#Aytien; Shadowbringers

[ladyborel]

Lovers in Starlight

Etien sniffled. “But they need me, Aymeric.”

“You came home to be at my side for Starlight, promptly came down with an infection from the Mystels of the First, and now you want to go out in the cold to conduct a choir?”

She nodded, though her expression was a little sheepish.

“Dear-heart, you only just have the strength to wipe your own nose.”

“I’ll come right back!”

“That you will. But moreover, if you insist on going,  I’m coming with you.”

“I won’t try to fight you on th–” she was racked with another coughing fit, tears slipping from the outer corners of her eyes. “You’re not going to let me go like this, are you?”

“I would prefer you stayed here, where you can be kept warm and I can make sure you stay properly hydrated and nourished, yes.”

Etien sighed. “That’s reasonable.”

Aymeric shifted around her, so he was closer to reclining beside her instead of sitting up and looking down at her, letting out a satisfied hum. He stroked her hair slowly. “Thank you.”

Etien’s brow knit. “For?”

“Actually looking out for yourself for once.”

Her expression shifted from amusement to disappointment.

“Oh, kitten, what did I say?”

She shook her head, then looked away. “No, it’s that you’re right. I got myself sick from running ragged and now I won’t even rest.” She twisted her handkerchief in her hands. “You have to practically hold me down to get me to stay in bed.”

“Which is odd, because when you feel well, you want to stay here all morning.”

Etien laughed once, dryly. Despite that, she relaxed against him. “When you’re here, I don’t mind staying. I am still a little afraid of getting you sick, though.”

“Spend your time on better things, like recovery.”

She sighed. “All right.”

Etien had fallen into a light doze, but when her eyes opened again, Aymeric picked up the conversation as though no significant amount of time had passed.

“The real pity is I was in the beginning stages of planning a party.”

“You were?” Etien asked, still sounding a little sleepy.

Aymeric nodded. “Half a Starlight gathering, half a celebration of having you home for a while. But now, socializing would likely be too much for you.”

“I can–”

“Etien. You could. You do not have to.”

She let her eyes shut, as if to return to sleep, and replied to him. “You could still invite Estinien over, if you wanted to.”

Heath returned quickly once Etien resigned herself to rest and Aymeric’s doting, so when the day of the very small planned gathering arrived, she was able to walk around, and yes, take a quick trip to Gridania to conduct the choir—twice.

Aymeric was in attendance now not to ensure she didn’t pass out, but to hear the performance. And it was beautiful. He’d seen her play instruments every so often, but never conduct. It was fluid. He adored it.

They returned by Aetheryte so he could give her one of her gifts for the holiday a little early– a dress he had seen when a local dressmaker was showing off her wares, and he was sure would look good on Etien.

She had no knowledge of this, though.

He presented the box to her, wrapped in pretty paper.

“Can I open this?” She asked, gaze lifted to his.

He nodded. “I encourage you to, so you can use it right away.”

So she peeled away the paper—less carefully than Aymeric did as a habit, but with her own method of neatness—and moved to opening the box as he took the paper from her hands.

She let the box close and fall to the floor as she pulled the dress from it.

“What a beautiful shade of green,” she breathed, hands curling in the fabric. “Do you want me to wear this tonight?”

Aymeric nodded again. “If you like it, that is.”

“I love it! You’re remarkably good at selecting clothing for me.”

Now he beamed. “I simply choose things I think would flatter you and accentuate the beauty that’s already present.”

Etien smiled, though she flustered a little, too. “So… did you have more plans for what I was going to wear?”

“I did, but if you have your own routine you would prefer–”

“Nope!” She draped the dress over her arm and presented her hands palms-down for him to take. “I’m your doll to dress up and style as you please.”

Aymeric cleared his throat, not expecting her to be quite so willing to let him take charge of her appearance. “Well, I would appreciate your feedback during the process.”

“I’ll let you know if I don’t like what you’re doing,” she said with a little laugh. “But I trust you.”

He let Etien strip out of her festive-but-warm clothes for conducting in Gridania, bathe, and get into her undergarments and the new dress on her own, but he gently moved her hands before she could zip it up.

He had every confidence she could do it, but he wanted to.

She laughed, catching his eye in the mirror. “Funny. Usually you do that in the other direction.”

Aymeric blinked as he processed her comment, then chuckled, flushing slightly before running a finger along her exposed shoulder. “Usually, yes.”

“Are my red shoes all right?” she asked, lifting one of them to show him.

“Yes, those should be appropriate,” he replied.

She slipped her stocking-ed feet into them, giving a little nod. Aymeric returned the nod, then gestured for Etien to sit down in front of the mirror.

Her hair was close enough to dry now that it would be more helpful to expose it to the air, so he did just that, removing the cloth she’d tied it up in and picking up a comb.

He worked through her hair with slow strokes, more focused on trying to relax her than detangle it. She had already washed out the sweat and finger-combed out the knots. This was for vanity.

…and so he could, in some small way, take care of her.

Her hair returned to its titian sheen, so he left it alone, for fear of over-working it. As he put the comb down, he told her, “I also took the liberty of inviting Edmont, Artoirel, and Emmanellain. I thought they might want to see you, after all.”

The smile she gave him was so sweet he could have used it in his tea. “So we’ll have the whole family together,” she mused.

He returned her smile. “Precisely. Though, speaking of… I know we spoke about it during the harvest, but do you miss the others?”

“Why? Because of the season?” She shrugged.

“Do you think they were at the choral performance?”

“I didn’t see them,” she replied. “Did you?”

Now Aymeric laughed. “Maybe I would have, were I to know what they look like.”

“Not like me,” she said quietly. “Or… people say they do, but not at first glance. They all have dark hair.”

