Silver Sky

AN-Woo. Fire Emblem isn't mine. In any case, please enjoy and attempt to ignore my rather obvious lack of talent. Constructive criticism is very much appreciated; I have a thick skin. If it sucks, please say so, but at least give a reason (and, no, "I hate you" doesn't count). I can't dish it out, but I can take it.

And with that, on with the show.

The Lesson

"Milady, are you sure—?"

"Yes, Seth." Her tone was exasperated, but she was grinning broadly. "For the thousandth time."

A breeze flew past us as she spoke. I watched as it first tousled the manes of our horses and then her hair, Eirika ineffectually combing it with her free hand, her eyes alight and eager.

I sighed. "Of course, Princess. I meant no disrespect."

It had been my suggestion to train so far from the camp in the beginning of her lessons, if only to keep her from becoming self conscious as we practiced. Now, however, she was just as skilled as any young Renais knight, and yet she still insisted we have our sparring matches far from the others. And despite my constant assurances that her skill was more than enough to adequately defend herself from any foe foolish enough to attack her, she still insisted that we continued the lessons, even though I had taught her more than I had any of the young trainees under my command.

And still I sparred with her.

She smiled. "Ready?"

We faced each other, weapons drawn, bowing graciously, just as we had a thousand times before.

The rapier lashed forward towards my midsection with impressive speed, glinting in the sunlight. I moved to parry, watching as she pulled the blade back and aimed higher; an impressive and unexpected move that I just barely avoided.

Her hair flew in front of her face as she moved, graceful and beautiful. Her expression was cool, precise—this was no game to her. These were the skills that may one day save her life.

She thrust the blade forward again. I moved to parry—only to realize that she had executed a perfect feint. I felt a rush of satisfaction; she was wonderfully skillful with the blade. I dodged nimbly out of the way.

"Not at our best today, Seth?" Her tone was light but her statement did successfully bruise a small part of my pride.

I merely grinned.

I aimed carefully and she threw up her weapon to block, just as any swordsmen would've done. I pulled back, aiming again for the grip of her weapon, and, succeeding, heard her cry out as I sent her rapier flying out of her hand and onto the grass.

She stared at me, shocked.

I was horrified.

This was the sort of thing that I had done as a boy with the other hopeful cavaliers, stupid tricks we invented to amuse ourselves, more play than practice—grossly inappropriate for Princess Eirika. She was still staring at the sword lying in the grass when I spoke to her, wracked with guilt.

"Milady, I-I humbly beg your pardon! That—this was—we should discontinue…"

I trailed off, belatedly realizing her shocked expression had disappeared, and was replaced by one that seemed very close to…mischievous.

"Prin—?"

She lunged at me, yelling an incoherent battle cry very much unsuited for one of her station, sword all forgotten. She was by no means heavy, but the unexpected force of the contact was enough to send me crashing down onto the grass, her on top of me.

"Take that for your treachery, Silver Knight!" she crowed, triumphant. And then she laughed, bright and beautiful, and it took me a moment to realize I was laughing too, for the first time in a long, long time.

It was when our laughter finally faded did I truly become aware of the embarrassing nature of our position; I noticed her fingers had somehow managed to lace with mine. Our eyes met, and only then did I realize our faces were nearly touching. Her breathing was uneven. My throat was dry.

Heart pounding relentlessly in my ears, my fingers lightly brushed her hair, settling on her cheek. Her mouth parted, lightly gasping at my touch, and a hot thrill of electricity coursed through my entire body, every muscle tense. The impulse to meet her lips was frightening in its intensity, impossible to resist. I moved towards her, lifting my neck from the grass, pulse hastening as I saw her eyes gently flutter closed, eagerly closing the scant gap between us in kind—

By the Stones, have you gone mad!?

I jerked back. Her eyes snapped open, filled with shock. Reluctantly, she slid off of me, standing and watching me intently as I slowly rose to my feet, ignoring the faint flush that lingered on her cheeks. She chewed her lower lip, slowly raising her hand as if she were trying to reach for me. I turned away; knowing that if I did not the fire in my stomach would force me to finish what we had nearly done.

"Seth…"

She was pleading. I dared not meet her eyes.

"My apologies, Princess."

I placed the rapier into her outstretched hand, barely hearing her thank me for the practice over the sorrow in her eyes.

I mounted my steed and set off, desperate to forget the softness of her skin.