Chapter 15 – Everlasting Vows
Author's Notes: First of all… I must say a big thank you to Quistis88 (I hope I got it right…) who has been reviewing every single time I put up a new chapter… I'm truly touched… if only all of you could be like this. But I suppose it isn't fair of me to expect that of everyone else (since I'm not as nice myself), HeHe.
So… regardless of the pitiful number of reviews and the downward spiralling of my fic… I will continue to put in my best. It might not be as good as I had hoped, and I write this with a risk of sounding narcissistic… but damn it! I still love my fic very much, even though I had some doubts along the way. I hope you like it too… and please show it by giving your reviews!! Oooh… there goes the thick-skinned me again. Well… here's wishing you a Happy New Year!
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A lot has happened since I was away on mission. Quisty has filled me in on the details, about Celestine, as well as our relation with Damien.
I was rather eager to meet Damien, in fact. Even though he had subjected us to cell treatment before, it wasn't the real him. I should know how people behave when they were under manipulation. Yes, I know that no excuse is good enough to justify hurting others, whether or not it was on your own will… but still, I think he deserves a little more credit, for he had turned over a new leaf since then, so to speak.
However, I am not saying this on my own behalf, for it would be stretching the truth to think that him and I were on the same grounds. We were not, by any account.
Anyway, if Celestine's praises of him were anything to go by, he must be a saint of some sort. Coming from one with virtually zero flaws such as her, I was more convinced than ever that it would be a great loss of ours if we declined the invitation to see him.
And here we are, gathered at the flower field at our lighthouse orphanage. It seems that this was the place and time Damien had first met us.
This place… one filled with so many of our memories, sad and happy.
"Stand right in the middle. Don't be too shocked if he suddenly appears." Celestine instructed, and retreated from our sight to join Zell in the living room.
Slowly, the form of our Guardian Angel appeared amidst the swaying flowers. They seemed to be drawn towards his direction, as if clamouring for his touch, despite being kept away by the wind.
He smiled kindly at us, floating a little above ground as he extended his wings in full.
The expression on his face was gentle and benevolent… like what you would have expected from an Angel.
Of course, this isn't to say that Celestine doesn't look like an Angel to us, but you have to understand – they were so different in appearance, character and in the impression they gave us that one couldn't possibly compare them both. To me, Celestine would appear to be more like us… maybe this could be attributed to the time she had spent mingling with humans, compared to Damien. I really can't explain it.
Damien, on the other hand, appeared almost like a character plucked out from a tale of fantasy, or from the myths of legend… having features so fine that it seemed impossible that he was a man, and yet no one could miss the air of gallantry that surrounded him. An invisible yet palpable glow radiated from within, gracing upon all around him.
His hair was very much like spun white-gold threads that reached from his crown to the tips of his shoulders, floating around his head as if forming a smooth shield around it. As the breeze passed through the strands danced around in a teasing way, framing his face as they did.
And who could forget about the wings? I could hardly tear my glance away from them, so special in colour they were. The feathers would have matched his hair if not for their iridescent quality. They seemed to change from white-gold to a light champagne, to silver, then back to white-gold again as they fluttered and swished about in the wind. Sure, the change was subtle and if you weren't observant enough, you might have missed it… but that would be someone without yours truly's eagle eye, hehe.
At last, my gaze travelled to his eyes… violet pupils that were crystal clear and brimming with such intelligence. I could almost see my whole reflection inside. The kaleidoscopic effect amazed me, as the pupils caught the rays of the sun and created colourful prisms of various colours in them.
If he was a girl, I knew that I would be a gone case in front of such beauty… oops… DO not let Quisty hear that… it was a BIG if, okay?
How very different from the D who captured us at the Great Mother's Shrine. He had put on a cold, hard face then, everything turned black including his hair, eyes, and wings. His eyes especially, were clouded over with the even darker feelings breeding in his heart and mind, his soul lost in a maze.
We had caught a little of his transformation back to his "Good" side while we were about to leave the Shrine of the Great Mother, but it wasn't complete then, and neither were we in full view of him. And there was something different about him too… there was a more determined, purposeful look in his eyes, and on his face, which was absent then.
