A/n- There will be no set time for chapter updates on this story, they'll just go up when I feel like it. Other than that, I know Rutger is probably a bit OOC in this part, but he's emotional in it so cut him some slack. Hopefully you'll like it and I can continue.

Hidden in the Sand Prologue

It's been a month since the war with Bern ended. Lord Eliwood in his infinite kindness decided to hold a celebration in Pherae for whomever of the Lycian Alliance Army wanted to come. Just about everyone came, even a brooding, red clad swordmaster and a kind if not mouthy Etrurian noble. The swordsman was staying secluded, watching everyone as he usually did, but he couldn't help but let his eyes gaze towards the girl. She had become one of the only people he considered a friend during the war, but he could see the looks in her eyes. She wanted him to be hers, wanted him to come home with her so she could supposedly be happy. But he couldn't do that to her, even if he may feel the same way. She was young and didn't quite understand that's not how things worked. Besides, he had some soul searching to do within himself. Revenge is only good when you have someone to fight, but when that reason leaves what do you do next? With these thoughts in mind he decided to slip out of the castle and into the night. Too bad for him, someone had seen him.

"Were you seriously going to leave without at least dancing with me once?" A voice he knew too well called out as he left the dining hall. He mentally cursed himself for his lack of stealth and turned around to face her.

"I was considering it." He said not changing his expression, but she could tell that he was being serious. She walked up closer to him and looked him in the eyes.

"Rutger, while I admit that you doing that would probably be something you'd do in the past, I would think you'd know differently by now. Either that or something is wrong with you." She said confidently as always. She wasn't wrong though, he did know better and something was wrong. So without a word he grabbed her hand and led her outside of the castle until they were out in the moonlight with no one around.

"Clarine, I need to tell you something." Rutger said awkwardly. He'd never had to tell a girl something like this, even before the war. Clarine on the other hand was taking this the wrong way, even though she couldn't be blamed for it. To anyone else Rutger's actions would look like he was about to confess, but Rutger wasn't one for realizing things like that. So when she started to hug him and get all happy, it made him feel even worse.

"Yes, of course you can come back to Etruria with me and Klein." She said thinking that's what he was going to say. "Oh you're going to love it there, the food is great, the people are great, and you can help me in protecting the land when the time comes. Of course we're going to have to do something about your clothes, maybe trim that hair a bit, but-" Rutger cut her off as he got one of his arms out of the hug and placed a finger on her mouth.

"That's not what I was going to say." He said calmly as he could with her arms around him and her body so close to his. "In fact, it's the opposite of what you have in mind." Clarine let him go and looked at him with a confused expression.

"What are you talking about Rutger? I thought that you felt the same way I did?" She asked him and that's when he knew that this wasn't going to end up well. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes as he broke the news.

"I do, but that's the problem. I can't be with you. I'm not like you. I'm not a noble and I barely even know the first thing about being one. I'd be an embarrassment, not only to myself, but to you as well. So no, I'm not going to Etruria with you, I can't." The words shocked and confused Clarine. She thought he would jump at the chance to come with her and live that life. But she wasn't done trying to convince him yet.

"Okay then I'll go with you wherever you go. I'm sure I could adjust to living a life on the plains. I assume that's where you're heading back too?" She asked hoping this tactic would work.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know where I'm going. And I couldn't do that to you. You have so much you can do to help people, more than I ever could. You belong in Etruria, you're kind, strong willed, and experienced because of this war. You're too important to waste all that on someone like me." Rutger said back to her. And that's truly how he felt at that moment. He could see that his words had started to make her cry and he hated himself for it. So it was him this time who hugged her. "You're going to go on to do great things Clarine, and you're going to forget all about me in no time."

"But I don't want to forget about you, I-I love you!" Clarine sobbed loudly into his robes and he pulled back so he could look at her.

"Don't you think you might be a little too young to understand what love is?" He asked, not to patronize her, but to be realistic.

"I-I'm going to be 16 in a month you know." She sobbed in defeat and she stepped away from him a bit. "Not that it really matters."

"I'm sorry, I really am Clarine. If this was any other situation I would enjoy being with you, but I can't." Rutger said more for himself this time than for Clarine. After that they just stood there in silence for a bit until Clarine heard the faint sound of music coming from the castle.

"Can I at least have the dance?" She asked Rutger and he responded by taking her hand in his and placing the other on her back.

"It would be my pleasure." He answered and even thought he had never formally danced, his natural grace and agility helped him not step on her toes. After a while Clarine rested her head on his chest as he just rocked back and forth.

"I wish this would never end." She said forlornly, still having a slight sob in her voice. Rutger didn't answer but he felt the same way. It was way too soon, but the music finally stopped and they let go of each other. Rutger knew he had to leave, but he was finding it hard to do so.

"Close your eyes." He told Clarine and she was about to question it before he glared at her and she shut her mouth. "I'll be gone before you know it, but here's something to remember me by." He knew he probably shouldn't have, but he did it anyways. He quickly kissed her on the lips and then ran as fast as he could into the woods. Clarine just stood there in shock for a few moments before she started walking back to the castle. She made it all the way to the main hall before she fell over from grief and started crying her eyes out. There were go guards around because of the celebration, but she did get the attention of someone who came over to see what was wrong.

"Lady Clarine, is something the matter?" It was Lord Eliwood of all people, wandering the halls for some reason or another.

"What do you think?!" She yelled before seeing who it was. When she did she stood up and started stuttering. "I, um, I mean. L-Lord Eliwood."

"Calm down, I'm not upset. I saw you were in distress so I don't put it against you. What seems to be the matter?" He said helping her up to her feet.

"My whole world just crashed around me in an instant, and I don't know what to do." She told him and Eliwood was calm as always.

"Might this have something to do with, the young man you left the castle with?" He asked.

"You saw us?" Clarine asked in disbelif.

"I saw him leave and you follow him, nothing else." Eliwood stated. "I take it he didn't return your feelings?"

"No, he said that he felt the same but couldn't be with me because he's not a noble." Clarine answered giving him the short version. This confused Eliwood quite a bit. Did she really not tell him about it? He thought to himself before he made a decision that would help the situation out immensely.

"I have some information you might want to know."