The Lady in Red Fur
Chapter 2
"How could you? You decide to marry me off without telling me!" Aerith was in her mother's study with her advisers present. Cissnei was standing back by the door keeping silent. After nearly fainting in the dining hall from shock, Aerith's mother excused herself and her daughter to talk. Her advisers came as well, since they had been in on the plan as well. Cissnei and Ifalna's bodyguard had helped the young princess to the study as she was still in a stupor. By the time the doors to the study closed, she had regained herself and her face twisted in fury.
"When were you going to tell me mother?" She snapped. "The day of the wedding?"
Aerith was fuming. Her hands clenched into tight fists, so tight that her knuckles turned white. Ifalna looked at her daughter from behind her desk, which was covered in important documents.
"ANSWER ME!" Aerith shouted.
"Do not shout," Ifalna said calmly. "It was not my intention to reveal this to you in such a way."
"Oh really?" Aerith sarcastically replied.
Bugenhagen, one of Ifalna's advisers spoke, "Princess, your mother is doing what is best for the kingdom."
A dark hair, breaded man named Hollander then added, "The kingdom needs protection. Tsviets Kingdom is strong and an alliance with them will defend our kingdom from enemies."
"And," another adviser named Palmer finished, "the terms for the alliance were, if King Weiss agreed, he would take your hand in marriage and unite the kingdoms."
Aerith looked at Palmer who was shorter than her and a portly man. Her eyes were fierce and she was ready to jump over the desk to attack him. How could these people not even consider her feelings or even inform her beforehand of the possibility of this happening? Not that she would have reacted any differently but they did not even seem to care. None of them showed any signs of remorse or pity.
A man with a long beard, and the tallest of the advisers spoke calmly. "Princess, it was never a sure thing that King Weiss would accept. In fact, the talks between his kingdom and ours have been strenuous. We believed we would still be in negotiations."
Aerith turned around intending to storm out when the last adviser spoke. He had blonde hair and glasses. He looked very refined and was also much younger than the other advisers. His name was Lazard.
"Regardless, princess, it is not as if you would be married this second." He spoke calm and with reason. "Also, you are the age of matrimony. You knew from the beginning that you would have to marry someone of royal blood."
"The kingdom is counting on you," Hollander spoke again. "And it seems that King Weiss only came here to see if it would be worth marrying you."
Aerith winced at the choice of words. What if King Weiss saw her and did not like her? Would he have turned around and gone straight home? He barely knew her. She spoke so little and that would have meant he was only interested in one thing. She was beautiful and that was good enough for him.
"Princess," Lazard spoke. "King Weiss is a great man and is good choice for a husband."
"Aerith," Ifalna spoke after, "if he intends to marry you..." However, she did not finish as Aerith's voice shouted about those trying to coax her to go along with this arrangement.
"Then you marry him!" she snapped. "You want this allegiance so bad you do it!" Aerith pointed at her mother and the moment she did Ifalna had, had enough.
"Aerith!" Queen Ifalna slammed her hand on the table causing everyone to look at her. "I am your queen as well as your mother! You will not show disrespect to me. As queen of this kingdom my duty is to my people and as princess you should realize the same!"
Aerith swallowed hard. She rarely ever heard her mother raise her voice, especially at her own daughter. Instantly, the princess regretted her outburst. Aerith felt her shoulder slump. Queen Ifalna looked sympathetically at her child.
"Gentlemen," she said. "Please leave us."
The advisers looked at one another.
"My queen..." Lazard began but Ifalna gave him a sharp look.
"Leave." Her words left no room for complaint and one by one they nodded, leaving the room. Cissnei and Ifalna's bodyguard hesitated to leave. The queen looked at them.
"Angeal, please wait outside the door with Cissnei," the queen asked. The queen's bodyguard was a handsome older man with black hair that was slicked back. He had a broad muscular built and wore the standard garb for the guards of the kingdom. He bowed respectfully.
"As you wish my queen." He left with Cissnei, closing the door behind him.
Alone with her daughter, Ifalna lifted herself and came around the desk toward Aerith. She gingerly took the girl into her arms, hugging her.
"I'm sorry, you had to find out like this," she said honestly. Ifalna was not an uncaring woman. She loved her daughter very much. However, as queen her duties were conflicting. As queen her duty was to her kingdom first. The well-being of her kingdom weighed heavy on her and the only option for the safety would be an alliance with another kingdom. The best option seemed to be Tsviets Kingdom.
