Chapter 26

With Elle back in Paddra, it did not take her long to fall into a pattern she was familiar with. Although it had a few tweaks thrown in for good measure. Kurt was not as happy when he found out there was no electricity and the things that went with it, but he didn't complain too much. He was usually kept busy with Yeul as she told him about the city and the political connections between the tribes. With him previously working on his law degree, that was the kind of stuff that was right up his alley. At least Elle was glad to see him settling in.

As for Elle, she had been able to heal her shoulder once they had time to think past the overwhelming fact that she was really back. None of her friends had been happy to hear what had happened, but they had all seen her in worse shape at least once, so they did not make a big deal out of it once they saw her healed.

They had only been there a week when a ceremony was held to officially make both Bachmans members of the Farseer tribe. It was nice for Elle to be able to walk anywhere she wanted without an official escort, though that didn't mean she was often alone. If it wasn't Yeul and Caius, then it was Kurt or Laer.

When she finally went back to training, Kurt had gone with her the first few times. Most notable was the first time that Caius and Yeul went as well. Everyone was excited to see the Guardian spar with the Emissary after so long. Even Yeul wanted to see, which was the only reason Caius had agreed.

Kurt nearly passed out as he watched his tiny sister run circles around Caius. Not that the Guardian wasn't fighting back. He did end up having to be pulled from the fence by Laer when Caius finally managed to knock Elle into the dirt. He had never wanted to punch a man more than he did at that moment, and he wasn't entirely sure which one of them he wanted to hit. However, the urge left as he watched Caius help his sister up, and they healed each other as they were both smiling. He shook his head and realized Elle was even crazier than he knew. More so now that she had powers to go with it.

After that, Kurt made sure he never watched her practice again. Not that he didn't already know that her career put her in danger in both worlds, and he wasn't the kind to try and stop her. Still, that didn't mean that he had to watch it.

It wasn't until nearly six months had passed before Elle and Caius finally had the ceremony to bind their lives to one another. Neither of them felt it was necessary, nor did they feel the need to have something big. However, this was something more than them both. It was the first time that anyone could remember a Guardian marrying. Add to that the fact that Elle was the Emissary, and there was no way they could do anything without the whole city wanting to be involved, which was why it had taken so long to plan.

Elle was touched that Yeul wanted to personally be involved. The Seeress ensured that everything would be perfect. Even Kurt and Laer were involved. The latter of which came after a long conversation she had with him. He admitted to being a little hurt, but more than that, he refused to allow anything to come between their friendship and just wanted her to be happy. It didn't make things perfect between them, but it was the first step on the long road to becoming the kind of friends that last a lifetime.

When it was all said and done, Elle agreed to wear a dress for the ceremony, but she still sported her beads and feathers instead of jeweled combs. The process was unlike anything Elle had ever seen before, but it wasn't complicated. Both she and Caius had to walk down a path together to reach the Seeress. In this, she was not just their friend, but also the highest authority in the city, and would officiate the ceremony.

When they got to her, they both knelt with heads down in a gesture of shared fealty. When she acknowledged them, they stood and faced her. She gave them both vows for them agree to that bound them both to each other and the city. Once that was done, they both turned to face the gathered people. It had been held in the same city square that Yeul used to complete her addresses during festivals, so a large portion of the population was gathered. They all cheered as the couple walked back out into the chaos the audience had become.

The rest of the day and into the night was spent in festivities. It was like a festival day minus the extra traders. There were even many stalls set up that served food and drink just for the city to celebrate. Elle laughed when she wondered if this was how royalty felt when they got married.

The only snag in Elle's enjoyment of the day came right before they were getting ready to head back. She and Caius were sharing an evening meal with their closest friends when their group was approached by a young woman that Elle had hoped not to see again for some time.

Raine curtsied to Yeul before she turned directly to Caius and Elle. She dipped her head to them both before she spoke. "Please do not fear that I am here to cause any problems. I am aware of how my behavior in the past might make you think that would be the case. Instead, I would like to extend my congratulations and thank you both for showing me what I should be striving for instead."

Caius and Elle shared a confused look before they both turned to the girl again. Raine shook her head at the expression and smiled. "You have both endured much to get to this point, but your faith and love for each other have never wavered. How can anyone see it and not think of striving to find someone so dedicated? I know that I may have been blinded by my own wants in the past, but please do not be concerned for the future. It is clear to me and many others that the two of you are ushering in a new era for Paddra. My wish is for it to be long and prosperous." Raine didn't give them a chance to gather their wits before she curtsied again, and turned to leave.

