By Renegade Seraph
Rinoa flicked the hook off of the side of the balcony careful not to let Seifer see what she was doing. It landed with a clang on the ground, shortly followed by a yell. Seifer looked over at her questionably, as Rinoa tried her best to look innocent. Sneaking a look over the edge, she caught sight of a blonde man hoping around holding his foot. A girl in a yellow dress was now telling people off for laughing. Rinoa smiled guiltily.
Seifer made himself comfortable on a chair and beckoned Rinoa out of the balcony doorway. She came away from it reluctantly and sat on her bed.
"Lady Rinoa, our wedding is in a few days and already the invitations have gone out." Seifer began, Rinoa looked at him hard, as if to say 'so?' "But many guests have been asking that we celebrate with a ball."
Rinoa looked up, not another ball.
"I have hired a band to play for us, I hope you will approve of my choice." Seifer said smugly. Rinoa resisted the temptation to smirk.
"I'm sure it will be wonderful My Lord," She said politely. Seifer's smug smile grew bigger.
"Good good, the engagement party will be tomorrow evening, I shall have a carriage collect you at six. I have arranged for a dressmaker to be here soon to fit you to a gown I have picked out." Seifer said standing up. Rinoa nodded slowly. "I will now leave you My Lady, as I have pressing matters."
Rinoa couldn't help the lifting feeling in her heart as soon as he said he was leaving. Smiling she curtsied to him.
"Goodbye My Lord" She said as pleasantly as she could. Seifer kissed her hand and left. As soon as the door shut she ran to the window, but there was no longer anybody there. Sighing she rang the bell for dinner.
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"Squall, you sure cut that close. You only just made it out of there!" Irvine exclaimed.
"Well I got what I went up there for" Squall said. Irvine winked and elbowed him. Squall gave him an annoyed glare and rubbed his ribs.
"She pretty?" Irvine asked.
"Well of course she was, or he wouldn't have been up there so long!" Zell said, joining into Irvine's game and winking at Squall. Squall was starting to get annoyed.
"Shut it Zell or I'll stamp on your foot!" Squall warned. Zell pulled his foot away from Squall defensively. Squall smiled.
"You wouldn't dare!" Zell said worried. He wasn't sure if Squall would or not. Squall didn't answer, instead sat there in silence.
"Is he always so quiet?" Selphie whispered into Zell's ear.
"Most of the time, hardly even smiles, laughs, talks. I'm not even sure if he's alive!" Zell whispered back, Squall raised his eyebrow at the two whispering people. Selphie giggled.
Selphie and Zell spent the next few hours down in the bar eating. Leaving Squall and Irvine to talk.
"This room is pretty nice don't you think?" Irvine asked, unsure what he should say. Squall just shrugged.
"It's alright," He replied after awhile. Irvine cursed himself, of course Squall didn't like the room, he was probably used to walls made of solid gold and diamond chandeliers, or whatever rich people have. Irvine blew air out of his cheeks and searched for something else to say. Squall seemed to be thinking and he didn't want to disturb him, but sitting in silence was stupid.
"So um, do you often go to my bar?" Irvine asked, hoping not to annoy him. Squall looked at him, the question seemed to be registering in his mind as he thought about answering.
"Now and again. It's usually Zell's idea." Squall said. He still wasn't sure about this man, though his opinion of him had improved after Irvine had managed to find somewhere for them to stable their horses.
"Has Zell been your butler long?" Irvine asked trying again to make conversation.
"Two years, he's um not your conventional butler." Squall said smiling. Irvine laughed.
"Nah, I can believe it. I'm surprised you haven't fired him yet!" Irvine said laughing. Squall smiled.
"It is amazing I know, but I couldn't fire him he's great fun to annoy" Squall said laughing. "He gets so mad and starts flailing his arms around everywhere."
"You get on quite well," Irvine said. Squall shrugged.
"Guess so. I suppose we must have something in common, though I don't believe we've found it yet." Squall answered. Irvine smiled.
The door was flung open, and a very hyper Selphie bounced in.
"Heeey…How ya doing?" She said jumping around.
"Did Zell give you a drink?" Irvine asked. Selphie nodded and jumped onto the bed.
"RUM!" She squealed into the covers. Squall shook his head.
"Where is Zell?" Squall asked. Selphie sprung back up.
"He's 'hick' downstairs, the same men 'hick' that took him down… are going to carrying him back up. 'hick' he can't walk" Selphie slurred.
"He can't walk." Squall repeated, "Is that because he has a bad foot or just because he's drunk?" Squall asked Irvine. Irvine rolled his eyes and laughed.
"A little of both I bet!" Irvine said laughing; as the two men went down to collect him.
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In The Bar
A wave of smoke and fumes of beer hit their noses. Squall pushed his way over to where most people where gathered, there seemed to be something going on.
Irvine made his way to the front of the crowd before Squall. Squall who was behind him saw Irvine stop and clutch his stomach, bending double in laughter.
"No way, Squall you got to see this!" he said though tears of laughter. Squall pushed his way around Irvine, only to see the funniest thing ever. A pair of legs, which could only be Zell's where sticking out of the wall.
"What on earth is he doing?" Squall asked.
"No idea lets just get him upstairs." Irvine suggested. Squall nodded and started pulling him out of the wall.
"I am not going to let you live this one down Zell!" Squall said annoyed with having to carry him up the stairs.
The next morning the gang where wakened up, by Selphie falling out of bed.
"Ouchies!" She exclaimed. "Ooh my head hurts, well at least I don't have a hangover!" She said happily, and then raised her hand into a stop position to prevent the others from talking. She waited for a while before continuing. "Nope, don't feel sick. Hooray!"
