Chapter Eight: Guadosalam Nights
Amanda's Ramble
Amanda: Oy…here…it's chapter eight.
Auron: *mrph!*
Amanda: Oh dear. *pulls the gag off of Auron's mouth* Are you okay?
Auron: Where is that &*%#@%&*?
Amanda: *stuffs the gag back in* Um…read on. o.O
Ophelia stirred and opened her eyes, not in the least surprised to see Auron's face inches away. She smiled slightly to herself and took the moment to examine his sleeping face, rising up on an elbow. He looked much younger asleep, with the harsh lines softened and his brows loosened from their perpetual scowl. His hair had come loose from it's tie, and a few strands had settled across his throat and cheek, making her fingers itch with the desire to brush them away. His bottom lip was slightly swollen, a token from his fight with Wakka, and she traced it with a fingertip lightly, before brushing the hair from his face. He stirred and opened his eye, and for a long moment they looked at each other, as if waiting for some sign.
Auron reached up and pulled her face down to his, his other hand sliding under the back of her shirt. Their lips met in what began as a chaste kiss, but that contact didn't seem enough, and Ophelia pulled him over her, wrapping her arms around his neck as they kissed, her tongue seeking his.
They jumped apart at the sound of a throat being cleared, and Ophelia risked a peek at the intruder, shocked to see Lulu with a small smile curving her lips, a slender brow raised in amusement.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I must speak with you, Sir Auron." She turned and walked off without waiting for an answer, and Ophelia heard Auron sigh before rising to his feet and following the black mage. Ophelia took the moment to steady her heartbeat and rose herself, sliding her feet into her sandals and making her way over to the supply tent for something to munch on. She still didn't understand why she and Auron were reacting this way to each other, fighting one minute, and nearly making love the next. Perhaps it was just the atmosphere, and the fact that they were being forced to spend so much time in each other's company. Whatever the case, things would have to come to a head soon, and Ophelia wasn't sure she was ready for it.
They reached Guadosalam late in the afternoon without much trouble, the sky growing dark and the shadows growing deeper. Ophelia had hung back, lost in her thoughts, and was surprised when Auron fell into step next to her.
"We stay at the inn tonight."
"Hm? Oh, really?" Ophelia pulled herself from her thoughts and looked up at him. "Why?"
"It would be unseemly to camp outside of Guadosalam when there is a perfectly good inn right inside." He glanced down at her a moment, and she, once again, couldn't read his expression. "However, I feel that it would be better if you roomed with Wakka tonight, given the earlier circumstances."
"Oh." Ophelia felt a little hurt, but didn't say anything. "Whatever you think is best."
"I didn't say you had to like it. But it is best, given both of our present situations." He moved on, leaving her to puzzle out what he had meant, finally deciding that it wasn't that important. She kept to herself as they reached the inn, and when Kimahri informed her of her room number, she dumped her stuff on the bed and went to grab a shower.
Coming back from the bathroom down the hall, Ophelia noticed that the common room was empty, meaning everyone else had retreated to their rooms. With a sigh she opened her door and crept inside, not wanting to wake the sleeping figure in the bed. It was funny, but she'd always thought Wakka would be a loud snorer, but all that could be heard in the room was her bedmate's deep breathing. Ophelia pulled the towel from her hair and hung it over a chair, carefully picking her way around the room so that she didn't bump about on the furniture in the room. She climbed into the bed and pulled the covers over her, turning her back to Wakka and closing her eyes, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. She didn't know if Auron was rejecting her, but it sure felt that way.
An arm snaked around her waist and she started. This wasn't very Wakka-like. She tried to pry the arm from around her, but her bed partner only pulled her against his chest and buried his face in her hair. Ophelia stayed ram-rod stiff, scared to even breathe. It felt right, but at the same time she felt so very guilty, as if Auron had claim over her, and she was betraying him. Finally screwing up her courage, Ophelia turned over and felt her heart stop. Auron?!?
Her brows pulled into a scowl and she popped him on the shoulder. The older guardian snorted, his brows drawing together, but his eye didn't open. She frowned and twisted one of his nipples, and his eye flew open and he sat up so quickly he nearly knocked her off of the bed.
"Just what the hell kind of stunt are you trying to pull? Where's Wakka?!?" Her eyes narrowed angrily at an obviously disoriented Auron, and he gave her a long look before shaking his head and starting to laugh. He kept laughing, louder and harder, which only served to anger Ophelia farther. "What's so damn funny?"
"This entire situation. This isn't where I went to sleep." He stood and flipped on the lights, still chuckling. He turned back to Ophelia and shook his head again. "I know of one person strong enough to move me without waking me, so you'd better go talk to Kimahri if you want some answers."
