Crossroads of the Heart

Author's Note:

Fire Emblem is the property of Intelligent Systems and Nintendo.


Chapter 15: Misunderstandings

She had been prepared for a chilly climate, but the true reality of Ilia's situation was not something any plainswoman -- or Lycian noble, for that matter -- could fully come to anticipate before experiencing it for themselves. It had begun snowing not even halfway through the meager mountain pass those without wings were forced to endure in order to breach the borders of Elibe's northernmost country; it had not stopped since. Even wrapped in layer upon layer of the warmest garments they could find the cold was overwhelming; it felt as though the icy winds were blowing through her very bones, leaving her bare and open to the elements.

It was exhilarating and a bit frightening, and though Lyn would be just as happy to be away from this place, she could understand the endearment Florina and her sisters had of it. They had every reason to be proud if they had grown up, trained, and survived in this place for so long... she could hardly see her best friend living here, among such hardship.

"Lady Lyndis!" Kent's voice, on her left, barely reaching her before being snatched away by the howling wind that swirled around them so obstinately. He pointed ahead toward a collection of dimly burning lights in the distance, miraculously visible through the falling snow between them. It was clear why flight was the preferred mode of travel here; Kent and Sain had left their horses at the waystation near the border -- Fiora had warned they'd only slow them down, and how very right she had been. Even on foot their progress was painfully slow, stumbling through snow banks and fighting the wind at every step.

Fiora, who had led them low to the ground on her Pegasus thus far, wheeled back as she often did to check their progress, though this time she landed softly -- her Pegasus's hooves didn't even break through the snow, however thick it was beneath them.

"Just a little further!" She called back to them; Lyn couldn't see her face through the whipping winds and snow, but she was certain of the expression she wore nonetheless. She always wore that same serious look when she spoke in such a tone, though this time it seemed overlay with concern for her struggling companions.

Lyn nodded, taking a deep breath of searingly cold air. It had been quite a journey so far, but they were all holding up well. She could make out Matthew's form, a mere shadow in the distance, leading the ground force with remarkable fortitude. Never would she have expected the sly smirking thief to hold himself so well in such harsh conditions. Kent and Sain bordered her on either side, pressing on with grim faces, inquiring as to her wellbeing every so often with strained voices. Fiora had offered to carry her aloft once or twice, but each time she had grimly refused; she would undertake the same tasks as her friends, with no allowances for rank or whatever the issue that prompted the offer.

The information they had secured in the last hamlet they had left -- their journey had been a series of jumps, from town to town, resting where necessary -- had pointed almost undoubtedly to the town they were now heading toward, an isolated farming village that had of late experienced unnatural success... frankly, Lyn was shocked to hear that anything could grow in a place like this. Upon voicing that opinion, however, Fiora had merely smiled, assuring her that Ilia did produce its own crops... normally the weather wasn't as unruly as it had been for their journey. It was more than a little difficult to believe, but Fiora certainly wasn't one to tell lies.

Wallace had always been keen to the farming way of life, which was rather startling in itself, but besides the point. He would have loved the challenge inherent in the task of tilling Ilia's frozen soil. Lyn swallowed the lump in her throat at the thought of finally meeting up with the man who had stolen her revenge from her, though it was not the only issue weighing heavily on her mind. Even as Lyn struggled onward through the snow, against the wind and elements stacked against them, her mind turned over and over the question foremost in her thoughts -- after this, after she had come to whatever terms she hoped to find with Wallace, heard his say and said her piece, what would she do then?

She'd return to Ostia, of course. But for good?

The lump in her throat deepened to a sick sensation in her stomach, and she knitted her brows against her own train of thought. The simple fact of the matter, for the moment, was that she had no idea what the answer was. There was no answer that would satisfy her completely; no matter her decision, the consequences would be tremendous. Another breath quelled that sick sensation for a moment, she held it as long as she could, closing her eyes against the storm both around them and in her own mind.

A moment later she was stumbling forward into the snow, yelping a few choice words as she tumbled forward. Even the slightest break in concentration would lead to this, she knew, and still she let her mind wander so! A gloved hand moved to rest for a moment on her shoulder, and she looked up into Kent's concerned eyes, feigning a smile.

"Slipped," She muttered, accepting his aid in getting to her feet.

"...Almost there," Kent assured her, releasing her hand reluctantly as she pulled herself up.

"Here," Sain spoke on her other side, offering his arm in a subdued tone. "That's one too many tumbles I've seen you take -- if it please you, my lady..."

"Thank you, Sain, but really..."

"Come now, don't be shy," He laughed, and she could swear she saw him wink, impaired though her sight was in this storm. She sighed, brushing past him through the snow at an even swifter pace than before, nearly falling over herself again in her haste. Naturally, neither of her knights missed this, and she swore again to herself as they rushed to keep up with her.

"I'm fine," She insisted, though she was unsure if they heard it. Kent shook his head, though whether in reply or not she couldn't be sure, keeping pace easily at her side.

"It's plain you're exhausted... he's only trying to help," he shrugged, making no further comment, eyes trained carefully ahead.

"That may be, but--"

"No need to intercede on my behalf..." Sain spoke cheerfully, not the least bit deterred. "But if you fall over again, I hope you won't be angry if I carry you the rest of the way, hm?"

"You wouldn't make it halfway," Lyn snorted, rolling her eyes. "And I'd kill you if you tried it."

"Ah, yes... the lovely Lady Lyndis, always so quick to violent threats... you know, your eyes flash so irresistibly when you're furious..."

"Sain!" Lyn reprimanded him, though she found herself laughing despite her chagrin, despite the troubles she sometimes felt overwhelmed by. They lapsed into silence, struggling onward -- ahead of them, Fiora and Matthew sent occasional concerned glances back. She really was exhausted, but she had pressed herself further than this in the past.

