"Isn't he the most frightfully handsome man you've ever seen?"
The lovely Maisie Dawes was perched on a large rock, smooth as stone, just outside the granary, with feet crossed and swinging her legs back and forth like a little child. Standing next to her with arms crossed and head cocked slightly to one side was one of her dearest friends, Elodie Mayne. If Maisie Dawes could be called ravishing, her friend was more like as not to be overlooked if standing in her company.
"I'm inclined to agree," Elodie replied, studying the tall, muscular Au Ra carefully.
The Au Ra in question was one of the Xaela, though in the estimation of the two young Hyuran women – as if they could have possibly been experts on the subject of the Xaela – his skin appeared as if only tanned, and his slightly short, sandy-blond hair certainly made him stand out in appearance, at least as far as any Au Ra they had ever chanced to see. He was shirtless, working voluntarily at the granary in the North Shroud, which was located not far from the beauteous and majestic confines of Gridania. His dark draconic scales contoured his muscular physique perfectly, his skin glowing with a light sheen of sweat under the hot summer sun. Whenever they caught glimpses of his face, his features were sharp and strikingly handsome, his yellow eyes shining brightly like a burning inferno in the daylight. Both were so mesmerized with the man that neither one could remove her eyes from him.
"Whatever else you may say about him, he's certainly far from home."
Elodie frowned at such a random comment, and then said, "That much is true, I imagine." She turned away as if readying to enter the granary. "An adventurer, no doubt."
"Where you off to, Elle?"
"The heat is getting to me, I think."
"The heat, or do you mean to say you are getting in heat?"
Elodie's jaw dropped. She turned and gave her friend a light slap on the shoulder. "Excuse me, what do you think I am? A Miqo'te?"
"Just don't let any Miqo'te ever hear you talk like that!"
The two laughed, and it caught the attention of the handsome stranger. He glanced sidelong at the young pair, and cracked a smile at them.
Elodie flushed and swiftly turned to enter the building, while Maisie promptly stood up, smiled kindly, then also turned to go into the building. The Au Ra watched as they went inside, then promptly resumed his work.
"Did you see how he stared at me?"
"Oh Maisie, I think a man is naturally wired to glance in the direction of any group of women if they start laughing suddenly, probably with the sense that they're talking about him."
"Well, in this case, it's true, at least!"
Elodie certainly couldn't have argued the point.
The pair was sitting down within the granary sipping at iced tea, refreshingly cool and sweet on what seemed to be the hottest day out of the whole year thus far. The sun had already set, but the heat of the day still lingered.
"Ladies," a smooth, deep voice said suddenly.
The women snapped to attention, and there standing before them was the Au Ra they had seen so busy just hours before.
Maisie's mouth was agape for some moments as she attempted to find words to speak, but couldn't.
Resolute, Elodie said, "Good evening, kind sir."
The Au Ra was smiling at them, and inclined his head slightly towards them.
"May I join you?"
Oh gods! Maisie thought.
"Please do."
A gentleman in every sense of the word, he graciously nodded at them, then pulled up a chair to sit with them at their table. He donned a sweat-stained linen tunic, which he must have thrown on after he had finished his work for the day. His smooth, bare chest and dark scales were partly visible.
"Iced tea?" Elodie asked politely.
"That would be much appreciated, thank you."
Oh, that voice!
Maisie still hadn't gotten her own voice back to say anything, but the Au Ra thankfully hadn't noticed. Instead, he turned his attention directly to her.
"I believe you are Mr. Dawes' daughter? Your father is to be commended for running such a smooth operation. I think the granary today has produced enough to feed every refugee in Ul'dah."
"Ye – yes," she stammered. "I am Maisie Dawes."
"A pleasure, Maisie," he said.
He turned his attention then to Elodie, and asked her name, to which she only too happily replied.
"My name is Qarchu," he said. "I am from the Azim Steppe, if you have ever heard of it."
Kar-choo. Exotic and beautiful, Maisie thought.
"Oh, certainly we have," Elodie said cheerfully in reply as she poured tea into a glass. "Hasn't the Warrior of Light been there before?"
