Everheart: Chapter 24

"Oh, for fuck's sake, let us through!" Ginal demanded.

Two guards stood centered at the base of the great, stone stairs that sloped up behind them.  Lances drawn and eyes mistrusting, their posture made it clear that entry was not an option.  Grand iron gates closed the towering walls of gray and black stone, with pointed spires serving as warning for winged attackers to keep their distance. 

Legendary Ishgardian hospitality. 

Selah cold only roll her eyes.

"I'll suffer no witches to taint Whitebrim and bring seduction to our soldiers!" cried the shorter guard, a hyuran woman.

"Witch?!" Ginal repeated, her tail flicking sharply.  "Seduction?!"

A finger wagging up and down, sharply indicating Ginal's eyes and dress, was the woman guard's response.

"I knew your fashion sense would get you in trouble one day, beloved." Selah stated.  She turned her attention back to the soldiers, "Please, I assure you that our eyes mean nothing of consequence."

"Then how can you explain such a devilish appearance?"

Shit.  What's a good lie?

Selah looked back to meet Ginal's gaze, and could almost hear the miqo'te's annoyance in her mind.

"Don't ask me.  I'm a flirt, not a liar."

"We were--ah--caught in an explosion...an aetheryte explosion.  Back in the Twelveswood."

Even tone.  Hold eye contact.  Don't fidget.

"That's right!" Ginal chimed in, struggling to suppress the irritation in her voice.  "You might have heard of it.  Part of a nasty Ixal attack."

"Likely story." derided the second guard, a man.  "Something like that would have killed you."

"Don't give them the chance to charm you with their silver tongues!" the woman solider cried.  "Heretic scum!"

Charging forward, the woman soldier's lance collided with Ginal's gem-forged sword.  The intensity of the emerald glow in her eyes increased, as a low growl warned of pending danger.

"Seriously, honey, I'm giving you one chance to back the fuck off before I really get angry." warned Ginal.

Selah's own lance of shimmering ice was locked with that of the other guard.  With a disappointed sigh, she glanced at the woman solider.  "You won't like her when she's angry."

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live!" cried the soldier.

Through the brilliant glow, Selah could see Ginal rolling her eyes.  The woman soldier shifted her weight in a telltale sign of readying an attack.  Seizing the moment, Ginal gathered aether of black and green swirls in her palm, and aimed forward.  The energies exploded on impact with the woman, throwing her back onto the wide stairs.

The soldier before Selah was clearly caught off guard at Ginal's display against his comrade, making it easy to shift her own lance down and pull his feet out from under him.  A dull clang echoed as his helmet struck the paved stone, and the man lay still.

You were a belligerent ass, but...I'm sorry.

Cries went out from the ramparts as other men and women of service scrambled to their positions.  The towering wooden gates atop the grand stairs creaked and moaned as they opened, allowing half a dozen guardsmen welding sword and shield to meet the lovers.

"Gods damn..." Ginal muttered.  "All I wanted was a bath and a bed."

Apprehension, resentment, and even anger thundered in Selah's heart.  Meanwhile, with her weapon forward, she tried to ignore the agitated squawking of the chocobos behind her.

There's got to be a way out.

The hairs on Selah's neck stood as a whistling pierced the air. With eyes wide, she frantically glanced about for the source, only to be met with a sharp, pained gasp from Ginal.  Blood flowed from the wound and added a splash of crimson to the snow underfoot.

"Oh gods, Ginal!" Selah cried.  

Ginal's legs buckled as another arrow struck below the knee, bringing her to the ground.  Selah held her beloved's hand as anger, worry and desperation collided in her heart.

What do I do?  Why is this happening?  Is this my fault?  Should I surrender?  Should I fight?  Ginal, I'm so sorry.

As the soldiers formed a loose circle around the couple, tears welled in Selah's eyes.  The world around seemed to grow black, until the only thing Selah could see was the wounded young woman beside her.

I should have never helped Geoffrey.  I should have told mother to take her letter and leave.  What have I done?

"Another lovely situation, isn't it, darling?" Emerald purred.

Am I going to die?

Pain enveloped Ginal, and weakness laid claim to her limbs.  In the darkness, the twin flames hovered, narrowed in a smile.

"Shall I take over for a while?"

I cant leave Selah alone...and I don't want to die...not here.

"I'll see us through, darling."

Ginal smiled as Emerald took her hand.  She felt embraced by passion, desire and bloodlust.

Please try not to kill.

"I make no promises, darling."

Emerald flame ignited in Ginal's eyes, knocking Selah back in surprise.  Ginal looked to her shoulder and pulled the arrow free, followed by the other in her leg.  The pain elicited a gutteral growl as she rose to her feet, and her lips curled in a wicked grin as she realized the newly joined soldiers were backing away.  After a moment, her wounds' bleeding had slowed, but not stopped completely.

"Mmm...I feel yummy." purred Ginal.

She looked to Selah, who, judging by the wide eyes and gaping mouth, clearly didn't know what to do or say.  Another arrow whistled as it took flight, only to meet a barrier of dark, rippling webbing that vanished as quickly as it appeared.  With a smirk, Ginal grabbed Selah by her breastplate and met the hyur's lips.  The magical barrier again deflected two more arrows as Ginal refused to let her lover go, purring playfully as she grabbed and groped at Selah's figure. 

