Chapter 10: Waiting for the Wind to Change
Their journey to the hunters' camp was uneventful, which Alphinaud was grateful of. They managed to leave the cold of the Highlands behind them and broke through to the warmth and color of the Forelands. At the sight of the trees and blooming plant-life, Kan-E-Senna broke into a wide smile, and he could tell that she was already feeling more at home already. He had to admit that she had every reason to do so… for after the shock of all that white, to see so much life thriving was enough to relax his eyes.
It was very difficult for them to find Tailfeather through the treetop branches, which he explained to the Elder Seedseer just how important they were to the hunters here for they kept their view from the dragons.
At those words, their guard suddenly froze up, their eyes straining around them and he knew that they must have been expecting dragons to come after them at any moment since they were above the canopy. Yet he reassured them to remain calm as he tried to get a glimpse of Tailfeather through the leaves, and to his relief, he spotted it. They carefully landed just outside the entrance at the gate before stepping onto the ground, having arrived without anything serious happening.
But the sight of their airship had quickly drew the attention of the hunters, a large number of them coming through the gate, watching them with apprehension. They most likely have never seen an airship in these parts before and it wasn't hard for Alphinaud to realize that they may be worried about what this may mean for them and their village.
Alphinaud stepped ahead to request that Marcechamp be brought here so that he could explain their peaceful intentions. That they were merely stopping here for a short while before they would continue on their way. He was glad to see that several of the hunters had recognized him and went to get Marcechamp to tell him what happened.
By the time that he arrived, Kan-E-Senna had strolled forward as well, with her guard and Kuplo Kopp—who was staring around in amazement at every little thing.
"Kupopopo!" he cried out, spinning around in midair as he looked about. "I've never seen trees like these before! It's a forest! But so different from the Twelveswood!"
"Yes," Alphinaud heard Kan-E-Senna replied to him. "Very different, yet beautiful as well. I see that the land here is very healthy and strong. 'Tis a relief to see that the snow had not made it this far."
Once Marcechamp arrived, Alphinaud stepped up to him, quickly explaining who they were and why they were here. That they had traveled here all the way from the Twelveswood, and that they were merely stopping here before continuing on foot the rest of the way through the Forelands. He then humbly asked if they could leave the airship here until they returned so that it would be able to take the Elder Seedseer home once their business was done here.
After having calmed everything down and came to an understanding, Marcechamp bowed low to Kan-E-Senna, offering her to step inside their humble village for some rest and food if she required it. She thanked him, but politely refused the offer, saying that merely having the chance to greet him and see this village was more than enough.
Marcechamp laughed at that, taking her hand and kissing it gratefully as he was more than happy to tell her about the humble lives that he and everyone else here led. They were able to grow food and they hunted for their meat, as well as trapping and training chocobos to sell off for later on.
This seemed to please the Elder Seedseer greatly, so glad she was to meet others who shared her love of nature and the respect for all that it gives us. However, she noted that it may also be difficult to get everything that they could need easily for the people here. Then she offered that it may be possible for the people of Gridania may be able to set up some sort of trading system with the hunters here in Tailfeather sometime in the future, if at all possible.
This looked like the start of a new friendship between Gridania and the hunters here in the Forelands, however he felt that he had to step in and courteously remind them that they will have plenty of time to discuss this later on. For their comrades were still waiting for them to arrive at their destination. Once the pleasantries had been put aside for the moment, Marcechamp was more than happy to show them the road that they should take if they wish to get to get through the forest. He was also rejoiced to hear that the primal that they had been warned about, had been slain.
He informed them that it now explained why the aggression of the Gnath had suddenly calmed. He admitted that it was a rather tense quiet, however the roads have become much safer now so they shouldn't have any worry from them for now.
After several more parting words, with Marcechamp amazed over the sight of a moogle bouncing around here, their group left Tailfeather—leaving both the airship and the pilot behind to wait for their return, they began the long trek through the forest.
Alphinaud had to see that Marcechamp spoke true, for this journey was surprisingly calm, compared to his first walk through here. There were no signs of dragons or Gnath waiting to jump out and attack them. In fact, they made it through the forelands without any trouble, and all the way to the ruins of Anyx Trine before he explained to them all that they were to climb through here to get to the foot of Sohm Al.
Kan-E-Senna's guard were dismayed at the idea of their lady walking through a tower full of dragons, and he could see that they were getting ready to try and reason with them. Alphinaud was not blind to their concerns, and thus he reassured them that these dragons were not like those in Nidhogg's hate-filled hoard. This was home to Hraesvelgr's lesser children and that as long as their intentions were peaceful, then they shouldn't have problems being allowed through.
Kan-E-Senna accepted his reassurances, simply stating that his words were enough for her. And though it seemed to have done little to change the minds of her guard, they did not dare try to stop her. Instead, they loyally followed behind her, their eyes staring around… ready for anything that may happen.
They entered through the ruins, and the dragons who were scattered around the entrance all looked up at the sight of them there. Alphinaud could feel his companions tensing up behind him, yet he bowed his head to each dragon as they passed, hoping that they could tell that they meant no trouble at all. When they saw him, most likely remembering that he had been here before with Ysayle, they slowly seemed to calm down and went back to minding their own business.
Yet… though he could not explain it, he had a feeling that they were just as tense of having them here as his companions were of simply walking right through the front doors of these dragons home. Still, it was a calm affair and they met with nothing more than curious looks as they climbed upwards through the tower and into the Mourn.
As they entered, he saw how the Elder Seedseer heaved a sigh of relief. Though she had remained calm and collected the whole way, he suspected that she must have been terribly nervous after seeing the dragons up close like that.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think that we would be able to just walk passed the Dravanians as we did just then," Kan-E-Senna informed him once they reached the dry, warmth of the Mourn. "Needless to say, I found the experience both enlightening… and dizzying."
"Kupopo!" Kuplo Kopp cried out, having been hiding behind the guardsmen the whole time. "Never have I seen such big creatures, Kupo! They were larger than the houses in Gridania! No wonder this tower is so huge to be able to fit them all!"
Alphinaud smiled at them both, knowing just how they felt.
"I, too, felt much the same way, my lady," he confessed. "Yet, it is clear that these Dravanians wish simply to be left alone. They do not wish to fight… otherwise the others and I could not have made it through the first time. Now then…" he looked forward, pointing ahead to where their road will take them directly to the foot of the mountain, "Our journey will be over soon enough. We are nearing the final foot of our journey."
"Oh goodie!" Kuplo Kopp cried out, now that they were away from the dragons and almost to the Churning Mists to meet the other moogles, their friend was so excited he could hardly stay still. They continued onwards through the Mourn, with Alphinaud explaining more of what they had learned of the dragons here and what he had personally seen of them since arriving. Though large and imposing… there was a wisdom and distain for needless fighting in them as well. Truly, it was Nidhogg's own brood whom seemed hellsbent on bloodshed.
Aside from the rare beast going after them, which the guard took care of, they made it through the Mourn before they reached Solm Al. Once they gathered themselves—with the guardsmen asking Kan-E-Senna for what felt like the hundredth time if she was well or needed rest—they were ready to go. Truthfully, Alphinaud was a little worried on how well she would take a long walk like this… however she seemed to have more energy than any of them if truth be told. In fact, he couldn't help but see a slight child-like eagerness in her face as they began to walk up Sohm Al.
"I see that you have learned much in the few weeks you have traveled here with your companions," she informed him with a smile as Kuplo Kopp was admiring the strange flowers that they passed. "I must say that while it does not sound like it was easy and dangerous at the best of times, it seems to me that you may have been enjoying yourself as well."
Alphinaud was a little surprised by that statement and thought it over before he also began to chuckle.
"Perhaps you are right," he said as they trekked upwards and underneath the wilted bramble that had been cut through by Claire and Estinien from before. "While I agree that it has been far from easy, I feel that I have learned more from this journey then all the books that I read back at the Studium. I do hope that my companions are well though. I must say it has… been interesting to travel with them, to say the least."
"Yes, they sound like a handful," she chuckled along with him. "The Azure Dragoon in particular sounds like he's a real trouble-maker."
"That's an understatement," Alphinaud nodded. "Still, I am glad to have his lance with us. And I'm glad that Claire is here, she seems to be the only one who can really break him and Lady Ysayle apart when they are fighting with each other."
"It's hard to believe that Ishgard's Azure Dragoon, the Warrior of Light, and the infamous Iceheart have agreed to journey together this far," Kan-E-Senna said, shaking her head in amazement. "I have heard the tale from you… yet I still have a hard time believing it, myself."
