Lovers Trust

Notes: Finally I can update!!!
I didn’t want to update until I could post all chapters beta read, but looks like I have to anyway.
I’ve done some small changes also.
I switched place of chapter 24 and 25, but that’s all. First I thought I’d just skip this interlude with Laguna and so on, but then I got stuck in the story. So I wrote the Laguna chapter and could continue. Guess the old man is more persistent than I expected him to be. *lol*

Anyway, I’m back on track and hope we’ll not have any more disturbances.


26

[Laguna]
The shores of the Winter Island was the same as last he’d visited the island. Sure, by that time he’d been more or less comatose and it had taken two months before he actually could see the shores of the island he was on.

The President shivered and tightened the thick coat around him. He started to feel his age. Not just by freezing too easily, but his back ached too. Ward stepped up beside him and gave that look that asked how he felt. Laguna smiled weakly and nodded.

“I’m alright. I’m sure this is where they are,” he said silently.

He couldn’t really imagine any place else where the ex-knight could have taken his son. They had looked everywhere. Well, maybe no literally everywhere, the world was quite big. Seifer hadn’t had Ragnarok or anything except cars and those he had abandoned on the way.

“They are ready to go,” Kiros said silently as he crossed his arms and stood as straight and tall as if he were twenty-five years old.

Laguna tiredly looked back at the little troop of Estharian soldiers and the team of doctors. Lauriell gave orders to her team and was checking the device they would move Squall in. It was a sort of coffin where the boy would be put to sleep in. He wouldn’t wake again until he was out of the Sorceress Memorial.

“Sir, your chocobo,” a soldier came up with a bird to him and Laguna nodded his thanks and took the reins.

The bird looked down at him in the typical manner that said it didn’t respect him whatsoever. Laguna smiled and scratched its chest. The bird furrowed its feathers and looked highly dishonoured that Laguna thought it would lighten up by such a childish gesture. Laguna smiled as the bird gave in and cooed at the gentle touch. Chocobos were suckers for petting.

“Alright, lets leave,” Laguna ordered and mounted the bird that happily kawked and started walking in he direction of Shumi Tribe.

*****

[Rinoa]
There were no sounds in the cave with the pool. The hum from the Whirlwind lay in the background if she bothered with listening. Since she had found the boys, she hadn’t left the pool.

If she meditated and left her body, she could see the three GFs where the pool was. Shiva and Ifrit were embracing the two humans and strangely held each other. They made Rinoa think of parents holding each other and their children between them. Well, until she met the gleaming eyes of the black cat.

Griever lay awake and was big enough to easily have the two GFs and humans resting at his chest. It was enough with a look from him to make Rinoa understand than anyone who came too close would be hurt, or killed, and she had backed away to her body in fear.

The GF was powerful. She could taste that power. Obviously his mere presence held the Whirlwind of other GFs at distance. Sure, they were above them, but far away. How come the feared GF protected them? What connection did he have to them? Too Squall? Because Rinoa was sure it was for Squall the Cat was there.

She had thought about it for a long time. She couldn’t remember anyone talking about Griever except Squall. She hadn’t read about him in any book. The only GFs she and the rest of the gang knew about were those they had found through out the world and the elemental ones that were mentioned in books. But Griever only Squall had talked about. He’d had the pendants both around his neck and on his blade.

“Food!” Rinoa jumped as the silence were disturbed.

Selphie skippered over to her with a tray with food and sat down. Rinoa smiled at the happy girl. Selphie took an apple and quickly set to devour it.

“Any changes?” she asked and gazed down in the pool where you could make out the shadows of human bodies.

“No,” Rinoa answered and took a cup of soup.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll fix this. It’s Seifer and Squall after all,” Selphie chimed.

Rinoa couldn’t help but feel encouraged by her. How come she always knew how to be and what to say to cheer others up?

“This can’t be worse than putting him in the memorial, right?” Selphie continued and Rinoa shivered.

No, it couldn’t. Not when she felt only peace from the souls of the boys and saw the protectiveness of the GFs. She wondered if Griever wouldn’t protect even their bodies if someone tried harming them?

