Chapter 8

Two weeks have passed since John woke up from his coma. He has been getting stronger by working out a little every day, sword fighting every other day, and just being in Sarah's company. They didn't bring up his possible heritage as a prince again, but just enjoyed being together.

It was clearly autumn now as all the leaves have transformed from mostly green to shades from a light gold to a deep crimson.

Small, sparrow-like birds stayed, filling the forests with their musical twitters while the larger birds have mostly departed in flocks of "V's" to warmer climates.

A clear blue dominated the sky, which was one of the reasons Brittany and Lindsey went outside. The other being that Sarah, John, and a couple of hired hands had just finished raking leaves into big piles.

"I don't see why we need to rake leaves when more are going to replace it a few seconds later. Why couldn't Mother let it be until spring?" Sarah complained as she gave her sore arms a rest.

Brittany and Lindsey chose that moment to jump into the leaves.

"WEEE!"

The adults present gave delighted smiles or chuckles at the spectacle the girls presented and their childishness.

"C'mon girls, we need to rake it back up. Feel lucky that my mother didn't see you two when she told us to rake up the yard," said Sarah.

Brittany nodded vigorously while Lindsey, the shyer and quieter of the two, gave a small nod.

John gave them a smile as a brother would to his baby sibling.

The scene of the two girls covered in fall leaves transformed to that of a small black-haired boy with pieces of dead leaves and grass clinging to his clothes and hair. The boy looked up at him with a big smile and cried out, "Aniue!"

John blinked and saw the two girls again.

"Are you okay Mr. John?" asked Brittany.

"I'm fine, but I don't know if you'll be!"

John grinned and swooped down onto Brittany and caught her up into the air. She squealed in joy.

Sarah watched John play with the two girls. While she was smiling softly for the girls who were getting such attention since they usually had to amuse themselves, the wheels in her mind was turning. She was piecing together information, trying to figure out John's past.

John was about the same age as the supposedly dead Prince Folken would be if he had lived. He was a good swordsman and had said the name "Balgus" who was the Princes Folken and Van's sword master. Both John and Folken were albinos. There was also the way John treated the girls, gentle and loving. According to the book, Folken was a kind brother to Van. But this part could be true with many people.

Then there was the question of how John, if he was really the missing Prince Folken, came to Zaibach.

Prince Folken was sent out on a dragon slaying rite to become king of Fanelia since the king had died from some illness. When going out to slay a dragon you either come back alive or it can be assumed the dragon had killed you. Folken had not returned so he was presumed dead. No evidence of a body was found, but a search party discovered a copious amount of blood near a dragon's cave.

Sarah was momentarily blinded, and her eyes were drawn to the source, a reflection of the sunlight off of John's metal arm. It connected straight to his shoulder, which suggested that his whole arm had been cut off. Sarah doubted the arm was removable, because it was bolted on, so she wouldn't be able to see if the scar tissue where his arm used to be attached was cleanly cut, like a sword would do, or if it was jagged, as flesh being torn would leave evidence of.

The purple tattoos did not give any clues other than he wanted them. But he had gold earrings, which her mother removed so it wouldn't catch on anything. Only Zaibach sorcerers wore those ring-sized golden earrings.

'Which might explain his arm,' Sarah thought.

Sorcerers of Zaibach were responsible for most of the technological and medical advances. They were feared though, for they had unbridled power and had many secrets.

Zaibach was the most technologically advanced country although Basram came a close second in comparison among what were considered backwater countries. So it was most likely that John received his arm in Zaibach.

Another flash brought her out of her thoughts.

John was sitting down with the girls held to him. Their burst of energy had been used up and they were now napping.

Sarah walked to them and sat down beside John. She whispered so as not to wake the children, "It takes a lot to get them napping when they're full of energy like that. They're still little kids after all."

Sarah looked up at John then to find him napping as well.

'I guess all that play was tiring for you as well,' Sarah thought with a smile. She reached her hand up to his face and tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear.

He blinked awake, bleary eyed and brought his hand up to rub his eyes.

"Here John. Hand me one of the girls so we can go put them to bed."

John nodded and handed Brittany to Sarah. They both got up, each carrying a girl in their arms.

When they were placing the girls into their beds John heard Lindsey whisper in her sleep, "I love you Daddy."

The girls were tucked in and the adults left the room. John was slightly disconcerted.

"Sarah?"

"Yes?"

They had stopped outside the closed door and were now facing each other.

"Where are their parents?"

Sarah had a saddened look to her face and replied, "They have passed on. Both of their fathers were drafted and died on the field. Lindsey's mother died giving birth to her and Brittany's mother was murdered when she tried to prevent the drafters from taking her husband."

John nodded gravely.

"Fortunately Brittany was at a friend's house when that happened. It's a horrible situation as it is, it would be more so to have witnessed the murder of your own family."