"Gods, woman!" Selah gasped as she broke free.  "Can't you wait?!"

A wicked cackle was the miqo'te's answer, and she readied her sword for battle.

"You're with me, aren't you?" 

Selah nodded, her lance forward.  "Always."

"Din, Peri!" Ginal called.  "Get out of here!  Stay safe!"

The squawking and rapid flutter of wings was their answer, and Ginal knew how to translate.

"Fuck, no."

With sword pointed toward the hesitant soldiers, Ginal again gathered aether in her palm, a wicked grin exposing her canines. 

"Come on, boys.  Slay yourself a demon for your goddess." she purred.

The orb of energy exploded as it met a target, throwing him aside with a pained cry.  The others charged forth, shouting their challenges and swinging their swords.  Within a heartbeat, Selah's legs had carried her to the ramparts.  Two archers flanked her, arrows drawn, but expressions of shock told of their surprise at her presence.  Two deft swings of her lance rendered their bows useless.

Satisfaction and joy swelled in Ginal's heart, a grin on her lips as she watched the archers flee their post from the corner of her eye.  The swordsmen had surrounded her, each uttering some epithet regarding her race or being a witch of some sort.  She purred playfully as she felt her aggressions stir in her soul, and the ground around her exploded in dark energies and sharp, curved spines jutted from the ground.  Two of the swordsmen were pierced through the leg, one in the abdomen, and two more tossed aside by the concussive force.  The soldier still standing lunged, his sword catching on Ginal's gauntlet and leaving him off-balance.

"At least this witch can actually hit someone." she taunted the soldier.

Her ears twitched as her armor-plated boot connected to his knee, the distinctive snapping sound of the joint drawing a smile to her lips.  The man fell, howling his agony, as Ginal sauntered through the gates.

It is so good to come out to play!

Beyond the sapphire glow, Selah's eyes sparkled with pride and love as Ginal strolled through the gates.  Whistling pierced the air as a sharp pain bit into Selah's thigh, the arrow scraping her and drawing blood.  Gritting her teeth, she forced her natural reaction aside and launched herself skyward.

Idiot.  Mind your surroundings.

Lance forward, Selah angled herself down and set her sights on nearest archer on the ramparts.  Her foe released multiple shots into the sky, but the volley missed its plummeting target.  The weapon pierced the elezen's chain-link armor as though paper, and bit into his shoulder with enough force to pin him to the ground.

Selah quickly turned her attention to the vast courtyard of the fortress, twirling her weapon defensively before her as she took stock of the place.  Another troop of soldiers were rushing to engage Ginal, wielding sword and spear both.  There was also a mage of some sort present, like nothing Selah had ever seen.  She wore a flowing black robe trimmed in gold and silver, and above her palm hovered a spinning globe, orbited by some sort of magicked cards.

Dinornis and Peridot both charged forward, sharply squawking as they sprinted by Ginal.  Dinornis lowered his head and rammed it straight into a soldier's presented shield, hitting with enough force to knock the man over.  The soldiers parted as Peridot sought to barrel through them, putting the bird on a collision course with the mystery mage.  The cards around the mage's globe spun and briefly scattered as the woman threw her palm forward, and a great flash of white detonated, tossing the chocobo aside.  

What kind of mage is that?

Peridot rolled back onto her feet, stomping and fluttering her wings defiantly.  The bird resumed her attack charge as the mage again scattered the cards around herself, this time finding Dinornis ramming his head into her side.  Knocked breathless by the assault, the mage-woman struggled to her feet as the two great birds kicked and pecked at her, tearing her robes.  Her flight from the battle only drew the birds to persue, drawing a smile to Selah's lips.

Arrows bounced off Selah's makeshift lance-shield, drawing her attention across the courtyard to a duo of archers taking aim.  A piercing whistle filled the air as arrows flew free.  One, two--six of them met the resistance of her lance, but the next found its mark and lodged into her bicep.

"Fuck!" screamed Selah, dropping her lance.  Blood leaked from under the arrowhead, the pain biting and intense.

She saw that her scream had gotten Ginal's attention, as the miqo'te sneered viciously at the archers.  Her rage took the form of black and green orbs she threw, which exploded against the stone of the ramparts and tossed the archers from their perch.  A lancer exploited the opportunity of Ginal's distraction to drive his weapon through her gut.  

Time slowed to a crawl as Selah's blood froze.  Memories of a time Ginal had suffered a grievous wound at a monster's doing flashed through her mind, as did the memories of the aftermath.

No, no, no, no, no, no!

Ginal's fearures twisted into an expression of wrath and pain like Selah had never witnessed.  It chilled the very heart of her, and she could see, that of their enemies.

GET YOUR ASS DOWN THERE AND HELP HER!

Free of her paralysis, Selah grit her teeth and pulled at the arrow, freeing it from her muscle with a ripping pain that threatened to drown her in waves of nausea and dizziness.  Blood poured forth from her wound, and the pain as almost too great to ignore.

Lance forward.  Fight through the pain.  Control the fear.

Her lance was enveloped by a brilliant blue-white glow as Selah twirled it intrcately before her.  She leaped to the sky as the frozen wind pierced and bit, her hair tossed and tangled by the wind's malicious playfulness.  She angled down, lance forward as the sapphire glow of her eyes increased in intensity.

