I watch angrily as my friend ignored me for that girl he liked. I sigh and scan the people around me. I could handle most of the new people I was traveling with. A sudden grip on my shoulder made me jerk back. The green knight smiled at me as our eyes met, behind him was the pink mage, and the brown haired archer, the dull faced mage, Florina, and the smug thief.
"We couldn't help seeing you stare at the Lady Lyndis, and Zaku. So, we thought instead of leaving you here on you're lonesome , we'd come here to give you company. Sir Dorcas! Come here and join us! There's no point on being alone." The green knight laughed.
I remained silent as I watched a large man come walking towards us. "Their relationship is going to slow! I think me might do something about it. With a few concoctions in their drinks, they will be madly in love in no time! All I have to do is borrow a book from Erk and it's done. Will you put it in their drinks, Wes?" The pink haired girl asked.
"Don't agree with anything, this girl requests of you. Serra, you should know better than to do or ask such a thing. Last time you tried to make a love potion you sent some poor young man into blind frenzy." Erk sighs.
"You should leave them be. True love grows on it's own." Dorcas grunted as he caught up to us and starts walking by my side.
I felt an arm go over my shoulder and I turned to see the brown haired archer smile at me. "It looks like you don't like what we're talking about! How about we talk about something else? So, what are you guys going to do once we arrive in Caelin? Sain?"
"Zaku, and I are going drinking! He gave me his word and I'm positive, we'll have a great time!" Sain cheers. "You welcome to join us, Wil. How about you Wes, want to join us?"
"If the bar is shady I won't. I could never turn down a few cool drinks." I smile despite myself.
"Was that just a smile I saw! I have a feeling you'll get along just great with us, Wes! You'll just have to open up to us; The silent treatment isn't really a good way to get along with new acquaintances." Sain chuckles as he throws his arm over my other shoulder.
I can see why Zaku likes these people so much. They're kind and they pester you until you've at least spoken one word to them. I turned my head and saw Zaku walking towards us with Lyn. They waved at us and Wil, and Sain responded by making kissing noises.
"Oh, quit it!" Zaku laughs as he joins the group. I look over at Sain and notice him give a motion towards Serra and Florina. The pink haired girl glows when she sees it.
"Hey, Lyn! Why don't us girls leave and have a talk!" Before Lyn could even answer Serra pulls her arm and drags her and Florina away from the group. Zaku turns and shoots an angry look at Sain and sighs.
"What are you up to now, Sain."
"Nothing my dear tactician! Why would you think that?"
"As soon as I arrived and joined the group you gave Serra, a strange look. Will someone tell me what is going on?" Zaku asked narrowing his eyes. Sain just laughed and threw his arm around Zaku. This really is a strange group of people.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"Get out! I don't need any trouble here!"
"W-why! You were so kind to us yesterday, sir."
"I thought you and your sister were just traveling performers. If you're being chased by those men, you're up to no good." The man gritted his teeth and threw a large pot at me. "Now get out! You're a plague to us all!"
I quickly seized my pack and darted out of the small inn. I felt the cool breeze hit me as I stepped outside, I didn't have to time to relax and enjoy the feeling. I needed to find help, and fast. Quickly I ambled away from the inn and started searching frantically for help.
From a long distance, I spotted a group of mercenaries coming towards my direction. I stopped and examined them carefully, this bunch wasn't a normal group of mercs. I saw them laughing, pushing, and playing with each other, it almost looked like they were one big family. I dashed at them when I saw a green haired girl step away from the group, followed by brown haired male with a torn cloak.
The closer, I got to them, I felt my stomach tighten, giving me a gagging sensation. I stopped in front of the group and cleared my throat so I could get their attention. "Excuse me, but...May I ask you a question?"
"Of course. What is it you want to ask?" The girl asked.
"A-are you mercenaries?"
The brown haired man steps up to me and looks down at me, a man followed him wearing a black bandanna with a large sword tied to his back. I stare at the man in front of me and gaze at his multicolored eyes. I noticed that the green haired girl was being pulled away from me by a red clad knight
"And, If we are?" Smiled the brown haired man. Behind him I could see the girl and her knight arguing.
"I need help! Please..." I urged as I locked, eyes with him. "I'm running out of time! My sister, some men took her away!"A green knight shuffled away from group and stood in front me, sparks in his eyes. "Your sister! You sister has been accosted?" He spun on his heels and fixed his focus on the brown haired man. The man only sighed and adjusted his torn cloak so his skin wouldn't be that viewable.
