Some warnings to my readers:

1) KratosxAnna implied/almost coupling... I do not mean that in the "fluff" sense. So the ranking for this chapter kind of borders somewhere between Teen and Mature.

2) I do not know how old Zelos is in the game, the tweaking I put in this chapter would make him in his mid twenties when the game starts. I'm sorry if it annoys "Tales"purists/experts but I like this chapter so it's going up.

Chapter 12

The Ball

He hated to admit it, but Yuan was right. Right on every charge. Thought no older then twelve the Tethe'allan Chosen was a flirt. No, he was worse then a flirt, the boy was a womanizer. Women flocked to him, and he played being charming and witty to his little gathering. While engaging in pure surface conversation the Chosen also was discreetly looking at bosoms, pinching assess, and setting appointments so he could "talk" to a few members of his flock later on. Much to the mercenary's disgust some woman took off their wedding bands and slid up to the child, as husbands looked on.

A small fight even broke out amongst two of the more passionate admirers, a fight that was resolved when the Chosen agreed to make appointments for them later that week

Men sighed over there lost women, grumbled about there treacherous wives. For a long time Kratos and Anna stood on the very outskirts of the party, identical grimaces on their faces.

"So this is Zelos Wilder, Tethe'alla's Chosen..." Kratos shook his head. "What a waste."

"He is a bit of an ass isn't he?"

Anna smiled as Kratos did not follow the example of a few other husbands who were keeping a tight grip on their wives. He held her hand, but his grip was gentle, relaxed. She smiled and leaned into him, and though his face was expressionless she could feel him tense. She reached around and adjusted his cloak, which he had carelessly put on lopsided in their rush to get to the ball early. Taking advantage of how close they were she pecked him on the cheek, and laughed delightedly as he flushed.

Her angel was as formal and modest as always.

He turned all the redder at her quiet laughter. Anna took pity on him and change topics to something that wouldn't leave him flustered.

"He's a Chosen? If so Tethe'alla is in for some bad times."

"I'm very glad I did not get assigned to watching this one..." He smiled just a bit, then regarded Zelos for a moment and the smile slid off of his lips. "Let us get this over with."

"After you're done you wouldn't mind to stay here a little while do you. Not too long of course, but well I'd like to see everything here."

"The art gallery, it might be worth taking a look at. I'll be back as soon as I'm done."

She laughed at his expression. It wasn't one of malice, so much as extreme disgust. Kratos sighed, then with the air of a man pulling a dagger out from a vile place, he walked forward.

All he had to do was read the boy's mana signature and ask a few questions to feel out the child's intelligence. When he was done with that he would go back to Anna. As he approached the mass of women, who were all wearing shades of green and blue, he heard some of the men snicker. Perhaps they thought him a fool who was going after his wandering wife, perhaps he did look the fool, he certainly felt it. Muttering a few polite words, and using a few nudges, he made it through the ocean of ladies and came to see the chosen with his own eyes.

Wild red hair slid around his skinny boyish shoulders. That mane of red gleamed in the candlelight. Something, a woman's ring, flashed as if caught in the light. The playful woman right behind the Chosen had set herself to weaving her digits through all that hair. Another woman lay at the child's feet, looking up at him in adore that a dog could have envied. The boy stood out in the sea of blues and greens that his flock wore. Like any good shepard he wore a white tunic, unlike the modest people who took that task he had silver embroidery stitched into his clothes. In all possibility that silver was real.

Like a cat, Tethe'alla's Chosen radiated smugness, his head tossed back so that he could better be petted. He all but purred as the two woman behind his little throne whispered endearments on him.

Then there was silence, a hush as the women who were practically worshiping the boy saw the Kratos. A frown touched those angelic features, and the green eyes slid open. With a slender hand the Chosen made a gesture, and one of the girls came to him, a glass of wine in her hand. The boy took the glass in his hand and lifted it to Kratos, his green eyes glittered with contempt.

"I say, who let this filthy commoner in here?" Blue and green clad ladies tittered at the Chosen's words, a few of the braver ones sneered at Kratos. Crimson wine shivered in it's crystal container as the boy who held it shook. The boy shook because unlike all the other men he had challenged, this one wasn't phased. This one gave him a look that held no fear. "Oh come now, if you aren't going to say something then leave. My dear, fetch a servant to show this spoil sport out."

