Aish*teru (I Love You)Chapter LXI: Speech- A FFXI Love StoryFollow

AUTHOR’S NOTE: More writing from me, be sure to read and review...this took quite awhile to write x.x;

Don’t own anything FFXI related, yada yada.

Previous chapters, aki, and Interludes

Part I - Connection (Enishi)

Kasho II - Kodoku (Solitude)

Part III - Reunion (Saikai)

Kasho IV- Suriyoru (Closer)

Part V- Secrets (Hiou)

Kasho VI- Hanarebanare (Apart)

Part VII- Longing (Akogare)

Kasho VIII- Takatobi (Escape)

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(Chapter LVII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35;mid=1158658394285452028;num=8;page=1

(Aki LVIII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=1160487418129598544

(Chapter LIX)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=116215072938586841#116232451255312339


(Aki LX)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=11683340869501875
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Bonus Story: Rainfall Memories

Bonus Story: Morning After

*****
Chapter LXI: Speech
***

"It is truly good to see you again, Commander."

"Sir."

"I am honored to server under you again."

As I started to stroll the bricked stone pathway inside Ru'lude Gardens, I could tell that the mere fact that I was back in the Grand Duchy of Jueno was being welcomed quite well by both the members of the Ducal Guard and of the military for the Grand Duchy. Taking care to only partially squint in the rapidly falling rosy-orange sunset, I gave each of them a nod in acknowledgment as they spoke to me.

Keeping my focused and calm strides, I quickly put any last traces of Gilgamesh out of my mind as I finally approached the Grand Palace of the Archduke. Unsurprisingly, the place had not changed any since the last time I had seen it, before I was forced into exile just as the war had started.

The Archduke was not one to change things from how they were, unless it was necessary.

In front of the Palace there was a wooden stage setup, it's frame draped over the sides with a white cloth that had the seal of Jueno etched out along the bottom fringes of it. There was a darkened red bloodwood podium setup in the middle of the platform, with the crest of the Archduke himself embossed upon it's front. The shiny metal also served to catch and refract back into the eyes of everyone who happened to try to stare at it for more than an instant, helping to force attention to be either drawn towards the Archduke’s face or towards the ground away from him. Around the foot of the stage and spilling into the square courtyard below was hundreds upon hundreds of Jueno citizens of all races and genders, all no doubt anxiously waiting for the leader of the free world of Vana'diel to address them.

Picking my way carefully around various security detail and assistants to the Palace, I walked my way up to the side of the stage where the Archduke was. Proud and tall as always, he was gently rocking back and forth on the heels of his boots, all the while reciting wordlessly what I had no doubt what was going to be part of the speech that he was about to give. I stopped half a milm from him, and waited patiently for him to finish before I spoke.

"My lord, there is a matter I need to talk to you about...it can turn the tide of the war instantly in our favor and bring a quick end to the bloodshed."

"Is that so, Commander?"

To my mild surprise, the voice came not from the Archduke himself, but instead from the Archduke's kid sibling who had somehow managed to appear out of nowhere to be at his brother's side.

"It is a pleasure to see you again, Eald'narche." I turned my attention for a moment to him, and gave a polite bow which Eald'narche parroted back to me perfectly.

"Yes...is that what you had wanted to meet with me about?"

The oily smooth voice of the Archduke this time flowed into my ears, and I gave him a sharp nod before standing at attention.

"Very well Commander, you will have my undivided attention after this speech...as important as it is to win the war quickly, it is just as vital to keep the populace at peace. Especially with the message of the day is concerning the fall of the Grand Marquisate."

"Yes, that is true my lord."

The Archduke then turned towards the nearly totally gone sun, pausing his gaze upon it for a moment before turning towards the stage.

"Commander, it is time for me to speak to the citizens of my nation. Will you please join me, Red Cloud, and my brother upon the stage? This time, I can only hope this time that there isn't any rogue mages that are going to try to kill me, unlike last time we were together in the former state of Tavnazia..."

