Authoress Notes: Thanks a bunch to the people who have read this and reviewed it. Due to positive feedback (doubt that'll stay until later), this has come up. So please enjoy this second installment.
Disclaimer: SquareEnix is the rightful owner, not me.
Plot/Summary: Weakened, fatigued, and brutally wounded by an assailant she fails to remember, Nel Zelpher wakes to find herself in a place not of her time. Not to mention she finds herself in the care of someone very unlikely…
You Found Me
By: xKuroSeraphimx
Chapter II
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As you see me falling, I wonder, will you catch me? Watch me?
Or fall with me…?
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Nel Zelpher continued to stare at the miniature Albel Nox and he continued to stare back. Suddenly, the look turned to a frown before he turned to face Count Woltar.
"So what're you going to do with her?" he asked a bit impatiently, sounding slightly angry.
"Now, now," Woltar replied slowly. "The lady has just woken up. Give her some time to recuperate and gain her senses. We cannot rush her into things without first giving an explanation—"
"But she's—"
"Silence, boy," the old man cut in quietly, his tone giving little room for further argument. Albel frowned, pouted, then shifted his glare to Nel before swiftly turning on his heel and storming out, shutting the door behind him.
Once he was gone, Woltar let out a tired sigh, running a wrinkling hand over his scalp. Nel continued to gaze at the door as though she was expecting to see the boy burst in with something else to argue about -- anything that would distract the aged warrior's attention. She turned to Woltar who began talking.
"I'm so sorry about that. That little upstart is a fiery one and it usually takes some doing before he falls back." He said with a small chuckle. "I do hope you'll forgive such a rude beginning with him."
Nel shook her head. If she could handle restraining herself from clashing head-to-head with an adult Albel, then she could have a little more patience with his younger self. Shorter, and less menacing without a claw and an impulse to kill anything that dared to insult him in a way he found detestable and worthy of a gruesome death. "It's nothing," she replied. "I've handled kids like him."
"Have you? Well, Albel's a unique one; maybe he'll show you a different kind from the one you're usually accustomed to."
The old man seemed bent on trying to divert the conversation to something lighter. But the Crimson Blade knew better, and she knew that Woltar was trying to confirm some sort of suspicion by having idle banter with her.
"Lord Woltar," Nel began, setting her functional eye squarely onto his face. "Just how did I happen upon your mansion?" After all, it was awkward how Albel had stormed out when Woltar had told her that she should thank the boy for helping her.
A slight diminish was seen in his expression, but never clearly showed. Woltar cleared his throat and said, "Well, my dear, like I said, Albel Nox is the one you should be thankful for. Although, the opportunity will probably come at another time," He added amusingly. "Anyway, the boy had practically found you half-dead in the middle of the Aire Plains and dragged you here through sheer strength and stubbornness. Also, he may not want to admit it, or myself, for that matter, but he was deeply concerned when he found you bleeding profusely and on the edge of death."
Nel arched a brow at the news. Of course, she was thankful for the way Woltar had eloquently put such information to words, and she briefly wondered if this was the same Albel she had seen slaughter dozens in cold blood. Shaking her head, to which she regretted as a whirl of dizziness hit her, and opened her mouth to speak, "Is that what happened? Then I must truly thank him some other time, when there is not much hostility between us." She paused. "By the way, how long have I been asleep, Lord Woltar?"
"About half a month," Woltar promptly replied as Nel inwardly gasped in surprise. "You were so badly injured in many ways and places, that it was believed you would have died through a week. But you managed to hold on and the doctors had stated you would live and heal normally if you do not overexert yourself." He ended this with a crinkled smile.
Half a month! Even if she didn't know how badly wounded she was, Nel would've recovered in less that amount of time in Aquaria. Then again, she was in Airyglyph lands, and if she assumed correctly of which time period she was in, Aquarian doctors were nonexistent.
Or rather banned.
"You've given me much hospitality, Lord Woltar," Nel said formally, and stiffly tried to bend her torso, but her ribs said otherwise. Wincing at the pain that shot through her body, she ground out, "How… could I repay you?"
If there was one thing that grated on the Crimson Blade's nerve, it was the conscious thing of being in debt to someone. She hardly had to be in that position, never mind the times with Fayt Leingod and Cliff Fittir, or Clair Lasbard for added measure. She'd be damned if she let such a good act go to waste, and even if Woltar would refuse, Nel would find some way in repaying the debt. Done. Square.
Thankfully, Woltar did. "Actually, I do. Would you mind answering a bit of my own questions before I make my request?"
Did she have any choice? No. "Of course, sir."
"Good. Then I'll get straight to the point." Soon, Woltar's posture in his seat stiffened and straightened, looking as formal and serious as one would be in the presence of their liege. "Judging from the runes inscribed upon your body, your clothes, and the accent in which your words flow by, you are Aquarian, yes?"
Figured the old man could tell. Nothing could escape such a sharp perception. "… Yes."
"And these," Woltar reached inside the folds of his cape to fish out her prized possessions. "The Blades of Ryusen, belong to you, correct?"
Nel stomped down the urge to snatch her treasured blades back, but restrained herself. After all, Woltar was the one she received the ensorcelled swords before. She nodded, staring intently at the Blades of Ryusen. "Yes, they are."
