Chapter 13 The woman in white
Three weeks passed and Guadosalam's residents were starting to gain back a semblance of functionality after their paralyzing loss. Guado's were seen walking the halls again and shops once again opened their colorful doors to pilgrims to offer their special potions and supplies. News of the tragedy had spread throughout Spira; many visitors had come to offer their prayers for the lost Guado Maester. Seymour was forced to take an immediate trip to Bevelle after his Father's death so that the council of Yevon could ordain him officially as Maester. He found himself filled with disdain towards the other Maesters, as unpleasant truths had been made privy to him in his new position.
Seymour reclined in his room in Guadosalam, reading over ordinances that had been given to him from his visit to Bevelle. He snarled in disgust as he turned the page, coming up to speed with all of the ridiculous secrets that the council of Yevon had held from the people. These disheartening secrets must have also been a weight on his Father's shoulders, one that he had not dared to share with anyone. Seymour's thoughts waned as the time passed and he found himself once again looking upon her in his mind, the young lady summoner that had so captivated him, Yuna. Never in his life had he been so star struck by someone just from first sight. She had a gentle air about her; she was meek, innocent, and pure. They were qualities that made a gentle smile spread across his face. Seymour found himself unable to stop thinking about her during his waking moments. He so desperately wanted to see her again; he thought about her pilgrimage and wondered if he would see her pass through Guadosalam.
Knocking came at Seymour's door, he tensed with the sound of it as he dreaded another problem that had come to fruition for him to deal with.
"Seymour," a familiar voice came from the other side. "It is me, Meena." She assured him. Seymour released his vice grip on the side of the booklet he was reading and quickly closed it, stuffing it underneath another pile on the table next to him out of sight.
"Come in." he said getting up from his chair.
The door swung open and Meena entered, the charms around her waist jingled gently as she walked. It was amazing, Seymour thought to himself, just how much she resembled his Mother. It had always been a great comfort to him.
"I hope I am not interrupting you, I know you are very busy," she started.
Seymour sighed and plopped onto his bed, planting his head face first into his pillow.
"You have no idea." He groaned into his pillow.
Meena sat down beside him on the bed and reached out to him. She ran her hand through his feathery blue hair sympathetically.
"I'm sure you are very capable of handling whatever they throw at you." She said trying to assure him. "Hmph." She said with a smirk as she ran her hand again through his hair. "Do you remember what your Mother said, when the other children had been making fun of your hair?" she said tugging at one of Seymour's long hair spikes.
Seymour smiled and turned his head to her as he enjoyed the attention.
"Yes, I remember," he said swatting her hand away from him and sitting up. "she told me that my hair resembled a noble dragon's horns…and that dragon's are Spira's proudest creatures, so should I be too." He said reminiscing slightly of happy times long gone.
"And that is why you went out without me knowing to get those tattoos on your chest." She said laughing.
"Seymour I don't want to be the type to pry…but…the Chocobo scale, has it been useful to you?" she said squeezing out a sly smile to him.
Seymour covered his face with his hand with a slight groan and sat up.
"I guess I might as well tell you." He said sighing to himself. Meena put a hand to his mouth as he began to speak halting him.
"A woman in white, surrounded by sorrow, innocent by nature, a staff in her hand. The child of a High Summoner." Meena blurted out before Seymour could say anything.
Seymour's lip trembled slightly as he took in the details his Aunt had just spilled to him.
"What..?" He questioned her.
"The woman in my dream, she stood at the top of a well of souls, she was the one who you were to marry, tell me Seymour who is she?" she said confident in her gift of prophetic dreams.
He sat in astonishment at his Aunt's prediction. Her dreams had always been indications of future happenings. Seymour's blue eyes blinked in a daze as the thought of marriage echoed through his mind. Marry her? Of course he would, even on a seconds notice. To take her as his wife, love, care for, and protect, that oath would be all he would live for.
"She…that is…her name is Lady Yuna." He said looking off into the distance, still stunned by his aunt's prediction.
Meena shifted uncomfortably.
