Fire Emblem and all characters associated with the series belong to Nintendo. GrimGrave does not own anything and does not make money for writing fiction.

Be sure to leave a review and your suggestion for next chapter's pairing! Of course, I might not be able to choose specifically yours, (so many to choose from!) but feel free to ask again!

This time it's Say'ri x Flavia, requested by Roxius!

Love Emblem

Chapter 2

Lovers of the Blade

It had just been a curiosity at first – a curiosity that had gnawed at the back of the East-Khan's head for a while now, ever since the combined army of Ylisseans and Feroxians had reached Valm, continuously calling back her attention.

The swordswoman and princess of the nation of Chon'sin: Say'ri. She was a young woman – a kid compared to Flavia – with long black hair and a face that was best described as "contemplative" and "serious" most of the time, but the swordswoman knew when to light up and have fun.

And ever since that day when they had arrived on Valm, Flavia had not been able to stop thinking about her, a fact that both intrigued and worried her. She was a warrior with an iron will and yet she had caught herself daydreaming (and mull over considerably) about this girl-princess of Chon'sin.

Now, two weeks of marching later, the blonde Feroxian was still in the same predicament.

The East-Khan had merely meant to slake her interest in the young woman by talking to her – learn about her, get to know her better – and yet the simple act of marching over to the raven-haired woman's tent had Flavia's heart skip a happy little beat.

The sun was setting and the troops had prepared campfires and went on with their duties, but the Feroxian leader crossed the camp with a smile that threatened to show. She came to a halt in front of Say'ri's tent and took a deep breath.

"Say'ri, are you there? It's me, Flavia! Might I have a word?"

"Oh! Lady Flavia! I am in the tent, enter and be welcome," came the reply and the blonde allowed the corners of her mouth to curve upwards as she stepped inside. The inside of her tent was just as one would imagine; aside from Ylissean articles, it was mainly a Chon'sin theme to it, or at least Flavia guessed, as no one in the army had ever been to Chon'sin before.

While the small nation's touch fascinated the East-Khan, it was not the décor that had her slack-jawed. No, stormy-grey eyes widened at Say'ri's state of undress. She was practically wearing strips of cotton that wrapped around her hips and chest, leaving Flavia with a perfect view of her milky pale and slim body. With long dark locks cascading her back and over her shoulders, it was an image that wouldn't leave her mind anytime soon.

She swallowed hard. "Oh, d-did I come at a bad time?"

´Did I stutter just now…?´ She mentally reprimanded herself, eyes still glued on the surprisingly splendid form of her ally.

The swordswoman offered a small smile and shook her head. "Nay, Lady Flavia, you did not disturb. I was merely getting ready. Had you been a man, I would have made you wait outside, but we are both women, no? Besides, I have no shame in my body."

Flavia, who was used to the cold of Regna Ferox, was suddenly sporting bright and hot scarlet across her tan cheeks and she cleared her suddenly dry throat. "And neither have I, but perhaps it would be best if you got dressed? It would be bothersome if someone else was to walk in unannounced."

´And even more bothersome if someone else saw you like this…´

"Fie, you're right! Allow me but a moment then, my lady," Say'ri replied. As the princess got dressed, the Feroxian couldn't help but appreciatively ogle at her clear back and slender thighs, and particularly the shapely rear that caught her attention. It almost beckoned for the East-Khan's firm grip—

She shook her head furiously. The warmth on her face –and to an extension, her chest – grew hotter with shame, and yet the edges of her lips curved further upwards.

"There," the brunette stated as she turned back to the blonde, fully dressed (to the Feroxian's slight disappointment.) "Now, you wished to talk with me, lady Flavia?"

Oh, right. She was supposed to "have something to talk with her about."

"I was wondering…" the Khan began, trying to come up with something. "Well, I guess I'm curious about… your armour."

The Chon'sin princess looked at her puzzlingly. "My armour?"

