Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem or any of the names and concepts in any of these fics. All belongs to Intelligent Systems and Nintendo.
Characters: Varies per fic.
Author's Notes: I am pretty much eating myself up in excitement for Fates, which releases in Europe in six days. So to keep myself occupied and prevent myself from going completely crazy with enthusiasm, I'm doing a little countdown thing. From today until the release day, I'll be placing one fic a day. All of them will use a different pairing I'm fond of, and be based off of a single-word prompt derived from what I've understood from Fates even through my spoiler goggles.

Seth and Eirika: Choice

"Good morning, Ephraim." The king of Renais looked up from his breakfast and his papers when his sister joined him at the table. She immediately made a face at the sight of the document in front of him. "You're bringing your work to the breakfast table, now?"

"I've got a lot on my plate," Ephraim nonchalantly responded, wiping his mouth free from crumbs. "And before you start," he interrupted her before she could open her mouth, "The vast majority of it is work I can't push onto you." Eirika had insisted from the beginning that he should let her shoulder some of his workload. And she was right to- as his twin sister, she was the princess of Renais, next in line to the throne should he not produce any heirs of his own, and as much of a symbol of the nation as he was. She was supposed to shoulder some of the work. However, this time, it was different. "There's something else I need you to take a look at and deal with," he said, turning the paper in front of him around and shoving it across the table to Eirika. "Give that a read, would you?"

If Eirika had thought her brother was giving her a particularly outrageous letter from one of their peers to laugh at, or a serious document he needed her opinion on, those thoughts soon vanished along with her appetite. "He can't do this," she said, barely halfway through reading the formal letter, written in a familiar immaculate handwriting. "Can he do this?"

Ephraim sighed, nodding. "He can, it's his good right as the crown prince of Frelia." Her shoulders slumped, her face sinking. "You have time to think on it," he assured her. "He says that he expects our reply in two weeks. Accounting for the time it took that letter to get here and it will take for our reply to get there, that means I need your decision by the end of this week."

"You won't have to wait that long," Eirika said, shoving the letter away from herself and picking up her cup of milk- the only substance she felt she could stomach right now. "I will not marry Innes." She was fond of the Frelian prince, honest. In addition to handsome and intelligent, he was a good man, better than many gave him credit for. But she couldn't imagine herself in his arms as his wife. He was simply not the man she desired.

"Eirika," Ephraim said, his voice interlaced with urgency, "I know that's your gut reaction –it's mine, too- but we have to be practical about this. You rejected Lyon too, and look what happened."

At that, she leapt up from the table. "I did not reject Lyon!" she cried, tears in her eyes. "He never asked!"

"Would you have accepted him if he had?"

That question gave Eirika pause. "T-that was then and this is now," she finally said. If Lyon had asked her to marry him before the War of the Stones, odds were she would have accepted. Before his corruption at the claws of the Demon King, he had been such a sweet boy, devoted to his people and gentle in nature. But that was before she had realized there was a perfect match for her right here in Renais. Even if he didn't think so…

Ephraim stood up, sighing. "Like I said, you have a week to decide. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to, but please consider it. It would do our kingdoms good." Normally, Eirika would tell him that he could marry Tana if he cared so much about that. But now, she was left pondering so deeply that she barely even noticed Ephraim leaving to get to work, her eyes burning a hole into Innes's letter.

No, she finally decided. As good as it would be for Renais and their people, as well as getting any other potential suitors off her back, she couldn't just give up that easily. She needed to let him know about this and get his opinion, effectively giving him another chance to follow her heart. Snatching the letter up to serve as proof should he need that, she barged away from the table without eating.

This early in the morning, the training fields were deserted, as most of the soldiers were eating or tending to their mounts. General Seth found himself as the only man up and about. Not that that was a bad thing, he thought as he drew his blade. He was happy to be alone with his morning drills… and his thoughts.

As he started to run through his usual motions to warm up, he already found his mind drifting. Today would be particularly bad, then. Ever since the War of the Stones, his mind had been consumed not with strategies and formations, or even with patrols and training, but with Princess Eirika. She had always been beautiful, of course. But it had only been during the war that he had seen how resolute and brave she could be when the situation demanded it. He had grown attracted to her then, and finally fallen in love with her.

But it was not to be. He knew that well, perhaps better than anyone else. Though his family history was one of consistent and unparalleled service and loyalty to the kingdom, he was a commoner. A peasant, his hand unsuited for that of a member of Renais's royal family. And even if King Ephraim were to give him a title, elevate him into the nobility..? He was not as educated and knowledgeable on politics as he should be for that. He was famous continent-wide for his prowess in battle, but that was all he knew- swordplay, horsemanship, wartime strategy. He would make a poor lord. No, his duty lay here, on the battlefield, with a sword or a lance in one hand and the reins of his war steed in the other.

And still, he could not shake the idea of having the princess all to himself. To hold her close whenever he wanted, his ring on her hand marking her as his. Even now he thought he heard her voice calling his name.

