Chapter 7: The Warning

Izlude awoke to the soft sound and feel of a woman's breathing on his cheek. As he slowly opened his eyes, it dawned on him that he was in Alma's guest chamber, lying next to her among a sea of satin sheets and pillows, what little clothes they wore the previous evening littering the floor. Glancing at the clock on the wall, Izlude saw that it was barely past five and that the sun would not rise for another hour so he could sleep in a bit longer if he wished. Even so, the young knight blade preferred to stay awake and enjoy his remaining time gazing at the peacefully sleeping face of his lovely guest, now his fiancé, his cheeks turning red at memories of what they had shared only a few hours ago. Alma's soft breathing, the feel of her honey-colored hair tickling his face, and her lithe form in his arms, was far too real to have been a dream.

"Mmm…Izlude?"

Izlude was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of Alma's soft voice and looked down to see his beloved staring at him with wide blue eyes, her flowing tresses free from their usual restraints and surrounding them like a sea of golden silk, tickling his skin. Her soft form was bare of all clothing with her flawless ivory skin warm against his as she gently ran a hand across the smooth, hard muscles of his chest, making him groan; the slightest touch from Alma was enough to make him want to roll over and make love to her all over again.

"Yes, Alma?" he asked with a smile.

The blond girl giggled. "Am I dreaming?"

"Hmm… I don't know" he answered playfully as he pulled her in for a kiss to assure her that she was not. He wanted to remember every kiss, every sensation, every warm contact that their bare skins had experienced, every soft moan, and every time her lovely face had contorted into an expression of pure pleasure was still vibrant in his mind; it had been utterly amazing…

All four times...

Alma laughed "I guess not!"

"So you don't regret it?"

"Of course not! Why would I? But I must confess, I was a bit nervous since I've never been with anyone like this before."

"Well I have a confession to make, neither have I."

Alma stared at Izlude as if he had just turned into a moogle before her very eyes. "Really? Are you serious?"

"Well, yes. Unlike other knights, all unmarried members of the Knights Templar, male and female, are required to take vows of celibacy until they wed."

"Which you aren't, at least not yet. Won't you be dismissed from the knighthood if the others find out you broke your vow?"

Izlude sighed and nodded. "Honestly? Yes. But only IF they find out."

Alma took the hint. "I understand; your secret is safe with me" she said with a wink. They trusted each other to keep their secret because it would not bode well for either of them if anyone found out the true nature of their relationship before they were wed.

"Good…I appreciate it, thank you. And as much as I would just love to stay here with you all day, I've got to get back to my room before my servants come to change me."

Alma pouted her lips in mock disappointment. "Aww… I understand. So will I see you again this evening?" she whispered as she nibbled playfully on his ear.

"Of course, my love" Izlude answered "I really must be going now but I promise to see you again at our usual time."

"I understand" Alma said as she slowly released her handsome lover "Do what you need to do and I will see you tonight."

"Tonight" he promised with a wink as he got up to change, feeling his lover's eyes upon his bare body as he did so. Turning his back to her so that she could not see him blushing, Izlude tried to get dressed as quickly as possible because in addition to getting back to his own room before his servants arrived, he knew that Justin would also be here shortly to take Alma out and he did not wish for his subordinate and friend to find him in such an scandalous situation.

Alma, on, the other hand, was in no hurry to see him leave; after all, this was the first time she had gotten a good look at his body up close in the light and she had to admit that she found it very attractive. While other knights looked considerably smaller without their armor, Izlude still appeared strong and robust. Battle scars traced his body like strokes from a painter's brush but she did not dislike them nor did she think they were ugly; to her, they were every bit a part of him as the dark hair on his head.

After he finished getting dressed, Izlude bent over to kiss his beautiful lover one last time. "Farewell, my love. Until tonight."

"Of course. Have a good day, Izlude."

SSSSSS

"Sir Izlude, its Malak! May I have a moment of your time, please?"

Izlude had just finished combing his hair when he heard the duke's adopted son knocking at his chamber door. After quickly making sure his clothes were in order, he answered the door to find Malak standing before him with a somewhat worried expression on his face that made him raise an eyebrow in concern.

"Yes, my lord? What can I do for you?"

"Before I begin, would you mind if I come in first? I think it best that no one hears of this."

"Of course, please come in, Lord Malak." Izlude said as he quickly moved aside to allow the wizard entry. As soon as Malak was inside, Izlude closed the door. "You'll forgive me if I sound rude but can you make this quick, please? I promised Lady Alma that I will be meeting her at six for dinner."

