Everheart: Chapter 20

Even in the onset of winter, Thanalan was Thanalan, and the great waterfall that fed into the region of The Goblet held a humidity in the air that threatened to suffocate the denizens of the place.

Still, rhe residents of a few homes here and there had hung glittery garlands and strings of magicked, multi-colored lights to herald the coming of the Starlight season, and Ginal couldn't be happier.  The lovers strolled by a grand mansion, tall and wide of build with a sprawling yard to match, and found its owners were getting an early start on the festivities.  Two towering evergreens bordered the mansion's doors, both wrapped in strands of lights, silver-blue garlands and glass-blown ornamental balls.  The mansion itself was decorated with a grand string of matching silver-blue lights bordered along the edges of the roof.

There was a look of wonder and merriment that Selah could see in Ginal's eyes, beyond the aetherial glow, that melted her heart.  The miqo'te stopped in her tracks to gaze in awe, a moment the hyur seized to hold her lover close and kiss at her ears.

That's what makes this all worthwhile, I think.  Just think if we had our own home to have these kinds of moments in.

Arriving home, though, didn't feel as relieving as the hyur had hoped.  She noticed an immediate hesitation in Ginal as they approached their free company's sizable manor, to which she offered a smile and a squeeze of the hand.  Standing at the edge of the manor yard, they found Miku watering budding plants in the garden.

"Hey, Miku!" Selah cheerily called.  "Good to see you again!"

Miku stood in silence as her tail sharply flicked.  With a hateful gaze narrowed upon Ginal, she tossed the watering can into the garden and stalked off into the manor.

This might complicate things...

The sense of remorse radiating from Ginal was palpable.  Gaze turned down, ears folded in and tail hanging limp, she backed away from the yard.

"I think I...I'll just head to the city, and..."

Selah recognized the cracking in her beloved's voice, and immediately felt her heart sink.  After everything Ginal had been through, now she has to face the ire of those who choose to not forgive her.

They don't get to beat you, no way in all hells.

The embrace was protective and supporting, the kiss--passionate and loving.  It was easy to lift Ginal's spirits, just make her feel wanted and loved.

"No matter what they say, or do, I'm right here." Selah urged.  

Selah could feel the tension melt away from Ginal's muscles, and understood that the tears rolling off her cheeks were a necessary release.

"I love you, Selah."

"And I love you, Ginal."

Never again will that be in doubt.  Never again will we face this world alone.

Shit.  I agreed to wear a dress at our bonding.

You never realize how wonderful a hot bath is until you go for weeks without one.  Gods, this is as good as sex.  Not that I don't still want the other one.  Gods, damn, it's been a month!

Ginal lay back against the wall of the large tub, steam steadily rising from the water's surface.  Sweat beaded on her brow from the heat, and she poured water over her head to rinse it away.  She turned herself to lay her face on the tub's side, legs curled underneath as she purred to herself.

The people might be asses, but at least I've got this to come home to.  Maybe Selah's right.  I'm not that bad, am I?  At least I try to take responsibility for my fuck-ups.

Hands, calloused yet soft, gently moved along her back, and she smelled the almond-hempen soap as trails of lather were left along her.  She cooed as the hands wandered to her shoulders, then down her arms.  Lips pressed against her neck, and a hand squeezed at her rear.

"Not interested." she stated, unable to force the grin from her lips.

"I know that's a lie." Selah replied.  "You were ready to throw me to the ground back at the Highbridge."

I never was good at playing hard to get.

"Let me check my schedule, maybe I can make room for you."

Oh, gods, I need you...

Selah's hand wrapped around the base of Ginal's tail, rubbing gently.  "I think you can make some time."

A hand slid between Ginal's legs, and she knew she was Selah's.

Gonna need another bath.  You can smell it on us.

Selah kissed her sleeping lover's ears, content in the moment to watch the rise and fall of her chest.

And such a lovely little chest it is.  And hips...and backside...and face...  Gods if she doesn't do things to me.

