Diary of the Rose of May
Note: Okay, so my last two weren't so good… :'( It's hard to think of something when you have screaming relatives all around you and exams at the end of the month. I'm hoping this one will be better since I kinda hurried with chapter 9. Anyway, I don't own anything produced by Squaresoft, which includes this game and it's characters, blah blah blah…etc. Please enjoy and no flames.
Dear Diary,
After these strange few days, and hearing of the queen's… death, we are now in Alexandria. But those last few days in Treno feel so strange to me… After Steiner told me of the fate of his parents, and seeing him cry like that… I've been experiencing weird feelings lately…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Treno, Day 29, Street Alley…
"Don't let them escape!!"
"Send out the Mandragoras! That'll slow them down!"
"Attack!!!"
Three shadows scurried down the darkened alleyway of the streets of Treno. They were being followed by at least ten Alexandrian Soldiers. The three shadows ran for the light of lampposts revealing them as the so-called, "Renegades" that the Alexandrian Soldiers have been searching for. Freya Cresant, General Beatrix and Captain Albert Steiner.
"There they are! Don't let them escape!" Soldier Nicole shouted.
"I believe that won't be possible for you to do, my dear!" Steiner called back.
He spoke to soon… 3 Mandragoras stood in their path, trapping them between those monsters and the soldiers. The three of them stood back to back to back as they pulled out their weapons, ready to fight. Each of them closed their eyes and remembered their plan…
*************************************************************
"What are we going to do? The city is crawling with my soldiers!" Beatrix told her two companions and Dr. Tot.
"Yes, too true." Dr. Tot scratched his bearded chin.
"There has to be a way to lead them out of the city! Or at least away from us!" Freya said frustrated.
"A place we can escape to where they can't find us, but is near by and not too far away so when this is all over we can return to Alexandria." Steiner thought a loud.
"Yes, that would be a haven. But I don't think there is any place like that! Around here at least…" Beatrix sighed.
"A hiding place… Near by…" Dr. Tot said still scratching his chin.
"We could escape to Dali! We can take the Gate Pass Steiner has and use it to take the road to Dali." Freya suggested.
"The road there would take too long! Alexandria is probably checking the gates! Plus, if there's news from the Princess, then they won't know where to find us!" Steiner argued. "Not to mention the strange people there!"
"Maybe we should just stay here then…" Beatrix sighed again.
"Wait! I have an idea!" Dr. Tot exclaimed.
"What is it doctor?" Asked Steiner.
"Quan Dwelling! A place where a friend of mine lived. He was very… um… hungry for knowledge." Dr. Tot explained, "It's a cave outside of Treno. It's not known by many people, so if you stay there for a couple days until the Soldiers decide you've completely left Treno, they'll leave and search elsewhere."
"Yes, but are we sure it's safe?" Beatrix asked.
"I've traveled there a few times myself, so besides the minor monsters, it should be quite safe." Dr. Tot told her.
"What's this place like?" Freya asked.
"It's surrounded by forest, has enough light and doesn't need the use of lamps. You can help yourselves to the Hot Springs if you wish."
"Sounds good, but how to we know if the Alexandrian Knights don't know of this dwelling?" Beatrix pointed out.
"I can assure you, only a select few scholars know of this place." Dr. Tot told them.
"Well what are we waiting for?! What's the plan?!" Steiner bellowed impatiently.
************************************************************
The three mandragoras approached the three warriors and a skipping pace. Suddenly, their eyes snapped open and each of them took on one of those monstrosities, killing them with over kill attacks. The three mandragoras fell to the ground with their innards, organs and excrement stilling all over the stone street. They wiped the blades of their weapons as the soldiers from behind them with wide eyes at the massacre of their three monsters.
"You've ran from us long enough, General!" Nicole Shouted, "It's time for you to surrender at once… or face the consequences of being stripped of your ranks, face charges of treason to the Queen and executed for your disloyalty to the crown!!!!"
Beatrix faced Nicole with an emotionless expression. Nicole began to tremble under the cold, angered eye of the General. Beatrix raised her hand in the air and let it down across Nicole's face.
"You call yourself a leader? Trembling before the enemy?! I'm ashamed to be in your presence and ashamed that I taught you so much, yet you've learned nothing!" Beatrix shouted at the small soldier, "I refuse your offer! Especially when it was offered by someone so weak!!!"
Nicole winced at these words and looked as if she was about to cry, "Draw your sword!" She managed.
"What?!"
"DRAW YOUR SWORD!" Nicole shouted, "YOU'LL NEED IF YOU DARE TO ESCAPE!!! BUT KNOW THIS, YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THIS CITY!!!!"
"You dare challenge me and glare death in the face? …As you wish." Beatrix glared as she once again drew her sword once more.
The soldiers drew their swords. Steiner and Freya stood at Beatrix's side drawing their weapons as well. The two sides eyed each other, waiting for someone to start the attack. Suddenly, one of the minor soldiers got impatient and made a stab for Beatrix with her iron sword.
"FOOL!" Beatrix shouted as she spotted the attack made in her direction.
Beatrix quickly moved out of the way just enough so that the blade of the sword was merely centimeters away from her body and thrusted the butt of her Save the Queen in the young soldier's stomach, knocking the wind out of her. The young soldier fell to the ground gasping for air, holding her stomach in pain. The other soldiers saw this and stared at their General wide eyed and angered. One of them let out a battle cry and they attacked at once. Steiner happily blocked each hit and countered hard. Freya jumped high above knocking opponents to the ground, pinning them with her spear and knocking them out with a kick to the head with her clawed foot. Beatrix used her Shriek attacks to overpower the soldiers KO'ing them instantly. They fought until only so many were left standing. Not yet to be exhausted, the three of them stood strong. Beatrix looked back at Freya who signaled that the time was now to launch their plan. The three of them seethed their weapons and retreated down the street. Not going to give up when the battle had only begun, the soldiers followed ever vigilantly.
