A/N: This one took a little longer to get out. It's kinda short and kinda filler-ish. I needed a transition of some sort, and I think I might have missed it a little. Oh well. I hope you enjoy either way!

Disclaimer: Nintendo owns Fire Emblem

Skrimir didn't see Adaven when he had reached the palace with the group from Crimea. He didn't see her during the dinner feast presented as a welcome to the beorc. She didn't come to the meeting in the throne room the next morning to meet Ike and his friends, and she was still absent the following two days.

Her absence grew on him, suffocating him with the frustration born of it. He had to know where she was. He had to find her. By the gods, he had to make sure she knew that he was the winner of that race! With the race in his favor, they would be even in their challenges against each other again, and Skrimir could focus on finding something else to best her at.

But what should that be? She's already proven herself a better hunter, which Skrimir despises. He could practice his hunting, then challenge her at it again so he can gloat over winning something she's good at. That would be worth it, but it would take too much time and Skrimir doesn't know how long she is going to be here. Blast! What else is there to do?

"Milord, you're looking mighty worked up. What's the occasion?" Ranulf grins as he strides over. Skrimir looks in the cats direction and nods "Ranulf. I have a problem." Ranulf pauses, eyebrows shooting up behind his headband. "A problem? Do tell" he encourages Skrimir, walking beside them as they head down a hallway.

"It's Adaven." Skrimir starts, only to be interrupted by Ranulf's gasp. "Are you taking an interest in her?"

"What? No!" Skrimir adamantly refuses, put off by Ranulf's almost excited look. "The only interest I have in her is beating her. And I don't know where she is, or what to challenge her at next!" His voice gets progressively louder in his fervor, reverberating along the stone. "It is maddening that she runs off to hide somewhere and doesn't even acknowledge her loss in that race!"

"I would suggest the library" Ranulf answers, continuing his trek with Skrimir. "The library!" Skrimir scoffs, "What need have I in there? There was nothing the last time and there will be nothing this time!"

"Just trust me. Have I ever led you astray?" Ranulf grins and waves, bounding off down a different corridor, leaving Skrimir to his own devices. Skrimir grumbles at Ranulf then reluctantly makes his way to the library. He wonders why Ranulf is part of the cats, thinking he should be more in line with the lions based on how well he gives orders.

He stands outside the entryway, pacing and glancing, debating on whether to actually enter or not. After about twenty cycles of pacing, Skrimir growls at himself before marching in and owning the place. It takes a split second for him to locate Adaven, grinning in triumph. She is slumped back in a chair with one arm draped over the back of it, head resting against said arm in a repose of sleep. Before her are piles upon piles of books and scrolls, many open and scattered across the table with multiple place markers embedded with in their pages.

Skrimir looks through some of what Adaven has pulled out, furrowing his brow at the ancient language. It boggles his mind, only managing to pick out a symbol here and there, and he wonders if Adaven can actually read it. If she can, that means he's now going to have to learn, and he bristles at the thought of having to sit in this dusty room to learn something by reading.

His lip curls in disdain as he straightens himself up, nudging the chair Adaven is in to wake her up. She gives a little snort and cough combination as she sits up and rubs her face, causing Skrimir to snicker. "What's so funny?" she demands upon hearing his snicker, pinning him with her metallic gaze. His lips quirk in a smirk. "You, surrounded by all these relics of times past when there are better things to be doing!"

"Oh?" she questions, slightly miffed that he would even suggest there is something better than what she is searching for. "And what might that be?" Skrimir, taking a moment too long to answer, is interrupted before he can even begin. "See? Even you don't have a better option. So just leave me be and go do princely things." She waves him off, turning her attention back to the book she has open.

Skrimir stands there, mouth partially agape at the fact that he was just dismissed. Him! Skrimir! He is the one that does the dismissing, not the other way around! He snaps his mouth shut before she can make a snide comment about it. He then proceeds to cross his arms and post himself right by the table, practically looming over her as she reads.

He says nothing, a phenomenal feat for Skrimir, and keeps his eyes on her. He intends to make her uncomfortable and tt begins to show in the set of her shoulders. At first it's just a miniscule curve, then it's a clearly defined hunch as she rounds her shoulders, as if readying for a strike. Her tail starts lashing as her shoulders hunch before she finally whips around to glare at him. "What!"

Satisfied, Skrimir takes a moment to bask in her irritation, further kindling her anger. "You know, it's a sign of disrespect to wave off someone of the royal family like that" he mentions almost too casually.

"So? As if I have respect for you." Adaven scoffs in denial. "By being in my country, you should show a bit of decorum." Adaven narrows her eyes in suspicion, drumming her fingers on the table as he wastes, what she believes is, precious time. "But being the gracious host that I am," Skrimir continues, "I will let it slide this time and even inform you that I just might be able to help." He finishes his half sincere spiel taking note of the changes her face runs through.

"When...would I ever need help from you?" Adaven manages to bite out, keeping it courteous to a degree. "When you almost got yourself killed by a beorc and almost killed the same one!" Skrimir exclaims, gloating to himself when his set up for the conversation actually worked and got one up on her. It was turning out to be a pretty good day.

Adaven takes a deep calming breath, centering herself before she speaks. It's true that he did help her and that she needed his help then. And she is sure he has knowledge of what she's reading about and much more that is probably not written down. She can't ask the king all the time, he's a busy man. Not to mention his shadow is almost impossible to find. But Adaven refuses to give in just yet. She still thinks she can find something on her own. Still, she takes the high road this time in an attempt to foster a working relationship with the prince.

"I appreciate your offer...but right now, I do not need it. I will...come to you if I find I need help."

Skrimir blinks in surprise. She was actually decent about it. He never thought she would be for the time she was here, but stranger things have happened. In return, he nods to her in acknowledgement and walks around the table. "I leave you to your search then." He gets a nod from her before she is leaning back over the table engrossing herself in the pages. Skrimir frowns to himself as he leaves. He will have to talk to Ranulf, or his uncle about this exchange. It was very perplexing, and it felt as if the two of them had suddenly reached an understanding of sorts. But why now? What changed to make them more amiable towards the other?

He dismisses the thoughts, going in search of Ranulf first. The cat always had answer for something, be it an argument or an agreement.

"Blast!" Skrimir never mentioned the race or another competition.