I'm Not Afraid by Lacuna Coil

Morgan stood in front Yarne, angry and frustrated with the taguel, this being at least the dozenth time Yarne had fled from battle. At first, the young tactician had been willing to over look it, completely understanding of Yarne's cowardly nature. Now, however, he was beginning to understand where everyone else was coming from, having almost gotten killed last time. "Yarne, listen...I know you're scared and all but this is getting ridiculous!"

Yarne was knelt down on the other side of the room, facing away and tracing his finger along the barracks floor. He was silent at first, not really wanting to listen to what Morgan was saying. This kind of talk and grown far too old his ears, hearing it from Brady, Kjelle, Severa, and Laurent almost daily. He whimpered with a sigh. "Please, just go away, Morgan!" he shouted in head.

"Yarne, please say something," Morgan said calmly, taking a step closer. "I...I want to help you and support you but...I can only support you so long before it starts to be a burden on the rest of us! I don't know what I'm suppose to do..."

"P-please stop," Yarne muttered, trembling. "I-I'm sorry. I...I just shouldn't fight! Just keep me back at camp and I'll m-mix elixirs or something for everyone!" he declared, turning his head slightly around, biting his lip.

"But we need you!" Morgan interrupted, stepping closer. "Yarne, please; you're one of the strongest fighters we have in this whole army, possibly even the strongest! Yarne, I'm begging you, please...you need to fight!"

"I don't want to! I'm too scared! What if I get hurt? What if I die?! I can't do it, Morgan! I just can't!" Yarne groaned, standing up. "Please just...you'll have to drop it for right now. I can't fight, even with someone right beside me!"

"Yarne this is enough!" Morgan snapped. "This can't go on! It's just -"

"NO!" Yarne cut in, turning around, eyes burning with anger. "Sh-SHUT UP!" he barked, causing Morgan to step back. "Morgan, I'm not doing anything! I'm not a fighter like you or Owain; I'm a coward!" The taguel snapped, taking a step forward.

"Y-Yarne, please. I-I just-"

"YOU JUST WHAT, MORGAN?!" he yelled, showing his fangs, growling. "You thought you could just convince me to fight just because you were the only one who was nice to me? Did you think I'd just obey you because we're friends?"

"N-no, that's not it at all! I just...I thought that..." Morgan swallowed his last words, finding it harder and harder to speak to Yarne like this. He hugged his tome lightly, feeling sweat build on his forehead. He gulped, staring into Yarne's face. The taguel's crimson eyes shot daggers at him and just looking at the his teeth made his pulse quicken. It was really the first time Morgan saw Yarne as something he never thought he'd be: terrifying. For once, Morgan was actually scared around him. "Y-Yarne..."

"I'm not going to fight anymore!" Yarne barked, balling his fists. "I'm sorry, Morgan but I can't. Please, just keep me back at camp. Keep me in the medical tent or in the science lab or the kitchen!" he began to calm down, his voice slowly lowering. "I'll pull double kitchen duty if I have to...j-just please...I can't fight." With each word, Yarne barked his voice dropped to his normal speaking voice and his body relaxed. He took a step back, his breathing heavy and body shaking again. "Morgan..."

It was then he noticed exactly how terrified Morgan was. The younger man was clinging to his tome as if ready to cast a spell, faint whimpers escaping his lips, and he was hunched over slightly, as if trying to curl up. Guilt didn't take but a moment to blossom in Yarne's head. "M-Morgan I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to get carried away like that..."

The tactician nodded his head. "Y-yeah. It's was my fault, though. I-I'm sorry."

"N-no. I'm...I'm sorry," Yarne sighed. "You mean well but...please...j-just leave me be."

"Y-yeah...I will," Morgan said as he backed away, not taking his eyes of Yarne and feeling for the barrack's door with one hand. "I'll see ya around, Yarne."

"Y-yeah...see ya."

Morgan found the door and vanished, running back to his own tent as fast as he could.