"Speak for yourself!" Zell said rubbing his head. "I need some more sleep."
Selphie looked around.
"Where is Squall?" She asked. Irvine looked over to where he was sleeping last night.
"I don't know, walking maybe. I'd like to think he has gone to get us some breakfast" Irvine replied licking his lips. Selphie yawned.
"Yes breakfast would be good," She agreed.
As soon as she finished her sentence, the door opened and Squall walked in carrying some sort of bag. Selphie cheered.
"Squall I love you! Irvine he did bring food" She shouted happily, grabbing the bag and emptying it onto the table. "Yummy bacon, eggs, sausages…." Selphie said. Naming everything that came out of the bag. Squall left her to it.
"We need to talk." He said. Selphie and Irvine nodded. After the breakfast was eaten, they sat around the small wooden table that was in the corner.
"Lady Heartilly didn't know much, but she was able to tell me something that maybe useful." Squall began. Zell wandered over to the table and grabbed a plate of bacon sandwiches on the way. "She told me of something called the Dragon Eye Staff. Apparently this whole country is run under the control of one single lord, who posses the Staff. It is believed that the staff gives the holder power, so therefore break the Staff and the ruler becomes helpless." Squall explained to their eager faces.
"So all we have to do is break this Staff thing?" Selphie asked.
"Basically, yes." Squall replied.
"Sounds easy, lets go!" Selphie said standing up. Squall shook his head. "Okay, what's the catch?"
"I don't know where it is." Squall replied. Selphie looked at him surprised. "But Lady Heartilly says she will find where it is"
"Hmm so where relying on this Heartilly to help us. Are you sure she can be trusted Squall? I heard today that she was going to marry this Lord who we are trying to defeat, surely this makes her an enemy." Irvine said. Squall shook his head.
"No, I trust her and besides, what else can we do?" Squall said. Irvine sighed.
"Well I hope you know what you are doing Squall!" Irvine warned. Squall nodded.
"So what you are saying is, we have to wait?" Selphie asked.
"Yes, we will wait until Lady Heartilly is taken out of the tower to the palace. Then we will follow her, once she has found it she will tell us" Squall replied. No more questions were asked after that and Squall was left to make more plans.
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"There!" the dressmaker exclaimed, "perfect"
Rinoa whirled around in her dress.
"Good job I came here to get the fittings last night, or we would have been really pushed for time!" The lady said, admiring the dress. Rinoa nodded. She could hear a carriage being stopped outside. Sighing she walked over to the door, a few days in this room had been more than enough and she was glad to be leaving. But on the other hand she would much rather stay.
Squall observed the carriage outside of the tower. He had already sent Irvine to get the horses ready. The Rinoa looked like she was dressed for something important, so Squall had decided to wear his more presentable clothing. Wherever she was going, at least he would look as though he was meant to be there too. Watching the carriage drive off he called for the others. They finally set off half an hour later, as it seemed that a pretty barmaid had sidetracked Irvine on the way to the stables. After riding for a hour it was starting to get dark, but they carried on. Eventually reaching the palace.
The party was in full swing when they arrived, Squall had had no trouble with them letting him in. Clearly his clothes had talked for him as he was dressed well enough to rival even Lord Almasy. The man on the door asked whom he would like to be announced as. Squall thought for a moment, and then decided to be bold.
"Lord Leonhart" He replied. He knew his name would be safe, as it was hardly connected at all to his father's. The man led him though the mass of people mingling and eating, to Seifer. Squall stood in front of him; Seifer took no notice of him. Rinoa wasn't there and Squall wondered where she was.
"My Lord, Please allow me to present Lord Leonhart" Squall bowed. Seifer looked up; there weren't many Lords in Equidor, certainly not any named Leonhart.
"Where are you from Sir?" Seifer asked.
"Seadon" Squall said, wondering how much he should tell him.
"Really?" Seifer sounded interested. "What brings you here to Equidor?"
"I am just travelling, seeing the world. I thought I should pay my respects to you My Lord, as I am visiting your excellent Land" Squall said, almost fighting to keep a straight face.
"Well I thank you Sir, please enjoy your evening" Seifer said. Squall bowed and walked away. As he looked back he could see the chair next to the Lord was now occupied by who he could only suppose was Rinoa.
Ok, Chapter 11 done. I tried to make it long. Hope your all ready for some more squinoa action soon!! Sorry there hasn't been much of it yet, but I don't like it rush it. It'll come don't get annoyed; the fic has till got away to go yet.
Next chapter: Squall meets up with Rinoa again, *wink wink* Warning Squinoa stuff!!
Sorry for anyone who thinks I am being mean to Zell. I love him really; I just like him to do dumb stuff.
Thank you to my reviewers:
The-angle-of-the-lion: So glad you liked the last chapter, thanks for reviewing like every chapter. yey
Rinny Leonhart: Lots of Squinoa stuff coming up! Thank you for da review!!
Phoenix Blade: Nope it isn't over yet. Sorry for leaving it where I did, but hey I'm evil. mhahaha
Silver shadow: Thanks for reviewing sooo many times!! Im glad your liking my fic. :)
Person 37: Don't worry he still has his Gunblade, and yes he will use it. Also in case you worried this isn't then end for Squall and Seifer, they get nasty later on.
REM: hmm did Seifer hear them; I'm not going to tell you. But if he did he hasn't got anything to link it to Squall…yet. So they are safe for now.
rinoa-heartilly73: yey my lil' buddy. Thankyou for reviewing me and if you haven't updated your story since I last read it coz that would mean that I missed some chapters, noooo. But I'll find it
Ps. Quistis will be back, but she doesn't stay long. Soz bout that