Chapter 8: The Fleeting Wind

"Why won't you come?" Vanille pried.

Fang simply shrugged the question off. "I just don't feel like coming."

The younger woman pouted and her hands found suddenly themselves on her hips. "Oh, come on now Fang! They would had let me join too if you came."

"… I didn't know you miss fighting," or still capable now that we're back to being humans, Fang completed her words through her thoughts. She looked at her friend skeptically. "You do realize you have very little magic in you left and we're trying to save that."

"I can still fight without it," insisted Vanille, "I mean, when we first became L'Cie, I don't have any powers, yet I'm fully capable of defeating this beast's skin without anyone's help," she tapped her fur clad skirt. Fang almost blinked. So that's what's different from Vanille. Lately, Vanille opted to dress in full regalia like any residents here to blend more naturally. She even let her hair down and occasionally put flowers in it like the Elleth. But she was Gran Pulse Vanille again now, skirt, pigtails and all.

"Since when did you change into that?"

Vanille glared. "Stop switching the subject!"

"Sheesh, fine. Don't get your pretty face all soured up," Fang laughed the comment off. "Anyway, that was a long time ago. You might have forgotten what it feels like in battle without any Power in you."

"I still feel stronger."

Fang laughed at the insistence. "You're desperate, yeah?" Her friend mutely nodded. Fang turned serious. "They're the real deal Vanille. I don't want you to get hurt."

Vanille let out a frustrated sigh, "Ooh, you're impossible! I'm not worrying for your safety too much. Why can't you do the same for me?" She stumped her feet to make her point. "I want to go out and fight. It's not my problem if you're giving up."

"I'm not giving up anything." Fang frowned, not wanting any implications her friend had put. "You really want to pick a fight? Fine," she picked her spear up and pointed it at Vanille. "Fight me."

Fang knew her friend would never accept that challenge. Their styles are too different. Fang would easily win.

Vanille raised her weapon. Ok, didn't see that one coming. "I'll show you!" Vanille whipped her weapon in a circular motion and attacked right out of Fang.

The older woman barely dodged the swift attack. Fang cursed herself for forgetting. Fang will surely win all right, if only she could go five meters close to Vanille. She planted her spear hard on the ground, did a round, swirling as to her weapon like it's a pole, and shot straight to the red head to quickly get close to her. Vanille was ready. She adjusted her aim, quietly muttered a 'Bravera' to herself and a 'Deprotect' at Fang, and flung it at her oncoming assailant. Fang's momentum kept her from dodging and was hit right at Vanille's weapon. Utter pain erupted from her whole body as she stumbled to the ground. She held her spear for support.

'Boy that stings so much,' she checked her body and saw a large bruise already forming along her ribcage. This is bad. Had she been so out of shape these last few weeks? When did Vanille become stronger than her? Wasn't she suppose to be doing is sitting there all pretty and talk? Fang could feel her whole body's natural shield becoming weak and vulnerable against Vanille's attack. 'Hold that thought,' Fang stood up. "I thought I told you to save that magic."

Vanille froze. This is bad. She completely forgot about keeping it secret and Fang was smart enough to detect the magic she casted. "Um… I was… desperate?" she replied lamely. 'Please buy it, please buy, dear Etro, let Fang buy–'

"To fight?" Fang raised her brow.

"No. I want to go outside. The real outside," she hastily added when she saw Fang about to open her mouth again for a retort. "Outside Imladris, I want to explore. This is a whole new world Fang. Aren't you curious what outside looks like? The places you hear, like Gondor, Shire, Rohan, Fangorn, Lothlorien."

"Sound's very Cocoon-ish except the last two."

"This is not about Cocoon and Gran Pulse. This world is very much different."

Fang didn't reply immediately. She was still nursing that bruise from the spar. It hurts too much that she couldn't entirely focus what exactly Vanille was trying to say. Has her mind already forgotten what it felt like fighting Behemoths and the Undying's? No, that can't be; she had her rounds with the elves and the scouting missions. She still remembered what pain felt when in close combat. No, the thing she forgot was how much Deprotect could do with your body. It'll wear off eventually but Fang didn't want to sport the whole day limping like some maimed warrior. She kept her stance steady with her spear as her crotch.

