Everheart: Chapter 5

Selah admired herself in the flowing, silken gown as she stood before the tall mirror.  She traced her fingers along the lace ruffles that wrapped up and around around the skirt, and the shining platinum chains that were intricately sewn between the neckline and the blouse.  She turned to a long, oak-carved vanity table and picked up a golden circlet, with a single stunningly shining sapphire set above a star-shaped space in the band.

"I think these will be wonderful replacements for Eternity Bands," Ginal commented as she wrapped her dark-skinned arms around Selah.

The elezen turned to smile upon her bride, taking in the sight of the miqo'te in her own wedding gown of a similar design, but of emerald colored silk.  A golden circlet with a single, radiant emerald set in the center of the band rested on her blonde-haired head.  Selah rested her own circlet over Ginal's, locking the bands together and smiling at how the emerald displayed through the star shaped space in her circlet.

"It's a little disorienting, the way these things can manipulate aether like those rings." Selah commented.  "But being able to go to your side from anywhere, so quickly, is a wonderful thing."

"What should we call them?" Ginal asked.  "Since the gods won't grant us Eternity Bands..."

"How about...Everheart Circlets?"

The miqo'te tilted her head with a quizzical expression, inciting a chuckle from the elezen.

"Because my heart will ever be yours."

Ginal smiled as she stood on the tips of her toes, her eyes closed.  Selah leaned down to meet her, and they shared a lingering kiss.

"Today we become Amani and Serafine Trueheart." Selah stated with loving smile.

"And I  couldn't be happier." Ginal replied with a purr.

Selah sat up in bed, blinking her eyes to adjust to the near pitch-darkness of the room.  Only softly glowing candlelight danced its way about the room, allowing the hyur to more easily look upon her resting beloved.

Ginal was deep in sleep, her gentle snore sounding almost like a purr.  Her ears suddenly twitched sharply, and she bared her teeth.  Selah leaned down to kiss the miqo'te's ears, offering silent assurance that the dreamland battle would be swiftly won.

But though the hyur didn't wake from another terrifying nightmare of her and her lover battling each other in different forms, she was deeply concerned with those dreams' vivid quality.  It felt more like memories, rather than the normally surreal blend of images and events of a normal dream.  And there was a bizarre consistency that flowed through them.  And something else...

Everheart.

The hyur felt like she had heard this word before, but had no idea where to place it.  It felt important, meaningful.  Maybe she should contact their old employer.  Tim was a scholar by trade, perhaps he would know how to research the name.

She was pulled from her contemplation by a soft knock on the door, and was glad to see that it wasn't enough to stir her fiance from her needed rest.  Selah went to the armoire and retrieved a silk robe to wear over her underwear, and opened the door a crack to see Elysande.  The mercenary employer had dressed down from her battle harness and short-shorts, into a low-cut blouse and pencil skirt.

"Hi Selah-oh!"  Elysande's eyes went momentarily wide when she seemed to notice the darkness of their chambers.  "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were sleeping this early.  Can you talk, though?  Or should I come back?"

Selah nodded and slipped into the hall, quietly closing the door behind.  She leaned against the wall and crossed her arms.

"What do you need?"

"Well, how is she?" Elysande indicated the door to their room.

The dragoon frowned at the question, and took a moment to find the right words in her mind.  This conversation was going to need precise wording.

"She's...angry.  Worried.  Frightened."

"What for?" the employer inquired.

"You have to understand, Ely, that Ginal's been ridiculed, shunned-even harmed, much of her life for being what she is.  That Wood Wailer, he was the worst bully Ginal ever had to deal with.  He's mean, and bigoted, and abusive, and he's the reason why Ginal used to think of herself as less than a person."

Elysande ran her hands through her own purple-dyed hair, biting her lip through an overstated sigh.

"Wow... sounds awful."

"More than you know.  It wasn't confined to just him.  But this confrontation today, it's brought a lot of her old fears back to the surface."

Selah shook her head, and looked to Elysande. "So I need to ask, Ely.  Is Ginal safe here?  We've already heard commentary from Six.  If Ginal is in any danger, just tell me now, and we can leave before we become any more attached to the people here."

The mercenary woman smiled.  "Do you remember what I told you two when I offered you a place here?  The people of the Pathfinders are the misfits of Eorzea who don't fit in anywhere else.  As far as I'm concerned, Ginal is no different.  She is very safe here."  She tapped at her chin as she seemed to be thinking.  "And as far as Six is concerned, we've already had words.  He won't say anything again."

The dragoon nodded silently, and offered a grateful smile.  "Good.  Well, Ely, Ginal sleeps better in my presence.  I should get back."

"Of course."

Selah quietly crept back into their chambers, locked the door, and freed herself of the robe.  After situating herself in bed, she gently traced her finger along Ginal's ears.

"Sleep well, beloved."



The card with the picture of a bone-carved lance trembled, shuddered, and flipped over.  The elezen Lady and the amalj'aa Warrior stood silent for a moment.  The Warrior bellowed his rage and brought his fists down upon the wooden table, shattering the table-top and crushing the legs underneath.

"Weak, worthless mortals!  They accomplish NOTHING!"

The Lady tapped her chin in thought, ignoring the destructive outburst of her comrade.  Her white, nearly sheer dress flowed around her as if being tossed by a breeze as she looked thoughtfully upon the Warrior.

"We believe we have been going about this all wrong.  We have been trying to break their union through death, but it is all too apparent that simply being in each other's presence is enough to empower them."

