Darkness in the Twilight
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By Psycho Ferret and LunarCrystal
Angelina Schezar
Three feet tall and dressed for spring time, a little silver hair angel followed the ropes along the hallways that her father had been so careful to put up. She held her head up high, as she was the princess of her castle, which father and the others never failed to remind her of. Even Uncle Chris and Uncle Ethan would refer to her so highly, which she always found to be funny, considering how much they snickered to themselves.
The little five year old had a wicked grin on her pale face. It almost scared Gaddes how intelligent she was sometimes. Her hand followed the course rope lightly, coming to a knot that told her she'd reached her father's quarters. There she fell to the floor and let out a wail.
Maps were in hand, but at the cry, he started from his thoughts, dropping the maps, the compass, the quill and nearly knocking the ink well off the table. "Bloody...!..." He bit back anything else, standing and shoving the items away, padding over to the door and throwing it open. "Princess!?" Allen knelt down before her, looking at her worriedly."
She cried, her voice tearing from her throat, her head tilted back. Her little fists were balled up and she kicked her legs upon the floor. At his worried tone, she screwed her eyes shut. Then she fell over, fainting.
Allen's eyes widened considerably behind his glasses and he scooped her up in his arms, checking for any injuries that might have befallen her.
A large grin crept onto her face, sweet though it might have seemed before. Her giggles could hardly be contained, as he had inadvertently tickled her when he picked her up.
Allen paused, pursing his lips a little, then held her close. "Princess?" he asked mock worriedly, all the while trailing his fingers in a tickling manner up her sides.
She writhed at his touch, her laughter coming forth like bells, and her hair flying about her in long silver ringlets tied with bows. "Father, stop!" she laughed, trying to push his hands away, kicking her legs frantically as he held her.
Allen laughed, stopping tickling her, hugging her close. "You little scoundrel." He laughed again, shaking his head.
She giggled again, her arms hugging his neck. They stayed like that for a few long moment, her father always feeling so warm and comfortable. She really loved his embrace. Her hands idly played with his long hair, stroking it and relishing its softness. "Father?" she asked.
Allen held her gently, like always, smiling softly as he hugged her. "Yes? What is it?" The blonde smiled. She always smelled good, so sweet and soft and perfect.
Pulling back gently, with that same mischievous grin upon her lips, her hands found his face - his lips. She asked very sweetly and politely, "Can I have some sweets?"
Allen grinned a bit. "Have you had any normal food today?" Not that it would matter. He'd give them to her anyhow.
Her eyebrows went up and she answered quite honestly, "No."
"Well, make sure you have some later. Of course you can have some sweets, princess, whatever you want." Allen smiled gently, standing and curling his fingers around her hand. "Shall we see what we can get?"
"Sweets?" said Gaddes, having heard the tail end of their conversation - long enough to know that Angelina was using her wicked sweetness to get what she wanted from her doting father. Again. He came up to them. "I don't think so. Allen, show some backbone, will you?"
Allen pouted a bit over at Gaddes, looking up at him through pale lashes and glittering cerulean eyes. "I have a backbone... just not when it comes to her. How can you resist something this adorable? Go on, princess, use your persuasiveness on Uncle Gaddes."
Angelina smiled up towards where she'd heard her uncle's voice come from, scrunching her shoulder and holding her fist to her chest - biting her lip. Oh, gods, it was . . . too cute.
Gaddes came up to her, a bit of a growl coming from his throat but his smile betrayed him. He touched her head. "You wicked little imp."
"Go on, princess, go on. Keep at it." Allen grinned, looking at Gaddes. It was like he could use her to get anything out of anyone.
"Ah," Gaddes groaned, trying to turn away from the little girl - who kept up the act. His heart constricted, his lip snarled. "Why am I cursed with the world's cutest little demon?"
Angelina blew raspberries at him, her fist finding her hip. "I'm *not* a demon."
Allen laughed softly, resting a hand on her head. "Good girl, Princess."
