PRISCILLA'S MEN

The battle had just been won. Oswin and Hector shook hands in celebration. Eliwood appeared and asked if they were okay. Both men nodded but Oswin turned away. He saw the blonde monk run after the beautiful Valkyrie as she rode gallantly through the field coming to an abrupt halt. Oswin forced himself not to wink, afraid that he would lose site of the precious lady, Priscilla, who was now leaning over the red-haired Mercenary as she healed him. Oswin frowned as a healthy Raven quickly hugged the precious girl. Shortly after that, Lucius appeared before them and Raven left Priscilla on her own as he departed with his friend. It took all of Oswin's force to restrain himself from beating the life out of the Mercenary. How dare he give his back to the lovely Priscilla! But the girl didn't seemed bothered by it.

Hector called his name but Oswin pretended not to hear. All he had in his mind was to see her lovely eyes up close, those lovely green eyes that shined like a polished jewel. And her lips, those thin, ruby red lips that he yearned for so dearly.

"Lady Priscilla…"

She looked at him and smiled sweetly, "Is there something you need? Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm perfectly fine." he answered as he grabbed her gently. "But how are you?"

"Please do not worry about me, Lord Oswin."

"That I cannot do." Oswin said somewhat loudly, holding her hand with a tighter grip.

Priscilla looked at him, her face expressing a mix of confusion and shock.

"Lady Priscilla, you are too much too beautiful to…"

Priscilla pulled back, half suspecting what was going on, "Lord Oswin…I…must…leave…"

"Please, Lady Priscilla. Let me say what it is on my mind now before I lose the nerve to speak."

"But…I…I must leave your side. I have to attend the wounded back at camp."

Oswin nodded and let go of her hand only after he caressed one of her fingers. "Of course."

Priscilla got on her horse and rode away as the Ostian General stared at her. Sighing, he slowly walked back to camp. There would be another chance for him…

***

Priscilla had a beautiful smile. Whenever she smiled, her face would shine brightly, making even the coldest of hearts warm up. Oswin stared at her, feeling that warmth in his body. His beautiful girl, nay, young lady, was surrounded by a sea of smiles but Oswin only had eyes for one. What he wouldn't give to be her pillar of strength, her protector. What he wouldn't do to have her at his side forever. It would make him so happy to be the owner of her heart….

"Oswin?" Hector asked, distracting the General from his thoughts.

The General stared at the Lord, "Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm perfectly fine, Lord Hector."

"I'm not buying it. Maybe you should get one of the healers to look at you."

"I will ask Lady Priscilla as soon as possible."

"Why her? Serra's in the infirmary tent right now. You really should go now."

Had Oswin been a different person, he might've admitted his love for Priscilla right then and there. But the General could not. There was always that tiny spark of fear, one that he could not shake away. Of course his heart belonged to her forever but what if she didn't feel the same? What then? What would he do? Priscilla suddenly stood up and Oswin noticed it from the corner of his eye. "As you wish, Lord Hector." he said also standing up and walking away.

He saw Priscilla's thin and delicate body walk through the camp and he followed her, in the shadows. She reached the infirmary tent and a few seconds later Serra walked out. Oswin hid himself as the cleric walked by, feeling much like a stalker. But his desire to speak to Priscilla made him move forward. Almost automatically he walked in the tent without saying a word.

"Lord Oswin!" she shrieked as she had just spotted the man standing there. She had dropped her staff in the process.

"Please, forgive me, Lady Priscilla." he said as he walked over and picked it up for her. "It was not my intention to scare you."

Priscilla grabbed the staff but he didn't let it go, "Is there something you need?" she said, avoiding eye contact.

With his other hand, he touched her chin and raised her head, almost forcing her to look at him. But she did not. "Lady Priscilla, you really are beautiful."

The Valkyrie felt a chill go down her spine. "Thank you, Lord Oswin." She trembled as his face got closer to hers. She felt weird in that position and wanted to push him back but he pulled her body closer. 'Lord Brother!' she yelled in her head, 'Anyone!' Then she felt his lips on hers. For some reason, she could not move. How she wanted to break free, to run away but she had been too scared, too shocked, too surprised to move.

Oswin pulled his face back and caressed her cheek, "Lady Priscilla, I have loved you for some time now, and it is my burning desire for us to be together."

Her eyes opened wide in shock but Oswin thought it was of joy. "Lord…Oswin…" she began, trembling.

"Lady Priscilla…" he said as he continued to stroke her cheek.

But she didn't like the way his skin felt. She also didn't like the way he looked at her, or touched her. There was nothing she liked about him. But Oswin seemed not to care about what she felt. And as Priscilla stood there, not being able to move away or do anything to relieve her from this situation, Oswin had begun to kiss her once more. A tear rolled down her cheek.

Oswin wiped it away and hugged her with more strength, tighter than before, "Thank you for corresponding. I feared that you wouldn't." he said in between kisses.

Another tear ran down her cheek. She wanted to run as far away as possible but she could not. Her voice had gone missing so she couldn't scream. Poor Priscilla felt one of his hands on her waist and the other roaming her back. Slowly, she came to realize that there was no escaping now.