Steiner led them down the streets of Treno, through dark alleys and under the light of lampposts. The soldiers watched their every move closely trying not to lose them like last time. Suddenly Freya took her companions's hands and jumped high into the sky to make a rooftop escape. The soldiers made an effort to follow them on foot as the three jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Suddenly, Steiner jumped too late, while they jumped to another rooftop, and he slipped and quickly grabbed the edge of the rooftop. Beatrix stopped and turned around to find him gone and ran back for him. She looked down at the edge of the roof to find him hanging for dear life. She looked below him to find her soldier had found this and had gathered some Treno Knights with bows 'n' arrows. Beatrix grabbed Steiner's arm as arrows were launched upward missing Steiner's body and her head barely. She struggled to pull him up.
"Beatrix… let me fall!" Steiner shouted.
"Never! I lost a friend this way before, I'm not going to lose another!" Beatrix grunted as she continued to pull.
Suddenly an arrow was shot at Steiner and struck him hard. Steiner let out a loud repeated curse and his grip on the roof began to weaken. With that Beatrix's grip also began to loosen and she began to lean further over the edge. Thankfully, Freya came to their rescue and help Beatrix pull him on to the roof.
"Are you alright?" Freya asked.
"I-I'm quite alright." Steiner replied weakly as he pulled off his glove to find that the arrow had scratched his wrist and left a deep cut.
"You call that alright?" Beatrix said, "Here…" Beatrix took out her handkerchief, the one she had the same day the Princess was captured, and wrapped it around his bleeding wrist.
Steiner looked at her confused. Beatrix merely returned the look with a smile and motioned him to get up as the three of them continued jumping from rooftop to rooftop until they reached the edge of town. They jumped from the rooftops to the street leading out of Treno. Arrows flew past their heads as they ran out the front gates into the misty beyond. The soldiers followed them until they disappeared into the woods. Nicole turned to her soldiers.
"You fools! What are you waiting for?!" Nicole shouted.
"Those woods are filled with wild Mandragoras! We'll be beaten to death if we try to follow them, Ma'am!" A soldier told her.
"Idiots! Is this how you repay the queen? Thinking of your own lives?!"
"NO!" Shouted another.
"Who said that?!" Nicole asked.
A soldier stepped out from the group, "I did!"
"Grace, do you dare defy me?!"
"The General would of thought of our lives first instead of wandering into death blindly."
"… (Maybe, I am a weak leader…)"
Meanwhile, the three knights ran through the strange woods dodging trees and monsters. Each monster that stood in their way, they killed instantly with rapid attacking. It was nightfall before they made it to their new sanctuary. As they exited the dark forest of trees, they stood before a large opening in the mountainside. It took them a moment before they entered the cave dwelling. It was very large with stalactites on the ceiling, a thin stone path before them, hot springs with a rope hanging down to lead to them, and another opening on the other side of the room.
"Looks pretty decent." Steiner noted.
"I guess we should settle then…" Beatrix said as they set their stuff down and got settled.
Later that evening they had all settled them selves in the Hot Springs. The two female knights sat in the steaming juices of the spring in their towels on one side of the stone path, which created a wall between the two sides of the cave, and Steiner sat in his towel on the other side. On Beatrix and Freya's side, the two of them had been quiet for quite a while. Beatrix knew that Freya was thinking of Fratley… she was the same way every night since Beatrix told her the story of when she fought him. Beatrix was humming a tune she had heard many times at the castle.
"Alone for a while, I've been searching through the dark… For traces of the…love… you lift inside my lonely heart…" Beatrix sang quietly to herself.
She realized that always struggled that one part: "Traces of the love you lift". She rose from the hot spring grasping her towel to keep it closed. Freya looked up, noticing that had moved.
"Leaving?" Freya asked.
"I'm relaxed enough…" Beatrix told her.
"I see…"
"Look, Freya, I'm sorry if I am the cause of his amnesia…"
"…"
"Freya…"
"It's alright. I've already forgiven you… it's the irony that hurts…"
"I understand… I'm just going to get changed."
"Alright. I'm going to stay here a bit longer."
Beatrix nodded. She continued the to the rope and climbed to the top. As she walked down the path, with her eyes to the ground, she bumped into something. She fell backwards to the group, accidentally letting go of her towel. She sat up and rubbed her head, she found that she had bumped into Steiner, also in a towel and on the ground rubbing his head.
"Steiner? What are you doing here?" Beatrix asked.
Steiner looked up and his cheeks turned a bright red in embarrassment. His eyes went wide and he covered them quickly with his hand. Beatrix looked at him strangely.
"I…er… hubbada…erm… gah…" He blurted out.
"Why are you talking like that and covering your eyes…?" Beatrix asked.
"Hummana hummana hubbada hubbada … Y-Y-Your… T-t-t-t-towel!!" He blurted out again.
Beatrix looked down to see her towel had slipped down TOO much! Her face also blushed a bright red as she quickly fixed her towel and stood up. Steiner got to his feet and took his hand away from his eyes yet was still blushing. They stood there for a moment or two, not saying a word.
"I-I must go!" Beatrix told him as she ran down the path leaving him behind.
She entered a room with a stone table in the middle of the room, the largest frying pan she had ever seen in one corner, a large shelf to her left with books and a tattered brown cloth that looked to be some sort of cloak. A pile of clothes and armor on the table beside a bunch of fruit they had taken with them. She quickly dried herself off, got dressed and grabbed an apple and headed for the door. Once again she bumped into something and dropped her apple. She looked up to see it was Steiner once again.
"Oh… Sorry." He blushed.
Beatrix smiled and let out a light nervous chuckle, "Heh, we got to stop running into each other like this"
"Yes… Quite." He smiled back.
He looked down at the ground and noticed the apple.
"Oh, you dropped your apple." He bent down to reach for it.
"No, it's alright. I can get it." She also bent down to reach for it.
