Requiem

Deepest Fear and a Real Nightmare

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia.

Warnings: None.

"Eh, Lloyd? You planning on seeing the Princess tonight?" The guard asked as he welcomed Lloyd into the city.

"Yeah." Lloyd replied as the guard pulled a lever which caused the drawbridge to raise slowly. After the bridge was up all the way, the guard turned around to face Lloyd while wiping sweat off his forehead.

"You know the rules Lloyd. Not after nightfall. Security measures, you understand? Even if you are known real well with the royal family, we just can't let you in the castle. Especially tonight with all of those bloody Derrans running in and out of here." The guard started to look worried when he mentioned this. Realizing that Lloyd was watching him, he smiled and changed the subject. "So, what is it this time?"

Lloyd pulled a letter out of his pocket. It had been sealed with the royal crest, but the seal was now broken since Lloyd had read the letter. "The Princess summoned me. Said it was an urgent matter." He replied worridly to the guard. The guard held out his hand to recieve the letter and read it. Lloyd handed it over without hesitation. The guard unfolded it and silently read it, his eyes sweeping back and forth while looking down at the paper. He finally folded it back up and handed it to Lloyd.

"I'll get you there first thing in the morning. If you'd like, I'll pay for the expense if you stay at the inn. It'd be too dangerous to go back out now. Especially with you encountering that fellow and all."

"Sure, thanks." Lloyd replied. After thinking for a moment, he started the conversation back up with a different topic. "By the way, you said that Derrans have been entering here. Why?" Lloyd asked concerned. The guard looked away for a moment, trying to decide whether or not he should tell Lloyd. Reaching his decision, he faced Lloyd.

"The King of Derris-Kharlan wants Sylvarant to surrender to him, or he'll attack. He doesn't come in person though, he always sends his hooded messengers. I hate letting them in. They're absolutely horrible!" The guard said, adding disgust to last few lines.

"So then the guy I saw out there must have been one of the messengers." Lloyd stated. The guard nodded at him. "But he said that there would soon be a war. Wait! Are we... Did the King..." Panic grew in Lloyd's voice. He didn't need the guard to answer him. He already knew what he was going to say.

"The King didn't surrender, but instead insulted Derris-Kharlan's King. We'll be at war with them by the end of the week." The guard said slowly verifying Lloyd's deepest fear. "Every man within the Sylvarant area who's old enough to use a sword will be summoned to fight. I'm sorry Lloyd."

Lloyd looked down at the ground, which now seemed to be swirling. He grabbed hold of a nearby post the keep himself from falling over. He would have to fight against the most terrifying nation before the week was over. And he would most likely... die.

He gazed up at the ceiling of his room, while laying flat on his on the bed. Not too long ago, the guard had helped Lloyd get to the inn so he could rest. But he wouldn't sleep. How could he? His fate had already been decided and he had hardly been able to live the life he wanted. Although his true dream would never come true. A commoner and a Princess... Ha! It was forbidden and even mentioning it would almost get you thrown in jail.

He loved the Princess, but he had never been allowed to express it. Never. He would live in loneliness. Not that it mattered now. He was going to die soon, and he accepted it. He'd rather die that to live to the day when he would have to see his beloved Princess wrapped in the arms of a Prince that she could never love. The only way he coul look at it, they were both damned.

Lloyd sat up as a ray of sunlight seeped through the window and drifted onto the floor. It was the morning, he could see her now. Even if the sun had just risen, it was still the morning and the guard promised he would get him to the castle first thing. Lloyd jumped out of his bed and rushed out of the inn to get to the guard.

The doors of the castle were pushed open by the guards who were guarding it. The guard from the night before patted Lloyd on the shoulder from behind. "See you later." He walked down the steps of the castle and passed through the gate which was being guarded by even more guards. Lloyd stepped inside the castle, and the doors closed behind him.

To his surprise the King and the Princess were already up. She sat next to the King in the chair the Queen would normally have been sitting in. She had lost her mother when she was young, but it had been so long ago that she didn't even remember her. She looked up when Lloyd entered. Her blonde hair rested loosely on her shoulders, and her blue eyes gazed at him with fear. She didn't greet him with the happy smile she usually did. She quickly looked away from Lloyd as she say the disappointment on his face.

Lloyd then noticed something that he hadn't before. Kneeling on one knee before the King and the Princess, was a man. His long red hair ended with curls just above his waist line. He was wearing expensive clothing. Lloyd guessed that he was royalty. He couldn't see the man's face since he was facing the King. Suddenly, the King said something that made Lloyd's heart stop.

"Well then Prince Zelos. I grant you my daughter's hand in marriage for the peace of our two lands." The King said with a smile.

Author's Note: Now we're finally getting to Zelos and Colette. Whew, that took awhile for me to come up with. I think I'll take a breather before continuing. Please Review!