This story takes place when Auron is 25, right before he goes on the pilgrimage with Jecht and Braska. It explores Auron's refusal of the High Priest's daughter and how that whole situation came about. Romance with another woman to come into play in Chapter 3...the whole story should be 6 chapters long. Hope you enjoy it! Please R/R. Thx!
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Chapter 1: For Duty's Sake
Auron stood uncomfortably while High Priest Grevin walked around the young warrior monk, raking him with his piercing eyes. He had no idea why the High Priest would summon him to the temple and had less idea why the older man would survey him from head to toe as if he were a chocobo for sale. His hands unconsciously smoothed over the blue-trimmed ivory robes he wore.
"You are a devout man, are you not," the High Priest said finally, as he came around to face Auron. It wasn't really a question. Auron just nodded. "And you are a strong, skilled warrior," Grevin continued. Auron hesitated briefly, then nodded again. He had spent the majority of his life mastering the deadly weapon he carried. High Priest Grevin knew this. Auron wished he would get to the point of this meeting. He had told Xavier that he would meet him later this morning for a friendly round of sparring. Xavier was only visiting Bevelle for a few days and Auron did not want to miss out on seeing his old friend.
Grevin folded his arms across his chest and looked Auron straight in the eye. "I have known you all your life," he said, "and despite adversity and personal tragedy, you have always shown exemplary character and faith. For these reasons, among others, I have decided to honor you with my daughter's hand in marriage."
Auron felt his heart drop and could not hide the expression of shock and surprise that crossed his face. Marriage? To his daughter? This was the last thing he expected High Priest Grevin to say. And the last thing he wanted to hear. Tashira was spoiled and arrogant, used to always getting her way. She was attractive enough, but spoke with either a coy lilt or a petulant whine, depending on her mood. Auron could not imagine sharing his life with her. Was there no way out of this? Perhaps there was hope if Tashira did not want this match either.
"Your reverence," he said, respectfully, recovering his poise, "I am honored indeed that you would consider me worthy to wed your daughter. But may I ask how she feels about this union?"
"Do not worry that she is unwilling. It is she who suggested you," Grevin told him. "I thank Yevon that my daughter had the wit to make an intelligent choice and I did not have to disappoint her with my refusal." The unspoken warning was clear...Auron had better not disappoint her, either.
Damn! What was he supposed to do now? He couldn't just refuse Tashira's hand outright. It was an honor to be chosen as her husband and speculation had been flying fast and furious across the city recently as to who would be chosen for Tashira as she had finally reached marriageable age. It would unthinkable to turn her down. He was duty-bound to accept and Auron took his duties seriously. But how could he settle down with a wife with Sin plaguing the world? His years of training to become one of the most skilled warriors in Bevelle were not undertaken to protect only his family, but all of Spira. But if Yevon sought to place him upon this path, he could not fight it.
With resignation Auron asked, "When do you wish the wedding to take place, your reverence?"
Grevin flashed a brief smile. "Tashira would like to hold the marriage two months from now. I will make the formal announcement at weeks' end. In the meantime, I suggest you find Tashira and give her the good news. She is waiting for you in the garden behind the temple." With this, Grevin turned and went back to his desk, an obvious dismissal.
Numbly, Auron bowed his head and his hands sketched out Yevon's prayer automatically as he stepped backwards out of the room. As soon as he had crossed the threshold, he turned and strode quickly out of the temple, his thoughts in turmoil. A glance at the sun told him he still had time before he was supposed to meet Xavier, so he mentally braced himself to face Tashira. Walking back to the gardens, he spotted her sitting at the edge of the fountain. She was wearing a soft green gown that hugged her lush curves, and she had let her long mahogany hair fall gracefully down her back. As she looked up and spotted Auron coming towards her, a smug smile flitted across her rose-stained lips and she rose gracefully to her feet. As he approached her, he inwardly sighed at the obvious artifice she displayed.
"Hello," she purred. "Did you meet with my father?" She lowered her head only so she could peek up at him coyly through her thick lashes and she gently laid her hand on his left arm. Auron glanced down briefly at her touch and idly wondered if there was a book somewhere girls read that gave them step-by-step instructions on how to flirt. He knew a lot of men would find Tashira's flirtation flattering, but she stirred nothing in him but an impatience to leave.
"Yes, your father spoke to me," he said shortly, unable to keep irritation out of his voice. "Why in the world did you tell your father that you wanted to marry me?"
