Alright, after the depressing showing that was Chapter 7 in the game, I endeavor to bring back this lovely venue of fluff and laughs. Hope you all enjoy poor Alfonse dealing with the girls!

Day in Town

Waking his companions proved to be another interesting experience for Alfonse.

Neither of the girls responded to gentle words or soft movements, so Alfonse had gone with the 'Sharena Method' and imitated one of his original tutors.

"Attention…at arms!"

The first word was soft like the rest before Alfonse belted the rest, Laevatein and Fjorm jolting awake and standing at immediate attention, salutes and all.

Alfonse felt rather proud of himself.

At least until Fjorm realized what had gotten her to that position in the room. "Oh gods, I did it again! I'm so sorry Alfonse, I've been a bit of a sleep walker ever since I was young, and I haven't broken the habit."

"That's quite alright." Alfonse said as he stood. "Now I know what to expect should Sharena have left us any further surprises. I will say Laevatein, I'm surprised that you sleep walk as well."

Laevatein crossed her arms. "I have never slept anywhere with others, even in camp… this is strange, being unable to walk in my sleep without tripping."

Alfonse didn't believe she wouldn't trip in her sleep but dropped the issue. "Regardless, I'll let you two get ready. We'll be doing some shopping today along with a visit to the blacksmith and the fields outside of town."

"What purpose does any of that serve?" Laevatein asked. "I have already seen such things before and they will show me nothing new."

Fjorm made her way to the case that held her things. "Yes, from the view of an army or royal. However, have you ever looked at those things as a normal person? Have you ever seen them through the eyes of the villager that works and relies on such things?"

Laevatein remained stoic. "…I suppose not. Very well, but how are we to pay for this shopping you mentioned?"

"You're concerned about money?" Alfonse said. "Then again, paying for supplies is amongst your duties as a commander, so I guess it makes sense. Don't worry, I was given a hefty purse, so feel free to indulge."

Alfonse threw on his tunic and cloak, neatly folded next to his blanket, and left the room. Once in the hall, he wandered down to the inn's bar and waved for the waitress. "Good morning! We'll need three platters of egg, potato, and whatever meat you can find."

"You want three breakfasts?" The waitress asked before she blinked. "Oh, you're the guy that came in yesterday with those girls. Owner was real ticked with you from what I heard."

Alfonse chuckled, not wanting to dwell on that argument. "Well, we worked it out. Anyway, we'll be at that table in the corner, I'll pay when we leave."

He heard the waitress mutter something before she went into the back and started calling orders. Alfonse paid it no mind and went to the table he'd chosen, humming a tune while he waited.

It wasn't long before the girls joined him, dressed as they were yesterday with only some minor changes. Like, say, each going with a slightly different hairstyle… and staring at him.

Alfonse cleared his throat. He had a feeling he needed to say something and fast. "You didn't take all that long. Here I was expecting you both to take at least twenty minutes."

"We're not Sharena." Fjorm giggled, playing with the small braid she'd made next to her ear. "And small stuff like this isn't that hard. I've been styling my own hair for years anyway."

Laevatein shrugged. "I don't need or have attendants, nor do I particularly prefer how my hair looks. This just happens to be the most functional."

She flicked the ponytail back, the hair a rope of pearl now compared to yesterdays curtain.

Alfonse laughed, his response delayed by the arrival of food. Once the waitress left, he tried again. "I'm no expert on hair, I mean, just look at me. I'll take your words on it, but I do think that you both can wear it however you like and still find it suiting. I'm almost jealous."

Fjorm and Laevatein glanced at each other, but Alfonse had a strange feeling of relief wash over him when they shrugged a moment later. It looked like he'd dodged an arrow, whatever it could've been.

The mood relaxed after that, so Alfonse spent the time asking about the princesses and their respective kingdoms. While he'd heard overviews, there were several things he'd been curious about in addition to just wanting to talk with the girls.

This soon turned to the swapping of humorous anecdotes, Fjorm and Alfonse eventually turning it into a contest where if they got Laevatein to smirk, they won that round.