"Zaku, we have to help this boy. What if something like this happened to your brother or sister? I'm sure you'd want someone to help them. I'm sure Sain agrees with aiding the boy." The man with the black bandanna says as he grabs my shoulder. The green knight, which I presume is Sain, shakes his head when Zaku glances at him.
He lifted his hand up to me and smiled. "I'm Zaku, this is Wes, and Sain. As much as I wish to help you, it's not my choice." He said and peered over his shoulder towards the green haired girl. "Lyn, what are your orders?" I gripped and shake his hand and focus on Lyn.
"I want to help. Of course, I'm worried about my grandfather. But, I can't turn my back on this boy. He need's, our help."
"Look's like today is your lucky day! Umm.."
"I'm Nils."
"Nils! Let's save your sister!" He laughes.
"Will you lead us to these men?" Lyn asks as she stepped closer to me.
"Yep! They're tough, so please be careful." I warned.
"Don't worry we're pretty tough ourselves." Lyn laughes. "Right, Zaku?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Two cloaked, figures stood before us demanding we give them the boy. Nils, cowered behind Lyn while she protected him and verbally abused the two men. One of men reached into their bag and pulled out a book. He started chanting silently to himself and I noticed a dark aura surrounding him. I watched dumbfounded at was occurring, only than it hit me, he was a shamen.
I was going to shout for Lyn and Nils to move, when a bright source of light cracked, surrounded, and hit the man which sent him reeling back. I quickly turned around to see a man with large blonde hair and religious attire, breathing deeply with one of his hands holding a book, while the other was pointed at the shamen.
"Y-you...Thank you." I bowed, grateful that this stranger helped us.
"No, thank you. For assisting this little lad." He smiles weakly. "I would like to help you. If it isn't a bother." He says in a soft voice that it could be mistaken for woman's.
"N-no your help is very much appreciated! But, are you sure someone of your religious structure should be out here fighting, and killing in a battlefield." I say pointing at his garbs. All of us in the Lyndis' legion would burn if we forced someone from the church to fight and dirty their hands.
"It is quite all right. I wish to help."
"Oh, okay. I'm Zaku. I'm the tactician of this little group." I state trying to sound as polite and as formal as possible.
"Don't forget loverboy!" Sain shouts from somewhere.
"Shut it, Sain!" Well there goes my politeness.
"I'm Lucius." He says as he looks over my shoulder to smile at Lyn and Nils. I watch silently as introductions were given. Nils insisted that he would help us, he played his flute and it rejuvenated who ever he played directly to, it also wasn't too bad to listen too. Lucius regained his strength and finished off the shamen he already attacked.
"Time for a plan. Florina is strong against magic users, right? She should fly around the fortress and attack the mages, after we reach the east side of the building. Wes, once she reaches us you will stay with her and protect Florina if it is required. But, for now you're coming with Lyn, and me." I stopped to get some sort of response from the three.
"Okay, Sain, you take the lead. And Kent, you will watch the rear. Matthew, you'll join them, when you see you have the chance, strike. Lucius, Nils, you will do the same, Nils don't be afraid to play you flute for any one, okay? Oh and Erk, Dorcas and Rath, you two will protect Serra, but stick with the group." I heard a groan from Erk once he received his orders.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I imagined they would get along after traveling with each other for a couple of days. But I was so, terribly wrong. I couldn't hear myself think as Lyn, and Wes, argued over the little things. I didn't want to get involved with their little quarrel, since I got along well with both of them. I cleared my throat to see if I could distract them, only thing is, I made it worse. I was seated on the grass as they, both insisted I did.
"Your not all right! You're staying up to late caring for the others! Take care of yourself for a change!Mother will be disappointed if you're ill. Laziness must be some sort of germ around here, since you refuse to cook!"
"Are you certain you're fine ? If you're feeling unwell you should rest. Wes, must have brought some bad energies with him that made you feel sick." Lyn, stopped and knelt over me. She pressed her forehead on mine making me jump back a little in surprise. I felt my face heat up as I started to blush. After what seemed like forever, Lyn moved away from me. She studied my face a quizzically. "You're a little warm, and you look a little red."
"Of course he's going to be red like that woman! You just touched, faces with him. If what you want to do is make him pass out, just kiss him! I also, didn't bring any bad energies with me, I brought happy, and loved filled ones." Wes pouts as he struts away, leaving Lyn, and I alone.
"Don't listen to him, Lyn. He was only joking..."
"Zaku."
"Uh, yes."
"Do you li-"
"Zaku, we've taken out the enemy! Their leader is the only one that remains!" Kent shouts from the distance.
"All right I'm coming!" I quickly got on my feet and dashed towards the group. I don't know what Lyn was going to ask, but the tightening in my gut told me that it was going to be something that I would struggle to answer.
