It was a surreal feeling for the Aerugonian queen as she rode back to the camp with Roy at her side. She was met by an immeasurable amount of smiling, relieved faces. Everyone seemed to be celebrating the temporary victory, eager to continue on with their success.

Riza already noticed members of the army setting up their temporary camp surrounding the tents of what used to be their northwest base. They would be able to settle in the area for a few days and regroup, then they could continue on their march against the Republic. It was truly the most advantageous place to be in a war.

Riza slowed her horse to a stop at the outskirts of the main camp, noticing an even larger flurry of activity. That didn't stop her from being able to find the particular person she was searching for.

"Winry!" she shouted in joy as her eyes met those of her younger sister. Winry flashed her a beaming smile and ran to greet her as the queen dismounted her horse, Roy not far behind her.

The two sisters collided into a desperate hug, each clinging to one another as if their lives depended on it. It reminded Riza of the embrace they had shared after similar circumstances, when Riza led her army to Amestris to save them all from Prince Sergio and the Cretians. The irony was not lost on the queen at the reversal in roles.

"W-winry…I'm so sorry," Riza attempted to say into her sister's shoulder, but she felt Winry shake her head as soon as the words were out.

Her sister pulled back to flash her blue eyes on the queen. "Don't even start with that, Riza. You know I don't blame you for anything."

"Still, I put you in an incredibly difficult position. And I didn't have time to tell you what I was doing. I hope my decisions didn't put you in danger."

At her words, Winry's eyes flashed nervously behind Riza's shoulder. She turned in confusion and found Roy making a rather obvious effort to pretend to ignore their conversation.

"Well, there was a brief period of time that Ed, Al, and I were thrown in the dungeons but it was quickly resolved."

Riza's eyes widened and she turned to glare daggers at her oblivious king. He still avoided her gaze, his feet tapping nervously on the ground. "Well…we'll certainly have to discuss that later on," she spoke in a low tone. Winry's laughter brought her back to face her sister.

"Don't be too hard on him, there was a lot of uncertainty there for a while. But it's all in the past. The important thing is you're here and we're finally together again."

Riza reached for her sister's hand and squeezed it meaningfully. "You're right about that. I do hope you're not planning on being too involved in the actual fighting, though."

Winry rolled her eyes in the distinctly familiar way Riza had come to both love and hate and the sight almost made her forget the point she was trying to make. "How did I know you would say that? I'm just as highly trained as you are, dear sister."

"Yes, but you have the spirit of a peacemaker. That does make a difference, you know."

Winry huffed and replied, "You're starting to sound like Ed. If it makes you feel any better, I promised him that I would be mostly involved in the strategizing. I'll do my best to stay out of the fights…but I make no promises."

Riza sighed, "I suppose that's better than nothing."

Before any more words could be spoken between the sisters, Riza felt a pair of arms enveloping her from behind and lifting her into the air. She let out a rather undignified screech and disentangled herself from her attacker. When she turned and saw Sir Havoc howling in laughter, she could only huff and shake her head.

"By, gods, Havoc you almost killed me with fright."

The sandy-haired man merely laughed again in response and flashed her a beaming smile. "Sorry, Your Majesty. I figure this is retribution for you deflecting that shot of mine."

Riza's mind quickly flashed back to her retreat from Lord Grumman's manor. It was an incredibly niche skill she had learned during her training, but in that moment it had paid off to be able to be so precise with her shot that she could deflect another arrow.

She could only imagine how that must've made Amestris' best archer feel.

"I am sorry about that," she spoke in an attempt to apologize, but Havoc quickly blew her off.

"Just teach me your ways and we'll call it even."

Riza smiled at that. "Deal."

There were more happy reunions after that, as the queen was starting to lose count of all the people she had spoken to. By the time everyone was settled at the camp and the excitement died down, the sun was slowly setting over the hills.

The main leaders gathered in the main tent, ready to talk business.

"My scouts have traced the Republic all the way back to the Caneja province," Sir Breda spoke in a serious tone to the group as they ate their rations around the large table. "They'll likely stake out there and gather more troops before we come to attack."

"Where is that?" Sir Havoc asked as he surveyed the large map laid out before them.

"Right here," Andres answered as he pointed to the spot on the parchment. "It's a good stopping point for them to regroup. It follows the course of the river into prosperous lands easy to live off of. Still, it's not very far from here."

