Mo Ghile Mear
Title: Mo Ghile Mear
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII
Spoilers/Warnings: AU Pairing: Seiftis
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or its characters.
Summery: A lost princess, a knight without a lady, intrigue, and a quest to return home.
Previous
Mo Ghile Mear
She had not meant to start singing. It had been part instinct and part reaction to the music. Quistis knew that particular song by heart. She'd heard her mother sing it plenty of times. And she had recognized Rinoa's voice. The moment her cousin's voice had startled to falter, Quistis had raised her own in support. And once she had started, she could not stop. The music poured out of her without thought. It was only when the song ended that Quistis realized exactly what she had done.
However, Seifer acted before she could panic, drawing her back into the safety of the crowd. But he was beaming at her even as they mixed with the rest of the crowd that was now milling about. He cupped her cheek.
"I knew that you belonged here. Good job, sweetheart." Seifer's fingers curled around hers. "Come on, let's get something to eat before the dancing starts."
One hand still gripping the glass lantern, Quistis let him lead her towards the tables set up with food. She was wary at first of the crowd, but it quickly became clear that since she was dressed like most of the young women, no one took a second glance at her. She knew she looked differently than normal. Oddly enough, she did feel more like herself with her long hair unbound and free of a servant's garb. But she didn't have much time to consider any of this. Seifer quickly had her caught up in the festivities.
The pair of them staked out a piece of driftwood as their bench for the evening, using Quistis' lantern to mark the spot. She has to admit that she's fascinated by the ongoing celebrations. They are nothing like typical court events. Bonfires were lit up and down the beach, and there were numerous tables scattered around piled with finger foods and various drinks. There were several small musical groups scattered around playing music that would be more familiar in a seaside tavern than at the Royal Court.
Seifer quickly pulled her out to join the dancers. The steps were familiar to Quistis, and she was soon caught up in the music and motion. Seifer partnered her for all of the dances, and while the sand did not exactly make for the best dance floor, she found she did not care. Delighted and breathless, Quistis was more than willing to lose herself in the music and dancing. Wrapped up in music and laughter and Seifer's arms, Quistis finds herself really and truly happy.
She cannot dance forever though, and eventually they retire back to their driftwood perch with cool drinks. Seifer seemed fascinated with her long hair, playing with its pale strands. Quistis sipped at her iced drink.
"How long does all this last?"
He grinned. "Until dawn. Have you got your second wind yet?"
She just shook her head. "Not yet."
"We have all night. Don't worry." He sipped his own drink. "Are you having a good time, Cariad?"
Quistis did not doubt she was smiling. "Yes."
"Good." Then to her utter surprise, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "Come walk along the waterline with me."
Tucking her hand in the crook of his arm, Seifer led her down to the water. There was enough of a breeze coming off the water to cool her flushed cheeks, and Quistis let out a soft sigh. The wet sound felt lovely against her feet, and Quistis took the opportunity to really get a good look at the Royal Court. She had spotted Rinoa dancing by one of the bonfires. The princess' dance partner was not the most skilled, but the pair seemed to be enjoying themselves. Seifer noticed the direction of her attention and laughed.
"That's Squall. He's become a better dancer since meeting Rin, but it still isn't his best talent."
"Are they happy?"
"Yes. It took forever for Squall to actually admit that he cared, but once he did that, I don't think anything could have kept them apart." Seifer seemed to be considering his statement. "Actually, I don't think that anything could have kept them apart before he admitted that, but then Squall didn't have any idea why he was willing to risk life and limb for her."
"Good."
Rinoa looked happy. And it sounded like she had someone who would support and protect her. Quistis had often played that role when they had been young, and it reassured Quistis to know that Rinoa still had people to back her and take care of her. She shook her head with a smile.
"I don't think I recognize half the people here."
Seifer shrugged. "The Summer Court seems to have brought everyone out of the woodwork. I think that the matchmaking mamas have something to do with that."
"Have they set their sights on you yet?"
Seifer seemed almost startled by her questions. "They've tried."
He paused a moment. "You're trying to warn me about something."
Quistis gave a little shrug of her shoulders. She was, but she didn't know if she could actually tell him that, and she wasn't about to potentially invoke her gaes when she was having a wonderful time. Seifer gave her a long look, and then changed the subject.
"Do you see that blond over there by the smaller bonfire? The one with the short hair?"
Quistis nodded. The young woman was one of the many nobles that she did not recognize. Seifer grinned.
"That's Lady Ashelia. She's eloping tonight. So if anyone asks, we last saw her heading back to the palace with a headache."
Quistis arched an eyebrow at him. "Who is she running off with?"
"Now that is an interesting question. Technically, she's running off with young Lord Bunansa. However, he's been living under an assumed name for a number of years and working as one of his majesty's privateers. The lady didn't know he was nobility they first met, and I think that they're marrying under the name he's made his reputation under. Neither of the families approve, though admittedly, his father is crazy, and all Lady Ashelia has are distant relatives, but they're still making things difficult for the pair."
She bit her lip. It sounded like something out of a romantic play. Seifer's grin widened.
"Feeling up to more dancing?"
She grinned back. "I think so."
As they head towards one of the make shift dance floors, Quistis caught sight of an older, dark haired woman staring at them with an expression of disbelief. She didn't recognize the woman, but before she could ask Seifer about her, he'd pulled Quistis into the next round of dances.
Seifer couldn't decide if he liked Cariad better by firelight or moonlight. No matter which though, Quistis was completely gorgeous when she was truly happy. As he'd hoped, no one paid much attention to who Quisty was. They assumed she was yet another noble, and several had tried to get a dance for her. However, Seifer had no intention on sharing his partner. And he was beginning to think he was going to have a great deal of trouble letting her go when tonight ended.
Her fingers twined with his as she tugged him back towards their makeshift bench after yet another round of dancing. Seifer let her pull him down beside her and couldn't help but grin when she immediately used his shoulder for a pillow. Seifer slung an arm around her waste. It had been an interesting evening so far. Save for the dancing, Seifer and Quisty had kept mostly to themselves. His Cariad seemed perfectly happy and very much at ease. He had known that she would fit in. And hearing her sing.
It was one thing to hear Quisty hum to herself or sing a few lines of a song. It was something else entirely to hear her really sing, especially songs of his home. His lady sounded like she had been singing Centran songs for years. She also fit in here. Seifer could easily believe that she was a member of the Royal Court or at least had been at one point.
