End of a Song
It was over.
After a long and arduous battle, Nidhogg had finally been vanquished, slain by the very woman who had become a symbol of hope for all of Ishgard as she arrived on white wings to turn the tide.
No words could do justice to what she and her allies had accomplished that day. Almost single-handedly, they had brought an end to a circle of violence that for so long had dictated the lives of dragon and man alike, and as the dust was finally settling, we all could feel it in our hearts.
Peace at last.
Cold brushed her cheeks and her breath came out as little puffs of smoke as her steps echoed through the air. It was late in the evening, a time where everyone was usually back in their homes, slowly bidding the passing day good night to welcome the next.
But not tonight.
Tonight, the streets were filled with people even now, cheering and crying while music and song wafted from every corner of the city as they celebrated the end of a war that had been part of their lives since ages past.
Young or old, rich or poor, on this night it did not matter. Everyone came together as one.
And while everyone was celebrating, her friends included, she had used the chance to quietly slip away, heading down alleys she knew would take her to where she wanted to be without drawing too much attention to her.
She needed to be alone right now. To think.
Stepping out of the alley, S'eni entered the Brume. The area was still dealing with the effects of the fire that had destroyed countless homes and it would still be a while until Ishgard was fully rebuilt, but at least for tonight, its residents too would join in on the celebration and let their worries be for another day.
As she walked through the streets, she stopped when she heard two voices coming from above, making her look upward where she found a boy and a girl sitting atop the walls, looking up at the sheer endless sea of stars and the bright full moon floating amongst it. They didn't notice her, too caught up in their own little world, their words holding within them that awkwardness of young love.
She couldn't help but smile as they exchanged a promise for the future, one they were now finally free to realize without fear of what might come.
Not wanting to intrude any longer, S'eni quietly continued onward, making for the set of wooden stairs that lead up into the Foundation, away from Saint Valeroyant's Forum where the majority of the people had come together.
She watched the crowd for a moment, before turning towards her actual destination: the Arc of the Worthy.
The knights that were usually guarding the gates were absent tonight, but she doubted it would matter anyways as hardly anyone would brave the Steps of Faith after today's battle.
After stepping through the gates, she walked along the stone walkway that connected Ishgard with the central highlands. A thin sheet of powdery snow covered it, having been carried here from the mountains by the wind that was blowing even now, making her pull her jacket close against her. The pale moonlight made it glow an ethereal blue.
S'eni stopped in front of the tower that Nidhogg had thrown at Hraesvelgr during the battle and was now blocking the path, taking a moment to look at it before starting to climb over it.
After landing on the other side, she let her gaze wander around, taking in all the signs of the battle that had raged here earlier. Large gashes where Nidhogg had buried his claws into the solid stone, caved in parts of the tower where he had rammed against it, and char marks from his fiery breath that were noticeable even under the dusting of snow.
Walking over to the claw marks, she ran her fingers over the edges. That had been a fierce fight, and not one she wished to repeat anytime soon.
After Nidhogg had fallen, the rest of his brood had quickly retreated back to Dravania, the death of their sire having shaken them to the core. She doubted they would be too much of a threat now, and Vidofnir had told them she would keep a close eye on them before returning to Anyx Trine following her father's departure.
She rose back to her feet and turned to face the spot where it had ended, where Alphinaud and her had managed to wrestle Estinien free from Nidhogg's control. The wyrm's pure hatred had almost overwhelmed them, but just when she had thought that it might already be too late, that they might not be unable to save the Dragoon, after all, a warm presence had arrived to help them, adding much-needed strength to theirs.
You were here the entire time, weren't you? S'eni asked in her mind, remembering how that very same feeling had come over her as she had sat beside his body on the day he died and offered her comfort. You and Ysayle.
Closing her eyes, she let herself recall the smile his ghostly presence had given her as if to tell her that everything would be alright, and she felt her lips rise into one of her own.
