+ final fantasy viii: lady of shallot

Written by: Laura (guinevere_queen_of_camelot@hotmail.com)

Tragedy

She stood shivering at the edge of Obel Lake, undecided in her course of action, or even plan for the future. All she knew was that she desperately wanted to love someone, who would never love her in return

She stepped out into the icy waters of the lake, not caring about the coldness of the water. A slight breeze whispered through the treetops, caressing her long blonde hair, as it cooled the water even more.

Slowly Quistis decided to step deeper into the lake, her long dress of white samite billowing in the wind with every step she took. Her steps became less certain with each wave of cold water rushing at her feet. She stopped suddenly at the sound of battle close at hand. She glanced once more at the form of Seifer Almasy, and her lips began to move, quoting an ancient curse that was used at one stage to kill those who did not love the woman.

Her footsteps became clumsier in the deep water where she foolishly stepped, her feet slipping on rocks, but still standing upright. She remained in the position she originally began in. Her feet were getting bluer by the minute.

Camelot. It had all begun there, with the defiant nature of Hyne's own creation of Sorceresses, the one and only Morganna le Faye gave birth to Quistis Trepe. It was then that Quistis's cursed life had begun. She bade one last farewell to her home of Balamb, which had served as her home for almost an aeon. She smiled softly as she reached her destination. A small fisherman's boat lay afloat near where Quistis stood. The curse had almost been fulfilled.

Quistis smiled once more, as she hopped in the boat, careful not to get the long heavy linen gown wetter than what it already was. She lay down in the boat as the current grew stronger under her magical powers.

The tide ebbed softly under the boat. Quistis Trepe, the last remaining Sorceress of le Faye's order opened her mouth, but no sound came out as she moved her lips, as if to say 'fare thee well. I shall always be watching thee'. Her life was ending quickly, such was the mercy of her curse and, in some ways, to Quistis it was a blessing.

The boat floated down the lake, as it was gently guided by le Faye's Sorcery. She wanted the boat to go to the fabled Camelot that was only read about in the legends, but Quistis knew where it existed.

The boat slowly passed under the trees surrounding the dens where there had once been the war where Timber had lost its independence to Galbadia. The water moved slowly, as though the river was tired of its eternal wanderings, and like the figure in the boat, it wished for solitude through death.

The boat's occupant lay still, as though locked in a trance so deep that if you woke them from their meditation, there would be all of eternity to pay for that folly. Her breathing was becoming erratic out in the cold.

The boat floated desolately in the water. There was hardly any current, making the death harder for Quistis to go through with. She thought about going back. Going back to SeeD, and telling them of her desperation, but knew she couldn't. There would be consequences of her foolish actions if she did. Her breathing became ragged, as she closed her eyes.

It was a cold autumn night; the trees blew their leaves upon Quistis, causing her to shiver. But it didn't matter any longer. Quistis was dying slowly.

The boat suddenly came to a stop. Quistis was startled by the sudden stop of the boat. Her magic did not seem to work here at all. No, it did not. Her face appeared haggard in the harsh early light of the morning. She could still hear the battle that was raging, and she knew she was closer to Balamb than she thought. 'Soon, I will be gone,' Quistis thought, 'there will be no Quistis Trepe again. I am free of my curse when I die.'

The boat floated once more, thanks to the power that Quistis still had. Her breathing became shallow as she floated down the river, her lips moving in a silent plea to Hyne.

Her legs were already blue, then the body, then her arms. She knew she was dying of hypothermia, and she had intended to. She stretched her arms out, but her arms refused to move. Her death by suicide was not going quite so well to plan.

A small tear dropped down out of her blue eyes, making it hard for her to concentrate. Her main idea was death. It was not happening the way she expected it, or planned it. Her smile was forced as she sat up in the boat, looking out wearily in the moonlit night.

Quistis opened her mouth, and began to sing softly. It was the song that had haunted Quistis ever since she first heard it in the halls of Camelot, as a small girl.

Her chanted song was holy, a homily to Hyne and to her mother, Morganna le Faye. She sang softly, the song echoing in the boat, then began to sing loudly, making all the world hear her.

The people fighting stopped, hearing the phantom voice of Quistis Trepe le Faye. The voice was more than what they could bear, and the fighting stopped almost immediately after the boat had passed through the small islet.

The boat floated nearby, the water being shallow where the boat lay. Quistis was almost dead, her blood freezing slowly. Her eyes were darkening, her blue eyes, the ones that used to smile at Selphie's effervescent nature, the eyes that held pain for Squall's leaving her for the weak, deluded Sorceress Rinoa, the eyes that held joy for Zell, her one true friend, the eyes that showed amusement at Irvine's pranks, the eyes that were always misted when talking about Ellone, the eyes that always seemed to be sad when she saw Irvine with other women, her pain was all for Selphie on those occasions.

Her eyes glassed over, her life was over, it seemed. But she was still breathing and living. Singing, even.

"So here is the life, the greatest of them all...And yet I throw it away" Quistis whispered, fighting between wanting to die, and wanting to remain on this land. But she knew the future if she was to remain on the earth. Her love for Seifer would eventually become the ruin of her life, and so it was better for her to die. Her eyes glazed over completely.

At last the boat reached its destination. A small islet close to the Balamb fishing docks. Surely someone would see her boat and report her in the morning. At least that way she'd get a decent burial. If not, then Quistis was happy to have the rodents gnaw away at her body for as long as it survived.

Her voice suddenly failed her, Quistis Trepe, the last Sorceress of Morganna le Faye's order had died. She was no longer of this world.

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