To Be Alone.
Hello, hello everybody! This is the 5th chapter of the fic! Now I know some…ok none of you are asking, what? Angst/ Romance? When did that happen? I shall tell you. After I wrote the 4rth chappie. I thought to myself, Katelynn, this is not a general romance! In fact, the title does not even suggest that it is. But anyway. On with the fic, it will be more sad probably from now on. Ooh! A review!
Jinn the Master Sage: yes, I am quite fond of ErkxPriscilla as well. I will not tell you if that's the pairing it will end up, it's a little thing called suspense ha ha ha!
The oh so angry Raven will be making some trouble for poor Erky in the near future and of course leaving Priscilla alone while she's crying how unbrotherly of him!
Chapter 5: The Dread Isle.
Priscilla's POV.
I have been told we have reached our destination. I cannot see outside, I am in the injury cabin. My own injury is healed thanks to Serra. It is that fool Erk I am with now. I was nearly asleep last night when Lyndis came in with him. I looked up and saw him pale as a sheet. I cannot say I was not worried when I first saw him. In fact I thought he had fallen ill and died. Why I thought that I shall never know. He is alive however, I am glad he is safe. I still think he is a fool. Why would someone in their right mind stand out in the rain until they are soaking wet?
I reach out my hand to touch his face, I don't know why. His eyes snap open so I pull my hand back quickly. I look away to hide my embarrassment, he is looking at me with a puzzled look on his face. I think I am blushing, my cheeks feel hot.
"Lady Priscilla…" he says almost silently.
"Erk."
I am not looking at him at all not even out the corner of my eye. However I do not think I am angry with him. I do not believe I can stay angry with him. He, is not someone who makes trouble intentionally. He was probably staring into space and didn't realize that it was raining. Perhaps my anger sprang only from worry. Worried about Erk? Had I been? I was too busy feeling angry to find out exactly why it was that I was angry.
He sits up and gets out of the bed.
"Excuse me Lady Priscilla." He says and walks away. I watch him go. He did not even look at me when he had said that. In a way it upsets me. Has Erk changed as well? Like Raymond? I do not want to think of that. How my brother has changed.
I stand up from where I had been kneeling and go to talk to Mark. I must ask him to put me near Erk in the next battle. I must ask Erk why he did that. About why he was standing in the rain and why he could not look at me when he had left the infirmary.
I walk down the corridor to Mark's quarters. I knock on the door softly.
"Ah! Yes? Come in then!" he calls loudly. I walk in the cabin and see Mark lying on the floor his cloak wrapped around his legs.
I don't know how to ask. Mark, would you place me next Erk in the next battle? No, no particular reason just my own insecurities. Perhaps not. I turn to leave but Mark stops me.
"This is about the next battle no? Very well, I'll place you next to Erk then," he says before I even utter a word.
"I…I'm sorry…"
"Why is that? Have you done something I don't know about?" he asks and finally unwraps his cloak and stands up.
"No…I just don't want to be a bother…"
"You? A bother? Never! Serra, now she complains about everything. She is easily the most demanding person I have ever worked with," Mark says with a smile. I stammer a few unintelligible words before giving up and excusing myself.
" 'Sides I was going to put you next to Erk regardless!" I hear him yell through the door.
I decide to go above deck and survey our surroundings. Captain Fargus is talking to Eliwood, Lyndis and Hector. I am not one to eavesdrop so I pay no heed to their chatter.
I walk along the deck and bump into someone. I nearly fall but recover in time to apologize.
"Ah, sorry Priscilla, truthfully I was too involved in Lord Hector's conversation to hear you walk up." It is the Ostian spy. What is his name again? I cannot remember... I do not think I have ever met him, so how does he know my name?
He seems to spot my confusion right away and smiles.
"Oh, yes I had forgotten. I have never been formally introduced to you." He says.
He has light brown hair that sticks up in some places and eyes that resemble the colour of his hair they have a mischievous look to them. Well of course he looks mischievous! He is spy, I think…
"My name is Matthew, spy for House Ostia and thief to all those who seek my services. Wonderful to meet you Lady Priscilla of Cornwell." How does he know I am from Cornwell? I panic for a moment then realize that he could just be guessing.
"A thief hmm? Oh forgive my manners. It is nice to meet you as well Matthew of Ostia," I say mentally scolding myself for judging another because of his occupation.
He smiles again, it is quite hypnotic, his smile. Perhaps that is how he manages to steal things from people so easily. Matthew sighs and hands me a bracelet I recognize as my own.
