After all that came today, the day which was almost over, wherein Norne had been hit and needed Lena's help. In which Julian was now alone and Mathis (Lena's brother) was displeased. Julian still remember what he had said, "Stay away from my sister-She deserves better." And he may have been right. Lena did deserve better than a lowly thief.
But Julian wasn't that anymore, he was a honest man, who was in love. Just the right man for Lena. He decided he would tell this to Mathis, that he loved Lena no matter what anyone else thought. He walked over around the corner and saw Matthis was over talking to his sister. Norne was alright, Marth was helping her back to her tent. It was just he, Lena, and Matthis now.
"Sister, I told you." Matthis said, "He can't be trusted. You shouldn't feel safe with him still here." "Matthis." Lena said, "Julian may have been a thief, but he gave all of that up to save him. Thievery is the only life he had known but he risked it to save me. Without I would've been the next head on Michalis' chopping block. Julian is a good man brother, please reconcile with him, for me. I hate seeing you two fight." Matthis took a great sigh. "Lena, you were always a good judge of character. And if you say this 'Julian' is a good man well, I will believe you. Now I'll need to find him and apologise, I told him some rather nasty things earlier." Matthis then walked over to find Julian.
After pacing back and forth debated what exactly to say to Matthis, Julian saw him walk over. "Julian, I believe I owe you an apology." "Hmm..?" Julian asked, pretending to be uninterested. "I... I shouldn't have said what I said before. If my sister Lena trusts you then... I can try to as well. I hope you can forgive me for I truly am sorry. Can we at least be friends? For Lena's sake?" Julian was taken aback by this. An apology! And from Matthis, a Macedonian knight! Julian had never received a real apology before. Nor had he ever even really given one.
Did he forgive Matthis? Of course, he was only looking to protect his sister. But Julian wouldn't know how that felt. The only person he ever had to protect was himself. "Alright well uh...I forgive you, you were only trying to protect Lena. Look, I've been called a number things, I just don't let anything get to me anymore." Julian responded, "I won't hurt your sister, I promise."
"I'm glad this is all settled then." Matthis said and With that he walked off. Despite his words, Julian could tell Matthis still didn't fully approve of his sister's choice.
That next morning Julian sat eating breakfast next to Lena. Breakfast wasn't much, but it gave the army enough food to start off the day.
"So, everything is alright between my brother and you?" Lena asked Julian. "Of course." He said, "He just wanted to protect ya, I get it. Well kinda, except never had'a brother of my own of course." Julian said.
"Well, since it seems we'll be spending more time together, perhaps you'll come to think of Matthis as your brother..." Lena said. "Oh I don't know Lena," Julian said, "I hardly know the guy... But I know you real well... I would like being around you more... Er- I mean-" "heehee! Oh Julian!" Lena said slightly blushing, "I know what you mean and, I like spending time with you too!"
"You mean it?"
"Every word!"
Lena really did care about Julian, he was a hero to her, she absolutely loved him. He was brave with a kind heart, but not everyone saw him the way she did. But she didn't care, she was in love. She wished for this never to end, never to return to Macedon unless it was with Julian by her side. She had not been this happy before, then again back in Macedon, no boy wanted to love her.
'Plain Lena' she was called, and it was true. Besides her apple-red hair Lena's features were commonplace. Her body shape was hardly flattering and her eyes were a dull brown. She even remembered when she was a young girl how she would be teased about how she wasn't pretty. The one time she thought her crush returned her affections, he stood her up, it was all just one big joke, a lie. No one seemed to treat her kindly. To them, she would never be good enough, pretty enough, she could never fit in in their world, Her good values and high moral upbringing set her in a class above the others, and they tried to tear her down for it. There were a few days where she had been told such nasty things that she came home in tears. But Matthis was there to comfort her, her brother always looked out for her.
