Chapter Four
Wild One
One year later, I knew exactly what I would be doing. I woke up just as the sun was rising on other parts of the Continent. I yawned and slid out of the bed and straight onto the floor. I rose to my feet, looking around. Outside, the spring rain was peaceful. I left the room and entered the kitchen.
I was a bundle of nerves. I started a pot of water boiling over the fire to make tea. I wasn't fond of the taste, but it stifled my nerves. I tried to sit at the table and be still, but soon I was pacing around. Today was the day the Dragon Warrior contestants would be chosen. I was younger than all the contestants were. What if I screwed up?
You'll be fine, I tried to assure myself.
It took me a few seconds to realize the water was boiling, and had nearly boiled itself away. I quickly took it off the fire and poured what was left the water into the mug. Stirring the tea idly, I looked around the dark, quiet house. I was the only one awake. By the time someone woke up, I would already be gone.
I drank some of the tea, but it tasted funny to me. There was something wrong with it, or me. I forced myself to drink it all, then put the cup in the sink. I rose to my feet, took the Javelin from the wall, and headed down the stairs. I left the house and started down the quiet road. As usual, some Burmecians were already up. I headed toward the lake, where the Contestants were to be tested. I tossed my Javelin from hand to hand nervously.
"Hey."
I stopped walking and looked around to locate the voice. Soon, the speaker appeared. She stared at me with green eyes. I recognized her immediately.
"Hello," I said.
At this point the two of us tried to remember each other's names. We spent a lot of time together, but we could never remember the name of the other.
"Freya," I guessed.
"No fair, you remembered first," Freya muttered. "Fratley?"
"Yep," I said proudly. "We'll remember eventually."
"When we're 50," Freya muttered.
I laughed. "At this rate it is going to take that long."
We began to walk down the street. I could sense Freya's nervousness, though why she was nervous I did not know. I didn't really care either, as I was too busy admiring how pretty she looked that morning.
"Everyone's sleeping in late," Freya said, though I wasn't paying attention. "Usually more people are awake."
A few seconds passed, and before I could react Freya had pinned me to a wall.
"Pay more attention or I'm going to kick your ass," she muttered with a smile.
Freya always seemed to know when a guy was admiring her, and for some reason she preferred men listening to her to admiring her. I couldn't figure it out.
"Sorry," I muttered, now not only admiring Freya's looks but also her quickness on foot. "So, quiet night - I mean morning, huh?"
Freya laughed. "You're funny." She began to walk away.
"Hey, wait, what's so funny?" I asked, running after her.
Freya smiled. "You are!" She then began to run off.
"I don't get what I did that is so funny!" I replied, chasing after her.
"You'll figure it out! Think like a lady!" Freya said with a grin.
"Telling me to think like a lady is like telling my father to do the laundry!"
"I take it he doesn't do it?"
"Never! He wouldn't do it for a million Gil! And I won't think like a lady for that much money either!"
"Would you do it for a kiss?"
"What?!"
"You heard me."
At this point Freya leapt onto a roof and began jumping from roof to roof. I followed her, but ended up falling on my face by the third jump. I rose quickly to my feet, but only ended up falling off the roof and into a rose garden.
"Yow!" I yelped. "Thorns!"
Freya was standing on the roof laughing hysterically. I leapt out of the rose garden, brushing away thorns. I glared at Freya.
"You are very hard to be friends with!" I snarled.
Freya smiled. "Oh, I know."
Freya's smile warmed my heart and I suddenly couldn't be mad at her. Her smile broadened.
"But you have to love me!" she chirped, leaping down to my level.
"You're right about that one," I commented. "You could rob a store and your smile would make you get away with it."
"I'll have to try that," Freya said thoughtfully.
"No, please don't!" I said with a laugh.
"The stores don't have anything good to rob anyway," Freya said.
"Thank goodness," I muttered. "You'd be robbing every store in sight otherwise."
"Oh, shut up!" Freya growled, cuffing me playfully.
"What are you, a wolf?" I asked teasingly. "Play-fighting?"
At this point Freya tackled me to the ground, a smile on her face.
"No, I'm a cat. And you're a mouse," she told me.
"Oh no, she's going to eat me!" I yelped with feigned fear.
"Nah, I don't think so. You wouldn't taste good. Maybe I'll just play with you and leave you to die."
I simply rolled my eyes. Eventually she would get off me, but it wouldn't do any good to try and throw her off. Freya was stronger than I was, though Freya said otherwise.
"Then the vultures can eat you," Freya finished, and I realized I hadn't been paying attention.
"So I'm going to have a very bad death?" I asked.
Freya smirked. "Oh, yes, and I'm going to cause it!"
"I'm really scared, Freya."
"You should be."
"Can you just get off me?"
"I have to hurt you first!"
"Then hurt me and get it over with."
Freya gave me a kiss on the cheek and leapt over me. I stared at her as she rose to her feet.
"That didn't hurt, you know," I said, though I was surprised.
"I'll have to try harder next time," Freya said jokingly. "Well, are you going to just sit there staring at me like I'm a goddess? Let's go!"
I rose to my feet, and we began to walk toward the lake. Freya's nervousness seemed to have left while mine returned quickly. I took my Javelin, which I had strapped to my back, and began to fumble with it again.
"Something wrong?" Freya asked.
"Just nervous," I commented.
"Think I'm going to hurt you?" Freya asked teasingly.
"No! I'm nervous about the choosing today," I explained. "I don't think I'll make it."