"Actually, it is Lady Alma that I wish to speak to you about."

"Oh?"

"Her brother, Ramza. I found out from my sister, Rafa, that he will be here by tomorrow, possibly by late afternoon or early evening. Not only that, my father is also having a meeting with the top officers of the Knights Templar, including your father, the same day as well."

"I see…and this concerns Lady Alma, how?"

"Her brother is coming for her; you know this, don't you?"

"Yes, you need not tell me twice; we were supposed to ransom her for the scriptures and stones but I was hoping I can convince Ramza that she would be safer in my care."

"I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than that now."

Izlude regarded Malak curiously. "How so, my lord?"

The wizard took a deep breath before answering. "I recently had a falling out with my twin. She accused our adoptive father of certain things, things that I do not wish to believe but I cannot shake my feelings of doubt about. While the duke may have raised us, Rafa is still my own flesh and blood and I cannot dismiss her claims so easily. And I feel that if what she says about our adoptive father is true, your lady friend may be in danger. I know I gave you my word that I will not harm her but I cannot guarantee that others here, including him, will not. I'm sure you feel the same suspicions towards your own comrades as well."

Izlude looked down. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew the wizard was right. Sensing his friend's discomfort, Malak placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Sir Izlude…" he began softly "You know that I have only the utmost respect for you and I do not wish to speak ill of your father or comrades but I have to admit that there is something about them that makes me uncomfortable in their presence. To me, it feels as if they are something other than human. I cannot explain it but that is the vibe I am getting from them."

Izlude shook his head as Malak withdrew his hand. "No, my friend, you need not apologize. I fear you may be right; Lady Alma also has the same concerns and have made them known to me."

"She is more to you then just a hostage or guest; I can see it. And unfortunately, I'm sure many people here can too."

Izlude was started "And just what do you mean, my lord?"

"With all due respect, Sir Izlude, I am not blind and neither are the other castle residents. You think no one noticed that you haven't been returning to your own chambers at night in nearly a week? That you haven't been coming to the mess hall for dinner? The guards have spotted you visiting Lady Alma's chambers every night and have seen both of you out and about the castle grounds in the late evening hours as well."

"I see… you may be right but I am not certain as to what I should do yet. I cannot simply set her loose outside to fend for herself without anyone to protect her and if I left, the other Templars will notice immediately."

"What about your friend, Sir Justin Timbel? I am sure the others will not notice his absence so easily, at least for a while."

"True but how will he get Lady Alma out of the castle without anyone noticing?

"I can help you there. In the castle library, near the south wall, there is a secret passage into the tunnels beneath the castle that leads to the outside. When Ramza arrives tomorrow, have Justin take her out to meet him. I know you do not wish to give her up but every minute she stays here, she's in danger."

Izlude sighed in disappointment but he had to agree with Malak. To lose Alma now after they had just professed their love was indeed painful. But this wasn't just about him and his personal desires anymore. He knew that if he truly loved Alma, he would do what was best for her, not what was most convenient for him.

"You're right" he said "I will let her know tonight. Thank you for telling me this; I truly appreciate it."

"You're welcome, Sir Izlude. I am only sorry I could not be of more assistance. I also have my own twin sister to deal with; she will be arriving with Ramza tomorrow."

"Really? What would Rafa being doing in Ramza's company?"

Malak shifted nervously. "It's a bit of a long story and I'd rather not get into it."

"I understand. You've done more than enough for me and I will forever be in your debt. I must go now; have a good evening, my lord, and I will see you tomorrow."

"You too, Sir Izlude. Good night."

SSSSSS

"Izlude, is something wrong? You don't seem like yourself this evening."

The young knight blade looked up from his half-eaten plate to see his beloved looking at him with her eyebrows furrowing in concern. It seems like she was a lot more perceptive then he thought.

"Alma…" he began slowly "I must confess that there is something I have been keeping from you and I hope you will forgive me for it."

"Such as?"

"I spoke with Malak Galthana, Duke Barrington's adopted son today. He told me that your brother will be coming for you tomorrow."

Alma frowned. "So will you go through with your original plan of ransoming me for the Germonik Scriptures and Holy Stones? That is why you brought me here in the first place, is it not?"

"It…started out that way. But now that we're involved, I do wish to see you go, but…"

"But what?"

