A/N: Ok, for the first story I thought I'd expand a little from the cutscene in the game where Sheena decides to join the Chosen's group in Luin...add a little here and there, etc. So, this pretty much begins after the injured Sheena is found by Lloyd and Co. after the Desian's attack Luin.
Traced Bonds
Emerging from the warm embrace of exhausted slumber was an unpleasant experience for Sheena, and she battled vainly against it – feeling the aching pain that consumed her body return slowly with her senses. Keeping her eyes closed, the young woman tried unsuccessfully to return to sleep, but it remained frustratingly elusive – mockingly removing all elements of drowsiness from her mind as it fled from her pleading mental grip.
With a muted sigh, Sheena slowly opened her eyes, wincing with the effort and at how much the bright sunshine hurt them as they adjusted. Gradually, as the pale white light faded a little, she realised that she was lying in bed within a small, cosy room – one that her cluttered mind seemed to find familiar.
The sounds of everyday conversation and bustle could be heard from out the nearby window, and a delightfully rich smell of cooking seemed to waft in from under the only door into the room. Sheena let out a low, painful hiss as she attempted to sit up so she could get a look out of the window, but her body seemed to be resisting every small movement, and the guardian user was forced to admit defeat yet again.
Where am I? This…this isn't Luin. Sheena pulled the blankets further up over her body as she racked her mind – trying to place in order what had happened now that the memories were coming painfully back. I…I failed to protect them from the Desian's. The people of Luin – I failed them all! Then the Chosen's party came along…and that creature attacked, and…and.
Sheena's memory failed her there, and she closed her eyes to try and reduce the sharp pain cutting through her head. I must have passed out, she conceded with irritation. I'm an incompetent idiot.
The sound of footsteps on the floorboards beyond the door interrupted any further admonishments and Sheena tried to ready herself as much as was possible considering her injuries. Not knowing who had brought her here didn't help. It could have been the Chosen's group, but just as likely it could have been someone else. She didn't even know where her Cards were – although her small kitbag had been left in the far corner of the room – so she compromised by forcing herself to sit up and look as intimidating as possible.
Yeah, whoever it is going to be so scared! You've really outdone yourself this time, Sheena.
The footsteps stopped, and a few moments later the handle on the door rattled as someone fumbled with it – the door opening painfully slow.
"Um…hello?"
Sheena found her body relaxing almost automatically. That voice – it sounded familiar. Her assumptions were confirmed a few moments later as a tired looking young man stumbled awkwardly through the doorway, carrying a tray laden with plates of food. He was one of the Chosen's group and, although as such they were her enemies, the young woman felt a little reassured that she at least knew who they were. She also felt slightly awkward – after all, it had been the jovial looking brown haired warrior who now stood before her that had fought against her so viciously during their earlier encounters. Thinking back to those, she tried to remember his name.
"Oh…good, you're awake!" He smiled warmly at her, and Sheena couldn't work out why the gesture relaxed, and even cheered, her. "How are you feeling?"
"Huh? Um…I-I'm fine, I think. Thanks..." The question caught her completely off guard and she cursed herself for replying with such a ridiculous sounding mumble.
The young man nodded as he crossed the room, his soft brown eyes betraying no sign of hostility, only gentle concern. Sheena realised she had been staring at them for a little too long and shook her head slightly, feeling the throbbing pain emerge to the surface.
"Hey…um, Lloyd wasn't it? Where are we?"
The young man set the tray down on the table beside her bed and looked out of the window. "We're in Hima at the moment." He must of saw her expression change, and hastily added, "It's a bit out of the way, I know, but there wasn't much chance of you healing and resting in Luin, so we made our way back here."
"What?" Sheena jerked her head towards the window and stretched to see the distant rolling hills that were visible from the inn, perched high up on the mountains. Thick, stony grey clouds bordered the horizon, and as she stared out, a distant rumble of thunder growled threateningly. "But that means that we've gone in the opposite direction to the Asgard Ranch." She began to climb out of bed, trying to ignore the sharp pains that lanced through her limbs as she moved. "Look, I…I appreciate what you've done, but I need to get there right away – the people of Luin…I owe them." Sheena rose unsteadily to her feet, but a combination of the injuries she sustained and the stiffness of not using her limbs in a while forced her into submission.
"Ow," she gasped, falling on one knee and using her hand to prop herself against the bed. Lloyd was beside her in an instant.
"Listen, you're not in any condition to go the human ranch. You were really badly injured – it was lucky Professor Raine could save you!" He leant forward to help her up, but Sheena angrily swatted his hand away.
"I can get up fine on my own," she snapped, fuelled by humiliation and desperately willing her body to prove it as she tried to stand.
"Okay, okay." Lloyd stepped back to respect her wishes, and Sheena felt her anger boil over into frustration as she realised she wasn't really going to be able to do it herself. Her legs weakly gave away from under her, and her arms hurt too much to support her weight. Cursing under her breath a few times, Sheena bowed her head and sighed.
"…Fine…I can't."
"No problem." Lloyd's arms passed under her shoulders as he took her weight and helped her climb stiffly to her feet. You must look pathetic, she chastised herself as she climbed back into bed, pulling the blankets sulkily over herself.
"…Thanks."
"Don't worry about it. I know how it feels, kinda. I once broke my leg. My father, Dirk, he made this splint to bind my leg while it healed. It worked, but I couldn't walk without help for ages while it was healing." The young man's eyes met hers. "Does it hurt a lot?"
He talks a lot, thought Sheena while she listened. Is he trying to make me feel better? It was a nice sentiment, but she wondered why he was doing it.
"Lloyd," she said – ignoring his question as she adjusted herself into a sitting position again. "Why did you guys help me?"