Spoil sport...

Kratos grinned, it was his teeth only grin.

Despite his manly posing the Chosen was still a child.

"Chosen of Tethe'alla," Kratos bowed, and told himself killing the brat wouldn't keep him on Mithos' good side. "I am a messenger from the Church of Martel..."

"If this is about the Regeneration Journey tell the Pope I'm not going on it yet. The world seems to be doing real good for itself right now." The wine was gone from it's glass, all in one shot. Kratos had to admire the boy's stanima, he recognized that vintage, and a full glass of it would have rendered Kratos drunk. "Tell them that next time they shouldn't send a mercenary to do a man's job."

Kratos felt his lip curl into a silent snarl. His hands ached to grip a sword, to run the brat through. Keeping hidden was the key though, this Chosen would swift forget a messenger from Martel's church, but he would be much slower to forget a man who drew a blade on him. Kratos managed another bow, and left, his mind so rage filled he could not get himself to read the mana signature.

All in all the attempt was a total failure.

"That bad huh?"

Startled Kratos hopped, Anna had gotten behind him some how... He had walked to the refreshment table had poured himself a glass of wine, and she had slipped up behind him while he had gone through the gestures of getting a drink. His sword was halfway out it's sheath before he could stop himself. So he stood there, glass in one hand, sword half out in the other, looking at his wife with a kind of helpless chagrin. Anna was only a few steps behind him, she regarded him with her head tilted to the side, it was almost funny to see her using one of his pet expressions. She didn't seem too surprised with his reaction, but after a long moment in which he seemed frozen Anna sighed. With a gentle hand she took the glass away from him, he sheathed his blade and coughed. People were staring at them, so much for remaining unnoticed.

"My Goddess Ruian, his brattiness must have ticked you off."

"It's worse then Yuan thinks. Much worse."

"I'm surprised he even talked to you at all, while you were busy I talked to the few men here. Normally all he does is talk to women, he normally has nothing to do with men. You were lucky to have spent as much time with him as you did."

She went to the table and poured herself the only non-alcoholic beverage on the table. The other party guests looked at her in shock, almost morally offended as she sipped on a glass of water. She absently snatched a lemon slice and forced it on the side of her cup. She considered her self made concoction, and satisfied took another sip. With a slight grimace she set it aside.

I never tasted anything that sour before..." She coughed. "Goddess what do they put in the ground here to make lemons taste that strong." She gathered her courage, took another sip, and then seeing it was as bad as before firmly pushed it away. "Did you get what you needed?"

"No," Kratos draped his arm over his wife, being oh so gentle he lead her away from the table. He drew her away from the marble sheathed tables where the other guests ate and loitered, he lead her to one of the more private corners in the ball room.

"I lost it. I couldn't even concentrate..." He growled, dropping the facade of calm he had worn up to this point. Anna nodded her head in understanding. She seemed to share his anger a little, though not it's intensity. She snuggled into his arms, and even though he was mad he noted that she smelled very nice.

"I understand, he doesn't even think of them like humans does he. They're just pets. I... saw a little of what's going on. But the press of people kept me from seeing everything. It's sad really, I've never seen a sadder person in my life."

"I really am not in the mood to sympathize with that little pervert." Kratos hissed. His hands were clenched and refused to unclench.

"He must be very lonely to live like that. And those woman must be very desperate, that or blind."

"Desperate? Anna these are the most wealthy woman in the whole of this world, how can they be desperate?"

"How little you know of women." Anna kissed him, her eyes were sad. "They were raised to be presentable, to get a husband, and to marry to another fortune. All to better their families, all to enhance their status. It's never for love. Someone who marries for love is a fool, that's what they've been raised to believe, and if they dare to marry for love they lose all status and money if their lucky... If they aren't then they are disowned. So they play this little game, throw themselves in the rules and niceties to the point they accept what they have been told is true. That's their life beloved, status, wealth, power, and that boy is playing them against each other for his amusement. He dangles love, passion, and status before them and snatches it back with a smile. After a while of that I think anyone would get desperate."

Kratos snorted, shook his head at the follies of humanity. It was times like this Mithos seemed to be right. The human race would destroy itself, or throw itself into such mass stupidity if not firmly herded in the right direction.

