The water trickled gently between her fingers and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief at the bright light that now shimmered down into the depths. Her powers were still there, just as vibrant and calming as before. Actually, almost more so. It sparkled with such radiance that the priests, who had been hovering behind her mumbling and shuffling around all froze, enthralled by the ritual. What should have been a common display of her ability had transformed overnight into something much more remarkable and inexplicable, capturing attention by its mere existence. She didn't really have a word to encompass what was so different about it, exactly, but for the first time she felt like she could really control each swirl of the glowing light twisting below the waves. It conformed to her thoughts, gleaming and shimmering all the more as if it was truly displaying her feelings out for all to see. Feelings of hope, and a desire to protect those she cared for even when she wasn't meant to care at all. And while the situation was still dire, Kairielis also finally felt the first exciting rippling wave of freedom coursing through her.
It was as if before, she had been only ever seeing a reflection of her emotions, stretched and twisted behind multiple panes of glass.
She lifted her hand from the water, feeling the droplets slide away with a satisfyingly warm caress and turned to give Beatrix a quick nod.
Time to go.
One of the priests broke from his stupor to clap loudly, his broom tucked in under his arm with a smile spread across his blemished and pockmarked face. "How wonderful that your ability shines so brightly today! Surely a good omen for the Light Bonding ceremony."
Just the words "Light Bonding' brought forth a mad fluttering of her heart and panic swelling in the back of her throat. But it was true: not only was she meant to be getting married today, but judging by the steadily dissipating morning fog, the time for her to get ready was soon approaching.
"We were so worried, that the fire was only-" The priest yelped as if burned by his own words and clamped his hands hard down over his mouth. One of the other priests gave him a hard glare.
She raised her hand to try and calm him. "It's alright, I already heard about that..."
The clergyman near her relaxed visibly, glad that he hadn't been the first to break the news. But Kairielis wasn't able to calm down nearly as easily. The thought of those two, languishing in some dark pit of a cell somewhere brought her worries rushing back. She tried to swallow it down to not look too suspiciously invested.
"W-where are the two of them now? The ones who were charged with the crime, I mean."
Her apprehension was noticed, but the priest clearly misidentified the reason. "Oh, don't you worry about them, they can't possibly hurt anyone any more. They won't be any further trouble at all, in fact. The order just went out."
Her heart dropped and her throat suddenly felt incredibly dry and scratchy. Without meaning to, her voice tumbled out in even more of a shaky squeak.
"O-order?" Perhaps she had been a little too naive in thinking they would just be held for a while in a prison cell or two, awaiting some type of decision or deliberation on punishment. But clearly they had already decided something.
The pockmarked priest seemed hesitant again to elaborate, and his companion clergyman hastily shuffled off to excuse himself from the situation. Clearing her throat, Beatrix leaned forward and bore her eyes into the spindly man and he wilted.
"It is...a bit of a grim topic, of course...I would much rather not discuss such things on a fine morning..."
Surely the punishment can't be that severe…
She swallowed heavily. "Please, it's important that I know. I...simply won't be at ease otherwise."
"Yes, but...ah, well..." He stammered to a halt. Beatrix glared at him again, spurring his voice into action. "I-it seems because of their unwillingness to cooperate, and m-markedly steadfast loyalty to one another..."
If they've hurt either of them, I swear...
"...it was decided that only one was needed for questioning."
Her legs went numb. "O-only one? W-what will happen to the other?"
"In order to pry more answers out of the other, they have...settled on a rather extreme decision."
She was starting to get tired of him dancing around without saying what he really meant, and it was starting to wear on her heart that was still pounding fiercely in her throat. "What decision!?"
He sighed, and tipped his watery eyes down to the ground. "They will be made into a swift example. The writ of execution for that scrawny rambunctious one has already been sign-"
She didn't hear anything else.
Before her mind had caught up to her feet, she was already halfway down the hallway to the entrance. It was so, so much worse than she could have ever imagined. She knew they were in trouble, but she would never have thought her father would approve of something so extreme as to demand their lives. If she could show the temple; no, show her father that nothing bad had come of their actions to free Ellone and return her memory, there would be no reason for any punishment at all, let alone a capital one.
Her goal of the entrance, just up ahead of her, was suddenly overshadowed by a group of knights dressed in strikingly strange garb that startled her almost more than their sudden appearance. Normally the guards and knights of the castle wore relatively tasteful dark colors with some of the royal insignia embroidered on their sleeves. These knights had almost garishly bright tunics in the maroon color of Galbadia.
The lot of them strode out from the corner, lead by basically the one person she didn't want to see right now. She tried to preemptively side-step him, but Hans matched her stride and remained stubbornly right in front of her.
"Going somewhere?"
It took nearly every ounce of restraint she had not to just shove him out of the way, but despite her newfound knowledge about her ability, there was still a lingering fear inside of her to actually make physical contact with another person. That, and she didn't want him of all people to be the first one to test it out on.
"Let me through." Her voice left no room for misinterpretation and was laced with sparks that only set fire to the determination swelling inside of her.
"To where, I wonder?"
Oh how he was trying to intimidate her with that glower of his, but it wasn't working in the slightest.
After he refused to move, she spun on her heel and marched towards the nearby pillar. She tried to circle it to pass around behind him, but he looped the opposite way, continuing to impede her.
He raised a curious eyebrow in her direction. "Surely you need to get ready for our ceremony. Where else could you possibly be going at this hour?"
"With all due respect, it's absolutely none of your business." She was terse, pointed, and without a hint of wavering conviction. The last thing she wanted to do was give him a single morsel of information to use against her.
Unfortunately, her attitude actually seemed to impress him and the corner of his lip curled ever so slightly. It made her skin crawl.
"I'd say it is my business, considering it is my ceremony today also."
The guards behind the duke shifted, glancing at each other and mumbling under their breath. It was obvious they were plotting something, and she noticed they were clutching their halberds and shields tightly. What, were they going to actually try to threaten her to stay? The lot of them were all visiting as the Duke's personal escort, and while they served his household, ultimately, her orders should supersede any of that. If she told them to stand down, they should have to listen to her.
Quite frankly, this Duke thinking he held any power over her was insulting.
But...she didn't really want to test it.
At this point, Beatrix, thankfully, had finally caught up with her and began to eye the Galbadian knights standing shoulder to shoulder against each other with some hesitancy.
"Very fine uniforms, gentlemen. I'm sure you'll look just as splendid later today in full ceremonial dress. But we have our own preparations to finish this morning and would appreciate being allowed on our way."
Incredibly jealous of Beatrix's acting skills, she tried her best not to show any emotion on her own face and nodded along with the knight's words.
"Yes but to where, exactly?" Hans lifted his hand for a moment, readying to give the order for his guard to move, but refrained from actually belying it. Clearly, he was still bargaining for some answers. He would clear his men out of the way if she gave him the information he was seeking.