Wait, he did hear her. She was approaching the battlefield, calling his name a second time. He turned towards her, sheathing his sword as he did so. "Princess Eirika," he said, bowing as she reached him. "What brings you here?"

"We need to talk," she said. "In private."

"These fields will be private for another while," he assured her, now concerned. She looked so serious. "Is something the matter?"

She sighed, nodding. "Yes, something is the matter. Seth, I want your opinion on something." With that, she showed him the document she had been holding in her hands, revealing it to be a letter from… Prince Innes of Frelia, judging from the signature. Seth didn't have to read the letter, as she was swift to explain the problem. "Innes has requested my hand in marriage and I have a week to decide on my answer."

"I see." It had been an expected turn of events, but no less devastating because of it. "If you care for my opinion," he started, choosing his words carefully, "I believe it would be a good marriage for you." It wasn't easy to admit, but he knew it was true.

"I've no love for him," the princess protested. "I'm fond of him, but only as my friend. Not as my husband… Not like-"

"You never might," Seth admitted, interrupting her before she could finish her sentence. "This is true. But consider, Princess, that few royal marriages are anchored in love. Your own father only developed strong feelings towards your mother well after their wedding." He shook his head. "Considering the alternatives, it might be best for you to marry someone you at least have a fondness for. I'm certain that Prince Innes will provide and care for you."

"Not considering all alternatives," she said, catching his eyes with her own. He didn't have to ask what she meant. King Ephraim would not force a marriage with Prince Innes upon his sister- the choice was up to her. If a different man were to make the same request in the coming week, she could accept and King Ephraim would give them his blessing. The affection in her eyes hadn't changed… she was hoping for a proposal from him.

"We've been over this," Seth urged, putting his hand on her arm to emphasize his words. "You are of royal birth, and I a commoner. We are ill-matched."

"I love you," she said, causing him to quickly glance around to see if they were still alone. "As I will never love him- or any other man. Please, Seth-"

"I feel no love for you," he suddenly said. A blatant lie. Even now, watching her eyes widen in shock and her shoulders fall, his heart tore in two and he wanted nothing more than to apologise, to take back his words and hold her close to him. Still, he continued. "We were close once -inappropriately so- but no more. I swore to you that I would see you only as my queen." He drew his hand back. If she thought she had no chances of having him, she would accept Prince Innes. It would be better for Renais. For her. For them both. "I cannot and will not marry you, my lady. It would be in everyone's best interest for you to accept Prince Innes's offer."

The princess stepped back, tears welling up in her eyes. He couldn't tell if she believed his lie, but she nodded, sadly. "I… I understand. I'm sorry, General Seth." She turned around, looking back one more time as he prepared to resume his training. "Should you change your mind… please let me or Ephraim know before the end of the week. Alright?"

"Of course, my lady." He would not change his mind. It would not be his place, nor his right. As much as it hurt them both, the sooner Eirika married Prince Innes and left Renais, the better it would be for them both. This entire mess had to end.

Ephraim saw little of his sister or his right-hand man over the course of that week, all three of them consumed with work, but whenever he did see them, Eirika seemed consumed with sorrow and Seth, with some sort of dignified frustration. Something was wrong here, and he didn't like it one bit. Still, as he sat hunched over his desk near the end of that week, he heard his sister entering calmly. "Eirika," he said. "What brings you-"

"I will marry Innes." She didn't even give him a chance to finish his question. When he looked at her, he saw her face set with determination, although that might have been in order to deny her own tears. "I… I have no better alternatives. And I would rather have it be Innes than some stranger I do not care for." She swallowed. "Can you… Do you have time to compose a reply to him right now?"

He leaned back, nodding. "Yeah. I'll get right on it." She left, presumably to see to her own duties once more, and Ephraim pulled a fresh piece of paper towards him to start writing his reply.

When he left to get it to a messenger, however, he ran into the red-haired general he knew Eirika to be so infatuated with. "Seth, wait a second," he said. The knight stopped, giving his liege his attention. "Eirika has probably told you about the situation, but I thought I'd mention…" he showed the closed letter. "I'm about to send the message that we're accepting Innes's proposal." Seth showed no emotion, so Ephraim frowned. "Seth… this is your last chance to change your mind. I know and understand your feelings, but you can't seriously-"

"I will repeat it as many times as is necessary, Your Majesty," the knight said, stoic as ever. "It will be in everyone's best interest for Princess Eirika to wed Prince Innes and become queen of Frelia. She has no future with me."

"…fine." Ephraim continued on his way, looking back one last time much like his sister had. "Seth… I respect both your decisions, but I'm afraid we will all regret this in the long run." And with that, he was gone.

Seth had no doubt that he would regret the decision sorely. He could not lie to himself, his lieges, and his subordinates forever. But neither could he marry above his station and bring shame to the royal family, or weaken their military with these inappropriate bonds. She had chosen duty in accepting Prince Innes's request rather than staying unmarried. He would respect that decision, choosing duty as well by staying in service to Renais as a knight rather than as a nobleman.