Ashes of War

Part 1: Budding Love

It was late afternoon in the land of Crimea, but with the late autumn season, the sun was already gone from the sky and the air had grown chilly enough to force most indoors. Many of the trees were already long since bare of leaves and the sky had grown ever more overcast, hinting at the forthcoming snow. Despite the chill, however, tensions were quite hot in the home of the Greil Mercenaries, Crimea's top fighting force. A brawny figure clad in rough and tumble leather armor and a red cape shoved aside the door to the fort's kitchen, slamming it behind him so hard that everyone in the room jumped. Ike, who was commander of the company and son of the late Greil who'd been the previous commander, was not known for his patience and something had evidently caused that patience to run out. His gait was unsteady and his eyes slightly glazed as he clutched a pack of ice against the side of his head. At the table sat his fellow mercenaries, Boyd, Oscar and Titania, who were resting after ridding a nearby village of bandits. Seeing Boyd, however, Ike scowled deeply.

"This is the last straw, Boyd!" he exclaimed as he walked over. "If you hit me one more time with that axe—"

"Get a grip, Ike. It was an accident," Boyd retorted, clearly more irritated than concerned. "Just be glad it wasn't the sharp end that hit you."

"I don't care! This is the third time this month you've made the side of my head turn purple!" Ike protested, squinting at the pain in his head from being hit both the blow and his own shouting.

"Hey, it isn't my fault you haven't learned to stay out of my way!" Boyd shot back, one fist clenching. "Why don't you try backing off for once?"

"I would, if you would start paying some attention to where you're swinging that thing, you moron! You're just lucky I can't afford to kick you out of this company!"

That proved to be exactly the wrong thing to say, for Boyd now vaulted to his feet and glowered at Ike as if ready to whack him again, and this time on purpose.

"Don't call me a moron! I'm not the one who's whining about a little bump on the head!"

"LITTLE BUMP? Does this look like a little bump to you?"

Ike removed the ice from his head to reveal a swollen, purplish-red lump about the size of a plum slightly jutting outward from his head. Titania caught a glimpse of it and grimaced. Oscar didn't even think about looking, but with his perpetual squint, it was hard to tell. Ike had been in a great deal of pain upon being struck. However, Boyd refused to even acknowledge it, much less apologize for it.

With that, both Ike and Boyd began railing at each other over one another's carelessness until Titania moved to cut in, worried they might come to blows. Instead, however, they stormed out of the room yelling at each other over the incident until their voices faded. Titania, muttering something about being "the only sane one," collapsed back in her chair with an exasperated sigh. It had become a recurring incident on the battlefield when Boyd would mistakenly strike Ike in the head with the haft of his axe just as he was about to swing it into a bandit. The same thing had happened twice before that month. True to form, Ike had taken Boyd to task for being careless and Boyd blamed Ike for being in the way of his swing and after that, the two began having furious arguments. Titania noticed Oscar, who also frowned upon the constant arguing going on between his younger brother and his commander.

"What are we going to do with them…?" Titania wondered with another sigh. "This bitter rivalry between those two has gone on long enough."

"I agree," Oscar replied. "Ike and Boyd have argued before, but not like this. Not since Ike first joined the company, in fact. I'm really not sure why it all started. I mean, for all the noise they're making about it, I don't think Boyd clocking Ike with his axe is the whole thing."

Titania, wondering the same thing, began mulling over the events that had occurred a few months before when the entire continent of Tellius was engulfed in war due to the actions of Mad King Ashnard of Daein. Before then, the company's former commander, Greil, had finally determined that his son, Ike was finally ready to join the company. As a result of Greil's death during the war, Ike inherited command of the company. It was no secret that dealing with that was a lot to ask from such a young man who, despite his obvious talent and determination, had so much to learn and nowhere near enough time to learn it. Ike still struggled with it at times, working to keep the company in business and to become a better leader. Maybe it was getting to him? Though, of course, a lot more had happened besides the death of Ike's father and Ike becoming commander.

There are a lot of possibilities, Titania realized.

"I think something is bothering those two. Something other than each other, of course," Titania suggested. "I mean, doesn't Ike seem like he hasn't been himself lately? Even Mist has begun avoiding him for the past few weeks."

Mist, Ike's younger sister, used to always look up to her big brother for support, especially after their father's death. However, all the arguing had visibly displeased her, and she'd refrained from being around either him or Boyd when she knew they were at it. Rolf, the younger brother of Boyd and Oscar, had been doing the same.

"Yeah, you might be on to something," Oscar agreed, stroking his chin contemplatively. "Boyd seems different as well. Why he would change like this, I don't know, but I have a pretty good idea of what may be bothering Ike."

"Oh? Are you saying he's grieving for his father again? Or, maybe the responsibility of running the company is wearing him down? I had the same thought."

"Not just that. You've got to admit the guy's had it tough a good chunk of his life already."

"Very true…"

The two mercenaries continued to contemplate the matter as the night grew darker. Oscar continued to recall the events of the war against Ashnard, where some rather spectacular whimsies of fate had brought the Greil Mercenaries to the forefront of the war. They remembered all of the efforts to win Crimea back from Daein, seeking help from Gallia and Begnion, invading Daein itself and then rallying Crimean and laguz forces to liberate Crimea. It was a remarkable time, dangerous and often unpleasant, but still remarkable since it would surely have a profound impact upon the history of Tellius, and that the Greil Mercenaries had such a large part in it. Then, however, Oscar recalled another who'd been an essential figure, not only in the war but also in Ike's decision to involve himself in it. And, it wasn't long before realization caused a grin to cross his features. Perhaps it wasn't the history of Ike's life at all, but a more personal problem.

"Hey, Titania…" Oscar began, his tone turning sly. "Maybe Ike's reasons involve Queen Elincia."

"Queen Elincia? What makes you think she would upset Ike?" Titania wondered.

Elincia, the once hidden princess of Crimea, had inherited the Crimean throne after her late father, King Ramon, and his brother, Duke Renning, lost their lives to Ashnard. Ike and the mercenaries discovered her, practically by accident, during the first days of the war. When it became obvious that Daein knew of her as well, and that they would target the mercenaries as well for sheltering the fugitive princess, Ike was quick to voice his intent to support her and Greil had followed suit. After fleeing their fort with Elincia in tow and Greil being killed during the journey, they'd aided her in building an army to resist Daein's forces.

"It's not that. Remember at the castle, how Ike seemed rather reluctant to leave her? And we weren't even going far away. Queen Elincia requested that we remain near Melior. And besides, doesn't he still have that painting of them that was done just before we left?"

"Wait, you're not saying he's in love with her, are you?"

"It's possible, but if he is, then he more than likely doesn't realize it."

"Hmm… I doubt it, somehow. At times, Ike seems so selfless, you'd think he doesn't even know what he wants for himself. Besides a few dozen slabs of ribs, that is. But, whatever the reason, I'm going to go talk to Ike about all these arguments. They have to stop before those two dolts really do hurt each other. Even Soren is miffed at them."

