Hello again!

Sorry that I'm so late! I've been having massive Wi-Fi issues lately, so this chapter couldn't go up as soon as I hoped it could. Next chapter will be up on time. Promise. Also, I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter. Because... Wait for it... We're- after a long wait- getting some real KitxLissa fluff. D'awww. Before I forget, special thanks to 300 I.Q. Prower, for a story favourite, story follow, writer follow, AND author favourite!

I'm sure you all want to read the chapter- thanks everyone still reading- so...

Onwards!

Chapter 10

The slow, rhythmic trudging of the Shepherds was the only sound echoing around the valley. The gentle wingbeats of Sumia's pegasus and the steps of the cavalry's horses simply merged into the sound.

"Chrom..." Kit began. "Tell me. Where are we going? You've been very cryptic about that so far."

"Secrecy was necessary." Emmeryn assured. "We did not know who may have been listening back in Ylisstol."

"We are heading to Ferox, to seek safety and shelter with them... At least until the situation with Plegia has died down." Chrom explained. "Along this road, it should only take two or three days."

Kit nodded. Suddenly, he saw movement just out of the corner of his eye. The particular movement of someone trying to be stealthy, and only just falling short by the smallest margin...

His eyes widened. In seconds, his sword was in one hand and his tome on the other. He glared at the rocks that he had seen the movement in. Various scraping noises of weapons being drawn filled the eerie silence. Kit heard the whistling noise from behind him. In the silence of the valley, the usually stealthy sound was deafening to Kit. On instinct alone he turned, slicing upwards. Two splintered halves of an arrow fell with a gentle noise.

"Interesting!" A voice boomed. "I didn't think anyone could do that..."

Plegian soldiers suddenly began to pour from every shadow, every rock, every blind spot. One, in higher-quality armour than the rest, decended on the Shepherds riding a fearsome-looking winged monster.

"We only wish to pass!" Chrom yelled. "We have no quarrel with you!"

The man on the winged monster grinned. "Well... Then we have a problem. See, we've got orders to obtain that fancy-lookin' shield the Exalt's got there..." He gestured to the shield, clutched under Emmeryn's arm. "... And to eliminate the great tactician of the Shepherds." He glared at Kit. "Your continued survival is quite... Problematic."He turned to his men. "Now! Bring me the shield! Kill as many of them as possible!" He lunged for Kit. Kit dodged to one side, readying his sword. His opponent levelled his axe at him.

"I'm going to throw you off this cliff!" He yelled. "They'll be erecting statues of Vasto when all this is over!" Vasto lunged at Kit again. Kit swung his sword upwards, deflecting the blow. Before the wyvern rider crashed into him, he rolled underneath the beast. As his opponent turned, time seemed to slow.

Wyvern. Tough scales resist both magic and steel. Rider's armour. Light, for flying purposes. Axe. My sword has the advantage. On the wyvern, he's fast. Speed is required.

As Vasto rushed him, Kit ran towards the approaching wyvern. Just before impact, Kit flung himself into the air. His sword struck the surprised Vasto in the chest. Kit landed behind the wyvern, suddenly feeling a burning pain in his chest. His hand felt around where the feeling was, and came away red and wet. Gasping, he crumpled. Lissa ran to his side, clutching her staff.

The wyvern reared up, Vasto's axe high above his head. As he started to slice down, Kit heard a shout.

"Kit!" The voice sounded youthful. "Catch!"

Kit grabbed a green tome out of the air. Without thinking, he extended a hand towards the descending Vasto. Runes swirled around his hand. A swirling blast of air tore through Vasto's armour, blasting him and his wyvern away in a tangle of limbs and wings. With the last of his strength, he launched the tome back towards Ricken.

Another familiar voice reached his ears. He saw the vague silhouette of Lissa, crouching over him. He heard the words: "Maiorem Sana...", spoken in a soft voice. His vision cleared. The burning pain in his chest faded.

"Oh thank Naga!" Lissa cried. "You're okay!"

"Yeah..." Kit managed. "Thanks to you..."

He smiled at her, a warm, grateful smile.

"Kit..." She breathed, her face mere inches from his. "I- I've wanted to ask you something..."

He stared up at her, as the sounds of retreat gradually became more distant.

"Can it..." Kit began. "Can it wait until after the battle?"

Lissa smiled. "It can wait as long as you want it to."

Crickets chirped gently. A firefly or two drifted lazily through the air. The stars hung silently overhead. Kit loved nights like this. He needed a night like this. Tensions were high in the camp. One of the pegasus-riding border knights had appeared in the midst of the battle, a red-haired woman named Cordelia. She was distraught at the loss of her sisters, the other knights. She told them that the Plegians marched in force into Ylisse. Emmeryn had elected to return to Ylisstol despite Chrom's protests. She had entrusted them with the Fire Emblem.

Kit sighed, flopping down on a tree stump. His thoughts swirled round and round in his mind, the events of the day repeating over and over. He heard a soft call.

"Hey there!" Lissa walked up to him quietly.

Kit turned. Seeing who it was, he stood.

"Hi Lissa." He smiled. "So... What did you want to ask?"

Lissa blushed and stepped closer to him. "You already know what I want to know, don't you?"

Kit blushed slightly as well. "I've... Had a guess. But... Ask anyway."

Lissa's eyes widened, encouraged by his blushing.

"Kit... I think you're amazing. You're handsome, smart, fearless..." She sighed. "Everything I could ever want. I... I love you. Do you..." She stopped when she saw Kit's smile. He looked amazed and overjoyed. Softly, he stepped closer.

"Lissa... Of course I love you too. It's hard not to. Even from when I first woke up, I thought you looked beautiful. When I learned how caring you are... I was head over heels." He said softly. "A couple of times, I thought you felt the same... Like the Ferox tournament, or when you taught me how to cast magic, or a million times when our eyes met when you healed me. But... I was too nervous to tell you."

Lissa laughed quietly. "The great tactician... Faces down the Plegian army, but won't tell a girl he likes her."

Kit laughed too. "I know how ridiculous it sounds. But..." His blush deepened. "Oh, whatever. Can't back down from saying it now." He looked straight at her. "You've always been there for me... Healing me when I got hit- and that was often. I'm always here for you, as well."

Lissa smiled. "Just... Don't die on me, okay?"

Kit gently wrapped his arms around her. "Sure. I'll always be there for you. I know you don't like to be called delicate, to need protecting, but... If you need someone..."

"I know." Lissa replied, returning the hug and resting her head on his shoulder. "I know."