The warmth from the morning sun added its own ambiance to the glowing maiden sprawled across his bed. With a gentle stroke of his hand, the fingers glided across her cheek as he admired her beauty whilst laying there. As her eyes fluttered open, they fell upon him, gazing up at him in an almost apologetic manner. "The woman said-"
"We know." He added, running a hand through her snow-stained hair. For a moment, he didn't feel the same happiness radiating from her. He had a few guesses as to what was going through her mind, but none of them seemed to carry a voice until she sighed, diverting her gaze from him to the crumpled sheets underneath. A tear escaped the corner of her eye, blotching the cotton pillow with her distress. Surprised and even more so concerned, Aurelien gathered her into his lap after briefly adjusting himself, curling her against his chest and holding her tightly. Her anguish broke into a sobbing fit, at which point he held her tighter until she finally gave a voice to her fears that had caused her such dismay. "What if someone finds out? What if we run out of money? Aurelien, I'm so scared..I want to be happy but I'm terrified.."
All he could do was hold her. Admittedly, he'd been so excited from the news that he forgot about such worries. The itching sensation of dread crept into his heart, and now he could understand her fear but for different reasons. If someone saw her, if she started showing signs, the word would spread like wildfire. All sorts of grotesque notions began to plague his mind, creating a knot in the pit of his stomach. From one scenario to the next, each one snapping at a heart string, he fought to rationalize each part. There had to be a way. Unfortunately, each decision led to her being caged up like a prisoner in their home. Her tears had soaked the front of his cotton undershirt, but she'd calmed down enough to go back to sleep. Placing her against the sheets and covering her, his lips met with her cheek as he forced a weak smile. "I'll fix this..I won't let anything happen to you, either of you..I promise." His whisper stirred a soft smile within her, yet it still seemed empty. Turning to exit the room as quietly as possible, he took one look at her before pulling the door shut, leaving with the realization that life was about to be more complicated than he'd ever imagined.
Dinner between the three of them was quiet, a type of stale optimism lingered in the air shifting the mood as it teetered on the line between discomfort and content. Anselm glanced between the both of them, wondering when the topic was going to sprout up and claim whatever wholesome amenity was left in the room. The silence gnawed at his nerves, and when such a moment didn't occur, he cleared his throat and spoke with a tone that was gentle enough but in a question that cut like glass. "So, what's the plan?"
"Really?" Aurelien shot a glare towards his brother, his eyes telling him now wasn't the best time.
Anselm rolled his eyes. "Wot? I can't be the only sensible person here. Do you have any idea how much trouble we'll be in if the church finds out? Much less the entire city! We'll be burned at the stake, if they even offer that as a mercy, not to mention Mirielle-"
"I'm sorry.." Nira's soft voice pierced through Anselm's rant, with a such a deafening tone that left the room deathly quiet once more. The two elezen men glanced at her from across the table, both too stunned to add anything further. The defeat in her voice was enough to derail his train of thought, and the sullen expression of guilt told him that this might not have been a conversation she was ready for. "I've made your lives harder than they need to be after you've welcomed me into your home, and for that I'm truly sorry.." Her golden eyes never left the table, refusing to look at either of them. She fought back the tears, the silence only fueling the torment from her own remorse.
Aurelien sighed, burying his face in his hands before calmly addressing Nira. "Nira, would you mind heading to my bedroom for a moment, I need to have a word with my brother.." The short screech of the chair grinding against wood paneling was abrupt but greeted with an appreciative nod as he watched the miqote disappear down the hall. The sound of an opening door rang clear through the stillness that had taken control of the room, and the crisp snap of it closing alerted his awareness to the very long conversation that was about to take place.
Anselm leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms tightly over his chest as he did every time he was about to give a lecture. Yet all he could muster was to shake his head at all that was said, ending with a very weathered, heated sigh. "Aurelien..I warned you about this. You aren't married, which the church forbids..and now you have a child out of wedlock, which again, the church forbids..I mean, there's a good chance they'll spare the child but they will cook us, without trial..this is bordering extremely, uncomfortably close to heresy and quite frankly-"
"We need to leave."
