So sorry it took so long to get this chapter out! Hehehehe, I really like the way this story is going and this chapter is mostly just an introduction to new characters. Plot development whoohoo! Feels the power! Thank you all for the lovely reviews and always remember, the more you review the faster I write! I guess you could say this is my x-mas/ holiday present to all of you, Happy Holidays!
Lloyd: ::cringes as he struggles to breath through all the bows and wrapping paper Jennifer has him tied up in::
Jennifer: Say it Lloyd!
Lloyd: M-m-merry C-christmas ::chokes::
Jennfier ::smack::
Lloyd: X.x;;;
Chapter 4: The End or a New Beginning?
**Approximately three months prior to present, the night Emily died.**
Princess Emily sat, hands folded uneasily in her lap, studying the night sky scene with an intense gaze. The stars were fretting tonight, flickering wildly with a disturbing passion. Their formations spoke of an unworldly presence, one that went against nature's natural order of things. *Oh dear heavens, please speak to me tonight… * Gathering up her skirts, Emily nearly fled to her prayer sanctuary located in a small celestial beings decorated room down the stairs from her bedroom. Blonde hair, un-brushed from her nervous status, danced about in loose ringlets at her back. Falling to her knees, hands clasped to her chest she silently began a ritual so familiar to her she could not recall ever being without the knowledge of it.
"Dear spirits, Mother Moon, in your beauty I seek my comfort…" murmuring words that formed into a single tone, a chant that pulled her consciousness into the depths of her imagination. The ritual continued, reaching its peak only when the stars deemed the time right. Gasping from having such mental contact with such godly presences, Emily picked up a scroll and quill and began to draw. The formation that then lay on the paper suggested that of a central being, represented by the moon, with close connections, though physical or emotional were unknown to Emily. The connections were the stars, some longer, others smaller showing the intensity of the bond according to how long the distance was. The fact that the bonds were able to reach so far out and all crossed through the crescent moon put Emily into a state of, this suggested the influence of the Gods directly in mortal affairs. Also, that there was more than just a single God, Soa, in existence. Hugging the scroll to her chest, Emily raced up to Albert and hers shared bedroom to warn him of the might be crisis.
Albert was not in the room when she reached its walls, placing the scroll in her bureau drawer, she ran to the window to see if she could recognize the constellation just revealed to her. The night wasn't the clearest she had seen, but the crescent moon shone through easily through the lazy cloud cover. *What could this mean…these, this constellation seems a bit familiar but I can't place where I've seen it before! I should know this! * Brining a hand up to her forehead, Emily rubbed the blonde hairline in attempt to relax her racing mind. *Something from before Lenus put me into that painting…it had to do with the Dragoons. Maybe Albert will remember… * Emily once again made her way over to the window, staggering as a sharp pain shot through her on her way, "mm-what!?" stumbling, she fell hard onto her side, crying out more in surprise than actual pain. It felt more as if someone was sucking the breath from her lungs, gasping futiley for more of the precious oxygen, "A-Albert…" it was nearly a whisper, clutching at her chest and stomach, they felt like they were shrinking and so tight from not breath. "Albert-A-Albert…ALBERT!" sobbing, Emily passed out into bleak darkness.
~ * ~
Lloyd laid silently on his back, covers pulled up to his chin as he shivered, doing nothing to block out the cold. The couch was soft, he'd give it that, but when it came to keeping warm the thing was definitely at a loss. Dart, of course, after running into his bedroom and changing his pants as soon as the cold fabric had gotten his attention, had thrown the pillow and sheet at Lloyd, pointing at the couch. Storming into his own room with Shana afterwards. Meru was given the spare bedroom. Lloyd rolled onto his side so that he faced the door outside, his left shoulder, buried into the cushion and right exposed to the chilling air, turning his head to Dart's door, he snarled through chattering teeth. The light was still on and a warm yellow glow shone through the thin crack at the bottom of the wood, he could hear, slightly, soft voices behind the plank and droned out footsteps upon a rug. Lloyd pulled his knees up to his chest and tried to ignore it.
The winglie gave a start when the door opened and a frowning Shana walked up to him. The light was out and Dart was nowhere to be seen. Lloyd focused on the heavy blanket Shana held in her arms before he met her gaze. "Dart, as it seems, has been holding out on you Lloyd, here, we have an actually heavy blanket you can use."
"Thank you."
"No problem!"
