Destati Fatali
Notes: I find that as the story progresses, Squall goes more and more OOC... I don't know... but I think its fitting since Hamlet supposedly 'goes mad'. So... yeah... Squall's change of behaviour is trying to portray Hamlet's character. Enough rambling, on with the story
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, TheCiz, Rena! Thanks for the reviews, you guys keep this story going!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, ;; this fiction is done for entertainment purposes only.
Warnings: AU. Some OOC.
Act 5, Sc.i
Esthar Palace: Northeast Tower
"Milord..."
Silence.
"Your highness..."
Again, no response.
"Squall..." This time a different voice, female, full of worry and confusion.
Then with visible reluctance, the prince turned around to face the lady behind him, who was trembling from the cold out here. Squall didn't even flinch; the cold was nothing, absolutely nothing. "He's supposed to have come already."
"What- the ghost of your father?" Yuna enquired softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, only to have it blown over her face by a rebellious wind. "Are you certain that it was what the guards indeed saw?"
No answer, and the prince whirled angrily to look again at the midnight skies. Anything, a sign...
... Nothing but the echoes of the wind as it pushed against the tower. As if trying to bring down the entire structure, the heathens inside to be crushed by the stones.
"Squall..." the voice insisted, then a light feathery touch against his shoulder, to which the prince was unmoved. Brushing off the hand, he turned again, pacing the edge of the structure.
Again and again.
A continuing circle.
Like his thoughts, a continuing circle, once he reached a conclusion and moved forward, Squall had realized that he had once again arrived at the starting point. Thus thinking was futile, because as long as he didn't know- have more knowledge- with which to piece the puzzle...
He couldn't proceed to further to conclusions.
To step out of his circle.
Turning towards the fair lady behind him, Squall placed his hands on her shoulders resting his forehead against hers, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I know what I am told, and the guards cannot be mistaken."
Blue and green eyes filled with confusion.
"They cannot be mistaken."
The finality of his tone was unquestionable.
Arguing with him was impossible, Yuna knew that tone, his eyes- the firmness that stood behind those stormy blue-grey eyes. Her lips parted to give another little protest, but a surprised sigh was all it escaped them as Squall's cloak fell around her frame.
Well, at least she wouldn't be cold anymore...
Fingers wrapped around the cloak, pulling it tight against her lithe body, the shivering subsiding slowly.
"Stay with me another while."
And she did.
Act 5, Sc.ii
Esthar Palace: Lord Braska's room
"Ronso guard, where has my daughter gone? Bring her forth to me."
The animal-like guard shifted uncomfortable for a second, and looked at his lord apologetically, "I'm sorry milord, but she's with the prince... and he has forbade anyone intruding."
"Why- alone?!"
A little wince, ronso ears were particularly sensitive to loud voices- screams. "Yes, alone, Lord Braska. They were in the North Tower, at least, that's where I left Lady Yuna until Prince Squall dismissed me."
Braska paced impatiently around his room, "I do not approve that you left my daughter alone... with his Highness..."
"With all due respect, milord, the prince wouldn't let any harm befall-"
"Do not contradict me!"
Braska fumed in silence while the ronso lowered his head, "Forgive me milord. I forget myself."
"Too right you forget yourself, Ronso one. I would not have her in the prince's company- alone! The prince... is..."
"-Different." A third voice, Seifer, who bowed at the entrance of his father's room. "Father, I agree that her being left alone is inappropriate, but Squall has made many moves to show his intentions. They are honourable."
"Do you believe such a thing, son?" Braska said softly, sitting himself at a chair and pouring himself a glass of wine. "I wouldn't for the world have her alone with the prince."
"You never objected so strongly, father." Seifer lowered his head respectfully, "I trust my sister, and Squall. He's my friend."
Braska took a gulp and licked his lips, "Your friend, Seifer?" A little sneer to his words, and the High Priest let his last question hang silently.
"I shall fetch her, milord."
"You do that, Ronso guard."
