Chapter Seventeen
Lindblum Castle; Royal Chamber; Late Morning
"'Meet again'? Freya, what's going on?" Eiko asked.
"Nothing bad," Meander grunted.
"It's been years," Amarant grunted.
"Too long," Meander said, tail twitching. "Do you still hunt demons?"
"No. I'm a wanted bounty hunter. Woo-hoo," Amarant said.
Meander laughed. "That must be exciting."
"You two know each other?" Freya asked.
"Yeah, from a long time ago," Amarant grunted.
"All is settled, I take it?" Cid asked.
"Oh, yes! Thank you, Regent," Freya said. She then made the stupid move of bowing, and she fell flat on her face.
"God-damn idiot," Amarant muttered.
"She always this dimwitted?" Meander asked.
"No," Freya immediately said as she staggered to her feet.
"She lies," Amarant said.
"Shut up," Freya said. "We will be going now, Regent. You coming, Eiko?"
Eiko nodded.
"Please no," Amarant muttered.
"Be nice, Amarant," Freya snapped. She then smiled at Eiko. "All right, then shall we leave the Regent in peace?"
Eiko nodded again, and darted off ahead the rest of the group. Freya took a few steps forward and was quickly staggering on her feet. Both Amarant and Meander rushed to help her.
"Damn it, why do I feel so light-headed?" Freya asked.
"The last fall must've knocked out your brain," Amarant said teasingly.
"Well, that's likely, but I think it's Teleportation Plague," Meander commented.
"I swear it was gone," Freya commented.
"What? Your brain?" Amarant asked.
"No! The Plague!" Freya snarled.
"It goes in and out," Meander replied. He then grinned. "And so does your brain, apparently."
"Shut up!" Freya snapped.
"Well, in the case with the Plague, I guess she can't walk," Amarant commented.
"Don't you dare pick me up!" Freya snapped.
Too late.
"If you ever pick me up again, I swear, I'm going to cream you!" Freya shouted at Amarant.
Amarant only rolled his eyes, smirking. Freya certainly couldn't cream him at that moment. She was on a bed, unable to walk well due to the odd Teleportation Plague, and Amarant had cleverly situated himself near the doorway. Meander, who was sitting by the window, laughed at the situation. Eiko also seemed to find it pretty funny, but she didn't say anything.
"What are you going to do about it? Glare at me to death?" Amarant asked.
"When I can cream you, I will!" Freya snapped.
"You got here, right? If I hadn't carried you, then it would've taken a hell of a while to get you here. You're just pissed that I carried you and made you look weak," Amarant told Freya.
Freya didn't answer. She only snorted and picked up the arrow she left on the end table next to the bed. She began to examine it.
"I love how women refuse to say anything when they're defeated," Meander commented.
"Oh shut up," Freya snapped.
"What are you expecting to find on that arrow?" Amarant asked.
"Something, anything," Freya replied.
"It's a normal arrow. Nothing special about it," Meander grunted. "It's just smaller, sharper, and made for a specific type of crossbow."
Freya threw the arrow to the floor. "There goes my entertainment."
"What do you want us to do, dance the polka?" Amarant asked.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Freya asked.
"Never mind," Amarant muttered.
Silence followed. Freya yawned lazily.
"I guess my only entertainment is sleep now," she commented.
"You need it before you lose your head," Amarant commented.
Freya glared at him, eyes narrowed, but she really wished she had something to throw at him. Amarant only returned the stare. Finally, Freya gave in and lied down staring at the ceiling.
"EIKO!" Cid called.
"Coming!" Eiko chirped, darting out of the room.
"No peace," Freya muttered.
"Would leaving bring you back to one piece?" Amarant asked.
"Wrong 'piece', you ass," Freya muttered.
Amarant smirked as he left the room.
"I can tell you are good friends," Meander commented.
"How?" Freya asked.
"You tolerate each other. A lot," Meander answered. "And you're always making fun of each other. You are definitely friends."
