Chapter Eighteen
Lindblum Castle: Guestroom; Late Night
Freya woke up with a startled gasp. The fur on her face was wet with sweat. She looked around frantically, as if afraid that someone may be watching her. She stared at the blankets.
Fratley, are you gone? Freya asked within her thoughts. Are you dead? Is the dream true?
Freya felt tears come to her eyes. Fratley couldn't be dead. It couldn't be possible. He couldn't be dead. Yet he could be. So far each dream had been true. She bit her lip, trying not to sob. Even if no one was around, she didn't want to cry.
She couldn't hold it. She let out a choked sob and the tears flowed. She gripped the soft quilt, staring at the patterns on the quilt. It was a pretty quilt, with eidolon patterns. It didn't soothe her.
Suddenly Freya felt a firm yet gentle hand on her shoulder. She jumped and moved to throw the person off. She found herself staring into the dark eyes of Amarant.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly. "You've been muttering, screaming, shaking, and now sobbing."
Freya only shook her head, sobbing. She didn't want to say what was wrong. She could barely bring herself to explain it.
"Come on. What is wrong? You were talking about death and horrid things. What the hell is the matter?" Amarant asked.
"Fratley. is dead," Freya managed to choke out.
"And how do you know that?" Amarant asked.
"I dreamt it," Freya gasped. "My dreams tell reality."
"Well, isn't that the greatest dreaming ability," Amarant said with exaggeration. "Listen."
Freya looked up at Amarant with teary green eyes.
"I sent a letter to Alexandria," Amarant said slowly so Freya could comprehend it. "I'm seeing if Fratley is alive or not. I know they should reply."
Freya stared at Amarant. "Seriously?"
"Why would I bother lying to you?" Amarant asked.
"Because you're you," Freya whispered while sobbing.
"But I'm not so bad as to be that kind of person, am I?" Amarant asked quietly. "No, I didn't think so. I think you need something to drink. Calm down, all right?"
Amarant rose and left the room quietly. Freya watched him leave. Had he really sent a letter to Alexandria? How had he known to do so? He had said she was muttering. Had she been talking in her sleep, and speaking true words? Had she spoken of "death and horrid things"?
Freya wiped her eyes with the quilt, only to find more tears falling. She let out a choked sob, then bit her lip in an attempt to keep the sobs in. No one else was in the room, but she didn't want to be sobbing like a baby when Amarant returned, or if anyone else came into the room.
Eiko soon bounded into the room.
"Freya!" she cried.
Freya looked up, but said nothing. She was spending too much energy trying to keep her sobs inside.
"Are you okay?" Eiko asked. She continued without waiting for an answer. "Freya, it's awful! I suddenly can't make contact with any eidolons!"
Freya's teary eyes widened.
"I don't know why," Eiko said. "It's weird. It's just too weird. I don't get it."
"Not a single one?" Freya managed to whisper. She then held back a sob.
"Not one. I don't get it," Eiko said with worry. "I think I'll try again."
Eiko walked over to a bed next to Freya's and sat down. She closed her eyes, and her horn began to sparkle. Then, the sparkling faded.
"I don't understand," Eiko said as she opened her eyes. "Why can't I communicate with them?"
"Has this ever happened before?" Freya asked quietly.
"I can't remember it ever happening," Eiko replied.
Freya nodded. Things were getting too weird. Once again she wiped at her eyes with the quilt, but it was as if she were only making room for more tears instead of stopping them. She took a shaky breath, trying to tell herself that Fratley wasn't dead. But her mind wouldn't believe it.
Amarant quietly entered the room.
"Where'd you come from?" he asked Eiko.
"My bedroom," Eiko replied. "I was trying to communicate with eidolons, like I always do at night, but I couldn't."
"And why not?" Amarant asked as he placed the mug that he had been carrying on the end table. Freya sniffed the liquid inside it for poison.
"I got no answer. The eidolons seemed to have - have cut off communication."
"Maybe they wanted privacy. And I didn't poison that, quit sniffing it like I did," Amarant said, the last sentence being said to Freya.
"Eidolons are always there for their summoner. They need no privacy," Eiko retorted.
