Sorry for the long wait for this chapter and all…server problems don't help me out very much. O.o
Pent: (scolding) w00t!
Okay, yeah, he's right; it was partially my fault for being lazy XD anyway…to business…more review replies while I make you wait! –evil laugh-
Serra's Evil Twin: haha I figured someone would be mad at me XD
Darkdreamer17: ewww it's my poetry writer XP (lol internal joke) all of you have to bow down and worship her; she wrote Erky's lullaby for me! –worships- heh heh Erk is adorable, isn't he:D
Cool-chan: What did Pent say about Hector? –ish confused- sorry, I'm too lazy to go back and see all the possible answers to my own question XD lol I think those are the ruins that always get attacked on the second turn which I can never reach…oh, well, I just started a new game, and my brother just restarted, too, so I'm S-K-rewed for a while :) It's not that I don't like Lowen, he's just a dork XD
BeautyofReglae: wow…everyone thinks they've got me figured out XD well, let's see if it lives up to your expectations. I don't mind if you use my spelling; it's probably not the first time someone's used it XD I'll just try to be politically correct in some aspect of my writing, anyway :)
Not that many reviews this time…oh, well, it's probably because of the server problems…I hope.
Pent: (pointedly) …w00t.
Hey! I'm not a crappy writer! –smacks generic Pent upside the head- …I hope…
As well as posting my disclaimer—Fire Emblem does not belong to me in any way and instead belongs to the geniuses at Nintendo and Intelligent Systems—, I just wanted to remind you before I start that this fic is filled with spoilers…as far as I know, Kuivanen isn't a real city in Elibe, there isn't a purple-haired girl following them around in the game, and this is a work of fiction—everything that happens here is part of my imagination and any semblance to actual people, places, or events is entirely coincidental. No, seriously. It is. That being said, let us continue…
Chapter Five: Secrets
"I—I'm sorry, you must have me mistaken for someone else," Erk said quickly, backing away from the girl who had saved his life twice already.
"No, I really don't think I do," she commented lightly. "I mean, it's quite obvious. It's a good thing no one can remember our names, otherwise they'd have you figured out…but, you know," that signature secretive smile crossed her face again as she surveyed him. "I'm still just happy you're alive; I thought I was the only one that survived. How have you been, Emmanuel?"
"Now, really, I think you must have me confused with—with some other person you know," Erk said, laughing nervously and backing up more towards the door. "I think I'd best be going now; someone might worry—"
"Right…well, I'm not going to let ignore the life you could have had forever, you know. Go if you must…I don't think you know who I am, anyway…" Erk, officially freaked out, immediately rushed to the door, but, just before he could touch the handle, the girl started singing again; the same familiar tune she sang to him while he had been sleeping, just loud enough for him to hear.
" The stars sparkle in the sky
The moon shines for you;
Clouds fly on so high
And I sing "I love you";
The wind whispers softly
Your name, 'Emmanuel'.
Go to sleep, my darling,
And all will be well.
Magic floats through your dreams
And keeps you safe from harm;
You fly among the moonbeams,
Your eyes are filled with charm.
The wind whispers softly
Your name, 'Emmanuel'.
Go to sleep, my darling,
And all will be well. "
Just as the girl had evidently suspected, Erk had stopped and looked over at her as she sang out the last note. He searched for words for a second, then said softly, "…Iris?" the girl, Iris, smiled again and nodded. Before Erk could stop himself, he ran back to her side and stepped into her warm embrace. "I thought you were dead…"
"I think everyone did," Iris replied. "So…when did you plan on telling your little girlfriend you're the son of Marquess Kuivanen, Emmanuel? I really think she ought to know, don't you?"
Erk didn't get back to castle Reglay until very late that night; around two o'clock in the morning. By that time, even Pent and Louise had gone to bed and everything was very quiet when he snuck back in and tiptoed to his room. Once again, he couldn't seem to get to sleep, but this time it was for a different reason. If he told anyone about his past—including his real name—would they still trust him? Would they even believe it? The thought of losing Priscilla to a stupid lie he had been using for eleven years just to protect himself made him feel sick. This new nightmare haunted his dreams until Pent woke him up again at dawn—after two hours of sleep.
