Hello everyone! School's finally over for me, and now I'm FREE! Free, I say!

Oscar: Since you're free, you should be able to update quicker, right?

FireEdge: … Maybe… Well, anyway. As you all know, this is supposed to be the last chapter. But, then, I was struck by inspiration and I decided to make an extra chapter. So, in a nutshell, this is the SECOND-last chapter. :D

Oscar: We'll assume that this is a good thing.

FireEdge: Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter. And even if you don't it should make the (eventual) ending seem less… sudden, I guess. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem.

With A Bit Of Magic

Chapter 6

Geoffrey let out a long sigh as he dropped a pile of papers onto his desk. The package of documents was nearly two inches thick; and to make matters worse, he had to read through them all by the end of the day. Being one of the army's generals wasn't easy; especially at a time like this. The rebuilding of a country was no simple task.

Sitting down in the stiff wooden chair, Geoffrey drew the pile towards him and shuffled in his desk drawer. Finding his quill, he opened up an ink jar and set it nearby. Scanning the contents of the paper, his mind started to wander and the words seemed to graze off his brain and not absorbing. Of course, this led him to reading the same paragraph over and over again.

At this slow pace, he soon found himself on the fifth page… after an hour of reading. Looking up from the page, he turned his head to look out the window. Paperwork didn't suit him (though he tried his best for Elincia's sake); it always took him many days to complete a pile, much to the irritation of the clerks and magistrates. Usually he procrastinated by simply staring out the window; just like he was doing now…

He could see the green fields past the castle walls; the tall uncut grass blew slightly in the feeble summer breeze and he could smell the sticky sweet fragrance of the flowers from the garden beneath his window. The paladin really did like this view; it let him imagine that he was riding over those grasslands on his steed. If only he could do that now. In fact, why not now? He had done enough paperwork for the moment; it wasn't like he could concentrate anyway.

Standing up and brushing off some of the remaining sand grains that he had used off his hands, he placed a paperweight on his work and started for the door. As he stepped outside, he saw his sister coming towards him.

"Geoffrey!" she called, quickening her pace. "I was just looking for you! Some of the clerks were wondering if you finished checking over the armour order forms."

"Er… I'm working on it," Geoffrey replied with a practiced straight face. Staring at him for a moment, Lucia's eyes narrowed; she always could tell when he was lying.

"Brother… If you're not finished, why are you not sitting at your desk finishing it?" the blue-haired swordmaster demanded, arms crossed. "It's not like you to slack off on any duty."

"You know I don't like paperwork, especially in the summer time," the other protested.

"NO one does. But, you don't see us complaining! Now, get back into that office!" With a swift shove, she managed to push her older brother into the room from whence he came. "I'll be back in an hour."

Ah… The life of a noble isn't what it's cut out to be… Geoffrey mused, setting to work again.

About an hour later, Geoffrey yawned and pushed himself away from the desk. Surprisingly, he had managed to finish it all and he smiled. Flexing his stiff fingers, he stood up and gathered all the sheets and tied them with a piece of cut string. Taking it up, he walked out of his office.

Strolling down the hallways, he headed towards the scribes' and clerks' office. He figured that if he dropped off his papers there, it'd be faster than waiting for Lucia to return. Entering said room; he handed his pile to one of the assistants and swiftly left the room before they had any ideas about giving him more.

Glancing out a nearby window, he grinned triumphantly; the sun was still high in the sky. He had plenty of time for a quick ride. In fact, he thought that he might go into town, even.


"Geoffrey!" Calill exclaimed as the paladin pulled up outside her shop.

"Hello, Calill," he replied, dismounting his horse and tying it to a post. "I don't have much work to do today, so I figured that I'd pay you a visit."

"Yes, that's very kind of you, indeed. It's nice to have some civilized companionship; Largo does get dull after a while," the sage agreed with a nod.

"I see that you're doing well. In fact, it seems that you've renovated since I last came," Geoffrey remarked, looking around the shop. The sun shining through the large windows shed light upon the store's wares. Various glass display cases held trinkets and many bookshelves lined the pale red walls of the store. A beautiful wooden counter sat near the back wall of the shop.

