Note: WOW! I never knew people would start liking my Medieval story. You have no idea how many times I changed it and now I came with that kind of conclusion. You guys are wondering who the King is? Well, the look on the past reveals him! Enjoy!




Chapter 2 - The Queen


~Ten years ago~


I was young, with a large imagination that only I alone could interpret. At a young age of ten, my dreams would have to be put off for awhile. My future was already decided for me, by my own mother.

"Why?" I spoke in a small voice. She did not know what to think.

"For it is what your father has decreed, my love," she whispered, curling a strand of blond hair behind my ear. "In order for you to claim heir to the throne once I am gone, you must marry someone of Royal birth, thus, the Prince of Galbadia."

Galbadia.... the thought never crossed my mind. I did not want to marry anyone, especially a Galbadian Prince. Are they not Balamb's worst enemy? "Galbadia..." The words rolled off my tongue like fire, burning my mouth, as if it was a cursed thing. "Are we not their enemy?"

My mother nodded, her beauty never fading away. Despite her sickness and her age, my mother had a bewitching beauty that never left her for thirty years. Long, flowing, golden hair matched my honey tresses. However, even with her resemblance with the little girl, Marna had the look of style and grace. Her eyes were the colour of violet and her skin, more ghostly white than myself.

"Aye, we are their enemy," she replied, stroking my honey locks. "But this is your destiny, my Quistis. Your destiny is to bring our fueding worlds together. You and the Prince are destined to bring the two Kingdoms together by joining each other's hand in marriage."

Destiny.... the word much more concerned to my mother than myself. I did not care about destiny. All I wanted now was freedom, but I loved my mother dearly and I would not dare defy her.

Finally, what seemed like forever, I nodded and forced a smile on my face. My mother did not know the difference of my forced smile to my real smile.

"Yes, mother," I replied finally. "I will see the Prince."

Mother kissed my forehead. "You and him will have the privilege of knowing each other as you grow older. The more you meet, the more you know each other and more you know each other, the more you will find love with one another." She kissed my forehead once more before she stood on her feet. She left the room with no doubts in her mind, knowing I was loyal daughter, a loyal Princess and a loyal future Queen.

I, my young soul deepening with loneliness in my heart, sat by the window, watching the night sky above. "The stars are brighter tonight," I said to myself. The stars danced above, their tail flowing behind them, like a flock of ballet dancers on the dance floor. I envied the stars. They were free to do whatever they wanted. Neither the moon, nor the sun tell them when to shine brighter. Their choice it was to shine brighter, to make them look beautiful in the sky, to light the path of the wandering lovers.

Love.

The thought of love made me ache. I would have to be forced to love this Prince Irvine. I would have to love him for the rest of my life. Although with my dreams of falling in love, they were shattered to millions of pieces.


****************

The morning was soon alive. I properly dressed myself for the upcoming event. My hair was primped up in a bun, with beautiful beads all hanging at the ends of my hair. My dress, made especially for me by my mother's trusted handmaiden, Nune, fit perfectly upon my tiny waist. Pink silk adorned the back of my dress, flowing behind me like the bird's wings as I twirled around. My glass slippers, the most common item to wear on a little girl's feet were crystal clear, showing no signs of dust from the old Balamb Castle. I had begun to brush my hair, when someone knocked on the door unexpectedly.

"Good morning, Your Highness!" a dark hair woman greeted, with a smile.

I turned my head away from the mirror and gave the woman a wonderful grin. "Hello, Nune!" I answered, continuing to brush my long, golden hair. My brush, painted pink and flowery, was even adorned with sorts of jewelry to mark my Royal blood.

"My Queen is awaiting for you at the carriage, Princess," Nune spoke, as she stood beside me, watching me unstrangle me hair with my brush.

I looked at my mother's handmaiden at her reflection on the mirror and nodded, standing up. I turned towards Nune and smiled. "Am I fine, Nune?"

Nune gazed at me up and down and nodded. "Yes, you are fine, Princess. There is nothing for you to worry about." She placed both her hands on my shoulder and gently guided me out the door. "Your mother is waiting for you."


****************

The ride seemed out of Balamb short and calm. The road to Galbadia was an easy path to follow and all I could think about was meeting the Prince, wondering what he would be like. I never asked for this kind of meeting. I was just ten years old and I was about to meet my future husband.

I watched outside, where the day was warm and quiet. The mountains were visible in front of me, with its hump like features and its bright green colour from the grass. The sun was shining through the window of the cart, forcing my eyes to squint slightly to see the plains.

"My daughter, please be well for me," my mother spoke, underneath the tapping sound of the horses' hooves against the dry soil.

I glanced at my mother, my back straight and stylish, like the Queen. My hands, clasped on my lap, seemed rigid and nervous, but I dared not show it. Instead, I forced a smile upon my face. "I am well for you, mother."