Once they both reached for the apple, Beatrix put her hand on it first then Steiner placed his on top of hers. They both looked up at each other, blushed and quickly pulled their hands away. They smiled at each other, then Steiner picked up the apple dusted it off and handed it to her with a bright red face. Beatrix smiled and took it from his hand.
"Thank you." She managed to say, then walked around him and exited the room.
As Beatrix exited the room a clawed hand was placed on her shoulder. She bit into her apple and to find that the hand belonged to Freya. Freya had a smile on her face.
"What are you smiling at?" Beatrix asked.
"I saw the whole thing." Freya smiled slyly.
"What do you mean?"
"The silent pauses, the blushing faces, touching hands, embarrassment, you know what I'm talking about."
"No, I don't."
"Ok, just tell me something, do you like him?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Do you like him?"
"As a friend, yes."
"I meant something more."
"M-More?"
"Yes."
"Surely you jest! I-I can not express such feelings! I'm woman of high rank! I… have no time for such things…"
"Sigh… well I think he likes you."
"Don't be silly."
"I'm serious! Haven't you seen him looking at you?"
"Oh he's only doing it to bug me. Trust me, by the time this is all over we'll be at each others throats once again and nothing more."
"Sigh… Believe what you want."
Freya rolled her eyes and entered the room that Beatrix had just left. Beatrix raised an eyebrow as she watched her go, then turned away and walked to the entrance. She stepped out into the cold night air and finished off the rest of her apple. She closed her eye and slowly, silently swept off into thought.
She could feel the cool breeze of the night tickling her neck. Suddenly she felt something cold touch her face. It went down her cheek to under her chin. It slowly tilted her chin upwards which made Beatrix's eye snap open. She found a hooded face ever so close to hers. It was Kuja! He was in a dark blue cloak with his arms wrapped gently around his waist. Beatrix let out a gasp and escaped his grasp. She ran a few feet away from him and turned to face him. She reached for her sword but remember she left it in the cave. He lay his sapphire blue eyes on her and smiled.
"Good evening, Lady Rose." Kuja cooed.
"What are you doing here?!" Beatrix demanded.
"I've come for what is mine."
"And that would be?"
"Don't play games with me," He smiled devilishly, "You know what I'm here for."
"I-I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"Then let me refresh your memory." He backed her up against the rough granite of the mountainside, "About a month ago… you made a promise to me, Lady Rose."
Beatrix slowly began to remember…
*************************************************************
???, Kuja's room…
"What do you think you are doing?" Beatrix asked a tipsy Kuja.
"As a man in a great play said, 'One turf shall serve as pillow for us both; one heart, one bed, two bosoms and one troth.'" Kuja smiled.
"No! Do you take me for a tipsy fool?" she looked into his eyes, blood shot, "…Kuja! You're smashed!"
"Not so!"
"Well, the answer is still no! I have my principals!"
"As this man said once again, 'Oh, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence! Love takes the meaning in love's conference. I mean, that my heart unto yours is knit so that but one heart we can make of it; two bosoms interchained with an oath; so then two bosoms and a single troth. Then by your side no bedroom me deny; for lying so, Hermia, I do not lie.' Can't you see? You are my Hermia and I shall be your Lysander." He tried to steal a kiss but she didn't let him.
"Your quotes are poetry, but as did Hermia as I recall, I decline the rather poetic invitation. I have my morals and I shall not perform such an act till I am wed!" Beatrix explained.
"Then let us be wed!" he exclaimed.
"Surely you jest! 12 days of being together is too little to proclaim marriage, as flattering as it is!"
"Then what do you suggest?"
"…In one month, I might change my mind."
"Then in one month's time, I shall make this proposal again. And will you accept?"
"…There's a chance…"
"Excellent!"
"…"
*************************************************************
Beatrix snapped out of it and looked into Kuja's smiling face.
"Now do you remember?" Kuja smiled slyly.
"N-No." Beatrix lied.
"Then I'll just have to refresh your memory a different way…" He smirked as he started to feel up and down the sides of her body. She shivered at his touch. She pushed him away from her slightly and turned her back on him.
"Please… Don't-"
He interrupted her by slowly snaked his hands under her arms, folded his arms under her chest, lifting them slightly. He pulled Beatrix closer to him. Beatrix let out a sharp gasp. Kuja smiled as he placed his face in her hair, and breathed in. Kuja let out a purr of satisfaction as he pulled his face out of her hair and place his head on her shoulder.
"It's been so long since I've smelt something so beautiful." Kuja purred, "I can't wait to have you all to myself."
"What are you talking about?! Let go of me!"
"Not till you say yes."
"Say 'yes' to what!?"
Kuja let out a laugh and kissed up and down her neck. Beatrix began to struggle. Kuja just smiled and gave her a playful love bite on her neck. Beatrix let in another sharp breath as she felt it. Beatrix dropped her head, looking down at the ground. As she looked down she noticed his hands seemed to be focused on something else… like unbuckling her Long vest! Beatrix's eye widen and she began to struggle more than ever.
"Stop! Stop It! Stop at once!" Beatrix cried.
"What is it, my dear?" Kuja asked innocently.
"You! You and… your hands!"
"My hands?" He smiled slyly, "They're just eager. You know how hard it is not to touch you."
"You're even more of a pervert then I remember!"
"Harsh words, Lady Rose."
"They're more than you deserve!"
"Tsk, tsk, more harsh words. No matter, the question at hand is will you marry me?"
"Marry you?!"
"Yes. You made a promise that if I asked you this question again you'd most likely say, yes."
"After what you did?! You spoke fondly of the Princess with the same words you said to me! You touch me like this every time we meet when I've told you before 'NO'! You helped in harming her! You put that spell on her! Why should I marry you when you have helped in the harm of the one thing I am sworn to protect?!"
"So your answer is…?"
"Are you deaf?! My answer is NO! NEVER!"
