| Sword and Sorcery by J. Marie Edea smiled as she watched Seifer and Squall depart for Esthar in her crystal ball. Everything was going smoothly. She had not expected Seifer to develop feelings for Squall, but even so, it played nicely into her plans. Seifer had two choices. And he would not endanger Squall's false love for him by betraying Edea. "Your orders, majesty?" She turned her glittery black eyes on her General. Edea favored him with a smile that could chill the blood of Ifrit, god of fire. "Prepare the summoning room for me. I will have Adel back from the Nether World, and at my side before the night is through," she said knowingly. The General bowed, looking smug. "As you wish, majesty," he purred, and turned to walk away. "One more thing, General," Edea said airily, causing her General to pause and turn back to her. "Prepare my army for war. Esthar will be mine before the week is out." It was disgustingly easy for Seifer and Squall to sneak into the castle by the waterway. Both men knew the layout and the guard's rounds, and easily dodged them as they made their way to Laguna's chambers. It was the middle of the night, and most everyone was asleep. Seifer stared down at the teleportation ball in his pack as he and Squall snuck into Laguna's chambers, oiling the doorway to get in silently. He was no fool, and knew that it was actually a scrying device for Edea. It would only take him back to Esthar provided he followed her orders. If he disobeyed, the item would leave him for the Esthar guards to deal with. The tall blonde knight followed the young prince to King Laguna's bedside. Squall stared down sadly at his father's sleeping form. Seifer took the opposite side of the bed, his eyes resting on the only man who ever even had a remote amount of concern for him. He began to feel his heart ache. Seifer looked up and watched as Squall pulled out the dagger at his hip, griping it in both hands, pointing it down to Laguna's prone form, pointing at where the sleeping king's heart lie. The blonde noticed the trembling of Squall's hands and looked up to meet Squall's eyes. Squall looked back, his eyes wide in pain. He was torn. Torn between his false love for Seifer, and his very real love for his father. Seifer's breath caught at the pain in Squall's eyes, and felt his guilt scream at him. Squall was paused, fighting against his own conscious. Squall was breathing rapidly, the dagger shaking in his trembling hands, and he gazed down at his father's face. A tear slipped down his cheek, soon followed by another. "I do this for you, my love," Squall whispered, his gaze returning to Seifer with a look of desperation. Seifer could take it no longer. This was not right. He loved Squall too much to let this happen to him. Seifer took out his own dagger in the space of a second and cut open the palm of his hand, squeezing it so that the blood ran freely, Edea's words running across his mind. "Llauqs," he said sadly and flung his blood onto Squall's face. Squall stumbled back, dropping the dagger he meant to kill his own father with on the bed harmlessly beside Laguna. The gentle king woke up from his deep slumber, looking around sleepily, not understanding what was going on. Seifer took out Edea's scrying device and dropped it on the ground, letting it shatter to a million pieces. Like his heart. "You bastard!!!" Squall shouted, shaking off the final effects of the potion. Seifer looked at him sadly, and drew Hyperion, his blade. Laguna looked bewildered, and rang for the guard, afraid despite himself. "You fucking bastard!!!" Squall continued to shout, tears still rolling down his face. Seifer spun his blade around and handed it hilt first to the bewildered Laguna silently, never dropping his sad green gaze from Squall's. The guards swarm into the room, arresting Seifer upon Squall's order, as Laguna stared down at Seifer's blade, understanding that somehow, someway, Seifer had changed. "He used me, father. He seduced me with aid of his filthy Sorceress Queen's love potion, and violated me! He commanded me to assassinate you, father!! I almost killed you! I demand that you execute him!!!" Squall's voice was shaky and full of emotion. Laguna looked up at Seifer sadly, begging, pleading with his large aquamarine eyes for the Knight to refute the accusations. "Is this true, Seifer?" he asked, his bird's voice heavy with sorrow. "Yes, your majesty," Seifer said solidly, his face set in stone. He remained still as the guards roughly chained him. Laguna dropped his gaze and tears spilled from his eyes as he acknowledged what he must do to a child who was like his second son. And despite everything, he blamed himself. He hated himself. He was a failure. "I hereby order the execution of Sir Seifer of Almasy, on grounds of treason, sodomy, and attempted murder." Squall looked fierce, his chilly stare full of hate for Seifer. The tall blonde hung his head and nodded sadly, accepting