Laevatein didn't have humorous anecdotes to share, so she played along. It was amusing see the two make fools of themselves regardless of whether the story was even the slightest bit funny.

Two though, took the cake, both coming as they readied to leave.

"Alright, this one's the best yet." Alfonse began, both girls all ears. "So, we've had Kiran for about a year now. Thing is, he had no idea how anything worked. One day, I was giving him a tour of the grounds when he spotted several orbs on a pile of feathers."

Fjorm knew that pile well. "You mean your owl's nest? Now that I think about it, where does he get those orbs?"

Alfonse shrugged as they left the inn. "No one knows. Regardless, Kiran thought it would be a great idea to use those orbs to expand the order. Problem was, when he grabbed them, Feh came down and started attacking him. Berating him too, since Kiran ran off screaming his head off with the orbs still in his arms. I gave chase, but soon found him tangled up in some rope with the orbs scattered all over the floor. Apparently, he thought that cutting one of the counter-weights for the tapestries would spirit him to a higher scaffold and away from Feh."

Fjorm giggled, picturing Kiran in yet another silly situation. Thankfully for their little contest, she had a much better story that was sure to get Laevatein smirking.

"Mine has something to do with Kiran too." She began, daintily dodging a gaggle of children. "This was a couple weeks ago, right in the middle of spring. We were going over the ideas for the spring festival and I was trying to convince Lucina not to wear the bunny costume again. Heaven knows Selena would die if her girlfriend wore that again."

Alfonse grinned, already liking this. "Ok, so what happened?"

Fjorm glanced back to make sure Laevatein was still paying attention before continuing. "Well, we eventually decided to draw lots for the costumes, kind of like what you did for the guys. We dragged Kiran in to get his opinion after the lots were drawn, but here's the thing."

She leaned in, a conspiratorial smirk on her lips. "Sharena was the first to come out, all embarrassed, and Kiran's jaw hit the floor. I've never seen someone so smitten, let alone when Sharena gave him that shy smile you know she uses to get her way."

Alfonse's face slowly morphed into shocked realization. "Are… are you saying Kiran has a crush on Sharena?"

Fjorm shrugged. "I think so, at least, but here's where it got weird. Sharena was so embarrassed that she tripped and fell onto the clothing rack. Her dress caught and ripped as she stood, sending both her and the rack into the shelves we'd set up. I've never seen so many linens and fabrics go flying before, but Oboro started wailing and babbling about her 'precious babies' and 'murderers'."

A brief snort showed Laevatein smirking, Fjorm the winner. "…Your people are strange. Is cloth truly that important?"

"To Oboro, big time." Alfonse said, still trying to wrap his head around Sharena being crushed on by Kiran. "There's all kinds of characters in the Order. Remind me to tell you what happened at the last spring festival later."

Fjorm chuckled. "It was so amusing to see you dressed as a bunny. Then again, I never thought a large spoon could be so effective a weapon."

Laevatein was more distracted by the idea of Alfonse dressed as a hare. A silly image of him wearing his normal attire, but with the lower half of a rabbit, flashed across her mind before a more realistic image settled in.

She felt inordinately pleased by the image and silently promised to make him wear the get up at some point. For the doubtlessly hilarious look on his face of course, not because she'd find it… cute.

The thought made Laevatein shake her head. Where had that come from?

"And we're here." Alfonse announced, pulling Laevatein back to reality. They were in front of a good-sized building with an open ground floor that leaked heat and the sound of metal getting hammered into shape. Laevatein could even see the forge further in the back.

"Wow, it's hot." Fjorm muttered, already uncomfortable. She didn't do well with heat on principle of being born in an ice kingdom, but a forge would make her sweat buckets.

Laevatein, on the other hand, was just fine. "So… what are we doing here?"

Alfonse gestured to the forge where an average looking man was hammering away. "You've doubtlessly seen weapon smiths and armor smiths, but I want you to see what that iron can be used for instead. It's not just weapons, armors, or the panoply of war that require iron, but so many other things."