Soren, the company's staff officer in training and a mage, often stayed out of matters that didn't involve him, but this case became an exception. Ike and Boyd's quarreling had disturbed his studies once, at the volatile mage had retorted with a blast of Elwind that blew the pair all the way out of the building.

"Indeed. While you work on Ike, I'll go figure out Boyd," Oscar agreed. "He is my brother, after all."

With that, the two of them left the table and went in search of their comrades. Assuming they had gone to their rooms by now, Titania led herself to Ike's room which coincidentally was just across from Boyd's. The door was open just a crack, and a glance inside revealed something interesting: the very painting Oscar had mentioned, of Ike standing alongside Elincia in Melior, occupied a place of honor on Ike's bedside table. Even more curious, Ike's expression in the painting looked...content. He'd rarely looked like that since his father's death. And, to top it all off, Ike had one arm around Elincia's waist and his fingers were laced with hers.

Interesting, Titania mused to herself. Very interesting indeed.

However, as she quietly opened the door wider so as not to disturb anyone else, Titania found that Ike was not there. A glance at the window on the far side of the room, fortunately, revealed a dark figure sitting outside on the grass. After making out a cape swaying in the breeze and a headband tied around the figure's head, Titania knew it was who she was looking for.

After leaving the room, Titania eagerly let herself outside to see Ike sitting there gazing at the night sky. The overcast had broken up in a few places, allowing the moon and the bright stars which twinkled overhead to be visible. Ike was still holding the ice pack to his head and gazing at the stars as Titania walked up next to him. This too caught Titania's eye, since she'd never known Ike to be interested in stargazing and after slogging through the snowfields of Daein, probably wasn't fond of the cold, night air either. She approached Ike, who seemed quite oblivious to her presence, and also turned her attention to the sky. She just barely caught a glimpse of a shooting star streaking past the moon. Her attention finally returned to Ike moments later and she smiled as she knelt beside him.

"Ike?" she greeted. "Can I talk to you?"

Ike then turned around see Titania's familiar long red braid.

"Whoa, Titania, don't sneak up on me like that," Ike groused, breathing hard from the shock. "And that's an order."

"Haha, sorry about that," Titania replied with a snicker. "I just came out to have a little talk with you. What's going on with you and Boyd?"

Ike sighed before answering, clearly reluctant to discuss the topic.

"Honestly, I have no idea. The first time Boyd hit me over the head with an axe wasn't really a problem, but when it happened again, we just…sort of got annoyed with each other about it."

"Are you sure? Oscar seems to think you're getting upset about your father or what you learned of your past again."

"Oh, no, it isn't that. I mean, I still think about that from time to time, but I've been able to cope with it now that I've avenged my father. I'm even glad he isn't here right now to see this problem. I mean, what commander gets into arguments with his own men?"

"I see. You do bring up a good point. Oscar mentioned Queen Elincia too. Do you…miss her at all?"

"Well…yes, sort of," Ike admitted, a sad smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "She was great to have around. I would have never expected a princess or queen to know how to use a sword, at least not as well as her. She was also really kind…and beautiful…uh! Forget I said that!"

Ike's cheeks instantly turned scarlet, shocked what he'd just said.

"Aha," Titania replied with a mischievous smile. "You do like her, don't you?"

"Of course I do, she was a good friend and ally, but I swear that last sentence slipped out. I can never understand royalty anyway."

Titania had to admit that she could understand, especially given Ike's displeasure towards other nobles during the war. Still, even so, there was something curious in Ike's voice. It almost sounded as if he was saying that to himself as much as to Titania...and that he wasn't convincing either of them. Plus, not many things could put a wistful smile like that on Ike's face.

"Alright, whatever you say."

Titania merely sat there with Ike a little while longer, a smile on her face. Oscar, she thought, might have just hit the nail on the head when he said Ike might unknowingly be in love. Knowing it was something Ike had never experienced before, Titania suspected he had not even come to grips with how he felt for Elincia, much less knew what to do about it. If Elincia felt the same way, and she had certainly shown a few small signs in the past, then no one could doubt a budding love between a hero and his former princess.

Despite her delight, Titania knew that realizing such a thing would not be easy. Ike didn't care a whit that he was a commoner and that Elincia was royalty during the war, and Titania rather doubted that had changed, but there were plenty of other would likely care very much. What's more, if Ike did seek to court Elincia, would it mean he would have to leave the company? It was possible, even if it was only to satisfy those critical of such a courtship, but being a mercenary was the only life Ike had ever known. Titania had sensed however, especially during the war, that being a mercenary might not be Ike's destiny. At least, not his ultimate destiny. Perhaps Elincia would play another, deeper role in realizing it? Titania did not know, but she did hope that Ike's likely love for Elincia ended better than her love for Greil did. With a sad smile crossing her own face, she clapped a hand on Ike's shoulder, gazing fondly at the young mercenary who'd been like a son to her.

"I think you do have feelings for her. If you get the chance, tell her. I want to see my grandchildren before I go."

There were no words for how stupefied Ike looked upon hearing this. Snickering, Titania went back inside the fort to ponder what she'd discovered further.

Back inside the fort, Oscar was still hunting for Boyd. Like Ike, he had been absent from his room, but left no sign as to where he might have gone. Oscar questioned Soren and Rhys, the company's sickly, but determined healer, about his brother's whereabouts, but neither one of them had seen Boyd since the group returned from that day's mission. Neither Mist nor Rolf had a clue either. Shinon and Gatrie had already gone to sleep, and Oscar knew from prior experience that rousing them in the middle of the night was a bad idea. Besides which, Ike and Shinon hated each other, so Shinon would not likely be of much help anyway. That left Mia, their other sword fighter. Oscar soon spotted Mia coming through the back entrance of the fort and quickly approached her.

"Hey, Mia, hold on a second," Oscar called out.

"Yeah, what's the matter?" Mia wondered.

"Have you seen Boyd anywhere? He was in the kitchen, but then he and Ike stormed out. Now I can't find him," Oscar explained.

Mia brought her hands to her hips and grunted.

"Ugh, were those two at it again?" she groused. "This is getting ridiculous. It's not like Ike at all to be fighting with his own troops. He's our commander for heaven's sake."

"Exactly," Oscar agreed. "It's not like Boyd either. Titania went to talk with Ike, so we're hoping to bring the problem to an end."

"Good. If you're looking for Boyd, I just saw him out back. I asked him why he was out there, but he wouldn't tell me."

"Alright, thanks."

With that, Oscar started for the back door. As he stepped outside into the darkness, he was struck by how cold it was. He glanced worriedly at the overcast sky hoping this year's snowfall wouldn't be too bad. Aside from their rather unpleasant time in Daein, which seemed to have winter year-round, the Greil Mercenaries' experiences with snow had rarely been pleasant. One year, they'd been snowed in the fort and had been unable to take on any jobs all winter. Then, the year after that, a snowstorm had hit while they were away on a mission which left them snowed outside the fort. Shuddering at the recollection, he immediately began looking for Boyd. Within seconds, Oscar spotted his brother leaning against a nearby tree with his arms folded across his chest despondently. A light, but cold breeze was blowing through the rear of the fort as Oscar approached Boyd. Boyd's face, however, held no hint of the anger he'd shown earlier. Instead, he looked very glum about his argument with Ike. When he heard his brother's footsteps, however, Boyd looked up to see Oscar standing nearby.

