Elmyra left the children's room and shut the door gently. Today had been extremely difficult, and the children had done nothing to make it easier. In fact, her day had been made exponentially more difficult in the past half hour. She brushed a lock of hair out of her face and leaned against the wall outside of the children's room. She needed to catch her breath and collect her thoughts.
I need to talk to Vincent. Elmyra thought, walking down the hallway. Though Vincent was a man-at-arms he was appointed as the children's primary guardian, and thus his quarters were in the same wing as the children's. She approached his quarters slowly, wiping her hands off on her apron before knocking on the door.
Vincent was sitting shirtless on his bed, wrapping a bandage around his arm. He hadn't noticed in the excitement of the day but a raider had gotten his arm. It was a small wound, and he'd suffered far worse, but he knew better than to ignore it. He sighed lowly as the knock came again.
"Come in." Vincent called out. Elmyra opened the door and peeked in.
"Oh Vincent! I'm so sorry! I'll come back later… you're bleeding!" Elmyra hurried in and knelt by Vincent's side, taking the bandages away from him and treating his wound. While she applied the bandages her hands began to shimmer a pleasant sunny yellow as she tapped into her healing Gift. Vincent gave a slight groan as his pain subsided. It was a pleasant feeling, like release.
"Thank you Elmyra," he whispered, grabbing a robe from his bed and putting it on. "Now, did you have something to talk to me about?"
"Yes." Elmyra said, rising from her knees. Vincent got up from the bed and pulled a chair over for her to sit on. Elmyra sat and waited for Vincent to return to the bed. She was glad for the time to think. She still didn't know what she was going to say to him. As it was she wasn't ready to begin when he sat back down. She folded her hands in her lap in an attempt to keep from fidgeting.
"Vincent… today was a difficult day," she began, wincing. She knew she was stating the obvious, but Vincent's expression didn't change. "It was very hard on the children. They told me that when that raider accosted them Aeris was barely able to fight him off, and that Arc didn't even try."
Vincent sighed. "I shouldn't have left them alone," he said, rubbing his forehead in guilt. "That was unbelievably stupid of me. They could've gotten killed. I could have gotten them killed."
"Vincent, I know what you were trying to do. You were trying to convince Arc he has what it takes to defend himself and his sister. Is that it?" Elmyra asked. Vincent nodded. "The problem is... I honestly don't think he can. He doesn't have it in him. Aeris has more of a warrior's heart then he does. I think she proved that today. Arc doesn't want to go to page training, and now, after all of this, does he really have to?"
"Elmyra…" Vincent said in a warning voice. Elmyra rose from her chair and began to pace.
"Arc's talents don't lie in wielding a sword and riding down enemies. Not all boys are meant for that. The boy's skills in magic… I've been training him in secret for years."
"Elmyra!" Vincent said, rising from the bed. "You knew Lord Gast's opinion of magic!"
"That boy's Gift is the strongest I've ever seen, and I was trained in the City of the Cetra, by Priestesses of Gaia! He froze today, when his life was at risk, because he hasn't had the training he needs. He doesn't have the discipline, and undisciplined power is dangerous power."
"At the Royal Palace in Midgar he'll receive a basic training in his skills. And they will also train him to fight; they have the most skilled mentors in the world there, far better than me. I'm sure one of the Palace healers can even mix him some sort of potion to help with his allergies."
"The training will not be enough, not nearly enough, not for a boy with his power!"
"As the heir to a fief of the Kingdom of Fantasia it is his duty! The eldest heir is always sent to serve the Crown!"
"Aeris was the first born! She is the eldest heir!" Elmyra shouted back. Vincent stared at her in confusion, and then shook his head.
"Oh I see where this is going," he began, scorn in his voice.
"Aeris wants to go in his place. She told me that less than an hour ago." Elmyra said.
"Women have not been allowed to try for a shield since the end of the Galbadian War, well over a century ago!"
"She looks enough like Arc to pass for a boy. She's already picked the name Aeric."
