Author's Note: Fire Emblem belongs to Nintendo.

Fire Emblem:

Blazing Sword of Justice

Chapter 5: Jeweled Distractions

"Sain, for the umpteenth time, will you please stop winking at Florina?! You are making her uncomfortable!"

"Is it a crime for one to admire the beauty of a young Pegasus knight?"

"For you? Yes!"

Faren's laugh drifted above Sain and Kent's daily argument that mixed with pleasant sounds of the Sacaen village. The group had barely gotten through the gate before Sain started being himself again. The group had made their way, arguing and all, to a nearby cozy inn where they were planning to stay the night. Even while situating their horses and Florina's Pegasus in the stables comfortably and reserving two rooms, the two knights were still arguing.

Faren glanced over at the two bickering knights as she petted Renegade from the stable he was in. Florina, looking meek with her hands to her chin as usual, was hiding behind Lyn who just sighed at the whole thing. Wil smiled helplessly, trying to calm the two men down. "Can't we all just get along?"

Renegade nuzzled against Faren's hand delicately, reaching for one of the carrots in her hand. She smiled and gave it to her horse. This would probably be the last village they could visit before crossing the Sacaen/Bern border. She made a mental note to get more carrots for her horse.

Giving him one final pat on the head, Faren trotted over to Lyn and Florina, putting on a cheerful grin. "Well, everybody," She started, the knights stopping to look at her. "Shall we get our supplies before we waste what is left with this day with this silly argument?"

Florina blinked at her, still clutching onto Lyn. Wil nodded in approval, echoing her grin. "That sounds like a splendid idea, Lady Faren!" Lyndis smiled and looked at the two knights, who looked away from each other. Catching Lyn's eye, Kent bowed his head respectfully toward her. "Forgive our childish antics, Milady Lyndis..."

Lyn waved her hand. "It's okay, you two. But Faren's right. We need to gather our stuff and meet back at the end at dusk. Okay? Okay. Let's split up and go in pairs. The job will get done quicker that way." She turned to Faren. "Faren, would you decide who gets to get what?"

Faren clapped her hands, squealing with delight, making Florina jump. "Of course!". She walked in the middle of the group, sizing everyone up. Sain winked at her and Kent stood attention, gently slapping Sain on the back of the head to do the same. Lyn and Florina stood next to each other with Florina attached to Lyn's left arm with a pleading look in her eyes. Wil smiled politely, holding his bow in his hands.

"Okay! Sain and Kent, you guys'll go get us some better weapons. All of ours are starting to fall apart or rust. Make sure you get some arrows for Wil, too." Kent nodded but Sain looked crushed that he didn't have someone better looking to go with. With a sigh, Sain followed Kent toward the weapons area of the market.

Faren looked over at Lyn and Florina. "You two should go buy some food. I think you'll know what we'll need, Lyndis, and I think Florina will know what our horses and her Pegasus would like best." Florina smiled a small grateful smile at Faren before the two headed off in the appropriate direction. "And you!" Faren pointed to Wil.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You're coming with me to buy first aid stuff. I had to re-bandage your wounds twice since yesterday and we're getting low! And we need to get you a horse."

Wil smiled nervously at Faren as he approached her, rubbing the back of his head. "Ah...a horse? Are you sure about that...? They're...rather expensive."

Faren held up her tiny brown money purse to where Wil could see it and shook it, the sound of many coins jiggled through the air. "We should have enough. Now come on!" Faren grabbed Wil's wrist and started dragging him toward the market. "We need to get there before everyone else is done and the stores close!"

Wil gasped a little but smiled helplessly as Faren was tugging him along. "You're pretty insistent, you know?"

She smiled back at Wil, releasing his wrist. "Someone has to be between the both of us. I think we're the most carefree out of the bunch!"

Wil laughed, rubbing his wrist as he walked beside her. "I think you're right. And here I thought you were just an over excited kid."

"Hey, you shouldn't talk about your tactician that way!"

"Ha ha! Ah, I'm sorry..."

"I forgive you," Faren murmured after fakely pouting at Wil.

He chuckled again, watching her approach a street vendor that supplied vulnerarys. She motioned for him to come closer. As he stepped to her side an elderly voice murmured, "Oh...is this your lover, young lady?"

Both Wil and Faren blushed deeply. Faren waved her hand in protest, dropping a vulnerary on the ground. "Ah! No! No, no no no! I'm...afraid you're mistaken, ma'am."

Wil picked up the vulnerary, still looking embarrassed, but noted the tone of fright in Faren's voice. He smiled at the elderly woman. "I beg your understanding." He began politely. "But Faren and I are merely traveling companions. We've only just met yesterday."

