Chapter 3: "Meetings in the Dance Floor"

"I see you are better from your leg", Ashton repaired, after checking Alina's health, and making reference to her "adventures" of the last days. After her "sleepwalk", she tried to escape Castle Ostia several times, failing in each try. She tried to escape through the back door, but Irving was coming from it. Not that he wanted her to stay, but he had direct orders from Lord Uther to prevent her from escaping, and he had pledged his lance and service to the young Marquess, so he didn't want to disobey him. Then, she tried to go out dressed as a merchant, but the Castle gates were wide shut and Fiora wasn't around. She even tried to escape from the Castle's kitchen twice, once dressed as a maid and the other by sneaking through a little secret corridor, but she had bad luck in both occasions, because in one she was confused with a real maid and in the other, when she was almost out, she bumped into Lord Uther, so she had to return to her bedroom, or her "little prison", as she called it.

Alina just nodded, not pleased with the ironic remark of the physician. At least, she was allowed to wander around the Castle, but it was not the same. And the food was starting to get better, but... she wanted so much to leave.

"Your case is strange", he went on, now talking normally, "It's the first case I know that a person who's hit on the head develops a need of... escape, should I call it like that?"

"Very funny", she said, not pleased at all. He was starting to get disgusting, not as much as Irving, who was intolerable to her.

"Come on, Alina!", he said, trying to be nice again. "If you just stayed there, you would be much better now! You had a pretty bad punch or whatever in your head! And although you can walk, don't overdo it"

"Alright, I'll be a 'good girl' and stay here. I won't escape, I promise", she said, trying to sound solemnly.

"It's not the first time I hear that", Ashton replied, not pleased. "Come on, don't be girlish and rest well", he said, before leaving the room.

"It's been like a week and I still have to rest well", Alina thought, sarcastically. "At least I can walk around, she said, leaving her room.

She hadn't walked much when she found Uther at the corridor.

"Good day, Alina!", he greeted, looking over a bunch of papers. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"

"No, milord", she replied, tired. "Ashton allowed me to have some walks, finally", she said, thinking that she had already told him that the previous day.

"Ah, I see", he said, thoughtfully. "Alina, I have a proposal for you", he said, all of a sudden.

"What?", she asked surprised. "Man, this guy just keeps amazing me", she thought.

"Would you like to come with me to the ascension of the new Marquess Santaruz?", he asked, as if it were a trip around the Castle gardens.

Alina stood there, shocked. Those were big words. It was the ascension of the Marquess, a very important reunion where all the Lords and important people of all Lycia and maybe from the surroundings were going to be present. And the Marquess of the most powerful House of Lycia was inviting her, a simple, stranger and unconventional commoner, someone with a little problem with panic and escapes. He sure was more unconventional of what she had thought and of what she had heard.

She just covered her open mouth gently with her hand, while trying to understand what he had said before.

"It can't be... It can't be... He has to be crazy!", she thought, nervously. "And I thought he hadn't any other thing to amaze more than what I was a moment ago"

"Alina, are you alright?", he asked her, worried.

"I'm fine, it's just that's... nonsense!", she said, finally, after searching for the words. "I mean, I'm greatly appreciated for your proposal, but... I can't accept it!", she said, trying to be polite and clear at the same time.

"Why not? I'm not asking you to murder somebody, so I don't see what's wrong with it", he said, surprised of her reaction. "You could meet with almost everybody! My brother, Eliwood and Lyndis are going, and I think that you can find several of your comrades there!", he said, trying to convince her.

"I know that, and I'm really in your debt!", Alina protested, nervously. "But I can't accept it! Look at me", she said, pointing at herself, "I'm not of the likes to be in a very distinguish reunion with nobles, Lords and Ladies in their 'habitat'!"

"Because I do look like a distinguish noble", Uther replied seriously, yet ironically.

Alina was now more shocked than before, and had to keep a laughter for herself.

He was right, he didn't look like an average Marquess, and she could have confused him for a mercenary or even a pirate if it wasn't for Hector, who introduced them back in that Castle near Ostia. With his aspect, and especially with those scars he had in his face, he looked more than a commoner, instead of a Marquess.

"But your case is different!", she complained , once more. "You are a Marquess, while I'm just a nobody". Then, she got silent and thoughtfully for a short while, until she said, quickly and a bit offended,

"And now that I think about it, you don't allow me to go on with my journey or to recover from my wounds at an Inn, and yet you want to take me to Santaruz!?!"

That silenced Uther. It was the first time she saw him like that, without a sudden answer for her questions. But it wasn't for too long.

"I don't allow you to go on your own, but I would take you with my group, so if anything happens to you, you'll have assistance right away", he said, calmer. "And? What do you think? It's not something that you see everyday, and you could have a laugh or two, apart from being with your friends again. You should see how ridiculous a bunch of people look in their ceremonial garbs", he said, trying to make her smile.

"Haha, you are right", she said, laughing. She was thinking in poor, white dressed Eliwood, the day she left Pheare and the day he became Marquess Pherae.

