Summary: Rhea returns home to help aid Ishgard against the assault from the Horde and makes the acquaintance of a personal hero of hers.
Lucia, Ser Aymeric's second-in-command, was there waiting for them with a plea from the Lord Commander himself. He begged a meeting with Alphinaud and Rhea while also requesting the Scions, on Ishgard's behalf, reached out to the Alliance leaders for aid. Rhea knew it was a fools folly to ask, given how Ishgard had responded countless times in the past for requests of aid from Eorzea. Still, the politics of it all were going to be left to Minfilia as Alphinaud and Rhea departed for Camp Dragonhead.
The news Lucia had shared with them was not good and it swam all manner of dread within Rhea's mind. The heretic queen, Lady Iceheart, had brought down the first of the wards of the Gates of Judgement and the central highlands was being harried nonstop by the first advance of the Dravanians. Her thoughts turned to Haurchefant and she wondered if he was safe. She knew he could handle himself in battle - she'd not only seen it herself but knew he would not have risen to the position he held if he had not. Still, her heart worried.
When they arrived, the tension in her breast only got worse when she couldn't see Haurchefant anywhere. She tried to reassure herself that he was likely away, dealing with matters, but the dread could not be shaken. Hearing Ser Aymeric had not arrived yet, Alphinaud and Rhea departed for the Gates of Judgement to gain an assessment of their own before meeting with the Lord Commander.
It was a sight of chaos as soldiers ran about trying to bolster the defenses and get into position. As aetherically sensitive as she was, Rhea could feel the lack of the first warding. Things were not good and they were only going to get worse. Having seen all they needed to, Alphinaud and her returned to Dragonhead.
As they arrived, a voice called out orders and Rhea's heart leapt at the sound. Looking in its direction, it took all she had to not run to Haurchefant as he stood there in his gleaming armor. He looked every bit the Commander he was and the way his men responded, there was no doubt they held a great respect and love for him. He was okay. He was hale. Just that reassurance was able to bring her back to herself as she erected the walls around her heart once more.
Even if Ishgard was not on the brink of oblivion, there was nothing to be had for feeling the way she did. They'd drawn that line and she intended to keep it. Seeing them, he dismissed his knights and walked their way. Even in the face of dread and destruction, he had a smile to challenge the sun.
"'Tis reassuring indeed to behold the countenance of a friend when one's homeland teeters upon the very brink of disaster! Though a single misstep could send us plunging into the abyss, your heroic presence stokes the flames of courage within my heart!" he said to Rhea as he stepped up to her, looking down into her eyes. Though he held the countenance of pristine professionalism, she could see in his eyes, he meant more. Giving a polite smile, she looked away from him to Alphinaud. She had no words for that moment - not if she were to keep her walls in place.
She could hear the hint of disappointment in his voice when he looked to Alphinaud as well, "Ah, but you did not come to Dragonhead to listen to my prattling! The lord commander has arrived, and would treat with you in the intercessory." With a nod from both of the elezen to him, they departed and made to meet with Ser Aymeric.
"I thank you for coming with such haste...and apologize for my absence. Suffice it to say, Lady Iceheart and her heretics have much to answer for..." Ser Aymeric said to them as they entered, the door not yet closed behind them.
"Yes..." Alphinaud responded, "we are but recently returned from the Gates of Judgement ourselves. Given the circumstances, we quite understand if you would prefer to postpone our appointed audience..."
The raven haired Commander shook his head, "On the contrary, Master Alphinaud - I think it more important than ever that this meeting take place. Rest assured, I shall return to my post on Ishgard's walls the moment our business is concluded. Before we move on to the subject of reinforcements, however, I would introduce you to a close friend and stalwart ally. Estinien!"
Rhea tried to reign in her surprise at the name, for as an Ishgardian she knew it all to well. Behind her, the door opened and in walked the tall elezen, clad head to toe in the armor of the Dragoons, his lance on his back. Though she'd never have been allowed by her mother to join the Order, it had never stopped Rhea from admiring them at every chance she got. To be as noble and heroic as them was what had encouraged her to leave home in the first place. And this man, in particular was none other than the...
