Loyality Binds Me: The Memoir of Lady Petrine

by Fala-of-Velthomer

An extensive look at the Daein backstory, as told through the eyes of Petrine. Brought up at the royal court from a young age, Petrine's fortunes had always been tied to that of the royal family-hoping to one day be queen. Little did she know how hard it would be to escape the fact that fate, was determined to make her prove a villain.

1. Prologue

Loyalty Binds Me: The Memoir of Lady Petrine-Prologue

Ah, My first fanfic!

First off! "Loyality Binds Me" was Richard III's motto which i thought fitting given that Loyality was one of Petrine's well-known qualties.

Second: I got the idea to write an extensive backstory for Petrine since she seemed to be lacking one. So I took it upon myself to explain where she comes from and how she grew up. I also wrote this to further explain Ashnard's rise to power. Much of it was based off real events from Medieval English history. Anyway, you're probably tired of me talking and want to start reading...

So without further ado...

I cannot fail.

I mustn't fail.

I have to win this battle, Crimea mustn't advance any further. Those were the instructions given to me by the King. "Petrine if you cannot prove yourself worthy you will suffer dearly..." He told me, and I swore I wouldn't disappoint.

But those Crimeans kept winning, winning, and winning some more. It seems nothing will stop them, bot even a Goldoan dragon like Ena

Their Commander Ike is a fierce opponent they say. But then again, so am I. Surely the great General' will fall to my lance, after all he was just another filthy sellsword before this ... But what if he doesn't?

What if it is I who fall?

If I'm in Killed in battle or no- If the Crimeans win I'll surely die. Death or life, for me it all hangs on this one battle. Therefore I mustn't lose. I cannot lose.

To tell the honest truth, I am afraid of dying on the battlefield. I'm still young, I still have my youthful beauty. I still have my whole life to live. To lose it all now, I mustn't think of it!

But this is what I had wanted wasn't it? To be one of the Four Riders, Daein's finest soldiers? I wanted to fight for Daein, and under King Ashnard the man whom I had loved all these years and yet, no longer does think of me as the good friend of our childhood. Oh how times have changed! But... Have I changed? I would hope to think not- but perhaps I have. I've come a long way from being that shivering girl in the orphanage.

I take a heavy sigh, no one can know of my fears, I play it off as if nothing wrong. To everyone else, I'm just the haughty General that's they all love to fear when really it is I who is afraid.

But I will give it my all, I have no other choice. The fight for me will be meaningless, after all, I'm not defending any cause I believe in. This war was the result of nothing less than Ashnard's own ambitions. And I certainly am not protecting any loved ones. Truly, I don't think I've ever really known a love besides that which my parents bestowed on me. Ashnard did care for me once- but that was long ago- when we were both still innocent children. Ah, but then there was Queen Beatrix, my mentor, my role-model how my younger self looked up to her! She always thought of me as almost a second daughter. Oh, how Daein has changed since the days of Queen Beatrix, and how ashamed she would be of what her son has done to his own homeland.

One of my subordinates then comes rushing frantically over. "General Petrine! The Crimean army is advancing!" He cries.

"Ah right on time!" I reply with that age-old false sense of pride I use to hide my insecurities, "They've clearly come rushing to their death, how splendid! Now their great commander will be able to die at my hands! This will be a great victory for Daein!"

...Or will it be I who dies at his?