Chapter Three
Birth of a Warrior, Death of a Cherished One
I was the only one in the entire house who woke up early four years later. I bounced out of bed, excited. Birthday! It was my eleventh birthday, and I still remembered the promise Aireff had made two years before. I first made sure Angela was doing okay, then bounded straight out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.
Aireff wasn't awake. No matter, he would be soon. I entered my parent's bedroom, only to find it empty. Rose was already awake? Then where were she and Aireff? Baffled, I decided to try downstairs. I headed downstairs, and soon saw Aireff and Rose on the couch, talking.
"Hey!" I shouted. "Remember?"
I heard Aireff sigh, and he looked up.
"Remembe' what?" he asked.
"You know!" I cried. "I've been practicing for years, but now you have to!"
"Why are ya so excited? Ruben isn't," Aireff pointed out.
"You said I had the potential, remember? Come on!" I begged.
"Aireff," Rose said when Aireff moved to speak. "We 'ave no choice. Maybe Ruben won't want to, but Fratley deserves it if 'e wants it, right?"
Aireff nodded slightly, and I heard him sigh once more. He then rose and looked at me.
"All right, all right," he said. "Go upstairs, we'll join ya soon."
I nodded eagerly and bounded up the stairs. I rushed into the kitchen and sat the table, fidgeting eagerly. I was truly excited. I had seen Aireff fight plenty of times, and I had seen Rose fight once in a while too. I admired the warriors of the Burmecia, and dreamed of joining them.
Now, finally, I would be one step closer. I had been practicing long enough with a flimsy, dull wooden lance that didn't meet my liking. It had been for Ruben, but he didn't like it and gave it to me. Within a year or so I had mastered it. Now, I was ready for a real lance.
It seemed like hours before Aireff and Rose at last appeared in the kitchen. Aireff disappeared into the bedroom while Rose sat down.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked.
"Of course!" I replied. "I've practiced for years, 'ow could I not want this?"
"Your father is worried. His ancestors were not warriors. They were craftsmen," Rose told me.
"'E doesn't 'ave to worry! I'll be fine! I don't want ta be a craftsmen! Let Ruben be the craftsmen," I wailed.
Rose smiled slightly. "Fratley, I know. I want you to do this. But. I want you to be careful, okay? Being a warrior is dangerous."
"I know that. Aww, mamá, quit being such a pest! I'll be fine, I've been practicin' forever!"
"Prove that ya are payin' attention," Aireff said, suddenly tossing a Javelin in my direction.
I dodged the Javelin's pointy tip and grabbed the Javelin as it soared above my head. It was heavier than I had expected. I lowered the Javelin to my level and stared at it. The long handle was made of a thick wood, unlike my wooden spear, which was hollow. The pointy tip was made of iron, and two smaller iron tips were beside the larger one. I marveled at the weapon. It looked dangerous.
Even better, it was mine.
"There's ye weapon, Fratley," Aireff said, pouring himself a cup of tea. "Maybe later I'll take ya down ta the lake ta practice, if ye mothe' allows it."
"I wouldn't mind," Rose immediately said. "Ruben can watch Angela, and I want Fratley to get some practice."
I was so excited I couldn't speak. Was I really going to go to the lake and practice? I stared at the Javelin, wondering what it was like to use it in a fight. I remembered the times when my father would be fighting, and how exciting fighting looked. I could barely wait.
"Fratley, 'ow 'bout you 'ave some tea?" Aireff asked.
I shook my head, wanting nothing. All I wanted to do was go to the lake and try out the Javelin. I rose to my feet and sat down at the table, putting the Javelin carefully on the table. Rose took some tea and sat down as well. Aireff was leaning against the counter, sipping his tea. Soon, Ruben entered.
"Hello," he said. "What's going on?"
"Fratley has a weapon," Aireff said.
"Yeah, so ya better not annoy me!" I said teasingly.
Ruben laughed. "You're too nice to poke me with that thin."
"Is Angela all right?" Rose asked.
"She's breathing," Ruben said simply.
Rose immediately rose from the table and rushed into the bedroom. Angela had been getting worse and worse as the years passed. Her legs were no longer usable as painless paralysis came in. The glucose clogged her throat ever more often. Her hands were not shaking anymore. They were instead losing any feeling. She could still play cards, however, I didn't know how much longer she could.
Suddenly worry for my sister flooded my mind. That's it? She was only breathing? I rose and jogged into the room to find my mother almost in tears.