Then her thoughts shifted to Gondor, one of the two places she only knew from what Vanille said, Lothlorien aside. She heard that place all right. And the last time she was told about it, someone wanted her to protect it. And Lothlorien, the place she first met Arwen. The Haven more beautiful than Imladris… It felt like a dream and a waking sleep. Fang personally didn't want to come back there. She never felt a place so far from reality and honestly she both hated it and was scared at it.

"Fang? Please?" Vanille was already beside her. She had something on her hand, a bottle of some sort. She threw the Potion at both of them. Her pain lessened considerably.

Fang sighed in a resigned way. "All right, you win. I should have known this was coming anyway. The determination of the people of Oerba is bordering on stubbornness."

"Including you?" Vanille grinned teasingly.

Fang smirked. "Now what makes you think that?"


The two brothers were at the smaller gardens, accompanied by a few Rangers and Ellon warriors, when Fang and Vanille finally found them. It's been a while since the four had any proper meetings and the sight of the two simply made Vanille smile. It was the Ranger Halbarad who first noticed the additional company. "Well met Lady Vanille and Lady Fang."

"Hello to you too," Fang was the first to reply. The two sat by the grass along with them. "No missions yet?"

Halbarad smiled. "There are no 'missions' as you put it, yet. But times are growing dark and I fear we must be ready for the coming war."

"Such dark thoughts my good friend," Elladan said, "Rest comes a fleeting wind, short and brief. Let us not think of the troubles when these times come."

"If they come, will I come too?" Vanille asked. "I want to go outside."

"I always escort you and Lady Fang at the borders of Imladris whenever I can," Elrohir reminded.

"Not that. I mean, really outside," Vanille replied, "Outside Imladris."

Elladan made a strained frown. "There are many orcs abroad. Your safety–"

"Oh you told me that," Vanille cut him. "Fang told me that too. But I can take care of myself. Will you not let me come?"

"It is dangerous," Elladan replied.

"I defeated Fang," Vanille offered, grinning ear to ear. "That's something, right?"

Fang immediately stared at her friend. Her eyes narrowed. "Since when did that count as a defeat?"

"You staggered."

"I haven't lost all my strength yet."

"I hit you."

"Once."

"You failed to hit me."

Fang gripped her weapon. "Want me to do it now?"

Vanille glared. "I thought you're on my side," she hissed. She faced them. "I won't be a luggage."

"Lady Vanille–" Elladan began to speak but was soon interrupted by his brother.

"Well met, my sister," Elrohir came to her and embraced her.

"You smell of oil and flowers," Arwen laughed. "I have not met my brother without the lingering scent of horses and grass before."

Elladan frowned theatrically. "We are still your brothers Undomiel. We do take a bath."

"Yes and you quickly fetch and ride a horse even if it is only inside."

Elrohir laughed. "That it is."

"Ada wants to see you," Arwen said to his brothers. "He said there had been activities from the orcs as of late from Bree."

Elladan stood up in alert. "We shall see him now. Come brother," he said. Elrohir let go of Arwen's hand and left the company. The others resumed their conversation and occasional singing.

"I think I'll be tagging along with them," Vanille left and chased after the two.

"And you?" Arwen turned to Fang. "Do you not want to keep her safe?"

Fang carefully read her face before sighing. "You really want me to go?"

The Evenstar laughed and smiled. "My lady, I want you to not lose hope."

It was half of their conversation all the time, the reason why Arwen always spent so much time to her. The Pulsian warrior never felt so restless and without power to the turnings of the world. Fang tried to keep it together and it was breaking her. She wanted to preserve what was little left – the memories, the fleeting moments, the names of her families and friends, the sacrifice she gave and received – but everything just kept on, leaving her. Her mountain called Life is finally bending to the wind called Change and she's losing. Vanille was all right, she was adopting, but not her. She just couldn't let go without breaking down. She was afraid she might never get back up.

So Arwen told her countless time to scatter her Life into grasses instead of a one big mountain. No wind can tear it, for the grass bend with ease. At first, Fang found it all hard to comprehend the metaphors the Elf Maiden was explaining but bit by bit, as they talked stretching from days and months, she started to understand and let her heart gently flow. It was what Arwen wanted the most from her, to never lose hope.

Melon nin, Estel. My beloved, Hope.