He smiled. "Thus, we'll be learning how to forge. Educational, practical, and it makes the ale taste so much better."

Fjorm and Laevatein blinked before looking to each other and nodding.

Contest number one was on.

Alfonse, seeing the girls on board, turned and called to the blacksmith. "Pardon me good sir! Would you be partial to a quick lesson? We'll be sure to compensate you for the time!"

The blacksmith paused in his work, but laughed when he saw Alfonse. "Ah, its you Prince Alfonse! Lady Anna sent a message just yesterday, and you're right on time. I assume your lovely companions are the ones getting taught?"

Alfonse laughed awkwardly. "Well, kind of. I need a refresher myself and we're working on normal every day items. I hope it's no trouble."

"Far from it, my prince." The blacksmith said. "Please, come in, we'll start right away."

Alfonse nodded and lead the girls into the forge. After an hour of basic explanations and demonstrations, the girls set to work on forging their very first item.

A candle stick.

It wasn't the most complex item, they just had to pour the molten metal into a mold, but Laevatein didn't see the point. "Why… a candlestick? Aren't horse shoes and nails the more in demand?"

"Normally, aye." The blacksmith answered. "But the people have their own rituals and ways. These are for the ones we lost over the winter, a tribute. It's the first we've had since the war started and I've been more than happy to make them again.

Laevatein frowned and looked to her crucible. The iron was molten and glowing orange, perfect to pour. As she did, another question came to mind. "Surely they could still hold vigil? This village is untouched by the fighting."

The blacksmith sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It may look like that, but it isn't. Lots of the young folk had to go join the army to fight and most of the families haven't seen them in months. Add on the food they've needed and other supplies… well, it's a miracle we have everything we need to get this show on the road."

Laevatein didn't believe him. With the amount of work they'd assisted with the previous day, it appeared that there was more than enough to hold a festival for many more than just the town's populace.

"I can tell you don't believe me." The blacksmith said, making Laevatein look away. "All of the stuff you've seen around was being made since last fall, before the fighting started. Not the food, of course, but everything's mostly for the people here. The roads aren't safe for most folks, so we're not expecting many visitors."

Laevatein remained stoic, but she couldn't help thinking on the burned husks of villages she'd passed in Muspel. Was it like this before the flames had claimed homes and lives?

She felt a hand on her shoulder, the blacksmith leaning over to look at her mold. "You poured that brilliantly. Tell me, do you have experience with forging?"

Laevatein shook her head. "…No."

"Then you're a natural!" The blacksmith laughed, gesturing to where Alfonse was assisting Fjorm in picking up the mess she'd made when her crucible tipped over. "I think you can do something more complex than your friend over there. Care to try?"

Laevatein nodded slowly. If she could show she was the better forger, then this first contest was hers. "…Very well, what do you have in mind?"

The blacksmith stood and went to a bench, pulling out a small sack. Laevatein watched him empty the sack and grab a few items before coming back. In his hands were nails, a band of steel, and a horse shoe. "You'll be working on these next. The nails must be a certain shape, the band needs to be thin enough to go around a wheel, and the shoe's self-evident. Think you can do it?"

Laevatein looked at the items, then over to Alfonse and Fjorm. "…Yes. Why don't you help her get the candlestick right, I can work with Prince Alfonse."

The blacksmith nodded and called to Alfonse to help Laevatein. Once the prince was beside her, Laevatein felt heat in her hands.

Time to forge and show these people what a royal of fire could do.

-A Few Hours Later-

"I should've expected something like this."

Alfonse sighed as they left the blacksmith, the man in question bowing reverently to Laevatein. The princess had used her innate fire magic and understanding of fire to not only forge everything she was given in record time, but also produce such high-quality pieces the blacksmith tried to hire her on the spot.

Fjorm was forced to quietly concede her loss in the first contest, as while she could forge the items well enough after a few tries, she couldn't match Laevatein.

Alfonse, minus dealing with the impassioned blacksmith, was glad to see Laevatein enjoying herself. She'd worn a smirk the whole time, though he'd missed her victorious looks to Fjorm.

