A True Knight
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 8. If I did I wouldn't have to write these
silly ass disclaimers.
Last chapter: Squall and Bradley went off to war and emerged victorious. Maven found
out that Rinoa isn't princess Lydia and Rinoa found out that she was
pregnant with Squall's child. ( Way to go Squall!!)
Chapter 10: Eternal Vow
The celebration was over. By now everyone was either asleep or doing other
things that shouldn't be discussed except for Rinoa and I. We were sitting in the garden
looking at the beautiful full moon. She was unusually quiet tonight but I wasn't going to
press her. She was probably content that I came back in one piece. After a very lenthy
and comfortable silence I spoke to her. " What are you thinking about?," I inquired. She
sighed contently and leaned on me. " Nothing much. Just about how perfect this life is
and how much I will dread going back," she replied. I sighed as well as I listened to her
words. In the midst of the celebration I forgot that this wasn't our original time.
I slipped an arm around her waist and held her tighter to me. " Think of it this
way, at least we got to experience this and know these people. When we go back we will
always have this memory," I said. She chuckled. " You mean I will. If you continue to
use Shiva you won't have these memories for long," she countered. I smirked. " Yes I
will. I have been keeping a journal of what has been happening since we got here. I'll have
it forever so that even our kids can read about our adventure," I said. Rinoa tensed at the
mention of children. She slipped out of my embrace and stood up. She went over to the rose
bush and stood there for a moment. " You want kids Squall?," she asked softly. My eyebrows
knit together. I stood up as well going over to her.
" Of course. Don't you?," I inquired. She turned sharply to me. " Of course I do!
It's just that we may be getting some sooner than expected," she said quietly. Even though
her voice dropped to a whisper near the end of her sentence I still caught every word. I wasn't
sure what she meant. " Are you trying to tell me something Rin?," I asked. She raised her
chocolate brown eyes to meet mine. " I wasn't sure at first but now I am. Squall, I'm pregnant,"
she stated. My eyes widened in surprise. I knew we didn't use protection but I didn't think
this would happen so fast. I turned away from her and sat back down on the bench. She followed
me sitting beside me. " Are you alright?," she asked. I looked back at her and smiled wryly.
" Couldn't be better," I said. She finally smiled and hugged me tightly. " I'm so glad. I thought
that you would be upset. I thought that you would say that children wouldn't be good for our
SeeD careers like you said about marriage," she confessed.
I pulled her tighter to me again and stroked her long black locks of hair. " I would
never say that about our children. I only said what I did about marriage because you agreed
with me. Oh Rinoa, I'm so happy," I said softly in her ear. She laid her head on my chest.
" There is only one problem. I know I am about a month pregnant now. We need to have the
wedding soon before the King and Queen begin to suspect something," she warned. I nodded
in agreement. " We'll tell them our wishes tomorrow. Not tonight. Let's just enjoy our time
here my sweet sorceress," I purred in her ear. She giggled. " As you wish my valient knight,"
she replied. She looked up at me with shimmering brown eyes. I bent my head down and captured
her lips in a soul searing kiss. A kiss between a sorceress and her knight.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I woke the next morning by Maven's constant shaking. When I sat up she opened the
curtains so that the sunlight shown directly in my face. I covered my eyes with my hand until my
eyes readjusted to the light. " Morning Rinoa. When did you get in last night?," she asked. I
heard the amused tone in her voice so I frowned playfully. " None of your business Mom," I
retorted. I peeled back the cover and climbed out of bed. Maven had a light blue dress waiting
for me at my vanity so I put it on. When I was through dressing she did my hair. " So, what did
Squall say when you told him?," she inquired. " He said that he was thrilled. I'm lucky to have
him I guess," I replied. She smiled. " You 'guess'? You are very lucky to have him. Don't trade
him for the world," she said. I nodded and as our conversation ended my hair was done.
I stood up surveying myself in the mirror. " You always manage to make me look
beautiful," I complimented. She blushed lightly. " I'm afraid I had no hand in that. All I do is
make you look more beautiful," she commented. Now it was my turn to blush. " Sir Leonhart
is waiting for you outside. Please don't keep him waiting M'lady," she said bowing. I bowed to
her as well then went outside to the hallway. Squall was waiting there patiently with a sword
at his side. When he heard my door open his attention diverted to me. He smiled then bowed.
" Good morning my sweet princess. Did I wake you too early?," he asked. I blushed lightly but
shook my head 'no'. He offered me his arm so I took it and we began our trek to find my parents.
We had a mission today which was to get the wedding planned as soon as possible. We
found my parents in Father's parlor where they were engaged in a game of chess. When they heard
our arrival they looked up and immediatly disregarded the game. They stood and came over to us.
