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Angel of the summer stars

I will always see you safe from harm

We'll never be apart,

Night and day you're constant in my heart…

Ash - Candy

"Are you certain you want to put yourself through this, Lesca? The duties of a Guardian are arduous, even for the short stay you will be completing in the trials." Auron looked at her worriedly.

"I'm sure. You don't have to come y'know." She squinted at him, shielding her eyes from the sun that lay low on the horizon.

"I want to. If that is alright with you?"

"Of course it is. I'd love some company, especially yours." She bit her lip. She hadn't meant to let that last bit slip out. Luckily, he didn't seem to notice.

"Lesca!"

She turned to face her father, bedecked in the robes of a summoner. Her breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of a man facing certain death.

"You have your staff I trust?" Her voice was strangled, cracking from the emotions raging through her.

"I have. Shall we enter?"

She merely nodded, leaving the two men in her wake as she made haste to the entrance of the temple. They looked at each other and shrugged before following the distant figure of Braska's daughter. Braska glanced at the child, troubled by her strange behaviour.

He bowed to the temple's keeper deeply; "My name is Braska. I wish to pray to the Fayth and end the sorrow and suffering of Spira."

"Of course Lord Braska. These are your Guardians I presume?" The man eyed the relative children warily.

"They are for the time being."

"As you wish my lord. The trials that lie ahead are laborious, are you prepared?"

Lesca looked at the man with a bright smile, "We are."

Only Auron noticed the pain that flashed in her eyes as she uttered the simple reply. He restrained himself as he made to move toward her, realising it was the father, not the daughter he was here to protect. For now.

The monk eyed the youth with distaste before bowing to the apprentice summoner and moving to clear his path to the trials. They entered the cloister and Auron was struck by the wealth of machina employed by the temple. He had never been this far into its underbelly, it was forbidden for any monk to cross the threshold into the trials without good reason. The shock was evident on his face, and Lesca laughed bitterly.

"Why so startled Auron? Didn't you know those holier than though Yevonite's used the machina of the heathens?"

He shook his head, his eyes glazed and unseeing. Machina that was outlawed in the outer world lined the walls of the temple, bleeping merrily as they went about their appointed tasks.

"Lesca! Stop this. You are of the faith of Yevon also." Braska admonished his eldest daughter sharply.

"Hud drnuikr lruela." Auron smiled as she grumbled. Unknown to his companions, he knew enough Al Bhed to comprehend her words and to make himself understood. It was a skill all warrior monks had to learn to deal with the "atheists". Braska pulled Lesca to the side and began whispering furiously.

"Lesca, bmayca! Oui ghuf oui lyhhud najaym ouin mehayka. Tuh'd syga meva vun oui yht Yuna yho ryntat dryh ed ryc du pa. Vun so cyga yht ouin sudranc." Braska looked at Auron pointedly.

The other man shrugged, "E ghuf. I have no issue with the ancestry of your children and neither should the rest of Spira. It is sad that is not the case, but prejudice is an inevitable part of life."

Braska looked relieved, "You speak the language of her mother? It is good to know there are those out there who will not persecute my daughters for something that is outwith their control."

Lesca pulled away from her father and picked up a shimmering sphere of purple, tossing it lightly between her hands.

"Come on. By the time you two are done jabbering the trials will have disappeared!"

The trials, though not physically challenging, tired them all mentally. As they stood outside the entrance to the Chamber of the Fayth, Lesca stopped Braska in his tracks.

"This is it. Are you certain this is what you want?"

He took her by the shoulders and smiled, his eyes betraying his sadness, "It is for the good of Spira."

Lesca nodded and watched as her father entered the antechamber, the soft petal-like formations parting before him. She exhaled loudly as the last glimpse of white disappeared into the darkness and looked at Auron.

"Hey." She murmured, smiling at him shyly.

"Hello…" He looked at her, confused. Lesca giggled at the perplexed look on his face.

"You need to lighten up!"

She leaned against the wall of the room with her eyes closed, one leg resting against the cool surface, arms crossed. Auron watched as her lips moved, seemingly silently, but as he strained his ears he could pick out the faint words of a haunting tune.

Du sa, oui'na cdnyhka yht oui'na paydevim

Oui't pa cu banvald fedr sa

Pid oui zicd lyh'd caa

Oui dinh ajano rayt, pid oui tuh'd caa sa

E'mm bid y cbamm uh oui

Oui'mm vyll ycmaab

Yht E'mm bid y cbamm uh oui

Yht frah E fyga oui, E'mm pa dra vencd oui caa

Yht oui'mm naymeca dryd oui muja sa

He hesitated, "I, I see you."

Her eyes snapped open and she coloured, "I don't know what you mean."

"That song… Oui dinh ajano rayt, pid oui tuh'd caa sa…You turn every head but you don't see me. I see you."

She chewed on her bottom lip, "I didn't realise you spoke quite as much Al Bhed."

