Comfort

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Sage

Eirika and her small band of soldiers enter the city of Serafew on their way to Grado. They explore the city, trying their best to pass through without being noticed, but it is hard to move fast without being suspicious.

"Seth, there never used to be guards on patrol here. Do you think we'll be noticed?" Eirika surveys the crowds, counting the various soldiers milling about. "I wish things could be back to normal..."

Seth reassuringly puts his hand on her shoulder. "Princess, I know that this is hard for you to see. It's difficult for me as well; my whole life, I've known Grado as an ally, not an enemy."

Eirika just sighs and shakes her head. "It just makes no sense..."

"...Excuse me?"

Eirika turns around to confront the source of the voice; not too far away from her stands a man in olive green robes, and his mysterious violet eyes seem to be examining her, much to the apprehension of Seth.

"I'm sorry sage, can we help you?"

"Sorry to be intrusive..." the sage says, moving closer. "But I'm looking for someone. A young girl with indigo hair. Have you seen anyone like that?"

The army talks amongst themselves, asking each other if anyone has seen the girl in question, but after a couple of minutes, Eirika sadly shakes her head. "I'm sorry... none of us have seen her. Is there anything else about her we should know so we can identify her?"

The sage thinks for a moment. "Well, she is quite small, she's very shy... and her name is Myrrh."

"Okay then, we'll keep an eye out for her. We have to go, princess; the soldiers are about to change shifts. This will be the best time to attempt a pass-through." Seth directs the army to continue their march and the sage begins walking away, but Eirika runs up to him and grabs his shoulder. "Wait a minute! You... haven't told me your name."

The sage turns around and takes notice of Eirika's friendly eyes, and his stern face softens slightly. "My name is... Saleh."

Eirika smiles endearingly. "Saleh... my name's Eirika. If we find Myrrh, we'll tell her you were looking for her, okay?"

The two of them stare at each other closely in peaceful silence, and after what seems like minutes, Saleh nods lightly. "Yes, thank you... Princess Eirika."

Eirika and Saleh part ways, but Eirika looks back at Saleh, watching him leave. When he's out of sight, she smiles to herself, and then runs through the city to catch up with the others.

Four months later...

After an exhausting battle with monsters, Eirika and her army follow a young boy, Ewan, to meet his teacher; apparently he can help them make their way to Caer Pelyn, their next destination.

"Teacher... TEACHER? Where are you?" Ewan scratches his head in confusion. "Where could he be? Maybe he's wandering somewhere..."

"...I thought it would be best if you stayed away from here, Ewan."

From out of nowhere, a sage walks through the crowd of the army and makes his way to the front. When he notices Eirika, his eyes soften.

"Princess Eirika... what are you doing here?"

Eirika turns around in surprise at Saleh's voice. "Saleh? Is that you? We met in Serafew..." She smiles at him and takes a step closer. "Saleh, we need to pass through Caer Pelyn, and we need you to help us."

Ewan starts pacing back and forth excitedly. "Yeah, teacher! I could do it, but after what just happened, we definitely need someone else to help. That's why we're here."

Eirika steps even closer to Saleh, and begins pleading with her eyes. "Please, Saleh? We really need your help."

Saleh seems to ponder over the situation, and then he nods. "I'm heading back tomorrow anyway. You may travel with me, if you want."

"Thank you, Saleh!" Eirika replies, and she hugs him endearingly. When she lets go of him, she rounds up the army. "Okay, we're heading out tomorrow. Be sure to get some rest! It's very tough terrain."

As Eirika and her group go to set up their sleeping grounds, Saleh stands and watches her leave. Ewan walks up to him and tugs his robe, so Saleh turns around to face him.

"...yes, Ewan?"

"You know, when someone hugs you, especially a nice woman like that, you're supposed to hug them back, not stand there awkwardly." He laughs. "That's just rude, and you said I should always be nice to girls. You're not even listening to your own advice!"

Saleh merely blinks. "You don't hug strangers."

"But you already knew her name!" He turns Saleh around and points at Eirika, who's making up her bedding. "I saw you looking at her. Your eyes were softer. I know you teacher, and I've never seen you like that before."

"...You're imagining things. And besides, even if they're not a stranger, hugs should not be frivolous. They may feel uncomfortable otherwise."

Ewan laughs again. "I just met this girl named Amelia not very long ago, and I give her hugs all the time!" He lightly blushes. "She thinks it's sweet."

He starts walking away. "I'm just saying... girls like stuff like that! It really lightens up their day!"

The next day, the group trudges up the mountain path towards Caer Pelyn. However, the altitude and the rough terrain are taking its toll on the group. Eirika is having an especially difficult time; she's trying her best to keep up at the front with Saleh, Seth, and Prince Innes, but at this point, she's fighting a losing battle.

"Be careful, Princess. The footing is treacherous here."

Saleh looks back and watches Eirika struggle to maintain her balance, and so he backtracks and helps her to her feet as Seth and Innes continue ahead, unaware of the situation.

"Thank you..." she says, smiling at the gesture. "I don't know how you can move around so easily on this mountain." Saleh merely shrugs his shoulders. "You get used to it. It's a different type of environment here; we lead much simpler lives, and yet we have everything we need."

"Oh!" Eirika trips over a rock again, and without even thinking, Saleh catches her before she hits the ground. Eirika just smiles and watches him as he holds her, and they keep this pose for a couple of seconds before an "ahem" is muttered behind them, followed by laughter.

"Ha ha! You know, I never really thought of you as a ladies' man..." says Forde, still giggling, "but I guess I've been wrong before." Eirika composes herself as Saleh stands still, his expression unchanging. "Oh Forde! I tripped, and Saleh caught me before I hurt myself."

"Well, he caught something, that's for sure!" Forde walks away, laughing again, and Eirika turns back to Saleh. "I'm sorry; he can be serious when he needs to be, but..."

"It is no matter," Saleh says, interrupting her. "He merely confused the situation." He looks back and notices Forde talking to Ewan, and the two of them start laughing hysterically.

Eirika watches Saleh with concern as he observes the situation. "It was a misunderstanding, Saleh. Don't think anything of those two." They begin walking again. "You were telling me about how you live here..."

"Yes... like I said, our lives are simpler. We don't worry about material things; we make do with what we have." He looks around. "And this place... it's very peaceful. You can hear the wind blowing, breathe in the fresh air... and the stars are amazing."

"The stars? I love the stars..." She sighs happily. "I used to watch them all the time with my brother. You can see them well here?"

"Well, I've travelled around the entire continent... and nothing can compare with the beauty of nightfall in Caer Pelyn." He gives her an inquisitive look. "I sit outside and watch the stars for hours every night... you seem interested. If you like, Eirika, you can join me tonight when we get to town..."

A smile crawls onto Eirika's face. "Sure, I would enjoy that."

Author's Notes

At the request of Tom-Ato13, I have written this nine chapter story about Saleh and Eirika. It really is strange; these two don't really seem to have any romantic feelings towards each other at all, and yet they get married in the end. Of course, it is my duty to fix that, just like in my other submissions!... whether you agree with my pairings or not. :p

However, I have to be careful; the point of this story will be completely moot if I write anyone OOC, so that must be prevented!

I pondered whether I should make this coincide with my other FE8 fic, but in the end, I decided against it; that particular situation is too hard to work with.

Tell me if you think I went wrong somewhere or if you guys are enjoying the story! I can't tell what people are thinking unless they say something!