Loving You

By Quistis88 and Quis

Chapter Five

Tears of Tomorrow

She was drowning in a pool of artificial sunshine. Radiance spread from her being like a Madonna. Her hair, hinting golden threads from endless strands of black, cascaded down her back in curls. She looked like a queen. Her long, elegant dress, with its empire waistline, done in deep red  and white silk, trailed behind her. A black veil covering what could be seen of her face, was the colour of the first stars. In a word, she was a queen.

Outside, the rain poured down in torrents. It was bleak, almost too dark for it to be day. One could not tell night from day in these dark times. They were all much the same. Bleak days and endless, black nights, in which she wandered Centra-- sleepless.

He watched her as she walked up the aisle. A sharp pang of regret coursed through his being, knowing that he would always have the second place in her heart. Nonetheless, he was prepared to take the second place, hoping that one day, he'd fill the void.

As she walked up to the altar, to take her place beside him, she glanced up at him, shyly. He truly had helped her to fill the void in her heart when the news had come through. Her heart had broken—shattered into a thousand pieces. He'd been so good to her, she knew it.

Da'Vasha's bride. She was his bride. Those four words resounded in her head. She knew it wasn't by choice that she would marry him—she had no choice but to do it. For the sake of her own life, as well as the life of the child she carried within her.

He only wanted her as a trophy to parade around. His mates in the Arcanium would be jealous of him. He—a stable hand who had become a powerful sorcerer—was marrying the King's daughter.

Fate worked in her mysterious ways. He wondered how much the woman actually knew. It was a political match, one that would bring the name—Agraneath glory once more. He was the unwanted bastard of a peasant woman and a noble lord from the lands of Deling. He would bring back the good name of his house. And to do that, it meant seducing Princess Talliana deGroot of Centra.

There, she froze. Her…child. How could she bring a child into a marriage that was so inevitably going to be fraught with disaster and anger? She didn't love Da'Vasha. Far from it, actually.

The priest smiled as he saw them. Da'Vasha, proud and resplendent in his silver armour and gold circlet upon his head. The woman, Talliana, subdued, quiet. He knew Talliana's heart, and knew that she wasn't marrying Da'Vasha for love.

Clearing his throat, the priest spoke. "Fellow Centrans. We are gathered here to celebrate our war leader's victories, and also, to celebrate his union with the lovely Talliana deGroot. We ask the Goddess who is yet to reveal Her name to us to bless Talliana deGroot, and Da'Vasha," he said.

The crowd was silent. They had heard Talliana's wailing over the square, and knew it didn't bode well for the marriage.

Talliana looked out at the crowd. They knew her too well. She didn't want this wedding; yet it was happening. Her nightmares of the blood soaked fields were too vivid—as though she knew that the world would come to the inevitable bloody end. "I can't do this," she whispered, as she picked up her skirts, and began running towards the heavy doors.

The crowd parted for her, like the Red Sea. Silently, they let their Princess pass, nobody bothering to stop her. She felt a hand on her shoulder as she reached the door. It was Dakor. Dear, loveable Dakor; with his armour and his squeaky voice, she couldn't help but smile at him as he held the door open for her.

Running down the paved stone path that led from the church to the large castle. She beat at the solid doors, with their intricate metalworking and reinforcements made from adamantine  wrought insignias, with her fists, and nobody answered it. Talliana was truly alone in this world. Nobody was there for her when she needed a shoulder to cry on.

~+~

Nudging, biting, nipping, lips fumbling for one another. Rinoa's hands moved under Squall's tee-shirt, raking her nails across his chest in slow, tantalizing motions. Squall's hands were roaming Rinoa's body, taking in every little curve of it—as though memorising it for future times.

He tugged impatiently at her duster. Rinoa, taking a quick look at his face, saw the impatience there. She lowered her eyes to where his hands were, and deftly untied the duster. Now, she was left in her simple black tee-shirt, her skirt, and her black shorts.

Her hands tugged her skirt over her hips, and this time, Squall watched—mesmerised by the grace that she had, even while impatient. Squall's jacket soon joined Rinoa's duster on the ground, followed rapidly by his shirt, and hers.

It was as though they were doing the most exquisite and intimate of dances. Their bodies intertwined, as Rinoa laid her head on Squall's shoulder; he, nuzzling her neck with his nose. Slowly, they broke apart, and together, hand in hand, walked slowly towards a bed of roses.

It was a four-poster bed, covered entirely with simple rose petals. The canopy was supported by what appeared to be stems carved out of Cedar. Squall lifted Rinoa gently, taking the opportunity to nuzzle her neck gently once more. He carried her to the bed, and ever-so-gently, laid her on it.

