Crossroads of the Heart
Author's Note: Fire Emblem is the property of Intelligent Systems and Nintendo.
Chapter 7: Unfinished Business
"Man, what is taking them so long?"
"...Have a little patience. Negotiations on this scale are no trivial matter."
"Whoa, well, sorry."
Florina sighed inwardly. Her sisters were very dear to her, but how they managed to squabble over the silliest matters... it was both impressive and infuriating. She wondered vaguely how they could ever hope to work as a team when neither seemed capable of holding even a civil conversation with the other. Of course, Kent was already growing rather adept at stepping shrewdly between them when their bickering grew too fierce; it was a role Florina had often wished she could play more effectively. Unfortunately, her timid pleas for peace often went unnoticed -- how was it then, that Kent could pacify them at least temporarily with a well placed cough or by merely clearing his throat? A mystery.
He did so here, smoothly interrupting her elder sisters with some typical statement concerning the importance of supporting one's liege through difficult times; Florina noticed the way he took Fiora's arm, and the way she blushed slightly, as though she was embarrassed to be caught arguing with Farina over something so silly. A small pang of jealousy rushed through her, followed swiftly by surprise that she should feel such a thing. Not for Kent, certainly... her eyes caught the ring that now adorned her eldest sister's hand, and wistfulness welled up within her.
No, she was happy for Kent and Fiora. The melancholy feelings were, as they often were, due to her own shortcomings. Florina knew she probably gave the impression that she hated men, the way she was always running away from them, stammering like a fool around them... of course, that wasn't the truth of it, not at all. In her heart, she often hoped to feel the same happiness Fiora had found... but who was she kidding? No man would ever look at her that way.
She turned her attention to the door of the chamber Lyn and Hector were shut up inside, supposedly discussing certain terms and conditions concerning the surrender of Caelin's territories to Ostia. Florina frowned absently; everyone had heard their little spat earlier, of course. Lyn had cried on her own shoulder often enough since Lord Hausen's death, but... though she had harbored suspicions for a long time, seeing her friend in Lord Hector's arms that way... it was as though they were meant to be. Farina was right -- it should not be taking so long to sign a treaty, to wrap up this preliminary meeting; the real lengthy discussions would take place among the Lycian Lords in a council that would almost certainly take place soon.
What, then, could be taking them so long? Florina thought she knew, but... she was ashamed to realize that she hoped she was wrong. With all of her heart.
"Why the long face, sis?" Farina spoke from behind her, and she jumped in surprise, caught off guard in her own thoughts.
"Oh... ah, no reason," She spoke quickly, hoping to muster up enough sincerity to keep Farina off her back. She meant well, but she was so overbearing at times!
"Hmmm, somehow, I doubt that..." A suspicious look. Why did it have to be so difficult to keep things from her sisters?
"No, really, I-I'm just fine. It's a little dull just waiting here, though, isn't it?"
"You're right about that, at least," Farina muttered. "How long before this stupid succession business is settled and we can take to the skies again, I wonder?"
"However long it takes," Fiora spoke firmly in response, taking an interest in her sisters' conversation.
"I doubt there will be reason for Lady Lyndis to remain in Lycia much longer," Kent offered, speaking apologetically. "As soon as her duties here are complete..."
"I believe we will also be seeing Lady Lyndis safely back to Sacae," Fiora put in, and Kent blinked in surprise.
"Ah, really, we don't have to do that..."
"Don't be silly, Kent. I'd not want you to look back and regret shirking your duties."
"Hmph, his duties officially ended when all this abdication stuff came up," Farina pointed out, crossing her arms. "Anything after that is just your screwy heads making up codes of honor that just don't exist!"
"If you had even the slightest concept of honorability, perhaps you'd be as horrified at those words as I am," Fiora shot back heatedly, eyebrows knitting darkly. "The codes of knighthood are--"
"Ahem!" Kent interrupted, placing a soothing hand on his fiancé's shoulder. "Perhaps we should step outside... the stuffiness in here seems to making our tempers shorter than normal, hm?"
"Ah... you might be right," Fiora replied meekly, subtly chastised yet again. What was it about Farina that made her so volatile, anyway?
