Lost Homes and False Love Chapter 1: Lost Homes, a fire emblem fanfic

Summary:

When she's sitting on her bed back in Renais Castle, sifting through the robes and trinkets of Grado that Lyon gave her, she pulls a flower from her pocket and realizes she doesn't feel quite at home like she used to.

Author's Ideas: I LIVE

Anyways, sorry about inactivity. Decided to take a week long break because I was going on vacation, and that turned into like a two month hiatus ._.

Why is it every time I write FE8 it turns into some mess of angst and ships. Oh well. If I have to suffer while writing, you guys get to suffer while reading it

ALSO ALSO ALSO ALSO IT'S TWO CHAPTERS? I WROTE SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE THAN A ONE-SHOT

*GASP*

So put it in your follows because the second chapter is the better shit. Just expect some, uh, waiting. A lot of waiting :/

Also no one cares about that five support limit thing lol what is that

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognise in this fic, like supports, characters, or Fire Emblem as a whole.

Lost Homes and False Love

One: Lost Homes

~ / . / . / ~

Grado's winds tear against her, and Eirika sighs, running a hand through her tangled aqua hair. She leans against the balcony, reaching a hand upwards to pick a flower from the pot above. She cups the small blossom in her hands, staring at the white flower.

"Eirika?"

"Lyon…"

Eirika looks behind her, smiling at the Grado prince.

"Today is your last day here, isn't it?"

"Mm. I'll miss it here," Eirika murmurs, tucking the small blossom in the folds of her skirt before adjusting the leather pack on her back.

"Promise me you'll come to visit again?" Lyon asks, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Eirika laughs.

"I'm sure I will, Lyon." She steps forward, taking her friends' hands in hers and squeezing reassuringly. A warm feeling blooms in her heart.

"Eirika, I…" He trails off then, shaking his head. "No, never mind."

Eirika tilts her head to the side. "Is something the matter?"

"No, nothing! Forget I said anything…" Lyon gives her a reassuring smile, and Eirika smiles back.

"Don't worry, Lyon. I'll come back soon. You can count on it."

"Eirika…" he murmurs, and then shakes his head, laughing softly. "Of course. I'd never doubt you…"

"Thank you, Lyon." Eirika lets go of one of his hands then, and she giggles when she sees him trying to hide the disappointment. "Come on!" She drags him off of the balcony, through her room, down the hallway, all without stopping a heartbeat.

"Wait, Eirika-" he protests, "I promised Knoll I'd-"

"Knoll will understand!" Eirika calls back, picking up the pace now. She's practically running down the hallway, and Lyon tries desperately not to trip over his robes.

"Eirika, slow down!"

She doesn't respond, but her steps grow slower, and Lyon lets out a sigh of relief. They walk down the hallways, Eirika gently touching the frames of the pictures hanging on the walls. The Grado soldiers standing guard along the hallways smile and nod at her. A few even wish her well on her journey back. All of them smile knowingly at the sight of Lyon following her, his hand in hers.

Eirika spots Knoll at the end of the hallway. He's leaning against the wall, watching the dark flame on his fingertip dance in the gentle breeze coming from the open castle doors. As the princess of Renais approaches, he extinguishes the flame by closing his fist, glancing up to look at her.

"Your brother is waiting for you."

"Oh!" Eirika gasps. "I didn't expect Brother to be ready so quickly!"

"Ephraim can be a little iffy with how he handles things…" Lyon comments, "but he can get things done quickly if he needs to."

Eirika huffs before looking over at Knoll. "Thank you, Knoll."

"Of course, Princess Eirika." Knoll nods, offering the two of them a small smile before brushing past them, walking down the hallway in the opposite direction. He stops for a minute, looking over his shoulder. "Prince Lyon, about our appointment this afternoon… Please, let us do it tomorrow."

"But, Knoll-" Lyon starts to protest, but Knoll shakes his head and continues walking. Both of them watch him leave.

"...He's a nice man, isn't he?" Eirika murmurs.

"Yes… I couldn't ask for a better partner." His hand tightens around hers, and he turns to look at Eirika. "...Come on. Ephraim is waiting."

The princess nods, and gives Lyon a squeeze of his hand.

