Hello, readers!
I'd just like to thank my reviewers for the feedback, support, tips, and for pointing out my grammatical errors (it'll never happen again, I promise!).
I realize I didn't put a disclaimer into my first chapter, so I'll so that from this point on.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem or any of its characters, places, or concepts.
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Chapter One: The Streets of Nevassa
The man walked briskly down the streets of Nevassa, capitol of Daein. He wore a cloak of the darkest purple with the hood up, shading his face. Underneath the cloak was a tunic and a robe, of white and gold, respectively. It was impossible to tell the man's age from this distance, for he purposely wore the cloak to remain an enigma while in town.
Why would he want to remain mysterious, you ask? Well, he wasn't really allowed to wander the streets of Nevassa. Someone would notice him and recognize him immediately. And he couldn't have that, not this man.
As he passed by a storefront, the vendor thrust out his arm, holding a fresh fish.
"You buy fish!" the vendor yelled, waggling the fish in the air.
"No, uh, I don't want the fish," the man mumbled, looking at the ground and trying to walk around the vendor, pulling the hood lower over his face.
"Buy fish!" the vendor repeated angrily. "Buy fish now!"
"No thank you," the man said. He managed to get around the vendor, then resumed his brisk pace down the street. He ignored the vendors calls, trying to sink further into his cloak.
Turning down the alley he was looking for, the man slowed his pace, still staring at the ground. Suddenly, the tip of a sword appeared in his view, halting him.
The man turned, a smile touching his lips.
"Peter, what have I told you about putting your weapons in my face?" he asked, pulling his hood down to reveal golden eyes set into a handsome, yet pale, face, framed by shaggy purple hair. The man was not quite a man, rather, he was seventeen. Almost a man.
The myrmidon, Peter, made a sarcastic bow.
"As you wish, Prince Walter," he said with a fake sincerity, "my apologies." He sheathed his blade.
Walter responded with his own brand of sarcastic sincerity. "Pardoned, my good knight."
For a moment neither spoke. Then they laughed, the hearty, self-assured laugh of young men, Peter slinging an arm over Walter's shoulders.
"We didn't think you'd be able to get out today," Peter said.
"My parents think I'm in my chambers, studying," Walter responded, rolling his eyes. The two began to walk further down the alley. "Are the others here as well?"
Peter nodded. "Thomas and Theodore are waiting for us up ahead."
As they reached the other end of the alley, two others their age came into view. One sported fairly heavy armor. An axe hung from his belt. The other was dressed lightly. He appeared to be agile and lithe, and a dagger could barely be seen hiding up his sleeve. At the sight of Walter, they both made comical bows, each extending his right foot and placing the heel on the ground. Walter made his own bow in imitation of them, restraining an urge to laugh as he did so.
They both straightened up, the one with the axe smiling.
"Thomas, wipe that smile off your face," Walter commanded. In a much more light-hearted tone he asked, "where's Toto?"
Thomas stopped smiling. "Toto? The wyvern? Hell, he's probably enjoying a venison steak. My little sister spoils that wyvern silly."
"Milord, it's so good to see you on this beautiful day!" Theodore called out melodramatically. "Your eyes are like the stars in the heavens, your hair like soft velvet --"
Thomas slapped him. "There's only room in this town for so much royalty, you drama king."
The four of them shared another laugh. They had planned to find a nice field just outside the city walls to practice their skills. Of course, such skills would hardly be necessary in this day, right? The entire continent had been quite peaceful for the last twenty years.
Naturally their plans were ruined, but not by disaster. By relatives.
"Oh very clever!" a voice called from the street. "Really witty, Thomas." The four young men turned to see a young woman their age strolling up the alley. She was also quite pale and had Walter's golden eyes. Only her hair was silver. Clearly she and Walter were related. But that's because they're twins.
"Ah Gabrielle," Walter said, still using a form of sarcasm. "How nice to see you today. How did you manage to escape the castle?"
