Chapter 2: Astoria

Chapter 2: Astoria

The group left early the next morning. Taeami marveled at the size of the Crusade ("I've never seen a ship this size before!!") as they soared away from the comforts of Tierania. It wasn't too long before the group reached King Aston's castle in Astoria. Taeami's jaw dropped as she stepped out of the ship.

"Whoa..."

Folken laughed at her. "Is it really that much of a surprise?"

She blinked rapidly. "It's... huge! I don't think I've seen a building this big in my entire life!" Van nodded.

"It is kind of weird at first, but don't worry, you'll adapt."

Suddenly, a voice cried out from the castle gates. "Allen, is that you?" And next thing they knew, a beautiful young lady was standing in front of them. Allen kissed her hand.

"Princess Milerna. How lovely to see you again." The princess nodded.

"Thank you. I'm so glad you're back Allen! Father's gone absolutely mad! He's letting the Zaibach take over completely! You HAVE to do something!" It was then that she noticed Taeami. "Oh, hello! I don't believe I've met you before. I'm princess Milerna Aston."

"Taeami Saerian," she replied, extending her hand. Milerna shook it, a look of curiosity spreading over her face.

"Are you a friend of Hitomi's, from the mystic moon?" Taeami shook her head, a mind boggled look on her face. Allen laughed.

"No, no, Milerna, Taeami is queen of Tierania, a lovely little country to the east of here, and she's going to help us negotiate with your father." Milerna looked shocked.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were a QUEEN!" She said to Taeami. "I hope you're not TOO insulted!" Taeami shook her head.

"No, not at all!" she looked again at the palace in front of her. "Do you actually live in there?" Milerna nodded.

"Surely you're no stranger to castles!"

"No, but this is so... big." Milerna waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, this castle's nothing compared to some! You must not get around all that much. Well, come in then, all of you. The sooner you get those negotiations over with, the better!"

*****

Samson sat all alone in the empty throne room, immersed in thought. He had been surprised at his anxiety over the past day since she'd left. Where was she now? What did Astoria look like? Had they reached their destination without a problem? What if the ship crashed again?

There was a knock on the door, and then a very nervous looking Alastyr Zypher peeked around the door frame.

"Commander Reyes? I... There's someone here..."

Samson ran a hand through his long, dark hair in frustration, thinking to himself how useless the boy was. "Well, send him in then!"

Zypher nodded anxiously. "Yes sir!" He cleared his throat. "Dilandau Albatou of Zaibach!"

Samson stood up suddenly, his face ashen. Zaibach? Here? But that was impossible... unless... He raised his eyes towards the doorway, where a young man was standing, flanked by five other, slightly younger men. The leader glared piercingly at Samson, an angry look on his face.

"Where is the Queen?" He demanded angrily. "I have no use for soldiers!"

"I will answer for her," Samson replied coolly. The young man glared at Samson insolently.

"That will not do. I demand that you step aside and surrender your queen now, before you are forced to pay the consequences!" He gave a small, slightly demonic smile at this. Samson set his jaw and answered.

"Never. You cannot touch her, or this country, for that matter. We have a treaty, or have you forgotten that?"

"Ah, yes," replied Dilandau smugly, pulling a piece of paper out of his breast pocket. "Here it is. It says here that, so long as Tierania does not disobey the wishes of Zaibach in any way, that we will leave you and your country to your own devices. It's too bad you had to break so many rules!"

Samson shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about. Tierania has held up it's end of the bargain." Dilandau shook his head.

"Harboring the enemy, I'm afraid, it against the rules, and I have it under good authority that you had, until very recently, one Van Fanel, King of Fanelia, and One Allen Shaezar, knight of Astoria, under the roof of this very castle. As well as One Folken Strategos, a deserter of the Zaibach empire. Now, I would suggest that you surrender your queen right now." Samson hid his shock at the last few sentences. Strategos? So, Folken Fanel was a part of Zaibach... Taeami! He breathed in deeply, trying to hide his panic.

"You will never take our queen. As long as I live, as long as this palace stands, you will not touch her."