"So it would seem." the amalj'aa growled.  "Even Emera managed to out-maneuver Cancer for minutes on her own, but now they never part."

The elezen looked upon the rubble before her and swept her hand through the air.  The planks and splinters of the shattered table rose from their resting place and began to piece back together, while the scattered cards levitated to the table-top and re-stacked themselves into a neat deck.  The cards with images of a sapphire and emerald moved to the center of the table.

"Perhaps we should try to break their bond before we kill them?" the Lady inquired.

She gestured to the deck, and the top card moved to the center of the table to rest under the others present.

"We have been holding the Nobleman in stability just for this." she continued.

"Yes...Sapphine still carries her fears of life with him.  And Emera can still be taken by insecurity.  The Nobleman's presence alone may outweigh his broken body."

The card flipped itself over to reveal the image of a shield flanked by lions.  It then slid up, forcing the emerald and sapphire cards apart, and rested between them.



A heavy, rich scent filled Ginal's nostrils, and it was confusing.  Overpowering.  Her nose wrinkled as she stirred and breathed in again.  It wasn't one scent, it was several.  She was just groggy enough that it seemed like one, thick, overpowering smell.  She consciously sniffed the air around her.

Spices.  Red pepper, and...sage, maybe?  Mixed into meat.  Squirrel sausage.

And coffee, definitely.  Her favorite dark roast from Gridania.

What else?  Oats...and something sweet...

The miqo'te finally opened her eyes, blinking as she adjusted to the glow of morning's light filling the room.  Selah sat next to her, wrapped in her robe and smiling lovingly.

"Good morning, my Kitten."

"Mm...morning...What's that smell?"

As soon as the words were spoken, Ginal's eyes went wide when she realized that a wooden tray rested over her lap, filled with the things she had been smelling in her sleep.  Squirrel sausage, scrambled ladybug eggs, coffee with milk, oatmeal, La Noscean oranges, and an iced cinnamon roll.  It was her favorite breakfast foods, just waiting for her to open her eyes and dig in.

She looked to her fiancee with still-groggy, happily-teary smile, "Thank you."

"I'm glad you like it." The hyur answered.  "I thought it would be a nice surprise."

A frown formed on Ginal's lips when she looked back to the tray, and shifted uneasily under the blanket.

"What's wrong, Kitten?"

"I gotta pee!" she announced with an almost desperate groan.

Selah was unable to hold back the laughter that escaped, as she nearly doubled over.

"It's not funny!  I'm gonna pop!"

"Okay, okay."

Selah quickly rose and circled the bed, gripping the tray and setting it on top of the nearby dresser.  As Ginal began to round the wall to their personal bathroom,she paused and looked back at her lover.  It was an exceptionally sweet gesture, one the miqo'te knew was an attempt to assuage the terrible events of the previous day, and she felt her heart flutter.

I love her so much.

A few moments later, the miqo'te came back, pausing to stretch before retrieving the tray.  She took a seat on the bed and tore into her meal with a half-starved visciousness.  It was moments like this that Selah was both amused and horrified by how quickly Ginal could destroy a meal, and she knew that despite how much her love might eat, she was never slowed by a full belly. 

"How would you like..." the hyur began, standing before the miqo'te, "after you're done..."  She leaned down low, her low-cut shirt proudly displaying her cleavage as she gave a come-hither smile.  "To take a long, hot, bath?  And afterward...I've got someplace special I'm taking you."

Ginal hesitated mid-chew as her eyes lingered on her beloved's cleavage.  She felt a small jolt of electricity as the hyur traced a finger along the miqo'te's thigh.  Ginal swallowed her food and bit her lip at a slight wetness between her legs, and a growing stiffness in her lap.  Adding the food, the extra sleep and this wonderful attempt at seduction together was making this morning one of the best of the miqo'te's life.  Maybe she could stand to put herself through emotional turmoil at an old bully's hands more often.

But there was something to be said for the simple comfort of her fiancee's company, and even though Ginal knew she'd very much enjoy this proposed "bath," she thought that this time, maybe there was something else she'd like to do first.

The miqo'te smiled as she reached up to caress the hyur's face.  "How about...you do something silly for me?"

Selah chuckled at the suggestion.  "I think that's something I can do very well."

The hyur found her lute leaning against the wall, and took a seat on the bed.  She grinned at her beloved as she strummed short and simple chords.

"A miqo'te of the emerald glow~

Lived with a wound in her soul~

She loved a hyur maiden~

All sapphire laden~

...Who lovingly polished her pole!"

"Gods be good, you're terrible!" Ginal exclaimed.

"So...no more pole polishing?"

The pillow the miqo'te threw hit the hyur's face so hard that she fell off the bed with a yelp.  Ginal fall back onto bed from laughing so hard as Selah climbed up, pausing to glare at her fiancee.

"That's funny, huh?"

The miqo'te could only nod her head through her cackles.  Ginal knew that it wasn't really this funny, but once the laughing fit had begun it simply wouldn't stop.  She laughed and laughed still, rolling on her back in a fit.

"My word, Kitten, I don't think it was that funny."

Selah moved the food tray and sat next to her fiancee, frowning as she noticed tears were streaming down her cheeks.  Ginal's laughter had transitioned into heavy, shuddering breaths.  

She was crying.

The hyur lay alongside her lover and drew her into an embrace.  The miqo'te cuddled close, gripping her fiancee tight as her tears continued to flow.  Selah didn't need to ask what was wrong.  She understood well the amount of emotion surging through her beloved's heart from yesterday's events.  So the hyur simply lay there, caressing Ginal's back, arms and hair.

