And here's Chapter 7! A whopping 3,616 words, or so Microsoft Word says. Thanks for the reviews, everyone:
Lily (Lena) Evans- I've decided to add you to the "Faithful Reviewers League!" Thanks for all the reviews!
Cathy7- Glad you liked the mathematics question. Just a little something to distract the Bandit.
pikinanou- Is English really your second language? One could say it's my second language too, though it wouldn't be fair, considering I forgot most of my first ! By the way, say 'hi' to your chibi Borus for me.
Widower- Yes, that was a stupid mistake on my part. I knew of suikosource, but I didn't think to check there before I wrote the chapter. Suikosource, however, only shows sixteen true runes, leaving eleven unknown. And none of the sixteen they show have to do with time, so I'll keep my True Time Rune in for now. If in Suikoden IV they reveal more runes, I will change it (if needed). Thank you for the information! It was a big help. And I'm glad you liked my idea of the Grand Rune. I kind of made it up as I went along…
By the way, Cabernet, pronounced Cab-reh-nay, is a type of wine, for those of you who don't know.
…………
Chapter 7: Black on the Horizon
Borus sat at Chris's bedside, thoughts shooting through his head. She had hugged Louis. Did that mean that she was changing? Was he getting through to her? The Chris of two years ago would never have hugged anyone… right? He sighed in aggravation. He was just confusing himself.
With a huff, he turned his attention from his thoughts to the sleeping woman on the bed. She was so confusing! Her face was calm, her chest rising and falling in a rhythmic beat that pulsed through Borus's ears. The sound soothed him and he began to relax, pushing all thoughts from his mind. At least she was alive, and he was thankful for that.
……
Chris's eyes fluttered open. With a stifled yawn, she sat up and stretched her arms as far as they would go. She looked sleepily around the tent, and saw the vacant chair where Borus had been sitting. She actually felt good that day; she was able to sleep without ever waking or having a dream. A slight breeze wandered in through the tent's entrance, blowing her free hair out of her face. Memories woke up within her, and she lifted her brown shirt to reveal a small scar at the side of her waist. She touched it timidly, but felt no pain.
An unexpected smile broke out on her face, and she swung her legs over the side of the bed. The menders had thankfully left her brown suit on, and she quickly brushed and braided her hair, then set to work redressing herself in her armor, clasping the last gauntlet on only ten minutes later. With this completed, all that was left was her sword, which she found leaning idly against the overstuffed bed. She hooked it onto her belt before stretching one last time and throwing aside the entrance flap… walking right into Borus!
She jumped back, surprised, as did he. Then he plastered an uneasy frown on his face. "Pardon me, milady! I was just about to check on you… with the menders' permission, of course! I meant no disrespect, and––"
"Borus, please. I'm quite flattered that you would think to check on me. But I feel fine. Great, in fact. I have spent far too much time in bed lately anyway." The truth was that she had never felt better in all her years working as a knight. But she was not about to tell him that. She smiled.
"Glad to hear it, milady. That was some wound you received from that bandit. His blade was covered in poison, you know."
"Really? I feel nothing." Borus tilted his head at this.
"Actually, milady, I am very surprised that you are out of bed. You were groaning, so to speak, in pain a few hours ago. Are you sure you are alright?"
"Yes, Borus, very. Thank you for your concern." She gave him a big smile. "It means a lot to me. As does everything else you have done for me, of course." Borus blushed at this and looked away to hide it.
Chris chuckled at his child-like behavior. He had been very attentive to her lately, and this brought up curiosity from the depths of her mind. Why was he being so close to her? And why, why in the name of Saint Loa was she enjoying it? She brushed this thought away, not accepting her own immediate answer.
Borus returned his gaze to her and smiled. "There is someone who has been begging to see you." His eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched Chris try to figure out whom he spoke of. She arched an eyebrow. "He wanted to thank you, for more than his life." Chris's eyes lit with realization.
"Louis! How is he?" she asked, interested with the memory of his black eye. "Is he well?"
"Well? A terrible understatement, milady. He has become as popular as you or I among the knights. They hail him as 'Lord Louis.' "
"Surly you jest?"
Borus shrugged "He has not gone an hour today without a knight stopping in to check up on him. I would have to say, however, that you would be at the top of the 'knights' gossip' list." He laughed, smile greeting his features. "You are even more of a hero than before, if possible." Chris frowned at this.
"I dislike the title of 'Hero'…"
Borus looked at her sadly. "Cheer up, milady! Being a heroine is in your blood. But I would not call you a hero… rather, a great knight who does her duty better than any other." Chris did not enjoy being called this either, but decided that it was better than being called a hero. She dismissed the subject with a shake of her head.
"I suppose I will see Louis now, since there seem to be no problems that I must deal with immediately." Borus nodded enthusiastically.
"He should be in the Infirmary."
