Chapter 14!

Hope you'll enjoy it!

I do not own the characters or the locations of Tales of Symphonia.

Since Anna could remember she hated the feel of gels. The way how they were absorbed by her skin always gave her chills. And the fact that Phaidra was right now looking at her scarred back didn't make her feel exactly more comfortable.

"All done" the elderly woman said and bandaged Anna again. "Seriously?" she looked over her shoulder "That was fast." "If you know how it doesn't take long. It looks good so far…" "But?" Anna asked. She heard Phaidra sigh silently. "It is going to take a while till the cut is fully closed. It is rather large." Anna simply nodded. "That's okay." It's not like I have something better to do, but to wait.

"And I'm afraid it will leave a scar" the elderly woman added. Suddenly Anna smiled. "One more won't make a difference" she said. The young woman caught Phaidra looking at her back a bit too long. After she had realized that Anna was watching her she turned her head away slightly embarrassed.

"I'm sorry. I should be more considerate" Phaidra answered. The young woman shook her head. "No, it's okay. I know it must look strange and well, gross. I can't blame you. I would stare too." Phaidra looked at her worried. Then she gave her a white dress. The fabric was soft and smelled fresh. It was the kind of clothing Anna had worn Luin. "Here. Your other clothing was damaged and full of blood. I tried everything but I couldn't get the blood out. I had to throw it away."

Anna took it and smiled slightly. Suddenly she asked "So you…dressed me after I got here?" Her cheeks turned deep red. Phaidra smiled and answered softly "Yes, but don't be embarrassed. I'm a mother and a woman. There was nothing I haven't seen before. And my husband wasn't even close when I did that" she winked at her "I didn't want him to see such a pretty woman. I'm too old to look for another husband."

Anna nodded, but her cheeks were still red. She turned around, took the shirt off she was wearing and got into the dress. She was surprised how well it fitted. "Is that one of yours?" Anna asked. She and the woman were about the same height. Phaidra shook her head. "No, one of my daughters. But since she isn't here at the moment, she doesn't need it." Anna tilted her head. "Why is she gone?" Phaidra smiled. "My children are spread across Sylvarant. My son is married and lives in Palmacosta. My older daughter is married and my other one is engaged. They are both on a pilgrimage. They will return in one or two months. But I guess they will soon settle down somewhere else."

The brown haired woman looked a bit confused. "Why do you think that? Is it normal for the children here to move away when they get married? Where I come from most of the people stay in their hometown." If Anna hadn't been captured, she probably would have stayed in Luin until the day she had died.

Phaidra smiled sadly. "No, actually it's not normal, but my family is obliged to do it. So that in case of a catastrophe not the whole family is wiped out." "I don't understand" Anna answered truthfully. The blond woman closed her eyes for a moment. She looked quite sad. "Because my family is the family of the Chosen One." Anna's jaw dropped. "We have to do everything to make sure that the line of the Chosen won't be broken. That's why we are spread across the whole world. It's a wonderful duty, but sometimes it makes me sad that my children are so far away from me. But perhaps my youngest daughter stays with me here in Iselia."

"So…so the Chosen One…is…" Anna stammered. Phaidra nodded. "Yes, she is my cousin. She is doing well, I hope. I haven't heard from her for a while, but according to my knowledge she broke two seals till now. I pray for her every day." Pray that she won't make it! Anna thought shocked. She couldn't believe that from all the people of Sylvarant a member of this particular family had saved her. The family that was doomed to sacrifice a young girl for a journey that promised salvation. If they would only know what this journey really meant. Anna knew that an early death was a better fate for the Chosen than fulfilling her mission. Losing someone's memories, his heart and his soul was worse than the most painful death.

"Everything alright?" Phaidra asked. Anna needed some moments to answer. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just…I would have never thought that…I'm just surprised that's all." The elderly woman smiled. "Good. But you don't have to treat me special or anything. My cousin is the Chosen One not me." With one hand she touched Anna's forehead. "Well, you feel a bit hot and your skin is pale. You are sure you don't want to eat more?" The food Phaidra had brought her was mostly left untouched. Anna couldn't swallow the smallest bite.

