To Love & Lost
Chapter 6: I Am as I Am
(Warnings: T]
It would be a long flight before they made it to the Moonflow, Yuna having gotten acclimated to the Spartan quarters she would be occupying, roughly a dozen similar cells in all. Each bore a porthole in which they could gaze upon the passing landscape of Spira, verdant where it was not otherwise occupied by long, inexhaustible swaths of ocean. Journeys that once took weeks or years were now diminished to but hours, Yuna wondering how long it would truly last before they would be forced to continue on foot. She knew it was detrimental to her own morale if such thoughts were entertained, but Auron had always said in one way or another to be realistic, to banish the cloudy trains of thought in exchange for a clearer, more solid reality. That fate didn't exist except for what one made of it. It was easy to think it was so easy, but part of her believed she was the one destined to fight Sin in the wake of these resurrections, wondering if it would be cyclical like the old cycle.
Yuna couldn't afford to let dalliances distract her, peering down to the world below as they were piloted into a short descent upon an airfield that was beginning to be cleared along the banks of the Moonflow, but not so large that it might destroy the forests encompassing a place of such natural beauty. The airfield was devoid of all airships except their own, a sinking feeling brewing in her stomach. If Sin was amphibious as well as aerial, it meant that both modes of transportation would be paralyzed on a scale much worse than before.
"Yunie, come on, we gotta go!" Rikku urged from behind Yuna's closed door, the priestess bolting from her bed as receding footfalls could be heard, likely being the young thief herself. Hastily she made a cursory check of her equipment, making sure her pouches weren't depleted and that all her dresspheres were there, thrusting it open only to be met by a similarly emerging Seymour.
She stopped short before him, his gaze fey and enigmatic as it met hers, mismatching eyes switching towards the stairwell that would take them to the bottom level to disembark. "Um, the exit is that way," she managed before ducking, partly feeling too shy to be speaking alone with the man.
"We are to be journeying to Guadosalam from here, correct?" Seymour inquired of her neutrally, politely as he always seemed to.
Yuna balked, paused with her head partly inclined towards him but avoiding catching sight of him. "Yes. However, it's late so we're staying at the Moonflow for the night. It's twilight so…we're just heading outside to enjoy the scenery before we head to bed."
Seymour scoffed some in amusement, smile becoming incrementally smug. "If I am not to be left to my own devices, I imagine that means we must spend the evening together," he observed, canting his head closer to her own eye level, seeming to inwardly delight at her shyness. As if it were a contest of wills.
She inhaled at the realization, then exhaled slowly when she remembered he was right. Seymour couldn't be left alone, and he was in her custody now. "That's right. Because of it, I think you should be more than willing to answer any questions I have, right? Not to mention, we have to discuss what I expect of you when we reach Guadosalam." That seemed to put a damper on his smugness, lips falling back into a neutral line even as his towering form followed her.
Chuami and Kurgum had already departed, a porter having been given instructions on how to tend to the airship. Rikku had likely bolted away before any of them, likely to locate Tobli and catch up with the diminutive entertainer she'd become surprisingly good friends with. That left Yuna alone with Seymour, suddenly becoming excruciatingly self-conscious of the man that would be persistently tagging along her side.
Even the woods were beautiful, at least. If it weren't for Seymour's own footsteps shuffling through the dusty, trodden roads she might have fancied it being a secretive promenade, something that admittedly had always made her feel a little mischievous, childish as it was. Hands clasped behind her back, Yuna hummed a sweet tune as pyreflies weaved among the verdant leaves ignited a light jade by the setting sun, even Yuna knowing that it would likely be dusk by the time they arrived at the Moonflow proper.
"Lady Yuna, the things you wished to discuss?" Seymour prompted, she realizing with embarrassment that he must've seen her like that! Swallowing down a light flush, she spun around to face him.
"There is something I want you to do in Guadosalam, but what it is—it's to apologize. You hurt your people, Seymour, and I think everyone deserves to hear your contrition. If you really want redemption, well…you're gonna have to prove it to me. And admitting all the crimes you've committed is going to be how it'll start, understand? Even if no one forgives you, it'd be better than nothing at all," Yuna said assertively, locking eyes with him and forcing him not to avert those violet eyes, a hand clenched before her in earnest conviction, daring him to defy her even a little. Her strength wasn't domineering and brutish, but it was there.