Smiling slightly as he reached out a hand to take the heavy looking blanket, Shana batted the arm away, spreading the cloth out over him on top of the sheet. Lloyd pulled the blanket up to his chin and sighed, the blanket was already fighting off the cold and Lloyd could actually feel his skin warming. "Good night Lloyd…oh, and I'm making eggs, bacon, and biscuits for breakfast!"
"That sounds delicious Shana, good night."
"Yeah, Meru requested that, she says you love eggs too, that you eat them for breakfast all the time."
"Yes, I do, g'night."
"Lots of salt and pepper, she said, oh and that you hate chocolate flavored coffee, black with sugar, I think I have that."
Lloyd groaned and pulled the blanket over his head, "That's nice Shana, I'm tired."
"I could understand that, you had such a long journey here and all, wow, reminds me of my dragoon days, those were fun…"
*She will shut up, she will shut up, she will shut up… * the chanting went on silently in his head, droning out Shana's continuous blabbing about nothing, not that it would be something considering that it was coming from Shana. Eventually, Lloyd assumed that the annoying former silver-white Dragoon had gone to bed; the incessant hum of her voice vacant form the room.
~ * ~
Albert coughed, his throat was raw and chest tight, he needed out of that cell. It must have been at least two days since he had had anything to eat, and water was only available when one of the knights of Bale was put on guard, which was rare. One boy, or young man, named Makaih snuck him in small buns and candies he was able to easily hide in his clothes. He was of average height, with auburn-red hair to his shoulders and a light tan. Albert had talked with him a few times and had found out a bit about the young knight. He was from the southern part of the country, a strong accent supporting that claim, and had traveled to Bale and joined the army's ranks just before the war had ended with Sandora. He was a strong warrior, sent from his small riverside village and used a bladed boomerang as a weapon. Makaih swore that if you knew how to use the weapon, you could take off a whole regiments members heads with a single throw. The king had laughed and said that with Makaih behind the boomerang he was sure it could.
As things turned out, Albert, with his free time, was able to track Makaih down to being a relative of his. It was quite interesting how their bloodlines were connected, Albert's grandfathers first wife, before she died, had actually been taken from her husband rather than leaving him willingly. That was Makaih's own partial Grandmother, and his grandfather had remarried after running from knights in his hometown to southern Serdio, where he met Makaih's real grandmother. They were married and had two children, the daughter taking after the mother with strong southern looks and seemed to have been born with their rich accent. Their son was more like he father, pale skin and dark hair.
The daughter, Joni, was rebellious and spiteful, resenting her father for running from the knights and hating her brother for resembling the younger prince Doel so much. Their father never told them that they were half brother and sister to the royal children. He did not want to complicate their lives like his own. The brother's name was Sydney and he was like his father, quiet and cold, calculating and hateful. He loved his family but when others tried to cause trouble or became too close to any of them, threats would be made. Joni and Sydney fought continuously and when they found out that they were half siblings of the royal family, things got worse. Sydney started acting like he was actual royalty, always talking down to his father and preaching about how he would one day become king, since after all, he was the queen's own.
Joni was furious at her brother, devoted to her southern heritage than her fathers northern one, could not justify Sydney's actions in any sort in her mind. He should be at least happy he wasn't forced to be killed along with her for being related. Her brother ended up leaving the family, 'traveling the world' he claimed, they only heard from him about once a year, last, he was in Tiberoa, Donau, the flower town.
During all that, Joni had married and settled down in the same town as her parents, giving birth to Makaih and his siblings.
Albert and Makaih were beginning to become good friends, and though Albert was being held behind iron bars, the soft discussion of escaping did come up every so often. Albert, against the idea, trusted his kingdom to find him innocent, while Makaih was weary about that speculation. "Albert, even if your people did find you innocent, do you really believe that the Tiberoan soldiers will allow you to be released? The Serdian army's general, you know him, Gerandau, has sided with Tiberoa. The army is loyal to him, only the 1st through 4th knights regiments are loyal directly to the king, the others go through the general.
"I will not loose hope in my people and my country, they will pull through for me. I know they will."
"All I'm saying Albert, that even if they do, Tiberoa will not let you go free so easily." At that point, Makaih was relieved by the next guard on duty, a big burly red haired man whose beady eyes and messy beard always seemed to be staring at the young king. His dark eyes sent goose bumps racing across Albert's skin, he could never catch the mans eyes with his own, which unnerved the convicted king. The man nearly never spoke, but for once, he came to his post with information for Albert.
"Your trial is coming up."
"Five days, I know."
The man stared, finally meeting the kings hazel eyes. "You could easily escape, everyone knows that. Why haven't you?"
"I trust my people to-"
"No that's not it, what is the real reason, your highness?"
