Chapter 11

Accepting the inevitable

By midday they reached the top.

"It's just this trail up and we are there, if I remember correctly..." Cecil exclaimed. His thoughts were more clear now than they had been that morning and were occupied with the reaching of the peak. "I wonder what we'll find... What if everything is alright and the fault for all these happenings lies somewhere else..."

He carefully surveyed the surroundings. "It's awfully quiet... Don't you think--"

"Yes..." Dawn agreed. " Let's be careful..." She suddenly sounded very serious again, "And... Cecil..." She gave him a thoughtful look. "Do trust yourself...!"

Cecil was puzzled, "What do you mean with that, Dawn? You speak in riddles…"

"I must know what she is up to..."

"Listen—" he began, but was stopped by her smile.

"Later, Cecil!"

He wanted to protest, but she quickly laid one of her fingers against his lips.

"Shhh... Have you heard that, too?" Cecil tried to concentrate on the noises in his surroundings and right- there it was a faint crackling noise coming from the mountaintop...

"Lets go!" Cecil unsheathed his sword. Even in his current mental state, he still knew when to concentrate on more important things, being a circumspected fighter.

"Follow me, Dawn..."

She held him back. "Alright!" she whispered "But I will go ahead- I can move more quietly than you can, so maybe we can surprise anything that might be up there..."

Cecil looked skeptical. "But..."

"Remember the lamia?" Dawn suppressed laughter.

"Remember the rock fall?" the paladin wanted to repeat, but his companion had already started to climb the path. She really was extremely quiet and fast! Cecil followed her slowly and cautiously, watching their back. Suddenly they heard a loud whirling sound and a moment later a wave of heat, the after-effect of a fire spell threw them to the ground.

"Alright! They know that we are coming!" Dawn exclaimed, jumped to her feet with an unbelievable speed and lunged forward.

"Dawn!" Cecil followed her as fast as he could. In a minute they stood on the peak.

"AH! I've got visitors...! Lady Dawn and a friend..." a croaked voice exclaimed loudly. It belonged to an old, hooded man with a thick serpent- shaped staff in one hand. The man stood on the other side of the bridge which separated the shrine from the peak. Next to him was a burnt heap of pebbles - the sacred shrine of Mt. Ordeals!

Cecil gasped. "What have you done! Is this your work?" he exclaimed furiously and strode forward, Dawn following him.

The man did not move an inch. "Oh, you wanted to visit the shrine- unfortunately it's broken..." He started to laugh wildly, his eyes suddenly shimmering with an eerie glow. He snipped with his fingers and was vanished in an instant.

"Where is he?" Cecil looked around him.

"There!" Dawn screamed and pointed behind him.

"Nice to see you again, Lady Dawn! " the old man laughed. "My servants will take care of you..." With another snap of his fingers he vanished again, only that this time the ground began to shake...

Suddenly a hole opened directly before Dawn's feet, a skeleton hand reaching out, then another hole and another - in an instant the two warriors were facing more than ten skeletons and zombie. Dawn started to hack at once at them, her silver sword glittering in the sun.

With a loud cry Cecil lunged forward, as well; his blade severing the head of a skeleton from its body -- to the paladin's relief, these monsters still were vulnerable to normal steel.

The old man appeared again next to the burnt shrine, watching the two fighters from a safe distance.

"Cecil! He's there again! By the shrine!" Dawn shouted and rolled to the side to avoid the axe of a rotting skeleton. The paladin whirled around and started to whack his way through the hordes of undead towards the bridge.

"You like to play, do you?" he shouted. " Who are you? Why did you destroy the shrine and now attack us? Why do you know our names? Tell me!"

"My, my… So many questions…" the man teased. "Let's start with the first: "Yes, I like to play, but do you?"  With a wave of his hands the ground shook again, a flash of light blinding everyone for an instant.

Suddenly Cecil heard Dawn screaming behind him: He whirled around seeing her surrounded by ten or more zombies.

"Cecil -- help me!" she shouted and cut off the arm of a zombie. The monster groaned loudly but did not stop attacking...

"They're too many and even my silver sword does not seem to hurt them much!"

The arm of the hurt zombie had already grown back, again.

"I am coming!" Cecil rushed forward and dealt a mighty blow to one of the rotting creatures - the blade bounced off, like he'd tried to hit a rock and the paladin was knocked backwards.