Ginal tore the spearhead off the weapon that pierced her and freed herself from the lance-shaft.  Even from the skies, Selah saw that her beloved was already paling from blood loss, and that the pain was making standing a struggle for the miqo'te.  A green-black glow of aether surrounded her sword as she lunged forward with a scream, her weapon piercing the lancer's midsection.  The man's skin paled quickly as he gasped for breath, his eyes sunken.

The lancer's fellows had backed away, weary of the possible fate that seemed to await.  Ginal's skin regained some of its color, and the blood dripping from her chest slowed.  Her opponent keeled over, trembling through ragged and shallow breaths.

The image of a great wyrm, cerulean and snaking, materialized around Selah as she neared the ground.  Her lance pierced the stone base of the courtyard, and a great explosion of fire erupted forth in a grand ring.  The force of the explosion knocked several of the Ishgardian soldiers over, the flames washing over them as its own roar concealed their pained cries.  When the fire subsided, a quick glance found at least four soldiers' armor was burnt and charred, leading Selah to imagine the severity of the blisters underneath.   A thin glow of blue-white aether blanketed the wound on her arm, and the flow of blood slowed.

Back to back the lovers stood as the soldiers regrouped, forming a circle around them as a handful of additional soldiers ran to join the fray.  Ginal's ears and tail twitched frantically, her breathing ragged and her warning growl laced with pain that was plain to Selah's ears.  Selah's heart sank as she reached behind, finding the miqo'te's tail for a gentle pet.

"Why are you always the one getting so badly wounded?"

Ginal scoffed, "If this were a story I'd castrate the asshole writing it."



Again, a sharp whistle pierced the air, and though Selah's lance twirl caught some arrows, a determined one found its way into Selah's thigh.  The gasp of pain was unmistakable as Ginal whirled around, and found Selah kneeling as blood trickled forth from the wound.  Selah was struggling not to make a sound, but the tears in her eyes spoke volumes of the pain she was enduring in the battle.  Ginal gripped her beloved's hand tight, her own trembling as her heart swelled with fury for her fiance's agony.  Desperately summoning her sword back to her hand, she spun to face the soldiers as they closed in.

"Leave Selah ALONE!" the miqo'te screamed.

Green-black aether swirled about her body, the long, wild curls of her hair dancing with the wind the magicks created.  Ginal planted the sword in the stone flooring, and threw her hands forward.

"STOP!" called a man's voice, older and worn.

Ginal halted her retaliation as the soldiers, too, froze in mid-swing.  Boots hit the stone with a commanding gait, and the troops parted to allow the speaker through.  He was tall for, even for an elezen, and his stride confident.  the scars across his forehead and cheek spoke of hard lessons learned in battle, and his dirty-blonde beard was beginning to gray.

Standing at the front of his soldiers, he peered at Ginal, and quickly shifted his gaze to Selah.  His lips curled into a frown, and Ginal recognized a sadness in his eyes.  He drew his sword from its sheath, and handed it to the soldier nearest, holding his palms forward toward Ginal.  Tentative steps brought him to Selah's side, where he knelt to whisper to her.

"Are you Selah Darkmoore?"

Indignation pushed aside the pain of Selah's gaze, her nose wrinkled and eyes narrowed.

"I do NOT take that name, Drillemont!" Selah snapped.  "And I swear to your goddess, if you address me as that one more time I'll drive this lance through your heart!"

Drillemont was clearly taken aback at the words, but nodded his understanding as he rose.  He offered a hand to Selah, but Ginal slid between them, helping Selah to her feet as she eyed the man with mistrust.  The lord turned to his men, his expression stern and commanding.

"These two are NOT enemies of our people, and this battle will cease IMMEDIATELY!  Give them lodging and fetch a healer to tend to them.  Any harm that befalls them, and I mean ANY, will be answered by my steel.  Do you all understand?"

The soldiers glanced at each other, shifting uneasily as they failed to find sense in the situation.

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" Drillemont demanded.

"Sir, yes, sir!" they replied, immediately and in unison.

Ginal supported Selah, watching wearily as the soldiers began to scatter, tending to their casualties or returning to whatever gods-forsaken duties await them.

Hardly a necessary sentiment, good knight.  If anyone tries one more thing against my Selah, it's me they'll answer to.

Everheart: Chapter 23

I want my feather bed back.  And some squirrel sausage with gravy-drowned biscuits.  And coffee that isn't nearly frozen.  And a gods damned indoor toilet.

The lovers cuddled together against a somewhat smooth section of the cavern wall, their birds nearby in their own pile.  Ginal gazed out the cavern opening, to the dimly lit gray and white that seemed to stretch on endlessly in all directions.  The only things she could see that added variety were an occasional skeletal tree.  Her ears flattened in answer to the howling winds, nose wrinkled to match.

Glad we got in before that picked up.  Selah's right, Coerthas is awful.

The miqo'te smiled, though, as her attention drifted to the chocobos sleeping alongside each other.

"Peri and Din are getting along well." Ginal observed.  "Kinda cute, isn't it?"

Selah looked beyond tired, with bags under her eyes dark enough to be mistaken for bruises, and hair tossed and disheveled, leaving Ginal to imagine she didn't look any better.  The smile Selah offered was clearly forced, with eyes void of joy or affection that were barely even open.  Irrational, hot anger exploded in Ginal's heart, and before she realized what was happening, her expression had twisted into a hostile sneer.