John turned his head to look at the door with understanding. He too had no family, at least none that he's aware of because of his current situation.

John pulled Sarah into an embrace. Sarah was surprised, but didn't stop him. She felt that he needed some support and put her arms around him silently.

They had come into physical contact plenty of times like when he got attacks of phantom pain from a shift in weather, or dizzy spells the first few days from over exertion, but hugs were a bit rare. They released each other, both embarrassed but welcoming the other's company.

'This time is as good as any,' John thought nervously.

"Sarah? Will you please come in my room with me?"

"Okay," answered Sarah, wondering what this was about.

He closed the door behind them when they stepped into his room, he then led her to his closet.

"Will you please turn around and close your eyes?" asked John.

"Why?" asked a confused Sarah.

"Just do it please. I'll tell you when you can turn back and open your eyes."

"All right," said a dubious Sarah.

She turned around and closed her eyes, wondering what John was up to. She heard him open the closet door and them some paper crinkling.

"You can turn around now."

Sarah turned back to find John on one knee with a bouquet of flowers held towards her.

"Will you go to the fall festival with me?"

Sarah blushed and beamed. She nodded and said, "Yes."

She took the flowers from him as he stood up and they hugged again.

The world didn't quite feel real to Sarah at that moment. She felt a soft glowing happiness surround her. The source was John.

They disengaged from the hug and just stood in front of the other unsure of what the next step may be. John believed he felt like a giddy teenager as he looked upon Sarah with perhaps something one level beyond fondness. The diffident pair caught each other's eyes and held it tentatively.

"Thanks for the flowers, but you didn't have to," Sarah said when she broke eye contact to look at the bouquet.

"I wanted to."

"Thank you."

Their smiles never left their faces. One smiling in relief that no one else had asked her out and the other smiling in happiness at having someone other than her mother and the girls to go to the festival with.

The fall festival was always held five days after harvesting was finished. It celebrated the end of the crop gathering season and let many relax after all that hard work, since the bulk of the population were farmers in this area. The festival spanned three days with many games, competitions, and booths where food and crafts can be bought. At the end of each night a dance was held in an old barn that no one used to store anything during the fall, since it's been used for the dance as far back as anyone could remember.

This year's festival was planned to be in another two or three weeks. The exact date can't be predicted until the last day of harvest.

"Well, you must be tired so I'll see you later," Sarah said before turning to go out the door.

"Yes, see you later," John said before Sarah closed his door softly behind her.

Raking leaves had been done during John's exercise time. His earlier tiredness was erased as he gained his second wind and decided to take a shower.

John was showered, shaved, and dressed in fifteen minutes. He decided to stop by the kitchen for a snack. Working out always made him hungry.

He poked his head into the kitchen from the dining room to find Aunt Rena drying the dishes.

"Are you here for a snack?" Aunt Rena asked, her back turned to him as she placed the last plate in a cupboard.

"Yes," he replied with a reproachful smile.

Aunt Rena turned to face him and held out a sandwich on a plate.

John smiled and shook his head. "How do you always know when I want a snack?"

"I just do," she said, smiling back.

John sat at the kitchen table and proceeded to eat. Aunt Rena wiped her hands with the dishtowel and sat down across from him.

"So, what are you up to?"

John looked up from his half-finished sandwich with a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

"Young man," she said with a mock terse tone.

"I'm planning to look for a job."

"Ah. I can help you with that. I have a friend who's in need of a capable body. Do you feel up to some physical labor?"

"I would think so."

"His name is Ravvel Peronel. He lives two houses to the left. Just ask Berin to lend you a horse and tell Ravvel that Aunt Rena sent you."

"Thank you Aunt Rena," he said, flashing a smile at her as he picked up his empty plate and started towards the sink.

"That's my job," she said, taking the plate from him before he could go any further.

"Thanks again."

John left and went to the doctor's office. He knocked three times and was let in.

"Hello John. What can I do for you?"

Sarah's mother looked up from her perpetual heap of paper and books.

"Good morning again. I was wondering if you would lend me a horse."

"Sure, but may I ask why?"

"I'm going out to find some work."

"Oh, but won't you get lost? You've never left the property before."

"I think I'll manage, I'm going to Mr. Peronel's."

"I see you've talked with Aunt Rena then. You can ride Ralley, he's the chestnut with a white snippet on his nose. I think he's two stalls away from Hessen."

"Thank you Dr. Raven," John said with gratitude.

"No problem."

John found Ralley with no problem and tacked him up. John scratched the horse's neck through its shaggy throat hair and walked him out of his stall and the stable. Outside he mounted Ralley from the right side and got him to walk out onto the driveway and onto the road. He turned left and pressed Ralley into a gentle trot. Ralley turned his head a little as if to say, "Are you kidding?"

John looked down at him and patted his neck.

"C'mon boy, besides, you probably don't get out much."