"Angela?" she was whispering. "Angela? Angela?"
I rushed over and fell to Angela's side. I watched as her eyes slowly opened. Those beautiful violet eyes were suddenly dull and almost lifeless.
"Mamá." she whispered.
"Angela," Rose choked out. "Angela, get up. Get up."
"Angela?" I asked.
"Mamá, Fratley," Angela muttered, taking a deep breath. "It's okay. This is good."
"Angela," Rose choked out. "Fratley, get Junes. Get Junes."
Immediately I rose and ran out of the room.
"What's wrong, Fratley?" Aireff asked.
"Angela," I managed to say as I nearly flew down the stairs.
I opened the door and was greeted by summer humidity. I closed the door quickly and began to jog down the wet streets. The rain was fairly heavy, as it always was in the middle of July. I raced down the street and accidentally bumped into a woman.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" I immediately said.
"It's all right. What's the hurry?" the woman asked.
"My sister is in trouble. I need Junes!" I told her.
The woman frowned. "In trouble?"
"She's dying!" I blurted out.
I rushed by the woman before she could reply. My feet pounded and scraped against the wet street as I dodged people, heading straight for Junes' home. I had to go there many times before for Angela. I memorized the way to his house. I darted in and out between early-morning crowds until I at last came to Junes' house. I pounded my fist on the door. It seemed like hours before Junes finally appeared.
"Fratley?" he asked.
"Angela is dying!" I wailed.
Immediately Junes turned around and rushed back into the house. I waited at the door anxiously. Soon, I saw Junes come with his large sack. I immediately turned around and ran toward home, Junes following me. I was running so quickly I slammed into the door of my house and fell to the ground. Junes helped me to my feet, opened the door, and hurried up the stairs. I followed him, closing the door before darting up the stairs. No one was in the kitchen, so I quickly darted into the children's bedroom.
Junes was kneeling beside Angela, looking her over. Tears were streaming from Rose's eyes as Aireff hugged her for comfort. Ruben looked extremely worried. I watched as Junes looked her over. He frowned.
"I don't know," he said. "I think her heart is failing. There's nothing I can do."
It took a few seconds for his words to sink in, and when they did, it felt like the sky had fallen and crushed me. I rushed over to Angela, Ruben following. Rose at this point seemed to be going insane, and she didn't go anywhere. Aireff was trying desperately to comfort her while making an attempt to keep himself calm.
"Angela!" I cried. "Not now! Not now!"
"Fratley, don't worry. This - is good. No more problems, and no - more burdens. I will be happy, and all of you - can live your lives with - no problems," Angela said quietly.
"You're not a burden! This is not good. Angela, don't you understand?" I sobbed.
"Fratley, imagine sleeping a - peaceful night. Imagine - waking up and not - having to do anything special. Imagine - a life with fewer burdens. Fratley - I want to leave," Angela whispered.
"Don't say that!" I cried.
Ruben bowed his head. "I guess if it's what you want, we can't change your mind."
Angela only smiled. "Ruben - you're a great - fellow. Become - that blacksmith - all right?"
Ruben nodded feebly. He then suddenly ran out of the room. I took a shaky breath.
"Angela - Angela, you'll always be the Queen of Cards," I muttered.
Angela smiled. "Maybe - someday - we - can - play - again."
At this point the tears in my eyes were making it extremely difficult to see. I could still see, however, Angela's eyes close and her chest make one last attempt at a full breath. But then she sighed a soft sigh. Nothing followed this sigh. Angela lay still.
Rose screamed.
About a half-hour later the house was still chaotic. Rose and Aireff were crying in each other's arms. Ruben had simply headed downstairs. I was watching the priest.
I was angry. He said he was helping her to the next world. But she was already in the next world! He had come too late to help her anywhere! Wherever she was, she was stuck there, and a priest wasn't going to help in the least.
"You're useless!" I screamed at the priest suddenly.
I ran out of the room and into the kitchen. Nothing seemed the same. I grabbed my new Javelin and raced down the stairs and out of the house. The July humidity greeted me. Outside, everyone seemed too happy. Even the rain seemed too happy. I ran away from all these people and toward the back of the house. Behind the house was a once-gorgeous tree. Now it was dead. I ran toward the tree and began hacking away at its black, dead trunk. I didn't notice, but each attack hit exactly where I wanted it to hit. The Javelin hit its target perfectly and without a flaw each time. I wasn't admiring my skills, however. I was venting out anger at the priest for coming late, at Junes for doing nothing, and at death, for taking Angela.