"The hells is that for?" Selah demanded, her own brow furrowed and lips pursed.

Ginal looked away and slowly inhaled, then slowly released.  She repeated, wishing the sudden tension in her shoulders to subside, until, at last, it did.

Cool it, girl.  Don't blow up, not now.  Won't help anything, and you know it.

"Sorry..." Ginal meekly offered.  "It felt like you...didn't care about talking to me."

"No...I'm sorry, too." Selah offered.  "Guess this, ah...sleeping in shifts isn't doing us any good."

Selah's nose wrinkled with a sharp sniff, "What is that?"

"Me." Ginal sighed.  "Miqo'te musk, gets bad after a couple days."

And a hot bath, with bubbles and candles.

"Oh...hardly noticed."

"Good save."

With a gentle purr, Ginal placed an affectionate kiss on Selah's cheek, to which the hyur held her close and lovingly squeezed.  Selah rubbed her eyes as a drawn-out, loud yawn escaped her.  Again, she offered a smile, this one seeming less forced than the last, but still not quite heartfelt.  Ginal squeezed her hand before pointing to the blankets bundled nearby, offering the most loving smile she could muster.

"You're about to fall over.  You sleep, I'll watch."

Selah's gaze fell away from her beloved, her lips turned down.  "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be.  I'll just...I don't know, practice my sword form or something."

The gem-forged greatsword materialized in Ginal's hand as she slowly paced, a yawn of her own escaping.  The cave stretched on and on in jagged halls of gray and brown, twisting and sinking in just enough places to keep the miqo'te from staring straight through.  Her ears twitched as she strained to listen down the cavern, but all she heard was the wind, the birds, and Selah. 

Rumbling and an empty ache called from Ginal's stomach.  She retrieved a fist-sized chunk of the jerky from their bag, and felt a brief wave of nausea wash over her as the sharp, salty smell assaulted her nostrils. 

Gonna be eating this shit for a few more days, aren't we?  Gods, I'd almost rather go out into that mess to hunt.

"Selah?"

"Mm?"

"When we get back home, you're gonna make my favorite breakfast.  And rub my feet while I eat in bed."

"Mm."

Ginal allowed herself a playful grin at the thought, and looked over her beloved's sleeping form.  The rise and fall of Selah's chest was comforting in its hypnotic quality, but caused an ache in her heart.

Gotta finish this up so we can go back to sleeping in our own locked room again.  This just reeks.

Confusion.  Shock.  Heartache.  Sorrow.

This can't be right.  They can't truly want this!

"You expect me to do WHAT?!" Selah shouted. 

The Warrior sneered as he looked down upon even her elezen height.  His polished breastplate gleamed in the light of her torch as her long, sapphire toned coat danced with the evening breeze.  The sky was black with clouds, suggesting that even the moon was fearful of what may come. 

"Your union with Serafine, and the child you now carry, are forbidden!  You will end both!"

With fists balled and brow drawn together, Selah stepped close enough to put her face mere inches from The Warrior's.

"I will not."

His eyes narrowed upon her as a deep and guttural growl warned of danger.

"We gave you power, purpose and eternity, Amani!  The price was to be our champion, to serve our cause and submit to our will!  You will do as we command!"

Was I naught but a fool?  Have I been so blinded by having my beliefs validated, and being granted these powers, that I sold myself into servitude?  And now, to serve, I must lose...

Everything that matters.

Selah caressed her expanding belly, smiling lovingly.  She could feel the gentle rythym of the second heart, and winced at a small, jabbing pain from within as the child kicked.

I wonder, will you look like both of us?  Will your eyes be turquoise?  Will your ears be on top of your head, or on the side?  Will you have your miqo'te mother's tail?

Oh, Serafine...  My beautiful, emerald-eyed knight.  I never thought of having a child.  Never thought it would make me happy, but...  It may not be what I've dreamed of, but it just might be a good life.

I won't let them take it from us!

The gentle glow in Selah's eyes flared in intensity as she grit her teeth.  A staff of red-brown lacquered wood materialized from blue-white swirling light, a brilliantly glowing sapphire orb adorning the top of it.

"I renounce my service to you!" she shouted.  "You will not take away what I hold most dear!"

The Warrior snarled as an axe of shining silver appeared in his hand, teeth like daggers on threatening display.

"We should have known one who was not of our children would be deficient.  You will die for your defiance!"

An angry scream was Selah's only warning before orbs of flame flew from her palm.  The Warrior cleaved through one, and was struck off balance by the second.  Seizing the moment's advantage, aether gathered about the elezen's hand and orb, and was unleashed as a torrent of lighting from the heavens.  The Warrior cunvulsed as the electricity poured over his body, the soil around him now a series of small, singed craters.  Selah gazed upon The Warrior a cold, piercing hatred, and more aether gathered about her.  An inferno poured fourth from her hands, consuming The Warrior's frame and turning it to ash.

Droplets of sweat fell from her brow, eagerly swallowed by the dry, craggy ground.  She allowed herself a satisfied nod as her breath found its resting rythym.

That was...easier than I thought it might be.  Maybe the avatar lost strength in enhancing me.  Who cares, though?  Just glad to be rid of them.