"Seifer! Are you…" Selphie's voice trailed off as she took in Quisty sitting beside him. "Oh. I didn't know you already found a dance partner. Lady Selphie of Trabia."
The look on Quisty's face was an odd combination of disguised terror and wistful longing. Her voice was soft and rough as if she had to force the words out. "Cariad."
Selphie's smile grew. "Lovely to meet you. Seifer, have you seen Irvine?"
He shook his head. "Not since before the bonfire was lit."
She huffed.
"Oh well. I'll go check with Rin." Then she winked at them. "Have a nice night!"
Beside him, Cariad was trembling. She stared at her hands, wringing them.
"Cariad?"
"I can't. If I could…"
"I know." He cupped her face in his hands. "It's all right, sweetheart."
Then Seifer leaned in and kissed her. A soft exclamation slipped out of her lips before she kissed him back. Her cheeks were quite flushed when he pulled back, and Seifer couldn't help but smile at her. Her blush intensified and she ducked her head. Seifer simply twined their fingers together.
"It doesn't matter who you were born, you know. I know who you are. You're my Cariad."
Her breath caught, and something lit in her eyes. Then his lady leaned in and kissed him soundly. Cariad wrapped her arms around his neck, and Seifer pulled her into his lap. She fit perfectly in his arms, and even after the kiss had ended, she stayed within the circle of his arms, her head tucked under his chin. Her face was hidden, pressed against his neck. Seifer could feel her lips move, but he couldn't make out what she was saying. Her voice was too quiet.
Seifer held her close. He didn't know what was going on in her head, but Seifer had come to a few decisions of his own. He was in love with Quisty Trepe. Nothing was going to change that. And as tonight proved, he was not going to be able to keep their relationship a secret forever; they had just been lucky Selphie hadn't been overly curious tonight. So he was going to have to do something to change the state of things. However, he couldn't just abscond with her, tempting as it was. Not until he had untangled the mess she was caught up in. Seifer had the feeling that he was missing one piece of the puzzle that would make everything else fall into place, and that it was just out of reach.
Eventually, Seifer coaxed Quisty back to the makeshift dance floor. She seemed to be enjoying herself once again, and Seifer was pleased to see that. She did tend to try and avoid interacting with other people, but that was typical of her, and tonight it really didn't matter. Everyone was enjoying themselves, especially couples. Besides, he wasn't really in the mood to share his Cariad with anyone tonight either.
The sky slowly beginning to lighten found the two of them rejoining most of the others around the largest bonfire. It had burned down to embers at this point, and it was clear that a number of people had given up and sought their beds sometime in the night. Still, there were a fair amount of people (mostly the younger set at court) were present. Rinoa stepped forward, lit by the glowing embers of the bonfire, with a smile and began to sing once again. Quisty was the first to join in the singing, but soon other voices were raised, and the dawn was greeted with song. Cariad's fingers were entwined with his. Their grip tightened when Rinoa began a spell. Seifer could sense magic in use (barely but still), and it didn't surprise him that Quisty could as well.
It was minutes before anyone could actually see the results of that spell, but Quisty was clearly sensing the magic at work. She seemed slightly disconcerted by it, but he guessed that was understandable. She might be of sorceress lineage, but he would bet quite a lot that her previous experiences with magic had not been exactly pleasant. He squeezed her hand gently, and she flashed him a smile before turning her attention back to Rinoa. As the song reached its height, a ball of soft blue light appeared over the bonfire before bursting into a shower of glowing sparks like a firework. That was the signal that ended the celebration.
They were among the first to leave the beach. Seifer kept her hand in his as they headed back towards the palace, reluctant to let her go. It was only when they reached the entrance to the servant's hall that he let her pull away. She smiled at him.
"Thank you, Seifer. I had a lovely time."
"It was no problem." He took her hands in his own. "Cariad of Caledonia, it is my honor and pleasure to make sure that you are treated like the lady that you are. I am more than happy to be your knight and protector."
"Seifer." Her eyes shone, and she kissed him quickly before disappearing into the servant's hall.
Quistis carefully folded her dress and hid it and the moonstone pendant away with her other personal things. She didn't want either item found. If she didn't know better, she would say the pendant had been her mother's; it looked exactly the same down to the engraved patterns on the metal. But even if it wasn't, it was still special to her, if only for the fact that Seifer had given it to her. And it really wouldn't do for someone to come across either item. The questions both items might raise were ones that she did not want any of the Carrentes to be thinking about. It had occurred to Quistis that she had taken quite a risk by attending a court event. She didn't think that any of the Carrentes had seen her there, but it would probably be a good idea for her to keep a low profile for the next few days.
Still, she was extremely happy as she sought her bed. It had been a thoroughly lovely evening to her mind, and she had enjoyed herself greatly. That moment when Selphie had come up to them had been dreadful, but Quistis had survived it. She had barely been able to force out a name when asked, though it was something of a triumph that it had been her own middle name. What she had wanted to do was wrap Selphie in a tight hug; it had hurt to pretend she was a stranger. But she had looked happy. And Seifer had absolutely wonderful. The whole evening had been wonderful.
She pulled her blankets tightly around herself. There was a little niggle of worry that she was trying to fight off. It very much sounded like Seifer might be in love with her. Quistis knew she was falling in love with him. And she was terrified that nothing could come of it. As long as she was bound by the spell, she couldn't let things go anywhere. It was too dangerous. To Seifer, to Rinoa, to the kingdom, even to herself. Quistis had been raised as a princess of the realm. She knew that she couldn't put the kingdom at risk, even if it hurt her. So either she as going to have to break the spell binding her or she was going to have to give Seifer up.
Which she didn't want to do, and to be honest, Quistis wasn't sure that Seifer would let her. So, she was going to have to figure out how to break the spell if she could. And she didn't have much time to do so. Letting out a little sigh, she closed her eyes. She would worry about it after she had gotten some sleep. She wasn't going to waste the small chance of rest she was getting. Instead she focused on the warm tingly feeling that Seifer's kisses had left her with and held onto that memory as sleep found her.
One of the older maids woke her not many hours later. Thankfully, it seemed everyone was sleeping late including the servants, so Quistis at least had gotten a few hours of sleep. And her good mood could not be dampened by the fact that she had only gotten a few hours of sleep. Aurelia and Calista were still abed, and Quistis went about her morning duties feeling rather lighthearted. The palace was very quiet for the most part. It seemed that most of the nobles would be sleeping late. It was an opportunity that Quistis could not resist.
