Fic: Reins of History (4/30) - Fran/Cid - PG-13 - FFXII
Title: Reins of History (4/30)
pairing/characters: Cid/Fran, Ffamran
warnings: Spoilers for the whole game, weird pairing
rating: PG-13
summary: Long before Rabanastre fell, Fran left the Wood, in search of her destiny. Instead she found strange hume ways and imperial politics -- and her soulmate Cid Bunansa. Years later, she and her son are put at odds with an empire, entangled in a war they never intended to fight.
notes: I am making a valiant attempt to put out at least one chapter a week. I am several chapters ahead and have those chapters in beta. Thanks to ayndin for the beginning of an idea that turned into a massive project and continued prodding, inspiration, and beta-ing. Thanks to regann for her beta, her prodding, for playing a game she doesn't like that much, and for shouting 'Frid!' at me a lot.
previous chapters:
[One] | [Two] | [Three]
Chapter 4:
Cidolfus watched the viera sitting stock-still against a nearby rock as he waited for his strength to return. His father should be searching for him by now. He had only been missing for a few moments before he managed to attract the attention of a coeurl and get himself into a great deal of trouble.
And then the strange viera woman had come to his rescue. He examined her cautiously. He did not want to upset her by staring so openly. He had never seen anyone quite like her. Black leather covering legs and arms and head, ears were long and reminiscent of a hare, her face was similar to a hume, but just different enough to seem exotic. She did not seem to mind his examination and was lost in her own thoughts.
He thought perhaps he should try to locate his father, but the few attempts he made to get to his feet were thwarted by a general fatigue that he could not shake. The viera, Fran, had said there was some poison in the coeurl claws that may have account for some of his weariness. The silence between them made him uncomfortable. He got the impression that she was upset by him in some way and hoped to diffuse her concerns.
“The nearest woods are the Salikawood, did you travel as far as that to reach the uplands?” He also found he was trying to get her to speak so he might hear her voice again. Her accent was precise yet entirely unfamiliar compared to the cultured accent prevalent throughout Archades.
She seemed to startle a little when he spoke, as though she had been far away, lost in though. “Even farther than that, I am afraid. I was born in the jungle near the holy mount Bur-Omisace.”
He considered that. Even knowing little about what form the journey would have taken, he could not imagine it could have been traveled in less than two months.
“Then you are Dalmascan, not Archadian.” He found himself unaccountably sad that Fran was not a citizen of the Empire.
“Viera do not measure countries and boarders as is the way of humes. For viera there is the Wood, and there is everything that is not the Wood.” She seemed less awkward now, or at least seemed less upset than she had been. “To a hume, I would be called Dalmascan, but I know no king.”
“You should come to Archades. I will ask my father, perhaps he can arrange for papers, and chops. We live in North Central, there are trees, and water fountains, and -” he trailed off, realizing that he sounded like an over-eager child. He would soon be ten years old; he should be more measured and more steady, not beg her to stay like a small child with a new toy. Fran was silent for many moments, obviously considering what he had said.
“If you would take me to Archades, I would be glad of it,” Fran answered. Cidolfus tried to contain a grin at her agreement. “I had hoped to make a home in Archades for a time. In the meantime, if you are are you well enough to ride, I should take you to your father if we can find him.”
Cidolfus tried to stand again and found he was able to do so with some effort. Fran helped him in to the saddle of his chocobo and climbed up behind him. He found it was best if he simply hung on tightly while Fran steered the bird.
“I believe he headed off in that direction.” He indicated a direction towards the northwest. Fran nodded and faced the mount the appropriate way and kicked lightly. It was only minutes later when his father came into view. He sat atop his own chocobo and shot cleanly towards a coeurl off in the distance. Fran looked at him. “That’s him,” he answered the unasked question. Fran turned towards Cidolfus’ father and egged the bird on again.
He felt Fran flinch behind him when his father fired the gun but she continued towards his father.
His father did not seem to notice his presence until they were nearly beside him.
“Ahh, Cidolfus, there you are! I was concerned you had fallen behind but obviously there was no need for concern.” His father turned to face him and his eyes quickly widened in shock. Perhaps his father had never seen a viera either. He felt slightly better about not knowing anything about the strange woman’s race or customs. “I see you made a friend.” His tone was relatively neutral, but Cidolfus thought it had a hint of curiosity, or something else he could not identify as well.
