Chapter 2: Re-united
Morning came quickly for Emil and Marta. Once they were up and dressed, Marta spoke up, "So, any more nightmares last night?"
Emil shook his head, "No, but it's weird, it felt the same as when I was dreaming that Richter was killing me." Marta instantly became worried.
"What happened in your dream?" Emil closed his eyes, trying to remember any specific details that he might know.
"I'm not too sure, it wasn't very clear." He said, "All I know for sure is, there were a lot of people, and that you were mad at me and were about to walk away." The thought of that had caused some tears to fall.
"Oh, Emil." Said Marta, while embracing him, "Don't worry, you've never done anything that would make me want to do that."
Emil returned the hug, "What about when I acted so cruel in the temple of lightning?" He asked, Marta looked up to see that his face told her that he was just teasing.
She punched his arm playfully, "That doesn't count." Emil nudged at Marta's arm.
"I think it does count since you slapped me in the face."
Marta giggled, "No," she said, nudging Emil in the arm, "I slapped Rattatosk, not you."
Emil smiled and gently shoved her, "Wasn't it you who always said that I was me, no matter what?" Marta looked for a comeback, but couldn't find one.
She made a fake pout, "You're too good at this game."
Emil chuckled and wrapped her up in his arms, "Don't worry Marta, I'm sure that it was just some random dream." He lied, he knew it was more than just a bad dream. Marta nodded, knowing full-well that he was lying, but chose to go along with it.
The new couple walked outside of the inn, Marta then spoke up, "I sent out a message to Lloyd and the others about you being back before I went to bed last night. They're expecting us in Altamira. Do you want to go?"
Emil looked at her and nodded, "Ok, but how do we get there?"
Marta pointed to the harbor, "There's a ferry heading for Altamira in an hour. We can go on that." She said.
Emil's face grew very concerned, "What? But you'll get sick!"
Marta giggled and pulled out a little bottle, "These are the Lezareno Company motion sickness pills that Regal mentioned once. They work really well."
Emil was still a little nervous about all of it, but chose to trust that the pills would do their job, "Well…ok, but if you start feeling sick, you tell me right away." Marta nodded, smiling warmly at Emil due to his concern for her.
As they began to walk to the harbor, the servant was watching them from a distance, his face grew pale at the mentioning of Altamira, "I mustn't let Lord Emil leave for very long, and that girl would get in the way…what to do?" Then he had an idea. He rushed over to meet them, "Excuse me! Wait!" Emil and Marta turned to see the strange man dressed in a butler uniform.
Emil was the first to respond, "Can we help you sir?" he asked.
The man nodded, "Yes. Young man, are you perhaps…" he looked at a blank sheet of paper from his pocket, feigning obliviousness, "Emil Castagnier?" Emil nodded. The man bowed, "My master requests your presence at the manor."
Emil looked at Marta, "Well, I was on my way to join up with some friends of mine..."
"The time is not important, my orders were to inform you, and request you visit at any time that is convenient for you today." The man said, cutting him off.
Emil looked to Marta, she nodded, "Where do we go to meet your master?" Marta asked.
The man bowed his head again, "My apologies, but the invitation is for Mr. Castagnier only. He must come to the manor alone."
Marta grew confused, as did Emil, "Where does your 'master' live?" Emil asked.
The man took a card out from his jacket pocket, "This card has everything you need to know about how to get there. Shall I send your acceptance to the invitation?" Emil looked at the card, then to Marta, then to the man.
After a moment of thought, Emil nodded, "Ok, I'll come by as soon as I get back."
The man smiled, "Splendid, you've no idea how important this is to my master, she will be most pleased."
Gears started turning in Marta's mind when the man revealed the master-in-question to be a female, "She? Manor? Only invites Emil? Could it be?"
The man snuck a look at Marta, "Damn! She noticed the flaw in my façade!" The man bowed once more, "Well, I must be off, adieu." He left before Marta was able to ask about the "master"
Emil noticed that Marta was rather mad about something. He turned to her, "Marta? Is everything ok?"
Marta snapped out of her trance, "Huh? Oh, yeah I'm fine. It's just…"
Emil cocked his head, "It's what?"
