Of Peace and War
The tale of rulers and justness; evil and power.
Chapter One: Summa sedes non capit duos.
A/N: Well, I thought of this idea and decided to give it a shot. Hopefully it hasn't been done before...I don't remember seeing it, but I'm forgetful, so I apologize if it has. Also, this fic will most likely have a large number of OC's, because, well, it'd be awfully limited if there weren't. I may eventually add a section in my profile for descriptions of all the OC's.
Anyway, hopefully you'll enjoy the story...
--
Geoffrey regretfully plunged his lance into yet another enemy soldier. He didn't understand any of this; perhaps he never would. But he knew one thing: he would never let the queen be harmed by her uncle or any of his soldiers. It was his duty as a Royal Knight of Crimea. His gaze soon shifted to his left, where he noticed his sister slicing soldiers left and right with her sword. Her image reminded him of the conversation they'd had before she, the queen, and Duke Renning entered the Tower of Guidance.
Geoffrey had seen this civil war coming. He'd had some weird feeling that Renning, who'd been the rightful heir to the throne before his disappearance, would try to steal the throne from his Queen Elincia. But Lucia called him crazy, saying Lord Renning would never do something like that. After all, he'd never even wanted to be King--he'd only accepted because, at the time, his brother, King Ramon, and his wife hadn't had a sufficient heir. But then, now, there was Elincia. His sister had said Renning would never in his life try to harm Elincia. Geoffrey supposed his sister had just said this to calm his nerves, but now they could both see just how wrong she was. However, this was nothing to gloat about, especially when he saw the solemn expression on his sister's face.
He watched as a halberdier challenged her, and she, with one swipe of her blade, took him down. She had a very similar fighting style to that of Duke Renning--which was no surprise to her brother. After all, the former crown prince had been her first instructor in the ways of the sword. His sister turned her head to face him, her long azure hair floating in the wind. He nodded at her, and both continued on their separate ways.
--
The Count of Fayre stood aside from the rest of the troops surveying the battle. Next to him, Duke Renning sat atop his mount.
"So, Bastian, how do things look?"
"Well, Milord, the field fares well, but..."
"Hm?"
"I don't know, Milord... It's just... I suppose uneasy I am about fighting our old comrades... Queen Elincia, General Geoffrey, Sir Kieran...the Lady Lucia..."
"I completely agree, Bastian. However, this is what must be done."
"Milord? I can't quite grasp what you're--"
"You'll find out soon enough. Now, we must ride."
It happened that the two entered the fray and easily took down many of the queen's inexperienced troops.
--
As Lucia took down an enemy wind mage, Queen Elincia landed her pegasus next to her foster-sister.
"Lucia..."
"Oh, Queen Elincia... Are you alright?"
"For the most part."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm not physically injured, but... I just can't figure this out. Why would my uncle do this?"
"I'm sorry, Milady, but I can't answer that. To tell the truth, I've been wondering the same thing. Duke Renning...he never wanted to be King. None of this makes sense..."
"You're right...I suppose something will come to us sooner or later."
"Yes, I'm sure it will..." Lucia mumbled, in a tone that the queen noticed was quite sad.
"Lucia, are you alright?"
"Oh, yes, of course. Milady, you don't have to worry about me, I--"
"But I do worry about you, Lucia. You're the closest thing to a sister I have. If anything ever happened to you or Geoffrey, I don't know what I'd do..."
--
As Geoffrey looked up into the darkening sky, he noticed a pegasus knight coming straight towards him. He readied his silver bow and took aim at the unit when he realized it was one of his own soldiers. He rode over to Marcia as she landed a few feet away from him.
"Oh, crackers, Geoffrey! I thought you were going to shoot me!"
"Sorry, Marcia, I didn't realize it was you..."
"No big deal. Anyway, it appears that the main enemy force is retreating."
"Really? That's great news! Has there been any word from the Queen? Do you know where she and my sister are? Or Kieran and the other Royal Knights?"
"No, but I'll help you find them..."
"Okay, perfect!"
The two rode off in search of their comrades.
