TWENTY-NINE

Folken and Jindra were together on the loveseat in the parlor, side-by-side, holding hands. Doreena had given him a disapproving look when she had noticed, but Folken had met her gaze and held it. With a frustrated sigh, Doreena looked away first. Erich could feel the tension between the two and judging from the tightness of his wife's jaw, he could tell that she was barely controlling her anger.

Folken had refused Erich's offer of wine and had instead asked for water. Erich poured a small glass of brandy and handed it to Doreena, arching his brow at her expression. Glaring at him, she took the glass and stared down into its amber depths while Erich poured his own glass and sat down.

Folken spoke first. "Please let me apologize for my behavior earlier. I understand that this is a very difficult time for your family. Believe me, I was raised with much better manners than I displayed today."

He felt Jindra squeeze his hand and looking at her father, he continued on. "I'm sorry for what's happened -- you don't know how much -- your son was . . . he -- Coren gave me his friendship -- offered it to a complete stranger -- and I will always remember him for that." He swallowed the small lump that had formed in this throat. "I'm glad that we finally have a chance to meet Mr. Roh. Coren spoke of you often -- he was very proud to be your son. I -- I -- just wish it could be under better circumstances."

Erich regarded the young man silently for several moments. "Well, don't get your hopes up young man . . . what happened today was intolerable. You've upset my household even more and I can't say that my first impression of you is very favorable. But I can see that your words and feelings about Coren are sincere, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt -- but just this once."

Erich took a quick sip of his glass and put it down on the table next to his chair. Looking up, he spoke to Jindra in a soft voice, "Jindra love, I'd like to speak with your -- with Folken for a few minutes. Why don't you and your mother go into the library, okay?" Doreena and Jindra both spoke at the same time, "No father, please . . ." "Erich! You can't . . ."

Erich raised his voice and slashed his hand in the air. "Enough! You will do as you're told -- both of you. I will not tolerate anymore disobedience from you Jindra -- I'm still your father; and as long as you live under my roof you will do as you're told."

Turning towards Doreena he was no less gentle, "Don't you argue with me either, Reena. I still haven't forgiven you yet for not telling me about this. I don't have any patience left, so you'd be wise to do as I ask."

Doreena had never seen Erich so angry before and it scared her. Standing, she motioned for her daughter to come with her. Jindra glared at her father, but his expression was hard and she could almost feel his anger boring into her. Giving Folken's hand a tight squeeze, she looked at him. He gave her a small nod, "It's alright, Jin. Do as your father asks, please." Giving her father one last hard stare, she reluctantly let go of Folken's hand and rose from the loveseat. Doreena put her arm around her daughter's shoulders and they left the room, closing the door behind them.

The two men sat for several minutes, quietly regarding one another. Folken could see Erich's jaw clench and unclench as he studied him. He knew that the man was angry, he could see it in his eyes and in the rigid way that he held his body. Folken had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and he felt perspiration breakout on his forehead. Swallowing hard, he picked up the glass in front of him and took a long sip of water. He had just put his glass back down when Erich Roh spoke.

"I know who you are, Folken Lacour," Erich put an emphasis on the last name, "even though I never laid eyes on you until today. Don't look so surprised. Did you think that I wouldn't be curious about a fencing sorcerer? Coren told me about you . . . and I did a little investigating of my own. You certainly are an intriguing young man, I must say that."

Erich watched Folken squirm a little, but he felt no satisfaction from it. "But if I had known about -- about your relationship with my daughter before now -- you can be assured that I would have done everything in my power to prevent it. I may still try . . ."

Folken broke in before Erich could continue, "Please Mr. Roh, don't condemn me without at least hearing me out. I love your daughter -- more than anything -- please believe me. I would give up everything I have -- everything I am -- my very life for her. When I found out -- when I heard about Coren -- my heart broke. Not only for the friendship that he and I had; but because I knew how devastated Jin would be. I know you won't believe me, but -- but I could feel her calling out to me -- I could feel her pain and sorrow. I knew that she needed me and I ran all the way here from the -- I ran all the way here to be with her." Folken could feel tears in his eyes and he tried to swallow them down. "Please, she's so fragile right now -- I know how close the two of them were -- please don't keep me away from her." His voice broke as he finished speaking and he looked down, not wanting Erich to see his tears.

Erich was moved a little by Folken's emotions, but his voice was hard, "Do you think I want to hurt Jindra? Do you think I want to see her in pain? Gods man, my whole family is suffering right now -- you can't begin to imagine how." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "My family is my life -- without them, I'm nothing. Can you understand that? I've lost my son . . . and if you and Jindra continue on down the path you've chosen, I may lose her as well."

Erich rubbed his fingers across his eyes, "Unlike you, I was born in Zaibach -- I know how things are here. I had a cousin that went to the sorcerer's tower . . . I hadn't seen him in years. But when I finally did again, he was like a completely different person. He was so cold -- so emotionless -- there was nothing of my cousin left in that man, he was like a stranger to me."