"I must admit that it also surprised me how it all turned out," Alphinaud confessed. "But I believe that Lady Ysayle and Estinien both wish to put an end to this war without sacrificing their allies. Still, their difference of opinion is enough to get them to start bickering like an old married couple."
He suddenly realized what he said and added quickly, fearing for his safety, "Don't tell them I said that."
Kan-E-Senna smiled at him before she held up an imaginary key and locked her mouth shut, showing that she would keep it secret.
Any dragons that escaped from Estinien's and Claire's wrath the first time seemed to have escaped up farther to the Churning Mists. Still, their guard continued to remain on high alert, ready to attack anything. But luckily, there were no incidents as they finished climbing up to the bitter cold of the sky and they got their first glimpse of the floating islands.
Seeing the looks on their faces made him wonder if that was how the four of them looked when they first saw this place as well. In fact, he was still overcome with amazement at the beauty of such a place… having never dreamt that he would be standing here.
"Amazing," Kan-E-Senna whispered, her eyes on the sparkling structures in the distance as the guard seemed too stunned for words. "I have never thought that I would see such a sight up here."
"We were amazed as well," Alphinaud confirmed as the cold air felt like it was burning his lungs, "And still are. But we must be careful. This place is supposed to be home to countless dragons, My Lady. I think that it best we join the others." He glanced around and spotted the entrance to the cave before he pointed it out, "They should be through here."
And so the small party followed him as he entered the cavern, which brought them out of the cold. He was pleased to see that the other three were there, waiting for them. Claire was having a conversation with Ysayle, and Estinien was waiting at the entrance for them. He looked up when he heard them before he called, "They are here, Claire."
Claire and Ysayle both looked up as well as the five of them arrived and greeted them.
"Greetings, my friends," Alphinaud stated, glad to see that they were all safe. He looked to Claire and informed her, "I am happy to report that our journey was mercifully uneventful, devoid as the road was of Dravanians. 'Twould seem the dragons have abandoned Sohm Al for the Churning Mists."
While they seemed glad of this, when he asked if they had learned anything new, he saw the disappointment on their faces. Not much had happened while he had been away. Estinein confirmed that he had continued to feel Nidhogg's rage, yet he added that the dragon continued to be on his guard. If nothing else, his attack on Ishgard was now less imminent and he was on the defensive after he sensed the moment they had slain Tioman… and that seemed to be enough to prove to the Dragoon that this journey wasn't all a waste of time anymore to him.
As for Ysayle, she regretfully informed him that her efforts to try and speak with the dragons here had all been in vain. She explained that Nidhogg's rage drove his minions to attack her on sight, while those few dragons who did speak with her did not tell her anything about Hraesvelgr or how to find him.
Hopefully they could change that now.
Alphinaud then turned to make introductions, presenting Kan-E-Senna to Estinien and Ysayle, though simply giving her Ysayle's name instead of 'Iceheart'. As they greeted each other, he couldn't help but notice how Ysayle's eyes widen when she spotted Kuplo Kopp, who was bouncing around more than ever—practically dancing with excitement like he expected the moogles here to jump out at any second.
Kan-E-Senna glanced around as well, like she could feel something different in the air than they could. And this seemed to be confirmed when she stated, "Friends ─ I feel it only right to inform you that we are not alone."
They all looked to her at once as she continued to gaze at everything in her sights.
"The moogles are all around us even as we speak," she informed them and Alphinaud was dearly wishing to ask how she could tell. However, she went on, "And I should imagine they are more than a little concerned by the horde of strangers that have descended upon their home. Mayhap now would be an opportune moment to introduce ourselves."
They agreed and they stepped back, letting her work, though what it was she was looking for was something he could not claim to know. But eventually, they came to step up onto the large boulder that stood in front of a massive flowering shrub with pink blossoms that stood in the center of the grotto.
"This should serve..." she said softly before she glanced at Kuplo Kopp at her side.
"They're hiding, of course ─ but there's so many of them, kupo!" he whispered in awe and she smiled back, checking what she already knew. Alphinaud stared at them before at the area once more, wondering how they could be hiding right now?
But Kan-E-Senna then turned to address the plants and everything around her, though he still could not see a thing that would make him believe that the moogles were listening.
"I am Kan-E-Senna," she called in a soft, yet clear voice. "My companions and I have braved the long road from the Twelveswood to share words with you. On this, the occasion of our first meeting, we bring an offering of light and wind."
She then raised her staff, where she was creating a brilliant and sparkling light that seemed to warm the air around them. He took a deep breath, suddenly feeling as if he had sunk into a warm bath, feeling almost in a dream-like state from this light which had some sort of hypnotic glint about it.
Kuplo Kopp also pulled out a small horn and was blowing it as he bobbed around her… he gave several little toots out of it as the light continued to fill every corner of this cave…
And so they waited, wondering just what was going to happen next.
Suddenly, they heard a new voice speak up, sounding like a squeak like Kuplo Kopp, yet was much deeper.
"Oooh, such a gentle and pleasing glow, kupo..." and at that moment, moogles started to appear from every which way… they were coming out from behind rocks and flowers as well as from underneath the giant mushrooms until there were so many that Alphinaud could not help but wonder just how they could not have found them before. They looked just like Kuplo Kopp, only they were larger and their fur was of a warmer, more pinkish hue than Kuplo Kopp's soft white color.
But out of the blossoming tree in front of them, the largest moogle that he had ever seen came bursting out, wearing a kind of silver crown on his fluffy head. Almost all of them jumped back in surprise at his sudden appearance and his size.
This moogle gazed down at them through his squinted eyes with the greatest of curiosity as he called out, and he realized that it was his voice that they heard a moment ago, "I am Moglin, the chieftain of this moogle clan."
Kan-E-Senna was one of the few who did not move as she smiled at him and she lowered her staff and addressed him courteously, "Chieftain Moglin ─ it is an honor to meet you."
Kuplo Kopp bobbed happily as he added, "Greetings! I am Kuplo Kopp, ambassador of the Twelveswood moogles!"
Moglin turned his attention to Kuplo Kopp and asked, in a tone which held shock, "...A moogle from the world below? Your hide is of a different hue, but that pom is unmistakable! I might need a moment here, kupo..."
He wasn't the only one. For the sudden appearance of so many moogles around them was making Alphinaud feel a little light-headed as well. They came bursting out in such numbers so quickly, it was like a great gust of wind came and blew all the seeds off a dandelion and they were filling the air.
"My companions were no less surprised to learn of your existence here amongst the clouds," Kan-E-Senna explained, speaking to Moglin as if they were old friends whom they hadn't seen each other in years. "I hope they did not startle you overmuch in their eagerness to make your acquaintance. Full well can I imagine your wariness. I am told that men have not walked here in nigh on a thousand winters. Mayhap you will forgive them their forwardness when I unfold to you the grave matter which first brought them into your midst. My companions crave an audience with the great wyrm Hraesvelgr that they might negotiate an end to the war 'twixt man and dragon."
Moglin seemed to need a moment to fully grasp those words.
"An end to war, you say? Hmm..." he looked down at her with a critical eye before he said, to Alphinaud's relief, "I trust you, Kan-E-Senna ─ the light of peace shines brightly within your soul."
But then he turned to him and his other three companions and added, "...But I'm afraid the same cannot be said of your friends. To be plain, we did not hide ourselves because they were the first of your kind to be seen here in a thousand years ─ well, not only because of that. We hid because we smelled dragon blood."
Blood? They smelt of dragon blood? But how could they smell something like that on them?
Moglin was looking mostly at Claire and Estinien at those words before he added, "These skies are home to many, many dragons. While some crave peace, such as Hraesvelgr, many others crave the opposite...such as Nidhogg. Suffice it to say, we are worried that the presence of your blood-spattered warrior friends will attract the attention of the nastier kind, and invite destruction into our happy home."
Oh, so that was a big reason that they hid from them before. But it wasn't like they killed those dragons because they wanted to… well, Estinien did not count, but they had no choice but to resort to fighting back whenever the dragons came for them. He opened his mouth to try and explain this, however someone beat him to it.
Claire and Estinien moved back a little at Moglin's words before Kuplo Kopp jumped up and fluttered between them and Moglin in anger.
"Now just a moment, Chieftain!" he squeaked furiously, shaking his tiny fists. "Claire here may have doled out the odd thrashing or two, but it's always been for a really good reason! She is a champion of the Twelveswood moogles, and I'll not hear her good name slandered!"
Normally, he would be worried that Kuplo Kopp was going to risk their chance to get these moogles to help him, but at the moment he could not help but agree. Thankfully, Moglin did not seem offended but the sudden outburst.
