echoes of truth | ❝ tales of loss and fire and flame. ❞

[dragonssung]

song of hope

BOOK 3.5: EVER HEAVENSWARD

Tales of loss and fire and faith
Every word on our hearts engraved
In the dark you will not stray
Forge ahead, till the end, we prayCODE BY TESSISAMESS

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[thewayforpeace]

[ His shoulders sag as the exhaustion he has been trying to outrun begins to pull him down. His eyes slide closed again as her thumbs gently brush away his tears, but in spite of himself, a few more escape and slide down his face. ]

I... I do not understand how you can be so forgiving and kind. [ He shakes his head once, as if he already has the answer to it. But his words come slower as his exhaustion only grows. ] It is not.. Not because you are the Warrior of Light, but because it is who you are.

[ His posture seems to change then, curling inward once again as his doubts seem to rise. ] I am not deserving.

[ But in spite of himself, he rises as best as he can, leaning into the kiss as if he wordlessly craves it and all the love she can give him. When she nuzzles her nose against his, he almost smiles, but it is a pale imitation of his usual one. ]

I- I do. Please, keep using them.

[ And having said that, he sags back to rest against the pillows, having finally exhausted what little strength he had. ]

[elpides]

[ She gives him a look as if wondering if she should protest more, but he seems fairly resolute as he does with most things that he says. Still, she watches him carefully because she isn't sure if he should be walking unaided. ]

Do you need help walking? [ She does not want him thinking that she thinks he can't manage on his own, but she does worry about him.

But at what he says next, she rubs her hand against the back of her head, a little embarrassed. ]</small I think that I have told you this before, but I don't feel like a hero.

[crystallinedreams]

Well... truthfully... I could use the aid. [ He gives a bashful smile and glances away. ] Just until we transport to the bottom of the Tower. The short walk from the aether shard to the tavern should not be too difficult.

[ The Exarch pauses at her statement. His hand is reached out towards her. ] Might I... may I ask why not?

[ The door opening to the quarters to the side of the Ocular turns his attention. There stands Lyna, oh, ever vigilant Lyna. Her eyes widen at the sight of the two and dashes over. The Exarch forces a smile for her and attempts to ease her concerns. The captain, however, is quite obviously not buying his story. She gives a frustrated sigh. ]

He is ever the handful, is he not? [ Lyna sighs and looks to K'thisru with a worried smile. ] Stay here and I will fetch dinner. Someone needs to look over our lord to make sure he does not overextended himself further.

I am fine, I assure you!

[ The Exarch stands to his full height even as hid leg quakes under the weight. Clearly his last show of strength does not impress his adopted daughter. She turns and leaves the room, the closing of the doors echoing in the Ocular.

He sighs, looking back down to the Warrior of Darkness at his side. ] It would seem we have even more time to converse now.

[shepherdtostars]

What is there to forgive you of? Nothing. I hold nothing against you, Aymeric. You have been controlled and manipulated. [ She brushes her fingers along his cheeks again to remove the last of his tears. ] It is not a matter of deserving, Aymeric.

[ Any love he is in need of is given to him freely with no expectations that it is returned. She would give him all he might take if not for the fact he sinks back into the pillows. Alkaid partially smiles at him, taking the blankets and tugging him up around him once more. She brushes his hair down and kisses his forehead to help ease him to the rest of his slumber. All the while, she remains close, ready to be there at a moments notice should he need her.

She drifts off to sleep herself for no more than a handful of hours before waking up to check him. An attempt to rouse him is given with little success. Realizing that he needs more rest, this time she silently slips under the covers to join him. It takes a little maneuvering because she can settle flush against him and allow her eyes to fall shut once more.]

[thewayforpeace]

[ If he could, he would answer her, saying that he remembers throwing harsh words at her and at times, recoiling from her as Thordan rained down attacks on him, an involuntary motion he did not intend. It cannot have been an easy time for her, watching all of this unfold before her eyes, and that is what he feels most troubled by. And, naturally, the notion that he caused her hurt with his words, even if they were not truly his own, does not sit well with him.

