LSDG
Part the Seventh
"The Need for Secrecy"
"Quaint little place, isn't it?" Fionnuala said as the group entered the town of Durham. The sun had set barely an hour ago. After a day and half's worth of walking, all three were ready for pleasant rooms and comfy beds.
"It is sort of... quiet." Edward agreed. Hardly anyone was walking the streets. But as they moved further in, they noticed the number of lit windows, especially in those of taverns and pubs.
"Guess they're all drinking, huh?" Guessed Fionnuala, looking into the window of a saloon at their left. "Well, at least one of these taverns has to have an inn. Why not try this one?" She pointed to the place she had been watching. Muffled laughter could be heard from inside. The brothers followed her to the entrance. Turning the black iron knob, they opened the wooden door to a warm, pleasant room and bar. People were laughing at the bar, some were gambling on the tables, and others quietly enjoying the evening.
"Hello there!" A young waitress stopped in front of them, a tray under her arm. "Can I help you with anything?"
Fionnuala answered, as she was standing nearest to the girl. "Is there an inn at this tavern?"
"Why yes. Are you looking for a room?"
Fionnuala looked to Edward. She felt awkward making the orders when it was his money she was spending. He raised his eyebrow at her, but he seemed happy enough to make the request.
"Two, please."
"Right this way." The waitress replied. Her old fashioned, cream-colored skirt swishing at her ankles as she turned and led them to the back of the room, where there was a narrow flight of stairs.
As they followed her to the next floor, Edward muttered, "I have to pay double at hotels now. Why did I agree to this?"
"Brother, we always have extra cash. It's not like we're gonna go broke. Be nice."
"Hmph."
Fionnuala pretended not to listen. Thankfully, she didn't have to hear any more of Edward's negative comments, because the waitress opened two doors and turned on lamps in both rooms. "Here you are," she said as she came back out. "My name's Katie." She said with a cheery smile. "If you need anything, just come and ask."
"Thank you." Fionnuala replied before going into one of the rooms. It was simple, but more than a welcome sight. She put her bag down on the bed, and then went back into the hall. "Hey, you guys going down to eat?"
"Yeah, I'm starving." Edward said, throwing his coat on a bed and walking back out, Alphonse behind him. All three walked back down the stairs and found themselves a table. "What do you want to eat, Fionnuala?" Edward asked.
Taken aback, she quickly looked up, her eyes wide. "Uh... Just a sandwich. Reuben or something. And water."
"Okay... Something wrong?" He asked, staring at her perplexedly.
"Not really. It just dawned on me that that's the first time you've said my name. That's all."
Edward looked at her as though she'd just spoken in a foreign language. He shook his head and left the table. "Whatever."
The remaining two watched for a moment as Edward went to the bar to make an order. Nuala then looked back down at the table, and rested her arms on the wooden surface.
"I suppose I shouldn't apologize." Alphonse quietly said in jest.
Fionnuala smiled. "No." Suddenly, she felt a bump on her chair.
"Oh! Sorry." Said a feminine voice.
Fionnuala turned her head to see who it was that had spoken. As their eyes met, both widened and stared.
"Fionnuala?"
"Ariana?"
The young woman's expression relaxed. "It is you! What are you doing here?" Her face exuded a weathered, but confident glow.
"I should ask the same."
She giggled nervously. "Hehe. Yeah. Long story." She was dressed in black, save for her jeans, which were stuffed into her boots. Her dark hair matched her outfit, however her sharp amber eyes certainly did not. Those bright eyes shifted to the curious Alphonse, sitting opposite from Nuala on the circular table. "Who's your friend?"
"Ariana, this is Alphonse Elric. Alphonse, this is Ariana."
"Nice to meet you." Said Ariana, flashing a grin.
"You, too."
Fionnuala had been smiling at the meeting of her old friend, but suddenly her expression changed to curiosity. "Wait a minute, if you're here, does that mean the rest of...?"
"Shh.." Ariana's eyes began to shift about nervously. "We shouldn't talk about it here. The answer to your question is yes."
Fionnuala nodded, seeming to understand the necessity of silence. "I guess I shouldn't keep you any longer then."
Ariana gave a thumbs-up and grinned. "'Kay. Good seeing you again, Nuala."
Fionnuala called after her as she left. "All right, I'll see you around." With that, she disappeared through the door.
The sound of a scooting chair made Fionnuala turn back to the table suddenly. There she watched Edward take his seat between her and Alphonse; he then placed a glass of water and a plate with a tasty sandwich. She looked at her meal and briefly glanced at him before she quietly voicing her thanks and pulling the plate closer to take the first savory bite.
"Who was that just now?" He asked after swallowing his first mouthful. "She looked kinda suspicious."
"And we don't?" Fionnuala replied bluntly, raising her eyebrows.