Meander left, closing the door behind him. Freya sighed. She felt alone, but she knew that she was all right. After all, if she could trust her friends, they would protect her. Saying this over and over in her mind, Freya fell asleep.
She could smell blood. It seemed to be everywhere. She could taste her own blood in her mouth. Why was she bleeding? Where was she? She felt cold, and around her was darkness. She realized her eyes were closed, but when she tried to open them, they didn't respond. She tried to move, but she didn't go anywhere. All she could do was smell and hear.
She heard the clashing of weapons, startled cries, and pained screams. Then she heard footsteps. Someone screamed, blocking out any sounds. Suddenly a horrific smell came to her nostrils. It was a mix between blood and something very unpleasant. She then smelled burning fur and flesh.
Fur? Suddenly she panicked. Fratley! It had to be. He was in trouble. He was in grave danger. Someone was hurting him!
She tried to move, but no response came. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. She tried to help, but her body refused. The smell of blood filled her nostrils like never before. She then heard a sickening thud as a weapon hit flesh, and someone fell.
Then visions filled her once black mind. Visions of Fratley's eyes being shot, then a Fira spell nailing him, and his stomach being cut open shot through her mind. Then, someone clubbed him in the head.
He fell. He slammed to the ground and didn't rise. The smell of death filled her nostrils.
Suddenly her mouth would open. From her mouth flowed a scream.
"Wake up."
That was one thing Freya would not do. She had stopped screaming, thankfully, but she was tossing, turning, and muttering complete nonsense under her breath. Amarant tried to figure out what she was saying, but it made no sense to him. Eye being punctured? Stomach bleeding? Death?
"What the hell?" Amarant muttered. "Come on, get up, Freya."
She didn't wake up. She kept on sleeping, muttering nonsense. Amarant sighed and finally gave in. She would wake up eventually. He walked out of the room and down toward the dining room to see of Meander knew what was happening. For Amarant knew one thing for certain: he himself didn't know what was going on.
Amarant walked down a small set of stone stairs that led to a dark, stone hallway lit by torches. He soon went through the first doorway on the right. Meander was sitting at the wooden table in the center of the small dining room. A row of stone counters made up the wall opposite from the door. A massive fireplace was situated in the wall opposite the one to the left of the door. A kettle was placed over the fireplace. Cabinets, a massive stove, and a few more stone counters were against the wall the doorway was on. The final wall was blank except for a massive torch.
"Did you hear her?" Amarant asked.
"Hear what?" Meander grunted.
"I guess you didn't," Amarant grunted. "Freya was screaming bloody murder."
"What for?" Meander asked.
"I don't know. It made no sense to me. Something about a punctured eye, ripped stomach, and death. It made too little sense to piece it together."
"Someone dying?"
"Last time I checked, Freya didn't dream of people's murders."
"Sometimes people don't know their abilities until later."
"Are you saying that Freya is dreaming of someone being killed?"
"Punctured eye, ripped stomach. What else did she speak of?"
Amarant had to think this over. He finally replied. "A gash in the head. Blood, and lots of it. Screaming."
Meander nodded. "And what happened before Freya was here?"
Amarant suddenly felt like he had been hit on the head. "I think she was attacked. But how can she dream of her own death when it never came?"
"Maybe she's not dreaming of her own death. Maybe she's dreaming of her protector's death."
"You mean Fratley?"
"Who?"
"Freya's boyfriend. Certainly he would've protected her."
"It just could be that."
"Agh, this is brilliant! If Fratley's dead then Freya is going to feel like the world came down on her."
Meander shrugged. "Nothing we can do."
"Except -" Amarant trailed off.
"What?" Meander asked. "Speak up."
"Freya was no doubt attacked in Alexandria. If we can notify Alexandria and ask of Fratley, we may find something out. He could, after all, not be dead."
"After a punctured eye, ripped stomach, and head gash? It's doubtful."
"Believe me, Burmecians are some pretty lucky folk." Amarant nodded slightly. "All right, I've decided. I'm going to bug Alexandria and ask them."
