"What have you done?!"
Roen slammed both her hands on the table, rattling the steaming mug that sat dangerously close to a scattered array of documents. Natalie Mcbeef just looked up at her with cold green eyes, unaffected by the raised tone of the Hyur woman who stood in front of her at the table in Bismarck. The afternoon sea breeze felt especially chilly as it whistled between the two women who once thought of each other as Shield Sisters.
“I guess Nero didn't take my advice.†Natalie picked up the mug, setting it atop the pile of documents as to weigh them against the winds. “I asked Nero to cut things off with you and leave the city. That’s all.â€
"And then you executed his First Mate.†Roen struggled to keep her voice under control.
"He was a pirate after all. What did you think would happen?" Natalie shrugged. "Even Nero didn't ask about him. It was cruel to keep him in there anyway.â€
"Do NOT make light of this, Natalie!!" Roen gave her a look of disbelief, slamming a fist against the table again. A few of the other patrons turned from their conversations at their tables, disapproving glance thrown her way. The paladin cared not.
"Roen..." Natalie drummed her fingers on the table, looking at her in an almost amused way."The man was a pirate, a smuggler, and a murderer. Do you deny any of those facts?"
"So are half the privateers in Limsa." Roen gritted her teeth. "The only reason Daegsatz was targeted is because his Captain targeted the Monetarists. Tell me that is not true. Tell me that they had nothing to do with his execution."
“Ul’dah killed Daegsatz, Roen. I merely swung the blade.†The Sworn rolled her eyes, then rested her gaze back onto the younger woman. "Do you want to know the real reason?" She raised a finger and pointed at her. "You started this Roen. You and your fool’s quest for revenge."
When Roen stiffened, Natalie took up her mug and took a sip of the warm drink as if to let her point sink in. “Don't blame me for what happens, when you've stirred up things that should have been left well enough alone."
Roen stared at the Sworn, incredulous. "My fault." She paused tilting her head. "Because I sought out the truth?"
"Would any of this had happened if you hadn't?"
The paladin narrowed her eyes. "I--"
She bowed her gaze, looking to her hands that closed into a fist. Natalie had struck close to home. A part of her did blame herself for Daegsatz’ arrest and imprisonment. And she had failed to free him in time. But she was not going to let Natalie shed her own blame in this. “So what. I am supposed to close my eyes? Turn the other way? Ignore everything that feels so wrong just so I keep the status quo?!"
For a moment, Natalie looked upon her with a softened gaze and a tired smile."What is the symbol of Ul'dah, who is our patron god? Nald’Thal. Many others have tried to alter the balance of the scale, but the Twins always correct it."
“It does not have to be that way. You need not just accept the weight of the suffering as long as it is counterbalanced by prosperity. That is wrong, Natalie."
"Well keep going Roen, keep trying,†Natalie shook her head with feigned patience. "Maybe when Nero lies dead we'll talk again, perhaps your viewpoint will have changed.†She paused for an effect, then flicked her glance back at her former apprentice. “Or you could just stop this now..."
Roen frowned deeply, locking gaze with the Sworn. "Why are you intent on his life??"
"Because of what you're doing. If you touch fire, Roen, don't blame it when you get burned." Natalie leaned back with her best tolerant look on her face, then she suddenly laughed. “But you're never the one who gets burned, are you? So perhaps you'll never learn that lesson."
"How could you even say that to me,†Roen growled, “after all you have done.â€
Natalie’s cold expression did not waver. "Whatever you suffered, you still came out of it with your ideals and you precious virtue unscathed. Some of us were not so fortunate. Some of us had to bend.†Her green eyes narrowed, laced with bitterness. “Some of us had to shed whatever righteousness we had left, all to do what was necessary. Some of us had to make deals with the devil for you. So don’t you dare cast your judgement upon me. I forged those deals because of you, and I am now better and wiser for it. Whereas you? For all that I did, here you are, trying to destroy all that I have worked for.â€
Roen blinked, staring, eyes wide at Natalie’s sudden vitriol. She was only answered with another slowly curled grin from the Miqo’te--a smile that did not reach her eyes.
“Whatever you seek to gain from this, I hope it's worth it." Natalie’s voice returned to its condescending tone. "Because whatever happens, I'm going to ensure you survive it, Roen. Let’s see how much of your virtue stands intact then as you see all the violence you have wrought around you. This is the price for your righteousness.â€
Roen could only continue to stare. The paladin no longer recognized the woman seated across the table from her. Was this the same person who had taken her in as an apprentice when she had nowhere else to go? The one who had risked her life to save hers, multiple times over? She did not see any hint of compassion in the Miqo’te’s ruthless green gaze. No hint of that laughter they used to share so many moons ago. Nor the warmth the Sworn had shown in her times of distress.