“How strange.”

Etien shrugged again. “Some traits just crop up randomly,” she said, playing with a strand of hair. “The only family that matters at the moment is you and the Fortemps.”

“And Estinien?” Aymeric added.

“And Estinien,” Etien confirmed.

They were quiet for a moment as Etien slid her finger in and out of her wedding ring, before she mumbled, “I should just put it on.”

She unclasped the chain to remove the ring, and Aymeric kissed the top of her head before telling her, “I have something else for you.”

He presented a small box to her, this one unwrapped, and she opened it to reveal a pair of emerald and sapphire earrings.

“Another beautiful accent?” She asked, raising her eyes to meet his.

Aymeric nodded. Etien removed the earrings from the box, slotting them into her piercings.

She put her chain of various pendants back on, sighing. “Is there anything else I need done?”

He looked her over. No need for gloves… everything else was handled… “No. You’re perfect.”

She laughed. “You mean I’m ready.”

“I did mean you’re perfect,” he insisted. “Though I am also wondering if you’re ready, my lady? Our guests should be arriving at any moment.”

Etien laughed, her lip pulling back to expose her glittering eyeteeth. She rose from the chair, taking Aymeric’s offered arm. “I am.”

They peered toward the door as they left the room, waiting for someone to be announced.

“I feel bad I didn’t get to help you decorate. It all looks so lovely,” Etien said to break the silence, comfortable though it was.

“You were occupied with something more important,” Aymeric said simply. “I did it for you, anyway. As much as I always have enjoyed and celebrated Starlight, I never did things on this grand a scale.” He laughed a little. “In some ways, I suppose I’m glad you were too sick for me to plan anything bigger. I might not have been able to handle it.”

Etien smiled, rubbing his arm. “I would have helped, like I have every time you needed me to.”

“Every time I so much as mentioned I could have used help from anyone,” he corrected.

“Now, come on. Did you really want just anyone helping?”

“I suppose not, but it did lead to you being criminally overworked.”

Etien nodded. Before she could speak, a voice rang out, announcing the guests.

Ah, all four of them had arrived at once. Convenient, if nothing else.

Aymeric called for them to be let in, then began to lead Etien down to the door.

She left his arm to wrap hers around everyone in order, starting with Edmont and working her way to Estinien, warm greetings and tight hugs for each. She’d missed them.

“You’re looking better now than it sounds like you have in some time,” Estinien said when he let her go.

“Aymeric took good care of me,” she replied with a laugh.

“So we have him to thank that you made a full recovery?”

Etien coughed a little. “I wouldn’t go as far as ‘full,’ but I’m certainly better now than I have been in recent days. And yes, we all owe Aymeric a lot of thanks for it.”

He rubbed between her shoulders, smiling when Etien leaned into his touch, and started greeting everyone in turn as well.

There was food, of course, and drink flowed for those who wanted it as easily as did the chatter.

“Now, you must tell us of your travels since you left us!” Edmont insisted to Etien.

She laughed demurely, putting down her drink and crossing her ankles. “I certainly can do that. What sort of story do you want to hear? There was flying on Amaros, or my time in Eulmore, or I suppose I could tell you of Holminster Switch, but then you’ve all seen what I’m capable of with a bow…”

“Tell us of Eulmore!” Emmanellain cried out. “It sounds the most interesting.”

“It was! It’s a pretty place, but you know, the prettiest flowers are sometimes the most poisonous. The thing I remember most, other than that poor singer who lost her voice to a polyp, was the Beehive.”

“The Beehive?”

“Yes. It’s a place for entertainment in… the Canopy, I believe it was.”

“Like the Gold Saucer?” Emmanellain asked.

“Hmm, not quite. It would be the most apt comparison, but their similarities are, ah, few.”

“Then what sort of entertainment is there to be had?”

Etien cleared her throat. “Well, I went there to gather information while Alphinaud was keeping our hosts occupied. So I wasn’t exactly exploring all it offered. However, I did have to– uh. I played cards!”

Aymeric cast Etien a look out of the corner of his eye. “Cards? Like triple triad?”

“No, no. I’m awful at Triple Triad! This one was more of a… well, I suppose it was guessing. Sort of a game of speculating.”

“I see.”

“I want to hear about this Holminster Switch,” Estinien interrupted. “If for no other reason than you think it boring, Etien.”

She sighed and deflated, though she straightened her spine again, her earrings swinging from her ears. “Hmm, how to tell this tale without having to explain too much… Well, suffice it to say there exists there a breed of monstrous creature that demands even more careful handling than even the dragons did. We fought an especially powerful specimen to save the vestiges of a town, and now I’m as fabled there as I am here. Though I was encouraged to hide my identity in the aftermath, to prevent too much of a stir.”

Everyone but Etien laughed. “Well, it must be nice to be anonymous somewhere,” Artoirel commented.

“You certainly are not around here.” Edmont added.

Etien squirmed. “That’s true.” She scrambled, patting at her hips as if searching for something. “I was going to ask that you all teach me some songs of Starlight, but I think my singing voice is still not perfectly primed.” She hissed a quiet curse. “I don’t have any of my instruments out here with me, though, so perhaps I’ll have to sing anyway.” She took a deep breath, coughed briefly, then sang a few notes. “Well, it’s not going to bewitch anyone, but it should do. Shall we?”

At the sound of the other five voices stumbling through a carol or two beside her own, Etien beamed to be part of the experience.

It was late in the night when the Fortemps trio made their way back to their home, and Estinien shuffled off not long after that, but not without long, affectionate goodbyes.

When the door shut, Etien and Aymeric were alone again.

Etien sighed.

In total silence, Aymeric took her hand and led her to the tree. “I have one more thing for you.”

