Chapter 2
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-The fight had ended and the legion had been victorious. Those Wyvern riders were sure difficult to deal with, even Lyndis and Eliwood had had a tough time. He was lucky that those wyverns riders were weak against axes, Hector thought as he looked at his two friends, Lyndis and Eliwood. They sure looked tired.-
"The castle´s guardian was being protected by Nergal's black magic, we weren't able to beat her but at least her group retreated after a few hours in the battlefield." Eliwood interrupted the silence between the trio. - How typical of Eliwood, he would always try to cheer things up in the worst of situations. Even if, we still had no idea were the Fire Emblem was and the prince's ceremony was in three days. He seemed to be so calm and collected, even when most of us had already lost hope. Eliwood was truly the army´s heart, as Oswin once tried to define him. -
Both Lyndis and Hector surprisingly agreed to Eliwood's optimistic comment. Eliwood smiled at both, they really seemed to be like children at times.
-Apparently they were finally getting along, Hector thought as he eyed Lyn. He didn't hate Lyndis, but he really didn't like her either. She was way too bossy. Just like the tactician, no wonder why they were good friends. In addition to that, they couldn't agree on anything! And he was still mad that she had criticized his armor. -
Suddenly Eliwood took his leave, and Hector not wanting to be left alone with Lyn, followed.
"Hector... are you alright? You seem rather distant today." Eliwood asked. - It bothered Hector that Eliwood was still concerned about him and not himself. Even if it was quite clear to everyone that he could faint at any moment now. It was his nature Eliwood could never avoid worrying about others. -
"Yeah, I'm fine Eliwood. I'm more worried about you though, get some rest you look exhausted." He answered...
"I thank you Hector." The Pherean whispered to his companion.
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-Hector wasn't that tired, after all most of his ancestors had been renowned generals and commanders, especially his grandfather, whom he was named after. Uther, too, had been a great general before accepting Ostia's throne, it was even rumored that Uther's strength rivaled Etruria's 3 generals. He didn't mean to say that Eliwood or his family were weaker it was just that their body was less accustomed to it... He had accompanied Eliwood to his tent, as it was something they always did after a long battle. They would stay up for hours talking about: battle tactics, Lycia, Uther, Ostia, Nergal... practically anything that came into their minds. And today it had been no different...-
It was getting late and Eliwood was already resting. He had fallen asleep, but Hector couldn´t blame him. Eliwood had a though time, today, but it was actually Eliwood's health that worried him. Eliwood wouldn't eat too much, and he wouldn't even rest properly. Hector knew that Lord Elbert's death weighed on his friend, yet he couldn't find words of comfort. It was painful to see your best friend suffering, and to know that you were powerless to help. He would not have wished for things to go this way, but some things in life were meant to be. He eyed his friend's tent one last time before leaving, noticing someone that had just entered. It seemed to be the silhoutte of a woman. "At least, I hope that she can comfort Eliwood." Hector whispered and grinned. He had noticed his Eliwood's "friend" and he would definetely have to tease him afterwards.- He laughed out loud, Eliwood would be so mad...
Unluckily, the Ostian Lord was too distracted to notice what he was running in to...
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"Ouch..." -Hector rubbed his forehead, had he abruptly been hit by someone? something? What in the blazes had he just hit? He hoped it wasn't Oswin.- Hector thought as he woozily got up to check what he had hit. -To his surprise, the cause of his "flip" had been caused by a wandering horse? no... a wandering pegasus. Blast! How he loathed those animals! Uther had once mounted him on a pegasus and he had ended with a huge bump on his forehead. Then, one had fallen on top of him. And now, this damn horse had caused him to fall! -
"Darn Pegasus! What's the flying horse doing out here?" Hector eyed the flying horse suspiciously as it moved closer and rubbed its forehead on his shoulder. -What a weird pegasus, usually they hated men. Was he trying to say something? Nah, it was probably his imagination... "Well I better take you back to your owner". Hector dragged the flying horse towards the stables.
"Your owner, must've trained you properly; you seem to be quite tame." he spoke while walking. -He only knew one of the pegasus sisters in the army, and that was Farina.- "Oh!!! I just hope Farina's not your owner for our own good. That woman has a wacky head, eh horse...? Hector spoke to his company and patted its head: "I bet you must be tired and hungry right? Pah... Noble carrots, right..." He chuckled.
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"Huey! Huey!" Florina desperately yelled. - She had lost track of Huey! How had she been so clumsy! She had stopped to get some fresh water from the stream, and before she knew it Huey had disappeared. What would her sisters do if they found out that she had lost her pegasus!?! How dishonorable! Fiora would worry if she didn't return to the tent soon. She couldn't let anyone find out about this, especially not her sisters! - Florina thought as she resumed her search.
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" Where's Florina have you seen her Farina?" Kent unstrapped his horses' saddle. - Boy, was he tired. -
"Yep, she just went to check on Huey." Farina sighed as she fed her pegasus.
"Oh... If you see her again tell her that Lady Lyndis would like to have a word with her" Kent said as he proceeded to bathe his steed.