"Oh…hey, Oscar," he greeted gloomily.

"Hey Boyd, I want to talk with you," Oscar replied. "I'm curious about why you and Ike have constantly been fighting."

"I figured. I don't like the fighting either," Boyd admitted, noting Oscar's raised eyebrow. "Hey, I'm serious! I don't know what's gotten into him. Ike's never done this before."

"True, but neither have you. Is there something wrong?"

"Well…" Boyd began. "Actually…yes, sort of. In fact, it's about Ike."

Oscar's eyebrows rose upon hearing what he just heard.

"Really? What about him?"

"I'm…I'm jealous."

"Why's that?"

"Well, I always thought Ike got too much," Boyd explained. "He wielded a sacred sword, took command of our company not long at all after he'd first joined… Even Elincia seemed to have taken a liking to him. I guess I was pretty sore about it and just took it out on him all this time. I'd get lost in thought during battle, I'd swing my axe and, next thing I know, there he was clutching his head screaming at me like I did it purpose. It only happened when he was nearby, but I still never intentionally tried to clock him, though, I swear."

"I believe you," Oscar replied with a hint of relief in his tone. "Don't worry about it, alright? I actually think myself that Elincia could be why Ike has been out of character."

"Oh? What a coincidence. Well, I'm going to head inside. See you in the morning."

"Alright, I may as well myself. Good night."

The rest of the evening passed without incident and, by the next morning, the fort had settled back to its customary abnormal state. Greil had coined the phrase some years ago, since "the Greil Mercenaries" and "normal" just didn't seem to belong in the same sentence, and this was especially true during and after the war. In any case, Ike awoke to the smell of a meal being cooked in the kitchen. Judging by the sharp female voice that came to him, even muffled by the door, it was Mist's turn to make breakfast. Mist could be pretty territorial in the kitchen, especially around people like Ike and Boyd who'd barge in to do some taste testing, but Oscar's lessons to her were paying off. Since Mist helped heal his head the previous night, Ike had been able to get a good night's sleep. Though the thoughts of his last argument with Boyd were still swimming through his mind, Ike chose to set it aside and instead remember what Titania had said to him the previous night about Elincia. Did he really like her more than as a friend? Or did that sentence about her kindness and beauty really just slip out? Titania's quip about grandchildren had been a dead giveaway as to what she thought on the matter, but Ike was nowhere near as certain. Ever since he was old enough to use a sword, and he'd started exceptionally early, his only real priority had been to become a good mercenary and commander, maybe even as good as his father. Up until the war, he'd rarely given much thought to other pursuits, much less the idea of falling in love with a girl who should be far out of his reach. Still, this didn't stop him from finding the painting of him and Elincia on the bedside table and looking at it longingly.

Having it done had been Elincia's idea and, for some reason, Ike did not even question the notion. Once the painting was done, Elincia had given it to him, calling it a "keepsake" and saying she hoped he'd visit her again sometime. Looking back, Ike found himself wondering if she might have been asking for more than just the sake of friendship and he suddenly found himself thinking that it would be nice to see her again. Whatever the case, Ike decided not to think too much about it for the time being.

After he rose and got dressed, he made his way to the kitchen. With a few exceptions, the entire company was already gathered in the kitchen, with only a couple exceptions. Oscar and Mist were both making breakfast, the cooking area roped off to stop any would-be taste testers. Titania, Boyd, Mia, and Rhys were at the table, the ladies chatting amiably, Boyd concentrating on his meal while Rhys tried to work his food into his often uncooperative body. Rolf had a plate in his hand and was conversing with Mist at the counter. Only Soren, Shinon, and Gatrie were absent. Shinon was the company's only archer other than Rolf and Gatrie was a heavy foot knight whose flirting had gotten him in trouble quite often. Ike grabbed a plate of his own and joined the others at the table upon entering the kitchen. Titania looked at him with a greeting smile, and a hint of coyness when he noted the hint of distraction in his eyes. Boyd simply glanced and then returned to his own plate.

"Oh, good morning, Ike," Titania greeted. "Your head feeling better today?"

"Yes, much better after Mist healed it," Ike replied. "She's getting better at this all the time. Just a little more practice with Rhys, and she'll be as good as him."

As he stuffed a piece of fruit in his mouth, Ike turned his attention to Boyd, hoping for a sign that he might apologize or that he regretted last night's argument. Ike was also quite eager to end this feud with Boyd; Ike's occasional clashes with Soren and his almost daily arguments with Shinon were quite enough. However, a few minutes passed and Boyd just continued eating silently. Warily, and hoping not to start yet another argument, Ike decided to speak up.

"Hey, um, Boyd?"

"Yeah?" Boyd replied, seemingly without interest.

"You're not still sore about last night, are you?" Ike wondered.

Boyd swallowed his food before answering.

"Sort of, yeah. I didn't appreciate being called a moron."

"Well, now you know how I felt when you did the same to me the time Rolf and Mist were taken hostage by bandits."

"Ugh, why do you have to bring that up?" Boyd retorted, his expression turning angry. "It's not like that was why you called me one!"

Ike sighed before replying.

"Oh come on. Lighten up. You're not starting another argument. You and I both know we don't want that."

"What if I am? I'm sick of listening to you anyway!"

So saying, Boyd rose from the table, snatched up his plate and left the room. Ike shoved his plate back and lowered his head to the table in frustration. Oscar put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Ike. Boyd will come around eventually," he reassured him.

"That's easy for you to say," Ike replied, clearly unconvinced. "I try to set things right and it only gets worse!"

A few minutes later, Soren walked in the door carrying a scroll and his wind tome. However, his perpetually dour expression looked even darker than usual as he brushed his robes aside and turned his attention to Ike. Though loyal to Ike, Soren often disagreed with the plans made by the company during missions, not the smallest of which being the decision to enter the war and ally with the laguz, but Soren's loyalty towards Ike remained unshakable and he aided Ike as best he could. Despite this, he always kept his blunt manner and was very quick to criticize whatever and whoever he saw fit. Ike turned around to find the dark-haired mage behind him and greeted him.

"Soren. What's the matter? You look worried," Ike observed. "Did you overhear what Boyd said?"

"Yes, but that's not the reason," Soren replied. "I've just received a message for you from Queen Elincia. She needs to see you right away."

Ike suddenly brightened. Despite his attempts to stay focused, she'd been on his mind quite a bit since last night. And, after all, the idea that it would be nice to see her again had occurred to him not an hour ago.

"Queen Elincia? What for?"

"There's trouble in Daein."

"There is? Why would she be concerned about Daein?"

"I'm unsure. You should go ask her. She's waiting for you outside of the fort now."

Ike's eyes widened in an instant.

"Wait a minute, she's here? Blast!"

