Hector slipped in the mud, and grabbed desperately at the nearest solid object. After months of snow they had gotten rain, and what a rain it was. For the past two days that hadn't seen sun or moon, just drizzling rain that sometimes broke into buckets or torrential rain for a change sometimes. They had finally been forced to stop after Merlinus' wagon got stuck, and the horses threatened to break a leg in the treacherous footing. The ground was mud, and promised for interesting sleeping conditions. They never could find an Inn when they most needed it.

A voice singing slightly off key in the gloomy night told Hector he had come upon one of the sentries. It was a bright cheery song, but song just softly enough to allow the singer to hear anyone approaching. Hector was surprised to here a childish tenor raised with the other deeper voice for a few lines, then the piping music of a flute. Hector came up to the serenaders, Sain leaning a against a tethering post, and nils sitting on top of it, playing his flute. He stood, listening to the out of place song, and felt a smile tug at his lips. Nils cracked an eye open, and looked at him with surprise, but the music didn't falter.

The song finished, the last strains of voice, and flute faded away into the misty night, and Hector chuckled. Sain jumped slightly, and gave Hector a respective half-bow. "You enjoyed the serenade mi'lord?" Sain asked hopefully. Hector supposed the singing had been more for the female members of camp then anyone else.

"If I were more tone deaf I would have something nice to say about it." Hector spoke gruffly. "Aren't you supposed to be keeping watch?"

Sain nodded, unabashed by Hector's thoughts of his singing. "I am, and you have nothing to fear while I'm on watch." He grinned, and slipped in the mud. Hector snorted, and Nils laughed.

"I feel much safer, don't you Lord Hector?" Nils asked, a mischievous light playing in his eyes.

"Completely." Hector agreed, sounding as solemn as he could.

Sain poked his lower lip out in a fake pout, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Your lack of faith in my capabilities wounds me, Lord Hector." Hector rolled his eyes. Nils giggled, and turned to face Hector.

"How had Lord Eliwood been doing? He looked a little more bedraggled then usual when I saw him earlier." Nils asked.

Hector tried not to wince. He still had to find him. "He's been a little worse off then usual." He admitted.

"He seemed fine to me." Sain piped up. "He was carrying on a very jovial sounding conversation with Marcus while we were walking." How well you have everyone fooled. Hector thought drearily.

"It seemed forced to me." Nils observed idly. '"Ninian agreed with me." Maybe not everyone. Hector nodded.

"I'm going to get out of the rain." Hector muttered, brushing water from his brow. "If anything sneaks into camp that's not supposed to be there I'll now who to blame." Sain snapped of a sloppy salute, and muttered something that made Nils laugh. Hector sighed, and wondered why Lyndis hadn't knocked his head in soon after she met him. It seemed strange someone of her temperament would put up with someone for very long.

He made his way through the wet, giving brief 'hellos' to the sentry's, and stopping to talk with Oswin about some problem or another they were having with moldy grain. Hector finally pushed the flap of his tent open, and walked into the semi-dry interior. Due to the sudden leaks in several tents people had been jumbled around, and now Lowen, Marcus, and Matthew were staying in a tent with Eliwood, and Hector. It was a tight fit, but Eliwood wasn't there. No surprise there. Hector hadn't seem hide nor hair of his elusive friend since their short, and unproductive talk. Hector leaned his axe against a support pole. He sighed and stood dripping.

"Has Eliwood been here?" He asked.

"He was here half an hour ago, or more." Matthew said. He looked suitably wet, and had a splotch of mud on his cheek.

"Great." Hector flopped down on the missing lord's bed, and sat down a piece of crumpled paper. He looked at the crumpled thing, and started unfolding it carefully. Written across it in ink was a short message that made Hector shiver.

Sorry to 'worry' you, since you seemed so 'concerned' before. It will all be over soon, and you won't have to 'worry' any more.

Eliwood

Hector made a face, and thought What did he mean? Certainly he wasn't going to.........Hector stood up quickly, and swore violently. Lowen, and Marcus looked up, surprised by his outburst, but Matthew continued doing what ever he was doing.

"......Lord Hector?" Marcus questioned. Hector grabbed his axe up, and stuffed the paper into a pocket.

"How long did you say Eliwood's been gone?" Hector asked roughly.

"More then half an hour." Matthew repeated himself. "What's gotten you so worked up?"

"Too long...." Hector muttered. "Listen, go round up more people, and start looking for Eliwood."

"Why?" Matthew asked. Voicing the question that the cavalier, and paladin were too well taught to ask.

"Because he's in trouble." Hector snapped. That made Marcus move quickly. Lady Eleanor had trusted him to watch over Eliwood. Hector pushed out into the rain, and waited for the three to start off before going himself. He found the nearest sentry, or where the nearest sentry should have been. Erk, the sentry for this side of the camp, was laid out cold. Hector rolled him over, checking to make sure he was only unconscious, and dragged him into the nearest tent. It was the cooking tent, and no one was there. The sage would live, and Hector had more important things to do.

