Crimson Rain

by The God Slayer

Decades after the planet has finally known peace, through great sacrifice and struggle, something ancient and sinister stirs beneath the surface. A mad man rises with power the world thought was extinct and declares war on the planet, igniting a turn in history millenniums in the making.

8. Over and Over

NOTES: n/a

Over and Over

The sound of distant screaming was a constant reminder of where he was, of what he endured every day now, and what he would continue to endure until the last of his energy left his body. There was no time for sleeping for constant worry and fear kept him too jumpy, too preoccupied, for anything else. When there were meals he found himself too paranoid about what could be in the food, or what the food was made of, to actually eat it. He found the only times he was eating was when it was something small and unable to made from anything unnatural. Rice and corn, mostly, and water that leaked into his cell he knew was pure.

The little bits of food did nothing to build up his body's energy to fend off the bitter cold of the cell. His lousy bed of thin grass in a wet corner was too much of a comfort over the stone floor that he preferred lying in shivering cold water than on cold stone that bit at his flesh and dug into him, bruising him and peeling skin away to bleed.

And no matter how many times he fought the darkness back it clawed back at him, dragging him further and further into its depth of pain and fear. He found himself wondering when would it end, when would he be set free, and soon started to pray to the gods he never paid too much attention to, asking them for any form of release.

And this instant, he was lying naked in his bedding, shivering and muttering the names of his family, unaware of just how much comfort it alone brought him. It reminded him he was a person still, that he was alive and loved by so many people, and gave him a slim hope to see them again...especially Cadence. O' how he missed her. He wished he could have told her he loved her again before he left but it had slipped his mind because she was too busy worrying over Emma and he wasn't about to tell his love she was supposed to cater to his feelings every instance of his life. He was quite pleased that his love was so smitten with his odd little sister, despite his accusations against the relationship to his parents. It became so obvious at that moment, before he boarded the ships to leave, that he was wrong; Cadence did not 'deal' with Emma. She very much enjoyed the girl's company.

His sister's face was so foggy to him he could barely recall anything but her oddities, and nothing personal about her. It was clear just how much he didn't know of his sister, of how much he neglected her. Had he just taken the time out of his day to care for her, to watch her, then this whole situation would not be in existence. He would be happily sitting beside Cadence or talking to his father, or wishing his mother and brother a good night...he would even see that annoying face of his sister again.

Before he could linger on memories of his life and his family for too long, the sound of footsteps drew closer and closer until he picked his head up weakly from the thin layer of water to see several figures in black standing before his cell. One of them started to open the cell while the others rebalanced chains and locks in their arms. He learned by now not to try and fight against his oppressors and just laid there as they chained his feet and arms and started to drag him against the floor—naked still—and out of the cell area.

By the time they got him to where he was intended to be, his back suffered new bruises and gashes from the harshness of the flooring and bled all over the nice rug in the interrogation room. It visibly displeased the king of Roskovo when he saw. He was beaten for it in front of the king and his eldest son, Luke, who stood like a pillar beside the throne.

The Roskovian prince was dressed as cleverly as he always was; smooth suit with his doublet and hair cut and maintained handsomely, with a regal silver sword at his hip. His eyes stared at him, vacant.

His father was dressed in every contrast. Where his son wore shades of colors fit snugly between light and dark, Bertrand preferred the darkest of any shade. He was in dark black with green highlights and hair smoothed back in shiny gel. His eyes had no problem with displaying his person and when the soldiers were done beating the naked man on the floor, his lips wavered in a small smile.

"Will today be any different from the others, boy?"

Cambyses spat blood at the man's feet. "Fuck you."

The king's eyes narrowed just slightly and then his smile vanished. "It has come to my attention that no matter how hard I beat you or how long I torture you, you will never tell me what it is that I desire to know." Cambyses knew where this was headed. He was not conceding. Far from it. "You are a stubborn fool, just like your father. You think it courage when it is just foolishness. You know you have no hopes of escape, of freedom, less I grant it to you and you know I won't give you it unless you give me what I want, and still you deny me. Figaro blood runs thickheaded."

Cambyses laughed. "We run proud, unbroken."

The king laughed, so very loudly it echoed through the room, and then knelt so he was leveled with the prince. "Proud and unbroken you say..." he grabbed Cambyses by the chin, rough. "You think I have even begun with you boy? I have waited years to reap my revenge upon your family, this is just the taste of what is to come." he let him go and stood. "I would say ask your sister, but I would say she's a bit tied up at the moment and you are stuck here like a pathetic little rat, unable to do nothing more than weep."

"What does that mean?" he demanded. "What did you do to her?!"

"The start of something you can't even imagine," he said, turning from him. "I grow tired of your antics boy. I have plans that you are beginning to annoy with your persistence. It ends today."

"I will never break to you!"

"That could be," he admitted, crossing his arms. "but what about your family?" Cambyses gaped. "What about your brother, or your mother? Nay...what about your sweet Cadence?"

"Don't you fucking touch them!"

Bertrand clicked his tongue and turned back to Cambyses. "I tried to give you a chance at this to avoid further violence." he held a hand out, and a soldier handed over a strange looking tool. "I can only be so gracious." he tapped Cambyses' forehead with the tool. "Let me explain to you how this will go should you deny me again here and now. I will send word to my spies within Figaro castle to seek out your brother and slit his throat in his sleep and then take his head to his mother. And should you continue to resist me, I will have them find your sister and rape her before your mother before taking your mother's life. And should that still not deter your resistance, I will have my men drag your beloved Cadence here, to me, where I will torture her before your eyes before I sever her limb to limb and gut her like a fish."

Cambyses gritted his teeth. "You are lying! You could never reach them! You have no power!"

The smile returned. "I suppose every threat needs to show its merit." and without a word, a soldier walked in with a woolen bag, damp with something. Cambyses' heart started to pound in his ears. Gods...gods please, what is this bastard up to. "You think your castle walls protect you and yours boy? You surrounded yourself with a ring of demons who sought the necks of your family for years, who worked for nothing more than a chance at the throne. Cutthroats and brigands, liars and the like, roam that castle every day...you are just too stupid to see it."

And then the soldier dumped what was in the woolen bag in front of Cambyses, revealing the severed head of Rosalee, the mistress of servants. Cambyses fumbled away, tears in his eyes, and then retched.

"I take it that I no longer have to play these games with you," he said, kicking Rosalee's head away in disgust. "That you understand the gravity of your situation, that I do not say things I do not mean." Cambyses could not look at him. "If I do not get what I want boy, I will do what I said I would. I am done with breaking you, it ends here."

"Why..." he asked, tears finally breaking. "Why go through all of this trouble if you could easily get within the castle walls yourself?! Why do you need me to get my sister when you can just take her yourself?"

Bertrand's eyes narrowed at him. "You seem to be confused boy. I do not want to get your sister out of Figaro, that will happen soon enough on its own." Cambyses looked up at him, confused. "I have only ever demanded of you information, and I meant it."

"You are lying," he snarled. "I know it. You desire more than that. I am not stupid!"

Bertrand burst out into laughter. "No, boy, you are just that stupid." he shoved him back with his boot. "When I want your sister, I will take her. The reason she is not here beside you now is simply because now is not the time. There is a time and place for everything. Your fool father never taught you the art of strategy, it seems, but to make a plan bloom to fruition, it takes time...it takes careful handling, if you want the results you desire."

Cambyses lifted himself back up, clutching at the pain in his chest. "And...and all you want is information? You will leave my family alone?"

The king said, "As I had said...give me what I want to know and your family, your woman, will know peace. My only goal is your sister."

Cambyses felt sick to his stomach. He knew the vile thing he was considering. Giving his sister up for the family, but then again it was only words and not actually her. There was a chance after this to escape. It was a means to quelling the man's anger, of giving himself more time, or his father more time to find him, to win this war. He let his tears run. They...they are just words. He closed his eyes and pictured Cadence. He knew he would do anything for her. I'm...I'm so sorry Emma.

He felt every piece of him crumble. "I will do it."

The man laughed very loudly. "Proud and unbroken until you aren't."

---

It was so cold, but with her mother's cloak, it kept the full brunt of it off of her. It had been some time since her mother visited her, and she was growing frightened for what it meant. The soldiers came in every once in a while to make sure the lanterns were lit and she had proper water and her meals now, but they did not converse with her, not even to answer her if her mother was coming to visit or not. Emma had never felt so isolated and alone before. She curled her knees to her chest and wept until she was exhausted, and then she fell asleep atop her little board and cloak, shivering.

When she woke again, it was because dulled footsteps were entering the cell. She sat up, rubbing tiredly at her eyes, and focused on the stairs. She thought it would be the guards, but when her mother appeared in the flickering torchlight with her brother and Cadence at her side, Emma's heart fluttered and she tried to get up, a bit too quickly. She stumbled and fell.

Her mother gasped and went to open the cell. Emma felt her mother's hands around her arms lifting her a few seconds later. "Emma, gods, you have to be more careful..." she brushed her hand over her daughter's cheek, tears in her eyes. "You will be the death of me, I swear it."

"I'm s-s-sorry mother."

Terra laughed and kissed her face all over, though to her mother's surprise, Emma did not fidget or fight it. "You are my precious little gift, do you know that?" she brought her daughter into a tight hug, so tight Emma could scarcely breathe. "I love you so much."

Emma could tell something was wrong. "W-what's wrong?"

"There's nothing for you to worry about, my dear girl," she said, letting her go. "We came for a visit, is all. How are you feeling? Have they been treating you well?" she began checking Emma over, even as her daughter talked.

"I'm b-better..." her eyes went to her brother for a few seconds standing outside the cell beside Cadence before she whispered, "Why is Ben here?"

"He wanted to speak with you," Terra said quietly, so that the others did not hear. "Oh, do not be afraid Emma, please. And Cadence too wishes to speak with you."

Emma looked at her brother again, uncertain. Every time they came into contact, a fight happened. She had finally given up on thinking they could bond, that her brothers would love her. She doubted it would change here and now. She didn't want the false, hurtful hope it could change. "Why?" she asked her mother.

"Let him speak with you Emma, please," she stood and motioned for the others to come in. Emma hastily drew back as he approached, thinking of everything she could say or do to get out of the discussion, but there was nothing. She was trapped in here, trapped against his anger, against his guilt. "Go ahead, Benjamin." she patted his shoulder.

The prince's cheeks were pink a bit as he faced his sister, eyes downcast.

"Emma..." he looked up at her, and Emma saw clearly it was difficult for him to do. "No...that isn't right." He slowly got to his knees, alarming Emma and the others. "I have done so much wrong by you Emma that I can never begin to make amends for it. I have lied to you and lied about you, I have called you names and called you names to others...I disrespected you over and over again. I treated you like you were at fault for so much, for this war, for our brother going with our father without me, for going in the first place, but the worst yet that I did was blaming you for the terror that the princes of Roskovo put you through. I have no justifications, only pathetic excuses to my weaknesses, to my cruelness."

"I took everything out on you because it was easier, because I could, and it wasn't right. It...it was cruel. It was evil." he was crying. "I have done things to you before and I have apologized before, and I know words mean little when you break them over and over again. I know I have shown that I am no man, that I am no prince of Figaro, least of all a worthy brother to you. I know I do not deserve your forgiveness, I don't deserve it but...but I want to earn it. I know the path will be long and difficult, but I want to fight for it however I can. I want to prove to you that I truly am sorry for all the pain I caused you, for all of the horrible things I said to you." he bowed to her. "I am sorry for everything, Emma. Please...give me the chance to earn your forgiveness...your trust. Your love."

Emma felt such anger in her heart. How could he do this to her?! Do such horrible things to her and then...and then... She began to cry. "Why?" she asked him. "Why do you guys do so much to me and expect me to just..." she wiped stubbornly at her eyes even as her mother went to hug her.

Benjamin said, "I do not expect you to forgive me Emma...if your heart cannot allow it, if you feel against it, I do not deserve it. I just...I just wanted you to know I truly am sorry for the pain that I caused." he sat up. "If you hate me Emma, I understand it entirely, and I deserve it."

Her eyes widened. "Hate you?" she asked him sharply. "Hate you?!" she shouted. "How could you think I hate you? I...I...could never..." she wiped at her eyes. "You...you will never know how much it hurts to know you and Camb will n-never love me the way that I love you." Terra covered her mouth and looked away, crying. Cadence put a hand on her shoulder, to comfort her. "I just gave up."

Benjamin had listened to her quietly, with calm, understanding eyes reddened with tears. He nodded. "We gave you so much reason to think that...it is our fault. We teased you, played tricks on you and tormented you, but you need to understand Emma. We love you." she looked at him, tears brimming in her eyes. "I love you, even though I said and did such horrible things. I know it is hard to believe, but I mean it and I will fight until my last breath to prove it if need be. You are my baby sister and I will protect you and love you until I die. I vow this for the mistakes I have made, for the wrongs I put on you." he stood. "Please...let me try to prove it to you. I know words mean nothing when action destroys them. Let me prove it."

Emma let the quiet sit for a moment before reaching over to touch his shoulder and leaning back. "Okay...I...I trust you."

Benjamin smiled tiredly at her and stood. "I dare not push it. I know I have a long way to go to prove it to you, that I won't ever destroy your trust and love again. I will be a changed man, Emma, I swear it upon my life, upon my honor." he hesitated and said, "I...I love you Emma." he bowed to her, awkwardly, before walking out of the cell in a quickened pace.

Emma started to sob. She covered her eyes, and Cadence knelt beside her to bring her into a hug. "It will be okay Emma."

"No it won't," she said through a sob. "I know...I know something is wrong. He...he came here with you all because of it."

Terra looked at Cadence, alarmed, and said, "Emma, there is nothing to worry about. Please, let me handle the worrying if there is anything to worry about. You are safe here, with us." she directed Cadence now. "Would you stay with her for a moment? I need to get him."

Cadence smiled and nodded. "Of course."

Terra said she would be back and hurried away. When they were alone, Emma looked at Cadence, confused. "W-who did mother mean?"

Cadence simply giggled. "Many people and no one, of course."

Emma's brows furrowed. "I don't understand."

The woman stood and kissed Emma's forehead and then said. "I will leave you two alone." Confused, Emma followed the woman's eyes as she cast them to the cell door and saw him standing there, eyes solemn. Emma's heart jumped in her chest painfully. Cadence patted him on the arm before leaving the prison block to them entirely. Emma's eyes filled with tears as he approached, slowly.

"Emma," Alexander said softly, kneeling before her. "I'm sorry I'm late."

She smeared more tears away. "I...I thought you wouldn't want to see me."

He frowned at her. "Why would you think that?"

"They said I...I killed people," she mumbled. "That I'm a...a monster."

"I know you," he said, reaching for her hand. His warmth made her heart ache. She turned her hand around, so she could hold his hand. His skin was as rough and yet as comforting as she had remembered it. "You are no monster Emma. You are just the girl I met, the daughter of Terra, the princess of Figaro." he smiled. "A charming, stubborn little thorn in my side."

