Lookies, I'm updating! ;; I really didn't mean to cut this chapter so short, but it's already so incredibly long, and I haven't updated in such a long time, and… Yeah. ;
...And this is so much longer than the first one. Hn. Oo Ah well. Enjoy, ne? ;
Answers to reviews:
Cheli Forever -- Yes, yes, updating... ;; Don't be jealous. You're young. You'll be better than me when you're this age. ;
Amethyst Bubble -- No worries, I'll have those pairings. I wuv them too.
Neo Mog -- Nope, this chapter's still yaoi. ; The majority's yaoi. nods
Cathy Barton -- Lookies, I'm finally updating... ;; (Yeah, the YGO readers are gonna be yelling at me soon now... ') And don't worry, I have Kent/Sain... THIS chapter.
Vyctori -- Thank you so much, I'll remember not to describe so over-much. ; That's kind of a natural problem with me. ;; I'm learning to use names, that I am. There's a reason people HAVE names, ne...? ;;;;
Morning Mist -- Thankies. I'll keep it in mind. nods It's just... sometimes, I do write introspective stuff, and I forget the rest of the world around them. Oo I'm trying to learn to balance it...
Melfice -- Oooh, I finally saw the Legault/Heath support scenes. grins widely Eeheehee, I'll definitely have that pairing.
Cecil-Darkwind -- Mmmm, Elbert didn't die before Uther. Elbert died around Chapter 20, and Uther died around chapter 30. (Too lazy to check actual chappy numbers.) And anyway, I might not have made it clear, what with all my over-description and all, but when I say "Marquess of Pherae" right now, I mean Eliwood, and "Marquess of Ostia" also refers to the current marquess, which is Hector, not Uther. ;
Rockie1 -- Will have, will have.
Zephire the Tactician -- nods I was crying during that scene...
Death Scythe X-9 -- Yes, more, right here. ;
RianneHime -- Yes, writing, writing. ;;; But this one's so much harder than the last one... teary eyes (Heh, see, my friend puts Kurama as the seme 'cause he's taller. ')
Karlminion -- Don't worry, there shouldn't be anything really graphic until the end. But I think I might push the rating a little higher for the ending. (No, I don't know what's going to happen. ') Also, I chose not to include any A-level support convos, because… well… The support convos generally sort out all the personal problems and whatnots. I want the problems to be there. That's what the fic's about.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem yet. However, I do hope to get into video game design one day and work on this series. Meanwhile, all I own of it is the actual game cartridge and the guide book (which I bought solely for its pretty pictures, after I've beaten it a few times ').
Warning: Yaaaaaaaaoi!
And since people have been requesting pairings, I'll put the pairings I'm planning to have here. (In no particular order...)
Absolutely certain pairings:
Hector/Eliwood (Done)
Kent/Sain (This chapter)
Raven/Lucius
Legault/Heath
Matthew/Guy
Jaffar/Nino
Lyn/Florina
Pent/Louise (Only a cameo)
Harken/Isadora (Probably just a cameo)
Unsure pairings:
Erk/Priscilla or Erk/Serra (Isn't that always the question? ' Although Serra's kinda winning in my head... But then, I feel kinda sorry for Priscilla 'cause she can't have Raven...)
Oswin/Serra (If I choose Erk/Priscilla...)
Rath/Wil or Dart/Wil (Although Rath/Wil is now seeming much more humorous. ' But then, Dart IS Dan, Wil's once "best friend"... ' Or should I keep it to friendship? I know for a fact that not all "best friends" turn into lovers...)
Dart/Farina (If I choose Rath/Wil...?)
...And yes, I am quite obsessed with pairing up as many people as possible. ;;;;
Anyway.
Pairing for this chapter: Kent/Sain, more light-hearted than the last.
Florina and Matthew will also be featured in this chapter (no, not as a couple), but they only play brief roles, and will get their own chapters later.
Chapter Two - For Friends Dear to Our Hearts...
The verdant-armored rider slowed his horse to a gentle walk, patting its neck gratefully and taking off his helmet, letting his chestnut locks fly in the breeze. He sighed appreciatively. It had been a while since he was last here. Everything remained virtually unchanged, and for that, he was infinitely grateful. Riding down the barely-worn path that only few used, approaching the beloved castle he knew so well, he felt as if he had come home again. In a way, he truly had.
"Halt!" a voice called out sharply, from somewhere high up. "Who goes there? State your name and business to Castle Caelin."