The Xaela smiled and nodded. "Yes, indeed! Years of conflict and strife resolved, and yet, at the same time, made to take a new, strange turn."
"Warrior of Light?" Maisie asked skeptically. "I mean, really, just how many of those are there out in the world?"
Elodie shot a look at her friend, but Qarchu laughed. His laughter was light and charming.
"I know exactly what you mean. But the Warrior has inspired some among us to seek out adventure, and here I am, finding myself in Gridania of all places."
"A wonderful place to call home," Elodie smiled warmly.
"I think so, yes."
Jim Dawes strolled into the granary, and clapped Qarchu on the back with no uncertain amount of admiration.
"You've done us very proud today, young man," the older man said in his customarily booming voice.
He turned his attention to Maisie.
"Dove, why don't you draw a warm bath for our guest of honor? It's the least we can do aside from offering lodging for the night."
Maisie's complexion suddenly blanched.
"That is very kind of you, Mr. Dawes."
She looked up at her father pleadingly, but the man shot back a stern look. "See to it as soon as Qarchu has refreshed himself."
And with that, the man strode out of the granary.
Maisie had finished pouring in the last of the hot water into the large tub, just as Qarchu entered the bath.
"Thank you, Maisie," he said, smiling warmly at her.
Her heart practically leapt to her throat at hearing him speak her name, and she cursed herself as once again she found it utterly impossible to speak. She was no stranger to being flirtatious, which made it all the more maddening for her. All she could do was nod in response.
And little wonder she had found it so impossible…
He took his tunic off, leaving his naked torso on full display. The way the lighting in the bath made it appear, his strong pecs that looked almost inflated and washboard abs gleamed more beautifully. It was made all the worse by the fact that his pants had slipped down slightly as he had removed his shirt, and with his back facing her, part of his plump posterior could be seen.
She swallowed hard, and forced herself to remove her gaze, and found the courage to ask him if he required anything else.
"You have been very generous," he said. "I have everything I need now."
Just as he was about to take his pants off, leaving nothing else further to her own imagination, Maisie swiftly exited the bath, desperate only to get into her own room before she lost her ladylike composure completely.
The morning sun shone brightly in her room. Maisie arose in shock that she could have slept so late – she was always up either before or just at sunrise.
After dressing herself and freshening up, she hurried downstairs to make her apologies to her father, only to find that it was Elodie seated alone at their table, sipping at a cup of hot tea, her plate already empty.
"Where's Dad?"
"Ah, he went out early to see our handsome stranger off. Qarchu arose very early, gave a very gracious thanks to your father, to me, and asked that we extend his thanks to you for everything."
Never before had Maisie Dawes felt so deflated than on that morning.
"And bath time?" Elodie asked with curious eyes boring into Maisie's.
"Purely innocent, I assure you. As is he! By the Twelve, I've never seen such an innocent in my entire life! He would have fully stripped naked before me had I not gotten out of the bath in time."
Elodie smiled. "He is a true gentleman. I don't doubt he has the purest heart of anyone we've ever known."
Maisie plopped down into her chair at the table. Elodie got up and served her friend breakfast.
"And now," Maisie said, thoughtfully munching on a piece of toast, "I daresay we will never see that gallant man again."
Elodie sat down quietly across from her friend, and shook her head. "Perhaps not. But there are plenty of other gentlemen out in the world, Maze. And you have a far better chance at meeting that man than I ever would."
No one like him, Maisie thought dejectedly.
As far as her dear friend, it was true that she was in appearance rather homely. She was not the town beauty by any stretch of the imagination. But she had hoped that the two of them could have a double wedding someday, both whisked off their feet, each one by her own man. Elle practically lived with her family, to the point that she really regarded her more like a sister than a mere friend.
"Well, I guess we'd best be off to it," Elodie said at last. "Lots to be done."
Maisie only nodded, sipping the last of her coffee.
Several weeks passed before the faintest spark of magic would again enter into their lives.
The summer was nearing its end, and Maisie and Elodie both were finishing up their respective chores at the granary when a great commotion caught their attention.
Many of the workers had suddenly stopped what they were doing and made their way to look out onto the road, galvanized into sudden conversations about something that seemed to be coming into view.
