I'm back! Whoooo! I'm so so so so sorry this chapter took ages- I have too much schoolwork. I know that's a rubbish excuse! Please don't kill me!

A BIG thank you for all the reviews, it really means a lot, and everyone's been so nice! This chapter's a bit sad; be prepared for an emotional ending.

I said I'd make Kent and Sain happier in this chapter, didn't I? I'm so sorry, I lied!

So anyway, please read and enjoy, and leave a review! Thanks!

Warnings- Hmmmmmmmmm. Same as last chapter, I think. Shounen-ai (KentxSain). There's kissing here- nothing too heavy. And some blood towards the end.

Disclaimer- If I owned Fire Emblem, it would be so cool. But I don't. Not fair!

Noble Knights- Chapter 2

When Kent awoke, the light shining through the treetops was faded and golden, a red glow illuminating the trees around where he lay. The silence of the forest in evening time was just as tense and eerie as it had been the previous night, yet Kent felt a comforting presence close to him. Waves of calm flowed around the red-haired paladin, and he edged closer to the warm body which lay next to him.

Kent started to find that his face was buried in Sain's chest; the other man had one arm draped around his shoulders protectively. Sain's other hand was still entwined in his.

He felt like he was drowning in love as he remembered the morning's events; his terrible ordeal and Sain's tears. It was a gripping tug he felt at his insides now, aching in his chest, feeling so good it was unbearable.

Kent made no attempt to move away from Sain's arms; he could feel Sain's heartbeat, slow and steady as he rested.

Why move? Why not stay like this forever? But that could not be possible, not while the ever-present scythe of death hovered above them.

Life: so precious and fragile, disappears so quickly but is never fully appreciated. Kent wanted to clutch onto as many moments of this life as possible, after so many years of holding back.

He felt a powerful rush as this fact dawned upon him, made so much more affecting by his escape with death just a few hours ago. It seemed that Sain had also made this discovery; that his companion was not invincible. Kent clung on more tightly to Sain's restful body as he remembered the brown haired man's confession.

"I nearly lost you."

He still needed to be closer to him; this was not enough. But if he let go now, would Sain just slip away as a distant dream from Kent's needy grasp?

The movement of the body next to him eased Sain gently back to the waking world. Kent tilted his head up to meet his companion's eyes, and Sain's cheeks flushed as he realised he was very much entangled with the other man.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to...I wanted…" Sain gave up as words failed him. He averted his eyes, but Kent brought his face around with a gentle touch under his chin.

The time was now. No more wasted moments; who knew when life would be snatched away? Kent was sure his life had been spared for a reason. And he longed for that reason, that mysterious purpose, to be Sain.

Don't hesitate now.

Kent raised his hand to Sain's shoulder and pulled himself from the other's chest to eye level, keeping their eyes locked together as if the gaze was the eternal thread which would always bind them. Sain's eyes showed longing, love, passion, and even desperation, and Kent was sure that this matched his own face exactly as they both closed the final gap.

Lips finally touched, and Kent felt like he was floating as they shared this tiny, intimate moment in time. And Kent also knew that he never wanted to kiss anyone else as long as he lived on the Earth. He was at home right now, feeling the warmth of Sain's mouth, the smooth caress of lips and tongues exploring and joining as the kiss deepened. This was the meaning, the purpose, the reason.

Kent pulled away before the lack of oxygen suffocated them, but regretted it instantly. All he wanted was Sain's mouth on his again. Sain let out a contented little sigh.

"So we're finally…Or am I dreaming? Please tell me I'm not. I had this dream so many times already, but this one felt so good," Sain said pleadingly.

"You're not dreaming, silly," Kent replied, kissing him again just to be sure, their hands still joined in that simple gesture of unwavering partnership. Kent only hoped it would still last when their hands had to part.

One hour later saw the two with their very few remaining belongings packed, their armour on and mounted on their horses ready to set off. How they managed to do so at all in between kissing was beyond Kent's imagination.

But being on the dusty track to nowhere, away from each other's arms, brought problems.

"What can we do? Was all the money stolen?" Sain asked cautiously.

Kent could tell that he didn't want to bring back memories of the morning's attack, those painful recollections of fear and helplessness. The ache in his lungs and the pain at his throat, the dizziness in his head as he was starved of vital oxygen by the cold grip of the general. Kent shivered, clutching his chest, feeling those same feelings come back at him again.

"Kent? It's alright, you're safe now. I'll always be here," Sain said. Kent knew he was trying, but Sain's words couldn't help him.

"But you're not supposed to be my protector. We're supposed to fight side by side, both brave and strong. I'm not supposed to be weak and afraid, Sain," Kent choked out desperately. His hands shook on the reins and his steed faltered, unsteady, bringing him closer to Sain.

"You're just human, Kent. It was you against that massive general, and that lousy, cheating thief. We both know they didn't exactly fight fair, and that it would have been different in a battle. And it was my fault too, don't ever forget that. I abandoned you there," Sain's voice wavered and broke slightly, before falling silent.

Kent reached over to touch his face, the only part of Sain not covered by armour, and the brown-haired paladin leaned into the light caress.

Both men leaned in for a gentle and tender kiss which soothed Kent's mind, his doubts and fears dwindling to a small ache rather than a sharp pain.

Sain broke off, licking his lips slowly. Kent shivered.

"I hate to stop this, but we need to set off, and I don't know where to. Should we go back to camp?" Sain whispered, a change from his usual bright tone.

