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.
Ch. 6 Decisions
Squall looked out over the grassy plains as he sat thinking of what to do. "Does it really matter that Drake has been assigned the mission, my duty was to kill her and I failed so now my duty is to stand behind the General's new orders. But I'm divided; a part of me knows what my duty is to the army and that I should follow it but another part of me, one that seems to be growing stronger, tells me that I shouldn't allow this. I should go to the aid of the sorceress, but why? A sorceress ordered the death of my parents. But was it her? Did she have them killed or am I just putting her in the same category as the other because she is a sorceress" his mind argued.
"Hey man, are you okay" Zell asked pulling Squall out of his thoughts. Squall turned to look at him "you kind of worried us when you went silent after hearing that Drake was sent to Timber, and then you just up and walked away without a word" Zell commented. "I'm fine, I just needed to think for a minute" Squall said, but as he looked at Zell his eyes seemed to be blurring and he couldn't keep them focused. Looking down Squall put his hand to his head as it started to spin and before Zell could voice his concern for his friend Squall fell back off the rock he was sitting on.
"Squall are you okay, Squall? Squall wake up" Zell shouted looking down on him, when he didn't make any movement Zell went back to get the others.
"What do you think is on Squall's mind?" Dart asked as he looked at Irvine. Irvine thought for a minute "that's one question that I don't think anyone would be able to answer but at the same time the one that's on all our minds". "I couldn't even begin to have any idea what going on in his head" Irvine told him, when Zell came running up on the group.
"Zell what's wrong? You look as if something scared you out of your mind" Shauna said. "Where's Squall, didn't he come back with you?" she asked. "That's the problem" he blurted out, "I was talking to him and then he just passed out or something and fell to the ground. I can't wake him" Zell said while trying to catch his breath.
"Where is he?" Irvine asked standing up, Zell motioned for him to follow him back to Squall. "We're coming as well, I know a good bit about medicine I might be able to help him" Shauna said. The three followed Zell back to the group of rocks overlooking the grass plains and found Squall out cold right where Zell had told them.
"Lets get him back to the tent, it will be easier to care for him there" Shauna said coming up on there fallen friend. "Dart give me a hand, take his legs" Zell instructed as he took hold of Squall under his arms.
The two men carried Squall back to the tent and placed him on one of the beds. "Irvine start a fire, Zell go and get me some water, and Dart I need you to go to our tent and get my books and notes on medicines" Shauna instructed, without wasting anytime all three men left the tent to carry out their assigned task. "I will do everything I can for you Squall, but you are going to have to help me" she silently told him.
Squall opened his eyes to his new surroundings. "Where am I, I don't recognize this place. Wasn't I just sitting on a rock talking to Zell, so how did I get here?" he thought as his eyes scanned the scenery. Then a voice broke his thoughts, well not as much the voice as the name that was called.
"Laguna, what are you doing here you know the Estharian soldiers will be here soon" a beautiful and familiar looking young woman told him. "Did she just address me by my father's name?" Squall questioned. He wanted to ask her where he was and why she called him Laguna, but that's not what came out of his mouth. "I'm not going to let them hurt you or your grandmother. She hasn't done anything to deserve this she's never harmed anyone" a voice said from Squall's mouth. "Where did that come from? I have no idea what's going on here. I don't even know where here is. And whose voice was that that came out of my mouth, it's not mine. What's going on here?" Squall thought.
"I don't want you to get hurt Laguna" she started, "she called me Laguna again, is she mistaken or…" Squall thought. "This isn't your fight. There is no need for you to risk your life here…" she continued but was cut off. "Julia I don't want to hear it, I won't let them drive you away from me" Laguna said, "Julia? I remember father telling me about a Julia once. That means that this is his past" Squall's mind screamed at the realization of what he was being a witness to.
"Laguna, listen to me please. I might loose my grandmother today I don't want to loose you as well. I don't think I could take that much loss in life" she told him. "You don't have to worry, you aren't going to lose anyone today" he said putting his hands on her shoulders. The scene was destroyed by a male voice "excuse me, may I ask you where I can find the Heartilly house hold" a dark skinned man asked.
