Scarlet
By L. Hiiragizawa
Revealed
The night was young and the skies have lost its majestic blue. An infinite black sheath covered with shimmering night jewels, its splendor spread across the heavens above, now replaced it. A lone soul inside the vicinities of his place of reign never had the chance to adore such a magnificent sight within the three years of his cold existence beneath the chains that enclosed his once happy life.
In his face reflected the shades of misery, ache, discomfort and grief.
Each rooted in his internal self and nothing…
Nothing and no one shall ever melt the frozen chambers of his pain stricken heart.
'Even her?'
His mind trailed back to the girl who he had pardoned that day: the very person who made his lips curve up finally after a long time of resting behind the shadows of remorse.
'But she looks like…don't you think?'
Her…
She still haunted him no matter how he tried to brush her away from memory…
Push her aside and erase her name from his past.
He looked up to the painting that only reminded him that at one point of his life,
He loved and he cried.
**A million stars light
This beautiful night
This is not a night to die
Let me sing and dance**
The room he dwelled in was dim and only the moonlight shone through, alighting his pale face, which was directed towards a canvas that was only partly visible because of the darkness from where it hung. Tears slowly flowed down his eyes in spite of his to brush them away and remain bold and brave. Yet he failed his commitment to himself, as he tasted the salty droplets that one by one touched his lips.
**Beneath the sky
I have such love to give...to give
I want a chance to live**
He balled up his fist and harshly wiped away what seemed to him were droplets of annoyance. But amidst his arrogance and such was a heart that longed for something unseen…
Something he wanted to feel yet he was deprived of…
Something every creature lived in and what the world revolves around in…
**Live
For the one I love
Love
As no one has loved**
But when?
When shall he ever and once again regain hopes?
And how?
How shall he ever give away himself?
When he, himself is selfish of giving away love…
**Give
Asking nothing in return**
Eriol found himself drawn into his balcony, which overlooked the garden, his face allowing itself to mingle with the light of the moon and the sparkle of the stars. His eyes were no more of tears but of the sadness that made him sink deeper and deeper into the abyss of hell.
He stared right out above the heavens on a star so bright that reminded him of the person that had taught him…
'Stars are reminders of people who have long gone but as they sparkle bright, they remind us that once in our lives, we have loved.'
**Free to find my way
Free to have my say
Free to see the day**
His thoughts were halted by the tingling melody of a female soprano voice that awoke the stillness of the night.
**Live like I used to be
Like wild but free
For the life in me**
She felt the night air breathe as she slowly danced to the hum of her voice. Her nightgown moved to the rhythm of an imaginary beat that filled her mind as she freely swayed against the cold wind, feeling each longing word of a song she had always loved to sing…
**Live
For the one I love
Love
As no one has loved
Give
Asking nothing in return**
Her amethyst eyes formed familiar liquids, which she forbade to fall as she jumped and twirled around the huge garden of a place she never knew existed and in the time she dreaded to hear from the information she asked from her maid a while ago: 1810.
'That couldn't be…'
Her mind chanted that somehow perhaps she may be dwelling in a dream, assuring everything was normal and not noticing two blue eyes watching her every move, her every curve, the way her dark ebony tresses move with her body.
**This world tears us apart
We're still together in my heart
I want the world to hear my cry
Even if I have to die**
From below he saw the girl that enchanted his curiosity who he had mistaken to be a wandering ballerina. She danced so well and her voice touched his heart and his soul. Eriol was at first tempted to go near, like a moth drawn to the flame. But he was afraid to get burned, afraid to face someone whose features he recognize so well.
'She can't be…she's not her'
**Love will not die
Love will change the world**
She gently clutched the crystal once more. There were no more blue eyes to hunt her. No more voice to send her shivering in fear. All premonitions vanished…
Gone.
But what was bothering her was the young baritone voice that spoke like air to her that day as she was forbidden to get a sight of its owner.
'He can't be…he's not him'
**Live
For the one I love
Love
As no one has loved
Give
Asking nothing in return**
As she looked up to the heavens, two blue eyes caught her gaze just far above her. She did not stop dancing and humming but her amethyst eyes were locked into his, noticing a pale young man approximately about her age. His features were unclear due to the blackness that surrounded him. Only the moon's light gave the faintest possibility of recognizing him…
The arrogant king.
But one thing was for sure to her, his name was Eriol and the name itself was so familiar she can't get hold of the time and the moment she encountered such a name.
