Author's Rant: I'm finding it very hard to describe Roland really. You only get a sense of arrogance and loyalty to the knights when you meet him in game. I feel that he is very OOC to the cold aloof character, but in some ways I could see him acting like that if he was in love. However I also am finding it hard to not focus it on Nei. Maybe cause she is an easier character to envision. We know that she was a caring 'older sister' figure and that she didn't act like a normal elf. I have to start focusing on the plot seems otherwise I'll end up with 40 chapters till I get to the end… -.-
Oh yeah, according to official sources, Hugo is 14 in Suikoden 3... And Thomas was 15! That surprised me really, since Thomas looked younger then Hugo. Cecile is 13, which seems right…
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Star Cursed Flight
By the Black Gryphon
Chapter 4: Opening Eyes
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The rain poured against the windows like angry wasps and thunder rumbled in the distance. Even so, Thomas struggled to keep an anxious Cecile from standing guard in those conditions.
"But what happens if bandits come around? What about the dogs? What about the surprise?" Cecile struggled to get out of the grip of her handsome husband.
"We can replace the decorations and no bandits have tried anything ever since Lady Chris found out 2 years ago about that raid and took care of it! Now stay IN!" The now 20 year old Thomas shoved his wife back into bed. "Besides, your in no condition to go anywhere! You could hurt the baby!"
"But…"
"No!" Cecile grumped, acting more like her 13 year old self instead of 18 that she was supposed to be. Her stomach swelled and she winced when her baby kicked her in the lungs again. Thomas ran a hand through his chocolate locks before smiling fondly.
"I'm sure he'll be just like you sweetie."
"Jerk." But she couldn't hide the laugh or the smile on her face.
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"Are we there yet?" Shabon asked as she hung over the side of the wagon. Nei only rolled her eyes as she pulled up beside wagon. Toppo laughed silently when Budehuc Castle rolled into sight.
"The castle." He pointed and Shabon leapt out of the Wagon.
"YES! WE'RE HERE!" And she ran into the gates, only to be met by a fast flying ball of fur. Wet sloppy licks covered her face until a hand pulled Koroku off of her. Emily blinked before helping Shabon up.
"Sorry about that. Koroku has been a walking fuzz ball since the Karaya and Lizard clan arrived." Shabon felt like some doggy drool had dripped down her nose, but laughed.
"Must be having a hard time keeping up with all the new additions?" She questioned.
"Yeah. By the way, Who are you?" Emily blinked. She recognized the female elf and the man, but this new girl was a mystery.
"I'm Shabon! I can't believe you forgot me!!!!" Shabon mocked fumed and laughed when Emily blinked.
"WOW! You shaped up rather nicely! You have GOT to tell me your secrets! And how much you've trained." The two girls walked off together, leaving Nei and Toppo alone.
"I'll put the wagon away." Suddenly Nei was left alone. Leading her horse down to the stables, she was greeted by a familiar face.
"Kathy, how have you been?" The cowgirl gave a big smile.
"Great, my horses have been fit as a fiddle!" Ah, it was like time never passes here. Leaving her mare to Kathy, she wandered around the grounds. Some of the shops were gone, but many of them were still standing. In the courtyard she found herself face to face with Fubar and a tiny gryphon chick, who decided to cower behind it's father.
"Terra, you big baby! Your just like Fubar when he was a baby!" The was answered with an angry Kuee from the aforementioned father. Hugo just chuckled and finally noticed Nei standing by the stairs.
"Nei, the spirits have been kind to us for bring you back to us today!" He grabbed Nei in a hug, who blushed.
"Yes it has been a while. How is Chief Lucia lately?" She questioned, not seeing the chief anywhere.
"Mother has been working to keep our home safe, though she is no longer chief. She left that torture to me." Hugo replied with a groan. The 19 year old rolled his eyes before smiling again. "She will arrive soon I hope." Fubar approached Nei and shoved his head under her arm, purring.
