Destati Fatali
Notes: OMG An update! XP I'm am so sorry guys. I just ran into a huge block with this fic and decided to leave it alone... . it took me a while to get back into writing it... but... I do hope to finish it within the next couple of weeks. But... sets muse traps around the room
Loosely based/inspired on Shakespeare's tragedy- "Hamlet". As mentioned, this is a crossover so expect... unusualness occurring. I wanted to try something different
Other than that please enjoy and read & review, I'll love you forever and ever.
Special thank you to Gord, RenaLanford65 and Teri. worships, huggles thank you very much for your reviews.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, ;; this fiction is done for entertainment purposes only.
Warnings: AU. Some OOC.
Act 4, Sc.i
Esthar Palace: Great Hall
The music didn't fit the atmosphere.
That was the first thought flicking across the prince's mind as he stepped into the Great Hall, his future high priestess by his side. Yuna seemed at more ease than Squall, more accustomed to what was expected.
Politely she waited in the entrance as the music died down, silence covering the room like a thick veil. Not even murmurs were heard in the crowd as Squall stepped forward, along the velvet carpet towards the throne- where Sir Seymour was sitting, with Queen Edea by his side- a sight that displeased the prince.
Breath.
Step forward.
Bow.
Squall's blue eyes never left his uncle's as he bowed his head.
Seymour's sombre face did not change, but the prince saw it- glowing inside his uncle's eyes- that glint of pure madness, a hunter who had just killed. Wild, untamed, vicious.
The look of a killer.
Never before had the prince felt so sick, so disgusted with this man in front of him, and never before had he been forced to keep his face still, his manners perfect, his temper in check.
"My son," Seymour began slowly, with a tone of fake sincerity- of that Squall was certain- he could smell the man's lying breath from where he stood. "I hope you can see that I have no intention if trying to replace your father, I merely wish..."
He paused for effect, as if this had all been rehearsed beforehand, "... to lessen your pain, and thus it is with great sorrow that I accept the duties of the king."
"However, it is also with great joy that I announce the fact Queen Edea has agreed to being my wife." Seymour took her hand and stroked it with the back of his thumb, and the raven-haired woman smiled up at him.
As if her husband had not died recently.
As if nothing mattered.
But this man.
Squall felt ill, he wanted to scream, to strike but all he could do was bow and step back, his grip tightening around Yuna's arm slightly.
How dare this man.
How dare his mother do this!
Act 4, Sc.ii
Esthar Palace: Great Hall
"Delicate like a flower."
"Indeed, a lovely, lovely girl, and the favourite of Edea."
"I appreciate your compliments towards my daughter." Lord Braska gave a pleased nod, and lifted his cup sipping the white wine within.
"And your son, a fine knight he'll make. Probably be promoted to captain of the Prince's escorts."
"Indeed?" Braska seemed suddenly interested in the noble's words, "What would cause you to say such a thing Lady Paine?"
"Well, if we are speaking among friends-"she lowered her voice, "Lord Seymour himself has told me that he wishes your son to occupy such a post. Especially now, when the Prince is in such a dire need of company."
Braska took a sip of wine and smiled, "Oh?" Seymour was planning that? Well... it was just silly to not have consulted it with him in the first place! Seifer was set to follow in a trip down to the region of Dollet. All set up in the interest of widening his perspective.
Of showing him the world.
While his daughter... she was kept as far away from the world as possible. A lovely and naïve flower. In such a world...
"So tell me then, Lord Braska, has the prince indeed made many shows of his affection for your daughter?"
Another sip.
"Well, I have tried to extract the details from Yuna, but she has made no comment other than he has made some... hm, vows? Yes- vows of his affection to my daughter."
"Obviously it has made a deep, deep impression within the lady. And she? What has she replied?"
A light chuckled escape Braska's lips, "Why none, and nothing. Yuna herself has confessed to me that she does not know what to make out of the prince's words."
"Of course, being a worried father, I forbade her from speaking with the same freedom the prince speaks to her with."
"Very cautious, indeed, milord."
A weary chuckle was the reply given.
Act 4, Sc.iii
Esthar Palace: Balcony
The breeze out here was cool, an almost chilly wind that swept across one's shoulders and sent a shiver down the spine. The sky had gone from a rainbow of colours to a royal blue that kept turning into a deep midnight black.
Not a single star in sight.
How long had he been standing out here? Most of the night, that was for sure. Much too long, that his limbs seemed to have stiffen as if possessed by rigor mortis.
"You seem to be very troubled, your highness."
