The Crossing of Blades (FIOLEE)

Chapter Nineteen

"Sir, are you sure this won't backfire terribly?" One of the crew asked nervously.

"Sure." Marshall answered breezily.

"...but the Royal Guard won't just let you climb up, and there are a million things that could go wrong..." The crew member continued.

"True. But I can find my way around a few Duine." Marshall answered, grabbing a grappling hook and stepping off of the Shadow.

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Half an hour later of sneaking around the outside of the Duine castle he saw an open tower window. Deciding to take his chances, he used his grappling hook to hoist himself up, under the impression that he could deal with anyone who was up there.

On the edge of the window, he heard someone come in. "Your majesty, there's an intruder on the grounds."

"Alright, I'll deal with them if I see them." He heard Fionna answer.

"But—"

"Thanks for your concern, but I've faced down a lot worse than an intruder."

"...understood, your majesty. Have a good night." Whoever it was left, and Marshall pulled himself into Fionna's room, perching on the ledge.

"Hey, Fi."

She whipped around and held a sword to his face reflexively, but sheathed it once she saw who it was. "Marshall!" She pulled him inside and hugged him.

He ran a hand through her hair.

"Why didn't you come to the meeting I called?" Fionna asked him.

"Partially because I was tied to the foot of my bed. Partially because Mom didn't want me there in the first place, and Timothy had to go instead."

"But you're okay?"

He nodded, pulling her into a deep kiss. "I am now."

"And I guess you're the intruder I was warned about?"

"I hope so." Marshall grinned. "But I came here for something else."

"Something else?" Fionna asked, confused. "Like what?"

"I can't keep doing this, Fionna."

"What... what exactly do you mean?" She asked, sitting down on her bed. He followed her. "I can't keep sort of giving you up but not really. I can't keep chasing after you if you're always going to choose Duine after me. I can't keep listening to the same excuses, the same problems with our relationship."

"So what are you saying?" She asked quietly.

"The Shadow pulls out of port tomorrow at noon. It's the last time that it's going to dock in a Duine port, except maybe for Middleground. Now that our trade relations are strengthened, I think I'm going to give up piracy in these waters, maybe go exploring."

She drew a shaky breath. "Why would you risk your life sneaking in here to tell me that when a letter would have worked?"

"Because I want you to come with me on the Shadow tomorrow." Marshall told her. "Or now. Basically any time until noon."

"Marshall, I... why can't you stay here, with me?"

"Because we both belong on the sea, and you know it. And the Duine would never accept a demon or a vampire as their king. They'd assume that I forced you into marrying me, or something."

"But I can't leave Duine right now. Cake's wedding is tomorrow, and... you're really going to do this, aren't you?"

"It's better for both of us if we just make a stand." Marshall said softly. "It's better if we just give up and move on, or make this more serious. I told you, once before, that you need to make a choice. The time has come. It's either me or Duine."

"I... I can't just leave Duine forever, and be exiled from my own country."

He began kissing her. "So? I said I might dock at Middleground Island. You can get a boat back here if they truly need you."

"And you'd still be on Middleground Island, waiting for me?" She asked.

"Probably." He answered, starting to move lower. He planted a kiss on her collarbone, before looking up and meeting her eyes. "But you can't take too long. And I imagine that Duine wouldn't be too happy if they figured out that you actually did try to abandon them."

Fionna sighed. "And you're going to pester me all night?"

He smirked at her. "Am I pestering you right now?"

"Yes."

"Then yeah, I will. What are you gonna do about it?" He teased.

She flipped him onto his back, and he grinned. "Well, this is an interesting situation."

"Shut up." She said, smiling and leaning in to kiss him.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her even closer. "I think we should do more of this... 'pestering'."

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The next morning, Marshall was already gone when Fionna woke up. She sat up slowly, looking around for him, the blankets still draped around her.

Cake poked her head in. "Oh, good. You're up. Come on, we've got to be ready."

"I know. I wouldn't miss it." Fionna said, smiling a little.

"Okay then. Let's go." Cake started to step inside of the room, and Fionna's eyes widened. "I have to get dressed though."

"Then hurry up." Cake said,a bit impatiently, before disappearing out of the room.

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*Author's Note*

You know, I'm really debating the epilogue here, if I have one at all. Should Fionna be talking to her children, but one of them has dark hair and red eyes? Should we see Marshall on his deathbed, remembering the love of his life like a sort of Tristan and Isolde sort of thing? The sinking of the Shadow? Who knows, I might go the AFF route and do all of them. Because for everyone who hates me for this, I'm just going to say this now: Fionna doesn't miss Cake's wedding, and she doesn't board the Shadow at noon.

That said, there will be at least one more chapter.