Chapter Nine: I Thought You Might Love Me…
Amanda's Ramble:
Amanda: I hate that this story is about to get a lot darker.
Auron: No the hell you don't, you're eating this shit up.
Amanda: Guilty as charged, but still, I feel bad for being mean to Ophelia, I think she's a likable character. Anyway, read on, there should be some insight in this chapter.
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"I don't want to!" Ophelia stamped her foot for emphasis, only receiving an amused smile from the man standing before her.
"Then you shouldn't have said you would see him. Don't go around making rash promises next time." Auron pulled his shirt on and gave Ophelia a narrow look. "No matter how unpleasant his company, he is influential. Having him as a contact could prove beneficial."
"But he's so creepy," Ophelia wailed. Auron rolled his eye and shook his head. Nothing was going to get through the girl's thick skull. He glanced down in surprise when she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest, her small form trembling.
"Just-just don't leave me, Auron." He reached down and brushed the hair from her face, feeling a surge of tenderness. She leaned into his touch, and he felt her press a small kiss in the palm of his hand.
"I won't leave you." That was a lie, and he knew it, but he couldn't help but say the words. Her arms tightened around his waist a moment before she pulled away, grabbing her sack from under the table.
"I gotta go get dressed. See you in a bit." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek lightly and left the room, leaving Auron in a mental uproar. Dammit, it shouldn't have happened like this. He didn't know where they were headed, but their relationship had certainly taken a turn from when he'd gotten into that fight with Wakka. He wasn't sure he was entirely comfortable with the intimacy the two now shared, and he knew she would only end up getting hurt in the end. Perhaps it would have just been better if she had just told her exactly what he was before anything had ever started between them, but then she would have been filled with disgust, and he wouldn't have this bit of happiness before the bleak times that were surely coming.
Ophelia swallowed hard when they entered the front doors of Seymour's mansion, not at all looking forward to seeing him again. Her only consolation was the fact that Auron stood right behind her, one hand cupping the curve of her waist. If the others noticed this, Ophelia didn't care or know, but was glad for his solid presence.
They were led into a small banquet hall, and Rikku, an even bigger pig than Ophelia, immediately attacked the food spread before them.
"Thish ish weally good!" Her words were muffled from her pouchy cheeks, and Ophelia felt a traitorous smile curve her lips. Rikku was cute, and it was nice to know that she was one more person Ophelia could count as family.
"Ah, greetings." They turned as one as Seymour Guado entered the room, and that tell-tale shiver made its way down Ophelia's spine. She felt Auron's hand tighten on her waist and forced herself not to wince. So, somebody was a little jealous, was he?
"Lady Ophelia, it is truly lovely to see you again. I received word that you were injured in the battle with Sin. I hope there has been no lasting difficulty." He took Ophelia's hand and kissed it, as he had on Mushroom Rock Road, and the same feeling of revulsion swept through her, though she covered it.
"She's fine." Auron's voice cut the air like his massive blade, and Ophelia threw him a surprised look. "If you don't mind, Maester, we need to make this visit quick. We must continue on with the pilgrimage." If the truth be known, Auron looked as though he wanted nothing more than to spend a long, long time to carve Seymour into little bits. Seymour raised a brow, a frown pulling at his mouth, but he nodded and turned back to Ophelia.
"Come, I wish to show you something." He turned and left the room, leaving the others no choice but to follow. Ophelia had a pretty good idea what that something was, but it was pleasant and she really didn't want to spoil it for the others. They entered a large dark room off of the main hallway, everyone bumping into everyone else. Someone goosed Ophelia in a very sensitive area, and she caught a glimpse of Auron's shadowy form behind her, and though it was dark, she was sure his face was glowing.
Without warning, the ground below them became a cityscape, and even though Ophelia was expecting it, she gasped with all the rest.
"Zanarkand," she heard Tidus whisper. She turned to catch a glimpse of him, and his face was pale, even in the ghostly light. Her heart went out to him, and she reached back, giving his hand a squeeze. He looked up and gave her a faint smile, which she returned.
"Yes, this is Zanarkand as it was one thousand years ago. This had been reconstructed from the essence of the pyreflies' memories." Seymour gestured as the room changed around them, and Ophelia moved closer to Auron, slipping her hand in his. A beautiful woman was before them, sitting on an old fashioned bed, playing with her hair, when the door behind Ophelia opened and a tall man in soldier's garb stepped right through her and to the woman. They embraced, and Ophelia turned to Seymour, who was giving her a very thoughtful look.
"Lady Yunalesca and her lover. That was the secret of her power." He took Ophelia's hand and pulled her away from the others, and she had to fight the urge to run and hide in Auron's jacket. "She was the first summoner to defeat Sin, but she never would have done so if she hadn't had her love's support." He leaned down and whispered in Ophelia's ear, and her eyes grew wide, and she dazedly looked up at him when he straightened. Without a second thought she moved back to the others and they all huddled around her, wondering what had her so spooked.
"He-" She glanced back at Seymour and swallowed, starting again. "He asked me to marry him!"
Shock registered on all their faces, which quickly became a look of disgust for most. Auron, however, had never looked more furious.
"This girl is the Mage of Judgement, and she had her own pilgrimage to complete. Are you trying to sabotage that right?" Auron's long frame shook with anger, and Ophelia backed closer to Kimahri, knowing now was not the time to try to calm him.
