"Take care Rydia! And you, too, Sir Edge..." Diane curtseyed and disappeared into the castle.
"Hey, did you hear that Rydia? She called me "Sir"..." The ninja grinned, then looked around. "Rydia?"
The caller had already hurried away, laughing. "Talking with yourself?" she shouted.
"Well, at least she is cheerful, again..." Edge followed her.
"Everything is ready, captain!" Cid exclaimed, as he jumped from the ship and joined his friends.
Cecil ran a hand through his hair: "Alright - everyone seems to be here as well... I guess we can--"
"Are you going without saying good bye to me?" a sharp voice asked.
"Mother!" Rosa turned around. "Surely not, right Cecil?" She gave her husband a little nudge.
"…Right darling..." the paladin replied, trying to look as friendly as possible. "How nice of you to visit us, Mrs. Farrell."
During the last few days, Cecil had managed to built up at least a halfway friendly relationship with his mother-in-law, starting with visiting and apologizing for what had happened at the dinner a week ago. Rosa's mother had not reacted really friendly, but had admitted that she, too, hadn't been very "obliging"-- she also had taken the flowers he had brought along without complaining -- and sneezing. The effect of this visit was that Cecil was not calling her Ma'am any longer -- although he hadn't come farther in his diplomatic efforts than now being "allowed" to call her Mrs. Farrell...
"Well, my "dear" Cecil," Mrs. Farrell snapped, "I hope you take good care of my daughter!" She studied the huge airship. "Never trusted these things..."
Rosa interrupted her. "Sure he will take care of me - besides I can take care of myself..."
Her mother looked at her, skeptically. "Yes, yes, darling... Still - your husband can fly this thing, can he?"
"Yes, I can fly it, Mrs. Farrell" Cecil, replied, slowly getting impatient "But do not worry. Cid will steer the airship..." He stared at her, waiting for a reaction.
Margaret opened her mouth; then shut it.
"Goood..." she said, finally, then embraced her daughter. "Still I will worry about you, Rosa..."
"Don't, mom!" her daughter laughed. "Besides we'll only be away for three days."
"I'll hope so..." Margaret glared at Cecil.
As she shook her son-in-law's hand, he had for a moment the feeling that she grabbed it harder than necessary... "Will she never trust me..." Quickly, he boarded the ship with his wife.
"So, everyone on board?" Cid shouted. Yang, Edge and Rydia were already standing on deck.
"Father, wait!" Diane shouted, waving one arm wildly, with the other one dragging a toolbox behind her. "You've forgotten some of your equipment at home."
"What I fine daughter I have!" Cid exclaimed proudly as approached her and started to pull some mysterious looking tools out of the crate. "Well, well, I am getting old... How could I forget this... and this..." he mumbled while he rummaged through the box. "Thanks Diane! What would I do without you..." He laughed heartily.
"Well - you would probably starve," the pretty girl answered with a smile and handed him a small package. "Here - some of your favorite cakes. Just be careful..."
"Oh - don't worry about me. Try to get some rest while I'm away - carrying tools after one's father isn't exactly what a fine girl like you should do all day!" He grinned broadly, kissed her on the cheek and boarded the airship.
"Everything ready? Then let's start!" he shouted. With a load roar the ship rose into in the air. "We're going to... Agart!"
Soon, the Falcon had disappeared behind the trees around the castle, and was only a little, colorful spot in the sky.
xxx
Kain had watched the departure of his friends from afar. He leaned against a castle wall, his long hair flowing in the autumn wind, and watched the ship disappearing behind the clouds.
"Uff..." he sighed and did not really know why he felt so relieved, now, that his friends were gone. "I guess it's because they want to help me all the time and just don't understand that I'm a hopeless case..."
Cecil and Rosa believed that the only way to "cure" Kain of his love for the young queen of Baron was to find another girl for him. Hardly a day passed on which they didn't tell him to go a ball, a market or some other place to meet new people. What had started as a well-meant help to make him feel home again at Baron, had changed into a "game" for some of his friends. Palom and Porom, the twin wizards even asked girls on the street if they liked the young fighter of Baron Castle and if they wanted to meet him. Most girls wanted, only that Kain had no interest in them.
"It's hopeless with me..." he thought. " I will never love anyone else than Rosa. She's beautiful, she's warm hearted she's... she's just everything one can wish for... Why can't Cecil understand? He himself can't love anyone else..."
He often had argued this way when speaking with his friend, but the Paladin had always insisted that Kain's love wasn't "real", but an overreaction towards a life long friend.
"I wonder if he really thinks so... Only a Paladin would treat someone like me that nicely after all I've done..." He had to smile. Although the whole situation didn't really please him: being back in Baron with his friends was much better then living alone on a mountain. Cecil and Rosa did everything they could to make him feel home again. He just wasn't happy...
