(Fair warning if you have not seen past the Vault in the MSQ do NOT read. This is a major spoiler. You have been warned. I apologize for the quality. I keep feeling like it’s lacking somehow. Please note that this is written as if Destiney was the WoL as well as from her point of view. Which of course she isn’t the WoL. I’ve been bouncing this story bit around for some time. @skysteelsun & @haurchefantgreystone gave me some inspiration for this (an their permission!). So the Haurchefant and Steph found in here are based on theirs. So you have been warned that not everything here is canon to the game.)

I chose to lean against the door frame
and watch from the distance. A warm smile on my face as I watched
those two love birds. I could still remember the first days I met
each one of them. They did their best to behave in public but it was
still clearly obvious by the looks an subtle touches.

Haurchefant. The stalwart knight an
defender of the weak. A man with such a pure heart and such strong
passion. A smile suited that face of his. To see him happy. I still
remembered our first meeting at Camp Dragonhead. The whirlwind of my
life catching him in the currents. Dragging him into my fight. Not
that he wouldn’t have volunteered. No he definitely would have
volunteered to help. He was too kind to refuse even if I had not
wanted to involve him.

Stephanivien. Sweet sunshine. A smile
worth every thing. The man in charge of the Skysteel. Who tried to
teach me to wield a gun rather then a bow. That day he handed over
that carbine to me in Camp Overlook. Yet in the end I stuck with my
bow. A man so accepting of people. So willing to teach and accept. It
was hard not to be drawn to someone so pure.

They deserved each other. They deserved
to be happy in this war torn world. Yet… There was still work to be
done. Daylight was growing short. “Haurchefant! We should get
going.” I called out to him finally after feeling I had given them
enough time together. Watched the goodbye between them before
Haurchefant finally turned to join me with a smile still on his face.

*~*

Hard to believe that happy moment was
only days ago as we stood before the Vault. I gave one last glance
towards Lucia and Haurchefant. I gave them a silent nod as I took off
inside. We had to rescue Lord Aymeric. Several knights of Fortemps
had been spared to join me in any fighting.

My job was to deal was to distract the
Heavens’ Ward and seek out the Archbishop. I raced down those halls.
Stopping to deal with combat of Temple Knights along the way. Facing
off against three of the Heavens’ Ward in combat. Not all at once of
course. Ser Charibert was the final one to stand in my way as I
neared the top of the Vault. It was then that Ser Zephirin called the
retreat, an airship crossing the sky overhead.

I couldn’t let them reach that airship.
Even if at this point I was forced to continue on alone. The other
knights who had accompanied me had fallen before my fight with Ser
Charibert. Parts of my coat were still singed from the fight. For the
most part though I had escaped with only minor injuries. My feet
carried me up that remaining distance an through those doors. There
in the distance was the Archbishop and the airship that had passed
overhead.

I looked back over my shoulder at the
sound of running footsteps. My heart leaped at the sight of
Haurchefant and Lucia. With them Lord Aymeric, who looked a little
worse for wear. I would not have to stand against the Heavens’ Ward
alone. I hung back opposite of Haurchefant as Aymeric tried to appeal
to his father. A silent look passing between us as the Archbishop
denied Aymeric’s reasoning. Chose to continue in this folly.

I raced forward with Haurchefant close
on my heels. He knew of the attack before I did, calling out a
warning. Ser Zephirin had thrown a spear of what I could only assume
was aether towards us. Haurchefant had stepped into the path of the
projectile that had been meant for me. His shield met the blow. I
thought we would be fine as he held strong under the attack.

Until the sounds of the first crack of
metal. My heart sunk to the pit of my stomach. My eyes widened in
shock as the shield finally gave before that weapon did. The scream
stuck in my throat as I watched in horror. Feeling like the world was
in slow motion as I watched Haurchefant fall to the ground. I dropped
to my knees as Aymeric held up his head. I knew the blood on his lips
was a bad sign. An not a healer among us.

“You…you are unharmed? F-Forgive
me… I could not bear the thought of… of…”

I wanted to die as he spoke like this.
The blow had been meant for me. Yet the lovable fool had sacrificed
himself for me. My hands wrapped around his as he reached for me. I
wanted to scream an cry at him at the same time. Why?!

“Oh, do not look at me so.”

That smile on his face. He was dying
yet he could still spare a smile for me. Damned fool. Halone take
him. Tears threatened to overwhelm me. My friend was dying. The one
person who had stood by us when all else had forsaken us. Brought us
into Ishgard and got his father to take us in.

“A smile better suits a hero… Tell
Stephanivien I’m sorry…”

I forced a smile to my face. One last
smile as he lay there dying. Just for him. “Haurchefant!” His
name finally cried out from my lips as his eyes shut for the last
time. Now came the tears finally. I was the warrior of light… Yet I
couldn’t even save him. He had given his life for mine instead. Sobs
wracked my body as I mourned the loss of his light in this world.

*~*

My feet gave pause at the doors to the
Manufactory. Grief still clawed at my heart like a rabid beast.
Yet… I needed to be the one to tell Stephanivien. Haurchefant had
given his life for mine. This was my responsibility. He shouldn’t
have to hear it second hand from someone else. Besides they had both
been such dear friends to us. To me.

“Stephan…” I walked through the
doors, sighting him near his workbench. He looked up at the sound of
my name. The pain coloring my voice. “Haurchefant… He…” I
couldn’t make myself say the words. I couldn’t make it so final. To
watch Stephanivien’s heart break. The grief threatened to overwhelmed
me again. I felt warm arms wrap around me in silent comfort as the
tears finally won out.

I was barely aware of the warm wet
tears that dropped on my head as Stepanivien hugged me. Sharing in
the pain we both felt at the loss of someone so dear. It was all my
fault… I knew his heart was breaking because of me. I know he had
lost the man so dear to him because of me. That damn lovable fool.
Halone watch over his soul… Halone watch over us all…