"Then...then I didn't harm anyone?" The way he moved away from her, she knew. The council did not lie. She had taken someone's life, somehow, she had become a killer. Her vision blurred with tears anew. "It...it is true. I killed them." frustrated with him for trying to keep it from her, and angry with herself for believing she wasn't anything more than the freak others had named her, she snapped at him. "You are a liar. I killed p-people and you t-tried to hide it from me!"

Alexander patiently listened to her anger and then sat down. "It seems we have a lot to talk about Emma, and little time to do so. I didn't try to hide it from you, not in that way. I...I thought waiting for another time might be better, but I can see that is just foolishness. You deserve to know what happened. Damn what the others think."

"The others?" she mumbled, brows furrowing. "You...you mean my mother, don't you?"

"Yes...but don't blame her Emma, she is just trying to protect you."

"Protect me?" she repeated, voice raising. "How could she protect me, in here? I killed people!"

"Emma, please, let me explain," he calmed her down. "I will explain everything." she settled back down, impatiently, and waited for him to start. He took a moment to collect his thoughts and then he began. "What do you last remember?"

She thought. It made her head hurt, but she managed to find it. "I...I remember..." preparing to leave Figaro, her mother holding her in her room. Cadence telling her how Alexander felt. She looked at him, the memory returning, painfully. She started to cry. It was too much to bare, to tell him, to even dare to ask. She looked away from him. "I...I was leaving Figaro."

He sighed. "A lot happened Emma, a lot that you cannot remember."

"Can...can you help me remember?" she asked him quietly.

"I don't know if I can help you remember what happened," he told her truthfully. "but I will tell you what I know, if you want. It will be painful though, you have to understand that first."

"Please," she cried. "If...if I killed people, I w-w-want to know how or w-why I did it."

Alexander took a moment before he began. He started at, he said, where he thought it began with her. He said he could only think on what happened her because no one but those who she had killed were around her at the time. It made her sick to hear him say the words. 'those she had killed'. It became a reality she could not deny then. She had claimed lives. He told her that she was upset, very upset, and when she asked him why, he looked away from her when he told her she was upset with him.

"Why?" she asked him softly. She knew. She remembered it, but she wanted to hear him say it. To confirm it. If this had been what drove her to such anger...she at least wanted to know it first hand. To fully understand the situation. The last thing she could remember was Cadence telling her Alexander held nothing in his heart for her but friendship, that it was all just some confusion her her part.

"We...I think Cadence had just told you that I didn't..." he hesitated. "that I didn't love you the way that you loved me." She had anticipated it, felt the pain of it in her room before, but to hear it here and now through him hurt more than she could ever describe. She covered her eyes and looked away from him, so that he could not see her how pathetic she was. "This made you leave your room," he continued reluctantly. "To find me."

This part did not sound like her at all. She looked at him suddenly, brows furrowed. "I...I would n-never do that."

"You did," he insisted. "You ran into some guards eventually, I think, somehow. In...in the rose gardens and...and near your wing."

"I...I don't remember this," she mumbled, wiping at her eyes. "At...at all."

"I know," he said. "It is okay though Emma, you are sickly, and...and it was difficult for you."

"Difficult?" she mumbled. "What do you mean?"

And so Alexander told her how she had found him in the gardens, with Cadence. She knew something was wrong the moment he mentioned her. Something stirred in her mind, something hazy, that made her head hurt. He told her that she saw him kiss Cadence and ran off.

Emma stopped him there, crying. "N-no...enough," she begged. "I...I don't want to hear anymore." she was beginning to understand why she was so upset. That anger was beginning to sit in her heart once more, but it was the pain that held first and foremost.

"Emma, please, listen to me," he took one of her hands and then reached for her face, to gently make her look at him. She couldn't face him, especially right now. "You didn't understand what you saw, it...it was a mistake. And Cadence...she feels nothing for me, not like that."

"But you said you—"

"I know," he cut her off. "I kissed her because I was confused. Cadence had come to see me, about you."

She finally looked at him, tears brimming in her eyes. "About me? W...why?"

"She was trying to get me to see that I..." the hesitation gave way to a smile, one that only confused Emma further. "She was trying to make me less of a fool, to make me realize how much you mattered to me. I wouldn't listen though, and...and I kissed her, against her will. That is what you saw."

Emma couldn't recall it at all, and yet it hurt even worse than having seen it. She took her hand away. "How...how did I hurt them?" she asked. "The...the people?"

His eyes softened. "You were headed back to your room and ran into your guards, at least that is what I heard. You...you attacked them."

"What?" she couldn't believe it. Her guards? How did that even make sense?! How could she over power soldiers of Figaro? "No...I...I couldn't have. T-that doesn't make any sense."

"You weren't in your right mind Emma," he tried to explain. "You were sick, and confused, and hurt. You lost control."

None of it made any sense. No person, no girl, could overpower and kill soldiers just because she was angry or upset. There was something more to this that he was not telling her, something he feared she shouldn't know. She had enough of these secrets! Of these lies! Hadn't they hurt her enough?

"How did I kill them?" she asked after a moment, voice trembling.

Alexander looked at her suddenly, eyes widening, clearly not having expected that question. "Emma, that isn't important—"

"How?!"

"I don't know, I wasn't there and—"

"Tell me!"

"I can't tell you what I don't know," he rushed, loudly, lifting his hands as if it would calm her down. She narrowed her eyes at him, fuming. He was lying, she knew it, she could hear it in his voice. Her anger snapped and she slapped him. Surprised she had hit him, she leaned away, trembling. He simply looked at her, eyes calm. "Alright...I deserved that."

Emma tucked her arms against her and looked away. "I'm...I'm sorry, I j-just got angry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"That's what happened to the men, Emma," he explained softly. "Your...your sickness is not suitable with your current mental state. You blacked out, and attacked them. You didn't mean to, but that is what happened."

She started to sob. "They were right...they were right," she cried as she covered her eyes. "I am a monster. I'm sorry Alex, I'm so sorry."

He leaned over to take her into a hug. Even knowing how he felt nothing for her, she could not help but find his embrace comforting. And it filled her with so much guilt, such shame. She wrapped her arms around him and wept. "Don't speak like that," he held her closer. "You aren't a monster...you are still the same, stubborn girl that managed to make me like you."

Emma pushed out of his arms, confused. "W-what?"

Patiently, he repeated himself, and strangely, sounding annoyed with something. "I said I like you, Emma."

She stammered, "I d-d-don't understand, you k-kissed Cadence and she said..."

"I know," he sighed. "Like I said earlier, I was confused. No...to be honest, I don't think I was aware of it. Or maybe I didn't think I deserve you...honestly, if I think about it now, I don't think I deserve you. The only reason I am telling you the truth about how I feel is because I want to be honest and I want you to know that it was all a misunderstanding, and that Cadence had never betrayed your trust."

So from what she heard, everything had happened because of her. If she had shown some patience, some dignity, and stayed in her room where she belonged, she never would have happened upon them and killed those men. She would have been able to talk to Alexander, to hear his words. She wouldn't be rotting here in a cell, awaiting a trial, an execution by the hands of people who have always hated her.

"I...I messed everything up," she mumbled, looking away from him. "And...and all I wanted to do was tell you that I..."

"No," he said quietly, but sternly. Insistently. "You didn't mess anything up Emma. I know it is hard for you to understand, to accept, but you have to trust me. This was something that was out of your control. Your mother will be able to tell you more than me, but please...trust me. You are not a monster. You are a good person." he smiled and reached out to take her hand, which made her look at him through teary eyes. "However...if you should be a monster, then let it be know the girl I like is the most caring, most beautiful, monster in all the world, and courting you would be the greatest treasure in all the world."

Emma started to cry. "Alexander, but...what I wanted to tell you before I left..."

He smiled. "You have all the time in the world to tell me Emma, when you feel strong enough to. I will be here, to listen."

She wanted to tell him so badly it hurt. She began to speak, but something clanked down the hall. And soon, light flooded the cell room then, overpowering the flickering lights of the torches. Alexander lifted a hand to block his eyes, squinting. Emma knew who it was before they came into view. She could smell her, and the two soldiers behind her. When her mother came into view, Emma knew what it meant. She held onto Alexander tighter.

Understanding, he looked at her, with a soft smile. "Everything will be fine," he said, holding her close. "I promise you Emma. I promise."

Terra stopped at the cell doors, with a solemn look. "Alexander...it is time. We must go." the soldiers behind her were carrying things, but Emma couldn't make it out. "Please." she insisted.

Alexander sighed and looked at Emma. "I must go...but don't worry, I will be back for you, soon."

"Please," she whispered. "Don't leave me here."

"Things have changed," he told her quietly. "We're working on something to get you out of here, you just have to be patient. The last gear is turning now."

"Alexander," Terra called out again.

"I will be back for you," he insisted, lifting her hand to his lips again. He kissed her knuckles. "I miss you already, my beautiful princess," he stood. Emma reached up to take his hand, but she said nothing. He smiled before he let her hand go. "Goodbye for now, Emma." and then he walked toward the queen.

Terra passed him a look, one Emma couldn't make out, before she watched him leave. When they were alone, Terra walked into the cell. "Emma, my sweet," she said softly, kneeling before her. "I know this whole situation has been terrifying, and confusing, but soon it will be over."

"Over? Over how?"

"I contacted your father," she said, and Emma gaped. "Don't give me that look Emma. He is the king, and your father. If there was anyone in the world that could protect you from the council, it was him. And it was the right decision. He put into motion the plan that saved you. The council can't touch you now. They are under arrest, until your father returns. All of the noble lords and even the Veldt came to stand in your defense. No one can touch you without severe consequence."

Emma didn't quite understand why, or how, the Veldt came into this, but she was so very thankful. So thankful she could ignore that her father was involved. She asked, "Then...then I can leave? I can c-come home?"

Her mother's eyes softened. "No...I'm afraid that isn't possible just yet. I can't share the details with you just yet, but there are reasons you can't yet walk freely. Your father managed to save you from the council Emma, that is all, we still have to deal with your trial, just...in our way, without their corruption. However, all of this is to keep you safe."

"Then...then I have to stay here?"

"Heavens, no," she said, frowning. "I'm having you moved to a secure location, one where my own men can watch you, and keep you safe."

So by things were different, they simply meant her her execution was simply put on hold. There was no way, even as a princess, that she would be spared for murdering people. "Nothing has changed," she mumbled.

"Trust in me," her mother said, as she took her daughter into an embrace. "Trust in your father. We will protect you...no matter what we have to do." she kissed the top of her daughter's head. "I will never let anything happen to you again."

••••••••••••

When word finally arrived at his camp from Figaro, it filled him with both dread and relief. The letter felt as heavy as a brick in his hand, and he feared the contents would be much heavier to bare. The letter had been delivered, personally, by captain Wren. It came as a surprise, but one he should have suspected. There was no way Terra would trust such a thing to anyone else, and she would never let Hals go again after attempting what it was she had under his order.

And here he sat, at the head of his table in his pavilion, in front of Suon and Wren, staring at the royal seal, afraid whereas his wife had acted immediately, with courage, without hesitation. He sat the letter down with a heavy sigh.

"Your grace," Suon began, slowly. "You need to read it, and quickly. You heard Wren, it is urgent."

"I understand," he said, firmly. "Give me but a moment..." he took a deep breath, then another, and lifted the letter once more. Wren and Suon shifted into attention, waiting. Not even Wren knew what the letter contained, only that it was urgent. After a moment, Edgar's solemn expression drew a smidgen of happiness and he sat the letter down. "She writes that it went well. All of the lords sided with the crown. What is more, she informs me that the Veldt has sworn itself to the crown, but more specifically to Emma."

Suon gaped. "How did her majesty manage that? Such...such a thing would require an equal sway, something of great importance."

Edgar could only think of one thing. An arranged marriage between their daughter and a son of the Veldt, but he knew his wife enough to know she would never trade her daughter's hand unwillingly. Terra had secured this alliance some other way...but did not share it. "I do not know how my wife managed this feat, but I am thankful she managed it however she had to do it. With the Veldtic Empire behind Emma's name, the council will think twice before lifting a hand against her...let alone any other foolish enough to harbor treacherous thoughts."

"Forgive me for asking, my king," Suon asked. "but is this the end of it then? Is your daughter safe?"

"Sadly not, Suon. This was just the start. The council is under arrest, with the lords and the Veldt standing as witness and guard to their long years of abuse of power and disrespect and attacks on my wife, but especially my daughter. They have overstepped, and threatened me into place, and it ends here."

"The next step then?"

"The council will remain in arrest until I arrive, but unfortunately it means my daughter is also under arrest. She still allegedly committed murder, and must await trial. This only changed it so that the council cannot be her jurors, and starts the steps to remove them from power."

Suon's eyes drew dark with grief. "I see...everything rests on you returning, then, and even then...Emma's fate is still uncertain. Whether or not the council is done in, your daughter could still be tried for murder."

"Exactly." he sighed. "This is a heavy matter...but should it come down to it, I will execute my authority to wash her free of her sin and...and banish her. It will spare her from death."

"Aye, but it will break her from her family," Suon added solemnly, shaking his head. "What a travesty this has become..."

"If I may interrupt, your grace," Wren said, bowing his head gently. "What should I bring back to the queen, concerning your daughter?"

"At the moment, she should stay in Figaro to avoid any unsavory rumors about privilege among royalty," Edgar said, thinking. "However, if Brud thinks he can threaten my daughter in front of all the noble court and the Veldt so openly, he must think again. I cannot, will not, tolerant this threat. Give me a moment to write up a document Wren, and then you must be on your way immediately." he reached for fresh parchment and began writing, and quickly. When he was through, he blew the ink dry, folded it neatly and it into an envelope. He took his ring and poured hot wax onto the envelope and pressed the ring onto the wax until it cooled. "Here, Wren, and be sure that her grace and my brother reads it first hand, and then Hals and the noble court."

Wren accepted the letter with a bow. "Of course, my king." he straightened. "Is there anything else you wish for me to tell the queen?"

"Aye...to keep strong, and that I shall be back shortly from this war. And..." he hesitated, wishing to add something more, but changed his mind. "That will be all. Suon has already seen to it that you are safely brought to the harbor and given a special unit to be dispatched with to take you back to Figaro."

Wren bowed, and left the pavilion quietly. Alone with his trusted comrade, Edgar sighed and leaned into his chair. Suon considered his position for a moment before he said, "It is a tremendous effort to keep this calm given the circumstances, your grace."

"I do what I must for my family, Suon. They mean more to me than anything else in this world."

"It is understood sir," he nodded. "You should rest. The day was already long before Wren arrived. The morrow will even more difficult as we approach the northern villages."

"Of course," Edgar said, nodding tiredly. "I will retire for the night then. If there is anything dire...wake me, Suon."

