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Disclaimer: I do not own Suikoden, yay for me.
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Chapter 5 Is she your bride?
Percival smiled as he led Chris down the hill back into the village. They stopped at a house just to the right of the village square. "Here we are, milady." He said, and then knocked on the wooden door a few times.
A dark haired woman who was medium height and in her late forties answered the door, and Chris figured at first sight that she was Percival's mother. "Why! If it isn't my little Percy!" the woman exclaimed joyfully. "What a wonderful surprise!"
"Good to see you too, mother." Percival smiled as he embraced her tightly. "How've you been?"
"Splendid, simply splendid. Now, look at you! My, you get even more handsome ever time I see you." Percival's mother said as she held him at arms length, nodding at him with much approval. "You always were the apple in your father's eye. Oh, I am so glad you decided to come visit!" Just then she caught sight of Chris, who was standing slightly behind Percival and was trying to hide a smile. "And who might this young lady be, Percy?" She delightedly asked, and then she leaned closer to whisper in Percival's ear. "It is about time you found a fiancée. She certain is a lovely choice!"
Percival could feel his face begin to turn red as he looked back slightly to see Chris' reaction to his mother's misconception. "Uh, no… um no, mother. She's not what you think… She's actually-"
"Yes yes, I know son. She's not ordinary, someone very special. Of course, I can see that, don't have to be so defensive now!"
"No! I mean, she's just a very good friend, and we're just here to visit for a few days." Percival quickly said before his mother could continue, while Chris was behind him trying hard not to laugh.
"Okay, so when is the wedding?"
"There is no wedding, mother. I am not engaged to Lady Chris. So can you please." Percival said with heavy patience. His mother looked confused then finally nodded.
"Well, okay. Do come in, come in. It is getting cold outside." She waved the two of them inside, and then said. "So then, I'll go and prepare a room for you two-"
"Two rooms, mother. Please." Percival quickly interjected.
"Oh, yes, of course, dear." Percival's mother nodded, and then stopped to smile at Chris. For a moment she seemed to recognize her. "I am so sorry, Percy can just be so uptight sometimes. Oh, and I forgot to ask for your name. Silly me."
Chris smiled and did a slight curtsey. "I apologize, Lady Faulein. My name is Chris Lightfellow."
Mrs. Fraulein's eyes widened." Lady Chris Lightfellow? Oh, oh my." She turned to Percival. "I always knew you had exceptional taste, son. But this is a little too good to be true."
"That's because it's not, mother." Percival answered with slow patience, while Chris stiffled another chuckle. "Lady Chris is here to take a short break form her duties, and I'm here as her escort."
"I see… How long do you plan on staying?"
"Around three days, four at the most." Percival said, catching Chris' gaze to confirm it.
"Oh, alright then." Mrs. Faulein beamed at Chris. "Make yourself at home, dear. Have Percy show you around and I'll busy myself with the rooms." She moved to walk past Percival, grabbing his arm she pulled him down so she could whisper into his ear. "Make the best of your time, son. This one is so much better than all the others you've brought home before, and you got a good chance so don't ruin this."
"Mother." Percival shook his head at her in disbelief as she went up the stairs, humming as she went. When she was out of earshot, he turned to find Chris with her arms across her chest, shaking with silent laughter. "Not you too, milady!" Percival grinned, while looking as wounded as possible with a smile on his face.
"Me? No, no, not really." Chris replied, half laughing. "Well, I can see where you get all your charming demure from."
"Charm? No, more like persistence." Percival flashed a lethal smile. "But I suppose it could work to my advantage one of these days." He gave her a sidelong gaze, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Chris pretended not to notice. "You're talking nonsense again, Percy." She said in a nonchalant tone, narrowing her eyes at him.
Percival laughed, and then he beckoned her to follow him. "Come milady, I'll show you around the house." Chris nodded and followed.
After ten minutes of touring the modest home of the Faulein family, Chris knew the layout of the house like the back of her hand. The ground floor had a kitchen (it was very homey looking), a laundry room (Percival was thankful that there weren't any stray underwear left from his last visit), a dining room (for the dinners), and one bedroom (Percival's mother's room). The second floor had three bedrooms (vacant for visiting guests and relatives) and a washroom.
"So, your mother lives here all by herself?" Chris asked after they had passed Percival's mother's room on the first floor.
"Yes, my father had passed away a year ago."
"I'm so sorry…"
"Don't be. Things like this happen."
"She must get very lonely sometimes." Chris said quietly. She knew all too well how it feels to be living alone in a big empty house.
"Well, this village is a pretty tight community. Everyone helps each other out in rough times. And I do try to visit a lot more often." Percival smiled. "Mother is tougher than she looks, she takes good care of herself."