But wave after wave of tiredness washes over him, and when she pulls the blankets back over him, he finds it even more difficult to stay awake. But then she brushes down his hair and plants another kiss, and the lines of tension on his face all but melt away.

It takes a little longer for his breathing to even out as sleep pulls him under, but eventually, it reaches a more normal, easier pattern.

He does not stir at all, not even to shift or lightly twitch in response to outside stimuli, because his need for rest is so great. But when Alkaid attempts to rouse him, he does shift just a fraction but only continues sleeping. Automatically, however, as soon as she slides beneath the covers beside him, he presses himself lightly against her, still seeking her out even in his sleep.

It is not long after the pair have fallen asleep that the door lightly cracks open and K'thisru pokes her head in. It does not take her long to see that sleep has finally taken both of them, and for just a few minutes, she stands there like that with a small smile on her face. Satisfied for the moment, she slides back out again, quietly closing the door behind her and returning to the sitting room where Alisaie and Alphinaud still sit, and where Estinien still leans against the wall. ]

Both of them have fallen asleep.

[shepherdtostars]

[ There is no denying that what he had said hurt, even if she knows it was not truly him saying them. A version of him, molded and formed by doctrine that created a primal. Knowing that it was not him helped carry the pain, but, there has always been a fear in her heart that what that version of him had said was how he felt. Perhaps, deep down, all she is truly worth is her abilities as a white mage, the Echo, and the Blessing of Light. Maybe there is no place in which being Lantaa is of value to anyone, but more importantly him.

She was not lying when she had phrased things certain ways. She has felt she has failed him in so many ways. While Aymeric would insist he does not mind waiting, Alkaid knows he should not have to wait. He should be able to return from his day to a home where his lady-wife has taken care of the home. He should have a wife that is not forced to be so inconsistent with her time with him. Even more so, beyond all of those things, he should have a wife that could bear him children. Their chances had already been low, but she still had hope that somehow it might happen one day.

Her gaze drifts to the side as he falls into a slumber. They are thoughts she has gone over again and again so many times during the last few days. What is worse? A woman he loves who has let him down in any way a wife can by nature of relationship and his cultural customs, or a wife that has such a selfish need to cling to him and ask he stays with her? Alkaid swallows the sound that might have come from her and instead pulls herself closer to him once he presses to her.

Eventually, as her sister notes, she does drift off to sleep. ]

Thank the Gods. [ Alisaie breathes a sigh of relief and leans back against the couch. ] Even if it had worked... it was so very different from Ga Bu's tempering. Harder, in fact. Yet, Ga Bu was the one who has spent more time tempered.

[ Estinien shrugs and pushes himself from the wall. ] While I would not presume to know of this Ga Bu's heart? The relationship between the Archbishop and Aymeric has always been one of wanting. If primals do in fact recall their previous incarnations? It would stand to reason King Thordan attempted to ensnare Aymeric further by the bond he wished to have with the Archbishop.

[ Alisaie closes her eyes and sighs. ] No wonder then... why Alkaid refused to leave. Other than the fact that they are engaged. [ A moment passes then the young Elezen stands, legs unsteady, but she holds a hand up to refuse the help. ] Well, I say we leave them to it then. I'll need to recover myself before reporting to the Scions.

[ The young Elezen ushers them all out of the room, practically attempting to drag her twin despite the fact she is weak from the extended use of channeling aether. The quarters set aside for diplomats falls quiet even as the evening hours stretch on and into night.

Alkaid wakes but a few times in the night to check on Aymeric. He sleeps still, undisturbed, which is enough to ease her at first. Then, as it turns morning, and then afternoon, she attempts to rouse him so he might at least eat. He remains the hardly responsive that he has been, mumbling something she cannot understand before sinking back into his sleep. It only truly begins to worry her once it stretches onto a second day. K'thisru visits and attempts to help, but Alkaid still sits twisting her fingers in worry. Logically, of course, he would sleep this long. The mental and emotional battle was long and taxing... he would need to sleep...

