Chapter 20- Bells of Bevelle
The city of Bevelle was a sparkling sight to be seen. Nestled by the sea the ancient city sprawled for miles, its cut stones gleaming in the sunlight. The guardian dragon, Evrae swirled lazily above in the sky, twisting in his serpent like manner always on the watch.
Maester Mika watched out of his window at the colorful throngs of people flowing through the streets below. In the distance a solemn bell tolled and sent pigeons fluttering out of its wake. Maester Mika let out a tired sigh and rubbed his forehead with his bony hand. Before long a knock came at the door, and before he could bid the visitor entrance the portly frame of Maester Kinoc barged his way impatiently into his room.
"Grand Maester Mika." He said with a curt smile walking towards him.
"What are you up to this time Kinoc?" He asked him with an annoyed sigh.
"I am in need of some authorization," He said thumbing at some documents in his hand.
"Is this about Maester Seymour again, Kinoc? You are aware that he is here for his wedding aren't you? Please, whatever it is it can wait." He said shooing him away from him with his frail boney hand.
"But Grand Maester Mika-" Kinoc objected but was cut off.
"But nothing!" He said throwing a scroll across the room towards Kinoc. "And I want you to undo that block that you put on the Guado trade routes. Oh yes, I heard about that. Our pilgrims pass through Guadosalam, I do not want unrest on my hands!" He said angrily.
Kinoc wavered holding his breath.
"Very well Grand Maester," he said with a quick bow and exited in a restrained huff.
Mika looked back to the open window and stared up at the wispy puffs of white clouds in the deep blue sapphire sky. His eyes lowered and looked at the sprawling city below, the structures gleaming in the sunlight. He took in a deep breath and released it slowly while taking in the sight.
"I grow so weary of this world…But I cannot leave it." He whispered to himself quietly.
Meanwhile, Yuna's guardians were with her in a private room as she prepared for the impending wedding ceremony.
"Here," Lulu said handing Yuna her prepared bouquet of flowers as she stood in front of a mirror in her wedding gown.
"Thank you." Yuna said looking down at her shimmering white dress. Lulu noticed Yuna's hands were quivering as she took the flowers.
"Yuna, you look so beautiful." Rikku said from her spot perched next to Tidus in the room. Yuna turned to Rikku and smiled slightly with a slight blush to her cheeks. Tidus looked at Yuna dreamily, her long white dress adorned with feathers on the edging and small flowers made her appear as an angel to him.
Wakka reached over and pulled Tidus into a headlock.
"Hey don't look so weird ya? It's Yuna's big day!" he said laughing as Tidus struggled in protest.
"Wakkaaaa!" Tidus whined as Wakka badgered him.
Rikku giggled at Tidus while Lulu rolled her eyes in disgust at their horseplay.
Yuna looked back into the mirror and fiddled with her hair slightly and let a nervous sigh loose. Lulu placed her hand on Yuna's and leaned in to whisper to her.
"You know Yuna, if you were to decide not to go through with anything, we would stand by you all the way." Lulu reassured her.
Yuna bit her lip nervously and looked down.
"I-I-'m just nervous, that's all." She said in a nervous quivering voice.
Lulu smiled at her reassuringly and took Yuna into a hug. "We are here for you Yuna, for whatever you may need."
A knock came at the door. Everyone looked on as Wakka opened the door and an elderly female Guado entered. Her hair twisted to either side, she smiled gently as her wrinkled eyes lay on the bride.
"Is the lady ready?" she asked holding her long claw like hands together.
"Y-Yes." Yuna replied back to her from across the room gripping her flowers anxiously.
"Come, we must do the veiling." She said motioning for her to follow her with her long fingernails.
"Wait -the what?-" Yuna asked curiously.
"It's a Guado Tradition my dear." She said encouraging her to come with her.
"O-Okay," she said following the Guado woman, her long train in tow. Yuna's guardians followed after her closely.
"Sit here my dear," The woman gestured to a chair in the large outer room. "Your guardians may stand here with you." She said walking off to the side.
"I wonder what's going on?" Tidus whispered looking over to Rikku. She shrugged in response and meekly replied "I da know."
Across the room the outer door opened and two Guado men entered dressed in formal attire.
Yuna watched curiously as the men entered and then a third figure entered the room after them.
In a grand and intricate robe the large figure of Seymour appeared. Yuna emitted a tiny gasp of surprise and her guardians looked on with shock as he made her way towards her. He was clad in grand wedding robes of black and white with intricate Yevonscript detailing. His normal sapphire blue horn-like spikes were tied back with black velvet and he was wearing an embroidered white cap. His blue eyes searched the room until he saw Yuna, his sapphire eyes locked with hers and he smiled at her. Yuna's heart started to race out of fear and astonishment, what was he doing here? She hadn't been prepared to see him yet. She tried to control her breath as it became erratic and her hands started to shake as she panicked from the unexpected surprise.
Rikku looked to Tidus and they exchanged confused faces and then looked back to Seymour as they all stood behind Yuna waiting expectantly for an explanation.
"I recall seeing the bride before the wedding is forbidden." Auron voiced from the back of the crowd.
Seymour looked up sharply with the comment, his blue eyes cutting coldly into the air and the markings on his face flashed a bright blue for a moment.
"I am sure you are all wondering." Seymour said looking at the confused faces staring back at him. Seymour's gaze rested again on Yuna, whom he sensed a great amount of anxiousness from, he turned his head inquisitively as he felt this.