They emerge into the courtyard, where Ephraim waits, tapping his foot impatiently. He looks up, groaning. "There you are, Sister! General Duessel was ready ages ago. Why must you take so long?"

"Apologies, Brother." She lets go of Lyon, offering a smile of apology. "I am ready to go now."

Ephraim sighs, shaking his head before stepping forward, drawing Lyon into a hug. The sickly prince starts, but reciprocates the hug to Ephraim.

"Lyon… Thank you for everything." Ephraim pulls away, looking Lyon in the face. "I am sure we'll meet again."

"Yeah…" Lyon nods enthusiastically. "I'll see you soon, then…"

Ephraim pulls away, smiling before pulling away and turning, tapping Eirika on the shoulder. She starts, glaring at her brother who smirks knowingly. He walks past her, and Eirika sighs.

"Oh… Brother, you…"

Lyon laughs, and Eirika turns her attention back to him. She smiles sheepishly, and he grins back.

"I… I'll miss you, Eirika," Lyon murmurs, and Eirika nods, a glimmer of sadness in her eyes.

"I know," she agrees quietly, but smiles anyways. "But, I promised, did I not? So… there is no reason for us to be sad. All we need to do is look forward to the next time we can meet."

"Yes… you're right…" Lyon purses his lips and looks up at her. "Then… I will see you soon."

He draws in a breath and reaches out his hand, brushing away her hair. He smiles.

"You're wearing the earrings I gave you."

"Of course," she murmurs.

"Thank you, Eirika," Lyon says suddenly. She blinks before letting out a laugh.

"What are you thanking me for?"

"I'm not sure, but… I needed to thank you. For something."

"Lyon…"

"Eirika!" Ephraim yells from outside the courtyard.

"Coming, Brother!" Eirika calls back. Lyon reluctantly withdraws his hand, and the princess looks back at him. "I suppose I have to go now."

"Yes… Goodbye, Eirika," the prince of Grado says softly, and watches her leave. She forces herself not to look around, even when she hears Lyon fall to his feet, and even when she can feel her heart shattering and emptying. She clenches her fist, and she's barely aware of her brother leading her to the outside of the castle. There, General Duessel is saddling up his horse, speaking with a familiar red-headed knight.

"Princess Eirika, are you ready to go?" General Duessel asks, noticing the royal duo of Renais approaching.

"Yes," Eirika nods.

"Good. You'll ride with Seth. Ephraim, you'll be riding with me."

"What? I can ride on my own-"

Eirika sighs, blocking out the sounds of their argument and turning to look at the Silver Knight.

"Seth, it's good to see you again."

"Of course, Lady Eirika," he bows to her, standing aside to let her mount his horse. Seth climbs on behind her, taking the reins and snapping them. His horse breaks into a gallop, and Eirika turns her head. General Duessel and Ephraim follow them a short distance behind.

"Goodbye, Lyon…" Eirika murmurs, casting a final, longing look at Grado Keep behind her. She doesn't notice Seth, his shoulders growing tense and his hands clench tighter around his reins. All she can notice is the hand clenching her heart, fueling the loneliness in her heart.

~ / . / . / ~

She keeps silent as Seth leads down the hallways of the castle she's so familiar, his hand clamped around her wrist. A few foot soldiers attempt to call out to their allies, but Seth silences them quickly with his Silver Sword. Eirika tries not to look down as she runs over the soldier, her boots splashing in blood.

Seth picks up the pace then, hurrying down the stairs two at a time. Eirika slips, but Seth catches and steadies her. She doesn't offer any sign of gratitude, only slipping her wrist out of Seth's grip and holding his hand instead. The knight grips her hand tight and hurries down the hallway. She follows along, her boots clicking against the tiles.

They emerge from the eastern exit and into the stables, and Seth pulls open the first door on the left. His horse darts outward, having been saddled up beforehand.

"Hurry," Seth urges, and Eirika climbs onto the horse. Her retainer follows, and soon, Seth's horse is galloping from the castle. Eirika refuses to look back, and Seth presses himself closer to her, as if he didn't want to do so either.

Seth orders Franz away, and Eirika has been so out of it that she doesn't realize that Franz has been with them ever since they left the stables. She slips off his horse, and Seth looks around.

