Disclaimer: What do you think??
A Legend's Journey
Chapter 21
Auron felt as if his head had just touched the pillow when a light tap at his door woke him. Groggy, he went to the door where the ever-smiling Mandy greeted him and put a cup of fresh, hot coffee in his hand.
Indicating the steaming cup, he said, "Mandy, I'm in your debt. Thank you!"
Closing the door, he went to the chair by the window and looked out at the peaceful garden below as daylight began to reach into the shadows. Sipping the good coffee, Auron turned his mind to the task before him.
He wanted to spend this day probing deeper into the countryside to see if he could get a better idea of exactly what was out there. The fiends Lan named for him yesterday were serious enough but not anything that couldn't be fairly easily handled. It was the others Lan didn't recognize that caused his eyes to narrow. He had his suspicions but he'd wait to see what evidence he found.
A hot shower, a shave, clean clothes and Auron was out the door. He met Lan at the same establishment where he had eaten yesterday. Lan was waiting for him and stood as The Guardian approached.
"Good morning, Sir Auron! Sleep well?"
"Good morning, Lan. Yes, thank you. Hungry?"
"Yes, sir. I always wake up hungry and this place has an excellent breakfast."
Their orders taken, each sat quietly with his thoughts as they sipped the hot coffee that had been placed before them. Auron was thinking of mornings when he sat across the table from Raine. There was a huge ache of missing her in his middle. If there was any way possible, he would never be separated from her again! He loved watching her move around the kitchen, soft gold morning sunlight catching in her hair, gently brushing her soft skin.
Lan sat quietly watching the Legend across the table from him. He caught the expression in his eyes and saw the deep, aching loneliness for his wife there. Like Marin, he was seeing the price exacted by duty. It made him respect the man even more. People never thought of the personal cost to those who served them.
Their food arrived and they ate with no wasted time. Stomachs full, they were ready to go into the field.
Lan led the way though one of the town gates. Auron stopped for a moment, his eyes sweeping the landscape. Nothing. 'But that doesn't mean they aren't there,' he thought with a sigh.
His low rumble to Lan, "All right. Let's move outward a bit and see what we find. Keep your eyes open. They can pop up out of nowhere."
Further out, the sounds were different. Little of the noise of people in the town, more of the breeze blowing through leaves, little animals scurrying, a different smell in the air.
Auron stopped and just listened for many long minutes. Lan stood unmoving beside him, not really understanding what was happening, but was following the example of the highly experienced man beside him.
Then Auron began slowly moving into the trees, eyes on the ground, searching. After a time, he came to an abrupt stop. "There," he said, pointing to something Lan didn't recognize.
"Spore," Auron explained. "Fairly fresh. Stay alert!" He continued his quiet movement for long minutes until he stopped again. This time Lan knew what to look for. "Is it the same as the last?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," came the low response. "They are definitely here. And it is not good news."
Lan looked at him with concern and questions in his eyes. Auron shot him a look before continuing.
"Most of what I've seen are the lesser ones that shouldn't pose much of a problem. However, there are others. I'd guess Zimwe."
"My apologies, Sir Auron. I don't know that one."
"Be glad you don't and pray you never do!" was the terse answer. "I came across one and it took four of us to finally kill it. Four seasoned, experienced Warriors and we nearly lost."
Lan stood with his mouth open. There was no way he and his men could take on such an enemy. For the first time, he really felt the cold reality of fear.
They continued their search in silence, each alert and watchful, pointing out signs to each other which were acknowledged with nods.
After encircling the entire area beyond the town, they turned toward the gate they had exited earlier. Auron had begun to quietly discuss the identified fiends with Lan when he suddenly stopped and spun on his heel, drawing his blade from its sheath.
Lan was startled and did nothing for a moment, then drawing his own blade as he watched Sir Auron for clues and direction. Sir Auron was on full alert, his ears hearing tiny sounds his own did not; looking for any sign that his own eyes would not know.
A very soft rumble, barely audible, "That smell. Remember it."
Suddenly, a violent rush of black evil burst out of the trees and brush with ear-splitting screams. Lan was so shocked he was frozen in place. Two of the most horrible, heart-stopping beings from hell's worst nightmare were instantly in front of them.
Sir Auron had assumed his battle stance, blade at the ready, his eyes flicking from one to the other. His ears just barely heard Sir Auron's very low voice, "Run, Lan. Get the gates into town closed." Lan was having trouble getting his body to respond to commands from his brain until he heard a harsh "NOW!" from Sir Auron.