Kairielis was trying harder now not to let any shred of panic set in, but it was more difficult than she had anticipated to fake it. She couldn't afford the time it would take to butt heads verbally with this stubborn snake of a Duke any longer. It wasn't ideal, but she realized there weren't many other options at this point.
She had no idea how much time Sora could afford right now. Every second she spent stalled might make all the difference in being able to save him. As much as she hated the idea of separating, especially when she was being practically stalked by Sir Evil at the moment, Hans would have no reason to stop Beatrix. And the former general, at least, could possibly find some way to delay the execution.
She once more dodged the Duke's question and glanced nervously to the knight next to her.
"Beatrix...you said you needed to get back to Namine?" She hoped her eyes could convey the true message she wished she could send, but with prying ears all around there was no way for her to voice it.
I need you to help him. Please...
"Indeed." Fortunately, the former general was as swift thinking as she was formidable. She gave a hesitant salute, then cast one last scowl back at Hans and his henchmen. "But I am loathe to leave you without a proper guard, considering I am currently meant to be standing in for your personal knights."
Ouch, that was a sharp dig. Kairielis was thankful that she didn't ever have to face the former general's wrath herself. Thankfully, Hans seemed eager to get the former general away from the situation and he gestured to his own guard with a grand sweep of his arm. "No need to worry. We will keep a close eye on her."
"I see..."
It almost went without saying that them hovering over her shoulder wasn't exactly a remedy for worry, so naturally his two statements invariably contradicted one another. Beatrix was having a tough time not saying so out loud, and gave Kairi one more nervous glance, before nodding stiffly.
"I'll be returning to my duties then."
She didn't wait for the Duke and began shoving her way through. Hans begrudgingly signaled to let the general pass by, but quickly intercepted the princess the moment she tried to take a step forward herself. Just over the shoulders of the guard she saw Beatrix offer her one last concerned nod, albeit a slightly reassuring one, before disappearing down the garden path.
Kairielis took a deep breath and centered her gaze back on the adversary in front of her. If he had seemed smug before, that had nothing on the expression he was giving her now, pleased at finally getting her alone. She wanted nothing more than to smash some type of whipped cream-laced pastry into that smug face of his.
"I also have my own matters to attend to. There will still be plenty of time for me to get ready for the ceremony, provided you stop needlessly delaying me."
Both of his eyebrows went up this time at her forwardness. "Something is different about you..."
The last few days she had been drifting in a haze of reverie, but she was now so focused it was undoubtedly noticeable.
"I'll take that as a compliment." She wasn't sure if he was trying to threaten her over her newfound confidence but she wasn't going to let that be considered a demerit.
He scowled, and traced his eyes across her face, as if searching for some hint of the information he was seeking upon it. "Is it that hard just to tell me where you are going? I'm just concerned for your safety..."
"I'm sure..." She whispered under her breath, not entirely caring if he heard. But his pressing was getting tiring, and she needed to get to do more than just glare at him for several hours while Sora and Riku were languishing in some dungeon somewhere, or worse.
It was time to try another method and play nice. She pinched her lips close together for a moment and gathered her thoughts. This was going to be a bit painful to act out…
With the most contrite look she could manage, she tipped her eyes down to her shoes. "Listen, the truth is...I didn't want to admit it, but I'm still feeling jittery about this ceremony. I wanted to go see my father and get some reassurance. I want things to move smoothly, for everyone's sake."
She kept her eyes focused downwards, trying to embrace what she was saying as if it was true. And partly, it was. "I didn't want to admit it because it is...shameful for me to have such reservations."
"Ah, I see..." A twisted smile played across his lips. "Well, then let's make sure you get to him."
There was something wicked in his face she didn't like, nor trust. She was hoping her excuse would play on his insane lusting after the crown and he would let her go on her way in order to not risk her getting cold feet. And while he signaled to his guards to let her pass, the minute she slipped out the door they all plodded along closely behind her down the path and she grew increasingly uncomfortable.
There was no way it could be this easy.
She kept her head tilted slightly to the side so she could keep an eye on him as he kept pace behind her with his own little army at the ready. While he tried to act surreptitiously, she definitely noticed when he whispered something to a few of his guards and let them dart off somewhere to do some unknown task.
He was planting eyes all over the castle, it seemed.
It was also hard for her to focus now on what she was even going to tell her father, but she knew planning it out wasn't going to do her much good. She just needed to get in front of him and spit it all out. She was trusting her heart could do the talking for her this time.
"The fire last night. Quite an unusual incident, wouldn't you say?" Hans's voice made her cringe.
So much for making it to her father without incident. She tried not to stiffen under his undoubted scrutiny and keep her face stoic.
"Yes, I'm glad no one was hurt."
"Indeed...no one of value, anyway." Hans stifled a light chuckle and she struggled not to react. She really wanted a pie to throw at him now, even more than before. What a despicable thing to say. Lemon meringue would be a good choice, probably.
It also concerned her that he seemed to be, slowly but surely, dropping his own 'perfect gentleman' act.
He picked up his pace and fell in line next to her, so she took an uneasy side step to the left to avoid him and create some distance.
"By any chance, Princess, did anyone ever tell you who they found to be responsible for it?"
She felt herself inwardly floundering. Surely she couldn't admit that she knew it was them, because her lack of reaction at such news would be immediately suspicious. But she couldn't be sure if feigning ignorance was just playing into whatever devious scheme he had going on behind those dark eyes of his.
"I have...suspicions about their identity. Everyone was loath to admit anything to me directly, so I can only assume it is someone...not insignificant in rank." She stiffly mumbled out, trying to keep her pace quick.
"You know..." He strode out in front of her, cutting her off abruptly and she stumbled on her own toes. "You can be surprisingly fetching when you're attempting to be deceptive. Perhaps we could get along quite well."
She shivered in revile at his comment, realizing the sudden prickling of her skin was also a dead giveaway of her nervousness. "That's not-"
"Don't think for one moment that I believe you don't know exactly who started that nonsense last night." He stood stiffly in front of her, still hungrily smiling at her like she was some meal about to be devoured. "That's what this is all about, isn't it?"
"I don't know what you mean. I'm just going to see my father and-"
"What does he mean to you, exactly?"
She managed a slightly snarky smile of her own and sidestepped his question completely. "My father? What an odd question! Well of course my father means-"
Hans slammed his fist into the nearby wall, rattling the paintings hung upon it. "Stop with your charades, it's starting to grow insulting. You know very well who I was referring to."
She only met him with silence this time, and considered trying to tell his own guards to restrain him and let her move past, but she doubted very much now that they were going to listen to her in the slightest.
"That love-struck fool is willing to die for you. Isn't that romantic? Why it's the quintessential core of every beautifully tragic drama. But how does the Princess feel, I wonder?"
Both the Duke and the Princess glared at one another, neither budging an inch. On the outside, she looked stone cold, but her heart was racing so fast she couldn't even count the beats. Desperately she tried to think of a way to twist the conversation back into her favor so she could continue on to her father's room, but she knew she was already at a massive disadvantage. She had nothing but her own self to bargain with, and he had everything.
