Chapter 4: Affection

It's been two days since the capture of Grado Castle, but already the group is on the move to Jehanna. The remaining remnants of the Grado army are assaulting Jehanna Hall, and Eirika, Prince Innes, and Saleh are trapped there, trying to hold on until reinforcements arrive, so Ephraim and company move as fast as they can to their destination.

However, the desert terrain is much harsher than the majority are used to, and so it's slow going. In fact, they are forced to stop in an abandoned village to rest for the day; the chances of heat stroke and dehydration are alarmingly high, and so the army plans to move during the night, when it is much cooler.

This would normally influence people to take their rest during the day, so that they can be fully energized at nightfall. Not everyone is asleep, however; Kyle and Ephraim are having a discussion while a few others mill about the village.

"Prince... I feel that we must speak of something. You are too reckless. I am worried about your safety." Ephraim just gives him a cold stare as Kyle continues speaking. "We can't have you dying in battle... without the future king, what's the point of fighting?"

Ephraim just shakes his head. "Kyle, I don't pick fights I can't win. That's my motto. Besides, I have to keep the command in check."

Kyle starts to slowly pace back and forth. "I still don't believe you should be so involved. What are the soldiers for? To protect you! The future of the country!"

After a couple more minutes of discussion, Ephraim notices Myrrh walking around behind Kyle, holding a lilac flower. His face softens as he waves to her, and then he smiles when she waves back. Kyle raises an eyebrow at the gesture, and Ephraim's face returns to normal.

"Oh yes, Kyle. Fine, I'll be a bit less reckless in battle; maybe I'll even hang back a bit. But I don't have the time to talk about this in length right now. We can discuss this later." Ephraim starts to walk past Kyle, but he places a hand on Ephraim's shoulder, stopping him. Sighing, Ephraim returns to his previous spot.

"Yes?"

"I think you're just trying to dodge the subject. I don't believe you're going to do anything different next time we're in battle. And what could you possibly have to do right now other than sleep?"

"...You know me too well, Kyle." Ephraim laughs, and Kyle's face forms a rare smile. "I just don't agree. What good is accomplished if the army wastes their energy protecting me instead of themselves? Please, we're all tired here. Let's not discuss this at length right now."

"Fair enough. So... who were you waving to just a second ago?" he asks, pointing behind him.

"Oh, that was Myrrh. She was walking around behind you, and so I waved." He thinks for a moment. "I wonder where she went..."

"You definitely have a soft spot for her."

Ephraim smiles. "She's like a little sister to me."

Kyle has a look of disbelief on his face. "Really? That's how you view her?"

Ephraim sighs and shakes his head.

"Actually... I'm not so sure anymore. She reminds me of my sister, but at the same time... well, I don't know. Perhaps she just brings out a different side of me."

Kyle smiles once more. "It will make sense later on. Come on, let's get some rest now. We have a long way to travel tonight... We have to make it to Jehanna as soon as possible."

"To save Eirika and the others..."

Kyle begins to walk away, but Ephraim stops him. "Wait, Kyle! What about you? I want to know how you're doing."

"But Prince! If your mental health isn't kept in check by sleeping, we'll be doomed in battle! I don't think we have the time to..."

Ephraim rubs his forehead in frustration.

The group trudges along through the night. Even though almost everyone was able to sleep during the day, the terrain makes it difficult to move with any sort of speed, and the irregular sleeping patterns of the past few days are hard on everybody.

Ephraim lazily looks over at Myrrh, who's walking beside him, and she gives him a sleepy smile.

"Hello Myrrh... how are you doing?"

"I am fine, but I've just been thinking... about the war." She stifles a yawn. "There's just been so much injustice, and the darkness... it moves north. I... worry."

Ephraim nods sleepily. "Yes, I worry too. There are so many things that are confusing me..."

His response is interrupted by Myrrh yawning. He stops and watches as she halts her revenant-like stagger to rub her eyes. After a couple of seconds, she yawns again, and stands in place with her eyes closed.

Concerned, Ephraim waves his hand over her face to see if he can elicit a response. Failing to awaken her, he picks her up and begins to walk while carrying her. She is warm, and the light scent of flowers emanates off her.