"Good, because I don't anticipate them being there for long," came King Roy's gruff reply. Everyone else was in agreement, it seemed. With the newly reinforced manpower and the unique battle weapons from Xing, they would be able to push the Republic all the way back to the capital of Creta, approximately a three day journey on horseback from where they were now.

"I say we form a more concrete strategy for our army movements, utilizing the unique talents of the Xingese and the manpower of the Amestrians, while the rest of us provide field support and leadership of the divisions. We can form our groups, train for a few days, and then be ready to descend on the Cretian capital," Riza said.

"Excellent idea, Your Majesty," Sir Cormac replied before making a few notes on some nearby parchment. As everyone nodded their heads in agreement with the plan, Riza couldn't help but notice a proud smile coming from where Roy sat across from her. She tried to ignore it, but she couldn't contain the satisfaction at his approval.

"We will need to come up with a plan on how to get through the capital's defenses. Even when I was king, the city was under a formidable guard with expert security technology, and I'm sure it's even better now," Andres commented, his brow furrowing at the predicament.

"Oh, that should be easy to handle. We just need the exact specifics of guard numbers, amount of gates, and things of that sort. I have a few tricks up my sleeves," Emperor Ling said with a sly smile.

Andres pondered this for a moment before he spoke again, "Hm, I may have someone here who can help us with that. He's a retired architect, and I know he participated in a lot of the newer building projects in the capital. He might know how we can get through and get in."

"Excellent, then we'll have him come meet with us tomorrow when we gather in the morning. For now, I think it's best we all get some rest. Strategy is only good if one has the right mind for it," Riza spoke with an air of finality.

"Can't argue with that," Ling replied, dramatically stretching and yawning. "I'm beat from the journey here. I'll see you all in the morning."

And with that, the leaders dispersed from the main tent, eager to get some rest before the coming battles.

As Riza stepped out of the tent and turned toward her familiar personal tent, which she would now share with Winry, she felt a strong hand on her shoulder, stopping her. She turned and saw King Andres eyeing her with an unreadable look.

"If I may have a moment, Reina?"

She nodded her head and they walked only a short distance away, so as not to be heard by the others.

They turned to face each other and the queen was shocked to notice that Andres seemed positively speechless. He avoided her knowing gaze and sighed, trying to find whatever words he wanted to say.

"Reina…I wanted to see how you were doing. All of this was rather…sudden. And I know it can be overwhelming to believe you're going to die and then be saved at the last moment. I've been trying to grasp it myself."

There was something about Andres's tone that rubbed Riza the wrong way. She narrowed her eyes and answered, "You don't need to worry about how I cope with things, Andres. My life being saved isn't what's important. What's important is that my people get to live on and fight and we can enact positive change in our kingdoms."

The older man ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean it like that. I know you're able to keep your emotions in check. But even you must admit that this is…a lot."

Riza shook her head. "I've been through worse. And like I told you, how I feel is not what anyone should be worried about right now. Not with what's ahead of us."

"You're right, but I still don't like how you think of yourself. This morning you wanted to sacrifice yourself because you believed you deserved it. That's no way for a queen to think."

"And you're lecturing me on this now? Of all times? Since when have you not believed in my abilities as ruler?"

There was a tense moment of silence as her words hung between the two of them. She couldn't figure out where this was coming from. Andres had been nothing but supportive up until now, so what had changed?

She watched curiously as Andres noticed something, or someone, behind them and heaved another sigh. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be talking to you like this. I suppose I'm the one who's having a difficult time dealing with their emotions. This is just my way of making sure-," he trailed off, unable to finish his statement.

She tilted her head. "Make sure of what?"

At this, Andres's eyes again went to whatever he had seen behind her and this time she turned to get a look herself.

She saw Roy, standing just outside the entrance of the main tent, watching them. Well, he was attempting to act nonchalant, as if their secret conversation didn't bother him, but she knew that look in his eyes very well.

She turned back to Andres and flashed him a knowing look. "Ah, I see."

"I know you already gave me your answer. But I want you to know I will always love you."

His words tugged on her heart. She honestly wished she could love Andres. Her life might've been easier if his son hadn't hurt Winry and they hadn't gone their separate ways. But the past was in the past, and she couldn't deny what it was she felt now.

