KNIGHTS: Those left behind

By: Matt Taylor

Disclaimer: All characters below are the property of Squaresoft, I receive no payment from their use.

******************

THE PAST

Adelbert Steiner felt a sharp jab of force go through his arm, as his lance splintered against his opponent's breast plate. The one facing him was a soldier in the uniform of Alexandria, her own lance deflecting off of Steiner's shield. Steiner felt a moment of joy as his opponent fell off of her Chocobo, and her squire rushed up with her sword.

Steiner dismounted and pulled his own sword from it's place at his side, mentally patting himself on the back for deciding to carry it into the joust. Steiner met her downward swing with ease, and forced her back, swinging at her with a blow that sent her to her knees. The soldier tried to force her way back to her feet. But Steiner's superior strength won out, as he started hammering at her with his own blows, each one meeting her sword and knocking her a little more off balance, before she finally fell. The woman put her hands up and acceded defeat.

Some of the crowd cheered, while those who had bet on the female soldier winning booed. Steiner sheathed the blunted tourney sword in its sheath, before walking over to the sign in stand.

"Congratulations Sir Steiner." The man behind the desk said, and handed him a small pouch, that jingled with the sound of gil coins. The prize for his winning.

Steiner sighed in pleasure and returned to his tent. Of course, this small amount of gil was nothing compared to the victor's purse, which would go to whoever was the last survivor of the Joust. Steiner smiled, as this was his second victory today. Steiner found his way back to his tent, and sat down in front, taking a swig from a skin of water hanging from a post by the door.

Steiner leaned back in his chair and allowed himself a moment to relax. Steiner had faced down two opponents already, and won, which was more than could be said for some of the other knights, who he could see where already removing their tents from the field. He looked up and saw another two knights jousting, riding on the backs of chocobo. One was Sir Alexander Karright. He watched as the old knight's lance struck his opponents helmet, sending the rider cartwheeling off into the ground, where he was dragged off, unconscious by his squire.

Adelbert watched the Eagle of Lindblum leave the field, showered with the cheers of the people. Though he had been a knight for over forty years, Sir Karright's strength had not waned a bit. He sat back and wondered what he would do if the lists ended up putting him against the old knight. Steiner thought this over as the joust continued.

*****************

Sir Steiner was not the only knight enjoying themselves. Beatrix had taken down three opponents so far, and was currently sitting in front of her tent, drinking an small glass of wine. The prize money for these smaller matches wasn't that much, but it was enough to order a better than average bottle of cherry wine.

Beatrix sighed in contentment, and watched one of her fellow champions, The Burmecian Sir Genis Durgan dispatch a large man, with an equally large lance. It was no surprise that he was winning, Burmecians were experts with spears and lances. The huge man hit the ground with a thud, that almost shook the ground. The man's squire rushed out with a huge battle axe, and Sir Durgan was off his chocobo, a long lance tossed to him by his own squire. The two ran at each other, and in a few minutes it was over. The man's axe was broken in two, and he was on the ground.

The crowd cheered, as Sir Durgan was declared the winner. Beatrix felt a small moment of self doubt. She was the youngest and least experienced of the Princess five champions, and in every tourney she knew of, the youngest where always the first to go.

Beatrix shook her head, and banished such thoughts from her mind. It would do no good to start worrying, especially this soon in the event.

Beatrix put the cork back in her bottle of wine, and set it in a small bucket of ice. Going into a joust drunk was a surefire road to embarrassment and dishonor. Beatrix got up and stretched, took up her sword, and shield, and went looking for someone to challenge next.

*****************

The first day of the tourney ended with the setting of the sun. Steiner walked down the streets, watching the various merchants close their stalls, and put away their wares for the night. The night was alive though, alive with the sound of revelers, celebrating an excellent day of jousting with a few extra drinks.

On a normal day, Steiner would have frowned at such excesses, but his victories of the day had put him in a surprisingly good mood, and the significant jingle of Gil from the pouch at his side helped as well. He had gone undefeated so far, and no one was more surprised that Adelbert Steiner himself.

Steiner stopped and stretched out for a moment, considering where he was. It was a good walk still to the castle, and even longer to the soldier's barracks with in. He had not had supper yet, and considered just getting it free from the soldier's cafeteria. He looked down at the gil pouch at his side, and smiled. He had the money, why not use it? He might find a nicer than average inn, and stay the night as well.