"Are you serious? Are you actually suggesting we just up and leave all this behind? Our jobs, our friends – what's left of them – and our family's last remaining belongings? You just want to leave it all behind?" A furious fire ignited in Anselm's chest, rivaling that of a dragon's breath. Frustrated, he wildly searched for a point, if any, to make his brother see how his suggestion was beyond comprehension. Only, he couldn't find one. Despite what they'd built, what they'd worked so hard to achieve recently, they were still impoverish working class citizens in a city of kings. That's what they'd always be, no matter how much money they accumulated. Their name was nothing but an ugly smear on the city's crumbling visage, and nothing they were working towards would ever change that. This realization left him speechless, the words echoing louder until they were so clear, he couldn't ignore them any longer.
Aurelien could feel the storm of emotions roaring through his brother, the uncertainty in his eyes stinging his core. It wasn't an easy conclusion. They'd grown up in this home. Their mother passed away here. Their father worked almost two lifetimes to provide for all three of them while slowly draining away on a day to day basis, on the hopes that one day they wouldn't have to. And now he wanted to leave it all behind, in pursuit of happiness. It was hard to swallow, even for him, but Anselm was right. The church would surely have them all killed, the child would grow up dirty and hungry in the Brume with the rest of Ishgard's rejects, to never know the sacrifices they'd faced trying to give it everything and more only to be snatched away by an unforgiving society. The idea itself made him sick. The idea was starting to settle in his mind, that now he needed to be a responsible parent. A father. And as such, he needed to make these decisions for himself and his new family. He closed his eyes, his brow tensing as he prepared his thoughts in a way to make his brother understand his new-found sense of self. "Anselm..there's nothing left for us here. The war is over, father is gone, our name is but a distant memory..we have nothing left in Ishgard.." He paused before going on, the words flowing in his mind running a deep cut into his heart. "This..this is my child. My family. I may have a chance to be happy. If you'd like to stay, I wish you the best, but..I have to do what's best for my family.." His eyes scanned his brother as he sat motionless, his face buried in his hands. It was as if he'd swallowed a rock and it had lodged itself in his throat. He didn't like the idea of leaving his brother behind, but it wasn't right to mix him up in all this. Reticence claimed the dining room once more, causing the room to fall eerily still for what seemed like eons.
"So you'll get married..where?"
"There's a cathedral in the Shroud, they unite couples without discrimination under the watchful eyes of the Twelve."
"Where will you raise the child?"
"We'll travel to the outskirts of the La Noscean border, it's peaceful and prosperous, lots of farmland.."
"Are you certain?" Anselm looked upon his brother, his icy gaze carving into him, looking for any sense of doubt. The fear he'd felt had then since dissipated, for he could see his brother had thought this out thoroughly. "You're a bigger fool than father ever was..but there's one thing you'll do quite well.."
Puzzled, Aurelien paused as he watched a fractional smile break the seriousness of their lingering conversation. "And what's that?"
Anselm gathered his plate, raking it off and placing it in the large stone water basin. The words buzzed in his head like a lively nest of hornets. For a moment, he was almost jealous. He'd always considered himself the more mature brother, and for good reason. But today, that was no longer true. As the suds foamed in the bucket, so did his pride in knowing that his brother had finally took a huge step in the direction towards adulthood that he'd only been waiting for since their father left. The water slowly drained, along with most of his worries. For a brief moment, everything seemed to have clarity. He didn't know if he was finally seeing the truth of their words, or if he was having a stroke. Either way, they were going to get through this, together. Drying the plate off with an abused hand rag that made its home hanging off the handle of one of the cabinets, he turned to his brother and nodded, the smile now claiming most of his face. "You'll make a damn good father.."