“Oh?” She smiled, squeezing his hand before he let go to pick up the gift for her. There were two layers of paper this time, as though the artisan had wrapped it and then Aymeric had added another layer of decorative paper.

Etien peeled both back to reveal a strange wooden bowl. “A bowl?”

“It’s for knitting,” Aymeric explained. “So I can hold yarn for you without it tangling. You see, the yarn loops through this slot, and you can draw from the ball easily… and without my interference.”

Etien giggled. “Well, that should come in very handy in the future. I can’t wait to use it.” She beckoned him down so she could kiss his cheek. “I didn’t wrap your gift, but let me go get it.”

She took off through the house, and returned with a thick pile of fabric draped over her arms. “Here it is!”

Aymeric took it off her hands, unfurling the piece and shaking it out.

“What is this?” He asked after a moment.

“It’s a blanket! And it depicts Ishgard! Only how I see it, I suppose.”

Bright blues, pure snow whites, grays that held hundreds of years of history’s weight, all combined to paint a pretty picture of the land she called home now.

“When did you find the time to make this?”

She counted on her fingers, as it if made a difference. “I’ve been working on it since I left Ishgard the first time.”

Aymeric cocked his head. “How did you hide it from me?”

Now Etien grinned. “I only did it one square at a time. You never saw the pieces together.”

“Well, I absolutely adore it.” He clutched it to his chest. “Thank you.”

Her smile warmed. “It was my pleasure. Happy Starlight, darling.”

Aymeric took her hand again, leading her towards their bedroom. “Come, we need to get you out of those and into bed. It’s late, you need all the rest you can get, and we have wonderful new bedding to use besides.”

When Etien was buttoned into her nightgown, half-asleep on her side of the bed, Aymeric rolled onto his side to look at her. He let his fingers glide over her cheek, brushing back a twisting lock of hair.

Unsure whether she would hear him or not, he whispered to her, “Happy Starlight, my dearest.”

The blanket was wonderful, he would never say anything to the contrary, but this sheer domestic bliss was the best gift he had ever gotten.

[ladyborel]

Doting

Aymeric woke to coughing. Dry and wheezy, but chesty, coughing. It was the first time he’d ever had a complaint about sharing a bed, but when Etien groaned at the end of her coughing fit, all that went away.

“Sorry,” she murmured. “This set in overnight. I can go sleep on the loveseat if you want.”

He reached out a hand, wrapping it gently around her wrist. “Stay put.”

“I don’t want you to catch this.”

“Is it not a Miqo'te illness?”

Etien sighed, louder than usual due to the congestion in her chest and nose. “Where did I get it, then? I haven’t been around tribes of Miqo'te. And I should be immune to most strains.”

Aymeric shrugged with a little smile. “Perhaps something from the First, then.”

“Ah. A Mystel infection,” she nodded. “Perhaps. You’re sure you want me to stay here?”

“Don’t leave,” he cooed. “The bed is so empty without you.”

Etien sniffled and softly stroked Aymeric’s cheek. “I can’t argue with that.”

He ran his hand down from her forehead, his index and ring fingers dragging on her eyelids. “Sleep, Etien.”

She did, sighing as she settled in again.

When an hour more appropriate for being awake had arrived, Aymeric woke again, to silence.

Well, not total silence. Etien was still breathing a little noisily. Better she be wheezing than not breathing.

He rose and dressed, going about his business as he would have were he alone. Before he left, however, he bent, stroking Etien’s cheek with the back of his fingers and then pressing his lips to her forehead, checking for a fever.

It was something his mother had always done when he was unwell, caring little for the risk of contagion. Such was caring for someone else. Such was love.

She was only as warm as usual. Comforted by that, Aymeric left for the day, letting Etien sleep her way through recovery.

Etien woke late in the day, close to sunset, and she was still awake when Aymeric got home, which he was glad to see.

“You look to be a little better.”

“I do feel a little better. I had a bath and some broth, too.”

“Oh yes?”

“Yes. They were both nice and hot, too. It was good.”

Aymeric smiled, sitting down on Etien’s side of the bed. “I was thinking while I was out. Your concern about others catching your little malady… does it extend to Estinien? He did kiss your cheek yesterday.”

She gasped. “Oh, no. You’re right.”

Aymeric chuckled. “I truly do doubt he or I are in any danger. Here, see how worried I am about it?” He leaned in and kissed her, full on the lips.

“But what if you do get sick?”

He shrugged. “If I do, I do. If not, I have a sterner constitution than you think, or the illness was incapable of making the jump from your body to mine.”

Etien huffed. “Well, if you’re so confident, get into bed and hold me.”

He did just that, laughing to himself as he slid under the covers and wrapped her up in his arms.

[ladyborel]

An Acquired Fondness

Aymeric had awoken some time ago now, and he was simply lying in bed, eyes on Etien. Half of him was turning over in his mind myriad thoughts about her—mostly, replaying the fresh memories of last night, the move they’d made from the loveseat to bed, how he couldn’t pack in enough whispers of “I love you” between each press of her lips to his. Indeed, it still echoed in his mind while he gazed at her. The other half was watching the covers move with her every breath.

Here, warm and alive and sleeping in peace next to him. He wondered if he would ever not be blown away by that.

But there came a knock at the door. He stole one last glance at Etien as he left the room, striding through the house in whatever he’d managed to throw on. Just his robe. Could be worse, he supposed.

Blessedly, the caller was Estinien. They’d seen each other in worse conditions. This was fine.

“Estinien,” he breathed. “Nice to see you under slightly better conditions.”

“Can I see her?”

Aymeric smiled, shaking his head just a little. “She’s still asleep, deeply so. It was a long journey back, it appears.”

“Are you sure you had no part in tiring her out?”