Even when they finally did pull themselves into the small, isolated Ilian farming village, the buildings around them did little to halt the relentless winds, though the snow drifts seemed less daunting within the town's borders. Lyn could make out faces pressed to the glass windows of the houses they struggled past, looking out in wonder at travelers who would journey to their remote home in such conditions. Fiora led them through the frozen streets; she seemed familiar with the place, though that could simply have been the impression her confident air exuded.

Luckily for them, Ilians were more than welcoming to their own, especially to a well respected Pegasus Knight commander and her companions. They secured rooms in the town's tiny inn, and though they could have enjoyed a discounted price Fiora all but insisted on paying in full; it was clear the citizens of the town were in need of the gold. Then again, wasn't that the case all throughout Ilia? Lyn had heard the country was a poor one, but the conditions they lived in were still shocking to behold.

Having paid for their accommodations, the party wearily made their way to the only source of warmth in the lobby of the building; a large fireplace with benches placed around it and a sprawling woodpile nearby. Lyn shook the snow from her hair, aware that she probably looked absolutely terrible, though her companions said not a word. She stood there shivering near the fire for some time, noting the way everyone seemed lost in thought, recuperating from their travels. She fervently hoped the conditions for the return journey were more favorable.

"The farmland here is located just outside of the borders of this town," Fiora relayed what information she knew, easily the least affected of all of them by the weather, which was especially shocking considering she wore the least in the way of winter clothing. There was something to be said for what the human body could adapt to.

Lyn nodded, still shivering, seating herself on a bench near the fire. The snow caked into the folds of the fabric she was wrapped in melted before long, soaking into the cloth and forming a puddle of sorts on the hardwood floor; she barely noticed, leaning forward, her eyes closing heavily of their own accord.

Kent and Sain watched her, clearly concerned.

"She'll be fine," Fiora assured them. "I'm surprised you two aren't nodding off, too, actually. Impressive."

"Speaking of which," Matthew spoke primly nearby, having already shed most of his wraps. "I think I'll be heading off, myself. That was... a trying journey, at best..." He wrung out his well worn and familiar crimson colored cloak, wincing at the cold. "Until morning..."

He nodded at them, gathering his belongings and heading for the stairs.

"I have to agree with him," Sain yawned, looking blearily about. "Shame there aren't any Ilian women about to keep warm with..."

"As though any of them would give a soft skinned foreigner a second glance," Kent teased him, stifling a yawn of his own.

"Well, you're living proof that it can happen, aren't you?" Sain grinned, and Kent blinked in response, realizing he was right. Fiora chuckled quietly at the exchange -- the man did have a point.

"That is completely different," Kent insisted, clearing his throat and standing in one fluid motion with his companion. "

"Right..." Sain snickered, casting a glance in Lyn's direction -- she was fast asleep, huddled so before the fireplace. "Should we..."

"She's pushing herself too hard," Kent fretted, approaching her with a worried frown. "I wish she'd at least tell us what's on her mind... ever since we left Sacae..."

"It is troubling," Fiora agreed thoughtfully. "Though I can't say I have any idea..."

"...She's always been stubborn," Sain pointed out doubtfully. "And she's had a difficult few weeks, at that."

"Still, I can't shake the feeling that there's something more to this," Kent insisted, scooping the sleeping woman into his arms. She hardly stirred, mumbling something incoherent in her sleep as he carried her toward the stairs. Fiora led them silently to their rooms upstairs, and Sain followed the two, frowning most uncharacteristically.

Lyn's dreams were disjointed and difficult to follow, switching scenes and faces faster than her subconscious could keep track. An overpowering sense of unease prompted heavy tossing and turning beneath the thick blankets provided her, though there were no specific elements that could be considered nightmarish in nature. Regardless, well before daybreak she found herself snapping awake, her heart racing and feeling as though she'd just run a marathon.

A moment's disorientation greeted her before she realized that someone had probably carried her to her room, she blushed at the thought of her falling asleep in the lobby. She lay back against her sweat-dampened pillow, sighing softly, staring at the cracked ceiling above her. Outside, the wind still rattled, shaking the windows of the room occasionally with its force. Somewhere, out there, painfully nearby their final destination loomed, and wondered for the millionth time what she would say when they found the man they were after.

There was no more sleep for her that night; she lay there for a long time, lost in her thoughts, huddled beneath her blankets like a lost child. The room was cold, but she hardly felt the chill on her skin, heard nothing but the sound of her own quick breathing, and barely that. She hated the overwhelming feelings of discontent that had been normal for her of late; it was hard to believe that only weeks prior she had been so self-assured, thinking she knew exactly where to direct her life, what exactly she wanted to do... she missed that terribly.

Yet, however many times she scolded herself, insisting there was little value in pining for the past, she returned to the same old thoughts time and again. Especially at times like this, where she was left alone with nothing to distract her mind from mulling over the same issues over and over again, however much she hated doing it.

It was a relief then to hear a faint knocking on her door some hours later, to see Fiora's face peeking in, informing her that everyone was up and readying themselves to leave. Lyn nodded, pulling herself out of bed, strangely wide awake and alert despite her largely sleepless night. She emerged from her room minutes later to find the others conglomerating near the fireplace downstairs; most of their outermost wrappings - coats, hats, and whatnot -- had been left there overnight to dry by the fire, she saw.

"Good morning, Lady Lyndis," Matthew greeted her first, already bundled up for the journey outside; in fact, Lyn noticed he already had snow settling into the folds of his coat, and she eyed him suspiciously for a moment.

"Where have you been already this morning?"

"Just doing my job," He assured her with a wink. "As it turns out, the news of a foreign farmer, remarkably good at his work... well, it's a pretty big deal around here."

"...Matthew," Lyn shook her head, though she was clearly impressed with his resolve. "You didn't have to--"

"Nonsense. No sense in forcing the entire group to wander about door to door in the cold if things can be taken care of more easily."

"...Thank you."