"And, will you come?", Uther asked her again, calmly.

"I... ok", she said, without thinking it twice. "But I don't have a dress! You are not planning in taking me in my working outfit!", she complained, trying to put him down in his offer.

"Don't worry. I heard that that merchant that accompanied your group is here in the Castle", Uther replied, much to Alina's astonishment. "How was his name? Marinus, Merinus..."

"Merlinus", Alina corrected, sighing.

"That's right, Merlinus!", Uther approved, relieved. "I wonder what he wants in the Castle?", he thought, turning back. "See you later, Alina, we are departing tomorrow morning", he said, over his shoulder, while walking in the opposite direction.

"Hey, wait...", she said, but it was futile, he had already left.

"Raths! What am I supposed to do now?", she thought, almost desperately. "And why had I say 'yes'?", she wondered, shocked. "Now, I have no other choice that to talk to Merlinus and buy something cheap but distinguished", she sighed.

Merlinus was in that kind of reception room near the door, where she was caught by Lord Uther and Irving when she tried to escape with Matthew's help. The merchant was surprised to see the young tactician at the Castle, but was happy when he heard she was looking for his 'fine, distinguished wares', as he called his things.

"I don't carry many dresses, especially night dresses, but you are lucky enough to have this one, Lady Alina", the transporter said, showing her a light green dress.

"It's the only one you have, isn't it?", Alina asked, looking at the surely expensive dress. It was like a dream for her: the color was nice, it was a simple dress, and the material wasn't too sticky, so she wouldn't have to think that she looked as if she was wearing a dress four numbers below her size. She liked comfortable clothes, or "pregnant woman clothes", as her cousin Karin used to call her outfit. That was easy for her cousin, who just wore the clothes she had since she was 10, in Alina's opinion. Back to the dress, she didn't know how much it cost, but she was sure she had to sell some of her personal property to pay for that, to use it only a few hours in her life.

"Yes, indeed it is the last one I have, but we can reach an agreement, Dame Alina! Tell me, how much do you have with you?", the merchant asked, guessing her thoughts.

"Well... a red jewel", she said, almost ashamed, thinking that it wouldn't cover half the dress' cost.

"That's enough!", Merlinus cried, cheerfully. "And I can even discount you a small percentage from that. After all, it's you!", the man said, excited. "With that money I could re-open my business again! But I'll put it in Pherae now, maybe there is people who can appreciate my finest wares", he added, daydreaming.

"You are zero tactics, Merlinus", Alina thought, while examining the dress, never forgetting her role as a tactician. "You want to open your own shop in the center of the commercial world of Lycia..."

"Will you wait for me here, Merlinus?", she asked, picking the dress. "I'm going upstairs to grab the jewel. Thank you", she said leaving.

"Goodness, having been the acquaintance of the neurotic merchant has its benefits", she thought, while leaving the dress in her bed. She was as happy as a little child with a new doll. "Man, it was a long time since I had the opportunity to wear a dress like this. When was the last time... my fifteenth birthday?", she asked for herself, trying to remember the date.

"Psst! What's that, a dress?", Fiora asked her, calling her from the window.

"Ah, Fiora, come in!", Alina greeted the falcoknight. She was grabbing her red jewel from her bag when Fiora called her.

"Hey, it's a nice one!", she said, staring at it. "What has happened? I think I'm missing something...", she said, naughtily.

"Hey, not at all", Alina protested, but she corrected herself. "Well, yes, Lord Uther is crazy and he asked me to go with his people to the ascension of the new Marquess Santaruz", she said.

"What?!? Yes, he's crazy!", the green haired girl replied, worried. "And for what I can see, you are going"

Alina lowered her glance, and said, "Yes". Then she returned to her normal self. "He told almost everyone would be here, and well, lately I've been somewhat nostalgic, and well, I accepted"

"Everyone... Maybe Florina goes!", the eldest pegasi sister exclaimed, after thinking a bit. "Mmhh... if only I could find a way to sneak in that reunion..."

"Oh, goodness!", Alina complained, angrily. "Merlinus said he didn't have any other dresses, but maybe you can get one here! Ostia's the biggest commercial point in all Lycia, and maybe if you have some money you can find something. I could help you with some of my tactic books. You won't get much from them, but that could help you...", the young tactician offered, feeling guilty somehow.

"Thanks, but don't worry for that", Fiora said, calming her down. "I don't think I'll be comfortable in a long dress. The last time I wore one was in.... think... think...", the falcoknight said, trying to remember the last time she wore a dress "...Think... Ah! It was Ilia's last Harvest Festival, before the snowstorms turned greater each year. Florina was just a small girl by that time...", Fiora said, all of a sudden. "Don't worry. I'm leaving right now, maybe they need some extra guards in Santaruz", she said, calling her falcion from the window. The winged unicorn came right away and stood next to the window, flapping its beautiful white wings. "Good luck, Alina, see you at the party!", she said, already in her falcion. Alina didn't have time to greet her. When she got to the window, Fiora was already away.

