Chris: Well, here's the last chapter! If you've enjoyed this fic, well, glad you did! If not…Eh, doesn't bother me. Now it's time for Fiora to shine!
Lack Thereof: Heh, well, that's why I'm doing all the pairings. So people can read their favorite ones. And about that spoiler thingy…I did play chapter 19xx…Except it's been a long time since I played it, so I totally forgot about that sequence. Oops. Anyway, glad you like it…And I never knew that guys were good at romance fics. And you meant Fiora/Eliwood, right?
Eladard Kikur: Ooooh…That's gotta hurt. And we'll see what the last chapter will be like…Cause even I don't know! GASP!
Alex: Well, here it is!
Nightmare3: I can name at least 3 times when I used something like that! Not that it matters much…Eh, I was just joking anyway. It's every writer's and artist's right to be lazy and do absolutely nothing! And it's probably possible, but I dunno.
RLnaruhina: Thanks for the compliments, and I'm glad you like my fics. Makes me happy. Yep, yep. And some people might not want to be in C2's cause uh…I dunno, actually.
F00l3A12: Uh…Don't think so. You mean like those epilogues at the end of the game? If so, then no. Too bothersome and not really needed, actually.
Northernsword: Okay. That's all I have to say.
Mullenium Master: Yes, yes it is.
Emilytenshi: Glad you like it!
Draknal: Well, that's okay, and thanks for reviewing this chapter! And here's the next chapter, just for you! Well, not really…It's for everyone who reads it, actually.
Disclaimer: This claim is hers. Fire Emblem is not mine.
Chapter 4: Fiora
"Well…I think I have feelings for…" Eliwood looked at Marcus, who waited expectantly.
"Who is the lucky lady?" Marcus asked.
"I know who she is!" Eliwood snapped. "Sorry, Marcus…But I think I should just tell the girl that I like, okay?"
"Very well, milord. I shall be awaiting further news."
"Yes, yes…Well, time to find her…" Eliwood walked off, shaking his head sorrowfully. Truth be told, Eliwood still hadn't decided yet. They all had such endearing qualities, although Fiora stood out in his mind a little. However, he still was torn between choosing. See parents? This is why you should never tell your kids to find his/her significant other before they're ready. They go craaaazy. Well, okay, not crazy. But torn between three sweet girls! Such torture! Okay, I'm done.
---
Farina greeted her sister as she dismounted her pegasus. "How was the patrol, Fiora?"
"It was fine, Farina. You're going up?" Fiora brushed back her wind-tossed hair and looked at her sister, who had a big grin on her face.
"Yep! Gotta earn my pay, after all!" Farina smirked. "I noticed that you spent a little time watching one of the lords!"
"What are you implying?" Fiora's eyes narrowed.
"Oh…Nothing…" Farina said innocently. "I mean, I was just thinking about how Eliwood seems a lot nicer to us mercenaries than everyone else….And I know how much you treasure that sort of attitude. Just a thought, you know." Farina hid a grin and walked off, whistling an Ilian marching song.
Fiora glared at her sister and sighed. "Hmph. I have no idea what she's talking about." She led her pegasus to the stable and slowly brushed the majestic animal. "Sigh…Only you know how I feel about him, don't you?" Fiora patted her steed lovingly. "Well…Eliwood is different…"
"H-Hi Fiora." Florina walked inside the stables, the orchid-haired pegasus knight holding a bunch of carrots. "I-I just came to feed H-Huey." Florina walked over to her pegasus and smiled as her pegasus started munching on the vegetables. "Um…F-Fiora?"
"Yes, Florina?" Fiora looked at her sister.
"U-Um…Do y-you like Eliwood?" Florina squeaked, cringing slightly. "I-I didn't really w-want to ask…But F-Farina told me to…"
"Grr…Farina…" One of Fiora's hands clenched into a fist when she thought of her frivolous, money-grubbing sister. "What she said is a lie. I don't like Eliwood…" Her fist unclenched. "Besides, he's my employer and I'm just a mercenary…It wouldn't be right." The teal-haired pegasus knight sighed. "In this world, it would never work out. Mercenaries shouldn't get in romantic relationships with their employers."
