Chapter 12- Let Me Protect You
Celes didn't know it at first, but she and Terra slept for days after the incident at the caves. While they rested peacefully, Edgar would quietly run things in the kingdom as normal, but his heart was filled with sorrow and concern for his two beautiful friends. Locke, on the other hand, did nothing but waunder around Figaro, and didn't come back half of the time to sleep or to eat. He felt horrible for Terra, but even worse for Celes. All he could do was blame himself--how he had been the one who left her alone.
When Celes woke up, it was a rainy, bitter day in Figaro. Terra had recovered only a few hours earlier, and Celes was surprised to see an unfamiliar face in their room. The person looked to Celes, and smiled. It was a woman in her middle ages, with auburn hair pulled back in a bun and silver spectacles resting on her nose.
"Hello, Celes, I'm doctor Andrews." She said. "I'm sure you must be surprised to be here. Do you remember anything from before?"
Celes blinked and sat up, ignoring the doctor for a moment, and scanning the room. She found another bed, slightly unmade, beside hers, and found herself wrapped up completely in bandages from around her back to her chest. Celes was in nothing but her panties and the tight bandages! Suddenly embarassed, she pulled the covers up high around her.
"Where's Terra?" Celes questioned.
"Terra? Oh yes, she just left to go to the bathroom." Dr. Andrews replied. "She came to a little bit before you did. It was expected though. You lost alot more blood...you've been asleep for a good week, you know."
"A week?!" Celes cried.
"Yes, apparently, the monster you two got involved with has a powerful sleeping suppliment in it's claws, that sorts of acts like venom, only it puts it's opponents to sleep instead of poisoning them. That's why you were alseep so long."
Celes' mind flew back to when she had escaped with Terra, and how drowsy and out of it she had felt. This confirmed what Dr.Andrews had said.
"But, what about Locke, and Elizabeth!?" Celes burst out. "Who found us? How bad were the injuries? What's going on now?!"
Dr.Andrews actually chuckled at this.
"I'm sure your friends will give you more of the answers I could." She said. "Perhaps you should get dressed and try to find them. Although, for your diagnosis, I can tell you that you and your friend lost drastic amounts of blood, enough to kill. If I didn't see you when I did, you might be goners now."
"Well, thank you Doctor." Celes said quickly, and crawled out of bed. She made a face as the doctor laughed at her some more.
"Do I have to keep these on?" Celes questioned, and tugged at a bandage.
"Goodness, yes!" Dr.Andrews cried. "You'll need those on for the next 5 days or so, at least."
"But..." Celes protested. "What...am I supposed to do...well, you know, for support?"
The Doctor raised her eyebrows. "Pardon?"
Celes turned red. "What about my damn chest and my bra!?"
Right then, Terra entered the room, wearing a big, white, button down shirt that looked like it belonged to Edgar. She smiled and giggled a little.
"Celes!" She exclaimed. "You have awoken..."
"Yeah..." Celes said, and grabbed a blanket from the bed to cover up a little.
"It's alright." Terra blushed some. "Nothing I haven't seen myself."
"To answer your question..." Dr.Andrews interrupted, "You'll just have to dress comfortably and be patient. And when I say be patient, I also mean that both of you girls need to restrain yourselves from a lot of physical contact...."
"Ok, we get the point." Celes snapped, thinking on how she wouldn't have that problem anyway...
"Celes, thanks for saving me...before." Terra offered. "You certainly took a beating for that..."
"It's no problem." Celes smiled. "I know you would do the same for me."
"As I know I would also." Terra replied. "By the way, I have seen Sabin and Edgar, but no sign of Locke anywhere. Do you know where he went off to?"
"No clue." Celes said. "But if I can find some clothes, maybe I could find him..."
**********
Celes managed to pull an outfit together consisting of a too-small muscle shirt that Edgar had bought Sabin for a birthday, and a pair of too-long pants. Celes felt totally ridiculous, but it would do. She also managed to find a cloak in case she would have to go outside in the nasty weather. After brushing her hair and cleaning her face, she left the wing she was in of the castle and went downstairs to find Edgar.
