Part Three: The Meeting
The Promising Future
Almost a month had passed since the St. Konoe Knights left their home of Lesalia on their journey to join their comrades, when they finally reached the fort of Bethla Garrison. Knights lined the walls, whooping and waving as they approached, as if they were already celebrating their victory over the Ordallian Army.
Many of the Lesalian knights returned their shouts with smiles on their wearied features, some even raising their spears in salute as they passed through the gates of the fortress, glad to have finally reached their destination. The two weeks spent at the mountains had dampened their spirits a bit, and Lord Oaks had been afraid that they had come too late to join the attack on Limberry Castle.
He was relieved, however, as a young knight came to greet him, that the commanders of the Hokuten and the Aegis Knights along with the lords of Gallione and Limberry had waited patiently for his arrival.
"Forgive the delay, my lords," he apologized as soon as he entered the fortress' council room, taking his place near the end of the long table. "Doguola Pass can be a difficult place to cross at this time of the year."
"No doubt," Prince Larg, Lord of Gallione, nodded in understanding.
"Well, I'm glad you could make it, Lord Oaks," the Lord of Limberry, Marquis Elmdor, added with a strained smile that did not go unnoticed by the others at the table. "This battle would have been difficult with a third of our forces missing."
"Especially with the recent reports stating the numbers of the opposing army being double that of what we had expected," Andrew Birch, Limberry's Aegis Knights Commander, stated grimly.
The others muttered under their breaths, understanding why Marquis Elmdor looked apprehensive.
"Does that change General Balbanes' orders?" Agnes inquired.
Dycedarg, who sat next to Prince Larg, shook his head. "We will still drive out the Ordallian army from Limberry, but not in force as we had planned. We will be taking a different approach."
"I hope you don't plan on a siege. We don't have the time or the resources for one."
Dycedarg nodded. "I understand, but I didn't plan on a siege for as you stated, we don't have the time or the resources. What I propose is to send a force inside the castle to open the gate for the rest of our troops to enter before they have a chance to know what's happening."
"An ambush…" Marquis Elmdor mused with a smile. "It might work…" He leaned back against his chair. "But you must consider that Limberry sits on a lake. How could one or even a small force enter without being noticed on the water?"
"Why ask such a question, my lord?" Andrew inquired. "You know your land better than anyone. There are secret passages into the city. We could access those during the cover of night."
"Thank you for volunteering, Commander Birch," the Marquis smirked, making Andrew to splutter in surprise. The Silver Noble then looked at the others. "I do know my lands, gentlemen, and I know that only four at the most can go."
"Is that enough?" Larg questioned from his left. "I'd feel safer if six more should join."
Elmdor shook his head. "It'll be too obvious. To access those secret passages, you need a boat. Ten people are too many to cross the waters undetected even in cover of night."
Larg was about to protest when Dycedarg suddenly spoke: "Four should be enough. The enemy will be too busy noticing our army gathered around the castle to take heed of four intruders. Granted that our guide can lead us without going astray."
He glanced at Andrew, who steadily returned his gaze as he challenged, "Are you volunteering for the mission, Sir Dycedarg?"
"Yes, he is," Larg replied for Dycedarg before he could answer. "Such a mission requires the best."
Marquis Elmdor nodded. "That makes two. Who else? Perhaps someone from your army, Lord Oaks?"
Agnes stroked his mustache in thought. "As Prince Larg stated, such a mission requires the best… My combat master, Sir Lance Cadin, is suitable for the job. He'll accompany the party."
"And I'll take my son as the fourth person, Marquis," Andrew stated. "He knows the passages as well as I. If we run into the misfortune of being separated, at least Sirs Dycedarg and Cadin won't be without a guide."
The Silver Noble nodded. "Very well. Then we must prepare the troops for the march through Dolbodar Swamp. It will be slow-going with such a large force, but easier with the grounds solid from this cold. Now then," he stood from his chair, signaling the end of the meeting, "I'm sure you would like to speak with your commanding officers about our deployment. We'll reconvene tomorrow morning to finalize our strategy."
Agrias shouted as she wheeled and slashed the straw dummy straight across its chest.
There were similar shouts in the training hall as fellow knights honed their skills in preparation for the upcoming battle of Limberry. Fortunately, the hall was an open courtyard sequestered towards the back of the fortress, near the armory and the stables, able to accommodate the sudden flood of knights. Light snow powdered the floor and the practice dummies that lined one wall, two of which were hanging in pieces, their heads and arms missing.
A few knights turned at her shout, watching as she sliced the dummy's arms off cleanly. With a final shout, she beheaded the straw soldier, the head slowly rolling to a stop at her feet, thrusting her sword forward afterwards through the dummy's heart. She pulled her sword out, twisting it so that it left a gaping hole.
Lavian sighed as she shook her head, watching as the Holy Knight turned to the next dummy and started the same routine again.
"What's wrong with her? That's the third dummy she's wrecked."
Lavian turned towards the speaker and smiled slightly when she saw that it was Galen, one of Lance's associates. "This is how Lady Agrias deals with her frustration," she replied. "Though why she's frustrated, I cannot say."
"It's probably because of Sir Cadin," Alicia stated nonchalantly, smiling as she joined Lavian and Galen.
