Hi everyone! It's me, lol, I updated my profile! I posted a picture of myself, you can see how I look like. Lol, not that it actually matters. Ah, anyway, lets get to the reason you are all here, the story!
The dying words of Lord Helman stun Eliwood beyond belief. "Darin, the marquess of Laus, knows all..." Despite the pain it brings, Eliwood takes this newfound knowledge to heart and sets out for Laus once again. On the way to Laus, he travels through a Caelin village. Eliwood and his party decide to rest there for the night.
Sion, still deep in thought of the Black Fang, slouched onto Hector's back, weary from the ride. Hector looked up into the sky, then dismounted the horse.
"Bah! Dark already." Hector crossed his arms and looked up in the sky.
Sion dismounted. He then looked up. "It's too dark to travel on much further." He then looked at his map. "You will all have to settle here. You set off for Laus as soon as there is a ray of sunlight."
"What about you, Sion?" Eliwood asked as everyone awaited his answer, staring at him.
Sion sighed. "I have unwanted, unfinished business to attend to. I'll be back hopefully by morning or earlier. If not, I want you to leave without me."
Eliwood nodded. "I see... Marcus, prepare the camp."
"Yes, my lord." With that, Marcus started to raise the tents as everyone dismounted as sat on the grass and got a fire going. Sion smiled and then sat besides Matthew and Oswin as he lounged by the fire and spoke.
Hector and Eliwood remained separated. "So this is Caelin? Should we present ourselves to Lord Hausen?"
Sion's ears caught this and felt his heart skip a beat.
Lord Hausen... Lyn...
Sion crept behind the two nobles and began to eavesdrop.
Eliwood shook his head at Hector. "It's not like we are staying. We're only passing, so I don't see any need." Eliwood looked down at the grass and thought to himself.
"Though... I am curious how Lyndis is getting along." Eliwood thought.
"Lyndis?" Hector asked.
Sion couldn't help but feel a small pang at his heart. He winced, as soon as her name was mentioned, it caused a slight aching for him. But nothing like the excruciating pain he had a year ago with Lyn.
"She was Lord Hausen's granddaughter."
Hector gasped. "Oh, now I remember! The Caelin issue last year, right? When Lundgren tried to take over?" Hector thought a moment. "Weren't you involved in that somehow?"
Eliwood nodded.
Hector grinned slyly. He then nudged Eliwood. "And? The granddaughter? Is she a beauty?"
Sion thought to himself with a smile. Hector, beauty isn't even anywhere close to describing Lyn. She's gorgeous. She truly is.
Eliwood began to stammer. "A beauty? She's...um... I... erm." He then sighed. "She's striking."
Hector laughed. "Too bad we can't see her, loverboy."
Eliwood's eyes went wide. "Hector!"
"Relax! I'm only sporting you!" Hector beamed. "Your face is priceless though."
Eliwood growled at Hector, extremely red in the face. Sion was trying so hard to stifle his oncoming laughs. Knowing he would fail, he dove into the bushes. After he recovered, he then began to think.
It's now or never... I should get going now.
Sion sighed and then stood up. Feeling a slight breeze, he looked up to the sky and noted the constellations. Following Polaris, the north star, he went on his way.
Sion, looking at the star, kept going for about 5 minutes. Then, he lost his footing and tripped on a tree root. He screamed, as he was caught by surprise, and tumbled down, landing in some swampy terrain. It was terribly foggy, and he noticed there were some dark-looking men around then he had landed in the middle of. All of a sudden, the men advanced towards someone and there was a loud, male scream.
To our travelers...
"Did you hear something?" Hector asked as Eliwood listened closely.
"A scream... Someone's in trouble." Eliwood noticed. He then looked to the camp and noticed that Sion was missing from his company. "It could be Sion, he's gone!"
"That sneaky little..." Hector began, but Eliwood interrupted, giving the order to help the victim. "Now, now, Hector. Is that a way to talk about someone who has helped us?"
Hector growled. "Chide me later!" He then ran ahead to assist, followed by Hector.
"Someone! Anybody! Help me!" An older man with gray hair pleaded aloud.
"Shut up, you old geezer!" A man shouted to the captive as he struck him. The man let out a yelp as he fell to the muddy ground in cowardice. "You've kept us running in circles for hours!" The bandit yelled. With that, he bent down and took a large sack from the man on the floor.
Sion watched on through gritted teeth as the scene unfurled.
Damn... I was getting so close to being on my way to deal with the Fang, and now I'm prevented again... I'd better help. Sion thought to himself.
"No!" The merchant yelled. "What are you going to do with my merchandise!"
"Heh. My lucky day. Old fool, what I do now is none of your concern."
"Let go of me!"
