@sea-wolf-coast-to-coast

FFxivWrite2022 Day 19 Prompt Turning a Blind Eye

Alsenne cursed her luck as the heretic managed to get behind her and hit her in the head with his cudgel causing stars to fill her eyes then her vision to blur as she fell to her knees.

This is it, she thought tears filling Elezen's eyes, I’m going to die alone out here in the snow…

Only for her to suddenly hear the fast crunching of a laden chocobo across the snow followed by the solid thud of a chocobo foot connecting with a human body.  Though her vision was blurred she did see the heretic that had hit her go flying and felt a large warm presence behind her that was Kwehing in warning.  

The other heretics that had surrounded her for their friend to get the upper hand turned toward the new threat and the sounds of steel on steel rang harshly over the keening wind and Alsenne attempted to see who had joined the fray.

Through the swimming vision she could see a figure clad in armor that definitely didn’t come from any of the High Houses of Ishgard.  This was a design from Eorzea which marked her rescuer as an adventurer.  She honestly didn’t care, the fact that someone was there was all that mattered.

Within moments the adventurer cut down the heretics leaving their bodies to cool in the snow as she knelt before the injured knight.

“My thanks,” Alsenne stated, her head still reeling from the blow.

The adventurer started at her voice and then asked, “Can you stand?  I saw as riding up he got you in the back of the head.”

Confusion filled Alsenne at the reaction until she heard the voice, “Sallee? I might have known it would one day be you saving my neck.”

The other Elezen gave a rueful grin, “I should have known the short hair and armor wouldn’t fool you Alse.  And I did only what was needed.”

“Humble as always, and I should be able to stand shortly, rang my bell something fierce he did with that blow.”

“Rose, come here boy give her some support eh?” Sallee stated and the chocobo kwehed in response before settling down in the snow next to her.  Gratefully the Elezen knight leaned against the chocobo’s warm bulk waiting for her vision to stop spinning.

“Would that I had taken up one of the healing arts offered by the guilds in Eorzea. I could be of more help then,” Sallee stated, worry etching her voice.

“I should have suspected what the bastard was up to,” Aslenne retorted, “I will be fine, just need my head to stop spinning.  You already did more than enough saving my hide.”

Sallee just shook her head and stared out into the snow watching for any more heretics.  It didn’t take much longer before Alsenne’s head stopped spinning and her vision to clear.  Slowly she pushed herself to her feet, Rose following, offering the knight support to lean on.

Once she was on her feet she pulled the other Elezen into a warm hug stating, “Good to see you again old friend.  I had heard you had disappeared and your father was less than pleased at it.  I had a feeling that you would be alright but I worried all the same.”

“I…he was going to try to force me to marry one of the House Fortemps sons in order to strengthen our ties with the house.  I just couldn’t do it, I’m not fit to be a noble lady. So..I left. I never expected to come back here to Coerthas but, seems Nymeia had other ideas.”  Sallee explained returning her old friend's hug.

“Hah I suspected it had to be something like that.  He has disowned you completely.  Some of the house knights have even heard him deny he ever had a daughter.”  Alsenne replied releasing the other Elezen and then shook her head, “I never understood why he was so insistent on you being a lady of the house.  It never suited you.”

Sallee sighed as she looked the other woman in the eye, “He was afraid, afraid he would lose me as he did grandmother.  She, as you well know, was a knight of some renown before Svara ended her…”

“So that's why he was so hells bent on you never becoming a knight, I always wondered.” Aslenne once again shook her head grimacing as it began to pound in protest of the movement.

Sallee nodded then stated, “Mount up, you're in no condition to walk back to Camp Dragonhead on your own. And we both are bound to freeze out here if we keep just chatting,”

Aslenne knew better than to protest and climbed into the saddle swaying slightly before actually getting her balance.  She knew Sallee was right, she was definitely worse for wear due to those heretics.

On the way back they both began light chit chat catching up on what each had been up to.  Aslenne was amazed at what she heard.  While she knew her old friend well enough to know she was down playing the importance it was clear that the Wildwood had become an adventurer of some renown in Eorzea.  And in Aslenne’s opinion that suited her far better than either lady of a house or even knight.

For as long as she had known her, Sallee had been very much free spirited. To be able to travel and explore was truly what Sallee had wanted even if she had thought her desires were to simply be a knight.  But as Aslenne well knew a knight was bound to the house they served.  Sallee however as an adventurer was free to go and help whomever she chose no matter where they were or who they were.

And deep down that was what the Wildwood had always wanted to do, help others. Aslenne had seen that from a very early age when the two of them had been starting their friendship.

As they reached Camp Dragonhead Sallee helped her dismount and as they walked together to the infirmary Aslenne stated, “The mantle of Adventurer suits you well old friend, and worry not your family will hear nothing of this.   If asked, an adventure came to my aid, no names, no descriptions.”

The tension that had been in Sallee’s frame since she had recognized her instantly eased and the other Elezen said softly, “Thank you,”

As she went inside Aslenne simply replied, “Take care of yourself and send a letter a time or two will you, I’d love to hear more about your adventures.”

Roevember 7 - Dragon

"Oh here's a fun story. So way back when I met Midgardsomr, he asked dismissively, 'what have I wrought with my own hands?' So then I threw back in his face I was an accomplished Culinarian and then we had a massive argument, not only about the techinicalities of what he actually meant by the phrase but also about the importance of creation and how it matters even within the smallest things."

Imagine the conversations with Mym.

Mids: Brunhilda, you don't understand, there is a lot about human anatomy you need to know before you-

Like I said, Brunhilda sure has an apetite :D

Inktober Day 5