Florina nodded. "O-Okay…I-I'm sorry…sister."
"I'm sorry too, Florina." Fiora mumbled and after brushing down her pegasus one more time, she left the stables, thinking to herself.
"It's not right…I can't get married to Eliwood. Besides, he'd never consider one of mercenary stock like me." Fiora whispered to herself as she was walking. "Eliwood is nobility…Falling in love with me is one of the worst things he could do."
"I'd have to disagree with that!" Hector laughed as he walked up behind Fiora, placing a comforting hand over her shoulder. "Listen. You're a remarkable woman, Fiora. Hell, if I wasn't already searching for someone, you'd be pretty high up on my list."
Fiora slid out of the blue-haired lord's grip and bowed politely. "Thank you…Lord Hector. It means a lot…"
Hector looked at Fiora and then smirked. "Hah, I bet it does. You've got your heart set on Eliwood, don't you? Well, you keep up this pessimistic attitude, and you're going to lose him! And you know what I'm going to do?" Hector's eyes glinted. "I'm gonna hunt you down and drag you before Eliwood so you can explain why you made such a big mistake, got that?"
Fiora's eyes sparked. "What do you mean by that, Lord Hector? I didn't think that lordlings of Lycia would be so boorish! And besides, you wouldn't be able to find me anyway."
Hector nodded admiringly. "You've got a lot of honor and spirit, Fiora. Eliwood treasures those qualities, you know. Don't want to let him go to some other girl, do you?" He patted Fiora on the side. "Don't worry. Eliwood will take your feelings to heart. He won't reject you because you're a mercenary." His lecture done, Hector spun and turned towards the stables. "Oh, and that threat about dragging you back was a joke! Don't take it so hard!"
"I…see…You certainly have a strange sense of humor…" Fiora muttered. The teal-haired pegasus knight smiling as she thought of appropriate payback for the way he had treated her. "Going to stables to speak to Florina?"
Hector froze. "What are you talking about?" He let out a fake-sounding laugh. "I just want to take a ride around the country."
"Hmm…" Fiora smiled. "Well, some dangerous things can happen when people ride around the country. Like…outraged sisters that would seek revenge if you ever did something bad to their pegasus knight sister. You understand what I'm saying?"
"Yeah, yeah! I'll watch my back!" Hector shouted back and continued stomping towards the stables. "Well played, Fiora, well played!"
"Well played yourself, Lord Hector." Fiora said and headed towards where she had seen Eliwood last. Hector and her sisters were right. This time, she would have to break the standards and confess her feelings. After all, one such as Eliwood deserved that much. He was…special.
---
"Gah! I still can't decide!" Eliwood groaned to himself as he walked through the army camp, racking his brain. The red-haired lord looked around in anguish. He needed to find some place to think. Some place that was silent. But it was the beginning of a new day, and everyone was getting ready for the journey ahead. There were sounds of sparring, magic exploding, the smell of breakfast, and just way too many other distractions for Eliwood to concentrate properly.
"Oh, Lord Eliwood!" Fiora spotted him and walked over, waving.
"Oh, hi Fiora." Eliwood looked up at the teal-haired pegasus knight. "Are you feeling well?"
"Of course!" Fiora nodded. "Um…I have something to tell you…"
"I-I'm sorry…But can you please tell me later? I need some time to think…Think about something important." Eliwood said regretfully. "I don't mean to say that you don't calm me down, but I just need some peace and quiet right now."
"Oh…I understand." Fiora mumbled and she was about to turn away, when an idea hit her. "Um…Lord Eliwood?"
"Yes?" He looked at her and the pegasus knight felt herself starting to blush.
"Uh…Perhaps you would like to fly on my pegasus with me? Maybe you can find the peace and quiet in the sky?" Fiora offered, looking hopefully at the lord.
"Yes…Yes, that would be nice." Eliwood smiled tiredly at Fiora. "Thank you very much. I really appreciate it."
"It's my pleasure…" Fiora bowed and took Eliwood towards the stables, holding his hand. Fiora looked resolutely ahead and hoped that Eliwood didn't notice the slight blush that was creeping into her cheeks.
