I'm in agreement with a lot of you. There aren't enough stories of these guys. So here's me trying to fill the void. Just a little something I had in mind.

Transcending Feelings

Chapter 1: Level of Importance

Élise had been there when Charles Dorian's body lay limp on the floor. Of course, at that point she didn't really understand what was going on. Across from her was the boy she had just befriended, Arno. If possible he looked even more confused than she did. She recalled telling him, after their trouble-making, to follow her and find out what the commotion had been. Now, despite not fully grasping what had just occurred, she couldn't help but wish she had never suggested that.

Upon closer inspection she could tell he looked devastated. It was then that she realized that the man lying on the floor was his father. The one whom he'd mentioned earlier. A part of her wanted to reach out to him. Yet somehow her legs wouldn't move, as if rooted to the ground.

That pocket watch must've meant something to him considering he'd quickly fetched for it when one of the other men tried talking to him. The grip he had on it was almost deathly. That's when her father's rough voice cut her thoughts.

"Arno, Arno, look at me."

And slowly Arno looked upwards, confusion and despair written across his young face.

She watched as her father extended a kind, welcoming hand out to him.

He hesitated for a moment and stared at the outstretched hand before his eyes landed on her. It was the first time he had acknowledged her presence. What expression could she have possibly given him but the same one he was giving her: confusion. And then his eyes fell to his watch again.

Something tugged at her insides. She couldn't quite understand what it was. There was just some unknown force compelling her to try and help him. And so Élise smiled weakly at him and nodded, beckoning for him to take her father's hand.

Slowly but surely he lifted his hand forward and grabbed onto François de la Serre's one. The two children were pulled away from the scene and led out of the room with Arno clenching the watch.

... ... …. …. ... ... ... …. …. ... ... ... ….

She was almost ten when she realized just how important he was to her. It started innocently enough with the two playing inside the huge mansion that hosted the ball they were supposed to be attending.

"Let's get out and play!"

She had said that to him only a few moments ago; and he was eager to follow her. Apparently he too found these things dreadful and absolutely boring. They had snuck away from the adults and wandered into the hallways.

"Are you sure we should be sneaking away like this?" He asked beginning to get second thoughts.

"Do you really want to stay there when it's so boring?" She replied before sighing at his hesitance. Smiling she grabbed his wrist. "It'll be fun. They won't even know we're gone."

Arno soaked up the smile and gave her his own. "Okay. Where do you want to go?"

"I saw a nice apple orchard on our way over here. Let's go see it."

"Alright."

The two headed over to their destination and eventually found it. Now they stood behind some tall fence which was blocking their path.

"Well that's unfortunate." Arno grumbled regarding the fence with a pout.

Élise turned to him mischievously. "You should climb over."

He looked at her in surprise. "What? We can't! We'll get in trouble."

"Only if we get caught and I don't see anyone." She replied before smirking. "Unless... don't tell me you're scared?"

At this he frowned. "Me? Scared of a fence? Absolutely not!" He walked over and climbed over a nearby tree before swinging over the fence and landing on the other side. "You see? I'm already over."

"Great! Now get us some of those apples. They look scrumptious!"

"Hang on I got it. Leave it to me!" He boasted while making his way over to the tree. With some difficulty he managed to climb up the tree. "You see? No problem!"

"Will you move it Arno!" Élise ordered, growing tired of his boasting. "If you take any longer I'll wither of old age! And do you know I—"

An abrupt growling halted her sentence. She turned to her left and her eyes widened in fear. A pack of what looked like to be guard dogs were beginning to surround Arno. A fact he hadn't seemed to notice yet. "Get out of there Arno!"

Finally he lifted his head and dropped the apples at the sight of the dogs. "What the? Where did they come from?" Wasting no time he jumped onto the tree across from him. He crept to the edge warily before jumping to the fence.

Élise quickly made her way over to him. "Are you alright?"

"Of course! I'm just—" He froze before running his hands over his jacket and pockets, appearing desperate. "Oh no!"

"What? What happened?"

"My watch!" He shouted in disbelief. "It must've fallen when I jumped."

"Don't Arno!" Élise said when he began climbing the fence again. "Just forget it! It's just an old watch!"

At this he roughly pushed away from her and shot her a glare. "You wouldn't understand!" And like that he was climbing the fence, balancing on it before jumping over and just barely reaching the adjacent tree.

Élise could only watch and wish that the dogs barking by the tree he was on wouldn't be able to get him. They looked ferocious and quite frightening with those sharp teeth; their loud barking making for an unwelcome sound. She could hear the sound of people fast approaching but all she could focus on was the boy climbing the tree.

"Got it!" He yelled, waving the watch in her direction. The object had apparently been stuck in one of the branches.

"Arno hurry and jump back here!" She pleaded.

"Hey boy, get down from there!"

The sound of the guards was enough to cause Arno to lose his balance. One slip was all it took for him to crash onto the ground. The pained yell caused her body to tremble.

"Arno!" Without thinking it twice she bolted towards the fence but was held back by the guards. "Let me go! Those dogs will—"

"He's fine," The guard assured her, or tried to. "They're trained. Just look!"

Finally she stopped and looked to the dogs who sat in a stationary position. Across from her was some more guards and her father crouched beside Arno, whom was clenching his shoulder in pain while the watch lay on his lap. When had her father even arrived?

Élise didn't know what went through to her but she jumped over; before she could fully reach him her father stood upwards.

"I hope you two are proud of yourselves. Do you have any idea what could've happened had I not shown up?" He scolded with a sharp tone. "He will get his arm looked at and that is when you will see him. Understood?!"

Elise flinched under the tone but nodded.

... ... …. …. ... ... ... …. …. ... ... ... ….

Finally she was allowed into the room while her father had a word with the doctor. He was sitting on the bed with bandages around his right arm. Slowly she approached him. There was a horrible sensation in her gut. This was her fault.

She was quite shocked when he regarded her with a smile instead of the anger she had expected.

"Hi Élise! Finally you come to visit. I was beginning to suspect you didn't want to see me."

"Arno..." Was all she could utter.

He stared at her momentarily before lowering his gaze to his lap. "Are you upset with me?"

"It's you who should be upset!" She retorted in disbelief. How could he even think that? How could he possibly smile at her? "It's all my fault. I almost made you lose your watch and you got hurt!"

"It's alright. I'm fine and I still have my watch."

Her gaze fell towards his bandaged arm. "Do you know how long you'll be walking with that?"

He pondered trying to remember what the doctor had told Élise's father. "Not as long as I had imagined." He smiled again and signaled for her to get closer. "Guess what?"

"What" She asked curiously.

Using his left arm he reached for his pocket and pulled something out. "They didn't even notice. Can you believe it? Go on, I got it for you."

Élise stared at the apple in his hand. She was speechless. Here we was hurt and covered in bandages yet instead of being furious he was grinning, and handing her an apple. Out of nowhere a tear escaped her before quickly wiping it away. She grabbed the apple in one hand and clenched his free hand with her other. "You truly aren't upset?"

"How could I ever be upset with you?" He responded with such devotion; such an ease.

She gently squeezed his hand. "Thank you Arno."

It wasn't just for the apple. And when he intertwined their hands she knew he got the message.

"Sure thing!" And somehow his grin only grew. "So how is it Élise?"

She took a bite of the apple.

It was the most delectable thing she'd ever eaten.

Author's Notes

There you have the first bit. This will be just a short story on the growing relationship between Arno and Élise. Would've loved to see more of them in the game. :(