So Lena left the boarding school once it got to be too much. She then attended the clerical academy, she wanted to be a nurse. To help people, and live away from a world that shunned her. She had never thought of herself as a great beauty, one of those girls who could attract every guys attention by simply walking into a room. Not did she really think she could ever be beautiful, But then she had met Julian. He called her the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. He thought she was worth risking his life for. She thought she would never be able to find love, that she might end up living alone, and yet, here was Julian. He wasn't a snotty upperclassman like the people at Lena's old school, he was a common thief, and orphan. He may have made a few bad choices in the past, yet, he had a good and kind heart and loved Lena for who she was. Julian meant to world to her, she would never let him out of her arms.
And so Lena and Julian followed Marth into Archanea and would soon be soon be liberating the main castle, with the intent of restoring Princess Nyna to her rightful place. The Altean prince would need all the help he could get, and that meant Lena and Julian would be going into battle with him.
"Hey Lena..." Julian said, "Stick with me when we're out there okay? Things might get a'bit ugly, I'll protect you." Lena gave Julian a tight hug, "I know you will Julian. And you make sure stay close to me, I'll protect you. You mean a lot to me"
"What?" Julian thought, "I'm a man, I don't need protecting. And shes a cleric of all things, she cant fight! 'less she wants to whack the enemy with her staff! But Lena really cares about me, I s'pose have to be careful for her sake now too."
Having someone else care about him was a new concept to Julian. After all, that scared little boy who cried himself to sleep in the streets was still inside him. Truly, He liked to here the words "I'll protect you." And "you mean a lot to me." Come from Lena's sweet lips. After all, He still wanted a family to love him like he did all those years ago. Lena was very much his family now, but he still wanted parents, grandparents, siblings. But that longing to be loved was Julian's closed guarded secret. He never told anyone about those nights he cried himself to sleep in the dirty Archanean streets. To everyone except Lena, he was calm and collected, even a little haughty but inside, he still felt like that lost child sometimes. He still wanted a place to call home, and parents who loved and cared him, even though he was an adult, he still longed to know the familiarity of a home. And now here he was, preparing for battle. He would get to use his thievery skills for good now. So let the League go into the Aurelius castle, Julian was ready, fighting for justice and protect Lena.
-/-/-/-/-/
Rickard was the last person on earth Julian would've expected to have seen in this place. He had unlocked the door to a room, just like Marth told him to. He assumed it would be full of treasure but rather, he found his former comrade.
"What the-... Rickard?! What are you doing here?" He asked. "Get this..! I came in here to clean the place out and I got caught! Soothsires never get caught!" He said, "Hilarious right? *ugh* sometimes I'm such an idiot. But what about you? Ya here to rob the place blind?" "No way." Julian answered, "I've given up thievery, I'm with the Altean army fighting for justice."
"Ooh, justice is it?" Rickard asked, "this wouldn't have anything to do with some new lady friend?" Usually the only time a Soothsire tried acting nice was to impress a lady. But not Julian.
"No that's not it all!" Julian replied, "I'm entitled to a moral crisis every now and then."
"Oh stop being such a sissy chief!" Rickard said, "I saw the way you were lookin' at that cleric girl."
"Can it you little fink!" Julian said clearly fed up with Rickard, "I said it was about justice... You know what! Just for that, you're gonna work for me. You're joining the Altean army. Then you'll see justice isn't so bad." "Oh alright fine." Rickard agreed, "But only cuz I missed ya chief." Julian rolled his eyes, Rickard would never understand. He wasn't an orphan, he was raised by his single mother, though she didnt show much interest in caring for him. He then ran away from home to join the Soothsires. He could never know what Julian went through, nor how much Lena meant to him.
But one question bothered Julian, "Why did I make Rickard join if I was so bent of making a new start? Should I try to rid myself of my old life? No, this was for the best. Rickard would never give up thievery on his own like I did, this is the best I can do to help him.
