A Girl from the Plains
She didn't know where she was: if she hadn't felt so horrible, Adelessa would have been far more worried about that fact. A scratchy, heavy blanket that smelled strongly of hay and dirt weighed her down, made it hard to move. The sound of neighing and clattering tack grated against her ears, making her wince. Adelessa opened her eyes and immediately wished that she hadn't: even the feeble light in the room was enough to make her head throb hard enough that the room spun. Her stomach lurched and heaved in protest. Her skin felt hot and painful and her mouth was parched as dry as sand. She flinched at the feeling of a cool, damp cloth being placed on her forehead, the relief almost as unbearable as the agony that curled through her.
"Sh," came a gentle voice; unlike the clash of other noises, it was easy on her mind. "You're safe here. Rest." Adelessa sighed in response; nothing sounded better, but she needed to know what was going on.
"Where am I?" she croaked. "Who are you? What happened?"
"You're safe," the voice replied. "I'm a friend. You were attacked." The memories were returning to her: bandits, brigands on the road, rushing the convoy of which she was a part- "You need to rest." Whomever was speaking – a girl or woman, she couldn't tell – started humming a quiet tune, one that made her spirit rest, the thoughts and memories of chaos dull, and her mind slip back into the dark.
The next time she found herself awake she felt much better and in far less pain. Adelessa still felt stiff, as if her skin wasn't as pliable as it usually was, but the sickening agony had faded into a dull ache. The blanket still smelled of earth and hay, but it felt much softer than what she remembered. Only a few chirps from birds and quiet clinks of what sounded like metal against ceramic. Silverware? she wondered. After taking a deep breath, she chanced opening her eyes: soft, feathery light illuminated the room around her. A moment more of study of the ceiling led her to realize that it wasn't a room, but an entire tent-like structure: round with wooden supports in the ceiling and made of hide of some sort.
The tickle of her hair plastered against her neck encouraged her to turn her head to the side. The motion brought a young woman into Adelessa's line of sight. The clinking made sense when she saw that she was stirring something in a bowl. Though her back was to Adelessa, the long, dark green hair marked her as a Sacaean nomad. She was slender, though not in the manner of the Ilian pegasus knights or the Etrurian noblewomen who starved themselves. Her build, she decided, was far more befitting a warrior. The geometric patterning of bright colors on her long tunic was softened by the gentle, almost hazy light in the room. Carefully picking up a bowl of what smelled like hearty soup, Adelessa's host turned and her lovely face brightened with a smile.
"Ah! You're awake," she said, setting the bowl down on a small, low wicker table. Adelessa struggled against her own weakness and the pain still tingling through her limbs to sit up; she was happy that she mostly succeeded. "Here – let me help you. How are you feeling?"
"A little stiff," she replied, gratefully cupping the bowl between her hands and sipping at it when offered the bowl. "My skin still hurts a bit. But other than that, very well. Thank you."
"That's good to hear – you were suffering heatstroke. The stiffness is from a bad sunburn – the red's mostly faded now, but your skin will be peeling soon. Oh," she added, "I am Lyn, of the Lorca tribe. Who are you? Can you remember your name?"
"Adelessa – call me Aydie, Lyn," she said. Yes, her skin did feel stiff, like when she had gotten a bad sunburn one day in Bern.
"Aydie? What an odd-sounding name... But pay me no mind. It is a good name!" she said, bringing a smile to the traveler's face. It slipped away as soon as Lyn asked her next questions. "I see by your attire you are a traveler. What brings you to the Sacae Plains? Would you share your story with me?"
"I was traveling with a merchant convoy," Adelessa started, staring into her soup, "traveling around Elibe to see all the different nations. We've been in Etruria, Ilia, Lycia, and had just gotten into Sacae. We were in Bulgar – selling our wares and picking up supplies – and were swinging around to the east and south to go to Bern." For a moment the young woman had to stop; a painful lump had lodged itself in her throat. "That was when the bandits struck.