"How could I not be, Lady Yuna?" Swirling a glass of wine in his hand, he sighed, "My father's murderer roams free."
Blue and green eyes became wide for a second, surprised by his statement, "Your father's murderer, sire? The king died of natural causes-"
The glass shattered and the prince had turned towards her, with a look of pure ferocity, he grabbed her arm and jerked her towards him. "I'll tell you something." He whispered his stormy blue-grey eyes fixed on the trembling maiden.
"I'll tell you something, Lady Yuna, something everyone in this hall should know," Frightened, the girl wished to shift her eyes away from the prince, but they were capture by the sheer anger in them.
Pure loathing.
"My father, did not pass away of natural causes," his grip loosened a little bit as he blinked and looked away, "He was murdered." And with that he released the girl and pushed away from her.
"Squall..."
No reply.
Looking down, the girl shifted to lean on the balcony edge, watching the prince sideways. The look of ferocity had died down, ebbed away into a quiet anger that boiled under the surface.
An anger so deep.
Like the depths of a river.
"I'm sorry."
Once again, the prince's reply was silence, as they stood side by side, watching the black night sky. Not even a ray of moonlight shone through. Nothing.
Silence reigned them for a while, until one of the guards approached them.
"Prince Squall..." A bow.
Squall and Yuna turned around to face the guard, who had a rather solemn expression on his face. Too frightened in comparison to the happy, smiling faces of the ballroom. As if he had seen death itself come for him.
"Yes, Zell. What is the matter?"
"I think... your highness needs to come see this..."
Brushing Yuna's cheek lightly, the prince followed the guard, and the girl could do nothing but watch him go. She was worried, but also frightened. Frightened of the anger she had seen.
Not directed at her, but it was an uncontrollable hate.
Emotions without control lead into madness.
Act 4, Sc.iv
Esthar Palace: Upper Tower
"Are you certain of what you seen?"
A blond guard shifted nervously and looked at the floor, "We were pretty certain, Prince."
The prince whirled around and grabbed Zell by the collar, lifting him up against the wall, "How certain is 'pretty certain'?"
Gulping a bit, "It... it was him, your highness."
Squall released him and paced around the tower, feeling the wind brush his auburn locks of hair untidily around. "I could kill you for saying such things..."
"But... your highness, Irving saw it as well!"
Whirling around, Squall allowed his eyes to search the darkness, for any signs of what Zell spoke of. If the man were not one of his best guards, and a trusted messenger... the prince would've ignored him from the very first moment.
No- not ignored, have him thrown into the dungeons most likely...
"Where did you see it?"
Zell stepped next to the prince and timidly pointed across, at the opposite tower. "It glided from over there to here..."
He omitted the part of both him and Irving fleeing down the tower as fast as they could as soon as they saw the figure approaching. Walking across thin air. People just didn't 'walk' or 'glide' or 'slid' along thin air...
Did they?
No.
"Have you drunk much tonight?"
"No, your highness, not one glass of alcohol."
The prince stepped around the tower again and glanced down from the edge. "It's impossible."
"It would seem like so, prince..."
"But..."
"Highness?" Zell enquired softly, as Squall stepped away from the edge shaking his head. "Prince Squall?"
Blue eyes slowly focused again, "Maybe, Zell, maybe tomorrow night..."
Shifting in discomfort, the guard couldn't help but to feel uneasy at the glint in the prince's eye. Determined and...
... the guard couldn't find the right word for it. Obsessed? Possessed? Mad?
Or something else altogether?
"Tomorrow night, sire?"
"Yes, Zell, tomorrow night, maybe... the strange visitor will come again."
Strange...
Visitor?
The guard though it was more like... a vision sent from hell, after all, wasn't this time- midnight, when hell itself yawned and spat unwanted demons out to roam?
"With all respect sire, maybe..."
But Squall wasn't listening anymore, he paced around the tower once again. "Yes... yes... maybe it's trying to tell me something."
"What is...?"
"My father's spirit must be here... because ... he was murdered."
And he had come to tell Squall who it had been. After all, those who died peacefully didn't come back to wonder the earth, did they?
End of Act 4
End Notes: Well, I'm getting somewhere now... X3, I am so sorry guys for not updating in such a long time. ;; hands out lots of candy and bishi plushies in apology
Teri-chan: Thanks so much, pokes
Gord-san, as always, thank you so very much for your insightful review. Very, very, very appreciated. hugs
RenaLanford65, thanks so much. Ne, Hamlet is pretty interesting once you get into it. I also watched a modern version of it. It was pretty cool. feels bad for Ophelia ;;
Read and review, please.