Rickard then ran over to tell Marth about signing up and Julian caught back up to Lena. "That was very nice of you to free him." Lena said. "Yeah well, lets just say he's an old friend." Lena smiled. The two walking along until suddenly an archer appeared on the other side of the wall and took a shot at Lena. She gasped and jumped back. Julian, sensing Lena was in danger, jumped in front of her. The arrow hit his shoulder but Lena remained unharmed. "Julian!" Lena cried, "Are you hurt?!" "Uhn..." He said, "A..a little..." Lena took Julian off to the side and layed him down. She took off his scarf so he could get a clear look at his shoulder.
"You're bleeding!" She called.
"Yeah but..." Julian said, "You're not..."
"Oh Julian..." Lena said, "Don't worry, I can fix it. I just have to take the arrow out first." She quickly yanked the arrow out of Julian's shoulder, which caused him more pain than before. "I'm, sorry..." She kept saying. She pulled out her mend staff and immediately began to work. It only took a few minutes (though each felt like an hour in itself) and soon Julian's shoulder was all fixed.
"Does it still hurt Julian?" Lena asked. "No... It doesn't." Julian said, "thank you Lena, you saved me."
"But you saved me first." Lena said, "so now were even." She smiled. Julian always thought Lena had a beautiful smile.
"Has anyone ever told you your smile's beautiful?" He asked, "because it is..." "N-no..." Lena said, "you are the first, thank you." Then the two just stared into each others eyes, as if both to say "I think I love you." But they were interrupted then as Marth called for Julian's assistance.
"I'll be right back Lena!" Julian called. "Be careful!" Lena called back. She was glad she had Julian by her side, it was like her fairy-tale romance come true. And then she remembered why she had came, to help the injured on the battlefield, quickly she ran off with her mend staff to heal Princess Caeda, who had taken a hit from a few archers herself.
Back at camp that night Lena and Julian were talking with each other. It was late and they had only the campfire and the moon for light, though that was enough. And surprisingly, it wasn't cold.
"Hey Julian!" Lena said, "You want to do something fun?" "Sure." Julian said, "Whatever you wish Lena." "Heheh... Alright! I'll tell you a secret, then you tell me one!"
"Oh..." Said Julian, a little uneasily, "Alright."
"See, I'm alright with doing this because I trust you." Lena explained, "I have since the day you first met me. And this way, we can be closer, I want to know you better and entrusting each other with a secret is good way to start."
"alright, I do trust you Lena... you're the only one I do trust. And I want to be closer to you too. I promise never to tell your secret."
"Alright then." Lena then cleared her throat and began, her tone of voice changed she no longer sounded as playfully teasing as before. Julian made sure to pay close attention.
"Um, once when I was a younger I went to a prestigious academy. Not a clerical school. I enjoyed my studies there but soon things got a little out of hand. I was...bullied... By the other girls, some of the boys too...'Plain Lena' they called me, shunned me, insulted me. Everyday I was told I wasn't pretty enough, that I didn't, wouldn't ever fit in. I was made the laughing stock of the whole school! some days were worse than others... on the worst days, I came home crying and my family comforted me. That's why I became a cleric, to help those who needed it and share love to those you may not have otherwise had it. I wanted to rid myself of the world that had shunned me. Somewhere where you didn't have to be beautiful to matter." Lena seemed to have tears on her face, "and now I just... Sometimes I still don't see myself as pretty..." "Are you kidding me?!" Julian replied, "You're the most beautiful girl I have ever seen! I'm not real good at compliments but Lena, you're like a... A... Shining star! Er, i know that sounds pretty cheesy, but you're uh... uh..So pretty I'm at a loss for words. That's it. And I'm not just saying' that!"
Lena smiled, "Thank you Julian, that's why I like you. You're very kind and you do make me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, and treat me like a gentleman would a queen. I guess When I'm with you, I do feel like a queen, like that girl that all the others envy. to you I'm more than just another cleric. so my secret is, you mean a lot to me... You changed my life ..." Here she paused,
"Now it's your turn."
