Chapter 14:Trabia
Chapter 14:Trabia

It was August before Irvine and Selphie could travel to Trabia. She was nearly five months pregnant and was clearly showing by then, her swollen stomach sticking out in shocking contrast to her rail thin arms and legs. It was as if the growing child within her stole away from the strength of her limbs. But for some reason it seemed to Irvine that she was happier now then she had been in months. Maybe somehow Selphie though that her mood while pregnant would affect the disposition of their unborn child. Or maybe she was genuinely happy to be who she was and in the position that she was in. Irvine really couldn't tell anymore neither could he tell how sick she really was as Selphie constantly brushed off all of his worries with a carefree smile.

It was this fear for her safety and well being that made Irvine wrap his arm tighter around her waist as they entered the grounds of Trabia Garden together. The crumbled ruins of a year past were no longer in evidence. Instead the grounds had been well restored and were even more beautiful then Galbadia and Balamb Gardens in their current states were. Students and faculty began running up when they saw Selphie and Irvine reluctantly loosened his hold on her so she could hug them. He watched the reunions feeling out of place as Selphie used each of their names in turn and they all jostled to hug her and touch her burgeoning stomach. Irvine sat down on a bench along the walkway to wait, letting his cowboy hat droop lazily over his eyes.

What must have been only a few moments later although it seemed like an eternity, he felt Selphie come over and take his hands, "C'mon Irvine! Let's go! They want us to go to the cafeteria. They've got food in there for us.

Selphie dragged him inside and down the brightly lit halls into a large airy cafeteria. There was already a long line of people waiting for food and most of them turned around and giddily greeted Selphie with cheerful hellos and waves and some people ran out of line to give her more hugs. Irvine noticed that most of the people acted like he was invisible even though Selphie tried numerous times to introduce him. Irvine didn't recognize some of the Trabian delicacies that were sitting on the counters but he took whatever the cafeteria workers offered him in order not to seem rude.

He followed Selphie to a table where they were joined by more of Selphie's Trabian friends than Irvine thought he could possibly count. He attempted to eat most of the food out of politeness although secretly he found much of the fare to be quite unpalatable. Selphie on the other hand ate with more relish and vigor then she had in a long time and it gave Irvine renewed hope for the future. Maybe she would beat this thing after all and live to be a mother to their child. Irvine could only wish deep in his heart.

They were led to an empty classroom after they'd eaten. Five students came in and introduced themselves simply as the 'Committee to Help Selphie.' They were eager to exhibit their findings to her.

One freckled boy went to the chalkboards and pulled down a map of Trabia, "Here Selphie is Trabia Garden. And here we find a road that leads deep into this mountain range here."

A girl with blonde curls nodded, "Until now we'd been taught in class that this mountain road was abandoned but as you know many of the things we've been taught in school were either lies or simply glossed over truths. Timmy and I did some research and found that during the Sorceress Wars many people were recruited from places in Trabia. They were from towns like Calbett, Windside and Northpoint. We gleaned these names from draft records we'd found on the computer database. We'd never heard of such places but in our findings we found some old maps and sure enough these towns were listed on them. We were surprised and excited."

Timmy who was tall and gangly spoke up, "Yeah we were kind of wishing we could go and find these places. Some of us might have had family from there too but unfortunately we have school to worry about. We never could find the name Tilmitt in any of our searches but there are five mining towns of people who don't keep good records up in those mountains so you never know."

Freckled boy chimed in, "Besides the three towns Gemma named there are also the mining communities of Snow Valley and Coal Park. Most of these towns mined coal but others mined precious gems such as energy crystals and dynamo stones. A few even mined the rare and valuable star fragments. We don't know much else except that most of these towns are poor because Esthar soldiers who Adel had sent swindled them out of their money. Adel used the money taken from the miners to build her empire in Esthar. I doubt President Laguna knows though as we've been told he is a nice generous man who wouldn't stand for that kind of crap."

Irvine interrupted them, "How do we get to these towns? Can we rent a car?"

Gemma looked at him as if she hadn't noticed him in the room before, "No, vehicle travel is strictly prohibited on the mountain road. Besides it is dangerous to make the trip in a car. The roads would destroy the tires on a car."
Timmy bobbed his head in agreement, "Yes that's the truth but we can loan you some pack horses from the Garden which should get you there and back ok."
Selphie clapped her hands in delight, "Irvine let's leave at once!"
Timmy piped up again, "No Selphie you should really stay here and rest the night."
Selphie snapped imperiously, "I'm not waiting a second longer! I've waited long enough! I have no time to waste anyway."
No one wanted to argue with her and a few hours later, Irvine and Selphie found themselves saddled onto horses which were loaded down to the hilt with supplies. Selphie and Irvine rode off silently and soon the warmth of Trabia Garden faded into the background. By nightfall, they had reached the front of the road that the two of them knew must be the one into the mountains. It was marked by nothing but rocks and dust yet they knew this was where they needed to go.
"We'd better set up camp. I know you're in a hurry but night traveling is dangerous." Irvine said as he helped her down from her steed.
They set up camp together. Irvine built a fire and then invited the exhausted Selphie to come and sit with him. She leaned wearily against his back in his lap, enjoying both the heat from his body behind her and that of the flickering flames. They were both silent for awhile, enjoying the peace and intimacy of the moment.
"Sefie, I'm so scaared of you dying. I wish we could be like this forever." He whispered in her ear.
"Weren't you ever afraid I was ever going to die when we were in battle?" She smiled at the sexy drawl of her voice.
"No you were a SeeD and I knew you were a strong fighter." He paused "Well I guess there was the time Squall took you to space with him to save Rinoa. I was so scared you were going to die in space."
She blushed, "I was scared I would lose you then too. That I'd never see you again... When did you first realize you loved me?"ye
"The day we were on that train to Deling. And you were singing that little song. Love at first sight I guess. I thought Rinoa was pretty hot but she had 'I want Squall' written all over her. Besides I knew you were special especially in my memories."
She snuggled tighter against his back, "I knew I was in love with you during the fight with Ultimecia. When you lay on the ground and I cast full life on you. I knew then I had to be with you forever or else I would be sad."
He laughed, "We must sound so corny but it's true Sefie, I love you will all my heart, mind, soul and body."
"Do you? Prove it!" She teased him.
Irvine jumped to his feet and pulled her up with him, "I think I will then."
Selphie giggled much like the old lighthearted Selphie he remembered. They entered the tent they had helped each other to set up. Quickly the two of them stripped out of there clothing.
"Do you know?" Irvine said slyly, "That this is the first time we have been alone like this for a long time. At home, it's always Squall and Rinoa in the other room."
"Irvine... what about the horses?" Selphie asked him but he ignored her and pulled her naked body to the ground, covering her in impatient kisses. Selphie forgot everything else but the teasing of his tongue between her legs. "Mmm Irvine..." She moaned.
He stopped and she gave a cry of dismay. Irvine laughed at her and switched to his hand letting his mouth find hers. Selphie slid her hand down his stomach, to his legs and began stroking his hardened sex in her cool hand. Irvine groaned and rolled her over onto her back. He slid into her with strokes that were slow first then harder. She grabbed his hips and moved with him, crying out as he brought her over the edge. When he came, he collapsed on top of her still breathing heavily. He stayed there and they fell asleep in each others arms.