Chris and Sasarai

Request by Mintaka.

A small attraction is growing between the two military leaders of two different countries. Will the knights stand for it? Cameos by Thomas and Cecile. It takes place during the war a while after Sasarai joined.

~*~

"…Milady? Are you listening?" Lady Chris snapped out of her daze and stared at her fellow knight.

"Of course I am Salome," she said, then, realizing she hadn't heard a word of what he said she asked, rather embarrassed. "Er… what did you say?"

"Are you all right, milady?" he asked. "You seem troubled."

"No," she said. "It's not that at all. I'm just… thinking."

"Well," Salome said, kindly. "I suppose you do have a lot on your mind. I'll give you my views when you're a little less preoccupied."

"Are you sure, Salome?" she asked.

"Of course, milady," he said. "You seem tired anyway. You should probably rest."

"Of course," she said. "Thank you Salome, I'll do that." As he exited the library they were sitting in Chris fell deep into thought again. She had met mysterious people, but the Bishop Sasarai was one of the most so she had ever met. He didn't seem all too troubled when it came to the other Harmonian bishop betraying the country, nor did he seem concerned when it was revealed that the said bishop wanted to blow up the Grasslands.

Not only that, but she seemed to have taken a fancy to the man. She really couldn't understand why. He distanced himself from people and a certain sadness lurked about him, though, that might be what she found attractive. She sighed, realizing she shouldn't be worried about her love life at the moment when there was a mad mage attempting to blow up the Grasslands, but it was hard not to think about him when he seemed to pop up wherever she went.

Speaking of which, he had just entered the library and asked the librarian for a certain book. When he got the book he came over to the table she was sitting at.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" he asked.

"Oh, not at all," she replied, moving sheets of parchment out of his way.

"Thank you milady," he said, sitting across from her. They sat in silence for a while. She noticed that he kept looking up from the book he was reading at her. "Excuse me," he said. "But what would you happen to be looking at?"

"Huh?" she asked, bewildered.

"You've been staring at me since I've sat down," he told her. "Is there something wrong?"

"No," she said, feeling herself go scarlet. "I've been thinking. I'm just not really noticing where I'm looking." He raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything and went back to reading. She decided to save herself from further embarrassment and left the library quickly.

When she was outside the library she decided she would take Salome's advice and rest for a while, she was feeling rather tired. Maybe the knights were right, she did push herself too hard.

~*~

Chris tried to sleep that night, but it just wasn't working. She simply wasn't tired at all! She got up from her bed and walked through the ship to the bow. There was one other occupant and he turned around when she came up the stairs. It was the Bishop Sasarai.

"I'm sorry," she said. "Did you want to be alone?"

"No," he said. "Actually, it's rather lonely." He moved over so that she could join him in front of the lake. They stood for a moment in silence just staring in the water. "Nice night," he finally commented.

"Yes," she agreed. It was. The crescent moon was glistening in the dark, rippling water of the lake and a warm breeze circulated over them.

"I have a question for you," he said. "Why do all your knights look at me as though I may kidnap you in the middle of the night?"

"What?" she asked laughing, then realizing he was serious she turned away, looking a little ashamed for laughing at him. "I—I'm sorry—I—"

"Were you laughing at me?" he asked smiling. She flushed a shade of scarlet.

"Well, I—" she looked up when he laughed.

"It's all right," he said. "It did seem rather funny after I said it."

"Maybe," she said. "What are you doing out here?"

"I like it out here," he said. "And you never answered my question."

"Oh," she said. "I can honestly tell you I don't know. Borus tends to be overly jealous of any man I talk to."

"Which one is he?" he asked. "The brunette?"

"What?" she asked. "No, he's the blonde one."

"Which one?" Sasarai asked. "The younger one?" Chris nodded. "Oh, yeah, he had his hand on his sword every time I've walked by him."

"You're rather observant," Chris noted.

"I have to be," he informed her. "Don't you."

"Yes," she said. "It is nice out here."

"You didn't believe me before now?" he asked, laughing again. He has a nice laugh, she thought to herself. Chris sighed and looked back into the water, he was standing quite close to her and it was making her uncomfortable.

"Maybe I should go to bed," Chris said suddenly. "Salome will be furious if I don't get any sleep."