Soon enough, Steiner stood in front of the Golden Horn, an Inn in the heart of the Merchant's district. It was six stories tall, standing out in front were a pair of wood pillars, waxed till they shown like gold. Steiner nodded once, and stepped in. He found himself in the inn's common room. Surprisingly, it was much quieter that Steiner expected an Inn open during tourney would be. He walked up to the man behind the bar.

"One room for the evening please." He said.

"With dinner and breakfast?" The man asked.

"Yes."

"1000 gil." The man said. Steiner reeled at the price, but he had more than enough, and felt like indulging himself. Steiner nodded, and signed his name to the book.

"Dinner will be served in a few minutes." He said. Steiner thanked him and sat down at one of the long tables. Steiner leaned back on the chair, and scanned the room. This Inn was obviously a cut above the normal types, as evidenced by the rather expensive looking décor, and the price for just one night.

He sat quietly for awhile, his memory going back to his victories during the day. He sat there for some time until a young woman placed a plate of cooked meat and vegetables, and a glass and flagon of wine in front of him. He nodded to her and she took that as a cue to leave.

"Do you mind if I join you, sir knight?" came a voice. It was masculine, yet musical and strangely accented. Steiner lifted his head and saw a tall Burmecian standing across from him. The rat-person had lanky blonde hair that fell from his head, and held both a silver and gold harp, and a spear with a long curved blade. Steiner looked at him curiously for a moment. The Burmecian merely grinned.

"Ah! I have forgotten my knightly manners." With this, he took off his hat and bowed with a flourish. "Sir Fratley De Montes! Dragon Knight of Burmecia, at your service."

Steiner flushed slightly and got to his feet, bowing in a more formal way. "Sir Adelbert Steiner, Knight Commander of his majesties Knights of Pluto, at your service and your families."

"Now that we have greeted each other as befitting our stations, may I sit?" Fratley asked, pointing to the chair across from him.

"Please."

Fratley lay his spear against the side of the table, put a large leather patch over the blade, and tied it on tight. He motioned with his hand to the waitress, who quickly brought over a plate and drink the same as Steiner's own. The man looked somewhat familiar to Steiner, he looked over him for a moment, before remembering.

"Ah yes, I know you. You won the spear toss today."

"Quite right!" He said, proudly grinning, "I also won a few contests of lesser import, and they have given me the gil I need to enjoy supper at this rather expensive place. Though I only saw a bit of today's jousting, I remember you. You must have won as well to be eating here?"

"Yes, eating and spending the night." Steiner said, holding up his gil pouch for a moment.

"Then you must have won quite a bit! A place like this is usually set aside for nobles, or very rich merchants. But most of the nobles here are knights and warriors, and thus are sleeping in their tourney tents. You are not?" Fratley asked.

Steiner ground his teeth for a moment, not wishing to tell this man that at the beginning he had the coin for a tent, but not enough for a cot.

"I merely decided to.live a little, so to speak. A man of my family has rarely, if ever stayed in so nice an inn as this."

"Hah! As good a reason as any!" Said Fratley. Picking up his cup and taking a swing from it. With this, the two men found themselves getting along rather well, sharing stories of some legendary deed of a hero local to them, or a tale of some great prowess done by one of them in battle. It was a enjoyable meal for both. They were still talking when dessert came.

"...And so there I was, surrounded by goblins, each one with a curved knife, and riding one of these small winged lizards." Fratley said, as he chewed on a cream roll. "I had the double duty of defending myself and my father, who was, by then, having too much trouble nursing his broken leg to fight. So I stood over him and swung with all my might. I took down two of them, slicing them in half. But Goblins are cowardly creatures, better at attacking from behind then from the front. One jumped off his mount, and onto my back trying to cut my throat." Fratley finished one roll, and started on another from the largely stacked plate between the two of them. Steiner listened intently as he finished his own.

"I tossed the thing over my shoulders and used it own knife to kill it, when another one jumped me, and stabbed me straight in the back. I grabbed it with my hands and broke its neck, but the pain was so intense that I fell to the ground, certain that I was going to die. However the gods were smiling on me. Not only are Goblins cowardly, they are also very stupid. Of the five remaining two began to cheer in victory, one turned around to slap them, and the other two watched." Fratley put down the roll, an drank from his cup again.

"This gave me a chance to use what strength I had left, and reach the hi- potion at my belt. I drank it down in a flash and was on my feet again. In the short time of three seconds, two were decapitated, and the one that turned around found a knife in "it's" back. The last two were nothing. Soon enough I was carrying my father back to the entrance to Gizamaluke's grotto. Though it took all that was left of the potion I had brought. I was in bed for a week from that stabbing, and my father much longer. Nevertheless, it made a decent song."

