A/N: The chapters are getting longer then I expected. I hope all that are reading this story are enjoying my updates.

Chapter Three: Meeting the Granddaughter

In the end, Iris had managed to persuade Norne to not put her in the pink dress, although it had been through the means of what she would have to dub as aggressive negotiations. She felt bad that she had basically threatened Norne with the thought of burning the dress with her fire magic, and she would have to apologize for that. But she was serious about not wearing anything pink as she did not like wearing the color, no matter how pretty she thought it was.

Instead, Iris agreed to wear a green dress of a soft fabric with long white rolled up sleeves and a white cloth belt. The dress wasn't very long; the end of the skirt stopped just below the knee. No woman in the village had dresses that went beyond the top- or mid-section of the lower calves of their legs. This was to keep dirt and mud on the ground and the roads from staining their lovely skirts and to avoid tripping that could potentially rip the dress. She had to borrow a pair of Norne's boots as her own were well-worn and would not fit well with the dress. She let Norne pull her hair into a high ponytail that Iris was comfortable with and tie it up with a white ribbon. Norne had pulled the ribbon into a bow, but Iris tugged the bow loose.

Much to her surprise, Norne did not choose to wear pink. Instead, her friend chose a similar dress, like the one Iris was wearing, that was red and white, instead of green and white. The cloth belt was also red and the sleeves were shorter to the point where they did not have to be rolled up. Iris pulled her friend's hair into a simple bun at the nape of the neck. It was all she could do as Leona had little skill when it came to styling up hair. As a result, all the hairstyles Iris learned from her older sister were quick and/or simple.

There was no mirror in Norne's bedroom expect for a small hand mirror she got for a birthday present from her parents. Iris held the mirror up in her hand, trying to see how she looked, before putting it down in realized annoyance at what she was doing.

She felt like she was acting like one of those girls that would swoon at the sight of a prince. Then, once they regained consciousness, they would stalk the poor boy around, wanting his attention and hoping for just a taste of his affections. Then they would probably daydream of him taking them away to his palace where she would become his bride. From what little she had heard of the young prince, he was a polite boy, but Iris did not think he would appreciate being swooned and stalked by girls who were essentially strangers. Not to mention, the prince was not even his teenage years yet. Marriage was one of the farthest things in a young boy's mind if the local village boys were anything to go by.

She flooded herself with the relief of the assurance that Norne and herself would not act like that. Her good friend was a cheery person, sometimes overly so, but she was also realistic even at her young age. Norne wouldn't waste time on trying to convince the prince to court her. Instead she would make it her personal job that the prince was comfortable during his stay at the Inn. She would be courteous and treat him like a guest because it was how she was taught by her innkeeper mother when it came to visitors at their inn. She only dressed up when she wanted to make a good impression on new guests, especially when they were of higher rank because it was the respectful thing to do.

Iris could and would do no less the same, even if she was more likely to be passed over.

After all, it wasn't like she was special. She wasn't and she didn't want to be.

The sun was high in the sky, the shadows at their shortest length, and the temperature at its warmest when the carriage and its small escort reached Sera Village. Jagen asked an old man sitting on the steps of a house for directions to the local Inn. The old man directed them to a place called the Flying Pegasus, the only inn in town and assured them that would be plenty of room for them, as the inn was currently vacant of any travelers. Jagen thanked the old man and the escort and the carriage holding its precious passenger went on their way.

It took a bit of searching, but Jagen eventually spotted a hanging sign with a large craving of a swooping Pegasus on its light colored wood. The door and some of the windows of the building were open to let in some cool breeze. Just to be sure, Jagen called to the young black-haired girl standing close to the door on the inside.

"Excuse me!"

The girl gave a little jump and turned around. Jagen took notice that the girl seemed to be about the same age as the prince. He also could not help but notice that the girl's blue eyes seem to sparkle magnificently even though she was standing in the shade of the doorway. The only other person Jagen had known whose eyes held an almost majestic sparkle was Zini. But his old friend and former fellow knight's eyes had been a deep green color, not the lovely shade of blue of the young girl's eyes.

"Would this happen to be the Flying Pegasus Inn?" the Paladin Knight asked

"Aye, this is the Flying Pegasus," the girl answered, "Would you happen to be part of the royal escort we've heard would be coming today?"

"Aye," Jagen answered

"Very well, sir, I shall fetch the lady."