"...I think you should reconsider."
"No! I shall not!"
"Then let me help in convincing you…" He turned her around leaned into her.
He crested her soft full lips with his. Beatrix closed her eye and felt as if she was about to cry. He wrapped his arms around her waist. Kuja pushed down on her mouth with the need of more. As he did this, he pulled her pulled her lower body into his. Kuja then slowly parted her lips with his tongue, and he pressed his tongue against hers. His tongue wrestled with hers in Beatrix mouth. Kuja rolled his tongue making Beatrix let out a soft moan.
Meanwhile Steiner was walking around the dwelling looking for Beatrix. Suddenly, he could hear voices coming from outside. He looked out the dwelling door to see a shocking sight. Beatrix was kissing a man in a dark blue cloak. Steiner heart sank… He knitted his brows in anger as he slowly and quietly slipped into the shadows of the forest without them noticing…
Beatrix quickly pulled away, and slapped Kuja across the face. She slowly took time to catch her breath.
"Leave… Now!" Beatrix told him.
"But, My Darling…"
"I will not marry you! I'm sorry, but I have feelings for another! Good night!"
"What!? Who is he!? I'll kill him!!!"
"If you did, I would never marry you even if you and I were the last living beings on Gaia!"
"Fine. I'll leave. But I want you to think about my offer! One day, I'll be back for, and your answer best be yes! Or you WILL regret it! Then… You'll be mine."
With that, Kuja disappeared into the shadows. Beatrix fell to her knees with her face in her hands. 'What have I gotten myself into?' she thought. She got to her feet and entered the dwelling trying to find Freya. She found her at the Hot Springs again.
She called down to her, "Freya! Have you seen Steiner?"
"Yeah. He told me he was going to look for you outside." Freya replied.
"What!? Could he have… Oh no! I'm going to go look for him! I'll see you in the morning Freya!" Beatrix grabbed her sword, a tattered old cloak from the shelf in the next room and ran out the door.
"In the morning? Where are you- Hey! Wait!"
It was too late, Beatrix had already ran out the door. Beatrix ran through the dark shadowy forest that led to Treno. She quickly dodged every monster in her path as she trekked through. When she finally made it to Treno, it was the late hours of the night…
Meanwhile, in a rundown Tavern in Treno, a lonely knight sat at the bar counter that stuck out from the crowd like a Grand Dragon in a field of Ooglops. He was surrounded by glasses and mugs that had been licked dry of the ale they once held and was admiring the handkerchief wrapped around his wrist. But, like the men around him, he was also piss drunk! He called the bartender over.
"Bartender, I'd like another." Steiner said in a tipsy voice.
"Sir, I believe you've had enough." The bartender said looking at how Steiner could hardly sit in his chair.
"Oh come on!"
"I'm sorry, sir. You can stay as long as you want, but no ale for you."
Steiner grumbled in his seat and decided to relax and listen to the music. Well… the music in his head. Suddenly a Woman in a brown, tattered cloak kicked open the tavern door. Everyone in the tavern heard that and turned to her. Her face was under the hood of the cloak and couldn't be seen. She spotted Steiner at the other end of the bar, and walked in his direction. Suddenly a drunken man got up from his seat and approached the woman. She stopped and looked at him.
"Hey cutie, looking for me?"
"Don't make me sick!" She grabbed the man by the collar and threw him out the door, then looked at the other men in the bar, "Anyone else like to try that?" She spat.
The men in the bar shook their heads. She continued toward Steiner and picked him up by the collar.
"You're coming with me, now!" She told him.
Everyone got up from his or her seats in the bar about to help him but he waved them off.
"Don't worry, I know her." He told them.
They sat back down as she dragged him out of the tavern. Outside she pulled off her hood and pinned him against the wall. It was General Beatrix.
"What the hell were you doing in there?!" She hissed.
"Passing time while you were sucking face." He told her.
"Y-You saw that?!"
"Indeed. I see you found yourself a man."
"NO! I did not! He was an old flame looking for trouble."
"Didn't look like too much trouble."
"You know what I did after he kissed me?"
"Told him you wanted more?"
"Steiner! Be serious! …I slapped him across the face and told him I never to see me again! I have a heart for someone else!"
"*Hic* Oh really?"
"Yes! …Steiner? Are you drunk?"
"*Hic* No…"
"Yes you are!"
"Beatrix, *hic* I swear to drunk, I'm not god…"
"…That made no sense. You're drunk!"
"…Maybe…"
"Just great. We can't just stay here and wait for you to sober up."
"We could get a hotel."
"Looking like this? People will notice! Not to mention I don't trust you like this."
"…It might be the beer talking, Beatrix… but you have a butt that just won't quit."
"Oh by the gods… We have to get you to the dwelling before my Soldiers find us…"
"Yeah…5 gil?! Get out of here…"
"…"
Beatrix took his arm and dragged him down the street. But just as she feared, Alexandrian Soldiers spotted them and began to chase them.
"Look! The General and the Captain!"
"Get them!"
"Don't let them escape!!!"
Beatrix ran through the alleys and streets trying to loose them. Suddenly, out of drunken luck, Steiner pulled out his sword and cut the rope on a load of barrels. The barrels toppled down the street knocking over the soldiers giving Beatrix and him a good chance to escape.
Once back at the dwelling, Freya was asleep. Beatrix dragged Steiner over against the wall and sat him down. She walked over the kitchen area and ran a wet cloth under the surprisingly working tap. She placed the cloth on Steiner's forehead and sat down beside him. He was already asleep. She smiled and placed her head on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
With that… She slowly began to drift off to sleep as well…
The next morning, Baku, Marcus, and Blank arrived at their door with a letter from the Regent… telling them that the time was right to come back to Alexandria… "The New Queen", was coming home.
Note: If I get some good reviews I'll start the eleventh chapter! Yay! Love Letter scene!!!! :P And it'll be better than this one! Promise!