***

"Here you have, Merlinus, thanks for everything", Alina said, handing over the red jewel.

Merlinus' eyes shone brightly when he looked at the jewel.

"Thanks, Dame Alina, it's a pleasure to do businesses with you", he said, giving her the discount he had promised before.

"It's a pity that you don't know how to do businesses", she thought about the merchant.

"Now, I think it's not necessary I ask for the Marquess' help", he said, picking his things. "So long, Dame Alina", he greeted, before going out.

"Hey, wait!", Uther's voice came from above the stairs.

However, the merchant was too much in his own thoughts to even hear anything happening by his side.

"Oh, great", Uther protested, breathing heavily. "I reorganize things and walk in haste to talk to him, and he just goes away"

Alina giggled.

"Guess it's my fault", she said, when he turned back to face her. "I bought him a dress, and he thought that was enough to re-open his shop again", she explained.

"Ah, I see…", he replied, still tired. "Let's see the positive point: I don't have to speak with that merchant", he said, walking upstairs.

Alina stood there, in the reception room for a while. She didn't have anything better to do, now that Fiora was gone, or she could be chatting with the falcoknight at her room. She enjoyed sitting there and staring at the Castle folks, at least for a short time. Then, she would return to her room.

She was half her way to her room when she saw, from upstairs, another familiar figure near the gates.

"Good morning, Lord Hector. Nice to see you again", a soldier greeted the newcomer.

"Ah, hello", Hector greeted back, returning from his own thoughts.

He hadn't changed at all since she last saw him (alright, it was a short time since she last saw him). He still swung his axe carelessly, because he almost decapitated his own soldier when he turned back to greet him. Seems that her efforts to polish his style were futile…

She run down the stairs, trying to look calm, so she wouldn't scandalize Irving if he saw her. Her footsteps called Hector's attention, and he turned back, just to see the "brownish-reddish-haired tactician" in the stairs.

"Uh?!? Alina, what are you doing here?!?", he asked, astonished by her being at his home.

"Hec… Lord Hector, I'm so glad to see you again !", she said, greeting her former "subordinate in the tactic area", while trying to see if Irving was around.

"Forget the diplomatic garbage!", he said, annoyed. "What are you doing here? I mean, how are you?", he said, correcting himself, so he wouldn't seem that rude.

"I know that! I feared Irving was near, and if he heard me calling you just "Hector", he would have killed me", she whispered, quickly.

"Ah, so you had already had the honor to meet Mr. Education, uh?", the dark blue haired guy asked, without any enthusiasm.

"Yeah, you are right", she replied, with the same tone. "Ah, you wanted to know what am I doing here, weren't you?", she asked, now cheerfully.

"Yes, I can't find any suitable reason to explain your presence here", he said, still shocked. "Not that I don't like it, but…"

"I know that", she said, smiling. "It was rather strange, and I still can't find a suitable answer for it. Well, the story began when I was walking through a forest and some bandits caught me. I could escape once, but they caught me again, and then…"

"And then 'Super Uther' came and rescued you, right? I can't understand how's that he thinks he can cope with everything…", Hector interrupted her, summing up what followed.

Alina laughed all of a sudden.

"Yes, something like that happened", she said, still laughing. "The thing is that I can't leave now until Ashton says I'm 100% alright. Your brother hadn't allowed me to go and rest in an Inn because he was sure I would escape, and now Ashton says that I hit my head pretty hard against a stone or something like that, and that I still need to rest. So, I'm trapped in this place", she said, breathing heavily, after summing up her story.

"Man, that's really impressive", Hector stated, after hearing patiently. "I'll talk to my brother. Maybe I can make him change his mind", he said, not very convinced. "I hope he can give me a real, reasonable explanation", he thought. He didn't dislike Alina, but that behavior in his brother was rather strange for him.

"Good luck, I don't think you'll succeed", she said, tiredly. "See you later!", she waved cheerfully from the stairs.

"Mmmh… Hector?", she called him, a bit unsure.

"What is it?", he replied back.

"If I don't recall wrong, you said you escaped from here, because your brother wasn't in the mood to help openly… Now, tell me, how did you manage to sneak from this place?!?", she asked, very serenely.

"Well, Matthew helped me and we went through the back door", he replied, thoughtfully, trying to remember well. "Why do you ask?"

"No, forget it. I had already tried several times with that route", she said, walking up the stairs.

"You what…?!?", he asked, but she was already upstairs. "Goodness, she had to be in despair to try that", he said for himself.

"Ah, Brother! So you have finally arrived?", Uther's voice greeted him from behind.

Hector turned back and found his brother, accompanied by Irving.

"Ah, hi, brother. Hi, Irving", he greeted back, returning from his thoughts.

"How have you been doing?", Uther asked him, handing over some papers to Irving.

"Ah, well. Nothing interesting", he replied, lacking interest. "Hey, brother, tell me, why do you have Alina here?"