"What do you want with the Heartilly's?" Laguna asked glaring at the man. "It really doesn't concern you. Now if you'll be so kind as to tell me where I can find them" the man responded. Laguna didn't like the dark man's answer or the tone of his voice "I don't think so, you might as well turn around and leave" he told the darker man.
This absolutely infuriated the man "how dare you talk that way to me you impertinent peasant" he yelled at Laguna. Laguna just smiled at him bowing, this action caused the dark man to dismount his horse followed by the nine men that accompanied him. "What's wrong Your Highness, didn't like the answer? Well that's too bad because you won't ever find the Heartilly family" Laguna said with spite in his voice and his hand on the hilt of his sword. "What is my father doing he's out numbered ten to one, and for what the family of that sorceress……Rinoa's family?" his mind stopped on the last name of the family his father was protecting "why father" were the only thoughts he could muster.
"You seem determined to protect the family of a known sorceress that means that she has used her powers to take control of your mind. I'm sorry about this but you must die so that I can find her. I wish I could release you from her power but since you won't help me that seems unlikely" the dark man said pulling two sharp blades which acted as an extension of his arms. "Don't see many people using a katal" Squall's mind told him.
Laguna pulled his sword with one hand and pulled Julia behind him with the other. "It is unlikely because she has not used her powers on me; I do this of my own free will. Guinevere Heartilly hasn't done anything wrong, she has never hurt anyone" Laguna said with spite filling his voice. "I know better than to believe one of her followers, she's a sorceress so of course she's hurt people. They all do. They are all killers, which need to be dealt with before they strike again" the dark man shouted.
"He wants to kill her just because she's a sorceress, not because she's done anything wrong. Is that what I was doing?" Squall's mind questioned.
"You're a fool; you just believe anything you're told without a thought of your own. If you want to find them so bad you'll have to get past me first" Laguna said holding his sword in front of him. "No one calls me a fool and lives to talk about it. So be it, you'll be the first to die today" the dark man said. "Big talk, but so far that's all you've done" Laguna said knowing full well it would drive his opponent to attack.
"Father's egging him into a fight. By jabbing at him he will get him to attack without control or clear thought, very clever" Squall thought smiling inwardly.
"You'll regret those words" the man said moving forward his men falling in behind him to attack. "This seems fair ten on one. So the big man needs help taking on one mind-controlled peasant" Laguna jabbed smiling.
"I don't need anyone's help, stay out of this he's all mine" the man said, his men stopped where they were. Charging at Laguna the dark skinned man swung out his left blade but was blocked by Laguna's sword. Bringing his right arm down the dark skinned man thought he had him beat, but was surprised when Laguna caught his right arm stopping the blade.
Looking into the eyes of the dark skinned man Laguna smiled and then head butted him sending him stumbling back then dropping to a knee. A second was all Laguna needed, with blurred vision the dark man saw Laguna's blade coming down in his direction. He put up both his blades to block it, but never felt the impact from the attack. Looking up he caught just a glimpse of Laguna, who had planted his foot and then pivoted to come to the dark skinned man's side in one motion.
Once at his side Laguna brought his blade to back of the man's neck, the cold steel touched the neck of the dark skinned man "I have been defeated, and he did it with such ease" the man thought letting go of his katal.
"Now do believe me that I'm not being controlled, there is no way that I could move that freely if I was being controlled by someone" Laguna said. "I'm not going to kill you, I never wanted to from the beginning I just wanted to protect them that's all" he told the darker man.
"Can I know the name of the man that has defeated me?" the man asked. "It's Laguna Loire" Laguna answered him. "I'll remember that, my name is Kiros Seagill" the darker man said. "I'm honored to meet you. You seem to be a man that is open to new ideas so listen to me for just a moment. Not all sorceresses become corrupted by their powers, some live normal lives or as normal as possible. They try to live with and help others all while protecting their secret. Please understand that Guinevere Heartilly is one of those people. Besides she is seventy years old, it's not like she's going to go on a killing spree" Laguna told him.
