"Something troubles you," Auron said quietly, his lips close to her ear. The dining cave was packed with Ronso, but for such a large race of creatures, they ate with remarkable dignity and reserve. It was almost completely silent, as meal times were not for talking and visiting. They were times for reflection and peace.
Lulu nodded her head once, knowing it was useless to hide her thoughts from him. He could read her better than anyone. "I saw an omen today, but I have not been able to find its meaning. I need to meditate on it."
"What did you see?"
She took a sip of cordial and stared into one of the roaring bonfires. "A golden eagle being attacked by three crows."
"How do you know that is an omen? I've seen the same thing many times," the warrior pointed out. Lulu raised an eyebrow at him.
"And who of us is the Seer, I ask you?" she inquired with a smile tugging at her lips. "I have an instinct for this sort of thing, Sir Auron."
He chuckled and pushed his empty plate away. "Then forgive me for questioning you, my lady."
Smirking, the priestess touched his arm lightly before excusing herself and rising to her feet.
She left the dining cave shortly after dinner and made her way through the Ronso village until she found a solitary platform of rock surrounded by shrubs. A small crack of water formed a spring near the centre, and she could feel a cool mountain breeze wafting through. After lighting a small fire with the aid of her magic so that all four elements were present, the mage sat down cross-legged and closed her claret eyes to clear her mind.
The golden eagle had a heavy silver key hanging from around its neck.
The first crow held a curved dagger in its beak and seemed to focus its energy on attacking the eagle's head. The second crow clutched a Yevonite staff of wisdom in its talons and busied itself by beating the eagle's back and wings. The third crow, the smallest of the three, had intensely bright blue eyes and was viciously clawing at the eagle's breast, squawking raucously as if possessed by a demon.
Badly injured, the golden eagle took flight and tried to escape its pursuers. Meanwhile, beneath the crows and eagle, there was a heavy wooden log floating down a river of glowing pyreflies headed towards a deep black chasm. A small brown sparrow with one blue eye and one green eye was tied to the log under a heavy iron chain and lock. The sparrow watched the eagle shrink into the distance and released a mournful cry as the pyreflies carried it further down the ethereal waters.
Lulu's posture went rigid as her eyes snapped open.
"Tidus, you fool . . ." she whispered, though she did not even hear herself utter them as the lingering visions began to fade.
"Lulu! Lulu!"
The priestess masked her surprise and quickly wiped the cold sweat from her brow as Yuna appeared through the shrubs, looking as if she was on the verge of tears.
"Oh, Lulu," the young woman gasped. "Please come quick! There's something wrong with Tidus."
Lulu rose to her feet and folded her arms inside the sleeves of her dress. "Take me to him."
Yuna led her to the healer's cave, where the rest of the group and a few other Ronso were already gathered. Auron was leaning against the wall, staring pensively at the floor with a crease in his brow while Wakka paced restlessly to and fro. Kimahri stood near the cave entrance, his tail flicking erratically behind him. A small fire was lit nearby and the clan's Wiseman was tossing handfuls of herbs into the flames, devoid of any expression. The air was thick with sweet-smelling smoke, and the young Ronso Shadov was chanting unintelligible spells to ward off evil. Tidus was lying motionless on a raised stone platform, cushioned by thick furs. His skin was pale and his glassy eyes stared vacantly at the rock ceiling, unresponsive to the light Rikku was flashing in them. His shirt had been removed, and his chest was moving up and down slowly with each laboured breath.
"His pupils aren't dilating," the Al Bhed girl declared in an abnormally solemn voice, tucking the machina device back in her belt as the two women returned. "And his fever's been climbing steadily for the last fifteen minutes."
Lulu moved swiftly to the young man's side while Yuna hovered anxiously nearby, close enough to watch over her lover while staying out of the way.
The mage laid a cold white hand on his forehead and then listened to his slow, steady heartbeat. The Ronso healer, whom Lulu recognized to be Anka, stepped forward with a stone set expression.
"He does not respond to medicine," she informed them in a deep heavily accented voice. "This is sickness of mind, not body."
