Hey! My first story on Fanfiction! ;; This is my first time on here, so don't kill me or anything... x.x
Nino: Yeah, don't. You'll be sorry. Or else!
Winteress: ¬.¬
Quickening: Well! Okay! Read on!
Anyway...this story is about...Well, you'll find out. It's about the Black Fang, I'll tell you that. I'll leave the rest to you >:)
Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem or anything related to it! I do own this story, however. The name Taelia is out of my own head; the name is never specified in the game, at least as far as I know. Oh, I do not own "The Druid of Shannara" from which my muse Quickening comes. :P Okay enough now, on with the story!
Fire.
I watched the strands of it wind themselves lazily around my fingers; watched them separate and entwine themselves again and again. I marveled at the effortless way they twisted gracefully through the air.
In the chill mountain air, it had a warmth of its own, keeping both I and Taelia, my pale grey mare, comfortable in the snow-covered enviroment.
It was not true fire; rather, it was an improved version of it, known as Elfire to the anima magic-users; but that changed nothing.
The fire was harmless now, brushing gently against my long fingers, but I knew its deadly capabilities if unleashed; if the specific words of the spell spoken; I had seen many a foolish enemy incinerated by a well-cast spell of Elfire.
Taelia shifted underneath me, and I sat up, the strands of fire shredding themselves and dissapating, until nothing was left but wisps in the air; just a shadow in one's memory.
Someone was coming. I gathered up Taelia's reins and kept the tome of Elfire ready at hand.
I relaxed. It was no one harmless; some lesser Black Fang member coming my way. He looked to be in a hurry, however; I wondered idly what he was up to. Perhaps he was sent to deliver a message.
He drew to a halt by Taelia's shoulder and looked up into my face, then dipped his head in acknowledgement.
"Lady Ursula."
I waited, patiently. Apparently someone had sent him with a message for me; the question was, was it important enough that I could be bothered with it?
Apparently.
"I bring a message," he said, somewhat nervously. I could see his hands shaking; he was afraid of something.
"Yes...?" I asked, drawing out the word.
He swallowed. "Lady Sonia is calling you and the rest of the Four Fangs to the meeting room. You are expected there any moment."
"Very well," I said, turning Taelia and ignoring the messenger. Briefly I wondered what the Four Fangs had been called for, then brushed the thought away. Lady Sonia had sent for us; there must be something important at hand.
I squeezed Taelia into a trot; she jogged along briskly in the frigid air. The Black Fang fortress was up in the mountains; the only time the snow melted was in the middle of summer.
It was a short ride to the meeting room, which was easily accessible. The fortress consisted of different buildings, grouped closely together. Paths between the structures allowed the members of the Fang to move from building to building easily.
I pulled Taelia to a halt outside the stone building, dismounted, and looped her reins around a ring set into the wall. She was trained for battle and wouldn't flee under circumstances that would normally spook a horse, but I didn't want to take the chance.
"Stay," I told her softly, patting her silvery shoulder. "I'll be back."
I brushed several horsehairs off the front of my dress, ran my fingers through my short blue hair, tugged at my earrings, and swung open the heavy wooden door, satisfied that I looked presentable enough.
The room was relatively plain, stone-walled and floored like most of the other buildings. A table was pushed to one side of the room; several chairs were scattered around and a few rugs were stretched out on the ground. This room was seldom used; normally the main hall was used for meetings, but perhaps this was something . . . more confidential.
It was dark inside. Apparently I was the first one here. I flicked several long strands of fire through the air; they landed in the torches in the holders on the walls, and they flared into light, illuminating the room.
A figure moved in the shadows. I started, clutching my book of Elfire, then relaxed, and frowned, upon seeing who it was.
Jaffar, the Angel of Death, one of the Four Fangs, stood silently in the corner of the room, twin daggers held idly in his hands, crimson eyes staring coldly across the room.
I tossed my head. Jaffar was an odd sort; he never spoke to anyone, unless it was sorely important. He stayed in the darkness, slipping silently in and out of places, speaking to no one, a mere wraith in the obscurity of the shadows.
He unnerved me slightly; there was something about his icy glare and odd demeanor that I disliked. However, this affected not only me; I knew for a fact that the Reed brothers disliked him as well, and probably many lesser members as well.
Jaffar said nothing to me, and I ignored him, wondering how much longer I would have to wait before someone else came and delivered us from this silence.
I didn't have to wait long. The far door banged noisily open, and two men entered, snow clinging to their hair and overcoats.
The Reed brothers, Lloyd and Linus, sons of Brendan Reed, were several people that were not too high on my list of favorable people either. They were incredibly stubborn and willful, always questioning Lady Sonia's orders. They did not like what she had done to the Black Fang.
The Black Fang had been different once, it was true. Once a noble and honorable organization, Lady Sonia had arrived one year ago and changed that. Only I, as her most trusted servant, knew what was really going on: the Black Fang was being manipulated to serve the purposes of Sonia's master Nergal, a mysterious person that I knew next to nothing about.
Lloyd and Linus had been different once, too. They had once been kind and reassuring; always there to help with the Black Fang. Things had been so different . . .
But it was over now. There was nothing more I could do. And I know things are changed; I see it from the way Linus looks at me. Once that look was full of happiness, full of joy; now, I see only resentment and anger.
My thoughts were interrupted as the door to the hall banged open with a flourish, admitting Lady Sonia and Brendan Reed...
Whew! Yay, we got through it. Don't be expecting updates for a while; I've got to find a game script or something to get a vague idea of what comes next, because on my game I'm already at Unfulfilled Heart Hector mode. >.>
Quickening: Please R&R!
Nino: Or else!
Sonia: STOP SAYING THAT! -whacks-
Winteress: Hey! You're not supposed to be in here! -thwacks Sonia-
Miss Daisy: Well, that's it for today! . G'bye, all!