"Now, now, Ambassador ─ let's not ruffle each other's fur," he said calmly. "I shall of course take your testimony into consideration…"
"If I may, Chieftain: there is little room for trust 'twixt strangers," Kan-E-Senna spoke up again agreeably. "Might we not take this opportunity to learn more of each other?"
Moglin seemed to like that idea and called, "An excellent suggestion, kupo. In the interests of fostering friendship ─ and keeping an eye on you ─ I extend to you the hospitality of Moghome. Prove yourselves worthy of our assistance, and it will be yours. I shall be watching, kupo!"
Alphinaud wondered just what it was that he got himself into. Now that they were offering free labor, the moogles decided that each of them was to be given certain tasks to prove that they had good intentions. Moglin stated that they were giving them the 'Trials of Trustworthiness' and he would see if they were worthy of their aid. One by one, Alphinaud watched his companions approach Moglin, who told them to seek out certain moogles, who would then be the ones charged with giving them their tasks.
When it was his turn, he could not help but feel a little offended that Moglin stated that 'Alphinaud' was as odd a name… and asked if he ever considered changing it to a nice moogle name instead. Well, that would serve a moogle well enough, yet Alphinaud was not a moggle and he pressed on, wanting to know just what it was that he wanted him to do. Though already it was taking a bit of a strain to remain polite.
"He insulted your name too?" Claire asked in amusement as he drew away from Moglin, having been told which moogles would be testing him.
"Yes, and let me tell you that it was all that I could do not to tell him that I think his name odd," he muttered in annoyance and she chuckled.
Unsurprisingly, she went off to find her moogles without protest while he went off to do his own work. Truth be told, it felt no different than doing household chores for them—in fact, he suspected that this was all fairly easy for Claire, who helped people on a daily basis. He could not help though but feel like this was just a waste of time. Yet he bit his lip and refused to say anything no matter how trivial the tasks he was given.
Really though, all he did was clean, carry heavy objects, and go out to collect plants or stones for the moogles before they let him know that he was finished. Out of all of them, Kuplo Kopp was the only one whom did not have to do these 'trials' and was now dancing and playing with his new friends.
But he supposed that was to be expected. Once he was told that he was finished, he stood back, hoping that the others could finish their so called 'trials' soon so that they could start discussing the reason they came here to Moglin. Thankfully, he did not have to wait long.
Claire soon appeared from out of nowhere to inform him that Moglin was ready to speak with them. Alphinaud nodded, though he was really wishing that Claire would stop sneaking up on him like that. He suspected that she was probably not even aware of how light on her feet she was… he could tell that her training with her Doman friends had paid off.
"Are these 'trials' over, then? My tasks have been little more than household chores..." he asked in frustration. If she felt the same way, she hid it well before she informed him of what she had to do, she had been out collecting plants, slayed a few dragons… and even going through all the trouble to find a painted pebble that was considered to be a 'masterpiece' by a moogle.
Alphinaud shook his head exasperatedly before he said, "If our hosts elect not to grant their aid after working us like pack chocobos, I shall demand compensation in Kupo Nuts out of principle."
Claire actually laughed at that and he suddenly found himself calming down a little before he added, "But I hope it will not come to that. Let us hear the chieftain's verdict, shall we?"
Claire agreed wholeheartedly and went to collect the others. As they approached Moglin again, Alphinaud was hearing some of their complaints as well. Like one of the Elder Seedseer's guards was forced to tidy up fallen leaves… while the other was complaining about how Kan-E-Senna, herself, had actually been doing scrubbing and sweeping—though their lady did not look to be too bothered by it.
Now that would have been a sight to see.
Meanwhile, Estinien was muttering under his breath about what he was really thinking about their hosts; while adding a great deal of threats and swearing as well. As for Ysayle, she still seemed struck by the cuteness of all these moogles. It was hard to believe that the woman who earned the nickname 'Iceheart' was enchanted by the fluffiness of these creatures.
Still, the matter was over and they drew near Moglin, who was watching them from his flowering tree, which he was nestled in like a throne.
"Never have I seen such determined workers, kupo! It would have taken us moons to complete all those dreary chores and niggling errands!" he piped up.
Somehow, this didn't surprise him. Yet he knew better than to say otherwise.
"And have our labors proven the purity of our intentions, Chieftain?" Kan-E-Senna asked him with a grace that he suddenly envied.
"Without a doubt!" Moglin bounced around, "In fact, there was never really all that much doubt to begin with... You were, after all, already friends with a fellow moogle. But, you see, before any meeting with Hraesvelgr could take place, certain preparations needed to be made... And what better way to help you pass the time than by having you perform all the tiresome tasks that no one ever wants to do, kupo!"
What? So they did all that for nothing? He wasn't sure if he should laugh or start shouting.
Estinien, who seemed to be on the brink of losing his temper completely the longer that he was here, began to growl menacingly behind them, causing Moglin to freeze in midair. When he looked down at him and saw Estinien fold his arms, an aura of murderous anger hanging around him, causing Moglin to gulp nervously.
"Ohhh dear... Th-The horn! Bring out the horn! Quickly now!" he cried out at once, flapping about wildly.
At his command, another moogle came flying out from around the corner and in its tiny paw was a horn, much like the one that Kuplo Kopp had played before. In fact, it was possibly because of such a glowing statement from Kuplo Kopp, that this moogle came right in front of Claire and held out the horn for her to take.
"We blow on this wondrous instrument whenever we wish to speak with the great wyrm, kupo. We, uh...we haven't perhaps been treating it with the care it deserves of late," Moglin muttered nervously, still glancing nervously at Estinien, before he added, "(and I think Moghan may have sat on it)."
He cleared his throat anxiously.
"So we needed some time for cleaning and polishing (and straightening)," he added before calling out in a would-be-happy voice, "No lasting harm done, though! Now, you need simply head to Zenith ─ the wyrm's dwelling to the west ─ and give the horn a good toot."
That was it? They made them work like that for no other reason than that? It was like they were toying with them from the start! He had to take several calming breaths to prevent himself from following Estinien's example and start hitting something.
'At least we got what we needed in the end,' he thought to himself. Though he couldn't help but also privately think that he hoped that when they found the other Scions, they don't ever find out about what they were forced to do here. He could well-imagine Yda or Thancred never letting him hear the end of this.
"We are in your debt, Chieftain," Ysayle told him gratefully, one of the few who did not seem to be upset about these mindless chores that they had to do. "Thanks to your noble gift, we shall finally have a chance to plead our case to Hraesvelgr."
Moglin nodded, however there was something in the way that he was looking at them that caused him to feel like there was another catch here.
"…Very Possibly, yes," Moglin stated, though the doubt remained there and he added, "...But I wouldn't get my hopes up too high, kupo. The old wyrm isn't terribly fond of...um..."
He seemed hesitant to say the word 'man' as if he feared that he would be insulting them by accident. But Ysayle understood and comforted him by stating, "Your concern is appreciated, but I am quite certain that Hraesvelgr will welcome our overtures."
Alphinaud could only hope that her confidence had merit.
"...Should we ever arrive at his lair," Estinien spoke up in his usual short temper as he turned and headed straight to the entrance like it was painful just standing here. "Come ─ we have squandered enough time already."
Not showing any signs of annoyance or even irritation, Kan-E-Senna, turned her attention back to Moglin.
"Chieftain Moglin, we thank you for your gracious hospitality," she said humbly and Alphinaud had to suppress a snort at the word 'hospitality'. "Though we must soon take our leave, I pray that we may continue to nurture the shoots of this new-sprung friendship 'twixt earth and sky."
At least they have gained new friendships… in fact, Alphinaud could see that the moogles from the land and sky would be seeing more of each other in the near future.
"Of course, of course, kupo!" Moglin called happily, "Visit us whenever you wish! Consider Moghome your home amongst the clouds!"
Kan-E-Senna bowed her head low to him as she told him with light joy in her voice, "This journey has provided us an invaluable opportunity. We must cherish and strengthen the new bonds we have forged."
Though a part of him still felt slighted by all that these moogles put them through, he and the others thanked Moglin politely as well before all of them followed after Estinien. As they neared the exit, he could hear Estinien continuing to mutter under his breath, "Barefaced little bastards... They have played us for fools."
Maybe, but at least it was over. And they did achieve their goal in the end, they have the means to summon Hraesvelgr at long last. It will not be long now…
As the situation fully hit him, he suddenly grew very nervous, and he wasn't the only one. He could hear Ysayle whispering to herself behind him, thinking of their upcoming meeting, "Hraesvelgr... At last, we shall meet again."
He gulped down hard, suddenly feeling a little bit sick in the stomach. While, he was glad to finally get to this long-awaited meeting with the Wyrm-lord… now that they were so close, he started to feel knots of anxiety in him at the thought.