Aymeric felt his cheeks heating, and it only intensified when Estinien gave a little smirk.

“I thought so. Well, when will she be awake?”

“A good question. I have yet to decide whether I should wake her and bring her to the Congregation with me–”

“As you usually do.”

“–or leave her here and let her sleep.”

“Will she be all right, waking up alone?”

Aymeric sighed, thinking about her dismal expression if she wasn’t. “Another good question. I suppose we can wait a little while and she if she wakes on her own.”

“She is an early riser,” Estinien agreed.

“Precisely. Tea, Estinien?”

“If we plan to sit here doing naught else, please.”

And so Aymeric got up and got to making three cups of tea—one for himself, one for Estinien, and one for Etien, for when she woke.

He hummed to himself as he waited for the water to boil and the tea to steep, thinking absently about the day ahead of him, whether he faced it with Etien beside or not.

Either way, he was going to be expected soon enough. He yawned.

He brought the cups back to Estinien, handing one over—the cup, of course, that wasn’t made specially for him. Only he drank out of that one.

When he’d settled in his seat again, Estinien spoke. “I suppose I should apologize for calling so early.”

Aymeric shrugged. “I was awake.”

“I doubt it not. Looking at Etien with that soft gaze you give her whether she sees it or not, I imagine.”

Aymeric sipped his tea so he didn’t have to say anything.

“However, I did come because, like I told you before she came back… I miss her, same as you. Well, not completely the same.”

Aymeric chuckled.

“So I had hoped to see her.”

“I would wager she wants to see you, too. She’s just sleeping.”

“Aye, aye. So we have to kill some time. I know you told her the tale of how you and I met, what feels like ages ago.”

“It has been a few moons,” Aymeric agreed.

“Indeed. So I have a tale for you.”

Aymeric’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, yes?”

Estinien nodded, crossing his legs as he settled in to tell it. “One of how I came to be so fond of her.” He sighed. “As you know, I was glad of her help as an ally in the fight against Nidhogg at the Aery, not only because of her strength, but because before our conversation with Hraesvelgr, I had decided she was perfect for you. Anyone perfect for you would be a fine friend for me.”

Aymeric laughed. “Oh, had you?”

“I had. Ysale and I were at each other’s throats that night, and Etien sat there, silent—frozen, I have since deduced—watching us, eyes flitting back and forth between us. Hearing us out. You have enough politicking in you for yourself and her both, as well as the children I expect you will have, but she played no such game. I doubt she had hope for immediate success in our parley, but allowed my blind push for vengeance no quarter, either.” He paused, drinking his tea, though he crinkled his nose at it. “Tepid leaf water. I admit, your feelings had influenced me.”

“My feelings?” Aymeric asked.

“Everyone knew of your fascination with her, no matter how professional you claimed it was.” He paused, laughing as Aymeric flushed again. “And that night, I understood. Her hair was near to flaming red in the firelight, her eyes like illuminated emeralds as their focus shifted back and forth.”

Aymeric was silent, though his eyebrows rose slightly. “An alluring image. You make me wish I had been there.”

Estinien laughed. “Knowing now how you two behave in close proximity, it would have ruined our chances of getting anything done. In any event, I came to love her—the way one loves their friends, of course—after the Vault.”

Aymeric sighed. “Everyone loved her after the Vault.”

“If only you had heard her the morning we came for you. The whole Fortemps house was unnerved by her weeping. It was like she had been widowed.”

They shared a frown.

“And then… after was just as bad.”

“She cried to me after, I remember,” Aymeric replied. “Told me to come to her if I needed her support. As if I would have added another weight to the burdens she nearly collapsed under.”

“That was what did it,” Estinien admitted. “I was watching her need you, and need you to need her, and it was endearing, for all its near-tragedy.”

Aymeric sighed again, perking when he heard a cough from behind him.

“Good morning, darling—Estinien!”

He smiled, seeing her. “You look well, Etien.”

She approached the two of them, taking the cup of tea Aymeric offered her, then sitting on his lap. “I feel wonderful, so it’s only right.”

“Did you sleep well, in a familiar bed once more?”

Aymeric shot Estinien a look, and Etien laughed when she saw it.

“I most certainly did.” Subtly, she ran her fingers through the ends of Aymeric’s hair. “It’s good to be home, and good to see you.”

Estinien rose. “As much as I share the sentiment, I think I should visit again later. You two have plans to make for the day ahead of you.”

Etien looked at Aymeric. “Do we?”

Estinien laughed. “Best of luck getting out of here, Lord Commander.”

[ladyborel]

A Feathered Platter

The letters arrived one after another, as expected, and Etien couldn’t stop herself from squealing. “Come home to me,” gods, how romantic. Speaking of the gods, she thanked them for Feo Ul. What a sensational little pixie, carrying blessed letters.

But her revelry was cut short when she was asked, “What’s that?”

She sighed. “Alphinaud, I’m about to do something very selfish.”

He didn’t say anything, just blinked at her. After a moment had passed, he gave a little shrug. “Enjoy yourself in Ishgard.”

Etien’s mouth fell open just a bit. “What makes you think that’s where I’m going?”

“You call going to see Aymeric selfish all the time. And you happen to be blushing.”

She lifted her fingers to her cheek, as if that would change their pink color. “Damn.”

“I do mean it. You shouldn’t keep him from the one he loves during the holiday.”

Etien sighed. “That was my logic, as well.”

“Then, you have my blessing, whatever good it does you.”

“I just… don’t want people to be angry with me, leaving all the time for my own—uh. Not pleasure. Satis—no. To make myself happy.”

“Now, normally I would not say this,” Alphinaud whispered, almost conspiratorially, “but for my part, I would rather a happy Warrior of Light committed to her task than one like to snap at us or ignore her pains until she collapses.”

