Summary: Rhea returns to Ishgard to aid them in investigating the heretics who stole the shipments bound for Mor Dhona. After a long few days of tracking, the Warrior of Light takes comfort in a meal, a fire and the company of a certain silver-haired knight. They grow closer and an intimate, private moment is shared...until the Echo gives Rhea a vision of Haurchefant's past and the accompanying migraine interrupts their time together.
Author's Note: WoL x Haurchefant | OC Work w/ MSQ References | While the first part of this story is more an MSQ summary piece, it works itself into a sweet OC moment between Rhea and Haurchefant.
"Well, well, if it isn't my fine friend, Rhea Baphineaux! Would you care for a plate of roast karakul? Some mulled wine?" Haurchefant's mirthful and boilsterous voice greeted Rhea as she stepped into his headquarters at Camp Dragonhead. The smile that formed on the elezen's lips at the sight of him could have rivaled the sun for its brightness. Yet, there must've been something darkening her expression, for he quickly followed up with, "No? Ah, I see you have not come into my hall merely to escape the biting cold."
How he knew her so well surprised her while softening her to his charms even more. "Lord Haurchefant, a pleasure as always," Rhea said, inclining her head to him respectfully as she observed formalities. It was midday with many a Knight and aide around and she was there, after all, on business. Formalities had to be observed. "Alas, I'm afraid you're right that I've not the time, as of yet, for such delights as your company and fine fares. Ill workings are afoot and I've come to follow up on them."
"I was, in fact, on the verge of opening an urgent missive from Revenant's Toll, and I suspect the timing of your arrival is no coincidence..." the lord commented, though the smile on his lips at the sight of Rhea did not fade. Together, they spoke of the incident with the shipment and formulated a plan for following up on it. Through him, Rhea had learned that it was indeed heretics which had plundered the supplies and that their leader, Lady Iceheart, had spurred on a surge of activity in the region.
As the Warrior of Light, it was distressing enough to hear the heretics did not seem content with just harassing Coerthas and Ishgard. As an Ishgardian herself, her distress was only compounded to hear the heretics were as active and menacing as they were, both within and without her homeland. They'd always been active, of course, but according to Haurchefant, they hounded the See harder than ever before. Every word she heard about this Iceheart concerned her more and more. With her sights set on Whitebrim, Rhea made ready to depart.
"...truly," Haurchefant said as she was buttoning her coat into place, the warm ice blue fabric nestling about her lithe frame perfectly. "I could not wish for a finer ally. You have done much for my house in the past, and I have no doubt but that I shall have cause to celebrate your deeds again ere long. Should you learn aught of value, pray return to me forthwith. A warm hearth and a warmer welcome shall be waiting for you."
Bold sapphire eyes met Rhea's silvery ones and, for a moment, the two simply looked upon each other. Unspoken sentiments coursed between them and the moment seemed to last a small eternity before Rhea nodded gently to him and made her departure.
The hunt for Iceheart and the stolen supplies proved vexing, to say the least. Many a Knight had fallen to the heretics and, despite her best efforts, Rhea ended up at a dead end. She wished she had more to report upon her return to Camp Dragonhead.
She'd been in the wilds for nigh on two days with little to show for it as she arrived in the late evening to Lord Haurchefant's hall. As she stepped in, she found it surprisingly sparse of people save an aide or two, yet Lord Haurchefant was crouched over his desk, diligently at work. She stood there for a moment, watching him, as his quill paused and he looked off into the distance a moment. Whatever he was thinking in that moment had captured his attention completely and put quite a serious look upon his features.
After a moment, he blinked and looked in her direction, once more lighting up like the noonday sun. "Your return is most timely! Of their own accord, my thoughts had turned to your task and the progress thereof," he said as he stood, setting down his quill as he walked around his desk to greet her. She, herself, stepped further into the room, basking in the warmth of the space and the joyous greeting she received.
"I confess, my imaginings tended toward the grim and bloody," he continued, coming to stand before her. Not once did the joy on his face wane. "But you are here now, and I suspect such frivolous wonderings do little justice to the reality of your travails. Please, allow me to be your host and share an evening meal with you while you tell me what you learned of Iceheart?"