"We have been in talks with many kingdoms." Ifalna said. "However, many of them want our resources for their own. If they strip us of all we need then the alliance is pointless. King Weiss has made it clear that he is willing to align with us if our kingdoms unite under one. Of course, he wanted to visit our kingdom before making his decision but it seems he has already settled."
"With me being married off..." Aerith said grimly.
"Aerith, unfortunately I am queen of this kingdom," her mother said in a no nonsense tone. "And our kingdom is easy prey for other kingdoms to conquer. If we do not secure an allegiance we will be vulnerable. I cannot allow harm to come over our people. They are counting on me."
Aerith looked helplessly as her mother continued, "And you will find out that being in such a position there are choices we do not wish to make but have to for the greater good."
The princess's shoulder slumped even more. Ifalna tilted her daughter's head up so she was looking at her.
"Get to know his highness," she suggested. "As the others said, the wedding will not be tomorrow it will be a long while until a celebration such as that would take place."
Aerith moved away toward the window. She crossed her arms, frowning. "But you got to choose your husband. Why am I not allowed to find someone I love?"
Ifalna sighed. "That was a different time. Your father and I were married because we were at peace and prosperity. Our kingdom had always been neutral while our neighbors warred. Now rumors are lingering that many of them wish to gain our rich resources. If that happens..."
The queen did not wish to think of it. Aerith looked sadly. She had no choice in this matter. If people attacked her kingdom, more than likely her and her mother would be slain immediately and all the innocent people of the kingdom would suffer.
The queen returned to seat behind the desk. "Please go get ready, we do not want to keep King Weiss waiting for his tour."
Aerith obliged and bowed to her mother. She opened the door to the office. Standing outside on either side of the door were Cissnei and Angeal.
"Angeal," Queen Ifalna called.
"Yes, your majesty?" he asked entering the study. The door closed behind him.
Cissnei looked at Aerith giving her a weak smile. Aerith did not return it. Instead she hurried off to get ready for the tour with Weiss.
XXX
Aerith eyes fluttered open. She found herself sleeping on the cave floor. Mog, Moglin and Cosmog were all curled up near her. She sat up and noticed the fire had died but it did not matter. It was morning now. She stretched and got up from her spot on the ground. She looked outside and saw the area around her. The trees and grass were covered in morning dew as she heard birds chirping. The morning sun was peeking out sending it warm rays to the earth. She breathed in the air and the scent of ash and sweet grass filled her lungs.
"Kupo?" Cosmog called out in a tired voice.
Aerith turned to see the moogles waking up. She smiled and returned to their side.
"Good morning?" Mog said rubbing his eyes.
"Did you sleep well?" Aerith asked.
Moglin groaned and noticed how blemished her fur was. She was trying desperately to clean herself again. "I slept on this cold hard ground and now look at me."
"What she means," Mog interjected, "Is that we're fine. How are you?"
Aerith shrugged. "The same as I was last night."
The look on her face was sad. Mog reached up and touched her arm gentle. He gave her a warm smile. Next thing she knew, the other two moogles were at her side. They too were giving her reassuring smiles to calm her nerves. Then a sudden rumble startled them. Mog, Moglin, and Aerith looked at Cosmog. He clutched his round stomach in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry it's been so long since I eaten." he said mortified.
Aerith burst out laughing and picked him hugging him to her. "Let's go find something to eat then, shall we?"
Cosmog's eyes twinkled at the suggestion. He flew into the air and did a loop while cheering. Aerith got up and gathered her things, wrapping her red fur cloak around her. She pulled the hood over head and the four friends left the cave.
As they walked along the forest trying to find something to eat, Mog hovered next to the princess.
"What shall we do afterward? Where do you intend to go?"
The princess stopped and ponder this. She really had no idea where she would go once she escaped her palace home. All she knew is she had to get far away as fast as possible.
"I still want to get as far as I can from my kingdom." she said. "Once they realize I am gone I'm sure my mother will have the guards searching for me."
"How far do you intend to go?" Mog questioned.
"I don't know." She said honestly.
"OH!" Cosmog gasped. He floated up to a tree and tugged a bright red apple from it. "Look at how yummy these look!"
He took a big bite and before long he threw the core down to the ground. He greedily went to grab another when Moglin snatched it from him.
"Hey that's mine!" he whined.
"Stop being selfish!" she scolded him. "The princess has yet to eat."