"I'd like to make sure Sain isn't getting into any trouble, too, you know... he just can't be trusted by himself..."
"Well, he won't have you around to regulate his behavior much longer," Fiora spoke in a disapproving tone, as she often did when she thought of Sain. They disappeared around a corner, but Florina could still hear them muttering about how the thought of Sain running about without Kent to keep an eye on him was a horrifying concept, indeed.
"I'm plenty honorable," Farina snorted when their voices had faded to an echoing murmur. "I mean, there's no way a dishonorable mercenary could get away with charging prices as high as mine, right?"
"Farina..." Florina chuckled, shaking her head. She did have a point. All pegasus knights abided by their own famous, and quite strict, code of honor, after all. "I don't think that's what she meant..."
"Then she should speak a little more plainly."
"It doesn't matter what she says to you," Florina spoke with a sudden rush of conviction. "You'd find something to squabble about regardless."
"...Yeah, you're probably right."
Another sigh.
"...Well..."
"Say, you were saying something about being bored, right? Let's get out of here. Who knows how long those two will be in there, eh?"
"...I suppose."
"Hm, I don't really know Ostia all that well..."
Farina shrugged, choosing to wander in the opposite direction Fiora and Kent had disappeared through. Florina walked quickly to keep up; she didn't know this castle all that well, either.
"Where..."
"The best way to get to know a place is to explore it, right?" Farina grinned.
"I'm not sure if we should just be sticking our noses everywhere," Florina replied timidly. "I mean, we are guests..."
"Exactly, so no one will care. They've got to be polite to Lord Hector's guests."
"Farina..."
"Besides, you'll want to get to know this place as well as you can." Farina raised an eyebrow at her, and Florina eyed her quizzically.
"What... whatever do you mean by that?"
"Oh, come on. Don't be so coy. Lyn's said over and over that she's returning to Sacae, right?"
"Well, yes." Florina spoke shortly, suddenly suspicious of where this was heading.
"So... that means she's not planning on staying here with Lord Hector, right?" Farina continued, and her sly glance was unmistakable this time.
"I don't see what that has to do with anything!" Florina exclaimed, blushing. "In fact, I was planning on going back to the plains with her! So whatever you're thinking... just stop it!" All right, so maybe she could understand why Fiora was always bickering with her. Why did the woman have to be so infuriating?
"Whoa! Florina..."
"What?!"
"So, you really don't like Lord Hector, huh? I mean, I thought you were holding back before because of Lyn..." Farina looked genuinely confused, and Florina felt as though she might cry. Her constant prying certainly didn't help anything.
"It doesn't matter if I do or if I don't," Florina whispered, and that old stubborn look crossed her sister's face again.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Farina frowned, fixing her little sister with a disapproving glare. "Of course your happiness is important!"
"No, you don't understand..."
"Then explain it to me!"
"Look, he's in love with Lyn, okay? You're blind if you don't see it!"
"But if she's--"
"And she loves him too!" Florina exclaimed furiously, and tears did well up in her eyes then. There, she had admitted it; the thing she had always suspected, always hoped wasn't true... but so obviously was! "Whenever we would talk, she'd always bring him up -- Hector this, Hector that, I wonder what Hector would think about this. I don't even think she realized she was doing it. I don't even think she realizes how she feels!"
"Well, isn't that a good thing?" Farina asked in a bewildered tone, and Florina made an irritated sound.
"No! No... He'll know that this is his last chance to keep her here. He'll do everything he can to convince her to stay. ...Why else would they be taking so long in there..."
"...Well! We can put a stop to that!" Farina exclaimed, turning to go back with a determined look on her face.
"What? No!" Florina yelped, grabbing her arm.
"Why not?" Farina retorted, attempting to shake her off. "She can't do this to you! She's your best friend, and she can't see how you feel?"
"You're my sister, and you aren't even understanding the way I feel!" Florina shouted, the tears she had been holding back bursting free in a rush of fury and frustration. "Don't you get it? He.. Lord Hector... he'd never be happy with me! He loves Lyn, and she loves him... I want him to be happy..." She closed her eyes, tears still flowing. "And of course, I want Lyn to be happy... she is my best friend."