Seymour looked drawn for a long moment, gaze traveling over her towards the Moonflow just beginning to ridge its way from the forest, then meeting hers in the incisive, penetrating look of his. "The things you'll demand of me, Lady Yuna. And yet, I can't find it within me to refuse you." His smile was distant, knowing.
Yuna's brows furrowed and she stopped short on him, looking truly angry and frustrated with him. "I don't want you to do it just because I want you to! Don't you feel even the least bit sorry?!" she fumed at him, glaring in open defiance.
The half-Guado uttered a soft sigh, eyes sinking closed. "It's difficult to think of them like that. For all my life, they abhorred me. It wasn't until my father realized my worth eight years after a failed pilgrimage that I was accepted. After my mother sacrificed herself for us to eventually die simply so he wouldn't face so much social insurrection. As for them, well—they were not much different. They only followed and accepted me after a matter of convenience."
Yuna fell silent at that, gazing sidelong and away when the truth of his words sunk in. It was hard to deal with the enormous gulf between them, the one where a split had come when he'd been sentenced to another exile and Yuna had found a home and people who genuinely loved her like she was blood family. People who didn't expect anything of her, but encouraged and supported her in what she chose to do. It was difficult to fathom the inverse, of the likes what happened to Seymour that bred such deep hatred for Spira and its people.
"What about the people who did care for you? I mean, really cared. Lady Cydia, Tromell, that old man with the thick brogue, the students you taught, the people who learned to see past your differences—those people. Can't you apologize to them, at least?" Yuna sighed heavily, gazing up at him imploringly. "After you did what you had to the Al Bhed and the Ronso, they fled to Macalania Woods waiting for death. They were willing to atone for what you did. Even if you don't think so, those people deserve your apology."
Seymour looked thoughtful, considering it with a straightened back as her words seemed to be sinking in. It was hard talking to someone who seemed to be in another realm except reality, living behind a veil of hatred and a perspective so bastardized it was a wonder how he functioned at all. Yuna just couldn't imagine being poisoned by so much hatred.
"I don't recall ever telling you my mother's name, Lady Yuna. How did you learn it?"
"Don't avoid what I said to you, Seymour. I can tell you afterword," she replied firmly, unyielding.
"For them…yes, I believe I can be earnest to them. And through them, the rest of the Guado who were shamed," Seymour acceded, uttering a soft sigh.
"Good. As for that, well…in Macalania about a week or so ago, I met a Guado unsent named Isa. She was a maid, maybe even a caretaker. But…she thought I was Cydia," Yuna recounted, sounding mystified as a curled hand was brought before her mouth, an unconscious gesture of thoughtfulness.
"You are dressed in a fashion similar to her, and your hair—the mistake is easy to make if not scrutinized closely enough," he rejoined with as much neutrality as he could despite the restlessness she could hear in his voice.
"I know. But, I'm not changing it. I like it, so don't bother protesting if you don't."
"I never intended to. In fact, I think you look quite attractive like this." A blush bloomed on Yuna's cheeks as she hastily turned away from him, inhaling shakily as she willed herself not to be so affected by him. They were just words, nothing more. Guilt crept in after, ashamed that he could elicit such a reaction from her at all.
"We shouldn't delay so much. Night is falling and fiends will attack us if we linger here," Yuna numbly said, resuming her walk before she slowly paused, her gaze creeping to meet with his once more, at least partially. "…Seymour. Are you…really going to listen to me? Or are you just going to betray us later and try to join with Sin again?"
This caused the air between them to crowd as Seymour neared even closer, causing her skin to prickle from his presence, bristling when his breath ghosted near the crown of her head. "In the eyes of Yevon, we are still wed, Lady Yuna," he murmured inexorably, a finger coming to absently twine a lock of her mousy brown hair. "I will do my duty as Lord Zaon did long ago and obey you as a proper husband should." His words were a husky caress against her ear, she involuntarily shuddering before pulling away with her hair dribbling away from his digits.