Guinevere had been watching from the woods and stepped out after she heard Laguna say her name. Kiros looked at her "I came all this way to kill this woman? She doesn't look like she would harm anyone. She also has someone like him willing to die to protect her and her family even if it destroys his name, she can't be what my father said she is" Kiros thought.
"It's not going to be easy to convince others of what you say, but I believe you. You have my word that no else from Esthar will come looking for this family" Kiros told him. "Thank you, that's all I ask of you" Laguna said and was about to take his blade away when a scream rang out.
Laguna looked up to where Julia had been standing but she was gone; his eyes followed a path back to Kiros' men. She was being held with a knife at her throat by one of Kiros' men.
"She looks so familiar to me, but why" Squall thought as he continued to watch through his fathers' eyes.
Kiros knew something was wrong from the look of fear on Guinevere's face, "let her go" Laguna shouted just sealed it for Kiros. "I bet she is a sorceress as well, that's why your protecting them isn't it. I really can't blame you she is beautiful, maybe I'll have a little fun with her before I rid the world of her presence" one of the soldiers said.
With Kiros still on his knee with a blade to his neck he called out to his men. "I have given my word to this man that we would not harm this family unless they brought cause for it. Now let the young woman go she is not part of this. Do you understand?" Kiros said in a strong voice. "No I don't understand, we were sent here to kill the sorceress and her descendants so why aren't we doing that?" one of the men said while the others stood stunned by his actions.
"That asshole what right does he have to kill that woman she's not part of it, she's not a sorceress she didn't anything to deserve this… treatment" the last word barely getting out of Squall's mind as he watched. "What right does he have to kill her for no reason" his mind continued scolding not only the soldier but Squall felt it was scolding him as well.
All of sudden he felt his father move forward "what is he doing he'll kill her" Squall thought. "Don't take another step or you will be putting her head back on for her" the soldier said.
Kiros felt that the blade had left the back of his neck and turned just in time to see Laguna act. "I won't let you hurt her" he yelled as blood started to run down Julia's neck from a small cut.
Dropping his sword Laguna broke into a sprint, when he dropped the sword the soldier let down his guard for a moment thinking he had won this stand off. But was terribly disappointed when in seconds Laguna was right in front of him pulling his arm away from Julia.
In a desperate attempt to stop Laguna he pulled his arm away as Laguna took Julia into his arms. With his arm free he lunged out to kill Julia, knowing it would destroy Laguna worse than anything he could do to him. Laguna saw it and threw Julia to the ground, the knife impaled Laguna just under the heart.
The soldier smiled "you should have just left her with me. And just to let you know so you can die in piece, she'll be joining you as soon as I'm done having my way with her" the soldier said smirking.
"What is going on, my father can't die here. There's no way he can die" Squall's mind panicked.
The smirk didn't last long as Laguna pulled the knife from his chest and drove it through the soldier's neck and across slashing half of his neck away. The soldier's eyes went wide as blood ran out of his mouth, grasping his throat he fell to his knees. Looking up at Laguna he fell back.
Laguna watched him fall back and dropped the knife to the ground "I didn't want to kill anyone you fool, but you forced me to when you endangered Julia" he said as he dropped down to his knees looking at Julia.
Julia scrambled on her hands and knees to Laguna and took him in her arms. "Don't leave me Laguna, please. You promised me that I wouldn't loose anyone today, you promised" she cried clutching him closer. "I'm sorry that I can't keep my word, I really tried" Laguna said running his fingers through her hair.
Kiros walked over and looked down on the scene, "sir, what do you want us to do about Albert's death" another soldier asked. "Nothing, he disobeyed a direct order. He brought it on himself" Kiros told him.
