A/N: Attention all readers! There is a very important message in the second A/N, so please read it!!!

Disclaimer: "I've been watching / I've been waiting / In the shadows for all time!" (stops singing) Uh, heheheheheh. (anime sweat drop) Geez, guys, catch me in an embarrassing situation, why don't you? (ahem!) Sorry about that. I tend to become distracted when I'm listening to my music. Oops. Well, if you sue me all you'll get is horrible singing! "I've been searching / I've been looking / For tomorrows all my life / OH Ohhh / OH Ohhh / In the shadows / OH Ohhh / OH Ohhh / In the shadows!" lol.

Second Disclaimer: Geez. I thought I had better put this--again!--so no one complains. No, I don't own the song and/or lyrics above. That belongs to the group "The Rasmus". And just for anyone wondering out there the song--quite obviously--is titled "In the Shadows". Now no one can sue me! Mwahahaha!

Enjoy!

Part Five: Conditions

Innes woke to a dull ache in his jaw. He blinked open his eyes and squinted at the ceiling above him. What had happened? Oh, yes, that's right. He remembered now.

Ephraim. Why the devil is he here, anyway? I can handle things without him just fine.

Innes sat up and discovered that he was in his bed. He frowned at this. He distinctly remembered being on the first floor of the castle, in the sitting room. He knew he had been exhausted, but he hadn't realized he had been exhausted to the point where he was oblivious to being carried up a flight of stairs. That probably wasn't a good thing. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and flung back the blankets. Innes stuffed his feet into his boots, berating himself silently. He was filled with a familiar irritation whenever he thought of Ephraim, but this frustration multiplied tenfold.

I don't need anyone bursting in on me, shoving their way into my life, and ruling my kingdom behind my back. I don't need help . . . especially from him. Who does he think he is, barging in without permission, thinking he can give unnecessary advice to me? I've always been in his shadow; I don't need him thinking I need help, that I need his advice.

Innes slammed his bedroom door shut and strode down the hall. He took the stairs two at a time and walked down the hall with rage in his steps. He looked into the sitting room. He wasn't there. He looked in the official meeting hall, which was able to seat a few dozen people. He wasn't there. Innes tore the whole castle apart looking for Ephraim. Eventually he came back to where he had started. There were only a few rooms he hadn't checked yet. He didn't think he was in Eirika's room—and if he was it would be unacceptable to charge in there. Innes prayed to the light above that Ephraim wasn't in Tana's room. No, right now he just couldn't think of that. And then there was . . . his study.

Innes stepped across the hall and burst into through the door. Eirika looked up quickly with a startled, guilty expression on her face. And Ephraim . . . Ephraim was sitting at Innes's desk, regarding him with a rather cool expression.

Innes glowered at him. "All right, out. Now. Leave my presence and don't return to Frelia for the next year. Do you hear me, Ephraim? I don't want your help and I don't need your help. I'm not going to ask why the two of you are leafing through my private documents, so you can leave them where they are, thank you. But I am going to ask why you feel you can march into my castle without permission and lecture me on the correct ways of ruling a kingdom. I don't care if you are a fellow king, but I do care that you are here, in my study, so would you be so kind as to leave?!"

Ephraim got to his feet and held up a hand. "Now, Innes, I understand that you're having a rough time—"

"A 'rough time'? A 'rough time', you say. Yes, Ephraim, I am having a rough time with you traipsing around my castle like you're the King, giving me tips as if I were a neophyte to the concept of rule." Innes said, his voice raising.

"Innes, please, let him—"

He whirled to face Eirika. "As for you, I will let slide the fact that you more than likely called him here. I appreciate your concern, Eirika, I really do. But I don't need help, much less from your brother. Frelia isn't falling down around my ears, so I would appreciate it if you kept your opinions to yourself and left your brother out of this! I didn't ask you here so you could creep into my study behind my back and work on documents I should be completing. What? You thought I wouldn't find out? Well, I did, Eirika. I noticed, I simply chose not to say anything about it. I'm actually ashamed of you, Eirika. I thought you would be honest with me, but I see even among 'allies' there are still turncoats."

Ephraim walked out from behind the desk, teal fire in his eyes. "Don't you dare talk to my sister like that, Innes!" he shouted. "She was only trying to help! The least you can do is thank her! She, in fact, did not call me here; I came of my own accord. I was curious about the request for Renais soldiers. I came to check it out and Eirika told me the truth of the situation."

"Oh, so it was Eirika after all. She might not have asked for you, but she did sully her word—and my trust." He turned to look at her hurt expression. "I trusted you with that information, Eirika. And what do you do? You go straight to the one person I can not stand having in my presence. I thought you were an honest woman, Eirika. I thought you were different from the conniving court ladies—whispering gossip and the latest about the folly of their incompetent King. But I see there is another side of you I haven't seen."