"Yuna, can you use your White Magic?" Lulu questioned as she continued to examine Tidus' condition.
Yuna shook her head miserably. "My magic is not designed for this sort of thing. I've tried already. It . . . does nothing."
'I am so useless,' she thought, swallowing her tears with as much force as she could. Inside, her magic was pulsing continuously, eager to get out and heal her lover.
"The pressure, ya?" Wakka hissed, still pacing. "It's gotta be the pressure of the mission. He musta snapped. It musta been too much for him . . ."
"Don't talk like that!" Yuna snapped, her voice sharper than necessary. "He would never give in, not like this! He's stronger than that, Wakka, and you know it."
"Calm down," Auron commanded. "We will figure out what is wrong. For now, all we can do is wait and see if he wakes up. Clearly medicine and hymns are doing no good."
Shadov abruptly stopped chanting and blinked owlishly at the guardian, but the Wiseman continued adding powdered herbs to the fire in his trance.
Lulu narrowed her burgundy eyes in thought. "Yuna, tell me what happened."
Wringing her hands, the story poured from Yuna's lips. Lulu listened intently as she described sudden, unexpected change in Tidus' demeanour and the trance-like state he slipped into almost immediately after. Her head felt funny from the perfumed air and she desperately wanted to step outside into the cool mountain wind, but she could not bring herself to leave Tidus' side.
Rikku chewed her bottom lip and then sighed heavily. "Well, that does sound like some kind of panic attack, but I've never heard of one being brought on from nothing. I'm no brain doctor, but I don't think we're dealing with something that medicine can fix."
The others fell silent at her statement, partly out of respect for the fact that such a serious remark came from her of all people, and partly to contemplate what on Spira they could do to help.
Kimahri snarled in frustration and turned to face the Wiseman, an elderly Ronso named Ogath. The tribe leader barked a question at the old creature, who remained transfixed by the fire's dance. The light glowed eerily in his empty ochre eyes.
"Ogath sense evil in young human's mind," he said in a low, surprisingly soft voice. "Much evil that cannot be named. Someone from outside has poisoned his mind."
Yuna felt the blood drain from her face. "Someone . . . from the outside?"
"Who would do this?" Wakka demanded angrily.
Lulu felt her pulse quicken and thought back to her vision of the eagle and crows. The first crow with a dagger in its beak had been attacking the eagle's head. Could it be related to all this?
"Yuna," she said sternly, fixing the younger woman with an unwavering stare. "You were with Tidus before we came along. Tell me; was their anyone who wished to harm you two, other than Seymour and the Yevonites?"
Yuna opened and closed her mouth a few times, her stomach twisting with guilt. She should have told them long ago, and now Tidus was potentially paying for their mistake with his very life.
She licked her lips and dropped her eyes to the ground. "There was an assassin sent after us. He . . . he disappeared a while ago and we have not seen any sign of him since you and Sir Auron joined up with us," she confessed, wishing the cave floor would open up and swallow her into infinity.
There was a moment of heavy silence before Rikku cursed violently enough to draw all eyes to her.
"Yunie, why didn't you tell us?" the young teenager demanded, stomping her foot in agitation. "Now I know that I was sensing a follower back at the foot of the mountain! By the sands, I knew there was somebody back there watching us!"
"I'm sorry," Yuna murmured, her eyes stinging. "I- we should have told you right away. I thought he had given up on chasing us and it did not seem so important anymore. I am such an imbecile . . ."
Taking pity on the summoner's young daughter, Wakka moved forward and rested a big hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, don't say that," he consoled, squeezing her lightly. "I'm sure I woulda felt the same way in your place, ya?"
"That doesn't change the fact that there is a dangerous assassin trailing us," Auron commented darkly. "Not only that, but he's attacking us in a way against which we can't fight back. This is a battle Tidus has to fight on his own."
"Well, my brudda Tidus is a strong lad," Wakka said with a firm nod. "Yuna was right about that much. He'll pull through, just you wait and see."
"Anyone of us could be the next target," Lulu added, pursing her lips.