A matter he quickly took advantage of.
He leaned in closer to her face, observing her eyes closely. "Surely her heart aches even at the thought of him languishing in pain? To let him perish, believing she couldn't even be bothered to spare him a thought? Surely she wouldn't want him to meet a lamentable fate? She would do anything to stop it?"
Why must he say such horrible things? Why? Besides, what was his point, just to be cruel? And why did he look so utterly pleased by it? She stared past him, refusing to let her mind dwell on the images he was trying to conjure up for her.
"Only a pitiful excuse of a man would derive joy from any type of suffering. If you're trying to convince me to go through with the ceremony you are doing a poor job of it."
Why was it that every time she tried to counter his taunting with her own verbal riposte he only snickered back at her? No one ever took her seriously and it was infuriating.
"You misunderstand me. I only want what's best for everyone."
He was straight up mocking her now. Fury boiled inside of her but she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down, searching for an exit path if she were to unexpectedly hurl one of her shoes at him and make a break for it through the garden.
"Let's not keep secrets from each other. Sincerity is best, is it not?" The sarcasm was dripping from his every word. "You want to save him. I want the ceremony to go on uninterrupted. I'm sure we can reach some agreement."
Well, the throw-a-shoe-at-him plan was starting to look more and more like a possibility. She didn't even care to listen to whatever nonsense he was going to spit out any more, she couldn't trust a single word out of his mouth so there wasn't any way she was going to consider any agreement with him, ever.
"If you go through with the ceremony peacefully and willingly, no heel dragging, as painless as possible, I can guarantee they will survive."
She tried incredibly hard not to roll her eyes. As if she couldn't do everything he was proposing herself, with far less strings attached if he would just move. He was so desperate to get her through that ceremony today it was bordering on being ridiculous.
All she had to do was appease him until she could get to her father.
"And if I do agree to carry on without a complaint, how can I even trust you'll help them?"
"Who else would be able to do so? You can't possibly appeal for them without betraying your own biased favoritism." He casually adjusted his sleeves, flaunting his power play. "Besides, as I said before my only interest is completing the ceremony peacefully. Once that is over I don't care either way if they live or die so there's no reason for me to go against my word."
"Nor any reason for you to uphold it."
He reared back slightly with a scoff. "You really think that little of me? My, my how easily you trust the poison that little rat must have fed you."
"Is the truth poison? I had no idea."
Ugh, maybe she should stop getting snarky with him. She hated that look he gave her every time she dished attitude back at him, almost like he was falling for her. Impressing a snake wasn't exactly high on her list of feel-good activities.
The Galbadian regiment was creeping slightly closer behind her and she turned a weary eye back on them. It was time to think on her feet again.
"I'm still not sure what has you so concerned. I have only ever been loyal to the rules my whole life. I know what it has been written for me to do. But that doesn't mean I must look the other way while they enact such an overbearingly harsh punishment." She calmed herself for just a moment more, and phrased her words as carefully as possible. "Just let me speak to my father and then, I promise, I will follow my destiny without a complaint."
"Tempting offer, but anything to do with that boy has me concerned. His very nature is to be contrary and I have no doubt he's already sown seeds of rebellion in you. So, no. I'm keeping you as isolated as possible until the ceremony."
The certainty of his assertion was equally as frightening as it was insulting. In the end, her indignation won the dominance fight.
"Oh, really? And under what authority are you going to keep me fr-"
A thick leather strap unexpectedly lassoed itself over her wrist and tightened with a hearty tug from the guard holding the other end. Stunned, she stared down at the restraint, again a conflicting mix of emotions. This time she was contending with feeling both offended and perplexed in equal measure.
"W-what is…?"
How did they even manage to loop that around her arm without touching her? Before she could consider her bearings on the situation, the now uncomfortably tight strap pulled her backwards, tipped her sideways and almost knocked her right down to the floor. She twisted her free hand around the buckle and wrenched at it, trying to free herself from the unexpected binding.
"What are you doing!? Get this off of me now."
"It's only a precaution."
Hans gestured to the side and the guard holding onto the strap continued to pull her towards the nearby door, ignoring every attempt of hers to escape. She shrieked and dug her heels into the floor, but only slid along the polished tile, unable to overpower the brute force of the knight on the other end.
Her cries for help echoed across the hall and she could only hope that someone had been able to hear her. Surely someone was around. Not a soul responded to her screams before the doors were summarily slammed shut on her, leaving her trapped inside the small waiting room with the guard holding the strap around her wrist like she was some kind of misbehaving dog.
She twisted to glare at Hans as he stood by the door with a satisfied grin.
"How dare you!"
The duke continued watching her struggles with idle curiosity. The leather of the strap was beginning to dig into her wrist and she winced in pain, feeling it scrape against her already raw wrist.
"You will get ready here. I've already summoned for the help to bring what you need. My offer from before still stands if you wish to accept it."
Against her better judgment, she twisted off one of her flats and, while dangling it from her toes, launched it in his direction with a shriek.
"You are despicable!"
He stared quietly for a moment at the place on his jacket where her shoe struck him.
"Yes, I already knew you felt that way. The question is, which is more detestable? Marrying me respectably, or letting your little pet die for you and then being dragged through the ceremony anyway to your utter humiliation? If you continue to be petulant, I'll not only make sure they are both executed, but I'll make it as painful as possible."
She only regretted not hurling her shoe at him harder. He was a monster, and not only was she now running out of options, Sora was running out of time. She had no idea how Beatrix was faring either.
One thing was very clear: Hans wasn't going to let her out of this room until the time of the ceremony. And a few hours from now would be far, far too late. What could she even do in a position like this?
She yanked her wrist against the leather strap and glared at the knight holding it. "Do you mind?"
The knight glanced briefly at the Duke to get his permission before relinquishing his hold on the strap, allowing her to finally unfasten it and loosen it off of her arm.
"And are you planning on just standing there the whole time or may I at least get dressed in private?"
His lips puckered and he growled. "I may have questionable methods but I am not crass. The moment your items arrive I will excuse myself."
"Fine." She crossed her arms and plopped herself down onto the nearby chair next to the pearl vanity in the corner and waited.
There wasn't much in the room, honestly. Just the vanity, a closet, a full length mirror and a table with a bowl filled with fruit. There wasn't anything for her to use in terms of a weapon to fight off not only Hans, but his own little private army as well.
She considered every possibility. Maybe she could break the mirror and use it to cut up the dress once it was delivered and make a rope? But it probably wouldn't be a very strong rope, and she surely wouldn't be able to tie them all up before she was stopped...
Could she just burst the door open and take them by surprise? Ugh! Kairielis turned idea after idea over in her mind, but each one sounded just as problematic as the last. At the very least, the moment she was alone she was going to work on her escape plan.