He turned and ran on wobbly legs to carry out the order. As he raced toward the gate, he heard the most horrifying sounds and screams behind him, but he couldn't slow to look. Arriving at the town wall and grabbing one side of the gate, he screamed to someone to get the other side and the gates slammed shut.
Unable to run any further, he yelled as loud as he could to get all the gates shut and locked but the sound of the battle followed him inside. He grabbed his ears to try to shut out the unearthly sounds beyond the walls.
Then it was quiet. His heart pounding so hard he thought he was going to pass out, Lan made it to the gate, cautiously raised the heavy crossbar, and looked outside.
At first he couldn't see much at all. Then his eyes picked out several forms laying on the ground. One was wearing a red coat.
Sir Auron! Calling for several men to come with him, Lan ran to where the battle had taken place. He saw the bodies of the two hellish fiends, obviously dead. Sir Auron was laying in a large pool of blood, unmoving, unconscious.
"Quickly! Quickly, men! We have to get him into town." They lifted him together and carried him as fast as their heavy burden would allow. With great difficulty they got him into Mandy's. Her horrified eyes took in the situation and directed the men to a small room off the lobby where they placed him on a narrow bed.
"Get the Healer! Run quickly!!" she directed.
Grabbing clean towels, she tried to staunch the flow of blood from several very serious wounds with only limited success. "Where is the Healer?!" she asked, receiving no response.
Lan directed one of the men to return to the scene of the battle, retrieve Sir Auron's weapon and bring it to him.
Time passed and still the Healer did not come. Finally Lan went in search of him, finding him finishing his lunch at one of the more expensive establishments in town. Lan was enraged! "Weren't you told that you were needed?! A man may be dying and you're sitting here eating your lunch?!" The patrons in the establishment were staring, mouths agape, at the Healer and the man screaming at him.
The Healer took note of this and his eyes narrowed. "How dare you speak to me in that tone, young man! I demand an apology this instant!"
Lan drew his sword, held it under the man's chin and in a low voice seething with anger that carried to every corner of the room, said, "You have three seconds to get out that door or I swear I'll run you through myself! The Guardian has been terribly wounded in battle where he killed fiends that none of us could even hope to slow down. He has to have help! MOVE!"
The Healer recoiled at the rage he saw in the eyes of the man holding the sword at his throat.
Mustering what he could of his courage, he sputtered, "If you'll move that weapon, I'll go check this out. They should have said it was The Guardian!"
Lan snarled, "You treat the known and the unknown differently?"
The Healer shot him a look of pure hatred and headed out the door.
Lan still had his sword in his hand and never sheathed it until after the Healer had entered Mandy's Inn. It took him several tries to sheath it because his hands were shaking so badly with anger at the man who called himself a Healer.
By this time, the Mayor and several of the Town Council had appeared outside Mandy's. Lan gave a full report of the events, including the difficulty in getting the town's Healer to give his attention to Sir Auron. Report given, Lan went inside.
Mandy was seated in a chair in the small lobby, tears streaming down her face. "Oh, Lan, it is so bad! I've tried to stop the blood but it just keeps coming."
Lan patted her arm and entered the small anteroom where Sir Auron lay. The Healer was standing above The Guardian, arms crossed, just looking. Lan was incredulous! "Aren't you going to even try to save him?!"
The Healer looked at the younger man with a small smirk on his face. "Sorry you embarrassed me now? You should have thought of that!"
Then, a feigned look of resignation on his face, the Healer shrugged and said, "Sorry, there's nothing to be done. He'll die." With one last look of triumph at Lan's stricken face, he turned and left the room.
Lan broke from his horror and tore out of the room after the Healer who was now outside shaking hands with the Mayor. His hand gripped the Healer's shoulder and spun him around, "If that man dies, your name will be known with shame throughout Spira! There are enough of us who know the truth and we WILL see that it is known! And to think that you call yourself a Healer! You are despicable!"
The Mayor and the Councilmen looked from one to the other. The Healer smoothly turned to them, "This young man seems to be distraught – perhaps from fear. There's nothing to be done for the wounded man. There's only so much a Healer can be expected to do."
The eyes of the dignitaries took in the rage in the younger man's eyes and the hard set of his mouth. "This would never have happened if you had just listened when I first tried to get you to pay attention to security for this town. Now look what has happened! It is on all of you. You are to blame for this!"
A touch of fear was in the eyes of the men before him. They realized the truth of his words but there was the matter of protecting themselves from the fallout of The Guardian's death while in their town. They moved away, murmuring amongst themselves.
Lan slowly turned back to Mandy's. There would be no help for Sir Auron who was dying.
