Olivia's Gift
Feb 3, 2017 17:13:55 GMT -5
Post by Alexis McCallister on Feb 3, 2017 17:13:55 GMT -5
It was a few months since the calamity and Eorzea was working to reover.. It had been 1 month since Alexis had left the Paladin Order. She had found work with a traveling merchant caravan. She had never really recovered. She felt her entire life, her entire identity was false. She believed a Paladin served others, yet a recent couple of events had shattered her illusion and caused her faith in the order to crumble, leading to her abandonment.
Alexis had become depressed and barely spoke, merely following the caravan on its routes and fighting off the occasional raider or highwayman. Alexis lived day by day, never really interacting with the other guards or even her employers. She ate alone, slept alone, and sat alone when rest-stops occurred.
It was a day like any other. The sun shone bright upon the Thanalan sands and the desert blew a wind over its flats, kicking up small whirlwinds of dust and sand. The caravan had stopped in Drybone to pick up supplies. It also picked up a new member. An Au-Ra female. She was a gifted quilter and a weaver, and her goods sold rather well in the small community, so she felt she would try her luck on the road, making and peddling her goods to the larger realm.
Alexis was sitting on the edge of town upon a rock, awaiting the caravan to leave for Camp Tranquil, on the way to Gridania. Alexis was sitting eating a simple sandwich, contemplating her life, when a voice called out to her, as smooth as velvet and as inviting a warm fireplace in the winter.
“Hello there. I just joined this caravan. I heard you were one of the guards. May I join you for lunch?” The new Au-Ra questioned, her white hair which reached the small of her back blowing in the wind, whipping it around her forward horns. He eyes, which shone a brilliant purple in the light of the Thanalan sun, carried only a friendly intent. She held in her hand a lunch-sack and a mug of water. Alexis turned to face her. She kept her sordid look, but didn't deny the newcomer a seat.
“Aye, have a seat if'n it pleases ya.” Alexis muttered, taking a bite of her lunch. The woman smiled happily and sat next to her. She sat carefully, as one would carrying a heavy load, favoring her mid-riff, which was rather pronounced. In fact, it straight up stuck out. She sat next to the woman and gave her a friendly grin.
“My name is Olivia.” She sweetly offered her name to Alexis, a total stranger, as if she knew her. Not many people so freely attempted to make Alexis' acquaintance, much less acknowledge her. Alex turned to face the woman. She eyed her new companion and she arched an eyebrow.
“Lass, ya look like ya be pregnant. Whaddya doin' travelin' with a bleedin' caravan?” Alexis queried, her voice flat and soulless.
“Oh, I think I'd enjoy it. And I can handle it. I want to try and sell my wares across the realm. I have a new mouth to feed on the way, though I haven't picked a name for him or her yet. Why do you travel?” She questioned sweetly after answering, not deterred by Alexis flat questioning.
Alex pondered how best to answer. She didn't like talking and she wasn't honestly in the mood to discuss her life, well, her shattered illusions of her life. What was she put here for?
“I don't know lass. I just be a traveler. A workin' woman and a simple sell-sword I be.” She wasn't a artisan like this Olivia or her own mother. Her voice carried no disdain toward her companion, but is held a sadness and a sort of regret in it.
“I understand. I will not push you to discuss your past. I simply wanted to get to know my traveling companions better.” She smiled sweetly, undeterred by Alexis' rough exterior. “I hope that over time we will become good friends.”
Her eyes carried a hope in them that struck Alexis in her heart. Gods, why was this woman so friendly to her? Alexis was a failure, wasn't it obvious? She was simply a nobody who worked for a traveling group of merchants for a pittance of pay. Yet this woman's simple greeting and her smile made her start to think that maybe there was hope for her. Nah, she was just friendly. It was nothing. Olivia was merely another body she'd have to protect.
It had been 5 months since Alexis had left the Paladin Order. She was sitting around a small campfire in front of a tiny tent that housed two. The caravan had stopped and she and her friend Olivia, had pitched a tent. In the four months of traveling with her, Alexis had come to enjoy her company and her conversations. They somehow gave her hope, and refilled her drive to live life. Her friend's presence inspired her to fight harder too. She had picked up her training regimen again. Her soul felt lighter.
Over the past four months, they had shared talks, traveling into every major city together, set camp together. Over dinner they would talk of the future and of the present. Olivia spoke of how she left Doma and changed her name from Orihime to Olivia, fleeing an abusive lover. Alex spoke of her dreams and Olivia shared her's. They spoke of current happenings and made jokes together. Alexis would cook for Olivia and Olivia made Alexis a quilt and would repair her damaged clothes, jokingly chastising her for being careless every time. Olivia would speak of her intentions for her future child. Alexis found this talk to be inspiring and cheerful. Alexis confided in Olivia her desire to protect others and help people all across the realm, as she thought a Paladin should. Olivia listened and supported her outlook, reviving Alexis' hope and desire. Each day, every chance she got, she would go out of her way to help folks again. She once more felt alive.
