A/N: …I'm so ashamed. How long has it been since I've updated this? Probably way too long. Anyway, I humbly apologize to anyone who was waiting on this posting, both for the lateness and for the overall crappiness factor. After looking it over, I realized that it turned into a rather pointless filler chapter … so, I'm sorry for that too. It was bound to happen I guess. I'd like to extend infinite thanks to those people who have reviewed/encouraged me to keep going in this – thank you so much everyone!
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Locke was having a good dream, something involving a cave exploration full of rare treasures and challenging battles. It was such a good dream, in fact, that he was reluctant to wake up even though he thought for some reason that he should no longer be sleeping.
"Wake up! Come on, you two! Wake up, we haven't got all day!"
Locke winced at the volume of the entirely-too-cheerful voice. He was ready to turn over, bury his face in his pillow and return to his imagined treasure hunting when the voice's words finally clicked in his brain. His eyes snapped open as he sat up rather frantically, struggling for a moment with the blankets that weren't there. Strangely enough, he seemed to have fallen asleep on top of the covers.
"Good morning," the voice said, drawing his attention. His head jolted up and he blinked a few times, registering the sight of Terra kneeling on the foot of the bed. She smiled at him and waggled a few fingers in his direction, seeming entirely too pleased with herself. Probably a morning person, Locke thought sourly as he scrubbed a hand over his cheek wearily.
"It would only be good if I could sleep more," he muttered.
"Oh, come on, I've been up for an hour at least. Besides, we all have to get going," Terra reasoned, bouncing a few times impatiently.
"What do you mean, 'we all'?" Locke frowned. Terra simply motioned to the other portion of the bed, and Locke turned his face expectantly. His eyes widened as he saw Celes lying there, beginning to stir at the sound of their voices, and he scrambled backward as far as the bed would allow.
"Gah! What are you doing in here?!" he demanded. Celes blinked sleepily, pushing a handful of slightly tangled blonde hair out of her face.
"Do you have to be so loud?!" she snapped back. "I must have fallen asleep in here last night."
"What do you mean, you fell asleep in here?! I bought that other room so you wouldn't have to sleep in here! And I think I would have noticed if you had still been here when I fell asleep, you know!"
"Well apparently you didn't," Celes said casually, sitting up and running a hand through her hair. Terra gave a slight laugh.
"You two are so funny," she said. "I was kind of confused when I woke up by myself in that room, but I figured it out soon enough. What did you guys do last night anyway?"
"Nothing!" Locke yelped immediately. Celes glared at him half-heartedly before turning back to Terra and shrugging vaguely.
"We had some things to discuss. I guess we got tired," she said solidly. Terra nodded agreeably.
"Well I hope it's all sorted out now," she said, giving Locke an odd look. "Are you okay, Locke? You look a little flushed."
"I'm fine," Locke replied. "It's just … a little warm in here, I guess."
"You think so?" Terra asked, then shrugged. "Well, you two get ready and come downstairs, okay? We've all got a long way to go today. I'll be in the stables!" With that she got off the bed and disappeared out the door, her ponytail flicking after her. Locke buried his face in his hands, groaning.
"This is not happening, this is not happening …"
Celes calmly picked up her pillow and thwacked Locke over his head.
"Get over it," she said, standing and stretching a little before heading toward the door. "I'll see you downstairs." She left the room as well, leaving Locke to his own swirling thoughts.
A short time later Locke found his way into the stables, his pack slung carelessly over his left shoulder. Sure enough Terra was there, balanced precariously on a wooden crate as she leaned over the side of a stall, petting the head of a very content looking chocobo.
"Aw, aren't you just the cutest thing ever?" she cooed quietly to the animal, who replied with a garbled 'wark' of what might have been agreement. Locke smiled a little, watching Terra sneak the overgrown bird a handful of greens over the wooden barrier. Then he realized that the chocobo she was spoiling happened to be the very one he needed to ride back to Figaro, and cleared his throat softly.
"If you feed her too much, I won't be able to ride her properly," he said casually, giving a small salute and an apologetic expression as Terra faltered in surprise. The chocobo gave an annoyed squawk at the interrupted attention, butting its golden head into Terra's slack hand to encourage her to continue petting.
"Locke, don't do that!" Terra scolded half-heartedly before turning back to the bird.
"Sorry," Locke said, his tone suggesting that he didn't really mean it, as he began walking toward the stall. "But if I want to make it back in good time, I need a mount that's in good shape."