Uther smiled lightly.

"Ah, have you already seen her?", he asked, without giving that matter any special treatment.

"Yes, I had talked to her a short while ago", he replied back. "She told me you found her on some woods. Why had you brought her here, to the Castle? It's not something wise to do, with all those spies out there", he said, trying to make his brother understand the magnitude of the situation.

"Oh, finally someone that sees things as they are!", Irving exclaimed as if he had met some deity. "Seems that your younger brother is more realistic than what you are, milord", he told Uther, trying to sound both respectful and like a "know-it-all".

"Shut up, Irving", both brothers replied at unison.

"I thought she was dead", Uther started explaining. "Then Ashton said she was just unconscious, but we were almost here by then. I wasn't going to leave her at the woods", he said. "Or do you think I was?", he said, sounding somewhat menacing and glaring at Hector.

"No, of course not", the younger man replied, changing his attitude. He already knew what that glance and that change of tone of voice in his brother meant… "But… why don't you let her leave? She's old enough to look after herself…", he suggested, trying to convince his brother.

"Until Ashton doesn't say that she's out of danger, I won't let her leave", Uther said. "She had important wounds, you know…"

"Yeah, and now he plans to take her with us to the ascension of Marquess Santaruz", Irving said, in that disgusting tone of voice he had, especially when he said something he shouldn't have.

"What?!?!?", Hector asked, even more surprised than when he saw Alina. "You can't be serious! You can't expose her like that! Everyone would start saying nonsense things!!", he exclaimed, trying to make his brother to think about that.

Uther just stayed serene, while watching his brother's pressure going up and up…

"Hector, calm down", he said, calmly. "What I do with my life, is my problem. I'm old enough to look after myself and I can also look after others, so this is an already decided matter. See you later", he said, turning back and leaving the room, leaving his younger brother with his speech in his mouth and an astonished Irving behind.

"Brother, every day that passes I understand you a bit less…", Hector thought, staring at his brother's walking figure.

***

"Everyone could say I'm a teenager getting ready for her first date", Alina thought, looking at her reflection in the mirror, getting ready for the 'ascension party'. "Although I had already passed through that", she said, sitting in her bed in Castle Santaruz. While she said that, she started thinking in every failed attempt of boyfriend she had had, all because of her choice of becoming a tactician. Yeah, those guys back at Nodion were quite stubborn…

The door knocked, and she got up like a spring. She looked at herself one more time, checking everything was alright. She didn't want to hear again Irving's lessons on "Ladies' behavior", "Etiquette" and "Social life Volume 1 – High Society Issue". He had been pestering her with those things all the way from Ostia to Santaruz, and she was eager to either kill him or silence him somehow –that was one of the moments in which she really regretted not knowing the use of swords or lances, or even of a staff, so she could strike him with it several times.

She opened the door, and found Uther and Irving outside. Irving was rather ridiculous, wearing an outfit that was excellent for Carnival time, in Alina's opinion, because it had too many golden thingies, while Uther was alright, although he seemed much thinner of what he seemed. That's because he hadn't his armor, but a cape over his ceremonial garb, which consisted in a dark blue suit (note of the writer: think in Eliwood's white clothes in the ending, but instead of white, dark blue).

"Am I alright?", she asked, regretting this time having accepted Uther's invitation. She seemed like a poor sheep at the verge of being sheared.

"Yes, you are fine", Uther replied, normally. "Shall we?", he said, showing her the way.

The three of them were walking through a corridor, and soon they reached the dance hall, where the party was being held. Earlier in the morning, the ascension took place. Thankfully for her, Alina didn't have to go.

They passed through a row of guards, and one caught Alina's attention. She turned back and saw Fiora, dressed with her pegasi-knight clothes, winking an eye to her.

"Fiora!", Alina exclaimed happily, as if it were a dream.

"Did you say something?", Uther asked, surprised.

"No, not at all", she replied, smiling for herself. "Ah, Lyn's there!", she exclaimed, cheerfully. She got separated for them and went to her meeting, as well as the Sacaen girl did, when she recognized her friend.

"Alina, it's so good to see you again!", the dark green-haired youth greeted her.

"Same here, Lyn!", the tactician replied, hugging her.

Irving, watching from the distance, was rather disappointed.

"I talked to her about a lady's behavior, and she behaves like a commoner", he complained, annoyed. Basically, it was his natural state.

"Let her be", Uther said, while staring at the image of the two friends being reunited again.

"I can't believe you are here! What happened?", Lyn asked her friend, surprised.

"It's a long story", Alina said, walking to one of the room's windows. "Basically, I came here with Lord Uther's group…"

"What? Those are big words, my friend!", Lyn replied, surprised. "How did you get there?"

Briefly, Alina told Lyn her story, including her escape attempts.

"Wuau, it's so odd… at least you are here, and that's what counts!", she said, trying to organize her mind.

"Well, let's stop talking about me. Now tell me about you! Any news to tell this wandering friend?", Alina asked, curious and excited to get the latest gossip.

