Face Unforgotten Part 1 by Kigaeno Moondancer 10 Sept 2004

Place: Burmecia
Date: 17 March 1795 (5 years before game)
Rating: PG-13
Characters:
Fratley Irontail, dragoon
Freya Crescent, dragoon
Puck Burmecia, Prince

"You should not leave here. Not alone. I should go with you." Freya looked over Fratley, meager pack on his back and lance in hand, ready to leave Burmecia on his mission.

"You know we can't go together. This city needs protectors as well while I am gone." Fratley looked back at his love with a twinge of pity and sadness, but mostly love. He would miss her too, but he couldn't bring himself to put the younger dragoon in the danger he was going to be in.

"I don't understand.. I don't know why you even think there is a danger. We've been at peace with Alexandria for years.." Freya shook her head, trying not to seem too emotional and not doing a very good job at it, "This General, can she be that dangerous? Beatrix?"

"Yes... Beatrix." Fratley looked downward thoughtfully, finding it increasingly hard to make eye contact with her as it was nearing his time to leave, "I hear there are many fierce warriors out in the world - some more powerful than even I... ... Beatrix of Alexandria, in particular. They say her swordsmanship is the best in the land." he had no intention of not being ready if she ever came here. His country came first.

Freya looked downward as well, in silence a few moments, "Sir Fratley, do you still insist on going on your journey?" her words trembled. One last time, she had to ask him to stay.

"Yes... please understand Freya." he wished he could get her to understand, "Right now, Burmecia is at peace, while other nations are slowly but surely gaining power. I don't know if my spear alone is enough to protect Burmecia..." he tightened his grip on his weapon and looked at it thoughtfully, "... which is precisely why I must go out into the world."

"Sir Fratley ...I don't think I can live on my own - not without you." she was finally reduced to begging, and sniffled the tears back between words.

"Freya, you're going to be fine." he looked into her eyes assuredly,"Trust your strength... and have faith in your destiny. Once I complete my journey around the world, I will return to Burmecia."

"Then promise me, one more time, that you will return."

"I promise." with those two words he was gone. Freya fell to a kneel as he walked away, and stared at the ornate pavement next to the fountain through foggy eyes. This was so sudden for her. Did he really love her if he could leave her like this? Would he find someone else? Would he forget her?

She stood, putting such mad thoughts from her mind, and raised a hand to dry her eyes.

"Are you cwying?" a shrill voice came from behind her, and she turned to see the very young Prince, "Wat's wong?"

"Prince Puck! You shouldn't be out here alone. You have to stop wandering off from the palace." she dried her eyes quickly, and leaned over to pick him up off the ground, carrying him slowly to towards the royal palace. The standard inept palace guards would get a speaking to for this, for certain.

But then again, Puck was dangerously sneaky, it probably couldn't be helped. To think that someone this slippery would one day be King. Yet that wasn't her concern.

"Wat's wong?" he repeated his question, and she realized that she was not going to successfully avoid it.

"Sir Fratley had to go for a while." she tried to keep it simple, "I will miss him."

"When will he be back?"

"When he is finished. It could be months. I'm just.."

"He's stwong."

"Yes I know, highness, but I cannot help but be afraid of not seeing him again."

"I make sure you do."

Freya couldn't help but giggle at the child's assertion that there was something he could do to make certain of it, and it was rewarded by Puck's devious young smile. She doubted he could do anything, but she didn't doubt he would try his best. Perhaps he wouldn't be such a bad King one day after all.