Chapter Thirty-Four: History Forgotten

Aralyn was wary when she awoke to find Vincent staring at her. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she wriggled into a sitting position and stretched her arms in front of her. "Why am I here?" she asked as she saw that she was laid in Marlene's bed.

"Your sickness acted up," Vincent said. "You don't remember?"

"Oh," she said softly. "Then it wasn't a dream…"

"No. And there's another…issue that needs dealing with."

Aralyn tilted her head to the side, confused.

"We were about to lose you, but Verian stepped in. He gave you some kind of herb, and it broke your fever and allowed you to sleep. You…and all of us…are indebted to him."

"I take it he asked for something in return," she said. "And I take it you don't like it much."

"I don't like it at all," he clarified, his eyes darkening. "But it is comparatively little payment for what he's done."

"All right, what is it?"

"He wants to tell you of what he perceives to be your past before Shinra. I gave him five minutes, and I will be present so he doesn't try anything."

Aralyn laid back against the pillow, sighing. "Do I want to hear this?"

"I don't know."

"Well, it's been agreed. Can he come now? I don't want to wait in anticipation."

"Fair enough. I'll go get him."

Vincent left, returning after only a minute with the young man in tow. Verian smiled at her, taking the liberty of helping himself to a chair at her bedside. "Good to see you up!" he said, taking her hands.

Aralyn pulled her hands away, folding them neatly in her lap instead, making sure that her wedding ring was clearly visible. Verian's smile faded, but he did not protest.

"You've wasted ten seconds," Vincent warned. "And don't think I'm not counting."

"He doesn't know how to take things lightly, does he?" Verian frowned. "Well, whatever."

"You better speak quickly then."

"You were born on the first day of spring in the village of Altair, which is far from here. Your mother's name was Nadea, and she was a mage who specialized in the healing arts. Your father was Bryan, and he was very high up in the government. You were very anticipated, because your father was a strong ruler, and there were many who would have his bloodline continue to rule. He was very fair and compassionate…the people loved him very much.

"Then, when you were only hours old, Bafisk invaded Altair without warning. The Altairians were a people of peace, and stood no chance against Bafisk's army. There were few casualties, as the leaders saw the danger and quickly surrendered to protect the lives that might have been taken. The transition was peaceful, and the government leaders were allowed to live within the city. Still, you and your mother were required to stay within the walls of the capital building, while your father was under close guard at all hours. The new powers feared that the people would revolt because your parents were so dearly loved. They didn't, for the sake of you and your mother.

"Your name was Gloria Dawn, which was unusual because traditionally a girl child was only given one name until marriage."

Verian paused here, seeming hesitant at this part. "And then my father came to live in Altair as an embassy from Bafisk. I was three at the time.

"My father introduced me to your mother then, and while I don't remember the details, I was told that she seemed to take a great interest in me. To ensure the peace of our provinces and to further unite them…"

He stopped abruptly, clearly trying to gauge how she would take this. Vincent cleared his throat, reminding him that his time was ebbing away.

"You and I…were betrothed."

Aralyn stared at him.

"I know that's not how things are done here, and it seems strange to you, but it's true. Within months, we were promised to each other. You were too small to know…your mother had to hold you during the ceremony because you couldn't even walk yet."

Aralyn looked away, so Verian couldn't see how she reacted to this. He continued. "And then your mother left with you when you were six and I was nine. I take it you made it to the Midgar border, but then your mother disappeared. I suspect it was fiends. Hojo found you then…and you grew up in Shinra, ignorant of all this."

He waited for some kind of sign from Aralyn. It came quickly. "So you expect me to marry you on the basis of a past I can't recall?"

"No…I…well…"

Vincent interjected. "You have one minute, but if Aralyn is tired of your lies, I will remove you immediately."

"It can't be the truth," Aralyn said.

"You doubt me?"

"Do I doubt you? Give me one reason why I should believe you! This is fantasy, and even if it wasn't, you're hiding something from me," she accused. "I take it you are unmarried, and you've been waiting for me for all these years, correct? Why me? What makes me different from another princess or whatever you call them where you come from? You've conveniently left that bit out."

Verian didn't answer, the tense silence confirming that there was something he was withholding.

"You and I were promised to each other," Verian insisted. "We are bound."

"Your laws hold no value here," Aralyn insisted. "Even if I choose to believe you…I will not agree to this."

"You don't have a choice…!" Verian burst out, but quickly checking his anger. "You aren't Aralyn…you never were! You are Gloria Dawn, firstborn daughter of Nadea the Sage and Bryan the Emperor, and as such are bound by the same laws that bind me."

Vincent didn't wait any longer. His face dark and furious, he seized his arm and threw Verian out the door, shutting and locking it behind him.

"Think about it, Gloria," Verian pleaded before his footsteps faded.

"I shouldn't have agreed to that," Vincent said darkly, his anger not pointed at her. "He's clearly mad."

"Do you believe it?" Aralyn asked.

"It is not my place to say. All that matters is what you believe."

"I've always wanted to know about my past," Aralyn said musingly. "It's strange…I have to wonder if he knew my desire and was preying on it. If he did, how did he know me?" she shook her head. "No one knows me; I'm invisible. I need to be. If he thinks he's telling the truth, then I have a madman after me."

"It is concerning, regardless of whether he's telling the truth or not."

Aralyn nodded in agreement. "Vincent, could I have a moment to myself?"

Vincent nodded, stopping for a moment and bending down to pick something up that had been left by the door. "Verian left this." He set it on her bedside table and then left, gently closing the door behind him.

Aralyn cautiously opened the box. Inside was a heart shaped locket made of gold and carved with vines. Tiny flowers of rubies and sapphires bloomed from the vine, surrounded by emerald leaflets. Inside were two pictures, both in sepia ink, and looking as if they had been half burned at some point. One was a man, tall and regal, dressed in fine military gear with badges for countless acts of bravery. In his hand was a sword, long and thin, with gems inlaid in the hilt.

The other was a woman with long, wavy hair in a plain, flowing white gown. She clutched a wrapped bundle in her arms, and bright baby eyes peered through the folds. She smiled as she looked at her child, and one of her fingers was extended for the infant to grasp with her tiny hands.

This was your mother's locket. She loved you very much…and our betrothal was not done out of anything but concern for your future. Think about what I have said. I will wait and find you when Vincent is not around. –Verian

Aralyn closed the locket and tossed the note to the side of the bed after tearing it into pieces. Verian had come out of nowhere, from a land of fantasy, and offered her a past and a family, which she had never had before. Despite herself, she opened the locket and felt a deep ache in her chest. Could these faces be the parents she had never known, she wondered? Were they familiar because some part of her remembered, or was that only because she wished it to be true?

Her mother had disappeared, but what of her father? Was there a way to see him again? Was Verian the only way?

Despite the strangeness of the situation, there was a very real part of her that wished this fantasy was true. It offered her the hope of a family, which she had not had in many long years.

Still fingering the locket, she lay on her side and closed her eyes. "I think I know now," she whispered. "Sephiroth…I think I understand how you must have felt in Nibelheim."

Gently, she closed the locket. With resolve on her face, she vowed to herself that she would not fall the way that her husband had. She had enough to mend from the past she did remember – she did not have the strength to worry about the unknown before that.