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Chapter 7

It was just about mid morning of the twenty-fifth of April when Catherine found herself sitting once again by the table, on the rickety old chair in Old Dalan's house watching Old Dalan stroke his pink furred cat of some sorts as it purred in his lap.

When Catherine had knocked ever so lightly on Old Dalan's door, he was already awake and waiting it seemed. When she entered he said nothing, and when she sat down he said nothing except to smile brightly at her. Catherine sat there for a good while, wondering to herself just why she was there. Catherine thought back to yesterday morning, the morning of the twenty-fourth of April when she had proceeded to Larsa's room to seek his company after being torn from him the night before, only to find that he was not there. At first she believed that he had simply woken up early that morning and went out to look for him, only to hear that the Lord Larsa had 'disappeared' once again. Catherine immediately bristled when she'd heard the news and immediately demanded that Basch go and fetch him for her. Basch however, simply smirked at her and said, "Oh I would dear Princess, but you see, I haven't foggiest idea where he might be." Catherine then demanded that he arrange an airship for her to Rabanastre instead, to which he replied, "Oh I would dear Princess, but you see, all the flights for today from here to Rabanastre are quite full and special arrangements other wise that may have found you an airship can only be made by the Prince himself, with his signature and seal. I sincerely apologize, I shall book a flight for you for early tomorrow morning immediately. Well then madam, if you'd excuse me." and with that he was gone, leaving an angered Catherine to fume over the non-sense he'd spewed at her.

Catherine knew full well that Judge Basch was very close to Larsa and had sworn on his life to protect him at all cost, for what reason she was unsure, but to go as far as to allow and endorse his lawless endeavors! That isn't protecting him, that's being his partner in crime.

Old Dalan suddenly smiled broadly at her, which made Catherine blink in surprise, knocking her out of her heated reverie before he said, "And what is it that I may do to help you, young heir of Rossarian throne?" even while Catherine gasped and stuttered, utterly shocked that he would know her lineage, Old Dalan remained quite the same as he continued to stroke the fur of his blissfully oblivious cat.

"H-how...how do you know who I am?" Catherine asked, her voice quivering slightly. Her father had always told her to beware of certain people; especially those that know too much.

"Oh my dear, I have my resources, no need to know about that. Not to mention the young prince Solidor wouldn't have just anyone for a guest now would he?" Old Dalan smiled at Catherine as she opened her mouth, to protest it seemed, then closed it back quickly. Old Dalan continued after a while as he watched Catherine fidget, "Now child, tell Old Dalan what has brought you to me, this wise old fool."

Catherine looked up at Old Dalan then back to the ground before shaking her head slightly. She looked back up at him with a certain determination in her eyes and said firmly, "Where has Kira taken Larsa? I know she's the one behind this."

Old Dalan blinked, then smiled and said with an exaggerated shrug. "I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. All I know is that they should be returning sometime today." Old Dalan's smile grew as he watched the shocked expression on Catherine's face slowly morph until she seemed rather irritated.

"Why doesn't anyone keep tabs on those two? It is not wise to let children run a muck on their own without supervision!" Catherine said as though she herself were not a child running a muck.

Old Dalan grinned and laughed slightly before he said, "Oh those children have long since grown up. They needn't any supervision. It is we, the older ones that seem to need watching; especially those in power."

"What?" Catherine couldn't possibly understand any of what Old Dalan had just said and he knew that very well, so instead Dalan opted for a change in subject.

"Wasn't there something else you wanted of me child? An implicit question you've been dieing to ask." Old Dalan watched as Catherine blinked at him then turned her face away, understanding and realizing what he was talking about. Old Dalan chuckled as he watched her slowly redden. "Ask your question child, I won't bite, Caleb might, but I won't." Old Dalan said with a big smile across his face, as he glanced down at his pink furred cat and began scratching behind its ears, earning him a soft, lazy meow.

Catherine pouted slightly and wondered if it was really alright to pry, but she was beyond curious. The question had been plaguing her mind ever since she had met Kira. She took a deep breathe and sighed a heavy sigh before she looked up to Old Dalan with a familiar look of determination in her eyes. "What kind of relationship do Kira and Larsa have?"