"Nice to see you're back," he remarked. "How late were you out last night? You're skinny enough without all that exercise, you know. Louise had herself in a tizzy worrying about you."
"Oh," Erk replied sleepily. "My apologies."
"We've got to leave in about—oh, five minutes, I think Hector said—" Erk's eyes widened in horror. "—so I suggest you get up or something." with that, Pent left him to get dressed and do something with his hair at top speed.
"You're late," Hector informed him crossly when he finally showed up outside.
"Yeah, I know," Erk said, trying to catch his breath. "I had to find something to eat; not eating breakfast is really bad for your meta—"
"I'm sure your metabolism isn't going to mind too much, Erk," Hector interrupted, rolling his eyes. "Besides, you're too skinny, anyway." Erk scowled slightly as Hector proceeded to bark out orders to everyone else. They were really off course and thirty seconds behind schedule—thanks to Erk, as Hector insisted upon adding. This made several people roll their eyes expressively. Thirty seconds was a completely different story from fifteen minutes, after all, and certainly wasn't as bad for scheduling. No one was looking forward to meeting Nergal, anyway, so thirty seconds could be a blessing. Shortly after Hector's long spiel about his plans, it was time to move out—quickly, with no stops for food until it was time to stop for the day.
"Can't we stop for a few minutes and see the cathedral?" Lyn pleaded as they passed through Kuivanen twenty-five minutes later.
"No," Hector replied without looking back.
"Please?" Lyn pleaded.
"No," Hector retained firmly. "We aren't stopping…if you wanted to see a pretty little church, you should have gotten up earlier." Lyn scowled at his evilness, but said nothing.
"So, when's the wedding, you two?" Iris, who had just ran up to them and fell into line between Erk and Priscilla, who were chatting about random things.
"I beg your pardon?" Priscilla replied, looking down at her.
"Well, you're getting married, aren't you?" Iris persisted, making Erk blush.
"They are not!" Raven said loudly in front of them.
"Shut up, Raven," Priscilla said to him irritably. When she turned back to talk to Iris again, she realized with a jump of surprise that she had vanished again. "She doesn't stay around too long, does she?" she remarked to Erk.
"No, she doesn't," Erk agreed.
"Who doesn't?" Raven, who had just had the courtesy to look back, asked curiously.
"Your little friend," Priscilla replied. "You know…the mockingbird?"
"She was just here?"
"Um…yeah. Didn't you notice?"
"Ah. Yes, that would make sense. Just like a wildflower…you take them from their roots and they'll die within a few days in a vase. That's all right; I'll catch her someday."
"Er…okay," Priscilla said, quirking an eyebrow. "And why would you want a mockingbird, again?"
"She'd make a lovely wife for me, don't you think?"
"For you, Raven?" Priscilla said, surprised. "I didn't know you felt any sort of affection for anything. Besides, I think she'd probably be scared to sing for you."
"I would," Wil commented from behind them. "Of course, I'm not a girl or a mockingbird, so I suppose I wouldn't know."
About an hour after sunset, they seemed to be quite a distance away from Ostia and everyone was begging Lowen for food, so it was decided that they should stop for the night. Raven actually volunteered to stand guard, and no one opposed this proposition. Of course, no one looked into this very much to realize that he was just hoping to see Iris again, but he was a way better guard than Kent and Sain ever were. About an hour after everyone decided to retire to their tents, Raven, sword in hand, was watching for any sign of movement for quite a while before something stirred behind him. He wheeled around just in time to see the very tip of a shadow whisk away behind a row of tents. He immediately followed stealthily afterwards and soon saw someone skulking around, trying to find a specific person.
