So there's been some wondering about who Lavitz married. And now I shall tell you a bit about her! She was a member of a shapeshifting race that lives north of Endiness, and she could shift between human and feline forms (hence Niira's own ability to do so). Obviously around Lavitz she spent more time as a human :). There's a perfectly good explanation for the species' existance, as well as what brought this woman to Endiness...but you'll have to wait :D It's all part of my grand plan of awesomeness. mwaha.

FYI, 'Schloss' is the German word for 'castle.' I thought it sounded good. Plus, Serdio (at least, Basil/the northern part) in the game seems to be rather Germanic.

And...they've finally made it back to Bale! Coen gets to make his report to King Albert and the knights finally get to go home and Niira gets to...well...you'll see.

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Home.

At least something in Endiness hadn't changed. Bale still stood, the same as it always had, with wood-and-stone buildings following the curves of the cobbled streets and walkways. Niira could smell the dust of the cobbles, and a hint of sweetgrass in the air--they were scents that she had forever associated with her hometown, even after being gone for so long. She remembered well the streets she and the knights used to pass through the southern end of the city. A few blocks away from the central plaza, they turned north; Niira recognized it immediately as one of the routes to Indels Schloss. This one, she recalled, turned west when it neared the castle's front gates, wrapping its way around the castle grounds to the military headquarters and training area around the back side. It was also where the knights' barracks were located, for those men who did not have their own houses.

I used to run down here all the time to torment the older squires. It was always fun to see their faces when a girl half their size could best them with staves.

Until they started ganging up on me, that was just plain cheating.

The day was warm, and people were outside, busy with their daily tasks. Many stopped to watch the knights pass, sometimes shouting and waving at them, glad to see their safe return. Niira ignored them, continuing to take in the sights of the city. I wonder if Grandmother is still living in that house. I guess I should wonder first if she's even still around.

Coen walked beside her, also oblivious to the townspeople around them. His face was tired and drawn as they walked towards Indels. "I'll pretty much be going straight to King Albert so I can make my report and get it over with. Lavitz--your father should be there too. He was supposed to return from the southeast watch a few days ago."

Niira just nodded.

"You can come--"

"No!" She practically shouted it so suddenly that Alakyl jumped next to her. "I...I'll wait in the courtyard...until..." Until I talk myself out of this?

Coen glanced curiously at her, but did not question her decision. The two walked in silence up the hill to Indels. The castle loomed ever larger in Niira's vision, distant flags on the high spires fluttering lazily. When they reached the westward bend in the road, Coen turned back to his knights, telling them something that Niira didn't quite hear. The men turned down the path to the barracks, leaving their leader and the stranger woman and her watch dog alone.

Niira didn't pay attention to them. Instead, she was focused on a familiar figure perched on a post outside the castle gates. Are you still here too?

The creature stirred at the sight of Niira and Coen, the long feathers of his wings and tail spreading out. The man-sized beast lifted his long ears, turning them around so he could hear who approached. When he recognized Coen, the crest on his head fluffed happily. "Ah, we were expecting you," he said to the knight in crisp human speech.

What are you doing here? Surely you don't just do simple greeting service for Albert now. That's quite a step down from being the sole source of contact between my mother and the Northlands, after all.

The bird-creature turned to Niira. His feathery crest suddenly rose to its fullest. "A ghost!" he shrieked, nearly falling off his perch in fright. He beat his wings in an attempt to make a quick take-off. "A ghost! Help! A ghost, a ghost!" He was speaking in the Northlander tongue.

Oh no...he'll attract attention to me! Niira charged forward, launching herself at the avian in an attempt to catch him in a pounce-tackle. She succeeded, trapping him between herself and the ground. He flailed in a panic, kicking with clawed feet and whacking her with his tail, screeching loudly. Niira twisted in odd directions as she tried to avoid them, finally managing to clamp her hand over his muzzle. "Quiet!" she hissed, glaring into his dark eyes. Slowly, the creature fell silent. Niira removed her hand.

"Niira?" Incredulous, the creature pulled himself out from under her, slowly rolling onto his feet again. "But...how?"