"I missed you too Fubar, though I see you've been busy." She eyed the baby gryphon, who meekly hid behind her father's huge leg. She kneeled down, only to hear a angry cry as a huge black mass appeared in the sky, landing in front of Nei, hissing angrily. Her ear tufts were flattened against her skull and her huge gray wings were spread wide, hoping to intimidate whoever this intruder was.
"Zera! It's alright! Calm down! She's a friend!" Hugo leapt between the two and Fubar cried out. The female gryphon hissed again but folded her wings against her back.
"Sorry about that, she's nervous when someone tries to get near her chick and she's not there." Hugo apologized by Nei just smiled.
"I'm sure that any mother would be protective of her child and worries whenever she isn't there." Hugo shrugged as the Gray and black gryphon stalked off, the baby in her beak. Hugo watched as the two left and then tilted his head back.
"A lot of the others are in the castle. How about we go meet them?"
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Chris struggled to keep her struggling 3 year old son in her arms and thus not falling off her horse.
"Wyatt! Will you sit still?" She glared at her young son.
"I'm BOOOORRRREEEEDDDD!" He whined. A chuckle broke out behind her, and Chris turned her head to glare at Percival.
"Just like me when I was a kid." He joked, only hold up his hands trying to calm down the tired mother.
"Remind me to kill you next time you try to do anything in bed." Chris groaned out.
"Funny, you said that right after you gave birth to Wyatt." Percival teased.
"Oh will you two lovebirds wait till we get a room at the castle?" Borus growled out.
"Still sore Borus?" Percival just laughed as he urged his horse to go into a full gallop and Borus chased after him. Louis just shook his head.
"Sometimes I wonder if those two will ever act their age." He raised an eyebrow as Wyatt tugged at his mother's braid.
"Mommy? Can we go as fast as daddy and Uncle Borus?" Louis chuckled as Chris raised an eyebrow.
"Well those two have been enjoying themselves." Leo commented in a deadpan voice.
"Indeed, even though we must worry about the uneasy Treaty between the Tinto republic and the Zexen council." Roland replied to Leo who nodded. "At least for now we can regroup and hopefully prepare ourselves for the next battle."
"Agreed Sir Roland, but our men are very weary. Perhaps this festival will lighten their moods. I feel sorry for Lord Salome however, being left behind in the castle by himself."
Roland focused on the road ahead. "Some one has to keep watch over Brass castle as well as make sure that everything is alright incase of any hidden surprises or ambushes."
"I doubt much will happen at least for now. The treaty is too new and to break it now will only make things worse for Tinto. I heard that even Lady Lilly has decided to come and she would be most furious if someone tried to pull something off." Leo trailed off as if remembering something and then chuckled. Pulling into the castle courtyard, they found themselves face to face with the beginning of a festival.
"Oh no! You've got to hurry Lady Chris!" A young pregnant woman ran over to Lady Chris, who looked confused.
"Cecile?"
"Hurry! Your and your men can't celebrate with us in that armor! Come on!" Cecile pulled Chris and her son into the castle.
"I'm afraid my wife is right, though a bit too enthusiastic. The festival isn't to start for another hour, so please follow me to the rooms we set aside for you." A young, well dressed man greeted the (confused) knights. "Kathy will see to your mounts. Come! Soon it will be night and our celebration will begin!"
"Sir Thomas? What celebration?" Louis questioned.
"Why, it's been 5 years since the Flame champion and the Fire bringers had saved our world!" With that, the 3 knights were lead inside the castle (they assumed that Borus and Percival had been already ushered in a while ago). However a figure dressed in white and blue stood out in the crowd, but before Roland had a chance to, he was already beyond the doors.
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The music was lively and the stars were dancing along with the mortals on the earth below the sky. The food which covered the tables were a mix of different styles and specialties, from the unusual to the common, it was there. The wine was flowing and the spirit was cheerful, but Roland stood in the background, watching the festivities from his seat on top of the restored wall. In his hand was a almost untouched goblet of wine and his eyes simply glanced from person to person. Suddenly the mass of people cleared out into a ring around a lone dancer, who was laughing merrily. The goblet dropped out of his hand. It was her…
She had lost the pants she wore when he last saw the female elf, and instead a Karayan style wrap covered her hips and her left leg. Silver bangles circled her wrists and ankles, occasionally ringing against her sandals, but her air was let down, floating around her face like a aquamarine halo. Her amber eyes still shone brightly, and if he were a romantic, he would say that she appeared like a angel to his sore eyes. She clapped her hands merrily as she danced, her moves graceful and flawless.
