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Forever With You

Chapter Eight

*****

Soren staggered up the river doing his best to keep balanced as his drunken state diminished. His head throbbed from the morning light, dehydration, and the pain of every memory from the night before. His balance began to falter more and more on the rocky bed below his feet, and he had little clue as to where he was going. The only thing he knew was that he had to get away. All along he had felt in his heart that he wouldn't be enough for Ike. He just never imagined that the bluenette would betray him so soon, but at the same time, he knew that he deserved every bit of his pain. But now, the only thing the Prince wanted to do was flee, and cover his tracks through the river, in case Almedha, or anyone for that matter, tried to follow.

When his thoughts cleared, he realized that he was now in water up to his waist. He tried to move towards the opposite shore, but the current wrapping around his feet and midriff wouldn't allow it.

An undertow!

He struggled against the current, but didn't have the strength to fight it. As the river both widened and deepened, it was all the spell caster could do to keep his head up. By the third time he went under, he thought, This is it... But I… I know I deserve it. For hurting him.

*****

Ike was on the verge of collapsing. His body couldn't take much more. His legs itched and ached, to the point where he had tears in his eyes for a reason other than Soren. He finally decided that he could grant himself a break and continue his search for the spell caster at a slower walk.

He could hear more when he no longer heard the pulse of his own footsteps in his ears. He found the sound of rushing water, maybe a waterfall or a river with extremely strong currents. The bluenette stared ahead, his mind piecing together scenarios that could have taken place. He rationalized that Soren probably felt betrayed, hurt, angry, exhausted, and miserable, all coupled with the stress of the sage's first hangover. He more than likely anticipated that he would be followed, and crossed through the river to cover his trail...

Ike began to move faster again, his mind boggled with worry. Soren couldn't swim, and any river in Goldoa was bound to be deep enough for a fully formed dragon laguz to walk through. Despite his body's painful protests, he started to run.

He didn't have to run much farther. His heart sank as he came to a stop at the mouth of a waterfall overlooking a large canyon. His stomach twisted as he looked over the waterfall, which was crashing at an impossibly fast pace and tumbled down hundreds of feet to the river below.

Soren, please... Goddess, please be okay…

He frantically began to examine as much of the scenery before him as he could. His eyes landed on a figure, lying motionless on the river's edge, clad in the robes of Goldoan royalty. Ike felt his legs bend and he reached blindly for the ground beneath his feet to catch himself as reality slammed into him. He watched with wide eyes as Soren's body rested on the bank, wave after wave of water washing over his frail form.

"SOREN!" Ike's throat burned with the intensity of his shout. His voice echoed throughout the canyon, and rang in the Prince's ears.

Ike?

Soren forced his eyes open, but a wave of water crashed over his head and he accidently breathed in a lungful of water. Gagging, he tried to push himself up the shore, but his right leg burned painfully. In a desperate rush, he attempted to pull himself higher with his arms, which seemed to work better. It wasn't long before he was out of the water's reach.

His simple movements were enough to allow Ike to breathe calmly again. His lover had survived the fall. Letting the panic roll off of his shoulders, he bolted in Soren's direction. He made it down the steep canyon side in short minutes. Heavy footfalls alerted Soren to Ike's approach, but before Ike could touch him, he recoiled. "Go away!"

The bluenette stopped, his breath caught. He knelt beside the sage, though, as instructed, kept his distance. "Soren, listen..." He said as kindly as he could muster, and reached forward. Soren refused to look at him as tears already beaded in his eyes.

"Go, Ike! Go back to the castle, please! I don't deserve you... I-I don't deserve this..." Soren tried to speak clearly through the sobs trying to come out. "Leave me. Just let me die in peace," the spell caster begged, burying his face in his arms.

Ike's eyes widened. "Let you die?!" Ike's strong hands gripped the sage's shoulders and he tried to get him to focus on him. "After everything we've ever been through, you would tell me to just let you die? I would die without you, Soren!" Soren finally let out a sob, and his cries made the mercenary's face soften. "Soren… I know that Zelgius meant nothing to you. And... Sothe, he and I... um..."

"You know he loves you and you went to him anyway!" the youth sobbed. Ike listened, relieved that the sage was at least willing to speak to him, and continually pushed strands of wet hair away from Soren's face, even as he cried. "Ike, I thought that sex was something special to you! Something that only you and I would ever share, but now… You've been with him! It can't be undone!"

"Soren, I'm so sorry. I didn't... if I could go back, I wouldn't have..." Ike swallowed and took a deep breath. "I was drunk. Honestly, do you really think that I would have done it if I didn't think that at that same moment you were having sex with Zelgius?"

