Disclaimer: I do not own G Gundam or any of its characters.
A.N.: Hey guys, I'm really sorry about not updating on time, even though I set the dates and promise to have them ready by then. The truth is, I just can't keep up with the 2 week intervals all the time. College is tough, and my classes are a lot harder than last year.. So that's where my priorities are. I'll try to keep the once-every-two-weeks updates, but I just can't promise that it's going to happen.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN I AM DROPPING THIS FIC. Please don't misunderstand me. I love this fic, and have great ideas for it and it's nearing the end, I'm just having trouble adjusting to my classwork right now, and I don't want to make more promises I'm just going to end up breaking.
Another topic was brought to my attention once again in a recent disturbing review, that of my story's resemblance to another G-Gundam fic. The first time I just brushed it aside and didn't deal with it, but the fact that it's come up again makes me worry that perhaps I was wrong to do so. While I only was trying not to seem like I was pointing fingers, I realize that to ignore it would seem to be admitting my guilt. Many others may have the same concerns, and they need to be addressed.
I'm not going to mention names, but just please check the dates of when the stories were first published before you arrive at any erroneous conclusions, lest you act in a reckless manner and judge others wrongly. This entire story and its plot came from me. I, and I alone, came up with this original idea, without plagiarizing or deriving it from another similar story. Only the characters are not mine, as seen in the disclaimer above. Like any form of art, it was influenced by a great many things that have touched me on a personal level (movies, art, music, books, history, architecture, etc.), but if I refer to something, I make it a point to give credit where credit is due.
........WARNING: PG-13 rating applies; religious tone, you know the drill with that by now I hope.
........These Foolish Games: Chapter 21
........Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.
And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
.Who shines white light and wants to show
.How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
.......She did not faint after listening to King Mikamura's tale after all, and was rather proud of herself for not doing so. They had spent the long remainder of the ride in silence, and even the guards trailing behind them with Marie-Louise quieted down eventually as they ran out of jokes.
When they arrived at General Ulube's impressively large fortress, it was nearly sundown. She and Marie-Louise were escorted to the uppermost chamber in a tall, sinister-looking tower conjoined to the main building with a single darkened hall. And here she sat, drumming her fingers against the stained wood of her seat. King Mikamura had left them in the hands of the soldier that Marie-Louise rode with.
The soldier had led them down the dreary hallway, and into the room just inside a single steel doorway. Instructing them to sit, he remained in the room with two other officers, and an additional pair just outside the barred door. With this many guards, the girls hardly stood a chance of escaping on their own. It seemed that Ulube and his minions would not underestimate them. While this worked against them, Rain couldn't help but feel a tiny bit flattered.
The room was damp and ill-lit, the torches casting flickering shadows upon the icy stone walls. Even though it was just now nearing the end of summer, the weather was chilly for this season. When the sun disappeared behind the hills at the end of each day, the climate grew significantly cooler, and Rain shivered in this tower that seemed to have rarely felt the warmth of sunlight. There were no windows in the large, circular room: only the door they had entered through and a winding staircase that disappeared from her sight as it went up past the ceiling level and into the darkness beyond.
Absentmindedly she wondered how long they would be kept waiting, and just what exactly they were waiting for, though she wasn't sure she wanted to know.
Maybe an hour or so passed in silence: her and Marie-Louise sitting, and the soldiers standing on their guard. Marie-Louise had drifted off to sleep a while ago, head leaning back against the wall in a rather uncomfortable position, but obviously not enough to prevent her somnolence. Rain attempted to remain vigilant and alert, unwilling to trust the men in their room. Even though they, too, seemed rather relaxed and slumped to the ground as they dozed off every now and then, the one left in charge did not. He closed his eyes, but Rain knew better than to believe him asleep in his upright position, or that he was letting his guard down.
She stifled a yawn, and told herself that falling asleep while being held captive was terrible. Ignoring the protests of her sore body from the day of riding and all the overwhelming events that took place, she straightened up in her chair, preoccupying herself with counting the dark droplets of water that fell from an overhead origin due to the collected moisture and lack of circulation.
She reached 35 before she yawned again. Another 26 passed and a third yawn. At 18 she slouched down in her chair. 9 and her head leaned back against the wall. 4: eyes fluttered open and closed. 1 tiny droplet echoed and...darkness
.......Lady Allenby stood beside her elegant mare, the cool evening wind whipping about her, causing her turquoise tresses to flutter. From the hilltop in the forest, she had a clear view of the cathedral standing tall and proud in the village below. The setting sun's dying rays glittered against the stained glass, the reflections a swirl of color. The black shadows cast behind it stretched out long, a testament to the promise of nightfall rapidly approaching. Small lights began to appear scattered throughout the village as its members prepared to arm themselves against the darkness.
The flea-bitten grey at her side nickered softly, and tossed her head, ears pressed flat in a clear state of agitation. She tugged against the grip Allenby had on the reins, and skittered about, scuffing up the decaying leaves beneath their feet. Turning away from the sight below, Allenby's eyes came upon the approaching figure she had been expecting. General Ulube.