"Oh!" The old woman tittered, putting a gloved hand to her wrinkled lips in embarrassment as her brown eyes twinkled mischievously. "Forgive this old lady, young ones." She counted up the vulnerarys that Faren wanted and gave her a price. "This old one saw the young girl's jewels and thought the handsome auburn haired archer was the giver." Wil blushed again and looked away, mumbling something.

Placing the gold in the woman's hands and handing the bag of vulnerarys to Wil, Faren looked at the old woman curiously. "My jewels?"

The old woman pointed to Faren's sapphire amulet and rubied bracelet. "Those of course, M'dear. Mm...they remind me of an old tradition that lovers used to take. I was merely curious." She bowed politely to Wil and Faren before beginning to put her wares away. Wil turned away, hoping Faren to forget about the horse now that he'd been embarrassed. "Let's go, Faren..."

"Wait! Milady!" Faren grabbed the woman's wrist gently. She looked pleadingly up into the woman's eyes. "Please...if it is not too much trouble...can you tell me what sort of tradition it was?"

The woman eyed Faren before glancing at Wil who looked completely confused. The woman chuckled. "Well, it definitely isn't that one, is it? Alright, I'll tell you if you help me put away this stuff...it would help my back out..."

Faren nodded immediately. She turned to look at Wil. "Wil, if you want, you can go back to the inn and wait, okay?" He shook his head, handing the bag to Faren to hold. He smiled a cheery smile. "Sorry. Lyn said to stay in pairs, right? Besides, I'll help her since you bought everything."

Faren clutched the bag tightly and stared at Wil as he helped the old woman close down her stall. She squeezed the handles tightly. Thank you, Wil...She thought. Even though we're here for Lyn...I'd appreciate any clue about my past that I can get right now.

The old woman slowly walked out onto the street, hunching over her cane as she clutched a satchel full of her leftover wares. "Well," She smiled at Wil. "Thank you for helping. It takes me an hour just to close." He nodded, smiling still. The woman turned to Faren. "Now then...the tradition." Faren nodded, eagerly listening.

"Well...it's an old tradition, so not many people know about it nowadays. It was very prevalent before the Scouring, that I know. I only know bits and pieces of it now myself...But it was said that if a man wanted a woman to be his wife, he would give her three things: The first thing would be a necklace that was the color of his eyes. That way, he could see everything that she did and would be able to protect her. The second thing he would give her would be a bracelet of his colors. A comforting reminder when he was away that there was still someone there to hold her. The last thing was...hm...it is..." The old woman narrowed her eyes in concentration for a few minutes. Finally, she sighed. "The last item was a ring, but I'm afraid I do not remember its significance. My apologies, young lady."

"No, no!" Faren smiled warmly at the woman, bending down. "You've been a big help to me already...thank you very much." The old woman chuckled soflty, patting Faren on the head. "You're welcome, dear. Now I must be off. Farewell..." the old woman bowed and hobbled down a side street.

Faren sighed and stood up, gently clutching her necklace. She jumped as Wil's hand touched her shoulder. He backed away, holding his hands up in innocence. "I'm sorry...?" Faren blinked before laughing a little. "Ah ha...sorry, Wil...let's go back to the inn, okay? It's getting late."

Wil grinned, taking the bag from Faren. "Sure, Lady Faren."

"I also...apologize for that taking so long. I...had an interest there, you see..."

"I know." Wil said reassuringly. He looked up at the sky, streaks of orange and pinks were stretching from the direction of the sun. "It must be tough not having a memory of your past."

Faren stopped walking and stared at Wil with an open mouth, completely shocked. "What?! How did you know?!"

Wil held up his hands in defense again and smiled. "Ah...well...I sort of...figured it out...you never want to talk about yourself and you act...overly cheerful at times. A little too cheerful. And well, when I saw how bad you wanted to hear her story, it kind of made sense..."

Faren crossed her arms, glaring at Wil. "Whoa, now there's one look I hadn't seen on your face. I won't tell anyone if that's what you're worried about..."

Faren sighed, looking down. "No...It's not that...it's..."People treat me differently once they know. Like I'm diseased. It's better to act like you have a past that you know than to act like you don't know your own past.

She shook her head and smiled at Wil. "Promise not to tell the others? Lyn already knows..." Wil nodded, patting Faren on the shoulder. He grinned down at her. "Don't worry, Lady Faren. Us archers pride ourselves on silence. You have my word."

She grinned at Wil. "Great. Now we really should get back to the inn before the others start worrying." She reached for the bag, but Wil held it out of her reach. "Allow me to carry it, Lady Faren. I would not want you imposed upon."

She giggled. "Okay, Wil." They walked side by side through the crowd, heading the direction of the inn. Faren smiled.

"And no, I haven't forgotten about the horse."

"What? But you just said..."

"I think it'd be more cost efficient if you just rode with Sain." She smiled politely at Wil.