Soren's nails dug into the soft earth, and for the first time, the youth raised his eyes to meet Ike's deep blue gaze. "Don't you know me at all? Don't you know my distaste for others? All others, except you? You are my life, Ike, the reason I exist! I would never betray you!"

The bluenette let out a shaky breath and wiped his eyes before replying, "I thought you were innocent, at first. I thought he was abusing you, but when you stopped me from... From hurting him, I… I don't know. I thought you were defending him, and that you were betraying me."

"I was in shock, Ike! I wasn't telling you to stop, or wait, or whatever I said. I just wanted everything to stop, because I was so confused. How could I kiss anyone but you?" Soren raised his hands to Ike's cheeks in a soft, cherishing caress before letting them fall again. "I couldn't fathom that I had just been with Zelgius... Goddess, Ike, I looked everywhere for you, and to find you with Sothe…!" The youth almost began to cry again, but Ike grabbed his face gently and steadied it.

"Sothe was a mistake, Soren!" He stressed seriously. "I love you, and only you... I will only ever love you! Sothe was the worst mistake of my life!" the mercenary said desperately, wishing more than anything that Soren would just understand.

He took a moment just to cradle the youth's face before continuing to the core of what truly needed to be said. "It was Micaiah, Soren. She spiked our drinks that night and made a deal with Zelgius to try to seduce you when you were vulnerable." Ike explained. "Though I don't know why." Soren pulled back from him then, red eyes widening in fury.

"Micaiah?!" The spell caster couldn't pull together a sentence that made sense. Ike reached for him again.

"But Soren, please. Forget her and listen to me. I love you. I only want to be with you."

Soren shook his head, his mind swimming with the new information and the long awaited exhaustion from lack of sleep making it hard for him to even hold his head up. "Ike... I don't know any more... What do we have left? Sex is no longer something only we share... How do I know that you love me like you say you do?"

"I do love you, Soren! Everyone else be damned! We can live alone if that's what it takes for you to forgive me," the mercenary pleaded.

"Ike, if you loved me that much, you'd ask me to marry you."

"I already did," the mercenary whispered softly. Soren's head snapped up to look him in the eyes. They were so soft and blue that he could only be telling the truth. "You were just too tired to hear it."

Soren's eyes clouded with tears before he closed them. Ike leaned down a little more. "It was our first night in Goldoa. Do you remember?" Ike whispered, a hand reaching to wipe away the spell caster's tears.

"Of course I do."

"You were sleeping... and I asked you. Because it's what I want, it's how much I love you." Ike moved and embraced the sage, pressing his face into his hair. "And I want everyone to know. Marry me, Soren." Ike pulled away, searching his lover's eyes for an answer. The sage reached up and held Ike's face.

"I do, Ike. I want to marry you, I love you."

Ike let out a breath of relief. This was how strong their love was. They could get through anything. And they always would, together.

Ike moved and rested his head on the sage's shoulder and snuggled into the wet fabric of his robes. His arms gave the Branded a bit of a hard squeeze, their bodies shifting slightly and Soren hissed in pain.

"Oh, sorry... Ah, your leg..." Quickly, Ike pulled from their embrace and bent over to get a good look at Soren's leg. He pushed the Prince's robes up and worked around his thin pants to reveal a wide, bloody scrape on the outside of his thigh. Soren whispered that his knee throbbed and he couldn't bend it without it hurting.

"It's more than likely broken... I tripped on a rock underneath the water and that's what sent me under the first time. After that, I suppose the currents had their way with me." Soren explained, running a slender hand across his still leg. Ike's stronger one covered it for a moment before he gently lifted the sage into his arms.

Soren said nothing, even when his leg pained him. Ike held him close and started back to the castle. Soren's right arm rested around the mercenary's shoulders and his other hand flattened on his chest. The two walked in silence, savoring the intensity of the conversation they had just had and the hard realization of what they were facing together.

After a few minutes, Ike suddenly came to a stop, and as Soren had dozed off, the sage opened his eyes and looked up at his lover. "...We're engaged." Ike said quietly. Soren swallowed, fisting Ike's shirt and closing his eyes again. He huddled deeper into Ike's chest.

"We're engaged." He repeated, and the finality of his tone caused Ike to resume walking.

*****

Soren and Ike rested comfortably on the Prince's royal bed, the sage lying in a snug position in Ike's arms. Rhys had already used an elixir, and all the sage had to do was keep still while the potion took its full effect and mended his leg. The commander stroked the prince's hair languidly, trailing kisses from behind his ear to his jaw, whispering never ending words of love and encouragement.

The two were interrupted as Titania stepped into the room politely. "Pardon the intrusion." Soren stiffened slightly, and Ike halted his movements, save for gently combing his fingers through Soren's hair.

