Prejudice
Okay! First Fire emblem fic! Hoorah! I decided to make it a tacticianxEliwood 'cuz there definitely aren't enough in the world... if there are any tacticianx things, it's normally with Lyn.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem, but if I did... ALL THE MEN WOULD BE MINE!
Bartre: You pretty...
Me: Oh, god! Get away! His... stupidity... it's too much... (passes out)
Hector: Wake up! (slaps) You have a fanfic to write!
Me: (snort) I wanna ride the pony...
Hector: I said... GET UP! (pours bucket of ice water)
Me: (screams and falls off crappy computer chair) Ow! Fine, be that way!
Hector: I will.
Me: (glare)
Chapter 1: Taking Leave
Namine woke with a start. Screams could be heard throughout the town that she had decided to stay in for the night. She looked out the window to see that it was early morning. She grumbled and turned over, attempting to let sleep overtake her once more. As she lay there, the screams only grew louder. Finally giving up, she got out of bed, and got her things together. It wasn't much, but it kept her alive.
Putting up the hood of her dark green cloak, Namine walked out of the inn to see what had rudely woken her up. It appeared that bandits were attacking the village.
"Great. This is such a wonderful way to wake up," she mumbled to herself. She looked towards the entrance of the village to see the group of bandits swarm in through the gates.
The bandit that looked like the leader looked around and said, "We've all heard that the knights of Pherae have vanished, right? Well, your misfortune is my good luck! I have an announcement to make! As of now, this village is mine! Groznyi is your new liege! Now, bring every last piece of gold, down to the smallest fleck!" He made a loud guffaw as the women of the village held their children close.
Namine continued to watch from a distance, until something caught her attention. A young cavalier with green hair covering his eyes rode into the village. She walked over to him, curious as to why he was there since Gronzyi had said that there were no knights of Pherae.
"Bandits! I must go tell Lor-"
"Excuse me!" Namine called up to the cavalier.
"Miss, you must escape! The bandits will show you no mercy if you are caught!"
"Wait! My name is Namine. I am a tactician. I may be of some help to you," she explained.
"Very well. Get on." The man put out a hand, but instead of taking it, Namine grabbed the side of the saddle and gracefully swung herself up onto the horse. She smiled as he stared in awe. They were about to ride off when a young girl with green hair tied up in two braids ran up to them.
"Please wait! I'm the daughter of this village's magistrate. I have some skill with a bow. Please let me help!" The girl looked pleadingly up at them. He looked back at Namine who just shrugged. He looked back at the girl and put out his hand. She took it, and he pulled her onto the horse. He then proceeded to leave the village before any bandits noticed.
Eliwood of Pherae and his paladin, Marcus, waited for their other knight to arrive with some warriors that could help them on their journey to find Eliwood's father, who had recently disappeared.
"Hmph! What's keeping Lowen?" Marcus asked.
As if on cue, a green haired cavalier rushed over to the two of them.
"Lord Eliwood! Co-Commander Marcus! I..." The man said in a rush between large breaths.
"Lowen! Calm yourself! A knight must be in control at all times," Marcus scolded.
"The village is under attack! It's bandits!" Lowen quickly explained.
"What? Bandits? Here?" Marcus looked taken aback as he heard the news.
"Are you sure, Lowen?" Eliwood asked.
"This girl has more details." Lowen got off his horse, and helped a young girl with green hair get down.
"My lord Eliwood?" She made a small bow and continued. "I'm the daughter of the village magistrate. My name's Rebecca. The bandits came without warning. They're stealing everything! I beg you! Please help us!"
"I see." Eliwood said. "Marcus! Lowen! We must aid the village!"
Lowen saluted. "Yes, milord!"
"Rebecca, stay here, and keep out of sight," Eliwood said as he prepared for the battle.
"If it please you, milord, I would rather fight. I hunt almost every day, and I have some skill with a bow." Rebecca said.
"Is that so? Very well, but be careful!"
"Yes, milord." Rebecca bowed again as she got her bow ready.
"Lord Eliwood, one more thing. There is another in the village who has offered to help. A traveling tactician who was staying at the inn," Lowen said. Seeing that she was being introduced, Namine hopped off the horse, again with perfect grace.
"A tactician?" Eliwood asked as he looked at the hooded girl.
"Yes, milord. This is Namine." Namine bowed.
"Namine?"
"It is good to see you again, Lord Eliwood," Namine said as she lowered her hood. Her silky black hair fell down halfway down her back, and her eyes were a deep hazel. Some of her hair was in her face, but she didn't dare pull it back behind her ear.
"Do you know this person, milord?" Lowen asked.
"Yes, I met Namine during the trouble in Caelin last year. If my memory serves correctly, she is a fantastic military advisor. If not for Namine, the marquess of Caelin, and his granddaughter, Lyn, might not have survived Lundgren's uprising." Eliwood explained. He then turned to Namine, who was putting her hood back up. "What brings you to Pherae, Namine? Still traveling about, honing your skills? Of course... A worthy pursuit. Let's give thanks to providence for our chance reunion. We have need of your aid. Please lend us your skill."
"Of course, milord." Namine bowed, and everyone set off to help the village being raided.
Namine stood at the back, yelling orders to the knights.
"Marcus! Go after that bandit to your left!" She pointed in the direction of a nearby bandit, and Marcus rushed over to kill it. Rebecca, go and see if that village up north is okay! Lowen, stay near Rebecca!" Namine turned to Eliwood. "You wish to fight do you not, milord?" she asked.
