Chapter four:
The fire surrounded me. Their accursed flames clawing at my body demanding I give in. Give in to their wrath. The heat had become unbearable and all around me the swirling colors of orange, yellow and red grew closer. I shrank away in fear. I wanted to go home to where father was, where no one could hurt me. I felt like a child, alone and lost.
In my head, a voice rung out with its sinister sneer. "Where will you go now? You are alone! No one is here to protect you!" I tried to block it out but I clutched at my head in pain as it continued. "I will take you just like I took your father and your home!" It mocked purposely. I cried in anguish.
You are the world to me…
*
I gasped in shock. My breathing came out ragged and I fought to control it, taking in deep breaths from the air around me. A wave of dizziness caught me off guard, and I groaned inwardly, putting my head into my clammy hands. And in doing so, an image of my father flashed through my mind. I shuddered instantly. Was it true? Could something I've merely dreamt be true? I swallowed hard. Oh father…
Lifting my head wearily, I hastily blinked back tears, silently scolding myself that I was tougher than this. When my vision finally became clear, I looked forward. What? I turned my head in all directions. I was in a bed; and in a four poster bed to be exact. The transparent curtain had been drawn on all sides.
It was evening, and a cool breeze whispered innocently through the room. It tugged longingly at my bed curtains, with them rising to and fro in quiet response. I crawled out of bed curiously, and through an opening in the clear drapes. But as I did, a sharp pain stabbed my stomach. My hand traveled to the throb and I felt a tender bruise forming. Damn him. I cursed to myself.
Turning my attention elsewhere, I padded over to the window. Pushing it open further, I peered out into the night.
Before me lay Midgar city. Its vastness was beyond compare, and it spread out widely in all directions. There were lights coming from many different households and buildings which made the city glitter. And I simply looked on in awe.
But then reality hit me.
I almost failed to remember why I was here in the first place. I scowled at the sight in front of me and turned my back. Instead, I decided to study where I was being held.
A guestroom. I scoffed at this. A very nice prison indeed.
The room looked rather simple and elegant, but costly as well. The four poster bed which I had been lying in was what first caught my eye. From what I could see through the curtains, the head board was delicately carved. Its deep engravings swirled into pictures and creatures as if telling a story of its own. Curious, I walked over to the bed and sat on the side. My hand reached to touch the polished wood, and I traced the different patterns it held, each swirl weaving cleanly into something else.
I pulled back slowly, and surveyed the rest of the guestroom. On the far wall lay a mini fireplace where new logs had been stacked inside it, and another stack on the outside for later use. There was no sign of any items to actually start the fireplace up, so I turned my attention elsewhere.
Studying the walls and floor, I discovered they were made of polished marble; clean but cold I noted. My bare feet didn't even warm the spot I had left them in all this time.
Almost reflects Rufus in a way. My mind spat. Warming up to nothing or no one.
I quickly shoved that thought to the back of my head. Of all people, I didn't want him to be roaming through there. It was bad enough I was his little hostage in a country I knew nothing about. But as soon as I dismissed the thought, a sound suddenly broke the silence within the room. It came from the two doors opposite of where I was sitting. There was a click of a lock and the sound of a key being pulled out. I stood up, ready to face whoever dared to step in.
The copper knob turned slowly, and I half expected it to be Rufus himself. In most scenarios, it always just happened to be the last person you had been thinking about. Don't ask me why, it just usually was. In books anyway, my head countered politely.
The other half of me expected Vincent. Making a perfect entrance, considering how dark my room was. The only source of light came from the pale moon overhead. I clenched my fist hard. If it was either of them, I would walk straight up to them and give a good right fist to their face. That would feel good.
But to my complete surprise, a maid's head just popped through the opening. Her timid green eyes racing around the room until they landed square on me. I relaxed; slightly. But I watched her carefully as she stepped in and closed the door. She was carrying a candle as well, and its single light lit up her face almost…angelically.
Her chestnut locks revealed natural curls, as it fell freely to her shoulder blades. Sections of her hair framed her face while another half had been tied loosely in a lone pink ribbon. She also appeared to have very full lips and a pale complexion; yet not in an unhealthy sort of way. This young girl seemed about my age as well, but her appearance, if disguised well enough, could be seen as a very beautiful high noble. She didn't seem to fit her class as a simple maid.
"My Lady." The chestnut greeted respectfully, and gave a slight curtsy before continuing. "My name is Aeris. I am to be your handmaiden for your stay at the palace." She paused unsure of weather to keep going but alas went on. "His- his Grace has asked for your presence at dinner. I'm to help you dress and prepare yourself."
I narrowed my eyes. "I see." Does he think that I'm going to just waltz right into his arms? After all that has happened? My country, my home has been burned to the ground! And he invites me to dinner???
I took a deep breath and let it out. I wasn't going to take out my anger on the young maid. So instead I answered in a very neutral tone, my voice kept low. "Will you tell His Grace that I do not intend to meet him, let alone eat dinner with him as long as I am kept captive here."
Aeris' eyes widened. "My Lady, are you sure you-…
"I am sure," I replied coolly and turned my back to her walking steadily to the window.