"Yes," Flavia lied. "I've never seen anything like it… I know your nation is miles away from Regna Ferox, so our cultures differ, but I'm still surprised to see armour like yours, especially as it doesn't seem to give you a disadvantage in battle, despite lacking plates and chainmail."

Say'ri flashed her ally another smile. "Hardened lacquer; it keeps the armour light while providing excellent defence. We don't use heavy armour in Chon'sin."

"Intriguing… And no shields either?"

"No," was her reply. "We only carry curved, single-edged blades, my lady." The brunette princess chuckled. "I'm guessing my explanations must indeed sound foreign to you."

"Ha! You hit the nail on the head with that one. I couldn't imagine myself with only a sword in hand," the blonde reagent answered with a guffaw. "However, I take it that there's a lot more difference between our nations beyond just battle-attire?"

"Aye, a world's worth, ma'am! Dress, food…You'd find most everything about my culture curious."

´This gives me an idea… Two birds with one stone!´ Flavia mused. "Is that right? Ha! I'd love to hear more about it sometime… Would you mind if I swung by from time to time to hear more?"

Say'ri's smile grew bigger as she nodded. "Aye, I'd be more than happy to indulge you, Lady Flavia – I'd be honoured. Talk of my homeland keeps it close to heart. You are welcome anytime."

The tan warrior forced herself to hide her predatory grin.

´Perfect.´

x.X.x.X.x

"I've been meaning to ask you, Say'ri," the flaxen-haired Khan said as she once again sat down inside the Chon'sin princess' tent. These meetings had been going on for about a week, and Flavia mentally patted herself on the back for the idea.

"Then I shall strive to answer whatever question you may have, my lady." The younger girl gently poured them some tea before she took her seat opposite of the Feroxian. "What do you inquire of me?"

Flavia chuckled. She had another idea up her sleeve, and now was the perfect time to put it in motion. "First of all, call me by my name. There's no need for titles here. Second, I was wondering if you and I could become sparring partners."

The Chon'sin princess was about to sip her tea when she paused, attention focused on the blonde. "Sparring partners? I am honoured that you find me worthy of that position, milady, though I do question your logic; surely there are others more suitable for that, such as Lord Basilio –"

"That battle-hardened oaf can certainly take blows, but I think it's time I spar with a more… nimbler opponent." Pink lips pursed and curved upwards into a kittenish smile. "Besides, we can learn a lot from each other, so there's nothing but benefits for us if we sparred a little every now and then." She calmly sipped her tea and then smirked at the girl. "Interested?"

The raven-haired princess drank her tea as well, and the moment the cup was resting on the low table, she looked away for a moment before her eyes met Flavia's and she smiled. "Your words ring true, my lady. Very well, I look forward to our first sparring-session together!"

´Too easy.´ The Feroxian put down her cup. "Well then, shall we have a go right away?"

The swordswoman's eyes reflected her hesitation, however brief, but soon she smiled confidently as she got up, a hand firmly resting on the pommel of her blade. "Whenever you're ready then, my lady."

"What did I tell you about titles and names?" The East-Khan unsheathed her silver sword and grinned.

The single-edged blade was unsheathed. "Ah, yes… Do forgive me. Whenever you're ready… Flavia."

The blonde's heart jumped a little. The way her name rolled off the much younger woman's tongue was like music to her ears. She needed to hear it again, but perhaps in a bit shriller – a bit throatier...

"Better."

The Feroxian's body was blazing hot and she couldn't suppress the smirk that curved full lips as she envisioned herself on top the brunette, pressing her toned and muscular body against Say'ri's slim form –

Now wasn't the time. Thankfully the Chon'sin princess' tent was larger than the average soldier's and allowed ample space as the warriors clashed in a flurry of steel – unlike when members of Chrom's army used weapons designed for practice to avoid serious injuries – neither gaining the upper hand throughout the lengthy sparring.

Flavia was impressed. She had never doubted a Chon'sin warrior's battle-prowess but here she was, armed with both sword and shield, and the swordswoman moved like flowing water from one point to another and nearly forcing the Khan to abandon the offensive and go into defensive.

