Chapter Twenty-three
Alexandria; Alexandria Castle; Mid-morning
It was time for the sleeper to awaken.
Wanderer walked slowly toward the Queen's room, Landloper walking obediently by his side. They made slow progress, as Wanderer was relying more and more on his walking stick, but they still made it before the Queen got out. His knuckles rapped softly against the door, and soon the young Queen was staring into Wanderer's rust eyes.
"May I help you?" Garnet asked. She was dressed in an average outfit, with her hair in a bit of disarray.
"I understand that you hold Sir Fratley of Burmecia in your custody?" Wanderer asked politely.
"Yes, I do," Garnet replied.
"I wish to see him, if I may," Wanderer requested.
Garnet took a deep breath. "Certainly. Go downstairs and take a left. Aldebert Steiner should be in one of the rooms down that hall. Tell him I give you permission to see Fratley."
Wanderer bowed. "Thank you, My Queen."
Wanderer stepped back down the stairs and took a left. He and Landloper alternated which room they looked into until Landloper finally let out a low bark. Wanderer walked over to the room and saw two knights eating breakfast. Wanderer concluded them to be Steiner and Beatrix.
"Pardon my rudeness, but the Queen has given me permission to see Sir Fratley of Burmecia, who is in your custody. If it is not too much trouble, could you?—" Wanderer began.
"Of course," Steiner said, rising.
Steiner left the room, his armor rattling with each step. Slowly Wanderer followed him, Landloper by his side. Steiner cast a wary glance on the roan Great Dane, but said nothing. He simply kept walking.
Soon Steiner reached a small staircase, and Wanderer steadily followed. The two walked over to a room that Steiner silently entered. In the room was bed, and in the bed was Fratley. His breaths were soft and almost not even there. It was clear that he hadn't moved at all in his sleep. Wanderer quietly walked over.
"Time to wake up, Fratley," Wanderer muttered.
Wanderer put his fingers in front of his eyes, and brought them across, leaving a burning trail. He closed his eyes and concentrated on Fratley's looks. When he opened his eyes, he could see Fratley's mind within the burning trails. Silently he pressed the vision, muttering "coma". The vision moved, and soon Wanderer found himself faced with hundreds of strands. Most of them were memory strands, locked up within a shield that Wanderer, sadly, could not penetrate. Some memories had escaped, and the thing allowing them to escape was a single shiny thread. A coma thread; Wanderer had given it the ability to restore memories a week before. But then the coma thread wouldn't leave, it seemed, and now Wanderer knew what he must do.
Wanderer reached within the vision and took the coma thread. He pulled it out with ease. Fratley winced, but Wanderer ignored him. He instead squeezed the coma thread until it was crushed. The thread fell as a soft white powder and disappeared before it hit the ground.
Steiner had seen nothing. He had only seen the burning trails, and he watched Wanderer move his hands, but nothing else. He looked highly confused, but soon he stared at Fratley. Fratley was stirring.
Fratley slowly opened his eyes. Well, actually, he soon came to the conclusion that there was only one eye to open. Half of his face was darkness, while he could see with the other half. He sighed softly, and slowly rose into a sitting position to find himself staring at a Burmecian, a Great Dane, and Steiner.
"Hello?" Fratley half-said, half-asked.
Steiner seemed extremely surprised. Fratley's accent had completely changed. No longer did it hold the average Burmecian qualities. There was something foreign about it, a foreign sound that rose about the Burmecian accent and added a unique sound. Wanderer smiled.
"So you are half-Dari," He said.
"Yes," Fratley replied.
"So you remember," Wanderer pointed out. "Do you remember how to speak it?"
Fratley blinked. He remembered?
That's right. You lost your memory, remember? Fratley reminded himself.
"Yes, I can speak the accen'. And I remembe' it, too," Fratley told Wanderer in a Dari accent.
Wanderer smiled and nodded. "Good. That's good."
"What's going on?" Steiner asked. "What happened?"
"Simple," Wanderer said. "I got him out his coma. A coma thread had gotten in – probably the blow on the head. I destroyed it. Apparently the coma restored some of his memory."
"Where's Freya?" Fratley asked, slowly remembering what had happened before he was knocked out. "And what day is it?"
"Freya was last seen at Lindblum. Supposedly she left for Burmecia. It is December 28," Wanderer replied.