As soon as her morning chores were done, she slipped out to the beach with a sweet roll. Quistis wanted a few moments of peace to organize her thoughts. She had until the end of Summer Court in order to figure out how to break the spell that bound her. Once Summer Court was over, Countess Oriana would drag her back to the Carrente estate, and Quistis doubted that she would have a chance to escape again. It was a limited window of opportunity.
She closed her eyes. She needed to get into the Royal Library. That would be the best place for her to look for some sort of clue on how to break the spell. Her other option, though Quistis rather thought it would be a last resort, would be to try and talked to the Sorceress Edea. It was unknown if she could actually ask the questions she needed to, but then maybe the sorceress could tell what was going on without being told. It was a dim hope, but Quistis supposed it was possible. That would be much harder to do than sneaking information out of the library, and Quistis was not going to try that first.
Letting the sound of the waves wash over her, Quistis tried to reach for the warm little ball of power that she'd sensed last night. When Rinoa had cast her spell, Quistis had felt something more than just the magic at work. She had almost been able to touch her own powers, but she had been two startled to really try. But something had shifted last night, even if Quistis didn't know enough about magic to know what had changed. She could almost reach that power now. She could definitely sense it when she hadn't really been able to do so before. Quistis was hoping that was a good thing. Of course, she didn't know how to really use that power as anything more than a sledgehammer, but maybe that would be enough.
But she couldn't touch it now. Quistis sighed deeply and opened her eyes. That power that she could feel was just out of reach. She let out a huff, feeling fury roll over her. She was sick of things not going her way. Quistis wanted her life back and her family back. She wanted her freedom, and she wanted Seifer. She was sick of being controlled, and she wasn't going to deal with this anymore. Either she broke the spell holding her before Summer Court was over with or she wasn't returning to the Carrente lands. She wasn't willing to entertain other options anymore.
He should have known this was going to happen. Seifer should have expected this from the moment that Selphie had spotted him with Quisty last night. Her quick exit at the time had only been a reprieve. He'd wandered into the sitting room that Rinoa's court typically had breakfast in and had been ambushed by an interrogation. Apparently, Selphie had told Rinoa that she'd seen him with a girl last night, and both of them wanted details. Seifer wasn't really ready to share those yet. Unfortunately for him, he was well aware that it was an answer that neither of the ladies across the table from him would like. And it wasn't like he was going to get any help from anyone else around. Irvine wasn't awake yet, and Squall was no help as usual when it came to the girls. He was going to be lucky get a bite to eat between the questions.
"So," Rinoa smiled as she nibbled a sweet roll, "who was the lady you were with last night? The one Selphie met. What did you say her name was?"
"Cariad," Selphie supplied from her perch. "She said her name was Cariad but didn't supply any other details or a surname. She's pretty too, Rin. Long pale blond hair and sapphire eyes. She's tall enough for Seifer too and very elegant."
Seifer was glad that the table was between him and the two women. The trick would be to give them enough information to satisfy them without giving away more information than he wanted to.
"She's Cariad of Caledonia. She's here for Summer Court. We've met a few times before. She agreed to let me escort her to the solstice celebration."
"So would she be the reason why you don't seem interested in any of the other ladies at court?" Rinoa's smile was very catlike.
Seifer shrugged slightly and reached for a pastry. "Perhaps. She's an interesting lady."
"When are you going to introduce us?" Rinoa pounced on the idea.
"I'm not sure," Seifer was completely honest about that. "She's rather shy. It took a lot of convincing for me to convince her to come last night. I don't think she's very comfortable around most of the Royal Court."
That was only stretching the truth slightly. Rinoa frowned at that.
"Does she know who you are?"
Seifer rolled his eyes. "No. She thinks that I'm some squire to one of the knights here at court. Of course, she knows who I am. I'm not that stupid."
He was saved from having to deal with Rinoa's response by Edea sweeping into the room. Her eyes lit on Seifer.
"Might I have a word with you, Seifer?" she asked as she collected a cup of coffee and pastry for herself.
"Of course, Matron."
He followed her out onto the balcony. His foster mother seemed rather lost in thought. Seifer frowned slightly. This was not really like Matron at all. Finally, she looked up at him, leaning against the railing.
"Was there really a young woman with you last night or was I just seeing things?"
There was something in the tone of her voice that worried Seifer. "Yes. That was Cariad."
It was Matron's turn to frown. "For a moment I thought she…"
"Who did you think she was?" The answer felt important for some reason.
"She looked like Idalia. I thought it was her spirit back on the beach. I only really saw her for a few moments. I could have sworn I was just seeing things."
Seifer bit his lip. That was the missing piece. Cariad's mother who was a sorceress from Centra that Cariad knew very little about in so many ways. Idalia Llewellyn, Edea's foster sister, who had gone missing years before his Cariad would have been born and who was the most powerful sorceress in her generation. No one in Centra had ever known what had happened to her; she had just been assumed to be dead after a few years. But there had never been any proof of that. He needed to go back to the records and check the names of the girls' mothers. But he had just found the key to her identity.
"Sometimes it's so hard to believe she's just gone." Matron shook her head then met his eyes. "So, you've found your lady. And your sorceress?"
Seifer shrugged. "Maybe. She's not trained. And I think she's bound by a gaes spell. She can't tell me, and I don't have confirmation. Unfortunately, she is extremely reluctant to have anyone who is actually a member of the Royal Court see her, so I couldn't just bring her to you."
"If you could convince, I can tell for sure. I don't know if I could break the gaes spell if that's what it is, but at the very least I could confirm what it was."
"I'll try, Matron. It may take some time."
She smiled at him. "Do you best, dear. And I'm happy for you. You've been searching for your place for so long, and it feels like you've finally found it."
Seifer smiled. "Thank you, Matron."
She kissed his forehead. "You're welcome, dear."
He watched head back inside, feeling a weight lift off of his chest. Seifer had wanted her approval, but with Quisty being so skittish, he'd hesitated to even bring the subject up. He felt better for knowing that Matron approved of what he was doing. Seifer turned his gaze out to the ocean. Now he just had to get Quisty out of the Carrentes' clutches and break the gaes spell that bound her. And survive the rest of the interrogation he knew was waiting for him once he went back in to breakfast.
Her good mood lasted for two full days after the solstice celebrations. Even Calista and Aurelia's normal shenanigans couldn't faze her. The only drawback was the fact that it was nearly a day and a half before she saw Seifer again. Thanks to a feast, Quistis had been able to slip way before sunset. Feeling the need for a change, she had worn the clothes Seifer had given her for their sailing trip and her favorite handmaid necklace, the one with the green sea glass. She had paused a moment when picking that out.