But Say'ri was still young, and her country was one of peace; she was a quick learner, but those two points were her weaknesses. The East-Khan was not only much older, but she had a lot more experience with combat. All that she needed was a brief window of opportunity.

´Now!´

Flavia deflected Say'ri strike with her sword and immediately followed it up with a shield bash with enough force to avoid serious injury, but knocked the warrior-princess down to the ground.

Everything went quiet. The flaxen-haired warrior wiped sweat off her brow and took a few deep, slow breaths. Her heart was still racing and at this point Flavia couldn't tell if it was from the sparring or if it was from seeing her object of affection all red and flustered as well.

"You're a natural, Say'ri," the Khan commended and offered a hand. "But you've got room for improvement."

"Fie! I know it too well," the brunette admitted as she was helped up. "But alas, we of Chon'sin lived in an era of peace. We merely trained in the art of the sword for self-defence, so I imagine I have yet much to learn."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. Your skills with the blade are swift and precise. You hardly need to improve your offence." A thought was born at the back of the East-Khan's mind, progressed into an idea, and developed into a plan that she executed without hesitation. "Your defence, however, could use some polishing… You leave too many openings, Say'ri."

The young princess's expression was puzzled. "Perchance that is true, but if I'm swift, my foe won't be able to take advantage of it. Still, what do you recommend, milady- …uhm, Flavia?"

"I will give you a few pointers," the Khan replied, not missing a beat as she sheathed her silver sword and walked behind Say'ri, gently taking her by the arms. Her heartrate wouldn't slow down, her body suffused with heat. The brunette's hair, Flavia discovered, was silky smooth and smelled pleasantly of flowers. Even through cloth and armour, she could feel the princess' body-heat. "Now, while we may use different weapons and styles, you need to always be ready to parry incoming attacks, regardless of the situation. You're not using a shield, so this'll be different. Hold your blade in front of you."

The Chon'sin swordswoman did as told, and Flavia steeled herself and kept her hands in check, but the temptation to let them wander – just straying a little lower towards smaller hands – proved nearly too difficult for the Feroxian. "This'll give you a good balance of defence and offence. You'll be able to quickly thrust your blade at your opponent, or deflect any strikes he might attempt."

"Aye, I'm well aware of this," Say'ri stated. She chuckled. "This stance is not foreign to me."

´Ogre's teeth…´ the warrior cursed. This wasn't good. "My apologies, I've never seen you using it so far, so I assumed –"

"Do not be troubled, my lady," the swordswoman interrupted. She hadn't moved from the spot. "I am truly grateful for the advice nonetheless. Perchance there is something that I have missed so, please… Do continue, my lady."

Was it possible for her to be blushing? Flavia gasped breathlessly before she smiled a predatory smile, hands straying. "I believe I told you to call me by name, Say'ri. I'm not that old."

"You're older than most of us in this army and you're the Khan of Regna Ferox," the brunette answered. Her hazel eyes seemed to glow in the low light of her tent as she glanced back at the warrior behind her. She looked pleased.

The warrior's brow furrowed. "Are you calling me an old lady now?"

"Fie! Your age is nothing to be ashamed of, milady. In Chon'sin, the most beautiful objects to artists are the old and broken. In our eyes, we prefer the patina of age, and while objects are most beautiful when old and rusty, the age of people on the other hand is… a different aesthetic."

The East-Khan didn't realize how close they were; she could practically lean down and steal a quick peck if she were to give in.

"Is that so?" Flavia replied, her voice low. Her hands had moved up and rested on the young woman's shoulders.

"Aye, my lady. But if I may be so bold, your appearance does not reflect your age, so rid yourself of any concerns."

"I don't think there's any more concerns now. If my age is beauty in your eyes, I'll gladly accept any of your comments." She smiled at the Chon'sin warrior. "Thank you, Say'ri."

"You are most welcome, milady, and I'm grateful as well for having a veteran watching my back." She smiled at the blonde and the Khan chuckled.

"Is my name difficult to pronounce?"

