I can't tell if this is a fast update or if this took longer than usual… I've been so lazy and I've been extremely sleep-deprived from trying to catch a specific event on the Olympics. :P Anyway, enough of my pathetic life.
Guy: Totally pathetic…
FireEdge: Gah… anyway, here's another chapter for you!
Matthew: Don't forget your reviews!
FireEdge: Right!
Reviews:
Wyrmseeker: Heh, I knew I slacked off last chapter. :P
Rockie1: I had to do research and find out all the generals and such. Hmm… eyedrops… oh well, too late now…
Lord Cynic: I told you to apologize! He may be a "darnfangled fluffball" but he's a cute darnfangled fluffball! :D
Kirby: Poyo!
TheOneAndOnlyT: Yes, like I said before, I knew I slacked off. Yeah, so I'm planning to take that little mistake of mine and turn it into something else in the next few chapters. ;)
Ed, the Master Tactician: Thank you for such a lovely compliment! You sounded all Shakespearean. :P
Guy: Ack! -=Cough=-
tactician-kit: Thank you!
ErkTheSlayer: Thank you, I try to update as fast as I can! And good luck if you're going to get up your own fic!
Ragnarok-legend: Heh, good thing I'm reading your fic, or else I wouldn't have gotten your review! Hmm… that's a good idea. I almost forgot about Hector… I'm dumb. Anyway, that gives me some maniacal ideas! Muahahaha!
Matthew: -.- Oh god… don't fret though, I think she means it in a good way…
Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem.
Stray Arrow
Chapter 14
"You sure this is the right direction, Hector?" Elfaiya sighed, looking around the area they had just arrived in. There were many large areas of grassy land, which were separated by a lake and various rivers branching off. In the distant, she could vaguely make out two or three small castles.
"Yes, Hector… I feel uneasy here." Lyn walked up to them with a frown upon her face. Eliwood followed closely behind her.
"I guess we should just check the castles…" He added. The tactician let out another exasperated sigh.
"As if we have a choice…" She didn't think anyone heard her, but she was wrong.
"Getting bored?!" Hector grinned broadly, slapping their tactician hard on the back, causing her to fall flat onto the muddy ground.
"Ack!" She growled standing up and brushing as much mud as possible from her loose beige pants. "Not… funny… if you're lucky, next battle, I'll send you into a horde of myrmidons!"
"Aw, don't be such a bad sport!" Hector laughed, as he held her in a headlock and messed up her hair with his other hand.
"AHH! Leave me alone! Or I'll make them swordmasters!!" Florina stood off to one side watching the sibling-like argument. Lyn and Eliwood were laughing heartily at their behaviour. Even Florina let out a small giggle as Elfaiya jabbed an elbow into Hector's ribs, causing the lord to let out a yell. She was quite surprised that Elfaiya could cause the tall and strong lord any pain.
The tactician then snickered and left the group of lords, letting them amongst themselves. Spotting Florina the young tactician walked over to her.
"What are you staring at, Florina?" She asked, retying her aqua-blue hair into a ponytail. Florina coloured at the question.
"Oh! Um… n-nothing really… I-I was just w-watching you and… Lord Hector…" She stammered. One of Elfaiya's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Hmm, yes. Hector reminds me of my older brother. My brother, Adam, is just like him, always making fun of me and teasing me. But they're both kind souls."
"… His hair reminds me of my eldest sister. They're both of the same shade." Replied Florina.
"Oh? You have another sister?"
"Y-Yes. But Fiora and Farina don't get along to well… they think so differently… They always argue… and one day… Farina just left… I-I haven't seen her since…" Elfaiya remained silent for a moment.
"All siblings fight… I'm sure that you'll see her again, maybe even sooner than you think… if you're lucky."
"Y-Yes, I suppose so…"
"By the way… what are your feelings toward Lord Hector?" The tactician looked at Florina with a questioning look. The young pegasus knight flushed considerably.
"I-I d-don't have a-any…" The other's head titled slightly.
"Hector does think that you're very pretty… Though Lyn doesn't like him taking an interest in you." The comment caused Florina to redden more.
"I…I …I…" Elfaiya's eyes saddened.
"Wil loves you very dearly… but I have a feeling that Hector might just want to court you… Be careful about which path you accidentally tread." Elfaiya felt guilt tugging at her as Florina's face blanched. She didn't want to sound so harsh, but the pegasus knight needed to know that there was more than just one man who vied for her love. Though one showed it more than the other. She knew that Florina and Wil were practically destined to be together, but… things happened and no one knows what the next day could bring.
"I… I think I… want to be alone for awhile… to… to think…" She replied slowly. Elfaiya nodded and walked away.
The pegasus knight was so confused now. Everything had been so complicated with her new feelings towards Wil… and now things have become even more confusing now that Elfaiya told her about Hector. She had never thought that the lord had any feelings for her. He never showed it, but sometimes she did have the feeling that someone was looking at her.
Then she remembered when Wil told her that he'd protect her. She felt safe around the sniper, and she knew that he would protect her with his life. And Elfaiya said that Wil… loved her…? Her heart warmed at the thought. Did he really love her? She supposed she really wouldn't know for sure unless he told her.
But her emotions about Hector were as clear as mud. The lord was handsome and strong, she had to admit, but she didn't think she was really attracted to the man. I-I don't know what to think anymore…
Suddenly, the rest of the army stared stirring up. Looking around she saw some drawing their weapons. Turning, she saw the lords confronting a paladin. As expected, Elfaiya was soon yelling out orders. Picking up her lance, she climbed onto her pegasus, awaiting her own orders.