They all waited in silence, letting the seconds tick by as she wallowed in indecision, and he scrutinized her every expression.
Would Sora really think she wasn't coming to help him? Perhaps he would. She wasn't entirely sure he hadn't already given up on her. The reserves of selflessness he had to constantly keep throwing himself in harms way for her, and not once had she ever been able to properly thank him for it. The last time she had seen him he had tenderly opened himself up, only for her to bumble it all up and spew a barrage of insults upon him. Kairielis, the monster she was, had probably shattered the poor thing's heart. What if that really was the last time she would see him, ever?
No, no no...I am going to save you this time, I swear it. Please just wait for me a little longer...
A soft knock on the door startled her from her thoughts.
She was surprised to see a small group of maids, perhaps three in total shuffling in, holding up what looked like a massive pile of lacy sheets between them, so bulky and cumbersome it was basically swaddling the shorter girl in the middle so only her thin legs were visible sticking out from under the fabric. She was sitting on some sort of cart, keeping the whole thing balanced, and was probably suffocating underneath it all. This is why she assumed the group was only perhaps three in number. There was still the possibility there was another girl hiding beneath that mess she couldn't see yet.
"What is all this…?"
"Your dress, Your Highness." One of the more visible maids who had a particularly kindly face, responded quickly, glancing about somewhat nervously around the room, as if she was searching for something. "We do not wish to disturb you, but due to it's difficulty in donning, we will stay to assist."
Her heart sank a bit in her chest and she swallowed it back heavily. If there were other people in the room with her, how could she possibly fashion a weapon to escape?
"A-ah, it's quite all right. I can manage on my own. Every other ritual dress I've worn has been designed to be put on by only one person after all, so I'm sure I can manage with this one as well..."
While the one maid remained hidden under the cumbersome gown and the kindly looking one who had spoken up earlier remained clutching the other side of it, the third began pulling bags and boxes off the bottom of the cart, the largest of which she assumed contained her shoes and other accessories. The maid then moved into the room with a cloth satchel Kairielis already recognized to contain various makeup and pastels for her face.
As the maid began laying out the brushes and chalks onto the vanity table, she also glanced nervously about the room. There was...something strange going on here.
The maid from before spoke up again to address her protests. "Your dress may be designed in that way, but sometimes following what is planned can still be too much for one person to bear."
Was that...a wink?
"Beatrix also sends her warmest greetings, and apologizes for being busy with Namine to see you off properly."
The maid setting out the makeup reached into her apron and extended a small pink card out towards her. Kairielis grabbed it up immediately and flicked it open.
Princess,
It's a shame the Red Rose Courtyard is occupied today, it would have been a lovely place for you to exchange vows. If you find yourself losing faith, look into the mirror and trust what you see. While sometimes our eyes can deceive, no one but ourselves can really identify our own flaws.
The Red Rose Courtyard. Obviously Beatrix was telling her to go there. But what did she mean about the mirror?
Regardless, Kairielis did her best to keep her face level and gave a courteous nod towards the group so as not to rouse any suspicion from Hans who was peering at them all from the corner, scrutinizing every movement.
Beatrix definitely had something up her sleeve to get her out of this mess, she was sure of it. Kairielis had no idea what the former general had told these handmaidens, but it was clear they were at the very least involved in some way.
It would be best, then, to take them up on their offer of help immediately.
She thanked them, casting Hans an angry glare. "Some privacy, please."
"I take it you'll cooperate, then?"
Kairielis stared firmly away from him, her eyes focusing instead on the various makeup sets being laid out on the vanity dresser. "I already told you I will follow my destiny where it leads."
Taking this as her resignation, he hummed a bit and marched out, slamming the door shut behind him. She heard the definitive shuffling of boots, indicating that she was definitely not getting out through the door without having to pass that giant muscular wall of a guard first.
The truth of the matter was, she was far from resigned. She would burn every carpet in the entire castle to get to them if she needed to.
And now that her and the maids were all alone, Kairielis began to wonder what, exactly, had Beatrix cooked up for her. A slight shifting of fabric drew her attention. Ever so slowly, the cloth of the dress slid away from the girl hidden beneath, tumbling over the sides of the cart with a thick thump onto the carpet.
And staring back at her was a face so much like her own it was almost uncanny.
So much like her, but with the only difference being her strikingly shiny blonde hair.
...Almost as if she was looking into a mirror.
Hans didn't trust anyone. In fact, he barely even trusted himself some days. So there was no way he could be convinced those servants weren't up to something. Especially not when he saw the doorknob rattling and the bundle of tulle composing her dress train starting to be rolled back out again on the little wheeled cart.
"Is there a problem?"
He leaned towards the nearest maid, her arms full of fabric and lace.
"N-nothing serious, your grace. There was only a small issue with the fitting and since the princess said she was unable to go to the tailor directly..." Her eyes shifted to the side. "I'm t-terribly sorry for the inconvenience. It will only take but a moment."
"Any particular reason why the tailor can't come here?"
The maid gawked for a moment before attempting to mask her nervousness with a rapid shaking of her head. "I-it isn't a simple alteration. The tailor would need her equipment, so it seems faster to do it this way..."
"I see."
Hans wouldn't call himself an expert on human nature, but he could read deception well, and there was something this maid wasn't telling him. Without asking for permission, he leaned into the door of the room, just to check on the princess.
She was still there, her hair pulled back in a towel away from her face as she stared into the mirror of the vanity, her whole selection of colored paints and powders spread out before her in an array. There was something gaunt and haunted in her face, as if all the fight had melted out of her. She would definitely be needing the makeup, the very color had faded away from her cheeks.
A shame, really. Her feisty nature had been more refreshing. And while she looked like a washed out shell of her former self, she was at least cooperating. That was the more important part.
He returned his attention back to the maids and frowned at the bundles of lace held between them, balanced on the short little rolling cart to keep it from touching the ground. Two maids, one at each side and, just like before, one shorter girl held it at the center, buried almost completely by the draping fabric.
There was something wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
The maid from before inched to the side, eager to get moving. "Excuse me, your lordship, but there is only limited time to correct this issue..."
Once more, he hesitated to give her permission, but ultimately stepped to the side. And as he watched them stroll away down the hallway, he still couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a mistake. To reassure his own mind, he glanced once more back at the princess, prodding listlessly at the makeup on the table.
He wasn't going to let her squirm out from this, and he was going to make sure she regretted ever standing up to him. Any spirit could be broken, even one as infuriating as that insolent brat that dared to oppose him. Good thing he would no longer be an issue much longer. Hans felt it quite a shame he wouldn't be able to see the deed carried out, but the idea alone was delightful enough.
It was a fitting punishment for their insolence. He had absolutely no intention in intervening to save the fool. Even if the brat somehow did manage to get out from under the executioners block, the moment he became king he would make sure to correct any...lingering trouble. Promptly.
That was just good housekeeping.