"Very well," Sasarai said, sounding a little disappointed. "Goodnight, milady." Chris nodded and went back into her room at the lower level of the ship.

~*~

"Where were you last night milady?" Louis asked her the next morning.

"What are you talking about Louis?" Chris asked.

"I came to your room last night to check on you and you weren't there."

"Oh," Chris said. "I couldn't sleep and I went outside to get some fresh air."

"Oh," Louis said, flushing. "Sorry milady. I was just worried, that's all."

"Think nothing of it," she said. "Though I do wish you'd stop worrying, Louis. I can handle myself for a while."

"That's true," Louis said. "I'm sorry." Chris smiled at him, he was so dedicated to her, and it was kind of cute.

"Milady, may I have a word with you?" It was Sasarai.

"Yes," Chris said. "Of course."

"Oh," Louis said. "Don't let me intrude." He made his way to the door and, unbeknownst to Chris, glared at the bishop in suspicion.

"Milady," Sasarai said again, once Louis had left. "This is a simple question and I don't wish for you to get the wrong impression of me, but…" he seemed to be considering his next words. "Did you feel some sort of connection last night?" He said this all really fast and looked away from her, blushing.

"Uh…" In truth she had felt something, but even before the previous night. "Yes," she said, a response that made him look up in surprise. "As a matter of fact, I did."

"You—you did?" he seemed to be making sure she was mocking him.

"Yes," she said, her face turning red. "I didn't want to say anything because—" But he'd cut her off with a kiss on the lips…

~*~

Outside Chris' Room…

Louis had stormed out of Chris' room feeling upset. Out of all the people that Lady Chris had to spend time with did it have to be that bishop? He was obviously very sneaky and Louis thought it was a bad idea if she got involved with him. What if he tricked her into giving Harmonia some Zexen land? No, the council would have to approve; though they did have some connections.

"Louis?" Borus had come up behind him. "What on earth are you doing?!?" Louis had taken it upon himself to attempt to hear the conversation between the Bishop and Lady Chris by pressing his ear against the door.

"Uh, I'm—uh—trying to—uh—"

"Get away from Lady Chris' door!" he said angrily. "It's rude to spy on a lady!"

"But she's having some sort of private talk with that bishop from Harmonia…"

"What?" Borus seemed to forget all about his anger towards Louis and joined him at the bottom of the door, straining to hear.

"I haven't heard anything from the start," Louis said. "Either they're talking really quietly, this door is really thick, or—they're not talking."

"Don't consider that option Louis," Borus said. "Just don't."

"Well, well," came another voice. "Trying to listen in on Lady Chris. Tsk tsk."

"Be quiet Percival," Borus said. "I can't hear."

"Oh," Percival said with a smirk. "So you are. Why on earth are you doing that?"

"She's talking with the Bishop Sasarai," Louis informed him. The smile was suddenly wiped off of Percival's face and was replaced with a look of concern.

"Make some room for me down there," he said and pressed his ear against the door as well. Soon after that Leo joined them as well.

"Hey," Borus suddenly spoke up after a few moments of silence. "How mad do you all think Lady Chris will be if she catches us trying to listen to her conversation."

"If he tries to manipulate her then she'll be more happy than mad," Leo confirmed.

"That's true but—" Borus seemed unsure. "It is wrong to spy on her. She can take care of herself."

"If I recall you were one of the first ones here," Percival reminded him. "Who are you to talk about values?"

"Shh," Louis said. "I can't hear."

"We couldn't hear in the first place Louis," Percival said. "We might as well give up and be on our way."

"I needed to speak with Lady Chris anyway," Borus said. "So I'll stay here."

"Fine," Percival said. "Have it your way. I was going to ask you to take a ride with me but—"

"Last time we went for a 'ride' you spent the entire time we could have riding flirting with the stable girl," Borus said, frowning.

"She was leading me on," Percival said, a remark that made the rest of them burst out laughing. "I don't understand what's so funny, it's true." A remark that only made them laugh harder.

"What are you all doing out here?" Salome asked. "I've been searching for all of you throughout the castle all morning."

"We all need to speak with Lady Chris," Leo said.