"Damn!" he shouted. "It isn't working- my sword is useless due to the destroyed shrine!"

"Having problems, paladin? You're right- you ARE powerless due to the destruction of the shrine!" the old man shouted with a booming voice. "You keep bad company, Lady Dawn! Maybe you should have chosen someone with real power! You won't thwart my plans again, even with this charmed knight at your side!"

"YOU!" Cecil jumped to his feet and ran towards the laughing figure, but was stopped half way before the bridge by three undead.

"We are finished!" Cecil exclaimed.

"NO !" Dawn shouted behind him. Cecil whirled around - the young woman was being dragged by the zombies to a nearby rocky wall and had trouble fighting them off.

"Cecil! Use your sword!" she shouted.

"It's useless- the shrine is damaged!"

"Yes boy!" the man boomed "There's nothing you can do- you're powerless- like you always were!"

"That's not true Cecil!" Dawn screamed "The shrine is nothing! Ugh!" A zombie knocked her down. Cecil rushed to her aid, but was hindered by some zombies as well...

"Cecil! The power of your sword comes from your inner self - the shrine is but a symbol!" Dawn's voice echoed weakly through the mountain air. "Believe in your strength like others believed in you."

Cecil's thoughts began to swirl.

"I can't!" he shouted desperately. "Why should I? No one ever really trusted me!"

"Cecil!" Dawn who was lying on the ground but still was in the possession of her sword, was still trying to defend herself. However, it was clear that she couldn't hold out much longer.

"Use your sword! Please!"

"Seems like your charming him was a waste of time, Dawn!"

"I am NOT charming anyone, Claudius. I am releasing them!"

"Ha, call it like you will -- your little trick did not work with that one! He once was a Dark Knight - his mind is full of doubts... Even now he is not sure what to do... But don't worry - I am going to release you both from your troubles...And your friends in Baron, too!"

"Cecil – don't listen to Claudius!" Dawn screamed pleadingly. "It's not true! I believe in you, Cecil! You saved my life- you saved so many lives back then and your family and friends trust you -- you just didn't listen... Stop doubting yourself, have some trust in yourself: Not in you as a Dark Knight or as a paladin, but as you - as Cecil! You...UGGH..." Before she could continue, a zombie had thrust his dirty fangs in the flesh of her right arm and sent her sword flying away.

Cecil watched in horror as the zombies closed in on their victim.

"No... Dawn..."!! He felt helpless again like back then in his fight with Milon.

"It's happening again...! I can't save her! It's just like the time Rosa was kidnapped... I don't want to..." He closed his eyes, trying to save his strength.

"I never want such things to happen again... I want to believe! I want to trust..."

He suddenly felt a familiar warm force rising in him. He heard a soft hum- the sword in his hands had started to glow in a warm light...

Without hesitation he strode forward. "Hold out, Dawn! I will help you!"

He stormed into the group of undead, wielding his sword with skill and power. The beat zombies broke down with a moan and turned to dust in an instant. Only some seconds later he had reached Dawn, who lay on the ground, her right arm bleeding. He wanted to kneel beside her, but she raised a hand.

"Later Cecil! Don't forget him!" she whispered weakly.

Cecil nodded. The old man had stopped laughing, as he saw the imposing figure of the paladin stepping up to him, Legend glowing in a soft light.

"Why did you do all that?" Cecil asked.

The man only stared at him coldly. "You will get to know this soon enough. But for now..." he raised his hand.

"Noo- I won't let you vanish again!" Cecil lunged forward and buried his blade into the lean wizard.

With a furious cry of pain, the old man broke down, bleeding. "It... it seems I have underestimated you..." he coughed. "But this is only the beginning... You may have won now but..."

He coughed again, spitting out some blood. Cecil fell down on his knees and grabbed the man at his collar, trying to ignore the rotting stench emanating from him.

"What? What will begin? Tell me! NOW!"

The old man suddenly smiled that madly, that it made the blood in Cecil freeze.

"Soon... You will see... For now take good care of your friends...And tell Lady Dawn.... that nothing will....release her from......!" Before he could end the sentence, he collapsed… 

Cecil looked at the dead body for a moment, his anger vanishing, feeling nearly pity for this old man. He had not wanted to kill him but had seen no other way out in the rage of fight.

