KNIGHTS: Those left Behind
By: Matt Taylor
Disclaimer: All characters here are the property of Squaresoft, except for the few original ones. I make no money off of their use.
******************
To most people this would seem boring.
But not to Adelbert Steiner.
He was trained for this kind of duty from the time that he was 13 years old.
Adelbert Steiner stood solemnly against the wall, his sword held out in front of him, the point sticking against the ground, and his hands covering the tip of the handle. In front of him where hundreds, maybe thousands, of Burmecians. He watched the children play and frolick with balls, and other toys. Some women were knitting up stockings, shirts, and trousers, others played games of chess, or talked animatedly of news from the outside of these chambers. Men sat in packs, talking heartedly, some laughing at a jest, or talking in quiet, low tones. Steiner heard a musician singing somewhere in the background.
He passed his gaze over the entire group, and saw a man in a hooded robe, only the snout of his nose giving him away as a Burmecian, playing a silver harp. He was surrounded by the largest group of refugees there. Some children listened with awe-struck looks on their face, as the man sang in the oddly beautiful ancient tongue of Burmecia.
And here he was, standing guard over them all.
There had been few outbreaks of violence lately, thank God, and most of the Burmecians who had more loudly supported the idea of revenge against Alexandria had been quiet as well. For Steiner this wasn't a good quiet, but it felt more like some kind of boiling pot, just waiting to over flow. But for now, he was going to enjoy their silence.
Few children, and none of the adults had spoken to him, and he was thankful. It saved him from having to explain that he was a knight of their hated enemies. Plus it gave him more time to think about his recent problems.
He had been thinking about Beatrix a lot more lately. He had known something was troubling her for awhile now. For someone who had known her as long as he had, it was painfully obvious.
It was also painfully obvious what was troubling her. She was a knight, and knights were sworn to uphold chivalry, and justice throughout their lands. But she had taken part in the near genocide of another race, at the command of a power mad queen. Yes, it was all too obvious what was wrong. In a strange way, Steiner was glad that he had been an unwitting accomplice to the Princess "kidnapping." He had been able to uphold his sense of honor and his duty to protect the Princess.
The princess. She had gone with Zidane and Master Vivi to the Outer Continent, searching for some man named Kuja, who, according to the Regent, was supplying Queen Brahne with these black mage troops. There had been no word from them since they left the castle over a week ago. Of course, how they could send a message was up for question, so Steiner tried not to think about it too much.
The fact that Steiner really wasn't that worried about her was causing him no shortage of consternation. Zidane was a thief, a bandit, a mendicant, everything that Steiner had despised for years. His disdain for thieves was nothing new. Ever since he had accompanied King Til and Alexandria's armies to the Outer Continent and fought Thomas Sloane and his outlaw brotherhood, he had despised them. Sloane's kidnapping of Princess Granet, and attacks on hundreds of traveling merchants, nobles, and commoners, had shown him just how low thieves could be.
But Zidane...
Steiner growled under his breath. Now he was forced to rethink his stance.
"Excuse me, Sir Steiner?"
He turned his head, and saw a Lindblum Knight approach him.
"It's off time sir. The night guard shift is about to start."
Was it that late already?
"Of course. I am a little tired."
The Knight bowed once, and walked off. Steiner did likewise, heading back towards his room, as another contingent of soldiers entered.
*******************
Adelbert stared thoughtfully at his plate, his dinner long finished. Okay, he now knew what was wrong with Beatrix, now how did he go about fixing it? Blast it all, problems where so much easier to fix when you could just hit it with a sword.
Steiner turned around in slight surprise, as the door opened.
"Adelbert?" Came a female voice.
"Oh, good evening Beatrix." He said. Her voice was normal, but her eye looked very tired. "Please, sit down."
She sat down across from him.
"What brings you here so late? Your dinner has almost got cold." He motioned to her plate, where it lay, covered in foil in front of her.
"I'm not hungry. You look like you have a lot on your mind."
Was it that obvious?
"Oh, I was just.thinking about the Princess, wondering if she and Master Vivi were alright."
"And Zidane?" She asked sarcastically.
"I suppose I can spare a little worry for him."
"Well.You definitely have changed, Adelbert, if you can spare even a little bit of worry for a thief." She said, her smile erasing the tired marks from her eye for a moment. Steiner lowered his face in embarrassment, hoping she wouldn't see.
"What are you thinking about? You look tired." He asked. She looked at him in slight surprise.
"I've been thinking about the past, the most recent and otherwise." She said, her voice somewhat heavy.
"It's about Burmecia isn't it?" He found himself blurting out. She looked up at him in surprise. He had not intended to breach the subject that way. But she only lowered her head again.
"Is it that obvious? No, don't answer. Of course it is." Her voice was heavy with tears, and Steiner almost felt shock. In all the years he'd known this woman she had never cried once, not once.