Dilandau shrugged. "Hmm, I see you're quite determined. Pity, it really is a beautiful country." he turned to the boys behind him. "Quickly, prepare Oreades." The five young men ran out of the room, and Dilandau followed at a leisurely pace. Samson stood for several seconds, and then tore off for another exit. By the time he got outside, Dilandau was climbing into his Guymelef.

"Goodbye, Commander!" He cried down at Samson, raising the large mechanical arm of his guymelef. Samson looked up in horror.

"Stop! You can't do this! We didn't know..." He stopped as Dilandau let loose a steady stream of fire at the castle. Samson dashed for the door, entering the burning palace and tearing through the halls at top speed. He rushed up four flights of stairs in a matter of seconds and was soon in the east turret, where the bell tower was located. The bell was only rung as a means of alerting the people of disaster and on particularly special occasions. Samson tugged several times on the long cord, the bell sounding thunderously right over his head. He leaned over the railing, expecting to see the town folks running from their houses, in panic, but instead he saw nothing but flames and Zaibach fleets. And then he remembered; the queen's birthday, one of the few occasions on which the bell was rung, was today. He buried his head in his hands. They were lost. Samson thought to himself that it was rather hot in this turret, and turned around to see a red glow advancing towards him up the stairs. He gasped as the fire came into view. He was trapped! He was pressed against the railing, trying desperately to think and seriously contemplating jumping when he heard the rush of a small motor behind him; the sound of one of the small two man airships that his army flew.

"Commander!" cried the pilot, opening the hatch, "Get in, Quickly!" It was Zypher. Samson stared in wonder for a few seconds and then jumped into the plane behind Zypher, still in shock.

"Alastyr... You saved my life... and at great personal risk. I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you for this."

Zypher shook his head. "Don't bother. That's my job, isn't it?"

"Your job, Alastyr, is to protect the queen."

He gave a little half smile. "And the queen needs you." He circled so that they were facing the palace. "Look what they've done," He said sadly. Samson's eyes went wide at how quickly the fire had spread. The whole countryside was ablaze. Zypher shook his head. "There's nothing left for us here. We must find the queen." Samson nodded bitterly, and Zypher flew of towards Astoria at top speed.

*****

By the time the sun had begun to dip below the horizon, the two soldiers had reached the outskirts of Astoria. They were flying over the dense woods only a short distance away from the castle when Zypher spoke up.

"Um... commander? There's something wrong with the engine... I'll have to land and take so we can take a look." Samson nodded wordlessly, and Zypher set the plane down in a clearing. The two men got out of the plane. Samson opened the engine compartment.

"Zypher," he said, turning around, "There's nothing wrong with..." He stopped as he saw his companion. Alastyr Zypher was standing behind him with his sword raised, an angry look on his face.

"Of course there isn't. But I couldn't very well kill you while we were in the air, now could I?" Samson looked at him in shock, his hand on the hilt of his own sword. Zypher laughed bitterly.

"I'm so sorry to do this, Commander,but I'm afraid it's the only way. We can't have you stealing all the credit again, now can we?"

Samson shook his head. "I don't understand."

"Don't you see? You're a hero, her 'knight in shining armor'! You're her favorite, Commander, she cares about you! But she never even notices me!" Samson thought he saw a tear in Zypher's eye as he said this. He shook his head again, amazed.

"Alastyr, How will killing me make her love you?"

Zypher grinned psychotically. "You see, she'll think you burned to death in the fire. I'll be the only thing she has left. She'll HAVE to love me."

"You're insane!" cried Samson. Zypher nodded.

"Probably," He said, swinging his sword. Samson dodged the blade and swung back at him.

"I don't want to hurt you, Alastyr!" He cried as he blocked the blade again. "Stop now and I'll let you live!" Zypher shook his head.

"I'm not afraid of you!" He jabbed his sword at Samson, this time striking the knight in his side. Samson winced as Zypher withdrew the blade from him. He lunged wildly at the younger man, who stood above him, cackling demonically. Samson fell on the ground and lay still as Zypher raised his sword to deliver a final blow.

"Long live the queen," whispered Samson as he opened his eyes and raised his blade straight up, impaling Zypher upon it as the tip of the younger man's sword came to rest inches from Samson's face. He squeezed his eyes shut and flung his sword to the ground, Zypher still hanging from the tip. He withdrew his sword from the young man's chest and heard a soft rattling sound as Zypher's lungs drew their last breath. Bleeding heavily from the side, Samson limped towards the airship and climbed in, taking off for central Astoria under the red glow of the setting sun.