Etien laughed a little. He wasn’t the first to have expressed the sentiment, at least.

“Now go,” he said, “and hope more time passes there than here.”

She waved as she trotted off to return to the Crystarium, and then the Source.

She lifted her face to the sky when she felt her feet touch the stones of Foundation, feeling the kiss of snowflakes on her skin. Home at last.

She fished out her whistle for Nyx and clambered onto him, stroking him lovingly. “Hello, friend. Let’s go for a little stroll.”

It wasn’t a long ride from Foundation to Saint Valeroyant’s Forum, but Etien spent it trying to keep herself from getting too excited, and trying to look like she hadn’t just come between worlds.

She heard people shouting as she came through, and laughed a little while Firmalbert went running into the Congregation.

She took a quick lap around the fountain, giving everyone time to make it back out… there he was.

She—well, Nyx—trotted up to the door just in time for Aymeric to come practically stumbling out of it,  looking up at her in ecstatic shock when he saw there was no trick being played on him.

There was something about Etien astride her favorite Chocobo, looking slightly disheveled and panting a little (he assumed from the adrenaline), just… there above him like she was delivered to him on a platter that had Aymeric breathing out a less-than-holy “Fffffury.”

The flush spreading over his cheeks and ears as well as his lip pulling back as if being bitten summoned a flirtatious giggle and grin from Etien. Her eyeteeth didn’t catch any light in the smile, though; all the glint was in her eyes.

“Hello, Lord Commander,” she cooed.

Almost unbidden, his hands lifted, reaching for her.

She stretched her arms out, too, leaning off Nyx so they could settle on Aymeric’s shoulders. She dismounted into his arms, the pair clutching each other close. All carnal desire had left them, replaced entirely by the need to cling as Etien’s eyes welled.

There was something poetic, even to a bystander, about how Etien hadn’t touched the ground in the whole affair. She’d gone from mounted to held at least one fulm, but probably two, off the ground, entirely secure in her lover’s arms.

Observing them it was clear they just… fit. Her chin on his shoulder, his arms around her ribs, they slotted together like the pieces of a repaired vase.

Aymeric slowly let her down to the ground, taking Nyx’s reins. “Come on.”

Etien cocked her head. “Chocobos aren’t allowed indoors?”

“Certainly not in the Congregation, but who will hold me to that in my house?”

“Oh!” Etien trailed after him, catching up quickly as they walked through the streets. “But… you have work to do. I almost didn’t come because you have work to do.”

“I’m a blessed man in that I can leave affairs in Lucia’s hands for the rest of the day and feel no trepidation. I will have work to do tomorrow, but tonight, and in truth, always, I belong to you.”

Etien made a flustered noise. “Well.”

Aymeric chuckled, succeeding yet again. He brought Nyx onto the property, but not inside the house, and took Etien’s hand so he could bring her inside.

They didn’t make it farther than the loveseat before he flopped down, pulling Etien onto him.

With gentle pressure from the tips of his fingers, Aymeric lifted Etien’s chin as if to inspect her. He didn’t make it very far in an inspection, though, instead stroking a thumb over the line of Etien’s lower lip.

The kiss that followed was only a natural progression, and served to remind him of the urge he’d ignored to instead hold her.

Well, now he could do both at once.

He pulled Etien closer, slipping a hand into her hair to brush his thumb against her ear.

She yelped and tensed, but it melted into a moan and wandering hands of her own within a breath.

“So I wasn’t mistaken when I read your expression out there,” she murmured.

“Hmm?” Aymeric asked.

“There was a distinct distress that passed through you… an uncomfortable need, perhaps?” She shifted her hips a subtle amount.

“Here I thought you were an angel,” he groaned.

“Am I not?”

“I’ve never known so seductive an angel.”

Etien laughed lowly. “Read the texts again. They exist.”

Aymeric couldn’t resist a little giggle. Utterly sinful. He loved it. “I know they exist.” He stroked her cheek. “I’m pinned under one.”

She hummed, ending the conversation by kissing him some more. They had… oh, she didn’t know how long to catch up on.

[ladyborel]

Epistle

Aymeric sat as his desk, so eager to read Etien’s letter that he was worried he was shaking. Estinien was correct, no amount of wine save enough to utterly kill him would have had any effect at the moment, but now, he was ready to completely relax in the comfort of Etien’s words.

…instead of her embrace.

He opened the envelope, sighing from the scent of lavender as it flooded into his nose.

Carefully, ever so slowly, he removed the letter, and unfolded it.

My darling Aymeric,

Before you ask, my headaches have improved. This is to say, they returned to their usual intensity. Though I do wish they had gone away entirely.

Other than that, I’m doing well. The only things that plague me are loneliness and a physical ailment you couldn’t cure, even if you tried.

Just as well, though. Were I not suffering so, we would be in the thick of a new and more intense problem. So, I am well. I hope that knowledge eases your mind. I’ve been praying for your well-being just as fervently here as I did at home.

I do have some good news, however. I had been afraid that there was no coming back once I arrived here. I’m pleased to tell you that I was wrong. I can’t make a habit of it, but not just my letters can go from here to there. I can, too!

So, if you wished it, I could perhaps come home for a visit around the holidays? In truth, that’s all I want, to spend that time with you. My heart cries out in the night, singing like a bird waiting to hear the call of its mate. Would that we lovebirds can be together amongst the snows for the holiday.

I desperately desire to be in your arms as soon as I possibly can, and I eagerly await your response, and hope we see each other, rather than write, soon.

In the interim, I’ll write.

All my love,

Etien

Aymeric sighed.

