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It had not been more than two bells after the Scions had arrived at Camp Dragonhead, their weary bodies begging for rest. Despite Haurchefant's words of encouragement, Alphinaud could barely stand on his own and had to be supported by Ryder with a gentle smile on her lips but a look of intense pain in her eyes. Haurchefant followed along not ten minutes later, slowing his steps as he heard voices, and hid behind the doorframe, looking into the room.
The soft glow of lamplight illuminated the room, casting shadows across the walls and furniture. The scent of incense hung in the air, calming their minds and soothing their tired muscles. Alphinaud sank into the soft mattress, grateful for its embrace, while Ryder carefully tucked him in with a tenderness that spoke volumes about their bond; that of more of a mother-son relationship than that of simple friends.
Her voice was gentle, a soothing melody that brushed against the boy's ears. She reached out with delicate fingers to brush aside a lock of his hair that had fallen into his eyes. "You didn't get hurt, did you?" she asked, her concern evident in the furrow of her brow and the way her fingers lingered on his cheek.
He let out a gentle sigh, his grip on the thick sheets tight with tension. "Barely," he replied, his voice tinged with dislike. "I dislike my height, but it does give me an advantage in avoiding hits." He looked up at her, his eyes scanning her face for any signs of injury. "And you? I'm not sure what happened exactly-"
"I'm fine," she reassured him, though her words were filled with unease. She shifted slightly in her seat, trying to find a more comfortable position despite the throbbing pain in her side. "I'm a healer, am I not?"
"But your staff-"
Ryder rose from her perch on the bed, then she leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to Alphinaud's forehead, her touch radiating warmth and comfort. "Sleep," she whispered, brushing another strand of hair from his face. "It may be difficult, but you need rest." Her voice was like a soothing lullaby, easing his troubled mind and body. The dim light of the room cast a peaceful glow around them as Ryder stood over him, a warm smile on her face. "I can heal without my staff." As she gazed upon Alphinaud with love and concern in her eyes, she knew that he would soon drift into a peaceful slumber, guided by her gentle touch and kind words.
"But I have so many apologies for the way I've treated you!"
"They can wait until morning," the Highlander said with a warm smile, heading for the door. She stopped and looked back at Alphinaud, still smiling softly. "Sleep." The flickering candles cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating an ambiance of mystery and warmth. The soft sound of wind could be heard outside, making the curtains rustle gently against the windows. Finally, with a contented sigh, he laid down on the bed and pulled the thick blankets snugly around him. As she stood there watching him for a moment longer, Ryder couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over her. She stepped out into the hallway, only to jump in surprise as she nearly collided with Haurchefant, who was waiting patiently just outside the door.
Haurchefant caught Ryder just in time, steadying her with a gentle hand on her arm. "My apologies, my friend. I did not mean to startle you," he said with a concerned smile. Ryder shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "It's alright, Haurchefant. I was just... lost in thought."
Haurchefant nodded, his eyes twinkling with understanding. "I see. Well, I am glad to see that Alphinaud is resting comfortably. He has had quite the ordeal."
Ryder nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with worry. "Yes, he has. We all have. But I will make sure he is well taken care of. I promise you that."
Haurchefant's smile reached his eyes, filling them with warmth and gratitude. "Of that, I have no doubt. But what of you?" She averted her gaze from his face, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. "Let's take a walk," he suggested, gesturing towards the hallway. As they strolled along the winding paths, Haurchefant turned to her expectantly. "Tell me," he coaxed, his voice soft and encouraging like a gentle breeze on a summer day.
Ryder's voice quivered as she replied, her head shaking with the weight of her words. "I have naught but guilt," she confessed, her eyes squeezed shut as if trying to block out the memories that haunted her. "Whenever I close my eyes, all I can see are the faces of my friends. The ones that I failed to save. All of them." She slowed her step, exhaustion and sorrow etched on her face as she rubbed at her eyes with trembling hands. "It's a miracle that I was able to escape with Alphinaud," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "But now I expect to face more questions on how I could let him treat me as he does." Her shoulders sagged under the weight of her burden.
"They chose their paths." Haurchefant stepped closer. "As you told me, they chose their own paths."
