Sādhanā's heart sings at the mere sight of Ylrhea's smile. "You too beautiful. I get the feeling we'll be here for a couple days before we continue on."
"So we'll leave the trap up until we're ready to move," Ylrhea says. "With you throwing golems off bridges, I don't think they'd try and fight us here anyway. All we need to worry about is something swooping in, I guess."
Sādhanā laughs. "Yeah I guess they probably weren't expecting that were they? We'll have to keep an eye on the skies while on watch I guess." she shrugs, "Besides, it keeps them off balance, and taking care of our own comes first."
Arista walks in, "Yup, we take care of ours. I got the bath warming for Sienna and Cyna when they come back in, along with the lavender soap that I put next to the tub. The lavender soap should help with the aches in her muscles and help her to relax, it's just a nice side effect along with smelling pretty." She blushes a bit, "I'm gonna go see about cleaning up my prep and cooking area as well as fixing some breakfast. I think we could all use a bite to eat after everything we've been through." She gives them both a small warm smile and turn to head towards the kitchen.
"Let me help you with that." Tarja says after a long period of silence.
She nods and smiles appreciatively at her friend, "Thanks, I'd really like that." She says as they heads towards the kitchen.
After making her way to the kitchen, Tarja asked, "So how did it feel to have your husband here last night?"
She looks at Tarja, a small wistful smile on her face. "It felt...like being back home. It's hard to put it into words really, the way he makes me feel is like something I've never felt before. It's like a feeling of being whole. I think I slept better last night than I have in weeks. I never gave much thought to actually being with anyone before I met him. It did happen kind of fast, but....it's like I could see what a good man he was, how much he cared for others and the strength that brought to him made me want to be stronger too. Does that make sense?" She shakes her head as she picks up the nearly empty pot of stew from the fire pit she had it over the other night, and starts cleaning up the cooking area.
Picking up a rag, Tarja begins wiping down the prep area. "Yes it does. I felt similar with Mathias, before....before he became lost. Sorry, it's just that it has been a couple of centuries since I last felt his touch, I just miss him. Especially now that Ramius is close to becoming linked to his first Summoner. I just pray to the Elder One that he gets a good Summoner, like the Stormborn."
She stops what she's doing and wraps her arms around her friend, "Oh Tarja.....I'm so sorry. I can only imagine how hard it must be." She leans back to look at her, "It may be a while yet, but we will go to Black Crown.....and when we do, we'll find him and make things right again."
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Initially surprised by the embrace, the Eidolon returned the hug. "I both am looking forward to it and am terrified at the same time. He has been Unfettered for sometime. I worry there may be nothing left of him."
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She smiles slightly at Tarja, a look of understanding in her eyes. "We can't know that for sure....not until we're able to actually get out there and see for ourselves what we're dealing with. If there is any way possible we will save him. I know it's easy for me to say this since I'm not in your place, but....try to stay strong and believe that one way or another things will work out. Believe for yourself, for your son....for Mathias." She gives her friend a reassuring little squeeze before returning to her task.
Tarja, while feeling comforted by Arista's words, looked her in the eye, "I appreciate your kind words, but I'm afraid there is only one way to cure an Unfettered Eidolon." Silver tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "That is to slay them on this plane, so they can return to our home and the Great Elder can cure them of their ailment."
She nods, the weight of what they would probably have to do leaving a heavy feeling in her chest. "I...I understand that. Kind of what Konstantyna had to do for you that one time? I know....I mean, there's no easy way to say this....so, just let me be honest. I know there's probably very little we can do for him while he's unfettered on this plane. When I told you that we'd do whatever it took to make things right again....I meant exactly that. We will do whatever it takes to make sure that he gets better.....even....even if that means slaying him and sending him back to the great elder if it's past our capabilities. Though I'm quite sure that won't be a walk on the beach....we'll just do our very best, that's all I can promise okay?" Noticing the emotion welling up within her friend and knowing how much she must be missing Mathias, makes Arista's eyes start to get damp as well.
Turning once again to Tarja she puts her arms around her again, "You told me before that it was okay to have feelings and express them. I'm here to tell you the same. I know how much you must miss him, if you need to cry then go ahead. I'm here Tarja, it's okay."
Tarja wiped away her tears, "I know, and I have cried, off and on for that past few centuries. But there is one other catch. The Szef is the one that has to deal the final blow. Otherwise, the Unfettered Eidolon just reappears on this plane after some time."
She looks down again, "Okay....so, a little complicated...but, knowing that now gives us time to prepare so that when we finally do get to that point, we'll know what to do and make sure he gets sent back to the Great Elder. Given enough time, planning, and our determination nothing is impossible. It may be really hard and scary sometimes, but not impossible. We have our faith in our Gods and Goddesses, the belief in us from those that love us, the strengths of our friends and family. We can do this Tarja, it just takes time." She pauses for a moment as she looks at her, "Remember, you're not alone now. You have Drago and you have us. We're here for you, always. I know that none of us are Mathias, but...we're your friends and we...we love you Tarja. You're one of us and that means we care for you and your happiness as much as anyone else's. Okay?"
"Okay." Tarja barely responded before finally breaking down and crying on Arista's shoulder.