With that, the girl turned around and headed deeper into the building. Jagen dismounted his horse and signaled his men to do the same. Malledus hopped off the carriage box and opened the carriage door to allow the prince out.

Marth stepped out of the carriage, looking curiously at the inn's exterior. It was a modest two-story building of timber wood and strong carved dark wood beams under a single triangular-shaped grey shingled roof. It was of a much humbler nature then most of the inns Marth had been to before in the richer towns and cities, but its modesty somehow made the building seem that much more comfortable to stay in.

Marth followed behind Malledus and Jagen into the building with two of the knight escorts following after, carrying the prince's trunk between them. Upon entering the inn, they were greeted by a red-haired woman, whom they assumed was the innkeeper. Standing dutifully behind her was the girl Jagen had seen at the doorway, and standing next to her was a pink-haired girl of about the same age.

"I bid my lords and his majesty welcome," the woman greeted, giving them a curtsy in greeting. "I pray you will find my humble inn comfortable during your stay in our village."

"I thank you, my dear lady, for receiving us on such short notice," Malledus said, "I know our coming was rather sudden."

"Not at all, my lord," the innkeeper assured, "My inn has been rather vacant as of late due to the winter snow. Even with its recent passing, I fear I won't have a full house for at least another month. You came at a good time."

The innkeeper beckoned the pink-haired girl over. "My daughter will show his majesty to his room. As per your request, it is our best single room." The woman looked down at Marth and gave him a warm motherly smile and a little bow of her head. "I hope you enjoy your stay sire."

"Thank you very much," Marth thanked, giving her a bow of thanks.

"If you'll follow me, sire," the innkeeper's pink-haired daughter spoke up, "I shall show you to your room and then give you a tour of our little facility. This way please."

Malledus and Jagen watched the girl lead their prince up the stairs to his assigned room, followed closely by the two knights carrying the trunk and the rest of the escort. Once the prince was out of sight, the two men turned back to the innkeeper.

"Now I mentioned in the notice that I and my fellow companion are here to meet someone?" Malledus asked

"Yes, I remember," the innkeeper nodded, "You came to meet Zini."

Behind her, the black-haired girl looked surprised at hearing this.

"Aye, that is correct," Jagen nodded, "Can you tell us where to find him?"

"Oh, I can do better than that," the innkeeper smiled before beckoning the black-haired girl over to her. The older woman pulled the girl to stand in front of her and rest her hands against the girl's shoulders. "My lords, this is Iris, my daughter's best friend and Zini's granddaughter."

The Paladin Knight and the Altea Tactician looked at the girl in surprise. They had not expected to meet one of Zini's grandchildren so early into their visit, much less being the second person they've met.

Jagen mentally slapped himself. The sparkling eyes should have given it away even if the coloring was all wrong.

"My lords…" Zini's granddaughter, Iris, spoke softly, almost shy, "You know my grandfather?"

"Aye, that we do, young miss," Malledus answered, kneeling down as to not intimidate the young girl.

"How?"

"We met while he was in the Altean army," the old tactician said. He paused, had a sudden thought. "Has your grandfather ever mentioned being in the army?"

"Yes, but he doesn't talk about it."

"That sounds just like Zini," Jagen sighed. Not even his own grandchildren knew of their grandfather's great deeds.

"I think he mentioned having a great number of friends in the army though," Iris said quietly, "Would you be two of them?"

"Aye," Malledus answered again, "Your grandfather has a long history with us. He was the first friend I had when I joined, and an even longer friend of Jagen's."

"Wow," Iris said astonished. "But…if you're such good friends with grandpa, how come my siblings and I haven't heard or seen of you before?"

The Paladin Knight and the Altea Tactician looked at each other for a moment. "That…is a long story," Jagen answered.

Iris frowned, her sparkling eyes narrowing in un-acceptance of the answer.

"Iris..." Malledus said, taking one of the girl's hands into both his own, "I know you must be curious, and no doubt, a little suspicious of us, but I assure you that we are telling you the truth. We are friends of your grandfather and wish him no harm or ill will. But it is important for us to meet with him. Will you please take us to him?"

Iris looked into Malledus's kind eyes, trying to find any hint of mendacious in them. According to her grandfather, one could find truth of a person's character by looking into their eyes. It was a trick Iris had little experience using, but it was one she hoped to develop as time went on. But right now, she could not tell if the honesty she could see in the stranger's eyes was the genuine article or not.

"When in doubt, trust your gut," grandfather would say.

