I'm sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up my editor and myself have been rather busy lately. Well any ways here is the next chapter. This is a regular disclaimer, I don't own any of the character from Final Fantasy, and the characters are the property of Square Enix. The only characters that are mine are the ones I create to go into this story. So please don't sue me that would be unlucky.
Small note any soldiers names that don't sound like first names are last names, my editor thought that they were first names. Just wanted to clear that up.
Ch.4 To Return Home
"Mulholland" a voice bellowed out of a large tent. A rather tall man, standing about 6'6", with fiery red hair acknowledging his name turned to the tent and disappeared.
Walking into the tent Mulholland saw the General sitting at a large table covered by maps and documents. "Yes sir, you called for me?" Mulholland asked with a steady voice. Looking up to answer, he saw the red headed man standing at attention just within the tent's entrance. "Yes, I want to know as soon as Leonheart and his men arrive. I want them brought to me immediately. Do you understand?…..They are to go nowhere before seeing me" he said with a hard demanding voice. "Yes sir, I will make sure of it personally" Mulholland answered saluting. "Good, you are dismissed" the General said dismissing the soldier with a wave of his hand.
Mulholland turned and left the tent, "what was that about" his partner still waiting outside asked. "The General wants to know as soon as Leonheart returns and for us to make sure that he sees the General before he does anything else" Mulholland explained. "No problem" his partner answered, turning his gaze back toward the camps entrance.
Mulholland had been looking straight ahead when he entered the General's tent. He never saw the dark figure standing in the shadows of the tent corner.
Taking a step forward a woman with hair like black sack cloth appeared out of the shadows. "He didn't notice me or even feel my presence. I could have easily killed him that's why he isn't the kind of soldier I require" the woman thought. A smile crossed her lips "but Leonheart on the other hand" she mused to herself.
"So they haven't returned yet" the woman said announcing her presence to the General. Looking up he caught a glimpse of the slender woman in a tight black dress with black hair, a smile crossed his lips "so you are here, I was beginning to wonder when you would grace me with your presence" he said.
"I heard you order Leonheart and his party to be brought here as soon as they arrive" she said. "Yes, I am eager to know how the mission went. I want to hear that she is dead. I want to know how he did it" the General said with a twisted gleam in his eye.
"Don't you want to hear for yourself that she's dead? I mean why wait to be debriefed, when I can order them here right away?" the General questioned. "True I would like to hear of the little bitch's demise just as much as you do, but I have a belief that allows me to wait" she said calmly smiling at him.
"What do you know that I don't, that makes you so damn calm Ultimecia?" he said in a harsh tone. She let the tone of his voice slide for now, because he is just anxious. "I know how much Squall hates sorceresses" she responded. "Damn is that all, a lot of people hate sorceress'. That's why most of these men have joined my army, because they want their chance at revenge" he said aggravated.
Ultimecia gave the General a glare that made him remember who he is talking to. The General knew that he had crossed the line by raising his voice and looked down at the documents in front of him.
"Beside Squall and his two friends are the youngest members of the army" he started but was cut off "what does that have to do with anything?" she asked. "Nothing I am just saying being as young as he is…. I mean he isn't even twenty yet how can you have such trust in him to assign him this mission?" he asked a little confused. She looked at the General and grinned then turned her gaze up to the tent roof "because I made him what he is" she said barely audible, but he heard what she had said.
"What does she mean she made him what he is, she has no relation to Squall, so how could she have made him the way he is?" he thought to himself as he watched her carefully. "I still would have sent someone else" he said to himself, not wanting to cross her again.
"I was just saying that he is young that's all, I wasn't trying to question you" he said trying to clear up any misunderstanding. "I understand your feelings on the matter, but don't worry I'm sure he handled the job accordingly" she said bringing her gaze back down to the General.
Although she watched the General as he went over papers and reports her mind wandered, "Squall is my knight and I will move him into position for the check mate over this feeble world and if I find that I can't control him any longer then I will use his death to aid me. His life and his death are tools for me and only me, to use as I see fit." A wicked smile curled across Ultimecia's face as she thought about how best to use Squall and his friends, she believed that she controlled every aspect of the young knight's life. Little did she know of the change that had occurred deep within the knight.