He instantly jumped up from the table and bolted from the room, forgetting about finishing his breakfast. Titania and Oscar exchanged glances and discreet smiles while Rolf and Mist just stood there in confusion.

"I wonder what's with him…" Mist opined.

"Who knows," Rolf replied. "Sometimes Boyd's like that too."

At the front of the fort, Ike threw the door open and rushed outside, bewildered as to why Elincia had personally come all the way out there to the fort. He spotted her standing at the gate into the fort grounds in a long cloak, presumably for hiding herself from the common folk and soldiers. This, plus the hint of gleaming armor underneath and the hilt of her sword poking out of the cloak's folds suggested Elincia had snuck away from Castle Crimea alone, intend on reaching the fort without being discovered. Still wondering why Elincia had resorted to all that, Ike quickly ran up to her. Elincia turned around to notice the blue-haired man standing before her. At the sight of him, a bright smile dawned on her face, which suddenly caused Ike to forget his earlier concerns.

"Oh, my Lord Ike!" she cried. "It's so good to see you again!"

"Y-Your majesty! What are you doing way out here?" Ike blurted. "Aren't you supposed to be at the castle?"

"Yes, but I felt I would cause a panic in town if I had your company come up there and talk," Elincia explained. "So I came here in disguise. Not even the guards know I've left."

Ike merely sighed before responding.

"I'm not sure you should have done that," he warned. "If the guards don't know where you're at, the whole castle is probably up in arms by now."

"I don't care," Elincia replied somberly. "There's a serious problem in Daein right now and if we don't act soon, it could soon involve Crimea."

"What do you mean?"

Elincia began by explaining that, hoping to mend relations between Crimea and Daein, she'd been sending convoys of food and craftsmen to help her one-time enemies to rebuild. Ike could understand the sentiment since he'd seen firsthand the price Daein had paid for their aggression, even if he doubted the Daein people would appreciate the gesture. Elincia's decision, unsurprisingly, had met considerable resistance from her advisors and, to complicate matters, the convoys themselves had disappearing over the past few weeks. At first, Ike thought Elincia might be asking for his group to find the missing convoys, but then she explained that the convoys had already been found, their goods looted and their members killed. Then, three days ago, a Daein soldier came to her reporting that a previously unknown tribe of laguz had suddenly appeared in Daein's borders and had, for no obvious reason, began assaulting the common folk and attacking the towns. This had caught Ike's attention, since he didn't think there were any laguz left in that country. Since Daein currently had no leader, and its army had been decimated during the war, nothing could be done to stop them.

Elincia went on to describe the laguz themselves. They were believed to be part of the beast tribe but, unlike the Gallians, they were not feline but canine. They had pointed ears on their heads, long fur of gray, white and other, largely dark colors, and long bushy tails and that they transformed into wolves when they fought. Aside from derailing her efforts to begin some sort of reconciliation with Daein, Elincia was worried that, if the wolves completely overran Daein, they could do the same to Crimea and other neighboring lands.

"Whoa…" Ike commented. "This is serious. So, you need us to help deal with these wolves?"

"Yes," Elincia replied, her eyes downcast. "The sad truth is I don't have anyone else to turn to. Crimea will likely be reimbursing Begnion for the help they gave us during the war for some time, so we're in no position to ask them for help. And, asking Gallia would likely be a mistake. Even if they are willing to help us against other laguz, which I doubt, I fear they'd never agree to do so for Daein's benefit."

"I see," Ike replied, sensing that this sad reality was trying on Elincia. "We'll help in any way we can."

"Oh, good!" Elincia replied, seeming to brighten slightly. "I'll need you to command the Crimean army again when we launch our counterattack. The wolf tribe is very strong."

Ike sighed in frustration. He had been granted the title of Lord during the war in order to command the Crimean Liberation Army, but he had not enjoyed it and certainly did not relish the idea of being saddled with the title a second time.

"Must I go through that again? You know I detest the idea of being a noble."

"I know Ike, but it would just be a formality. A temporary reinstatement, just so the senators opposed to this plan cannot claim it's illegitimate. You can renounce the title afterwards, just like last time"

"I still don't like it. I mean, couldn't Geoffrey lead the army while I lead the mercenaries?"

"Well, unlike me, the army doesn't exactly like the idea of aiding Daein. While I've no doubts Geoffrey would do a good job, I believe the soldiers would be more comfortable following you again because of your actions during the Mad King's War. Crimea seems to respect you more than any other military leader and if both you and I think this is best for the country, the soldiers would no doubt follow us without question. Please, Ike! You've got to! Please! Do it for Crimea! And do it for me…"

Ike remained silent for a few more seconds, eyeing Elincia's desperate and pleading expression, and then managed a soft smile.

"Alright. We'll head to the castle after everyone's ready."

Elincia's face lit up.

"Oh, thank you, Ike!" she exclaimed in relief. "You're such a strong and brave fighter…I don't know what I'd do without you…"

With that, Elincia moved closer to Ike and kissed him softly on the cheek. Ike's eyes widened as his cheeks flushed in a deep red.

"Uh…well! Thanks! I'd better go get my men," he replied, his voice a bit shaky. He turned around and went back into the fort, thinking of what a challenge a wolf laguz tribe could be. Aside from the Feral Ones, captive laguz who'd been drugged to make them into living killing machines, he'd rarely fought laguz. And, since he had no information about these wolves besides what Elincia had told him, he realized he'd be going in blind, as it were. It also reminded him of a blessed, indestructible sword he once wielded called Ragnell. The blessed sword had been invaluable in the final days of the war, and he'd used it to defeat both the Black Knight, who'd killed his father, and Ashnard himself. He wondered if it was possible for him to reacquire it for the battle. Ike doubted it, since he'd given it to Sanaki, the Apostle of Begnion, after the war and Elincia had said that Begnion would likely not consider Daein's problems to be a priority. However, Ike couldn't be absolutely sure Ragnell would even be necessary to win. He was quite strong even without the golden blade, for his incredible strength enabled him to wield a two handed sword with only one hand in battle.

Upon reentering the mercenary fort, Ike immediately went to seek out all the troops. Titania, Oscar, Soren, Rolf, and Mist were still in the kitchen. Rolf was helping Mist and Oscar clean up from breakfast while Titania was trying, without great success, to pump Soren for more information about why Elincia had come. Boyd was still nowhere to be found and Mia and Rhys had already left. Another thing on Ike's mind was the kiss Elincia had given him. He brought his hand to his cheek as he, somewhat distractedly, sought out Mia and Rhys, wondering if it meant anything more than just an expression of gratitude. He still remembered Titania's rather surprising words the previous evening, and shuddered to think about what she'd say had she seen Elincia kiss him. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed behind him.

"Ike, are you alright?" Titania's voice spoke from behind.

Ike whirled around to find her standing there with an arched eyebrow.

"Oh, stop doing that! Of course. I was merely lost in thought," he explained. "Titania, go round everybody up and have Mist and Rolf pack some food and supplies. We're going to be taking another little trip to the castle."

"Oh? What did Elincia say?"

"I'll explain on the way. Just make sure everybody is ready."