A soft moan reminded him that Dawn was still lying on the other side of the bridge and he hurried to her side. The young woman was very pale, and the fabric of her shirt was soaked with blood. However, at least her breathing had become normal.

"Does it hurt much?" Cecil asked concerned. " Let me help you...I think I am able to heal again..." He closed his eyes and as before felt the warm spiritual power raising in him and flowing into his hands: In a minute he had healed the worst wounds on Dawn's arm.

"So are you feeling better, now?" he smiled as he opened his eyes.

"Yes," Dawn said "Will you help me up?" She put her arms around his neck. Cecil nodded, put his arms around her hip and slowly stood up. Again, she was so close to him...

"Thank you very much!" Dawn said, without releasing her grasp. "I knew that you could do it...!"

"Err... I have to thank you!" Cecil said, not knowing if he wished her to let go of him or not. " Without you I would never have started to believe in my power again.."

She gave him a sweet smile and then kissed him again - this time, however only on the cheek. That still was enough for the paladin - he carefully released her arms from around his neck, and, as he saw her eyes widen in surprise, said as calm as he could: "Dawn – I'm sorry, but I can't... I am a married man and even if everything confuses me right now I can't just forget her. I..."

Dawn turned away. Cecil bowed his head - he wondered if he'd made her cry.

To his surprise, Dawn started to giggle and then turned around, laughing, although her cheeks were slightly flushed.

"Oh Cecil- you're so sweet!" she hugged him again. "Of course you can't forget Rosa- she's the woman you love!"

As she saw his surprised look she added: "I know some things about you, Cecil... I think everything was a big misunderstanding!"

"Mis... misunderstanding?!" Cecil's calmness had vanished completely. He didn't understand a thing.

"But the kiss... and I..." he stuttered.

"Oh my -- you're completely upset... Let's sit down and talk about things!" Dawn pulled him to the ground. "Cecil!" she began, watching his expression, carefully. "I am sorry if I have confused you with my behaviour but I thought you could need some cheering up..."

"Confused" is an understatement!" the paladin stammered and began to explain his current state of mind as best as he could, as he did not know how to resolve the situation otherwise.

"Oh... I understand…" Dawn said after he had ended. "I... I seem to have that effect on people." Suddenly her appearance changed and she looked as serious and sorrowful as she had looked the first night.

"My ability can be a gift, but it also can lead to misunderstandings..."

"You mean that you put some kind of spell on me -- like a siren or something? That's what the evil wizard was talking about, right?" Cecil stared at her, feeling very foolish all of a sudden.

"This "evil wizard" only wanted to confuse you. I didn't "charm" you and it's no real magic, too. I can't explain everything to you, but people seem to find when they are with me what they are searching for... Kind of... As you may have the power to heal the body I may have the power to heal the soul."

"To heal the soul? But I am feeling so confused right now- I am not even sure of my feelings for Rosa anymore... And I don't know why..." He felt very guilty and depressed again.

"Cecil!" Dawn said gently and laid her hand on his arm. "As I looked into your eyes today I saw into your soul..."

"Oh... So that's why I felt so strange... I do seem to be laid open like a book to everyone..."

"This had been Kain's words, too. Still it feels not right to get "read" by others..." He frowned.

"No – that's not exactly true. It is a gift I possess.. I am sorry that I didn't tell you, but people seem to... to become frightened when they get to know my abilities..." She looked sad again. "I can't see everything so don't be afraid- I only know little of you..."

"Obviously it is not so little. You said during the fight that my friends would trust me and I just wouldn't see it..." Cecil's voice showed no hint of aggression or anger, he just wanted to get things straight once and for all.

"Cecil - please stop. It's a long story how I got to know all this- too long for now. Stop doubting yourself. I think you know very well what you WISH for, Cecil. Else you wouldn't have journeyed to this mountain all alone. As I said before: Have some trust in you and your friends..."

"You're confusing me again..."

Dawn sighed. "Alright- seems like I have to "repair" what I have done to you. Care to talk about your problems? I am sure that you haven't told me everything!"

"And I am not sure if I will... Somehow it feels not right to tell a person you've just met everything..." However, her smile convinced him otherwise. "It can only make me feel better, not worse."

And thus, Cecil told her everything about Kain, Rosa and the quarrel they had have.

"So- and now you think that Rosa doesn't love you anymore but Kain and that you have betrayed her..." Dawn concluded his story.