His head came up. He knew one thing. The Guardian loved his wife beyond all measure. He owed it to both of them to try to get her here so they could at least say goodbye.
He told Mandy, "Do everything you can to keep him alive, Mandy! Do whatever it takes!" And he flew out of the room.
His boots thudded in rapid staccato on the street as he raced to the Chocobo corral. "Janson! JANSON!"
A mop of red hair showed itself from around a door followed by light blue eyes in the face of the wrangler. "What is it, Lan? You'll scare my birds!"
"Janson, I need the fastest, strongest bird you have! Now!"
"What for?"
"I've got to get a message to someone fast. It's three days there, three back."
"Who's riding?"
"Me, I guess."
"Nope. You have hands like lead. You're not ruining another one of my birds. Who else can go?"
Lan thought furiously. Dale! He'd do it. He was light and could travel faster.
"Dale! I'll go get him!"
"Yeah, he'll be OK. I'll have one ready by the time you get back!"
Lan tore off down the street to find his friend Dale.
In record time, Dale found himself mounted on a Chocobo with a message for Lady Raine D'Auron in the next town west. Lan had emphasized the urgency over and over until Dale finally said, "Lan! I've got it! I understand! Now move so I can leave." And the Chocobo left out of the corral area at almost top speed.
Lan's head dropped. Janson came over and put a hand on his shoulder. "He'll get there, Lan. He's an excellent rider. I just hope the Lady can get here in time."
Lan nodded his head. After a moment, he sighed and turned back to Mandy's.
Mandy kept pressure on the wounds and used clean towels to absorb the continued bleeding. The pile of bloody towels on the floor grew higher and higher. When her husband came in, he gasped at the sight.
"Don't just stand there, Jon, help me!" She quickly explained the situation as he removed the pile on the floor and went to the storage cabinet to obtain more clean ones.
Lan and one or both of them stayed with Sir Auron every minute. Mandy tried giving him a few sips of water and moistened his dry lips, wiped his face. Lan's stronger arms kept hard pressure on the worst of the gaping wounds on Sir Auron's side and chest.
After a time, the pile of towels on the floor grew more slowly. They were making progress but was it enough? He had lost so very much blood! His breathing was shallow and his heartbeat slow and irregular.
They did their best, but by the next morning infection began to appear in some of the wounds. Mandy shook her head. How much more could the man survive?! Jon thought a moment when Mandy pointed out the new enemy. "I'll be right back!" and he disappeared out the door, then quickly reappeared with a bottle of spirits.
He held it up to Mandy, eyebrows raised. She thought for a moment. "Well, it can't hurt!" and they began pouring it over the wounds at regular intervals. When Lan returned from a short break, he finally began to have hope that they could keep him alive until his wife could arrive. Lan and Jon continued to care for Sir Auron while Mandy got some rest. When she returned, Jon took a break. And the days slowly passed. That he was alive at all was nothing short of a miracle.
On the road, Dale was pressing the Chocobo as hard as he dared. They were magnificent creatures, but they could only go so hard for so long before it was mandatory that they have a break. He chaffed at these delays but knew there was no way around it. He rode straight through, taking only the necessary time to rest the bird. It was a risky venture in the dark of the night, but he did what he felt he had to do.
During the long hours of riding, his mind kept going to the many stories he had been told about The Legendary Guardian. He knew every word was true. The man had defeated Sin not once, but twice. He had served the people of Spira selflessly his whole life. Dale was determined that he would do whatever he had to do to get this message to The Guardian's wife. He just hoped that she could reach Cortland in time.
And he rode. He rested the bird and he rode some more. Finally, in only two days, he rode into the eastern gate of the town walls. A moment later he entered a very large busy square, full of people. He reined the bird to a halt and looked around.
He saw a Chocobo corral not far away and started in that direction, but he was stopped by two men wearing a uniform of some sort. "Security" the patch on the shoulder said.
"I'm looking for Lady D'Auron. Can you direct me to her residence?"
A tall, sturdy looking, dark-haired man asked, "What is your business with Lady D'Auron?"
Dale wasn't sure whether, or what, to answer. Finally he said, "I've ridden almost non-stop from Cortland. Sir Auron has been gravely wounded by fiends. He's – He probably - won't live long. We wanted – we hoped that she could get there before – while there's still time." His tired voice trailed off. "She'll have to hurry."
Marin's face blanched white at the news. Many people had crowded around as Dale spoke and gasps were heard from them all at the news. Sir Auron dying?!!
Taking a deep breath, Marin said, "I'm Marin, head of Security for this town. You are -?"