Galen frowned in confusion as Lavian asked, "How did you come to that conclusion?"
Alicia pointed to a figure approaching the aggravated Holy Knight. "Watch."
Lavian groaned when she recognized the combat master. "Oh, no…"
She admired Sir Cadin's bravery, but to approach Lady Agrias when she's ill-tempered was akin to provoking a behemoth to charge.
"I'll go get the bandages and ointments," Alicia offered, knowing that one or both would need some recovery time after the spar that was surely to commence.
Galen's frown grew deeper, aware of the knight maidens' implications. "Why do you not stop her?"
Lavian made to follow Alicia since her friend was not well-versed in chemistry, but paused upon Galen's inquiry. "A storm cannot be stopped until it has unleashed its fury," she illustrated before turning towards Galen. "Alicia and I have learned the hard way and I'm certain that Sir Cadin would take the lesson to heart."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," the knight mused to himself, glancing at his friend in worry before joining the two knight maidens. If what Lavian said was true, he did not envy the combat master at all.
As they walked away from the oncoming 'storm', Lance was heading straight for it without fear.
"Lady Agrias," he called as he neared her. "I must speak with you."
The lady knight ignored his call, swinging her sword towards the dummy, leaving a vicious diagonal slash across its chest.
"Lady Agrias."
She swung her sword again, mirroring her first slash so that the dummy now had an 'X' marked on its chest.
"Lady Agrias!"
She pulled her sword back, her blade pointing at the midst of the mark, shouting as she thrust forward…
…only to be parried by the combat master's sword.
She growled as she stepped back, glaring at the combat master. "What do you want?" she demanded.
Lance lowered his sword, relieved that he finally got her attention. "I only wish to speak with you. If you'll permit me…?"
Agrias snorted in disgust. "If you wish to talk," she brandished her sword, "then talk with your blade!" She then charged at the combat master, roaring as she raised her sword.
Lance stood calmly, his sword held casually in his hand. He made no move to defend himself even as Agrias' sword descended. Suddenly at the last moment, he sidestepped, dodging the Holy Knight's swing.
Agrias stumbled, her momentum carrying her forward. Once she regained her balance, she turned and glared at the combat master, who asked, "Are you done talking yet?"
He did not mean it in jest, but Agrias mistook it as such, growling as she charged at the combat master once again.
Lance watched, raising his sword slightly, but still keeping a calm air about him. Agrias jabbed her sword forward and he parried the thrust, letting her sword slide along his blade as her momentum carried her forward, and with a flick of his wrist, sent her sword flying into the air. Before it clattered on the flagstones a few paces away, he had his sword pointed at the lady knight's throat.
"Enough, Lady Agrias," he spoke gently. "Do you yield?"
"I have no choice, do I?" she muttered through clenched teeth. The duel grimly reminded her why Sir Lance Cadin was given the title of 'Combat Master'.
As the title stated, Lance had mastered the art of combat in all its forms: hand-to-hand, melee weapons, ranged weapons, and yes, even magic. It's because of his numerous skills that he could easily adapt to any situation in the midst of battle. One could say that he was the ultimate warrior, but Lance knew that to take pride in his abilities could result in dire consequences.
So he humbled himself, as he did now, withdrawing his blade from the lady knight's throat and sheathing it. He then went to where Agrias' sword had landed and picked it up. Holding it carefully across his palms, he returned to Agrias. "Your sword, my lady," he said as he fell to one knee, his head bowed in respect as he raised her sword towards her.
Agrias didn't know whether to feel insulted or gratified as she grabbed her sword and shoved it into its sheath. Without another word, she turned to leave at which Lance quickly stood and followed saying, "Lady Agrias, please, a word with you."
"There's nothing for us to discuss," she said, still continuing on her way.
"I beg to differ," Lance disagreed, quickly intercepting her path, forcing the Holy Knight to pause.
Agrias glared at him. "What's there to talk about? I saw what happened in Bervenia!"
Lance blinked in confusion, taken aback by the statement. "Bervenia?"
They had stopped at Bervenia Free City to resupply their forces before marching through the Bed Desert. Their stay was brief, only lasting two days, but it seemed in those two days he had done something to provoke the lady knight's ire. He tried to remember what he did wrong, but could not recall ever offending Agrias.
"What happened in Bervenia, pray tell?" he asked, perplexed.
At which Agrias' eyes smoldered, her lips pursed into a thin grim line, trying to contain her anger. She could not believe the combat master's ignorance as she tried to calm herself.
At Bervenia Free City, she had met a lady knight, much like herself, except she served the Church instead of the Crown. Her name was Meliadoul Tingel. She was from a prominent family within the Church, much like her family was within the Crown.
During their brief two days of resupplying the army, Agrias grew to like Lady Tingel. She found that they had a lot of things in common. But it was on their last day that she had changed her view of the Divine Knight.
It was when they were leaving that her father had asked her to look for the combat master. She had agreed without giving it a second thought, glad to fulfill her father's request—and eager to see Lance.
When she had rounded a corner during her stroll, she paused when she saw the combat master. She was about to wave to him when suddenly Meliadoul arrived bearing a small gift to Lance. She quickly hid behind a stack of crates and peeked ever so slightly at the couple.
Lance had smiled in greeting as he slightly bowed at the Divine Knight. He took the gift, and with another bow, thanked her. Meliadoul smiled in return, pleased at his response.