Kairielis shuffled the heavy garments off of her and gasped for fresh air, wondering how her cousin had managed to put up with it without complaint. And now that she was free from both her disguise and the predatory gaze of the duke, she was ready to immediately rush off to the Red Rose Courtyard.
Before running off, she turned to the two maids next to her. "I don't know what Beatrix told you, but I appreciate your help more than I can ever say."
Naturally they would be curious about quite a few things during this unusual situation. She wanted to take the time to explain it all, but that really wasn't something she could afford. Instead, all she could do was apologize.
Kairielis offered them both a deep curtsy, startling them both back onto their heels. It was absolutely unheard of for a princess to do such a thing to anyone, let alone a member of staff in the castle.
But she wasn't a traditional princess any more.
"When this is all over...I will thank you both properly."
To say they were baffled was a deep understatement. Both of them, slack-jawed, could only watch her as she raced away.
As she tore down the stone hallways, she focused on her breathing, trying to maintain as fast a pace as possible without winding herself. She wasn't exactly a long distance runner, that was for sure, but somehow her legs kept pushing her forward without a single complaint.
Along the way, she searched for something, anything to use to defend herself if anyone tried to get into her way.
"You need to save him, Kairi. I will buy you whatever time I can."
The words filled her heart with inspiration. She still couldn't believe that Namine was already even able to walk a few steps unassisted, let alone speak so coherently. But to also volunteer herself to such a dangerous role so soon after she had finally woken up? It had brought her to tears. Her cousin may have been trapped physically and mentally, but some part of her must have been awake, watching, waiting, itching to finally break free enough to act. She was going to make sure her efforts were not going to go to waste.
Perhaps it was fitting that the Red Rose Courtyard was the exact same place where the selection ceremony had taken place what felt like ages ago now. A time they should have been reunited after so long, but her memory had been so messed up she didn't even know his name. Now, at least it finally made sense why he had seemed so eerily familiar back then. Why just looking at him had stirred something inside her heart like a waterfall of emotion she was constantly trying to hold back. On her sprint, she once more fought to hold that watery torrent back, tears leaking from her eyes as she greedily sucked in another lungful of air.
Sora, Riku, Namine...everyone, please hold on.
"...and thus now being aware of all the crimes that stand before you, under the threat of death itself, do you still refuse to repent?"
The greasy haired jail warden narrowed his eyes at the stubborn knight strung up tight against the tall pole. He was beaten and bruised, perhaps only standing upright because of the binds keeping him there. No blow had been spared to get the boy to talk, the warden had made sure of that himself, yet he had been gifted only with silence in return. That boy had such a striking stare, his blue eyes constantly shining back with unmatched ferocity that the warden could still see them in his minds eye. And thanks to his stubbornness, there was absolutely no clue as to the whereabouts of the lost witch.
Not only that, but the other one was just as infuriating to deal with. Usually when there was a pair of miscreants it was easier, not harder. The common method was to separate them both, tell each of them that the other had already confessed the truth and like starving beasts smelling blood on the air get them to tear each other down to save their own skin. But even attempting that tried and true interrogation technique had been met with failure. In fact, when told that his friend had already ratted him out, the one named Riku had actually laughed at the insinuation.
Such unwavering trust was a sad thing to see go to waste.
Shrugging, he waved a hand over to the records keeper and began making his way down the steps of the makeshift scaffold built up in the center of the courtyard.
"Let it be known to the official court records that he still refuses to comply." Turning now to the one known as the Dawnbreaker, currently bound and held back by several guards. Despite his struggling, he was unable to wrench himself free. "And will you allow your companion to meet his fate here today? Your compliance may spare him."
Yet another poignant glare met his questioning. This knight, at least, opened his mouth to speak, but it was only a string of vulgar obscenities. The warden wrinkled his nose and sighed. What more could be expected?
These two were dreadfully boring. Seeing men crack and squeal was one of the better parts of his job. Without that, putting them to death before they had confessed their secrets almost felt like a loss. Annoying is what it was.
Well, perhaps watching his friend suffer the consequences of his actions might make at least the other change his tune. He had seen it before.
"Very well, then. Let us proceed."
"Cowards." Riku's voice harshly snapped out as he continued to strain against the multiple arms and bindings holding him back. Just as a precaution, he had been wrapped in chains, leashed up like a wild animal to combat his every attempt to reach his friend.
"You could still save him, if you only tell us where you hid the witch." The warden gave it one more attempt, noticing just how much more he was straining to break free. So much so, that in a few places the chains were beginning to discolor with drops of blood digging into his body.
"You keep asking that. It's pathetic."
Ah, well.
"If there is anything at all substantive you wish to say, speak it now while you are still able."
The warden noticed both parts of this infuriating pair letting their eyes briefly meet across the distance. Nothing was exchanged but a look. While the warden couldn't understand the message, he was sure something poignant had been communicated between them.
The warden cast his eyes back onto the one bound up on the scaffold across the courtyard and frowned. Any moment now he was expecting the same scene as always right before an execution. He expected the wobbling weak knees, the begging, the pale-faced regret washing all over the face of the damned. But this boy ever continued to be an exception. His eyes were locked on the sky above, a light smile playing across his features.
There was something admirable about a man who could look death in the face and smile.
But to the warden, it was still annoying nonetheless.
Wanting to get this matter over with, the warden snapped and gestured to the two executioners on standby, each with a long pole-arm grasped at the ready. It was generally customary to use two in order to make sure the heart would be impaled swiftly. It was a messy business, but necessary.
Taking a step forward, he cleared his throat and grabbed up the rolled parchment from his back pocket. With a flaunted relish he unfurled it and turned towards the King, records keeper and the other witnesses up on the nearby balcony.
"His Royal Highness and his honored retainers, all those serving today as witnesses and with duties to fulfill, we regretfully shall carry out before you the execution of the accused. As established, he is aware of the charges against him, and has refused all negotiations forthwith. Thus, out of obligation to the rules and traditions of this kingdom, his name shall be stripped of all titles and..." The warden paused, struggling to read what was scratched in hastily in the margins of the parchment. "Ah. Well I see the accused has no titles..."
The warden tried to ignore the light sarcastic chuckle from the chained up knight right behind him. Gods those two were infuriating.
He cleared his throat and began again. "In that case, may his soul find peace among the stars, for his remains shall be forever banished from our kingdom, to become naught but dust in the darkness. By the King's hand, it shall be done. At the ready!"
Her adrenaline was starting to not be nearly as effective at staving off her exhaustion, and she was desperately trying to shove the burning sensation in her lungs away to the back of her mind. Just keep moving forward. That was all.
She rounded the next corner wide and was glad she did. Guards blocked the entire passageway towards the courtyard and it looked like they were refusing any and all passage. Beatrix was pacing back and forth in front of them, cursing.
"I am aware that I am not acting general, but I should still be allowed a say! There hasn't been an execution in the gardens for nearly two decades! It's madness!"