Amarant left the room. He wished he had a flute to call a moogle, but unfortunately Zidane had it. So Amarant would have to tolerate children for long enough to get a moogle to deliver a message. Amarant headed into the main hallway and headed down towards the Royal Chambers. He found himself greeted by the cheery and expensive designs of the Royal Hallway. He allowed himself to be distracted by the gorgeous painting of Lindblum during sunrise on the side of the balcony leading to Cid's Chamber. Not a single detail had been missed. Hopefully Amarant wasn't missing any details important to his problem.
"Can I help you, sir?" a Guard asked when Amarant didn't move anywhere.
"I need to speak to the Princess," Amarant said, nearly shuddering at the title he gave Eiko.
The Guard nodded and disappeared into the Royal Chamber. Amarant leaned against the wall, fingers tapping the stone impatiently. He looked down to the floor and allowed himself to admire the polished, flawless stone that made up the floor, and the red, majestic carpets that led to the different rooms. How expensive everything was! Cid could afford a lot, even when he needed to rebuild a city.
"Well? What do you want?" Eiko hissed as Amarant continued to not notice her.
"Shut up, brat. I need to ask a favor," Amarant growled, Eiko already getting on his nerves.
"I'm the Regent's daughter. How dare you call me a brat!" Eiko snapped.
"Just shut up, okay? I need to borrow a moogle," Amarant growled.
"No! You'll eat it!" Eiko screamed.
"Why would I want to eat one of those repulsive things? Just get me one. I need to send a message."
"I'll never give you one!"
"Okay then, fine. I guess I'll never be able to send a message to Zidane -"
"Oh, you're writing to Zidane?"
"Yes, and I was going to let you send a letter and I'd pay for it. But I guess since you won't let me get a moogle -"
"I'll go get one!" Eiko said eagerly as she raced away.
Amarant allowed himself to smirk as Eiko ran off. His little trick had worked. Sure, now he'd be sending two letters, but at least the important one would get through.
"Here! I'll go write my letter!" Eiko chirped as she placed a moogle at Amarant's feet.
The moogle looked an awful lot like an overweight white cat except for a few things. First off, it had purple, bat-like wings that had to be flapped at full speed to get the moogle to fly. It also had a pom-pom on the top of its head. It looked up at Amarant with purple eyes.
"Y-Yes kupo?" the moogle asked.
"I need you to deliver a message," Amarant told it.
"Where's the paper, kupo?" the moogle asked.
"It's not written. I don't have the time," Amarant replied.
"I'll write it, then," The moogle said. It flew away, and quickly returned with paper, ink, and a quill. "What do you want it to say, kupo?"
Amarant thought this question over. "'To Zidane: I wish to know of Fratley's condition. Freya's having these crazy nightmares and screaming bloody murder. Meander and I think something's up with a murder and I want to see if Fratley is the victim. Any information would be appreciated. - Amarant."
The moogle wrote down the letter as quickly as Amarant said it, and though the writing looked like chicken-scratch to Amarant, the moogle was clearly pleased. It rolled up the letter.
"Anything else?" it asked.
"WAIT!" Eiko screamed as she tossed the moogle a letter.
The moogle took Eiko's letter and turned to Amarant. "We usually get paid for this, kupo."
Amarant absentmindedly gave the moogle 100 Gil. The moogle seemed truly pleased by the amount and flew away.
That is done, Amarant thought to himself. Now all I need is for Freya to wake up, and for the moogle to return with an answer.
--------- Em, okay. No comment, have nothing to say ;) Anyway, is Fratley alive? What was Freya's dream about? And will Amarant and Eiko tolerate each other any longer? Find out!
I'd like to direct your attention to my short stories (except "You Knew", because it stinks) "Bidding Goodnight" is one you should particularly look at if you want a little tidbit on something that relates to this story. Also, keep on the lookout for another short story starring a blind Burmecians! OoOoOoOoh!
