Summary: Minfilia opens up to Rhea and they have a heart-to-heart before she leaves the Antecedent and goes to find a heavily mourning Yda.
Author's Note: OC Work w/ MSQ Summary Included
Rhea looked up at the empty case where Tupsamati had been, not yet returned to its resting place. Minfilia stood beside her, looking down at the floor. They'd just returned from Moenbryda's memorial and both did not hide how low they'd been cast down by it. Sorrow and grief were heavy in the air, and though Rhea hadn't know her as well as Minfilia and the others, she felt responsible for her death.
Looking away, she turned and leaned against the desk and crossed her arms as she too looked to the floor. "Though we have said our farewells, the pall of sadness has diminished but little. Forgive me: as Antecedent, 'tis my job to be the pillar of strength for all others to lean upon. Yet I also believe the grief we feel now is precious in its own way, and not to be lightly swept aside. Do you not agree, Rhea?" Minfilia asked, looking up to look at the Warrior of Light.
Turning her head, she gave a nod to her friend, "I do. Grief has a purpose, whether we like it or not, and it would be an insult to Moenbryda if we swept it aside."
Minfilia nodded in return, then brought her hand to her chest, "'Tis as if a dagger has been thrust into my breast...but 'tis a pain we must learn to bear if we are to forge ahead with our duty. The battles we have fought have taken the lives of so many. Louisoix. Moenbryda. Our fellows at the Waking Sands..." Rhea's mind flashed back to the massacre she had returned to, that fateful day. The sorrow she felt there was familiar to what she felt now.
"Their spirit and dedication to our cause, however, will never be lost as long as we rise to fight once more," Minfilia smirked then, though it was a hollow one as she looked to Rhea, who turned to face her, "I hardly need remind you of this, of course. 'Tis for my own benefit that I repeat these words - a reaffirmation of mine own chosen path. If I do not rebuild the foundation of my resolve, I am like to collapse in a fit of weeping..." Another sigh left the hyur's lips. "My apologies again, Rhea─there is no other to whom I could display such weakness. You are my pillar of strength, and I fear I shall have need of your steadfast presence in the days to come..."
Rhea smiled to her and shook her head, "Tis fine. Truly. We are friends, are we not? So much and more has happen that weighs heavy on my mind and heart as well but I know, I have faith, that together - as a family - we will weather this storm. That you will weather this storm. You are not alone, Minfilia."
Stepping over to her, Rhea did something she rarely did. She embraced the other woman, pulling her close and giving her as tight and reassuring hug as she could. Rhea was not one for displays of affection with her friends, but in that moment she needed a hug just as much as she knew the Antecedent did too. Rhea understood her, more than the others. She understood the drive to be strong for the others and not show one's true feelings. Rhea felt it too.
Surprised though she was, Minfilia smiled and returned the embrace of the taller woman and when it was done, she gave her a small smile and a nod. "Thank you, Rhea. Your friendship means more to me than I can say. Have you a moment? I should consider it a personal favor if you would lend a sympathetic ear to Yda's troubles. She has not been herself since Moenbryda's passing, and my heart aches to see her so downcast..."
Rhea smiled and nodded, "Of course. I shall go to her now. You'll be okay, yeah? Just know...you never have to hide with me. Should you need anything, even an ear, I am here."
Minfilia smiled and nodded in turn, "I will. Thank you again, Rhea."
Turning, Rhea left the Solar and went in search of Yda. She found her sitting to the side in the Rising Stones main area as she approached her. Try as she might to be her usual enthusiastic self, Yda couldn't maintain it. They spoke for some time about Moenbryda and then Rhea helped her to obtain a moonflower from Rowena as they both left to pay their respect to Moen once more at the mark of the Scholar.
It was a sweet moment and Rhea felt like Yda was more freely able to express her true grief without the presence of everyone else. "Moenbryda loved these things, you know... I hope that somewhere, somehow, she knows I'm still thinking of her..." Yda said, laying down the flower, "I'll never forget you, Moen. None of us will."
Rhea smiled but then movement caught her eye as the avatar of Midgardsormr appeared - visible only, apparently, to Rhea. "The song riseth to a crescendo."
At that exact moment, a deafening roar resounded throughout the skies followed up by a chorus of other dragon roars - a sound Rhea knew all too well, but never had she heard such in such a multitude. Fear and dread struck deep into her heart for her people. As they were about to turn and make back for the Rising Stones, through the fog of the morning, a host of wyverns flew past, heading in the direction of Ishgard.
Rhea needed only a glance at them and she moving, running at full speed back towards Revenant's Toll, when Alphinaud came through on their linkshells, beckoning them back to the Stones. Lucia was there, it seemed, with a request.
She didn't need Alphinaud, Lucia or even the damn Archbishop himself to hasten her steps or make the request of her. Never in her life had she heard such a mass of dragons, and she knew deep down Ishgard was in danger. Helpless as she had proven to be, unable to even save Moenbryda, she knew one thing:
Blessing of Light or not, she had to help her people...