The guards refused to budge, shaking their heads sadly at her. "True, it's a sad state of affairs, but it is the King's orders. Only those involved are to be allowed in."
"And what about me?" Kairielis slowed, but kept striding forward purposefully, noting the relieved look that briefly flickered across Beatrix's face.
Both of the knights guarding the hallway shrank back away from her. "Y-your Highness? What are you...weren't you meant to be getting ready for the ceremony today?"
She didn't even bother to answer their question, and instead raised her palm up and out towards them.
"Move. You don't want to touch me on accident, do you?"
Slack-jawed, they stumbled away from her, realizing that short of jabbing her with the blunt ends of their spears they couldn't exactly shove her away or stop her forward march. All they could do was mumble in absolute confusion, fall back and watch.
Tuning them out completely, she looked past them to the courtyard just beyond and searched for the only two people she wanted to see right now.
All she wanted was to at least see him again, and know that he was still there.
The knights, having given up at trying to stand in her way called out to several others waiting further in for assistance. A small group of them hustled over quickly, all adjusting their gloves should they need to use force to stop her.
She raised her hand again threateningly. "Stand back and let me through! No one is to touch me, right? So get out of my way!"
They obviously faltered, not any one of them wanting to be the first to lay a hand on her even with their gloves on. She knew their stunned indecision would only last so long, and she rushed forward, snatching up a spare spear that was leaning up against the wall as she passed.
She didn't know how to use it, really, but she figured it wasn't too hard to figure out. Pointy end that way, scowl, and that should get the message across.
After taking his place back up on the scaffolding to observe, to the warden's surprise, one of the executioners was hesitating to move into position. He gestured again, more harshly this time.
"I said, proceed."
The hesitant one on the left scuffed his boot against the ground and itched at his elbow. "But sir, well..."
"What?"
"It's just...I know this guy. He helped out my Nana when I was stuck in Trabia...so I really dunno if I can carry this out. My Nana said-"
"Your Nana!?"
Of all the asinine issues to happen…
The warden rolled his eyes and snatched the halberd away from him with a hiss. "Don't you dare let your personal bias affect your duty."
"But..."
To both of their surprise, they heard a voice croaking to life behind them. "It's okay, you don't have to feel guilty about it."
Whipping around, the warden pointed the lance straight at his neck. "Ah! So you can talk! I was beginning to think you were deficient in that department."
As he expected, the boy clammed up immediately, not flinching in the slightest at the pointed weapon jabbing towards the sensitive skin of his throat.
"He may be wary to act, but I am not. Do you really have no last words, nor anything to even plead for your life? No message you wish to leave for posterity?"
Another inexplicable smile. "If this is where my adventure ends, I don't regret anything."
"Very well." The warden lowered the spear and shoved it back into the hands of the bumbling executioner, still stammering next to him. "Prove your worth. If you truly do wish to repay a debt to him, make sure his end is swift."
The first signal was given, and one of the two halberds rose up to point straight towards the accused. The spear held by the one on the left wobbled slightly in fear, it's wielders' hesitancy still evident.
"I...I'm sorry." The man cast his eyes to the floor.
Without another word, that strange knight, always contrary to expectation, still refused to weep or beg, and only smiled back at the executioner and waited.
Ultimately relenting to his duty, the man tightened his grip and lifted the halberd into position. Both of the executioners waited, eyes locked on the King as he sat in his throne under the shaded awning, watching for the final signal to initiate the end.
Rising from his chair, the King extended his arm out in front of him, pausing to read the face of the accused, still bound tightly to the pole and not even actively struggling to free himself.
It was unlike any execution he had ever witnessed before, and that gave him pause.
"Do you really have no excuse for what danger you've put my daughter in? The disaster you have unleashed on this kingdom? I only wish to know why."
Those fierce blue eyes softened, ever so slightly. "It was an important promise. That's all."
The King showed no emotion to his answer. "I was told you made bold claims to care very deeply for her. Is this true?"
"...yeah."
The directness and simplicity of his answer was shocking. "Are your actions not contradictory to this? You have disregarded her safety, and only caused her distress on the day of her Bonding. Surely she would not feel very appreciative of your actions and would condemn you in turn."
The boy opened his mouth to speak, but he never got the chance.
A ruckus of shouting echoed from the nearby hall, and a crowd of knights spilled back into the courtyard. The warden couldn't make out what they were all yelling about, but when he suddenly saw the princess charging towards the scaffolding, spear awkwardly clenched under her arm...
...he had a pretty good guess what the commotion was about.
"Leave him alone!"
She was in such a rush to reach the top of the scaffold she nearly tripped on the last stair, her toes thumping soundly into it. It rattled her, but she staggered upright and suppressed the pain as she rushed to intercept the two guards bearing their pointed halberds right towards the person she had longed to find.
Her mind spun, circling around like a whirlpool with him at the very center. He was here. Sora was right here. He was still okay. Her body hummed as electric excitement surged through her with the revelation.
"Get away from him, now!" Kairielis charged towards them, her voice breaking and shrill as it was laden with so many swelling emotions.
Her pole clashed against the spears, knocking them back. The two knights gripping them teetered unsteadily to the side.
The warden tried to take a step forward. "P-princess, y-you..."
"Please stand down! I don't want anyone getting hurt but I will fight back if I have to."
Both of them were looking more baffled than actually threatened, but she didn't care. So long as they stood far enough away they could think whatever they wanted.
The fog of confusion swamping the whole courtyard also allowed more than enough time for Beatrix to slip through the rows of guards and make her way over towards where Riku was currently restrained in the corner.
Kairielis kept her impromptu weapon pointed firmly in the direction of the executioners and the prison warden, not trusting them to try and approach to wrench the pole out of her grip. It was so hard for her not to turn and look back.
Right behind her. He was right behind her.
Her father was the first to address her in more than a series of confused blinks.
"What is this madness!?"
She turned to glare defiantly back at the King, no longer feeling the swirling fear in the deepest reaches of her stomach, her legs standing sturdy and sure beneath her despite the aching in her toes. In her mind's eye, she planted her feet down into the sand and unleashed her fury against the waves of the sea that had always before swept her out to drown.
"You know nothing of my feelings, and if you even cared to ask just once you shouldn't be surprised by any of this!"
For the first time the force of the tide was hers alone to control. She refused to let either her father or the rules intimidate her again. Once a daunting force of nature, the King felt like he had somehow shrunk in stature completely despite still standing high above her on the balcony. He was only a man, after all.
"You've only ever pushed me away! You took my memories from me, caused others to suffer for it, and put forth every effort to strip every speck of humanity from my heart. How could you ever claim to know what I feel, when you only ever tried to stamp those feelings into dust!?"
It felt like once she started, everything began to tumble out all at once. Rather than try and hold anything back, she just let it go. And almost for the first time, she saw her father's eyes bearing down on her with something beyond cold indifference. Like a lone beam of light flickering through the rafters of a dusty attic, his eyes had the faintest gleam of recognition just barely illuminating the dim coldness around it.