"You know, sometimes I think he's hiding something…did he ever tell you where he came from?" Pent's voice was saying quietly to someone else in his tent (hopefully Louise) as he raced off after the intruder. "I mean, all I know about him is that he's an orphan and he's fifteen. He says he's Etrurian, but—hello! Who are you?" he added suddenly in surprise.
"Er…sorry, I was just looking for a friend of mine," a female voice replied apologetically. "Sorry to bother you; I'll just leave…"
"Oh. All right. Well, don't steal anything or something crazy like that; otherwise I'll have to sic Raven on you. Anyway, Louise, before that happened—oh. Hi, Raven."
"I'll just take this from you, shall I?" Raven said coolly, taking a horrified Iris by the shoulders and steering her out of the tent.
"She wasn't bothering anybody, really," Louise called after him in Iris' defense. "Oh, dear…I hope he doesn't hurt her…"
"So, little miss mockingbird…what are you doing up at this hour?" Raven inquired almost disdainfully as he led his 'prisoner' towards Eliwood's tent, as he seemed to be the only Lord that was still awake.
"I wasn't going to steal anything, if that's what you mean," Iris replied irritably. "And I would appreciate it, sir, if you were to let me—" Raven interrupted her with a derisive laugh.
"Let you go?" he laughed humorlessly. "Not a chance, my dear. Not unless you think you can best me in a fight."
"And if I could?" Iris retorted. "Would you let me come and go as I please?" Raven laughed again, this time with actual amusement.
"Maybe I should let you in on a little secret, my dear…" he bent down to whisper in her ear. "I never lose."
"Right, and is that because you never fight with anyone to begin with? I find it rather cowardly that you won't even let me stand for myself," Iris said. This one hit a nerve, as she knew it would.
"I," Raven growled. "Am not a coward, miss."
"Oh?" Iris smiled. "And how am I to know that?"
"You would dare challenge me? A mercenary?" Raven said, thinking he had won this battle of wits. "Without even a weapon?"
"I'm not afraid to cross blades with any man," Iris replied silkily, then, as he hadn't restrained her arms, drew her sword from the scabbard at her waist with a long, metallic shhhink! "I do have a sword, by the way."
"All right," Raven replied, pulling out his sword as well and releasing her. "You can certainly sing, my mockingbird, but can you dance, as well?"
"Of course," Iris said, smiling, then added softly, "You know, it's a terrible sin to kill a mockingbird…"
"Then I shall have to go to confession, won't I?"
"Hm…we'll see about that," Iris replied, her smile widening. "And you'd better not go easy on me, sir…I'm not one you should trifle with."
"No? How long have you been wielding a sword?" Raven asked with interest.
"Hm…I'd say abouttwelve years…out of seventeen."
"Seventeen? Oh, good…I thought you were Erk's mother or something." Raven said, looking very relieved as he set his stance and held his sword out in front of him.
"Good heavens, no!" Iris cried, crossing her sword with his, making a tiny clink as the silver material of her blade clashed against his steel. "But I do know him quite well."
"Silver?" Raven said, looking at her sword with an air of surprise.
"Only the best," she responded cheerfully. "Why, you don't have one?"
"Can't afford it," Raven muttered bitterly.
"Mine was…oh…let's call it an…inheritance."
"Ah," Raven said, impressed. "So…shall we begin?"
Okay…I'll leave you all with that…I still need to research writing swordfights, so sorry if it's a little lame XD
Pent: (sucking up) w00t.
Aww, thanks! –hugs generic Pent-
Anyway, I'd like to make a note for those who plan on reviewing…I recently had a review that I had to delete because of its inappropriate language, as it completely threw off the rating I have on my story. Please, please, don't post such vulgar terms such as the 'f-bomb' or other such language in your reviews…you won't ever see it in my writing, and I implore you not to use it while you are…ahem…giving me constructive criticism. If you don't like it, please don't just say simply 'it sucked!' but give me a suggestion as to how I could make it better…failure to comply will result with my generic muse sentencing you to never-ending Elfire spells on your head. Thank you for your cooperation, and I'll get chapter six up as soon as I can.
