One Time She Opened It

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"The war will be over soon." Even as she spoke those words, she felt the same lingering sense of unease she always did when she contemplated the end of all the fighting. Just one more mountain range to cross, and then they'd be at the capital. And then, everything would come to an end. Faye let out a sigh. The cold air of Rigel bit deep into her as she spoke, and she reached up to pull her cloak tighter over herself.

"I truly hope so." Silque looked up from the letter she had been reading. "This land has seen far too much bloodshed already. The sooner it is stopped, the better."

"Yeah..." Faye's own voice trailed off into silence. This was stupid. This was what she'd wanted, right? For the fighting to be over? If she never took part in another battle for the rest of her life, she'd be perfectly fine with that.

But at the same time... at the same time, the war was the only thing keeping her circle of friends together now. After the war, they would all go their separate ways. Gray was wooing that noble lady – what was her name, Clair? – Tobin had talked about joining the army as a regular soldier after all this, and she could tell from brief snippets of conversation with Kliff that he wasn't at all keen on returning to the village and living under his mother's thumb.

And Alm... Alm wasn't going to return to Ram. He would become the hero of Zofia – maybe the hero of all Valentia – and then he would most likely marry Celica and reign as the new king. The thought of it struck a pang in her heart, but it had been long enough now that the pain was merely a dull ache. She had accepted it by now. As much as she ever could.

But still. After the fighting was over, everyone would go their own separate paths. And Faye would return to Ram, alone.

"Say, Silque?" She tried to keep her tone light, as if she were making idle conversation. "What are you going to do? After the war is over, I mean?"

"Me?" Silque heaved a deep sigh and gazed off at the distant horizon, her expression wistful. "Stopping the fighting is only the first step, I fear. There will be so many people left devastated by the war, to say nothing of the famine that has stricken the land and the brigands that still roam. They need the Mother's love and protection, now more than ever. And I... I will do what I can to bring it to them."

"So you'll be going off on another journey then."

"Well, yes." Silque looked at Faye and her brow creased slightly. "Faye? Is something wrong?"

Wrong? Of course not. What could possibly be wrong about Silque doing something so selfless and compassionate as to travel out to help the hurting? That was Silque to a tee, kind, caring, friendly Silque, with a heart as soft and pure as her cloth. Of course nothing could ever be wrong with that.

No, nothing was wrong, and that was why Faye kept a smile on her face and tried to be happy for friend, tried not to think darker thoughts of how Silque, who had come so suddenly to be a light in the turmoil of her life, would now be leaving just as abruptly.

It wasn't like letting Silque know about her unease or looming loneliness would change anything. She wasn't going to convince Silque to stay, and piling on more worries about how Faye was doing alone in Ram as she wandered Valentia would just be selfish.

So she kept smiling and shook her head. "No. It... just sounded so much like you. I'll be rooting for you, Silque!"

"Well, thank you." Her smile was warm and gentle, and for a moment Faye felt her own smile grow wider as well. "But what about you, Faye?"

"Huh? Oh..." Trying not to let any discomfort show on her face, she shrugged carelessly. "I'll return to Ram, I guess. I mean... it's not like there's anywhere else for me to go."

She continued walking down the path, trying as hard as she could to not notice the look of concern that Silque had given her.

Faye blinked and lifted her head. "Buh?" she mumbled.

The sun was shining brightly outside the window. The trill of birdsong could be heard faintly in the distance, and the sounds of commerce and the day's work being done came from the village square outside.

Morning already...? She sat up on her chair and shook her head to clear away any remaining bleariness. Did I fall asleep while reading again?

She looked around her desk – spotted the candle that had burned itself down to a small puddle, and the opened book that still lay on the table. So that's a 'yes' then.

With a sigh, she closed the book, turning it over in her hands before placing it back down. Briefly, she'd wondered at why her parents hadn't come in to wake her up for the day's chores, but... well, she supposed they'd been trying to give her space ever since her return a couple of weeks ago.

Not to mention that in the months she'd been gone, everyone had redistributed the chores and work so that Faye wasn't really needed any more.

It was an odd feeling, feeling unneeded in her own home.

She stood, stretched, and shook her head. Well, there would always be stuff to do. If nothing else, judging by the position of the sun in the sky, it was just about time to start preparing lunch...

"Faye?" Her mother's voice came from outside her room. "Someone's here to see you."

And before Faye could respond, Silque appeared in the doorway.

For a moment, silence reigned.

