{Quadratum: March 28, 2002, 8:45am}
"Yozora?! Yozora?! Oh dear…." A woman with pale hair and eyes looked around the halls of the castle within the Crown City as she called out for her child.
"Where did he go this time?"
The woman in question was Queen Orea, the wife of King Rejisu and mother to the mischievous child that she was currently searching for. The child in question was her and her husband's only child: Prince Yozora. The boy was only seven years old at the time; however, he had proven since he was very young to be quite a troublesome youth. Whilst he behaved most of the time, had good manners, and didn't mind being around others; Yozora was shy, he didn't like to be far from those he cared for, and tended to be very creative whilst seeking a means to entertain himself. Yozora was currently doing so by going about the castle playing a game of hide and seek, and while normally, Queen Orea didn't mind such a thing, she also had several things to deal with that pertained to the seven-year-old and some of the political officials that would be meeting with her and her husband today.
"Yozora! Come now, this isn't the time to be playing around!" she called as a slight giggle was heard behind her.
Queen Orea turned around and laid eyes upon the child that had hidden behind her. The boy was a bit on the small side, his hair was messily cut and sliver-fox in tone, his skin nearly white, and his right eye a deep, but warm cerulean with tinges of midnight-blue, while his left eye is a deep blood red. His attire consisted of short black boots, a pair of black shorts and a shirt with a hood on it. The Queen laughed a bit as she shook her head and grabbed the child up into her arms as she twirled with him and proceeded to give the child a series of kisses to his forehead and cheeks.
"Silly little boy, where were you?" she asked as the little prince laughed.
"I was right behind you…." She sighed.
"Sometimes you're as silent as a shadow." Yozora tilted his head as the woman settled him down and frowned.
"I'm not a shadow though Momma…." Queen Orea laughed as she crouched before him.
"No, you're not…you're my precious little star…my night, sweet child…" she stated as she ran her fingers through his soft hair before pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Love you too Momma…" the little boy snuggled into her embrace before taking in a deep breath as Orea tightened her embrace on the boy.
"Now, how about we get ourselves ready? Your father has some guests coming and I think you'll like them. They're eager to see you, Yozora," she told him as she stood and grabbed his hand.
"Okay."
Queen Orea headed back towards the audience chamber and kept her hand upon the little boy's own. Noctis may have been a shy boy, but he was truly a kind hearted person and she worked hard to make sure that he grew up to be a just and considerate leader who would eventually become a surefooted and brave King to their people. The Queen of Quadratum felt a knot form in her chest as she glanced down towards the child walking beside her and she considered his future and the things that still would seek him out. As the future King of Quadratum, her child had a great struggle ahead of him; however, he also was going to have to learn that his role went far beyond the inheritance of his father's legacy. Cerulean and Red eyes looked towards her and she smiled once more before they reached the audience chamber and she entered, her black dress with its gold accents gleaming slightly in the sunlight as she brought Yozora into the chamber with her and King Rejius smiled as he came to them with a cheerful expression upon his features as he picked up the seven year old with a bright laugh.
"How is my little warrior today?" he asked as the child laughed a bit and Queen Orea smiled.
"Granting me nothing but trouble. I had to go and find him." King Rejisu looked to his wife.
"Is that true? Were you hiding in the shadows again? Zora?" the King questioned as he looked to his son.
"It was just a game…." The Queen shook her head.
"Alright, if you behave while the others are here; then you can go into the garden later and play for a few hours. How does that sound?" King Rejisu offered this and the boy nodded.
"Okay…."
The King sat the boy down and Queen Orea smiled as her husband mused the boy's raven hair. King Rejisu always showed the boy great affection even when he misbehaved only because he knew the child never truly meant to cause trouble - he was only seven after all – however, he also expected Yozora to behave as best a child of his age knew how. In teaching him to act proper and them rewarding the boy with a few rare chances to do something new they hoped to enforce a positive behavior with him. Queen Aulea looked at Yozora as he stood with a slightly nervous expression on his cherubic features whilst trying in vain to not appear concerned. King Rejisu merely patted the boy's head, assuring him silently while he shook just a fraction with anxiety.
They both understood his reasoning only because the boy had never interacted with people from his father's council and whilst they trusted them all greatly: their only child was another story. Yozora hadn't even been shown to the public until he was six only because Queen Orea's health wasn't in the best state and they wanted their son to be a bit older before having to confront the public. However, it was now time for them to meet their child and for Yozora to meet the council and Marshal Leonis, and one of his protégées. The doors began to creak and the King and Queen remained standing still with their son between them when the doors opened and several of their advisors entered the chamber alongside the Marshal, Cor Leonis and a young man with dark brown hair and brownish-gold eyes.