The hairs on Selah's neck stood, as the unmistakable sensation of an unseen presence washed over her.  Gripping the staff, her eyes darted about the sunless landscape, her ears straining to hear anything of aid.  Strands of silver light swirled together before her, becoming a mass that stretched and coalesced into the towering and powerful form of The Warrior.

"Well...damn."

"Amani of the Sapphire Soul!" he bellowed, eyes alive with ire.  "You have betrayed your allegiance and stood against us in battle.  This, we do not forgive...or forget."

The amalj'aa'as form shimmered and exploded into ribbons of aether, illuminating the landscape as they scattered and dissipated.



Panicked and disoriented, Selah rose to her feet as she spun about.  Her heart thundered in her chest, skin sticky with a cold sweat.

Oh.  Right.  Another dream...memory...whatever.

The weight of the lance in her hands finally registered with her conscious mind, and she willed it to return to dormancy.  A slow inhale, a matching exhale, and calm slowly enveloped her.  A smile crossed her lips as she spied Ginal, slumped against the cavern wall and fast asleep.

Oh, Kitten...  You tried to put on the brave front, didn't you?

Selah found a seat by her beloved, and kissed her ear.  Her stomach twisted on itself as the images, sounds and sensations of the dream lingered in her mind.

To think, I was once...okay with being pregnant.  Or at least, it didn't feel so wrong.  But, that's not who I am in this life.  The idea is just...it feels wrong.  Like I'm betraying a part of myself.

Her shoulders drooped as she listened to Ginal's gentle snore.

I really hope it's not something you were counting on, Kitten.  Despite your anatomy, you're still a woman...and women don't sire children with other women.  I hope that part of you is what's dominant...I don't want to disappoint you.  I love you.

The wind continued to howl outside the tunnel, with snow and what looked like sleet pelting the ground with a frozen spite.  Selah retrieved a blanket to drape over Ginal, and sneered at the storm outside.

Coerthas was a verdant place before The Calamity, but at least this is a more accurate depiction of what it's like to live here.  A place that's cold, harsh and unrelenting toward those who don't belong.  I hate this place.  I don't want to spend a minute in Ishgard's borders longer than I have to.

Selah's eyes drifted to the bare legs shown by the slits of Ginal's dress, and allowed a smirk.  Her eyes tailed up the miqo'te's legs, to the bare tummy on display, and passed the tightly fit top that covered Ginal's bust.

I'm not convinced it's a practical outfit, my love, but I'll not deny that you know how to give a good show.  Maybe when this is over you can use this outfit in the dancing shows you always wanted to hold.  Not a man alive could resist throwing his gil at you...

Eyes gleaming with condescending intelligence.  Lips turned in a sardonic grin, framed in a meticulously trimmed goatee.

"Ah, Selah, now that I have eyes to look upon you again, I'm delighted to see how you've retained your beauty...and equally delighted to see how your taste in woman has only developed over time."

Geoffrey, you conniving, malicious bastard.  You keep your eyes off my girl, you hear me?  Or I'll gladly rip them from your sockets!

An explosive sigh, clenched fists, and an incensed snarl followed Selah's thoughts.  She halted her outburst, and shook her head free of the thoughts.  The tension faded from her shoulders as she found a seat by Ginal, a hand running through her own hair.

Grezel, why didn't you bring Ginal a nice, long skirt and a solid breastplate?

I'm getting tired of traveling by night.  I don't care how well I might see, this night-vision of mine washes out the world's color too damn much.  And it's so, FUCKING, cold!

As Peridot jostled beneath her, Ginal rolled her eyes as she noticed how her nipples were prominently on display beneath her top.

The one damn time I'm not turned on.  At least my wonder-bit has taken a queue from the cold.

The winds had stilled, and the sleet ceased to pelt the land, but snowflakes still slowly drifted from the ceaseless clouds above.   The caverns lay behind them, beyond a bend in the road, the jagged mouth no longer visible as the lovers and their mounts made their way down a miles-long slope.

"Where were we headed, again?" Ginal asked of her beloved.

"It's called Whitebrim." Selah answered.  "One of the fortress towns that serve as a border of sorts for the capital city."

"Will they have real food?"

"Mutton, probably."

"And coffee?"

Selah smirked, "Coffee beans wouldn't grow well in this climate.  I imagine it's something imported from Gridania anymore, so don't expect a huge supply available to civilians."

The hyur rolled her shoulders in a shrug, her brow drawn together in apology.  The miqo'te frowned, her shoulders slumped as a pang of disappointment moved through her heart.

"At least tell me we can rent a room with a fireplace and a bath?"

A shrug and a sigh were Selah's answer.  "Ishgardians were never known to be hospitable.  It's probably worse so since the changes of the Calamity."

Ginal's tail flicked in irritation as she returned her attention to the road ahead.  "This land is awful."

"Tell me about it, love.  You're not the only one who needs beauty sleep, and I imagine I've got bags under my eyes that do me no favors."

Offering a playful grin as Selah indicated the purple-black skin under her eyes, Ginal felt her heart sink for a moment.

If she's actually getting concerned for her looks for once, then maybe she's aware of how worn out this journey is making her look...

"I hardly noticed, darling."

"Good save." Selah replied with a wink.

The hardened snow cracked and shattered under the footfall of the chocobos, but were not the only sounds to fill the night.  Ginal strained her ears as the howls of wolves echoed in the distance.  Her gaze drifted in the direction of the noise, but all she saw were trees of dead and barren limbs, and the occasional stone jutting from underneath the snow and ice.