Even in the faint candlelight, Say'ri's usually milky white cheeks exposed her blush. "Ah… Nay, Flavia."

The princess had turned around completely now and stared directly into stormy-grey pools, her expression amiable and inviting, and the Khan's own features became flushed. Without thinking, her grip on the brunette's shoulders tightened and she leant down –

"This should be enough for one day," Say'ri quickly said. She stepped out of arm's reach, her expression uncertain and the Feroxian masked her disappointment. "It's getting late, my lady. We shouldn't miss dinner."

Her words barely registered in Flavia's mind. Her stare was fixed on the ground, hands balled up into fists. She was a warrior with a will of iron, who fought for what she wanted, but this was different; she couldn't force herself on Say'ri.

With a dejected sigh, the East-Khan replied with a low, "Sure", before leaving the tent.

x.X.x.X.x

The rest of that night had been frustrating for the warrior – mentally and psychically – and the following day, the Chon'sin swordswoman was nowhere to be seen. Flavia let out a heavy sigh and brooded in her solitude of the abandoned main tent, replaying last night's events repeatedly in her head. If only she hadn't tried to rush it… or maybe she should've been faster… The feeling of having lost her chance and the memory of Say'ri's expression was gnawing at the back of her mind and she, in pure vexation, slammed her fist down at the wooden table.

The sound of footsteps went on deaf ears until the canvas was moved aside and the deep, disturbingly familiar voice broke her concentration. "Oh ho! Who is this lovely young woman? Perhaps she's seeking companionship? ...Is what I was thinking before I recognized it was you, Flavia! Bwa ha!"

´Ogre's teeth, not now.´ "Yes, and I thought, "Who is this sad, crusty old man? Perhaps he is lost and confused?" Before I heard the tired buffoonery and recognized it was you, Basilio," Flavia responded, barely glancing at the former Khan.

"Old and crusty? Hah! I may look old to you, but inside beats the heart of a young man in his prime!"

The blonde rolled her eyes. "Drop the charade, oaf. I know you too well. Now what do you want with me?"

"Bah! Always so serious, aren't you? … But fine. I'm old enough to be a grandfather to half this army. Anyway, I'm here to talk – you know, a little friendly banter – between Khans, that's all." The chocolate-skinned warrior flashed a toothy grin. "And look: mead, fresh from the old country."

The corners of Flavia's lips tugged upwards. Mead was good. But… "…What are you planning, oaf?"

"Must you question everything?! Let me just pour you a mug and let's talk…"

"A large mug for me then, and be quick about it!" The blonde tapped impatiently against the flat surface and managed a small smirk as the indeed large mug was put in front of her. She imbibed the strong drink without pause, thoroughly enjoying the taste of home and wiped her mouth clean with her arm. "Now what do you want?"

"Hmph. I was hoping we could have a talk about the future of Regna Ferox… However, let's not jump straight to business; let's get to know each other a bit better, hm?" He grinned and chugged down some mead. "Now, tell old Basilio… There are plenty of nice-looking men in Chrom's army, no? Have you taken a shine on anyone?"

"You won't pry me with mead, oaf. Gods preserve us; I have better things to do than list my chrushes like a silly little girl to some old man. Did you know the youngsters like to call you ´gramps´?"

Basilio scoffed. "That's ripe, coming from you! You're old enough to be Chrom's mother, woman! ...Assuming that you are a woman. I doubt anyone's ever managed to prize you out of that armour long enough to find out. Bwa ha ha!"

Stormy-grey pools cast their gaze to the table as a certain princess came to mind – a princess who'd definitely would be able to prize the East-Khan out of her armour, amongst other things – but the mocha-skinned woman's expression darkened as her hand reached for the hilt of her blade.

"…Have I shown you my new sword, oaf? It's sharp enough to slice through mail…"

The West-Khan blanched. "H-hey now, why don't we just –"

"Keep talking? Yes, why don't we…" Her silver sword was unsheathed and rested on the man's neck. "I believe you mentioned something about my age?"