After his trusted general said his departing words and left to check on the camp for the evening, Edgar tore out of his studded doublet, exhausted, and went for the washing basin at the other end of the pavilion. The water was ice against his skin but it was refreshing. He then went for a drink of wine and something to eat at his small table beside his bed, and then laid down thinking only of his family, of the fate of his daughter should he fail this war and return to Figaro.

••••••••••••

It had been nearly two days since they Terra had made the announcement and sent Wren off to her husband, requesting advise on what to do. Since then she was able to move her daughter to a safer cell, one where she was treated with dignity and humanely. There was a twenty four hour guard on her, that rotated every six hours. The men were paid handsomely to ensure that they could not be swayed by gil through someone else, and were watched by the Lion Guard and Veldtic Immaq warriors.

In the short span of time, the weakness that had gnawed at her daughter's flesh from being in the dark, dampness of Olmpa's cells was starting to fade, though her eyes still hung in circles of darkness. Once more had Alexander visited her, but it was short, as the girl was sickly and needed her rest. Terra could not, would not, risk anything more toward her daughter. Luckily, neither of them seemed to take it wrong. Her daughter just seemed happy to have the affections of the man she loved.

Thinking of it made Terra uncertain. The lad had broken her daughter's heart, trampled over it to be exact, and in some cruel ways, and yet her daughter had opened her heart yet again to him and forgave him. Sometimes Terra wondered to what extents her daughter loved and if there was even a limit.

Perhaps I am only seeing it through the eyes of a mother, she thought as she shifted through the wreckage of her daughter's room, looking for anything to salvage. It was the first time she stepped in here since her daughter had transformed. She was hoping she could find something to give her daughter to comfort her, but so far it was difficult to locate anything in the mess. She sighed and stood, and dusted her hands, looking out the gaping hole in her daughter's room to the evening sky. I will try Emma, to forgive this man whom you have entrusted so thoroughly with your heart...please, let it be the right choice.

Someone entered the room then. "Your majesty," she turned to face the guard. "Celes calls for your immediate audience in the solar. Wren has returned with news from the king."

Terra quickly followed him out of her daughter's room and out of the wing to the solar. It seemed so strange to see the hall so empty now, whereas the daily walk to her daughter would see her guards greet her and ask her how the princess was doing. Even odder was thinking that her daughter had done someone harm.

I should have taught her, she thought shamefully. I should have done more. This all could have been avoided. But she knew deep in her heart, it was not possible. If her daughter's Sand Fever had not been a problem, her inability to control herself would have seen disaster just as great, over and over again, every attempt they tried. I just have to try my hardest now to help her, so that she can learn and never lose control again. The gods must see to it to give my daughter another chance...to give her mercy.

They arrived at the solar a few minutes later, and outside were several men from the Lion's Guard, at the ready. Terra had not summoned them, so she assumed Celes had or Sabin had, and was currently inside. She thanked the guard who led her and dismissed him. Just as she thought, Sabin and Celes was inside, with Wren and Hals.

In her brother-in-law's hands, was a note. She could not tell if it was open. She looked at them. "What did it say?"

Celes shook her head. "We did not break the seal, Terra. You should be the first to read it."

Wren nodded. "His majesty said you should read it first regardless, and then his majesty the prince regent, then Hals and then the noble court."

Terra accepted the envelope and tore the side open. Celes went for a seat beside her husband, looking exhausted and very worried. Sabin's brows were furrowed and his arms crossed, but he was stern in his silence, even as Terra began reading aloud, disregarding her husband's directions, since they were all gathered in one place anyhow, and she trusted them all with her life.

"Dearest Terra," her words felt heavy, and she feared what laid ahead. She looked up at the others momentarily. "I have received your letter with the heaviest of hearts, and yet I am ever so proud of your accomplishments despite the troubles that you have around you. I have no idea how it is that you managed to convince all of the nobles to stand with you, but I always knew you had a silver tongue. It is the Veldtic Empire that confounds me the most, but I will leave that puzzle for later. This threat Brud laid at your feet against our daughter must not be allowed to stand. I do not doubt he means it. While they await my return, they plot, and that is a dangerous past time for them."

"He is right," Sabin said softly. "While they plot, we sit here wondering what it could be that they plan to do next. Emma waits in shadows, in fear."

"We are unwise and in danger, all of us," Celes said, sighing.

Terra shook her head. "I will not allow any of them to touch my daughter, not ever."

Locke leaned back into the rest of his chair. "What does the rest of it say?"

Terra looked back at the letter and continued. "Our daughter is not safe, not yet. We may have kept the snakes from striking at her throat Terra, but she still very well struck a hand against innocents and it is a crime that must still be investigated properly and dealt with properly. I cannot show leniency such as that even to my daughter, or risk a revolt that may very well end the family I would fight to the death to protect. Fear not though, I do not plan to let anything happen to our daughter. I am still king, after all. For now though I fear the best way to keep our daughter safe and the people aware that I do not plan to just release our daughter is to banish her to my side, under the guise of a prisoner and..." the words hung from Terra's tongue like poison. She stared at the words and the world went silent around her.

Banish?! She thought, tears filling in her eyes. "No! I...I can't allow this! I won't!"

Sabin took the letter from her and tried to calm her down. "Terra, listen to me, everything will be alright. Edgar is trying to keep her safe, from the council and from the law, until he can deal with them both. He knows what he is doing."

"No!" she cried. "This is wrong, she...she didn't mean to hurt them, she...she's just a child. She's...she's my baby!"

Sabin brought her into a hug. "What other choice do we have right now Terra?" she clung to him and cried. "I promise...everything will be alright. Edgar will fix it. He will fix everything."

••••••••••••

It was decided, and easily of course, that Terra would tell her daughter alone that she was being banished. Cadence had offered to go with her, to speak with Emma, but Terra knew the situation was one that needed to come from family, and be dealt with by family. Emma would not take it well, but she needed to understand why it was happening, and Cadence could not provide the explanation. They all also agreed not to tell Alexander about it all, at least not yet. They were afraid he would do something stupid and hurt the only situation at keeping Emma safe from Figaro law. Cadence did not like it, but she eventually conceded it was for the best.

When Terra went to Emma's new holding cell, she was nervous and feeling sick. She knew a moment's hesitation would make her flee from her daughter. Thankfully the distraction of her daughter's new cell condition's being met kept her on track. Emma had been moved to the Veldtic prince's personal holdings', in a quickly assembled cell. Emma had no idea what it was about, or whose hands she had been moved to, but when she was shifted from the damp, cold cell to her new, warm interior equipped with a proper bed and barred window, she had wept in gratitude.

Terra, too, had wept. She took the Veldtic prince in a hug when he had took the initiative, and thanked him for caring for her daughter and helping her. The man did not appreciate the open gesture, it was clear, but he did not shove her aside either.

And now, as Terra walked into the little room, she wondered on how strange it was to feel so much gratitude about the imprisonment conditions of her own daughter. She shook her head and glanced at the two Immaq soldiers at the entrance. "A moment, please. I must speak with my daughter alone." the men left without a word. Further in the room, Emma was asleep on her little cot, beneath the fur blankets provided to her by the prince. Terra approached and softly woke her daughter.

Emma woke, disoriented for a moment, and rubbed at her eyes. "Mother?" she squinted through tired tears and yawned. "W-w-what's wrong?"

Terra forgot that her daughter had very acute senses to situations, sometimes. She smiled softly and beckoned her over. "Come here, my sweet girl, we must speak." she hesitated, and Terra could see very clearly that her daughter was frightened, but she got up anyway. When she was near, Terra reached through the bars for her hands and brought them to kiss her little fingers. "My...you have grown so much since you have returned to us here in Figaro." she looked at her daughter, now growing from the short, plump girl who had come from Thamasa into a twiggy thing with a graceful beauty being etched out of her face. It was a strange thing, to think back a few months and feel it in a minute, and see a daughter grow what feels like years in that short span. A strange and painful thing. How twisted and cruel that time had been for her daughter. "You are so beautiful Emma, and you make me so proud. And so very happy."

Emma's furrowed her brows and looked at her mother with a frown. "I know those t-things aren't t-true..."

Terra smiled patiently at her. "Oh, do you?" she brushed her daughter's curly hair out of her face. "I could sit here and argue with you about it all day, but I know better. You are such a stubborn girl, just like your father. It is that Figaro blood, it runs so thick."

Emma moved out of her reach. "I'm...I'm not stupid. I know when something is a l-lie."

Terra merely smiled. "I could always test this by asking that Alexander of yours whether he finds you beautiful or not, but I suspect we both know what that hound would say on the matter." Emma's cheeks reddened and she looked away. Terra had to give it to her sons, they were quite right that it was a tad fun to tease her sometimes. "I know it is difficult for you to accept these things about yourself Emma, and I doubt I will ever get you to understand I would never tell you something I do not mean, but there is one thing I hope you will never doubt of me."

Emma looked at her, worried. "W-what is it?"

"That I love you," she said.

"No," Emma said, stepping back. "No you don't...how could you l-love me after what I did? I...I killed people."

"What kind of mother would I be if I stopped loving you because you made a mistake?" she asked her. "If you did something because you couldn't control it?" she shook her head. "Hopefully you can learn to trust that, that love I have for you and will never lose, but I know it will take time. I know that this doubt in you has been strengthened because of your life, because...because I couldn't be there for you in Thamasa, or because it seemed like I didn't care when your brothers or the kids harassed you." Emma looked surprised she knew about the later. "but that was never the case. I would do anything for you Emma, anything. The bond, the love, a mother has for her children is...well it is beyond words. One day, I hope, you will get to experience it. That you will get to hold your own child in your arms and feel that unquestionable loyalty and love."

Something seemed to click in her daughter's eyes, because she shook her head a bit. "Something...something happened, didn't it?"

"The council has made threats to harm you Emma. If you stay within Figaro, they will attempt to kill you. One of them even said so to our faces before the entire Figaro court. We cannot risk keeping you within the walls, as their influence within the country is strong."

"You're...you're sending me away?"

"Emma, we can't keep you here," Terra said, astonished that her daughter was more hung up on leaving than a threat to her life. "They want to kill you!"

"So what?!" she snapped. "You d-d-don't think they have always w-w-wanted to kill me?!" Emma must have realized she had yelled at her mother, because she looked away with tears in her eyes. "You all think I'm so stupid...but I'm not. I knew they hated me...ever since I was a kid. If...if they want to k-kill me, fine...but I d-don't want to leave you." she sniffed. "N-not yet."

Terra considered her words for a moment, and then nodded. "You're right. Many in the council have...have detested you since the moment of your birth, but you do not understand and you never will understand the reasons why. It won't ever matter, either. Their hate means nothing against the love your father and I have for you. I am not sending you away someplace foreign, someplace where you know no one. We couldn't even if we wanted to, anyway. You are still to be held for your crimes."

"Where are you s-sending me?"

Terra took a breath. "To your father. It was the only way to stay a trial, and keep the council's shadows at bay. He is the king after all, and like it or not, he holds power and sway in the final vote, and you are a princess. Your trial will wait until after the war, when he can come back to Figaro to oversee it and determine a fitting punishment for you."

Emma's eyes widened as she began to understand what it meant. "I'm...I'm being banished to—to Roskovo."

"Only for a short while Emma, and to your father's side. And you must understand...your father has no intention of actually punishing you. We know it will bring about an unsavory reaction from civilians, but we have the backing of the nobles, and the Veldt now too. We won't let anything happen to you. It will be alright."

Emma shook her head, crying. "No...no it won't be. It won't."

"I swear to you, it will be," Terra soothed her. "You will be with your father Emma, safe and sound, and that is all that matters now."

"But...but what if I n-never get to see you again? she sniffed. "I...I don't want to leave you behind."

"That won't be so, my sweet," she gestured for her to come close and as soon as she did, Terra hugged her through the bars. "Even now, your father fights valiantly against the enemy. We gain more and more ground every day, and soon enough we will all be rid of this foulness and your father will sail home with you by his side, and your brother, and we will be together again." she brushed her hand against her daughter's cheek. "As a family."

••••••••••••

It was only thanks to Cadence that he even knew about it at all, and he was furious. After everything he had done to help Terra, to help Emma, he thought he deserved to know something like this, at least. However, as he stormed down the hall toward the solar, where he was certain they were gathered, a thought stirred. Terra owed him nothing, and helping Emma when he had put her in this situation in the first place didn't entitle him to anything. He stopped then and there, feeling even worse. How could he think the queen owed him anything, especially when it concerned her daughter? He slumped against the wall, and sighed. The road to re-earning the queen's trust, her trust with her daughter and then Emma's trust was a long, arduous journey, one he could not hope to search for short cuts through.

Patience, he told himself angrily, gently smacking his head against the stone. It matters not what you want...just want they want, what Emma wants and needs.

"Alexander?" He looked over, and saw Benjamin approaching slowly. A fury mounted deep inside of his chest, one he barely could control. How he wanted to beat the hell out of this man. "What are you doing looming out here?"

Alex had no idea the prince had come back. He wondered then how much the swine knew about the new situation. "I don't see how it is any of your concern." he made no attempt to hide his anger.

Benjamin held his gaze though. "I understand, you are furious with me, but I'm not after your forgiveness nor do I want to start a fight with you. If you're out here, you know she's being sent off." Alexander felt sick just thinking about it. "You shouldn't be wasting your time out here then. They are all in the solar talking it over. That's where you should be, trying to convince my mother to disobey my father."

"Why are you acting like you care about Emma?" he demanded. "You are nothing but a two faced snake. You would have her stay here so you could torment her, wouldn't you?"

Benjamin's eyes narrowed. "I am not after your absolution, but if you do not care if she gets sent to Roskovo then get out of here-"

The words froze him to his core. He suddenly grabbed Benjamin by the collar of his shirt. "What did you just say?!"

Benjamin tore his fingers out of his collar and shoved him back. "Don't tell me...you didn't know that is where they were banishing her?" when he noticed the anger and fear in his eyes, Ben frowned. "You didn't...did you?" he sighed. "It was the only way my father says he could protect her."

"In Roskovian territory?!" he snapped, realizing tears were breaking free. "This...this is..." he turned away from the prince and stormed into the solar. His disturbance caused those inside to startle and shout, but before they could chide him for barging in so loudly, he turned his eyes toward the queen, meaning to put as much menace into them as he knew was in them. "You are sending her to Roskovo?!"

Terra's eyes widened with surprise, and then she turned her eyes around the room at all of the gathered faces, before she looked at him, solemnly. "Alexander, please, calm down so we can talk-"

"How could you even entertain this idea?!" he demanded. "That is where those dogs are! You...you can't listen to your husband!"

"Please, listen to Terra okay?" Sabin asked, gently, as he gestured to a seat. "We will explain everything, but we can't do that if you are shouting at us."

"Nothing you could ever say could justify this," he said, feeling his fury spill over the edges. "Do you not realize what she will feel when you tell her?"

Terra looked away. "We...I already told her Alexander."

"You..." he hesitated, and looked over their faces. "And I bet you were all fool enough to think that she was okay simply because she told you so, or because she didn't break down before your eyes."

