Hey everyone! This is actually a story I started back in February, motivated after replaying FE: Sacred Stones haha. Enjoy!

This chapter is mostly background and introductions, so I apologize if it's quite drab XD

The sun rose blissfully in the Kingdom of Renais, and gentle winds blew through the early morning sky. Princess Eirika leaned against the railing of her balcony, contemplating in private thoughts as the breeze swirled through her aquamarine strands. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked into the territory beyond, hugging her body slightly as she did so.

A sharp knock at her chamber door interrupted her thoughts, followed by the creaking of a door and footsteps approaching her. She smiled at the body that leaned on the railing beside her. Only one person would visit her this early morning. "Good morning, Brother," she spoke sweetly.

Ephraim nodded in response and wrapped a consoling arm around Eirika's shoulders, a small solemn smile crossing the Restoration King's features. "Dear sister, Eirika, what is troubling you so? It pains me to see you like this. Peace has been restored to Renais – no, the whole continent of Magvel; you should have your head held high and rejoice!"

Eirika smiled and leaned into her brother's embrace. "Don't get me wrong Ephraim, for I am quote joyful to be home, for the war to be concluded, and have our kingdom restored. But sometimes I can't help but feel..." She paused in her reply. "No, it's nothing."

Ephraim's eyes softened as he deduced the source of his sister's dilemma. "It's a man, isn't it?"

Eirika turned her head to face her brother, mouth agape and eyes wide in bewilderment. "W-What–"

Ephraim chuckled. "Don't deny it, Eirika. I've seen the look in your eyes; you're in love. Who this "mystery man" is, I cannot say. But I do know that he's obviously captured a place in your heart." A pause. "My best guess though is that you became closer during the war."

Eirika playfully nudged him in the ribs. "Just like you and Tana.~"

Ephraim chuckled. "Yes, yes, just like Tana and I. And wipe that smug grin off your face, you little rascal!" he teased.

The princess giggled and placed some stray strands of hair behind her ear. "Please don't worry too much about me, Brother. You already have vast amounts of other concerns as the new king of Renais. Don't add my problems to the never-ending stack of yours."

"I'm your brother, so I'll always worry about my dear sister!" he remarked. He placed a light kiss on her cheek. "Whoever this man is, he has my blessings." That said, he slid his arm off her shoulders and exited the balcony.

Eirika's cheeks flushed and she spun around to glare at the retreating form. "B-brother!" True that as she wasn't the heir to the throne she could be with whatever man she wanted, but marriage was most definitely not her main concern at the moment. Though it does sound nice...

Ephraim grinned widely as he waved farewell before closing the door behind him. It was always fun to tease his sister, but he did genuinely wonder whom she had fallen so hard for.

Eirika strolled through the castle corridors, her feet seemingly taking her to the entrance of the gardens whilst in her absentminded state. She glanced up to see the one paladin she had always considered as her protector and adviser ever since her youth, Seth the General of the Knights – also known as the infamous Silver Knight. With a broad iron sword wielded in his hand, he expertly hacked through sinew and bone of the imagined foes set before his perceiving auburn eyes, russet hair flying as he sidestepped and parried. She continued watching in rapt, knowing that no matter how many lessons the knight gave her in swordplay, it would take years before she reach that kind of precise skill. All it took was a sneeze to give away her silent position.

Seth adjourned his training at the sound and turned around, lowering his sword and politely smiling once realizing he was in the presence of the princess. "Good day, Princess Eirika. You're up rather early this fine morning," he addressed with a bow.

Eirika smiled in return and approached the man eight years her senior. "Good day to you as well, Seth. How fare you?"

"Well, Milady. Just thought I'd do my morning routine training."

"Quite intensely and superbly at that, if I may say. Don't you ever rest?"

Seth smiled. "It is not becoming of a knight to neglect the duties so graciously presented to him."

"Duties, duties, duties. Your personal well-being is just as important, Seth. Maybe I should order you to rest sometime. I'm sure Ephraim wouldn't mind, pleased even at my proposal with all the work you do around the kingdom," she joked with a grin, Seth's lips pulling at the corners to widen his smile. "But that is for another time. As of now, I was wondering if I may trouble you with a favor." His arched eyebrows told her to continue. "Could you accompany me whilst I take a walk? I have some topics I wish to mull over, and we're both well aware of how protective Ephraim and my late father are of me."

Seth sheathed his sword and stood at full attention. "Of course. Anytime, Milady."

And so, the two peacefully strolled through the vast gardens, Eirika bending down occasionally to pluck a flower from the earth. Her slightly gloomy behavior hadn't gone unnoticed by only her brother, and Seth was beginning to worry after hearing Eirika heave nothing but heavy sighs day in and day out.

"Something troubling you that you wish to speak of, Milady?" Seth asked with concern, following closely behind her as he always did while guarding her.