"It's been a while, Happy Tail."

Niira had known him even longer than she had known Coen. A Northlander like her mother, Happy Tail had served as a messenger to her, able to fly over the sea that separated the Northlands from Endiness. His boyish personality and refusal to shift to human form had provided Niira many hours of entertainment when she was a girl.

Happy Tail spread his wings once more. "But...your father! I must tell him...!"

"No, you can't tell him!" Again, she pinned him to the ground.

"Why not?"

"Because..." You're not really sure why not, are you? What are you afraid of? "Not yet." She let that sink in. Satisfied that Happy Tail would no longer run around screaming, she released him. "Don't tell anyone. Not yet."

"But he knows already." The avian waved a wing in Coen's direction.

"Yeah, well, nobody else needs to know."

Coen coughed pointedly from somewhere nearby. Niira and Happy Tail both turned to him. "Do you always feel the need to tackle people to the ground like that?"

"Wuff!" Alakyl exclaimed.

"That sounded like a yes to me. Happy Tail, would you please inform his majesty that I'll be up shortly?" 'Up,' when said in relation to Indels Schloss, did indeed mean 'up.' The only proper way for most people to enter the castle was by going up the long set of stairs that rose from the courtyard to the entrance of the grand hall nearly three stories up. The slope of the stairway was rather shallow, but their sheer length could be daunting to some. Niira herself had rarely used the stairway, instead following her father up through the lower levels that housed some of the soldiers' training equipment, or through some other entrance found in one of her many secret exploration sessions.

Niira smirked at the thought. I was such a troublemaker back then. A troublemaker who always worked within the rules, though.

Coen and Happy Tail had left her in the courtyard; the Northlander had returned to his post on the other side of the gates, and Coen promised to return as soon as he could. In the mean time, Alakyl had run off again to chase bugs and Niira idly wandered the green expanse of the lawn. Eventually, she decided to head for the shade of the north wall and the low, decorative trees that grew over several benches and tables--a place she had often gone to eat picnics in the past. Tiredly, she settled herself onto one of the benches, feeling the cool touch of the stone even through her travel garb.

Nearby, a group of men was also relaxing in the shade. They were knights, obviously, as they wore the light metal and leather armor indicative of a soldier on training duty, although these men were certainly not training at the moment. Niira watched them with idle curiosity. Judging by the weaponry that laid on the ground around them, the knights had been training earlier. Just taking a break then, I assume. Although why they had been training in the courtyard was beyond Niira. Trying to impress the ladies maybe?

That shouldn't be too hard for them though. The knights' tunics were green, a color Niira had no trouble putting with the First Knighthood, the best group of soldiers Serdio had to offer. Just plain showing off then? They always were a bunch of crazies.

The First Knighhood...her father's men. Niira turned to face forward again, looking to the ground, starting to panic. What am I doing here? I can't go through with this...but I have to...I'm so scared...

"Excuse me, but what is a such a fair young lady doing over here among us uncouth rapscallions?"

It took Niira a few moments to realize that she was being addressed. Startled back to reality, she blinked a few times at the knight who now stood beside her, then almost laughed. Fair lady? That was certainly something that was not usually associated with her. She didn't look like a 'fair lady,' as she still wore her traveling clothes, and she certainly didn't consider herself to be one. She was a warrior with little taste for 'fine' things, unless one was talking about fine weapons.

"You laugh?" The knight took a small step towards her as some of his companions chuckled. He was young, perhaps only a few years older than herself, with a face that was not unpleasant, although he wore a cocky expression.

Calming herself, Niira looked levelly at him. "I'm waiting for someone," she said by way of an answer to his question.

"A friend? Or perhaps a lover?"

He is cocky. Oh, if only I had my claws, I'd mess up that pretty little face of yours. "What business is it of yours?"

The man gave a half-bow. "My apologies."

"Family. My father."

One of the older knights moved closer. "Your father? I don't recognize you. Who's your father?" His tone was suspicious, almost aggressive.

Oh god, why didn't I just say I was waiting for Coen? Taking a breath, she turned her green gaze to the newcomer. Well...there's really no sense in lying.