Freya said nothing. She had not liked something about the herbal tea in the mug. There was no poison, but rather something else Freya couldn't figure out. She carefully picked up the hot mug and took a sip of the hot tea. It had a soothing taste, though Freya could still feel the salty tears soaking her sweaty fur.
"So you can't communicate with eidolons, and you have a dream that someone's being killed," Amarant muttered. "Could the two be linked?"
Freya only stared at the herbal tea swirling around in the mug. Eiko seemed to be thinking the events over. Amarant sighed and sat at the edge of Freya's bed.
"Do you have any idea?" he asked.
Freya blinked slowly. A few tears fell softly. She looked up at Amarant.
"I read in an encyclopedia," she muttered slowly in a soft voice. "that the Collaboration of Leviathan may use serpents to attack."
"What does a collaboration have anything to do with this?" Eiko asked.
Amarant didn't say anything. He only stared at Freya. Freya felt as if his eyes were searching into her soul.
"You serious?" he asked.
Freya nodded.
"That would explain why Leviathan is on their symbol, then," Amarant muttered. "Calm down, all right? I doubt anything's going to get you right now."
Freya's opinion was drinking half the herbal tea in one sitting. Eiko seemed confused and a bit panicked.
"Are you saying Leviathan may be after us?" she asked.
Amarant nodded.
"But Leviathan's an eidolon, and a fairly noble one at that!" Eiko protested. "No way he would -"
Suddenly Eiko's horn began to glow bright white. She closed her eyes, and clearly was communicating with an eidolon.
"Be wary," Eiko said, but it was not her voice saying it. It was an edilon's voice, a strong, masculine voice with a hint of dragon in it. "You are in grave danger. He is coming. He is on the loose again. We do not know why he listens to him. But he does. We will try to stop him. If we contact you again, we have succeeded. If we don't. Be wary. He will be coming."
Eiko's horn stopped glowing, and she opened her eyes. They were full of worry. Clearly Freya was worried to because she drank the last of the hot tea in one sitting, regardless of the feeling the hot liquid left in her throat.
"Who was that?" Amarant asked.
"It was Bahamut," Eiko said. "Something bad is happening. I don't know what, but I don't like this."
"'He is coming,'" Amarant said, thinking the words over. "'He'? 'He' must be an eidolon, but who?"
Freya was beginning to feel light-headed and sleepy. She put the mug aside and glared at Amarant with red, puffy, and annoyed eyes.
"Sleeping Weed?" she guessed.
Amarant only smirked. "You figured it out. Well, you need to sleep in some way. Just lay down and go to bed."
Freya yawned. "I knew there was something wrong with that liquid."
"Just go to sleep. Quit yapping," Amarant said, rising. He looked at Eiko and motioned to the door.
Eiko nodded and bounded out of the room. Amarant turned to Freya.
"Sweet drugged dreams," he said teasingly.
Freya glared at him, but she was already lying down. She felt awfully sleepy, and her head felt light. Her eyelids were heavy, and by the time Amarant had left the room and closed the door, she had fallen into a drugged sleep.
Five hours later, a majestic rainbow-colored bird was tapping on the window leading to the guestroom. Amarant opened it so the bird could get in. It looked at Freya, who was still sleeping, then back at Amarant. It fluttered over to the end table and looked over at Amarant as if to say, "Well, are you going to take the letter?"
Amarant walked over to the end table and untied the letter bound around the bird's large talons. He then gave the bird 20 Gil. The bird fluffed its wings, then took off. It disappeared through the window.
"What is it?" Eiko asked. She had been watching Freya for any signs of non-sleep movement.
"I don't know," Amarant said. He unrolled the letter. "The King of Burmecia is supposed to be eleven, right?"
"Yeah, why?" Eiko asked.
"Because this isn't an eleven-year-old's way of writing or talking," Amarant said. At the same time he spoke he was reading the letter.
"What does it say?" Eiko asked.
Amarant shook his head. "Shit."
"What?" Eiko asked.
Amarant tossed the letter aside. "This is all just a bunch of shit! She's being stalked, injured, and now we have an asshole in charge? Shit!"
Eiko walked over to the letter and picked it up. She read it, and her face became slightly red.