"Innes," Ephraim stepped toward him with evident fury. "You will save yourself from misery if you take back those words."

"I speak the truth, Ephraim." Innes retorted. "Trust is the fragile thing. Once broken, the pieces can never be restored to their former glory. I was doing just fine before you came, Ephraim. I was doing even better before she told you. I didn't want anyone finding out how tight the situation is. I don't want your pity or your sympathy. I would ask assistance only through my asking. I didn't want it forced upon me. But now I see what happens when you trust someone with crucial information." Innes shook his head. "I want you out of here, Ephraim. Now. Leave."

Eirika attempted to speak again. "But, Innes, please! Try to—"

"I think you've caused enough trouble, haven't you?" Innes cut in coldly.

She flinched as if struck. "Very well, Innes." She murmured. "If you wish me to leave, then I will. But just know, I'm only an apology away."

"Apology?!" His eyes widened incredulously. Then he shook his head. "No, I won't say anything else." He shot Ephraim a glance. "Why are you still here?"

Ephraim glared back at him. "Take back what you said about Eirika. Now, Innes, or that shoulder injury of yours will pale in comparison to the agony you'll face at my hand."

"Is that a threat?" Innes's voice was cutting. "I didn't think allies made threats at one another."

"You can't afford to break an alliance with us, Innes, and you know it." Ephraim hissed. "Now, apologize to my sister."

"Leave, Ephraim!" Innes bellowed.

Ephraim looked away from Innes to his sister. Eirika was slumped in the chair, head hung. "Come, Sister. I can see we're not needed here." He said softly.

Innes stood like an ice sculpture with crossed arms and a scowl as they moved past him and out the door. He heard it shut behind him. Innes glared at the desk, strewn with papers. His pulse beat hot and fast and his breathing was rapid with anger. He lingered on the residual rage for a few moments longer. The sound of the door pulling shut with a quiet, lonely click echoed in his mind. Feeling the finality in that sound, Innes hung his head and covered his face with his hands. He sat at his desk and propped up his elbows. He felt shame burn his face. Innes pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes. His angry, hasty words resounded in his head like a mocking chant.

How could he have said those words to Eirika? How could he have accused her of such things? He wallowed in his shame and turmoil. Her hurt, stricken expression floated in front of his eyes. His heart wrenched painfully. He hadn't meant anything he had said to her. He knew she was an honest, goodhearted woman. She had only been concerned for him. She had only been trying to help him. But he had felt so betrayed . . .

Hasty. He had been hasty and incorrigible. He so blinded by rage at the thought of Ephraim lecturing him, mocking him, that he was horrifically uncouth toward Eirika. Now the idea of an apology didn't sound so bad. But . . . she would be gone by now, packed up and leaving with Ephraim and their escort.

She was gone and he was a horrible person.

He was alone again. Eirika had been a quiet source of support he had come to depend on. Although there hadn't been too much interaction between them lately, he knew he could depend on Eirika. Now he was alone. But, then again, he still had Tana. She supported him by listening to him vent his frustration late at night—or whenever he returned back to the castle before Tana turned in—and often telling him it would be okay eventually. As useless as those words sounded, he believed things would be 'okay' someday. He just hoped he would be the one to bring Frelia back to being 'okay.' Sometimes, when Innes did go to Hayden, his father would hint at a bit of advice and was usually the one to calm him down.

Innes took several deep, calming breaths and tried hard not to think about anything. He rested his head on his folded arms, indifferent to the fact that his precious paperwork was being crumpled under his arms. He shifted his head to he could stare at the papers at an odd angle. He reached out and picked one up. He found Eirika's neat, flowing hand. Beneath it were several attempts to forge his writing. Her dedication and effort made him smile bitterly.

Help. That's what he had been asking for the past few days. Help from Eirika, that is. And she gave it wholeheartedly without hesitation. Asking for help wasn't something he did—it was a blow to his pride—but he knew he needed it. And Eirika had been there. He realized now that it wasn't her fault that Ephraim showed up. Innes would go to Renais if he found a request for Frelian soldiers. Ephraim's arrival was simply an unexpected factor. What's more, Ephraim wanted to help him—without any note of mockery in the offer. Innes had only assumed . . .

I am such a fool. The help I wanted so badly came, albeit in an unexpected manner, but they came willingly. And when my help finally arrived, I had to force it away. Eirika was right. My foolish pride was my undoing.

"You're a damn fool, Innes." He whispered aloud to himself.