"Natalie. Why…?†Roen's voice was a rasp. Her tongue felt like it was coated in sandpaper.
The Miqot'e's shrug was careless. "I could ask you the same question."
"Because I believe I can make a difference." The paladin straightened, her voice steadying with determination. "Because I believe those I am fighting for deserve someone to try."
Natalie let out a laugh, waving a hand dismissively. "Well, do your best Roen. Like I said it's not you that’s getting burned. It’s Nero I want. You just get to watch."
Roen narrowed her eyes dangerously. "If you are going after Nero, you will have to go through me."
"Ah...heroics." Natalie clucked her tongue then let out a sigh. “This will do you no good. It isn’t just me hunting him. I suspect that Nero is behind more raids on the seas than I can yet prove. And the fact that he’s smuggled drugs and Garlean weaponry into our city-state...I can easily argue that he will do the same to Limsa Lominsa. The Maelstrom and Yellowjackets will, at that point, lend assistance in any way they can.â€
Roen’s mind began to race. The Sworns were in Limsa to hunt Nero, and they were recruiting the Lominsan law enforcement. This did not bode well for him.
“An example must be made.†Natalie broke the silence between them. “Our merchant shipping is not an open target to Limsa. For this alliance to survive there must be an example made if someone goes too far." The Sworn leaned back, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Nero will be that example."
Roen felt herself grow cold. There would be no reconciliation. Even after Daegsatz’s execution, there had remained some small flame that burned within--a distant glowing ember of hope that Natalie could be turned away from this course set by the Monetarists, or that she might find even a glimpse of remorse in her eyes. It was clear now that those were impossible wishes. Any faith the paladin had hoped to rekindle was now fully extinguished, leaving nothing but a dead grey taste akin to ash in her mouth.
Roen shook her head, giving Natalie one last withering look. "I hope you did not put these blinders on just for Ul'dah's sake, Natalie."
Natalie answered her with a sharp look of her own. "If I had, Roen, you would have died in that cell." She curled one corner of her lip ironically. “Hmph. Maybe I have learned from my mistakes since.â€
“So be it,†Roen said softly, and promptly turned and walked away from the Miqo’te Sultansworn.
She knew the next time they met it would be as enemies.
Roen slammed both her hands on the table, rattling the steaming mug that sat dangerously close to a scattered array of documents. Natalie Mcbeef just looked up at her with cold green eyes, unaffected by the raised tone of the Hyur woman who stood in front of her at the table in Bismarck. The afternoon sea breeze felt especially chilly as it whistled between the two women who once thought of each other as Shield Sisters.
“I guess Nero didn't take my advice.†Natalie picked up the mug, setting it atop the pile of documents as to weigh them against the winds. “I asked Nero to cut things off with you and leave the city. That’s all.â€
"And then you executed his First Mate.†Roen struggled to keep her voice under control.
"He was a pirate after all. What did you think would happen?" Natalie shrugged. "Even Nero didn't ask about him. It was cruel to keep him in there anyway.â€
"Do NOT make light of this, Natalie!!" Roen gave her a look of disbelief, slamming a fist against the table again. A few of the other patrons turned from their conversations at their tables, disapproving glance thrown her way. The paladin cared not.
"Roen..." Natalie drummed her fingers on the table, looking at her in an almost amused way."The man was a pirate, a smuggler, and a murderer. Do you deny any of those facts?"
"So are half the privateers in Limsa." Roen gritted her teeth. "The only reason Daegsatz was targeted is because his Captain targeted the Monetarists. Tell me that is not true. Tell me that they had nothing to do with his execution."
“Ul’dah killed Daegsatz, Roen. I merely swung the blade.†The Sworn rolled her eyes, then rested her gaze back onto the younger woman. "Do you want to know the real reason?" She raised a finger and pointed at her. "You started this Roen. You and your fool’s quest for revenge."
When Roen stiffened, Natalie took up her mug and took a sip of the warm drink as if to let her point sink in. “Don't blame me for what happens, when you've stirred up things that should have been left well enough alone."
Roen stared at the Sworn, incredulous. "My fault." She paused tilting her head. "Because I sought out the truth?"
"Would any of this had happened if you hadn't?"
The paladin narrowed her eyes. "I--"
She bowed her gaze, looking to her hands that closed into a fist. Natalie had struck close to home. A part of her did blame herself for Daegsatz’ arrest and imprisonment. And she had failed to free him in time. But she was not going to let Natalie shed her own blame in this. “So what. I am supposed to close my eyes? Turn the other way? Ignore everything that feels so wrong just so I keep the status quo?!"
