Chapter 5: "That last moment"

A day passed, and Alina had barely seen Uther. Apparently, some fuss with a group of Bern bandits was taking all of his time, but part of her wasn't sure that was the real reason for his absence. However, she wasn't angry at him, he too could be confused and dizzy by the events of a few days ago…

The day before Hector left the Castle, as it seemed he had to go to Pherae. Then, he would go with Eliwood to Caelin, just to pay Lyn a visit. She wanted so much to go, too… Anyway, his visit included a chat about her feelings towards his brother, although he hadn't introduced the topic directly, but asking questions about herself, without naming his brother, in an indirect way. She guessed his intentions, and she told him not to worry, that she wouldn't do anything wrong. That seemed to calm him, and then he left.

She was thinking in that while Ashton was checking everything was alright with her, and it seemed to be so, finally…

"See? This is what patience brings as a reward", the physician said, friendly. "If you hadn't stayed at bed, you would be carrying some sort of sequel from your wound, and now you are almost perfect".

"What do you mean with 'almost'?", she asked, afraid. She could bet her life that he would say she had to stay for six days more.

"I can't force you to stay, but I think you should rest even more, maybe one or two days", the physician said, knowing beforehand what her reaction would be. "You can walk and continue your journey, but I would suggest you not to overdo it", he said, picking his things. "I have no more other business to do with you", he said, saddened. She was sure he was about to shed a tear…

"Really? I mean, you aren't lying to me, are you? I can really leave, I won't find any inconvenient to leave?", she asked. Her green eyes were wide open, product of the surprise.

"Yes, you can leave. You have nothing else to do here", he said, trying to convince her.

"I… thanks, Ashton!!!!", she exclaimed, cheerfully. She had to keep herself calm and avoid hugging the touched physician.

"It was nothing", he replied. "Well, Alina, this is farewell", he said, almost out of the room.

"Ashton… sorry if I've treated you badly", she apologized, ashamed of herself. "Thanks for everything"

"You don't have to apologize", he said, friendly. "Good luck, Alina", he said, walking along the corridor.

"Thanks, good luck for you too!!", she waved him from her door. Then she closed the door of her room and, after jumping and celebrate for herself the fact that she was leaving, she started to put all her things in her old bag and to leave everything cleaned, as it was when she first awakened there.

***

Knock, knock.

"Come in", Uther's voice shouted, impatiently, from inside.

Alina opened the door to Uther's study, and she found him behind his desk, checking some papers. He was wearing trousers and a white shirt, thing that called Alina's attention because she was used to see him with his armor, even at the Castle. He seemed much thinner than what he looked wearing that huge armor.

Uther stared at her for a short while. She was carrying her things, and had already put her green cape over her shoulders. She was smiling, and her eyes were shinning with a friendly look this time. She was wearing her travelling clothes, the same ones that have been soaked in hot tea earlier. Fortunately for Alina's fashion sense, there where no hints of that event. He left all his papers on the desk, and after looking her well, he said, smiling lightly,

"You look like a small kid dressed with her mother's clothes like that". His voice had a hint of sorrow, but he tried to act normal.

Alina looked at herself, then she faced him again.

"Yes, I know. Second rule of wandering tacticians: Use comfortable clothes to travel. You may not find a boyfriend or a husband, but you'll travel better", she joked, giggling.

Uther smiled at her lightly. Apparently, he was very tired, and hadn't the necessary strength to laugh… or was he sad?

"And which one is the first one?", he asked, curious.

Alina thought for a little while. "You know, they aren't official. A teacher of mine told us about their existence, but no one pays attention to them", she said, trying to drive his interest to another topic.

"But which one is the first one?", he asked back, impatient.

Alina doubted for a seconds, then she said, "When your job is finished, and you know you won't work anymore for that employer, flee away and find another employer. Past employers can be friends but you may not stick to them, as they will only be trouble", she said, shyly.

Uther looked at her, but he had no expression in his face, and that made her feel uncomfortable. She stopped smiling quickly, and she looked at him somewhat nostalgic.

"Ashton says I can leave, and well… I've come to thank you all what you did for me. I won't be able to pay you back in a lifetime", she said, thankful.

"It was nothing", Uther replied. "You have nothing to thank, yet nothing to repay"

"Well, if you say so…", she said, shyly.