"Silque?" Her mind, still shaking off the last vestiges of sleep, took several long moments to sort out the situation and to decide on a response. "But I thought – what are you doing here?"

Silque did not answer the question straight away. "My apologies, but I – may I come in?"

"Of course! Here, sit! Sit!" Scrambling for the chair, Faye set it in front of Silque and stepped back to let her enter the room and settle herself down on it.

Casting about for somewhere else to lay herself, Faye finally settled on her bed. It was still unused from the previous night and as she settled herself on it she felt the familiar creaking travel along the weathered frame.

Once more, silence fell upon the two girls, neither quite sure of just what to say. Finally, after a long moment, Silque let out her breath in a sigh.

"You... didn't say goodbye." Her smile was rueful, and Faye found herself unable to meet her gaze. She averted her eyes, looking instead at the tree that grew just outside the window of her house.

"I don't like long goodbyes," she mumbled, and she knew her excuse was a poor one even as she gave it. "They feel so, so formal and stiff. And..." And they would have made it feel real. Made me have to confront the fact that everything has already changed. Things can't go back to the way they were.

"I'm not blaming you, Faye." Silque's voice was gentle and soothing, and just listening to it made the hurts that Faye had carefully, oh so carefully buried away, begin to boil and writhe to the surface once more. "I know goodbyes can be hard."

There was another silence, strained and awkward, and Faye began to wonder why Silque had come after all. She had thought – hoped – that leaving suddenly like that would make a clean break with everyone, including Silque. They could go on with their grand plans while she could return to a quiet life here in Ram Village.

But now that Silque had followed her back home, she felt – trapped. Exposed. Silque had always been considerate and avoided topics that Faye did not feel comfortable discussing, but now? If she was going to let sleeping dogs lie, would she have followed Faye all the way back to Ram?

As if reading her thoughts, Silque shifted her gaze to look out the window. "Ram Village really is a pleasant place, isn't it?" A smile played across her face. "Filled with peace and plenty."

"It is!" Faye nodded, perhaps just a tad too enthusiastically. She'd always loved the village, loved its people, and it felt like a safe subject to discuss with her friend. "Did you see the sheep on your way in? Uncle Mycen used to keep some as well, and they're enormous! And when the harvest is good there're so many good chefs among the neighbours they can whip up a feast in no time at all! And during the festivals there's always music and dancing and bonfires and everyone just spends the night singing and laughing and having fun."

"I see," Silque nodded once, "you really do love this village, don't you?"

"Of course. It's the only place that ever felt like home."

Something stole across Silque's face – sadness? Regret? - and she paused before speaking up again. "And does it still feel like home now?"

Once more, silence. Faye let her arms fall to her sides, and found her gaze fixed on the floor, on the gap that separated the two of them. She drew in a deep breath, and felt her body begin to tremble.

"Silque, please-" Her voice was soft, pleading.

"Faye, I must know." Silque stood from her chair and walked closer to her, one step, two steps. "If you are truly happy here... then I will take my leave. I will journey to Rigel and I will be content in the knowledge that you too, are content with your life here. But if you are not... if you feel that there is still some hole in your life that cannot be filled... then I will stay. I will stay here and do what I can, as long as I can, to soothe your pain."

Faye swallowed. Silque couldn't do that. She couldn't let Silque do that. She had a calling. A purpose in life. And she couldn't allow Silque to miss that calling just for... her.

"You don't have to-"

"Yes, I do." Silque's words were spoken with a quiet solemness that was more final, more commanding than any shout or yell. "You are my friend, Faye. My precious, precious friend. And I cannot – I will not leave you to suffer in silence any longer."

Another silence.

"Please. Tell me."

Faye blinked and felt her throat tighten. "Everyone..." she swallowed, hard and her voice was barely above a whisper. "Everyone's left. Everyone's moved on, and I want to feel happy for them. I want to feel happy for Alm. He's a king now! And Gray and Tobin and Kliff all know what they want to do with their lives. And Celica too. A princess, finally returned home at long last. But it means they're leaving me behind, and I don't... I don't want to hold them back, but I don't want them to leave me either." She trailed off, squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, feeling a burning pain in the back of her eyes. "I thought... no, I hoped coming back here would allow me to leave it all behind, but if anything it's even worse! Every time I look at the square or see their houses I'm just reminded that... things could never go back to the way they were." She trailed off into a miserable silence.

Silque was silent as well, and Faye did not dare to look up and meet her gaze. What could she say, anyway?

"Come with me."

