DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fire Emblem or any of it's characters.
Um, yeah, for those of you who didn't notice, chapter one got a major edit job. I just didn't like it and so I didn't want to start on this chapter until I was more satisfied with the first one, lawl. It's much better now so if you want to reread it, you can...
Quick note: The first review I got on this fanfiction, I noticed, was my sister's. She accidentally left herself signed in on my account lawl... I just didn't want anyone thinking I was crazy or something and reviewing my own stories. Bleh.
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Chapter 2
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"Ike. I've been looking for you," Soren said, having found Ike standing outside the fort, "I'm here to give you my report."
"Of the last battle?" Ike asked, and Soren nodded.
"Yes."
"All right. Have it at me, then.. how did it turn out?"
"Well... there were a few casualties. Most of them were the Crimean soldiers that had joined later on to aid us, but there was also the man that we recruited in Port Toha."
"Hm?" Ike had paused a moment, then replied, "I see.. Zihark was his name, wasn't it?"
"I believe so."
"Ah.. yeah, I remember him. We had conversed a few times on the way to Begnion... think it would hurt to give him a proper burial?"
"Probably not... we can do so before we leave. Anyway, if you'll excuse me..."
Soren slipped back into the fort and disappeared. Ike looked behind for a moment to watch the mage walk away, and soon went back inside as well.
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Mia had remained locked in the same small room for almost all of the rest of the day. Every once in a while, someone would knock at the door and ask if she was all right; most of the time it had been Rhys. Mia didn't answer most of them, though she would occasionally answer "I'm fine." She knew that no one would really believe that, but all she really wanted- and probably needed- was some time alone.
The room, she assumed, was a type of storage room. There were a few lanterns and torches scattered here and there, but that was all she really paid attention to. She didn't take the time to look around, all she really did was dwell in a certain corner and think. Well, that was probably what it was called since she still couldn't cry- maybe a few silent tears- so she just spent most of that time alone... thinking.
It was late at night when yet another knock had come at the door. Mia awoke from her doze (she actually couldn't remember falling asleep in the first place), and took a few moments to stand up, almost stumbling back down again. She heard someone's voice quietly ask, "Mia? Are you still in here?" and she sighed. It wasn't Rhys or any of them this time; in fact, she was almost glad when she recognized whose voice it was.
"Yeah, I'm still here," Mia replied, her voice slightly hoarse, "Hold on..." She unlocked the door and opened it slowly. She was still half-asleep as she was doing this, and thus Stefan got a surprise when Mia fell right into him. He didn't fall over with her, however, as he had caught her in time.
"Hm.. you were in there quite a while, Mia," Stefan told her, "The others have been rather worried about you."
"Mm, ..ah..." For some reason, when Mia tried to speak right then and there, she was then struck with the overwhelming urge to cry. Finally, she had thought. After all, she knew it would happen. She would hear from some that witnessing the death of someone close would usually have unpredictable effects on the emotions of the witnesses. She hadn't ever wanted to know how it really felt, though, but of course it had come to be true to her anyway.
The two had been there in that spot for a bit as Mia buried her face in Stefan's chest and, of course, began to cry. Her sobs were muffled but could still be heard by others; some had even gathered around to see what was wrong, despite what time it was. No one really said anything or got too close, as they most likely didn't want to interfere with whatever they thought was happening. Stefan had eventually started walking Mia to her room, the others still watching and listening intently. Mia really didn't like the attention much, and Stefan had tried once to get at least some of them away, but it was to no avail. He noticed Rhys had been amongst them as well, but all the bishop really did was smile and return to his room.
At last they had made it to the room Mia would be staying in for the night. She had been done crying at this point, but she had asked the green-haired swordmaster to stay with her a little longer. He didn't object, and so the two went into the room, shutting the door behind them. The others who had been watching had left, and so the two were left with the privacy they had wanted.
"... So, Mia," Stefan said, "Are you feeling better?"
"Mm, I guess," Mia replied, her voice a little weak from crying, "I think I just... needed to let it out.."
"Heh, well, I could understand that." The two had been sitting next to each other on a cot. Mia didn't feel tired, however; she assumed it was probably because she fell asleep in the storage room, or at least thought she did. She couldn't tell if Stefan was tired or not, though he didn't seem to be. Mia sighed, ready to face the reality of what she was about to say next.
"So.. I guess there's only two of us now, huh?"
To Mia, Stefan seemed to hesitate as well before giving his reply, "I guess so. It is rather strange, isn't it?"
"Yeah... it happened pretty fast. I can still remember meeting you guys back when I was still looking for a challenging opponent. Ah... I haven't been so shaken since the... thing with the raven king..."
Stefan had to admit that, every time the raven king incident was mentioned, he would shiver a bit. It wasn't too noticeable, unless you were paying close attention, which Mia wasn't. He was glad of this. "Well, Zihark was a great man. I'm sure all of us will remember him..."
Mia had started scooting closer to Stefan all of a sudden. She had wanted to ask him something before the morning came again, because they would have to leave early to reunite Elincia with her retainers. The weary, purple-haired girl started to become drowsy, so she hurried just in case she were to fall asleep again. "Stefan... will you... make me a promise?"
"Hm? What kind of promise?"
"Promise me... that you won't leave me alone. I wouldn't know what to do... if you died too..."
Stefan smiled after this, though Mia didn't notice; she had already trailed off into a deep slumber. "I promise," He replied, as Mia had cuddled closer in her sleep.
-End of chapter 2-
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Oh yeah, the raven king thing was mentioned in my short story collection. Basically, Stefan was almost killed in chapter 19 because Naesala was a bitch.
Chapter three is coming soon