"From where can I begin…?", the Lorca girl started, thoughtfully. "Wil's at Caelin, he's training new archers. Florina's still shy around men, Rath disappeared… again. I don't know what else I can tell you! You'll see many of the guys here, so I don't want to spoil anything…"

"Had you made any new friends?"

Lyn got serious, and that was something odd in her.

"Well, not really. They have other interests, and they all know each other from before, so I'm like the 'odd one out'. I try to not pay much attention to that, but it's stronger than me. And I miss my plains so much… I don't know how much time I'll cope with this…", she said, getting a bit sad. "Hey, wait for me, I think I've seen Priscilla around, and I'll bring Florina, too!", she added, excited, and walking to the other point of the dance hall.

Alina turned back and faced the window. Stars. It was a starry night, and staring at the horizon or the night sky was one of her favorite hobbies. It helped her so much to think in many things…

"Seems that someone left the gates open in Heaven and the angels came to Elibe", a voice flattered her. She already knew what that meant…

"Hi, Sain", she greeted the green clad man back, while turning back.

The cavalier stood there in surprise.

"Alina, you are always breath-taking!", he said, mending his error.

She giggled. "You'll never change, will you Sain?", she asked, cheerfully.

"Sain, what are you doing there? Come and admit your obligations, and stop harassing that lady", Kent said, walking towards Sain. "Ah… Alina?", he asked, also surprised when he could see her better than from afar.

"Hi, Kent", she greeted back, somewhat seriously, but also with that nostalgic tone that people use when they are reunited with a person who they know things aren't clear yet. At least for her, because Kent never paid too much attention to those things…

Both of them stared at each other for a short time, like wanting to read the other's mind through their looks or even their eyes. That made Alina feel a little uncomfortable.

"My obligations?", Sain asked quickly, playing offended. He had already seen that change in Alina, and didn't want her to feel bad. "My obligation is to flatter pretty girls like this one! It would be a sin if I don't do that!"

Alina giggled again, returning to her previous state, or so she tried.

"Enough, Sain, we have work to do! Alina, it's been a pleasure to see you again", he said, grabbing Sain from one of his shoulders, and greeting Alina somewhat respectful and coldly.

Alina stared at them while they were walking through the Hall. Neither of them had changed. Sain, always flirting, and Kent… Kent was an already lost cause for her. He would never repair on her, unless Lyn told him to do so. It was so sad to realize that every time she saw him…

"Alina, look who have I found!", Lyn's voice returned her to reality.

She brought Priscilla and Florina with her.

"Alina, I would never thought of finding you here!", Priscilla said, somewhat shyly.

"Uhm… Hi, A…Alina. Do you remember... me, don't you?", Florina managed to say, grabbed to Lyn's arm.

"Hi, Florina! You haven't changed much!", the tactician said, smiling. "I remember everyone, you know. Have you seen your sister? She's back at that door", she said.

"Ah, Fiora! I'll go later, thanks", the youngest pegasi sister thanked.

"Hey, have you been with Sain and Kent? I saw them passing through here", Lyn asked, sitting next to her.

"Yes", she replied, smiling. "Sain tried to flirt with me… again, and Kent… he's like always", she said, getting a bit sad. "If you ever marry him, Lyn, don't let me know until you have five children, yes? It's still sad to let him go…", she said, after being thoughtful for a brief moment.

"He's not my type, you know that…", the Sacaen girl started protesting, but then she stayed silent. "Hey, look! Pent and Louise are there, with their little baby!", she said, pointing to the young couple.

They were chatting with Uther, so Alina knew that at least they wouldn't ask her about what she was doing there. She waved them with her hand, maybe later she could go and talk to them.

"Oh, look, there's… Erk!", the tactician exclaimed, raising a big smile. She got up and went where the young mage was.

"Ah! Erk!!!!!! It's been so long!!!!!!!", the tactician exclaimed happily, hugging her "honorary little brother" -as she used to call him- so hard that he was about to collapse.

"Hi, Alina", he managed to mumble, using the little air he had left. "Could you let me breath, please?", he asked, as she didn't make any sign of letting him go.

"Ah, sorry", she said, ashamed, and quitting her arms from him very quickly. "Hey, how are you doing? Do you miss me?", she asked, winking an eye.

"I've been doing well, only that now my studying is a bit shortened by Pent's baby. Sometimes I have to help around with that", he added, sort of embarrassed.

"What? Are you ashamed of doing some babysitter work?", the tactician joked. Knowing Erk, she changed the topic quickly. "Hey, tell me, do you still go on with that escort work of yours?"

"Only if Lord Pent suggests it", he replied. "I fear Serra tries to contact me again…", he said, sort of resigned. "Sorry, Lord Pent's calling", he apologized, watching his master waving to him.

"It doesn't matter. You won't get rid of your "honorary big sis" that easily", she said, giggling.