Uther coughed, and he was angry with himself about that. Knowing Alina, the topic of his health was going to pop out…

"Are you ok?", she asked worried, as she asked him that other say at the gardens.

"Yes, I'm ok", he said, harshly, moving away from her. "I told you not to worry about this or about me. It's a short cold, it'll disappear in a few days time…"

"There's something that makes me distrust you in this matter", she said, suspiciously, trying to find an answer in his eyes.

He moved his head to the opposite direction, so he wouldn't meet her gaze.

"That means I'm right, am I not?", she asked, saddened and worried.

"Come on, Alina, I'm not a little child. I can look after myself without any problems", he protested, annoyed.

"Sometimes you really look like one!", she complained, like a mother would have done with her rebel son. "Are you sure you do everything what Ashton tells you?"

"Except the walks around the Castle, yes", he admitted. She was stronger than him in that aspect.

"Sure? Do you sleep well, take your meals, everything?"

"Yes, Mother, I do", he said, ironically.

"I'm not your mother!!", she exclaimed, laughing and playing scandalized. "Don't ruin yourself", she said, then, sweetly. "Will you take care of yourself? Will you do whatever Ashton says? Can you promise me that?", she said, all of a sudden.

He was puzzled by that last 'outburst'. After all, she cared about him, it wasn't an impression, but a reality…

He laughed, and then he said, "If that makes you calmer, I can promise you that"

They both stayed silent for a short while. Alina didn't know what else she could say. She hated farewells, and she wanted to run away as soon as she could. Uther, on the other hand, couldn't find another topic, and couldn't let her go.

"Come on, I'll go with you to the door", he said, finally.

"No, please", she asked, almost in despair. "I hate farewells or good-byes. I feel so bad. That's why I always try to follow Tactician's Rule N° 1. Don't torture me doing that, please, I beg you"

"Ally, please", he said, coldly. "It's the last thing I can do for you, and I'll do it. What does it change to say good-bye here, or next to a door?"

Alina looked at him puzzled, and also touched.

"You called me 'Ally'", she said, as soon as she could speak. "You've called me by my pet name"

"And what's wrong with that?", he said, hiding his surprise for having let go that name from his lips, and the one that she had for having been called by that.

"No… nothing", she said, turning back. "Alright, let's go", she approved his offer, walking through the corridor.

Uther stayed back for a short while. He stared at her, and he whispered, coldly,

"It's too late for that. It's a pity that I hadn't found you before…"

Alina turned back, and smiling, she asked, "Did you say something?"

That smile made him think better his answer. No, he wouldn't torment her with his problem, she had already her own things to worry. Not that he thought in telling her about it, from the very beginning. He was used to look after himself, and to not worry the others with his own dilemmas. Court affairs were much more important than his own issues, especially having Bern, excelling in military tactics and affairs, as neighboring country. He could handle his life himself, and he was so used to that, that when someone tried to help him, it annoyed him. Strangely enough, Alina wasn't that annoying, for some unknown reason…

"No, I didn't", he replied, smiling lightly. "Come on, let's go. You want to leave"

"Don't make it sound like that. It seems that you treated me badly that way", she said, still smiling. "I leave because I have to, that's why"

They walked side by side, silent. Uther tried to grab Alina's things, but she didn't allowed him, strongly. Again, words were absent, and seemed to be non-existent in their minds. Seems that it was one of those moments where two people prefer to be silent, just feeling the others presence.

They reached the 'reception room', as Alina called it, and the door. The parting was right before them.

"Well, now I have to leave, really", she said, looking at the blue Ostian skies.

"I can't force you to stay, because it's not going to rain anytime soon", he said, also staring at them.

The 'brownish reddish' haired tactician giggled, with a hint of nostalgia.

"Thank you so much for the treatment you gave me, for the opportunity to see my companions again… thanks", she thanked him, happily. "I don't know where or how I would be now if you hadn't appeared in that forest"

"I hope you'll learn to travel with an escort, after all this", he joked. "You know, I won't be there to help you any time you are attacked, even if I would like to do it"

"I know, you don't have to say it", she said, sort of saddened, as if she could feel something wrong.

"Hey, don't get sad", he said, trying to cheer her up. "Maybe next time I can tell you how to pick a sword", he said, encouraging.