“Olivia, I thinks I may soon leave the caravan. I wants to do what I was born to do. I want to be the Paladin I thinks the world deserves, I do! And I wants to thank ya.” Alexis smiled at her friend next to her,her face lit by the glow of the fire. Not just her friend, in merely four months Olivia was essentially her sister and her confidant. She had given her hope again. “I've saved ya a bit 'o' me pay. I want to 'elp ya settle down. I seen me a nice house in Limsa. I'd loved to 'ave ya as me and me mums neighbor. Ya and that little munchkin 'o' yours that be on the way” Alexis shot Olivia a hopeful smile, something she'd done more often now. Her life had been given purpose again thanks to all these fireside chats.
Olivia shot Alexis a happy grin. “I would like that. A place to call my own. Somewhere to settle down and raise this child. And I would have a boon companion nearby. My little one would have one good Auntie.” Olivia smiled happily. Shortly, thereafter, she gave a cry and hunched over. “Gods...I think its coming!” Alexis eyed her friend and sister once she had run over to help her, placing her hands on her shoulders and her stomach. She soon was able to discern that her water had broken.
“Olivia, I'll go gets the doc!” Alexis knew the caravan had a healer for emergency situations. Upon retrieving the pointy hatted woman, she helped Olivia into a tent, her friend screaming in birthing pain. Once inside, Alexis comforted her sister and confidant.
“PUSH! I Can see the head! One more big push!” The mage commanded the birthing mother. Olivia held Alexis' hand which she was practically was crushing. “Listen to her, Olivia, ya can do it Lass!”
Soon, a soft crying was heard, and the mage swaddled a newborn in a clean cloth and handed her to Olivia. “Its a girl.” She quipped. Olivia took the child into her arms.
“Look Alexis, look!” The child had ceased crying, and peered at her mother though bright pink eyes, letting loose a happy giggle, and reaching for her mothers face. “I will have to think of a name.” Olivia smiled happily to her friend, tears of joy in her eyes. For now though, I need to rest.” Olivia fell asleep with the child in her arms.
The next day, Alexis went into the town of Drybone, where she had originally met Olivia early in the morning, hoping to get Olivia a present to celebrate her new birth. The caravan had several guards, so Alexis got permission from the leader and rode ahead on Amun, her chocobo, and planned to meet the caravan in the town. Alexis managed to pick out a nice baby blanket. She knew Olivia had made her own, buy Alexis wanted to get a practical gift and a new mother could always use extra blankets. Soon after she stepped out of the shop however, smoke was seen on the horizon from the direction of the caravan. Several Brass Blades and Immortal Flames were mounting their chocobos.
“Oh no...Olivia!” Alex panicked in her mind and whistled, mounting Amun in one motion, not having the mount stop at all.
Upon reaching the scene ahead of the Blades and Flames, she was greeted with a scene of ghoulish slaughter. The caravan was burning and its merchants lay dead, crimson fluid draining from their bodies. The guards to were dead, and among them lay several black clad men, fully covered in robes, their small weapons lay near them, their design unfamiliar to Alexis. They carried no symbols to mark them. She heard her friend cry out in terror, followed by a babies cry. She ran in the direction and found one remaining black clad assassin bearing down on Olivia, who cowered beside a rock, cradling her baby.
“You and that bastard child are finished. My lord's will be done. All my men are dead, but I will succeed.” The assassin spoke in a rather odd accent, and brought a rather odd small curved blade to bear.
NO! I'll bleedin' rip yer 'eart out and feed it to ya, if ya so much as touch 'er!” Alexis cried as she charged the figure, drawing her sword. Before figure could fully turn around, she ran him though, her blade striking true. She plowed him to the ground, planting her sword and the person to the ground. She felt no movement and quickly ran to Oliva.
“Lass, ya alright? I be so sorry.” Alexis spoke, fear in her words.
“I am okay, but I think---” Olivia was cut off as pained looked crossed her face and she let out a small gasp of pain. She looked at her leg. A small throwing dagger was lodged in it., blood and a greenish liquid dripping from the wound. Olivia turned white and fell to the ground trembling. Alexis was shocked. She spun around to she the man, barely alive, had thrown a hidden dagger. Alexis approached him and twisted the sword lodged in his chest.