She returned with Lyn, Priscilla and Florina, just to find Hector and Eliwood with them now. Eliwood was wearing that white outfit again, and she tried to contain her laughter. The day she left Pherea was one of the most funniest days in her life. Thankfully, Eliwood was comprehensive and he understood her 'laugh attack'. Hector was wearing something similar to his brother's suit.

And now, again, Alina was about to suffer another "laughter attack". Fiora was next to them, in her guard job, trying to analyze Hector's behavior towards her little sister. So, while Eliwood was talking about his new life as Marquess Pherae, the attempts of Marcus to investigate any girl around his age for him, and Isadora's progress, Fiora was starting at Hector cautiously, sometimes suspiciously, sometimes glaring at him, and the only one that realized that was Alina. She had to do great efforts to look calm and serene, as a lady and Irving's good pupil.

Then, she was left alone, as everybody had to go on with their protocol activities, like greeting incoming Marquesses, in the case of her former Lords, and the others had to either protect them or talk to more people.

She was staring at the guests. Uther was right: she was having more than a laugh or two. Plus, seeing her former comrades face of surprise when they saw her was more than funny. Lucius, Oswin, Rebecca, Marcus and Lowen's faces were quite memorable. Especially Lowen, who took a bit more of time to distinguish her; his fringe was even longer than before…

"Oh, my… By St. Elimine! Look who's here!!", a very particular voice, very difficult to forget, yelled in Alina's ear. Unfortunately, Alina knew what that meant…

"Hi, Alina! It's me, Serra, do you remember me? Of course you may remember me, I'm so difficult to forget, or that's what everyone says of me!", the pink haired outspoken cleric greeted Alina.

"Hi, Serra", Alina replied, sort of resigned.

"Oh, you don't have to be so shy! Social positions don't mean anything to me! We can still be friends! Oh, first being under the rule of the tactician that freed Elibe from Nergal, and now… I'll serve you again, forever!", she added, almost daydreaming, although it was already night.

"Serra, what are you talking about? I'm not recruiting anybody for any War. Instead, I'm looking for a job!", the young tactician protested, sort of annoyed.

"What? So it's not true? Naaahhhh, you must be hiding it", the cleric said, confused. "Come on, you can tell me all about that. You can trust in me", she charged again, with that never-ending energy she had.

"Again, Serra, I don't know what you are talking about!!", Alina complained, reaching her last level of patience.

"But… it can't be! It has to be true!", the cleric whined, disappointed that her thought was false. However, she tried for the last time. "Aren't you Lord Uther, Marquess Ostia and Hector's brother, fiancée?"

Alina stood there, even more puzzled than before. "Eeek!", was her first thought, but she controlled herself to avoid saying that expression.

"What?!?!? Who's saying that?!?!", she asked, in a state of real anger. "If he's saying that, I'll commit a sortilege with the Manni Katti", she thought, staring at Lyn, trying to calm herself down.

"All the aristocrats", Serra mumbled, feeling sorry. "I thought it was true, as they were saying that, and you came with him…", she said, lowering her head. She had never seen the tactician in that state, and she was afraid Alina was going to say anything bad to her, a 'poor St. Elimine servant'. "Sorry, I have to go. I have to see Erk again", she mumbled, walking fast.

Just then, Sain appeared. That gave Alina an idea.

"Sain!", she called him, still annoyed.

"Yes, ma'am!", he said, turning back to her side.

"Go and crush Serra with your sword!", she said, pointing to the cavalier's weapon. "It's the last thing I aske from you as a tactician!"

Sain looked at her pitifully.

"Sorry, Ally, but if I do that, she won't let me go for the rest of the night", he said, with a very painful tone of voice. "See you later, Ally", he said, walking to another point of the room.

"Bwawahhh! I wish I could use a sword!!!", the young tactician whined, in despair.

Then she walked to one of the windows, this one lead to a balcony, but she stayed in the dance hall.

"Hey, Alina, what's the matter?", Lyn asked her, walking to her meeting.

"Had you heard that rumor?", she asked, still angry.

"I… yes", Lyn replied, feeling sorry for her friend. "Forget about it, some of this folks are that stupid, and others just repeat what they had heard. Come on, cheer up!"

"It's not that easy as it sounds", Alina said, trying to wash away that incident. "And, what do you think about this party?", she asked, changing the topic.

"This? Well… it could be better. I mean, it's boring! If you dance, you have to dance nicely and slowly… Parties in my tribe were much funnier, and…", Lyn started her rant, bored, but some noises caught the two girls attention.

Three nobles were running along the dance hall, quickly and afraid. They passed along the girls, and kept on running. Shortly later, Uther came running, very angry and, obviously, he was chasing those three running nobles.

"Seems he had also heard the rumor…", Lyn said, looking the guys running.

"Yes…", replied Alina, still staring that scene, and lost in her thoughts.

***

"Ah, Alina", Eliwood greeted her back. He was chatting with Hector, Priscilla, Erk, Florina, Rebecca and Sain when she appeared with Lyn.

"Hi, again, people", she replied back, more relaxed.