'Eriol…'
'Eriol…'
**I'll love until love wears me away
I'll die and I know my love will stay
And I'll know I know my love will stay**
He watched her stare at him as she continued to dance. His heart skipped a beat as her amethyst eyes bore into him…
'Amethyst…'
Eriol notice her movement slow down to what seemed like the final bow. It was instinct probably that made him clap and smile just the same. It had been so long since someone had danced for him.
"That was very enticing my lady. Thank you for providing such entertainment."
He smirked at the thought of gaining from her another heated conversation.
Tomoyo gave him a glare as she placed two hands on her hips.
"Why if it's not your highness. Thank you for gracing my show with your uninvited presence."
She heard him give a chuckle as she frowned. She hated being mocked.
"This is my palace and I could go wherever I could go my lady. By the way, it's cold out there, mind if you come inside before you chill?"
"You don't care if I chill nor I freeze to death. My life is none of your business."
She snapped back boldly and Eriol was pretty much amused at how brave she could become. He smirked down as she was visibly wincing from the frozen cold temperature behind the warmth of the palace walls. Pitying the poor girl, he threw his robe to her direction below as he watch her gasp by what he did.
"I cannot afford to see a lady die because of her pride. Wrap yourself up before I could stand to control my eyes from seeing through your dress."
At this, Tomoyo, forgetting her egotistical self, got the robe he threw and wrapped herself up while silently thanking the king for being so…
Caring.
She brought her head up to reveal her very first true smile and without saying a word, nodded, bowed and made her way towards the doors of the palace.
Eriol in turn, smiled as he felt his heart shatter into pieces when she smiled at him from down below. His gaze never left her as she made her way to the palace, making sure she was safe. He never cared for anyone but the lady was just too hard to be rude at. It was just another of his stupidity (he admitted) that he forgot to get her name.
He made his way to his bed, sinking into thinking of the ebony haired lady that had caught his attention, his smile and his care.
**And I'll know I know my love will stay**
And with that, his eyes closed shut with a curve visibly marked in his lips.
-----------------------------
Tomoyo woke up the next morning noticing that she fell asleep wearing the king's robe still. She noticed his scent was dark and sweet at the same time; damask roses and perfume was confined within the soft, silky fabric. His odour filled her senses and all that dawned to her was him. She barely remembered the occurrences of last night. How she danced in front of the king, how they argued and how she smiled and he smiled back. She felt herself flush at the thought that a cruel king, though how much evil he was, could care for some people and give space for someone in his life.
Could she ever do the same thing?
She had always believed that someone like her would never have the chance to change after all the cruel things she have done to herself, to others, to her friends, family members and most especially her very own mother whom she have pushed away and denied of being her own.
For the very first time in her life, she greeted the sun's welcome for her to awake. She stretched and smiled as she made her way to the window of the room she was allowed to stay in. Her eyes roamed her surroundings and noticed that it was bigger than her own. The bed sheets were in royal purple and the furniture were antiques. Tomoyo turned to the window and peeked outside, setting aside the purple draperies that adorned it.
What seemed to be a beautiful day turned sour as soldiers of the palace came marching towards the palace gates and the maids frantically ran towards the palace doors. Sensing something was wrong, Tomoyo fled her room and rushed to the outside as she bumped into some palace officials, which came trooping to the room a few blocks from hers.
"Call the doctor…"
"That's impossible! The journey is an hour away!"
"He must not… he must not…"
"The wound is deep."
"He may not stand it any longer…"
"The poison is consuming him…"
"Your highness be strong for Invidia we must continue the fight…"
Her eyes trailed on the streaks of red liquid, which stained the palace floors. She bent down and touched its still fresh imprints and brought her fingers to her nose.
"Blood…"
Her eyes widened in horror as she realized what must have happened.
"King Eriol…"
Without further thinking, she followed the other servants and palace officials to the room that she has guessed may be of the king's. As she stepped in, the palace guards noticed her presence and quickly grabbed her hands slowly leading her out. She flinched and tried to break free from the strong arms that held her.
"I know how to slow down the sting of the poison. Let me help. Let me go!"
She screamed and kicked her feet. Upon hearing her, the guards released her and one spoke.
"But you shall die if you disobey…"
"Then death it will be. I'll take the risk if you'll let me. The king or death?"
She bravely replied despite of her other self, screaming sermons in her inner mind. The palace officials were astounded. Never in the last three years of Invidia did they witness such act of courage, not since she…
Tomoyo noticed them give way as she slowly approached a panting man who was wrapped in sheets, lying helpless in bed. She felt something heat up in her chest as her eyes were set before a handsome creature whose blue hair perfectly fitted his pale, young face. She was struck in awe as her heart skipped a beat unknowingly.