He could hear the words in her voice, though the influence of constantly hearing his speech on hers was clear when it was written down. She had always been incredibly well-spoken, but this held a certain tone he wasn’t used to from here. She must have reserved it for letters.

In any event, he was thrilled to have this one. Still, he laughed. As if she had to ask him to invite her home. He would carry her back himself if he could.

He was surprised, however, that she was willing to put off her duty to instead be with him. They had their whole lives to spend together, and they were more likely to see their entire natural lives if she stayed put and did her work without him.

Still, he was weak to the temptation of having her home for a little while. And if her heart was singing with no response, it had to ache. How she did it, he never knew, but he admired it.

He considered his own feelings on the matter, as well, past even the base desire to have her near, warm and soft and present. Nothing had happened, and yet he wanted to tell her all about it. Maybe while away hours just gazing into her eyes.

Gods above, he missed her more than he thought. She might be happy to know just how badly he needed her. He suffered no hit to his performance in his work from this, but when he really let himself think, he knew she ached, because he did, too.

He took out a new sheet and began penning his response.

My dearest Etien,

When you receive this letter, it will be hot on the heels of the one I just sent as I left the Congregation. This was inadvertent, but they were indeed sent that close to each other. Pray do not blame the courier. You were not denied your letters, my dearest, I simply wrote one before receiving your letter and then one after, so I had to send both, that you would be able to read all my thoughts.

Now, regarding what you proposed in your letter. I have never been so glad to hear that you were mistaken, and I would love to have you home more than anything. My only concern is that your duties there may go undone in your absence. I know well your devotion to your task; I would hate to pull you from it. Still, you sound as though you want me to say yes, and I cannot tell you no. Not for your sake, and not even for my own.

Yes, Etien. Come home to me. I need you here for the season to be truly complete. Make the ringing of the bells hollow no longer, come to my side.

I will count the hours until your return. How could I not? You are, after all, all I desire.

You are worth waiting for until the end of the world, but I would beg of you not to tarry so long.

Love eternally, and anticipation besides,

Aymeric

When he left the Congregation that night, it was with a spring in his step.

Etien, his Etien, coming home to visit. He would have to plan a celebration for so joyous an occasion.

[ladyborel]

Amator Exi

A part of Aymeric wondered why he was always writing letters as soon as Etien left.

Well, he’d waited a few days this time, in fact, a few days after Tataru had contacted him saying that she had heard from Etien.

So last he knew, Etien was fine, and going to write eventually.

He hadn’t gotten a letter yet. He had no idea where to send it, how it would get to its destination, but he was writing to her instead.

He thought, dipping his quill in the ink over and over as he tried to put words in order.

Eventually, he put it down, starting to write.

My dearest Etien,

Have your headaches improved? It worries me that they became so much more severe than what you were used to, and now you left Ishgard. I know I said that I admire your determination, but when no one is close to help you, to remind you of your limits, the thought of what might happen to you is frightening.

It sounds like I’m nagging, which I have no intention of doing. You are completely capable of anything and everything you set your mind to. However, I must beg you to refrain from attempting all of it at once.

I would find myself lost without you. I should find it odd, I imagine, how I spent 32 years of life without you but now the idea is unthinkable. I wonder if whoever first rode a Chocobo thought the same.

You are so much more, so much better, than a mount, though.

He put the letter aside, sighing.

He opened a drawer in his desk, sliding out a document and gazing at it.

He knew what it said, both from reading it over and over on days he was struggling to believe it was real, but also because he remembered well the day.

Aymeric traced Lucia’s signature with his eyes, then Artoirel’s. He’d never heard Etien’s account of how she’d asked Artoirel to do them the favor of being one of the names on this certificate.

He would have to ask, whenever the next time they saw each other was. Even if it was a lifetime away.

Still, he read the words over and over. “This document certifies that Aymeric de Borel and Etien Mellifer were married this 5th day of the 5th Umbral Moon, at Saint Reymanaud’s Cathedral in Ishgard. This union was witnessed by Artoirel de Fortemps and Lucia Goe Junius.”

Aymeric put the marriage certificate away.

He wasn’t even sad. He just missed her.

He had missed people before—loss wasn’t unfamiliar to him. But usually, he missed those who were dead. He easily understood the whys of that. In many ways, this was much the same; someone he wished was with him currently wasn’t any longer, but he couldn’t take comfort in the assumption that Etien was at peace.

She hadn’t gone to meet her eternal reward. She was shouldering the burden yet again. And Aymeric couldn’t even help her this time. There was to be no dropping things here and running to some far-flung nation to lead a supportive secondary wave as she and her companions made the first rush.

From step one, he didn’t know where she was, how to reach her.

He finished the letter.

Above all, I hope you’re well. The thought of you suffering where I cannot reach you to offer you comfort is heartbreaking. Chilling, even.

So here I shall sit, my heart broken, chilled to the bone, awaiting the return of my personal springtime.

Please write if ever there is anything I can do for you, my dearest, even from all the way over here, wherever that is in reference to you. I will not hesitate even a moment.

May the Fury protect your every step.

Love eternally,

Aymeric

He folded it to be put in an envelope later, then shoved it aside, a heavy breath accompanying the motion.

He rested his elbows on his desk, then folded his arms, resting his forehead on his crossed wrists.

It wasn’t even worth getting so upset over. For all he knew, the only bad part had been trying to get Etien where she was going, and now she was having a wonderful time.

No, in his heart, Aymeric knew that wasn’t the case. She was sure to have grit her teeth or grinned and bore it, but Aymeric was positive that Etien was stuck in yet another grind.

He sighed, the warmth of his breath bouncing up from the desk’s surface to hit his face.

The door opened. Aymeric didn’t look up. If it was someone who felt that they didn’t need to knock, they could see him like this.

“Good gods. ‘Tis better I came, then.”

