I've begun to work on this again after several years away. I believe I started writing fanfiction when I was going through a very unhappy time in my life, and when I recovered I had no need to anymore. However, I felt the need to revisit my unfinished work, so here I am, back again! I hope you enjoy reading.

*...~...*

Baron Castle, for all its solid greyness, looked positively beautiful with the fiery glow of the sunset blazing behind it. The walls of the castle lit up more shades of red-orange-yellow than anyone could have described.

Sat on a low hill a little way away from the castle, a young Dark Knight removed his visor and smiled at his home. He had never imagined Baron Castle to be 'pretty-' the word had never sprung to mind before- but looking at it now, he couldn't think of any other way to describe the place the King had graciously adopted him into. Right now, I could not be more thankful.

Cecil Harvey did not look remotely like anyone you would expect to wear a full suit of black armour, day in, day out. With his visor now gone, his pale skin, icy blue eyes and flowing white-blonde hair were revealed. Cecil almost despised his slight feminine looks. He was convinced it would hinder him when it came to finding love- not that he could find love at this moment, however, as the King had expressly forbade it, stating it would interfere with his training. In fact, Cecil had just finished training with his fellow Red Wings, but while they had all gone home, the twenty year old Lord Captain chose to stay behind and peruse the letter he had received earlier on in the day.

This was quite a regular occurrence; Cecil and his pen-pal had been writing to each other for quite some time now. Cecil only knew his name- Khai, and that he was a Baron inhabitant, male and of the same sexual persuasion as he. They could not meet, for fear of the King finding out, but it was nice to be able to talk to someone who wasn't Rosa- one of Cecil's two best friends, but also the more intolerable one. For it was no secret that Rosa loved Cecil with all her heart, even becoming a white mage to protect him in battle, but Cecil could never deepen their friendship; it just wasn't right. She wasn't his type, nor was any other girl.

I don't want to think of Rosa right now, Cecil thought, unfolding his letter and smiling at it. He had read it several times already, but couldn't help himself. He felt as if he had a real emotional attachment to his mystery friend. He began to read again-

Dearest Cecil,

Hoping you're well! I saw you training the other day. When I see you around town your visor is always down, but this time you weren't wearing it and I could see your face properly. I think my heart skipped a beat. You have lovely eyes. Truly, you do. And the way your hair flew about your face as you sparred…it was breathtaking. You must think me an absolute sap, but if I cannot tell you in person, this way it must be. It really is a shame we cannot meet, don't you think? However, if we ever do chance upon a meeting, I eagerly await that time.

Write back in your own time. I know how busy you can be!

Khai

The letter was short, but it said all it needed to. If only I could meet him, even just once! Cecil thought to himself, tucking the letter away. They had all started during tutoring sessions when he was about seventeen. To improve their communication they had all been given people to write to, and the letters had never really stopped. Feeling brave, Cecil had once shown a few of them to his other best friend Kain, who went into town a lot more than Cecil and knew more people, but whether or not Kain knew Khai, he didn't let on. At the time, they weren't too fond of each other- it was only recently that they had become friends.

Kain happened to be coming up the hill now, presumably searching for Cecil. The older man, Captain of Baron's dragoons, wore his armour, as Cecil did, the deep blue lighting up every now and then as he moved into the light of the sunset. He noticed Cecil and called up to him, "Coming down anytime soon?"

"I'm coming!" Cecil grabbed his abandoned visor and scrambled down the hill to meet Kain. "What have you been doing today?" he asked. "I have not seen you at all."

Kain removed his helmet, letting his long golden hair tumble down over his armoured shoulders. "There was a new recruit to the dragoons; I was putting him through his paces. Tiring work, I can assure you. I just saw the King; he said if I saw you to bring you back home, since it's getting late." He rolled his eyes, seemingly disapproving of being messenger boy.

"I'm twenty!" Cecil exclaimed. They were making their way back to the castle now. "I can come back whenever I want, I'm sure!"

"Don't take it out on me," Kain murmured. "He has his reasons." He looked sideways at his friend and noted the little bit of paper sticking out of his breastplate. "You got another letter then?"

"Mmm."

"I can't believe you're still writing to him."

"Better than Rosa telling me she loves me all the time. Khai… he seems to have an attraction towards me that I feel I return, if only I knew, truly, who he was." Cecil sighed. "I'm lonely, Kain. You're not a Dark Knight, you're not restricted, though the King brought up you and I together. Why haven't you started dating?"

Kain shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't think about it too much. I have a little soft spot for Rosa, but you already knew that, and I would never try and date her, risking our friendship. To love somebody would be nice, but I'm only twenty-one. It's not top priority at the moment. I've still got time to settle down, get married…do whatever men do." He shot a sideways glance at Cecil. "Well, most men, anyway."

"Just because I am not into girls does not mean I won't settle down eventually," Cecil sighed. "I'm glad you were the one I told though."

"I always knew. It was just obvious. You're the only person in Baron who could ever brush off Rosa. Anyone who does that just has to be gay!"

"Thanks, Kain," Cecil muttered.

"I'm only joking around," Kain grinned, giving Cecil a playful shove. They had reached the castle now and stopped in the hallway. Kain stretched as best he could with all his armour in the way. "Well, I'd best get off to my room. You should go too, unless the King actually wanted to see you."