“This is Fran.” Fran moved behind him, offering a polite half-bow from the back of the chocobo.
“Your son is in need of medical attention. He encountered a coeurl on the steppes and requires care from a hume doctor.”
Cidolfus gasped; no one ordered his father around in such a manner. The chances were slim that he would be able to convince his father to allow someone so impertinent to even visit so illustrious a family as house Bunansa. Cidolfus found himself quite shocked when his father simply ran a quick eye over his son and nodded.
“We should return then. Our airship is a short ride in that direction.” His father indicated the direction they had come and the direction in which Cidolfus knew the airship was waiting for them. Fran nodded and turned the chocobo in the direction indicated.
Fran traveled in silence and Cidolfus found he was fighting not to babble to the viera and make a fool of himself.
“Rudolfo Hema Bunansa, at your service.”
He found himself confused again as to why his father was being so polite when Fran obviously did not know how rude it was to address someone ranked as highly as her father.
“Is Bunansa a family name?” Her question made him wonder. It seemed odd that anyone would travel as far as Fran had through hume territory and know so little about the customs and cultures of the people there.
“Bunansa is our family name,” Cidolfus answered. “The first and second names are given by the father.”
Fran nodded. “Are all your names so long?” Cidolfus found himself pleased she seemed more curious now that there was less danger.
“For the most part. Are all viera names so short?” Fran nodded. Cidolfus tried to catch a look at his father, mounted up beside him. He kept stealing glances towards Fran. He seemed to be appraising her, her armor, her weapons, her helm, and her ears.
“You are from Salikawood then? The viera of Archades seem to mostly hail from there.” So his father did know something of the viera. He would have to ask for more information later.
“Fran is from Golmore Jungle,” he replied for his father.
“I was under the impression that viera from that far south tended to travel to Rabanastre to find their way in a city.”
“That may be, Rudolfo, but I had want to travel further afield,” Cidolfus winced again. He was sure it was impossible Fran was attempting to be so rude on purpose.
He turned around slightly in the saddle to face Fran and explained to her in a low tone. “He should be called ‘your Grace’, that is his title.” He saw Fran nod again.
“Your Grace.” There was not a hint of embarrassment in her tone; it was obvious she had no idea of her misstep. Hopefully he would find time to instruct her so that his father did not become too upset with the viera. He doubted his father would allow someone so rude to stay in his home.
“Were you heading towards Arcades, Fran?” Cidolfus again found himself surprised at how even his father sounded, not upset at all that she seemed to constantly insult him with her casual address.
“I had hoped to stay awhile in Arcades. Hume cities are fascinating.”
The anchor to the airship came into sight. Cidolfus looked forward to getting off the steppes and back home to Archades. He had quite enough of the outdoors to last him several weeks. Under the bandage Fran has wrapped around his arm he was quite itchy and sore. He was also still tired as well. He could probably sleep for a week if allowed.
His father called the airship down from where it hovered over the plains and Fran stared at it in open awe. The hanger door dropped down to allow the chocobos to enter. Fran dismounted when his father did and began to lead the chocobo to its stall. Cidolfus also dismounted and was surprised to realize that even without her ears Fran was several inches taller than his father.
“This is an airship?” she asked, clearly trying to take in as much as possible while leading the bird along.
“It’s the Bunansa family airship. State of the art Gossalar rings, aerodynamic, runs on a cooled magicite reactor. I can show you around if you would like,” Cidolfus offered. Fran stabled the chocobo and patted it on the beak kindly.
“That would be appreciated,” Fran responded. Cidolfus saw his father shake his head at them as he headed to the cockpit to give their pilot instructions.
The excitement of explaining the workings of the airship kept him on his feet far longer than he would have been able otherwise. Fran seemed to understand none of his explanations and yet she followed him around and appeared to be listening intently. She watched as he pointed from reactors to rings to cargo holds and captain's quarters. The tour was still not complete by the time they landed at the estate’s aerodome.
As soon as they had landed, his father sent him off to see the doctor about his arm and asked Fran to join him in his study.
