The trip back was uneventful, if not rushed due to Rynn and Gideon's nervousness on their lack of time.  Rynn followed Gideon out to the bath house, and took the other side of the partition.  Had they not been in a hurried state, Rynn might have taken the time to tease Gideon, but she knew better when work was on the line.  Still, she couldn't help but relish the moment as the water hit her skin.  It had been ages since her last bath, and recent events had pushed her past her limits of cleanliness.  She tried her best to hurry along, realizing that if she lingered on the feeling, she'd never leave.

Not even fifteen minutes later, she found herself back in their shared room.  She was already half dressed, preparing the outfit that she had chosen.  It was, however, her hair that was struggling to cooperate.  Now that it was wet, it was sticking to her skin, and getting caught in the corset as she tried to tie it off.  Blasted hair.  I'm tempted to just cut it all off.  Or…at least short.  Though if I do that, Gideon might cry…. 

Weeks, maybe months of built up grime came off with the scrubbing. Gideon couldn't remember the last time he felt so light. His wings were bright and almost downy which had not been seen or felt in some time. What he thought had once been nice sun tan was more dirt than it was sun damage. 

He left the bath shortly after Rynn did, since his preening took a bit more time than hers did. He was half-dressed when he went back up to the room, and quietly came in behind Rynn. She was having a hard time with her hair and that corset. He chuckled softly. "Here, let me," he said softly as he came up and pulled her damp hair back from her neck and shoulders. He gently started winding the long black strands into a crown of braids around her head. "There," he said softly as he wiped damp off her neck. He grabbed the laces of the corset and tightened them just as much as she would have wanted and then tied it off. He was tempted to wrap his arms around her and pull her close. But he stopped himself, knowing that she would pull away. He turned away, and sealed his main set of wings away before he pulled on the shirt that Rynn had picked out, and the vest that accompanied it. 

"You are beautiful, Rynn," he said. "All eyes will be on you tonight…"

Rynn had barely noticed Gideon enter the room.  Whether it was a sign of her frustration, or her trust in Gideon, no one would be able to tell.  Still, a strange sense of calm washed over her as she felt his hands go to work on her hair.  As he finished up, and helped her into the corset, she let out a weary sigh, wanting nothing more than to fall back into him and simply rest.  But that wasn't an option.

There is far too much that has to be done.  She turned around, and tried to avoid looking directly at the shirtless Gideon.  "I'm nervous.  It's one thing to be in command of a squad.  It's completely different to be in command of an audience.  She could already feel her heart quickening; a sensation she was certainly not accustomed to.  "We should have a list of things ready to play.  Obviously, 'The Angel's Heart' is one of them.  Maybe that tale father used to talk about…what was it…something about a knight in shining armor slaying the darkness.  Oh, we could sing about the jealous witch who tried to charm Grandfather away from Grandmother.  Or even how Aunt Kyari met Uncle Lunias.  Do you have any suggestions, though?  Is there anything you want us to play?"

"The only difference is the medium in which you are commanding," Gideon reassured her. "Granted, if you mess up here, we lose an audience, not someone's life. So It should be a bit easier in that regard," he said. He pulled on his vest and did up the laces in the front as he considered the choices of their play list. 

"Epics are always a hit, but it really depends on the audience. Some might want rousing ditties, or songs of romance. Some just might want simple wordless tunes," Gideon said. "I think I know enough to be able to handle that at least," he said confidently. It had been a past time at the Academy and during the war when there was a quiet moment to play. He had helped Sera out once or twice too, so he was pretty sure he could entertain when Rynn couldn't. He brushed his damp hair back off of his forehead with his hands, creating a rather gallant look. 

"I think if we start out with just quiet lively tunes to begin with, as people come and request things we can go from there," he recommended. "We are here for a week, so we don't want to run out of material in one night," he pointed out as he straightened out his appearance and turned to look at Rynn. "Shall we?"