My mother stared at me curiously. "I know you are not happy, my sweet, but it is for the best."

I turned her eyes from the Queen and stared out the window. We were passing some peasants who were doing their best to take care of their crops. They were mostly women tending to the crops, picking up some vegetables they were growing in the fields and placing them in their baskets. They all looked up at the sound of a carriage and stared at the people inside. They knew the carriage. The obvious was the Royal Balamb emblem on the side of the wagon. I noticed that the men were on the other side of the field, guiding some horses in the pasture. I did not say anything, knowing how much it would paine me to speak or argue anymore.

They were close to Galbadia for I could see the castle just up ahead.


****************

"Marna! It is nice to see you!" the Queen of Galbadia spoke, embracing the younger woman with her long arms. She was a tall woman, I noticed, with long brown hair tied up into a bun. Buns were a familiar trend in all the Kingdoms. She was neither beautiful, nor unattractive, she was in between which she did not know the word to.

"It is nice to meet you too, Amnaru!" Marna replied, returning the woman's embrace. They were friends for a long time, but ever since the war began, they have never spoken since. Their husbands were old rivals and never did they make amends with one another. "Is everything well?"

"Everything is well, Marna! How about-" She paused at the sight of me standing beside the Queen. "Why, you must be Quistis! My, you are so pretty!"

I blushed. "Hello, Queen Amnaru," I replied, giving the Queen a curtsey.

Amnaru smiled, then glanced up at Marna. "The last time I met her was when she was just a wee little thing! Now, look at you!" The brown haired woman smiled again and glanced over her shoulder. "My son was just here somewhere." She fixed her gaze upon a woman, whom I had not noticed was there. "Where is he, Flora?"

Flora, a woman dressed in a dress, told me she is the Royal handmaiden. I could not tell by the colour of hair, since it was covered with a hat that covered most of her head and behind her, which was attached to that same hat, flowed a purple silk-like tail that reached her waist, like a veil. She shook her head calmly. "I do not know, Your Highness. Prince Irvine must have run off somewhere with Martine's son."

"Ahh, yes. Flora, will you fetch him for me?" Amnaru commanded, shaking her head. She turned around, facing the me and my mother and smiled, yet once again. "I apologize for this inconvenience. My son is good friends with Sir Martine's son, Seifer. They enjoy each other's company as you can see."

I watched as Flora, the Handmaiden, turned and walked away from them, taking the orders the Queen had spoke of and disappeared behind the castle, as if she knew exactly where the boy was.

"That is all right, Amnaru," Marna said, interrupting my thoughts.

The brown haired Queen nodded. "Come. We will have tea while Flora fetches for Irvine." She turned around, followed by both my mother and I and lead them inside the castle.

"May I look around for a while?" I spoke as we stepped inside the large room of the tea hall. I gazed up at the Queen and my mother, who were now seated on a small, round, white table in the middle of the room.

"Quistis..." Marna spoke, eyeing suspiciously.

Amnaru shook her head and smiled, turning her head towards Marna. "That is fine, Marna. I do not mind at all for her to look around and see." She looked at me and smiled. "You go ahead dear. Your mother and I will be here for a while and talk."

I smiled and nodded slightly. I glanced at my puzzled mother, before leaving the area.

Soon, I was walking along a silent hallway with many pictures hanging on each side of the wall. They were mainly pictures of the Queen's Royal family. I examined them for a while, before walking on, towards the darkened hallway. There was nothing much to see ahead of me. There was a large door due north, maybe the Queen's bedroom. Then I caught sight of something glimmering in the corner of my eye. Startled, I turned my head to the right and noticed a shadow move in the darkness in the corner of the wall. I did not know where it was, but a small hint of light from the sun as it peeked through the oval-shaped glass window made me see the same flicker I caught in the corner of my eye.

"Hello?" I called weakly. I walked towards the flickering light, reaching out with my lithe arms. In spite of the light shining through the window, the hallway was too dark for me to see much. Taking another step, my hands felt something warm and soft when suddenly...

"HEY!" the shadow yelled.

Surprised, I fell on my rear and looked up. A little blond boy appeared from the shadows, looking down on me with scorn in his eyes. "What doing are you?!" the boy yelled. The boy, I noticed had soft, golden hair, close to mimicking mine and was quite taller than I.

"ME?!" I fired back. How dare the boy speak to me that way! "You hide in the shadows and dare not tell me you are there?!" I stood up and stared at him defiantly. I planted both my hands on my hips and frowned.

The blond boy smirked and began to walk away. "What, are you blind that you could not see me through the shadows? It is daylight still! How can you not?"

I frowned, running after him. As I neared by his side, I glared at him. "I have not seen it because it was too dark! This hallway does not permit enough light!"