"Don't be ridiculous," Terra scoffed lightly. "A few greens won't hurt her. She's not used to staying in places like this. She doesn't like it."
"Um," Locke wasn't quite sure what to say to that. Instead he turned his head to look around the otherwise deserted stable curiously. "Do you and Celes have chocobos here as well?"
"Uh huh," Terra nodded, giving the bird one last pat before turning and leaping easily from her perch. She wiped her hands on her skirt idly. "They're harnessed outside. I'd have prepared yours as well, but I didn't know which equipment was yours."
"Thanks, but that's not necessary," Locke smiled warmly. "I can harness a chocobo myself, I should hope. Are … are you and Celes getting ready to leave?"
"I think so," Terra nodded. "We have to ride back to port before our ship leaves for South Figaro. It would throw us way off schedule otherwise!"
"Yeah, wouldn't want to do that," Locke nodded, letting his pack slide to the floor of the stable as he went to collect his chocobo's reins. Terra kicked at some loose hay that littered the area around her feet, fidgeting silently for a moment.
"Locke?" she asked suddenly.
"Yeah?" Locke replied distractedly from inside the stall, struggling with the chocobo that obviously liked Terra a lot better than him.
"Are you and Celes … all right now?" she asked. It was a perfectly innocent question, especially coming from someone like Terra, but it made Locke a bit uncomfortable anyway.
"I guess," he finally answered. "I mean … I'm not sure what you're getting at." His fingers had grown a bit clumsy as he attempted to tighten the reins around his mount's beak. It kept sliding in the wrong direction.
"I mean, are you two going to get along now?" Terra asked, her honest emerald eyes watching Locke patiently. "She's told me … well, that you have been avoiding her a lot. You're going to stop that, aren't you?"
"I … I'm going to try," Locke replied, glaring impatiently at the errant bridle strap. "But … it's not the easiest situation, Terra."
"How do you mean?" Terra asked genuinely. "It's obvious you both care a lot about each other. I don't see how you can't be good friends."
"It's … it's more complicated than that, Terra," Locke sighed, finally clasping the harness the way he wanted. "You see, what with Celes being Edgar's … the king's bride and all, I really don't have the right to feel that way about her. Or for her feel that way toward me, for that matter."
"I don't understand," Terra said, her forehead creased in thought. "Why would Celes being married to King Figaro make her unable to be your friend?"
"It wouldn't, Celes, but … that's not the whole issue," Locke struggled to explain, wondering why it was so hard for Terra to understand. "I … well, I'm in love with Celes, Terra."
"Yeah? So?"
"So … don't you get it? I can't feel that way about her if she's gonna be Edgar's wife!" Terra tapped her lips with an index finger, contemplating.
"So, Edgar would object to you loving her, is that what you mean?"
"Uh, yeah, Terra, that's pretty much it," Locke rolled his eyes.
"That makes no sense," Terra protested. "I don't see what right Edgar has to tell you not to be her friend!" Locke paused, frowning. Was Terra really that dense?
"It's not being her friend that would be the problem," he said. "Look, don't you get it? I don't love Celes just as a friend, I love her as in I love her."
"Is there a difference?" Terra replied softly, her eyes legitimately confused. Locke sighed as he led his chocobo out of the stall and bent to retrieve his bag.
"I can't have this conversation right now," he said. "I have to get going. See you at Figaro, I guess." With that he tugged at the reins, urging his ride forward as he headed toward the wide entryway. Terra stared after him, her expression oddly downcast.
"It's not my fault that this is so confusing," she whispered to nobody in particular. Locke didn't hear her, but she hadn't intended him to.
Celes had just exited the inn when Locke made it outside, and they both looked at each other rather uncomfortably. Locke settled for an awkward, one-handed wave, and Celes nodded back, her eyes adorably narrow in the bright sunlight. She walked casually toward the stables, and he walked casually away from them.
"See you at Figaro, I guess?" Locke said, the words a lot less graceful now than when he had spoken them to Terra. Celes gave a slight smile and shrugged one slim shoulder.
"You'd better," she replied, her sleeve brushing his as she passed him. He fought the urge to look back; instead, he took a few more steps before halting and pulling himself up on his chocobo. He gave Jidoor one last weary look around, before digging his heels into the bird's sides and leaving the town in the wake of their dust.
