Chapter 2:Ill Tidings Part Two
Geo and Tatra had sneaked out while the others were distracted and headed straight to Tatra's room for some privacy. Tatra was sitting on the bed, brushing her hair and took surreptitious looks at Geo, who was standing against the wall.
"You still look so nervous being in here. It's not like this is the first time you've been in my room and we've been alone.
"I still feel like I'm intruding or something."
She studied his face for a moment, taking his expression into account, before she got up and walked over to him.
"Is it really that uncomfortable for you to be here with me?" There was a bit of hurt creeping into her voice.
Geo heard it and winced. "That's not what I meant!" He reached out a hand and brushed back some of the long strands of hair as he ran his fingers slowly through it. "Every time I put my arms around you I never want to let you go. You're different then any other woman I've met, you've got a kind and sweet nature, mixed with the intelligence and authority to maintain strong leadership. You were always on my mind after the first time I talked to you in Cephiro, knowing that I'd fallen in love with you." He closed his eyes and smiled at the fond memory. "There's no way you could ever make me feel uncomfortable."
She laughed, that nice ringing tone he enjoyed so much. "You really are shy about your feelings, even now." Tatra came closer to him and wrapped her arms tightly around him, resting her head on his chest for a moment before looking up at him.
"Remember when I first told you I loved you?"
Geo held her close to him, feeling the warmth of her body against his. "I really thought I had been dreaming. It was just too perfect. 'How could she ever love me?' That question kept running through my mind. But then, we kissed and I knew that there wasn't any way I could be dreaming and taste something that sweet."
Tatra began to lean forward to repeat the past experience, but he placed a reluctant finger on her lips. "That's why it bothers me that we have to keep our whole relationship a secret. It doesn't feel right for me to hide something like this because it almost makes me feel like we're doing something wrong by being together. I know that isn't true and it's necessary to keep our relationship a secret because of our statuses. You're the princess of Chizeta, heir to the countries' throne and I'm affiliated with the Autozam army, one of its most elite and highly regarded members to boot. Our countries haven't been the best of friends in the past and I doubt either of our countries' people will be overjoyed about our relationship." He sighed. "Worst of all is how I'm keeping this whole thing from my friends, as if I don't trust them. I hope they forgive me. I just wish..." Tatra placed a hand over his mouth, quieting him.
"Our statuses don't matter to me and I know, given time, our people can learn to accept our love. Don't worry about your friends, Geo, because I've met all of them and they have good hearts. They won't hold this against you. For right now I want to enjoy our precious time together, so that I can be close to you for as long as possible."
She leaned up and they kissed, treasuring the moment as they held each other close throughout the night.
Presea woke up early the next morning, brewed some tea and headed for the throne room. Clef was usually there and Presea made a habit of going their at an hour when they would have some privacy. Clef was a very busy man and she felt it was her duty to make sure he relaxed once in a while and didn't overexert himself. The doors opened as she approached, so she walked through the room and stopped in front of the throne were Clef was sitting with his staff against the wall.
"Clef, I've made you some hot tea. Would you like some?"
He nodded, not meeting her eyes as she slowly poured him a glass and handed it to him. Clef started sipping at the tea absently still ignoring her. Presea began to feel like something was wrong as he hadn't produced a chair for her or invited her to speak with him, like he always did.
"Clef," she began nervously, "have I done something wrong?"
"Well, you are bothering me. I had sought a little peace and quiet this morning, but you interrupted me."
His icy tone hurt her, but she steadied her emotion, desperate not to show any signs of weakness.
"I'm very sorry, Master Mage Clef." She bowed to him and turned to go, but his voice stopped her.
"Something terrible is going to happen to the three countries outside of Cephiro. Clef proclaimed this with a nonchalant, matter of fact tone.
"What do you mean 'something terrible'?" He didn't respond to her question, so she continued. "In any case, we've got to do something! How can we help those people from the other countries?"
Clef's features darkened before he snapped at her. "Utter foolishness! What reason do we have to help them when it has nothing to do with Cephiro? If they choose to fight against one another, then it isn't any concern of ours."