Angelina lifted her head into her father's touch, a sweet smile on her lips. Without any warning, she took off running down the hallway, careless and not holding her rope - which only slowed her down when she had discovered how much fun it was to run.
"Race you to the kitchens!" She yelled behind her.
Gaddes, frantic and worried that she might hit a wall, ran immediately after her.
Allen started, glancing at Gaddes, then started off after her. Worried that she would hurt herself, of course, but this was fun, they had to admit it.
She her hands on the walls, feeling the bars that indicated she was near the end of the main hallway and to the stairs that led to the barracks below. The last bar hit her fingers, and just as she was about to run into the wall, she grabbed it and swung herself around to barrel down the staircase and disappear ahead of the two floundering adults.
Gaddes, a bit winded by the time he reached the staircase and start down the steps, barely managed to say, "She's got way too much energy for a five year old."
Allen grabbed the railing, sitting on it and sliding down, flashing a grin up at Gaddes as he landed on his feet. "I wonder where she gets it!" The blonde laughed, turning on his heel and starting off after her again.
Chris had just stepped out of the room, oblivious and innocent to what was about to run into him. A flurry of ribbons in a little white dress smashed head long into his stomach, Angelina silver ringlets flying about her and a little 'O' of surprise formed on her lips. She fell backwards and onto her rear, shaking her head and feeling generally dazed.
The impact made Chris stumble slightly, finding his balance with a hand on the wall. It was then that he saw the bespectacled Allen running up to meet them, Gaddes following closely behind.
Allen skidded to a halt, crouching down and scooping up the girl and flashing a good-natured grin over at Chris, a little out of breath. "Just... heading to the kitchen... for some sweets... you know... how that is," he panted, laughing a little.
Ethan blinked, standing and padding over to them, cocking his head to the side.
"Well, at the rate that she's going - she'll hardly ever get fat from you feeding her so much candy. Little tyke's already an athletic runner." He straightened his tunic, looking over to his brother with a grin. "Well, I was going to head to the armory. I guess I'll see you both at dinner."
Gaddes grinned over at him. "If we haven't broken our necks falling down stairs chasing after the princess, yeah, sure - we'll be there."
Allen grinned, shaking his head a bit. "I can't help it, I can't deny her anything, we all know this." Not that he'd really want to.
Allen chuckled a bit, looking over at the others. Her growing up had lightened his grief and with Gaddes there... it made it that much easier.
Angelina buried her face into Allen's hair, her fingers combing through the softness of it. Gaddes look at them both, feeling nothing but joy for Allen and his daughter. They had each other and it seemed to be enough for the knight that his daughter was growing up well. He would always stand by his side, and the pride that the little girl filled him with was sometimes a little overwhelming.
Chris only smiled and excused himself to get back to his duties - essentially both he and Ethan had been enlisted into the Asturian army, though it was never really made official. His footsteps were heard trailing down the stone steps that would spiral down into the main floor of the castle. Angelina, meanwhile, felt for her father's ear and tugged on it.
Allen blinked a little, tipping his head to the side at the tug on his ear. "What is it, princess?" He held her close, like he usually did, that smile lingering on his lips. She really was a beautiful little thing.
"Can we get sweets now?" she whined softly. Gaddes only rolled his eyes. Gods, there really was no way to help it - Allen would crumble beneath a five year old's will. Even Gaddes had to groan sometimes.
"Of course, Princess." Allen glanced at Gaddes, smiling, heading off towards the kitchens. "What kind of sweets do you want?"
"Glazed butter biscuits!" Came the immediate answer.
"Well then, I'm sure we can manage that, hm? Anything for a princess, of course!" Allen laughed softly, carrying her in with him.
Gaddes just followed silently, feeling defeated. He spoiled the little girl way too much, and the sergeant wasn't exactly sure if Allen realized what he did. He feared that one day, Angelina might get it in her head that she could get anything she wanted - even if it ended up being something dangerous. She would not only hurt herself but everyone else around her.