It sounded more real when it was spoken. It sounded as final as the closing door. That small spoken truth was the soft click fitting everything into place. His help was gone and he was back to square one, taking care of everything himself. He couldn't go to Grado for help; they had enough trouble trying to figure out who was to lead them now that their Emperor and his heir were dead. Everywhere else was too far away. He'd never get the help or the supplies in time.

He eventually sat up and gathered his papers together. He put them away into their respective places in various files, folders, and drawers. By now the shame had settled into a fiery ball in the pit of his stomach. Innes raked a hand through his hair and heaved a sigh. He wasn't getting anything accomplished here. He looked out the window in the study and was shocked to find it was late afternoon the next day. He had been asleep all of yesterday night and most of today. He only felt a little better—not so tired but waist deep in lingering hopelessness.

Innes left his study, ignoring the quiet click of the door closing shut. He walked down the hall slowly, listening to the soft taps of his boots against the stone. He stared at his feet as he slowly made his way down the staircase, immersed in the silence of the castle. He stepped down the main hall, planning to check in on Karlen. His mind was busy already making adjustments and skipping over blanks he didn't know what to do with.

"Hello, Innes."

He stopped. He raised his head, his eyes following the upward motion a moment later. He blinked. Innes was filled with a range of emotions that he couldn't quite identify. The more dominant ones were relief—sharp, intense relief—and bewilderment—whirling inside his head, demanding to speak a one word question. He found his feet were mysteriously glued to the stone floor and every fiber of his body was immobile.

"Eir—Eirika."

He couldn't get much farther than that little stutter. His brain was crashing, giving him the message: "Incorrect, error." He was at a complete loss of words and of thought.

She smiled. "I see you're surprised that I'm still here."

He nodded slowly, dumbly.

"Well," Eirika stepped toward him. "As we were saying our goodbyes to Tana I realized that I couldn't leave. So, I—"

"Eirika, I'm sorry." He blurted out. He took a few quick steps toward her. "I apologize from the depths of my heart. I am tainted by my words and actions. I was hasty and blinded. Please, forgive me. I didn't mean a word I said. My only hope to consider myself worthy of even glimpsing you is your acceptance. I am the dirt beneath your boots. No, I'm lower than that. I'm the scum within the dirt, filthy and—"

"Innes," Eirika, who was now standing only inches from him, placed two fingers to his lips. She smiled crookedly at him. "I forgave you the moment I stepped out of the room. You don't need to make grand gestures or speeches to tell me you deeply regret your words. I know you do. I forgive you, Innes. You need not say more."

He smiled and kissed her fingertips. He gently took the hand that was held to his mouth in his hands. "You stayed. Why?" he asked curiously, looking into her bright aqua eyes.

"I just . . . realized that I couldn't leave. You needed help. Ephraim was against my staying, of course, but I persuaded him. He relented, but he's still angry with you, Innes." She explained. "I couldn't leave you to carry on like you were before." She shot him a wry smile. "You could kill yourself that way, you know."

"You're staying—even after all the awful things I said about you . . ." he repeated, dazed.

She grinned. "Yes, I'm staying! But," Her expression became serious. "there are a few conditions."

"Conditions?" He echoed, not particularly liking the word.

"Yes," she continued. "You will get a decent amount of sleep—no, don't even try arguing with me. You can practice with your bow as long as you don't push yourself. You can meet with Karlen and everyone else. But you will eat three square meals a day. You will allow time for yourself, to relax and such. That means you do absolutely nothing. Don't even think about your workload. And you will leave all paperwork to Tana and me."

That he had a problem with. "Eirika, I didn't ask you here to do my work for me. That is completely unacceptable. I will not allow that." Innes said firmly. "And I hardly think my sister would want to do such a thing. She has business of her own."

"Yes, yes, I know she's very busy writing Ephraim letters, but I think she will help you this time." Eirika insisted.

"Oh, is that was she does?" Innes shook his head. "Here I thought she actually had work to do."

"Don't worry. I'll convince her to help with the paperwork. And don't think of it as me doing work for you. Think of it as me, ah, helping the process along. You can review it whenever you want, make corrections and such, but you will not touch a quill unless we say so. I assure you your days will become more tolerable and you won't be so exhausted." Eirika told him with a smile.

He couldn't help but grin back. "You've been thinking about this for some time, haven't you?"

She shrugged. "What else was I supposed to do while you were out?"

Eirika sighed and set down the quill. She clenched and unclenched her right hand, working out the kinks. "Whew. I didn't realize how much work there was here." She said with a sigh.