Note: Okay, so my last two weren't so good… :'( It's hard to think of something when you have screaming relatives all around you and exams at the end of the month. I'm hoping this one will be better since I kinda hurried with chapter 9. Anyway, I don't own anything produced by Squaresoft, which includes this game and it's characters, blah blah blah…etc. Please enjoy and no flames.
Dear Diary,
After these strange few days, and hearing of the queen's… death, we are now in Alexandria. But those last few days in Treno feel so strange to me… After Steiner told me of the fate of his parents, and seeing him cry like that… I've been experiencing weird feelings lately…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Treno, Day 29, Street Alley…
"Don't let them escape!!"
"Send out the Mandragoras! That'll slow them down!"
"Attack!!!"
Three shadows scurried down the darkened alleyway of the streets of Treno. They were being followed by at least ten Alexandrian Soldiers. The three shadows ran for the light of lampposts revealing them as the so-called, "Renegades" that the Alexandrian Soldiers have been searching for. Freya Cresant, General Beatrix and Captain Albert Steiner.
"There they are! Don't let them escape!" Soldier Nicole shouted.
"I believe that won't be possible for you to do, my dear!" Steiner called back.
He spoke to soon… 3 Mandragoras stood in their path, trapping them between those monsters and the soldiers. The three of them stood back to back to back as they pulled out their weapons, ready to fight. Each of them closed their eyes and remembered their plan…
*************************************************************
"What are we going to do? The city is crawling with my soldiers!" Beatrix told her two companions and Dr. Tot.
"Yes, too true." Dr. Tot scratched his bearded chin.
"There has to be a way to lead them out of the city! Or at least away from us!" Freya said frustrated.
"A place we can escape to where they can't find us, but is near by and not too far away so when this is all over we can return to Alexandria." Steiner thought a loud.
"Yes, that would be a haven. But I don't think there is any place like that! Around here at least…" Beatrix sighed.
"A hiding place… Near by…" Dr. Tot said still scratching his chin.
"We could escape to Dali! We can take the Gate Pass Steiner has and use it to take the road to Dali." Freya suggested.
"The road there would take too long! Alexandria is probably checking the gates! Plus, if there's news from the Princess, then they won't know where to find us!" Steiner argued. "Not to mention the strange people there!"
"Maybe we should just stay here then…" Beatrix sighed again.
"Wait! I have an idea!" Dr. Tot exclaimed.
"What is it doctor?" Asked Steiner.
"Quan Dwelling! A place where a friend of mine lived. He was very… um… hungry for knowledge." Dr. Tot explained, "It's a cave outside of Treno. It's not known by many people, so if you stay there for a couple days until the Soldiers decide you've completely left Treno, they'll leave and search elsewhere."
"Yes, but are we sure it's safe?" Beatrix asked.
"I've traveled there a few times myself, so besides the minor monsters, it should be quite safe." Dr. Tot told her.
"What's this place like?" Freya asked.
"It's surrounded by forest, has enough light and doesn't need the use of lamps. You can help yourselves to the Hot Springs if you wish."
"Sounds good, but how to we know if the Alexandrian Knights don't know of this dwelling?" Beatrix pointed out.
"I can assure you, only a select few scholars know of this place." Dr. Tot told them.
"Well what are we waiting for?! What's the plan?!" Steiner bellowed impatiently.
************************************************************
The three mandragoras approached the three warriors and a skipping pace. Suddenly, their eyes snapped open and each of them took on one of those monstrosities, killing them with over kill attacks. The three mandragoras fell to the ground with their innards, organs and excrement stilling all over the stone street. They wiped the blades of their weapons as the soldiers from behind them with wide eyes at the massacre of their three monsters.
"You've ran from us long enough, General!" Nicole Shouted, "It's time for you to surrender at once… or face the consequences of being stripped of your ranks, face charges of treason to the Queen and executed for your disloyalty to the crown!!!!"
Beatrix faced Nicole with an emotionless expression. Nicole began to tremble under the cold, angered eye of the General. Beatrix raised her hand in the air and let it down across Nicole's face.
"You call yourself a leader? Trembling before the enemy?! I'm ashamed to be in your presence and ashamed that I taught you so much, yet you've learned nothing!" Beatrix shouted at the small soldier, "I refuse your offer! Especially when it was offered by someone so weak!!!"
Nicole winced at these words and looked as if she was about to cry, "Draw your sword!" She managed.
"What?!"
"DRAW YOUR SWORD!" Nicole shouted, "YOU'LL NEED IF YOU DARE TO ESCAPE!!! BUT KNOW THIS, YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THIS CITY!!!!"
"You dare challenge me and glare death in the face? …As you wish." Beatrix glared as she once again drew her sword once more.
The soldiers drew their swords. Steiner and Freya stood at Beatrix's side drawing their weapons as well. The two sides eyed each other, waiting for someone to start the attack. Suddenly, one of the minor soldiers got impatient and made a stab for Beatrix with her iron sword.
"FOOL!" Beatrix shouted as she spotted the attack made in her direction.
Beatrix quickly moved out of the way just enough so that the blade of the sword was merely centimeters away from her body and thrusted the butt of her Save the Queen in the young soldier's stomach, knocking the wind out of her. The young soldier fell to the ground gasping for air, holding her stomach in pain. The other soldiers saw this and stared at their General wide eyed and angered. One of them let out a battle cry and they attacked at once. Steiner happily blocked each hit and countered hard. Freya jumped high above knocking opponents to the ground, pinning them with her spear and knocking them out with a kick to the head with her clawed foot. Beatrix used her Shriek attacks to overpower the soldiers KO'ing them instantly. They fought until only so many were left standing. Not yet to be exhausted, the three of them stood strong. Beatrix looked back at Freya who signaled that the time was now to launch their plan. The three of them seethed their weapons and retreated down the street. Not going to give up when the battle had only begun, the soldiers followed ever vigilantly.
