Scene:  Wolf Run Inn in Vector
Characters:  Rydia, Edge, Kain and Cyan.



Holding onto the railing, Rydia seems to be feeling stubborn tonight. She waited a bit, expecting her ever vigilant benefactor would be gone by now, so she could sneak down for a bit. Lying in bed is so boring!
   
Kain can't help smiling to himself as he catches Rydia's general attention and gestures in Edge's general direction.

Edge looks up as Rydia walks down... a smirk coming to his lips as he raises his arm, indicating the bag. "Do I have to tie you down next time, love?" Edge winks playfully.

Rydia flicks her gaze toward Edge, eyes widening. She blushes, the fever spots glowing brighter then ever before. Sheepishly, she nibbles at the underside of her lower lip as she stands at the base of the stairs.

      Edge winks to her, slowly walking foward to slip his arms around her waist and sweep her off her feet, spining around to softly set her down on the floor. Then he raises his free arm and holds the back before her face. "Time for your medicine."

Dizzy after being spun, Rydia blinks, giggling like a giddy little girl for a moment. She has a hard time standing on weak legs to begin with, and stumbles to the side, surely about to go down on her rear as Edge holds the bag out in front of her. "Oh sure..."

     Edge holds Rydia with one arm, his face growing with concern as he supports her, slowly guiding her over towards a chair. "Here, luv. Take a seat and you can drink some of these..."

"I only need one, Edge," Rydia chuckles as she's lead to a seat, glad he's not just dragging her upstairs again. The humor at least has her feeling slightly better, but she'll pay for it soon enough if she doesn't take one of the offered potions.

     Edge nods and sets the bag before her. "I got 5, just in case... Lets make sure you keep them around for when you need them." Edge smiles softly to her, slowly joining her at the table and motioning to the bag. "Drink up."

Picking up a bottle, Rydia fiddles with the top, finally unstopping it, glancing at everyone as if she were paranoid of them watching her drink this. She upends it, swallowing the contents in one gulp, sticking her tongue out afterwards, "Gah."

Edge shudders soflty in sympathy. "Horrible tasting... but it works." Edge then looks to Kain and Cyan. "So, When Cecil and Rosa wake up, you two can drop them back of in Baron and Rydia and I can begin the search for some Espers."

Kain nods, "Right. They must be really tired after all that."

Whoa, dizzy for a moment, Rydia blinks repeatedly as the potion works its way through her system at the speed of light. The fever spots disappear from her cheeks and her hands stop shaking, color returning to her usually palid features.

Edge smiles tenderly to Rydia as her color is restored. "Ahh... Wonderful!"

Rydia tests her body, starting with wiggling her fingers. Then she rises to her feet, stretching her legs and arms. Her weariness has faded, leaving her feeling... like the living.

Edge grins broadly to Rydia as she does so, rising as well. "So, Feeling better, beloved?" Edge winks to her, smiling, his eyes dancing with happiness and relief.

Rydia turns toward Edge, smiling at him cryptically. Oh yes, she's feeling back to her old self again. Hands clasping behind her back, she approaches the prince, but stands just out of reach, "I suppose I owe you payment for that service, hmm?"

Edge coughs slightly, slowly crossing his arms over his chest and assumes a nonchalant stance... he winks slightly. "Oh... only if you feel you need to." Edge smiles softly and tenderly to her, gazing to her with those sparkling grey eyes.

      Rydia rubs her chin, brows furrowing as she considers this. All the while that little smile never quite disappears from her lips. "Well, I could... no, no. Wait! No, not that either."

       Edge regards Rydia for a long moment, a twinkle in his eyes and a tender smile on his lips... "Well... I could simply do... this..." Edge moves with a good deal of speed... sweeping Rydia offer her feet and diping her extravagantly, his mouth lowering to place a kiss apon her lips... What can I say... Edge isnt a patient man...

Patient, indeed not! Rydia squeaks, unable to really do anything else as she's suddenly swept up in Edge's embrace. Aware that Cyan and others may be watching, she pats on Edge's shoulders with her fists, trying to get him to let go... but she's not really trying _that_ hard, else she'd be pounding.