Edward shrugged and sighed. "Point taken."
"It figures you should think that, though."
"Why's that?" Asked Alphonse.
"Remember the girl I mentioned in my story last night about the gang in Palm? That was her."
Edward asked the next question. "What's she doing in a small place like this?"
Fionnuala lowered her voice. "I'd rather not talk about it here. Never know who's listening. I'll explain later."
The evening went by peacefully. Fionnuala thanked Edward for dinner again, and he even admitted that he was a little thankful for her cooking the night before, which left all three of them in a good mood. Later in the brothers' room, Fionnuala answered questions concerning Ariana and the gang.
"I asked her if the gang was here. Apparently, I was right." She replied when Alphonse asked about Ariana's cautious responses in the tavern. "I figured that she wouldn't be in a town alone. She was one of the gang's most loyal members. The gang is wanted for many things: murder, robbery, probably armed robbery. So, as you can imagine, guilt by association is a possibility, one that anyone fears, whether you're in the group or not. Hence, the need for secrecy."
"This gang have a name?" Edward asked.
"Yeah, 'The Marked'. Because of the tattoos each member is required to get."
The brothers didn't trouble her with any more questions. They could see that her usually bright and clear blue eyes had darkened after all the talk. So she left the brothers to go to bed, washed herself a little in a bath, and then put herself to sleep.
Light fell across the room as Fionnuala opened the curtains to look out the window. She pulled it open, and leaned out to feel a cool breeze embrace her face. It would be a balmy day, she decided. A few clouds lazily drifted by, and the sun had been up long enough to warm the air. Perfect, she thought.
Suddenly, she heard a tapping at the door. "Fionnuala? Are you up?" It was Alphonse.
"Yeah, Al," she said as she closed the window and walked to the door to pull it open. There stood the gargantuan being that was the mild-mannered younger Elric.
"Good morning, Nuala."
"Morning, Al. What's up?"
"Brother's heading down for some breakfast, so I thought I'd tell you."
"Great, I'm pretty hungry."Alphonse stepped out of the way to let her pass. "Wait, should I bring my bag?"
"Only if there's something you need. I think Brother intends to stay for a few days, so we're not checking out."
"Oh, okay," she replied, and left her room. She followed Alphonse down the stairs to find Edward at a table. They ate breakfast and exited the hotel after telling the innkeeper that their rooms were to remain locked until they returned. Then they were out walking down the street in the pleasant daylight, Edward in the middle of the three and directing the way.
"So where are we going?" Fionnuala asked, looking to Edward.
"To the home of Charles Bailey." He replied promptly.
Fionnuala decided to lighten the mood by acting a little playful. She skipped out in front, turned to the brothers, and began to walk backwards. Edward seemed to think this a little odd, but neither of the brothers seemed to mind. "Is he rich?" She asked, smiling sheepishly.
"I don't think so," he said.
"Famous?"
"Not really."
Fionnuala sighed. Sometimes Edward was like a king in a fortress. Stubborn, egocentric, and hiding behind unrelenting walls of secrecy. "Why are you walking like that? You're gonna fall."
"I just wanted to ask some questions." Fionnuala replied innocently. "You worried I'm gonna hurt myself?"
"You're weird, you know that?"
"Perhaps," she replied, her smile turning to a grin. "So why are we visiting him?"
"We told you on the train, remember?" Alphonse reminded her.
Fionnuala recalled the conversation they had in the compartment. "The books, you mean?"
Edward put his hands in his pockets and answered. "Charles Bailey is apparently very educated, and collects books on science for a hobby. We're hoping his collection might have the info we could use."
She suddenly remembered the suspicious talk of the famed red stone that the brothers seemed to be looking for. "Stuff on the Philo–"
"Nuala!" Alphonse called out, as Fionnuala had tripped on a crack in the pavement, and fell backwards.
"Aah!" Unfortunately, because Fionnuala had been walking pretty close to Edward, her feet had caused him to lose his footing as well.
Fionnuala felt her back hit the hard ground, and she opened her eyes to see Edward falling uncontrollably towards her. Within a fraction of a second, what was about to happen played through her mind. He was going land right on top of her, his face ending up within centimeters of hers, if any distance at all... and... if his knees and elbows gave in when he landed...
Two words came to her just then: as if.
Faster than she could say "cliché," she rolled over and out of way. She looked up into the sky, and the next thing she heard was a loud thud and Alphonse yelling to them. "Brother! Fionnuala!"
The girl immediately got up and looked to her right. Alphonse was totally flabbergasted. He knelt down next to Edward. "Brother! Are you alright!" There was a brief silence.
Then they heard Ed's muffled voice. "Ow... My..nose..."
Fionnuala almost snorted, and began to laugh.