"Grandmother please can you save him, don't you have a spell that can heal him?" Julia pleaded. Guinevere walked over with sad eyes "I'm sorry my child, I have only a weak healing spell. I only studied water spells to help my father and husband in the fields, so I never learned any more powerful spells in healing or any other elementals. I just concentrated on water magic I'm sorry" she told Julia with a soft voice.
"He did it to save me, he is going to die because of me" Julia cried burying her face into his chest. "If I may be of some help, we might be able to help him" Kiros said putting his hand on Julia's back. She looked up at with anger in her eyes "don't you think that you and your men have helped enough. If it wasn't for you he wouldn't be hurt would he" Julia spat at Kiros.
"Please give him a chance Julia; he is a good man and a man of his word. I'm willing to trust him with my life and all I ask is that you trust him as well" Laguna said between quick breathes. Julia nodded and turned to Kiros, "we have a healer back at our camp she knows of many medicines and may be able to save him but we must hurry" he told her.
Laguna nodded his consent to go with Kiros and despite the fact that Julia didn't want to let him go she agreed as well. "This will help him temporarily, it will give him a better chance of making it to their healer" Guinevere said laying her hands on Laguna's chest. A white light gathered at her hands and then spread around his body, after the light dissipated the bleeding slowed down but didn't stop. "You must hurry, your healer is his only chance" Guinevere said.
Kiros pulled the weak Laguna up onto his horse and looked at the two women "I have been the shown the error of our thinking and I'm truly sorry for what we tried to do and for what we have done. I'm sorry, I know it's not much but I truly am and I will make sure that everything possible is done for him. You have my word" Kiros said just before he spurred his horse on.
"My father protected a sorceress, and then a sorceress aided in trying to save him. Why would a sorceress do that? Why would he do that?" Squall's mind questioned.
His sight went black again but he didn't feel dizzy this time, then all of sudden light entered his eyes again. He saw himself as a young boy "that's me when I was about ten, does this mean I'm still see through my father's eyes" Squall asked himself.
There was a woman in front of him but this time he recognized her "mother, I miss you and father so much" he silently said. The sight of her brought back memories some good and others painful.
Laguna stood behind his wife holding her protectively, "son I think that you are old enough to hear this" he started. "I know that you have learned about sorceresses and probably have heard people talk bad about them but I want you to know something" he said to his young son.
The younger Squall looked at his father curiously with a childlike innocence in his face. "Not all sorceresses are evil, not all of them want to hurt people. There are sorceresses out there that don't want to hurt anyone at all. It's those sorceresses that will need protection" Laguna said.
"Why would he tell me this, I always wondered what he was trying to tell me but by the time I was old enough to understand or to ask he was dead" Squall thought.
But then something happened that Squall never noticed in his youth, Laguna's vision moved from his son to his wife.
"Why is he looking at mother?" was the only question he got out of his mind when he started to get dizzy and his vision went black.
"That's all I can do for him, we are going to just have to wait for him to wake up" Shauna informed the others in the tent. She placed another cold towel on Squall's head and looked up at the concerned faces of the others.
"Please Squall wake up, I know you don't know me very well but just like Dart I look to you for guidance and help. We all need you so please come back to us" Shauna thought as she looked back down at him.
Shauna sat vigilantly at his side changing the towels; the others had stepped out for the moment to think when he started to stir. "Squall, Squall can you hear me" Shauna asked, "ya, where am I" he asked putting his hand to his head. "We brought you into your tent to lay you down, how are you feeling" she asked. "I've felt better, my head is a little dizzy but other than that I'm good" he said.
Then he realized that he was talking out of his own mouth and with his own words "I'm back, it's time to decide on my path and follow it" he thought as he sat up taking the towel off his head. "Thank you" he said handing the towel to Shauna, she just smiled.
"Can you get the others for me" he asked in a calm voice. "Sure thing, I'll be right back" she said getting up and leaving the tent.
In just a matter of moments Zell came running into the tent, when he saw Squall sitting there he punched the air "oh ya man, it's about time you woke up but you do know if you would sleep in longer you wouldn't get so tired" he said smiling. Squall looked at him and smiled.