"Fiora…You have nice, soft hands…Did you know that?" Eliwood said distractedly, still too involved in his problem to restrain himself from saying stupid things.
"O-Oh…Uh, t-thank you, Lord Eliwood." Fiora stuttered, her blush creeping to a deeper shade of pink. "T-Thank you…"
---
When they reached the stables, Eliwood was a little more aware of his surroundings. "So…Uh…Are you sure your pegasus will let me ride him?" He eyed animal warily, small scenes of him falling off and smashing into the ground spinning in his eyes.
"Of course he will, won't you?" Fiora smiled and rubbed the pegasus's side. The pegasus let out a contented snort and nudged Fiora with his nose. "See? He's nice. He'll let you ride."
"Well, okay." Eliwood paused behind the pegasus. "Thank you for doing all of this. You really don't need to take me up to the sky."
"No, it's my pleasure…" Fiora said, trying to stop her emotions from running into her voice. He didn't need her confession right now…After all, he had a lot of things on his mind. "Well, do you know how to mount a pegasus?"
"Yes, my parents taught me with some of the pegasus's that were brought from Ilia at times." Eliwood said, smiling slightly. "I've never flown before, however."
"There's always a time to try something new." Fiora remarked and thought about how ironic it sounded, since it applied to her as well. Fiora felt Eliwood mount as well. "Okay, now hold yourself to me so you don't fall off. The beginning of the flight is the hardest."
"Yes, sir!" Eliwood said jokingly and wrapped his arms around Fiora's lithe waist. Fiora had to control herself and not sink into those nice, comforting, warm arms. Regaining her composure, she stroked her pegasus and nudged on the reins.
"Okay, let's go!" Fiora said and her pegasus shot out of the stable, running on the grass in order to build enough momentum to gain flight. Eliwood held on tightly to Fiora and Fiora felt her face heating up again. And after a couple of more minutes, her pegasus lifted himself in the air and beat his feathered wings.
"Wow!" Eliwood said, his eyes twinkling with happiness. "I know I'm just a passenger…But this feels so exhilarating! I can only imagine what it feels for you, flying in the sky with only the clouds to keep you company! This is amazing!"
"Just like you…" Fiora couldn't help saying that and fervently hoped that Eliwood hadn't noticed it.
"Huh, what was that?" Eliwood asked, the roar of the rushing air muffling that words that Fiora had said.
"Nothing, nothing!" Fiora replied, careful to look forward and keep her mind on the flying, and not on the considerate, handsome, strong man that was behind her. The man that had treated her with all the respect due to a family member…The one that had said that he treated everyone as if they were all his friends. So unlike those that had just paid her and laughed behind her back. So unlike those that had tried to make her theirs, through the use of money or force. So unlike all of them…
"Ah….I feel like I can think now…" Eliwood said and closed his eyes, thinking. He softly placed his head on Fiora's back. "Thank you…"
"No thanks are needed…Eliwood…" Fiora said and carefully guided her pegasus, reveling in the feeling of comfort and joy that all sprung from just one man. Just one man who cared…
---
"So, didja tell him?" Farina asked eagerly as Fiora stepped inside their tent. "Come on, tell me! I'm your sister, you know!"
"Hmph. As a matter of fact…" Fiora looked to the side. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Aw, come on!" Farina let out a snort. "Stop denying it. You like him! Now go tell him already!" She placed her hands on her hips. "You're making Florina really worried about you!"
"What? Really?"
"Well, yeah!" Farina said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "She's our sister! Of course she's going to be worried when her sister is in love and keeps denying it!"
"Fine, fine!" Fiora returned, glaring at Farina. "I didn't have a chance to tell him, okay? I didn't want to bother him. He looked too distraught to have to worry about my problems."
"God, you are such a sissy! Just go out and tell him!" Farina shouted.
"Hey, I don't need your help with my life!" Fiora retorted.
"Like hell you don't!" Farina scoffed. "You haven't been true to yourself every time you've talked to him!"
"What are you talking about? And while we're on the subject, you haven't too true to yourself either!" Fiora poked Farina, her eyes flashing.
"What do you mean by that?" Farina yelled.
"I mean by the way you're looking at Kent! Don't act like you don't have feelings for him!"
