Authors Note: Please rate and review. I love to get nice comments! The story continues onward, Meena and Trommel get married, and Seymour realizes something about himself. Jyscal is fading, and craves forgiveness from his only son, but will he get it?
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Chapter 9-Hearts Together, Hearts Apart
Within a few weeks full arrangements had been made for Meena and Trommel's wedding. They had decided to get married in the Manor, and to have a small ceremony with only close family and friends. Only the second marriage to have ever taken place between a Guado and a human the news of it spread all over Spira. As a Maester, Lord Jyscal volunteered to preside over the wedding himself promoting the friendship between humans and Guado even further.
The halls were beautifully decorated with flowers and ribbons. A small band was assembled in the main hall along with their guests. Meena's Father was there, and he seemed to be happy. In the center of the room was a very small beautiful tree that had been brought in behind it Lord Jyscal stood in his Maester's robes covered in Yevon script waiting for the bride and groom.
Trommel adjusted his Grooms robes diligently in the mirror. They were truly beautiful garments; he smiled to himself as he had thought he would never have the chance to wear them. He thought to himself about the wedding, and about Meena. A human woman he never thought he would marry, he had despised Jyscal's marriage to Anima at first, wondering how he could ever do such thing as to marry a human woman. But then he saw her loving spirit, how she cared for Jyscal and when she gave birth to Seymour she tirelessly loved him, it was the same spirit that Meena had. Just thinking of Meena he felt so honored and blessed that she would love him and marry him.
Soon the bride and groom started their procession and both appeared at the top of the stairs slowly descending in stride to the beat of the band. It was a slow and beautiful tune the musicians played, perfectly appropriate for their wedding.
Seymour craned his neck to see his Aunt. Dressed in a beautiful white dress she was adorned with flowers and small delicate vines. Seymour felt happy to see her dressed so beautifully on her special day. He wondered to himself briefly, if this may have resembled the wedding between his Father and Mother.
The bride and groom met halfway through their march and continued together marching side by side down the aisle to where Lord Jyscal stood awaiting them in his Maester's robes. Jyscal recited the sacred vows in the Guado fashion making many blessings over the bride and groom. At the end of the ceremony Trommel took one end of a scarlet ribbon while Meena took the other end and they tied it around the trunk of the small tree. It was an ages old Guado tradition symbolizing the union of their love. The crowd cheered to them as they kissed and were now united as husband and wife, Guado and Human.
At the wedding banquet a fine feast was laid out for all the guests. Beautiful music played in celebration of the marriage and the friends and family danced together to the upbeat drums and lutes.
Seymour looked on from the corner of the room, watching the bride and groom. Their faces were laden with smiles as they enjoyed the celebrations. Seymour found his eyes wandering to his father who was sitting to himself quietly looking on to the celebrations with a blank face. Seymour turned his vision from Jyscal, not wanting to feel any pity for his father. He knew Jyscal was in pain from the loss of his Mother but he still felt that he did not deserve forgiveness. Seymour turned his body away from him feeling cold inside for doing so, but he did not care. He didn't want to be bothered by any guilt at such a happy time.
Seymour took a seat at an empty table deliberately avoiding the other guests and their questions. He twirled a crystal wine glass delicately in his fingers, watching the light reflections and glowing colors of the hall refract off the surface. Across the dimly lit room the dance floor was flooded with couples now, embracing each other and dancing slowly to the romantic melody now playing. Trommel and Meena stood out from the crowd more than just being bride and groom, but as the only Human and Guado couple to grace the floor. Meena was also incredibly short compared to Trommel, but she still embraced him lovingly, resting her head onto his chest as Trommel's arms were wrapped around her, his large hands dwarfing her body. Meena looked so much at peace, as if she was in an eternal calm.
As Seymour watched them from his chair he felt a feeling well up from deep inside him that surprised him. It seemed that a touch of envy had crept up on him, as he watched the happy couple from across the room he craved that same love, to have someone to love so deeply and have them love you in return with the same passion. He had never cared for romance before, it was something that simply did not hold his interest until now. Becoming a summoner and gaining experience in magic to make his spells more powerful had always been his main interest.
On the opposite side of the room Jyscal sat limply in his chair, grasping his half-full wine glass tightly. He looked at no one at his table but stared on blankly as if in another world, only pausing to bring his glass to his lips and take a long sip. His eyelids drooped down more and more as if he was deeply tired.
"Maester Jyscal? My Lord are you alright?" He heard another Guado ask him from his table.
"I am as well as I can be." He said shortly not breaking his lifeless gaze to look at the other Guado.
Although on opposite sides of the room both Father and son for once had something in common. They both looked on with envy, one longing for the love he had lost, the other longing for the love he had never met.
A few seasons had passed since the wedding and Meena and Trommel had settled into a happy marriage with few problems considering their differences.
