Chapter 19, The calm before the storm?

Celes leaned back in the armchair, not the most comfortable thing but Relm occupied the sofa, her badly dark-colored hair spilling out over the embroidered pillow.

 'Embroidered with playing cards, of course,' Celes reflected with a faint smile.

    The girl had insisted on coming with to help out and she had, but now the magic she had used had made her so tired that she needed a nap. The magitek knight had taken a break as well, while Terra had retaken her place upstairs with Strago, Locke, Setzer and a handful of soldiers. They were working on taking care of the game, the happy voices trickling down into the belly of the Falcon. Since they had no cold storage areas, the dead animals were divided in fair pieces and then frozen with magic that would sustain it until the cooks of the castle could take care of it.

    With Gau's help the small army had sneaked up upon a heard of Veldt antelopes on the first hunt, and with the help of bows, throwing spears and Interceptor scored four of the delicate creatures, sadly not coming close enough to kill more before the humans were spotted and the animals fled.

    The troop had gone off again two hours ago after a quick meal, hopefully they would return soon with more trophies. The antelopes were more food than had been seen for quite a while in the rebellion land, however they wouldn't be enough. The hope was on finding eastern buffaloes, just three of those would mean a great feast for Figaro castle. If that much meat was saved and used well, it could be enough for a week. 

    Celes leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment. Much was happening, she was still assembling her strength from the horror and relief of the last few days. Like most of the main Returner team she was still trying to cope with the idea of Kefka having a twin brother, one that was ready to help both the madman and his enemies.

    Definitely was.

    None had any hope that he was still alive.

    Celes harbored a bit of grief, but it was intertwined with the pure shock of the news and her inability to fully grasp the concept.

    Gogo had freed her from the armband and she was grateful of that, which was the root of her sorrow of his unquestionable death. Of course, the sadness of Shadow, his family and Terra added to everyone's feelings.

    But he had protected Kefka. The absurdity nagged on Celes' brain, and she was certain she wasn't the only one with great doubts about the strange character. She still struggled to remember that Kefka's real name was Kerr. That another one existed…

    Oh, not to forget Cyan. His reaction to the news had been almost comical, had they not been so creepy.

    Not a word had he spoken. But his face became gray as ashes. And one spasm. Don't forget the spasm.

    He didn't want to hear another breath about the idea of twins by that blood.

    But what did it matter anyhow… there could only be one left now in any case, Kerr could not have allowed his brother to live. Celes hadn't been there to watch his reaction on seeing Gogo, but Terra and the others had been able to describe it quite lively.

    The blond warrior yawned, covering her mouth with a hand without even opening her eyes.

    Leaning back she allowed the fatigue to keep seeping through her weary body. She was tired, there was no use trying to deny it.

    As the magitec knight fell into a light slumber she didn't hear the almost silent steps in the stair. Neither did she notice the shadow slowly moving down to the Falcon's lower levels, stopping before her resting place, hesitating in silence.

    During Celes' captivity she had been left pretty much alone, actually. Apart from the easily explained terms of her being a good girl and not try to do something stupid in exchange for her friends' lives, she had seen blissfully little of Kefka and Gestahl.

    Such things did not, however, keep nightmares from a caged soul's sleep.  

    Therefore her eyes shot open in shock as a feathery touch brushed over her lips, her mind screaming in fear of what she could see.

    It was simple to misunderstand. Locke recoiled, wincing with guilt. Celes stared at him in surprise, her brain clearing quickly.

 "I'm sorry…" he mouthed, unable to produce any sound in his grief.

    Too weak to withstand Celes' peaceful beauty as she slept, he believed to have shredded the delicate bond they had woven.

    It was almost too late when she finally managed to shake her head. But only almost, and thus the bond was saved.

    Locke smiled carefully with relief, and by then Celes had swallowed most of her surprise. As the shock washed away the faint grogginess from suddenly waking up returned, and she rubbed her eyes.

 "Didn't mean to wake you up," Locke murmured.

 "It's fine, I shouldn't be sleeping…" Celes replied, trying to suppress another yawn.

 "All of us are tired, it's fine."

 "Even more a reason for me to get a grip," she adamantly stated, rising from the chair.

    The treasure hunter shook his head with a friendly smile.

 "No reason right now, we're done up there. Can't do anything until the others come back anyway."

    Upon hearing that Celes finally noticed that though she still could hear a variety of discussions from the deck there was no sound of steps or chopping. She shrugged despite herself, as opportunity offered not up to playing stronger than she was. Too much psychological stress had worn that pride down, at least for the time.

 "I see, I hope they'll be lucky again," she simply said.

    Locke nodded, a strange glistening trying to hide in the back of his eyes however.

    Half a year ago Celes probably would have ignored it, but she was a stronger person now. Not that it scared her any less, but now she dared to face what she saw.

    She was a warrior, she didn't need to be saved. At least she'd prefer it that way. Locke had already stated in a jocular manner that his saving of her from Vector had been a fair deal, since she saved him from his own madness at the same time. But of course, that joking tone was not sincere.

 "You kissed me," she murmured, at last proving to him that she was well aware she hadn't been dreaming that part.

    Locke nodded a little again, keeping his facial features under control.

    He was nothing like Edgar, who would have been using an award winning smile by now. For less advance. Locke had lost too much already to be able to gamble like that.

    He had lost so much that he could only look ahead through a dimly lit tunnel. Not a dark one, just one where it was dangerous to walk. So he aimed for the light up ahead.

 "Yes," he said in a low voice, not allowing himself to hesitate anymore though his throat threatened to make a knot of itself, "I love you, Celes."

    It was simple.

    What shocked the female warrior the most was the fact that she wasn't shocked. Unknowingly she had seen it coming. Well, almost unknowingly. She'd sort that out later. That was since she actually, for once, had a proper reply in the field of emotion, which was completely foreign to the young ice queen.

    Though still unable to speak the words she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around Locke's chest and hugging him close with a smile living a life of its own.

    In the same comfortable, warm silence Locke snaked his arms around her waist, smiling softly as well.

    On the sofa, Relm was silently starting to wonder if it was her presence that somehow brought out the cupids when it came to her friends.

    And while this happened, Gau was leaping towards the distant Falcon like a running wolf with his soul burning with triumphant joy. He was a messenger about to tell the waiting crew about the seven buffalos that needed to be transported onboard the airship.