"No problem!" He smiled, wandering off toward the door. Lyn gathered her things, pulling on the fire-warmed garments, and around her, her companions followed suit. They were soon ready to go, and the first thing Lyn noticed as she pulled the door to the inn open was the shocking sight of sunlight flooding the snow covered town; the storm apparently had passed overnight, though the wind still blew forcefully through the streets. She was forced to shield her eyes, as the reflection of the sunlight on the snow was really quite blinding; she could barely make out the forms of stolid workers shoveling snow from the streets and stables lining them.

They moved out onto the road, stepping carefully on the ice and snow, Matthew and Fiora taking the lead and speaking in hushed tones, probably sharing information. Lyn looked around as her eyes slowly adjusted to the blinding light; past the town's borders, there was nothing but endless white, forests and mountains surrounding them in all directions. It was breathtaking; beautiful, even, framed so in the light of the sun.

Their destination lay not far from the town's borders; in fact, the farm in question was visible from where they stood. She could make out terraced fields of frozen soil overlooked by a building larger than any in the town, all of which was now covered in snow due to the passing storm. Lyn marveled again that anything would grow here, but even her wonder at this could not replace the gnawing sense of dread in her stomach. They pressed on in silence, the somber mood of the company discouraging conversation.

Lyn hesitated as they approached the farmhouse; it was eerily quiet, only the sounds of her companions walking across the snow met her ears. Part of her wanted to storm up those stairs, throw open the door and start screaming heedless of courtesy, but she quelled that urge quickly, swallowing as she started up the stairs at a steady pace. Her hands shook somewhat as she raised a hand to the brass knocker on the door; she hoped her companions would chalk that up to the cold.

They formed a half ring around her, the sounds of her knocking ringing both in her ears and throughout the building before them. Silence for a moment, then the sounds of movement from within -- For a second, Lyn desperately hoped that someone, anyone but Wallace would open that door -- she'd stammer an apology, and they would be on their way...

"Who's that, this early in the morning?!" The voice was unmistakable, and Lyn felt her stomach drop. Behind her, her companions shifted as one, exchanging looks among themselves. "Come to see if the tender footed foreigner from the South survived the storm, eh? Ha! You'll soon see I'm not so weak as..." The door was thrown open forcefully, and the familiar, imposing frame of Lord Wallace, the Crag of Caelin, filled the threshold. His tirade stopped immediately upon catching sight of them, and he cast them an absolutely mystified look, his mouth hanging open in a way that would have been comical if not for the anger welling within her at the very sight of him.

"...Wallace," Lyn spoke the name in an icy tone, though if he noticed it, he made no mention. He blinked his eyes several times, clearly loathe to believe the sight before him.

"...Can it be?!" He roared, and more than one of the travelers on his doorstep winced at the volume of his voice. "Is that Lady Lyndis on my doorstep? And Kent, Sain..." He stared at them for a moment, utterly dumbfounded, when he suddenly took on a very severe look -- a frightening sight on a man like Wallace. "Has something happened in Caelin?! Lead me to the source, and I'll--"

"No, nothing like that," Lyn assured him quickly. "...There is, however, a matter of grave import that we must discuss."

"To bring you all the way out here, it must be quite an issue, indeed," Wallace blinked, relaxing at the assurance that all was well in his homeland. "Come on now, inside with you! Look at you, shivering like wet dogs left in the rain -- you think this is hardship? Ha!"

They shuffled in quickly, dismissing his rebukes as they often did when he took on such a lecturing tone, Kent and Sain exchanging meaningful glances between them. Oh yes, they'd long grown accustomed to Wallace's unique brand of instruction. The farmhouse was well furnished, though certainly not extravagant by any means; it was clear that he did well enough to have established an acceptable living here, and that was enough for a man like Wallace.

"Bah... here, set those in front of the fire..." He barked out orders quick enough, though his expression was kind. That was always the way he had been; severe when the situation demanded, a demanding teacher, but always with the best interests of his charges in mind... Lyn barely restrained herself from exploding then and there, demanding the explanation she craved so.

"Wallace," She interrupted his fussing impatiently, and he turned to glance at her, surprised at her tone. "Please... this matter, if we could speak in private..."

"Yes, excuse us, Sir..." Kent bowed respectfully to his old mentor. "We'll excuse ourselves, if you please..."

Sain nodded vigorously in agreement, and Fiora exited hastily with them, to another room where they wouldn't interrupt.

"...Right, good luck, then," Matthew offered, waving cheerfully as he followed, looking the least nervous of them all.

"What's that all about?" Wallace watched them go, mystified. "...You're certain nothing has happened in Caelin?" He turned to Lyn, his face bearing a troubled expression.

"No. This is not about Caelin..." Lyn swallowed, averting her gaze from his. She was still angry, but... she was also confused, hurt... a myriad of emotions swirled through her. There had to be a suitable explanation for this man's actions. "No, Wallace, this is about something else entirely..."

"If something is troubling the Lady Lyndis..."

"Wallace. Look me in the eye, and speak truly. What were you doing when we met with you in Bern? You had told me you wandered there by chance..."

"Ah..." Understanding flooded his features, and a troubled look settled upon them, though his eyes never wandered from hers. He was at least resolute in the decision he had made. "I see. You've wandered back to the mountains, then."

"Wallace."

"No... Lady Lyndis, I did have a purpose in Bern, back then. Those years ago, when you looked at me with that fierce gaze, with those hateful words on your lips and in your heart..." He shook his head sadly. "I couldn't bear to see our fair lady, Madelyn's only daughter, taken in so by her own desire for revenge..."

"But why?!" Lyn shouted, anger contorting her gaze at these words, all but an admission! "Why would you steal from me by retribution?!"

"Look at yourself, Lady Lyndis!" He rebuked her harshly, bringing his full weight to bear, yet still she stood fast, barely restraining her hand from her blade. "Yes, I destroyed the Taliver Bandits. They are gone, and your wish has been fulfilled."

"That revenge was mine to take!" Lyn exclaimed, shaking with revenge. "Mine and mine alone! The blood of my tribe that they spilled -- the lives of my father, of my mother, of the everyone I held dear -- they were mine to avenge! Mine!"