The rider paused, his hazel eyes blinking in momentary confusion. Of course. He was at the castle walls now, where a sentry challenged him. He had forgotten that not everyone knew him now. It had been a year, after all. He was glad that, though the castle was given over to Ostia rule, its name remained unchanged.
"Sain!" he called up simply, not bothering to give an explanation. It did not matter. Whatever name he gave, the sentry would not know him. And if he was reported to any of the knights, or even higher-ranking soldiers, inside the castle, they would recognize him immediately. They had better.
The sentry frowned, shaking his head. "I know of no such knight in our service. I cannot let you in without proper authorization."
Sain made a face. He should have expected this, not visiting his old home for a full year. It was not his fault, really. He was busy wandering, adventuring, wooing beautiful women... But now, he felt a compulsion to return, to revisit his friends. One person, in particular...
"Is Kent there?" the cavalier-turned-paladin tossed up, his face once again set in his trademark smile. "Tell him Sain's here. He'll know."
The frown did not leave the sentry's face. If anything, it deepened. "Sir Kent is out."
"Ah yes, Sir Kent," Sain repeated the emphasis, smirking lightly. "Steward of Caelin Castle now, is he not? Where did he go?"
"...Out riding." The sentry would say no more.
Shrugging, the famous -- and infamous -- Green Lance turned his horse and set out to search for his old friend and longtime partner. That, he realized, was what he really came back for.
"Ah, a beautiful spring day," Sain declared out loud, a bright smile lighting his visage. "The perfect weather for..." He paused dramatically. "...Love. Now, to find a damsel in distress to rescue... Or maybe just finding Kent would do. He's no substitute for a 'lovely maiden', but... I doubt I would just happen to chance upon a lady in trouble."
To his surprise, a startled scream pierced the air, quickly cutting off. It was most definitely feminine.
The youth grinned, hefting his lance and checking that his sword was in easy reach, as he raced towards the location of that sound. "Have no fear, oh moonlight beauty, your knight Sain is coming!"
As the wind whipped past him, its bladed tendrils streaming through his chestnut hair, his mind supplied him with a vision of his best friend, riding beside him. He could almost hear Kent's voice, caring and berating.
"How would you know if she were a beauty?" The crimson knight was always skeptical when he tried to flirt.
"Why, because she has such a lovely voice!" Sain declared cheerfully.
"Hm. And why 'moonlight'?" Kent would raise an eyebrow at this point.
"Oh, Kent, my partner, don't question it," he replied back with a cheeky grin. "It is just one more adjective in my cache of sweet flattery."
The paladin's wide, ever-laughing eyes closed for a second, squeezing out the betraying salty liquid gathered in his eyes. He wondered momentarily if they were from the sting of the rushing wind... or if his emotions had surfaced so drastically. After that brief reminiscence, he missed his friend more than he ever did in his year-long travel.
Voices drifted to his ears; he was now close enough to hear the exchange between his "damsel in distress" and her tormentors. Trees surrounded him. They must be within a clearing.
"Well, ain't she a pretty one? How much do you think we'd get for her?"
Sain wrinkled his nose in disgust. Bandits. Even around the knight-patrolled Caelin Castle, there were so many of them, abducting young maidens and making off with what did not belong to them. They had no honour.
"Please, leave me alone," came a sweet, timid voice. "I... I don't want to fight you, but I will if I have to."
Hazel eyes widened in recognition. He knew that voice!
"Hah, a little lady like you, fight?" It was a different bandit this time. The youth absently tried to calculate how many there were, and how high his chances of victory. Not that it made a difference. Where there was trouble, he was honour-bound to help, especially if the one in need was such a dear friend.
"Please, let go of my Pegasus," the girl requested. "I really will fight... I..."
"Not likely." Yet another bandit.
Sain grimaced. The odds would be against him. Still, he rode in calmly, a mask of indifference upon his face, waving cheerfully at the girl in the middle of the large clearing. "Well met, beautiful Florina. Are these bandits giving you trouble?"
"Ah... Sain!" A grateful smile settled upon the orchid-haired maiden's face. "I... I'm sorry. I'm still so clumsy sometimes, even after training with Lyn -- Lady Lyndis -- and the rest of you. I..."
The knight grinned. "Fell on one of them?"
A blush spread across the girl's pale cheeks. "Y-yes. I wanted to fly to Castle Caelin, you see, but a b-bee was chasing me, and I tried to land, and..."