That angered Celes. She stood from her seat, icy blue eyes on fire. "Now you will be quiet!" her voice rose over everything when she was angry, as if it were thunder. "You will not speak to any of us like that ever again, let alone your queen or my friend! Do I make myself clear to you, boy?" Alexander fought every defiant bone in his body. He cared not for royalty, only for Emma. He looked away. "Now settle down and stop acting like a child."

"Celes, please, that is enough," Terra gestured her away and asked for Alex to take a seat. When he was seated, she began. "I do not wish to send my daughter away Alexander, you should know this, and my husband would rather keep her here. However, the situation is very dire. Brud threatened her to my face, and many others in the council would gladly see her hang. Sending her to her father will keep her safe from them and keep her from a trial until he can bring her home, so he can deal her justice."

"If the council is such a threat, take care of them!"

"You say that like it is so simple," Sabin scoffed. "What would you suggest? Murder? Indefinite imprisonment?"

"Either one would suit them well enough," he remarked.

Terra sighed. "Perhaps so, Alexander, but at the moment all of our hands are tied. Emma's fate lies across the sea, at her father's side, until such a time it is safe for her to return her."

"So you won't even fight it?" he asked.

"We have been discussing it for hours...we see no other way out of this."

"What about Thamasa?" he suggested. "Or...or the Veldt?"

"If we send her to either nation, it will look as if we are freeing her of her crimes, and we do not want to involve Thamasa or the Veldt in this...not yet. The time at her father's side will provide Edgar the time he needs to dismantle the council, and take care of Emma's trial so that he can convince the nation she is innocent. And should it fail, he can safely exercise his authority to pardon her, without involving Thamasa or the Veldt."

"You are weighing her safety, her life, all on that?" he got up. "I...I can't stand here and allow it."

Terra glanced at Sabin quickly before shaking her head. "You mistake your position again, Alexander. It is only through the love my daughter harbors for you that I allow you to stand here as you do, but do not presume to threaten to step between the one thing that could save my daughter, to openly defy me."

"I do not mean to defy you, I just..." he heard something behind him, and turned around. Sabin came to stand beside him, hulking arms crossed. "What is this?" his voice almost came out laughter. "Oh...so you mean to detain me, is that it?"

"I have no doubt you mean to actually stop this," Terra said, softly. "You give me no choice Alexander. If you could promise me here and now..."

Celes gasped. "Are you serious, Terra? He would as soon lie to you and run off to break his words as he would breathe."

"No," she said, looking at him, frowning. "Alexander would not lie to me...not now, would you?"

He avoided her eyes. She was right. If he made a promise here and now, he would not break it. For Emma. Was this truly the best, and only, way to help her? The uncertainty in his heart made him want to whisk Emma off, but that only made him feel even worse. How could he think he was the only one capable of protecting her? He sighed. "I'm sorry Terra...I won't stop you, you have my word."

She smiled at him. "I share the doubts in your heart Alexander, but I have faith in my husband, and the gods, and I know if she stays here now there is only ruin for her." he simply nodded, defeated. "She will depart in the morning...would you like to see her before then?"

He looked at her, startled. "You would let me see her?"

"Of course," there was a hint of a laugh in her voice then, and then she waved at the others to let them know they could leave. He assumed to start whatever it was they had been discussing. Cadence lingered for a second longer to hug Terra before hurrying off. "Every now, through so much, her thoughts linger on you." that made him blush a bit. "I think another mother would turn her daughter against a scoundrel like you, especially after what you did." he would deserve it, too. "but for reasons that are beyond me, she likes you, and hearing of you and speaking of you brings her happiness. And that is all a mother should ever desire for her children."

"Terra...words alone will never be enough to make up for the things that I did, I know that, but I swear to you on my life my mistakes are in the past. I won't ever hurt her again."

The queen chuckled and held an arm out for him to take. He took it, hesitantly. "I will hold you to that, and so will the gods. Even should you hurt her a little, I will counter it ten fold." he grimaced. There was no doubt she would make do on that threat. "Now, let us not speak of this any longer. You will of course be there to say goodbye in the morning, but I suspect you desire a moment or so alone with her before then?"

"I...yes, I would love to see her."

Terra smiled sadly just for a moment before brightening up. "Then let us be off."

The walk was quiet, and very awkward for Alexander. He knew most of Terra's attitude was forced, that she was trying very hard for the sake of her daughter to give him another chance. He was thankful for it, but it felt...wrong. It was no matter though. He would soon show Terra he could be better, that the part of him that was lost, that was too involved in what he could get from others, was gone. That the only thing that mattered to him now was Emma. Soon she would see that, she would understand.

"Here we are," Terra stopped them outside of the entrance to the new cell block with a small frown. "Now, you won't have very long, but it won't be as terrible short as last time. Be...be good to her." she stepped out of the way of the door, and he reached for it only for her stop him, rather quickly. "And Alexander..." he looked at her. "...nothing inappropriate."

He paled. How could she think that he would try that?! He sputtered back a 'of course!' before hurrying inside.

Downstairs, he came into the sound immediately of Emma crying. He hurried down the steps quickly, grabbing a torch off the wall for extra light. The room was certainly nicer than her last, but much smaller. There was no other cell in the area, just hers. It was warm and no wind seeped through the walls, nor any critters, but it was a prison nonetheless. A lonely, frightful place.

When he brought the torch up, he caught sight of her sitting on her bed, arms wrapped tightly around her knees, brought to her chest. He stuffed the torch into a holder and went for the cell door, keys in hand. "Emma?" he called gently, and she lifted her head, confused. Her eyes drew wide and she stumbled off her bed, though it caused her to trip over her own feet and fall to the floor. He chuckled and opened the cell door to hurry over to her. "What do we always tell you? You have to be careful..."

She sniffled and wrapped her arms around him, ignoring him. "I...I don't want to go, Alex."

He sighed, and held her close. "I know Emma...I don't want you to go either, and neither does your mother, it just seems this is how it came to be." her cries near broke his heart. To be banished, of all places, to the place that held the men who had raped you. It was monstrous. He held her as tightly as he dared to. "Your father won't let anything happen to you Emma...don't you know that? Soon you will be back home, where you belong."

"I'm afraid," she cried. "I'm afraid..."

"I'm afraid too," he told her. "I'm afraid that if you stay, you will get hurt or killed and I'm afraid that if you go..." he couldn't even finish the thought. He took a deep breath. "I only know that here isn't safe, and something has to be done to protect you. I wish it wasn't Roskovo, but at least your father is there to protect you. He can stop the blades, be they bred from Figaro or Roskovo. Here...there is nothing to protect you."

"C-couldn't you go with me?" she mumbled, as she leaned away from him. The tears had already reddened her face, and he couldn't help but think just how pretty she looked even then. He reached into his coat and handed her a handkerchief.

"I would love to go wherever you go," he told her, as she dried her tears away.

"We...we could ask." she mumbled even as she rubbed at her nose. "I—I could ask my m-mother."

He laughed and took her hand, gently. "We could ask, but I suspect I'm not going to be granted permission to leave with you."

Emma's face contorted in confusion, in that cute little way that made him want to kiss her. "W-w-why not?" she asked. "Why would s-she say no?"

"It isn't so much your mother that I think would decline," he said, watching as the realization hit her. She oh'd and looked so disappointed, so broken. "I will give it my all though, Emma, for you."

Her eyes held his for just a brief second before faltering. "You...you would do that?"

"I would do anything for you," he said through a smile, bringing her knuckles to his lips. I made you a promise...even if you do not know it, I will stand with you always, even if it is in your shadow and across the globe. He kissed her knuckles. "Of course...I could always steal you away and do away with this asking business."

Emma asked, "W-Where would w-we go?"

He pondered it for a second, and then said, "The tundras up north of Narshe or even the mountains of Narshe. You could disappear in those steeps. No one would ever find you up there. Or we could go to the Veldt. I know the princes and even the king would protect you there."

It was quiet as she considered his proposal. He knew she wanted to leave with him, he could see it in her eyes, in her body language, in her fear of going to Roskovo. And then she looked at him, though she faltered quickly. "Would...would I ever get to see them again?"

He knew whom she was referring to. He didn't know the answer to that, but he suspected if they ran off, her guilt would be written in stone to those who saw her as nothing but a monster. She would never be able to return. He shook his head. "I...I don't think we could ever return if we ran, Emma."

She began to cry. "I don't want to leave them behind, not f-forever."

No. He knew she wouldn't. That was part of the reason he respected her so much, perhaps even what drew him to her. No matter what, she loved her family. She loved and trusted so deeply. He smiled, and then laughed, making her frown. "I suppose I couldn't have made you stay away from your family anyway Emma, it would have been cruel of me." when she saw his smile, it relaxed the worry from her just a bit. "Though I can't deny I'm going to miss the chance to be alone with you." the tease brought just the reaction he wanted, for she blushed and started to twist her fingers together. "Unless, of course, you do want me alone?" he asked laughing, loving to tease her.

"I...I...d-d-don't know w-w-what..."

He would never, in all his days, grow tired of her and her ways. He chuckled. "Then someday, I know, we will have our moment alone. We may speak then, or whatever else may bring you peace." he brought her hand up, and rather than lay gentle kisses upon her knuckles as he normally would, brought it to his heart. "I swear it, Emma."

The comely shade on her cheeks did not fade, but she found somewhere in her the courage to speak. "Do...do you promise? T-that you won't forget me?"

"Forget you?" he asked, astonished. "How could I, or anyone, ever forget you Emma?"

Looking away, she let her tears fall. "Cadence...she...she told me about them." there was a moment of hesitation. "About the...your other girls." his eyes widened. "I k-know I'm not much but...but I don't w-want to be forgotten, or r-r-replaced."

Cadence! He thought, furious, and then guilty. No. He reminded himself yet again. Cadence telling her the truth was not the issue. His actions brought this upon himself, upon Emma. He sighed. "Emma...I did things I regret with those women. I didn't at the time, aye, but...but things were different then. I was different. I didn't think of the things I do now, or possess these feelings I have. I was...confused and looking for something I didn't even know I was looking for."

Her brows furrowed. "I...I don't understand."

"Simply said," he began. "Is that you changed me Emma, and for the better. There's no room in my heart or in my head for anyone else but you." he sighed. "I know that requires you to trust me, and I haven't exactly given you the best examples that I can be trusted, but I can only hope that you will give me the chance to prove myself...one last time."

Emma sniveled, and then nodded. "Okay..." she smeared tears away. "I...I trust you Alex."

He wanted to reach out, to take her into a hug, perhaps try his luck with a farewell kiss, but when he leaned forward there was a sharp, loud rapt on the cell door behind him. The sound carried through the cell, causing the poor girl to jump near straight out of her skin. He knew what it meant, sadly, and went to calm her. "All is well Emma, it is only the guards, warning me."

She gaped. "W-warning you?" she was clearly processing the why. "Of what?" she sounded frightened, yet again.

"That my time here with you is up," he began to rise, but she reached for his hand, only to stop herself, unsure of herself. He took her hand and held it for a moment. "Emma...I wish I didn't have to leave you, but I can't try my luck here with you. The guards..."

She sniveled. "I...I understand." she tried to hide her tears and look strong.

"Worry naught," he said quietly, kneeling before her. "I will make my case to your mother, to ask if I may depart with you. Even should she say no, I will not let it end there. I will petition her again and again if I must, and if that should fail...I will seek out your father if I must."

Emma smiled and, surprising him, leaned over to hug him. The warmth of her against him and the comfort it brought him took the breath out of him. He carefully put his arms around her. "Don't forget about me," she whispered, and the pain in her voice made him sick to his stomach. He pressed her closer to him.

"I would never forget you," he told her.

The guards started to bang on the doors again. "Hurry it up!"

Alexander released her then, not wishing to see the guards burst in and startle Emma or make things difficult for her. "I must go Emma...but I will see you in the morning, and hopefully with better news."

She nodded, and wiped at her nose with her hand. "Okay...okay."

He dug through his pocket and handed her a handkerchief. "Be strong Emma, for just a little longer." he kissed her hand. "Just a little longer."

As he was walking away, Emma called out to him. "Tomorrow?"

He looked back at her. "I will be there Emma, I swear it." and then he offered her another smile, one he hoped would give her strength, and left.

••••••••••••

Outside, the queen was waiting for him. He waited until they cleared the wing before he asked what she wanted, for she had been following him. Terra frowned at him, and matched his quickened pace.

"Isn't it obvious?" she asked him. "I want to know how it went."

"How do you think it went?" he snapped at her, stopping to turn toward her. "She doesn't want to leave you all! She's terrified of being sent to that damnable place, and no matter what I say or what she says, you and your foolish husband will still send her there, so what does it matter what I say here and now?"

"Raising your voice like a child won't solve anything," she told him, keeping her voice down and controlled. "I know this situation isn't ideal Alexander. Do you think I want to send my only daughter to the very country that orchestrated her rape, that harbors the very demons that assaulted her?" he turned his eyes away. "Do you think that brings me peace? Joy? I never thought you were foolish, not like this, but the more you speak of this situation the more I doubt I was wrong even about that."

"Terra, I—"

"No," she cut him off sharply. "My daughter would be sleeping soundlessly in her room right now or wondering naively on your irritating charms had you been even a little neater in your pathetic little games, if you had a shred more decency," he tried to stop her there, but she raised a hand to shut him up. "but that isn't our situation, now is it? Instead I have to step around the mine field you crafted for me, one that you placed my delicate and only daughter straight in the middle of. I now have to decide whether to keep her here in Figaro where a group of men who are about to lose power only out stripped by a monarch plot to kill her, ship her off and burden that threat and her criminal history on friends or banish her to a country that we are at war with."

"I'm just trying to say that there must be some other—"

"You're right Alexander, we're just rushing this decision, we're being impractical," she poked him hard on the chest. It hurt. "Go on. Tell me what else we can do. Go on."

Thinking quickly, he sputtered out, "Send her to the Veldt until her father returns from the war."

"First of all, that will come off as if we are letting her off on her charges, but secondly and most importantly...do you think I am stupid Alexander?" he didn't know how to answer that. "Don't think we already asked them if they could harbor her? The king, and kindly I might add, declined."

"What...why?"

"Why?" she repeated, shaking her head. "They don't want this political mess in their country. It is an entirely different matter to have one or a few princes pledge allegiance to Emma's safety, to Figaro, but another thing entirely to harbor a woman people say turned into a monster and slaughtered people. Do you not know the culture of the Veldt? The great value they put in justice, in honor?"

"I thought you were friends with the king..."

"Of course we are friends," she said quietly. "Close enough that we considered several times of marrying Emma to one of his sons," that surprised Alexander that he sputtered stupidly at her. "But he is a king, a leader of his people, first and foremost. Edgar and I know this, just as he would understand it for us as well. He would help us if he could...if my daughter's situation wasn't so dirty."

"Then what about Relm?" He asked desperately. "Surely she wouldn't care for what other nations thought. She would help Emma!"