It was then when everything seemed clear and confusing at the same time for her.

"Uther", she said, doubting first, then more decided, gathering her courage. "Will I ever see you again?"

The young Marquess stood still, surprised by that kind of question. Or she was feeling something odd about him, or she wanted so much to be with him, were his thoughts. He smiled, trying to give her confidence (was it real that she wanted someone whose only sight could inspire that feeling? Or his spy overhead wrongly and Alina wasn't the girl in question? Anyway, he tried to do his best to satisfy her supposed 'soft-spot'), and said,

"Don't be silly. I'm sure we'll bump into each other again"

"But I'm a wandering tactician for hire, so it'll be difficult to find me…", she started saying, but he interrupted her.

"Hey, you are talking to the ruler of the spy's capital!", he joked, badly. "Someone will know where you are, I suppose"

"Now I think I feel a bit less secure than before…", she said, at the only thought of knowing that a person would be following her day and night, just to report her habits and life.

"Oh, come on! I wouldn't do that with you", he said, calming her. "I just tried to cheer you up, but seems that it isn't my specialty"

"It's alright", she said, looking at the sky. "I have to leave", she said, not facing him. "Soon, the weather won't be as friendly as it is now, and I would rather leave now", she said, picking her things.

"Wait", he said, grabbing her from an arm.

She turned back, quite annoyed by that habit of him of grabbing her and pulling towards him, but in this case he just stopped her from walking, while he was looking for something in his pockets. He found the item he was looking desperately: a golden bracelet with blue and green stones on it. She couldn't tell if they were precious stones or not, but she didn't want to do anything with it. He moved towards her right hand, and put it on her wrist, while she tried to prevent him of doing that.

"No, please…", she begged, nervously. "I can't accept it, I can't leave with this!"

"Don't be so scandalizing, you know!", he moaned, after 'achieving his goal'. The bracelet was in her wrist, even if she didn't want it.

"It's a small present for you being here", he explained, normally. "You could have knocked down all the army if you really wanted to escape, or you could have faked my authorization"

"I hadn't thought in that!", Alina thought, but she gave up that plan a long time ago.

"But…", she complained, but she already knew it was useless: Uther wasn't of the ones that hesitate or turn back after deciding something. He wouldn't accept it back even if she were pointing at him with a lance. So, she was now the proud new owner of a little bracelet, much to her disappointment.

"It's not fair", she said, looking at it. "It's a beautiful thing, but I can't take it. I can't give you anything in return! Unless you want my cape, but I need it", she said, looking at her old, green cape, that was like a second skin for her.

"You already gave me much", he said. Then, an inopportune cough showed up.

Alina looked at him worried.

"Are you sure you'll be ok? I don't like how it sounds", she asked. "Maybe if you want, I can… stay around", she said, almost like a whisper, shyly. She couldn't understand why, but she felt she could gave up her 'freedom' to stay a little while with him, unless until he were ok.

He smiled lightly and looked at her as if nothing had happened.

"I appreciate your kindness, but I already told you that I'll be ok", he said, acting naturally. "I don't know why you make that fuss about an autumn cold. I don't know what you'll do if you ever have children", he joked, ironically.

"Maybe you are right", she said, giving up. "Yes, I don't know why I am so paranoid, concerning health issues", she said, thoughtfully.

"In the others, because when it comes down to you…", he said, ironically.

"Just like you", she replied back, sarcastically.

They both laughed for a short while, then she picked her things. A part of her wanted to stay, but her business –her accidental business, because she didn't searched for it- was over. It was time to leave.

"Well, thank you for everything", she said, grabbing her bag. "Say 'bye' to Hector and the others for me when you see them", she said, now ready to leave.

"Alright", he said. "I'll do that".

They stood looking at each other, without talking. Neither of them knew what else to say. Those moments before a parting… no one wants to say anything, and then they regret it for the rest of their lives or until they have a second chance…

"Now that I see you better, you look much thinner without that big armor of yours…", she said, trying to delay the parting with a trivial topic.

Uther looked at himself, and he blushed lightly… thing that surprised Alina, because she hadn't seen him blushing since she got there. Or at least, she didn't recall it.

