DISCLAIMER: As Gundam Seed was created by Mitsuo Fukada, and Twelfth Night was created by William Shakespeare, so is this fic created by me (Ruru Kitsuneko)…
AUTHOR'S NOTES 6.1: Finally got around to finishing chapter 6 (phew!). So far the longest chapter I've done (by a few inches), but I hope you all enjoy it anyway. Thanks to purple1 for reviewing; to Ryo Kazunine for the interesting assessment as well as the review (I didn't think about it quite that way, but—well it was quite funny actually…); to Mrs. Nozomu Sohma for the review—as to your question about Andy and Aisha… well, you'll see; and to Cagallifan4ever: I'll take the review as a compliment. No new characters in this chappie…
CHAPTER 6: TEA FOR TWO?
Caleb Atha strode briskly along the driveway that led to the front gate of Clyne Manor. The duke had just assigned him his first task: deliver a message and some flowers to Countess Clyne.
Ascending the steps to the huge front door of the Manor, he raised the huge brass knocker in order to announce his presence. The door was opened by an elderly butler—who was no less stiff-necked and formal than the Duke of Illyria's—who when Caleb announced, "I'm here in behalf of the Duke of Illyria with a message and a present for the Countess Clyne," and handed him the duke's calling card, admitted him in the front hall with a very bland, "This way, sir."
Caleb looked around the huge hall. Though, the Clyne Manor was nearly as grand as Illyria Hall, the atmosphere permeating the dwelling and its surroundings had a slightly feminine aura around it that was soothing and calming.
"Milady," Aisha called out, as she approached Lady Lacus in the garden. "There's a messenger from the Duke of Illyria waiting at the front hall. Shall we receive him?"
"Another one?" Lacus inquired softly with a sigh. "It seems to me that that man does not have any understanding of the word 'no.' He's been very persistent."
"Shall I ask James to send him away?" Aisha asked her mistress.
Lacus shook her head. "There's no point in doing so. He'll only send more messengers after each one." She gave a weary sigh. "I do hope he'll eventually end this persistence and find another woman to court."
"Begging your pardon, milady," Aisha began gently, "but he's already courted you for seven years. I don't believe he'll be giving up anytime soon." Hesitating a bit, she added, "It's not of my business, but why don't you marry him, milady? The duke isn't a scoundrel by any means."
Lacus gave a tiny laugh. "Contrary to what most people believe," she began, touching the white roses she had lovingly tended for most of her life, just as her own mother had done before her, "I am well aware of the duke's fine qualities. I have no doubt that he will make some woman an exemplary husband, but he won't be for me."
"How can you say so, milady?" Aisha asked with some surprise. "You've never met the duke before, have you?"
"I met him briefly while my younger brother was still alive, and found him to be a very kind man."
"Then what is the problem, milady?" Aisha asked again.
"He will not give me his heart, Aisha," Lacus said a touch sadly. "As much as I am fond of my uncle, I cannot say with absolute certainty that I love him very much. I care very much for you as well, Aisha, and I am so glad you've always been there for me, but… I am so lonely. I've lost my whole family already. You of all people know how much love and laughter filled this house when they were all alive." Whirling around to face her, Lacus said a touch fiercely; "I want that for my future! I want love: not a suitable marriage. I do not hate the duke for his desire of such a marriage, but it is not for me."
"Oh, milady!" Aisha sighed emotionally. "I do understand. And as always, I shall offer you my support and assistance as long as you need me."
"I will probably always need you, Aisha," Lacus said linking hands with her attendant and friend, "but I would not want you to put your own happiness aside for me. Promise me something: when the opportunity presents itself, grab it with both hands. Don't be held back by some mistaken loyalty towards me."
Aisha squeezed her mistress' hands. "I don't believe that will happen until after you've found yourself your own happiness, milady."
Caleb was staring out one of the large windows around the hall, when soft feminine footfalls made him turn around. A lovely young woman with dark hair and sparkling eyes was smiling at him.
Snapping to attention, Caleb presented the flowers and the note to the woman. "Milady, these are from the Duke of Illyria. He hopes you will view it as a sign of his extreme regard for you."