"Beatrix."
"I killed them. It wasn't queen Brahne, it wasn't the Black Mages. I killed them. I heard them scream, some in terror, some in rage, but I felt nothing. Nothing!!" The tears clouded her voice even more now. "That was then, but now.now."
Steiner tried to raise a helping hand as she got out of her chair, but she waved it away. She walked around the room for a moment, staring at nothing in particular. Finally she sat down in a corner.
"I.I can hear there voice still. Calling me "murderer," They don't stop, but repeat it again, and again, until I can't hear anything else."
Steiner got out of his chair, and found himself standing off to her side.
"I can barely sleep because I have nightmares about it all. Plus.." She trailed off, her tears clouding her voice. Steiner sat down next to her, and put his arm around her shoulders. He was surprised at his boldness, and thought she would shrug him off, but instead she just leaned against him, thankful for his presence.
"It's started to hurt again."
"It?" He asked. Her hand moved up to her eye patch, cupping the metal band.
"My.eye.It hasn't hurt like this since.."
He found his arm tightening around her shoulder, still somewhat surprised at his own actions.
"They took my eye, you know. The Priests. Odin's priests. It was some form of sacrifice. And it hurt. It hurt worse than any sword, or any injury. They burned it, on an altar to Odin, and in exchange, I became a Valkryie. I haven't felt anything from it in years, but now.."
"It's alright. You.you don't have to talk about it if you don't want." He said.
"I told him I'd be a hero, and make him proud." She said through her tears.
"Who?"
"My father. My mother left him to be some noble's lover, so he raised me alone. He was poor, and could barely support himself. So one day, I told him I was joining the army, that I would be a knight and make him proud. Five years later he was dead."
"The Wasting plague?" He asked. She nodded. Steiner remembered that well. It had been a horrible sickness that had troubled Alexandria for years. It had killed countless people, and two years ago it had killed King Til. Finally, a cure had been found, but the death toll was horrible.
"I wanted him to be proud, to show I was better than my mother, but now.all I've done is make him ashamed of me."
"Don't say that!" Steiner said his voice gaining a surprising fire. "Beatrix, listen. I never met your father, but from what little you have told me of him, I am certain he would have understood."
She had no answer to that. She just leaned against him, crying quietly.
********************
It felt so natural.
All around him he could hear soft snoring.
He saw hundreds of face like his own, men, women, and children. It was possible he had known some of them, yet he couldn't bring himself to recall those memories.
The Burmecian man stood taller than most, and was dressed in a hooded robe. In his arms was a silver harp. He had sung to them all night, songs that felt so familiar to him, notes that he found he could summon to his fingers at will, without remembering where he had learned them. It was almost frightening.
"Fratley?" Came a high, but quiet voice. The man turned, and saw a small Burmecian in loud clothes coming towards him.
"Lord Puck." He said , his voice colored with respect.
"Enjoy yourself?"
"It was..very odd."
"You starting to remember anything?" The small Burmecian asked.
"I can sing these songs, and play this music, but I don't remember.." He trailed off. Puck nodded.
"Good, at least we're getting somewhere."
"She wasn't here today?" He said out of the blue.
"Freya?"
"Yes. I wasn't certain how I'd react to seeing her again, but I felt.disappointed that she didn't come."
"Maybe you should go speak with her." Puck said.
"But when I saw her in..Cleyra, she was so upset."
"She was just shocked by everything, that's all. She'll love to see you again."
"That man said she was my lover." Puck sighed. He had wanted to wait before telling Fratley about that, but Zidane had taken care of that little detail.
"Before you left Burmecia, yes she was. You promised her you'd return someday."
"What you just said.It feels familiar, but I still." Fratley said, his brow scrunched in concentration.
"Don't try to rush it. It will all come back in time."
"It still feels so distant." He said, putting his hand against his forehead.
"Come on, I got some food in one of the back rooms. We might as well enjoy supper."
"Yes Lord Puck."
********************
At least she had stopped crying.
Beatrix had been quiet for the last several minutes, and Steiner still sat next to her his arm around her shoulder. It was late, but neither felt like sleeping.
"Do you feel better now?" Steiner asked.
"A little bit."
"Try not to think of it for right now." Steiner said. "right now we should just stay alive, and hope for good news from the Princess." Beatrix muffled an affirmative.
"Not everything about the past has been bad though." She suddenly spoke up, "Just the recent."
"Really. Well, it's good to know you're thinking some happy thoughts now." He said.
"Yeah, tell me about it. Funny, though. A few years ago, I hated it, but now, after all that's happened, I think it's kind of funny." She said, with a small smile.
"And what is it?" Steiner asked, his curiosity aroused.