"I have said before that I don't know what to think..." Cecil sighed.

"Cecil, look at me! Let me please ask you a question!"

He obeyed and again her stare seemed to go right through him, only that this time his thoughts seemed to more clear instead of being drained away.

"What would you do if Rosa really loved Kain and wanted to go with him? Answer from the depth of your heart..."

Cecil closed his eyes and suddenly the memories he held so dear appeared before his inner eye again: Rosa's laughing, her touch, her voice. "She often had been the only one to talk to, and I had been the only one for her. We have not been only lovers, but friend -s- comrades in everything..."

But it was not only that… There was more he was feeling for her -- something not comprehensible by the normal means, something unaffected and independent from time and place, past or present...

Cecil suddenly knew how to answer. "I would let her go," he whispered.

"You would let her go?" For the fist time, Dawn sounded really surprised.

"Yes." Cecil felt an unbearable sadness creeping up in him. "I love her so much that I would accept everything as long as she is happy. Even leaving me... Maybe I knew it all the time but I was afraid of my own decision - not to fight for her, but let her decide. As it would make her happy but I... I would be missing a part not only of my life but… of myself..."

He turned his head away.

Dawn released her hand. Her look had become very soft. "So much for you being confused - I can't believe that you doubted yourself for one second.. Maybe the destroyed shrine had some effect on you after all. Oh my, Cecil - you sure think too much - you love Rosa more than one probably can... And she thinks the same..."

The paladin looked at her skeptically: "I wouldn't be too sure about that..."

"..So there lies the problem. You love her so much, but trust her so little?"

"I..."

"I think your wife trusts you very much. She probably never thought that you could believe she was having an affair with Kain. And so she acted maybe a bit... careless... "

"Hmm- it sounds logical, but there still is something wrong with her and Kain..."

"Kain, huh..." She gave a knowing smile which Cecil couldn't interpret.

"Well, time to find out! We can't sit here forever and talk, can we. Claudius said that your friends would be in danger, too."

"What do you know of the man else than his name?" Cecil asked.

Dawn suddenly stiffened. "There are things I can't tell you- now... So please don't ask. It is enough for you to know that I and Claudius have met once before. He was a mad, poor soul..."

"I understand," He nodded, deciding to trust her words.

Dawn gave him a thankful smile. "Good! Let's go- time is running short..."

"Just a minute. There's something I have to do before we leave..." Cecil hurried over the bridge to the broken shrine and knelt down before the gray heap.

"Father..." he whispered. "As my power was not bound to this shrine, I hope your soul isn't as well. Stay with us..." He remained in silence for a moment and then returned to Dawn. " Let's go..."

The hurried down the path, meeting no more monsters- obviously the death of Claudius had made the Mountain peaceful once again. As they didn't take any breaks they reached the base of the mountain in half the time. Dawn suddenly stayed behind. "Cecil - we must part now..." she said sadly.

"But why? Can't you help fighting of the monsters..."

She took a step towards him. "No. You're strong enough yourself. Just trust in you, your friends and your family and I am sure you will be fine. I ... I just can't go with you. But maybe we will meet again..."

Cecil only nodded. "Alright - you must have your reasons. Still you're a mystery to me... I've liked very much travelling with you and I can't tell you how much you helped me. Now I understand what you meant with "healing the souls of people". You sure are a paladin." He embraced her carefully, strangely not any longer afraid of getting confused by her touch.

"You think so?" Dawn whispered, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "Cecil – you're the nicest person I've ever met and I am sure that if you weren't---" She suddenly stopped in mid sentence and embraced him a little more tightly.

"Never mind... Goodbye, Cecil and take care. And... thank you..." She tore herself away from him and hurried back to the mountain as if she didn't want the paladin to see her face.

"Goodbye Dawn. I have to thank..." Cecil called after her. "What is your secret Dawn? Why did the old man on the mountain top know you? And why do I, despite this, feel that I can trust you? "  

In fact he felt a  sad at the loss of his companion but remembered the danger his friends could be in even now and hurried to mount the chocobo.

"I won't be fast enough flying there and I am not sure how long they can hold out without me. What am I to do..."

The serpent way! For a moment he hesitated, and thought of the unpleasant visit of the Mysidian delegation. " But I can't dwell on that. There are people who need me."

And thus, he hurried on the chocobo to Mysidia.