"Well, fine! So what if I do! At least I can admit it to myself!"
"Admit it to yourself! Hah! Then why haven't you told him yet?"
"B-Because…Hey, this isn't about me! I'll tell Kent when I'm good and ready! You, on the other hand, have been keeping it to yourself since like…forever!"
"Um…Excuse me…" Eliwood poked his head inside. "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything."
"No, not at all!" Farina said pleasantly, glaring daggers at her sister and drilling a finger into Fiora's side.
"How can we help you, Lord Eliwood?" Fiora asked, slowly grinding the heel of her boot into Farina's toes.
"Uh…Fiora…Can I talk to you for a little while? Please?" Eliwood stepped into the tent.
"Well, I…uhh…" Fiora started.
"She'd love to!" Farina pushed her sister towards Eliwood. "Isn't that right, sister?"
"Fiora doesn't have to if she doesn't want to." Eliwood said.
"Ah…No, no, it's no trouble at all…" Fiora replied and stepped outside with Eliwood. The teal-haired pegasus knight stood in front of Eliwood, her hands clasped behind her back. She shifted nervously. "So…Uh…What did you want to talk about?"
"Fiora…I've been thinking…" Eliwood rubbed the back of his neck unconsciously. "Well, I'm sure you know that. What I was thinking about…Was about which girl I liked the most…"
Fiora felt her heart flutter slightly. "I…Uh…I see." She stuttered, growing more and more nervous. Her heart was racked with indecisions. What if he said he liked someone else? Then she would have been too late…
"When you let me ride with you on your pegasus…I came to a decision…" Eliwood started. "You see…"
Fiora's eyes widened. She would not listen to him say that he liked another girl without telling him about her feelings first! It was now or never. 'Farina! Now…Now I need your spirit!'
"Eliwood!"
"What?" Eliwood looked confused.
"Eliwood…" Fiora stepped forward, finally letting her emotions run free. "I…I love you, Eliwood." Her hands came out from behind her back and she slowly grasped Eliwood's hands. "I love you, Eliwood! Ever since you first welcomed me into the army…You have a different attitude from everyone else! You treat everyone the same…You don't have any prejudices against mercenaries like me. You gave me the respect that I never thought I would have. You cared for me when I thought no one would…" Fiora sniffed and she felt tears grow in her eyes. "Eliwood…You've been so kind to me…So caring…I…I…" Fiora let Eliwood's hands drop out of hers. "But…I'm just a mercenary and you're a lord…I…I can't think that you would like me over anyone else. I'm just a commonplace mercenary…" Fiora sniffed again. "I…I'd better go!" She turned to leave, but Eliwood gripped her hand.
"Fiora!"
"Leave me alone! I finally said how I feel, okay? But…But I just can't work! You couldn't love someone like me…" Fiora cried, the tears running freely now.
"Fiora! Listen to me! I was going to say…I was going to say that I'm in love with you!" Eliwood said urgently, still holding onto Fiora's hand.
"W-What?" Fiora stopped struggling and turned to face Eliwood. "Y-You can't mean that…"
"I said it and I mean it!" Eliwood said. "I'm in love with you, Fiora. With you, and only you."
Hearing those words broke whatever barriers Fiora had left. She sunk into Eliwood's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Eliwood pulled Fiora close to him, holding her comfortingly. He kissed her on her hair and slowly ran his hand up and down Fiora's back.
"E-Eliwood…" Fiora sniffed and tried to swallow her tears. "Thank you…Thank you so much…"
"There is no need to thank me. My love for you requires no thanks…" Eliwood said.
Fiora looked up at Eliwood, her eyes still teary. She sniffed and looked at the man who treated her like a human being. The man that cared for her like a friend. The man that had protected her from death.
Fiora blinked out her tears and kissed him fiercely on the lips, all of her pent-up passions finally exploding out of her. Fiora kissed the red-haired lord again and again. Eliwood was just so different from the others…
Eliwood was the one who loved her…and she loved him back.
Chris: Well, there we go! Hope you liked this story, and the others will be coming. The next one will probably feature Hector, Erk, or Sain, so go read it when I post!