With a soft nod, she acquiesced. It took barely any time at all for a portion of the great table before his desk to be cleared and a simple, yet aromatic meal to be delivered to them along with some mulled wine. The rest of the aides remaining were dismissed and the two elezen sat down to a wonderful, but simple meal as Rhea presented all she had found and learned.
By the end of the dinner, both had shared what they knew. "As much as I would like to fathom this mystery with you, the situation has grown beyond my personal purview. I am bound by duty to inform the Temple Knights and request they bring this matter to its conclusion. Given the glowing reports their new commander has garnered thus far, I am certain that they can be relied upon to take appropriate action," Haurchefant informed her as he leaned back in his chair, regarding her as he relaxed and proceeded to inform her another shipment of supplies would be sent to Revenant's Toll.
"Thank you, my Lord. Your generosity will do much to support the efforts there," Rhea said politely, bringing the cup of mulled wine to her lips as she took a drink, settling back a bit in the chair as she crossed one leg over the other.
"I could not well allow such an honorable venture to be undermined by one miserable setback," he said, smiling over the rim of his own wine as he took a drink. "However, let us put that to the side for now and speak as friends, yes? You are undoubtedly exhausted from your exploits and I would be a poor host if I did not do all I could to help you relax and recuperate from such things. Come. Will you do me the honor of joining me by the fire where it is far warmer than this drafty space?"
With a gentle nod, Rhea stood as he did, taking her wine with. Since she had returned to Camp Dragonhead, there had rarely been a time when she was not smiling in his presence. Walking over to the fire, she waited as he procured a couple chairs for them and set them close to one another before the hearth. "There, now we can properly find some comfort," he announced, gesturing for her to take her seat before him.
Taking the one to the left, she sat down and then turned, tucking one leg under the other so that she could be more comfortable while still being able to face him. He joined her at the seat beside her, turning to face her as well. Lifting the bottle he had brought, he topped off both of their mugs then raised his in toast, "To dear friends and to the Fury!"
Rhea gave a soft laugh, echoing his toast, tapping her cup against his before bringing it to her lips for a sip. As she did, his gaze drifted from her own to her hair as a curious expression formed on his lips. "Forgive me, my lady, but might I ask how you came upon such striking white in your hair? When last I saw you it was a beautiful magenta that brought out the color in your cheeks."
With a deep breath, and a soft coloring of said cheeks, she looked down to the cup she now held between both hands. "Now that...is quite a story," she said with a soft laugh, looking back up at him.
"Given the reports I have heard since you were last here, I have a feeling you have many of those. The night is still quite young and I have always been a bit of a night owl. If you wish to indulge me, I would be most happy to hear all your stories and more. All your thrilling adventures and heroics! I cannot think of a better time spent than hearing such from your lips while enjoying your radiant company," he said, sharing with her a smile that was both charming and heartwarming.
With a soft shake of her head and an affectionate smile, Rhea gave in. She didn't know how long they sat there, sharing cup after cup of mulled wine as she regaled him with all she'd experienced since they'd last seen each other. Over the course of it, many laughs were shared as well as solemn moments of reflection.
At one point, the heat of the hearth became so much that Rhea felt comfortable enough to remove her coat, revealing her form-fitted clothing beneath. She'd always preferred clothes that clung to her form but had some give to the fabric. It made it easier for her when she had to move lots. As she did this, her tattoos came into view and Haurchefant's brows rose in surprise. After all, she doubted either of them knew a single highborn lady decorated in such a way.
She explained to him their significance and purpose and reveled in how he'd only shown support and fascination with her tattoos, rather than shock and rejection at them. In truth, in all she shared with him, he'd only ever shown her support and awe. It encouraged her to open up to him far more than she had to anyone else about her trials and tribulations, including some of her innermost thoughts on it all. Perhaps the mulled wine had played a part, but she attributed it more to his company than anything else.
They had a connection, one both of them had realized from the first, and that afforded a luxury of open communication she'd scarcely had in her life before. With her family, propriety came first. With the Scions, she was the Warrior of Light and had to maintain certain perceptions of herself.
With Haurchefant, Rhea found she could be herself and hold very little back. Her opinions, of course, on the affairs of the dragons she kept to herself, but little else was not shared over the course of the evening. Even Haurchefant had opened up, sharing some of his adventures and parts of him that Rhea suspected he did not open up about to many people.