For a moment, Natalie looked upon her with a softened gaze and a tired smile."What is the symbol of Ul'dah, who is our patron god? Nald’Thal. Many others have tried to alter the balance of the scale, but the Twins always correct it."
“It does not have to be that way. You need not just accept the weight of the suffering as long as it is counterbalanced by prosperity. That is wrong, Natalie."
"Well keep going Roen, keep trying,†Natalie shook her head with feigned patience. "Maybe when Nero lies dead we'll talk again, perhaps your viewpoint will have changed.†She paused for an effect, then flicked her glance back at her former apprentice. “Or you could just stop this now..."
Roen frowned deeply, locking gaze with the Sworn. "Why are you intent on his life??"
"Because of what you're doing. If you touch fire, Roen, don't blame it when you get burned." Natalie leaned back with her best tolerant look on her face, then she suddenly laughed. “But you're never the one who gets burned, are you? So perhaps you'll never learn that lesson."
"How could you even say that to me,†Roen growled, “after all you have done.â€
Natalie’s cold expression did not waver. "Whatever you suffered, you still came out of it with your ideals and you precious virtue unscathed. Some of us were not so fortunate. Some of us had to bend.†Her green eyes narrowed, laced with bitterness. “Some of us had to shed whatever righteousness we had left, all to do what was necessary. Some of us had to make deals with the devil for you. So don’t you dare cast your judgement upon me. I forged those deals because of you, and I am now better and wiser for it. Whereas you? For all that I did, here you are, trying to destroy all that I have worked for.â€
Roen blinked, staring, eyes wide at Natalie’s sudden vitriol. She was only answered with another slowly curled grin from the Miqo’te--a smile that did not reach her eyes.
“Whatever you seek to gain from this, I hope it's worth it." Natalie’s voice returned to its condescending tone. "Because whatever happens, I'm going to ensure you survive it, Roen. Let’s see how much of your virtue stands intact then as you see all the violence you have wrought around you. This is the price for your righteousness.â€
Roen could only continue to stare. The paladin no longer recognized the woman seated across the table from her. Was this the same person who had taken her in as an apprentice when she had nowhere else to go? The one who had risked her life to save hers, multiple times over? She did not see any hint of compassion in the Miqo’te’s ruthless green gaze. No hint of that laughter they used to share so many moons ago. Nor the warmth the Sworn had shown in her times of distress.
"Natalie. Why…?†Roen's voice was a rasp. Her tongue felt like it was coated in sandpaper.
The Miqot'e's shrug was careless. "I could ask you the same question."
"Because I believe I can make a difference." The paladin straightened, her voice steadying with determination. "Because I believe those I am fighting for deserve someone to try."
Natalie let out a laugh, waving a hand dismissively. "Well, do your best Roen. Like I said it's not you that’s getting burned. It’s Nero I want. You just get to watch."
Roen narrowed her eyes dangerously. "If you are going after Nero, you will have to go through me."
"Ah...heroics." Natalie clucked her tongue then let out a sigh. “This will do you no good. It isn’t just me hunting him. I suspect that Nero is behind more raids on the seas than I can yet prove. And the fact that he’s smuggled drugs and Garlean weaponry into our city-state...I can easily argue that he will do the same to Limsa Lominsa. The Maelstrom and Yellowjackets will, at that point, lend assistance in any way they can.â€
Roen’s mind began to race. The Sworns were in Limsa to hunt Nero, and they were recruiting the Lominsan law enforcement. This did not bode well for him.
“An example must be made.†Natalie broke the silence between them. “Our merchant shipping is not an open target to Limsa. For this alliance to survive there must be an example made if someone goes too far." The Sworn leaned back, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Nero will be that example."
Roen felt herself grow cold. There would be no reconciliation. Even after Daegsatz’s execution, there had remained some small flame that burned within--a distant glowing ember of hope that Natalie could be turned away from this course set by the Monetarists, or that she might find even a glimpse of remorse in her eyes. It was clear now that those were impossible wishes. Any faith the paladin had hoped to rekindle was now fully extinguished, leaving nothing but a dead grey taste akin to ash in her mouth.
Roen shook her head, giving Natalie one last withering look. "I hope you did not put these blinders on just for Ul'dah's sake, Natalie."
Natalie answered her with a sharp look of her own. "If I had, Roen, you would have died in that cell." She curled one corner of her lip ironically. “Hmph. Maybe I have learned from my mistakes since.â€
“So be it,†Roen said softly, and promptly turned and walked away from the Miqo’te Sultansworn.
She knew the next time they met it would be as enemies.