"I want you to understand -- I did not kill them for revenge. I wanted you -- the only daughter of Lord Hassar and Lady Madelyn -- I wanted you, above all else, to be happy."

"Then why did you steal from me the vow I swore, the vengeance I have longed to seek since the day those fiends stole everything from me?! If you wanted me to be happy, how... how could you..." Tears of frustration, fury, and infuriating confusion escaped from her eyes, as she was no longer capable of holding them back. "How could you?!"

"...Look at yourself," He spoke quietly in response, taking in her shaking form with one sympathetic glance. "Hatred... it can be strength. The strength that, on the plains, you needed to survive. Yet, left too long, hatred will twist and consume you."

"What..."

"Your parents -- just the fact that you live would make them happy. It would bring them no end of joy. But... to see their only daughter consumed by hatred, filled so with venomous emotion -- is that what your parents would have wanted from you?"

"But... But I..."

"How saddened even the Marquess would be to hear that a Lady of Caelin would plot such bloody revenge..."

"Would you rather have had me forget?!" Lyn shouted angrily, backing away from him slowly. "You would have me forget the blood that was spilled, the screams of my people, the dying wails of anguish of my own mother? The last look my father gave me, the last memory of him that I will ever have? ...Never! You cannot ask such a thing of me! You cannot!"

"I know that now, my words may not reach you..." Wallace explained slowly, the grievance in his eyes both heart wrenching and infuriating to behold. How dare he feign such concern over her, after his actions! How dare he take that pitying tone with her! "Still, Lady Lyndis, I pray that your heart will not remain clouded so. For you have the clear eyes of your mother, and in clarity lies beauty."

"...That's... that's not..." Lyn shook her head stubbornly, raising her hands to her face. She backed away until she was pressed firmly against the wall, still shaking her head, refusing to let his words sink in. "Lord Wallace... I... I'm trying to understand..."

"You will," He was frowning, though she refused to look. "Lady Lyndis... one day, you will understand my motivations, and that I have always had only your best interests at heart."

"I can't..." Her voice caught, and she paused for a moment. "I cannot..."

Wallace approached her, and though she refused to look, she could feel his presence before her; she wanted to throw herself against him and sob on his shoulder... she also wanted to draw her sword and cut him down where he stood. Instead, she stood there, sobbing like a child, confused and overwhelmed by the pain of seeing the wisdom in his words, accepting the implications they made. Her mind rebelled at the thought that seeking her revenge had been wrong; it had been her primary goal, the thought that had kept her going for so many months alone on the plains, wallowing in the aftermath of the slaughter.

Yet, of late, it had also consumed her... driven her into herself and away from her friends, clouded her mind and heart with negative emotion... never had she been so angry as she had been upon learning of the Taliver's demise by another's hand, and the fury she had felt back then frightened her in retrospect.

How could she have ever felt that way? How could she have ever been so eager to take another life?

But hadn't her aims been justified?

"I can't understand..." She insisted, swallowing a sob. "Lord Wallace..."

"You must look within yourself, Lady Lyndis -- the answers you seek all lie in your own heart. I can hardly bear to see you this way; when I see your tears, I see Madelyn's heartbreak all over again..."

"I am not the woman my mother was," Lyn spoke softly, shaking her head. "I can never aspire to be her, the woman you knew... the person everyone wants me to be... I..."

"You have Madelyn's heart, her compassion and love. You have Hassar's determination, his stubborn nature and fighting spirit. Lady Lyndis, no one expects you to be anyone but yourself, the beautiful woman standing before me now."

Lyn could find no words to reply, and so she merely stood there, striving past her own overwhelming emotion, trying vainly to understand, to accept what she knew in heart to be true.


Far to the south, a drab, overcast sky hung over Castle Ostia, though the keep bustled as usual, perhaps even more so with the threat of rain hanging over the heads of the people. They rushed about frantically to complete their tasks for the day; though further in the castle, deep within its impenetrable stone walls, there were a few people shut away from the sometimes intolerable bustle of Ostian life, content to take a moment out of their normally hectic schedules and enjoy the company of a close friend.

It wasn't often these days, after all, that Hector was able to visit with Eliwood outside of official matters; it had been quite a shock that he and Ninian had been able to visit as they were now. There had been no less than four recent successions; all of Lycia had been in a terrible uproar upon the conclusion of their journey together against Nergal. The death of four Lycian Marquesses -- Lord Helman of Santaruz, that dishonorable worm Darin, of Laus, whom he had killed with his own hand -- though only Lyn and Eliwood knew that -- Lord Elbert, and of course his own brother... such successive tragedies so close together in time... it was unprecedented in Lycian history.

And thus, they had been caught up in their respective duties, the bustle of succession, the funerals of their loved ones, the overwhelming tasks that accompanied the throne... Hector doubted that even if they never saw each other again, his bond of friendship with Eliwood would ever fade, but... it was nice to get together like this every so often and catch up.

"It's unbelievable, how quickly time flies," Eliwood was saying, seemingly lost in thought, gazing at the overcast sky through a nearby window. He had always been the more poetic one. "It seems that just yesterday we were meeting in Santaruz, about to depart on the most hectic journey of our lives..."

"You mean, it seems like just yesterday I was saving your ass from a gang of bloodthirsty bandits, right?" Hector teased him, leaning back with a patronizing smirk.

"Hmm... I seem to recall returning the service on more than one occasion," Eliwood retorted, mirroring his smile. "Why, if you remember, fighting the Black Fang in Bern -- If I recall right, there was one swordsman--"

"I could have taken him," Hector interrupted quickly, furrowing his brow. "And in my defense, there were bloody mages all over the place -- it's a bit difficult to worry about swordsmen when there are lightning bolts and beams of light and Elimine knows what else coming at you from outta nowhere!"

"Yes, well... we'll not have to worry about that anymore, will we?" Eliwood sighed, chuckling a bit at his friend's chagrin.