"Yes, I'm sure. But…may I have some water?" she asked. "Of course, my dear" Phaidra said and smiled at her kindly. It didn't even take two minutes to get Anna a cup of water. The water felt pleasantly cool in her throat. "Thanks" she said silently. The elderly woman caressed her hand. "You should get some sleep. You are still exhausted." Before Anna could protest, she raised her hand and said "Don't try to act brave! I have three children. I know when someone needs sleep. Don't worry! You are safe here."

Anna looked at her. Then she gave in. "Alright. I'll rest. But…" she hesitated "how can I ever repay you for all this?" "You can repay me by recovering" Phaidra said kindly "And now sleep for a while.

Anna let herself sink into the soft pillow as soon as Phaidra had left the room. It was so soft! It felt like a cloud, but exactly that would make it for Anna impossible to fall asleep. She looked out of the window. It was probably past midday, but the sun was still high in the sky. The wind was rustling through the leaves. It was a sound that could lull everyone to sleep, but Anna was too worried to even think about sleep.

She had no idea, what had happened after she had passed out. She could only guess what had happened and that was worse than anything else. Had Yuan's plan worked or not? Was Kratos back in Derris Kharlan or not? She didn't know. She knew nothing.

Anna clenched her fists. "I'm such an idiot!" she said angry into the pillow. The more she thought about it the more logical it became. He had to be back in Derris Kharlan. There was no other explanation. If he had resisted, Yuan would have killed her. Her being alive proved that Yuan's plan had worked.

"It worked…" she whispered and felt how tears were running down her cheeks. With one fist she hit the pillow. Like always when she was she sad Anna was also angry. And right now she was furious. "You useless human! He told you not to walk off alone! He told you a million times! But you don't listen! You never do!" she said between her sobs "That's your fault! Yours only! If you hadn't been so stupid this wouldn't have happened! You stupid, little…"

She insulted herself for quite some time till all the anger was out or at least till she was too exhausted to proceed. But even though she was so tired she couldn't stop thinking about him. She couldn't stop blaming herself.

Eventually she was so annoyed by herself that she sat up and said angry "Stop the self pity! Stop it! That's not going to help you! It didn't at the ranch and it won't help you now! Pull it together! He's gone and crying won't change that. You have to live with that. Crying is okay but dwelling in self pity is not!"

Anna wiped some tears away and looked out of the window. It looked so wonderfully peaceful how the wind brushed through the trees. "I'm sorry I walked off" she whispered, knowing that no one was listening. She took a deep breath. "It's going to be okay. Focus on the present. Just sleep now and worry about the rest later." The young woman lay down again. However, her self control crumbled after a few moments. She started sobbing again. Not knowing what had happened was awful and hurt quite a bit…but knowing that you lost the one you love hurt far more.

She blinked. Her vision was a bit blurred. She blinked again. After a second Anna jumped up and even fell out of the bed. "Ouch!" she said and touched her head. Then she looked at the reason for her fall. Two children were standing next to the bed and looked at her quite startled, but also curious. A boy and a girl. Both were probably not older than seven. The boy had black curly hair and the girl had the same hair that she wore in pigtails. And they had the same brown eyes. Most likely brother and sister. The girl however seemed to be older than the boy.

"And with whom do I have the pleasure?" Anna asked and got up. The children made a step backwards. They looked frightened. "Hey, don't be afraid. I don't bite, well at least not very often. My name is Anna" she said smiling. Some moments passed then the girl said silently "T-Teresa." "That's a pretty name, Teresa. And is this your little brother?" "I'm not little!" the boy protested and pouted.

Anna smiled. "Oh I'm sorry. Of course you're not small! But I still don't know your name." The boy seemed to think about if he could trust her or not, but eventually he answered "Toby." "Nice to meet you!" Anna tilted her head "So why did you wake me up?" Both looked a bit embarrassed at the ground. "Did Phaidra let you visit me?" she asked.

Suddenly Teresa pleaded "Don't tell Phaidra that we woke you up! We promised not to!" "She'll be angry with us!" Toby added and looked terrified by the possibility that the woman could be angry at him. Anna touched the boys head. "I promise I won't tell her, but only if you tell me why you came here in the first place" the woman said.