"But we can't. Please, Sain. Lady Lyndis and the others- what would they think? That I'm a stupid coward who lost all their money and can't defend himself? I can't face that," Kent pleaded, his voice also different.

"Do we have any other choice? There's no money, not even for a room at an inn. You're always the sensible one, Kent; you should know we have to go back."

And so Kent admitted defeat, to Sain and to himself. His worst fear, being labelled a coward, unfit to be a knight of Caelin, would have to be faced soon.

But he was afraid even now, even after promising himself he would not be weak. The fears kept coming, such mental torture.

The only comfort was Sain; Sain's hand in his as they rode along the path, easing his fears, making him strong.

The journey back to camp continued uneventfully, along the same dusty track, the night arriving and draping a dark blanket over the sky. The stars shone through, illuminating their surroundings, which were depressingly bleak. Both paladins agreed not to stop for the night, preferring to ride on swiftly and not stop until they reached the camp. An owl hooted, the shrill noise breaking up the constant grinding of hooves on hard earth.

And the rustling of bushes as the two paladins rode through a patch of trees and rough scrub.

Kent stopped immediately, holding out a hand to Sain, who gave a sharp tug on the reins and brought his steed to a standstill. Ears searched for anything out of the ordinary, scanning the now quiet night.

Sure enough, there was the rustle again, and Kent dismounted his horse as quietly as possible to check the disturbance.

It'll be a fox or a deer, not an axe-wielding berserker or a murderous swordmaster.

No danger, no fear. No danger, no fear.

Kent chanted this in a steady mantra under his breath as he approached a large bush, brandishing his sword. He felt a hand on his armour-plated shoulder and knew Sain was beside him. He could almost feel the reassuring warmth of his partner's hand through the thick metal plate, and this gave him confidence.

"Who goes there?" he called into the darkness. "Show yourself!"

There was a faint rushing sound of the air moving when someone runs with speed, and a figure burst out in front of them, running past like lightning and fading with a slight jingling sound.

But Kent was ready. He knew the identity of this mystery figure.

The split second in which the person had been within eyeshot, he could see the short, slight figure in a swirling cloak, the glint of a small dagger lit by the moon and bright, haunting eyes.

The tuneful singing of gold coins in a moneybag which the small thief had been unable to silence; the stolen money which betrayed him.

Kent's body stiffened and he tore after the thief, crashing through bushes at an alarming speed. They had strayed way off the path now, and Kent struggled to see in front of him, but he kept on blindly, following the musical call of the gold tied at the thief's belt. He barely registered the footfalls of his companion behind him, but carried on charging, finally sighting his prey. The armour dragged him back so he ran awkwardly, stumbling, making a desperate grab for the thief's ankle as he fell to the ground.

"Get off!" the anonymous figure cried, attempting to claw his way from the paladin's grasp. Sain reached the tangle of bushes and mud, holding down the captive's shoulders roughly as he grabbed the familiar leather bag from his belt. It sang as if pleased to be back in a friendly grasp.

The thief went still as Kent held him down at the legs, so out of breath.

But what to do with him?

This thief: one of Kent's captors, who would have seen an innocent man die as he walked out of the camp with riches aplenty. Kent deliberated this as he regained his breath, still not releasing his grip on the thief.

Should this man be murdered with the same cold blood and a desire for revenge? Or spared with the kindness, mercy and nobility of a good knight?

Sain looked at Kent questioningly as he knelt by his side.

"Should we let him go?"

Neither saw the small man slowly move a hand to the knife at his belt as they looked into each other's eyes. The thief whipped round in Kent's grasp, slashing his cold weapon across Kent's face, the sharp sting blinding him for just a moment.

It was a twisted kind of mercy; that Kent didn't have to see the horrific expression on Sain's face, the sudden rush of pain as the brutal knife was thrust into his body.

He heard the scream though; it echoed in the sorrowful night and Kent doubled over as if he was feeling the pain for himself.

The money bag dropped from Sain's weakened hand, hitting the floor with a mournful tune as the paladin's body crashed down.

Kent's limbs were frozen, but he grabbed his sword and made a valiant stab into thin air, blood streaming down his face.

It was too late. The thief had fled with remarkable speed, fleeing from the scene of grief.

Kent crawled to his partner, laying Sain's head on his lap and stroking the man's hair comfortingly, hands trembling. Sain's shallow breathing and occasional moans filled the air, and Kent felt tears in his eyes despite his promises of bravery.

"Just give me a minute. I'll be up…soon," Sain muttered.

"What is it? I'm fine, honest…fine…" he protested weakly, seeing Kent's expression of sadness.

But it wasn't sadness, really. It was despair, and so much fear. Kent could see the wound, the blood still flowing from Sain's stomach, and felt the sickening knowledge slowly penetrate his mind. Sain would die.

What brutal force was this; what cruel power from above was tearing them apart now? Kent had built up such a confident sense of hope; that nothing could stop them being together.

Always there, always together.

But that hope was gone, false, forgotten, as Kent beheld the sight of his Sain, finally falling as silent as the cold abyss of death.

In that lonely, muddy patch of dark bushes, grief overwhelmed the red knight; body shaking and hand still resting on his companion's hair, choking out a rough whisper.

"No…"

TO BE CONTINUED

Eeeeeeeeek! Is Sain dead? I have to confess that I nearly cried when I wrote this ending. But it's not the end of the story yet, don't panic! Please review- I love reviews more than cookies now!

Love Maxx