The pair came together and made their way to where Dawes' laborers had congregated, and there, in a tremendous display, came several gallant figures on horseback, striding through the North Shroud, presumably on their way to Coerthas, possibly even to the Holy See of Ishgard itself.
Those on horseback were easily recognizable as among the greatest of Eorzea's heroes. To their great astonishment, Qarchu was among them. He no longer bore the appearance of a simple laborer, but was adorned in very fine garments of black and red, with gold trappings upon him. He looked every bit as bright and shining as an Ishgardian knight, but in his own way and right.
They both caught their breath when he had picked them out from among the crowd, and flashed a gorgeous smile at them.
"I only dreamt of this day, Elle," Maisie said, suddenly welling up with tears.
Elodie said nothing, but remained fixated upon the handsome Au Ra, looking like a king making his way past a gaggle of peasants lining the streets of his kingdom.
The travelers all came to a stop at Dawes' granary, and were greeted by the man himself, bidding them the greatest welcome. They had indeed been traveling towards Ishgard, apparently as a special envoy to come before the great and gallant Aymeric de Borel, but first would make a very fine purchase of grain from the granary.
"There is always great need everywhere we go, and we'd like to be fully equipped to meet such needs as we can."
The laborers were quickly set to work by Mr. Dawes, who wanted to waste no time in seeing to the provisions of his illustrious guests. He was at present occupying himself with speaking to the guests, Qarchu in particular, profusely expressing his gratitude to him for his kind volunteering earlier that summer.
Maisie was once more seated on her favorite rock, a place she had always enjoyed sitting since she was a child, and Elodie sat on a smaller rock beside her, her head hung low.
"What's wrong, Elle? You've been very quiet ever since we saw Qarchu and the others arrive."
"That's just it," she said, her voice betraying a melancholic tone. "Seems like I'd just gotten him out of my head finally, and then today…"
"Oh," Maisie said, looking at her.
Elodie looked up, and smiled at her oldest and dearest friend.
"I don't think there's a greater gentleman out in this world, Maze. And I think you should make your feelings known to him."
"We barely know him," she replied. "And you're assuming he would even be interested in one of us, least of all expect to form some kind of a union so quickly."
"I saw the way he looked at you," Elodie said. "I know what that look means. He has his eye set upon you. Just look!"
She directed Maisie's attention to Qarchu and her father, both engaged in private conversation together. Maisie's father had more than once been motioning in their direction, and at one point both men looked in their direction. It was clear something serious was being discussed.
"By the gods," Maisie said, sitting straight up. "My father must be attempting to arrange something with him."
"I am happy for you, Maze," Elodie said. "You shouldn't let this opportunity go."
Maisie blushed. She had, in fact, more than once dreamt of the dashing Qarchu, finding herself blissfully enfolded in his strong arms, held up against his bare chest with his meaty hands caressing her, letting her know that she belonged to him, that he was her lover, her protector, her man.
The dreams were all the more powerful because of the thought of being in so exotic a union, a Hyuran woman and an Auri man.
"Judging by your father's look, I think he's very much convinced that this is the man who could easily take care of his only child."
Maisie looked down and smiled, so touched was she by the thought of her dreams becoming reality.
Jim Dawes nodded slowly, shook Qarchu's hand vigorously, and then strolled off in the direction of his other distinguished guests, leaving the Au Ra staring right at Maisie and Elodie. Slowly, he began walking in their direction.
"Oh gods," was all Maisie could say. Both stood up to greet him.
"Maisie, Elodie." He spoke their names warmly, affectionately.
"Dear Qarchu," Maisie said, beaming at him.
Elodie performed a quick curtsy.
"I think I better check in with your father," she said, "to see if he requires any additional help."
She made no hesitation in departing after she spoke those words. Maisie kept staring up at Qarchu, who had watched Elodie as she had departed. Neither could have sensed the agony within Elodie's own heart, though she had resigned herself to the reality that this would be Maisie's chance to meet her future husband. In spite of her own anguish, she was wishing her friend the greatest joy possible.
"I can prepare dinner for you," Maisie said sweetly.