"I don't think so," Yuna countered. "When it was just the two of us, the assassin only seemed to go after Tidus. I think Seymour wanted him out of the way specifically so that I would be easier to detain upon reaching the temple in Bevelle."
"Be that as it may," the priestess continued, "I don't want to take any risks. I'm placing a protective spell on all of us to keep the intruder out. Unfortunately it won't work on Tidus, but it may help the rest of us keep our minds cloaked."
Before anyone else could respond, Tidus stirred on the stone platform and moaned hoarsely. In a heartbeat Yuna was at his side, running her hand down the side of his face.
"Tidus? Tidus, can you hear me?" she implored, searching his strained expression. His head lolled to the side as he struggled to open his eyes.
"Water," he gasped, his lids gradually flickering open. "Please . . ."
Rikku appeared with a gourd of water and gently eased it between his slack lips so that he could drink.
"Easy now," she mumbled, careful not to release too much. "Just a bit for now, okay?"
He turned his face away when he'd had enough, and Auron approached him in a business like manner.
"Do you remember anything about what happened?" the elder warrior asked.
Too weak to speak, Tidus just slowly shook his head. Yuna wondered if she was the only one who noticed how he hesitated as she reached over to clasp his sweaty hand.
"So tired," he whispered, his lips barely moving. "Can't . . . can't . . ."
"Hush now," Yuna instructed mercifully, kissing his damp forehead. "Just sleep, Tidus. We'll all be watching over you."
He was asleep before he heard her last words.
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Yuna did not realize she had dozed off at his side until she felt him move against her. Her head snapped upright and she blinked in the darkness of the cave. She had knelt next to the stone table all night and without noticing, she gradually allowed her head to fall into the cradle of her arms and fell into a deep dreamless slumber. She was still holding Tidus' hand, and there was no one else present with them.
"Yuna?" he asked with a light cough, his voice a mere flutter. Dawn sunlight was slowly making its way into the sky, but the cavern was still almost pitch black save for the embers of the Wiseman's fire.
"I'm here. Are you all right? How do you feel?"
"Like a blacksmith is hammering on my skull," he admitted, lying back down with a groan. Smiling, Yuna rose stiffly to her feet, trying to ignore the ache in her knees. Judging by his answer, he was getting better.
"Would you like anything?"
In the darkness she saw him open his mouth to reply, but then he swiftly closed it again.
"No, thank you. I just . . ." he trailed off and Yuna peered down at him closely to make sure he had not fallen asleep again.
"Yes?"
He sat up so suddenly that his head nearly collided with hers. She jumped back and stared at his face, alight with the orange glow of the dying fire. His expression was colder and more lifeless than any other she'd seen on his face, and her heart flew into her throat.
"I need to talk to you," he said in a flat voice. Yuna was alarmed now. Tidus had never looked or sounded so . . . empty. "It's important."
"O-okay," she faltered, seating herself next to him at the edge of the table.
Slowly he reached out and took her hand, but the gesture did little to put her at ease. Rather, it was as if he was trying to brace her for something terrible. He licked his lips and then brought his eyes up to meet hers.
"You know that you are . . . you are so important to me. Right?" he began hesitantly. She nodded once in confirmation and offered him a small smile. Why could she not still her racing heart?
"And . . . you should also know that I've never felt so for any other person in my life," he added, looking away from her. "I doubt there is anything I wouldn't do to ensure your happiness."
"Tidus, what-?"
"Please," he interrupted. "I have to say this." He took a deep breath before continuing. "In spite of all that . . . I think the journey has taken on a rather strange twist. You have five guardians watching over you, Yuna. Auron is the greatest warrior I've ever known, Lulu can handle any problem with that magic of hers, Rikku is a brilliant healer and fighter, and Wakka's got more strength in one arm than I've got in my whole body. Not only that, but I've heard the Ronso whispering that Kimahri might join you, and I don't even want to think of what he can do to someone in battle."
He paused and swallowed thickly, tightening his grip on her hand. "I-I made a mistake in letting myself care for you. My feelings have altered my judgement."