"Too true."

"But, I find it surprising that none of written any songs of your exploits, Sir Steiner."

"Well, my duties as Knight Commander of the Knights of Pluto takes much of my time. Especially training my men."

"The Knight's of Pluto are Alexandria's only male battalion, correct? It must be difficult, living up to the standard General Soress sets?" Fratley said, sympathetically.

"I must admit, that on occasion it is." That was the truth. In many ways Steiner couldn't help but feel inferior to his old commander, Michael Dewain. Dewain had died during the siege of Magdalene woods three years prior, where Steiner had been knighted.

"But enough talk about that, Are you taking part in anything else tomorrow?" Steiner asked.

"Tomorrow the tournament of singers begins. I and my harp are taking part." Fratley lifted up his harp from it's place next to his foot. Its main body was delicately crafted silver, covered in "vines" made of emeralds. The strings were thin and delicate angel hair, which shimmered when they hit the light. Fratley struck a chord on it, sending a beautiful note through the room, causing several people to turn and look at them.

"With a harp like that, you are bound to win."

"It is a heirloom of my house, passed down from the age of wonders." Fratley said, wistfully. Though he was looking at the harp, Steiner could tell from, his eyes that he was far away.

"I have been told many stories about those days, the age before the Mist." Steiner.

"Yes, but tales of it are part of my blood." Fratley said, almost sadly. "My family is the blood of Elaris, The Sacred Dragoon."

"The one from the stories of the Dark Dragon War?"

"Aye. He stood upon the back of Bahamut, and flung that Dragon's Hair lance with such force that it split the heavens, slaying the Dark Dragon king where he stood." Fratley said, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. "Once upon a time, Burmecians flew into battle on the backs of dragons, and the boundaries of the City of Roses spread to the far reaches of Gaia."

"Yes. But those days are gone, and there is little we can do about it." Steiner said, drinking from his wine cup.

"Yes, but I can see it in my heart. All of it gone, the Mist came and it was all gone." Fratley, shook his head from side to side, as if trying to shake something off him.

"But, enough of that." Fratlet, wrapped his harp up in a long sash and placed it in his backpack, stood up and shouldered his spear. "I can see by the darkness outside that it is getting late, and I should probably be heading back to my own tent."

Steiner felt genuinely sorry to see the Burmecian go, but he was right.

"Very well then." Steiner stood and they shook hands.

"Until tomorrow." Fratley saluted and walked off. Steiner sat down once again, staying there for several minutes, before picking up his sword, and heading to his room.

*****************

It was already halfway through the second day of jousting that Steiner found himself trudging towards the King's pavilion, scowling. It had only been half an hour ago that he had been walking towards his tent from getting a drink, that he ran into a nobleman who had been looking for a knight. He had told him that a small boy had been running around the tourney field, throwing mud in the faces of daughters of various nobles before running off. The noblemen said that he had just done it to his daughter.

Steiner had stayed around the pavilion where most of the nobles where gathered, and had been lucky enough to catch the boy as he hopped down from the top of the pavilions awning. Steiner had just got a hold of the fast boy, grabbing him by what was now obviously a tail.

"Hey! You jerk, that hurts!" The boy yelled. Now his tail was strongly clutched in Steiner's hand, as he carried him to see the general. Steiner spared the boy a short look. He was blonde, and no older that the princess, if Steiner was any judge. While there where many people in Gaia who were somewhat odd looking, he had never seen one with a monkey tail before.

"Put me down yah big dope, and fight me like a man!" The boy yelled. Steiner merely humphed, as he reached the kings stands. Like all other soldiers, Steiner had received instructions to bring any thieves or troublemakers to general Sorress. He looked around and saw her sitting next to the king in the higher seats. Steiner managed to work his way through the crowds, and up to the makeshift seats, all the while controlling the struggling boy, but he finally made it.

"General Sorress." Steiner said, saluting, as the general stood up.

"Sir Steiner, some trouble?" She asked. Steiner spared one short look over and saw the king watching them. Next to him was a large pig humanoid who had laid eyes on the boy in Steiner's grasp, groaned, and now lay his head in his hand.

"General. This boy has been bothering some of the nobles."

"What's he been doing?"

"He's been throwing mud in the faces of their daughters, and then running. He's slippery, I only just caught him." The general frowned down at the boy, and took him, by the tail, from his hand. Steiner couldn't help but notice that her grip on his tail was even stronger than his had been.