But it quickly faded under his stern brow.
"You are young, naive and haven't yet learned to control your own emotions. When you mature you should understand. If only you knew what has-"
She could feel the waves swelling up even more inside of her and she straightened up even taller.
"You're wrong, I know everything! I know you think what you did to my memories was out of necessity, and maybe even out of love, but you were wrong then, too. You were too afraid to see that a kingdom built upon such horrible practices could possibly be flawed and need to be rewritten. What good is hiding from the darkness if the only way to do so is to bury our compassion and everything that makes us human!? Love and hope will banish it away!"
Ienzo, who up until this point had been taking fervent notes suddenly stalled, his quill rattling against the parchment as his face paled. "You know everything? But...your memories were..."
Before the records keeper could question further, her father raised his hand to silence him. "Those same notions your mother spouted are idealistic, but impractical. As we are in positions of authority we cannot proclaim lofty dreams and expect them to not pull us to ruin. She chased her dreams and look what they brought her. Nothing but useless failure."
Trembling, Kairielis fought back the tears stinging at the corners of her eyes. "Her love wasn't useless! I've seen it! Felt it! I wouldn't be here were it not for her, and the kindness of others. Thanks to Sora, I..."
Just saying his name made her heart flutter once more, even under the gaze of the entire courtyard on her.
"I should have lost my Ability completely after what happened during Darkfall. But I didn't. Not because you stole my memories from me, but because of them! Their love helped my true strength awaken and I could save countless others in turn. It is ever so clear to me that this kingdom cannot survive on our traditions alone, by burying our hearts in the sand."
Kairielis noticed one of the closest knights trying to reach for her stolen halberd, but she jabbed the pointy end of it towards him, hissing. "I told you to stay back."
Returning her gaze back towards her father, she was ready to unleash another tirade of anger in his direction, but was stunned to see him already slumped down into his chair, his face ashen as if he had aged years in just a moment.
"You know of Darkfall...those two and that witch truly have doomed us all."
Murmurs bounced across the walls as the onlookers struggled to comprehend exactly what was unfolding before them. Some lamented, only understanding that their once proud King was now looking irreparably broken on his throne. Others seemed angry, wondering what could have possibly gotten into the mind of their princess to be fighting so hard against the rules.
"No! They saved me! Saved Namine! Saved that poor woman who had years of her life unjustly taken from her! Every single one of us here should be bending at the knee before them for what they've done to correct such a horrible mistake."
Her father swayed in his chair, as if he could no longer hear her. "All is lost...if you remember, than the light must be lost..."
He just wasn't getting it, and she was done trying to force him to hear. If anything, she needed to show him the truth. The guards nearby were already more loudly chattering among themselves, trying to understand the situation. But it was clear to all of them that something incredibly unusual was happening, and even the prison warden was frozen with indecision.
She could feel all their eyes on her. Normally, her blood would have run cold with fear and apprehension of taking such a prominent position. But even as she stood at the center of it all, her body was pulsing with adrenaline and energy and she feared nothing at all. She was not only standing up for herself, but she was the only barrier left standing to keep Sora safe.
It was only when she heard a cheerful and familiar laugh behind her that her knees finally trembled and the breath caught in her throat. Once more the same thought rippled through her still humming body.
Right behind her. He was right behind her.
The burning need to simply see his face grew unbearable. It was a pulsating fiery beat of furor emanating from the very center of her core and out. A magnetic, furious energy that now fully hypnotized her body. Tearing her eyes off of the knights at the other end of the scaffold, she spun around, drinking in his image.
His eyes shined out just the same as she remembered. The exact smiling stare that he had as a child, encouraging her to never give in to any despair that tried to drag her down. She could only gaze on him, quivering, waiting for him to speak again. Even if he would just laugh once more, it would mean more than anything.
Despite the bruises, his happiness unmistakably glowed.
"I knew you'd make it in time."
Her heart thumped heavily in her chest. She readied herself to speak but only just realized that now, standing right in front of him, she had absolutely no idea what to even say. Her mouth opened and closed over and over again like a limp fish, unable to even start.
Everything about him was just as warm and familiar as she knew, and she realized that it must have been almost torturous for him that she had never acknowledged any of their past together. But even then, the entire time he never held it against her. He had only ever carried on treating her just as he always had. She recalled his very firm assertion to her in the garden, the last time she had seen him.
'You'll always be Kairi to me. Not a princess. Not anyone else but you.'
Gods, how had she been able to resist that pervasive magnetic energy of his for so long? All she wanted to do was rush forward and snuggle up close. Only the tiniest brush of his touch was all she needed. He was absolutely, completely everything.
He had already captivated her without even saying a word.
As if he could sense her inability to speak, he grinned again, his face shining with hope. A welcome sight, but it did nothing to calm her furiously racing pulse.
"About your memories...Kairi, do you really remember now?"
"I..." Warmth flooded every corner of her just hearing him say her name, and she barely managed to sigh out what she so desperately needed to say.
"I do. I remember everything."
Rather than looking surprised, he looked as endlessly happy as ever. There was only one problem; now that she could get a clearer look at him it was so hard not to be disturbed by the bruises and injuries marking his body. Knowing that he was safe was some comfort, but she still felt guilt burning in her throat.
"Sora...I'm so, so sorry that you've always had to suffer because of me. You've been through so much..."
The tears finally bit their way out, one of them tracing its way down her cheek where it quavered at the end of her chin, refusing to fall.
"I know apologizing won't make it right, and it's wrong of me to stand up here and beg for your forgiveness, but I...I just want you to know h-how much I wish I could fix it all."
He struggled against the binds still tying him to the pole, his smile faltering instantly at the sight of her tears. "H-hey that's not fair, none of this is your fault. Please don't cry..."
She nodded and tried wiping away the tears, but they only kept coming. Sora's image blurred under the haze, and she began to feel pangs of embarrassment acting like such a fool. She had come in, attitude blazing and now she was reduced to a sniffling mess.
Squishing his face a bit to the side, Sora hummed and considered things for a moment. "If you really wanna make it up to me, I'll only ask for two things."
She didn't even hesitate. "Name them."
"The first rainstorm we are gonna totally go rainbow hunting."
That earned him a smile. "Gladly. And the second thing?"
"Uh..." He shrugged against the ropes and tried to hide a sly little grin slowly peeking its way out on his face. "You think I could maybe get untied from this thing?"
Adorable. She really had missed him.
However, Kairielis only manged one emphatic nod before she saw movement out of the corner of her eye and whipped around to point her spear sloppily at whatever it was. Riku skidded to a halt, raising both his hands up in somewhat sarcastic defense.
"I see you got a weapon upgrade. No more candlesticks, then?"
Realizing her error she hastily dropped the tip of the spear down with a gasp and nearly burst into tears of joy. While his words were a bit teasing, it was nothing she hadn't expected and was so incredibly glad to hear him, snark included.