"Thank you. I will also check up on that mage who put too much energy into trying to heal me earlier. He must be honored for such courage… perhaps a medal or certificate."
"Aye, milady. Is there anything you would like me to see to?"
"Yes," Chris said, turning towards the Infirmary. She glanced back at him. "I want you to have your arm looked into. I should guess you have not changed those bandages since our encounter with the bandits." Borus looked at her, startled, confirming her suspicions. "That, my friend, would be an order." She smiled playfully at him.
He let out a long sigh, but replied, "You could have just asked if you wanted me to escort you to the Infirmary so badly." He grinned, and she shook her head.
"Did you leave your bandages dirty just to ensure that I would? Because I would have asked you to anyway." She winked at him, her hand brushing against his as she walked past.
Borus could not believe his eyes, let alone his ears. "Was she really just…" he muttered, amazed. "Did she just…" He watched her walk away. An accident, he decided, just an accident…
"That was an order, Borus!" she shouted from many yards away. Heads turned in his direction as he sprinted through the camp to catch up with her.
……
Chris could not believe what she had just done. She could have smacked herself. That strange curiosity had risen up again, this time with reinforcements of feelings that Chris had purposely denied herself from having. What was wrong with her? Where were these feeling coming from? She was the Captain of the Zexen Knights, for Goddess's sake! If she was caught acting such ways toward one of her knights… she shuddered at the thought. The Council would have her removed from her position before she could even object!
She did catch a fleeting ironic thought, however, that told herself, whatever it was that you did, you are pretty good at it.
Borus finally caught up with her just as she reached the Infirmary tent's door. She quietly pushed aside the flap and entered without another word to him, afraid that she might say or do something worse than what was already said and done. With a quick glance around the Infirmary, she located an ecstatic Louis surrounded by five knights, all asking him about events from the day before. There was a pause in conversation after Louis was asked about his eye.
"Did Lady Chris really hug you?" started one.
"I wish Lady Chris would hug me," said another. The first gave him a friendly shove.
"Hah, she'd have your tongue if she heard you say that!"
"The truth is," started a third, "I believe we'd all like a hug from the great Lady Chris…"
"True, friend, true," the fourth chuckled. "I suppose we should be glad our wives aren't here." The other four laughed heartily.
"Say, Louis," said the fifth. "What was it like, being hugged by Milady Chris?"
"P-pardon?" asked Louis, surprised by the question.
"Yes," agreed the first. "What did it feel like?"
"Um… It was just a hug. Nothing more…"
"Come now," said the second. "Did it feel like hugging air? Or perhaps the softest pillow ever made…" Louis began to blush.
"I do suppose it would be like hugging the Goddess herself," grinned Borus, surprising the group of six with his sudden appearance. He placed his hands on two of the soldiers' shoulders, smiling, leaning into their little huddle. The men shuffled uneasily, but saw that he was playing their game, and some laughed at his statement, others agreeing.
"Borus! I shall not have myself compared with the Goddess! You know better!" said Chris, appearing behind him. Now the five knights spun around and stared in horror.
"O-oh, milady!" stuttered the third knight. "We were just, ah, talking to Lord Louis over here, and, uh…"
Chris smiled in surprise, shaking her head. "Lord Louis, is it? Well, I see you've become quite famous in my night of absence." Louis became red and nodded.
The five knights stood uncomfortably, not knowing what to do. Chris decided for them. "Louis, I wouldd like to speak with you alone. Outside, if you please. Borus?"
"Yes, milady?"
Chris stepped a bit closer to him, and said quietly into his ear, "I am absolutely positive you have brought some fine wine, correct?" Borus nodded, already knowing what she was going to say. "If you don't mind, could you kindly invite these men to a glass each?" Borus nodded again, this time almost gravely. "Do not worry," she whispered, getting a little closer to his ear so that he could hear. "I will make it up to you, I promise."
……
Louis followed Chris through the camp and out a ways into the Grassland where no one could hear them.
"Now," Chris started, sitting down on a nearby rock. Louis did likewise. "Louis, did you happen learn anything on your stay with these Black Bandits?"
"No, milady. I was out cold the entire time. I just stepped out of camp for a moment to go fetch some fresh water from a nearby stream for myself. I was quite thirsty, milady. I bent down to scoop up water into a mug… and that was the last thing I remember." He absently rubbed his tender black eye. It was swollen, but the swelling was slowly dying down. A good sign, Chris decided.
"I woke up again to find myself in that man's arms. I pretended to be unconscious, incase there was a chance to escape. Then, suddenly, the man let go, and I ran towards you, milady. That is everything I know." Chris nodded, storing the information away for later use.
"How is your eye, Louis?" Louis smiled.
"The mender says that it will be gone by the end of the month." Chris grinned.
"Good."
"…Why did you bring me out here, milady?" Chris's smile faded.
