Darkness Within
Note: It's a tragedy! Fiacha's getting married and Joey doesn't have the money for a plane ticket! Er… whoops! Just R&R, please! I'm very put down by the lack of reviews that I've been seeing lately, so please, please, please review this chapter. Pretty please with cherries and whip cream on top?
Chapter Ten: Duty is to the Heart
Fiacha was drying very hard to accept her duties without complaint, but she was simply heartbroken. She had to admit that she'd hoped Joey would show up and save her, but it was her wedding day and still he was not there.
"It is time," Dolan whispered through a slit in the door before swinging it open to reveal the bride.
She no longer looked like a straggly rebel, but was combed and cleaned down to fit her father's wishes. And she was breathtaking.
Every strand of her hair caught the sun and glowed bright chestnut, and the dress's folds hit her in just the right spots to make her figure seem flawless. Only her eyes remained unchanged, though the women had tried. They'd lined them in kohl, but that merely added to her haunted, desolate expression. Then they'd tried to wash it off, making it even worse. Finally, they'd settled on lining her eyes in the black color, and hoping that her dress or her hair would be a focal point instead. Marik saw only those deep, dutiful, and yet broken eyes.
Joey's POV:
I can't believe that I don't have any money! How am I supposed to help Fiacha if I don't have any money? I have to at least tell her, but… I'm broke. And I can't find Yuge, and the lady won't give me a free ticket. It's over.
I refuse to fall in love with some other girl, though. I'm going to regret not having a job for the rest of my life. I miss her already.
A pretty, red haired girl is handing me a tissue now, which is very nice of her. But she still can't bring Fiacha back.
"What's wrong?"
I stare at her, trying to decide what to say. She's beautiful, but she's not my Fiacha. Then again, Fiacha isn't mine. I shouldn't talk like that. I open my mouth and the whole story comes pouring out along with the tears.
End Joey's POV.
"I can't," Fiacha mouthed frantically to Marik as the priest started talking. "I won't."
He showed no sign of comprehension, staring into space with a blank expression. She hoped that he was trying to decide how to fix this.
The priest droned on and Fiacha didn't pay a single once of attention. She didn't care if it was stupid and selfish; she was not going to get married, not this young and not to Marik. She could protect them from her father. She would keep a bow and a sword nearby at all times and she wouldn't let them get hurt.
Marik, meanwhile, was deep in thought about the woman he had come so easily to love. Much as he would have loved to tell her this, to persuade her not to be sad, that she was making the right choice, he knew in his heart that it was not so. Fiacha belonged with Joey… he could feel it. She was very devoted to him, and he had a sinking suspicion that he loved her just as much. Who was he to stand in the way of that?
"Do you, Marik Ishtar take Fiacha-"
"No. This is not right," he interrupted. "I think that we should try some sort of contract instead. That won't break any hearts."
Fiacha's father nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, but Fiacha, your place is still-"
But she didn't hear him. She had already run back to grab her things and leave. She was free, and she was going to have to hurry before Joey fell in love with the red headed woman. If that happened, then she had nothing left. Nothing at all.
Her head started hurting halfway through the trip, and this had never exactly been a good sign in her life. The man next to her was going on about his wonderful wife, which was making Fiacha very skittish. Could he tell that she was wearing a wedding dress? What did people think of a girl just sitting around in one of those? She sighed and scooted back into her chair. She was just being a pessimist, she knew, but that was how she had always been.
Finally, the stupid plane landed. Fiacha silently vowed to never get on one of those things again; the experiences she had already had were plenty. The airport was noisy and crowded, but that didn't stop her from spotting Joey on a nearby bench. There he was, talking to his future wife.
She dropped her suitcase and stood there, transfixed by the horrible sight in front of her very eyes. She was too late. He'd already met her. But she couldn't just turn around and hop on another plane. For one, she'd already told herself that she never would, and she also had to keep her friends safe.
Hearing the sound of someone dropping their luggage, Joey looked up. Standing on the platform was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her hair looked as if it had been fixed up for a special occasion and her skin was the strangest shade of off white. She wasn't even trying to pick up the suitcase, but was instead staring blankly in his direction as if she couldn't believe her eyes. Slowly she picked the bag up and gently smoothed down her dress, glancing once more at him with piercing violet eyes. But he could care less about such a beauty, less even than the one sitting beside him. There was only one girl in his life, and that was Fiacha. He'd lost her, but he had no intention of moving on.
He was staring straight at her, but didn't seem to know who she was. Could her dress and make up be that complete? Did she no longer look like herself? There was only one way to find out, but she was so scared to take action.
I didn't come this far just to give up, she reasoned, walking towards him. I just have to meet this woman for myself, is all. Then I'll be okay.
She knew that she was lying to herself, but it couldn't hurt to try.
"Are you alright now, then?"
Joey didn't answer. That girl was coming towards him now, and something in that determined, yet cautious step set him off. But it couldn't be her. Could it? She swiped a strand of hair angrily from her face and he knew. That was Fiacha, all right. He couldn't move.
"Joey…" she whispered, smiling solemnly at him.
"I thought that you had ta… ta stay in Egypt. I was comin to get ya… but I didn't have enough money for a ticket. Sorry bout dat."
"Oh, you idiot," she said with a smile. "Why on earth would a girl like me need to be rescued? I'm fine. Now, are you going to introduce us?"
The redhead smiled and stood up. "I'm afraid that he couldn't introduce me to you if he tried. But you simply must be Fiacha. I'm so glad to see that this romance has a decent ending… or a good beginning, anyway."
"What?"
"Your boyfriend… just spent the last hour telling me about what was going on. I had half a mind to lend him the money myself, but I was certain that you didn't need to be saved. After all, it sounds to me like you're very independent."
Fiacha gawked. They weren't in love… she'd just been comforting him because he was sad. Then… somehow, the future that she'd foreseen was changed. How wonderful.
"Oh, you have no idea how happy I am to see you Joey!" she threw herself into his arms and sobbed. "I was so sure that I could get over this… that it was better for you to be without me… but I just couldn't do it. There was no way I could see myself without you in my life."
Tell her, you idiot, A small voice in Joey's mind whispered. "I could never… never be happy without you, Fiacha. I… I… I should have told ya so many times… I love you, Fiacha."
End note: MWAHAHAHAHAHA! I refuse to update until I get at least three reviews out of this chapter! Just kidding, of course. This is not the last chapter of Fiacha's story, so have no fear. Just review, peoples, and I'll be seeing you again really soon!