She stepped back to allow him to reach Sora's side, where he started fiddling with the binds to untie him. While he did so, Kairielis glanced back in the direction that he came from to see Beatrix waiting at the base of the scaffold, looking weary but relieved.
With his hands now free, Sora winced and rubbed at his wrists. "Thanks..."
The two of them looked exhausted, but helped each other stand upright.
Once they were both balanced somewhat, Riku thumped his friend on the back and sighed. "Out of all the girls you could have fallen for, you had to go for the one with about a million strings attached."
"H-hey, that's..." Teetering about on his feet, Sora tried to hide his slightly reddened face from view.
It was a little embarrassing to hear something so direct, but she was secretly quite pleased about it, and realized her own light blushing probably betrayed her own feelings quite easily. The more she looked at him, the more one singular desire kept circling through her mind.
I want to feel exactly how warm he is.
All she wanted was to snuggle close to him again, like in her memories. They spent so many nights cuddled together under the same stars, watching the constellations and the drifting fireflies. Those times were filled with so many horrors, but the memories of him were so clear and vivid. The time with him was worth remembering every terrible thing along with it. She would never regret her choice to learn the truth.
If only she had accepted it earlier, when Sora had confessed it all. The strong burn of guilt was still bitter in the back of her throat. She hesitantly glanced over to the two of the knights, realizing her expression was probably a bizarre mix of desire and regret.
Sora, having recovered from his embarrassment at being called out, gave her a hesitant head tilt. "You okay?"
"I...should never have doubted what you told me. It was all true. Every word of it."
So many feelings tumbled around inside she still couldn't find a good starting place. It was like she kept pacing around this vast lake, searching for the best place to leap off from the shore into its depths, but could only keep dipping her toes tentatively into the cool water. What words could truly capture just how much she wanted to take it all back?
"I said so many awful things to you..."
He blinked in shock. "Huh? You already apologized for everything already, you don't have to do it twice. After all, I probably could've gone about telling you all that stuff in a better way myself."
Riku mumbled something that she assumed was a playful retort of some sort, judging by the way Sora jabbed back at him with his elbow.
After a brief pause of reflection, Sora slowly extended his hand out in her direction. His wrist bore deep red marks from the ropes that had been tightly clenched around it for so long, but his hand was otherwise the same as she remembered it when he had last urged her to take it. Kairielis heard an eruption of voices behind her as the onlookers began to panic over what exactly he was offering her.
"How about a do-over? If that's okay with you."
It was more than okay. It was all she wanted. She beamed back, trying not to just hurl herself at him immediately. A princess certainly couldn't look too desperate.
"You said before you wanted me to figure out what I wanted for my own future, right?"
Sora paused a moment, tilting his head as he tried to recall the words of the past. "I just want you to be comfortable and happy being yourself, no matter where that takes you."
"I'm sorry it took so long. But I think I finally found myself."
He nodded back to her firmly, his face alight with happiness. "I'm really glad you finally found yourself again, too."
The way the steadily rising sun danced across the courtyard made the stones of the cobbled pillars nearby seem to glisten and twinkle. It was like the whole night sky had swooped down to watch, making her feel all the more like this was some wonderful waking dream.
Nothing had felt more right than this.
"Sora...I already wasted so much precious time that we had together. I won't make that same mistake twice. The path I want to follow is the one with you at my side."
There was absolutely no question in her mind. Taboo or no taboo, she had made her choice. Before she said another word, Kairielis cast her eyes over the knights, the onlookers, the records keeper, and lastly her father, still waiting with horrified expressions, wondering what unprecedented event was unfolding in the center of the courtyard.
She gestured to them all, her voice proud and steady, stabbing her spear point first into the wood of the scaffolding below her.
"Watch closely and watch well, for even if my voice should falter, I want none to question what you see here this morning. This Kingdom has been sustained for generations on prolonged suffering."
She remembered the voices and stories of all the villagers that Sora had taken her to meet on her blind tour of the town. "All of us have lost something or someone dear to us, but we are all eternally bound by love and camaraderie, and will be forever."
She remembered her grandmother's words, and her mother's prayers for the future. "These very same bonds that the traditions of this kingdom have done nothing but attempt to tear down, generation after generation. I will stand idly by no longer!"
She remembered staring out across the golden sunflower sea, singing songs, wishing for a bright future under that luminous blue sky. "From this day henceforth, I will do whatever it takes to change it all. I will prove to you and the ones who follow, and the ones who follow after them, that the bonds between us are stronger than myths and superstitions."
None who saw her would ever deny that in her passionate declaration, the princess had shone so beautifully and elegant on top of that scaffold, her cheeks tinged the lightest pink with fervor. None would deny that Kairielis Aeterna Luxilla, Princess of the Seven Gardens, Duchess of the Floating Isles and Bearer of the Light Refraction, from that moment forward had cast off the shackles that had so long bound her.
She was undoubtedly her mother's daughter.
And with a running start, in the middle of the Red Rose courtyard, the princess of light took one sure step after the other, straight towards the most unconventional knight in the whole history of the garden.
But she didn't take his hand, as he expected her to. No, this time, she surprised him.
She rushed straight past his extended arm, crashing breathlessly against him in a full embrace. He stuttered and wobbled, unable to fully comprehend what was even happening. Taking advantage of his stupor, she wrapped her arms around his center, clutching him as she sank fully into the feeling of warm sunshine surrounding her entire everything.
The most delightful thing, she decided, was being able to hear his heart merrily thumping in her ear, almost singing.
"You really haven't changed. Not one bit." Just as her whispered words slipped past her lips, she was almost sure she felt his pulse fluttering in response.
And every fragment of restraint that Sora had to endure for all that time crumbled instantly. There rules that he so hated had been utterly abandoned, cast away forever. All the desire that he had been suppressing, unable to act on, was finally released. He scooped her up tightly and squeezed back.
His arms surrounded her, strong and yet so completely gentle. It felt like she was floating through the sky on a cloud, supported and caressed as she dangled high over the earth. A dangerous act that never once left her feeling in danger at all.
In his embrace she was certain she heard him whisper her name, her real name, as everything in her mind was adrift and at peace.
Finally, she found the last piece of herself that she had thought long gone, ever since her memories had been ripped away. That last fragment that finally made her heart feel more full and whole than the entire time she had been wandering alone through the years.
From his very first touch she knew that she was, and would forever remain, Kairi. Just Kairi.
A/N: I know this chapter is a bit longer than the others, but I felt like it all needed to be kept together rather than split in two. This isn't the end yet, of course but we are rapidly approaching it.
Hopefully everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving (those of you who celebrate it!) and I'm sure we can at least all be happy with the recent announcement of KH3 going gold! (^^)v
Can't wait! Also, I am excited to report that I get to see Utada Hikaru soon during her concert! I'm crossing my fingers that she will sing one of the theme songs.
Until next time, take care!
-A. Moth