"What are you speaking about?"
Dark eyes and huge form loomed over Albert; the imposing figure wasn't glaring at him but looked as if he were searching for something in the king's eyes. He smiled slightly, "Whatever."
~ * ~
Yretsym's eyes grew wide as a glowing shimmering orb of glass lowered itself in front of her. Hand hesitantly rising to meet the warm glass, the humming resounding from the sphere died down. She would have said something if it weren't for her mouth gaping, she would have ran if her legs weren't paralyzed with fear, she would have dropped the translucent ornament onto the forest floor if it weren't for a soundless voice in her head telling her this was right, this was hers. Yretsym, finding her legs ran home.
~ * ~
The rose light returned that night to Lloyd. The black figures were gone or, at least the winglie did not notice them. The humming was softer this time, blending into a lullaby like tune as the light swirled around him. It was a calming feeling, unlike others he had felt through his life. A mother's hug, more intimate, but with just as much caring and soothing motions. He leaned into the embrace, the embraced that turned more physical as the female returned, long slender arms wrapping around his lean frame.
Lloyd moaned, emotions rushing through him at astonishing speeds, his mind unable to contain them all as his body reverted into a more drugged like state. He felt light, weightless, content just to be where he was. The figure, behind him, leaned its head so that is was positioned right at his ear, her fingers entangled with those of his right hands she brought it up to his bare chest.
"Lloyd..." the light voice sang out in a near silent whisper, "What do you desire…"
He would be lying if he didn't admit that he was stunned into silence at first. He had never understood the words that the woman had spoke before, never were they so clear.
"Lloyd… tell me, what is it you wish for…"
"This…"
The voice let out a flittering sound, which resembled a giggle, "Lloyd, everyone desires this."
"Yes…I suppose…"
"What is it you truly desire?"
"…my sword?"
"Look deeper."
"What do you mean?"
The female slipped her hand from his, running it across his torso and up again, stroking the muscled flesh. She nuzzled his ear and continued, "search for it Lloyd, and then maybe your other desires will surface to reality along with it."
"Who are you?" Lloyd pressed he hand to his stomach as the fingers trailed across the flat plane, blinking back the haziness that seemed to take over his vision. The hand was cool against his heated skin, like a fever that had swept through him, but this woman was his cure.
"Soon enough, I promise, soon enough."
"Don't leave."
"I must," the woman withdrew her hand, turning Lloyd with steady arms so that he faced her. Lloyd once again was shocked; he was able to make out her face quite clearly. Large green cat like eyes gazed at him, a long straight nose, and full red lips pulled into a smile meant for him. Golden hair, peicey, fell down to about shoulder length yet hovered about her face in gravity-less rose atmosphere.
Lloyd closed his eyes, trying to chase away the haziness that still blocked much of his sight. When he opened them again her face was merely inches away from his own, a hand caressing his cheek. She moved closer until lips brushed and then pressed to his own, soft, warm, inviting…Lloyd lost himself in the sensations, memorizing them and locking them away in his heart.
~ * ~
Sitting up in a heavy sweat, Lloyd let out a cry that rang throughout the entire wooden cabin. Minutes later, a frightened Shana darted out of the bedroom along with a mumbling Dart. Meru flowed a few seconds later, glaring at the older winglie, used to these sudden outbursts.
"What happened!? What's going on!?" Shana's eyes wide and fearful, glanced about the room, searching for some unknown enemy or intruder.
"Oh, it's nothing, just Lloyd psychotic side coming out as usual," Meru walked up to the couch and flopped down onto Lloyd's legs, her won dangling over the edge as she sank into the cushions. Lloyd glanced questioningly to the girl and slid further under the blankets. He was exhausted and just tried to ignore the blue haired girl, yet, to no avail. She kept shifting her hips trying to become more comfortable while just wedging herself deeper into the couch.
Shana came and stood over Lloyd, a frown across her delicate features and head tipped downwards so her hair fell in layers around her face. The brown mass only met her shoulders, unlike Meru's who's own nearly reached her buttocks. "Lloyd, are you ok?"
"Of course I'm bloody ok, it was only a dream!"
Shana's frown deepened, "Well, I don't know, considering what's happened to you so far, are you sure it's nothing more?"
Cringing, Lloyd had to tear his eyes away from her penetrating gaze, it was as if the young human could read his mind and knew what his subconscious threw at him during those fitful nights. "Trust me, a dream is a nothing more than that, a dream."
"Well, I'm not so sure about that."