"Titania," he greeted with a lopsided grin. The red head wasn't surprised in the slightest to see the two this way.

"Hello, Ike," Titania replied. She looked to Soren as she took a seat on the side of the bed. "How are you feeling?" Soren sighed, preparing to act as he always did towards Titania.

"How I am feeling would be more than obvious to anyone who paid attention," he said icily, nodding to his propped up leg. Titania's small smile fell, but she was not discouraged.

"Same old Soren." she said quietly, turning away for a moment. Soren reached out and touched her arm, catching her attention again. The spell caster tilted his head back to refer to Ike. "…I'm feeling fine."

Ike smiled at that, keeping quiet. The lady paladin grinned. "So, are you two finally going to start telling everyone? Though, I can tell you, it is a bit obvious." She chuckled and stood, not being one to be able to sit very long.

"Not my grandfather." Soren said immediately. Ike stroked his arm. "Something just tells me that he wouldn't approve. But my mother will be the first to know, as I'm sure she'll take me in whatever form I come in," He rested back more comfortably, and then continued, "My plan is to go to Daein and assume the throne there."

"Really?" Titania said, seeming interested. She crossed her arms and leaned on the wall.

"Yes..." Soren idly fumbled with his robes to give himself something to do. "I am the heir after all, and I may be able to live... openly there, without Dheginsea and other possible judgments. Daein is in need of a ruler. If I can do them any good, they may not care one way or the other."

"Almedha would definitely go with you, right? I don't think she's giving you up any time soon." Titania said. "And Ike, too… so the mercenaries…"

"I don't know what the group wants, or how they'll take this," Soren's voice trailed and he turned his head to look at his commander. Ike nodded once and Soren grabbed his hand. "But we're getting married."

The lady's knight's eyes widened as a smile lit her features. Her eyes fell on Ike, whom she considered to be close enough to be her own son. She hugged the commander with a gentle laugh. "Oh, congratulations! I'm so happy for both of you." She looked to Soren and gave him a gentle squeeze on the shoulder. "You've needed this for a long time."

Soren just nodded, a faint smile threatening to break his impassive mask. Ike, having been silent the entire time, kissed the sage's head, causing his blood red eyes to shift in the bluenette's direction. The swordsman just smiled. "Thank you," he directed at his deputy.

"So, come on. When is the wedding?" she asked, unable to hide her eagerness.

"Soon," Ike assured with a smile as he maneuvered his way out from around Soren and guided him to lay back. He took the blankets from the foot of the bed and covered him up to the neck, careful of his mending leg. He kissed his lips and Titania backed out of the room to give them privacy. Ike patted the blankets and Soren's hand reached out to grab his collar.

"Where are you going?" he asked, unable to hide the urgency in his tone. Ike's pried Soren's hand off of his clothes.

"I thought I would go speak with the company. Explain things while you're recuperating... Is that okay?"

The sage took hold of Ike's hand, and made sure that Titania was still in hearing range, "Ike, you really don't need to tell them about how I can't handle my liquor. I went for a walk, and I got lost. There isn't much to report." Ike nodded. It burned him that Soren was willing to lie and cover up his mistake so he could save face for the company. "And our news… it can wait until we're safely out of Goldoa."

Ike pushed his hair out of his face and rubbed his cheek with his thumb. The regret of his mistake was still evident in his eyes, although Soren had forgiven him. "Okay. I'll tell them that, then. They're all still worried." He kissed him again and encouraged him to sleep before leaving the room.

Titania waited against the wall as Ike stepped out, closing the door behind him. The door clicked and echoed in the silence of the hall. Ike didn't look at her. "...What happened, Ike?"

Taking a quick breath, the commander started down the hall. "Follow me. I'll tell you."

*****

"Are you kidding? But Micaiah is such a sweetheart!" Titania exclaimed, staring at Ike in shock from what her commander had just explained. The two of them were sitting on a bench in one of Dheginsea's many large courtyards. Ike shook his head.

"Apparently, she's far from it." He bit out. "And I'll never forgive her for her games. She almost cost me Soren." The bluenette looked up at the window that he knew was his and Soren's room. He looked back down and sighed.

Titania lowered her voice. "But Ike... you and Sothe--"

Ike cringed, covering his eyes with his hand. "Goddess, there isn't any way for me to take that back. What am I going to do, Titania?"

The red head responded by laying a comforting hand on the commander's shoulder. Over the years, she had come to think of Ike as her own son; she had watched him grow and prosper under his father's guidance. It pained her to see him so upset. "No, what's done can't be undone, but it can still be made right. Have you spoken with Sothe since then?" she asked.