"Thank you," S'eni said, her words echoing into the night before being carried away by the wind. She remained like this for a while, simply listening, when her ears perked up at the sudden sound of boots connecting with stone behind her.
"Shtola," she said simply while opening her eyes again, recognizing the familiar footsteps immediately.
"And here I thought you would celebrate all night. You have certainly earned it." the other Miqo'te's voice answered back. "And yet I find you here."
S'eni laughed, turning to face Y'shtola. "No one forces you to follow me, you know?"
Her friend's shoulders rose in a little shrug. "In that case I can leave again."
"No," she said, smile widening. "Stay."
Y'shtola mirrored her expression and walked up next to her.
"I guess I wasn't as stealthy as I thought I was."
"I can assure you everyone else is still very much busy enjoying themselves." Y'shtola put a hand on her hip and looked out into the distance. "It's a beautiful view. Something I would not have associated with Ishgard at all in the past."
"Well, if the weather allows for it anyway," S'eni replied lightly before a thoughtful expression formed on her face. "Do you think Ishgard can do it?"
"I don't know," her friend replied truthfully. "This is something fully in the hands of Ishgard's people. They will be the ones to decide their future from now on, not ancient lies and religious dogmas."
She hummed. "I suppose that's true."
"But they have people like Ser Aymeric, Hilda, and the Fortemps to help guide them. And of course there's their savior, the Warrior of Light herself, to serve as the most shining of examples," Y'shtola said, adding just the right amount of amusement to the last sentence.
"Don't let Estinien hear you say that." S'eni chuckled.
"I'm very sure that he will think twice on what he calls hyperbole after today."
"You make it sound like I did it all on my own. I doubt I would have been able to do it without Hraesvelgr's eye," she said and a small frown formed on her face. "I need to return it to him soon."
She could still feel his powers course through her, and it frankly unnerved her a little. As if he could see all she was doing right now.
The other Miqo'te turned and gave her a long look. "Yes, I can see part of his aether inside you. And as intriguing as that is to watch, I don't think it's wise to keep it for longer than strictly necessary."
"Guess I know where I'll be going tomorrow," S'eni said with a shrug of her own. "Want to accompany me? I'm sure you would find the Churning Mists fascinating as well."
Y'shtola seemed to consider it for a moment, before shaking her head.
"I'm afraid I will have to decline. Krile and Thancred are planning on trying to find more leads on our so-called Warriors of Darkness and I offered my help," she told her, obviously not pleased at all, that she couldn't take a look around the place where dragon and man once lived together.
"They haven't shown themselves since we encountered them," S'eni mused. She had to admit she had almost forgotten about them with all the things that had been happening.
"That may be so, but we need to remain vigilant, since they made it all too clear they are opposing us."
"Hmm. What is it they're planning?" she wondered, crossing her arms in front of her chest. A sudden gust of wind blew past them and she felt a shiver run through her.
"Perhaps instead of pondering out here in the cold we should head back?" Y'shtola offered.
"Yeah." S'eni nodded. She had done what she came here to do anyway.
Climbing over the collapsed tower once again, the two of them made their way back to the city gates.
After walking through, they started to make their way back to the Pillars, this time taking the direct way through the Arc of the Humble instead. Just like the Saint Valeroyant Forum, the plaza dedicated to Saint Reinette was filled with people, the music they were playing greeting them before they even took the steps that lead up it.
For a mercy, the crowd that had gathered here was much smaller and didn't seem to recognize her, or they simply didn't care as they were too overjoyed that the war was finally over. Letting herself come to a stop, S'eni watched as some of them danced, while others clapped and sang alongside the melody the instruments were playing.
Maybe it was because the mood was downright infectious but an idea suddenly sparked inside her mind and the corners of her lips curled into a grin. Glancing over to Y'shtola standing next to her, she extended a hand, palm upwards.
The other Miqo'te eyed her hand for a moment, before shifting them up towards her face. "What?"
"Care to dance?"
"A dance?" Y'shtola asked with a raised brow.