"You remember the tourney at Old's Ford?" Steiner straightened suddenly, as he remembered just what had happened at that particular tourney. It had been held to celebrate Princess Garnet's 10th birthday. He, himself had been the champion of the joust that year.
"That was the tourney where I." He said before stammering off.
"Won the joust, by beating me in a duel." Beatrix finished, but there was no anger in her voice. "I had never lost a fight, not since I was knighted, until then."
"You..aren't upset?"
"Not anymore, but for a long time I was furious." She said, with a fond tone to her voice.
Steiner stared off into space, remembering that day.
********************
THE PAST
"Ah, a beautiful day." Adelbert Steiner stepped onto the field called Old's Ford. For miles across it were makeshift buildings, and stands. There was sounds of loud music in the air, and the delicious smells of cooking food. Hundreds, maybe thousands of people milled around the make-shift streets, laughing, and enjoying themselves. In the background of all this make-shift city was the great City of Alexandria, it's shining crystal sword flashing in the sunlight.
The sun was out, and wizards were making sure that it would be out for the next three days that this great event would take place. Knights, warriors, and mercenaries from all around the world had come to take part, along with countless nobles, playwrights, actors, puppeteers, and commoners. Not to mention blacksmiths, merchants, cooks, and synthesists who were also here. The Inns in Alexandria were so crowded that several make-shift inns had to be made from pre-existing buildings.
Steiner walked onto the "main street" and saw peopled going from stand to stand looking at some exotic jewelry being sold, the merchant claiming it came from a place called Madain Sari on another continent. Blacksmiths and Synthesists were setting out armor, swords, shields, and all kinds of various items out. Steiner looked over one stand that was selling a style of armor called "Grand Armor," and the smith claimed it was the strongest armor in all creation. He would have bought it, but he lacked the money.
Steiner found his way to the jousting field, and saw hundreds of tents being set up for the beginning of the Joust later on today. Even now, the five tents at the end of the field, one for each of the Princesses champions, were already set-up, but the champions themselves were nowhere to be found. Probably off enjoying themselves before the joust began.
Steiner himself was unsure of which competition to enter, himself. For knights there was the joust, and later on an "everyone for himself" melee. Beyond that there would be an archery competition, a tourney of singers, a spear-throwing contest, and one-on-one duels, along with many others. He had a tent, and he had a family sigil to put on it, and he firmly believed that he could stand up to any knight in the land.
Still. The five champions were supposed to be the best in the land. There was Sir Alexander Karright called "The Eagle of Lindblum," Lady Tarra Sanderveil of Alexandria, Sir Genis Durgan of Burmecia, Lady Jane Vander of Alexandria, called "The Blood Rose," and finally was Lady Beatrix Dubois, of Alexandria.
Steiner found himself walking towards the sign-in table anyway.
"What competition do you wish to enter?" The woman at the table said.
"Who are the favorites to win the joust?" He asked.
"At the moment, either Sir Karright, or Lady Beatrix." She said.
"All right, I am Sir Adelbert Steiner, of Alexandria. I'd like to sign in the joust." She signed down his name, and rank.
"Do you have a tent?"
"Yes."
"The Joust won't start for several more hours. Give your tent, and shield to those men," She pointed to several men putting up a tent, "And they'll set it up."
"My thanks."
*******************
Now this was fine food.
Beatrix sat in the back row of one of the actors pavilions. She had a few sausages wrapped in paper in one hand, and a horn of ale in the other.
One thing about Tourney's, the brought the best of all trades from across the world to one place, she had gotten these sausages from someone from a far off place called Daguerreo. She was dressed in what passed for normal clothes for her, a pair of brown leggings, covered by a jacket-like top that was cut long at the bottom like a cape, and had a plunging neckline over her chest, with cords tying it together in front of her. On the back of it was a rose, and a large belt hung lose around her slim waist. Buckled to the belt was her two-handed long sword "Rose Thorn," custom made for her by the Synthesist in Alexandria, and costing a small fortune.
At the front of the pavilion, a group of actors performed, recreating the legend of General Madeline on the stage in front of her.
"Why do I have to make such a choice as this?" The actress playing Madeline said, looking at a paper moon, from a false balcony. "Duty to my country, or love for a soldier of our enemies? Alas, I can only have one."
Beatrix had always respected General Madeline, and she knew this was a true story, but she couldn't help but roll her eyes at the somewhat corny acting. She ate what was left of her food, and drank down the ale, and sat through the last of the play, watching as Madeline's love died in her arms, and she lead her woefully small battalion against Lindblum's armies, dieing dramatically, as the last of her battalion was defeated. Beatrix had heard this story hundreds of times, and decided to look for something else.
There where puppeteers, and actor's pavilions lining the makeshift streets, each showcasing different stories. She saw a puppeteer performing "Derrick the Dragon's Bane" for a group of awe-struck children. She stopped for a moment to see the knight puppet cut the head off the Dragon puppet with one blow. The children cheered, and Beatrix smiled at the sight.