"I'm Dale, sir. I was sent by Lan, who heads our security – such as it is. Will you direct me to Lady D'Auron, please? There isn't any time to waste." His great fatigue was etched in every line of his face.
Marin responded, "I'm responsible for Lady Raine while Sir Auron is away." He paused as he thought a moment. "I think I should break the news to her but she'll want to speak with you herself, I'm sure."
Carlon, who had joined the crowd, said, "Dale, I'm the wrangler here. I'll take your bird for you and get her some feed and water. You can get her whenever you're ready to return. It's on us."
Dale nodded his thanks. The days and night without sleep had taken their toll on him and his exhaustion clearly showed. He needed food and sleep badly.
Marin turned to Sten and looked into his steady blue eyes. Sten just nodded as he said, "Yes, you have to go with her. Sir Auron trusted you to look after her. All is well here; you've prepared us well and we can handle anything that comes up. Go do what you must."
Marin clenched his jaw tightly, put his hand on his lieutenant's arm and motioned for Dale to follow him.
Hundreds of silent, distraught faces watched as he approached the outer door. He stopped for a moment, his head down. Then a deep breath, he raised his head and rang the bells.
In only a moment the beautiful smiling face of Lady Raine appeared at the door.
"Why, hello, Marin! How ni-" she stopped as she took in the grim look on his face, the anguish in his eyes, his mouth set as if he was bracing himself for something.
Then she saw the exhausted stranger standing behind him. Her face went white. So very softly, she asked, "Is he alive?"
Marin nodded. "Yes. But we have to get there quickly. It isn't good, Raine."
Eyes closed tightly, she gripped the edge of the door, swallowed hard, gritted her teeth, swallowed again and took a deep breath as tiny tears tried to appear. "Come in."
Dale told her what he knew. She was keeping herself together only by extreme will-power. Her throat felt so tight she didn't know if she could speak or not. When he finished, she just nodded, her breathing ragged as she digested the information he'd given.
Marin went into the kitchen and poured a glass of cold juice for her and one for Dale. Dale accepted it thankfully and downed it quickly. Raine held hers, not even knowing it was in her hand, staring with unseeing eyes at the wall across from her.
Then she took a deep breath. "Dale, I'm in your debt for the service you have done for me and my husband. I want you to be our guest at the Inn while you are here. It is so little in return for your efforts. I thank you very much."
Dale, past exhaustion now, nodded his thanks. Marin took him to the outer door where he caught Sten's eye. "Sten, will you ask one of the men escort Dale to the Inn? He's Lady Raine's guest so please inform the staff there. I'd like someone to be on standby to assist him with anything he needs."
Sten nodded. "Rob is available. I'll assign him." Then turning to Dale, he said, "Come. You need a bed and some food. Follow me." They left the square and Marin returned to the villa.
When Marin entered the house, Raine was not in sight. He wasn't certain he should venture beyond the living area but as he hesitated she came out of the bedroom with several articles in her hands.
She was packing a few items in a smallpack such as the one he had seen Sir Auron use. Then he noticed that her blade was already strapped to her back in its sheath.
Before he could say anything, she looked at him levelly with blue steel in her eyes. "I'm going to my husband. I need you to help me with a few things, if you will, before I go."
"Lady Raine! You aren't going alone! I'm going with you. I gave my word to Sir Auron that I would take care of you in his absence and that's what I'm going to do!"
She just looked at him for a few seconds. "Are you prepared to leave in a few minutes?"
Marin thought. "A few moments in the square and I'll be ready."
Raine paused, then asked, "Do you have a purse?"
Marin was a little taken aback by the question, but nodded in the affirmative.
"Good. We'll both need to have gil. I'll be right back." And she went into the bedroom, returning in a few moments with both hands full of gil.
"Here. Fill yours and I'll fill mine. That way if something happens to one purse, we'll still be OK." Then her voice faltered badly, "I don't know what we'll face in Cortland."
Marin watched as her iron will regained control. Shoes. She looked at her slippers. No, she needed the sturdier white shoes Auron had gotten for her. Shoes were changed and securely fastened.
Food. There wasn't anything suitable in the house to take with them. "Marin, will you buy some supplies for us while you're out? I don't have anything here. And we'll need something to drink. I don't know if there is water along the way or not."
Marin nodded and went out into the square. His face may as well have been carved from stone. No one interrupted him. He went from tent to tent, quickly making purchases with the money from his bulging purse. Vendors could see what was being planed and extra amounts of this and that were added to his packs without charge. Bana brought as many cartons of juice as he could carry.