"Please, aspire to be like Lord Zaon. He was an honorable man, one I think you should strive to be," she responded aloofly with folded arms, unsure where she could look where his eyes wouldn't follow.
Seymour couldn't help but chuckle, still such a dark element contained within it. "How is it we stand before the same picture but see such different things, Lady Yuna?" His voice was still soft, intended for only her to hear.
Her shoulders sagged, lifting her head bravely, trying to suppress the trickling dread his words had made her feel. "That's because you're inventing what you're seeing, Seymour. I'm going to the Moonflow now, so please don't linger too far behind," she instructed coolly, taking long, brisk steps as she tried to outpace him. All before she broke into a long-strided run.
As it turned out, Seymour hadn't followed her that night, something she was relieved to hear. Instead, by word of mouth he'd returned to the airship and had holed himself away in his cabin, something Yuna couldn't have been gladder to hear for once. What annoyed her was that, in a way, he was right. To Yevon, they were considered to be lawfully married, something she'd blissfully forgotten in the wake of how fraudulent it was, of how genuine Tidus' feelings had been for her. But for tonight, she could thankfully forget he existed for now.
Rikku had procured some sparklers and repurposed Al Bhed grenades that had been redesigned into makeshift firecrackers. "Yunie, look at me! I'm one of those big old cyborg thingies!" Rikku crowed as she twirled in a dizzy circle, Yuna catching her while the girl dissolved in a fit of hyena-pitched cackles. They seemed alone until Tobli dizzily greeted Yuna, the pint-sized entertainer gushing at her while pumping her hand furiously.
"Whoa, Tobli, might wanna cool it there," Rikku placated, laughing as she bridged a divide between them with her hands.
"Oh, you two have saved the day, the night! I was just going to stage a show tonight, but my performers' airship went down just outside of Bevelle! Oh, the shame, the shame! Truly, you being here is a lifesaver! Might you be willing to sing a song or two? Pretty please, oh, I would be forever indebted to you both!" Tobli pleaded, seeming ready to prostrate at their feet.
Rikku grinned mischievously as she circled Yuna and perched her hands on the older girl's shoulders that caused Yuna to flinch, then giggle. "We should do it, Yunie! Come on, pleeeeaseeee! I miss doing this sorta thing!"
Yuna couldn't help but stifle a laugh, but placed her hands on her hips that Rikku mimicked, dramatically posing back to back and forming fingerguns with their hands, winking in unison as they proclaimed, "Leave it to your friendly neighborhood Gullwings!" in tandem.
Within minutes a floating, spectral blue platform manifested above the Moonflow as the manifestation of the pyreflies increased not only the beauty of the concert venue, an audience beginning to gather, Yuna sensing that several present weren't even alive, but—that didn't really matter, did it? The plan was simple: they'd transform once they got on stage, the lights of the transformation would summon the spotlights floating above on standby. Part of her wondered if they'd really be able to pull it off, the musicians and some additional machina ones looked different from the ones she was used to.
"Rikku, what number are we doing?" Yuna hissed softly as Rikku clumsily shuffled through the selection of a sphere, hunting for a good opening act.
"Found one!" Rikku crowed as she paused it, shoving it towards Yuna.
The woman clutched at the undulating sphere, casting plays of light across her face as she scanned the lyrics. "Magic?" her voice lilted, though it seemed to be a note of approval. From what she saw, it seemed upbeat and energetic, her favorite sort.
"Uh-huh! Nabbed it from the Luca Sphere Theater. I'll give it back when we're done with it," she conceded sheepishly, Yuna guffawing at Rikku. Sometimes her thieving took her a little too far, but she'd be lying if it weren't a little funny. "Anyway, check out the playlist. The songstress dressphere was updated a bit, so the lyrics'll just beam into your mind along with the melody. Neat, huh? It was a little addition I suggested to Shinra myself.~"
Yuna smiled broadly in approval, then handing off the sphere that would likely be passed on to the DJ that commanded a place behind the main stage. She was excited; it'd been a few years since that level of excitement and Yuna admittedly missed the thrill that came with being up on stage.