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, locations, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.
Lindblum Castle; Royal Chamber; Late Morning
"'Meet again'? Freya, what's going on?" Eiko asked.
"Nothing bad," Meander grunted.
"It's been years," Amarant grunted.
"Too long," Meander said, tail twitching. "Do you still hunt demons?"
"No. I'm a wanted bounty hunter. Woo-hoo," Amarant said.
Meander laughed. "That must be exciting."
"You two know each other?" Freya asked.
"Yeah, from a long time ago," Amarant grunted.
"All is settled, I take it?" Cid asked.
"Oh, yes! Thank you, Regent," Freya said. She then made the stupid move of bowing, and she fell flat on her face.
"God-damn idiot," Amarant muttered.
"She always this dimwitted?" Meander asked.
"No," Freya immediately said as she staggered to her feet.
"She lies," Amarant said.
"Shut up," Freya said. "We will be going now, Regent. You coming, Eiko?"
Eiko nodded.
"Please no," Amarant muttered.
"Be nice, Amarant," Freya snapped. She then smiled at Eiko. "All right, then shall we leave the Regent in peace?"
Eiko nodded again, and darted off ahead the rest of the group. Freya took a few steps forward and was quickly staggering on her feet. Both Amarant and Meander rushed to help her.
"Damn it, why do I feel so light-headed?" Freya asked.
"The last fall must've knocked out your brain," Amarant said teasingly.
"Well, that's likely, but I think it's Teleportation Plague," Meander commented.
"I swear it was gone," Freya commented.
"What? Your brain?" Amarant asked.
"No! The Plague!" Freya snarled.
"It goes in and out," Meander replied. He then grinned. "And so does your brain, apparently."
"Shut up!" Freya snapped.
"Well, in the case with the Plague, I guess she can't walk," Amarant commented.
"Don't you dare pick me up!" Freya snapped.
Too late.
"If you ever pick me up again, I swear, I'm going to cream you!" Freya shouted at Amarant.
Amarant only rolled his eyes, smirking. Freya certainly couldn't cream him at that moment. She was on a bed, unable to walk well due to the odd Teleportation Plague, and Amarant had cleverly situated himself near the doorway. Meander, who was sitting by the window, laughed at the situation. Eiko also seemed to find it pretty funny, but she didn't say anything.
"What are you going to do about it? Glare at me to death?" Amarant asked.
"When I can cream you, I will!" Freya snapped.
"You got here, right? If I hadn't carried you, then it would've taken a hell of a while to get you here. You're just pissed that I carried you and made you look weak," Amarant told Freya.
Freya didn't answer. She only snorted and picked up the arrow she left on the end table next to the bed. She began to examine it.
"I love how women refuse to say anything when they're defeated," Meander commented.
"Oh shut up," Freya snapped.
"What are you expecting to find on that arrow?" Amarant asked.
"Something, anything," Freya replied.
"It's a normal arrow. Nothing special about it," Meander grunted. "It's just smaller, sharper, and made for a specific type of crossbow."
Freya threw the arrow to the floor. "There goes my entertainment."
"What do you want us to do, dance the polka?" Amarant asked.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Freya asked.
"Never mind," Amarant muttered.
Silence followed. Freya yawned lazily.
"I guess my only entertainment is sleep now," she commented.
"You need it before you lose your head," Amarant commented.
Freya glared at him, eyes narrowed, but she really wished she had something to throw at him. Amarant only returned the stare. Finally, Freya gave in and lied down staring at the ceiling.
"EIKO!" Cid called.
"Coming!" Eiko chirped, darting out of the room.
"No peace," Freya muttered.
"Would leaving bring you back to one piece?" Amarant asked.
"Wrong 'piece', you ass," Freya muttered.
Amarant smirked as he left the room.
"I can tell you are good friends," Meander commented.
"How?" Freya asked.
"You tolerate each other. A lot," Meander answered. "And you're always making fun of each other. You are definitely friends."
