Disclaimer: I wish I owned Fire Emblem. If I did I would've made sure that some of the character endings weren't so bad. Thankfully, Nephenee got a good ending, I still hate the fackt she didn't get a pairing!

Prologue: A Simple Life

The Melior Marketplace is always so crowded at midday that it's almost suffocating to walk around so many people. From where I'm from we used to have huge open fields and the houses weren't built so closed to each other. I just figured that these city folk like themselves so much that they are willing to allow such closeness that we don't have back in the countryside. But as I keep thinking about how strange city folk are, the clock continues to tick, and I really need to buy some supplies for my good friend and gracious boss, Calill. Her bar is such a big success nowadays that Largo-Calill's husband- has to kick some of the patrons out of the bar at night... sometimes I have to kick them out too.

I make my way through a crowd of people and finally make my way to the north-eastern part of the Capitol. I think I'm close to the place Calill told me to go to buy some new glass mugs for the bar. After a couple of minutes of reading dozens of store sings I realize that the store I'm looking for isn't here, or at least not nearby.

I asked a nice old lady about directions to get to the store I'm looking for, only to find out that the store is on the west side of Melior!

By the Goddess, why did Calill insist that I look for these supplies? She knows I have a horrible sense of direction. If General Ike wasn't telling me were to go during the battles we fought together I probably would have been poking my lance at everyone that got to close!

I thank the old lady for the directions she gave me and I started to run. I tired to avoid hitting people as I ran, but I kept bumping into people from time to time. My Ma always taught me to be polite so I always apologized to everyone, though I doubt they heard me, 'cause I just mumbled them out as I kept running.

After what I estimate were some solid fifteen minutes of running, I finally arrive at the store Calill sent me. "The Crystal Emporium" is the name of the store. It sounds a little too fancy-like for a store that all it sells are shaped glass; at least that's just my opinion.

When I enter the store I find the shelve full with displays of the different stuff the owner sells; from simple glass cups, to laguz-shaped glass sculptures. The beast shaped ones looked very realistic.

Ahh!

I keep getting distracted with all the stuff in the city. If it wasn't because of my job I would probably spend my time staring at the different things city-life has to offer, then I would die of starvation. In summary: Job is good, distractions are bad!

I was thankful that aside from myself, there were no other customers. I just made my way to the counter and order the twenty mugs Calill asked me to bring. The store-owner gave an odd look and went ahead to collect my order.

He came back with a big cloth sack that had my order. I paid him the forty gold coinds, but before he gave me the bag, he spoke.

"You know, miss. This here is a mighty heavy sack. A young lass like yourself shouldn't be carrying all this around town, you might hurt yourself," he didn't sound all that worried, "let me carry this for you."

In one swift motion a grab the bag from the man without him noticing it had been taken from him. When he did notice, I moved the bag up and down so I could weigh it. "Yer know, it ain' heavy at all. Back in the war, I used to carry a shield ten times heavier than this here bag."

He had a dumbfounded look in his face. This is another difference between the city and the countryside: Women in the city are treated as frail creatures, back in the countryside we all pulled our own weight; thought most women in my village dedicated themselves to knit. I was horrible at knitting, too slow and boring. I liked working in the fields and no one gave me odd looks when I performed exhausting physical labour.

The store owner looked a little ashamed-I don't know why-and he told me to have a good day. I thanked him and left. I still have to look for different types of liquor, but I think its best I leave the mugs first. The less I carry the delicate glass around town, the better. Makalov has shown me how easy it is to break these things. Actually, he's the reason I've had to run around Melior looking for these mugs.

Despite my bad sense of direction, I was able to find Calill's bar fast. Well I do work and live there.

Have I mentioned how great Calill is? Not only did she hire a simple country girl like me, she also lets me sleep in a spare room for free. I argued at first, demanding that I should pull my own weight and should be treated like a normal tenant. I should have known that I could never convince Calill of anything. She threatened to pay me the triple of the normal amount if I didn't take the free rent.

When I entered Calill's-the bar Calill and Largo own-the place was almost fully packed. I noticed that most of the people were just waiting at their table.

"Hey!" one of the patrons shouted, "Nephenee is here!" Then came the cheers. Sometimes these city folk were real nice to me.