*****

On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Taeami sat in the castle with Milerna and Van, laughing and talking happily. It was the first time she'd been together with other royalty, and for once in her life, she felt like a normal person, with no one praising her or waiting on her hand and foot. Folken had gone off to some place or another, and Hitomi and Allen were out watching the sunset. Merle was sitting on the floor at Van's feet. Taeami found herself wanting to stay there forever. There was a knock at the door, and a very panicked looking guard stepped inside.

"Your Majesty..." They all turned. The guard cleared his throat. "Princess Milerna... May I have a word with you?" Milerna got up from the couch looking quite irritated.

"Well?" she said walking over to the guard. "What is it?" Her eyes went wide as the guard whispered something in her ear. "No..." she breathed. "Are you sure?" The guard nodded. Milerna shut her eyes. "Taeami," she called weakly, "There's someone here to see you." Taeami got up from her chair.

"Really? But who could..." her smile faded as she saw the look on Milerna's face. Milerna ushered her into the hall. There, in front of them, stood a very battered and bloody Samson. Taeami drew in a sharp breath and ran to him, her eyes wide with panic.

"Samson! What on Gaea..." He reached out and touched her cheek with one bloody hand. Taeami gasped as he collapsed onto the floor. She spied the deep wound on his side. "Who did this? What's going on?" Samson breathed shallowly.

"The Zaibach..." he whispered. "They came... wanted you... I told them, I told them no, but they still insisted..."

She shook her head. "Why did you do that? I can take care of myself..."

He closed his eyes. "Fire... They burned everything... I couldn't make them stop..."

"No, no... you're delirious, Samson..." she shook her head stubbornly. "You're imagining things."

He touched her hair lovingly. "I tried to protect you... I'm so sorry."

She bit her lip, tears forming in her eyes. "It's not your fault... You didn't know..."

"At least I got to see you... before I..."

She shook her head, placing a finger over his lips. "No, don't even say it. You're fine, You'll be fine." she looked over her shoulder wildly. "Someone get a doctor!" Milerna stepped forward.

"I think I can help..." But Samson shook his head.

"It's too late. I failed you... I failed Tierania. I must suffer the consequences."

"No!" Taeami sobbed, "I don't care, you CAN'T leave! I need you, Samson."

He closed his eyes. "I needed you... But I was never the one... I'll always love you..." She shook her head.

"Don't say that... please... don't say that..."

"I love you, Taea..." He closed his eyes, his hand falling at his side.

"I love you," she echoed, falling dejectedly onto his lifeless body and sobbing. Van stepped forward and put an arm around her.

"Taea, he's gone. We'll get through this, I promise. You'll be fine." She whipped her head around towards him, her eyes full of sadness and anger.

"What do you know? You have your brother, you have your Fanelia, You have friends who care about you. What do I have now? This man was the only person who ever loved me, and now he's gone. What do you know?"

Van looked at her, still sympathetic. "There's something I never told you about Fanelia. It was destroyed, just as your country was, by Zaibach. And at that time, Folken was... not around. So I know how you feel, and believe me, it will get better." She looked at him in shock.

"Van, I... I'm so sorry, I didn't know." Van shrugged.

"Of course not, how could you possibly? Come on, you're shaking. Let's get you some place warm." He helped her up, and she leaned on him as they walked.

"Van?" she whispered.

"Hm?"

"What do I do now?" He looked down at her.

"You join us, help us fight the people that did this to you. Will you?" Taeami stood taller.

"What else can I do?" She sat down in front of the fire. "Tell me we'll destroy them."

Van nodded. "We will."

Suddenly, the door to the room flew open, and Folken burst in, followed by Milerna, who had just explained the situation to him. Van stepped away and Folken took his place beside Taeami.

"Taea," he whispered. She leaned against him, tears still spilling down her cheeks.

"He was in love with me, Folken." He nodded, staring into the fire.

"I know. Were you..."

She shook her head. "No. How could I have been? He was like my brother, my best friend." she sighed. "I never should have left."