"Shana, come on, it's still early, we can get a few more hours of sleep in before we really need to get up, and besides, if we all keep talking like this Catrine is going to wake up," Dart shot an annoyed glare at the disgruntled Lloyd before turning away towards the bedroom. Shana, seeming to agree with her husband, continued on after him. Meru stayed behind, seated still on top of Lloyds now numbing legs.
"Are you really ok Lloyd?" Shana and Dart had long since closed the door to their room, Meru kept to a soft whisper, looking questioningly at her companion.
"I don't know…I've been having this same dream for the past month or so about some woman in a rose light. There are monsters all around the light that always saves me."
"A woman? Do you know who it is?"
"No, I have no bloody idea! It infuriates me that I don't too, I feel like I should, but I can't place a name to the face."
"Is it Soa?"
"No, I'm positive that God is not in my dreams, the dream is calming unlike whenever I communicate with her. It's stressful and makes me feel anxious."
"I don't know Lloyd…do you know what she looks like?"
"She has golden hair and green eyes…the rest is a blur."
"I don't know anyone who looks like that, guess I'm not help!" Meru cringed as her voice went over the whisper-like tone is was at before and turned away. She had a slight blush to her cheeks, a smile, thin, across her lips.
The silence was unnerving and Lloyd tried to ignore it. Meru, lost in her thoughts, never showed any sign of moving off of the older winglie. Finally, Lloyd kicked the girl and told her to go back to bed, "The circles under your eyes are more obvious than their red color."
Meru stuck her tongue out playfully at Lloyd, hopping off the couch and his legs and padding across the room to the door to the guest bed, "See ya in a few hours Lloyd."
"Yeah, yeah, in a few," the older winglie watched as Meru slipped into her room, turning his gaze ceiling ward as the door closed behind her. His thoughts turned as his gaze did, yet to something far different than planks of wood crisscrossing across one another. Albert's trial was in just four days; they would need to get a start by the latest by early next morning. Give them that day to travel and arrive by late night. Bale was an easy ride away but with the weather of late Lloyd wanted to give them a generous cushion of time to fall back on. If they reserved a day for just being in the city, the winglie was positive that they could gather some much needed information on just why Albert was being put on trial besides murder. Nothing added up. Why would the king, Albert of all, murder his wife? And why were the Tiberoans even holding a trial in Bale if they already found him guilty in Tiberoa. One innocent and one guilty only added to more judicial debating and by the looks of it, the Tiberoans weren't planning on moving slowly. Marching a massive army into Basil for a trail did not make sense either, and there was no king, no higher authority than Albert present in the city to preside over the trial. That meant that both countries were now under a state of militant rule, where the General of the Army was the highest power even over the king. That was never a good sign and led to only rebellion and war.
Why were the Tiberoans going into so much trouble for nothing? Lloyd had no idea and has no plan on how to remedy the situation or flee without leaving the probably innocent king behind for death. If he could somehow delay the trial he may be able to attempt to sneak the royal man out of the city and eventually country but with that army already stationed in the city they could easily track them down. Even with his magic and flying abilities, Meru could never keep up with his and to transform into Dragoons would only cause more trouble than it was worth. He could leave Meru behind but that troublesome girl would surely follow against his wishes, "Dear Soa! What am I supposed to do!?"
Lloyd went utterly limp as he was pulled into his mind by the arriving god. It appeared that he was only sleeping rather than unconscious until he started speaking.
*Dear child, is something the matter? *
"No."
*You asked me what you were supposed to do…are you sure you do not wish to hear my input? *
"I'm positive that there is nothing you can do Soa, I need to aid Albert, you know Meru would have a fit if I didn't."
*Well, how do you plan on helping him? *
"Getting him out of the city, hide him, I suppose…"
*And what if he is guilty, what would you do then Lloyd?"
"That is why I'm going to the trial, to find out if he truly is guilty or not."
*I could help you, if you wish it. *
"By transporting us out of the city?"
*Can you not do that yourself; you've teleported far distances before. *
"I don't have the strength to teleport three people, maybe if it were just two, but even then I could not send us very far away from the area where the trial was held. Also, people would obviously see two winglie blatantly running out and teleporting away with a convict, there would be witnesses and they'd be able to track us."
*Yes, you've really thought this through haven't you, child? *
"I would like to think so, what do you think you could do?"
*Supply a distraction perhaps, would that suit your needs? *
"Yes, I think it would, how would you be able to do that?"
*I am a god, child, * Soa seemed to chuckle as she stated her position to Lloyd, he not thinking much of it.
"Alright, you supply a distraction, whenever during the trial, and Meru and I will escape with Albert."