"Understood, Commander."

Titania shot Ike a smile before going back down the corridor, which left Ike puzzled. Shrugging it off, Ike then went to his room to get himself ready. Still deep in thought about the wolf tribe and Elincia's kiss, Ike grabbed his silver sword, the strongest blade he had with him, from the weapons rack, and straightened out his headband and cape which had gotten disheveled from his running. Just as he began to leave, something caught Ike's eye. His gaze turned towards the small mirror above the wash basin and, with shock and embarrassment, he realized what Titania had been smirking about.

On one cheek was the rosy red impression of a certain pair of lips.

Ike, with some inexplicable reluctance, washed it off. As he did so, he thought of Boyd as well, hoping he wouldn't clobber him once again and while Elincia was around. Ike would never forgive himself if he argued with Boyd in front of the queen of all people. Elincia clearly felt bad enough having to ask him to undertake this mission and he didn't want to risk upsetting her any further.

After finishing up and heading back outside to rejoin Elincia, Ike checked on Mist and Rolf along the way. The two had lead the two draft horses to the front of the fort, loading each with food, vuleraries and spare weapons. They were also ready with their own equipment. Rolf was equipped with his bow and quiver of arrows while Mist was carrying her staff and, at her waist, had a sword nearly as long as she was tall. Ike still worried about having them on the battlefield, and had ever since they two had barged in during the middle of a skirmish in Gallia during the war, but both were now quite capable and he would surely need their skills. Ike then hurried to the gate where Elincia was still waiting. Rhys, Soren, Boyd, Mia, Shinon, and Gatrie were with her. Titania and Oscar were leading their warhorses out of the stable and mounting up. Ike nodded approvingly, glad his company was still battle ready and capable, even with both his father's time as commander and war behind them. Straightening up to his full height, he moved to join them.

"Alright, I'm not one for speeches so I'll keep this short," he began. "We've been commissioned by Queen Elincia to travel to Daein, along with the Crimean army, and to drive off these wolf laguz."

He noted more than a few expressions of displeasure on the faces of those assembled.

"Commander," Titania broke in, "Daein is not well liked around here. If our giving aid to them is...misinterpreted, it could damage our reputation."

"The war is over, and what we do today might help to make sure there isn't another one," Ike replied. "And, if we have to, we can have this job be "under the table," with no written contracts."

"There will still be plenty of witnesses if we're going with the army," Titania pointed out. "If they talk, and our clients hear, that could go badly for us."

"If that happens, I'll straighten it out," Ike assured. "But, as for going, my mind is made up."

"Very well."

Titania, however, was not the only one with reservations.

"You must be joking!" Soren hissed. "First, we're fighting alongside sub...excuse me, laguz against Daein and now we're fighting laguz to help Daein? Could you please make up your mind!""

"Soren's still an impudent whelp, but he's got it right," Shinon seconded. "Why the heck should we care what goes on in Daein anyway?"

"Because those are my orders!" Ike replied, forcibly enough to silence them both. "If you don't like it, you can stay here and dust the rafters."

"And miss seeing you fall flat on your face?" Shinon retaliated with his usual sneer. "Not a chance."

"Very well," Soren replied, though he sounded far less than thrilled.

"So what's keeping the others?" Shinon bluntly inquired.

"Here they come," Mia pointed out. The two draft horses came trotting over from the stable, followed by Rolf and Mist and laden with weapons and supplies enough to last them at least several days.

"We're all ready, Brother!" Mist reported.

"Yeah, just give the word, Commander!" Rolf added enthusiastically.

"Then let's move out!" Ike proclaimed.

With Elincia and Ike leading, the troop began their trek to Begnion. Since only two of the mercenaries had horses, and Ike would sooner become a vegetarian than take riding lessons, it would likely take a least most of the day to reach Melior. Along the way, Ike retold Elincia's story to Titania, Oscar, Mist, and Rolf, describing to them the strange new wolf laguz tribe that had invaded Daein. Though it was still unknown what their intentions were, Daein was still defenseless, rendering it an easy territory for any army to push through and then enter Crimea and possibly neighboring Begnion as well. One possible explanation for the wolves' attack was that the wolves were the land bound counterparts to the Kilvas Corsairs and were after loot. During the war, while advancing on the Daein capital of Nevassa, Ike had discovered a Daein storehouse crammed with more gold than he'd ever seen in his life. If that was any indication, Daein had plenty of loot and, in its current state, could do little to keep the wolves from taking it. Perhaps these creatures wanted to take over Daein while it was still a weak, leaderless country and take its land for their own. Even so, it was still a mystery as to why they would want the land in the first place since Daein's wintry climate made it difficult and hazardous to travel, much less conquer, and the wolves would inevitably have supply problems since Daein had so little farmable land. Questions which had yet to be answered raced through Ike's head as the troop reached the halfway point in their journey to the castle grounds.

It wasn't long before the Crimean capital of Melior was in sight, its towers and spires rising like spikes of pearl and silver on the horizon, and Ike could already imagine stepping inside the immense castle once more. Looking forward to it, especially since they wouldn't have to fight their way past Ashnard to get in this time, the troop picked up the pace in hopes of reaching it by evening. Despite the swifter pace, Ike could not prevent his gaze from wandering in Elincia's direction. All he could make out was the hood of her cloak, draped over her face so that no one would be able to recognize her, and he felt a tinge of sadness that he couldn't see her features. Her reappearance in his life had caused quite a few thoughts he'd never expected to form in his mind, and he couldn't help a certain...longing, perhaps, that had stolen over him when he was near her. Suddenly, as if reading his mind, she turned to face him and Ike felt his breath catch in his throat.

I'd almost forgotten how pretty she is, he thought to himself. Wait a minute, where did that come from?

Elincia smiled at him, her soft lips curving upward in a serene grin while her lambent eyes shone with delight and...something else. What that "something else" might have been, Ike did not know. Elincia's smile had a way of leaving him utterly confounded, unable to think of much else besides how much he liked her smile and making her happy. It also had a tendency to lead to some embarrassing results, such as Ike tripping over a rock in midstride.

"Smooth, Commander, real smooth," Shinon quipped nastily while standing over the fallen Ike.

Ike was about to retort when he felt a certain hand grab him to help him rise which, even with her gauntlets, he recognized at once.

"Thank you, your majesty," he told Elincia as he regained his feet.

"Think nothing of it, my Lord Ike," she replied.

For the most part, their journey passed without incident, but that changed as they were traveling by a small village. The thunderous clap of an explosion suddenly rent the air, nearly knocking Ike off his feet as he tried to steal another glance at Elincia. Startled, the group turned in the direction of the sound to see what was causing the commotion. To their dismay, a group of bandits were attacking the village and robbing the villagers of their wares. A few doors of the various houses had been kicked in and windows had been broken, while carts and merchant packs had been overturned or smashed. Ike immediately ran ahead of his group.

"What in the world?" he blurted. "This is preposterous! The timing couldn't be worse!"

"You can say that again," Titania replied. "We need to help these people anyhow!"