Yeul smiled over at the new couple when the girl left. "Etro does indeed work in ways we cannot all understand, but I am glad that she brought you here. I will also share the wish for your union to grant the rest of the city the eyes to see beyond the present and into the future."

Elle felt a chill go down her spine at Yeul's words despite how moved she was by them. Luckily, she was able to brush it off, and their group quickly got lost in the festivities.

It wasn't until later that night that Elle and Caius were finally given a chance to be alone. Laer had taken over as Yeul's guard for the night. That way, the couple would not be disturbed unless it was dire. It was the best they could hope for given their positions.

They had been together many times over the last several months, as Elle had taken to sleeping in Caius' room with him. However, this night was special and was treated as such. As soon as they were alone, Caius had lifted Elle from her feet and taken her to the bed. He was gentle as he undressed her, at least at first. As much as she was also aware of the difference in their status now that they were wed, which did strange things to her heart any time she thought about it, that did not keep her from getting lost in his touch before long.

They both soon became a tangle of teeth and hands, of moans and whispered words of affection. Gentle was something that could find no space between them as they got lost in each other as the night waned.

It wasn't until after the second time they had culminated together that they finally settled into each other's arms. Elle knew sleep would not be long in coming, but as Caius ghosted purple petals against her skin, she was reminded of something she wanted to ask about. She turned, so they were facing and gave him a smirk.

Her voice held a note of teasing as she plucked the flower from his hands and looked at it with slight awe before she looked up into his eyes. "Do you know what I was told today?"

He chuckled as he took the flower back from her and placed it behind her ear before he kissed her forehead. "No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me."

She rolled her eyes at his smirk before she raised a brow. "I was told that the flower you gave me when I first arrived was not the first one you gathered. Not even the second or third."

Caius' eyes widened slightly before he shook his head. "No, it was not." When it looked like Elle was about to speak again, he laid his finger on her lips softly. His smile softened as he continued. "You deserve the best of everything I can give you. Ours will be a life of hardships and dedication, but in this, I refused to allow anything but the best."

Elle pushed his hand back as her eyes flitted across his face. She wanted to remember this moment forever. "You went out within days of waking, and again every time the one you held faded until I returned."

He brushed his knuckles across her cheek as he nodded. "I knew you would come back to me. Even if I was unsure of your reaction to me with how things were left. I still held onto the faith that you meant what you said when you left. That your heart would never crave another." He gently kissed her before he continued. "There is no room for any others within mine, so it was a simple thing for me to prove it when you came back to me."

Elle pulled herself up so that she was leaning over him. She looked down, and Caius marveled at the open affection that shined from her eyes as she smiled. "Oh, you have, many times over, but I won't complain if you want to prove it again."

He chuckled at the flash of need in her eyes, but neither of them needed more words to express themselves as he tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her down into another kiss. This was but the first of many nights they would have together, and they both knew it, but that did not dim the fire between them as they got lost once more.

This day was a day of mourning for all of Paddra. They had lost their Seeress once again, though it was far from unexpected. She had lived much longer than any of them expected, only passing away in her forty-third year. The procession that carried her body up to the plateau was somber and consisted of her family and Guardians only. Though the rest of the city trailed behind as well.

It was a long day as the gathered people watched as Yeul's body was consigned to the flames that would usher her into the unseen realm. The only thing that made it bearable for Elle was the fact that she carried within her a memory of a smiling goddess that gave her thanks. She clung to that memory to keep the tears at bay as she stood stiffly between Caius and Kurt.

Her brother had no qualms about crying. I had only been two years after they arrived that it was announced that he and Yeul would marry. That took the city by storm even more so than her marriage to Caius had. Even dignitaries from the surrounding villages had been invited for their union.

They made a good team too. Yeul might have had the personality to lead the people, even from a young age, but with Kurt by her side, things really flourished. He was able to both draft and thoroughly vet any treaties or other trade agreements before they were signed off on. Over the years, he came to be as widely accepted and respected as his wife.

Their daughter stood next to him with a pained expression but dry eyes. She was more like her aunt than either of her parents cared for, but Elle had taken her under her wing as soon as she was old enough to want to learn to fight. The teenager still had issues, but not nearly as many as she would have had if she had not been who she was.

It was after nightfall when the group returned to the compound they all shared as home. It was quiet until they got back. Syhra, Yeul's daughter, left them as soon as they were back. When Kurt looked like he wanted to follow, Elle stopped him. Her voice was low when she spoke. "Let her be alone for tonight. She won't cry in front of you."

Kurt shook his head at his sister before he ran his hand down his face. "I suppose you would know."

Elle didn't let the tone of his voice bother her. She knew he was grieving. "I'm more worried about you. How are you holding up?"