The second day stretches on into night. Alkaid does what she can to keep her mind occupied during it all, but inevitably, finds herself sitting on the edge of the bed that night. Her hands shake uncontrollably with the worries in her mind compounding on one another. She looks over her shoulder at Aymeric, waiting to see if he might move at all. Minutes stretch to an hour and once it is clear he will not wake? She slips from the bed to sit on the floor beside it.

Her arms rest on the bed and her chin atop them, simply watching as he sleeps. A hand stretches out at one point to rest atop of his with her fingers brushing along the top. Then, she pulls her hand back, and tilts her forehead against both arms and closes her eyes. A few tears manage to escape despite her best attempts, and hands curl into the blanket beneath them. Why did all of this happen to him? What had he ever done to deserve it? Nothing, of course. That answer is hardly enough to calm the churning emotions inside her.

Eventually, sleep takes her once again, despite the rather uncomfortable position. ]

[thewayforpeace]

[ It seems as though there is much that they must speak about, and many things he still believes he must apologize for and thank her for as well. But in order to do so, he will obviously need to be awake and strong enough to sort through everything that has happened.

There is a part of him that believed it was his lot in life to be wedded to the city that he loves so much, to be consumed with thoughts of how best to protect her and the people who call her home. But then the Warriors of Light crossed his path, and although he did not realize it straight away, they brought light back to his life and hope to the city as well.

Whether or not he should have to wait is a non-issue in his mind. He has found love when he was not looking for it, and he would not begrudge her for having to leave as often as she does. He truly does not mind having to wait for her, and he would go as far as to say he would spend the rest of his life content with such an arrangement, knowing that she would return to him whenever she could. A part of him would always worry about her, but he has the benefit of having a solid friend such as Estinien who is not so bound by duty and obligation and could find the time to look in on her. Estinien still has his responsibilities, but of the two of them, he has more freedom to move about while Aymeric has less.

At the end of it all, he considers himself blessed that he has found her at all, whether or not she can be with him constantly or whether or not she can give him children. To wish for anything more than what he has already been gifted feels too grasping, too selfish, and so he has resolved to not do that if he can help it.

But for the moment, his cares and worries are far from him, because his mind has been taxed by the long struggle. The sleep he has managed to find is a dreamless one, which is perhaps a mercy given everything that has transpired.

Even so, it seems as though he will not be waking for a good long while, because his body and mind have been thoroughly depleted. Even when Alkaid attempts to awaken him from his slumber, he barely responds and merely goes on sleeping aside from an unintelligible mumble and a barely noticeable change in position.

But one day turns into another, and night comes again and still Aymeric sleeps. This time, however, as a few more hours pass, something stirs in Aymeric's mind, and he dimly registers Alkaid moving although he cannot see what it is she is doing. He feels a little pressure on the bed, not enough to disturb him, but enough to let him know that Alkaid is either sitting on the bed again or has fallen asleep on it. He simply cannot tell which is which.

The hold that sleep has on him is lessening, although he has a long way to go before he can truly call himself awake. Still, one hand curls beneath the blanket, fingers moving to grip onto the sheets below them. The other hand moves as well, also gripping onto the sheets as tightly as he can manage.

Awareness slowly returns to him, and with it comes a confused blur of feelings that culminate in one equally confused memory: Thordan's voice echoing in his thoughts and through his mind, and for one terrifying second, he cringes inwardly as if fearing being struck and hurt once again.

Driven by that sudden fear, his eyes abruptly snap open and his frame tenses. But just as suddenly, his mind fills in the gaps and he realizes that his thoughts are his own, there is no cause for the terror that has taken hold.

There must have been at one point, but whenever he tries to focus on those memories, they slip away before he can. Perhaps it is for the best that he not remember whatever transpired in its entirety, he reasons.