"Agreed. Greil Mercenaries, form up and charge! They don't appear to be very strong, so let's make this mission fast!" Ike commanded. "Your majesty, you should go hide and let us handle this."

Elincia did not hesitate to comply and quickly sought out a place that would both hide her and allow her to watch the combat at the same time. The bandits, spying the oncoming mercenaries, grabbed what loot they could and made for the tavern, probably hoping to gain an edge since they could use the interior to their advantage and deny the Greil Mercenaries the use of their mounted units, who wouldn't be able to fit through the doors nor maneuver inside. Ike was undaunted, ordering Titania to circle the village from the outside while Oscar circled the tavern itself, cutting off any escape, while he and the others launched the assault. They counted eight or nine bandits in all, hardly a challenge, and Ike stormed in after them. Soren, Boyd, Gatrie and Mia followed him in while Shinon and Rolf fired their arrows through the windows, taking care not to fire when a member of Ike's group might blunder into their line of fire. Mist and Rhys stayed at the entrance, ready to treat any injuries the others might suffer. Boyd kept a close eye on Ike this time so he didn't pop him in the head again.

The bandits made a desperate, and sloppy, attempt to use the building to their advantage. An attempt to form a bottleneck defense at the door, where they could all attack the mercenaries who could only enter one at a time, failed when Ike smashed right through, flinging the bandits in all directions. The bandits tried keeping tables and the bar between themselves and the mercenaries, which didn't help much against Soren's wind spells. Using the tables for elevation was easily countered by cutting at their exposed legs and, when the bandits resorted to snatching bottles from the bar and throwing them, it was all the mercenaries could to keep from laughing out loud. One by one, each bandit went down. Outside of the tavern, a crowd had gathered to listen to the commotion as best as they could, hoping that the soldiers fighting off their robbers would prevail. Inside, the combat ground to its inevitable conclusion. Only a handful of the bandits were left, and another one went down as Soren's wind spell sent him crashing into one of the supports for the ceiling. It splintered and then snapped under the impact and the roof began to groan ominously.

"EVERYBODY OUT!" Ike commanded, realizing what would surely follow.

Sure enough, just as the mercenaries and remaining bandits began clambering out through the broken windows, the front door and walls around it began to shake. After several moments of trembling and the sound of wood groaning and splintering, the tavern's ceiling gave away and the tavern collapsed in upon itself. Startled, Rhys pulled Mist out of the way with him, both of them barely escaping the flying splinters and other debris that flew in all directions. The two breathed heavily with relief as they watched the battle come to an end. The remaining bandits, startled, shaken and now exposed, were quickly dealt with. Ike had just struck down the final bandit, an axe wielder, without breaking a sweat due to his threefold advantage of strength, experience, and weaponry. Rhys turned to Mist as the group was leaving.

"Mist, are you alright?" he inquired.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for helping me!" Mist replied. "I got so scared I couldn't move!"

"It's alright, as long as you're safe," Rhys assured with a smile.

Soren turned to Ike after quickly inspecting the now dead bandits.

"Hey, Ike, if I may have a word. These bandits appear to have vulneraries and other items that may be of use to us," he reported. "Any such supplies in the tavern, or what's left of the tavern, are probably unrecoverable but we should take the others while we have the chance."

"Alright. Everybody, take what you need and let's get out," Ike ordered. "If these wolves we're going to meet are really as strong as Queen Elincia makes them out to be, we'll need all the supplies we can find."

With that, everyone picked off the items from the bandits, leaving behind whatever they could tell was stolen for their owners to reclaim. When new finds were secured to the draft horses, they were quickly greeted by the villagers, who thanked them for their efforts. After bidding them farewell, Ike and company continued to make their way up to the castle in Melior.

"Wait a minute," Mist spoke up. "Where's Queen Elincia?"

At this, Ike glanced about anxiously. He'd been expecting Elincia to reappear once it was clear that the battle was over, but the disguised Queen of Crimea had not returned. For a moment, Ike thought she might've pressed on towards the castle alone, a thought which did not thrill him any more than the idea of her venturing all the way from the castle to the fort, but he was not reassured. Ike decided they would take a moment to search until Elincia was found, or at least until it was determined whether she was indeed headed straight to the castle. Their search was brief however, for a scream rent the air and brought Ike running.

"Unhand me!" Elincia's voice rang out.

Ike, the color draining out of his face, raced in the direction of the sound to see Elincia struggling with a bandit who'd escaped the earlier battle. Spotting the approaching mercenaries, a glimmer of fear flashed across the bandit's face but was replaced with a look of cunning.

"Eh, ya be the merc'naries who brought me mates ta thar knees!" he observed, with a low cackle. "I makes ya a deal, ya gives me the loot 'n I gives you this uppy lass!"

Ike, his teeth grinding in fury, advanced a step but the bandit raised his axe meaningfully.

"Ah, don't ya do nothin' ya'll regret!" the bandit warned.

Ike stopped, fearful the bandit would follow through on his unspoken threat. Ike gulped, suddenly very afraid, even more so than when he'd seen Mist and Rolf in the same predicament some time ago. Improvising, he drew his sword and, seeing the bandit's axe come up to strike, threw it on the ground. The bandit, relaxing and even seeming a bit smug, motioned for him to approach, undoubtedly so the mercenary could hand over the promised loot. Ike didn't actually have the loot the bandit most likely wanted but, since the bandit seemed so fixated on Ike, maybe he wouldn't notice the others until they had a chance to act. It was not the others who acted, however, but Elincia. While the bandit had been drooling over the loot he felt certain he'd soon regain, Elincia had gotten her free hand to her sword, Amiti, still sheathed and hidden under her flowing cloak. Quickly, faster than either she or Ike would have believed her capable, she had her sword out and ran it through the bandit's guts. While the bandit was stunned with surprise and pain, Ike raced over and clocked the bandit with all his might. The bandit sagged to the dirt and never got back up.

"Are you okay?" Ike inquired urgently.

For a moment, Elincia did not reply. She looked shaken by her near miss, her face pale and the hand holding Amiti trembling, and she jumped when Ike repeated the question.

"Oh! Sorry, I'm alright, my Lord Ike," she replied, a little jumpily. "Thank you for your help."

"What help?" Ike asked, smiling and rather impressed at Elincia's actions. "Looks like you managed pretty well on your own."

Elincia blushed a bit and her hand stopped shaking as she sheathed Amiti. Still, she seemed a bit tense after what nearly happened, so Ike placed an arm on her shoulder as they continued their journey. Discreetly, and somehow managing to do so without being heard, Ike let out a long sigh of relief that Elincia had come away unscathed from this latest peril.

Later that day, just past dusk, Ike and company had finally arrived in front of the gates of the Crimean castle. The company had no trouble entering the castle once Elincia identified herself to the stupefied guards and, from there, she led them through the foyer and into the throne room. Two familiar figures stood in the middle of the room, one being a blue-haired woman wearing the robe of a swordmaster and with an elegant blade at her hip and standing next to her a blue-haired man with green armor and a lance with a distinctive forked blade. Ike recognized them as Lucia and Geoffrey, two of the allies whom aided him and his army during the Mad King's War. The two of them turned their attention to their old friends and greeted them with warmly welcomes back to the Crimean capital.