Squall kissed Queen Tavela's hand and bowed to the King. I bowed as well to them. " Well, what
do you two lovebirds wish of us?," father asked. I looked to Squall and he took that as a sign to
explain what we want. " We want to have the wedding soon," Squall said. Their eyes widened in
surprise. " Really and what brought this on?," mother asked. Squall and I looked at each other
trying to find a valid explaination but father saved us. " Tavela please. I do not blame them for
being in a rush to take the plunge. I know that I was in a rush to marry you as soon as Caroline
died," he said. She nodded in agreement.
" Fine then. Lance, take Squall outside and discuss what you wish to happen. Lydia and
I need to talk," she said. Father leaned over and whispered in Squall's ear. " It's girl talk all though
I swear to you that it is voodoo," he mused. Squall smiled a bit and allowed father to usher him out
of the room. When they were gone she shut the door behind them. She turned back to me and smiled.
" Now, would you mind telling me the real reason why you and Squall wanted to rush this Rinoa?," she
said. My eyes widened in surprise. " But how did you know?," I asked. She chuckled a bit as she
sat down at the discarded chess table. " Why wouldn't I know my own daughter's name? It is not mere
coincidence that I look like Julia. It's because *I am* Julia," she said. I sat down on the opposite end
of the table. I still didn't believe that she was my mother. " How did you get here then?," I asked.
She shrugged her shoulders. " I wish I knew. After the car accident I thought that I was going to
heaven but instead I woke up here. I wandered around for a bit not quite knowing where I was or why I
was brought here. Then I met Lance. After that everything is history," she explained.
I sat there in silence for a moment taking in everything. " So, what happened to the real
Lydia?," I asked. " What Lydia? There was no Lydia before you got here. Time carried on as if you
have always been here but that isn't the fact. Lance and the others don't realize that but I do because
I am not of this world. When you and Squall leave time will go on as if you have never been here," she
said. I felt tears spring to my eyes with her last words. " You mean Maven and the other's will forget
us?," I asked. She nodded. " Probably. Even though a part of them will always know you were here
they won't remember a thing," she said. I couldn't stop the tears that fell down my cheeks. " I guess
I can accept that. Do you still want to know why Squall and I wanted the wedding so soon?," I asked.
She smiled. " You don't have to. You're pregnant and you didn't want us to find out. I would've found
out anyway. It's the look that a woman gets when she's guarding a precious secret that gives it away.
You're lucky that Lance is that gullable," she mused. I smiled at her now.
She is my mother Julia. The mother that I lost so long ago only to find out that she was
here with me the whole time when I went into my new metamorphasis to a woman. We both stood
now and hugged each other. " If you wish for a wedding we can arrange it for tomorrow. Make sure
you both are prepared," she said. I smiled again and kissed her cheek. She let me out of our embrace
so I could find Squall. A part of me knew that this adventure was going to be over soon and I wasn't
sure if I wanted it to end just yet.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
* This part will be told in Olivia's P.O.V.*
It was the day of Squall's wedding and I had mixed feelings about the event. On one hand I was
happy for the couple because they had both became my friends and I knew how much they loved each other,
but on the other hand I was upset because a part of me still loved Squall. I sighed softly to myself careful
not to alert Bradley's attention who was sitting beside me. I know that he was happy for his Captain and
friend. The big smile on his face told me that. I looked up to the alter and saw Squall standing there nervously.
I smile to myself. I never thought that I would see him nervous about anything. I wondered then if Bradley
would be like that during our wedding. After the bridesmaids came in the music changed signaling that
the bride was about to come in.
Everyone stood up and Rinoa came in. Beside her was Lance who was looking especially handsome
today. Rinoa was wearing the beautiful dress that Maven had made for her and it was beautiful on her. Her
pretty features were hidden behind a veil of sparking stones and lace. I was beginning to feel a bit jealous
of her beauty but then I thought better of myself. When she made it to the alter Lance lifted her veil and
kissed her cheek lightly. The minister cleared his throat before he spoke. " Who is giving the bride away?," he
inquired. Lance stepped forward a bit. " I am," he replied. He squeezed her hand then came to stand with
us. When that was done we all sat down. I was surprised at the turn out for this event. Some people came
for mere social reasons while others came because they were curious. Rinoa insisted that the peasants be
allowed to attend and so far they were behaving themselves.