"I suppose not..." Hector frowned. "I might even miss it a little, since Oswin won't even let me sneak off to the ring anymore..."

"Hector, we can't have the Marquess of Ostia fighting in the arena like a common vagabond."

"You sound just like him," Hector complained, rolling his eyes. "I suppose you have a point though..."

"You've made amends with Oswin, haven't you?" Eliwood inquired carefully, knowing the subject was a tender one. "Don't tell me you're still holding that same grudge..."

"...We're speaking again, at least."

"That's good."

"Doesn't mean I've forgiven him, though."

"I see... well, it's a start, at least."

"Why do you care so much about that?" Hector raised a brow, genuinely curious.

"I don't know... Oswin, well. For you, I suppose he's a lot like Marcus is for me... when I feel overwhelmed by my duties, he's always there to offer his advice. I guess I'd hate to know what it's like to go through this without someone like that by my side."

"The man would run his mouth with his bloody advice whether I wanted him to or not," Hector muttered darkly in response.

"At least you don't have to deal with him trying to match you up with every woman from here to Bern..." Eliwood grinned. Marcus had been quite notorious about that.

"I should hope you don't have to worry about that anymore, either, what with your engagement and all."

"True..."

"Besides, for all I know, Oswin and Matthew could very well be picking out prospective brides behind my back. Elimine knows they plot enough in the shadows when they think I'm not listening."

"They don't know about you and Lyn, then, I take it? ...Hector, were you planning on telling anyone about that?"

"...No, not really."

"Rather rude of you, to spring something like that on your faithful retainers all of a sudden, hm?"

"I doubt they're completely oblivious, anyway. I mean, well..."

"You're probably right..." Eliwood looked away with a shrug. "When did Serra say they would be back?"

"Few weeks," Hector spoke dismissively, but Eliwood was well trained in reading his friend's emotions. It was plain as day, to him at least, that Hector was perhaps more nervous than he'd ever been.

"I can hardly believe that myself, the way you two were always fighting... I was just telling Ninian, it's hard for me to tell whether you two are even friends are not from day to day, and here you are telling me you're going to propose to her..." Eliwood shook his head. "She probably won't be surprised to hear it, though. Ninian's surprisingly keen about those things."

"Not all of us can be so lucky as you and Ninian," Hector shrugged. "I just don't know..."

"Don't get cold feet on my account," Eliwood insisted, crossing his arms.

"I'm not!" Hector stood up, pacing nervously. "I mean, I'm gonna ask her. It can't be that hard, right?"

"It's not so bad," Eliwood assured him, grinning at his friend's discomfort.

"I don't want to, you know, scare her off."

"What else could she possibly be expecting?"

"I guess, but..."

Eliwood watched him pace, a bemused expression on his face. Hector had always been the very picture of confidence; it was interesting to see him so distraught over something like this for once. Truthfully, it was more than a little shocking -- he had noticed that his two best friends seemed a bit closer toward the end, but he had no idea things had progressed so far. He could hardly imagine Hector and Lyn married, but then again, different people had different opinions on the perfect marriage.

"Hector, you're going to wear a hole in the floor, pacing like that."

"Did I show you this?" He dismissed Eliwood's rebuke with a wave, pulling an unmistakable small box from his pocket; there was no doubt as to what was inside.

"The ring? No, you didn't. I don't think it would matter to Lyndis, though."

"Yeah, but, still."

"It's quite nice. Hector, stop worrying. You'll make yourself sick."

"Now you really do sound like Oswin..."

"Well, my apologies for being the voice of reason around here," Eliwood teased.

"I've never been a very reasonable person," Hector retorted grumpily. "You want me to start now?"

"You know, it doesn't matter how many times you rehearse what you're going to say in that head of yours," Eliwood spoke nonchalantly, though there was a mischievous look in his eye. "We both know you're going to screw it up when it comes down to it anyway, so why bother?"

"Hey!" Hector frowned, glaring at him in response. "...Bah, who am I kidding. You're probably right about that."

Their bantering was abruptly interrupted by a clattering at the door, which slammed open a second later. Hector whirled around to face whoever was responsible for the interruption, and Eliwood blinked at the sudden noise, jumping to his feet in a startled gesture.

"In here, you say?"

"Miss, please -- we were told, no interruptions--"

"Oh, come now, they won't mind, I'm an old friend!"

Hector snorted as he recognized the voice; that wily Pegasus Knight, Florina's shifty older sister.

"What do you think you're doing, woman?" He poked his head outside to see her, hand still resting on the doorknob, speaking with the sentries that had been posted outside the door.

"Hector! See, no problem here!" Farina smiled in a way that only deepened Hector's suspicious look, slipping by him into the meeting room in one swift motion.

"Now, I don't know what you're about, but--"

"What's this?" Farina interrupted him, plucking the box containing the ring he meant to give to Lyn upon her return from his hand in one swift motion.

"Hey!" Hector exclaimed in a strangled voice, chasing after her. "Give that back -- I swear, I don't know what your problem is, but one day, woman, I'm going to--"

"A ring?" Farina blinked, having popped the box open already, back turned to Hector. "Who is this for...?"

"That's none of your business," Hector snapped, snatching the item back. Eliwood watched this exchanged with a bewildered expression; he wasn't very well acquainted with Farina, though he had spoken on more than one occasion with her sister Fiora, and knew Florina well enough through Lyn.

"Don't tell me it's for Lady Lyndis!" Farina seemed to be a bit distraught, which was perplexing, to say the least. Hector couldn't fathom why she would care who he proposed to. "Oh, this is..."

"You look like you just saw a ghost," Hector blinked at her sudden pale complexion, eying her warily. "You all right? You're not gonna keel over on me, are you?"

"I..." Farina shook her head, backing away toward the door.

"What did you come barging in here for, anyway?" Hector furrowed his brows, pocketing the ring again with a thunderous expression.

"I... suddenly, I can't recall..."

