Locke stood beneath the already opened gateway to the Castle, staring in towards the cool interior of the guards� battlement as the burning midday sun stroked his already burnt shoulders. The buzz of the Chancellor�s voice filled his head with stabbing, needle-like pains that threatened to overwhelm him and slip him into unconsciousness. Behind him, Terra barely held herself erect throughout the barrage of titles that the High Chancellor threw at them. He held up his now peeling hands towards the old man, indicating for him to cease the onslaught.
�My dear Chancellor,� Locke began, in a parched voice decidedly not his own, �would it be possible to skip the long introduction which I have already been privileged to attend to several times in the past and relocate to the interior? Preferably Edgar�s chamber, would it be so. There is much that needs to be discussed and little time in which to do so.�
With a show of great shock and horror, fanning his fingers across his chest in a decidedly fanciful manner, the High Chancellor flared his nostrils in anger, intoning loudly for the guards to hear.
�Most certainly not! The rites of passage into the esteemed presence of the King of Figaro will not be so lightly cast aside, especially by such a young and inexperienced character as you, Master Locke,� he said sarcastically. The Chancellor took a deep breath and was about to continue on with his chastising, when the castle Matron, a rotund, motherly character, robed from head to toe in heavy cotton attire despite the wicked heat of the desert, stepped forward and interceded on their behalf.
�Locke,� she began, with a quirky smile on her face, �my lost son! How are you, dear boy?" The Matron grasped Locke about his head and placed two very moist kisses upon his reddening cheeks. "Look at your condition! When are you going to learn to ride a Chocobo in order to make it across this blazing desert? Well, don�t just stand there baking in this heat! Come inside and make yourselves at home, foolish knave! And who is this gorgeous young woman with you, Locke? Have you married and not written to tell me, boy?�
She tipped a wink at him inconspicuously, bypassing the Chancellor entirely with a deep curtsey and funneling the two wearied travelers into the castle interior. Leaving the stunned chancellor at the main gates of the castle, Locke and Terra accompanied the Matron into the outer battlements of castle Figaro. Immense pillars of carved stone, re-enforced with steel girders that were welded on at strategic positions, lined the interior of this large atrium. Locke always marveled at how much the arts of technology and machinery had advanced in his own lifeline, much less over the past thousand years of the world�s existence. At the heart of this advancement were the two major city states of the northern and southern continent, Figaro and Vector, once sworn enemies and now begrudged allies.
It was Edgar, son of the late King of Figaro, and heir to the throne of the state who continued to provide remarkable leaps in the development of technology within the past few years. His amazing contraptions had, on more than one occasion, helped Locke out of very sticky situations. Edgar was always willing to show off his new contraptions to anyone patient enough to listen through his description of how it worked and, to Locke�s great amusement, often times the machines would not function as they should. He chuckled lightly to himself as his group found their way into the main castle courtyard, recalling such humorous memories.
�Such a huge place this is, Locke. I�ve never been anywhere like it before.�
Terra gaped openly and quite comically at the sights before her, taking in the essence of the castle's grandiose structure with the eyes of the innocent. Locke thought that she looked even more beautiful now than ever before, with unrestrained wonder painted across her face. Perhaps it was because he had grown accustomed to her attempts at concealing her emotions as much as possible. She looked over at him with a glorious smile on her face and he found himself unable to keep a silly grin from forming himself.
�Now, Locke,� the Matron began, �you be a dear and show this fine young lady her room in the eastern towerstand once your business with the King is over. I�m sure she�d want to freshen herself after such a long and tiresome journey.� At this, the Matron smiled warmly over at Terra. �Don�t mix yourself with this young rogue, missy; his kind are the bane of us pretties across the world, never wanting to settle down.� She winked slyly once again at Locke and then turned around and headed back towards the sounds of the quarrelling Chancellor.
Locke pretended to show hurt at the Matron�s parting quip and looked over at Terra with obviously feigned innocence.