“What did ya do? Give me the antidote, and I'll 'and ya over to the Flames and Blades. Do it not, an' I'll make ya wish the twelve would take ya now!” Alex threatened, tears of anger and rage, visible in her eyes. The man chuckled. “There is no cure for this poison. My lords will be done.” He then twisted his body, driving his heart into the blades edge. Alex had no time for a corpse.
She ran to her dear friend and cradled her and her child in her arms. Tears ran down her cheeks. She knew what was happening. She wanted to stop it. She cursed herself.
“Olivia...no...ya can't... stay with me.” Alexis begged.
“Alexis, please...care for her.” Oliva was managing to speak. “I am dying... but I am happy knowing you will care for my baby. I do not blame you...” Olivia smiled weakly at Alexis and placed a hand weakly on her cheek. “I named her.... Sofi Alexandria, in honor of her god-mother...” Olivia looked at her child, which cooed at her and reached out. Her tiny fingers wrapped around one of Olivia's fingers, tightly gripping it. “My baby.... I love you more than the twelve love all creation...” Olivia's eyes began to weaken and darken, the light fading from her perfect violet windows of the soul. She managed one last look at Alexis, smiling. She finally passed, going limp in her friend and sisters arms.
“Olivia..Olivia no...” Alexis cradled her and her child, shaking her softly. Her sobs audible over the wind. “No...no...OLIVIA!!! OLIVIAAAAAAAA!” Alexis cried her friends name, her voice echoing to the sky so loudly that the twelve themselves would have heard her pain. Alexis cursed herself, she damned whoever she felt should take the blame. “I'll avenge ya, Olivia, I promise ya..one day...I'll find who did this...”
Two days later, she stood over a fresh grave, he eyes erupting tears. In her arms, she had swaddled a small baby, covered in a baby blanket made by Olivia. She simply stood over the grave as the morning sun and the warmth of the light of day bathed Thanalan in a warm glow. She had just the day before helped bury the caravan and she personally dug Olivia's grave. She held the baby in front of her and cooed to her, smiling.
“I'll love ya all me days, me little Diamond. Olivia, I'll always be here for 'er. Please rest easy, me friend and sister. Watch over us both.”
The baby, her little Diamond and Olivia's legacy and gift giggled happily, and reached out, touching Alexis' nose, her little fingers grasping for her mother. She cooed and giggled, he voice melting Alexis' heart and brought forth more tears.
“Sofi Alexandria...I love you. I love you so much.”
Alexis started her way home to Limsa, to begin her life anew, just as she told Olivia she would.
Alexis had become depressed and barely spoke, merely following the caravan on its routes and fighting off the occasional raider or highwayman. Alexis lived day by day, never really interacting with the other guards or even her employers. She ate alone, slept alone, and sat alone when rest-stops occurred.
It was a day like any other. The sun shone bright upon the Thanalan sands and the desert blew a wind over its flats, kicking up small whirlwinds of dust and sand. The caravan had stopped in Drybone to pick up supplies. It also picked up a new member. An Au-Ra female. She was a gifted quilter and a weaver, and her goods sold rather well in the small community, so she felt she would try her luck on the road, making and peddling her goods to the larger realm.
Alexis was sitting on the edge of town upon a rock, awaiting the caravan to leave for Camp Tranquil, on the way to Gridania. Alexis was sitting eating a simple sandwich, contemplating her life, when a voice called out to her, as smooth as velvet and as inviting a warm fireplace in the winter.
“Hello there. I just joined this caravan. I heard you were one of the guards. May I join you for lunch?” The new Au-Ra questioned, her white hair which reached the small of her back blowing in the wind, whipping it around her forward horns. He eyes, which shone a brilliant purple in the light of the Thanalan sun, carried only a friendly intent. She held in her hand a lunch-sack and a mug of water. Alexis turned to face her. She kept her sordid look, but didn't deny the newcomer a seat.
“Aye, have a seat if'n it pleases ya.” Alexis muttered, taking a bite of her lunch. The woman smiled happily and sat next to her. She sat carefully, as one would carrying a heavy load, favoring her mid-riff, which was rather pronounced. In fact, it straight up stuck out. She sat next to the woman and gave her a friendly grin.
“My name is Olivia.” She sweetly offered her name to Alexis, a total stranger, as if she knew her. Not many people so freely attempted to make Alexis' acquaintance, much less acknowledge her. Alex turned to face the woman. She eyed her new companion and she arched an eyebrow.
“Lass, ya look like ya be pregnant. Whaddya doin' travelin' with a bleedin' caravan?” Alexis queried, her voice flat and soulless.