Tashira was a bit taken aback by Auron's abrupt question. She removed her hand from his arm and nervously fiddled with the jade necklace around her throat. His russet eyes held no warmth as they looked at her and his lips were set in a grim line. This was not going according to her plan. Perhaps she needed to employ more of her feminine wiles. Placing both of her hands on his broad shoulders, she stepped in close to him.
"I want you, Auron," she breathed huskily, "Is that so hard to understand?" Standing on tiptoe, she slid her hands up behind his neck and lifted her face for his kiss. Auron was not cooperating, however. He grabbed her wrists and disengaged from her grip. Taking a step back, he let her go and continued to gaze at her, an inscrutable look on his face. For a moment, fury lit Tashira's emerald green eyes and she barely retrained an overwhelming urge to slap him.
"You want to marry me only because you want to seduce me?" Auron asked, raising an eyebrow. "Since when do I have to pay the price of marriage to engage in sex?" He saw her clench her fists to her sides and he regretted his harsh words, but a part of him couldn't let go of the hope that if he angered her enough, she would call of the wedding.
Tashira bridled her rage. She was determined to snare Auron as her husband and couldn't expect him to warm up to the idea if she immediately treated him to a display of her shrewish tendencies. The fact that he resisted only presented a challenge, not an obstacle. She had no doubts that he could resist her for long.
Gracing him with a dazzling smile that held not one ounce of warmth in it, Tashira reached out to take his hand in hers. "Of course that is not the only reason I want to marry you," she simpered, "There are many reasons why I want you as my husband. I understand you are surprised by this revelation, but once it has sunk in, I hope you will be quick to share with me your happiness of our union."
Auron closed his eyes for a brief moment. He felt trapped and he hated it. Duty was not going to let him off the hook unless a miracle happened. Opening his eyes, he offered Tashira an apology. "I am sorry for my behavior. You are right about my surprise...I was still assimilating what your father had told me and then you unexpectedly showed me your, ah, enthusiasm for our marriage. I did not mean to seem unappreciative." He leaned in and quickly kissed her forehead and pulled his hand from her grasp. "I must meet Xavier now," he continued, "I beg your leave."
Tashira frowned slightly but nodded. His lack of enthusiasm was disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. Auron had always been too serious by half. That was part of his allure...she wanted to be the one to get past his cool veneer and spark his emotions. So far, she had not succeeded, but time was on her side. Let him go off to meet his childhood friend; he would be hers soon enough.
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Well, we all know she doesn't succeed in snaring him! What could drive Auron to forsake his duty? More chapters to follow soon, I promise!
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Chapter 1: For Duty's Sake
Auron stood uncomfortably while High Priest Grevin walked around the young warrior monk, raking him with his piercing eyes. He had no idea why the High Priest would summon him to the temple and had less idea why the older man would survey him from head to toe as if he were a chocobo for sale. His hands unconsciously smoothed over the blue-trimmed ivory robes he wore.
"You are a devout man, are you not," the High Priest said finally, as he came around to face Auron. It wasn't really a question. Auron just nodded. "And you are a strong, skilled warrior," Grevin continued. Auron hesitated briefly, then nodded again. He had spent the majority of his life mastering the deadly weapon he carried. High Priest Grevin knew this. Auron wished he would get to the point of this meeting. He had told Xavier that he would meet him later this morning for a friendly round of sparring. Xavier was only visiting Bevelle for a few days and Auron did not want to miss out on seeing his old friend.
Grevin folded his arms across his chest and looked Auron straight in the eye. "I have known you all your life," he said, "and despite adversity and personal tragedy, you have always shown exemplary character and faith. For these reasons, among others, I have decided to honor you with my daughter's hand in marriage."
Auron felt his heart drop and could not hide the expression of shock and surprise that crossed his face. Marriage? To his daughter? This was the last thing he expected High Priest Grevin to say. And the last thing he wanted to hear. Tashira was spoiled and arrogant, used to always getting her way. She was attractive enough, but spoke with either a coy lilt or a petulant whine, depending on her mood. Auron could not imagine sharing his life with her. Was there no way out of this? Perhaps there was hope if Tashira did not want this match either.
"Your reverence," he said, respectfully, recovering his poise, "I am honored indeed that you would consider me worthy to wed your daughter. But may I ask how she feels about this union?"
"Do not worry that she is unwilling. It is she who suggested you," Grevin told him. "I thank Yevon that my daughter had the wit to make an intelligent choice and I did not have to disappoint her with my refusal." The unspoken warning was clear...Auron had better not disappoint her, either.
