Crossroads of the Heart
Author's Note: Fire Emblem is the property of Intelligent Systems and Nintendo.
Chapter 19: A Road Dictated by Destiny
To say that their arrival in Caelin had been unexpected was quite an understatement; Florina thought she might never forget the look Chancellor Reismann had fixed them with upon realizing who she was – and who the traveler she carried with her was, too, of course. Naturally, there was very little he could say to Lyn aside from welcoming her back to her home, though it was clear from his mannerisms that he was far more keen on lecturing them both on protocol and how utterly inexcusable it was to come careening into the courtyard from the sky, without so much as a thought for security and the guards on duty.
Perhaps it was the look on Lyn's face, more than anything else, that kept him from doing so.
She'd put on a strong enough face since they'd been back, but she'd been swept away with court matters as soon as they'd arrived. It had been a long time since she'd left Caelin; though she had technically abdicated already, it was clear that she was still considered the sovereign of Caelin… that attitude would likely continue clear until the Ostian envoys arrived, and even then the reality might not sink in among the people of Caelin for quite some time. As it was, the people were happy to see her again, completely unaware of what had happened in Ostia.
Of course, this left little time for Lyn to speak with Florina, as she had promised to do… but ever since Lyn had first discovered her Lycian heritage… suffice to say, Florina was used to waiting for time to spend with her best friend. She sighed impatiently, nonetheless; every day spent here was another day for Farina to cause trouble, after all. She still had no idea where her sister had gone, or even what exactly she had done in Ostia to prompt Lyn's subsequent insistence on returning here. It was terribly frustrating; how could she begin to set things right when there was no opportunity even to find out what had happened in the first place?
It didn't help, either, that with Lyn busy, she really was all alone… perhaps she had never been terribly close to Kent, or Sain, or even Wil… but she had known them, at least, and though she hadn't been good at conversing with them, they had always been there for her to listen to. The other knights avoided her as always; they knew the stories about shy little Florina, after all. Castle Caelin was familiar as always, but without her friends… the entire place seemed cold.
As though directly in response to her thoughts, a chill ran through her, and she hugged her knees to her chest, sitting outside as she often did when she was in a particularly thoughtful mood. She closed her eyes, letting her mind wander, and consequently never saw the shadow fall over her a moment later.
"Florina?"
She yelped in a most embarrassing way, eyes snapping open and scrambling to her feet before she had even properly realized who it was that was speaking to her in the first place. By the time she'd gotten to her feet and whirled around to face her company, Lyn was doubled over with laughter, shaking her head at Florina's reaction.
"L-Lyn, you, um, I mean, I—when did you…?"
"I'm sorry," Lyn laughed, sounding anything but apologetic. "Did I startle you?"
"Just a little," Florina mumbled, face flushing red. Her eyes slid away from Lyn's, tracing a nondescript pattern in the grass beside them.
"No, really… I'm sorry," Lyn repeated, her laughter having faded away entirely, a somber expression taking its place. "I've been terrible, haven't I? Some friend I've turned out to be…"
"N-no, that's not true!" Florina insisted, surprised at this sudden turn in the conversation. "Lyn, you've always been…"
"No… You don't have to gloss it over for my sake, Florina," Lyn sighed, sinking to sit on the grass, a frown fixing itself on her face. She indicated for her friend to follow suit; Florina did so meekly, vaguely wondering if she even wanted to hear where this would go. "We've been growing apart, haven't we?"
"I never thought so…" Florina, however, felt a lingering sadness as she thought on it; had they been, without even realizing it? "I mean… we were always together, weren't we?"
"But I never had time to talk…" Lyn sighed. "Ever since I came to Caelin in the first place. It was always work this, duty that, all conferences and banquets and…" She shuddered, trailing off. "I'd notice you, sometimes, by yourself, trying to fit in among the knights as best you could… but I never had time, like we did on the plains…"
"Lyn…"
"I practically abandoned you, and it didn't get much better even when that whole business with Nergal started, did it? All I ever did was mother you around, if I noticed you at all!"
"I didn't mind," Florina interrupted quickly. "Lyn, I know you've been busy… really, it's never bothered me at all! Why are you suddenly so… so…"
"Because, Florina…" Lyn took a deep breath, looking up toward the sky with squinted eyes. "The past few days, weeks… I've been thinking more than I ever have in my life. Thinking about myself, about my actions and what I've been doing ever since I left the plains… so much that sometimes, it's a little overwhelming…"
"But…"
"One of the things I realized is how unfair I've been to you… to everyone, but mostly to you."
