Prompt 7: Forgiven
@sea-wolf-coast-to-coast
It’d been a week since Thancred had returned to the Scions after living in the forelands for however long. Despite being down to a handful of members, nothing much had changed. The most was definitely Alphinaud. He couldn’t help but smile as he watched the boy conduct himself with a maturity he did not expect was possible before their escape from Ul’dah. Tataru was still her plucky self. And ’shtola despite her eyes was the same as ever. There was one other thing that he did not expect.
Midah.
Their Warrior of Light. She was avoiding him.
Since the confrontation with the ‘Warriors of Darkness’. After Thancred had swooped in to help drive them away all was normal. Once they escaped the Gnath compound he found himself assaulted with the tightest hug around his legs by the Lalafell. He could feel all her emotions flowing into him despite herself. Joy, excitement, relief, even a bit of impressed with how he came to save them. He himself felt the same. This young woman who was nothing but a clueless adventurer with a drive to help that he first met under the Sultantree all those months ago. She had grown into something far more incredible than anyone he could image short of Louisoix. He was embarrassed to admit that he saw her if anything in the same light as Ascilia though one far more capable of protecting herself. Ascilia. Minfilia. Right.
And then it happened. As soon as that name escaped his lips, wondering where the person he had given so much of his life to had been, she immediately released him. Stepping back, she looked up at him eyes wide and even with her darker skin it almost seemed like the color had all but drained from her face. Her mouth opened lips quivering as she tried to catch her voice but couldn’t. Head down she turned on her heel and ran off. Alphinaud stepped in then explaining what had happened after she had left him and Y’shtola in the tunnel. That she had made it out. Alone. Minfilia nowhere in sight. Before regaling the tale of their escape to Ishgard and their defeat of the Heavens Ward. Though Thancred did his best to keep attentive his mind was all but elsewhere. On Minfilia.
An anger was stewing in his gut. It must have reached his face for neither Alphinaud, Krile, nor Y’shtola made talk with him their entire trip back to Ishgard. Midha still not seen. When finally making it back to Fortempt Manor Krile pulled him off to the side. “Fix your face. Don’t want our hosts to think we brought in some mean-spirited ruffian now do we?” Smirk on her face.
“Forgive me, I was just-”
“I know Thancred. I’ve seen snippets of what happened that night due to the Echo.” She folds her arms eyes downcast. “Midha probably felt just as responsible as Alphinaud for all that. Powerful Warrior of Light. Running. Running after all her friends made sure that she alone could escape. Without knowing if she’d ever see them again. She must think you to be furious with her over having not taken Minfilia with her. Making sure she too escaped.”
“I’d never blame her for this. I know that Midha would never have left Minfilia behind like that. If anything, she had probably bid her to go on without her.” Thancred gave a bitter smile. “I need to talk to her. Let her know.” And so, he set about to try and speak to their Warrior of Light. However, she was far more evasive than he could ever expect. Midha had to have been training with the Doman shinobi because she was never this quick. Soon as he got within yalms of her she’d take off to the side or in the opposite direction. He cornered her once in a room just for her to leap out the window and stories down onto the Ishgardian streets before dashing away. Thancred having no hopes of giving chase knowing it would lead to broke legs especially without any sort of aether to use to cushion such a fall. If they absolutely had to be in the same area, for meetings and such, she would vanish soon after despite talking to him normally during such occasions. Thancred will admit it was grating on his nerves. Especially since he could feel her eyes on him every now and again. Watching him. He sighed knowing that she too wanted to speak but it seemed she didn’t know how to approach the subject with him. Despite not wanting him to approach her. So, he decided the best method was to simply wait.
He found himself sitting on a wall in the Broom. Bottles of spirits laid out around him. It’d been some time since he drank this much. But he needed to get his mind off things. They had just made their way back from the Hinterlands, from Matoya’s cave. From Minfilia. No, the Word of the Mother. As they said she called herself now. After all that worrying about whether she was alive or not. And Hydaelyn thought she of all people was the best to spirit away to become her puppet. Were there no other Echo users better suited for such a fate? Why her? Why Minfilia? Why his Ascilia? So consumed in his thoughts he doesn’t notice the figure leaping onto the ledge next to him, sitting down beside him. Not until a small hand found its way to his back and a flood of . . . relief washed over him. The fuzzy feeling of a buzzed mind leaving too as it came.
Looking to his side he sees Midha sitting there, eyes down, as she rubbed her hand along his back. He remembered she would do this after his ‘run in’ with Lahabrea. As she did have to beat him up just to get the Ascian out of his body. She would relieve any lingering pain he felt. But also the nightmares that came along with it. He never told anyone about them. But somehow she knew. And she would rub a spot on him letting her gift alleviate any fears he had. Like she knew what it was that he had been through. Like she knew how it felt to not be in control of her own body. Was that how Minfilia felt now? Or did she have some semblance of control. Doubt must have been creeping up on him again because he felt Midha’s hand clench his shirt before a wave of happy thoughts crashed into him. Happy memories. Of Minfilia. Of the Scions. Of Midha. However with her clinging to him he could feel what she felt too. And while she tried to keep her mind blank there was her own sorrow laying beneath it. Fear. Guilt. Hoping he wasn’t disappointed or angry with her. If it wasn’t for her Minfilia might still be here with them. Sorry. So, so sorry.
Thancred reaches out placing a hand on her head. Gently patting it. A warm fuzzy feeling bubbled up from her as she leaned into him. She knew now. He could never be angry with her. It was Minfilia’s choice after all. Midha smiled up at him before taking one of his untouched bottles popping the lid off. He chuckles as she raises it to him and he clinks his against it before they both take a swig. Sitting there in comfortable silence. Knowing no words were needed as there had been no reason to need to be forgiven in the first place.