I ran past a bridge and found the whole Legion surrounding the last shamen. I shouted an order and everyone attacked him. I felt a little guilty, seeing him being attacked by all these people, but he was the enemy, and he had Nils sister. The shamen uttered his last words and collapsed on the floor. Everyone burst into the castles halls and climbed up the stairs. We searched the long dark rooms, but found nothing.
"She's not here." I whisper to myself as I see disappointment wash over Nils face. I avert my gaze to the floor so I wouldn't have to see his face. I get startled when I feel someone grip my hand, shifting my gaze I see it's Lyn.
"Ninian! Ninian, where are you!" Nils shouts to the empty halls.
"Are you looking for this girl?" came an unknown voice. We all turned to see a man with light armor, a sky blue color that match his eyes. The inside of his cloak was as red as his hair. On his belt he had a rapier.
In his arms he held a girl with ice blue hair, with strange accessories around her neck, and arms. She wore a very light blue cloak with a snow white cloak. She was unconscious and limp in the man's arms. Nils, followed by Kent went to the red-haired man and took the girl out of his hands.
"My name is Eliwood. She'll be fine." He smiles. "It seemed like she needed assistance. So, I stepped in. Was I wrong to get myself involved?"
"No. You helped us reunite her and her brother. Thank you." Lyn says. "I'm Lyn. I'm from Sacea. My grandfather is the Marquess of Caelin."
Eliwood gives Lyn a thoughtful look. I slowly walk out of the room so, they could have their own conversation. I step into a hall and saw Serra, Nils, and Lucius standing over Ninian; while the pink haired mage worked on healing Ninian's bruises. "Is she going to be alright, Serra?"
"Yeah. How could she not with me healing her with all my love and strength." She squeaks at me.
I smile and continue walking. I notice Erk, calmly sitting in a corner of a large room, reading one of his books with focus. Dorcas, Rath, and Wil stood in a large trophy room examining and chatting over anything that crossed Wil's mind. Kent, Sain, and Florina scurried past me, my guess is that they were in a hurry to get to, Lyn.
I see Wes, in an empty room digging through his incredibly large pack during my stroll. I step into the room and he looks up at me and grins. I sit down in front of him and watch while he keeps searching.
"Hey, Zaku. Do you remember this?" He pulls out an ukulele from his bag with a large smile on his face.
"I only remember being teased about it... If that's what you mean." I frown.
"You're such a liar! Not everyone teased you." He steps in front of me and tosses the ukulele on my lap. "Now play a song! I brought it here especially for you. It's not something to be embarrassed about."
"Fine." I sigh. I held the ukulele in my hands and felt my face quickly heat up with embarrassment. I take in a long ragged breath and put my fingers on the strings. "Do I have to?"
"Yes you do."
I groan in frustration and got back in position. I slowly started pulling at the strings, letting the musical melody roam around the room. I focus on the ukulele; moving my fingers across the chords correctly. Playing instruments are supposed to give you peace of mind but, for me it never worked that way. A flood of my mistakes and memories would come to strike me across the face. When I finish I look at him.
Goosebumps run down my spine when I hear applause coming from behind me. I frown and turn around to see the whole Legion staring at me, including Eliwood. I hand Wes the ukulele and stand up. "Is there something wrong?" I ask annoyed about having all eyes on me.
Eliwood stepped out of the group and raised his arm to me. "I'm Eliwood." He smiles.
I reach out and take his hand. "My name is Zaku. I'm this groups tactician."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Well, I have to get going. If you have any troubles Lyn knows where to find me." And with that he turns around, and steps out of the room.
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
We stood outside the Black Fang's fortress readying for the oncoming battle. I stood with Legion preparing my battle plans. I shot my hand in the air and gave the signal to start entering the fortress. Once inside I spot three narrow halls, one lead to a dead end while the others were shadowed in darkness.
"Kent, Lyn, and Rath you three go down the hall to right. Serra, Lucius, and Erk go down the middle. Sain, Matthew, and Dorcas go down the dead end and check if there's anything suspicious." The all scurried away from me, I turn my head and see that Serra, and Wes stayed behind.
"That wasn't a smart move, Zaku."Serra whispers to me.
I stare at her trying to find out what she meant until a few seconds of silence came between us so, I give in. "What do you mean?" I whisper back.
"Putting the Lady Lynids with Kent, and Rath!"
I give her a blank look and she stares back at me, irritation washing over her face. "Do you really not know what I mean!" She screeches at me. I take a few steps away so, if she decided to take a swing at me with her staff she would miss. Serra just gives a loud "Humph," and stomps away from me.