"Not make it? What for? You're the strongest kid in this whole town and you don't think you can make it?" Freya asked.
"I'm the youngest contestant. I just know I am," I said nervously. "If I screw up -"
"Which is completely impossible -"
"I'm going to be the laughing stock of Burmecia."
Freya laughed and put her arm around my shoulders. "I doubt that. You're pretty quick and strong. How could you not make it?"
"I can't catch you," I said. "You always end up bringing me flat on my face. I think you have a better chance of making it than me."
"Are you kidding? I have a better chance of growing a second tail and learning to dance perfectly than beating even one contestant!" Freya wailed.
"Freya, I've seen you dance and you dance better than my mother," I commented. "Also, you're so quick, if not exactly strong. They'll pick you immediately."
"But I'm a girl," Freya muttered downheartedly.
"So what? You're stronger than most of the guys in this whole kingdom!" I declared. "You have a better chance than me when both my parents are Dragon Warriors and forced me to know my ABC's when I was only eight!"
"So that's where you were," Freya muttered. She sighed. "I don't know how to read."
"You learn when you're elected to the Dragon School, and I know you'll make it!"
"I don't know."
"You'll be fine! You'll make it, and I'll cheer you on!"
"Frat, you're the one who's going to make it."
"Not a chance!"
"Have you noticed our complete lack of confidence in ourselves, yet our full confidence for each other?"
"We've always been like this, Freya," I said with a laugh.
My laugh seemed to ease the both of us, and Freya smiled. We were nearing the gate leading to the Royal Grounds. We stepped up the stairs, and soon fell into a race. Freya won, being naturally quicker. I was gasping by the end of it.
"Too much running!" I gasped.
I began to fall downward, and Freya caught me. We both knew that I had feigned the whole stunt. Laughing, Freya shoved me forward.
"Come on, slave, move faster!" she cried.
"Since when was I your slave?" I asked.
"Since five seconds ago," Freya said with a grin.
"Oh, fine. Yes, master!" I saluted Freya and held open the door for her.
Freya smiled wickedly. "Good slave." She gave me a light punch in the cheek as she stepped through. Though it left nothing more than a slight tingle, I made myself fall over just to give her satisfaction. I rose to my feet and entered through the doorway, closing the door behind me.
"Naughty slave, you took too long!" Freya snapped, grinning.
I shrugged. "That's what happens when you punch the slave, master," I said, and received a punch in the shoulder.
"That's not how slaves talk, you dip!" Freya muttered.
"Sorry, I'm not used to slaves," I whispered back with a shrug.
"Oh well, fun while it lasted," Freya said. "Come on, down to the lake!"
"Yes, ma'am!" I saluted Freya once again.
"Don't do that, it's ridiculous," Freya said with a laugh.
We resumed walking, this time in the direction of the lake. Its waters were very calm, though no doubt freezing. We could see someone near the lake. He had a target used commonly for arrows with him. He saw us coming and waved. I waved in return, but Freya seemed just about ready to run away and never come back. I took her gently by the arm.
"Come on!" I said.
Freya only nodded dumbly, and we rushed down to the guy.
"Hello," the Burmecian said, looking up at me. He completely ignored Freya. "You are a contestant?"
"Yes," I said.
He nodded and turned away. Freya let out a soft whine.
"So is she," I said.
The Burmecian turned around and stared at Freya. He snorted, apparently thinking I was joking, and turned back around. Freya looked just about ready to run away, while I was ready to kill something.
"I'm serious, you know. She is here to try out!" I snapped.
The Burmecian once again turned around.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Fratley," I replied.
The Burmecian nodded and wrote my name down on a piece of paper. He didn't turn around, however, and now I was mad. Freya sat down on the ground, staring at the dirt sadly. I could see a few tears in her eyes.
"Can I see that paper?" I asked. "Sometimes people spell my name wrong."
The Burmecian nodded gruffly. He handed me the paper, and a quill wet with ink. I didn't care if my name was spelled wrong, however. I carefully wrote Freya's name on the paper. I returned the paper.
'What is this?" The man asked, pointing to Freya's name.
"Her," I replied, pointing to Freya. "I figured that since you wouldn't sign her up, I would."
"Females aren't -" the man began.
"Oh yes they are! My mother is Lady Rose of Burmecia," I hissed.
"Oh - well - uh," the man stuttered, staring at Freya. "G-Good luck."
Freya looked up at me with surprise. She looked just about ready to hug me. I smiled in return.
"Can't fight the facts," I muttered.
Freya smiled slightly. She rose to her feet and walked away. I followed her. She walked behind a large group of hedges. I followed, and before I knew it Freya was hugging me so tightly I could barely breathe.
"Oh my God, thank you so much," she muttered. "I knew something like that would happen. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
I didn't say anything, mainly because I couldn't. Soon Freya released me and looked at me with a bright smile. I smiled in return.
"You're welcome," I said simply.
Freya gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and leapt over the hedges. I stared at her as she headed toward the lake.
That's the second kiss she's given me today, I thought. Either she likes to kiss her friends, or there's more than a friendship here.
I shook the very nice thought away. Love? I was too young for love. Rose would kill me, even if she did fall in love with Aireff by 13. For her, it was okay. For me, no.
"Hello? Come down to Gaia, Fratley!" Freya chirped, dragging out the first a in Gaia.
She was sitting on top of the hedges, watching me with amusement. How many minutes she had been watching me I do not know. I looked over at her with confusion, and she laughed.
"Don't give me that look, Frat. What were you thinking about?" she asked.
I smiled. "Oh, nothing."