Cidolfus went to the doctor and explained the attack. He hoped that his father had not been too offended by Fran’s horrible manners. He hoped to have more chances to show Fran around Archades. The doctor unwrapped the cloth Fran had wrapped his arm in and inspected the wound. He recognized the spell the doctor cast, one that warded against disease. He followed that up with a spell to mend the cuts.
“It was already well tended, m’lord. It would have healed on its own in time,” the doctor explained.
“That was Fran,” he said, realizing that he hadn’t really explained anything but headed off to his study to work on his mathematics work that had been set to him by his tutor.
He was unsure how much time had passed as he scratched away at the papers but after a time there was a knock on the door.
“Enter,” he called to the door. It was opened by one of the manor servants.
“Miss Fran to see you, m’lord,” he explained. Cidolfus tried not to look overeager, keeping his face relatively calm and motioned for the servant to let Fran in. Fran was no longer carrying her bow or her pack and had removed her helm as well. The servant bowed and left.
“Please, have a seat,” he said, gesturing to one of the benches near a window. Fran walked to the window and sat cross-legged on the floor beside the bench, rather than on the bench itself. He went down to sit beside her on the ground. He found himself staring at her again. He had not seen her hair, tucked under her helm, as it must have been. It was short, not nearly as short as a boy’s hair but not long enough for what would be considered fashionable for a girl. He found it was odd to see such boyish hair on her. She noticed his scrutiny and touched a hand to her head. He turned away and did not look at her for a moment, embarrassed to have been caught staring.
“Your father has asked me to stay in Archades a while, to look after you, or to teach you the sword or bow, whatever is required of me.” He almost puffed at the outrage: Father had asked to hire her on as a common maid! “It is a job, one I will do gladly, if you would have me stay here.”
“I would rather you not be a servant of my house, truth be told.” He had always felt it was important to be honest.
“I understand, I will leave after a take a night’s rest then.” Fran sounded quite upset by what he assumed she had taken as rejection.
“Ah, no. I see I have been misunderstood. I apologize,” he rushed the words out. “What I meant was I would rather you were my friend.”
“Oh.” Her whole face became warmer. “Then I shall accept,” Fran smiled.
Cidolfus smiled back at her brightly.
pairing/characters: Cid/Fran, Ffamran
warnings: Spoilers for the whole game, weird pairing
rating: PG-13
summary: Long before Rabanastre fell, Fran left the Wood, in search of her destiny. Instead she found strange hume ways and imperial politics -- and her soulmate Cid Bunansa. Years later, she and her son are put at odds with an empire, entangled in a war they never intended to fight.
notes: I am making a valiant attempt to put out at least one chapter a week. I am several chapters ahead and have those chapters in beta. Thanks to ayndin for the beginning of an idea that turned into a massive project and continued prodding, inspiration, and beta-ing. Thanks to regann for her beta, her prodding, for playing a game she doesn't like that much, and for shouting 'Frid!' at me a lot.
previous chapters:
[One] | [Two] | [Three]
Chapter 4:
Cidolfus watched the viera sitting stock-still against a nearby rock as he waited for his strength to return. His father should be searching for him by now. He had only been missing for a few moments before he managed to attract the attention of a coeurl and get himself into a great deal of trouble.
And then the strange viera woman had come to his rescue. He examined her cautiously. He did not want to upset her by staring so openly. He had never seen anyone quite like her. Black leather covering legs and arms and head, ears were long and reminiscent of a hare, her face was similar to a hume, but just different enough to seem exotic. She did not seem to mind his examination and was lost in her own thoughts.
He thought perhaps he should try to locate his father, but the few attempts he made to get to his feet were thwarted by a general fatigue that he could not shake. The viera, Fran, had said there was some poison in the coeurl claws that may have account for some of his weariness. The silence between them made him uncomfortable. He got the impression that she was upset by him in some way and hoped to diffuse her concerns.
“The nearest woods are the Salikawood, did you travel as far as that to reach the uplands?” He also found he was trying to get her to speak so he might hear her voice again. Her accent was precise yet entirely unfamiliar compared to the cultured accent prevalent throughout Archades.
She seemed to startle a little when he spoke, as though she had been far away, lost in though. “Even farther than that, I am afraid. I was born in the jungle near the holy mount Bur-Omisace.”
