Chapter Four: Epiphany In The Dark
Amanda's Ramble
Amanda: Back by popular demand, chapter four.
Auron: I'm not getting any, am I?
Amanda: We'll see. *pats Auron on the head* Please remember to review.
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The night wore on. And the longer the hours grew, the more sake Auron consumed. Dammit! Why couldn't he stop thinking of her? It was as if she had invaded the most private corners of his mind, and he couldn't shake her loose. He sighed and leaned back against his sword, stretching his legs and putting his hands behind his head. It was chilly tonight, but Ophelia still had his jacket, and he just didn't have the heart to take it from her.
Too bad being dead didn't exempt him from earthly discomforts. He felt the cold in the air, his joints ached, and his bladder felt uncomfortably full. With a sigh he rose to his feet and weaved to the edge of the forest. He hadn't realized he'd drank so much. He relieved himself and made his way back to where he had been sitting, his head light and his tongue thick. That in itself was enough to let him know that he'd had enough of his old standby and he sat, drawing his legs to his chest and wrapping his arms around them, attempting to keep the chill at bay.
So many questions plagued him, and through them he began forming his own theory of why Ophelia was here. She hadn't been lying when she had hinted that she wasn't from Spira. But this morning he'd noticed an eerie resemblance between her and Yuna. At first glance they looked nothing alike, but when they had smiled in unison…The two had more than just a little of their father in them. He shook his head. It was so obvious.
Yet, how could it be? That this frail woman with the mouth of a Luca sailor and the small and sweet child he remembered from ten years ago could be the same person seemed totally impossible. But there was really no other explanation. He glanced up at the stars twinkling merrily on their field of dark blue velvet, his brows lowered in a scowl.
"Damn you, Braska," he hissed at the sky. "You knew this would happen. That's why you made me promise to look after her. You knew that Yuna wouldn't really need my help, but Tilana…" He trailed off, his thoughts jangled for a moment. "And Jecht, he knew, as well. If this is a scheme the two of you cooked up before all of this happened, I swear that when I see you in the Farplane, I'm going to rip you to shreds. Stop trying to play matchmaker!" He stood and tied his jug to his belt, his jerky movements giving visual life to his anger. He then yanked his katana from the ground, not caring that the tip was covered in moist earth. It would rust if he left it like that, but he was too addled and all around pissed to give a damn. It had all come together so clearly in his mind, and he refused to be a pawn in Jecht and Braska's little matchmaking game. He was unsent, for holiness's sake. Didn't that mean something? He couldn't, wouldn't, allow himself to get close to that girl.
But you already have, haven't you, Auron. He shook his head, trying to clear the traitorous thought. Of course he hadn't. Why, he could stop thinking of her anytime he chose. Just to prove it, he began cleaning the dirt from his sword. Ophelia, Ophelia, Ophelia…Damn his one track mind. And his traitorous body. He barely knew the girl, and she was too young, and he was to be her guardian, and…Okay, so he couldn't come up with a good reason not to want to care for her. But he couldn't allow that to happen. It would be a mistake in the end if he did.
He made his way back to camp and settled before the fire, pulling his sword into his lap. He refused to think about it anymore. Come tomorrow they would continue on to Djose and he would make sure she got her own tent and that it went on the far side of camp from him.
He began cleaning his sword, becoming relaxed as he did so. This always took his mind from the things he didn't want to think about. Coping out? Definitely. He became absorbed in his task, and started when a finger traced the length of his scar. Looking up he was surprised to find Ophelia looking at him oddly, his jacket draped over her small shoulders.
"Mind if I join you?" He shook his head and she sat next to him on the log, warily eyeing his sword. He sat it aside and tried his hardest not to gape at her and she glanced up at him a long moment, a question in her eyes, before turning back to the fire, her perfect brows drawn into a frown.
"You should be sleeping."
"I can't. I guess I've gotten enough sleep today." She swallowed heavily, not meeting his gaze and instead looking down at her small hands as if they held the words she wanted to say. "I just wanted to say thanks. I owe you one."
"It's nothing. Don't let something like that keep you from sleep. You'll need your strength."
"It's not just that. I've got a lot of stuff to think about." Ophelia's eyes teared up, and Auron resisted the urge to pull her into his arms and hold her until the pain went away. She wiped her eyes and sniffled a moment before turning back to him, her odd, honey-brown eyes scanning his face. He grew uncomfortable under the close scrutiny and narrowed his good eye, trying not to meet her gaze directly.
"What?"
"I was just looking. I didn't really get a good look at your face this morning. Never have, really, and I just wondered what my hero looked like." She smiled suddenly, and he felt something tighten painfully in his chest. "Not too shabby, for an old guy."