The hearth seemed all too inviting as the flames' wild dance painted the room in a vibrant orange hue. There was something about the cathedral in the wee hours of the morning that gave him an unsettling peace. Had it been the final minutes of night being fought back by the sun's dawning brilliance, casting out the shadows that the common street rats used as cover, or simply that those were the few bells he spent truly alone in his own thoughts. Untainted, uninterrupted daydreaming that he rarely ever got as a high priest in Ishgard. Xellieur cradled his chiseled chin in a weathered hand, reflecting the current events as his eyes watched the embers' enchanting display. Had he been in his right mind, he would've sworn they were beckoning to him, goading him towards sinful thoughts. Thoughts that drifted to the many thefts that had been committed in such a short time, ever since.. Ever since that girl showed up.. Talk of the town buzzed with the miqo'te girl's presence, of her ability to make fine jewelry, and taking up residence with two young bachelors. Their father had been a decorated Ishgardian soldier, and it was a shame he had succumbed to a lowly miqo'te temptress. He'd seen the girl in the markets, peddling her wares. The boy didn't trail too far from her, either. Likely he and his brother were under her enchantment, as she slowly fed off them each night to appease her sins. Thoughts drifted to the silk draping lovingly around her features, her dark skin, those vibrant golden eyes that called to him as she passed. Mocking him. Spitting on his righteous dignity. He could feel the fires of his sin warming his belly, stirring him in a way that caused him discomfort. The enchantment soon spread to his groin, pulsed in his heart, bated his breath in a way that caused a sickening longing to reach into the flames and grab hold of those luscious snowy locks. A hand outstretched in front of him, as if fighting to caress something that he so desperately wanted to be there.
"Sir forgive my intrusion-"
"What is it? Can't you see I'm in the middle of my morning prayers?" Xellieur grumbled, the thoughts fading like smoke as the soldiers breached his office doors.
"Deeply sorry sir, but it's about the recent thefts..they've ceased as of two suns ago.."
"What? But that would mean..never mind. Get out, you idiots." As the doors fell shut with a thundering boom, he turned his attention back to the fire. The thoughts of her fleeted from his mind, like a passing dream. Disgust clouded his senses instead, cursing himself for giving in to his own weaknesses, and for not acting sooner. If what the soldier said held any truth, that would mean something had happened, and he was about to make it his duty to find out.
Twas but a moon passed before Nira had regained her energy, which was being spent shopping along the narrow rows of tents in the Crozier. Twilight had claimed most of the bustling streets as orange rays split each shadow. Despite becoming a house cat, Nira hadn't lost her heritage. The setting of the sun still marked the dawning of a new day, even if that day was spent crafting in the confined space of her new home – and prison. Naturally, Aurelien forbade her from continuing her thieving work while carrying their child and after some brooding, she'd finally accepted her fate. The gossip had taken a mysterious shift as the nobles watched the two stroll down the street, eyeing all the wares while gathering a few groceries. The crisp cooling air filtered through the many buildings and swept through the cobblestone streets, carrying with it a tantalizing bouquet and whispers of the thief that had vanished without a trace some suns past. Nira couldn't help but smile, a smile that longed for the thrill that she abandoned once she took on her motherly responsibilities for both her sake and theirs. Each alley they passed beckoned to her, the shadows calling out to her in desperation to rejoin them. A simple sigh escaped, brushing those thoughts aside as she picked out a bushel of greens from a stall and placed them in her basket. Upon handing over his dues, Aurelien paused to guess the cause of her lament, only to be ashamed that it shouldn't have been a question. Leaning down and hunched over to reach her ear, he began to delicately whisper to her as they strolled, being mindful of who might be in earshot. "Nira..all I ask is that you remain inactive until the baby is born, that's all. Soon, we'll be gone from this place, and you can go back to doing what you love..but until then, please, please be mindful.." That doleful gaze that once held a golden fire weighed heavily on his heart. It was all the acknowledgment he needed, straightening his back and keeping his pace with hers. He wanted desperately to sweep her up into his arms and hold her, to make known without a doubt that everything would be all right in the end. However, to the people of Ishgard they had to remain strangers, keeping their interaction to a minimum outside the sanctity of their home. It was a practice he was not fond of, but it had to prevail.