"Well at least I know that he's not suitable for the goal of the Regeneration. Mithos will be content now that he will have two reports instead of Yuan's one."

"Ruian..." Anna looked at him with such hope in her eyes it melted his icy thoughts and firmly banished the half-elf's poison from his heart. "let's go outside for a bit."

She took his hand, and he allowed himself to be lead from the opulent ball room. They walked outside, the rich green lawns were covered in a nights dew. She let go of his hand, walked into the moon touched false field, and smiled at her surroundings. She paid her new dress and shoes no heed, walked in the lawns, her eyes lost in an inner dream. He stood in the shadows of the building, as always his gaze slid around assessing the dangers around them. They were completely alone, the street that lead back into the heart of Meltokio was empty. From the partially open door light streamed past him, pushed the shadows onto each other and added to the gloom he stood in.

Anna knew that he did not follow, and she turned to him and beckoned in a imperious manner. The twitch of her lips ruined her Tethe'alla Chosen impersonation. He stood for a bit longer in the shadows, and she stomped up to him and grabbed his hand. He allowed himself to be lead, for he felt as if he was in a trance. The moonlight hit the ground as they walked onto the lawns hand in hand. If hit it just right, and the dew seemed to be slivers of diamonds scattered over the earth. Music drifted to them from the open door, it seemed as if the dancing had begun inside.

In his minds eye he could see the Chosen shooing his ladies off of his lap, and his hungry green eyes roaming the dance floor for energetic partners. Part of him knew he should go back, complete his duty, then leave.

In his mortal eyes he saw Anna, her hand outstretched in silent entreaty.

He took Anna's hand, drew her close. Alone they danced in the lawn, the music a whisper from the window throbbed in his bones. There dance was slow, his ancient, her's a little dated. Still they made it work, though there was a moment or two where she stepped on his feet, and he on hers.

Instead of anger, or frustration, at his lapses Kratos found himself laughing. Anna laughed with him, rested her head on his shoulder with a quiet sound. He trembled as her scent filled him, and taking advantage between steps he moved to kiss her cheek. She squawked out in pain as he accidently stepped on her toes, she lightly kicked at his leg and he almost tripped on the dew covered grass. They had a good laugh over that, she teased him, called him a klutz, and when the music seemed right he gently took her hands in his and proved her wrong. They flowed from dance to dance, forging their own movements, somehow wielding their grossly different styles so that it worked. Once they found a semblance of grace the world seemed to drift away, and time held still while he held her.

Soon they could no longer hear the music, if it had it fallen silent or was merely absent to there ears didn't matter. They danced under the stars, the dew was a false field of stars at there feet. They danced to a song that they could hear in there hearts, then at last when Anna grew weary Kratos lay his cloak on the ground and she sat. Though he had no need for rest he joined her, and she smiled, leaned into him. Her breathing was a little forced, she was obviously winded from the exertion. Anna's leaning grew more pronounced, turned to snuggling, and he smiled at her. With a shaking hand he stroked her rich brown hair and succeeded in messing up the order that Anna had somehow forced on her normally wild hair.

She didn't seem to mind though, one hand playfully slid up the side of his face. She caressed the back of his neck, and then with a evil laugh she swept her hand up and his hair fell into his eyes.

"You muss up my hair I muss up yours!"

"Then we are even." Kratos chuckled, eyes closed as he savored just holding her. His grip tightened a little as she shivered. He cursed that his cloak lay beneath them, that he could not draw if around her shoulders.

"I'm just a bit cold." She whispered, as he drew his arms around her. "And since my cloak isn't practical... You'll just have to do."

"Of course." He bent his head and kissed her exposed neck. He could feel her heartbeat under his lips, feel it throb through him. "Whatever is practical." She laughed, leaned back as he kissed her yet again. With trembling hands he unfastened her thin cloak, it fell to the ground and pooled at his side. That disturbed him somewhat, but he forced himself not to think on it, every act of chance was not symbolism. Symbolism had no place here.

Anna's hand slid under his silk shirt, slid down his spine. An old pain began. But it was a sweet pain, a welcome pain. Pain spread across his back, he could feel his blood seep out from ancient wounds that re-opened. Her hands trembled, slid down and drew a pattern across his belly that tingled. Silver blue light ran the length and width of his shoulders, it was little more then light cast by the dying embers of a fire. She sighed, her hands went back to running across his back, even as he lovingly eased her down to the grass. Kratos closed his eyes, smelled her, the wet grass, he loved her. Loved her more then life itself, he ached to show that, to prove that. Perhaps he was talking, he wasn't too sure, but from somewhere he heard a voice whispering of love, it was so tender and soft, it could not have been his, he was certain...

