Chapter 1 – Dawning


"Err…"

"Who's there?" asked the Sacaen beauty as she turned around cautiously, her long, silk-like, jade green hair flying in the wind from her speed.

"Calm down, Lyndis, it's just me." The masculine blue-haired Lord* said as he stepped into full view.

Lyn was practicing lunge and thrust techniques in the open field by herself, hoping to become a master at the sword. Eliwood's army had stopped chasing after Nergal, because a valuable asset to their infantry, Oswin, had been seriously injured by Uhai. So with his lance arm broken for the next week, they decided to set up camp here and train.

"Ah, Hector. Did you come to spar?" she asked, her eyes twinkling in anticipation.

"That sounds quite fun, but actually that's not what I came for." He replied, watching the shine in her eyes dull.

"Then what? If you don't mind, I'm busy learning how to take axemen down in one strike." She said with a smirk, her hand gripping her precious Sol Katti tightly.

"Ah, I see, tha- HEY! Axemen?! Like ME?" Hector said with a growl.

The edges of her mouth quirked up in a sly smile. "Nothing personal, Hector."

His eye twitched slightly. "Never mind that. You got time?"

Lyn nodded, a slightly bored expression spreading across her face. She was prepared for a long rant on how annoying some of the units were. It was pretty frequent for Hector, and it would most likely involve Serra, Matthew, or Sain.

He took a deep, frustrated breath. "I NEED GIRL HELP." He blurted out, his face changing into a bright shade of crimson.

Lyn's bright eyes widened in shock. After a few seconds, the shocked expression faded into a sly smirk and raised, suspicious eyebrows. "Can this be?" she said in mock-exasperation, "A woman has caught the eyes of the strong, temperamental Hector?" She snorted.

"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"

"Hector, you're one who asked me."

"Right. Sorry." He said, scratching his head in embarrassment.

"Well, who is she?" Lyn asked, her eyes like daggers, trying to force the truth out of him.

"I ain't telling!" Hector said, folding his arms across his chest, with his chin in the air like a little kid.

"Then I ain't helping." Lyn replied with a scowl.

"BAH! You're so difficult." Hector yelled, throwing his arms in the air.

"No one said life was easy, buddy." She answered stubbornly.

"Grr… Fine. Tell you what. We'll make a deal." He said in a flat voice.

"I'm listening…" She answered, hands on her hips.

"Ok, so this is how it goes. Listen carefully now, woman. First, you will answer all my questions and teach me how to, er, catch the eye of the woman I love. When we're all done, I promise to tell you who it is."

Lyn stared at him with a blank expression, saying absolutely nothing, not moving in the tiniest bit.

Hector sighed. "And I'll buy you dinner for the next two weeks." He said, his eyes rolled up and looking to the Heavens.

"DEAL!" Lyn shouted eagerly, her arm shooting out like a bullet for a handshake.

Hector chuckled as he shook her hand. 'She must not have fed herself in a long time, the fool.'

The two friends exchanged laughter and quite a few sarcastic remarks over the handshake, as the sun was setting on the horizon, casting an orange light over the scene.

Little did they know, they were being watched by two familiar faces.

"Ooh, what do we have here?" Serra squealed as she watched the two bicker playfully.

"Ah, my sweet Serra," Sain said in his most-flirtatious voice, "It is but love. Have you not noticed how thy aggressive-by-nature-Hector melts into softness within eyesight of the striking Lady Lyndis. Ahhhhh, sweet sweet love."

"Sain, that is the most stupid thing I have EVER heard- Heeeeeeey, you're actually right. I have noticed how gentle he becomes with her! YOU'RE RIGHT!!!! SAIN, YOU BIG FAT IDIOT, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! I must tell everyone!!" And with that, Serra dawdled off into the camp to tell everyone she was aquainted with, her nose high in the air.

"Oh, Serra, how harsh must you be to me!" But he eventually shrugged it off like always, and gestured for his noble steed to follow after the headstrong cleric.

TO BE CONTINUED …

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*note: I don't like calling them lords because I'm a strong believer in only one Lord, but I have no idea what else to call them. If anyone would have any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.