Ike kept his face in his hand. "No."

"That might be a place to start. If you're truly committed to Soren, and I know you are, you need to let Sothe know that it was a mistake. Don't lead that poor boy on. Then, just make it right by Soren. He may have some hurt feelings he's hiding." She stood and placed a kiss on the top of Ike's head. "I know you'll do what's right."

Ike looked up then as his deputy walked away. He smiled. "Thank you."

*****

When Ike had left the room, Soren sat up in his bed and reached for the pillow that Ike always used. He pulled it against his chest, burying his face into its softness. He had told Ike that everything was fine. He had agreed to marry him. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't forget the bluenette's actions. He couldn't get it out of his mind. He closed his eyes and bit his lip. He had already cried about it, and he would not allow himself to do it again. Ike was his, was with him, was marrying him... Sothe and that night meant nothing, nothing at all... right?

"Soren?" Almedha's gentle voice pulled him from his reverie and he looked up to see his mother had entered the room. Their eyes locked and she rushed to his side, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Oh, my son, thank the Goddess you're alright!"

"Mother..." His voice was muffled against her shoulder and he reached to pat her arm. She pulled away and smiled at him, stroking his cheek.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, her tone motherly and filled with love for the son she had missed raising. Soren swallowed and took a breath.

"I feel better..." He assured. He avoided eye contact with her for a moment. "Mother, I need to let you know..."

"Yes?" she said earnestly. He met her gaze.

"I've decided to go to Daein."

*****

Word of Soren's return had delighted Mist, who had been with her new friend Micaiah since arriving in Goldoa. Even though Micaiah had remained silent whenever Mist heard the news, Ike's younger sister had said nothing and continued to enjoy her time with the maiden. As the two were leaving the dining hall that afternoon, Mist noticed Sothe approaching them. She alerted Micaiah with a grin.

Micaiah turned to see him, and her smile fell. His fists were balled and he was glaring at her, and his stomping feet did not make her feel well.

"S-Sothe, good after--" She began, but when the thief fisted her shirt and roughly jerked her away from Mist, she yelped and gasped.

"Sothe! What are you doing?!" Mist exclaimed in worry. Sothe turned his piercing gaze on her, but only for a moment before dragging Micaiah down the hall.

"Sothe, what's going on? Why are you so upset?!" the girl pleaded. The thief grunted in anger and pulled her around, pressing her up against the wall.

"You know what you did, Micaiah! How could you?!" Shocked at his knowledge of anything, she stared blankly at her long-time friend and protector.

"Sothe… what did Zelgius tell you?" She approached lowly. "I'm sure that he has his excuses for sleeping with Soren, and hurting Ike like he did, but that is no reason for you to come after me."

"He said it was all your idea!" Sothe roared, pushing the girl's shoulder hard. She yelped and grasped it.

"Sothe, that hurt!"

"You spiked their drinks? What is wrong with you?!" Sothe's anger was evident and even Micaiah felt a twinge of fury.

"I don't know what you're talking about Sothe, but I'm sure that Ike deserves everything he gets! You'd just be better off not worrying about him. He doesn't love you!" she cried, stomping her foot.

"We made love." He interjected sharply. Her eyes widened and her jaw slacked. Sothe nodded and continued. "Ike and I had sex last night, because he drank some of the same potion you gave Soren. Zelgius and Soren didn't even do it."

Micaiah could do nothing but stare at her old friend in horror and hatred. "How could you, Sothe? How could you do this to me?!"

Sothe was at a loss for words. "Do this to you? How fucking egotistical are you?!"

Micaiah couldn't believe how she was being spoken to. "That is it,Sothe! I have never done anything to you, and you betray me?! I thought you were better! I thought we had something!"

Sothe took a deep breath to control his anger and soothe his tone. He backed away from her for a step.

"We never had anything." He said clearly. He leaned closer and glared into her eyes. "And we never will."

Furious and heartbroken beyond words, the Branded girl turned her back on her life long companion and rushed out of the palace. She would return to Daein, where she could get away and be welcomed with open arms. She fled the palace, but didn't make it too far before running headlong into a black clad knight. Being alone, the girl was frightened, and stood frozen in place before his giant form.

But then the man spoke. "Do not be alarmed. I am here to assist you, Lady of the Dawn."

"Wh-who are you?" she stuttered, shying away from the figure.

"I am… a friend. Return with me to Begnion. You will be protected and safe, I assure you."

"But I intended to return to my home--"

"Daein will soon have a new King. You will not be welcome there. Come with me."

With a short time to consider the consequences and assess the feelings she felt coming from the knight's heart, she approached him and the two disappeared from Goldoa.