Edge kisses Rydia for long, slow moments... enjoying his reward... then lets her back up and sets her on her feet, winking to her.

Unfortunately for Rydia, Cyan did, in fact, see. Fortunately for her, he stands up rather abruptly and walks briskly out the door, stopping just outside to lean back against the wall, covering his face with his hands for a second, then pulling them away and letting out a long sigh as he drops to the earth, sitting rather undigifiedly outside.

Recovering quickly from the kiss, Rydia blinks, "Cyan?" Embarassed, and slightly worried, she covers her lips and looks at Edge, trying to understand why the Knight left so abruptly.

Edge looks toward the door as he watches Cyan walk out... a chuckle rising from his lips. The Prince then calls out. "You can come back in, Cyan! It is over now!" Edge looks back to Rydia and shrugs, smiling. "Shh... dont worry, pet. People usualy leave otheres that are in love and... doing such things... alone." Edge chuckles softly, shaking his head.

Cyan however, doesn't come back in, still sitting against the wall outside, a flood of memories coming unbidden -- although perhaps not entirely unwelcome -- of what he thought he had finally come to terms with, of what he thought was finally past him...his family.

Completely new to whatever love is, if this really is love, Rydia simply says, "Oh." Though she's not totally convinced that's why Cyan left. It can't be that simple. Glancing back once at Edge, she drifts toward the door, wondering if the Knight had drifted far.
"Cyan?" she calls softly.

Edge gets a concerned look in his eyes as well... slowly he follos the Emerald haired caller, steping just a pace or two behind her. "Cyan? Are you alright?" Edge follows her towards the door, slipping around to open it to look out into the night. "Cyan?"

Cyan is right outside the door, slumped and sitting on the ground, back against the wall. Although at first it seems like perhaps he's been injured, for he lays there very haphazardly, as one gets closer one can see it looks more as though he fell down...and perhaps those are tears....

Of course, the immediate response is to rush over to Cyan's side, but after a better look, Rydia merely stands there, holding an arm out to hopefully block Edge from drawing too close. She recognizes a private moment when she sees one, and decides a more delicate approach might be better then a solicitous assault.

Edge looks to Cyan... a sadness coming to his eyes... and slowly he nods to Rydia at her actions. The Ninja Prince remains silent... knowing well the pain of the past himself. His entire home was burned to the ground by Living Fire and his parents were mutated and died before his eyes... perhaps at his own hand... Edge looks to Rydia then to Cyan... deep concern in his expression.

Cyan draws his legs closer to him and crosses his arms over his knees, hiding his face...for once, for one of his few times engaging in an act of vulnerability, murmuring the word "Elayne..." and nearly breaking down.

       Quietly approaching the knight, Rydia kneels beside him, reaching out to touch his shoulder. She knows her own tradgedies, everyone seems to. Yet, she's never thought of the Knight this way, and is touched by his emotion. "Cyan... it's ok, you know... to grieve."

       Edge slowly he walks foward as well, crouching a little behind and to the side of Rydia, regarding Cyan... remaining silent for a moment... and when he speaks again it is a tone not used much... his full Prince. "It is more then ok, Cyan... grieving makes us stronger... and helps us remember the people we have lost."

Cyan reaches behind him and unslings his sword, throwing it to the ground, shimmering blade skidding out of its sheath several inches with its unearthly glow. "I miss my wife," he says flatly. "I miss my wife and my son. Kefka took them from me even though I tried as hard as I could to protect them, and now all I have is that." He gestures at the sword, and then strikes his fist into the wall...not as hard as he can, but out of frustration, not wanting to drive his friends away. "And not even the Convergence has been able to revive them." Cyan's head leans back against the wall now rather than dropping back onto his arms, and he closes his eyes.

Rydia winces, gaze flickering toward the sword as it skitters over the dust. Licking her lips, she looks up briefly toward Edge for strength, then offers to Cyan, "I miss my mother, my village. None of them have come back either... it seems to pick and choose. I am sorry, Cyan, I wish I could return them to you." If only her Summoning abilities allowed her to call back the dead, she would, if only to see Cyan happy.