The children nodded. "Phaidra told us that she has a visitor. A special one" Teresa explained.

"Special?" Anna raised her eyebrows.

"Uh hu! Because Jonathan found you alone in the woods!" the girl answered.

"Jonathan?"

"That's her husband!" Toby replied.

"Ah right. She already told me that he found me" Anna said.

The boy plucked at her dress. "Why were you in the woods? Phaidra doesn't want to tell us!"

"Because…" Anna didn't know how to explain that to a child "Because…I…was on a…pilgrimage and then…I got hurt. But thanks to…Martel Jonathan found me." It felt wrong to use Martel's name like this.

"Why were you hurt?" Toby asked. "I was…reckless. That's why I got hurt." That was true. She had been reckless. Anna felt how the guilt rose in her chest again.

"Why? What did you do?" the boy asked.

"I…ah…" but the woman was interrupted by the girl.

"Mommy says that you were stupid to get so close to the ranch and says that that was your own fault" Teresa said with the innocence of a child.

"Well, tell your mother…." but Anna could stop her temper just in time "…Tell your mother that she's right. It's really stupid to get so close to the Human ranch." Actually she would have liked to tell that woman everything, but that. But not in front of her children.

"So it's true!" Teresa said with big eyes "Desians hurt you!" No, not Desians! A Seraph and he should go to hell for that!" she thought full of anger. "Well, I…" Anna started.

"Teresa! Toby! What did I say about waking her up?" Phaidra said from the door "I told you that she needs her sleep!"

"We didn't wake her up!" Teresa protested "She was already up!" Toby nodded energetic.

"Is that true?" the woman asked Anna.

The young woman smiled and answered "Yeah. I got up and a few minutes later those two ambushed me." Toby grinned.

Phaidra sighed. "Alright. But next time she is asleep, you are not allowed to visit her."

"Aww! Why not? She likes us!" Toby answered.

"When did I say that?" Anna asked.

"You don't like us?" Teresa asked.

"Of course I like you!" the young woman replied quickly.

"Stop besieging her! She's barely out of bed and you don't even let her catch her breath. Let her eat something" Phaidra said strictly. More kindly she added "You must be starving, Anna."

"Actually I'm not…" she began, but Toby cut her off. "You must eat Phaidra's cooking! It's so tasty! Mommy doesn't cook so well!" He took her by the hand and pulled her to the door. "Don't let your mother hear you!" Phaidra warned the boy.

"But it's true!" he answered. The elderly woman laughed and Anna couldn't suppress a smile either.

Lead by Toby she went downstairs into a kitchen with a big table. Anna could smell something quite delicious and her stomach rumbled. Teresa giggled. Anna's cheeks were slightly pink when she sat down. Toby was sitting to her left and Teresa to her right. "Ähm…where…" Anna said and tried to ignore the curious looks of the children "…where is your husband?" Phaidra put something that looked like stew into a bowl. "He's at the Temple of Martel. He shows the tourists and the pilgrims around. He'll be here by sunset" the woman replied cheerfully.

She put the bowl on the table and gave Anna a spoon. "I hope you like it!" Phaidra said smiling. "Thanks! I'm sure I will. It smells delicious!" she replied, but before the spoon had even touched her lips Toby asked "Why are holding the spoon in your left hand?"

"Because I'm left handed" Anna answered.

"And why?"

"I don't know."

"And why don't you know?"

"Toby! Let her eat!" Phaidra said strictly. Toby pouted, but remained silent. Carefully she moved the full spoon to her mouth. She looked at Toby and then at Teresa. Anna opened her mouth. The children were watching her with eagle's eyes, while she was eating. Toby was right. It was delicious!

She had eaten half of the stew, when suddenly Teresa asked "Why do you have a jewel on your chest?" Anna choked and coughed.

"Teresa! You mustn't ask something like that!" Phaidra said serious.

"B-But why not? It looks pretty!" the girl replied.

"It's none of your business!" the woman answered.

"It's okay" Anna said after she had gathered herself again "You know Teresa, this jewel has a…special meaning for me, but I really don't want to talk about it, because it makes me a bit sad and this day is too beautiful to spend it sad."