his fate. "And since you desire his death so badly, my son, you will be the one to slay him." Galbadia attacked within the hour. Laguna rode off to battle on his white stallion, with Kiros of Seagill and Sir Ward of Zabac at his side, leaving Squall to guard the castle. Lady Quistis of Trepe was left to gather the mages of Esthar for battle, but Irvine of Kinneas and Zell of Dincht were sent off to battle. And unbeknownst to all, the maiden Selphie of Tilmitt had disguised herself as a boy, and left for battle as well. The Lady Rinoa of Heartilly was left at the castle, as none knew of her secret Sorceress' powers. And the execution was about to commence. Seifer was stripped to the waist, and chained by the wrist to the wall of the dungeon. Two guards stood beside him, silent and cold. Within minutes, an icy Prince Squall entered the room, his sword, the Lionheart, drawn and in his hand. The Lady Rinoa followed him, chewing on her fingernails. Rinoa had received a command through her mirror from Edea herself, ordering for her to ensure Seifer's death. And then to take the best opportunity to slay Squall. She fingered the hidden stiletto in her corset, her brown eyes wide in fear. Never would she have imagined Edea would demand her to murder anyone. She stared in horror at Squall as he approached Seifer, fearing the blonde's death. Squall's face was a mask of icy rage. Seifer's face was a like a fire having burned itself out. He was pale and tired looking, an expression of defeat on his handsome face. "Sir Seifer of Almasy, for the crimes of treason, sodomy, and attempted murder, your death has been ordered by King Laguna of Esthar. I, the Prince Squall the Leonhart, shall be your executioner. May God have mercy on your black soul," Squall hissed, glaring hatefully at Seifer's dull green eyes, readying his blade for decapitation. Seifer raised his head, his pride not allowing him to die without honor. His dull eyes seemed to glow back with their old fire, but it was not the same light that caused them to glow. "If my death brings you happiness, Squall, then so be it. But know this, my Prince, for what it may be worth to you. As villainous as you may think I am, I returned your wits to you, not out of Knight's honor, guilt, or compassion. I did it because I love you," he said proudly, his jaw set in a line that only those who know death is upon them have. Squall held his blade high, and the final swing would cause Seifer's golden head to roll. His gray eyes flashed to the deepest blue at Seifer's statement. It all came crashing down at him at once. The way Seifer looked at him. The look in Seifer's eyes. The smiles Seifer favored him. The feel of Seifer's arms wound around Squall's form. The touch of Seifer's lips to Squall's lips. The pleasure their bodies had brought them. The gentleness, the tenderness that Seifer had shown him. The way Seifer had seemed to change. Squall gave a strange cry and his blade came down with a loud sching. Seifer blinked. Squall sagged against his sword, crying. For the first real time in his life since Ellone's death, Squall was crying. Seifer lifted up his hands, realizing that Squall cut his chains, freeing him. "Your highness?" one of the guards asked, startled. "Leave me," Squall sobbed. The guards looked confused, but did as they were bade. Rinoa stood behind Squall with a look of sadness and pulled out the poisoned stiletto from her corset. "Squall........?" Seifer asked, not even noticing Rinoa's existence as she crept closer to Squall. Squall looked up at Seifer. And just as the fires of rage had cooled from Seifer's gaze, the ice of hatred had heated from his. Squall's gaze was full of pain, but warm. And full of an emotion so deep that Seifer felt his breath stolen from him. Rinoa gave a strange cry, and the stiletto fell at Squall's side and she kneeled behind him, tears brimming from her brown eyes. Both Squall and Seifer turned to stare at the kneeling sorceress apprentice. "Forgive me, your highness. I am also a traitor. I am Edea the Sorceress' apprentice. I was in league with her plan for the love potion. It was meant for you to fall in love with me, but it went awry. She ordered me to slay both of you, but I cannot. I am no murderess. I beg of your forgiveness. I did not want any of this. All I wanted was true love, but now I come to see that this a thing I cannot force. For the love I see between you and Sir Seifer is as pure and true as any love may be. Kill me if you must, but forgive me for my treachery. Never will I stand in the way of true love, even if it is not my own," Rinoa sobbed, baring her breast for Squall to kill her. Squall blinked and picked up the poisoned stiletto. "Nay, Lady Rinoa. In this you have shown more honor than I thought you capable of. You say you have powers of a Sorceress. I forgive you, but ask in return for my mercy, that you aid my kingdom in it's battle against Galbadia," he said quietly, resting