The General looked at Ultimecia and he saw her smiling for an unknown reason, "is something amusing?" he asked. She looked at him "not really, just thinking to myself" she responded, the smile never fading from her thin lips. "About?" he asked a little confused as to what could be so amusing to her. They were waiting to hear from Squall about his latest mission and the General did not really believe this to be a humorous matter. "Just about my future plans" she answered with vagueness. "Does it have to do with Leonheart?" he countered her answer.
She really didn't like the sound of that last question even though there was nothing in his voice to give her the idea that he was mad or envious of Leonheart. It was just something about him asking at all, like it was any of his concern. "Albeit that you are the General of the Army, but I'm the one who is in charge of what happens here, I tell you who to kill and what town to attack. But you do make up the battle plans and plan out the mission to last detail so I suppose you have some right to know………… No, I don't have to explain anything to you, you fool. I only need your support and your image for the soldiers so I will continue to humor you for now" she reasoned with herself.
"Yes, it does have to do with Leonheart" she finally told him after weighing the pro's and cons of it. The General watched her carefully before replying, "I know he's a talented fighter and he is still young so he has time to become even better; what I don't understand is why you put so much of your faith and our fate in his hands. He hasn't even been with us that long, not even three years yet." he stated with a pleading tone, wanting so badly to understand why Squall was so important to her.
"I know he hasn't been part of the army for very long and I also know that he is young, but I have seen a hidden strength within him and I will be the one to awaken that power and use it how I see fit" she told him with a firm voice. "He is my chess piece to move and I will move him until he is dead or to broken to be moved and then I will kill him myself" she said with a smile crossing her lips again. "Do you understand now?" she asked looking in his face. "Yes, I understand he is just a temporary piece to be used and discarded" he said bringing a smile to his own lips. She nodded and put her hand on his cheek "yes, now you see his purpose and we will use him till its time to discard him. You are the only one that I have brought with me and will keep you with me until the end, so don't you worry" she said with a low sultry voice. He smiled "I'm not worried about him I was just curious that's all" he said with his eyes fixed on her. He didn't really fully believe her reasoning and he knew she was keeping something from him but what he did not know.
The morning had sped by as the three soldiers made the long trek back to camp. Zell had been as true to his word as he could be, but by noon he was ready to stop and eat. Irvine was hungry as well but he wasn't going to say anything just to see how long Zell could hold up. "I know Squall is disciplined enough to forego a meal or two if it means completing a mission faster, but Zell that's a whole other story. I am proud of him making it this far but I wonder how much longer he can last" Irvine thought to himself as he watched Squall ride ahead of him.
Almost as if Zell had heard Irvine's thought his voice came up from the behind like a child that was asking permission to go outside after being put in time out. "Squall ….um man can we stop and eat? I know I said that I wouldn't ask to stop, but man I'm starving back here. So can we stop for just a little while?" Zell asked trying not to sound too desperate but wanting to stop and eat so badly he could already taste the food.
Squall didn't respond right away he was enjoying listening to Zell's pleads to stop, and for some strange reason Squall wanted to toy with Zell for a minute. "Squall come on man, I made it pretty far didn't I? Can't we just stop for a minute please man?" Zell's pleading voice lofted up to Squall again. A smile crossed Squall's face "you said that you could make it all the way to camp without stopping. What happened Zell, were you lying to me?" he shouted back to Zell. Zell's face fell "I know I did but …." he never got to finish, "well Zell?" came Squall's voice. "Your right, I'm sorry man, forget I asked" Zell said somberly looking downtrodden.
Squall took a glance back to see Zell the smile still on his face, "alright we'll stop at the river up ahead to eat and water the horses" Squall called out, much to Zell's relief and Irvine's amusement. He had a feeling that Squall would stop when Zell asked but just wanted to watch the exchange between the two. "When he glanced back here I could have sworn that Squall was smiling. He was enjoying the game he was playing with Zell. It's not like Squall to let his feelings show to us something in him has already started to change and it seems to be for the better." Irvine pondered to himself as they rode on to the river.
Zell and Irvine reached the river bank to find Squall already leading Traveler down to the water. "Thanks man, I really owe you one. I don't know how much longer I could have gone without getting some food in my stomach." Zell said. Squall looked at him "I had always planned on stopping here Zell, nothing against you but I knew that you couldn't make it all the way back to camp without stopping at least once and beside I wasn't going to ride Traveler ragged" Squall said with a hint of humor in his voice. "You know me too well man, I just want….." Zell started but was cut off "I know…, but you don't have to do what you think someone else would want you to. Just be you Zell, that's why I keep you around. You are a constant reminder that I don't always have to do what others think I should" Squall told him.