The piece of glass reminded her of Seifer's eyes. It had also matched the eyes of the boy who gave it to her. Quistis blinked at that as she threaded her way through the palace and out to the beach. It had been ages since she had thought about that morning, but the little boy had had blond hair, green eyes, and Seifer's smile. Could it have been him? They were the same age, so it could have been him. Of course, that would be assuming that Seifer had visited Galbadia before, something he had never mentioned. But there was a chance.
Settling on a piece of driftwood, Quistis considered if that information could be useful to her. She really wasn't sure. And she wasn't sure if she wanted Seifer to find out who she really was just yet. Until she was free of the gaes, it could be a liability for anyone to realize who she was. Lost in thought, she didn't hear him approach her.
"Hey, I've been looking for you." Seifer settled onto the driftwood beside her. "You look rather serious."
Quistis shrugged. "Just trying to figure something out. You know, I think we might have met before."
He blinked at her. "What do you mean?"
She tapped the glass in her necklace; it seemed that the gaes would let her talk about this. "When I was younger, I met a blond boy with green eyes on the beach, and he gave me this."
Seifer blinked at her again. "That was you?"
She nodded, smiling. "Yes. It was the last day of a summer trip."
His eyes narrowed. "I remember that. I wasn't sure you were real though. Pretty pale little girl dressed in the same color as the mist? You could have easily been a nymph of some sort."
Quistis just smiled. "No, just me. What were you doing in Galbadia?"
It was Seifer's turn to shrug. "Cid, my foster father, was visiting his mentor who was dying. My foster brothers and I mostly took as a vacation. That was fairly close to the palace wasn't it?"
She shook her head. "That beach is at least fifty miles south of here."
He reached for her hand, twining their fingers together. Quistis blinked slightly and bit her lip. She could touch her magic now. Just barely, and Quistis didn't know if she could do anything with it, but she could actually call it forth. Wide eyed, she turned to Seifer. He calmly met her eyes.
"My magic-"
He lifted their joined hands which were glowing slightly with a silvery blue-green light. "Sorceress-knight bond. You couldn't use your magic before, could you?"
She shook her head, rather speechless. She hadn't expected this at all. It was habit now to try and reach for her magic at random points of the day, but she had never been able to really do anything with it until now. Almost giddy with the thought, Quistis closed her eyes and reached for the magic. But as she tried to use her own magic push at the gaes spell that bound her, the tell tale signs of the gaes sprang to life, and Quistis found herself gasping for air.
Seifer let go of her hand, and Quistis felt her connection the magic break, but she was too focused on trying to breathe to really care. When her breathing finally went back to normal, she found herself seated in Seifer's lap as he rubbed soothing circles on her back.
"Better?" he asked.
She nodded, not trusting her voice just yet.
"Is the reaction always that bad?"
Quistis shook her head. She hadn't provoked a reaction that severe from the gaes in quite awhile.
Seifer sighed and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Let's not do that again. You scared me there, Cariad."
For several long moments, she just rested there in his arms. She was exhausted. That had taken far more out of her than she had expected. Seifer held her close, and there was a safety here in his arms. She was well aware that it was only borrowed time though. She would need to get back to her duties shortly. But it was harder to pull herself away from Seifer than she had expected. He smiled at her and kissed her gently.
"You have to get back to work. I know. Can you get away this evening?"
She bit her lip, trying to think of her schedule. With a sigh she shook her head. "Not tonight with the high feast going on. Tomorrow night, yes."
"All right." He stole another kiss. "I'll meet you on the terrace."
Several minutes later, Quistis finally headed back to the Carrentes' rooms in the palace. She went back to preparing Aurelia and Calista's wardrobe for that evening. The feast tonight would be a very major one, and both girls had plans on working to snare their prospective bridegrooms. Quistis had been treated to a long discussion on that subject this morning while she helped the two prepare for their day. She hoped that the young men would be smart enough to see through the girls' schemes. Though admittedly, she wasn't so worried about Seifer any more. He had made it rather clear time and again that his interests centered clearly on her, and he wasn't in a position where he had to worry about pressure to form any sort of alliance with the Carrente family. Others might not be so lucky.
With a deep sigh, Quistis set to work pulling out dresses to air and iron. At least she had something to look forward to. She would survive this. And maybe she was one step closer to being free if she could just figure out what she could do with her magic.
Frustrated by the situation and by the fact that Squall was currently off on a ride with Rinoa and unavailable to spar, Seifer instead turned to more attic explorations. At the very least it would give him an outlet for his energy. He wasn't really in the mood for socializing right now anyway. On the one hand, he'd proved that Quisty was his sorceress. But once again he'd had to let her go due to her gaes spell and the whole situation. He was very sick of that. Especially since he knew that what his Cariad was going back to was not a good situation at all. He hated being powerless to protect her, and he hated that they had to steal their moments together. She belonged at his side.
The attic at least was distracting. Seifer wandered through its collection of trunks and various items. A stack of paintings caught his attention, and Seifer began pulling the covers off of them. The first was clearly a formal portrait of Prince Derek. He appeared slightly older in this one than the previous painting Seifer had found. There was another painting in the stack that was the same size and shape. Pulling off its cover, Seifer started in shock.
The woman could have been Quisty save for the fact that she had violet eyes and was clearly a few years older than his Cariad currently was. But other than that the two women were almost identical. Seifer checked the plaque on the frame more from habit than to confirm what he knew. It read exactly what he had expected: Her Royal Highness Princess Idalia Serian, Duchess of Caledonia. He had no doubt that she was also Idalia Llewellyn of Centra. Seifer quickly began going through the rest of the painting in the stack.
He knew exactly what he was looking for. He just had to find the proof he needed. Most of the paintings were simply generic ancestors, but finally Seifer found the portrait he was looking for. Prince Derek and Princess Idalia stood together on the terrace of this very palace. Standing between them was a little girl, maybe five years old. She had Quisty's eyes and her smile. The plaque on this painting read: Prince Derek Serian and Princess Idalia Serian with their daughter, Princess Quistis Cariad Serian. He'd found his lady's identity all right. And it posed a whole new set of questions. Princess Quistis was supposed to be dead; she had been kidnapped and killed before Seifer had arrived in Galbadia. So what was she doing as a gaes bound servant to the Carrentes and why did everyone believe she was dead?