Kuplo Kopp just seemed to be almost out of his mind with joy as he called, "Oh, I have so many wonderful tales to tell my kinsmoogles back in the Twelveswood!"
At least someone here had a good time.
Well, now that they had the horn, it was time for Kan-E-Senna and the others to return to Gridania. He was looking around for Claire, feeling that before they parted ways, they should speak with the Elder Seedseer before she left. Claire appeared silently beside him, making him jump a little, before she explained to him that she spoke with the moogle named Moghan, and he would be their guide to the Zenith.
He nodded to her, yet he could not help but worry that something else may go wrong now that they were so close to the end. Though Estinein had confirmed that the attack had not happened yet, Alphinaud dared not think how long they had been away from Ishgard now. Gods help them if they meet with further delays...
"To the best of my knowledge, we have all that we need for our trip to Zenith. And I believe the Elder Seedseer and her retinue will soon be making the journey back to Gridania," Alphinaud said to Claire in an attempt to distract himself, "It would be remiss of us, I think, not to convey our gratitude to them prior to going our separate ways. Shall we?"
She agreed, and they would do so after they thanked Moghan for being kind enough to show them the way.
But as they meet with the moogle, Moghan seemed to be unusually nervous about something. When Alphinaud asked what was wrong, Moghan asked fretfully, "...Why do I get the feeling my life is in mortal danger? Could it be those berries I had for supper?"
Alphinaud was about to suggest that it might be these berries he spoke of, at least until he heard Estinien whisper behind him, "Must we have this creature as our guide? I would sooner flay the thing than follow it."
That explained that…
Deciding to simply tell Moghan that it was all in his mind, he and Claire told him, Estinien, and Ysayle that they will join them outside in a few short moments once they thanked their other friends. They all understood, though Estinien told them they best hurry up, the three of them left while he and Claire remained behind a little longer.
The two of them approached Kan-E-Senna, who confirmed that they will take the pathway they came back to the Tailfeather. Claire suggested that she could go with them, though Alphinaud suspected that it was mostly out of courtesy to ask since they all knew she was needed here the most right now. Kan-E-Senna thanked her for the offer, but she reassured them that the journey back should not be of any trouble for them, and that they should focus instead on doing whatever they needed to do. And they also promised that they would continue to keep an eye out for the other Scions in their absence before they wished them the best of luck.
"Alphinaud, Claire ─ I do humbly thank you for what has been a most enlightening experience," Kan-E-Senna told them sincerely. "Were it not for your pioneering spirit, the existence of these moogles might never have been revealed to us."
Why was she thanking them? If not for her then they never would have made it this far.
"'Tis we who should be thankful, Elder Seedseer," he countered her respectfully, "Were it not for your timely diplomacy, they would never have chosen to reveal themselves at all." And he then turned to Kuplo Kopp and added, "And 'twas your presence, Kuplo Kopp, that ultimately won us their trust. It must have taken great courage to leave the sanctuary of the Twelveswood, and we are exceedingly glad that you did."
Kuplo Kopp fluttered happily as he squeaked, "It was my pleasure, kupo! I've made so many new friends, and have so many fantastic tales to tell my kinsmoogles back home!'
Yes, and there was bound to be more interaction between these two tribes of moogles in the future. He was glad of that much, at least.
"And it is to our home that we must now return. May you ever walk in the light of the Crystal, my friends," Kan-E-Senna told them, and he could have sworn that he saw her eyes shining in concern for them.
He nodded back, saying, "Safe journey, Elder Seedseer. We too must be on our way. Hraesvelgr awaits."
And he turned, leaving the way that they came…
He stepped back out into the brisk, cold air, and he was surprised to see that the sun was mostly set by now. The days just seemed to be flying by and he could not help but he only realized now just how long they must have been here at Moghome if the day was almost over.
Alphinaud was about to ask Claire what she thought before he realized that she wasn't with him. He looked around worriedly, only to see that Claire and Kan-E-Senna were still speaking to one another inside the cavern.
And, was he perchance imagining the look of apprehension on their faces? Nonetheless, the Elder Seedseer bowed low to her before she, Kuplo Kopp, and her guard turned and left them, heading back to the pathway that would take them down the mountain, and Claire joined him.
"Was there something the matter?" he asked her as she approached.
"Hm? Oh, no…" Claire said, though there was still a hint of worry in her face. "She was merely telling me to be careful."
He nodded as he added, "We have tarried overlong. Let us forge ahead as swiftly as we may, lest Ishgard bear the brunt of the Horde's fury."
"Enough talk. Let us leave this risible place behind us," Estinien called to them in disgust, and he did not seem to notice pensiveness on Claire's face as she looked at him. As if she was concerned for his safety most of all at the moment. Alphinaud frowned a little, wondering what was happening, and about to ask her when Moghan, who had been waiting for them with Ysayle, called to them.
"Have you said your good-byes and dabbed away your tears, kupo?" he called, pushing everything else out of their minds for the moment. "Then we are indeed ready to go!"
Finally… at long last, they were about to walk across the Churning Mists. Alphinaud prepared himself for the worst, half expecting something unforeseen to happen once again, and followed after Moghan.
"As Chieftain Moglin already explained, the shiny instrument we gave you is the best means of grabbing Hraesvelgr's attention," their little guide pipped up as they walked on. "I'll come along, and show you the way to Zenith ─ that's the big palace where you need to blow the horn. First things first, though, we need to make for Asah. Oh...and watch out for rampaging dragons. Hm, maybe that should have been the first thing, kupo."
Alphinaud wished that their moogle guide thought to warn them of the dragons from the start… not that it mattered for it goes without saying that they were in dangerous territory where there were nothing but dragons surrounding them. They continued on dauntingly, though after a thousand years, the ground they were on was so overgrown and beaten apart that it was difficult for them to stay far enough to avoid confrontations.
As they walked, Alphinaud could not help but stare at the countless ruins that they had passed in utter amazement. They had to have been built by people, there was no doubt in his mind… yet how did they get here? That was when he remembered what Ysayle said before about how man and dragon once lived together in harmony…
He looked to the Zenith in the distance and for the first time he found that he could fully believe it. There was no other explanation… for if no one had been here for a thousand years, then it had to be here before all of it.
And seeing it here was giving him an overwhelming sense of sadness.
He could only imagine just what Ishgard would be like if that peace had last… a thousand years of peace sounded too good to be true… yet there had been a chance that it could have happened. Why did this war ever have to happen?
Ysayle suddenly pointed to one of the isolated islands, near the Zenith which held a grand sculpture of a beautiful, young woman with stone wings enfolding around her as her hands were held up in prayer.
"Do you see that sculpture to the west of here? I am all but certain it was carved in the likeness of Saint Shiva," she said with certainty.
Alphinaud looked at it as well…
So that was her? Again, more proof that what Ysayle claimed to be true. Shiva's sacrifice had brought about two centuries of harmony… yet, again, what was it that caused that peace to be broken? He wished that he could know the full story, though he knew not which parts they were missing.
But there wasn't too much time for him to focus on it for at that moment their distraction cost them when several more dragons had spotted them when they strayed too close.
Onwards they would continue, though he could not help but feel like an invader… walking across this land and slaying the inhabitants who attacked them. They eventually found their way to some more ruins that Moghan called Asah, and they ended up finding several moogles were standing guard there.
Thanks to them, Alphinaud had learned that the moogles helped to protect the Zenith for Hraesvelgr. And in return, he helps to protect them and consort his ageless wisdom whenever they ask. It seemed like a fair exchange.
"Things were a bit bitey for a while there, but I think we've arrived in one piece, kupo," Moghan sighed tiredly, "I wonder what has the dragons so awfully snappy... I mean, the bad ones are always bad, but they seem worse than usual."
Well, a full-out battle between them and Ishgard was about to happen at any time so Alphinaud could imagine why they were more aggressive than usual. But it was starting to get late, and they were still a good distance away from the Zenith. He was just starting to wonder if they were going to make it there in time when Moghan looked up at the winds, which were becoming more violent with every second.
"Hmmm…" he said, "We may have a small problem, kupo. When the winds are high like this, Hraesvelgr invariably abandons his lofty perch and heads to the lands below to hunt. If you tried blowing the horn now, I doubt he'd hear it. I suggest we stop at the clearing up ahead and rest until the wind dies down."
Alphinaud had to bite his tongue to keep himself from screaming out a curse. The fates make mock of them once again. To be so close... but if what Moghan said was true, then there was no helping it.
"Who can say when the weather will turn...? I have a mind to make camp," Alphinaud sighed bitterly, only realizing how tired he was at that moment.