He considered that. Even knowing little about what form the journey would have taken, he could not imagine it could have been traveled in less than two months.
“Then you are Dalmascan, not Archadian.” He found himself unaccountably sad that Fran was not a citizen of the Empire.
“Viera do not measure countries and boarders as is the way of humes. For viera there is the Wood, and there is everything that is not the Wood.” She seemed less awkward now, or at least seemed less upset than she had been. “To a hume, I would be called Dalmascan, but I know no king.”
“You should come to Archades. I will ask my father, perhaps he can arrange for papers, and chops. We live in North Central, there are trees, and water fountains, and -” he trailed off, realizing that he sounded like an over-eager child. He would soon be ten years old; he should be more measured and more steady, not beg her to stay like a small child with a new toy. Fran was silent for many moments, obviously considering what he had said.
“If you would take me to Archades, I would be glad of it,” Fran answered. Cidolfus tried to contain a grin at her agreement. “I had hoped to make a home in Archades for a time. In the meantime, if you are are you well enough to ride, I should take you to your father if we can find him.”
Cidolfus tried to stand again and found he was able to do so with some effort. Fran helped him in to the saddle of his chocobo and climbed up behind him. He found it was best if he simply hung on tightly while Fran steered the bird.
“I believe he headed off in that direction.” He indicated a direction towards the northwest. Fran nodded and faced the mount the appropriate way and kicked lightly. It was only minutes later when his father came into view. He sat atop his own chocobo and shot cleanly towards a coeurl off in the distance. Fran looked at him. “That’s him,” he answered the unasked question. Fran turned towards Cidolfus’ father and egged the bird on again.
He felt Fran flinch behind him when his father fired the gun but she continued towards his father.
His father did not seem to notice his presence until they were nearly beside him.
“Ahh, Cidolfus, there you are! I was concerned you had fallen behind but obviously there was no need for concern.” His father turned to face him and his eyes quickly widened in shock. Perhaps his father had never seen a viera either. He felt slightly better about not knowing anything about the strange woman’s race or customs. “I see you made a friend.” His tone was relatively neutral, but Cidolfus thought it had a hint of curiosity, or something else he could not identify as well.
“This is Fran.” Fran moved behind him, offering a polite half-bow from the back of the chocobo.
“Your son is in need of medical attention. He encountered a coeurl on the steppes and requires care from a hume doctor.”
Cidolfus gasped; no one ordered his father around in such a manner. The chances were slim that he would be able to convince his father to allow someone so impertinent to even visit so illustrious a family as house Bunansa. Cidolfus found himself quite shocked when his father simply ran a quick eye over his son and nodded.
“We should return then. Our airship is a short ride in that direction.” His father indicated the direction they had come and the direction in which Cidolfus knew the airship was waiting for them. Fran nodded and turned the chocobo in the direction indicated.
Fran traveled in silence and Cidolfus found he was fighting not to babble to the viera and make a fool of himself.
“Rudolfo Hema Bunansa, at your service.”
He found himself confused again as to why his father was being so polite when Fran obviously did not know how rude it was to address someone ranked as highly as her father.
“Is Bunansa a family name?” Her question made him wonder. It seemed odd that anyone would travel as far as Fran had through hume territory and know so little about the customs and cultures of the people there.
“Bunansa is our family name,” Cidolfus answered. “The first and second names are given by the father.”
Fran nodded. “Are all your names so long?” Cidolfus found himself pleased she seemed more curious now that there was less danger.
“For the most part. Are all viera names so short?” Fran nodded. Cidolfus tried to catch a look at his father, mounted up beside him. He kept stealing glances towards Fran. He seemed to be appraising her, her armor, her weapons, her helm, and her ears.
“You are from Salikawood then? The viera of Archades seem to mostly hail from there.” So his father did know something of the viera. He would have to ask for more information later.
“Fran is from Golmore Jungle,” he replied for his father.
“I was under the impression that viera from that far south tended to travel to Rabanastre to find their way in a city.”
“That may be, Rudolfo, but I had want to travel further afield,” Cidolfus winced again. He was sure it was impossible Fran was attempting to be so rude on purpose.