"We received some new books recently, and I think we might start offering new merchandise. We're not entirely sure yet, however," Calill answered. "Anyway, come to the back, and we'll chat. I have some tea that I think you'll like."

After settling down at a small table in the cozy back room, the two friends talked for nearly an hour. The last time Geoffrey had seen her was nearly half a year ago, when the shop had opened. They chatted about the progress of the rebuilding, which was going quite well since they were only a year in.

"Well, now that the castle is much more settled, what have you been doing with your spare time?" Calill asked curiously. The paladin shrugged.

"Recently, I've been stuck with paperwork. The Queen is merely greeted by lesser nobility and by the local peasants more than any important ambassadors, so she doesn't need me by her side as much these days. In fact, most of her time is taken up by papers also. Lucia mostly helps her out with that," he resumed. "I'd love to take some time off for myself, but I can't do that to Elincia. She still needs me to sort things out with the army…"

"Hmm, well, as you've said; everything is much more settled. Why not take a day off and go riding. Say, in the country? It's quite pleasant; I think it'd do you good." Geoffrey immediately recognized the tone of voice that the sage was using and looked at her sharply. There was that glint in her blue eyes that always indicated some sort of mischief.

"Calill!"

"You did promise to visit her, you know. Since you want to take a break, it's the perfect time to fulfill that vow," chided the blonde woman. "If you don't know where her farm is, I can easily give you directions. I just dropped in a short time ago; a very nice place."

"Ah… Well… I suppose," Geoffrey replied hesitantly. Despite his tone, he was quite excited. He hadn't seen Nephenee since she had left after the war. He really did want to see her, but he had an obligation to uphold. "However, only if I'm not needed at the castle."

"That's what I wanted to hear." She smiled and began to write on a piece of paper instructions on how to find Nephenee's home.


Cantering down the gravel road, the wind blew his aqua locks everywhere, sometimes obscuring his vision. Dust flew about his face and he had to squint slightly to see past the sand and grime. Slowing down his horse, Geoffrey turned down a narrower path as he reached a fork in the road.

As his steed trotted along at a comfortable pace, Geoffrey stood in his stirrups and covered his eyes with one hand. Narrowing his eyes, he could make out the outlines of a small rural village. With a smile, he sat back down and nudged his horse to go faster. He was finally here.

When he entered the village, he soon dismounted. It would probably have been faster to go about on horseback, but he was attracting stares from the inhabitants. Rarely did they get visitors, especially one with such a magnificent white stallion. Though he was dressed in plain trousers and riding tunic, it was easy to tell that they were made of good materials. Along with his nearly perfect posture and the way he carried himself, it was easy to identify him as a noble or as a rich urbanite.

Geoffrey was somewhat lost. The villagers seemed to be in awe of him, frightened of him, or suspicious of him. He wasn't sure which ones he should ask for the exact whereabouts of Nephenee's farm. Calill's instructions could only go so far. On another note, he had to make sure that he was in the right town.

Taking in a deep breath, he began to approach a friendly looking man who was sweeping the dirt off of his doorstep with an old straw broom. He had thinning brown hair and glasses. His eyes were focused on his job, and didn't notice the paladin approaching him until the shadow from his horse fell across the ground in front of him.

Looking up, the man's eyes widened and he stared with confusion for a few seconds. Shaking his head slowly, the man smiled shyly.

"G'afternoon stranger, do you need something?"

"Ah, actually, I was wondering if you know a girl by the name of Nephenee; tall with long green hair? She lives on a farm by here, but I'm not too sure how to get there," Geoffrey asked.

"Oh yes! I know her! She's a good lass, helps her mother take care of the other children. She lives about less than a mile from here. Just go that way and follow the road." The man pointed towards the small village's south entrance.

"Thank you, kind sir." Geoffrey nodded and swung up on his horse once more and headed towards where the man had directed.

Watching the stranger leave, the man began his sweeping once more. From behind him, he heard light footsteps running down the nearby stairs in his house.

"Da!" Lenne called, poking her head out of the doorway. "Where's th—" She cut short as she saw the rear end of a magnificent horse trotting out of the village gates.