But now that he has awoken, he can see that he is not alone. Alkaid has also fallen asleep, and remains that way, and although the last thing he wishes to do is disturb her rest, he reaches out and lightly places a hand on top of her head and lets it rest there. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ Alkaid herself does not dream, and that in itself is a blessing. Since returning from the First, all too often are her dreams filled with horrors of sin eaters or the horror Black Rose could have caused. Perhaps she is far too exhausted for her mind to even conjure such visions. Instead, her breathing simply is irregular from the stress of everything the last week. That, or it is the lingering fear and anxiety over her husband-to-be.

There is a hitch in her breathing as she dimly registers, somewhere in her mind, that Aymeric has begun to move. His hand rests atop of her head and her ears twitch. It takes a moment longer for her eyes to open. She raises her head clearly still coming out of the stages of sleep. However, the moment her eyes meet his, her ears stand on end. Tears begin to gather and she raises her own hand to rest on his arm. She moves to speak his name but finds that she is unable to really speak at all.

Her fingers run along his arm until her arm cannot reach further. The tears start to run down her face, and she again tries to say his name. This time, a sound something similar to a whine manages to break through the fear that is paralyzing her. ]

[thewayforpeace]

[ When she moves, he startles just a bit, because he had not been expecting her to stir so soon. But then he startles again when he realizes that she is crying, and just as she did for him, he reaches out so that he might dry the tears that are falling from her eyes.

It is not until he hears that sound from her that he pushes himself forward on the bed, ignoring the lingering tiredness that still clings to him and the residual weakness that still remains. But with how each of them are positioned, what is in his mind to do would be easier if he was not lying in a bed. So, armed with that thought and a sudden determination, he moves until he is out from beneath the covers and both legs are over the side of the bed.

From there, he attempts to stand just long enough for him to move closer to where she is seated on the floor. He has to keep one hand on the bed to prop himself up, because he still is not accustomed to standing, but as soon as he reaches her, he kneels down upon the floor and wraps his arms around her as best as he can. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ She freezes the moment she can feel his startle through his arm. Her eyebrows knit together at his hand on her face that brush her tears away. The reality of the situation settles on her all at once. He is not only awake, but the tempered light has not returned to his eyes. Instead, his sky-blue ones gaze back at her as they should. A fresh wave of tears come to her as relief and exhaustion wash over her all at once. The cure had obviously worked, but beyond that, he had not reverted back to a tempered state.

This time, the cry that comes from her is of relief. Her free hand moves to cover her mouth as if to stifle the sound and keep her emotions inside. Even more so once she sees he has begun to move. Her ears stand on end and the hand on his arm gentlty squeezes as if to say he should not move so much just yet. She can see he is determined in whatever course his mind has set, and thus she simply sits on the floor in her lighter fabric sleeping gown. Both hands move to help steady him at his hips and side once as he stands, then kneels down in front of her.

His arms wrap around her and she pauses. Her mind takes another moment to register the motion and the gravitas around it. Both of her shaking arms wrap around his frame and another cry of relief leaves her. Her face hides in his chest with the shaking spreading to her whole body. Alkaid shuts her eyes tightly to keep the tears at bay, regardless of the fact her tail begins to thump against the floor to vent the bottled emotions another way. ]

A-Aymeric...

[thewayforpeace]

[ He really ought not to be moving so soon, but he has spent so long being incapable of moving or even speaking that he realizes he cannot spend another moment lying still, not when the woman he loves more than anything in the world is here and in need of comfort. He may need to rest again after this, but holding her and comforting her is far more important to him.

Once he is on the ground beside her, arms wrapped around her and her own arms doing the same to him, he presses his face against her shoulder, paying no heed to how far he must lean down to complete the action. ]

I love you. [ His hold tightens on her as the realization of just how much he loves her sweeps over him again. ] I love you.