"That's not true!"
"It is. Look at these past few days! I dragged you away from your sister in Caelin when she'd only just gotten back, without even thinking that you might not want to come—"
"But I did, I just…"
"—and even though I promised to explain everything when we arrived, I let myself get caught up in everything again; anything to get my mind off the matter at hand, I suppose, and I still haven't told you a thing. I've been a horrible friend. I've… I've really done some terrible things…"
"I don't think so…" Florina insisted quietly.
"You're too forgiving," Lyn sighed, shaking her head. "But… I'm here now, so let me explain."
Florina said nothing, merely nodding in response. She continued to stay silent throughout the entire story, though she couldn't hold back a horrified gasp upon hearing about Farina's actions; she had never expected her to go so far, not in the least. Again, she found herself wondering where exactly her sister was now; how could she possibly be aiming to make things worse? Was it even possible to do such a thing, considering?
"…It's not just that, though…" Lyn was speaking in an even tone, having recounted the events that had led them here in full. "If I had been thinking clearly, I never would have left…"
"So… so… you're not angry at Hector any more, right?" Florina inquired meekly; if that were true, it'd make her task much easier. "I mean… Farina has always been like that… there's no way he wanted anything to do with it. You know that, don't you…?"
"I do… I did then, too, somewhere inside…" Lyn shut her eyes. "I told you I've been thinking…"
"Yes?"
"I think I'd realized, before we'd even gotten back to Ostia, that I didn't want to stay… what happened there… it was just a convenient excuse, wasn't it? If I could convince myself that Hector would… that he'd really do something like that… it'd be so much easier to leave…"
Florina stared at her friend wordlessly, completely at a loss. How could she respond?
"But, Lyn, I thought…" She choked out finally, eyes wide. "I thought you… well… don't you and Hector… you love him, don't you…?" There, she'd said it.
In response, Lyn crossed her arms about her knees, burying her face in them with a shuddering sigh. Florina's mouth remained slightly open, watching her friend… to see Lyn this way was quite a shock. She'd always been so strong, as long as she'd known her… had they really changed so much? Maybe they had grown apart, if things had gotten this bad, and she hadn't even realized…
"This is… this is why, Florina," Lyn's voice was muffled, and Florina couldn't quite tell if she was crying or not, though it seemed likely. "This is exactly why I've decided that I am an awful p-person…"
"You're not!" Florina exclaimed, feeling tears come to her eyes, as well. "Don't you say things like that, Lyn! You're… you're one of the b-best people I know, and I don't want to h-hear you s-say…"
"It's the truth!" Lyn raised her face from her arms, tears welling in her eyes; they were already falling down Florina's cheeks. "Because I do! I love him, and I let that… I let those feelings… if I had just put them down when I first knew what was happening!"
"Why!"
"Because I cannot stay here in Lycia!" Lyn cried, again hiding her face from view in her arms. "I cannot! I told myself, over and over, that I could do it, that I would manage for him. For my feelings, for his, for a future with him. And then I went back to Sacae, and everything changed! Again!"
"What… what do you mean…?"
"I fell in love," Lyn spoke in such a quiet voice, it was difficult to hear. Florina wasn't sure she had heard correctly. "You'd think I'd have recognized the feeling, having done it once before, wouldn't you? But, no… again, I tried to tell myself I was wrong, that I couldn't possibly be so simple minded. That I couldn't possibly be so stupid!"
"But, you… Lyn, you mean…?"
"When I promised Hector I'd return to him in Ostia, I had every intention of doing just that. Of settling my affairs in Sacae, gritting my teeth and forcing myself to leave the lands I loved again for Lycia, for Hector. I never thought… what would happen there… I never thought I would let something like that happen… but I did. I tried to avoid him, toward the end, to deny what I felt for him, to deny that leaving him and my home was tearing me apart…"
"You're talking about Rath," Florina spoke quietly, having figured it out after several moments of confusion. "Aren't you?"