“Estinien,” Aymeric sighed.

“Aye. Up you get. Will I smell drink on you when you lift your head?”

Aymeric shook his head. “No.” He sat up, folding his hands in his lap.

“You look better than I anticipated,” Estinien said after a moment.

“Why, thank you. I do have some obligation to keep up appearances.”

“Do you miss her?” Estinien asked, voice softening.

“I told her she took my heart with her. I thought I was being romantic. Apparently, I told her the truth.”

Estinien laughed. “How can she have taken your heart if you insist upon wearing it on your sleeve?”

Aymeric laughed a little. “A fair question. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

His voice softened again. “I was concerned about you. In truth…I miss her, too, Aymeric. I know she and I lack the intimacy you share, but I considered us close, and I— strangely, I worry who will jump from the shadows to save her without us.”

“So we have the same problem, from only slightly different perspectives. Our Warrior has gone.”

“And taken your heart with her.”

Aymeric sighed. “What do I do?”

Estinien shrugged, but not without a tinge of helplessness and sympathy. “Lead us all, and know that Etien would crawl from her grave to return to your side, I suppose.”

“Ugh, please, no talk of graves.”

“Apologies. She will come back, though.”

“Gods willing.”

“The will of the gods is irrelevant; Etien kills gods for a living.”

Aymeric tried to protest, but couldn’t find any way to make the argument properly.

“Can I at least buy you a drink?”

“In the middle of the day?”

“I doubt you can reach any level of intoxication; your life at the moment is instantly sobering. We both could use it.”

Aymeric laughed dryly. He couldn’t argue with any of that. “Across the forum we go, then.”

It was as he stood up to leave that Lucia came bursting through the door.

“My lord! The delivery Moogle practically chased me down to make sure you got this.” She handed over a letter, one that was addressed in familiar handwriting.

Aymeric put it on his desk gingerly, smiling a little.

He would still go get that drink, but at least he had word from Etien to read afterwards.

[ladyborel]

Pillars to Pendants

It seemed that so long spent in the bliss of Aymeric’s company came at a price.

Happy as she was, Etien knew that she couldn’t just stay in Ishgard. Her friends needed her, absolutely depended on her in this case especially. She’d recovered, she’d recharged, it was time to do her job.

It was going to hurt to leave after having been gone so long, and after the harrowing brief separation they’d just experienced. She knew that. However, she also knew it would be better to rip the bandage off and let out one scream rather than whine at the prospect, whimper through the act, and ache afterwards.

Well, the ache was inevitable, as well as incurable. How, in a matter of moons, Etien had gone from fiercely, dangerously independent in the wake of leaving home to feeling like she was missing an arm when she wasn’t in the same town as Aymeric baffled her.

But neither the why nor the details of how mattered. Work came first. She’d distracted him long enough, and she had a job to do, lives to save.

She just had to do it without an arm.

The rest of the day passed as usual—Etien occupied herself, night came, and Aymeric home with it, they ate, they took tea and chatted while she knitted, and then they got ready for bed.

Etien took a sharp breath in as she finished buttoning her nightgown, then slid under the covers, cuddling extra-close to Aymeric, leaving an excess of covers on the mattress behind her.

Her voice was low and a little rough when she finally managed to get out “Aymeric, I have a confession.”

He kissed her forehead. “What weighs on your heart so, my dearest?”

“The Scions–” she stopped, feeling her throat drying and knowing her voice would crack– “The Scions need me to go, so I can get everyone back from wherever they went. I want to stay here, but I can’t.” A hiss of air was making its way into her every word, but ‘can’t’ had been especially breathy, like Etien was being drained by even speaking it.

“I had a feeling this day was coming,” Aymeric admitted. “Is this why you were so quiet today?”

Etien blinked away tears. “Yes. I knew I had to tell you, but I- I didn’t want to. I want to stay here, happy and safe and warm, forever.”

“Would you really be happy without the other Scions? I may resent them parting us so often, and I know you dislike it yourself, but I know you love them, as well. As it ever is, they depend on you to put it all right. Your sense of duty is something I love about you, so I cannot fault you for needing to do this sooner rather than later.”

Etien sighed. “I’m glad you understand. But… I’m still scared. I don’t know when I’ll be back. If I’ll be back.”

“We never know what journey will be our last. I promise you, Etien, I will wait right here for you to return when all of it is finished, and if I receive word of your final act of heroism or our extended separation, then I would want you to know that even as your widower, you will have made me the happiest man on the star.” He pulled her closer, now actively holding her to him. “And I believe that wherever our souls go, mine will find yours, to reunite eventually.”

Etien was crying in earnest now, but only shedding tears, not quite sobbing. “I love you,” she whispered, tears sliding over her cheeks.

Aymeric stroked her hair, shushing her softly. “I know. I love you, too. More than tongue can tell and more than mortal minds comprehend.”

She laughed just a little. “We should sleep.”

“I assume you mean to leave in the morning?”

“Something in that vein, yes.”

“I see. While you could absolutely use some rest in that case, if sleep evades you… I’ll be here, holding onto you until you insist I let you go.”

Etien relaxed into his arms, draping hers over him so that they held each other, rather than just being cradled by him. Soon enough, Aymeric would be without her, too.

He did love her, and he was going to miss her, even if that still stunned her. It was almost better if she didn’t believe it, because then she didn’t feel like she was about to hurt him.

“I suppose the time has come to dust off the wind-ups,” Aymeric mumbled, making Etien giggle wetly.

“Please take the wedding dress off her, though. I would hate for you to be distressed looking at her, still regaled for so joyful a moment.”

“It would remind me how happy we have been, and how much I love you. The wedding dress brings me only pleasant memories, Etien.”