"Well, I don't need to be happy... I can hardly imagine when I've been in a really good mood at all. Serves me right..." he pondered sullenly as he slowly crossed the landing place. He wished Dawn was here, the young mysterious woman from Mt. Ordeals with the power to see into the souls of people. "She understood me."
Suddenly he heard a crash, followed by the loud sigh of a woman. "What a mess!"
Before him, a red-haired girl was kneeling before the remains of a crate, which had obviously slipped out of her hands. Kain looked around. No one seemed to notice the girl, as everyone was busy with their own work.
"Ah-- what the heck..."
He approached the girl. "Can I help?"
As the girl looked up, Kain noticed for the first time how pretty she was, with her big brown eyes and deep red hair. At the same time he thought that he'd seen her before.
"I know you... Di... Diane? Cid's daughter?"
"Yes - that's right. I am Diane!" The girl stood up, cleaned her hand in her red-white dress and extended it towards the ex-Dragoon: "Pleased to meet you. You're Kain, right?" She beamed at him.
"Yep- that's right..." Kain shook her delicate hand. "We haven't seen each other for a long time..."
Although Diane was Cid's daughter, Kain had not seen her very often, just from time to time from afar. The reason for this was - partly - that she spent most of the time in the house, helping her father and caring for the household since her mother had died early. The other reason was that Kain hadn't been very often at Cid's house - unlike Cecil and Rosa who had been constant guests of Cid and knew Diane pretty well, Kain couldn't be called a "real" friend of Baron's chief engineer. Cecil had been interested in airships very early in life and had loved as a kid to rummage through Cid's workshop, while Rosa couldn't get enough of Cid's stories of foreign lands (which weren't always true...). Kain, however, had preferred to stroll outside. Dark, cold winter evenings had thus been the only moments when the three, otherwise inseparable friends, hadn't been together - while Cecil and Rosa were visiting Cid and Diane, Kain had explored the nearby woods, training with his spear while imaging wild monsters behind every tree.
"Still I didn't know she had become so pretty!" the young man thought now, as he studied the laughing girl in front of him, who was about to continue cleaning the mess at her feet.
"Well - let me help you," Kain said, then added quickly, but not too friendly: "Doing such a kind of work isn't right for a girl like you..." He tried to smile, knelt down, too and started to put some tools in the box.
"Oh - I'm not as weak as I look: I am used to cleaning up behind my father... He is such a scatterbrain..." She stopped for a moment and glanced at her "helper".
"Uh... Aren't you supposed to be on the ship? May I ask why you' re here, Sir Kain?"
Kind looked at her, irritated. "Just Kain... You can call me Kain... Theoretically we know each other since our childhood... Well... Er... I am here because--"
"I'm here to get my thoughts free... And because I wouldn't stand being with Rosa on the ship where I would have to see her all day... And because Cecil would try everything he could to make me feel better although he should know that it is of no use... And I'm staying here because it is probably partly my fault that so many people died or got hurt due to the earthquake and I'm afraid to face the victims..." he thought.
"Er... I guess I wanted to be alone for a while," was everything he said.
"What an idiotic answer..."
"Oh..." Diane smiled. "I understand... I heard that there was a great fuss about you as you came back... I guess it's only natural that you need some time alone after that... I myself like being alone once in a while. Although..." Her brown eyes sparkled. "Although I get hardly the chance when my father is around..." She laughed.
Kain looked at her in amazement. "I understand", she'd said. No one besides Cecil and Rosa had ever really inquired how he had felt upon returning to Baron and seeing all his friends again...
"They probably thought that I just must feel happy... But it's not that easy..."
"So where have you been the last year? Mt...Mt..." Diane inquired.
"Mt. Ordeals..." Kain informed her quickly.
"I hope she doesn't want to know more about it..." he thought. He wasn't at least in the mood for talking about that at the moment.
"It... it was very lonely there..." he added, to say at least something.
"Hmm... I guess so... But sorry, I am talking too much. And you surely do not want to talk about such things at the moment. Better finish work..."
She started sorting faster.
Kain stared at her, irritated. How could she know that he did not want to talk about it? Why didn't she ask more? Most people weren't so considerate towards him -- they asked question over question on the pretext of wanting to help him -- mostly they were just being curious.
"No... You don't ask too much..." he replied and grabbed a dirty tool, absent-mindedly.
"Careful! There's oil at the handle!" Diane informed him.
"What? Oh..."
It was already too late - a big oil stain had soaked deep into the right sleeve of the red uniform Kain was wearing since he'd thrown his dragoon armor away.
Diane stared at the mess. "Oh, I am so sorry, Sir... I mean Kain. You shouldn't have helped me while wearing such an expensive looking uniform! If you would accompany me to my house I could clean it right away..."
