Chapter 20: Dinner
The next morning, I decide to go and explore the town for a bit. I haven't really gone there too much, and besides, maybe I'll see some people I haven't talked to in a while.
Like Astol, who I find strolling down the road carrying a basket of bread.
"Long time, no see!" the man greets me, holding up his sustenance with pride. "Haven't seen you since the wedding. Everything good with you? Igraine learned how to make a special type of bread stuffed with cheese and garlic cloves, and so I'm just picking up the ingredients for her."
I must admit that sounds weird and delicious at the same time.
"Everything's okay with me," I respond, choosing not to inquire about the unique bread and instead opting to shake his hand. "You know, now that I'm seeing you, I'm remembering that you weren't very thorough when you were showing me around Arcadia. I wonder how long it would take for me to remember..."
"Well, of course!" Astol replies, almost like what I'm saying is the most obvious statement in the world. "You wouldn't go exploring if I showed you everything. For example, have you gone to the secret place?"
No way is there a secret place.
"Might as well look for it. Happy exploring!" he suddenly retorts, and with a cheerful wave, leaves with his basket of bread. I don't believe his explanation, but that's fine. It was nice to say hello. I wonder who else I'll find in the market square.
As it turns out, lots of people. It's a busy place, obviously. What's most interesting, though, is who I find at the spice merchant's booth.
"Fa knows you'll find something tasty for Roy! Isn't that right Sophia?" Little Fa chirps, bobbing up and down in excitement as Sophia and Idoun search through the various spices on display. I guess Idoun is looking for something to season her dinner with for tonight. I would assume that she would want me to not know at all what she is planning, but my curiosity is too strong to just leave, so I hide behind some curtains at a nearby booth and start listening to the conversation.
"There are many great choices here..." Sophia agrees, looking at a few of the labelled jars. "I wish we could test some, though."
"Heh heh, you actually came on a special day, my young ladies," the old Ice Dragon (in human form) manning the booth chuckles. She's probably been doing this forever, and as far as I can tell, these spices are all homemade. "Once a month, I sell my... remedial recipes. These are able to influence the eater in various ways." The dragon grabs one of the jars in front of her, pointing at the label excitedly. "Some are used to help calm down those with quick tempers. Some aid sleep. This particular jar I'm holding helps with constipation."
"Actually, I should get that for the elder..." Sophia says, taking the jar.
I don't need to know about that.
"Of course, they taste wonderful in dishes like spices should, but don't be afraid to find something that could help someone," the dragon recommends, and she leans back on her rocking chair as she watches the girls sort through her products. Sophia ends up placing a few more different jars into the basket she's carrying as Idoun and Fa examine some others. Eventually, Idoun finds a jar containing a dark red spice, labelled 'arousal'.
"What's... this?" Idoun asks, staring at the jar curiously.
"One of my best sellers... and in fact, I only have three jars left," the dragon clarifies, her wings unconsciously opening and closing. "Let's just say it perks up the one who consumes it... in a very intimate way, heh heh... I've saved marriages with this spice."
I really don't need to know that.
"Sounds fun!" Fa shouts, and she yanks the jar out of Idoun's hands and into Sophia's basket. This simply amuses the merchant.
"It's best used with two people, but it's fun for one too, if you wish. Want a taste? The little girl seems interested. She'll love it."
Deciding I've had enough of this conversation, I leave the premises, but not before accidentally bumping into Cormag, who I haven't talked to in a couple of days. Actually, not since he pretended to be the undergarment thief. "Hello Roy, what brings you here?"
"Just felt like exploring," I reply honestly. "You?"
"I'm looking for the blacksmith to forge me some special swords. As you know, I'm teaching Janani how to become a Swordmaster; it turns out she still really wants to learn," Cormag explains, looking genuinely happy. "I've never actually had a student before, and not to mention that she happens to be my girlfriend. Although, she's a dragon, so would she actually be my 'dragonfriend' and not my 'girlfriend'? Maybe I'll ask her if she has a preference..."
I've never thought of that before. Clearly, Cormag hasn't either, for he's concentrating very hard on figuring out the answer.
Hmm, now I'm curious.
Do I consider Idoun my girlfriend? Or dragonfriend? Well, I guess she might as well be. Maybe I should officially ask her. Sure, we've even gone on a date, but... I don't think she would mind. If I'm right, she'll be really happy I asked her.