"…If I know anything, it's fire." Laevatein said after preening a bit more. "Working and shaping something with it is only natural, though I never knew there were so many uses for iron."

Fjorm shrugged as they wound through the streets, looking for a shop. "Iron is useful everywhere. I've certainly gained an appreciation for the work involved at least, so I'll be sure to thank the smiths when we get back."

"Try not to forget, we'll be out for a few weeks may I remind." Alfonse said, pausing in the street. "But, after all that work, who says we get a treat?"

The girls looked to find storefronts advertising sweets, pastries, and honey-ale. Shrugging, the party went in, grabbed whatever caught their attention, and wandered to the town square. An open bench beckoned them to sit, and they watched the people go by setting things up.

"This is good," Fjorm mumbled as she nibbled on an orange tiramisu. "I've never heard of this dessert before."

Alfonse sipped his ale. "It's definitely festival fare, you won't find it normally otherwise."

Fjorm hummed and broke off a piece. "Would you like a piece? I don't mind sharing."

Alfonse smiled and accepted the morsel, but shortly found a cinnamon bun under his nose. "Um… Laevatein?"

"…I'm good, you can have the rest." She grumbled, hand staying where it was. "I… always share these with my sister anyway."

Alfonse almost smiled and took the sweet. "Then you can have some of my treat… when I find one I like. For now, thank you, that's kind."

Laevatein gave him a small smile, Fjorm pouting across from her. Fjorm needed to be more decisive or Laevatein was going to get Alfonse the rest of the day.

"Ladies and gentlemen! We're holding the tryouts for the main event tomorrow! Those wishing to participate, please make your way to me!"

Fjorm perked up at the call. "That sounds interesting. Want to look before we head to the fields?"

Alfonse was equally intrigued and followed the voice, Laevatein following at what sounded like another competition. Hopefully, it would be something she could win just as handily.

They found the voice to be an older man atop a tower in the center of the square, a space cleared before the tower where the people gathered around.

"The rules are simple!" The man called. "All you need to do is show your talents to the crowd and wow us! The one that gets the most cheers will be chosen as tomorrow's main event and be given their pick of items at the close of the festival! Who wants to start?"

Fjorm and Laevatein looked to each other, a woman's agreement marking this as the second contest. Alfonse noted the look, if not its purpose, and he had to wonder if women were telepathic only with other women. It would certainly explain why they always seemed to have silent conversations without the guys noticing.

Laevatein and Fjorm strode into the space, the announcer cheering when he saw them. "Well, look here! We have a pair of lovely ladies that want to try their hands! Tell me, milady's, what will you be doing?"

Fjorm fidgeted but took solace in the cool well of patience she'd fostered over many years. "I will serenade the crowd, good sir. I'm quite confident in my skill."

"I will demonstrate martial prowess." Laevatein announced, her gaze going to Alfonse. "I have a partner of equal skill that can put on a show."

The announcer let out a booming laugh. "Then let us see what you can do! We'll start with the fighters; this town hasn't seen a good duel in ages!"

The crowd cheered in response, Laevatein and Alfonse taking sole possession of the space while grabbing some practice blades that were to be used tomorrow for mock fights. Once settled, the two began to duel, the crowd cheering and howling at the graceful moves and powerful strikes.

Fjorm, having seen the dance many times at far greater intensity, was focused on choosing a song. She'd cursed Gunnthra for putting her through those singing lessons when she was younger, but now Fjorm vowed to thank her elder sister when they got back.

Hmm… there's no drums or other singers, so I need a solo. What's a good one…? Aha! It may be a little depressing, but I do love singing it.

The cheers of the crowd and voice of the announcer showed the pair were finished. Alfonse walked past and patted Fjorm on the shoulder. "I know you can make them riled up, have at it. Also, personally, I'm looking forward to this just as much as that spar."

Fjorm smiled, relaxing just enough to feel confident. After trading respectful nods with Laevatein, she went to the center of the space and waited for the crowd to calm down.