“Trouble!!” Zell came dashing inside the cave and both Selphie and Rinoa blinked at him.

“Big trouble! Laguna is here,” he said with a grave face that wasn’t custom for the blond.

They quickly followed him.

*****

[Quistis]
The shumi had discovered the troop of soldiers and the trio of the President long before they were visible from the hill. She had feared Laguna would find them. In truth, they had said they would help the man to find Squall and bring him to the memorial. But how could she do that?

Even if Squall had been able to be taken there, had she really done it? Had anyone of them done it? And if they could have, would Seifer have let them? No, of course not. Not without being proved wrong. Quistis was sure they could have overpowered the blond, but not without serious damage to both sides.

And what now? What did she say to Laguna? What would she do if the President insisted on bringing Squall out of the pool and back? Instead of struggling with her dilemma she had followed her instincts. That’s why she, Irvine and Rinoa was standing at the entrance. Zell stood behind them to the left, and Selphie to the right.

Laguna didn’t seem surprised as he came inside and met them. Quistis straightened and took a deep breath. Behind the President, his two loyal friends were. After them, the troop of soldiers marched inside together with the team of doctors.

“Quistis,” Laguna greeted.

“Mr. President,” she greeted and her cold tone made the smile fall from Laguna’s face.

She knew that using titles made this colder. She wanted it that way. This was business; he had to see her determination.

“I guess Squall is here then?” he asked softly. She nodded once.

“Where? We must quickly get him to the Memorial,” Lauriell came up to them with a demanding posture.

Quistis glared her down. The woman looked away to the President to be spared the piercing blue gaze. Laguna sighed and opened his cote.

“That’s why we’re here, SeeD,” Laguna said silently.

It stung to hear the man use the word instead of her name or title.

“Well, you won’t have him,” Irvine drawled and shifted Exeter on his shoulder and shifted his weight to his other leg.

Though he had such a lax posture, his violet eyes were hard. Rinoa was silent and didn’t even have her weapon out. You didn’t need to know her to know that the glowing of her hands never was a good sign. Quistis suddenly realised that whatever she said, they wouldn’t let Laguna take away Squall. She was unsure on Zell and Selphie.

“Don’t be stupid! Because of that… man your friend might be unable to be saved!” Lauriell yelled at the cowboy.

Laguna made a displeased face at her that she was oblivious about.

“Even if we would let you, it is impossible to move either Seifer or Squall,” Quistis said sternly.

“Why?” Laguna asked almost in alarm.

“I can’t tell you that,” she answered calmly. Lauriell snorted.

“Let us see them! How do we know they’re even here? Maybe you’re just covering for them?” she accused. Quistis glared at the woman again.

“Young Loir.” The deep voice made them all look around.

Quistis heard a lot of quickly in taking breathing. The impressive Elder walked up to them slowly. Something akin to a smile graced his lips.

“Elder! It is hardly fair to call me young anymore,” Laguna said suddenly enthusiastic.

The Elder only smiled wider.

“You are still young,” he persisted as he opened his big palms. Laguna mirrored the move.

Without a word, the SeeDs backed away and gave room for the Elder and President. To Quistis astonished hearing, Laguna started speaking in the shumi tongue, making the Elder chuckle amused.

“It is all in its order, SeeD. Calm your spirits,” the Elder calmed and turned to them.

“Elder… I’m here for my son,” Laguna said silently and the smile disappeared from the shumi’s face.

“He is in the pool,” the tall creature answered and Laguna became both silent and very still.

“The… pool?” he echoed in part recognition and the Elder nodded.

“Come, the weather is cold and the trip has been long. Lets warm ourselves by the heat of a fire and a cup of hot soup,” the Elder offered and put a large hand at the back of the President.

Quistis sighed and massaged her temple. She should have anticipating the Elder knowing Laguna. Oh, well. This mess couldn’t become much worse than it already was.


Author’s Whining:
Please tell me what you think. I love every word you would kindly feed me with. Especially thoughts about the happenings and the story in its entirety.
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http://hem.bredband.net/maugul/whirling_script/