Calill came towards me with a hurried look on her face. "This is the last time I send you on an errand!" Calill nearly shouted.

I started to panic. Did I take to long? I truly hope she isn't to mad at me. "Sorry I'm late Calill," I begin, "I'll try that it won't happen again."

"Late? Nephenee, you're early! But these guys only want you to be their waitress." Calill grabbed my arm and started to drag me towards the kitchen.

"I ain't got the liquors you asked for," I told Calill, hoping she would realize that my job was done.

"Two things: After all these years you still say ain't? And don't worry about it, Largo isn't as charming as you, he can get those bottles." I don't get what she meant by that, Calill has always been like that towards me, she always gives me compliments that I don't deserve. Have I mentioned what a nice gal Calill is?

Once I got to the kitchen, I put on my white apron over my simple blue dress so that I might begin taking the customers orders.

Calill's offer a variety of stuff, from the simplest and cheapest wine, to the strongest drink that would make a tough man like Largo fall on his rear; the food menu isn't as great as the drinks, all of it could be prepared in less than ten minutes. Barely anyone orders the food here.

As I make my round the patrons give me compliments and ask how my life, the usual stuff they ask me is. I wonder if they have short memory, but I always give them the same answer.

Today is an unusually busy day, so busy Calill had to help me take all their orders. Once had written down what they wanted to drink and saw that no one else was coming in Calill and I made our way behind the counter where Calill and Largo stored most of their drinks. I started to prepare the simplest drinks because I'm still new to bartending, while Calill handle the more complex ones.

"Calill, can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot"

"Why is Melior so full today? Is somethin' happening?"

Calill's eyes widened. "You don't know?" I shook my head, "Duke Renning is addressing the people of Crimea today. You do remember who Duke Renning is?" I nod.

"I saw him once."

"Just before Ike took you to the Tower of Guidance?" Calill asked. I didn't enjoy any part of both wars, but the Tower of Guidance was by far the worst. I try to forget that place completely... for so many reasons. I feel honoured that General Ike always placed so much faith in me that he always deployed me in all his battles, but I wished he hadn't taken me there.

"Earth to Nephenee!" I heard Calill call me. I stammered an apology for not paying attention. "Well, as you know the war ended three months ago. One month later Queen Elincia spread the news of his uncle still being alive, and ever since she did that a lot of people have been hounding at Queen Elincia to give the crown to Renning. Today Renning gives the people their answer."

That is just awful! Queen Elincia has got to be the best ruler in all of Tellius. Not only does she handle the big political stuff that goes around, she also looks after us simple folk; that's why Brom and I never hesitated to get involved in Ludveck's rebellion. Brom hates fighting, but I'm sure he'd do it all over again.

"What do you think he'll say?" I asked, curious to know if all the effort Brom and I had put into preserving Queen Elincia's reign was all in vain... well not so in vain, since Reninng is Elincia's uncle, both their reigns might be similar.

"I can't say. I didn't speak to him, even though I was there when Prince Reyson brought him to his senses. He mostly kept to himself." Calill stopped for a moment. "But I supposed that if you learn that for three tears you've been running around as a madman, I guess anyone woulnd't be feeling to sociable."

I don't want to even imagine what Duke Renning went through. I can't help but feel that we should've noticed that Bertram wasn't really Daein. If I remember correctly, Bertram was a horrible strategist, plus General Ike himself said that the man wasn't sane. Anyhow, its good that at least Count Bastian was able to recognize Duke Renning behind Bertram's armour.

After Calill and I dropped the subject, we concentrated at the task at hand. Once we finished we placed the drinks we made in round trays and went to deliver drinks to the customers. City folk really enjoy their drinks, I guess I like my job here, I bring people something they like. It isn't as exciting as being a soldier, but it beats sleeping on the ground with one eye open and getting paid a miserable amount!

I just remembered the only bad quality General Ike has, the man is cheap!

After Calill and I finished, we both sat down behind the counter to take a breather.

"You wanna go to see the duke give his announcement?" I asked Calill.

"I do, but I need to look over the bar," Calill said with a hint of disappointment. Calill likes to be informed in everything that happens, I can tell this is going to be a big thing.

