Disclaimer: Fire Emblem - The Sacred Stones is a belonging to his respective corporation and creator: Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. The following characters belong to the author.
Adrion: A recruit from Renais in training to become just like Seth.
Adam: A journeyman from Frelia in training to become Frelia's first hero.
Nicole: A young maiden from Rausten. The uptight best friend of L'Arachel.
Mace The Manakete: That's me, as a stuck-up Judge sitting in the High Seat of the Prime Judges of Renais at the Renais Assembly.
Special guest appearance(s) of: Sigurd and Oifaye from FE4: Genealogy of the Holy War
The following chapter will include an actual Support conversation between Innes and Eirika (Support Level-A). A belonging to the game.
Ephraim and Eirika – The Sacred Twin Life
—The One with the Wedding (1/2)—
-Castle Renais-
Ephraim was chasing a shining rolling jewelry down the hallway. The jewelry was his red sun Bracelet his father gave to him on his and Eirika's 10th birthdays. The bracelet stopped rolling and lay flat by a closed door. The prince picked it up and gently inserted the jewelry on his arm.
"Phew! I was afraid I was going to lose ya," he seemed to be talking to the bracelet. He quickly heard noises and disputes on the other side of the closed door. Behind the door was the Renais Assembly, where Fado and Renais Prime Judges, those who help the king establish the Law, were to meet.
"Silence! Silence! Everybody silence!" he heard.
-Renais Assembly-
Fado was behind a counter made of fine oak, right besides to the Prime Judge's High Seat. On the High Seat's left side was a jury board where other member of the Prime Judges sat. There were a total of seven judges – including the Chief of the Prime Judge, all dressed in white gown with various color sashes: from ruby to emerald velvet. Six of those judges each wore a circlet of different colors, each representing a sign: red for Justice, green for Unity, blue for Wisdom, violet for Courage, white for Peace, and black for Power. The Chief of the Prime Judges did not have a color sign. The Chief was a Manakete while the Prime Judges were all humans…bishops. The chief had a blemish face and was the size of a baby doll. His pointy red eyes show praise for justice and law, so despite the appearance, he was serious.
The Chief faced Fado eye-to-eye, "Did you know, Your Majesty that our Annual Renais Coronation is coming? And your daughter, who's turning twenty, still has not tied up the knot yet?" he spoke a blend of high-pitched and throaty accent.
"I am aware of the Law, High Judge Mace," Fado said, "but I will not permit my daughter to get married at this point."
Fado had his reasons. Ephraim and Eirika were to turn twenty the same day as the Annual Renais Coronation, and every year during this ceremony, they are to renew their title as Prince and Princess of the country. Fado does not have to renew his title for it is optional to the ruler. Following the ceremony was the birthday party, established at the Renais Courtyard. Everyone in the country was invited every year to these grand occasions. Turning twenty may be the start of adulthood; however, for Fado, it is still a young age for a young successor to find a suitable mate to wed.
"You've got to be kidding me, King Fado!" Mace boomed, "The Law states that at the age of twenty, the princess of the country must find a suitable mate to wed the day prior to her 20th Annual Coronation. The consequence of not following the Law is—"
"I know what the Law says," Fado interrupted, "but I am not going to let my daughter make the same mistake as I did."
"But you were happily married," the Prime Judge of Unity stated.
"Yes I was, but at a very young age." Fado replied, "My late wife and I did not know each other deeply before the day of the wedding or the day of my coronation. But I was lucky and she was lucky that we found ourselves as soul mates. And besides, why do you care for Eirika? Ephraim is her twin. They are both turning twenty."
"Me? Getting married?" Ephraim shuddered at this thought.
"Prince Ephraim is a man." Mace responded, "And so he has the right to wed whenever he wants."
"Then give that right to Eirika!" Fado boomed.
"I'm sorry, King Fado. I cannot allow that."
"Then why is that?"
"Because of the Law!" the Prime Judge of Justice replied. "Every female in the Renais bloodline must be wed before their 20th Birthday and their next coronation. Haven't you heard enough?"
"Oh I've heard enough all right, and I'm still staying with my decision! I will not let my daughter get married on her 20th birthday."
A huge gasped roared from the Senate, "Are you saying you're breaking the Law?" Mace asked reprehensibly.
"Yes." Fado boldly replied.