"What is this? How come he's blaming Freya for all of it?" Eiko asked.
"I don't know. I don't even know who that guy is," Amarant snorted. "I'll ask Freya when she wakes up."
"If she wakes up. How much Sleeping Weed did you use?"
"Enough to keep her sleeping all night."
"When will she wake up?"
"In another five hours."
Amarant was correct. In another five hours, Freya's eyelids flickered, and she slowly woke up. She wasn't exactly refreshed, but the drug gave her a better sleep than the nightmares would.
"Hello."
Freya looked up to see Dominic watching her.
"Just thought I'd stop by," Dominic said. "You all right?"
Freya nodded. She rose into a sitting position and looked around.
"Nothing major. That friend of yours - Amarant, I think his name is? Anyway, he left to get a few things. Wouldn't say what, but he left," Dominic explained.
Freya nodded. She then noticed the letter on the table.
"What's this?" Freya asked.
"I don't know," Dominic replied.
Freya carefully took the letter and looked at it. It was written in a neat script that she recognized as Ebon's writing. Disgusted, she began to read.
To Whom It May Concern,
The King of Burmecia would like to inform Freya Crescent of Burmecia that she is not allowed to return home starting on December 21 this year. She is banned from home due to lack of performing duties and the potential threat her return would bring. For the city's sake and safety, she may not return.
The King would also like to bring to her attention that her status as a Dragon Warrior of Burmecia is being removed. Lack of duties, skill, and intelligence are to blame. In a time of crisis she showed no strength. She was injured and taken away. She has not yet returned to her duties, and is not worthy of the Dragon Warrior title; therefore, the title is being removed.
Highest Regard
King Ebon of Burmecia
It took Freya a while to realize that her hands were shaking. Dominic was watching her with concern. Freya shook her head with disbelief. She then reread the letter slowly. She was still for a few minutes.
Freya suddenly crumpled the letter and threw it straight into the fireplace. Her eyes were on fire, her body tense, and her breaths coming out in angry gasps. She punched the bed angrily.
"God Damn it!" Freya screamed angrily.
Dominic only watched her. He had looked at the letter while she was sleeping, so he didn't need to ask. He would only wait to see if his abilities were needed. He didn't mind if she vented out her anger. But if she started crying, Dominic would do something. Out of all the things he hated, seeing someone cry was at the top. Freya wasn't going to be crying any time soon. She was only angry. How dare Ebon banish her! Since when was he king? What happened to Puck? Had he attacked him? Set someone up to attack him? What had happened?
Suddenly Freya remembered her dream. The dream where she was stuck in someone's body and they were being attacked came to her mind and made her stare blankly ahead. That dream. Had Puck been attacked in that dream? Julius had been attacking them all? Did Ebon send them to attack them? Ebon was not present. He should've been present. He is supposed to protect the king.
Freya didn't like the situation. It was suspicious.
"Are you all right?" Dominic asked.
Freya nodded dumbly, only half-paying attention. She never liked Ebon. Now she didn't even trust him.
"I'm sorry about the letter," Dominic said, startling Freya.
"You know what it said?" Freya asked.
"I read it," Dominic admitted. "A lot of people did. Everyone's regretting your reaction."
"What, do they think I'll blow up the Castle?" Freya asked sarcastically. "No, I think they're afraid you'll act the way you're acting now," Dominic explained. "Calm down a bit."
Freya suddenly felt calmer. She stared at Dominic with shock.
"Do you always do that?" she asked.
"Only when I need to," Dominic said. "Now, who is Ebon?"
"Right now, I don't even know," Freya said softly. "He was the - the 'General', so to speak, of the Dragon Warriors. Now he's apparently king. He has a very bad attitude and hates women."
"Why?" Dominic asked.
"No one knows. Perhaps the fact that they can kick his ass," Freya guessed.
"Oh, so he's that type of person?"
"Yes, big time. He thinks he's better than everyone, and when you prove him wrong, he hates you."
"He sounds like a real jerk."
"He is."
Silence followed as the two thought things over. Dominic took a deep breath.
"Wasn't Puck the king?"
"How did you know?"
"He was the one who contacted Lindblum for a peace treaty. What happened to him?"
