The Accursed Blood
By porschedriv47
Disclaimer: I do not own the Fire Emblem series, its characters, plots, or related; Nintendo do. I only own this story, characters, and related.
A/N: Right, so this is my second ever multi-chapter story. I don't think this story will be very original. It is mostly Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn with an original character in it. That said, there will be many changes compared to the normal story because of the OC's presence in the events.
Reviews and comments are appreciated to improve the story.
Chapter 1: The Early Years
A man entered his middle class home in Sienne, the capital of Begnion, the largest empire on the continent of Tellius. There was a sense of urgency in the way he moved through his home. He paced down the hallway towards his wife standing at the doorway to a bedroom. She looked at him curiously as her long, sterling red hair flowed slightly from the winds coming through the balcony door. The uneasy look on the man's face startled her.
"Darren, what's wrong?" she asked.
He stopped in front of her, and looked up with worrying eyes.
"I have to tell you something very important," Darren spoke urgently. "We do not have much time."
"What is it?" She gave him her full attention.
"Liara, it is not safe for you to be in Begnion anymore," he warned. "I was right about my suspicions on the Senators. They are going to put captured Laguz into prison and labor camps."
"Does the Apostle know?" Liara asked.
"Apostle Misaha? No, I'm certain the Senate has found a way to hide this from her."
"There has to be something you can do," Liara insisted.
"I can't. I'm only an ambassador. The Senate is my superior. There isn't much I can do. I don't have any firm proof," Darren said. "All I have is eavesdropping on muffled discussions behind closed doors."
He took a quick sigh.
"Liara, you have to return to your homeland," he urged. "You have to return to Goldoa. It won't be long before citizens or even the Begnion government finds out a red dragon lives in this household. I cannot risk your safety here."
Liara looked out the door at the setting sun. "What about our child?"
"I'll take care of him, don't worry," Darren assured. He kissed her on the cheek and quickly paced back down the hallway.
Liara turned around and looked back into the bedroom. On a large bed was a cradle, with a baby boy nestled in it. He looked a lot like his mother, with her red hair and facial features. She walked over to him, and moved over his red hair, revealing a red, jagged horizontal mark across the left-handed side of the boy's upper forehead.
Eighteen years later…
A young man entered one of the few barracks within the capital cities. Weaving through the many soldiers entering and leaving the lobby, he arrived at one of the recruitment counters. The recruitment handler at the counter had his head down at his paperwork.
"Something I can help you with?" the counter receptionist asked plainly, his head still down.
"I would like to enlist in the Begnion forces," the young man replied.
"Another lackey who thinks he can make it?" the receptionist asked.
"Yes," the man replied sternly.
The receptionist looked up. Standing in front of him was a person that barely reached adulthood, had around average build and height, and somewhat longish red hair. The man dressed decently, and carried a somewhat determined look on his face.
"Hm. You don't look half bad," the solider commented. "What is your name?"
"Garrus," the man responded.
"Alright. Our next day for incoming recruits is two days from now. You will meet here and we will get you started," the solider instructed. "I will also need you to fill this short form."
The young man arrived a couple days later, and met a sergeant first class near the same application counter. He was the only recruit that day.
"Garrus, am I correct?" the sergeant asked, reading over the application.
"Yes sir," the young man answered.
"And why have you decided to serve in the Begnion military?"
"I thought it might be something I would do well in, and my…father passed away recently," Garrus replied.
"I'm sorry to hear that," the sergeant said quietly. "Judging from what you wrote, you have the potential to have an excellent military career. We are currently in need of lance soldiers, that fine?"
"Yes sir."
"Hm…I think you might want to cut your hair a bit. It's covering your forehead." The sergeant noted Garrus's loose red hair covering part of his forehead. "It's not something accustomed by the military."
"It's fine. I like it this way and can manage," Garrus said.
"Very well, you will begin your training soon. This way, I'll show you around."
Several weeks later…
Garrus quickly ran to and stood in the front line of the formation formed in one of the courtyards in the city. With little warning that day, soldiers suddenly started scrambling everywhere. Something big happened. As Garrus stood straight among his fellow soldiers, the captain quickly addressed the platoon.