It was around this time that the grave news came, that Sin was back and Braska's calm had ended. Spira's terror had been reborn. Seymour watched as the people around him once again melted back to their former states of constant sadness and paranoia that came with the return of Sin. Seymour treaded down the wooden halls to his Fathers office, as he made his way he passed by the entrance to the farplane and glanced over to see pilgrims gathered to see their loved ones. It was pointless, he thought to himself to make the long journey to merely see a ghostly image of a sent relative. Seymour paused, wondering what it might be like if he could see the familiar form of his Mother once again, as she was in life. Although she was dead, Anima could not be seen on the farplane, her soul had now become a fayth. As he walked the charms on Seymour's staff jingled softly as if to remind him, his Mother was never far from him. Footsteps echoing onward into the other corridors, Seymour reached his Father's office. He pushed open the door to see his Jyscal hunched over his desk in his usual shape, pouring over documents before him. He looked drained and pale.
"Seymour, I'm glad you came so quickly." Jyscal said looking up from his desk.
"I made it as quickly as I could, considering I was in Macalania." Seymour said somewhat annoyed by his Fathers summons.
"I apologize; I know it is not a short trek from the temple you oversee." He said touching his head guiltily. "I will be quick though." He said placing his pen down on his desk.
"I have been asked to go to Luca to represent and provide support for our team for the blitzball tournament, unfortunately affairs here have me so tied up I will not be able to go. I would like for you to go in my stead, the people need to start recognizing you as a Guado leader anyways."
Seymour looked away from his Father, shading his blue eyes from him.
"Very well…" he said emotionless. Seymour turned to leave reaching for the door he heard his Fathers voice whisper from behind him.
"You're all that I have left of my beloved Anima, I wish you wouldn't hate me so." Jyscal said, his voice wavering.
Seymour's hand stopped and quivered in surprise. He halfway turned his head and body, almost turning to look at Jyscal; he then stopped for a moment standing there motionless. He almost spoke in response but stopped and turned back away, leaving through the door.
As the boat readied for Luca Seymour made his way up the walk to board the ship. Many Guado had come to see him off and to wish luck to the blitzball team for the game in Luca. Seymour walked with his summoning staff in his hand. Not only would he be a representative for the Guado in Luca he would also be powerful protection against Sin on their journey.
"Seymour! Wait hold on!" a familiar voice came out from the crowd. Seymour turned, surprised and saw his Aunt Meena pushing through the much taller Guado crowd to reach him. She rushed up the walk to him.
"I'm glad I caught you, I wanted to give you this and wish you and the team luck on your trip!" she said panting. Meena placed a small trinket in Seymour's hand. He looked at it curiously.
"It's a Chocobo scale, it brings good luck, it can even help you find something you are seeking." She said happily. Seymour laughed to himself, slightly amused with his Aunt's superstitious nature.
"You should keep it, I'll be fine." He said extending his hand back to her.
"No Seymour," she said pushing his hand back. "I don't need it anymore. I've found what I've been seeking." She said cheekily.
"Oh I see." Seymour said laughing to himself. Meena had been pushing for Seymour to meet someone ever since she had married Trommel. "Then I shall keep it." He said closing his hand around it. He bent down to Meena and she hugged him. Seymour walked up the ramp to the ship, being the last on board.
"Keep everyone safe, they're counting on you!" Meena said as the ramp was taken down from the ship. Seymour nodded in response from the railing gripping his staff in his hand tightly.
Seymour made his way onto the ship and it shoved off, making the journey to Luca across the big blue. The colorful sail was raised high and the wind blew strongly as the sunlight shone down from above, making the waves sparkle like diamonds. The shipmates worked busily with ropes untying and tying them as the blitzball players all talked excitedly next to the railing letting forth several cheers and grunts. Seymour watched them curiously.
The boat made one more stop near Bevelle, picking up another most esteemed guest Maester Mica. He was a frail looking old man with a long white beard and was guarded heavily. When he spied Seymour sent for him to come over to him.
"This is a pleasant surprise, the high priest Seymour, although I believe I sent for your Father Maester Jyscal. Is everything alright back in Guadosalam?" He inquired curiously.
"Maester Jyscal sent me in his stead; he was too overwhelmed in Guado affairs to make the journey here." He said respectfully to the curious Maester.
"Hmm, well that is fine, you after all will one day take his place as Maester and you show much promise I've heard so much about your talents as a summoner." He said placing his hand on his beard thoughtfully. "Tell your Father I wish him best." He said nodding.
Seymour watched the waves that went on endlessly as the boat continued onward to Luca. He leaned on the railing casually as he watched the sun get closer to the waves as it set slowly. He heard a loud thwack behind him on the deck and looked down to see a blitzball roll up to his foot. Looking behind him he saw a slightly embarrassed Guado blitzballer looking at him.
"I'm terribly sorry Master Seymour!" he said nervously. Seymour picked up the blitzball from the deck and looked to the Guado.
"What is your name?" he asked him.
"I'm Navara, Master Seymour." He said bowing quickly.
"Navara, I wish you well in the tournament." He said tossing the ball back to him. "Don't look so nervous, I am here for your support after all."
Navara bowed again quickly holding the ball tightly. "We play to honor you and your Father, Lord Jyscal."
Seymour nodded to him, secretly admiring his admiration and respect not just to his Father but to him also. With that, Navara continued on with his practice. Seymour watched for a few more moments and then retired below deck to his quarters. By morning they should be arriving in Luca.