The woman's eyes widened; soft husky laughter erupted from her lips. "Oh my!" she exclaimed delightedly. "You don't seem to be from around here. It's very flattering of you, but I am not the countess."
Caleb flushed with embarrassment. "Oh," he said mortified. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize…"
The woman giggled. "Not to worry." Giving him a conspiratorial wink, she added, "It'll be our little secret."
Caleb uncomfortably nodded.
"My name is Aisha," the woman said by way of introduction. "I am Lady Lacus' attendant and lady's maid. If you'll follow me, I've been instructed to take you to her."
Caleb meekly followed behind her.
Slanting him a glance, Aisha asked, "And what might your name be, sir?"
"It's Caleb," he answered.
"That's a nice name," she remarked.
"So is yours, miss," he answered back.
"Oh, just call me Aisha, please," she protested. "Everyone does. I'm more comfortable with it."
"Alright," Caleb nodded.
They had reached the gardens by that point, and Aisha turned to him saying, "I'll leave you now. She'll be with you shortly."
Caleb looked around at the lush garden. 'It's like the Garden of Eden,' he thought in awe. He gazed around at the garden, just drinking in its beauty, when a tiny movement by the hedge caught his attention.
A tiny animal nose poked out from under the hedge and sniffed around. Utterly curious, Caleb moved closer to inspect, hunkering down and crouching for a better view, and was startled when a warm furry body jumped out from it and straight into his arms, knocking him on his behind. The said animal began to sniff all over him, and before he could prevent it, started to make a nice snack out of the bouquet he had brought for the countess.
"Hey!" Caleb exclaimed. "Stop that. That's not your food."
Predictably, the creature completely ignored his protests and continued munching on the floral snack.
Caleb sighed. "Whatever," he said disgruntled. "Finish the whole thing, why don't you. You seem to be enjoying it a lot, little bunny rabbit." He placed his hand on top of the rabbit's head and rubbed behind one long furry ear, as it made short work of the flowers. "Well?" he asked, still petting the animal. "Did you like the irises? I don't know about you, but I think wildflowers would've been better. What do you think?"
"I think it's a wonderful gesture," came a laughter-tinged feminine voice, "and both Pinky and I appreciate it."
Both man and rabbit turned their heads in the direction of the voice, and Caleb found himself staring at another beautiful person: a pretty gamine-like face with warm cornflower blue eyes framed by long strawberry-blond hair, a gold barrette on one side, and a lithe petite frame draped in a light white and pink morning gown.
"Uh," Caleb began, slightly tongue-tied. "Pinky?"
The pretty woman beamed at him. "Yes! See?"
Caleb followed her pointing finger towards a bright pink ribbon tied around the rabbit's neck. "Didn't notice that," he mumbled under his breath.
The woman giggled: there was no trouble with her hearing.
Caleb felt himself blush. This was getting embarrassing; it seemed to be the constant state he was in these days, was his disgruntled thought.
Still smiling, the woman gave a high, piercing whistle. Before Caleb could get a straight thought in his head, that did not involve him and the situation called embarrassment a.k.a. humiliation, six more rabbits came bounding out of the hedges; hopping all over the grass and of course, all over Caleb.
"Rabbits," he whispered in a dazed voice. "So many bunnies…"
"Oh, my," the woman exclaimed. "I do hope my little bunnies haven't made you feel uncomfortable, Mr.—" She gasped, her hand going to cover her lips and her cornflower blue eyes widening slightly. "Oh, dear. We have been remiss! We didn't introduce ourselves," she said brightly.
Caleb looked at her oddly. 'Now she thinks of introductions?' he thought bemused. He shook his head slightly. 'She's odder than the duke.'
Blithely unaware of the thoughts running through her acquaintance's head, the woman plopped on the grass beside him in a swirl of white skirts and held out her hand. "My name is Lacus Clyne. What might be yours?"
Caleb automatically took the offered hand. "Caleb Atha," he replied. He instinctively started to shake Lacus' hand, but before he could, changed his mind and lifted it to his lips instead, brushing a light kiss on her knuckles: more manly that way.