Old Dalan smiled slightly and took a deep breath, as though he were preparing to tell one of his legendary tales to the band of children that usually sat with him. Old Dalan was about to start when a sudden coughing fit hit him hard. Old Dalan doubled over as he clutched at his chest, trying desperately to calm himself. Catherine became immediately alarmed and ran to get some water from the jug that always sat on the opposite end of the table that she sat at. She rushed over to Old Dalan and handed him the glass and watched him carefully as he slowly sipped the water between fits of coughing until he calmed down again.

"Will you be alright?" Catherine asked him once he seemed able to speak again, genuine worry dancing in her eyes. Old Dalan chuckled slightly at her before shaking his head slightly.

"Oh you needn't worry about me child, more importantly, where was I?" Old Dalan said cheerfully as he straightened, moaning about his old back. Catherine watched him in awe, completely baffled by his seemingly speedy recovery before she shook her head and retreated to her seat once more, completely oblivious. "Now, as I was saying, Kira and Larsa, oh those two were like two peas in a pod from the day they met! Larsa, young Prince of a weakened Empire, heir to a poisoned throne; Kira, back bone of a community suffering from long term illness. The two are so alike and have so much in common despite having back grounds from opposite ends of the spectrum. Once they realized that they could help each other, that was just it, there was no separating them, until you came along that is. For the past four years Kira and Larsa worked hard for the sake of those in need, ignoring their own personal needs and living a completely selfless life, despite its inappropriateness in the eyes of those in power. The two of them constantly risk their lives for our sake, Larsa risking his position as heir as well. I constantly advice him to be extremely careful of the Archadian Senate, they are nothing more than a band of bitter old fools seeking to regain the power once held by the Archadian Empire, longing to see the fear, not respect mind you, fear. They miss the fear in people's eyes as you mention the Empire. If Larsa is not careful I am afraid to think what they might do.

"Larsa is not alone in his fight however, and I believe that it is this fact that keeps him going. Far too much for such a young lad to handle if you ask me. " Catherine nodded slightly, understanding what he was saying, and also his earlier comment about the elders needing supervision more than the youngsters. "However, as much as Larsa needs Kira, Kira also needs him, for dear Lamont," He emphasized the code name, "Is the only being that allows Kira to be selfish when need be. They both need each other and..." Old Dalan paused however when the door to Old Dalan Place creaked slightly and the two turned their attention to it to find Tihana peaking into the room slightly, her golden, curly locks bouncing cutely as she fidgetted.

Old Dalan smiled widely and said, "Why good morning child. Is it that time already?"

Tihana slowly came out from behind the door and shook her head slightly. Catherine smiled slightly as she watched the little girl stumble into the room and whisper a soft good morning to them both. "Good morning to you as well Tihana. Do you remember me?" Catherine asked as she turned in her chair to face the four year old.

Tihana looked up at her and smiled broadly before nodding and reaching up to Catherine as if asking her to lift her up. "Aunty Catherine!" Catherine cooed at the girl's cuteness and bent to lift her up and place her in her lap.

Old Dalan smiled and began to laugh when he saw Tihana tug on Catherine's hair, intending to braid it but only making a mess of things. He began to laugh even harder as Catherine winced and tried in vain to take the lock of now very well knotted auburn hair from the determined girl as she now tried to untangle the mass.

Old Dalan's laughing fit, however, had triggered another dangerous coughing fit. Catherine and Tihana immediately stopped their little battle over Catherine's hair and turned their attention to Old Dalan. Catherine gasped as she watched him double over and fall out of his chair, Caleb shooting across the room as the chair tipped over with a screechy meow. Catherine ran to get more water for him, half fulling the glass to ensure the water didn't spill as she tried in vain to get Old Dalan to swallow some of it.

"Grandpa..." Tihana stood, shaking slightly a little ways away from Catherine and Old Dalan.

Catherine whipped her head around to Tihana and said, "Tihana, go and get help! Find someone that can help, a doctor or a magician whatever, just get someone!!" Catherine instructed firmly and watched Tihana nod then dash out of the room, stumbling along the way, before Catherine turned her attention back to Old Dalan.

She was about to have a mental breakdown, or a panic attack, she wasn't sure of the difference at the moment, because she just couldn't figure out what to do. Old Dalan was coughing like crazy, completely unable to take in anything, may it be water or medicine; his face was slowly turning blue, which jolted Catherine into the realization that Old Dalan could not breathe. Catherine started to moan slightly and began looking around wildly for anything that might help.