She felt time slow down around her.
"I can't make all the right decisions anymore, not while I'm so consumed by you."
Blood pounded in her veins.
"I . . . I'm weak now. I cannot see the end of this journey for fear of losing you."
The cave had gone deathly quiet, yet she felt as if she was being deafened by her own heartbeat.
"I think the time has come for me to leave you, Yuna."
Time stopped.
How could the world be spinning so quickly if time no longer existed?
Somewhere in the back of her mind she was screaming, yet her face could not move to form any expression. Her hand felt dead in his.
"It's not that I want to," he said quickly, dropping her hand and standing up to pace the floor of the cave. "Believe me, this is the last thing I want. But you must-"
"You . . . you mean to leave me? Just like that? After everything you promised?"
Without consciously thinking to, she stood up.
"You think you can walk away from everything we've been through together?"
His face was a mask of apathy, and were it not for the pain swallowing her nerves she would have flown to him with her nails aimed right at his eyes.
"That is my decision. I am sorry you cannot seem to understand, but my mind is made up," he replied rigidly.
"You can't do this," she told him, hardly able to believe this was happening. "You . . . you gave me your word!"
"Words can be taken back," he retorted, his voice still remarkably cool. "Don't make this any harder than it is."
"This word cannot be taken back!" she hissed. "Your oath cannot be taken back! Don't you dare presume to undo everything we worked for, what our friends have died for!"
He swayed on his feet for a second, as if the force of her words shook him physically. But then the blank expression returned and the steely edge to his voice was all the more sharp.
"Nothing can bring that village back, Yuna, not even if we were to succeed. Whether I stay or continue on is irrelevant now. All that matters is that you keep going, and if I am to stay, I may jeopardize everything."
"You don't know that!" she shot back. "You have no idea what you are talking about!"
"I am not asking you to understand, Yuna," he returned coldly.
"Y-you are a coward!" she shrieked, pointing an accusing finger at him. "You are nothing but a coward, crawling away on your hands and knees! This is not you, Tidus, this is not the man I fell in love with!"
"Goodbye, Yuna," he said in a numb voice, turning to leave.
And all the anger, all the fury was gone, just like the flame of a candle being snuffed out by a quick cruel breath. Yuna through herself down at his feet and without pride or reservation, she clung to his legs and wept against him.
"I need you," she begged. "Can you not see I am nothing if not yours? Can you not see that I will fail if you're not at my side? I can't go alone, Tidus. No matter how many other guardians I have with me, I will still be alone without you!"
For a long time he said not a word, standing motionless as she cried against his thigh. Suddenly he dropped down to one knee and took her face between his hands, moving so quickly that she did not even realize what was happening until he pressed his lips against hers.
As abruptly as it happened, he broke away from her and rose to his feet, leaving her kneeling on the stone floor like a broken doll.
"I am sorry," was all he said.
He then whirled around, and all she could see through her tears was his blurred shadow fading from sight.
"No . . ." she choked. "Please . . ."
She scrambled ungracefully back upright and staggered towards the cave's mouth. She parted her lips to tell him the one sliver of information that could have perhaps swayed his decision. The words were on her tongue, the confession so close to emerging, but a wave of bile rose up and smothered her efforts. She vomited brutally off to the side and then ran clumsily to the exit.
"Tidus!" she screamed, her voice echoing sharply throughout the mountain range. Her frantic eyes could not detect him anywhere. "Tidus!"
All she heard in reply was silence. Cold, empty, soulless silence.
"TIDUS!"
Nothing.
There was nothing.
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With clenched fists, Lulu lay awake on her mattress of furs and listened to the hysteric screams die down. At her side, Auron was pretending to be asleep, but she could sense the tension inside of him and knew that he was hearing everything she was. Rikku was weeping softly into her pillow, and Wakka stared grimly at the ceiling of the cave, his jaw set firmly.
The black mage priestess sighed deeply and closed her eyes to prevent tears from gathering. Her voice was barely more than a whisper as she spoke to the dark,
"Tidus, you fool."