"Guy, Raven, Matthew! Take Lucius and take over the castle to the west!" The sword fighters nodded and ran off followed by the monk. "Florina, Fiora! Take Erk and go warn that village across the lake before the bandits get them. While you're there take out that bishop and seize that castle!" Florina nodded, as her sister allowed Erk to mount her pegasus.
"Come, Florina. Let's go!" Fiora called.
"Yes, Fiora!"
"Everyone else, head north…" Elfaiya's voice faded as the sisters took to the air and soared across the lake. In a few minutes, they were nearing the opposite shore. As they reached it, Erk jumped off and gestured for them to go on ahead as he warned the village.
Before the battle, Wil had seen that Florina had looked unwell. Her face was pale and she had been clutching to her pegasus's mane with a tight grip. I hope she's okay… Walking forward, he heard some of the group murmuring.
"Look, over there."
"There's another pegasus knight!"
"But it's not Florina or Fiora."
"I wonder who it could be?" Looking in the direction of their fingers, he saw a faint figure flying towards them. Another pegasus knight? As the figure came closer, they saw that the woman had dark blue hair, cropped short. She had a determined grin on her face as she observed the army. Her eyes lit up as it landed on Hector.
They all stared as she went up to him and started talking. Suddenly the lord let out a yell.
"20 000 gold?!" After a bit more of talking they saw Elfaiya and Hector place a bag into the smiling pegasus knight's hands. Then they all saw her fly across the lake towards the other pegasus knights.
"Wow, three pegasus knights…" Wil said to himself. Next to him, Sain nodded.
"Yes, three beautiful pegasus knights!"
"… Sain…" He growled warningly.
"Ehehe, o-of course I won't do anything!" The cavalier newly promoted paladin replied nervously.
"Fiora! Look!" Florina tugged her sister's sleeve, pointing to the approaching pegasus knight. Fiora's eyes widened.
"Fa-Farina?!" She called, out surprise written all over her face. The blue-haired pegasus knight came up next to them.
"Hello, sisters!"
"Farina!" Florina said joyously, tears coming to her eyes.
"Oh! D-Don't cry, Florina!"
"I-I'm sorry!" She apologized.
"Why are you here, sister?" Fiora asked. The other shrugged.
"Lord Hector hired me for 20 000 gold!"
"20 000?!" Fiora gagged. "Again, you ask the impossible!"
"Impossible? Nothing's impossible when it's money you're talking about!"
"Is that all you think about?!"
"Pl-Please, can we not fight?" Florina asked meekly. Her two sisters looked at her and nodded slowly.
"Yes. We should finish this battle." Fiora answered. The youngest of the trio smiled and they resumed the fight.
After the battle was over, Florina stood off by herself, brushing her pegasus. She turned as she heard boots crunching on the grass.
"Oh! Wil!" The sniper smiled warmly at her.
"Hello, Florina. I came to see if you were well. You didn't seem to well before the battle." The young girl blushed.
"Uh, I-I'm sorry for making you worry… I-I'm fine." She replied quietly. He smiled again.
"That's good to know. I'm glad you're safe." Wil sighed. Florina nodded. The two remained in silence for a long moment. Florina, staring at the ground, Wil looking at Florina. She felt at peace with Wil, but right now she was filled with many mixed feelings. Mostly an expectant feeling. She wanted to know if Elfaiya was right. Could Wil be the first man that she could actually trust and fall in love with? She hoped so. She had looked deep inside herself, and she found that she did love Wil. But she did not want her heart to be broken. Wil shifted uneasily.
"Um… Florina--" The sniper started, but was interrupted by a yell.
"FLORINA!" Both their heads snapped up at the call. Farina was running towards them. "I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but Fiora wants to talk to you, sister."
"Um, o-okay." Florina then ran off towards her other sister's tent. As she slowly disappeared into the distance, Farina turned to face Wil. Her brows raised as she looked the 17 year old up and down.
"Uh… can I help you?" Wil asked.
"So… are you my baby sister's friend?" Wil took a step back as Farina leaned in and squinted at him.
"Uh… y-yeah…"
"Hmm… last time I recalled, Florina was completely terrified of men! So why would she not be afraid of you?" She asked suspiciously. Wil thanked the darkness of the night as he blushed.
"I-I've been travelling with Florina since more than a year ago. We're both serve the Lady Lyndis." He replied.
"So you both work for a noble? Well, I'm glad that my sister is working for someone that important… How much do you get payed?"
"Wh-What?!" Wil was truly taken aback by the question. "Uh… pl-plenty enough, I suppose…" Farina continued to stare at Wil.
"Hmm, you look to be a country boy."
"W-Well, I grew up in a small village in Pherae."
"A village boy…" Farina stroked her chin thoughtfully. "So… you're just my sister's friend?" Wil was really sweating now, being put on the hot seat by the blue-haired pegasus knight.
"Uh… y-yes!"
"Nothing more?"
"Y-Yes…" He replied meekly. Her eyes narrowed again.
"You lie."
"Wh--"
"But I suppose that since you do work for a noblewoman, you should be good enough."
"I-I beg your pardon?" Asked Wil, confused.
"I'll be seeing you again. And be careful, I'm watching you." The young woman then turned on her heels and walked away. Wil let out a deep sigh of relief and sunk to the ground as soon as she was out of sight.
"That… was… unexpected… Man, she scares me…"
FireEdge: Hehe, go Farina!
Guy: O.o Wow, she is scary.
Matthew: Not as much as FireEdge…
FireEdge: Hey!
Guy: Review.
--FireEdge--