Ysayle sighed as well, "And now the very elements conspire to delay our meeting with Hraesvelgr..." she then shook her head hard before she added, "I must be patient."
They all must.
Perhaps this was blessing in disguise, for they were all tired and have yet to have much time to rest since they left Anyx Trine. So they asked Moghan where they would be able to find a safe place to stop for the night and their guide was more than happy to show them. He guided them a little bit further until they were right near the Zenith's doorstep. But in a wide clearing amongst the ruins—only a short distance away.
Once Moghan looked around to make sure that the area was cleared, he bobbed a little in the air as he informed them, "This should do nicely, kupo. The winds will likely have died down by tomorrow, but until then, we might as well make ourselves comfortable!"
Alphinaud agreed that this looked as safe a place as any. But as he thought more of it, and realized that they were going to meet with Hraesvelgr in the morning…
All of a sudden he had to gulp down hard to fight the urge to be sick once again. Not sure if he could hide his anxiety from his comrades, he suddenly felt the need to excuse himself for a moment to gather his thoughts.
"If we must interrupt our journey so close to its end, I suppose this place is as good as any," he said, "And mayhap a brief respite from the hardships of the road will help to clear our minds in readiness for the coming parley."
He felt them all looking at him, but he continued to do his best to hide how nervous he was. He looked around for something to distract his mind, and maybe give him some time alone for a moment. He added with a nod, "Very well, then. I believe a campfire is in order. Leave the gathering of fuel to me ─ I acquired a keen nose for firewood during my time in the frozen wastes of Coerthas."
He then turned and went off before anyone could stop him. Not that he wanted them too… just a moment alone. That was what he needed the most right now.
What was wrong with him anyway?
To try and parley with the dragons had been his idea after all… he shouldn't feel like he wanted to back out now! They did not come all this way for him to give up. But how was one to treat with a dragon? Let alone one as powerful and ancient such as Hraesvelgr?
Strange now that he thought about it… out of all of them… he was the only one whom did not have a connection to a dragon.
Ysayle with Hraesvelgr…
Estinien with Nidhogg… no matter how hated it was…
And Claire with none other than Midgardsromr…
Perhaps the three of them could understand each other in a way that most could not… he did not know what it was like to be so connected with someone else like that—especially with a dragon. Estinien could sense Nidhogg's own feelings of hatred while Claire could feel and hear Midgardsromr's presence wherever she went… and Ysayle was able to see into Hraesvelgr's own past.
Once he realized that, he felt a little… out of place, like he didn't really belong here with them.
He gave his head a shake as he returned to collecting firewood and found some from a dead Trent; one that looked like it had been killed not long ago. He walked up and began to pull some wood from it, knowing that it would serve well.
He had learned from Estinien that they needed dry wood and this looked to be as good as it got. Once he felt that he had collected enough, and calmed himself down, he felt that he was ready to return to the others.
Camp was already set by the time that he returned. Ysayle had collected some plants and herbs as well as used some of the food that Claire had gathered up for the start of a stew. Ysayle confessed that it would be rather plain, but it was better than an empty stomach.
Alphinaud couldn't remember the last time he had something to eat, yet he wasn't sure he would be able to keep anything down in worry for whatever tomorrow would bring.
He approached and dropped the wood down at his feet as they prepared the fire. Estinien was the one who set it up for them, but Alphinaud insisted on trying to light it again, with the Dragoon teasing that it better not take as long as last time.
When Ysayle asked what he was talking about, Estinien explained how the night that they met up with her it couldn't have been any clearer that Alphinaud had never made a fire before in his life and it took forever for him to get it going.
Alphinaud felt his ears turning red as he heard them chuckling, yet he did not mind. He had hoped that this time would be easier since they did not have to worry about all the snow… though this high wind was not helping things. Nevertheless, he pulled out the flint that Estinien had given him and he remembered hard just how he was able to get those sparks last time.
It took him a few tries, but he was able to get the sparks needed to get the fire going, and soon, they were all sitting back comfortably as they let the food cook. Dinner was a quiet affair, with them only having enough for one bowl each… though Claire did share a tiny bit with Moghan, who had never seen anyone cook food like this before.
Still the moggle only took a little sip before saying that he thought that it tasted really good, only for him to go back to the couple Kupo Nuts that he brought with him.
Alphinaud smiled at him as he drank his stew since they did not have any spoons. Though there wasn't much flavor, he could not help but enjoy it greatly, already feeling much better than he had before.
Once they all had something in their stomachs, they even started to tell a few stories as they waited for night to fully settle, and he even laughed when Claire started to tell them all about the misadventures she had been having with a bumbling inspector. In fact, even Estinien and Ysayle were both laughing so hard that there were tears starting to well up in their eyes when Claire told them about how she had been watching them try to catch a thief in Costa del Sol.
"You are jesting!" Estinien roared with laughter. She had just told them how the inspector had actually put on a dress, while his assistant had been fooled completely.
Even Claire was unable to hold herself back as she laughed with them, "I know… but I swear it! He really thought that no one could tell the difference if he put on her dress!"
"What a moron!" Estinien hooted and soon another round of mirth echoed around the place. It was several bells before they were able to calm down enough to realize that it was already very late, with the stars back out and shining so brightly that Alphinaud felt that he could reach out and touch them.
Already he could pick out some of the constellations that Claire had taught him before, and he was secretly proud that he could recall each one with so much clarity. They sat like that, merely enjoying the comfortable silence around them, and it was when he glanced down to look at the fire before he started to speak.
"Ahhh... few things compare to the simple pleasure of sitting beside a crackling campfire of one's own making," he sighed tranquilly as he watched the flames licking at the wood.
"Hah! So speaks the 'great explorer.' Until recently, you wouldn't have recognized firewood if it came with kindling and a flint," Estinien snorted a little, the story of the 'gentleman' inspector having put him in an unusually good mood.
Alphinaud smiled back in amusement, finding himself agreeing how funny all of that seemed all of a sudden.
"'Tis well you instructed me so patiently, then!" he answered back calmly, "But yes, left to my own devices, I would have been compelled to signal to Ysayle with a pile of damp leaves."
In all honesty, he simply spoke the truth. If he had set out on his own then he would doubted that he would be able to have made it passed the Highlands if he didn't have the others there. He only realized just how much he had come to rely on them all.
He looked back to the fire again as he also began to realize just how far he had come since then. They had been travelling together for only a few short weeks, though it felt like it had been years instead. Yet… he still could not help but fell that no matter what he did, he could not hope to match up to them. Not sure why he did it… perhaps because he felt like he needed to get it off his chest after all this time, he started to speak what was on his mind.
"I was born the pampered son of a Sharlayan dignitary, and, alongside my twin, became the youngest student ever to be accepted into the Studium," he explained and he knew that they were all watching him. He suddenly felt like he come out onto a stage, yet it was more comfortable… and painful than he could imagine.
"How proud I was to match wits with scholars and philosophers..." he confessed to them all, "How ignorant of mine own shortcomings... That hubris invited manipulation and betrayal...and led to the downfall of the Scions."
He was wondering just what it was that they could say to him. Would they also blame him for his arrogance? Or would they try to tell him that it was not his fault? He hoped that it was neither for he did not think he could stand hearing them tell him off right now, nor did he think that they could try and push the blame off someone else when he knew that it was through no ones' fault but his own.
But to his surprise, and relief, they did neither of them.
"We all of us are guilty of similar ignorance," Ysayle said softly, as she leaned against a fallen pillar. "How many men lay down their lives, never knowing what it is that they fight for? Never questioning that which they have been taught to believe?"
He had never thought about it like that and looked up to see the sympathetic look on her face before she shut her eyes.
"'Twas only upon meeting Hraesvelgr that I learned the truth hidden within our history," she explained, "Were it not for that chance encounter, I would never have vowed to tear down the Holy See, and expunge the falsehoods with which it fans the flames of conflict. I would have lived and died in ignorance. That the truth has driven me to do terrible things, I cannot deny, but I would rather sin in the pursuit of peace than imagine myself virtuous for perpetuating a needless war."
Was that truly better though? To try and convince yourself that what you were doing was right when you know that your actions had cost others to die? That was what he did after all. He had believed that he wanted to bring the nations together. Only for it to end in disaster.
"If this journey has taught me anything, it is the importance ─ and difficulty ─ of holding to one's convictions in the face of failure...of striving always to replace one's ignorance with knowledge," he said, and his eyes found Claire's. She did not answer him but she still had that kind look in those gentle eyes, still showing that she bore him no grudge. He supposed that was what was keeping him going. He was sure that it was not easy for her either, but she kept going because she had to. That was where he drew his encouragement from… her own determination in the face of hardships…
"You are well on your way, Master Alphinaud," Estinien informed him, getting everyone's attention, "At your age, I was but a fool swinging a spear, with scarcely a thought in my head. Even now, I struggle to acknowledge the misconceptions under which I have labored." He sighed as he looked back at the Zenith shining even in the darkness. "Sitting here, amongst these grand ruins, how can I deny that man and dragon once lived in peace?" And they all looked up at those same ruins, knowing just how he felt.