It was then that Agrias had seen enough, and without another glance, she had returned to her father and had remained withdrawn for the rest of the journey.
She instinctively clenched her hands as she recalled the memory. "Lady Tingel," she growled, forcing herself to say the name.
"The Divine Knight?" Lance returned, head slightly bent to the side in thought, trying to recall what he had done in the free city.
He remembered Lady Tingel, the daughter of the leader of the Temple Knights of the Murond Glabados Church. She was beautiful with brown eyes and wavy hair of the same hue. But not as beautiful as the stern Holy Knight before him…
Suddenly a memory came to him of their last day in Bervenia. Lady Tingel had given him a gift, a small trinket, as a memento of his stay at the free city. Nothing of the romantic sort, but perhaps…
He frowned. Why would Lady Agrias be jealous of the Divine Knight? Surely she had seen him speak with other female knights. Why did she react to this particular incident? He then gazed at the practice dummies and recognized for the first time the gaping holes in each of the dummies' chests.
Where the heart should be.
Slowly the pieces were falling into place and he realized its picture:
Lady Agrias was jealous.
"Do you admit it?" he asked, his gaze softening as he turned to look at her.
"Admit what?" Agrias retorted, glare unrelenting. "That I'm angry? Yes!"
"That you're jealous," Lance amended. "That you feel betrayed. That you hold feelings for me."
Agrias gasped, taking an involuntary step back as if she'd been struck.
Seeing her resolve weakening, the combat master continued to persuade her lest she recovered from her confusion. "You saw Lady Tingel give me a gift. In the past, you have seen an array of ladies impart to me their gifts. Why does this one particular incident trouble you? I never imagined for you to be quite upset over a trivial matter, a matter you have witnessed as long as you have known me."
Agrias stood very still, her heart pounding, her mind abuzz. It's true what Lance said about her witnessing other ladies offering him gifts. So why was she upset over this one incident? Was Lance's assumption true? Was it because…?
She felt like running away, her heart pounding in fear or something else, something that she was too stubborn to admit. She quickly turned around, unable to face her answer, and like a coward, ran from the training hall, ignoring the plea that followed.
It felt strange to run for she was never one to avoid a fight. She'd been taught to stand her ground and to not give way to the enemy, but ever since the banquet, she'd felt like she was being overwhelmed. She needed time to regroup and to rethink, to clear the confusion that skirled through her mind random as the wind that buffeted the ramparts.
Back at Oaks Keep, she would find solitude in the gardens that surrounded her home, but here at Bethla Garrison she was not afforded such luxury. The training hall had been a welcome distraction until the combat master had arrived and only served to confuse her further.
She sighed in frustration as she halted in the corridor, breathing deeply as much as to catch her breath as to clear her mind. But just as in the pass, her mind wandered back towards the combat master and the observation he had made.
She had felt jealousy's sting, she admit, but that's how far she'll admit. She won't admit the other for to admit was to commit and that was what frightened her. She was committed to her sword, to her duty as a knight. She also took pride in her abilities that she felt if she were to confess to the combat master, she would become a burden on the field. She refused to become a damsel-in-distress.
Yet she could not deny that she did love him and the thought frightened her: she had felt secure in her duties, defending her country with pride and honor, defeating her enemies that would see the kingdom harmed. She had not thought about love for there was no room for such frivolous concerns in the heat of battle.
She clenched her hands into fists, wanting nothing more than to meet this dilemma directly in honest combat, but how could she fight against her heart?
"What am I to do?" she muttered as she looked out of one of the embrasures that lined the corridor.
She could hear the howling of the wind as a fresh curtain of snow fell. Knowing that the training hall must be emptied of those honing their skills—Lance included—she did not wish to see him if they happen upon each other in the corridor, for his presence would only serve to add to her turmoil. Therefore she walked towards the stairs that would carry her down to the fort's quarters.
She did not seek her own quarters she shared with Lavian and Alicia, however. Even though she knew the two knight maidens were probably at the mess hall—the growling in her own stomach having reminded her that it was time for the evening meal—she did not want to endure their teasing once they returned so instead she decided to seek out her father. Perhaps he could offer some resolution to her quandary.
Agrias was oblivious to her surroundings as she walked the corridor, deep in thought when someone called out to her:
"Agrias."
She halted at the informal address for only a few would call her by her name alone. She turned towards the source and saw Alex Birch approaching from behind and she could not help but smile upon seeing him. The last she saw of him was at her mother's funeral a few years ago. He appeared unchanged with his shoulder-length orangey hair and neat beard, but he seemed different, as if he glowed with an inner light, an inner purpose. Then, as he passed the light of a torch, she saw something glitter on his left hand, and upon closer inspection saw a band of gold around the fourth finger. She knew then that she had found the source of his change.
"Alex, it's been a while, hasn't it?" she returned in greeting.
The Limberrian shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose so," he allowed with a sincere smile.
"I see that you are now wed," Agrias commented, gesturing to the ring on his finger.
Alex's smile grew fond as he gazed at the ring. "It was a simple ceremony," he said softly, his eyes growing distant as he remembered.