The chorus arose from an ensemble of Macalanian musicians, Yuna and Rikku rushing on stage while it was still dark and the overture gradually rose to an orchestral crescendo. As the first few repetitive lyrics were sung by the back-up singers at their flanks, rising in passion before the dresspheres were activated, Yuna allowing the familiar sensation to wash over her as the crowd lit up, applauding prematurely through the introduction as Rikku soon followed suit, eruptions of light summoning the spotlights to hone on them as the girls began singing into the wireless microphones that came with the dresspheres.
"It's not the way you wear your hair, or your dress cut down to there—wh~oa~" Yuna began, the lyrics and timbre and tempo all flowing freely into her mind, legs dancing to the beat as she twirled in the short skirt and cascades of petal-like cloth sewn into the hem of its halter top.
Rikku giddily leapt in, joining in with, "It's not the way you move your eyes, though it took me by surprise—oh no~" Yuna couldn't help but smile giddily at Rikku, impressed by how good her voice sounded.
Together they joined for the refrain, belting out, "Before the night is over, I'll pull your body closer~ I wanna give it to you, I wanna give it back~" They then proceeded to twirl each other around, the chorus picking up for them as Yuna and Rikku giggled through their antics before resuming the song. People in the audience had begun dancing alone or with a partner, the pyreflies seeming to join them. The audience had grown beyond what either girl could see, but Yuna couldn't begin to bring herself to care even as her skin bristled, writing it off as adrenaline from having so much fun.
Before long, they admittedly lost track of time. Having sung their way through at least a dozen songs if not more, the audience was growing raucous but excited, moshing and jumping as the spotlights began dizzily strobing and arcing into the very sky. Thankfully, the bothersome feeling from before was either forgotten or the perpetrator had simply left, to Yuna's relief even as she lost herself.
Some of the numbers became what Tobli had referred to as electroswing, something Yuna and Rikku almost lost breath dancing so erratically and energetically to. And though the songstress dressphere had great stamina for long and energetic concerts, by the last number Rikku and Yuna collapsed to the stage, breathless and laughing giddily. Their massive audience burst into loud applause, heard across the Moonflow practically, they leaping enthusiastically despite the tremendously late hour, Yuna sheepishly noticing the sun blearily beginning to crest the horizon. Standing one last time, Rikku and Yuna raised their clasped hands before dramatically bowing, more a mock to formality from the sheer amount of fun they'd had.
"Yunie, let's make like a banana and split before Tobli gets the idea to line everyone here up for autographs!" Rikku hissed with a grin, waving before they both deactivated their dresspheres and made a break through the tight throng of people just starting to disperse. When they came to the border of the line between the embankment and the path leading to the airfield, Chuami was waiting for them, unfolding her arms as she seemed stern for a long moment before her face split in a grin.
"I almost forgot you sang, too," Chuami simpered at them, Rikku pouting until Chuami paid her mind, too. "You were great, too. Man though, you guys might not be getting much sleep! We have only three hours at the most before we're supposed to set off for Guadosalam tomorrow."
Yuna laughed modestly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you, Chuami. I almost forgot how fun that was, and I hope I can do it again soon, if I'm honest. Hopefully, not into so late until the morning."
"Yeah, well, I don't regret it one bit! It's nice we can beat away the stuffy Yevoner and bring back good ol' Gullwing Yunie!" Rikku interjected, grinning massively as she then glanced at Yuna, tapping her shoulder before bolting away. "Last one to the airship is the slowest shoopuf!"
Yuna was quick to follow suit, picking up her long skirts and breaking into a sprint after Rikku, peals of laughter shared between them as Chuami rolled her eyes and smirked at their antics, placidly walking back instead.
They would be in for quite the day ahead, that was certain.