The other three weren't that far behind Zell, "how are you doing, are you feeling okay" Irvine asked. "What happened to you" Dart asked, "I'm doing fine and all I know is that I dreamed about the past. That's all I know. I don't know why it hit me all of sudden or why it made me fall asleep instead of happening when I was already asleep" Squall told them.
"Sounds like maybe someone or something is trying to tell you something" Shauna said. Squall looked at her stunned "maybe that's what that was about, but who and what were they trying to tell me" he thought.
"Look man about the Drake thing, I know that was what you were thinking about when this happened. I know how you strongly you feel about your duty to this army; I just have one thing to say. The only true duty that you should hold above all others is the duty to yourself and those that are close to you" Zell said rubbing his neck.
The entire tent went silent as all eyes fell on Zell; it wasn't like him to give advice like that. "He really is a good friend and knows me better than I thought. Who would have guessed that he had something like that in his head, I thought that only food passed through his thoughts" Squall thought.
"Thank you Zell, your right it's about time I do what I want to do" Squall said. Everyone smiled, "Zell I want you to find out as quietly as possible if Drake has left camp and if he has when he left. Irvine I want you to go and check on the horses make sure that they are rested and ready to leave as soon as possible." Squall ordered.
"What about me?" Dart asked, Squall looked at him "he is a good swordsman and I will need all the allies I can get, but it's too soon to put him into the fray . he might not make it through this if I put him in now" Squall thought as he looked as Shauna. She knew that Dart would want to help and go along and that she would follow him, but her eyes had fear in them. Not for herself but a fear that she would lose Dart and Squall saw it all too clear. When she saw Squall looking at her she looked away so he couldn't look in her eyes, "Dart what I need you and Shauna to do is stay here in the camp" he told Dart.
He knew Dart would argue when his face showed his disappointment, "I'm going to need people on the inside to keep me informed on what the General is doing. This isn't going to easy, you can't let him know that you are helping me and when the time comes I will send word for the two of you to join us. But I will need to be able to predict the General's moves and that were the two you come in, can you do this for me" Squall asked.
Dart's face lost its disappointment when he heard how much Squall needed him to do this, and that he would send for them when the time was right. "You bet I can do it, you don't have to worry about anything. I'll make sure to keep up with everything that is going on here" Dart said with a renewed vigor. Shauna looked at Squall for the first time since Dart had asked what he could do, "did he know how scared I was of losing Dart" she wondered. When she looked at him her thank you was spoken without a word passing between them, Squall just nodded to her.
Later that afternoon Irvine returned to the tent to find Squall going over a map with Shauna and Dart. "Shauna you've been to Timber what do you know about Straum Castle" Squall asked.
She pointed to main road "this is called the Harvest Road it's the main road in and out of the city, but over here by the Defiance Forest is a side entrance into the castle courtyard. If someone could gain access in through this entrance they could easily make there way into the west wing of the castle without anyone even knowing" she explained.
"Squall the horses are ready to go whenever we need them, I have already prepared the saddles with everything we should need" Irvine said as he walked up to look at the map with them. "Good, I have a feeling that we will need to leave here in a hurry" Squall told him.
"Shauna do you remember how many men guard this entrance" he asked, "just two on the outside of the wall, the door is sealed from the inside so even if you subdue the men you can't get in" she explained.
Squall surveyed the map for a minute "I think that is the best way in and if I had someone on the inside working for me it would be easy to get that door unlocked. When we get to Timber we will need to check on this entrance Irvine" he said, "good idea if they have someone to open the door from the inside just two guards will sound real inviting to Drake" Irvine agreed.
Zell ran into the tent were everyone was huddled around a map on a small table in the center of the room. "Drake left at day break" he said between gasps of air, "Irvine get back to the horses prepare to leave right away" Squall ordered. Irvine jumped up and ran out of the tent.
