A Visit to Guadosalam

Rickard stood at the entrance to the Farplane. Neither Commander Gibson nor Captain Kal had wanted to leave Kilika for the official ceremonies commemorating Lord Braska's Calm, so they had sent Kal's Lead Sword to St. Bevelle in their stead. The week of services had been dull, the two weeks of parades and celebration following them more enjoyable but still uncomfortable for Rickard given the recent political upheaval. Fortunately, he had been able to plead other duties and escape before Second Commander Kinoc's wedding to Maester Brac's granddaughter, which promised to be a pompous, overwrought affair. Now he was on an extended leave, both to enjoy the Calm and to visit the Farplane; Kal was so glad to have gotten out of a trip to Bevelle that he'd granted the time eagerly. In exchange, Rickard had promised to look for Auron in Guadosalam. No word had come yet of their friend and former captain turned guardian, and the entire garrison was worried for him.

Taking a deep breath, Rickard passed through the glowing barrier that marked the entrance to the afterlife's observation deck. Perhaps half a dozen mourners stood scattered about, most of them gazing at and talking with their loved ones, although one, a young woman with disheveled hair the color of copper, seemed to be staring into empty space. Probably still gathering her courage to call up the person she had come to see, Rickard decided. He walked to the edge of the platform and gave her an encouraging smile as he stood next to her. She did not seem to see him there, so he turned to the glowing space beyond.

There were a few greetings Rickard needed to make. He started with his parents, then his younger sister -- all had been lost to Sin just over six months ago, in an attack on the Highroad. After he had said what he needed to say to them, he closed his eyes to summon an old friend and former commanding officer. When he opened his eyes, he sighed. "Hello, Jass," he said softly to the brown-haired, blue eyed young man dressed in lieutenant's garb. "It's been awhile, I know. I wish you were here to see the Calm. We all do."

Jass did not respond; no one who appeared on the Farplane ever did. So Rickard simply looked at his good friend from Gray Squadron and mourned his loss in silence, remembering the camaraderie they'd shared, cut too short by a grim battle with Sin on the Djose Shore.

Eventually Rickard spoke again. "And about that Calm, and the guardian responsible for it. Is he there with you?" Now his thoughts turned to Auron, the captain for whom he had felt such great respect. Others held out hope that the swordsman might have survived the pilgrimage, but Rickard was skeptical. So few guardians ever came back from Zanarkand; why should Auron be the exception to the rule, despite his tremendous abilities? So he was surprised when Jass continued to float alone, not joined by their mentor.

Rickard began to consider possible reasons when his thoughts were interrupted by an anguished whisper from the woman to his right. "Dammit Auron! Where are you?"

Startled by the name, he turned to her. "Pardon me, milady. But are you looking for Captain, I mean Sir Auron? High Summoner Braska's guardian?"

She regarded him bleakly, her face pale and drawn, her gray eyes sunken. "Why do you ask?" Her voice rang hollow with grief.

"That's why I'm here, too, in part. He was my commanding officer once, so I came to check on him. But he doesn't seem to be here. Maybe that means he made it."

The woman shook her head. "If he is alive... then where is he? Why has he not come back to me?" She glanced over the ledge again. "I have to find him. He needs to know."

Rickard burned with curiosity at this odd statement but held his tongue. To his knowledge, Auron had never had a hometown girl, but this evidence suggested otherwise. Instead of bursting out with the question, he cautiously laid a hand on the woman's shoulder. "It'll be all right," he said, more from reflex than conviction.

"How can it be all right?" She burst into sudden tears. "He's gone, and I'm pregnant, and I don't know where to go or what to do!"

Rickard was speechless at this announcement. He stepped closer and pulled her into what he hoped was a comforting embrace, patting her back gently as she sobbed into his orange lieutenant's coat.

After a minute or two, the woman's tears subsided, and she stepped away from him. "Sorry," she murmured. "I didn't mean to break down all over a total stranger like that."

"That's okay, milady." Rickard bowed respectfully. "Anything for a friend of Ca-- Sir Auron's. Lieutenant Rickard, at your service."

"Arelle," she said softly, inclining her head slightly.

"Is there anything more I can do for you, milady?"

Arelle gazed back out into the empty space before her. "Bring him back? Return my long-dead parents to life? Mend a breach with my oldest, dearest friend? Find me a home where I can live without constant reminders of them all?" She shook her head, shoulders slumping with hopelessness.

Rickard thought for a moment, then glanced at the image of the friend who now resided on the Farplane. "Maybe I can help you with that last one. Did you ever meet Lieutenant Jass?"

"No, although Auron often spoke of him with great fondness." She glanced over to the apparition. "Is that him?"

"It is. When he died, he left a grandmother on a farm on the edge of Macalania Woods. He often worried to me about leaving her alone, and as far as I know he has no other family. Maybe she would take you in. I bet she'd appreciate the company, and you could take care of each other. And the baby, when it comes."

Quiet fell between them as Arelle considered this offer. "That's very kind of you to suggest, but can you really speak for her?"

"I can speak for Jass," said Rickard firmly. "Sir Auron was his commander and his friend. If I bring you to his grandmother in both of their names, how can she refuse?" He looked at Jass again. There was still no real response, but Rickard could have sworn that he saw the tiniest smile and a nod.

Arelle thought for another moment. "All right," she said. "I will speak with her, at least."

Rickard let out a small breath of air. "Good. Do you need to go back to your home, pick up anything?"

"Everything I need is here, in my room at the inn," she replied.

"All right." Rickard offered her his arm, and after a slight hesitation, she took it. "I'll escort you to the inn, and then to the farm -- it should only take a few days to get there." She looked a silent query at him. "I just started a month of leave," he reassured her. "Plenty of time to get everything settled with Jass's grandmother, or to find you another place if that doesn't work out."

She relaxed with a small, sad sigh. "Lieutenant, I don't know how to thank you."

He patted the hand that rested in the crook of his elbow. "Like I said, anything for Sir Auron." The pair walked out of the Farplane, leaving mourners and apparitions behind them.

Jass's image lingered for a moment, and this time any observer would have known his smile for what it was.