Authorbabble: Hee hee. I love Franz and Amelia, plus... having Franz be a dweeb is fun. I mean, he's still young enough to totally screw up a moment, right? Yeeeeessss! :3 By the way, all you readers, the amazingest writing-fluff song ever is "Out Of My League" by Stephen Speaks. Overall they are an amazing fluff-writing band. :D That's for you other writers out there. Anyways...

On the hike to Caer Pelyn, Eirika was tripping and falling behind, exhausted. After she fell and didn't get back up for nearly a minute, Seth rode over to her. "Princess Eirika. If you need, you may ride with me... It wouldn't do to have you fall sick of exhaustion, milady."

Eirika smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Seth... I will, most definitely, take you up on your kind offer." She climbed onto the warhorse with her paladin's help, and wrapped her arms around his waist for balance. Although this was a normal way to ride with two people, Seth stiffened, then relaxed, trying unsuccessfully to hide a smile.

Eirika yawned, leaning on Seth's shoulder. She was exhausted, and in a few minutes of the up-and-down motion of the horse, she'd fallen asleep. Seth decided not to wake her, and rather, let her have her rest. He desperately wanted to be able to hold her and make sure she wouldn't fall off, but he knew that would seem improper. The princess had impeccable balance, anyway, he decided.

Franz came up near Seth, Amelia sitting in front of him on the horse. She kissed him on the cheek quickly and said, "Thank you again, Franz... It's sweet of you..."

Franz blushed a bright red that made Seth smile. "O-oh! Um, you're really welcome, Amelia! Any time, for sure!"

The young recruit laughed and laid her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes and smiling. Franz looked at Seth, grinning, and then noticed the Princess. He stifled a laugh and said, "Hey, uh, General Seth..."

"Yes, Franz?" replied the Paladin, adjusting himself in the saddle to be more comfortable.

"Uh, are you two, you know..." he made a kissy face, "together?"

"Sir Franz!" scolded Seth, brain whizzing to think of a subject to change to, "That would be wholly improper for a knight and his queen. You should know this! Have you been studying the Code of Chivalry of late? Or have you been slacking off?"

Franz saluted, "Course not, General Seth! But, er, General... you kinda look like it."

As Seth stiffened, ready to deliver the scolding of a lifetime for impudence (although he didn't mean it and just wanted Franz not to mention it again), Franz chuckled and whispered something in Amelia's ear. She giggled, and they galloped ahead, leaving Seth bristling.

Then Eirika moved a little bit in her sleep, leaning on Seth's shoulder. He relaxed and looked back at her, then smiled slightly and rode on, forgetting Franz had said anything at all.