(Back with Rinoa and Seifer at the party)
Seadon cannot be real?
By Renegade Seraph"My Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your Lord Almasy and Lady Heartily." A male voice announced from the side of them. Rinoa was glad that he had kept her name separate from her Lord's. She was not ready to be recognized as Lady Almasy quite yet. Seifer smiled down at her, as hard as she tried she could not help but smile back. Though she could tell that something was false, it was all going so well. The more she thought of it the more she realised it was true, why was he being so charming? Surely they would have quarrelled by now, and what about her plea to lower the taxes? She was expecting a bit more of a fight!
Seifer noticed the puzzled look on her face; desperately he searched for something to say. It was dangerous for her to be thinking, if she was to realise that she did not wish to marry him, then all his plans would be spoiled. He needed her to sign a marriage agreement; just that small signature would bind her to him until the wedding day.
"So…are you enjoying tonight?" Rinoa nodded, still deep in thought. Seifer looked worried, "Umm…shall we dance?" He asked, hoping for a more agreeable reply. Rinoa smiled and accepted.
"Yes it would be my pleasure" She lied, she wasn't so sure if she wanted to be here any more.
After a few dances Rinoa started to feel quite ill, all the worrying about this marriage was starting to effect her stomach, making her feel un well and light headed.
"Sir, I…I wish to go out side, if I may?" She asked, keeping her eyes away from Seifer.
"Of course, I shall escort you" He replied, linking her arm and leading her to the doorway. "But first I must ask you to do something for me." Rinoa looked at him puzzled.
He led her into a small side room. Rinoa looked around worryingly, it was awfully dark in here. Some candles were illuminating the back wall and giving the room a depressing feel.
"What is going on?" Rinoa asked angrily as the door was shut behind her.
"I need you to sign this" Seifer said handing her a scroll of paper. Rinoa tried to read it, but the light was too dim.
"What is it?" She asked. Squinting her eyes to try and make out some of the words.
I Rinoa Heartily sign this agreement and herby bind myself to my lord and master Seifer Almasy
She gasped. How dare he make me sign this? Does he not trust me? Rinoa's hands found themselves tightening their grip around the soft paper.
If I am found to be disloyal, then the spirit of Mecleck will dispense judgement
Rinoa's mouth fell open. This was going to far!
"My Lord what is the meaning of this?" Rinoa said speechlessly reading the words over again.
"Just reassurance on my part" Seifer smiled, trying his best to look unthreatening. Rinoa gave him a cold stare. "You will sign this document Lady. If you do not I will personally see that you and your family are left in ruins"
Whatever good opinions Rinoa had been forming about this man had suddenly been shattered.
"You cannot do that!" Rinoa exclaimed, "This has nothing to do with my family"
"I am the Lord I can do what ever I like!" Seifer said smugly. Rinoa saw a powerful glint of evil flash across his features. "Look why don't you just sign the paper, then we can all go back to pretending that we are having a good time" Rinoa nodded, tears falling slowly down her cheeks but she refused to cry in front of him. Holding the quill in her hand she dipped it into the black murky liquid. The ink soaked into the pen with impatient speed. This was the last chance she would get to refuse. No she had to do this. Maybe her father hadn't loved her as much as he should have, but he had never denied her anything and now it was her duty as a daughter to protect him. If she refused the Lord he would lose his home and everything he had worked so hard for. No she owed him more than that. She knew that he had not always been wealthy, everything he owned today had been slaved for, and to have that stolen from him because of her own stubbornness was not fair.
She blinked her tears away and stared down at that piece of paper. Her hand moved across it forming letters, why wouldn't it listen to her heart and not her mind?
The words;
Rinoa heartilyWere now soaking into the parchment. Rinoa threw the quill down onto the floor and stepped back from the scroll.
"Well done" Seifer said triumphantly and placing an arm around her shoulders. Rinoa cringed at his touch. "Let me take you outside" Seifer commanded rather than asked. Rinoa didn't reply but let herself be led outside.
As soon as they had stepped foot outside, someone came to give Seifer a message.
"My Lord, news from Sir Raijin" Seifer nodded and the messenger continued. "About the invasion plans" Seifer suddenly changed his composure from calm to concerned in a second. Rinoa looked at them with interest, Invasion plans? What were they?
"My Lady I must leave you, I hope you continue to have a pleasant evening," He said, quickly bowing and Turing his back on her. Rinoa's mouth dropped open in shock, no one turned their back on her!
"I will my lord, do not worry yourself about it" She said sarcastically, Seifer turned back as though he was going to answer, but obviously thought better of it and walked off. Rinoa stuck her tongue out his retreating back.
She was about to leave when she had a better idea. Sneaking around the back of a bush she listened to the two men talking.
"So the army is ready Zilch?" Seifer asked the tall spidery looking man.
"Yes my lord, Sir Raijin says Seadon has no idea of the planned attack, and that the army will be ready in two weeks," Seifer laughed as the same evil smile filled his lips.