Folken put his arms around her. "You can't blame yourself. I was the one that convinced you to go."

She shook her head. "Still, I shouldn't have come. It was irresponsible."

"You had no way of knowing." Taeami yawned. "You need to sleep," he said, pulling her to her feet. "Come on, I'll walk you to your room." She nodded, and the started off down the hall towards the guest rooms together. They reached the door of the room where she was staying and went inside. Folken lead her to the bed, where she sat down weakly. He kissed her fleetingly.

"Get some rest. The less you think about it, the better." He started to leave, and she grabbed his hands.

"Don't leave. Please, I don't want to be alone." He turned towards her.

"I have to show you something," he said, taking off his shirt. He looked down at the floor, and Taeami gasped as she saw what was happening. From Folken's back protruded two large, pitch black wings.

"Y-You're a..."

"Draconian?" He nodded. "Yes." he saw the look of shock on her face as she cautiously advanced towards him. "We're not as dangerous as people think," He said quietly. Taeami nodded as if she already knew. Her fingers stretched out and touched the soft black feathers, her face solemn. She placed one hand on his bare chest, right over his heart, and leaned against him.

"You're all I have left," she whispered. He stood still, staring straight ahead.

"I know how it feels to have nothing left. You're lucky, you didn't lose your soul when you lost your country." She looked up at him.

"No, I lost my soul to you."

He placed his hand over hers. "Then you haven't really lost it." she nodded, and then gingerly touched the place where his skin met the metal of his false arm.

"Did it hurt, when you lost it?" He paused, remembering.

"It was the worst pain I had experienced at that time, but far less intense than what was to come." She closed her eyes and kissed his shoulder just above the cold metal. He bent down and kissed her along the neckline of her dress, hearing her heart beat rapidly as he touched her. Their lips met, casting away all reservations. She began to unlace her top, and he grabbed her wrists, stopping her.

"You're sure?" He breathed hastily. She nodded and began working at the ribbons again as he kissed her neck. She freed herself from her gown and they collapsed on the bed, clinging needfully to each other, and Folken realized what was happening. He'd let her under his skin, let her get to him. For the first time in his life, he felt completely vulnerable. And at that moment he knew that he needed her more than anything else in the world.

"I won't hurt you," he whispered, and she nodded. She already knew.

*****

Van knocked on Taeami's door the next morning, wanting to help cheer her up. What a horrible way to spend your birthday, he thought. She could use a little fun. Maybe he and Merle could show her around the marketplace.

"Taeami? Are you in there?" He heard her mumble something, and then she opened the door a crack and peaked out at him squintily.

"Van?" she said sleepily. "Hey. What's up?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, just thought I'd see how you're doing. I'm going to the marketplace with Merle sometime today, and it would be great if you'd come with us. You'll like it."

She rubbed her eyes. "Hmm... I don't know, maybe. I'm really tired. Just let me wake up a bit, okay? I'll see you later." And she slammed the door, leaving Van alone in the empty hall.

Inside, Taeami walked back towards the bed, where Folken was lying under the covers, now wide awake.

"Was that Van?" she nodded. "What did he want?"

She shrugged. "Trying to cheer me up, I guess. He's a good guy, your brother."

Folken nodded. "I know." he gently caressed her arm. "Are you all right?"

Taeami looked at the floor. "I don't know... I guess I will be." She pulled her robe tighter around herself. "I'm just really... confused."

"Everyone's confused," he replied, pulling her against him. "Hitomi, Van, Merle, Milerna... even Allen Shaezar." She gave a small laugh at this. He brushed his lips over her forehead. "And Me. I'm confused by you." She furrowed her brow.

"Me? Why?"

"Because I've never needed anyone in my whole life, never felt open, vulnerable. Then you come along, and suddenly I'm dependent on you. You know when we first met? How I suggested we talk? Yeah, well I don't usually do that."

She raised an eyebrow. "What, talk?" He nodded.

"I never had anyone who would listen. You were so... unexpected."

"Um... thanks?"

"You know what I mean. I never in a million years thought I'd find someone I could spend forever with, but then..." She turned her head to face him.

"Wait, what did you just say? Someone you could spend FOREVER with? Do you mean that?"