"Uh-huh. Yeah, sure, try another one, Frat," Freya said, rolling onto her back. "You look really funny upside-down."
I laughed. "You're ridiculous. What are you doing on a hedge?"
"It's pretty comfortable," Freya commented.
"Well, get off before the bugs bite you," I said with a grin.
"BUGS!" Freya shrieked, leaping off the hedge. I laughed hysterically. "That's not funny, Fratley!"
"What is it with women and bugs?" I asked while laughing.
"I'm not scared of bugs," Freya retorted.
"Then explain why you leapt off the hedge screaming like a ninny."
"I don't want bugs crawling on me. Very uncomfortable."
I grinned. "All right, if you're not so scared up bugs, here!"
I suddenly threw a bug in Freya's face. She screamed and backed away. The ladybug flew away, and I began laughing. Freya tackled me to the ground.
"Don't do that!" she screamed.
"I'm sorry," I gasped between laughs. "Your reaction is just so funny."
"Oh, you're not sorry yet," Freya said with a grin. "Now I get to tickle you!"
"CRAP!"
I hated being tickled, and Freya knew it. She hated bugs, and I knew it. So whenever we got mad at each other, we had a fight - bugs vs. tickling. Normally tickling would win since I would run out of bugs.
After a few minutes we emerged from behind the hedges, our faces red with crazy laughter. Freya was still trying to tickle me, but I would dodge and hold a ladybug near her. She would back away, but then she would approach, and the process would repeat. Finally we both calmed down, and I let the ladybug go. The other contestants that had shown up were staring at us. We sat down on the grass, waiting patiently for the contest to begin.
Well, we were waiting as patiently as possible. Freya never learned how to be patient, and she was constantly ruffling my shoulder-length hair, playing with the grass, or examining my hair as if it were some wonder of the world. I tried to stay calm, but Freya's childish antics were pretty funny and sometimes I couldn't help but chuckle.
Then, suddenly, Freya came to attention. I also did. The man signing up the contestants had risen to his feet and cleared his throat. My own throat went dry. It was starting!
"Step up!" he shouted.
We all stood up.
"To where?" another candidate asked.
"Soon, to here. For now, take a look around you. You are surrounded by a country that prospers in a place of lovely scenery. Love it and may the Dragon bless you," the man continued.
He sounds like a priest, I thought with amusement.
"Now, the lance," the man said, holding up a lance. "This weapon will do you either good or wrong. It is the main weapon of a Dragon Warrior. Today we shall see whether you are right for it."
The man tossed the lance to me, and I caught it with ease. It was indeed a Javelin and I was very used to its weight.
"How old are you?" the man asked.
"Twelve," I replied.
"You're that young and expect to be accepted? What an idiot!" a candidate sneered, his blue eyes flashing.
"Oh, you're so great? Let's see you in action," I snapped, tossing the lance to the candidate.
The candidate had not expected me to give him the lance, but he didn't back down. Carefully he aimed, rushed forward, and hit the target. He was a good inch away from the target. The man nodded, muttering to himself. He then took the lance and tossed it to the next candidate. This candidate just made it on the target. The lance was passed on and on, each candidate hitting the target, until it was passed to Freya.
Freya's hands were shaking, and she was clearly sweating. She bit her lower lip nervously as she stared at the target.
"You'll be fine," I whispered softly.
Freya spun the lance around in her left hand. The spinning seemed to be in slow motion, and she nearly dropped it. A few of the other candidates had sneers on their faces. Freya swallowed nervously. "Come on, girly! Get out while you can!" a candidate sneered. I would probably kill the guy later. Freya almost dropped the spear. She suddenly rushed forward and drove the lance into the target. She was only a half-inch away from the bull's-eye. All sneers turned to looks of shock. I whistled with triumph.
"You were made for this, Freya!" I shouted.
The lance clocked me in the head and I fell to the ground. I heard a bunch of guffaws, but I quickly grabbed the lance and leapt to my feet. I glared at the man who had thrown the lance when I wasn't prepared, and he shrugged. He didn't care. I sighed, spun the lance around, and rushed forward. I drove the lance into the target.
A bag made of leather filled with water inside the target burst as the lance pierced it. The lance had hit the bull's-eye. Everyone stared while Freya began cheering. I was staring at the target with surprise. I had hit it? I had to have. The rain couldn't have made me so wet.
"Um - uh - you will receive the results in a few days," the man stuttered. "Have a good day."
All the candidates walked away, and Freya and I did as well. We walked straight behind the hedge and hugged each other.
"God, Frat, you did great!" Freya said, smiling. "And you thought you wouldn't make it? Puh! You were better than those assholes!"
"You did fine, too," I said. "Bet you have a better chance of making it than me?"
"You kidding? I was shaking and you were fine and hit the bull's- eye! I don't think I'll make it," Freya said.
"You must be a nitwit to think that! Come on, Freya, you were quicker than anyone there and the closest to the bull's-eye," I said.
"You have a better chance!"
"We're equal, okay? Equal!'
"No way."
We released each other and looked around. No one cared to stick around and listen to us. We crawled over the hedges and began to head toward home. Both of us were much less nervous. Soon, we reached the intersection that split my street from Freya's street. We stood there doing absolutely nothing.
"Well," Freya said, taking a deep breath. "I guess I'll see you later."
I nodded dumbly, only half-paying attention. Freya headed off toward her house. I watched her leave. She was pretty, she was friendly, and she was hilarious.
What was I doing her watching her walk away?