"I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for agreeing to meet me. I was rather afraid that you would decline it without a second thought… after what I had made you go through." He said in a lilting voice after a moment's silence, presumably to let us get used to his appearance.
"It goes both ways." I returned his thanks, while Quisty stared at him in awe.
"Hey, Quisty… quit staring at him as if he were an alien." I nudged her a little.
"Oh… I'm terribly sorry." She was in a fluster after realising that she had been gawking in such an unladylike manner. Oh… I really shouldn't smirk at her like that… I know, but if you were in my shoes, you would understand the urge, eh?
"You look different from the earlier impression I had of you…"
"Really? That's marvellous, I suppose?" He gave out a pleasantly hearty laugh, which immediately relaxed the atmosphere. It had been a little tensed up before, as both sides were unsure of how to react.
"I have a question that's boggling my mind, which Celestine refuses to answer no matter how I badger her about it. She tells me to ask you directly instead." Quisty decided to take the straightforward approach. Bravo. I want to applaud her courage.
I squeezed her hand to relay my encouragement and praise for her. I felt her return the gesture, as if thanking me for it.
"Go ahead. The sky's the limit." He replies, spreading his arms out in support of his words.
"…What made you turn against us… and more importantly… against Zell in such a way?"
Yes! I wanted to shout in relief. The most difficult question has been done away with!
His smile faltered a little, as did his voice.
"Thank Goodness I've come prepared for this. I know that you've been meaning to ask it."
"Celestine also said that she was mostly to blame for it. This was the part that stumped me the most." Quisty added, trying to ease the answer out of him as gently as possible. I think she has the potential to be a first-class psychiatrist, or family counsellor. But then again, the Instructor license she holds wasn't for nothing.
"Don't listen to her! That's not even a half-truth! If anyone's to be blamed, it's me." His head lowered a little, finding it hard to get the words out.
"I do not know if you've noticed it, but I've been in love with Celestine for a long time.
And my feelings for her blinded my vision, especially when she sacrificed herself for Zell's life.
I thought that it was Zell who had caused her death; that without him, she would still have been alive. It was a foolish thought, and I had thrown all my years of Angel training to waste with such a mindset.
I changed, letting the frustration, hate, resentment, and mostly, despair wash over me, and take over my control.
It took her resurrection, and many slaps from her for me to wake up from the hell I had made for myself with those negative feelings."
He looked up at us finally, with a smile still, but melancholy glazing his eyes over.
"I can identify with that." I stepped up to him and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't reproach yourself, Damien."
"Yes. It only goes to show how deep your love for her was. The important thing that matters is that you turned to the right path again." Quisty added. "And I'm sorry that for a moment, I had thought badly of you… but now I have only admiration and respect."
"My utmost gratitude goes out to you, my Master and my Lady. You are my saviours, and your gracious words shall accompany me to my deathbed."
He kneels down in front of us, both hands clasped in front of his chest as if he were praying.
"There's really no need for such a grave formality! Get up, Damien!" I hastened towards him, trying to get him to stand up.
He refuses to budge from his position.
"Allow me to pledge my loyalty towards you before I stand.
I, Damien Silvergrace, swear upon my life to bestow my gratitude upon My Master, Seifer Almasy, and My Lady, Quistis Trepe. All my living days shall be spent guarding over them, and their future generations to come.
Dear Great Lord, and Greatest Creator of us, Hyne, witness this solemnisation and bless these two with eternal happiness.
Praise Thee Lord."
He performed the full kowtow, placing his face upon the ground, arms and legs stretched out fully on it.
Quistis and I could only watch dumbfounded and helplessly… overwhelmed by his sudden oath to become our eternal guardian.
"That was really too much, Damien. How can we accept such an invaluable gift? But we thank you from the bottom of our hearts that you were willing to give your life to us as our Angel." Quistis says softly, moved visibly by his act.
"You do not need to thank your humble Angel, my Lady. It is always our aim to find a Master/Lady worthy to lay his life down for. Celestine found hers in Zell, and I found mine in you. Even if it were in a slightly different nature, I know I will not regret doing this."
"Well then, if it means anything, you can come to us for help when and if you need it." I gave my meagre offering to him.
"That's the best I can ever expect from you."