"Lenne, shouldn't you be getting ready to head back to Melior? Hmm? What are you gawking at?"

"Da! Was that Sir Geoffrey!" The brown-haired girl said as she recovered from her shock.

"He's a knight? Well, he certainly seemed important. But, no, he never said his name," her father replied lightly.

"Why was he here?"

"He said he was looking for Neph."

"… So, it is Sir Geoffrey," the young girl mused. "I bet Neph'll be real happy to see him! Well, I'm gonna go finish packing. I'm supposed to be back by tomorrow morning." With that, she turned and ascended the stairs to her room. Heehee, wait 'til Tonnie hears 'bout this!


Slowing down, Geoffrey took in a sharp breath as his eyes fell upon the farm in front of him. The fair-sized tilled field was neat and tidy with rows upon rows of crops sprouting. There was an old stone well nearby with a large watering can next to it. A small tool shed sat close by, a hoe was propped up against its side.

A small walk's away stood an average farmhouse attached to a small barn; the red paint on its walls was peeling yet still vibrant. Farther away was a shed full of what he assumed to be fodder. He could hear the sounds of a cow from somewhere.

Trotting down the small pathway that led to the front steps of the red farm house, he caught a glimpse of the back fields. The man could see somewhat cut grass and he spotted the edge of an orchard of trees. Unable to resist, he nudged his horse towards the back.

Coming around the back of the farm, he smiled. The small orchard was beautiful; the trees were neatly trimmed and he could spot some small apples still on its branches. From his position, he could even spot the small pasture behind the barn. A large cow mooed at him from across the field. There was even an old horse in the pasture, looking at the stranger lazily.

Suddenly, the paladin heard a high-pitched squeak coming from behind him. Whipping his head around and subsequently whirling his warhorse around in a ready position, he felt for his short spear. There, standing in the doorway of the barn's back door was a young girl. Her shoulder-length pale green hair was tied with a kerchief at the nape of her neck and her blue eyes were wide with surprise and fear.

Relaxing, Geoffrey moved his hand away from its position on the spear. Dismounting, in an attempt to seem less intimidating, he smiled at the young girl. She seemed just barely into her teens and she fumbled with the rake that she held as she tried to back up.

"I'm sorry if I scared you. I didn't mean to intrude, but does Nephenee live here?" Geoffrey called to the girl. She continued to stare at him with wide eyes, but then she dropped the rake and ran inside the barn.

Blinking, Geoffrey's eyebrows furrowed and he frowned. Did he just scare her off? Or was she actually fetching someone? In a few minutes, the latter came true. The girl returned, except this time an older woman in her forties came with her.

"Well met, sir. What d'you be doing on ma property?" the woman asked politely, but firmly. She had long green hair, streaked with bits of grey, which was pinned up in a loose bun. Strands of her hair fell about her weathered and kind face.

"Ah, yes, I'm sorry for the intrusion, ma'am. However, I'm looking for Nephenee. Does she live here?" he asked. The paladin was almost positive that this was indeed the farm that she resided on. For the woman in front of him, who must be her mother, looked very much like her. Though Nephenee's hair was a shade lighter and her eyes were of a different colour.

"… Who are ya to ask?" she said instead.

"Oh! How rude of me. My name is Geoffrey; I'm one of Queen Elincia's retainers. Nephenee fought with me when she served in the army," he introduced. The woman's eyes widened and she stared at him for what seemed like hours. Perhaps he should've held off on being one of Elincia's retainers…

However, the woman needn't reply, for both their heads turned as a new voice called out from inside the farmhouse.

"Ma! What's going on?" Nephenee herself walked out of the house's backdoor and looked around. Eyes falling on the group of people in her yard, her mouth fell open.

"Ge-Geoffrey?" she choked out, her eyes nearly bulging out of her head. In a few seconds, she was out the door and standing in front of him, a light shade of pink adorning her cheeks. "What are you doing here?"

"Long time no see." He smiled. "I apologize for arriving so abruptly, but I didn't know how I could inform you beforehand."

"It's okay, I guess… er…" Nephenee turned to look at her mother and younger sister. "Ma, this is Geoffrey. He's a friend of mine from when I was with the army."