"Hey, Freya, wait!" I cried, rushing after her.
Freya turned around and stared at me. "Hmm?"
"Ah - Do you think your mother would mind if -"
"Oh, you want to come home with me?" Freya asked before I could say anything more. She smiled. "Oh, sure! My mother won't care."
Either that or you don't care if she cares, I thought with amusement.
We began to walk down the street. I had passed down this street only once before, and it had changed since then. I marveled at all the houses. Freya was quickly moving until she finally got to a simple, two-story house. It was made of stone and decorated with brilliantly watercolors. The door was nearly invisible since it was stone just like the house. I could see only four windows, two on the main level, and two on the higher level. Freya bounded over to the door and opened it.
"MOM!" she screamed. "Hey! I brought company!"
I entered the house quietly.
"Freya, quit screaming like a banshee," I heard a male voice say.
A teenaged Burmecian entered. He had green eyes just like Freya, and his hair was a chestnut color.
"Why do you always scream?" he asked. He then noticed me. "Oh, who's this? MOM, FREYA HAS A BOYFRIEND!"
"Matt, be quiet!" Freya screamed.
"Do you all always scream?" I asked, my ears aching.
"We do to get points clear," Freya replied.
"Matt, hush. Freya, who did you bring?"
A woman entered the room. She had the same green eyes as Freya and long blonde hair. She looked a lot like Freya except for lines of stress on her face.
"Mom, this is Fratley," Freya said, shoving me forward. "Frat! Say hello!"
I looked up at the woman nervously. "Hello."
Freya's mother smiled. "Hello. I'm Marie."
"Nice to meet -"
"Freya has a boyfriend! Freya has a boyfriend! Woo woo!" Matt screamed.
"Matthew!" Freya shrieked.
"Freya has a boyfriend! Freya has a boyfriend! Woo woo!" Matthew screamed, dancing around.
Freya's face was turning red. My ears ached from the screaming. Marie was trying to restore peace but it wasn't working well. Soon, another teenager entered.
"Matt, quit screaming," she said, staring at Matthew with turquoise eyes. "Freya, do ya really have a boyfriend?"
"Well, um," Freya stuttered.
"See? SEE? She does! Freya has a boyfriend! Woo woo!" Matthew shrieked.
"MATTHEW!" Freya screamed.
"Dear God," I muttered.
"Matthew, hush!" Marie shouted. "Freya, stop screaming!"
"Mom! Matthew won't shut up!" Freya screamed angrily.
"No one is shutting up at this rate," the girl who entered said. She walked over to Freya and pinned her to the wall. "Shut up."
I watched the scene suspiciously.
"Arana," Freya snapped. "Get off of me!"
"You stop screaming first," Arana said slowly. I saw her grip get tighter.
"Arana, get off!" Freya growled.
Arana's grip became tighter, and Freya winced.
"Arana," Freya muttered.
"Arana, get off her," Marie commanded.
Arana released Freya and looked over at Matthew. "Come on, Matt. Quit being a brat."
Matthew grinned and headed off with Arana. Freya was rubbing her shoulders. I walked over.
"You all right?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Freya muttered.
Marie nodded. "All right, now. Sorry about the ruckus. Things should calm down now."
Marie left the room. Freya sighed.
"I'm sorry," she muttered. "My family's -"
"It's all right," I immediately said. "I don't mind."
I took this time to look around the room. We were in a small room with plain walls and a wooden floor. It expanded to the north in a massive yet still plain room with normal walls and a wooden floor. I could see a small wooden table with chairs in expanded area. There were a few wooden counters and cabinets. I could hear a fire crackling in the room, though I saw no fireplace. I assumed it was on the west wall and covered by the wall separating the smaller room from most of the bigger room.
"It's not much," Freya commented.
I chuckled. "It's more than I have."
Freya walked into the main part of the room, with me trailing her. Indeed there was a fireplace on the west wall. Freya sat down at the table, but almost immediately got up.
"Do you want something?" she asked.
"No, no, that's okay," I said. I could tell something was wrong.
Freya sat down back at the table, staring at something only she could see. I almost sat down. I stared at her, wondering what was troubling her. Was it her crazy family? Me? Something else?
"Fratley," Freya said softly. "I'm sorry."
"What for?" I asked curiously.
"My stupid family," Freya replied. "Matt screaming, Arana just about ready to kill me, and then my mother not even able to control us all. I'm sorry, it's a nutcase. I'm so sorry."
"No need to apologize," I said gently. "My family is just as kooky, if not worse. I'm used to the nuttiness."
"But the screaming and everything. You can't be used to that, right?" Freya asked. "Well, no," I admitted. "But it doesn't matter. You're still friendly, right? You're still fun. And I still like you. So who cares if your brother's singing breaks windows?" Freya chuckled. "Finally, someone who agrees that he can't sing." She then sighed. "All right, Fratley, but if you don't want to come here, I understand." I was about to speak, but Freya had already risen and headed down the hallway. I was about to follow her, but I sensed that she needed to be alone. "Freya!" I called. Freya turned around briefly. "I'll see you soon!" I told her with a smile. Freya smiled in return, and my heart immediately melted. She headed up the stairs. I headed out of the house, closing the door behind me. I then allowed myself to chuckle. If Rose knew.
----- . She'd kill you. Hehe, I had lots of fun with this chapter, if you couldn't tell by its length ^.^ So Freya and Fratley are good friends, and both great warriors at a young age. Do they both get accepted? Does their relationship blossom into something bigger? (gee, what do you think?) Find out!
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, events, locations, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.