[ It might not be all he wishes to say to her, but it is a start. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ Once his head rests on her shoulder, Alkaid shifts to hold him purely on instinct. Her head lays atop of his, nuzzling her nose into his hair. Her tail still hits the floor to vent the emotions she refuses to let out, but, she at least has stopped shaking as much. Hands curl into his borrowed night shirt. The blonde and pink hair comes over her other shoulder with none of her customary braids in sight.

After a few moments, her hand starts to rub his back. She instantly falls into the one comforting by simple nature of who she is. A gentle kiss is planted to his ear in response to his declaration. Of course, she knows, but hearing the words again with no fear of him being torn away... it fills her heart with so many emotions she hardly knows where to start.

Alkaid closes her eyes before kissing the side of his head. Then, she speaks gently, so that only he might hear: ] Hello, my knight.

[elpides]

[ K'thisru opens her mouth to respond to both things, but before she can, something akin to a calm sort of storm in the form of Lyna arrives, and instead of answering, she glances back and forth between the Exarch and Lyna, listening to the calm yet decisive delivery of words from the taller woman.

In spite of herself, she smiles at the Exarch's protest, and before Lyna takes her leave, she gives her the widest, most approving smile that she can. In her mind, the Exarch needs someone like Lyna, and although she wouldn't dare overstep, someone like herself as well. Maybe the two of them can conspire and think of ways to split the task of looking after the Exarch.

Once it is just the two of them once more, K'thisru turns to face him again. ] Well, I don't know about you, but I'm glad about that.

[ More time to speak with him is a good thing, in her mind. ]

[thewayforpeace]

[ As always, her hold soothes him and the growing fear inside him that he has yet to give voice to. He holds that back for the moment, because as is customary with him, he finds himself being far more concerned with her needs than anything that might be causing him trouble. But still, he allows her to hold him, once again drinking in the comfort she gives him. The way she nuzzles her nose into his hair is something he has grown to like very much, and it relieves him to know that she is still responding in the same way that she always has.

A part of his mind chastises him for accepting her comfort when he should be the one reassuring her, but then again, they can both help each other. He practically melts beneath her as she begins rubbing his back, an action that eases some of the tension in his spine and shoulders as well.

He feared that they would never speak again, not like this, and what's more, he feared that the primal would sever their connection and their bond forever until one or both of them ended up in the aetherial sea.

Again, his emotions rise and his frame shakes even in her hold as he tries to settle them and wills his fears and worries to lessen. ]

I have missed you, Lantaa. [ His voice thickens with emotion as he adds: ] I feared that my last words to you would be unkind and hurtful, and that is not how I would have you remember me.

[crystallinedreams]

[ The Exarch chuckles slightly. ] I suppose we do have much to catch up on. That is, to say, now that the Calamity has been averted and I can no longer hide who I am.

[ Slowly, and carefully, the Exarch eases himself back to the pillows on the floor. His head turns enough for him to direct the systems of the Tower to begin searching for any documentations relating to primals, eikons, or tempering. With the Toeer's systems coming to life and beginning go scan, he turns his attentions back to K'thisru. His leg extends out to ease the pain as a patch of skin on his calf begins to turn blue. If he can manage it, he would not have her see it. ]

Now, then. With dinner on the way and the Tower beginning its search... what tell me. What would you like to speak of?

[shepherdtostars]

[ King Thordan would need to remove her from this star, and even then, that would not change how she feels towards him. It would not change how she acts towards him. He is her mate, and beyond that, she feels as if their souls might always be bound together. Perhaps it was something from another life, or perhaps they have simply become so tied together in this life. Either way, she cannot fathom nor see a life without him in it.

He is her knight, after all, in more ways than one. He protects and shields her when he can. Even more so, he guards and shields her heart. While it is not a sentiment he may agree with her in the moment? She would still trust him to protect it.

Her arms pull him closer. ]

They were not your words. Of course I would not remember you by them. [ She then cradles him to her frame, gently rocking him backwards and forwards by only a fraction. ] I... I feared you would not see me as yours if they had to take you from me. That, if you had to leave me, and return to the aetheric sea... t-that you would look at me, but not see Lantaa. Only the Warrior of Light.