"Now we have our singer!" The man cried, the crowd chattering excitedly. They'd already seen a great spectacle of a duel, so how would this lone woman compete?

Fjorm took another deep breath and started with some chords, just warming up. Already the crowd began to mutter, shocked that the woman held such a beautiful voice and had yet to truly sing.

Then, she began. "Os iusti meditabitur sapientiam, Et lingua eius loquetur indicium…" (1)

As the song played itself out, the crowd was stunned into silence by the melancholy and richness of the song, though none understood the lyrics. They didn't need to, not when Fjorm was channeling her own deep grief into the song.

By the time she finished, and the applause began to rain, Fjorm could see many of the villagers crying.

She bowed and returned to her compatriots, both staring at her in open disbelief.

"You… sounded incredible." Alfonse muttered, unable to put words to the weight in his chest. "Dare I say it, you outshined Olivia and gave Azura a run for her money."

Laevatein nodded, a faint memory clawing at her mind. "Yes… it sounded almost… familiar…"

Fjorm smiled sadly. "It's a Nifl funeral song, I was taught it after my father died early in my life. I… I sing it from time to time, to remember my mother."

Laevatein's face twisted in thought, but Alfonse was looking to the announcer. "And… it looks like you won Fjorm. Problem is, that makes you the main attraction tomorrow, so you'll have to join the villagers for the show. Probably won't get to wander around with us."

Fjorm drooped, disappointed, but Alfonse clapped her shoulder. "It's alright, we'll figure it out. Let's go talk to the guy in the tower and then head for the fields. It may not seem like it, but it's past noon."

Fjorm felt better at that and nodded. Alfonse grinned and went to talk with the announcer, leaving Fjorm and the still thinking Laevatein alone.

Well, as alone as they could be with villagers milling about and staring at them, but that was ignored by both women.

"…This round is yours." Laevatein eventually said. "I cannot compete with your voice. Nor can I say that I'm not… learning. I still do not see why you fight so hard for such simple things, but I at least see how war affects these people."

Fjorm couldn't stop the surprise in her response. "Surely you've not changed your mind so quickly? I was sure you'd be more obstinate in your beliefs."

"A tool does not have beliefs." Laevatein said. "A tool takes on only their master's beliefs and seeks to make them reality. I am no longer a tool to my father, so I have no beliefs, thus I consider all before me with an open mind. Should I become a tool once more, than my beliefs shall be my master's."

Fjorm had no way to respond to that. Even now, Laevatein saw herself as a tool, so she must be more confused than anyone with all this new information and no personal view point to consider things through. All she had were Surtr's beliefs, and those were already being challenged.

Alfonse returned before Fjorm could offer any words. "I managed to convince them that you could work with them tomorrow. That keeps today free and it'll let you go about the festival with us after the show."

Fjorm sighed and nodded. "Very well then, I can work with that. Shall we go to the fields now? I believe that's the last item for today."

Alfonse laughed and waved for them to follow. "That it is. Should be fun and we're right in time for the harvest. Trust me, nothing's better than veggies straight out of the ground."

"I hope you clean them." Laevatein drawled. "It is… disgusting, to eat food covered in dirt."

Alfonse and Fjorm stared at her before laughing heartily. It looked like, beneath everything, Laevatein was very much normal. At least when it came to wanting to eat things not covered in dirt.

"Come on," Alfonse said, grabbing Laevatein and Fjorm's arms. "We need to get there soon."

The girls stumbled as he pulled them along, but they smiled at each other before freeing themselves and following, the air much more relaxed than any of them expected after so short a time.

-Fields, Three Hours Later-

"Whew, that was fun!"

The girls lay off to the side, flat on their backs and panting heavily. The farmer had been more than happy to accept their help in exchange for a few lessons of farming, but that had soon given way to a competition where the three had to plow a field before the others.

The fields themselves had been left to fallow over the winter, so the farmer had promised to give them a bushel of fresh produce if they cleared and plowed the three fields. With that, Fjorm and Laevatein had their final competition while Alfonse was doing it for fun.