"I'm sure he will let me know if anything comes up," Cecil replied. "Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Probably." Kain clapped his friend on the shoulder. "See you round!"

"Bye, Kain."

*...~...*

Thanks for your letter, Khai!

It's been some time since I last heard from you. I assume you've been busy. Hell, aren't we all these days? Whatever it is you've been doing, I hope you're well.

I laughed at your statement about my eyes. I have never seen myself as good looking, or beautiful, or anything that people tell me. I tend to keep my visor down so people don't comment on my appearance…I am far too feminine for my liking. The moment I step out of the castle without my armour to go to the pub I get eyed up, mistaken for a woman! If all women get treated this way by drunken men, I feel sorry for them. My best friend Rosa often gets chatted up. She is said to be the most beautiful woman in Baron. I see what they mean. She is pretty, though she is not my type. I wonder if you know her…it's just come to mind that I've never asked you before.

I am due to fly out with the Red Wings soon. I am not the only person who has noticed the King is acting a little strangely these days…he has ordered me to obtain Mysidia's crystal, though he is mute as to the purpose. Of course, I could not defy him. He has done too much for me…I suppose I shall just have to negotiate as much as I can. I may not be able to write for some time now, as I will be away a good few days, but I look forward to hearing from you again. Being able to tell my troubles to somebody other than my friends is like a weight being lifted from my shoulders. Though I know you not, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Cecil

Cecil put his quill down and rotated his sore wrist a few times. He was tired and had had to rewrite his letter numerous times as he was hardly paying attention to his own mind. This candlelight is hurting my eyes…

With a yawn, he put the letter aside so the ink could dry and slid off his stool onto the bed to his left. It's been a tiring day, he thought to himself. After leaving Kain, he had made to return to his room, only to be stopped by Baigan, Captain of the Royal Guards, who informed him that the King wished to see him, as Kain had predicted.

The King took Cecil for a long walk and asked him questions about his past few days, what he had been up to, etc, as a father might do. Cecil did indeed see the King as his father, but thought the numerous questions so odd; it wasn't often that the King wanted to know so much. Eventually he was told about the business with the crystals and to spare nobody who got in his way. This statement sent a little chill down the young knight's spine. He had killed only once before, when he was sixteen and he and Kain had gotten wind of an assassin in the castle. Even then, knowing they had done the right thing, Kain had had to take him away to the infirmary as the sight of the body made Cecil violently sick.

It won't come down to killing, Cecil thought firmly, putting his arms behind his head. I won't do it…it's unnecessary. All I need is the crystal. Bodies aren't required. I won't…I won't fail my liege… Cecil closed his eyes and yawned again, just about to drop off, when there was a knock on the door. A soft voice called out, "Cecil? Are you awake?"

"…I'm awake, Rosa."

The door opened and Rosa Farrell, clad in a nightdress, a shawl round her shoulders, entered the semi-dark room. Her blonde hair, usually in a half updo, hung loosely and a little messily down her back, but she looked wide awake, in complete contrast to Cecil, half asleep in nothing but a pair of leggings. Rosa giggled as she shut the door quietly. "I'm sorry. You should have just said you were going to sleep."

"No…it's okay." Cecil rolled onto his side and rubbed his eyes. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, of course. I hadn't seen you all day so thought I would drop by." She approached and sat down on the stool Cecil had occupied a few minutes before. "I just looked in on Kain, but he was fast asleep. He doesn't half snore."

"I know," Cecil chuckled. "He's terrible."

They fell silent for a few minutes, Rosa fiddling with her hair and Cecil gazing absently round the room. Rosa came to see him most nights, so it was nothing new that she was here, but whenever she came, she had a habit of smiling at him a lot, touching his arm, or hair, or anywhere she could, or wherever Cecil allowed her. He put up with it purely because she was his best friend and could hardly ever say no to her. Kain would have killed him if he ever upset her. However, she didn't make any moves to touch him this time. Finally breaking the silence, she murmured, "You fly tomorrow, don't you?"

Cecil nodded. "I do. The King gave me his orders earlier today."

"You'll be careful, won't you?"

"Of course. I always come back in one piece."

"It's not that." Rosa clasped her hands over her chest. "The King isn't himself. Surely you must have noticed?"

"Yes…"

"What with that…I just don't want anything to happen to you or Kain."

"Kain is stronger than I. Whatever the King orders him to do, he will accomplish better than I could."

"You may both be my friends…but you hold the special place in my heart, Cecil." She smiled softly. Cecil resisted the temptation to roll his eyes. Here we go again!

"I know," he muttered. "But you shouldn't feel this way. We could never…" He trailed off. He hated reminding her.

Rosa sighed. "I can still dream." A light blush bloomed over her cheeks. "Maybe one day…you never know. Kain also tells me I shouldn't do this, but I…I can't help myself." She stood abruptly and readjusted her shawl. "I should leave you to sleep. You need your rest."

"…Okay, Rosa."

"Sleep well." Still blushing, she slipped out of the room. Cecil couldn't help but chuckle at her blush, then leaned up to blow out the candle before settling down for some much needed sleep.