* * *
"Don't look now," Cyan muttered, browsing through one of the weapons racks on the training yard to make sure that none were missing. Sabin, true to his nature, did exactly what he was told not to do. His head jerked up from the inventory list he had been frowning at, and he looked around curiously.
"What? What?"
"He's back," Cyan explained tersely, inclining his head toward the gate that Locke had just sauntered through. Sabin saw him, and his face broke into a wide grin. Tossing the parchment in his hand to the bench he had been sitting on, he launched himself to his feet and starting waving his arms around.
"Hey Locke! Lo-ocke! Over here!" he shouted, far more loudly than he needed to. Locke turned his head toward the commotion, and he waved tiredly at the overactive blond.
"Calm down, Sabin," he replied, quickening his pace slightly to reach them more quickly. "What are you guys doing out here, anyway?"
"Ah, boring military stuff," Sabin waved his hand vaguely, then jerked a thumb at Cyan. "Mr. Holier-than-thou over here insisted."
"It's not my fault that supplies and weapons have been going missing," Cyan snapped, finally turning toward the other two with a stern expression on his face that lightened only slightly as he looked at Locke. "Locke."
"Cyan," Locke returned the nod of greeting that Cyan gave him. "So, big problem?"
"No," Sabin said.
"Yes," Cyan said at the same time. They both looked at each other sharply.
"It's no big deal, Cyan," Sabin insisted. "Some of the rookies just misplaced some stuff, that's all. I don't see why we, two of the most important people in the system, have to resort to doing an inventory check!"
"Well, if the soldiers are the ones 'misplacing things'," Cyan said, making quote motions with his fingers, "then we should not depend on them to do the check."
"But Cyan, I hate this stuff!" Sabin retorted, looking for all the world like he was pouting. Even though Sabin technically outranked Cyan, the blond couldn't stop looking at the older man as an authority figure. Cyan had been around ever since Sabin had been a hyperactive toddler running around the training fields of his father's regime. Locke smirked at the pair.
"Would you rather be inside, helping with the wedding preparations?" Cyan countered with the tiniest of arrogant smiles. Sabin's nose wrinkled.
"Er, point," he sighed. "Nothing's worse than having to deal with … that." He shook his head at the thought, and flopped back down on his bench. Stretching out his legs and crossing them at the ankle, he leaned back on the heels of his hands and grinned up at Locke.
"So, how was the mission, little brother?"
"It was fine," Locke shrugged. "Sounds like I had more excitement than you two, anyway."
"Understatement of the year," Sabin rolled his eyes. "But seriously, everything go okay? Find out anything?" The question was left hanging, but Locke knew what Sabin meant. Anything, as in anything suspicious or dangerous. He sighed.
"Yes and no," he replied evasively. "Anyway, I should probably tell Edgar first. Dare I look for him now?"
"I don't see why not," Sabin shrugged. "Nobody'll probably try to order you to do anything if you've got to talk to Edgar. I know he'll wanna hear from you, anyway."
"Okay, I'd better find him then," Locke said, turning to go with a small wave.
"Hey Locke!" Sabin called after him as he walked away toward the castle. Locke paused, looking over his shoulder curiously. Sabin grinned at him. "Afterwards, come back and help me an' Cyan with the inventory, would you?"
Locke smiled, gave Sabin a rude gesture, and continued toward the inner castle gates.
It only took a few minutes to explain everything he had discovered to Edgar, but all the same Locke felt drained at the end of his story. As for Edgar, he sat in stony silence in his chair opposite of Locke, his fingers steepled in front of his lips as he thought. For a moment no one spoke.
"What are your impressions of all this?" Edgar finally asked. Locke blinked, not expecting such a question.
"Me?" he said a little uneasily, despite the fact that he was the only other person in the den where they sat. "Uh, well, I guess I'd say it's worth some concern … but doesn't warrant any immediate or excessive action. I mean, the Emperor himself is obviously holding up his end of the deal, if he's lowering himself to practically begging the son that he hates to come home. I'd say it's safe to assume that he's issued recalls to all of his other troops as well."
"But …?" Edgar prompted, sensing something more from his younger friend. Locke sighed, fidgeting his feet around.
"But … that's not to say there isn't any danger. From Kefka, I mean. Even though the Emperor is following the treaty, if Kefka doesn't then there could be trouble. He had a lot of troops, Edgar."