"I am certain of what I feel, Andres. But that doesn't change the impact you've had on my life. My hope is that, once this is all over and you're sitting back upon the Cretian throne, we can always be a light in each other's eyes." It was a disappointing thing to say to someone with an unrequited love, but she meant it with total sincerity.

Andres flashed a small, but sad smile. He nodded his head in acceptance. "Yes, I hope for that as well.

Before Riza could talk herself out of it (knowing it would bring upon a whole other conversation), she leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on Andres's cheek. He seemed grateful for the gesture, knowing what it truly meant.

They bid each other goodnight before the former Cretian king turned and walked in the direction of his own tent. Riza stood silently for a few moments before she smiled to herself and turned.

Roy hadn't moved, but now he looked ahead, his jaw tightly clenched. She could only imagine the kinds of thoughts that were running through his mind.

With determined steps she walked toward him. In a move that no doubt surprised the Amestrian king, she continued past him, speaking as she went, "There's a good lookout spot over here. You can easily see if anyone is approaching."

She did not turn back as she walked up the large hill nearby. Her words had been spoken like an invitation, but her tone indicated that it wasn't a suggestion. She smiled when she heard his footsteps following after her.

They each trudged up the hill and stopped when they arrived at the peak. Roy stood next to her, quietly looking out at the vast stretch of rolling green land. They each said nothing for a long while, basking in the peace of the quiet.

It was Riza who spoke first. "You don't have to worry, you know." Her voice was small, but she knew he heard her.

"What do you mean?"

Here, the queen turned and looked at the man she had fallen in love with, her entire being far more calm than he appeared. "Andres. You have nothing to worry about. I never…I never did anything with him."

She knew she didn't have to explain herself, but part of her knew they would get nowhere if she didn't address this. Roy said nothing as he pondered her words. She met his gaze without hesitation, trying to get some idea of what he was thinking, but he was being strangely closed off.

She looked away and continued, "I won't lie and say I didn't think about it. There's been a deep ache within me ever since I left Amestris and I figured Andres would be able to help soothe it, at least temporarily."

Roy remained silent.

"He does still love me but I…I can't really explain it, but I could never talk myself into it. It almost felt wrong to want to be with him. I've forgiven him, but I could never love him again. Not like he loves me. Not like…" Here Riza trailed off, pointedly avoiding meeting Roy's gaze, though she could feel his fiery eyes on her.

"...not like I love you," she finished. Finally, she gathered the strength to meet Roy's eyes, and found the same emotionless expression as before. She hoped he would say something at that, but he continued to remain silent. It was starting to frustrate the queen.

Finally, he heaved a sigh and shook his head. "I don't think I could have ever imagined that's what you would say," were his cryptic words.

"It's the truth. There's no point in denying it to myself any longer."

She watched in wonder as Roy gave her a small smile. She nearly melted at the sight.

"Then I suppose that makes two of us."

In confusion, Riza watched as Roy reached behind his neck and fiddled with something before he presented her with a very familiar necklace.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the crest resting in Roy's hand.

"I spent every single day since you left wondering if you could ever possibly love me again. When I heard King Andres was with you, I admit I assumed the worst. I began to lose hope. I have done wrong by you in so many ways, and I don't deserve any of what you choose to give me. But I want you to know…without a shadow of a doubt…that I will always love you."

The warmth that spread throughout Riza was indescribable.

"We have so much to talk about, and now isn't the time for any of that, so I don't want you to see this as a proposal…but merely a promise." Riza eyed the crest necklace as Roy spoke, understanding his meaning in full. "A promise of what I will always feel about you. My only request is for you to never, ever make me wear this again."

His voice trembled, but his impassioned words resonated so clearly with the queen. She smiled as she thought of the implications of taking the trinket from him again. For promising to never return it. Before the idea might have scared her, but now she only felt peace.

Rather than answering with her words, she turned around and pulled the hair away from the back of her neck. She smiled as she heard Roy let out a shaky breath before he walked closer and delicately attached the necklace. The crest lay softly against her upper chest as if it belonged there.

And truly it did.

Riza took in a sharp breath as Roy's fingertips lingered on her neck. He slowly withdrew but not without letting his hot breath ghost across her exposed skin. Riza had to use immense strength to not close her eyes and give in to all the sensations rushing through her.