"…I remembered that there's something I need to discuss with Robin. But don't be fooled, I WILL have my revenge, woman, or else my name isn't Basilio the Brave!"

"You can leave the bottle," Flavia said nonchalantly as her oafish predecessor took his leave. "…Honestly, that's the first time I hear that name…" She took a swig of her mead. Finally, peace, quiet, and a strong drink to boot. Taken a shine on anyone? Say'ri, naturally. At first, it had been an interest, a carnal desire that had the Khan seek the young woman out, like hunger making the wolf seek out the lamb.

But taking a shine on someone… as in, love? Spending time with the swordswoman was enjoyable, and Flavia had come to both admire and enjoy everything Say'ri had to offer, be it tales of her land's customs to battle tactics, and… well, plainly, she valued the time spend being near the princess.

Did she love her, though? Too early to tell, but there was something there, that much was certain.

Feeling that she didn't get anywhere, the flaxen-haired warrior finished her mead, grabbed Basilio's bottle, and headed back to her own tent.

x.X.x.X.x

Say'ri was nowhere to be found the next day as well. Despite standing out with her Chon'sin armour, she was able to blend in with an army as big as Chrom's as they marched. They had been marching for the whole day and had yet to meet any of Walhart's forces, and when the sky began to be basked in the golden light of the setting sun, the army finally ceased their march and set up camp.

The East-Khan crossed her arms over chest, her brow furrowed. Was the princess avoiding her? That wouldn't be too surprising, considering what happened earlier.

The flapping sound of canvas caught her attention and Flavia turned around. She nearly blanched and her heart threatened to jump out of her chest. "…Say'ri –"

"Lady Flavia," the brunette interrupted. Her polite bow and slight smile threw the Feroxian off-guard. Why had she returned? "Beg pardon, did I disturb you?"

"…No. No, of course not! I'm happy to see you, in fact. About last time –"

"Yes, about last time," Say'ri said. "…Let's continue where we left off."

An uncharacteristic expression threatened to break Flavia's otherwise calm features. "…I'd be glad to, Say'ri. But why now, if I may ask?"

The Chon'sin swordswoman strode over to the Khan, her gaze never leaving Flavia's. "My deepest apologies for my disappearance, I needed time to think… and to mentally prepare myself."

"…? Prepare yourself for what?" the East-Khan inquired, but the princess turned her back to her and initiated the same stance from two nights ago.

"The way you're teaching me… I'm familiar with it, as I mentioned, but it is still new to me. I've never exercised it, and..." She paused, followed by a sigh. "It shames me to admit, but I lost my cool, and in doing so I undoubtedly hurt you, my lady. But rest assured, I will not run away this time… So please, teach me."

The blonde's cheeks grew hot. Flavia knew she wasn't solely talking about swords.

As Say'ri's words sunk in, the blonde stared absentmindedly for a moment before her strong hands gently gripped the younger woman's and caressed them. This feeling – bodies pressed together despite armour and clothes – was something the East-Khan had missed a lot. "…I can imagine it's sometimes scary to try something new."

"It has less to do about fear and more to do with not being prepared… But I've done my thinking, my lady, and I won't run away again. Please, milady… If I may be so bold, let us continue where we left off."

Pink, full lips curved upwards into a pleased smile. "…Then turn around."

The raven-haired woman did just so, sword sheathed, and her pale white features were tinted red, just like last time. Her eyes were dimmed with… Flavia couldn't put her finger on it, but Say'ri's expression said more than a million words – not that they needed words at this point.

The moment their lips touched, the women pulled each other closer. Through cloth, leather, and armour, they felt their hearts beat in unison as they poured all of their feelings into their kisses –

The fluttering noise of tent-canvas forced them apart – a moment of hurt, disappointment, and puzzlement – as a certain white-haired tactician stepped inside the tent. "Khan Flavia, if I could have a word with –" The woman paused. "Oh, Say'ri, you're here as well? Did I come at a bad time?"