Irvine just listened, "he is even sharing his personal thoughts with us, which means he either thinks he is going to die sometime in the near future or his defensive shell has been cracked somewhere. What could put a crack in a shell such as his; could our young sorceress have had such an effect on him already." he wondered.
"It's a good thing that he does know you so well or your horse might of rode into camp with a withered corpse in the saddle" Irvine dropped in. "Hey man I'm not that bad" Zell countered. "Oh ya, what have you been thinking about for the past hour and be honest" Irvine asked, "well….. um to tell the truth …. about food, but that doesn't prove anything" Zell answered. "If you say so, but I think it says everything" Irvine said crossing his arms with a confident smile on his face. Zell was going to respond but gave up. "Well at least I'm honest with myself, I know I need energy to be on the top of my game and the best way to get it is through eating. So I eat to keep up my energy that's all." Zell finally said giving in to the fact that his stomach is an endless black hole that is always looking for something to put in it. Irvine smiled "that's a good point, I'll give that to you" he said.
"Irvine, if you start getting the food ready I will take your horse down to the river, is it a deal?" Irvine hesitated. "Come on you know you want to" Zell pushed. "Alright , alright, I'll get the food started. Man you get pushy when you get hungry. I feel like I'm married, yes dear I'll get right on it" Irvine teased. "Hey man, that's not funny besides I wouldn't marry you anyways. Your not my type and besides I've seen the way you treat your girlfriends; you're always looking at other girls" Zell shoot back, "hey what can I say, God did an excellent job when he made woman and I'm just admiring his handy work that's all" Irvine defended. "And whatever girl that you happen to be with at the time, I'm sure she sees it that way doesn't she" Zell said. "Well to be honest most of them get pretty mad with me, what can you do? Oh well, I'm just a healthy man that likes the ladies is there anything wrong with that" Irvine answered.
Squall just watched and listened as the two went at it. "Irvine always has a girl around and Zell's vice is food. But what is it that I need? If I have found it I don't know it and if I haven't will I live long enough to find out what it is?" Squall wondered.
Zell lead the horses to the river and Irvine started a fire. They spent about an hour eating and talking. The atmosphere of their conversation dropped from a light-hearted beginning to what they thought would happen upon their return.
"Squall what do you think will happen when we get back to camp? I mean what do you think the General will do?" Zell asked. "We aren't official soldiers in his army we're volunteers remember" Irvine piped up. "But we still take orders from the General right?" Zell countered. "We might take orders from him it still doesn't mean he can have us punished, it wasn't our fault" Irvine regretted saying the last part as soon as it passed his lips and wished more than anything that he could take it back.
"Your right it's not your fault that the mission wasn't a success, it's my fault" Squall finally spoke up in the discussion. "I was the one that went into the tent not the two of you, it was my choice not to complete the orders" he continued staring straight ahead. "That's not what I meant Squall and you know it" Irvine said a little protectively. "I know Irvine, it's just…." Squall started but was cut off by Irvine "don't you even try to take the blame for this Squall. We all went on this mission we were all given the order and we all decided that it was a better plan to allow you to go in on your own. It wasn't just you so don't you try to take the fall for us do you hear me?" Irvine shot back at Squall. "Irvine's right Squall, I wont let you take the fall alone I will be right there with you no matter what happens" Zell said trying to sound confident.
Squall looked at his friends "thank you, you have no idea what that means to me" he thought even though he would never outwardly say it to them. "Alright lets mount up and head for camp the sooner we get this over with the happier I'll be and then we make plans for our next move" Irvine said. "This is the plan first we will go back to camp and debrief the General, then we'll try to find Rinoa" Irvine suggested. "Okay I'm good to ride I think" Zell answered and Squall just nodded. "Beside the sooner we can get Squall back to his precious little sorceress the sooner he will lighten up. It really is so cute to see your children grow up" Irvine teased as he ran to his horse before Squall could get his hands on him.
Zell just laughed as he hopped onto his horse "Man he really does have a crush on her" he joked. Squall just rolled his eyes as he straightened up on Traveler "I will remember this, you do realize that don't you" he said with a slight annoyance in his voice.
