Summary: The Scions of the Seventh Dawn attempt to flee Ul'dah immediately following the events of the Bloody Banquet.
The Scions of the Seventh Dawn fled, as rapidly as they could, from the Fragrant Chamber and the battle within. Time was not on their side for making an escape and they needed to hurry.
As they ran, they came upon an out of breath Thancred who claimed he had been taking stock of things when everything had turned sour. At least he was accounted for but…where was Alphinaud? Rhea's worry grew for him by the second. Was he dead? Had the Crystal Braves killed their Commander to assume power? The thought of Alphinaud gone was a pain she pushed deep into her heart. She couldn't lose focus. They had to escape.
While she worried about her friend and stood guard, the others deliberated the state of things. Though Rhea had plenty to say, there was little she could convey that the other Scions would not say themselves. Rapid footsteps of armor-clad soldiers filled the Chamber of Rule and Rhea knew then they were out of time.
She was not the only one who heard them as all eyes turned to their surroundings. "Forgive me for stating the obvious, but our choice of destination will matter little if we cannot secure an escape route out of Ul'dah," Thancred said. Apparently they had been trying to figure out where to flee to, now that the Rising Stones was likely compromised. "Happily, I believe I can provide one. Papashan once told me about the passages hidden in the walls of the palace. If I recall correctly, the fireplace in Nanamo's chambers conceals the entrance to a tunnel. It should lead outside the city, and allow us to avoid any messy confrontations."
The thought of returning to the chamber where the fair Sultana had passed was not something Rhea wished to revisit but it seemed they had little choice. Turned to follow him, Yda pulled off from the pack and readied her metal fists. "The rest of you go on ahead. I'll handle this lot!" she called to them, readying to face off against the oncoming soldiers.
"By yourself!?" Papalymo called to her then sighed, "...I suppose I shall just have to join you." Readying his staff, he made his way to Yda's side.
"Yda! Papalymo!" Minfilia cried out, reaching for them as a thread of dread filled Rhea's heart in worry for her dear friends.
"We will hold our pursuers here. Hurry, now! Find this tunnel of Thancred's!" Papalymo said to them then began casting as a fireball struck out from his staff and landed against the gates overhead, causing it to crash down and block anyone else from helping them.
With a nod to the lalafell that conveyed all her appreciation and care for him, Rhea took off after Thancred and Y'shtola as Minfilia remained behind. "Minfilia! We cannot linger!" Thancred called out to her and that seemed to break her from her dread as she turned and joined the rest of them as they made for the Sultana's chambers.
Mercifully, none barred their path as they ran. Entering into the chambers, try as she might to not look, Rhea's eyes could not help but be drawn to where the Sultana had fallen. Her body had been removed but the wine remained. Thancred triggering the hidden door brought her back from the grief that began to bubble up within her. Making for the passage, she followed the others, Y'shtola bringing up the rear to shut the way behind them.
Just as the door closed, a great explosion was heard from beyond it and the dread she felt at leaving Yda and Papalymo only got worse. It had sounded bad, and big, and right in the direction they had left them. She prayed to Halone that they were safe.
Still, there was no time to waste and they hurried down into the tunnels beneath the city. Stepping into the waterways, ignoring the cold liquid as it seeped into their boots, they made their way after Thancred. Sounds behind them, however, cause Y'shtola and Rhea to pause and look back - miqo'te and elezen hearing being elevated as they were. They were being pursued quite ardently, and by more than just a token force.
"Well, that didn't take long. It seems these tunnels were not as secret as I had hoped," Thancred said dryly as he lifted the lantern he'd snatched from Her Grace's chambers.
"You two go on ahead. Thancred and I will deal with this," Y'shtola said, turning back to look at Minfilia.
As the Antecedent cried out in alarm at such a proposal, Rhea frowned. She didn't want to be the one to run while her friends stayed to fight. As if she sensed her dislike of the situation, Y'shtola looked to Rhea and a moment passed between them. Y'shtola had been the first Scion she'd ever met, the one who had introduced her to the others and, unwittingly, set her upon her destiny. "Only that which is required to ensure that the dawn's light survive to brighten the morrow," the miqo'te said, her words meant for the both of them.
Hate it though she might, Rhea knew Y'shtola was not wrong. Together, the leader of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and the Warrior of Light would be able to get to the bottom of the mess. With a sorrowful and soft nod, Rhea turned as Minfilia reached for the lantern from Thancred.
"Leave us!" Y'shtola yelled at them, then turned to face the oncoming horde of soldiers splashing their way down the waterways.
Rhea and Minfilia raced away as the sounds of battle began, and she heard Thancred's cries of pain echoed through tunnels. It took everything in her not to turn back as she heard him call to Y'shtola. A moment later, Rhea felt a swell of powerful aether as a massive spell was released and another explosion reached her ears.
Both her and Minfilia stopped as they looked back but there was no time to return for suddenly her friend dropped the lantern into the water and exclaimed. "H-Hydaelyn...she speaks to me!"