The boy snorted and glanced at me walking beside him. "Enough light..." he grumbled. "The sunlight is enough for you!" He yelled, before storming off away from me.

I could not believe what I was hearing! "Hmph! How dare you yell at me!" I hissed, catching up to him once more. I was not about to let him get away with him yelling at me like that! How dare he?!

The boy stopped walking and turned towards me. "What are you still doing? Leave me be!"

"I can not leave you until you apologize!" I commanded, folding my arms across my chest.

"Apologize?!" The blond smirked and once again, walked away.

I would not have that, however, as I caught up with him again. I was walking much too fast, for I was too upset to even care where I was going. How dare he speak to me that way, I thought to myself, glaring at him as I turned my head. "How dare you smirk at me! I command for an apology!" I said, placing a hand on his arm.

The blond pushed it away, his eyes turning into thin slits as he glanced at me. "I will not apologize! Tis your doing!"

"Doing?! I have done no wrong!" I spat, still walking by his side. This boy was definitely irritable.

I did not know where I was going for I was too upset to look . Abruptly, I felt something hit my toe and I fell forward, hitting face first on the fresh grass. I felt someone help me up on my feet, as I spat grass from my mouth. Blankly, I looked up at the same blond boy who refused to apologize. Once I had gotten on my feet, I brushed the green markings from my dress and scowled at the green dirt that now scathed my dress. "No! My dress!" I said to myself, desperately brushing off the pieces of grass that glues itself on the dress.

The boy rolled his eyes. "Come with me, I know a faster way to rid of that," he said. He lend out a hand to me. I was surprised at his reaction for my clumsiness. He did not laugh, nor make any rude comments towards me.

I stared at his hand reluctantly and gazed up at his eyes. I still did not trust the boy. He was rude. I frowned and turned my head away from him. "I will not take your hand you-you rude being!" I could not leave untl I get an apology from him! The nerve of that boy!

Suddenly, I felt something warm grasping my arm. I turned and saw him dragging me with him.

"Hey! Let me go at once!" I protested, struggling to free myself from his grasp, which was to no avail. He began to drag me out of the courtyard and towards the horse stables. My eyes widened in surprise. "HEY! What are you to do with me? I am not entering that stable!"

The blond jerked his head towards me. "Mind you, through the stables is the only way for you to get the stain from your dress. Is it not what you want?"

Through the stables!? I shook my head and angrily shook away from him. "NO! I want you to apologize to me!"

The blond rolled his eyes and sighed. "How, a Princess of your stature could be so temperamental and stubborn? I do not understand why the Queen chose you to be the Prince's wife."

My face softened. "You... you know of me?"

"Yes, I do. I saw your carriage out front." He leaned his back against a lonely tree by the stables and looked at me.

I frowned. "If you know of me, why do you still act as if I am nothing but a- a peasant?" He knew all along! The boy had the nerve to be rude to me!

"I do not believe in treating someone as Your Highness if you are just visiting here." He sat down and sighed. "I only respect my Queen and my Prince." He turned his head towards me. "You are a Princess, yes, but not MY Princess."

I did not understand what he meant by that, however, I nodded as I sat down beside him. "Why were you hiding in the shadows?" I asked. I had an idea of why, but I wanted to hear from his own lips.

All my anger, and his, as I guessed, faded away. Only a quiet sense of understanding surrounded us. Time seemed to have slowed down and gave us a chance to speak peace with each other, with words that calmed us both.

"We are playing hide and seek. Tis a game my friend and I play amongst each other." I watched him sigh in content and I felt guilty for ruining the fun he had just now. I guess it was my fault and I guess I needed to be the one to apologize.

"I am sorry." I looked around, no more words coming out from my mouth.

The boy shrugged. "It does not matter. He will not find me anyhow," he chuckled.

I laughed. Somehow, in a strange way, I felt comfortable around him. He had a nice laugh. "Why do you say that?" I questioned, looking at him.

"I am, but of course, the son of Sir Martine the third and I know many places to hide!" the boy responded.

"You must be the Prince's friend, are you not?"

Seifer nodded. "Yes. I am Irvine's friend." He looked at me. "Have you met him yet?"

I shook my head. "No, I have not."

Seifer stood up and lend a hand towards me. "Princess, I think 'tis time for you to meet him. He is quite a fellow, if I do say so myself." He grinned down at me.

I laughed and took his hand. I did not know why I began to trust him so suddenly, but I felt strange. Even for a young age like me, I felt that the feeling I was having was un-natural. Trust began to form in my eyes as he helped me up on my feet. "Quite a fellow, eh? Then, I can not wait to meet him."


~six years later~


I stared out the window. Another day of meeting the Prince. It has been far too long. I had to admite, I was quiet fond of the Prince, but in my mind, Irvine seemed too interested in what I looked like, rather than who I am in the inside.