All three had taken to the task with gusto, but the girls found themselves slowing with the plows. Sure, they'd cleared the fields quickly enough, but it was a big difference swinging a plow than swinging a weapon.

Alfonse though was a machine. In, pull, out, repeat. Again and again his plow sank into the earth and created perfect ditches while it took a few rows for the girls to get it right. He was also tireless, continuing to work even when the girls had to stop and rest their aching bodies.

Thus, Alfonse was the lone member of the party standing as the sun fell in the sky, only a light dusting of dirt and sweat on his body while the girls looked like they'd run twenty leagues through mud-fields.

"You… are… a monster…" Laevatein panted. "No wonder… we could… never catch you… during your retreats…"

Fjorm tried to laugh but only coughed. "You… think he's bad… there's some of them… that can… do this without… sweating at all!"

Laevatein shuddered. Now those reports about tireless beasts in the skirmishes made sense.

"Come on you two, it's not that bad." Alfonse tried, but shied away at their glares. "Alright, so maybe it is that bad. Just look on the bright side, we got all the veggies we need to have stew tonight. I even heard they brought in some lamb for the celebration tomorrow."

Laevatein perked up at that. She hadn't had lamb in forever, what with most of the sheep being used for wool back home. "That… sounds like an acceptable reward."

"Agreed," Fjorm breathed, finally catching her breath. "Go ahead and talk to the farmer Alfonse, we'll catch up in a minute."

Alfonse shrugged and placed the plow on his shoulder before walking off, his voice calling to the farmer. Once he was gone, Fjorm sat up and sighed. "Well… we're tied at the end of the day. How do you want to settle this?"

Laevatein sat up and frowned. "Coin flip… is the only fair way we have on us."

Fjorm groaned and pulled a coin from her satchel. "Crown or feather?"

"Crown."

Fjorm flipped the coin and they watched it fly into the air before tinkling on the ground, the surface showing a feather.

"Looks like you'll get him the rest of the night." Laevatein sighed, disappointment palpable. "Guess I can… do something else."

Fjorm frowned and scooted over, a hand going to Laevatein's shoulder. "Hey, you'll get him almost all day tomorrow. Why not come up with something you can both enjoy? I don't know what that may be, but surely you'll think of something."

"I… don't know what he likes." Laevatein admitted. "I haven't known him that long, remember?"

Fjorm grimaced, she had forgotten. "Well… in my time with the Order, I've noticed that Alfonse enjoys many things. He's actually quite amenable to most hobbies, but with the festival tomorrow, why not learn to dance?"

Laevatein looked to Fjorm, clearly confused. "You… would help me? Though I declared you my rival and have attempted to take your head?"

"Don't try and ruin the good will." Fjorm muttered. "But I want you to see why we fight as well. While it pains me to know that you've assisted in my homeland's oppression, I also know that it is Surtr that ultimately brought such ruin. If that means I help someone chase their heart's desire, though that desire is my own, then I will do so."

Laevatein felt her chest warm at those words. "My… my sister once gave me advice, when I was but a child. She said… 'when you find someone who will help you, no matter if the goal is their own, then you have found a friend.'"

Fjorm smiled. "I think that's wonderful advice. It reminds me of some my sister gave me, almost word for word."

She held out her hand. "Would… you call me a friend, Princess Laevatein?"

Laevatein looked to the hand, then to her own, and the warmth spread to her mind.

She took it.

"Thank you."

-Alfonse, Inn-

They returned from the farm loaded with plenty of veggies, the innkeeper more than happy to take it off their hands and make lamb stew for the whole inn.

Ale soon flowed, and Alfonse found himself eating with Fjorm as Laevatein flitted about the floor, learning the local dances and enjoying herself if the smirk she wore meant anything.

"What did you two talk about?" Alfosne asked after another bite. "I never thought I'd see Laevatein go up to a stranger and ask to be taught a dance."

Fjorm giggled and sipped her ale. "That's between us, Alfonse. I'm just glad we're able to enjoy ourselves, I haven't been able to in some time."