Lyn nodded wordlessly, and Florina felt something very near anger at her friend, then, for the first time in her life. Anger, because all this time, Lyn had the one thing she wanted more than anything else – she had someone who loved her. Someone loved her, someone that Florina had spent days and nights thinking on herself, consoling herself with the fact that though he would never look at her the way he looked at Lyn, at least the man she loved and the woman who was her best friend would be happy together, with one another. And now, Lyn had – after all of that with Hector, after promising him – she'd fallen in love with someone else? She'd won someone else's heart; how could anyone be so selfish—
Of course, even as she thought these things, before the thoughts had even fully finished forming themselves, she flushed with shame for thinking them – the situation was ridiculous, it was horrible, but it was not Lyn's fault. She should know how impossible it was to control feelings like that, shouldn't she? Look who she'd fallen for!
"Oh, Lyn…" Florina whispered, edging nearer to her friend, shyly slipping her arms around the plainswoman after a moment's hesitation. She returned the gesture, crying silently against Florina's shoulder… and for all the world, the lavender haired Pegasus knight could thing of nothing to comfort her friend… nothing that could set a situation gone so horribly awry right again.
"What do you suppose this is all about…?" Fiora spoke nervously, in a hushed tone. Kent shifted at her side, clearly unsure about it himself.
"I'm not quite certain…"
They had been called into the castle quite abruptly; Matthew had located them outside and insisted they accompany him inside, to discuss some important matter, though he refused to elaborate or divulge any details in typical spy fashion. Fiora was rather nervous about meeting with Lord Hector face to face; she still felt partially responsible for her sister's actions, whatever they had been, and some irrational part of her refused to believe that he would not feel the same way…
Of course, that didn't explain why Kent had been summoned along with her, and presumably Sain, as well, who Matthew had told them he was to retrieve next before disappearing again to leave them alone. That had been quite some time ago…
"Whatever it is, it is certainly a very hushed up affair…" Kent continued in a thoughtful tone. "I have my suspicions, but…"
"Do you think it has something to do with Lady Lyndis?" Fiora raised an eyebrow. "I mean, it almost certainly does, doesn't it? But what could we… surely, he doesn't expect us to retrieve her for him ourselves? I don't think that would be possible…"
"No, I don't think so," Kent agreed. "But I am sure this will involve a visit to Caelin, in any case…"
"Yet, Lady Lyndis practically ordered us to stay away…"
Kent said nothing in response to that, though his thoughtful expression remained firmly fixed on his face. The door swung open a moment later to admit several familiar faces to their presence; Sain, looking mildly curious, and a somewhat perturbed looking Serra at his side… Matthew ushered the two of them in, shutting the door quietly behind him.
"Ah, they haven't arrived yet?" Matthew looked about, speaking in an almost impatient tone. "Wonder what's taking so long…?"
"Who…?" Fiora inquired, frustrated at not knowing the meaning of all this secrecy and rushing about. "Who else…?"
"Why, Oswin and Lord Hector, of course," Matthew spoke cheerfully. "We have a bit of a proposal for you, though I'm not sure if anyone will like it much…"
"Are you planning on asking us to return to Caelin on his behalf?"
"Well… not exactly, but I'll explain everything as soon as—Ah! There you are, young master!" Matthew's demeanor changed quite admirably as Hector and Oswin arrived at the door, both wearing rather dark expressions. "Come in, close that door, we don't want anyone overhearing…"
"Yeah, I know," Hector growled, complying in a grudging manner. "Is this everyone? Why is she here?" He indicated Serra, who sniffed in an insulted manner.
"Why, Lord Hector, how could you even think of keeping me out of this!" She exclaimed, crossing her arms. "Why, I—"
"Forgive me, my Lord, but I had to retrieve Sain, didn't I? And she refused to leave us for even a second, so…"
"And a good thing, too!" She pouted, turning up her face in a haughty gesture. "I'm so tired of being left out of everything!"
"…Yes, well…" Matthew cleared his throat, interrupting Hector before he could properly respond. "All that aside, I'm sure some of you are curious as to why I asked you here… well. You asked if you'd be asked to return to Caelin on behalf of Lord Hector… but…"
"I told you, I didn't want a huge group going with me," Hector muttered, eyeing those gathered in the room with a weary expression. "How am I supposed to get out without anyone noticing?"
"If we can't go," Oswin replied gruffly, "Well, we can't have you leaving on your own."
"…Why not?"
"Now, young master, try to understand," Matthew interrupted smoothly once more. "These three are likely in a hurry to return to Caelin anyway, eh? If you were to go with them, as long as no one recognized you, it probably wouldn't be considered odd at all for them to be heading home, right? But, if one single cloaked person were spotted leaving, well… it'd be a little suspicious, wouldn't it?"