"Forgive me that was horrible for me to do. I can't steal something from you anyway, young master would wring my neck," Matthew says but I can tell he is not really all that sorry for stealing something from me nor is he afraid of Hector.
How could he do that? That bracelet was on my wrist a moment ago and I didn't feel anything and now it's off. It makes me shudder to think what else he could have gotten off of me before I had realized what was happening. I would have to be cautious when speaking with him. When I had fastened the bracelet around my wrist again I looked up but Matthew was gone as if he hadn't even been there to begin with.
I see Mark rushing across the deck carrying a pile of books to land. I realize that I should pack my things too, surely Sir Fargus would be leaving. As I turn a blast of cold air hits me and I hurry downstairs to my cabin.
Everywhere I look people are rushing around with their possessions. The cavalier Sain is of course talking with all the women.
"Oh knock yourself off Sain!" Rebecca calls from inside our cabin.
"You wound me with your harsh words lovely Rebecca!" Sain cries dramatically.
She mutters something else but I can't hear what she says. I walk past Sain who immediately calls after me.
"Oh! Beautiful Priscilla can even you not wait for your protector Sain?"
"I'm sorry, I must gather my things, we have arrived on the Dread Isle," I answer nervously.
"No, she doesn't need your help!" Rebecca yells, "that's what I'm here for."
The door creaks loudly as I open it and walk into Rebecca's room and mine. She smiles at me. She has quite a nice smile always so happy and carefree. I wish I could trade places with her. Then she'd be the one with a brother that was going to break his childhood promise and a fool of an escort. Priscilla! Don't say that about people! Raymond is not going to break his promise! You know Erk isn't foolish too, so just stop it! I scold myself.
I feel guilty for even having such thoughts about them. Erk, Raven, Lucius and Rebecca are my friends, my true friends, I should not wish bad things on Rebecca, I should not think Lucius is a liar, Raven will break his promise nor should I deny Erk's intelligence.
I feel this place has already taken a hold on me, making me feel so horrible and think such nasty things about people. It seems this dreadful place has changed Rebecca as well. Normally she would put up with Sain or just ignore him completely but today she seems very angry with him. I hope that no one else falls under the spell of the Dread Isle. I cannot begin to imagine Sain or that crafty thief Matthew being angry or sad even on such an island. Perhaps these feelings will come to pass. I hope so. I gather my books of light magic and bring them upstairs.
Sain is gone from the hallway to no doubt pursue other women. I am glad for his absence, he is a nice man I do not wish to snap at him or think bad thoughts about him.
"Hector! Don't just throw your weapons on the floor! It sets a bad example!" I hear the knight, Oswin command.
"I don't care Oswin! If people are looking at me to set an example well there must be something wrong with them, I'm Marquess Ostia's lout of a brother remember?"
I have heard a similar argument between Hector and Oswin previously when Hector ran into battle quite recklessly.
"Lord Hector I am your protector and if you run into battle like that again I'm afraid I'll have to do something about it!"
I think that incident was quite funny but I don't laugh about it. No, I don't think that would be appropriate. It wasn't so much what Oswin had said it was how he said it. So exasperated and tired of having to grab Lord Hector by his collar and hold him back.
I continue carrying my books up to the deck and go down for my clothes. I only have one spare dress but it is enough. Besides, I already have a lot of books I don't need to be carrying garments around as well.
I am finished packing my things, now we must set up camp on the island. Everyone is busy. We are always busy but today seems different somehow. Perhaps it is the dark looks people are giving each other or how people aren't really talking as they work. I want to talk to someone but I'm too nervous about to approach anyone. They all seem so sad, so angry. It is the island I decide. Only half a day on this island and all ready people are feeling its effects.
If it is possible, the entire camp gets even more quiet. No one says a word no one seems to even breathe. I hear the Lords arguing in the distance. It is Hector's voice that everyone seems to listening for. Something has happened. Something horrible must have happened. Lord Hector sounds absolutely furious for some reason. Lady Lyndis and Lord Eliwood's voices are low murmurs. I don't think anyone can hear what either is saying.
"I swear I'll kill him! With my own hands!"
That is Hector, violent as always. I am curious as to what has happened and if I can be of any assistance. If someone is injured Serra or I could heal him or her.
Hector yells something else and I think I hear him say Matthew. Perhaps I am wrong. It appeared as though everyone else heard Matthew as well and turned to face the thief who had just finishing his job of stealing from someone's bag.
He smiles and shrugs his shoulders. He doesn't seem to know what is going on either or if he does he doesn't let on.
A solider returns to camp and requests that Matthew follow him to where the Lords are. The thief does a mock salute and walks away following the solider.
