A Peasant Princess

Chapter Three

"Where have you been?"

The sudden shout of his father caused Cloud to jump as he entered the palace. He looked over his shoulder to see Rufus leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest and regarding him with a stern expression.

"I just went for a walk," the Prince mumbled before heading for the stairs. He had barely placed his foot on the first step before he felt his father grab his arm and pull him back. With a snarl, the King turned the boy to face him.

"I set orders for you to stay in the palace!" he yelled. It took all of Cloud's strength not to jerk away but his hands curled into fists, the nails digging into the skin of his palm from the frustration. "I expect those orders to be obeyed," the King continued. Cloud glared.

"But I..." he began but was cut off.

"No excuses!" Rufus bellowed. "I'm the King, you're the Prince. I'm your father, you are my son. Therefore you obey my rules! Do you understand?"

Cloud let out a sigh of aggitation, gritted his teeth and muttered acceptance. Rufus still regarded him with an icy stare, causing the Prince to shift uncomfortably. After a moment, his father shook his head and turned away.

"Go to your room Cloud. Stay there until you are called for dinner," he commanded as he headed for the throne room.

Cloud ran a hand through his hair, a frown of annoyance still clear on his face. For no other reason than to be stubborn and have the last word, he thumped on every step as he went towards his chambers, knowing that his father would be more irritated than ever.

Slamming his bedroom door shut, he collapsed onto the mattress with a long sigh. He turned to the door suddenly as a sense of overwhelming sadness crashed over him. Zack always used to appear when Cloud was in one of his moods, walking casually into the room that Cloud was busy destroying and talking to him as if merely commenting on the weather. The Prince turned his head away to face the window. Was Zack nearby? Was he alive? Cloud couldn't tell. He had heard, once, that when someone close to you dies, you feel it in your soul. You just know it's happened before anyone has to confirm it. But Cloud felt nothing at all. As he fell into a light slumber, that thought remained in his mind. And he prayed to whatever Gods that it only meant that Zack was alive.

Aerith sighed heavily as she walked out of the Church and into the street. She looked around her carefully, reaching behind t stop the door from slamming shut. As the road seemed clear, she quickly began to walk in the direction of her house, casting glances over her shoulder every few seconds. It was a habit nowadays for her to be cautious wherever she went, being chased since a young age built it into her. And yet, at the same time, she was very trusting of people which, as her mother kept telling her, was not a good trait for someone like her.

But Aerith couldn't help it really. Being a Cetra, and the last surviving one at that, was a very lonely life. She supposed that the reason she was so trusting of everyone, was because she wanted to believe there were people out there that liked her for her rather than her heritage, and the apparent belief that the Cetras could lead people to the Promised Land.

She smiled in relief as her home came into view and broke into a little jog. The kitchen light was on, signalling that her mother was in. It didn't really surprise her. Her mother would always sit up and wait for her to come home and when Aerith did appear, she would get a small lecture of the dangers of Midgar.

"You're later than usual," her mother said, appearing in the kitchen doorway as Aerith stepped inside the house. Her tone was meant to be disapproving but the relief was evident.

"The rain slowed me down a bit," Aerith replied as she hung her jacket up and shut the door gently behind her. "I was stuck in the Church for nearly three hours in total."

"Oh dear," her mother said. "Well, at least you are home now. Would you like some tea?"

"Yes please Mom. I'm freezing!"

Her mother turned and disappeared into the kitchen and a few seconds later there was a sound of clattering cups and the whistling of a boiling kettle. Aerith sighed and stepped out of her boots, giving each foot a gentle rub to ease the pain of standing on them all day. She settled into a chair at the dining table and lazily dragged the paper towards her. The main headline was about the efforts to find Prince Zack but this was hardly new. Ever since he had disappeared, every paper in Midgar had covered the story every day.

Aerith moved the paper aside as she heard her mother approaching with her tea. She smiled in thanks and placed her hands around the cup, relishing in the warmth that travelled through her body. Her mother sat opposite her with her own cup and her gaze fell onto the paper that Aerith had been scanning over.

"I wonder if he's still alive," she sighed sadly, looking at an old photograph of the Prince. Aerith glancedat it as well and gave a small shrug.

"I think he is," she replied. "Even if it's for no other reason than for blackmail."

The tension between Cloud and Rufus at dinner time was unbearable. The servants rushed to serve the food and hurried out again as soon as they were done. Cloud refused to look up from his plate as he stabbed at his food repeatedly. Eventually, Rufus banged his cutlery down and glared at the top of his son's blonde spikes.

"Why do you have to be so awkward?" he asked. Cloud finally looked up, narrowing his eyes in annoyance as his father continued. "Do you think I don't have enough to deal with without you breaking the rules and putting yourself in danger?"

"What was I supposed to do? I cant stand being locked up in here forever!" Cloud replied. Rufus' expression softened slightly and he cleared his throat.

"Yes well, you won't be locked up on your own."

"What are you talking about?"

"Cloud, we need allies in order to help find your brother and defeat those who captured him. Now money is a good way of getting allies but there's only so much you can give. The other option is marriage." Cloud, who had taken a sip of his wine, promptly spat it out and looked at his father in disbelief.

"You are not suggesting that I - " But Rufus cut him off sharply.

"You are to be married to Princess Tifa by the end of the summer."