To those of you still reading this - thank you! I keep finding more to write XD
/Zen
"Look," I said, "there's something we need to talk about. It's important that I explain myself properly – so don't interrupt! I do have feelings for you, but I feel like – I mean – oh!" Frustrated, I ran a hand through my hair, grimacing when my fingers got tangled in a knot.
"You aren't being very helpful," I told the tree I'd been practicing my speech on. It remained where it was, scraggly and unresponsive. I snorted at it and glanced at Chrom's tent. It was about a dozen steps ahead and to the left of where I stood. I had to talk to him – I'd decided that – but now I wasn't so sure what I was going to say. Figuring out a route in battle, now that was something I could do. I had a knack for seeing weakness and for doing the unexpected. Why couldn't I look at this like a battle?
Sighing heavily, I started towards the tent. I couldn't avoid it any longer. The more I put it off, the more reasons I'd gather to not do it at all.
I stood in front of the heavy flaps, taking a deep breath and trying to calm my heart. My pulse beat faster than I would have liked, blood pounding in my ears. I couldn't believe I was afraid of the man who had given me a chance – who had trusted me. But here I was, shaking in my boots.
"It's just Chrom," I told myself. Yeah, just the Prince. No big deal at all. Rolling my eyes at myself, I raised my voice: "Chrom?"
His head appeared between the flaps, surprising me enough that I jerked back. "Arkelle?"
"Do you have a minute?" I asked.
His dark sapphire eyes searched my face. "Of course, I always have time for my favourite tactician."
I snorted. "I'm your only tactician."
He laughed and held the flap aside. "Come on in. I've been meaning to speak with you anyway."
"I know." I stepped through, my hands clasped tightly behind my back. I was still in my shirt and breeches, but found myself wishing I'd stopped to grab my cloak. I stood stiffly, waiting until he'd settled himself behind the lone table still scattered with maps, books, and half a dozen quills. His dark hair was mussed, casting shadows across his fine-featured face. His cloak and shoulder guard lay across a chair, discarded, leaving him in his dark blue tunic. It showed off his strong shoulders and the family tattoo branded into his skin.
"I'd like to apologize," I blurted out, pulling my eyes from his body to his face. "I've been distracted the last couple of days, shirking the responsibilities you gave me. I've let my own thoughts and worries pull my mind away from what's important, and I'm sorry."
Chrom looked at me a long moment, a faint smile on his face. He almost looked fond, which set my heart beating faster still. "You're tired," he said. When I started to protest he raised a hand. "I know you work hard – as hard as any of the Shepherds – and there's a lot of pressure on you. We can't do this without you, which is why," he added, coming around the table to stand in front of me, "I am ordering you to take the rest of the day off. No practicing, no researching, no planning."
"But –"
"No buts," he said firmly. His hand rested on my arm and squeezed gently as he met my eyes. "You should relax a bit. Put your feet up. Experienced soldiers rest when they can. On a campaign like this, you never know when the next battle might break out. You've come a long way since we met in that field, and you've become a very important part of this team. I apologize if I haven't noticed how hard you've been pushing yourself. I don't want you to feel unappreciated."
I shook my head but couldn't make my voice work to protest. This wasn't what I'd meant to say.
"I'd like to think we've become good friends," Chrom added, his eyes piercing mine, "and friends look out for one another. Now go get some rest. There will be more than enough time for everything else once our scouts get back."
Friends. Was that what he wanted? If it was, I could do that. I wanted to do that.
"Okay."
He nudged me forward and smiled. "Go on then."
I didn't know what else to say without sounding like a complete idiot. Were we okay then? I wanted to ask, but I didn't want to say something to upset the balance that had just been struck. I walked out of his tent and passed the tree I'd practiced on earlier. I glared at it.
"Lot of help you were," I told it.
"Aw, what did the tree ever do to you?"
I turned and saw Sumia smiling at me, her hands clutched behind her back. The pegasus knight moved closer, taking care of where she placed her feet. She smelled of fresh grass. Did Cordelia have her out with the horses making sure they grazed to help us ration the feed? I wondered how that was going.
"Hey Sumia," I said, trying to hold back my sigh.
"You okay?" She asked. "You look tired."
"Why does everyone ask me that?" I replied, pressing my lips together. Sumia gave me a look with a surprising amount of accusation in it. "What?"
She came up to me, looping her arm through mine and turning me around so that we walked toward the interior of the camp.
"It's because of those lovely dark circles under your eyes," she explained. "And how you're always running around muttering to yourself."
"I don't mutter!"
"So you weren't talking to a tree two minutes ago?"
I flushed and looked away, kicking at a dirt lump in my way.
"Relax," she told me, jiggling my arm. "You just need to wind down a little. Have some fun."
"We are in the middle of a war," I said dryly.
"Yes, but right this second there's a blue sky up above and you're surrounded by good people."
"Speaking of good people," I said, clearing my throat, "how are things going with Cordelia?"
Sumia smiled and a determined light entered her eyes. "I'm getting better all the time. I think she's starting to rub off on me!"
"Oh really?"
"I only tripped once today," she said, holding up a single finger. "She's been running me ragged, but I can't complain. She works herself even harder than she works anyone else. I think it was the best thing for me, and she makes a pretty good friend too."
I was glad to hear it. Glancing up, I saw my tent dead ahead of us. Had she planned this?
"I think you should get some of that rest we were talking about," Sumia said with a wink, lifting her chin towards my tent. "Go on. If anyone asks, I'll tell them you're out collecting bat wings with Tharja."
"Does she really do that?" I asked, curious and disturbed at the same time. What were bat wings even good for?
Sumia laughed and waved, leaving me be. Taking a deep breath, I ducked under the flap of my tent and let if fall behind me. I fingered the sleeve of my cloak where I'd left it hanging this morning. Why did I feel like I'd been confined to my tent like some child?
Well, I do have the night watch. With Lon'qu. I shivered at the thought and picked up my cloak, threading my arms through the sleeves and laying down for a nap. I lay there for a long while thinking about my conversation with Chrom and about how I would get to see Lon'qu later tonight. I fell asleep still thinking of him.
