The Wheel Weaves A Chance Meeting (Closed for Now)

[Edwin]

The days passed, and Ignis found his traveling companion to be quite delightful.  As they traveled, he learned that she had grown up in Tear, but had moved away to live elsewhere as a teenager when she and her father had become estranged.  She didn't go into detail and he didn't press.  She had asked about his past, something he hadn't been keen to discuss, so he returned the favor.

At times Kira would tell stories and they could be anywhere from sad to comical, but he noticed she preferred the comical ones.  Her smile and laugh were infectious, and he soon fell into a routine where he looked forward to her odd stories.  Almost none of them were realistic, but at the same time, he had heard some of them.  He particularly liked her telling of the story of Lenn flying to the moon in an eagle made of fire.  Her knowledge of Gleeman's tales seemed to be pretty solid, but she even told stories he didn't know.  Ignis found Kira to be quite a surprising individual.

They traveled, and it didn't take long for Dragonmount and The White Tower to show up on the horizon.  Every day they got closer.  No one harassed them as they journeyed.  His presence keeping the bandits at bay, but there was one thing that slowed them down.  Anyone who needed help on the road got it.  Kira had a kind heart, and a poor man looking for food would receive it with Kira's blessing.  A family with a broken ox cart would would received assistance.  Ignis had helped with that one - and it was strange because he hadn't even thought of rebuilding his honor when he had done so.  He had simply been inspired by her kindness to help.  Ignis distinctly remembered when they had come across a woman and a sick child.  Kira had given the woman money for medicine and food.  She then whispered something to the woman who nodded.  Kira put the woman, exhuasted, on her own mare, Melody, and together, they took the woman and child to a nearby village, where the child was given over to the care of a Wisdom.  Kira had walked, even when Ignis had offered his own gelding, Storm, but she had outright refused.  She carried the sick child herself, and for the first time, Ignis had heard Kira sing.  As they walked, she sang soothing songs to the gril in her arms.  The image and the song that accompanied it would be etched in his memory forever.  Although he doubted the little girl would need the Wisdom's help.  He had noticed the color had returned to the girl's cheeks.

They were now setting up camp.  They would reach Tar Valon tomorrow, and Ignis was almost sad that his journey with Kira would have to end.  It wasn't love.  He didn't feel that way towards the woman he had traveled with - not that she wasn't beautiful or anything - he just felt their relationship had been something else - something more akin to a partnership.  He hadn't told her of his past, but she seemed to know his motivations.  As he started the fire, he did an inventory of the dishonor he had carried since his fall.  Since he had met her, he had chipped away more of it than he had in three months time.  

Kira sat down, finishing her walk around the camp.  She did it every time, and he had no idea why but he didn't ask.  He spoke after she got situated.  "I grew up in Arafel.  My father was a captain there and I joined the guard. I moved through the ranks quickly - through my own merits - not my father's influence.  When I was put in charge of my own squad, I went to celebrate - had too much - and overslept.  I missed my entire first day of duty because I was still drunk when I awoke.  I was punished, resigned, and left Arafel after my sentence was carried out," he faced Kira, and she was listening intently. "Most people don't understand honor.  I just, couldn't face them anymore.  Now I travel - doing what I can to make up for my mistake."

Ignis watched her and he could see the gears working behind her eyes, sorting through the information and putting the pieces together.  When she spoke, she heard no judgement or insult in her voice. "Well, I think you have regained some of your honor in the last several days," and she smiled at him.  The smile stood out to him - different than any of those she had given him before.  She had decided something, and he wasn't sure what.

Ignis sighed as he began to prepare their dinner.  He liked to cook, and Kira had seemed content with letting him do so. "It's not enough.  Not yet."

"When will it be enough?" again, her tone was non-judgemental.

"I will know."

The night passed by with more amiable conversation after that.  Kira told more stories and they laughed together, but Ignis noticed something.  The look in Kira's eyes had changed.  He wasn't sure how to describe it, but he knew it wasn't anything sinister.  He was more the certain she had decided something, and he had a feeling that tomorrow wouldn't be the last day he saw Kira Valyrios.