"Father?" Ephraim whispered to himself. He had never seen—or heard his father speaks negatively of the Law and deciding not to follow it for the sake of his children. He feared that this could jeopardize his sovereignty in Renais.
"You know the penalty of the Law; your reign will be detained." The prime Judge of Power rose.
"Come on now, be a little gentle!" The Prime Judge of Peace countered, "His Majesty is trying to do the right thing."
"Well, the Law has spoken and we must follow the Law, whether you like it or not!" The Prime Judge of Wisdom countered. The dispute became a huge brouhaha.
"Silence!" Mace banged down his gavel, shutting up the judges, "We do not have to detain Fado's throne."
Gasps filled up the room and Fado spread a smile, "so, you do understand me, High Judge Mace? That the Law is wrong, right?"
"Yes," Mace answered spitefully, "However, what I don't understand is that you are putting Renais' princess's reign in jeopardy."
"What are you saying?" Fado raised an eyebrow.
"I'm saying that instead of detaining your throne; why not compel this indenture to Young Eirika? Twist her arm a little, if you know what I mean."
Amazement from this intense moment filled the atmosphere, Fado looked shocked, "Are you forcing my daughter into marriage?"
"No, I'm not forcing her. It's the Law that's forcing her."
"The law!" the judges repeated in awe. The High Judge Manakete continued, "Ten days remains until the 20th Coronation. If Eirika does not find herself a suitable man to wed before that day, her title as Princess of Renais will be revoked."
Fado felt his body inside bursting in flames, flames of fear and anger. He was challenged, to forcefully make his daughter's decision, to put Eirika's title in jeopardy. Ephraim also felt a high extent of anger boiling inside his body. He was about to burst inside the Assembly room but instead chose to run off.
"I mean, come on Fado," Mace gloated, "You don't want your daughter's 20th birthday to be her worst ever."
Fado let out a heavy sigh, releasing all tension in the air, "all right," he said half-heartedly, "I will give her…ten days."
"What?" Eirika screamed. She had just received the news from her brother Ephraim regarding their 20th birthday and the Annual Renais Coronation inside the family room with Tana, Innes, and Lyon.
"That's what I heard." Ephraim said, "And that Mace guy had that attitude of him to put Father in a tight situation. Ten days… why I oughta give him ten pieces of my mind and be done with it!"
Eirika stood still. Tana and Innes approached and comforted her, "Oh honey, Eirika, I'm so sorry." Tana told her with a heavy heart.
"Man, that's sucks." Lyon shook his head in disbelief.
"Yeah," Innes replied, "you guys are turning twenty and Eirika is now a bride-to-be?" Innes then spread a smile, "Say Eirika, can I be your groom? Your best man?"
"Innes!" Tana and Lyon yelled at the prince. Ephraim simply shot him a surprising glare. Innes shrugged, "What? It's only a joke."
"Eirika…please say something." Ephraim asked his twin sister who still was frozen. Eirika shook to reality then faced Ephraim, "Where's Father?"
-Throne Room-
Fado was on his seat, looking stressed, with his hand at his forehead. Seth, Orson, Monica, and Adrion stood up front, facing him.
"Your Majesty, are you sure about this?" Seth asked.
"Ten days to have Princess Eirika find a suitable mate is not really suitable." Monica pointed out.
"I totally agree with Monica." Adrion replied, "It's not right!"
Orson remained silence. Seth and Adrion looked over to him, excepting him to say something but he simply shrugged, "I don't know what to say."
"I understand all of your feeling." Fado said, "But I'm worried about what Eirika might think about this whole situation. I do not want my children to make the same mistake as I did, but I must now step back and let them deal with this alone. They are adults now."
"You are right, King Fado." Monica approved, "And yet, I understand how overprotective you can be, and I respect that in you."
A soldier stepped forward, "King Fado. Princess Eirika would like to see—"
"Thanks for the introduction, but I'm already here." Eirika told the soldier as she entered the throne room and approached Fado. Ephraim, Tana, Innes, and Lyon all followed. Fado rose from his throne seat, descended from the throne podium to approach Eirika. Eirika stopped walking further, "Father…" she began.
"Eirika. I've tried, but…"
"I only have one question to ask of you," she interrupted.
Fado simply nodded. Eirika spoke, "What's taking everyone so long to prepare the wedding arrangement?"