[ Her face presses into his hair again as her eyes shut. Her tail continues to tap onto the floor as she forces her emotions to calm. ]

...that in the end, that would be all I was to be to you. The Warrior of Light, slayer of primals...

[elpides]

[ For just a second, she looks at him as if she's seeing him for the first time. Of course, by now, she likes to think she knows him well, and more importantly, she can finally see him as he truly is. ]

It must have been hard concealing yourself like that, and for as long as you did. I know that I would have been tempted to just tell everything as soon as I could, because... Well, you know I am not the most patient person.

[ She tilts her head to one side as she ponders a conversation topic. ]

I wonder, did you think that things would have been different if we knew who you were?

[thewayforpeace]

[ If he ever doubted that they belonged together and that their souls are tied inextricably together, he no longer has any doubts. In all likelihood, he never had doubts to begin with, because with her, he has found everything he could have ever wanted or hoped for, and now he can scarcely imagine a life without her.

If they should ever be separated, he knows without a doubt that his soul will try to find hers, through as many lifetimes as it might take. And although they might appear differently from how they are now, he will know it when it's her.

The gravity of what she is saying is not lost on him, and as it sinks in, his shaking only continues. A part of him reprimands himself for his lack of control, but for the moment, the calm and collected Lord Speaker has gone, replaced by a man who is barely able to rein in his emotions. ]

There was a moment when it seemed as though that was our only recourse. [ Looking back on it now, he knows that he had begun to lose hope that he could be saved. He would rather die as himself than spend the rest of his days enslaved by a primal. But it seems as though Alkaid's faith and Alisaie's determination were greater than he could have imagined. He still resolves to properly thank Alisaie at his earliest opportunity. ]

But a part of me knew that it was you: not only the Warrior of Light, but Lantaa, the one whom I love most. I might not have been able to put it into words, but I knew that it was you.

[ The primal tried to take that from him, and he almost succeeded, but he still managed to hold onto at least a little of that recollection.

But as much as he would like to, and even though he still has a great deal of recovering left to do, he asks: ] What are we going to do now? What is... Do you know the state of affairs in Ishgard?

[ He imagines she will say they must remain here for some time longer, but he cannot hold back the question either. ]

[crystallinedreams]

[ His head tilts and the tips of his give a slight twitch as she looks at him. At first he wonders if perhaps there is something on his face? Other than the crystal parts that is. Then, she speaks of concealing himself, and he pauses. A small huff of a laugh comes from him and his ruby eyes fall to the floor in front of him.

It all seems so long ago. ]

There had been a time when I nearly spoke of it all to you. Long before you came to the First. [ His hand made of flesh curls slightly at the memory. ] When I had met you a second time in Ishgard, so very long ago--from my point of view, that is. You were rather distraught that I would not give details you found imperative to understanding the situation I spoke of. Truthfully, I had feared you may have pieced together my identity by simply seeing my eyes... yet, it seems like I had nothing to concern myself over.

[ Simply because he still wonders how much of their time through the Crystal Tower she remembers. Not that he had expected her to remember him. His first impression upon her was far from inspiring and he most certainly looked more like a child than anything. ]

Yes. I imagine it would of been very different. I would think you and your sister would have attempted to stop me. [ His gaze on the floor softens into something softer, sadder. His crystal hand flexes. ] Your sister is very sensitive to the flows of aether... and I imagine seeing the state of myself is rather distressing to her. [ The body, after all, is not meant to be crystal. He raises his gaze towards K'thisru. ] And, I imagine it is quite distressing for you as well, Thisru. If only because you do not like to see those you aid in any form of pain.

[ Surely, there would be no other reason for her to feel distress or any other sort of emotion at the state of him. A friend in pain is enough of a reason for her. ]

That surely is not the only thing you would wish to speak of.