"I'm sure she does." Chris agreed. "She seems like a rather enthusiastic person."
Percival laughed. "Only when it comes to fawning and embarrassing me."
"For that alone, she is commendable." Chris teased as Percival lead her towards the bottom of the stairway. He was about to reply when his mother came down the stairs, smiling jovially.
"The rooms are ready!" She announced.
Percival looked at Chris. "Shall we turn in for the day, milady?"
"Yes, I suppose so." Chris answered, wiping a hand across her brow. "It has been quite the exciting day."
"Oh Percy, you have to eat dinner first!" Mrs. Fraulein said, shaking her head at him like he was some foolish child. "It's not good to sleep on an empty stomach."
Percival exchanged a look with Chris, and she then smiled and turned to his mother regretfully. "Oh, I'm fine, I had a lot to eat at the festival. Thank you, Lady Fraulein." Chris patted her stomach slightly for emphasis.
"How about dessert then?" Mrs. Fraulein pressed before Percival could offer to show Chris where her room was.
"Mother, I'm sure Lady Chris is very tired after a day of travel." Percival coaxed gently, so as not to hurt his mother's feelings.
Mrs. Fraulein looked a bit disappointed, but then quickly brightened. "Well then, I'll just plan up something even more special for tomorrow."
"I do apologize for refusing your offer tonight, Lady Fraulein." Chris said, lowering her head slightly. "But I am certainly looking forward to tomorrow."
"Please dear, no need to be so formal!" Mrs. Fraulein beamed as she grasped Chris' hand, patting her fondly. "Well then, you room is the one of the far right, next to Percy. Sleep tight!" She said, and then left disappearing into the kitchen.
After his mother had gone, Percival let out a deep breath and lead Chris up the stairs to show her to her temporary room.
"It's not a lot, but it's decent. I hope it is acceptable, milady." Percival said as Chris peered into her room for the next few days.
It was a small bedroom, with a comfortable looking bed against the wall, and a small table and chair set up in the corner. There was a bedside drawer that had a dimly lit candle burning a faint sweet aroma that drowned the room. A window that viewed the bright moon outside was on the other side of the bed.
"It's great, Percival. Thank you." Chris turned to look at Percival to express her gratitude, only to bump into him since he had been leaning in from behind her. "Sorry!" She laughed as he instinctively grabbed onto her elbow to keep her from falling. For a moment neither of them said anything, and then Chris stepped into the room where there was more space and Percival said.
"Good night then, milady. I'll wake you in the morning."
"Alright. Good night Percival." Then he smiled at her one last time before closing the door behind him.
Chris sighed, took a quick glance around the room and then she moved and sat down on the bed. Suddenly feeling extremely drained and sleepy, she slipped off her boots and took off the outer layer of her travel outfit. She wore a thin white camisole beneath, and it allowed her to snuggle into the blankets comfortably. Blowing out the candle by her bed, she let the darkness and sweet smell of cinnamon take her into deep and peaceful slumber.
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A/N: Whoohoo, chapter 5! Let's all dance for joy. Well, I am so very happy that I have so many nice reviewers! Thank you for all the comments!
Virtue: Thank you so much for the support, it really means a lot to me. I'm glad that I am managing to keep the characters in character, because I personally hate OOC, so if I end up doing OOC than I might as well be a hypocrite. I hope you'll keep reading!
Tala1: Yes yes I know. But hey, I didn't actually mean it when I said I hate Yuber, he's actually quite an amusing character.
Salacassera: Thank you for pointing that out! I'm going to fix that now… There it's done! And don't worry, I'm really not picky as long as you tell me what you think. I hope you'll continue reading.
Widower: Thanks for the support, I'm very encourage to finish this now! Only a few more chapters to go! Hopefully this story will be one I actually finish (unlike my other fics that go down the drain).
Graham Cray: Thanks for the awesome reviews. And yes, Chris will always shine and she is definitely my favourite character. I personally don't mind Borus. But why is he not Russian?
Atavaka: Why thank you, I'm glad that I am successfully making a good romance fic. I don't like some of the other fics that are just too dramatic and really messing up some characters. I personally don't think Chris will simply fall head over heels in love with one of her knights within a snap of a finger, so I'm trying to make a more, I dunno, believable developing love story. But yeah, I hope you'll continue reading!
ayanami: Thanks for reading!
postpostmodern0: Yay, a honest critic! I will try to fix up the issues you brought up. And thank you so much for all the helpful advice.I hope you'll continue reading.
For those that read this story, please review! They make me happy and I get inspired to write more. You do want me to write more, right