I heard something behind me, and I turned around. To my surprise and anger, there was a girl around my age hanging about on the roof. She was familiar, but in my state I could not remember a thing about her. She stared with green eyes that held pity.
I picked up a rock.
"GET OUT OF HERE!" I roared, throwing the rock in the girl's direction.
I didn't see or hear the girl move, but before I knew it she was on a different roof, out of harm's way. She was staring at me.
"You never had a death in your family, did you? You wouldn't understand!" I screamed.
Suddenly I was on the ground, the girl standing over me. Her once placid green eyes were on fire.
"Don't dare assume something unless you know it is true," she hissed.
Then, suddenly, her voice brought me to reality. I recognized her silver hair and green eyes. This was the girl who had saved my life a few years before.
"Freya," I muttered. "I'm sorry."
I expected her to cream me. She instead rose to her feet and allowed me to rise as well.
"I'm sorry about your sister," Freya said quietly. "But don't blame it on me or the tree. We didn't do anything."
"How did you know it's my sister? Have you been stalking me?" I asked angrily.
"You bumped into my mother, and she kind of told the rest of us. Go home," Freya said.
She walked away, and I found I couldn't chase her. I instead headed home.
"Fratley, where were you?" Rose asked.
Her voice was soft, her eyes puffy and red. I could see that her cheeks were wet. I ran into my mother's arms.
"Mamá," I muttered softly. "Mamá, I want to become a Dragon Warrior. I want to protect people like Angela."
Rose was silent for a while. I could feel her shaking.
"Whatever you want, Fratley, whatever you want," Rose choked out along with tears.
Rose began to cry, and this triggered my own tears. We both sobbed over Angela.
------- That's Chapter Three! I really have no clue what I was aiming for in this chapter. I stuck with explaining what happened to Angela, and why Fratley chooses to be a Dragon Warrior instead of just an average soldier. Bit of a bad chapter, I know, but I had a major case of Writer's Block, which may explain the, eh, crappiness. Next chapter should be better, once I actually start to write it!
This story is copyright to me. Characters, some events, and the world of Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.
Birth of a Warrior, Death of a Cherished One
I was the only one in the entire house who woke up early four years later. I bounced out of bed, excited. Birthday! It was my eleventh birthday, and I still remembered the promise Aireff had made two years before. I first made sure Angela was doing okay, then bounded straight out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.
Aireff wasn't awake. No matter, he would be soon. I entered my parent's bedroom, only to find it empty. Rose was already awake? Then where were she and Aireff? Baffled, I decided to try downstairs. I headed downstairs, and soon saw Aireff and Rose on the couch, talking.
"Hey!" I shouted. "Remember?"
I heard Aireff sigh, and he looked up.
"Remembe' what?" he asked.
"You know!" I cried. "I've been practicing for years, but now you have to!"
"Why are ya so excited? Ruben isn't," Aireff pointed out.
"You said I had the potential, remember? Come on!" I begged.
"Aireff," Rose said when Aireff moved to speak. "We 'ave no choice. Maybe Ruben won't want to, but Fratley deserves it if 'e wants it, right?"
Aireff nodded slightly, and I heard him sigh once more. He then rose and looked at me.
"All right, all right," he said. "Go upstairs, we'll join ya soon."
I nodded eagerly and bounded up the stairs. I rushed into the kitchen and sat the table, fidgeting eagerly. I was truly excited. I had seen Aireff fight plenty of times, and I had seen Rose fight once in a while too. I admired the warriors of the Burmecia, and dreamed of joining them.
Now, finally, I would be one step closer. I had been practicing long enough with a flimsy, dull wooden lance that didn't meet my liking. It had been for Ruben, but he didn't like it and gave it to me. Within a year or so I had mastered it. Now, I was ready for a real lance.
It seemed like hours before Aireff and Rose at last appeared in the kitchen. Aireff disappeared into the bedroom while Rose sat down.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked.
"Of course!" I replied. "I've practiced for years, 'ow could I not want this?"
"Your father is worried. His ancestors were not warriors. They were craftsmen," Rose told me.
"'E doesn't 'ave to worry! I'll be fine! I don't want ta be a craftsmen! Let Ruben be the craftsmen," I wailed.
