~Memories~
By Ola
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A/N~ Micolanea finally makes a decision. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. "Screw the acolyte"? lol. He won't appear anymore.
Sorry for the mix up! Right chapter number but wrong story =). At least I got you to review! =) I'll make it up, though: two chapters at once! How is that?
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Part 4~
The market was just around the block, and she had the satisfaction of eating two whole blueberry pies, washing them down with unwatered wine. But although she wasn't on any special errand, she did come here for a reason.
Buggle.
She saw the read head of one of his friends bobbing up and down in the crowed, and she hurried her steps to catch up to him and ask about Buggle.
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She heard the appreciative whistle before she saw its owner's face, and the corners of her mouth quirked up. Buggle was a tall youth, or rather a young man, of twenty. He had big, warm. Brown eyes, and hair to match, an easy stride, and a quick laugh…at least for her. When angered, those beautiful eyes lost all their warmth, and those muscles tensed like those of a born fighter.
"Wow, Lan, why dressed so nice? Come to impress your man?" he said, his feet dangling from a window ledge of an abandoned building, a stalk of grass in the corner of his mouth.
Lan rolled her eyes at his antics, but a slight blush crept up her face anyway. However, it was quickly wiped away by a serious expression.
"What's wrong Mico?" he jumped down to her level, all trace of fluffy games gone, the bit of grass now laying forgotten at his feet. Micolanea circled his neck with her arms, resting her head on his chest as silent tears slid down her cheeks.
"Sshh. Lan, it's all right. I'm here. Tell me what's wrong," he talked softly while stroking her hair, trying to bring her comfort.
She told him everything, bit by bit, from the visit to her uncle's house, to the forced marriage proposal, and finally concluding with:
"…I don't know what to do. I won't let them order me around…"
"You could stay with me," he offered.
"I would, but they would find me faster than it takes to say my name!"
Buggle sighed and gave a weak laugh. "You don't give me enough credit, but you're right. You can't stay here."
They had moved of to sit down at the foot of the wall from which Buggle had jumped off earlier, and the young man stayed silent for a while, thinking, and holding the girl close to him. Another sigh.
"Enlist in the national guard," he finally said.
"What!...you seem to forget one major thing here."
"And that is?"
"I'm a girl!" she said with exasperation. "That's the problem, and that's also why I am here!"
"Cut your hair and dress up as a guy," he said matter of factly. "Listen, there is a local guard-headquarter over in Melin. Every so often, when they get a band of volunteers, they go away on a training trip that last about a year. After that, you get your permit and can serve in whichever part of the country you like. That means that as soon as you leave for training, you'll be safe, because that takes place in the wild for the first part, then in some little town farther away, in another district, so no one knows the recruits and they won't receive any help. You're good enough with the bow and hand combat to hold your own with the other guys. So you see, it's actually a very good plan." He smiled, and his eyes twinkled.
"But w…"
"You wanted to get away from here, right?" she nodded.
"Well, that's the best and safest way to do it. Plus, you will have a career you can count on to keep you fed and warm, anywhere you go."
The image of several boys in uniforms standing at the edge of a road passed in front of her eyes, and she remembered the journey to her uncle's house, wishing to have their freedom. Well, why not? A smile slowly spread on her face.
"What should I do?"
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A/N~ next chapter, the true adventure begins. =) please review!