"Look" Owens said as he pointed out toward the rise of a hill that leads into the camp. "What is it?" Mulholland asked as he peered out into the distance. "It's them, you better go inform the General" Owens responded. "Are you sure, I don't want to go in there and be wrong, he'll kill me" Mulholland asked. "Yes, it's them I would recognize that spiky blonde hair anywhere, its Zell" Owens assured him.
"Alright, you keep them here if I'm not back. I'm going to tell the General they are approaching" Mulholland ordered. Owens nodded as Mulholland turned back to enter the General's tent.
"General, Leonheart and his group are approaching the camp, we have just spotted them on the ridge just outside of the camp" Mulholland said saluting. "Very good, bring them in as soon as they arrive" the General ordered.
"Squall does it look like Owens is trying to wave us down?" Zell asked as he saw the tall black man standing just outside the General's tent waving his arms over his head. "It looks that way. Let's see what he wants" Squall answered. "Man I hope he doesn't want much .I want to rest and maybe even go see Shana before dealing with the General" Irvine said. "You are just asking to get your ass kicked aren't you? You know that Shana's Dart girl and yet you insist on going to see her" Zell scolded in a stern voice. "He won't do anything; beside I am just showing her what she can have if she ever smartens up" Irvine spoke up with a smile. "What a lecher, beside she loves Dart and you know that Dart has been training with Squall. So if I were you I would be careful" Zell said with a smile. Irvine looked at Squall "Squall wouldn't let him do anything to me, would he? Then again the only time he defied an order was because of this sorceress whom he obviously likes so he might let Dart have his way to protect Shana" he thought to himself.
"Maybe your right Zell, I guess its time for me to look for a new girl. I wouldn't want to cause a problem for Squall by getting Dart all worked up while Squall's training him" Irvine said. "Right" Zell laughed.
Squall pulled Traveler to a halt in front of the General's tent. "Were you signaling us?" he asked Owens. "Yes, the…" Owens said but was cut off by an inpatient Squall. "What do you want? We have been riding all day, we're tired, our horses are tired and I am not in the mood to have my time wasted" Squall said in a sour tone. Before Owens could answer a voice came from within the tent and Mulholland appeared "the General wants to see you for a debriefing about your mission before you do anything else" he said.
Squall eyed Mulholland for a minute then nodded; glancing back to his two friends an unspoken pact was formed "let's go and let me do the talking" was said in just that glance. Both Zell and Irvine caught the message and understood as they dismounted.
"Follow me" Mulholland said as the three fell in behind to enter the tent. "General, here are Leonheart and his companions sir." Mulholland said saluting, but Squall and others just stood silent. "Salute the General" Mulholland ordered when he noticed that the others were not saluting, "I don't salute" Squall said with a cold hard voice. He eyed Mulholland and Mulholland's anger started to rise. "You will salute the General or I will make you" Mulholland ordered as he reached for his sword. "Do you really want to do this, because there is no way you will make it out of this tent breathing" Zell said as he stepped forward. "Don't be so stupid" Squall said his with his eyes cold as ice and his fingers wrapped around the hilt of his sword.
"Mulholland that's enough, leave us" the General's voice broke through the rising tension in the air around the four men. "Yes sir" Mulholland responded saluting and exiting the tent. "They think there so much better than the rest of us, one of these days I'll show them" he thought as he left.
"Please excuse Mulholland he is a loyal soldier, sometimes he is just a little too serious that's all" the General said trying to clear up any misplaced anger over the dispute. The General put down the report in his hands, the tent was empty since he had dismissed his staff an hour earlier. "Well I see that all of you have returned safely, I take it then that it was a successful mission" he asked.
Squall didn't answer. He sensed another presence within the tent and began to survey the room, "where is it coming from" he wondered. Then his eyes fell onto the darkened corner of the tent, the shadows seemed to be moving before his eyes "someone's there" he thought with his hand still on the hilt of his sword.
"Interesting, he seems to know that I'm here. No one else even noticed but he knows, he knew before he even turned around. The way he is watching and the fact that his hand is still on his sword proves it." Ultimecia thought to herself. "That little bitch stood no chance against my knight. I put him into position and he does exactly what I see fit" she thought with a smile on her face.
Stepping out of the shadows of the tent Ultimecia walked past the three young men to sit in a chair, by the General's desk. "Who the hell is that and where did she come from? She wasn't here when we entered and we didn't pass her on the way in." ran through Zell and Irvine's heads as they watched Ultimecia.