"No!" she suddenly cried out to the heavens then sighed and looked at Rhea. It was alarming, to say the least, that not even her Echo had felt the Mother Crystal speak to Minfilia. Had she truly forsaken her champion? Rhea pushed that aside too. It was not the time to mull on it.
Minfilia looked to her, "I must remain behind...but you cannot stay with me."
"No! Absolutely not!" Rhea exclaimed at her, "We have lost too much, too many. I will not leave you! I cannot leave you!"
Not her, too. Please Mother, not her too.
"Please, you must go on! You are the Warrior of Light! You are hope - for the Scions, and for all the realm! As long as your flame continues to burn, the light of the dawn may ever be relit! You must escape, and save Eorzea from those who would plunge it into darkness! 'Tis the only way…" Minfilia called to her.
Before she could stop her, Minfilia began to run back in the direction of Y'shtola and Thancred. With a frustrated growl, and a heart heavy with grief for her friends, Rhea balled her fists and turned, rushing for the exit from the tunnels.
~.~..~.~...~.~..~.~
Emerging from the waterways, night was well and truly descended upon the land - a darkness enshrouding the land deeper than even the normalcy of night. The tunnels had seemed nigh endless and she had no idea how much time had truly passed. Pausing a moment to look back, Rhea said a prayer for her friends, then began to climb out of the ravine.
Just as she reached the top, she heard footsteps rushing upon her position and she began to draw aether to her. Even without her tome to focus her abilities, she was still a powerful summoner and she would not go down without a fight. She was tired of running. She was tired of abandoning her friends.
She was, simply, done.
Thankfully, the rapidly approaching footfalls were not in fact enemies but the painfully welcomed sight of Alphinaud running towards her with a heavily armored lalafell at his side. Relief at seeing him alive swelled within her breast.
Panting, Alphinaud looked to her through the goggle apparatus attached to the hood he had over his eyes, "I am glad to see you safe, my friend! What of the others?"
Rhea sighed and shook her head, "They remained behind to cover our…m-my retreat. Minfilia remained as well."
"Damn that man!" Alphinaud cursed, growling in frustration, "Teledji played me for a fool! I thought the Crystal Braves mine till the very moment I felt the blade at my back…"
The lalafell beside him looked to Alphinaud and then Rhea, "There will be ample time for soul-searching later. For now, we must put some malms between us and Ul'dah." Rhea nodded, knowing him to be right. The time for processing everything would be for later.
The sound of heavy footsteps and the rattling of a carriage came upon them and as all readied for a confrontation, the joyous face of a friend popped out from the back. The merchant she had met on the boat crossing the strait to Limsa, in a time that seemed ages past where they were now, smiled at her, "Well, would you look who it is! Need a ride? I doubt it'll be half as excitin' as the last trip we took - not if I have anythin' to say about it, anyway! Let's not dawdle, eh? All aboard!"
Wasting no time, and not looking a gift horse in the mouth, the three of them loaded up into the carriage and it got underway. As soon as they sat, Brennan reached into a crate beside him and pulled out two sets of garments - simple Ul'dahn attire from the look of it. "Best be putting these on sos we don't attract too much attention. The cover of night will only help so much if we're stopped and, as you are, you lot are noticeable."
With a nod, Rhea gratefully took the clothes and began to don them over her current attire, removing the originals beneath only once the new ones were in place. She gave a weak smile of gratitude to their rescuer. Alphinaud, too, changed from his gear and set it beside him.
"I was stockin' up on supplies over in Vesper Bay, you see, when your sister come up an' begged a favor. Said her brother was havin' some trouble down in Ul'dah, an' likely needed a helpin' hand gettin' away. Thinkin' them ruins would make a fine hidin' place, I decided to try there first...an' lo an' behold, there you were. Aye, an' judgin' by them soldiers as were pourin' out of the city, I arrived not a moment too soon…" Brennan explained to Alphinaud then looked to Rhea, "must've been fate that we happened to find you there though, eh?"
"I had thought to look out for Alisaie, but 'twould appear she was the one watching over me. I've made such a mess of things…" Alphinaud said in crushing defeat that Rhea felt as well. The sheer realization and weight of all that had happened had washed over them as Ul'dah shrank behind them. A despair like Rhea had never known sank deep into her heart. Nanamo Ul Namo was dead. The Scions of the Seventh Dawn were brought low, possible with Nanamo in Nald's realm. Neither knew aught of what had happened to Raubahn or their friends. They were fugitives on the run with likely all of Thanalan wanting their heads, not to mention the Crystal Braves and gods knew who else.
Turning to look to the lalafell at the back of the cart, Brennan inquired as to who he was. Turning around, he removed his helmet as long blonde hair flowed around a young and handsome face. He gave a perfect Flame salute as he looked to the man, "Pipin Tarupin, Vice Marshal of the Immortal Flames. I had been on the Ala Mhigan front these past few moons, but an urgent communication called me back to Ul'dah. Scarce had my boots touched the cobbles, though, when the streets erupted with cries of assassination. I immediately went in search of answers, and came across Master Alphinaud here. Needless to say, I did not think his imprisonment justified. The blame plainly lies with the Monetarists. Their greed and corruption are well known to me, but for them to take advantage of the situation with such alacrity…"
"...Was that 'Pipin,' you said? Ain't that the name of General Aldynn's lad?" Brennan asked, surprise on his features, which mirrored Rhea's as well.
