I do not own Fire Emblem, in case anyone was wondering.
Chapter One
Chrom wondered as he rode through a tranquil meadow, when the war would start.
It seemed all but inevitable at this point. Even with Emmeryn's negotiations with Plegia, Gangrel was determined to have his war. He steadfastly refused any good will or offers of alliance. Not just refused but spat in the face of any diplomatic gestures.
How exactly he had gotten to be king of anything having been born in the gutters of Plegia, Chrom still had no clue. Unless Plegia selected it's monarchs based on lunacy and bloodlust. It would have been better for everyone if he had died in the same slums from he rose from. Chrom thought bitterly.
However much Emm preached peace he couldn't bring himself to see Gangrel as a potential ally or anything less than the mad tyrant of a mad country.
He supposed it was fitting then, that he wasn't the exalt not unless Naga forbid, Emm died. Another reason to avoid war. He thought, before another voice crept in. Emm will be in danger war or no, Gangrel is a mad dog and he'll savage Emm with or without a war. At least with a war we could fight back. Lissa is in danger as well, as long as Gangrel lives they'll never be safe. Ylisse will never be safe. Chrom shook the thought from his head.
It's not that he wanted a war. He didn't. He would have to talk to Emm, when they got back to Ylisstol about better protection for her and Lissa. As a precaution. Only a precaution. If Chrom had his way the title of Exalt would stay far from him.
Still protection was only one of many things they had to discuss, Chrom had rode out with the Shepherds weeks ago to Themis, to settle a dispute between two two the dukes. Duke Themis and Duke Southerland. He'd settled that easily once it became apparent that neither duke sent bandits to harangue the other's lands. After a quick look and battle with their curiously well funded Plegian accented bandits a very different story emerged. He wondered how Emm would respond. For all Emm valued peace she wouldn't stand by while "bandits" slaughtered their people.
"Milord!" A sharp voice intoned snapping Chrom out of his musings.
"Huh?!" Sputtered Chrom snapping to attention.
"There is smoke rising from the distance." Frederick said, pointing at a hill a hundred yards up. "I believe South Town is under attack." Chrom searched the skyline seeing the smoke staining the blue sky.
"We'll ride to their aid!" Shouted Chrom authoritatively. Sully and Stahl stopped their bickering and pulled ahead.
"Damn right, a spear in the belly, should teach them a sharp lesson." Boasted Sully.
"They should never have gotten this far." Chrom said grimly as they rode.
Chrom unsheathed the Falchion. The sacred sword of King Marth had passed from his father to him. By right it should have been Emm's, but owing to her gender and temperament it had fallen to Chrom instead.
Chrom rode swiftly the Shepherds just behind him soon came to the small hamlet.
Entering the village Chrom observed his surroundings, it was a small collection of buildings with a river running through it and stone bridges to allow easy crossing.
The market had been decimated with the sprawled corpses of several peasants strewn about and several of the humble homes aflame.
Doubtlessly the village folk had sheltered in the stone temple of Naga in the middle of the town.
The bandits had crowded around the door and one was hacking the heavy wooden door to pieces while the others shouted what was equal parts insults and encouragements. Chrom could hear screams and sobs emitting from within.
They turned quickly at the sound of hoofbeats. He took their measure seeing one mage in tattered robes, two burly axe men whose faces seemingly had seen the broad end of their axes, and a red clad myrmidon equipped with a sword red with either rust or blood.
At a cry from the mage a larger bandit more well dressed then the others rushed from one of the burning hovels his arms full of stolen goods, two more axemen followed on his heels. "Put em' all to the sword and take all you can carry! I want enough gold for every whore in Plegia!" Shouted the well dressed Bandit, who had yet to notice them.
If his accent wasn't enough to mark his as Plegian that last bit sure did.
He grit his teeth. We're outnumbered ten to four but our training and armour will give us an edge. Considering the state of their weapons, that'll be what they lack.
"Sully, Stahl, take the bandits at the door, strike the mage first! Sir Frederick, you and I will take others!" He commanded.
He rode forward, The Falchion took the arm off one of the axemen before he even thought to dodge. Chrom slipped into the focused state battle always put him in.
"Aye, Milord!" Sully shouted. Chrom didn't turn, trusting her to follow his orders.
Chrom jumped from his horse and swung again this time felling the axemen with a spray of blood. The axemen clamped his hands to his torso and collapsed with a moan. To his right he saw Frederick's lance enter the throat of the other. The bandit crumpled with a gargle of blood.
The Falchion is almost too good for the likes of these. Chrom thought.
The well dressed bandit dropped the goods to the ground and ran.
He didn't get more than five steps before Frederick's lance took him in the back.