"Dart, you and Shauna should leave so that if they suspect something they don't include you in with us, we'll be in touch to get information" Squall told him, "your right just do one thing for me" Dart said. "What's that?" Squall asked. "Leave some of the fun for when I get there with you" he said with a smile. "Don't worry about that" Squall told him. Dart left the tent and Shauna was following "Shauna" Squall said softly. She turned back to look at him "yes" she questioned, "take good care of him, and I promise I will come back for the two of you" he told her. "I know you will and I will" she said and left.
"Zell grab that bag and those two blades" he told him, Zell looked at the blades "man these are the blades your mother gave you, are you sure you don't want to give them to Shauna for safe keeping" Zell asked. "I'm sure, we might need them" he told him, Zell just did as he was instructed and put the blades into the bag.
Squall and Zell took one last look around the tent to make sure they had gotten everything they needed and turned to leave. Right outside the tent stood two men "where do you two think your going" one asked, he had an ax in hand while the other had a war hammer. "Why do they always have to be so big, it's just embarrassing to show off how good I am by taking down guys larger than me, oh well what're going to do?" Zell thought with a grin. "You blondie, what are you grinning about" the one with the hammer asked, "oh it's nothing really" Zell said.
"We are just going to check on the position of the force that had been following us" Squall said. "There's no need, we have spies out right now and besides Ultimecia said that you aren't to leave the camp" the one with the ax said. "Oh really, and who again is Ultimecia?" Zell asked, "the woman from Caraway's tent" Squall explained.
"I have a little bit of news for you boys" Squall said. "What's that" they asked. "We're leaving whether you like it or not" Squall told them looking past them toward the stables.
"I don't think so, she said not to let you leave and that if you tried to leave to kill you all" the man with the ax said. A noise started to rise up behind the two men and then Irvine leading two other horses appeared heading straight for the two men. The man with the ax fell to the ground as the horses passed between them but the man with hammer moved out of the way.
He gathered his hammer into both hands as Squall started to rise up onto Traveler. Squall caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye but it was too late, he would have no chance to defend himself.
Then out of nowhere Zell jumped out from behind Squall catching the man in the face with the heel of his boot. The blow knocked him back but didn't stop him he raised his hammer back up to strike but was to slow for the agile Zell. Zell was already up in his face connecting with several punched to the face and then with a powerful right upper cut that put the man to the ground. He didn't get back up to stop them.
Squall and Zell mounted their horses and sped out of camp as fast as their horses could carry them.
Squall held the reins tight as he looked back to catch just a glimpse of the camp "I have thrown away everything that I have worked for and known for a gut feeling. Have I done the right thing?" he thought as the horses sped away.
"Squall, there is no way we'll be able to beat Drake and his men to the rendezvous point" Irvine spoke up looking at his friend. "He's right Squall they have to big of a lead on us, the word was that they left at day break and according to what Shauna heard they will meet the insider tomorrow. So what will we do, we'll have no way of knowing how they are going to get into the castle or where the sorceress will be" Zell added.
Squall just kept his eyes forward for a moment as he thought, "Squall?" Irvine prodded forcing Squall to look at him.
"We'll head to the rendezvous point as fast as we can but your right we won't be able to get there in time. So Zell you will have to try to track Drake's men as best as you can, Irvine you will check out the castle itself to see if there are any weak points within it and to gather information" Squall told the two as they rode.
"What about you Squall?" Zell asked, "I will be waiting for you in the woods outside of the city, Rinoa and some of her men know what I look like and I don't need to be seen when we get there" Squall explained. "We understand" Zell told him tightening his grip on his reins.
The three horses race against time into a dimly lit horizon where the unknown awaits them all.
A small column of soldiers entered the main gates of the city and made their way to the castle deep within the city. "Fujin, I want you to find Marcus once we reach the castle and have him take care of our men" Seifer ordered. "Understood" was Fujin's only reply.
Once the group was in the castle they dismounted, "men follow Fujin she is going to take you to find Marcus and get yourselves set up. Stable your horses and make sure they are well fed before you take care of anything else there is no telling how long we will be staying here" Seifer ordered. "Yes, sir" the group answered in unison as they lead their horses away following Fujin's lead.
