Chapter 13 Weddings and break-ins
Renegade Seraph
Rinoa stared at her frightened pale face in the mirror; her satin petticoats of her wedding gown were gracefully sweeping the floor. Here was the day she had been dreading. There was a sharp knock at the door; Rinoa pulled herself out of her daydream to answer it.
"Come in" She called. The door slowly creaked open. Rinoa smiled and waited for someone to appear; when no one did she started to get worried. "Hello?" She asked quietly.
"Boo!" A blonde girl shouted, springing out from behind the doorframe. Rinoa jumped and raised a hand to her chest to try and calm her heart.
"Mia, don't ever do that again!" She scolded, looking back at her reflection. "At least not on a day like today" Mia looked at her sadly.
"You don't want to marry my brother do you?" She asked, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. Rinoa tried her best to avoid answering, but couldn't hold it in anymore. Mia wrapped her arms around her. "I know you don't, and I know he is using you. That is why I chased after Leonhart last night!"
"You did what?" Rinoa asked, wondering where this conversation was going.
"Chased after Squall when he left. He was with this blonde man with spiky hair. Squall gave me something to give to you, I didn't see what it was because it was in this box," She said, holding out a small wooden trinket box. Rinoa stared at it. "I'm sure it won't bite you Rinoa" Mia said smiling. Rinoa reached for the box, it seemed to be locked. She looked for a key turning it over she saw an engraving on the back.
Quolec ahmel aseaha"Quooo Leck Ahh Mel A Sea Ha?" Rinoa read out. "Hmm I wonder what it could mean?"
"Look, look!" Mia squealed, pointing at the box. The lock started to glow with a golden colour, until finally breaking. "Magic! It was sealed with magic!" She shouted happily. Rinoa shushed her and open the box.
"Oh my!" Rinoa exclaimed.
"What, what? Let me see!" Mia whined
"Diamonds?" She said breathlessly. "These cannot be from Equidor, for all our diamonds are black." Rinoa whispered, tipping the clear diamonds onto her hand. They glistened in the light. "What are they for?" Rinoa asked quietly.
"Your hair silly!" Mia replied, attaching one into Rinoa's dark hair. "See they have little hooks on the ends" Rinoa smiled and let the younger girl place them into her hair. "Wow! He sure picks out nice presents" Mia said awestruck.
The two giggled until Rinoa's carriage arrived. Wiping away her last tear Rinoa walked down the steps of the palace and climbed into the carriage. The driver shouted something to his horses and they moved forward, Mia stood on the steps and waved. Never had she hated her brother so much for making this girl unhappy.
Rinoa closed her eyes, as her head rocked into the rhythm of the shaky carriage. Her dreams took her to many places, beaches with golden sands, forests green and full of bird song until finally into the arms of Squall Leonhart. She woke with a jolt as the carriage door was opened. We are here so soon? She mused as the footman helped her down.
The cold stone eyes of griffins stared down at her from the church walls as she stared back up at its tall frame. She imagined herself among the lifeless statues, looking down on a frightened girl.
"Rinny?" Someone asked at her side. Rinoa looked around to find her father offering her his arm. "It is time" Rinoa nodded and accepted his arm. They walked together into the church; Rinoa's eyes became blind for a second as they desperately tried to become used to the change in light. The dark faces around her came back into focus slowly. Most were crying. Rinoa tried hard not to look at them for she could feel the tears sting the backs of her eyes too. In one corner sat some people she vaguely recognised, one fitted Mia's description of the blonde spiky haired man. A small light brown haired girl seemed to be looking at the door anxiously. A tall blown haired man was telling her not to worry and a blonde haired girl was telling her that 'he will be here soon'. Rinoa suddenly recognised the blonde girl, she was the one who left with Squall at the ball.
Rinoa's father pulled her further away from them as they walked to the music. Seifer could be seen standing at the alter with his back to them. A large man with dark hair stood on his right as well as a woman with silver hair. Rinoa took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling. Any minute now, come on Squall where are you? She pleaded with her eyes as she looked around. Now she understood what the small girl with light hair was worried about. Rinoa turned her head to look at them; they looked back at her understanding what she was asking. Zell shrugged his shoulders, filling Rinoa with disappointment
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Squall climbed though a small window at the back of the castle. He regarded his map; it appeared that he was three floors above where he needed to get to. Carefully closing back up the window he slid the door open, nobody was behind it and he stepped out into a long hallway. Rinoa's map showed to take the second door on his right; indicated by a red circle. Carefully opening it he found a set of metal spiral stairs. These where obliviously not used often for the amount of cobwebs that hung on them. Stepping out onto the first step he felt the structure sway slightly, clinging to the rails in the hope that they would stay attached to the wall if the stairs decided to give way. The light was becoming dimmer and Squall cursed himself for not bringing a candle with him.
Soon it was pitch black, he then had to feel his way down the spiral staircase by judging how far away the next step was. After his precarious climb he came to a brick wall, it blocked the exit and Squall felt himself start to give up in frustration. Absentmindedly he kicked the bottom of the wall and sat back down on the last step. A rushing sound reached his ears as he felt back at the wall; sand was trickling down the sides as it slid upwards.
Squall rubbed his eyes as he was greeted be a bright white light. Shielding his eyes he walked forward, how Rinoa had ever found this place he would never know, but he suspected she probably didn't do it alone. As the light became bearable for his eyes he opened them to see the staff.
"Found it," He whispered, walking over to pick it up. It was surprisingly light. Squall glanced at his map again; somehow he had to open a door in the wall using the staff. Pointing the wand to the wall he waited, nothing happened. "The dumb thing, now what do I do?" Squall complained, sitting down on the cold stone floor. He thought for a moment. "Maybe, just maybe it might work." He wondered out loud, standing back up. Pointing the staff once more to the wall.
"Quooo Leck Ahh Mel A Sea Ha!" He said clearly. Again nothing happened. Squall sat back down defeated. "Well I don't know then" Just as he was about to give up and condemn himself to die of boredom, the wall stared to move. "I am so totally brilliant," He said laughing as he ran out of the room.
"Hey did you hear something?" A guard asked his patrol partner. The other listened for a while.
"Nah, probably just the wind or summat" He said, the first guard started to relax again. Suddenly Squall rushed past them carrying the staff.
"Hey, hey you stop!" The guard shouted, chasing after him. His partner took another path and ran though one of the rooms to appear on the other side of squall with a large metal rod. Squall skidded into him; the guard raised the rod and hit Squall hard over the head.
Squall felt the warm blood running down his neck until the dizzy black sleep claimed him.
"What did you do to him?" Asked the guard who had taken the long way around. The other guard held up the metal bar.
"Oh!"
Well there goes, believe it or not the story is almost over. *sniff sniff* I was beginning to get attached to this fic.
Thankyou to everyone who reviewed my last chapter.
the-angel-of-the-lion
krnman
silver shadow
phoenix blade
Rinoa Leonhart73
The next chapter will be up really soon, because I hate to leave it hanging like this!!