Rose smiled slightly. "Fratley, I know. I want you to do this. But. I want you to be careful, okay? Being a warrior is dangerous."
"I know that. Aww, mamá, quit being such a pest! I'll be fine, I've been practicin' forever!"
"Prove that ya are payin' attention," Aireff said, suddenly tossing a Javelin in my direction.
I dodged the Javelin's pointy tip and grabbed the Javelin as it soared above my head. It was heavier than I had expected. I lowered the Javelin to my level and stared at it. The long handle was made of a thick wood, unlike my wooden spear, which was hollow. The pointy tip was made of iron, and two smaller iron tips were beside the larger one. I marveled at the weapon. It looked dangerous.
Even better, it was mine.
"There's ye weapon, Fratley," Aireff said, pouring himself a cup of tea. "Maybe later I'll take ya down ta the lake ta practice, if ye mothe' allows it."
"I wouldn't mind," Rose immediately said. "Ruben can watch Angela, and I want Fratley to get some practice."
I was so excited I couldn't speak. Was I really going to go to the lake and practice? I stared at the Javelin, wondering what it was like to use it in a fight. I remembered the times when my father would be fighting, and how exciting fighting looked. I could barely wait.
"Fratley, 'ow 'bout you 'ave some tea?" Aireff asked.
I shook my head, wanting nothing. All I wanted to do was go to the lake and try out the Javelin. I rose to my feet and sat down at the table, putting the Javelin carefully on the table. Rose took some tea and sat down as well. Aireff was leaning against the counter, sipping his tea. Soon, Ruben entered.
"Hello," he said. "What's going on?"
"Fratley has a weapon," Aireff said.
"Yeah, so ya better not annoy me!" I said teasingly.
Ruben laughed. "You're too nice to poke me with that thin."
"Is Angela all right?" Rose asked.
"She's breathing," Ruben said simply.
Rose immediately rose from the table and rushed into the bedroom. Angela had been getting worse and worse as the years passed. Her legs were no longer usable as painless paralysis came in. The glucose clogged her throat ever more often. Her hands were not shaking anymore. They were instead losing any feeling. She could still play cards, however, I didn't know how much longer she could.
Suddenly worry for my sister flooded my mind. That's it? She was only breathing? I rose and jogged into the room to find my mother almost in tears.
"Angela?" she was whispering. "Angela? Angela?"
I rushed over and fell to Angela's side. I watched as her eyes slowly opened. Those beautiful violet eyes were suddenly dull and almost lifeless.
"Mamá." she whispered.
"Angela," Rose choked out. "Angela, get up. Get up."
"Angela?" I asked.
"Mamá, Fratley," Angela muttered, taking a deep breath. "It's okay. This is good."
"Angela," Rose choked out. "Fratley, get Junes. Get Junes."
Immediately I rose and ran out of the room.
"What's wrong, Fratley?" Aireff asked.
"Angela," I managed to say as I nearly flew down the stairs.
I opened the door and was greeted by summer humidity. I closed the door quickly and began to jog down the wet streets. The rain was fairly heavy, as it always was in the middle of July. I raced down the street and accidentally bumped into a woman.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" I immediately said.
"It's all right. What's the hurry?" the woman asked.
"My sister is in trouble. I need Junes!" I told her.
The woman frowned. "In trouble?"
"She's dying!" I blurted out.
I rushed by the woman before she could reply. My feet pounded and scraped against the wet street as I dodged people, heading straight for Junes' home. I had to go there many times before for Angela. I memorized the way to his house. I darted in and out between early-morning crowds until I at last came to Junes' house. I pounded my fist on the door. It seemed like hours before Junes finally appeared.
"Fratley?" he asked.
"Angela is dying!" I wailed.
Immediately Junes turned around and rushed back into the house. I waited at the door anxiously. Soon, I saw Junes come with his large sack. I immediately turned around and ran toward home, Junes following me. I was running so quickly I slammed into the door of my house and fell to the ground. Junes helped me to my feet, opened the door, and hurried up the stairs. I followed him, closing the door before darting up the stairs. No one was in the kitchen, so I quickly darted into the children's bedroom.
Junes was kneeling beside Angela, looking her over. Tears were streaming from Rose's eyes as Aireff hugged her for comfort. Ruben looked extremely worried. I watched as Junes looked her over. He frowned.
"I don't know," he said. "I think her heart is failing. There's nothing I can do."