"...Fine. But Serra isn't going," Hector insisted flatly.
"Oooh! Yes, I am!" She predictably retorted, eyes flashing with the injustice of this mandate. "You always leave me out of everything! It isn't fair! And besides, like Matthew said, if he and Oswin can't go, why should I stay behind—"
"All you'll be doing is getting in the way!"
"I will not! Besides, if Sain is going, then I am too!" She looked around, daring anyone to contradict her. Sain looked slightly embarrassed at this, though admittedly pleased enough.
"Erm… yes. Lord Hector, I'll be sure to keep her out of trouble if you'd be so kind as to let her accompany me…"
"…I can't believe this," Hector muttered darkly, though he made no further protests.
"I feel I should tell you…" Fiora spoke meekly into the ensuing awkward silence. "Lady Lyndis did not seem to keen on us following her… she told us quite plainly, in fact, that we should not…"
"Did she?" Hector looked up, now sporting a worried expression.
"Yet, I've been thinking…" Kent interjected smoothly, surprising them both. "Fiora, I cannot be expected never to return to Caelin, can I? Sain and I… we both have matters to settle with the knights, do we not? As their commanders, we must submit our recommendations for our replacements, at the very least…"
"I… I suppose so…"
"Great, so you can go?" Matthew piped up, sounding surprisingly business oriented. "I know Lord Hector, at least, would like to leave as soon as possible…"
"I'd already be gone, if I had any say," Hector muttered in agreement.
"Right. So…"
Fiora and Kent exchanged glances, a sense of complete understanding passing between the two, even in the absence of words.
"I think… we'd be ready to go anytime…" Fiora spoke evenly, Kent and Sain nodding in agreement beside her.
Serra bustled through the castle soon after the meeting she had made herself a part of had adjourned; if she was to be leaving for Caelin – a good journey away, it was – she had quite a few things to pack in preparation. They would be setting out in the evening; at night, when fewer people might notice Lord Hector sneaking off with them. She couldn't help being excited – surely she'd find out what had happened now, and she certainly wouldn't mind getting away from Ostia for a bit. Just as she'd thought might happen, whispers about her and Sain had made their rounds throughout the castle; she could hardly go anywhere without having a disapproving glance furtively sent in her direction, really.
It was rather annoying – what business was it of theirs? Her personal affairs were just that, weren't they? Personal! They had no right to go snooping about and making assumptions about her – never mind that the assumptions were usually true – they had no right!
Yes… it would be nice to get away for awhile.
This entire situation, actually, was quite exciting. She'd suspected that Lord Hector might try to sneak off on his own, but with Oswin watching him so carefully, she'd assumed he would never get the chance to do so. Never would she have dreamed that he'd actually convince Oswin and Matthew to let him go… that they would go so far as to help him do so, in fact!
She disappeared inside her private quarters, thinking on how absolutely romantic it was – surely, once Lyn saw how much Hector was willing to risk for her…! Well, she'd have to be quite callous – or insane, Serra thought, choosing several outfits for the journal and folding them neatly in her traveling bag – to turn him down again! She wondered briefly with a dreamy sigh if Sain would do something like this for her, were they ever to find themselves in a similar position…
Deciding that he would, if he knew what was good for him, she finished choosing her clothes and accessories, giving a satisfied nod at her bag. After a second's thought she decided to retrieve a spare healing staff from their stores; it would be a long journey, after all – someone could very well get hurt along the way!
In that case, she thought grudgingly, perhaps Hector would feel less bitter about having to take her along.
She slung her bag over her shoulder, groaning at its weight – well, was it really her fault she had so much to pack? She was a noble lady, after all, of refined Etrurian descent, with plenty of important possessions to bring… she could probably get Sain to handle this for her, anyway, right? He had a horse, after all… of course he would! She smiled; the expression remained on her face for some time, before a certain unwelcome voice halted her in her tracks, freezing the look on her face into more of a grimace than anything else.
"Serra! You— stop, will you?" Erk was calling after her; she ignored him completely, quickening her steps despite the weight of her possessions. "Serra!" She could hear him pursuing her, now, and there was really no way she could outrun him…
"What!" She exclaimed, spots of color appearing on her cheeks as she turned to face him, already bristling for a confrontation.