There was none of the pomp that most nobles enjoyed, nor time for much ceremony beyond the simple declaration of the vows due to the war. The banquet that followed was as simple as the wedding, enjoyed by close family members on both sides, and when they retired Alex knew a sense of completeness, of rectitude, that filled him with delight.
"You must miss her," Agrias suggested, seeing the longing in his eyes.
The Limberrian knight sighed. "I do," he responded. "The sooner we retake Limberry, the better. I…am worried for her," he whispered in what sounded like fear, as if to speak ill was to invite misfortune. "She's with child," he explained, answering Agrias' curious stare.
The Holy Knight was taken aback at the news. She could not picture Alex being a father, perhaps because they grew up together, and having a child during the war seemed inappropriate given the circumstances. Alex, though, seemed happy, proud even that he would be raising a child. It meant that new responsibilities lay ahead and she wondered how he would handle both the duties of a knight and the responsibilities to his family. She voiced her concern to which Alex laughed.
"Serious as always, Agrias. You never changed." He referred to their childhood. Even as a child, Agrias had always been somber. He knew her to be duty-bound to the point of stubbornness. Sometimes he wondered if she saw herself only as a knight and nothing more. Perhaps it was due to the passing of her mother.
The Lady Dei had been a willful woman, and though Agrias did not favor her in looks, she had inherited her spirit. Her passing took not only Agnes hard, but Agrias as well, both keeping busy with the war as to fill that void left behind. He could not fathom such loss, and again he was reminded of his wife's circumstance, praying that she was well.
Alex glanced again at the ring on his finger. "There is more to being a knight than just duty," he stated to her as an older sibling would to their younger. "Not only do we defend our home, we protect those we love. I do not see my responsibilities to my family as an addition to my duties, but a part of them."
"I see," Agrias mused, trying to comprehend the Limberrian's answer. "More than just duty…" Her father's words suddenly came to mind just as Alex spoke them:
"Do not be a knight who simply carries out their duty."
Agrias gaped at him in surprise. "You know that saying?" she questioned.
Alex nodded. "Father told me that saying when I became a knight. It took me a while to understand it." He then chuckled. "Father would always repeat it whenever I ran into some trouble. There were times I got so frustrated hearing it repeatedly, but when I fell in love with Tiana, my wife, I began to understand it a little. When we got married," his smile grew wide, "that's when I fully understood. Father wanted to show me that there's more to being a knight than glory in battle, that there are people who depend on you to protect them."
"There are," she agreed.
Alex was aware that Agrias misunderstood what he meant for it was a knight's duty to protect the weak. He remained silent, however, knowing that her time will come just as it did him. He soon realized that the corridor was beginning to become busy once more as knights returned to their quarters after the evening meal. "Perhaps it's time we seek our own quarters, Agrias. Evening has fast become night and we must stand ready to advance onto Limberry when we are ordered."
Agrias nodded in agreement, wishing him a good night as she watched him stride away. His answer seemed simple and direct, but she felt as if he meant more, that there was a hidden meaning.
And what is that meaning?, she wondered. A knight's duty is to protect the people, so yes, the people do depend on them. Yet she felt as if there's more to the chivalric code.
She wished her mother was still alive. She would understand the turmoil in her heart and advise her on what to do. Since her death, however, she had occupied herself with the war and knew nothing of life beyond the battlefield. And perhaps that's where the answer lied.
Agrias didn't know where to begin, but maybe her father would point her in the right direction, and with that thought in mind she resumed her journey down the corridor to seek out his quarters.
Agnes sighed as he placed the quill back in its inkpot, looking over the latest entry in his journal. Satisfied, he closed the book and stood from his desk just as someone knocked on his door.
"Come," he beckoned them and was surprised to see his daughter enter.
Agnes immediately took note of her nervousness, seeing the light of the nearby hearth splay across her haunted features, her eyes downcast as she wrung her hands. He had never seen her so restless though he had an inkling as to why.
"Forgive me, father, for intruding," she apologized a bit anxiously, "but I wish to speak with you. It's about—" She paused as she took a deep breath, trying to find the courage to continue before her will dissolved. "It's about Lance."
Agnes smiled knowingly as he gestured for his daughter to sit on the couch that faced the hearth. "I heard you departed quickly from the training hall after the conclusion of your spar with the combat master," he said as he walked over to a small table where a decanter of warm cider awaited. He poured two cups and offered one to Agrias, who thanked him before swallowing a generous measure of the liquor.
The Lesalian Commander drank his more slowly as he studied his daughter. She seemed unsure and frustrated, her hand clenching the goblet's stem while the other drummed fingers against the arm of the couch. He knew that it's difficult for Agrias to talk about her feelings. Oftentimes he would be the one to initiate the conversation, but this time he sensed that something was troubling his daughter. He had sensed it since Bervenia but naught the time to discuss the matter with the war council and the preparation for deployment to Limberry to be handled. He was pleased that she had the courage to come to him instead. He waited patiently for Agrias to explain, knowing that to press the subject was to push her away.
"I don't know what's happening to me," she sighed after a moment of silent contemplation. "I feel…conflicted, confused."
Agnes smiled softly, placing his cup down on the table. "Agrias," he said affectionately, the father in him speaking, kneeling in front of her as he had done when she was a little girl. "You know the answer to that question. It lies here." He pointed to her heart. "All you need do is acknowledge it."