"Princess Eirika, we must-" Seth cuts himself off, his eyes raised to the sky. His breath catches in his throat. "Quickly! Behind me!"

Eirika is shoved away by him, and she lands on her back away from her retainer. She struggles to stand, about to ask why when she spots the wyvern descending from the sky. The long-necked dragon leans down, revealing a man with stringy blue hair and crazed eyes.

"You there, with the girl. Tell me, would that be the wayward princess of Renais? Well, this must be my lucky day. You're a dead man. The wench goes with me."

Seth draws his sword. "Never!"

Her retainer darts forward, lashing out his sword. Eirika blinks in surprise when his blow misses, and cries out in shock when the enemy lands a strike on Seth's side.

Seth forces his horse backwards, his hand on his wound. "Ahhh… No!" He turns and gallops away, grabbing Eirika by the arm and pulling her up onto the horse behind her. Seth takes her arms and pulls them around his waist, and she's still so shocked and jarred that she doesn't realize her hand is pressing against Seth's open injury until she feels the sticky blood dripping from her hands.

"Seth, your wound…"

Eirika lets her hand draw away from the wound on his stomach and stares blankly at the red covering her ghostly white hand. Some of it has smeared onto the golden round of her bracelet. Seth twists slightly, pain flashing over his face before he curls his wet sleeve over his hand and gently wipes it off.

"Please, my lady. Sleep."

She lets out a gentle cry of protest, but Seth wraps her arms around his waist and jerks the reins again. His horse picks up the pace, now on the verge of galloping.

The sound of her retainer's gentle heartbeat over horseshoes hitting the muddy ground, the blurry sight of Seth's silver armor, and the feeling of Seth's gentle breaths lull Eirika into a dreamful slumber.

There she dreams of Seth, of holding Seth in her arms and discovering that there is no warmth left in him, all of it gone not from the gaping wound by his side, but from his dwindling heartbeat that stills when Eirika places a hand on his chest.

~ / . / . / ~

Eirika sighs, jerking her Steel Sword from the enemy axe fighter. She tries not to look at the crimson red blood on the thin blade of her sword.

There's rustling behind her, and Eirika spins around. A myrmidon glides across the floor, heading straight for the princess. A flash of black darts in front of her, and Joshua is parrying the enemy blow for blow.

"Go on ahead, princess," Joshua throws over his shoulder, lazily dodging a slash. "I've got this taken care of."

"Thank you, Joshua," Eirika dashes past them, her eyes fixed on the port across the sea.

Horseshoes clop behind her, and she spins, her sword ready to block a blow.

"Princess Eirika!" Seth skids to a stop in front of her. "The enemy commander seems to be the only enemy. Currently Sir Gilliam and Sir Garcia are engaged in combat with him."

"I see…" She pauses, and then looked at him again. "Seth, do you have a moment? Could you help me practice a bit right now?"

Seth purses his lips, hesitating for a bit before responding. "...Princess Eirika. Before I do, there is something I must say to you."

Eirika blinks, looking up at the red-haired knight. "Yes, what is it?"

He bows his head, his next words soft and hard to hear. "Please forgive my rudeness, but…" He raises his gaze, looking Eirika in her eyes. "Princess, I am merely your subject. Recently, you have been too close to me. It is not becoming of a noble of Renais to fraternize in this way with her subjects."

She feels her heart shatter into pieces then, with despondency and perplexity. She casts her gaze back down at the floor. "Oh... But I... it's just that your wound has not yet... I was merely…"

"It's true. The wound I received the day our castle fell has not yet healed…" He lets out a bitter laugh, strangely uncharacteristic of him. "Perhaps it will afflict me to the end of my life. But," he shakes his head, "it would be a mistake to assume you owe me a debt for this wound. This thought should not rest beneath the crown you soon must wear."

"But still, you suffered for me…" Eirika protests weakly, and Seth cuts her off.

"Lady Eirika. You are a noble of Renais. The nobility should not favor one subject over another. How can they maintain their fealty if you treat one so differently?"

She could only respond with silence.

"You may have to forego such attachments just to defend your country," Seth continues, his voice getting colder and face swathing over with a similarly cold expression, although Eirika can see a battered look behind that frigidness, "and there will be times when victory in battle demands a sacrifice. If you cannot send your men to die, then you are not fit to rule.