One of the bandits glared in their general direction. "The girl was light enough, but her darn horse weighed a ton! We want compensation!"
"Tsk, tsk." The emerald knight turned towards his friend. "And did you apologize, Florina?"
"Yes, of course..."
"Well, then," Sain shrugged, "I see no problem here. Be on your way, gentlemen, and stop causing problems."
"What?!" The bandits were enraged. "We're taking this girl and her flyin' horse right now, and they'd better fetch us a pretty penny, or..."
Eyes narrowed dangerously, the young cavalier positioned himself in front of the orchid-haired girl protectively. "Would you like to hear about what happened the last time someone tried that? To put it simply, there's not a one of them still alive."
"Hmph." Of course, some people were doomed to make the same mistakes as their predecessor, and listened to no friendly warnings. These bandits were, most assuredly, in that category. "We're much stronger than them, whoever they were. And, in case you haven't noticed, sir knight, we have you and that wee girl surrounded. There's no way you can beat us."
Shaking his head in mocking disappointment, Sain slid his sword out of its scabbard. Lances may be heroic, but with this many bandits, he thought he should be just a little more careful than usual. After all, it would not do for a "beautiful maiden" to see him injured, even if she was an old friend who had fought side-by-side with him in the battle to prevent the destruction of the world. Frowning as a thought occurred to him, he turned to her. "Fair Florina, can you use a sword?"
The teen nodded hesitantly. "I... yes... I suppose so... Lyn has taught me, and..."
"Do you have one with you?"
Florina shook her head. "N-no. I just planned to go see Castle Caelin, and then I'll g-go to Sacae... To Lyn... I didn't think that this would... I'm sorry..."
The knight patted her hair comfortingly, keeping his eyes on his enemies' movements. "Take to the air, dear Florina. I'll take care of them."
Once again, the girl shook her lavender head. "Sain, thank you for your concern... But I, too, am a knight, and I will fight like one."
The hazel-eyed rider grinned. "You've become much braver than the timid little Florina I met two years ago. What a pity Lady Lyndis isn't here to see you. She would have been so proud."
A soft smile lit the girl's face. "Do you really think so?"
"Uh-huh. I know so."
"Oh, I'm so glad!"
Throughout this exchange, the bandits watched with barely-veiled impatience. Finally, they attacked, deciding the two's conversation are not nearly interesting enough for them.
"Take the sword, Florina." Without turning, the knight handed her the weapon that would give the greater advantage over the bandits' axes.
"But... you...?"
Sain grinned with carefree ease. "I'll be fine. Am I not the Green Lance?"
"Th-thank you, Sain..."
The knight winked. "What are friends for?"
At the beginning, the battle was simple. Untrained bandits, however advantageous with their weapons, were no match for two fully-trained knights. But as the fight went on, exhaustion began to show upon the two friends' faces. Florina, weaker in strength, wove amongst the bandits, blade flashing faster than sight could follow by her skilled hand. Complimenting her with the perfection that took many battles to attain was the emerald knight, the lance of his namesake thrusting into enemy flesh. This masterful dance, so beautiful and deadly, could not last much longer. Bodies piled before them, desperate villains with desperate attacks, fallen at their feet. However, such loss of hope, loss of purpose, gave their enemies an edge. Unlike the two riders, the bandits had nothing to lose... and everything to gain, should they be successful.
"Ah! I..." Faltering momentarily, the young Pegasus knight clutched her shoulder, free hand swinging her sword in a wild arc. Blood seeped between her fingers as she tilted, falling off of her mount. Pain, not felt for almost a year, came rushing back, along with a frantic and instinctive search for her closest friend. "L-lyn?"
Hesitating for no more than a second, Sain rushed to her, letting a burst of adrenaline clear his way. Gently but firmly, he shook her, calling out, "Florina, take to the air! Fly!"
The orchid-haired girl could only stare back in puzzled bewilderment. "Lyn... Where is...?"
Shaking his head, the cavalier shoved her atop her Pegasus, unhooking his own horse's reins and using the leather ropes to tie her to the winged beauty. He spoke now to the Pegasus, softly and urgently. "Fly! Take her to Castle Caelin! Look for Kent. Look for Wallace. Look for anyone you know; they would recognize her. Go!"