"I liked the language so I studied it more than most of the monks, it is…beautiful." Tell her. Do it, what is there to fear? She can only reject you, laugh…

"However, it pales into insignificance next to your splendour." Smooth, real smooth Auron. He mentally slapped a hand to his forehead, cringing as she walked over to him, peering at him curiously.

"You mean that?"

He gulped, "I do."

She stopped in front of him and he looked down into the inquisitive green eyes from his lofty position. Smiling up at him was the girl he adored, that smile alone made his legs try to fold from under him, his heart pound in his chest. Reaching a slender gloved hand to his face, she trailed a finger down his cheek, standing on her tiptoes in a vain attempt to reach him. Lesca grinned, wrapping an arm around his neck and pulling him down to meet her lips. He met her kiss hungrily, wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her closer to him. Her probed the inside of her mouth, tentatively at first but as his ardour grew so did the urgency of his embrace. A moan escaped his lips and he felt a shiver run down his spine. He hid his disappointment as she pulled away, her eyes locked to his own once more.

She touched her lips and smiled softly, "Wow."

"Wow?"

She studied his face for regret. Finding no noticeable signs, she pressed on.

"Mmm hmm. Auron?"

He took her hand, unsure if it was appropriate or even wanted. "Yes?"

"Am I one of many for you? Was that just a bit of fun with the summoner's daughter? I, I hope it wasn't. You see, I know we hardly know each other and this is freaky and too soon but…" She began to get frustrated and she paced the room, trying to articulate her words.

"Do you believe in love at first sight? That there is only one person, a soul mate for everyone and when you find them you'll know from the second you see them that this is it, this is meant to be?" She looked at him almost pleadingly for an answer.

He spoke slowly; choosing his words carefully, "You could never be one of many. Indeed, you are the only one and it would be…nice for it to stay that way. I agree that what happened there was "fun", but that is not all it was, at least not for me. I believe in love, in fate. I believe that from the moment I met you that I fell in love with you.

All I have been able to think of since we met at the temple was that I wanted to be by your side, always. You are the reason I am not married; I sought you out after my discharge from the temple because you are all I think of. You invade my waking moments and you haunt my dreams, and I find I do not mind, I want you to. Is this meant to be? I believe so."

"You mean those things you say? Do not hide behind flowery compliments, Auron, to spare my feelings."

He sliced his hand through the air, "Yevon, but you are infuriating! Lesca, believe me when I say that I love you. Do not slight me by questioning my integrity."

Lesca took him in her arms and laid her head on his chest, "I apologise. I love you Auron."

She withdrew from the embrace quickly as the door to the Fayth opened, her father staggering out. She looked at him in horror, taking in the beads of sweat on his brow, his dishevelled appearance, and the fatigue that was evident on his face. He began to fall forward as if in slow motion, she and Auron running to him, Lesca's legs feeling leaden as they pounded the stone floor. They reached the man in time and he rested his head on the shoulder of his daughter.

"Is it over? For if it is not, I will not allow…" Lesca asked fearfully.

"It is done. I have become a summoner." The voice was tired, the pride palpable.

"It is done. Yes, it is done. Come, we must spread the news to Bevelle that a new summoner has been born to die and rid the world of Sin." She pulled her father to his feet.

"Auron? Please tell the temple priest to assemble the necessary people. Lord Braska must prove his skills by summoning the aeon he has acquired."

The youth nodded and left the two alone. She looked at her father tenderly.

"So…my father the summoner. I am proud of you. I will make sure Yuna remembers her father and what a great man he was."

"Thank you. He is a good man Lesca. You have my blessing."

She raised an eyebrow, confused, "What do you mean?"

Her father smiled at her secretively, "Come, we must go. You will figure it out when the time is right."

Look after her when I no longer walk this earth, Auron. She is my brightest hope. Watch over my daughters, make my eldest happy with your love. You have my blessing.

Translations:

Alphabet [English]: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Alphabet [Al Bhed]:Y P L T A V K R E Z G M S H U B X N C D I J F Q O W

Not through choice.

Please! You know you cannot reveal your lineage. Don't make life for you and Yuna any harder than it has to be. For my sake and your mothers.

I know.

To me, you're strange and you're beautiful

You'd be so perfect with me

But you just can't see

You turn every head but you don't see me

I'll put a spell on you

You'll fall asleep

And I'll put a spell on you

And when I wake you, I'll be the first thing you see

And you'll realise that you love me

A/N: The song is "Strange and Beautiful" by Aqualung, I thought it was quite fitting. The Al Bhed is something I always wanted to put in a fic, and its in here to show that though Lesca embraces both cultures, she embraces the Al Bhed that little bit more, rebel that she is. Auron speaks it because I reckon priests of Yevon etc. would have to communicate with the Al Bhed in order to tell them how much they hated them! : )

Thanks to: The Angel of the Lion, Refugee, Pierson, Ground Zero and NanakiThirteen.

PS please review. Thanks.