Everyone is the throne room took a sharp breath. Fado startled. Eirika continued, "I mean, find me a man, find me my soul mate. We only have ten days left."
"Eirika?" Ephraim approached his sister, "Are you saying that you're willing to go with this plan?"
"If that's what the Law said, yes." Eirika replied sincerely, "I don't like this wedding arrangement, but you know, maybe I'll be lucky like Father."
"But, Eirika." Fado said, "What happened to me was a mistake!"
"And they did repair that mistake." Seth added, "By abolishing the Law."
"Yeah, but for whom? For men only?" Monica countered, "Women need some rights, you know?"
"Everyone, you don't have to worry about all of this." Eirika said, "If the Law thinks it is time for me to find a suitable mate, I think I should go find one."
"But where are you going to find one?" Ephraim asked.
Eirika thought for a good minute. "Well, there was hunky heartthrob celeb Dirk Lionheart…"
Eirika remembered her meeting with Dirk Lionheart when Dirk himself came to visit Castle Renais. But then the worst came when she heard him talking to King Fado about how comfortable he was to have a single girl a day.
"But he's an imbecile." Ephraim snapped her thought.
"…okay." Eirika quickly agreed then went into thinking again, "There was this blue-haired noble…"
"But he kept fleeing you." Lyon countered.
Eirika, to Lyon's comments, quickly remembered her meeting with the blue-haired noble with the green bandana on. Whenever she approached him, he kept backing away from her. Eirika looked at Lyon and countered, "That was because of my zit problem, thank you very much…"
"Who else there was?" Innes asked.
"Well, there was this…" Eirika hesitated, "this…"
"What about that guy at the Spa place?" Tana asked.
Eirika cringed, "Ooh, no. His massages suck."
"So basically, you want a man who does not flee you, who's a great masseur, and who's not an imbecile?" Innes asked invidiously.
Eirika mused, "Yeah, something like that. Plus, he better be cute and be my soul mate."
"I guess we're going to start going for that plan then." Fado said.
"Right…" Innes responded, forming a strange smile, "Now if you'll excuse me…" he left the throne room. Lyon and Tana both saw that and followed the prince down the hallway.
"Innes, are you all right?" Tana asked.
Innes stared into Tana's eyes as if she was taking medications. He chuckled, "All right? Am I dying or something?"
Tana narrowed her eyes, "No, but your attitude is."
"It looks like you, Innes, seem to be developing a chain of zeal and just can't hide it anymore." Lyon analyzed.
Tana looked back at Innes, her eyes were narrower and a teasing smile appeared on her lips, "Oooh!" she cooed.
Innes now looked at Lyon as if he was taking medications, "Are you saying that I have a crush on Eirika?"
"Oh, don't deny it, Innes!" Tana provoked, "You're in lo-ove!"
"I AM NOT IN LOVE WITH EIRIKA! I HATE HER! SHE'S A TWIN TO EPHRAIM AND I HATE HER!"
Lyon and Tana choked of laughter, "Oh please!" Tana wiped her tears, "Then what was all of those questions you asked Eirika for, huh? To check if she hasn't kissed a boy yet? To see if she hasn't gone out on a first date yet?"
"I gotta tell you Innes, your attitude back there showed all. You're in love." Lyon said.
"Look, I am not in love with Eirika! I'm just… I'm worried about her, that's it!" Innes countered, "She's getting married in ten days, at the age of twenty, and I'm just worried, that's all. No argument here. Okay? Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some bow and arrows to polish!"
With these words, Innes walked away. Silence ensued between Tana and Lyon for a good minute.
"You think he has a problem with that?" Lyon broke the silence.
"Of course." Tana replied sincerely, "He's always saying that he's going to go polish his bow and arrows every time he's facing a problem."
"What are we going to tell Eirika? That we found her a suitable mate?" Lyon asked.
Tana shook her head, "No, we shouldn't butt in. This is Eirika and Innes's problems. Not ours. And if we do butt in, Innes will never forgive us."
"He never forgives anyway."
--- --- ---
-Renais Assembly High Judge Bureau-
A pigeon flew through the opened window of the High Judge's bureau and landed on the Manakete's head. Mace looked up and picked up the pigeon. The pigeon carried a small note, which he took from it, "Finally. You got me their reply heh?"