"I told mom and dad I was taking care of my Pegasus," she replied simply, examining her nails while she spoke. A girl about two years younger than everyone else stepped out from behind Gabrielle. She had a bow and a quiver of arrows strapped to her back.
"Theodore, it was your turn to wash the dishes today. Mother sure was angry," she piped, glaring at her older brother.
Theodore clapped a dramatic hand to his forehead and feigned swooning. "Oh no! I've forgotten to do the dishes gents! We must return to my humble abode otherwise we shall all perish! Thank you for reminding me, my dear, sweet sister Susannah!"
Anyone who didn't know Theodore would think he was being sarcastic. Theodore made to turn around and go home, but before he could even take a step, three pairs of hands seized him. Walter, Thomas, and Peter all pulled Theodore back.
"A little shirking never hurt anybody," Peter scoffed, glaring at Susannah.
"Oh yes it did, sugar," Susannah said. "I'll hurt Theodore if he doesn't get home right now and do those dishes."
Theodore, surprisingly strong for his size, tried to pull away from his friends.
"You lay a finger on him," Thomas began, "and I'll feed you to my wyvern."
"You mean the spoiled one?" Gabrielle taunted, and Thomas flushed.
They continued like this for a while, Walter holding Theodore back, Thomas and Peter fighting a (losing) battle of wits with Gabrielle and Susannah (Walter was the brains of their operation). When it seemed like the retorts would never end, a painfully polite voice cut in.
"I really do think you should stop fighting," it said. "it isn't very healthy for friends like us to fight."
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned toward that voice. Walking down the steps from the Nevassa church was Randall the priest. Although he seemed a very strange priest. He was always polite at first, but if one merely put a toe out of line, Randall would blow his top and out would come the Grand Hoo-hah of all Mr. Hydes. If that wasn't enough, Randall's "priestly robes" were black with blood red patterns woven into them.
"Oh, um, sorry Randall," Thomas said sheepishly, rubbing his arm. The rest of them muttered similar apologies, all looking very nervous.
"It's all right dear friends, the Goddess forgives, and so do I," he tittered, "sometimes."
No one said anything for a minute. They all liked Randall, but sometimes he could be… well … just damn creepy.
Then Walter noticed the shadows on the streets.
"Dammit! Look at the time!" he yelled, furious. "We're going to be late Gabrielle!"
"Shit!" she hissed, echoing Walter's sentiment. She and Walter dashed out of the alley and ran up the street toward the castle.
Walter turned as he ran. "Sorry guys, maybe next time!" he called out. He and Gabrielle wove through the streets, not caring who saw them or whom they bumped into. They eventually arrived at the castle gate, but skirted around it before they could be seen and climbed into the castle through Walter's window.
"Gee, that was… fun…" Walter panted, sitting on his bed.
"Well, I don't think we were noticed," Gabrielle grinned. "I'm gonna go to my room now. See you at dinner."
All in all, Walter and Gabrielle were pretty good friends. They had their tussles and their arguments, but what siblings didn't?
Fifteen minutes later, the siblings sat down to dinner. As their parents walked in, Walter winked at Gabrielle and she rolled her eyes.
Pelleas started the conversation. "How was your day?" she asked them.
The siblings responded with vague replies about the weather, books, and something a servant did.
Then Micaiah spoke up. "How're your friends doing?" The question seemed innocent enough, but the innocence was a coating that hid the venom and sarcasm in the question. Both Walter and Gabrielle winced.
"The next time you two want to go gallivanting around the city, you clear it with us, and you bring gaurds." Micaiah admonished. She didn't yell. She never yelled. Walter would have preferred it if she had yelled.
"Mother, we're perfectly capable of protecting ourselves --" Gabrielle began, but she was cut off.
"I don't want to hear it," Micaiah huffed, and that's all she had to say to end the conversation. The rest of dinner was a silent, subdued affair.
Walter and Gabrielle went to bed smarting.
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Just wanted to get characters introduced for this chapter. I think we'll have a smidge of action next chapter, and then it really begins, so stick with me, mm'kay?
'Til next time, CCM.
