Chapter Fourteen:
Many Returns
Ten days later Maxim awoke in a dimly lit room and it took him a few moments to realize where he was. The last memory he had was of the voice laughing and so he was immediately fearful of his surroundings. But, in looking around, he thought it was an awfully nice cell he was being held in. As he began to sit up in the bed he grimaced due to some slight pain and stiffness, but did not think he would have been in this good of a condition if he were a prisoner of Gades.
So he sat straight up in bed, still trying to gain his bearings when the door to the room began to crack. Fear welled up, despite his suspicions, but then was quickly replaced by sheer joy and amazement when he spotted the familiar face of Lady Selan peeking at him through the crack that had opened.
"Selan?" Maxim wondered aloud as she came rushing into the room. "Where are we?" he added and then began to think that Gades had imprisoned her as well. A better fate than death, he supposed. But why was she able to move freely between their rooms?
"Maxim, I'm so glad you are awake. We are in Parcelyte," Selan beamed with what seemed to Maxim, at that moment, as the most gorgeous smile to ever welcome him. "You defeated Gades!"
"Parcelyte's okay, then?" Maxim asked.
"Yes, the city, all of my people, Guy, Dekar, Tia, everyone is just fine," came her answer.
Relief flowed over his entire body as he felt it noticeably relax. He had no words to say. Minutes went by as Maxim tried to think thoughts and tried to speak words, but all he could do was rejoice, as he and Selan could only laugh and hug each other. Finally, Maxim managed to ask how he ended up here.
"Iris brought you here over a week ago and you've been unconscious until now. I don't know how she could have gotten here so quick, but she did. She didn't say much, either. She spoke some words over you, casting some kind of healing spell, she said. And you have healed quickly. The only other thing she said was that Gades was beaten and simply left. So, I was hoping you could tell me what happened. But I should only make you tell it once, when everyone else is together with us. Guy and Dekar came in two nights ago. Everyone is going to be so happy to know you've woken." Selan could barely contain herself and was more joyful than he had ever seen her.
Maxim could not see how anyone would be more excited than Selan seemed at the moment. He was still taking everything in. "I'll go get them, while you stay in the bed. You need your rest," Selan told him. He began to offer to walk out to meet them, but she would not have any of that.
As she re-opened the door, Selan turned back to face Maxim, with what he swore (but she would always deny) was a tear. "I…we…owe everything to you, Maxim."
"That's not true, Lady Selan," Maxim said as true humility was showing itself a part of his character. "I couldn't have done any of it alone." His thoughts turned towards his memory of the certainty of how he had destroyed that orb. He had called upon something outside of himself and only then did he destroy the magical sphere, apparently saving Seim Island, Parcelyte, his fellow warriors, his friends, Lady Selan.
"Yeah, I guess. But you're really something, you know, Maxim," Selan smiled, breaking his train of thought.
"You finally give me some credit, I see," Maxim slyly smiled back.
"No…" Selan began to answer, but was then interrupted by Maxim.
"Still?" he asked her, playfully.
Changing from a playful to a serious tone Selan continued, "I mean that I have for a long time now." Her eyes shifted towards the wooden floor beneath her feet. Maxim did not know what to say, as he was a bit confused at where their play had gone.
Searching for words to now say Selan added, "Maxim…I'm so…it's nice…to see you again, awake before me." Maxim relished the softness in her voice and the gaze that rose from the floor to meet his own.
"What's wrong, Selan?" he asked her.
"I knew you were coming back, Maxim…and I know that this is not simply blind luck that you are standing here…yet…you're here. You're really here. I'll go get the others now," she finished as she retreated from the room. Maxim wondered at this and at his own thoughts until she had returned with Tia, Guy, and Dekar.
After greetings the talk turned towards what was on everybody's minds; what happened with Maxim once he got split from Guy and Dekar. The ladies had heard Guy and Dekar's accounts of everything that happened before that, and now everyone was eager to hear Maxim's tale.
So he told them of the seemingly foreign will within him, urging him, and leading him through the castle rooms. He spoke of the pieces of the tower that flew at him, and how he struck at the orb and failed. He then told of how he called out for some unknown help and how he then broke the sphere. Then he recalled the voice's laughter and his own fear that Gades had returned.