'Temptress…' he thought before shaking his head, blaming the small bit of wine he had consumed. He had placed that in the past… Besides, by now she and her male companion had most likely married. His heart ached only for a second before it was locked behind stone walls again….
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(nei's POV)
It's him… Goddess forgive me for whatever I had done to deserve this punishment. I am not ready to see him again… He left without even saying goodbye… But I cannot forget him… My heart aches more then it ever did now, it feels like my heart is cracking over. I had heard that Lady Chris had married Sir Percival… Is that why his eyes look so sad?
I've tried to forget him, cast him from memory, but like a song I cannot get out of my head. For me, he is both a rush of pain and tranquility. Something I cannot forget nor remember ever holding. He is the one who remains in my mind. Perhaps a decade or so, I will be used to this pain, but already my soul is screaming in agony. He is the one who I will always love, even if he will never know.
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The sun had been high in the sky for a good while, but Nei didn't feel like getting out of her bed. Shifting so that she lay towards the window, she watched the clouds pass by. A bird flew across the sky and her eyes darted as it appeared and followed it as it disappeared. Her eyes fluttered closed as she remembered a scene from the past.
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"FREAK!" Nei let out a tiny cry as she fell down into the mud, a 11 year old boy standing over her. "Think your so high and mighty now huh? Take this!" The beating continued until one of the boy's friends cried out. They ran, leaving the crying Nei sitting under the tree. This is where her 'father' found her a few minutes later.
"Child, come over here." Terrence, called for his adopted daughter, who quickly darted over to her father.
"Daddy!" She was crying, her big amber eyes watery and her clothing dirty. A bruise was marring her left cheek and he could tell that something, or a certain someone, had hit his little angel.
"Sweetie, did Andrew and his friends do this?" He asked as calmly as he could, even though inside, the Master bard was fuming.
"…" Nei remained quiet, fat tears still rolling out of her eyes. She stared down at the ground, which meant that he had guessed right.
"Sweetie, You don't need to always keep quiet about those bullies. Your mother and I are very concerned about your well being you know." Terrence cooed softly, pushing aside his anger. It wouldn't help him calm his beautiful daughter when he was planning on getting the kids responsible grounded and how he would work their fingers off playing their instruments.
"But… I'm a freak!" Nei sniffled as Terrence pulled her close.
"No your not. Your just different, my little Pixie. They just can't see it yet."
"But I'm not like you or mommy…."
"That's because your special!" He repeated and then lifted Nei up and swung her in a circle. A giggle and then a laugh came before she openned her arms wide. She loved her father when he showed this much affection.
"Darling, maybe I should clean our pixie up before you make her so dizzy she can't walk straight." Maria called out from their wagon. Terrence pouted and then placed Nei on the ground.
"Now hurry on to your mother. I've got some… business to do." Nei nodded and dashed off to her mother as her father's happy smile was replaced with a scowl.
"Sweetie, there is a group of elves nearby. Should we be worried?" Maria asked as she stirred the stew. Terrence looked up from the piece of wood he was carving before standing up.
"I don't think so. Maybe this will be a good chance for Nei to learn about her heritage." Terrence grunted as he brushed his slacks off and exited their wagon only to see that the aforementioned elves were trying to talk to their seven year old daughter. Approaching the group he stared the one who he thought to be the leader in the eye.
"May I help you gentlemen?"
"Why is this child with you?" The leader questioned Terrence, who placed his hand on Nei's head.
"We have raised her since she was a babe. Her mother had died and if we left her there, she would of died. What else would we do?"
"You could of returned her to our village. It would be the proper thing for any person to do, even your barbaric people." Biting the inside of his cheek, he almost forgot how arrogant sounding Elves could be, even though his daughter was a sweet as wildflower honey.