"We were on a quiet road, going southeast, and about to stop for the night. While they didn't have horses, they had archers and fighters. It was impossible to react – they were hidden behind a hill and were all over us before anyone had a chance to draw their weapons. They spared no one – not even Amy, the shop-woman and baker. I would have fallen to the same fate, only Matthias – our main guard – put himself between me and the bandits. He made me run. I only could make it so far with the horse; we couldn't find anything..." Her voice faltered. "Lester couldn't go on after a while. I didn't know how close they were, so I kept going on foot. I know I fell and hit my head at one point; I don't really remember anything after that."
"I found you wandering – you hardly had a scrap to you. It looked like you'd been on foot for quite a while. You were already badly burned and suffering dehydration and heatstroke. You collapsed right as I saw you." Lyn waved her hand around their surroundings. "I couldn't just leave you there. You needed help, so I brought you here."
"Thank you," Adelessa said quietly, but her voice carried the profound gratitude as surely as her dark green eyes did. "I couldn't have asked a stranger to do what you have for me. Is there anything I can do to repay you?"
"Get better," Lyn said with a smile. "Besides that?" she asked when her guest opened her mouth. "Well, I like company and stories. Why were you with that merchant group? Family? Do you craft items? Not forging – you don't have the muscles for it. Oh! Here, I'll look for some proper clothing for you." Lyn stood and went over to a chest, leaving Adelessa to blush when she peeked under the blanket. Nothing too immodest – women shared the same parts, after all – but a great deal less than she was used to having. Once she composed herself and collected her thoughts, she spoke.
"Not family or crafting, not really. I was out learning."
"So you're a scholar?" Lyn asked, pulling various pieces of clothing out of the chest and eyeballing them.
"Not quite – a journeyman. I need to get out and see each of the nations of Elibe as part of my training. Joining up with a traveling convoy seemed like the best way to do that. I could help them with their wares while getting a good idea of culture and geography when we were in town and they were busy. We thought that we would be safe from bandits with our escort, but..."
"But they struck. I'm sorry," the Sacaean said, her eyes sympathetic. "Here – try these on." She offered Adelessa a pair of lightweight black leggings, a yellow Sacaean tunic, and a bright green over-tunic that looked as much a tunic as a robe. Carefully standing – or, rather, leaning against the headboard – while admiring the quality and intricacy of the embroidery, the brunette stepped into and pulled on the articles of clothing. "look at that – it brings out the colors of your eyes." Adelessa blushed and smiled, brushing her hair off the side of her face. "That should do well for now."
"Thank you, Lyn." Her hand flew to her neck and she stared, wide-eyed, when she couldn't feel her medallion. "My medallion!" She always wore it - it was an Etrurian design, knotwork of silver and gold.
"Oh - here you go. I took it off while you were asleep so it wouldn't bother your skin." Adelessa sighed with relief and looped the plain gold chain over her head so the medallion rested at the hollow of her throat.
"I'm-"
"Hm? What was that noise?" Lyn frowned and tilted her head, listening intently to something that her guest couldn't quite pick up. "I'll go see what's happening. Aydie, wait here for me." Walking briskly to the tent flap, she looked out and just as quickly withdrew. "Oh, no!"
"Bandits?"
"Bandits – they must have come down from the Bern Mountains," Lyn confirmed; Adelessa was surprised to see her with a katana. She hadn't seen it before. "They're probably planning to raid the local villages. I..." she started, then visibly steeled herself. "I have to stop them. If that's all of them, I think I can handle them on my own. You'll be safe in here-"
"Let me help," Adelessa insisted, flushing a little at Lyn's incredulous look.
"You don't look like a fighter – besides, you're still recovering!"
"I'm in training to be a tactician," she explained, persisting in helping. Even with uncooperative legs she made her way to where Lyn stood. "I can help you – and I'll watch to make sure nothing happens to you and that no one sneaks up on you."
"A strategist by trade? That's an odd profession, and even stranger for a woman, but..." Lyn thought for a moment, staring at the closed tent flap. "Very well. We'll go together!" The swordswoman hurried out of the tent ahead of the slower tactician. Squinting at the sudden change in brightness, Adelessa took a moment to get a measure of her surroundings.