"Where are you going, with all that?" Erk demanded, crossing his arms. "I just heard Sain out there, speaking with Matthew – they're going back to Caelin? You're not planning on… well, going with them, are you?"
"As a matter of fact, I am," Serra snapped, dropping her bag to the floor, tired of carrying it when she was likely to be standing there for awhile, now. Why did Erk always have to bug her at the most inopportune times?
"But… I mean, why?"
"Oh, please, like you haven't heard everyone whispering about me in corners when they think I'm not listening!" Serra snapped in a high pitched tone of voice. "Please! You've probably loved every second of it – finally, that annoying cleric gets what she deserves – everyone talking about me, saying I'm not worthy of my position—"
"What…?" Erk looked genuinely confused, eyeing her distrustfully. "What are you talking about? You think I pay any attention to what the serving maids whisper about?"
"How should I know what you do with your spare time!"
"Look, are you really going? I don't if I can handle everything on my own, you know? I mean—"
"Are you implying that you actually want me around to work with you?" Serra's face tightened considerably – did he think she was that dense, to believe something like that? "I'm sure Oswin will fetch you another sister, if you need help. Yes, I'm going with Sain, to Caelin. I'm sure you're just heartbroken, aren't you?"
"Look, Serra…"
"Don't bother pretending for my sake!" Serra insisted, stooping over to gather her things. "Go on and have a party to celebrate my leaving, if you like – although, I have to admit, I can't imagine you actually having fun," She sneered, eyeing him a final time before turning on her heel, to leave him staring after her, a rather unhappy expression on his face.
He remained that way for some time, even after she'd disappeared from his sight, his unhappy look fading to a rather blank expression as his thoughts tumbled about in his mind. She really had found someone else, hadn't she? Somehow, he'd thought she would always be there, pestering him at every opportunity, flirting with him in that weird way of hers, clearly infatuated with him, much to his dismay…
Except, of course, only after he'd really chased her away did he realize how much he really did miss it… only after he'd seen her hanging all over another man – Sain, of all people! Sain! He would have never admitted it, but he was terribly lonely – here in Ostia, where he hardly knew anyone… there in Etruria, where everyone only saw him as Lord Pent's student, and nothing else… hardly human, really. Serra had been annoying, but… she had always meant well, hadn't she?
She'd seen him for what he was… a too serious student so desperate to please his teacher that he'd shunned everything else to achieve his goals. Somehow, she'd always known acting that way would never really bring him happiness; if only he'd listened to her back then…
He should have been thanking her, all this time, for trying so hard for as long as she did. He certainly hadn't deserved it. He didn't even really deserve her forgiveness, he supposed…
"…Hey."
"Huh?" Erk jumped, caught off guard, lost in his thoughts as he had been. "What is it?"
"You look a little preoccupied," Matthew pointed out. "You all right?"
"I'm fine," Erk insisted, a little uncomfortably. "But… was it you? Who set her up with Sain? After our conversation the other day…"
"She set herself up with Sain," Matthew shrugged. "I was on your side, up until then…"
"I don't blame you for switching sides," Erk offered, shaking his head. "I thought about what you said… I've been thinking a lot lately, actually… and you were right."
"Oh?" Matthew raised a brow, as though he found those words hard to believe.
"Yes. I really was terrible to her, when all she wanted was to give me a chance at something different… something that might have made me happy. I've thrown away every chance at happiness I ever had…"
"You're still young," Matthew interjected, eyebrow still raised. "That's no way to talk. Serra tried her best for you, I think… but it'd be a waste of a lesson if you realized it and still went on the same way, wouldn't it?"
"What do you mean…?"
"Haven't you learned anything from her? The way you were talking just now, I'd assumed you had…"
"…I suppose," Erk sighed after a moment. "She was always telling me to smile more, to get outside and talk with people, to stop keeping to myself like I always did…"
"Right," Matthew smiled. "You blew it with her, Erk, but… really. Trust me, you don't need Serra to be happy… she's already given you everything you need."
"I guess, but…" Erk frowned, glancing down the hall, where she'd disappeared from his sight earlier. "Oh, I don't know. You're right…"
"Of course I am," Matthew quipped cheerfully, turning to take his leave. "I'm always right."
"…You've completely missed the target, again…"
"Are you sure? I could have sworn I heard it hit… maybe… did I at least nick it a little bit?"