     Edge regards Cyan with concern and deep remorse. He still speaks in his full Princely tone, deep concern resonating in it. "We three each have experianced great pain... No one could have stoped each act as it was done to us... And no one, not even the convergence... can undo them." Edge reaches out slowly, meeting Rydia's gaze as she looks to him, then moves to try and place a firm, reassuring grip on Cyan's shoulder "You are not alone Cyan... We could not prevent our fate... we can only do what we can... to avenge those who are taken from us. I will devote my life to helping you rid the world of Kefka... He deserves to die and not bother the world anymore..." Edge shakes his head slowly... "And you have more then your sword, Cyan. You have your memory... Think back to the times when you lay with your wife... played with your son... obtained joy in holding them both in your arms... that is what you should try and keep in your heart... Dont let the pain consume you... or you will never avenge them."

Cyan finally realizes what he must look like and reaches for the sword again, lifting and tilting the sheath so that it slides back in place. He reaches behind him to put it in place again, silent for several moments, looking straight forward at something, or seeming to. At last, he takes a long breath and pulls himself up to a semblance of a dignified posture again. "Thou'rt right, Edge." His gaze goes to the ground for a moment, then looks back up, this time focusing on Rydia and Edge. "I...apologize...for having lain my burdens upon you...'tis not what I intended when both of you are clearly happy. My presence is but a downing force for the nonce." He makes as though to start getting up.

Rydia leaps to her feet again, frowning at Cyan, "I know we have only recently met, but I would think it safe to call you a friend, Sir Knight. And if such is the case, then I think it plenty safe for you to lay your burdens on us. This is what friendship is about." She nods once, her chin held high afterwards. As far as she's concerned, she's right.

Edge smiles softly at Rydia's words and nods as well, slowly rising and extending a hand down to Cyan. "Indeed, friend. We are here for you and will help you. We are happy yes, and helping you makes us even moreso." Edge smiles comradely down to Cyan. "We will always be here for you... in fact..." Edge regards Cyan for a long moment... "As Prince Edward Geraldine, Ruler of Eblan... I offer you a place, Masterless Retainer... as Retainer to House Eblan now and forever more untill such date as you do not wish me anymore." Edge has on his 'Prince' face, totaly sincere and certain. "You will never be alone again, Cyan, never be without a friend to lean on. That is what Rydia and myself are for." Edge smiles softly down to Cyan. "Do you accept the post, Sir Cyan Garamonde?"

   Cyan looks up at Edge for a second...several seconds...more than long enough. He quietly draws his sword, the eerily glowing Aura, and pushes the tip into the ground, resting his hand on the pommel. "Sir Edge, I accept. The past, as well as the position; perhaps at some time neither may be easy to bear, but 'tis a problem I shall face in the future." He drops to one knee. "And that future is now in your hands...my liege."

Rydia blinks, watching the scene as if it were completely alien to her. Well, it is. Cecil and Rosa and Cyan and Edge may be royalty or used to royalty, but she's a village girl. She's never seen anything like this before. She's speechless too, for once.

Edge slowly reaches up... unsheathing his father's and mother's kitanas... leting them shine in the light. He slowly raises them and places the flat of them on Cyan's shoulders. "I name thee, Sir Cyan, Retainer of Eblan, Champion of Her People and Protector of the Crown." Edge is in /full/ prince mode now. "Your future rests in good hands, my friend. For now you will serve the people of Eblan as you once did Doma and they will serve you." Edge slowly raises his swords, sheathing them slowly behind him. "Rise, Sir Cyan, Retainer of Eblan."

Cyan stands, drawing the sword from the ground, looking at it for a second, and puts it back in the sheath on his back, briefly dusting his hands off. He pauses for a second...and extends his hand to the Prince of Eblan. "Thank thee, Edge...for returning some sort of meaning to my life."

Rydia smiles softly, turning to walk back into the tavern. This seems to be a male time. So,  she leaves them to their bonding.