Meander left, closing the door behind him. Freya sighed. She felt alone, but she knew that she was all right. After all, if she could trust her friends, they would protect her. Saying this over and over in her mind, Freya fell asleep.
She could smell blood. It seemed to be everywhere. She could taste her own blood in her mouth. Why was she bleeding? Where was she? She felt cold, and around her was darkness. She realized her eyes were closed, but when she tried to open them, they didn't respond. She tried to move, but she didn't go anywhere. All she could do was smell and hear.
She heard the clashing of weapons, startled cries, and pained screams. Then she heard footsteps. Someone screamed, blocking out any sounds. Suddenly a horrific smell came to her nostrils. It was a mix between blood and something very unpleasant. She then smelled burning fur and flesh.
Fur? Suddenly she panicked. Fratley! It had to be. He was in trouble. He was in grave danger. Someone was hurting him!
She tried to move, but no response came. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. She tried to help, but her body refused. The smell of blood filled her nostrils like never before. She then heard a sickening thud as a weapon hit flesh, and someone fell.
Then visions filled her once black mind. Visions of Fratley's eyes being shot, then a Fira spell nailing him, and his stomach being cut open shot through her mind. Then, someone clubbed him in the head.
He fell. He slammed to the ground and didn't rise. The smell of death filled her nostrils.
Suddenly her mouth would open. From her mouth flowed a scream.
"Wake up."
That was one thing Freya would not do. She had stopped screaming, thankfully, but she was tossing, turning, and muttering complete nonsense under her breath. Amarant tried to figure out what she was saying, but it made no sense to him. Eye being punctured? Stomach bleeding? Death?
"What the hell?" Amarant muttered. "Come on, get up, Freya."
She didn't wake up. She kept on sleeping, muttering nonsense. Amarant sighed and finally gave in. She would wake up eventually. He walked out of the room and down toward the dining room to see of Meander knew what was happening. For Amarant knew one thing for certain: he himself didn't know what was going on.
Amarant walked down a small set of stone stairs that led to a dark, stone hallway lit by torches. He soon went through the first doorway on the right. Meander was sitting at the wooden table in the center of the small dining room. A row of stone counters made up the wall opposite from the door. A massive fireplace was situated in the wall opposite the one to the left of the door. A kettle was placed over the fireplace. Cabinets, a massive stove, and a few more stone counters were against the wall the doorway was on. The final wall was blank except for a massive torch.
"Did you hear her?" Amarant asked.
"Hear what?" Meander grunted.
"I guess you didn't," Amarant grunted. "Freya was screaming bloody murder."
"What for?" Meander asked.
"I don't know. It made no sense to me. Something about a punctured eye, ripped stomach, and death. It made too little sense to piece it together."
"Someone dying?"
"Last time I checked, Freya didn't dream of people's murders."
"Sometimes people don't know their abilities until later."
"Are you saying that Freya is dreaming of someone being killed?"
"Punctured eye, ripped stomach. What else did she speak of?"
Amarant had to think this over. He finally replied. "A gash in the head. Blood, and lots of it. Screaming."
Meander nodded. "And what happened before Freya was here?"
Amarant suddenly felt like he had been hit on the head. "I think she was attacked. But how can she dream of her own death when it never came?"
"Maybe she's not dreaming of her own death. Maybe she's dreaming of her protector's death."
"You mean Fratley?"
"Who?"
"Freya's boyfriend. Certainly he would've protected her."
"It just could be that."
"Agh, this is brilliant! If Fratley's dead then Freya is going to feel like the world came down on her."
Meander shrugged. "Nothing we can do."
"Except -" Amarant trailed off.
"What?" Meander asked. "Speak up."
"Freya was no doubt attacked in Alexandria. If we can notify Alexandria and ask of Fratley, we may find something out. He could, after all, not be dead."
"After a punctured eye, ripped stomach, and head gash? It's doubtful."
"Believe me, Burmecians are some pretty lucky folk." Amarant nodded slightly. "All right, I've decided. I'm going to bug Alexandria and ask them."