"December 28?" Fratley repeated the date slowly. He then suddenly leapt out of the bed. "Terrific! I've been here for nearly two weeks! You say Freya went to Burmecia?"
"Yes," Wanderer replied.
"Then that's where I'm going."
"What? So soon?" Steiner asked, finally getting a word in. "But shouldn't you—"
"I have rested for quite a while, Steiner. Two weeks, nearly. If you are really concerned, then I will travel with someone, but otherwise I will most likely be gone by this evening," Fratley replied politely. He turned his gaze to the window. "I have to."
"You wouldn't mind if I went with you, would you?" Wanderer asked, watching Fratley with his rust eyes.
Fratley looked over at Wanderer and smiled.
"The more the merrier?" he asked, then chuckled. "Sure, you may come, if you answer this question: how old are you? I can't figure it out."
"27," Wanderer replied.
"And you have a cane?" Fratley asked with surprise.
"This?" Wanderer asked, lifting the walking stick with no problems. "I -- I really don't need it, actually. It's just nice to have if you break your leg."
"Well, I suggest the both of you consult with the Queen before you leave. At least thank her for her hospitality," Steiner said with a snort. He then left.
"Okay," Fratley muttered.
"Merely the fact that we are so anxious to leave," Wanderer replied. "Come. Let us go see the Queen."
With that, Wanderer turned around and left the room with surprising quickness. Quickly Fratley followed. They swiftly walked toward the Queen's room, only to meet her at the bottom of the stairs.
"Good day, My Queen," Fratley said quickly as a look of confusion came over Garnet's face. "I came to tell you that I will be leaving."
"So soon?" Garnet asked, surprised that he was awake. "Certainly you should at least stay for breakfast, and get ready."
"I'm sure we can spare it," Wanderer said to Fratley.
Fratley nodded thoughtfully. "Certainly."
The three walked down to the dining room, where a nice-looking breakfast had been set up. Garnet sat down at the end of the table and quickly filled up her plate with a light breakfast. Wanderer and Fratley also sat down, but Fratley only grabbed a slice of bread while Wanderer took nothing at all. Steiner and Beatrix, who had been sitting at the table when Garnet had entered, cast wary glances at the two Burmecians, but said nothing.
"So you're awake."
Fratley turned his head in the direction of the female voice to find a cat Demi-human staring at him. Zidane came in behind her and sat down at the table. He smiled at everyone before beginning to pile his plate with food. Fratley and the Demi-human continued to stare at each other.
"Who are you?" Fratley at last asked.
"Kitski, a healer. I see you finally got up, and I see Wanderer is here. I know what happened, but I won't say a word. I only ask where you are going to go," the Demi-human said matter-of-factly.
"Burmecia," Fratley replied.
"That place? It's dangerous, and you live in danger, judging by what you went through. I'm coming with you," Kitski said.
"Uh, all right," Fratley said, feeling he had nothing else to say.
"Anyone else coming?" Wanderer asked.
"You may want to consult Vivi," Zidane said. "If things are bad up in Burmecia, you could use a mage."
"Where is Vivi?" Wanderer asked.
"Not sure, actually," Zidane admitted.
Wanderer nodded. "No worry. I'll find him."
Wanderer rose to his feet and left the room. Everyone watched him leave.
"Where is he going?" Garnet asked.
"I have no clue," Fratley replied.
"He's going to find Vivi," Kitski grunted.
Fratley finished up the bread he had been chewing.
"Thank you for the breakfast. I'm going to go get ready. Thank you for the hospitality," Fratley said.
He left the room.
"HEY!"
The high female voice startled Fratley, but he soon smiled as Cleo faded into the room.
"Hello hello hello! It good to see you alive!" Cleo chirped. "I been traveling trying to help!"
"Traveling? Where are you going?" Fratley asked.
"I go to COL and report information to Meander and, if he in mood to see me, Amarant!" Cleo chirped happily. "It pretty secret, though. We no want to freak Freya out much. She needs to relax, but she won't."
Fratley frowned. "That's unfortunate. Why won't she relax?"
"She think you're dead," Cleo replied.
"Seriously? Hasn't anyone told her otherwise?" Fratley asked, surprised and worried.
"Yes yes yes. She know you were in coma but she seemed to think that you die from it," Cleo chirped.