Auron felt a reluctant smile pull at the corners of his mouth and he gave into it, against his better judgement. "I'm not that old."
"I guess not." Her eyes gleamed with mischief, and it hit him suddenly. The little wench was being sarcastic! He snorted and crossed his arms, turning back to the fire. She sat there a moment, and he could feel her eyes on him, before a small hand rested at the crook of his arm.
"What do you want now, wench?"
"Wench?" Her eyes went wide and for a moment he thought she was going to pounce, but laughter erupted from her, clear as a bell, and she wrapped her arms around her bare midriff, rocking with it.
Now he was convinced: the woman was cracked. She laughed harder, gasping for breath, for another five minutes. Auron just didn't see what was so funny at all.
"I never thought I would see the day where someone called me a wench. That word is so old-fashioned. What century were you born in, again?"
"The youth these days are so disrespectful." This was said with a smile, and she laughed again, shaking her head.
"I'm sorry about this morning. I shouldn't have called you a prick."
"I shouldn't have jumped down your throat." The eyes met, and Auron felt the strangest sensation in his stomach, almost like butterflies. He swallowed heavily and looked away, feeling his cheeks burning. That was new: him, blushing. And over a small insolent female at that. If Braska could see him now…But he couldn't, and it was his daughter who sat so near now, his jacket draped over her as though it belonged there, solely to keep her warm. Auron sighed and stood, stretching his long frame.
"Where are you going?"
"To ask Kimahri to stand watch. You can sit up all night if you want to, but I'm going to bed."
Auron heard a rustling sound and knew it was Ophelia, jumping back onto his bedroll. He rolled his eyes, and when he turned back after speaking to the Ronso warrior, sure enough, she was there, his jacket spread over her like a blanket. He narrowed his eye at her, and she giggled delightedly. Insolent whelp. He'd just have to teach her a lesson. He sat on the edge of the bedroll and began removing his boots, grinning as he sensed her confusion. Boots off, he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it on his pack.
"What are you doing?" Auron glanced over his shoulder, keeping his face as straight as possible.
"Going to sleep."
"Not here, you're not." She crossed her arms and gave him what he supposed she thought was a menacing glare. In truth, it just made him want to laugh, and the desire to see if her pouting lips were as soft as they looked was almost unbearable. He faked a yawn and pushed her to one side of the bedroll, lying flat on his back and putting his arms behind his head. He one eye closed and he tried to look as innocent and peaceful as possible, knowing he was failing miserably.
For a few moments, nothing happened. Auron was slightly disappointed. He had expected her to put up more of a fight. Then, something soft and small smacked him in the chest, and he cracked he eye to see Ophelia glowering at her, shaking her hand.
"You big jerk!" She hit him with her other hand and he chuckled as she fumed. He could almost see steam coming out of her ears. "Out!"
"No. My bedroll." He chuckled again as she muttered several words that would make an old warrior brush and she turned her back to him, tucking his jacket in around her.
"Bastard," she finally said clearly.
"What was that?" he asked slyly.
"Get your hearing checked, old man." He raised a brow and reached over, pulling his jacket from under her and covering himself. She yelped when his side brushed her bare back and turned over, her eyes wide. But in doing so, she had succeeded in pressing more of herself against him, and Auron had to admit that it was awfully nice.
"You are such an ass!" She yanked on the jacket, pulling it off of him again. "Find your own cover."
"It's my jacket," he laughed, pulling it over him again. She huffed and kicked him, her small foot connecting with his stomach. It didn't hurt, but her feet were like ice. "Dammit, keep those cold things off of me."
Ophelia sighed and blew at a strand of hair that had fallen in her face. "You're not going away, are you?"
"No," he said, tucking the lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm not. You may as well just go to sleep."
"I can't."
Auron raised a brow. "Why not?"
Ophelia gestured awkwardly for a moment. "You-you're here. And you're a man!" He couldn't help but laugh at her scandalized expression.
"Are they so sexually unliberated in your world?"
She huffed angrily. "They are when the woman's twenty and the man's thirty-five." She pouted a moment before continuing. "Besides, what will everyone else think?"
"That I got tired and decided to take a nap. And that's if they get up early enough, which I highly doubt." He pulled her down, her head resting nicely against his chest in the crook of his arm, her soft body pressed tight against him. "Lie down and rest. We have a long journey tomorrow."
He felt her sigh and give up, one arm thrown lazily across his middle, the other tangling in his ponytail as one of her legs squirmed between his. Well, just make yourself comfortable. I certainly won't complain. She did feel nice. He wasn't going to deny that. It had been far too long since he had let himself enjoy the lusciousness of a female body. He felt her breathing slow, and chuckled to himself.
