A warm cover of clouds darkened the sky over Camp Dragonhead. Jancis and others looked on down the road towards the south, anticipating another group of pilgrims coming up from Fallgourd. Little bells were heard before sight of the group was gained, all heading up with guards and chocobos, stark constrast to the gray and blue colors the camp had with their multi-colored coats.
Heading through the town across to the other archway, other pilgrims waited and grouped around one another or around the small pyres set up around the camp for them. Steam came up from mugs and hot food. Conversation was passing along like hot potatoes, everyone quick to talk to one another.Â
"My vain and often fruitless attempt to be taller outshined my sense for proper boots....of course..." "I was raised this way.. People should stay healthy no matter what it costs"
Chatter continued until the bells rang out, gathering everyone together once more from this break. Jancis Milburga rings the bell over her head, on her toes to look out around the crowd.Â
"Yes" "Ah, it seems it is time to commence..." A colorful lalafel remarked, offering her hand to an older miqo'te to help him up.
"Oh, time to pay attention~" "But.. It looks like it begins" "Shh-- shh." A pair of twin miqo'tes smooshes his brother's face with his warm hands, ears perked attentively.
"Welcome, Pilgrims! Our trek to Menphina's stone is near its close."
"Thank you all for coming, is very gracious of you. In being here, we show our affection, we show our approval, we express the love inside. Is many sides to love, but of each side they start within and are shown our actions."
"As we walk, reflect on these feelings and thoughts. What love signifies and how we use it to live. How we use it in our aspirations and dreams. How we give it, and in turn, how we receive it."
"As a great woman once said, 'Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.' and here we have all come together to one another. Let us not leave without feeling happier for it."
"Let us finish our pilgrimage to The Lover!"
"Ah, looks like we're headin' out! I gotta go help keep things clear 'n safe! See ya all at th' stone!" "Pray stay together pilgrims; we are safe upon the road." "Is anyone actually safe anywhere in Coerthas?" "Underground, maybe. Â -- Wait. Â No. Â The answer is no."
"Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could."
"Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for weaknesses."
"Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself - and especially to feel. Or, not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he really is."
"Love is truly like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable."
Up the snowy road they climbed, many walking together to check one another's step. Guards lined the snow, running forward in their boots to deal with the creatures that made the ruins of Steel Vigil their home. At Menphina's stone upon the cliffside, the clouds parted enough to show the height they ascended to. The pilgrims were ushered close together in the ring of stones.
"Gather close pilgrims. Though we are in the cold, we have a ward to be built by Master Ojune to keep the cold at bay as we celebrate here at the Lover's stone. Master Ojune, if you please."
Ojune Wajune beckoned everyone closer as the last of the pilgrims made their way up to the crowd. "Please move inside the standing stones if you wish to be inside my ward! I've used them to mark the boundry!"
Ojune commands his carbunkle to the opposite end of the stones, using its power to help activate the barrier wards against the stones. As he begins to channel, the wards begin a pale white glow and a shimmery boundry envelops the area, no snow or wind penetrating inside.
Jancis bows to Ojune, "Thank you. Shall surely take the chill off of everyone. Please feel free to settle down and be comfortable pilgrims."
A'randr turns away from Rho, clearing his throat as he digs in his pack for a tarp. Â He came prepared! Â He spreads it out over the ground beneath them. Â No wet tails today. A'rho sits beside his brother, sharing his massive coat. The inside pockets are full of what appears to be aether shards- thankfully not of the over-aspected variety.
Jancis bows before eveyrone, a duet of musicians setting up inside the farm boundary. A light flute plays accompanied by a guitar.Â
"Ladies, Lords, pilgrims of all ages. Thank you again for coming."
The pilgrimage completed, the celebration began!
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