--
As Elincia and Lucia took out several enemy snipers, the queen spotted two mounted units riding towards them.
"Lucia, is that Geoffrey and Sir Jerrell?"
"Hm? Where?"
"There...in the distance. They're riding towards us. I suppose we should go meet them."
Lucia looked in the direction her foster-sister indicated and her eyes widened.
"Milady! No, don't!"
"What do you mean? What's the matter?"
"That's not my brother...it's Lord Renning."
"W-what?! But--"
At that moment Renning's companion cast a thunder spell at them. Both women were able to easily dodge it, but Elincia nearly fell off her pegasus and Lucia was knocked to the ground, giving Renning time to advance upon them. By the time Lucia was able to get up, Renning and the sage--which she then recognized as Count Bastian--were right in front of them. Oddly enough, both men had dismounted their horses.
"U-uncle Renning?"
"Elincia..."
"W-why? Why are you doing this?"
"Elincia, I'm so sorry... I--"
"Milord, is it really acceptable to socialize with the enemy?"
"No, Count Bastian, it's not, but..."
His voice trailed off as he spotted a knight and pegasus rider headed full speed towards them.
"Bastian, I want you to retreat with the rest of the troops. I'll catch up with you shortly."
"But, Milord!"
"Just go."
"Yes, Sir..."
Renning stared at the two women as the count rode off. He noted the position of the approaching units and realized that they were still far enough away. He still had time.
"Elincia, no matter what happens, you must be strong. Your people need you."
He turned to his niece's bodyguard. Taking her hands in his, he looked her in the eyes.
"Lucia...you must protect Elincia. For me. For all of Crimea. Nothing can happen to her."
He looked back towards his nearing enemies. Noticing their distance from him, he released her hands and remounted his horse. He had to escape. Geoffrey wouldn't hesitate to kill him, they all knew that. Lucia was different...much different.
The duke reared his horse and sped away, from fear of the new commander of the Royal Knights.
"Sister! Queen Elincia! That was Duke Renning...what did he--"
"Geoffrey, I don't understand..."
"My queen, what do you mean?"
"My uncle, he had the perfect chance to kill me. To claim the throne. Yet he didn't...he...he..."
"He what, Your Majesty?"
Receiving no explanation, he turned towards his sister.
"Lucia?"
"Hm? Oh, Geoffrey...I hadn't realized..."
She too trailed off. What was going on with these two?
"Sister! Queen Elincia! Will one of you please answer me?"
"Geoffrey, I'm sorry...it's just hard to explain."
"I understand, Your Majesty, but... What did he say to you?"
"He said that I must live. That Lucia must protect me...for him. It doesn't make sense. Why would he..."
"You Highness, don't fret over it now. You should get some rest. Marcia, will you escort the queen back to the palace? Lucia and I will be along soon."
"Of course. Are you ready, Milady?"
"Yes, I suppose."
Geoffrey watched as the two departed. He then shifted his gaze to his sister, who was still staring in the direction Duke Renning had rode off in.
"Lucia, if you wish to go after him, there's no one stopping you."
"Hm? Geoffrey, what are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I mean. I know how you feel, and I won't stop you if you want to side with him."
"Geoffrey...that's not... I can't leave the queen's side, you know that."
"I'll take your place. The queen won't mind. You should be with him."
"No, I...can't. I'll protect you and Elincia until the end."
He sighed.
"If that's how you feel, then we should get going."
"Yes, of course."
--
Queen Elincia turned when she heard footsteps coming down the hallway. Seeing her foster siblings, she smiled, much like she would have before the attack.
"There you two are. I was starting to worry."
"There's nothing to worry about, Your Majesty," the blue-haired knight stated. His sister smiled and nodded in agreement.
"If you say so..."
"Milady, have you decided on a plan of action?"
"I think so...I mean, yes. I would like for messengers to travel to Serenes, Gallia, Daein, Goldoa, and Begnion. That is acceptable, isn't it, Geoffrey?"
"You're the queen, Milady. What you say goes."
"I know, but do you think it's a wise idea?"
"It can't hurt anything."
"Lucia, what do you think?"