“Oh, I think I'd enjoy it. And I can handle it. I want to try and sell my wares across the realm. I have a new mouth to feed on the way, though I haven't picked a name for him or her yet. Why do you travel?” She questioned sweetly after answering, not deterred by Alexis flat questioning.
Alex pondered how best to answer. She didn't like talking and she wasn't honestly in the mood to discuss her life, well, her shattered illusions of her life. What was she put here for?
“I don't know lass. I just be a traveler. A workin' woman and a simple sell-sword I be.” She wasn't a artisan like this Olivia or her own mother. Her voice carried no disdain toward her companion, but is held a sadness and a sort of regret in it.
“I understand. I will not push you to discuss your past. I simply wanted to get to know my traveling companions better.” She smiled sweetly, undeterred by Alexis' rough exterior. “I hope that over time we will become good friends.”
Her eyes carried a hope in them that struck Alexis in her heart. Gods, why was this woman so friendly to her? Alexis was a failure, wasn't it obvious? She was simply a nobody who worked for a traveling group of merchants for a pittance of pay. Yet this woman's simple greeting and her smile made her start to think that maybe there was hope for her. Nah, she was just friendly. It was nothing. Olivia was merely another body she'd have to protect.
It had been 5 months since Alexis had left the Paladin Order. She was sitting around a small campfire in front of a tiny tent that housed two. The caravan had stopped and she and her friend Olivia, had pitched a tent. In the four months of traveling with her, Alexis had come to enjoy her company and her conversations. They somehow gave her hope, and refilled her drive to live life. Her friend's presence inspired her to fight harder too. She had picked up her training regimen again. Her soul felt lighter.
Over the past four months, they had shared talks, traveling into every major city together, set camp together. Over dinner they would talk of the future and of the present. Olivia spoke of how she left Doma and changed her name from Orihime to Olivia, fleeing an abusive lover. Alex spoke of her dreams and Olivia shared her's. They spoke of current happenings and made jokes together. Alexis would cook for Olivia and Olivia made Alexis a quilt and would repair her damaged clothes, jokingly chastising her for being careless every time. Olivia would speak of her intentions for her future child. Alexis found this talk to be inspiring and cheerful. Alexis confided in Olivia her desire to protect others and help people all across the realm, as she thought a Paladin should. Olivia listened and supported her outlook, reviving Alexis' hope and desire. Each day, every chance she got, she would go out of her way to help folks again. She once more felt alive.
“Olivia, I thinks I may soon leave the caravan. I wants to do what I was born to do. I want to be the Paladin I thinks the world deserves, I do! And I wants to thank ya.” Alexis smiled at her friend next to her,her face lit by the glow of the fire. Not just her friend, in merely four months Olivia was essentially her sister and her confidant. She had given her hope again. “I've saved ya a bit 'o' me pay. I want to 'elp ya settle down. I seen me a nice house in Limsa. I'd loved to 'ave ya as me and me mums neighbor. Ya and that little munchkin 'o' yours that be on the way” Alexis shot Olivia a hopeful smile, something she'd done more often now. Her life had been given purpose again thanks to all these fireside chats.
Olivia shot Alexis a happy grin. “I would like that. A place to call my own. Somewhere to settle down and raise this child. And I would have a boon companion nearby. My little one would have one good Auntie.” Olivia smiled happily. Shortly, thereafter, she gave a cry and hunched over. “Gods...I think its coming!” Alexis eyed her friend and sister once she had run over to help her, placing her hands on her shoulders and her stomach. She soon was able to discern that her water had broken.
“Olivia, I'll go gets the doc!” Alexis knew the caravan had a healer for emergency situations. Upon retrieving the pointy hatted woman, she helped Olivia into a tent, her friend screaming in birthing pain. Once inside, Alexis comforted her sister and confidant.
“PUSH! I Can see the head! One more big push!” The mage commanded the birthing mother. Olivia held Alexis' hand which she was practically was crushing. “Listen to her, Olivia, ya can do it Lass!”
Soon, a soft crying was heard, and the mage swaddled a newborn in a clean cloth and handed her to Olivia. “Its a girl.” She quipped. Olivia took the child into her arms.
“Look Alexis, look!” The child had ceased crying, and peered at her mother though bright pink eyes, letting loose a happy giggle, and reaching for her mothers face. “I will have to think of a name.” Olivia smiled happily to her friend, tears of joy in her eyes. For now though, I need to rest.” Olivia fell asleep with the child in her arms.