"Oh yeah… before you fade away, could you agree to one last request from me?" I spoke urgently, for he looked like he was going to fly off any minute, which wouldn't bode well for what I was planning to do.
"Sure!" He said, while looking questioningly at me.
The same expression was reflected on Quisty's face.
I wonder what it would look like after I've thrown this "bomb" at her. Ha.
"Would you witness this for us?" I said, taking a small cushiony box out of my pocket.
There was a "now-I-get-it" look on his face, followed by a broad grin.
"It would be my immense honour, my Master."
I turned to faced Quisty, who had such a confused look that I could hardly stop the chortling that was about to erupt from my insides… oh how they ached with the burden…
I knelt down onto the ground on one knee, while holding the opened ring box for her to see. The classic proposal pose, without the flowers… I figured that since we were in a flower field, the need for them would be done away with.
"Will you, Quistis Trepe, the one and only woman in my life, agree to be my fiancée? Will you accept this vow of mine, to protect you, cherish you, and shower you with1 my everlasting love until the end of my days?"
She gasped, looking at the diamond ring, then at me, then at it again.
"Well, your answer would be?" A small frisson of fear snaked up my chest as the time dragged on. My heart felt as if it was at the very top of my throat, pumping with strenuous effort.
Oh, I just love this suspense, Quistis Trepe… I muttered to myself. Damn, maybe I should have gotten the flowers as well…
"Y…yes! Of course it's yes, you silly man!" She covered her face with her hands, trying to hide the tearing eyes from view.
"R…really? Yes!! She's agreed! I've succeeded!" I shouted as the relief coursed through my body, taking the ring out from the box and sliding it onto her finger.
"Seifer!" She placed both her arms around my neck, still unable to stem the tears.
I lifted her off the ground and swung her round and round in ecstasy.
Glittery angel dust started raining on us as our Angel added his way of congratulating us, then slowly fades away, leaving us to our blissful little world…
========Celestine========
"You look happy." I remarked as I saw Damien appear in the living room, his face the epitome of joy.
"You'll see when the time comes." He says, deliberately maintaining a veil of secrecy.
"I can guess what happened." Zell said with a loud laugh. "Cos I was the one who went with him! HaHaHa!!"
"Ah, and you managed to keep it under covers. Good for you!" Damien commented.
"What's this funny business going around with the two of you? Out with it!" I demanded, looking fiercely at either of them.
"It won't take long before the truth reveals itself. Be patient!" Zell said with an insolent grin.
"Patience was never one of my virtues!" I growled, and was about to do something violent when the couple outside burst in, thereby hindering the process.
"Look at this, Celestine!" Quis held up her ring for all to see.
"So that was what you've been hinting at!" I exclaimed, looking at Zell with daggers in my eyes.
"I'm so happy for you, Quis!" I went up and gave her a hug.
"Let's go and spread the good news to the rest!" Zell jumped up from his seat and was out in a flash.
That blockhead is getting more and more cunning these days… I wonder who taught him to be so…I mused to myself while running the possible culprits in my mind, which came up to two of them. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to brainwash him again… hahaha.
The rest (except Damien) followed him out.
"I'm happy for you too." I threw a line into the room as the couple walked out, their arms around each other.
Author's Notes: Before I post the next (last) chapter, there's something I desperately need to know.
I won't post it until I get at least two reviews saying if you guys want this series to continue, or if it is too damn long already. If I do not get anything, then by god it will stay hanging in the air like this (or I will write it according to my wishes… make sure you don't regret it.)
This is not blackmail. Rather, it's more like a feedback kind of thing to enhance supplier-consumer relationship. (Laugh) Excuse my business-sounding terms, as I'm studying as I write this.
Alright, the line's been cast; I'm waiting for your answer. I will give the deadline until next Wednesday, which happens to be New Year's Day… heehee! On that day, the majority shall win. After that, no further requests will be entertained.
Just in case you're wondering, I've got endings for both scenarios down pat. So it's up to you which one you prefer. (Though I do have to say, they aren't very different.)
Thanks to all you readers, especially those who've reviewed. If you read and don't review… well nothing much I can do except say that at least you have the patience to read up to here, so still thanks anyway… oh boy there goes my long-windedness again.
Adios, Amigos! Till the next chapter…