"Look, the dance is starting!", Sain noticed, listening to the soft waltz sounding in the background. "Rebecca, shall you grant me the biggest honor in all of Elibe, to have this dance with you?", he asked, using all his gallant skills.

"Oh, Sain", Rebecca said, as a complaint. "Oh, alright", she agreed, not knowing why.

"He'll never change", Priscilla said, laughing. Fortunately for her, she hadn't paid much attention when he started his flirting, and then, he was focused in dating Rebecca.

They stood there, chatting for a good time. Suddenly, Alina felt someone grabbing her arm and pulling her to the dance floor. When she realized what had happened, she was already there, dancing with Uther.

"Don't you think you are missing something?", she asked him, suspiciously, as he started guiding her.

"Ah, the 'Do you dance?' part?", he asked, caring little about that formality.

"Hmph!", Alina complained, but went on dancing. "Wasn't it that you wree worried about my health?", she asked, curiously. "My leg is supposed to be resting"

"Ashton said you were alright from your leg injury, and I trust in him, so there's no problem with you dancing", he said, grinning.

"Raths!", Alina cursed, annoyed. "Had you heard the rumors?", she asked him, seriously, all of a sudden.

"Yes, I have", he replied, coldly.

"And why are you dancing with me, then?!? You could have invited any of those noble girls, who I can tell are desperate to dance with you. No one will believe us!", she complained, trying to make him think in the madness he was getting her into.

"They just want to dance with the powerful ruler, you know", he objected. "Come on, I just wanted to have some fun!"

"The Marquess of the most powerful House in all Lycia, head of the Lycian League… everyone will think I'm here because of your position, while I'm nothing more than the hostage of your physician and also yours, in a way!", she went on ranting.

"If we have to talk about achievements, then I'm a worm compared to you!", Uther said, starting to get tired of that discussion. "You were the one that guide the others make them defeat Nergal. I was just talking to nobles in the meanwhile".

"Ha, 'guide the others'", she replied, ironically. "Don't make me laugh! I just told them what I thought was better to do in certain situations, and yet, they did what they wanted several times! Apart from that, you are a strong public figure, while I'm a nobody! They'll all think I'm a pretty thing!"

"A pretty little thing", he corrected.

Alina looked at him puzzled.

"What? I just filled the saying… Oh, come on, forget about that!", he said.

"I just hope you have a good excuse to end with that rumor", she said, saddened.

"Enjoy this night, young tactician".

He was right, she thought. She couldn't do anything to end that blasted rumor, so she had to do as if it never existed. Much to her surprise, she found herself comfortable in Uther's arms. He wasn't a bad dancer, against what she had thought before, and she felt much better dancing with him. So, she closed her eyes for a brief moment, and went on dancing, with a little, almost hidden smile in her lips…

"Hey, Hector! Your brother isn't a bad dancer after all", Lyn joked, cheerfully.

The rest of the group were watching the rare couple dancing, as well as many others did. However, the most surprised was Hector, he would have never expected something like that from his brother…

"Why would he be bad? The fact that we are huge isn't an impediment", he said, trying to act normally. "Do you want to try with me?", he asked then, challenging.

"Thanks, but I'll pass. I don't want to spoil Alina's performance", the Sacaen girl turned down the offer, giggling.

Everyone laughed, except Hector.

"Hey, want to see? Florina, come with me!", he said, a bit brusquely, grabbing the light purple haired pegasiknight.

"I… er….", Florina tried to say. To make matters worse, Fiora was glaring at Hector so furiously, that anyone could have said that she was casting Fire just with her glance.

Unfortunately, for the young Lord, the waltz finished right there, and Florina managed to escape and hide behind Lyn.

As soon as the music finished, Uther left Alina and went to another direction, leaving the poor tactician puzzled at a side of the dance floor. Quickly, she "retreated" to where Lyn, Florina, Priscilla and Fiora were.

"Woah, how does it feel to dance with a Marquess, Alina?", Lyn joked, always cheerfully.

"Strange", the green eyed tactician replied, as coming back from a dream. "I just wish he hadn't do that…"

"Why not?", Fiora asked, curiously.

"Because I didn't like it with all those people around!", Alina replied, blushing.

"Hey, what's that behind the curtains?", Florina asked, afraid. "I hope it's not a bee!"

They all turned and stared at the curtains. Evidently, there was someone behind them, but who?

"I wish it's not an spy…", Alina said, tired.

Suddenly, the curtains opened a little and Erk showed his head out of them.

"Is she gone?", he asked, slowly.

"Who, Erk?", Priscilla asked, surprised of finding Erk's head right next to her.

"Erk!! Where are you? EEEEERRRRKKKKKK!!!", Serra's voice could be heard even outside the Castle. "Oh, there you are, Erk! So you were hidden, uh? Oh, come with me, Erky! I'll introduce many important people that someone of your likes will never be able to meet by traditional ways!", the cleric said, coming to where he was, and guiding him, grabbing his hand.

