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The Lochs differed little between seasons. The transition between summer and autumn seemed almost non-existent, except for the slightest chill in temperature. Terin took a moment away from sharpening her blades to reminisce about Limsa; the orange and brown tones around the city, leaves falling gracefully from branches, fire-lit skies in the afternoon that looked like blazing celebrations of another prosperous year. She loved Autumn, and as her brother liked to remind her, the start of the season was always marked by her name day.
He had been good enough to keep her name day private from the Scions; she hated fuss and knew that Tataru would plan something elaborate (she'd seen it happen with Urianger and wanted nothing more than to rid the awkward memory from her mind). Tai and Terin kept their celebrations private - if you could even call a toast in an inn a 'celebration'. This year, the day had been eclipsed by a more pressing matter: Ghimlyt Dark, the frontline of the battle against the Garleans, had been blessed by the presence of Zenos.
She picked up her blades and admired the detail on the handles. After thinking about Limsa, she wondered if she would feel more comfortable with her summoning gear for the battle. Though she could trace her ninja training back to Limsa as well, her initial purpose for travelling to Limsa was to re-start her studies into the arcane arts. She felt at ease with her books and her carbuncle, but no, if Zenos were to attack, she wanted to know she could fly to the offensive and not miss a beat.
She had to be accurate, deadly, no less. Terin and Tai were the last of the Scions standing.
Perched on a vacant, damaged tower to the back of the camp, Estinien observed the diverse mix of soldiers rushing to ready themselves for the Garleans. He noted the winds, how they whisked thin layers of sand through flags and tapestries, and particularly how they messed with Terin's hair as she daydreamed. He crossed his arms and grumbled to himself. Should I go down there and snap her out of her thoughts? With a shake of the head he dismissed his idea and decided to stay put. He shouldn't get too close to Terin, and he didn't want to risk being caught by Aymeric.
"Found you, again!" A familiar voice sang from behind. Such a jolly tone under such conditions could only come from one person - Tai. Truth be told, Estinien had spied him dawdling by the base of the tower, pondering on whether he should climb the broken stairs to meet his tutor.
"I'm not here to join the knights." Estinien grunted. "Nor any faction. I will help where I am needed." Tai walked carefully towards the Elezen and put his hands to his hips.
"No, you're here to stare at my sister, evidently."
Estinien turned to stone. Every muscle felt jammed by Tai's accusation. He barely managed to snap a wide-eyed, horrified expression Tai's way and hiss a reply.
"What?"
Tai raised his chin and smirked, proud that he had disturbed the dragoon so harshly. Deciphering hidden or unsaid emotions wasn't one of Tai's skills, yet Estinien made it so easy, and enjoyable to say the least.
"It's ok, I'll let you live... for now!" Tai faked an evil laugh and theatrically hugged his belly as he hollered. Estinien's eyes narrowed, and he shoved Tai's arm so strongly the man almost fell off the edge of the tower - bringing the drama to an abrupt end.
"Must you always be so ridiculous!" Estinien growled. He looked Tai up and down, observed his armour under his long, brown jacket and grimaced at his muddied lance. "Polish your weapon ready for the fight. That ought to distract you from being such an imbecile."
Tai shrugged and meandered away to the back of the tower. Before he jumped off, Estinien grabbed his upper arm and pulled him back gently. "One more thing, before you leave."
Tai raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Tai replied playfully, "Do tell!"
Estinien ground his teeth together so forcefully the pressure was evident on his jawline. He wasn't sure if confiding in Tai was a good idea or not, but since the man had been teasing him relentlessly for moons regarding his sister, he supposed he was already waist-deep in regrets.
He took a rectangular wooden box from his bag and shoved it into Tai's chest. He nodded, gesturing Tai to open it, and waited patiently as realization washed over the other man's face. "Since the day will be long, the outcome unpredictable, would you give this to your sister?"
Tai couldn't hide his bewilderment; the contents of the box had stained pale-white shock onto his skin. Sunflowers, tied and cast together by a glowing white bulb at the roots. They were Terin's favourite, and while he remembered telling Estinien about her name day, he definitely hadn't given him gift suggestions. "They're imbued with magics to keep them fresh. A trick on behalf of a Kugane alchemist. She need not know who they came from."
Tai closed the box and cleared his throat nervously.
"I can't- I won't!" He whined. He passed the box back to Estinien and shook his head. "Give them to her after the battle. She will prevail, and she..." Tai trailed off, thinking only of how touched his sister would be at Estinien's gesture. A small gift to some, but a perfect mix of simplicity and love. "She would be so happy, you know?"