Julian sighed, his closest guarded secret was about to be made privy to Lena. But it was alright, he trusted her more than he had anyone else, "Well," he started, "This is my biggest secret. Tell no one understand? I mean no one. alright, *sigh* As a baby I was abandoned at an orphanage doorstep. My parents didn't want to raise me so they gave me up to a poor run-down orphanage. 'Least, that's the story I've been told. 'Cuz my parents weren't dead yet, I was never adopted however and I couldn't stand to watch all my friends get nice happy families while no one came for me so I ran away. And...and... All that time I had the thought engrained in my head that I was unloved, that no one cared for me at all. The worst part is I had to..." Julian almost didn't want to continue still feeling how helpless and alone he was then, "beg for my food and sleep in the dark alleys of streets. But one day I got caught stealing a apple and was tricked into joining the Soothsires. I never wanted to be a thief, I just wanted security. I was never able to leave because I had no where else to go, no one who loved or cared for me. I feared leaving only to find myself in s worse situation. I though life would never change...But then I met you, you changed all that. You told me I was a hero and it was the first time someone really cared about me. I've been called a scoundrel or a nuisance all my life but you, you didn't see me that way and I wanted to be with you, I wanted to feel like that all the time. Lena... I just what I'm trying to say is, my secret is... I love you... A lot."
Lena seemed moved to tears by Julian's story, "the poor thing"! she thought. Lena wrapped her arms tight around him, "Oh Julian..." She said, "I had no idea. I love you Julian. I love you so much. No one should have had to go through that. You are loved, especially by me! Marth cares about you and so does Caeda. They all do! You're not alone. You have us, and especially me."
Julian returned the favour, tightly embracing Lena, "Same to you Lena. No one should've bullied you, you're beautiful, inside and out. Don't listen to those doubts in your heads, 'cuz I know the real Lena and she's the prettiest darn girl in the world."
"And the real Julian is a hero with a good heart."
"Lena..."
"Julian..."
"Have you ever been kissed?"
"No..." Lena replied, "All the boys thought hated me too much for that."
"I haven't either. "Julian said, "'Cept for me it's because no girl wanted to kiss a rotten bandit."
"Well," Lena smiled, "This girl certainly does."
She and Julian then kissed each other on the lips. It was a gentle, sweet-hearted, kiss-one they both thoroughly enjoyed.
"Oh That was, astounding!" Lena remarked.
"Haha! Yeah!" Julian agreed, "Promise you will never leave my side Lena."
"I never shall." She then cradled herself into his arms, Little did Julian know that Matthis had seen their whole kiss.
It was then that Marth called Julian over. "I'll be right back." He said. "See you late Julian!" she called after him.
It was then that Matthis made his presence known.. "Lena, I saw what happened. Julian tried to force himself upon you with a kiss. I told you to be careful. If that's how he's going to treat you, you shouldn't see him." He said sternly.
"No! I wanted him to kiss me." Lena said, "that's not it at all!"
"Then he's bewitched you!" Matthis said, "There's only one thing he wants from you and I won't allow you to give it to him. He's a rotten scoundrel Lena, a lowly common thief. You deserve better!"
"No brother!" Lena protested back, sounded just as forceful as him, "You're wrong! You... You don't understand at all! Julian is different, he has a good heart. What you just saw early was him pouring out his heart to me, and I to him. I love him Matthis! I won't let you take away my love, just...just...leave it alone, Stay out of this!" Lena then was feeling like crying, she had never yelled at her brother like this before. She then ran off how could she have brought herself to do such a thing? Matthis stood in awe, his little sister had just stood up to him for the first time in her life. That was not what was supposed to happen. He took a seat on the bench by the fire and continued thinking.
"I was just trying to protect Lena, why won't she listen to reason?" He sighed, and then noticed that Nyna had come over, she noticed her looked troubled and sat down next to him. "Is something that matter Matthis?" She asked.
"It's my sister." He said, "Normally she listens to me but this time I was trying to warn her about Julian and... Well, she stood up to me and yelled back. I'm just trying to protect her. She should listen to reason."