"Ah, Sir Ike!" Geoffrey greeted, his voice, as always, sounding too formal for Ike's liking. "What brings you and your company here?"

"Queen Elincia summoned us," Ike explained. "We know of the conflict that has erupted in Daein. It's due to this so called wolf tribe, is it not?"

"Ah, yes, indeed," Geoffrey confirmed. "But her majesty went all the way to your base? She has not been seen since last night, and we've been searching for her all day."

Taking this as a cue, Elincia removed her cloak and her retainers sagged in relief at the sight.

"That's what I told her would happen, but after thinking it through again, I believe what she did was necessary," Ike replied. "It would be best if we dealt with this situation without alarming the people...any more than they are already, that is. And, some of my men are worried that intervening in Daein could upset some of our clients."

"I understand and I agree," Lucia added, turning to Elincia. "But, it was very risky for you to travel alone and without telling anyone. Your majesty, you should do your best to not have us worry like that again. Please."

"I know… I'm very sorry," Elincia apologized, a sheepish smile on her face. "But I knew that if the wolves decided to attack us, we would need the strength of Ike and his company again."

"Very true," Lucia agreed. "Ike, you and your company are our country's top fighting force. We'd all be grateful if you'd lend us your strength again. I can assure you, you will be properly compensated. And, if your clients do think ill of this venture, you will be reimbursed for any loss of business you may suffer as well."

"Of course, and thank you. I would like nothing more than to aid Crimea in times of hardships," Ike affirmed. "I'll have my troops move out to the Crimea-Daein border tomorrow at dawn. If we're lucky, the few Daein soldiers can distract those wolves long enough for us to discover enough about them to plan a strategy."

Ike had been about to say more when a sentry entered the throne room.

"Your majesty?" the sentry blurted, surprised. "I've been searching for you for hours. Your guest says he must speak with you immediately."

Elincia let out a very audible, and rather un-ladylike groan at the idea and nodded for the sentry to fetch the "guest." Ike regarded this with puzzlement, unable to recall anyone who'd elicited such displeasure in the unfailingly kind Elincia, not even the dour Soren who'd never been fond of her. The question of who could cause such a reaction in her was promptly answered, and Ike wished it hadn't been.

"First you insult us with those paltry handouts, then you disappear for over a day, I can hardly wait to see what happens next..." a black armored man with red hair railed as he entered the room, his words trailing off as he saw Ike and the mercenaries.

Seeing them, the man was silent for a moment, seemingly stunned, and then quivering with rage.

"Well," he sneered in undisguised contempt, "I should've guessed the so-called queen's "specialists" would be you. Didn't make off with enough loot from Daein the first time?"

This was obviously the Daein soldier that Elincia had mentioned and who'd come to Crimea for help, for only Elincia would listen to this hot tempered, ill mannered character instead of kicking him right back out the door. Aside from red hair and black armor, the man carried a steel lance and a rounded shield, distinguishing him as a Halberdier. And, while he eyed everything around him with obvious disgust, he gazed at Ike with undisguised hatred.

"Everyone, this is Captain Jerec of the Daein army," Elincia introduced, seeming to force herself to sound formal and cordial. "As you may have guessed, he was the one who brought me the news of the wolves. He has also insisted upon accompanying our counterattack."

Great, Ike mused to himself. Just great.

Jerec seemed to catch Ike's thoughts and clenched his lance as if eager for a fight. But, Ike realized this man was also the only one who may have seen the wolves in battle and who could tell them anything useful. Again, Jerec seemed to read Ike's thoughts on his face.

"You want information?" he inquired, to which Ike nodded. "I have some for you: you are all going to die!"

Ike was about to remind Jerec that he'd defeated both the Black Knight and Ashnard, but Jerec cut him off.

"You doubt me? I have seen those wolves in action. They move so fast, a man would need a dozen eyes to follow them. Their fangs can pierce armor and tear flesh from the bone. Be wary when you hear their howling, for it means your death is approaching fast."

Ike was about to argue the point when Soren moved towards Jerec and snatched him by the elbow.

"I'll see if I can get anything useful out of this glorified doorman," Soren informed his commander, much to Ike's delight and Jerec's chagrin. "I'd be surprised, however, if this raving idiot knows anything useful."

"You might be right, but it's a risk I'm willing to take," Ike replied as Soren led Jerec off.

"I'm very sorry about that," Elincia apologized. "I'd keep him here, but he's already proven hard to confine, so I've had to settle for making sure he doesn't enter anywhere...sensitive or leave the castle unescorted."

"It's more than that, actually," Lucia warned. "I did some research after he arrived and I've discovered something troubling: Jerec is General Bryce's son."

Ike remembered General Bryce, the eldest of the Four Riders who were Ashnard's finest warriors. Ike had fought and defeated Bryce during the final battle of the war and, if Jerec's disposition was any indication, his son was well aware of this fact. Ike suddenly found himself wondering if Jerec might try to strike back for his father's death, and immediately knew the answer. If Ike had suddenly found himself under the Black Knight's command, he would've tried just that. But, Ike had learned enough prudence to know that he had to hone his skills and wait for the appropriate time before striking so that he could win against the Black Knight rather than risk his life and his mission pointlessly. Hopefully, Jerec would show the same restraint and wait until after the wolves were beaten before seeking to settle the feud.

"I appreciate the information, and I'll be alert," Ike replied. "We're rather exhausted from the action earlier, not to mention the traveling, and to fight a strong tribe such as these wolves, we'll need to be in tip top shape."

"What action?" Geoffrey inquired. "Are you telling us something happened on the way here?"

"Oh, about that, yes," Ike confirmed. He then explained to Geoffrey and Lucia what had occurred in the town a few hours back with the bandits. Though they were little more than a nuisance to Ike and his group, they had stolen a lot from the local villagers and merchants and the local tavern had been practically destroyed in the process. Geoffrey and Lucia almost couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"Wow. Your group had arrived at just the right time then," Lucia commented. "We're ever so grateful you were there."

"All in a day's work," Ike replied with a smile. "So it's settled then. Tomorrow we'll be leaving."

"Agreed," Geoffrey and Lucia replied at the same time.

"I'll be more than happy to let your company stay here for the night, Ike," Elincia offered.

"Thanks. That is more than appreciated," Ike said, smiling again.

Hours later and rather late in the night, Ike lay awake in bed, his mind still awhirl with countless thoughts that would not let him sleep. Boyd somehow managing not to hit him in the head again, the attack of the wolf tribe in Daein, his exceptionally unpleasant meeting with Jerec, and most of all, Elincia's kiss and what had followed her close call with that bandit. Did the kiss mean something more than a thank you? And, for that matter, was it more than just concern for a friend that had so filled him with terror at the notion that she might be harmed? The questions kept flitting through Ike's head like a Kilvas raven winging in drunken delight over a ship crammed with gold. Unable to sleep a wink, he got up, put his cape, armor, boots, and headband back on, and decided to take a short stroll around the castle grounds to collect his thoughts. He quietly walked past the rooms of his comrades and went down the stairs to one of the doors leading to the castle gardens. With a deep sigh, he opened the door silently and breathed in the fresh air around him.

