Xirysa Says: One thing you readers may want to know is that this particular 'fic comes somewhat from personal experience. As some of you may know, I have been learning Indian classical dance for the past eleven years, and I got the inspiration for this from a lecture my dance teacher gave us during dance class a few days ago. So… Erm. Yeah. Enjoy! I've wanted to write EliwoodxNinian for a long time…


Seraphic Wings
The Second Wing: Humility
Starring: Ninian

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hu·mil·i·ty (hyoo-mil-i-tee): the quality or condition of being humble, modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc

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Beautiful. Stunning. Wondrous. Enchanting. Lovely.

Many people have said many things about my dances—all of it praises. And when they do, I smile and say thank you, it was nothing, my pleasure, I'm glad I could help. And it is all true. I am truly happy that I was able to help them, all of them. I tell them this, and they just laugh and say that I shouldn't be so modest, stop being humble, I deserve the praise.

She spins once and kneels down on one knee. The music lasts a moment longer before it, too, ends.

But they really don't understand, do they? Nils does, of course. I know he does. But no one else knows. Nothing of the pain I feel when I lie to them. It hurts so much, the ache in my heart when I say that I don't deserve their praise.

The dance is done. The praises start.

Because I don't. I do not deserve their kindness, their gentle words, their thanks, the happiness I feel when they compliment me on a job well done.

"It was truly amazing, Ninian," Lady Lyndis says with an awestruck smile.

We've been lying to them. Nils and I, we have to hide who we really are. What we really are. And carrying that pain, carrying the lie... It hurts. It really hurts.

"Even the flowers cannot compare to your delightful dance, milady!" Sain exclaims while grabbing his heart for dramatic effect.

Nils... Nils is just a boy. He is just a child. He doesn't understand. He's too young. The weight of our burden doesn't rest on his shoulders. It is my pain, my guilt. And I shall bear it alone.

"Your dances are wonderful, Ninian," says Lady Xirysa. "Teach me one of yours sometime, and I'll teach you one of mine."

Sometimes, I wish that I really was human. I wouldn't have to deal with this pain and heartache and the guilt. Because there is guilt. All the time.

Florina smiles shyly. "I-it really did make me feel a lot better, Ninian. Thank you."

How long can I keep decieving them like this? I hate it! They all care about Nils and I so much, yet our very presence brings them closer to danger. How many times have they faced death because of us? How many battles were fought because of us?

"I don't believe it!" Canas gasps. "I've actually met someone who knows the old dances!"

And yet they say that it's alright because that is what comrades do.

Even Kent smiles. "Thank you, Lady Ninian."

I cannot do this anymore. I can't keep lying to them. To him.

She sees him watching from the edge of the group, arms folded over his chest and a smile on his face.

He saved me once. He saved me again, a year later. I do what I can to thank him, but even that, I think, is not enough. Because I am falling in love with him. I know it is wrong, and I know that I cannot. How can I love a man whose father died because of me? It is wrong. It cannot be.

Her heart flutters when he looks at her and she sees his eyes twinkling in the firelight.

I... I told him that I was decieving him. That I wasn't fit to even be in his presence. And it's true. But he... He told me that it was not true. He said that he was always there for me.

When he makes his way towards her, she freezes. What does he want to say?

I am a liar. I do not deserve to be in the presence of someone so noble and pure and gentle and loving. I am tainted.

He stops in front of her.

My humility stems from my guilt.

"Lovely," he says.

I do not deserve this.

She knows he is not talking about the dance.


Xirysa Says: Uhm. Yeah. So Ninian's humility is from her guilt? I can see that. But that's just me. And really... I've been like that. Of course, my reason for being humble was that I didn't feel that I did well in a particular dance program or something. But I'm picky and a perfectionist like that. Wish that would go into my writing... Huzzah for another craptastic chapter! I need feedback. Badly.