"That would be most kind of you, dear Maisie," he said, smiling at her. Together, the pair entered into the house.
Jim Dawes' residence was a large one, but it didn't have enough rooms to accommodate the number of guests who had come so late in the day. Instead, they opted to pitch their tents in the field opposite the granary, which was large and spacious enough for them to erect a suitable encampment.
Dawes had insisted upon a certain number of them staying inside the residence, and of course Qarchu was among that number. He had asked Elodie if she wouldn't mind giving up her own room in the house just for one evening, and as her own family's homestead wasn't too far off, she graciously agreed.
A warm wind was blowing that evening, and stars innumerable could be seen in the crystal-clear night sky. Elodie sat on the fence just outside the residence. She was quietly sobbing, working at overcoming the strong feelings she had tried so desperately to suppress that whole summer.
Yet try as she might, she had fallen in love with a Xaela she hardly knew, and yet could see how righteous he truly was.
The wind carried the sound of weeping, and Elodie recognized the cries of her dearest friend. He must have made a marriage proposal to her.
The door to the Dawes residence flung open, and Elodie heard soft footfalls as her friend ran out of the house and into the granary. She didn't expect that at all.
"Maze! Maze!"
Her friend made no attempt to stop, but simply ran into the granary, shutting the door behind her.
"Elodie."
Elodie turned to see Qarchu standing before her. She hadn't noticed his approach at all, but when he spoke her name so softly, she had not been alarmed.
"Qarchu? What's going on? What's happened to Maze?"
He lowered his head sorrowfully. "She did not expect what I had to say to her." He spoke very quietly.
"What did you say to her?"
"I told her that I admire her deeply, and could see that she thought I was intending to court her. I told her that was not so."
Elodie was completely confused, her brow furrowing as she stared at him.
"I told her that I had spoken to her father already about my intentions, that I was seeking a wife, and had found my heart captivated by a young woman in his company."
He took her small hand into his own.
"It is you, Elodie. From the moment I saw you, spoke to you, you were nothing but sweet and kind to me. In you, I beheld goodness. I saw my soulmate."
Elodie's eyes went wide, and tears began forming. She couldn't possibly be hearing any of this.
"I am nothing next to my friend," she said.
"That is not so," he said firmly. "To me, you are my Nhaama."
Elodie had no idea what Nhaama could possibly mean, but she was far too preoccupied with a struggle to come to terms with what she was hearing.
"But I – I," she stammered. "I am not beautiful as she is, and she has gone to far greater lengths to express her love for you."
"I perceived that Maisie thought she was in love, but her feelings came from a different motive. When you left us alone earlier this evening, I saw in you a heart of pure love, because you were willing to step out of the way for your friend."
"I did that because I was convinced it could never have been me, and of course I always have wanted her happiness."
Qarchu suddenly leaned forward, boldly locking his lips with her own. Elodie closed her eyes as he sweetly kissed her, finding herself in a sudden state of bliss and ecstasy she had never before known.
He kissed her for what seemed like an eternity, and by the time they had finished, she found herself in his embrace.
"I love you, Elodie. I give to you my heart. Will you give to me your love and your heart in return?"
Tearfully, she nodded her complete assent. She threw her arms around his neck, and smiled as she kissed him.
The beautiful warm wind had enveloped the pair as they stood locked in an embrace. Maisie had since come out of the granary, her tears all but spent, and had softly approached the couple.
"Elle," she said in a cracked voice.
Elodie and Qarchu turned to see Maisie smiling feebly at them.
"Maze!"
Elodie threw her arms around her friend, holding her tightly.
"Earlier tonight, I felt a great bitterness towards you. For a while, I convinced myself that you had stolen my man away from me. But I was able to fight such thoughts, and put them away, and realize how much I should be happy for you, my best friend."
"Qarchu or no Qarchu," Elodie said quietly to her friend, "my life could never be the same without you, Maze."
After hugging for a while, Maisie took her friend's hands into her own joyfully.
"Let's go back inside. I'm sure my father is already aware of what to expect, and he'll be wanting to celebrate."
Maisie left her friend alone with Qarchu as she made her way back into the house. Hand-in-hand, Qarchu and his beloved followed.