Those within the council met them with consideration, engaging into a conversation with the King and Queen while they separated and walked towards the left side of the chamber to await their business with the King before only briefly passing a glance towards the little boy slightly hiding behind Queen Orea. The head of the council smiled to the child who went further behind the Queen to hide as he smiled while Marshal Leonis and his student stood to the side, watching the interaction briefly.
"What a fetching child. Is this the young Prince?" asked the singular female from the council.
"Yes, this is Yozora." Queen Orea gently pushed the shy child forward as Marshal Leonis and his student drew a bit closer as they looked at the odd child while the council woman crouched down to his eye-level.
"My, you are quite adorable young Prince. It is an honor to meet you Prince Yozora," the woman stated as she held out her hand to him and he slowly took it.
"Nice to meet you ma'am…." The boy quickly withdrew and the council woman smiled.
"He truly is splendid Queen Orea. I hope to see you later…." The Queen nodded as the woman left and the King bade his wife and son goodbye before entering the council chamber in the left side of the throne room. The door closed, leaving the Queen, the Prince, Marshal Leonis, and his student behind.
"It is a pleasure to see you today Queen Orea. You're looking as lovely as ever," stated Marshal Leonis as he bowed slightly and his student followed.
"As to you. Is this your student?" the Marshal stood straight and the young man near him looked to the Queen.
"Yes, this is Gladiolus Amicitia. He's a few years older than your boy and is quite skilled with a sword already," he said.
"My, then perhaps you can teach Yozora his sword skill when the time comes?" the boy nodded.
"It would be an honor your Highness," he stated as he looked to the Queen and then glanced down a bit and saw the small child hiding behind her.
"Sorry, this is Yozora. He's a bit shy around new people." Marshal Leonis smiled to the boy who looked to him in questioning.
"Hello young Prince. It is a privilege to meet you," he stated as he bowed to the boy who merely continued to stare.
"He's really quiet…" Marshal Leonis elbowed his student.
"If he doesn't wish to speak to us then he doesn't have to, you idiot," he said to his student as Gladiolus winced before the little boy smiled just a bit.
Queen Orea watched as her son slowly moved from out behind her and looked at the two strangers in front of him with a faint expression of caution as Marshal Leonis crouched to one knee to greet the boy whilst his student did the same. The young Prince looked to the two of them before he smiled and held out his hand to which the Marshal took it and returned it in kind before the boy let go and repeated the action with the man's student before the boy stepped away. Queen Orea grasped Yozora's hand and bade the two goodbye before she walked out of the chamber and Marshal Leonis looked to the boy standing beside him as he watched the Queen and her child leave.
"Your job will be to guard that boy and when required of you: train him. Listen to me well Gladiolus, when the time comes you must be prepared to stand up for that child as his ally…and as a potential friend."
"Yes sir…"
{Three Days Later…..}
King Rejisu and Queen Orea sat in at a small table in the breezeway of the garden while they watched their son explore the vast landscape full of ponds, trees, and flowers. The two of them enjoyed the sun and the sound of peacefulness while it lasted as the wind swept by in a light breeze. Yozora walked through the garden taking in the different flowers and the bright shades that surrounded him whilst his parents watched from a faint distance as they usually did. As she watched the child, Queen Orea felt a distinct sense of worry overtake her for reasons she couldn't quite place as she watched her child continue to explore the gardens and her husband watched in peace.
"Is something troubling you dearest?" the voice of her husband caught her attention as she turned her gaze from Yozora and towards him.
"I'm concerned that we've been impeding Yozora's growth around others," she stated.
"How so?" the King looked to his wife in concern as she turned her gaze towards their child.
"He is far too shy around those his age and I fear that he may not be capable of making connections when he needs to….besides….he has no friends," she explained.
"I understand your concerns, but Orea….leaving him out in the open for any type of danger is something I worry about doing…" the Queen frowned.
"Put Yozora in one of the local academies. Let him be around children his own age and allow him to experience some of his childhood without being so sheltered," she told him this and the King looked into her bright blue and red eyes.
"Orea, I don't know if…." The woman suddenly began to cough, bringing her hand up as she felt a violent fit overtake her.
