The winds were bitter and the snow did nothing to improve the mood. Melodia stood just past the Gates of Judgment and eyed that bridge that stretched across to Ishgard and wondered how she'd even gotten to this point. Her thick coat was long and pulled tightly around her while the hood she'd pulled up guarded her ears. She'd used a thick cloth facemask to cover her nose and mouth and she looked back at her guide, a young Elezen man by the name of Aurrant.
"Are you certain they can't come to me?" She asked in a muffled shout over the winds. Aurrant shook his head.
"I'm afraid not milady. You'll find they are a bit...eccentric. They aren't keen on wandering south."
Melodia scowled behind her coverings and she looked back across the bridge...
*****************************************************************
Two Days Before....
A sharp knock on the door and Melodia stirred from a light slumber. She had no idea what hour it was, only noting the small fire in the fireplace and the half empty bottle of wine on the table. She was still dressed and again the rapping came.
-KNOCK KNOCK-
"Hmm....h-hold on a second." She stood and got her bearings, making sure she knew where her axe was in her room before she stumbled to the door. The tumblers opened and she saw a handsome young Elezen man standing on her doorstep. "Yes?"
The man coughed a bit and smiled, obviously embarrassed by the expression on his face when he finally spoke. His voice was pleasant and he bowed. "Good evening....my name is Aurrant Mieteois...and you are Melodia D'janz? At least I hope so." She eyed him and her fogginess was clearing rapidly. She couldn't help but be on edge. "Who are you? And I don't mean your name..."Â She asked plainly, with just a hint of tension behind her words.
A soft smile to the man's lips and he nodded. "I understand the trepidation...especially at this hour. However, I mean no harm. I am an emissary for a couple that reside in the north, in Ishgard. And they have sent me a very long way for you."
Melodia looked puzzled and her eyes narrowed despite the slight hangover she felt.
"You...are a therapist? They got wind of you from a flyer that managed to find its way north." He looked perplexed...concern lining his face in the silence that followed. "Aye....I am. I'm sorry for the caution but -" She began and he looked relieved, cutting her off. "Think nothing of it...I do understand." He looked down and then back at the red-headed Miqo'te with a sense of urgency in his eyes.
"Well, look....have them come by in the morning...it's far too late for me to even consider meeting with them." She said politely but he shook his head. "I'm afraid....we will need to go to them. To Ishgard."
Melodia looked taken aback. "I d-don't think that counts a simple house call..." She wasn't sure what to say when he held out a small but notably heavy bag of coins. ""Half up front. Half when you meet with them. Please....it's rather urgent." He looked desperate and she eyed the bag of coin. Business had been dreadfully slow and she needed the money. She let out a sigh and nodded. "You'll accompany me there I assume? And the second half when I meet with them?" She asked. He nodded.
"Expect no miracles...often I need to meet with folks many times to resolves their issues. And I don't plan to relocate to Ishgard, so I won't have a lot of time." Another soft sigh and she nodded. "Tomorrow....first thing...meet me outside...and we'll depart." She'd said, getting ready to close the door and pausing. "Will I need something warm? I've only heard rumors...." Aurrant smiled and nodded as she stepped back. "Tomorrow morning then, Madame. And yes....warmer clothing is preferred."
*****************************************************************
Present
She took a deep breath which bit at her lungs and she gestured for Aurrant to lead the way. "After you." The man nodded acknowledgement and passed by her, after which she followed, pulling her coat tighter. Her mind thought as they moved, "This is not what I expected when I got my memories back...."
"Are you certain they can't come to me?" She asked in a muffled shout over the winds. Aurrant shook his head.
"I'm afraid not milady. You'll find they are a bit...eccentric. They aren't keen on wandering south."
Melodia scowled behind her coverings and she looked back across the bridge...
*****************************************************************
Two Days Before....
A sharp knock on the door and Melodia stirred from a light slumber. She had no idea what hour it was, only noting the small fire in the fireplace and the half empty bottle of wine on the table. She was still dressed and again the rapping came.
-KNOCK KNOCK-
"Hmm....h-hold on a second." She stood and got her bearings, making sure she knew where her axe was in her room before she stumbled to the door. The tumblers opened and she saw a handsome young Elezen man standing on her doorstep. "Yes?"
The man coughed a bit and smiled, obviously embarrassed by the expression on his face when he finally spoke. His voice was pleasant and he bowed. "Good evening....my name is Aurrant Mieteois...and you are Melodia D'janz? At least I hope so." She eyed him and her fogginess was clearing rapidly. She couldn't help but be on edge. "Who are you? And I don't mean your name..."Â She asked plainly, with just a hint of tension behind her words.
A soft smile to the man's lips and he nodded. "I understand the trepidation...especially at this hour. However, I mean no harm. I am an emissary for a couple that reside in the north, in Ishgard. And they have sent me a very long way for you."
Melodia looked puzzled and her eyes narrowed despite the slight hangover she felt.
"You...are a therapist? They got wind of you from a flyer that managed to find its way north." He looked perplexed...concern lining his face in the silence that followed. "Aye....I am. I'm sorry for the caution but -" She began and he looked relieved, cutting her off. "Think nothing of it...I do understand." He looked down and then back at the red-headed Miqo'te with a sense of urgency in his eyes.
"Well, look....have them come by in the morning...it's far too late for me to even consider meeting with them." She said politely but he shook his head. "I'm afraid....we will need to go to them. To Ishgard."
Melodia looked taken aback. "I d-don't think that counts a simple house call..." She wasn't sure what to say when he held out a small but notably heavy bag of coins. ""Half up front. Half when you meet with them. Please....it's rather urgent." He looked desperate and she eyed the bag of coin. Business had been dreadfully slow and she needed the money. She let out a sigh and nodded. "You'll accompany me there I assume? And the second half when I meet with them?" She asked. He nodded.
"Expect no miracles...often I need to meet with folks many times to resolves their issues. And I don't plan to relocate to Ishgard, so I won't have a lot of time." Another soft sigh and she nodded. "Tomorrow....first thing...meet me outside...and we'll depart." She'd said, getting ready to close the door and pausing. "Will I need something warm? I've only heard rumors...." Aurrant smiled and nodded as she stepped back. "Tomorrow morning then, Madame. And yes....warmer clothing is preferred."
*****************************************************************
Present
She took a deep breath which bit at her lungs and she gestured for Aurrant to lead the way. "After you." The man nodded acknowledgement and passed by her, after which she followed, pulling her coat tighter. Her mind thought as they moved, "This is not what I expected when I got my memories back...."