"I'm not exactly sure. I had a dream about someone being attacked by the person who wants me dead, and some Dragon Warriors were yelling at that person. I think Julius was attacking Puck."
"Murder attempt?"
"Yes."
"That's not good. And I guess it succeeded?"
This question stunned Freya. Had it succeeded? Or was Puck so injured that he couldn't rule? Freya swallowed all that had risen in her throat.
"I - I don't know if it succeeded. I pray it didn't and he's just too injured." "Either way, the murderer did achieve in wiping out one king."
"Yes, he did."
Dominic nodded. He looked around, wondering what else he could ask that could help the situation. Freya sighed and leaned back against the bed, staring at the ceiling. She didn't like the situation.
"You're awake," Amarant grunted as he entered the room.
"And you've returned," Dominic commented. "Where were you?"
"I was getting needed supplies," Amarant said simply. He looked over at Freya. "Are you feeling better now?"
Freya slowly turned her head to look at Amarant. He stared at her with emotionless eyes.
"I'm just terrific," Freya spat sarcastically.
"I'm sure you are," Amarant replied with equal sarcasm.
Freya sighed. "You read the letter, didn't you?"
"Yes, and I have to say, I don't want to live your life right now," Amarant replied.
"Thanks," Freya grumbled.
"We're trying to piece together information," Dominic explained to Amarant.
"Any luck?" he asked.
"Hardly. All we know is that Puck was attacked, making him unable to be king, and Ebon is no doubt linked to it since he became -"
Dominic was cut off by a serpent's hiss. Freya immediately turned in the direction of the window, and her eyes widened.
A red serpent's eye stared at her in return.
------------ Dun dun dun! Heh, anyway, what is up with the eidolons? What happened in Burmecia? And what the heck is happening with Fratley? Find out eventually! =)
I would also like to be an idiot and advertise my own story: "Bidding Goodnight". It links to this story so you may want to take a look =) Oh, and to explain the strange look of this chapter. For some stupid reason FanFiction.net didn't indent all the paragraphs at the end of this chapter. It was extremely hard to read, so I had to make spaces. Evil! =(
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, locations, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.
Lindblum Castle: Guestroom; Late Night
Freya woke up with a startled gasp. The fur on her face was wet with sweat. She looked around frantically, as if afraid that someone may be watching her. She stared at the blankets.
Fratley, are you gone? Freya asked within her thoughts. Are you dead? Is the dream true?
Freya felt tears come to her eyes. Fratley couldn't be dead. It couldn't be possible. He couldn't be dead. Yet he could be. So far each dream had been true. She bit her lip, trying not to sob. Even if no one was around, she didn't want to cry.
She couldn't hold it. She let out a choked sob and the tears flowed. She gripped the soft quilt, staring at the patterns on the quilt. It was a pretty quilt, with eidolon patterns. It didn't soothe her.
Suddenly Freya felt a firm yet gentle hand on her shoulder. She jumped and moved to throw the person off. She found herself staring into the dark eyes of Amarant.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly. "You've been muttering, screaming, shaking, and now sobbing."
Freya only shook her head, sobbing. She didn't want to say what was wrong. She could barely bring herself to explain it.
"Come on. What is wrong? You were talking about death and horrid things. What the hell is the matter?" Amarant asked.
"Fratley. is dead," Freya managed to choke out.
"And how do you know that?" Amarant asked.
"I dreamt it," Freya gasped. "My dreams tell reality."
"Well, isn't that the greatest dreaming ability," Amarant said with exaggeration. "Listen."
Freya looked up at Amarant with teary green eyes.
"I sent a letter to Alexandria," Amarant said slowly so Freya could comprehend it. "I'm seeing if Fratley is alive or not. I know they should reply."
Freya stared at Amarant. "Seriously?"
"Why would I bother lying to you?" Amarant asked.
"Because you're you," Freya whispered while sobbing.
"But I'm not so bad as to be that kind of person, am I?" Amarant asked quietly. "No, I didn't think so. I think you need something to drink. Calm down, all right?"
Amarant rose and left the room quietly. Freya watched him leave. Had he really sent a letter to Alexandria? How had he known to do so? He had said she was muttering. Had she been talking in her sleep, and speaking true words? Had she spoken of "death and horrid things"?