Of course, he was relieved to find out that that had apparently been Iris, who saved him once again. How he actually destroyed that orb, though, was mysterious to all of them.
For the next few hours the five of them enjoyed each other's company, spoke on many things and made plans for the future. Parcelyte's King Airin was determined to hold an award ceremony in honor of each person, which would happen in two days' time. Dekar would then return to his king's service at Bound, the Fortified City, while Guy, Maxim, and Tia would begin on their journey home.
Selan, with King Airin's leave, decided to accompany them along their journey for she had never seen the lands of her southern neighbors before and her king figured it would be a great opportunity to interact with the neighboring kingdoms and extend greater peace between them. Yet there were other, more personal reasons why Selan desired to travel…well, at least one reason.
So, the party split their courses as Maxim needed rest and the throne requested Selan and Guy's presence. Dekar was left to walk Tia to her room since she was tired, too.
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As they walked the halls Tia said nothing and seemed to be in a dejected mood. Noticing this Dekar asked if she was okay. Without looking up at him she said she was fine, but he knew better than that and eventually got her to open up more.
Dekar was not the most tactful conversationalist, usually being very straightforward, which often times resulted with his own foot entering his mouth. "It has to do with Maxim, doesn't it? I've seen the way you look at him, and I've seen the way he looks at you. And now I see the way him and Selan look at each other."
Tia was surprisingly open to this man she hardly even knew. She needed to tell someone and perhaps Dekar would be the only one she could share this with, until she returned to Tanbel to see Guy's sister, Hilda, which was longer than she thought that she could bare.
"Yes, I've thought that I've been in love with him, actually. But he sees me more as a sister than a lady. It does hurt, Dekar to see how they interact. I wish I wasn't so perceptive sometimes. But you know, what? I couldn't cry if I wanted to and believe me, there have been many times that I should have wanted to cry lately.
"The whole time you were traveling to fight Gades all I could think about was Maxim and worry over him. I wasn't consumed with worry for Parcelyte or the rest of the Seim Continent or anything else, only for Maxim," Tia blurted out as she stopped in one of the castle's long, curving hallways.
"Why couldn't you cry, Tia?" Dekar asked not knowing how to comfort her or what would be appropriate. He surely had not been prepared for this strong of an outburst from Tia.
Turning to the side she responded, "My name…it sounds like tear. Because of this, I was always teased as a child and I was always crying. Max always came to my rescue. One day he told me that 'people tease you because you cry so easily.' So, I tried not to cry, no matter what. Then they stopped teasing me. I've never cried since and now I don't think I could if I tried."
"You're wrong," Dekar offered confidently.
Turning to face Dekar Tia responded, asking, "Why do you say that?"
"The time hasn't come yet when you'll really want to cry. To be sure, Maxim is a kind man, but you two live in different worlds and I think you know that. And if he's not the man for you, someone out there is," Dekar spoke.
After being lost in thought for a short time Tia agreed, "Yeah, I think I noticed that when Maxim said he was going on this journey. I've ignored those thoughts, though. Perhaps I was stupid to do so. But I am seeing more clearly, now. I found out something in these past two weeks as I've thought about Maxim and our relationship. I'm in love with Maxim, the one I knew or perhaps created in my mind, not Maxim the Warrior.
"I just haven't had faith in him as a warrior. I have hardly slept because of my worry. The more I thought that I might never again see him almost caused me to chase him down, leaving all of Parcelyte to its own. But Selan believed in him, constantly. She slept because she was not worried. I waited, too, but the mere thought of something happening to him just kills me. I don't think I could go through that feeling every time Maxim leaves. I couldn't ever be that wife." As she finished, she looked back towards Dekar with a smile.
"Wow," she blurted out in surprise, "I haven't even been able to think that, to give Maxim up merely in my mind. I've held on to him, to our relationship until now. I haven't been able to say it, but I think I'm going to be okay with this. I don't need Maxim," tears were visibly beginning to form.
"I feel like such a burden has been lifted. I thought I loved Maxim so much that I would not be able to live without him. And I've tried so hard not to come to this point now, but I don't need Maxim. This feels good," she ended as she now became aware of Dekar and her perceptions of what he may be thinking about her actions.