Presea gaped at his unfeeling callousness, telling her that they shouldn't concern themselves with people who had become their allies, people who had been helping them all this time. What could have happened to him in such a short time to make him say such horrible things?
Presea shook her head, dismay clear in her voice. "If they are going to fight, then we have to try and stop them! These people from the other countries are more than just our allies, they're our friends and they've stuck beside us to help rebuild a country that isn't theirs! We can't just- " Clef waved his hand to silence her, almost as if he were trying to sweep the matter aside.
"As I said, it is no concern of ours." His eyes narrowed and his voice took on an apathetic tone. "It doesn't matter if they helped us or not, if they wish to fight with one another, why should we stop them? Besides, if it has nothing to do with Cephiro, it won't matter to us even if they all kill each other. Why should we care?"
Presea had heard enough and turned to go, her heart beating quickly in her chest. She fled the room and as the doors closed behind her, she started shaking. A teacup shattered on the floor beneath her, but she hardly noticed. Her heart felt so heavy that tears had come to her eyes and she tried desperately to wipe them away.
My dear Clef, the thought was filled with deep sorrow, what in all of Cephiro could have happened to make you say such things? Clef...
Zazu had barely woken up, thinking about how much he'd enjoyed that bottle of wine, when he got an urgent knock on his door. Grumbling, he made his way over to the door and opened, revealing a crewmember from the NSX. The crewmember saluted and then began speaking.
"Chief mechanic, we have received an urgent message from the government in Autozam. I was ordered to give the message to either the Commander, sub- Commander, or yourself depending on who was the easiest to find."
Zazu raised an eyebrow and the crewmember handed over a small portable computer where the message had been copied on to. Zazu felt his heart sink as he read the message and he nearly dropped the small computer in shock. His feelings must have showed on his face because the crewmember began apologizing to him, but Zazu only shook his head, not listening, not comprehending.
"No way..."
For the message that the government had sent them was a declaration of war. Author's note: I hope everyone's enjoying it so far. Hopefully I'll update soon.
Geo and Tatra had sneaked out while the others were distracted and headed straight to Tatra's room for some privacy. Tatra was sitting on the bed, brushing her hair and took surreptitious looks at Geo, who was standing against the wall.
"You still look so nervous being in here. It's not like this is the first time you've been in my room and we've been alone.
"I still feel like I'm intruding or something."
She studied his face for a moment, taking his expression into account, before she got up and walked over to him.
"Is it really that uncomfortable for you to be here with me?" There was a bit of hurt creeping into her voice.
Geo heard it and winced. "That's not what I meant!" He reached out a hand and brushed back some of the long strands of hair as he ran his fingers slowly through it. "Every time I put my arms around you I never want to let you go. You're different then any other woman I've met, you've got a kind and sweet nature, mixed with the intelligence and authority to maintain strong leadership. You were always on my mind after the first time I talked to you in Cephiro, knowing that I'd fallen in love with you." He closed his eyes and smiled at the fond memory. "There's no way you could ever make me feel uncomfortable."
She laughed, that nice ringing tone he enjoyed so much. "You really are shy about your feelings, even now." Tatra came closer to him and wrapped her arms tightly around him, resting her head on his chest for a moment before looking up at him.
"Remember when I first told you I loved you?"
Geo held her close to him, feeling the warmth of her body against his. "I really thought I had been dreaming. It was just too perfect. 'How could she ever love me?' That question kept running through my mind. But then, we kissed and I knew that there wasn't any way I could be dreaming and taste something that sweet."
Tatra began to lean forward to repeat the past experience, but he placed a reluctant finger on her lips. "That's why it bothers me that we have to keep our whole relationship a secret. It doesn't feel right for me to hide something like this because it almost makes me feel like we're doing something wrong by being together. I know that isn't true and it's necessary to keep our relationship a secret because of our statuses. You're the princess of Chizeta, heir to the countries' throne and I'm affiliated with the Autozam army, one of its most elite and highly regarded members to boot. Our countries haven't been the best of friends in the past and I doubt either of our countries' people will be overjoyed about our relationship." He sighed. "Worst of all is how I'm keeping this whole thing from my friends, as if I don't trust them. I hope they forgive me. I just wish..." Tatra placed a hand over his mouth, quieting him.