The sound of footsteps out of the room, and Seifer turned his fierce green eyes upon his father. "You judge her too harshly father."
"And you don't judge her hard enough."
Father and son stared at each other for a long time, until finally, Seifer lowered his head, acknowledging his respect for the older man. "You know I trust you in all aspects, father, what is it about Squall that you find so wrong now?"
Braska sighed again, "Come closer to me, Seifer, and I'll tell you..."
Act 5, Sc.iii
Esthar Palace: Northeast Tower
"You believe me, don't you?" Squall said looking down at the future High Priestess, who was between looking apologetic and between seemingly lost in a daydream.
Pausing to give him an answer, Yuna considered that in this case it may be better not to say anything- but nod, you can't go wrong with nodding, right?
... Hopefully.
Nod.
Squall gave a rare smile, but it wasn't... those secretive smiles he offered when no one was around but them, there was something in that smile. Something that had changed. Something which was new.
A little hint of madness?
A smile between relieved, pleased... and something. That something which Yuna tried to grasp and understand. Perhaps that held the key to Squall, to who he was, to understand what was wrong with him now.
What was bothering him?
Pressing their foreheads together, he gave a sigh, "Thank you... I know its true, I know my father's spirit was here... Yuna..."
Another sigh, and the girl found herself closing her eyes, lulled by the atmosphere, everything was so... right.
"I know he's trying to tell me something... but I don't know what." He paused, his fingers trailing along the cloak over her shoulders, rubbing the cloth nervously between his thumbs.
"I need to know what-"
The sound of intruding footsteps caused Squall to lift his eyes, warningly at the intruding Ronso guard.
"I thought I made it clear that-"
The beast-like warrior bowed profusely and cleared his throat, "I know, your highness, but it is her father- Lord Braska who requests her precense."
Lord Braska?
Squall narrowed his eyes dangerously at the Ronso, "You can tell Lord Braska that-"He fell silent, feeling Yuna's light hand on his arm. A silent question in the gesture. Shifting unhappily, "-she'll be right with him, and send him my apologies for keeping her." He finished.
Flashing him a bright smile, Yuna nodded and bowed, "Thank you, your highness."
Forcing himself to return the smile, he gave a quick nod, "It is I who should thank you, for gracing me with your presence, milady."
"It is my pleasure."
"No lady," A smile bordering upon a smirk, "The pleasure is all mine."
Act 5, Sc.iv
Esthar Palace: Outside Lord Braska's Chambers
Both Seifer and Braska paced around her, it made Yuna squirm nervously, but she continued staring blankly ahead. Focused on nothing more than what was in front of her- the wall.
"I don't know, milord."
"But what were you two speaking about for such a long time, unwatched?"
Yuna cleared her throat, "It was nothing important, father,"
"Or perhaps it was that they did not do a lot of talking."
"Seifer!" Yuna protested, a light blush covering her cheeks at his insinuation. "It was nothing like that, we were just talking." And waiting for something.
Something that never happened, but waiting nonetheless, plus large parts of their time up there had been pure silence.
"Oh, but you wear his cloak?"
"It was very cold up there."
"Yuna don't you lie to me, I want to know what went on up there!" Braska rose his voice impatiently and frowned at his young daughter.
Her cheeks flushed again, but this time it was not embarrassment which filled them, rather anger, "Then you'll have a hard time finding out, since nothing happened!"
"Yuna!" This time it was Seifer, "Mind your manners towards your father."
Dejectedly, the girl lowered her voice, "I apologise, but please, father, nothing happened there."
"Then why take such a long time up there?"
The girl sighed and looked at the floor, "We were waiting for something..."
"Something? What could you possible wait for in that tower?" Something in Braska's tone bordered on the line of scorn and mockery- aimed at his daughter, whom shifted under his burning glance.
"N-nothing important..."
Braska gave a scoff, "It must certainly have been important, if you were willing to wait up there all that while..."
"He asked me not to leave."