I'll find out after we eat her dinner together. It will really end the night on a high note.
"I'll let you figure out the answer on your way to the blacksmith; he's on the west side of town," I confirm for him, and waving goodbye, I go back to the spice merchant. To my disappointment and relief, the girls are gone...
...and to my horror, the rest of the jars labelled 'arousal' are gone.
"Looking for my best seller? I'm sorry, but some young ladies came and bought my last remaining stock," the merchant tells me, grinning widely. "Whoever they decide to give it to is going to have the most exciting time of their life."
I blush at what she believes my motives are. "I-I wasn't going to buy any of that!" I reply, and walk away quite quickly to avoid the amused smirk on her face and the confused onlookers.
In my haste to escape, I lose track of where I was going, so now I'm lost. I'm not entirely familiar with the town still, and at this point wandering aimlessly is the best course of action until I can find a familiar landmark. After a while of not finding anything, though, my stomach growls in hunger, and my objective changes from finding my way back to eating something.
Bizarrely, I pass by The Princess' Chambers, but unfortunately that won't help me get back because I had been provided a map that time, and I don't have it now. Nevertheless, the same girl that served Idoun and I yesterday is taking a break on a bench outside the restaurant, and she runs towards me.
"Hello! I have some good news!" she calls out to me as she gets closer. "Remember that friend of yours? You know, the one whose date ran away from him in a hurry?"
Wait, is she talking about Tangela and Lord Snob?
"Well, it appears they've reconciled! They're in the gardens together, and they were holding hands and smiling," she tells me, clearly overjoyed. "You should go see them!"
Waving, she runs back inside the building, and I think maybe I should go and check out what's going on. I won't bother them, but it's worth taking a peek, especially considering the fact that I've never been in the gardens before. Walking along the path, I'm amazed at all of the flowers that are blooming; roses, daisies, and the very fitting snapdragons. One type of flower I'm surprised to find are Snow Plums, because they're only found on snowy mountains. Although, now that I think about it, there really shouldn't be any sort of flowers growing in a desert anyway, but I've gotten used to the uniqueness of Arcadia.
Maybe I should pick some flowers for Idoun sometime.
"Psst! Roy!"
A loud whisper takes me by surprise, and I turn my head to find Lord Snob sitting on a bench with a sleeping Tangela on his lap. I don't really want to interrupt them, but he motions for me to come towards him, so I do, and when I get closer, I notice that Tangela's enveloping herself and him with her wings. It's an adorable sight.
"After we caught all of you spying on us," he whispers, chuckling, "we talked alone for a long time. She was convinced I didn't love her anymore because I knew she was a dragon, but she now finally understands that this new development doesn't change anything. Actually, I've known since the day we met that she was a dragon."
"Really?"
"My mom hates dragons so much, she taught me all of the visible signs that signify a dragon from a non-dragon," he now explains. "Considering yourself, there aren't any noticeable dragonic traits that are visible on you, but as Tangela told me, you noticed her slightly pointed ears pretty quickly, and I noticed them immediately. Maybe I should have told her sooner."
Actually, that probably would have saved a lot of trouble if he had. "Why didn't you?"
"I'll explain."
Lord Snob quietly clears his throat. "When I was riding by that day I first found her, she was about to be sold to a corrupt noble to take care of his... special needs, as you would assume. I couldn't just pass by and ignore the situation. I jumped out of the carriage and demanded that I take her instead," he clarifies, frowning at the memory. "He demanded compensation first, so I gave him the money he spent plus extra. It was my savings I was going to spend on a fancy and expensive new cape in the market that day, but I knew this would be more important."
I can hardly believe the story. "That's absolutely horrible what almost happened to her..."
"Isn't it? The worst part is, I knew the minute I left, that noble just picked out another innocent girl to satisfy himself," Lord Snob grimly assumes. "But back to answering your question. When Tangela came into my carriage, like I said, I immediately noticed her pointed ears and concluded that she was a dragon. But, the reason I didn't say anything about it was because, unlike my mother, I felt that people and dragons were the same, not monsters or some type of creature meant to be slaughtered. Tangela was not a monster. She was a young girl, completely alone, and scared out of her mind."
He instinctively wraps his arms around Tangela now, almost like he's afraid she'll disappear if he lets go. "And now, she's my fiancé. I'd give my life to keep her safe. Honestly, I think one day, you'll find yourself thinking the same thing about someone you love. And trust me, there are few things in life more satisfying than that."
