So… I've decided to take up the Fire Emblem 100 Challenge (inspired by Kitten Kisses' attempt). I've always enjoyed the challenge of having to stick with a theme and it seemed like it'd be a great way for me to write different stories that I wouldn't normally do. I don't know if I'll be able to finish all one hundred of them, though! Still, I'm going to try my best.

Anyway, each chapter will take after a theme and they'll be stand-alone one-shots. I don't plan on focusing on just one FE game or pairing, so if you see something that you're not interested in, just wait until next time (it could be totally different). Anyway, here's my first story for FE 100 (which happens to be the LAST theme, but I'm just 'cool' that way)!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem.

Cold Feet

Theme: #100. Wedding Ceremony

Genre: Romance

Characters/Pairings: Rennac/L'Arachel, Dozla


The resemblance was uncanny. It was as if his conversation with Dozla two years ago had come to life. It was a bright, sunny day and there was an electrical tension in the air; like the calm before the storm. A thick, red carpet had been rolled down the courtyard, from the castle doors right up to the tall, trellis gates. Doves flew about and servants bustled to and fro, readying the gem-encrusted coach.

Rennac stepped back from the window and carefully drew the curtains closed so that he was enveloped in shadows. He didn't want to look out on that any longer, lest his stomach become more upset. The sight scared him and his head felt light. Maybe it wouldn't have been nearly as bad if he couldn't hear Dozla's words echoing in his head. Oh wait, that was Dozla's voice buzzing in his ears.

"What were you saying, old man?" Rennac asked, finally giving the berserker his attention.

"I was just asking you if this wasn't just as you'd imagined. The coach is marvellous isn't it? Just imagine how it'll look when Princess L'Arachel is riding in it! Oh, I'm so happy! I never thought I'd live to see the day she was married!" Dozla exclaimed, his voice beginning to crack.

"Argh! Don't cry! The ceremony hasn't even started yet! Wait until the thing starts moving, or until we get to the church!" Rennac said with disgust, beginning to pace around the room.

He was getting more fidgety with every second and he needed to move about. Not like he could sit anyway, his clothes were too restricting. The princess had expressly told him to wear the ridiculous outfit. Underneath the overly decorated coat, he was sporting both a shirt and a doublet, and the layers were making him overheat. It didn't help that they were tight and he could barely move. What if he had to defend himself from an attack? He wouldn't even have time to reach the knife hidden in his boot! L'Arachel had only said: 'You won't need it!'

Of course, he could think of countless situations where he would need a weapon. After their… adventures not so long ago, he was scared to let his guard down. L'Arachel always seemed to attract trouble.

"Rennac, wouldn't you say that it's time to go down now? We mustn't keep Her Highness waiting," Dozla stated, bringing the rogue out of his thoughts. The berserker had completely recovered from his near-breakdown. At his statement, Rennac let out a groan. If only this moment would never arrive.

"Come, Rennac! Princess L'Arachel is waiting! Har har har!" The berserker grabbed Rennac's arm and began to half drag him out of the room and down the hall.

"Why don't you just go and I'll stay here and… rot away or something?" he muttered, giving up on resisting Dozla's pull.

"Don't be silly, Rennac! Princess L'Arachel would be devastated if you were to go bad! You have such an important role to fulfill as well! Har har har, aren't you excited?"

"No, no, not particularly. I actually have a deep feeling of dread right now," he replied with a grimace. "And there's the front doors. I don't think I've ever hated a set of doors as much as I do now."

"Oh look, Rennac! Here comes Princess L'Arachel! Oh, how the people of Rausten will marvel at her beauty! Does she not look stunning, Rennac?" Dozla asked with a happy sigh as said young lady came into their line of vision.

Along with her uncle, Lord Mansel, and several servants and ladies-in-waiting, L'Arachel was slowly making her way down the hall and towards the two men. She wore a long, slim dress made of the most shimmering silk, laced with pearls and small diamonds. A circlet of white flowers sat atop her head of green curls, pinning up her sheer veil. A long, flowing cape that seemed so light that it floated fell from her shoulders and trailed on the floor. She looked every bit the princess she was. When her eyes caught sight of Rennac and Dozla, she flashed them her dazzling smile and he couldn't help but agree.