Eirika faltered in her walking, slowly coming to a halt. Seth stopped behind her at a distance that still allowed him to hear the softest whispers of her voice. "Well Ephraim did speak to me this morning about certain... affairs. However, I am more concerned with the events that have portrayed themselves this past year." Seth's jaw instantly clenched. He had a fair idea what topics would arise.

Eirika continued. "This past year has been beyond believe. Renais and Father fell to the advances of Grado, and war broke out throughout the lands. I... I don't think I could ever forget how the smell of metallic blood permeated the air, the colossal spillage of blood as my rapier penetrated and withdrew from the enemy, how the blood of our copious wounded allies stuck to their clothing and slowly turned a murky shade." She bit her lip. "I panicked at the thoughts of close calls with our friends and how we lost precious allies in the war against Grado. Albeit tired and hungry, we all trudged on, whether the conditions be favorable or unfavorable, all to maintain honor and fight for Renais. Men were sent out to die, and nothing could be done once fate had been sealed. I... I felt so small, so meek; it was suffocating. And then Lyon, he..." At this, Eirika faltered and she pressed a trembling hand over her mouth, blinking her eyes to rid of the tears within them. "A close friend to Ephraim and I was he and I... I slew him. Someone who was gentle, deserved a chance to live and.. and he was killed! The light slipping from his eyes as he died in our arms was just... So helpless was I that I couldn't do anything to save him, to defy his fate in the stars." There was no point in trying to conceal the tears that freely streamed down her face now. A broken sob and cracking voice wretched itself from her throat. "I-I'm sorry, Seth. Think of how pathetic and weak I must appear, complaining of things soldiers risks their lives daily to do."

With saddened eyes, Seth listened to the princess spill her innermost feelings. The man in him wanted to embrace and console her like he had done when she was younger, yet the knight in him screamed it would be breaking protocol and he knew where his boundaries lie. Duties before personal feelings. "Please Milady, I would never impose this blame onto you – no one would – nor would I ever view you as a weak individual. After all Princess, you are one of the bravest women I've ever the honor of crossing paths with. You were taken from this simple life and thrust upon the atrocities of warfare. To be able to deal with all these hardships only adds to the strength you possess. Milady... With my duties, I serve to protect you. Even so, I failed to keep you completely out of harm's way. I truly wish you never would've to seen the horrors of the battlefield." A pause and a glance. "Please Milady, don't dwell on this dreary topic any longer. Dwell on all the positive aspects; Grado was punished, Renais is once more, and people were brought together such as Pri – my apologies – King Ephraim and Queen Tana of Renais."

A small smile blossomed on Eirika's face as she thought of all the positive aspects that were brought after the war, knowing that in the end it really was worth it. She turned to Seth, face wet with tears although a happy expression plastered itself to her face. "Thank you Seth. For coming here, for listening to me, for... for everything. Truly, I am grateful." She stepped forward and hugged the knight, burying her head in his broad chest and allowing the last of her tears to fall.

Seth's body tensed at the hug. It wouldn't really be breaking protocol if she hugged him in need of consoling. Gently, he placed a hand on the back of her head as he caressed her hair and the other arm around her lithe back. "Anytime. Be strong Milady... for Renais," he mumbled.

Tana laughed uproariously, cradling herself on Eirika's bed and blinking tears from her eyes. Despite it being nightfall, she was still full of energy. "Y-you mean to say that Ephraim essentially just told you to beget heirs?!"

Abashed, Eirika's face lit scarlet and she pouted against the pillow. "I-it's not like that Tana! How you seem to twist his words so! W-what about you? When will you two beget heirs? Surely with Ephraim as the crown heir and king, his affairs deem far more importance than mine."

"Oh trust me, we're trying," Tana retorted with a wink, further flustering Eirika. Quickly, all happiness drained from the Pegasus knight's face and was etched with worry. "Eirika, there's something I need to tell you."

Cautiously, Eirika replied. "What is it, Tana?"

Tana frowned. "I know you won't be pleased but... my brother Innes will be coming to Renais within the next couple days."

Eirika's eyes widened and she took a sharp intake of breath as she was struck with disbelief. After all, she knew what the crown heir of Frelia was after: her hand in holy matrimony. 'A sister for a sister' Innes had proposed.

At that moment, Eirika wished nothing but to be back on the battlefield fighting horrid monsters or in the sweltering deserts of Jehanna – anything to avoid the meeting of the man who so desperately wanted her hand in marriage. And somewhere in the back of the mind, Eirika found herself thinking that Seth be the only man she marry.

Alright. Questions, comments, critiques, I'm always open~

Currently, I have chapters 1-3 all typed up. I'm not sure exactly how I want to continue the story, so feel free to throw out suggestions either in a review or PM :3