Chapter IX – Proposal

"I get the feeling that he called us here for more than just a dinner," commented Alexander.

Auron warned them in a flat tone. "Stay on your guard. Those with power use that power, and Maesters have more power than anybody else." Cid looked at him for a second. Did he have something against the Teachings of Yevon?

Cid went to the tables to put food on his table. Helena was piling her plate with plenty of fruits. He sat down, eating his food in silence. He looked around the large banquet room, and for the first time, studying each of them. To many, the band made a strange group.

First, there was Sara, who was fidgeting with her hands. Her look of worry and anxiety on her face was one of the things that Cid wished he had not seen. The last thing that a summoner needed on her journey was concern. She was the only thing holding the group together, and without her, the whole party would collapse as easily as cutting butter with a knife. Cid was determined to never let her out of his sight. If Sara would allow it, Cid would offer to be the sacrifice for the Final Aeon.

Alexander normally seemed to be a happy guy, but at that moment he seemed terrible. Frowns just didn't belong on his face. It was a bit funny how he didn't realize that Helena was Al Bhed. In fact, Alexander seemed to almost like her. Cid couldn't help to chuckle under his breath.

Lulu looked like a statue in the room with a face made of stone and a posture that never failed to break. She simply stood there, staring at something. Cid didn't know much about her because Lulu was a quiet person. Sure, she was great in battles as the company's main mage, but there was something about her that made her different. At their first meeting, he had been firm in finding what that thing was, but now Cid seemed to have second thoughts. It was best not to butt into other's business.

Edgar and Auron also seemed to be silent. Cid had a feeling about Edgar that he would play some key role in this journey. Truthfully, everybody played a part in the pilgrimage. Every little bit counts. Edgar seemed to be even more caring about Sara than Cid, if that was possible. Cid nearly choked on his food as he wasn't paying attention to his food.

All Auron appeared to care about was Sara's pilgrimage. It wouldn't matter to her how she would do it or what she would do before as long as she completed it. But his iron determination was not what scared Cid. It was his strength. In battle, his sword killed anything, and that meant anything. If Sara somehow vanished, Auron would have the potential to possibly kill all of them. Cid shook his head. No, Auron would never do such a thing. He would probably just find Sara and put her pilgrimage back in place.

Helena seemed to be so happy and upbeat, even more than Alexander. She always was there to supply the party with energy, even though Helena had only been there for an hour at the most. There she was, stuffing herself full of food. Cid was jealous of her never-ending joyful mood. How can someone who is joining a quest where two people die be so happy? She has to break some time…

Tromell returned to the dining room. "It is truly great to have guests again in the banquet room. Ever since Lord Jyscal passed away, these halls have been silent." In Cid's heart, he thought Was Lord Jyscal really such a great person? He brought the Teachings to the Guado, but there was something about him that was fishy. Tromell went on. "Truly a loss for us all. However, we have Lord Seymour now. Lord Seymour is the child of a Guado and a human. He will be the tie that binds the two races together. But that is not all I think. Lord Seymour…He will become the shining star that lights the way for all the peoples of Gaia."

Maester Seymour entered in his usual lavish clothes. "Please, Tromell, do I always have to endure such praise?" He turned to Sara's group. "Welcome. Please make yourselves at home. There's no rush."

Auron stepped forward. "Please keep this short. Sara must hurry in her pilgrimage."

"Accept my dearest apologies, Sir Auron. It has been a long time since I had guests." The Maester stretched out his hand to Sara, who took it, and led her away into the corner of a room. He bent down and whispered something into her ear. Sara then ran to the table and drank three glasses of water.

"Whoa! Sara, your face is really red!" exclaimed Helena.

"What happened?" asked Cid.

Sara put down her last glass of water. "He…He asked me to marry him!"