"It looks like there are two looking around – one on the plain and one near that big tent-"
"Ger," Lyn corrected. "They're round huts – they're easy to transport. Most nomads live in huts like these."
"Right." She took a moment more to study, then nodded. "The one closest to us could easily be taken by surprise. He's facing away and talking." Lyn nodded; Adelessa was quietly amazed at how stealthily the young nomad could move and that neither the long tails of her tunic nor her hair got in her way.
The tactically-minded part of the young woman noted that, while still rather basic and unrefined, Lyn had remarkable skill for the blade. She could see that, with training and time, her style would be like poetry in motion, the same as the greatest myrmidons about whom the troubadours sang. Her sword flashed as she sliced a grievous wound down the bandit's back. Roaring with pain, the man whirled and blindly swung his axe. It mostly missed, but Lyn went to a knee even with a glancing blow from the heavier weapon. He had scored a hit on her left shoulder – Adelessa could see the angry mark even from where she hurried toward her new-found friend – but Lyn still lifted her word. The Sacaean surged upward, her blade finding its target as it slid into his chest. The bandit sagged and his axe fell from his fingers even as Adelessa reached Lyn's side. The swordswoman stepped away and let the man slide from her sword, wiping the blood off of it.
"Lyn! You've been hurt!" Adelessa cried, hurrying over to her.
"It's alright - it's not too bad. I have a vulnerary in my bag - could you apply it?"
Adelessa nodded, rifled through Lyn's satchel, and pulled the jar of ointment out of it. She winced when she first saw the wound, the blotching on her skin angry and sure to turn black and blue without tending. Luckily she only had to put a little on to ease the swelling and bruising. Even as she wiped the remnants off on a cloth she could see that the ailment was visibly healing.
"Just the leader left now," the tactician said, closing the jar and putting it back in its place. "He looks tough, but... I believe you can defeat him."
"I trust your judgment," Lyn assured her, rolling her shoulder.
"Aim for his right shoulder – it looks like he favors it!" Lyn nodded at the tip and rushed off. "Be careful," Adelessa whispered under her breath. "Please, don't underestimate him."
"Who do you think you are? You think you can stand up to Batta the Beast?" blustered the brigand, waving his axe. "I'll cut you down!" He sneered at Lyn as she took up her fighting stance, holding her blade ready and balancing her weight. For a moment the tableau was unbroken: they watched each other. Then Lyn struck, whipping forward in a lightning-fast strike that sliced a gash in his shoulder. He roared in pain and swung the axe at her torso. Unlike her previous opponent, Batta had a chance to prepare; Lyn still jumped back, but his axe laid her already-wounded shoulder wide open. She struck him again, drawing another bloody line parallel to the first, before dancing back and away from him.
"Whew! He's tough..." Lyn gasped, clutching her blade tighter. Suddenly Adelessa was terrifyingly unsure of herself. What if she had just sentenced this young woman to death? What if she had made a mistake in evaluating her chances? "Aydie, if I fall, I want you to flee. You must escape!" Lyn's words broke her out of that moment of fear. She couldn't let Lyn see her fear, not when she needed confidence!
"There no need for that – you've got him with this hit!" Lyn nodded, raising her blade for another strike. The blade of the katana flashed down almost faster than Adelessa could see – certainly faster than to what the half-beaten bandit could react. Lyn straightened when he stopped moving, his blood staining the dirt around him red.
"May the spirits torment your soul," Adelessa heard her say. "Thanks for the help, Aydie. That was close. I sorely underestimated him. Sorry if I worried you."
"It's alright," the tactician reassured her, pulling the vulnerary back out and making Lyn sit. "Here, let me tend to that – you did well."
"Yes, but I'll need to be stronger if I'm going to survive. Strong enough that no one can defeat me." Adelessa paused, seeing in Lyn's eyes the same determination she felt to remain free and excel at her chosen profession. She nodded wordlessly and continued to tend the wound, slathering on the ointment. It was good that she had met Lyn – not just because she had saved her life, but also because she'd reminded her of that self-same spark that had led her to this life in the first place. "I don't know about you," Lyn said, snapping Adelessa back into the present, "but I'm exhausted after all of that. What say we go back to my ger for the night and rest? We've earned it and the peace of no bandits in the area."