Squall just watched her closely; he didn't like the looks of this but didn't say anything. "So how did the mission go? Give me the details" the General asked. Ultimecia smiled at him "I already know how it went" she thought, "she's dead and there is no one left to stand in my way." Squall still did not answer. "Why is he not answering" the General wondered.
"Rinoa is dead isn't she? You did kill her right?" the General asked after a moment. Squall moved his eyes from Ultimecia to the General "NO, the Sorceress Rinoa is not dead….. She is still alive and on her way to Castle Straum in Timber as we speak" Squall said with a calm voice.
The smile on Ultimecia's face faded. The General looked less than pleased with what he just heard and wondered "if maybe there was a good reason why they failed". "What happened on the mission? I want to hear everything" he said. Ultimecia was furious "How could he fail me? I put my chess piece into position. He isn't supposed to fail …he is supposed to do only as I see fit. Does that bitch now control my game piece too or is it still in my hands?" Ultimecia wondered.
Squall looked at his two friends and before they could say anything he turned back to the General "I want you to know that I went in alone. Zell and Irvine were not part of the mission's failure" Squall said. "General Caraway I scaled down the cliffs at the rear flank of the sorceress' camp and made my way up to her tent" he said pausing "Go on" Caraway ordered. "I cut my way into her tent and prepared to end her life" Squall said but stopped as his throat became dry. "How do I put this?...I take pride in my fighting abilities, but is that the only thing I hold dear now? Most people think that I don't care about anything else, because every thing else has always been taken away from me, but is that really true? I don't want the General to think I am weaker because I am holding something or someone close to my heart." he questioned himself.
Zell looked at Squall waiting for him to tell General Caraway that for the first time he had failed to complete a mission. Then Zell noticed how distant Squall looked and before Zell could give it a second thought Caraway's raised voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Well what happened?" Caraway asked becoming more annoyed with Squall's silence. "Well?" Ultimecia raised her voice tired of waiting for her chess piece to answer.
The demand from this unknown woman threw Squall off, she had been silent up until now and her demand angered him. Who was she to question him? It wasn't any of her business. "Continue Leonheart, what happened next" Caraway asked in a calmer voice. Squall brought his eyes back to the General "the opportunity to kill the sorceress never came. Her soldiers interrupted me before I could commit my sword to her death" he told them.
"So what you're telling me is that you failed to complete your mission" Caraway said with his voice rising with each word. "I was…." Squall started, "I don't want to hear it" he yelled cutting Squall off. Squall fell silent, but then the mysterious woman spoke up again "I think that's enough" she said much calmer than she had spoken before. The General eyed her for a moment and then nodded, "you're dismissed for now I will have to think on what you have told me and come up with a new plan" he instructed dismissing them with a wave of his hand.
The three turned and left the tent. Once out side Zell turned to Irvine "man he didn't need to blow up like that, it's not like Squall has ever failed before. You would think that he would give him a little leeway." Zell said. "You would think so, but maybe he got that rod that is shoved up his ass readjusted today and he is just a little testy. What do you think Squall?" Irvine asked. Squall was silent as they walked away from the tent.
"Why did you tell him you went in alone man, why did you take it all on yourself?" Zell asked. Squall just looked at him "I thought we were in this together" Irvine said "but you left us out of it man" Zell added. "I didn't want you two to take a fall for my choice not to kill her" Squall said walking toward their tent. "It might have been your choice but we stand behind it with you" Zell said putting his hand on Squall's shoulder. "Thanks" was all Squall said and he went into their tent.
"Irvine, he didn't tell Caraway that he wasn't able to kill her or the fact that he doesn't believe what they told him about her" Zell said with a questioning tone in his voice. "If he finds what he is looking for and it turns him against Caraway, do you think he wants them to know he is coming or to surprise him?" Irvine said looking to Zell. "Your right, either way I will follow him till the end man. He has always been there for me and I will do the same for him" Zell said with all honesty. "I'm with you" Irvine said and the two went into the tent to rest.
"I told you that you put to much trust in him and I was right, he has failed" Caraway said tiredly. "That is not important right now we can kill her after the ball Queen Selphie is holding in the bitch's honor. I'm more worried about why he failed. Have him watched to make sure he has been on the level with us." Ultimecia said with a curious look on her face. "What really caused him to hold off her execution" she wondered.