(End Chapter)

Description
Forever With You

Chapter Eight

*****

Soren staggered up the river doing his best to keep balanced as his drunken state diminished. His head throbbed from the morning light, dehydration, and the pain of every memory from the night before. His balance began to falter more and more on the rocky bed below his feet, and he had little clue as to where he was going. The only thing he knew was that he had to get away. All along he had felt in his heart that he wouldn't be enough for Ike. He just never imagined that the bluenette would betray him so soon, but at the same time, he knew that he deserved every bit of his pain. But now, the only thing the Prince wanted to do was flee, and cover his tracks through the river, in case Almedha, or anyone for that matter, tried to follow.

When his thoughts cleared, he realized that he was now in water up to his waist. He tried to move towards the opposite shore, but the current wrapping around his feet and midriff wouldn't allow it.

An undertow!

He struggled against the current, but didn't have the strength to fight it. As the river both widened and deepened, it was all the spell caster could do to keep his head up. By the third time he went under, he thought, This is it... But I… I know I deserve it. For hurting him.

*****

Ike was on the verge of collapsing. His body couldn't take much more. His legs itched and ached, to the point where he had tears in his eyes for a reason other than Soren. He finally decided that he could grant himself a break and continue his search for the spell caster at a slower walk.

He could hear more when he no longer heard the pulse of his own footsteps in his ears. He found the sound of rushing water, maybe a waterfall or a river with extremely strong currents. The bluenette stared ahead, his mind piecing together scenarios that could have taken place. He rationalized that Soren probably felt betrayed, hurt, angry, exhausted, and miserable, all coupled with the stress of the sage's first hangover. He more than likely anticipated that he would be followed, and crossed through the river to cover his trail...

Ike began to move faster again, his mind boggled with worry. Soren couldn't swim, and any river in Goldoa was bound to be deep enough for a fully formed dragon laguz to walk through. Despite his body's painful protests, he started to run.

He didn't have to run much farther. His heart sank as he came to a stop at the mouth of a waterfall overlooking a large canyon. His stomach twisted as he looked over the waterfall, which was crashing at an impossibly fast pace and tumbled down hundreds of feet to the river below.

Soren, please... Goddess, please be okay…

He frantically began to examine as much of the scenery before him as he could. His eyes landed on a figure, lying motionless on the river's edge, clad in the robes of Goldoan royalty. Ike felt his legs bend and he reached blindly for the ground beneath his feet to catch himself as reality slammed into him. He watched with wide eyes as Soren's body rested on the bank, wave after wave of water washing over his frail form.

"SOREN!" Ike's throat burned with the intensity of his shout. His voice echoed throughout the canyon, and rang in the Prince's ears.

Ike?

Soren forced his eyes open, but a wave of water crashed over his head and he accidently breathed in a lungful of water. Gagging, he tried to push himself up the shore, but his right leg burned painfully. In a desperate rush, he attempted to pull himself higher with his arms, which seemed to work better. It wasn't long before he was out of the water's reach.

His simple movements were enough to allow Ike to breathe calmly again. His lover had survived the fall. Letting the panic roll off of his shoulders, he bolted in Soren's direction. He made it down the steep canyon side in short minutes. Heavy footfalls alerted Soren to Ike's approach, but before Ike could touch him, he recoiled. "Go away!"

The bluenette stopped, his breath caught. He knelt beside the sage, though, as instructed, kept his distance. "Soren, listen..." He said as kindly as he could muster, and reached forward. Soren refused to look at him as tears already beaded in his eyes.

"Go, Ike! Go back to the castle, please! I don't deserve you... I-I don't deserve this..." Soren tried to speak clearly through the sobs trying to come out. "Leave me. Just let me die in peace," the spell caster begged, burying his face in his arms.

Ike's eyes widened. "Let you die?!" Ike's strong hands gripped the sage's shoulders and he tried to get him to focus on him. "After everything we've ever been through, you would tell me to just let you die? I would die without you, Soren!" Soren finally let out a sob, and his cries made the mercenary's face soften. "Soren… I know that Zelgius meant nothing to you. And... Sothe, he and I... um..."

"You know he loves you and you went to him anyway!" the youth sobbed. Ike listened, relieved that the sage was at least willing to speak to him, and continually pushed strands of wet hair away from Soren's face, even as he cried. "Ike, I thought that sex was something special to you! Something that only you and I would ever share, but now… You've been with him! It can't be undone!"

"Soren, I'm so sorry. I didn't... if I could go back, I wouldn't have..." Ike swallowed and took a deep breath. "I was drunk. Honestly, do you really think that I would have done it if I didn't think that at that same moment you were having sex with Zelgius?"

