Disclaimer: Fire Emblem does not belong to me.

Title: Blossom
Rating: PG
Summary: Can you really blossom into love? Arranged marriage, Modern Day AU.
Status: Incomplete

Started: 29 October 2007
Word Count: 909
Posted: 13 December 2009

Author's Notes: This is all I've written, and it mostly covers the beginning. I like the dialog I wrote between Eirika and Tana, although, for some reason I keep imagining them as Kaoru and Misao from Rurouni Kenshin in that scene.

"It'll be alright, Eirika. He's a fine young man; handsome, well-mannered, from a good family. . . Not to mention I hear he's hung like a—"

"Tana! I don't want to know those kind of things! And besides, shouldn't I be worried if he's been sleeping around—"

"Oh, no, no, no. Nothing like that Eirika. You know, locker room stuff. . . Guys comparing—"

"No, Tana. I thought I made it clear that I don't like talking—"

"'—about these kinds of things. Goodness, Tana, isn't your mind on anything but sex?' I know that's what you're about to say, so I'll just get on with it: But Eirika! You know the only thing I think of is your sexy twin brother! At which point you will reply, 'Please, Tana. Do you realize how strange it is for you to talk about my own brother like that?' Then I'll say that—hey! I'm not done yet!"

"Honestly, Tana, we've had this conversation enough times. . ."

"That's because we're such bosom buddies."

"Where'd you learn the word Tana?"

"Oh, darn. Was hoping you wouldn't notice. Yeah, it was Anne of Green Gables."

"Isn't that the one with the raspberry cordial?"

"Yes and didn't you find Gil so—hey! Don't try and change the subject!"

"Was I?"

"Yes, you were! You know it and I know that you know that I know that—"

"Tana. . ."

"There's no avoiding it. You're marrying him and that's that."

"Tana, I. . ."

"No, no. No need to explain. . . But, Eirika, you know that I. . . Oh, darn it. You know what I mean. I'm always here."

"Thanks, Tana, thank you."

- - -

The news had come out a few weeks ago. But honestly, she should have known it was coming for a long time.

You're to marry afore spring.

It had been at the dinner table, and Eirika had set down her silverware and twisted her hands in the napkin she had folded into a candle.

I see.

She quietly excused herself and washed her dishes and left. Driving was a truly marvelous thing.

She drove for hours. She drove until the sun had long set and the only lights were the lousy streetlights. But even those eventually disappeared as she drove into the country. She was the only car on the roads. Only one who'd even try to venture the midnight paths, but she wasn't afraid; she knew these roads.

She saw the familiar lights of Aunt Tethy's house and cut the engine. She cranked up the volume to the stereo and waited.

It's too late baby, yeah it's too late. . .

Soon enough there was Aunty Tethys knocking on the window. She rolled it down and looked at her.

"What's up?"

"I'm engaged."

"Oh dear."

- - -

She held the phone number in her hand and dialed.

"Hello?"

"Good evening Mr. ___, this is Eirika Renais. Do you have time for a cup of coffee?"

- - -

The first thing he noticed about her was that she had to be older than the nineteen years she had to be. Her posture, her air, all of it suggested an older woman. One that knew the ways of the world and was beginning to weary of it all.

That can't be her, he thought. She is too old.

But then she looked away from the window and at him. He knew, then, she was the only daughter of the corporate king Fado Renais. Only his daughter would look at her prospective husband like she was looking at a new company to acquire.

He found the seat across from her and sat down, placing his computer case to the right.

"Miss Renais, yes?"

"I am she."

He didn't know what to say. 'Hi, I'm your future husband. Nice to meet you?'

She spoke bluntly, "If we are to be married, I wanted to talk some things over before the official meeting with our parents."

"Like?"

"Like if you decided to have extraneous relationships during the course of our marriage, it would do well for you to stay our of my bed."

"What?"

"Mr. ___ I am speaking of affairs. If you engage in an affair with another woman, man, sheep, dog, I don't care, you are not sharing the same bed as I."

"Um, I don't think that will really be a problem."

"It's nice to know I am so enchanting."

"Um, Miss Renais, that's not what I. . ."

She quirked an eyebrow. "Also, you will no run my company. If you have plans to merely use me as a puppet you are sorely wrong. Likewise, if you do so, I shall do the same for your company."

"You haven't heard?" he said.

"What?"

"I am not the heir to my mother's company."

"Excuse me?"

"Joshua, Joshua Jehann, my step-brother, he's inheriting, not I."

"Then. . . those slimy two-timing backstabbing. . ."

As she continued to curse he flagged the waiter and ordered two coffees. When she was done with her tirade, she rubbed her eyes and said, "I suppose this is good news."

"Why?"

"Because I'm good friends with Natasha."

"Oh."

- - -

"You can grow to love him."

"I don't think so, Mother."

"That may be so, Mother, but what if he beats me? I cannot love a man like that."

"He won't, and you will."