Dekar was (to her) surprisingly understanding and empathetic saying, "Your tears haven't dried up yet, Tia." She wondered whether he had gone through a similar experience before.
"Thanks, Dekar," she said amidst a few tears, letting out a deep sigh. "You've really helped me, you know. I feel a lot better now."
"Hmmm…I am great at swordsmanship, but I guess I'm also pretty good at cheering people up. There's more to me than people see on the surface, I guess." Tia was beginning to see this was clearly true with Sir Dekar. "It's the same with you, isn't it, Tia?" he asked with a grin.
She agreed and the two laughed together as Dekar finished walking Tia to her room. Thanks were offered again and then good nights were said as Tia turned in for the evening. For the first time in a while, she was looking forward to the sunny day that she was certain would greet her tomorrow, whether the clouds would try to cover that fact or not.
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So, two days later each warrior was honored for the part they played in stopping Gades from destroying the land. Unlike Maxim and Tia's earlier ceremony experience for recovering the stolen crown of Alunze, this one was quite enjoyable. King Airin really had an outstanding quality about him that made one feel as though this king viewed you as an equal and maybe even as one better than himself. He was the true spirit of what it meant to be royal.
At the ceremony they were also interested to find out that Sir Dekar's full name was Hydekka. They certainly did not let him hear the end of that, not so much because the name was horrible, but more so because it got under Dekar's skin quite easily.This usually ended in Dekar challenging one or all of them to some duel or feat of strength.
One more night was spent under King Airin's care before Dekar headed back towards Bound and the rest set out upon the road to Tanbel. They passed the ancient ruins that Maxim, Tia, and Guy had stopped at just two days before they met Lady Selan for the first time. Maxim was excited to see that she shared his awe at history and, to a lesser degree, of legend. All throughout these days of travel Maxim was finding out many interesting things about the cerulean-haired commander.
To Guy's delight they returned to his home on the nineteenth day of Rabah, the fourth month. Mada Eve's summer was gearing up and they were starting to feel its heat. It had been about six weeks since he had departed for Tanbel from Parcelyte to be by his sister Hilda's side during a sickness, but now she was on the other, healthy face of things. They never did figure out what struck her down, but Guy always figured it had something to do with that evil Camu who had kidnapped her just prior to her illness. Some foulness, perhaps, that simply attached itself if the owner's company was held too long.
Jessy, Guy's girlfriend, was as feisty as ever and it looked like he would never learn how to keep her from getting mad. He was always saying something brash and pig-headed to set her off, but just kept doing it anyway.
The others stayed with them for two nights but Maxim wanted to set out for Elcid in the morning. Unfortunately, King Kesef of Alunze had heard the reports of Parcelyte's Ceremony honoring these warriors, who were ever-growing in local renown, and would not be outdone.Maxim and the others did not mind as much, for they especially wanted to see Guy honored in his home kingdom, but they still felt the King went overboard and largely put himself on display. Once they got through this, though, Maxim was ready to set his eyes upon the home he had left chasing those spheres of light and the destiny that had called him forward.
Selan, too, was ready to see the childhood home of this man she was growing to know quite well. Tia, on the other hand, wanted to stay a few more days, so it was decided that Maxim and Selan would leave in the morning, while Tia, Guy, Hilda, and Jessy would follow in a few days' time after Guy took care of some official business with his commanding officer. It was also easier for Tia that way, although she was growing stronger and happier for Maxim and Selan as she got to know Selan better, she still struggled at times with her past desires and judgments.
Of course, this also meant traveling through the Ilberet Woods, which raised a hope within Maxim to meet the Foomy once again, even to introduce Selan to them. He had been having the strangest feeling lately of wanting everyone he knew to meet this wonderful Lady who had crossed the path of his life.
Upon reaching the Forest Road, Maxim plodded slowly along looking for any clues to the Foomy's presence. He knew how isolated they liked to remain, but carried within him a hope of his own tracking skills and threads leftover of the friendship they had formed so many days ago.
Much to his displeasure, however, the meeting never occurred. They reached the other side of the forest without a single piece of evidence that the Foomy were located in that part of the dwindling woods.