He opened the manuscript and read, "Sorry, no rain checks?" He angrily crumpled the note and threw it in the air, "Some stupid secret stores. If I ever have time, I'll go there myself and inflict a law that will run them out of business!"
A knock, a very loud one, sounded at the door. The alerted Mace rose from his seat, "Who dares to knock so loudly?" he yelled.
The door swung open. Mace, without due consideration, sat back on his seat seeing that it was Innes who was at the door. The Frelian prince angrily approached the Manakete and slammed his fist on the table, "Listen here, High Judge Mace! You can't force Eirika to get married in less than ten days. It's absurd!"
"Absurd, heh?" Mace rubbed his chin, "Why am I not surprised to see you, Prince Frelia."
Innes leaned toward Mace, "Don't play innocent with me, boy, I forbid you."
Mace leaned toward Innes, "You forbid me?"
"That's right, I forbid you!" Innes exclaimed as he withdrew, "I rather see Eirika be free from the clutches of royalty and your dim-witted, abysmal laws, than marrying some random guy she doesn't even know!"
Mace rose from his seat, or from his table since he was too small to sit on a seat, and walked around Innes. It took him a moment to speak, "Prince Frelia, must I ask you a question? Are you developing a crush on Princess Eirika? Cause its sounds like you are developing a crush on her."
"What? NO!"
Mace floated up to Innes's face and stared coldly at him, "Be honest with me, Prince. Cause if you really are, I could make your dream come true. I could make you and Princess Eirika be together forever."
"Are you saying that…are you offering me Eirika's hands in…MARRIAGE?"
"What did you think I was offering you? Her feet?"
Innes formed a fist and bit his lips. He felt so angry and so frustrated he wanted to lay a punch on the High Judge. But alas, he couldn't. Mace may be small and measly, but he was a High Judge and a powerful being coming from the tribe that could morph into light dragons. Contrarily, because Mace has such an arrogant behavior, the Manakete seems to be more than someone who can become a dark dragon than someone who can become a light one.
"You know what? Fine! I'm not talking about this anymore." Innes began to walk away. As he reached the door, he turned around to face the Manakete once more, "But bear in mind, High Judge, that Eirika is my friend. But because of the Law, she's willing go through all of that, but in truth, she hates it with passion as much as I do. Good bye, High Judge, and have a nice life." Innes slammed the door behind him. Mace sulked and went back to his table.
Eirika, Tana, and Nicole returned inside Castle Renais after an unsuccessful trip to find an eligible bachelor for Eirika in the country.
"I'm sorry Eirika." Nicole said, "We've looked everywhere but, all we ever found was intelligent guys who aren't cute, cute guys who aren't intelligent, and guys who are neither cute nor smart. They're hideously dumb."
"Oh, don't worry, Princess Nicole." Eirika said, "Maybe my luck will turn up some—" She paused as she witnessed the castle hallways full of handsome foreign nobles, "—how." She finished.
"Yeah, Ow indeed." Tana breathed, "Somebody, pinch me again."
The bachelors turned around and gave the three girls their gorgeous smiles. Tana and Eirika waved dreamily. Nicole drooled, "We're in Bachelor Heaven."
"Actually," the voice of Monica sounded, "We're in the Bachelor's Ball."
"Monica, did you do this?" Eirika exclaimed.
"Actually, Princess Eirika, it was King Fado's idea and we've helped. Me, Orson, Seth, and Adrion." Monica replied. Orson entered in the conversation, "Prince Ephraim was not much into this."
"Really? Well… I understand Ephraim." Eirika said, "He's not excited that I am doing this because of the Law."
"Maybe we should persuade High Judge Mace to change the Law." Tana proposed.
"But Princess Tana," Orson objected, "even if the entire country petition to change the law, High Judge Mace would still decline. He wouldn't change the Law even if the Law is his favorite underpants."
"Orson!" Monica glared at her husband. Orson simply shrugged.
"So, what will happen then?" Eirika stared at some of the bachelors as she walked down the hallways, "Some of those guys are really cute."
"And intelligent." Monica finished.
"Now, they are all qualified." Nicole declared and the gang entered the ballroom which was overwhelmed with princes and nobles.