After my conversation with Lord Snob, I go back to The Princess' Chambers and ask the girl working there for directions. She isn't able to help me directly, but she gives me a map of the city, so at least I can go somewhere to eat and then get back to the temple. Eventually, when I arrive, I take a nap, and before I know it, I wake up at dinner time. Apparently, I needed the sleep. Regardless, I walk towards the kitchen and a wonderful smell greets me there. Taking in its aroma, I walk towards one of the tables around a corner, and find Tarif sitting there for some reason.
"Hi Roy," he says, nodding at my arrival. "I'm one of the taste testers... and I must say, after everything is said and done... I'm jealous of what you're going to eat."
"That's nice to hear," I comment, and as I sit down, Sophia walks out of the cooking room. Behind her, Idoun is holding a covered dish and Pyra is holding another, and after Sophia turns around and nods to them, Idoun places her dish in front of me, and Pyra's in front of Tarif's. Wait, so does that mean Tarif had dinner made for him too? "Made some food for Tarif too?"
"We needed someone to make sure Idoun's food tasted good, since it was her first time cooking," Pyra clarifies, smiling sweetly. "And trust me, there were some... not too pleasant experiences in the beginning, so I thought it would be nice to make him dinner to make up for it. With a good batch of food, of course!"
Pyra pulls both covers off of the plates, and we're greeted by spaghetti in some sort of creamy sauce. It looks delicious.
"Enjoy!"
After finishing the meal, I lie back on my chair in contentment. Wow, that was tasty. I wonder how many tries it took to get it tasting so good. It seemed like the seasoning was...
Wait a minute...
The seasoning! The spices!
I search the room frantically with my eyes, and my worst fears come true; three jars of the 'arousal' spice are sitting on one of the other tables, completely empty.
I should get out of here before my short sword starts... preparing for battle.
"Did you... enjoy the food?"
The problem is, how can I leave when Idoun is looking at me so innocently and waiting to hear my response?
"I wanted... to do... something... for you..." she slowly stutters, trying her best to articulate her words, and she blushes as she attempts to finish her thought. "You... always... worried... about me..."
She seems genuinely upset by the fact that I'm always worried about her, but I just want to always make sure she's okay. That's why I look out for her, not to mention that I like her so much, but...
Uh oh...
I'm feeling a little lightheaded...
"Idoun, the spice you picked out... it must be starting to work," Sophia comments. "Pretty soon, he'll feel much better, like you hoped he would..."
Unexpectedly, instead of the reaction I was expecting, I feel a warm calm envelop my entire body, almost like I'm floating on air. Every muscle of mine relaxes, and I start daydreaming about a comfortable, sunny day in a garden, looking at the flowers. In the daydream, I lazily glance upwards, and some fluffy clouds roll by, slowly floating from one side of the sky to the other. It's quite pleasant.
Apparently, I've never been aroused before.
"The spice Idoun picked out for you is called 'soothe'," Sophia comments, and I casually snap out of my daydream to listen. "She thought that since you're always looking out for her, you must be stressed, so she hoped that she could help you relax somehow. So we went to the spice merchant and we found this special spice. It was all Idoun's idea."
I can't help but stare in awe at Idoun. Even though I'm not in the least bit stressed living here in Arcadia, she was worried that she was a burden to me, and wanted to give me some type of relief. I hope she still doesn't think that.
I need to give her some reassurance.
"Idoun, I can't tell you how happy I am that you thought of me," I start, "and I thank you so much for the food. It was delicious. But you need to know that you'll never be a burden to me, okay?"
She doesn't seem to believe me, judging from her guilt-ridden eyes and the constant wringing of her fingers. But I'm telling the truth...
...and I need to prove that to her.
"Idoun, can you come here for a second?" I ask quietly, and I outstretch my hand with (what I hope to be) an unintimidating smile on my face. She seems hesitant, but slowly, she walks closer, and when I pat my knee encouragingly, she lowers herself onto it. She no longer looks guilty, but instead curious about what I'm going to say.
"Y-yes?"
I mull over in my head which word to use, and eventually I settle with the one that I'm more familiar with when I ask her this next question: "Idoun, will you... be my girlfriend?"