Soren's nails dug into the soft earth, and for the first time, the youth raised his eyes to meet Ike's deep blue gaze. "Don't you know me at all? Don't you know my distaste for others? All others, except you? You are my life, Ike, the reason I exist! I would never betray you!"

The bluenette let out a shaky breath and wiped his eyes before replying, "I thought you were innocent, at first. I thought he was abusing you, but when you stopped me from... From hurting him, I… I don't know. I thought you were defending him, and that you were betraying me."

"I was in shock, Ike! I wasn't telling you to stop, or wait, or whatever I said. I just wanted everything to stop, because I was so confused. How could I kiss anyone but you?" Soren raised his hands to Ike's cheeks in a soft, cherishing caress before letting them fall again. "I couldn't fathom that I had just been with Zelgius... Goddess, Ike, I looked everywhere for you, and to find you with Sothe…!" The youth almost began to cry again, but Ike grabbed his face gently and steadied it.

"Sothe was a mistake, Soren!" He stressed seriously. "I love you, and only you... I will only ever love you! Sothe was the worst mistake of my life!" the mercenary said desperately, wishing more than anything that Soren would just understand.

He took a moment just to cradle the youth's face before continuing to the core of what truly needed to be said. "It was Micaiah, Soren. She spiked our drinks that night and made a deal with Zelgius to try to seduce you when you were vulnerable." Ike explained. "Though I don't know why." Soren pulled back from him then, red eyes widening in fury.

"Micaiah?!" The spell caster couldn't pull together a sentence that made sense. Ike reached for him again.

"But Soren, please. Forget her and listen to me. I love you. I only want to be with you."

Soren shook his head, his mind swimming with the new information and the long awaited exhaustion from lack of sleep making it hard for him to even hold his head up. "Ike... I don't know any more... What do we have left? Sex is no longer something only we share... How do I know that you love me like you say you do?"

"I do love you, Soren! Everyone else be damned! We can live alone if that's what it takes for you to forgive me," the mercenary pleaded.

"Ike, if you loved me that much, you'd ask me to marry you."

"I already did," the mercenary whispered softly. Soren's head snapped up to look him in the eyes. They were so soft and blue that he could only be telling the truth. "You were just too tired to hear it."

Soren's eyes clouded with tears before he closed them. Ike leaned down a little more. "It was our first night in Goldoa. Do you remember?" Ike whispered, a hand reaching to wipe away the spell caster's tears.

"Of course I do."

"You were sleeping... and I asked you. Because it's what I want, it's how much I love you." Ike moved and embraced the sage, pressing his face into his hair. "And I want everyone to know. Marry me, Soren." Ike pulled away, searching his lover's eyes for an answer. The sage reached up and held Ike's face.

"I do, Ike. I want to marry you, I love you."

Ike let out a breath of relief. This was how strong their love was. They could get through anything. And they always would, together.

Ike moved and rested his head on the sage's shoulder and snuggled into the wet fabric of his robes. His arms gave the Branded a bit of a hard squeeze, their bodies shifting slightly and Soren hissed in pain.

"Oh, sorry... Ah, your leg..." Quickly, Ike pulled from their embrace and bent over to get a good look at Soren's leg. He pushed the Prince's robes up and worked around his thin pants to reveal a wide, bloody scrape on the outside of his thigh. Soren whispered that his knee throbbed and he couldn't bend it without it hurting.

"It's more than likely broken... I tripped on a rock underneath the water and that's what sent me under the first time. After that, I suppose the currents had their way with me." Soren explained, running a slender hand across his still leg. Ike's stronger one covered it for a moment before he gently lifted the sage into his arms.

Soren said nothing, even when his leg pained him. Ike held him close and started back to the castle. Soren's right arm rested around the mercenary's shoulders and his other hand flattened on his chest. The two walked in silence, savoring the intensity of the conversation they had just had and the hard realization of what they were facing together.

After a few minutes, Ike suddenly came to a stop, and as Soren had dozed off, the sage opened his eyes and looked up at his lover. "...We're engaged." Ike said quietly. Soren swallowed, fisting Ike's shirt and closing his eyes again. He huddled deeper into Ike's chest.

"We're engaged." He repeated, and the finality of his tone caused Ike to resume walking.

*****

Soren and Ike rested comfortably on the Prince's royal bed, the sage lying in a snug position in Ike's arms. Rhys had already used an elixir, and all the sage had to do was keep still while the potion took its full effect and mended his leg. The commander stroked the prince's hair languidly, trailing kisses from behind his ear to his jaw, whispering never ending words of love and encouragement.

The two were interrupted as Titania stepped into the room politely. "Pardon the intrusion." Soren stiffened slightly, and Ike halted his movements, save for gently combing his fingers through Soren's hair.