Rynn made a concentrated effort not to laugh at Gideon's ridiculous attempt at looking gallant, as it was so far from his character, but smiled despite it.  She probably looked no better, her hair in an almost regal crown atop her hair.  "We look absurd," she mused as she checked herself over once more, making sure that her attire was set.  "Overall, it sounds like we've got a decent set to work with.  But yes, I'd say we not burn through our best in one night."

"All ready, then." Rynn nodded to Gideon, and the two set out into the main hall.  She could feel her nerves starting to swell, but with Gideon at her side, she knew that everything would be okay.  He was like a rock.  Always there, steadying her.  I don't know what I would do without you.  Probably lose myself, for sure… she mused.  She glanced at him, and smiled.  "You're very handsome, tonight…gallant celestial," she muttered under her breath.  Now all that was left was to be introduced, and the night would begin.

Gideon gave Rynn a small smile and they walked out into the main tavern area. There was a small table, and a couple of stools set up with the lute Gideon had borrowed from D'Artagnan earlier. The man approached them with a smile. 

"All right, f-f-for now j-j-just some ambient music. Eventually as th-the p-p-patrons arrive they w-will ask for different s-songs or stories. It s-shouldn't b-be a hard n-night."

Gideon nodded and he walked up to the stool with the lute and took a seat. He plucked at the strings and tuned the instrument before he began plucking out a simple tune that was light hearted and jolly. D'Artagnan placed drinks on the small table so that they would stay refreshed and continued about his work around the tavern.

As more people came in to enjoy the night, the pair of them were asked for different songs and the like. They had to make apologies for not knowing more local tunes since they weren't from the area, but the patrons learned that the stories and songs they had were just as good. A couple even offered to teach the pair some of the more popular songs and stories, which ended up being equally entertaining for those present. Gideon had the pleasure of giving a more romantic tune on the lute that he was applauded for, but mostly it was Rynn singing, though Gideon did join in on the songs that he knew and could somewhat harmonize with. 

As the night went on, Gideon's fingers started aching. He hadn't played this much in a while. D'Artagnan made the last call for the night, and one of the patrons made a request for one last epic from the pair. Gideon looked at Rynn. "What do you think?"

Rynn had enjoyed the night to it's fullest, and despite not having much experience with singing, she found herself strangely full of confidence.  She took a sip of the water that had been provided, and looked back to Gideon with a twinkle in her eye.  "I think I've got an idea.  Just follow my lead."

She turned back to the crowd, and clasped her hands together with a snap.  "Okay.  Ready."

She started to hum, her voice rising after Gideon caught on to the rhythm.  "I can see your face…I can hear your voice…."

"We can't look back, no longer can we hear your cries, so long ago…"  Rynn felt her voice waver as the memories of Aeolus flooded her mind.  

"We can't look back, for you're not longer here/
Time has lost its meaning, the darkness we fear/
He stands strong, the silver haired knight/
To guard his brothers in arms against their plight/
The world cries out against it all/
And yet the warriors refuse to fall/
They fight against their doomed fate/
For a future that was promised, they await/
Oh Aeolus, Jace, Sera, and Rynn/
The heroes who stood firm, and fought to win/
They have no lost heart in the fight/
For they have their faith placed in light…"

Rynn took a shaky breath.  Her memories were vivid, her brother shouting as the darkness enveloped the land.  She could hear Sera call out Aeolus' name as they grouped together, powerful and ancient beasts looming all around them.  The fight was hectic, chaotic, as the darkness moved every slowly forward.  Aeolus , at the center of it all, pushed back against the beasts.  He had been the strongest.  And yet even he was being pushed back….

"Yet the darkness eternal pushed ever on/
For this world was doomed to never see dawn/
And yet the brave warriors fought to their last stand/
Against all odds, they stood hand in hand/
Till at last, when their death seemed so sure/
The silver haired knight, with a smile so pure/
Turned the other warriors away from their death/
With a sacrifice, he made unto final breath/
And when all seemed lost, at the last possible chance/
It was not a warrior, but a scholar who would advance/
With the time that was given by our brave soul/
He was able to avert that last bell's toll…"

She wasn't entirely sure why, but tears were running down her face at this point.  In her mind, the battle had reached it's peak.  She herself had been badly wounded.  Her arm was going numb, and her right eye was forced closed.  She was woozy from the loss of blood, but she could feel it.  That immense power that seemed to come from nowhere.  A power that they had strictly forbidden to use.  The power that would consume his very life.  "Aeolus!  You can't!" she tried to yell, but it fell on deaf ears.