"It will be a three-day hard journey, with as less provision so we can travel swifter. By the third morning, we shall rest at the borders before finally heading on. We shall dismount the horses by the second night, when provisions are gone, and send them back. From there, we shall move by foot. Track the orcs and kill them on sight." Elladan furrowed his brow. The scouts came from a well distant land. He calculated the travel time the messenger took to relay this message and frowned further still at the figures. They had to go now or there won't be anything left to salvage. "We will be too late by the time we arrive."

"Then let us do what we can and linger not on what we can't accomplish," Elrohir replied.

Elladan nodded. "It is. I shall see the provisions. Ready the horses."

Elrohir quickly nodded back and together they separate ways. He knew his brother would prepare the smallest meals to make the journey as light as possible. The situation was bad. What his brother said was true: that no matter how quick they proceed they will be already too late. All they could do now is simply minimize the damage. The attack will probably start tomorrow, way before they were even at the middle of their road. He hastened his steps. If only they could fly–

Elrohir stopped walking, staggering a bit when he forcefully left the momentum he built. Fly… fly…

"I flew Ada! …Like eagles of my young dreams… and felt the sun's warmth like no other on the ground."

He dashed madly at the opposite direction away from the horses. He knew a better way to get there on time.

Vanille had a certain gut feeling that she took the wrong turn by the second fork of the corridor. Imladris was never a maze but it is big enough to get confused from time to time. Vanille carefully retraced her steps. Maybe she went that way…? It looked pretty familiar.

"Lady Fang!" Vanille's eyes widened at the sound of that voice. She recognized that! She sprinted to the direction, turning sharply to the left of the corridor to follow the sound. It was getting louder. She must be coming closer–

Her second sharp turn made her crash right on Elrohir. Elrohir's momentum was faster, making the collision fall against Vanille. Vanille fell back, her body hitting the ground with a loud thud. Numbing pain erupted all over her body and her head throbbed madly.

She tried to focus her eyes but couldn't get up at the weight. She squirmed. "Forgive me, my lady!" the weight quickly vanished. Vanille felt like throwing up but contained all her will not to.

"What–" she steadied her head and finally her vision cleared. Elrohir was sitting a few feet away from her, hair tousled in a mess. She smiled goofily. She never saw the elf lord in such disarray even after missions. He looked… human.

"Lady Vanille, forgive me," he stood and offered his hand to her.

"It's all right… I… think I was looking for you anyway," Vanille replied, slowly. Her stomach was settling and the throbbing was subduing. Gathering her thoughts, she continued, "Yes, I was looking for you and your brother. I want to tag along with this next mission," she paused considering her sentence, "um… please? I'll bring along Fang."

A vision of pink and blue came running to Fang's vision. She stood up to greet them. "What's all the rush?"

"Elrohir agreed to let me come!" Vanille happily announced, punching the air up for emphasis.

Fang looked at the elf lord. "That easy? You let her whine and beat me for an hour then you suddenly had a change of heart this instant?" Fang shook her head helplessly. "And then one wonders why I seriously consider you elves are all crazy. I'm waiting for an 'if' here."

"Well, he would let me come if you come too," Vanille replied.

Fang raised her brow this time. "So let me get this straight: You guys will only agree if two luggages are included?" She crossed her arms. "You lost me on your logic. I thought we're a liability… at least, she is."

"Hey!"

"And I can't say I'm an asset. I'm just good, not better."

"But my lady, this mission requires us something only you can provide," Elrohir bowed humbly.

"Babysitting abilities?" Fang replied sarcastically.

"No, my lady."

"Ok, what?"

"Time," Elrohir looked hard on Fang. Fang caught his voice and the meaning behind his words.

The silence came as the two observed each other's reaction. Vanille, however, didn't understand the situation. "But Fang doesn't have any more magic to cast Slow."

"That's not what Elrohir is saying, missy," Fang replied.

"Huh?"

Fang smiled viciously. "Elf lord here wants to ride a dragon. That is my asset, and the only one here that has it. They are willing to let you come if I'm with you."

"So will you come?" Elrohir kept his humble bow, something he subconsciously reenacted when he was a young Ellon if he ever met a real dragon tamer. He kept his voice from faltering at the prospect of flight; at least he thought he did. He still remembered their important mission at the back of his mind but this–

He ignored the chuckle erupting from the older Pulsian warrior.


