Endowment - Part Two of Reprisal

Cecil took the stairs to the throne room in three, bounding strides, lithe out of his armor. Kain moved up the stairs, more slowly, behind him, watching as his friend conversed with one of the gaurds idly. The heavy doors, barred by cast iron, were flung open a moment later and Cecil gracefully swept into the room.

Kain never ceased to be amzaed by his friend's level of enthusiasim to see the king. While Kain felt endebted to the man, he had memories of his father, and so he felt no affection twoard His Highness in that way.

But Cecil... Cecil had no memories of his parents, and had been with His Lord since he was three years old. To Cecil the king was his father, even though he claimed to be nothing but a loyal soldier.

Kain followed suit, drifting into the expanse of the throne room where the king waited, Cecil already kneeling at his feet.

"Stand, Cecil," the king commanded, and Cecil did so, awaiting the man's orders.

The king seemed to look over the young man with a discerning eye, and Kain sensed behind them deep affection. He was an old man, worn with age, his hair long and white, tied in a single braid down his back. His eyes looked nearly black in the ocean of his white beard, though they were really brown, made merry by the many laugh lines about them. Despite this he still wore armor, as any good king of Baron would, and had an apperance befitting the prestige he once held.

"Baigan, leave us," the king commanded, eyes momentarily settling on Kain before flicking away, " I wish to deliever the news to Cecil only in the presence of those who would know most his joy."

Baigan, understanding that the king simply meant he was not close to the young knight, bowed low from the waist and disapeared from the room. Kain himself moved forward, standing closer to the throne without moving too close.

"Your Highness?" Cecil asked, tilting his to one side.

"I'm sure you've heard of Cid's recent sucsess in building the first of what will soon be many in a fleet of airships," the king began, stepping down from his throne to be at eye level with his son.

"Yes, of course sir," Cecil said, nodding, though he had furrowed his brow, seeming unsure of where the king was leading this conversation; Kain, of course, knew exactly where this was heading.

"It's a fine ship, and I'm sure that Cid's already shown it to you. I've seen it myself, and I told him that I loved the color he'd made her. Do you approve of the color, Sir Harvey?" the king stroked his beard thoughtfully, awaiting his answers.

"Yes. Brilliant cherry red, flying the flag of Baron, propellers roaring ... It would certainly bring glory to our nation," Cecil decalared.

"Indeed it would," the king nodded in agreement, his wizened eyes smiling, "and it would be even more noticeable with a young knight of great reputation at the helm of it's leading ship."

Kain could sense Cecil swallowing his exitement and favor an attitude of humble disbelief, "sir, do you mean ... me?"

"Of course. You do everything I've ever asked of you, even trained with the Dark Blade, and you have excelled at it. I think it's high time I reward you for your faithful service to Baron. You are quite the military man, son," the king placed a hand upon Cecil's shoulder, beaming at him. "It won't be long before you graduate, and then you will take the test to become a Dark Knight. I am positive you will pass this, and when you do you will be given leadership of our Arial Naval Fleet."

Cecil suddenly fell to one knee, bowing his head in submission. "I am not sure I deserve an honor such as this, but I thank you with all of my heart. I could not ask for anything greater."

"Always too humble for your own good," Kain said at last, "but I'm graduated and you're not. How are you going to keep up with me, a Dragoon, if you don't accept the King's offer?"

Cecil cast him a glare, though it wasn't at full strength, and then stood, "but I would accept the position and do all I can to fufill your expectations of me."

"And you will exceed them," the King said. "I dismiss you, Cecil, just..." the man trailed off, stroking his long beard.

Cecil tilted his head to one side, " Sir?"

"Make sure you act your age once in a while. There's no harm in being a young man, and it would do you some good," the king ruffled Cecil's hair fondly, as he had when the Knight was a little boy, and made his way back to the throne. "Send Baigan back in, will you? We have much to discuss."

Cecil nodded, touched the top of his head, and opened the doors (with Kain's help), stepping back out into his life to find Rosa and give her the news.

A/N: I'm sorry that this is short, but it belongs with the rest of Reprisal. It's best if you read the two consecutively. I believe it makes the most sense that way.

Thank you to every one who reviewed these one shots. Writing about Cecil, Kain, and all the others makes me very happy as there's so much to work with. The only things that limit the Final Fantasy IV fanbase are a lack of canon materials and our own imaginations. I hope you continue to read my one shots.