"Thamasa is no longer just Thamasa Alexander," she told him. "It is the Kingdom of Doma and Thamasa. They rule always thinking of the two, but you are right. Neither of them would act in the interests of the country before Emma, but the major issue is that a blockage prevents us from even nearing them. The last fleet that neared was attacked."

"Airships, then?"

Terra sighed. "Alexander...please," she touched his arm. "We have thought this all through. If there was a way I didn't have to do this, I would, but this path leads to Edgar to eventually bringing her back home and issuing a pardon. That is ultimately the goal...erasing her sins, so that others cannot touch her no matter what, at least not in an official capacity."

"Terra, she shouldn't go there...not alone."

"I know," she admitted. "I wish I could go with her, or send another army at her back, but what more can I do? I can't leave Figaro behind, nor could I send another child with her because, gods forbid it, if something were to happen all three of my babies would be in that hell hole! Who then should I send? She has her father with her and...and I can only pray that is enough to settle the terrors in her little heart."

Alexander finally saw that she let her tears fall. Realizing he was just setting that fear anew in her heart, as a mother, on the eve of her daughter's departure, he felt even worse. He reached to take her into a hug. "I'm sorry Terra...I'm sorry for everything." Terra wept in his arms, and he could only think about all of the mistakes he had made that would continue to cost Emma.

••••••••••••

The clamor of the encampment this morning was all due to him. Since he had made the decision to have his daughter sent to his side—and he never used the words 'banished' unless around others—he wanted to make sure the muddy and cramped little space was open enough for his darling little girl. Of course, he suspected after the first morning she would not be walking around, he needed something to distract himself with. And perhaps tidying up the scenery for her would do that and make her happier when she arrived, and feel safer.

So far the main encampment area, where his pavilion was stationed, had already been cleared and the muddy pathways were cobbled quickly with rock and planks. He then had his men bring a divider for his pavilion and begin setting up the cubicle for his daughter. It was extremely difficult. No one had anything even remotely girly in possession, and the few towns they had crossed since crashing upon Roskovian shores were frightened and uncooperative (even, it seemed oddly to him, to their homeland defenders).

Even now Edgar struggled with what to fill his daughter's tiny little cubicle. Without any sort of decorations or the sort, he was handed over a spare cot, a simple table dinged up, a chair with a patched up leg and a small chest filled to the brim—to his dismay—with as small as they could find soldier garments, for Edgar wasn't sure if his daughter was going to arrive with items. He did specify it had to be immediate, after all.

He sighed and crossed his arms. It would have to do, he supposed. He closed the flap to the room, and went out to find Suon. The man overseeing the new shift in patrols when Edgar happened upon him.

"Ah, your majesty," he bowed quickly. "What brings you here? Is there more you need for your daughter?"

"Heavens, no," he mumbled, blushing. "I don't think it'll ever be fit for my little girl, Suon. I fear she will be displeased no matter what."

Suon laughed. "You underestimate the love and respect she holds for you. However, if you are not here for supplies, what are you here for?"

"I was wondering if there was news yet on my daughter's arrival?"

The man smiled, and there was a knowing glint in his eyes. "Patience, my king. It has only been two days. I am sure the queen is well along the plan, if she hasn't already sent her along."

"I only worry," Edgar explained. "You know how Emma gets during voyage...perhaps I should have ordered her to be taken via an airship."

"I fear that would have been unwise with our limited knowledge of the enemies' technology and weaponry," Suon said. "You must have patience and dispel that worry, my king. Your daughter will be here soon. I have sent word to the forward team to expect her at the harbor. Everything will be okay."

Edgar nodded. "Of course, of course. You're right." he took a moment to collect himself. "Tell me, has there been any news of Roskovian movement?"

"Secre reports movement to the south of the small village beyond the river, but he fears pursuing and alerting them to his presence."

"That is for the best. If he is caught, we lose our ability to know where they are going." Edgar thought on something said, and frowned. "Wait, the village mentioned...is that the one to the west?"

"Yes, your grace."

"Why would they be heading that far west? The scouts indicated that direction is cut off by steep mountain drops unless..."

"Unless what?"

"The only way out from that area is north, or back east. The southern path is via the river, which drops off with the waterfall, correct?"

"That is correct, your grace."

Edgar crossed his arms. "I do not like this Suon. They are circling back, it seems, but why with such a small force? They should well know they cannot hold against us, so why?"

"Perhaps they mean to scale down the mountain?"

"Perhaps..." he mumbled, thinking. "Just in case, triple the patrols and rotate every six hours. If a man is seen slacking, he must receive fifteen lashes. A second offense will be thirty five and a third offense will be imprisonment for five months."

"Your grace, that is a severe punishment..."

"We are in war, Suon, and we must be careful. I cannot allow my men to be careless right now. See to my commands, please."

Suon bowed. "Of course, your grace. I will do so now."

"And Suon?" the man turned to look at Edgar. "Double the men at the harbor...please. I would appreciate it."

Suon smiled. "I will see to that, as well."

Edgar walked back to his pavilion, feeling stressed and yet strangely excited. There was still this tremendous worry in his heart for the war and his son and of course his daughter, but yet to be able to see her again and potentially have the chance to make things right...it was unreal. Now he just had to make sure the encampment was safe for her, as he had promised her mother.

I will keep you safe, he thought as he closed the tent behind him. I will, no matter what I must give up.

---

The morning of her departure, Emma had felt the full weight of her fear and crash upon her. The night had led to sleeplessness when she laid down, for her thoughts led to what she was moving to, and what she was moving from. The idea of seeing her father frightened her, because she had no idea how he truly felt, or even how she truly felt about him. A part of her still wondered if what Luke said was true...if her father had set up what he and the others had done, to punish her. The other part of her couldn't stomach the idea of facing him knowing he thought so little of her, that if he hadn't set it up, wished to see so little of her that he had stayed away all of that time. Why would she want to be near someone like that? The other fear gripped her heart with much more strength. Her father fought their armies, but they were there, somewhere. Lurking in the vastness of Roskovo.

Emma tried to dispel the thought of them then, as she looked into the tiny dirty mirror the guards had given her. In her reflection, she saw Luke no matter how hard she tried to find herself. At first there was anger in her heart, with her inability to leave them behind and with herself for having trusted them in the first place, but then all she felt fear and humiliation. She was never going to out run them. They were her shadow now.

I'll be in their homeland, she thought, looking at the scars they had left her, at the eyes she now looked through after their parting. Sorrow and pain and exhaustion seeped deep into the soul of her now. She looked away from the mirror, trying to control the fear that was threatening to take her. The feel of them crept back into her memory, the smell of them, the sound of them.

With a cry, she reached up and turned the mirror around, trembling. In the back of her heart she felt an aching and it wasn't until she waited for her voice to scold her that she realized it was the first time, in a very long time, that her mind had been so quiet—so lonely. That she was, again, truly alone. She reached for the voice, gently, but only found emptiness. Had she imagined it all?

Don't leave me behind, too, she thought, tearfully.

The sound of the cell doors opening drew her from her thoughts. She turned and squinted at the light drawing closer to her. By the sound of it, there were seven people stomping toward here. She knew what it meant. Her mother had told her what would be happening, but she had spent the night praying it would not be so. And yet as the soldiers came into view before her cell door, with captain Wren at the head of them, all hope fled her.

When he saw her, his eyes narrowed at her in sorrow and pity. "Princess...I'm so sorry, but it is time." Trembling still, she looked back at her cot, thinking of anything that could delay her departure. Sensing what she might be thinking, he sighed. "Please princess...I know it is hard for you, but we mustn't delay any further. Your mother is waiting for you at the docks already. Please, trust in your parents. Everything will be alright."

"C-Can I g-g-go with Alex?"

Wren passed a look to his men quickly, and then he looked at her, frowning. "I don't think that will be possibly princess, we were given strict orders to escort you personally, but I am sure the young man is waiting for you at the docks."

And so without further delay, or argument from Emma, they departed. Wren gave her his cloak, discarding her tattered and dirty one, and walked beside her. He offered her his arm, but when she did not take to the idea, he took several paces back and led the group forward without another word.

Soon Emma was led to a carriage, with barred windows and locked doors. The walls were fortified by steel, and the chocobos leading the carriage were even equipped heavily in armor. Wren went to the coach to speak with him, leaving her at the head of the small party. Emma stared at the thing with terror. She had never seen a carriage like it before. It looked like it was meant to keep some grizzly beast inside. Was that truly what she was to them? Some horrific beast?

Distracted, she didn't notice the four soldiers approach her from behind. "Freak!" one of them hissed sharply and shoved her by the shoulder towards the carriage. She stumbled to her knees, into the mud and gravel. Before she could even move, another was snarling. "Get off your ass you monster." using the long step to lift herself out of the mud, Emma got back to her feet, shivering. The same soldier glared and shoved her against the carriage wheel. "Keep moving!"

Unsure of what to do, but knowing she was going to incite their anger regardless, she stayed in the mud this time, head down. The soldier scoffed. "Just so then. It is fitting filth roll in filth."

"What is the meaning of this?" Wren demanded, charging through the other soldiers who gathered in a semi circle to watch, quietly. The few who had been tormenting the princess turned to face their captain. The three men straightened and looked down at their boots as their captain went to help Emma out of the mud. "You should be ashamed of yourselves!" he snapped. "Behaving so ignorantly, so cruelly! And to a little girl no less!"

One of the soldiers dared. "She's no girl! She's a cruel beast! A murderess!"

"The conduct of a Figaro soldier doesn't wave even for those they think are morally inferior! For the criminal!" he told the lad. "Every person, every prisoner, deserves decency! If you cannot comprehend this, if you cannot practice it, and to a child no less, than you have no business being in the royal army!" he turned from the scolded men to Emma, whom was trembling from the icy mud caking her. He dug through his pockets for a few handkerchiefs to wipe away as much as he could, but it wasn't really helping. "I'm sorry princess..."

"T-t-they are r-r-right," she stammered. "I d-don't deserve any g-g-good for what I did."

Wren sighed. "Do not pay them any attention princess. Come, let us get you inside and out of this wind. As for you three," he turned to the men. "Do not think this is the end of this discussion. Proper repercussions will be had at the end of this. Jakle?" Emma turned her head, unaware the lad had been there. He came running out of the group of men. He passed her a look, one she couldn't discern, before stopping in front of the captain. "You will be left in charge of these halfwits and their carriage. I'll take the lead on with the princess' carriage. If they speak up about the girl, note it. I want to know everything."

He nodded. "Yes captain."

"Good. We're moving out." the men started to move, and Wren turned to the princess. "Come now princess, we have a bit of a journey ahead of us."

••••••••••••

They were an hour late now. Terra was sure something was wrong. She began to pace along the bridge, quick and nervously. Celes tried to assure her that if something had gone wrong, captain Wren would have sent a bird ahead to alert her, but it didn't do anything to settle her nerves.

"What if bandits attacked them en route?" she asked.

"Unlikely," Celes said.

"What if Emma had another episode? What...what if she needs her medication? What if it isn't working?"

"Terra," Celes stood and took her by the shoulders, stopping her mid step. "Listen to me...the only problem right now is that you are about to banish your daughter. That is the only issue that plagues your heart. Nothing happened on the road, nothing will happen. Wren is with her, with a company behind him. He even left Figaro with additional men, including Jakle. She has a small army at her back. You have nothing to fear."

Terra took a deep breath, to calm herself. "I'm sorry, I just...I don't want this Celes."

"I understand, I do," she brought her friend into a hug and then released her. "But you know right now her father is the only one that can save her. It is unfortunate, but the sad reality is that Emma took lives. Whether or not she was in the right state of mind or capable of understand or controlling herself is beside the point. No, she doesn't deserve to be punished for it, but no one will ever understand that. Edgar's plan is the best choice we have right now with the war going on."

Terra sniffed and rubbed a few stray tears away. "Oh Celes...how will I ever survive without my little girl? I just got her back and she's been through so much...why can't I just keep her here? Why can't Edgar just pardon her straight away?"

"Terra," Celes was clearly hesitant in speaking, because she looked away. "Terra you were a problem for the crown when Edgar married you."

"I...I understand, but—"

"It took Edgar conceding many things to get them accept you, to leave you be. You aren't what the council or what many lords, or even what the plebs, thought as material for a king. They accept you now, they know you are a good person, that you make a fine queen, but you aren't of noble blood."

"Why does it matter so much?"

"Only the gods know why it matters so much to those pig headed people," Celes continued. "But it does. My point is that you are already on thin ice. What powers you have were accepted with gritted teeth and bitterness. Without Edgar here, what do you think would happen if he just pardoned her with you just as the girl's shield? There are still many lords who hate you, who hate you and your daughter. Would you risk that?"

Tearfully, she shook her head. "Why must people be so ignorant? So hateful?" she started to sob, and Celes took her into another hug. After a moment, she broke off the hug, noticing something.

"You didn't tell me you invited Alexander here."

Terra turned, and spotted the lad walking down the docks, looking about. It was clear he was searching for the princess, having just arrived. Terra sighed. "He is here for Emma...despite it all, she adores him Celes."

"Even after all that he did? I would have thought that you would keep him away."

"I thought about it, but what right do I have to do that?" she asked her. "It is Emma's heart it concerns. I can only pray to the gods he won't hurt her again...and if he makes her happy, that is all that matters to me in the end. Seeing her smile, despite it all."

"You are the same person that woke up in that cave," Celes remarked, smiling a bit. Terra looked at her, wondering what she meant. "You are still that caring spirit. You haven't faltered from what you believe and how much you trust others and how much you love. It is something..."

"I just want what is best for my family...for my daughter. If Alexander is that, then so be it."

Celes hmm'd and watched the young man stroll down the bridge, still searching. "Now that I think about it...Alexander and Edgar share a lot in common." Celes smiled. "A womanizer of the modern age, sure, but Alexander only lacks the tender society rearing that Edgar was exposed to. I suppose that's the only real difference." and then Celes started to laugh. "I guess Emma is more like you than I first realized."

Terra blushed. "I don't know what you are talking about..."

Celes' smile grew. "Oh, I'm sure."

Just then the young man approached them, looking frustrated. "Terra, Celes," he allowed them a small greeting before he jumped into the more important matter to him. "Where is Emma? I've searched the entire harbor...shouldn't she be here already?"

Terra sighed. "There was just a small delay," she missed the look from Celes, a very amused one, because it was only a minute ago that she had just calmed the queen down herself. "She will be here soon, Alexander."

"That gives me time to talk to you then," he said.

"About?"

He straightened himself before her, donning a serious expression. "Terra...please, allow me to go with your daughter to Roskovo. I do not only ask for myself. Emma wanted me to ask you as well."

Terra, stunned, glanced at Celes. The woman shrugged. Terra sighed. "Alexander, I...I'm not the person who could grant that, and even if I could, you would need ask your parents first."