Elladan recounted the provisions once more and was about to head to the stables. Only, not a single horse was ready. Where is his brother now? The very thought worried him, not for his brother's safety, but the damaged houses those orcs will ba able to do. He was about to look for him when he saw Elrohir coming. He had two horses ready for the journey. Elladan inwardly frowned as his brother got closer. For one, Elrohir seemed to completely forget the horses are for journey and suddenly brought for the horses during their last riding. The beasts haven't recovered fully yet at their last skirmish so taking them would consume so much more time. There were no bags to store any of the food, clothes and weapons either. They were completely bare and– "What kind of preparation is this?"

"Did you prepare something for Lady Fang and Vanille as well?" Elrohir asked as he gave one of the horses to him.

Elladan looked him hard. This is not amusing as far as the older brother is concerned. "Elrohir, did you remember what Ada told us?"

"Yes."

"Then you are well aware this is no picnic."

"Yes."

Elladan frowned. "Then why?"

Elrohir checked what his brother had brought. Dried bread and some salted meat enough for two people for three days… or four people for a day. Enough time as he would say. "We're flying."

The two rode through the forest, Elrohir leading the way as they went outside the forest and west along the borders. Elladan watched as the mountains came to view. He thought about the Fellowship and how it was faring. It had been a solid two weeks and no news or rumors reach their ears. It only meant two things: the Fellowship had been successful in keeping their quest secret, or they were taken captive. How Elladan wished nothing happened.

His brother led him to a cliff, not so far out. It was already sunset. They made good time but in a completely wrong direction. Elladan haven't completely understood the plan yet and personally he didn't approve of the mysterious charade his brother was doing. There are lives at stake! The orcs could have ravaged it all already by the time they arrive there if they kept this pace. Pained memories of his mother surfaced at the tension. He sighed heavily. He hoped and prayed to the Valar high up he made the right decision.

Fang was there along with Vanille. So his brother wasn't lying the two are coming. He sighed inwardly. Please let this not be a picnic…

"All right then, since we're all here I just have to tell some things before we get a move on," Fang said, letting her attention be on both elf lords. "We can't have everyone hugging me while I both suffocate and maneuver Bahamut. Take anything to hold to him except the wings. He doesn't want that. We don't want you guys flying then free falling for who knows how long to the ground."

Elladan looked at his brother. He was smiling excitedly like a young Ellon well below his fifty years. He heard the name of Bahamut before, so where–

Fang touched her dormant L'Cie mark at her right arm and inwardly felt the Dragon's power surging. Light erupted from her arm. A crystal materialized. She grabbed it and broke it with her spear. "Bahamut!" she called his name. The sky quickly darkened and an insignia was formed from the clouds. Bahamut appeared and flew swiftly down to His Caller. "Miss me?" Fang touched his head. He bowed to meet her. "Apparently, we need you to cross lands here," she turned to her company. "Let's get a move on kiddies."

Fang was the first to hop on. Then she took Elladan's hand and pulled him up. He grabbed on to one of Bahamut's protruding scales. Next was Vanille, climbing to the Dragon's back. Finally, Elrohir slung himself behind.

"Want a countdown?" Fang teased. Vanille giggled. They took off.

The two brothers were deeply silent as they looked at the night sky closer than ever before, well beyond their imagination. The stars looked brighter and bigger, and the moon felt only a league away. The flight was steady and with the balance of the elves and experience of the two women, the company slowly loosened their grip on the beast. Fang kept a steady monitor to where they are going, occasionally counseled by Elladan on the right course (since Fang never knew where exactly Bree is).

Up in the sky, when everything is settling to a steady pace, Elladan looked away from the skies and looked back. Elrohir and Vanille were pointing at each constellation present and gawking like children. He paused to observe his brother more. He looked really happy and kept on laughing at her company. Elladan had to smile inwardly. Both of them treated Vanille like a younger sister, an infant in Elladan's eyes.

"You'd think the two were drugged or something," Fang said, her voice bringing him back away from his thoughts.

"I am relieved I wasn't the only one who noticed my brother is a bit… ah, younger?" Elladan smiled amusingly. He leaned to her and pointed to the shift in course. Fang steered. Elladan laughed as he heard from the back his brother and Vanille exclaiming excitedly at the new viewpoint.

Fang rolled her eyes. "He was completely of his bonkers Elladan."

"Bonkers?" Elladan asked.