It wasn't the response Estinien had hoped for, but he took the box back and noted the seriousness in Tai's eyes. The man nodded sincerely before jumping away from the dragoon, a leap that Estinien was glad to see performed correctly.
~~~
If anything, it was a spectacle to see so many leaders fighting together against a common enemy. Estinien leant his lance where it was needed and did his best to avoid attention from any Ishgardian knights. Flame licked at the wreckage of Garlean Magitek, and soot filled the air like droves of locusts.
Despite the destruction, Estinien could sense the exact moment Zenos made contact with Terin.
The closer he came to their battlefield, the clearer her situation seeped into view. Tai was unconcious, taken by the voice that plagued the Scions, and Terin was left to face Zenos by her lonesome - not an uncommon predicament but one he knew she disliked.
By all accounts she had bested the beast, but he arose like a dead man being called by a Primal's scream.
The moment Terin faltered and clutched her head Estinien pushed through the garrison and flew with all his might, ash clinging to his armour like paste. Zenos would not claim her. Undead or not, he would not take such a powerful woman's life through sheer luck!
He took the mortal blow with his lance and threw the giant away from his prey. Eventually the man yielded, deciding that Estinien was worth little of his time, and beckoned his army to follow suit back towards Garlemald. It took the dragoon a moment to fall out of his violent tendencies before scooping Terin up in his arms. She was boiling to the touch, and so limp it concerned him tremendously.
"I'll take care of you." He muttered into her ear, unsure if she could hear him or not.
Soldiers huddled around him, many offering to take Terin into their own care. Eorzeans, Domans, people of all shapes and sizes pestered him with their services, but Estinien knew he could only trust a particular person to help. He leapt away from the masses and called for his old friend, hoping that the distance he'd placed between them both hadn't affected their link.
Aymeric's response to Estinien's sudden appearance, warrior of light in his arms, was delayed by a good few seconds. The elezen blinked, mouth agape, and called for his chirurgeon's with every last ounce of breath in his lungs. He accompanied them both to Ishgard, where a bed was prepared and ready for any fallen hero who deserved immediate attention. Of course, Estinien thought, Terin deserved even more.
He wandered the hallway. He leaned against the wall of her room. He grimaced at the complete and utter silence of the infirmary. How different and daunting it was compared to the battlefield; nothing to react to and only the passage of time to focus on.
And time passed slowly. It simply would not budge.
I can't stay - he thought to himself - I can't force my feelings on her. Surely she will wake. Surely... she will feel safe in the protection of Aymeric. His old friend, Lord Speaker, was a man worthy of Terin's appreciation.
Slowly, as if he might accidentally awaken her, Estinien walked into her room and placed the wooden box by her bedside. He stroked her cheek gently, noting how cold she had become since collapsing.
"No rest for the wicked, I'm sure you know that all too well." Estinien whispered. His hand lingered by her mouth, her usual pink lips now dried and desperate for water. It took strength to pull himself away but tearing his eyes away from her slumbering face would be harder by far, he thought. "I hope the sunflowers are enough for your name day."
With that, he stormed out. Without giving Aymeric much more than a couple of words to announce his departure, he escaped into the snow ridden air of Ishgard and made his way back to the East.
She will be well - she always is.
~~~
Blurry eyed and disoriented by her ordeal, Terin awoke to browns and oranges. For a moment, she wondered if she was back in Limsa for the autumn leaves. Eventually the browns revealed themselves to be wooden beams on a ceiling, and the oranges to be the tinges of a nearby fire.
Exhaustion was an understatement, she felt completely drained from traversing between vision after vision. The room span as she pushed herself up, but once she remembered how she'd left the battlefield her focus returned. She darted her eyes around the room.
Was this Ishgard? Was Tai here? What happened after Zenos raised his weapon at her neck?
A young elezen girl to her left jumped in surprise at Terin's sudden movements. They exchanged glances before the girl scurried away like a scared sheep. She wasn't sure what was so terrifying about her appearance, but she allowed the girl leave before settling her eyes on a strange box on the bedside table.
She pulled it over to her bed and traced the tree rings with her fingertips. The box seemed foreign to the room, as if it had been placed there just for her.
When she opened the lid, she gasped from a place in her chest she didn't think had any life left within. Sunflowers, kept fresh by a strange little spell cast around their roots! She touched their petals and let out a giggle at how soft and perfect they were. What a beautiful gesture, she thought, and all of a sudden she found herself desperately hoping they were for her, not just a token for the room.
"Well it might still be my name day after all..." She whispered to herself, her throat dry from lack of water. "There's never any rest, it would seem."
She sat in silence, fire crackling, staring at the flowers and hoping her friends were safe.