He still wasn't talking to me. It's been three weeks.

I rested my head on my dark flier horse, Sprinkles.

Why I had Gaius name my horse was beyond me.

"What do you mean, is he courting me?" I asked exhausted.

Gaius sat across from me on a barrel the thief sucking on a lollipop as he explained. "Just saying bubbles, you and the old grouch have been getting pretty close."

"Gaius he's not an old grouch he's around the same age as you." I stated brushing down my dark flier Pegasus.

"The ginger does have a point. He is kind of a grouch." I saw Cordelia raking hay into her Pegasus stall as she gave me a quick wink.

Only if you guys knew.

"You see," Gaius gestured to Cordelia as he put his hands together and began explaining. "Look bubbles all I know is that all he does is eat, train, brute around all day, and then sleep! And then he picks Lon'qu of all people to talk to! It's not like that super swordsman is exactly a chatter box either."

I gave him a stink eye as I stated. "Well wouldn't you say the same thing about Cherache, last time I tried to talk to her Minerva was sizing me up! "

The thief pointed a finger at me. "Hey Cher is just shy, also it's your own dang fault, Minervykins can sense that you are nervous around her."

"Minervykins? Oh my goodness Gaius propose to the girl already she's waited a whole year!" I heard Cordelia holler her Pegasus agreeing.

"When did this become about my love life!?" He shouted.

I shushed him and laughed as he blushed slightly. "Besides, I haven't found a ring yet." He mumbled. Cordelia and I froze as I saw the ginger put his hands over his ears.

"What!?"

"You're going to propose?"

The two of us shouted. Gaius had a sneaky smile on his face as he smiled and lazily stated. "Not if you too shout it to the entire camp! But yeah, she's the one. I have never felt this way about any girl I dated."

"Not even Anna?"

I saw the ginger become tense as he shivered and stated.

"No okay dating her was a fun ride of never-ending debt and a roller coaster of guilt and manipulation. Not to mention she was only happy when my coin purse was full. Again a fun relationship but I felt like I was going to get pickpocketed every five seconds!"

"Also I thought we were talking about bubble's love life!" He gestured towards me.

"True but I mean at least you both have love lives." I heard Cordelia mumble. I stopped brushed and scoffed at her.

"Yeah right I see that way Libra AND Virion both look at you."

I laughed as she started twiddling with her hands and asked shyly. "Really?"

"Even I could see it, padre definitely digs on ya prom queen." Gaius stated.

I saw Cordelia give him a stink eye and threw one of her brushes at him. I smiled and continued to brush away dirt and dust from my horse taking extra care in her wings and making sure to use the new brush Cordelia had gotten me.

"Well Libra did just ask me out to help at a charity. Does that count as a date?"

I looked at Gaius who looked at me as we both shrugged. "Gee, thanks a lot you two, great advice!" She grabbed a bucket and refilled the water in her Pegasus through as the two of us smiled.

"Hey at least you don't have to worry 24/7 that you are going to run into an ex of yours and you won't even have the slightest clue who he is." I laughed.

Codelia nodded her head in agreement as Gaius laughed.

"Okay but back on track, let's go over the list." I hear Gaius start getting his gloved fingers ready.

"He has asked you to go deep in the mountains with him to a beautiful location for two days, he trains everyday with just you, Gregor, Sully, or Lon'qu. Last I checked Lon'qu digs the princess big time. Sully is happily married to that sneaky mouse tank man. Gregor is expecting a baby with carrots."

I sighed and laid my body weight on my Pegasus. This was going to be a while.

"He bought you a necklace, and spent a whole day shopping with you, he saw the extent of your book addiction, which is horrifying."

"And he also carried you to the nearest healer when you fainted." Cordelia interjected. The girl leaning on a broom.

Gaius held up all his fingers and nearly shouted. "Not only that but he stayed stuck to you like glue for hours while you recovered. Saved you from a near death experience twice. The bath incident."

I watched as Gaius wagged his eye brows at the statement as I blush a bright crimson glaring holes into the man.

The boy smiled and continued. "Also you washed and mended all of the man's laundry! You know how I know that? Because my beautiful girlfriend and Maribelle helped you figure out how to sew. You learned to sew properly because of this guy. So excuse me for assuming you two are BASICALLY GOING STEADY. YOU ARE BASICALLY COURTING."

I blushed at the thought putting my horse brushes away as I started to clean the stall, Cordelia already fetching another pail of water for my Pegasus.

"That doesn't mean anything, I mean we have only been training for around eight months. That's all. Nothing more really…"

I swept out my horses pin as Gaius gave me his signature. "Don't deny it sweet heart look."

I sighed, "Don't give me that look."

"I can't help it! Besides this is the only guy you have even been remotely interested in ever since Blue got married."