"You can't be serious," Farina muttered furiously. "Why do you have to be the martyr? You know very well that Lyn would find her own happiness on the plains, without him. What about you? What about your feelings? Why don't you think they matter?!"
"...Besides!" Florina continued, ignoring her sister's angry rebukes. "Even if Lyn and Hector... if they didn't... I would never -- never be able to tell him..."
"Don't be ridiculous," Farina snapped. "I'll tell him myself, if I have to!"
"You wouldn't!" Florina gasped, horrified. "You wouldn't dare!"
"You said yourself that you're too damn shy to do it on your own," Farina spat hotly, furious at the whole situation. "If you can't take care of yourself--"
"I don't need you around to try and remedy all of my shortcomings!" Florina sniffed, wiping at her eyes. "You and Fiora -- you always want to dabble about in my affairs as though there is nothing in my life I'd rather deal with on my own!"
"Running away from a problem is not dealing with it!"
"Did you tell yourself that when you abandoned Fiora and I all that time ago?" Florina demanded, then immediately regretted it. That hadn't been entirely her fault, and she knew it. "...Nothing, never mind! Just leave well enough alone!" she pleaded one last time, turning away from her speechless sister.
Farina watched her go, mouth hanging slightly agape.
"They're getting married?" Serra exclaimed, clapping her hands together with glee. "Oh, that's wonderful! I just love weddings, you know. Do they know when it will be? Where it will take place? Why, I--"
"Whoa, whoa, one question at a time!" Sain interrupted, holding his hands in a pleading gesture. "I'm only one man...!"
"Oh, of course. Sorry, it's just I adore these things..."
"Well, to answer your questions... No, they're not certain of the date, but I'd be willing to bet Fiora'd want the ceremony in Ilia. I suppose sometime after all of this succession business has settled down, and they iron out a few more plans..."
"Isn't it romantic? I always knew they would be perfect for each other, you know," Serra spoke primly; knowingly.
"Romantic...? Well, I don't know..."
"Sain?"
"I suppose it's perfect for a stickler like Kent. He's just the type to chain himself down so soon..."
"Oh, you're terrible! You're not supposed to think of marriage that way!" Serra scolded him, though truthfully it was hardly a surprising sentiment from Sain. "It's a sacred bond, you know. A wonderful thing!"
"Well, I am happy for him, I said. It's right up his alley," Sain explained defensively, crossing his arms.
"Wouldn't you want to get married one day, Sain?" Serra sighed dreamily.
"...Maybe one day," he replied somewhat hesitantly, raising an eyebrow at her wistful expression. "Don't tell me you'd want to. I mean, you can't, can you?"
"I suppose not, as a blessed sister of St. Elimine, but..." she shrugged dismissively. "There's no harm in dreaming of it, is there?"
"I suppose not!" Sain said cheerfully, his typical smile returning to his face. "I mean, if that's your thing."
A rather sudden clatter caught their attention, interrupting the conversation. The primary courtyard of Castle Ostia was often bustling at these hours, with traders and merchants coming in and out, knights patrolling and switching shifts, and servants rushing to and fro to take care of their own individual duties. However, the distinct sound of sobbing and the familiarity of the voice drew this particular activity apart from the rest, and the two rushed together toward the castle entrance just in time to see a very distraught looking Florina exit at a hurried pace. Serra and Sain exchanged glances, each wondering what the proper course of action would be. Serra was somewhat acquainted with the woman -- she had once asked her for advice on how to deal with men, but truthfully, the poor girl was hopeless in her estimation -- but she wasn't certain their relationship extended to such conciliatory matters.
"Should we go after her?" She asked matter-of-factly, figuring that Sain would know more about her than she.
"I doubt I would make things better, as much as it pains me to admit it," Sain murmured in response, looking a little perturbed. "Our little Florina has always been somewhat... fragile. She might talk to you, though!" He encouraged her, and Serra sighed.
"Perhaps you should go find one of her sisters, while I try and sort this out?" She suggested, watching as Florina, now some distance away, settled herself on an unoccupied bench on the far side of the courtyard, burying her face in her hands. This task could prove somewhat delicate...
