Pre-Game, Anna
Yup.. Tis been a while since I decided to write in here.. Reason being.. I dunno. o_O; I've been under some serious Writer's Block lately while writing for a couple of other stories (Namely the BSSM/FF4 crossover, and the story of Palom and the Lamia..), and helping a friend of mine with theirs.. So.. It's kinda a surprise I've actually written out this one. ^^; Came to me last night when I was listening to Kenny Chesney's You Had Me From 'Hello', and thought, "Heey. That'd work!" when attempting to write out an MV wouldn't. x_x;
As a forewarning, yes. This is a usual Edward x Anna story, but unlike all my other stories, this is one semi-days-before Damcyan's Fire Crystal was taken by the Red Wings.. like.. How those who'd play the game could -possibly- see things between Edward and Anna the first time they play.. not later on when Palom and Porom are acquired, and Tellah's words, and all that make it possible the twins are their children.
So yee. =D I'm proud of myself, for once. :P I've checked this story about 2135425+ times for errors.. Couldn't find any. x_x; .. Critiques, Reviews, Comments, and Suggestions are indeed welcome, encouraged even. =) Just no flaming bullshit like "lolol that suX0rz," allright?
Thanks much!
A Lovely Dance In Time
Part I
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"Dinner?! Me?!"
Crystal-deep pools widened in surprise, but were a little dissuaded by the fact the neatly-dressed musician in front of them had started to deeply blush along with his charming grin. "Edward Chris, whatever is the matter?"
"It's just.. You amaze me, Anna, that's all, and yes, I want you to come to dinner," he nodded, gloved hands outstretching to take the latter confused's bare ones into his palms. "Not the girl down the street. Not the shopkeep's daughter. You, Anna Mesiocite."
Still, Anna was declared as surprised, if not speechless. Even though she and Edward had been seeing each other for months ever since her father, Tellah, had moved to Kaipou from the city of Agart, the closely hidden fact that her beau was of royal blood often shocked her, made her more afraid to the very point that she often wished he truly was a bard, and not the crowned prince of Damcyan.
"Besides," he continued, suddenly finding interest in massaging one of her hands, "maybe we can finally tell your father that -- "
Her head instantly shook, loose cherry-pink tresses scattered about in a frantic wind. "No, Edward. I still want my father to accept you as you first met him. After he's done so, then we can reveal to him your true identity, although it's no lie that your true identity is a bard, afterall," she said, casting a warm smile to her beloved's now-confused painted visage.
Ever since Anna's father had met the blonde-haired musician, his ideals of him courting his daughter were nothing short of the honor of having to clean up after a chocobo -- disgusting; vile; something nobody wanted to do with; Of course, the last part the old Red Mage had placed his priority on, and was still determined to make Anna see this light: This 'Edward' person was just another swindler, like all the other demented bards around Kaipou, and would probably drop Anna as soon as he lured her to his room like a Water Hag hungry for the kill.
Anna, of course, didn't listen. Her father's judge of character had always been poorer than his sight (sans the use of his glasses), leaving her to figure who was 'good', and who was 'bad.' Edward didn't seem like a threat at all, and deep in her heart, she knew he wasn't either.
"But back to the dinner, my love. It'd give me great honor for you to join me tonight. I can finally introduce you to my parents, who are indeed anxious to actually meet this wonderful, beautiful woman I've been talking so endlessly about," said Edward, hoping to rid Anna's musement of her latter thought, enhancing it further with a soft kiss applied to the back of her hand.
Anna's face was darker than her hair color in zero to a second. "Oh, Edward!" she, finding the motion somehow, giggled, lifting her free hand to gently pummel him playfully on his shoulder, before settling into a serious manner once again. "What will I wear? Most importantly, how do I act? I'm not even sure if I know my dinnerware correctly!"
"Don't worry about it, my love," Edward said with a soft smile, idly rubbing the spot where Anna had struck with a joking smile. "Just be yourself."
"But.. I don't want to appear like a tomboy in front of your parents!" she sighed in an almost-annoyed tone, glancing down to her lap, but moreso in direction of the yellow material covering her legs. By what her father had said, the hand-tailored dress had been her mother's, given to her by one of the White Mages of Mysidia, something she never got a chance to wear due to her sudden passing just three days after Anna's birth.
