runics (runics) wrote in imperially, @ 2008-11-20 00:51:00 |
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Despite returning with Terra unharmed, expecting that they could come back to the capital with not a word said about a two week long absence would be incredibly optimistic. An optimism they weren't even allowed to harbor for more than an hour after their return, for it was then Gestahl summoned Edgar and Setzer to his chamber to talk about the details of their belated appearance. By that point, Terra had already been handed off to her maids to be cleaned up, and Locke-- as a soldier of little importance-- didn't need to join them either.
"A witness informed me that he saw you returning from the eastern mountain range," the Emperor said, looking to the two men before him from where he sat on his throne. "You had the girl with you, he said."
Even though returning with her saved them a swift execution, explaining they let her be taken away in the first place wouldn't let them escape all punishment. Not to mention, now that they had agreed to help Leo, they couldn't exactly explain where they had been without sending an army of soldiers in his direction.
Setzer glanced towards Edgar, for it was more often him that was the speaker, where as he would just serve as back up more often than not. They'd tentatively discussed what they would say when they returned, but they hadn't factored in someone else having seen them. Before, however, Edgar could have the practice at speaking on his toes, someone interjected.
"That's incorrect," a female voice said, and from behind the two men, Celes strode towards the front of the room. She paused when she reached where they stood, giving a small respectful bow of her head when Gestahl looked mildly surprised by her intrusion. He trusted her quite implicitly-- which was why she was in line for the throne with Kefka-- and so her interjection caught his attention. Any other he would have punished for entering without any invitation.
"General Figaro and the captain were with my men, at the camp we set up beside Maranda. As you know, things have only recently calmed there since the confrontation with the rebels." Gestahl nodded thoughtfully to her comment, and she looked straight ahead, missing the look Setzer was giving her. General Celes-- the renowned ice queen-- sticking up for them? As good as it was to know she had a bit of humanity in there somewhere, he couldn't imagine why a change of heart was finally coming out now.
It wasn't Setzer's fate that concerned Celes-- the sooner they have him ejected from the Empire, the better, any means for it were fine by her-- but Edgar's was a different story.
"And why was Terra not returned on any of the outgoing vessels?" Gestahl asked, though now he seemed more curious, than accusatory.
"She is the best Magitek pilot we have, my liege. I know it isn't my call, but with the way things were looking, I decided we would need her on call if things worsened in the city. If it should be your decision that I am suspended..." she continued without hesitance. Apologies were unnecessary-- she learned from a young age to skip needless words, and to ready one self to actually accept the consequences from the beginning.
"That won't be necessary, my dear," Gestahl replied, his tone more like one regarding a daughter than the clearly hardened soldier that was speaking to him. "I know your judgments are always sound." He then looked to the two men then, and cleared his throat, his attitude changing visibly. "Well... If that is the case, then, I ... suppose you are excused. All of you." This didn't seem to be the outcome he was looking for, but was this the case, they had nothing to be punished for.
Celes nodded, and turned to leave at that, never actually sparing the two men a single look. Setzer, however, caught up to her once they had reached the large doors that led to the throne room. "Not so fast, lady. What was that about? Hey, I owe you one," he said, reaching out to place his hand on her shoulder. "Touch me, and I'll cut it off," she replied without looking his way, just knowing him well enough, and he promptly stopped before he could actually lay his hand down. She retreated from the room at that, and Setzer looked towards Edgar with a bit of justified confusion.
After leaving the throne room, Celes returned to her room for the evening. It was set in a tower by itself; though she knew that solitude would be coming to an end soon. She would be expected to permanently share her bed with Kefka soon-- she was finally eighteen, after all-- and while she had known from as far back as she could remember that he was to be her husband, it wouldn't of been something she decided herself. Gestahl had Cid raise her to be a soldier in every way, and yet at the same time, she was expected to drop that title at a moment's notice to fulfill her obligation as a woman. Plenty of people had taught her how to be the general she was today, but as for a wife, even a mother some day? She was dauntingly on her own with that.
Though she didn't look forward to it, Celes accepted it-- little more she could do but accept it-- it wasn't until the past few weeks that she had started to feel otherwise. She had known Kefka for nearly all of her life, and for a long time she did feel he was the only person she would be capable of feeling anything for, he had begun to change into someone she recognized less, someone she didn't like. Cid had spoke of how he had noticed that alteration after a recent infusion, and so if that change was no fault of his own, Celes found herself in a difficult place. The most she could say was to cancel all further infusions for herself, though she made no mention of that to Kefka-- had made no mention she noticed any difference at all, either.
For now, however, this space was her own, and he was also gone for the week on other imperial duties. She walked by her immaculately made bed once she had entered into the main around, and continued on to go sit at her desk where she had various things set out for her duties as a general. Today, she would have to look over tomorrow's training formations which she would be heading, wanting to work in some new things instead of just the usual practices.