Fratley's frowned deepened. Freya wasn't exactly pessimistic, but clearly she was extremely depressed.
"Come, Cleo. I'm returning to Burmecia. I'm sure you would like to come," Fratley said.
"Of course!" Cleo chirped. "Let's go!"
The two headed off.
"Are we ready?"
Wanderer was the one of the first to speak in ten minutes. Everyone had been silently waiting for the other. Kitski had been one of the first to appear, and she was quiet. Vivi was there, and thankfully he had offered to come alone, allowing his sons to trail along if they wished. Fratley did not want a large party, and no one blamed him. They could attract attention.
"I am," Vivi said quietly.
"Ready ready!" Cleo chirped loudly.
"I am all set," Fratley replied.
"Ready," Kitski said curtly.
"Then vamos! We cannot waste much time," Wanderer said. His voice was calm, though he was clearly impatient.
"Vamos?" Vivi asked with confusion.
"Something tells me I should know what that means," Fratley muttered, brow furrowed. "Damn my cursed memory."
"It means 'let us go,'" Wanderer explained.
"Then let us follow that advice and head off," Fratley replied.
Vivi nodded, while Cleo clapped and Kitski snorted. Taking one last check of their supplies, the five headed out of Alexandria. Fratley was amazed to find himself faced with an endless of expansion of white snow.
"Wow," he muttered.
"Pretty, isn't it?" Wanderer asked. "You could not admire such beauty when the mist was still about. Now the sun can shine freely on the white snow."
"And blind us in the process," Fratley muttered.
Wanderer laughed lightly. "That too. Now, shall we go? Or shall we waste time while Ebon rampages about and Julius is in the middle of it?"
This brought Fratley to attention. He didn't bother asking how Wanderer knew all this. He only spoke two words.
"Vamos, then."
-------- Oh my God, it's FRATLEY! Heh, yep, he's back. Now everyone's on the move! Things are going to speed up a bit (glory hallelujah) so stay tuned!
I know, I know, I haven't updated quickly. I've had lots to do, and I'm lazy, heh. I've actually been writing the chapters – Just not updating O.o Mean, I know. I'll try to be nicer (and try to actually get to writing Let Fear Propel You Forward)
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, locations, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.
Alexandria; Alexandria Castle; Mid-morning
It was time for the sleeper to awaken.
Wanderer walked slowly toward the Queen's room, Landloper walking obediently by his side. They made slow progress, as Wanderer was relying more and more on his walking stick, but they still made it before the Queen got out. His knuckles rapped softly against the door, and soon the young Queen was staring into Wanderer's rust eyes.
"May I help you?" Garnet asked. She was dressed in an average outfit, with her hair in a bit of disarray.
"I understand that you hold Sir Fratley of Burmecia in your custody?" Wanderer asked politely.
"Yes, I do," Garnet replied.
"I wish to see him, if I may," Wanderer requested.
Garnet took a deep breath. "Certainly. Go downstairs and take a left. Aldebert Steiner should be in one of the rooms down that hall. Tell him I give you permission to see Fratley."
Wanderer bowed. "Thank you, My Queen."
Wanderer stepped back down the stairs and took a left. He and Landloper alternated which room they looked into until Landloper finally let out a low bark. Wanderer walked over to the room and saw two knights eating breakfast. Wanderer concluded them to be Steiner and Beatrix.
"Pardon my rudeness, but the Queen has given me permission to see Sir Fratley of Burmecia, who is in your custody. If it is not too much trouble, could you?—" Wanderer began.
"Of course," Steiner said, rising.
Steiner left the room, his armor rattling with each step. Slowly Wanderer followed him, Landloper by his side. Steiner cast a wary glance on the roan Great Dane, but said nothing. He simply kept walking.
Soon Steiner reached a small staircase, and Wanderer steadily followed. The two walked over to a room that Steiner silently entered. In the room was bed, and in the bed was Fratley. His breaths were soft and almost not even there. It was clear that he hadn't moved at all in his sleep. Wanderer quietly walked over.
"Time to wake up, Fratley," Wanderer muttered.