Freya wiped her eyes with the quilt, only to find more tears falling. She let out a choked sob, then bit her lip in an attempt to keep the sobs in. No one else was in the room, but she didn't want to be sobbing like a baby when Amarant returned, or if anyone else came into the room.
Eiko soon bounded into the room.
"Freya!" she cried.
Freya looked up, but said nothing. She was spending too much energy trying to keep her sobs inside.
"Are you okay?" Eiko asked. She continued without waiting for an answer. "Freya, it's awful! I suddenly can't make contact with any eidolons!"
Freya's teary eyes widened.
"I don't know why," Eiko said. "It's weird. It's just too weird. I don't get it."
"Not a single one?" Freya managed to whisper. She then held back a sob.
"Not one. I don't get it," Eiko said with worry. "I think I'll try again."
Eiko walked over to a bed next to Freya's and sat down. She closed her eyes, and her horn began to sparkle. Then, the sparkling faded.
"I don't understand," Eiko said as she opened her eyes. "Why can't I communicate with them?"
"Has this ever happened before?" Freya asked quietly.
"I can't remember it ever happening," Eiko replied.
Freya nodded. Things were getting too weird. Once again she wiped at her eyes with the quilt, but it was as if she were only making room for more tears instead of stopping them. She took a shaky breath, trying to tell herself that Fratley wasn't dead. But her mind wouldn't believe it.
Amarant quietly entered the room.
"Where'd you come from?" he asked Eiko.
"My bedroom," Eiko replied. "I was trying to communicate with eidolons, like I always do at night, but I couldn't."
"And why not?" Amarant asked as he placed the mug that he had been carrying on the end table. Freya sniffed the liquid inside it for poison.
"I got no answer. The eidolons seemed to have - have cut off communication."
"Maybe they wanted privacy. And I didn't poison that, quit sniffing it like I did," Amarant said, the last sentence being said to Freya.
"Eidolons are always there for their summoner. They need no privacy," Eiko retorted.
Freya said nothing. She had not liked something about the herbal tea in the mug. There was no poison, but rather something else Freya couldn't figure out. She carefully picked up the hot mug and took a sip of the hot tea. It had a soothing taste, though Freya could still feel the salty tears soaking her sweaty fur.
"So you can't communicate with eidolons, and you have a dream that someone's being killed," Amarant muttered. "Could the two be linked?"
Freya only stared at the herbal tea swirling around in the mug. Eiko seemed to be thinking the events over. Amarant sighed and sat at the edge of Freya's bed.
"Do you have any idea?" he asked.
Freya blinked slowly. A few tears fell softly. She looked up at Amarant.
"I read in an encyclopedia," she muttered slowly in a soft voice. "that the Collaboration of Leviathan may use serpents to attack."
"What does a collaboration have anything to do with this?" Eiko asked.
Amarant didn't say anything. He only stared at Freya. Freya felt as if his eyes were searching into her soul.
"You serious?" he asked.
Freya nodded.
"That would explain why Leviathan is on their symbol, then," Amarant muttered. "Calm down, all right? I doubt anything's going to get you right now."
Freya's opinion was drinking half the herbal tea in one sitting. Eiko seemed confused and a bit panicked.
"Are you saying Leviathan may be after us?" she asked.
Amarant nodded.
"But Leviathan's an eidolon, and a fairly noble one at that!" Eiko protested. "No way he would -"
Suddenly Eiko's horn began to glow bright white. She closed her eyes, and clearly was communicating with an eidolon.
"Be wary," Eiko said, but it was not her voice saying it. It was an edilon's voice, a strong, masculine voice with a hint of dragon in it. "You are in grave danger. He is coming. He is on the loose again. We do not know why he listens to him. But he does. We will try to stop him. If we contact you again, we have succeeded. If we don't. Be wary. He will be coming."
Eiko's horn stopped glowing, and she opened her eyes. They were full of worry. Clearly Freya was worried to because she drank the last of the hot tea in one sitting, regardless of the feeling the hot liquid left in her throat.
"Who was that?" Amarant asked.
"It was Bahamut," Eiko said. "Something bad is happening. I don't know what, but I don't like this."