"Lady Yuna…that's High Summoner Braska's daughter. She is-Seymour she is a summoner!" She cried out in realization.
"Yes, I am well aware, and I would have her take my hand in marriage even with that knowledge." He said sounding quite determined.
Meena sat quietly next to him for a moment. She blinked slowly and started to cry. Seymour turned to her, surprised by her tears.
"You had hoped that I would not fall in love with someone branded for death." Seymour said as a tear dropped from Meena's cheek and fell onto her blue dress.
"…Summoners, I weep for them, they march with resolve towards their death." She said wiping the tears that were running down her face. Seymour put his hand on her shoulder lightly.
"Spira is such a cruel place isn't it?" he said with a slight laugh. "All that we work to build, all that we love is torn from us cruelly, even the faithful fall, yet when I looked into her eyes, those sparkling beautiful blue and green eyes, all the pain and sorrow melts away and the only thing I can think of is love." He said staring off in the distance envisioning her.
Meena smiled slightly and nodded to Seymour.
"I know that same feeling you speak of." She said forming a smile and looking over to him tilting her head, her black hair falling off her shoulder slightly. She sighed. "My Seymour," she said reaching out and taking his long fingered hand. "Do what you must to gain your love, in this world it is our most precious commodity. I worry though, your Father Jyscal married Anima knowing well her condition would claim her life one day, yet when she passed his sorrow overtook him for her. Will you suffer the same fate when her life is claimed by Sin?"
Seymour stared off not quite knowing what to say. "I barely know her, yet I love her, I wish to marry her. I want to do what I can to make her happy, she deserves that, she puts all others before herself, I wish to put her before all others… No matter the cost to me."
Meena gave him a sad but understanding look. She reached out and wrapped her arms around him and embraced him. "I know you will be a great husband to her." She whispered holding back her emotions. "It will be good to see you married."
Seymour smiled slightly. "Don't be so forward, I haven't even proposed yet, nor do I know if she might want to marry me, as I am still a stranger to her."
"She will accept." Meena said looking back at him confidently. "This is truly exciting news, oh but I've taken up enough of your time, I'll leave you to your duties." She said quickly getting up and going towards the door. Her hand touched the twisted vine of the door handle when she realized some news that had been shared with her.
"Oh by the way Seymour," she said looking back at him. "I just remembered, I heard word that Lady Yuna and her party had crossed the Moonflow and were seen making their way here." She said smiling slightly.
Seymour perked up with the news.
"Do me a favor and send for Uncle Trommel would you?" he said suddenly in deep thought.
Meena giggled with the mention of 'uncle'. "Trommel finds it quite endearing that you refer to him as that." She said as she exited to go and find her beloved Guado husband.
Trommel stood at the entrance of Guadosalam's winding city. He felt incredibly excited and anxious, as he waited for the expected guests. He felt like a shaken up bottle of sparkling water as he almost couldn't contain himself with the announcement Seymour had given him. Trommel had certainly not expected Seymour to come to him with the news that he wanted to propose to Lady Yuna, but it made him happy, it was going to be a much needed change of news for Guadosalam, whose residents had been feeling so much sorrow for their lost Maester Jyscal. Now there would be something happy to announce for once, that is, he hoped, if she would accept Seymour's proposal to her.
Soon the party was in sight. There was really no missing them a small woman surrounded by a mob of guardians, Trommel approached them as they made their way in.
"We have been expecting you Lady Yuna, welcome to Guadosalam." He said having to look downwards to address her. "This way milady, this way." He said reaching out eagerly to take her hand.
"Uhm…me?" Yuna said in surprise and disbelief.
"Whoa whoa whoa!" an irritated guardian yelled as he grabbed Trommel's arm in protest.
Trommel blinked in surprise and embarrassment; in his hurry he had not even introduced himself to them. The guardians stood staring at him in suspicion. Trommel swallowed in nervousness.
"Oh oh, I beg your pardon, I am Trommel Guado. I am in the direct service of our leader the great Seymour Guado. Lord Seymour has very important business with Lady Yuna." He said smiling warmly to her.