"With all due respect, your grace, I do not need to consult my parents for anything. I am not a child." he told her sternly. "I live with them now only to help them, and because I love them, not because I must. The only person now that stands between me going with your daughter to that dreadful place is you or your husband."

Terra quietly thought it over. She would prefer to hand her daughter over with someone she would find comfort in, with someone who could look after her on the way over and while her father couldn't, but she wasn't sure if it would get in the way of any of Edgar's planning.

"I cannot send you with her," as soon as she said, he was protesting, and hotly, but she cut him off sharply. "Alexander, wait, please..." when he quieted, she continued. "but I will hand over a letter to the ship carrier for Edgar, to request you be allowed to journey over to join her. I cannot promise what he will say and I will be sure to write in detail my support of it, you must understand that he could very well say no, but hopefully that will suffice."

Alexander thought it over, brows furrowed deeply, and then nodded. "Fine...I will wait, but I won't accept no as an answer."

Celes laughed. "We can see that in your expression."

Terra sighed. "Why must I deal with such bullheadedness?" she asked no one in particular. "Come Alexander, you might as well make yourself useful and go see what is delaying my daughter's arrival."

••••••••••••

The harbor glowed under the dim light of the morning sun and the waning fog. There was a singular vessel docked, large and intimidating. Emma stayed huddled in the carriage, watching as the scenery grew closer, and feeling the terror in her heart grow. The road bumped terribly beneath them as they approached the harbor, and she bounced painfully in the cramped little space. It took only a minute longer before it came to an end, and they were stationary alongside the docks.

Even still, as Emma peered out of the barred windows, she could not spot another living soul. Only seagulls circled and cried overhead. The door opened then, and a soldier reached in to grab her by the arm. He yanked her hard right out of the carriage. She flailed about. "Stop your flailing girl, or you'll get hurt." the man settled her on her feet, roughly. "Keep your mouth shut, you hear me? Good, now move." he grabbed her by the arm and flung her before him and then took her by the shoulder to guide her forward. The rest of the soldiers began to file behind him.

Emma sought out Wren quickly, but the other carriage wasn't in sight. Panicking, she turned a bit to look behind her, and the man shoved her forward, making her look straight. "Keep going!" he was leading her down the docks, towards the ship.

"W-w-where's my m-mother?" she asked but they did not answer. "Please, there's b-been a mistake, my mother is s-supposed to be here."

"Quiet!"

"But—"

"I said be quiet!" he shoved her again, and this time she fell face first onto the hard surface of the dock. She bit her tongue in the drop, and tasted blood. She lifted herself to her knees and wiped at the blood trailing from her lips with a whimper. Another solder charged the one who had shoved her and drew him back by the arm.

"Enough!" he ordered the man to the back, and then knelt to help the princess up. "Are you well, girl?"

Still bleeding and feeling the pain, but unwilling to let his kindness go unanswered, she nodded. "Good. I apologize for their cruelty, but I think you know how man will act when anger and fear rests in their hearts." he looked over at two others. "Until captain Wren can catch up with us, take the girl and lock her in one of the cells. And if I find out that you let a single hair get displaced, I will be sure the queen and king learns every soul involved."

The men nodded and went to take the princess by the arm, but she stopped them. "Wait...where is Wren? W-where is my mother?"

"It appears we arrived too early, or perhaps too late," he told her. "Regardless, we will sort it out once Wren catches up with us. His carriage caught trouble along the road and they needed to stop to repair one of the wheels."

"C-Can I wait for them here?"

"Princess, please, do not be stubborn. You will go to your cell where you have been ordered to go. Now."

Promptly the men hauled her off. They were not rough with her as they moved her, but they were stiff, making sure she couldn't squirm or get away. She looked back, to see if she could catch a glimpse of her mother arriving, but there was only the few men who had brought her here and the chilling embrace of the sea's wind.

••••••••••••

It took them some time to get the wheel fixed, but eventually they were back on the road, moving faster than they had before, to a point that the carriage rattled dangerously against the bumps and rocks of the road. It was a risk, but Wren needed to make up the time, he needed to get back to the princess. He knew the others couldn't be trusted with the girl, and if so many had turned cruel enough to harm her, he feared what a company at her back could do without him there to keep them in line.

"Captain, we're arriving at the harbor," the coach called to him, slowing the carriage. Without waiting, Wren, threw the door open and looked outside. The vessels bobbed gently in the early morning water, and the large company granted to the princess' protection stood at the ready along the docks. The queen's carriage, bearing the standard of the royal family, stood at the head of the company.

He smacked hard against the carriage wall to order the carriage to an immediate halt and then leapt out to find the queen. As he approached the dock, he was bombarded from the side by the very woman.

"Captain! There you are!" he turned, and bowed to his majesty. At her side was general Chere and the lad that was on the lips of almost every soul of the kingdom. It was well known the princess had become enamored with the shipmaster's eldest, and most loved to gossip about it. Others were most crude about it. "We have been awaiting your arrival for almost two hours! Where have you been?"

"We hit trouble along the road, my queen, and needed to stop for repairs."

She sighed, cooling. "All is well...just bring me my daughter, there is something I need to discuss with her before we begin."

Wren, feeling every ounce of blood chill within him. He stared, dumbly. "What...what are you talking about? The princess isn't here?"

The color drained from Terra's face, and then anger stormed in her eyes. "You lost my daughter?!" at once, every face was looking at them. Wren lifted his hands and tried to calm her, to make her listen. "How could you!? You had one job, Wren!"

"My queen, please, there must be some sort of mix up. Jakle must be with her. When I ordered him to continue on, he must have taken the wrong turn, brought her to the wrong ship. That is all."

"I don't care if he took her back to Figaro castle!" she shoved him back, tears in her eyes. "You were not supposed to leave her side, not for a minute!"

"Your majesty, I had to take command over several men who had been violent with your—"

"I gave you an order!" she screamed. "An order, Wren!"

Celes cut Terra's onslaught short and held her back. "Terra, he understands he made a mistake, that is enough."

Alexander looked at Terra. "I could ride ahead, to whatever dock she was taken to."

Wren spoke up. "The only other harbor nearby is Oxby, my queen, an hour's drive away."

Terra passed him a look that very clearly said she did not want to hear from him at the moment and looked at Celes. "Locke is still here, correct?" she nodded. "Would you ask him to ride to Oxby ahead of us? Find my daughter...protect her."

"Terra, I could go and I could—"

Wren had never seen the queen look so short before. She lashed at the lad like a snake. "You will stay with the party, Alexander! Do I make myself clear?" the lad nodded, but crossed his arms and walked away, clearing pissed off. Finally the queen turned to him, still very much angry with him. "Take your company and go with Locke. If anyone gives you trouble, if they so much as look at my daughter wrong...do whatever you must to protect her." Wren bowed and began to walk away. "And captain," he stopped, to look at her. "Do not leave her side again until I relieve you of it."

He bowed. "Yes, your grace."

••••••••••••

It seemed so unnatural to see that wrath on Terra's face. So unnatural that it made him uncomfortable, but he supposed that if it was his daughter, he would do the same. And after everything her daughter had been made to endure, he guessed this seemed one step too much even for Terra. Even still though, there had to be better people to send charging to Oxby after her daughter with a company at his back. He didn't want to mess this up, to endanger Emma and upset Terra. Surely Celes could have done it, or perhaps even Sabin.

And yet she trusted me, he thought, speeding down the road, wind whipping painfully against his face. The chocobos practically flew. Soon enough the Oxby harbor came into view, as did the missing prisoner carriage. A few soldiers stood beside it, laughing and messing around. It drew his ire. He sped his chocobo down the path, and then yanked it into an immediate stop. Gravel and dust flew up, pelting the men and startling them. The bird gave a loud squawk, almost in the same anger as its rider, just as Locke leapt off, face as a red as a tomato.

The company soon arrived after him, coming to a halt in a perfect column. It looked fierce behind him. The soldiers were stumped. "Who are you? Why does captain Wren's company follow you?" one of the soldiers asked, a dumb look on his face.

Locke pounced on him first, snarling. "Where is Jakle?!"

"I asked you a question!" he threw back, now angry. "Men, detain him—"

"Are you daft?!" another squealed, finally realizing who it was. "That is Locke Cole!"

The first soldier, understanding his error, drew his eyes back to the man in terror. "M-M-My apologies, my lord! I didn't recognize you!"

"Just tell me where Jakle is," he said, feeling his anger rise. "Why isn't he here with you?"

"Sir, he is with the princess, in the vessel. We have been awaiting the captain and the queen's arrival, so someone needed to keep watch over the girl."

"And you lot," he gestured to them. "decided that, instead of keeping watch out here, it was a much smarter idea to waste time fucking around?!" they looked away from his scolding eyes. "Take me to the princess." when they hesitated, he lost the last of his temper. "Right now!"

One of the soldiers hurried to lead him towards the vessel. The vessel was oddly quiet upon their entry. Not a single soldier remained at the entrance. Locke grew suspicious. "Where are the others?"

The soldier was unsure. "I...I don't know, m'lord."

"Where are the cells located?"

"I believe the bulkhead as been retrofitted for the prison hold, sir. If you would follow me." he began to lead Locke to the far back of the vessel, down a small flight of iron stairs. They cleared the second floor, where the hall lead to the captain's room and the rest of the room, and then down another fly of stairs that ran a semi circle opposite the previous stair case. They still hadn't bumped into another soldier, and Locke was growing angrier with Jakle. Where was he? How could he mistreat his position like this?

"Here we are," the man said at a fortified door, where two lanterns burned at the sides. He knocked, but there was no answer. "That's odd." He said, opening the door. "There should have been someone at the—" as he entered through the door, someone on the other side smashed something over his head, throwing him to the floor. Acting quickly, Locke drew his daggers and leapt into the doorway.

Locke ducked to avoid a strike from the attacker to his right, spun on his heels and flung one of his daggers toward the attacker. It was clear then it was a Figaro soldier, as the attacker deflected the strike last second by bringing up his shield. Rebalancing himself, Locke turned again, avoiding a jab from the soldier and used his elbow to smash into the soldier's helm. It stunned his attacker long enough for Locke to reach for his discarded dagger and get back into a proper fighting stance.

The soldier faced him, and Locke could see his eyes through the slits. They were burning with anger. The soldier discarded his helm. "You picked the wrong day to come here, you prick!" the man spat at him. Locke did not answer his gouging. "Leave here now and I won't have to gut you!"

Locke spared a glance to the unconscious soldier at his feet before looking back at the man in front of him. "You turncoats...you have no decency in you, no shred of honor."

"Turncoat?" the man echoed, shocked, insulted. "I do not turn my back on Figaro, she turns hers on me and my fellow brothers by letting this monster go!"

"You can try to justify your actions however you want," Locke said. "But you know what you are doing is wrong. You have guarded that girl before, and if you haven't, you have been sworn before to protect her and her family—against everything. And yet here you stand, defying that oath. It is a betrayal of Figaro, no matter what you try to convince yourself of."

"I will die protecting the royal family," he pointed his sword at Locke. "but that creature is not part of that oath and she never will be. You may call me an oath breaker or a turncloak, but I will do whatever I must to protect Figaro and the family—even if it means killing the beast sired from the line."

"She's a child," Locke argued, hoping he could talk this man down. "She couldn't know what she was doing, she was never taught and is sickly, you cannot hold her completely at fault."

"I hold her at fault," he snapped. "And I hold her mother and father at fault too, for not drowning the foul thing when she took her first breath, but such is the weakness of a parent!" he took a step toward Locke. "But I will take the step they couldn't...I will put the thing out of its misery. I will protect what they couldn't, before it destroys us all."

Realizing this man was too far to be reasoned with, Locke sighed. "Have it your way then..." and may the gods have mercy on you for your actions.

At once the man raced forward, slashing across the distance with such strength that when Locke leapt back the sword struck almost clear through the wall into the next room. The soldier yanked it free just in time to block the flurry of strikes and to keep himself from being pressed back. "Give it up!" the soldier snarled after a moment, after gaining a foot hold. The narrow hall and worrying about getting too close to the fallen soldier was distracting Locke. "You will not win this!"

Catching an opening, he ducked under a slash, and then threw his weight forward onto the soldier. Knocked to the floor, the man lost the hold on his sword and had to try to wrestle Locke off of him. For a moment it was a wrestle, a mess to get a hold over the other. Locke almost had the upper hand, but the soldier butted him across the face with his elbow and hurried back to his feet, to retrieve his sword.

Swearing, Locke fumbled around for his daggers, but it was too late. The soldier brought his sword to the base of Locke's throat, panting. "I told you...you should have never come here!" he reached up, to strike, but gasped and dropped his sword. From his chest, a dagger protruded upward. He glanced down at it for just a second before his eyes rolled up and he fell to the floor, dead. Locke scrambled backwards, startled, and saw Jakle standing there, slumped forward. He looked as if he had been used as a punching bag, and blood poured profusely from a wound in his shoulder.

"Are...are you well, m'lord?" he asked quietly before collapsing to his knees. Locke hurried to his side.

"God damn it Jakle," Locke said helping to lean him against the wall. "What the hell happened here?"

"We...we got separated from the captain...I...I thought this was it...I'm sorry..."

"Never mind that, what happened here? Where is the princess? Are there other traitors?"

"Yes," he coughed. "Two more, in the prison hold. That's where they are keeping her. You...you surprised him," he looked at the felled soldier. "He...he was...going to kill me...and then...then the princess."

Locke gritted his teeth. "The others...will they listen to me, to reason?"

He shook his head. "I'm not sure...m'lord, the princess...they..." he coughed, roughly. "please, you must hurry...hurry to her and...and..." when he stopped, Locke swore. He took his jacket off and pressed it against his wound and then undid the lad's belt to tighten it against the wound. Hopefully it would hold, that the lad would remain in the living, until help would arrive.

"I will save her," he said, standing. "Don't worry, Jakle." He took the dead soldier's sword and pressed on. At the end of the hall, he could hear the last soldiers, hooting hysterically. Carefully, Locke opened the door and peaked inside. The prison hold was rather spacious. One the back side of the room was the cells, split into three. Locke could only see the far left one, empty. The two soldiers were standing before the cells, laughing. In their hands were bottles. Locke could hear snarling, and the clanking of chains. Slowly he drew the door open further, and caught sight of what was entertaining the soldiers so thoroughly.

Emma was chained to one side of the wall in the middle cell, mouth gagged. On the other side, a mangy looking aepyornis, chained but given more leverage than the princess. It snapped ravenously and only inches away from her face. Emma was trying, desperately, to keep herself flat against the wall but was coming dangerously close to slipping within reach of the creature.

A fury mounted in Locke. He drew the sword upright and kicked the door full open, drawing the soldiers' attention. One of them dropped their bottle and messily reached for their own sword, but it was too late. Locke was on him, shoving the sword through his belly and upward, out his back. He clawed pathetically at Locke's arms, coughing and sputtering incoherently until he fell limp against him. The other soldier squealed, dropped his bottle and stepped back with his arms raised high above his head. His skin had gone as white as snow.