"You are the damndest creature."
The next morning, Auron woke, feeling a strange weight on his shoulder and across his legs. He cracked his eye and was more than a little surprised to find himself nose-to-nose with Ophelia, one of her arms still draped across his middle and a hand in his hair, her thigh thrown across his groin. What in the world had he been thinking?
Very gently, so as not to wake her, he disentangled himself from her unknowing embrace, reluctant to leave her soft warm form. He watched her sleep a long moment, and that fierce sense of his need to protect her flooded him. Dammit. Not so soon, not now, not with her. She was far too young and frail, and he had too many other things to worry about than having to look after her out of more than duty.
He rose and went to start breakfast, nodding as he past Kimahri. The young Ronso followed him to the supply tent, surprising him. Outside of "could you" and yes or no grunts, the nearly silent guardian had never spoken to Auron.
"Kimahri has a question."
"Yes?" Auron turned to meet Kimahri's gaze. He had never gotten over how large Ronsos were, and, though Auron towered over most men, he had to crane his neck to meet Kimahri's eyes. Damned intimidating, it was.
"Kimahri wants to know if Sir Auron has honorable intentions toward the lady." Kimahri crossed his arms, that odd purring sound that all Ronsos made when just breathing issuing from his throat.
"I have no intentions other than to guard the lady. You know as well as I do who she is." Kimahri nodded, and looked back at where Ophelia was rising from slumber as one would rise from the dead. She squinted about, obviously disoriented, before she spotted Auron and Kimahri and shook her head.
"That is good, Sir Auron. Kimahri wishes no reason to hate you. If anything happens to her, Kimahri will come find Sir Auron." Kimahri walked to where Ophelia was putting on her trenchcoat, and Auron shook his head. That had definitely been a threat. More reasons for him not to get involved.
They reached the gate to Mushroom Rock Road at noon, and by then Ophelia was clutching her stomach, starving. Kimahri had produced an apple for her from his pack and she had eaten it greedily, growling at Tidus when he playfully tried to take it from her.
As they neared the gate, Ophelia recognized Dona, and the summoner looked even bitchier in real life.
"You may as well turn back now," Dona called nastily. "They won't let anyone through, including the daughter of Lord Braska."
"Bitch." Everyone turned and looked at Ophelia, who hadn't realized she'd voiced that thought aloud. She flushed and hid behind Auron and Kimahri, mentally kicking herself.
"Hmm." Donna stroked her chin a moment, giving the peeping Ophelia a thoughtful look. "You've picked up more trash, I see."
Ophelia saw red, and came charging out from behind Auron, ready to give Dona a piece of her mind. Auron reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her back as Kimahri stepped forward, his lance pointed at Dona's heart.
"No one speaks that way to Lady Tilana. Kimahri will hurt them."
"Kimahri!" Yuna's voice was sharp, and Kimahri lowered his lance, his narrowed eyes still trained on Dona.
"You mean to tell me that this little guttersnipe is really the fabled Mage of Judgement?" Dona laughed long and hard. "That's truly rich, Lady Yuna. I suppose you think now that you have Sir Auron, you can pass off this-this common street whore as a legendary."
It was Auron's turn to get angry. "I have no quarrel with you, woman, but if you continue to insult my charge and endanger her mental well-being, then I will have no choice but to fight you."
"Oh, I'm sure Lady Yuna knows I'm just joking."
"Lady Yuna isn't my charge." Everyone in the group gave Auron an odd look, and Ophelia just scratched her head. What in hell?
"And then, who is your charge, mighty Sir Auron?"
"Lady Tilana." He rested a hand on Ophelia's shoulder, and she gave everyone a puzzled glance. Her little group of compatriots were giving her the sign of Yevon…but why? Who in the eight pits of hell was Tilana? And what in holy schnizzle was a mage of judgement?
Dona gaped at Ophelia a moment before grabbing her guardian by the ear and dragging him off. Ophelia just stared after them, thoroughly confused. Finally she turned back to everyone, giving them a dazed look.
"Anybody want to run what happened just now back by me one more time?"
"Lady Tilana." Auron gave her a stiff bow, and she thought he must be joking. There was no way she was any kind of mage. "Welcome home."
"Home?" Ophelia looked around her. "Um….this is Mushroom Rock Road, right? How is this home?"
"He means welcome home to Spira." Yuna came forward and took her hands, and Ophelia had a hard time not pulling away. "It's good to see you, my sister."
"Um…" Ophelia gave them all looks that said they had gone crazy and backed away. "I don't know who this Tilana chick is or what a whachmacalit mage does, but you got the wrong girl. You seen the way I spectacularly fought the chocobo eater."