Though next to no one had gotten the adequate amount of sleep—save for perhaps a certain unsent—it was barely enough to cap the bright mood. Yuna and Rikku had awoken within minutes of each other, preparing breakfast in tandem whilst singing the Gullwings' theme song a capella, likely a bit of a squeeze in the small kitchenette situated in the galley that would host the dining room adjacent to it. Both girls sang in unison, dancing productively in the midst of preparing ingredients for a breakfast worthy of any Al Bhed, recipes from Rikku's own design. Though it was a light breakfast, it was summing up to be a flavorful, colorful extravaganza of finger food.
"Alright, this looks fantastic! You know, I've never had authentic Al Bhed food before!" Kurgum exclaimed as he bounded next to Yuna, the woman smiling while rocking between her feet from one of last night's numbers.
"Well, you'll love this! Would you mind grabbing me the rosemary from over there?" she asked of him, hands preoccupied with a pan soaked in olive oil and sizzling spinach leaves drenched in delicious spices.
"Hey, the falafel's all done," Rikku chimed in, placing a deep bowl on the table while taking a mental litany of what was there. "Pita bread, tomatoes, yoghurt, spinach leaves, kus kus, aaaand—everything else! Looks like we're ready to eat!"
Yuna had just finished with the portion she was preparing to set down when Seymour ascended from the stairwell, observing the food spread with avid interest and smiling at Yuna just as she was setting down her baked spinach leaf contribution, her expression faltering before she hastily looked away. A niggling voice at the back of her mind prayed that he wouldn't be thinking some obscenely domestic thoughts, but she shut down the intrusive idea as she motioned to sit next to Rikku at the end of the table while Seymour took the head.
"You seem rather well-rested in spite of the late night, Lady Yuna," he conversationally broke the silence, Yuna flinching as Rikku helpfully hunched over in an attempt to reduce his view of her cousin, she passing him a silent glare while Kurgum was more polite in offering a plate the half-Guado had motioned for. "It's rather interesting you've taken an interest in the performing arts and...new modes of dress." This caused Rikku to clangorously drop her spoon in her yoghurt, huffing.
"What, didn't you see the concert? How Yunie and I were singing all those songs in micro-skirts all the guys were ogling at? Yevon forbid Yunie embrace her Al Bhed heritage and show some leg, right? Since you Yevonites still think we're heathens and all," Rikku flared defiantly, causing Kurgum and Chuami to glance at each other mid-chew. Seymour, too, grew quiet and his face deadpanned.
Seymour's eyes visibly darkened and Yuna dared to peek at him, noticing his slight frown and the dark look of jealousy heating his normally cool gaze. The jealousy dissipated to disgust as it met Rikku's defiant one, inundated with silent challenge. Fixing his gaze to his assortment of food, he softly rebutted, "How Lady Yuna wishes to conduct herself is no business of mine. However, I do believe keeping the breakfast mood to be anything but amicable will sour the appetite. It's a tradition native to the Guado, and I believe it rings true even here," he said, voice forcibly kept level.
Rikku smirked at her little victory, exchanging a grin with Yuna that she admittedly met gratefully. She was happy she had Rikku on her side, that someone could fearlessly stand up to Seymour and not be afraid of him. But his words in their belief of them still being lawfully wed made her shudder in revulsion, Rikku bumping their shoulders together reassuringly. No, it was just talk. If it made him obey her all the better, than she supposed she'd just have to grin and bear it until Sin was defeated again.
Yuna could feel Seymour's eyes on her head as Rikku walked by her on their way to Guadosalam, both women fronting their entourage. Kurgum and Chuami closed in at a close second while Seymour brought up the rear. They happily babbled about last night's concerts, Chuami and Kurgum throwing in remarks that sometimes had them laughing together while Seymour remained resolutely quiet. Beneath the shady approach to Guadosalam, it really felt as though things could go well.
When they came to the entrance, however, the Guado guards brandished their spears and trained them on Seymour who only chuckled laconically at their hostility, both guards shouting expletives that didn't seem to faze the man whatsoever. However, Yuna bolted before him, arms extended protectively between him and their spear points. "Enough! Please, put down your weapons! He's with me," Yuna pleaded in exasperation, fixing them with pleading looks that saw them gradually lower their weapons. Turning to glance at him, she could've sworn Seymour mouthed his thanks, but Yuna ignored it and they proceeded on through the hollowed tree base that fed into the underground city.