Chrom turned towards the others. The mage lay dead in a pool of blood along with the other two axemen. The myrmidon had backed himself against the temple and was desperately fending off Stahl's strikes. Too busy countering Stahl's sword, Sully's lance took him unaware and he fell with a piercing scream.
He heard a scuff behind him and turned just in time to see a myrmidon dash out from behind a ruined stall, the myrmidon swung and Chrom hurriedly brought up the Falchion. The myrmidon's copper sword covered with nicks and encrusted blood clashed with the sword of heroes.
Chrom saw fear in the myrmidon's eyes before he forced the sword from his hands. The copper sword clattered to the cobblestones.
"Pleas-" The myrmidon didn't finish before Chrom brought the Falchion down.
Chrom looked around, no bandits came fourth, he could only assume they'd felled them all. He gestured at the well dressed bandit. "We ought to check their leader, his accent is Plegian, Themis and Southland is one thing, but we're no more than a day from the Ylisstol."
"Yes, Milord." Frederick dismounted from his horse and went to the corpse of the well dressed bandit.
Sully and Stahl dismounted as well. Sully kicked disdainfully at the myrmidon's corpse. "Hardly worth it really, these lot were damn pathetic." She said derisively.
Stahl looked at her oddly. "Better for us that they were."
"Mayhaps for you," She scoffed. "I like a challenge."
Chrom sheathed Falchion and went to the splintered door of the temple.
"It's alright." He called inside. "You're safe now, the bandits are slain." He tried to sound reassuring.
"How can we be sure you ain't one of em'." A voice rough with fear called back.
Chrom thought for a moment. "I vow on the name of Naga, I will do you no harm." He swore solemnly. If I am to protect my people, they must believe I will protect them.
Tentatively the door swung open and a stooped leathery man in green robes stepped forward. For a second he took in the carnage around him and then looked to Chrom.
"Thank you! A thousand thanks Milord. I feared the they would be the death of us. You must be a gift straight from Naga."
An older women rushed out pushing him out of her way.
"Alm! Alm, where are you?" She cried running forward. "It's alright now, it's over. You can come out!" The man continued babbling thanks and the woman searching as the others inside the temple came forward. Ragged women and children flooded back into the market thanking Chrom, Sully, and Stahl, passionately.
Chrom smiled at the praise. It was good to protect his people, that was the purpose of the Shepherds in the first place.
Frederick stepped by him holding both their horses.
"Milord, you must see these." Frederick said grimly, handing him a slightly bloody stack of papers, Chrom looked them over, they were written in the common script but spelled nothing.
"Are they coded?" Chrom asked, already knowing the answer.
"Almost certainly. But there is more." He handed Chrom a leather bag. Drawing it open, Chrom saw it was filled with gold coins.
Chrom gritted his teeth. Gold coins and coded documents. Not exactly common fare for bandits and yet they'd found similar in Themis and Southerland.
I suppose that bastard Gangrel is too cheap for real mercenaries.
"Thank you, Sir Frederick. It seems we'll have much and more to speak about in Ylisstol." Chrom said more than aware of the peasants swarming around them.
Stahl and Sully moved beside them, Sully pushing several peasants out of her way. "Did you find anything, Milord?" Asked Stahl. "I did. Nothing that bodes well for us." Chrom said, watching their expressions turn from triumphant to worried. "We'll speak more of it with Emm."
Chrom turned his head abruptly as a shrill shriek pierced the air. The old woman was kneeling before a sandy haired boy lying slumped against a stall. "No!" She cried. "No, Naga, please no!" One of the women stepped forward and put her hand on her shoulder. But her wailing continued growing louder.
The old man in green stepped before them again.
"I'm right sorry about her, Milord, that there was her boy." He said mournfully before perking up a bit. "Will you stay for a feast, we've got no fare fit for one such as you, but it'll be the best we ave'!" He said energetically.
Chrom smiled tightly, the woman's wails piercing his ears. "I'm honored, but we have to move on." How can Emm not see? Her peace gives Plegia free reign. We've not declared war but this is no true peace.
"If we ever come this way again, we'll be sure to seek you out." Chrom said mounting his horse. Dusk had fallen but they could go further before they had to stop for the night.
The Shepherds rode out into the woods. Hopefully if the weather is good and we're were spared anymore "bandits" we'll be there within a day. It will be good to see Emm and Lissa again, at least. Chrom thought with attempted cheer.
But as darkness fell on the forest Chrom couldn't escape the thought that darkness would fall on all of Ylisse soon enough.
AN/ Though I deeply love Fire Emblem Awakening I feel the plot could have been a lot more interesting.
So here it is, I'll try to remain in character but the situation and world is a bit different, so if anyone wants to accuse me of being ooc they're probably correct. Anyways this is my first multichaptered story. Any kind of feedback warms my icy cold heart.