As more wine flowed and the interaction became more relaxed, Rhea found that the both of them had migrated rather close to one another without even realizing it, creating a cozy and intimate environment. There was a pull between them, as if an invisible string had connected them and wove their fates together. Though the hour was late, the dark-skinned Elezen had no desire to retire. She was enjoying herself far too much and getting some much needed relaxation.
Eyes held each other as silence fell over them, both amply caught up with all that had happened and more. It was an amiable silence, the kind born only of two souls completely relaxed and at peace with one another. Rhea couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so at ease and herself in the presence of another. Here, she was not the Warrior of Light, Savior of Eorzea, nor Lady Baphineaux. Here, she was simply 'Rhea' and he, simply, 'Haurchefant'.
Rhea took in a sharp breath as he lifted his fingers and brought them to a tuft of her bangs that had fallen over her brow, now highlighted in white from her time in the Void. "It's longer than before," he said softly, brushing it out of the way. A subtle shiver ran through her as she felt his fingertips brush against her cheek, bringing both a soothing sensation and yet, an electric one that quickened her heart and heated her skin.
"Yes, well...it's been some time since I had it long and a certain someone reminded me of that time. What can I say? I got rather nostalgic," she admitted just as softly. Though there was no one else in the room, their tones had turned quiet in the intimacy of the night.
Haurchefant's fingers dropped from her check to trail down over her jaw then down her neck and to her shoulder. His sapphire gaze followed his fingertips as his other hand held his near-empty cup of wine. Rhea said nothing, her eyes closing for a moment to enjoy the sensation. No one had ever touched her so familiarly before, nor would anyone had dared to before she left Ishgard. The old Rhea would have been duty bound and conditioned by society to chastise such a familiar touch but that Rhea was long gone.
She'd seen and lived so much since she'd left her homeland and it had made her realize how fragile and fleeting life was. Though she'd yet to inform her family, Rhea knew she would never return to the life she had. The House and holdings were for her twin, now, while the world as a whole fell to her to keep safe. Her destiny lay beyond such affairs now. She had long since accepted she was now a woman of her own, no longer bound by the societal policies of her upbringing. Her life was her own, in-so-much as the Chosen of Hydaelyn could be, and that gave her more of a freedom to enjoy life than she'd had before.
Thus, she did not pull away from his tender touch. Cloudy though her mind was from the mulled wine, it only amplified the sensation more. As his touch trailed down her arm to her tattoos, she slowly opened her eyes to look upon him once more. His own gaze was fixated on her markings as his fingertip drew over their lines, tracing them with an almost reverent caress.
When he reached the end, his gaze danced up to hers and the moment they met, they locked onto one another. The string connecting them grew taunt, demanding they draw closer to ease the strain. Both, unknowingly, began to lean forward to obey the pull until only mere ilms separated them. She could smell the soap he used - cedar, freshly fallen snow and hint of pine mingling with his natural scent - and could feel the warmth of his spiced breath playing against her own. She swallowed hard, taking in a deep breath as they held each other's gaze, his presence heady beyond measure.
"You are unlike any woman, noble or otherwise, I have ever met, Lady Baphineaux..." he said softly, making no move to close the distance, yet not pulling away either. "I can see why Hydaelyn chose you. You are as the Fury herself, fierce and radiant."
"Rhea..." she said to him with a smile. "Please, call me Rhea, always but especially when we are alone."
Haurchefant smiled brightly and nodded, "Rhea, it is, then. I hope by now you know you may simply call me Haurchefant, be we alone or not." His fingers resting on her wrist at the base of her tattoo drifted down until he pressed his palm to hers. "In truth, since we last saw one another, I've scarce been able to get you from my mind. Oft do I think of you and the time we have spent together, perilously short as that has been. Every mention and report of your deeds only served to brighten my days further and make my heart sing in excitement for all of your triumphs. I am truly your greatest admirer, Rhea. Not just for your deeds though, or your role as the Warrior of Light, but as...you. The woman you have shown me tonight merely adds to that adoration."
Rhea felt her cheeks warm significantly under his honeyed words, so genuine and full of affection. It fairly made her heart sing, though he was clearly far better at words than she. She didn't know how to even begin to share with him the truths within her. He'd had the courage to speak his thoughts, though, so she emboldened herself to share her own. She'd felled eikons and Ascians, surely she could speak her mind and heart?