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"Huey, Huey" Hector heard someone yell. The pegasus he was pulling suddenly perked it ears up and neighed as he tried to free himself from his grasp. " I guess wev'e found your owner, ... Huey" Hector voiced out loud hoping that its owner would hear him. " Darn, this pegasus was putting up a good fight... "
After short moments of struggling with "Huey" its owner appeared. - She looked no older than 14, short, green eyes, curly hair... She swiftly hugged her pegasus and apparently calmed the darn thing. He was about to hand in the darn pegasus when he remembered that she looked familiar, wasn't she the one... Yes, it was her! This pegasus had fallen on top of him that time in Laus, some weeks ago! She always stood around, just as if she had something to say but she never said anything. Lyn had told him that she was very shy and that a big lunk like him should stay away from her friend. Who did Lyn think he was? A monster? Hah! He'd teach Lyn that he could talk to this girl and be sensitive. He'd teach Lyn a lesson or two... -
"Hey aren't you one of Lyn's vassals?" He began.
"Wha... I... Um..." the girl whispered and turned around slowly, surprised to see him there. She tried to haul her pegasus and escape, but she clearly hadn't noticed Lord Hector firmly holding the reigns of her beloved pegasus.
"What's he doing out here, he could get lost you know?" Hector asked as he watched her get extremely nervous. - What? She was getting nervous? He'd spoken in his nicest tone, it looked like he'd just have to try harder.... -
" I.... was... um... ..." she stuttered.
" You were?" he said, not knowing he'd scare her even more.
- Florina nervously swallowed hard, she had to be strong. She had to for Lady Lyn, Fiora and Farina, she could do this, she repeated to herself while trying not to keep eye contact with the Lord.- Florina then rapidly asked: "I'M FLORINAPEGASUSKNIGHTINSERVICETOLADYLYNDISCANYOUGIVEMEHUEYBACKPLEASE?"
"Whoah, what was that again? I didn't catch the last part." Hector unitentionally laughed at "his prey".
- Florina, gulped she was about to have a nervous breakdown. She had never been this close to a man before much less alone! But she had to! She had to tell him before anyone else found out.- Determined to give it a second try she asked apparently slower and clearer...
"Please... Lord Hector... my... um... pegasus can I.. uh... take him...?" She stuttered and shaked.
"So you can speak, a little. I was getting kind of worried." Hector said as he dragged the horse towards the stables. It's getting late so at least allow me to help you. He courtieously added. - Would this girl notice that he was acting, differently? He turned and faced Florina, who immediatley looked away and blushed, I guess not, he thought. And what was with her and those blushes? Eh???.. She couldn't be... Could she? He had only seen her for awhile... She certainly couldn't?!? -
"Ah... Lord Hector... " Florina spoke up... She was about to decline his offer, she could do it herself. But it wasn't polite to decline the offer of a Lord, as Fiora would always say. She thought the issue over again and it certainly wasn't the wisest thing to do.-
"Yes?" he turned around.
"Um.. I... um..." -She sweatdropped, she couldn't decline his offer, even if it was scary.- " Um.... I'm sorry..." Florina ingeniously added as she catched up with Lord Hector and resumed her walk towards the stables. - Though, she had accepted his help, she could'nt keep from staring at the ground and blushing, it was pathetic. -
" Hey, are you alright? " Hector halted and asked concerned. - She suddenly looked like she was about to cry, and he hated to see women crying. Hector had a weak spot, for weeping women. -
"Um... y...yes". Florina answered somewhat regaining her composure.
"Are you tired?"
"Ah... um...yes.." she answered immediatley and still stuttering.
" Would you like to ride on your pegasus, while we get to there?" Hector offered.
" I.... Umm..." Florina blushed furiously.
" Er... I didn't mean to sound too foward! I really wouldn't mind, that is if you don't." he corrected, sweatdropping as he noticed her reaction.
Florina nodded. - It took all her courage to do so, but she figured it would be worth it. Ah! She hadn't told him yet! She had to! - Florina thought as she easily mounted Huey and pat its neck. Huey looked back at its owner confused. She saw Lord Hector beginning to pull Huey's reigns. - The stables weren't too far from here, if she wanted to tell him it had to be now! - She gathered all her courage and she began to speak:
" L...Lord Hector..."
"Yes?" he faced her and stopped.
" When I first... first met you... Y-you saved me, and...um... I ... thankyou very much." She smiled.
" I saved you? Me saving you?" Hector asked.
"... Ye..Yes. In Laus... My... Pegasus... he fell... um..."
"Huh... I don't remember". He answered.
"Um... I se..e I.. um..." Florina frowned, looking like she could burst into tears at any moment now. - She had gone through all that trouble and he hadn't even remembered her! -
" Hah! I'm just joking! Course I remember that! How could I forget you and that witless winged horse falling on top of me?" Hector grinned. - Her expression was priceless! -
" Ah?" Florina laughed a little. - His smile sure was contagious. -
"Your name's Florina right?" Hector asked. - He'd been talking to her all this time without knowing if that was her real name. -
" Yes" Florina felt her cheeks get hot. She was slightly embarassed, but Florina felt that she had answered much more sure and confident of herself than what she had ever been in her life.