"Now look who's paranoid about being truthful to parents!" he laughed, squeezing her hand in a comforting manner, to which Anna cast a pressed frown to his face. "I mean it though, darling, and as for clothing, don't worry about it. I mean it, too," he repeated, visage turning into a depth of seriousness. "There's just one last thing I'd like to know, though."
The maiden almost lost his words in the rush of her own thoughts. Edward was such a kind, gentle man, the exact type she could see herself living with forever, until death split their ways. Even now in the back of her mind did her everliving fantasy of being a bride (something she was sure would never happen due to her father snapping and cursing out every possible beau she brought home) start to play out again.
It would be a beautiful ceremony, like the storybook weddings only kings and queens in her dreams would experience. Cherry blossoms would swirl in an air of crisp, clean diamond above the heads of many patrons, among them, her father, smiling approvingly, and her mother, clutching her father's hand with the same angelic smile as her little daughters, as both looked on to the brightly painted gazebo, bedecked lovingly with the freshest flowers gold could buy, but their intentions, of course, wouldn't be scenery; The bride and groom, both dressed in formals appropriate for a wedding, would turn to each other, their eyes full of love for one another, truly making the aura a magical moment only time could stop.
"Do you, Prince Edward Chris von Muir, take this woman to be your wife?" the priest, a White Mage, would ask, smiling over his prayer book.
Edward would smile, lifting a hand to her cheek lovingly. "I do."
"Anna?"
"What's that, dear?" she asked, almost dreamily.
"Will you join me for dinner this evening?"
The priest would smile approvingly before turning his emeralded gaze, full of warmth, to the bride. "Do you, Anna Mesiocite, take this man to be your husband?"
"Yes. Yes, I do."
The priest would continue his warm smile, first at the witnesses, secondly at the couple. "Then by the power vested in me, and our mother, Lady Gaia.."
"Anna..?"
"I now pronounce you both.."
"Nadeshiko Mesiocite?"
"Husband.. and wife, together, forever, for all eternity.."
"Hey!"
The aura around Anna would slowly return to their setting amid the pool of the Kaipouan Oasis, where both were sitting underneath a palm tree facing one another. "Huh? Yes, Edward?" she half-mumbled, somewhat confused as to why his hands were suddenly locked around her forearms.
The bard sighed, offering her a small smile. "That's just another reason why I love you, I'm afraid. I love everything you do, Anna, even if you appear to lose interest in what I say sometimes. Are you sure there's nothing else bothering you, besides your father?" his hands slid off her forearms and back to his sides, a worried expression instantly taking over his delicate face.
"No, no, nothing at all!" she said, waving her hand of the matter, but blushing nonetheless, which Edward smiled confusedly towards. "What time would you like for me to be ready?"
"When the sun's almost a fourth towards the mountainrange of the Mistlands?" he shrugged, offhandedly. Time wasn't important to him as long as he could be with Anna. "Meet me here, and I'll escort you to Damcyan. Oh, and Anna?"
The maiden couldn't keep from smiling now; it did show the growing excitement of sandmoths fluttering in her stomach, though. "Yes, my love?"
"I really don't want you to worry about this. I know my parents would love you no matter what, and if they don't, then.." he paused a moment, hoping to somewhat surprise her (which he ended up doing, as told by the look on her fair face). "Who cares? I love you even more than words can say, Anna, and I want you to know that."
A look of surprised suddenly crossed Edward's face, to which Anna blinked. "I almost forgot, love. I do want you to wear something this evening," he nodded, sticking a hand into his pocket. His fist curled around an object, which, by guide of his other hand, he placed in her palm.
"I.. had it custom-designed for you, Anna, and I hope you like it enough to wear it," he nodded, but with a smile towards her gasp of surprise to the gold heart-shaped locket both her hands now held. "I know you deserve so much better --"
"Oh, Edward Chris von Muir! This is a much expensive gift! You shouldn't give me anything at all!" she half-scolded, lunging forward to enfold the bard (who nearly got up to flee, thinking Anna was angered) in a hug. "Thank you!"
"Even if your father doesn't let you come tonight, I'd still like for you to keep it," he softly whispered to her ear, delicate hand gently stroking her hair.
Anna had to stop herself from fantasizing her dream wedding again, as the warmth of Edward's hug enveloped her. "I'll come tonight, Edward, don't you worry about that.."
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Part II in the works! =D