"Then why not knock on her door and ask to speak with her?" Salome asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because she's having another discussion and we don't want to interrupt," Percival explained.

"Well," Salome said. "We're having a meeting in the Great Hall and you all must attend. You can speak with Lady Chris afterward."

"Shouldn't Lady Chris come too?" Louis asked quickly.

"Yes, Louis," Salome said. "That was the reason I came to her room in the first place."

"Oh…"

"What is wrong with all of you?" Salome asked suspiciously.

"Lady Chris is talking to Bishop Sasarai," Leo grunted. This didn't have the effect on Salome that they had expected.

"So?" he asked, confused. "Why is that any justification for you all to stand outside her door? What's wrong with it?"

"She likes him," Borus said.

"Yes," Salome said, even more confused. "He's a fine fellow and…"

"No," Percival said, he was the only one who was still keeping his cool. "We mean that she fancies him."

"Why, that's ridiculous! Of all the—"

"What are you all yelling about?" Chris had finally come out of her room with Sasarai behind her.

"Milady," Salome said, still somewhat shaken by the last bit of information. "There's a meeting in the Great Hall in a few minutes, we need you—and Lord Sasarai—to attend."

"Very well," she said. "I'll be there in a moment." Salome nodded and led the other knights away, leaving Chris alone with Sasarai again.

"I'm beginning to think they don't trust me," he commented.

"They have good reason," Chris said. "None of them want me to be with you, and the fact that we were talking alone in my room probably gave your intentions away."

"My intentions?" he asked. "If I recall correctly, you let me kiss you. You could have easily stopped the kiss."

"I didn't want to," Chris said softly.

"As I expected."

"Are you always this arrogant?" she asked.

"Me? Arrogant?" he asked. "Maybe a little." Chris let out a short laugh.

"We should probably get to that meeting," Chris said. "It might be important."

"When can I come again?" he asked.

"Uh…" her face went red while she was thinking. "How about tonight?"

"Sounds just fine to me." He kissed her again and they were off.

~*~

The meeting went quickly. Apple and Salome had bored everybody with a tactic that was too easy to conduct (Percival deducted that even Leo could've thought that plan out). All the while Chris' mind was still on the kiss she'd received earlier. It was ironic how they both felt the same way about each other, while only having been introduced a few weeks previous.

That night at midnight Sasarai sneaked into her room, as promised.

"I didn't think you'd come," Chris admitted after he'd shut her door.

"Why not?" he asked. "I'm not that big of a coward, am I?"

"No," she answered. "I just thought—you know what? Never mind."

"That works for me." He strode over to her bed and kissed her again, this time more passionately. The kiss seemed to on for a long while until…

"Who's here? I'll tear you apart! I'm the castle guard!" Sasarai got off of Chris' bed and stood up frowning.

"Do you think she'll come in here?" Chris asked.

"I certainly hope not," he answered, staring at the door.

"Cecile," Thomas, the master of the castle was trying to reason with the young guard. "I'm sure you're just mistaken. You're going to wake everybody up!"

"But Thomas," Cecile said. "Someone just went into Lady Chris' room! She might be in trouble!" Sasarai swore under his breath.

"I'm sure she can take care of herself," Thomas said, still trying to reason. At that moment Cecile burst in, clad in armor with her spear raised. Thomas came puffing in right behind her.

"I saw someone sneak in and…" Cecile stopped, seeing Sasarai standing in the middle of the room. "What are you doing in here Lord Sasarai?"

"Cecile!" Thomas scolded. "I'm so sorry, she over reacts a bit…" He took a moment to regard the scene. "What are you doing in here?"

"Uh—" Chris tried to find an answer but Sasarai beat her to it.

"We were discussing the tactic for tomorrow's battle," he lied easily. "We were almost done when you two came."

"Oh!" Cecile exclaimed. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to bother you! Thomas, let's go!" The castle master didn't seem to believe them, but Cecile dragged him out and the door shut with a snap behind him.

"Well," Sasarai said. "I should probably go."

"That would be good," Chris said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes," he said. "And—no more midnight rendezvous."

"Agreed." He kissed her one more time and left.

END

*Sighs* That took me a while. Oh well! I'm actually pretty proud of it. I hope you like it Mintaka. Hope you all liked it.