"But, I am wasting away!" He stretched out his sides to emphasize the bones under his flesh. However, he was pinching much more flesh than either Moglin or Mog had on them.
Moglin rolled her eyes. Mog and Aerith glanced at one another and chuckled softly. Moglin handed the shiny red apple to the princess. Aerith took it, giving the moogle her thanks. Moglin curtsied in midair to her before returning to the tree to get one for herself. Mog followed suit and picked one off the tree for himself. They gathered some and carried it in a satchel that the princess carried.
With apples to eat on their journey, the moogles and the princess walked and flew. Every so often the group would find other things they could use and collected it. Once they came to a river the group began to follow it. Being near water was good, so they would not dehydrate. However, they walked (or in the moogle's case flew) for days and days. Until one day when Aerith could no longer walk. She was exhausted and by now she had to have been far from her kingdom.
"I can't go on," she said leaning against a tree.
"Well once you find the next town or village you can probably find a place to live." Moglin suggested.
Cosmog who was leaning against the princess asked, "What if someone recognizes her?"
The group looked at him That was indeed a good question. Being a princess, it would be easy for someone to recognize her. If word got out she was sure guards would find her and take her back to her home. The princess groaned and placed her head in her hands. What could she do now?
"I can't go anywhere," she cried out in frustration. "I'm a princess and I'm sure my mother had put word out to the neighboring kingdoms about my disappearance. What am I going to do?"
"Calm down princess..." Mog said patting her hand. "Getting upset won't solve anything."
Aerith nodded. She was glad Mog was level-headed.
"Until then," he added, "How about I go get us some food? I'm pretty good at finding things."
Aerith laughed and jokingly said, "How about you find me a home then?"
Mog laughed as well and flew off to find something to eat. Aerith relaxed under the tree with Moglin and Cosmog. She absentmindedly rubbed the chubbier moogle's belly. Cosmog purred like a kitten, enjoying her gentle touch. Moglin was still fussing over her fur not being as shiny as it had been. Aerith insisted she still looked beautiful.
A while went by before the three heard Mog's voice call out to them. Aerith got up and found him soaring toward her. He stopped in front of her gasping for air.
"What's wrong?" Aerith asked, worried.
"Come with me!" he tugged at her hand. "Hurry!"
Without hesitating, Aerith, Cosmog, and Moglin followed their companion. He led them through the woods and after many twists and turns he came to halt in a clearing. Aerith gasped as she saw a cottage seemingly deserted in the middle of a clearing.
"I found you a home, Aerith." Mog said proudly.
XXX
Aerith, now dressed in a simpler outing dress, was leaving her room. A beaded diadem wrapped itself around her head and she only wore two bracelets one on each wrist. Behind her was Cissnei. Her bodyguard would accompany her on the tour of the city, for obvious reasons.
"Your highness," Cissnei said, "Are you all right?"
"Do I look all right?" Aerith snapped. Cissnei looked down and Aerith frowned.
"Sorry," The princess apologized. "I am just still very much in shock with all this. You think that my own mother would have given me some indication of this."
"Well, hopefully he is a pleasant to be around." Cissnei said. "He is said to be a strong and brave king."
Aerith looked at her, "You seem to know much about him."
Cissnei nodded, "I make it my business to know as much as I can about whoever comes near you. For your safety, I am obligated to know."
Aerith stopped walking and looked at her bodyguard. "And what is he like?"
Cissnei gave her a weak smile. "He would make a strong ally to our kingdom..."
"Why do I sense a "but" coming?" the princess said.
"But also," Cissnei finished, "a ruthless enemy."
Aerith looked at her bodyguard stunned. She swallowed nervously. A ruthless enemy? Aerith felt uneasy and Cissnei could tell her words were not chosen as carefully as she thought. The bodyguard took a step forward extending her hand.
"Let's go princess," Cissnei urged, "we are keeping King Weiss waiting."
The two came to the main hall where Weiss waited with his bodyguards and younger brother. Aerith looked at Cissnei. The bodyguard gave her princess a reassuring smile before they descended the stairs. King Weiss spotted her first. His gaze locked onto her and Aerith found herself unable to look at him. It had not yet settled in that she was going to be marrying this man.
Once she reached the bottom of the stairs, Aerith surprised to find Angeal here. The male bodyguard was always at her mother's side. He had been her bodyguard as long as Aerith could remember. He bowed respectfully to the princess. He stood straight up and nodded his head toward Cissnei before addressing the princess.
