Disclaimer: SquareEnix owns rights to Auron and Kimahri in spite of everything I can do!
A Legend's Journey
Chapter 9
Days turned into weeks. Nan was really very worried about Raine. She had become pale and was beginning to look gaunt. The lovely clothing that Harlan had created for her now looked too big. Something had to change!
Nan had dropped hints to no avail.
To Auron, "Raine is so beautiful. She will make someone a wonderful wife!" Or "It will be a lucky man who marries her!"; "That's the sweetest girl you'll ever see!" All she got in return was some sort of grunt.
To Raine, "What a handsome man he is!", "He'll be a grand husband to someone!" and Raine would look as she had been slapped in the face.
Other hints, some subtle, some not. She sighed as she sorted through some vegetables. Maybe it was time to be a little more forceful. 'Hmmm. This will take some thinking!'
Nan was not the only one who was concerned about Raine's pallor and loss of weight. Auron thought that it was time for Julan the Healer to pay a visit. He presented himself at Julan's door with his request and the old Healer promised to come later in the afternoon.
Auron thought it best to say nothing to Raine about the Healer's impending visit. She would just protest that she was fine when obviously she was not. He hoped that Julan could work some miracle. So, later, when Julan arrived, Raine was surprised to see him.
"Hello, my dear! How are you?"
"Well, thank you, Julan. I hope you are."
"Oh, yes, I'm quite well, thank you! You aren't looking so well, my dear! How do you feel?"
How could she possibly answer that one!?
"I'm fine. Really I am! Just not very hungry, I guess. Nan said I needed to eat more, but I just don't seem to have much of an appetite. I'm fine!" There was a brave smile on her face.
Julan watched her as she spoke. 'Hm. Nobody loses that much weight if they are fine!' The pallor of her face wasn't good and he also caught the shadow of great unhappiness in her eyes that she tried to hide.
"Well. I have a little potion or two here that may help put the color back in your cheeks and maybe a little weight back on those bones we now see so clearly! I want you to take these and see if you can eat a little more, hm?"
"Yes, I will. Thank you, Julan. You are so kind!" She genuinely loved this wonderful old man and the smile she gave him said so. He patted the small hand that had touched his arm, and took his leave.
Instead of turning toward his next appointment, he wandered into the square near Nan's tent and strolled in.
"Hello, Nan!"
"Why, hello, Julan! How nice to see you! What can I do for you?"
"Oh, I thought some fresh fruit would be nice. What's good today?"
Nan showed him the fruits and he made his selection. As Nan was tallying the bill, he casually asked, "Do you see much of Raine and Sir Auron these days?"
Nan's bright eyes snapped to attention. "Yes. May I ask why you ask?"
Julan considered his words. "I'm a bit concerned about Raine. She doesn't seem to eating well and is quite pale these days."
Nan thought before she responded. Maybe this is the break she had been looking for.
"Julan, it's not something that any of us can do anything about!"
"Why, what do you mean?" Julan asked, quite puzzled.
"Love, Julan, love! Those two are silly in love with each other but neither is letting the other know! Only the heavens know why!"
Julan's eyebrows shot upward and his jaw dropped. "They're what?! Oh, my. Yes. Hmmm. Well, this does explain a lot! A delicate matter, hm?"
Nan told him she had dropped hints to each of them, but they seemed to be ignored.
Julan was thoughtful. "Well, I have to say I'm not sure about what to do. Quite unusual situation! We'll have to think carefully! I have another appointment just now, but perhaps we can talk again on the morrow."
The old Healer and the food vendor bade each other good evening.
Nan decided she needed some help in coming up with ideas. She approached Anya in the next tent. They talked in hushed tones as the problem was discussed. As they talked, Mayla stopped in and asked, "What are you two talking about so secretly?" So the smith's wife was included. Much discussion ensued until the sun began to fade. The discussion would continue in the morning.
The next morning, Tanaka mentioned it to Harlan. Harlan asked his wife Calley if she knew anything about it. Calley asked Leah, Ren's wife, if she had noticed anything. And so it went.
The square was abuzz! Each person had his or her answer to the problem, it seems. As Julan made his way to Nan's tent, four different people stopped him and asked him if he knew!
Julan sighed hugely. 'Oh, Sir Auron is not going to like this!' Another enormous sigh.
In the villa, Raine had gone to the roof garden to sit for a while. It was a very pretty day and she enjoyed watching the movement of the leaves as the breezes floated through and the smell of the beautiful flowers while listening to the peaceful sound of water bubbling in the fountain. Auron was reading in the living area.
After a time, the sun got a bit hot so she decided to retreat to the coolness of the interior.
She was about halfway down the stairs when she began to get a little light-headed. She paused for a moment, then continued. 'Maybe I'll go lay down for a bit.' She was still several steps from the floor when her senses suddenly reeled and her feet tripped. She fell all the way to the floor hitting her head with an resounding thud.
Auron leaped up at the sound of the fall, his heart in his throat as he saw Raine on the floor, unmoving.
"Raine!"
"RAINE!"
Heart about to pound through his chest, he wanted to scoop her up but the thought of possible hidden injuries stayed him. He needed Julan!
He ran to the outer door and rapidly searched for someone to run the errand. Not a soul nearby!
His last resort: a certain short, sharp, piercing, two-note whistle.
In hardly a moment, Kimahri was before him. Auron said one word, "Julan!" One glance at Auron's white face was all Kimahri needed.