Lacus certainly thought so. She gave him a charming smile. "Oh, Mr. Atha," she beamed. "You have the loveliest manners."
"Not really," Caleb mumbled uncomfortably.
Lacus tipped her strawberry-blond head to the side, as she regarded him thoughtfully. "You do seem to be quite as uncomfortable with compliments as you are with my dear bunnies."
Caleb shifted slightly. He was still besieged with the countess' dear bunny rabbits: they seemed to find him particularly toothsome.
"Although you are rather good with them," she continued, her seemingly guileless cornflower blue eyes intent, "and they seem to like you very much."
"I don't know about that, milady," Caleb murmured, a wry look in his lavender eyes.
"Please," she interjected smiling. "Just call me Lacus."
If Caleb had been thinking clearly, he would have declined with all possible haste, however— "I suppose you should call me by my name then, if I'm to call you by yours."
Lacus clapped her hands together in delight. "Oh, can I?" she breathed. "That would be wonderful."
Caleb couldn't help smiling back at her. "Yes, mi—Lacus."
"Do you know what would be even more wonderful?" she asked leaning towards him in a conspiratorial manner.
"What?" Caleb asked perplexed, as he lifted two rabbits—one with a pink ribbon and another with a blue ribbon around their necks—to his chest to prevent them from twitching all over him—as the other ones were doing.
"Some tea!" she cheerfully answered.
"Tea?" he asked blankly.
"Of course! Don't you think so?" she inquired.
"I suppose so," Caleb answered bemused. "Although… I feel as though I'm forgetting something…"
"I'm sure it'll come back to you," she assured him, and then, "After you've had some tea and some of Cook's delicacies: they're absolutely delicious!"
"I really don't think—"
Lady Lacus jumped to her feet and came running in the direction of the Manor.
That was when he remembered: the message!
"Wait!" Caleb called out. "Lacus! Come back." —a sigh— "This is just wonderful," he muttered slightly irritated (with himself), "I should just hand in my notice; I'll get the boot anyway."
Glancing ruefully at the countess' slender retreating form, Caleb gave another sigh. 'I might as well stay for tea,' he thought disgruntled. 'I can give her the message then. Where is it by the way?' Looking quickly around him, Caleb spotted the missive—being sniffed by a rabbit with a navy blue ribbon around its neck—and promptly yanked it away. "Oh, no, bunny!" he threatened. "You're not snacking on this one, too."
The said rabbit looked reproachfully at him for depriving him of his teatime snack. Caleb glared at it, and it seemed to sniff in indignation, before hopping onto him as well. Caleb groaned. "I wish your mistress was as interested in the duke's message as you all seem to be with me."
As wishes went, it was extremely futile. During tea, Lacus politely accepted the message, saying she would read it in private. The rest of it, she spent inquiring after Caleb, who found himself blurting out information at her prodding—thank God, he still had the wits about him to keep the whole thing straight in his mind.
The only thing of actual fact that he didn't feel reluctant to talk about was his brother's death. He didn't go into any specific details—just the mention that he had lost his brother. The countess responded with surprising empathy—she had lost her brother as well. It seemed to have brought them closer, though Caleb had the lingering feeling this rapport between them was not going in the right direction—he just wasn't sure where, at the moment.
And he wondered vaguely: was anything really going in the way it ought to?
Only fate will decide—and it seems to be deciding soon enough…
A/N 6.2: This concludes Act I of Twelfth Night. Finally! -mops brow- -clears throat- I don't know if any of you made the connection… Well, in GS Lacus has her Haros to keep her company, so I decided I had to create a real-life version. Initially, I had no clue what animal to use—it's not like Kira's Birdie, which you can just turn into a real bird—I mean, what could possibly be the equivalent of the Haros? My sis Pei-chan (author of the ongoing Naruto fic: Forgotten Past—it's good, even if she has lousy grammar—for the first few chapters or so—she improved in time) suggested cats at first, but I thought it didn't quite fit. So she suggested rabbits, which I found perfect because of their ears: they kinda flap like the Haros'. Sweet…! Anyway, I seem to be rambling… Up next is the guy you've all been waiting for: premiering in the starting chapter of Act II -drumrolls- Kira! Ja!