"'He is coming,'" Amarant said, thinking the words over. "'He'? 'He' must be an eidolon, but who?"
Freya was beginning to feel light-headed and sleepy. She put the mug aside and glared at Amarant with red, puffy, and annoyed eyes.
"Sleeping Weed?" she guessed.
Amarant only smirked. "You figured it out. Well, you need to sleep in some way. Just lay down and go to bed."
Freya yawned. "I knew there was something wrong with that liquid."
"Just go to sleep. Quit yapping," Amarant said, rising. He looked at Eiko and motioned to the door.
Eiko nodded and bounded out of the room. Amarant turned to Freya.
"Sweet drugged dreams," he said teasingly.
Freya glared at him, but she was already lying down. She felt awfully sleepy, and her head felt light. Her eyelids were heavy, and by the time Amarant had left the room and closed the door, she had fallen into a drugged sleep.
Five hours later, a majestic rainbow-colored bird was tapping on the window leading to the guestroom. Amarant opened it so the bird could get in. It looked at Freya, who was still sleeping, then back at Amarant. It fluttered over to the end table and looked over at Amarant as if to say, "Well, are you going to take the letter?"
Amarant walked over to the end table and untied the letter bound around the bird's large talons. He then gave the bird 20 Gil. The bird fluffed its wings, then took off. It disappeared through the window.
"What is it?" Eiko asked. She had been watching Freya for any signs of non-sleep movement.
"I don't know," Amarant said. He unrolled the letter. "The King of Burmecia is supposed to be eleven, right?"
"Yeah, why?" Eiko asked.
"Because this isn't an eleven-year-old's way of writing or talking," Amarant said. At the same time he spoke he was reading the letter.
"What does it say?" Eiko asked.
Amarant shook his head. "Shit."
"What?" Eiko asked.
Amarant tossed the letter aside. "This is all just a bunch of shit! She's being stalked, injured, and now we have an asshole in charge? Shit!"
Eiko walked over to the letter and picked it up. She read it, and her face became slightly red.
"What is this? How come he's blaming Freya for all of it?" Eiko asked.
"I don't know. I don't even know who that guy is," Amarant snorted. "I'll ask Freya when she wakes up."
"If she wakes up. How much Sleeping Weed did you use?"
"Enough to keep her sleeping all night."
"When will she wake up?"
"In another five hours."
Amarant was correct. In another five hours, Freya's eyelids flickered, and she slowly woke up. She wasn't exactly refreshed, but the drug gave her a better sleep than the nightmares would.
"Hello."
Freya looked up to see Dominic watching her.
"Just thought I'd stop by," Dominic said. "You all right?"
Freya nodded. She rose into a sitting position and looked around.
"Nothing major. That friend of yours - Amarant, I think his name is? Anyway, he left to get a few things. Wouldn't say what, but he left," Dominic explained.
Freya nodded. She then noticed the letter on the table.
"What's this?" Freya asked.
"I don't know," Dominic replied.
Freya carefully took the letter and looked at it. It was written in a neat script that she recognized as Ebon's writing. Disgusted, she began to read.
To Whom It May Concern,
The King of Burmecia would like to inform Freya Crescent of Burmecia that she is not allowed to return home starting on December 21 this year. She is banned from home due to lack of performing duties and the potential threat her return would bring. For the city's sake and safety, she may not return.
The King would also like to bring to her attention that her status as a Dragon Warrior of Burmecia is being removed. Lack of duties, skill, and intelligence are to blame. In a time of crisis she showed no strength. She was injured and taken away. She has not yet returned to her duties, and is not worthy of the Dragon Warrior title; therefore, the title is being removed.
Highest Regard
King Ebon of Burmecia
It took Freya a while to realize that her hands were shaking. Dominic was watching her with concern. Freya shook her head with disbelief. She then reread the letter slowly. She was still for a few minutes.
Freya suddenly crumpled the letter and threw it straight into the fireplace. Her eyes were on fire, her body tense, and her breaths coming out in angry gasps. She punched the bed angrily.
"God Damn it!" Freya screamed angrily.
