Hello everyone, here I am again with chapter IV of this story, reviews are still appreciated, flaming still isn't and please enjoy the story!

Chapter IV: Moments

He sat on the ground and heard the hooves rumble beneath him. The wooden wheels silently rolled over the dry ground. He listened to the many footsteps, to the horses of the knights and the wings of the flying troops. Calmly, they moved along the road. It had been three days since the company had received the map from Bern's queen Hellene. After two days, they would arrive at the shrine of seals. Nino recovered fast, but she wasn't strong enough to move yet. Jaffar accompanied her in the carriage.

He heard her calm breathe, and he was happy he was here ensure it didn't suddenly stop. He looked at her face. She was in a light sleep, which could fade at every heavier shock or noise. Jaffar imagined an earthquake, how Nino would immediately open her bright, bluish eyes in surprise. Maybe she would scream, Jaffar thought, or at least hide under her blankets in terror. If he would have known how to smile, a smile would have appeared on his face now.

Jaffar watched Nino's grass green hair, which skipped up and down on the rumble of the carriage. It reminded him of the fields of his hometown.

He saw himself when he was a child. His parents had died and he had no siblings. He had no money, and he lived on the street. His hair where even messier than they where now and his only shirt was filled with holes and drenched in mud. The only thing that kept him alive where his stealing abilities.

One day, he sneaked through the fields of long grass, paying attention the farmer didn't see him. He approached a cow which didn't look to big for him. When he was near the animals head, he swiftly performed his usual move. He drew a knife, and ripped open the neck of the cow. Hearing the animals scream, he knew he hadn't much time. He slashed off a piece of flesh, hearing the farmer's angry shouting. He swiftly vanished with his piece of meat, thinking he had won. He was shocked when he heard swift footsteps and tempered howls behind him. The dog… He had forgotten about the new dog! He turned around and saw the big beast, looking more like a wolf than a dog, dashing into his direction. With death so nearby, his fear froze him. The animal jumped at him, when a flame from behind cut off his try to kill the young boy. Jaffar turned around to see a beautiful woman with a spell book under her arm. "You're quite skilled with a knife, boy," she said.

That woman had been Sonia. The anger coming up in Jaffar brought him back to reality. He looked at Nino's scar and clenched his fists. If Sonia wasn't dead, Jaffar would have killed her right now. But to his relief, the truth was that she was.

"Jaffar..?" Nino's still low voice said.

Jaffar turned his head to the said to show he was listening.

"Jaffar… You where in the water temple, I heard."

He nodded.

"What… What happened to mother?"

"She's dead."

"Really?"

Jaffar nodded again. "I wouldn't lie to you," he added.

"That's… cute," Nino nodded.

Jaffar gave her a confused look. This was the first time he was called "cute".

Nino spit out a laugh. Jaffar felt the strong desire to laugh with her, but he didn't know how.

After a few moments of silence, Jaffar spoke again.

"Nino… Can you… Er… can you teach me how to laugh…?" he asked stuttering. He felt dumb asking that, but it just slid out of his mouth.

"Jaffar… That's… That's cute again! You have changed so much! I never heard you saying something like that before!"

Yes, it was true. He had changed. He already had to admit that himself. He didn't know if he liked it or not. An odd feeling spread inside him.

"Jaffar, you're so red, are you ill?" Nino asked, to Jaffar surprise. She staggered over to him and held her hand on his forehead. "You're warm," she said worried.

"No, I'm all right. Go and rest. You don't look good."

"Okay Jaffar, if you say so," Nino said, sounding like she wasn't really concerned about herself. But she tottered back to her bed and obeyed, mainly because she knew he was probably right.

"And tomorrow, I'll teach you how to laugh." She grinned before closing her eyes.

Jaffar touched his forehead. He really was warm. But he didn't know why, it was actually quite cold in the carriage.

Jaffar stood up and made a step in the direction of Nino's bed.

Before he could set another step, Lyn stormed into the wagon. "Bandits are approaching!" she yelled. Nino's eyes blinked open. She wanted to rise, but Lyn and Jaffar prevented her.

"Come Jaffar!"

"No. I'll stay here and guard the carriage."

Once again, Keith waved with his arms in protest. But Lyn, who definitely had enough of him, gave him a hard slap. Keith, who understood as much as there was to understand, went to another wagon to, as always, accompany Merlinus.

"You know what, Jaffar?" Nino asked. Jaffar just turned his head to show he listened.

"When you're here, I feel much safer…" Jaffar stared at her for a second, but then his attention was drawn by a clumsy brigand who leapt at them. Jaffar calmly stood his ground and placed his dagger where he calculated the bandit to land. His plan worked out effortlessly and he dodged the axe which had stopped above his head and now slipped out of the thug's hands.

Then, he heard how a swordsman slashed a crack into the wagon's wall. Jaffar performed a back flip and stabbed his blade into the bandit's head while flying. Nino loudly applauded. Another axe wielder tried to enter through the crack. While Jaffar was so focused on the opponent before him, he didn't notice a brigand making a crack in the other side of the carriage and leaping at Nino. But as by ghost's hand, he jumped backward and stabbed his dagger into the enemy's heart. Nino sighed in relief, as they heard the first enemy scream and jump up, nearly reaching the top of the wagon, only to get a dagger thrown into his neck. He thumbed down right before Jaffar's feet. From outside, they heard that the bandits where retreating.

Nino stood up and hugged Jaffar. Jaffar stunned and was thrown onto his back. He wanted to get out of this situation, but he was speechless. Because he hadn't heard the other brigand, because he had reacted while he hadn't even noticed him, and, first of all, because Nino suddenly hugged him. Slowly, he caught his tongue again.

"Nino… Please… Get… Off… Of me."

"Oh… I'm sorry," she let him go again, blushing a little bit.

Jaffar waited until she slept again, then he stroke the sweat from his forehead.

'Phew, I didn't know girls of fourteen could be so heavy' he thought. But when he thought about it, he hadn't disliked it all that much.

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Alright, I got that done! I don't know why I made this chapter. I originally planned on starting the fight against Lloyd here. That will be the stuff going on next chapter, then!

Skythief, the stealing bird