Amarant left the room. He wished he had a flute to call a moogle, but unfortunately Zidane had it. So Amarant would have to tolerate children for long enough to get a moogle to deliver a message. Amarant headed into the main hallway and headed down towards the Royal Chambers. He found himself greeted by the cheery and expensive designs of the Royal Hallway. He allowed himself to be distracted by the gorgeous painting of Lindblum during sunrise on the side of the balcony leading to Cid's Chamber. Not a single detail had been missed. Hopefully Amarant wasn't missing any details important to his problem.
"Can I help you, sir?" a Guard asked when Amarant didn't move anywhere.
"I need to speak to the Princess," Amarant said, nearly shuddering at the title he gave Eiko.
The Guard nodded and disappeared into the Royal Chamber. Amarant leaned against the wall, fingers tapping the stone impatiently. He looked down to the floor and allowed himself to admire the polished, flawless stone that made up the floor, and the red, majestic carpets that led to the different rooms. How expensive everything was! Cid could afford a lot, even when he needed to rebuild a city.
"Well? What do you want?" Eiko hissed as Amarant continued to not notice her.
"Shut up, brat. I need to ask a favor," Amarant growled, Eiko already getting on his nerves.
"I'm the Regent's daughter. How dare you call me a brat!" Eiko snapped.
"Just shut up, okay? I need to borrow a moogle," Amarant growled.
"No! You'll eat it!" Eiko screamed.
"Why would I want to eat one of those repulsive things? Just get me one. I need to send a message."
"I'll never give you one!"
"Okay then, fine. I guess I'll never be able to send a message to Zidane -"
"Oh, you're writing to Zidane?"
"Yes, and I was going to let you send a letter and I'd pay for it. But I guess since you won't let me get a moogle -"
"I'll go get one!" Eiko said eagerly as she raced away.
Amarant allowed himself to smirk as Eiko ran off. His little trick had worked. Sure, now he'd be sending two letters, but at least the important one would get through.
"Here! I'll go write my letter!" Eiko chirped as she placed a moogle at Amarant's feet.
The moogle looked an awful lot like an overweight white cat except for a few things. First off, it had purple, bat-like wings that had to be flapped at full speed to get the moogle to fly. It also had a pom-pom on the top of its head. It looked up at Amarant with purple eyes.
"Y-Yes kupo?" the moogle asked.
"I need you to deliver a message," Amarant told it.
"Where's the paper, kupo?" the moogle asked.
"It's not written. I don't have the time," Amarant replied.
"I'll write it, then," The moogle said. It flew away, and quickly returned with paper, ink, and a quill. "What do you want it to say, kupo?"
Amarant thought this question over. "'To Zidane: I wish to know of Fratley's condition. Freya's having these crazy nightmares and screaming bloody murder. Meander and I think something's up with a murder and I want to see if Fratley is the victim. Any information would be appreciated. - Amarant."
The moogle wrote down the letter as quickly as Amarant said it, and though the writing looked like chicken-scratch to Amarant, the moogle was clearly pleased. It rolled up the letter.
"Anything else?" it asked.
"WAIT!" Eiko screamed as she tossed the moogle a letter.
The moogle took Eiko's letter and turned to Amarant. "We usually get paid for this, kupo."
Amarant absentmindedly gave the moogle 100 Gil. The moogle seemed truly pleased by the amount and flew away.
That is done, Amarant thought to himself. Now all I need is for Freya to wake up, and for the moogle to return with an answer.
--------- Em, okay. No comment, have nothing to say ;) Anyway, is Fratley alive? What was Freya's dream about? And will Amarant and Eiko tolerate each other any longer? Find out!
I'd like to direct your attention to my short stories (except "You Knew", because it stinks) "Bidding Goodnight" is one you should particularly look at if you want a little tidbit on something that relates to this story. Also, keep on the lookout for another short story starring a blind Burmecians! OoOoOoOoh!
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, locations, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.