"Yes, she looks beautiful."

"Well then, Rennac, escort me out into my coach," L'Arachel commanded when her party finally approached them. She proffered him her gloved hand and, just stifling a sigh, he took it gingerly in his. It fitted perfectly in his palm.

The doors opened and Lord Mansel walked out into the dazzling sun, accompanied by a fanfare of cornets. Rennac squinted as he led L'Arachel through the doorway, Dozla in their footsteps. He could hear him beginning to sniffle again. This was drowned out, however, by a sudden roar.

The rogue nearly stopped in his tracks, he was so taken aback. Was that the crowd of people outside the gate making all of that noise? A few moments later, he realized that it was indeed the citizens of Rausten cheering as their princess walked down the steps and towards the white coach. Their cries were so overwhelming that he paused next to the coach door, confused as to what he was supposed to do next.

"Rennac! Open the coach and help me in!" Her voice brought him back and reality finally hit him—hard—as he swung open the door and handed the Princess of Rausten inside. He finally grasped that this was really happening. L'Arachel was getting married… to him.

Climbing into the coach after her, he suddenly felt dizzy. This couldn't actually be occurring. How did he, the son of a Carcino merchant, end up being engaged to the princess of Rausten? The Princess of bloody Rausten!

"Rennac, stop looking like such a bumpkin and sit up straight! You shan't look so miserable on our wedding day, I forbid it!" she said, waving at the crowds as they began to roll out of the gates. L'Arachel turned back to look at her husband-to-be. "See, I told you that the people would react just fine. Everyone's supporting our marriage."

This of course just made him want to sink lower into his seat. Actually, disappearing altogether would be fine with him as well. Why had he agreed to this? Wait, had he agreed to this?! He was pretty sure that he hadn't. He specifically remembered telling L'Arachel that he would never marry her, not even for one hundred thousand gold!


"WHAT?!" Rennac exclaimed, his head whipping around to face the princess.

"Though I can understand that you're absolutely delighted beyond words, there's no need to yell, Rennac," L'Arachel replied from her spot on his chair.

Not moments before she had waltzed into his room and sat down, watching him clean his knives. Then, out of the blue she had stated that they were going to be married in a month's time. It had taken Rennac approximately three and a half seconds to register what she had said.

"No, no, no, I am NOT thrilled! What the hell are you talking about?! We are NOT getting married! Where did you even GET an idea like that?" he demanded furiously. Or was he flustered?

"Well, I believe that it's still a bit early for me to think about marriage, but Uncle wants me to find a husband as soon as possible; something about me settling down…" she said, a slender finger tapping her chin thoughtfully.

It wasn't a wonder that her uncle wanted her to settle down! Even after the battle against the Demon King, L'Arachel had gone gallivanting around the country. If she kept that up, she would soon become a laughing-stock! Of course, on each of her little journeys, he was forced to go along, too…

"You didn't answer my question! Why would you pick me to marry? Not that I'd marry a self-absorbed princess like you. Also, if you haven't noticed, I'm not a noble—thank god—so it wouldn't work anyway," Rennac said, pacing about his room.

"Oh, Rennac, how silly of you! I can easily convince Uncle to overlook your commoner blood. We can even give you a title, if that's what you're worried about!" L'Arachel answered with a tinkling laugh.

"A title, you say—NO, that's not the point! The point is that I won't marry you!!" he cried, nearly having a heart attack when he realized that he had almost been duped.

"As to why I picked you, well… For one, you aren't hard to look at. After all, I can't be marrying someone who can't accentuate my beauty," she continued, apparently not listening to him.

"What kind of egotistical reasoning is that?!" Rennac snapped. This remark, of course, fell on deaf ears.

"You're also strong, you dance brilliantly and I enjoy your company very much," L'Arachel finished with a smile. "Now is that good enough for you, Rennac?"

"No, it's not. Because, like I've been saying, I'm not marrying you. Not for one hundred thousand gold! Do you know how miserable I've been chasing after you as you ran around the country? I've had to save you from ridiculous mess after ridiculous mess! Do you remember that time where I almost became food for those monsters? Then there was that time I nearly drowned pulling you out of that river! Oh, and how could I forget when I took that axe to my arm when that bandit nearly chopped you in two?! You're nothing but trouble, that's what you are!"