Wild One
One year later, I knew exactly what I would be doing. I woke up just as the sun was rising on other parts of the Continent. I yawned and slid out of the bed and straight onto the floor. I rose to my feet, looking around. Outside, the spring rain was peaceful. I left the room and entered the kitchen.
I was a bundle of nerves. I started a pot of water boiling over the fire to make tea. I wasn't fond of the taste, but it stifled my nerves. I tried to sit at the table and be still, but soon I was pacing around. Today was the day the Dragon Warrior contestants would be chosen. I was younger than all the contestants were. What if I screwed up?
You'll be fine, I tried to assure myself.
It took me a few seconds to realize the water was boiling, and had nearly boiled itself away. I quickly took it off the fire and poured what was left the water into the mug. Stirring the tea idly, I looked around the dark, quiet house. I was the only one awake. By the time someone woke up, I would already be gone.
I drank some of the tea, but it tasted funny to me. There was something wrong with it, or me. I forced myself to drink it all, then put the cup in the sink. I rose to my feet, took the Javelin from the wall, and headed down the stairs. I left the house and started down the quiet road. As usual, some Burmecians were already up. I headed toward the lake, where the Contestants were to be tested. I tossed my Javelin from hand to hand nervously.
"Hey."
I stopped walking and looked around to locate the voice. Soon, the speaker appeared. She stared at me with green eyes. I recognized her immediately.
"Hello," I said.
At this point the two of us tried to remember each other's names. We spent a lot of time together, but we could never remember the name of the other.
"Freya," I guessed.
"No fair, you remembered first," Freya muttered. "Fratley?"
"Yep," I said proudly. "We'll remember eventually."
"When we're 50," Freya muttered.
I laughed. "At this rate it is going to take that long."
We began to walk down the street. I could sense Freya's nervousness, though why she was nervous I did not know. I didn't really care either, as I was too busy admiring how pretty she looked that morning.
"Everyone's sleeping in late," Freya said, though I wasn't paying attention. "Usually more people are awake."
A few seconds passed, and before I could react Freya had pinned me to a wall.
"Pay more attention or I'm going to kick your ass," she muttered with a smile.
Freya always seemed to know when a guy was admiring her, and for some reason she preferred men listening to her to admiring her. I couldn't figure it out.
"Sorry," I muttered, now not only admiring Freya's looks but also her quickness on foot. "So, quiet night - I mean morning, huh?"
Freya laughed. "You're funny." She began to walk away.
"Hey, wait, what's so funny?" I asked, running after her.
Freya smiled. "You are!" She then began to run off.
"I don't get what I did that is so funny!" I replied, chasing after her.
"You'll figure it out! Think like a lady!" Freya said with a grin.
"Telling me to think like a lady is like telling my father to do the laundry!"
"I take it he doesn't do it?"
"Never! He wouldn't do it for a million Gil! And I won't think like a lady for that much money either!"
"Would you do it for a kiss?"
"What?!"
"You heard me."
At this point Freya leapt onto a roof and began jumping from roof to roof. I followed her, but ended up falling on my face by the third jump. I rose quickly to my feet, but only ended up falling off the roof and into a rose garden.
"Yow!" I yelped. "Thorns!"
Freya was standing on the roof laughing hysterically. I leapt out of the rose garden, brushing away thorns. I glared at Freya.
"You are very hard to be friends with!" I snarled.
Freya smiled. "Oh, I know."
Freya's smile warmed my heart and I suddenly couldn't be mad at her. Her smile broadened.
"But you have to love me!" she chirped, leaping down to my level.
"You're right about that one," I commented. "You could rob a store and your smile would make you get away with it."
"I'll have to try that," Freya said thoughtfully.
"No, please don't!" I said with a laugh.
"The stores don't have anything good to rob anyway," Freya said.
"Thank goodness," I muttered. "You'd be robbing every store in sight otherwise."
"Oh, shut up!" Freya growled, cuffing me playfully.
"What are you, a wolf?" I asked teasingly. "Play-fighting?"
At this point Freya tackled me to the ground, a smile on her face.
"No, I'm a cat. And you're a mouse," she told me.
"Oh no, she's going to eat me!" I yelped with feigned fear.
"Nah, I don't think so. You wouldn't taste good. Maybe I'll just play with you and leave you to die."
I simply rolled my eyes. Eventually she would get off me, but it wouldn't do any good to try and throw her off. Freya was stronger than I was, though Freya said otherwise.
"Then the vultures can eat you," Freya finished, and I realized I hadn't been paying attention.
"So I'm going to have a very bad death?" I asked.
Freya smirked. "Oh, yes, and I'm going to cause it!"
"I'm really scared, Freya."
"You should be."
"Can you just get off me?"
"I have to hurt you first!"
"Then hurt me and get it over with."
Freya gave me a kiss on the cheek and leapt over me. I stared at her as she rose to her feet.
"That didn't hurt, you know," I said, though I was surprised.
"I'll have to try harder next time," Freya said jokingly. "Well, are you going to just sit there staring at me like I'm a goddess? Let's go!"
I rose to my feet, and we began to walk toward the lake. Freya's nervousness seemed to have left while mine returned quickly. I took my Javelin, which I had strapped to my back, and began to fumble with it again.
"Something wrong?" Freya asked.
"Just nervous," I commented.
"Think I'm going to hurt you?" Freya asked teasingly.
"No! I'm nervous about the choosing today," I explained. "I don't think I'll make it."
"Not make it? What for? You're the strongest kid in this whole town and you don't think you can make it?" Freya asked.