Rath opened his mouth to insist that he had, in fact, missed the target entirely… but something about the hopeful look on Guy's face changed his mind. He had always been a little self conscious about having no skill with the bow… the warriors of Sacae prided themselves on their mounted archery, after all. Despite all of the times Rath had assured Guy that the sword was just as noble a craft, the man still got it in his head to learn archery every so often… Rath shook his head. He was hopeless.
"Well… perhaps you have. It's hard to tell, it's so worn out…"
"Really?" Guy brightened up considerably, eyeing the wooden target he had been fruitlessly trying to hit for quite some time now. "Yeah, I thought so! I heard it, didn't I? Hey, Rath, this means I'm getting better, right?"
"…Maybe."
"Hm… well, from you, that's practically a yes," Guy decided, crossing his arms. "You know, though, that I'm really grateful for this, right?"
"You've said so often enough," Rath raised an eyebrow, a flicker of very rare amusement flashing across his face before it was gone, as though it had never been there in the first place. Guy was getting very good at seeing it when it happened, though…
"How long do you think it'll be before I can shoot from the saddle?" Guy inquired hopefully, and Rath frowned in response.
"You should be worried more about being able to shoot on foot and ride a horse at all before you even consider doing both at once," Rath advised him severely.
"Hey! I can ride a horse… I just need a horse that doesn't hate me, is all! The Kutolah horses are all biased against anyone that isn't wearing a bow…"
"…Rubbish."
"It's true! You see the way they act when I get anywhere near them…"
"That is because you show your emotions so clearly – it is easy for the horses to tell that you are scared of them…"
"I am not scared of the horses!" Guy insisted, flushing pink. "No way!"
"…As you say," Rath replied evenly, clearly not convinced. Guy sighed in a nearly overly melodramatic fashion, bringing up the short bow Rath had allowed him to borrow for practice and examining it with a preoccupied expression.
"Well. Shall I try again?" He asked, moving out toward the position he had been shooting from for the better part of the day.
"…It's getting late," Rath replied, glancing toward where the sun was sinking slowly to the west. "I think that is enough for one day…"
"Oh…" Guy looked slightly crestfallen for a brief moment; but he certainly wasn't the type to remain that way for long. He brightened up shortly after, handing Rath back his bow and the remaining arrows in his quiver; it was quite a task to round up the missing arrows, considering his… unreliable aim, but it was something they'd grown used to since Rath had started teaching him the bow. "Say, Rath…" Guy spoke, almost shyly, as he yanked a stray arrow from where it had embedded itself in the earth near where the target had been erected earlier. "Are you sure you don't want me to give you a few pointers with the sword? I mean, you carry that thing everywhere, and you can hardly use it…"
"It's fine," Rath spoke shortly, the same response Guy had always been given to this inquiry.
"If you got a little better, you could probably use a better sword, too – I mean, iron weapons are all right, they're dependable and all, but they don't do much damage unless you're really skilled, or lucky—"
"It's fine," Rath repeated, in a slightly sharper tone. "I am helping you because I want to, not because I expect a service in return."
"Well, I… I knew that…" Guy insisted, a bit surprised at his vehemence a moment earlier.
"…Look. This sword has served me well, in the past… I see no need to replace it. I cannot provide a better explanation… but I thank you for the offer, Guy."
"Rath… that's the sword Lady Lyndis gave you, isn't it?"
"…Yes."
"You know, I said iron weapons are reliable, but that one's lasted longer than I'd have imagined…"
"I don't use it often," Rath replied shortly, gathering the last of the scattered arrows and placing them in his quiver. "Shall we return?"
"Sure. You know, I've been meaning to ask – and don't get angry! How long are we going to wait here…? I mean, the rest of the tribe is probably wondering where we are…"
"…The rest of the tribe is used to the two of us going missing, I would say, offhand…" Rath replied, shrugging slightly. "As for your question… I can't say. I think I will know when the time is right to leave." To give up, he thought, but he kept that thought to himself.
"…All right."
"You can go back anytime…"
"No, I'd rather stay with you. Er… as long as you don't mind me hanging around, that is…"
"You can stay as long as you'd like," Rath pulled himself onto his horse, which had been waiting placidly nearby as they practiced. Guy flinched as he watched Rath mount his horse with ease, a look near to jealousy on his face.