"We found her quite a distance away. Anyways, that is in the past and now she is our daughter." Terrence brushed his child's hair as she hid behind his leg. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the huge men who looked like her.
"A ELVIN child. Perhaps you should let her return with us to get proper training, human."
"NO!!!!!!!!!!" Nei suddenly clutched her father's leg. The very thought of leaving them scared her, even more then that big weenie Andrew. Shock registered in the man's eyes before they softened.
"Her spirit is that of an elf, that is good. She seems to cling to your people, which makes sense if what you claim is true. But that still means that…"
"I won't leave mommy and daddy!" Nei stubbornly stated again. She glared at the scary man and clutched her father's leg even tighter. The scary man sighed before brushing a hand through his long Azure hair.
"She is just like one of our women, stubborn." Terrence chuckled softly.
"My wife is just as stubborn." A flying apple hit the back of his head and Maria called out for her daughter to help her, sending a death glare at the back of her husband's head. Nei's wide eyes sparkled with confusion before she glanced back at her father and the group of men who seemed to be arguing.
"I don't wanna leave mommy or daddy." Maria stopped walking and then kneeled down, hugging her child.
"We never want to lose you either sweetie." Maria whispered, hugging her daughter tightly before standing up once more. Minutes pasted by and an hour later, Terrence entered their wagon, a uneasy smile on his face.
"Well, that went well…" He lit a match and lit his pipe. "We're going to have a visitor for a month… Oh and sweetie?"
Nei looked up at her father.
"I think you nearly snapped my leg in half, you big gorilla!" He joked, only to be hopping on one leg a minute later after Nei had kicked him in the shin.
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Nei smiled happily as she opened her eyes again and sat up in bed, stretching until she felt that all traces of sleepiness had been wiped from her system. Slowly getting out of bed, grabbed he brush and sat on the balcony. Humming a lullaby her mother would always sing to her, she brushed the knots out of her hair. It was peaceful there, the sounds of the second day of the festival slowly beginning to fill the air. Three days of the festival until they would all leave again and never see their comrades again for only the Gods knew how long. For now, they should enjoy it. She laughed before pinning her hair up in a sloppy bun before grabbing a random outfit. Slipping on the plain white slacks and the silken Blue sleeveless top (much like Shabon's outfit when they first came here), she opened the door. Her fighting had become rusty over the weeks on the road and she needed to relieve some tension. The festival wouldn't start for a few more hours she estimated. Maybe Emily would be willing to spar with her.
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Roland sat in his room, a book in his hands, but the page he had been on had not bee turned for the last hour. Instead his eyes were staring out the window and into the courtyard where unknown people (he assumed servants) were preparing for the second night of celebration as visitors milled around participating in games and stories. He, however, was in no mood to celebrate. Focusing his attention again on the book, it only took him two sentences until his attention strayed again. He watched as Thomas forced his wife back into the castle and farther off Fubar and his mate were watching over their tiny chick. In so little time, the lives of their many companions have changed. The only thing that hasn't was himself. Time has cursed his people, giving them the gift of long life. Others would envy them, but it was painful for them. This is why they distanced themselves from the other races. Feelings of loneliness and pain were covered with arrogance and pride, and soon they deluded themselves. Wounds were ripped open when their lives were burned to the ground, but most remained as if nothing happened, unsteadily rebuilding what they have lost. Others faded away from the agony they suffered. He had turned away from his ancestors and got as far away as he could from the pain. Yet perhaps he was also wishing for the ending known as death. He had joined the Zexen army, impressing them with paltry tricks and meaningless skills. Into battle he charged, and lives he took, not caring for his own life. He was drenched in human blood, and here he was presented with someone so innocent it would have been a sin to even hold her in his arms. Unlike the gryphon, he did not kill for necessity, but for the selfish reasons of some council. He didn't even agree with most of their actions, but like a mindless dog, he followed. He was not destined for happiness, she was. He was doomed to be alone, she would always be surrounded by companions new and old. He was falling into the pit while she soared above it.