Kimahri, having just seen the Healer in the square a short time before, turned toward the place he had last seen him and there he was speaking with Nan.
Julan suddenly found himself lifted into the air and being carried off at a dizzying pace by an enormous blue-furred Ronso. He didn't even have time to protest before he found himself being carried into Sir Auron's villa.
He was put upon his feet and immediately saw the reason for the alarm. Raine lay on the floor at the foot of the stairs, deathly pale and unconscious. Sir Auron told him of her fall down the stairs.
Julan began to exam his patient slowly and carefully. As he did, she stirred slightly with a small moan.
"Easy, my dear! Very easy. You've had a nasty fall and I want you to stay still, hm?"
He continued to talk to her in a quiet steady stream as he continued his examination. Finally he stood and turned to Sir Auron, standing behind him, face ashen, lips sealed in a thin, white line.
"She has a concussion and will undoubtedly have some bruises, but I don't think there is anything more severe. She will need to be watched carefully, especially for the next twelve to twenty-four hours. I'll bring some potions that should be helpful."
He studied the younger man's face for several long moments. "And we need to have a talk soon, you and I!" Julan patted The Guardian's arm absently and turned to leave.
Auron lifted her carefully and carried her to her small bed.
Kimahri followed the Healer out and rumbled, "Kimahri apologize. Not mean disrespect to Julan. Sir Auron need quick help. Kimahri very fast."
Julan turned to the massively huge Ronso with a smile. "That you are, Kimahri! I understand. I'll admit I was quite startled at first, but I knew only an emergency would cause such behavior. Give it no thought. Now it is time for me to be go." He paused a moment, turned back with a sparkle in the gray eyes beneath raised brows, "Care to give me a lift?"
Kimahri's rumble was correctly interpreted to be a chuckle and the old Healer turned away with a smile on his face.
Raine had now gotten her eyes mostly open but a sharp pain somewhere behind them made her want to keep them tightly shut. She hurt in many places, but none as badly as her head did. A soft groan spoke of her pain.
Auron had slipped his arms around her and was holding her tightly. If this is what it took to have him hold her, she would do this everyday. 'His arms are so strong..' Then the crushing pain in her head made the world begin to fade again.
Her next recollection was of Julan leaning over her with a potion of some sort. This one wasn't very pleasant! "Just a little more, my dear, hm? It will help diminish the pain in your head."
The potion consumed, Julan turned to Sir Auron and gave him the instructions for the remaining potions he had brought. "We will talk on the morrow." And he left.
Kimahri took up station in front of the outer door. He saw the many concerned eyes looking toward the villa. They knew something was badly amiss but it wasn't his place to say anything. His friend Auron would tell them what, if anything, he desired for them to know. He would stay outside this door for a time until he knew he wasn't needed anymore.
Nan ventured to the door and asked Kimahri if she could be of any assistance. Kimahri considered this and asked her to please wait one moment. He disappeared into the villa.
He deliberately made noise to alert Auron to his presence in the house. His feet would pad silently on the tile floor if he wished them to. He touched the door to Raine's room and quietly opened it.
Auron looked up at him with a grim face. He had been holding Raine's hand, though she appeared to be sleeping. Auron gestured that they should go to the living area.
Kimahri said, "Nan outside. Need help?"
Auron considered. Raine should be changed but didn't know if she should be jostled. She was wearing a pair of the slacks that Harlan had made and a loose top. It would probably be fine as she was.
Auron went to the outer door. "Nan, thank you for your offer, but I think she'll be OK in what she's wearing now. She shouldn't be moved right now. That was a nasty fall and she has a concussion."
"Of course, Sir Auron. Don't hesitate to call on me any time!" And she turned away. Everyone in the square had the news within minutes.
Back in the villa, Kimahri said, "Need anything?"
"I don't think so, Kimahri. Thank you, my friend. Thank you for coming so quickly! I – I couldn't leave her. I -"
Kimahri waited. Auron's pain-filled eyes looked into the golden eyes of the Ronso.
He took a deep breath. "Kimahri, I have made some major decisions. This is a different world than the one we've always known and our services will rarely be called for."
"I'm a Guardian, but also a man. I've decided that I am going live as normal a life as I can manage. No more rigid codes from decades past. No more sacrifices at all costs. Hopefully, no more bloody battles to be fought. My soul is tired. There has to be more in our lives than that!"
He looked down a moment, then back into the gold eyes intently watching him and said in a low voice, "I love her, Kimahri. For the first time I ever remember, I truly love someone! I like her gentleness, the goodness and kindness in her heart. I want to see her smile, hear her laugh. I want nothing more than to be close to her, to hold her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
His voice dropped. "But I can't tell her! She has to be free to make her own choices and I don't want her to feel under any obligation to me. It's eating me up."
Kimahri was quiet for a moment then rumbled, "Kimahri thinks Raine, Auron take same fall."
Auron looked at his friend with total puzzlement. "Same fall? Kimahri, she fell on the stairs, I didn't. That makes no sense."
Kimahri grunted, "Hmph. Kimahri be outside. Whistle if need."
Auron returned to the small bedroom. Raine's eyes were closed though there was a small frown between her brows. Her head really hurt!
Auron brought one of the big chairs from the living area to her bedside. He sat, watching her, fingers absently rubbing his temple as he thought.
'All right, Auron. What are you going to do? You nearly lost her today. You have to make a decision: tell her how you feel or continue as you have been?'
He sat deep in thought as the hours passed.