Lacey heard more footsteps outside, and assumed that it was
Rufus, so she quickly put on a confused look. This was going to
be good.....
Rufus(as expected) walked into the room slowly as if waiting for
something. Lacey slowly sat up again. "Where am I? Who are
you?" Lacey asked in a very convincing voice. She really did
sound confused....
Rufus walked up to Lacey's bedside with roses behind his back. He
made sure Gea was gone. he had to make sure she didn't remind
Lacey of anything.
"Good afternoon my dear how are we doing.?" Rufus asked,
as he handed Lacey the bouquet of Red Roses.
Lacey made a mental smirk and thought "wow this guy is
really trying his best isn't he?" she smiled, but it was
more a smile of amusement than confusion, or thanks.
"Thank you, but who are you and where am I...ugh what
happened.?" Lacey rubbed the back of her head and neck,
trying to fake pain.
Well you fell down the stairs and apparently can't remember a
thing... I am Rufus your fiancé, and you are here in Shin-Ra's
HQ." Rufus finished and out on what he thought was a
charming smile. Lacey laughed, trying to flirt back in a dainty
way, but it was impossible, this was just too damn funny.
Rufus fell for the fake "flirt" smile and gripped Lacey's
hand. Lacey so wanted to pull back from his touch, in which was
as cold as ice. Rufus (for the next two hours) explained what he
wanted Lacey to remember, while Lacey made note of this, so she
would remember what to not say. Finally the tormenting time had
ended and Rufus left Lacey alone, so that she could dress and
join him for dinner.
"Oh goody," Lacey sighed. "Just what I would like
to do." Her brain wanted not to go, but her stomach said
otherwise-she really needed to eat.
She looked around to the brown oak closet were gowns that just
"happened" to fit were kept. She carefully looked
through the selection. She really wanted to wear the mako one
that looked like her old one, that represented the Shang-Hai
mistress, but she would have given away her little secret. So she
slipped on a white gown that had pearls and blue rubies all down
the front. She also picked out blue matching shoes, and a blue
flowered headdress.
When she was finally done dressing, Lacey went to a mirror and
saw that her hair was a mess. Lacey was just about to start
fumbling around with it, when a small servant came in and
insisted that she did it. By the time the small girl was done
Lacey ended up with her hair crimped and had small braids running
down the left and right sides. The blue flowered headdress sat
atop it like a delicate tree on a hill.
Lacey turned to the servant. "That was very good young lady,
what is your name?" The servant looked up startled by the
question. None of the upper-class ever cared.... "My name is
Ayanna" she replied with a small voice.
Lacey nodded. The young girl was indeed very beautiful, Ayanna
had blonde-whitish hair that reached to her thighs, but was held
back by a bun. She felt very bad that Ayanna was a servant, she
would have been a great model or bride.
Lacey bent down to the teenagers height and stared into Ayanna's
bright blue eyes. "Would you like to stay here?" Lacey
asked kindly, for she knew what happened to teenage servants who
were not claimed as personal maids. Lacey shook her head to rid
herself of the thoughts of the soldiers harassing the young women.
Ayanna curtsied. "You are very kind madam, thank you."
Lacey smiled. "You may stay as long as you like, I won't
have you wandering about getting hurt. Oh and call me Lacey."
Ayanna smiled back, she was to like her new mistress.
After about an hour Lacey finally finished dressing, and talking
to Ayanna. She was about to head toward the dining hall when she
realized that she hadn't the slightest idea where it was. She was
about to go back into her room when Gea, Rufus and Tsung arrived.
"Escorts anyone?" Rufus inquired.
Lacey gave him a smile as he and Tsung offered their elbows. Gea
grabbed Rufus's arm (thank the gods) so Lacey grabbed Tsung's.
Not much better but it will have to do, Lacey thought,
and she winked at Gea in thanks.
By the time they all reached the guest hall the food was being
placed on the table, and a few of the other Turks sat around the
table. Sadly, she knew all of the slimes by name, Scarlet, Rude,
and of course Tsung. Also at the table sat Hojo. "If I am
going to be Rufus's fiancé, I have to act like these are my
friends" Lacey thought. Lacey gave them all a polite smile
through clenched teeth.
Rufus sat at the head of the table, and motioned for Lacey and
Gea to sit at either side of him. Lacey seated herself next to
Scarlet and Gea sat next to Hojo. "Poor child, she must be
doing this for me." Lacey thought and she just inclined her
head so that her face could not be seen.
Lacey thought she would live in this exile forever until Scarlet
said something, that would change Lacey's chances from crap- to
possible. "Rufus!! how could you invite an enemy to our
fortress. Have you lost your mind!!??" Scarlet protested.
Rufus turned bright red. "You will not address my wife so,
understand soldier!!??" Rufus shouted.
Scarlet ducked into her chair and blushed. "Yes, sir."
she said under her breath and glared at Lacey, who just sat there
and smiled.
Large servings of turkey, gravy, potatoes, pie and some other
things were piled on the table. Rufus said grace and served Lacey,
then himself, then Gea. The rest was left to the hungry Turks, in
which snatched the rest of the food off of the table like it was
gold. Rufus, and Hojo ate daintily while the Turks gobbled it
down. Lacey and Gea ate like normal peasants. After all normally
that is what they were before all of this.
When dinner was through(may we add that it took about 15 minutes)
Rufus gave Lacey his arm. Gea waved as Lacey and Rufus left the
room. Many questions ran through Lacey's mind. Where is he
taking me? Why is he leaving Gea......." then she
immediately went to one thought. Accidentally she said "uh
oh" out loud and Rufus turned to her.
"What is the matter dear?" he inquired.
It caught Lacey off guard. "Noth.. nothing, I didn't say
anything" She quickly managed to say and Lacey smiled, while
taking out a blue fan that matched the rubies going down the
front of her dress. She covered her face so that she could hide
the sick look that had taken over.
She looked around her as she noticed where she was, yet again she
gulped. This was the hall that led to Rufus's chambers..... Rufus
unlocked the doors and led Lacey to the balcony outside. Lacey
sat down in a chair that Rufus had pulled out for her. She sat
and moved closer to the two person table in front of her.
The night was young, and the wind blew gently enough to send
small strands of Lacey's hair across her hair. Her mako eyes
sparkled in the light of the moon and stars. She looked to the
bucket of ice on the table, and the champagne that was carefully
positioned inside. Lacey turned as she heard Rufus come out from
the recess of his room, where the shadows hid him well. Rufus
looked at Lacey for the first time with kind eyes, not as the
eyes of an enemy. The perfect spilling of her hair, and gleaming
of her eyes made the night worth living. The blue rubies on her
dress sparkled and teased his eyes. Whether he was seeing an
illusion, or true beauty he was not sure.
But to Rufus this would be the most important moment in his life,
the moment where he would start the bond between them that would
last forever......