After a long moment, the heavy, shuddering breaths slowed and the tears ceased.  They shared a kiss, and spent the next several moments simply lying in their embrace.

The wind tossed Ginal's long, braided hair and long skirt about as she leaned over the railing.  Her eyes were as wide as her smile as she surveyed the rocky Thanalan region from the airship, which looked more like a small seafaring craft taken to the skies than the legendary metal monstrosities the Garleans had crafted.  She looked over to her beloved and couldn't help but dash to her and pull her into a tight hug.  Selah smiled and held her love close, the wind kicking her own ponytail about.

"How's your first airship ride?"

"It's amazing!" The miqo'te exclaimed.

The hyur pointed down at small mountain cluster the ship was beginning to fly over. "Look there!"

Built in the shape of a gigantic cactaur holding golden pods, the Manderville Gold Saucer rested against the mountains, standing as an unmistakable beacon of laughter, stress-relief and fun.  The small airship glided towards the bizzare, yet wondrous structure, and slowly settled into an internal dock, where they disembarked.

Ginal's ears stood straight as her still-wide eyes took in the sights and sounds as they made their way through the lengthy entry hall.  The bright lights, the cavernous rooms, the mix of colors in the carpeting and stained glass and the throngs of people laughing, cheering and hurrying about.  It was unlike anything else the miqo'te had ever experienced.  Selah beamed as she watched her lover's reactions, and felt truly wonderful to know that she was already enjoying herself so much.

"This place is..is...I..." Ginal sputtered as she twirled about, her eyes darting from one corner of the grand chamber to the next.  Her ears twitched and her tail flicked, and her face was displaying one of the widest, most joyful smiles of her entire life.

A petite, blonde-haired hyur woman sauntered by, dressed in small and form-fitting white top, black bikini bottoms with fishnet leggings and black high-heeled shoes.  The outfit was accented by a pair of long, white bunny ears and a puffy bunny's tail.  The miqo'te grinned and purred as she looked the woman over, watching her as she walked away.  She looked up to see that her hyur's expression was somewhere between amusement and annoyance.  Selah was rarely ever the jealous type, but even she could have her moments.  Ginal grinned sheepishly.

"I know exactly what you mean." Selah answered.

The hyur took her fiancee by the hand and led her to a giant circular counter that sat atop a raised stage in the center of this grand room.  There were at least a dozen different employees of the amusement park on duty behind the expansive counter, each answering question, directing patrons and taking in the Golden Saucer's special currency for prizes.

Ginal giggled and bounced in place as she examined the shelves and cases behind the counter that held all the prizes.

"Anything catching your eye, Kitten?"  Selah embraced her lover from behind, smiling as she followed her pointing finger from item to item.

"Look at that dress!  Isn't it cute?  Like what an old time bar wench would wear."

"It would look great on you, Kitten."

The miqo'te looked back with a frown. "Did you call me a wench?"

"Only the wenchiest."

Ginal smirked and whipped her tail at her beloved, looking back to the lined up prizes.  There were replicas of legendary weapons, wind-up toys, dresses and suits.  And sitting on the very top shelf, under its own display light, sat a pair of circlets.  They were both crafted from glimmering gold, one with a shining emerald set in the center of its band, the other with a brilliant sapphire set above a star-shaped space.  The miqo'te' felt captivated by the circlets as her gaze lingered for a long moment.

"Excuse me," she asked of the nearest attendant.  "What are those circlets?"

The finely dressed roegadyn man turned up to look at the display.  "Ah, that?  That's a replica of the Everheart Circlets that are displayed the Sultanate's Royal Museum."

"Everheart..." both lovers quietly repeated.

"I wonder if it's called that because..." the hyur began to say.

"Because ever shall my heart be yours." the miqo'te stated.

They looked to each other, sharing an expression of mutual confusion.  Neither was certain how they knew the name, or what it seemed to mean.  They wanted to ask each other about it, but neither could find the right words to ask.

"Come on, Kitten.  There's so much more here to see!"

Selah took her lover's hand and led her on, to a long and winding hallway.

"Mmm, hey, I was thinking." Ginal began.  "About our bonding ceremony."

"What is it?"

"Well, I know you don't like wearing dresses too often..."

"Or hardly ever." the hyur stated.

They reached the center of the halls, to find that it was a grand intersection between the four primary sections of the amusement park.  A massive aetheryte tower sat in the center of the intersection, its crystalline structure humming pleasantly.

"Well, anyway..." the miqo'te continued.  "I know you don't like them, but...but there's this design I saw in a shop in Ul'dah that I absolutely LOVED!  And I think...I really think you and I would look so amazing in them!"

The hyur frowned at the thought.  It was likely something with an unecessarily long skirt, and lace, and frills.

The gown was as white a fresh snow, its long and flowing body embroidered with swirling designs by brilliant golden thread.

Yes, and you can't forget all the elaborate embroidery.  No, she didn't relish the thought.  It just wasn't her style.

"...crystal glassware isn't normally my style, I know, but the way this set is cut is just gorgeous!"

Selah was, in honesty, only half listening to her lover's ideas.  As the walked by the aetheryte tower, the hyur's mind was occupied with other, very uncomfortable thoughts that she couldn't block out.

He finished gulping down the aged champagne and threw the finely etched crystal-cut chalice over his shoulder.  His lips formed into a twisted, cruel grin as he set his gaze upon his bride.

