#This will eventually intertwine with a story focusing more on Isolde I just havent written it yet

[emc2beans]

I may have missed Gwynedd's nameday but I didn't forget about Llewellyn! To celebrate, I am posting Chapter 0 of a fic I'm working on. Sort of a 'what are some of the other characters doing while WoL is busy WoL-ing' with some OC x Canon because I can't help myself.

Join me as I dump further emotional turmoil on some teens and 20-somethings who are already going to be traumatized by the narrative.

***

Chapter 0: Meet the Grufuds

(Takes place post-Heavensward)

The streets of Limsa Lominsa were buzzing with activity, from the stalls of Hawkers Alley down to the docks themselves. At present, Alphinaud was doing his best to keep up with the towering Warrior of Light, Gwynned Grufud, as they sought to fill a list of requests given to them by Tataru. It was mostly things that they would have had a hard time finding in Revenant’s Toll. Additionally, their main reason for venturing to the capital of Vylbrand was the fact that there was an important shipment to pick up from the shipyard. A crate of rare tomes sent from Sharlayan, at Scions’ request, that required an escort back to the Rising Stones. Tataru had informed them that they were scheduled to meet with the captain of this particular vessel at a certain time, but Gwynedd was adamant that they could be there as early as they wanted and would not elaborate as to why she was so certain.

The ship itself was easy to find. It was much larger than the other mercantile vessels and sported a long, pointed prow covered in plates of what was likely pillaged Garlean steel. On the steel was engraved The Hullripper, completing the image of this imposing ship. As Alphinaud expected, the gangplank had not been lowered.

“I believe we are still a bit early.” He wanted to give Gwynedd the benefit of the doubt as she was friendly with many of the crews that frequented the Lominsan docks. 

“Give me a mo’.” Gwynedd smiled and put two fingers to her lips. She blew two short whistles, then waited. From the deck of the ship came a chorus of three shrill whistles, a perfect call and response. A few moments later, the gangplank was lowered and Alphinaud could hear faint giggles coming from on deck. Gwynedd waved him along as she quickly jogged up the gangplank. Alphinaud followed behind, unprepared for what was waiting for them.

“Gwyn’s back, Gwyn’s back!” Five children, the youngest at about six and the oldest looking to be around eleven or twelve, swarmed the woman. 

“Where have you been? Did you really fight a dragon like you said in your letters?” A little miqo’te girl asked as she climbed up Gwynedd’s clothes to reach her shoulder. 

“How did you kill Titan? And Leviathan? Tell me!!!” A slightly older hyur boy bounced excitedly as he shouted his questions, clinging to the leg of Gwynedd’s trousers. 

“Who did you bring with you? Hi!” A floppy-eared viera girl leaned around Gwynedd to wave at Alphinaud. 

“Yes, I did fight a dragon, Nari. I’ll tell ye the stories later, Screech, but I’m here on business.” She pulled the hyuran boy off of her leg and turned to Alphinaud.  “Meet my little siblings. Siblings, meet my friend Alphinaud.” Gwynedd proceeded to introduce the children from oldest to youngest; Matia (viera girl, 11), Cavato (lalafell boy, 10), Syrus a.k.a. Screech (hyur boy, 8), Fiona (elezen girl, 8), and L’nari (miqo’te girl, 6). “Now then, where’s the captain?” Gwynedd asked, looking around the deck. 

“Muu-uumm! Daa-aaadd!! Gwynedd’s home!!!” L’nari shouted, making Gwynedd wince. The doors leading below deck swung open and out stepped two older roegadyn. 

“Gwyn! Gods, lass, how long’s it been since ye left us?” The woman clad in a dark green jacket and tricorn hat hurried over and pulled Gwynedd into a tight hug. 

“Too long, Mum, too long.” She replied, smiling at the pair. The man, Gwynedd’s father, took his turn embracing his eldest daughter and then plucked the little miqo’te from her shoulder. 

“L’nari, wha’ ‘ave I said about climbin’ folks?” He asked the girl as she wriggled her way around to hang onto his back instead. Gwynedd chuckled heartily and put a hand on Alphinaud’s shoulder. 

“Mum, Dad, I’d like you to meet Alphinaud Leveilleur, pretty certain I’ve mentioned him in my letters. Alphinaud, allow me to introduce Captain Angharad Grufud and her first mate Rhodri Grufud, my parents.” She beamed with pride. 

“A pleasure to meet you. Gwynedd has told me much about you.” Alphinaud felt extremely small next to the three towering, muscular roegadyn. Of the two, Gwynedd definitely looked more like her father in both face and stature, being solidly built and sharp-jawed. 

“Aye, and am I to understand that you two are also here for that crate of Sharlayan books? Your brother’s been itching to get at them, Gwyn, should nobody show up to collect.” Angharad smiled. 