"You said it yourself: I earned myself some celebration." S'eni tilted her head a little to the side. "Well, I'd like to dance!"
"Don't force yourself to stop on my account."
"Oh, live a little! Especially after a battle like today," she said, motioning towards her hand with a nod.
Crossing her arms in front of her chest, the other woman simply stared at her as if she had suddenly grown a Garlean's third eye.
They remained like this for a moment, neither budging. In the meantime, the song that was currently playing came to an end and another was started. As the first notes started to echo towards them, S'eni rolled her eyes and grabbed Y'shtola by the wrist, dragging her towards the rest of the dancers and eliciting a surprised noise from her.
Silvery white eyes glared at her, but she ignored them as she slid her hand behind Y'shtola's back. With a sigh of resignation, her friend let her hand come to rest upon her shoulder. "Honestly..."
"Just follow my lead," S'eni said with a bright smile, gently grasping the other hand and taking her first step left. At first, their movements were stiff and awkward, Y'shtola's reluctance still not fully gone, and they nearly stumbled into a dancing couple as a result, but little by little they fell into step with one another and moved as gracefully as the rest of them.
"I didn't know you could dance," her friend noted as they pulled apart for a moment.
"We actually danced a lot back home. A little differently than on the mainland, but I picked it up pretty fast," she replied, closing the distance again. "I'm pretty good with my hips."
To make a point, she let her hips playfully sway from side to side, earning herself a little chuckle.
"Oh? Is someone actually starting to enjoy herself?" S'eni asked, a teasing tone entering her voice.
Y'shtola huffed, shaking her head, but there was still a small smile starting to form on her lips. "You're impossible."
And as the song came to a close, she did not immediately walk away and instead stayed even as the next one began.
Stepping apart alongside the other dancers, the two of them started to bounce on their heels and clap their hands, the song rapidly gaining in momentum when the singing started.
It was a simple song, easy to dance to, and S'eni soon found herself swept along with everyone else and started to sing. She was an average singer at best, but that did not dissuade her at all, if anything it made her want to try her very best to keep up with the rest. Even as she made mistakes that earned her a few good-natured laughs and amused looks, she still sang along with them.
Another laughter caught her attention over the din of everyone else's, subdued but still loud and clear to her ears. Turning her head, she saw Y'shtola, the hand hovering slightly in front of her face lowering to a lovely smile on her lips. Her hair was slightly tousled up from the dancing and her eyes glowed as the light from a nearby lantern hit her just right.
She looked absolutely beautiful.
S'eni sucked in a sharp breath, lips parting slightly as her already quickened heart skipped a beat, and she found herself rooted to the spot, hands dropping mid-clap.
Warmth started to spread throughout her entire body when the realization hit her like a Chocobo's kick: she was attracted to her.
A moment passed before the smile on Y'shtola's face faded, replaced by a frown, and she took a step forward. "Eni?"
A hand being placed on her shoulder broke the spell, making her blink a few times. "Huh?"
"Is everything alright? Did you just have a vision?" her friend asked.
Something like that, S'eni thought, tongue darting out to lick lips that had gone dry. She took another deep breath in an effort to calm herself, then shook her head. "N-no. It's nothing. Just...tired I guess," she replied.
Once again, Y'shtola didn't look convinced, but thankfully the song was coming to a close around them, giving S'eni the perfect chance to change the topic.
"This was fun, but I think we should go back. The others are bound to have noticed both of our absence by now," she said, averting her eyes and ignoring the heat on her cheeks as she started to walk past Y'shtola towards the steps leading up to the Pillars.
The other Miqo'te remained standing where she was for a moment, watching as S'eni left with the frown on her face deepening before she slowly started to follow.
"Eni..."
[cue Only the Dead]
And finally, it hit her lol. About damn time!
This scene was actually one of the first ones that I came up with when I began writing this story. This, and another one that will be posted in the not too distant future. I hope you're looking forward to it, because I certainly am.
Until then, see ya!