Seifer frowned a little and rubbed the bridge of his nose, tiredly, maybe his father's questioning was too rough for his taste but... Seifer trusted his father to make the right decisions. Especially for Yuna.
"What were you waiting for?"
"Shooting stars..."
And Lord Braska exchanged a look with Seifer.
Act 5, Sc.v
Esthar Palace: Yuna's room
"You're angry at me, brother, I can tell."
Seifer shook his head pacing around, like a caged animal, as Yuna swung her legs a little, sitting on the bed comfortably. Squall's cloak was folded neatly next to her, while she had changed into her sleeping gown.
"You always pace when you're angry."
He lifted his green eyes to met her mismatched own. One green. One blue. A curse some had said. "I pace when I'm worried too."
"Are you worried then, brother?"
"Of course I am worried, for you, Yuna."
She shifted her eyes away, and began fiddling with the edge of the cloak, feeling the pleasantly warm texture under her fingers. "I don't see the need to be worried about me, brother."
"Yuna, I'm serious. I can see our father's concern."
She met his argument with defiant silence. No, she would not give into this.
"You don't know Squall."
She looked at the wall again. No, not listening.
"He can be unpredictable."
"I don't see anything wrong with him."
Seifer sighed, noticing the watered-down anger in her tone, and sat next to her, stroking her arm, "I know you don't sister, but you're naïve, you don't know the world..."
"... because you've never let me see it for myself..."
Seifer stopped his caress and shifted away, silent for a few moments, debating what to answer. "... your innocence is a rare thing in this world."
Silence.
"Father tells me the prince has made his affections known to you, what have you answered?"
Yuna sighed, "Nothing, nothing that would displease father."
The knight nodded, "I trust your word."
"Thank you, brother." Yuna threw her arms around the blond man, happily, her spirits raised at the prospect of his trust. "I'm telling you the truth..."
Seifer looked up at the ceiling, patting his sister comfortingly, "Then tell me... what were you really doing up in the tower tonight?"
Yuna shifted and looked back at Seifer, looking between guilty and flushing deeply. "It's complicated..."
"Why?"
"Because I promised not to tell..."
Taking her arm in a firm grasp, Seifer looked at his sister, a hint of dislike in his eyes- not for her- but for the prince. "Was it something we wouldn't like?"
"No... not really..."
"Yes or no."
"No..."
Seifer released her, "You're loyal to him, that I can see."
Do you love him?
Yet that question hung unanswered in the air.
"Seifer..."
"Hm?"
Yuna shifted and cuddled up against him, "I'm scared for him."
"Who?" He said patting her, and kissing her forehead, before moving away and tucking her into the bed.
"Squall."
Flashing her a reassuring smile he kissed her forehead again. "Do not trouble yourself, drink your tonic, and sleep." He offered her the glass.
Taking it between trembling fingers, Yuna looked at Seifer, hesitating for a second, before she gulped down the entire thing in one go. She handed the glass back, and rested back against the pillow, blue and green eyes closing.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Yuna." Seifer made sure she was tucked in properly and then left the room quietly.
Braska, who had been waiting outside looked at his son expectantly, "Well?"
"... maybe you were right."
End of Act 5
End notes: I was trying to develop Yuna as Ophelia a little more. Weee And Seifer was fun to do. He's such a good, caring brother... like Laertes.
On another note, I'm going to be gone until Tuesday, so... not any updates before then, but if things work out as I want... there should be one before Saturday 24- which is when I leave again. Travelling...
TheCiz- Thank you for your review! hands you Leon plushie I was hoping the fact this fic was so different that it would catch the interest of people. LOL! hides from your cat
Gord- As always, thank you for your very thoughtful review. Yep! That's right, Squall is going to follow Hamlet's madness, but I think it's hard to write it. Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! hands you Squall plushie
Rena- I sorrie that an update took so long! But I'll be better now, I'll try! hugs Meh, yeah, Hamlet was hard to get through, but nice! I also watched this modern version of it last week, which kind of was my kick to just get down and write some more of this fic. hands you Sasame plushie