"How do you do that so easily?" He complained, walking alongside them, back toward the city of Bulgar. "Or without having your horse kick you or throw you off or something…"
"…We understand each other," Rath replied cryptically, glancing at the swordsman. "She was my one companion, for many years…"
Guy could think of nothing to say to that, and so they continued toward the city in silence. Of course, he hardly seemed to mind… Rath had always seemed so comfortable with silence, like so many of the men of his tribe. It was hard to believe that he, Guy, had grown up among the other tribesmen, whereas Rath had not… he fit in there much better than Guy could ever hope to.
Guy had never really liked silence, much – he had always been reprimanded for being too talkative, too open, too easy to read… his mother when he was a child, Matthew later on, and Rath nowadays – they all berated him for the same things. Yet, he couldn't change who he was, and if everyone wanted him to be more like Rath, well… he wasn't sure he wanted to change. Except for the skill with archery, and horses. He'd take that in a second.
They entered the city, walking along the same paths toward the same place they had been staying for quite awhile, now… the entire place was growing far too familiar. Guy had always been a wanderer; he'd been raised as a nomad, after all, and even after leaving the tribe he'd spent his days traveling the world, largely at random. It was plain enough why Rath wanted to stay put, though – if Lady Lyndis decided to come back, he wanted to be easy to find. Why else?
So, he said nothing, bearing with it for the sake of his friend. Rath insisted that he could leave whenever he wanted, but… something about abandoning Rath just didn't seem right. Besides, he was helping him with his archery; that alone was reason enough to stay, really.
Surprisingly, when they reached their destination, the monotony Guy had resigned himself to growing used to was quite abruptly broken; they both expected to walk in to the same old crowd, the same sights as usual, to perhaps sit down to a quiet meal and disappear upstairs to sleep – instead, something quite startling greeted them as they passed through the threshold to the inn.
"What do you mean, you don't know where he's gone! Isn't he some kind of celebrity or something around here!"
"Hey, Rath… isn't that one of those Pegasus Knights that was with Lady Lyndis…?"
"Yes," Rath confirmed shortly, approaching the shouting woman calmly.
"N-now, miss…" The woman behind the counter was squeaking meekly. "He always comes back, so if you just w-wait for a… oh!" She made a quiet sound of surprise as she noticed Rath approaching, slinking further behind the counter, if that were possible.
"…Is Lyn here?" Rath inquired, with no introduction, in a tone of voice that clearly indicated that he expected a quick response. Farina jumped nearly out of her skin at the sound of his voice, whirling around to face him with an expression almost comedically similar to the one the woman behind the counter wore. Rath, however, was not in a mood conducive to comedy, all of a sudden.
"You – where did you come from?" Farina blinked, mystified, then gathered herself quickly, shaking her head. "No, she isn't here—"
"Has something happened to her?" Rath demanded, and Farina noted that the man did have emotions after all; he looked quite concerned now, at least. Perfect; he'd be easy to convince.
"Has something happened!" Farina shook her head, wearing a tragic expression for effect. "I'll tell you what's happened – she arrived in Ostia, where we were all waiting for her… and the first thing she saw when she got there was Hector, in the arms of another woman! Can you believe that guy!"
Guy blinked, easily overhearing the entire thing, the woman was practically shouting – a few things seemed wrong with this story, to him, but he kept quiet. Still, he couldn't imagine Lord Hector consorting with women. Rath had mentioned a thing or two about Lord Hector and Lady Lyndis… he'd found it hard to believe, but… this was even harder to believe than that!
"It happened so fast, we really didn't have time to do anything, but Lyn took off on her own; she was devastated! Hector, he… he broke her heart! And… and none of us could think of anything to do, and I thought if she saw you…"
"…Where is she?" Rath looked a little mystified; he was having trouble swallowing this story, himself. However much he didn't like that Lycian noble – how could he, when he was the one thing keeping him from the woman he loved – he had never thought the man would do something like this… it seemed terribly out of character. The other thing bothering him, of course, was why Lyn hadn't come here straightaway… if this were true, surely, she would have come back?
"She's in Caelin," Farina announced primly, crossing her arms. "At least, last I heard."
"Why didn't she come here?"
"Pff… who knows! I mean, I doubt she was really thinking very straight…" Farina peered at him, narrowing her eyes. "I mean, she was so distraught! I never thought I'd see a woman like Lady Lyndis cry like that, I mean, really…"
"…You… do you honestly think my being there will help?" Rath looked doubtful, for just a moment, and Farina allowed herself a moment to gape at the man. Why wasn't he jumping all over this opportunity? She knew the man was hopelessly in love with Lyn, so what was his problem? "Something like this…"
"Of course it will, you're her friend, aren't you? Would you rather her mope around Caelin, alone, and… and… Really!"