"And just the thought of you in that dress makes me kinda wet, so..."

The hyur realized that her fiancee was blushing from what she just spoke.  It was the only thing in the conversation that was pleasant.

"So, I mean," Ginal continued, "we might need to take a break during the reception so we can....you know..."

The skirt of elegant gown was soaked in blood.  He tore the formerly beautiful garment from her frame and marched to the balcony of their bedroom.

"Bride's blood, come and get it!" He called to the gathered guests below.

He waved the wedding gown overhead for attention, then threw it to the crowd below.

Selah stopped mid-stride and looked to her beloved, her eyes fiercely serious.

"Ginal, I think a ceremony like this will be just too expensive."

The miqo'te shrank back as her ears folded in, clearly surprised at the words and hurt by the sharp tone.  The hyur mentally scolded herself with a sigh, and took her lover's hands.

"I'm sorry, Kitten.  All I mean is, a ceremony like that would be wonderful, but it would take a lot of time to plan, and even more money.  Wouldn't we be better off directing that kind of energy to other things, like our own house?"

Ginal slowly nodded as she thought over the words.  She knew there was a wisdom and practicality there.  She  also knew that the things she and her beloved were talking about their lives including would absolutely need the space of their own home, which wouldn't be cheap.

"Maybe...in a few years...we could have a reaffirmation ceremony?  And make it as grand as we deserve?" The miqo'te hesitantly asked.

Selah smiled and nodded without hesitation.  "I would love nothing more."

The miqo'te gave a half-smile and accepted a kiss, but was obviously still disappointed with what was just spoken.  Of all things in the world, Selah hated to disappoint Ginal.

But this time, it couldn't be helped.

The pair exited the intersecting hallways into another tall, wide, cavernous room.  This room, though, had an upper level that wound around the space's entire circumference, though what lay above couldn't be clearly seen.  In the very center of the lower level they were on was a large, raised stage, surrounded by narrow moat that flowed through an indentation in the floor, which was itself surrounded by a wide circle of golden, engraved tile that glowed from lighting underneath.

Scattered around the base floor of the room, various patrons clapped, cheered, and let on with approving "awws."  All the gathered park-goers were sending their approval to the event occurring on the stage.  A silver-haired elezen man and an elezen brunette, both in clothing that was simply tailored, yet in fine and presentable condition, stood hand-in-hand before an usual looking hyur man.

His beard was fashioned into a goatee, and his hair in the pompadour style.  He wore a monocle on his left eye, and was clad in a finely tailored suit, complete with dress gloves, polished shoes, and a rose in his breast pocket.  The man seemed both right at home, and oddly out of place in this den of bright lights, gambling and children's games.

"Hey, is that...erm, that funny inspector people have been talking about?" Ginal asked.  "Huber...Hillen...Hildebrand!"

"It must be." Selah agreed.  "Or at least someone who's impersonating him.  What is he doing up there?"

"Do you, Daronaux," the sharply dressed hyur addressed the elezen man, "promise to ever be a gentleman?  To be, always, astounded by your bride's simple beauty?  And above all, to never stop seeking the clues to life's greatest mystery: the eternal bond?"

Selah and Ginal both giggled as watched how this Hildebrand flexed his muscles as he spoke, changing his pose after every sentence.  The male hyur grinned the widest, silliest grin either of the women had ever seen, with a sparkle on his teeth that were so bizarrely perfect, that had them doubled over in laughter.  They laughed so hard, and for so long, that they missed the bride's vows.

"This is the silliest thing I've ever seen!" the miqo'te exclaimed.  "To think that someone would want this as their eternal bonding ceremony!"

Then a thought occurred to the hyur.  This might be exactly the thing to pull all the disappointment from her lover's heart.  She turned to Ginal, and took her hands.

"Let's do it."

"What?" the miqo'te stared and blinked.

"Let's be bonded, right here, right now!  Look at how much fun they're having!"

Selah pointed to the newly bonded pair on the stage.  They were laughing and hugging, and posing before a crystal camera for pictures with their makeshift-minister.  Ginal's tail swished back and forth as she took the sight it.  Finally, she grinned up at her hyur.

"Yeah, okay, let's do it!"



Getting permission from Elysande to take a leave of absence was easy.  All they had to do was show the certificate of bonding, signed by "Hildebrand Manderville," and their employer eagerly had them pack their travel bags and set off with Dinornis.  And though the loyal warbird may not have been bred to seat multiple riders, he had no complaints to squawk out on the way to the nearest harbor.  He simply tilted his head to this side and opened his beak slightly, which Selah had since learned was the chocobo's equivalent of a smile.

And back, of all places, to Costa del Sol.  This place may have been the grounds of the worst point in their relationship, but it was stil the most stunningly gorgeous place either of the new brides had ever seen.  The apkallu birds squawked their songs while the waves lovingly lapped at the shoreline.  A gentle breeze carried the scents of salt, flowers, fish and fruits, a wonderful bouquet that the sensitive miqo'te nostrils basked in.

In the purple and orange of sunset, Ginal ran along the sand, giggling wildly as her ears twitched and her tail whipped.

"Ooooh you're in trouble, missy!" Selah shouted as she gave chase.

The hyur was soaked, her hair matted and her bikini sticking to her skin.  The miqo'te was almost bone-dry, looking over her shoulder to blow a raspberry at her wife.

"Can't catch meeeeee~!"