"Titania," he greeted with a lopsided grin. The red head wasn't surprised in the slightest to see the two this way.

"Hello, Ike," Titania replied. She looked to Soren as she took a seat on the side of the bed. "How are you feeling?" Soren sighed, preparing to act as he always did towards Titania.

"How I am feeling would be more than obvious to anyone who paid attention," he said icily, nodding to his propped up leg. Titania's small smile fell, but she was not discouraged.

"Same old Soren." she said quietly, turning away for a moment. Soren reached out and touched her arm, catching her attention again. The spell caster tilted his head back to refer to Ike. "…I'm feeling fine."

Ike smiled at that, keeping quiet. The lady paladin grinned. "So, are you two finally going to start telling everyone? Though, I can tell you, it is a bit obvious." She chuckled and stood, not being one to be able to sit very long.

"Not my grandfather." Soren said immediately. Ike stroked his arm. "Something just tells me that he wouldn't approve. But my mother will be the first to know, as I'm sure she'll take me in whatever form I come in," He rested back more comfortably, and then continued, "My plan is to go to Daein and assume the throne there."

"Really?" Titania said, seeming interested. She crossed her arms and leaned on the wall.

"Yes..." Soren idly fumbled with his robes to give himself something to do. "I am the heir after all, and I may be able to live... openly there, without Dheginsea and other possible judgments. Daein is in need of a ruler. If I can do them any good, they may not care one way or the other."

"Almedha would definitely go with you, right? I don't think she's giving you up any time soon." Titania said. "And Ike, too… so the mercenaries…"

"I don't know what the group wants, or how they'll take this," Soren's voice trailed and he turned his head to look at his commander. Ike nodded once and Soren grabbed his hand. "But we're getting married."

The lady's knight's eyes widened as a smile lit her features. Her eyes fell on Ike, whom she considered to be close enough to be her own son. She hugged the commander with a gentle laugh. "Oh, congratulations! I'm so happy for both of you." She looked to Soren and gave him a gentle squeeze on the shoulder. "You've needed this for a long time."

Soren just nodded, a faint smile threatening to break his impassive mask. Ike, having been silent the entire time, kissed the sage's head, causing his blood red eyes to shift in the bluenette's direction. The swordsman just smiled. "Thank you," he directed at his deputy.

"So, come on. When is the wedding?" she asked, unable to hide her eagerness.

"Soon," Ike assured with a smile as he maneuvered his way out from around Soren and guided him to lay back. He took the blankets from the foot of the bed and covered him up to the neck, careful of his mending leg. He kissed his lips and Titania backed out of the room to give them privacy. Ike patted the blankets and Soren's hand reached out to grab his collar.

"Where are you going?" he asked, unable to hide the urgency in his tone. Ike's pried Soren's hand off of his clothes.

"I thought I would go speak with the company. Explain things while you're recuperating... Is that okay?"

The sage took hold of Ike's hand, and made sure that Titania was still in hearing range, "Ike, you really don't need to tell them about how I can't handle my liquor. I went for a walk, and I got lost. There isn't much to report." Ike nodded. It burned him that Soren was willing to lie and cover up his mistake so he could save face for the company. "And our news… it can wait until we're safely out of Goldoa."

Ike pushed his hair out of his face and rubbed his cheek with his thumb. The regret of his mistake was still evident in his eyes, although Soren had forgiven him. "Okay. I'll tell them that, then. They're all still worried." He kissed him again and encouraged him to sleep before leaving the room.

Titania waited against the wall as Ike stepped out, closing the door behind him. The door clicked and echoed in the silence of the hall. Ike didn't look at her. "...What happened, Ike?"

Taking a quick breath, the commander started down the hall. "Follow me. I'll tell you."

*****

"Are you kidding? But Micaiah is such a sweetheart!" Titania exclaimed, staring at Ike in shock from what her commander had just explained. The two of them were sitting on a bench in one of Dheginsea's many large courtyards. Ike shook his head.

"Apparently, she's far from it." He bit out. "And I'll never forgive her for her games. She almost cost me Soren." The bluenette looked up at the window that he knew was his and Soren's room. He looked back down and sighed.

Titania lowered her voice. "But Ike... you and Sothe--"

Ike cringed, covering his eyes with his hand. "Goddess, there isn't any way for me to take that back. What am I going to do, Titania?"

The red head responded by laying a comforting hand on the commander's shoulder. Over the years, she had come to think of Ike as her own son; she had watched him grow and prosper under his father's guidance. It pained her to see him so upset. "No, what's done can't be undone, but it can still be made right. Have you spoken with Sothe since then?" she asked.