"But I cannot!" she exclaimed, shaking her head in denial.
Agnes stared at his daughter, knowing that it was not the matter of cannot, but of will not. He was disappointed that she still refused to acknowledge her feelings. "You're just like your mother," he murmured as he rose to his feet.
"Father?" Agrias asked uncertainly, puzzled by his comment.
Agnes sighed as he turned slightly to gaze sadly at the fire. "How long will you deny your feelings, Agrias?" he whispered, thinking it best for her to confront them now. There was no point in delaying the foreseeable.
He noticed that the question took her by surprise, watching as she took a second swallow of cider to hide her momentary confusion. "I'm a knight, father," she answered. "My duty comes first."
"I know what you are," Agnes murmured, "and I did not ask you that. How long will you deny your feelings?"
Agrias realized her father asked with the customary bluntness given when ordering his knights. She suddenly felt like running away again, unable to answer her father's question just as she had been unable to answer Lance's question. But as she had stated, she was a knight and not given to questioning orders.
So she squared her shoulders as she took a deep breath. "I…" she began then paused, unsure of her answer. In truth, she could not deny her feelings, but she did not want to acknowledge them because…
"I'm afraid, father," she finally confessed in a hushed voice. "I cannot deny my feelings, but I'm afraid to acknowledge them."
It was in the open now, spoken, and she felt curiously better for it.
"Why are you afraid?" asked Agnes.
That was far harder to answer for she could not be sure. To her, she was presented with two paths, and to choose one was to leave the other behind. As she had told her father, her duty as a knight came first. To acknowledge her feelings felt akin to abandoning her duty, to choose the one over the other.
She told Agnes as much and her father said, "It is expected that you feel that way. You've fought in the war for most of your life and only know the duties of a knight. You have still much to learn."
"Then teach me!" she urged. "What am I to do, father? Which path should I take?"
"Which path would you take?" came the answer, surprising Agrias. "The war is almost over and many knights will be returning to their homes, resuming the lives they had left when they were called to service. You may continue on with your duties in Lesalia, if that is what you desire."
"If that is what I desire…" Agrias murmured to herself.
Is that truly what she wanted to do after the war? Continue on with her duties while everyone lived their own lives? Did she really want to be stuck on guard duty or to patrol the countryside for any wayward thieves? Lest the Crown gave her an assignment, she would be stuck in Lesalia Castle.
And she didn't want that.
She sighed, more in frustration than in resignation. The other path did not look as appealing either.
Her troubled expression reminded Agnes of the time during the banquet where he had confronted her feelings. He wondered if she was going to evade the situation again, excusing herself from his room. As much as he wanted her to decide now, he knew that this was a decision that cannot be rushed.
But time was never a luxury especially when both parties were knights.
He could not deny that they were excellent warriors, having fought their share of battles in this long war, but…
He sighed as he rubbed his neck where an old scar ran from behind his ear down under his collar. The scar was forever a reminder of his wife's stubbornness and his foolishness; his foolishness for disobeying an order and his wife's stubbornness for not admitting her feelings sooner. If he had died at that battle, then he would have never known and Dei would have agonized at her folly for not telling him at all.
Now another battle loomed over the horizon and he did not want Agrias to make the same mistake her mother had made.
He returned to the table, taking up his cup, and sipped the cider, contemplating on the past and the present and how they seemed to blur together. History, it seemed, repeats itself no matter if the event is significant or minute.
As if sensing his thoughts, Agrias suddenly asked, "Father, what do you think mother would have said if she were here?"
Agnes felt a pang of guilt at the question, wishing that his daughter had spent more time with her mother at home than with him on the battlefield. Perhaps then Dei would have advised her on courtly matters including the likelihood of suitors.
He remembered how Dei had fret over their only child going into battle. Even with his promises to watch over Agrias, his wife would always worry for them both. He supported Agrias' decision to become a knight while Dei had adamantly opposed it.
Perhaps he should have agreed with his wife. He wouldn't be in this position otherwise.
He sighed again as he rubbed his neck. "You're just like your mother," he repeated his comment from earlier. "Stubborn to acknowledge your feelings." He then gazed at her solemnly. "Your mother would not want you to make the same mistake she made," he answered her question. "She wouldn't want you to delay any longer."
"What do you mean, father?" Agrias asked curiously.
"This." He shifted his shoulder-length hair away from the left side of his neck, revealing the scar.
Agrias stared at the scar inquisitively, wondering how she could have missed it when her father would tie his hair back into a tail.
"It was when I was at Death's door did she confess," he continued, letting his hair fall to hide the scar once more. "The fear of loss was what moved her. She would want to spare you from that anguish. I would too."
Agrias frowned in thought, focusing her attention on the dancing flames, and in their glow the Lesalian Commander saw her resolve slightly faltering. Agnes knew that she missed her mother, and he too wished she still lived for he could not really explain as fully as she, most of it having to do with her own experience.
The choice, however, should be obvious even to someone as blind as Agrias, and seeing the doubt on her face urged him to persist while she was still lost on the matter, but he did not have the chance as a knocking echoed against the door. He frowned as he crossed the room, wondering who would visit him this late in the evening. He swung the door open to reveal Lance Cadin, his face alight with curiosity.
"My lord," he greeted, "I heard you wished to speak with me."