The first room she came across was apparently the conference room. Celes leaned her ear up against it and listened. She heard several voices, including Edgar's and Sabin's. They were discussing something about taxes in Figaro for wealthier citizens. Celes decided that her issues were more important, and barged in. Edgar looked up surprised, while Sabin froze in the middle of launching a paper airplane that would be heading straight for Chancellor's head. Chancellor set down his paper and feather pen, and bowed to Celes.
"Good to see you are well, Miss Chere." He commented.
"CELES!" Edgar and Sabin cried in unison.
"Hello." Celes said quickly, and bowed the best she could. "Please, I'm here to inquire about..."
"Locke?" Edgar asked. "I figured. He hasn't been around too much lately...I wish I coud tell you where to find him."
"We told the fool to stay here, but he wouldn't listen." Sabin barked. "Can you believe it?"
"Perhaps Mr. Cole had his own reasons for departing." Chancellor said. Celes just stood there and stared at all of them.
"Do you suppose he is in town?" Celes asked.
"Possibly..." Edgar replied. "But you are in no condition to..."
"I'll be back, promise!" Celes cried, and rushed out of the room before Edgar could utter another word. She burst out of the castle, and saw for herself what a crappy day it was. Rain was pouring down everywhere, and large, sandy puddles were forming in the desert surrounding the palace. Celes slipped her hood on over her head, and took off for the city.
"Locke..." she whispered. "Where are you? Do you know how I dreamed of you while I was asleep? You were the only thing on my mind..."
When Celes reached the city, she found the streets deserted except for a few sailors and merchants scrambling about the harbor, covering merchandise. Celes ran into the first building she found, which was an Inn. Panting, she slipped her hood down, and the innkeeper gave her a weird look.
"What are you doin' outside?" He said. "You could catch your death out there, young lady."
"I know." Celes replied, and shook her head. "Please, can you tell me if a man has been here recently? A Locke Cole?"
"Heh....yeah." The innkeeper said. "What are you, his little sister or somethin'? You look worried sick."
"I'm....a friend." Celes said. "Where is he now?!"
"He's been staying here for the past few days." The man said. "I dunno where you'll find him though."
"Oh..." Celes said, and stomped her foot.
"That guy, I can tell, has been drinking though." He said. "Comes here wasted just about everytime. Bet you'll find him at the pub."
"Oh, god..." Celes muttered, and slipped her hood on again."Thanks..."
"You're goin' out again!?" He exclaimed. Celes nodded, and left.
"Locke, you idiot." She muttered when she reached the pub. she walked in, but kept her hood on. She didn't really want to be seen for some reason right then.
She walked over to the bartender, and asked him if Locke was there.
"Who's Locke?" He asked dumbly.
"Ummm, tall, light brown hair, always wears this blue bandana..."
Someone suddenly tapped Celes on the shoulder, and she whirled around only to see a stranger.
"I know who you mean." He said. "I've talked to him a few times."
Celes pulled down her hood out of respect for the person who was supplying the information. He stared at her hard, and nodded.
"Yeah, and I bet you're Celes, right?" He questioned.
"Wha!?" Celes turned red. How did he know about her? "Erm, no, I'm Terra..."
"Oh, pardon." The man replied. "Anyway, Terra, your friend has been terribly upset for some time over you and that Celes girl. He's been going on and on about you two every night now....how he let you down or something like that?"
"You have the right idea." Celes replied, quickly agreeing so that he might talk more, although she herself did not feel he had let her down...
"Yeah...well...." the man hesitated before he spoke more. "Locke here has been going on about Celes the most, like she was his long lost love or something..."
Celes peered at the man to see if he was sober.
"....been tellin him to just go to her already, but he doesn't listen...maybe you can talk some sense into him, Terra? He's outside, in the back, I believe. I think he got ill. You should really take your friend back home."
"Aha, yes, thank you." Celes replied. "I shall do that."
Celes walked out the back door, and found what she had been looking for. Sitting on the back steps, the rain mercilessly pouring upon his head, was Locke. From what Celes could see from behind, his head was burried in his hands. She took a deep breath, and sat beside him on the wet steps. It took him a moment before he actually responded and looked up at her. His soft brown eyes widened, and he blinked a few times, pushing wet hair out of his eyes.
"Celes....?" He asked softly.