" Well... we better get going, it's getting late." Hector grinned and began to walk again. -He was definetely feeling lucky today. -
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" Farina, have you not seen Florina yet?" Kent asked preoccupied. -He had been looking for Florina everywhere! Lady Lyndis wanted to speak with her. -
" I told you, I haven't! What's the deal with my sister, anyway!?! " Farina yelled. - She knew it was a bit harsh, but this was like the thirtieth time today! -
" I see, I must aplogize... I have been quite a bother." Kent stated while he turned to leave.
"Um... Kent! Wait! I'm sorry ok! Hey! I didn't mean to sound so... um... mean?" Farina apologized as she catched up with his partner.
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Florina watched as Lord Hector filled Huey's water bucket with water from the nearby stream. - He had helped her complete all her chores. She was truly grateful, she was tired and needed to rest. Florina yawned, tommorow was going to be another heavy day, and she still needed to get to her tent, which in addition was very far from here. -
"Is that all Florina?" Hector smirked. -He had been helping little Florina out, the poor girl looked tired. -
" Y..yes... Um... Thank you L...Lord Hector..." Florina blushed a little.
"No problem." He answered and smiled. He was starting to like her constant blushing and shyness. Florina was so innocent and naive. She was different, very different from the other girls in the army. And she was very pretty for a girl of her age... Hector suddenly blushed too. Had he just thought that? Ugh... He felt that tingling sensation...
" L...Lord Hector???" Florina's voice interrupted his thoughts.
" Oh?.. Um... So are you going to your tent Florina?" Hector felt that tingling sensation again.
" Y..yes" Florina answered.
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" Florina? Is that you?" Farina interrupted as she appeared next to Kent.
"Um... Sister?!?" Florina answered surprised.
" What are you doing outside??? Alone!?!" Farina nagged. "Kent and Lyn were looking for you!"
" Farina, don't be too harsh on Florina." Kent interrupted.
"A... Alone?..." Florina whispered as she looked everywhere for Lord Hector? Had he left?
"But!.." Farina whined angrily...
"Come Florina let's go" Kent calmly said.
" ... Um... Yes..." Florina thought as she began to follow Kent and Farina who were still arguing. Her sister was right, it was already late and it was pitch black out here, she could hardly see a thing...
"Ouch!' Florina said as she rubbed the back of her head, something had hit her. She was about to call Kent and Farina, when she saw Lord Hector on behind a nearby tree.
"L... Lord Hector?" Florina looked surprised. How had he ever...?
Hector motioned her to be silent and still. -What.... What was he doing? Florina couldn't see him very clearly, but he was getting closer! She suddenly felt Lord Hector grab her hands. Florina shaked nervously, he was beginning to scare her a lot. He probably felt that she was trembling too! What did he intend to do?!?-
"L...L..Lord Hector?" she whispered confused. - The Lord had moved his face so close to hers, that it almost seemed like he wanted to... Ah!?! She mentally shrieked in realization. Lord Hector wanted to kiss her! She tried to move, but her legs were paralyzed. Before she could react, Florina found that it was too late... She desperately shut her eyes not knowing what else to do... Florina felt faint as Lord Hector's lips barely touched her own. At first, she thought, it felt kind of awkward but then it felt... well... nice... She slightly opened her eyes to peek, but Lord Hector had already stopped kissing her. They looked at each other for a brief moment before Hector kissed her forehead and whispered good night. However, Florina still felt that she couldn't move. Lord Hector was still there, and she kept on staring at him. It had all happened so fast, she was still too stunned. Suddenly Lord Hector urged her to move, and as she began to walk she felt flushed, light and dizzy. But... she still couldn't believe that he had done that! Lord Hector had kissed her?!? She turned back and blushed furiously. She never thought her first kiss.... It... it just didn't seem to be right... - She rapidly catched up with Farina and Kent, hoping that they had not noticed anything.
" Florina? What's wrong?" Kent stoped, leaving Farina talking to herself.
"Um... Nothing..." Florina lied. -Eveyone knew Florina was a terrible liar, she really hoped that it had sounded believable...-
" Alright..." He suspiciously nodded and continued on.
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- Blast, had that been too... foward? Should he have asked her before he kissed her? Usually, Hector wouldn't be brooding, but she was different. Florina seemed so frail
and delicate. He wasn't used to treating people that ... um... sensitive? She looked so confused when she left. Kinda like the face people made when they wanted to make you feel guilty. He hated those, damn, he was going to have such a hard time trying to sleep tonight... -
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Author's Note:
Special thanks to:
Macross-Green : Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try my best. I'm really not too good with punctuation marks especially quotations, which I usually tend to forget. But, Thanks for your review!
lzn64: Thanks, I'll try...
Malignant Plate : Thanks for reviewing! I love Florina too! She's so naive and innocent...
Lone Piratica : Thanks! I'll try...
ChibiHeart: Thanks! I know Fiora x Heath is kinda weird, but I really wanted to pair Fiora with someone. I really, really think it would work out!
montblancerk: Thanks for your suggestion! I hope you like this chapter since most of it is Hector x Florina.
Review Please!
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