As though she understood, the noble animal bowed her head in respect before taking off with her master and charge, leaving the hazel-eyed knight to fend for himself. He put on a brave face. They must never know that he knew fear, that he knew the odds were overwhelmingly against him.
"I will purge this district that once the noble territory of Caelin of you bandits!" Sain vowed, summoning courage in the face of near-certain death. This is the end... I'm sorry, Lady Lyndis, that I could not protect your beloved friend better. I'm sorry, my friends, that it had to end this way. I'm sorry... Kent... He felt tears rise, unbidden, to his eyes, and tried to swallow them. Now was not the time to get sentimental. Yet... Kent... My greatest friend, my partner for as long as I could remember... I just wanted to see you again. Yet I got into this mess, and... and... The tears were under his control. He would not let any emotion show to these ruthless bandits. "Come, then! All of you will die on this day, and harass no more peaceful villagers and beautiful maidens!"
He did not know for how long he stood there, lance in hand, the grassy enamel stained crimson with his foes' blood. It could have been minutes, hours, days... Time made no difference to him. He knew only that at any cost, he would protect Castle Caelin. At any cost, he must protect the people under Kent's stewardship. If fate would have him die, then so be it. He would die a true knight, protecting something -- someone -- important to him.
The first strike upon him was a thin line across his cheek, a slip of the tip of an axe's blade. Stinging pain assaulted him, worsening with the sweat that dripped into the hair-thin cut, that mingled with droplets flaring in the sun like a scarlet blaze. It was merely a tiny distraction, one that he had long ago learned to ignore until battle's end, but it served to remind him that he was no longer untouchable. Blows upon his now-dented armor caused tremors attack his body, and he could feel himself giving more and more ground. No longer was he mounted; he had sent his horse off to safety. How he had misjudged the strength of these ruffians! With perfect hindsight, he saw that he should have taken extra weapons, should have found extra people to help.
Impulsive. Kent always said he was impulsive. When his quick wit got them into trouble, it was always Kent who carried them out of those situations. Where was Kent now? Where was his partner, the Shield to his Lance?
Blood... He was aware of the precious liquid trailing down his arms, as one axe bit under his armor. Desperately, he swung his lance. Desperately, he sought to cut them down before his life ended.
And suddenly, they were gone. They were simply gone, as if they had vanished. Sain did not know, could not see. Blood and sweat dripped into his eyes, temporarily blinding him. It mattered little. As long as they were gone...
Pitching forward, his amazing strength spent, the verdant knight feel into strong arms, before he blacked out.
"Sain... Wake up, wake up..."
Groaning as he came to, his consciousness bringing back the pain of all his wounds, Sain struggled to open his eyes. Something cold and wet was pressed against his forehead -- a damp piece of cloth, he assumed -- and he was most definitely lying on something soft.
"Oh, thank goodness, Sain!" The voice was very familiar. "I was afraid that you were... that they might have..."
"Nn..." Finally managing to pull open the heavy lids of his eyes, the young knight gazed up into a well-known face framed by short, scarlet hair. Yes, he certainly recognized this person. "K-kent! What are you doing here?" He blinked. "Where am I? What am I doing here?"
The Crimson Shield gave a rare laugh. "You are in Caelin Castle, my friend. Your old room, if you look..."
The green knight was still confused. In a flurry, he pushed himself up on his elbows, frantically scrambling to get up. "What am I doing here? The bandits... I must fight the bandits..."
Kent shook his head, gently pressing his partner down again. "They are gone. I killed the rest of them. Relax, Sain. You are injured. Please don't overwork yourself."
Nodding absently, the youth fixed him with a stare. "You came in the nick of time! I thought I was going to..." Slowly, his brows furrowed into a puzzled frown. "How did you find me?"
Running a hand through his flame-coloured hair, the more serious of the two shrugged. "I was out riding, as you probably already know. On my way back to the castle, I saw a Pegasus in the air. I think it spotted me and came down. On its back was Florina. By that time, she was no longer dazed, and told me where to find you, and I hurried there as soon as I could."
For a moment, the flirty knight was silent. When he spoke again, his eyes were filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Kent. You saved my life."
The taller man ruffled his hair, almost as if he were a child. "Don't mention it, partner. What are friends for, after all? There is much of life yet to be lived, and we have need still of your bright, cheerful smile and tongue free with flattery."
Sain made a face. "Gee, thank you ever so much, dear partner. So glad to know those are my best qualities."