"Mulholland, get in here" Caraway yelled, "Sir, you called for me" Mulholland answered in a matter of moments after the General's yell. "Get me Drake, NOW, and don't let anyone else know about it" Caraway yelled completely annoyed by these circumstances. Mulholland saluted and left without saying another word.
A young man within Caraway's camp happened to be passing by Drake's tent on the outskirts of the camp. "Why does she always send me out to get water late at night, can't she just wait till morning to ask. Just once I would like to sleep without being woken up, just once" he thought to himself as he made his way back to his tent. He stopped in his tracks when he heard something that caught his attention "Drake, General Caraway wants to see you in his tent now, and he doesn't want anyone else to know not even your men until everything is sorted out" he heard someone say but at this moment he couldn't place who the voice belonged to. Shrugging it off for now he headed back to his tent and to finishing his nights sleep if she would let him.
The afternoon had faded away into the evening with the sun slowly fading behind the distant horizon. As Rinoa watched the sun slowly setting her eyes moved along the horizon. Then her eyes came across a silhouette. It was the great fortress city of Timber rising up in the horizon, the last rays of the sun shone behind the fortress giving it a beautiful tent of orange.
The detachment of soldiers along with Rinoa's carriage finally reached the outer walls of Timber. The city was completely surrounded by large thick ramparts making it one of the safest cities for Rinoa to stay…or so she had thought.
But now she had doubts "what if they come for me here? Will I be safe or will I bring death and destruction to this city and a new burden to the Queen?" Rinoa thought to herself as her carriage passed through the large gates of the outer wall. The detachment of The Soldiers of Light led Rinoa to the inner walls of the city where Castle Straum was located. The castle rose up out of the city like a pinnacle of hope to the people who lived within the city. The Castle was built within the city walls so that the people would always be safe. The army would always be near and the second wall served as inner sanctuary if the first wall should ever be breached. The fortress city of Timber has never been successfully invaded by any army, which had given the town's people a feeling of safety in this unsure world.
Now Rinoa was calling upon this fortress to give her that safe feeling as well. Was this asking too much of this great castle city?
The carriage came to stop in the courtyard of Castle Straum; the door to the carriage was opened by Yuri. "Thank you Yuri" Rinoa said as he helped her down from the carriage. Rinoa looked around as the soldier dismounted their horses.
"Form up" Marcus shouted as he walked over to the carriage. "Sorceress Rinoa, shall we send someone to inform the Queen that we have arrived?" Marcus asked. Rinoa looked to Marcus "yes, I'll send Francis to inform the Queen and her court minister" Rinoa answered him. "Francis" Rinoa called looking around, "yes, you called me" Francis answered as he walked up. "Yes, go to the throne room and inform the Queen that we arrived. Ask her what she would like us to do for now" Rinoa explained, Francis nodded and headed to the castle entrance.
"Why the hell do I have to go talk to the Queen, why not Yuri or Thomas I mean fuck I hate royalty they always think there better than you and treat you like you're a fucking idiot" Francis thought as he walked down the long entrance hall. Even though he had been to Timber before he had only been inside the castle once and never really paid attention to how to get around. "This is just fucking great. I think I'm lost, it's not like I have a fucking map to this place with me. Why does she think that I know my way around this place? The only ones who would know their way around here are Marcus and her always faithful Yuri. I mean what the fuck is up with that guy, its not like she has a thing for him so why is he so damn faithful to her? What does he get for it? There must be something." Francis thought as he continued to get mad about being lost in the castle.
He finally made is way to the hallway that he recognized as the one leading to the throne room. "It's about fucking time, I was getting tired of wandering around this place" he thought as he headed down the hall. He had only made it half way down the hall when the finely carved doors of the throne room opened up and out walked six people.
Two soldiers with pike axes walked in front of a brunette in a yellow dress and a blonde in a peach outfit, with two more soldiers bringing up the rear. The group walked right past him as he stood there watching them "who's that, I could have sworn that Queen Catherine was older than that" he thought to himself. Francis continued toward the throne room, once there he ran into a woman that was preparing a table in the room. "Excuse me I'm from the Sorceress Rinoa's party, I'm looking for the Queen. Can you tell me where I can find her" he asked of the woman. "She just left, you must have passed her on your way here" she answered. "Thank you" was his response as he left the room "I don't remember passing Queen Catherine on my way in, damn I must have missed her while I was wandering around lost in the castle. I had better go back and tell them I couldn't find her" he thought.