"You're so irritating! I'll shut you up for good!" With that, the bandit pulled out a knife and swung down. The merchant screamed and shut his eyes tight and awaited the blow, but none came. In the shine of the moonlight behind him, he saw a cloaked figure holding the man's hand right where it was.
"It's pretty low for you to rob an older man and try to dispose of him. Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
"Like you?" The bandit asked. "With pleasure." He then lunged for Sion. Sion jumped in the air and landed on his shoulders, then jumped off, kicking the bandit into the mud-water face first. He then grabbed the sack the man stole and returned it to the merchant.
"You there, sir. I'll hold them off. Now run, run far far away!" Sion yelled. He then stepped off of the bandit's back as soon as the bubbles stopped escaping his mouth. As soon as Sion killed him, a whole troop of them emerged from the foggy woods. Suddenly there was a voice from above.
"Let him and the man go. If you go quickly about it, you curs, we shall spare you."
Sion looked for the voice. He smiled when he noticed Hector and Eliwood, along with Oswin, Marcus, Matthew, Lowen, Serra, Matthew, Dorcas, Bartre and Rebecca. Matthew saluted to Sion. Sion grinned, knowing Matthew had tracked him to the swamp.
"You think we will lose to royal pansies like you? I hate you royals... Living off of your parent's names, dancing about... We will kill you all!"
With that, the bandit raised his hand, and watched as him men hid among the shadows and fog of the swamp. With that, the travelers joined Sion and spread out.
The merchant whimpered and got on his knees in the mud, begging to Sion. "Please, please protect me!"
Sion rolled his eyes. "Sir, please quit your sniveling. Of course I will, just don't beg ever again."
The merchant got up and nodded, and watched as they all encircled his heroes. Another bandit was creeping up behind Sion when Serra threw a mudball into his eyes. Sion, noticing a yell, kicked him and threw the merchant aside. Matthew, able to see ahead into the fog, assisted Rebecca as she shot into many of the heads of the attackers. Hector thrust his axe into another bandit's neck and Eliwood stabbed another one in the chest. Oswin lit a torch and passed it to his companions. Sion, quickly snatched a bunch of dry twigs and took some fire from Oswin's torch. Sion thought quickly, and brushed the flaming branches against the clothing of a bandit about to attack Bartre. The bandit burst into flames and without thinking, flailed around, not once considering dropping into the swampy water. The damage had been done. The smell of burning stench polluted the surrounding air as the last bandit burnt to death, and fell face first into the swamp. Sion then walked up to the merchant.
"Are you all right, sir?" Sion asked.
The merchant only beamed as he threw his arms around his heroes. "I'm saved! Not a bruise or scratch!"
Sion smiled politely, but was rather put off by the odd man's strange behavior. He patted the merchant on the back. "That's nice, now we will leave..."
Eliwood and Hector nodded as they started to leave. The man gasped and threw his arms around the noble's legs, throwing himself into the swamp. "Wait, take this! Please, as my thanks!"
Hector picked him up by the collar and dropped him. "We have no need of a poor man's refuse."
The man gasped as he fell back, appalled by Hector's crudeness.
Eliwood frowned. "Mind your manners!"
Sion shook his head and rubbed his brow in frustration. "Old man, who are you?"
"I'm Merlinus. Don't let my filthy clothes deceive you, I am wealthy!"
"Hmph!" Hector crossed his arms. Merlinus gasped and looked at the nobles.
"Oh! It's Lord Eliwood and Lord Hector! What luck! I have never been so blessed. Please! Let me repay my dept and help you?"
"Oh please! How can you help us? Polish our armor?" Hector yelled.
"Ahem, I can manage your weapons and whatnot. I can store extra items for you. It has been my greatest desire to be under the service of a noble house!"
"Of course! You may come along!" Eliwood beamed.
With this, Merlinus burst into uncontrollable tears.
"Um..." Sion mumbled, as everyone gave him an odd stare.
Merlinus shouted aloud, making his voice echo throughout the woods, startling off night-birds and bats into the sky.
"Take me into your bosoms and keep me safe forever!" He shouted aloud, sending ripples into the swamp water.
Everyone stared incredulously at him, wondering what kind of lunatic they had picked up. Sion and Matthew scratched their heads and Serra's jaw dropped low.
"Uh... Well met, Merlinus. Come back to camp with us. Sion, please return too."
Sion nodded reluctantly, then glared at Merlinus for interfering with his plans, then followed as the rest of the travelers. Rebecca has a hard time struggling in the muck, and Serra, to escape soiling her white dress, rode with Marcus. Lowen, noticing Rebecca's trouble, lifted her into his arms and rode with her the rest of the way.
Sion noticed that not only Rebecca, but many people were messy, especially him and Merlinus, as they had both at one point, fallen into the water entirely. Wiping the mud off of his hands, Sion trailed behind, looking back at all the carcasses of Merlinus's attackers.