Tana looked up at her from her side of the desk. "I know what you mean. Did you realize that the majority of the city uses purified water and we have to pay for it?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, we pay the workers to boil and cool the water and whatever else they do to it and we pay the workers to deliver it to the homes. Do you realize how much money goes into that?" Tana shook her head. "Why don't the people just boil the water themselves?"

"I don't know. Well, did you know you pay people to rid the city's waste?" Eirika asked with a wrinkled nose.

Tana mimicked her. "Ew. I don't think anyone would do that without pay." She shuddered. "I don't even want to think about the working conditions."

"Oh, don't worry about that. They're . . . unusually good for a job like that, health care and such." Eirika said, looking down at the paper.

"They have health care for dumping, ah, waste? That's . . . interesting." Tana said with raised brows.

Eirika laughed. "Anyway, I have a huge stack of papers Innes needs to sign." Eirika said, gesturing to the massive pile in danger of falling over. "I can't believe how many things need a signature from the King. I've been trying to revise his food plans, but I see that Innes has this well thought out. But I found the start of a hunting law to finish. I don't know the first thing about hunting, so Innes may have to look over this . . ."

"Well that's better than looking over documents various committees have sent back with revisions. I can't tell if they're trying to help the people or hinder them." Tana sighed. "If this goes on I'm going to ask Father what he thinks."

"By the way, how is Hayden?" Eirika asked while shifting through the papers. Innes had them all organized alphabetically by topic and status. No wonder he knew she had been sneaking around behind his back.

"Oh, he's good. He's a little worried about Innes, but he's loving his retirement. Next week he's going out to his seaside cabin to fish and soak up the sun. Lucky. While he's out there fishing and tanning, Innes and I will still be working on paperwork." Tana looked over at her. "How long are you staying here?"

Eirika pursed her lips thoughtfully and tapped the end of her quill against the parchment. "I'm not sure. When everything starts to clear up, I suppose. Ephraim will want me back home sometime. He'll think Innes is holding me hostage if I stay away too long. And I'd hate to see what kind of trouble that will cause."

"Well, they better get used to seeing each other occasionally. And they better like it, too! They're going to be brother-in-laws for light's sake!" Tana said sternly.

Eirika couldn't help but laugh at the mental image Tana's words conjured. "I can just see them having a stare-down at the wedding! Oh, that's going to be so much fun!"

Tana smirked at her. "A little confident, are we Eirika?"

"Hey, I only planned on helping you plan the wedding. I didn't expect you to have it all figured out by the time I arrived here." Eirika replied, pointing her quill accusingly at her.

"I still need help with the napkins . . . and the invitations come to think of it . . ." Tana tapped her lips with the end of her quill.

"Don't worry about that. I'll help." Eirika jotted down a few suggestions onto another piece of paper and read it over again.

"Thank you." Tana paused. "Eirika, what are you going to do about Innes's night watches with Karlen? I just thought about that now, though I can't imagine why."

Eirika paused in her writing and stared at the door across the room from her. "Hmm. He'll have to give that up. It's not like he knows what he's looking for. I'd leave it for the professionals to take care of. There hasn't been an accident so far. That's what? A couple days now?"

Tana stared down at her paper. "I think that's why Innes is a little on edge lately. These accidents don't stay away for very long. Maybe he thinks another one will happen soon. I don't think you'll be able to dissuade him so easily, Eirika." She said seriously.

"No, maybe not, but I'll try all the same. Do you know where he is?" Eirika asked.

"I think he might be practicing with his bow before it gets too dark out." Tana glanced over at the window. "It's almost sunset."

"I can't believe we've been working on this paperwork most of the afternoon." Eirika stared at the stacks of parchment completely covering the desk.

"A few more days like this and we'll be caught up." Tana said with a small smile. "But I'm not really looking forward to all the writing. My hand is cramped up."

"Mine too." She flexed her fingers a few times. "Well," She pushed back her chair. "I think I'll go find Innes and see if I can persuade him to give up his nocturnal activities."

"Good luck." Tana said with a grin. "I'll clean up when I'm finished."

"Thank you, Tana."

Eirika found him out on the shooting range, completely oblivious to everything around him. She could see the concentration etched into his face. He moved with purpose and waited calmly and patiently for the right moment to release the arrow. She watched him with some awe as he drew back the string and raised it to his face. He stood motionless for several moments and, when she least expected it, he released the bolt with a sudden whipping sound. She started and shook her head at her surprise.

"Why don't you come over here and watch me closely rather than lurking in the shadow of the tree like an assassin?" Innes asked without turning to her. He knocked another arrow and looked over at her with a corner of his mouth lifted into a half smile.

Eirika found herself going a little red in the cheeks, but scampered over to his side. "Sorry, I didn't want to ruin your concentration." She said.