Beatrix finally stopped at the largest pavilion of all, it was the size of the royal courtroom, and covered with a huge tent made in bright colors. She stepped inside and saw they where just starting. She quickly sat down, and the play began.
A man in bard's clothes stepped out onto the stage.
"In ancient times of yore, when Burmecian's flew among the sky on dragonback, when great men walked the land, Men with the power to shake the Earth, there was a dark and evil place. This place was an island in the far Northern sea and it was ruled by Magus Sogal, the man history called the Dark Dragon King."
So that was the play, Beatrix thought. She had not heard the Dark Dragon War tale in quite awhile.
"But where there are evil men, there are heroes to combat them. Burmecia's King Kain, with his great lance of blue and gold, Tiath, boy king of Alexandria, wielder of the great light sword Excalibur II. They and many others rose their banners to face him, but the greatest hero of this war was Kain's son, Elaris, who, wielding.Ah! But I must not spoil the tale for you. For what I have spoken so far is but a summary of the event of the First Dark Dragon War. Now, on with our show!!"
Beatrix clapped with the rest of the audience, as the actor playing the Dark Dragon King entered the stage, a huge wood, and cloth black dragon was slid onto stage next to him.
"Soon, my dark pet, soon the night shall fall over this land, and my rule shall be unquestioned! My darkness shall cover all people, and their hearts and minds will be mine!" He said in a great booming voice.
Beatrix settled down in her seat, and reminded herself not to get too comfortable, the Joust would start in a few hours, and she had the dubious honor of being one of the Princesses champions. She fussed absentmindedly at the silk scarf tied around her upper arm. Itself a sign of her status as a champion, a small wisp of silk decorated with a rose and crossed swords.
To think, only about three years since she was knighted, and here she was, one of the Princesses champions. Life was pretty good.
******************
Adelbert Steiner finished the tankard of mead in his hands, and relaxed. He sat in a makeshift seat at a small table inside his tent. In front of him was a list of all the knights and warriors who where taking part in the joust. Steiner humphed, even knowing who was competing wasn't helping him.
Steiner got out of his chair, and walked to the entrance. Outside the tent, and next to the door was a large metal and wood shield, bearing Steiner's family crest, a chocobo with a pair of crossed swords underneath it, against an ocean blue background. He, like every other knight here, had such a shield outside their tents, each bearing a crest saying what warrior fought here.
He saw the cracked skull of the family Holdem, the dove of family Sorenson, the sword and shining sunbeams of family Baros, and hundreds more. Steiner sighed and tried not to think about how many warriors stood between him and victory.
"Having doubts, good sir?" A jovial voice spoke. Steiner turned in surprise. Beside him was a tall man, dressed in bright silver armor, and a white tankard, decorated with a sigil of a diving eagle, against a background of a golden sun. It was finished with a long white cape. The man had thick hair that was, nonetheless, gone to grey, and a few wrinkles decorated his face, along with a thick white mustache. Despite this he looked strong as a man thirty years younger.
"Of course not." He said, trying to put on an air of great confidence. But this man wasn't fooled for a second, and he answered with a warm friendly grin.
"It's alright my friend, Even a man of my experience can feel fear and uncertainty before a joust. I have taken part in, and won countless such contests, yet I can still feel worry going into such a thing." The man spoke in his soft, strong voice. Steiner lowered his face in embarrassment, before straightening again.
"Forgive me, I am Sir Adelbert Steiner, of his majesties Knights of Pluto." He reached out his hand, and the man shook it.
"I, Sir Steiner, and Sir Alexander Karright." Steiner felt shock pass through him, as he saw the band of silk tied around the man's upper arm, silk decorated with a rose and crossed swords. One of the Princesses champions.
"The.The Eagle of Lindblum?" Steiner stuttered out. The man merely smiled slightly.
"That is what the songwriters call me." The man walked over to the Shield in front of Steiner's tent.
"Ah yes, I remember your family now. I fought side-by-side with your father once."
"Really?" Steiner said with slight surprise.
"Quite so, he was a good and honorable man. He was not overly skilled at the joust, but he always carried himself with a great air of respect and honor."
Steiner managed to stutter out a thank you, and invited him into his tent.
"I'm afraid I do not have the time." Sir Karright said with a friendly smile. I am just having a look at my competition, and I happened across a very nervous looking young knight." Sir Karright clapped him once on the shoulder, "Do not allow your fears to overcome you my young friend, if you go in expecting to lose, you will."
"Thank you sir." Steiner said, and bowed slightly. Sir Karright smiled and walked off. Steiner sighed a bit, and returned to his tent, thinking of what he had been told.