"Please, m-m-m'lord, s-s-spare me!" he begged as he dropped to his knees. Locke dropped the dead man to the floor and drew the sword to the other's neck. "Please!" he cried louder. "Mercy!"

"Mercy?!" he asked, pointing to the cell. "Where was your mercy for the princess?!"

The man started to cry. A loud snap stole Locke's attention. He turned in time to watch as the aephyornis broke one of the chains on its arms and lashed out, tearing a long scratch down the princess's arm. The girl cried painfully against her gag and her feet gave out beneath her. The creature drew back, cocking its head to the side, and grabbed her by the ankle. Emma blindly reached up to grab the little clip on the wall holding her chain and held onto it, to resist the creature.

Locke gasped and picked the last soldier up by the throat. "Where is the damn key?"

"The k-key?" he echoed, eyes widening. "I...I don't know, m'lord! On Berk, I think...I-I don't know!"

"Useless!" Locke threw him aside and went quickly to the dead soldier to dig through his pockets. It took only a second to find the large ring of keys, and then he was at the cell doors. "Hold on Emma, hold on!" one, two, three, four and five keys he tried, but none of them worked. Come on! Come on! The eighth key opened the cell. He threw the door open and dug the sword deep into the creature's spine just as its mouth sunk into the princess' leg. Her muffled cry made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

When it was dead, he used the key to unlock her chains and then remove her gag. Her breathing was irregular, but he prayed it was mostly due to her fear, and that the aephyornis had not managed to poison her. "Emma...Emma it okay now, I have you." she could barely keep her eyes open, but she mumbled something he thought was his name. He lifted her and hurried up and out of the vessel.

The rest of the soldiers were waiting, and the company too. When they spotted him with the princess, and her state, they grew into a worried frenzy. The company's acting captain immediately rode off to carry the message to the queen, and the company medic cleared an area on the deck to help the girl.

"The bastards had locked her in a cell with an aephyornis," he told the lead medic as the man looked over the deep scratches and bites, and another evaluated her breathing. "Is she poisoned?"

"It appears so," the medic said, without looking away from the princess. "but you have naught to worry for. She was just bitten, and the remedy for the creature's poison has been known to the world for centuries, perfected in numerous ways in the last few decades even. She may be frail for a bit though, the poison is strong." he reached into a small pouch by his side, and recovered a vial. "Regardless, the girl is strong. To be bit this many times...and yet she lives."

The other medic shook his head. "To survive that much poison...it is unheard of."

Locke ignored the comments and watched nervously as they applied the remedy to her wounds, and then got a separate mix for her to drink. She was out of it, so it was difficult for them to get her to drink it, but eventually she settled. Locke went to find Jakle next, who had been recovered by other medics and was being tended to.

"Are you well, Jakle?"

"I am," he said, grimacing as a medic wrapped his head in bandages. "How is the princess?"

"She is well now. The poison has been dealt with, she just needs rest."

"The queen...she will never forgive my failure." and shook his head. "And I wouldn't deserve it."

"Jakle...do not blame yourself for the traitor's actions."

"If I had gotten her to the correct place, to safety...then they would never have been able to harm her," he sighed and got up, waving a medic aside. "I...I think a moment alone." and then he walked away. Locke wanted to go after him, to convince him that Emma would not blame him, nor would the queen, but he knew the lad needed time and that he wasn't so sure about Terra at the moment. She was high on her fear and guilt. And he had seen that anger.

Just then the trumpets for the queen's company resounded in the chilly morning air, and the company stormed off to greet their queen, in proper formation. None of them seemed willing to step up and take up the position of explaining the situation fully to her. She stormed out of her carriage, in what looked like fury, but Locke could only see fear and grief. She fled right by the company, by Jakle, who had tried to stop her with an explanation as he came to line late, and toward Locke.

"Where is she?"

"She is okay now, Terra. Follow me." he led her to the small area where the medics hovered, and Terra raced toward her. It was only then that Locke finally saw Celes at her heel, and the rest of the farewell party following. To his surprise, Alexander Gabbianni walked with his daughter. He tried to ask why he was here, but shut his mouth. Terra had her reasons, and at the moment, it seemed unwise to question her.

Terra took her daughter's hand, fragile as it was, and kissed her fingers. "My sweet girl...trouble follows you as the shadows bloom beneath the moon." she sighed. "What of the men who betrayed her?" she asked of Locke.

"Only one survived, and he is locked away safely. The others who never acted have also been imprisoned, to await questioning. I thought..."

"You thought right," she said, standing straight. "This only enforces my fears. My daughter is not safe here. She must be away, and at once. Where her father can protect her."

"Who can say that traitorous bastards don't roam his ranks?" Alexander spoke up. "What if you are sending her into the vipers' pit?"

"I will not hear this right now!" she snapped at him. "Here she is sought after by numerous peoples! Some of which I can't dare to hope to gleam their plans! Dangerous villains, Alexander!

"I...I understand, I just...I think we are rushing this. If only I could go with her-"

"I told you, I would ask," she said, turning back to her daughter to softly brush fingers across her cheeks. She sighed. "We need to bring her back to Shivering Rock, immediately. We will discuss everything else there. Locke, can you make up the rear with the company with Celes?"

"Of course. Besides, we can't have the company split again."

"Good. We move out in five." they moved out immediately, but Locke watched for a moment as she knelt beside her daughter, refusing to move. Alexander stayed too, staying far enough away to not incur the woman's wrath, but close enough he could reach out to touch the princess. The love they both had for the girl was powerful. Anyone with eyes could see that, but if they didn't put aside their differences and fast, that love would tear them all apart.

•••••••••••

Emma awoke to a headache, a dry throat. She sat up and winched painfully as the pain in her head flared down her spine. Weakened she fumbled back into the thin comforts of her hay bed, covered with a small fur blanket. It was then that she saw her arms and one leg was wrapped in bandages. The memory of the creature attacking her came back to her, and she groaned painfully as the memory stung back into its unmovable position in her mind.

That...that's right...the cell. She looked around, and saw that she was still imprisoned, but this one was different from the one earlier. And, of course, there was no foul creature snarling to eat her flesh less than a foot away. Then the foggiest of details came to her. Locke. She gasped. He had been there! Maybe...maybe he brought me here. When she saw that she was not chained down, she carefully got to her feet-first allowing herself a moment so she did not black out—and then walked her way towards the cell door. Lanterns flickered in the hall, illuminating it perfectly. Unlike all her other cells, this one was impeccable. Lit and well kept, warm and dry.

Emma could only assume she had been transferred over to the royal vessel, to await the journey to her father's side. She pressed her face against the bars and peaked down the hall. When she caught sight of the coat of arms of Figaro on some flags hanging low on the walls, relief flooded through her. She was aboard the transfer vessel, finally. It meant her mother was aboard, somewhere.

Afraid, but determined, she called out into the lit hallway. "...hello? Is a-anyone there?" the crackle of the torches answered her, and the distance, dulled thud of boots on the deck above her. "Anyone?" she croaked fearfully. She let a moment go before she let go of the bars and crept back to her little bedding, sadden.

A creak of a door opening down the hall drew her attention. She got to her feet and raced to the cell bars again, forgetting that getting up so fast would give her a head rush, and saw two guards walking toward her. She fumbled back, frightened.

"S-S-stay back! My mother w-w-will hear about this!"

The guards looked at each other strangely, before one of them spoke. "We should hope so princess, she's the one that sent us down here." that's when she saw the second carrying a bundle of clothes, pristine, and a basket of foods. "Your mother told us to tell you that you are to get dressed, and then to eat. Afterwards, you will have company."

"C-c-company?" she asked as they handed the things over, but when she looked back up, they were already leaving. She carefully sat the basket down and then the clothes on top, and looked down the hall the best she could. "Wait, please!" one of them hesitated for a moment before continuing. Deflated, she turned to her new things and began to dress. Even though it was uncomfortably hot in the cell, naked, she only could feel the angry bite of the cold. She shivered and dug into her clothes quickly.

It was a new pair of loose trousers, a dark blue that ruffled at the sides. The top was a blouse of offset white, which also ruffled here and there, and laced at the cuffs. Emma did not like it much at all, nor the way the laces tickled her skin, but it was clean and her mother had prepared it for her, so she wouldn't complain.

Once she was done, she knelt carefully so as to not dirty up her new clothes, and carefully lifted the lids of the basket. Inside was an assortment of fruit and vegetables, and cold meats. A bottle of something to drink, though of what Emma could not know, and a letter. Emma went for the letter first.

For my darling girl,

Thank you for gracing my life with your light. Please enjoy the food. I will see you shortly.

With love always, your mother

Emma smiled and sat aside the note before she began to eat. She hadn't realized how famished she was until she began to eat. Everything was prepared exactly how she preferred it. The meat was well done—oh how she adored the crispy taste—and the bread was crisp, and the mushrooms came in a variety. But as she ate, her thoughts drifted to who did not sit beside her as she ate and who she would perhaps never see again. The family that she had lost again...and Alexander. She began to cry, and no longer did the basket of goods bring happiness, but dread and pain.

She sat the food back into the basket and sniffed and then wiped at her eyes. I didn't mean to harm anyone...I didn't. She was so distraught she didn't even care that someone had entered the prison wing, and was approaching. There were a few of them, by the sound of it. Go away, she thought tiredly. I just want to be alone...

"Then you have eaten, my dear?"

Emma turned and saw her mother standing outside the cell, with her brother, uncle, and Cadence beside her. Tears filled her eyes and ran over to embrace her mother through the bars. Terra laughed and soothed her with gentle brushing of her hair. "It is okay my sweet child, I'm here now."

Benjamin smiled gently. "That is the overtly gushy sister that I remember." Cadence had passed him a deadly look, though no one noticed. Emma peeled away from her mother enough to glance her brother and show him a frown. "Aw, none of that now Emma. You know this isn't final."

Cadence rolled her eyes and then reached through the bars to touch her shoulder. "I will say my goodbyes above, for now I think it more fitting to let someone else use this time to talk with you."

Terra puffed her cheeks, clearly annoyed. "We have only just arrived. I want to speak with her for—"

"Terra," Cadence said, looking at her with a look that clearly reminded her of something. The woman scoffed and crossed her arms.

"Oh! Alright, fine. Come here Emma, give your mother a hug."

"I...I don't understand what is happening," she mumbled, letting her mother squeeze her tight through the bars. "Why m-must you leave? You only just arrived!"

Terra laughed. "Oh, you will see, but you and I will speak more on deck." she kissed her daughter's forehead. "Till then, my sweet." and then she gathered her son and Cadence and started off, rather quickly.

Suddenly alone again, and frustrated, Emma smashed her hands into the bars and sunk to her knees and cried. I didn't even get to say goodbye...

"Now now, one as beautiful as you shouldn't cry." Emma looked up, tearfully, and saw Alexander approaching. Her heart caught as she stumbled up to her feet, and suddenly she couldn't breathe. When he stopped by the bars, he smiled. "I hope I didn't cause you this distress."

She was so happy to see him, and yet very angry. He must have caught onto that, because he offered her a small chuckle. "Are you angry with me, princess?"

"Yes," she simply said, sniffing.

"May I know why?"

"I-I know you d-d-didn't ask to go l-like you said."

His eyes widened for the briefest of seconds before he calmed himself. "I don't know who told you that but...I actually have." that astonished her. "Your mother wouldn't mind so much, but she cannot allow me to go, not on her authority. She promised to send word to Edgar, to ask him. If he says yes, I will ship off immediately after you."

"That...that could be weeks," she protested weakly. "That's too long."

"I know," he said, and drew closer. He reached through the bars for her hands. Even she knew her hands were ice against his, but he didn't seem to mind it at all. "Your father will keep you safe...at least until I can get to you. Then, my dear princess...you are all mine."

She blushed, but she did very much like the idea of it. To spend, finally, as much time as she wished with him. She brought herself as close to the bars as she could so she could reach him, to hug him, and he smiled. He stepped closer, and obliged her. When his arms wrapped around her, she felt at peace, as if the world around her dulled to a whisper. As if it were just them.

"Emma...I promise, it will get better. If your father cannot help, then I will do everything in my power to bring you back to Figaro...where you belong." She screwed her eyes shut, wishing to ignore her problems, to just be with him, to remember him the best she could. He smelled of smoke and oil and verdure. "I swear it." he promised, as if he sensed her doubt, and held her tighter.

Something told her though that Alexander would soon forget her, forget the girl who had murdered, and somehow she felt that was better for him. He shouldn't be tied to a monster—to a murderer. But, if for a bit, he could be with her, to remember her, she would be forever happy. She pressed her head against him through the small opening of the bars, sniffling.

Alexander caught it, and shifted away. "What saddens you?"

"Nothing," she mumbled, rubbing at her nose. "N-nothing."

He didn't seem to buy it, but it let it go. "Emma, this is not something easily said...it is important, at least. I feel horrible for having to tell you here, in this place, but I must tell you before you go and while we are actually in a damn moment of privacy."

Her heart stopped. Was this it? So soon. She took a breath. No. If this was where he wished to part ways, she would understand. She would love him always and be sadden, but she would understand. Let him leave immediately...so that he does not see my tears!

Alexander's eyes, dark in the hall way, held hers. He reached through the bars to touch her cheek. His fingers burned her skin. It felt so good, so comforting. "Emma..." he took a small breath. It was clear whatever it was he was trying to tell her was difficult for him to say, and now she was confused. And when his cheeks had reddened, her concern worsened. "Emma...I...I love you." for the briefest of moments she could hear nothing else. She knew he was speaking, his lips were moving, but her heart was beating so incredibly fast that it thrummed violently in her ears. She felt lightheaded next as his words repeated through her mind. Of all the things she had anticipated, that was not ever considered.

There was a piece of her that couldn't understand it though. "I...I'm a monster though," she cried. "T-they said so." he simply held her gaze. "H-how could you love me?" she asked him, crying. "I...I killed those people. I'm—I'm not worthy of that..."

"I feel like that is something I should determine," he said quietly. "I know you aren't those things because I know you didn't mean it. Did you?" she shook her head. "I know it is hard to understand Emma, but I saw what it was like. So did Cadence and Celes, and your mother and uncle. You were...were out of control. You couldn't possibly understand what you were doing. You are sick, that is all. I know you, though. The sweet girl who can't even look people in the eye, who won't even defend herself when someone is attacking her," she looked away at that. "Who smiles whenever she gets to read her favorite books or is given her favorite foods...who sings when she thinks she's alone." she blushed. "You are the kindest person I have ever known and that is why I know you, in your right mind, could never have done those things." he smiled at her. "However, if you are more monster than you are girl...I will love you however I can have you."

Her eyes watered and she sniffed. "D...do you mean it?"

He laughed. "More than I have ever meant anything in my life. I was yours the moment I looked into your eyes at that dinner...I was just too stupid to know it." he took her hand and pressed her hand, cold and trembling, to his lips, and said, "The real question is...will you still have me?" Emma burst into tears and reached over to hug him, weeping. He laughed, a bit nervously. "I don't know what to make of this."