He closed his eyes. "That wasn't supposed to come out. I'm sorry... I didn't mean to scare you..." Taeami shook her head.

"No, it's fine, I just, well... forever's a long time. I'd rather work with the rest of our lives, you know, just for now." Folken's eyes widened.

"Are you serious?"

She shot him a sarcastic look. "No, I'm playing another one of those characteristically cruel jokes, Folken. Of COURSE I'm serious."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Why are you doing this?"

She furrowed her brow. "Doing what?"

"Making me care."

"Because I have to." She kissed him, a deep, needy kiss, and when she pulled away, her eyes were full of pain and sadness.

"Folken, last night... that was something I've never done before. I was at the end of my rope, I just wanted to be loved. And at the same time, I knew it was right. But then, when we..." she stopped, and he touched her face in a comforting way. "I saw things, Folken, and felt things that I've never seen or felt before. I... I saw your past, felt your pain... and your loneliness. And Van. Your love for him, and how he hurts you, over and over, every day, without even knowing it. And I knew in that moment that I had to make you care, because... because I care about you so much." Tears had sprung to her eyes. Folken put his arms around her and held her as she cried. She looked into his face with tearful eyes.

"Please," she whispered. "I need you to care." He wiped away her tears and kissed her forehead.

"The day I got this arm, I became a monster. Since then, I isolated myself from warmth and feeling to the point where I'd forgotten what love was. Monsters don't have feelings, don't love. And I did things that only a monster could do. Then I repented, I tried to take back the things I'd done, and became 'good' again. But inside, I still felt like a monster. Until you." he looked into her eyes. "You make me feel human again, Taea."

She lay still and silent in his arms, feeling his heart beat against hers. "Don't leave me," she whispered suddenly, her eyes frantic. "Everyone who's ever cared for me has left me. Please, don't leave."

"I won't, I promise."

She nodded, pretending to be comforted, but she didn't relax.

Something was about to happen. She knew it.

*****

"He really cares about you, you know." Taeami tossed her shoes aside as she pulled up her skirt and waded into the foamy tide. Van threw a rock into the water with an angry air.

"I doubt it. Sometimes I wonder if he cares about anything at all." Taeami shot him a scornful look.

"Honestly, Van, You're so pessimistic! Were you like this as a child?" Van shook his head.

"No. I grew up."

"If I were you, I'd do a bit of un-growing."

Van fought back a smile. "Is that even a word?"

"DE-growing?" This time, Van laughed out loud. "No, but seriously," Taeami continued, wading further and further into the water, "There's no need to be so serious all the time. Besides, if you're like this at fifteen, what are you going to be like at fifty?"

"Okay, okay, so I need to loosen up. How do you suggest I do that, exactly?"

Taeami shrugged, then, without any warning, fell straight backwards into the water. Van jumped up and ran into the surf to see if she was all right, but he couldn't see through the thick whitecaps that the tide was creating. When she hadn't come up for about half a minute, Van began to panic and dove under the water after her. he came up for air a couple seconds later to find Taeami bobbing in front of him wearing a very soaked gown and a devious little grin.

"That's always a good start."

When Van's heart rate had returned to normal, he shook his head. "What the HELL was that? I thought you were drowning!!" She laughed.

"I can swim, Van, I'm only partially incompetent." She smoothed her hair away from her eyes. "It was nice of you to try and save me, although I have to say it strikes me as the kind of thing ALLEN would do. Chivalry and all that." This was the last straw. Van drew back and flung water at her as hard as he could, the large wave hitting her in the face.

"All right!" she sputtered happily, wiping the water out of her face. "See, wasn't that fun?" Van tried to keep glaring, but his mouth began to twitch at the corners, and pretty soon he was grinning like Taeami.

"Yeah, this is actually kind of AGHHHH!" He cried as a wave of water hit him in the face, knocking him over. He came up sputtering, his hair forming a dark curtain over both eyes. He shook his head, and when he could see again, he glared at Taeami with mock anger.

"THAT was a cheap shot."

"Honestly, you think you'd know to watch out for your opponent, what with all that combat training you've got!" she cried, sending him under again.

From a window overlooking the sea, Folken silently watched Taeami and his brother, wishing with all his heart that he could be a part of the scene before him.