"Oh yeah, right. Ye olde English to you too," Fang shook her head, "his mind, reason, logic… I could go on."

"I understand."

"You bet you did. Did you know he was bowing like some child to me and like I'm some high queen or something when he asked me to come along?" she laughed at the memory. "And Vanille was smiling like some hyperactive kid."

"I think excited is an understatement to this."

Fang smiled. "Yeah. It's a good thing you came and played along with your drug-induced brother to come here though." Fang turned her head around and looked at Elladan seriously. "Elrohir explained the situation to me and I want to help any way I can."

Elladan turned silent at the sudden shift of conversation. "Thank you, my lady. These missions mean a lot to us."

"And to me too," she replied getting quiet to make sure only Elladan can hear in the muting high wind, "I know what it feels like to lose a home."

The journey continued for hours and the sky reached its full darkness at night.

It was beautiful, felt beautiful, and Elrohir knew he would keep this memory forever. He felt he already touched the sky, with the wind more present and the light clearer. At the back of his mind, he somehow wished it would never end. Up here, everything seemed so peaceful. Up here, no true Darkness is present. There is no war and sad memories were an age of past.

But centuries of experience taught him something hard. Change is inevitable. "We're here," Elladan announced. They grabbed hold tightly again as Fang steered Bahamut to land. They ended on a small clearing just outside of Bree, hidden by an acre of trees.

As soon as they landed, Fang immediately dismissed her Eidolon. She felt her strength waning, concentrating much of her focus and energy to make sure Bahamut doesn't disappear into thin air. Although they had a back-up plan for that – Vanille's eidolon Hecatonchier will surely lessen the impact – it will still be a whole great deal of a problem.

She sat immediately on the grass and let her mind and will relax. She never felt so exhausted before and the pain from her spar against Vanille was coming back again. 'What the hell is wrong with me?' Fang cursed inwardly. The helplessness and weak feeling was coming to her and she hated it with a vengeance. It was driving her mad feeling like some damsel in distress. This is not her, not the Fang she knows back at Gran Pulse. She will be damned before she screams for any help.

They camped for the night, finding some shelter on a clearing with more trees pack and tightly knit. The brothers started preparing the meals while Vanille gathered some wood to start the fire. They left Fang take a short nap beside the biggest tree in the near radius. After all, she was the one who was always on the lookout for the last six hours of flight. When the meal was ready, they rose Fang up and the four dined together. It wasn't a grand feast the two always had back at Imladris but Fang was more than impressed when travelling with elves apparently includes salted meat, wine, real bread, and a hot tasty soup.

"This is not a picnic just so we're clear, yeah?" Fang asked. The two brothers looked at each other before bursting out laughing.

Vanille looked quizzically at Fang. "Wha–"

"Forget it," Fang snorted. She took a bite from her meat and watched the two sharing amused knowing smiles. "Like I said, these elves must be crazy."

After the meals and clearing up, they took turns to keep watch for the night. Well, sort of. Whenever Vanille wakes to check everyone, Elladan and Elrohir would still be awake, singing a silent hymn or conversing with each other. They would notice her presence of consciousness and tell her gently to continue sleeping peacefully tonight. She would turn her head then to the other direction and would see Fang, awake as well, watching silently the fire they made as it danced and flickered.

"Go back to sleep, missy," she would mutter and Fang would close her eyes like she would fall asleep at any moment. Only Vanille knew she wouldn't since Fang's breathing was always and always a constant slow rhythm whenever she falls asleep and she was still breathing in a steady awake pace before sleep would take over Vanille once more.

She dreamed so many things that night, of her childhood blurry and fuzzy, of her first journey with Fang more vivid yet marred with holes, of her journey with Sazh to Nautilus more pronounced, with Lightning more recurring, and lastly of Ragnarok like a glaring sun.

She also dreamed being a crystal and hearing a thousand hymns from the hall of Mandos, the Undying Lands, Beyond the Sea, and Eru's Great Hall, but all these she forgot when dawn greeted her with a new day.

By morning, they made a quick breakfast and washed by the nearest stream. They pack their gears, checked their equipments and weapons once more, before finally heading out to hunt the orcs about to raid Bree. With their good time, they didn't even need to worry about any direct assault from the village. The two elves decided to take the preemptive strike and gain the advantage of surprise.

