The Hero King

Chapter XIII

**Amelies POV**

Ike led me outside to a vanity, it was dark and the moon was out. A million different stars glistened, and a gentle breeze cooled my burning cheeks.

"You looked like you wanted to be anywhere but in there." Ike said, turning to face me.

I gently pulled my hand from his and bowed slightly.

"You're right, I did. Thank you very much, sir."

"You don't have to be so formal with me, just call me Ike."

I nodded and looked down at my feet.

When I looked back up, he was staring at me intently.

"I-is something wrong?"

"I don't understand it." He said, shaking his head slightly, "There must be something amazing about you for Marth to love you as much as he did, but you look like a normal girl to me."

"You're right, there isn't anything special about me." I replied, looking back at the ground.

"No, there's something. A prince doesn't just fall in love with a peasant girl for no reason."

I shrugged and didn't reply.

"Why don't you let me walk you home?" He asked, walking up to me.

I looked up at him with a smile, but before I could respond another voice answered for me.

"That won't be necessary, Ike. She's more than capable of walking herself home." Marth's voice was icy, and he stiffly walked up beside me. 

"Oh? As a prince I thought you'd be glad I'd walk this lady home. A girl shouldn't be out roaming the streets after dark by herself, she could get hurt." Ike's eyebrows were knit together, an obvious challenge towards Marth.

Marth seemed stumped, his shoulders dropped slightly and his expression was blank.

"Listen, all I'm saying is, there's no reason for her to walk home on her own when she has someone offering to take her there safely."

Marth straightened himself up and smiled warmly.

"You're perfectly right, Ike. I thank you for your generosity, I just didn't want you wasting your time on her. She's not too important or anything."

I felt tears start to burn the rims of my eyes.

"How could he say something so cruel?"

"She's a close friend to you, and a very sweet girl. I thought you'd be less insensitive about her well being." Ike looked over at me.

He must've notice me about to cry because his tone and eyes softened.

"Let's get you home."

I nodded and followed behind Ike, as I walked past Marth I found something familiar in his eyes.

Though he was still smiling politely, his eyes looked just like mine.

Dead.

**time skip**

Ike and I walked quite a ways before I stopped him and admitted that I didn't really want to go home.

"Are you sure? Would you like me to leave you then?" He questioned.

"No, I enjoy your company.. I'd like to take you somewhere, if you don't mind coming." I smiled slightly, but kept my attention on the ground.

"Of course I don't mind."

Even though Ike seemed big and tough, he had been nothing but nice to me all night.

I took him to my special place.

My tree.

I sat down with my feet dangling from the over-hang. Ike stood beside me quietly for a moment, then sat down. He was close enough that our shoulders were touching.

We sat in silence.

Somewhere along the line I started crying. I'm not sure when it started but I knew I couldn't stop. Marth's words swam through my head, they made me feel numb, broken, unwanted even.

Ike wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into his chest, leaning back against the tree. I laid there with him and sobbed profusely while he stroked my hair.

He said nothing, only hummed slightly and held me.

I fell asleep to the soothing vibration in his chest, and the droll sound of his voice.