TO BE CONTINUED.
By: Matt Taylor
Disclaimer: All characters here are the property of Squaresoft, except for the few original ones. I make no money off of their use.
******************
To most people this would seem boring.
But not to Adelbert Steiner.
He was trained for this kind of duty from the time that he was 13 years old.
Adelbert Steiner stood solemnly against the wall, his sword held out in front of him, the point sticking against the ground, and his hands covering the tip of the handle. In front of him where hundreds, maybe thousands, of Burmecians. He watched the children play and frolick with balls, and other toys. Some women were knitting up stockings, shirts, and trousers, others played games of chess, or talked animatedly of news from the outside of these chambers. Men sat in packs, talking heartedly, some laughing at a jest, or talking in quiet, low tones. Steiner heard a musician singing somewhere in the background.
He passed his gaze over the entire group, and saw a man in a hooded robe, only the snout of his nose giving him away as a Burmecian, playing a silver harp. He was surrounded by the largest group of refugees there. Some children listened with awe-struck looks on their face, as the man sang in the oddly beautiful ancient tongue of Burmecia.
And here he was, standing guard over them all.
There had been few outbreaks of violence lately, thank God, and most of the Burmecians who had more loudly supported the idea of revenge against Alexandria had been quiet as well. For Steiner this wasn't a good quiet, but it felt more like some kind of boiling pot, just waiting to over flow. But for now, he was going to enjoy their silence.
Few children, and none of the adults had spoken to him, and he was thankful. It saved him from having to explain that he was a knight of their hated enemies. Plus it gave him more time to think about his recent problems.
He had been thinking about Beatrix a lot more lately. He had known something was troubling her for awhile now. For someone who had known her as long as he had, it was painfully obvious.
It was also painfully obvious what was troubling her. She was a knight, and knights were sworn to uphold chivalry, and justice throughout their lands. But she had taken part in the near genocide of another race, at the command of a power mad queen. Yes, it was all too obvious what was wrong. In a strange way, Steiner was glad that he had been an unwitting accomplice to the Princess "kidnapping." He had been able to uphold his sense of honor and his duty to protect the Princess.
The princess. She had gone with Zidane and Master Vivi to the Outer Continent, searching for some man named Kuja, who, according to the Regent, was supplying Queen Brahne with these black mage troops. There had been no word from them since they left the castle over a week ago. Of course, how they could send a message was up for question, so Steiner tried not to think about it too much.
The fact that Steiner really wasn't that worried about her was causing him no shortage of consternation. Zidane was a thief, a bandit, a mendicant, everything that Steiner had despised for years. His disdain for thieves was nothing new. Ever since he had accompanied King Til and Alexandria's armies to the Outer Continent and fought Thomas Sloane and his outlaw brotherhood, he had despised them. Sloane's kidnapping of Princess Granet, and attacks on hundreds of traveling merchants, nobles, and commoners, had shown him just how low thieves could be.
But Zidane...
Steiner growled under his breath. Now he was forced to rethink his stance.
"Excuse me, Sir Steiner?"
He turned his head, and saw a Lindblum Knight approach him.
"It's off time sir. The night guard shift is about to start."
Was it that late already?
"Of course. I am a little tired."
The Knight bowed once, and walked off. Steiner did likewise, heading back towards his room, as another contingent of soldiers entered.
*******************
Adelbert stared thoughtfully at his plate, his dinner long finished. Okay, he now knew what was wrong with Beatrix, now how did he go about fixing it? Blast it all, problems where so much easier to fix when you could just hit it with a sword.
Steiner turned around in slight surprise, as the door opened.
"Adelbert?" Came a female voice.
"Oh, good evening Beatrix." He said. Her voice was normal, but her eye looked very tired. "Please, sit down."
She sat down across from him.
"What brings you here so late? Your dinner has almost got cold." He motioned to her plate, where it lay, covered in foil in front of her.
"I'm not hungry. You look like you have a lot on your mind."
Was it that obvious?
"Oh, I was just.thinking about the Princess, wondering if she and Master Vivi were alright."
"And Zidane?" She asked sarcastically.
"I suppose I can spare a little worry for him."
"Well.You definitely have changed, Adelbert, if you can spare even a little bit of worry for a thief." She said, her smile erasing the tired marks from her eye for a moment. Steiner lowered his face in embarrassment, hoping she wouldn't see.
"What are you thinking about? You look tired." He asked. She looked at him in slight surprise.
"I've been thinking about the past, the most recent and otherwise." She said, her voice somewhat heavy.
"It's about Burmecia isn't it?" He found himself blurting out. She looked up at him in surprise. He had not intended to breach the subject that way. But she only lowered her head again.
"Is it that obvious? No, don't answer. Of course it is." Her voice was heavy with tears, and Steiner almost felt shock. In all the years he'd known this woman she had never cried once, not once.