Hector walked out into the dismal drizzle that was growing steadily heavier. Hector trudged through the muck, cursing his timing, and Eliwood's psychotic behavior. Though, if he wanted to die, why had he left a note? It was unsettling. Of course Eliwood couldn't have waited for the rain to let up, or for the group to get out of the mountains......

Hector slipped down a steep bank, and floundered to the bottom. He spat out a mouthful of mud, and cursed again, putting to use many words he had rarely spoken aloud before, and never though would be directed at his red-haired friend. He clambered to his feet, slipped, and stumbling in the squelching, grabbing mud. There were other things, bramble, rock, and twisted roots that tried to tip him over any chance they got. Everything seemed to be conspiring against him.

"Eliwood!" Hector bellowed into the rain. He didn't expect a reply, but it was worth a shot. "Darn it Eliwood, answer me!" He sighed, and frustratingly flicked his wet bangs from where they had plastered themselves to his forehead. The rain was still falling harder then ever.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and Hector whipped around. The undeniable hiss of a weapon being drawn made Hector tense, his own weapon pulled to the ready, and waiting tensely. His vision was limited in the rain, but he could just make out the gleam of a weapon. He decided it was a sword as it and its wielder came hurtling towards his head. Hector, in mild annoyance, wondered if the entire continent was plotting against him helping his suicidal friend. Twice already he'd tried to get answers from Eliwood, but each attempt had fallen apart. He brought his axe up, and parried the blow easily.

"Darn you, I don't have time for this." Hector growled, sending the attacker flying with a swing off his axe. It slid across the mud with a cry, and Hector grinned in satisfaction. When mad there was nothing better then beating up hapless attackers. "You can either get out of my way, or continue trying to fight me. I should warn you, I'm ticked, and you're not helping matters." A loud battle cry was the only warning Hector had that there was not only one attacker. He whipped around, and batted away the incoming hand-axe. "The warning goes for you to!" Hector slammed his elbow into the offending brigands face, and sent the man flying as well. The footing betrayed him again, and he staggered to keep his balance.

The first attacker, seeing this as a opportunity, leapt back up, and made to chop off Hector's head. It missed, the blow glancing harmlessly of Hector shoulder as he righted himself. Hector came around axe first, and the man found himself with a axe in his stomach. He slid gasping to the ground and Hector mercifully removed his head. He scanned the area for any other attackers, and frowned when he didn't see any more. He still felt like he was being watched, but maybe he was just becoming paranoid after all the time they'd spent hiding in Bern.

"Eliwood!" Hector bellowed. His voice carried well, and he stopped to listen. Something was watching him, he was sure of it. He thrummed his fingers on his axe, and frowned in contemplation. It could be Eliwood watching him, or it could be more people lying in wait to attack him when he let his guard down. Neither of the possibilities, oddly enough, were very comforting. Hector reprimanded himself sternly, just because Eliwood had turned into a psychotic freak, and was leaving suggestive notes didn't mean he would attack him. Then again he did seem to hate Hector's guts..............

"Darn him." Hector decided as he started walking again. If Eliwood was going to leapt out and attack him, he'd better be ready for a fight. Friend or no it would be nice to dent the lords head in, maybe, by some unexplained miracle, that would fix him, but more likely it would make him worse. Hector sighed, and irritably pushed his bangs from his eyes again. They really did need a cut like Lyn had said a few days ago, but he would be darned before he took advice from her. A frightened neigh, and a dismayed yell broke Hector's train of thought, and he jumped out of the way as messily thrown javelin flew by. A cavalier perched on a horse that was staggering about in the mud, fighting for a foothold, looked just as surprised as Hector did. There had been more attackers. Hector concluded quickly.

The cavalier bailed off his horse, and drew his sword. Hector smirked, and jumped into an attack. He was at a disadvantage wielding at axe against a sword, but that had never stopped him before. He ducked a stab, and brought his axe across the cavaliers legs with shattering force. With a pained cry the cavalier fell, and Hector quickly killed him. His fighting style might have been less refined then most's, but at least he was merciful. Hector still felt like he was being watched. A sudden burst of electricity spread through his body, knocking him to his knees. He gasped, and tightened his grip on his axe. He blast had temporarily blinded him, but the attack might have well killed him outright. He couldn't see to dodge, and the next attack was sure to finish him. He heard a voice raise in a simple word, the last one he would ever hear.......

"HECTOR!"

A/N: Hiya! Guessy whatty next chappie after this is half done and you won't have to wait for weeks on end to get it! Maybe one and a half if I don't get too busy! Wouldn't that be nice? Please Review, thank y'all for all the reviews so far. . Jaa ne minna-san!