Adelessa sat back on her heels, only now feeling her fatigue and pain return as the adrenaline drained from her. "That... does sound good," she said. "Let's go back."
The sound of chirping birds woke Adelessa the following morning. She groaned and pulled the wool blanket up over her head, not wanting to face the day. Lying there and trying to fall back asleep didn't work; she gave up after a few minutes and reluctantly dragged herself out of bed.
"Good morning, Aydie!" Lyn's greeting made her blearily look up. "You're awake. That fight yesterday must have taken a lot out of you." A mute nod from the tactician made her grin. It faded slowly as Adelessa yawned and shuffled to a seat, settling herself down. "Say, Aydie..." she started, making the other woman look up. "I want to talk to you about something. You have some experience in the ways of war from your training, right?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Would – would you allow me to travel with you?"
Adelessa blinked at the sudden question. "Shouldn't you ask your parents first?"
Lyn looked away, her unbound hair falling from behind her ear to curtain her face. "My mother and my father... died six months ago." Since she wasn't looking at Adelessa she couldn't see the tragic sympathy that crossed the brunette's face. "My people – the Lorca – they don't... I'm the last of my tribe. Bandits attacked, and... they killed so many people." Her breath hitched. Adelessa remained silent: she knew to speak would be to interrupt, and if she did that she wasn't sure that Lyn would be able to start again. "My tribe scattered. My father was our chieftain and I wanted to protect our people, but... they weren't willing to follow me since I was just a girl." She sniffed and swiped at her eyes, catching tears before they could fall onto her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I've been alone for so long... I feel better now, though. I will shed no more tears." She looked up at her companion, smiling weakly. "Thank you. I'm better now.
"Aydie, I want- no, I must become stronger, so that I may avenge my tribe! Yesterday's battle taught me something. I won't become stronger by sitting here alone. Aydie, tell me you'll train me, that you'll let me travel with you!" she pleaded, leaning forward.
"Of course I will," Adelessa replied. "I'd like that."
"You will? You do? That's wonderful! Thank you! Oh, thank you!" Lyn gave Aydie a sudden hug, taking her off-guard. She froze for a second and recovered only just before the other young woman pulled back with a sheepish smile. It widened even more. "We'll be better off working together, I know it. You'll be my master strategist, and I'll be your peerless warrior! We can do it! Right?"
"Right," Adelessa affirmed, returning the confident grin. "Then let's get packed."
Settling into the saddle of the Sacaean horse Lyn provided for her – named Rea, a Sacaean word that meant "breeze" – Adelessa marveled at how quickly her life had changed in the past few days. She spurred her horse to follow Lyn, who was just ahead of her on the road, and mulled over her thoughts. She'd tasted a real battle today – it was thrilling and terrifying, just as all her teachers had told her. The icy fear of losing Lyn reminded her that she needed to continue her studies, to get better. For now she would go through Lycia to get back to her school in Etruia. Maybe she would find a new caravan with which to travel. She and Lyn would be able to do that.
She smiled at herself. She'd figure it out as they went: no need to decide everything right now. She'd seize opportunities as they came. For Elimine's sake, they were only heading to Bulgar to properly resupply and get to the main roads. Shading her eyes and looking forward, she nodded. Maybe this would turn out even better than her original plans. Lyn needed the company and she felt more comfortable around her than she ever did with the caravan. It wasn't a big deal: she wasn't in any rush.
And besides, it wasn't like she was plunging into a full-fledged war.
A/N: Alright, so Fire Emblem/FE7/Rekka no Ken is one of my favorite games of all time. This is the beginning of my retelling of the story. I plan on staying fairly true to the story through Lyn's path, but I may be taking some artistic license with Eliwood/Hector's paths. :3 But for now, hold on for the ride!
Fire Emblem does not belong to me. Aydie, however, does.