"Then we will see how easily Mighty Seadon falls to Equidor"
Rinoa stood in the dimming evening light shocked. Not only was she frightened about this war they were waging, but Seadon? It couldn't be real. Seadon was just a place in fairy stories. All children were taught that it was a myth. Never in her life would she have dreamed it was real. No she couldn't believe it, it wasn't real she had just misheard them talking. She decided on that explanation and left her hiding place and to explore the gardens.
The silver fountain, which stood in the centre of the courtyard, was tonight spraying its crystal waters high in to the darkened sky with pride. Rinoa looked at it with disgust, there would have been a time, not that long ago, when she would have stopped to admire it's beauty. But no more, never again would she approve of anything that was connected with Seifer.
As she listened she could hear voices, children's voices coming from behind a wall. She searched the ivy hanging down from it until she found a door. Slowly she turned the handle and pushed. The door opened more easily that imagined and it sent her stumbling to find her balance. But she was nearer the voices now, happy voices and laughter, something she had not heard in a long time.
"Hello?" she said, to a small boy and girl sitting on a flower covered bench.
"Who are you?" The boy asked standing up, and pointing a wooden sword in her direction.
"My name is Rinoa, what is yours?" The boy thought about this, debating whether or not to tell her.
"Marcus, and this is Demie," He said pointing to the blonde girl reading a book. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just walking" Rinoa replied simply. She remembered that most children liked straightforward answers. But it seemed that Marcus didn't.
"In the palace gardens?" He asked suspiciously.
"Yes I was at the ball" This caught the attention of the younger girl.
"At the ball?" She asked wide-eyed.
"Yes at the ball" Rinoa laughed at their interest.
"Are yoo a ladee then?" Demie asked still impressed.
"Yes I am a lady" Rinoa replied laughing again.
"I wish I cood go" Demie said standing up and picking some flowers. Marcus laughed.
"You can't go, you're to young!" He said standing up as tall as he could go "But I am 10 I can go" he said proudly, snatching the flowers from Demie.
"Hey!" She cried, but Marcus ignored her.
"My Lady Rinoa" He said sweeping down into low bow and handing her the flowers "let me take you to the ball" Rinoa smiled, these children were so cute.
"Why Sir Marcus I would be honoured" She said curtsying. Marcus led her over to where they had been sitting.
"Where are yoo from ladee Winoa?" Demie asked sitting back down and picking her book back up.
"Mapletown about 5miles north of here. Where do you come from?" Rinoa asked curiously.
"Seadon" Marcus said practicing his sword fighting on a flower.
"S…Seadon?" Rinoa asked.
"Yes Seadon" A male voice spoke from the shadows. As he walked out he called for the children to come with him. "I do hope these two haven't been bothering you my lady?" he asked.
"No not at all. But excuse me you come from Seadon?" Rinoa asked still amazed.
"Yes what is so astonishing about that?" he asked.
"But it isn't real!" Rinoa exclaimed. Now it was the man's turn to be shocked.
"Of course it is! Here look," He said grabbing Demie's book and handing it to Rinoa. She gazed at it open mouthed.
"No this cannot be, this is real?" She said looking at painting of green fields and little cottages. The real shock came when she turned the page and saw a painting of the castle. "My goodness!" She exclaimed.
"Quite a pretty picture isn't it?"
"It sure is, who lives there?" Rinoa asked staring at the beautiful picture.
"Lord Leonhart, see here is a picture of him, he was 16 then, hasn't changed much, well… maybe a little taller" Rinoa stared at the picture before her. Her mind drifted, Lord Leonhart if only you would save me! "My daughter still lives there you know, Selphies's her name." Rinoa listened politely but her thoughts where drawn to the blue eyed man in the painting. Suddenly something occurred to her.
"Oh my, if Seadon is real then it is in terrible danger!" the man stopped talking and listened attentively "Equidor is to attack in 2 weeks, we must warn them!" The man's face turned pale.
"How do you know this?" He asked.
"I heard Lord Almasy discuss it. I was not meant to hear though, but it seems that Seadon has no idea about the planned attack."
"I shall ride right away and inform my Lord, Thank you lady," He said taking his children's hands and pulling them home.
"But what of your picture book?" Rinoa shouted at their disappearing forms.
"Keep picture book Winoa" Demie called to her as she was taken home.
Well there we go, that's chapter 6 done, phew! I kind of did a dramatic change from the scene I was going to write but I think it is working???? Is it????? I dunno you tell me ~^-^~
Next chapter: Squall is told about the Equidor invasion plans, what is he going to do? (Well I know but he doesn't yet. Ha ha) But I can tell you that squall will be making his way to Equidor shortly, so if anyone is waiting for Squall and Rinoa to meet it wont be long now!
Thank you to all my reviewers; Person37, Solsethegreat, Phoenix Blade, REM, tigerofthewind and Riter544. Thank you guys and gals.
Oh yes before I forget, the poll is still open for who Selphie should fall in love with. I have had lots of votes already and thanks to those people. You can vote again if ya like. The choices are:
Selphie x Zell
Selphie x IrvineSelphie x Seifer