Rennac would've continued on, but at that moment he made the mistake of looking at L'Arachel. He was expecting to see an indignant look on her face or an expression of mirth, if laughing at his woes could be considered thus. However, her eyes were full of a strange mixture of sadness and acknowledgement, though she wore a small smile.

"Yes, and that is precisely why you are the only one who I will marry. Despite everything that has happened you have always come to my aid without a moment of hesitation. After a while, I began to take you for granted. However, one day, I realized that maybe you would get sick of risking your life and then you would leave. At first I ignored this thought but eventually I became more and more afraid that I would wake up and you would have packed your bags and gone. It was then that I realized that I had grown… attached to you. They say that when you love someone, you never want to be parted from them and the very idea of not being able to see them again rips you apart. I may not know entirely what it means to be in love, but I do know that I would like you to stay with me Rennac. That is why I want to marry you."


Wait… what had he done after that? What had he said? He couldn't remember. Had he agreed to marry her? Well, he must've if he was sitting in this infernal coach!

"Ah, look, Rennac! There it is! The chapel!" L'Arachel exclaimed, gripping his arm.

Looking up he saw that their procession was drawing up to a tall, glistening white church. It's long, pointed turrets pierced the sky and the sun glittered on its polished marble walls. An immense crowd was gathered all around the entrance and another red carpet covered the front steps. Before he knew it, they had pulled up in front of the chapel.

Rennac's eyes widened, feeling like a deer that had turned its head to see the gaping mouth of a wolf. He had to run! That was the first thought that popped into his head. There was no way he could go through with this; he couldn't marry L'Arachel!

"Rennac, are you going to stand there all day? Come on, get down," she commanded, shoving the rogue through the coach's now open door. He landed on the ground outside with a stumble, and by the time that he recovered himself, L'Arachel had already latched herself to his arm. He was caught, like a rabbit in a trap.

The princess of Rausten stepped forward and Rennac could feel himself being pulled along. If his mouth hadn't suddenly become parched, he would've been yelling at his foolish legs for moving forward. However, all he could do was stare at the dark doorway that they were approaching. As the shadows of the arch swallowed them, he felt his mind go blank.

Everything came to him as if through a veil of fog. He was only vaguely aware of the crowd coming in after them and of walking up to the altar. It was as if it were all a dream. However, as his brain just registered the priest beginning to speak, he was pulled out of this state by the sound of someone dying.

"D-Dozla!" L'Arachel exclaimed as the berserker burst into tears, blubbering into a large handkerchief. He was letting out a kind of half wail, half sob. It was no wonder that Rennac had thought someone was being strangled.

Lord Mansel patted the man on the back awkwardly and many members of the audience burst into good-natured laughter. Dozla dabbed at his hairy cheeks and blew his nose. His tears didn't seem to want to stop, though he was smiling broadly.

It was then that Rennac finally remembered what had happened after L'Arachel's confession. She had been crying, and he had been stunned. He had never before seen a single tear mar her cheeks. Wondering if they were truly real, he had raised a hand to touch her face and discovered that it was indeed wet. Then she had taken his hand in both of hers and, with those tear-filled eyes, she had asked him once more if he would marry her. He had said yes.

Thinking back on it now, he realized that he had been completely tricked. For he also remembered that right afterwards she had embraced him and said: "I knew you would say 'yes', Rennac!" Then she had bolted out of his room and left him frozen and in horror of what he had done.

However, now that he really thought about it, why had he stuck around for so long? Hadn't he always complained about working for her? Then why had he stayed to protect her time and time again? As he pondered, he was unaware of the fact that the priest had started to speak again. The man then directed a question at him and he looked up in surprise.

"Yes?"

"Then we pronounce you man and wife."


Ummmm, this was originally two pages long, but I figured that I should make it longer. So this is what turned out. I'm pretty happy with it, but I'm not too sure about that little flashback. I didn't really feel like explaining why they were getting married, since I wanted to focus on Rennac's pre-wedding thoughts. For some reason he seems like the kind of person who would run away from his own wedding… Anyway, I haven't played FE8 for a while, so I hope that nothing was out of place. Leave a review and tell me what you thought!

--FireEdge--