In the distance, a bright twinkling caught Ginal's eye.  As their birds continued to dash down the sloping hill, another twinkling joined the first, and then another.

"Lights!" she called out.  "Sweet Nophica's tits, there are lights in the distance!"

Selah's laughter was obviously in response to her outburst, but the miqo'te didn't feel even the slightest bit of embarrassment.

"At least tell me we can sleep and not fear death?"

"That, at least, even Ishgardians should not begrudge us."

Everheart: Chapter 22

Gods damn, this place is crowded.  You'd almost think there was no reason for these people to be someplace else.  Surely there's glory and fortune to be made outside Mor Dhona.

Pushing her way through the crowds, ducking pantomiming adventurers as they recounted their deeds and shoving past merchants intent on making quotas had left Ginal visibly annoyed.  One such merchant, a miqo'te as well, noticed the anxious flicks of her tail and quickly moved from her path.

Gods, this is ridiculous.  I don't have time to screw around with all of you.

"MAKE.  A.  PATH!" she demanded, her teeth bared for all to see.

Her point was taken, and at least two dozen people were only too happy to oblige the shouting miqo'te with glowing eyes.  With a clear path before her, she broke into a sprint toward the stable ahead.  Stopping to draw in a steadying breath, a quick wave got the stable attendant's attention.

"Hey, you!  Excuse me, I need your best bird!"

"Best?  Hmm..."

The attendant disappeared into the shack for a moment, and emerged leading a chocobo with plumage as green as anything the miqo'te would wear.

"This 'ere is Peridot.  Came to me when 'er master died tryin' to tangle with morbols."

That's so sad...but she's a gorgeous bird.  I wonder if Din would like her?

"Okay, thanks!  How much to rent her for...two weeks?"

"Be 'bout four grand." The stable hand stated.

"Wait, what?  That's robbery!" Ginal's tail flicked in agitation.

I don't have time for this...

"She's me best, like ya asked.  Rare, too, this kinda colorin'.  Figure it's a fair payment for so long a trip."

Shit, shit, shit.  I don't even have two thousand gil on me.  Can I flirt my way out of this?

As Ginal began to turn her lips in a playful pout, she realized there was a purple glow coming from the eye slits in the man's bird mask.

I know that glow...Robimont and Thad looked like that when they attacked us.  Is he being controlled by the avatars, too?

She held the image of her sword in the back of her mind, ready to summon it forth.

"Ah, know what?  Nevah mind, miss." the attendant said, his voice a softer tone than before.  "Starlight season's comin' up, an' ya look in need.  Take Peri, an' just be good to 'er."

The glow faded away, leaving normal eyes staring at her from behind the mask.  Ginal relaxed her hands, and allowed herself to breath again.

So, what?  You trying to help us now, lady?  Gonna take more than that to make up for all you've put us through.

Ginal turned her attention to the bird, who looked upon the miqo'te with caution and unease.

"I know you don't know me, or trust me." Ginal kept her tone as gentle as she could, willing her eyes to express all the sincerity possible.  "But, I need your help.  I have a long journey ahead, with a great distance and greater danger."

Peridot fluttered her wings nervously, offering a noise that was neither a squawk or coo.

"Please...please help me." Ginal begged.

The bird held her head at a tilt, and beak agape.  The two shared a gaze as they stood silent for a moment that felt like both an eternity and an instant.  Peridot closed her beak, and bowed her head, drawing a grateful smile from Ginal.

"Thank you."

"He just gave her to you?"

Ginal nodded as she patted Peridot's beak.  Selah was tying two rolled-up blankets to Dinornis' saddle, as the sky-blue bird idly nosed about in the wildflowers at their feet.  The miqo'te looked back at the stone gate behind them, the raucous activity of the city it guarded little more than a whisper at this range.  

Selah recognized the drooping ears and tail, at odds with her tall and confident posture.  Ginal was trying to push herself past sorrowful thoughts, forcing herself to stand tall and strong.  She also knew it wasn't that easy for Ginal, that her emotions were formidable and enduring.

Oh, Kitten, what's so heavy in your heart?  Foreboding thoughts of the battle ahead?

A gentle caress was enough to stir the miqo'te from her reverie, the hyur's expression concerned and questioning.  Her hands lovingly slid from Ginal's cheeks to her shoulders, eliciting a brief purr.

"Yeah, but I think it was that lady, avatar--whatever.  His eyes started glowing that purple color, like when Robimont and Thad came to fight us.  I'm thinking she--they, were trying to help us."  An explosive sigh erupted forth, "Dammit, how do I refer to her?  Them?  Ugh."

"I suppose it's all semantics, as long as we know who we're talking about." Selah answered.  "I'd just as soon refer to them as 'Those-assholes-who-don't-bother-us-anymore' myself."

"Oh, I got us some jerky and coffee." Ginal explained, indicating a cloth pouch and two canisters attached to Peridot's saddle.  Selah nodded as she approached Peridot and slowly reached a hand out, allowing the bird a moment to examine her.  Peridot cooed and allowed herself to be petted by the hyur.

"She is lovely." Selah offered.  "Suits you, I think."

With an irritated stomp, Dinornis butted his head against Selah's, inciting an annoyed glare from her.