The cook in the kitchen was already busy trying to prepare the evening meals, a large pot of stew over the monstrous fireplace simmered, in the corner of the fireplace were additional pots and that most likely cooked Allen and Angelina's dinner. The man was just bringing out bread from the oven when Allen surprised him with a visit. Of course, he should have stopped being so surprised whenever the noble knight came down to the kitchens - as it was common place for the little girl to ask for something from the pantries.
Allen smiled softly, looking over at the cook. He realized how much he spoiled her and how dangerous that way, but he had such a hard time denying her. She didn't have a mother after all... and the fort was hardly a place for a young lady to be raised. "Go on and tell him, Princess," murmured Allen, stroking her hair gently.
"Can I have some sweets?" she said, never moving her head - she didn't know where the cook was until he actually said something.
The cook faltered for an answer, looking over at Allen with a sort of silent, desperate plea, "Sir Allen, . . . you really think it wise to be givin' the girl sweets so soon before her supper?"
"Small." Allen waved a hand a little. "Something light, of course."
Angelina already had her hand outstretched, waiting. "A glazed butter biscuit please." She said. The cook's shoulder slumped, having learned a while ago that it was not good to argue with one of the cutest little girls to ever walk the face of Gaea.
Resigning, he reached over into a cloth covered basket near the stove, handing her the little biscuit. "There ye are, love. But that'd be the last one before supper." Angelina just giggled, thinking it was so funny how they tried to admonish her but never really did. She bit into her biscuit happily.
Allen chuckled a little, nodding to the cook, stroking her hair gently. "What do you say to him, Princess?" Ah, she was just too adorable. She grew on everyone, just like Allen had. Back when, who could deny Allen much of anything, either? And he'd passed that on to his daughter.
"Fank yoo," she said through a mouthful of the sweet, buttery biscuit. She chewed eagerly and took another bite of the biscuit. The cook only laughed gently, going back to his work. The biscuit disappeared far sooner than Angelina would have hoped, and soon discovered her hands to be empty. Her father still held her, and her arms flew around his neck. "May I have another? Please?"
Okay, so sometimes he could say no. Allen smiled, stroking her hair. "After dinner. Waiting makes the fruit grow sweeter, so they say."
She sighed, knowing that he would denied her the second biscuit. She pulled back a little, her hands searching his face, and her brow furrowed. "Father," she began quietly, much too serious for a five year old, "I had a dream about mother last night."
Allen frowned a little, shifting his hold gently on her. "You did...?" He nodded to the cook, then turned, starting quietly off down the hallway.
Her little fingers found her father's lips - she loved to feel his lips the most. And his hair. Everything about her father was soft and gentle, and she knew he would never hurt her. "I don't remember it very well," she said quietly, "But mother was soft and she smelled nice. Like flowers. Her hair was curly like mine, wasn't it?"
"It was...and the same color, too. You remind me a lot of your mother." Allen smiled softly, his arms comfortingly about her. "I hope it was a happy dream."
"I don't know that either, father . . ." she said softly, her little fair brows knitting together. "When I touched her face in my dream, I felt her cheeks were wet. . ."
Allen sighed softly, kissing her forehead gently. "It's just a dream, princess. It just means that your mother is looking over you."
"Was my mother nice, father?" she asked gently, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Very, princess, very," he murmured softly, wandering the halls with her close by. They did that a lot, just wandering, talking. Sometimes she would fall asleep on his shoulder, sometimes the dinner bell would ring and they'd head off to the mess hall. It was always... peaceful.
"Oh! Oh, father!" she began to bounce excitedly in his arms, nearly making him lose his grip on her as she moved.
Allen blinked a bit, grasping her gently to make sure she didn't fall. Eek. "Ah? What is it?"
"Are we going to read some more tonight? After dinner? You promised you'd teach me more words!" she tugged on his lapel in her enthusiasm, smiling and giggling the whole time.