"Is it? It was very awkward, seeing as I too, have the same Blades in my possession before you were found." Woltar said, the suspicious gleam in his slate eyes burning more fiercely than ever. "And your uncanny resemblance to the one who previously owned these daggers… I was perturbed to think an honorable enemy from the past had come back to haunt me, half-dead. May I ask you for your full name?"
Hesitation had stricken her throat, but Nel swallowed and replied, "I am Nel Nevelle Zelpher, my lord."
Silence followed soon after, making the Crimson Blade feel slightly strange in her position. Being interrogated by Count Woltar made her feel as though if she answered wrongly, she'd be sent to her death, or questioned to determine her fate. Nel was right to think that, beside Vox and his warmonger brutality, Woltar was the one to be feared highly among the three. He was, in fact, very hard to predict and always seemed to be a step or two ahead of everyone else.
Then, the old man said, "I see. Nel Zelpher, correct? This is a fix; I presumed you to be smaller than that." He ended with a small smile.
At this, Nel could find nothing to respond with. How could she explain that she was suddenly transported to the past? Could she explain the end of the war between their countries? Should she talk about the other worlds she had seen and what was to come?
"But, judging by your appearance, you are not the little lady," Woltar stated. "Nor, are you probably, of this time."
"No, I am not," Nel replied quietly, reclining into her pillows a bit more. "I do not know how I had come upon this time and how it happened. I'm as lost as you are in how I came here. But I assure you, I am Nel Zelpher of the Crimson Blade, daughter of Lord Nevelle Zelpher."
For some reason or another, Nel had forgotten the state her body was in, and was speaking as though she was never mortally wounded. But she had stated her status, as much as she'd like to keep a low profile, but Woltar had requested of her to answer his questions, and answer them she will to the best she could.
A smile lighted his features as Woltar too acknowledged her change in formality and the way she spoke of her father. "Thank you very much, Lady Nel. Even from such a short amount of knowing you, I can tell that you are a very emancipated, dignified and strong young woman. You do your father proud."
Nel blushed at the compliment, but waved it off. "T-Thank you, Lord Woltar." She replied lamely, suddenly reduced to feeling bashful at his words.
Noticing this, Woltar let out a hearty laugh. "I say my words with the deepest sincerity, Lady Nel. Now, about what you will do…" Again, he cleared his throat, almost preparing himself for another long bout of talking. "You must have obviously realized the time period you are in."
The Crimson Blade nodded. "Yes. I knew so the moment Albel walked out of the room."
"Ah, yes. Once we had found out that you are Aquarian-born, he's been feeling edgy and confused about what we should do with you. Again, please forgive him for his earlier behavior; a child can act such a way at times like these. In all honesty, I believe he thinks the Aquarians aren't all that bad, but considering the way things are between our countries…"
Nel kept silent, leaving the old man to think out a plausible solution to the problem at hand. She was brought into the past, but she had yet to find out about how she could get back to the present. She dreaded that she probably could never find her way home again!
"So… What do you plan to do with me?" Nel inquired softly, her free hand unconsciously gripping the sheets around her in anticipation.
"I have just the thing, actually," Woltar answered. "With your condition the way it is, it'll probably take a while for you to fully recover. And, let's not forget the other problem: You finding a way back to your original time period. Plus, it'd be very unlike me to leave a lady out, just like that. So, I would like to propose…"
"Yes?"
"I would like of you to look after young Albel." Woltar finished. "With the way things are, there aren't many to watch over him and keep him check. Maids and guards cannot stop him from doing something mischievous. Even I am only in my mansion for a while before I'm called to Airyglyph Castle."
"So you want me… to baby-sit Albel?" Nel questioned, seemingly unsurprised at the prospect.
"Would you? He's a handful, but once you get to know him a bit more, maybe he'll warm up to you as well." Woltar said with a hopeful smile.
Nel didn't know how much she needed to 'know more about him', but if it would help that she'd have a place to stay for a while and recover, why not?
"Very well. I shall uphold this task, you have my word as a Crimson Blade." She replied strictly and formally, bowing her head.
"Splendid! You are doing us a marvelous favor, Lady Nel." Woltar exclaimed.
"Although, I don't know about Albel…"
"Oh, do not worry about the boy. I will speak to him about this. I'm sure I can talk some sense into him of having you around for a while."
They didn't even need to discuss on how long she would stay. Her top priorities would be to keep a low profile, take care of a younger Albel, and find a way to get back. Besides, it wasn't as if she could move around much in her current condition…
Suddenly, a rapping on the door snapped their attention away as the door opened and a fair maid walked in. "Sir Woltar, a summons from the King." She announced quietly, but loud enough to be clear.
"Ah, I see. Very well." The maid bowed and left with a quiet snick of the door closing. Woltar stood up and smiled down upon Nel. "I shall see to it you be made a proper guest in my household, Lady Nel. If you are in need of anything, you have but to ask."
"I will. Thank you very much, Lord Woltar."
He nodded and left, limping off with his velvet cape flowing behind him. As soon as he was gone, Nel relaxed into her fluffy pillow and began to stare with a forlorn expression at the window with its yellow curtains.
What had she gotten herself into?
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Well, there's the end of that. God, I hoped I kept at least everyone in character! Hope you enjoyed, and keep the reviews, coming!