"I'm the youngest contestant. I just know I am," I said nervously. "If I screw up -"
"Which is completely impossible -"
"I'm going to be the laughing stock of Burmecia."
Freya laughed and put her arm around my shoulders. "I doubt that. You're pretty quick and strong. How could you not make it?"
"I can't catch you," I said. "You always end up bringing me flat on my face. I think you have a better chance of making it than me."
"Are you kidding? I have a better chance of growing a second tail and learning to dance perfectly than beating even one contestant!" Freya wailed.
"Freya, I've seen you dance and you dance better than my mother," I commented. "Also, you're so quick, if not exactly strong. They'll pick you immediately."
"But I'm a girl," Freya muttered downheartedly.
"So what? You're stronger than most of the guys in this whole kingdom!" I declared. "You have a better chance than me when both my parents are Dragon Warriors and forced me to know my ABC's when I was only eight!"
"So that's where you were," Freya muttered. She sighed. "I don't know how to read."
"You learn when you're elected to the Dragon School, and I know you'll make it!"
"I don't know."
"You'll be fine! You'll make it, and I'll cheer you on!"
"Frat, you're the one who's going to make it."
"Not a chance!"
"Have you noticed our complete lack of confidence in ourselves, yet our full confidence for each other?"
"We've always been like this, Freya," I said with a laugh.
My laugh seemed to ease the both of us, and Freya smiled. We were nearing the gate leading to the Royal Grounds. We stepped up the stairs, and soon fell into a race. Freya won, being naturally quicker. I was gasping by the end of it.
"Too much running!" I gasped.
I began to fall downward, and Freya caught me. We both knew that I had feigned the whole stunt. Laughing, Freya shoved me forward.
"Come on, slave, move faster!" she cried.
"Since when was I your slave?" I asked.
"Since five seconds ago," Freya said with a grin.
"Oh, fine. Yes, master!" I saluted Freya and held open the door for her.
Freya smiled wickedly. "Good slave." She gave me a light punch in the cheek as she stepped through. Though it left nothing more than a slight tingle, I made myself fall over just to give her satisfaction. I rose to my feet and entered through the doorway, closing the door behind me.
"Naughty slave, you took too long!" Freya snapped, grinning.
I shrugged. "That's what happens when you punch the slave, master," I said, and received a punch in the shoulder.
"That's not how slaves talk, you dip!" Freya muttered.
"Sorry, I'm not used to slaves," I whispered back with a shrug.
"Oh well, fun while it lasted," Freya said. "Come on, down to the lake!"
"Yes, ma'am!" I saluted Freya once again.
"Don't do that, it's ridiculous," Freya said with a laugh.
We resumed walking, this time in the direction of the lake. Its waters were very calm, though no doubt freezing. We could see someone near the lake. He had a target used commonly for arrows with him. He saw us coming and waved. I waved in return, but Freya seemed just about ready to run away and never come back. I took her gently by the arm.
"Come on!" I said.
Freya only nodded dumbly, and we rushed down to the guy.
"Hello," the Burmecian said, looking up at me. He completely ignored Freya. "You are a contestant?"
"Yes," I said.
He nodded and turned away. Freya let out a soft whine.
"So is she," I said.
The Burmecian turned around and stared at Freya. He snorted, apparently thinking I was joking, and turned back around. Freya looked just about ready to run away, while I was ready to kill something.
"I'm serious, you know. She is here to try out!" I snapped.
The Burmecian once again turned around.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Fratley," I replied.
The Burmecian nodded and wrote my name down on a piece of paper. He didn't turn around, however, and now I was mad. Freya sat down on the ground, staring at the dirt sadly. I could see a few tears in her eyes.
"Can I see that paper?" I asked. "Sometimes people spell my name wrong."
The Burmecian nodded gruffly. He handed me the paper, and a quill wet with ink. I didn't care if my name was spelled wrong, however. I carefully wrote Freya's name on the paper. I returned the paper.
'What is this?" The man asked, pointing to Freya's name.
"Her," I replied, pointing to Freya. "I figured that since you wouldn't sign her up, I would."
"Females aren't -" the man began.
"Oh yes they are! My mother is Lady Rose of Burmecia," I hissed.
"Oh - well - uh," the man stuttered, staring at Freya. "G-Good luck."
Freya looked up at me with surprise. She looked just about ready to hug me. I smiled in return.
"Can't fight the facts," I muttered.
Freya smiled slightly. She rose to her feet and walked away. I followed her. She walked behind a large group of hedges. I followed, and before I knew it Freya was hugging me so tightly I could barely breathe.
"Oh my God, thank you so much," she muttered. "I knew something like that would happen. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
I didn't say anything, mainly because I couldn't. Soon Freya released me and looked at me with a bright smile. I smiled in return.
"You're welcome," I said simply.
Freya gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and leapt over the hedges. I stared at her as she headed toward the lake.
That's the second kiss she's given me today, I thought. Either she likes to kiss her friends, or there's more than a friendship here.
I shook the very nice thought away. Love? I was too young for love. Rose would kill me, even if she did fall in love with Aireff by 13. For her, it was okay. For me, no.
"Hello? Come down to Gaia, Fratley!" Freya chirped, dragging out the first a in Gaia.
She was sitting on top of the hedges, watching me with amusement. How many minutes she had been watching me I do not know. I looked over at her with confusion, and she laughed.
"Don't give me that look, Frat. What were you thinking about?" she asked.
I smiled. "Oh, nothing."