"An excellent idea," Sain concurred, casting a worried glance in Florina's direction. "Fiora and Kent shouldn't be too far off..." He disappeared into the castle, and Serra smiled after him. For all his rather amusing faults, he was a good man at heart. Surely some woman would see that in him... one day. She turned her attention to the task at hand, smoothing her hair back as she carefully approached the sobbing girl. How to approach this?
"Umm... Florina?" She spoke timidly, or at least as near to timid as Serra could bring herself to be -- compared to this girl it probably sounded bold! "Are you all right, dear?"
"W-who...?" Florina jumped up, clearly alarmed, and flushing already with embarrassment.
"No, no! Sit down, it's all right," Serra quickly assured her, seating herself next to her. "Why the tears, Florina?"
"W-well..." She sniffed, taking deep breaths in an attempt to quell her sobs. "It's s-silly, r-really. Farina and I... w-we..."
"Oh... did you have a spat with your sister, then?" Serra inquired politely, hoping that Sain ran into Fiora first. "I wouldn't know, personally, but... fights with loved ones are never fun..."
"You're certainly r-right about that," Florina sighed, wiping at her eyes morosely. "It's just, Farina is so stubborn sometimes... I wish she'd stop butting into my life all the time..."
"I'm sure she means well," Serra offered, a bit at a loss, having no background information to work with.
"I know that... I do. It's just... Serra?"
"Hm?"
"Say... if you cared for someone very much... you'd want to make them happy, right?"
"Well, I suppose so."
"What if... what if the thing that would make this person happy would also cause you pain, though?" Florina paused, as though to ponder how to best explain the situation.
"I would expect anyone I cared about so much to feel the same way for me, of course!" Serra replied without hesitation. "I'm not quite sure what you mean..."
"Well... say you had two friends... who liked each other a lot... but you liked one of them... and..." She blushed, at a loss.
"Florina! Are you talking about a man?" Serra exclaimed incredulously, suddenly very much interested in her plight. "Oh, who is it? Tell me!"
"No, no! I mean, I just..."
"Imagine that, shy little Florina, in love! I would have never guessed!" Serra stood positively glowing, and Florina groaned miserably. Chalk up another mistake... "So, you're having guy trouble, is it? It's no wonder, you're so shy!"
"It's not exactly that," Florina said quickly, but Serra all but ignored her, taking on a lecturing tone as she continued.
"Why, you're even reserved speaking with other women!"
"Serra..."
"It's simple, really. You just need to have a little more confidence!"
"Confidence? Yes, I suppose, but really..."
"No matter who you're with," Serra continued, oblivious of Florina's nervous fidgeting. "Just think of yourself as better than them! That'll do it!"
"I can't think of them... as equals?" Florina spoke timidly, intrigued by this advice in spite of herself.
"No, no, not at all! In fact, you should think of them as lowly little bugs if you can."
"Bugs?"
"Look, your shyness is pretty deeply ingrained, right? Then you'll need to take drastic measures! Come on, stand up straight!" Serra took her hands, pulling Florina to her feet and glancing over her posture with a critical eye. "Push out that chest! Raise that chin! Look me in the eye!" Florina's head whirled as she scrambled desperately to comply with her instructions.
"Like... this?"
"No! I'm a bug, remember? Look at me with disgust!"
"Err... um. Stand up straight... puff out... like this?"
"No, no, no! More defiant! And your legs, take a wider stance!" Florina moved awkwardly into position, feeling quite silly standing her in the middle of Ostia's courtyard taking orders much like a training knight to his superior officer. It did bring back memories of her first months training in Ilia...
"Umm..."
"Yeah! That's better!"
"...I feel... weird..."
"The eyes, don't forget! Raise that chin! More disdain!"
"My neck... hurts..." Florina complained, and Serra rolled her eyes in disgust. To think, all of that distress over something so simple as wooing a man... though she supposed such a task probably seemed overwhelming to this poor girl. At least she wasn't sitting there, crying her eyes out so pathetically anymore. A little bit of confidence would certainly do a lot of good for her!