a hand on Rinoa's shoulder. The Asian woman looked up with a look of pure relief, and favored the Prince with a true smile. "I thank you for your mercy, your highness. This was such I never thought you capable of. I pledge my allegiance to Esthar, and all the magic at my disposal," Rinoa swore, standing up with more dignity than either man present had seen her with. The door burst open and Lady Quistis of Trepe ran in, looking around the room in confusion. "Your highness? What has happened? The guards told me you cut Sir Seifer free..." she said quietly, her true blue eyes resting on Seifer's form. The tall blonde stood to his full height, and glanced over at Squall. Even Seifer did not understand what Squall's motives were. Squall chewed his bottom lip and gazed at Seifer. "You said you loved me," he said, almost as a question to Seifer. "I swear this on my father's soul, and the blade of my sword, Hyperion," Seifer said, his eyes telling Squall the depths of his love. "If you love me, swear to me your sword, and you honor," Squall said, handing Seifer back Hyperion. Seifer stared down at his sword and smiled. He fell to his knees, bowing his head before Squall. "I swear to you on my eternal love, my sword. I shall fight at your side, protect you with my life, and destroy whatever you desire. I swear to you my honor. For I shall never betray you again, for I would sooner fall on my own blade than bring you pain. I swear to you that I will sooner die than let anything harmful befall you, to either body, soul, or heart," Seifer said, his even baritone rich with emotion. Squall touched Seifer's shoulder with the Lionheart. "Then rise, my Knight. We must join my father in battle," he said somberly. Seifer rose to his feet gazing intently at the smaller brunette. "Queen Edea has summoned up Adel from the Netherworlds! And I'm sure she has risen the forces of evil with her pact with Hell. We should all join the battle as soon as possible," Rinoa said urgently. Squall looked alarmed and turned to Quistis. "My Lady... Can you teleport us to the battle? Not even my father may stand against Edea with the forces of another powerful Sorceress and the powers of Hell behind her," he said urgently. Quistis swallowed nervously. "My powers are not strong enough to transport all of us so far away. But I think I know of another way..." she said quietly. "What? Anything, my lady! We must go help my father!" Squall cried. "Follow me," Quistis said, and turned on her heel. Squall, Seifer and Rinoa followed the stately blonde. Rinoa whistled to her faithful hound, Angelo, who joined them. Quistis led them to the roof of the castle. The sky was dark with a terrible storm that Edea had wrought. The winds howled, as if Pandemonium, god of winds, soared overhead. Squall, Seifer and Rinoa watched the Blue Mage with fascination as she stood with her back to them, staring off at the windswept, dark gray sky. Quistis of Trepe held up one hand, that began to glow with an eerie blue energy. Angelo howled into the wind, feeling the power in the air. Rinoa 's eyes widened as she realized what Quistis was about to do. "Lady Quistis!! You will kill yourself with use of such power!" Rinoa screamed, but too late. "Bahamut!!! King of Dragons!! I summon thee to my side!! I bind thee to my service!! Come to me, lord of the Dragons!!" Quistis called, and her words were part of summoning spell of such magnitude that only the most powerful could dream of casting. She was pouring forth her own life energy to summon the most powerful of all dragons. Everything grew unbearably bright, and Seifer, Squall, and Rinoa had to shield their faces. Quistis collapsed to the ground, and a huge shadow played about in the stormy clouds, diving towards them. The young trio found the light bearable again, and before them appeared the greatest of all dragons, Bahamut himself. He roared with the power of the ancients and the humans trembled before him. "Quickly..... Ride upon.... Bahamut's back...... to the battle. ....He will take you there..... quickly, and destroy many of your..... enemies with his breath..... I will..... join you..... when my energy returns...." Quistis said weakly, her body writhing slightly with currents of electric blue energy. "Thank you, my Lady," Seifer said respectfully, realizing the sacrifice Quistis had made for them. Squall touched the young woman's neck, assuring himself of her life as he nodded to Seifer and Rinoa to mount Bahamut. "Fare thee well, Lady Quistis. Be strong, and I pray for your health," Squall whispered. Quistis smiled as she heard him mount the great dragon. Bahamut's powerful wings flew them away quickly to the raging war between Esthar and Galbadia. And Quistis found joy in the fact that for once, they had noticed her. Even if she died, she knew it would not be for nothing, for she was noticed. Someone cared. And that was all she really desired. They were all going to die. Laguna