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Memories	By : Asirainis Category: +A through F > Dragon Quest/ Dragon Warrior Views: 1615 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Quest VIII, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Memories
Chapter Seven: A Kingdom in Turmoil
As the group finished gathering, they set about leaving the small chapel to hurry on to the kingdom of Ascantha. They arrived a few hours later as they went around the countryside, able to admire its beauty, without problems as Trode looked up in awe of the walled castle and town before them… "It reminds me of my Trodain, curse that foul Dhoulmagus!"
They stood for a moment – just gazing at the castle with its black banners going around the towers of the castle giving it an unnaturally gloomy feel to it. As the group started to go into the kingdom, Trode remained behind. Airlia turned to him as he said, "I'll… be quite alright… Go on ahead and see if you can learn of Dhoulmagus's whereabouts."
She looked at the others questioningly as Draco supplied, "When we were in Farebury, before going to Alexandria… the people there called him a monster and tried to attack him. He simply doesn't want to be caught out in another attack like that." She nodded as she thought for a moment. Trode deserved a bed to rest in as much as anyone else.
She smiled with a nod; anyone looking in her eyes would see the determined gleam there. Angelo grinned, "You're cooking up an idea, aren't you Air?"
She nodded as she pulled Trode's hood up. "Keep the hood up and stay close to me Your Majesty. I intend to let you rest in a bed today if it kills me."
He gave her a watery smile as he tried to brush it off. Medea, however, wouldn't let it as she drew the wagon closer to the girl. The group walked into town as they went to the inn. "Come with me Trode."
He grinned weakly as he got off the wagon and followed her into the building. She smiled kindly at the older man running the inn. "I'd like to use seven beds today. My companions are outside."
He nodded, "It'll be seventy gold pieces today." Airlia smiled gratefully as she took the keys, for it was two rooms, one room had four beds and one room had three beds.
Going into the room nearest the edge of the inn, she saw there were two windows that she went to draw the drapes closed. "You'll be safe here while the window drapes are shut Trode. We will be back soon, I promise. But at least you can rest here. I will have Medea near the window so she can see you – and you can see her."
He gave her a watery smile, "Truly you are such a diligent child. Your father is very lucky to have you."
She smiled at him as she nodded. "Here is the key, lock the door after I leave and we'll knock when we're just outside."
He nodded as he took the key – locking the door after she left, thanking the innkeeper, but yet the dark colors didn't suit him. Something was definitely wrong here. She directed Medea to the window as she knocked lightly, "Trode it's me, Medea is just outside if you want to part the drapes a little."
She saw the slim green hands parting the drapes, just enough to allow the horse to look in as she smiled gently. Nodding, Airlia rejoined the others, "So long as he keeps himself covered while others are around, or squirreled away in the room, he can come into town."
Draco nodded with a bright smile as Yangus said, "Why did you take that geezer's story at face value?"
Airlia grinned at Yangus, as she placed a slim hand on his massive forearm, "Simple, because of the dream I told you about back in Port Prospect." They looked around the kingdom and saw everyone wearing black, and sad expressions were worn by all.
Turning to Draco she said, "The innkeeper wore similar black clothing to everyone else here. Something's wrong here!" He nodded as they approached a young man.
He looked at Airlia appreciatively until Angelo and Alistair stood on either side of her. Grimacing he sighed, "Welcome to Ascantha. We are currently in a mourning period for our late queen."
She tilted her head to the side as Jessica asked, "When did the mourning period begin?"
He responded – biting a groan back since the other girl was so coveted, figuring then the auburn haired beauty must be as well, "Two years ago…"
He ran off as everyone shared the same look – surprise. "Why are they still mourning two years later?" Angelo question as everyone shook their heads.
"Let's get the answer from the horse's mouth ourselves." Alistair said as they hurried onto the castle, momentarily forgetting their hunger, the original reason they were heading towards the fruit stand. The castle sat on a hill, which meant going up three sets of stairs to get to the main doors. Upon reaching the top of the third set of stairs, they saw grass and flowers just before the giant doors to the castle, with a small moat separating the castle from the level below it.