"You sure you're all right?" Hector's expression assumed a look of genuine concern. The woman really did look like she was going to be sick all of a sudden.

"I'm fine!" Farina insisted, backing out of the room. "I... never you mind! I just remembered something important that I have to do -- bye!" She turned swiftly around, nearly stumbling over herself in her haste to get away. Hector watched her go, looking a little dazed himself.

"That was... Farina, right?" Eliwood spoke after a few moments of ensuing silence.

"Yeah... the woman's crazy, as you can plainly see."

"...Or something of the sort, at least," Eliwood agreed.

"I wonder what got her so worked up all of a sudden..."

"How well did you say you knew her?"

"Huh? Does it really matter? We talked a lot, but mostly about her purse -- you know, she outright swindled me out of twenty thousand gold, she did."

"She sounds like a crafty lady... it's odd how the three Pegasus sisters are so different."

"She was always pushing herself, though, like she meant to live up to her price, I suppose. Had to help her out on more than one occasion, though she grumbled about it enough... don't know why I bothered, really, considering how ungrateful she was about it."

"Hmm..." Eliwood was clearly deep in thought, and Hector eyed him suspiciously.

"Why, what does it matter?"

"Nothing. It's just... there aren't many reasons I can think of for a woman to react that way to another man's engagement..."

"You're not thinking..." Hector blinked, then immediately shook his head. "No... that's not right. That woman's definitely not the romantic type."

"Neither are you."

"Well, you know what I mean! You can't possibly think..."

"I've never known a woman to go ghost pale at the news of a man's engagement for any other reason," Eliwood shrugged. "You know her better than I do, though... yet, you have to admit, you've always been a little thick."

"Hey! ...And Farina, she isn't, she's not..."

"Hmm... it's getting late, isn't it?" Eliwood interrupted smoothly, heading for the door. "Aren't you hungry? I'll go find Ninian; it's just about time for dinner, anyway."

"...Yeah... I'll be down there..." Hector watched him go, a troubled look settling on his features.


"C-can you believe it?" Florina wailed, sobbing uncontrollably, Ninian at her side attempting to offer some measure of comfort. "N-n-now do you see? What happens when I try to talk to him?"

"Now, Florina, it wasn't that bad..." Ninian had left Hector and Eliwood to themselves following the previous events near the throne room; Farina had been nowhere to be found, but Florina had been easy enough to find, with the way she was crying so. "So you're a little nervous around him, you know, that's completely normal!"

"I don't see you running away from Eliwood every time he says hello to you," Florina retorted, her voice muffled as she pressed her face into her pillow. "I can't even return a simple greeting without making a fool of myself!"

"I might not, but... that doesn't mean I didn't feel that way, at first..."

"N-no..." Florina groaned, shaking her head, face still pressed against the pillow. "D-don't you see? I can't... I c-can't... while he's around, I just freeze up, and I can't move, or speak, or do anything! He probably thinks I'm just a little baby... poor little Florina, too scared to face the world on her own!"

"Now, hold on..."

"Everyone probably thinks that..." Florina cried, a fresh wave of sobs passing through her.

"Well, I certainly don't," Ninian assured her, at a loss.

"Besides you, then," Florina retorted, undeterred. She sat up, bringing herself to her knees, clasping her hands before her and staring at them with red checks and even redder eyes. "I... I don't know what's wrong with me..." She sighed, closing her eyes. "I want to be stronger... I want to say something..."

"We'll just have to get you to face your fears, then," Ninian insisted, and Florina's eyes flew open at once.

"Wh-whenever Farina s-says something like that, she always wants me to do something horrible," Florina muttered, eyes misty with some long past memory she'd rather forget.

"I'm hardly like her, am I?" Ninian blinked innocently. "Come now. Even I've spoken with Lord Hector sometimes... he, well... he looks scary, but he's not at all! Did you know, Nils was really fond of him..."

"R-really?" Florina blinked. It wasn't often Ninian spoke of her brother.

"Yes... he told me himself... he liked his honesty, his kind nature despite that brusque face he puts on. I didn't know what to think at the time, but... he was right, I'm certain. He's not going to yell at you or anything, Florina."

"I kn-know that..." Florina sniffed, wiping her eyes.

"At the very least, even if you want to keep your feelings a secret... you should at least thank him, like you've been wanting to for so long..."

"He... he probably doesn't even remember..." Florina spoke despondently, looking away.

"Nonsense. He wouldn't forget something like that..."

"I-I still can't... I can't face him long enough to tell him..."

"As long as you keep telling yourself that, you'll never be able to," Ninian shook her head. "You need to think positively, Florina -- tell yourself you can do it!"

"I... I t-tried that, and it didn't work..."

"Well, it's a start," Ninian insisted. "Now come on, tell yourself you're going to do it."

"...Well..."

"Well?"

"...A-all right... I'm... I'm going to tell Lord Hector," Florina mustered up the most confident voice she could.

"You're going to tell him what?"

"...That I'm grateful to him for saving my life," Florina replied obediently.

"Right," Ninian encouraged her cheerfully. She opened her mouth to continue, but was interrupted by the sound of the door behind her swinging open. Florina made a strangled noise, diving into the blankets again, and Ninian sighed, turning to see who their visitor was, half expecting Lord Hector to be standing there.

"...Am I interrupting something?" Eliwood inquired, sending a bewildered glance in Florina's direction.

"No, not at all," Ninian smiled, greeting him with a quick hug. "Florina's... she's just... well, being silly." It was the truth, in a way, after all.

"...Um... Hello, Lord Eliwood..." Florina looked up, blushing furiously. Eliwood smiled warmly at her.

"Hello, Florina. It's a bit early to be going to sleep, isn't it?"

"I, well, I wasn't... um..."

"They'll be serving supper in the dining chambers soon," Eliwood continued, looking from his future wife to the flustered woman buried in the blankets on the bed with a bemused expression. "You're welcome to join us, if you wish..."

"Um, I... yes. I'll, uh... I'll catch up, if that's okay..."

