Theme 4: Rivalry

Lissa glanced around the mess tent, holding a small plate of food and looking for a certain tactician to eat her breakfast with as calmly as she could. Most of the tables were empty, save for Gaius and Gregor deep in conversation, and Tharja, who was sitting alone. Donnel was on kitchen duty for the morning's breakfast, and was cleaning up. Not wanting to disturb the two men, she decided to take her food and sit next to Tharja. She hadn't had the most friendly relationship with the dark mage, but this was a place to start creating a more friendly one.

Tharja had no food with her, but she was looking over a tome with a pencil in hand, occasionally scribbling a few words down. She sat down next to Tharja and smiled. "Hey Tharja!" She greeted. "What'cha doin'?"

Tharja didn't look up, instead standing and closing her book with a snap. "Hello, Princess. I was just leaving."

On instinct, Lissa grabbed Tharja's robe's sleeve. The dark mage's eyes widened and she wrenched her arm away forcefully. "Do not touch me. insolent princess, if you want to live another day."

Lissa blushed, scrambling for words to apologize. "No, no, Tharja please! I- I didn't mean to bother you! Come on, sit down?"

Reluctantly, the dark mage sat down with a defeated sigh. "As long as you don't bother me, I will remain here. But one step closer and I'll be forced to turn you into a frog.

Lissa exhaled in relief. "I- I'm sorry Tharja, I just want to be friends. We haven't really had a chance to talk recently, right? What have you been up to?" A childish giggle came from the princess. "Any boys in camp you have your eye on? I heard Henry is a real charmer." She joked.

That seemed to light a fire in Tharja's eye, though Lissa was uncertain why. "So, the little girl comes to me in search of a conversation, but ridicules me. How... How quaint." Tharja stood, taking her tome and putting it under her arm. The commotion had caught the attention of Gaius and Gregor, even Donnel. All the gazes had Lissa's cheeks flush an even brighter shade of red.

Lissa shrunk back in her seat as Tharja stepped forward, thrusting her finger into the cleric's small frame. "You have taken my one true desire in the world away from me, selfish princess. I have no clue as to why I haven't smited you on the spot yet."

"I- I don't know what you're talking about!" She threw her hands up in innocence. A bead of sweat trailed down Lissa's forehead.

Gaius snickered slightly from the back, popping a red lollipop in his mouth. He nudged Gregor with his elbow to get his attention, and whispered something into his ear. "Yo. Sunshine there is talking 'bout Bubbles. Isn't that a riot?"

"Oi, mad magic-lady talks about Robin?" Gregor repeated, much louder than Gaius had, almost if he intentionally wanted the two girls to hear to spur the argument. Lissa looked over at him, hoping her wide-eyed expression would convey the sense of paranoia to Gregor. She was afraid for her life, and he had added oil to the fire.

Tharja nodded, the fury still burning within her. "The two imbeciles are right."

Lissa's eyes grew wide. She had been taking Robin away from Tharja? He never really seemed to spend time with her. Was this the case? The only time she had seen Robin with Tharja was on the battlefield.

"I advise you to leave my Robin alone, left you want to be hurt. Trust me, it will." With that, Tharja left the mess tent, parting the tent flaps with a dramatic whoosh.

Lissa stared at the tent entrance, afraid that Tharja would come back and unleash a wicked Nosferatu spell on her. Her heart threatened to burst from her chest.

"Sheesh, Princess. Ya had to go and sour things up, didn'tja. I'd keep my eye out for her. If looks could kill…" Gaius almost seemed amused.

Donnel piped up from the crates of leftover food. "Hell, I wouldn't go to sleep tonight, Lady Lissa. Boy, crossin' paths with her could spell the end of yer days. 'Nd no one would want that t' happen."

Lissa ignored the comments of her comrades and left the tent, breaking into a sprint as soon as she stepped into the sunlight. Turning the corner, she crashed straight into just the person to she was looking for.

"Oof!" She grunted, falling backwards onto the ground. "Robin! Thank goodness!" She hopped up from her seat and threw her arms around him.

"Oh… Uh, hey Lissa." He balanced the lance he was carrying in his hand and put the other around the small blonde who was hugging his midsection. "Something wrong?"

In that instant, Lissa forgot all about what had drove her to find Robin. She breathed in the familiar scent of his coat and melted into his arms. She sighed deeply in content. "Nothing anymore. I'm happy that I found you."