Seeing Aymeric dressed casually always made me want to laugh. He was this noble leader. Even when being a normal man instead of an government he spoke with flair and authority. The mask never slipped even when he was rosy cheeked and full of wine like he was this evening.

"So you mean to tell me our good friend is actually taking a bit of rest?" he asked me with a surprised expression. His blue eyes crinkled in amusement as I told him what all of the Scions were doing, but he was especially invested in the whereabouts of his old friend.

"Thavnair is making him soft. I threw a bit of a tantrum my first night as embarrassing as that is to admit. You won't believe what he did!" I was holding back a belly laugh. "He. Hugged. Me."

His jaw dropped. I had never seen such a look of shock. "Estinien hugged you? He gave another individual affection? Did it kill him?"

"He said he thought it would keep me from destroying the city," I nearly screamed with laughter.

"You are rather capable. I would likely do something out of character to keep your emotions from raizing the entire city." He swirled his drink while looking at the fire thoughtfully.

I gasped, "I am not that bad!"

"No, but you are always controlled to a fault," he explained. "The most controlled are the most likely to become the most dangerous should their emotions take over. He knows that better than most."

The fire crackled as I thought it over. Aymeric was right. Estinien's rage and thirst for revenge allowed Nidhogg to posses his very being. He was nearly lost to us all. Seeing him open his eyes after the ordeal was one of many moments of relief I had experienced over my years as an adventurer.

"I just count myself lucky that he tolerates me so. When I was a young dragoon I was nothing but a thorn in his side. It is a true wonder that he has never skewered me upon his lance." I pulled my legs into the comfortable chair. We were in his sitting room in front of the fire.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He had known the man longer than I had. "He does not merely tolerate you. He truly does care for you somewhere in that cold exterior. When you slipped from consciousness at the Ghymlyt Dark he swooped in for you. Others said they had never seen him handle a person as carefully as he did you. When he brought you to me you were slung over his shoulder but he handed you off to me as carefully as a newborn babe. He made me promise to ensure that you lived."

"He had my flopped over his shoulder like a sack of popotos? That figures," I snorted. "He must be rather weak if my small frame exerted him to such an extent."

What a mistake that statement was. Aymeric was mid-drink and sprayed wine from his mouth due to his laughter. Yes, we were very drunk indeed. This caused me to laugh so hard I slid to the floor. I lay on the rug in front of the fire with happy tears run down my cheeks. My sides ached terribly. It was the first moment of happiness I had felt in months. I glanced at my dear friend. He was smiling at me warmly.

"Even though the circumstances are quite sad, this visit was a welcome surprise. It's been too long since we've had a visit that wasn't all business," he said as he joined me on the floor.

I sighed sadly. I had avoided this place for so long. "It's been a bit hard for me to want to return to Ishgard. I apologize for allowing sad memories to overtake the happy ones."

"Tis understandable, Isolde. Your heart was broken. This may be the first time since the loss that you've had a moment to sit in the grief." He reached over and patted my outstretched hand gently. "I am just grateful that you are here now."

"Me too, Lord Speaker," I attempted to say seriously. We both fell into another fit of giggles.

Aymeric and I drank, talked, and laughed until the wee hours of the morning. I was quite drunk, so he offered one of his many guest rooms to me rather than me navigating my way back to the Fortemps residence. He would never understand the gratitude I felt towards the gesture. Every time I thought of sleeping in that house made my stomach turn with dread. Even though finally visiting Haurchefant's grave and reminding myself how much certain people in Ishgard meant to me had helped to start healing my wounds, it did not mean they were nearly mended enough to sleep in the very same room I had spent my one and only night with him in.

Morning arrived much too quickly. I awoke to a house servant bringing me a tea with a note from Aymeric to drink it to help with the headache from our wine consumption the night before. He was not wrong. My heart pounded in my ears. I quickly finished the spicy concoction that may have had a hint of whiskey in it. Within minutes some of the dull ache in my forehead began to subside.