Steiner led them down the streets of Treno, through dark alleys and under the light of lampposts. The soldiers watched their every move closely trying not to lose them like last time. Suddenly Freya took her companions's hands and jumped high into the sky to make a rooftop escape. The soldiers made an effort to follow them on foot as the three jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Suddenly, Steiner jumped too late, while they jumped to another rooftop, and he slipped and quickly grabbed the edge of the rooftop. Beatrix stopped and turned around to find him gone and ran back for him. She looked down at the edge of the roof to find him hanging for dear life. She looked below him to find her soldier had found this and had gathered some Treno Knights with bows 'n' arrows. Beatrix grabbed Steiner's arm as arrows were launched upward missing Steiner's body and her head barely. She struggled to pull him up.
"Beatrix… let me fall!" Steiner shouted.
"Never! I lost a friend this way before, I'm not going to lose another!" Beatrix grunted as she continued to pull.
Suddenly an arrow was shot at Steiner and struck him hard. Steiner let out a loud repeated curse and his grip on the roof began to weaken. With that Beatrix's grip also began to loosen and she began to lean further over the edge. Thankfully, Freya came to their rescue and help Beatrix pull him on to the roof.
"Are you alright?" Freya asked.
"I-I'm quite alright." Steiner replied weakly as he pulled off his glove to find that the arrow had scratched his wrist and left a deep cut.
"You call that alright?" Beatrix said, "Here…" Beatrix took out her handkerchief, the one she had the same day the Princess was captured, and wrapped it around his bleeding wrist.
Steiner looked at her confused. Beatrix merely returned the look with a smile and motioned him to get up as the three of them continued jumping from rooftop to rooftop until they reached the edge of town. They jumped from the rooftops to the street leading out of Treno. Arrows flew past their heads as they ran out the front gates into the misty beyond. The soldiers followed them until they disappeared into the woods. Nicole turned to her soldiers.
"You fools! What are you waiting for?!" Nicole shouted.
"Those woods are filled with wild Mandragoras! We'll be beaten to death if we try to follow them, Ma'am!" A soldier told her.
"Idiots! Is this how you repay the queen? Thinking of your own lives?!"
"NO!" Shouted another.
"Who said that?!" Nicole asked.
A soldier stepped out from the group, "I did!"
"Grace, do you dare defy me?!"
"The General would of thought of our lives first instead of wandering into death blindly."
"… (Maybe, I am a weak leader…)"
Meanwhile, the three knights ran through the strange woods dodging trees and monsters. Each monster that stood in their way, they killed instantly with rapid attacking. It was nightfall before they made it to their new sanctuary. As they exited the dark forest of trees, they stood before a large opening in the mountainside. It took them a moment before they entered the cave dwelling. It was very large with stalactites on the ceiling, a thin stone path before them, hot springs with a rope hanging down to lead to them, and another opening on the other side of the room.
"Looks pretty decent." Steiner noted.
"I guess we should settle then…" Beatrix said as they set their stuff down and got settled.
Later that evening they had all settled them selves in the Hot Springs. The two female knights sat in the steaming juices of the spring in their towels on one side of the stone path, which created a wall between the two sides of the cave, and Steiner sat in his towel on the other side. On Beatrix and Freya's side, the two of them had been quiet for quite a while. Beatrix knew that Freya was thinking of Fratley… she was the same way every night since Beatrix told her the story of when she fought him. Beatrix was humming a tune she had heard many times at the castle.
"Alone for a while, I've been searching through the dark… For traces of the…love… you lift inside my lonely heart…" Beatrix sang quietly to herself.
She realized that always struggled that one part: "Traces of the love you lift". She rose from the hot spring grasping her towel to keep it closed. Freya looked up, noticing that had moved.
"Leaving?" Freya asked.
"I'm relaxed enough…" Beatrix told her.
"I see…"
"Look, Freya, I'm sorry if I am the cause of his amnesia…"
"…"
"Freya…"
"It's alright. I've already forgiven you… it's the irony that hurts…"
"I understand… I'm just going to get changed."
"Alright. I'm going to stay here a bit longer."
Beatrix nodded. She continued the to the rope and climbed to the top. As she walked down the path, with her eyes to the ground, she bumped into something. She fell backwards to the group, accidentally letting go of her towel. She sat up and rubbed her head, she found that she had bumped into Steiner, also in a towel and on the ground rubbing his head.
"Steiner? What are you doing here?" Beatrix asked.
Steiner looked up and his cheeks turned a bright red in embarrassment. His eyes went wide and he covered them quickly with his hand. Beatrix looked at him strangely.
"I…er… hubbada…erm… gah…" He blurted out.
"Why are you talking like that and covering your eyes…?" Beatrix asked.
"Hummana hummana hubbada hubbada … Y-Y-Your… T-t-t-t-towel!!" He blurted out again.
Beatrix looked down to see her towel had slipped down TOO much! Her face also blushed a bright red as she quickly fixed her towel and stood up. Steiner got to his feet and took his hand away from his eyes yet was still blushing. They stood there for a moment or two, not saying a word.
"I-I must go!" Beatrix told him as she ran down the path leaving him behind.
She entered a room with a stone table in the middle of the room, the largest frying pan she had ever seen in one corner, a large shelf to her left with books and a tattered brown cloth that looked to be some sort of cloak. A pile of clothes and armor on the table beside a bunch of fruit they had taken with them. She quickly dried herself off, got dressed and grabbed an apple and headed for the door. Once again she bumped into something and dropped her apple. She looked up to see it was Steiner once again.
"Oh… Sorry." He blushed.
Beatrix smiled and let out a light nervous chuckle, "Heh, we got to stop running into each other like this"
"Yes… Quite." He smiled back.
He looked down at the ground and noticed the apple.
"Oh, you dropped your apple." He bent down to reach for it.
"No, it's alright. I can get it." She also bent down to reach for it.