Ophelia gaped him a long moment. "Kimahri? Why would he switch you with Wakka?" She stood herself and rubbed her arms. It was chilly in the room, and she could feel the gooseflesh pop up under her fingers.
"He's made his choice." He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, and Ophelia noticed the long dragon tattoo that wrapped around his right upper arm for the first time. Funny, but Auron didn't seem like the tattoo type.
"Choice about what?" She moved closer to him and planted her fists on her hips, not realizing she was giving Auron a great view down the front of her night dress.
"About who her prefers to be with you. I daresay he didn't like my idea of rooming you with Wakka."
"Who cares what Kimahri thinks. And just when did you get a tattoo?" Auron blinked a moment and then glanced down at his arm.
"This? I've had it for years. And Kimahri cares. Otherwise, he'd have left you in the forest for causing discord among the group." Auron pushed away from the wall and moved to his pack, which had also been brought into room and dug around for a moment before pulling out a battered old book and handing it to Ophelia. "I've been meaning to give this to you, but I wanted to wait until you remembered everything, but it's taking longer than I thought."
Ophelia looked at the book a moment before returning her gaze to Auron. "What is it?"
"Open it." He guided Ophelia to the bed and sat next to her, waiting. She opened the cover and gasped. Inside were photographs of people she both recognized and didn't recognize, and she looked up at her guardian in amazement.
"Your father wanted me to save this for you, for when you returned." He pointed to a photograph of a pretty Al Bhed woman holding a baby, smiling contentedly. "Your mother. This was a month after you were born."
Ophelia looked at the next picture, in which a man with long silver hair carried a young girl on his shoulders, and they were both mugging for the camera. "Is-is that me?"
"Yes." He watched her carefully as she started to turn the pages, and she stopped at a picture in which a young man with long black hair was kissing the same young girl on the cheek. She was obviously giggling. She felt her eyes tear up and she angrily wiped the tears away.
"Who's he?" She pointed at the handsome young man. "Was he an older brother or something?"
"Believe it or not, that's me." He grinned at her shocked expression. "What? That picture was taken about twelve years ago. Of course I look different."
Ophelia smiled and began flipping once more. She studied a picture of herself with Yuna and Kimahri for a long moment before turning to a picture of herself, Auron, and another face she recognized. "That's Jecht, isn't it?"
Auron looked surprised for a moment and then nodded. "Yes, that was Jecht."
Ophelia sighed and closed the book, folding her hands on top of it. "Thank you, Auron. You've just answered a lot of questions." She felt him take the book and place it on the bedside table before wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "I wish I could remember. It's so hard having someone tell you who you are but not really knowing."
"I cannot say I can relate, but I understand the loss of identity." He turned her face toward him and wiped away a stray tear with his thumb. "It will all come back, given time. You have to trust that." Ophelia nodded and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his chest.
"I hope you're right. I don't want to be lost anymore."
She chased the tall figure up the path, giggling as he dodged her attempts to catch him. He moved far out of her reach and stopped turning back to face her, a large grin curving his lips.
"You're still too slow, Tilana. You'll never catch me at this rate."
The girl scuffed her bare toes in the dirt and sent a pouting look at the tall man. "You're no fair, Auron. You're s'posed to let me catch you."
"What's the fun in that?" He laughed when she scowled up at him and she turned around and started to walk off. "Alright, come catch me, little one. I promise I won't leave." She sent him a sly look over her shoulder and ran at him, finally wrapping her arms around his legs, laughing.
"I caught you! I caught you! Now you have to take me to see the blitzball game in Luca." Auron smiled at her and crouched to her level, taking her small hand in his.
"It would be a pleasure, m'lady," he said, kissing her small knuckles. She giggled and pulled her hand free, and he smiled again, tousling her hair.
"Can I ask you something real important, Auron?" Tilana gave the man a serious look and he nodded once. "When I get big, can I marry you?"
Auron's face registered shock for a moment, but then he smiled. "Well, we'll have to see, little one. I suppose you could marry me when you grow up, if you want to." The girl smiled and gave him a large hug before grabbing his hand and pulling him after her, not being able to wait to tell her mother.
Ophelia jerked awake and caught her breath. What a dream. Or had it been? It had seemed so real, and she had felt everything the little girl had felt. She shook her head and tucked herself tighter against Auron. It was just a dream brought about by the photo album. She didn't have any memories of her life in Spira, so why should they start now? With a yawn she closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep, and this time, thankfully, it was dreamless and quiet.
End of chapter eight.
Is Ophelia finally regaining her memories of Spira? Or is it just her overactive imagination reacting to the photo album? You'll have to wait until chapter nine.