Alfonse grew somber. "I know what you mean. I don't think I've enjoyed myself this much since Zacharias left. It's… hard to open one's self to others when someone so close is taken away."

Fjorm stared at him, surprised he was being so open. Maybe that ale was stronger than she thought. "You… never really mentioned what it was like before Kiran joined the order. I knew you and Zacharias were close, but…"

Alfonse sighed and chugged the rest of his ale. Once done, he spoke. "Zacharias was the brother I never had. Emblia was much less active in those days, so we mostly dealt with bandits and other riff-raff. My father was, and still is, disapproving of my membership, so I had to go to Zacharias or Commander Anna when I had problems. He even taught Sharena how to use a shield, odd as it sounds."

Fjorm could almost picture a young Sharena holding up a shield far larger than her while a younger Alfonse wacked at it with a stick. She suppressed the giggle and took Alfonse's hand. "It sounds like a wonderful time, and I understand why his situation weighs on you so. Once Surtr is dealt with, you have my full support in helping him."

Alfonse smiled and squeezed her hand. "Thank you, Fjorm. That means more than you know.

Fjorm smiled back and they were content for a time, Alfonse not letting go and Fjorm in no hurry to remind him of the hold. At least, until they heard a lot of cheering.

"By the gods," Alfonse laughed when he got a look at the commotion. "Laevatein's a fast learner."

Fjorm broke from her reverie and peered into the crowd, laughing as well. "That she is!"

Laevatein had taken over the leader's spot in the group dance at the center of the main floor, the other patrons dancing, singing, and drinking in turn while a fiddler plied her trade. In fact, it looked and sounded so jolly, that people from outside were coming in to join.

Alfonse stood, Fjorm rising with him unbidden. "Want to join in?"

Fjorm looked to the floor, Laevatein, then Alfonse.

Her smile lit the room. "Why not?"

Alfonse laughed heartily and led her to the floor, the pair leaping and twirling about with the other dancers, at times switching partners, but always coming back together.

Laevatein, smelling an opportunity, took a turn with each of them, if only so Fjorm wouldn't complain about a breach of rules. It was the most fun any of them had experienced in ages, the music and atmosphere buoying them until they could do no more.

Most of the patrons crashed in their chairs or on the floor, but Alfonse had enough energy to take the girls back. Everyone took advantage of the unconscious patrons to clean themselves up and get ready for bed, but Laevatein was the first to fall asleep.

Fjorm though was still riding the evening's high. "Alfonse, can I ask you something?"

Alfonse grunted, eyes drooping closed.

"If… Kiran came up and asked your blessing to date Sharena, would you give it?"

Alfonse shot bolt upright, eyes wide in disbelief. "But… he'll have to go back home eventually, right? That'd break both of their hearts, if Sharena said yes. I… I don't know if I could do it."

Fjorm nodded, knowing his heart was in the right place. "I was just curious. As I said, I think Kiran has a crush on her, and most everyone I've asked about it seem to believe it's mutual. Just… try and think what will make them happy, I guess. There's some time to think about it while we're out here."

Alfonse sighed and laid down. "You're right… this trip is about showing Laevatein what life has to offer and showing you more of Askr. Even still… thank you for telling me. I want them to be happy, I just need some time to think about it now."

Fjorm smiled gently and wished him goodnight before blowing out the last candle lighting the room.

She didn't have the heart to tell him Kiran and Sharena had moved rooms not to be closer to the training grounds, but so they could rut without being interrupted.

Except for Fjorm of course, that's how she knew.

Awkward few days.

…

Damn it, now she couldn't get the image out of her head.

Ch. End

And that's a chapter!

Sorry for the late upload guys, I got super busy and couldn't work on most anything until the last couple weeks. As such, I bring you this new chapter which focuses more on Fjorm and Laevatein, though we'll see more of Alfonse next chapter as they wander the festival and set out for the next destination.

Edit: The (1) marks the song as the opening to Elfen Lied. Sorry, I forgot to put that in!

Hope you all enjoy!