She let her eyes shut, a small, wan smile lifting her lips. “I know I just said it, but I love you, Aymeric. I love you, I love you, I love you.”

He kissed her. “Get some sleep. I have you.”

Slowly, her body relaxed as she fell asleep.

Aymeric watched sheets of freezing rain come down outside the window as Etien slept against him.

He had thought this day was coming. He’d known he wasn’t going to be ready.

Blessedly, Aymeric had gotten a little bit of sleep himself, lulled by the rhythm of the rain and Etien’s breathing. He was still going to be sluggish, from sadness and lack of sleep both, for the rest of the day. But he had slept a little, holding onto the soft, warm star he called a wife.

He was still the first to wake, holding Etien a little tighter as wakefulness washed over him. He’d promised to hold her until she told him to stop, and he was a man of his word.

Even if he hadn’t been in any other respect, he would never break a promise to Etien.

When she woke, coming to consciousness with a little gasp, he kissed her cheek.

“Good morning,” she warbled, fingers trailing over any part of him she could reach. “Glad to see you’re still here.”

“Of course I am. I shall continue to be.” He buried his nose in her hair, taking in the scent of lavender and honey that was just Etien. “But I do have a few questions.”

Etien took a deep breath, hoping she had answers for him. “And those are?”

“Firstly, do you want something to eat? I know it can be hard to eat if your nerves are wound tight, but I would see you well-fed before you leave me on another journey.”

“For you, I can try to eat,” she replied. “What else?”

“Will you come to the Congregation with me so I can say goodbye there, before you head for the Aetheryte?” Aymeric ran his tongue over his teeth after asking, unsure why he felt nervous making such a request.

Etien nodded. “Absolutely.”

Aymeric felt a strange sense of pride and preemptive longing, seeing Etien sit at the table dressed in her well-worn battle apparel. Pride, because look at the compact powerhouse at his table, the savior of nations thanking him for a cup of hot tea. But the longing… that was self-explanatory. Look at her, powerful, beautiful, beloved, and off to save the world again.

Alone.

She was picking at her omelet, her tea only partially-drunk.

“Is… is it going down all right, dearest? I have confidence in my culinary abilities, but it could be off.”

Etien shook her head. “It tastes fine, Aymeric. I’m just sad. Here.” She took heartier bites, chewing for a long time before swallowing, washing each down with a huge gulp of her tea. She gave him a tense smile. “Thank you. I really…” her eyes welled. “I appreciate you taking care of me.”

“I made it my responsibility because I am honored to,” he said, kissing her hand. “Are you ready to go?”

She nodded.

Walking through the streets of Ishgard felt more like treading to the gallows this time, for both of them, but neither let it show. Etien clung to Aymeric’s arm as usual, and he nodded greetings to everyone, same as always.

It was fine. They were going to be fine.

They went right to Aymeric’s office as soon as they got inside the Congregation, and there they said their goodbyes.

Etien ran her hand over the wind-up Aymeric’s hair, then her fingers through the soft locks of the real thing.

“If I can, I’ll write,” she said, watching Aymeric set up the miniature version of herself. “Funny, we split up, so they do, too.”

“Well, no version of us gets to be happy,” he said, but there was no bitterness in his voice. “I await the first correspondence eagerly.”

Etien smiled, a little less sadly. “Can I have a kiss before I go?”

“You can have a thousand,” Aymeric replied, rising and pulling her close.

When they parted, Etien blinked slowly. “Be safe.”

“Gods keep you,” he breathed. “If not, I will let them hear about it.”

Etien laughed. “That’s my line. Goodbye for now, Aymeric. Though it leaves in my chest, my heart is yours.”

“And you take mine with you for the same reason. Go, bring the Scions home so I can have you back.”

“I will!”

And she was gone. Aymeric sat down, sighing hard. He let himself cry for a moment, sniffling and wiping his eyes when he heard a knock.

“Yes?”

Lucia came in. “My lord… are you all right?”

“Ye—no. I am not. But I have to be. They need her, and you need me.”

Lucia patted his hand. “If I know one thing about Etien Mellifer, it’s that she can and will do anything to come back to you.”

_

Etien’s first thought when she exited the pool of water she’d woken up in was “I wish Aymeric could see this.”

She would have liked to see him in this, such bright blues, pure blacks, and shiny metals against the blazing purple surrounding her on all sides.

She sighed, making her way to town.

The Crystal Exarch was making for an excellent host, but that didn’t take away the shock. Time stretched and warped between the Source and the First, making the time her friends had been gone much longer here than there, though the reverse could just as well be so.

It made her wonder how much time had already passed for Aymeric. Or why he’d never gotten scooped  from there and brought here, since their fates were so tightly tied.

She shook her head at the thought. It would have shattered her if he had been. She could see herself now, weeping at his bedside if it had been so. Better this way, despite the sting.

But she was making her away around nicely now, at least. And thank the gods for Feo Ul, as well.

When she had been prompted, Etien did take the chance to send a message from the First, a hasty “Dear Tataru, I heard your words as I fell. We’re searching for the solution now, but we have a variety of circumstances to consider, I’ve found. Over all, I’m safe and will explain when I can. -Etien. P.S. Please tell Aymeric I’m all right, and that I will write.”

And away it went. Praise be that letters were still feasible. She would have lost her mind otherwise.

And so it was that Etien had gone from wandering the Pillars to staying in the Pendants.

She wanted to be optimistic, but these adventures were never easy, and as much as she could put aside the pain for the moment…

She slid her finger into her wedding ring, letting its weight rest on her finger. It was nothing compared to the weight of the knowledge she’d just gained. Dying in another calamity.

Better she did this. It hurt now, it would keep hurting, but hurting meant she still lived.

Still had something to live for.