Their journey ended at the chaser's quarters, at which point Aurelien nodded to her, a gesture that meant he'd only be gone for a moment and that she'd have to wait outside. As per routine, she took a lean against the stony corner of the building at the mouth of a darkened alley. Drawing meal ideas from her basket as she waited, her ears caught the faintest of footsteps that eventually called her eyes to scan the space around her. A couple passed with their children, formally dressed with accompanying smiles. An older man walked between the happy family and herself in a hurried rush, as if late for something. The Crozier was livelier than usual at such an odd time, making it hard to place where the footsteps originated from exactly. Turning her attention back to her plunder, the tick of another footstep made her ears flick, turning towards the back of her head. However, before she could turn to meet the source, it wrapped a handful of claw-like fingers around her forearm and yanked her back into the shadows while another latched over her mouth. She watched as the light faded, panicking as the shadows of the alleyway swallowed her. The feeling of long cotton robes brushed up against her as she was pulled along, and a voice finally broke the thundering booms of her heartbeat.
"Scream and I'll slay you where you stand, beast, as well as those sinful reprobates you cater to.." His voice was low, like a growl from a savage beast. His eyes held an unsettling steeliness to them that broke through the darkness with corrupt perseverance. Signs of aging showed in his tired yet slender face as well as his rough cut silver hair. Nira recognized the robes almost immediately. One of the priests from the cathedral, the one that always stood at the entrance of the Crozier collecting tithes. The same one that would stare peculiarly at her as they passed, as if the mere existence of her struck a fire in his soul. The very same look he held now. Heeding his warning, her ears flattened to her head as he felt his hand drop from her mouth.
"What do you want?" Her glare cut into him yet she kept her voice low as she felt his bony hooks sink deeper into the flesh of her forearm.
A vile sneer curled his thin lips as he pulled her closer til their breath mixed in the cold dry air. "I've come to bargain with the grand thief of Ishgard, no less.." Like the hiss of a snake, his tone was laced with a wicked poison. "I'm afraid your thieving nights are over, you've a new occupation now.." He said trenchantly, with his nose scrunched up towards her as if he caught a whiff of something foul.
Nira's eyes widened at the proposition, her fangs clenching together. "And should I refuse?" She snarled, fighting back the urge to hack a wad of spit in his eye.
"I'll have them both killed..with such lofty accusations they won't even get a trial, they will be hung within a fortnight.." The poison in his words struck her heart, causing her to cringe with ache. "Unless of course, you agree to be mine, and mine alone.."
"What?" Her breath almost froze in her chest, with fear slowly overtaking her.
"What say you, thief of Ishgard...Will you condemn those closest to you, or will you be my slave? Be careful what you choose.."
Time seemed like it had ceased momentarily as she weighed each decision in her mind. Thoughts bombarded her like splinters of glass, tearing away at her composure as she fought to find a way out. In the distance she could hear Aurelien's voice calling out to her, and she wanted nothing more than to answer, to call out to him, to beg that he save her from this situation. As panic started to claim his voice, so did it claim her heart as tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
"Well? What shall be your answer, m'lady?" That wicked grin tore into her soul and rendered her heart a null, the feeling of defeat overwhelming her senses and taking over every sensation in her body until she was numb.
"Yes.." As the word fell from her lips, an open palm clapped against her face hard enough to send her falling to the stone pavement. The warm print left a lasting pang on her cheek that lingered like a dire mite's sting.
Xellieur stood over her, retrieving a coiled rope from the folds of his robes. "Yes, what?" Cupping a hand to her chin, he tilted her head up to face him.
"Yes, sir.." The words shattered her heart as her eyes filled with tears of anguish and regret.
"That's a good girl.." He sneered, fastening the ropes around her hands and pulling them tight, enough to cut into her smooth skin. "Don't you worry, m'lady...I'll be sure to take good care of you." The shadows had soon devoured them as he led her down a dark and dingy path, along with every shred of dignity in her. Aurelien's voice became a distant memory, and was replaced with the biting hatred of her own thoughts against her new captive. Unknown as to where they were headed or what was going to happen, her thoughts kept going back to Aurelien, and the possibility of never seeing him again.