�I have no idea what she is talking about. She must have me confused with someone else.�
Terra laughed openly at this, enjoying the playful banter between the young man and the older lady. Locke smiled to see her in such a positive mood and he took her by the hand to lead her into the main castle interior. Terra held his hand freely, following him along a long corridor with many beautiful tapestries that lined the passageway. Different facades were embroidered into the curtains, made to appear regal in stature. Locke thought that the most recent one of Edgar�s father was the simplest of the lot, and somehow still portrayed the greatest honor of them all.
�My liege, my liege! By your call am I here and with much alacrity have I arrived. Command me, says I!� he shouted and then looked up again at Edgar.
The King hadn�t moved an inch from the doorway, but now a smile spread across his face as well and Edgar walked out to where Locke stood and grasped him in a massive embrace, laughing boisterously and clapping the green-outfitted adventurer loudly on his back. The two broke apart from the embrace and almost immediately began to regale each other with episodes of more recent adventures, each trying to outdo the other with the most incredible of tales. Terra stood a little way away, giving the two long-time friends some privacy, allowing them to complete their familiar greeting ceremony.
�Ha ha ha! Yes, and then she tried to make you wear the dress instead, you old buffoon! I remember that incident clearly,� Edgar laughed raucously. He clapped Locke on his back yet again and now turned towards Terra. �But I forget myself, Master Cole. There is a lady present and I must present myself with perfect decorum.�
Terra bowed ever so slightly before him with her fisted hand pressed over her heart and, at this gesture, Edgar�s eyes widened slowly. He looked over at his green-clad friend and Locke nodded slowly and assuredly. He knew that Edgar was able to pick up the thought going through his mind at that very moment. She knows the obeisance which the Empire expects of all its great generals.
Edgar turned towards Terra once again and returned the greeting in proper fashion, touching his lips and then his heart in mid-bow. He straightened from his bow, all trace of joviality having quickly evaporated with Terra's use of the Empire's salute, and found the young woman standing before him with a rather confused expression on her face.
�I� I don't know what that was, I� I can�t seem to recall its significance." She cleared her demeanour quidkly at this and then attempted a small smile instead. "Thank you for your hospitality and allowing us to stay within the walls of your castle. It is quite a remarkable construct.�
Locke had now retired to the doorway of the throne room and was signaling for Edgar and Terra to follow him inside.
�Let�s talk in here, Edgar. We should have a little more privacy for the words that need be said,� he explained, and turned on his heels to enter the throne room.
Edgar took Terra�s hand and kissed it lightly on the back, as if she was a lady of the court in his castle, and Terra was embarrassed at such a show of respect. She smiled openly this time, blushing as well and, once again, curtsied to him in fashion.
�Feel at home in my castle, Mistress Terra. Figaro and the Empire have been allies for quite some time now, and you have nothing to fear from this country. You are very safe with us.� Unconsciously, Edgar�s eyes roamed over the body of the beautiful woman before him, making Terra feel suddenly quite uncomfortable. Realizing his rude behavior, Edgar blushed crimson and turned away from Terra quickly.
Terra looked at him in wonder.
�What�s with you, anyways?� she asked quickly, regretting the outburst even as she said it. She bit her lip in remorse and was about to apologize, when Edgar replied, still with his back turned.
�You are quite beautiful, young maiden, and I forgot myself and my status in the face of such beauty. I only ask for your forgiveness.�
He turned back to her now, and looked into her eyes and she felt the intensity of his gaze upon her. She looked across at the throne room longingly, wanting this awkward moment to end and unsure what to say.
�Do not think much of it now, Terra. Come, let us get this business at hand concluded so that we may all have a bath and relax this evening.�
Edgar flashed a dazzlingly bright smile of his own and winked at her, just before turning towards the throne room himself, heading after Locke in order to begin the discussions and leaving Terra to her thoughts. She followed them into the room as well, thinking to herself.
What�s wrong with me? Any other girl would have found him quite dashing. It seems, though, she answered herself, that I�m not just any other girl.
