Wow! Lots of new reviews in only what, a day! Well, I'm happy that you all are reviewing, I write faster that way! (j/k) Well, I DO have a new chapter up...
lzn64: Yeah, I love supports too. And if the stories get too similar, you have the right, since you started yours before mine. oO But yeah, I'm happy with the reason I came up with for the argument. And as for Farina/Hector interaction, that will come soon...their first actual support may not be for a chappie or so though. x.x And she's not flirting, it's just a homage to her SCs, AND showing her being socially able...and yeah, I've only read up to the first book of High Druid...ah, I'm rambling too. XD Go Shannara!
angel white: Well, I'm glad you read this then! And poor Florina. XD I like Farina, though...
Macross-Green: Yeah, I like writing fics from POV's of less used characters. –hint hint- And thank you for the review and comments. ;) All authors like getting told they've done things well. XD And good luck with your fic!
Malignant Plate: Yeah, I thought about that too, but I decided to make Farina the eldest, since my younger sister (the middle one of us) acts like Fiora, where I'm more like Farina. It's just their personalities that make me think that way. And thanks for the comments about Farina, however I don't see it in exactly the same way you do...but thanks. Everyone's complimenting me on my idea for their argument! XD And Farina x Dart...you'll see. –evil grin-
Lord Telcontari: You a LOTR fan? The name got me...Thanks for the review. And no, there is no real reason, I made it up. Aren't I so great? Nah, jk. XD
Woah! I took up WAY too much space. Gotta start putting these at the bottom of the chapter.
"Come on! Wake up! Get moving!" called a faint voice.
"Erggh..." I rolled over in bed and pulled the covers over my head.
"Wake up!" My blanket was yanked off me with one swift pull. I gasped at the sudden cold, and curled into a ball.
"Come on, Florina!" A familiar face came close to mine, and short blue hair brushed my face.
"Ah! Farina!" I shot upright, nearly knocking her over.
She laughed. "Come on, sleepyhead! Mark's calling us. We gotta go."
"What? Is there a battle, or something?"
"N-o." She rolled her eyes. "We're going to the Bern royal palace. Lord Eliwood and Lord Hector want to talk to Queen Hellene about some shrine."
"Oh, the Shrine of Seals," I said, getting up and pulling on my white dress and boots. "Um...Farina, can you help me with my armor?"
The blasted stuff was so heavy and hard to put on, I usually asked Fiora for help, but before she had joined us, Lyn had helped me.
"Oh! Sure!" My older sister stepped over, her own armor already on. "Here." Her gloved fingers buckled the straps with ease.
"Thanks," I murmured.
"There you are!" exclaimed Fiora, running up to us as we left the tent. "Everything's already packed, I just need to get the tent." Quickly, she began yanking down the poles and canvas.
Farina and I exchanged glances. Fiora was so...hard-working. She loved to have everything done, on time.
Finally, the entire camp was ready to move out. The tents were packed into Merlinus's wagon, and each person carried their own belongings. I noticed that Legault had a rather large pack. What exactly was all in there? The former Black Fang had a perpetual habit of stealing things from other people.
Us three pegasus knights (and Heath on his wyvern) took to the air, scouting ahead. I could just glimpse the palace in the distance; it was hard to miss, being situated so high up on mountains like that.
As we flew, my mind kept drifting back to Lord Hector and my much-needed, late thank-you. I still hadn't been able to confront him face-to-face.
You could always ask Lady Lyn to do it, whispered a voice in my head. Or one of your sisters.
That was true. I could. But...I needed to prove to them I could do something on my own for once.
Perhaps I could ask someone else for help...just a little bit of help. I suddenly realized exactly who it was I could ask.
"Um, sisters?" I began to Farina and Fiora, who were flying on either side of me. "Could I take a break for a while?"
Farina opened her mouth, probably to say "No!" or "That's not fair", but Fiora grinned and cut her off. "Sure!"
I smiled and turned Huey downwards, spiraling through the air down towards the members of the group on foot and horseback. I immediately sighted who I was looking for, chatting her head off to Erk, who was looking downcast.
I landed next to my old friend.
"Umm...Serra?"
"Wha--?" She stopped in mid-sentence. "Florina!" she squealed, reaching up and giving me a big hug. "It's been a while, how are you?"
Erk, who knew an opportunity when he saw one, quickly snuck away, glad to be free of Serra's chatter.
"Um, fine." I replied, walking Huey alongside her. "Say, I..." How should I put this? "Serra, can I ask you something?"
"What?" she demanded, tossing one pink pigtail over her shoulder.
"How can I... become more like you?"
She looked utterly delighted. "Like me! Do you mean my –" she paused for effect, and fluttered her eyelashes – "breathtaking beauty?"
I opened my mouth to say "no," but she had already started again.
"Or my impeccable fashion sense?" she inquired, indicating her long white gown with the lavender cloak. "Or do you mean –"
"Um...not that stuff," I whispered, finally cutting her off. "I mean...your personality..."