Opening the doors, she saw on the floor was a purple and gold rug that seems to stretch from the stairs on one side of the circular room going up, to more stairs going up on the other side of the room. Looking around her, she saw a guard and a few maids going about their day. They stopped for a moment to look at the group, but continue onwards with their daily needs for the castle with their heads downwards. She saw a fountain with four maidens sitting on pedestals with urns on their shoulders, pouring water out of them and yet somehow the water never overflowed.
They went upstairs to the immediate right curving stairs, where the stairs ascended to the second floor. Looking around, they saw the circular room was cut in half with a giant wall and doors being the separator, but nothing else of interest. So, they turned to the stairs, seeing a feminine statue on either side of the stairs, they pressed onwards to the third floor. Arriving, they found themselves in the middle of another circular room divided by a wall, and two doors this time.
There was a guard at one door, and no one at the other door. However, they saw more of the female statues on either side of the stairs leading downwards. Behind it was what they could only guess to be the royal shield of the country. Swords tucked behind it on either side, forming a giant 'X' held behind an open red velvet drapes, a torch lit just below it. Nodding to one another, they had to go upstairs once more along the now, circular stairs running up on either side of the wall, a guard posted there to welcome all coming to see their king.
Arriving, they found a large, circular throne room empty of all people but the chancellor whom was also wearing dark clothing. They went to him as Draco asked, "Is the king around? We'd like to ask him about if anyone suspicious has been seen about."
The Chancellor shook his head as he said, "First, let me welcome you to Ascantha for it is most unusual for us to have visitors these days. Regrettably, you find us in mourning for our late queen, so the King is presently unavailable. I'm afraid I must request that you leave."
Airlia looked at the Chancellor, "Isn't it unwise for the king to be away in mourning for so long?"
His face fell as he explained, "Sadly, until he is no longer mourning, he won't be able to take visitors…" He turned away from them, effectively ending the conversation.
Looking around, they went saw another set of stairs that led up, and deciding to explore further, they found a maid with blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail; her clothing was dark – unusual for a woman who looked like she should always smile. She knocked on the door as she called out surprising everyone with her thick accent, "Are you feeling all right, Your Majesty? It's me. Emma, the maid." She sighed as she held her hands out, a gesture commonly associated with helplessness as she continued, "I see you haven't eaten any of the lunch I brought you, Your Majesty. I'll be sure to bring you your favorite for supper…"
She brought her hands together in prayer as she was silent for a moment, "Please, Your Majesty. Please answer me. I just want to make sure you're all right." She bowed resolutely as she continued, "Very well… I'll leave you in peace. Excuse me." Seeing her heart broken expression, they followed her down the stairs where they saw her talking with the chancellor.
Airlia listened to them as did the others, looking to find a way to help with the situation. Simply because mourning for two years like this, it just wasn't normal! Emma was on the verge of tears as she spoke with the man, "He's hardly eating a thing either. And I could hear him weeping all through the night yesterday… He was such a benevolent and wise king when the Queen was still alive. I'm terribly sorry I'm of so little use to him."
She bowed her head to cover the tears flowing down her cheeks in small rivers. Airlia couldn't take it any longer as she ran to the maid with sympathy on her face. She offered the woman a strip of cloth that she just undid from her hair to allow the woman to wipe her tears away. She looked up, startled by the woman, "I'm sorry. I'm not usually such a mess."
Airlia shook her head, "I completely understand."
The chancellor nodded as he expressed to Emma his own sympathy, "I see… So it continues. It must be difficult for you, Emma. But I need you to keep trying. If the King cannot recover from this, the country will fall apart. I just wish I knew what to suggest."
It was then that it sunk in to the pair that the group was still there, as she felt heat color her face. "Ah! Hello there! Do you seek an audience with the King of Ascantha?"
Alistair nodded to Emma, his red tassel swaying with the movement. "Yes, we do, unfortunately."
Emma held her hand out as she explained, "I'm afraid that His Majesty has been unavailable to visitors since the period of mourning for the late Queen began… two years ago. He does come down to the royal suite every night, but I doubt that he'll grant you an audience."