"Are you sure you'll be all right, Florina?" Ninian inquired, before exiting with Eliwood. "We'll talk more after supper, all right?"

"Y-yes, all right. I'll be f-fine, you go ahead..."

Ninian nodded, taking Eliwood's arm with a faint blush, and closing the door behind them.

"Strange girl," Eliwood murmured at her side as they walked down the hall together, arm in arm. "All three of them are a little odd, aren't they? Fiora was always so serious... and Florina's so shy... and Farina, well... that's another story entirely..."

"Farina's mean," Ninian interjected, and Eliwood paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"She's mean?"

"Yes, she is! Why, if you heard the way she tortures poor Florina..."

"I see... well, I would have never guessed. I think that one's the craziest of the three."

"...Oh?"

"Mm. Did you hear the stunt she pulled today?" Eliwood shook his head. "She's been bothering Hector a lot lately, you know..."

"Yes, I've heard a thing or two about that," Ninian spoke nervously, hoping she hadn't let anything slip yet.

"Well, Farina found out, sort of accidentally on purpose, about Hector's plans to propose to Lyn--"

"Hector's going to propose?" Ninian blinked, casting an unconscious glance backward at the room Florina was still shut up in, frowning.

"Yes, I didn't tell you? He's planning to do it as soon as she gets back, actually..."

"That would explain the odd way he's been acting lately, I guess..."

"Mm... well, Farina found out about that..."

"What did she do?" Ninian could hardly contain herself; it was all she could do to restrain herself from running back to that room to speak with Florina again.

"Well, she starting acting really odd..."

"How so...?"

"I thought she might be sick, actually. Paled right up, like a ghost..."

"How... how strange," Ninian played along as best she could. She hardly liked deceiving him, but there was nothing to be done about it.

"Ninian? Are you all right?"

"Of-- of course, I'm fine," She assured him quickly.

"Why that odd expression?"

"Nothing...! What did Farina... did she say anything?"

"Well... no. She just bustled off, saying something about some important business she had to take care of... but what I was thinking -- you don't think that she's after Hector, too, do you?"

Ninian very nearly choked in response -- how had things gotten so complicated? Though she supposed it was better they thought that than the truth...

"Um, no, I don't think... I don't think that's right..."

"Yeah, Hector didn't seem to think so, either, but... still. What an odd reaction."

"...Yes... odd..." Ninian's mind raced, attempting to absorb these new developments. What would Florina say if she knew about this?


Serra bustled about the training field, taking care of the wounded when the situation called for it, passing a sly wink occasionally to the exhausted knights in training she was called to take care of when she was feeling especially generous. This was a routine she had long grown accustomed to; she could feel the weight of Oswin's gaze assessing her performance just as heavily as he did his own trainees. His approval, for some perplexing reason, was one of the reasons she worked so hard out here on the field -- perhaps it was simply a dislike for disappointing people, or knowing someone was displeased with her. She certainly didn't mind being praised.

Of course, her feelings for Oswin were merely borderline infatuation; it was plain enough that the man wanted nothing to do with her affections, and she was growing tired of draping herself over a lost cause. Honestly, the man had no idea what he was passing up! She smiled to herself, catching sight of something more interesting nearby; Erk, trying his best, to his credit, to perform well on his first day. Of course he was nowhere near as fast as she was...

"Over here, Erky," She called, gesturing to an approaching pair, sparring partners who had perhaps become a bit too overzealous in their training. One sported a rather nasty gash across his forehead, the other an already purple bruise near his temple. How they managed to acquire such injuries with training weapons, Serra couldn't fathom -- she couldn't keep her eye on the sparring most of the time. Besides, it was loathsome to watch anyway.

"Yeah?" He watched them approach, staff in hand, looking a bit subdued. Serra frowned at his expression; she knew that he had trouble working with her around -- he'd said so often enough in the past -- but he'd have to deal with it for the moment, at least. "That's it? All right, I'll take care of it."

"Well, let me help," Serra insisted. "We're working together, remember?"

Erk didn't reply, but he also made no protest as they patched the trainees up, each taking care of one in turn. This job really wasn't so hard; they had to be quick for the more difficult exercises that turned several people over to them at once, but for the most part it was standard fare.

"Now, Erk, what you really have to look out for is the once that collapse on the field," Serra lectured in the ensuing lull in activity, peering out at the trainees critically. "Sometimes they just keel right over, whether from injuries or exhaustion, and you have to make sure you get to them before something even worse happens -- they could be trampled or something! Also, some of them bleed a lot, and it's terribly gross, but that doesn't happen too often, so don't worry about it. I can get those if you're too squeamish," She cast a glance from the field in his direction, frowning. "Are you even listening? This is important, Erk! What are you staring at?"

"...Ah, nothing. Sorry," He blinked, and it was painfully clear that he hadn't been paying attention to a word she said. "What was that?"

"...Honestly! Now, I know you don't like working with me..." Serra blinked as a roll of thunder overhead interrupted her; she cast a glance upward at the overcast sky along with most of the trainees on the field. "...I know you don't like it, but you'll have to get along with it at least until you know what you're doing..."

"No... Serra, that's not..." Erk sighed. "That's not it."

"Well, you're usually not so absent minded," Serra frowned, crossing her arms, looking away. "What else could it be? It has to be me, right? I'm sorry I'm such a bother... I don't mean to be..."

"Serra, I'm telling you, that's not--"

"I'm just trying to help you out, it all..." Serra looked at him, a little angry, now. "Even when I'm doing my best to help, you don't even pay attention -- are you even trying? I can't be that distracting..."

"It's not what you think it is, if you'd just listen..."

A flash of lightning lanced overhead, accompanied by another crash of thunder; Serra and Erk both jumped at the volume of the sound. Oswin was yelling something from across the field, likely some reprimand at his knights for allowing themselves to be distracted by a little inclement weather.

"Then what is it?" Serra asked plainly, arms still crossed in that infuriating manner. "And don't lie."

