Disclaimer: not a thing has changed. It still isn't mine!

A Legend's Journey

Chapter 3

The sun was getting low. He arose from the big chair and gathered fresh towels, soap and a large container of hot water. Just as he finished, Nan arrived and he escorted her to the small room.

Indicating the items he had gathered, he inquired what other assistance she would require. With a smile tugging at her checks, Nan shooed him out and closed the door.

"Oh, my dear. What has happened to put you into such a state?" Keeping up a comfortable line of chatter as if the girl could hear, Nan quickly had her sweetly clean and in fresh clothing.

When she opened the door, the big man turned. "If you lift her, Sir, I'll put fresh linens on her bed."

She saw how carefully he lifted her from the bed and had to sigh at the sweetness of the sight. Here was a huge man who could rip a wild demon in half, could freeze a fiend's heart with one glance, and he handled her as gently and tenderly as a baby. She sighed again and chided herself, 'Linens, Nan! Linens!'

In short order, the young woman was back in her bed, fresh and clean and clad in one of the simple white sleeping gowns purchased that day from Harlan. The Guardian was grateful for Nan's able help and actually found the words to tell her so.

"I'm happy to be helpful to one who has given us so much, Sir."

Indicating the shirt and slacks in her hands, Nan said she would get them washed and would bring back on the morrow. He leaned against the closed door for a moment. "May the gods bless that good woman!"

It was nearly dark when Julan arrived. Removing his long cloak, he said nothing for a long time as he studied his patient's face and thought.

Turning to the man silently waiting behind him, he shook his gray, shaggy head. "Sir, the potions are simply not strong enough to break through the barrier behind which she has placed herself."

"What are we to do?" the taller man asked, unaware of the tiny touch of emotion that showed in his question.

The old Healer just stood studying the younger man's face for long, long moments. The Guardian's eyes never wavered from those of the healer.

"You are a strong man. You have fought many important battles. I wonder if you are strong enough for this one. This one would decide her fate and possibly your own: a return to life or all remaining life spent merely existing while locked away from all reality."

The Guardian noted the gravity of the Healer's words. "What would you have me do, Healer?" he said in his low, quiet voice.

Julan stood squarely before him, looking straight in his eyes. "I believe that our only hope to free her from her prison is a Joining of the Minds!"

The tall man was slightly shocked though his face showed nothing. He was aware of this rare event and knew that unless the one joining had the extreme mental strength to break through, one or both could be trapped forever in that mindless state. It was a dangerous undertaking.

Julan placed his hand on the younger man's arm for a moment. "Consider carefully. I'll wait in the other room."

Alone, The Guardian gazed down at the woman. 'I don't even know your name,' he thought. 'Where did you come from?'

Blue eyes. Very blue eyes.

The words of the Healer went around and around in his mind, but he knew that he was strong enough to prevail in this mission as he had been in all the others that had come before. He had to try or die in the trying. He was a Guardian.

He sought the other man in the living room. Looking the older man in the eyes, he simply nodded once and said, "Yes."

Julan explained what he had to do and what he might expect, though each Joining was different because of the different personalities involved. The Healer emphasized again that unless he was strong enough to mentally overcome her, he could well become trapped as she was! The Guardian nodded his understanding.

"You must put your head close to hers and use your mental strength to penetrate into her mind and break down the barrier. She will fight you with all her strength because she doesn't want to leave this place of safety she has made for herself. To leave that place is to have to face the terror and fears that put her there. It is a very great undertaking, physically as well as mentally. For both of you, you must not fail!"

Julan gave him a strong potion to drink then he left the room as The Guardian prepared himself. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, he centered himself in his being, preparing for the battle ahead.

For the first time he was going into battle without a weapon in his hand. This time the only weapon he had was his own mind. Could he really do it? 'I must.'

Her smaller bed could not accommodate them both, so he carried the girl to his sleeping place which had a much larger bed.

He removed the heavy leather breastplate and his big boots. He laid down beside the girl, resting on his side so his head had contact with hers. Closing his eyes, he began to concentrate as the old Healer had instructed.

With time, as his concentration increased and focused, to his surprise, he could actually get a few, fast glimpses into the memories stored in her mind. He caught quick impressions of a small, neat home with scenes of a little dark-haired girl with her mother, playing and laughing. There was the same girl, a little older carrying a tea-tray to her mother's bedside. Then an older, nearly grown girl still caring for a very sick older woman.

Flashes of scenes here and there – a nice-looking boy who seemed to be asking her a question as she sadly shook her head, and the boy turns slowly away....... flashes, glimpses of her life.

Then he could hear his own words echoing in her mind "You're safe here. You are safe" and he knew that those words actually had gotten through. She had heard.

Suddenly, it was as if she had become aware that her mind was being invaded! A sharp intake of her breath indicated her rage at the intrusion. No!!! Get out!!!!! No!!!!! She began to thrash around in her panicked agitation and he griped both wrists in his strong hands to try to hold her down and protect himself at the same time. He tried to contain her struggling movement with his own larger, heavier body. His mind never lost its focus. Time lost all meaning.

They fought and struggled. Only by his superior weight and size was he even half-way able keep her from throwing him off her physically. His mind had reached the place where she had barricaded herself but the barriers were so strong he didn't know if he could break through or not.

"Focus, Guardian!! Control your emotions!!" The words reverberated through his mind as they fought. His mind trying to overpower hers, his body trying to subdue hers.

He gritted his teeth and fought harder. He never would have thought that one of her small size and statue could possibly fight so hard! She fought him like a banshee on every level.

Hours passed uncounted. He was tiring from the arduous battle but realized that he was finally making progress, tiny bit by tiny bit. She couldn't prevail forever against his greater strength and size.