"Hm," Edgar nodded, his face steeled in seriousness. "Kefka has proven to be …unstable in the past, as an opponent. I wouldn't be surprised if he is planning some sort of coup, right under his father's nose. I'll have my sources check up on some of the other territories, and in the meantime I'll keep our forces where they are on the western borders. Gestahl certainly can't expect me to withdraw when he himself is still in our territory. I'm sure we'll be able to sort it out diplomatically, so long as Kefka is not in the picture."
"He's … he's gonna succeed Gestahl someday, isn't he Edgar?" Locke asked. Edgar's face darkened for a moment.
"Most likely. He is the only biological child of the Emperor," he sighed. "However, Gestahl trusts him little more than I do. Perhaps he will arrange for a different heir, when the time comes. For now … for now we must focus on the present."
"Right. Of course," Locke replied, embarrassed for having brought it up at all. "So, is there any more that you need me to do?" Edgar smiled then, though the expression was strained.
"No, Locke, you've done more than enough. Thank you, both for going and for bringing up the idea in the first place. You may have saved us a lot of trouble."
"Glad to do it, Edgar," Locke replied, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Edgar slumped forward a little, running a hand over his hair.
"I'd like to settle this before the wedding, if at all possible. Perhaps when Celes gets back, I can discuss it with her …" he seemed to be almost talking to himself. Abruptly he stopped, looking at Locke sheepishly. "Why don't you go and get some rest? Don't let anyone con you into any work."
"Thanks, Sabin warned me already," Locke smiled. "Maybe you should rest some too, Edgar? Don't want to burn yourself out before the big day." He had to force the last words out despite himself. He truly wanted Edgar to be well, but he still felt wretched at the thought of Celes' marriage. He hated himself for feeling that way, but that's the way it was. Edgar gave him a tired smile.
"Maybe in a while, after I deal with this a little," he said. "Thanks, Locke. Really."
"Anytime," Locke replied softly, and then he stood to leave Edgar to some very difficult thoughts.
Celes and Terra arrived back at Figaro without incident, the altered dress in tow. Locke had not seen them return, but had heard about it through the chatter of a few chambermaids clustered in the junction of his hall and the stairs. A slight clearing of the throat was all it took to send them scrambling, which Locke did after hearing what he needed to hear. Taking the steps slowly, he made his way toward the main halls.
He wasn't surprised to see her, being led in by Sabin with Terra at her heels. Sabin was in the middle of an animated story from the looks of it, pantomiming with first his arms and then his whole body. Celes and Terra laughed as Locke watched, continuing to walk toward them. None of the three noticed him until he was practically in front of them, due to Sabin's tale.
"Hey Locke!" Sabin greeted him, bringing his arms to his sides as though he had never been moving around in a ridiculous manner.
"Hi Sabin," Locke replied, turning his eyes to the blonde next to him. "Celes."
"Locke," Celes replied with an upward quirk of the lips. Sabin seemed dumbfounded for a moment, never expecting anything to be exchanged between the two of them. Locke just shrugged and kept walking, and Celes urged Sabin to continue as well. Terra smiled broadly at Locke, slowing her step and finally scampering away from the two blonds who were back in conversation once again.
"Hey!" she said brightly as she fell into step beside Locke.
"Hey yourself," Locke replied with a smile, giving her a sideways glance. "Everything go okay?" Terra nodded, her earrings swishing around her neck.
"Perfectly. No one suspected a thing," she grinned mischievously. Suddenly she had grabbed Locke's arm, pulling him down the corridor. "I need your opinion. Come on!"
"Hey!" Locke protested feebly. "Hey, what gives? My opinion about what?"
"The dress, Locke!" Terra said, as if it was totally obvious. "I need a man's opinion."
"What for? And why me?!" Locke demanded, his voice growing louder in dismay.
"Because," Terra replied. "I don't know any guys around here except for you, Sabin, and Edgar. Sabin wouldn't be able to keep the secret, and it's bad luck for the groom to see the dress before the wedding!"
"Uh, I think that's the bride. He's not supposed to see the bride before the wedding," Locke corrected.
"Yeah, the bride, in her dress!" Terra rolled her eyes. "Don't argue, it'll only take a minute!"
"Geez, okay, okay," Locke wrenched his arm from her grip. "No need to pull me around like some kind of lapdog." Terra just smiled, turning the corner and approaching one of the doors. She opened it and ushered Locke inside before closing it behind them.