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII
Spoilers/Warnings: AU Pairing: Seiftis
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or its characters.
Summery: A lost princess, a knight without a lady, intrigue, and a quest to return home.
Previous
Mo Ghile Mear
She had not meant to start singing. It had been part instinct and part reaction to the music. Quistis knew that particular song by heart. She'd heard her mother sing it plenty of times. And she had recognized Rinoa's voice. The moment her cousin's voice had startled to falter, Quistis had raised her own in support. And once she had started, she could not stop. The music poured out of her without thought. It was only when the song ended that Quistis realized exactly what she had done.
However, Seifer acted before she could panic, drawing her back into the safety of the crowd. But he was beaming at her even as they mixed with the rest of the crowd that was now milling about. He cupped her cheek.
"I knew that you belonged here. Good job, sweetheart." Seifer's fingers curled around hers. "Come on, let's get something to eat before the dancing starts."
One hand still gripping the glass lantern, Quistis let him lead her towards the tables set up with food. She was wary at first of the crowd, but it quickly became clear that since she was dressed like most of the young women, no one took a second glance at her. She knew she looked differently than normal. Oddly enough, she did feel more like herself with her long hair unbound and free of a servant's garb. But she didn't have much time to consider any of this. Seifer quickly had her caught up in the festivities.
The pair of them staked out a piece of driftwood as their bench for the evening, using Quistis' lantern to mark the spot. She has to admit that she's fascinated by the ongoing celebrations. They are nothing like typical court events. Bonfires were lit up and down the beach, and there were numerous tables scattered around piled with finger foods and various drinks. There were several small musical groups scattered around playing music that would be more familiar in a seaside tavern than at the Royal Court.
Seifer quickly pulled her out to join the dancers. The steps were familiar to Quistis, and she was soon caught up in the music and motion. Seifer partnered her for all of the dances, and while the sand did not exactly make for the best dance floor, she found she did not care. Delighted and breathless, Quistis was more than willing to lose herself in the music and dancing. Wrapped up in music and laughter and Seifer's arms, Quistis finds herself really and truly happy.
She cannot dance forever though, and eventually they retire back to their driftwood perch with cool drinks. Seifer seemed fascinated with her long hair, playing with its pale strands. Quistis sipped at her iced drink.
"How long does all this last?"
He grinned. "Until dawn. Have you got your second wind yet?"
She just shook her head. "Not yet."
"We have all night. Don't worry." He sipped his own drink. "Are you having a good time, Cariad?"
Quistis did not doubt she was smiling. "Yes."
"Good." Then to her utter surprise, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "Come walk along the waterline with me."
Tucking her hand in the crook of his arm, Seifer led her down to the water. There was enough of a breeze coming off the water to cool her flushed cheeks, and Quistis let out a soft sigh. The wet sound felt lovely against her feet, and Quistis took the opportunity to really get a good look at the Royal Court. She had spotted Rinoa dancing by one of the bonfires. The princess' dance partner was not the most skilled, but the pair seemed to be enjoying themselves. Seifer noticed the direction of her attention and laughed.
"That's Squall. He's become a better dancer since meeting Rin, but it still isn't his best talent."
"Are they happy?"
"Yes. It took forever for Squall to actually admit that he cared, but once he did that, I don't think anything could have kept them apart." Seifer seemed to be considering his statement. "Actually, I don't think that anything could have kept them apart before he admitted that, but then Squall didn't have any idea why he was willing to risk life and limb for her."
"Good."
Rinoa looked happy. And it sounded like she had someone who would support and protect her. Quistis had often played that role when they had been young, and it reassured Quistis to know that Rinoa still had people to back her and take care of her. She shook her head with a smile.
"I don't think I recognize half the people here."
Seifer shrugged. "The Summer Court seems to have brought everyone out of the woodwork. I think that the matchmaking mamas have something to do with that."
"Have they set their sights on you yet?"
Seifer seemed almost startled by her questions. "They've tried."
He paused a moment. "You're trying to warn me about something."
Quistis gave a little shrug of her shoulders. She was, but she didn't know if she could actually tell him that, and she wasn't about to potentially invoke her gaes when she was having a wonderful time. Seifer gave her a long look, and then changed the subject.
"Do you see that blond over there by the smaller bonfire? The one with the short hair?"
Quistis nodded. The young woman was one of the many nobles that she did not recognize. Seifer grinned.
"That's Lady Ashelia. She's eloping tonight. So if anyone asks, we last saw her heading back to the palace with a headache."
Quistis arched an eyebrow at him. "Who is she running off with?"
"Now that is an interesting question. Technically, she's running off with young Lord Bunansa. However, he's been living under an assumed name for a number of years and working as one of his majesty's privateers. The lady didn't know he was nobility they first met, and I think that they're marrying under the name he's made his reputation under. Neither of the families approve, though admittedly, his father is crazy, and all Lady Ashelia has are distant relatives, but they're still making things difficult for the pair."
She bit her lip. It sounded like something out of a romantic play. Seifer's grin widened.
"Feeling up to more dancing?"
She grinned back. "I think so."
As they head towards one of the make shift dance floors, Quistis caught sight of an older, dark haired woman staring at them with an expression of disbelief. She didn't recognize the woman, but before she could ask Seifer about her, he'd pulled Quistis into the next round of dances.
Seifer couldn't decide if he liked Cariad better by firelight or moonlight. No matter which though, Quistis was completely gorgeous when she was truly happy. As he'd hoped, no one paid much attention to who Quisty was. They assumed she was yet another noble, and several had tried to get a dance for her. However, Seifer had no intention on sharing his partner. And he was beginning to think he was going to have a great deal of trouble letting her go when tonight ended.
Her fingers twined with his as she tugged him back towards their makeshift bench after yet another round of dancing. Seifer let her pull him down beside her and couldn't help but grin when she immediately used his shoulder for a pillow. Seifer slung an arm around her waste. It had been an interesting evening so far. Save for the dancing, Seifer and Quisty had kept mostly to themselves. His Cariad seemed perfectly happy and very much at ease. He had known that she would fit in. And hearing her sing.
It was one thing to hear Quisty hum to herself or sing a few lines of a song. It was something else entirely to hear her really sing, especially songs of his home. His lady sounded like she had been singing Centran songs for years. She also fit in here. Seifer could easily believe that she was a member of the Royal Court or at least had been at one point.