could feel it in his bones. It made him want to cry. He loosed another arrow, downing another nightmarish demon. There were so many of the enemy, and so little of his people left. They were all going to die. Tears blurred his eyes as he loosed another arrow, causing him to miss, but Kiros' swift katal ended the matter. Edea had brought back Adel, and both Sorceress' were casually destroying entire Estharian troops. Edea had summoned forth thousands of demons from Hell, and even the great Queen of evil Dragons, Tiamat herself. The roars of the five-headed dragon sent shivers of fear through even Laguna. She roared so much as she breathed her deadly fires upon his people, that it sounded like she was six dragons. That wasn't right. Six dragons? A deep loud, emphatically male reptilian roar drowned out Tiamat's roars. Laguna looked up. And gaped. The battle almost seemed to pause as Bahamut swept into view, his blue-black scales glittering in the fires of war. His scaly reptilian head reared back, and he let loose his deadly megaflare breath upon Tiamat, severely injuring the Queen of the Dragons. Battle was met between the two great Dragons, good against evil. And luckily for Bahamut's three riders, they jumped off his back before Tiamat reached her mortal enemy. Laguna stared at the three forms that had arrived, his face slack in shock. The same emotions were on Edea's, but hers were tinged with fear. Squall swished the Lionheart in the air, sneering coldly at his enemy. Seifer flourished Hyperion, his fiery rage forming into a wicked smirk upon his face. Rinoa smiled demurely, and angel wings appeared momentarily behind her. Angelo howled. "Father! I have come to aid you with two new people who swear their allegiance to us!" Squall shouted, running to his father's side. Laguna grinned. He felt relieved that for some reason his son had spared Seifer's life, and in return Seifer had repledged himself to Esthar. But unfortunately, not all on the battlefield were as thrilled. "This cannot be!!!! Slay the Leonhart, and his treacherous little Knight!!!" Edea screamed, enraged by all the failures of her servants. The demons resurged with renewed hunger for Estharian blood. Squall found himself overrun by the numbers of his enemy. He could hear his father's arrows loosed, one after the other, rarely missing. Kiros' katals, silent except for the audible scream of the fallen. Ward's great sword, hacking at enemy after enemy. Zell of Dincht's flawless martial arts, who need no weapon other than his body. Irvine of Dincht's crossbow, which never missed a target. Selphie of Tilmitt's nunchaka, who's boyish disguise had fooled no one. Angelo's growl as he ripped apart his enemy. The crackle of Rinoa's magic. And the swing of Seifer's long sword, Hyperion. Squall felt he was in a trance. He was swept up the battle. Swing of the blade to the right. Then to the left. Swing up, then down. The clash and the clang. The screams and roars. The smell of fresh blood, and dead bodies. The powers of darkness were great, but so were the powers of good. Laguna spotted his old enemy, Adel the Sorceress, former ruler of Esthar. The masculine woman sneered at Laguna, pointing a talon at Laguna. "Fool! I shall destroy you this time!" she screamed, loosing streaks of red fire directed at Laguna. Laguna dodged, barely in time, loosing a few arrows at Adel that all missed. He could feel more of her magic try to overcome him, but he was nimble and dodged all her attacks, getting closer to the evil Sorceress. Adel didn't seem to notice, and instead kept loosing her magic at Laguna, determined to destroy the man who had dared to defeat her before. Laguna grinned ferally when he got in close enough, and nocked back an arrow, loosing his chi into the tip, focusing on the evil tyrant who had once oppressed his people. Adel snarled at the man, loosing her magic again, but found it blocked by Laguna's chi. "I will not be destroyed by a pathetic little man creature!!" she screeched. "I really don't see what your problem with men is, Adel. Even I'll admit you're more of a man than I am," Laguna grinned. He loosed the arrow as the sorceress howled in rage. The force of his chi caused the arrow to glow white, and it struck the manly woman in the chest, striking her dead. Laguna allowed himself a moment to gloat over Adel, pleased to have finally destroyed her. It was his last mistake. "Amusing. But of no consequence, little King. A pity I shall have to kill you. I had once hoped to bear your child, as both your progeny are quite... impressive. But it is necessary that you die now," Edea said coldly, behind the raven-haired man. Laguna tried to turn and shoot the beautiful sorceress with another arrow, but he never finished the action, before black energy shot from Edea's hand slammed into his body, flinging him fifty feet away. "NOOOOOooooooooo!!!!" Squall screamed, watching in horror as Edea attacked his father. He