"Beatrix."
"I killed them. It wasn't queen Brahne, it wasn't the Black Mages. I killed them. I heard them scream, some in terror, some in rage, but I felt nothing. Nothing!!" The tears clouded her voice even more now. "That was then, but now.now."
Steiner tried to raise a helping hand as she got out of her chair, but she waved it away. She walked around the room for a moment, staring at nothing in particular. Finally she sat down in a corner.
"I.I can hear there voice still. Calling me "murderer," They don't stop, but repeat it again, and again, until I can't hear anything else."
Steiner got out of his chair, and found himself standing off to her side.
"I can barely sleep because I have nightmares about it all. Plus.." She trailed off, her tears clouding her voice. Steiner sat down next to her, and put his arm around her shoulders. He was surprised at his boldness, and thought she would shrug him off, but instead she just leaned against him, thankful for his presence.
"It's started to hurt again."
"It?" He asked. Her hand moved up to her eye patch, cupping the metal band.
"My.eye.It hasn't hurt like this since.."
He found his arm tightening around her shoulder, still somewhat surprised at his own actions.
"They took my eye, you know. The Priests. Odin's priests. It was some form of sacrifice. And it hurt. It hurt worse than any sword, or any injury. They burned it, on an altar to Odin, and in exchange, I became a Valkryie. I haven't felt anything from it in years, but now.."
"It's alright. You.you don't have to talk about it if you don't want." He said.
"I told him I'd be a hero, and make him proud." She said through her tears.
"Who?"
"My father. My mother left him to be some noble's lover, so he raised me alone. He was poor, and could barely support himself. So one day, I told him I was joining the army, that I would be a knight and make him proud. Five years later he was dead."
"The Wasting plague?" He asked. She nodded. Steiner remembered that well. It had been a horrible sickness that had troubled Alexandria for years. It had killed countless people, and two years ago it had killed King Til. Finally, a cure had been found, but the death toll was horrible.
"I wanted him to be proud, to show I was better than my mother, but now.all I've done is make him ashamed of me."
"Don't say that!" Steiner said his voice gaining a surprising fire. "Beatrix, listen. I never met your father, but from what little you have told me of him, I am certain he would have understood."
She had no answer to that. She just leaned against him, crying quietly.
********************
It felt so natural.
All around him he could hear soft snoring.
He saw hundreds of face like his own, men, women, and children. It was possible he had known some of them, yet he couldn't bring himself to recall those memories.
The Burmecian man stood taller than most, and was dressed in a hooded robe. In his arms was a silver harp. He had sung to them all night, songs that felt so familiar to him, notes that he found he could summon to his fingers at will, without remembering where he had learned them. It was almost frightening.
"Fratley?" Came a high, but quiet voice. The man turned, and saw a small Burmecian in loud clothes coming towards him.
"Lord Puck." He said , his voice colored with respect.
"Enjoy yourself?"
"It was..very odd."
"You starting to remember anything?" The small Burmecian asked.
"I can sing these songs, and play this music, but I don't remember.." He trailed off. Puck nodded.
"Good, at least we're getting somewhere."
"She wasn't here today?" He said out of the blue.
"Freya?"
"Yes. I wasn't certain how I'd react to seeing her again, but I felt.disappointed that she didn't come."
"Maybe you should go speak with her." Puck said.
"But when I saw her in..Cleyra, she was so upset."
"She was just shocked by everything, that's all. She'll love to see you again."
"That man said she was my lover." Puck sighed. He had wanted to wait before telling Fratley about that, but Zidane had taken care of that little detail.
"Before you left Burmecia, yes she was. You promised her you'd return someday."
"What you just said.It feels familiar, but I still." Fratley said, his brow scrunched in concentration.
"Don't try to rush it. It will all come back in time."
"It still feels so distant." He said, putting his hand against his forehead.
"Come on, I got some food in one of the back rooms. We might as well enjoy supper."
"Yes Lord Puck."
********************
At least she had stopped crying.
Beatrix had been quiet for the last several minutes, and Steiner still sat next to her his arm around her shoulder. It was late, but neither felt like sleeping.
"Do you feel better now?" Steiner asked.
"A little bit."
"Try not to think of it for right now." Steiner said. "right now we should just stay alive, and hope for good news from the Princess." Beatrix muffled an affirmative.
"Not everything about the past has been bad though." She suddenly spoke up, "Just the recent."
"Really. Well, it's good to know you're thinking some happy thoughts now." He said.
"Yeah, tell me about it. Funny, though. A few years ago, I hated it, but now, after all that's happened, I think it's kind of funny." She said, with a small smile.
"And what is it?" Steiner asked, his curiosity aroused.