"Locke..." Celes replied, and felt her heartbeat race again. She slipped her hand over his, and felt that it was ice-cold. She bit her lower lip.
Locke turned away so that she couldn't see him.
"Locke, don't..." Celes said, and used her other hand to gently turn his head back towards her. "Don't.....deny me of what I've been wanting to see...."
Locke sighed. "How did you find me?"
"It was fairly simple." Celes replied. "But what in God's name are you doing out here? You'll catch your death! Why arn't you back at Figaro?"
"Because I was...afraid."
"Afraid?"
"Of seeing you the way you were." Locke answered. "You see...when I found you, you were half-out of it, still clinging to Terra. You collapsed in my arms, and I saw your wounds.....I took you both back immediately, and we found a doctor. She said that Terra had a much better chance of survival then you...because you had managed to treat her wounds somewhat..."
Celes gasped a little.
"When they cleaned you up, I simply stood there, staring at you. You didn't look like Celes. You looked like some sort of pained spirit...and I had caused it by leaving you alone..."
"Locke."
"So I left, because I couldn't stand it anymore, seeing you like that...I'm sorry Celes, I'm sorry I left you."
"Locke!" Celes cried, and narrowed her eyes. Locke looked surprised.
"Yes?"
"You didn't leave me behind, I asked you to!" Celes cried. "What happened wasn't your fault at all. It was no one's, alright? You.....you need to come back with me to Figaro. I'm ok. Look at me! Tell me that I'm ok!"
Locke blinked. "Well, you DO look alright..."
"See?" Celes said. "We shouldn't bring this up anymore..." Suddenly, to Celes' surprise, Locke grabbed her and embraced her in a tight hug. Celes gasped again, especially when she felt his lips on her hair...
"Celes, I'm still sorry." He whispered. "No matter what you say, I will always be sorry. But...I swear, to never leave your side again. I realized...in my absense from the palace, how much you meant to me."
Celes closed her eyes and tried to calm her quickening breath.
"You're....you're my best friend..."
Celes suddenly stopped breathing all together, and blinked.
"What?" She whispered.
"You're my best friend." Locke said, in a stronger tone this time...
Celes didn't know it at first, but she and Terra slept for days after the incident at the caves. While they rested peacefully, Edgar would quietly run things in the kingdom as normal, but his heart was filled with sorrow and concern for his two beautiful friends. Locke, on the other hand, did nothing but waunder around Figaro, and didn't come back half of the time to sleep or to eat. He felt horrible for Terra, but even worse for Celes. All he could do was blame himself--how he had been the one who left her alone.
When Celes woke up, it was a rainy, bitter day in Figaro. Terra had recovered only a few hours earlier, and Celes was surprised to see an unfamiliar face in their room. The person looked to Celes, and smiled. It was a woman in her middle ages, with auburn hair pulled back in a bun and silver spectacles resting on her nose.
"Hello, Celes, I'm doctor Andrews." She said. "I'm sure you must be surprised to be here. Do you remember anything from before?"
Celes blinked and sat up, ignoring the doctor for a moment, and scanning the room. She found another bed, slightly unmade, beside hers, and found herself wrapped up completely in bandages from around her back to her chest. Celes was in nothing but her panties and the tight bandages! Suddenly embarassed, she pulled the covers up high around her.
"Where's Terra?" Celes questioned.
"Terra? Oh yes, she just left to go to the bathroom." Dr. Andrews replied. "She came to a little bit before you did. It was expected though. You lost alot more blood...you've been asleep for a good week, you know."
"A week?!" Celes cried.
"Yes, apparently, the monster you two got involved with has a powerful sleeping suppliment in it's claws, that sorts of acts like venom, only it puts it's opponents to sleep instead of poisoning them. That's why you were alseep so long."
Celes' mind flew back to when she had escaped with Terra, and how drowsy and out of it she had felt. This confirmed what Dr.Andrews had said.
"But, what about Locke, and Elizabeth!?" Celes burst out. "Who found us? How bad were the injuries? What's going on now?!"
Dr.Andrews actually chuckled at this.
"I'm sure your friends will give you more of the answers I could." She said. "Perhaps you should get dressed and try to find them. Although, for your diagnosis, I can tell you that you and your friend lost drastic amounts of blood, enough to kill. If I didn't see you when I did, you might be goners now."