"…Wait here," Rath ordered her, and Farina had half a mind to take offense at his tone. He couldn't order her around like that! But she waited, anyway, for what choice did she have? Why did men have to be so stupid sometimes?
Guy watched Rath approach him, a look of worry on his face the like of which he'd never seen before. Well, of course – who could blame him?
"What do you think?" Rath asked him bluntly, with no preface. Guy blinked. Did his opinion matter?
"I think that whole story is a little suspicious," Guy admitted.
"That is obvious," Rath replied, waving his arm dismissively. "Suspicious, but… even if there is a hint of truth to it…"
"…I don't know if you should go, Rath…" Guy said spoke hesitantly. "If that is true, won't she come back here when she's ready?"
"…You're right." Rath nodded. "But… I can't stand the thought of… of…" He trailed off, a conflicted look passing over his features.
"…Actually…" Guy raised an eyebrow. "I don't think you should go… but I'd rather you went if you're just going to mope around here worrying about it in the meantime."
"…Will you go back to the Kutolah, then?"
"No… I'll wait here for you," Guy shrugged, then as an afterthought… "And Lady Lyndis." He smiled. Rath eyed him, crossing his arms.
"I think she would rather have you call her Lyn," He pointed out, turning back to tell Farina his decision before Guy could respond.
"Well?" She snapped impatiently, tapping her foot on the wooden floor in a most impudent manner.
"I will return with you," Rath confirmed, and it took every ounce of willpower in her body to restrain herself from shouting with joy, or perhaps melting to the floor in a pool of relief. She'd been quite worried for a moment there…
But, in the end, men were just as predictable as ever.
Author's Note, Revisited!
I know not much happened this chapter, and I apologize – it's just a set up for 20, which will be a lot like 17, if that is any indication… I'll try to have it up soon.
Kratos Aurion: I'm glad reading this story cheers you up! Glad I could help…
Angel White: I agree about Hector needing a hug. I nominate you and I for the job! Eheh, heh, HEH.
TheOneAndOnlyT: Please don't hate me? Heh! Though I wouldn't blame you…
Maquareion: Yes, I knew that the people not fully into the Sain/Serra arc wouldn't like the last chapter as much; it was written with them in mind, mostly… I'll be getting back to Lyn and the main story more starting with this chapter, so I hope you'll like them better.
FenixPhoenix: Well, I'm introducing Rath again… right now:)
Grengo: Your favorite chapter, hm? I'm surprised, but also flattered – thanks for your review!
Wildfire Dreams: It's funny, I seem to be creating a lot of Sain/Serra fans with this story… it makes me happy, because I think it's a really under-represented couple…
Schnickers: I'm glad you liked it; I knew all the Sain/Serra fans would, of course, but I thought more people would be angry about the lack of Lyn after what happened in 17. Heh. As for Matthew; he was initially on Erk's side, but that was pretty much what prompted him to give up on getting Erk with Serra, as was his original aim… so he sort of grudgingly went on to help Sain, instead. :) I liked writing the Kent/Fiora scene; I see them as sort of looking after Sain like they would a troublemaking younger brother, sort of… if that makes sense.
Chellybean: Thank you for your review; it's nice to know that I'm doing a decent job of messing with your emotions… Hehe. I try. :P
Evergladelord: All right, I'll stop apologizing… maybe! I'm glad you liked Matthew, it was a bit difficult to write him there, because he had to sort of empathize with Serra… and that's hard to imagine.
Silver's Shadow Tamer: That is an interesting theory about Lyn's feelings, actually, and certainly makes sense with the character… I would theorize with you some more, but I want to be careful about revealing my opinions for obvious reasons. Thank you for your review.
Destiny's Promise: I was WONDERING where all of the Erk/Serra fans went! I had a feeling I hadn't converted you all. I suppose you'll have to wait and see… thank you for your review.
Timmycheese: Ah, yes, I was wondering where you'd gone off to, as one of the Erk/Serra fans I knew was reading this… I was hoping I hadn't driven you away with the Sain/Serra scenes… anyway, I did review your story, since you demanded so pointedly. :P