"Your orders are to secure the city. Do not let a single person in or out of the gates. Maintain peace as necessary, and bring in anyone who appears suspicious under any circumstances. Understood?"
"Yes sir!" The platoon shouted.
"Quick questions?"
"Captain, what has happened?" a soldier shouted from behind.
The captain closed his eyes. "Apostle Misaha has been assassinated."
Silence hung over the entire courtyard. Everyone was in a state of slight shock, but no one wasted time and quickly followed their commanding officers into the city. Garrus followed his for a few minutes, aware that many civilians were watching them rushing through the streets.
"Private, keep watch on that area over there," his commanding officer ordered.
"Yes sir." Garrus stood tall on the side of the road with his iron lance straight up, and kept watch around the area. It was a fairly wealthy area of the city. He quickly noticed a small group of people gathering. Garrus approached quietly to avoid attention and listened in on the conversation.
"The Senate said the Apostle was murdered by the Herons."
"The Herons look so harmless like they wouldn't even hurt a fly, but they are just like any other subhuman."
"We will burn their forest, in the name of our Apostle!"
"Wait! You must reconsider."
Garrus noticed a sage with long black hair in the group, trying to speak reason into the civilians. The sage quickly began to look ill, and collapsed to the ground.
"Lord Sage, are you alright?"
"Ugh…"
"Wings! He has wings! He is one of those damn subhumans. Get him!"
The sage with large black wings stumbled up quickly in panic and began to run. He blew right past Garrus. Garrus immediately stood guard and halted the pursuing civilians.
"What are doing? Can't you see we are chasing that filthy subhuman?" one shouted angrily.
"My orders are to maintain the peace in this city, no exceptions," Garrus said firmly.
"Fine," another said reluctantly. "Bet you are just like that wretched man, a subhuman disguised among beorcs."
And that one sentence touched a nerve of guilt in Garrus' heart.
Twenty years later…
"I'm sorry Lieutenant, but all requests to leave the Begnion army are left on hold. We have just allied ourselves with Crimea in the fight against Daein."
Garrus gave a sigh. He had been trying to retire from the army for months now. Over the past several years, he began to catch more suspicious glances, particularly from veteran soldiers.
"Look, I've served on active duty for the last twenty years. At least put me on the reserve forces," Garrus insisted.
"I can send your request again to the officials, but I can't guarantee anything," the female secretary said.
Garrus gave another sigh and proceeded to sit down next to a fellow solider in the waiting room.
"No luck again huh?" the soldier asked.
"Yeah. I'm getting tired and old of the military life," Garrus commented.
"You do look quite young for your age," the soldier replied. "May have a few more years left."
"Yeah, but it doesn't hide the fact I'm feeling tired on the inside," Garrus chuckled.
"If there's anything I can help you with…" the soldier began.
"Captain Levail, it's going to need more than just your word to allow me to leave, but I will appreciate whatever you can do," Garrus interrupted.
Levail looked over at Garrus and nodded. "Very well. I have important business to attend to, Lieutenant. When the day's over, we will head out for some drinks. It's been a while."
"Sounds good."
Levail got up and left the room. Garrus got up as well and randomly walked through the hallways of the garrison building, eventually walking through a slightly dark stone hallway. Garrus began to hear running footsteps, and stopped to look around him. Immediately, Garrus was strangled around the neck as two men knocked him to the ground.
"Hold him there," Garrus heard one of the men said.
Garrus opened his eyes and found a knife right at his face. He couldn't see the face of the man holding the knife. The man used the knife to cut a small bit of hair covering the left-handed side of Garrus' forehead.
"You're one of the Branded," the man said.
"What are you-"
"Don't play bullshit on me. You know what I'm talking about," the man shot back. Garrus could now see the man and his buddies were Begnion soldiers. "Tie his hands."
They forced Garrus on his feet and tied his hands behind his back.
"You know soldier, I can easily have you court martialed for this," Garrus threatened.
"And you are a crime against the Goddess," the soldier shot back.
"How dare you-" Before Garrus could even finish, the soldier threw a massive punch across Garrus' left cheek. Garrus' gave a small grunt, his left jaw beginning to ache.
"What's going here?"
All four of them looked and found Captain Levail watching them. The soldier grabbed Garrus by the hair and held his head up to show Levail the jagged mark on Garrus' forehead.