She turned to repeat the taunting gesture, only to realize the dragoon had leaped upon her, and together they tumbled into the shallows.  Ginal cried out in false protest as she was pinned to the ground, and purred as she looked upon her bride.  Selah straddled the miqo'te with a triumphant grin.

"You're mine, now, Kitten."

"Oooh...wha'cha gonna do with me?"

"Whatever I please..."

The hyur licked her lips teasingly, and moved to lick along her wife's cleavage, eliciting a vulger moan.

"Selah...someone, might find us..."

Selah simply grinned and shrugged.  For once, neither of the pair truly cared for decency.  Behind them, a woman cleared her throat.

"Yes, Selah, someone might find you..."

The hyur tumbled over and scrambled to her feet at the voice.  She faced the speaker, an older looking hyur woman of perhaps her early forties.  The older woman's short-cut hair was mostly gray, and her tunic, long skirt and boots a mix of basic browns and grays.  Her dark blue eyes didn't hold the same brilliant shine as Selah's, but displayed every bit the same intelligence.

"M-mom..." Selah stammered.  "What are you doing here?"

Ginal slowly rose, her hands resting over her lap.  Her eyes went wide at her wife's revelation.

"I've been looking for you for a week!.  You're very hard to track down!  Now then, pack your things!  We have to get back immediately."

"Why, Mom?  What's so important?"

The older woman beamed.  "I have the most wonderful news, dear!  Your husband is still alive!"

Everheart: Chapter 4

In the cabin, by the spring, near the cliff, the two figures stood on opposite sides of the large wooden table.  The card with the image of the green and gold coat that sat under the card with the image of a sapphire trembled, and flipped over on its own.  The amalj'aa clad in shining steel growled and slammed his fist upon the table, sending a shock wave through the wood so powerful that the neatly stacked deck of as-yet unused cards tumbled over.

"Weakling!" he roared.  "He didn't even wound her!"

The porcelain skinned elezen raised her hand in a calming gesture, her long dress flowing with a non-existent breeze in the tiny and cramped cabin.

"Be at ease." her voice gently echoed.  "The game is not yet lost.  Perhaps we targeted the wrong one."

She waved her hand across the table, and the deck re-stacked itself.  The elezen offered a gentle smile to her companion, her eyes gleaming with patience.

"Sapphine has the greater experience, as well as the Ishgardian relic to bolster her power.  Emera lacks both, and there is also the Soldier." The lady suggested.

The warrior's posture relaxed at the suggestion, and his harsh features twisted into a vicious smile.  

"The Soldier is angry and humiliated." the warrior stated.  "His blood burns for retribution, but he may still not be enough to kill Sapphine."

"Emera is the weaker of the two, and we need only to kill her to shatter their union."

"You may have the honors." the warrior offered with a gesture toward the cards.  "But this time,  empower him more."  

The lady drew a card from the deck with the image of a bone-carved spear upon it, and placed it under the card with the emerald.  She held her palm over the card as aether swirled around her hand, and poured into the picture of the spear.  The lady and the warrior met each other's gaze, and nodded.

"Our will, be done."

A thundering hum, a sensation of flying and falling, and the endless black of nothing slowly gave way to a world of shape and color that spun about.  Aether coalesced on the wide wooden deck that surrounded the large, spinning tower of crystal, followed by a second manifesting form.  Ginal waited for the disorientation to fade, but as she stumbled forward, was caught by Selah's arms.

"Easy, Kitten."  The hyur smiled at her beloved, "You really are sensitive to aethernet effects, aren't you?"

Ginal frowned as she steadied herself, and blinked at a curious sensation, finally realizing that is was raining in Gridania.  She smiled wide, stretching her arms out as she spun about and down the ramp, under the dark clouds.  Selah laughed as she joined the miqo'te on the grassy ground.

"You are adorable."

A mischievous grin formed on Ginal's face, as she noticed they were both standing at the edge of the pool that the aetheryte deck was built over.  She quickly waded into the shallows, and threw her arms forward into the water to throw a small wave onto her lover.  Selah was already wet from the warm rain, but now she was soaked from the cold pool, and glared at the cackling Ginal as her entire body tensed up.

"I know I am!" the miqo'te finally replied.

"You're...going to...get it..." Selah threatened.

"Gotta catch me, first!"

Running proved more difficult than Ginal had thought, as her soaked long skirt clung to her legs awkwardly.  She tripped over herself, and was saved from hitting the ground by her lover's graceful catch, once again.  Selah pulled the miqo'te back to her feet, and firmly swatted her behind.

"Naughty and careless, Kitten!"  The hyur grinned and kissed her fiancee.  "We should get inside and dry off."

Ginal giggled and led Selah by the hand, down the muddy path to the Carline Canopy.

They stood under the awning at the entry, laughing at themselves as they drip-dried for a moment.  The long hall of the tavern was filled to near capacity with patrons seeking shelter from the downpour's increasing intensity.  The sounds of conversation, clanging mugs and the singing bard at the far end of the hall were nearly raucous, and the lovers smiled happily as they took it all in, realizing how much they had missed being here regularly.

A beaming smile greeted them from the back-left corner of the tavern, as Mother Miounne waved at them from behind her counter.  As the two approached, they also saw Guildmaster Ywain, meeting them with his slight, quiet smile that was reserved for those he favored above all others.  Miounne eagerly steppped around the bar to meet them, hugging Selah, then Ginal as a mother would.

"Oh, my dear girls!  I've missed you both terribly!"