“Don’t worry, Alphie, I’ve only got one more sibling on this ship.” Gwynedd said, sensing her companion’s confusion as to just how big this family was. “You and he are about the same age, if memory serves. Come on, I’ll take you to say hello.” She led Alphinaud towards the captain’s quarters at the back of the ship. With no warning, she kicked the doors open and charged inside. “Welly, I’m ba-ack!”

“Wha- hey, Gwyn- ahk! Put me down!” The occupant of the room protested. Alphinaud carefully stopped the swinging doors and entered. Inside, Gwynedd had a younger roegadyn man in a bear hug, fully lifting him off of the ground. Laughing heartily, Gwynedd put her brother down. 

“This is my baby brother, Welly!” She slapped her brother’s back firmly. 

“Llewellyn Grufud, pleasure to meet you.” He offered a handshake and a smile to Alphinaud, who returned the gestures in kind. 

“Alphinaud Leveilleur, and the pleasure is mine.” Alphinaud could definitely see that Llewellyn and Gwynedd were related, but Llewellyn lacked his sister’s roughened edges. He was also much shorter, and built from lean muscle rather than being broad and chiseled from stone like most roegadyn. He had a gentle face, piercing sea-green eyes, an adorably lopsided smile, soft-looking lips… Alphinaud could feel the tips of his ears turning red. Twelve preserve, had he been staring? He pulled his hand back and cleared his throat. 

“Ah, right, you must be here for the books! One moment, please. I’ll go grab them from the hold.” Llewellyn moved towards the door but Gwynedd’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. 

“I’ll get it, I know what I’m looking for. Why don’t you show Alphinaud all your fancy navigation stuff.” She waved at the map laid out on the center table and the instruments sitting on it, then made a quick exit.

~~~

Llewellyn internally cursed his sister for leaving him awkwardly alone with, and for embarrassing him in front of, someone new (and cute). At least she had suggested discussing something Llewellyn was competent in. He explained the finer points of his modifications of the standard route from Limsa to Kugane, all while Alphinaud listened with rapt attention. His attentive, deep blue eyes followed along as Llewellyn traced the line of the route, the sunlight coming in from the window sparkling through the elezen’s platinum-white hair. Alphinaud asked him a question and Llewellyn was grateful for the distraction. Suddenly, the doors creaked open again. 

“Hope you two didn’t get into any trouble while I was gone.” Gwynedd grinned, the large crate of books tucked under her arm. 

“No, no, Llewellyn was just showing me how he charted the ship’s next course. It was fascinating.” He glanced back at the other teen, a light pink dusting his cheeks. “Perhaps, if you ever find yourself near Mor Dhona, you could come to the Rising Stones and I’ll show you some of the books on astral triangulation we have there.” Alphinaud suggested. “Only if you’re interested, of course.”

“Sure!” Llewellyn reigned in his enthusiasm. “I-I’d like that.” 

“I look forward to it. Until then.” Alphinaud smiled warmly and went back out onto the deck. Gwynedd gave her brother a thumbs-up and followed her companion out, closing the doors behind her. Llewellyn wanted to scream, both at the elated feeling in his chest and at his insufferable sister’s behavior.

~~~

As he unpacked the Sharlayan books, organizing them based on which of his fellow Scions had requested which book, Alphinaud’s mind began to wander. He had never realized just how much family the Warrior of Light had; she had never even mentioned being raised on a ship. It shouldn’t have surprised him as much as it did, as Gwynedd had been protective and nurturing towards him since their first meeting. She likely saw similarities between himself and her brother, Llewellyn. 

Alphinaud recalled his recent introduction to Llewellyn Grufud. The rough, warm skin of hand, his genuine smile and brilliant teal eyes, and on top of that he was very tall. Llewellyn even seemed interested in some of the same things he was and he hoped that they would have the chance to talk again. The sudden, giddy flutter in his chest made Alphinaud pause. He did want to see Llewellyn again, to get to know him better, but was there something else beneath the simple desire for friendship? It wasn’t as if Alphinaud lacked friends, it was just that the Scions were all much older than him and his schoolmates back in Sharlayan were often… behind him in terms of academics and maturity. 

He recalled the times at the Studium where male classmates would mistake him for his sister, the confusion undercut with excitement when they flirted with him. That excitement was something he would always quickly squash down. Not that he thought there was anything wrong with the idea of two men being romantically involved, but he had his family’s reputation and future to think about, something his father had so often impressed the importance of upon him. Sharlayan was not terribly accepting of deviance from the prescribed norms, either. Alphinaud put the book in his hand down with a sigh. 

Even if he was going to allow himself to consider the idea of dating another boy, he was assuming a lot in terms of what Llewellyn was interested in. It was better to hope for a comfortable friendship, like the one Alphinaud had fostered with Arenvald back when the Scions were still at the Waking Sands. He felt a little bit better as he formulated this course of action, firmly ignoring any emotions that would change his course.