"Of course!" Allen laughed a bit, nodding slightly. "Of course we'll read some more."
"Father?" she nagged again, pushing her head against his own. "What does spoiled mean?"
"Spoiled? Well, several things. Referring to what?"
"Well, Uncle Gaddes and the others always say that I'm spoiled." she said matter-of-factly, squirming a bit to get out of his hold. She loved it when her father carried her, but she liked walking under her own power much more sometimes.
Allen set her down on her feet, smiling a bit. "Well, it means that you get anything you want, princess."
The moment her feet hit the floor, she sat down in the middle of the hallway. Then sighed heavily, playing with her ruffles of satin. She was happy that she got anything she wanted. Everyone was nice to her, even when she came up with devious things to do to them. But her heart didn't feel complete with that answer. She couldn't really explain why. Just that she . . .
"I'm bored. . ." she declared with a resounding sigh.
Allen crouched down beside her, reaching out and stroking her hair. "Princess, what's wrong? There's something more, you can tell me..."
"How come you don't let me go outside by myself?" she whined, fiddling with her ribbons now. "I hear the swords with they clash - when the soldiers are swordfighting. And I want to do that too. But you never let me go outside unless you or Uncle Gaddes are with me."
"It's because I don't want you to get hurt, honey. I know you do well enough on your own, but it worries me when you go off on your own. It's just me being protective is all."
She pouted and crossed her arms petulantly - so very like Celena when she was five. "I won't get hurt. I wanna be a knight like you and use a sword."
"When you're older, princess, when you're older." Allen sighed softly, kissing her forehead again, stroking her hair in a fond manner.
"You were blind too, right, father?" she asked, her hands outstretched and searching for his face. Deft little fingers found his glasses, "But now you wear these and they help you see like normal people?"
"Along with something doctors did to help me see, yes. But I was blind at one time." Allen stroked her cheek softly, looking at her from behind the clear lenses.
"Can doctors do that to me so that I can be like everyone else?" she asked, almost happily. It really wasn't a matter of being able to see for her. Her blindness wasn't the issue by itself. No, in fact, she didn't know that blindness was any sort of hindrance. . . just that it was uncommon, not like others. And the only thing a child really wants is to fit in. . . she was acutely aware that she didn't really. She was a girl, too - there were no other girls at the fort except her.
Allen sighed softly, a small smile on his lips, guiding her fingers to his lips so she could tell he was doing so. "But you are special this way. There isn't a single thing I'd wish changed about you, princess."
"I don't want to be special," she said frankly, touching his lips softly. "I want to be normal like everyone else."
"Why not? Why don't you want to be special? It makes you even more lovely than you already are."
She took her hands back to clutch them to herself, as she was mostly prone to do when she stood still - having experienced a nice hot iron to her hand once when she'd keep them outstretched all the time. So she was very protective of her hands when she stood still. "I just . . . it feels funny. It makes me have a stomach ache sometimes. . ." it was the best way a five year old could explain it.
Allen pursed his lips a little, looking at her, cocking his head to the side slightly. The blonde continued to idly stroke her hair. "Does it make you want to cry sometimes?"
Angelina nodded, sinking more into her self and playing with one of her ringlets.
Allen pulled her close into a gentle hug, stroking her back. "I felt that way sometimes, after I lost my sight." He never really spoke of it, even to her... but he felt it might be good to let her know. "I felt alone, even though there were people there with me. Is that how you feel?"
"Not really," she said honestly, quietly and enjoying her father's embrace - loving the smell of him. "I don't care that I can't see. I just don't want to be different anymore."
"It's okay, princess... it's okay to be different. We're all different from one another, anyway."
Gaddes finally came down the hall, a bit winded. When he spotted the Schezars, he strode up to them. "There you are. I've been looking all over for you two. Dinner's ready in the mess hall." he said. He crouched down next to Angelina and her head immediately turned toward the sudden sound. "Is the princess ready to have her supper? Or did her father fill her up with sweets?"