Ywain followed suit, offering an affectionate embrace of his own to his two former students.

"As have I.  I haven't seen you two since that tournament a while back."

"I'm sorry we haven't made more time to visit sooner." Ginal stated.

"But life has been speeding along like a ride on an airship.  We keep getting caught up in the moments." Selah explained.

Miounne and Ywain nodded their understanding.

"Considering the whispers floating through my doors," Miounne began, "I'd say that's understandable. Oh, but by Nophica, you two are soaked!  Come now, into my office!"

Ywain leaned against a tall, somewhat disorganized bookshelf, as Selah and Ginal fell onto a large and thickly cushioned sofa, wrapped in towels.  Miounne poured a small glass of whiskey that she handed to Selah, and a mug of a nearly black beer for Ginal.  She circled her small desk and relaxed in her tall chair, smiling at the two adventurers.

"So, how have my girls been?"

Ginal purred as she swallowed a gulp of the hoppy beer, and leaned over to rest her head on Selah's shoulder as the hyur slowly smelled and sipped at her spirit.  A bright smile formed on the miqo'te's face as her ears sprang up at the question.  She bit her lip to subdue her sudden burst of joy, but sprang from her seat with a jubilant mewl.

"We're engaged!" Ginal exclaimed.

Miounne clasped her hands as she looked upon the lovers with joyful eyes.  "My dear, wonderful girls..."

Ywain looked to the proprietress with somewhat smug grin.  "I told you so."

The elezen leaned back in her chair and met Ywain's grin.  "Yes, you did."

"Look at you two," the Guildmaster began, pushing himself from his lean.  "When I first met the both of you, you were broken, wandering aimlessly, with only a shred of courage and a vague dream.  And now..."

Ywain sat himself on the edge of Miounne's desk as his ever perceptive eyes took in the couple before him.  Selah could see a silent joy there, just beneath the surface, as well as something else...

Pride?

Ginal sank back onto the sofa, taken aback at the sight of the joyful tears in her otherwise stoic mentor's eyes.

"Not only have you two done everything that only the best of my students have managed," Ywain resumed.  "You've accomplished the impossible.  You've brought poacher lords to justice, slain primals and legendary monsters.  You've brought a new found respect for the lancers to regions outside Gridania, and you've made the Ixali very hesitant to raid our territory for some time."

He paused for another moment, looking behind to the proprietress who bade him to continue with a gentle smile and a nod.  Both of the lovers felt in awe as they watched this ever taciturn embodiment of Grindania strength speak with tears in his eyes and a rasp in his voice.  The display and vulnerability made him seem like a different person entirely.

"And more than that, you've conquered yourselves, something that almost nobody in this world can truly claim.  All done while trusting in each other, and the love that bonds you, and never turning to run from the undeniable terror that is to let yourself be truly naked before another person.  You have, truly, made me so proud."

"I feel the same." Miounne stated.  "You have both made us so very proud to be able to say that we have ever aided you in your journey."

Neither Selah, nor Ginal could help but feel touch by the words of their mentors.  Their hands entwined as they shared a smile, and they took a short moment to bask in the love and pride that was filling the room.  The miqo'te again rose from her seat, and quickly threw her arms around her former trainer.

"And I'm so grateful for everything you ever did for me.  The ways you pushed and directed me to find my courage.  How you nudged Selah and I together...Thank you."

She pulled away from the embrace, smiling through her own happy tears as Selah approached to give the Guildmaster an embrace of her own.  Ywain laughed at the exchange of affection, but made no effort to fight any of it, and more hugs were exchanged when Miounne rose to join them.  After the long moment of affection was done, the lovers returned to their seats and Ywain returned to leaning against the bookshelf.

"Aside from that wonderful news, what else is happening?" Miounne inquired.

"Well..." Selah began.  "There are a few things.  Let me tell you about the worst date ever."

Ginal chuckled as she and her fiancee returned to their drinks.  They might just need them to make it through a reliving of that awful night.



By the following day, the rains had drifted to the Thanalan region.  Since The Goblet was already known for the humidity the local waterfalls brought, the warm rains only served to bring an oppressive feeling to the town.  And with the thick, dark clouds capturing all the day's light, only the chronomoters knew the true time on this dreay afternoon.

Selah and Ginal had lingered in their room all morning playing card games, along with their other favorite pass time,  but were growing restless with nowhere to go.  Ginal moved from the couch in the corner to the bed in the center of the room, and threw her arms around Selah, who was tuning her lute.

"Bored." the miqo'te simply stated.

"I know.  I am, too."  The hyur sighed as she reached behind to scratch at her lover's ear, "I was really hoping to put these new companions of ours through some training today, too."

"Downstairs?" Ginal inquired.

"Hmm, what's there to do down there?" Selah asked.  "Maybe some others to share some lunch with?"

"You can play us some of your songs." the miqo'te suggested as she nuzzled her fiancee.

The hyur chuckled at the idea.  "You think they'll like my silly little limericks?"

Ginal moved to the armoire to fetch one of her favored skirts and matching tops, and brought Selah one of her own low-cut shirts and form fitting shorts.

"I guess this means you don't want me showing off my undies to everyone?" The hyur asked with a smirk.

The miqo'te grinned playfully as she dressed.  "Just for me, my love."

A short stroll through the manor's halls and down a flight of stairs, and the two stepped into the cavernous basement.  The wide open area was designated as the company's all-inclusive lounge, kitchen and bar, and was furnished with all the things that the mercenary company's employer Elysande believed her hard working misfits needed to blow off steam.

