"Terra?"
King Edgar of Figaro stepped into the receiving chamber set aside for his bride of six months as he searched for her slight frame and pale green hair. The room was dark, but the slight glistening of a candle directed him to the far side. A collection of rugs and cushions served as her hiding place.
"Terra?" he asked again.
Edgar knelt down when she still didn't answer. Terra was lying on her side, dress and hair disheveled, face streaked with tears as she held an embroidered pillow close against her. Edgar brushed some hair from her face as he pulled the pillow from her grasp.
"What is it, my sweet?" he asked gently. "What has upset you?"
"I think I said everything wrong, Edgar," she choked out as he helped her sit up. "I think I hurt him more than help him, and now I don't know what to do," she sobbed.
Edgar gently pulled her toward him, enveloping her in his arms to rock her back and forth. "Whom have you hurt? Soul light, what has happened?"
"Shadow came," she said in a choked voice. "He came and told me so many things about who he was and what he'd done... I couldn't tell him what to do. It had to be his choice."
Edgar's confusion grew as he stroked her hair and caressed the back of her neck in an effort to soothe her tears. "Shh. Shh." Edgar kissed her hair and then the skin of her temple. "What did he tell you? What did he ask of you?"
"He's Relm's father," she said in a broken voice, "and he wanted to know... he wanted to know if he should tell her or not. He didn't want to tell her... because he thinks he's failed her. Why doesn't he see that she just wants him to love her. She won't care about all the other stuff. Oh, Edgar, I don't know if I helped him..."
Edgar adjusted his arms around her as he once again pressed his lips tenderly against her temple. "So the shadow of night has decided to attempt an unveiling to the morning. You've accomplished another miracle, love light."
Terra shook her head against him. "I haven't, Edgar. I was mean. I wasn't understanding or kind. I pushed him too hard, and now I don't think Relm will ever know."
Her voice broke on the tears. Edgar tilted her chin up to wipe the wetness from her cheeks with the delicate touch of a finger. He smiled down at her. "You haven't the capacity for anything but kindness. You may believe you were too harsh, but there is an instinct in you that is able to know in which attitude you must speak. I'm certain you spoke justly. Remember, our dear friend Shadow has had a harsh life and respects firmness and forthright views. I'm positive you offered both."
"I'm just so afraid it wasn't enough..." She sniffled and wrapped her arms tighter around him as she again rested her cheek against his chest. "I so wanted to help him, Edgar. To help him find the family that I somehow knew he wanted to have."
"Your concern for his life will not be lost on him, love light. Never before has he been in the presence of such gentleness. Trust in your heart. It will be enough." He carefully lay back within the cushions, drawing her down with him as his arms still held her close. "Now rest here with me. You will forget your troubles soon enough. I assure you that I do the moment I see your smiling eyes."
Terra took in a deep breath and released it slow, snuggling against him. "I love you."
"And I love you." He placed another tender kiss on her head and ran a gentle hand over her long hair before caressing the skin of her neck and upper back. "Rest, dearest."
Several silent minutes passed before her breathing slowed, deepening with sleep. Edgar smiled as his hand absently caressed the back of her neck. When the Chancellor told him that Shadow had forced his way into the castle to await Terra's arrival in her chamber, Edgar had smiled with relief and quiet happiness. He knew how fervently she'd searched for him. The fact that she'd be relieved at Shadow's safety had comforted Edgar. He hated seeing her upset, no matter how slight. Sabin had once titled it disgustingly romantic sentiment, but it was simply how Edgar displayed the deep intensity of his love for her.
This love grew each moment they were together.
Now his heart mourned at the grief she bore. I must do something. But what could he do? He only had a mere hint of what Shadow could have told her. Edgar placed another kiss on Terra's head and pressed his cheek against the softness of her hair with closed eyes. I know enough. I know that he confessed to being Relm's father. That should be confession enough to know the heart of the man. How would I feel if I knew I had abandoned a daughter? Guilt. Shame. Rage at my own inability to protect her. Surely he feels the same as these? Is he not human?
Edgar took in a deep breath, and then he carefully manipulated himself from her arms. Unfortunately, he'd become quite adept at doing so without waking her. The life of a king seldom began later than dawn. Although there had been uncountable mornings when he'd escaped her arms to the edge of the bed without waking her... only to disturb her when he leaned in to give her a farewell kiss. Her lips had been his weakness when her eyes had been shielded. Then, upon the touch of his lips on hers, her bright eyes would wake and draw him in again...
Edgar gazed down at her for a long moment, and then his lips drew near in a whisper of a kiss. "I will return, love light," he promised.