"Is that anyway to treat your superior, sergeant?" Levail asked in a dangerous tone.
"He's one of the branded, sir" the soldier answered. "He deserves to executed!"
"I assume that means that you don't realize that the Lieutenant made a pact with the spirit world years ago," Levail replied.
The lower soldiers looked nervously at each other then back at the captain. Levail only maintained his firm face.
"Get out of here," Levail shot.
The soldier and his friends immediately ran nosily out of sight.
"We need to discuss about this. Follow me," Levail ordered Garrus after untying his wrists.
Garrus followed Levail through the many hallways of the military building, and entered Levail's personal office. He closed the door quickly and walked towards his desk.
"Garrus, what is that mark on the left-hand side of your forehead?" Levail asked shortly.
Garrus remained quiet.
"That soldier was right wasn't he, that you are one of the Branded?"
"Yes," Garrus answered quietly. His tone became very defensive and he glared at Levail. Levail held his hands up, signaling no ill will.
"I swear by the Goddess that your secret is safe with me," Levail assured. "However, we need to get you out of here as soon as possible. I don't think he is going to be quiet about what he just found out."
"Don't worry, I'll find a way to leave the service soon enough," Garrus replied.
"No, you must leave now," Levail insisted. "I'll handle everything else. You can't walk around here anymore with that mark visible on your forehead. It's going to become much more dangerous for you."
"How are you going to convince them to make my leave official?" Garrus asked.
"I have a contact, a man who does a lot of work for General Zelgius of the Central Army," Levail answered. "Zelgius' requests usually never get denied."
"Very well, I'll leave Sienne right away," Garrus said.
"Wait, before you leave, I want you to have this." Levail walked over to his weapon rack, lifted a masterfully crafted blue lance, and placed it on his desk.
"What is it?" Garrus asked.
"It's a Wishblade, the most powerful lance made today. It's only given to highly honored soldiers," Levail said. "There are only a few of them around. I want you to have this one."
"I don't think I deserve this," Garrus declined.
"You are more of a fighting talent then you belive," Levail assured. "Take it as a way of remembering our service to the Empire together."
"Thank you, Captain."
"You're welcome, Lieutenant."
Garrus went down to his dorm, and got dressed into his civilian clothes. He packed his armor into a backpack, and walked to the exit of the building, carrying his Wishblade lance at his side. As he approached the exit gate, the two soldiers standing on guard blocked the archway.
"Where are you headed?" one of the guards asked.
"Into the city. I'm leaving the service," Garrus replied shortly.
"You look pretty young for someone who's leaving the service," the guard said.
"Yes, personal issues, family," Garrus said. He noticed the other guard looking suspiciously at him.
"Your notice of leave, please?" the guard requested.
"Hang on, I think this is the person some crazy guy ranted about earlier," the second guard said. "Said something about a person with a Branded mark on his forehead."
"Huh…" The first guard observed Garrus. "You're right. You're going to have to come with us."
"Why?" Garrus asked.
"There was this guy who went on about a Branded he saw earlier, and you fit that description," the first guard explained.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Garrus suggested.
"And why is that?"
"Well, your partner said it was some crazy guy, so I wouldn't believe a crazy guy," Garrus answered.
"There he is! That's the damn Branded I was talking about!" someone shouted from the building.
Garrus quickly looked to find the same soldier earlier pointing at him. The guards quickly looked at each other and immediately dove for Garrus. Garrus quickly thrusted the sharp end of the Wishblade at the first guard, then forced it the other way to knock the second guard behind him off balance. Garrus quickly turned around and slashed the lance right across the second guard's chest.
Without hesitation, Garrus sprinted for the city. He only glanced briefly behind him to find Begnion soldiers chasing after him. He dove straight into a crowded market area, shoving people out of the way, rushing for a city gate. He was almost at a gate, but quickly found it completely blocked by a caravan.
"Of course…" Garrus muttered in frustration. He looked back and saw the soldiers coming closer, shouting at civilians to get out of the way. Garrus desperately looked around, finding no quickly way of losing sight of them.
A hand suddenly grabbed Garrus by the arm and led him straight into a hidden alleyway. It was lit, but fairly dim. Garrus looked at the alleyway exit to see soldiers running by.