John wasn't sure, but he thought he heard the horse give a derisive snort.

After perhaps twenty minutes they reached the second house. John slowed Ralley to a walk as they came down the gravel driveway. He dismounted and found a tree to tie his horse to.

John walked to the front door of the one-story brown house and knocked. There was no answer so he knocked again. After he didn't receive an answer John decided to walk around the house to the barn.

"Hello?" John called out.

He saw a figure walk out from the large barn house.

"Who are you?" asked the man as he came nearer.

"I'm John, Aunt Rena sent me Mr. Peronel," he replied as they stood in front of each other. He held out his left hand and the farmer shook it firmly.

"Nice grip," Mr. Peronel commented.

The old man came up to John's chest but was not in any way petite. He was muscled and his bronzed skin attested to hard work outside. He had close-cut silver hair with a receding hairline. His wrinkled face was scrutinizing John carefully.

"Are you here for work?"

"Yes, sir," answered John.

The farmer finally noticed John's metal arm.

"What happened with that arm of yours?"

"I don't know, sir."

"How could you not know?"

"I'm a patient over at Dr. Raven's. I have amnesia."

"I see, but I need someone that can work. Does that arm work? I'm not gonna coddle you just because of some disability," he said gruffly.

"As far as I know sir."

Mr. Peronel seemed unsure but his hand lifted, motioning John to follow him. He obeyed him, a little unsure.

They walked into the barn and the older man stopped and pointed at a bale of hay.

"Pick that up and stack it on the others in the back."

The stack of hay bales were about one hundred feet away from the one bale on the ground. John wasn't sure if he'd be able to carry it all the way since he doesn't know the full strength of his metal appendage.

John walked to the lone bale and slipped his hands under the ropes that kept the bale together. He pulled it up and was amazed he could. He hefted it onto his right shoulder where the metal would protect him some from the sharp hay that had already scratched his left forearm and now stung. He made it to the back and tossed the bale on top of the others.

"You're hired," grumbled Mr. Peronel, although his eyes showed approval. "Glad your muscles aren't for show."

"Thank you sir," John said with one corner of his mouth quirked upwards.

"It's only until I run out of work for you. It'll mostly be harvesting hay and wheat, maybe two weeks of work, seven days a week, dawn 'til dusk. Think you can handle that?"

"I believe so. How much will I be paid?"

The gruff old man rubbed his chin in thought. Although he was stern he was known as being a fair man.

"How about ten gheps a day?"

John's eyes rounded a little as that was a lot of money.

"Don't think I'm doing you a favor. It's going to be hard work and you may even regret it."

"I don't think I will sir. It's a deal," John said, extending his left hand.

Mr. Peronel squeezed John's hand, smiled and said, "You can start today."

Author's Notes: A very BIG Thank You to ArtemisMoon, my editor. If you guys like Rurouni Kenshin and humor, check out her stories. I really like "The Morning After".

Aniue-this is a Japanese word meaning "elder brother". It is an oldish and respectful way to say it. I know that they are not Japanese and I'm a bit of a hypocrite, but the reason why I used "aniue" is because it sounds nice and it doesn't have an equal in the English language. Calling out "Older brother!" just doesn't work as well.

Well, it's been over a year since I first started this fic, I can't believe it took that long, but then again I haven't been working on this everyday. I think I like fanfics that have a tad of humor, some romance, and some action. So in my own opinion on my fic, this is boring at this time. Hopefully that will soon change.

As ShadowShapeShifter had asked in a review for the last chapter "Are you going to have his wings come out any time soon?" The next chapter will have Folken's wings out. Don't you just love the Fanel brothers' wings? They're sooo fluffy and *pretty*! *Ditzy smile* :-P

Aria

Yep! I'm really happy you updated! Infact I'm extatic(not sure if its spelt right). Thanks for the e-mail otherwise I wouldn't have known!! This is really good. I'm just wondering at the minute how Van will react, would he be glad that his brother is alive? I mean he acted really sad in the show that his brother had been killed. But then again that's similar to any family, the siblings are allowed to say and do what ever they want to each other, but no one else is allowed to do it. Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait and see....^_^

Yes, you will have to wait and see, in fact I'm not even sure how it will turn out. I'm not thinking that far yet. That and Folken somehow locked up Van in the back of my mind to help me concentrate on him Sarah. *Turns away from the computer to talk to a shadowy figure that's looming over her* Hey! It's not my fault that I'm not writing fast! Okay, so maybe it is… But you can't make me give up reading fanfics! *Turns back to computer* I can't come up with viable arguments, which may explain why I haven't joined the debate team when I'm so interested in debating. *Sigh* I also apologize for not being that funny even when I try to be in answering questions in these author's notes. Humor is a good thing, but not when I attempt it, at least to me I'm not funny.

Well, as always, please review! If you have any questions go ahead and ask and I'll try to answer them.