Edgar quietly stood, leaving the chamber in search of Shadow. It amazed him that he never tired of Terra's company or the warmth of her presence beside him. As a bachelor involved with many a village maiden for an indeterminate amount of time, such a newness had never been present. He'd tired of their plastic smiles and shallow beauty after only a few nights. His moments with Terra were never so fake. Never so shallow. Her laughter and smiles warmed him in a way nothing had previously done. How could he not do everything within his power to bring her another smile?
The Chancellor entered the hall. Edgar noticed that he looked tired, frustrated, and extremely insulted. "Chancellor, what has upset you so completely?"
"Her highness' guest," he answered in an exhausted tone. "Never before have I been so tried and tested as I have been with this ruffian."
"Guest?"
"The gentleman inferred that he was asked by her highness to remain here for an unknown amount of time," the Chancellor said. "I understand, highness, that she is young and inexperienced in matters of court, but how am I to prepare a place for her guests if I am not told in proper fashion?"
Edgar smiled in understanding. "I do apologize, Chancellor. I shall see to it that she knows the pr-"
The Chancellor looked horrified. "Oh no, highness. You must not tell her that I have complained. I have no wish for her to feel guilty."
"Then what do you wish for me to do, Chancellor?"
The Chancellor straightened. "Nothing needs to be done, highness. All is well."
Edgar fought back a laugh. "I am glad to hear it. Now, where have you placed her highness' guest?"
"In the west wing, although it was not I who placed him there. He has a certain independence about him, highness. He does that which he desires and will not hear a negative word about it."
Edgar nodded. "Yes, that sounds very much like the Shadow we know and love." Edgar placed a hand on the Chancellor's shoulder. "Get some rest, Chancellor. The castle will keep till morning."
The Chancellor bowed and then made his way down the hall toward his own room. Edgar turned and headed for the west wing. It is indeed odd that he would choose to remain here after such a disaster as Terra described. I wonder what his intention is? With Shadow, however, there was never any way to tell. Edgar shook his head as his eyebrow lowered in a frown. Terra may have thought the subject was closed, but Shadow apparently didn't. Edgar would have bet his kingdom that the ninja had decided to meet with her again in the morning. How he has changed.
That change made him wonder at the torture being silently withstood.
Edgar arrived at the only room available in the west wing and smiled at Interceptor who waited outside the door. "Good evening, old friend. Does your master wish time to himself?" Interceptor grumbled and adjusted his position as he raised his head, licking his chops and giving a long, deep yawn. "If you make your way to the kitchens, I believe you will find Cook more than willing to part with some choice bits of meat." Interceptor's ears perked forward and he sat up, licking his lips with more enthusiasm as he tilted his head at Edgar. "I do not jest, my friend. Go on. I will comfort your master."
Interceptor stood, stretched quite thoroughly, and then lazily headed toward the kitchens. Edgar watched him go with a smirk and a shake of his head. The beast was truly amazing, as well as the group's first clue that Relm was more to Shadow than what he'd alluded to. Interceptor had taken an instant liking to the child, as if he'd already developed a trusting relationship with her. Now, with Shadow's revelation to Terra, it was yet another piece to an intriguing puzzle.
Edgar turned away, pausing a brief moment as he stared at the door. Finally, he took in a slow breath and made a move to knock.
"Do not bother me."
Edgar smirked, lowering his hand to his side. Typical of Shadow to know all and wait until the last moment to reveal it. "I wish to speak with you, my friend, much as you wished to speak to Terra. It will be no bother."
Silence greeted his response, so he reached out and opened the door. Shadow was standing on the far side of the room staring into the dying embers of the fire. His mask was gone and Edgar immediately noticed the resemblance. Uncanny.
He closed the door behind him before speaking. "Misery blackens your face, my friend."
"Misery. Misery is a close friend to me." Shadow's voice was dead.
Edgar gauged the ninja. "It seems that this close friend is no longer wanted." He moved deeper into the room and sat in the armchair across from the fireplace. "It is good to have you here, Shadow. Good to see you alive." Shadow said nothing. He simply gazed at the fire with a clenched jaw. "You of course realize that Terra will have confided in me your secret." Still he said nothing. "Your secret is safe, Shadow, unless you give either of us leave to speak of it."
"I know."
Edgar examined the cool composure on the ninja's face. "Terra described quite a heated debate between you. She was too emotionally exhausted to go into great detail, but enough was said. To find you still here is an intriguing twist. What is left to be said, Shadow? What has been said was done so in such a way as to break her very heart." The cool expression wavered minutely. "She is certain that she's broken your spirit and heart more than it had already been. She is certain that she's done more harm than good. To find you here..." Edgar shrugged slightly. "To find you here makes me wonder, Shadow, if there is something you still wish her to do. Something you still hope she can accomplish."
