I wanted to try something new besides Harvest Moon fanfics, so here is my first Final Fantasy fanfic (With one of my favorite pairings!). By the way, I have a goal of twenty flames for this story, like I usually do with new fanfics. So all of you flamers, have fun!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Final Fantasy games, or any of its characters.

Enjoy!

Love's Sanctum

Prologue

At one time she had been with him. Traveling alongside him, day by day. She heard his voice many times. She sensed his presence at every moment he was there. But now… all of it was gone.

Rydia stared blankly at the ceiling of her room in the Land of Eidolons, her emotions almost drowning her sanity. She couldn't take it anymore. This empty feeling… she knew it was because of him. Her mind traveled back to the day of Cecil's and Rosa's wedding. He seemed to avoid her gaze, and he seemed to just disappear whenever she was about to walk over to him. Why was he trying to avoid her so much…?

"What did I do to him to make him hate me so…?" Rydia wondered aloud, still confused at her concern over him. She didn't know what to make of it. Why would her mind never wander away from him? Why had she been so conscious of him that day? Most importantly, why did she feel so terrible when he wasn't near? He was a jerk. A conceited, stubborn, bragging, annoying, handsome, strong…

Rydia shook her head. What the heck made her think those last two things? Maybe one of her friends was messing with her head. Her thoughts kept racing. Maybe it was just her own mind after all. Who knows?

Her mind traveled back to the times when everyone still was traveling together, trying to save the world. She remembered when she had first met him, in the Cave of Eblan. He had fought with and had been badly injured by Rubicante. Everyone had rushed over to see if he was okay. Apparently he shared a common enemy. He sounded like he just wanted to throw everything away just to destroy Rubicante. Rydia remembered very clearly, that day. She had to say what was on her mind, tears welling up in her eyes and falling from her cheeks the whole time she talked. She remembered how he seemed to become so concerned at that point, and a little guilty. He had called her pretty… and her heart had thumped involuntarily loud. Why, she had wondered, did her heart just seem to jump? After that, everything had seemed to change for her.

Rydia noticed she started to become more conscious of herself around him. She started to think of him more, and not know why. He seemed to…change her. How he did, though, she still didn't know.

Her mind wandered further, into smaller parts of her past. Every once in a while, his snide remarks got on her nerves. She remembered a few of the arguments, and even wished that she could be with him just to argue. As long as he was near, she'd go through nearly anything, even his incessant bragging, so long as she could hear his voice and see him.

'But why…?' Rydia wondered. Why was it she wanted to see him, and only him? 'Maybe I want to see everyone else, too. Maybe I just don't realize it for some reason.' She absentmindedly played with a strand of her hair, deep in thought. 'I need to see everyone. More importantly, I need to see him.' She stood and walked out of her room, heading for the throne room where Asura and Leviathan were.

A few moments later she arrived. Asura, a beautiful woman who was like Rydia's mother, looked over at Rydia and smiled gently. " Hello." She paused and looked Rydia over, frowning. "What is it, Rydia? You seem troubled."

Rydia looked up at her queen, her bright eyes filled with confidence. "I want to go back to the surface world for a while."

Asura's expression faded into sadness. "Oh, Rydia… what makes you want to leave so suddenly?"

"I am just going to visit a few of my friends for a while. I'll come back after a few days. If you permit me to leave, that is."

Asura looked over at Leviathan, who was currently disguised as an old man, her eyes questioning. Leviathan nodded, and Asura turned back to Rydia. "Very well. We'll all miss you. Come back safely."

"Thank you, my queen." Rydia bowed a little and left the room, sighing as soon as she was outside. She had made her decision, and she wasn't about to turn back. Maybe visiting Rosa and Cecil would calm her nerves before she went to see him.

She grabbed a few things she might need from her room and then started towards the portal that led out into the Underworld. Just before she entered the portal, Rydia looked up. "Edge…" Her heart jumped slightly when she said his name. "I'm coming. Will you wait for me?"

Yeah, I know my third-person point of view isn't the best... But hey, I haven't typed in third-person POV in a long time. Anyway... I hope the fic was okay...