It took a while for Agnes to respond, having forgotten the reason why he had summoned the combat master, being too involved with the conversation he was having with his daughter. He glanced back at her then, wondering if he should dismiss Lance and continue on with the discussion.
The combat master, sensing his lord's hesitation, offered to return at a later time, but Agnes refused with a shake of his head, suddenly remembering why he had summoned him. "It's all right, Sir Cadin," he said as he stepped to the side in silent invitation. "Perhaps this is for the best…"
Lance looked at him strangely when he heard the comment, but Agnes only smiled and motioned him further into the room as he shut the door.
"Father, who was at the door?" the combat master heard a familiar voice ask, pausing as he gazed at the beauty who stood from the couch. Their eyes met, and both stood frozen, surprised to meet again after such an abrupt parting in the training hall.
"I have something important to discuss with Sir Cadin," Agnes answered as he calmly slipped between them on his way to his desk, breaking their stare.
Lance coughed awkwardly as to hide his embarrassment, giving Agrias an apologetic smile before joining Agnes at his desk.
"Perhaps I should leave," Agrias suggested.
"Wait a moment, Agrias," requested the Lesalian Commander as he took his seat behind the desk. "This should be brief." He then picked up a few papers and motioned for Lance to stand next to him as he presented the details to him.
Agrias sighed as she resumed her seat, never one to disobey her father.
Just as a knight was never one to disobey their commander.
She then laughed softly at the irony. When did being a daughter have anything to do with being a knight? Perhaps her father was right. She only knew the duties of a knight and not that of a lady of a prominent House. It was her mother that had been the Lady Oaks, but with her passing, she suddenly realized that the burden of the title had fallen upon her.
And she did not know how to conduct herself as a lady despite people addressing her as such.
She sighed again, troubled by this startling fact. It seems she has much to learn after all. When this war is over, she decided as she raised her cup to her lips to drink only to find the vessel empty. She sighed for a third time, rising from her seat with the intention of refilling her goblet.
The table with the decanter stood next to the fireplace in close proximity of her father's desk. As she refilled her goblet, she couldn't help but overhear their discussion.
"Is this wise, my lord?" she heard Lance question. "To have the commanders of both the Aegis and Hokuten participate in this mission? Wouldn't that leave the two orders leaderless?"
"Not quite," her father countered. "You forget that Prince Larg was a well-respected general before he became lord of Gallione and Marquis Elmdor is well-respected by his own men. They are more than capable of leading the orders."
"Of course," Lance acquiesced with a nod, his face slightly flushed, feeling somewhat chastened at the correction. "How presumptuous of me to have forgotten though I must confess," he continued, his voice carrying a hint of worry in its tone, "this is a very dangerous mission even for ones such as the Commanders of the Hokuten and the Aegis."
This was the second time Agrias heard the commanders of the other orders mentioned in the conversation and she wondered what mission was so important to have them partake in it. She was so lost in thought that she forgot about her drink until it overflowed, wetting her hand. She then cursed softly as she looked around for a towel to clean her mess.
Lance looked up at the expletive while Agnes replied, "I know," as if nothing had happened. He knew, however, that the combat master's attention was lost already as he left his side to see what had upset his daughter, much to her frustration. Just as well for he also knew that Agrias was curious as to what they had been discussing earlier and that she would want to ask questions about it...
…which Lance should be capable of answering.
He smirked at the thought, hoping the answers should push Agrias to make a decision, as he stacked his papers neatly before rising from his desk. "We'll discuss more of this mission on the morrow, Sir Cadin," he stated, purposely disrupting the couple's bickering.
Lance quickly turned around at the announcement, his face slightly flushed in embarrassment when he realized that he had dismissed himself prematurely from the commander's briefing. "My lord, forgive me!" he exclaimed in apology. "I forget myself."
Agnes laughed as he waved a dismissive hand. "It is getting late," he said, the incident forgotten. "I would not want to keep you especially since we need to be up early tomorrow to attend the council. You can voice your concerns about the mission then."
"Yes, my lord," Lance assented with a nod.
"And what mission would that be?" Agrias asked, her curiosity overlooking Lance's presence.
Agnes looked at her sternly. "You were eavesdropping," he scolded her.
Agrias flushed slightly at the chiding, her father's tone reminiscent of the times he had scolded her as a child. Her cheeks grew redder from embarrassment when Lance began to laugh. She glared at him as she asked, "You find this amusing?" through gritted teeth.
"No, I find it charming," he replied between chuckles.
Agnes thought, with some amusement, that Agrias' cheeks could not get any redder as they were now. She had quickly turned away as to hide her mortification.
Lance, sensing her discomfiture, bowed and apologized. "Forgive me, Lady Agrias. I only meant to," he thought to say praise your beauty, but he knew that would only serve to fluster her more so he decided on, "compliment you."
She murmured something in reply, but he could not hear for her back was turned. He did not want to trouble her with repeating it, risking upsetting her further. So he let her be, wishing her a good night before turning to Lord Oaks. "By your leave, my lord."
Agnes hesitated a little. He had planned to ask the combat master to escort Agrias to her quarters, hoping that she would inquire about his mission on the way, but thought better of it, seeing her slightly flustered still and wanting to spare her the awkwardness already caused by his remark.