Selah smirked as she glanced at the circular dancing stage in the center of the space.  Her beloved had suggested that the two of them should take to the stage some time to work out a provocative routine.  While it was meant mostly in jest, the hyur found the idea has a certain appeal.  Selah was thinking about it.

"Lookie here, if it isn't the Emerald Lancer." remarked a miqo'te woman sitting at the bar in the corner of the room.

The snide tone of her words wasn't missed, nor was the sharp swishing of her purple-furred lions tail.  Her long hair of the same color fell messily in her face as she shot back the remainder of a glass of golden liquid, and she growled in frustration as a drop fell off her chin and onto the thick hide armor her form was hidden under.

"What's Miku's deal?" Ginal asked of the dark-haired elezen man sitting next to her.

He shrugged dismissively, his turquoise eyes glancing from Miku to Ginal.  The sconce light that reflected off his pale tabard-robe cast an almost other worldly glow around his figure. 

"Ah, she's just pissy because she and Astania were fighting earlier." He cracked.

"Shut your mouth, Kraio!" The woman warrior demanded.  

Kraio simply raised his hands in defeat, and turned back to his mug.  Another sharp flick of her tail put her agitation on display.   Selah frowned as she looked at the the lute in her hand.  She exchanged a glance with her beloved, both knowing that the situation was already on the edge of getting out of hand.  

"Come on, Miku, tell us what happened." Ginal suggested. 

She and Selah found seats near their distressed fellow, trying to display concern for the warrior's problems as obviously as possible.  Miku leaned over the bar and managed to grasp a bottle from underneath it.  She momentarily admired the clear liquid before filling her glass, and downing about half the contents in one gulp.

"Pff...Is Gridania's great champion a relationship counselor, too?"

The redhead let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head in bemusement.   The hyur offered her lover a comforting pat on the thigh, already feeling quite done with her company-mate's tantrum.  Selah was no stranger to the stress of lover's quarrels, but found Miku's hostility to be very much pushing it.

"I'm just trying to help you out by listening, Miku." Ginal explained.

"Well, listen to this..."  The warrior woman turned to the lancer and leaned close, "Fuck off!"

Selah noticed the sharp twitch of her finacee's ears, flick of her tail, and reveal of her canines.  She took Ginal's hand as she rose from her seat.  Kraio rose from his seat as well, shaking his head as he stepped away from the bar to nurse his drink away from the tension.

"Come along, Kitten."

As they began to leave their brooding friend behind, the rumble of hurried footfall echoed through the manor as a figure dashed down the stairs.  Selah recognized the spiked, green hair and matching beard of the hyur man they all knew as Six.  He looked ever the noble knight in his shining suit of steel plates layered over chain mail.  Selah was curious why he chose a number to replace whatever his real name was.

Six stopped midway down the stairs and leaned over the railing, a worried expression on his face.

"Get up here!  There's some lunatic calling for Ginal, and he's got Asti!"

Ginal and Selah glanced at each other, then hurried up the stairs with their other friends trailing behind them.  They stepped onto the lawn of their manor, where the gentle but steady rain was continuing to fall.  Ginal gasped in shock as she took in the sight before her.

On the paved road running before the manor stood an elezen man with short-cut blonde hair, clad in the forest green leathers of the Wood Wailers.  Robimont glared at Ginal with unnaturally glowing eyes, and he wasn't alone.

Kneeling just before the rage-filled soldier was a miqo'te woman, her long hair of orange and yellow looking like a mane of fire to match her red eyes.  Her purple tunic and pants were muddied and torn, and her left eye was swollen shut, her hands bound behind her back.

"Oh Gods, what have you done to Astania?!" Ginal demanded.

"I saw the patch on her sleeve was that of the free company I heard you joined up with," the Wailer explained.  "She didn't tell me how to find you quickly enough, so I gave her some incentive.

Kraio struggled to restrain a screaming and writhing Miku as Robimont's lips curled into a sadistic grin.

"Do I have your attention, freak?"

Ginal's ears twitched at the insult, "In all the wrong ways, I promise you."

"I can't believe I let you humiliate me like that." the Wailer spoke through clenched teeth.  "You.  Some weakling freak."



Selah dropped her gaze to their half-conscious friend on the ground, then followed Robimont's gaze and realized that the man barely saw anything aside from Ginal.  She gave Ginal's hand an encouraging squeeze, then slowly backed away, into the mercenary company's manor.

She hurried through the foyer and its adjoining hall, and into their chambers.  Ginal's steel-forged lance was the first weapon within reach against the wall, and the hyur hurried to the window that overlooked the neighborhood behind the manor.  Opening it as far as it would go, she threw the weapon to the ground and crawled through herself.



Robimont gripped his bone-carved spear anxiously, the tip of its blade resting at Astania's neck.  Ginal didn't dare move, nor did any other of her company companions.  Miku had ceased struggling against Kraio, and was clearly now very sober as she looked upon her lover remorsefully.

You're going to pay for this , Robi.

Ginal's fists were clenched as tight as possible.  She would do what she had to, to stop this man.  Even if it meant killing him.

"Do your new friends here accept you as you have come to accept yourself?" the Wailer inquired.

"Don't drag them into this!" the lancer demanded.  "This is between us!"

Robimont laughed sharply at the answer, grinning wide as he surveyed the group behind Ginal.  For a moment, the glow in his eyes seemed to intensify, and that glow was beginning to truly bother Ginal.