So this was the king who killed those helpless people…
So this was the king who spoke to her last night…
So this was the young man who held the blue eyes that stared right into her from the throne room…
This is the king of Invidia.
A young blue-haired boy about her age.
She strode forward to take a better look at him and placed the back of her hand against his sweating forehead.
"He has fever. Run and get a cloth and a basin of cold water…quick!"
She instructed the maids and some of them scampered out of the room. She brushed the blue locks off his forehead and noticed a deep cut in his shoulder. She turned to the officials behind who was observing her every move.
"He was poisoned isn't he?"
The man whom she recognized as the one who slapped her in her cell nodded.
"Struck by a poisoned arrow."
She returned her attention back to the young man lying on the bed, head trickled with sweat. Seeking for a cloth and found none, she tore her sleeves, which made the other people in the room gasp in surprise as she tied a tourniquet near the wound to stop the poison from spreading.
The maids returned with what she asked for and she quickly damped the towel and gently patted the cold cloth into his arms and face. She then turned to the cut and cleaned it, making the king scream in agony.
Tomoyo placed her hand on his slightly flushed cheeks, gently caressing it in an attempt to comfort him.
"Don't worry everything will be okay…"
Eriol on the other hand felt the intensity of the poison slowly engulfing his consciousness and his shoulder ache in deep pain. He felt someone damping a cloth all over his arms and his face and a hand stroking his cheek, which reminded him of his mother and…
He slowly opened his eyes to see a young ebony haired girl with amethyst eyes stare at his fragile frame. His sight was blurry but the figure he was seeing was familiar…
"Sophia…"
She was surprised when a hand suddenly took held on hers and the king's other hand cupping her face. He uttered a name she knew too well…
"Sophia…"
It was the same name the blue-eyed man in her dreams kept on chanting.
"Do not leave me anymore…"
She freed herself from the king's tight hold, stepping backwards in each chant. A hand caught her from falling down in shock as the king continued to scream the name.
"The king was severely depressed when she died three years ago. That was the first time he ever loved yet fate was cruel and forbade him his happiness…"
The man narrated as she fixed her eyes to the ailing king.
"…Since that day he became different: an outcast from the world. The once happy grounds of Clementia were torn down by his sadness and grief for the loss of his family and his only love. Invidia arose from his cold behavior and he was forced to reign the kingdom, which suffered in his hands. It was only when you came we saw him smile for the very first time after Princess Sophia passed away."
Her eyes were still wide in horror as the king continued to scream. She clutched her necklace as it mysteriously heated up in her chest.
"And you know what's the reason I opt not to kill you?"
All he did was point at something in the right. She turned her head and found a painting she wasn't able to make out because it blended with the darkness of the corner from where it hung alone.
"W-what is that?"
The man didn't reply. Instead he walked in front of the canvas and brought a candle near that she might see what lies beneath the dimness.
As the light flickered and brought up a clear view of the painting, her eyes were filled with terror at the sight.
A lady with long ebony hair…
Dark amethyst eyes…
Blood red lips twitched in a smile…
And pale white face greeted her.
"This my lady…" the man started as Tomoyo began to writhe in fear.as realization struck her.
It was…
It was…
"Is Princess Sophia of the Kingdom of Lacrima."
Her.
Disclaimer: The usual crap and yeah… I do not own Celine Dion's "Live".
AN: Okay so spank me I haven't uploaded in a week. But I have valid reasons. First,
I'm sick. Second, I had recognitions (including my own) to attend to,
farewell parties to go to, reunions to attend which also made me BRAIN DEAD
in the sense I got a severe writer's block.
Now I know this chapter's lame and the title too (but I did JUSTICE! It's long!)
and I'm sorry once again for I am sick at the moment (can't think well)
and I cancelled my doctor's appointment to tomorrow to finish this.(see how much I love you? ^_^).
But expect this being updated always already. Enjoy and tell me what you think about this. REVIEW!!!
Clarifications:
Clementia- name of the kingdom Eriol grew up in and was the first name of his kingdom which was changed to Invidia. It means gentleness in Latin.
Evroul- Eriol's father… it's lame fine…
Lacrima- another kingdom of the Triad. One is Invidia and the other is… *guess*. In Latin it means tears.
Other clarifications or if you want to use my poem or fic, again, please e-mail me: l_Hiiragizawa@hotmail.com Also, leave your e-mail for a new chapter notation. Cheers and Happy Holy Week dear Christians!Olive: Yan! I'm still sick but I wrote na…this is dedicated to you for caring a lot. Advanced Happy Birthday my pal!