"Ow! What do you think you're doing you %@$#&?!" The boy yelled at the top of his lungs. Suddenly, the large pig human was standing next to her.

"He belongs to me Millie. Let me handle this." The man said, He took the young boy, gripping him by the back of his vest, and lifting him up to eye level.

"Zidane! What the &%$$ are you doing here!? I told you to stay with Blank." The man said. Steiner grimaced slightly at the swearing, but remained quiet.

"Blank's boring! All he ever talks about nowadays is girls. I hate girls." The boy called Zidane said.

"You may be thinking differently in a few years lad." The king said, stepping up behind them, an amused smile on his lip. The large pig human looked rather embarrassed.

"Excuse me for a moment, Stephan, I need to go deliver some discipline."

"Gaahh! Not again." The boy said, fear evident on his face. The king chuckled lowly.

"He's just a boy, Baku, go easy on him."

"Bah! If you let 'em get away with too much when they're this age, they'll think they can get away with anything. One thing that I never let my people get away with is defying my orders." The large pig human walked away, his fists clenched, as the boy continued to wail. The King looked back to Steiner.

"Anything else you need Sir Steiner?" He asked, smiling. Steiner quickly saluted.

"No your highness." Adelbert bowed and left.

******************

Beatrix lowered her tired body onto her makeshift cot in her tent.

"Gah! That hurts." She reached over to a her bag on the floor and managed to get it open somehow, pulling a Hi-potion out. She screwed off the top and drank down the bland tasting liquid.

Despite the sudden urge to wretch, she felt many of her wounds and bruises leave. She sighed in relief and reached for her water-skin to wash out the horrible taste. She had won her last joust, though God only knew how. She had been up against a particularly large Lindblum knight. The strike by his lance had knocked her shield aside, and whacked rather hard into her shoulder.

She had hit the ground hard, and could see stars. Nevertheless she had forced herself to her feet, quick enough to block a blow from his sword with her gauntleted forearm. She had rolled away and managed to pull her own sword out. The man's sword came down again, she caught it on her sword, but was soon forced down to her knees by his massive strength.

Beatrix refused to quit though, she had gone undefeated against over twenty opponent so far, and wasn't about to give up here. She pulled her sword away quickly, and moved to the side, allowing the other sword to go down into the ground. The knight struggled with it for a moment, as she got behind him, and kicked him in the back of the knee. He yelled and went down to one knee, and she was on him in a flash.

Her blunted sword whacked into his helmet again and again. Beatrix had stopped even trying to control it. Strangely enough, the man wasn't down. He swung one fist into her stomach, and she fell back in pain. His sword was free again, and he brought it up for a massive overhand swing.

Beatrix had enough sense to move, and it barely missed her. He was quicker this time though, slashing sideways, and catching her in the ribs. Though the blunted swords couldn't draw blood, this hurt horribly. She was thrown a few feet, but managed to keep her own sword. Beatrix forced herself to leap to her feet, as he charged. She quickly leapt at him, wrapping her arm around his head, and falling backwards, forcing him down with a loud "clang."

He tmanaged to force himself up on his knees, but she was there already, sword flying. Soon the man lay unconscious, and her not far from that state herself. Nevertheless, she raised her hand in victory, to the adulation of the roaring crowd. She accepted her prize money, and began to force her way back to her tent.

Now she lay on the cot, still moaning slightly, It was almost evening, so she could stand not taking part in any more jousts for the day.

She wondered. It was the end of the second day of jousting, and only those with the best record would be admitted to the finals. 21 wins, and no losses. That would probably be good enough to get her in. She hoped so. Of course, the candidates wouldn't be announced until tomorrow.

Beatrix tried to sit up, but clutched her side, and went back to lying down. She reached over the side of her bed, fumbling around, until she found her bag and another Hi-potion. She wondered if the judges would hold back to the tournament while she lay there for the next three days.

She grinned, screwed off the cap, and drank the potion down.

******************

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Notes: I'm very sorry for how long it took to get this chapter out. It's a combination of work, writers block, and I'm sad to admit hat I lost interest in the fic for awhile, I'm a little ashamed of myself for doing so. Also I just recently got over a kidney Stone, easily one of the most physically painful things I've ever gone through. For my readers I'm very sorry. I hope you aren't too upset.

The fic won't be much longer anyway. The next one will end the "tourney" part, and focus a bit more on Freya and Frtaley. I promise I'll get it out.