´Yes, you did!´ the Khan thought. "Yes-"

"You did not, milady – I was just about to excuse myself. Lady Flavia," she said and bowed before the Feroxian before she strode out of the tent without waiting for a reply.

Robin scratched her neck in discomfort. "…I feel that I may have interrupted something after all."

The East-Khan just sighed.

x.X.x.X.x

Another day passed. Chrom's army had managed to pave a way deep into Valm, and while Walhart the Conqueror's army was strong, their defences didn't last long thanks to the master tactician.

As they set up camp for the night, soldiers had begun talking about the hot-springs that were in the area – a common sight in these parts of Valm – and Flavia, having not managed to find the Chon'sin princess, decided to visit these popular pools.

The sun was setting. The sky was gold and crimson.

´Still no sign of her…´ Flavia pondered. As she made her way to the hot-spring area, she caught sight of a certain female redhead knight and her blue-haired husband-prince leaving said pools, and she smirked to herself. ´Lovebirds already took a trip to a romantic rendezvous, huh?´

And she soon understood why; the pools were a sight to behold, the clear shimmering surface reflecting the sky and framed by mountainous rocks. The springs were not too far from the camp, but the forest helped seclude them, giving whoever bathed some privacy, and right now there were no-one else around.

Pleased, Flavia wasted no time. Bit by bit her armour was tossed aside and her ponytail was undone. Her wavy hair cascaded past mocha-skinned shoulders as the warrior-woman dipped her foot in the shimmering water: it was warm. Then she jumped in.

By the gods, this was heavenly! The Khan would surely miss these when the army would eventually head back home. The warmth helped her relax, and above her the sky was clear and beautiful, but her mind returned to the missing brunette.

Say'ri. Where was she? She had been so forward yesterday, so why was she avoiding the Feroxian again? It wasn't fair! If only Robin hadn't showed up then, Flavia would've still had had the princess in her arms, kissing her, touching her, undressing her…

Flavia closed her eyes. She still remembered the sight of the swordswoman in her underwear, revealing her milky pale body without a care, and wouldn't have minded the fellow warrior eying her.

´Little minx…´

Her breathing became heavier – throatier – as she got out of the water and let the chilly evening winds engulf her, though she did not freeze. The East-Khan supported herself against a rock, her pink nipples erect and her core between her loins dripping, though not from the water.

She couldn't take it. A leader, a warrior she may be, Flavia couldn't keep ignoring her urges, and as her hand – fingers calloused from many years of training – strayed past a triangle of soft, flaxen hair and brushed against her sensitive bundle of nerves, she didn't stifle her voice. Fingers dipped into wet heat, her mind focused on the Chon'sin swordswoman –

It wasn't until a gentle splash that the Khan broke out of her reverie and found herself face-to-face with the younger woman. She was still wrapped in her towel despite being knees-deep in water.

"…May I offer aid in your… task?" She was flushed and clung tightly to the towel, but Flavia could only chuckle.

"Heh. I'm no lone wolf when I don't need to be. Drop the towel – it's only us here."

Reluctant, Say'ri discarded herself of the last barrier and allowed the older woman full view. She had a slim and graceful figure, just as Flavia remembered. The princess crossed the distance, her gaze glued on the blonde's form the whole way until she stood in front of her.

"…Forgive me for my disappearance yet again. I broke my promise to you," she said. Flavia tucked away a few loose raven-black bangs. "…But I fear I do not wish for others to know."

"Don't apologise," the East-Khan replied. "We can talk later. I told you, it's just you and me here…" She smiled a predatory grin and pulled the girl close. "For now, you're all mine, little lamb…"

"I'm all yours, Flavia…" The swordswoman leant in and kissed pink lips. "I'm in your care."

Flavia laughed softly against the brunette's lips. This journey towards Say'ri's heart had been confusing with its fair share of ups and downs, but now there was no mistake. She had her now. And she wouldn't let go.

Thanks for reading! As always, post the pairing you wish to see next - male x male, female x female, male x female, I don't care! :D