"They don't know, do they?"

"Robi, don't do this..."

"I wonder how they would feel, to know..."

"It's not their business!"

"That they serve alongside something like you."

Ginal's tail whipped sharply as she trembled, "Just let Astania go!"

"A false woman.  A man in disguise." Robimont spat his venomous words.  "A filthy, dick-packing freak."

She could feel the gaze of her company mates shift to her, and a wave of humiliation washed over her.  She wanted to run, and hide, and cry, and curl into a ball and never be seen again.

All this, just to get back at her for standing up for herself.

Selah landed on the ground before the Wailer, pulling Astania into her arms, and leaped away in a blurr.  When she landed a short way down the pavement, she released the lance from its harness on her back, and hurled it as a javelin at Ginal.  

When the weapon pierced the ground beside Ginal, the miqo'te took up the weapon and charged Robimont, a lioness' roar escaping her throat.  The Wailer lunged forward and locked spearheads with the Lancer, his features twisted in rage.

"I'll rip you apart, Gin!"

Baring her canines as her tail whipped sharply, Ginal pulled her weapon from the lock and slashed back and forth, the weapon a blur as it tore through the air near Robimont's abdomen.  She swung the blunt end of her weapon around and caught him in the side hard enough to make him stumble, but he regained himself quickly enough to deflect her following thrust with a twirl of his weapon.

Selah carried Astania over the short stone wall that bordered the company's manor, and released her into the care of a sobbing Miku.  She heard them apologize to each other, but was only half listening as she met Kraio's gaze and gestured to Astania.  Kraio silently nodded and moved to the miqo'te pair.  The hyur knew Kraio was a very skilled healer, and Astania should be fine.

She walked to the front of the gathered crowd of her company-mates, and watched as her fiancee battled this returning foe.  A hand fell gently on her shoulder, and she turned to meet Elysande's smile.

"Shouldn't you be there with her?"

Selah shook her head, "Not this time.  I saved her from defeat the last time she fought.  She needs to do this for herself, to prove to herself that she can."  She looked back at her beloved with a confident smile.  "And she can do it.  She will do it."

But if you hurt her I swear I'll kill you.

"I earned that moment in Bentbranch after what you put me through!"

The Wailer swept his lance at her feet, which she flipped away to evade, but as Ginal landed Robimont surged forward and connected the haft of his weapon to her chest.  The miqo'te tumbled to ground as her lance slid away.  He towered over and spat at her. sneering contemptuously.

"You're not a woman!  You're a freak!  Defective, and unnatural!  That I was ever defeated by you is unforgivable!"

Ginal clutched her chest as she tried to rise, but a boot to her gut put her back on the pavement, winded and gasping.



Selah clenched her fists as she stood witness, and she struggled to control her trembling.  She wanted with everything to leap to Ginal's aide, to take the blows for her, and to put this cruel and bigoted bastard in his place.

But she couldn't.

Ginal was one of the finest lancers in Gridanian history, this Selah firmly believed.  She had just been dealt too many emotional blows in her life that left her struggling with confidence in herself.  If Selah went to her fiancee's aide yet again, then Ginal may never find it in herself to stand and fight without Selah.

So the hyur stood and watched, wishing for her heart to stop thundering in her chest.  Though she was able to choke back the cries in her throat, she was unable to hold back the desperate tears in her eyes.



The miqo'te rolled to her side as the elezen's spearhead met the pavement, and though she still struggled for breath, the adrenaline in her veins helped her spring to her feet.  She rolled to avoid the lance as it was wildly swung at her, and she took her weapon back in hand.  She dropped her stance low and unleashed lioness' roar from her throat that sent a very clear message for all to hear.

Fear me.

She leaped high and brought the blunt end of her lance haft around to meet Robimont's head.  His weapon clattered onto the ground as he stumbled, and Ginal thrust her spear through his kneecap.  He fell screaming as his blood poured from the wound.  The miqo'te twirled about to deliver a mocking slap to his face with her tail, and followed through by piercing his shoulder.  She hovered over him as the life-fluid dripped from her weapon.

Never again.

"I'll say again!  I am a woman!"

Ginal swung the lance-head across his leather clad torso, slicing the thick fabric and shallowly cutting into his stomach.  She noticed the glow in his eyes was fading as he winced.

"I am beautiful as I am!  I will not be shamed ever again!"

She rubbed her boot into the wound in his shoulder.  His pained cry was almost enjoyable to her ears.

"And I'm a damned good lancer, in every way your superior, Robi!"

The miqo'te looked upon the elzen, a writhing, bleeding, moaning mess, and spat on him.

She turned on her heal and marched directly toward her beloved.  She dropped her lance, and was caught in Selah's loving embrace.  The hyur stroked her fiancee's hair gently as tears steamed down the miqo'te's cheeks.

"I know, Kitten.  But you did it.  It's okay."

"One hells of a fight." Six commented as he strode up to the lovers.

Elysande motioned for Six to follow as she approached the still-groaning Wood Wailer.

"Come on Six, let's haul this bastard to the guard station."

The male hyur nodded, and turned to the embracing couple.  "So...what's this about you having a package?"

Ginal looked up with an expression that Selah knew was very dire, but the miqo'te remained silent as she stalked away into the manor.  Selah sighed and looked to the man with furrowed brows and pursed lips.

"You're an asshole."

Selah retrieved Ginal's lance and hurried after her lover.  This day was going to need a great deal of salvaging.