"The walls have ears, Louis."
"Oh?"
"I brought you here so that you could talk without others listening, and also… no, never mind."
"What is it, milady?" Chris sighed, looking up briefly at the sunny sky.
"Louis… I know this will sound strange… but I…" Louis cocked his head. "Louis, what… what was it like to… to hug me?" Louis's eyes widened in complete surprise. What type of question was that? Why would she ask such a thing? He knew it was almost to be expected of the other knights, but the same question so seriously from her? Silence plagued the two.
His own answer surprised him. "It was… it was like being welcomed home by your entire family… by your entire village. It was the warmth that you feel when your at a dinner table filled with people who are all good friends… and they all are there for you, talking happily. It felt like being bundled up in a blanket on the eve of a new year with nice mug of hot cocoa in front of the burning fire. That, milady, was what it felt like to me."
Chris was still looking up at the sky. His words touched her unlike anything ever before. She smiled. "Thank you, Louis. Your words are worth more than you know." A breeze swept across the plains, rustling her braids. The breeze brought warmth to Louis that the sun did not provide. But even as it blew across Chris, her veins went ice cold…
……
Roland found himself straying from the camp. It was far too noisy, and he needed a quiet place to think. As he wandered the plains atop his steed, he felt a warm breeze brush across him. It was a nice feeling. It reminded him of his home.
He longed to be back among his brethren. But even when given leave, he always decided to stay at the foreboding Brass Castle. Why? He did not really know the answer to that himself. Maybe it was because his Captain did the same, after the war. She took one long vacation, then never left her post, even now. One could again ask, 'why?' Roland did not know the answer to this either. But he guessed that, unlike him, she had no one to return to. Everyone was here, on the battlefield. Her mother was gone. Her father as well. She was the sole Lightfellow, now.
Another breeze stirred up, this time carrying voices with it. He aimed his horse toward their direction, but remained out of sight. He recognized the first as Chris's familiar confident but quiet tone.
"Thank you very much, Louis. I will do what I can with the information you have given me, but I cannot guarantee much." The second was obviously Louis's.
"Of course, milady. It wasn't very useful, was it?" There was a pause.
Then, "Every detail counts, Louis. Even the most general description can solve a mystery. Speaking of mysteries, have you any idea as to Roland's whereabouts? I have yet to thank him for getting me out of that dangerous situation with the bandit."
"Come to think of it, milady, I believe he left camp a while ago."
"Is that so? I suppose I will wait for his return to talk with him."
"Why not search for him? He could not have wandered far."
"I am sure he has not. But I would rather not disturb him. I believe he leaves camp to think; something that one must often do, especially if he or she is away from home." There was another pause.
"Do you think often, milady?"
"Hmm? Me? Well, yes, I suppose so…"
"About what? –– If you don't mind my asking, that is."
Chris sighed. "I have been thinking… of the old days, days long past when I was much younger. My father would host parties at our home, and the guests would fill our large dining table. And I would sit with them and listen to their happy conversations about politics and news from across the sea. People would comment me of my schoolwork or ask how my sword practices were going. Then, once dinner was finished, a band started playing merry tunes, and everyone would gather in the largest room of the house and dance to their hearts content. And then, even as I was put to bed, I could still hear the clapping and laughter from downstairs…" she sighed almost dreamily. "Sometimes, even as I began to fall asleep, my father would come upstairs, and tell me one of the adventurous stories he had heard from the guests. I would never sleep until the story was finished, and when it was, I would often dream up the story myself… oh, but I must be boring you!"
"No, not at all, milady! I've never heard so much about your past. You seem troubled by it."
"Troubled? Oh, no. It is… just a bit saddening. It doesn't 'trouble' me, per se."
"Very well, milady."
Roland's horse stomped, as if trying to gain his attention. He looked around, but decided that the horse was just getting bored. He turned his steed back toward the open plain, deciding to put in an afternoon gallop before heading back to camp. But even as he galloped, his thoughts still wandered.
His past did not sadden him, so why did he avoid it? More unanswerable questions. But he knew one thing. Even though he never went to his true home, his other home was always here, with his Captain, the person who had impressed him with her bravery, kindness, and intelligence. She had proven herself worthy to being his Captain long ago, and he would remain loyal to her as long as she remained loyal to herself.
"MILADY!"
……
Later that night, after a silent and lonely dinner, Chris sat in a chair within her tent. She rested he head in her hands, hiding her face, as it was her only attempt to comfort herself. Many problems paved through her mind. The first and by far most important were the bothersome bandits. They would not give in easily, Chris knew. But even if this problem was the most important, it was not what concerned Chris.
She had requested a quiet dinner because she knew that if she did not, Borus would certainly join her, and… after what had happened, though such a little action, a feeling of unrest sat in the pit of her stomach. A wave of pain coursed through her body, causing her to release a slight grunt. That led to her third problem. She needed control of her rune, but how would she obtain control without hurting herself?
