Chapter 16- A Night in Guadosalam
At the entrance to Guadosalam Rikku found an upset Tidus pacing back and forth over the curled and twisted beautiful green patterns of the floor. The silver chain on his pants jingled as he strode back and forth.
"There you are!" Rikku said waving to him in her chipper tone. Tidus gave her a half glance and turned his face from her folding his arms and shaking his head in frustration.
"I guess you're pretty upset…" She said approaching him slowly. "You know, I really don't want Yuna to go through with the pilgrimage, I would rather she stop. I don't want her to…die." She said standing beside him and blinking her green swirled eyes.
"Why does she have to die?" Tidus finally asked her.
"It's the final Aeon, when the summoner performs the final summoning to defeat Sin…the Aeon, it will …kill her." She said feeling a chill go down her spine at the notion.
"Why? Why would an Aeon kill a Summoner?" Tidus asked.
"I…I don't know." Rikku admitted looking down.
Tidus grunted in frustration and walked over to the wall and pounded his fist on the grainy bark in anger.
"Ahh!" he screamed staring at the wall, he placed his head against it. The grainy bark of the wall was cool and moist against his hot forehead. He just couldn't bear the thought of it. He couldn't stand to have this beautiful woman whom he had just met die. How could Seymour want to marry her? He thought to himself. Did he like her? Did he even love her? How could he be okay with her continuing her pilgrimage? What husband would be okay with his wife's death? It didn't make sense.
Tidus felt a warm hand on his shoulder; he turned his head slightly to see Rikku's gloved hand. He felt calmed for a moment and turned to look at her.
"Listen Tidus, I don't want to see Yunie die, none of us do. I say we try and think of some other way to defeat Sin, one where no one has to die! Nothings impossible right?" she said taking his hand and holding it in hers.
Tidus looked down at Rikku's hands holding his and smiled slightly.
"Right…" he said looking up at her with bright blue eyes.
"Well let's get back to the group, you gotta remember Yunie's counting on you Tidus. She needs all of our support." Rikku said patting his shoulder with encouragement.
"Yea…" Tidus said scratching his head slightly. "Okay." he said following after Rikku who had already started running back, her blue ribbons whipping in the wind.
Back in front of Guadosalam's Manor the rest of the party had gathered and were waiting. Yuna appeared out the front door of the Manor followed by a much taller Maester Seymour in his thick purple robes. Yuna walked forward to her waiting Guardians, Lulu came up and put her hand on Yuna's head affectionately.
"I..it..it..has been arranged." She said shyly as her cheeks glowed red. "We will marry in Bevelle. We will go to Macalania temple first to receive the fayth there, and after to Bevelle for the wedding." She said stuttering as she tried to gain control of her voice. Yuna's tried to hold her face out of view as she was blushing profusely from talking with Seymour.
Seymour stood at the steps to the manor and watched as Yuna talked to her guardians. He realized then just how late it was as he thought about their journey to Macalania.
"You are all welcome to stay the night in the Manor here as distinguished guests, it would not be advisable to go on to Macalania at this hour." Seymour said gesturing lightly to the Manor door.
It was true, the hour had grown late and it was already dark outside, the faint sound of crickets chirping floated around the halls.
Auron sighed unhappily. "Very well, but we leave at first light." He said blinking his one open eye.
Yuna bowed to Seymour.
"Thank you so much, your grace."
Seymour nodded to her with a smile.
The party entered into the Manor after Seymour, Trommel appeared and seemed delighted to see them.
"I assume we have guests for the night, Lord Seymour?" he said bowing and sweeping his long hand across his chest.
Seymour nodded to him as he walked past.
"Guests?" A curious voice said from behind Trommel. Meena peered into the front hall of the manor to see Yuna and her guardians assembled there.
"Oh my goodness!" Meena exclaimed as she saw the party. "Why what an honor!" she exclaimed happily. Meena's mothering nature took over as she rushed up to them, eager to take care of their needs.
"Why please come in, we are delighted to have you stay here." She said grabbing Sir Auron's hand and pulling him into the room. An exasperated grunt emitted from him as she did so.
Tidus laughed as he observed Auron being pulled by the over anxious Meena.
"Now Meena…" Trommel said giving her a stern look as she tried to take over for him tending to the guests.
Meena looked up at him eagerly and then made a face of realization as she saw his piercing stare. She let go of Auron's gloved hand and looked down in embarrassment.
"Oh…um excuse me." She said with a quick bow to Auron. "Sorry Trommel…I'll leave you to take care of them," she said patting Trommel's large hand apologetically. "I'll finish up in the kitchen." She said gripping her hands guiltily.
Trommel nodded to her with an understanding smile as she left to go finish the cooking. Seymour, who was watching from the side laughed lightly at his Aunt's eagerness. Trommel shook his head and sighed to himself.
"My wife is…very caring." He said apologetically to Auron.
"Now then, let me get you all settled into rooms for the night. Right this way, right this way." Trommel said gesturing with his long arm to the Manors stairs. Rooms were something that the Manor was not short on, each party member was given their own personal room that was furnished lavishly and beautifully with Guado tapestries and decorations.
Yuna sat down on the bed in her room, it was unbelievably soft and felt wonderful, the feathery comforter felt cool against her skin and she felt as if she could fall asleep right then and there. She looked around the room as she lay there and started to contemplate things. So much had happened in so little time she thought. She had become a Summoner, and gained six guardians who were ready to defend her no matter what. She looked down briefly at the ring on her finger, which sparkled in the low light beautifully. She was also now engaged to be married, married to a Maester no less. In a sense she was more terrified about her upcoming marriage than she was her pilgrimage.