"Of course," he nodded with a tired smile as he added, "Allow me to see you to the door," motioning the combat master towards the exit.
Lance was about to object, but when he saw Agnes briefly glance at Agrias, he understood the gesture. "As you wish, my lord," he complied, following the Commander as they left Agrias alone.
"Please forgive Agrias," Agnes requested of Lance in an apologetic tone as he opened the door for him. "She is like her mother when I was courting her. Give her some time," he said with an encouraging smile.
Lance nodded, returning the smile as he said, "Of course, Lord Oaks. There will be plenty of time after the war ends. She told me herself that we would get to know more about each other then."
Agnes raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Did she now?" he murmured, surprised to hear that Agrias had suggested such a thing. "That's good to hear," he nodded, pleased, smiling as he dismissed the young knight. "Rest well, Sir Cadin. We shall meet again on the morrow."
Lance bowed as he murmured his farewell, taking his leave of the Commander.
Agnes slowly closed the door, sighing as he lingered there, wondering if he was doing the right thing in sending the combat master on this dangerous mission after learning of his intentions after the war. There was no guarantee of his safety, but then again, Lance did not refuse the assignment perhaps because he thought it was his duty as a knight to obey his commander.
But knowing the combat master, it was more than that.
We have our reasons why we fight this war, my lord.
Agnes smiled softly to himself as he remembered Lance's words. He was not fighting this war for himself, but for those he loved.
"Loving someone deeply gives you courage," Agnes murmured an old proverb. He felt more at ease now knowing that he had made the right decision in sending the combat master on this mission.
With that thought in mind, he walked back only to find Agrias perusing his desk. He paused as he watched her silently while she read what he had discussed with Sir Cadin. Her brows furrowed in disapproval, her mouth set in a grim line.
At least it saved me the trouble of having to explain the mission to her, he thought as he approached her.
"Father, what is this?" she demanded, holding up the papers to indicate what she was referring.
"What do you think it is?" Agnes countered, folding his hands behind his back as he gazed calmly at his daughter.
"A death sentence!" she exclaimed as she threw the papers on the desk. "How could you send Lance—"
Agnes raised a brow, startled at hearing Agrias calling the combat master by his first name again without her knowing.
"—on this dangerous mission?" she finished. "Even accompanied by some of the best knights of the other Orders, it's still risky."
He did not immediately answer. Instead he picked up the papers she was holding a moment ago and deliberately studied them in front of her.
"He is a knight," he began suddenly, his eyes still on the report, "and I am commander. As such, it is his duty," he emphasized the word, the word that Agrias was so intent on following, "to obey my orders, else how could order exist within the knighthood? Those were your exact words at Doguola Pass if I recall, so I don't see why you should be so concerned." He placed the papers gently on his desk then looked at her with a challenging gaze.
Agrias could only gape in disbelief. To hear her own words thrown back at her felt like a slap in the face, but her father was right, and she was never one to take back her words, yet why was she so concerned?
She frowned at the question. An order was an order and one must be willing to obey in service to the kingdom even if it means death. Wasn't that the highest honor? She, herself, would feel honored to be given such a task, proud to have accepted.
I should be happy for Sir Cadin, she thought, but why am I not? Why do I have this sense of…?
Her father had said concern, but she thought it was a kinder term for fear. Yes, that was it. She was afraid.
Why am I afraid?
It was a ridiculous question because she shouldn't be afraid, but when she had been reading her father's notes, she had felt her heart clench at the thought of losing the combat master…
Her eyes widened, the answer suddenly clear:
She was afraid of losing Lance.
That was why she disapproved of the mission. She didn't want Lance to participate, to put himself in danger with the possibility of him never returning. She had lost good friends in the war, but to her, Lance was something more…
Agrias reeled at that realization, mouth suddenly becoming dry and knees weak.
Since when was Lance more than a friend and a comrade-in-arms? Was it during their time at Doguola Pass when he had saved her from freezing to death? Or was it at the banquet when he had proposed to her? Or was it even before then when she had first met him?
Feelings and thoughts she had set aside because she valued her duty as a knight seem to rush through her head, and this time she could not suppress them. The more she thought about the combat master, the more the answer became painfully apparent.
"I love him," she declared in a whisper, almost fearfully, as if still unsure of the path she was traveling. There was no turning back, however, and all she could do now was continue walking, her path chosen. In her heart, she knew that this was what she wanted all along. Her duty had been just an excuse to hide her true feelings for Lance.
She suddenly felt lighter, as if a huge weight has been lifted from her shoulders, but the feeling quickly passed as another burden weighed heavy on her heart. What should she do now? Should she tell him now or wait after the war?
"Then tell him," Agnes suddenly inserted, unknowingly answering her questions.
She gazed at her father, eyes wide in shock at the seemingly obvious answer.
Her father just smiled gently in return and nodded. "Go."
At that simple command, Agrias quickly left her father's quarters in search of the combat master.
Lance leaned against the parapet, playing a simple melody on his flute, enjoying the sound of its notes joining the wind as it gently blew across the battlement.
With eyes closed, he returned to his childhood where his father played the flute as his mother danced around the fire. Someone accompanied his father on the drums while the children clapped to the beat. Laughter filled the air as they swayed to the music, the fire burning merrily as it threw shadows amidst the trees.