The redhead paused for a moment. "And, of course, your courage and skill in battle."
"Kent... You embarrass me..."
An impromptu feast there was, that evening, to celebrate the reunion of old friends. Many months it had been since Castle Caelin saw such excitement, such a bustle of activity. Venison was hurriedly sent for, and aged wine brought up from the cellars. Linen was brought out of trunks and dusted, and servants scrambled to find silverware. The only explanation the steward would offer was that these special "guests" deserved only the best of what they had.
Rumors flitted upon servants' tongues as they worked. Some of them saw a beautiful maiden come in, with hair the colour of spring lilacs. Who was she? Was she a noble Lady? A Marquesse? Or even a Princess! And the knight that their steward brought in... What was he? Could they be lovers, running from strict families into the safety of this castle? A few of the younger women sighed dreamily at this romantic notion.
"Perhaps Sir Kent is preparing a wedding!" one maid mused dramatically. "Oh, that we were helping to fulfill such love..."
A gruff voice greeted her pondering. "If you have so much energy to wag your tongues, then get some work done. Who those two are is Kent's business alone, and he will announce their identities when it is time." The voice paused. "Not that it has anything to do with you anyway."
The maid turned, a scarlet blush dominating her features. "G-general Wallace! I didn't see you coming..."
The old general laughed good-naturedly. "Just get back to work, and no more rumors. I can tell you already that your speculations are wrong."
"Wrong?" The maid pouted, but said no more, as the man gave her a glare. "Y-yes, I'll get back to work. Right away, General."
Shaking his head and chuckling to himself, the general walked away, armor clanking. It was not long before he came across one of the subjects of the maids' discussion. Fixing a gaze upon the young knight, Wallace nodded approvingly. "So it is you, that they saw in green armor. Have you been doing all your exercises from my Manual of Knightly Prowess?"
"Yes, of course." The words were just a bit too quick, but the older man seemed not to have noticed. That was just as well for Sain. "It's good to see you again, General Wallace."
The general patted his former subordinate on the back, not noticing as the youth winced from the force of the blow. "Keep up the good work."
"Of course..."
The two stared at each other for a while, before the older man raised a question. "Don't you have some work to tend to?"
"Work?" Sain was confused. "Am I supposed to have work...?" Realizing at the last moment to whom he was speaking, the young knight quickly changed his statement. "I mean, yes, of course I have work. I'll, ah, get to it right away."
Walking quickly from Wallace's approving gaze, the paladin bolted as soon as he turned a corner, running into a room and shutting the door tightly behind him. "Th-that was scary..."
"What was?"
Turning, emerald eyes beheld a young man with flaming hair. "Ah! Kent! Am I ever so glad to see you, my greatest partner!"
An eyebrow raised in skeptism as Kent considered his friend's words. "What do you want, Sain?"
A small pout flitted across the verdant knight's lips, as he faked wounded indignation. "Can I not compliment you, oh boon companion of mine? Why would you think I want something?"
The serious youth let a faint smile flicker across his lips. "Because, dear Sain, I know you well. So let's just hear it."
"Alright, alright." Sain grinned widely. "First of all... Will you please be my alibi?"
The red-haired man blinked. "Come again?"
"See..." The Green Lance tried to explain, waving his hands around dramatically. "I, ah, met up with General Wallace. And he, um, wanted to know whether I've been... doing the things in that back-breaking manual of his. So, if he asks, could you please tell him I have?" Hazel eyes turned a pleading stare upon his partner. "Please?"
Kent sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "Of course, of course."
"Oh good." The roguish grin was back on the cheerful paladin's face. "Now..."
Kent arched an eyebrow. "Another favour?"
Sain turned his beseeching look upon his partner. "Please, Kent? I really need you to do this... And believe me, you'll want to do it."
The knight let out a long sigh, assessing his friend's sincerity and finally nodding. "Fine."
Immediately, a smile lit the happy-go-lucky youth's face, and the crimson knight wondered if he had been correct in assenting. "Kent, I want you to make it clear to them that Lady Florina and I are not together."
A look of surprise came over the normally mild and serious visage. "I thought you'd be glad they think so? Or..." Kent stared at his companion with slight suspicion. "...do you not want the castle maids to think you are 'taken'?"
With a rare serious gaze, Sain shook his head. "It's not that. It's just that... I think fair Lady Florina is quite in love with another already. And I..." He hesitated, pondering how to phrase his thought. "My heart... belongs to another."