"But for all that such an age existed, we are now in a time of war. Nidhogg killed my family, and no quirk of history will exonerate him," Estinien went on grimly before he threw another log onto the fire.
"I may be ignorant of how the Dragonsong War began, but if we do not put an end to this conflict now, I can say for a certainty that it will only breed more vengeful souls such as mine," he said, his tone deadly serious. "In my hands resides the power to vanquish a great wyrm. If Ishgard's survival rests on me wielding that power, I will slay Nidhogg myself...orders or no."
Ysayle glared at him.
"Estinien... You gave your word..." she warned him darkly.
Alphinaud was really hoping that they did not decide to start another argument… not now. But to his surprise, that was not the case.
"My word is contingent upon the success of our parley," he answered back calmly. "Show me the strength of your convictions, Lady Ysayle. Convince Hraesvelgr of the righteousness of your cause."
Ysayle leaned back against the rock before she said, a faint smile on her face, "Doubt not but that I shall, dragoon."
That was when Alphinaud realized that was the first time that Estinien had called Ysayle by her real name. It could be that… he was also starting to believe in a brighter future as well. Perhaps they had learned that there was still hope. Alphinaud, too, was starting to believe that they could pull this off and finally end the war. It would all depend on tomorrow.
He looked up at the sky, smiling as he felt the wind starting to die down.
"Well...winds willing, we shall have our answers on the morrow," he answered, "Let us sleep now, and face our fate with the rising of the sun..."
They remained in that relaxed silence for a short time, at least until the weariness seemed to finally be settling in and they were soon discussing who would take the first watch. While all of them agreeing on one thing was often difficult, they all did decide that they were not to stay here without having one person awake at all times. In the end, Alphinaud volunteered to stay up so that they could all get some rest. Though, truthfully, he was too anxious to leave room for sleep at the moment.
They agreed to let him, though Estinien had informed him that he was to wake him should he get tired and start to nod off. After Alphinaud reassured them that he would do just that, Estinien leaned his back up against a boulder and fell into a light doze. Claire and Ysayle had fallen asleep soon after as well, and though neither one said anything, Alphinaud suspected that they were both still tired after all that they had been up to the last few days.
He did not mind, however, for they had more than earned a peaceful night's sleep at the very least. And he wanted to help give them that. And so, he kept watch well into the night, his senses tuned in to every little sound, trying to detect if it was just the wind or an approaching enemy.
He could not deny that he was uneasy being the only one up at the moment… yet seeing how at ease his companions were, he had a strong feeling that there was no need to worry. Besides, should something come along, he was sure that they would all be up in a flash and ready for a fight.
The night wore on and the whole time his mind was still racing, wondering just what the right words would be to use when they would meet with Hraesvelgr. Would he welcome their plea for peace? Or would he dismiss them? There was still so much about the Dragonsong War that they did not know. To the Ishgardians, the war started because the dragons attacked them, but according to Ysayle she had seen a vision of the past and claimed it was the other way around. How could two versions of the same story be so different?
If what Ysayle said was true, and he had no reason to think that she was lying, then there was a good chance that their parley would not be headed. But he was hanging onto the hope that Hraesvlgr's desire of ending this war would overpower any negative feelings that the wyrm-lord felt towards man. In all this time, he had never once taken a side in this war, and showed no interests in doing so… this was their one and only chance and he was not willing to let their chance go so easy.
And should the worst happen, he was glad that the Azure Dragoon and the Warrior of Light were there with them.
He looked across the fire—which was hardly more than glowing embers now—to their Moogle guide. Out of all of them, he seemed to like Claire the most and was curled up like a fluffy, squeaking pillow at her side, both of them sleeping very peacefully.
That was when Alphinaud's eyes looked up to Claire's face and watched her gentle breaths for a time. Truthfully, it was strange to see her sleeping. In all the time that he had known her, she was always the last one down but the first one up, always ready to go at a moment's notice.
Yet now, for the first time, he was seeing her completely at ease with the world around her. From how contentedly that she and the others were, you would never guess that they were actually countless malms above the earth and in dangerous territory, infested with dragons.
He supposed that having nerves of steel was just a requirement for ones who volunteered to come along on such a mission.
Alphinaud had to admit that he did like to see her like this. Not have to worry or fight every second of the day and able to take respite from the harshness of the world for a short time. To see the faintly shining embers gleam on her face, she suddenly looked much younger than he had ever seen her. That was when he remembered just how young she really was—only a few summers older than he—and look at how far she had come?
It felt so long ago when she was just one of the countless, nameless adventurers, coming to Eorzea to make a name for themselves. Hard to believe that one person had carried the fate of the entire realm on her back on many occasions. How did she do it?
"You know, I was joking when I said that you were fretting like a maid for her sweetheart," chuckled an amused voice and Alphinaud jumped so badly that it took every ounce of willpower not to yell out. He looked next to him to see that Estinien was smiling slyly at him.
"Estinien?" he said whispering a little louder than necessary as his heart calmed down. "I thought you were asleep."
"I was," he snickered, "I woke up a few minutes ago. I was just about to tell you to get some rest when I noticed that you were busy admiring our travelling companion." He then looked over to where Claire was sleeping and shook his head with a soft chuckle.
"What is so funny?" Alphinaud demanded quietly, the tips of his ears turning red and he was secretly glad that the others weren't awake to hear Estinien tease him again.
"You've done nothing for a while but stare at her, I'm guessing?" he reminded him playfully and Alphinaud looked away bitterly.
"We go to speak with Hraesvelgr when the sun rises," he reminded him coldly, "It comforts me to know that we'll be ready for whatever comes our way."
"Ah," Estinien chuckled again, but that smile never faded from his mouth. "There's no need to be shy though, I will admit that she truly is lovely to the eyes. Svelte yet… voluptuous." He grinned even wider when he saw the red deepening on Alphinaud's face. "Hard to believe that she is able to match strength with primals time and time again. But you wouldn't have guessed it with how well you took their departure before."
Why couldn't he let that go? What was wrong with being concerned?
"Is it wrong to worry for the safety of friends?" Alphinaud asked grimly, gazing at the embers again. "I am well-aware that she had fought primals countless times before, but this plan was dangerous at best. You were the one who pointed out that we knew nothing about the Gnath's god, and that there was a chance that Claire—that both of them—" he added quickly, "could've been heading off to their deaths. Should anything have gone slightly wrong… if things had turned out any differently…? Of course I was worried."
"Oh, I know that," Estinien admitted. "I was making fun. Seeing how I couldn't finish doing so before with Lady Iceheart scolding me."
"This journey may have gone easier if you had not been so keen on trying to get a rouse out of Lady Ysayle," Alphinaud reminded him, his eyebrows raised, reminding him that Ysayle was more than just what that nickname was. "She truly does wish to put an end to this war once and for all. And though I cannot say that I like her methods, I do understand her desire all too well."
"I did not contradict you," Estinien admitted, his tone back its usual disinterested frostiness. "I can also understand. After a thousand years of war, then I would think that anyone would be desperate enough to do almost anything to end it. But it's hard to remember that when you think of the horde attacking Foundation."
Like that, the cold air seemed to turn even colder at the mention of what happened at Foundation. Alphinaud had not been there, so he did not see what had happened to the city, but from what he had heard of it, the attack was bloody. He could only imagine the anger and fear that was in each Ishgardians at the sight of all those dragons attacking from the sky.
He did not dare asked Estinien, however. He did not wish to know.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, listening to the wind continuing to whistle through the empty ruins and the occasional grunt or snarl of a faraway dragon, or even the little squeaking from Moghan.
"If someone had told me then that I would be travelling to a floating island in an attempt to parley with the very beings that I dedicated my life to trying to rid the world off with such company, I would be questioning their sanity," Estinien suddenly spoke up as he looked over each and every one of them. "The heretic's own mistress and champion of dragons, along with the second Azure Dragoon and Warrior of Light, as well as a boy who didn't even know how to start a fire when we first met… the oddest company if ever there was one."
"The second…?" Alphinaud asked in surprise, looking back at him, "You mean… Claire's an Azure Dragoon too?"
Estinien looked at him in surprise. "You don't know?"
Alphinaud shook his head and he had a sneaking suspicion that Estinien was rolling his eyes.