*Very good then, now if you don't mind dear, I have things I must attend to, and you should sleep. *
Lloyd willed the god away and rolled over onto his side so that he faced the door outside, eyes drooping closed again as a large boisterous yawn over came him. His thoughts fluttered between escaping with Albert and the woman in his dream, he could still feel the lingering effects she had on his body from he gentle touches. He moaned despairingly and tried to block out the thoughts, just wanting to fall asleep and not be distracted by illusions his brain apparently enjoyed teasing him with. His eyes fell on the window, to the light fluffy snow that fell majestically over all that was outside. The window was small so Lloyd had a hard time seeing far into the woods where the trail to Seles he had traveled laid. Paranoia overtook him for reasons he wasn't aware of as a strange sense of dread seeped into his body. Whether what ever was causing the sense was out in the woods or even farther was lost to the winglie as nausea took place of hunger and a headache in place of drowsiness.
The woods groaned with the weight of the white fluff upon it, bare tree branches clacking together as a chilling northern wind blew in, bringing with it more winter and cold. The crunch of snow sounded nearly noiselessly as animals sauntered through, louder as larger, more human feet took their place. Gray and white cloaks covered the forms as they traveled through the wintry landscape, following tracks that had long ago been covered with snow. The group slowed their pace as they came close to the town of Seles, the man in front putting his hand up in a sharp signal for the ones behind him to halt. None of the travelers possessed horses, and none carried any easily seen weapons such as a sword or an axe.
Weaponry among travelers of the day usually consisted of at least a knife or a dagger, and a short sword. Even though the war was over and Serdio was united so travelers did not need to weapons so much as before, monsters still roamed the forests in frightening abundance and threats lingered in nearly every uninhabited area. The group of men and women seemed calm though even without some form of protection. The man ahead who had signaled the rest to stop turned and addressed the rest.
"Spread out and set up posts, we'll stop at this town, they are in there but we are only tracking them until the time comes to intercept the two. You all know and understand the plan I trust?"
The remaining six travelers nodded at the other man, slipping off in different directions only to blend in with the bare branched trees and white snow. The first of the six who departed, traveling in a Northeastern direction was a tall man with short cropped black hair. His eyes were blue and face sharp and muscular. He was largely built with muscles and height. Recognition flashed in his eyes as they roamed over the flat forestry terrain. Uneasily he glanced to his right, over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of the moving figure of one of his companions going on their way on an eastern trail.
A woman with flaming red hair pulled her white cloaks hood over her head. Smiling brown eyes searched the forest floor as she almost idly, uncaringly went about her way. She was short and thin, slender arms and legs huddled within her heavy winter cloak. The area reminded her of Mille Seseau, though not as beautiful as she remembered.
A flock of late migrating ducks took flight from a small clearing as a medium sized man stepped into the area. His cloak was gray and clothing black. His hair was the color of the morning sun reaching just above his shoulders, yellow and reflecting off shimmers of light. His blue eyes were alert yet relaxed, confident in their gaze and without worry. He clasped his hands behind his back and continued on his southern way, admiring the natural beauty around him. It was rare the times when he was able to spend time in its beauty; able to appreciate it because he never grew up with it's surrounding him.
Traveling southwest was a short man with bulging eyes. He looked annoyed and disgruntled. His steps were heavy and he seemed to have to strain to that he could slush through the newly laid snow. He grumbled to himself as he stepped over an icy patch and shook his fist as nothing in particular. Glaring over his shoulder to the area where the rest of his companions had split up from, he grumbled another line of curses.
The last two of the six walked together towards the west. They looked to be a couple, a medium sized brown haired woman and a taller, not by much, man with gray eyes and long violet tresses. His eyes were exotic and figure built like that of the beautiful statues throughout Mille Seseau. Long limbs and sleek muscles all gave off an air of superiority. The woman with him whose own violet eyes were sharp and alert was shaped curvedly, yet slim. She moved with a grace that seemed to make her appear royal but without the dress or look that would otherwise suggest it. Her long brown hair was done up in a braided bun.
As the people moved off on their separate ways, the man who had signaled to them turned towards the town. He would take residence in one of the village inns; keep a closer eye on their targets. They could not, no matter what the price, allow those two to get out of their reaches now. It was imperative that they continued to track the travelers; their lives were hanging on the line. If they failed in this mission, their heads would be rolling. He pulled his hood tighter around he head, bowing against the wind and plowing through the snow. His short brown hair fell in front of his black eyes as they stared ahead, the only thing on his mind the upcoming events promising a hard trek of death.