"Oh, Matthis..." Nyna said, "Lena's not a little girl anymore, she's a woman. You should be happy she's found love."
"But now that she has that... Julian... She doesn't need me..." Matthis said sheepishly.
"She'll always need you Matthis!" Nyna said, "you're her brother! *sigh* look... when my brothers were alive I always needed them, sometimes I feel as though I need them now. They looked out for me no matter how old I got, and Lena will still need you. You're her one and only brother, Julian wont replace you in respect. You are not losing Lena, you just have to accept that she may have found the love of her life. She's grown up Matthis, she's not a little girl anymore. Go apologise to your sister Matthis, you're her only brother and she'll always need you to be there for her. And maybe, Think of Julian as your little brother too, for he was practically alone before he met Lena, he needs good friends and company as much as he needs Lena. So go Matthis, and make amends."
"Nyna... I... Had no idea." Matthis replied, "I shall apologise to Lena! Right now! Thank you for the advice, I think I understand a little better now."
"You're very welcome." Nyna replied. She watched as Matthis walked away. She did miss her brothers, those two always had her back. But she would swallow tears, she had cried enough already.
Meanwhile Julian had been comforting a crying Lena. "Oh Julian! What have I done!" She sobbed, "I've never yelled at Matthis before in my life! H-he's... My brother... I don't want him to hate me!" "He doesn't hate you Lena." Julian said, tenderly rubbing Lena as he held her in his arms, "Everything will be alright, you'll see."
"I should apologise, maybe that will make things better..." Lena whispered. "Alright Lena, maybe that is what's best." Julian said, "I wouldn't know, I never had a family, let alone a brother. But I'm still proud of you for standing up for yourself. Not all girls can do that. You're an amazing girl, after all..." Lena smiled,
"I will apologise." She said. But just at the moment Matthis stepped in. "Lena..." He said, it still hurt him to see her wrapped up in the arms of that... Thief... Julian. But he had to let it go, Lena loved him after all.
"Remember what Nyna said" he thought, "You're not just doing this for yourself." "I'm sorry I said the things I did. I was wrong to say such to you. I'm sorry Lena." He said. Lena ran from Julian's arm and into her brother's. "I forgive you! Oh, I do forgive you! Let us never fight again!" Lena said.
Julian, feeling out-of place in this happy moment pulled off to the side. "And I must apologise to you also Julian." Matthis said, "I should not have accused you like I did. I only said that because I was afraid of my little sister growing up. I was afraid that she wouldn't need me anymore. I know now that you are a good man, I even saw you take an arrow to the shoulder for her. I would've done the same thing. I hope you can accept my apology."
"Of course I accept your apology." Julian said, "it... Just feels odd 'cuz usually I'm the one doing the apologising.., I guess now were friends."
"I was hoping you would think of me as a brother. For perhaps I might just be your brother-in-law one day."
"Uh... Yeah... Alright... It'll take some getting used to though." Julian said.
"And don't have to worry about me not needing you." Lena said, "You're my brother Matthis, I'll always need you." "And I'll always be here for you. And if you ever need anything Julian, you can always talk to me."
"Uh... Alright..." Julian said, with smile. 'Good' he thought, 'Matthis and I are friends now. Maybe I will start to think of him as a brother-as odd as that sounds. I've always wanted a family of my own, now it seems I've found one. All because of Lena. I really love her, I mustn't ever lose her.'
It seemed as though his childhood dreams had come true. As Matthis looked into his sisters eyes, he knew her childhood dreams had come true too. He remembered when she was little and he would watch her as she frolicked in the flower fields. She would tell him how she wanted to be a princess and have a fairy tale prince come and rescue her: but who would've though Julian, the lowly orphaned thief would be her prince?
It surely must've been destiny that those two met that one evening. A love-starved thief in need of a guiding angel, and an insecure cleric in need of a comforting prince... Julian and Lena. Lena and Julian. That's how it would be forever, always by each others side.