A rage overcame him. He drew the rusty third-rate sword at his side and charged into the clearing, screaming. Phoenix looked up in shock at the attack and remained stunned as she saw who the attacker was.
Caden, on the other hand, jumped up from his position and drew his sword. Putting himself in between Phoenix and Gethin, he blocked Gethin�s attack with his own sword. He was thrown back by the force of the taller man. He fell into Phoenix and both fell onto the ground. �He looks glad to see you,� Caden remarked before standing to fend another blow by Gethin, this time more grounded in his stance.
�Gethin,� Phoenix called in shock, still on the ground. She stared up at Gethin in disbelief. �Why?�
Gethin�s eyes glowed as he looked past Caden at the teenager. �Traitor,� he said in an eerie voice that made Phoenix shiver. It didn�t even sound like Gethin. �Murderer,� he declared, and the voice itself made Phoenix feel like she�d been stabbed. The word only made it feel as though he�d twisted the blade afterward.
�What,� Phoenix asked, both confused and hurt.
Caden, however, took the opportunity to use Gethin�s inattentiveness to his advantage. He brought a dagger up from his belt and hit Gethin in the temple with the hilt of the small weapon. Gethin went cross-eyed and collapsed. Phoenix continued to stare at him in incredulity. Caden offered her a hand and she slowly took it, allowing him to help her up.
�Why does he think I tried to kill him?� Phoenix�s eyes don�t waver from Gethin�s face. Caden doesn�t answer, instead pulling a rope from the pack on his chocobo. Phoenix steps in between him and Gethin in panic. �What are you doing?�
�I�m tying him up. I don�t have the strength necessary to deal with a human berserker.� He then pushed his way past Phoenix, not bothering to wait for an okay from the girl.
�Berserker,� Phoenix asked, bewildered. �I didn�t realize they actually existed.�
�You�re starting to sound like the atheists who speak about you.� He shrugged as he began to tie up the older boy. �There are a few abilities that, though they�re rare, still exist. Summoners are the most well-known of the difficult of professions. I had a companion that was a Magic Knight. Having the ability to cast and use a range of weapons proficiently is very rare. A very similar ability is that of the paladins, who cast white magic instead of black.� He finished tying off Gethin and knotted the cord tightly. He then stood and looked up at Phoenix. �It�s a good thing that there are so few berserkers in the world. They�re very dangerous.�
�Don�t they need a reason to attack someone? Why did he call me a murderer?� Phoenix looked at Gethin, biting her lip. Tears formed in her eyes. It was a mixed blessing having him back at the moment. She was ecstatic to see him alive. But he loathed her.
�The Army might have poisoned him against you once they found out who he was. After all, they do insist that Zalera and the Phoenix are enemies. Seeing you two so close would shake their faith.�
Phoenix nodded sadly and knelt beside Gethin, placing a hand tenderly on his cheek. Caden watched, quietly, surprised again by Phoenix�s ability to forgive.
Gethin woke slowly. Feeling Phoenix�s hand on his cheek he looked up at her in confusion. There were tears in he eyes. He scowled, �Regretting the assassination now? Or are you upset because I found you?� He jerked away from her hand.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she closed her eyes. She gasped and swallowed, trying to stop the sobbing. She shook her head, unable to speak through the lump in her throat.
Instead of speaking, she leaned down and kissed him. Gethin�s eyes widened as her lips pressed against his. �I thought you were dead,� Phoenix said, barely above a whisper.
Gethin continued to stare at her in astonishment. Phoenix kissed him once more, placing her hand on his cheek again.
Gethin pulled way from her yet again, glaring between Phoenix and Caden warily. �Why did you leave, Phoenix?�
�I�d never leave you,� she said through a lump in her throat. �I was,� she searched for the right word, �captured.� Phoenix looked up at Caden. �But things changed.� She rested a hand lightly on his chest. �We would have come back for you. But I thought you were dead...�
�Because of the assassin� Gethin asked, his eyes narrowing once more.
Phoenix gaped at him for a moment before slowly shaking her head. �Because the Army thought you were me and wanted you dead. They got us mixed up, Gethin. They thought I was Zalera.�
�Do you know how ridiculous that sounds,� Gethin nearly screamed, struggling in his bonds. �Look at you!�
Phoenix was taken aback. Gethin had been the reasonable one out of the two of them. Now, the only thing holding him back was the cords that bound him. �It�s true,� Caden finally said. �They hired me to kidnap Phoenix. They thought that Zalera had taken her form to fool the world.�
Gethin looked at Phoenix. �He kidnapped you?�
Phoenix nodded, biting her lip. Tears streamed silently down her face, and for the first time that night Gethin wanted to hold her. To comfort her. He then frowned, �And he changed his mind?�
�Sort of,� Phoenix said, her voice breaking. She decided not to tell him about Caden attempting to kill her. �I found out that he�s Yojimbo.�
�That�s insane,� Gethin stated, struggling with his bonds again. �Are you telling me that your kidnapper just turned out to be one of the people you�re looking for?�
�So did you,� Phoenix said, quietly. �It�s fate, Gethin.�
Gethin watched for a moment, then sighed, looking down. �I�m sorry, Phoenix. I don�t know what came over me.�
Phoenix began to untie Gethin, but Caden grabbed her shoulder. �Are you sure that�s safe?�
Phoenix looked up at her companion. �I trust him.� Caden was about to argue, but realized that Phoenix had given him a second chance, as well. Phoenix continued to remove the ropes. Once she had finished her task, Gethin sat up and wrapped his arms around her. This made Caden nervous at first, but then he realized that the other boy was simply hugging his companion and he calmed.
Phoenix returned the hug, nuzzling her nose against Gethin�s jaw. He lifted her chin with one hand, kissing her passionately. �I never thought...� Gethin shakes his head, unable to finish his sentence.
Phoenix smiled calmly, and instead of speaking merely returned the kiss.
"Phoenix...I know this sounds very sudden, but it might be the only chance we get. And I�ve known you all your life.� He took one of her hands in both of his. �Phoenix...will you marry me?�
Even Caden was taken back by this request. Phoenix gaped wordlessly at Gethin. Gethin squeezed her hand in his, �Phoenix...at least one of us is likely going to die on this journey. I want you as my wife. I�ve known that for years now. I don�t want to lose you before that dream comes true.
And I�d like your father to be the one to perform the ceremony.�
Phoenix considered his request heavily. She had been enthralled by his looks and charm since she was a little girl. They were amazingly close. But as she had told her father before they left, she was still only really a child. But could she wait until she was an adult?
She nodded, finally, and the smile on Gethin�s face was enough to tell her she had done what was best. He kissed her again and hugged her tightly. �Let�s head back to Karasi. A quick trip home won�t hurt.�
Phoenix looked to Caden for his approval of the plan. Caden frowned, but nodded his consent. Phoenix nodded to Gethin again and they began to ready their chocobos for the trip home.