'Is this why I am drawn to her?' The book closed shut and placed on the bedside table. Standing up, he gazed out the window and watched as the sun slowly fell beyond the horizon and like fireflies, the festival lights turned on. A sudden urge of anger rose up and he punched the wall, creating a small dent. Exhaling, he looked at the room, remembering when he had stayed there five years ago. The hole that Leo had punched in the wall had been filled up and fresh flowers filled the vase where they repaired their weapons. One would of never guessed that this room once housed the famous knights of Zexen. An illusion of tranquility hiding the stains of the chaos they represented.
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The great fire bonfire in the fields outside of the castle were filled with dancers. Karayan dances pulled out hesitant people to join in their dances. Ironic really sine last night it was more Zexen themed, and this night more Grassland themed. More exotic dishes lined the tables, with a few plates incase people were uneasy with trying new foods, and special brews were opened. Mostly everyone was enjoying themselves. Borus and Leo were enjoying the mass amount of drinks, trying to outdo Anne when it came to drinks. Lady Chris and Percival were dancing in a circle with their son, Hugo and his clan were dancing. However Roland once again hung on the outsides of the festival. His thoughts were far from the festival and suddenly he found a young man offering him a cup filled with a purplish liquid. It smelt of berries and an unknown agent, and he doubted that it was poison. Taking a sip, he found that it burned it's way down his throat. It was nothing like the fine wines he was used to drinking, though the odor it gave off reminded him of it. Unsure of what to do with it, he placed it on a nearby table. One again, when he lifted his head, he was greeted with the sight of Nei dancing again. Dressed in a simple pair of pants and shirt, she was dancing as well as any other Karayan. The sight of a man grabbing her hand and leading her further in infuriated him, but he didn't bother to move from his spot. Nei echoed her partner's moves flawlessly, her hair falling out of it's bun. They twisted and turned, eyes never leaving the other, like birds in flight. Suddenly they moved apart as the men and women formed their own rings, the joyous singing filling the air. A breathtaking dance celebrating the spirits, the bright colors of the Karayan people catching everyone's attention. Suddenly the two circles dispersed and the Lizard clan were left in the center… Who knew lizards could dance? Roland's eyes followed Nei as she caught her breath, her cheeks tinted red and her eyes glittering. He watched her as she enjoyed this night but froze when she turned around. Their eyes met and the world fell silent, only their gazes spoke words which they themselves wouldn't whisper. Suddenly she moved forward and he bolted. He didn't know why he did, but he knew he couldn't face her. He entered the Castle and hoped that he was home free, but her voice rang through.
"Sir Roland!" His hand on the railing, he stood where he was. He heard her nervously shifting from foot to foot.
"Lady Nei." He replied, his voice quiet and hopefully unrevealing of the pain and fear he felt inside.
A intake of breath. "It's been a while. I… I have missed you." His hand gripped the railing tightly. She missed him? "You never did say goodbye…"
"Lady Chris had to leave and how could I not accompany her?"
"Oh…" Silence filled the room and he heard her grip something. If only he could express his feelings, but to ruin her happiness? That would me more cruel then stabbing heated brands into her arms. "well then, it was nice seeing you again." Footsteps… When he finally turned around, she was gone, the door slightly ajar. He continued his journey to his room and after closing the door, fell against it. Running a hand through is hair, he let lose a low growl and then let loose a cry, turning and sending a fist into the wall.
"I am such a fool…" And he slid down, head bowed low and hand dripping with blood. The dent above was drizzled with his blood.
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Mel: yeah, it's going to be long with the rate I'm going -.0; I don't see many Roland/nei fics on FF.net and I can't seem to locate them on private websites… Maybe that spurred me on.
Pikinanou : Thankies! -
Uftaki : Thanks for the suggestions! My auto correct option on sometimes changes a word and I don't notive. Plus your suggestion of a boundry was great too. I'm used to the squiggily linge (next to the 1) which were allowed back a year ago, so I haven't gotten used to it not appearing when I put it up on here. ;
Reviews? Please?