Marta shook her head, and looked away, "It's nothing."
Emil wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in for comfort, "I know that's not true. What's the matter?"
Marta continued to look away for a while, "The 'master' that guy mentioned, is a girl. I just assumed that it was some kind of hook up idea or something." Emil tightened his grip on her, causing her to look up at him.
"Marta," he said softly, "don't worry, even if you're right, you're the one I want to be with. Not some stuck-up rich girl."
Marta smiled as she leaned up and kissed Emil, who returned the favor. When they separated Marta smiled, "Thanks Emil, I needed that."
Emil then put his teasing face on, "What I said, or the kiss?"
Marta giggled, "Both." They laughed together on their way to the harbor.
3 hours later, Emil and Marta got off the ferry. Emil was glad to know that the pills kept Marta from being sick, but he could tell that she was worried the whole boat trip there. Before he could ask about it, he heard a voice call out.
"Emil! Marta!" It was Colette. The chosen ran quickly to meet her friends, "Emil it's great to see you again. Lloyd was so confident that you were going to come back." She said.
Emil smiled, "Well, I'm just glad to be back with Marta. A-and you along with the others of course… ha-ha." Colette laughed and Marta blushed at Emil's statement.
"Speaking of," Said Zelos, who had revealed himself to be standing nearby, "that notice Marta sent, got to us before sunset. You guys do anything that might make me proud?" Marta glared at Zelos.
Meanwhile Emil, being the oblivious that he was, cocked his head, "What do you mean?"
Zelos smirked, some-what hoping he'd ask that, "I'm talking about se-YAAAAGGGH!"
He was interrupted by Sheena, who had just kicked him across the room from behind, "Honestly, do you really need to put ideas like THAT into people's heads!? I swear you are such an idiot!" she yelled at the red-head.
Emil leaned over to Marta, "What do you think he was talking about?" He whispered.
Marta shook her head, "Some things are just better left unsaid." She whispered back angrily. Emil thought of a way to help her though, he gave Marta a quick kiss on the cheek. As soon as she felt the kiss, all her anger just melted away.
Sheena then walked up to the two, "Great to see you both together. We all agreed that you two were a cute couple." Neither one responded, they were both too busy blushing. Sheena just smirked, "You've found yourself a good one, Marta. Wish I was that lucky."
Sheena and Colette led the two into the inn, where everyone else waited. The first to see everyone walk in was Lloyd, "Hey, there you guys are." He said, walking up to join them, "Zelos left a while ago to wait for you, what happened?" he asked.
"You don't want to know." Sheena and Marta said in unison. The rest of the evening went off normally. Everyone expressing their joy to see Emil, and congratulating them on getting together.
The time flew by, and as Emil looked at the clock, he realized it was 3:00 in the afternoon, "Well," he said to Marta, "I'd better catch a ferry back to Palmocosta to head to that manor."
Marta was sad to know he was leaving, "Ok, I'm gonna be here tonight. See you tomorrow?" He smiled and nodded.
As Emil left the room, Presea went over to Marta, "I'm surprised at how calm you are about this." She said.
Marta gave the girl a confused look, "What are you talking about?" She asked, "He's just going to some meeting or whatever."
Presea shook her head, "If that were true, I don't think he'd have to go alone. If I were in your position, I'd probably think that this woman is going to seduce him, and make fall in love with her.
Marta's face grew mortified. Without a single word, she rushed out the door to catch up to Emil. Then, everyone else in the room stared at the young girl, "Presea!" They yelled in unison.
The young girl simply cocked her head, "What?"
Before he opened the doors to exit the inn, he heard footsteps moving towards him, "Emil! Wait!" Marta called. Emil turned around, before he could say anything, Marta had pushed her lips against his, wrapping her arms around his neck. Emil was stunned at first, but returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist. After one minute, Marta pulled back, "I love you Emil. I love you more than anything else. Promise me that you'll be here tomorrow. Promise me that you'll be the first person I see at the harbor."
Emil smiled, "I promise Marta. I'll catch an overnight ferry to be here by the time you get up. I love you." With another kiss, this one much shorter than the last, he left.