"Business with me?" Yuna said daintily in curiosity, holding her hands together shyly. "Whatever could it be I wonder?"
Trommel gestured back towards the red door of the manor.
"Please, eh, come inside the Manor." He said stumbling in his words. "All will be explained. Of course your friends are also welcome."
Yuna and her numerous party followed Trommel into the Manor. In the main hall they stopped for a moment to look at the paintings of the past leaders hanging above the staircases.
"These are the past leaders of the Guado." Lulu explained to the younger guardian Tidus.
"They all look the same." The blonde Tidus commented as he looked back and forth between the paintings.
"Maester Seymour doesn't look like them though." Wakka said with his arms crossed leaning against a banister as he looked at Seymour's portrait.
"Don't you know?" Lulu said with crossed arms as if astonished with his ignorance. "The last leader, Maester Jyscal, wed a human woman. She was Seymour's mother." She said turning behind her and looking at Jyscal's portrait.
"Oh…" Tidus said in realization.
Trommel brought them into the Manors large sphere room to wait so he could fetch Seymour. The room had been generously set out with a vast array of food and refreshments for the summoner and her party. Trommel left quickly.
Meena peeked into the room where the summoner and her party were waiting. She observed all the different faces carefully. So many guardians for one summoner! She thought to herself. She must be a well loved woman to have so many willing to give their life to protect her. She felt a tapping on her shoulder and turned with a startle to see the tall figure of Trommel looming over her. She laughed nervously in embarrassment that she had been caught spying by her husband.
"If you are that curious you should just go in and meet them." Trommel said looking down to her.
"I am just so nervous, Trommel, I hope that she accepts." She whispered to him carefully.
"As do I." Trommel said placing his large hand on her shoulder, he leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Please let us go in." Trommel said opening the door for her.
Meena and Trommel walked inside from the dim hallway and instantly she felt like a thousand eyes were peering at her. It must've been strange to see a human living among the Guado in Guadosalam. Meena looked around the room to see many curious stares. She saw the lady summoner in the middle of the room. She was just as she had looked to her in her dream and she was so beautiful dressed in her Summoners garments and long white sleeves. Meena could immediately see why Seymour had taken an interest to her. Meena bowed to her with a smile.
"Lady Yuna…" Suddenly she found herself overcome with emotion as she saw this gentle soul and realized she was willing to sacrifice herself. She extended her hands out and boldly took Yuna's hand in hers and held it gently as a Mother would her daughter.
"You were the woman in my dream, a woman in white, atop a well of souls, a staff in hand. You are every bit as beautiful in real life." She said releasing her hand. "I am Lady Meena." She said bowing once more. "It is so nice to meet you finally."
"Oh..Thank you." Yuna said bowing, taken aback by her compliment.
"Truly it is good to have guests again," Trommel said pleased with the amount of guests in the Manor. "Since Lord Jyscal passed away these halls have been too quiet."
A sorrowful look came over Meena with the mention of Jyscal and she grasped tightly onto Trommel's red sleeve as she started to tear up.
"My dear Jyscal…" she said in a hushed tone turning her head towards Trommel to hide her forming tears.
Yuna felt bad as she looked on at Meena's reaction to the mention of Jyscal. "The death of Lord Jyscal was a great loss for all of Spira, Lord Jyscal, he was your husband was he not?" Yuna asked Meena curiously.
Trommel stuttered and looked down at Meena. "No." he said quickly.
"No," Meena repeated releasing Trommel's sleeve. "I am the sister of Jyscal's wife, I grew close to him when my sister passed." Meena took Trommel's hand and kissed it. "I am married to Trommel, and Maester Seymour is my nephew."
"Oh, I am sorry." Yuna said bowing her head quickly.
Now it made sense to Yuna how she did not refer to Jyscal with formal title, she was family.
"Lord Jyscal was truly a loss for us all." Trommel said with his hand to his heart shaking his head morosely.
"But now a new Lord has risen up to take Lord Jyscal's place, now we have Maester Seymour." Trommel said enthusiastically. "He is the child of a human and a Guado and he shall surely be the tie that binds our two races together. I am sure he shall become the shining star that lights the way for all of Spira."
