Woo! for chapter two! Thank you for the reviews, and the same thing is true with the next chapter. The more reviews I get the faster it'll be up. I tend to let a story go after a little while because I don't think people like it, so show me you do. I take constructive comments, but not pointless flames. Also, I don't own Fire Emblem. Thank you, and enjoy!
CCC
Their sleeping area was left in the same shape they had arrived in, minus a little scuffed grass. The horses has slept at the edge of the clearing, and in order to cover more ground, Lyn suggested she share a horse with Kent. The red-haired boy agreed immediately, but Sain complained that she didn't ride with him. Kent felt a little hurt at that comment, but he had to admit that he was getting used to it; rather quickly getting used to it, actually.
Lyn tried to remain calm, but, as she disclosed later, this was her first time on a horse. She clung to Kent's sleeve, which was peeking out from under his armor, and tried not to let Sain see her distress. Lyn would never live it down if he discovered something else to harass her with, but Kent was a different story. He was a gentleman.
They tried to ride at a fast pace. According to the map Lyn had acquired the previous morning, they could make it to the merchant and then to a town if they rode all day and didn't waste too much time.
"Ah, yes. It'll be good to sleep in a bed after sleeping on the ground…"
"Sain, it's been one day. One night even. You shouldn't be complaining already."
"Wouldn't you rather sleep in a bed than on the hard ground, Kent? Besides, it was a little chilly last night."
Kent's head flew around to look at his friend riding beside him. What that supposed to be implying something? He raised his eyebrow and frowned. Sain didn't return the look.
The sun quickly grew in the sky and it began pounding down on the riders, making Kent sweat from Lyn's body heat as well as his heavy armor. What he wouldn't give for a cool stream of water or a few rain clouds… They had placed to be, though. No time for frivolous things like that. At least he was not in Lyn's position, having never been on a horse. And at least he didn't act like Sain, throwing himself over any woman he saw. Kent moved his head slightly and glanced at his partner who had continued to ride adjacent with him.
Sain was looking their way, but Kent was unable to tell whether he was looking at Lyn or at himself. He thought their gazes met for a second, but he turned forward again before he was sure. If it hadn't been so hot, he may have blushed, but the weather made up for it easily.
Lyn, tired of the odd silence, struck up a conversation from her position behind him.
"Well, Kent. How are you doing?" she inquired, lost as to what else she should say.
"A bit warm, but nothing more. Yourself? How's your ride been so far?" Kent rolled his shoulder uncomfortably, turning his head slightly again so Lyn could hear his reply.
"Awkward, but rather enjoyable," she smiled girlishly, but only Sain saw. He watched the couple lazily, unwilling to join in the conversation. Listening was just fine with him.
"Glad to hear that, Milady. It's rather nice weather for traveling, though it could be a bit cooler for my tastes," Kent continued. Their conversation on the weather was far too long and boring for Sain, and they had reached the merchant before it had faded. Their pace had been rather good, and Kent tried to convince Lyn that they could make it to the town before sunset.
The place they meant to purchase supplies, was really a small town. Not even that, actually, It was the traveling shop they had expected, but it had become unmovable and three houses that had been built haphazardly off to the side. There was also a small field that included a garden behind two of the adjacent houses, and in them where a few figures in the distance. It seemed like a trustworthy place, but Lyn had come to be very paranoid about strangers. Because of this, she now insisted that Kent, her new favorite person, did all the talking for them. Sain watched on with curiosity, but he thought it was better if Kent handled it, being as there was no young women involved.
"Hello, sir."
"Good afternoon, gentleman. What beauty is this that travels with you?" Lyn almost smacked the merchant, but Sain was keeping tabs and used her outburst as an excuse to fling his arm around her shoulders.
"We are in dire need of some supplies," Kent said, changing the subject. The shopkeeper gave the red head his full attention. "Do you have any tents?"
"Yes. How many?"
"Just one, actually. How about some Vulneraries?"
"I've got plenty of those, too."
"Do you have a frying pan?" At this, Sain raised his eyebrow.
"Er- I have one, but the price will be steep…"
"We'll take it. Now, how about some sleeping powder?"
The merchant stared at him with a blank look on his face, but Sain spoke up before the old man could.
"What on earth do with need sleeping powder for?" Kent turned around and spotted Sain with his arm around Lyn. He looked at both of them and then gave Sain a half dirty look.
"So you won't snore, of course."
Sain's mouth flew open and he gave Kent a surprised look at the insult.
"I don't snore!" He started towards his friend, this time Lyn stopping him, looking rather worried. The seller interrupted them.
"I'm sorry sir, but I don't carry things as refined as that," he looked worried. Kent turned back to him and gave him a level look.
"Fine. That will be all then. Please hurry, if you can. We are trying to make it to the next Inn as soon as possible." The merchant disappeared further into the wagon, but his voice could still be heard.