"Well, thank you Doctor." Celes said quickly, and crawled out of bed. She made a face as the doctor laughed at her some more.
"Do I have to keep these on?" Celes questioned, and tugged at a bandage.
"Goodness, yes!" Dr.Andrews cried. "You'll need those on for the next 5 days or so, at least."
"But..." Celes protested. "What...am I supposed to do...well, you know, for support?"
The Doctor raised her eyebrows. "Pardon?"
Celes turned red. "What about my damn chest and my bra!?"
Right then, Terra entered the room, wearing a big, white, button down shirt that looked like it belonged to Edgar. She smiled and giggled a little.
"Celes!" She exclaimed. "You have awoken..."
"Yeah..." Celes said, and grabbed a blanket from the bed to cover up a little.
"It's alright." Terra blushed some. "Nothing I haven't seen myself."
"To answer your question..." Dr.Andrews interrupted, "You'll just have to dress comfortably and be patient. And when I say be patient, I also mean that both of you girls need to restrain yourselves from a lot of physical contact...."
"Ok, we get the point." Celes snapped, thinking on how she wouldn't have that problem anyway...
"Celes, thanks for saving me...before." Terra offered. "You certainly took a beating for that..."
"It's no problem." Celes smiled. "I know you would do the same for me."
"As I know I would also." Terra replied. "By the way, I have seen Sabin and Edgar, but no sign of Locke anywhere. Do you know where he went off to?"
"No clue." Celes said. "But if I can find some clothes, maybe I could find him..."
**********
Celes managed to pull an outfit together consisting of a too-small muscle shirt that Edgar had bought Sabin for a birthday, and a pair of too-long pants. Celes felt totally ridiculous, but it would do. She also managed to find a cloak in case she would have to go outside in the nasty weather. After brushing her hair and cleaning her face, she left the wing she was in of the castle and went downstairs to find Edgar.
The first room she came across was apparently the conference room. Celes leaned her ear up against it and listened. She heard several voices, including Edgar's and Sabin's. They were discussing something about taxes in Figaro for wealthier citizens. Celes decided that her issues were more important, and barged in. Edgar looked up surprised, while Sabin froze in the middle of launching a paper airplane that would be heading straight for Chancellor's head. Chancellor set down his paper and feather pen, and bowed to Celes.
"Good to see you are well, Miss Chere." He commented.
"CELES!" Edgar and Sabin cried in unison.
"Hello." Celes said quickly, and bowed the best she could. "Please, I'm here to inquire about..."
"Locke?" Edgar asked. "I figured. He hasn't been around too much lately...I wish I coud tell you where to find him."
"We told the fool to stay here, but he wouldn't listen." Sabin barked. "Can you believe it?"
"Perhaps Mr. Cole had his own reasons for departing." Chancellor said. Celes just stood there and stared at all of them.
"Do you suppose he is in town?" Celes asked.
"Possibly..." Edgar replied. "But you are in no condition to..."
"I'll be back, promise!" Celes cried, and rushed out of the room before Edgar could utter another word. She burst out of the castle, and saw for herself what a crappy day it was. Rain was pouring down everywhere, and large, sandy puddles were forming in the desert surrounding the palace. Celes slipped her hood on over her head, and took off for the city.
"Locke..." she whispered. "Where are you? Do you know how I dreamed of you while I was asleep? You were the only thing on my mind..."
When Celes reached the city, she found the streets deserted except for a few sailors and merchants scrambling about the harbor, covering merchandise. Celes ran into the first building she found, which was an Inn. Panting, she slipped her hood down, and the innkeeper gave her a weird look.
"What are you doin' outside?" He said. "You could catch your death out there, young lady."
"I know." Celes replied, and shook her head. "Please, can you tell me if a man has been here recently? A Locke Cole?"
"Heh....yeah." The innkeeper said. "What are you, his little sister or somethin'? You look worried sick."
"I'm....a friend." Celes said. "Where is he now?!"
"He's been staying here for the past few days." The man said. "I dunno where you'll find him though."
"Oh..." Celes said, and stomped her foot.
