Chapter Eleven

The Stewards of Bevelle


Maestress Shelinda and Sir Gatta of the Crusaders met them when they approached the Citadel of Bevelle by way of the Highbridge. Word of their coming had reached the ears of the powerful couple within minutes of the seven setting foot upon the ground. Shelinda no longer looked the part of a naive and lowly acolyte, and Gatta had lost the petulant energy of his youth. They were older, of course, but what surprised Tidus the most was their imposing presence and confidence of demeanor. Their bearing was proud and lofty, but neither arrogant nor conceited.

"Welcome. It has been a long time for some of you." said Shelinda with a slight bow to Auron and Tidus, who were the unofficial leaders of the company.

"You two are in charge?" questioned the blond blitzer, recalling how much trouble Shelinda had been before Operation Mi-hen.

The teachings! The teachings! She was almost as bad as Wakka. No, wait, she was worse. But she had grown up a lot even then. Looking at her in her ceremonial robes, which fluttered in the late morning breeze, he could tell she had matured even more in the intervening years.

Glancing at Gatta, still soldierly in dress and even more battle scarred, he thought much the same thing. The brave and brash boy had grown into a somber, but no less dangerous man, who was surely a commendable warrior and leader.

But it was still difficult to believe that he was her consort. Nevertheless, that was what Pacce had told him as they walked the length of the Highbridge.

"Yes, we are the stewards of Bevelle. I am the leader of the warrior monks, and my husband commands the Crusaders." she replied.

"Great. Then I guess you could tell us where Yuna ... er ... Lady Yuna is, right?" he questioned.

"We cannot answer your question at the moment. You see, though you are renown guardians and saviors of Spira ... you were or are also dead. We must consult the teachings concerning this matter." answered Shelinda.

"But you know us! Well, Auron and me anyway. Can't you just tell us if they've gone to Guadosalam or not?"

"No. Yevon will not accede to the will of the dead. You should understand this." answered Gatta stiffly. "Not even for the sake of friendship." he added, looking away for a moment as though the words came only through a great struggle of will or conscience.

Auron strode forward a pace and said to him, "They could be in grave danger. If you hinder us, it may cost them their lives."

"We do not seek necessarily to hinder you, only to lessen your haste and obey the laws set down by Yevon." said Shelinda, even more adamant than her husband.

"How long?" growled Auron.

The pair exchanged glances before Gatta replied, "Only until tomorrow morning."

"Come on, Auron! We can just go after them ourselves! We know the way." suggested Tidus.

"But what if they are not going to Guadosalam. What if ... they have made other plans? Would you risk it?" asked Auron in frustrated tones.

"No ... I guess not." answered Tidus reluctantly.

Auron glared at Sir Gatta and said, "We will wait for the judgment of Yevon. But I beg you to decide swiftly. The dead do not return for idle reasons."

"To be honest, Sir Auron, I do not think so either. Trouble is brewing in the shrouded city, and I do not doubt that Lady Yuna will be at its center. If it were only my decision, I would ... give you the news that you desire, but other forces are at work." said Sir Gatta with a glance toward the stern Maestress of Yevon at his side.


Tidus, as he gazed back across the bridge at Bevelle, had to admit it. It was much prettier when no one was shooting at him. When the others had dispersed, Tida remained with him. Tidus could tell that it was due in part to some silent urging from Auron. Sometimes he was very grateful for the insight the elder guardian had into fatherless children, insight that he had gained from raising him in his own father's absence. That meridian as Tida walked just behind him toward the temple of Bevelle, he was extremely grateful.

"Where are we going?" she asked quietly, speaking to him for the first time since they had left the others behind. For a star blitzer, she certainly didn't seem very sure of herself. But then, how would he have felt in her place?

"The temple. I want to see something." he explained.

"Oh."

Her steps slowed, causing him to look over his shoulder. She was missing the wonderful view of the greatest city in Spira just to look at the ground.

"You are welcome to come along, you know." he assured Tida.

"Thank you." she said as she followed him.

"I got a question for you." he prefaced, causing her to look up.

"When the three of you saw the three of us at the beach on Besaid, how'd you know that we were us?" he asked.

"That's easy. You look just like mom's paintings." she shrugged.

"Yuna paints?"

"Yes, and some people say very well. She painted you and Auron and Jecht ... when you were all reunited inside Sin before the final battle."

"Oh." said Tidus quietly.

"She also painted a picture of you and Auron in Luca from memory and the two of you in ancient Zanarkand from her imagination. There are lots more, but I like the ones of her guardians best. She put more of herself into them."

"Maybe I can see them sometime."

"I think she would like that." agreed Tida as they approached the temple.


The temple of Yevon in Bevelle was a somber place. Much of the forbidden machina had been removed in the early days of the Calm and few people ventured there. Tidus made his way through the temple and former cloister of trials with Tida at his heels until he reached the chamber wherein a Fayth had once been housed. The girl, though accustomed to the sacred spaces of Besaid, seemed nervous.

A lone priest, aged and devout, guarded the door to the chamber and stood immovably before it as they approached.

"What business have you in this place, Sir Tidus?" the man questioned as he barred their path.

"I want to see Bahamut, or what's left of him anyway." said Tidus, still not impressed with the trappings of the temple.

"As you wish, good sir, but I do not think you will find anything of him here." said the priest, stepping out of their way without seeming to notice Tida.

As Tidus walked toward the door and it opened with a grinding sound, he turned and asked the priest, "How did you know my name?"

The clergyman merely pointed to a mural on the far wall. It contained an image of a young blond man with a fierce look upon his face who stood among others in the battle against Lord Seymour on the Highbridge. Though a snarling Ronso with a spear, Kimahri, was featured prominently, no figure was painted with greater attention to detail than that of the blond, who was Tidus.

He stared at it for long moments in appreciation and awe before his eyes would leave the painting. Surely this was Yuna's own work. It was amazing. Then he turned again and stepped into the silent and dimly lit chamber that had housed the aeon Bahamut and his Fayth, the boy in the purple hood and robes who had called to him even in Zanarkand. Even from the outside, it seemed empty and still ...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Because the last chapter was so short and because everyone has been so extra especially nice today, I've posted two chapters.
Thank you for the reviews, Summoner Cynthia, Smiggles, and 8462! To answer the various questions and suggestions (which are always warmly received): I don't want to get bogged down in exposition - I like a nice balance of dialog and description, but I will keep your advice in mind, Smiggles. "What chapter will Tidus see Yuna?" Well, 8462, I would tell you, but, you see, ... I don't want to give it away. Sorry! (It isn't soon.)