Wanderer put his fingers in front of his eyes, and brought them across, leaving a burning trail. He closed his eyes and concentrated on Fratley's looks. When he opened his eyes, he could see Fratley's mind within the burning trails. Silently he pressed the vision, muttering "coma". The vision moved, and soon Wanderer found himself faced with hundreds of strands. Most of them were memory strands, locked up within a shield that Wanderer, sadly, could not penetrate. Some memories had escaped, and the thing allowing them to escape was a single shiny thread. A coma thread; Wanderer had given it the ability to restore memories a week before. But then the coma thread wouldn't leave, it seemed, and now Wanderer knew what he must do.
Wanderer reached within the vision and took the coma thread. He pulled it out with ease. Fratley winced, but Wanderer ignored him. He instead squeezed the coma thread until it was crushed. The thread fell as a soft white powder and disappeared before it hit the ground.
Steiner had seen nothing. He had only seen the burning trails, and he watched Wanderer move his hands, but nothing else. He looked highly confused, but soon he stared at Fratley. Fratley was stirring.
Fratley slowly opened his eyes. Well, actually, he soon came to the conclusion that there was only one eye to open. Half of his face was darkness, while he could see with the other half. He sighed softly, and slowly rose into a sitting position to find himself staring at a Burmecian, a Great Dane, and Steiner.
"Hello?" Fratley half-said, half-asked.
Steiner seemed extremely surprised. Fratley's accent had completely changed. No longer did it hold the average Burmecian qualities. There was something foreign about it, a foreign sound that rose about the Burmecian accent and added a unique sound. Wanderer smiled.
"So you are half-Dari," He said.
"Yes," Fratley replied.
"So you remember," Wanderer pointed out. "Do you remember how to speak it?"
Fratley blinked. He remembered?
That's right. You lost your memory, remember? Fratley reminded himself.
"Yes, I can speak the accen'. And I remembe' it, too," Fratley told Wanderer in a Dari accent.
Wanderer smiled and nodded. "Good. That's good."
"What's going on?" Steiner asked. "What happened?"
"Simple," Wanderer said. "I got him out his coma. A coma thread had gotten in – probably the blow on the head. I destroyed it. Apparently the coma restored some of his memory."
"Where's Freya?" Fratley asked, slowly remembering what had happened before he was knocked out. "And what day is it?"
"Freya was last seen at Lindblum. Supposedly she left for Burmecia. It is December 28," Wanderer replied.
"December 28?" Fratley repeated the date slowly. He then suddenly leapt out of the bed. "Terrific! I've been here for nearly two weeks! You say Freya went to Burmecia?"
"Yes," Wanderer replied.
"Then that's where I'm going."
"What? So soon?" Steiner asked, finally getting a word in. "But shouldn't you—"
"I have rested for quite a while, Steiner. Two weeks, nearly. If you are really concerned, then I will travel with someone, but otherwise I will most likely be gone by this evening," Fratley replied politely. He turned his gaze to the window. "I have to."
"You wouldn't mind if I went with you, would you?" Wanderer asked, watching Fratley with his rust eyes.
Fratley looked over at Wanderer and smiled.
"The more the merrier?" he asked, then chuckled. "Sure, you may come, if you answer this question: how old are you? I can't figure it out."
"27," Wanderer replied.
"And you have a cane?" Fratley asked with surprise.
"This?" Wanderer asked, lifting the walking stick with no problems. "I -- I really don't need it, actually. It's just nice to have if you break your leg."
"Well, I suggest the both of you consult with the Queen before you leave. At least thank her for her hospitality," Steiner said with a snort. He then left.
"Okay," Fratley muttered.
"Merely the fact that we are so anxious to leave," Wanderer replied. "Come. Let us go see the Queen."
With that, Wanderer turned around and left the room with surprising quickness. Quickly Fratley followed. They swiftly walked toward the Queen's room, only to meet her at the bottom of the stairs.
"Good day, My Queen," Fratley said quickly as a look of confusion came over Garnet's face. "I came to tell you that I will be leaving."
"So soon?" Garnet asked, surprised that he was awake. "Certainly you should at least stay for breakfast, and get ready."
"I'm sure we can spare it," Wanderer said to Fratley.
Fratley nodded thoughtfully. "Certainly."
The three walked down to the dining room, where a nice-looking breakfast had been set up. Garnet sat down at the end of the table and quickly filled up her plate with a light breakfast. Wanderer and Fratley also sat down, but Fratley only grabbed a slice of bread while Wanderer took nothing at all. Steiner and Beatrix, who had been sitting at the table when Garnet had entered, cast wary glances at the two Burmecians, but said nothing.