Serra looked completely bewildered. "I'm sorry?"
"When there are men nearby, I get scared...even if they're on our side. I...It makes me somewhat useless in battle sometimes..."
"What? You're not useless in battle! I mean, just look at Huey," she cooed, petting my pegasus on the nose. "You're much more useful than I!" she sniffed. "Oh, for the day when I shall be a bishop!"
"Serra, um, if we can get back to the original subject..."
"Oh! Yes...I see. Yes, leave it to me! If you just do everything I say," she grinned wickedly at this – was it just Serra's personality, or did she look forwards to giving orders? Probably the latter. "Then you'll be like me in no time!"
"Oh...Okay," I whispered, dismounting Huey and walking on the ground besides Serra, who was a full two inches taller than me. She looked quite deep in thought, something rare for the talkative cleric.
"You know..." she began. "If you have trouble around guys, maybe it's just because when you're shy! See, you're even a little reserved when talking to other women."
"Y-Yes...I am," I stuttered. It was mostly true, except around my sisters and Lady Lyn; they were the few people I felt comfortable with, but even with them, sometimes I was quiet, or stammered.
"Then you just need to have more confidence!" declared Serra, flinging out her arms in a decisive gesture and whacking Lucius in the face. I jumped at this sudden declaration, as did Huey. "No matter who you're with, just think of yourself as being better than them! That'll do it!!
What? Better? But...
"I can't think of them...as equals?" I asked timidly. But I'm certainly not better than Fiora or Farina! And Lady Lyndis...she's of higher rank than I – not even equal!
"No, no, not at all!" scolded Serra, wagging a finger at me. "Think of them as, as, uh," she glanced around, sighted Erk, who immediately vanished into the crowd – "lowly little bugs if you can!"
"As...as bugs?" I looked at her, confused.
"Look, your shyness is pretty deeply ingrained, right?" She looked expectantly at me, then ploughed on without waiting for an answer. "Then you'll just have to take drastic measures!"
Drastic...measures?
"Stand up straight!" she ordered. Obediently, I stood as tall as I could.
"Hmm...you're too short for that to work too well," she muttered. "Ah! Push out that chest!"
"Serra –" I began, but she seemed not to notice. "Raise that chin!" she barked. "Look me in the eye!"
I forced my worried gaze away from Sain and met Serra's eyes. She frowned. "No! I'm a bug, remember! Look at me with disgust!"
But I liked Serra! How could I look at her with disgust?
"Err, umm..." I mumbled, trying to get this all straight. "Stand up...straight. Puff out... Like this?" Feeling slightly embarassed, I pushed my chest out. I may have been small, but I still had enough of a chest to be noticed. On the other side of the camp, Sain perked up and I turned red.
Serra seemed not to notice. "No! No! No! More defiant! And your legs! Take a wider stance!"
Wider stance? I spread my legs slightly, and Huey snorted in confusion. What was his mistress doing?
"Yeah!" exclaimed Serra happily, surveying me. "That's better!"
"...Um... I feel weird..." I whispered. About half the members of Lord Eliwood's group were staring at me now, and I was sure I was bright red.
Serra ignored this. "Then eyes! Don't forget! Raise your chin! More disdain! Good! Practice that!" She winked at me, and hurtled off into the crowd, screaming "ERK! ERK! Where are you?!"
"...My...neck...hurts..." I whispered, wondering how long she wanted me stuck in this position. Hurriedly, I reverted to a normal stance, feeling relieved.
Poor Serra. She was trying to help, I knew, but it wasn't exactly the kind of help I needed. Smiling spite of myself and all the others watching, I put my foot back in Huey's stirrup and mounted.
My expression faded quickly as I winged back up into the air, thinking of what I still needed to do. Serra's advice hadn't helped, and I still needed to thank Lord Hector.
"Beateous Florina! Wait!" called Sain faintly from down below. I yelped, and spurred Huey higher. Risking a glance downwards, I saw Sain being restrained by Kent. Phew.
How much longer would it take to get to the palace?
More importantly, how much longer would it take me to overcome my fears?
A/N: Feh, I know it was short. TT Sorry. Next update will be longer, I promise. And there'll be flashbacks! I love writing Serra, tho. XD
Nino: -opens mouth-
Quickening: NU-UH! You're not spoiling the story again! –thwacks Nino-
Nino: Oww...
Miss Daisy: -.-
Quickening: That's all you've said for the past chapter or so...Can you still talk?
Miss Daisy: -.- What do you think, idiot?
Quickening: -sweatdrop- Gah! Okay!
Miss Daisy: -.-
Nino: I..think she's in a bad mood.
Miss Daisy: -Evil Glare of Doom-
Nino & Quickening: Eep! –run-
Woodbark: -squeak-
Please review! Next chappie coming soon, I promise!
UPDATE: I've actually got it written -cowers- But I'm not going to upload it for a bit. I want to see my reviews. XD