"What did you need from Esther?" Amanda asked her mother, as they walked back to their home from outside. Yunalesca had been awfully quiet so far.
"I needed to make sure I would be using a spell properly, if I even have to use it at all."
"For?"
"Never mind that, dear. You should go find your sister, it's nearly dinner time, and your grandfather doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Yunalesca was always so secretive. Amanda figured her mother even kept things from Zaon as well.
Lenne was in her room appearing to be writing a song, as usual. She looked more worried than usual though.
"Lenne?"
Lenne was startled by her sister's sudden entrance, and quickly put her pen and paper away. Hiding a song she's writing? Very unlike Lenne.
"Yes, sister?"
"Dinner will be ready soon, we should probably head down."
Lenne nodded, still looking worried. Amanda sighed, and went to sit next to her.
"Lenne, you can tell me anything, you know that right?"
Lenne glanced down, not wanting to look her sister in the eye.
"Lenne?"
Amanda could hear Lenne barely whisper something as she started to cry.
"What?"
"I'm pregnant." Lenne said more boldly. Amanda was stunned. Her baby sister will be having a baby? It seemed so crazy.
"Well…all the more reason to protect Zanarkand with my life then. To provide a better life for you and your future child."
Lenne cried more at this, and hugged her sister. Amanda was never one to judge her, which she was very grateful for. After promising not to tell their parents and grandfather, and after Lenne stopped crying, the two walked down for dinner.
"Well, look who finally decided to join us!" Yu was irritated. Then again, it didn't take much for the old man to be irritated.
"Please excuse us, grandfather," Amanda bowed as she apologized. Lenne felt bad; Amanda was always the one who apologized for things Lenne did. One day she would make it up to her sister, she promised herself that.
Yu motioned for them to sit down. The Yevons were rich, there was no denying that. Their dinner table was huge, despite the fact that only five people generally sat there per night.
"How're the troops?" Yu asked Amanda, not even bothering to look up at her.
"Fully prepared to win, sir."
"Good, good…" as Yu said this, him and Yunalesca gave each other a glance that only Zaon and Amanda seemed to notice. Zaon was confused, but Amanda was never really one to question her mother and grandfather's actions. It wasn't her place to.
Sometimes, Amanda wished that Lenne wouldn't try to question their actions. And yet, in the middle of that night, Amanda heard a knock on her bedroom door.
"Amanda, may I come in?" Lenne whispered. Amanda opened the door, and her sister swiftly closed the door and dragged her sister to the bed to sit down. There was something in Lenne's hand.
"Mother and grandfather are up to something big!" Lenne blurted out right away.
"Lenne, I don't want to hear this. You shouldn't get yourself in the middle of their problems."
"But Manda! They'll be sacrificing everyone!"
This definitely caught Amanda's attention. She hated meddling, but had to at least hear Lenne out.
"Go on.."
"Grandfather is worried about Zanarkand being destroyed in the war."
"Excuse me? I could take on all of Bevelle on my own. Why in Spira is he worried?"
"He doesn't like the fact that we just might lose the war. He wants to preserve Zanarkand."
"And how exactly is he going to do that?"
"Mom's been working on a spell…but it would mean that everyone in Zanarkand would have to die, in order for it to work! They want to preserve Zanarkand in a dream, while the real Zanarkand would be destroyed!"
Amanda couldn't believe what she was hearing. Why would her mother and grandfather possibly want to destroy Zanarkand just to have it live on in a Dream? Doesn't that mean killing their entire family, as well as theirselves?
"Manda…grandfather would live on with the Dream. As well as mother. Apparently father will be sacrificed to help the cause…I don't understand any of this! We will all die! I'm not ready…especially since, well, you know…"
Amanda stood up, and placed a hand on her sister's shoulder.
"I will not allow anyone to die, especially you Lenne."
Lenne shook her head.
"Manda, this was in mom's room. It would let you travel to Esther's world…mom had no plans for me."
Lenne handed the object to her sister. It was a pretty fancy necklace. It looked just like the one her mother wears all the time. Is this the object that allows her mother to transport herself to other worlds?
"Apparently, you need only close your eyes and focus on your destination, and poof…"
Lenne looked very sad. Why would Yunalesca only want one of her daughters to leave? And why Amanda?
Amanda wouldn't allow this. Forcing family, friends, everyone in Zanarkand to die, just because her grandfather fears it will be destroyed? No. She would have to talk with them as soon as she could.
"Lenne, when are they planning this?"
"In the morning, before Bevelle has a chance to even come to us."
The morning? That was in just a few hours time! Amanda knew what she had to do. She handed the necklace to Lenne.
"You take this. Go to that other world, find a suitable village, and have your baby. Live your life Lenne. I'm going to try my best to stop our family, but I have a feeling I will be met with a challenge. Please, go."
Lenne started crying again, and hugging her sister.
"When should I come back?"
"Don't. I'll try to find a way to you. I will do it. I promise."
Amanda helped get the necklace on Lenne, and gave her one last hug goodbye.
"It will be hard, I know. But be strong. Find happiness."
"Wait!" Lenne whispered before her sister could turn away. She motioned for Amanda to come with her. Amanda found herself in Lenne's room. Lenne pulled out what she was writing earlier, and placed it in Amanda's hands.
"Find a young man named Shuyin, in Bevelle, and give him this letter, if you are at all possible."
Ah, so this is what Lenne was writing. Amanda assumed that Shuyin was Lenne's lover and father of her unborn baby, and she nodded.
"Now concentrate, and go."
Lenne nodded, and within moments, was gone.
It was for the best.
After all, it would be a surprise if Amanda, or anyone in Zanarkand, made it out alive after tomorrow.