Damn! What was he supposed to do now? He couldn't just refuse Tashira's hand outright. It was an honor to be chosen as her husband and speculation had been flying fast and furious across the city recently as to who would be chosen for Tashira as she had finally reached marriageable age. It would unthinkable to turn her down. He was duty-bound to accept and Auron took his duties seriously. But how could he settle down with a wife with Sin plaguing the world? His years of training to become one of the most skilled warriors in Bevelle were not undertaken to protect only his family, but all of Spira. But if Yevon sought to place him upon this path, he could not fight it.
With resignation Auron asked, "When do you wish the wedding to take place, your reverence?"
Grevin flashed a brief smile. "Tashira would like to hold the marriage two months from now. I will make the formal announcement at weeks' end. In the meantime, I suggest you find Tashira and give her the good news. She is waiting for you in the garden behind the temple." With this, Grevin turned and went back to his desk, an obvious dismissal.
Numbly, Auron bowed his head and his hands sketched out Yevon's prayer automatically as he stepped backwards out of the room. As soon as he had crossed the threshold, he turned and strode quickly out of the temple, his thoughts in turmoil. A glance at the sun told him he still had time before he was supposed to meet Xavier, so he mentally braced himself to face Tashira. Walking back to the gardens, he spotted her sitting at the edge of the fountain. She was wearing a soft green gown that hugged her lush curves, and she had let her long mahogany hair fall gracefully down her back. As she looked up and spotted Auron coming towards her, a smug smile flitted across her rose-stained lips and she rose gracefully to her feet. As he approached her, he inwardly sighed at the obvious artifice she displayed.
"Hello," she purred. "Did you meet with my father?" She lowered her head only so she could peek up at him coyly through her thick lashes and she gently laid her hand on his left arm. Auron glanced down briefly at her touch and idly wondered if there was a book somewhere girls read that gave them step-by-step instructions on how to flirt. He knew a lot of men would find Tashira's flirtation flattering, but she stirred nothing in him but an impatience to leave.
"Yes, your father spoke to me," he said shortly, unable to keep irritation out of his voice. "Why in the world did you tell your father that you wanted to marry me?"
Tashira was a bit taken aback by Auron's abrupt question. She removed her hand from his arm and nervously fiddled with the jade necklace around her throat. His russet eyes held no warmth as they looked at her and his lips were set in a grim line. This was not going according to her plan. Perhaps she needed to employ more of her feminine wiles. Placing both of her hands on his broad shoulders, she stepped in close to him.
"I want you, Auron," she breathed huskily, "Is that so hard to understand?" Standing on tiptoe, she slid her hands up behind his neck and lifted her face for his kiss. Auron was not cooperating, however. He grabbed her wrists and disengaged from her grip. Taking a step back, he let her go and continued to gaze at her, an inscrutable look on his face. For a moment, fury lit Tashira's emerald green eyes and she barely retrained an overwhelming urge to slap him.
"You want to marry me only because you want to seduce me?" Auron asked, raising an eyebrow. "Since when do I have to pay the price of marriage to engage in sex?" He saw her clench her fists to her sides and he regretted his harsh words, but a part of him couldn't let go of the hope that if he angered her enough, she would call of the wedding.
Tashira bridled her rage. She was determined to snare Auron as her husband and couldn't expect him to warm up to the idea if she immediately treated him to a display of her shrewish tendencies. The fact that he resisted only presented a challenge, not an obstacle. She had no doubts that he could resist her for long.
Gracing him with a dazzling smile that held not one ounce of warmth in it, Tashira reached out to take his hand in hers. "Of course that is not the only reason I want to marry you," she simpered, "There are many reasons why I want you as my husband. I understand you are surprised by this revelation, but once it has sunk in, I hope you will be quick to share with me your happiness of our union."
Auron closed his eyes for a brief moment. He felt trapped and he hated it. Duty was not going to let him off the hook unless a miracle happened. Opening his eyes, he offered Tashira an apology. "I am sorry for my behavior. You are right about my surprise...I was still assimilating what your father had told me and then you unexpectedly showed me your, ah, enthusiasm for our marriage. I did not mean to seem unappreciative." He leaned in and quickly kissed her forehead and pulled his hand from her grasp. "I must meet Xavier now," he continued, "I beg your leave."
Tashira frowned slightly but nodded. His lack of enthusiasm was disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. Auron had always been too serious by half. That was part of his allure...she wanted to be the one to get past his cool veneer and spark his emotions. So far, she had not succeeded, but time was on her side. Let him go off to meet his childhood friend; he would be hers soon enough.
---------------------------------------------------
Well, we all know she doesn't succeed in snaring him! What could drive Auron to forsake his duty? More chapters to follow soon, I promise!