"Who?"
The mischievous smirk was again playing upon the young paladin's lips. "You'll see!"
Truly as if celebrating their reunion, "Kent's Party", as the feast was starting to be called, was joined by one more addition, bringing up the count of the members of "Lyn's Legions" to five. Some of the castle guards were quite skeptical about allowing the new arrival to enter, but they could not disobey a direct order from Kent. It did not matter too much to them, in any case. After all, their steward trusted this... thief.
Currently, the aforementioned thief was quite absorbed in a discussion with one of his former comrades.
"Matthew!" With a big grin, Sain slid into the chair next to the Ostian spy. "What a surprise! What are you doing here, anyway?"
"Well..." The thief smiled mysteriously, letting suspense drag a little longer. "I'm here by request of Lord Hector."
"Hector? Really?" The knight poked him jokingly. "He's sending you as an errand runner now?"
Matthew gave a mock-indignant sniff. "He has politely asked that I deliver an important message to certain friends of a year past."
"...And...?" the verdant paladin prompted.
The thief blinked. "And what?"
Sain sighed impatiently. "What's the message?"
"Oh. That." The honey-haired youth scratched the back of his neck with a grin. "Eh-heh... I think it'll be better for all our friends gather around so I wouldn't have to repeat it so many times."
The young knight gave him a scalding look, though a smile was fighting to keep off of his lips. "Fine, be that way, Matthew."
Matthew grinned impudently. "I will."
Before a verbal brawl could break out between the two, the scarlet-haired steward of the castle stepped between them, casting towards each a stern glare. "Sain, Matthew, please."
"He started it!" So much in unison was their protests that they seemed to be speaking with one voice.
Kent rubbed his temples. "Both of you..."
The thief shrugged casually, grinning as he saw General Wallace walk up, the timid Pegasus Knight by his side, using him, one of the few men here that she actually knew, as a shield against the wave of strangers pressing around them like a wave. "Well, well, since our last two friends have finally decided to show up, I think I'll give the message now."
"Yes?" The verdant knight was no more patient now than he was moments ago.
However, Matthew refrained from speaking until both the General and the young Pegasus rider were seated. Presently, he cleared his throat and delivered his message, grinning slyly.
"I bring an invitation from Lord Hector, for a feast on Beltane Eve to celebrate the anniversary of Nergal's defeat."
Kent nodded. "We would be delighted to accept."
"Oh?" his best friend raised an eyebrow. "And who said you could speak for all of us?"
"Sain…" A warning glare. "If you do not wish to go, I cannot force you. I speak only for those of us dwelling in the Castle."
Sain grinned. "I never said I wasn't going to go. But!" A dimple appeared as his grin turned into a smirk. "Now you'll have to wait until then to hear my declaration of love."
The stoic knight rolled his eyes. "And we would need to hear it because…?"
A mock gasp reached his ears. "Do I detect a hint of jealousy, oh boon companion mine?"
Off to the side, away from their bickering, Florina approached the thief-messenger timidly. "M-matthew?"
"Hmm?" The young Ostian spy cocked his head.
"I was wondering…" The Pegasus knight hesitated momentarily. "I was wondering… If Sacae is too far for you… Whether I should bring the message there instead. I mean to visit Lady Lyndis, and my Pegasus would cross the mountains so much more easily than a traveler on foot, and…"
"Dear Florina, you are a genius!"
"I… I am?"
The thief nodded empathetically. "Yes, yes, you are. You see, you can take me with you!"
Large eyes widened even more in surprise. "Wh-what? B-but… I… I don't… I…"
Matthew talked on as if there was no problem. "There is a certain someone I have to collect from Sacae, you see. So it's better if you bring me with you. That way, also, if we ever find bandits, I can protect you." He turned slanted, honey-coloured eyes towards her. "I trust there's no problem with this arrangement, Milady Florina?"
"Ummm… n-no, but…"
The red-caped youth grinned. "Well, then, we can start at first light."
Ummmm… Yes… It's not angsty at all. Hn. Well, I really did mean to make it more so, but I never got around to it, and… Yeah. ;; Hope you guys still enjoyed it… bows
…Gee, methinks the next three chappies will be the Sacaen people. ;
Please R&R. And please give me an idea of what pairings in the "undecided" list you people prefer. (But I'd much rather you don't just review with a pairing vote… Please criticize and offer suggestions too?)