"Your mother wishes for me to accompany you for the outing," he explained.
Weiss smirked, "I explained that my guards would be more than enough to handle anything but he is being insistent on traveling with us."
"I'm certain they are," Aerith said.
"So you agree," Weiss grinned.
Azul was intimidating enough being so massive in size but she wondered how capable Rosso was. Cissnei said they were exceptional warriors and Aerith did not doubt the woman could fight, since her own bodyguard was a woman. However, the outfit she wore seemed to expose more of her skin than cover it up. Cissnei and Angeal both wore minimal armor but in the right places to protect them from lethal blows.
"Regardless," Aerith turned her head to the king, "No harm in having extra protection."
"I suppose you are right," he looked her in the eyes and Aerith felt it hard to breathe.
Weiss looked down at the princess and took her hand. He placed his lips along the back of her hand but eyes never left hers. Aerith wanted to tear her eyes away but she feared of offending him. The look in his eyes brought a shiver down her back.
Weiss smiled at her, a wicked smile. He tucked her hand under his arm, not allowing her a chance to decline his escort. Weiss wasted no time to make sure that he was courting Aerith or showing that she was in fact his. His hand was always firm and she was sure if she tried to get away she would have to tear her own hand off to do so. Aerith made the best effort to not look uncomfortable at his forwardness. Yet, she saw Prince Nero glaring at her as his brother escorted her to a waiting carriage. Aerith was sure his brother did not like, especially after the comment at breakfast.
Yet, at the foot of the carriage she stopped walking. Four magnificent looking chocobo's were attached to the carriage while the driver sat a top the seat waiting. Once seated inside, the carriage pulled off with the chocobo's squawking as they went. The castle town was busy. Merchants were out and about trying to sell their goods. Townspeople were about and curiously watched as the carriage passed. Aerith did her best to explain the more important sights. They came to the center of town and carriage stopped.
"This is the main plaza where most of our artisans work and sell their pieces." Aerith explained as the exited the carriage.
The vendors were proudly displaying their wares. They were also trying to make a good impression because, after all, there princess was now among them. Weiss made sure to keep Aerith as his arm. Some of them gave curious looks or even smiles. Aerith wore a false smile, one that she was good at making.
"I see the resources your kingdom is so full of doesn't go to waste." Weiss noted. "What do you think Nero?"
Nero looked irritable. "Must we walk around these commoners?"
Aerith looked at him shocked. Even though she was a princess and her mother was a queen, the two made rounds throughout their kingdom. Nero must not have thought highly of people beneath him in status.
Suddenly, a group of children flocked over to the princess. Aerith smiled, recognizing them. Her mother and her would make frequent visits to the kingdom's schools. Ifalna would often tell Aerith how children were important to the future of the kingdom much like she was.
"Princess Aerith!" they chorused.
Aerith's smile grew when she heard Nero make an annoyed sound from within.
"She actually interacts with these peasants?" he asked aloud.
Aerith ignored him and gave the children a pleasant smile. "Hello, it's good to see you again."
The children all politely bowed or curtsied to her. Aerith chatted with them much to Nero's annoyance. Just as she was saying goodbye, Weiss stepped forward and snatched on of the children by the collar. The little boy cried out as Weiss threw him to his bodyguards. Azul was the one who caught him and held him in a vise grip. The boy began crying.
Alarmed, Aerith moved forward calling out for the king. "What is the meaning of this?"
Angeal and Cissnei where at her side. However, Weiss snapped his fingers and Rosso retrieved something from the boy's pocket. She held up something for the princess to see. Aerith looked shocked to see one of her bracelets dangling between her fingers. Rosso made her way over to the princess and dropped the bracelet in her hand.
Aerith was stunned and perplexed at the same time. Stealing was an obvious crime but to try and steal from a member of the royal family was foolhardy.
"Why would you take this?" Aerith asked the child but it was Weiss who answered.
"Simple," he said his voice cold. "He is a thief."
A crowd was now forming around them. Cissnei was now close to Aerith. Angeal too was behind her. The princess did not seem to pay attention to her bodyguards. She was too busy watching Weiss.
"Thieves must be dealt with," the king continued, "and be made an example of."
He snapped his fingers and Rosso pulled out a double edged sword. Aerith's eyes widened in horror as she brought it up intending to strike the child. Aerith cried out.
"NO!"