King Rejisu stood at once, coming to his wife's aid as Yozora turned to see his mother in evident distress and headed directly towards his parents. Queen Orea let out a desperate gasp for air as another rigid series of coughs left her, causing her chest to ache horribly as she continued to attempt to get herself under control. As King Rejisu tried to sooth her his gaze turned towards Yozora who was rushing towards them with worry evident in his expression. The King reached for him, warning him to stay back as Queen Orea continued her horrific coughs until a wet splatter was heard. The sharp scent of blood filled the area, causing the boy near them to put his hands over his nose and mouth while a panicked look overtook his gaze. King Regis looked at the boy and called for their aids to take Queen Orea away while he tended to the boy who only stared as one of the Crownguard came and escorted the Queen to her chambers so that she could be checked over by the doctor. Noctis continued to stare onward at the area now dripping with blood as King Regis crouched in front of him.
"Yozora, look at me…." The boy turned his bright cerulean eyes on his father, but said nothing.
"Come with me and we will see what the doctor says about your mother. But you have to promise me to remain calm and not to worry her otherwise it may make it worse. Please, I need you to be strong right now…."
"O-Okay….."
"Good, come with me."
The King grasped the boy's hand and headed towards room where his wife would have been taken as he prepared for a grievous outcome. Queen Aulea's health had never quite been at prime condition even before Yozora had been born; however, after his birth, her health had further declined and since then it had slowly gotten worse. The last time they had spoken with the doctor he had been honest and stated that because the Queen had become pregnant with a child later in life it had put a strain on her body and while Yozora had been born healthy –though a bit small – Queen Orea's health had continued to decrease over the years and that her health would continue to do so. King Rejisu knew what the worsening of her illness meant as much as his beloved wife did and thus, they prepared for what would come and cherished each day together as a family for however long they could.
At long last they reached the Queen's chambers and Yozora only stared at the medical staff of the castle as his father walked to the door and entered it whilst he was left to see his mother who was lying in bed, her long pale hair down and her face a sickly pale instead of the beautiful ivory it normally was. Her pale-blue eyes were weak and dimmed which lead Yozora to believe that his mother was indeed ill. As King Rejisu discussed the situation with the doctor, Yozora settled upon the bed with her and placed his hand upon hers as it rested upon her sternum.
"I don't understand, she was doing fine," King Rejisu muttered.
"Yes, but with this type of illness sometimes there is nothing to be done."
"What does that mean?" the King asked.
"Mom?" a hand reached up to cup Yozora's cheek as he looked at her.
"Noct…please don't worry child. I will be just fine," she muttered as she pulled him down to lay beside her.
"I know….but the doctor said you're sick." She coughed a bit.
"Dearest one, sometimes even the strongest of us fall ill. No need to worry, it too shall pass," she said as she threaded her fingers through his hair.
"Okay Momma…." King Rejisu looked on at the scene with sorrow in his heart as the doctor beckoned for his attention.
"Your Majesty….listen, I know it may seem that she is on the mend but I must inform you that her time is limited. The Queen is frail, anything concerning her health needs to be monitored better. Has she been stressed over something lately?" the doctor inquired.
"Her only concerns ever lie with Noctis. She wants him to grow up around others his age, make friends, and be given as normal of a childhood as possible. Aulea only has his best interest in mind; however, I do not agree that sending him out into the public at his age is the wisest of choices…." The doctor frowned as he looked at the child lying next to the Queen.
"Yozora is good for her though, and you should listen to your wife your Majesty: she is the boy's mother after all," he stated.
"I want to know this though: how long does she have?" Yozora tensed at his mother's side as he listened to the words that left his father's lips. His concern and fear sunk deep within him as he listened despite the two men believing that he had fallen asleep beside his mother.
"We cannot be certain….I would assume a year or so if we're lucky on a frail margin. However, I would not rule out the realm of potential remission. There is a possibility that the Queen will live long enough to see your son marry, ascend the throne, and have children of his own," the doctor explained as the King looked down.
"I see. Tell me, do you believe that she will be able to remain as she is for now? Can she still care for him?" the doctor smiled softly.
"She truly loves that child doesn't she…..so long as she is not placed under too much duress, the Queen should be fine enough to remain with him for as long as possible," he answered. The King nodded and thanked him before turning his attention towards his wife and child as he sat down beside them and the others in the room left the Royal family to their own devices knowing that the time there with one another would never be as long as they desired for it to be.
{…..}
You had your maps drawn….
{…..}