Pippin nodded, "Yes, I am his son. Adopted, of course. 'Twas only as we were leaving Ul'dah that I learned of Father's fate. Once I have seen you a safe distance away, I mean to return to the city and extricate him from this madness."
Hope flared in Rhea as she leaned forward, happy to know that while she might not be able to return to help her ally, his son would.
"Then you needn't travel no further than Black Brush - our fugitives have a friend waitin' for 'em there," Brennan informed him with a smile. A friend? Who could be waiting for them there? Who would know of their plight in so much detail that Brennan would know of it? Perhaps it was Alisaie or Urianger?
"I dreamed of bringing about Eorzea's salvation, but in the end…" Alphinaud said with despair heavy in heart as Rhea looked to him, "'Twas I who needed saving." Rhea looked down then and sighed, the brief flicker of hope in Pipin's words washing to the background as her own despair crept back up. As the carriage carted along in darkness, silence descended upon them all as minds turned inward, reflecting in all that had happened.
~.~..~.~...~.~..~.~
For longer than she knew, the four of them sat in silence as they made their way to Blackbrush Station - mercifully not too far away. As they arrived at their destination and disembarked, Brennan gave them a smile. "Them soldiers'll keep searchin' for a while yet. Reckon we'll take the carriage back towards Ul'dah an' get the lay of the land - maybe provide a distraction if need be. You three wait here. Help'll be along shortly. Stay strong, friends - the real fight's to come!"
With a nod, their rescuer departed and Rhea looked to Pipin. "The most unassuming folk can prove to be our greatest allies. That fellow was but a passing merchant, yet he lent us aid without a moment's hesitation - or any hint of concern for his own safety. Though I can well imagine how a man could feel inspired to risk all in your presence." Rhea smiled as he looked up to her, "Father spoke often of you, Rhea, and long have I looked forward to our first meeting. Needless to say...this is not at all how I envisioned it."
Turning, the young lalafell looked to Alphinaud, "Master Alphinaud, you must not give in to despair. That would only play into our enemies' hands! So long as you and Rhea are free, we may still set things right."
Alphinaud sighed, "Forgive me, Marshal Tarupin, but I -"
A familiar voice interrupted as footsteps rushed up on them, "Alphinaud, my boy - sorry to keep you waiting!"
Surprise registered on both of their faces as they saw it was none other than Cid nan Garlond who was their friend in Blackbrush. "Cid? What are you doing here?" Alphinaud asked.
"Pulling you out of the fire, as usual! Your merchant friend told me everything," the Garlean said with a grim expression.
"Truly? Then he is no merchant but an angel in peddlers' clothing... But tell us - how do you intend to bear our friends to safety?" Pippin said with a breath of relief.
"I hid the Enterprise but a short distance away. All I need is a destination," Cid informed them, his eyes turning to Rhea. The sight of her dear friend was enough to balm, at least temporarily, the pain in her chest.
"We must find a place beyond the reach of both the Monetarists and the Crystal Braves…" Pippin said, trying to think of a good place to go.
Rhea knew where they needed to go - the one place they could still, if luck were on their side. Given their luck of late, she didn't have much hope, but it was their only option. She parted her lips to offer it up, but Alphinaud spoke first, "...Coerthas. Ishgard will not suffer the intrusion of foreign forces in their territory."
She nodded, "And we have allies there. As he was leaving, Ser Aymeric saw me in captivity outside the Fragrant Chamber. Though he did not stop, nor speak a word, an unspoken understanding transpired between us. He knew ill was afoot and it was clear we had an ally in him," she said, then her mind flashed to the face of Haurchefant and she knew, without any doubt, that he would welcome them as well with open arms and a warm hearth. Not even the Fury would be able to stop him, let alone the Holy See. "We should make for Camp Dragonhead where Lord Haurchefant, who has ever been one of our most steadfast allies, will surely give us refuge."
Cid nodded, "That settles it. With me, everyone!"
Pippin turned to look at Rhea, "Not I, I fear. I must remain here. I dare not abandon Ul'dah to the Monetarists and their cronies. You may be certain that they will seek to defame you, both here and in the other city-states. But know that I shall do my utmost to thwart their every effort. Frankly, I do not expect it to be much of a challenge. The smallfolk will not turn so easily on the Warrior of Light and her allies, no matter what the Monetarists claim."
Rhea smiled at him and bowed her head in gratefulness as Alphinaud spoke, "Marshal Tarupin, I...I know not what to say."
"Hah! Now that Father would labor to believe! But enough talk - you must go, Master Alphinaud. Your airship awaits!"
With a firm nod from them both, Alphinaud and Rhea made for the airship. As they boarded, night gave way to dawn. As they flew for Coerthas, Rhea watched as the light cresting over the hills bore a deep red hue.
Thus did they say goodbye to Ul'dah, and the lives they once had, with the bloody dawn that rose over the sands.