Prince of Fire Emblem 3

[didntaxyou]

Seeing Seiichi look so strong and healthy again took it out of her. She'd spent half their morning meal laughing hysterically and half crying equally hysterically. He didn't say much about it, it seemed to confuse him, but to be fair, she was confused by herself, too. Just her relief was so, so big, and she didn't want to give it up under any circumstances.

The tears fell again when he explained about Marui and Jackal.

She threw her arms around him when he stood to leave, and he mussed her hair.

"I have a lot to catch up on," Seiichi said. "Let me go, please."

Lissa squeezed him. "I hope that guy from St. Rudolph is one of them."

"Don't give me ideas... I have plenty of my own," he added, light but still seeming a tad forced to Lissa.

She gave him her most exaggerated frown. "If you know he's a mean, cruel, audacious so-and-so--"

"Instead of telling me things I already know," he interrupted, "Maybe you want to say good-bye to Marui and Jackal before you lose your chance."

He did say he was busy. She hugged him again and made her excuses, then ran for Marui's home.

She wasn't a horsewoman of any description; maybe she ought to have gone to Maribelle for a lift, but she didn't mind the hike, nor the time to think.

Was Seiichi giving up too easily on this? Just letting them go? It wasn't just cruel to them, but to their families, and she was going to make sure they were well taken care of, first, second, and third.

But someone had to take care of Marui and Jackal, too, right? They were just being sent away to this guy nobody knew, just on his word, and yeah, Seiichi was better, but Seiichi was clearly unhappy about the deal. His hand was forced, though, while Lissa's wasn't.

She bit her lip, as Marui's home came into view. The horse and wagon hitched outside both had the Kuwahara family crest on their trappings; clearly, there was no time to waste.

Lissa climbed up over the wheel before she could think twice. She compressed herself into a corner and hurriedly threw a horse blanket over her head. Finding a place to lay her Heal staff discreetly was a little hard, and she didn't think to actually bring a weapon, but this was a diplomatic mission, right? Or a stealth mission?

With Seiichi being so busy, he'd never notice she was gone-- at least not until she was almost back, surely. With the proverbial sword to his neck, there'd been no chance for him to properly evaluate Mizuki's offer. He had to accept, and so did his boys. The best thing she could do to help him was to add to his knowledge base, and hopefully ease his mind about where Marui and Jackal were going.

"Is that the last of it?"

Jackal's low voice carried under the blanket, and she heard him command the horse. She heard a wyvern, too.

The wheels creaked forward, and she had to fight not to giggle at her own luck. Surely, this journey would be over in no time!