"So you're awake."
Fratley turned his head in the direction of the female voice to find a cat Demi-human staring at him. Zidane came in behind her and sat down at the table. He smiled at everyone before beginning to pile his plate with food. Fratley and the Demi-human continued to stare at each other.
"Who are you?" Fratley at last asked.
"Kitski, a healer. I see you finally got up, and I see Wanderer is here. I know what happened, but I won't say a word. I only ask where you are going to go," the Demi-human said matter-of-factly.
"Burmecia," Fratley replied.
"That place? It's dangerous, and you live in danger, judging by what you went through. I'm coming with you," Kitski said.
"Uh, all right," Fratley said, feeling he had nothing else to say.
"Anyone else coming?" Wanderer asked.
"You may want to consult Vivi," Zidane said. "If things are bad up in Burmecia, you could use a mage."
"Where is Vivi?" Wanderer asked.
"Not sure, actually," Zidane admitted.
Wanderer nodded. "No worry. I'll find him."
Wanderer rose to his feet and left the room. Everyone watched him leave.
"Where is he going?" Garnet asked.
"I have no clue," Fratley replied.
"He's going to find Vivi," Kitski grunted.
Fratley finished up the bread he had been chewing.
"Thank you for the breakfast. I'm going to go get ready. Thank you for the hospitality," Fratley said.
He left the room.
"HEY!"
The high female voice startled Fratley, but he soon smiled as Cleo faded into the room.
"Hello hello hello! It good to see you alive!" Cleo chirped. "I been traveling trying to help!"
"Traveling? Where are you going?" Fratley asked.
"I go to COL and report information to Meander and, if he in mood to see me, Amarant!" Cleo chirped happily. "It pretty secret, though. We no want to freak Freya out much. She needs to relax, but she won't."
Fratley frowned. "That's unfortunate. Why won't she relax?"
"She think you're dead," Cleo replied.
"Seriously? Hasn't anyone told her otherwise?" Fratley asked, surprised and worried.
"Yes yes yes. She know you were in coma but she seemed to think that you die from it," Cleo chirped.
Fratley's frowned deepened. Freya wasn't exactly pessimistic, but clearly she was extremely depressed.
"Come, Cleo. I'm returning to Burmecia. I'm sure you would like to come," Fratley said.
"Of course!" Cleo chirped. "Let's go!"
The two headed off.
"Are we ready?"
Wanderer was the one of the first to speak in ten minutes. Everyone had been silently waiting for the other. Kitski had been one of the first to appear, and she was quiet. Vivi was there, and thankfully he had offered to come alone, allowing his sons to trail along if they wished. Fratley did not want a large party, and no one blamed him. They could attract attention.
"I am," Vivi said quietly.
"Ready ready!" Cleo chirped loudly.
"I am all set," Fratley replied.
"Ready," Kitski said curtly.
"Then vamos! We cannot waste much time," Wanderer said. His voice was calm, though he was clearly impatient.
"Vamos?" Vivi asked with confusion.
"Something tells me I should know what that means," Fratley muttered, brow furrowed. "Damn my cursed memory."
"It means 'let us go,'" Wanderer explained.
"Then let us follow that advice and head off," Fratley replied.
Vivi nodded, while Cleo clapped and Kitski snorted. Taking one last check of their supplies, the five headed out of Alexandria. Fratley was amazed to find himself faced with an endless of expansion of white snow.
"Wow," he muttered.
"Pretty, isn't it?" Wanderer asked. "You could not admire such beauty when the mist was still about. Now the sun can shine freely on the white snow."
"And blind us in the process," Fratley muttered.
Wanderer laughed lightly. "That too. Now, shall we go? Or shall we waste time while Ebon rampages about and Julius is in the middle of it?"
This brought Fratley to attention. He didn't bother asking how Wanderer knew all this. He only spoke two words.
"Vamos, then."
-------- Oh my God, it's FRATLEY! Heh, yep, he's back. Now everyone's on the move! Things are going to speed up a bit (glory hallelujah) so stay tuned!
I know, I know, I haven't updated quickly. I've had lots to do, and I'm lazy, heh. I've actually been writing the chapters – Just not updating O.o Mean, I know. I'll try to be nicer (and try to actually get to writing Let Fear Propel You Forward)
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, locations, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.