Once they both reached for the apple, Beatrix put her hand on it first then Steiner placed his on top of hers. They both looked up at each other, blushed and quickly pulled their hands away. They smiled at each other, then Steiner picked up the apple dusted it off and handed it to her with a bright red face. Beatrix smiled and took it from his hand.
"Thank you." She managed to say, then walked around him and exited the room.
As Beatrix exited the room a clawed hand was placed on her shoulder. She bit into her apple and to find that the hand belonged to Freya. Freya had a smile on her face.
"What are you smiling at?" Beatrix asked.
"I saw the whole thing." Freya smiled slyly.
"What do you mean?"
"The silent pauses, the blushing faces, touching hands, embarrassment, you know what I'm talking about."
"No, I don't."
"Ok, just tell me something, do you like him?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Do you like him?"
"As a friend, yes."
"I meant something more."
"M-More?"
"Yes."
"Surely you jest! I-I can not express such feelings! I'm woman of high rank! I… have no time for such things…"
"Sigh… well I think he likes you."
"Don't be silly."
"I'm serious! Haven't you seen him looking at you?"
"Oh he's only doing it to bug me. Trust me, by the time this is all over we'll be at each others throats once again and nothing more."
"Sigh… Believe what you want."
Freya rolled her eyes and entered the room that Beatrix had just left. Beatrix raised an eyebrow as she watched her go, then turned away and walked to the entrance. She stepped out into the cold night air and finished off the rest of her apple. She closed her eye and slowly, silently swept off into thought.
She could feel the cool breeze of the night tickling her neck. Suddenly she felt something cold touch her face. It went down her cheek to under her chin. It slowly tilted her chin upwards which made Beatrix's eye snap open. She found a hooded face ever so close to hers. It was Kuja! He was in a dark blue cloak with his arms wrapped gently around his waist. Beatrix let out a gasp and escaped his grasp. She ran a few feet away from him and turned to face him. She reached for her sword but remember she left it in the cave. He lay his sapphire blue eyes on her and smiled.
"Good evening, Lady Rose." Kuja cooed.
"What are you doing here?!" Beatrix demanded.
"I've come for what is mine."
"And that would be?"
"Don't play games with me," He smiled devilishly, "You know what I'm here for."
"I-I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"Then let me refresh your memory." He backed her up against the rough granite of the mountainside, "About a month ago… you made a promise to me, Lady Rose."
Beatrix slowly began to remember…
*************************************************************
???, Kuja's room…
"What do you think you are doing?" Beatrix asked a tipsy Kuja.
"As a man in a great play said, 'One turf shall serve as pillow for us both; one heart, one bed, two bosoms and one troth.'" Kuja smiled.
"No! Do you take me for a tipsy fool?" she looked into his eyes, blood shot, "…Kuja! You're smashed!"
"Not so!"
"Well, the answer is still no! I have my principals!"
"As this man said once again, 'Oh, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence! Love takes the meaning in love's conference. I mean, that my heart unto yours is knit so that but one heart we can make of it; two bosoms interchained with an oath; so then two bosoms and a single troth. Then by your side no bedroom me deny; for lying so, Hermia, I do not lie.' Can't you see? You are my Hermia and I shall be your Lysander." He tried to steal a kiss but she didn't let him.
"Your quotes are poetry, but as did Hermia as I recall, I decline the rather poetic invitation. I have my morals and I shall not perform such an act till I am wed!" Beatrix explained.
"Then let us be wed!" he exclaimed.
"Surely you jest! 12 days of being together is too little to proclaim marriage, as flattering as it is!"
"Then what do you suggest?"
"…In one month, I might change my mind."
"Then in one month's time, I shall make this proposal again. And will you accept?"
"…There's a chance…"
"Excellent!"
"…"
*************************************************************
Beatrix snapped out of it and looked into Kuja's smiling face.
"Now do you remember?" Kuja smiled slyly.
"N-No." Beatrix lied.
"Then I'll just have to refresh your memory a different way…" He smirked as he started to feel up and down the sides of her body. She shivered at his touch. She pushed him away from her slightly and turned her back on him.
"Please… Don't-"
He interrupted her by slowly snaked his hands under her arms, folded his arms under her chest, lifting them slightly. He pulled Beatrix closer to him. Beatrix let out a sharp gasp. Kuja smiled as he placed his face in her hair, and breathed in. Kuja let out a purr of satisfaction as he pulled his face out of her hair and place his head on her shoulder.
"It's been so long since I've smelt something so beautiful." Kuja purred, "I can't wait to have you all to myself."
"What are you talking about?! Let go of me!"
"Not till you say yes."
"Say 'yes' to what!?"
Kuja let out a laugh and kissed up and down her neck. Beatrix began to struggle. Kuja just smiled and gave her a playful love bite on her neck. Beatrix let in another sharp breath as she felt it. Beatrix dropped her head, looking down at the ground. As she looked down she noticed his hands seemed to be focused on something else… like unbuckling her Long vest! Beatrix's eye widen and she began to struggle more than ever.
"Stop! Stop It! Stop at once!" Beatrix cried.
"What is it, my dear?" Kuja asked innocently.
"You! You and… your hands!"
"My hands?" He smiled slyly, "They're just eager. You know how hard it is not to touch you."
"You're even more of a pervert then I remember!"
"Harsh words, Lady Rose."
"They're more than you deserve!"
"Tsk, tsk, more harsh words. No matter, the question at hand is will you marry me?"
"Marry you?!"
"Yes. You made a promise that if I asked you this question again you'd most likely say, yes."
"After what you did?! You spoke fondly of the Princess with the same words you said to me! You touch me like this every time we meet when I've told you before 'NO'! You helped in harming her! You put that spell on her! Why should I marry you when you have helped in the harm of the one thing I am sworn to protect?!"
"So your answer is…?"
"Are you deaf?! My answer is NO! NEVER!"