"Sad? Why sad?" Teresa asked, but Phaidra seemed to have enough.

"So that's it! You surely have something else to do, like helping your mother in the garden" the elderly woman said and shoved the children out of the door.

"Can…can she at least play with us later?" Toby asked.

"We can show her around!" Teresa added. Phaidra sighed.

"Maybe. But now let her some peace." She closed the door.

"Children!" she sighed. Phaidra went to the table. "You are sure you don't want to eat a bit more?" Anna nodded.

"It was delicious, but I'm not hungry anymore." That was the truth. She felt full.

"You look a bit skinny. You could use a bit more weight." The young woman blushed slightly.

"I'm joking, Anna" Phaidra said smiling "Don't take everything so seriously!" She noticed Anna's hand resting on her chest.

"Teresa hit a sore spot, didn't she?"

The young woman nodded and answered "It's not that I would be that sensitive. It just reminded me of the mess I'm in."

"And this is not the kind of problem that gets better through talking to someone?" Phaidra asked and sat down next to her. She touched Anna's hand. "You can tell me. I promise I'll keep it a secret." The young woman bit her lip and shook her head.

"I would like to tell you, but I doubt you would like to hear it. I don't want to burden you with my past."

"Alright" Phaidra answered kindly "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But if you change your mind" she smiled "I'm a good listener."

"Thank you!" Anna answered smiling herself.

"Good" the blond woman got up "How about you lie down for another hour? And then I show you around Iselia. I bet you haven't been here before. We could even visit my husband. But only if you want to and if your back doesn't hurt too much."

"Yeah. I would love to!" Anna answered.

"I should warn you. As soon as you go outside you won't be able to make a single step, without falling over a kid. I'm sure Teresa and Toby told everyone about you by now. The children of this town are crazy about visitors."

"Oh dear…"

"And this is our school" Teresa said and pointed at the building in front of them.

"That's really a lovely building for a school" Anna answered and remembered where she had gone to school. The most boring looking house in Sylvarant. This school was indeed nice. Flowers and plants were everywhere.

"You think so?" a blond girl to her right said.

"I don't think it looks pretty" a small boy behind her added.

"Well, perhaps I think it's pretty, because I don't have to go to school anymore" Anna answered.

Phaidra hadn't promised too much. Really every kid was following the two women, drawing more attention to them than Anna would have liked. No matter where they went everyone was looking at her and not just the children. The other townspeople too. She didn't like being observed like this.

"Well, now Anna has seen everything of our town" Phaidra said to the children. In just one hour they had shown her everything in Iselia. The town was smaller than she had expected. "How about we take a look at the Temple?" the elderly woman asked. Anna nodded.

"Can we come too?" Toby asked.

Phaidra shook her head and said "You know only adults are allowed to go there without their parents."

"That's unfair!" a girl protested.

"No, it's not and now go home" Phaidra said and took Anna by the hand and pulled her with her.

Once they were outside of Iselia the young woman sighed relieved. "I had no idea that the children here could be this…" she started, but she didn't know how the finish the sentence. Phaidra smiled.

"I know. But you handled them quite well. You seem to be good with kids. Ever thought about having one yourself?" Anna couldn't prevent herself from deeply blushing.

Phaidra laughed silently. "I'll take that as a no. But you should consider it. I'm sure you would be a great mother."

"I don't think so. I'm far too impatient for a child."

"I thought so too. And know I have three lovely children."

"Well, even so I have no idea with whom…" Her cheeks turned dark red and she felt how tears threatened to run down her cheeks again.

"With someone you love of course!"

"Yeah, exactly that makes it impossible" Anna mumbled.

Phaidra touched her cheek gently. "Tell me about him."

"About whom?"

"You lost someone and you are sad because of that. I know this feeling. But I also know from experience that talking about this person helps. So tell me about him! I guess you two were a couple, right?"

Oh please no! "We were…a couple" Anna shook her head "No, that doesn't sound right. I loved…love him. I really love him and I'm quite sure he feels so too." She didn't want to talk about him in the past tense.

"What do you mean you are quite sure?"

"Well, he…never said it."

"He never said it?" Phaidra raised her eyebrows.