"What did she mean, Wes?" I ask him as I watch Serra join the rest of the group.
"Are you that clueless or are you joking?" He stops to examine me before he gives out a loud laugh. "You're so observant to war strategy that you don't have people skills."
"I do have people skills! Better than the ones you have that's for sure. Now what did she mean!"
"Fine, you have people skills, but you don't have social relation skills, or something of that sort. Anyway, all in good time, Zaku. Now, let's finish what we came down here to do." He grins at me as he ran deeper into the fortress.
"You're a bad friend, and brother! You know that!" I shout after him as he just laughed.
I dash into the fortress and examine the battle from a corridor. I hear shouting and the clashing of weapons, and occasionally, the flash of fire or thunder from someone's spell book. I stopped in my steps and let myself take it all in. My mind started to wander on what Serra meant. 'That wasn't a smart move.' I still don't understand what she meant! I raise one of my hands and slid through my hair and kept it on my head. How come I can't get it!
Thoughts kept rushing into my head until I feel an orb smash into my chest making me topple on the ground, the orb that hit me rapidly covered me in flames. The waves of heat burn at my chest and face and my whole body burned as the fire started to spread on my cloak. I pound on the flames with my hands trying to stop them but, it only helped them grow stronger and spread faster. My hands stung the more I try to burnout the flames, I felt a cool liquid pour down both of them which only felt like pouring lemon and throwing salt on a fresh wound. I shout in frustration and for help when I sense the heat at my waist.
I hear a distant cry come from somewhere. My attention was soon taken off the scream, when I feel a pair of objects beat at my chest and stomach. Once the flames are gone I feel my body throb from the burns and the beating I just received. I peek through my closed eyes to see Sain, Wes, and Matthew standing over me. I watch them and they do the same until a blur of pink blocks my view. I relax as cooling sensation covers my body taking away the pain. I quickly sit up and stick out my hands to Serra so she could heal them.
"I'm really grateful for having you around, Serra. You know that?" I grunt as she bends down to heal my right hand. When she gets down to my left hand, she pauses and reaches into one of her sacks and starts to wrap a cloth around it. "Hey! Why aren't you healing this hand!" I shout at her while motioning at my hand.
"You've been nothing but trouble these past few days consider this a hard lesson! Plus, I never see you use that hand so you'll be fine." She giggles as she wraps my hand.
I sigh and look down and my body and see that my cloak is nothing but rags now. I slowly stand up and brush off some of the ashes that remained on my chest. I look at the three goons who beat the fire off me. "Thanks for beating me up." I cough.
The three just smile at me as I walk over to them. "Nice new style, Zaku." Wes snickers sarcastically from behind Sain. How I became friends with him, I'll never know
"I like it to, but I prefer to be fully clothed. Next time we get to a city I'm going to have to go to a tailor." I respond back. "Well, come on let's group up."
We all sprint down the empty corridor and find Lyn, Kent, and Rath waiting for us. I see Lyn's eyes widen once she see's, me step out of the shadows. "What happened?" She asks as she run towards me. I scratch my chest and turn my head when she stares right at me.
"I got a little burnt." I admit showing her my wrapped hand. She takes my hand into hers and examines it. I watch her face carefully and feel small blush creep into mine. I gaze up and see Kent and Rath watching me a little irritation etched on their faces. "I'm all right, Lyn. Don't worry about it. Let's get Ninian's ring and get out of here."
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
The man rises a small vial of liquid to his mouth. He looks at us all, victory in his eyes even at the brink of death. "Failure means...death." He stutters to us and collapses on the ground.
I walk towards his deceased body and dig through his coat since no one moved. I feel a cloth hidden in his jacket. I pull it out and find a small silver ring in it. I go over to Nils and open his hands to place the ring in it. "Is this what you were looking for?" He looks down at his palm and examines the ring in it. He smiles and run's out of the room to find his sister.
Wordlessly everyone walked out of the room than the fortress until we were far away from it as possible. The sun started to set and we set up camp near a stream and a small patch of trees. I was about to sit below the shade of a tree, when a heavy bag plopped near legs. I opened my eyes to see Wes smiling at me.
"What is it?" I ask him refusing to open the bag.
"Open it, and find out!"
Wordlessly I rip open the bag and see dried pasta, vegetables, spices, and dried meat. "You want me to make soup?" I say as I lift the bag with my good hand.
"Yes. I'm tired of eating meat, cheese, and bread all the time! Now get to cooking. I'll help if you want."
"No. I'm fine. Did you get the fire made?" I look at him and he nods. "I'll start right now. Just give me a tunic, I'm freezing."
"I have spare clothing here for you in my bag I'll go, get it." He says hurriedly.