"Please, Uncle Trommel," Seymour said as he entered the room from the side door. Everyone turned to Seymour as he entered. His long robes dragged behind him as he walked to the middle of the room and bowed. "A new Maester as I, I am not worthy of such praise as you lavish." He said curling up his long fingers to his chest.
Trommel bowed to him and turned to leave, Meena followed after him, giving one last glance back at Seymour with a hopeful smile. The door closed behind them and as it clicked shut Meena took Trommel's oversized hand and squeezed it in nervousness.
"You seem just as nervous as I." Trommel said looking down to her, his green twisted hair casting a shadow on her face. "Come let us go sit and talk to pass the time until we can know." He said patting her hand gently as he walked with her. Meena nodded and they walked together down the spiraling hallway. They made their way to their quarters. They had a very nice arrangement in the manor, their room was large and well furnished. Pictures of relatives Guado and human were arranged neatly on tables. Trommel took a seat on their couch and Meena quickly sat down next to him, snuggling up closely to next to him. She put her arms around him and leaned her head onto his soft green buttoned jacket affectionately. She exhaled slowly taking in Trommel's unique scent that she had grown to love. Trommel chuckled slightly at her eagerness to be close to him. Since they had been married Meena was never far from him. She always waited tirelessly for him when he was away only to greet him warmly on his return.
"I am so very fortunate to have you." He said gleaning over her as she clung to him in affection. She peered up at him with her blue eyes and smiled. Trommel put his arm around her and pulled her close to him, kissing her on the head.
"I am worried though, that I am being unfair to you." He said looking to her.
"How could that ever be Trommel?" she said giving him a confused look and pulling away from him to look up at him more easily.
"I…feel you deserve better than an old Guado for your husband." He said turning his head slightly as he looked at her.
Meena looked at him incredulously and got up to her knees on the couch beside him. Trommel was so much taller than her she had to lean upwards greatly to be able to see eye to eye with him. She came close to his face looking eye to eye with him, the intricate veins on his face glowed dimly in the light as she looked deep into his dark eyes.
"You shouldn't speak like that." she said almost sounding as if she were scolding him. "For my husband is no mere 'old Guado' that you speak of. He is a great man, with a heart of gold, at the right hand of the Lord's of Guadosalam." She said while tracing her hand across the veins on his face. "Trommel I am happy to be your wife, I feel honored to be your wife, and you have my love." She said giving him a long kiss.
"Oh Meena, you are such a kind woman." He said while stroking a strand of her ebony hair away from her face with his large hand. "You have all my love as well." For a moment they embraced, Trommel taking in the sweet smell of Meena's love for him. Trommel was so taken with her, he lavished her with attention when he could. Meena leaned on him gently being supported by his giant arms as they both reclined on the couch together. Meena sighed as her mind started thinking about her nephew again.
"I am worried Trommel," Meena started.
"About the proposal?" Oh I am sure Lady Yuna will accept Seymour to be her husband. They will make a fine pair, not only that but this marriage will work to bring the peoples of Spira together."
"It's not that Trommel, I am sure she would accept, and I'm sure that the marriage would be a great joy for Spira. I just…his Father Jyscal knew of my sister's condition when he married her, much like Seymour knows that Yuna will go to die fighting Sin…and." She trailed of not wanting to finish her thought.
"You are worried that the sorrow will overtake him like it did Lord Jyscal?" he asked her.
"I…have faith that Maester Seymour will be strong. In his favor his marriage will be looked upon with joy, Lord Jyscal's marriage was not received warmly. Lord Jyscal had but a few precious moments with his wife and child, before he was forced to send them away, and that added to his already growing sorrow…that he was robbed of the few remaining years his wife would've lived. Seymour will at least enjoy Spira welcoming his marriage." Trommel said looking down at her with a hopeful look.
"I just hope for happiness for him. His life has been so unfair." Meena said looking off into the distance.
"As do I." He said sighing and placing his large hand on Meena's head.