The hyur was sore in places she wouldn't mention in polite company, and found herself hoping that this time Ginal wouldn't wake up wanting more.

Not damn likely, though.  Girl's damn near insatiable.  I mean, it's good and all, but...  Sometimes I'd just like to talk and cuddle.

With a slow sigh, she traced her finger along the miqo'te's leg.

But I wonder, what must it be like for her?  To have this burning need inside that's so powerful she just can't fight it.  To spend her day, as I know she does, lusting and craving.  Is she really so desperate to touch and be touched?  Anxiously aware of each tiny moment that leads to the bliss of release?

If that's what it is to be her...it must be a torment unto itself.

We can find a way to compromise.

An overwhelming sensation of another presence overtook Selah, and suddenly wind violently tore through their quarters.  The currents tore books from their shelves and knocked potted plants over, and Ginal leaped to her feet at the commotion, disoriented but alert.

"What in the hells?!" Ginal cried.

Streams of gold-white aether began to circle around each other, combining and expanding to take shape.  Arms and legs formed from the central mass, and the figure was heads taller than even Selah.  At last, the light faded away, and The Lady stood before the two with eyes aglow with brilliant gold.  Her thin white gown fell over her curves to create an image both stunningly beautiful, and inexplicably unreal.

"And you are...?" Selah inquired.

"That's her!" Ginal shouted, her tail and ears flicking in agitation.  "She's the one who killed us!"

Images, sounds, and sensations crashed over Selah.  An elezen woman in a stunning white dress.  A sword through the gut, the pain biting her from within and without.  The loss of that second heartbeat, and knowing her child had left the world before even entering.

Selah's fists trembled as the glow in her eyes intensified, and blue-white aether in her hands formed into her lance.

"Hold." The Lady commanded, her voice sternly resonating throughout the room.  "We did not come to kill."

Would that I could believe you.

The hyur glanced back at her lover, and found her brandishing her weapon as well, and was l startled to see emerald flames had erupted in Ginal's eyes.

"Get on with it..." Ginal growled.

Easy, Kitten...

"We see that you have begun to remember, who you were and who you are."

"I remember that you killed us, and our child!" Ginal snarled.

"We did," The Lady agreed.  "Do you remember why?"

The Warrior was at least two heads taller than Selah, and possibly more.  The way his gaze pierced hers was unsettling, and the almost predatory grin on his lips implied he held knowledge she did not.

"For years, Amani, you have tried to educate your kin about our childrens' histories and ways.   To dissuade their trespasses into our childrens' homelands...and we have taken notice." his voice rumbled.

"If you mean the beast tribes, then Eorzea is as much their home as it is ours.  I have thought my fellows could benefit from a little educating...and what do you mean by 'we?'"

Selah blinked rapidly and shook herself free of the disorientation.

"There was another like you!  An amalj'aa clad in shining steel!"

The Lady nodded, her golden eyes peering into Selah's soul.

"That would be the representation of the dark ones.  What you call Primals."

Ginal willed her weapon away and approached, the flames in her eyes had cooled and gone.  Her ears twitched with what Selah knew was curiosity, a look of revelation on her face.

"You're a...an avatar.  Some magical construct, that represents the gods!"

"We are."

"And you came to me, in The Shroud, and...you gave me powers!"

It was the most ridiculous thing Selah had ever heard, if only because she didn't even believe in the gods.  Yet...it was alarmingly familiar, like a memory.

"You've had something to do with all this, haven't you?" Selah inquired.  "These visions, Geoffrey's plea, even the way Robimont and Thadthadius attacked us."

"Yes, we have been responsible."

"Then what in the hells do you want from us?!" Ginal demanded.  "And why should we even care?  Leave us alone!"

The Lady solemnly lowered her head, shoulders drooping in a defeated gesture.

"We are here, because we need your help.  The other avatar, of the dark ones, has given of their power to Geoffrey, and--"

"Not interested." Ginal proclaimed, turning her back.

"Geoffrey has become a monster, a living soul bound to a nigh-invulnerable body of metal and magic.  He is poised to rampage in his new form, and Eorzea will suffer for it."