The key to his progress were the words "You are safe here. You are safe." He sent those words in a continual mental stream as he sought to free her from her prison. The barrier began to loosen, it was slowly coming down. She was beginning to trust his words.

Many hours later, the barrier was finally down and he was looking down into blue, blue eyes that were studying his own dark ones as they both breathed raggedly and hard from exertion.

A tired smile tugged at his mouth. "You're safe here," he managed to say as he sought to reassure her.

At those words, she gave a small gasp, her focus sharpened as she searched deep in his eyes. Her hand, freed now from his grip, reached up and barely touched his face.

He faintly heard, "It..was....you." The long battle and her entire ordeal had left her barely able to speak.

"Yes."

"Who...?" Those beautiful dark blue eyes never left his face and seemed to bore into his very soul.

"Auron," he said. "I am called Auron."

She nodded slightly, not having any strength left. Dark lashes began to close over the eyes that so captivated him as she drifted off to healing, peaceful slumber.

He had won and he was totally exhausted, mentally, physically and emotionally. But he had won.

He hadn't slept in two days and nights and he never knew when he rolled off onto his side and rested his head on the pillow beside hers. Deep slumber had captured them both as the first rays of dawn began to lighten the eastern sky.

Julan had maintained his vigil through the night, willing the younger man to succeed in this battle, standing by with powerful potions that may be needed. As morning drew near, the sounds of the desperate struggle began to quieten. At last, he arose and peeked in on the two as they were collapsed on one another in utter exhaustion. The Guardian had successfully broken through. A large smile of relief graced his old face as he left the villa.

As he opened the outer door to exit, Julan was momentarily surprised to see the large Ronso called Kimahri waiting there. Seeing the concern and question in the Ronso's golden eyes, Julan reached up to touch the huge creature's arm, he said with a smile, "All is well!" He told Kimahri of the night's events and of his friend's success in saving both himself and the girl. "They'll need a time of rest to recover."

"Kimahri thanks Julan for news. Will not be disturbed." With that, the Ronso planted himself in front of the outer door and Julan knew that nothing would get past him!

Feeling great fatigue, the Healer sighed, 'You are definitely not a young man any more, Julan!' As he turned to go to his own home, he glanced back at the Ronso with a smile still on his face. 'We should all be so fortunate to have such friends,' he thought.

The world was beginning to stir, vendors were preparing for their day's business in the square.

Hours later, Auron awoke to a tangle of dark brown hair in his face and across his mouth. He and the girl had apparently moved themselves together into some sort of comfortable arrangement during their deep sleep. She was on her side, curled up against him, his arms holding her, his face buried in her hair.

Consternation again visited him as he surveyed the situation. 'How am I going to disengage myself?' As he tried to slip free, she began to stir a bit, then went into a long feline stretch as dark blue eyes opened to the world.

Then memory flooded back and she gasped as she whipped around seeking the face of the man against whom she had just slept so soundly.

"OH!" A bright pink flush brushed her cheeks as she saw their physical proximity and entangled position. Her confused mind filled with half-formed questions. 'What - ?! - How did - ? Oh! - - Aaron? No, something - '

For a moment, he had actually caught some of her confused thoughts.

Abashed at the situation, he swallowed and searched for words that were slow to come. With all of his vast experiences, nothing in his life had prepared him for this one.

"It's 'Auron,'" he said.

He could feel a flush creep up his cheeks. "Julan the Healer - the only way to bring you back to reality was – a - Joining of the Minds – and - that's why we - that's how -" His words trailed off as he gestured with a small wave of his hand at their intimate positioning.

"I'm sorry but it was the only way to save you," Auron said softly in his low, rumbling voice.

Silence ensued for a few minutes as they looked into the depths of each others eyes, studying each other.

"Thank you." A soft, almost shy response reached his ears. Blue eyes then sharpened and sought his. "Where am I?"

"You're in my quarters, in my care. You are entirely safe here."

A moment while that was digested, then tentatively, "Where is - 'here'?"

"In the western part of Spira."

A touch of alarm appeared in her eyes. "Spira? I - I never heard of it. Where is it? Wh - which continent is it on?"

Now it was Auron's turn for puzzlement. "Continent? It's just Spira."

Alarm and fear were visible in the blue eyes that bore into the dark ones. A small hand gripped his forearm with surprising strength. "Auron, is - is this still - Earth? I mean, please tell me I'm at least still on the same planet!" A tiny sparkle of tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.

"Yes. Yes, this is Earth – but there are no continents. Haven't been for many centuries."

Her face blanched white and he chided himself for offering too much information. 'You know better than that, Auron! What kind of fool are you?' Fayth help him if he put her back into shock again!

His hand touched the side of her face, looking into those bottomless blue eyes and said, "We have much to discuss. We'll get it all sorted out. Do you think you can sit up a bit?"

She was terribly confused and uncertain, more than a little frightened and realized that she was in a terrible predicament, but the sound of that low, rumbling voice gave her something solid to hold on to. "You are safe here -"

She nodded as they began to untangle themselves and she adjusted the gown that had somehow gotten so twisted and out of place. She found herself taking note of this stranger who had brought her to a place of safety.

Clearly defined muscles in his arms, back and chest spoke of great physical strength. The scars, especially the one on his face, declared terrible battles fought and won. The silver touches in his soft, jet-black hair told of the time that had passed since his birth. That incredible low rumble of a voice had saved her sanity; it seemed to resonant deep inside her very being. Yes, there was much to sort out. Much!

His eyes - She frowned slightly as she became aware of a vague, unknown feeling now lodged in her inner being. She couldn't identify it. It was unsettling as if there wasn't already more than enough to accomplish that!

He watched as she finished her thoughts. When her eyes met his again, he smiled softly and asked, "May I ask your name?"

"Raine."

A smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. Raine.