Jessica glared at the floor as she said, "How can a king be so negligent? I've known many who have lost their love and they have found a way to forge ahead, and a kingdom wasn't even at stake!"
Emma nodded, "Please don't be harsh with him, but his wife gave him a lot of strength and when she died so suddenly, his heart just shattered to pieces. I realize that this does sound weird, but if you return after dark, you'll see for yourselves. I'll let the guards know to allow you to pass." The group nodded as they had to figure out what they were going to do…
Angelo thought for a moment before he spoke his platinum blond hair, "We should help him! It's so painful to lose someone as close as they were to each other. It may garner us favor later. The people aren't quite open to us yet on if they saw Dhoulmagus, what else can we do?"
Yangus nodded, "I agree, it may get us a royal meal…"
As he stomach grumbled in agreement. Other stomachs echoed that thought as Emma brought a hand to her mouth, "Oh my! You all must be so hungry after such a journey. Please, come with me."
She led them down to the first floor and around the side of the castle to the kitchens. "Mary, please, make them something to eat. They've traveled a long way to be here, and are very hungry…"
Mary nodded as she said, "I have the remainder of the lunch that I didn't quite know what to do with. Here, it may not be much, but please… Have some soup so you don't think ill of our kingdom."
Mary poured several bowls as Airlia took a bowl into her hands, "Could we take one with us to a friend who is a bit under the weather; and resting at the inn?"
She nodded, "I'm just glad it's not going to waste!" She made one last bowl as the group ate their soup, grateful for every morsel of food that was before them. When it was done, Airlia took the bowl as the group left the castle, Emma speaking with the guards and indicating them as she promised she would do.
They arrived back at the inn as Draco knocked on the door where Trode was. "Your Majesty, its Draco and the others. Can we come in?"
Trode unlocked the door as the group quickly went inside. "Something smells good! You all ate while you left me here, but that's neither here nor there, what did you find out?"
Yangus shook his head as he explained the situation with Emma and the King. A sparkle came to his eyes, "Wonderful girl! You will go back and speak with the King, to see if you can't give such a dutiful maid a hand."
Airlia nodded as she came forward with the soup. "Your Majesty, here's a bowl of soup. The kitchen maid, Mary, gave us an extra bowl so I could bring it to you."
He looked at her, amazed that someone thought of his needs so thoroughly. "My, my, thank you Airlia…"
She shook her head, "You're quite welcome Your Majesty."
She glanced at Draco who was staring through the window at Medea. She came over to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "We will break the curse Draco, I promise you."
They waited for night to fall, relaxing in their rooms. Airlia, Angelo, Alistair and Jessica took one room while Trode, Draco and Yangus took the other room. Airlia looked at Angelo, "So what happened when you all met? I sensed some… tension to put it lightly."
Angelo chuckled as he said, "Well I was at the pub in Simpleton. I was winning a hand when they came up to me. Alistair asked me if I was Angelo, said he had a message for me. I saw Jessica and grinned. I told them, 'well I've just about got this hand all wrapped up.' It got under the skin of the man I was playing against. He called me a cheat and got hot under the collar. Jessica dumped water on him because getting the message to me meant that much to them apparently. You see, at the time I didn't know it was in regards to you being back and trapped in Maella Abbey. A brawl ensued with Yangus throwing a table at the two men with the one I was fighting because he 'didn't like seeing two men ganging up on one bird.'" Airlia chuckled because of how much like Yangus he had sounded at that moment.
Angelo nodded with a chuckle as he continued, "He even had another chair in one hand with a heavy set lad sitting on it – ready to throw it. I grabbed Jessica's elbow as he threw the chair. Draco, Alistair, Jessica and I got outside through the back door of the pub. When we last saw Yangus, Trode was cheering him on as he punched the big guy, and when the guy tried to punch him back, he used the other guy as a shield, and so the fighting went apparently. Alistair glared at me while he said, 'The message is that Airlia is back, and she needs your help immediately.' So I high tailed it back after giving Jessica my ring and… well… you know the rest Air." She nodded as her eyes took a distant look, telling him she was thinking of the danger that she was in from two different men.