He turned around slightly in the saddle to face Fran and explained to her in a low tone. “He should be called ‘your Grace’, that is his title.” He saw Fran nod again.
“Your Grace.” There was not a hint of embarrassment in her tone; it was obvious she had no idea of her misstep. Hopefully he would find time to instruct her so that his father did not become too upset with the viera. He doubted his father would allow someone so rude to stay in his home.
“Were you heading towards Arcades, Fran?” Cidolfus again found himself surprised at how even his father sounded, not upset at all that she seemed to constantly insult him with her casual address.
“I had hoped to stay awhile in Arcades. Hume cities are fascinating.”
The anchor to the airship came into sight. Cidolfus looked forward to getting off the steppes and back home to Archades. He had quite enough of the outdoors to last him several weeks. Under the bandage Fran has wrapped around his arm he was quite itchy and sore. He was also still tired as well. He could probably sleep for a week if allowed.
His father called the airship down from where it hovered over the plains and Fran stared at it in open awe. The hanger door dropped down to allow the chocobos to enter. Fran dismounted when his father did and began to lead the chocobo to its stall. Cidolfus also dismounted and was surprised to realize that even without her ears Fran was several inches taller than his father.
“This is an airship?” she asked, clearly trying to take in as much as possible while leading the bird along.
“It’s the Bunansa family airship. State of the art Gossalar rings, aerodynamic, runs on a cooled magicite reactor. I can show you around if you would like,” Cidolfus offered. Fran stabled the chocobo and patted it on the beak kindly.
“That would be appreciated,” Fran responded. Cidolfus saw his father shake his head at them as he headed to the cockpit to give their pilot instructions.
The excitement of explaining the workings of the airship kept him on his feet far longer than he would have been able otherwise. Fran seemed to understand none of his explanations and yet she followed him around and appeared to be listening intently. She watched as he pointed from reactors to rings to cargo holds and captain's quarters. The tour was still not complete by the time they landed at the estate’s aerodome.
As soon as they had landed, his father sent him off to see the doctor about his arm and asked Fran to join him in his study.
Cidolfus went to the doctor and explained the attack. He hoped that his father had not been too offended by Fran’s horrible manners. He hoped to have more chances to show Fran around Archades. The doctor unwrapped the cloth Fran had wrapped his arm in and inspected the wound. He recognized the spell the doctor cast, one that warded against disease. He followed that up with a spell to mend the cuts.
“It was already well tended, m’lord. It would have healed on its own in time,” the doctor explained.
“That was Fran,” he said, realizing that he hadn’t really explained anything but headed off to his study to work on his mathematics work that had been set to him by his tutor.
He was unsure how much time had passed as he scratched away at the papers but after a time there was a knock on the door.
“Enter,” he called to the door. It was opened by one of the manor servants.
“Miss Fran to see you, m’lord,” he explained. Cidolfus tried not to look overeager, keeping his face relatively calm and motioned for the servant to let Fran in. Fran was no longer carrying her bow or her pack and had removed her helm as well. The servant bowed and left.
“Please, have a seat,” he said, gesturing to one of the benches near a window. Fran walked to the window and sat cross-legged on the floor beside the bench, rather than on the bench itself. He went down to sit beside her on the ground. He found himself staring at her again. He had not seen her hair, tucked under her helm, as it must have been. It was short, not nearly as short as a boy’s hair but not long enough for what would be considered fashionable for a girl. He found it was odd to see such boyish hair on her. She noticed his scrutiny and touched a hand to her head. He turned away and did not look at her for a moment, embarrassed to have been caught staring.
“Your father has asked me to stay in Archades a while, to look after you, or to teach you the sword or bow, whatever is required of me.” He almost puffed at the outrage: Father had asked to hire her on as a common maid! “It is a job, one I will do gladly, if you would have me stay here.”
“I would rather you not be a servant of my house, truth be told.” He had always felt it was important to be honest.
“I understand, I will leave after a take a night’s rest then.” Fran sounded quite upset by what he assumed she had taken as rejection.
“Ah, no. I see I have been misunderstood. I apologize,” he rushed the words out. “What I meant was I would rather you were my friend.”
“Oh.” Her whole face became warmer. “Then I shall accept,” Fran smiled.
Cidolfus smiled back at her brightly.