"She had one." Allen grinned a little, lightly smacking Gaddes' shoulder. "Do you want to walk, princess, or be carried?" Allen kept an arm about her as he asked, glancing over at Gaddes.
The sergeant threw him an exasperated look that just screamed, 'Stop coddling her!'
"I can walk, father." she said delightedly, jumping up to her full three foot height, her ringlets bouncing and swaying about her face. Her hand searched the air briefly to find Gaddes' hand, and she clasped it tightly.
Allen just pouted teasingly at Gaddes, standing, raking a hand through his hair. "Well then. Shall we be off to dinner?"
With an affirmative and confident, "Yes!" Angelina took her father's hand, both Allen and Gaddes leading her - sometimes they pulled her up off her feet so that she could swing in-between them, and she would giggle hysterically as they did so.
~
Angelina was relatively happy being doted on, her father always giving her pretty dresses he had sent for from Palas. Her nightgowns were always just as pretty, longer than her half-calf gowns and less ruffles, but the material was always finely spun cotton with satin ribbons. She even slept like a princess. She knew it was late at night, as she walked the corridors just outside of her bedroom. Her barefeet made no noise as she stepped.
She came to the knot in the rope that indicated she'd reached her father's bedroom door, and after a quick search for the doorknob, she opened it. Her ropes ended in the hallway however, and she hadn't really memorized her father's room. The moment she entered, her hands were outstretched before her and she walked forward slowly, hoping she would find the bed somehow.
She listened to the soft breathing coming from her right, and so followed it straight on - only to bump into a small table. Her hands scrambled helplessly to keep it from falling, but to no avail. Suddenly scared of the noise she'd caused, she dropped to the floor and sat huddled into herself.
Allen slept easier now than he had when he'd first gotten back. He'd stopped dreaming of Celena constantly, finally. Curled up on his side, he tensed, starting at the loud noise, eyes flickering open. One careful hand snuck out to grab his glasses and slip them on, the other under the pillow thro the knife he kept there. Breathing. He could hear breathing.
It was late and he couldn't see worth anything then. Fumbling around for the candle nearby, always on his bedstand, he quickly lit the wick. If it had been an attacker, they'd have long since taken their advantage already. He slid the knife back where it had been, blinking to allow his vision to register the light. His vision wasn't perfect like this, considering how low the light was, but at least he could make out the small, huddled form nearby.
The blonde slid off the bed, padding over to her, crouching down and putting an arm around her. "Princess, are you alright...?"
Angelina had heard her father wake up, feeling horribly guilty for being the one to rudely do so - but at the same time, she couldn't stop her tears or her thoughts about the dream she'd had. She kept having them, more often than not. Some of them were scary, others . . . started out nice, but then turned into nightmares. And she didn't understand much of it.
Her breathing was ragged, cheeks stained with tear trails. Her knees were brought close to her, she hugged them tightly - afraid to touch anything.
"I dreamed again . . ." she choked.
Allen hugged her gently, then picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, setting the candle aside. He lay with her beneath the covers, curling her close to him. "Shh, shh... it's alright, they're simply dreams, princess." Allen stroked her hair softly, holding her close, brushing away her tears. "It's alright, I'll protect your dreams, I promise. I'm your knight, after all, mm? It'll be alright, I promise."
The candlelight that lingered flickered slightly in the chill room. Angelina squirmed and wriggled to turn around and face her father, her little hands finding his ears and eventually his hair. She gently tugged on the golden locks of his hair, sniffling pathetically and snuggling into the pillows. "You were hurt, father. In my dream . . . You won't leave me too, will you?" She whimpered and pressed her little body into Allen's chest.
Allen hugged her close, stroking her back. "Of course I won't, princess. I'll be here with you for as long as you want me to be, okay?"
"Forever," came her muffled response, her face buried in the front of his night robes, "Forever and ever."
"Very well, then. Forever and ever." Allen held her protectively, head resting gently against the pillows, continuing to softly stroke her back.