Across the room on a chair lay my things delivered from House de Fortemps along with a new dark blue blouse, black skirt, and beautiful belt. Another note from my friend said I deserved the gift. No wonder the people of the city loved him so. He was generous, thoughtful, and kind. I would make sure to visit more after this trip. I knew he grew quite lonely at times with very little time for a social life. A mental note was made to drag Estinien along soon to spend some time with his old friend whether he wanted to or not. All I would have to do is reveal how much he paid for a cord for his hair before I tutored him on haggling with vendors.

After a nice hot bath, I pulled half of my long, dark hair into two braids and fastened them. The blouse Aymeric had so kindly gifted me was nicer than most other garments I owned. It tucked nicely into the skirt. The belt was wide, embossed with a beautiful floral filigree, with 3 small silver buckles to fasten at the front. I had to let out a quiet whistle at my reflection. I looked like a highborn lady. Is this how I would've dressed were I to have become the wife of an Ishgardian nobleman? That thought made my stomach turn.

Upon entering House de Fortemps to join the brothers in their walk to the service, I was greeted by an overly enthusiastic Emmanellain. He picked me up while exclaiming, "How are you, old girl? You have been sorely missed!"

"Hello, Emmanellain," I croaked as he squeezed me tightly.

"Put the poor girl down, brother," Artoirel scolded. "We do not pick up ladies as if they are rag dolls." I was promptly placed back on the floor.

We milled about until time to walk to the main square of town. Artoirel offered his arm to Fleur in a gentle manner. It was heartwarming to see that he had met someone to spend his life with. She was beautiful inside and out. I mentally made plans to visit once the baby was born.

"Care for an escort, old girl?" Emmanellain offered as he helped adjust my winter cloak on my shoulders. I simply nodded and took his arm. "You look quite lovely. Would you care to sit with me? It would make the women in town very jealous which would assist in my chances in charming one or two later."

"Oh no. I couldn't sit with family. I will stand at the back with the people from town," I responded nervously.

"Absolutely not. Father thought of you as family. You would have been my sister by now anyway." He patted my hand that was holding onto his arm. "What fun that would have been."

"I beg your pardon?" I asked in shock.

"I'm a bit smarter than I let on. I just hide it so everyone expects less from me. Plus it did not hurt that I saw you locked in my brother's embrace the night of the banquet," he informed me. "Worry not. I kept your secret."

"Oh. I am not sure what to say." There the ache was again.

He offered my hand another squeeze of comfort. "No need to say a single word. Just know I understand the hurt you must still feel. He was magnificent."

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. At least we were going to a service to honor the passing of Edmont so it was not curious to see me sad. My eyes wandered ahead to Fleur. Her belly was round, her cheeks rosy. Would the have been me? How would Edmont have felt to have half Hyur grandchildren? I brushed the thoughts away. It did no good to think what could have been. Ser Aymeric stood at the podium readying to deliver the eulogy. I mouthed a "thank you" at him. He returned me thanks with a soft smile and a knowing nod. It was time for him to be back in leader mode so the response was serious but meaningful nonetheless.

The service went by quickly. Aymeric was a gifted speaker. He truly did justice to the former count with his flourish for words. Emmanellain gripped my hand as he held back tears. He was never one to hold back emotions, so I was proud of him for not blubbering like a baby as expected. I just gently patted his hand in reassurance as I was unsure how to handle the man at times. He was like a very large child. As the service came to a close, the men made their way to Ser Aymeric to offer their thanks. Many from the crowd came to offer condolences to both Fortemps men as well as their compliments to Aymeric for his beautiful eulogy. I could not help but marvel at how loved Edmont was. I quietly stood off to the side hoping to be as invisible as possible. A large hand grabbed me own and pulled me further from the crowd. I panicked as I realized I had forgotten my hip dagger to defend myself. My fists would have to do.

"Drop you hands, woman. Tis only me," Estinien commanded gruffly.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded.

He rolled his eyes as he led me farther from the crowd. "Simply paying my respects since I will be on my way to Mor Dhona to pick up my wages from Tataru." What a funny thing that Krile would still not allow him to have an account like the rest of us.

"Are you sure you simply did not miss me?" I joked.

"Certainly not. I have enjoyed my peace." His expression was sour as usual.