Ike kept his face in his hand. "No."

"That might be a place to start. If you're truly committed to Soren, and I know you are, you need to let Sothe know that it was a mistake. Don't lead that poor boy on. Then, just make it right by Soren. He may have some hurt feelings he's hiding." She stood and placed a kiss on the top of Ike's head. "I know you'll do what's right."

Ike looked up then as his deputy walked away. He smiled. "Thank you."

*****

When Ike had left the room, Soren sat up in his bed and reached for the pillow that Ike always used. He pulled it against his chest, burying his face into its softness. He had told Ike that everything was fine. He had agreed to marry him. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't forget the bluenette's actions. He couldn't get it out of his mind. He closed his eyes and bit his lip. He had already cried about it, and he would not allow himself to do it again. Ike was his, was with him, was marrying him... Sothe and that night meant nothing, nothing at all... right?

"Soren?" Almedha's gentle voice pulled him from his reverie and he looked up to see his mother had entered the room. Their eyes locked and she rushed to his side, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Oh, my son, thank the Goddess you're alright!"

"Mother..." His voice was muffled against her shoulder and he reached to pat her arm. She pulled away and smiled at him, stroking his cheek.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, her tone motherly and filled with love for the son she had missed raising. Soren swallowed and took a breath.

"I feel better..." He assured. He avoided eye contact with her for a moment. "Mother, I need to let you know..."

"Yes?" she said earnestly. He met her gaze.

"I've decided to go to Daein."

*****

Word of Soren's return had delighted Mist, who had been with her new friend Micaiah since arriving in Goldoa. Even though Micaiah had remained silent whenever Mist heard the news, Ike's younger sister had said nothing and continued to enjoy her time with the maiden. As the two were leaving the dining hall that afternoon, Mist noticed Sothe approaching them. She alerted Micaiah with a grin.

Micaiah turned to see him, and her smile fell. His fists were balled and he was glaring at her, and his stomping feet did not make her feel well.

"S-Sothe, good after--" She began, but when the thief fisted her shirt and roughly jerked her away from Mist, she yelped and gasped.

"Sothe! What are you doing?!" Mist exclaimed in worry. Sothe turned his piercing gaze on her, but only for a moment before dragging Micaiah down the hall.

"Sothe, what's going on? Why are you so upset?!" the girl pleaded. The thief grunted in anger and pulled her around, pressing her up against the wall.

"You know what you did, Micaiah! How could you?!" Shocked at his knowledge of anything, she stared blankly at her long-time friend and protector.

"Sothe… what did Zelgius tell you?" She approached lowly. "I'm sure that he has his excuses for sleeping with Soren, and hurting Ike like he did, but that is no reason for you to come after me."

"He said it was all your idea!" Sothe roared, pushing the girl's shoulder hard. She yelped and grasped it.

"Sothe, that hurt!"

"You spiked their drinks? What is wrong with you?!" Sothe's anger was evident and even Micaiah felt a twinge of fury.

"I don't know what you're talking about Sothe, but I'm sure that Ike deserves everything he gets! You'd just be better off not worrying about him. He doesn't love you!" she cried, stomping her foot.

"We made love." He interjected sharply. Her eyes widened and her jaw slacked. Sothe nodded and continued. "Ike and I had sex last night, because he drank some of the same potion you gave Soren. Zelgius and Soren didn't even do it."

Micaiah could do nothing but stare at her old friend in horror and hatred. "How could you, Sothe? How could you do this to me?!"

Sothe was at a loss for words. "Do this to you? How fucking egotistical are you?!"

Micaiah couldn't believe how she was being spoken to. "That is it,Sothe! I have never done anything to you, and you betray me?! I thought you were better! I thought we had something!"

Sothe took a deep breath to control his anger and soothe his tone. He backed away from her for a step.

"We never had anything." He said clearly. He leaned closer and glared into her eyes. "And we never will."

Furious and heartbroken beyond words, the Branded girl turned her back on her life long companion and rushed out of the palace. She would return to Daein, where she could get away and be welcomed with open arms. She fled the palace, but didn't make it too far before running headlong into a black clad knight. Being alone, the girl was frightened, and stood frozen in place before his giant form.

But then the man spoke. "Do not be alarmed. I am here to assist you, Lady of the Dawn."

"Wh-who are you?" she stuttered, shying away from the figure.

"I am… a friend. Return with me to Begnion. You will be protected and safe, I assure you."

"But I intended to return to my home--"

"Daein will soon have a new King. You will not be welcome there. Come with me."

With a short time to consider the consequences and assess the feelings she felt coming from the knight's heart, she approached him and the two disappeared from Goldoa.

(End Chapter)