"Ah...but why can't I walk? Or...ride with you, perhaps?"

Faren laughed as they walked through the crowd, the inn coming closer in the distance. "You can't walk because we need to move fast. And I would have you ride with me, but Renegade is...very temperamental and protective. I was...found with him, so I must have had him before my memory loss."

"Ah." Was Wil's reply. Faren smirked. "Are you afraid of horses, Wil?"

"Ah! ...No..." came an unsure reply. "I just...have not the practice of handling one, that's all."

"I see..." Faren smiled as they walked up the inn's steps after glancing through the stables to find Renegade staring at her. He seemed to glare in Wil's direction. "Well, you're still riding with Sain if I can arrange it, okay? Florina would have been nice probably, but she's scared of guys and Lyn's horse is rather small..."

Wil sighed, holding the door to the inn open for Faren. I guess I have to ride a horse after all, he thought despondently.

Night had settled on the village of Tuscan. Faren stared out the second story window of the moderately furnished room she shared with Florina and Lyn. Lyn and Florina were discussing something with excitement on one of the three beds in the room while Faren stared out the window. Her heavy cloak was off, allowing her shoulders a brief reprieve. She stretched and sighed as she gazed up at the starry sky.

"Faren?"

She turned to look at Lyn and Florina who looked at her with concern. "Something wrong?" Lyn asked, studying her face. Faren smiled and shook her head before walking over and plopping down on the bed beside Lyn. "No...I was just thinking."

"Um..." Faren looked over at Florina, who stared back nervously. "Florina?" Florina's eyes were on Faren's sapphire amulet. Since her cloak wasn't on, it was exposed to the world. Perhaps I should have left it on, Faren thought nervously.

"That's...that's a beautiful necklace...Faren." Florina managed to say. She smiled at the shy girl, looking at the necklace. "Thank you, Florina. It...was a gift." She hoped that was right anyway.

"Ah...then someone...must care for you a lot to give you such an expensive gift," Florina murmured again, her eyes drifting to the ruby bracelet on Faren's right arm. Lyndis bit her lip and looked away as Faren smiled almost sadly at Florina. "Do you think so...?"

Florina nodded, looking up at Faren. "Ah...was it...someone close?" Lyn looked nervously between the two before opening her mouth. "Ah, Florina...perhaps you should go check on Huey...I think I hear him outside..."

"Oh! Huey! I hope no one is bothering him..." Florina jumped off the bed and quickly reattached her shoulder armor just in case someone was pestering her precious Pegasus. She grabbed a slim lance that was leaning against the wall and hurriedly opened the door, dashing out of it.

Lyn stood up and closed the door and smiled apologetically at Faren. "Sorry, Faren...I didn't think you wanted to tell Florina yet." Faren waved that off, sighing. "It's okay...it's really only a matter of time before everyone figures it out, you know." She paused for a moment. "Like Wil. He's pretty smart, you know. He figured it out."

Lyn looked at Faren with surprise. "You mean he really did figure it out? Wow...good thing we have such a smart archer on our team!"

Faren laughed and laid back on the bed, putting her hands behind her. Smart? I don't think that's it. Faren thought silently. Wil's right, though...I avoid questions about my past. I don't want to lie to people, but what's better? Lying about something I know nothing about or telling the truth and having everyone treat me horribly? Well...except for Lyn and Wil. But I can't expect everyone to treat me so nicely as those two do...

Suddenly the door burst open again with a panicked looking Florina. "Lyn!" She gasped, leaning on her lance, her orchid hair already messy. Lyn grabbed Florina by the shoulders. "What is it, Florina? What's wrong?"

She looked up at Lyn with frightened eyes. "Lyn! It's the village! It's being attacked by bandits!" At those words, Faren quickly jumped to her feet and ran to the window. There was nothing there a moment ago, She thought. She gazed outside, seeing a group of men with axes storm the neighboring tavern across the street. She sighed and ran out of the room to get the men as Lyn grabbed the Mani Katti. So much for having a peaceful night, Faren thought.

Hey guys. Sorry for not uploading a chapter this weekend. I had writer's block not to mention family affairs...and emo-ness. This chapter is longer than the last by a couple of pages, but it probably went by quick since there was so much conversation, no? I hope Wil talking here made up for him not talking in the last chapter. I guess even having Wil in a dangerous situation like that, I should have made him talk more, right:)

Wil's hair in this fic will officially be reddish-brown. A few of you guys said his hair's brown, but...I still see red in it. So we'll go halfway with it. And thank you, Irene the Hunter. Most people do put the tactician as some guy that yells out stuff and have him disappear. I guess they're lazy, but I've seen it a lot here.

I have no idea when the next one will be up. It shouldn't take a week, though.