She settled for turning back around to face the king. The look of longing in his eyes was intense, and she was sure it was mirrored in her own. But now was not the time. She wanted nothing more in that moment to fall into his arms and crash her lips on his, but she knew it would have to wait.

Instead, she reached up to cup his cheek before bringing their foreheads together. She closed her eyes and breathed in his presence, knowing he was doing the same with her. They said nothing for a long moment, basking in the feeling of being together again, with the promise of an exciting future.

As the longing continued to grow within her, she let out a breath and spoke in a quiet voice, "Gods, Roy, I missed you so much. I just want-,"

"I know," he quickly answered, his hand reaching up to run through her hair. "I want it too, but we have to win this battle first."

Riza nodded her head in answer, but she could not quench any of the desire.

Roy continued in a low, husky tone. "But I can promise you, when this is all over…when we've won, I am taking you back to my castle and showing how much you mean to me in every way I possibly can…if you'll allow me," he added on with a smirk.

She smiled and locked eyes with him at that. "Oh I will certainly allow it. And I will do the same."

They stood a few more moments, both of them unable to rip themselves apart, but eventually they did reluctantly separate. "We should get back," Roy spoke, his tone not matching his words.

"Right."

They walked down the hill, keeping a safe distance apart lest they fall into whatever it was they were both imagining. They stopped near Riza's tent and Roy quickly reached for one of her hands, squeezing it wordlessly. She smiled and returned the gesture before they went their separate ways without so much as a goodnight.

When Riza entered her tent, she nearly collapsed on her cot from all the sensations she was experiencing.

Unfortunately for her, she was not alone.

"Riza, gods, what just happened!?" Winry excitedly exclaimed as she pulled her own cot closer to her sister's and fixed her pleading gaze on her.

In an undignified move, Riza flopped back on her cot and shook her head. "I don't even know."

"Did you and Roy make up?"

"Yes…and no. In some ways, we did, and in some ways we didn't." The queen stared at the top of the tent, still in a daze.

"What does that mean?" Winry asked in confusion.

Riza shook her head. "I'm not completely sure. There are things unresolved between us that will stay unresolved until we return to Amestris. But we were still able to make promises to each other."

Her sister tilted her head, unsure of Riza's meaning before her eyes lowered and caught sight of the necklace. She gasped and spoke, "The crest! So you're promised to each other again?"

Riza smiled. "Not really. Though Roy told me I'm never supposed to give it back to him."

"And he's right. You should've seen how heartbroken he looked wearing it."

Riza frowned at that and her fingers clasped at the necklace. "I don't think I ever want to see that."

Winry scooted her cot even closer so the sisters could lie right beside each other before she laid back and turned to face Riza. "I'm glad to hear you two are on speaking terms again, but what happens next? I mean, this battle is enough to take up all our time and energy so it's a good thing you're waiting to decide, but our odds of winning are good. What happens when we go back home?"

Riza sighed and turned on her side. She propped her head on her hand, still fiddling with the necklace. "I'm not sure. I mean, it's obvious we both still love each other and there's definitely plenty of attraction, but I didn't even kiss him just now. It feels as though I can't. Not with our future still so uncertain."

"Well at least this time you can be honest with him on what you want."

"True, but I think I was fairly honest with him before, just not about marriage. But he knows what I want in terms of my kingdom. I don't quite know yet how to make those things compatible."

Winry reached out her hand to grasp Riza's, recognizing the conflict in her expression. "I'm sure you'll find a way. I just want you to be happy."

Riza smiled. "I know you do. And Roy does too. But…gods, part of me just wants to say to hell with it all and be selfish. You have no idea how badly I want to go to Roy's tent right now and…oh, I probably shouldn't tell you the rest."

Winry let out a snort at that. "Yeah, you can keep the details to yourself, but I get your meaning. You have other things to worry about right now."

Riza flopped back down and groaned. "I know. And tomorrow morning I will let that be my sole focus until we win…but I like to think I'm allowed one night of imaging."

Winry smiled at her, pulling her blanket over herself. "You are. Goodnight, Riza."

"Goodnight, Winry," the queen answered before she too settled herself into bed.

It took her far longer than her sister to get to sleep that night.