"I share my brother's feelings on the matter."
"Well then, would you mind traveling with Marcia to Serenes?"
"N-no, Milady. Not at all."
"It's settled then!"
"Elincia, may I speak with you for a moment?"
"Certainly, Geoffrey."
"I'll go pack my things then..."
The trueblade, feeling unwanted by her brother and foster sister, headed towards her room.
"So what is it?"
After making sure his sister was out of earshot, Geoffrey turned back to his queen.
"Well, Milady, there's no easy way to say this, but..."
"Geoffrey, it's alright. You can tell me, ask me, anything."
"Okay, well... Why exactly are you sending my sister away?"
"Oh, that. You know, Geoffrey, you're not the only one that knows. I don't want Lucia to regret her decision, so I'm sending her to see King Tibarn so she'll be able to think about this without my influence.
"After all, if they're on opposing sides of this civil war, they may have to...kill...each other. Do you actually think either one of them could bring themselves to do that?"
"No, I see your point, and I stand by you, Milady."
"Thank you, Geoffrey. You don't know how much that means to me."
--
Duke Renning and Count Bastian walked through the entrance to their makeshift meeting room. As he took his seat, Renning looked around at the various faces--the faces of his allies--seated around the table:
A young-looking woman with deep crimson hair dressed in the robes of a sage-of-sorts, her bewitching light violet eyes staring straight back at him. To her right, a sickly looking dragon with jet black hair looked as if he was barely alive. To her left, the man she traveled with--an odd general with wild orange hair going in all directions.
His gaze shifted to the wolf queen of Hatari. She and her near-silent retainer looked rather impatient. The Serenes prince that sat next to her was serene, as usual.
A dark haired assassin stood aside from the table. Also in attendance was a lime-haired swordmaster, who had come all the way from the desert.
Then there was that evil summoner with an evil smirk on his face.
All present stared at Renning and his advisor intently. When it became apparent that he wasn't intending to address them, the red-haired sage spoke up.
"Duke Renning, do you have in possession what I've asked of you?"
"No, Esmera, I don't. I'm going to need a bit more time."
"Oh really? I don't have much time, so you'd better make it quick. Unless you want me to go myself to get it. I'm sure you know the consequences of that, no?"
"I don't think you have the power or authority to do so."
"Milord, have you forgotten exactly how much power I have? Do not forget, I have the power of a mighty dragon. His power."
She waved a hand towards the dragon at her right, as if suggesting he was her inferior.
"I need that necklace, and you'd better get it for me. If you don't, Parsifal and I shall take action and I shall destroy her. One spell, no hesitation. She'll fall to the ground, and it'll be all your fault."
"Esmera, if you even try to harm her, I'll--"
"You'll what? Do you actually think you could harm me? I think not.
"We're through here. Parsifal, grab the boy and let's go. Duke Renning, get that necklace for me by next week, or she'll have to suffer the consequences."
With that, the woman rose to her feet and walked straight out the door. Parsifal quickly jerked the dragon boy to his feet and followed close behind her.
"Milord, what are you going to do?"
"I suppose I'll have to do what she says, don't you think, Bastian?"
"Yes, I suppose so..."
"In that case, we'll head back to the castle in the morning."
"Duke Renning, what will you have us do?" inquired the wolf queen.
"Queen Nailah, I would like for you and the others to hold this fort. If it falls into enemy hands, we won't have anything left. Volke, I'd like you to keep an eye on Parsifal and Esmera. I'll pay you 30, 000 gold."
"Fine."
"Bastian, you and I will sneak into the castle, get the necklace, and return here."
"Only us, Milord?"
"Yes, it will be easier to avert attention with smaller numbers."
"Oh, yes, of course," he paused. "We won't be harming her in any way, will we?"
"Never in my life would I harm her. You, of all people, should know that."
I could never live with myself if I allowed anyone to harm her.
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A/N: Well, there it is! Future chapters should probably be longer, and more exciting, but I hope you enjoyed this nonetheless.
Well, leave a review if you want (who knows, it might motivate me to update sooner...well, it's possible).