The two began tracking where the orcs might have camped out. They spotted two groups which the four quickly dispatched off. Guerilla after guerilla and soon they noticed how every orc were trying to aim at Vanille's throat, apparently the easiest target standing still as the three hack and slash their way through. This earned Fang's rage enough that she focused to her Sentinel skills, the ones she already have innate, and counterattacked everyone who tried to get too close to Vanille, effectively out of her long range, with vicious precision.

They were a tandem, after all, her and Vanille. Fang trusted her friend way back. Vanille would swipe most enemies dead before they come too close. And when they do, Fang would be there to give them hell. Bit by bit their old dual skills came back when they were only two journeying to destroy Cocoon. Little by little, their old confidence to be more than an 'asset' as Fang put it became more apparent and rose as a true gem in combat. The skirmishes were becoming easier and quicker, day by day, with the woman's deadly combos and the two brother's vicious tactic of assault.

But where Vanille and Fang would always watch each other's back, the two brothers attacked like one fluid body, more dangerous than the two Pulsian warriors. Elladan would swipe the nearest enemy, followed closely by Elrohir from behind, unleashing two quick slices too fast to block. He would sidestep to the left, giving enough opening for Elladan to continue attacking the offender. The pattern would repeat, each taking turns to form a splendid fast display of swordsmanship with deadly precision. A sole person could never accomplish what the twins had done, the swinging never fast enough to parry, block, and thrust at the same second but with two elven warrior in one fluid motion it was a an undefeatable skill.

They downed a good dozen factions and from their tracks, the elves concluded there were only three more before the whole group is dispatched off. On their final night, Vanille slumped to the ground from sheer exhaustion and immediately fell asleep on their cover.

Elladan laughed at the sight. "Lady Vanille seemed very pleased and content with the fighting."

Fang was already sitting at the grass as well. But she would be damned before she would let the elves know she would collapse any minute as well. "It gives her exercise and something she could let that bundle of energy go somewhere." She tried to even her breathing. She hated to admit it but she was amazed at how little the two elves' lung activity changed. Maybe a thousand years or so really does something on your endurance.

"There is some truth to that," Elladan replied to what Fang said. "Shall we have dinner then now and finally rest for the night?"

Fang made a deep breath, happy much of her energy is coming back from the short rest. "I'll go get the wood for the fire."

"I'll help you," Elladan offered. He turned to his brother. "Will you be all right with Lady Vanille?"

Elrohir smiled well naturedly and waved his free hand carelessly. "I am more than capable to look after her and myself, brother, even with this wound I carry."

"Ok, but just when you're in a pinch, wake Vanille up and let her summon Hecatonchier."

"I… what?"

"Hecaton. It's her eidolon, summon, monster guardian whatever," Fang explained smiling confidently, "it's like my Bahamut." She laughed as she and Elladan walked away, last seeing Elrohir's priceless reaction.

It was an easy task and they finished the gathering in less than half an hour. However, the two didn't head back immediately. They lingered in the trees, Fang idly watching the leaves dance and occasionally fall down. Winter is coming and the chill is starting to creep. Fang involuntarily tugged her blue cloth. On extreme weather condition, her sash is not just a good cover of her body but also a rather large and warm blanket when you wrapped it around yourself properly. Not that the cold ever bothered Fang so much. She was more worried about Vanille, her fur cloak barely enough even for her tiny frame.

"Tomorrow we shall head back," Elladan suddenly said. "Going back home needs not much haste so you could rest back on the journey."

"Miss riding on horses so soon?" Fang smirked.

"Maybe," the elf lord replied vaguely and smiled. "Come, they are waiting, and Lady Vanille is most probably hungry the time she wakes."

Fang pulled her spear out of the ground and clasped it behind her. She picked up her collection of firewood and joined with him back to their camp.

Elrohir was next to Vanille, sleeping soundly. Fang couldn't believe she saw it as well. That was the first time she really saw an elf really asleep and not just humming for who knows what and how long. His weight was supported and somewhat arched to Vanille, like some overprotective guardian to make sure his subject is not within range of fire.

The two set their collections down and kept switching watch over the two. They didn't dine that night and opted to just have a decent breakfast.


