A/N- This was done for the Fire Emblem Contest on livejournal for the theme "Temper." I'd love some feedback, so that I can learn to improve my writing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem nor anything associated with it.
Marth had never had much of a temper. Even when he had been very young, his feelings had usually been pretty measured. Oh, he could recall a few times where he had lost his temper, but he couldn't recall ever feeling anything like what was running through him now as he stared at Gra's capital in the distance.
Powerful anger swarmed over him as he kept his eyes focused on the capital. Anger at the man who had ordered the betrayal, anger at those who had stood by and did nothing, and fury at himself for being unable to do anything to save his family, his country, and all those who died at the time.
"Your deaths will be avenged," he whispered to the ghosts that surrounded him, eliciting a worried glance from Jagen, who stood near him. "I will see that promise through at least."
"Sire…" Jagen started hesitantly.
""Yes, Jagen," Marth said softly, his eyes still focused off into the distance.
"Sire, may I speak freely for a moment?" the older knight asked gently.
The question caught Marth off-guard and, for the moment, drew his mind from the thoughts at hand. "Of course you may. What is it you wished to say?"
Still watching his prince with worried eyes, Jagen pressed on, "Sire… please forgive my impudence, but are you certain that you are prepared for this battle?"
"Of course!" Marth told him, some of the anger he felt seeping into his eyes for a moment. "This moment has been long in coming!"
Jagen fell silent for a moment, allowing his prince to vent some before continuing. "Perhaps, sire. And perhaps we will win when we attack, but a leader who is overly distracted or blinded by his temper is very likely to lead his followers to death instead of victory. Sire… your anger is not necessarily a bad thing, but you need to be sure that you have control of it and not the other way around."
Marth opened his mouth to respond, but then slammed it shut as he considered the old knight's words. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a shuddering breath as he fought with his emotions.
"I am sorry, my prince," Jagen said softly, when Marth failed to respond. "Perhaps I should have held my tongue."
"No," Marth said suddenly, surprising the knight. He opened his eyes and met Jagen's gaze. "Your council is good and I'm fortunate that you are here. I would not have liked for my temper to be responsible for more deaths. You have my heartfelt thanks. I hope that you will choose to do the same in the future."
Jagen smiled at the young prince kindly. "If that is your wish, sire."
"It is," Marth said firmly. He spared one more glance for Gra's castle, before pulling his attention back to the situation at hand. "Come, Jagen. There is still a great deal to prepare before we are ready to move and we should move quickly, before we lose the element of surprise." And I must be sure that I have my feelings under control, he added silently. He would not see more deaths because he could not control his temper.
With that, the pair made their way back towards the area where the army was camped.