"Not a problem, sir. As a matter of fact, I have them all right here, and you won't have to worry about making it to that Inn tonight. It's only just over those hills over there. Best Inn in the surrounding area, and most people are pretty friendly over there… Sometimes I go over there to trade with the Innkeeper and he lets me stay the night so I don't have to come home so late, you know?" He mumbled a few more lines before a clanking took over the noise. He resurfaced a few seconds later, carrying three brown bags a quite larger one with straps.
Kent motioned for Sain to grab the bags, which he did begrudgingly, and Lyn came forward with the sack of gold she was carrying. Pulling out a few coins and handing them over, the merchant smiled at her, though she was short one. He didn't say anything, and Lyn smiled shyly, backing up to stand next to Kent.
"Maybe we will meet again some day…" the shopkeeper began, but Kent cut him off with a wave. He pulled the other two back to their horses and packed the new supplies onto Sain's horse.
"Well, that was fun…" the brunette said with a yawn, watching Kent tie the strings together. Kent shook his head, and turned back to his own horse. Lyn was already waiting to get back on, as eager as Sain to get to the village and permanently off of Kent's horse.
The man walked back to his horse and got on mechanically, thoughts returning to the problem at hand. For most of the trip he had been thinking about it, even though he was having a conversation with Lyn. He tended to do that a lot; work mechanically.
His companion stepped over and helped Lyn up behind him, to her distaste, but it was the only possibly solution as Kent couldn't do much already mounted. Sain smiled and winked at her and then caught Kent's gaze. He smiled at the red head too, but left out the wink. Kent felt jealous, but, once again, didn't show it and kicked his steed rather forcefully.
Sain had been back to his psuedo self, as Kent liked to call it. Or maybe that was his real friend shining through and all their nights had just been a lie? So many possibilities, each more confusing than the next. Maybe Sain really had felt sorry for him, and only did things like that because of duty. That thought angered Kent. At least that bastard should tell him if he didn't like being… close to him? They really hadn't done anything past that kiss last night, except act like it hadn't happened. Kent closed his eyes and sighed.
They where not even five minutes into the journey to the mountains, which were more like hills, when Kent switched his line of thought. Maybe he should just give up. Lyn apparently liked him, and though there would be so problems with her being from the royal bloodline and all, it could work. She was pretty, and they would have a lot of kids, probably, except that's not what he really wanted. Kent knew that if his relationship with Sain didn't change, that he would end up in a situation similar to the one with Lyn, and that's one thing that he had never liked the thought of. Maybe he could find another man… That seemed much more appealing than any woman would be.
Lyn's voice struck through his thoughts, shocking some of his brain back to reality.
"… he was rather nice to us." Apparently she was speaking with Sain about the merchant, which shouldn't have surprised Kent, but any conversation Sain was having with a woman usually revolved around something sexual. He continued to listen instead of contributing, until Lyn forced him in.
"Kent, I think that you may have been right about getting to the Inn before sunset. That merchant said that the town is just over those mountains," she said and pointed in front of them, clinging harder with her one hand.
"It shouldn't take more than an hour to reach the base of those hills, but it'll be hard going for our horses." Kent's predictions where usually right, and now that the shopkeeper had seconded his opinion, Lyn probably wouldn't doubt what he said in the future. It still seemed like a long time to spend on a horse to her, but that was much less than what she was expecting. She smiled and began to hum a song that was unfamiliar to Kent. Sain looked over at her immediately and smiled widely.
"What beautiful music, Milady. Pray, tell, do you sing?" He said in an enthusiastic voice. She immediately stopped and Kent could feel her head pushing against his back. Maybe that was a touchy subject for her or something…
"Lyn?" Kent asked quietly, the casual name sounded wrong on his tongue. He shouldn't treat her with such disrespect. Kent decided to change that in the future.
"I… I don't like singing in front of people…" she responded the Kent's comment shyly.
"Oh come on. Just us. We won't make fun of you or anything. Wouldn't dream of it!" Sain said happily, still smiling at the couple on the horse across from him. Evidently Lyn shook her head, because Sain tried convincing her again.
"Kent, you ask her! She'll listen to you!"
"Sain, if she doesn't want to sing she doesn't have to. Leave it alone." Kent glared at his companion. The brunette turned back ahead and pouted, not looking at either of them. They were silent for a short span of minutes, but Sain didn't have the personality to stay chronically mad at someone, especially his best friend.
"Please Kent?" He tried again, this time a pleading tone in his voice and big eyes like a doe.
The flame haired knight sighed. He, too, could not stay mad at Sain. Maybe that's why they were still keeping so much secret from Lyn.
"Lyn, will you please sing for us?" Kent could hear his blue haired companion sigh and lean further into his back.
"Any requests?" The knight looked over to Sain, expecting him to have one being as this was his idea, but he was shocked to find his friend staring at them with sad eyes. He still had a smile on his face, but they were close enough that Kent could tell he was slightly upset.
"Do you know 'The Inn Keeper's Daughter'?" He said, hiding the emotion in his voice.
CCC
Review now!
