Ask Me No Me Questions, Tell Me No More Lies

            Alena knocked on the door labeled, 'Military Advisor'. She figured Folken must be in there.

"Come in," a familiar man's voice said.

Alena opened the door, entered the next room and shut the door behind her.

"Ah, I see you've come to see me."

"I have, you dishonest prick," Alena said. "Anything that's said in this room stays in this room. And have any servants who overhear our conversation put to death. Why didn't you tell me right out?"

"Because it would have embarrassed you, Alena. Let me tell you something. It's been almost four years since Millerna left Allen. He's been the most miserable little thing since then. Ever since he met you, he's been in the best of spirits. Why would I want to spoil his happiness by telling him his fiancée was engineered from his own blood?"

"Is Allen my father?"

"Well…"

"IS he?"

"With all this aside, tell me whether you love him or not."

"I do love him, Folken! More than anything in the world!"

Folken wanted to tell her his opinion. In his opinion, Allen IS her father. And so is he, and so is Van. But there she was, the lone, tough warrior with tears in her eyes. If he told the truth, Alena would leave them and not save Eriya and Naria's lives. If he lied, she would accuse him of lying and attempt to read his mind, find out the truth, and leave them nevertheless.

The truth is highly overrated, anyway.

"Allen is not your father."

Alena began crying with joy on her face.  Her man was not her father!

"Thank you, Folken!" she said, kissing his cheek. "You're the best! And I'm sorry about calling you a prick."

"A dishonest prick," he reminded her.

"Okay, a dishonest prick."

"I take it you have a plan to get my wife and my sister-in-law back?"

"I do. I'll need some military equipment. Do you think you could provide that?"

"To rescue my wife? I'll do anything."

"Good. Here's the plan. We take the fight to Dilandau."

"That's what he wants us to do, Alena."

"Not exactly. I have word from Zaibach that General Jhourin has ordered an attack on Fanelia."

"And you withheld this information this whole time?!"

"I received this information this morning."

"When does this attack occur?!"
"Tomorrow at dawn."

"There's not enough time! We have to declare a domestic defense emergency! Damn it!"

Folken got up, went to the door, and screamed at a page to summon his brother and his military cabinet. He came back in, and sat in his chair.

"We'll discuss this later, Alena."
"When?"

"I'll find you. Then we'll talk."