Faye blinked. "I – what?"

"Come with me." Silque repeated. "On my pilgrimage, I mean. If being here simply brings you painful memories of days long gone, then staying here will not help you. I'll be travelling through through all of Valentia on my journey. Perhaps along the way, you'll find a place where you truly belong. And even if not, I promise you that I won't leave you behind. Not for as long as you will have me." Silque paused, and then chuckled. "And besides, I'm certain there will be many dangers during this journey. I'd be happy to have a skilled fighter by my side."

Faye stared at the outstretched hand for a long moment. It wasn't until she blinked that she realized that eyes were now brimming with tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks.

"Why?" She finally managed.

"Why?" Silque repeated, her expression confused.

"Why do this for me? I don't – I've done nothing but push you away from the moment we first met! I've just been selfish and mean, and I've refused to talk to you about anything! And you still – you can still be so kind and so – so loving to me and ask me to follow you? I can't – I don't deserve this. I don't deserve to be treated so nicely by you-"

And suddenly she felt strong arms wrapping around her and after a long moment she realized that Silque had drawn her into a tight embrace, with her head now resting on her shoulder.

"You deserve everything." Silque's voice was soft, but carried the steel of an absolute conviction with it. "You are a wonderful person Faye, even if you don't realize it yet. And I am blessed to be able to call you my friend. So please, please, never think of yourself as being unworthy of my care and concern for you."

It was as if a dam had suddenly burst, and Faye found herself wracked with sobs as tears flowed down her face. Hiccuping and sobbing, she reached up too, to cling as tightly as she could to Silque. Their combined weight served to pull the both of them down, until they were on the floor, still holding on to each other.

"Silque... Silque!" she whimpered, burying her face into her friend's shoulder. "Thank you... I'm sorry. I..." She couldn't say anything else, but somehow, from deep within her, she realized she didn't need to.

"It's all right." Silque's voice was gentle, and she felt fingers running gently through her hair. "It's all right, Faye. I'm here. I'll always be here. It's all right."

And for an endless moment, the two of them remained as they were, simply holding on to each other, never wanting to let go.

"Mmph." Faye groaned and rubbed at sleepy eyes as she sat up. A quick glance to her side told her that Silque was still asleep, and so she let her be for now.

They'd chosen to camp at this spot on the mountain trail partly because Faye knew that the view from this spot was incredible – especially at sunrise. Like right now. She leaned back against a rocky outcropping, smiled as she felt the cold stone at her back, and silently watched as the sky was gradually painted with streaks of glowing pink and brilliant orange.

It was two years to the day. The day that Silque had came back for her in Ram, and rescued her from herself. Perhaps that was why she was feeling especially nostalgic this morning.

And so as she continued to watch the sunrise, she let her thoughts drift to the journey she had made with Silque over the years.

Their journey to Mila's Temple, tending to the faithful who still flocked there to pay their respects to the departed Earth Mother. Travelling the deserts of eastern Valentia, to visit isolated hamlets and to offer healing to the residents. Wandering the mountains of Rigel, paying visit to village after village. Stopping by at the castle, to see the king and the queen. The priory that Silque had grew up in, to meet her old childhood friends. Visiting Gray and his wife, newly returned from their honeymoon.

And she remembered quiet nights spent in the company of each other. Feelings that had blossomed and grown ever deeper, even beyond that of close friendship. And a night of halting, anxious confessions to each other that had resulted in tears of joy and a joyous, tender kiss.

She gaze drifted to her hand and the gleaming silver band that rested on her finger. Her smile widened.

"Faye?" A sleepy voice from behind her.

"Oh, you're up! Sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, it's fine." Silque stifled a yawn. "I just woke up on my own."

"Well, that's good. Come on, sit over here! We can watch the sunrise together!" And Faye scooted to the side as she said that, making space for her wife.

Silque smiled and settled herself down at Faye's side, her body pressing in close to Faye. She let out a sigh of contentment and Faye smiled. Find a place I belong, huh? Yeah, that sounds about right.

And as the sun continued to rise and the dawn slowly became day, they continued to sit, Faye's head resting on Silque's shoulder, and their hands firmly clasped together.

Story End

Author's Notes: So it turns out I find writing for Faye way, way easier than writing for Silque. I'm not sure if its a cause or effect of me writing a relatively long story focusing a lot on Faye but hey if it works it works.

Also, first time doing the 5+1 thing. Hope it turned out well and you all liked it.

Thanks for reading! Reviews and comments would be much appreciated!