Memory…

The team headed to the Frozen River that lay north of Frostheim. Rutee thought it looked to be as much a mountain as a river, and had no problem voicing that opinion to Garr. They got into a conversation about the virtues of naming things and how sometimes names don't tell the whole story, which Stahn found fascinating and Leon simply tried his best to ignore. But while the rest of the team was so intent in their own little worlds, they didn't notice Mary staring at all of the scenery with longing.

'I'm sure of it!' she thought, 'I am from this country. But why did I leave it behind?'

"Stahn. I want to give you this Sorcerer's Ring. It's an ancient treasure that has the power to melt ice. Be warned, it uses Lens as a power source and if you run out then you can't fire the beam," Garr stated as he handed the ring to his friend. Stahn instantly melted the ice that blocked their way up the rocky ledge standing in front of them.

Rutee added, "Meaning…don't waste what you've got."

Stahn winked at her. "Even an idiot like me knows that!" Then, the two started to laugh as they began to climb, one by one up to the top.

As they continued walking, Leon tapped Stahn on his shoulder. The young man could see the boy was nervous; actions like this were not a usual part of his persona. What could be so important that he had to single Stahn out like this?

"I just want to say…," Leon whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry, Leon? For treating us the way you do? For finding so much fault with your sister, despite your love for her?" Stahn inquired.

Leon demanded, "Just keep quiet, okay? This isn't how I usually respond to things. However, I've noticed you throughout the journey. When I met you, I thought you were just an idiot. But even now, when I'm apologizing to you, you always respond selflessly. I know, you won't do anything to cause Rutee grief. So, what I'm getting at is, I accept you as a possible candidate to marry her."

Stahn was shocked at Leon's statement; what in the world was going through that boy's head? "Well, we're just friends. I don't really know if I'm ready to even think about romance let alone commit to someone. But I can see you are deeply concerned for your sister's wellbeing. Just like a brother should be." He patted Leon on the back in a friendly gesture.

"Hey!" the boy yelled, "Just because I accept you doesn't mean you can do that with me! I don't even let my father and sister pat me on the back without serious repercussion."

"What are those guys yelling about? I swear, I'll never understand men," Rutee muttered.

Mary told her, "You've just got to fall in love, then you'll get it. I couldn't understand men years ago but I feel I can see their points of view a lot more now. But…when was it that I started to know? I didn't even remember that there was I time I didn't get it until this morning."

Blushing, Rutee turned away. "It's just the amnesia talking instead of you."

"Regardless," Gar stated as the others caught up, "Let's get going. The exit is just up ahead and then we head south to make it to Cyril."

S...S

After they'd walked for some time, they arrived in Cyril. Normally, to hear Garr tell it, the town was quiet but friendly. However, all the doors were locked and even the store was closed. Everyone was in hiding with fear that Lydon's army would come and attack them.

"They were attacked two years ago by a guerilla force and the entire militia wiped out. Losing so many good men caused the townspeople to lose heart in ever reviving it," Garr explained.

Philia whispered, "What a tragedy…all those poor souls. May Atamoni grant them peace."

Mary looked around town and started heading to a house. Rutee, knowing that she tended to wander off if things looked interesting, followed closely behind in case of an ambush. They went through a gate and through the front door, which held a sign reading, "Vincent Household: Visitors Welcome."

There, the two women beheld a small residence with a pair of beds, desk and bookshelf off to their left and a full kitchen with a dining table on the right. Without a word, Mary took out some of their supplies and went over to the stove. "I'll just prepare us some Beast Meat Stew to regain our strength."

"Mary," Rutee warned as the others entered, "Should we really be using this house like this?"

"If necessary, I'll just say that the prince and his companions needed a place to get themselves situated before they retook the country from the tyrant," Garr suggested.

Stahn, upon noticing Mary's culinary prowess, stated, "She's good. Hey, Rutee, you never said Mary could cook like that. I think her technique is probably just as good if not better than my little sister."

Rutee sat down at the table, her eyes on her friend. "You never asked and it never came up. Mary's good enough on a campfire, but there are a lot of things you just can't do. So we mostly roasted meat on a spit and veggies on a tray. Then, when we stayed at inns, our hosts were the ones cooking and if there was no cook at the inn there was no way we could get a place for Mary to cook so we just went out. Besides, we needed fighters more than cooks and it would be rude to force her to have two jobs in the party. However, there were times back home that she would cook dinner to give the maids a reprieve or just because she enjoyed doing it."

"Cooking," Mary began, "I know my memory is tied to it somehow. This town looked familiar the second I arrived and this house seems to be the place I lived before. But…I don't know how I got here in the first place or why I left and was injured when you found me. However, I do know that I used to cook a lot when I lived here…lived here with him."

"Who is he? Your brother, or a lover?" inquired Stahn.

Mary shook her head and whispered, "I don't know. Somehow, I know that my memory is tied to this place. I'll find it out somehow. But for now, we've got to get ready to face Lydon. So dig in!"

She began doling out her stew into six bowls and had the others sit around the table. Stahn, Rutee and Leon were on one side with Philia and Garr on the other. When Mary finished serving the others, she took her seat across from her best friend. They ate, and talked, and laughed for what seemed like hours, before finally deciding to get ready for bed.

Philia and Rutee were told to take the beds, but Rutee said she'd prefer sleeping on the floor and let Garr, as the future king, have the bed instead. She set her blanket up in between Stahn and her brother, but found herself too nervous to sleep.

Around two in the morning, she heard her brother whispering to her. "Hey, Rutee…you still up?"

"Yes I am, Emilio," she muttered, "I'm worried about Mary. Her past is here and yet she's going to have to leave it behind again because of the mission. We've got to let her come back after the war."

"I know. Listen…don't die out there. If you do, I'll follow you there so I can yell at you for leaving me and Father like that," he replied.

Rutee held out her hand and he took it in his. She told him, "Don't worry…I won't. I made that promise on Mother's grave that I'd always look after you and I will. I promised that I'd make sure nothing ever happened to you so don't worry; I have to continue living and keeping that."

Though he muttered something to the extent of, "I don't need you to take care of me," Rutee could see the smile on his face all the same. This was the Emilio Katrea that rarely showed himself. His fears at losing his beloved sister had allowed him to show her who he really was. The girl pulled her arms around her brother's body and pulled him close in a warm hug, and he did the same for her.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words...

Can we get a collective "Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww…" in the room?

Anyway, now that we've seen Leon being nice to Rutee, then we get to go on with the show. Next time, the team arrives in the capital and Mary faces her past.