The next day, Alexis went into the town of Drybone, where she had originally met Olivia early in the morning, hoping to get Olivia a present to celebrate her new birth. The caravan had several guards, so Alexis got permission from the leader and rode ahead on Amun, her chocobo, and planned to meet the caravan in the town. Alexis managed to pick out a nice baby blanket. She knew Olivia had made her own, buy Alexis wanted to get a practical gift and a new mother could always use extra blankets. Soon after she stepped out of the shop however, smoke was seen on the horizon from the direction of the caravan. Several Brass Blades and Immortal Flames were mounting their chocobos.
“Oh no...Olivia!” Alex panicked in her mind and whistled, mounting Amun in one motion, not having the mount stop at all.
Upon reaching the scene ahead of the Blades and Flames, she was greeted with a scene of ghoulish slaughter. The caravan was burning and its merchants lay dead, crimson fluid draining from their bodies. The guards to were dead, and among them lay several black clad men, fully covered in robes, their small weapons lay near them, their design unfamiliar to Alexis. They carried no symbols to mark them. She heard her friend cry out in terror, followed by a babies cry. She ran in the direction and found one remaining black clad assassin bearing down on Olivia, who cowered beside a rock, cradling her baby.
“You and that bastard child are finished. My lord's will be done. All my men are dead, but I will succeed.” The assassin spoke in a rather odd accent, and brought a rather odd small curved blade to bear.
NO! I'll bleedin' rip yer 'eart out and feed it to ya, if ya so much as touch 'er!” Alexis cried as she charged the figure, drawing her sword. Before figure could fully turn around, she ran him though, her blade striking true. She plowed him to the ground, planting her sword and the person to the ground. She felt no movement and quickly ran to Oliva.
“Lass, ya alright? I be so sorry.” Alexis spoke, fear in her words.
“I am okay, but I think---” Olivia was cut off as pained looked crossed her face and she let out a small gasp of pain. She looked at her leg. A small throwing dagger was lodged in it., blood and a greenish liquid dripping from the wound. Olivia turned white and fell to the ground trembling. Alexis was shocked. She spun around to she the man, barely alive, had thrown a hidden dagger. Alexis approached him and twisted the sword lodged in his chest.
“What did ya do? Give me the antidote, and I'll 'and ya over to the Flames and Blades. Do it not, an' I'll make ya wish the twelve would take ya now!” Alex threatened, tears of anger and rage, visible in her eyes. The man chuckled. “There is no cure for this poison. My lords will be done.” He then twisted his body, driving his heart into the blades edge. Alex had no time for a corpse.
She ran to her dear friend and cradled her and her child in her arms. Tears ran down her cheeks. She knew what was happening. She wanted to stop it. She cursed herself.
“Olivia...no...ya can't... stay with me.” Alexis begged.
“Alexis, please...care for her.” Oliva was managing to speak. “I am dying... but I am happy knowing you will care for my baby. I do not blame you...” Olivia smiled weakly at Alexis and placed a hand weakly on her cheek. “I named her.... Sofi Alexandria, in honor of her god-mother...” Olivia looked at her child, which cooed at her and reached out. Her tiny fingers wrapped around one of Olivia's fingers, tightly gripping it. “My baby.... I love you more than the twelve love all creation...” Olivia's eyes began to weaken and darken, the light fading from her perfect violet windows of the soul. She managed one last look at Alexis, smiling. She finally passed, going limp in her friend and sisters arms.
“Olivia..Olivia no...” Alexis cradled her and her child, shaking her softly. Her sobs audible over the wind. “No...no...OLIVIA!!! OLIVIAAAAAAAA!” Alexis cried her friends name, her voice echoing to the sky so loudly that the twelve themselves would have heard her pain. Alexis cursed herself, she damned whoever she felt should take the blame. “I'll avenge ya, Olivia, I promise ya..one day...I'll find who did this...”
Two days later, she stood over a fresh grave, he eyes erupting tears. In her arms, she had swaddled a small baby, covered in a baby blanket made by Olivia. She simply stood over the grave as the morning sun and the warmth of the light of day bathed Thanalan in a warm glow. She had just the day before helped bury the caravan and she personally dug Olivia's grave. She held the baby in front of her and cooed to her, smiling.
“I'll love ya all me days, me little Diamond. Olivia, I'll always be here for 'er. Please rest easy, me friend and sister. Watch over us both.”
The baby, her little Diamond and Olivia's legacy and gift giggled happily, and reached out, touching Alexis' nose, her little fingers grasping for her mother. She cooed and giggled, he voice melting Alexis' heart and brought forth more tears.
“Sofi Alexandria...I love you. I love you so much.”
Alexis started her way home to Limsa, to begin her life anew, just as she told Olivia she would.