"So?" Locke
asked, standing in the entryway as he looked around. It was one of the bigger
guest suites that the castle had; he wondered if this was where Celes had been staying?
"Go in already," Terra said,
pushing him lightly. "It's lying on the bed. Here, I'll get it!" She went
around him, beckoning him to follow before hurrying to the large bed and
carefully scooping up the delicate material of Celes'
dress. She held it up to herself, smoothing one hand over the front as the
other held it up.
"So, what do you think of it?"
Locke blinked at the dress, unsure what Terra expected him to say. It was by far the most extravagant thing he had ever seen. The gown was a tasteful mixture of white and silvery tones, the flowing skirt sashed with a shimmering transparent silk that reminded Locke of crushed diamonds. It flowed down in seemingly endless ripples, obviously designed to trail gracefully behind the wearer.
"Locke!" Terra laughed, swishing the gown around a little. "What do you think of it?"
"It's … it's really nice," Locke said lamely.
"Really nice?" Terra raised a skeptical eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just what it sounds like," Locke grumbled. "What do you want me to say, Terra? I don't know anything about dresses."
"Well, do you think it'll look good on Celes?" Terra asked. Locke did his best not to choke in reaction to those words. Terra didn't seem to notice his unease; she smiled at him expectantly. What did she want from him?!
Figuring a 'hell yes' would probably not be the way to go, Locke stuck with a simple, "It will look wonderful." Terra beamed.
"I just knew it!" she replied, turning to lay the expensive garment back on the bed carefully. "I helped design it, you know. Celes said she didn't want to. So do you think Edgar will like it?"
"Absolutely," Locke nodded. Terra grinned.
"Thanks Locke," she said. "I feel less nervous about the whole thing now. I don't want to give a bad impression if I'm going to be living here from now on."
"Don't worry about that," Locke said. "I'm sure Edgar and Sabin and everybody already think very highly of you."
"I hope so," Terra replied, then her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh, Celes is going to wonder where I am. Come on, Locke, let's go find her."
"Terra, I really don't think …" Locke began, but she had already taken his hand to pull him along with her as she left the room.
"Celes!" Terra called to get the blonde's attention, Locke still in tow. Celes and Sabin were standing outside of the throne room, talking to Edgar as the king leaned wearily against the doorway. Celes turned toward the shout, and smiled a little as she saw Terra dragging Locke behind her.
"There you are," she said, looking at Locke with an amused expression for a minute. "Ah, I see you've met Locke."
"Oh, uh, yes I have," Terra nodded, remembering that she was not supposed to have met the young man yet. "I sort of ran into him, and well … never mind. But I managed to get an opinion out of him, so it all worked out."
"Oh? And what does he think?"
"Absolute approval, just as I thought," Terra smiled. "Right Locke?" She elbowed him lightly in the ribs.
"Um, yeah. Really nice," Locke nodded, resisting the urge to reach up and tug at his bandana. Edgar and Sabin exchanged a look; they had no idea what was going on.
"What's really nice?" Sabin asked, ever the straightforward one. Locke opened his mouth to explain, only to have Terra's hand reach up and silence him.
"Er, nothing!" she said. Locke rolled his eyes, pushing her hand away. "Well, Locke and I are going to get something to eat. Are you coming, Celes?"
"I suppose," Celes shrugged, turning to Sabin and Edgar. "Would you two like to join us?"
"No thank you. We still have a few things to discuss," Edgar replied, watching the trio with a strange curiosity. Sabin nodded agreement, sharing a knowing glance with Edgar.
"All right. I'll be by to talk to you later then," Celes said to Edgar, and after smiling at Sabin she turned to start down the hall with Terra, who still had a firm hold on Locke's wrist in case he was contemplating escape. Sabin and Edgar watched them go, and once they were out of sight Sabin chuckled slightly.
"What's with those three?"
"I honestly have no idea," Edgar shook his head.
"Locke seems better though, don't you think?" Sabin suggested. "He's not avoiding Celes so much, anyway. And he actually spoke to her earlier. Did that little mission you sent him on straighten him out?"
"I don't know," Edgar sighed. "I need to talk to you about that, actually. But I am glad to see that Locke isn't quite as on edge as before. I'd like for them to get along."
"You and me both," Sabin nodded, glancing down the corridor one last time. He hoped that things would be back to normal soon. Sighing, he turned and followed his brother into the throne room.
Continued