"Garrus, what are you doing here?" the voice asked.
Garrus looked and found a Pegasus Knight standing in front of him. She stood tall, had neck-length blue hair, and wore a white outfit with a golden colored chest plate, shoulder plates, headband, and a white cape.
"Catalena? Aren't you supposed to be with the Holy Guard right now?" Garrus asked.
"I was on my way," Catalena answered. "Why were they chasing you?"
"Uh…they…" Garrus tried to come up with an answer.
"They found out didn't they?" Catalena asked.
"Yes, but I…"
"That's not important." Catalena led Garrus towards a single wooden door at the city wall.
"You will be leaving won't you?" She asked with a solemn tone.
Garrus nodded.
"How long?"
"I don't know. Several months, years, I'm not really sure," Garrus answered.
"You will come back won't you?"
"Yes, I will."
"I wish you luck, Garrus," Catalena said after a long pause, eyes closed.
"You're being a lot more serious than you normally are, you know that?" Garrus noted.
"I'm sorry, I've been placed as acting deputy commander of the Holy Guard since Commander Sigrun and Deputy Commander Tanith both left for Crimea to accompany Apostle Sanaki," She explained.
"That position suits you just fine. You are more like Tanith everyday," Garrus teased. "She is having a bad influence on you."
"You can't be a commander if you are all soft and flexible," Catalena stated sternly.
"Yes, but that wouldn't describe Commander Sigrun would it?"
Catalena became silent.
"Sorry, just giving you a hard time," Garrus apologized. "I have to get going now, before the Begnion guards find me."
"Good luck, Garrus," Catalena said sadly. She walked up to Garrus and gave him a big hug.
Garrus headed for the door, and turned around before going through it.
"I hope to see you again, Katie," Garrus called.
Catalena waved good-bye as Garrus walked through the doorway, leaving the city.
Garrus sat near a cliff overlooking Sienne and the sunset. Already he was homesick, wishing he could see Catalena again, and wishing he could still serve under Captain Levail. The loneliness was rapidly catching up to him.
"Decades of hiding," Garrus muttered to himself. "One effective curse."
"Yes it is."
Garrus found a swordswoman standing next to him. She had chin-length blue hair and wore a dark outfit.
Garrus looked up at her, and she continued to look down at him.
"I-I'm sorry?" Garrus finally managed to force out.
"You're not like those people in the city are you? I can tell," the swordswoman remarked.
"Have you been stalking me?" Garrus asked, on guard.
"Stalking is harsh way of putting it," she said. "The Branded have a certain way of trying to blend in among Beorcs. I've been watching you for a few weeks now, when you're outside on duty. You tend to avoid getting too close to people, refuse to discuss your past life, and I've heard of rumors of a young-looking soldier trying to leave the ranks."
"Yes, that would be me," Garrus confirmed. "What are you trying to say?"
"I am just like you. Beorc and Laguz blood both run through my veins," the swordswoman said. "I come from a village in the Grann Desert, led by our leader Stefan. There are other Branded like us, and you will no longer feel like an outsider there."
"I find that hard to believe," Garrus commented. "Being Branded is a crime against the Goddess. A place of acceptance is impossible."
"If you don't believe me, I don't blame you," the swordswoman said. "Many do not wish to believe that there is a place where they can be accepted. However, what I'm telling you is true. If you come with me to the Grann Desert, you will meet others like you, and you will no longer be an outsider to everyone."
Garrus gave the offer some thought. "I…I'm not certain about this, but I'll come with you."
"May I ask your name?" She asked.
Garrus stood up and looked at her. "My name is Garrus. I once served in the Begnion Army, Second Lieutenant Halberdier under Captain Levail."
"I'm Serina, swordmaster, citizen of our unnamed village in the desert, and assistant to our leader Stefan," Serina introduced. "May I ask what Laguz blood runs through your veins?"
Garrus became hesitant, and then slowly let it out. "My father was a Beorc, and my mother was a Laguz, a red dragon Laguz."
Serina's eyes widened as she immediately grew fascinated by the Laguz side of Garrus' blood.
"We better be going now," Garrus reminded.
"Of course."