The air got silent as I checked to make sure Cordelia was still fetching water. Gaius knew he had crossed a line. Yes, I had been slightly in love with Chrom. Of course I was too shy to say anything or act upon it so I had to swallow all my feelings and just watch as he ruled the nation with Sumia. I loved their wedding and I loved the two of them so much. I had actually lost all my romantic feeling for Chrom and it was easier this way. No damage done, Chrom and I were still best friends and I was honored to be Sumia's bridesmaid.

I smiled and teased. "You make me sound like a hopeless ex when you say it that way."

I set my brushes on the wall staring at it for a while as I admitted.

"Besides I'm over Chrom. Also Priam only sees me as his pupil. Even though I am completely infatuated with him while he just acts like I'm not there anymore."

I argued. I turned and saw Gaius give me a sympathetic look. I felt a stray tear run down my face.

I saw Cordelia enter the girl instantly asking. "Oh my goodness what did I miss."

She put the bucket down and rushed to my side the girl already taking out tissues from out of thin air. I smiled and took a few.

I sat down on one of the hay bales as I confessed. "To be honest, I don't know where Priam and I stand, relationship wise. He's so hard to read all the time and I just don't know. He's been avoiding me lately. He doesn't even come to get me for practice anymore and when I go to him he just leaves."

I started to fiddle with my necklace as my two friends gave me sympathetic looks. Cordelia wrapped me in a big old hug as I clung to the girl.

"Oh man I wish Olivia was her, it's not the same without miss twinkle toes." Gaius sighed.

Cordelia nodded and stated. "Well she is 8 and a half months pregnant she needed to be home with her family and Henry for at least a few months."

I nodded and stated "You need to tell me when she does go into labor I'm flying over there to see her." Cordelia smiled at me and nodded.

Gauis got off his barrel and joined in the hug as he sighed. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories bubbles." I smiled up at the ginger.

"Don't worry, you just owe me half of your next sweets batch."

I saw his face go into shock as he argued. "No way! Come one bubbles do you know how long it takes me to save up that much sugar!?"

Cordelia and I giggled as Gauis frantically spouted out numbers. I smiled at the ginger haired thief happy that he was one of my closest friends.

"SO what was Maribelle's son like? Brady right?" I heard Cordelia ask.

I smiled and nearly started laughing as cordeila shot me a confused look.

Gauis took his sucker out and laughed. "He's this big old scary bumpkin! Has the worst slang ever, and is a complete pansy! It's hilarious!"

I shook my head as the ginger started outright laughing.

"Not to mention, apparently Brady was in the process of courting Lucina when they were in the future. Oh Chrom is not happy about it one bit!" I hollered.

Gaius busted out laughing again.

Cordelia threw back. "Well I on the other hand think its sweet."

Gaius shrugged his shoulders and nonchalantly stated. "Well I just hope I don't screw up as bad as my old man did."

I smiled as I assured "Gaius you are going to make a great dad."

He gave me a thankful glance as Cordelia sat next to him and stated. "Yeah, also your kid is going to have so many cavities." The red heads both laughed as I smiled to myself.

I wonder what my child will be like.

We talked for a little while more, the three of us use to talking into the dark hours of the night.

I finished up mucking out the stall and finally made my way to bed the other two departing to their own tents as well. I looked up at the sky and thought of that night in the mountains. Maybe I shouldn't read too much into it.

Priam was the definition of contradiction. Throughout the army he was rumored to be one of the most stoic and strongest. Yet when he was with me. He was gentle, he had opened up to me, but ever since the scare with me getting cursed. He had drawn back from me. Maybe I read too much into our relationship. But I knew what I felt for him wasn't anything to be ashamed of.

It took him a few months to get comfortable with people when he joined but after a while he did become friendly with the other shepherds to my relief. Many young soldiers asked him for training and he had become famous with the female warriors. I smirked as I thought of all the rumors that had spread about him.

He really was something else.

I took a deep breath before I entered my tent.

I opened my tent flap and to my surprise I saw Priam inside.

The huge warrior looked horribly disheveled, the man only in his normal clothes Rangnell strapped to his side as always. While his hair stuck up in awkward angles.

"Hi, Priam. What are you doing here at this time of night?"

I felt excitement and nerves run through me at seeing him. I caught myself as I tried to regain my composure. The grown man smiled nervously as his head hit the tent.

"I want to, uh, well." He cleared his throat.

"I came to express-"

"I wanted to acknowledge-"

"I came here to tell you-"

I tried not to smile as he stumbled through phrase after phrase. It was kind of sweet. Praim looked even more flustered as he turned and took a huge breath. I waited patiently as I saw him clam down. I had never seen him like this throughout the whole time I had known him.

"This is for you... I bought it from a merchant in the last town." He shoved a small black box at me. I fumbled and caught the small velvet box the thing nearly falling out of my hands.