"The hells was that for, Din?"

He squawked and fluttered his wings, then nudged Selah's hand away from Peridot.  Selah looked between the birds, and her confused expression slowly changed into that of amusement.

"Why, Din, are you jealous?"

Ginal giggled, "Aww, he is!  He's used to being the only bird."

Selah caressed Dinornis' face, offering an understanding smile.  "I know, Din, but this time we're under a time limit.  We can't risk wearing you out by carrying two, you know?"

The sky-blue chocobo peered into Selah's eyes, then turned his attention to Peridot.  Taking tentative steps closer, he eyed the female, who met his gaze.  Dinornis fluttered his wings and stomped his feet, cawing harshly.  Peridot only stared, and after a moment had passed, Dinornis repeated himself, this time his cawing sounded positively domineering.

You bastard of a bird, are you trying to put the female down?

Selah could only frown at the display.

Peridot craned her neck as she seemed to be searching over the other bird, and suddenly lunged, ramming her head into Dinornins and knocking him back.  Peridot drew herself up, stomping and cawing, and lunged again, this time kicking at Dinornis.

"Shit--Peri, no!" Ginal cried.

"Din, heel!"

Dinornis fluttered his wings, mouth opening and closing rapidly as his chest heaved with anxious breaths.  The two birds stared at each other for a long moment, until finally, Dinornis stepped forward and offered a friendly toned chirp, which Peridot reciprocated.

"Well...kind of reminds you of us, doesn't it?" Ginal said, grinning playfully.  "First comes the ass-kicking, then comes the undying love."

Wouldn't that be funny?  Ginal always did love chocobo chicks.

Hand-in-hand, the pair shared a moment in the relative silence.  The longer Selah gazed into Ginal's eyes, the greater the yearning in her heart burned, and yet, the calmer she became.  It was blissfully contradictory, and almost overwhelming.

This is what I have to live for.  There's no way in all the hells I'm letting anyone, or anything take this from me now.

Selah wrapped her arms around her beloved and gently joined her lips to Ginal's, and though she very much enjoyed the affectionate exchange, she slowly pulled away before Ginal became lost to moment.  Ginal purred as she slowly opened her eyes.  Her hand protectively covered her crotch as she glanced around with cheeks glowing pink, a small tent noticeable in her dress as she stood.

Guess I'm a better kisser than I thought.  

"You haven't blushed like that in a while." Selah commented, trying not to smirk.

She's always adorable when she blushes like that.

"Guess I'm feeling a little self-conscious..."

"It's cute, but don't be."

A trio of adventurers, clad in tattered and tarnished miss-matched pieces of armored plates or flowing linen robes, strolled past, toward the town.  The roegadyn among them seemed to notice Ginal's hand as she shot a questioning glance.

"The hells'm I lookin' at?" the near-colossal woman asked.

Ginal was clearly caught off guard, and turned away in a flustered panick.  Selah's brows drew together as she positioned herself between them, glaring at the taller woman.

"What of it?" the hyur demanded.

Bewilderment shaped the expression on the roegadyn's face, and fear crept onto her features as she looked into the brilliant glow of Selah's eyes.  Finally, she drew the hood of her robe up and stepped quickly to catch up to her companions.

You're damn right, there's nothing to see.

Selah took Ginal's hand and offered a gentle caress of her cheek.  Her heart sank at the sight of Ginal's embarrassment, yet still a seething rose within at the idea that so much as a rude stare or unkind word was all it took to shake her beloved's confidence.

"Ginal...for the rest of our lives together, you will never have anything to fear from anyone.  You're stronger than you realize...but in any moment that your strength should falter, I'll be here to give you mine."

A silent nod, a slight but heartfelt smile, and a slow inhale as she blinked away the pooling tears.  Within a moment, Ginal was steady, her posture confident and her expression playful.  She leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to Selah's cheek.

The hyur smiled warmly and pulled two simple cloaks from Dinornis' saddle, handing one over to Ginal.  "Coerthas is cold beyond reason.  We'll need these.  The miqo'te readily agreed as she pulled hers over her outfit.

"Come on, Kitten, let's go kick some ass."

The transition from mid-morning to night was gradual and deliberate, comforting for Ginal in its consistency.  The transition from Mr Dhona's mossy rocks and towering, warm crystals to the endless blanket of white powder and barren trees of the Coerthas Higlands, however, was sudden and disorienting.

Though rare for the elementals of the Twelveswood to allow snow into their domain, Ginal was familiar enough with it to know what it looked like.  What was alien, though, was seeing so much piled so high, and stretching on so endlessly.  Even the roads were barely visible, despite what Ginal knew about people still traversing them for trade and military purposes.

Gods damn, it's cold here!  Why does anyone live in this place if this is what it's always like, now?

"Wishing for warmer clothes, Kitten?" Selah remarked.  "Your taste in fashion finally betrays you."

Even in the near-dark of nightfall, Ginal could see the smirk on Selah's face.

"If nothing else, I'll meet the Matron looking better than anyone else who's ever died.  At least this cloak should keep me warm enough to stay alive."

Ginal glanced about the landscape, the sharp gray filter her natural night-vision cast onto the world in the dark of night a welcome addition on this journey.  The trees were largely barren and skeletal, the mountains sharp and angry as they protruded from the endless white carpet.  Her ears twitched sharply in response to growling in the distance, and she turned to see a trio of  wolves ripping apart the corpse of some unfortunate creature.

