PROLOGUE

Author's Note: Yes, I'm alive, and I still get randomly pulled at the heartstrings when I see this uncontinued fic. It has so much potential, I feel, and I never feel I deliver enough. For those who might have checked this fic on the off-chance a new chapter was put up, thank you for coming back! I've re-edited the first few chapters because I started this a few years back (how many?) and I saw a few flaws I thought I could edit, and did.

My contribution for the many fans of Percival and Chris.

Disclaimer: I don't own Suikoden. I love it and am a sucker for the three most famous Zexen knights, but no, I don't own them, nor anything else Suikoden-related.

The six legendary knights of Zexen sat together, alone in the common room, conversing as old friends do. It had been a few months after the final battle, and the Grasslands was still in shambles after the second Firebringer war. For that time they had been extremely busy helping the people get back on their feet. Miraculously, all but a few days-off had been spared for them, to rest before they restarted their grueling rounds across the country. It was a simple pleasure for them to reminisce the days of the war, for it had indeed been memorable.

"And remember when..."

The knights laughed heartily, even the stony Chris, who rarely found herself as relaxed and at ease as she was now. Everyone's eyes were focused on their victim, Percival, whose laid-back expression was game for the jokes to be thrown at him.

"Hey, don't look at me! Lady Chris deserved the break."

A snort. "No matter what you say, you virtually kidnapped her! That time...What were you thinking? Taking her to that indecent—"

Chris tensed. She suddenly knew where the conversation was headed. "Don't call it that, Borus. I think Iksay is quite a lovely place."

"No need to defend me, lady," Percival answered smoothly.

Leo scoffed. "Defend him? Percival nearly attacked Sir Nash when he thought he was flirting with— "

Percival's cool slipped a little. "I would never attack a comrade who defended my– defended a village of Zexen, let alone help Lady Chris and I."

"Jealous?" Roland asked nonchalantly.

"Really, Roland..." Chris trailed off. Percival briefly winked at her before turning to the elf.

"My dear Roland," Percival sounded surprised, "I would never have thought a highly elf like you would resort to human taunts!" He raised his eyebrow as Louis giggled. "And you, Louis, I wager you enjoy my squirming?"

"Alas, he is again trying to change the topic," Salome chuckled.

"Et tu, Salome!" Percival pretended to sound hurt.

"You were jealous...weren't you?" Borus persisted, perhaps a little more seriously that the atmosphere of merriment allowed.

Percival coughed lightly. "...Of course not, Borus."

Borus arched a blonde eyebrow in response. "So tell us then, why did you kidnap Lady Chris and try to keep her all to yourself?"

"Now, now, Borus," Salome said.

"Yes, it's very obvious," Borus said airily, "that you are besotted with Lady Chris."

Percival paused, slightly taken aback.

"Well of course, everyone is besotted with our silver-haired maiden. She's legendary, especially in stealing the hearts of men and women alike," Percival said, calmly. "Don't you agree, Borus?" he shot back.

Chris flinched inwardly. Silver-haired maiden? Legendary? She indistinctly heard her fellow knights' laughter and Borus' stutters, but she couldn't listen to what they were saying. Hearing those words from Percival suddenly made her feel distanced from everyone in the room.

"Aren't you talking about yourself?" Borus retorted, a little blush coming to his cheeks.

"Or maybe you were just after Sir Nash?" Leo chuckled, turning to the dark-haired knight. "What's your type then, Percival?"

Percival laughed a little too easily. "My good knight, I'd prefer a sweet, ladylike lass, needing protection by her knight in shining armor."

"Typical." Roland raised his eyes up to the ceiling.

"Yes," agreed Leo, nudging Percival in the ribs. "That's Percival– the ladies' man."

"Then you are saying..." The silver maiden's voice was soft, "That I am not ladylike enough?"

A long silence ensued.

Chris Lightfellow looked away. None of them had really ever found out why Percival had been so defensive that time in Iksay Village, and it had turned into a sort of running joke among the knights that he was jealous and had feelings for their captain. And maybe, her silence served as a hint that she, too, was curious to know, if...

She wished she hadn't heard his answer. Did people see her as the warrior with silver hair and cold eyes? An unfeeling, untouchable beauty that could never be conquered, perhaps? And sexless. She had never been bothered by the fact; she didn't even care if that was what other people thought of her. But among her very knights, her friends? When had they stopped seeing her as a woman and more as a fabled myth? When had her hair looked anything other than regular ash-blond to Percival?

"I apologize," came the quiet reply. The Swordsman of Gale looked only at her. She could feel his sensitive, dark eyes on hers, but she couldn't look his way.

"...And... Milady is wrong in thinking so; she is the finest woman I have ever laid eyes upon." And then, as if he were covering up what he had just said, "Or anyone in this room has met, for that matter." A mumble of agreement followed.

No one said anything for a while.

"If you'll all excuse me."

The door shut quietly behind Chris.