"Wait. Wait. Wait. What? You had extra clothes? Why did you wait this long to give it to me." I shout at him
"Food for clothes, I think it's a fair deal, Zaku." He smiles. Wes spins on his feet and runs towards our tent to get my clothes. Quickly I get to chop down vegetables. Sain brings me a large pot of water and I throw in the pasta and put it over the fire. As everything is cooking, I take the time to put on a white tunic Wes brought me.
I stay at the pot stirring the meal so it wouldn't stick to the pot. I noticed a few eyes come near me and take in the smell of the meal. Once I was done I removed the heavy pot and placed it on the grass. Matthew runs up to me, handing me a pile of bowls I've never seen until now.
After I serve everyone, I take what remained and eat my meal in silence. I listened in as everyone chatted and laughed. "This is the best meal, we've had in a while! Great job, Zaku!" Wil praised as he set down his bowl.
"Don't worry about it. Wes, offered to wash the bowls after everyone's done. Any complaints?" I ask trying to hide my smile.
"What! Aww...Fine. Someone has to help, I can't do it alone."
"I'll help." Dorcas grunted as he rose to his feet.
After finishing our meals, everyone wandered around the camp chatting or just entering their tents ready to get a good nights rest. I crawled into my bedroll and stared at the roof of my tent, no thoughts really crossing my mind. Sometime passed and I felt Wes stumble in. Silence surrounded the camp and I start to hear Wes, snore from beside me.
Impatience grew in me and I angrily shuffled out of the tent. I breathed in the cool fresh air and stumbled away from the camp. I felt uneasy, as if something was calling me or waiting. My foot hit an object, my toes jolting in a bit of pain. Gazing down, I saw my ukulele, Wes most likely forgot it when he showed if off to the Legion. I picked it up and continued walking. I looked up at the moon, and it's light shone over me showing me where I walked in this dark night. I scanned over to the stream in front of me, I noticed a figure standing alone unmoving or reacting to my presence. My burnt hand started to tingle the closer, I got to it. Quietly, I placed my instrument on the floor.
"Hey." I say when I'm right behind the figure. I step in front of the person and see who it is. Lyn. She just stands there staring into the sky, no emotion in her face, her eyes dull. I examine her worry growing inside me. I reach out and take her hand into mine. "Lyn?"
Emotion quickly floods into her face, but the only ones I notice are anger, fear, and hate. She rips her hand out of mine and shoves me into the stream. I splash into the water flailing around fighting the current and struggling to get myself on shore. I feel someone's arms wrap around me and we help each other get to shore. Once out of the water, I cough out the water that got into my lungs.
I look over, and see that Lyn jumped into to save me after she threw me in. "Zaku, I'm sorry."
"It's fine." I pant trying to catch my breath.
Once we both caught our breath we sat watching the stream together. I remembered about my ukulele and was going to stand up to get it when Lyn slid it on my lap. I grab it and place it by my side. Neither of us spoke, we just sat there, under the stars.
"Are you alright, Lyn? If something is bothering you, you can tell me. It's all right I'll listen." I ask breaking the silence.
I hear her sigh and feel her place her head on my soaked shoulder. Nervously, I wrap my arm around her waist and feel the heat of her body warm me up. I know that I'm blushing but she wouldn't notice it in this darkness. "I'm scared." She finally says.
"Of what?"
"About not getting to Caelin in time. Or being stopped by Lundgren." She cried as she buried her head into my chest..
"I'm positive we'll get to Caelin. I know, we will, no one is going to stop us, Lyn. It's going to be fine" I tell her, rubbing her back gently, so she would calm down.
"What are you going to do once we reach, Caelin? After we stop all this."
I don't respond to her. I, myself don't know what I'm going to do. I start to squirm under her and I know she feels it. I decide to tell her the truth. " I don't know... I mean my whole family is there. But... I just don't know." I lay in the grass staring into the moon, like I'm searching it for answers. I feel as she lays by my side and throws her arm over my body.
"We're going to smell horrible in the morning. You know that?" I say while taking her hand in mine.
"I don't think anyone will notice." She chuckles as she snuggles closer to me. We stay there lying under the moon, unmoving and just enjoying each others presence. I watch her as she slowly dozes off to sleep from under my arm. I shiver as a cool breeze hit us. I look up at the moon and thoughts spread through my mind. And all I do is wish for the safety of the person I'm holding under the stars.
Ok guys sorry for the long wait. I've been really busy at school with my schoolwork and all. I'd like to thank Patattack, Sunlord89, kaxipoptos, and Gs-lifelessonsinacartridge for reviewing. I'll try to update faster next time. Later