"I can manage," I'm not big on the political stuff. I won't lose any sleep if I miss this, Calill might.

"That's kind of you to offer..."

"You like this stuff, and don't worry 'bout me. All that's left is collect their money. Maybe some of 'em want seconds... or thirds, still, I can manage." I could tell by looking at her that my offer was tempting her.

"Ok, Nephenee, I trust you," scratch that, my offer convinced her. Wait! Did I just convince Calill on something? Huzzah! I couldn't help but smile at my victory.

"She can smile!" Calill is just making fun of the fact that I don't smile often. I do have a shyness problem, I'm working on that.

XXXX

Without Calill's help and company, time passed dreadfully slow. I'm glad it will be over... once I get this stinking drunk out of the bar.

I didn't think a whole lot of Sir Makalov when I served with him during both wars. Everybody disliked him because of his lifestyle. Me? I don't judge people. But this man has made my life so difficult since I started working here that I'm ready to join the 'I hate Makalov group'.

"Com' onnn..." he released a series of hiccups. "I wanna stay a little while, baby. Plus, I'm good company." There's a colourful expression from where I'm from that perfectly describes this man. One day, he might make mad enough to tell it to him.

"Calill's closes at eight," I told him for the fifth time.

"Why?"

""Cause she wants to spend more time with her daughter," I told him for the fourth time. "Now, get goin'!"

I start dragging this sack of uselessness, when he suddenly stops. "I'm on a mission! Yes, I remember now, General Geoffrey sent me here."

You have got to be joking! Of all the excuses he could've made. Maybe he's insulting my intelligence in order for me to kick him even harder out of the bar.

He took out a wrinkly letter from his pocket. "Lassie, this is for some gal called Nephenee. I heard she's a demon with a lance." Strike three!

I took the letter that is allegedly mine and I threw the pink-haired man out of the bar with a strength that would rival Largo's. I heard him cry in fake pain. Astrid is going to give me such an earful the next time she comes.

When I looked at the piece of paper that I took from Makalov, it did have the crest of the Crimean Royal Family. This is authentic! I owe Makalov an apology for being so rough, even though not only did he forget who I am, he called me a demon!

I opened the letter and read:

Miss Nephenee,

Crimea is about to embark on a journey that will radically change the way we beorc have lived since the dawn of our brief existence. If we are to proceed with this journey, we need to strengthen our military might, we need to protect that which Queen Elincia holds so dear so that we may not suffer another blow like the one we suffered in the Mad King's War.

I have heard of your strength on the battlefield, Miss Nephenee. Crimea could use that strength in the Crimean Royal Knights. I, Duke Renning, Minister of Military Affairs ask you to join the ranks of our proud knights.

I await your answer.

To say that I was surprised would be a severe understatement. To think I was talking about these man a mere few hours ago.

Being a soldier? The idea has crossed my mind, many times. I've got some skills in farming, but not much else. I found out that I would make a good soldier not long after I became part of the Greil Mercenaries, Ike even asked me to join his company after the end of the Mad King's War. Despite me being good at it, I decided I wouldn't make a living as a soldier or mercenary because of one big detail about the job... it involves killing. My Ma taught me that a killer kills other people, regardless of the situation. By definition, I am a killer. I don't like being a killer.

I know that what've I done was for the greater good, I know it had to be done, and I know there was no other way. Doesn't mean I liked it. Would I do it again? Definitely!

At the end, I like my simple life just fine. When I get the chance I'll tell the duke or some retainer of his that this sentinel's fighting days are behind her.

A/N: There shouldn't be a whole lot of mistakes. Some always make it on the first chapter I publish due to my impatience to get this particular published.

This story is going to haves a NepheneexRenning pairing. Weird? I know. I basically think this is the same as a GeoffreyxNephenee (Simple and beautiful country girl meets dashing noble), but without a heartbroken Geoffrey because Elincia chose Ike over him. That's my only problem with that pairing, Nephenee is Geoffrey's second choice (I still think it's a good pairing, and I'll read them if they keep coming). Anyway, let's see how this goes.

Another thing, this story is told from Nephenee's POV (I guess you all noticed). I'll try to keep her speech in her dialog, but other than that... it would just be hard to write and annoying to read.

Please R&R. I promise this story won't disappoint.