Ok, cool! So somebody really does like this story! Thanks a lot to my two reviewers! -gives cake- Well, I'll continue, then! :D This chapter might be cheezy, but it's written to a Celine Dion song... can it really be anything else? I love her, but she really is cheezy. Of course, so am I! :D -is in good mood-
Ike was silent and brooding for the time he stayed at the Cathedral. He didn't speak much, and it didn't look like he'd ever smile again. The two were together rarely besides researching things, and when they were, they simply sat together and held each other tight. Then, one morning she woke, and he was gone.
One heart you are following...
You can run and you can begin
In a place where you don't fit in
Love will find a way
She couldn't believe it. Six days after he had come back, he was gone again, this time for good. She buried her head in her pillow and just lay there, letting all her dreams of him staying by her forever slowly fade.
A quiet voice interrupted her dreams. "Um, Sanaki?"
Sanaki looked up to see a friend of hers. Elya, the daughter of one of the maids and the only other girl her age in the castle. The two had become friends when Sanaki returned to Beignion, because she still kept that desire to be treated as a girl, not an Empress, by at least somebody. "What is it?" she said quietly, in a voice weighed down by grief.
"I just came to bring something to your attention. Can I come in?"
"Sure."
Elya sat on the edge of Sanaki's bed. "All the nobles think you're ill, because you haven't come out of here since Ike left. They can't imagine that you'd be missing him." She grinned. "Sigrun and Tainith have been pretty much running the place for you, and doing it well, too."
"So?"
"Well, if you can't function properly here, is there really any meaning to you being here and not, say, going after a certain fleeing mercenary? After all, they say your mother ran away with a young lordling for a while, then came back wiser and stronger." She cocked her head at Sanaki, smiling.
When you're down, you can start again
Turn around and you think you're in
Love will find a place
"Go after him...?" she said, a smile slowly spreading across her face. It sounded so good.
"Don't let him get away," Elya said, encouraging. "He is possibly the best thing that ever happened to you, and now he's trying to run? Don't let him." She pulled out a ledger from the low bag slung over her shoulder. "I've been doing a bit of research myself. Here's a copy of what you need to know on those Nanos, and a map of Tellius."
"Elya!" Sanaki said, laughing for the first time in days. "You were spying on us!"
"Got that right," Elya said. "And I looked over Ike's shoulder while he was researching, just an innocent maid asking him if he needed anything." She grinned. "It's kind of sad how often that one works. Don't let Ike get away! Sigrun and Tainith can handle the empire for you, and I'll pretend you're ill and I'm taking care of you."
"I'll do it!" said Sanaki, grinning herself.
If you got one heart you are following,
one dream keeps you wondering,
Love lights your way through the night.
One wish keeps you trying,
what's your silver lining?
Love lights your way through the night!
Sanaki took the clothes that Elya had brought her. She went into her closet and changed into them. A pair of simple travelling breeches, a light, flexible top, and a thick fleece poncho with a hood. She came back into her room where Elya waited.
"Wow! You look great, Sanaki!" she cried, laughing.
"It feels good," said Sanaki, stretching.
"Good riding clothes," said Elya, smiling. "With a horse you'd catch up with Ike in no time, since he's on foot."
Sanaki grinned. "And I know where to get one, too," she said.
You can fall a thousand times
You can feel like you've lost your mind
Love will find a way
Sanaki looked at the piece of paper. It seemed to be everything she would need on her journey. She thought a second, then added some herbs she knew were medicinal to the list. Elya stood at the door. "You can't go out, or they'll see you're not sick at all," Elya said. "Let me get the stuff for you."
"Thanks," said Sanaki.
"Anything to keep you from moping like that forever. Who would I play pranks on the senate with then?"
In a minute it can change your life.
In a moment it can make you right.
Love will find a place.
Sanaki looked down at the paper. How, in the Name of the Goddess, do I start a letter this big? She thought. Well, 'Dear Tainith and Sigrun', could start it. So she put that down. Then she added some things about how important the two were to her. Then she broke the news.
I'm going after Ike. He needs me, and I can't just stay behind again. I will come back afterward, this I swear to the Goddess. Please, just pretend I am ill and gone for treatment, or tell that I've run off, or something. I can't let him be hurt while I sit and do nothing.
She put it in an envelope labelled 'To the captain of the Holy Guard, Tainith'.
If you got one heart you are following,
one dream keeps you wondering,
Love lights your way through the night.
One wish keeps you trying,
what's your silver lining?
Love lights your way through the night!
It was dark. For a moment, fear gripped Sanaki's heart and she considered going back, but then her resolve steeled. No, she would not. She leaped easily onto her dark coloured horse, her pack at her back and her Tome in a specially crafted bag.
"Good luck," said Elya.
"I'll be back," said Sanaki, "With a tale of victory to tell."
"And Ike," laughed Elya.
"Perhaps," said Sanaki. "Bye, Elya." She spurred her horse on, and quickly disappeared into the night.
Goddess protect her,
thought Elya,and me if anyone ever finds out I helped her.
"See you, Sanaki," she whispered.
Everybody needs something to hold onto
The forest was dank and dark, and Sanaki's horse had a hard time keeping on its feet in the damp leaves and light rain. Concentrating, she created a small fireball to light her way. She wouldn't go back, not now. She couldn't.
Everybody needs something to hold on to
I can't go back, I know that. But where do I start, looking for a man who doesn't want to be found?
She rode slower, coming to a stop. I know! A finding spell! She pulled out her map of Tellius and put her hands over it. She summoned her magic and thought of Ike. She remembered how his arms around her felt, how his voice sounded when he spoke softly, and how he laughed. She pictured him clearly in her head. And she felt the magic leave her body.
If you got one heart you are following,
one dream keeps you wondering,
Love lights your way through the night.
A dot appeared on the map. Ike! And he wasn't very far away at all! She oriented herself with the map, then set off toward him. The dot was still. He was either sleeping, fighting, or... well, she wouldn't think about that. It wouldn't happen. Ike was too strong for that.
One wish keeps you trying,
what's your silver lining?
Love lights your way through the night!
"Oh, Goddess," Tainith said, looking at the letter. Silently, Elya dammed herself for not getting there more quickly.
"She did it," said Sigrun. "She got up the courage..." When Tainith shot her a glare, she said, "With a spirit like Sanaki, a freedom loving, strong young woman, do you really think she'd be content to sit meekly in Beignion, pretending nothing was wrong? If she's in love with him, do you think she could? And better she went now, with the peace that seems to be lasting, than in a time of war when all places are in danger. Tainith, you stay and act for her. Say she's ill. I will go after her. Not to bring her back, she'd never forgive us for that. I'll find her, and whatever problem Ike's in, no doubt they could use some help."
One wish keeps you trying,
find your silver lining.
Love lights your way through the night!
The forest was dark, and Sanaki was tired. But she would not give up. She would find him, if it took her a million years. She had to find him. She had to.
Love will find a way
Love will find a way in your heart.
Please review again, if you're still reading! I love writing this, but if people like my other fics more, I'll wait on this one. Please tell me if you like it, I except any reviews! Logged or unlogged, I don't care! :D