"Now you look cute when you blush", she said, ironically, thinking in that walk around the gardens, the day he almost kissed her. She was taking her revenge, at long last…

He didn't say anything, but he caressed her in her cheek, although it was a bit harshly, and that made her blush. He knew how to take revenge, also…

"Well, I'm going", she finally said, repeating the same phrase over and over, as is she could convince herself. "Please, take care. Don't overwork that much, and listen to Ashton, he's a good guy…"

"Unlike Irving, uh?", he asked, laughing.

"Argh!! He was so disgusting to me!", she admitted, now that she was a foot out of the castle. "I think I wasn't nice to him, am I wrong?"

"I don't know. I barely listen to him", he also admitted, laughing.

"This is a nice revelation", she said, giggling. Then she gathered all her courage again, and said, trying to speak normally, "See you later"

"See you"

"Will you stay there until I walk through the Castle's gates?", she asked, curiously.

"Maybe yes, maybe not", he replied, mysteriously. "Does it bother to you?"

"No, just curious", she said, smiling.

She started walking, but then turned back again, as if she had forgotten something.

"Will I ever see you again?", she asked, and then she blushed, as if she had just noticed what she had asked and didn't want to say it.

The light breeze was moving her hair and her green cape gently, and her untidy fringe was hiding her eyes as the wind passed through it. She moved it from her face with her hand, while she also tried to cover her blushing cheeks. Her expression was a mix of anxiety and calm, and she was doing her best to keep on smiling. She didn't want to get sad, although she knew she would have little opportunities to see him again, and that 'something' among them was highly improbable, and both of them knew it, but knowing him, who was a bit uncounventional for a ruler... no one could tell.

Uther smiled lightly and just nodded.

"I hope so", she said, friendly. "See you"

"See you", he replied, almost like a whisper.

She turned back and started walking through Castle Ostia's gardens. Just some meters ahead was the big, fortified gate, that same one she tried to escape in her first days of 'imprisonment'. She was walking confidently, or so she tried to look, while she was quite confused at heart. She didn't want to turn back, because she didn't want to meet the dark blue haired young man, who treated her so well for he last weeks. She didn't want to think anymore about that, just to focus in her next destination, but for the time being she couldn't. She raised her head and stared at the sky, as if it could wash away her thoughts, but instead she saw a familiar figure. She waved at her, and the falconknight came from the skies and picked her up from the ground, leaving that way Castle Ostia and its people behind.

Uther couldn't help but laughing at the sight of the young tactician flying over his Castle with Fiora. He was rather confused, also, but he couldn't allow himself to think in other things but his own business, now that the 'emerald eyed' girl was gone.

"So the little girl is finally gone, uh?", Irving asked, standing behind his liege. "Should I organize a party, now that the little demon is out?", he asked, sarcastically. "But now that I think of it, she would have suited you well; both of you are so unconventional…", he said, as if he were a superior being.

"Irving, do me a favor?", Uther asked, calmly. "Go to Hell, and don't appear until I call you, yes?", he asked, with the same serenity he had before.

Irving stood puzzled, but then he left his Marquess alone. He knew he could end up badly if he stayed, challenging.

*

"I can't believe that you are out, Ally!", Fiora exclaimed, cheerfully. "What had you done? You've killed the petit stupid knight or you bribed his doctor?", she asked, ironically.

"What a concept you have of me!", the tactician cried, acting scandalized and laughing. "The physician said I could live, and well, here am I, 'onboard' your falcion"

The tactician sighed, a long, deep sigh.

"I hope to be luckier next time", she said, tired. "Every time a group of bandits attacks me, it's just for trouble"

"Why?", the greenish haired girl asked, paying attention to her falcion.

"Well, the first time I was attacked by bandits, Lyn found me unconscious in the Sacae plains, and I ended up guiding her and her group against her own Uncle, Lord Lundgren. Then, the second time, I could barely escape from another bunch, and I stayed at an Inn in Pherae. It was there where I listened Lowen asking for some help to go in the search of Marquess Pherae and his men, and as I wanted to see Eliwood and to escape from the bandits, I got myself into that, which ended in our quest against Nergal"

"That's right", Fiora interrupted, cheerfully. "It was then when I became a falconknight, and I owe it to you!", she added, giggling.

