Alright... Fia's asleep again. I can finally stop having to trouble about multiple views again... Hehe.. Enjoy. ;)
"Alright..." shouted Ein over to the straggling group behind him, "We've been walking for a pretty long while... Let's take a rest..."
Upon hearing that, everyone groaned in relief, Lina in particular, as they lay prostrate on the ground in exhaustion, not bothering where they were lying down on. "I'll look out for any Cefiro... You guys relax..." With that, Ein, with shoulders slumped and head bowed as if in defeat, shuffled over to a far corner and sat down. As Fia looked, she noticed that there seemed to be some dark and heavy cloud of depression surrounding Ein...
Wondering what could possibly be wrong, she took a deep breath and walked up to Ein and sat down beside him.
"Umm... Ein?" Fia asked timidly as she gently placed a hand on Ein's shoulder.
As Ein turned around slowly to face her, Fia noticed that within his sepia eyes, great sorrow and trepidation had replaced the flare of hope that could usually be seen. Running a hand gently over the side of Fia's face, he replied softly, "It's nothing..."
Frowning slightly, she gently placed her hands over Ein's roving hand and stilled it, "It's about Ledah isn't it?"
She was then met by silence. Wrapping her arms around his waist and drawing him into a sideway hug, she continued, "Don't deny it... I can tell... You're moping around..."
Pausing for a moment, she looked deep into Ein's eyes and said, "You can tell me anything you know..."
Returning the hug and drawing Fia closer, Ein rested his head on Fia's head and sighed. There was a moment of silence and all that could be heard was the distant chatter of the girls behind the couple and the mystical vibration resonating from within the trees around. Just then, the moment of silence was broken by the sounds of muffled sobbing.
Looking up to Ein, she noticed that tears were streaming down Ein's face. Raising a hand to Ein's face, Fia gently wiped away Ein's tears as Ein pulled her into a tight hug, almost as if he were afraid that she would disappear... and that he would be left all alone...
"Ledah... he was the best friend I ever had..." Ein whispered hoarsely between sobs, "He was always there to help me out in Asgard when I was in trouble... He was always there to guide me through when I was in trouble... at Heaven's Gate, he protected me from the countless demons... and now, we have to fight him..."
Rubbing Ein's back in a soothing manner, she whispered gently, "I know it's difficult... but we have to either way, whether we like it or not... If Ledah were to know the reason for our quest, he'd want you to carry on..."
Nodding silently, Ein merely lay in Fia's arms as he sobbed quietly...
Meanwhile, overhead in Yggdrasil, an ethereal figure levitated within the air and watched the pair, "Oh Tempus... this message of death you have sent me... Thadius Thead... Please do not let it apply to these two... Do not let death rip them apart..."
Hehe... I'm aware that this chapter was pretty short but I'm sorta pleased with how this turned out. I think I managed to express the emotional support... or at least I hope I have... "Thadius Thead" is an anagram for "Thus aid death". ;) Please tell me what you think and review. Thanks. :P
God Bless, Azarethian Titan