"Seifer! Are you…" Selphie's voice trailed off as she took in Quisty sitting beside him. "Oh. I didn't know you already found a dance partner. Lady Selphie of Trabia."
The look on Quisty's face was an odd combination of disguised terror and wistful longing. Her voice was soft and rough as if she had to force the words out. "Cariad."
Selphie's smile grew. "Lovely to meet you. Seifer, have you seen Irvine?"
He shook his head. "Not since before the bonfire was lit."
She huffed.
"Oh well. I'll go check with Rin." Then she winked at them. "Have a nice night!"
Beside him, Cariad was trembling. She stared at her hands, wringing them.
"Cariad?"
"I can't. If I could…"
"I know." He cupped her face in his hands. "It's all right, sweetheart."
Then Seifer leaned in and kissed her. A soft exclamation slipped out of her lips before she kissed him back. Her cheeks were quite flushed when he pulled back, and Seifer couldn't help but smile at her. Her blush intensified and she ducked her head. Seifer simply twined their fingers together.
"It doesn't matter who you were born, you know. I know who you are. You're my Cariad."
Her breath caught, and something lit in her eyes. Then his lady leaned in and kissed him soundly. Cariad wrapped her arms around his neck, and Seifer pulled her into his lap. She fit perfectly in his arms, and even after the kiss had ended, she stayed within the circle of his arms, her head tucked under his chin. Her face was hidden, pressed against his neck. Seifer could feel her lips move, but he couldn't make out what she was saying. Her voice was too quiet.
Seifer held her close. He didn't know what was going on in her head, but Seifer had come to a few decisions of his own. He was in love with Quisty Trepe. Nothing was going to change that. And as tonight proved, he was not going to be able to keep their relationship a secret forever; they had just been lucky Selphie hadn't been overly curious tonight. So he was going to have to do something to change the state of things. However, he couldn't just abscond with her, tempting as it was. Not until he had untangled the mess she was caught up in. Seifer had the feeling that he was missing one piece of the puzzle that would make everything else fall into place, and that it was just out of reach.
Eventually, Seifer coaxed Quisty back to the makeshift dance floor. She seemed to be enjoying herself once again, and Seifer was pleased to see that. She did tend to try and avoid interacting with other people, but that was typical of her, and tonight it really didn't matter. Everyone was enjoying themselves, especially couples. Besides, he wasn't really in the mood to share his Cariad with anyone tonight either.
The sky slowly beginning to lighten found the two of them rejoining most of the others around the largest bonfire. It had burned down to embers at this point, and it was clear that a number of people had given up and sought their beds sometime in the night. Still, there were a fair amount of people (mostly the younger set at court) were present. Rinoa stepped forward, lit by the glowing embers of the bonfire, with a smile and began to sing once again. Quisty was the first to join in the singing, but soon other voices were raised, and the dawn was greeted with song. Cariad's fingers were entwined with his. Their grip tightened when Rinoa began a spell. Seifer could sense magic in use (barely but still), and it didn't surprise him that Quisty could as well.
It was minutes before anyone could actually see the results of that spell, but Quisty was clearly sensing the magic at work. She seemed slightly disconcerted by it, but he guessed that was understandable. She might be of sorceress lineage, but he would bet quite a lot that her previous experiences with magic had not been exactly pleasant. He squeezed her hand gently, and she flashed him a smile before turning her attention back to Rinoa. As the song reached its height, a ball of soft blue light appeared over the bonfire before bursting into a shower of glowing sparks like a firework. That was the signal that ended the celebration.
They were among the first to leave the beach. Seifer kept her hand in his as they headed back towards the palace, reluctant to let her go. It was only when they reached the entrance to the servant's hall that he let her pull away. She smiled at him.
"Thank you, Seifer. I had a lovely time."
"It was no problem." He took her hands in his own. "Cariad of Caledonia, it is my honor and pleasure to make sure that you are treated like the lady that you are. I am more than happy to be your knight and protector."
"Seifer." Her eyes shone, and she kissed him quickly before disappearing into the servant's hall.
Quistis carefully folded her dress and hid it and the moonstone pendant away with her other personal things. She didn't want either item found. If she didn't know better, she would say the pendant had been her mother's; it looked exactly the same down to the engraved patterns on the metal. But even if it wasn't, it was still special to her, if only for the fact that Seifer had given it to her. And it really wouldn't do for someone to come across either item. The questions both items might raise were ones that she did not want any of the Carrentes to be thinking about. It had occurred to Quistis that she had taken quite a risk by attending a court event. She didn't think that any of the Carrentes had seen her there, but it would probably be a good idea for her to keep a low profile for the next few days.
Still, she was extremely happy as she sought her bed. It had been a thoroughly lovely evening to her mind, and she had enjoyed herself greatly. That moment when Selphie had come up to them had been dreadful, but Quistis had survived it. She had barely been able to force out a name when asked, though it was something of a triumph that it had been her own middle name. What she had wanted to do was wrap Selphie in a tight hug; it had hurt to pretend she was a stranger. But she had looked happy. And Seifer had absolutely wonderful. The whole evening had been wonderful.
She pulled her blankets tightly around herself. There was a little niggle of worry that she was trying to fight off. It very much sounded like Seifer might be in love with her. Quistis knew she was falling in love with him. And she was terrified that nothing could come of it. As long as she was bound by the spell, she couldn't let things go anywhere. It was too dangerous. To Seifer, to Rinoa, to the kingdom, even to herself. Quistis had been raised as a princess of the realm. She knew that she couldn't put the kingdom at risk, even if it hurt her. So either she as going to have to break the spell binding her or she was going to have to give Seifer up.
Which she didn't want to do, and to be honest, Quistis wasn't sure that Seifer would let her. So, she was going to have to figure out how to break the spell if she could. And she didn't have much time to do so. Letting out a little sigh, she closed her eyes. She would worry about it after she had gotten some sleep. She wasn't going to waste the small chance of rest she was getting. Instead she focused on the warm tingly feeling that Seifer's kisses had left her with and held onto that memory as sleep found her.
One of the older maids woke her not many hours later. Thankfully, it seemed everyone was sleeping late including the servants, so Quistis at least had gotten a few hours of sleep. And her good mood could not be dampened by the fact that she had only gotten a few hours of sleep. Aurelia and Calista were still abed, and Quistis went about her morning duties feeling rather lighthearted. The palace was very quiet for the most part. It seemed that most of the nobles would be sleeping late. It was an opportunity that Quistis could not resist.