Izlude sighed. "Lord Malak has told me things…things very similar to what you claimed about the Holy Stones as well as my father and comrades. Now that I think about it, several of them, included him, have started acting strangely ever since they came in contact with or possession of the Holy Stones. I do not wish to believe it but I cannot ignore the facts that I have seen with my own eyes but chose to dismiss until now."

"What do you mean, Izlude? I have never met your father nor do I know any of your comrades except for Sir Weigraf whom my brother, Ramza have clashed swords with on more than one occasion."

As Izlude picked at the food on his plate, he looked down as if trying to avoid Alma's eyes. "Years ago, when my mother passed away, my father was overwhelmed with grief over her loss for they were very much in love. The High Confessor took pity on him and offered him a Holy Stone as a consolation gift. I was twelve at the time."

Alma regarded him curiously with great interest. "Go on" she said.

"I never mentioned this to anyone, not even Meliadoul, but I noticed…some changes in him, changes that did not seem natural. My father used to be a much more understanding and patient man, even if a bit stern. To us, his children, he was a loving and attentive father as well. He was also loved, respected, and admired by his men and everyone in our household. But not long after he obtained the stone, he became more quick to anger and less tolerant of mistakes and shortcomings from anyone; he would often lose his temper at even the slightest provocation. It wasn't long before our servants fled after he had beaten several for any displeasure they caused him. His men had taken to avoiding him and even my sister and I were afraid of him."

"How awful…"

"We always thought and excused his behavior as being the result of our mother's death. But now I realize that was not the sole reason. If the Holy Stones really do have the power to turn people into demons, then I'm afraid that that fate has likely befallen my father as well as my comrades. I was a fool not to see it sooner and that is why I must get you out of here as soon as your brother arrives for I now realize that you are in danger the longer you stay here."

"B…but if that is true, why have you not been affected? As I recall, you have also been in contact with the Holy Stones as well, have you not?"

"I don't know. My guess is that the stones can only take over certain people. In any case, I have to get you out of here no later than tomorrow."

Alma looked down sadly as she reached over to take Izlude's hand.

"Come with me…" she begged.

Izlude shook his head sadly. "I am sorry, Alma, but I cannot. At least not yet. I am second-in-command of the Knights Templar. If I suddenly disappeared, my father and comrades will notice immediately. I will have Justin smuggle you out of the castle and return you to your brother tomorrow while I attend the meeting between my father and the duke. Hopefully, I will be able to distract them long enough for you to escape."

Alma was silent a moment as she took all this in. "I see… I understand, Izlude."

Her lover smiled sadly as he got up from his end of the table and embraced her. "Forgive me, my love. But I can think of no other way. However, do not lose hope. When I meet with my father tomorrow, I will make it known to him that I wish to relinquish my position as his second-in-command. He may ask why but I will think of something. We can meet somewhere later when it is safe for us to do so, this I promise you."

Alma held her fiance tightly as she fought to keep the tears from spilling from her eyes. "Please don't go, my love. It will be dangerous if your father and comrades are indeed possessed by the Zodiac demons."

Izlude gently stroked Alma's soft hair as he tried his best to comfort her and make her feel at ease. "Do not worry, my love; I did not become a knight blade for nothing. It may be dangerous, but I must attend this meeting or you will have no chance of escape."

Alma nodded. She may not have known Izlude very long but if there was one thing she learned about him by now was that he was fiercely protective of those he cared about, a quality she knew all too well, having seen it many times in her favorite brother. And like Ramza, she knew it was useless to argue with Izlude once his mind was made up.

"I understand, my love. If this is what you feel is best, I will not try to stop you. This may also be the last time we can be together for a while so please stay with me tonight" she begged.

Her lover smiled as he tilted her face up to look into her beautiful blue eyes, now misty with tears. "Of course, my love, anything for you..." he whispered before bringing his lips down to hers…

A/N: Ok, chapter 7 finally done! That's 3 in a week, a record for me! :D I know that by this point, my fic has become a bit AU because I know that Izlude and Malak aren't on good terms. In canon FFT, Malak actually kidnaps both Izlude and Alma and brings Izlude before his father as a prisoner while throwing Alma into the dungeon. But I have decided to change that in this fic in order to make it work. Besides, it can still be canon because there was never a scene with Izlude and Alma being captured by Malak and brought to Riovanes as prisoners; it was only implied so I'm not too worried about it! ;)