Hey, peoples, I'm back! … Where are my muses… Hmm…. Must still be on vacation… drat! Oh, well…
Door opens
Matthew- We're back!
Guy- And very—ouch—sunburned…
Kirby- Poyo…
Reviews:
Ragnarok- I'll take that as a compliment! :P Well, this chapter's not as fluffy, I hope…
Ed, the Master Tactician- Tears, eh? Wow, I'm good. And don't worry, the link in the review was good enough!
Guy- Why me?! And I was just on vacation! AHHHH!!!
SweetMisery430- Yeah I like this pairing too. Well, that was a dumb thing to say, why else am I writing this fic. And actually, only my muses went to Hawaii, I just went… around…
Lord Cynic- I totally agree. Wow, thanks for the compliment didn't think that chapter was this good! :)
TheOneAneOnlyT- Haha, don't worry it only sounds like it's going to end but have you forgotten about something I like to call Eliwood's quest? Actually it's more Hector's quest… You know what, I'm going to shut up now, before I accidentally reveal something I'm not supposed to…
Inferno-Hero(x2)- Thanks! And Kirby thanks you for "helping" him to get to Hawaii, he didn't need to pay for the airplane ticket! Unlike Matt and Guy!
Disclaimer- I don't own Fire Emblem.
Stray Arrow
Chapter 8
Wil nodded his head inattentively, as Kent taught him more court manners. Kent had been doing that a lot recently. But no one could blame him. Wil after all did grow up as a normal village boy and court manners weren't a necessity in life.
"Wil!" Kent snapped. "Are you listening to me?"
"Hm? Oh, I'm sorry Kent. My mind is elsewhere today…"
"I'd say." The cavalier agreed. He sighed. "As it seems that you will probably not listen to me further, you may leave." Wil nodded. Why can't I concentrate today? He mentally kicked himself. But he already knew the answer to that question, Florina.
Ever since the battle with Lundgren, everything had changed. After recovering from her injury, Florina had seemed to be avoiding most people. Most people as in men. She was always with Lyn or another female of Caelin Castle. Whenever he did manage to catch her alone, she'd make up some poor excuse and run off. It was as if she didn't even know him. That left him heartbroken.
Maybe some practising will help take my mind off things. He slowly headed towards the archery yard. His hand unknowingly fingered the charm around his neck. He still wasn't sure what the charm really was. But he decided to agree with what Lucius thought it was, a miracle sent by Saint Elimine. Of course, he also had no one to console himself to. Kent didn't seem like the type to discuss this with and Sain was completely out of the question. Lyn seemed a possibility, but for some reason he didn't seem to think it was a good idea. Maybe it was because he didn't think it right for him to ask a noble on such affairs.
Finally approaching the archery court, he picked up a bow and slowly strung it. Giving the string a testing pull, he nocked an arrow on and let it fly. The sight of his arrow on the bull's eye seemed to relax him somewhat. Maybe she had a case of amnesia? Or perhaps she just doesn't care for me any longer…? Has her fear of men returned for some reason? Oh, I don't know what to think anymore! Pulling back as hard as he could on his bowstring he let loose his arrow. It sunk deep into the relatively thin target and the end of the arrow tip could be seen on the other side.Slightly surprised to see his arrow penetrate that deep, he dropped his bow and walked over to a bench and sat down, hoping to let go of some of his emotions before he broke any more equipment. I'm never going to hear the end of this from Kent… Suddenly a small voice broke him out of his thoughts.
"W-Wil…?" He nearly jumped out of his skin at the familiar voice that he had been longing to hear for so long. Standing up and turning around he saw Florina, hiding slightly behind a pillar.
"Florina…"
"W-Wil… I-I'm s-sorry…" She stuttered. Wil took a cautious step towards her, longing to hold her in his arms. But she let out a small squeak and shrunk back.
"Florina? What's wrong…?" He stopped in his tracks, afraid that if he took another step she would flee like a frightened doe.
"I-I'm s-sorry if I-I h-hurt y-you… b-but I-I need m-more t-time…" The pegasus knight whispered. Wil blinked in confusion.
"More time? More time for what? Are you still hurt from the battle with Lundgren?" To his dismay, she shook her little head, orchid curls bouncing on her delicate shoulders. Then he saw it. His eyes widened in shock and horror. Her eyes were filled with fear. Fear of him.
"F-Florina?! Why?!" He nearly yelled hysterically.
"I-I don't k-know…" Florina whimpered tears streaming down her cheeks. His whole body shook, he fought to hold back tears he knew that would come. Taking in a shaky breath he turned and ran. He ran as far as he could, he didn't care where he went, as long as it was far away from Florina's anguished face.
Suddenly he bumped into someone, knocking the both of them down. Standing up he started apologising.
"I'm sorry! Are you o—" Wil's jaw dropped. "Elfaiya?!"
"Oh, hi Wil." The tactician replied brushing herself off.
"Wh-what are you doing here? I thought you left months ago?!"
"Actually, I did. But then I got lost and came back to find a map." She answered sheepishly.
"But aren't you a tactician? I thought you had a good sense of direction?!"
"How do you think I came to be knocked out in the middle of Sacae, where Lyn found me?" Said Elfaiya.
"Uh… I never thought of it that way…"
"Uh-huh. Not many people do. Hey, your eyes look a bit red… Were you just crying, Wil?"
"Huh? Um… yeah…" The archer looked down.
"It's Florina, isn't it?" Elfaiya asked. Wil's head shot up.
"How did you know?!"
"I'm the tactician. I'm supposed to know. I may not have a great sense of direction, but I do notice things now and then."
"If you know about me and Florina. Then do you know what's wrong with her?" He asked hopefully. Elfaiya frowned.
"I just got here maybe a day ago, but I had noticed something different about Florina after she recovered from the wound she took from Lundgren." She said slowly. "I think she's acting the way she is, because of that charm. I'm guessing that there was a side effect of some sort. Maybe when she was healed, something triggered in her brain and her fear of men came back again. I mean she still had a fear of men before the battle, but it had lessened during our travels. But I think it's just come back again, maybe even worse than when she first started out."
"But… how can that be?" He asked, biting his lip as not to start crying again.
"I don't know. That is just a guess I had, it could be something entirely different."
"No, I think you are right, Elfaiya. But what am I to do?" Wil asked pleadingly.
"Just give it time. Be friends with her again, but remember to keep your distance until she's ready. I'm afraid that's all you can do. I'm sorry, Wil. There's nothing anyone can do. Miracles don't always come without a price."
"I-it's okay…" He sighed.
"I'd like to talk more, Wil, but I must be going. Can you tell me where Lyn or Kent may be? I need to get that map and be on my way." Wil nodded.
"Kent's in the grand hall, and Lyn's, I think, with marquess Hausen in the courtyard."
"Thank you, Wil. Stay strong, it'll all work out eventually." She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze and went off. Sighing he sat down on a nearby stone bench. Why did this have to happen to me? Why does everything always have to happen to me?
Well, that's it for this chapter. Is it just me, or did this chapter seem short?
Guy- It's short. But no one cares.
Matthew- No, I think they do. Only you don't care.
Kirby- Poyo.
FireEdge- Right, whatever. Next chapter, it's the beginning of Hector's quest! Basically, it's the "Noble Lady of Caelin" chapter. Until next time!
Guy- Don't forget to review, or we'll never hear the end of it…
--FireEdge--
