Umi: Konnichiwa! How's everyone? Well, as promised, here's chapter 2: Memories. We'll find out why Sakura thinks Eriol is such a cruel man.
Fuu: It's really a good reason! He—
Umi: Fuu-chan! Don't give it away! They can all read!
Fuu: Hehe Gomen ne Umi-san!
Umi: It's okay! Anyway, if anyone didn't know whom the blue girl was that came
out of the box, it was the Rain Card! Okay, so, on with the story!
Chapter Two: Memories…
The Blossom, The Wolf, and A Weasel
By Ryuuzaki Umi
Sakura, her politest smile fixed on her face, told herself firmly that she would behave. But oh, it wasn't going to be easy!
Surely the ambassador from King Eriol of Lerlais had been a weasel in a former life. No, not anything as elegant as a weasel. A snake, maybe, or something slimy. It wasn't that he looked unpleasant. On the contrary, not a fold of his long dark cloak was out of order, not a strand of his pale gray hair was out of place.
But his smile somehow managed to be both perfectly proper and contemptuous at the same time, and his brown eyes held a chill of mockery as though he were saying silently, you're only peasants, both you and your petty little kingdom. You should be honored my king even bothers with you.
"…And so, Your Most Gracious Majesty,' he continued smoothly, voice urbane, "my master, King Eriol of Lerlais, having heard of your daughter's charm and wit"—his flick of a glance told Sakura how little he thought of that—"once again expresses his desire to take the Princess Sakura to wife."
"We are pleased by—" King Fujitaka began, but before he could get any farther, Sakura, to her horror, heard herself blurt out:
"Why?"
"Sakura!" her father whispered sharply, and, "Your Majesty!" the ambassador protested.
~Stop it! ~ Sakura scolded herself. ~Don't say anything else! ~
But there wasn't any stopping this ridiculous inner self that had suddenly decided now was a good time to be honest. Helplessly, Sakura heard herself continue, quite calmly, "I already have refused your king once. Why won't he give up?"
King Fujitaka glared at his daughter, and then gave the ambassador a charming smile. "She was young. You know how foolish young girls can be."
The ambassador's own smile had never wavered. "Of course, " he murmured. "You Majesty—"
"Excuse me." ~Oh, be quiet! ~Sakura begged herself, but the words still refused to stop. "We all know exactly why King Eriol wants to marry me. If I'm wrong, if he really is interested not in Irwain but in me, let him tell me so himself. Till then, Father, my lord, I—I bid you good day."
"Sakura!" her father snapped, but the girl pretended she didn't hear him, hurrying from the hall in a swirling cloak and gown.
She made it all the way to her private chambers, dodging puzzled servants, refusing to weep. It shouldn't hurt like this to know that she was only a bargaining chip; every princess was raised knowing to marry for love was an almost impossible dream. Ad yet—oh, it did hurt, it did!
But running away couldn't possibly help. All she'd accomplished by racing out of the hall like a spoiled child was angering the ambassador and her father. And of course they had every right to be angry. In the game of politics, Sakura knew, you never, ever spoke truth outright; you always veiled it in careful, courteous words. What had made her so—so stupidly blunt? And why, oh why, had she run off like this?
Sakura shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself. All at once the sight of her father and ambassador pretending she wasn't even there, of the ambassador's barely hidden contempt for herself and her father, had been too much to bear. She hadn't dared stay in that hall a moment longer.
If I had, I think I would have thrown something at the man. So false, so cold. Like his master.
Suddenly she couldn't stand still. Sakura paced restlessly back and forth, trying not to remember. But how could she forget the first time she'd met Eriol of Lerlais? It was true, she really had been young, barely into her twelfth year, and rather awed by the sight of the tall, elegantly blue-haired young man who had come to Irwain on a diplomatic visit. Her father had entertained him quite literally royally, hunting him with him by day, feasting with him by night.
But Father never once noticed how Eriol was eyeing me. He laughed when I told him, and teased about my "suitor."
The suitor who had concerned her in quite palace hallway. At first, Eriol had been quite charming, complimenting her on her sleek auburn hair, her pretty gown. But bit-by-bit his compliments had turned sharp, and dark. Young as she was, Sakura hadn't been quite sure what he meant, only that his words were making her strangely uncomfortable.
I should have run…
How could she? The rules of politics had already been drilled into her; it wasn't wise to be rude to royalty. Even such royalty as this man who was whispering his strange, hot words in her ear. Nearly sick with fright, Sakura had tried her best to imitate her father, politely asking after the health of Eriol's wife.
"Oh, she's such a sickly thing." Eriol's voice had been so cold and casual it sent shivers all through Sakura. "Unable to bear a child or sit beside me at court. I doubt she'll be with us very long."
