10. Rejection and Regression

Once I returned from Duke Reuven's Estate, it didn't take long for things to return to normal. Sedgar didn't press me for details about how the mission went, choosing to ask the questions the next morning once I had recovered. It was a gesture that I appreciated – I had underestimated how large the house was and I was both physically and mentally drained as soon as I returned to the castle.

It only took a few weeks before all mannerisms of normal turned out to be short-lived.

Sedgar and I often chose to have our dinner a bit later to ensure that there would be a table free for us. Each table seated four, so it wasn't uncommon for people to join us when there wasn't room anywhere else. We didn't usually associate with other people as they took the empty seats, and for the most part they weren't interested in Sedgar's usually odd choice in conversation topic.

It was only by chance that I caught Vyland's eye as his eyes flitted for a spare space. I had looked away a bit too late and I inwardly hoped that someone else would snatch the seats next to us before he came.

Quite predictably, my wish didn't come true.

"Hi, it's good to see you again."

Sedgar stopped mid-sentence about carrots to glance over his shoulder at the source of the voice. His eyes darted to me in curiosity.

I knew all of Sedgar's life lessons on manners. Despite life with the Pelhams, it was now considered rude not to say anything in greeting. I couldn't be nearly as enthusiastic as Sedgar – I knew that much without trying it out for myself. I managed a stiff nod instead. "You too."

Vyland laughed as he confidentially set his tray down next to Sedgar. He was more fresh-faced than I recalled, with high cheekbones that accentuated a handsome face. He too was dressed in a tunic, the smart tailcoat that he wore presumably burned or torn to tatters to hide his shame. "I don't think I need to say again how grateful I am to you. I'm Vyland, by the way," he said as he raised a hand to Sedgar. "Sorry to barge in like this – a friend of…my saviour is my friend. Now I think about it, I don't think I ever asked for your name," he addressed to me.

Sedgar took the outstretched hand, but he gave me a pointed look. He didn't need to say anything; I knew exactly what he wanted me to do.

I sighed resignedly. I guessed it was about time, considering how many people Sedgar had introduced to me. "My name's Wolf. Sedgar's my mentor. Vyland and I met at Duke Reuven's Estate."

It wasn't much of an introduction, but it served its purpose. Sedgar's face lit up in realisation and offered a big smile to the muscular man. "You haven't been here long then – welcome. Will you be going home or have you enlisted?"

Vyland gave a nervous laugh as he pulled out his chair. Evidently, the conversation was enough to convince him to help himself. "That's an interesting story. I had originally planned to return to my wife and kid. I remember the roads well and once Prince Hardin let me freshen up here, that was exactly what I did." He looked across at me before continuing. "So after eight years, I finally walk down the streets a free man. Will they recognise me? How beautiful were they now? That was what I was thinking when I went to the house."

Sedgar nodded slowly. "And did they recognise you?"

"That's the funny thing: I bailed at the last minute." Vyland snatched up his spoon and made a start on his dinner. "I saw them all right. They were at the table having something that smelt absolutely wonderful. I recognised them instantly, and in a heartbeat it was like I was coming home from work rather than years of slavery. I left Iris when she was five, so to suddenly see a teenager with her mother's looks at the table…that's a sight I'll never forget." Vyland narrowed his eyes somewhat. "But they weren't alone; whilst I was gone, Iris had a father to bring her up."

I couldn't say I knew Vyland well, but in our brief encounter I knew how much his family meant to him. He never stated whether he saw them whilst he was with Duke Reuven, however reason told me he hadn't seen them in eight years.

Even though he had somewhere to return home to, he was no longer part of it. His family belonged to someone else. Instead of charging in and claiming what was his, Vyland went against his boisterous nature and had chosen not to defile that perfect picture.

It must have been a hard decision, but he had thought that the best recourse.

"I reckon I would have been a terrible father anyway," Vyland said airily. "I'm far too immature and I'd be a bad influence." He downed a considerable amount of his soup at record speed, and as he tilted his bowl, I noticed his left hand was slightly discoloured. He was quick to direct the conversation away from him. "How about you? Did either of you go back?"