"Our statuses don't matter to me and I know, given time, our people can learn to accept our love. Don't worry about your friends, Geo, because I've met all of them and they have good hearts. They won't hold this against you. For right now I want to enjoy our precious time together, so that I can be close to you for as long as possible."
She leaned up and they kissed, treasuring the moment as they held each other close throughout the night.
Presea woke up early the next morning, brewed some tea and headed for the throne room. Clef was usually there and Presea made a habit of going their at an hour when they would have some privacy. Clef was a very busy man and she felt it was her duty to make sure he relaxed once in a while and didn't overexert himself. The doors opened as she approached, so she walked through the room and stopped in front of the throne were Clef was sitting with his staff against the wall.
"Clef, I've made you some hot tea. Would you like some?"
He nodded, not meeting her eyes as she slowly poured him a glass and handed it to him. Clef started sipping at the tea absently still ignoring her. Presea began to feel like something was wrong as he hadn't produced a chair for her or invited her to speak with him, like he always did.
"Clef," she began nervously, "have I done something wrong?"
"Well, you are bothering me. I had sought a little peace and quiet this morning, but you interrupted me."
His icy tone hurt her, but she steadied her emotion, desperate not to show any signs of weakness.
"I'm very sorry, Master Mage Clef." She bowed to him and turned to go, but his voice stopped her.
"Something terrible is going to happen to the three countries outside of Cephiro. Clef proclaimed this with a nonchalant, matter of fact tone.
"What do you mean 'something terrible'?" He didn't respond to her question, so she continued. "In any case, we've got to do something! How can we help those people from the other countries?"
Clef's features darkened before he snapped at her. "Utter foolishness! What reason do we have to help them when it has nothing to do with Cephiro? If they choose to fight against one another, then it isn't any concern of ours."
Presea gaped at his unfeeling callousness, telling her that they shouldn't concern themselves with people who had become their allies, people who had been helping them all this time. What could have happened to him in such a short time to make him say such horrible things?
Presea shook her head, dismay clear in her voice. "If they are going to fight, then we have to try and stop them! These people from the other countries are more than just our allies, they're our friends and they've stuck beside us to help rebuild a country that isn't theirs! We can't just- " Clef waved his hand to silence her, almost as if he were trying to sweep the matter aside.
"As I said, it is no concern of ours." His eyes narrowed and his voice took on an apathetic tone. "It doesn't matter if they helped us or not, if they wish to fight with one another, why should we stop them? Besides, if it has nothing to do with Cephiro, it won't matter to us even if they all kill each other. Why should we care?"
Presea had heard enough and turned to go, her heart beating quickly in her chest. She fled the room and as the doors closed behind her, she started shaking. A teacup shattered on the floor beneath her, but she hardly noticed. Her heart felt so heavy that tears had come to her eyes and she tried desperately to wipe them away.
My dear Clef, the thought was filled with deep sorrow, what in all of Cephiro could have happened to make you say such things? Clef...
Zazu had barely woken up, thinking about how much he'd enjoyed that bottle of wine, when he got an urgent knock on his door. Grumbling, he made his way over to the door and opened, revealing a crewmember from the NSX. The crewmember saluted and then began speaking.
"Chief mechanic, we have received an urgent message from the government in Autozam. I was ordered to give the message to either the Commander, sub- Commander, or yourself depending on who was the easiest to find."
Zazu raised an eyebrow and the crewmember handed over a small portable computer where the message had been copied on to. Zazu felt his heart sink as he read the message and he nearly dropped the small computer in shock. His feelings must have showed on his face because the crewmember began apologizing to him, but Zazu only shook his head, not listening, not comprehending.
"No way..."
For the message that the government had sent them was a declaration of war. Author's note: I hope everyone's enjoying it so far. Hopefully I'll update soon.