"Uh-huh. Yeah, sure, try another one, Frat," Freya said, rolling onto her back. "You look really funny upside-down."
I laughed. "You're ridiculous. What are you doing on a hedge?"
"It's pretty comfortable," Freya commented.
"Well, get off before the bugs bite you," I said with a grin.
"BUGS!" Freya shrieked, leaping off the hedge. I laughed hysterically. "That's not funny, Fratley!"
"What is it with women and bugs?" I asked while laughing.
"I'm not scared of bugs," Freya retorted.
"Then explain why you leapt off the hedge screaming like a ninny."
"I don't want bugs crawling on me. Very uncomfortable."
I grinned. "All right, if you're not so scared up bugs, here!"
I suddenly threw a bug in Freya's face. She screamed and backed away. The ladybug flew away, and I began laughing. Freya tackled me to the ground.
"Don't do that!" she screamed.
"I'm sorry," I gasped between laughs. "Your reaction is just so funny."
"Oh, you're not sorry yet," Freya said with a grin. "Now I get to tickle you!"
"CRAP!"
I hated being tickled, and Freya knew it. She hated bugs, and I knew it. So whenever we got mad at each other, we had a fight - bugs vs. tickling. Normally tickling would win since I would run out of bugs.
After a few minutes we emerged from behind the hedges, our faces red with crazy laughter. Freya was still trying to tickle me, but I would dodge and hold a ladybug near her. She would back away, but then she would approach, and the process would repeat. Finally we both calmed down, and I let the ladybug go. The other contestants that had shown up were staring at us. We sat down on the grass, waiting patiently for the contest to begin.
Well, we were waiting as patiently as possible. Freya never learned how to be patient, and she was constantly ruffling my shoulder-length hair, playing with the grass, or examining my hair as if it were some wonder of the world. I tried to stay calm, but Freya's childish antics were pretty funny and sometimes I couldn't help but chuckle.
Then, suddenly, Freya came to attention. I also did. The man signing up the contestants had risen to his feet and cleared his throat. My own throat went dry. It was starting!
"Step up!" he shouted.
We all stood up.
"To where?" another candidate asked.
"Soon, to here. For now, take a look around you. You are surrounded by a country that prospers in a place of lovely scenery. Love it and may the Dragon bless you," the man continued.
He sounds like a priest, I thought with amusement.
"Now, the lance," the man said, holding up a lance. "This weapon will do you either good or wrong. It is the main weapon of a Dragon Warrior. Today we shall see whether you are right for it."
The man tossed the lance to me, and I caught it with ease. It was indeed a Javelin and I was very used to its weight.
"How old are you?" the man asked.
"Twelve," I replied.
"You're that young and expect to be accepted? What an idiot!" a candidate sneered, his blue eyes flashing.
"Oh, you're so great? Let's see you in action," I snapped, tossing the lance to the candidate.
The candidate had not expected me to give him the lance, but he didn't back down. Carefully he aimed, rushed forward, and hit the target. He was a good inch away from the target. The man nodded, muttering to himself. He then took the lance and tossed it to the next candidate. This candidate just made it on the target. The lance was passed on and on, each candidate hitting the target, until it was passed to Freya.
Freya's hands were shaking, and she was clearly sweating. She bit her lower lip nervously as she stared at the target.
"You'll be fine," I whispered softly.
Freya spun the lance around in her left hand. The spinning seemed to be in slow motion, and she nearly dropped it. A few of the other candidates had sneers on their faces. Freya swallowed nervously. "Come on, girly! Get out while you can!" a candidate sneered. I would probably kill the guy later. Freya almost dropped the spear. She suddenly rushed forward and drove the lance into the target. She was only a half-inch away from the bull's-eye. All sneers turned to looks of shock. I whistled with triumph.
"You were made for this, Freya!" I shouted.
The lance clocked me in the head and I fell to the ground. I heard a bunch of guffaws, but I quickly grabbed the lance and leapt to my feet. I glared at the man who had thrown the lance when I wasn't prepared, and he shrugged. He didn't care. I sighed, spun the lance around, and rushed forward. I drove the lance into the target.
A bag made of leather filled with water inside the target burst as the lance pierced it. The lance had hit the bull's-eye. Everyone stared while Freya began cheering. I was staring at the target with surprise. I had hit it? I had to have. The rain couldn't have made me so wet.
"Um - uh - you will receive the results in a few days," the man stuttered. "Have a good day."
All the candidates walked away, and Freya and I did as well. We walked straight behind the hedge and hugged each other.
"God, Frat, you did great!" Freya said, smiling. "And you thought you wouldn't make it? Puh! You were better than those assholes!"
"You did fine, too," I said. "Bet you have a better chance of making it than me?"
"You kidding? I was shaking and you were fine and hit the bull's- eye! I don't think I'll make it," Freya said.
"You must be a nitwit to think that! Come on, Freya, you were quicker than anyone there and the closest to the bull's-eye," I said.
"You have a better chance!"
"We're equal, okay? Equal!'
"No way."
We released each other and looked around. No one cared to stick around and listen to us. We crawled over the hedges and began to head toward home. Both of us were much less nervous. Soon, we reached the intersection that split my street from Freya's street. We stood there doing absolutely nothing.
"Well," Freya said, taking a deep breath. "I guess I'll see you later."
I nodded dumbly, only half-paying attention. Freya headed off toward her house. I watched her leave. She was pretty, she was friendly, and she was hilarious.
What was I doing her watching her walk away?
"Hey, Freya, wait!" I cried, rushing after her.