Pyra and Sophia gasp as I say this, whereas Tarif's mind is apparently elsewhere since he doesn't seem to notice, and I'm assuming that Idoun doesn't know what a girlfriend is since she's not reacting.
"That's amazing!" Pyra suddenly shouts, and she runs over to the two of us before giving us a big hug. "Being a couple means that you'll go on more dates, and you get to know each other better." She smiles at Idoun. "Would you like that?"
Idoun nods sheepishly, and then I add one more incentive to the proposal: "Idoun, once again, I will never see you as a burden; in fact, it's the opposite. If, however, for any reason, you ever feel inadequate or a burden or upset or anything negative of the sort, just say the word..."
I then kiss her gently on the cheek. "And I'll do that for you so you'll feel better. Is that okay with you?"
The kiss perks Idoun up almost immediately, and she warmly gives me one of the brightest smiles I've ever seen. "Yes!"
"I'm so happy for you both!" Pyra says, and she tightens her hold on us. "That spice must be powerful; Idoun only put a small dash of the stuff in the dish, and it seems to have loosened your lips a bit! You said some pretty bold things!"
I'm still riding on the calming effects of the spice, even right now, and I wonder if it did influence my actions. Either way, I'm very happy with how everything turned out, and I don't regret anything.
Pyra now puts on a mischievous grin. "Could you imagine if you put, say, three entire jars of the stuff in what you were eating? I bet you'd be... experiencing the effects with such intensity that you couldn't think straight... and probably for days, too!"
My eyes widen, and immediately now understanding why Pyra invited Tarif for the meal, all of us (excluding Idoun) stare at Tarif uncomfortably. I doubt Sophia had any idea about what Pyra was planning...
"Why are you... staring at me?" Tarif asks us, confused. "It's like you're..."
Suddenly, his face turns white, and it seems he only now notices the three empty jars of the 'arousal' spice on one of the tables. I fear what is going to happen next.
"So, Tarif," Pyra asks, chuckling, "what are you thinking about right now?"
The answer seems to have a hard time coming out of his mouth: "I... should... not... have... worn... shorts..."
I almost want to laugh, but I know he's going to feel very uncomfortable for a long time; back when I was still fighting in the war, I remember the time I accidentally grabbed Sue's chest (she was one of our principal ranged fighters, since she was a Nomad) when I was reaching for something beside her. The material was quite thin, so not much was left to my imagination, especially since most Sacaens are not lacking in that department. Needless to say, I stood facing the wall for over ten minutes before I... calmed down, so to speak.
Tarif's probably going to need days.
And Pyra's not going to give it to him.
You know what? It is kind of funny. What's the worst that can happen?
Author's Notes
I'm back!
I'm happy that I decided to expand more on the Lord Snob and Tangela situation. I regretted not finishing it last chapter, but I think it's good I had the time and room to expand it here. Less pressure that way.
How did this idea of the spices come about? No idea. However, it leads to the potential of some heartwarming... and some teasing. :p We'll learn more about Tarif's fate next chapter. But man, Idoun is recovering quickly! She's starting to think for herself...
I'm really not sure which term is better: girlfriend, or dragonfriend? They ARE dragons. It's kind of tough to decide. What would YOU guys choose? Glad Roy and Idoun's relationship just got an upgrade!
Useless info paragraph time: a) The type of bread that Igraine is making? It does exist. It IS weird, but it tastes great. b) Remember Snow Plums? My special made up flower from Faithful? They make an appearance here! Arcadia defies logic anyway, so they can exist there. c) Finally back on track with my "awkward scenarios with Roy's in-game potential marriage mates" running joke. I've done Cecilia, Lalum, Lilina, and now Sue. Just waiting to eventually use Thany (or whatever her FE13 name is) and Sophia! Isn't that great?!
FIRE EMBLEM FATES! SO EXCITED. Hope they decide to release the special "three path" package that they sold in Japan that has all three routes in one. I'd buy that in a second. The FE crossover... well, I'm just completely dumbfounded and not sure how to react. And uh... yeah. 2016 IS SO FAR AWAY
This chapter officially puts me at over 100,000 words! Wow! I couldn't have done it without your guys' support! I don't know if I'll get to 150,000 words or not... we'll just have to wait and see!
Hopefully my next chapter of my SerraxJaffar story comes faster than it took for this one to be released! After that I'll write the next chapter of this story...