"This damn rune…" she muttered to herself. It was not like her to swear unless she felt deep rage, but she could have cared less about swearing at that moment. She raised her head and dropped her gaze to her right hand. She had long since hung her armor on its rack, and the unfamiliar small mark in the back of her hand seemed to stand out more than ever. She clenched and unclenched her fist. Her very human, very feminine hand was almost foreign to her. It had been a long time since she had been without her armor other than when she slept. She huffed.
"I wonder if I am still up to this job…" she asked herself, replacing her face within her hands. The whole Captain of the Knights routine was starting to get harder and harder to bear. The only things that made it sufferable were the companionship of her fellow knights, and the feeling of worth one acquired when a battle was won. But what would happen when all she knew passed on to the relief that was death? She would be left alone with her eternal life. What would it feel like to be truly alone, she asked herself. Chris sighed as she covered her eyes from the light. She was becoming far too soft. "I must be strong," she reminded herself. "I must be…"
'Strong?' something inside her asked. 'How can you be strong when you've not the strength to stand up to your fears?' A stronger breeze came through the entrance, and the candlelight on a small stool flickered. It soon gave in to the wind, fading from existence with a cloud of smoke. Chris spared no attention to the fact that she sat in the dark, though it did seem to better suit her mood. From the hiding spot in her hands, she did not notice the figure enter the tent. He shifted uneasily before clearing his throat to gain her attention.
Chris peeked through slits between her fingers before lowering her hands away to better see the guest. Just the person she wanted to see…
"How can I assist you, Borus? Is there something that troubles you?" Borus lowered his gaze the ground, her tone obviously stating that his presence was less than desirable.
"Milady…" He started searching for the right words. Chris tiredly cocked her head. Then she noticed the new bandages that wrapped arm, and a tiny smile graced her features.
"I see my first order has been carried out." Borus nodded, seeming to gain confidence.
"Yes, and I treated those five men to some finely aged Cabernet, as you requested, milady… but…" he trailed off, still not knowing what to say.
"Is something the matter, Borus? You do not seem yourself." Borus raised his eyes to meet hers, and Chris arched an eyebrow, her heart fluttering nervously. Borus stepped a little closer, but seemed to hesitate with something. Chris suddenly noticed the lack of light, and stood to reach for a match that lay next to the candle. In a quick and graceful movement, she struck the match on the side of the stool and relit the candle. Shaking the flame on the match out, she turned back to Borus, setting the used match down on the stool after it had cooled. Still Borus remained silent.
Chris stepped forward towards him, now worried. "––Borus?"
"With all this talk of hugging…" His quiet voice surprised her. "With all this talk of you hugging others, I thought… I thought it might be nice…" Chris's eyes widened as he took another step forward, now only a foot away. What was he doing? "I thought it might be nice to be… hugged yourself." Without waiting for a response from Chris, Borus gathered her in his arms in a tight embrace.
She stood ramrod-still, her breath caught in her throat. The feeling sent a chill down her spine, and without warning, memories of her father's and mother's hugs, much like this one, appeared in her mind. She succumbed, melting in his grasp, unable to stand on her numbing legs. Borus held fast, squeezing tighter, if anything.
"Milady…" he whispered in her ear. "… Milady…" Everything faded to darkness. "…Milady…" Borus's chant continued.
"…Milady. Milady…! MILADY!" Chris sat bolt upright. Her heart pounded, and she looked about wildly to find a bright sun and steady breeze. Louis looked at her from where he knelt by her side, a look beyond worried pasted on his face.
"Louis? …What happened?" She found herself in the exact location of her talk with Louis. But did this not already happen? She had already eaten dinner, right?
"Thank the Goddess! You were murmuring something, and then you fainted on the spot. Are you well?"
"Actually, I am… cold…" Just then the pounding of hooves was heard, and Roland appeared on his bay steed, dismounting immediately.
"Milady! Are you alright? I heard Louis shout." Chris shivered in the breeze. Louis noticed this.
"You said you were… cold, milady?" She nodded slightly. Roland seemed to be on edge.
"Something wrong, Roland?" He nodded quickly.
"Bandits; an army of over two hundred, milady. Approaching from the west. I managed to catch sight of them coming just as I heard Louis." Chris was on her feet in an instant.
"Warn Salome! Get the men ready for battle, Roland, quickly. We have no time to lose." Roland nodded and left. "Louis, please ready my horse."
"Of course," came his quick reply. Chris dashed back towards the camp. Cursing herself for not being better prepared, she ran to help ready the knights.
"Damn this cold…" she muttered, rubbing her arms to help bring them warmth. And she had not even thanked Roland yet. She shook her head and began shouting orders out to the knights. But even moving did nothing to quell the coldness seeping through her body.
………