Bound by a Sword

By IllusionistAria
(Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones or any of its characters. This is merely a fan dedication to the game.)

Prologue

Eirika brandished her sword, thrusting it forcefully towards her twin, Ephraim. Her long, soft hair flew behind her, floating in the air for a moment, as her lithe body charged forward. Ephraim parried her attack with some effort, commenting, "You're giving me a hard time, Eirika," though the confident way he maneuvered his long, slim lance betrayed his skill. Finally, with an agile flourish which seemed impossible to carry out with such a long weapon, Ephraim forced the sword out of Eirika's hands.

"It's not fair! Your weapon is longer than mine." Eirika complained, laughing.

Ephraim bowed in a grandiose manner, "Princess, may I inform you of the difficulty of the lance? Or would you like to try it for yourself?"

"Seth can manage both excellently, so I don't see how it could be that much harder than the sword..." Eirika countered, putting her finger thoughtfully to her soft, delicate cheek. Her hair and skin were smooth, and her face beautiful, but she was no helpless princess, as many of the useless courtiers liked to imagine. She was much stronger than that - both physically and mentally.

Ephraim groaned loudly, pretending to be exasperated, "Not Seth again! How can I compare to someone as wonderfully talented as him, as you always like to put it?I'm pretty sure I'd rather compete against Innes. Much as his pride annoys me, as does his skill at the bow, at least we are an even match..." They laughed, and Ephraim added, in a more serious tone of voice, "I am really still years away from Seth, aren't I? If only I could be as wonderful a soldier as he is some day."

Eirika looked down, and replied, "Don't worry, Ephraim. You will be a great warrior some day, and a great king."

They raised their head, looking at each other, and Ephraim felt the powerful responsibility his twin laid upon him with her words. Then, she smiled, and said, "Or I could just marry Seth one day, and he could be king! What a handsome king he'd make - certainly much better looking than you!" She laughed, running, and Ephraim ran after her, shouting, "I thought you were going to marry Lyon... and Innes!", his eyes twinkling with joy.

They were both, then, just fifteen years old, and Seth was twenty-three. But soon, the laughing pair of twins who were loved by all would be thrown into chaos, and experience great grief. But Seth would always be there for them, and Seth would always be there for her...