Chapter Fifty-Eight: Riddles

"Aerith?"

A soft, feminine laugh rang in his ears, and he felt fingers brush his shoulders. "Hey, Cloud," Aerith said. "Been a while?"

Cloud reached up to place a hand on where he felt hers, but it passed through only air. "Too long," he said.

"Don't you get depressed on me," she scolded kindly. "Or I'll leave." He couldn't tell if the threat was idle or not. She laughed again, the sound like bell tones through crisp air, to assure him that she was not angry.

"Aerith," he asked. "What do you know about this?"

"So curt? Can't I have a decent greeting?" She stopped when he lowered his head. "This is troubling you, I am sorry."

"No, I was rude, I'm—"

"Ask me anything," she interrupted. "And I'll do my best to help."

"Where is Faramir, then?"

"You plan on aiding Aralyn?" Her voice turned sad. "It will cause you so much pain…"

"Vincent has gone," Cloud defended himself.

"Vincent made his choice. You have to make your own. You can still spare yourself the danger. You don't have to be drawn into this."

"I don't believe that. We are already too far into it to go back."

She hesitated before she spoke again. "Faramir is nestled between the mountains and the sea, hidden so well from the world that it is near impossible to find it without the aid of one who has been there."

"Can I find someone, then?"

"You can," she said. "But unless it is Aralyn…I fear you would not agree to travel alongside him. I will show you, and guide you."

"Have you been there?"

"No, but Zack has."

"Then one more question."

"Anything."

"Who is Aralyn?"

Aerith hesitated and withdrew her hand from his body. "Anything but that, Cloud."

"Why not?" Cloud burst out, suddenly angry. He turned, letting his rage control him, to see her backed away, her hands folded neatly over her pink dress and her long, brunette braid thrown over one shoulder. "Why won't anyone talk about it? Can it be so horrible?"

"Oh, Cloud…I am sorry, but I have to agree with Vincent on this. You can't know. You couldn't take it."

"Why? Tell me that, at least?"

"Cloud, I know you are angry but please believe me…she has hurt so much, and having her friends turn against her would be another blow that I fear she couldn't take."

"Turn against her? Why would we do that?" Cloud said, his volume more tame but his tone still icy.

"I am glad your friendship with her stands so firm. Please…keep it that way. She needs your acceptance more than you need the truth. I'm so sorry."

"Aerith…"

But she disappeared, smiling at him sadly one last time. "You will see." He heard her voice echo. "Everything will work out."