[shepherdtostars]

[ She had idle musings on the First if their souls had ever found one another before now. There had been seven Rejoinings... had they ever met in those seven reflections? Or, is it, they had not, and that is why they remain so stubborn in staying together now? Had they found one another before the Calamities on the Source, only to be torn apart, needing to find one another again and again? They are thoughts she has never shared with anyone--not even her sister. Although, she had a feeling that Ardbert had caught on at some point, given how he sulked about the room given to the sisters.

Alkaid continues to gently rock him, her grip only tightening once he speaks of how perhaps their only option had been to slay him. The idea alone still causes her hands to tremor and a sharp pain in her heart. While she never wishes to walk this star without her sister or Aymeric? The future is uncertain and it may very well happen... which only causes her raw heart to ache more. ]

You spoke to me the few times you could manage it... and told me you were still there in little ways. [ Maybe ways that only she and Estinien might pick up on.

Regardless, she tries to pull him ever closer as she sways back and forth for him. His question makes her frown. She should have thought to ask Estinien of such things. After all, Aymeric's greatest love is his city and people, as she sees it in her mind. How had she not thought to keep informed of the situation, knowing he might ask when he returned to himself? Her gaze drops to the floor as a fresh wave of failure strikes at her. ]

I'm unaware of where she stands, other than the fact that she still does. [ Her ears flatten and her tail curls up around her leg. ] If you'd like, I can summon Estinien, and we can see what he and the others have learned.

[ Alkaid frowns slightly as her shoulders curl. Part of her wishes to curl up on herself as yet another way she has let him down piles in her mind. ]

I'm certain the Admiral will wish to speak to you and learn how this had happened to start with. Until then, a few more days of rest and food should get you back on your feet. Once you have recovered enough to walk? We will make our way to Ishgard.

[elpides]

[ She has not had many chances to just look at him and both take in his appearance and commit it to memory, but whenever she does, she knows that she likes what she sees. Oh, she will never like seeing his crystal parts, but there is something striking about his red eyes and the way his hair seems to swirl between red and white. Part of her wishes to reach for that hair and touch it, but she wonders if that is too forward, even for her.

For the moment, she just listens as he speaks, also noting how she very much likes the sound of his voice. It is calming and soothing, and she likes how words sound when he says them. ]

Well, I wondered, and I had a suspicion, but I thought that I must have been wrong.

[ And truthfully, so much has happened since they first came upon the Crystal Tower that some of the memories have been obscured by time, but she distinctly remembers him entering the Tower and the sight of the doors closing, blocking him from view. It seemed wrong to her at the time, even though she knew why he had chosen to do so. ]

I still don't like it, and I wish that I could fix it... Fix you.

[ Because she fears what will happen if the crystallization takes him over completely. ]

If I start, I might not ever stop. [ She grins a wry sort of grin, but she knows there is an element of truth to her words as well. She has been told that she often talks far too much. ]

[crystallinedreams]

I suppose one with red eyes and having parts of their body become crystal is rather obvious. [ He smiles nervously then, a hand raising to rub the back of his neck. ] Still... everything I have done is because it was necessary. Stopping the Eighth Umbral Calamity needed to be done.

[ Then, he raises his eyes once more to the ceiling. ] As I mentioned once before. Those that built the Crystal Tower had done so to reach the heavens--to embody the hopes and dreams of a people. It was only later, once their civilization faced decline, did they change the purpose of it. To be the trusted, nay blessed, to hold those hopes and bring them to another people? I feel rather unworthy, in a way, I suppose.

[ He raises his crystal hand and gestures for her to sit down. ] Please, Thisru. Sit. We can speak of whatever comes to mind. Does something trouble you? I would hear of it, if you do not mind sharing. For all that you have done for me and the people of Norvrandt? Listening to any troubles or enjoyment is the least I might do.

[thewayforpeace]

[ Perhaps he is far too romantic in his thinking, an idea that Estinien has taken him to task for previously, but Aymeric has always believed in the notion that there was one person out there intended for him. Now whether or not their paths would cross, he could not have said, but then he met Alkaid, and now he cannot imagine a life without her. As far as he is concerned, they were meant to find each other, and they will keep finding each other again.