Freya turned around and stared at me. "Hmm?"
"Ah - Do you think your mother would mind if -"
"Oh, you want to come home with me?" Freya asked before I could say anything more. She smiled. "Oh, sure! My mother won't care."
Either that or you don't care if she cares, I thought with amusement.
We began to walk down the street. I had passed down this street only once before, and it had changed since then. I marveled at all the houses. Freya was quickly moving until she finally got to a simple, two-story house. It was made of stone and decorated with brilliantly watercolors. The door was nearly invisible since it was stone just like the house. I could see only four windows, two on the main level, and two on the higher level. Freya bounded over to the door and opened it.
"MOM!" she screamed. "Hey! I brought company!"
I entered the house quietly.
"Freya, quit screaming like a banshee," I heard a male voice say.
A teenaged Burmecian entered. He had green eyes just like Freya, and his hair was a chestnut color.
"Why do you always scream?" he asked. He then noticed me. "Oh, who's this? MOM, FREYA HAS A BOYFRIEND!"
"Matt, be quiet!" Freya screamed.
"Do you all always scream?" I asked, my ears aching.
"We do to get points clear," Freya replied.
"Matt, hush. Freya, who did you bring?"
A woman entered the room. She had the same green eyes as Freya and long blonde hair. She looked a lot like Freya except for lines of stress on her face.
"Mom, this is Fratley," Freya said, shoving me forward. "Frat! Say hello!"
I looked up at the woman nervously. "Hello."
Freya's mother smiled. "Hello. I'm Marie."
"Nice to meet -"
"Freya has a boyfriend! Freya has a boyfriend! Woo woo!" Matt screamed.
"Matthew!" Freya shrieked.
"Freya has a boyfriend! Freya has a boyfriend! Woo woo!" Matthew screamed, dancing around.
Freya's face was turning red. My ears ached from the screaming. Marie was trying to restore peace but it wasn't working well. Soon, another teenager entered.
"Matt, quit screaming," she said, staring at Matthew with turquoise eyes. "Freya, do ya really have a boyfriend?"
"Well, um," Freya stuttered.
"See? SEE? She does! Freya has a boyfriend! Woo woo!" Matthew shrieked.
"MATTHEW!" Freya screamed.
"Dear God," I muttered.
"Matthew, hush!" Marie shouted. "Freya, stop screaming!"
"Mom! Matthew won't shut up!" Freya screamed angrily.
"No one is shutting up at this rate," the girl who entered said. She walked over to Freya and pinned her to the wall. "Shut up."
I watched the scene suspiciously.
"Arana," Freya snapped. "Get off of me!"
"You stop screaming first," Arana said slowly. I saw her grip get tighter.
"Arana, get off!" Freya growled.
Arana's grip became tighter, and Freya winced.
"Arana," Freya muttered.
"Arana, get off her," Marie commanded.
Arana released Freya and looked over at Matthew. "Come on, Matt. Quit being a brat."
Matthew grinned and headed off with Arana. Freya was rubbing her shoulders. I walked over.
"You all right?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Freya muttered.
Marie nodded. "All right, now. Sorry about the ruckus. Things should calm down now."
Marie left the room. Freya sighed.
"I'm sorry," she muttered. "My family's -"
"It's all right," I immediately said. "I don't mind."
I took this time to look around the room. We were in a small room with plain walls and a wooden floor. It expanded to the north in a massive yet still plain room with normal walls and a wooden floor. I could see a small wooden table with chairs in expanded area. There were a few wooden counters and cabinets. I could hear a fire crackling in the room, though I saw no fireplace. I assumed it was on the west wall and covered by the wall separating the smaller room from most of the bigger room.
"It's not much," Freya commented.
I chuckled. "It's more than I have."
Freya walked into the main part of the room, with me trailing her. Indeed there was a fireplace on the west wall. Freya sat down at the table, but almost immediately got up.
"Do you want something?" she asked.
"No, no, that's okay," I said. I could tell something was wrong.
Freya sat down back at the table, staring at something only she could see. I almost sat down. I stared at her, wondering what was troubling her. Was it her crazy family? Me? Something else?
"Fratley," Freya said softly. "I'm sorry."
"What for?" I asked curiously.
"My stupid family," Freya replied. "Matt screaming, Arana just about ready to kill me, and then my mother not even able to control us all. I'm sorry, it's a nutcase. I'm so sorry."
"No need to apologize," I said gently. "My family is just as kooky, if not worse. I'm used to the nuttiness."
"But the screaming and everything. You can't be used to that, right?" Freya asked. "Well, no," I admitted. "But it doesn't matter. You're still friendly, right? You're still fun. And I still like you. So who cares if your brother's singing breaks windows?" Freya chuckled. "Finally, someone who agrees that he can't sing." She then sighed. "All right, Fratley, but if you don't want to come here, I understand." I was about to speak, but Freya had already risen and headed down the hallway. I was about to follow her, but I sensed that she needed to be alone. "Freya!" I called. Freya turned around briefly. "I'll see you soon!" I told her with a smile. Freya smiled in return, and my heart immediately melted. She headed up the stairs. I headed out of the house, closing the door behind me. I then allowed myself to chuckle. If Rose knew.
----- . She'd kill you. Hehe, I had lots of fun with this chapter, if you couldn't tell by its length ^.^ So Freya and Fratley are good friends, and both great warriors at a young age. Do they both get accepted? Does their relationship blossom into something bigger? (gee, what do you think?) Find out!
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, events, locations, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.