A smile better suits a hero...

Heart of Winter


The cliff where Haurchefant rests overlooking Ishgard. It is night and the snow is falling.

The freezing winds whipped at Zel's face as she steered her draught chocobo through the snow, his giant claws sending white powder flying with every large step as he tore through the Coerthan landscape. She held tight to the reigns, her thighs gripping onto the bird's saddle as they rode, her passenger wrapping his arms around her waist in an attempt to keep from being thrown from the exuberant mount.

Even if he shouted, she wouldn't hear him. The blizzard made for poor conversation, the sheer speed of the bird making the wind even worse. All he could do was hold on for dear life as they rode, stopping for nothing and no one. Yet despite the wild ride, perhaps even because of it, he was happy, his heart filled with a burning joy that made him feel like it would burst right out of his chest.

The bird slowed, coming to a stop just short of a large pile of weathered stones nearly lost in the flurry of snow. G'raha relaxed his grip and Zel slid off the saddle, with him following behind in short order. Despite the uneven ground, they both landed on relatively steady feet.

"We're here...well almost. It's just a short walk north."

Though he was wrapped in a thick winter coat, black with red embroidered details, he still shivered, his ears and tail drooping as he brought his arms close to his chest.

"Was Coerthas always this cold?" He asked, breath fogging the air before him. His teeth weren't quite chattering, but there was still a quiver in his jaw from the chill.

"It wasn't before the Calamity, but this is pretty normal now." Zel said, pulling her winter cloak from her shoulders. It was a long and heavy garment of white wool with the traditional red triangle embellishments of white mage attire, specially made for riding through harsh climates. She reached over and draped the cloak over G'raha's shoulders, smiling as she pulled it tight around him.

"Won't you be cold?" He asked, eyes wide as the shivering subsided. The cloak was nice and toasty, and felt like an oversized blanket.

"I'll be fine. I'm used to this weather. I'll need it back when we're riding though." A fangy grin erupted on her face, her cheeks rosy from the cold. "Sadly even I don't have the fortitude to withstand the winds with how fast Noir here likes to run."

The pair trudged towards the stacked stones, the large red chocobo following behind them. G'raha paused and wiped some of the snow from the stone structure, an eyebrow raised.

"This...is the mark of Menphina, is it not?"

"It is." Zel said, brushing more snow off. She paused to offer a silent prayer. "But this isn't what we're here for. Just a little further."

The winds subsided and the snowfall turned gentle as the trio approached a much smaller stone, which the seeker soon realized was a headstone.

"My Knight, I'm home." Zel said in her native tongue, kneeling down as she gently wiped snow from the ruined kite shield propped against the memorial. She motioned for G'raha to come closer before standing to hold his gloved hand in hers.

"Is this who I think it is?" He asked, his voice low and soft.

"Yeah...this is where he rests now. Watching over all of Ishgard."

They stood in silence for a few minutes, hand in hand, the keeper clutching tightly through their thick gloves. The large chocobo let out a soft noise that almost sounded like a cry of sorrow as he nestled down beside the headstone, as though he knew that his former master now lay here.

"My love." She started in Ishgardian, but switched back to Eorzean Common. "I brought someone to meet you. Someone very dear to me. There was...a dark future, one that thankfully won't come to pass. Our stories...your story...they reached so far, and inspired so many. Your father's memoirs became a piece of beloved history, and...and..."

Her words trailed off into silence as she clutched G'raha's hand harder, her shoulders shaking.

"Twelve...you'd think I'd have run out of tears by now, but they never really stop." Zel muttered.

"Your bravery, your courage and sacrifice gave hope to a shattered future." G'raha spoke up, his voice strong and firm, and his grip on Zel's hand just as tight, his eyes gazing towards the towering walls of Ishgard. "Your deeds motivated many, myself included, to strive to be the best we could, to protect those most dear to us. Your heart and soul lived on...and in this future yet to come, they still will. Of this I have no doubt."

Zel turned and buried her face in her companion's chest, tears spilling out as he wrapped an arm around her.

"You two would have gotten along really well." Zel choked out through strained sobs. "You would have been great friends."

"At times I feel as if we were." He replied, stroking her hair. "With every swing of my sword as I trained to use it, I felt he was there with me, guiding my blade and shield to protect you from beyond."

Zel leaned back slightly to look up at the seeker, who planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"You admire him a lot."

"I do. Tis a shame I never had the fortune of meeting him, but I have done my best to honor him all the same. After all, he was precious to you, just as you are precious to me."

Zel sighed with contentment as he pulled her closer, resting her head against his chest.

"Thank you for coming with me."

"It is an honor." G'raha said, shaking his head. "If anything, it is I who should be thanking you."

He gingerly swiped a tear from her cheek, the liquid soaking into the thumb of his thick leather glove.

"No more tears, my star. I'm sure he would rather you smile."




Written 2020/08/13
Posted 2024/03/07



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