"She looks like him now Elmyra. But in a few short years she'll develop breasts and hips, she'll get her monthlies, and then how will she hide her sex?"
"Her mother never was heavy in the bust, and if she follows her mother in that regard, as she has in all others, she could easily bind her chest. Small glamours could make people overlook her curves and gentle features. As for monthlies, she'll deal with those as all women before her have."
"Elmyra…" Vincent sighed. He placed his head in his hands, feeling like somehow he was losing his battle.
"Vincent I love those children as much as if I had carried them within me. Aeris has never desired to attend any ladies seminary, and Arc…" Elmyra sat down again, feeling old and tired. "In my heart of hearts I don't think he would survive the path to knighthood. I feel it in my bones. The boy was born with a frail body and strong mind. I can not in good conscience send these two children off to fates I don't believe they would succeed at."
Vincent looked into Elmyra's eyes and knew she was speaking from her heart. He sighed and knew that somehow, though he spoke for the side of reason and common sense, he had lost. He stood and walked over to his window, watching the villagers still making repairs on their homes.
"Fine. Aeris… Aeric and I will leave in the morning. Since you will be stewardess of the fief until the children are of age, you must be the one to write the letters to both Duke Zalbag of Ivalice and High Priestess Celes of the City of the Cetra. Of course, that doesn't lessen my culpability if our lie is discovered. We may be exiled by the king, and there is no telling what the priests and conservatives will say." Vincent said, finally yielding.
"I'll write those before bed. And who knows, Goddess willing there will be enough progressives to support us if Aeris is found out. Perhaps when she earns her shield she will prove that girls do have what it takes."
"Are you really willing to make Aeris the poster girl for equal rights?" Vincent asked, turning abruptly from the window to catch Elmyra's eye.
"No. I am willing to let her do what she can to spare her brother a fate that would kill him. And if she IS able to make a case for equal rights, then the gods are with us after all. Goodnight Vincent." Elmyra said, and with that she left the room. Vincent wandered back over to his bed and sat down heavily, sighing.
"What have I gotten myself into?" he asked himself quietly. Unfortunately there was no one there to answer him.
The next morning Elmyra roused the children early. She told them of the plans and helped prepare them for their long journeys. The capital city of Midgar was a week's ride southeast in good weather, and the City of the Cetra was even further away, on the coast of the Northern Ocean, almost due east. After the children were packed there was one last task for Elmyra to do.
Arc sat on the bed watching as Elmyra pulled out her sharpest pair of sheers. She walked up to Aeris, who was sitting ramrod straight in a chair before the mirror. Her eyes were as round as saucers as Elmyra removed the pink ribbon she always wore. Before Elmyra could start cutting Aeris asked her to tie the ribbon around her right bicep.
"Aeris, what will you tell your fellow pages?" Elmyra asked.
"I'll tell them the truth; it was my mother's. If they tease me I'll hit them." Aeris said, her chin set in its most determined way. Elmyra did as the girl asked, and then cut off her braid in one swift chop. As the three entwined locks fell Arc hurried over to scope them up. Elmyra paid him no heed as she trimmed Aeris's hair to ear level, mimicking Arc's own style.
As Aeris examined her style Arc shoved something into her hands. It was a lock of her hair. She turned to see he held one tightly to his chest as he handed the last to Elmyra. Aeris felt tears well up in her eyes, and she dashed them away with her hand.
It was then that Vincent came into the room. He looked at Aeris, dressed in fawn colored slacks, a cream colored shirt, and a hunter green tunic, with her hair cut like Arc's, and was surprised. She actually did look like a young boy, albeit a pretty one. That would not be a problem, since the court was full of pretty young lord-to-bes, and it was said the prince himself was rather pretty.
Vincent flexed his left shoulder, which had been forever scarred by Izlude, a pretty Northern raider who was ferocious with a pike. You can't judge a warrior by his face Vincent mused.
"You ready to go Master Aeric?" Vincent asked, already trying to make that the habit of addressing her. Aeris nodded and rose from her chair, hugging Elmyra fiercely around the middle.