As soon as her morning chores were done, she slipped out to the beach with a sweet roll. Quistis wanted a few moments of peace to organize her thoughts. She had until the end of Summer Court in order to figure out how to break the spell that bound her. Once Summer Court was over, Countess Oriana would drag her back to the Carrente estate, and Quistis doubted that she would have a chance to escape again. It was a limited window of opportunity.
She closed her eyes. She needed to get into the Royal Library. That would be the best place for her to look for some sort of clue on how to break the spell. Her other option, though Quistis rather thought it would be a last resort, would be to try and talked to the Sorceress Edea. It was unknown if she could actually ask the questions she needed to, but then maybe the sorceress could tell what was going on without being told. It was a dim hope, but Quistis supposed it was possible. That would be much harder to do than sneaking information out of the library, and Quistis was not going to try that first.
Letting the sound of the waves wash over her, Quistis tried to reach for the warm little ball of power that she'd sensed last night. When Rinoa had cast her spell, Quistis had felt something more than just the magic at work. She had almost been able to touch her own powers, but she had been two startled to really try. But something had shifted last night, even if Quistis didn't know enough about magic to know what had changed. She could almost reach that power now. She could definitely sense it when she hadn't really been able to do so before. Quistis was hoping that was a good thing. Of course, she didn't know how to really use that power as anything more than a sledgehammer, but maybe that would be enough.
But she couldn't touch it now. Quistis sighed deeply and opened her eyes. That power that she could feel was just out of reach. She let out a huff, feeling fury roll over her. She was sick of things not going her way. Quistis wanted her life back and her family back. She wanted her freedom, and she wanted Seifer. She was sick of being controlled, and she wasn't going to deal with this anymore. Either she broke the spell holding her before Summer Court was over with or she wasn't returning to the Carrente lands. She wasn't willing to entertain other options anymore.
He should have known this was going to happen. Seifer should have expected this from the moment that Selphie had spotted him with Quisty last night. Her quick exit at the time had only been a reprieve. He'd wandered into the sitting room that Rinoa's court typically had breakfast in and had been ambushed by an interrogation. Apparently, Selphie had told Rinoa that she'd seen him with a girl last night, and both of them wanted details. Seifer wasn't really ready to share those yet. Unfortunately for him, he was well aware that it was an answer that neither of the ladies across the table from him would like. And it wasn't like he was going to get any help from anyone else around. Irvine wasn't awake yet, and Squall was no help as usual when it came to the girls. He was going to be lucky get a bite to eat between the questions.
"So," Rinoa smiled as she nibbled a sweet roll, "who was the lady you were with last night? The one Selphie met. What did you say her name was?"
"Cariad," Selphie supplied from her perch. "She said her name was Cariad but didn't supply any other details or a surname. She's pretty too, Rin. Long pale blond hair and sapphire eyes. She's tall enough for Seifer too and very elegant."
Seifer was glad that the table was between him and the two women. The trick would be to give them enough information to satisfy them without giving away more information than he wanted to.
"She's Cariad of Caledonia. She's here for Summer Court. We've met a few times before. She agreed to let me escort her to the solstice celebration."
"So would she be the reason why you don't seem interested in any of the other ladies at court?" Rinoa's smile was very catlike.
Seifer shrugged slightly and reached for a pastry. "Perhaps. She's an interesting lady."
"When are you going to introduce us?" Rinoa pounced on the idea.
"I'm not sure," Seifer was completely honest about that. "She's rather shy. It took a lot of convincing for me to convince her to come last night. I don't think she's very comfortable around most of the Royal Court."
That was only stretching the truth slightly. Rinoa frowned at that.
"Does she know who you are?"
Seifer rolled his eyes. "No. She thinks that I'm some squire to one of the knights here at court. Of course, she knows who I am. I'm not that stupid."
He was saved from having to deal with Rinoa's response by Edea sweeping into the room. Her eyes lit on Seifer.
"Might I have a word with you, Seifer?" she asked as she collected a cup of coffee and pastry for herself.
"Of course, Matron."
He followed her out onto the balcony. His foster mother seemed rather lost in thought. Seifer frowned slightly. This was not really like Matron at all. Finally, she looked up at him, leaning against the railing.
"Was there really a young woman with you last night or was I just seeing things?"
There was something in the tone of her voice that worried Seifer. "Yes. That was Cariad."
It was Matron's turn to frown. "For a moment I thought she…"
"Who did you think she was?" The answer felt important for some reason.
"She looked like Idalia. I thought it was her spirit back on the beach. I only really saw her for a few moments. I could have sworn I was just seeing things."
Seifer bit his lip. That was the missing piece. Cariad's mother who was a sorceress from Centra that Cariad knew very little about in so many ways. Idalia Llewellyn, Edea's foster sister, who had gone missing years before his Cariad would have been born and who was the most powerful sorceress in her generation. No one in Centra had ever known what had happened to her; she had just been assumed to be dead after a few years. But there had never been any proof of that. He needed to go back to the records and check the names of the girls' mothers. But he had just found the key to her identity.
"Sometimes it's so hard to believe she's just gone." Matron shook her head then met his eyes. "So, you've found your lady. And your sorceress?"
Seifer shrugged. "Maybe. She's not trained. And I think she's bound by a gaes spell. She can't tell me, and I don't have confirmation. Unfortunately, she is extremely reluctant to have anyone who is actually a member of the Royal Court see her, so I couldn't just bring her to you."
"If you could convince, I can tell for sure. I don't know if I could break the gaes spell if that's what it is, but at the very least I could confirm what it was."
"I'll try, Matron. It may take some time."
She smiled at him. "Do you best, dear. And I'm happy for you. You've been searching for your place for so long, and it feels like you've finally found it."
Seifer smiled. "Thank you, Matron."
She kissed his forehead. "You're welcome, dear."
He watched head back inside, feeling a weight lift off of his chest. Seifer had wanted her approval, but with Quisty being so skittish, he'd hesitated to even bring the subject up. He felt better for knowing that Matron approved of what he was doing. Seifer turned his gaze out to the ocean. Now he just had to get Quisty out of the Carrentes' clutches and break the gaes spell that bound her. And survive the rest of the interrogation he knew was waiting for him once he went back in to breakfast.
Her good mood lasted for two full days after the solstice celebrations. Even Calista and Aurelia's normal shenanigans couldn't faze her. The only drawback was the fact that it was nearly a day and a half before she saw Seifer again. Thanks to a feast, Quistis had been able to slip way before sunset. Feeling the need for a change, she had worn the clothes Seifer had given her for their sailing trip and her favorite handmaid necklace, the one with the green sea glass. She had paused a moment when picking that out.