"...What on earth is going on here?" A disapproving voice spoke from behind her, and Serra jumped in surprise, while Florina nearly fell over with her haste to return to her normal, diminutive stance.
"Oh, Fiora... I was just, umm..."
"You look ridiculous, stop that," Fiora frowned. "Are you all right? Sain came running in... look at your face, you've been crying. Was Farina teasing you again? I swear, that woman, I'll--"
"No, no, it's really nothing," Florina assured her, backing away. "I'm... I'm f-fine now, really!"
"Hm..."
"Our dear Florina's feeling the sting of Cupid's arrow, I'm afraid..." Serra giggled, and Fiora raised her eyebrows near to her hairline in surprise. That couldn't be right, Florina in love? As in, with a man?
"Explain," She spoke shortly, and Florina groaned audibly. Everyone in Ostia would have heard about this by sunset with Serra blabbing about it to everyone she saw, and... oh, what when Lyn and Hector found out? She felt like burying herself in a very deep hole, and never coming out.
"No, really, I..."
"Well!" Serra spoke with an air of finality, backing away from the sisters, sensing an impending family discussion. "I do believe I'll take my leave... good luck, Florina!" She winked knowingly, and Florina blushed, covering her face with her hands. "I do believe Sir Oswin is out training the apprentice knights..." she murmured dreamily, skipping off back toward the castle. Fiora ignored her, her hands on her hips in what Florina already recognized as Fiora in hyper concerned elder sister mode.
"Is this true, Florina?" She spoke in a very no-nonsense tone, even more so than usual.
"Well, I..." She shrunk beneath her sister's penetrating gaze, speaking meekly, in no more than a whisper. "It... ah... maybe."
"Who?" Fiora demanded, still in that same unsettling tone.
"No one, it's not important."
"What do you mean by that?" Fiora inquired, a bit startled. "There's no need to be secretive with me, Florina. Don't you trust me?"
"Yes! I... of course I do. It's just... I don't really want to talk about this..."
"Florina..."
"Really, I'm not sure, and I just... I need time to think..."
"Yes, I understand," Fiora conceded at last, and Florina inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. "I want you to know, though, that I'll be here when you've sorted your feelings out."
"I know."
"Good. Let's get you cleaned up," Fiora placed an arm around her shoulders protectively, directing them back toward the castle. She could hardly contain her curiosity, but... she would respect her sister's wishes. She thought back to Farina's strange comments of late, and found herself wondering in spite of it all if that greedy, self centered... well. If she knew anything of this. Fiora found that it wouldn't surprise her in the least if she did.
Lyn had the vague sense that quite a bit of time had passed since she and Hector had locked themselves up in this room, a rather plain chamber -- in true Ostian fashion -- adorned with several chairs and a sensible, sturdy table, currently covered with papers, scattered haphazardly over the surface. Neither she nor Hector were particular sticklers for procedure, and truth be told the treaties had all been signed some time ago. Oswin had appeared briefly, as Hector's closest advisor, expressing his approval for the outlined plans before making a discreet exit. Yet, though everything was all but decided... there was still so much to discuss.
"...I suppose that does it," Lyn spoke timidly, surprised at her own tone. He looked up at her, and though the concern in his eyes was flattering... her stomach fluttered in a most unsettling manner.
"I suppose it does, at that," he agreed, speaking slowly. He folded a few maps absently, clearly mulling something over in that head of his.
"It seems so unreal... that this chapter of my life is coming to a close," Lyn continued, helping him gather the various papers strewn across the desk. "I'll... I'll miss Caelin," She admitted.
"...I'm sure they'll miss you, too, Lyn," He offered. Their hands brushed as they gathered the last of the papers. He cleared his throat, and Lyn wondered briefly if he was... embarrassed? She couldn't imagine timidity from a man like Hector.
"My grandfather... he knew what I was going to do. I'm certain of it..."
"Lord Hausen... he loved you, Lyn. I'm sure he could appreciate your feelings."
"Still... I wonder if he truly approved. He never mentioned it to me, but..."