watched his father's body land roughly in the dirt, writhing against the electric black energy coursing through his body. Squall began to run towards Edea, even as Laguna's body stilled, and the life fled from his beautiful aquamarine eyes. Seifer gasped, realizing what Edea had done, he was soon on Squall's heels, cutting through the demons who stood in his way. Squall was worked up into a rage more powerful than any even Seifer suffered from, and wordless screams of rage issued from his lips as he cut his way towards Edea. Squall's blade began to glow a blue-white with the power of his chi, and Edea's eyes widened, as she realized that destroying Squall's father had cut free his true power. The Lionheart was a sword of white-hot flames and it was nearing her. She threw up a shield of blackness and the blade met the shield, crackling energies meeting, and the smell of ozone met the smell of blood. Squall screamed again, trying to cut through Edea's shield. Edea smiled, realizing that Squall couldn't get through. She had been wrong. Squall wasn't more powerful than she was. He was just a little princeling soon to follow his father into death. Edea raised her taloned hand, forming up the death magic to slay Squall. And then she realized that she was wrong again about Squall. He was powerful enough to destroy her. But only with the help of another. Seifer stepped behind Squall, his arm around the boy's torso, his own sword, Hyperion, began to glow red-white with his own chi. Edea tried to loose her magic, but it fell useless against Squall and Seifer's blades. Seifer raised Hyperion beneath the Lionheart, and the two blades touched. And without energy, light, or sound, Edea's shield vanished, as if it had never existed. Edea was given a moment to reflect upon the error of her ways before the swords cut her two. And as quickly as the war had begun, it ended. Without Edea to maintain the powers of darkness, the demons quickly disappeared, fading into the ground, into nothingness, or just plain running away. The forces of Esthar realized that they had won. But the price was the life of their beloved King. And a kingdom mourned. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seifer stood before the newly crowned king of Esthar, his green gaze steady. Squall still wore the white band of mourning for his father, even though Laguna's ashes had been scattered to the wind three months ago. Seifer had requested to go into private meditations after the war between Galbadia, and Squall had granted it without question. Seifer had just returned and stood before his new King, wondering what happened next. "So......" Squall said quietly. He wore his crown troubled, but with grace. "So.... Is Lady Quistis well?" Seifer asked after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence. "She survived. A testimony to her will," Squall nodded, finding this ground far more comfortable. "And Lady Rinoa?" Seifer asked. "She is fine. I think she fancies Zell of Dincht now," Squall shrugged. "Not a bad match. And what of Irvine of Kinneas and the Maid Selphie?" "Selphie is a maiden no longer. She married Lord Irvine a month ago." "And what of Lord Kiros of Seagill and Sir Ward of Zabac?" "Lord Kiros retired upon my father's death. He has gone into isolation to mourn King Laguna's death. I think there was more than friendship between my father and Kiros, but it is none of my affair. Sir Ward remains by my side." "And what of you, my King?" Seifer asked, swallowing. Squall's gray eyes slowly changed to blue. "I.... am lonely," he admitted. "As am I," Seifer said evenly, offering himself silently with his eyes to Squall. "I think I love you as well, my Knight," Squall said suddenly, chewing on his bottom lip. Seifer's face broke into a grin despite himself, and he approached Squall, laying a hand upon Squall's shoulder. Squall looked up, and smiled at Seifer. "I am going to marry the Lady Quistis. She will be my wife, and the mother of my children. Yet neither of us love each other. Her heart is reserved for her work, and I think will never truly go out to any man. And mine is for you. I have given her the freedom to choose lovers, as she has agreed to give me..." Squall said. "And what of me, your majesty?" Seifer asked, coming to his knees before the throne, looking deeply into Squall's blue eyes. "I wish for you to be my lover... If you desire," Squall said, bringing a hand to Seifer's face. "I desire, my love. Anything for you," Seifer whispered. Their lips touched. And they all lived happily ever after. ------------------------------------------- Well..... No too bad, if I do say so myself. Boy did I get carried away with this one. :) A little melodramatic, but try to find the fantasy story that isn't. I tried to be more lemony, but I just couldn't get it out this time. It was the best I could do. I hope you liked it, Drygonrose, and thanks for being my 20000th hit!! -Part Two- -FF8 Fiction- |