"Squall?"
"Rinoa! You're all right. I was so worried, I…um, I mean…Good morning Rinoa." Squall said bowing. Rinoa shut the door behind her and curtsied to Squall to show that she had some manners that he had not yet seen.
Looking about the room she saw a dark jacket with detailed golden embroidery, hung onto the frame of a life sized marble statue. But what caught her eye the most was the assortment of white wedding dresses. Her eyes looked longingly at the beautiful dresses, and the white diamonds, that were hung around the necks of the statues that were lucky enough to wear the gowns. The statues all had joyful eyes and content smiles. Their long marble hair hung over their backs in perfect sweeps.
"What is all this?" Rinoa asked. Squall followed her eyes to the dresses.
"Well, I am 18 now. Isn't it about time I set an example, and got married." Squall replied, enjoying the shocked and yet hurt expression in Rinoa's eyes. She was so innocent, not once had she supposed that all this was for her.
"Why, yes I suppose." She answered, looking once more at the dresses with a wanting in her gaze.
"Which one do you prefer Rinoa?" Squall asked smiling. Rinoa backed herself onto the door. Why was he being so mean?
"W...Why would it matter what I liked? Your bride would much rather choose for herself anyway." Rinoa said. A tear formed in her eye. She was now so sure that these weren't for her, that she felt like crying.
"That's true" Squall said, walking towards her. Rinoa moved back once more. "Would you walk with me?" He asked holding out his hand. Rinoa hesitated before consenting.
Squall took her trembling hand in his, and led her outside. Rinoa looked around at the flowers and the bushes. The small birds in the trees made it all seem so unreal, as though she had found herself in a fairytale that wasn't hers. Her feet glided on the floor next to Squall as though she was always meant to walk beside him. Looking behind her she saw his fairy tale castle, with its turrets and roses around the windows. It was all so perfect. Why couldn't he just tell her that he didn't want her, instead of making her walk beside him to her humiliation? But even if he had wanted her hand in his, it wouldn't be right. She was married already, whether her husband was dead or not it was still binding as a law of Equidor. But she was in Seadon now! Maybe it didn't count anymore; maybe if she told Squall he would forget this other maiden and realise he could marry her after all.
So many questions and answers swam in her mind until she could not longer bare them. She had to know.
"Squall, who is it that will be your bride?" Rinoa asked, dreading the answer.
"Come I will show you." Squall answered, Rinoa smiled weakly.
Squall, still holding her hand led her to a clearing in the plants and shrubbery. Stretched out and beneath them was a blue clear lake. Rowboats were tethered to the banks in a line, and a rocky path led them to the edge of the water. "Look in." Squall said.
"Don't tease me." Rinoa said. "Not only will you not tell me, but you are trying to make me look like a fool."
"I'm not teasing you Rinoa. Look in." Squall demanded once more. Moving to the edge of the lake where the water was thin, she peered into the rippled water. Quickly she looked back at Squall.
"It's just my reflection Squall." Rinoa said, then stopped. "….me?" She asked, barely speaking the words. Squall walked closer to her.
"Look again." He said smiling; Rinoa obliged and looked once more. The water shimmered, "look deeper this time."
Beyond her reflection, at the bottom of the water white shiny stones began to appear. Rinoa looked on as the stones began to form words.
I love you Rinoa
Rinoa gasped.
"It is me!" She whispered. Squall held her hand and helped her back up.
"Of course it's you Rinoa." Squall said smiling. Rinoa looked back at the water.
"But how..?" She started to ask, but stopped. Squall's hand was running across her cheek and softly made it's way to the back of her neck. He moved closer into her until she could hear his breathing. Rinoa closed her eyes as she felt his lips touch hers.
"Marry me Rinoa." Squall said, not moving away from the closeness. Rinoa felt her breathing become heavy, she didn't want to answer him, only kiss him.
"Yes" she answered, feeling Squall's lips curve into a smile on her own as he kissed her.
Rinoa wrapped her arms around Squall's waist and ran them up over his back. She was safe now. He had finally rescued her. She knew her family would be well cared for now, and the two lands would be united. But there was still one problem.