"There's no point in dwelling on it," He spoke firmly. "When I was first made Marquess... I questioned everything I did," He continued, and Lyn raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I wondered, with every decision I made, if... if Uther would approve. Yet with each passing day, I realize... he'd not want me to live my life in the shadow of his memory."
"Hector..."
"I honestly think your grandfather would be the same way." He shrugged.
"I hadn't thought of it that way," she admitted.
"Everything will seem muddled at first... but things get clearer as time passes."
"...I suppose..." Lyn sounded a bit doubtful, but she was sure his words would prove true. A somewhat awkward silence stretched between them; it was clear he had something more to say, but...
"So... you're returning to the plains, right?" Hector began, and Lyn eyed him suspiciously.
"Yes, that's my plan..."
"...I see."
Lyn waited patiently, expecting him to continue, but strangely enough he did not. Were they to part here, then? A strange feeling, knowing that if she left him now... she'd likely never see him again. Not simply strange, but... wholly unpleasant. Still... she had plenty left to say, things she had meant to say long ago...
"Is that all, then?" She broke the silence, speaking in a very careful, matter-of-fact tone. What she had left to say would not be easy for someone so proud as she. "...There's nothing else you wish to say...?"
"I..." He hesitated. "I want you to be happy, Lyn. Whatever that takes..."
"Hector..." She looked curiously into his eyes, only to have him look away. Was that sadness? "...Fine."
"...Hey, there's no need to get angry!" He spoke quickly, blinking in surprise at her tone.
"I'm not angry. But if there is nothing else you want to say... then let me say something instead."
"Lyn...?"
"...I want to apologize." There. That was the hardest part.
"Huh?"
"...From the time we first met, I've done nothing but criticize you. Why, I recall, even the first words I ever said to you... complaining about your fighting style. I wanted to apologize for that."
"Oh... that? Don't worry about it," He shrugged nonchalantly. He had long grown used to her criticisms, but... this wasn't the conversation he had wanted to have, certainly. "Why bring this up now?"
"In fact... I used to think you were selfish, oblivious to the needs of others. Even after all this time... I only saw you as crude and insensitive..." She spoke slowly, realizing the extent of her own foolishness as the words tumbled from her mouth. His expression was somewhat sour; and who could blame him, really?
"Hey, now... do I really need to hear this?" He complained, shifting uncomfortably. He had always suspected she thought these things, but... "I mean, what's your point?"
"Well... I used to be like that, too. I relied too much on my own strength and stuck to myself... all I did was cause problems for the people around me. I think you're like that, too... sometimes, when I look at you, I feel as though I'm looking at the old me." He looked a bit confused at this, and she continued on. "It's just... sometimes... I treat you horribly."
"Yeah, that's true," he muttered, scratching his head uncomfortably. "Sometimes, you really lay into me..."
"...But on Valor... and back there... what you said... it made me realize I was wrong. So, I'm sorry."
"You already apologized. I admit that I sometimes have a bad attitude, but... it's fine, right? Just let it go."
"Let it go?" Lyn frowned, knitting her eyebrows in an expression Hector recognized as impending anger, usually at him. He didn't want to fight with her, though... not now. This wasn't going anywhere near the way he had wanted it to! "I can't just let it go! That doesn't satisfy me!"
"Then, what will?" He asked quickly, determined to pacify her before this got out of hand. By Father Sky, if they had to part, he at least wanted it to be on good terms!
"...Here," she decided, standing up straight, steeling herself for something. He eyed her quizzically. "Hit me! I deserve it... that will make me feel better."
"...What?!" Was the woman raving mad?
"Come on, I won't move a muscle. Just wind up and let it fly!"
"You... You can't be serious..." Hector turned away from her, shaking his head incredulously.
"What? Are you afraid?!" She challenged him furiously.
"Give me a break! Do you think I could hit a woman?" Hector complained, feeling a little perturbed himself. She didn't honestly think he'd do this, right?
"It's fine. Just don't think of me as a woman," she spoke reasonably, and Hector turned to gape at her.
"Look, I can't smack a woman... especially not one I've lost my heart to!"