A noble, with red hair and a garment matching the color of his hair bowed before Eirika. Eirika bowed as well and they both began to dance gracefully. Eirika felt uncomfortable dancing with that noble. After a moment, she left the noble to dance with another. She didn't find him suitable either. One after another, she danced, and kept dancing. But to no avail, she didn't find any of them, suitable. Either their breaths were too rotten, or their emotions were not right. Either they looked noble but uneducated, or they spoke another language. Either they were stuck-up or they were too quiet. Eirika found no love in these bachelors.
Hours passed and the ball went on. Ephraim was walking down the ballroom when a noble bachelor stopped him. The bachelor's hair was blue and he had on a white noble garb with borders highlighted in light blue and adorned in squiggly golden trim. A dark blue band was attached at his waist and his blue cape was wrapped around his neck and shoulders. Over the noble garb, he had a black shirt, and he wore white pants and black boots. His black-colored eyes were thin and calm, showing politeness and honor.
"Excuse me. Are you by any chance, Prince Ephraim of Renais?" The noble bachelor asked. He had a British like accent.
"I am. And who might you be?" Ephraim sounded like he had no time for small talk.
"Lord Sigurd of Grandbell, at your service," Sigurd bowed to Ephraim, "I have heard much about the Princess of Renais, your sister Eirika."
"Oh sure." Ephraim faked a smile, "But if you're looking to woo her, it won't happen unless I say so." Ephraim left Sigurd behind. Approaching Sigurd was a young blond teenager with a white garb, pants, and shoes, and a cape matching the color of his hair. His eyes were sandy brown. "I don't think it worked that easily, Lord Sigurd." The blond guy said.
"Oh, do not worry, Oifaye." Sigurd replied, "I must meet with this Princess and dance the waltz with her. She is strikingly beautiful as I heard."
Eirika was dancing with, whom she considered her last bachelor, a man with violet hair and black garments.
"You look ssso beautiful, Princesss Eirika."
"Why thank you sir." Eirika smiled, yet behind that smile was a frown. The noble continued, "Did I ever tell you that you are ssso sssplendid? My parents are alssssso very sssstriking sssssince they come from a ssssmall kingdom in the outskirts of—"
"I think I'm done now sir, thanks." Eirika interrupted and left the noble to head toward her friends, Tana, Nicole, and Lyon.
"This is unbelievable!" Eirika exclaimed, "None of these bachelors are suitable for my taste. I mean, they are stuck-up, they are too foreign, and they are all around speaking with that annoying ssssound."
"Oh, don't worry, Eirika." Lyon said with a smile, "the night is young. Besides, if nothing has worked out between you and the bachelors, I think you'll be very happy with a certain someone."
Tana elbowed Lyon lightly. Lyon shrugged. Eirika looked at him interestingly, "Really? Who's that someone?"
"I am." A voice spoke behind Eirika. Tana, Lyon, and Nicole looked up. Eirika turned around. It was Sigurd. Sigurd took a bow before Eirika, "Lord Sigurd of Grandbell, at your service."
"Oh my." Eirika breathed in awe. Innes walked by and noticed Eirika with Sigurd. He decided to spy on the both of them.
"Oh wow. You really are gorgeous as rumor claim." Sigurd smiled.
"And you are so fine." Eirika bit her lips.
"It's too bad that your brother Prince Ephraim is not such a fan of me to lay claim to your heart. But I guarantee, he will someday give me his blessing." Sigurd said.
"Actually, Prince Ephraim is not excited about the whole thing." Eirika said, "But…say, let's dance." Eirika proposed and Sigurd took her to the center of the ballroom to waltz.
"You think Eirika will find true love in him?" Lyon muttered.
"She better." Nicole commented, "Because she only has ten days left."
Innes looked over to Eirika and Sigurd dancing. He smiled lightly and as soon as he was about to take off, he bumped into Joshua. Joshua smiled at the Frelian Prince, "Why hello there, Prince Innes."
"Not now, Joshua, I don't have time for your gambling problem." Innes replied.
"Is something amiss?" Joshua asked.
"Oh, nothing. Eirika is getting married and I don't like this." Innes replied.
"Oh, is it because she's getting married and you're not?" Joshua smiled.
Innes stared at Joshua, "What? I…"
"Oh, come now, Innes. We are all aware about your…you know?"
"Did Tana and Lyon tell you that?" Innes began to shout, "Cause, for crying out loud, I am NOT in love with Eirika, and if you think that, think again, all right?"