The next morning, Elrohir rose from his wake. It had been a while since he properly slept during a skirmish. His wound wasn't even deep. He was still figuring out the cause of his exhaustion when he noticed neither Elladan nor Fang were present. He looked to his side and saw Vanille still sleeping soundly, all curled up and very close to him. He smiled inwardly. He noticed from the very first day here Vanille was a cuddling person; at least she might be if there was someone to cuddle with. She would always shift her position in sleep and hug herself. At the second night when she slept next to Fang, she unconsciously rolled closer to her friend's side. Fang woke up of course, noticed Vanille's proximity, shook her head helplessly, and begin to stroke Vanille's hair. She didn't went back to sleep then.

Vanille stirred in her sleep and started to wake up. She blinked her eyes a couple of times to shake the sleep of her eyes. She did a bit of stretch and rolled over closer to him, not that she knew. She sat up and her eyes met Elrohir. She blinked furiously.

"Good morning, Lady Vanille," Elrohir greeted.

"Um... good morning…?" she replied back, her tone confused. "By any chance am I dreaming?"

Elrohir looked thoughtful. "How so?"

"Well, I don't usually woke up with an elf lying next to me," Vanille said in a nonchalant way, deciding she really was dreaming. "I never dreamt of you before though. Just Fang… and Lightning… and Sazh… Hope…" she treaded on.

Elrohir smiled gently at her. "No one I know?"

"Um… there's Sauron."

Elrohir froze at the name. What did she just said? The Enemy?

Vanille continued talking, unaware at what she was really saying, still thinking it was a dream. Her eyes were still half-closed. "He's my Fal'Cie, you know…" then she smiled, "but don't worry Elrohir-in-my-head, I won't follow his Focus. I'll be a good proper Cie'th after this." Vanille suddenly laughed. "Who knows; maybe I'll immediately turn into a Cie'th stone with my superior disobedience to his will."

Silence swept the two of them, Vanille silently humming a distant song from Oerba, and Elrohir gathering the load of information his friend just dropped.

Did she really mean what she said?

Before Elrohir could fully understand all the implications of her words, a pair of footsteps came closer to them. Elrohir's trained ears told him it belonged to Fang. He looked up and saw Elladan beside her, his footsteps mute with lightness. Elrohir felt Vanille froze this time. She probably realized it wasn't a dream after all.

"Elrohir…" she barely managed to say his name. She looked pained and helpless at him. "I…"

"Morning to you love birds," Fang greeted grinning from ear to ear.

Elrohir watched as Vanille's composure immediately changed. "What?" she flatly exclaimed.

"Oh you don't need to explain yourself missy," Fang laughed, "I know about your undying declaration of love to elf lord here."

They continued to bicker, Fang laughing at her little teasing as Vanille followed behind, stuttering and being an all around incredulous.

Elladan sat next to his brother at the empty space Vanille left. He smiled. "Well?"

"Well what?" Elrohir asked back, clearly confused at where his brother was going at.

"I'm not hearing any objections from you," Elladan pointed out. "Do you also have an undying declaration of love to our beautiful friend?"

"What?" Elrohir exclaimed, his tone mirroring Vanille's. "I don't–" he stopped as he saw his brother laughing.

"I jest, my brother. I jest."

As they ate breakfast, or rather lunch when Elrohir and Vanille found out, Fang and Elladan recounted what they did earlier that morning, finishing of the last groups of orcs. Beside Fang sporting a bruise from her right hip, the two seem unscathed and only covered in sweat. They started heading back, opting to walk for a while instead of gaining any leagues by their first day journeying home. They stopped at the first river they encountered and washed any grime and dirt as much as they can. Fang literally dived into the cool water and let the cold numb the throbbing pain. She was the only one daring enough to get wet all over, with her clothes easiest to dry. They rested for the rest of the afternoon, deciding to walk instead at night when it was cool and travels will be more comfortable. Nothing much happened. They had to keep Fang away from harassing any small creatures, she chasing them in good fun.

The company felt light and carefree, their voices never hushed and full of laughter every minute. Vanille would dance along their path, the brothers singing an old light song, and Fang running back and forth from the trees. The four acted like children, each unconsciously reminiscing a past an age ago, when everything looked like without a care in the world. The trees enclosed them, shielding any spy that could be watching. At their first night back to Imladris, everything was definitely peaceful.


A/N: Thank you for reading. Any questions regarding on the story are fully welcome. Reviews are love!