And then…
Sakura paced even more fiercely, trying to shut out the memory of his cruelly powerful body suddenly crushing her against a wall, his hand forcing itself roughly into the bodice of her gown. She'd turn her head sharply away before he could kiss her, but she didn't dare scream; even then she knew that to call for help against a king would involve her father in a crisis that might lead to war.
Instead, Sakura but his ear, so savagely she'd tasted blood. Eriol hissed in pain, flinging her from him. Hand to his bleeding ear, he'd snarled a warning to her: "If you tell your father about this, I swear I'll kill you, I'll kill all your people!"
Of course, she hadn't said a word. She'd taken to her bed, pretending to be ill, and not a soul had suspected the truth. Eriol had left without Sakura seeing so much as another hair on his handsome head, and the frightened child she'd been had prayed he would never, ever return…
But she was no longer a child. What Eriol had tried to force on her has borne little resemblance to the normal happenings between men and women, she knew that; she'd seen enough happy couples to know such matters were meant to be a joy, not something to dread. Surely even those brought together in arranged matches could still find some delight to take in one another. But with Eriol—
Sakura's legs suddenly seemed to have lost their power. She sank to her bed, imagining the nightmare of life as Eriol's wife, not just in his bed but also in every aspect of the day, bound to him by law and politics, subject to his moods and whims and cruelties.
Dear gods, no. I can't marry him, I can't. And I—I won't, I swear it!
Oh, easy to vow! But how, Sakura wondered bleakly, could she prevent it? Obviously not by telling her father the truth of what had happened back then; that was too politically dangerous a subject, even now. But what else could she possibly do?
Without warning, thoughts of her dream of Star Light swept back into her mind. Sakura sighed impatiently. Dreams. What good were dreams? Oh yes, with such magic, magic that by its very creation could not be misused for harm or gain, there would be no reason to worry about Eriol or drought or any other perils, but—
"My lady." It was Tomoyo, looking at her with severe disapproval.
Sakura started guiltily. "I know." She got to her feet with resignation. "My father wishes to speak with me."
As they walked, Tomoyo began edgily lecturing her princess. Sakura caught nervous bits of "How could you be so foolish," and "…such a fine match!" and "…running off like a silly little girl!" But she ignored it all as best she could, continuing on grim silence.
What a wonderful day this was turning out to be…
~*In the king's throne room*~
If only her father would shout at her, or scold her, or even threaten her! Instead, King Fujitaka seemed determined to treat his daughter like some erring little girl.
"My dear," he said gently, "this hysteria isn't like you."
"I wasn't hysterical. I only—"
"Hush. Listen to me. I know you must be frightened of the idea of marriage. After all, you're still a child."
"Father, I'm sixteen!"
"Ah. Well." He considered that a moment, then rushed on past it, continuing hastily, "It's natural you should be afraid; fear of the unknown is quite a natural thing."
"But I'm not—"
"King Eriol of Lerlais is young and ambitious, with warriors enough to make him a valuable ally of Irwain—as I thought you understood. And as such an ally, he would be careful to treat you well."
The way he nearly raped me on his first visit? No, she wasn't going to say that to her father! "Oh, yes," Sakura said dryly. "Until I produced an heir for him. Then he wouldn't need me anymore. And he certainly wouldn't need you! Father, I—I—"
"Now you are just being silly," he soothed. "Eriol won't hurt either one of us."
No? What about is first wife? The one too sickly to bear him a child? The one who failed him? For all I know, Eriol murdered her! Gods, she couldn't say that either! "Oh, won't he?" Sakura exploded. "There could be a hunting mishap, tainted food, a fall from a balcony—'Accidents' can happen, and I—I don't want one to happen to you!"
"Nonsense. He wouldn't—"
"Please, listen to me! As you say, Eriol is still young; as you say, he's ambitious—but he's also completely ruthless! And that makes him dangerous!"
"Nonsense," Fujitaka repeated calmly, that infuriating, patronizing note back in his voice. "Sakura, I've listened to enough of this. Go back to your chambers and think things over."
"But can't you just—"
"No. I cannot. Go to your chambers and think things over. And in the morning, love, I expect you to have made the proper decision."
His suddenly cold expression left no doubt in Sakura's mind as to what that decision was supposed to be.
"Yes, father," she murmured reluctantly.
Umi: Hoped you like chapter two! Stayed tune for the next chapter: Plots! We'll find out what Sakura plans to do with this sudden problem.
Fuu: Ew! I cannot believe Eriol did that!
Umi: Well, Sakura does have a really good reason to hate him, don't ya think?
Fuu: Yep yep!
Umi: Anyway, please review! I really want you opinion on this chappie! Well that's it I guess…Ja ne! ^_^