"Aye," he commented as he leaned his back up against a slab of stone once again. "There had always been one Azure Dragoon every generation. So imagine my surprise to find out that the eye had chosen another." He picked up a long branch at his side and poked grimly at the ashes of their fire before he went on speaking. "It was about twenty years ago when I lost my family and my town of Ferndale to Nidhogg's flames. My father… my mother… even my own little brother… I remember returning home only to find them dead all too clearly, and it has haunted my mind every single day since then. It was then that I vowed that I would not rest until I became a warrior and avenge them by taking Nidhogg's head."
Alphinaud stared up at him, suddenly horrified. What would that be like? Returning home only to find your whole family dead and your home burned to the ground? He could not put into words just how horrifying a thought that was. He did not know what he would have done if that had been him. What could anyone possibly do should they be forced to experience that? Suddenly, Estinien's hatred for dragons all seemed to make perfect sense.
"That was when the former Azure Dragoon took me in and I learned much from him…" Estinien went on, "I eventually became strong enough that the eye had chosen me. But when I heard the rumors of Nidhogg awaking once more, I knew that I had to do something."
"And so you stole the eye," Alphinaud said, thinking back to what Estinien had said about Nidhogg's eye before.
"Yes," he admitted. "The eye had always been kept under tight guard. Only the Azure Dragoon was allowed to use it… but no one would ever have guessed that it would be the Azure Dragoon who would steal it. I took it so that I would be able to keep the wyrm focused on me, rather than the city."
"I cannot tell if that is incredibly brave… or mayhaps foolish," Alphinaud informed him, thinking that over. "What if Nidhogg had come after you? You, yourself, said several times now how powerful he truly is. You would be dead and he would have reclaimed his missing eye, thus regaining his full strength and power."
"Yes, but I needed to do something to keep his attention away from the city," Estinien reasoned. "And until recently, he had been focused solely on me. I do not know what it was that drew his gaze, but Nighogg seems more intent on destroying the city than reclaiming his stolen eye."
"But what does this have to do with Claire?" Alphinaud pressed on curiously. "I have not seen her come in contact with the eye, so how do you…?"
"The man I mentioned before, Ser Alberic, the former Azure Dragoon, had requested the aid of a strong Lancer to help reclaim the eye after I had stolen it," Estinien explained as he turned his head to look over at Claire. "I could not believe it… That Ishgard would resort to sending coin-starved adventurers after me? I did not know whether to laugh or feel insulted. When I first encountered her, however, the eye awoke… something that it had not done since it had chosen me."
"I see," Alphinaud said thinking it all over and suddenly he remembered something. "When I first met you at Camp Dragonhead, it was clear that you and Claire already knew each other, though I did not ask."
"Never in history has the eye chosen more than one Azure Dragoon in a generation. Once he learned of this, Ser Alberic decided to train her as a Dragoon after that," Estinien went on. "I was fascinated in this nobody adventurer whom the eye had deemed worthy. As I travelled the land hunting for Nidhogg, I would spy her sometimes travelling across Coerthas as well, testing her strength against the beasts and dragons who lived there as she trained in the frozen weather."
Alphinaud could hear the inquisitiveness in his tone and informed him, "You sound impressed."
"It had taken me many years to grow as strong as I am now, yet she was mastering the art faster than I had… faster than anyone else ever had," Estinien informed him. "I then made myself known to her and Ser Alberic. Asking for a parley at Boulder Downs so that we could speak. I came out and told them the reasons I had for stealing the eye and my hopes that I could join forces with Claire."
"Really?" Alphinaud asked in surprise before he understood. "You said in the last thousand years, no single Azure Dragoon had ever been able to defeat Nidhogg. I see, so you hoped that with two…?"
"Then this would give us the edge needed to finish off the accursed beast once and for all," Estinien finished with a nod. "Yet by the time that Nidhogg was about to awaken, and I requested the two of them to meet me at the Steel Vigil…"
His teeth suddenly gritted together hard and Alphinaud wondered what caused this sudden surge of anger.
"Through the eye, I am able to feel what Nidhogg feels… I was able to discover certain events from his past… that was when I found out the truth," he said bitterly. "Ser Alberic… the man who raised me and taught me the art of the Dragoon… the man whom I had come to love as a father… had been a coward. The last time that Nidhogg had awoken and attacked Ferndale, Ser Alberic had driven his spear right into the dragon's empty eye socket. That was when he met Nidhogg's gaze and he became overwhelmed with the wyrm's rage. You see… the Azure Dragoon is connected to the dragons… that is what gives us our strength. Afraid that he would become enthralled by the dragon, he chose to relinquish the power of the Dragoon and that was how he was able to free himself from Nidhogg's influence. Yet, that meant that there was no one left to stop the damn creature from razing my village to the ground and killing everyone I had ever known and loved. He was only able to save one child… me… and he had never told me what had happened."
Alphinaud stared at him, unsure as to how to answer that. But before he could even try to think of something to say, Estinien continued on.
"A Dragoon must take care never to allow their emotions to overcloud their resolve," he sighed grimly. "But my anger at what I learned had caused me to forget all about that. I confronted him and demanded the truth… and I believe I may have gone as far as the kill Ser Alberic had Claire not stepped in."
"And you both battled?" Alphinaud guessed, suddenly understanding Estinien's words the day that he had met him—how he was no longer without peer in battle.
"Aye," Estinien answered back, "She wished to protect Ser Alberic and we clashed furiously at the ruined vigil. A battle I will never forget. For I felt the raw strength in her lance that day. In the end, she had beaten me fair. But that was when I lost complete control of my emotions. I wanted more… more power to crush her and Ser Alberic both. That was when Nidhogg heard me and I very nearly lost myself the same way that Ser Alberic almost did all those years ago."
"What happened?" Alphinaud asked, unable to turn his gaze away from him, his nails digging into his arms as he waited anxiously to hear the end like how a small child would when they wanted to finishing hearing the end of a bedtime story. He knew not how they could've gotten out of that mess if Estinien had given in to Nidhogg's control.
"I still do not know how it happen… or why…" Estinien said, and there was a faint trace of awe in his voice. "Mayhaps I was seeing things… or part of some dragon mind-control, but I could've sworn that Haldrath had appeared before me to aid Claire."
"Haldrath?" Alphinaud cried out, his eyes wide and his jaw falling open. "The first Azure Dragoon? But he died over a thousand years ago! How is it possible?"
He spoke loud enough that Claire and Ysayle stirred slightly and he stopped talking until both calmed down and returned to their deep sleeps.
"But how is that possible?" Alphinaud pressed on in a quiet voice, not wishing to wake them up needlessly. "Are you sure?"
"I do not know," Estinien admitted as he thought it over. "But for that brief moment when I attacked Ser Alberic, Claire stood in the way and I saw the spirit of Haldrath appear in her place. With a great burst of light, Nidhogg's influence was banished from my mind and I was myself again. Badly injured, but myself again."
"But… but how?" Alphinaud asked again in utter amazement at the story. "How did you break free? And how was Haldrath's spirit able to appear like that?"
"Whatever happened, I am thankful for it," was all Estinien could say. "Though I have not said it to her, I think that she understands my unspoken words of gratitude. I do not think that even she knows just what befell in that battle any more than I do, and to be honest I rather not know."
Alphinaud thought that over, wondering just what it would be like to suffer such a fate. Would it be like becoming enthralled to a primal? To lose your mind and dedicate your life of servitude to a malevolent power only to die a shadow of your former self? What a terrible fate that would be… and he felt his heart ache painfully at the thought of it—with his grandfather's face appearing in his mind's eye and how he had once been reduced to something like that…
He was just grateful that he had been saved in the end…
"Do you… do you still hate Ser Alberic for his decision?" he asked apprehensively.
Estinien did not answer for a long time, in fact, he was quiet for so long that Alphinaud wasn't sure if he had fallen asleep again. But eventually, the Dragoon spoke up when he found an answer, "I can never fully forgive him for what happened to my family, knowing that he could've done something to stop Nidhogg. But… I now understand why he did it. I, myself, had fallen prey to Nidhogg before and would've become… I do not know what… but at least I was able to return to myself in the end. So, while I cannot blame him for his choice, I find it difficult to forgive him."
Alphinaud looked back to Claire's sleeping form and said softly, "She never talks about herself. I never knew any of this."
"Aye, I learned that a long time ago," Estinien agreed, looking over at her as well. "A silent guardian, content to watch events unfold with minimal interaction. Only stepping in when she feels that she has to. I had never met anyone like her before."