Joshua looked surprised, "In lo…are you in love with Princess Eirika?"
Innes raised an eyebrow, "N…no…I mean…"
"Seriously, I didn't know this was all about love, I thought you were just jealous."
Innes sighed in frustration, "Oh, snap! Why did I—" he then faced Joshua again to point, "You better not spill a letter about this, you got that?"
"My lips are sealed…" Joshua gestured his lips zipped then laid his finger on his lucky coin, "…to this coin." With that, he left.
Eirika and Sigurd were waltzing gracefully on the dance floor and already, their eyes couldn't take off each other. They had fallen in love and it seems they didn't realize that since they waltzed in the ballroom for countless hours. This caused some of the bachelors, who either danced with Eirika or not, to leave the castle. At that moment, the ballroom was half-full of bachelors.
Eirika and Sigurd knew a lot about each other during the waltz. Sigurd comes from the foreign continent of Jugdral and was in Magvel on vacation when he heard of the Bachelor's Ball. Single and looking for love, Sigurd decided to come and check it out. Eirika was surprised to know that Sigurd was from another continent, because he was supposed to speak another language or speak another one of those annoying accents. She suspected no such thing in Sigurd. She only suspected a sweet spirit in a sweet handsome guy.
The waltz ended after a few minutes and Eirika and Sigurd left for the castle courtyard for some alone time. Eirika and Sigurd looked into each other's eyes as they strolled through the courtyard.
"You really are beautiful." Sigurd told her. Eirika replied with a smile. Sigurd went on, "Is it true, that you have been arranged a marriage that will be on in ten days?"
Eirika just shrugged, "Yeah, but who cares? It doesn't matter now."
"You're right." Sigurd said, "It doesn't. We are meant to be. I'm glad this is an arranged marriage, because I really want you to be in my life, and to be my love."
"I feel the same way too, Sigurd." Eirika replied romantically. The princess and Sigurd looked into each other's eyes again for a good moment. They then started to lean forward for a kiss. They were about to when Eirika withdrew, "Oh my gosh! I totally forgot I should introduce you to my family. My father and my brother, they will love you."
"Err…" Sigurd hesitated. He knew that Ephraim didn't like him and thought he would be rejected by him again and couldn't bear to face this, but Eirika dragged him alongside anyway, "Come on!" she commanded.
Once inside the ballroom, Eirika saw King Fado, Ephraim, and Seth at one corner of the room and approached them, "Father! Brother! Seth!"
"Eirika." Fado called.
Ephraim ran to Eirika, "Eirika, what's wrong?" he shot a cold glare at Sigurd, "Is this guy bothering you?"
"No, this guy is my soul mate." Eirika formed a big smile. King Fado, Ephraim, and Seth gave Eirika a questionable look. Sigurd nervously stepped forward, "Err…Hello. The name's Sigurd. Sigurd of…"
"…Grandbell. Yeah, I know." Ephraim responded dully before yelling, "Next!"
"Ephraim!" Eirika approached her brother, "Don't panic. It's true. Sigurd is my true love. He's the one I'm going to marry soon."
"Well, congratulations, Eirika." Fado smiled at his daughter, "I'm glad you did found someone." Fado faced Sigurd, "So, tell me more about yourself, young man. Oh before you do, you know that I'm not going to give up my daughter that easily. You better be taking good care of her or else—"
"Do not panic, King Fado." Sigurd said, "I love your daughter and I'm going to make sure nothing will happen to her."
Ephraim scoffed, "I'm not buying this."
Seth dragged Ephraim from a distance to speak to him, "Err, Prince Ephraim, are you all right?"
"Of course I'm all right, Seth."
"You don't sound all right to me." Seth countered, "You've been moping all night. I understand you're still angry about this whole thing with the Law and…"
"Look, I know Eirika. I know she thinks that this arranged marriage is not right, but she's totally agreeing to marry this guy? Does she know him well?" Ephraim argued.
"I think she knows him pretty well." Seth remarked as she watched Eirika talk and talk to Fado for her new soul mate about her new soul mate. Sigurd was nervous that entire time.
"Erm… Eirika." Sigurd interrupted Eirika. Eirika faced Sigurd and quickly realized that she has spoke about him for quite some time, "Oh, Sigurd. I'm sorry. I didn't realize—"
"It's okay, my love." Sigurd replied, "I'm just going outside to get some fresh air."