It took a few seconds for his words to sink in, and when they did, it felt like the sky had fallen and crushed me. I rushed over to Angela, Ruben following. Rose at this point seemed to be going insane, and she didn't go anywhere. Aireff was trying desperately to comfort her while making an attempt to keep himself calm.
"Angela!" I cried. "Not now! Not now!"
"Fratley, don't worry. This - is good. No more problems, and no - more burdens. I will be happy, and all of you - can live your lives with - no problems," Angela said quietly.
"You're not a burden! This is not good. Angela, don't you understand?" I sobbed.
"Fratley, imagine sleeping a - peaceful night. Imagine - waking up and not - having to do anything special. Imagine - a life with fewer burdens. Fratley - I want to leave," Angela whispered.
"Don't say that!" I cried.
Ruben bowed his head. "I guess if it's what you want, we can't change your mind."
Angela only smiled. "Ruben - you're a great - fellow. Become - that blacksmith - all right?"
Ruben nodded feebly. He then suddenly ran out of the room. I took a shaky breath.
"Angela - Angela, you'll always be the Queen of Cards," I muttered.
Angela smiled. "Maybe - someday - we - can - play - again."
At this point the tears in my eyes were making it extremely difficult to see. I could still see, however, Angela's eyes close and her chest make one last attempt at a full breath. But then she sighed a soft sigh. Nothing followed this sigh. Angela lay still.
Rose screamed.
About a half-hour later the house was still chaotic. Rose and Aireff were crying in each other's arms. Ruben had simply headed downstairs. I was watching the priest.
I was angry. He said he was helping her to the next world. But she was already in the next world! He had come too late to help her anywhere! Wherever she was, she was stuck there, and a priest wasn't going to help in the least.
"You're useless!" I screamed at the priest suddenly.
I ran out of the room and into the kitchen. Nothing seemed the same. I grabbed my new Javelin and raced down the stairs and out of the house. The July humidity greeted me. Outside, everyone seemed too happy. Even the rain seemed too happy. I ran away from all these people and toward the back of the house. Behind the house was a once-gorgeous tree. Now it was dead. I ran toward the tree and began hacking away at its black, dead trunk. I didn't notice, but each attack hit exactly where I wanted it to hit. The Javelin hit its target perfectly and without a flaw each time. I wasn't admiring my skills, however. I was venting out anger at the priest for coming late, at Junes for doing nothing, and at death, for taking Angela.
I heard something behind me, and I turned around. To my surprise and anger, there was a girl around my age hanging about on the roof. She was familiar, but in my state I could not remember a thing about her. She stared with green eyes that held pity.
I picked up a rock.
"GET OUT OF HERE!" I roared, throwing the rock in the girl's direction.
I didn't see or hear the girl move, but before I knew it she was on a different roof, out of harm's way. She was staring at me.
"You never had a death in your family, did you? You wouldn't understand!" I screamed.
Suddenly I was on the ground, the girl standing over me. Her once placid green eyes were on fire.
"Don't dare assume something unless you know it is true," she hissed.
Then, suddenly, her voice brought me to reality. I recognized her silver hair and green eyes. This was the girl who had saved my life a few years before.
"Freya," I muttered. "I'm sorry."
I expected her to cream me. She instead rose to her feet and allowed me to rise as well.
"I'm sorry about your sister," Freya said quietly. "But don't blame it on me or the tree. We didn't do anything."
"How did you know it's my sister? Have you been stalking me?" I asked angrily.
"You bumped into my mother, and she kind of told the rest of us. Go home," Freya said.
She walked away, and I found I couldn't chase her. I instead headed home.
"Fratley, where were you?" Rose asked.
Her voice was soft, her eyes puffy and red. I could see that her cheeks were wet. I ran into my mother's arms.
"Mamá," I muttered softly. "Mamá, I want to become a Dragon Warrior. I want to protect people like Angela."
Rose was silent for a while. I could feel her shaking.
"Whatever you want, Fratley, whatever you want," Rose choked out along with tears.
Rose began to cry, and this triggered my own tears. We both sobbed over Angela.
------- That's Chapter Three! I really have no clue what I was aiming for in this chapter. I stuck with explaining what happened to Angela, and why Fratley chooses to be a Dragon Warrior instead of just an average soldier. Bit of a bad chapter, I know, but I had a major case of Writer's Block, which may explain the, eh, crappiness. Next chapter should be better, once I actually start to write it!
This story is copyright to me. Characters, some events, and the world of Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.