"I am just upholding an old Guado tradition," he explained. "One Guado forefather was tricked into marrying the wrong woman; ever since the groom veils the bride himself, to be sure."
An assorted amount of reactions came from Yuna's guardians from reverent to still confused to a silent 'hmph' from Auron in the back of the room.
The Guado woman came up to Seymour holding Yuna's veil, Seymour took it from her and delicately draped the transparent white fabric over Yuna's small frame. He looked down to see Yuna's eyes staring curiously at him, when his eyes met with hers she looked down quickly and tried to hide her blushing face. Seymour smirked as he saw her shy behavior, his blue eyes and facial markings glowing from the brightly lit room as he looked down on her.
"You are so beautiful." He whispered as he bowed to her. Yuna put her hand up to her mouth nervously; unable to speak she just emitted a small sigh in acknowledgment. Seymour turned and began to walk out, his black and white robes gently dragging across the designs on the floor as he exited out the door. As quickly as he had appeared Seymour disappeared from sight.
"Come Lady Yuna, it is now time, follow me." The Guado guard informed them.
The chocobo's crowed fiercely as the carriage arrived in Bevelle.
"Whoaaa!" The Guado driver yelled trying to calm them.
Meena peered out the window inquisitively at the large and looming city outside.
"Wow!" she said with a gasp as she looked up at the buildings towering overhead. Her big blue eyes darted back and forth observing how the light flickered off of the windows in the buildings.
"It's amazing…I can't believe a city this big doesn't get attacked by Sin." she remarked looking to the Guado that accompanied her in the carriage.
"Yes quite amazing." The blonde haired Guado nodded with a slight smile looking across to her. "We had better hurry if we want to make it in time for the Wedding."
Meena stepped out of the carriage quickly and in doing so lost her grip on the handrail and stumbled out clumsily.
"Oops!" she said as she caught herself. A few citizens in the background stopped and stared at the strange woman getting out of the Chocobo carriage accompanied by Guados.
"Milady!" The Guado inside the carriage leapt out to her aid and put a long arm around her, steadying her. "Please be careful, Trommel would never forgive me if something were to happen to you." He said nervously.
Meena looked over at her Guado guardian with a smile. "Oh I miss him already…" she laughed to herself and put her hand to her belly. "I guess I really should watch out. I'm so excited though."
"As am I," The Guado chuckled. "Maester Seymour's wedding has all of Guadosalam joyous for him."
Meena giggled and patted the Guado on his shoulder sweetly. "Come on then," she said starting off.
"Lady Meena! Slow down you shouldn't walk so fast, eh wait for the others!" The Guado nervously strode on his long legs to keep up with her.
"Go on Adihu, we will meet you at the chapel!" The Guado driver called out to him as he went to go park the carriage. He flitted the reins and the Chocobos called out "KWEH!" and energetically strode off, their claws clacking on the grey stones of the paved road.
If it hadn't been for Adihu's great height and speed he swore he would've never been able to keep up with this energetic and determined tiny young woman. As they passed restaurants and shops they saw sphere's inside all broadcasting the same thing the tower of Bevelle lavishly decorated and reporters talking about the wedding that was about to happen.
As Meena rounded a corner a young man with his group of friends were loudly talking to one another. Meena saw them coming and tried to move out of their way, but the boy leading them carelessly trudged towards her. Quickly Adihu grabbed Meena and pulled her out of the way and the boy ran into him instead.
"Hey!" he exclaimed as he reeled back. "What's the big idea!" the young man shouted as he looked around.
"You should watch where you are going, you almost hit a lady." Adihu said calmly looking down at him, his high collar masking his mouth as he spoke.
The boy stopped and looked up at him, Adihu towered over the small human. "Whoa!" he said with a terrified look. "It's one of those Guado freaks!" he said starting to clear the area. Meena gave a shocked look on her face and reached out and grabbed the young man by the shoulder.
"Wait! Wait just a minute!" she said ruffling his garment as she refused to let go.
"You carelessly almost run into a pregnant woman, and then you insult the person who is protecting me! How dare you!" she said giving him a disgusted look. "If anyone is a freak here it is you!" she steamed.
"Meena…" Adihu chimed giving a slightly embarrassed look down at her.
Meena cleared her throat and looked back at the boy. "You should learn some proper manners, some people are different than others, but that doesn't mean they deserve less respect." She said patting him on the shoulder slightly.
The boy looked at Meena with a slightly enraged expression and quickly turned and walked off with the rest of his bunch, they turned and gave her strange glances as they left out of sight.
"Lady Meena, we Guado are used to the reactions humans have towards us. Compared to the past, people are much better now than they were before, and we thank Lord Jyscal for that. Please don't feel like you have to defend us." Adihu explained to her.
Meena looked down slightly and blushed with embarrassment.
"I understand Adihu… I just love you all so much. You are my family now." Meena wavered a moment thinking of the child growing in her belly. "I…am sorry if I made you uncomfortable, I shouldn't have been so…well I'm sorry." Meena apologized to him.
"It is alright my lady, let us go now, we don't want to be late." Adihu said kindly and gestured for Meena to go.
"Yes youre right." Meena said quickly picking up the pace she had before her black shoes clacking against the pavement as she ran off.
"W-wait up! Lady Meena! Oh Trommel is going to kill me!" Adihu huffed as he ran off chasing after Meena.