"Oh, sure do." Eirika smiled and Sigurd began to take leave. Fado stopped him, "Lord Sigurd, right?"
"Yes sir."
"I'm really pleased to have met you." Fado said, "I really hope you keep to your words in taking care of my daughter. Plus, you have my blessing."
Sigurd looked ecstatic, "Really? Oh thanks so much, Your Majesty. You have my blessings too."
Fado stopped smiling. Sigurd hesitated, "I mean, you don't have my…I mean you…I'll just go."
Sigurd left and Fado left. Tana, Nicole, and Lyon went to Eirika. "Eirika! You had fun out there." Tana said.
"Yeah, you do know that all of the other bachelors have left?" Lyon remarked.
"Who cares about them? Sigurd is my life." Eirika commented.
"Are you sure?" Nicole asked.
"Oh, positive." Eirika then looked up the ceiling with dreamy eyes, "I'm in love."
"Are you all right, Lord Sigurd?" Oifaye asked, "You look rather sickly."
Oifaye was at the Castle's front gardens with Sigurd. Sigurd sat on a bench, his dreamy eyes were fixed at the stars, "Oh I'm not sick, Oifaye." He remarked, "I'm in love."
"Seriously, Lord Sigurd, you need to take your medicines, fast."
Sigurd looked at Oifaye, "I'm serious, Oifaye! I truly am! All of that time I dwelt at Castle Chalphy; I thought I would never find true love, but coming here at Magvel has been a true blessing. Princess Eirika…no, Eirika, is my life, and will always be."
Ephraim took a peek outside the garden and listened to Sigurd and Oifaye talking. He wasn't happy to hear all of that talk about love. He left the scene and went to find Eirika.
"Eirika. I must speak to you in private." Ephraim dragged her from the ball and into the castle courtyard.
"What is it, brother?" Eirika asked serenely.
"You can stop talking like that now, Eirika." Ephraim said quietly, yet he sounded like he was about to start an argument, "I know, deep in my heart, that you still are not into this arranged marriage."
"Ephraim," Eirika began, "I'm turning twenty soon, and I have found true love. It's Sigurd from Grandbell. I mean…" she chuckled slightly, "If he had gone back to his country, I would not have that chance in happiness. I should thank High Judge Mace for that."
"You shouldn't thank him for anything!" Ephraim's voice began to raise, "Eirika. I don't want anything bad happen to you."
"Ephraim, brother, I know you're concerned about me. I was on the same page as you about this arranged marriage too, but after trying this Law, I found my true love, it's not that bad. Father found true love in mother too when he was in the same position as I was. Aren't you happy for me?"
"The question is, are you happy?"
"What does that supposed to mean? I am happy." Eirika responded.
"Well, I believe I'm not! And you shouldn't. All right?"
Eirika cocked her head on one side. She looked a little angry. Ephraim continued, "Sigurd is using you. He's marrying you only because it is an arranged marriage. He doesn't love you. I mean think about it, why would he put up an act that he loves you? He knows that it's stupid for a man to love a woman that soon."
"That soon?" Eirika sounded angry, "THAT soon? It's stupid?"
Ephraim hesitated, "Actually, I meant that…"
"Do you even believe in love at first sight? I don't think so." Eirika countered, "Cause if you did believe in it, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"Yeah, sure we wouldn't be having this conversation. You were practically shaken when you danced with all of those bachelors. You thought that you wouldn't never ever get a chance to be a princess."
Eirika's mouth hanged open.
"Admit it, Eirika; you're only marrying him to save your title from Mace!"
Eirika began to shout, "You're lucky thatyou're not in the same position as I am, brother. 'Cause truthfully, you never, in your entire life, will find true love, now leave! I don't want to see you again." Eirika pointed Ephraim the ballroom.
"Eirika, I'm trying to reason you here!"
"No, you're trying to sabotage my wedding!"
"WH—Sabo—you think I'm sabotaging your wed—?"
"YES, you are sabotaging my wedding, you are sabotaging my night, you are sabotaging my life, you are sabotaging my everything, now begone or I'm calling the guards!"
"Look here…"
"GUAAARDS!"
