Hopelessness Chapter 2/? (Final Fantasy IX)

[Iesu]

RARGH! Corny chapter... Apologies... Thought I'd continue the fic... not really sure this turned out that well...

Chapter two- Staring at a Distance

I stared at the distance.
At nothing at all, I looked on, standing by the palace gates. Sweat trickled down the side of my head though hidden by the helmet I wore. A child stopped before me, knocking on my armor a bit, shouting out a hello though I remained motionless, just as I was told to do. It was another boring day, with nothing to do but to follow meaningless orders, though they were meaningless to me. The child had walked of to the distance when I shifted my form, raising my spear as the senior soldier passed by us, nodding slightly for us to return to our previous stance.
The guard by me whispered, ?Hot day, eh Aian??
I shrugged slightly, grunting in agreement. All I wanted to do right now was to take off my helmet and wipe the itching sweat slowly moving down my cheek. I shifted my form unnoticeably, lowering the spear a bit. It was quite tiring to hold up a long pole for more than an hour, though I tried to let it remain standing upon my hands, my arm aching with the stationary task.
I looked on to the distance.
At nothing in particular, a heavy sigh escaped my lips as an itch began to move to my nose. I would?ve given anything to get the irritation off me though my attention changed when the guard beside me quickly stood at attention.
?Look smart! Queen Garnet is on her way!? He whispered a bit loudly, for the other guards not really looking up stood at attention as well, heads of spears moving straight.
I tilted my head a bit, not quite paying attention to him as I stared on, the appearance of the queen moving through me. I tried to stand at attention but the more I looked upon her, the more stunned I became, just as usual, whenever I would look upon her through her room window.
I stared upon her from a distance.
My mouth was moved open as I gazed upon the little girl holding her hand.
I released the spear, letting it fall to the ground, my eyes bearing disbelief as I moved towards her, taking off my helmet and letting it as well fall to the ground, making a clanging sound as it rolled a bit before moving to a stop.
?Maya!? What are you doing here?? I voiced out as the little girl released the queen?s hand, running towards me.
?Aian!? She shouted joyfully as she jumped towards me, her arms wrapping around my neck, ?I gwad to see you, big bwothew!?
I smiled slightly, gently pushing her off me, moving her down upon the floor, though her hand remained in mine. Then I looked upon the queen, her head tilting a bit as a smile moved to her lips, taking a step towards me.
I quickly kneeled down, bowing upon the floor, voicing out, ?Forgive me, my queen, for this outbreak? It?s just that my little sister??
?Was great company?? She stood just before me, placing a hand upon my sister?s head and gently running it upon her hair, then lowering her form, she tilted her head to look upon me, whispering softly, ?It?s alright. Stand up??
I quickly stood at attention, taking a glance upon her eyes, then shifting my gaze to something else, a soft giggle escaping her lips as she straightened herself. I had remembered this in training? never ever, in any circumstance look upon the queen?s eyes? stupid rules, but there had to be a reason for them? I guess.
The little girl by me moved towards her, tugging a bit upon her dress.
She nodded slowly, looking upon the soldier by her, ?Steiner??
He quickly nodded, his very motion making soft clangs and clunks audible through the field, his arms moving to his sides, quickly producing what seemed to be three boxes. She took the packages and gave it to the little girl as she untied the ropes binding it, opening the first package, an apologetic look moving through her face as she presented it towards me.
?Sowwee? big sistew and I got hungwwy?? She whispered, holding out a box with a half eaten cake.
?Big sister?? I crouched down, taking the cake from her hands, setting it to my side, ?What big sister??
She pointed towards the queen as she blurted out? though more of shouted out, ?She?s Youw Wife, Wight??
Laughter resonated behind me as guards began slapping each other upon the innocent, yet still seemingly humorous upon its impossibility, remark. The large guard by the queen tried to hide his laughter through muffled breaths, snorting noises escaping his nose. I shifted my head down, trying to hide the crimson upon my cheeks, though out of curiosity, no doubt, I shifted my gaze up a bit to look upon her. I quickly moved my head down in slight surprise, the expression of the queen was not of mockery, only a gentle smile, no trace of laughter or anger upon her eyes.
She looked upon my little sister, smiling to her and nodding a bit, her response stopping each and every man around from their laughter, staring in awe upon what had occurred.
?Uh? She is the queen?? I spoke out softly, as if it was the only explanation I could give out.
?Yup!? She smiled, looking up at her then back to me, ?Youw wife is the queen.?
I shifted my head down even lower, my cheeks becoming as red as cherries. But still, I had felt this way only because I have played that scenario in my mind a few times already. I tried to shake the feeling of my face, though strangely enough, I couldn?t hear a trace of renewed laughter behind me, everyone falling silent as they looked upon us.
The silence was broken by the queen, her voice moving through me, my heart stopping for a moment, ?Give your brother what?s left??
My little sister nodded as she took the two boxes, setting them before me, opening one slowly as I opened the other. Each box bore a different gift from my father, one bearing a bound blank book with a coal pencil, the other, a metal war fan.
I took each gift upon my hands, looking over them as I softly spoke, ?How?s father anyway??
?Just fine? Stiww jumpy as awways?? She spoke, moving by me, resting her shoulder upon mine.
Then I just realized it, I bowed low once again, voicing out, ?Forgive me once again, my queen, I didn?t mean any disrespect??
She nodded, resting her hand upon my shoulder, her soft voice bringing comfort upon me, her scent wafting through me, ?It?s alright??
I stood up as she passed me, the large soldier by her patting my shoulder, voicing out, ?Don?t worry. I won?t let you clean the floors alone this time.?
My voice was one of confusion, ?Thank you? Sir Steiner??
He passed by me as I crouched down towards my kid sister, tilting my head a bit, ?Will you be able to make it home??
She nodded, giving me a final hug before moving off towards an elder man. He nodded towards me as I nodded back, a single word escaping my lips as I straightened myself, Father?
I moved back, placing the items within a pocket like part within my armor, taking the box of half eaten cake upon my hand, taking my helmet and placing it back on, moving to my stance before by the gates. A few moments passed, upon the time she was away from an earshot, renewed laughter moving through.
The guard by me slapping a hand upon my back, his voice echoing, ?The queen?s husband!?
The senior guard moved towards us, trying to hide his laughter through a commanding voice, ?Alright! Back to your posts!?
Laughter died down as each man stood motionless once again. I as well followed through, the crimson tint upon my cheeks slowly dissipating, though questions still remained upon my mind, Why didn?t the queen deny such an idiotic thought? What was she thinking when she nodded towards my little sister?
I could only sigh, trying to shake off thoughts from my mind, giving the edible gift to the senior guard as he nodded and voiced out, ?I?ll take this to your bedside??
I simply nodded my thanks, staring of to the distance once again, a strange uncertainty filling my heart.