In the dining area, Drago felt the Eidolon's emotional pain. He glanced that direction, but didn't get up, figuring Arista would be better suited to help her at this point.
Not feeling the need to say anything else right now, she just held Tarja and let her friend cry. So much of what they went through was emotional upheaval. Everyone needed to be able to feel free to release their feelings, and everyone deserved the right to cry when things got to be too much. At that very moment, Arista realized that while she had been trying to "be strong" and not allow her feelings to show, she had effectively cut herself off emotionally from the rest of her friends, her family. She just sighs quietly to herself while gently rubbing Tarja's back and holding her.
"O-okay...I'll try...for you and Gwen," Sienna says, getting to her feet. She rubs her arms, chilled by the cold morning air.
Cyna wraps her arms around Sienna. "Let's get back inside and get warmed up."
Sienna nods, shuffling back to the bath house in Cyna's arms. "I'm sorry..."
Cyna and Sienna can feel the steam from the fresh bath upstairs as they enter the building.
Sienna winces in pain as she steps on the worked floors of the bath house. She lifts up her foot, revealing a wide gash on the bottom that is dripping blood. "Oh...guess I wasn't paying attention..."
Cyna examines the wound closely. "We need to get that cleaned first, last thing you need is to lose a foot."
Cyna determines it's a ragged cut from one of the stones on the bridge.
Sienna nods wordlessly.
Seeing the cut on Sienna's foot, Sādhanā moves forward closing the door behind the couple. "Arista should be able to get that healed up for you. There's a hot bath waiting for you two whenever you're ready ok?"
Sienna simply nods, feeling an odd sort of numbness.
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When the sobbing stopped, Tarja wiped away the tears. "I suppose we better finish up the cleaning and get the food ready."
She nods as she hears some of what Sadhana is saying. Excusing herself for a moment, she pokes her head out of the kitchen. "What was that? Did you say someone needed some healing?"
Looking back at Tarja she says, "Everything will be alright. Let me see what's going on out here real quick and Ill be right back."
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"Sienna cut her foot on one of the stones outside." Sādhanā says with calm concern.
She looks from Sadhana to Sienna, as she motions for Sienna to sit down. "Here sweetie, let me take a look at that." She waits for Sienna to lift her leg, then carefully takes Sienna's foot in her hands to examine the wound.
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Arista thankfully finds no sign of infection in the deep gash.
After looking over her foot she makes a soft sigh of relief, "Well, it's a little deep, but thankfully there's no infection. Let me heal it and then the two of you can enjoy a nice hot bath. I left my lavender soap by the tub. It might help relax some muscle aches and such, I have plenty so don't even worry about it. I'm not even sure I should be using it right now anyways. There are clean towels and clothes by the tub as well. You two just take your time, and when you're done breakfast should be ready. Alright?"
With her hands on Sienna's foot, Arista closes her eyes as a soft pulsating light emanates from her hands.
"There ya go, all better. I better get back to the kitchen and help Tarja finish cleaning it up before making another mess." She gives Cyna and Sienna an encouraging smile before turning to go back to the kitchen.
Sarenrae, be with us all.
"Thanks, Arista..."
Shaking her head she stops in her tracks and turns around. Grabbing up the tiefling she gives her a heartfelt, but gentle hug. "It's okay honey, just go relax for a bit with Cyna. Everything is going to be alright." She releases Sienna and turning, heads back for the kitchen again.
Sienna sits on the edge of the bath, looking into the water. "What's wrong with me?"
Sitting near Sienna, Cyna dips her feet into the water. "What do you mean?"
"I'm holding us up from getting home...I'm just feeling...useless," Sienna says, trying to hold in her tears.
Sādhanā moves over to where Ylrhea sits, giving her a slight smile. "Wanna come with me outside to see where she got cut? I'm probably being paranoid but with Noticula's agents after her and some wierd tracking spells that can use a person's blood...can't be too safe."
Cyna slides closer and squeezes Sienna's hand. "I've seen you do all kinds of amazing things, so believe me when I say you're far from useless."
Ylrhea puts her hand on Sādhanā's. "Sure. Might not be a bad idea."
"I just feel...like I'm being torn in two places," Sienna says, glumly. "I know we all have problems and we've had bad things happen to us in our past, but I can't seem to fight my demons..."
"Ok, let's go." Sādhanā says squeezing Ylrhea's hand before leading outside onto the bridge. "I'm far from the best tracker but let's see if we can find where she got cut."
Ylrhea looks around the area.
Ylrhea finds the stone that cut Sienna's foot, but there is nothing particularly interesting about it.
"My question is: why is there a jagged stone on the bridge?"
"I'm always here for you. If you don't want to take on Vencious then we won't. Just don't ask me to leave you behind again, because I won't do that for anything."
"That is odd, a bridge this old would have been worn smooth by wind and rain a long tome ago." Extending her hand she clears any errant blood from the stone surface, collecting it into a tiny swirling ball spinning above the palm of her hand.
Sienna slides her feet into the water. "Too many people are counting on us for me to turn back now...I might have to take a trip after we get back to Valwick though. There are some ghosts I need to lay to rest..."
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