He let out a soft chuckle at that, his blonde hair bouncing against the flamboyant arc-winged crimson collar of his office=s dress uniform. I felt a slight bit of shame at that comment, for that had been the first and last time that I had failed to protect him out in public.

I won't fail you again, my lord.

With the Archduke and his brother out front, followed directly by Red Cloud and I a half-step behind on either side of them, we approached the stepped side of the stage in unison. As soon as the Archduke finished mounting the stairs and placed his left foot upon the main platform itself, a great roar overtook the crowd and grew louder and louder until I could feel like I was about to nearly go deaf. The Archduke paid the crowd no heed and instead continued on his way to the podium where he stood still in front of until the rest of us had found chairs behind him.

At that, the Archduke held up his left hand with his palm facing cannotlinktods in a sign that was silenced the crowd instantly. He continued to stand there with his hand up for seconds that then stretched into a half a minute and then into even longer.

Exactly one minute after he had silenced the crowd with a single gesture, one minute to let the energy of all the people in Ru’lude Gardens build up into a pitch, he spoke.

"Today, we are here to say goodbye and goddessspeed to a legion of our troops as they go fight in a war against the beastmen. Not everyone may return to their precious loved ones, but they all can take comfort in that they are fighting for an ideal...and that ideal is 'Vana'diel'."

He placed his hands on either side of the podium as he spoke softly, but yet in such a clarity that there wasn’t a single person in Ru’lude that couldn’t hear him. I began to feel a slight stir of excitement well up inside of me, even though I had heard dozens of his speeches over the past few years.

"It is the Vana'diel that millions from all races have strived to protect during the course of this war; it is the Vana'diel that they all saw as the rising future of tomorrow. It is the Vana'diel that was born out of Her tears, out of passion, happiness, sorrow..."

At this, the volume and passion within his voice began to increase, and I felt all eyes in Jueno shift solely towards him. The Archduke’s black and crimson robes stole away the last few rays of light as the sun sunk into the horizon, only helping to illuminate and magnify his presence into something that was more than just merely mortal.

"It is...the Vana'diel for which it is worthy to die. Our fallen comrades from Tavnazia doubtlessly hoped for a world where a free and peaceful Vana'diel would exist. The Tavnazians were one of Vana'diel's most effective fighters, who united behind the ideals of beating back the beastmen, carrying the flags of the united nations under one army proudly high above their heads in unison. It was because the Tavnazians were one of Vana'diel's most effective warriors, the beastmen wanted them destroyed!"

At this, the Archduke pounded his right hand sharply against the top of the bloodwood, causing a harsh tone to thud out from it's surface as he emphasized the next several words.

"But Tavnazia's fall has ONLY served to UNITE the people of Vana'diel further together in an alliance against a common enemy Tavnazia may have fallen silent, but the ideals from Tavnazia, the courage and strength of it's people, have only grown stronger and become truly immortal!"

The crowd began to cheer at this point, chanting both the Archduke=s and the Grand Duchy's name over and over again in a high roar that shook the flooring of the stage itself. At this, the Archduke paused in his speech for several minutes, waiting until the public just hit it's apex before holding up his hand once more to silence the crowd instantly once more.

"These men that are leaving today...they are infused with the power of their fallen allies, and are of the mind set that they MUST abandon their private differences with each other for an IDEAL; an ideal of a soul who's willing to protect the world, and an ideal of a soul that is willing to die..."

He paused here for dramatic effect, and I could feel myself gripping upon the edge of my seat to hear my leader's precious words.

"And that ideal is...Vana'diel."

With that, the crowd exploded in a frenzy that was even louder than just moments before. At that, Red Cloud, myself, and Eald'narche all stood up at attention to face the people we were all sworn to protect...

And I knew that Jueno and the Archduke was this world’s last true hope to keep the beastmen from winning the war and destroying all that I had left to hold dear.

-fin Chapter LXI: Speech

Edited, Feb 5th 2007 10:34pm by Nightsintdreams

Thanks to bringing this to my attention.

Mr.Troll, perhaps you'd be better off on KI.

Keep up the good work, Nightsintdreams.