"Certainly not. I merely asked her to marry me after her pilgrimage. Is there any harm in that?" Seymour turned back to Ophelia, smiling. "There is no need to answer right away, My Lady. Take the time to think it over if you must. I await your favorable answer."
Ophelia took that as a cue to leave and headed for the door, Auron hot on her heels.
"Excuse me, Sir Auron, but why are you still here?" Everyone sent Seymour a puzzled look and he gave a soft laugh, waving a hand. "Forgive me, but we Guado are keen to the scent of the Farplane."
Tidus raised a brow and then leaned over to Auron, sniffing him. Auron gave the boy an irritated look and pushed him away, walking out of the door. Ophelia stared after her guardian a moment, things finally coming together in her head and she ran after him, feeling hurt and betrayed.
When she reached him she grabbed his arm and spun him around, secretly amazed that she had managed to do so, and glared up at him through teary eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded, shaking his arm. "Why? Aren't I the one person who should know?"
"It matters not. I don't plan on remaining in Spira very long." He started to walk away but Ophelia caught him again, forcing him to face her.
"But what about us?"
"There is no 'us'. That is just something you have led yourself into believing from a moment's kindness." Auron's voice was as harsh as his words, and Ophelia flinched at them.
"I thought you might love me…I see now that I was wrong." She turned and moved to catch up with the others, who were now waiting for them at the gates of the Farplane. Auron caught her arm and she tried to jerk away, but his grip was like iron.
"I can't be what you want, Ophelia. I can't say that I'll be around when this is over. You ask too much." His voice was sincere, but Ophelia spat at his feet and ran to catch up with the others, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. The others saw her face as she approached, and attributed it to another lover's spat. It seemed as though she and Auron were always arguing anyway, and what was one more quarrel? They entered the gates together, after Auron had come within a few steps and made their way down the long tunnel and into the open area where a large staircase came into view.
"Wow, is that the Farplane?" Tidus gave it a long look, craning his neck.
"Yes, inside you can visit the spirits of those you know who have died." Lulu smiled and turned to the others. "Shall we?"
"I'll stay here." Auron sat on a step and brought his knees up to his chest. Ophelia didn't even glance at him once and headed farther up the stairs.
"I'll stay, too." Rikku sat on the opposite side of the stairs from Auron and pulled out an apple. "I prefer to keep my memories inside."
Ophelia would have been amazed at the beauty of the Farplane, but she was too preoccupied with what she had learned about Auron to notice much of anything. She jumped when Yuna placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled.
"Come with me. I'm going to ask Father for guidance, and perhaps seeing him will help you recover your memory." Ophelia nodded vaguely and followed Yuna to the edge, nearly jumping out of her skin when the silver-haired man from the photographs appeared before them, his face the picture of peace.
"That's our father?" Ophelia reached out to touch him, her heart wrenching when her hand passed through his. "Rikku's right. He is just a memory." She turned away and passed the others as she left the Farplane.
She paused when she was behind Auron, and he turned and gave her a concerned look.
"You are pale. Are you sure you're alright?" When she didn't answer, he stood and moved to where she stood, his good eye scanning her face. "Sit down. You look as though you will faint."
Ophelia jerked away and shot him an angry look. "I'm fine. Leave me alone!" She noted the change in his expression, but steeled herself against whatever feeling welled up from inside. He didn't care, and he was going to leave her, no matter how hard she tried to show him that she needed him. He would end up just like her father, a floating memory that she could almost reach out and touch, but that would end up as that, just out of reach. God, how can I have fallen in love with him and so quickly?
Rikku glance over at the two and commented loudly, "Don't mind me. Go on, have your argument. I'm not listening."
Ophelia sent her a nasty look before turning to see the others emerging from the Farplane. Yuna had just exited when Jyscal Guado, a face she remembered well from the game, tried to pull himself free. Yuna gasped and stepped back, and only Ophelia noticed the holosphere he pressed into the summoner's hands.
"Send him, Yuna." Auron's voice was strained, and when Yuna brought her staff up to send the dead Guado Maester, Auron doubled over, his hand clutching at his chest. Ophelia felt a surge of panic as a pyrefly slipped from between his fingers and she knelt next to him, wrapping her arms around his shaking shoulders.
"Don't you leave me just yet, Sir Auron," she whispered. "We still have a lot to say to each other, and I won't let you leave until it's over and done with." Auron met her gaze, his eyes glazed and Ophelia tightened her hold on him. "I need you. No matter what you are, and what will happen, I know I love you, even if you don't love me. I can't let you go just yet. Please, don't leave me before you have to." Tears were streaking down her face, and she gasped when his hands framed her delicate jaw, his thumbs wiping away the tears.
"I'm not ready to go just yet," he rasped. "We will talk….tonight." He straightened and pulled himself from her, apparently fine. Everyone gave him worried looks, which he brushed aside as though he hadn't collapsed.
"We go back to the inn. We need to rest, for we cross the Thunder Plains tomorrow."
"Wonder why they call them the Thunder Plains," Rikku wondered aloud, and everyone gave her an exasperated look before heading down the rest of the stairs and back to the inn.
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End of Chapter Nine.
Hmmm. Nope, no preview. Wait until Chapter Ten. ^-~