Marin looked at the amount of supplies before him and wondered how they were going to carry it all. He asked Nan, whose tent was closest, if he could leave everything there for a few minutes, then he made his way to Carlon's corral. "Carlon, I have need of a couple of pack-bags if you'll loan them to me. I need something to carry supplies in."
Carlon dug through a bin and brought out two that were in excellent condition and handed them to Marin. "Will these do"
"I think so. Many thanks, Carlon."
"Just be careful out there, Marin. May the gods be with you!"
Marin nodded. "It's what we'll find in Cortland that worries me."
Carlon just nodded, his eyes lowered.
Returning to Nan's tent with the bags, Marin carefully packed the supplies he'd purchased.
He next strode to Harlan's tent to pick up his new uniform jacket. The jacket was made of a very sturdy fabric of the same beautiful dark brown as the uniform pants. The same emblems appeared on the jacket that were on the shirts. The embroidered gold star appeared over the jacket's left breast pocket. Harlan was well pleased with the neat, clean, professional appearance of the uniforms.
In addition, Harlan had secured gold insignia from Nahon that would indicate rank. Gold stars for Marin, one on each side of the shirt collar, and silver for Sten. Quite impressive, though Marin had no thought for any of that at the moment. He needed the jacket to ward off the chill of the night and early morning on the road and hardly noticed what had been pinned to his collar.
He made a couple of purchases for his own smallpack, enough to see him through, he hoped.
He reentered the villa to find Raine dressed in dark blue slacks, a short-sleeved white shirt, her white sparring shoes and blue cloak. The cloak fit nicely over the sheath on her back, the hilt of the sword easily available. She had attached her small pack of personal items and her purse to the back of her waist with a narrow belt.
"Are we ready?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"Yes. I think so." Marin wasn't sure how far she was going to last. Well, they would do their best.
Raine ran down her mental check list, took a last look around her home and walked out the door, Marin right behind her.
Marin had expected her to turn left on the street toward the eastern gate, but instead she walked with a determined stride towards the corral. Carlon watched her approached with surprise and questions in his eyes. His corral was one place she carefully avoided.
Then he was looking into blue eyes that held many emotions, determination predominate at the moment. "Carlon, I need two of your very best birds. I'm not certain when we will return."
Carlon wasn't sure he had heard right. Everybody knew of her real fear of the Chocobos.
"L – Lady Raine, you are going to ride a Chocobo?"
Tiny tears began to sparkle in her eyes as she swallowed hard and said, "Yes, Carlon. I have to get to my husband – and this is the fastest way. Do you have them or not? I don't have much time."
The tremor in her voice was barely controlled. Carlon looked into her eyes and slowly nodded. "I'll be right back," and he disappeared into the barn.
In a couple of minutes he reappeared leading two big yellow birds. Raine never moved but a tremor was visible in her hands. Carlon handed one set of reins to Marin and slowly led the second one closer to Raine.
"This is Daisy. She'll give you everything she has. She's gentle, but she's tough. Trust her and she'll take care of you." Then he stood and waited for Lady Raine to gather her courage to approach the bird.
Instead of walking to the side of the bird, Raine slowly walked to the front of the bird. She looked up into the bright black eyes of the Chocobo. They just seemed to look at each other for several moments.
Then Raine spoke softly to the bird. "Daisy, I have to get to my husband as quickly as I can." Tears began to slide down her face and her voice was strangled, "Will you help me, Daisy? Please? He's all I have."
Her head dropped as her tears turned momentarily to sobs. Daisy's big eyes blinked, then she slowly lowered her head until it was beside Raine's cheek and softly chirred and cooed. Raine's hand found its way to the soft yellow feathers of Daisy's neck and gently stroked them.
Carlon watched with his jaw dropped. It was almost as if the bird understood!
After another few moments, Raine regained her control, looked at Carlon and asked, "How do I ride her?"
He quickly showed her how to mount, dismount, and the most comfortable riding position.
Raine looked at Marin, nodded and mounted Daisy. Daisy gracefully rose from the ground mounting position and stood quietly, awaiting Raine's command. Carlon told Marin, "Yours is Dan. He and Daisy have ridden together before so they should get along without trouble. They're both good birds. You know what they need; just take care of them and they'll take care of you."
Marin nodded, mounted his bird and looked back at the steely determination on Lady Raine's tear-stained face. She nodded, they moved off and were quickly outside the gates of the town.
The people in the square watched in silent respect at the two retreating figures, fearing what would be found in Cortland. Fearing more what their return would bring.