"As the world was born anew, and the skies ahead reborn/
The warriors stood together, proud yet forlorn/
For their promise of a bright future seemed bleak at best/
As the world they once knew was finally put to rest/
But in the memory of those who would not return/
Lit the smallest of sparks, the will to live on in turn/
And under this new sky, they promised once more/
To live their life to the fullest, to reach out and soar/
And to not look back on those they lost/
With sadness in heart, or what it had cost/
But to live on without fear/
And to hold those we cherish, ever so dear…."

Rynn finished the tale, and wiped away her tears.  She genuinely hoped she didn't look a mess at this point.  She looked to Gideon, and realized that maybe she had not been entirely ready to make a tale about their fallen comrade, or to sing it aloud.  She wasn't even sure how well it went.  But she knew it came from the heart, and that should have been all that mattered.  

Gideon.  I may have made a terrible mistake….

Gideon struggled to keep the tune going while Rynn sang. It was a hard tale on him too. It might not have been familial, like it had been for her, but Aeolus had been a good friend and warrior. Rynn's words were bringing back memories of that last battle that they all fought in together, and it was hard to focus on the movement of his fingers. He sniffed hard as Rynn sang, fighting hard to keep his own composure. He could only imagine how hard it was on her. He could hear the waver in her voice. 

Somehow, she managed to get through it. Somehow, he managed to keep playing right along her. There was a silence to the crowd once they finished, as they let the story sink in. Then the applause and cheers started. If only they truly understood. But fortunately the call of the end of the night came, and Gideon immediately put the lute down and grabbed Rynn's hand. 

"Come on," he insisted, and pulled her back into the hallway that lead to their shared room. "There, now we are out of sight. Go ahead…"

It was as if Gideon cast a spell on her.  As his hand led her back tot he room, she felt nothing but a familiar numbness.  That same feeling as she attending Aeolus' funeral.  They had never recovered a body, so it was nothing more than a ceremony to honor him.  Through the entire event, though, she didn't shed a tear.  It was only afterwards, when she was away from everyone else, that she was able to even remotely feel.  

Back then, it had been Gideon that had let her cry.  And once more, he let her cry again.  Tears were streaming down her face, and she collapsed.  Her voice broke as she sobbed, the feelings overwhelming every logical thought she could have.  It was all she could do.  It was all she wanted to do.  She hadn't stopped since they had arrived in Revallir.  Even before that, she hadn't stopped.  It was always her pushing forward, and Gideon following.

But now, she couldn't simply push forward.  Now, she was breaking.  Her mind had been pushed far past it's limit, and now she was paying the price.  

And it would be Gideon, who would be there to save her when it was over.  

Rynn had always been a rock. When he had first met her, she had a bit of a reputation for being cold. She was cold to almost everyone except the members of her team, save her former partner, but he had been a complete moron and a big talker. Through the years of being with her, he had come to learn that she wasn't cold. She just didn't show her emotions well. She bottled everything up. Even when Aeolus and Crystal had died, she had kept everything bottled up. Where Jace had been angry, Rynn had been stoic. He didn't know why, but somehow, she trusted him enough to allow herself to be vulnerable emotionally, even when she couldn't with her own family. 

This moment, was only the second time she had ever broken down like this. There was nothing to stop it as she collapsed in sobs and tears, and he knew he had to just be there. Carefully, he picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed. He lay her down and sat beside her. He gently pet her hair and rubbed her back. 
"It's ok Rynn," he soothed. "Go ahead… let it all out," he urged her softly. He wasn't sure what else he could do, but he could at least sit with her.