Night came swiftly for them as she gazed at the sky through the window. The time had come as they left Trode in the room, and with the bowl in hand, they went back to the castle. She ducked into the kitchen to return the bowl to Mary, with her deepest thanks for helping her friend. Returning to the group, they proceeded up the fourth floor, where the audience chamber was to see King Pavan there, sobbing into the wide throne.
They tried to approach him, but he could only weep in his misery, plaguing the hearts of the group there. Looking at the man, he was tall, at least Draco and Alistair's height easily. However, his blonde hair gave him a youthful look that was belied by his face. Deep circles, swollen red with tears aged him far more than time alone could have. Airlia turned to the others, "There must be something we can do…"
He cried even louder that moment, "Why? Why did you have to go to heaven and leave me all alone, my dear Sasha? It's been two long years. Time stopped for me when you left. I'm sure my heart died with you. Just one more time, even in my dreams… If only I could just see you one more time. Without you, my crown and throne mean nothing. I'm helpless here, left all alone. Please, my darling Sasha. Come to me one last time… If you don't… I… I…" The group gathered together to ponder what could be done for him. They turned to leave, going down to the third floor when Draco saw Emma just approaching from the top of the steps leading down to the second floor.
She saw them approaching her as she exclaimed quietly, "Oh!" She rushed to them, a hopeful look on her face as she said, "Did you meet with His Majesty in the royal suite!?" Airlia looked down – trying to hide her sad face, only to show Emma that they had, but it hadn't gone well.
Jessica spoke up, "He is still crying into the throne, begging for his long past Queen to come and see him once more. He refused to even acknowledge we were there…"
Emma nodded as she looked at the group, "I must explain! The King is refusing to speak with anyone at present. Please forgive him if he caused offence. You see, he's never been quite the same since Queen Sasha died two years ago. If only it were possible to meet with those who've passed away… It would mean the world to the King if he could see his Queen once more. Wait a moment! You know, my grandmother used to tell me lots of stories when I was small. Lots of very strange stories. I'm sure there was one about a way to make any wish come true… It's no good, though. I just can't remember it."
Although her face was slightly downturned, they could still see her brown eyes, beneath her golden curls, pleading with the group for help, even though her memories couldn't quite recall the mysterious children's tale. "I'm sure she'd be happy to tell me if I went to see her, but I'm so busy with work here at the castle…"
She smiled brightly as she turned her head up to see the group fully, "I'm afraid I must ask you a favor… Please! I'd like you to go and see my grandmother. She lives in a house west of here, next to a bridge and the Riverside Chapel. Use this chimaera wing as I'm sure you will have been there already to make returning here easier. Could you ask her to tell you the old story about how to make wishes come true? Maybe it's just a fairy tale, but if there's any chance it might be true then I have to try and help the King. I wish I could go and ask her myself, but there's so much to do here at the castle. And I… I can't leave him on his own… like this."
She smoothed her apron along her waist as she indicated to the west, "I'm really counting on your help everyone." She bowed to them slightly as she said, "I pray at church every day that the King will be happy again. Please… help me to help him…" She turned to go back down the stairs as they went to the inn to find Trode. Everyone filed into the small room as Angelo explained the situation.
He at first looked deep in thought as he said, "Hmm, I see…" He then became elated as he expressed, "Magnificent! What a dutiful maid, worrying about her master so! I am impressed! Doubly so by the fact that she has not taken even a single day off. A faithful retainer like her is a most precious treasure to a king. And you say she's about the same age as my dear Medea? Very well! Now, this is an order! I want you to help this maid with her request!"
Yangus glared at him as he said, "Won't this be a detour in our 'unt ta find that Dhoulmagus?"
Trode bristled as he spoke, "I beg your pardon? A detour? Well, if you get onto it quickly, it won't be a problem, will it!? Off we go! We must lend a hand to this delightful maid of ours!"
The group shared a shake of the head with a smile as they spent the next few hours walking back to the chapel to find the house that her grandparents lived in.
- 7
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- 9
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Memories