People don't return to work however. They want to see if they can hear what it is Matthew has done this time. Pilfering one of Hector's axes and selling it in Badon maybe? No, I have a feeling that isn't it, a bad feeling. Someone, has passed away, I can sense it somehow. My thoughts immediately turn to those of My Lord brother. Is he safe? Is he the one that has died? No, it can't be, Hector wouldn't get so angry over Raymond. Erk, is he safe? Please Elimine, don't let Erk or Raymond be the one that has died, I beg you.
"Gather your arms men and women of 'Eliwood's Elite!' there is a battle to be fought!" Mark yells from a break in the thick forest that covers most of the Dread Isle. He quickly adds exactly who should gather their arms and who should just laze around because they wouldn't be in this battle.
I must go to the battlefield today, I am not fearful, I know I will be protected even though Erk is not in this battle. In the end I am placed next to Guy, the person I have been trying to avoid.
I do believe Mark has a knack for finding out whom I am trying to stay away from. Of course it is not such a fortunate talent for me seeing as whenever he knows he puts me right beside that person.
Guy seems nervous about something and I ask him what is wrong.
"N-nothing! Nothing's wrong at all! Saceans can't lie so I'm not lying!" he replies, his voice seems high and frightened. Frightened? Of me?
"Ok…"
Mark tells me to go over and heal Lord Hector. I cannot say I am thrilled. I am a little bit…intimidated by Lord Hector to tell the truth.
I ride over to Hector with Guy at my heels.
"Lord Hector, Lord Mark instructed me to heal you," I say quietly. He doesn't seem to hear me. I cannot say I blame him, I spoke very quietly and you have to shout to hear anything on a battlefield. I just now realize that there is no usual roar of battle. No one is yelling in victory nor breathing their last. It is so quiet it's eerie. I feel a shiver run down my spine at that thought.
"Lord Hector? Milord forgive me but Mark sent me to heal you." I say, louder this time.
He finally turns and looks at me. His normally relaxed face has turned to one of anger and hatred. His brow is furrowed but not in thought, his mouth turned down in a frown, his dark blue eyes are narrowed and he refuses to look me in the eye. When it seems like he is, he pretends to look at something else. I do not wish to be in the presence of Lord Hector when he is in this state. I quickly heal him and await further orders.
We slowly creep through the forest despite the fog. We are getting closer to our enemy, so close I can see a figure of a nomad, or nomad trooper in the distance. Guy keeps glancing at me from the corner of his eye. I pretend I don't notice if only for his sake.
Guy and I are told to stay back incase enemy reinforcements arrive.
I notice a strange woman with aqua hair flying next to Florina on a Pegasus. Both of them have their own, is this woman a Pegasus knight of Ilia? If so why is she here? Bothquestions I have to ask later.
The nomad trooper a man of Sacae, Uhai, is killed but he gives us information about a shortcut to the Dragon's Gate. Lyndis and Eliwood believe him but Hector seems reluctant even unwilling, to trust anyone. I still wonder what had happened in the forest that had made Hector so angry but I don't ask. It is not my business.
We stop to rest for awhile and as I sit in my tent for the first time I realize that I'm lonely. Is that why I am so desperate for Raymond to keep his promise? I don't know but I wish someone would come into the tent and talk to me. Anyone, even…Guy or Sain. I know it won't happen though. Everyone I so down that I doubt they would want to talk. I lie on my bed that has books that haven't been unpacked and organized yet and I fall asleep.
I dream of someone…I cannot recall who…it evades me no matter how much I think and try to remember. Who had I dreamed of last night? Perhaps I will never know.
Well that's the end of chapter five I guess. He he he…Priscilla dreamed of the person she's going to end up with but I'm not gonna tell you who! Wow…that was I pretty long one I think… it took me about a week to write it all but I wrote most of it at about 11pm on Friday, February 25! It took me a week only cause I wrote a bit whenever I got the chance, which was not often, but I'm glad I finally finished! I tried my best describing Hector's "angry face" as I call it but it's kinda strange… and of course everyone who has played the game to Chapter 18 knows what made him so angry. I just had to add it in. Well that's all for now. Oh, and in case you are saying "that was not a very angsty chapter" I say to you "no, no it really wasn't. Partly because Priscilla doesn't know how to feel about everything and unlike Erk she does not like someone that doesn't even know that she likes them." Erk likes Priscilla but she doesn't know it, Priscilla likes Raven but he does know it. See the difference?
Canas: Matthew is sulking and hurling profane words at everyone so he is currently locked in his room. I'm her muse for now!
Me: Yes that's the gist of it.
Canas: Read and Review if you would.
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