"Kimahri's nose never lies." Kimahri crossed his massive blue-furred arms. "Kimahri knows a Tilana when he smells one."
"But I'm Ophelia, remember?" She looked at Wakka. "You know I'm not this mage thingie, right? You know I can't be Yuna's sister, don't you?" Wakka didn't answer and she looked over to Lulu, who didn't meet her gaze. "I'm from earth, dammit! Plain and simple earth where magic doesn't exist and you guys are nothing more than characters in a video game!" She felt as though she were about to scream. "You're nothing but data and this is a freakin' nightmare!"
Sobs came up and out, and she clutched her middle. She kept whispering that it was time to wake up, but it never happened. When she could get control of herself she opened her eyes and looked up, finding them all still standing there with sympathetic expressions. She wanted to wail, to throw things, to kick something hard. Figured, right? That this kind of thing would happen to her. Most people she knew would kill for a chance at this, but not her.
"I want to go home." She straightened and gripped her arms. "I don't want to play anymore."
"This isn't a game." Auron gave her an impatient look, his brows lowered. "You're here. You're father sent you from Spira ten years ago to save you from Sin's influence. I was there when he did so. I was to become your guardian if you should ever return. So," he gestured at the landscape, "I'm guarding you."
"Then how come I don't remember you? Or Kimahri? Or Yuna? How come I don't remember living in Spira? I would have been ten, right? How come I don't remember anything at all about my childhood?" The last was thrown in an angry yell at Auron, and he took it all calmly. Dammit, she wanted to break his perfect guardian composure, to make him understand that she felt like she were completely loosing it.
"It had to be done. You will come to remember, in time. Surely you felt a pull to this place when you saw it in one of your games."
"Yes, but that's not the point. You are nothing but data. No matter how real you look, you're nothing but something made by a machine." She turned her back on them, wanting to leave. The others followed in silence as she made her way up to the gate, daring the guard with her eyes to stop her. Of course, he did, just as she knew he would, and she had to bite her finger to keep from clawing his eyes out.
"Lady Yuna!" Dammit, that creepy Seymour Guado…He was the last thing Ophelia needed to see. The entire group turned as one to face the demi-Guado Maester, and he gave them a smile that on the surface seemed sincere, but Ophelia knew that a madman lurked behind that smile. He spotted Ophelia and gave her a very blatant once-over, and Ophelia felt a shiver work its way down her spine.
"Maester, it's wonderful to see you again." Yuna made the sign of Yevon and bowed, and Seymour returned the guesture, his eyes never leaving Ophelia.
"And who is this addition to your party, Lady Yuna?" He took Ophelia's hand and kissed it, and Ophelia forced a smile, her skin crawling. This guy had always given her the creeps.
"Maester, may I present to you my sister Tilana, lately known as Ophelia." Seymour raised a brow and gave her a small smile.
"Well, the fabled Mage of Judgement. I never expected her to be so lovely. Ophelia, what an interesting name." Auron coughed, drawing Seymour's attention, letting Seymour know that he was being watched very closely. "Ah, Sir Auron. I take it that you are this lady mage's guardian?"
"I am." Ophelia blinked. Was that….jealousy she heard in Auron's voice? Of course not.
"Hm. Well, as you can see, you cannot cross the gate without proper authorization. Please, allow me to escort you through." He placed Ophelia's hand in the crook of his arm and she shot a look back at Auron, who only scowled deeper.
The guard at the gate looked about ready to stop even Seymour, and he held up a hand, forestalling the guard's statement.
"If anything is said I shall take full responsibility for it." The guard swallowed and nodded, clearing the path to let them pass. Someways down the road, Seymour released her hand and she resisted the urge to set fire to it.
"I hope I shall see you soon, Lady Ophelia, perhaps in Guadosalam?" Ophelia nodded, not wanting him to know that she was about to vomit. Why did this guy creep her out, and why was he looking at her like that?
"Until then, Lady." With that, Seymour moved on, his robes swishing. As soon as he was out of ear and eye shot, Ophelia shivered, rubbing her arms.
"Creepy bastard."
"He's still a Maester, ya?" Wakka gave Ophelia a disapproving frown. "You shouldn't say things like that."
"He wasn't touching you." With a sigh, she began making the trek up the rocky hillside, leaving the others to follow.
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Hmm. So, Ophelia's being in Spira has affected the timeline, and Seymour wants a piece of her. Not to mention that's she's Yuna's older sister and a legendary form of mage. o.O What in the world is gonna happen? And yes, Auron was a wee bit jealous. ^-~
Chapter Five coming soon, and it should be longer. *crosses fingers*