The poor mage just followed her, resigned, while the girls couldn't stop their giggles.

***

The party was about to end, and almost everyone was together to say their good-byes.

"Well, at least I could see all of you again", Alina said, making a balance of her night.

"I knew I would see you again!", Eliwood said, thinking in her parting, before he ascended his father's place.

"Well, it could be easier to find me if I just stayed in Lycia, but I'm a travelling tactician, so you never know where I will be", Alina joked, giggling.

"Hector, I'm leaving", Uther said, coming to the group. "Alina, shall we?", he asked her, puzzling her for the 'she-didn't –know-what-time' in the night.

"I… well, yes!", she agreed. "I'm very tired. What I want more now id a bed", she joked. "Everyone, I wish I can see you again sometime", she said, making a "general greeting".

"I'm going later, brother", Hector said. "I want to talk with the others a little more".

"Well, if you want to stay…", he said, shrugging. "Everyone, good night"

"Good bye, I hope to see you again!", Alina greeted back, touched.

"Good bye!", the others replied.

The group stayed there, watching the strange couple walking ahead. They could even see how Uther placed his cape over Alina's shoulder, despite her negative, as she was sort of discussing.

"I can't believe it", Hector, said, as if it were a dream. "He seems like a child with Alina around…"

"What? You don't approve that?", Eliwood asked, surprised by his friend's statement.

"It's not that! It's just that it is strange…", he replied, puzzled. "They seem totally different people, and yet… On the other hand, it's Alina! Alina, our tactician! I can't see her as anything but that!"

"That's the point!", Lyn complained, angrily. "Nobody saw her as anything but as a tactician, a living tactic book lending her help uninterested!"

"Lady Lyndis, your grandfather wants to talk to you", Kent interrupted his liege, bringing the important message.

"Oh, I'm coming", she replied him. Then she charged against Hector again, "Hey, let them be. Your brother should also deserve someone like Alina, shouldn't he? What fo you think, Kent?", she asked suddenly.

"About what?", the crimson haired guy replied confused, as he seemed to pay little attention.

"Aout Lord Uther and Alina. She deserves someone worthy, caring, someone whose only glance can make you feel better…", she said, trying to make Kent realize that Alina liked him, sometime.

"Hey, that's not my brother!", Hector complained, seriously. "His only glance intimidates you at daytime, scares you at night, and makes you laugh after he wakes up! Of course, you have to run after doing that", he said, laughing.

Kent stood thoughtfully for a while.

"Well, yes, she deserves that and more. She took great care of you and of all of us…", he said, to add next, "Come on, Lady Lyndis, your grandfather is waiting"

"Alright, alright, I'm going", she said, dropping any hope to make him realize Alina was after him. "See you, guys!", she said, before leaving with the "crimson shield"

"Poor Alina, he'll never repair on her", Eliwood stated, staring at Kent.

"I just hope she won't stay with my brother because Kent never saw her…", Hector said, bitterly.

"How can you doubt of her like that?!?", Fiora asked, scandalized. "Now this is my chance", she mumbled, chasing Hector with her silver sword.

***

"And now, I put my pajamas on and… sleep!", Alina thought, eager to put her head on the pillow.

Just then, someone knocked at the door.

"Come in!", she yelled, sleepily.

The door opened and Uther came in. It was a normal thing for her at that rate.

"Sorry, Alina, to bother you at this time…", he started saying.

"It's alright. Come in, I'm still with my dress", she said, yawning.

"I came for my cape…", he said, searching for it with his eyes.

"Oh, your cape!", she exclaimed, sorry. "Forgive me, I forgot completely about it", she apologized, picking it from a closet. "Here you have", she said, handing it over to him.

"Ah, bed!", she said, laying on it, while he picked the cape.

"Tough day, wasn't it?", he said, starting a topic of conversation.

"Yes… it was pretty tough", she said, very tired.

"Well, good night", he said, a bit awkwardly.

"Uther", she called, weakly.

"Yes?", he said, turning back, sitting down in the bed.

He could see the young tactician almost asleep. He still wondered how she had energy left to talk.

"Why do you look after me so much?", she managed to say, making an effort to not fall asleep while talking. "Is it that you…"

"Me what?", he asked, not facing her.

There was no answer.

He turned back, and found the tactician sound asleep. She looked quite cute in his opinion, with her brownish-reddish hair over her face, and her long eyelashes looking darker than what they were.

He stayed there, just staring at that stranger, thinking in many things, that only he knew…

***

Uff! Long chapter, wasn't it? Sorry, once I started, I couldn't stop. ^_^ I hope this one doesn't suck, it looked so cute in my head. On the other hand, "The New Girl" fic influence got me, at least in the Fiora-Florina-Hector part =P

Hope you enjoyed this one, as I enjoyed writing it. See you!

Now, I think that I'll delay more in writing my fic, so be patient (if there's someone out there reading this, that is =P. Oh, well, at least I have my loyal reviewer, thanks Harunohi!)