"Take me to the Sorceress Rinoa, I'm her captain of the Soldiers of Light, Seifer Almasy" he explained to the guards at the castle's main doors. The two guards looked at each other and then eyed Seifer very curiously "let him in, he's telling the truth" came a voice from behind the guards.
The guards turned to see who it was "Dirkland, you know him?" one asked. "Yes, he is Seifer Almasy the leader of Rinoa's soldiers you can let him enter" Dirkland explained.
The two guards turned allowing Seifer to enter the castle, . Seifer glanced at Dirkland and nodded his gratitude before heading on. Dirkland nodded his head in response as he watched Seifer disappear into the castle.
Rinoa walked the castle with no real destination in mind just wandering around thinking. "I wonder where Selphie and Quistis are. I haven't seen them all morning. Maybe I'm better off not knowing, it has been nice not being questioned today. Why does Selphie want to hold this ball so badly? I am really not in the mood to deal with nobles and their superficial talk, pretending like they care about anyone other than themselves" she thought as she walked down the hallway.
Within the castle kitchen a debate raged on "I don't want duck, I want veal" Selphie said with a raised voice. "Pierre, why won't you just cook the veal?" she asked. "Because Pierre likes the duck and that is what Pierre wants to cook for the ball, it will be spectacular" Pierre answered. "Pierre I'm the queen and if I want veal that means that veal will be prepared. Do you understand?" Selphie yelled.
Quistis grewever so tired of this argument "you would think that he would just do as she says I mean she is the queen, but then again I have seen some of the junk food she eats so maybe Pierre has a point, but does he have to refer to himself in the third person its so annoying" she thought.
"Veal" Selphie yelled. "Duck" Pierre answered her. "Veal", "duck", "veal", "duck". This went on for a minute before Quistis couldn't take it any longer and stepped in "you know that this is supposed to be a ball for hundreds of people, why don't you just cook both. Just to make sure we have enough food" she suggested.
"Pierre would cook veal and still get to cook his magnificent duck as well?" he asked as he looked as Quistis. "Yes Pierre, you would get to cook your duck" Quistis answered. "But Quisty" Selphie started but was cut off by a glare. "Do we have an understanding Pierre?" Quistis asked. Pierre nodded "Pierre will cook both veal and duck."
"Thank you Pierre, we will leave you to prepare" Quistis said leading Selphie out of the kitchen as the queen gave stern glares at Pierre. Once outside Selphie turned to Quistis "why did you do that? He should have to do what I say" Selphie said. "I know my queen, but he is stubborn and this way both of you are happy and I thought he might do another one of his walk outs and nothing would get cooked" Quistis explained. "I didn't think about him walking out again, I hate it when he does that. Good thinking Quistis" Selphie said with a smile.
Selphie and Quistis started walking away from the kitchen, heading for the throne room "where do you think Rinny is Quisty?" Selphie asked. "I don't know, but I'm sure she's safe in the castle" Quistis told her. "Do you think that she'll like the ball, I mean it is for her and all" Selphie wondered out loud.
"I think she will try to have a good time" Quistis said. "What do you mean try?" Selphie asked. "She has some things on her mind that are weighing heavily on her, I'm not sure that a ball is the first thing in her thoughts" Quistis explained. "I see, then we'll have to help Rinny as much as possible, maybe the ball will be a good way to take her mind off her problems for at least a little while" Selphie told her.
"I hope your right Selphie; just don't try to force any guys on her. that is not what she needs right now" Quistis thought as the two walked on.
"My Queen" lofted a voice from a hallway near by, stopping and looking back down the hall the two saw Dirkland walking toward them. "What is it Dirkland, is something wrong" Selphie asked, "No My Queen, I just wanted you to know that Seifer Almasy and his men have arrived." Dirkland explained. "I see thank you Dirkland, and where is Seifer now?" Selphie asked. "He is in the castle looking for the sorceress" he told her saluting and turning back down the hallway.