"But I could have done more-"
"We all could have." They turned to face each other, the moon casting their shadows long and thin against the rough stone wall behind them. The night was silent, but tension hung in the air like a heavy fog, weighing down their every breath. Haurchefant's hands hovered over Ryder's waist, hesitant but ready to offer support. But Ryder's sudden cry of pain caused him to flinch back, his fingers having brushed lightly against her sides before pulling away. She stumbled back, barely catching her balance as she pressed her hand against the cold stone for support. "Ryder?" Haurchefant's voice was filled with concern and worry as he stepped closer, his brow furrowed and eyes searching for any sign of what had caused her pain.
"I'm sorry," she gasped, clutching at her chest as sharp pains shot through her body. "Both the Brass Blades and Crystal Braves saw fit to inflict as much damage upon me as they could." Her voice trembled with anguish, her skin still throbbing from the merciless attacks of her enemies. "I have attempted to hide it, to not cause any undue alarm, but-"
"But you're in pain." Haurchefant's voice was a quiet murmur, his expression solemn as he digested her confession. He took a few steps towards her, but stopped, unwilling to cause her any further discomfort. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped."
Ryder shook her head weakly as she bit her lower lip to keep from crying out again. "I... I didn't want anyone else hurt. Not for me." Her knees wobbled as she tried to stay upright, but the strength bled from her body with every passing second.
Haurchefant, disregarding any formalities, rushed forward and caught her just as she fell forward. "You are a healer," he said sternly but not unkindly, his arm securely around her waist aiding her against gravity's pull. "But even healers need companions to help share their burdens." Ryder hissed in pain as she was grabbed, but fought to keep quiet as the Elezen led her through the halls. It was thankfully a short journey, but Ryder was too focused on the pain to remember the journey. She was sat down on a bed shortly, and she attempted to focus on calming herself down.
The clinking and scraping of metal on metal filled the air as Haurchefant removed his chainmail. Ryder looked up from her seat on his bed, watching the knight carefully place each piece onto a nearby mannequin. She could see the glint of silver and steel in the dim light, catching glimpses of intricate designs and engravings. "Apologies for undressing," Haurchefant said with a polite smile, "I don't want to risk scratching you by accident."
"You want to take care of me?"
The simple words hung in the air, barely audible over the rustling of fabric. "I do," he said, as Ryder pulled her long coat tighter around herself. The Elezen's slim fingers fumbled with an undershirt, trying to make the situation less awkward. Ryder could sense the tension in the room, thick and suffocating. "I understand that it might be uncomfortable, but-"
"Nobody has seen me in any state of undress since I can to Eorzea." The admission was quiet. "My skin is... ugly. Scarred."
"Nonsense." Haurchefant's hands gripped his friend's and pulled them gently away. "There is nothing about you that is ugly, Ryder." His eyes, kind and without judgment, met hers then. "You have borne pain, yes, and the scars you carry are a testament to your strength and bravery. They are not a mar on your beauty but instead... are as the stars in the sky; each one a tale of perseverance and survival."
His fingers were warm over hers as he held them between his hands, grounding her with their steadiness. "You are beautiful, Ryder. And your scars...they make you all the more so." His words hung in the air, a whispered vow against the silence of the room.
Ryder was silent for a moment before she allowed herself to nod weakly, her hands trembling within Haurchefant's grasp. She drew in a shaky breath before whispering with her voice barely carrying over her lips,"...Alright."
Pulling his hands away from hers, Haurchefant began to assist in removing her coat. He was gentle and patient, wary of making any of her injuries worse. "My chest has been compressed, too." She also admitted, looking away as the buckles of her coat came away, and her breasts expanded to their natural size. She was thankful that Haurchefant refused to acknowledge it.
As her arms and shoulders were bared, the scars that she feared being overtaken by a map of yellow and purple bruises and lash marks made them both pause. Haurchefant's eyes scanned the marred skin, tracing each mark with a gentle finger before letting out a soft chuckle. Ryder's ears burned in shame for a moment before he spoke. "'tis a wonder how anyone could overpower you." He said, his hands admiringly wrapping around one of her biceps, feeling the taut muscles beneath her skin. "I have not even seen such strength on our strongest knights." Thankfully, that made Ryder smile.
She shook her head, standing up and allowing her friend to completely remove her coat, where they both briefly inspected the damage. It was going to be useless for any more combat. "I apparently don't have enough strength to save my friends."