Ike had not been much for gardening and, even if he was, he doubted that any greenery could impress him after seeing the enchanting beauty of Serenes Forest. Still, the castle gardens did have their charms. Pretty stone paths spread outward from a great disc of cobblestones where an ornate fountain stood ringed by benches. Long flower hedges rose, nearly as tall as Ike himself, and shot off in either direction for more than fifty feet while flower beds, decorative bushes and clusters of trees dotted the angular spaces of grass between the paths and the hedges. It was pretty enough but Ike found the way that every last leaf seemed to have been put somewhere prearranged to be a bit jarring, not to mention a little creepy. Despite this, Ike settled onto one of the benches, still deep in through and trying to let the fountain's ceaseless gurgling lull him to sleep, when he heard another set of footsteps was heard behind him.

"Ike?" a female voice quietly called out. Surprised, Ike rose and turned. It was Elincia, whom was still not changed out of her armor and into her night clothes nor even unbuckled Amiti. The beautiful young queen stood in the frame of the same door he'd exited and walked up to him.

"Huh? Your majesty," Ike replied.

"Ike… You can just call me Elincia," Elincia offered with a smile.

"W-What? But that would be inappropriate!"

"But I insist."

"Well, alright."

Here, Ike trailed off, the many thoughts he'd been wrestling with again stirring. And, a new one joined their number. Elincia wearing her armor and weapon to find him made sense, in fact, though he shuddered at the idea, she might not have escaped that bandit unharmed without them, but why wear them in her own castle which was defended by several hundred trained guardsmen? Elincia seemed to read his thoughts spelled out on his face, something which seemed to happen often to Ike these days, and answered.

"Ever since...the war, I don't feel safe in my old clothes. Especially with the threat of the wolves."

Why Ike said what he said next, he would never know.

"That's too bad, that orange and gold gown looked lovely on you. The colors were very flattering."

Elincia, clearly not expecting him to say such a thing, gaped a moment. And, Ike was no less shocked.

Wait a minute, did I just say that?

"I, uh, um, I don't know what came over me," he blurted.

To his relief, Elincia didn't look offended. In fact, she looked amused and even a bit coy.

"Why my Lord Ike," she replied with a giggle. "I had no idea you'd become such a charm since we last saw each other."

Ike, by this time, had turned as red as his cape as he tried to stutter out some sort of apology.

"Don't," Elincia urged. "That was very sweet of you. Maybe I will wear that gown for your benefit sometime."

"I'm not sure what to say," Ike confessed. "Thanks. What are you doing out here anyway?"

"I was about to ask the same of you…" Elincia admitted. "I stayed awake longer so I could talk with some of the guards about bringing you here. After all the commotion I must've raised, I figured I owed them an apology at the very least. Then, I saw you walk out just I was returning to my room."

"Oh, well, I only came because I had trouble sleeping," Ike explained. "I had a lot on my mind about, well, everything. I'm sorry if I worried you any."

"Oh no, I wasn't worried…" Elincia replied, her formerly coy tone now turning bashful. "It's just that…Ike…"

"Yes?"

"I…I want you to promise me…please be careful out there tomorrow. I know I'm probably asking more than I have the right to ask, especially after all you went through during the war, but I don't know what I'd do if I were to lose you…"

"Don't worry, your m—I mean Elincia. We'll all be fine," Ike assured her. "I can feel it."

Elincia smiled softly.

"Thank you…Ike…"

Ike simply nodded with a smile. Just then, the two continued to gaze at each other, realizing how close their faces were. Ike, feeling a little nervous, remembered his conversation with Titania back at the mercenary fort and then couldn't help but smile at the beautiful young queen standing before him. His cheeks turned a rosy red within the next few seconds. Elincia noticed it right away.

"Hee hee. You're blushing," she pointed out, causing Ike to go red even more. "Whatever is the matter?"

"Well, I…I…," he replied, having trouble forming a complete sentence.

"Shhh," Elincia interrupted, putting a finger to Ike's mouth. Her face began to move closer to Ike's with every second, and soon her lips were pressed against his. Ike, wide-eyed at first, couldn't help but return the passionate kiss and let his hands slip around Elincia's waist while she wrapped her arms around his neck. Ike had soon completely forgotten about whether or not Elincia was simply thanking him when she'd kissed him on the cheek and whether or not he really meant to say to Titania that Elincia was kind and beautiful, and knew now the answer had finally been made. It truly had been budding love after all. Once they had let go of each other, they walked back to the door from which they'd first come out. What they didn't know was that someone was watching them from behind a nearby bush. I knew it, Oscar thought as he sat there. His guess about Ike being in love with Elincia was correct, having seen the opportunity to find out when he saw the two go outside.

"I love you," Ike finally managed to spit out. He knew he meant it too. All this time, he had fallen in love with her, and she must have known it. Otherwise, Elincia wouldn't have made him realize it in the first place. She smiled and rested her head and hands upon Ike's chest. Ike responded by keeping one arm around her waist.

"Oh…I love you ever so much too," Elincia admitted. "I will admit it, Ike. I've been in love with you since Gallia."

"That long, eh?" Ike said, remembering when he and the mercenaries had to escort Elincia to see King Caineghis in Gallia, which had not been too long after they first met.

"Hee hee…" she giggled again. "At first, I was impressed by how handsome you are." This statement caused Ike to blush again, and Elincia to further her giggling even more.

"Then, I could only love you more after seeing your strength and courage in battle and your burning desire to fulfill my dream of a liberated Crimea," Elincia went on. "You even spoke up whenever you thought someone was bullying me! I was forever grateful for everything you'd done and still am. Not even Geoffrey can match that. And when you held my hand in the castle as we walked onto the balcony, I felt like the luckiest princess in the world."

"…Sorry, it's times like this that I have no clue what to say," Ike admitted, scratching the back of his head in slight embarrassment.

"Oh, that's alright," Elincia replied with a smile. "I'd feel the same way, actually."

"Heh. Although, I will say that the reason I chose to do so much for you," Ike said. "Is that I was falling in love with you too. I just wish I'd realized it sooner." Elincia wrapped her arms around Ike's neck and kissed his cheek again before replying.

"But you do now, and that's all that matters to me," she said, not letting go.

"I'm certainly glad of that," Ike replied, putting a hand to her chin. Within the next second, he'd locked lips with her once more. By now, Oscar was smiling to himself, glad to see Ike fully understanding his newfound feelings, as well as Elincia able to admit being practically head over heels in love with Ike. He'd finally realized how late it had gotten when the two let go of one another and began to head for the door, holding hands while doing so. The last time they had done this was the very same balcony scene Elincia described, making it a crucial moment for both. After exchanging a good night kiss, Ike departed back into the castle while Elincia stood at the doorway, many new thoughts in her mind.