Title: A Knight, A Princess, A Promise

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones, but I do own a copy of the game…Which I enjoy playing, often…VERY often…

Rating: T for Violence/Graphic Blood

Genre: Action/Romance/Drama

Pairing: SethxEirika

Summary: "I cannot tell you how dear you are to me, Princess…but I can show you by standing by your side no matter what. And I will always protect you. Not out of duty, but out of love. You are my most cherished possession." Seth and Eirika, in the Frelian gardens.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Knight, A Princess, A Promise

Chapter Two: Onwards to Frelia

Seth didn't think he'd ever run so fast in his life. With the Grado soldiers closing in on him and Eirika at every corridor, they need to get to the stables without any conflict. Franz, the young page who trained under Seth was running beside him, face flushed with sweat on his brow.

"Put me down, Seth! I can't leave my father!! Put me down, that's an order!" The Renais Princess squirmed fearfully in the general's arms, trying to escape.

Seth merely tightened his grip and ignored the desperate cries that tore at his heart. When they reached the stables, it took no time at all for Seth to hand Eirika's shaking body to Franz so he could saddle his horse, a chestnut colored mare named Yesa.

Franz watched Eirika steadily stop shaking and regain some of her posture while Seth got them ready to ride. "Franz, go saddle up the gelded horse down at the end. You will be riding her."

"Yes, General Seth." He did as he was told, and Seth stepped over to Eirika, whispering quickly,

"Princess, we must move now. Quickly, and without hesitation." He stared into her hardened eyes, reflecting them with a shadow of guilt. "I need you to be strong for me, Princess Eirika… for your father, as well."

She nodded slowly and allowed Seth to help her onto the horse. With Franz riding along side them, they rode down the path along the base of the mountains toward Frelia. Eirika glanced back toward the castle, praying to every God and Divine Power she could think of that her family stayed protected.

The only thing audible to the three fugitives were the sound of rough hoofbeats on the dirt paths in the forest. As they came to the end of the treeline, Franz turned to Seth.

"General Seth!"

"Franz, ride ahead and bring word of our coming to Frelia," Seth ordered. Seeing the apprehensive look on Franz's face, he stopped his horse down and said calmly, "A single rider has better odds of passing unseen by Grado's men. Convey to the htrone all that has happened here, and petition for reinforcements." Under his breath, he muttered, "We'll need them."

"U-Understood!" He steered his horse out into the clearing and rode off toward the Frelian border. Seth watched him for a moment before turning his attention to the blue-haired girl in front of him, climbing off the horse and helping her off.

"Princess Eirika, we must - " The sound of flapping wings and a wyvern's roar erupted around them and Eirika looked up at the sky, her eyes wide in awe. Seth looked up and saw three wyvern riders, one leading them. The blue wyvern roared again and swooped in beside them before Seth could get Eirika back on the horse. "Quickly! Behind me!" He grabbed her arm gently and shoved her behind him.

A man with long, straggly green hair leapt off of his wyvern, grinning evilly. He wore red and gray armor, and held a lance in his clenched fist.

"You there, with the girl. Tell me, would that be the wayward princess of Renais?" He watched them flinch defensively and his black, sunken eyes narrowed in thought. "Well, this must be my lucky day!"

Seth drew his silver sword, feeling the Princess' fingers clench anxiously into the sleeve of his tunic. He stepped in front of her, barring her from the man's view. The man frowned impatiently. Seth pushed Eirika back toward Yesa, motioning for her to get on the horse.

"You're a dead man. The wench goes with me." Eirika watched fearfully as Seth's usually stoic face twisted into a furious snarl at the word 'wench.'

"Never!"

The soldier grabbed his wyvern's reins as it reared back, roaring eagerly. He smirked as Eirika tried to pull Yesa back toward Seth. Yesa knew her orders and stayed put, refusing to allow Eirika near the battle.

"I am Valter, the Moonstone, and Grado's finest general!" Valter twirled his lance. "And you're just a corpse who does not know he is dead!"

"Raahh!" Seth lunged forward, rushing at the man who insulted Eirika. Valter barely dodged, and thrust his lancepoint into Seth's right shoulder. Seth swayed as Valter ripped his blade from his flesh. "Ahhh…"

Valter turned to face Eirika, a victorious look on his face. With one step toward her, Seth pushed his legs to run faster as he took a running leap onto Yesa's saddle.

"No!" He wrapped a secure arm around her as he situated himself behind her. Eirika clutched his arm, for reassurance that he was still there as Yesa's hooves pounded down the path. Seth looked back and saw that Valter was merely watching them run. It wasn't over, Seth knew. They would meet again.

When they reached the clearing along Frelia's border, Seth leapt gently off of the horse, helping Eirika down.

"Princess Eirika, this way. I can see no more of Grado's men." He turned and adjusted Yesa's saddle, wincing every so often as his shoulder was jarred. "If we've made it this far, surely we've earned a moment's rest." He paused, glancing back at the Princess before turning back to search through their packs for some bandages. "Please forgive my grabbing you so…brusquely earlier," he added.

"Don't be foolish, Seth." Eirika stepped forward, her eyes on Seth's wound. She looked at it with guilt in her eyes. "If it weren't for you, I would never have made it out of the castle. You are the reason I'm still alive." She curtsied slightly. "You have my gratitude."

Seth nodded in acknowledgement, and found the bandages. He quickly wrapped his shoulder with it, not caring how crudely they were applied. It was only to stop the bleeding. Real treatment would have to wait until they reached Frelia.

"And whoever that man was, he was clearly after me…It is my fault that you received such a grave wound. Allow me to treat it, I -"

"Your Highness, I can't allow an injury like this to be an obstacle." He tied a rag around the bandages and buttoned up his shirt, glad that the princess had not seen the wound. Surely she would've argued until she finally got her way and treated his shoulder. "We have more important matters to attend to. We must press on to Frelia. We must fulfill His Majesty's wishes."

"…" At the sudden sorrow in her eyes and slump of her shoulders, Seth instantly regretted mentioning her father. Eirika turned back toward the castle, but could see only trees and mountains. Her eyes filled with worry.

"Princess…"

"…I wonder how my father fares alone in the castle. Do you think he is safe?" Knowing that Seth would not tell her his true thoughts, she turned away from Renais and toward the border. "And what of my brother on the Grado front? We've heard nothing from him for days." Seth stopped what he was doing and gave her a reassuring smile, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"King Fado and Prince Ephraim are both brave and valiant men. I doubt even the might of the Grado Empire can hold them in check." He led her to Yesa, helping her up onto the saddle. "More important to me, Your Highness, is that you look to your own safety. How sad the two of them would be if something were to happen to you." Eirika nodded. "We must reach Frelia to ensure the day of your happy reunion."

"Yes, of course." She straightened her back proudly, her eyes shining with determination as she smiled down at Seth. "You're right. Until I'm reunited with my father and brother, I must not despair. Come, Seth. Let us go."

Seth allowed a proud smile to grow on his lips. This was the strength she would need to rule Renais, and this was the woman he knew would one day become Queen.

This was the young woman whom he swore to protect.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: So, how was it? Sorry for the long long long wait!! Third chapter will be up soon! 3 days AT MOST!! Please tell me if you liked it!