Yuna took a deep breath and sighed, trying to calm herself. Seymour had assured her he would not try to stop her pilgrimage in anyway but she worried about other expectations that he might have, expectations as a husband would expect for his wife. She cringed slightly with the thought. It wasn't that she didn't like Seymour; she could barely speak in his presence without blushing madly. She found him wildly attractive, but also felt nervous because she didn't know him that well. But she knew in her mind that no good reason not to marry him existed and as far as she could see only good things would come of this marriage, especially bringing happiness to Spira. Happiness was so rare.
Yuna lay on the bed for a while just staring up at the decorated canopy overhead. It was decorated with tree branches and stars, much as if you were outside looking up at the night sky underneath the cover of trees. She soon found herself lulled to sleep by the peaceful scene overhead.
Meanwhile a late visitor had come to the Manor, Trommel had hesitantly let the man in and he walked into the sphere chamber where Seymour waited for him.
He was dressed in heavy green robes bearing much Yevonscript; his skin was tan and contrasted with his bright white hair. Seymour recognized him as a young member of the Crimson squad, an elite group intended to surpass even the crusaders. This Squad had been formed by Maester Kinoc, so Seymour exercised extra caution.
"Baralai I presume?" He said going from the memory of the documents the Council of Yevon had sent him. "What business does a member of the Crimson Squad have in Guadosalam at this hour?" he asked him suspiciously.
"Yes, but the Crimson squad is no more. Maester Kinoc betrayed us, and my friends, they turned on me as well. I have no place else to go." He said approaching Seymour cautiously.
"Then, why do you come to me? I too am a Maester of Yevon." He said skeptically, turning his back to him. Seymour wondered to himself if perhaps he might be an agent sent by Kinoc, his last message back to him had been at the least insulting to the ever proud power hungry Maester.
"I suppose Maester Kinoc and a certain other Maester might be vying for power behind the scenes." He admitted to him.
"So an enemy of an enemy is a friend?" He said in jest to him.
"I will not fail you." Baralai assured him placing his hand to his heart.
Seymour considered for a moment. In the air, he could not smell deceit but rather fear, desperation. At the least he knew Baralai was truly seeking help, and he might come in handy for the future.
"Very well, I will take you under my wing." He said while casting a stare downwards at him. "Consider any record of your involvement with the Crimson Squad erased."
"You have my thanks." Baralai said while bowing to him. "I will go into hiding until the time is right." He said turning and leaving the room.
"Wait, I may have better use for you now." Seymour said stopping the young man. "I want you to go to Bevelle and wait there for word from me."
Seymour knew well that Maester Kinoc commanded the armies in Bevelle, and being that his coming wedding was set to be there it might be a good idea to have one of his enemies on his side in case things turned sour. Kinoc had held nothing but jealousy for Seymour, since Seymour had inherited his position as Lord and Maester when Jyscal died; as a result he had even tried circulating a vicious rumor that Seymour had killed his Father to gain his power. Seymour had laughed when he heard it for how ironic it was.
Trommel entered the hall as Baralai left.
"Lord Seymour, Lady Yuna and her guardians are settled in for the night. I would suggest you too get some rest my Lord." He said in his usual formal voice standing with his hands together in front of Seymour.
"Thank you Trommel." Seymour nodded to him.
"Shall I expect you to be going with Lady Yuna to Macalania Temple tomorrow?"
"Yes I probably shall." Seymour said trailing off in thought. He felt a sense of warmth come over him as he thought again of Yuna, in his mind he could not wait for their wedding.
"I want you to send a small Guado entourage onward ahead of us to Bevelle." Seymour said thinking to himself.
"Very well sir. Eh, may I ask, my Lord, are you truly comfortable with marrying in Bevelle? Why do you not just marry here in Guadosalam?" Trommel asked Seymour curiously.
"Because Lady Yuna and I both share one thing in common, we are both half human. I would like our wedding to be in the human tradition, and Bevelle offers us that. Besides, Bevelle is special in that it is the birthplace of Lady Yuna."
Trommel smiled slightly and nodded to Seymour. He bowed and exited the room leaving him. Having all the duties for the day done and their unexpected visitor taken care of Trommel retired to bed. He opened the door quietly. There on the bed Meena was already asleep peacefully. He looked down at her for a moment admiring her beauty, her long ebony hair laid out gently over her soft white skin. Trommel wearily undressed and donned his nightclothes. Pulling back the covers he eased into the bed beside Meena trying not to wake her but she slept so lightly that she began to stir with the gentle disturbance. She rolled over sleepily and looked at him. She smiled sweetly and reached out to him pulling herself close to him.
"Trommel." She whispered quietly as she drew close. "What did that late visitor want? Was it an emergency?"
"No my dear, I am not sure what business he had. But if it was urgent Lord Seymour made no mention."
"Hmm." Meena said sleepily as she laid her head on Trommel's chest.
"Lord Seymour, he…" Trommel said starting to say something but trailed off.
"Hmm? He what?" Meena said lifting her head up to look at Trommel.
"…He is quite taken with Lady Yuna, upon mention of her he began to reek of romance for her."
Meena smiled to herself.
"I wish I was endowed with the gift of smell as the Guado are. I surely would've known how you felt about me from the start." She said playfully to him while touching the twisting spires of his beard. Trommel enjoyed her touch as she traced her small soft fingers over the veins on his face.
"But somehow you still knew and returned my feelings." He said embracing her.
"More than you know." She said seductively.
To Trommel's delight Meena crawled atop him and began kissing him passionately, eager to once again reaffirm their bond as husband and wife.
Authors note: Okay so that's Chapter 16! Just so you guys know, I am not a Tidus hater. Tidus is a good and genuine guy who really cares for Yuna, and I don't want to change that and I don't have any interest in portraying him as a jealous brat--although he is jealous for sure.
And yes I know Baralai came along before the proposal to Yuna and not after. But when things get changed time can shift.