"May I present to you Ishgard's Azure Dragoon," Ser Aymeric said, gesturing to the man who stalked to Aymerics side. Even from beneath his visor - a helmet designed to block the sight and enhance the senses - Rhea could feel his focus on her.
"An impressive title...though I confess, I know precious little of the order of dragoons," Alphinaud said, looking to the warrior.
Rhea opened her mouth to educate him but Ser Aymeric was first to speak. "They are formidable warriors all. Yet even among such masters of the lance, Estinien is without equal. He, out of all the warriors of Ishgard, was chosen to wield the power of dragons, and may thus contend with any Dravanian."
Try as she might, she could not take her eyes off the legendary warrior who glanced to the Lord Commander and bowed his head. "...You flatter me overmuch, Lord Commander," he said, then once more his attention was directed back to Rhea. "So, you are the adventurer of whom they spoke...I see now why my blood fair sang in anticipation of our meeting."
He had wanted to meet her? Though she knew who, and what she was, and all she'd done, it still surprised the young girl within her that the Azure Dragoon - her idol - had taken notice of what she'd done. She gave him a smile, though she wondered if he'd be able to sense it. "It seems your blood was not the only one to sing, for long have I desired to meet the great Azure Dragoon who so valiantly watches over and protects Ishgard from the Horde. You have ever been an inspiration to me since your ascension to the mantle, even above your compeers and the Azure Dragoons before you. Your reputation far proceeds you with me, Ser Estinien. It is a true honor."
She could see the corner of his lips quirk in a smirk as Ser Aymeric nodded to them, " ...Well, now that we have all been introduced, let us proceed to the matter at hand. I would share with you what we have learned of Iceheart's design, as confessed by the heretics taken captive after the assault on the gates. 'Twould seem that Lady Iceheart and the Dravanians share a common goal - the reclamation of Nidhogg's stolen eye."
Now that caught Rhea's attention away from the Dragoon across from her. There was not a child of Ishgard who did not know of The Eye. Alphinaud spoke intellectually of the great wyrm, one of Midgardsormr's brood, but it was Ser Aymeric who filled in the details. "Aye, many are the scars our walls bear from Nidhogg's relentless efforts to raze the city. The trophy Haldrath plucked from the bested wyrm's skull - known simply as "the Eye" - is a treasured relic of Ishgard, and one possessed of untold power. Should it ever be returned to Nidhogg, the dread creature would be restored to the height of his strength...and then no wall or ward we could erect would be stout enough to deny him."
Even Rhea blanched at that thought. Beside her, the avatar of Midgardsormr flew beside her, his voice ringing in her mind, "My vengeful son hath waged war against Ishgard for a thousand years. No mortal mind could comprehend the depths of his rancor." Rhea was grateful only she could see him. As she looked to Ser Estinien, she had no doubt he would strike her down before she could take a breath had he the ability to perceive the companion at her side.
She looked back to Ser Aymeric as he continued, "The Eye itself is secreted deep within the Vault. It is kept under heavy guard─surrounded at all times by men and women who have proven their loyalty to the Holy See. But though stout walls and sharp blades may suffice to discourage the heretics, the dragons are another matter. There are individuals within the Dravanian Horde whom an entire company of knights would labor to repel - to say nothing of Nidhogg himself."
Rhea's mind swam of all they were sharing with them, much of it sensitive information. As she listened, her gaze drifted from Aymeric to Estinien once more and she found that he, too, had turned his gaze to her - if she could call it that. She found it more unnerving the longer she was around him at not being able to see his eyes. She'd learn that one could tell a lot about a man by his eyes. She wondered what color his were.
Alphinaud's impassioned tones brought her focus back to him as the conversation turned to the need for allies for Ishgard. "When the Eorzean Alliance requested Ishgard's assistance during Operation Archon, you refused us. Does it not seem grossly unjust to demand that we now risk our lives in your private war?" Alphinaud asked him with little barriers to his tongue.