"I'm not..." Erk made a frustrated sound, turning away from her, heading in the other direction. Serra blinked for a moment, surprised by this sudden action.

"...There, you see?!" She called after him, and along with her shouts, another gale of thunder sounded, and the storm broke overhead with the sound. The rain started moderately, quickly escalating to a downpour in the moments it took her to run after the retreating mage, though she wasn't certain why she wanted to pursue him. "Why don't you just tell Oswin to find someone else to train you?" She demanded, and he stopped abruptly ahead of her, turning slowly to meet her. "If you hate me so, if you can't stand working with me -- why do you torture yourself this way? Why did you come to Ostia in the first place?"

"First off," Erk held up a hand, gesturing for her to be silent. "You're right -- I do find you distracting."

"...Well, then I--"

"Saint Elimine herself couldn't tell me why -- but Serra..." Erk furrowed his brow, staring at her for a long moment. They stood facing each other, the rain pouring around them, both of them already soaked through and through. Oswin's shouting nearby on the field was somewhat of a distraction, but Erk could already feel that familiar sense of loss he experienced when he looked at this woman; that feeling of detachment, that drowned out everything else, left nothing in his realm of awareness except her. The way she was standing there, that angry look on her face, her hands on her hips just so -- it was infuriating, but at the same time... why did she have to be... "Why do you have to be so damn beautiful?" He wondered aloud, and she took a breath as to respond to some insult, pausing after a moment as she realized what he had actually said.

"Wait... what?"

"Nothing, you know what, never mind. Forget I said anything, all right?" Erk scrambled quickly, the words running over themselves in his haste to say them. Had he said that out loud? "Just... forget it!" He took note of her gaping expression, amazed at his own lack of control, and dashed off, his steps echoing wetly and splashing mud in his wake.

"Serra? Serra, what are you doing?" Oswin's voice snapped her out of her trance, as she remained there, staring after him with her mouth slightly open long after he disappeared inside. "Serra, will you please turn around and--"

"Ah... I'm... S-sorry," Serra spun around quickly, her dress clinging to her in a fairly improper manner for a servant of the Elimine faith. "Who's injured?"

"No one," Oswin muttered. "Get inside and get changed, will you? I can't have you catching a cold. I've cancelled things for today -- go on, inside!" Oswin barked, and she was quick to obey; she had quite a bit to think on, as it was.

Oh, Saint Elimine... She thought, still in a daze. "Praise be your graces..." She whispered, slipping inside. Erk was nowhere to be seen, which was somewhat of a relief. "Grant me the wisdom..."


Author's Note, Revisited!

...Whoops, that took awhile. I have a list of excuses a mile long, I swear! In the meantime, it looks like this story broke 100 reviews... how exciting! Thanks to all of my reviewers!

TheOneAndOnlyT: Well, now you know what Lyn's up to. As for Farina... well... we'll see.

AmbieChan: Yeah, it's annoying when things like that don't work. Also, I hope it was an Eliwood-ish proposal -- I took it straight out of Lilina and Marcus's supports in Fire Emblem 6. Heheh.

Firelien: I like to think Ninian would be a little less, um, depressing, sad, and whatnot now that she's engaged to Eliwood and basically all of her dreams have come true. :D I might be making her a little too happy or extroverted, but... I'm trying to preserve the original character as best I can... hmm...

JD Lu: No, there won't be any male/male or female/female stuff in any of the stories I write, ever. I'm no good at that stuff. So don't worry about that, I suppose. Heh!

Malignant Plate: Yeah, I think Oswin has more of an effect over Serra's behavior than Hector does. Whenever Hector complains about her, she just seems to get more and more ornery, whereas when Oswin does it, she gets all meek and humble... I dunno. Also, yes, I love the Ninian and Florina as friends this way, they're so cute. :)

Schnickers: I actually like the Oswin/Serra pairing, though I see where you're coming from with the surrogate father angle. That pairing has no place in this story, really, but it's an interesting one to explore. It's a shame so many people dismiss it right away or hate it because of the age difference... and I agree about getting a break from Lyn every once in awhile... she's terribly difficult to write sometimes. It was nice getting a break from that. :) Also, erm, about the five to seven days thing... that's more of a set of guidelines, really... heheheh. Whoops!

Timmycheese: Hmm, I'm interested to hear what you thought was off about Erk's character, actually. I like to know these things so I can make the story better as I go. :)

Winteress: Oof, good luck with your parents. I hope you can get back to writing soon! Thanks for your review :)

Angel White: Hahaha, your review got eaten. Served. :) (Now is my cue to run.)

TheRathofSacae: Wow, there are so many people pining away for Nino. Thanks for your review!

Kratos Aurion: Hee hee, I'll make you like them yet! Just you wait!

The Blazing Blade: Okay, I knew this was going to come up eventually. I'm aware that Florina's Pegasus is actually named Makar. The problem is, she only mentions this in one tiny conversation in chapter 16 or 17 of Hector's campaign that almost everyone who reads this story probably hasn't seen. NOA screwed up the translation so that she says his name is Huey in her supports, which are the conversations just about everyone sees -- most importantly her supports with Hector. Kind of disappointing, but there's nothing I can really do about it -- most people think his name is Huey, and I'd rather not confuse just about everyone who reads the fic for the sake of using the name Makar. Even if I like it better. Fun fact, they also screwed up the translation in Florina's supports with Nino; at one point, she says her Pegasus is a female. Eesh. So, I wouldn't say I'm brainwashed. I actually agonized over this for awhile before deciding to use the name Huey. Sorry if it disappoints you. (End rant)

Mizuki: Hehe, thanks for your review, as always. :)

Bachou: Thanks for the review, and trying to explain the Pegasus name thing. It annoys me when people get all uppity about that... Bleh, anyway. :)

Mike: Eek, Sorry about the lack of Serra/Oswin so far. I will write your birthday fic BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. And it will be oozing with Serra/Oswin, k? And yes indeed, you did get the 100th review. :D