Dominic only watched her. He had looked at the letter while she was sleeping, so he didn't need to ask. He would only wait to see if his abilities were needed. He didn't mind if she vented out her anger. But if she started crying, Dominic would do something. Out of all the things he hated, seeing someone cry was at the top. Freya wasn't going to be crying any time soon. She was only angry. How dare Ebon banish her! Since when was he king? What happened to Puck? Had he attacked him? Set someone up to attack him? What had happened?
Suddenly Freya remembered her dream. The dream where she was stuck in someone's body and they were being attacked came to her mind and made her stare blankly ahead. That dream. Had Puck been attacked in that dream? Julius had been attacking them all? Did Ebon send them to attack them? Ebon was not present. He should've been present. He is supposed to protect the king.
Freya didn't like the situation. It was suspicious.
"Are you all right?" Dominic asked.
Freya nodded dumbly, only half-paying attention. She never liked Ebon. Now she didn't even trust him.
"I'm sorry about the letter," Dominic said, startling Freya.
"You know what it said?" Freya asked.
"I read it," Dominic admitted. "A lot of people did. Everyone's regretting your reaction."
"What, do they think I'll blow up the Castle?" Freya asked sarcastically. "No, I think they're afraid you'll act the way you're acting now," Dominic explained. "Calm down a bit."
Freya suddenly felt calmer. She stared at Dominic with shock.
"Do you always do that?" she asked.
"Only when I need to," Dominic said. "Now, who is Ebon?"
"Right now, I don't even know," Freya said softly. "He was the - the 'General', so to speak, of the Dragon Warriors. Now he's apparently king. He has a very bad attitude and hates women."
"Why?" Dominic asked.
"No one knows. Perhaps the fact that they can kick his ass," Freya guessed.
"Oh, so he's that type of person?"
"Yes, big time. He thinks he's better than everyone, and when you prove him wrong, he hates you."
"He sounds like a real jerk."
"He is."
Silence followed as the two thought things over. Dominic took a deep breath.
"Wasn't Puck the king?"
"How did you know?"
"He was the one who contacted Lindblum for a peace treaty. What happened to him?"
"I'm not exactly sure. I had a dream about someone being attacked by the person who wants me dead, and some Dragon Warriors were yelling at that person. I think Julius was attacking Puck."
"Murder attempt?"
"Yes."
"That's not good. And I guess it succeeded?"
This question stunned Freya. Had it succeeded? Or was Puck so injured that he couldn't rule? Freya swallowed all that had risen in her throat.
"I - I don't know if it succeeded. I pray it didn't and he's just too injured." "Either way, the murderer did achieve in wiping out one king."
"Yes, he did."
Dominic nodded. He looked around, wondering what else he could ask that could help the situation. Freya sighed and leaned back against the bed, staring at the ceiling. She didn't like the situation.
"You're awake," Amarant grunted as he entered the room.
"And you've returned," Dominic commented. "Where were you?"
"I was getting needed supplies," Amarant said simply. He looked over at Freya. "Are you feeling better now?"
Freya slowly turned her head to look at Amarant. He stared at her with emotionless eyes.
"I'm just terrific," Freya spat sarcastically.
"I'm sure you are," Amarant replied with equal sarcasm.
Freya sighed. "You read the letter, didn't you?"
"Yes, and I have to say, I don't want to live your life right now," Amarant replied.
"Thanks," Freya grumbled.
"We're trying to piece together information," Dominic explained to Amarant.
"Any luck?" he asked.
"Hardly. All we know is that Puck was attacked, making him unable to be king, and Ebon is no doubt linked to it since he became -"
Dominic was cut off by a serpent's hiss. Freya immediately turned in the direction of the window, and her eyes widened.
A red serpent's eye stared at her in return.
------------ Dun dun dun! Heh, anyway, what is up with the eidolons? What happened in Burmecia? And what the heck is happening with Fratley? Find out eventually! =)
I would also like to be an idiot and advertise my own story: "Bidding Goodnight". It links to this story so you may want to take a look =) Oh, and to explain the strange look of this chapter. For some stupid reason FanFiction.net didn't indent all the paragraphs at the end of this chapter. It was extremely hard to read, so I had to make spaces. Evil! =(
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, locations, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.