Folken looked up as Erich finished. "That's why I'm going to leave the tower. I don't want to be like that. I thought that I owed them for saving my life, but instead I realized that they just want to take my life from me." He looked down at his metal hand and Erich followed his gaze. "They did that to you?"

Folken closed his eyes as if in pain and slowly nodded his head. "I should have died that day -- but this," he raised his arm, "this is how they saved me. I hate them for it . . . I hate them for making me into a freak. But I didn't want to die . . . " He dropped his arm to his side and hastily brushed his tears away with his left hand.

Folken took several deep breaths and he winced a little at the pain in his chest. Looking up at Erich, he continued. "You say that you know who I am; then you know who my father was." The other man nodded. "Everything that I had -- my family, my home, my country -- is gone now; because I failed -- I failed at the one thing that I spent my entire life preparing for."

Folken looked away for a few moments, before continuing on. "I came to Zaibach with nothing and was given a second chance -- I was offered a home, an education, a purpose. What man wouldn't take such an offer and be grateful for it? But I want more -- so much more. I want love, I want happiness, I want a family -- I want to feel whole again. I love Jindra -- she's like a light in the darkness . . . the darkness of my soul."

Folken swallowed hard once more and his voice was a hoarse whisper, " I -- I -- I think you should know that I've asked her to marry me."

Erich clenched his jaw. "I guessed as much. Of course she said yes?"

Folken slowly nodded his head. "She's agreed to come away with me . . . leave Zaibach."

Erich's voice was ice cold. "Where will you go? How do you plan to get there? Do you even realize what kind of commitment marriage is? The two of you are still so young . . . how do you plan to live? How do you plan to support a family? You don't have any idea do you? You know I won't give you my consent -- I can't."

"We don't need your consent. By Zaibach law, Jindra is of age -- she doesn't need her parent's permission to marry. " Folken knew it was the wrong thing to say even as the words left his mouth, but he didn't care. He felt that he had nothing to lose; he knew that nothing he could say was likely to sway Erich's opinion of him.

Erich slammed his fist down on the table next to him, causing the brandy to slosh over the side of his glass. "So that's your plan? To elope with my daughter and become vagabonds?" His voice held a venomous tone, "I'll see you locked up before I allow that, do you hear me? Hell, I'll lock the both of you up!"

Rising from his chair, Erich Roh pointed his finger at the young man across from him, "Listen to me -- and listen good. You will leave this house and you will not come back. More importantly, you will leave my daughter alone -- I mean it. You may not realize who I am, but I can make your life very difficult -- do you understand? If I so much as hear that you've been within ten feet of this house, or that you've tried to see or communicate with Jindra in any way; then you'll find out just how hard I can make things for you."

Walking towards the door, Erich held it open. Shaking his head, Folken stood and went to the door. Before he passed through, he stopped and looked at Erich Roh one last time. His voice was cold and surprisingly steady. "You can threaten me all you like, but I'm not afraid of you. There's nothing you can do to me that will change my feelings for your daughter. Jindra is like a part of my soul -- we were meant to be together. She will be my wife, with or without your consent. Although for her happiness, I hope that you'll change your mind and give it. The more you try to push us apart, the further you'll push her away from you. I don't want her to have to choose between us . . ."

"Get out of here! Now! Before I pick you up and throw you out myself!" Erich's voice roared.

Folken was almost at the front door when Jindra came barreling out of the library door. "Folken! Don't go, you can't leave -- I need you -- please! I won't let him throw you out -- he can't make you go . . ."

Doreena was right behind her, "Jindra! Don't . . ." She tried to clutch at her daughter as she ran towards Folken.

Folken put his arms around Jindra and held her, oblivious to Erich Roh's raging glare. Jindra cried into his shirt and he smoothed his hand across her back. "Shhh . . . don't cry. I don't want you to cry over me, Jin." His voice was a whisper. "It's alright. You need to be with your family right now. Coren wouldn't want you fighting over me." He kissed the top of her head as he held her. "They can't keep us apart forever and I won't give up - I love you too much. It's just temporary. Shhh."

Pulling away from her a little, he took her hands and held them. Looking down into her tear-filled eyes, he felt something break inside of him; but he wanted to be strong for her so he blinked back his own tears. "I love you Jindra -- never forget it -- never let anyone tell you otherwise. We'll be together, I promise -- I swear it on my very life." Bending down he kissed her forehead and let her go.

As he reached for the door knob, he finally let his own tears fall. As the door closed behind him, he heard Jindra let out a sob and clenching his fists, he let out one of his own. Allowing his anger to finally break, Folken turned and swung his right fist into the side of the house. He paid no attention to the falling pieces of mortar that cracked away from the impact as he started the long walk back to the sorcerer's tower.