He dismounted from his black steed, footsteps crushing the dead leaves beneath his boots, sword clinking against his side, cloak fanning out behind him.
"Duchess Allenby, I am glad that you came to meet me."
Allenby frowned. "No need for formalities, Ulube. What's going on? You left without explanation this morning. The princess left, so what plan are you putting in motion? I can have Domon, you can have Marie-Louise, everything's as you wanted. So why come back?"
Ulube grinned, and brushed a few stray hairs back from his face. "Lady Allenby, you really are too trusting."
Her frown deepened. "Wha-," she left the question unfinished.
A chuckle erupted from Ulube's throat. "Wooing the princess was simply a means to achieving a greater purpose, as was your distracting Domon. However, it soon became apparent that neither one of us was gaining any ground in that area, and I changed tactics to still achieve my goal."
"And just what was this -greater purpose- you have?"
"I want revenge against the Sauvillian King. Marrying Marie-Louise would give me the power and resources necessary to wage full-on war against the kingdom. However, due to my recent benefactor, marrying her is no longer required. The tie between the princess and Domon will be enough."
"I don't see what this has to do with me. Why don't you get to the point and stop rubbing the rejection in my face." She crossed her arms across her chest, pulling her silvery-grey cloak closer around her chilled figure. There was hardly any light left, and she was having difficulty reading his facial expressions.
"I kidnapped the princess and her handmaiden. With them as ransom, I will lure Domon and George into a war and murder the young Sauvillian Prince."
The statement was so matter-of-fact that Allenby felt the color drain from her face and she began to feel faint. "But, you mean...No." she was about to brush it off as a joke, then thought better of it. "Murder?"
"Yes. And you're going to be the one to bring Domon to my fortress."
Allenby stumbled back in shock. "But, that will mean, I'll be delivering him to his death..."
"Hm, yes I suppose it does," he replied disturbingly casual.
"I just don't think...I love him! Why would you ask me to do such a thing?"
"Because you don't have a choice. You either help me kill Domon, or I kill you."
Her eyes were wide with horror and fear, she didn't know what to do. "But..." a pause. "B-but..." she stammered.
Ulube lifted a gloved hand to gesture in the air with a care-free manner. "He doesn't love you, you know. He never did. He loves the princess, not you. Besides, you never really cared about him in the first place, you only wanted the crown." He eyed her meaningfully, "Remember?"
Hearing it like that sounded so harsh. Guilt welled up inside her. How could she have been so heartless? Was she really that cruel? Surely not. But...everything Ulube had said was true. Never once had she thought about Domon's happiness. Only her own.
So if what he said was true, if she really didn't care about anything and anyone but herself, then she would do Ulube's bidding to keep her life.
There had been a time when she had joy and fulfillment in life, when she cared about others. But with the passing of her entire family due to disease, she became calloused and hard. It was difficult for a woman to live a solitary life.
She retained her independence, yet it became obvious that she would need to marry to live the life she desired. Having no source of income except for her serfs, she could hardly keep her family castle together or the family cemetery. So she began raising taxes on her land and accumulating all the wealth she could to promote her status. Marrying above her rank was her only hope, and Domon was that man who would help her fulfill it.
Her dream to maintain her family castle and care for her family's graves. Somewhere along the line she had grown ruthless and strayed from her dream. How had this happened?
"I see," she lowered her head, ashamed as she came face to face with the truth. "This is what I have become."
Placing a slippered foot into the stirrup, she mounted placing a leg on either side of the mare and pulled on her gloves, gathering the reins after she had done so. Ulube mimicked her actions.
"So, are you ready to accept your mission?" he drew his horse in a circle, preparing to leave.
She drew in a shaky breath. "I have decided my fate. Mother, father, please. Forgive me for my transgressions."
And with that, she let out a loud shout, startling Ulube and confusing his own horse. She whirled her mare about, riding fast down the hill, sending up a silent pray as she fled.
'Our Father, who art in heaven...'
Branches from the forest snagged and ripped at her clothing, cutting her face with small gashes. She leaned back to steady herself as the mare sped between rocks and trees. The pounding of hooves filled her ears, and mirrored her heart's thumping in her chest. She was unable to hear anything else, but knew that Ulube and his black stallion rode behind them, chasing them through the night.
'Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done...'
She did not slow as the reached the town, but rather encouraged her mare faster by slapping the reins against the horse's neck. Casting a frightened glance behind her, she saw Ulube bearing down on her, hunting her just as the darkness hunted the sunlight: chasing it until it was extinguished, dead and gone. Shouting at the surprised villagers to move, she rode until she set her eyes upon her destination.
'On Earth as it tis in heaven.'
The cathedral.
'Give us this day our daily bread'
She galloped straight up the steps, the mare stumbling and struggling to reach the top as she leaped. The clamor of the hooves against stone rang in the courtyard in front of the cathedral. Allenby dismounted at the doors and frantically began beating on the large wooden barriers.
'And forgive us our trespasses...'
One word came from her mouth, and in it she put all her strength and desperation.