"So, you weren't lying…" her mother said, looking him up and down. With a shrug she said, "He's good enough. Come along, Caria." Taking the other girl by the hand, she led her back into the house without a glance back.

Flushing to her ears, she stared at the retreating form of her mother. Nephenee sincerely hoped that Geoffrey hadn't heard her mother's last comment. Glancing back, she inwardly sighed as she saw the oblivious look on his face.

"You have a nice family," Geoffrey remarked, breaking the silence.

"That's only half of them," replied the green-haired girl. "Anyway, why did you decide to come to visit? I imagined that you'd kinda forgot about that… er… night. If you know what I mean. It was so long ago and such and you've probably been busy and stuff."

"Ah… Actually, I have been busy. The first few months after you left were really hectic. Then there was Elincia's coronation. After that, we had hundreds of ambassadors pouring in. Despite all that, I never forgot your offer. Everything's calmed down now, though."

"Oh, really? That's good," Nephenee said, looking past him, trying desperately to cover her blush.

She could not believe that he was standing in front of her! The first few weeks of her return were a total uproar. Everyone was happy to see her back; there were celebrations for her safe return and for the victory of the Liberation Army. She was treated like a hero and it felt great. After all the excitement had subsided, Nephenee's life was back to the way it had been before she had left.

All these months, her mind would sometimes wander back to her time with the army. She really did miss everyone there, especially Geoffrey and Calill. In fact, Calill had just paid her a visit less than a month ago. It was a wonderful surprise. Of course, seeing the sage had reminded her of the paladin, and the urge to see him too had risen.

"So, how have you been?" Geoffrey asked. Unlike Nephenee, he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. He could not believe that he had actually come to see her. As more and more time had passed, he had begun to think that coming might not be good idea. Some part of his brain kept telling him that Nephenee had forgotten about him, or that she had found… someone else to occupy herself with. The second thought always sent an uncomfortable prickling sensation through his brain.

"Oh, I've been great! You should have seen how everyone welcomed me back! I think I know how General Ike might've felt!" she replied with a genuine smile, letting her eyes meet with his for a moment. "Um… Yeah, so how long before you have to head back? I know you're busy and all."

"I have all day. I'm not expected to return until tonight."

"Well, that's good," she said. "Oh! I have an idea. I don't think you'd want to just sit around all day. So, why don't I show you something?"

"Sure, that sounds fine." Nephenee ran into her house and returned a few minutes later with a large sack in her hands.

"All right, let's go!" she said enthusiastically, walking swiftly out of the yard and down the side of the fields.

A bit flustered, Geoffrey followed behind her. Walking in silence, Geoffrey took this time to absorb in the beauty of the countryside. It was much different than merely the fields around the capital. The air smelled crisp and fresh, and the floral life seemed much more vivid and alive. He always did like the country.

"Here we are," Nephenee stated as they neared a small bunch of trees. Staring at them for a moment, Geoffrey slowly recognized them. They were the same kind of trees that he had seen Nephenee picking beedle nuts from.

The green-haired girl turned to face him, a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Since you seemed to really like 'em last time, I thought maybe that you'd like to take some back with you." Geoffrey smiled and walked over to the tree so that he stood next to her.

Looking at her for a second from the corner of his eyes, an overwhelming impulse nagged at him. Then, deciding to follow it—and before he could let sense take over—he quickly leaned down and gave her a swift kiss.

"Thank you."


Whoo! So who liked the super corny ending:D No one? That's okay, I don't care. I was all inspired at first, and then by the end of the chapter my brain went all slacky. Probably because I'm itching to get back to playing my new video game…

Oscar: Tsk tsk, bad!

FireEdge: No, good. It's a good game… Ahem, anyway… The beginning scene, I think, might've portrayed Geoffrey kinda OOC, but it was more fun to write about how he hated paperwork rather than how he loved it. So, forgive me for that. This chapter isn't as descriptive (on their thoughts), but on the bright side, it's pretty long. Oh yeah, also, I'm not sure if Melior is actually the name of Crimea's capital, so if it's wrong, someone tell me.

Oscar: So, please review and look forward to the epilogue! Hopefully, it'll be up in a week or so.

--FireEdge--