The piece of glass reminded her of Seifer's eyes. It had also matched the eyes of the boy who gave it to her. Quistis blinked at that as she threaded her way through the palace and out to the beach. It had been ages since she had thought about that morning, but the little boy had had blond hair, green eyes, and Seifer's smile. Could it have been him? They were the same age, so it could have been him. Of course, that would be assuming that Seifer had visited Galbadia before, something he had never mentioned. But there was a chance.
Settling on a piece of driftwood, Quistis considered if that information could be useful to her. She really wasn't sure. And she wasn't sure if she wanted Seifer to find out who she really was just yet. Until she was free of the gaes, it could be a liability for anyone to realize who she was. Lost in thought, she didn't hear him approach her.
"Hey, I've been looking for you." Seifer settled onto the driftwood beside her. "You look rather serious."
Quistis shrugged. "Just trying to figure something out. You know, I think we might have met before."
He blinked at her. "What do you mean?"
She tapped the glass in her necklace; it seemed that the gaes would let her talk about this. "When I was younger, I met a blond boy with green eyes on the beach, and he gave me this."
Seifer blinked at her again. "That was you?"
She nodded, smiling. "Yes. It was the last day of a summer trip."
His eyes narrowed. "I remember that. I wasn't sure you were real though. Pretty pale little girl dressed in the same color as the mist? You could have easily been a nymph of some sort."
Quistis just smiled. "No, just me. What were you doing in Galbadia?"
It was Seifer's turn to shrug. "Cid, my foster father, was visiting his mentor who was dying. My foster brothers and I mostly took as a vacation. That was fairly close to the palace wasn't it?"
She shook her head. "That beach is at least fifty miles south of here."
He reached for her hand, twining their fingers together. Quistis blinked slightly and bit her lip. She could touch her magic now. Just barely, and Quistis didn't know if she could do anything with it, but she could actually call it forth. Wide eyed, she turned to Seifer. He calmly met her eyes.
"My magic-"
He lifted their joined hands which were glowing slightly with a silvery blue-green light. "Sorceress-knight bond. You couldn't use your magic before, could you?"
She shook her head, rather speechless. She hadn't expected this at all. It was habit now to try and reach for her magic at random points of the day, but she had never been able to really do anything with it until now. Almost giddy with the thought, Quistis closed her eyes and reached for the magic. But as she tried to use her own magic push at the gaes spell that bound her, the tell tale signs of the gaes sprang to life, and Quistis found herself gasping for air.
Seifer let go of her hand, and Quistis felt her connection the magic break, but she was too focused on trying to breathe to really care. When her breathing finally went back to normal, she found herself seated in Seifer's lap as he rubbed soothing circles on her back.
"Better?" he asked.
She nodded, not trusting her voice just yet.
"Is the reaction always that bad?"
Quistis shook her head. She hadn't provoked a reaction that severe from the gaes in quite awhile.
Seifer sighed and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Let's not do that again. You scared me there, Cariad."
For several long moments, she just rested there in his arms. She was exhausted. That had taken far more out of her than she had expected. Seifer held her close, and there was a safety here in his arms. She was well aware that it was only borrowed time though. She would need to get back to her duties shortly. But it was harder to pull herself away from Seifer than she had expected. He smiled at her and kissed her gently.
"You have to get back to work. I know. Can you get away this evening?"
She bit her lip, trying to think of her schedule. With a sigh she shook her head. "Not tonight with the high feast going on. Tomorrow night, yes."
"All right." He stole another kiss. "I'll meet you on the terrace."
Several minutes later, Quistis finally headed back to the Carrentes' rooms in the palace. She went back to preparing Aurelia and Calista's wardrobe for that evening. The feast tonight would be a very major one, and both girls had plans on working to snare their prospective bridegrooms. Quistis had been treated to a long discussion on that subject this morning while she helped the two prepare for their day. She hoped that the young men would be smart enough to see through the girls' schemes. Though admittedly, she wasn't so worried about Seifer any more. He had made it rather clear time and again that his interests centered clearly on her, and he wasn't in a position where he had to worry about pressure to form any sort of alliance with the Carrente family. Others might not be so lucky.
With a deep sigh, Quistis set to work pulling out dresses to air and iron. At least she had something to look forward to. She would survive this. And maybe she was one step closer to being free if she could just figure out what she could do with her magic.
Frustrated by the situation and by the fact that Squall was currently off on a ride with Rinoa and unavailable to spar, Seifer instead turned to more attic explorations. At the very least it would give him an outlet for his energy. He wasn't really in the mood for socializing right now anyway. On the one hand, he'd proved that Quisty was his sorceress. But once again he'd had to let her go due to her gaes spell and the whole situation. He was very sick of that. Especially since he knew that what his Cariad was going back to was not a good situation at all. He hated being powerless to protect her, and he hated that they had to steal their moments together. She belonged at his side.
The attic at least was distracting. Seifer wandered through its collection of trunks and various items. A stack of paintings caught his attention, and Seifer began pulling the covers off of them. The first was clearly a formal portrait of Prince Derek. He appeared slightly older in this one than the previous painting Seifer had found. There was another painting in the stack that was the same size and shape. Pulling off its cover, Seifer started in shock.
The woman could have been Quisty save for the fact that she had violet eyes and was clearly a few years older than his Cariad currently was. But other than that the two women were almost identical. Seifer checked the plaque on the frame more from habit than to confirm what he knew. It read exactly what he had expected: Her Royal Highness Princess Idalia Serian, Duchess of Caledonia. He had no doubt that she was also Idalia Llewellyn of Centra. Seifer quickly began going through the rest of the painting in the stack.
He knew exactly what he was looking for. He just had to find the proof he needed. Most of the paintings were simply generic ancestors, but finally Seifer found the portrait he was looking for. Prince Derek and Princess Idalia stood together on the terrace of this very palace. Standing between them was a little girl, maybe five years old. She had Quisty's eyes and her smile. The plaque on this painting read: Prince Derek Serian and Princess Idalia Serian with their daughter, Princess Quistis Cariad Serian. He'd found his lady's identity all right. And it posed a whole new set of questions. Princess Quistis was supposed to be dead; she had been kidnapped and killed before Seifer had arrived in Galbadia. So what was she doing as a gaes bound servant to the Carrentes and why did everyone believe she was dead?