The Combat Master opened his eyes as he finished the song, blowing the last note. He paused, as if expecting applause for his performance then sighed as he lowered his instrument.
Usually playing the flute would ease his mind if he's troubled, and troubled he was after the meeting with the commander. Infiltrating Limberry Castle with only four people, two of which are the commanders of the Aegis and Hokuten, seems risky given the fact that the enemy would overpower them if they were discovered, but if they're able to open the gate before then…
He sighed as he leaned against the cold stone and looked up at the sky. That was the hope at least. He was a firm believer in contingency plans, however, and he would like nothing more than to discuss them before finalizing the stratagem. Tomorrow's war council would give him the opportunity to voice them then.
At the thought of the war council, he realized it was getting late. With another sigh, he began to walk along the wall to the stairwell that would lead him back into the fort only to pause when Agrias emerged from that very same stairwell. She seemed relieved, a small smile stretching her mouth.
"Lance, I'm glad to have found you."
"Lady Agrias," he responded with a smile of his own despite his misgivings earlier. "It's rare for you to seek me out, rarer still to address me by name."
Agrias was taken aback by the comment, the truth of it startling her. "Well, y-you know…" she stammered, cheeks flushed as she tried to compose herself. "As you said at the banquet, we're not at combat practice anymore. It's just the two of us here…" Her voice trailed away as she looked out beyond the wall to the mountains that surrounded the fort, unable to look at the combat master. Now that she realized her feelings towards him, she suddenly felt shy and nervous around him.
Lance gazed at her attentively, noticing her unease as she continued to stare at the surrounding peaks, seemingly to avoid looking at him. It was uncharacteristic of her, yet he found this side of her endearing. He reached for her hand whose fingers were tapping an incessant rhythm on the stone wall.
She started at his touch, but she still refused to look at him.
"Is something amiss, Lady Agrias?" he queried. "You are acting quite unlike yourself."
She didn't reply. Instead, she shifted her hand to grasp his much like the time in camp when he had saved her life.
Yet she still did not look at him.
Lance wasn't about to question her again as he joined her in looking at the surrounding peaks. In actuality, he was enjoying the moment, feeling her hand in his. It calmed him further, his worries nearly forgotten until she spoke:
"Father told me about your mission."
The uncertainty suddenly came back to him in a flood and he couldn't help but squeeze her hand in answer. Her hand squeezed in response and he looked at her in surprise at the same time she turned to look at him. He saw his fear mirrored in her eyes and knew she was as troubled by it as he.
"It is a dangerous mission," he acknowledged with a sigh. He turned again to look at the surrounding peaks, unable to gaze any longer into her eyes, to see his own doubts reflected back at him, his resolve wavering. Her next words nearly shattered it:
"I'm afraid."
The combat master was shocked at the admission for he knew the Holy Knight was never one to admit her fears. There were times that he thought she was not afraid of anything, always watching her rush recklessly into battle.
But it seems the details of this mission frightened her. He knew not why, however. Though it carried a lot of risk, the mission seemed routine.
He smiled softly as he turned to look at her again. "Don't be," he reassured her, this time squeezing her hand in comfort.
"But I am!" Agrias insisted, suddenly throwing her arms around Lance's neck, pulling him close in an embrace as she added in a hushed whisper, "I don't want to lose you…"
For the third time that night, Lance was taken by surprise. He slightly stiffened at the sudden gesture, unsure if this was the same Lady Agrias Oaks, the Holy Knight that was bound to her duty, who was too stubborn to admit her feelings.
He knew Agrias was also a proud knight who did not want to show any weakness. This was the first time he'd seen her shed tears and it reminded him that she was also a woman beneath the armor.
He was immediately aware of that fact when he felt her frame shuddering as she quietly sobbed, feeling her tears on his chest as they slowly soaked his tunic.
And hearing the softly spoken words that he had longed to hear:
"I love you."
Lance's heart soared as he wrapped his arms around Agrias' waist, returning her embrace in fervor. "You don't know how long I've waited to hear those words from you," he whispered as he gently stroked her hair. "I was full of doubt at my own abilities, but now I can accomplish this mission with confidence, knowing that I have someone waiting for me."
Agrias clutched him tighter, unwilling to let go. "I know it's your duty, but promise me," she looked up into his brown eyes, her voice firm though her eyes welled with tears, "promise me you'll return safely."
Lance smirked as if considering the request. "Does this mean that you have an answer?"
"Yes," Agrias replied, hugging him firmly, praying her answer would guarantee the combat master's safety during his assignment. "I will wed you—I love you, Lance."
He smiled as he took her face between his hands, staring into eyes blue as the sky on a midsummer's day, but lovelier, for in them he saw the confirmation of her words, the undeniable promise, and that filled him with a soaring joy.
He bent his head toward her and she responded by drawing him close, her lips parting as he kissed her, the response of her mouth the final testament, and a promise of the future.
Author's Note: After almost eleven years (Part 2 was posted back in May 17, 2006), Part 3 is finally out. This part went through so many revisions, and yet, I still feel that it's a bit rushed. Romance is not really my forte... I may have lost my regular readers over the years, but to those who are new, please enjoy this piece. This story is now halfway done. Just three more parts to go then back to Legacy of Honor...