"Your words flatter me, Lo-...Haurchefant. Truly. And in your eyes, eyes which have haunted my dreams and inspired my every waking hour, I can see you truly mean them. Too often here, words are spoken yet the meaning or sincerity is not behind them. Such is the way of the nobility, I fear. Yet you...you are unlike any man I have ever met. You are genuine in ways I can hardly find words for and your enthusiasm and vibrancy bring light to the shadows within me and the world around you. You are courageous, a fierce warrior and an honorable man who leads his people with love. I see it in the faces of all around you - you are a man worth admiring. You're smart, clever, witty, and no matter how dark the moment, you find a silver lining.
"Often have I found myself thinking of you while away or finding comfort and solace in the memories we have shared. I even..." she blushed deeper, then set down her empty mug on the floor while reaching into the pocket that held his handkerchief. Pulling it out, she shyly showed it to him, all the while not moving her other hand that now held his. "Do you remember when you gave this to me? The day I spilled the cider on myself? I've kept it ever since, a warm reminder of our time together. It has served to ground me in the darkest and deepest of my thoughts and strengthened me at times when I'd not thought I had the strength."
Looking up from the handkerchief, she smiled at him. He stared at the fabric, a warm surprise on his features. Then he looked up, taking her eyes with his once more. "You honor me, my lady, by your admission. Pray, keep it longer," he said softly, setting down his own mug and covering her hand that held the handkerchief with his own.
"Thank you. I shall treasure it and keep it safe, always," she said, equally as gently. A soft glance to his lips, so close yet so far, awakened the pull once more within her. Desire to feel his lips upon hers was almost painful as her eyes returned to his and held them. She could see he felt it too.
Suddenly a bright aura filled her vision and she knew the moment before it hit, the Echo was pulling her away. Flinching, she tilted her head down as she was whisked away, her sight replaced by the oncoming vision. In her mind, she quickly realized she had tapped into a strong memory of Haurchefant's:
~.~..~.~...~.~..~.~
He was young, in his mid-teens, walking the Jeweled Crozier. Suddenly he stopped and she could feel through the Echo the sudden jump of his heart and the excitement that went through him. Stepping to the side to hide behind a stall, he peaked around. Walking up the steps through the Crozier was a small gathering of young ladies in their early teens, dressed in the traditional garb of Ishgardian noblewomen with some few modern touches to them.
To the back and side of them walked a raven haired woman in the darkest of blue dresses with eyes like silver coins. Rhea still had long hair then, straight and flowing down her back, with small highlights of the magenta pink she so favored to wear, dyed into her highlights. Of all the women in the gaggle, it was she whom he had his eyes on and whom he watched with fascination.
Through the vision, she could feel his nervousness as he watched her shopping with her friends, always staying on the periphery unto herself - apart but alone. She could feel the admiration in him even then as her younger self walked by him, oblivious to her admirer.
~.~..~.~...~.~..~.~
Coming back out from her vision, she swayed a bit as the pain receded momentarily then came back with a violent fury. Fantastic, one of her famed migraines. Rarely did she have one immediately after a vision from the Echo though. Frowning, she released his hand and brought her own up to press against her temple.
"Are you alright, my lady?" Haurchefant asked, an intense course of worry threading through his voice. When she opened her eyes, through the haze of the pain, she could see the distress on his features. Normally she was quite good at hiding them when they came but she found she was unable to in his presence.
With a nod, she smiled weakly, though the movement emboldened the headache. "Forgive me, yes. I seem to be struck with one of my lovely migraines. If you would be so kind as to grab the small vial of purple liquid from my coat pocket, I will be on the mend shortly," she replied to him, giving the hand of his she still held a reassuring squeeze.
Without a word, Haurchefant leaned forward and began sifting through her pockets with his free hand. Such a thing brought him closer and try as she might to resist, she couldn't help leaning forward and resting her forehead against his shoulder where it met his neck. Just breathing him in was helping with the pain. "Please, let me call for the head chirurgeon. You are not well, Rhea," Haurchefant pleaded for her, lingering to let her rest against him as she did.
She shook her head, "I will be fine. The tonic will do me well enough, I promise," she tried to reassure him. With a nod, he pulled back and sat down once more, offering the vial to her. Taking it, she downed the contents with a minor wrinkle of her nose then took a deep breath.