He leans further into her hold, an impressive task given how close they already are, but he only wants to be with her, to be held by her and try to give her as much comfort in return as he can. In his mind, he only causes her hurt and regret, not happiness, and that is not what he wants for her.

Perhaps he should be less selfish and think less of Ishgard and more of her. At the suggestion that she summon Estinien and ask him for information about Ishgard, Aymeric only shakes his head. If he is to be less selfish, then he must place focus on her where it belongs. ]

If you say Ishgard still stands, that is enough. [ He tries to inject as much confidence into his words as possible, and after all, it is not a lie. ] She has stood firmly this long; I imagine that is not about to change. [ Never mind that he fears for the safety of those he considers friends and allies. ]

I am not sure what I will say to her when she comes seeking an audience. [ His memories of what transpired are unclear and he can scarcely recall how it was he became tempered in the first place. ] I would think she will not find me a very useful source of information.

[ His eyes slide closed again for just a moment, opening once more a few seconds later. ] If you have nowhere else to be, I would ask for your indulgence again, and request that you lie beside me.

[ But it is only a request, and he is quick to add that: ] Only if you wish to, of course.

[ He feels exhaustion beginning to take hold again, and he imagines she must need more rest as well. It is difficult for him to imagine that a few days of resting is all it will take for his recovery, but she is a healer and would certainly know of what she speaks. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ She continues to rock him back and forth, hand once again beginning to rub his shoulders. The tension there is obvious and she wonders what troubles his mind. Surely, it must be Ishgard, and the state of his people. Her ears press further to the side of her head as she kisses the top of his own. Now is not the time to be selfish even if she wishes to be. He has need to know what has befallen their home and the people that make Ishgard what she is. ]

I'm certain Ishgard will remain. We will need to get you back on your feet as soon as possible in order to make the trip to Corethas. [ Her nose presses to his head as a shaking sigh leaves her. A brief moment passes before her gaze slips towards the bed. ] Any information is likely to be of use at the moment. Still, we can focus on that in the morning.

[ Or not at all... as she would wish nothing more than to beside him for a time.

His request is met with her hands curling into his shirt once more. Why would he think he would need to ask her for her company? They are to be wed. He is her mate--the one her heart and soil cry out to for protection. He woild never need to ask for her company. ]

Where else would I have need to be than by the side of my betrothed? My lord, my knight. [ And, she would rather not be parted from him ever again. She does not even wish to move from where they are, as that would mean they would need to separate. Her fingers gently weave in and out of the locks of hair. Even after all that has happened since the first time they've met? His hair remains ever so soft. ]

We ought to get you back to bed. Unless, there is something you wish to have before then?

[elpides]

[ Of course she knows that he is right, but she still can't stop herself from worrying. Her ears flatten against her head and for just a moment, her gaze lowers away from his. ]

I think that you and the people who built it, and the people who call the Crystarium home, are the real heroes. It's... Well, it's easy to just march into a fight and try bringing down whatever the next threat is, but to do what you do? I know it sounds strange, but it feels like you have the harder task.

[ Never mind that she has been told over and over that she and her sister bring hope to people through what they do. It just feels like it pales in comparison somehow. ]

And I really don't see how you would be unworthy. [ In her mind, he is just as brave, if not even braver than she is. And at times, she doesn't even feel all that brave.

But she does as he has requested and she moves to sit down beside him. The temptation to just rest her head on his shoulder springs to mind, but she is quick to push it away, thinking he would not want her to get so close. ]

So much happened when we were there in Norvrandt, and it felt like we barely had time to process it all before the next problem came up. [ Of course she knows that when dire situations arise, there isn't time to stop and think about things, and that isn't how she operates anyway. It just felt like there was a giant boulder rolling down a mountain and it was all she could do to keep it from flattening everything in its path. ]

I really didn't want you or anyone else thinking I couldn't handle it.