"So of course you come back to your favorite pawns to fix the problems you caused." Selah snapped.  "Do it your own damn self.  Selves.  Whatever."

The hyur finally realized her fists were trembling.

I guess this is what Ginal feels like sometimes.

"Your friends may die." The Lady stated.

"They'll die on their feet." Ginal answered, her fists clenched and tail wildly flicking.

A sigh, long and remorseful, escaped The Lady.

"There are none who can stand before this shadow and live, save for you.  Others may be able to eventually secure a victory, but it would cost many lives and much pain."

Selah waved her hand dismissively, "Call on that Warrior of Light I've heard so much about.  They out to be able to set things right."

The Lady looked upon Ginal and Selah with sincere desperation in her eyes.

"Were that an option, we would have.  The Warrior of Light is called to an equally important duty.  As it stands, the two of you are the only ones who can lead the charge against this darkness."

"But, WHY?!" Ginal plead.  "Why me, why Selah?  Can't you just leave us alone?"

The miqo'te felll onto their bed, clutching the sheets as she cried.  Selah cradled her reassuringly, eyes narrowed upon The Lady contemptuously.

"Because, a very long time ago, we made you more than mortal.  That is why your eyes glow, and you can summon weapons from the aether.  It is why you have faced wounds that should have killed you, only to mend.  And it is why you know you have loved before."

"What do you want from us?" Selah asked.

"We would ask you to set our mistakes and our arrogance right.  In return, we would free you of our meddling, leave you to your destinies."

Silence and contemplation permeated the room.  Selah knew by her beloved's slow inhales that her scent was calming the miqo'te, as Ginal's was reassuring the hyur.

"Throw in your blessings on eternity bands like from past eras and we'll listen." Ginal stated.

"Let me make something clear," Selah explained "We're not doing this for you or Eorzea."

It was about the only way to make a show of defiance, but the sentiment was heartfelt all the same.  All they wanted was to be left alone to live and love.  But then, that seemed to be the very problem.  By some arbitrary decision, Ginal and Selah weren't even supposed to love each other, and choosing to act on their feelings is what started this whole damn thing.

How do you explain things like this?  That, somehow, you've lived before and have been reincarnated.  That you've had gods of men and beasts watching over you, toying with you and manipulating those around you?  That your entire life has been treated as a game, and bad things happen to those around you simply by associating.

And now there's a monster on the loose, empowered and twisted by the influence of said gods.  A monster who can't decide if he wants to dominate or destroy, and whose every action somehow centers around how he's the ex-husband of your fiance.

Or are they still legally bonded?  Gods, this shit gives me a headache.  I almost want to ask Selah to run away with me across the seas...but we can't just abandon Eorzea.

I had wondered, sometimes, why Selah chose to live without the gods.  If this is how they treat their children for merely wanting to love who they love, though, then I can't find any criticism for my beloved.

Ginal meandered toward Elysande's quarters, wanting to explain that, yet again, she and Selah had to leave for gods know how long, to take care of something important that only they can do.  If only there was a way to explain this mess that didn't make Ginal want to scream and break things.

As the miqo'te reached to knock at the door, her ears twitched at raised voices.  Curiosity overtook her, and put her ear to the door.

"It's like an Imperial Vanguard, but bigger, and strong as all hells." Kraio informed.  "Tore a hole through the walls of Revenant's Toll, and headed west for the Imperial fortress that connects to the Thanalan region."

"Anyone try to stop it?" Elysande asked.

"I heard a handful of adventurers tried, but were swatted aside.  Two dead, and the damn thing wasn't even phased."

"Well...shit.  Doesn't bode well, huh?"

That was all Ginal needed to know.  Getting anyone else involved would only get them killed, and there was enough on Ginal's conscience for one life.  They had to go, and now.

Ginal allowed herself a grin as the flames burned in her eyes.

When we find this son of a bitch, there's no holding back.  I'm gong to rip him apart, and teach him to rue the day he ever touched my girl.