"You were in your right time to become one", the tactician analyzed, seriously. "Anyway, and now, I was sort of trapped in Castle Ostia, doing the toughest job I had ever done until that time"

"And what was it?"

Alina doubted for a short while, then she said seriously,

"To guide myself, against my own, in a strange battlefield, against an unknown and unexpected enemy"

"Quite poetic", Fiora noticed, ironically.

"I didn't know what he wanted", Alina went on, feeling guilty for some unknown reason, but she couldn't help it. "It was rather strange that he didn't allow me to go, or to even rest at an Inn, if he wanted his physician to see me… I guess that I panicked, and behaved like a brute commoner in some occasions, but it was stronger than me… The worst is that I tried the best I could to evade that imaginary trap, but I think I hadn't succeeded..", she said, saddened.

"Do you love him?", Fiora asked her, seriously, all of a sudden.

"That… I can't tell", Alina said, ashamed of herself. "That's why I say I don't think I've succeeded in evading the trap… the 'trap for the heart', as I call it. He may have done it without that intention, but now here I am, doubting of my own name…", she said, enlarging the situation. "The worst is that I came here to Elibe looking for job experience and maybe love, if I was lucky enough. Now I regret that. I hadn't thought it hurt that much…", she said, shyly.

"So you didn't want to fall in love, yet you did, and now you regret, being that a thing that you really wanted with all your heart", Fiora analyzed. "Aren't you a bit immature in that aspect?"

"Hmph! Thanks for that!", Alina complained ironically, and somewhat offended. "Hey, it's the first time someone 'seems' that interested in me! And how to react in those cases is not an issue that you can find in tactician's books!", she said, sarcastically. "I still don't know if what I feel is love or a simple infatuation! And I don't know what he really felt. Maybe he was just infatuated…"

"Or maybe not"

"Argh!! Don't make me feel guilty!", the tactician yelled, angrily. "I always liked Kent best, even though he never repaired in me and with that serious thing he has and will ever have. And I only knew what was to love or feel something for someone, but not to be loved by someone who wasn't a member of my family, and that kind of love in this cases isn't that valid", she explained, trying to calm herself down. "And I was starting to embrace the idea of being single for the rest of my life", she complained, ironically.

That puzzled Fiora, who turned back and looked at her astonished.

"How old are you, gal?! You aren't old, whatever your age is", she said, .

"I'm twenty-two, a short way to twenty-three", she replied, resigned. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, Goodness! You'll find someone, I can assure you!", the falcoknight replied, in haste. "In that case, what's in store for me? I'm already twenty-four, you know", she replied, laughing. "Now tell me, why did you want to escape so much?", she asked, now more serious.

Alina thought for a while, then she replied, "I think I panicked, and I wanted to escape. On the other hand, I've been looking after myself without any help for a long time, and I guess I'm not used to be looked after, after all"

"I see. Now, changing the topic, what will you do?", Fiora asked, worried by those menacing winds. It was a rather windy day, and she was too worried about her falcion, who didn't seem alright in the last few days.

"Well, I think I'll rest at an old Inn in some little village, so I can think well about my lie and future, and then I'll go on with my journey towards the nothing", the young tactician said, sarcastically and sighing. "I really don't know, as I didn't know what to do since I placed a foot in Elibe", she added, bitterly.

"Maybe I can drop you somewhere around", Fiora offered, friendly. "A thing I would really suggest you is to try to find an escort. If it's as you said, and as many town folks complain about the amount of bandits in the roads these days, it won't be long until you are attacked again", she advised, seriously.

"Maybe you are right", Alina thought, not very convinced. "I got it!!!", she exclaimed, very excited and happy, much unlike her previous taciturn mood. "Erk!! I'll hire Erk!!", she exclaimed, almost scaring the falcion with her shouts.

Fiora giggled, and went on guiding her falcion. The two girls stayed silent, and it was then when the tactician looked back, for the first time. Castle Ostia seemed a small spot in the land, and its people would have had the size of little ants. The wind was blowing gently, moving her hair and her clothes, as a gentle caress. A lone tear run across her still blushed cheek, and she closed her eyes wide shut, while the wind went on blowing gently, and the world stood in its place…

***

Uf… I could finally make it shorter than the last chapters…

Stay around, because the epilogue's pending…