"That guy, I can tell, has been drinking though." He said. "Comes here wasted just about everytime. Bet you'll find him at the pub."
"Oh, god..." Celes muttered, and slipped her hood on again."Thanks..."
"You're goin' out again!?" He exclaimed. Celes nodded, and left.
"Locke, you idiot." She muttered when she reached the pub. she walked in, but kept her hood on. She didn't really want to be seen for some reason right then.
She walked over to the bartender, and asked him if Locke was there.
"Who's Locke?" He asked dumbly.
"Ummm, tall, light brown hair, always wears this blue bandana..."
Someone suddenly tapped Celes on the shoulder, and she whirled around only to see a stranger.
"I know who you mean." He said. "I've talked to him a few times."
Celes pulled down her hood out of respect for the person who was supplying the information. He stared at her hard, and nodded.
"Yeah, and I bet you're Celes, right?" He questioned.
"Wha!?" Celes turned red. How did he know about her? "Erm, no, I'm Terra..."
"Oh, pardon." The man replied. "Anyway, Terra, your friend has been terribly upset for some time over you and that Celes girl. He's been going on and on about you two every night now....how he let you down or something like that?"
"You have the right idea." Celes replied, quickly agreeing so that he might talk more, although she herself did not feel he had let her down...
"Yeah...well...." the man hesitated before he spoke more. "Locke here has been going on about Celes the most, like she was his long lost love or something..."
Celes peered at the man to see if he was sober.
"....been tellin him to just go to her already, but he doesn't listen...maybe you can talk some sense into him, Terra? He's outside, in the back, I believe. I think he got ill. You should really take your friend back home."
"Aha, yes, thank you." Celes replied. "I shall do that."
Celes walked out the back door, and found what she had been looking for. Sitting on the back steps, the rain mercilessly pouring upon his head, was Locke. From what Celes could see from behind, his head was burried in his hands. She took a deep breath, and sat beside him on the wet steps. It took him a moment before he actually responded and looked up at her. His soft brown eyes widened, and he blinked a few times, pushing wet hair out of his eyes.
"Celes....?" He asked softly.
"Locke..." Celes replied, and felt her heartbeat race again. She slipped her hand over his, and felt that it was ice-cold. She bit her lower lip.
Locke turned away so that she couldn't see him.
"Locke, don't..." Celes said, and used her other hand to gently turn his head back towards her. "Don't.....deny me of what I've been wanting to see...."
Locke sighed. "How did you find me?"
"It was fairly simple." Celes replied. "But what in God's name are you doing out here? You'll catch your death! Why arn't you back at Figaro?"
"Because I was...afraid."
"Afraid?"
"Of seeing you the way you were." Locke answered. "You see...when I found you, you were half-out of it, still clinging to Terra. You collapsed in my arms, and I saw your wounds.....I took you both back immediately, and we found a doctor. She said that Terra had a much better chance of survival then you...because you had managed to treat her wounds somewhat..."
Celes gasped a little.
"When they cleaned you up, I simply stood there, staring at you. You didn't look like Celes. You looked like some sort of pained spirit...and I had caused it by leaving you alone..."
"Locke."
"So I left, because I couldn't stand it anymore, seeing you like that...I'm sorry Celes, I'm sorry I left you."
"Locke!" Celes cried, and narrowed her eyes. Locke looked surprised.
"Yes?"
"You didn't leave me behind, I asked you to!" Celes cried. "What happened wasn't your fault at all. It was no one's, alright? You.....you need to come back with me to Figaro. I'm ok. Look at me! Tell me that I'm ok!"
Locke blinked. "Well, you DO look alright..."
"See?" Celes said. "We shouldn't bring this up anymore..." Suddenly, to Celes' surprise, Locke grabbed her and embraced her in a tight hug. Celes gasped again, especially when she felt his lips on her hair...
"Celes, I'm still sorry." He whispered. "No matter what you say, I will always be sorry. But...I swear, to never leave your side again. I realized...in my absense from the palace, how much you meant to me."
Celes closed her eyes and tried to calm her quickening breath.
"You're....you're my best friend..."
Celes suddenly stopped breathing all together, and blinked.
"What?" She whispered.
"You're my best friend." Locke said, in a stronger tone this time...