After I was done my evaluation I went back to the ceremony which lasted for a good half an hour
with boring lectures about the big adventure that marriage is. I figured Squall and Rinoa were tired but they
weren't going to rush the ceremony with inpatience. After another few minutes of pointless and soon to be
forgotten words the good part of the ceremony came up. " Squall Lee Leonhart, do you take this woman, to
have and to hold, to honor and to cherish, to love and obey in sickness and in health for as long as you both
shall live?," the mininster asked. " I do," Squall replied. He said the words without a moment of hesitation
or doubt. He said the words with love and when he did a part of my soul died. " Princess Lydia Anastasia
Caperneo, do you take this man, to have and to hold, to honor and to cherish, to love and obey in sickness
and in health for as long as you both shall live?," the minister inquired. Rinoa looked at Squall. " I do," she
replied. " Then by the power invested in God through myself, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may
kiss the bride," the minister said.
The hall became silent as Squall lifted Rinoa's veil. She smiled at him and he smiled back. Squall
dipped his head down and captured Rinoa's lips in their eternal kiss and at the same moment a tear dropped
from my eye. When they seperated the music started up again and everyone began to stand up and cheer. I
did so as well to show no hard feelings. The couple then ran down the aisle of the church to the outside where
everyone proceeded to follow them out. I followed as well but at a much slower pace. Bradley was already gone
so that he could meet up with Squall first. " Olivia," Lance called. I looked up and saw my cousin with a look
of remorse on his face. I smiled bitterly. " Why are you not congradulating your new son-in-law cousin?," I
asked just as bitterly as my smile. When I neared him he draped an arm across my shoulder. " Because true
family is more important. Besides, I know Squall will take care of my daughter now," he said happily. I couldn't
stand it. More tears began to fall down my cheeks. " It is not fair but then it is. I know that they love each other
and I am so happy for them, but a part of me can not help but feel...," I began. " Betrayed?," he finished. I
nodded instead of replying verbally. I felt ashamed of my feelings towards their marriage.
He smiled now and rubbed my shoulder to ease my suffering. " Do not fret young cousin. You shall
get over it. You have won the affections of Sir Bradley have you not?," he asked. " But I am not sure that
I love him like I do Squall. It is wrong for me to feel this way. I do have a degree of affection for him but, I
do not know. Why is this so hard?!!," I exclaimed frustrated. He sighed and began to usher me out of the
sanctuary. " I do not know, but I do know that Squall expects you to stand by him and be his friend as you
always have been. He cares a lot about you but you have to understand that things happen for a reason.
Maybe Squall was not the true person for you. God works in the most mysterious ways. Swallow your pride
and stop being selfish for this one moment when he is truly happy because you know he would do the same
for you had the tables been turned," he said. His words made me cry more. He was right and I knew it. I had
to swallow my pride for him and for her.
When I finally regained my composure I fixed my gown and stood on my own. " You are so right
Cousin. I shall do this for them because I love them both so much," I confessed. He smiled brightly. " Well
then, I do believe that my darling cousin is truly a lady now," he mused. I blushed lightly at his words and
nodded. " Yes, and I feel all the better for it," I retorted.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The wedding was a success. Everything was perfect and the King never suspected a thing. Squall
was a bit concerned about Olivia since he had seen her crying at the wedding but 'father' assured him that
he had taken care of it. I decided to talk to Olivia myself before I believed him truly. I found her standing
with Bradley in the corner of the ballroom. They seemed to be holding an 'intimate' discussion. " Excuse me,"
I said. They both turned to me and blushed lightly. After their initial embarassment they bowed in respect.
" May I offer my congradulations to you M'lady," Bradley said kissing my hand. I blushed. " Thank you.
I am truly happy you both decided to come, but if you do not mind Sir Bradley, I would like to borrow Lady
Olivia for a moment," I said. He nodded. " Of course," he said. Olivia and I bowed to Bradley then we left
him.
" Is something wrong Rin?," she asked when we were far enough away. " No. I just wanted to
see if you were alright with everything. I know how you feel about Squall," I said. She nodded slowly taking
it all into consideration. " To tell you the truth I am morally upset. I feel as though apart of my soul has died
today when you two stated your vows of love to each other," she replied. I stood in silence because I wasn't
exactly expecting that response. After a moment she smiled. " But I shall get over it and perhaps with the
help of Bradley," she mused. I sighed in relief at her words. Our conversation was cut short when I heard
a familiar waltz tune. Squall came over to me and I excused myself from Olivia.
When Squall and I were on the dancefloor I hit his arm playfully. " Where on earth did you find
this tune? It has not been written yet!," I scolded. He smiled. " Hey, it won't kill anything if I present this
before it's time. Besides it's our night and it wouldn't be complete without it," he countered. I smiled and
we began to dance. Just like at Garden the guests crowded around us to see us dance. It was nothing
unusual. When the dance was over fireworks were set off and just like at the SeeD dance we were engulfed
in a white light.
TBC.............................
End chapter 10. Next chapter is the epilouge so it's not yet over. I would like to thank those persons who
stood by me for the whole thing. You are true reviewers and as always read&review but no flames kay! ~LS~