"Oh, please. I've fought amongst the screams of the wounded and the clashing of metal. I don't think you walking over to me would ruin my concentration." Innes replied, drawing the string back.

Eirika watched him grow still again as if turning to stone. Then the arrow shot out unexpectedly, causing her to jump again. Innes chuckled at her and rested the bow against his hip.

"So, what did you want to speak with me about?" he asked.

"How did you know I needed to speak with you? I could have come merely to watch you." Eirika asked, peering over at the target.

"You have a determined look on your face, like you're expecting a fight."

She looked up at him. "Do I?"

He tucked a lock of teal hair behind her ear. "Yes, you do. I tend to think you can intimidate officials into agreeing with you when you wear that expression. I'm learning to be wary of it myself."

"Oh, I didn't know that." She said honestly. She pursed her lips thoughtfully. It would explain why her brother gave in so easily about letting her stay in Frelia . . .

"Now you look disapproving of something. Your expression says: 'I'm not very happy with you, so you had better listen up.'" Innes said with a small laugh.

"Actually, I was wondering if my expression was the reason Ephraim let me stay here. It would explain why so many people give in to me. I didn't know I had that kind of influence."

"You do, trust me."

"Does that mean you're vulnerable to my influential expressions, too?" she asked hopefully.

Innes only chuckled nervously.

"All right, I see where I can use this to my advantage." She looked Innes in the eye. "You will give up your night watches with Karlen and use that time to sleep."

"Give up the watches?" Innes echoed, almost sounding bewildered. "I can't do that!"

"And why not? It's not as if you know what you're looking for anyhow." Eirika pointed out while trying to pin him with her eyes, but he kept looking away.

"Maybe so, but my presence is an influence in itself. The men won't miss anything while I'm there. I just have to wait for morning to come and then danger will be averted." Innes protested, turning himself away from Eirika's gaze.

"So what time does that give you to sleep?" she demanded, following him in a dizzying circle.

"Well . . . it doesn't." he admitted, turning again.

"So when do you get a chance to sleep?" she questioned. Eirika grabbed him by the chin and forced him to look at her. "Hmm?" She turned the full power of her demanding expression on him.

She saw him swallow. "Ah . . . I usually catch a quick nap when I'm supposed to be doing my paperwork." He confessed, trying to avert his gaze.

"Oh, Innes." She sighed exasperatedly and released him.

He rubbed his jaw with his free hand and watched her warily.

"Innes, I'm trying to make this easier on you. If you continue to check the construction sites with the watch, you'll lose sleep. That's not a good thing to do. Besides, how can you be certain that everything is safe? You can't be in multiple places at once. What if whoever is doing this tampers with one site you've already looked at? It seems pointless to continue."

"I have to do what I can, Eirika." He said quietly.

"You can still help your people if you give this up." she pointed out. "Helping your people doesn't mean killing yourself working. You're already deprived of sleep despite the hours you spent unconscious after the, uh, incident with my brother."

His gray eyes became intense. "If I can catch the saboteur, I'll be that much closer to providing homes for the children. I'll be that much closer to saving the lives of the workers. Once the saboteur has lost interest in the construction sites, light above knows what he or she will move onto next. I need to catch this person, Eirika."

It was then that Eirika understood him. He was obsessed with catching the saboteur. He wouldn't be dissuaded from his path. He wouldn't stop until this threat was caught and taken care of. She could see the need in his eyes, the fixated want to protect his kingdom. His dedication to his people made her smile, albeit a little reluctantly considering what she was about to say next.

She sighed. "All right, Innes. I'll let you continue the night watch, but," She looked into his intense gray eyes. "there are a few conditions."

A/N: Yes, yes, I know, I know! Cliffhanger! I sincerely apologize for that. I felt in continuing the chapter would force me to conclude it in a bad and/or awkward spot. I really didn't want to do that. And now for the important message!

Attention all readers! I am sorry to say that I will be taking a break. In other words, a hiatus. I know I left the fic off at a very bad point, but I couldn't help it. I need a little breathing space and time to find my inspiration. Please don't send me messages or reviews saying something along the lines of: "I can't believe you did that / You are vile / You are pure evil / You did this purposely to make all readers suffer / How could you be so selfish?!"

1) I am not vile, evil, etc. 2) I did not decide this for the sole purpose of making you suffering, left wondering, etc. 3) I am not being selfish. 4) I doing this for your benefit. I need to recharge. 4) I have way too much going on at once. I need to finish/complete something before I can continue working on my fics.

I WILL BE RETURNING EXACTLY ON JULY 7 2007.

Thank you for your cooperation.