He watched nervously as I opened the small box expecting another necklace or a bracelet. I felt emotions rise in my throat as I looked at the contents.

"Why, Priam," I whispered. "What a beautiful ring." I took a pause as I felt my head race a million miles a minuet I let hope soar through me as Priam blushed.

"Is this what I think it is?"

The man was truly flustered as he barked. "It has no special meaning, mind you! It's just a token of gratitude."

I felt my heart stop as I felt a sad smile tug my lips. Of course. I'm being silly.

"I'm no expert on women's accessories... I just picked something at random. Not to mention it is damn infuriating to-"

His nervous rambling seemed to fade in the background as I stared at the ring. I felt some of that hope dim a little as I looked down at the stunning ring. I was beautifully made and matched the necklace he had gotten me so long ago.

I swallowed my emotions and cut him off. "Well, you did quite well. I think it's lovely. Still, it must have cost a fortune. Isn't it a little extravagant for a thank-you gift?"

Why was I still clinging to hope?

Because I loved him.

I looked over at the man. He had gone dead silent. I saw Priam give a long sigh.

"Priam?" I asked. I felt drained emotionally as he finally gave a loud growl and nearly shouted.

"Fine! It's not a thank-you gift. It's a token of my great...respect and love." He softened as he lifted his hand and dropped it.

I watched as he chuckled and recited. "I am a man who is dedicated to combat and the way of the sword. As have my ancestors in the past have been, I had no need for distractions on my path to becoming the most powerful swords man to legend."

I withered a little more the small velvet box still in my hands as Priam continued.

"However, in recent weeks, it has been you who dominates my thoughts. And I...think I…. have fallen...in love."

I stood frozen to the spot the huge man in front of me holding his breath. I felt an overwhelming amount of emotions race through me as I looked at him stunned.

"...Are you serious?" I meekly asked.

"Of course I'm serious! Why would I joke about something like this?" Priam looked a little hurt at my saying that but I felt my face lift in a bright smile as I became just as flustered as him now.

I opened and closed my mouth like a fish as I tried to come up with a string of coherent words but failed spectacularly. I felt so many emotions at once that it made my head spin.

He walked up to me and took the small box from me. His rough hands meeting mine. He lingered there for a second and smiled down at our hands. I watched as he got down on his knee.

"Because in your heart, I've found a new way. You have been gentle and caring to me, yet still stronger than any steel. You are ferocious yet gentle. And you care with all your soul about this army. All my life, I have lived only for the blade to fulfil my destiny to become the strongest warrior. But now I want to live for you." His expression was a new one that I had never seen.

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I bent down and joined him on the floor. "Priam. I feel the same way! I have for... It feels like such a long time. I was so scared that you didn't feel the same." I cried breathless.

He smiled and excitedly shouted. "Then you'll say yes? For true?" I nodded. He jumped up a contagious smile on his face as he started laughing. I smiled and giggled at the display. I squeaked as he picked me up.

I laughed as he spun me around yelling. "Huzzah! HUZZAH!"

The two of us intoxicated with the warm feeling. I touched my forehead to his and smiled I teased.

"You big old softie." I teased him he set me down the man brightly smiling he tried to compose himself.

"I don't care, how do you expect me to act when you true love is in front of you."

He brushed his hand to my cheek his thumb running across one of my scars. I nuzzled my face into his rough hand and kissed it.

"Indeed, and poetically put. Perhaps for you, a pen truly would be mightier than a sword." I smiled brightly.

He gave me a gentle look and bent forward to me as he whispered "Well, let us not get carried away..."

I smiled as the man bent down and fully entrapped my lips. He really was too perfect. I sighed as he vowed to me.

"You give my strength new purpose and meaning. I'll let the world burn before I see you hurt." His eyes met mine "I pledge my heart as eternally yours my star."

I smiled and said.

"You already had my heart a long time ago. I'd follow you to the ends of the earth, you big softie."

(LONG) indienote: Awwwww, I love this chapter. I had such a hard time deciding whether or not to go the traditional fire emblem route or do my own thing. So I did a little of both. As you all had noticed this Priam isn't your traditional cannon fire emblem character.

I apologize if that bothers you along with a few of my slip-ups with grammar or wording. I'm not exactly going for writer of the year award here.

Fire emblem is very near and dear to my heart because it got me into anime, video games, fandoms, and it heavily influences the characters I create and my art style. It's also part of the reason why I adore Priam, I grew up playing fire emblem radiance and Ike was my favorite character just due to his bravery and kindness he constantly showed. So that's why I was so pumped to get Priam and to get to write for him.

Also this fanfic was supposed to originally be a "fluff practice" piece. It was to help me with writing fluff. So technically I was never planning to post it (because I'm super low-key critical of my own writing and this is legit terrifying for me right now) but I'm very happy I did.

Thank you all for reading! I will post soon!