"...I think you should reconsider."
"No! I shall not!"
"Then let me help in convincing you…" He turned her around leaned into her.
He crested her soft full lips with his. Beatrix closed her eye and felt as if she was about to cry. He wrapped his arms around her waist. Kuja pushed down on her mouth with the need of more. As he did this, he pulled her pulled her lower body into his. Kuja then slowly parted her lips with his tongue, and he pressed his tongue against hers. His tongue wrestled with hers in Beatrix mouth. Kuja rolled his tongue making Beatrix let out a soft moan.
Meanwhile Steiner was walking around the dwelling looking for Beatrix. Suddenly, he could hear voices coming from outside. He looked out the dwelling door to see a shocking sight. Beatrix was kissing a man in a dark blue cloak. Steiner heart sank… He knitted his brows in anger as he slowly and quietly slipped into the shadows of the forest without them noticing…
Beatrix quickly pulled away, and slapped Kuja across the face. She slowly took time to catch her breath.
"Leave… Now!" Beatrix told him.
"But, My Darling…"
"I will not marry you! I'm sorry, but I have feelings for another! Good night!"
"What!? Who is he!? I'll kill him!!!"
"If you did, I would never marry you even if you and I were the last living beings on Gaia!"
"Fine. I'll leave. But I want you to think about my offer! One day, I'll be back for, and your answer best be yes! Or you WILL regret it! Then… You'll be mine."
With that, Kuja disappeared into the shadows. Beatrix fell to her knees with her face in her hands. 'What have I gotten myself into?' she thought. She got to her feet and entered the dwelling trying to find Freya. She found her at the Hot Springs again.
She called down to her, "Freya! Have you seen Steiner?"
"Yeah. He told me he was going to look for you outside." Freya replied.
"What!? Could he have… Oh no! I'm going to go look for him! I'll see you in the morning Freya!" Beatrix grabbed her sword, a tattered old cloak from the shelf in the next room and ran out the door.
"In the morning? Where are you- Hey! Wait!"
It was too late, Beatrix had already ran out the door. Beatrix ran through the dark shadowy forest that led to Treno. She quickly dodged every monster in her path as she trekked through. When she finally made it to Treno, it was the late hours of the night…
Meanwhile, in a rundown Tavern in Treno, a lonely knight sat at the bar counter that stuck out from the crowd like a Grand Dragon in a field of Ooglops. He was surrounded by glasses and mugs that had been licked dry of the ale they once held and was admiring the handkerchief wrapped around his wrist. But, like the men around him, he was also piss drunk! He called the bartender over.
"Bartender, I'd like another." Steiner said in a tipsy voice.
"Sir, I believe you've had enough." The bartender said looking at how Steiner could hardly sit in his chair.
"Oh come on!"
"I'm sorry, sir. You can stay as long as you want, but no ale for you."
Steiner grumbled in his seat and decided to relax and listen to the music. Well… the music in his head. Suddenly a Woman in a brown, tattered cloak kicked open the tavern door. Everyone in the tavern heard that and turned to her. Her face was under the hood of the cloak and couldn't be seen. She spotted Steiner at the other end of the bar, and walked in his direction. Suddenly a drunken man got up from his seat and approached the woman. She stopped and looked at him.
"Hey cutie, looking for me?"
"Don't make me sick!" She grabbed the man by the collar and threw him out the door, then looked at the other men in the bar, "Anyone else like to try that?" She spat.
The men in the bar shook their heads. She continued toward Steiner and picked him up by the collar.
"You're coming with me, now!" She told him.
Everyone got up from his or her seats in the bar about to help him but he waved them off.
"Don't worry, I know her." He told them.
They sat back down as she dragged him out of the tavern. Outside she pulled off her hood and pinned him against the wall. It was General Beatrix.
"What the hell were you doing in there?!" She hissed.
"Passing time while you were sucking face." He told her.
"Y-You saw that?!"
"Indeed. I see you found yourself a man."
"NO! I did not! He was an old flame looking for trouble."
"Didn't look like too much trouble."
"You know what I did after he kissed me?"
"Told him you wanted more?"
"Steiner! Be serious! …I slapped him across the face and told him I never to see me again! I have a heart for someone else!"
"*Hic* Oh really?"
"Yes! …Steiner? Are you drunk?"
"*Hic* No…"
"Yes you are!"
"Beatrix, *hic* I swear to drunk, I'm not god…"
"…That made no sense. You're drunk!"
"…Maybe…"
"Just great. We can't just stay here and wait for you to sober up."
"We could get a hotel."
"Looking like this? People will notice! Not to mention I don't trust you like this."
"…It might be the beer talking, Beatrix… but you have a butt that just won't quit."
"Oh by the gods… We have to get you to the dwelling before my Soldiers find us…"
"Yeah…5 gil?! Get out of here…"
"…"
Beatrix took his arm and dragged him down the street. But just as she feared, Alexandrian Soldiers spotted them and began to chase them.
"Look! The General and the Captain!"
"Get them!"
"Don't let them escape!!!"
Beatrix ran through the alleys and streets trying to loose them. Suddenly, out of drunken luck, Steiner pulled out his sword and cut the rope on a load of barrels. The barrels toppled down the street knocking over the soldiers giving Beatrix and him a good chance to escape.
Once back at the dwelling, Freya was asleep. Beatrix dragged Steiner over against the wall and sat him down. She walked over the kitchen area and ran a wet cloth under the surprisingly working tap. She placed the cloth on Steiner's forehead and sat down beside him. He was already asleep. She smiled and placed her head on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
With that… She slowly began to drift off to sleep as well…
The next morning, Baku, Marcus, and Blank arrived at their door with a letter from the Regent… telling them that the time was right to come back to Alexandria… "The New Queen", was coming home.
Note: If I get some good reviews I'll start the eleventh chapter! Yay! Love Letter scene!!!! :P And it'll be better than this one! Promise!