"Come on, hurry up and--" She paused, his words registering in her mind. His expression was flat, but what... "What...?"
"Enough of this foolishness!" he turned away, towards the door, and Lyn felt fury rising in her as she realized that he fully intended to leave things at that. "Let's go, they'll be--"
"Hold it! What did you just say?" Lyn interrupted him, moving swiftly to block his exit. He crossed his arms, and she returned his frown with a defiant glare. This was no battlefield; he couldn't run away to hide himself in a throng of enemy troops now. "Hector!!"
"...I didn't mean to say that..."
"Then why did you?! What do you..."
"I didn't want to say it, I mean... I mean, I meant it, but..." He paused, closing his eyes. He was terrible at this, and he hated it.
"Hector... damn you, say what you want to say!" She glared at him, and he opened his eyes, looking at her... her flushed, furious face, her flashing eyes... her arms crossed that way...
"I meant just what I said! You've stolen my heart... do you understand? I think about you constantly! You're always foremost on my mind. Knowing that you're leaving... it's tearing me apart!"
"...Why..." her mind reeled. She might have been half expecting to hear it, but at the same time, she had never been so shocked in her life. However, she was still furious. "Why would you have--!"
"What?"
"You were going to let me leave, Hector! Don't you deny it. We would have parted ways here, and I... we... we'd likely have never seen each other again! And you would have... you were going to let it happen! If you truly feel this way, why--!"
"Don't you get it?! It's plain as day you don't want to live your life here, in Lycia. I told you before, Lyn... what I want is for you to be happy!"
"And so just because you think I couldn't possibly find happiness here with you, you were going to keep quiet? That's... that's absurd, Hector!"
"...Why?"
She scrambled for a response, yet finding an appropriate one proved to be more difficult than she supposed it would be. The full weight of his words were also sinking in now, and the decision she had been dreading since her first suspicions back on the Dread Isle loomed before her. In a way, he was right... she couldn't imagine living her life here, but... would it truly be so terrible? She looked up at him, his face still impassable, awaiting her answer. Her shoulders slumped in defeat; she was tired of this.
"...I must go back to the plains," She replied quietly, and his face tightened, though he nodded in response. He would try to understand...
"...Yeah," He said softly, looking away from her, his eyes tracing some pattern on the floor to his side.
"...If only for a little while," she continued, and he looked up again, confused. "You see... I swore long ago, when I first met Kent and Sain... before I knew about my Lycian heritage... I made a vow."
"A vow?"
"I've told you about my past, about the bandits that slaughtered my tribe." He winced, but she had long come to terms with her loss, and continued in a steely tone. "I swore back then, when I was but a fledgling swordsman with no chance to achieve my goals, that I would have my revenge on the ones responsible."
"...You're going to go back to fight those bandits?" Hector spoke incredulously. "By yourself?"
"I'll have Kent and Sain with me, I'm sure," She said quickly. "They expressed interest back then in helping me when the time came... and Florina, of course, and perhaps her sisters."
"I'll come too," Hector put in quickly, his face resolute.
"Don't be stupid," she chastised him, shaking her head. "You've duties to attend to here; you can't traipse off to the plains and leave Ostia alone."
"Well, I... perhaps if I spoke to Oswin, and..."
"No," she said flatly. "There is something else... Hector... speak truly. Do you... do you... love... me?"
"Yes," He spoke without hesitation, as serious as she'd ever heard him. "I do... Lyn, I love you."
She nodded, closing her eyes, those feelings she had never understood roiling within her.
"Then... I'll be back. When I've accomplished my task..." She took a hesitant step forward, toward him. "I want you to know that you are very... dear to me. I... I can't be sure, yet, but..."
"I understand," Hector replied, placing his hands on her shoulders, looking down at her with an intensity that was almost frightening. "That's good enough for me."
"Hector..."
"If there's nothing else I can do to help you decide... Lyn... I'll be waiting here for you."
"...There might be something..." She slipped her arms around him, rather enjoying the way he felt, no longer encased in layers of clunky armor.
"...Yeah?"
"How about... a kiss?" She looked up at him, smirking in a positive irresistible fashion.
And he was only too happy to comply.