"I…" Iris started, "…I suppose so."

Malledus smiled reassuringly. "I thank you."

"We'll head for Zini when his majesty returns from his tour," Jagen said as Malledus stood up.

Tori had to blink his eyes several times to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Even then he couldn't be sure he wasn't. This had to be a delusion brought on by working too hard. It had to be.

There was no way his little sister was leading two men, one who was clad in heavy red armor and carrying a lance, and a young blue-haired boy wearing a hairband-like crown, towards the house. Especially not those men and that boy!

Not the personal protector of the King! Not Altea's top tactician! And certainly not the Prince of Altea!

Tori let go of the handle of the axe he had been using to chop up some wood to make logs for the woodpile, letting the axe stay wedged against the top of small tree stump, and went inside the cottage.

When she heard the front door swing shut, Leona looked up from where she was sitting in the kitchen, pausing in her reed basket weaving. Her younger brother couldn't be done with the wood chopping already. Their wood pile had almost been completely empty and she knew Tori wouldn't stop chopping until at least it had been half-full from its original size. She set the mostly-finished basket on the table, brushed a lock of black hair out of her eye, and walked into the living room.

Tori was standing stiff in front of the front door, blue eyes impossibly wide, mouth hanging slightly open and hands twitching.

Leona raised an eyebrow.

What could possibly be the matter?

Leona walked over to her younger, if taller, brother and snapped her fingers at his face.

The sound of her fingers snapping so close to his face startled Tori back into his senses.

"Wha? What?" he said, blinking rapidly

"What's the matter with you?" Leona asked, crossing her arms and frowning

"Leona? Um…" Tori pointed to the door behind him with both his thumbs, "Can you check outside?"

"Why?"

"Just to confirm if I was having a delusion?"

"A delusion?" Leona asked disbelieving

"Yeah?"

Leona rolled her eyes, but complied with her little brother's request, hoping this had better not be Tori's idea of joke. She wanted and had to get that basket done today as she had promised her customer that she would have the basket finished and delivered to her by tomorrow.

But the moment the young woman opened the door, she froze, wondering if she had stumbled into her own delusion for a second.

"So?" Tori asked from behind her.

Leona closed the door and, very seriously, turned back to the platinum blonde-haired haired teenager. "Go get Ayden and grandpa," she ordered.

"Does that mean I wasn't dreaming?" Tori asked, his face turning white.

Leona growled and kicked one of his shins, "Move it!"

"I'm moving!"

Despite the pain in his now bruised shin, Tori rushed out the back door as if an earth dragon was chasing after him.

"Grandpa! Brother!"

Ayden looked up from where he was trying to pull a particularly strong sow thistle from out of the soil of the soybean field. His little brother was running like the dickens up to where he and Grandpa Zini were weeding the field. But thankfully, he was mindful not to step on the growing soybeans or any soy thistles that they may have missed because Tori wasn't wearing any shoes.

The teenager stopped a few paces away from them and bent down the catch his breath.

"What's the matter, Tori? You seem pale," Grandpa Zini asked, concerned, "Is everything alright?"

"I don't know!" Tori answered, "But you two got to come to the house right now!"

"What?" Ayden shot to his feet, "Did something happen? Is Iris alright?"

Usually, the call for alarm around their home meant something had happened to Iris, typically when she had an accident involving her magic. Sometimes when those accidents occurred, the young mage-in-training got hurt, sometimes seriously. It had happened before and scared Aiden nearly to an early grave.

"It's not Iris!"

"Not Iris?" Ayden said relieved for hearing that, "Did something happen to Leona then?"

"No!"

"Then what? What's the emergency?"

"Guests!"

"Guests?" Grandpa Zini asked, "Why are you so worked up about guests? We know just about everyone in the village, and they are free to come and visit."

"But you don't understand!" Tori shouted, arms waving frantically in the air, "These guests aren't from the village! They're the Prince and two Altean Knights!"

A silence fell over the field, broken only by the sound of the breeze.

Then Grandpa Zini stood up, dropped his hand hoe next to the half full bucket of plucked sow thistles, and stripped off his dirty farm gloves. His face was set in an unrecognizable look that seemed to be a mixture of seriousness and anger if Ayden had to guess. He had never seen his grandfather like that before, and it unnerved him.

"Show me," he said in the most serious voice his grandsons have ever heard.

And there you have it, all of Iris's family have been introduced.