"SANCTUARY!" she screamed. Her voice came frantic and strained, and echoed throughout the courtyard. Sparing another glance, Ulube was already riding up the steps, closing in on her with every passing second.
She released a high shriek, and ran from door to door, pounding desperately. Over and over, she screamed "SANCTUARY! Dear Lord, SANCTUARY!"
The harsh, brutal wind tore at her clothing and hair. Darkness concealed her surroundings, and as she scurried about the corner she slipped on an unseen step and stumbled down several stairs, bruising her body and hit her head on the corner of one of the icy stones.
A moment of confusion came upon her as a result of the stun from her fall, but it lasted only a moment, until the glittering of silver drew her panic back upon her as she saw Ulube's mask in all the dark.
"Schving!" a metal sword was drawn from its sheath, the silver shimmering paralleling that of the mask.
On hands and feet, she crab-walked backwards a ways, than threw herself back up on her feet, her head swirling from the sudden rush of blood to her head. She crawled up the steps, eyes wide and crying tears of fear and helplessness. She threw her body against the doors, hands slapping desperately at the wood as she raised her head to the heavens for hope.
"SANCTUARRRR...AHHH!!!" a final scream pierced the silence of the still night, and a dull thump signaled the end. The wild whinnying of a horse was heard, and the thundering clatter of its hooves trailed off into the distance.
Curious villagers slowly came from their homes. The night cast shadows on a large shape slumped against the doors, veiling it from recognition. However, gleaming lanterns of those who drew near revealed glimpses of dark blood trickled down the steps in a steady flow, staining the steps. One drop, two drops, three.
Forgive us our trespasses...
.......Plink!
Rain jerked back away at the sound of the splashing droplets. How long had she been asleep? It was impossible to tell in this windowless room that held no sense of time. Glancing around, she saw things remained exactly as they had been before she had drifted off. Except...
That one soldier stood to the side of the partially opened door, talking in a hushed tone to whoever was out there. Then he backed away, allowing General Ulube and King Mikamura to enter.
"Good Evening, ladies," greeted Ulube. He strode with a certain comfort into the room, and approached them. "I hope your stay here has been pleasant so far. What do you think of my home? A rather charming place, isn't it?"
"I don't think charming does it justice," replied Marie-Louise as she rubbed sleep from the corners of her eyes.
Ulube laughed. "Come, let me show you to your permanent rooms upstairs. I suppose that you'll be wanting to rest a bit more after your tiring journey. We will all need to be at our best for the events to come. My lord King, you soldiers, come along. The ladies need to be escorted."
The troupe journeyed up the slick stone steps that wound about the perimeter of the tower, climbing up into unforeseen darkness. They passed various wooden doorways on their hike up, but entered none.
Rain felt something brush against her hand, and realized that it was Marie-Louise's. She was scared. Rain discreetly linked her fingers with the young princess to help comfort her best friend, not to mention herself.
After what seemed like climbing a never ending trail of steps, they arrived at the door meant for them. It was a generic wooden door just like the rest, and the soldiers filed to either side of it. Ulube stepped forward and swung it open.
They were ushered inside, and Ulube took a torch from one of the soldiers, lighting the other torches inside, providing some light into the room. Rain glanced around, and noted that this room contained two narrow slits in the walls that acted as windows. Ones like these were often used by archers in battles so they could shoot through the openings, but they were narrow to shield them from enemy arrows.
The dank room reeked of something rancid and musty, and Rain noted a pile of straw in the center. As she drew up beside Ulube, she surveyed the mound. Well, at least the hay was fresh. Observing the room a bit more she realized that there was only a single wooden stool. Therefore she reasoned that they were to sleep in the straw. No warm feather beds like at the Sauvillian Castle, but sleeping in hay was not something foreign to the handmaiden.
"Make yourselves comfortable. This will be your home for a while, so take your time in acquainting yourselves with your surroundings. And the views from the windows are really quite lovely in the daylight," Ulube said. He turned toward Rain, and traced a finger along her jaw. "Dream sweet dreams of me tonight, my dear princess," his voice rumbled quietly in his throat. Rain jerked back from his touch, and his lips curved into a grin.
He walked to the door, took one last look at Rain, and shut it closed behind him. The click of a lock falling into place was heard, as well as the guards settling into their seats outside the door. Rain stared at the door for a moment, then turned back to Marie-Louise. The younger woman had fallen down into the mound of straw, and propped herself up on her elbows, looking up to Rain.
Rain felt her face begin to soften and crumple around her eyebrows as she laid down beside Marie-Louise. She hugged her into an embrace, both frightened and lost.
"Do you think they'll come, Rain? I can't make up my mind whether I would be more relieved if they came or if they didn't. If they come, General Ishikawa will do everything in his power to murder them. But if they don't, what's going to happen to us?"
Rain had no answer to help Marie-Louise, she was just as confused as the princess, so she let the silence serve as her response. She pulled at the folded blankets at their feet, and covered both of their bodies up.
"Let's get some sleep, now, all right? We'll worry about everything else tomorrow, after we've rested and had time to clear our thoughts."
.......TBC