"Then why take the time to act as if you were trying to kidnap me from the crowd," I spat at him. I wrenched my arm free from his grasp. "You are strange. I've no time for this."

"I wished to ask how you were. Perhaps my execution of speaking to you privately was a bit aggressive," he offered.

"A bit aggressive? Ha! Try terrifying, you oaf!" I exclaimed.

"I apologize. Truly. Are you done here? Do you care to join me? You would be a welcome distraction for Tataru. I do not wish to speak of clothes or to be lectured on coin."

"I suppose I could leave this evening."

"This evening? I had intended on leaving now."

I stopped dead in my tracks. He was unbelievable. "You may go on your way, but I have no intentions on being as rude as you. I must attend lunch with the Fortemps family. I also need to grab my things from Aymeric's home and offer proper thanks for allowing me to stay there."

"You stayed there?" he asked. "Are you onto the next nobleman of Ishgard then?" He barely had the sentence out before I saw red, reached up, and slapped him across the face.

"Estinien Varlineau, if that is what you think of me then please do me a favor by never speaking to me again. I ignore many of the blunt comments you tend to make, but this time I will not stand back and take what ever venom you choose to spit in my direction." I gritted my teeth to keep from crying. He rubbed his red cheek as he looked down on me. His eyes looked as if he regretted what was said, but before he could speak again I took off into the crowd. If I didn't walk away in the moment I would likely find a way to end him.

After a quiet lunch, I said my goodbyes with promises to visit in a few months when Artoirel's and Fleur's baby arrived. Emmanellain gave me a very long hug that nearly bordered upon uncomfortable until I saw the tears in his eyes when he pulled away. He whispered, "I'll think of you as a sister anyhow." I could not leave fast enough after that kindness. Ishgard was overwhelming me. Before Estinien showed up to be so nasty to me I was started to feel as if it was time to leave.

As I packed my things in the guest room of Ser Aymeric's home, my ears caught the tone of a familiar voice. Of course there was Aymeric's soothing voice, there was also a gruff tone that made me seethe with rage. I finished packing the last of my belongings not bothering to change out of the finery I had worn for the day.

"I shall be off, my dear friend. I thank thee for the hospitality, the clothes, and the laughter. I will return in a few months to meet the newest member of the Fortemps family," I informed a Aymeric while completely ignoring the fact that Estinien was standing there.

"A bottle of wine and a warm fire will be waiting. I enjoyed our evening of catching up. Please know that you are welcome here as my guest any time. Take care, Isolde." Aymeric wrapped me in a hug. This was not usual for him, but we had rolled upon the floor in fits of laughter together the night before. "I look forward to seeing you again soon."

"Yes, I believe that I will be going as well." Estinien was hot on my heels.

"So soon? You have just arrived, old man," Aymeric teased.

"Soon, my friend. I have coin to collect," was the short response he received.

My short legs were useless in getting ahead of the Elezen. I had no clue where I was headed next anyway. He grabbed my arm to stop me. I turned angrily.

"Do not think I am above skewering you in public," I hissed. "Keep your filthy hands off me. You are nothing to me."

Estinien's eyes looked hurt for a moment before turning back to his steely, impassive gaze. "I should expect no less for what I said."

"You deserve worse." I stood staring at him unsure what to do next.

"For what it's worth, that was uncalled for. I apologize." He touched the cheek I had slapped as if he expected me to do it again. Gods know I wanted to.

"Why?" I yelled. "I let you in on one of my heart's my closely guarded secrets. Within days you used it against me! You are a pig!"

"Who you spend your personal time with is no business of mine. I was concerned that you hopped in bed with another to soothe your wounds," he said quietly.

"And so what if I did!"

"We both know that would destroy you." His words were like a punch to the gut. I stood staring at him with my jaw dropped. "I could have gone straight to Mor Dhona. I was concerned for you."

"Well let's get going then." I turned and began to walk to the airship landing. "This does not mean you are forgiven. It merely means I am tired of arguing with a common swine," I called over my shoulder. I heard his quiet, gravelly laugh behind me to let me know he was following.