She looked frail; almost vulnerable. For the first time since their reunion, Squall noticed the dark circles under Rinoa's eyes. He noticed the lines of worry that were etched into her porcelain skin. Traces of tears could be seen, where she had cried her heart out. This was a woman who was resigned to her fate—not his vibrant, smiling, beautiful Rinoa he'd left behind. Yet, he knew it was her.

"Smile for me, my darling," he whispered, as he reached around her back to unclasp her bra. Rinoa smiled the first real smile she had in what seemed like ages. In reality, it was only several days.

She reached for Squall's chest, caressing it gently as he continued his exploration of her own body. His felt smooth and wondrous—muscles honed from years of training. His gloves were absent. They'd been the first things to be removed after that breathless greeting. Glancing down at Rinoa now, he felt an irresistible urge to give into his teenage hormones.

"Are you sure, Rinoa?" he asked quietly, as he continued the exploration of Rinoa's body with his hands.

A simple nod, followed by the rather breathless voicing of "Yes," could be heard from Rinoa. That was all they needed. Together, they shed the rest of their clothing—eliciting a giggle from Rinoa when Squall took his pants off. He wore nothing underneath those leather pants of his.

A small gasp from Rinoa was heard as he bent down to kiss the little spot where her soft breasts divided. He could hear the pounding of Rinoa's heart—so close to his ear. It was a sound that filled him with unspeakable joy.

And now the moment of reckoning had come. Squall eased his body gently over Rinoa's, and very gently, entered her.

They made love that day—under a sky of stars. In the field where they had pledged to find one another, they delighted in one another's bodies in intimate ways that only lovers know of. It was in his arms that Rinoa could stay forever and feel the most comfort.

~+~

The door opened. Talliana fell back, and ended up sprawling upon the wet cobblestone path that led to the main section of the castle. Soaked, she pulled the cord for the maid's room. Soon she was led into a warm room, with a crackling fire blazing at the hearth. Cloaks were placed around her shoulders, and towels were rubbing at her hair to get it dry.

Her hands remained clutched tightly at her stomach, trying to protect the unborn child from unwanted scrutiny. "Princess," she heard the word muttered, as she drowned out the growing cacophony of voices that were surrounding her.

"I won't marry him!" she shouted, as she glanced up to see her father's eyes fixed firmly upon her. "I cannot marry him, because I do not love him!"

"Love?" her father repeated, "Love is overrated. Talliana, I will see you married to Da'Vasha Agraneath by the sundown of the Winter Solstice, or you will be burnt at the stake, you damnable whore!"

A terrified squeak came from the maid who was busy drying Talliana's hair.

~+~

While Squall dozed, Rinoa watched the subtle rise and fall of his chest, mesmerised by the simple action of breathing. Never once had she realised how enchanting it was to watch the one you love sleep peacefully by your side. Now, however, it was euphoric.

They'd often spent nights together back at Garden. Often she'd fall asleep on the couch, while Squall would stroke her hair gently. It was the intimacy that she'd missed while he was away. The feeling of being with someone—sharing their heart and soul.

That feeling was now complete. Her breathing became shallow once more, and she slipped easily into slumber.

~+~

"You're wrong, Father," Talliana said quietly, her voice calm—almost too calm. "I don't need Da'Vasha's love. The one I loved died in the Clanwars."

He slapped her. "You foolish girl!" He shouted, as Talliana reeled from the slap. "I have given you everything, and yet you still want more? What more do you want?"

"To live my life as I please it, father," Talliana retorted, as she held her hand up to her stinging cheek.

Then she turned, and walked slowly out of the castle—back into the torrential rain. She was never seen again.

~+~

Squall's eyes opened. It was about three am, according to his own knowledge of the sky. Not quite dawn, yet not quite black and completely dark. The open windows let in a cool sea breeze blowing from the north. The beautiful flowers could be smelt—jasmine, honeysuckle, wild roses, violets and even some flowers that he didn't know the names of, created a delightful perfume while mixed with the tangy salt air.

He let his fingers wander through Rinoa's soft hair, inhaling its scent. It was almost a combination of the flowers he could smell in the air, but there was another, more definitive scent in it. He wasn't sure what it was.

Squall remembered his promise to her. So far, he had kept it. They were there—in their field of dreams, and where he'd pledged to wait an eternity for her there. And there's nothing I wouldn't do for her…Even if the world is against her, I'll still be her knight—forever.