Final Fantasy XVI - Thunder's Torrents

Ch. 22 - Compass

It was already dark when Erie stumbled through Garnick's gate. As if she watched the entrance to the village the whole time, Brigit immediately opened the door to her house, running towards Erie.

"There you are, my girl," she said anxiously before embracing her.

Erie exhaled and closed her eyes, relieved that she had made it this far.

"Every day we waited for you to return to us. We had almost given up hope, we thought something had happened to you. So often we thought about how we could reach you or get you out of there. Have you decided to leave Ash? What am I talking about? Of course you have, otherwise you wouldn't be here. It's all been set up for a long time, come on."

Brigit took Erie's hand to pull her into the house. Alexander sat by the crackling fire, and immediately got up to hug Erie as well.

"We don't have much time, Erie," he implored her, "they'll be looking for you."

"They're already looking for me." Erie swallowed and proceeded to tell them both as briefly as possible what she had experienced. Alexander frowned, while Brigit's expression changed from relief to horror. She pulled Erie into her comforting embrace again and stroked her head.

"This changes things, but we're prepared. Alexander, darling, get the money and get the Chocobo ready," Brigit turned to her husband.

"It's beyond me that old sod Cid thought everything would just work out like this," Erie heard Alexander mutter as he put on his jacket.

"Cid?" she asked, "can someone explain to me what's actually going on here?"

Erie was aware that Cid had spoken to Edric and Gideon. Now there was the behavior of the others. The bag that Serena put in Erie's hand contained provisions. Brigit and Alexander were taking action as well. What did Cid discuss with all these people?

"You don't think dear Cid would just leave without saying goodbye, do you?" Brigit giggled. "He's been hatching a plan for you to leave Stonhyrr as soon as you're ready from the start." She stroked Erie's cheek with the back of her fingers and smiled fondly.

"Not a good one, I might add. The plan all along was to get you out much earlier, as part of a delivery to the castle. The very fact the king decided to keep you in the castle forced us to improvise. We didn't know how to proceed properly for ages. If we didn't have the royal soldiers breathing down our necks now, we'd keep you here for a few days and get you passage to the harbor. As it is, we have to leave immediately. Meet me at the entrance gate in ten minutes." With these words, Alexander disappeared.

"Well, he meant well. That's what we're here for, to come up with plan B and C," Brigit added to Alexander's comments about Cid's planning skills, shrugging her shoulders.

She went into the bedroom and came back with a piece of cloth in her hand. "Here, my child, so you'll remember us."

She handed Erie the long fabric, a hair band with hand-embroidered lace and pretty decorations.

Erie touched the ribbon reverently. "It's beautiful," she said, letting Brigit tie her hair up.

"There, now they can't just peek out from under your hood. But promise me you'll wear that beautiful hair down as much as possible when you're back on safe ground." Brigit kept smiling, her infectious, honest smile.

Erie grabbed her hands. "Thank you, Brigit. I didn't want you to put yourself in danger because of me. You can come with me and start a new life in Rosaria. You don't have to stay here. You can return home." Perhaps she could persuade at least some of her newfound family to travel with her to Storm.