"I love you Elmyra." Aeris whispered, and Elmyra began to cry softly as she held the child.
"I love you too Aeris." Elmyra whispered back, kissing Aeris on top of her head. "I'll write often." Arc hurried over to join the hug, and also vowed to write Aeris often. Slowly the three pulled apart, all wiping tears from their eyes. Then Aeris donned Arc's cloak and Arc donned Aeris's, and they walked down to the kitchen side stable entrance.
Elmyra and Arc climbed into the carriage that would take them to the distant City of the Cetra, while Vincent climbed onto Maelstrom's back and Aeris mounted a cute little green chocobo called Vixen.
As they rode through the village Aeris kept her face well concealed by Arc's cloak, though she didn't need to bother. The villagers were still hard at work trying to set their home to rights after yesterday's raid, and had no time to spare to watch the heirs of their fief leave for safer homes.
As the pulled out the front gate Vincent led Aeris down the southern road while the carriage took the eastern one. Arc stuck his head out of the carriage window and waved frantically to Aeris, who returned the wave eagerly, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I love you, my twin!" Arc shouted, though Aeris could barely hear him.
"And I love you, my twin!" she shouted back. As the carriage turned out of sight Aeris could no longer hold back her tears. She didn't know when she would see her twin brother again, and she could barely stand it. She did gain some small comfort in the knowledge that Arc too was probably crying, but still her heart ached. Vincent wisely remained silent, and the two barely spoke a word all day.
The ride to Midgar was rather uneventful, and the two companions actually made pretty good time. It was well into spring, and the weather only improved as they traveled south. Aeris was absorbed in the changing landscape, as the land became less mountainous and more flat, which was good since her chaperone was not one for idle conversation.
Late afternoon on the sixth day Aeris got her first glimpse at the imperial city, and it took her breath away. Midgar was huge, an expanse of color and wonder divided into five tiers, each smaller than the one before it. First inside its large wall was the Lower City. It was where all commonplace transactions occurred. The Great Market was there, as well as all the workshops were raw materials and goods were produced. The second tier of the city was the merchant district, where finer boutiques and eating houses were located, as well as the home of the upper-working class. The third tier was the noble district, where the gentry of Fantasia kept their villas and town houses. It was much less crowded than the lower two tiers, with broader streets and fine gardens. The fourth tier was the temple district, where the entire city went to worship the gods of their choosing.
Lastly, the Imperial Palace Complex occupied the fifth tier. It was a beautiful sight, sitting at the top of Midgar like a crown. It had its own wall, and immediately inside it were menageries, gardens, and miniature hunting parks. Beyond those were the barracks, the stables, and the government offices. Further in was the actual Palace, with the military wing extending from the left, the guest wing from the right. In the center it rose over eight stories, with the Fantasian Flag rising from its highest spire. Aeris turned her eyes to the military wing, where she would live, learn, and train for the next four years.
"Well Master Aeric? What do you think?" Vincent asked, trying to keep the humor out of his voice.
"It's beautiful." Aeris breathed.
"Well I'm glad you like it. Come, we have to make it to a way house before dark. Tomorrow we'll enter through the main gates, and you'll get to see it up close." Vincent said, turning Maelstrom back to the road.
Aeris was too mesmerized by the sight to move, when suddenly, everything changed. Before her eyes the splendid city changed into a squalid hellhole. The Palace Complex was replaced by a large tower, lording over the city like a tyrant. It sat on a giant metal plate, blocking out the sun from the lower tiers, turning them into a realm of shadows.
"Aeric! What are you waiting for?" Vincent shouted. Aeris shook her head and the spell was broken. She road over to Vincent.
"Sorry Vincent, I don't know what distracted me. Let's go." she said. Vincent nodded and turned back to the road. Aeris turned to follow, but turned to look over her shoulder at the city one more time. It looked fine. Aeris shook her head again and followed Vincent, determined to forgot the strange vision.