"My Lady," she tried again. "His Grace has told me that if you refuse to eat with him, y-you do not eat at all." Aeris' voice cracked at the last phrase. She was obviously very afraid of Rufus.
"So be it." I wasn't going to give in to him.
A silence lifted between us. I kept my gaze straight ahead, even though it angered me just looking at the city. It reminded me of what I didn't have anymore. A lump rose in my throat but I didn't falter, and Aeris still did not leave. I heard her step forward.
"Is that it then?" Pause. "I-I know the circumstances of why you are here, and I am deeply sorry for your loss. But-…"
I couldn't hold it in. I heard the pity in her words. The one thing I didn't want to hear from anybody. I furiously turned towards Aeris. "Sorry?? You're sorry?? Sorry won't bring back anything! For all I know my father could be dead! Because of that stupid, selfish king of yours!!" I failed to notice that my outburst broke my mental barrier, and that tears were now streaming down my cheeks.
I had silenced Aeris for the time being, and so I turned my back to her once again, gripping the window sill hard. I hung my head and bit my lower lip trying to regain control over my emotions. From behind, I could hear soft footsteps approach closer and stop a short distance from me.
"I know that nothing I say or do will bring anything back. But…" Aeris' damn kind voice made me listen to her words carefully. "This is exactly what Rufus wants. Your sudden stir of emotions: grief, anger, revenge." She stopped short making sure her information sunk in. "H-he will use those against you to…control you."
I looked up and slightly turned my head, indicating that I had given her my attention.
She continued slowly, choosing her words with care. "You see my Lady, he knows that you won't come so easily to dinner, and he threatened you. If you stayed here your emotions would bottle up. And eventually……"
"I'll burst and do something rash," I finished. "Just like he'd want."
"Yes my Lady," Aeris replied.
I took a moment and wiped my tears away hastily. Turning around completely, I looked her straight in the eye. "Why are you helping me?"
She smiled, her shyness kicking back in. "I can sense a fire within you My Lady. You are no ordinary woman of the Court." She looked down. "I think you have what it takes to withstand Rufus himself. All you need is self-control."
Her advice reminded me of Zangan so much; I almost wanted to start crying again. Almost. So instead I replied to Aeris, "Well then, dinner waits."
*
Before I knew it, I was soon being escorted to dinner by a soldier who was posted outside my room. Aeris had worked quickly and quietly in preparing me, and even I was surprised of how I looked when I stood in front of the mirror. She had brushed my hair till it shown and chose an appropriate gown, elegant enough to wear for dinner. Aeris had sighed happily when I was finished, and suppressed a giggle when the guard's eyes widened when seeing me.
Her only advice was to keep my emotions at bay. I complied, telling her I'd try my best.
The guard led me through the silent corridors, making no conversation whatsoever. I was grateful for it actually; it gave me time to think.
Ok. I know I have to stay calm. No matter how much I want to strangle him on the spot. My hands automatically gripped my gown. No. Control yourself! I loosened my hold but didn't let go. I wasn't even there yet, and I was already thinking rash thoughts.
Then I remembered my training. Zangan's very words to stay calm and cool. No fighter will win a battle blinded by their own rage. That's when the guard spoke up.
"My Lady, we have arrived." I took a breath and entered through the door. The guard closed it behind me announcing, "Majesty. Her Highness Princess Tifa has arrived." He bowed at the waist and stepped back.
The dining room was very large, with a glass chandelier hanging overhead. Its candle light bounced radiantly off it resulting in the whole creation to glitter madly. In the middle of the room sat Rufus. He was on the far side of a very long rectangular dining table. Food had been placed in front of him, along with a glass jug of red wine.
He had a drinking goblet in one hand and a sheet of paper in the other. His blue eyes were scanning it quickly, darting this way and that. Then all of a sudden Rufus smirked. He turned to his head to his companion behind him and gave the sheet back.
The man was Vincent.
He took it and bowed. Rufus dismissed him with a wave of his hand and Vincent walked in my direction to the door. My eyes followed him, narrowing ever so slightly till he slowed his pace when nearing me.
"My Lady," he acknowledged, his crimson eyes flashing with amusement.
I gave him a cold smile and curtsied. "A pleasure."
He held my eyes a moment longer and strode past me. I turned my direction back toward Rufus. The smirk was still plastered on his face while he leaned on his elbow. He gestured to a chair on his right, and I carefully took my time and sat down. He arched an eyebrow.
"I am…surprised that you've joined me for dinner Miss Lockhart." This time he took his other elbow and propped it up onto the table, leaning on both. "It was very bold of you."
I spoke between clenched teeth. "You gave me little choice, Highness."
Rufus chuckled. "Oh yes, that's right. But I thought it would take a little more than that to lure you out of your room." He paused. "Considering how…"
Stubborn I could be, I filled in, remembering how father always used to lecture me about that.
…daring you could be, Rufus finished satisfied.
I looked up and studied him. He thinks that he's got control over me already, I realized suddenly. He thinks that if I stayed in my room bottling up my emotions, or come out looking as if I've accepted defeat, that he's got control over me. I wanted to laugh in his face but I kept a straight hold on my facial expression. Hah. Well we'll let him think that for the time being.