"I make no attempt to defend my country's conduct. I only ask that you consider what would follow were Ishgard to fall. Having razed our city to the ground, the Horde would have little cause to linger, and most would return to their lairs in Dravania. Soon thereafter, the ruins of Coerthas would be buried in snow, and the land would become the sole province of beasts and beastmen...until the Garleans' arrival, that is - for you may be certain that the Empire would not hesitate to claim Coerthas. They would not even have to draw steel," Ser Aymeric informed him. Rhea knew he wasn't wrong.
It served well to sober Alphinaud, "An imperial province sharing a border with Mor Dhona...? Seven hells...ahem. Very well - we will assist you in repelling the dragons. The roar of a great wyrm may have shaken the firmament, but we of Eorzea will not abandon our Ishgardian brothers to face the coming Horde alone."
"Nor did I ever think you would. Now, upon the matter of the roar-" Ser Aymeric started but Ser Estinien stepped forward with a bow to the Lord Commander.
"Allow me, Ser Aymeric," the dragoon's deep, velvety voice filled the Intercessory and called Rhea's gaze to him once more. Something about the way he spoke fixed her attention and senses on him. His was a voice to command the attention of others, but in a different way entirely than the man beside him. "Through the power of the Eye, I have become the vessel of Nidhogg's strength. His essence has stolen into my very blood. Fear not - I am in full control of my faculties, I assure you. And the Eye itself is of no relevance to this tale─it is not essential that I bear it with me wheresoever I go. Its lingering influence does, however, allow me to hear Nidhogg's voice..."
Rhea's eyes went wide as she looked to him. She knew dragoons had preternatural powers involving the dragons, but that he had, in essence, bonded with the Eye and had such a connection to Nidhogg surprised her. The power alone from such a thing undoubtedly gave him quite an advantage over the wyrm. Her mind danced to her bond with Nidhogg's sire and though she knew he was there more to hinder her, perhaps the wisdom of his words was something she could use to empower herself against his subterfuge. He had, after all, made it clear where is loyalties rested.
Ser Estinien continued, after Alphinaud asked after the roar that was heard, "...Was Nidhogg, aye. He means to hurl his Horde against Daniffen's Collar, and shatter the remaining wards that protect the city. There can be no doubt - the wyrm has summoned his minions to war." Confirmation of what Rhea already knew, yet she hated she had been right.
Rhea stood there at the table, looking across it to the Azure Dragoon and he to her as Alphinaud and Ser Aymeric concluded the meeting and bespoke their words of politics and formalities. She was glad Alphinaud was here for such things. She was not silver-tongued enough to pamper the sensibilities of politics. As she took in the warrior across from her, she had a feeling he was much a kindred spirit in this. Both, however, seemed to be transfixed on studying the other, trying to understand and unravel the one across from them. There was profound respect there - one warrior to another.
Once the formalities were out of the way, farewells were given and Alphinaud and Rhea departed. She returned to the Rising Stones to report to Minfilia as Alphinaud started on his journey to call upon the leaders of the Alliance. While he garnered their support, Rhea was hard at work trying to recruit adventurers to join the fight.
Eventually the answer came from the leaders of the Alliance, answers Rhea heard for herself when she joined Alphinaud in Ul'dah to attend the summit: a token force was all they would contribute. As the Warrior of Light who had served beside them and fought for them during Operation Archon understood their position. However, the Ishgardian in her bled for their decision.
As they emerged from their meeting with the Council, they were met with a linkshell call from Ilberd. The assault upon Ishgard had begun in earnest and the Horde beat itself against the Vigils. There was no doubt that the bulk of the Dravanian's would begin their assault in full ere too long.
Wasting no time, Rhea called her aether and, though it was taxing without the use of the aetheryte, cast herself through the lifestream and emerged at Camp Dragonhead. Immediately she made for the Gates of Judgement and from there was directed to help some of the small pockets of fighting nearby. She'd been too late for most of them, many of the knights and Braves having fallen, but she saved a few and then was called to the Gates once more.
The vanguard of the Horde was coming and at its head, the great dravanian general, Vishap. Rhea did not have to be told where to go before she was heading out onto the bridge to the city, ready to stand in defense of her home. At her side were knights from all the houses along with Braves and adventurers alike.
There they readied, defiant against the oncoming attack. Rhea stood resolved - she would fight, and die if necessary, for her homeland.
She was ready to bring all her might to bear.