"...I understand…" Eirika murmurs, looking up at her knight. "Seth... You are correct. I had forgotten my place, and I had forgotten my duty. Please forgive me." She gives him a bitter smile.

Seth nods, turning to leave, but Eirika began to speak again, her voice low and soft. She feels herself speak on instinct, the hesitation and sorrow in her heart gone like frost in the sun's warmth.

"That night... We fled from the soldiers of Grado... You held me tight, keeping me safe from the enemy's blades... Perhaps...I did feel something more for you then. But…" she brushes a hair behind her ear and licks her lips, "it was improper for a queen of Renais. And with my father dead, I suppose that is my station. I am a queen, and you are a knight in my service. If I do not keep this in mind, then I will never be able to rebuild our kingdom."

Seth looks back at her, a gentle smile on his face. "I thank you for your understanding, my lady. Now, if you will excuse me…"

Eirika purses her lips and tightens her fist, feeling her nails dig crescent-like marks into her palm.

"Princess Eirika. If you would allow me to say one more thing…"

Eirika's eyes dart up, looking at her knight, who has turned around to meet her gaze. "Seth...?"

"...That night... I felt what you felt. When I held you in my arms as we rode into the night... It was the first time since I was knighted that I forgot my duty. I thought of you not as my queen, but rather as someone I wanted to protect from all harm. I wanted to leave everything behind... To take you far away to someplace where we could be together... Those were my thoughts…"

"Seth…" His name slips from her mouth, her hands shaking.

Seth shakes his head. "Please forgive me. I swear to you that I will never again forget my duty in that way. Now, please excuse me. When I see you next, it will be as a Knight of Renais... And I will lay down my life to protect my queen." He pulls the reins of his horse, and it turns, trotting away slowly.

"Seth…" She watches him go, watches him spurn on his mount and not look back, as if he could not bear to give Eirika any more of his words or even attention.

"Princess Eirika?" Forde asks gently, and she starts, laughing before diving into a playful banter with the knight. Yet, even as she laughs, her eyes catch Seth's from across the port-turned-former battlefield, and she can't help but ignore the yawning chasm that stretches her heart so wide that she feels like she's being torn in two.

There was nothing she could do about it.

~ / . / . / ~

"Ah…"

"Lyon!" Eirika cries.

"Eirika…" He takes a few steps back. His hand clenches together, and the ground below him begins to glow. He's going to warp away, she knows it, and she steps forward, stretching out her hand.

"Wait, Lyon! Don't run away!" Lyon lets his hand fall open, and the pulsing purple magic below him stops pulsing, and she clasps her hands over her heart. "My brother and I have been so worried about you… We know more than anyone the gentleness of your spirit. Your father is deranged, isn't he? That's why Grado invaded Renais, right? Tell me, Lyon… Please… Tell me what has happened."

"I'm sorry, Eirika." Lyon looks away, his eyes sorrowful. "I've wanted to see you and Ephraim for so long… I wanted to see you so that I could apologize. The invasion of Renais… I couldn't stop it. I'm sorry, but I still cannot talk to you. Not yet…"

"You…" she pauses, licking her lips, "You have a reason, don't you?"

He looks at her with a smile, nodding. "Mm… I can't talk about it now, but… I promise I will tell you everything someday."

"I see… I believe you, Lyon." She smiles back, "I must tell you, I'm a little relieved. I was afraid you'd changed as much as your poor father had. I'm so glad."

"Me, too, Eirika…" he shakes his head. "No, you have changed. You're even more beautiful than you were before."

"L-Lyon…" Yet, despite the words he offers her, she can't find it in her heart to blush or say "thank you". She finds it strange, that there's no warm feeling in her heart that feels like home.

"I'm sorry, I have to go. But please remember this. This war started because I was too weak to stop it, but… I'll always be your friend." The runes are already spinning around Lyon's feet before Eirika can protest, and he disappears in a column of purple light.

"Lyon…" Eirika whispers, tightening her hands on her heart like she's trying to squeeze something out of her heart, some kind of feeling that she knows she's lost. The flower of a warm feeling that once blossomed mercilessly was now wilting with no halting.