The streets were devoid of life, all visible homes sealed tightly that Yuna didn't need to ask the reason behind. The perpetual sense of twilight that moored in the city betrayed none of the tension they all felt, all before Tromell emerged from the palace flanked by two guards, he bidding them to stand aside as he gazed long and hard at the man who he'd once been a dear retainer to, the elderly Guado's face tight with emotion. "Lord Seymour, it is good to see you again," he greeted with a bow, Yuna furrowing her brows in shock at him. "Please, do come inside. Let us speak in private."
They did as commanded, but the Guado paused before entering the enormous dining room. "Please, Lady Yuna, I ask your friends wait outside. I wish to speak to you both alone," the leader requested politely, Rikku's mouth gaping and poised to protest.
"It'll be alright, Rikku, I promise," Yuna smiled, even though Chuami scowled at the decision.
"You look rather well, Tromell. How have you been these past three years?" Seymour inquired smoothly once they were inside the dining hall with Yuna in tow, the air of tensity palpable. There was much indecision on Tromell's part, the man's face conflicted from what she could see that wasn't obscured by his sea-green beard. He appeared troubled where Seymour looked nearly unperturbed.
"My Lord...why have you returned?" Tromell inquired, his voice having aged in the breadth of a moment, turquoise eyes that were utterly weary when resting upon a formerly deceased lord, a maester who'd been condemned to another death just days before. "I heard news of the preceding in Bevelle and I...assumed the worst."
"Did you now?" Seymour's eyebrows lifted sarcastically, looking like a predator circling his prey. "And I see you've taken my place as leader. Have you assumed this palace to be your new homestead as well?"
"Seymour! That's enough!" Yuna chastised sharply, then walking between them and lifting one of Tromell's hands to clasp, her gaze earnest and gentle. "Lord Tromell, I've come with Seymour so he can express his remorse to your people for all he's inflicted on them. He's in my custody now, as it was decided on by the Spiran Council. I promise you, we're here to make amends for all he's done!" She bowed low, Tromell's bushy brows lifting in surprise at the sudden show of reverence.
"Lady Yuna, please, you do not need to apologize for me," Seymour broke in, catty smile still present, spindly fingers clasped conversationally behind his back, thick robes making it somewhat difficult. "Was this not my endeavor?"
"Then why aren't you doing it? Why do you look down on him like...like he's some kind of insect?" she demanded, fixing him with a hard glare. Tromell fell silent, unsure of what to say.
"Forgive me. I have yet to acclimate to my newfound station, Lady Yuna," Seymour apologized, avoiding the question that caused her gaze to turn resentful before she looked away altogether. "Lord Tromell, please, if it would not be too much trouble, I would like an audience with the people of Guadosalam at the soonest possible convenience."
"Yes, but of course, Lo—Seymour. It will be done," Tromell agreed, nodding his head absently before his expression brightened on Yuna. "Thank you, Lady Yuna, for all you have done. Wait here and I will inform you of when we are ready." His footfalls seemed to echo cavernously throughout the vividly colorful room, soon only the swinging pendulum filling the silence.
Yuna sighed, a mere exhalation through her nostrils, brows furrowed as she held his gaze fearlessly. "No more of that, do you understand? You don't rule them or anyone in Yevon anymore and you should stop acting like you do," she said assertively, folding her arms under her bosom.
"It's only a force of habit, Lady Yuna. And habits are quite hard to break, wouldn't you agree?"
"That's not a habit. You were doing that on purpose," she shot back, arms unfolding and hands balling into fists. Their eyes met and what simmer in those amethyst eyes made her take an involuntary step back, unwilling to name what she saw. "Stop treating people like prey to be hunted. Me included," she murmured quietly, head bowing some. She thought she heard the folding of cloth as he bowed, but she didn't care to look back and confirm.