Kurt rubbed his eyes again as he looked over to his sister and her husband as they both gave him looks filled with concern. "What am I going to do? How am I supposed to lead this city by myself until you can find the next Seeress? How can I even begin to handle it when you finally do? What if-" He cut himself off as he looked back at Caius. Years ago, Elle had made him promise not to mention the history they knew from the game. It was irrelevant now and could do more harm than good. Still, he lowered his voice even further and spoke what was on his mind.

"What if the girl is her, again? Looking like her, having her soul, and yet not. How can I function with that?" Elle finally moved to hug her younger brother, though most would not know that by seeing them now. Since she was a l'cie, Elle had not aged the same.

Her voice was as low as his as she tried to find the words to make this easier for him. "I know this is hard, but I don't think her reincarnation is anything you will have to worry about. Don't forget what we saw when we first came. Yeul will not be stuck in the unseen realm anymore. At least not in the same way."

Kurt jerked back and stared at her with wide eyes. It did not take him long to figure out what she meant. "Etro! She had to have been from the future of this world!"

Elle nodded. "Don't forget that you are the beloved of a goddess."

Kurt's face fell to deep grief once more, but his voice was hopeful as he grabbed his sister. "Do you think I'll see her again? That I might be able to at least spend time with her again before I'm forced to move on?"

Elle patted his arm. She wanted to blindly reassure him, but couldn't be untruthful. "I don't know. All I do know is that she looked happy when we saw her. I can't believe that she would have looked the same without your influence. No matter how this turns out, I doubt you will be lonely for eternity. I don't think she was."

He sighed as he nodded. "I guess all I can do is hope."

Elle looked over the slight wrinkles her brother's face had gathered over the years, and the grey in his hair as she sighed. She pushed down thoughts of losing him as well before she hugged him once more. "I thought we learned a long time ago to never give up hope."

She felt her own tears gathering in the corner of her eyes at his wet chuckle. It was the saddest thing she had ever heard, but at least she knew he would eventually be alright. He finally gave her one more squeeze before he let go and nodded to Caius. "Thank you both for always being there. Though I think I need some time too."

Elle gave him an understanding look before he walked off. Once he was gone, she found herself in Caius' arms with her face buried in his chest. He held her while she finally cried. He was the one person she felt okay showing this side to.

When she finally stepped back, He brushed her hair back and looked down with sad eyes. She knew he had to be hurting too. Yeul was their charge, but she had been part of Caius' life since she was born. Elle tried to give him a smile, but it fell flat. His gaze turned resigned at the sight of it. His voice was so soft, she almost didn't hear him. "We will outlast them all, but we made a promise to keep going. No matter how much it hurts, we will prevail. Together if nothing else."

Elle swallowed hard at his words. They were exactly what she had been thinking but hadn't wanted to speak. She laid her head on his chest once again, but her tears were nowhere to be seen that time. "I know. But we both vowed to protect them all. We'll find a way."

They both stood there like that for several minutes as they wondered how the rest of their lives would play out. Both knowing that they might have to depart soon to find the next Seeress, but neither realizing the changes that were happening around them that night. The subtle differences in every member of their tribe.

It wouldn't be for a few days after the funeral that the compound would become flooded with many people, some old, some young, but all claiming to have seen the same vision of the future. It was several more days of the same thing that they began to realize, perhaps Yeul's joining with Etro had more of an effect than they realized. Perhaps when she had said she understood humanity better, it was not just her husband she was thinking of. Perhaps, just maybe, she had seen the toll left on those that had to watch her human part leave Gran Pulse and the pain it left behind. And just maybe that knowledge allowed her to see that sharing that burden was a better way.

Hope flared in those left behind that this change might mean the beginning of a whole new era for Paddra. One where the Seeress no longer had to face an early death. One where the burden was shared and the tribe was still protected. Safe under the watchful eye of the Goddess Etro and those that had sworn to always protect her. Their hope grew every day that maybe, even long-distant future disasters might be changed with time and the gift of the Goddess to the Farseer tribe. But that was something that only time would tell.

A/N: And so it has ended. I know the last half of this was bittersweet, but as hard as it was to see, I hope this outlined how things became better in the long run. They may have to deal with loss, but they all know it won't be permanent. Also, for any wondering, the last half takes place 25 years after Elle and Kurt returned to Paddra. This was both wonderful and difficult for me. I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as have. Also, I have decided to write a sequel for this, eventually. It will take place during the events in the first game, so expect to see many familiar faces. It may a little while before I can start on it, but I hope it will be just as wonderful as this was. Thank you for sharing your time with me!