"ALL RIGHT!" Ephraim angrily walked back inside the ballroom. Before he could enter, he turned to face Eirika again, "But let me tell you this Eirika: you may curse me that I will never find true love, but you will never find happiness if you go down that road without putting a fight. Mace and his laws are evil. He will do everything in his power to break us apart and break our family apart. But it's up to you, sister. It's up to you."
With these words, he left her. Eirika groaned in frustration and rolled her eyes. She paused for a moment then looked back inside the ballroom and looked away in thought.
Mace entered the ballroom and noticed few bachelors chatting. He noticed Fado passing by and went to him with another one of his haughty smiles, "Ah, evening to you, King Fado."
Fado saw him and smile lightly, "High Judge Mace. You came up here to gloat some more again?"
"No, actually, I came here to tell you that I have changed my mind about the wedding." Mace told Fado. Fado looked up to Mace in surprise, "You are? Really? You're considering Eirika's wedding a bad idea?"
"Yes. As a matter of fact, Eirika will not to be married in less than ten days. She will be married in two."
"WHAT? Two days!" Fado's voice shook.
"From now. As I can see, Eirika found herself a bachelor. But can she handle two?"
Mace chuckled, leaving a transfixed Fado behind.
Innes noticed Eirika at the castle courtyard and slowly he approached her. Eirika turned around and saw Innes, "Innes?"
"Eirika." Innes replied, "Forgive the intrusion, but I must speak to you at once."
Eirika's heart was pounding. Why was Innes talking like that to her, gently and softly? "Innes? What is it?" she asked.
"First, just listen to me." Innes replied, "Is there…anyone who lays claim to your heart?"
Eirika gave Innes a bewildered look. Lyon and Tana were walking down the hallway when they saw Innes and Eirika at the courtyard.
"Oh my gosh, Lyon." Tana exclaimed.
"You think he's going to tell her?" Lyon asked.
"Eirika," Innes continued, "It seems… it seems I have fallen in love with you."
Eirika drew a sharp breath. She blinked multiple of times and began to recede, "Wh-what?"
A disturbing silence ensued between the two friends. "This is no place for jokes, Innes!" Eirika snapped, "Why would you say something like that?"
"This is no joke. I am absolutely serious." Innes's voice was truly sincere. Eirika frowned. Innes went on, "These feelings surprise me as well. I don't know what to do."
Lyon and Tana tried to listen to the conversation but they were too far. The problem is that if they approached a little closer, they will be spotted.
"I don't know what they're saying." Lyon objected.
"I hope they're just talking about the ball." Tana said.
"I don't think so. Eirika seems frozen." Lyon noticed Eirika planted on the ground, immobilized by Innes's comment.
"I think we should leave them." Tana said and left the scene. Lyon took another look at the two friends again before taking off as well.
"…the emotion just exploded within me, Eirika. I love you. I could not bear to see you in the arms of another." Innes said.
"P-Prince Innes! …I…I…"
Innes laid his finger to Eirika's lip, "No, Eirika. Do not answer now." He then looked away and up the sky, "I have not yet bested Ephraim. I have not earned the right to woo you."
"And I have a feeling Sigurd will earn that right from him. Darn you two." Innes thought angrily.
"Wha—? Why are you bringing my brother into this?" Eirika asked in a loud tone.
"With a man like him around, I can see why you show no interest in suitors." He lied, "If I prove myself superior, you will surely accept my hand. If I fail, I release any claim to your affection." He faced Eirika again, his fist pumped, "But I swear it on the depth of my love, that I will destroy that man. Eirika, I will expect your answer then. That's all I have to say."
He turned around to take his leave, "…good night Eirika." He left the frozen Eirika in the courtyard. Thunder began to roar at a distance.
"Innes!" Eirika yelled, the name shot out of her mouth like a cannonball as she began to walk to him, but Innes was already heading inside, "What an infuriating man! Why does he have to be so…"
More thunder sounded. Eirika kneeled, "…so…"
She fell on the ground and started to cry. Rain began to pour heavily on the courtyard and onto her. Seth was passing by when he saw Eirika in the courtyard. He became alerted and ran to her through the rain, "Princess Eirika!"
He helped the princess up her feet and tried to conceal her from the rain, "Princess…what's wrong?"
She whimpered, "Just…take me to my room, Seth…just…take me…"
NEXT CHAPTER…