"What do you think is taking Francis so long?" Yuri asked getting a little fidgety. "The Queen is an important and busy person he might not have been able to see her right away" Rinoa answered trying to calm Yuri down. "You would think that she would at least send someone to tell us where she wants us to camp or which stables to use for the horses" Yuri continued. "I'm sure she is taking good care of us and you need to remember yourself Yuri, she is the Queen of a land and has taken us in even though we are being hunted by another force. So keep that in mind the next time you want to question her." Rinoa said with a bite in her words.
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of the large oak doors of the castle being pulled opened. The open doors revealed the silhouette of a group of people"I knew he would find her, I wonder how she has been after these years" Rinoa thought to herself as she watched the group walk out of the castle toward her.
The group consisted of four guards in front that hid the members behind them, this confused Rinoa for a minute until she heard a hyper voice behind the guards yelling "Rinny, you're finally back. I have missed you so much." Then all of a sudden a yellow blur sped past the two middle guards. The next thing Rinoa knew was that she couldn't breathe from the bear hug she had been swept up into by the girl in yellow. "Hello Selphie" was all she could squeak out between desperate breathes. "Selphie ... can't ...breathe" she tried to tell her but Selphie had missed the comment and went right on squeezing.
Yuri thought that this girl in yellow was going to kill Rinoa and was about to say something when a strong feminine voice spoke up. "My lady I think it would be best if you allow Miss Rinoa to breathe before she passes out" came a voice from a blonde woman in a peach outfit. She had two whips wrapped around her waist, and a knife strapped to her wrist telling Yuri that she was not a lady in waiting. Her dress was also a good tip as it was much more form fitting allowing her to be able to move quickly if she had to "she must be some kind of guard, but what damage could she possible do" Yuri thought belittling the female guard.
"Rinny you remember Quistis don't you?" Selphie hopped back releasing Rinoa, who took in a much needed breathe of fresh air. "Of course I do. How could I forget Quistis she is a dear friend" Rinoa answered smiling at the blonde that had come forward to stand by Selphie. Quistis smiled "it's wonderful to see you Rinoa, I take it everything went well on your trip then?" she asked. "Well, more or less" Rinoa answered trying to avoid, for now, the topic of what had happened last night.
That wasn't to happen as Yuri had to throw his two cents into the conversation "she was almost killed by an assassin last night in camp. He snuck into the camp with orders to kill her………" he started. "Well she's not dead so what happened?" Selphie cut in changing her tone from a hyper happy go lucky one to a serious one in a matter of moments. Quistis looked at Rinoa who had fallen silent at the mention of the assassin "I don't think this is a subject that needs to be discussed out in the open or even at this moment in time, it is best to discuss this at another time My Lady, she is here safely and that's all that matters" Quistis interjected cutting Yuri off while giving him a frosty glare.
"You're right Quistis. Come Rinoa I have had a small table prepared for us in the throne room" Selphie said her voice returning to its usually hyper tone. "What about my soldiers?" Rinoa asked. "Dirkland, show Rinoa's Soldiers' of Light the barracks and stables they may use" Selphie ordered. "Yes, your majesty" Dirkland answered putting his right hand to his chest then turning away. "You can follow me, I'll show you where the barracks are" Dirkland said. Marcus nodded "fall in men. Get yourselves bunks for the night and make sure your horse are taken care of before you eat, is that Understood" Marcus ordered. "Yes, sir" they answered in unison saluting and falling into line to follow Dirkland.
"Come Rinoa, lets go inside to have our dinner and to catch up on what has happened" Selphie said falling in behind the guards heading back into the castle.
Rinoa followed Selphie and Quistis into the castle, as soon as they entered the grand hall Francis ran by. "Francis" Rinoa called, stopping in his tracks "Sorceress, I couldn't find Queen Catherine anywhere" he said. Rinoa looked to Selphie hoping she wasn't hurt by the mention of her mother's name "that's okay Francis, the others have been taken to the barracks go and report to Marcus" Rinoa said. "Yes ma'am" he said saluting and then leaving. "I'm sorry Selphie he didn't know" Rinoa tried to smooth out what happened"it's okay Rinny, I'm alright lets just get going I'm getting hungry" Selphie said turning and leaving as Rinoa watched her for a minute before following after her.