Disclaimer: Fire Emblem does not belong to me.

Lex and Terry Listener: Oh, thank you so much! This give me a much needed boost in confidence for my poems! And yes, this is a IxExS triangle, but it's rather short and very much implied.

Sukiyakii: "To die on her is utter humiliation." Lmao. Poor Seth, dies humiliated and beaten (I guess they used all the antidotes on all the other poisoned knights and ran out)! And I agree that Seth is being lame when he wants to give her to Saleh.

Saffiremoon21: Lol. Yes, poor Seth. Me likes messing with him. ;)

Maxmagnus20019: I shall work hard to live up to your expectations. :D

A/N: 8/24/07 Hmm, I wonder if you guys even read these author's notes. Oh well, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't. But I do want to get your input on a Table of Contents. . . Anyway, school's starting for me, so updates might be a bit slow, but then again, most of the upcoming chapters are already completed and just need editing, so it might not take as long. . .

Never Did. (FE8:SS) (SethEirika) Drabble. "I cannot bear this any longer, this. . . farce. . . it must end." InnesEirikaSeth.

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"I cannot bear this any longer, this. . . farce. . . it must end."

Eirika looked up at Innes blankly from her intense scrutiny of her hands. He continued, "You know what I mean, Eirika. This pretense that I am wooing you. We both know it rings false. You probably knew before I did, but I am a selfish man, and did not want to acknowledge the truth: that you will never be mine. You simply cannot because it goes against the core of your being. So, let's end it here."

"I'm sorry, Innes." She remains seated, knowing to say anything else would be cruel.

"I know, Eirika, and that makes it all the worse." He pulls back the curtains and light enters the dreary room that was swathed in layers of grey.

"I'm sorry."

"Do not apologize. It was as uncontrollable, and I suppose as inevitable, as I falling in love with you."

He looks at her and she does not look away from him. "Indeed, it is as you say."

"Such pretty words, Eirika. Are you afraid to hurt me?"

"Yes, I am."

"You can do no worse, for I fear, although you try not to, I have been done in. Go, Eirika, we both know you would rather be with him."

She rises regally from her chair. He thinks to himself she has risen from her throne of judgement; his judgment. "Thank you, Innes."

He turns away, his hands touching her hair in an out of character gesture of affection. He lets the hair tumble from his fingers, leaving his hands empty. He turns around and distance between them widens. "Tell me, Eirika. I never stood a chance, did I?"

"No, you never did." She steps towards him and kisses him on the cheek and walks out. She doesn't turn back.

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Inspired by the last chapter of Eva Luna by Isabelle Allende. I actually haven't read it, I just read the end. (smiles guiltily) This might be taken as a companion piece to Chapter 16 Everything You Want.

Ah, and for all you poor souls who will and have returned to school, good luck.

Preview for Chapter 22 Journey:
Drabble. He left, in part, because of me. But he also left because of himself.