Shadow glanced to Edgar briefly, and then he returned his gaze to the fire. His jaw clenched furiously. Edgar watched his reaction, and his mind processed each emotion and veiled expression. "She cannot rescue you, Shadow, if you refuse to be rescued. She's performed many a miraculous feat, what with rescuing me from my own ignorance of happiness and companionship and Setzer from his stubborn pride. However, she cannot turn back time and allow you to relive and change your past life. You must own up to your decisions and move on from there."
"I don't ask for a miracle," he said through clenched teeth. "I ask for her help. I ask for her support when I reveal myself to... when I reveal myself to my daughter."
Edgar released a slow breath. "My respect for you has grown tremendously. Such a road I would not be so courageous to take, my friend."
Shadow sneered and turned from the hearth, stalking to the far window with a dark growl. "Courage? I've been backed into a corner as a frightened animal. What other route is there for me to take in order to save my soul? This isn't courage. This is nothing but another form of cowardice!"
"I disagree. Passionately. You are accepting your responsibility. You are opening yourself up to rejection and pain the like of which no one has ever known. Do you truly believe this to be cowardice, my friend? No. Do not allow your demons to lie to you in such a way. You are putting right a grievous wrong. You are offering a young girl the opportunity to know a father whom has always held her best interest close to his soul. Do not discount this courage."
Shadow turned his face toward Edgar, and his eyes were a conflicting collage of emotion. "I'm afraid as I've never before been afraid. To look into my daughter's eyes and see hatred or disgust... it is of this that I'm most afraid. Throughout this war against Kefka and the Empire I've continued to be haunted by her eyes and her voice. So like her mother's. To have her eyes despise me would be the one punishment I wouldn't survive."
"You know that you cannot take this choice from her." Shadow turned away again and Edgar pressed onward. "It will be a difficult time, Shadow, but Terra and I are here to offer our strength." Edgar stood and made his way to the door before turning and examining Shadow's rigid form. "If you are here in the morning, my friend, Terra and I will accompany you to Thamasa. I know she will be pleased that there are no harsh feelings held by you. Good evening and sleep well."
Terra stared glumly down at her breakfast, picking at the salad greens with her golden fork in disinterest. Edgar watched her, a concerned expression dulling his handsome features. He reached for her hand and squeezed it gently, smiling at her when she raised her eyes to his.
"Do not fret, sweet. Please."
"I can't help it, Edgar. There had to be something I could have said that would've made him feel better."
He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "You have done more than you know. Trust in what you do not know about him, soul light. Your words moved him to a decision."
Her eyes twinkled with a myriad of questions. "What do you mean?"
"He has decided to tell her the truth, and I have offered him our companionship for the journey. I only wait, now, for him to make the final decision."
"Final decision? What decision?"
Edgar touched her gently on the nose. "Whether he wishes to tell her in the company of friends or in the company of the tortured memories of a past he no longer wishes to hold so close."
"Edgar? What did you do?"
He smiled and changed his gaze to his breakfast. "I continued from that delicate point you prepared."
Terra was quiet for a moment before tightly squeezing his hand. She smiled and her eyes glistened. "Dear, sweet, wonderful Edgar."
Edgar caressed the back of her hand with his thumb as his chest tightened. "I am only wonderful because you believe it to be true, dear heart."
Terra's smile brightened her face. She looked down at her breakfast and pushed it away. Then she stood and pulled Edgar to his feet. "Edgar..." Her eyes met his. "Edgar, I need to know if he's still here. Please?"
He smiled down at her as he brought her hand to his lips. "Of course. Shall we?"
She nodded enthusiastically and allowed him to lead her from the dining chamber and through the meandering hallways of the castle to the west wing. Interceptor was still outside the room. At Edgar and Terra's approach, he sat up and smiled at them. Terra released Edgar's hand and knelt down to stroke Interceptor behind the ears.
"Good morning, Interceptor. Is your master still sleeping?" Interceptor pulled away from Terra's hand and shook his head. He then stretched and grumbled, announcing his displeasure at his master's sudden and mysterious change in attitude. "Did he sleep at all?" Interceptor shook his head again and repositioned himself beside the door, allowing them room enough to enter.
"It seems the demons rage deeply."
Terra gnawed on her lower lip as she slowly straightened, reaching behind her to once again take hold of Edgar's hand. "I think I understand why. At least, I'm trying to."
Edgar gave a gentle squeeze and lightly knocked on the door. When there was no response, he twisted the knob and pushed it open. To both of their amazement, Shadow was again dressed in his full black garb. They stepped further into the room, confusion evident in their expression.
"Why the mask, Shadow?" Edgar asked slowly.
Shadow's expression was distant and hard. All too familiar. "I will not bombard her with the truth. I will offer her the choice of hearing. If she doesn't choose to have it revealed, then I won't."
Terra placed a gentle hand on Edgar's shoulder, preventing any further questions.
Shadow stood and moved noiselessly to the door, bidding Interceptor to his side with a simple gesture. "I am ready."
Edgar and Terra both nodded.