But they themselves did not travel unnoticed through Ilberet Woods, for none never do. Sentries throughout the forest had noticed their arrival, and were entrusted with their safe passage, but where under strict instructions to keep their presence unknown to the human travelers.
Word of this reached the Chief of the Foomy, Feltsz and the prince-son Jelze, of course, and despite his desire to talk with Onyt-Kiel (the name by which he called Maxim) the angelic Keeper of the Forest forbade him to do so. A meeting between them at this point could have dangerous consequences upon future travels, she had warned them. Feltsz had no reason to distrust her advice and so he stayed back.
Jelze had a harder time accepting this, but followed his father's orders to stay by his side as well. He did question his father on the new lady that walked by the Warrior of Light's side.
"That is Laith-Wynhyld, the Princess of Battle, and you will never come upon a more beautiful human in your time upon this earth. Their union has been foretold since our ancient fathers and it now seems soon to pass," the creature bellowed out, a smile upon his face.
"But what of the one called Tia, whom your youngest is named after?" Jelze inquired.
"Still no prettier name has entered my thought," he said, relishing its long, deep sound once again. "She will be traveling through here soon with three companions, but her path is splitting from Onyt-Kiel. Other things are set before her.
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Almost a month since Gades was defeated and near three months since Maxim and Tia first left Elcid he returned to the familiar streets, smells, and voices of home. Everybody had heard the news by now, as it was spreading over much of the continent, although it would be a while before most of Mada Eve would hear of these events.
As the view of his own house stared back at him, thoughts of all he had been through and how far he had come rushed through his mind. All he could do was let out a sigh of relief and wonder, and then he turned to Selan, took her hand and said, "Let me show you around my hometown." It had never felt so good to be back home, he remembered thinking.
Everybody was excited to meet Lady Selan and rehash stories with Maxim. So much so, that Maxim found himself exhausted most of the next few days. Still, he found time to devote to Selan, getting to know her more deeply. And as he did so, he found himself falling in love with her. Luckily for him it seemed reciprocal.
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Two weeks later, long after being rejoined by Tia and receiving a visit from Guy, Hilda, and Jessy, Maxim and Selan found themselves alone atop the nearest mountain range. This ridge was to the north of Elcid, and southwest of Sundletan. They had hiked up to a spot known as Wolf Rock, which overlooked the Great Sea to the west and the southern reach of the Ilberet Woods to the north.
Evening was trying to edge its way into their world, as it began to lightly rain, softly down. Holding Selan close to him, Maxim gazed out towards the woods below them, wondering what the Foomy were up to and what they would think about what he came here to do.
"Do you ever think about Gades, Maxim?" Selan's soft voice asked him.
"You have too much of the Commander in you, Selan. But, yes, I guess that I do as well," he added as he sensed the look she was about to give him. "I think about it a lot. I think about how hard it was to fight Gades and how we did defeat him. I think about the pain inflicted by both Gades and the tower. But mostly I think about how that orb was destroyed. I wonder who or what I called out to and what responded to me."
"I wonder that, too, Maxim," Selan agreed. "Perhaps it was simply your own resolve?"
"I've thought that, too, but I don't believe it. It was something else, it felt different and somehow I just believe that wasn't it. And when I start wondering about that, I often think back to the many talks I had with the priest Cai. All of his talk about God and how his life has changed, and the relationship he says he has with this god.
"It's easy for me to accept his thoughts about good and evil and I respect his wisdom so much. It's harder to think of god, or as he says one God, that reigns over us, though. With all of the pain that goes on, and the absence of any physical presence of God, it's hard to accept.
"Still, and its been this way since I was a child, when I'm out in nature I sense something other than myself, even other than just what physically makes up nature. The amazing colors that light up a sky or the dark greens of the forest. There has always been something, unknown, at the corner of my thoughts whispering to be recognized. I've never placed my finger on what that longing is.
"And I called out to something or someone in that tower. I tried, but couldn't destroy that orb. Yet something else gave me its power when I cried out to it. I'm beginning to think that God might have something to do with this; that God or gods have something to do with our life. Do you think I'm crazy, Selan?" he asked gently.