"Forgive me. This is not how I desired our evening to come to a close. If I might beg your assistance once more, perhaps you might escort me to the lodgings here so that I may rest?" she asked. Open as she was to him, she still didn't want him to worry overly much. Focusing as hard as she could, she tried to internalize the pain a bit. He was the only person outside her family to witness one of her headaches.
"Absolutely not! I will not have you recovering from this ailment in such accommodations! I insist you sleep in my chambers tonight and I will take to the sofa. A good night's rest in a comfortable bed is what a lady of your caliber should be recuperating in, not a firm scratchy mattress as they have here," Haurchefant said with a defiant and firm tone. It was clear that there would be no arguing with him, and in truth she had no energy to do so.
With a slight nod, she gave a smile, "Thank you, Haurchefant. You're a true lord and gentleman." Slowly, she released his hand and began to stand.
All of a sudden the world began to spin and she felt weightless as the Knight swooped her up in his arms and off her feet. She looked at him in surprise as he gave her the most tender and gentle of smiles, "I am but myself, my lady. Yet I would move Heaven and storm the Seven Hells to bring what comfort to you I can." His words made her heart skip a beat and flutter in response.
Without delay, he began to head towards the door that led to the stairs up to his chambers. As he walked, holding her firm and steady as he did, she watched him. Though she was weakened in her present state, there was not an onze of pity written in his features at it. Nor was there even the slightest trace that he thought less of her - the great Warrior of Light - being felled by a headache. When he looked at her, which he frequently did as he carried her, it was still with the fierce admiration and adoration he'd held in his gaze for her all night.
Soon enough, she found herself pillowed in the most comfortable bed she'd experienced in an age, covered by ample heavy blankets which kept the cold at bay. The pillow smelled of him, bringing an added reassurance and calm to her as she relaxed into the mattress. She hadn't even realized her eyes had closed until she felt a warm hand on her forehead, brushing her hair away.
"Rest well, Rhea, and know that you are safe. For I will valiantly stand vigil over you all night to ensure you take the rest you need to recover," he said, smiling down at her as she drowsily looked up to him. Mercifully, it was pleasantly dark in the room, his face illuminated only by the hearth of the room. He was so handsome by the firelight, it took her breath away. "And, of course by 'stand vigil', I mean sleep...over there, right nearby," he said with a wry, playful smile and a chuckle as he pointed to the sofa in the middle of the room by the fire. "I even mean to turn it so I may continue to look upon you and know you are well."
Rhea smiled up at him and gave a nod. "Thank you. Please rest yourself and worry not over me. I will be well by morning," she said softly, finding her consciousness was fading fast. In response, he simply nodded. Yet he did not move away. Instead he remained standing there, holding one of her hands with his own while the other rested gently on her forehead. Comforted by his touch and his smile, Rhea allowed her eyes to close once more and shortly after, the oblivion of sleep took her.
When she woke in the morning, Haurchefant was asleep on the couch, looking utterly peaceful and painfully beautiful. Wishing not to bother him, and the migraine gone, she rose from the pillowy bed and went over to him. Reaching up, she unclasped the necklace around her neck she always kept beneath her clothes - a simple leather thong wrap twice around her neck with a small pendant that bore the crest of Ishgard. She'd bought it that day in the Crozier she'd seen with the Echo. Placing it in his opened hand on his abdomen, she smiled at him.
"Thank you for everything, my Knight. I pray the Fury brings us together once more to meet," she said in barely a whisper, then boldly bent down and kissed his cheek before promptly pulling away and departing from his room. Thankfully the hour was still quite early, dawn barely cresting over the mountains, and no one had yet to come to the hall. Gathering her things, she buttoned her coat and tucked his handkerchief once more into her pocket and departed for the stables to grab Tchu'kee'pu.
Little did she know as she departed the gates of Camp Dragonhead, a certain silver-haired knight had awakened at her kiss and now stood at his windows watching her go. In his hands he held the necklace and on his lips, the softest of endearing smiles as he watched the woman who had ensnared him fade into the morning fog.
Both knew as she departed that nothing would ever be the same between them again. A line had been crossed, their hearts opened to the other…and truly neither could be happier to have crossed it.
Inspirational Soundtrack Song: Astronomical - SVRCINA