The gathering in front of Guadosalam's palace was nothing short of impressive. The masses came in droves to see their disgraced former leader stand before them considerably humbled next to his former butler, the Guado who now led them. Chuami, Kurgum, and Rikku had flanked the right to the podium politely while Yuna stood directly to his right. The sea of pale faces and assortment of blue to green-hued hair and beards with matching eyes reminded her of a seabed, they like seaweed tangled atop similarly elfin features only Seymour really seemed to defy. Yuna's head was bowed, feeling a secondhand sense of scrutiny that she knew was rightfully directed at Seymour. But, remembering Paine's deduction towards Spirans' sentiments towards her perceived failure in Sin's early return, she couldn't help but wonder which portion of audience scrutinized her just as critically.
Seymour presided over them regally, even in robes that better suited a simple monk than a man of his former glory. Even as he moved to position himself before the podium, the Guado present were enraptured, still seeing a vision of Jyscal in spite of the man having been murdered by his own son. Yuna cast a downwards glance towards him, wondering what he was formulating to say. Unless he'd planned last night, she hadn't exactly been around long enough to know. It made her anxious, one Rikku cast a sympathetic glance towards in a silent measure to soothe her cousin's trepidation.
Donning no smirk nor visible expression of smugness, he kept his head bowed before he began speaking. "Three years ago, I once stood before you as leader and maester of Yevon. Our future looked quite bright then, didn't it? We, the Guado, finally rising in stature in the sphere of Yevon's might. What promise we had in those days," Seymour began, his voice audible but hushed, Yuna watching him intently. Was he lying? Cherry-picking words that had no real meaning behind them? Her lips pursed trying to figure it out. "I...wronged you. A faithful, loyal, powerful people in both Yevon and themselves whom came so very far in our vision for this magnificent future. I became blinded in my zealotry towards Yevon. Sending such brave Guado to entrench themselves in the Bikinel Desert, fighting a battle we had no place in, no right for me to direct you...towards your deaths. I cannot bring back the dead. I cannot repay for those lives lost, not for what chaos I took part in. For those loyal many who placed...insurmountable amounts of faith in me. I betrayed you, wielded it against you and in doing so...committed the worst of treason. I wish to apologize. I wish to bow before you as you so willingly gave your lives and loyalty for me."
Yuna moved aside as he skirted around her, slowly genuflecting to one knee with a serene countenance before murmurs arose as he bowed as flat as he could whilst genuflecting, her arms unfolding as her breast swelled with indecision. She wanted to trust him. She wanted to believe he meant everything he said. But he had seemed so good until his treachery was revealed and he unveiled his true colors as a cruel and callow man, arrogant and believing death was the only salvation for Spirans. A hand rose to clutch at her breast, lower lip worrying as those thoughts made her swallow down a dry clump in her throat.
After several long moments, he rose. Slowly as he'd descended in the first place, all present fixated on him in silent awe. Walking with an almost reverence back to the podium, his arm extended towards Yuna, she starting as he neared her in a way that made her speechless. "The Lady Yuna, in all her kindness, interceded on my behalf when I was slated to die. It is why I walk with her, serve her, and shall die for her in our endeavor to eliminate Sin once more."
A long silence ensued as a polite albeit forced applause sounded, barely lasting for a moment before Tromell replaced Seymour at the podium, regarding him once before he openly embraced Seymour before them all, Seymour frozen by the sudden contact, frowning. "Lord Seymour...you are banished from Guadosalam. Do not return unless you have defeated Sin, by virtue of your life. Should you dare, you shall be executed on sight," the elder Guado whispered in his ear, Yuna turning in shock as she heard the exchange. As Tromell released him, Seymour tensely smiled as the Guado applauded to a loud roar this time at the selfless kindness of their leader, Tromell smiling broadly.
Yuna applauded politely as well, everything in her wondering if this had truly been enough to absolve him, or if would prove nothing at all. Lips still pursed, the idea would haunt her for what seemed to be the remainder of the day.
Last Thoughts: Pretty tense chapter, huh? Still, things are really going to be on the up and up from here! Nothing like having a little fun before the fact, I think.
A special thanks is really owed to everyone who gave me such glowing reviews so far. Really, they make me smile a lot and thank you so, so much for them!
~Peace, G.