"You remember the tourney at Old's Ford?" Steiner straightened suddenly, as he remembered just what had happened at that particular tourney. It had been held to celebrate Princess Garnet's 10th birthday. He, himself had been the champion of the joust that year.
"That was the tourney where I." He said before stammering off.
"Won the joust, by beating me in a duel." Beatrix finished, but there was no anger in her voice. "I had never lost a fight, not since I was knighted, until then."
"You..aren't upset?"
"Not anymore, but for a long time I was furious." She said, with a fond tone to her voice.
Steiner stared off into space, remembering that day.
********************
THE PAST
"Ah, a beautiful day." Adelbert Steiner stepped onto the field called Old's Ford. For miles across it were makeshift buildings, and stands. There was sounds of loud music in the air, and the delicious smells of cooking food. Hundreds, maybe thousands of people milled around the make-shift streets, laughing, and enjoying themselves. In the background of all this make-shift city was the great City of Alexandria, it's shining crystal sword flashing in the sunlight.
The sun was out, and wizards were making sure that it would be out for the next three days that this great event would take place. Knights, warriors, and mercenaries from all around the world had come to take part, along with countless nobles, playwrights, actors, puppeteers, and commoners. Not to mention blacksmiths, merchants, cooks, and synthesists who were also here. The Inns in Alexandria were so crowded that several make-shift inns had to be made from pre-existing buildings.
Steiner walked onto the "main street" and saw peopled going from stand to stand looking at some exotic jewelry being sold, the merchant claiming it came from a place called Madain Sari on another continent. Blacksmiths and Synthesists were setting out armor, swords, shields, and all kinds of various items out. Steiner looked over one stand that was selling a style of armor called "Grand Armor," and the smith claimed it was the strongest armor in all creation. He would have bought it, but he lacked the money.
Steiner found his way to the jousting field, and saw hundreds of tents being set up for the beginning of the Joust later on today. Even now, the five tents at the end of the field, one for each of the Princesses champions, were already set-up, but the champions themselves were nowhere to be found. Probably off enjoying themselves before the joust began.
Steiner himself was unsure of which competition to enter, himself. For knights there was the joust, and later on an "everyone for himself" melee. Beyond that there would be an archery competition, a tourney of singers, a spear-throwing contest, and one-on-one duels, along with many others. He had a tent, and he had a family sigil to put on it, and he firmly believed that he could stand up to any knight in the land.
Still. The five champions were supposed to be the best in the land. There was Sir Alexander Karright called "The Eagle of Lindblum," Lady Tarra Sanderveil of Alexandria, Sir Genis Durgan of Burmecia, Lady Jane Vander of Alexandria, called "The Blood Rose," and finally was Lady Beatrix Dubois, of Alexandria.
Steiner found himself walking towards the sign-in table anyway.
"What competition do you wish to enter?" The woman at the table said.
"Who are the favorites to win the joust?" He asked.
"At the moment, either Sir Karright, or Lady Beatrix." She said.
"All right, I am Sir Adelbert Steiner, of Alexandria. I'd like to sign in the joust." She signed down his name, and rank.
"Do you have a tent?"
"Yes."
"The Joust won't start for several more hours. Give your tent, and shield to those men," She pointed to several men putting up a tent, "And they'll set it up."
"My thanks."
*******************
Now this was fine food.
Beatrix sat in the back row of one of the actors pavilions. She had a few sausages wrapped in paper in one hand, and a horn of ale in the other.
One thing about Tourney's, the brought the best of all trades from across the world to one place, she had gotten these sausages from someone from a far off place called Daguerreo. She was dressed in what passed for normal clothes for her, a pair of brown leggings, covered by a jacket-like top that was cut long at the bottom like a cape, and had a plunging neckline over her chest, with cords tying it together in front of her. On the back of it was a rose, and a large belt hung lose around her slim waist. Buckled to the belt was her two-handed long sword "Rose Thorn," custom made for her by the Synthesist in Alexandria, and costing a small fortune.
At the front of the pavilion, a group of actors performed, recreating the legend of General Madeline on the stage in front of her.
"Why do I have to make such a choice as this?" The actress playing Madeline said, looking at a paper moon, from a false balcony. "Duty to my country, or love for a soldier of our enemies? Alas, I can only have one."
Beatrix had always respected General Madeline, and she knew this was a true story, but she couldn't help but roll her eyes at the somewhat corny acting. She ate what was left of her food, and drank down the ale, and sat through the last of the play, watching as Madeline's love died in her arms, and she lead her woefully small battalion against Lindblum's armies, dieing dramatically, as the last of her battalion was defeated. Beatrix had heard this story hundreds of times, and decided to look for something else.
There where puppeteers, and actor's pavilions lining the makeshift streets, each showcasing different stories. She saw a puppeteer performing "Derrick the Dragon's Bane" for a group of awe-struck children. She stopped for a moment to see the knight puppet cut the head off the Dragon puppet with one blow. The children cheered, and Beatrix smiled at the sight.