"He isn't the talkative type, but what he did…did for me proved it."

"And what did he do?"

Anna noticed Phaidra's look. After some moments she knew what the woman was implying. "No, not this!" she almost yelled and she felt how she turned red again "He isn't like that!"

"I am sorry. I just thought so, because you…well what you said can be misunderstood. Besides you are very young so I thought you might…"

"I don't mistake "that" for love. I might be young, but I'm not naïve. I have enough life experience to know what love is." Anna turned her away. It was like talking to her mother.

"And to your information…we never did "that"" the young woman added.

"I hear from your tone that you regret that" Phaidra said.

"…I…" she sighed "Yes, I do."

"So you aren't a v…" but Anna cut her off.

"You are awfully nosey, do you know that?"

"I'm sorry!" the elderly woman apologized "But it's nice that you talk so openly. I thought you weren't very talkative."

A moment passed and suddenly Anna burst out laughing. Phaidra looked at her confused.

"S-sorry, but you are the very first person to say that" the young woman answered still giggling "Usually people tell me to finally shut up."

Phaidra smiled at her. "Well, I'm glad to hear a bit more of your voice and your laugh." For a while they walked without talking to each other. Then the Temple came in sight. "Finally! My old bones don't move so well like they used to" Phaidra sighed relieved. "Old? You are barely older than my mother" Anna answered. "You are nice, my dear, but we both know that I'm not the youngest anymore.

"Young enough for me!" someone said suddenly. They watched how a man came down the stairs from the temple. He was tall and looked also sprightly, but his hair was already white. He looked very kind. "But that's because you are five years older, love" Phaidra said laughing and kissed the man. "So you are the young woman I found?" the man said and looked at Anna.

She nodded. "Anna this is Jonathan my husband" Phaidra introduced them.

"Glad to see that you are already up. You must have had a Guardian Angel" Jonathan said and took her hand. You have no idea…

"Nice to meet my saviour. Phaidra told me that you were the one I owe my life" Anna said and smiled.

"I wouldn't say that. I just found you and brought you to Iselia."

"Don't be so modest. You saved me!" Anna answered. And out of the blue she hugged him and said "Thank you!"

"Oh…äh…you're welcome!" Jonathan replied surprised. Anna let go of him and made a step backwards. "I wish I could express my gratitude better, but well I don't know how" she added silently.

Phaidra smiled and said "Well, you could thank him by eating more. I have never met someone with such a small appetite."

"I really wasn't hungry anymore!" Anna answered insistent.

Phaidra laughed silently. "Let's go home. I'm sure after such an exhausting day you need some rest. Both of you." They started walking.

"My day wasn't exhausting at all. Not a single tourist or pilgrim" Jonathan said.

"Oh that must have been boring" his wife replied.

"No, not at all. I finally had time to repair some things. But…" he looked at Anna "But for you it must have been exhausting."

She jerked her shoulders. "Not really. I always recover fast."

"You surely do. Considering the poor state you were in when I found you, you look very well."

"Was it really this bad?" Anna wanted to know. Jonathan frowned. He said serious "You were covered in your own blood. It looked quite horrible. I thought you were already dead…" Yeah, that would have been enough to put pressure on him "…especially since this monster was about to eat you."

Anna looked at him surprised. "Monster? What Monster?" Jonathan scratched the back of his head.

"Well, I have never seen anything like it. It was huge with big ears. A bit like a dog or wolf, but it was green and white. It looked quite strange. It was standing next to you. If I hadn't scared it off, it would have eaten you."

The eyes of the young woman widened. "It looked like…a big dog?" she asked silently. He nodded a bit confused.

"Yeah, but like I said it was really strange looking." Noishe! That must have been Noishe! she thought excited So he's still here!

"I didn't want to scare you" Jonathan said misunderstanding Anna's silence. She shook her head.

"No, you didn't scare me. It's just…I don't know a monster that would fit your description."

The rest of the way Anna remained silent and barely listened to Phaidra's and Jonathan's conversation. If Noishe was still here on Sylvarant…could that mean that Kratos was here too?

Great another cliff-hanger. I think.

Thanks for reading and reviews are always welcome!