During the course of that same night I met Seifer, I had to stay with Irvine and talk to him, in order for me to get to know him better. When I met the Prince, I noticed he could not keep his eyes off of me. I would not know, however of who he is now or what his appearance is, so there was no reason for me to judge him. It was six years ago that they met, now I would have to see him for the last time before we get married. Yet, it was also during that night that I could not get my mind off of that one young blond boy. When I left the next day, I never saw the boy again.

I pondered these events in my mind, until someone knocked on the door to my room."Princess, are you ready?" the same voice for the past six years spoke through the door.

I nodded and stood up. "I am ready, Nune!" I replied.


****************

It was odd coming back again. Not many has changed during our journey to Galbadia. The roads were still the same, which meant they had to take the same path to the castle. I watched people go by, the same people who farmed the lands. Women gathered fruits and vegetables, while the men continued their work on the fields.

When we arrived, the greeting was the same as well, except for a few comments from the Queen of Galbadia, saying how beautiful I looked. I did not care at that point. Many people say these things to me and it was getting tiresome.

"You simply look wonderful, Quistis!" the Queen spoke, giving the me a hug. She examined me with her purple eyes and smiled. I did not whether the smile was a smile of appreciation or desparation. I preferred not to care, but I had to pretend now for my mother's sake so as not to give Balamb a bad name.

I smiled. "Thank you," I replied to the comment.

"She is right..." a deep voice spoke.

I glanced behind Amnaru, who moved out of the way to reveal a tall, handsome man with brown hair. His hair was tied up in a ponytail as he wore a Royal robe that made him look elegant. Irvine was the boy I remembered to be a trouble maker, along with his best friend. They terrorized my every moment. I almost did not wish to come today, however, it was a good thing I did. Irvine was to ber her future husband.

"You simpy are beautiful!" He walked up to the me, took my hand and kissed the back of it with so much charm and poised that I could not help but blush. "And even for a pretty girl, you have a pretty blush!" Irvine said, grinning.

I smiled. Pretend? No, it was definitely not pretend. It was a true smile that not even the Prince himself noticed was true. Maybe he knew that I never wanted to meet him in the first place. Even with the smile on my face, I felt something missing in the bottom of my heart. I had wanted to decide then, when the Prince's voice penetrated through my thoughts.

"And a pretty smile!" Irvine added.

"Your Highness, I think you are filling her with blushes," a second, voice spoke, more deeper this time.

I glanced over Irvine's shoulder and spotted a handsome, blond walking towards them. Silver armor that perfected the look on his chest did I see on him. Metal shoulder pads could be seen from afar and a red cape flowed behind him. A long sword was kept inside its sheat at the side of his armor. I squinted my eyes more to see a Hawk emblem at the right of his chest. I did not recognize him. It was until he made it towards us did I finally see who it was. Seifer Almasy, grew up into a handsome young man indeed! I could not keep my eyes off of him.

Seifer walked to me and bowed before me. "Hello, Your Highness. Tis wonderful to see you again," he greeted.

I looked at him up and down. The last I remembered, Seifer was a small, little boy with freckles on his face. His front teeth were chipped from, preferrably eating too much candy, yet, as I looked upon him, he was not that little boy anymore. He had grown into a handsome young man with a height of six foot two. A Knight, as I could see.

I nodded, acknowledging his presence. "Tis wonderful to see you too, Seifer."

For one slow, moment, Seifer and I stared in each other's eyes, before the blond Knight turned to leave. I watched him go, with a feeling of sudden loneliness inside of me. I wanted him to stay, but I knew that he had some other duties to tend to as a Knight.

I did not know what I was feeling. True, it might have been the infatuation of Seifer's handsome features, but it was something else. Seifer made me feel different somehow.

~Present~

He kissed my neck and then my lips. I loved this feeling. For a long time, I had dreamed of him, wanting him for myself without the presence of other women. The past came back to me for just a moment, remembering the time they first met. I loved him then, I love him now. How long shall we have to keep doing this? How long shall we keep decieving my husband and King?

For me it did not matter. I longed for a love that was true. I ached for him every waking moment he strolled pass me. My passion was alive in my heart and I loved him. I loved him every day and every night. I thought of him through and through. I thought of him whether he was present or asbsent, or whether the King was there or not. There was no backing away from the love I felt for him. I never loved the King, never have. I loved my Knight more.

I moaned as he went inside me, making me feel alive. He was my freedom. He was my breath and my life. He was everything to me.

"My Queen," he murmured in my ears.

I closed her eyes, feeling his breath against my skin. "My Knight," I whispered in response.

A night of passion and love. A Queen and her Knight, two souls searching for the meaning of warmth and comfort, finally merged into one soul.

'The stars are brighter tonight,' a little voice spoke in my mind.


















GoodGurl: Okay, that was quick, but I still liked it! I hope you liked it too! See ya!