His hands slid down, caressed her stomach. She shivered at his touch, her own grip slid down to the small of his back.

They were just mortals, though Yggdrasil had not wanted them to be. He was a mortal, and only had a mortal man's way of showing his love. But by the darkest of ironies, only ironic because it was unintentional, to show love he would have to shed his humanity. He stood at that point, that one last step before losing himself to his passion.

One last kiss... he had to take one last kiss before all sensation was lost, before the torment of his non-human existence was thrust on him.

Then her grip changed, grew painful, and that pain was in no way connected to pleasure.

He was jolted out of his trance as abruptly as if someone had doused him with water...

Warning, it was a warning, Anna was trying to warn him...

Kratos' eyes snapped open, old instincts came to life, and he threw himself on Anna. An arrow hissed by his ear, embedded itself on the ground less then an inch away. Kratos lifted his head up, and looked at where the arrow had come from. A man in Desian garb was running, and he was too far away to catch by conventual means. He shoved Anna off of him, drew a hissed breath of rage, and staggered to his feet. Mana flickered around his hands, but Anna dug her nails into his arms, pulled herself up, and he lost his grip on the power. She pushed her body close to his to hide the tell tale glow, her eyes darted back to the way they came. Something was wrong, he doused the light from his still sheathed wings, he prayed that whoever saw them could not destinguish the gentle light from say starlight.

Kratos turned, and saw the Chosen of Tethe'alla staring at him. A sneer was on the boys lips.

"For a man who thinks himself better then me he certainly doesn't act that way."

Anna firmly pushed him away. She found her feet, and though she was rumpled and dirty compared to the Tethe'allan Chosen she stood more magnificently then any queen.

"Don't ever compare yourself to my husband you little snot nosed brat."

"Ohh what a protective little hunnie you are! You certainly are cute, for a gutter witch that is."

Kratos snarled, moved to draw his sword. Mithos the farthest thought from his mind. Anna shot him a glare that made him back up. Then she smiled to the boy, smiled a venom filled smile. She walked across the lawn, walked straight up to Zelos, a dreamy look in her eyes. Kratos noticed how Anna's hands clenched, he kept that observation to himself and waited. He had a feeling how this was going to turn out, Anna could deal with this without his intervention.

Startled at the abrupt turn in her personality Zelos smiled and gave her a wink that humored his other hunnies. She only kept smiling, walked up to the boy and stopped only a few steps from him. With that smile on her face she slapped him, and the boy staggered back into the wall. Tears were running down his face.

"You.. you can't hurt me! I... I'm the Chosen."

Anna hit him again, and the boys legs almost buckled.

"I could kill you right now." Anna hissed, Kratos felt the hair on the back of his neck prick, Anna was a force to be reckoned with. "And I might if you don't listen to me."

A child, not the false man guise he wore, the Chosen sniffled and wiped at his eyes.

"What you are doing is ripping live apart. It might just seem fun and games, but it's not. You turn those people into slaves, you make them pets, and you forget they are people." Zelos, despite himself it seemed, was looking into Anna's eyes and listening. "What me and my husband do isn't what you do to them. We love each other, all this is, an expression of our love. What you do to them is use them, and rip them to pieces while you use them. And I swear by Martel if I ever see you again Mr. Wilder, and you are doing what you were doing back there, you'd best run. Because I can do worse then this. I will."

The tears had stopped, there was too much terror in those eyes to have tears in them. As the boy ran off Anna sighed, looked at her hand, and then turned to him. A sick look was on her face. It was the first time she had ever had to hurt someone before. He nodded his head in understanding, at the pain and horrid understanding that came after a threat had been made with force. It was all too easy. It was easy to get carried away, to kill instead of hurt. Anna now know one of the truths of a warrior, one of his truths, and she wept her silent tears as that truth came home. Picking up his cloak from the dewy earth Kratos went to his wife and lay it on her shoulders. He held her for a moment in a hug, then lifted her from the ground and carried her to the inn that served as there home.