Nature sure isn't always pretty.

In the immediate distance, a trio of small lights inched along the road, which Ginal identified as three lanky elezen soldiers carrying lanterns.  Their chain-link armor rustled with their steady steps as it sat over their woolen coats, each of them brandishing swords in the hands not carrying lanterns.  The trio turned to identify the noise of the chocobo's plodding along the road, assuming a loose formation and battle-ready posture.

"You there!  Identify yourself!" called the center one, an older man with a gray mustache and features taken by wrinkles.

Selah and Ginal pulled the reins to slow their birds and stopped with a small gap between them and the soldiers.  The lovers slowly raised their hands as the soldiers approached, and Ginal was positive she saw Selah rolling her eyes.

Be glad elezen can't see in the dark.

"Evening, sirs." Selah greeted.  "My name is Selah, and this is Ginal.  Can you point us toward Whitebrim?"

"Selah?" inquired one of the soldiers, a woman with an almost gravelly voice.  "By Halone, it's been more than a decade.  I thought you dead for sure!  It's me, Ettoinette!"  The woman soldier hesitated suddenly, "By The Fury, your eyes!"

Selah shook her head, "Nothing nefarious, I promise.  If you're worried I'm in league with dragons, I haven't even been through the Highlands in years, as you've noticed."

The woman solider seemed to consider this for a moment, then stepped forward, sheathing her weapon and offering the hyur an affectionate hug.  Ginal realized she never appreciated how tall elezen typically were, as the woman soldier only had to stretch herself up slightly.  Selah was clearly surprised, but accepted the gesture with a smile.  Ginal's ears twitched, and she fought back the urge to bare her canines.

Cool it, girl.  Just an old friend, I'm sure.

Ginal forced herself to draw in a slow breath, and release it.

Damn, I'm a jealous bitch.

"You never were one for tradition or politics, Sel.  I know you never cared one way or the other about dragons or the war.  But still, it might be interesting to know the tale behind those eyes.  Either way, it's good to see you, Sel."

"It's great to see you again, Ette." Selah offered a warm smile.  "I hope the service isn't taxing you too much."

Ettoiette shrugged, "Everyone's gotta do their part these days.  Cold's killing of the livestock, and the dragons and heretics've been even more aggressive the last few weeks.  I think the only Ishgardians who still sleep are those living it up in the Holy See."

The elezen men present scoffed and muttered their agreement.  Another thing Ginal found alien, to see soldiers so clearly in contempt of their own kin.

We'd never let it get that way in The Shroud, no matter how bad things are.

"Anyway, Sel, what in the hells are you headed to Whitebrim for?  Nothing out that way save the Stone Vigil, and that damn place is changing ownership too often these days."

"What do you mean?" Selah inquired.

 Ettoinette drew in a breath, "Well, Warrior of Light stormed in and killed the brood that had claimed it.  Then we sent in some troops to start clean-up, an' another brood of dragons barged in to take it back.  Been a damn bloody mess."

"You wouldn't happen to have heard something about some group of metal monsters headed that way, would you?" Ginal inquired.

The soldiers shuddered, and Ginal knew it wasn't the cold.

"Oh yeah, saw them at a distance ourselves just a day or two ago." Ettoinette answered.  "Never seen anything like it, and hope to The Fury I never do again.  I'm willin' to bet those things could terrorize even the dragons."

"Well, damn." Selah muttered.

"What is it, Sel?"

"Nothing.  I was just hoping it was a bad dream."

With curiosity plain in her eyes, Ettoinette glanced between the lovers.  "Well, judging by your earlier question, I'll guess those monstrosities are headed for Whitebrim.  It should be, ah..."

Ettoinette looked to the stars for a moment, then glanced at the road ahead.

"Yeah, head that way." she indicated with her finger.  "You'll cross a bridge into the Boulder Downs.  Keep on the road, unless you wanna tangle with the gigas clan out there.  The road'll split, the left'll take you to one of our garrisons, the right'll take you through a long cave, which is where you wanna be.  Follow the road, and stay left on the next fork, and you'll see Whitebrim eventually.  Total trip should be, I don't know...three or four days, if your birds are swift enough."

The glint in Selah's eye spoke of returning memory, the enthusiastic nodding suggesting she knew where to go.

"Great.  Thanks so much, Ette."

"Sleep during the day, if you can." Ettoinette advised.  "You get colder when you sleep, and it's already colder than a wet dragon's arsehole at night."

Ginal couldn't help but grin at the colloquialism, and forced back the snicker that threatened to erupt.

The elezen hesitated, one corner of her lips turned up.  "Sel...if you can wait a day of two, we can probably get a platoon of our troops to go with you."

"No."  Selah firmly stated.

"A lot of people have already been caught up in this mess." Ginal explained.  "Good people have been hurt...or killed.  We'll see no more harm done.  We can do it ourselves."

Hands raised in surrender, Ettoinette shrugged.  "I hope you're ready for...whatever you're facing."

"So do I." Selah snorted.

Selah directed her bird forward, and as Ginal urged her own to follow, she saw Ettoinette mouthing silently.

"Take care of her."

A smile, true and loving formed on the miqo'te's lips.

"For the rest of my life." she whispered, knowing the elezen should hear it.