Comforted in his embrace the whole time Selan jokingly answered, "I thought you were rational, Maxim, but not now."
Maxim did not catch her joking tone and responded, "That's just it, I'm usually so rational and I've never been religious because they say God is not physical, so there is never proof enough to convince me."
Selan interrupted him and said, "I was just kidding, honey. I don't think you are crazy at all. I've been having similar thoughts. I don't know what to think."
Silence followed for a few minutes as both watched two birds soar across their view. They perched amongst an opposing cliff face and then moved out of sight blocked by more stone.
"You know Selan," Maxim began as he hugged her again, "it was barely a month ago that I lay upon the floor of that forsaken tower, falling into unconsciousness. I've never told you this, but one of my last thoughts was about you before I blacked out. I was heartbroken because I thought that I would never see you again.
"And then exactly one month ago I woke up to your head peeking through my door. Your face, your excitement, your everything brightened my life that day. I'll never forget how you looked. I don't think any smile in this entire world surpasses what can alight from your face. On that day I never wanted to leave you again; to go through that heartbreak again."
"I've never told you something as well, Maxim." Selan uttered. "The night you where fighting Gades and destroying that orb I had a dream. I don't remember what it was exactly, but I awoke from that fearing for you. I was afraid something bad happened to you. I let my worries get the best of me and I doubted whether I would see you again or not after that.
"That is a feeling that I never wanted to have again, I told myself, if you did make it back to me alive. And that day I saw you awaken in your bed, I never wanted you to leave again. Although, despite what you claim, I shed no tear that day. And since then, I have fallen more completely in love with you, Maxim." By now they were facing each other, still in their embrace. Selan felt Maxim's breath upon her face.
Maxim watched small drops of rain splash upon Selan's face and pushed a loose strand of her behind her left ear. His touch brought a smile to Selan's face as she closed her eyes. And then he took her hand into his and said, "You are such a joy, Selan. Your heart is so full of love and you are so noble a lady that I feel unworthy to receive it. You are as sweet as this rain-tinted, cool summer air and the touch of your hand is enough to still my heart. I can't imagine living life without you by my side." And then he asked for Lady Selan's hand in marriage.
Tears filled her eyes as she barely whispered the answer. Amidst a few tears of his own, they embraced each other in a hug, knowing true love in that moment. It was a love, perhaps, that they had not experienced as completely since the innocence of childhood. They had held hands and each other atop the mountain, but they were now entrusting their hearts to the other. Life opened a new chapter for them to rise, together, above what this land would throw at them. Descending Wolf Rock they pierced life anew, side by side.
Author's Notes
Was a chapter in The Lord of the Rings named this? It sounds somewhat familiar…
A big expansion on what was in the game. Selan and Maxim's talk is in there, as is Tia and Dekar's, with both of them being slightly expanded. I wonder if Tia's realizations seemed realistic, or if it went too quick or seemed to come out of nowhere. Of course, the stuff about the characters returning home was all new, but it seemed it would be appropriate. I had to have Selan come along to develop the love thread more, which is nowhere near the level I had envisioned it, but perhaps I'm a hard critic of myself here…perhaps not. And in the game they are actually married a month after Gades is defeated. I thought this to be too quick, and it just didn't work with the characters returning home, which I felt is what they really would have done. What do you think…stupid, unneeded parts, interesting, just drags the story on?
The proposal scene is based upon my own proposal to my wonderful wife of two and a half years now. Although mine involved a guitar and the only song I knew how to play on it. "A Page is Turned," by Bebo Norman. After that, though, the "embrace" and "knowing the innocence of love" is not a description of sex at all…sex is not true love to me, but can only reach its full potential in true love.
Odds and ends for those interested in how names are chosen would be that I called the fourth month 'Rabah,' which is just the Hebrew word for "forth born." Then Onyt-Kiel (I came up with somehow many months/years ago, so I don't know what word/name it really varies from) is said to mean "Warrior of Light." I think that term is used descriptively in Lufia I, but possibly its used later in this game about the good guys. Laithwyn-Hyld is a variation on flaith (Irish for princess or lady), gwen (Welsh for beautiful, light, blessed), and hild(German for battle). Maybe I'm putting too much effort in these names?