She begins to stir, and she becomes aware of Ephraim's presence. "What... what happened?"

"You fell asleep!" he says, smiling. "Did you not sleep well because of worrying?"

She nods lightly. "Actually, I've been sleeping badly... ever since I left Darkling Woods. Usually, my father... will sit beside me and wait for me to sleep... but he's not here, and so I have no one to do that for me..." She yawns once again. "I guess I'm just a bit insecure..."

Ephraim raises his eyebrow slightly. "That's not good, Myrrh. If I hadn't been watching when you stopped walking, we might have kept going for a while before we noticed your disappearance." He begins to frown. "And I can't watch you all the time. We are on a constant march, and it would not be ideal for anybody."

"Oh, okay then..." she replies, her eyes drooping and her wings closing in response. She decides to change the subject. "Wait, why are you back here in the first place? Aren't you usually... up front taking charge?"

Ephraim chuckles. "Well, Kyle really wants me to hang back from the action. He believes that since I'm the future of Renais, I can't afford to die, and so I should let all of the soldiers do the fighting. But I plan to change that, believe me."

Myrrh gives him a sleepy smile. "Oh yes... you do like being up front with everybody, that's true."

"Besides, I wanted to keep you company." Myrrh smiles again, and her wings open up. "But seriously Myrrh, you need to sleep. I'll take you to the supply wagon and you can rest in there, how's that?"

"Thank you, Ephraim." Myrrh peacefully closes her eyes and leans her head on Ephraim's shoulder as he starts walking a little faster to catch up to the supply convoy. He asks the rider to stop for a second, and Ephraim goes inside, still holding Myrrh. He places her on the ground...

...and she frowns.

After Ephraim lays her on the ground, he suddenly feels a bit chilled, and so he grabs an extra blanket to warm himself, but seeing that it's the last one, he puts it back and exits the wagon, telling the wagon rider to start moving.

Myrrh fitfully begins trying to fall back asleep.

Ephraim slowly walks beside the supply wagon. Forde, who's near the back of the mass of moving bodies, slowly trots on his horse over to Ephraim.

"What were you doing just now?" he asks, grinning. "I saw you go into the supply wagon."

"Oh, I was taking Myrrh there so that she could get some sleep. She hasn't been sleeping well." A look of annoyance creeps onto Ephraim's face. "Hey... why aren't you up front with Kyle and the other knights? You're supposed to be protecting me, apparently."

Forde laughs, and he begins to grin again. "Well, there's not much going on right now, so it's safe to be elsewhere. So... Myrrh, huh? She likes to be at your side, doesn't she?"

Ephraim raises an eyebrow in response. "Forde, what are you getting at? I have the feeling that this isn't just an innocent question to satisfy your curiosity."

"Now now, no need to be so defensive!" Forde says, backing away in feigned fear. "I'm just saying that she always seems to be near you. Is that a problem?"

"No, of course not. I guess she just sees me as a big brother of sorts." He averts his eyes somewhat. "I think so, anyway."

Forde suddenly becomes very serious in his demeanour. "You think so? Why don't you ask her, and see what she says?" He immediately starts smiling again. "I think the answer may surprise you."

Forde trots away on his horse back to the front lines, and while he quietly snickers, he shouts back to Ephraim...

"You can be quite oblivious sometimes."

Ephraim starts thinking about what Forde said to him.

Why don't you ask her, and see what she says?

He can't shake Forde's words out of his head. Is he right in some way? It's obvious to him that Myrrh shows affection for him... but is it for a bigger reason?

I think the answer may surprise you.

Author's Notes

This chapter did not exist until about a week ago. Originally, I only planned to have five chapters, but ever since stuff happened, I've had to considerably rethink this submission. And thus, this chapter was born. As well, my remaining chapters needed to be fixed.

I never intended to have Kyle come back either, but hey, he's a good guy. He also seemed like the right person to converse with Ephraim at this point in time.

Realism is obviously something that has been somewhat lacking in this story, especially in the first two chapters. And well... it is impossible to make this submission completely realistic. Heh heh, in reality, this story is completely implausible. I'm going to have to drop a bombshell eventually. :/