I stared harder into the depths of my bowl of orange sludge, yet my ears piqued slightly. I had never posed the question to Sedgar and I had convinced myself I didn't need to know, yet it had come out so naturally for Vyland.

Sedgar struggled to find the right words initially. "I did, but like anything, it wasn't quite what I expected. My parents had no idea why I had disappeared or what had happened to me, and I owed an explanation to them. I didn't tell them the horrible details; I just told them the necessary facts, and I could tell that the more I revealed, the guiltier they felt. Once that conversation was over and done with, I knew they were trying to make up for the lost years. They tiptoed around me and tried to be helpful to make me comfortable. By doing that, they actually made things worse and it was awkward being around them. I struggled to connect with them and them me." Sedgar shrugged. "In the end, I decided I couldn't stay with them anymore."

"You still visit them or at least write to them, don't you?" Vyland said sternly.

"Very rarely," Sedgar admitted. "I have a purpose here. I don't need to be someone I'm not; everyone here has been through the exact same experience, if not worse, and I can do my bit to alleviate the pain. Even if I don't have a place to return to, many do, and I'll do whatever it takes to bring them home."

Vyland raised his glass. "You're a commendable man. I couldn't agree more." Sedgar smiled as he too raised his glass and the two met it with a satisfactory clink.

I was almost jealous of how quickly they got on. Vyland had managed to accomplish more than I had done in months, exchanging information effortlessly. He was confident and had more natural charm than I could ever flounce. It was hard to believe that this was the same Trent that had maintained absolute composure in the presence of his master's watchful eye.

Sedgar also seemed to thrive in the conversation, and like a mirror image he reflected Vyland's vibrant attitude and could keep up with everything he was thinking and saying. If anything, he was completely at ease with Vyland and they could easily have known each other for years.

Once again I had been taken out of the picture. I was perfectly content with that; now that I had introduced them to each other, I had no further part to play.

I stirred my soup in disinterest. I wasn't even hungry anymore. I could never eat the entire portion anyway, and it had become custom to leave a little more than half. Someone else could easily occupy my space and not waste the food.

Although Vyland noticed my lack of enthusiasm, he didn't let that deter him.

"What about you, Wolf? What about your family?"

I saw Sedgar give Vyland a pointed look, but the latter disregarded it. It was just as well; much like Sedgar's parents, I too didn't want him to fight my battles for me. I didn't need protecting; I could fend for myself if necessary. "My parents are dead."

Sedgar shook his head. "You don't know that for sure."

Although what Sedgar said was true, the concept of family had only crossed my mind recently. I never had any reason to think of family when I was with the Pelhams; that was my way of life and nothing had been before or beyond that.

Prince Hardin's efforts to find my family had proved to be fruitless. Too much time had passed, much longer than the eight years Vyland's family had waited. The silence had only confirmed what I already knew.

"Sorry to hear that, mate." Vyland gave me an awkward look before raising his glass again. If I didn't know for a fact the kitchen only served water, I would have thought it was the alcohol talking. "Still, that's what friends are all about."

I got onto my feet, ignoring the horrible screech of wood scraping across stone. He had crossed a line and he had been too ignorant to realise it. My growing respect for him dissolved in an instant. He knew absolutely nothing about me, yet he had somehow crawled into my skin and was trying to break me from inside. I wasn't going to tolerate this.

"We're not friends," I spat, and for the first time in my life, I left without approval.

A/N: To be perfectly honest, I had no idea where this update was going but then it sort of turned into a jealous rage. Bearing in mind Vyland is the one to convince Sedgar in FE12, I imagine that they got along one way or another, which ultimately puts our main character back to square one. It also makes a change to delve into Vyland's and Sedgar's background (more to come on Sedgar) and show that their lives are just as messed up.

Although short and sweet, thank you so much guest for dropping a review - it was a tremendous surprise and it means a great deal to me!