"Squall!" Rinoa said suddenly, breaking away from the kiss. "I'm already married." Squall smiled, leaving Rinoa confused.
"Only by the spirit Mecleck were you joined. It is our Goddess Hyne that truly can see matrimony now, for Mecleck is no more." Squall said, watching Rinoa's expression change back to happiness. Relaxing once, Rinoa more pressed her head into his chest.
"I love you," She whispered. Squall smiled.
"I love you too." He said, kissing the top of her head.
*******************************The wedding day********************************
"Oh Hyne, Oh Hyne, Oh Hyne!!" Selphie screamed as she ran about the room. "We have less than three hours till the wedding and Squall still isn't ready!"
"Gee it isn't my fault he is so darn picky." Zell said in his defence. "You would have thought that he'd have sorted this out a while ago."
"Yes well! Quick where is Laguna?" Selphie cried in hysterics. Zell was forced to push her down into a chair, a little trick he had learnt from many years of dealing with Squall. Selphie squirmed about until he took his hands off of her arms.
"I will get him. Selphie just calm down and go see to Rinoa." Zell ordered. Selphie impressed by his sudden burst of authority went off in search of Rinoa.
"LAGUNA!" Zell shouted shocked. Down the hallway Zell couldn't believe his eyes. Was that Laguna with Quistis? Laguna looked up.
"Eh?" He asked, in an unprofessional way. Zell shook his head.
"We need your help sir. Squall won't wear any of the clothes we've made for him." Zell said, running up the corridor to the flushed pair. Laguna excused himself from Quistis and joined Zell as they hurried to where Squall was.
"Oh that sounds like Squall alright!" Laguna exclaimed. Zell nodded. "But maybe I can talk some sense into him."
Zell waited outside, it had been an hour since Laguna went to see Squall, and there was no sign of movement yet. Tapping his feet against the wall he waited impatiently.
"There!" Laguna said triumphantly. Squall looked at himself in the mirror. Not bad he thought. He had on a pair of slightly baggy black leather trousers and a light grey jacket with raised shoulder edges. Out of the sleeves extended the cuffs of his shirt that were made of a slightly frilled material.
Squall turned around to see the full reflection of his new outfit.
"It'll do" Squall said finally. Laguna cheered and Squall gave him a disapproving glance.
***************************************************************************
Squall waited anxiously at the alter. So many people had shown up today, Squall could swear that he knew only a handful of them. Most had been invited only because they were important. He knew Rinoa wouldn't want them to be there, but it was just one of the sacrifices that had to be made when you were the leader.
A murmur from the crowd suggested that Rinoa had arrived. Squall held his breath and looked around. Walking up the aisle was Rinoa and her father. Irvine gave him a dig in the ribs; to show is approval with her appearance. But Squall didn't realise, instead he just gazed at her, mesmerized by her flawless figure. She smiled as she neared him.
"My Lords, My Ladies." Spoke the man in front of them. He was the joiner of souls, powered by the mighty Hyne. He was a Hynest. "We are gathered here today to witness the joining of this man and this woman in holy matrimony."
Squall and looked at each other and then back to the front to hear the rest of the service. Many vows were said and tears shed by the crowd. But finally it was concealed, they were one now.
"And so with the powers given to me by the almighty Hyne, I now pronounce you Husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The room erupted with cheers and clapping as the two newly weds kissed. Onto her finger now sat a new diamond, a white diamond given in love as a symbol of everything good.
"May I present to you your new leader." Laguna spoke to the people from Squall's side. "Our protector of Seadon and the one that conquered the land of the west. In the battle for Equidor."
And so as the years past and the lands became one over time, their story was written down for all to read as a reminder of the power that once lived in our world. But as the castles tumbled and the magic vanished the story became a legend and finally a myth. For what becomes of hero's when they are forgotten? Know one knows.
The endThankyou to everyone who read this fic.
Special thanx to these people for reviewing the last chapter.
AngelWingsOfALion
AngelPrinczess29
Silver Shadow
Phoenix Blade
Townberry
Chibi-cola
Rinoa Leonhart73
Person37