Catherine stood up suddenly and dashed over to a draw and pulled it open, tears building up in her eyes by now. Just as she was rummaging through its contents, the door suddenly flew open and Catherine swore she'd never been happier to see her fiancée. Catherine dashed over to Larsa, shutting the draw in the process, and latched unto him, tears streaming down her face. "Catherine! Catherine what in Ivalice are you doing here?!" Larsa asked her as he tried in vain to lift her head up so that she could see him.

It was then that Larsa noticed that she was hyperventilating, her entire body shaking, her hands were freezing cold as her fingernails dug deep into his skin, drawing blood from his left arm. Catherine was having a panic attack.

Larsa rushed to set her down in the chair by the table just as Kira dashed into the room, closely followed by Old Dalan's Archadian Doctor. Kira glanced over at Larsa and Catherine and quickly assessed the situation before saying, "They both need space! Get her into the next room." Larsa nodded, "Take Tihana with you." Kira said as she noticed Tihana standing shock still by the open door.

Larsa wasted no time as he scooped Catherine up into his arms and rushed out of the room, ordering Tihana to follow him using his 'daddy tone' as Tihana put it.

Larsa gently set Catherine down into a chair in the room opposite to Old Dalan's where there was a slowly growing crowd of worried Rabanastrans. Larsa told Tihana to sit down somewhere and not to worry about Catherine as he went to get her some water, fighting with Catherine for a moment so she would release his shirt, her panicky state not allowing any sentient thoughts.

When Larsa returned with a glass of water, Catherine had pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them where she lay her head, her auburn locks cascading around her in a disheveled mess. "Catherine...?" Larsa said softly as he leaned closer to her, holding the glass of water out for her to take. Catherine's head shot up as she heard Larsa's voice, her unfocused eyes registered Larsa first through her tears, then the glass of water which she took and drank greedily from.

Larsa waited patiently and as she finished the water and sniffed a few times before looking up at him again. "Will...will he be alright?" Catherine asked, her voice horse and strained.

"I am uncertain. Allow me to check." Larsa was about to straighten up and head over to Old Dalan and Kira when Catherine suddenly burst into action and grabbed his sleeve pulling him back to her with unexpected vigour.

Larsa stumbled slightly and looked quite alarmed. "NO!! Don't leave me!!! Don't leave me again!! Don't...please..." Catherine began to sniff again as she buried her face into his sleeve. Larsa looked quite lost and looked over to where Tihana sat quietly, only staring at the two in completely silence.

"Catherine...I...what if Old Dalan needs something, or if Kira needs me, you're fine now aren't you? I can't..."

"KIRA!!!!! IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT KIRA!!! I can't understand why!! It's always like this!!! You're always leaving me for Kira!!!" Larsa looked completely taken aback. He was expecting her to be upset with him of course, but to completely explode and go nuts? This he was not expecting. "I LOVE YOU!!!! I love you you know that?!!" She shot out of her chair. "I'd do anything for you! I'm your fiancée for Pete's sake!! we're getting married in a matter of days, you are going to be King and I'm going to be Queen in a matter of days and your off gallivanting with someone else! I don't understand!! How can she be so much more important?! How can it be that she, who has absolutely nothing to do with you, your future or even your country's future be at the top of your list at all times?! Even that day! In Rabanastre, you allowed her to spend nearly all the gil we had on some ugly piece of metal they call accessories and I wasn't allowed to spend a measly ten thousand gil!!" Larsa's mouth fell open and would've hit the ground if it could at this point. "I cannot understand why she is so important to you!!! Is it that you love her?! If you love HER then marry HER!!!"

Larsa redden quite suddenly and shook his head vigorously before cutting in, "Catherine come on that's...that's ridiculous!! I can't marry Kira!"

"Then tell me that you love me!!" Catherine shouted. Larsa stumbled back slightly and opened his mouth but closed it back suddenly. Catherine was looking rather impatient and seemed about to speak again when Kira suddenly burst through the door.

"Larsa!! Old Dalan wants to see you!!" Larsa looked over at Kira then back to Catherine with a rather panicked look on his face.

"Larsa...!" Catherine whined as she watched him.

"Come on!!! Old Dalan is Dieing Larsa!!" Larsa looked between the two girls once more before squeezing his eyes shut and shaking his head vigorously. He groaned loudly and made his decision, knowing full well that his silent apology would not reach her.

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To be continued...