"Agreed," Alphinaud stated grimly before he lowered his head in shame. "After my mistake caused the downfall of the Scions, I had thought for sure that she would not want anything to do with me. We were framed for a crime that we were innocent of and branded as criminals. In the end, we were forced to flee from the very lands that we worked so hard to protect and seek sanctuary elsewhere while our comrades went missing to buy time for the light of hope to escape. The Warrior of Light… the once-honored hero and guardian of Eoreza… now a hunted fugitive."
He sighed at the memories of what happened that night paraded across his vision until he could almost swear that he was back there. But still, he went on speaking.
"I was all but certain that she would be furious with me for allowing this to happen. But she never blamed me… not once. She just continued to stay like she always had done."
Thinking about it now… before… he was independent to a fault… he hated asking for help from anyone. Yet, he had no problem accepting it, and even asking, from her. He looked up to the star-scattered sky and he knew the answer. She never complains and always gets the job done. He knew that. He knew that he could always rely on her help. That was why she was always the first one he thought of should there be work that we needed finished. Even now… after all this, she continues on without a word of protest and follows through with it—often going above and beyond to see a task done.
"I think she just knows that there's no point in blaming yourself for what happened," Estinien informed him, and Alphinaud realized that he had almost forgotten that he wasn't alone here. "You made mistakes before and you are paying the price. But you are both still alive and have a chance to set things right. Getting upset and cursing your fate won't change any of that. But you are lucky that she's the most patient person alive. Had it been anyone else, I feel that you may not have gotten off so easily. I fought against her and I know full well the kind of strength that she has. Hard to believe that she had become my equal and even superior as a Dragoon in the short time that she had been training. Did you know that she even started to mentor a rival of mine?"
"Truly? She started to teach other Dragoons?" Alphinaud asked in great surprise once again.
"Funny how it worked out," Estinien said in amusement. "Her name is Heustienne. And she had once helped to train Claire when she first began to walk the path of the Dragoon, herself. As an adventurer, Claire has fought fiends all across the realm. Because of this, she had learned to enhance our techniques and evolve them to such a point that she can fight differently than those who fight solely dragons. Heustienne and I were almost equal in strength at all times. She is the best Dragoon we had in all of Ishgard, second only to me. Yet, even so, she wanted to grow stronger. And what better mentor than an Azure Dragoon?"
"This Heustienne sounds like a fearsome opponent," Alphinaud confessed. "She must be strong if you think so highly of her."
"She has to be," Estinien said, more to himself than to Alphinaud and the latter raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What does that mean?" he asked politely, wish that once, just once, he could see Estinien's expression through the armored helmet.
"Like me, she is an orphan of the war," Estinien answered coolly. "It's the same story for countless others. One told so often that I think it ceases to mean anything anymore in this world of death and loss." He sighed softly before he added, "In this world you only have two choices. Either lay down and die or grow stronger and move on. You can curse the hand that fate had dealt you with all you want, but what you do with it is up to you."
Alphinaud looked away, guilt starting to settle inside him as he thought about all the suffering that he had seen in his life. Both in Ishgard and the rest of Eorzea… and how… disconnected he had been about it at first.
"I fear that I would relate little to that," he disclosed grimly as he glanced up to the women once again. "I lived a sheltered and privileged life. I would not go as far as to say that my sister and I were spoiled, but we had more than enough. Even at a young age I discovered that I had a gift for words. I was able to match anyone in almost every argument, except for, perhaps, my grandfather. I believe that had made me arrogant from a young age. I see now that I have no one to blame but myself for what happened to the Crystal Braves. After their betrayal, I am truly ashamed at how pitiable I must have appeared. But with the help of my companions, my spirit was renewed and I was able to press on. Though why they choose to stand by me is something I still can't claim I know."
"That is what comrades are for," Estinien offered, looking back down at him thoughtfully. "Though I cannot say that I am an expert on the matter, for I have been travelling alone for a long time now. In a way, you are lucky… for you did not have to continue on your own as I have."
Alphinaud thought that over for a while and realized that he was right. They had fallen on hard times, yes… they were hobbled and their numbers were all but destroyed all in the course of one night. But there was still hope for a brighter future for Eorzea.
"It is hard to understand what another has gone through unless you go through it yourself," Estinien admitted. "But betrayal is never a good feeling no matter who it is. I cannot tell you just how much it hurt me to learn of Ser Alberic. But it is good to know that you will always have comrades whom you can always turn to for help."
"Yes," Alphinaud agreed, smiling again, that terrible ache inside him easing at the thought. "I learned the hard way that there are few things in this world that are more precious than unconditional support. Something that I vow to never take for granted again."
"Something we both have in common," Estinien smiled a little sadly. "I had vowed never to let my emotions cloud my judgement. To become a creature whom had given my people a thousand years of suffering and had taken my family from me… I rather die than let something like that happen. I was lucky… but I must always remain guarded. Nidhogg will not hesitate to try and claim me a second time."
The silence that followed after that was the longest one yet. The two of them sat there for what felt like years as the stars moved overhead, heading on deeper into the night and to the inevitable dawn that would arrive.
"Get some rest, Master Alphinaud," Estinien said at long last. "We leave at first light and we must be at full strength for whatever comes next."
"What of you?" Alphinaud asked in concern.
"You need not worry," he answered back calmly, "I have rested enough. You are the one who needs it more than I do right now."
And as he said it, Alphinaud suddenly had trouble keeping his eyes open and he was fighting the urge to yawn. Instead, he nodded and laid back onto the ground, staring up at the sky—seeing how the stars slowly starting to fade as dawn was starting to come. Suddenly he wondered if he would ever tell his sister about everything he had seen and done. He had come a long way, and though he couldn't have hoped to have done it on his own, he was at least able to keep up with everyone here.
"Estinien?" he asked unexpectedly. "Did you ever feel like you were being used? I had thought the Crystal Braves mine until the moment I felt the sword of betrayal at my neck… but thinking back, was I just using them to my own ends? Only to have been the one who was used all along?"
Again, Estinien took his time to answer as he thought the question over.
"I had often felt like I was being used by the church in the war," he answered. "But I was a willing pawn. I wanted to fight and protect my people as well as to get revenge on Nidhogg. You think that you have been used as a pawn? Or maybe even used others? That's something only you can figure out. We all must carry our prisons with us, Master Alphinaud. For me… it is my unrelenting lust for revenge. For the Warrior of Light? It is her compassion… it's like she cannot turn her back on anyone, or anything, when they ask for help. If she thinks that she is being used as well, then that is most likely her choice. As for Lady Iceheart? It is her desire for peace between man and dragon. While there may be no bars entrapping us, they are no less a prison. You would do well to remember that."
"Indeed I shall," Alphinaud promised him. "And forgive me for saying it. But I believe that that it is nothing short of astonishing. After all that you three had gone through but still continue on with the fight. Not just anyone can do that."
Estinien grunted at the praise before he finished up, "They say that those who suffer terrible misfortune in their lives are favored by the gods. I'm starting to think that it is true. Now, for the last time, get some sleep. Or I shall take great enjoyment in telling Claire how enchanted you were by watching her sleep all night."
"Don't you dare," Alphinaud snarled darkly, as he rolled over onto his side, his back to Estinien and hiding how red his face was. Yet, he could've sworn he heard his armored companion snigger once more.
But from where he laid, he could just make out Claire's face once more and looked on sadly for just a brief moment. He did not know what else he could do… he was well-aware that there was still a long way to go. But the fact remained was that he did not want to use Claire or anyone else ever again.
He did not want to have to spend the rest of his life turning to her for help. He did not know what he could do… but he did know one thing for sure.
After travelling alongside her all this time, he wanted to do whatever it took to help her. He may not be able to fight alongside her as an equal on the field of battle or against a primal… but he decided that he wanted to fight with her wherever he could. And that was all he wanted.
He shut his eyes and soon found himself drifting off. But that was when he realized something very important. There are faces that one looks at to feel at ease… and she just happened to be that for him.
Once he soared, high amidst the sky, only to be fell by his own two hands. Now he walked on, with naught but his own two feet, and his companions, guided by the light to meet the new dawn.
He did not mention it, yet he felt closer to these three misfits then he could ever remember feeling closer to anyone… little did he know that this would be the last night that the four of them would continue together.
(How was it? Been spending a week playing 3.1 and I only wish that the main quest storyline was longer. Anyway, it was this scene that really got me to start writing this story. After spending that night talking to each other, I was thinking about what may be going through Alphinaud's head that whole time. For fun, I wrote out this chapter only for me to start wondering about the whole story and soon I found myself writing one bit after another. Anyway, I hope that you like this chapter. And I think that I decided to try and do one chapter a week. I hope that you all agree on that and let me know what you think.)
Wes300: Well, I hope that it kept you entertained while you waited for 3.1. Good luck with all future explorations.