"Eirika, what are you doing?" L'Arachel rides back into the throne room, the horseshoes clicking against the floor. "It seems Queen Ismaire has been found. This way!"

Eirika blinks, then shakes her head. "Y-yes. Coming!"

The rest of her time in the castle passes by her like the summer winds. Seth holds Queen Ismaire in his arms. Joshua, Prince Joshua of Jehanna, the myrmidon mercenary Joshua, kneels beside her. The queen of white dunes smiles, and her eyes close. Joshua stands, Audhulma and Excalibur in hand. He vows to stand with Renais, Frelia, Rausten, and then the castle is on fire, everything burning to the ground.

L'Arachel drags Innes onto her horse, galloping out of the castle. Joshua murmurs an apology to his mother before allowing Cormag to pull him onto his wyvern.

"Princess Eirika," Seth shakes her by the shoulder. "We must hurry."

"Seth…" she swallows down the lost and void feeling in her chest, and mounts the horse.

They burst from the burning castle, Eirika hacking and coughing.

She slips off of Seth's warhorse, limping to a large flat stone under a palm tree. She sits, ignoring the heated discussion between Innes, L'Arachel, and Seth.

"Lyon…" Eirika calls under her breath. Her fingers tighten against the stone she sits on, her eyes trailing on the leaves of the palm tree that shadows her.

She looks past the desert where Grado troops gather, letting her eyes fall on the Grado Keep on the horizon.

To think that she would run into Lyon in that castle of Jehanna. To think that he'd… Lyon had… He had promised that he was on their side, and yet, there was a void in her heart, a void that had once been filled by the feeling of home that Lyon had once made her feel.

"What troubles you, Princess Eirika?"

Eirika starts, looking up at the source of the voice. Saleh looks back at her, his blue eyes wondering and concerned. She shakes her head, forcing a smile on her face.

"Oh, Master Saleh. No, nothing. My mind was somewhere else…" She presses a hand to her forehead. "Oh, and in the middle of such a predicament… I'm sorry."

Saleh sits beside her. "Don't be sorry. I am not going to judge you for how you think or act."

Eirika laughs, her giggle filled with a feeling of gratitude. "Thank you." The mirth in her eyes disappears slowly, and she looks at her feet, her face shielded by a waterfall of turquoise hair. "...I was just remembering my home. I was thinking about the last time Renais was at peace."

The sage stays silent, urging Eirika to continue. She does so gladly.

"There were the most beautiful mountains, the clearest rivers... The scent of wildflowers filled the air. The sky was clear and bright. This was before war scarred the hills and scorched the skies. It was filled with hope and possibility. My brother and I would go hunting with Prince Lyon." She swallows down the pain crawling up her throat. "...I would make lunches for us. Ephraim would tease, but Lyon was happy. I…" She trails off for a moment, wiping at her eyes hastily, "I miss that time so very much."

Saleh reaches forward hesitantly, resting a reassuring hand on her hand. "Princess Eirika... I give you my word that you will once again see the Renais you love restored."

Her hand tightens under his, and she smiles up at him. "Master Saleh... I do hope so. But first, you and I must concentrate on these upcoming battles. We must win." Her eyes dry, she looks him straight in the eyes, her smile growing wider. "Thank you, Master Saleh. Your homeland, Caer Pelyn, was also a most beautiful place."

Saleh looks away, a small smile on his face. "We had nothing special. But, because of that, we had...everything."

"I didn't understand that before. Now…" Eirika's eyes sparkle, and Saleh lets his smile grow wider, "I think I know what you mean."

"I am glad."

"When we have to fight no more, please, let me visit you in Caer Pelyn. I would like to know more about your home. About Valega and Nada Kuya." She speaks the foreign words like they're Magvelian, like they're something she says every day. It's strange how much she feels she's changed.

"You are welcome anytime. Caer Pelyn and I will welcome you with open arms."

Saleh smiles at her, standing and brushing off his cape. Sand scatters across the stone he was sitting on, and he brushes off his tome. She watches him leave, walking away with sandy footprints following him. Her hands tighten around themselves, staring after the retreating back of the sage, and for a moment, all she can see is the purple cape of a lavender-haired man she loved and used to call home.