"Er... That's not necessary..."
Kain somehow didn't like the idea of visiting Cid's house. "I wanted to be alone for a while..."
"Oh please! It's no big deal for me, really..." The red-haired girl heaved the crate up.
"Alright. But I'll carry the crate. It's much too heavy for you..."
Kain hastily took the box - he was amazed how heavy it really was. "Well, now you're into it... But you can't let her carry the thing alone, can you..."
He smiled slightly "Lead on; Diane..."
"Thank you! You're really kind..." The young woman rushed forward.
"Kind?" Kain smiled bitterly "She thinks I am kind... What a joke... I wonder how old she is..." he pondered, as he followed her slowly. He only knew that Diane was older than Rosa, who had been the youngest of the three friends.
After a while they reached Cid's big workplace in Baron Town. "So - already there! I hope the walk wasn't too long!"
Kain dropped the toolbox with a sigh. "Huff... No, not too long... Still I am wondering why Cid lets his daughter carry so heavy weights..."
"Well - he has no one else to help him. But don't worry. Please come in!" Dianebeckoned himinside.
"No... It's not necessary..."
"But the stain..."
"It's not big. I'll let one of the castle maids clean it..."
"No don't be shy Sir... I mean Kain... Such stains must be cleaned at once or they will never disappear. Please, I have to do something in return for helping me..." She reached for his arm, though rather hesitating, as if she was afraid to touch him.
"What are you doing now, boy? She is only being nice. She probably will feel hurt if you don't come in..."
"Alright, alright... But just for a moment..."
"Great! I'll just clean the stain..." Diane laughed. "Oh, and please excuse the mess..." she blushed a bit.
The Dragoon couldn't help but chuckle: "Well, being Cid's house I expected no less-- What the heck…! " Kain stared in amazement at the room he was standing in. What he had expected to be filled with dirt, metal parts and oil tubes, turned out to be a very nice and tidy, bright room with flowers in every corner and a cozy fireplace.
"I didn't know that Cid was living in such a nice house..." he gasped.
"Oh - this is only our living room... His workshop is next door- take a look at it and you won't find it so nice anymore! But please sit down..." Diane smiled and led him to a soft cushioned chair at a table. "I am with you in a minute..." She hurried away, her long red hair trailing behind her.
Kain used the time to take a closer look at his surroundings.
The evening sun fell through a big window beside him and bathed the room in a golden, very calming light. A sweet smell lay in the air which obviously came from the various flowers in the room, which were standing in full bloom even at this time of the year. As Kain looked closer, he saw plants which could only be found in the woods.
"I am back..." Diane had a bowl with a strange liquid in one hand and knelt beside him. She started to rub at the sleeve. "It will just take a moment..."
"Sure... Take your time..." Kain felt somehow uneasy. Sitting in Cid's nice, tidy house with his daughter cleaning his uniform wasn't something "appropriate" for a decent fighter like him. He decided to ask something to hide his embarrassment.
"Nice flowers... I wonder why they are still in bloom..."
"Oh - I'm always keeping as many flowers here as possible - they drive out the oil smell... Some of them are very rare."
"Yes... I believe I have seen them in the woods around the castle..."
"That's right. You must be a keen observer. I picked them there and planted them in jars..." Diane sounded suddenly very happy.
"Are you often in the woods?"
"No... There's always so much to do, that I hardly leave the house." She sighed. "I do love the woods. The silence, the trees, the smell of earth... "
"It can be dangerous for a young woman like you in the woods... Aren't you afraid?"
"Oh no! I never venture far into them. My father would die of fear! Though I would like to go really deep into them just once... Just to see the flowers there... You have surely seen all this, haven't you?"
"What? Oh... Yes, it's nice..." In fact, Kain knew places were certain flowers were growing, but they had never interested him much.
"So, good as new!" Diane had finished her cleaning up. Actually, no trace of the stain was any more visible. "And now I won't hold you up any longer. You sure were on the way to somewhere. Still, it's nice to have met you." She led him to the door.
"Yes- goodbye for now...Maybe we'll meet again," Kain tried to smile.
Diane smiled back, than lowered her gaze. "Mmm... Maybe you could tell me about the forest sometime..." She blushed a bit. "Only if you want..."
"Er... sure... I guess I could take you even with me on a walk, if you wish so..."
"Damn- why'd you say that..."
Diane's eyes started to sparkle. "Really? That would be great!" Suddenly she got very serious. "Ah, forget what I said... A fighter such as you has surely better things to do... Good night!" Still smiling, she shut the door.
Kain stood for a moment in the descending darkness, wondering if he should feel good or bad. Since he couldn't decide, he wandered into the pub to drink something.