"I love you," she mumbled into chest, growing ever so furious that the bars were standing between them. "I love you..."

He laughed and reached through the bars to hold her the best he could. The cold bars restricted it very much, and he didn't want to hurt her by pressing very hard. "What a fool I have been. I had your affections all this time and I was too stupid to realize what I wanted. All of this time I could have held you..." it felt like he had more to say, but he stopped there, and released her a moment later. Confused, she watched as he dug through his pocket. He recovered a necklace. It was delicate, with a silver chain in a twisting pattern that joined into a small sapphire. "I had this made for you when...when you were first imprisoned."

"For me?" she mumbled. "But...but why?"

"Because that is what men do. They get gifts like this for the women that they like," he said through laughter. "Especially when they do something wrong. I'm sure your father bought thousands of gifts for your mother." he chuckled over his little joke.

She looked at him with furrowed brows. "I don't understand..."

"Never mind that, come here for a minute." she got as close to the bars as she could, and he reached through to move her hair aside. "The chain will be cold..." he warned, and began to attached it. She shivered. It was certainly cold. When he was done, he let her hair fall and touched the gemstone. His thumb gently touched her skin, and it sent fire through her body. She trembled. He must have noticed, because he immediately shifted and took a step away. "It...it matches your eyes." he said, trying to avoid looking directly at her. "You look beautiful."

Emma looked down at the necklace and touched it, recalling his words. What...what did he do wrong?

There was a holler down the hall from a guard that it was time to leave then, and Alexander swore. Emma gasped. "No, please...you haven't been here for very long."

"It can't be helped. We...we have to discuss something on the deck and finish the preparations to send you off." She sighed. "Now now," he said with a bright smile. "We will still have a moment above deck, and you will have your goodbyes with your family. But don't think this is goodbye. I will have my time with my lovely princess again."

She giggled. "Okay."

He bowed to her, charmingly. "I will see you soon, my sweet. Until then..." and then he swept around on his heels and hurried out of the prison wing. When he was at last gone, Emma reached for the necklace and smiled.

Until then...

•••••••••••

When Alexander made it above deck, he saw that the preparations were already near complete. It filled him with dread. He half wanted to sabotage things, and the other half wanted to steal Emma away right from under their noses. He knew though, the dangers that lurked for her outside the queen's relative protection; the disgraced council members, the growing angered citizens, traitors among the Figaro ranks and worst of all, Roskovo and their agents. He didn't know if he could survive with the girl for a month without being overrun by distraught villagers or hunted down by bloodthirsty turn cloaks looking for revenge.

Perhaps the queen was right. Edgar's risky plan was all that was left to protect the girl, at least until something better could be done. It still unsettled him though. She shouldn't be sent to that blasted land, he thought as he approached the queen. One wrong step...

"Alexander, at last," Terra said, smiling gently. There was grief behind it. "How was she?"

"Distraught, but otherwise...okay."

She nodded gently. "It is to be expected...this isn't exactly a fantastic sendoff. Hopefully she will only be in Roskovo for a few months. The situation with the war seems to be in our favor at the moment. Edgar has sent emissaries into the villages and cities they passed, to speak with the locals. If they can get the men there to turn, to work with us...well," she shook her head. "Enough of that. The vessel is ready to take off. Once everyone is ready, we will head down and say our final goodbyes."

"What?" Alexander gaped. "I...I told her we would have our goodbyes on deck."

Terra looked cross. "Alexander, there is a good reason I didn't make her any sort of promise!" she relaxed after that outburst when Celes whispered something to her. "I...I don't exactly have the authority at the moment to do so."

"Oh...I didn't know, I'm sorry."

"Perhaps the commander will allow it," Celes said. "I will speak with him. He is a reasonable man." she hurried off. When she was gone, Terra sighed and pressed a hand against her temple.

"I never should have taken her out of Thamasa...my selfishness brought this all upon my daughter."

"Terra, don't speak like that," Alexander took her hand. "Your daughter needed you, and you wanted to get to know her. There is nothing wrong with that. And you shouldn't blame yourself for the actions of her..." the words hurt him. "...of her rapists. This all hangs on them."

"I know that, it is just...something I can't stop thinking about. If I had just left her there, or if I had moved there, this all could have been avoided—even if wasn't my fault."

"Emma needs to know that her mother is strong. If she sees you like this, she will crack."

Terra looked at him with such anger he thought she was going to slap him. For a second he saw Emma looking at him, and he wondered if that was where her temper came from, but it burned out quick. And then Celes returned, smiling.

"Good news, the commander agreed, provided she remains in chains during the farewells."

"In chains?" Alexander repeated, angered. "Must she, really?"

"It was the only way I could get him to agree. He is a stickler for the rules, Alexander, and whether or not we like it, Emma is a criminal being transported to await trial under the Crown." he looked away, angry.

"It is better than nothing," Terra admitted, with a small smile. "I will send for her." she motioned for a ship guard, and told him to bring her daughter to the deck, chained, and he bowed and left. She sent the company off ship and to set up around the harbor, just in case and nervously stood at ready. Benjamin tried to tell her it was going to be okay, to calm down, but it didn't work.

Alexander glared at him the entire time. Oh how he hated the brat. Emma may have forgiven him for the treatment he had given her, but Alexander would never forget the words or the way the prince had treated his own sister. It was seared in his head. If it wasn't for Emma now, and the queen standing there, he would have charged over and beaten the living hell out of him.

He cursed himself. No. I have to stop thinking like that right now. I have my own sins to atone for...that fool can be dealt with later.

The door to the inner ship opened then, and Alexander caught sight of his lovely princess being led out. She squinted against the light, and raised cuffed hands over her eyes. The light caught her hair, paling it into a whitish color. Her flesh looked even milkier now from her imprisonment, and the dark circles under her eyes burned against her paleness sharply in the direct light.

It tore at him. She didn't deserve this. Her mistakes...it wasn't right. She hadn't meant any of it. She couldn't control herself. If anyone had to pay for her mistakes, why didn't they turn to him? He wanted to run to her and take her in his arms, but he knew he couldn't. Not with the guards surrounding her.

They approached slowly, with one guard keeping a close distance to help her keep balance. When they were near, Terra brought her daughter into a tight, loving hug. "My sweet little doe," she cried, pressing her tight against her. "My little angel."

Emma couldn't even wrestle out properly due to her chains. "I'm sorry." she whispered to her mother, through tears. "For everything."

"Hush now, we have been through this already. You did nothing wrong." she kissed Emma's forehead. "Your father and I will have this all sorted out soon enough. When you see your father, you do everything he says, and don't you even think about leaving his side. Not even for a moment. Do you understand me?"

"Y-yes mother, I understand."

"Good," again she kissed her daughter, this time many times on her cheeks. "I will miss you a thousand times over, and think of you every second of the day my sweet."

Emma smiled. That smile that stirred Alexander's stomach in that funny way. "I will t-think of you too, mother."

"You know how much you mean to me," Cadence said a moment later, as the girl was finally let go by her mother. "I love you like you are my own flesh and blood...this parting pains me Emma, so very much." Emma leaned into the woman, unable to hug her. Cadence gently laughed and wrapped her arms around her. "I will see you again, soon. I'm sure this war is all but at its end."

"Emma..." she turned to see her brother. Alexander's anger flared. No, no, calm down. That is her brother. Her brother. You have no right... "I do not deserve this moment here, to say anything to you, I haven't earned it...I just want you to know that I will miss you and that...that I love you, with all my heart." Emma only looked at him, eyes soft with something Alexander understood all too well. She had forgiven him. And that angered him even more. The boy had treated her so horribly... "And...and I wanted to say goodbye, for now."

She looked at him, briefly. "I love you too Ben..." she smiled at him then, gently. Somehow, it seemed like it was saying something else with it.

"Goodbye..." he looked at her for a minute before turning to leave, very quickly, head down.

Terra started to cry and held her closer. It was becoming very clear this was real to her now, it seemed. "No...I don't want to send you away."

Sabin finally came to her side and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Terra...please. Do not make this more difficult than it has to be." with a sob, she let her daughter go and crossed her arms, as if to protect herself from this painful reality. Emma was immediately engulfed by her uncle.

"Listen, my little doe, it will be tough being so far away from home and loved ones, but you must be strong. For your mother, if not for yourself. Do you think you can do that?" she nodded, sniffling. "Good, good." he squeezed her in a hearty fashion and kissed her forehead. "I love you, my little doe, and we will see each other soon. Count on it."

"I will," she mumbled, closing her eyes. It seemed like she was trying to do something, though what Alexander could not know. Finally, her uncle let her go, but he ruffled her hair with a giant smile. "And listen to your father while you are over there, will you?"

That clearly angered her. Alexander could see it in her eyes. It was strange how the others missed it, but with the way it vanished so quickly from her face, replaced by sadness, he supposed it was easy enough for them to miss if they weren't paying attention. They did have the grief of sending her off, he supposed.

He approached. "Is it my time, yet?" he asked, smiling. She turned to him, blushing. It was always a pleasure to see that. Cadence cracked a giggle behind her, which only served to make the girl more nervous. They had to say their goodbyes in front of everyone, not in the cells, so it didn't serve the girl's preferences of private intimacy. He knew that would fill her with apprehension, but he couldn't let her leave without saying goodbye, without holding her once more one last time. He brushed a hand across her cheek and then through her hair. Her eyes had held his for just a few seconds, burning through him, before looking away.

The others, realizing they were interrupting something they should not be, at least turned their backs. All except Terra, who watched with the motherly gaze of a lioness. She still did not entirely trust Alexander, and he understood that. But at the moment, his attention was solely for the princess. He wanted to kiss her, to confess to her again, but he knew the first of those things he could not do and the later of which was something private she would not like to be shared aloud at the moment. Instead he brought his hand down her neck, shoulder and then her arm to her hand. She turned her hand around to squeeze his.

He brought his voice into a whisper. "I would sail with you if they would allow it Emma." he wanted her to understand that. "I would steal you away from her if I knew you would be safe from all that means you harm..."

"I know," she mumbled.

He was surprised to hear that, but smiled, and lowered his voice even further. "I love you, Emma Aden Aria Figaro, with all of my heart." her response was to bring herself as close to him as she could with her chains. She could not hug him, but she buried her face into his chest and cried. He wrapped his arms around her. "I am yours Emma...forever."

She shifted out of his arms, to look at him, a sad look in her eyes. "Do you mean that?"

"I mean it with all my heart." he smiled. "I would very much like to kiss you right now," her eyes widened, and the blush on her cheeks reddened fiercely. "but I know you wouldn't like it, especially not in front of this gawking crowd and your doting mother...so I will settle with this." he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her fingers. "And promise...one day soon, you will be back in my arms, without these damned chains."

She giggled. "I would like that..."

"Then I will leave it here with a goodbye, one that is not final, but a small parting."

Her eyes filled with tears. No, Emma, please...do not cry. If you do, I will not be able to help myself. I will do something stupid. Please...stop. She kept her courage, though. "G-goodbye, Alex." oh how he never wanted to let her go again, but he to. He let her go as the guards approached.

Terra began to sob, and turned into the hug of her brother-in-law. Sabin wrapped an arm around her and sadly watched as Emma was led off. Alexander watched her go as well, fighting back the desire to fight the men, to steal her.

I will see you again Emma...soon.

---

The guards were quiet as they led her back into the ship, to the cell she had been in. Emma tried to be brave, strong, but her tears came as soon as she parted from Alexander. She cried, as try as she might to keep it quieted, her sniffling kept drawing their attention.

Within just a few minutes they were back at her cell. Of the six guards, only one of them spoke up first. He had cropped red hair and bright green eyes, and freckles all over his face. He didn't seem very old, at least older than Benjamin. "Here we are princess. If you would extend your hands over to me, I would take those off."

Hesitant and confused, as she was cuffed in her cell before, she lifted her hands towards him. Another guard snarled though. "The creature should remained chained, it is protocol."

The kind one simply smiled. "The king's orders never said she should be chained in her cell. I think I'll follow our lord's commands." and then they were off. Emma immediately went to relieve the aching on her wrists by massaging them, a small smile blooming on her face. "There we go...a smile. It brightens my day, at least."

Emma looked at him briefly before blushing and looking away. "Well, do your wrists hurt? I could get some herbal paste or something if they do."

She shook her head. "It...it stings b-but I'm okay."

He grinned, brightly. "If that changes, just let me know. I'll be right outside the prison wing."

The angry guard glared through the slits of his helmet. Those brown eyes were filled with malice. "Since when do we treat our prisoners with such regard?"

"You should remember your teachings, private Deravic. A Figaro soldier must always treat a prisoner with dignity and respect. It is our way."

Emma had a name to this malicious man now. Deravic scoffed. "An outdated, childish way Wally."

The bright man simply smiled. "It is a way towards peace," he said, and then his eyes tightened a bit. "And please, private, remember rank. I am your superior and deserve to be referred to by my rank. Corporal Wally West, of the Lion Guard." That was enough for him, and three others. They stormed out of the room.

Emma looked at this Wally West with curious eyes. He was a corporal in the grand Lion Guard. It seemed strange now to think her father and mother would send anyone else but the Lion Guard on this mission, but even so it was still very exciting to see another man of the branch. Ever since she arrived in Figaro, her parents had insisted on filling her protective detail with soldiers of their branch. She had captain Wren, who had followed her to Thamasa for some time, and then Jakle and rotating squad, and now this entire ship it seemed of Lion Guard military men.

He noticed her gaze, and chuckled. "I guess my stern look is rather odd on me."

Emma smiled a bit, feeling a bit comfortable around this nice fellow. "Now, let us settle you back in the cell." he led her back in, but did not immediately close and lock the gate. He remained inside with her. "Princess, please remember that if there is anything you need during this journey, you may call on me or any other soldier at any moment. Whilst you are a prisoner, you are not a typical one under any means. You are still the princess of Figaro, and under direct orders of protection of the king of Figaro."

"Okay, I w-w-will remember..."

"Good," he chirped. "Your supper will be served around your average time. And I believe your mother wrote rather frantically several notes of how to care for you, so I will be sure to read over it when I leave her. Until we next meet." He bowed, and turned to finally leave the cell and lock it.

Alone at last, Emma went to sit on her cot and hugged herself, suddenly cold. Her thoughts lingered on her family, and Alexander. Please...let me be able to see them again.

---

Whoo, that is it for the chapter 8 complete remake. It was a while in the making. I had, uh...some huge life changing stuff happening. Huge. It's crazy. Anyhow, I really hope you guys like the remake. I think it comes across less...stiff. A bit more real, I guess? If you have any thoughts, as always, feel free to PM or leave a comment. Anyways, hoped you enjoyed it. :)

Oh, and as always, gotta explain the chapter name. It is a reference to Three Day's Grace's song "Over and Over".