Chapter 1: Milord and Lady
Another sky-blue day greeted the open fields of Ylisse. Prince Chrom, his younger sister Lissa, and his ever-strict Lieutenant Frederick accompanied him in his usual daily patrol.
Chrom's daily rounds usually consist of helping farmhands, shooing the occasional bandits, and also dealing with the most recent issue: the escalating invasion of Plegia.
"Milord, we are a long way away from Ylisstol," Frederick said as he cleared the way ahead of rocks. "Perhaps you would like to take a break and have some tea?"
"It is too early for breaks. Maybe Lissa could use a quick one though and some tea." Chrom gestured to Lissa.
"What do you think I am Chrom?" cried Lissa as she whacked Chrom with her staff. "A delicate, fragile, little daisy?! I am a princess of Ylisse! I can handle myself!"
"Milady, it would be best if you did not strike Lord Chrom with your staff. You never know when we need it or better yet when an innocent bystander might need it."
"Well then, Frederick, Lissa, shall we proceed?" said Chrom as he continued walking. "The day isn't ending any faster."
"Press on, Lord Chrom. Milady, maybe you would like to ride on my horse?"
"Hmph. No thanks Frederick. I told you I can handle myse-WWUAUAAAAHHH! Ungh!"
"Liz!" Chrom explained as he drew his sword.
"Are you alright? Are you hit?"
"N-no, Chrom…" Lissa slowly stood up as she tidied herself. "I think I tripped on something."
"Milady…" said Frederick as he stepped down from his horse "I think you tripped on someone".
It was a young lady in a very queer garb with a very long black cape. Her hair was as white as snow and she was blessed with a gentle yet curved figure. Surprisingly, Lissa's collision with her feet did not wake her up.
"Chrom, we have to do something." Lissa gave Chrom a worried look.
"What do you propose we do?" Chrom replied.
"I-I don't know!" Lissa exclaimed. It was then that the young lady woke up with a groan.
"I see you are awake now," said Chrom as he leaned to get a better look at the lady.
"Hey there…" Lissa said as she prepared her staff.
"There are better places to take a nap than on the ground you know," Chrom said and reached out to the lady. "Give me your hand."
"T-thank you," said the young lady as Chrom helped her up. "Where am I?"
Gasps escaped the lips of Chrom and Lissa while Frederick stood calmly but firmly.
"Are you alright?" Chrom asked with a cautioned stance. "Can you tell us your name?"
"My name…my name is…" the lady struggled and held her head as she tried to remember her name.
A voice echoed in her head. "Corrin. Your name is Corrin."
"…Corrin." she replied.
"Corrin? Is that foreign?" asked Chrom. "…Ah, well. We can discuss it later. I would also like to introduce myself. I am Chrom, and this is my Lieutenant, Frederick the Wary."
"A title I wear with pride. Forgive my stern façade, but I must be wary whenever I am with milord in the presence of a stranger," said Frederick with a very firm voice.
"I am Lissa, Chrom's little sister," Lissa said as she was closely examining Corrin's garb. "I apologize for tripping over you. I honestly did not see you lying down there and I certainly did not expect anyone to be in the middle of a field this far out!"
"Not at all, Lissa. I myself do not know why I was lying down in the middle of this field. Is there perhaps an inn nearby? I could use a warm meal while I find out how far Nohr is."
"Actually we were planning on taking you to the nearby town to ask you more questions I promise we won't took too much of your time. By the time lunch is done, you will be homebound." Chrom kindly gestured to Corrin.
"All because I slept in an open field?" Corrin exclaimed. "Isn't this too much of an offense?!"
Frederick rushed to Chrom's side with his silver lance "Watch your tone! You do not seem armed but you seem to have the intent of harming milord to struggle your way out of this! All we have for you are questions, not chains or a prison! Do not make me strike you down, stranger!"
"Frederick. Calm down." Chrom held down Frederick's lance. "Corrin, to us you are not a prisoner. We just wish to know where you come from since you do not seem to be from here, and the current state of Ylisse demands we be cautious and wary. I hope you understand."
"I understand, Chrom." Corrin sighed. "I will go with you. With what I have experienced now it seems hostility is something of a common ritual here nowadays. It is but a poison creeping upon the glory of its former self?"
"Correct," Chrom said as he led the group. "Ylisse values peace above everything. The Exalt prioritizes the welfare of her people and resorts to battle only as a final option. Sometimes her kindness actually invites adversaries more than allies, but we have stood strong so far."
"Clearly I am nowhere near Nohr or Hoshido. Exalt? Ylisse? These terms sound strange to me. And how can they not? I am a stranger in strange lands. For now I will keep my royal status a secret from these soldiers. After that traitorous bastard betrayed us, conflict with another nation is something we can't afford to have now. Last I remember was falling off that bridge. A bright light, and…"
"Chrom! Look!" Lissa shouted as she pointed towards the horizon.
"Gods! A fire!" Chrom said as he drew out his sword.
"Plegians?" Frederick guessed.
"That doesn't matter now. We must investigate!" said Chrom as he began running.
"Milord! What about Corrin?" said Frederick as he brandished his lance.
"Unless she's one fire too, she will have to wait!" replied Chrom.
"Aptly put, milord." Frederick galloped onward.
"W-wait! What about… Ugh…"
"You can run. You can totally run now. Then again where do I run? I have no idea where I am! I might run into less hospitable people and be greeted by an axe rather than a hand! Blast. My darn sword is missing, and Jacob forgot to furnish me with a dagger."
The sky-blue horizon was marred by the smoke of the nearby village set aflame. Behind Corrin was a seemingly endless road towards the mountains.
"Damn it all. Surely that wary lieutenant can spare me something. I hope I live long enough to not regret this!"