Beatrix finally stopped at the largest pavilion of all, it was the size of the royal courtroom, and covered with a huge tent made in bright colors. She stepped inside and saw they where just starting. She quickly sat down, and the play began.
A man in bard's clothes stepped out onto the stage.
"In ancient times of yore, when Burmecian's flew among the sky on dragonback, when great men walked the land, Men with the power to shake the Earth, there was a dark and evil place. This place was an island in the far Northern sea and it was ruled by Magus Sogal, the man history called the Dark Dragon King."
So that was the play, Beatrix thought. She had not heard the Dark Dragon War tale in quite awhile.
"But where there are evil men, there are heroes to combat them. Burmecia's King Kain, with his great lance of blue and gold, Tiath, boy king of Alexandria, wielder of the great light sword Excalibur II. They and many others rose their banners to face him, but the greatest hero of this war was Kain's son, Elaris, who, wielding.Ah! But I must not spoil the tale for you. For what I have spoken so far is but a summary of the event of the First Dark Dragon War. Now, on with our show!!"
Beatrix clapped with the rest of the audience, as the actor playing the Dark Dragon King entered the stage, a huge wood, and cloth black dragon was slid onto stage next to him.
"Soon, my dark pet, soon the night shall fall over this land, and my rule shall be unquestioned! My darkness shall cover all people, and their hearts and minds will be mine!" He said in a great booming voice.
Beatrix settled down in her seat, and reminded herself not to get too comfortable, the Joust would start in a few hours, and she had the dubious honor of being one of the Princesses champions. She fussed absentmindedly at the silk scarf tied around her upper arm. Itself a sign of her status as a champion, a small wisp of silk decorated with a rose and crossed swords.
To think, only about three years since she was knighted, and here she was, one of the Princesses champions. Life was pretty good.
******************
Adelbert Steiner finished the tankard of mead in his hands, and relaxed. He sat in a makeshift seat at a small table inside his tent. In front of him was a list of all the knights and warriors who where taking part in the joust. Steiner humphed, even knowing who was competing wasn't helping him.
Steiner got out of his chair, and walked to the entrance. Outside the tent, and next to the door was a large metal and wood shield, bearing Steiner's family crest, a chocobo with a pair of crossed swords underneath it, against an ocean blue background. He, like every other knight here, had such a shield outside their tents, each bearing a crest saying what warrior fought here.
He saw the cracked skull of the family Holdem, the dove of family Sorenson, the sword and shining sunbeams of family Baros, and hundreds more. Steiner sighed and tried not to think about how many warriors stood between him and victory.
"Having doubts, good sir?" A jovial voice spoke. Steiner turned in surprise. Beside him was a tall man, dressed in bright silver armor, and a white tankard, decorated with a sigil of a diving eagle, against a background of a golden sun. It was finished with a long white cape. The man had thick hair that was, nonetheless, gone to grey, and a few wrinkles decorated his face, along with a thick white mustache. Despite this he looked strong as a man thirty years younger.
"Of course not." He said, trying to put on an air of great confidence. But this man wasn't fooled for a second, and he answered with a warm friendly grin.
"It's alright my friend, Even a man of my experience can feel fear and uncertainty before a joust. I have taken part in, and won countless such contests, yet I can still feel worry going into such a thing." The man spoke in his soft, strong voice. Steiner lowered his face in embarrassment, before straightening again.
"Forgive me, I am Sir Adelbert Steiner, of his majesties Knights of Pluto." He reached out his hand, and the man shook it.
"I, Sir Steiner, and Sir Alexander Karright." Steiner felt shock pass through him, as he saw the band of silk tied around the man's upper arm, silk decorated with a rose and crossed swords. One of the Princesses champions.
"The.The Eagle of Lindblum?" Steiner stuttered out. The man merely smiled slightly.
"That is what the songwriters call me." The man walked over to the Shield in front of Steiner's tent.
"Ah yes, I remember your family now. I fought side-by-side with your father once."
"Really?" Steiner said with slight surprise.
"Quite so, he was a good and honorable man. He was not overly skilled at the joust, but he always carried himself with a great air of respect and honor."
Steiner managed to stutter out a thank you, and invited him into his tent.
"I'm afraid I do not have the time." Sir Karright said with a friendly smile. I am just having a look at my competition, and I happened across a very nervous looking young knight." Sir Karright clapped him once on the shoulder, "Do not allow your fears to overcome you my young friend, if you go in expecting to lose, you will."
"Thank you sir." Steiner said, and bowed slightly. Sir Karright smiled and walked off. Steiner sighed a bit, and returned to his tent, thinking of what he had been told.
TO BE CONTINUED.