"Of course!" Eliwood nodded with determination on his face.
"Right. Go for the bandit to the East of us." Eliwood started forward, but Namine stopped him. "Is it all right if I shadow you? I would like to see what is going on from the battlefield. Not off from the sides."
Eliwood nodded. " Don't worry. I'll keep you safe."
"Thank you." They both headed off to join the battle. Soon all of the bandits had either run off, or had been killed. Eliwood quickly dispersed of the leader with a swift stab into the bandit's heart.
The village cheered, and Eliwood walked off to speak with the magistrate. He soon came back, worry written all over his face.
"According to the magistrate, Laus could go to war any day now. If this is true, the situation is a grave one. Marquess Laus is readying for war... Perhaps this is connected to my father's disappearance. It seems a tenuous connection, but it's as good a start as any. Let us travel to Laus. We must learn more." Eliwood explained to Marcus. "Thank you for your guidance, Namine. Where are you bound for next? If you have no destination in mind, perhaps you could travel with us. Ours is a small group, with a single purpose-- to find my father. I do not know where our road will lead, but... We would be stronger with you in our company."
"It would be an honor, milord." Namine bowed.
"Splendid! Thank you! I pray we give you no cause to regret your decision."
"I'm sure you won't." Namine smiled. Even through the hood, Eliwood could see that she had a beautiful smile. He shook his head to regain himself.
"Let us be off, then." Everyone began to leave when Rebecca came running up to them.
"L-lord Eliwood..." Rebecca said, catching her breath. "My father has given me permission to travel with you."
"I don't think that's a good idea. We are not sure how dangerous this journey may be," Eliwood replied.
"Milord, maybe it would be a good idea if she came..." Namine said.
"Hmm? Why?"
"We don't have any archers, and it would be extremely helpful to have one with us."
"I see. All right, you may travel with us."
"Thank you, milord! I'll do my best!"
They traveled towards Laus until it was almost pitch dark. Namine stopped when they found a clearing in a forest.
"Milord, we should stop here for the night. It is dangerous to travel at night," Namine said.
"Your right. Let's set up camp." Namine made a small campfire to keep everyone warm while everyone else pitched tents. Lowen was about to start cooking when he called Namine over.
"Miss Namine, how many people are there?" He asked.
"I'm sorry?"
"I need to know how much food I have to use." he explained.
"Ah, I see. Just a moment." Namine counted.
'Lord Eliwood, Marcus, Lowen, Bartre, Dorcas, Rebecca, and I. That's 7.'
"There's six of us."
'I have to preserve the food. I don't fight, so I can go a day or two without eating.'
"Thank you." Lowen went about his business, and Namine went back to tending the fire. Everyone was sitting around the fire, chatting away happilly. Lowen was soon finished, and Namine helped serve the food. She walked off behind one of the tents, pretending that she wanted to check the supplies. She knew they wouldn't allow her to not eat.
She soon came back, and everyone was still eating. She sat down next to Eliwood.
"Where's your food?" he asked.
"I already ate it while checking the supplies." Namine lied.
"I see." There was silence. "Namine?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you still wearing your hood? You really don't need to..." Eliwood asked.
"I... have my reasons..." she awkwardly replied.
"Come to think of it... I've only seen you without your hood up once or twice."
"It would be better if no one saw me..." she looked down. Eliwood realized that this was an uncomfortable conversation for her.
"My apologies for being nosy." Namine looked up.
"No, not at all, milord. You didn't know..."
"Still, it was a personal question." Namine stood.
"Follow me," she said as she walked in between two tents. Eliwood followed.
When he arrived, he blinked a few times to adjust to the lack of light.
"I thought you should know... I'm not what you think I am," Namine said in a soft voice.
"What do you mean?" Eliwood asked as Namine put down her hood. She pulled her hair back behind her ears, and Eliwood's eyes grew wide. "An elf? But I thought they were in exile?"
"They are... but I don't really know why I'm here. The day I met Lyn... is the last day I remember. I had lost all memories of my past before then. Please, Lord Eliwood, don't be mad. I will understand if you don't want me to be your tactician anymore..."
"Not be our tactician? We would be dead by now without you! I would never want you to leave us." Eliwood turned crimson realizing what he had said, but Namine couldn't see because it was so dark.
"You don't mind that I'm an... elf?" Namine asked, hardly believing her ears. Eliwood put a hand on her shoulder.
"You're Namine. Elf or no elf. That's all that matters right?"
"I guess so..." Eliwood began to head back to the fire. "Lord Eliwood?" He turned around. "Thank you."
Eliwood just smiled and they both walked back to the fire.
As it got late, one by one the army walked into their respective tents. Soon it was just Eliwood, Marcus, and Namine.
"We should get some rest. We're heading out early tomorrow." Eliwood said. He stood up. "You coming?"
"Yes, milord." Marcus replied.
"I'll go to bed in a minute. I just have to put out the fire." Namine said. Eliwood nodded, and the two men went to their tents. "It's not like I can afford a tent." Namine put out the fire, and fell asleep leaning against a tree trunk.
Author's Note: Did y'all like it? Y'all... hehe...
Hector: It's really not that funny...
Me: Your not even in the story yet! Get out! Out! And come back next chapter!
Hector: Read and Review please.
Me: Out, Hector!