"Your companions made their choice." She could feel the weight of their absence sitting heavily on her shoulders as she sat down beside Haurchefant. The Elezen picked up a small jar of salve and scooped out a generous amount, apologizing softly as she winced in pain when he began to massage it into one of her many bruises. "They will be fine," he reassured her, his voice comforting like a warm blanket on a cold night. "This is just a minor setback in your heroic journey." Ryder took comfort in his words, feeling the pain fade as he worked. The smell of the salve filled her senses, a soothing mix of herbs and oils that reminded her of the many times that the Scions had done the exact same thing. As Haurchefant's skilled hands worked their magic, she couldn't help but feel grateful for this unlikely ally who had become a true friend.
"Does that salve work on fractured ribs?" The question was delivered with a wry grin, but both of them winced at the mention of fractured ribs. The pain from the injury still fresh and throbbing. The air hung heavy with discomfort as it hung in the air
"I doubt it, but you can heal those, can't you?" As Haurchefant finished rubbing the salve into Ryder's arm, he scooped up some more and motioned for her to turn around.
"I can. I was just more focused on... everything else."
"There's no time like the present, my friend," the Elezen spoke with a calm authority as she gripped Ryder's other arm. Her long fingers carefully massaged the salve into the deep bruises, causing the same tingling sensation that slowly eased the pain. Ryder winced and hissed through gritted teeth, but the Highlander pressed her free hand into her side to try and alleviate some of the discomfort. A stream of soft curses spilled from her mouth in a foreign tongue, one which Haurchefant couldn't place, before she took a deep breath and began to heal her fractured bones. "Which language is that
"Oh, it's..." Ryder's words trailed off, her gaze dropping to the ground as she spoke softly. She hesitated before asking in a low voice: "Haurchefant, can you promise to keep this between us? A secret?" Her eyes flickered with uncertainty and a hint of fear, as if unsure of how her request would be received.
"Of course! Anything!" He leaned slightly closer, still rubbing salve into her skin.
Ryder took a deep, steadying breath before she spoke, her hand resting gently on her other side to heal the other ribs. "I uttered the words in Yanxian, my mother tongue, and my given name is not Ryder Hawke." Haurchefant remained silent, his eyes fixed on her intently. "I am from Yanxia. My birth name is Yui Kusanagi." The words rolled off her tongue with a hint of nostalgia and longing. She could almost feel the distant mountains and forests of her homeland calling to her, beckoning her back.
"Why do you need to hide your true name?"
The words hung heavily in the air, thick with pain and accusation. "Because this is not the first time that I have been accused of murder," Ryder's voice wavered as she spoke, and Haurchefant finished rubbing the salve into his friend's skin. He gently pulled her by the shoulder to face him, their eyes meeting in a moment of shared sorrow. "My first false murder accusation was... my son," she confessed, her voice breaking with emotion. The weight of his words bore down upon them both, neither of them knowing what to say.
"Truly?" Haurchefant inquired, his voice filled with both surprise and joy. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around his friend in a gentle embrace, savouring the moment of connection between them as she nodded in confirmation.
Silence hung heavy in the air as she spoke, each word a burden on her conscience. Her voice trembled with emotion and her hands fidgeted nervously, betraying the turmoil within. "I haven't told anyone," she admitted, the weight of her secret nearly suffocating her. She couldn't bear the thought of the Scions turning against her because of it. Despite her efforts to remain composed, her voice cracked as she continued, "I didn't want them to hate me for it." The memory of being recognized by some of the Domans still haunted her, but they pretended not to know when she explained what had transpired. Haurchefant's comforting presence offered some solace in the midst of her distress, and she clung to him tightly as if afraid to let go. "But...what if someone believed my accuser?" she whispered, voicing her deepest fear. The mere thought sent shivers down her spine and threatened to unravel all the progress she had made in moving on from that traumatic experience.
Haurchefant leaned in closer, his gentle hands cradling his friend's tear-stained face. His warm thumbs caressed the corners of her eyes, wiping away the evidence of her distress. "I promise you, no one else will hear of this," he whispered, his voice filled with unwavering support. In that moment, she knew that she could trust him with her deepest secret. She knew that he believed in her and saw the goodness in her heart. And as they sat in that dimly-lit room, their friendship only grew stronger, bound by a vow to keep this knowledge safe within their walls. "You are still Ryder to me."
"Thank you, Haurchefant." Her red eyes closed, and she exhaled deeply. "I miss him, but I need to focus on what's going on right now. The Scions need me."
"And I need you." He replied, smiling softly. "My closest friend." Ryder nodded to him, smiling. "Promise that you will never leave my side."
"I promise."
If fate were kind, that promise would have held forever.