"Well…" Lloyd paused for a moment as he sat himself down on the foot of the bed. "You –"
"I mean, I'm not going to reveal anything, no matter how much you question me!"
"Woah, calm down!" Lloyd held his hands up defensively. "No-one said anything like that! We helped you probably for the same reason you helped the Pastor in Luin."
"I…see." Sheena looked towards the window, feeling a little edgy and unsettled by the kindness these relative strangers had afforded her. "But…I'm your enemy."
Lloyd shrugged, as if the thought hadn't even crossed his mind. "Well, we might be fighting for different things, but I don't think that makes you a bad person." He looked across at Sheena and laughed gently. "Colette was right, you do have kind eyes."
"Wh-what?" Sheena flustered and closed her eyes instinctively, looking away. "Sh-shut up! I don't – and you shouldn't have given me aid – after all, this…this doesn't change anything!"
"That's a shame." There was something undetectable in Lloyd's voice that made the purple haired guardian user regret her sudden outburst. But what she had said was true, wasn't it?
"Well," he continued, "even so, I don't think Colette has much to fear from you in your present condition – right?" The young man smiled disarmingly at her as he stood up to retrieve the tray, and Sheena again felt that soothing tranquillity spread through her body. Hesitantly, she returned the smile.
"Heh…I guess that's true enough…"
"Exactly," Lloyd placed the tray across her lap and Sheena looked down at the assortment of plates and food on it.
"What's this in aid of?"
The young man looked slightly awkward for the first time. "Well…we were all eating downstairs so I thought you might be hungry too." His gaze fell on the tray and he grinned ruefully, rubbing the back of his head. "I…uh, I didn't know what you liked though, so I grabbed a bit of everything."
"Oh…th-thanks…that was nice of you…" The guardian user was really beginning to regret her earlier hostility, and she looked back up at the young man – feeling the awkwardness of the moment warm her cheeks. "It looks good…you didn't have to you know…"
"Well, a little food always helps when you're low on energy – so eat up and rest, okay?"
Sheena looked down at the tray and paused. "Are you all planning to go to the Asgard Ranch then?"
"Huh? Sure, well – that's the plan anyway." Lloyd scratched his cheek. "Why'd you ask?"
The guardian user ran a hand through her long purple hair and sighed. This was going to sound selfish no matter how she phrased it – fancy asking something of your enemies like this.
"…I, uh, have a favour I'd like to ask of you."
"A favour?" Lloyd sat himself back down on the bed. "What is it?"
Sheena shifted uncomfortably on the bed, looking down at the blankets as she spoke. "It's…kinda unreasonable I know but, I was wondering if you could…help me save the people of Luin. I owe them for food and lodgings and…I couldn't protect them before…"
Lloyd looked thoughtful for a second, then nodded. "Sure."
A surge of excitement passed through the guardian user at Lloyd's quick response to her request. "R-really? That's gonna be okay with the others?"
"I'll talk it over with them, but it'll be fine." A brief look of sadness flickered across his features momentarily before the young man nodded. "Sheena…I know what it's like…not being to protect people…so don't worry, we'll help you free them."
What did he mean by that? Sheena studied Lloyd's face, but whatever memory had darkened his features had been suppressed. "…Thanks, I really appreciate it." She looked across at the window as the first drops of rain began to splatter against the glass. It didn't look as though they would be going anywhere yet – especially if the weather worsened. The young woman wondered how long she would be spending in the company of the Chosen's group, and whether that time would confuse her thoughts further.
"Listen…" Sheena looked back at Lloyd. "I…I want to call a truce."
Lloyd frowned in thought. "A truce?"
"Yup…you've helped me twice now, and I swear on my honour to repay the debt in full. For the meantime though…I want to call a truce. I won't…make any more attempts on Colette's life for the time being…okay?"
"Deal." Lloyd smiled. "I told you that you had a nice side!"
"Huh? N-no, it's not that." Sheena shook her head vigorously, the movement nearly spilling the plates on the tray. "It…it's just a more, um, practical arrangement – that's all."
"Okay…sure." Lloyd rose to his feet and made for the door. "I'll go talk to the others then, all right? You make sure you eat and rest."
"Yeah…I will." She watched him open the door and pass through it. "Lloyd…thanks."
The young man met her eyes for a moment as he paused in the doorway, and nodded. "You're welcome."
The guardian user waited for the door to close before she sighed, looking down at the tray of food. It did look nice, and it really was wise to eat to replenish her energy, but the young woman didn't really feel hungry.
"I'm confused Grandpa…" she muttered, closing her eyes. "I…am doing the right thing, right?"
There was a movement on the blanket beside her, and Sheena looked down to see Corrine, the sole proof that she was a summoner of sorts, watching her.
"I thought it best if I didn't show myself," he offered. "How are you feeling?"
"I've been worse." Sheena broke a piece off a crusty roll and dipped it in a bowl filled with hot soup before handing it over to the tiny creature. "I've been better too, mind."
"Yeah, guess you got decked pretty badly back there."
The young woman idly flicked Corrine's ear as it munched on the bread. "Huh, didn't exactly win the battle yourself!" She paused for a second, listening to the rain cascading down on the roof above. "What do you think of them?"
Corrine paused for a moment. "Who?"
"The Chosen's group…well, I guess that Lloyd is the only one of them that I've had a conversation with out of battle."
"No idea," her summon replied ambiguously. "Be on your guard Sheena, just in case."
"I don't know…" Sheena's gaze remained on the door, that warm feeling still strangely clinging to her for some reason. "He seemed…nice."
"Well, you know I'll protect you Sheena," Corrine added supportively. "So don't worry."
"Thanks," she replied, surprised to find herself hoping that it wouldn't be necessary.