Chapter 2) Childhood Friends

"I know that the circumstances are, by no means, the same, but my poor sense of humor refuses to let me be quiet." Ignoring the reports I knew I needed to read, I grinned at Hannibal, distinctly amused. Hannibal? Not so much. In fact, he looked like he wanted to strangle me, as usual. "So, how is it that you leave for a mission to kill someone and come back with a child?"

"I didn't leave to kill someone, your majesty," Hannibal corrected instantly. He huffed a bit, crossing his arms as he tried to keep himself from puffing up defensively. It was a habit of his from when we were little. "I was getting our very delayed payment from Bramsel in Darna."

"And kill him if he tried to 'technically' get out of it one more time." While I could admire how Bramsel weaseled his way in and out of bargains while holding onto the terms, he was an absolute idiot to bait dragons. "How did that go, by the way?"

"Got extra." Hannibal's look screamed 'did you really need to ask?', but I just continued to grin, leaning back in my chair and resting my hands behind my head. My neck greatly appreciated my not leaning over the desk. "And, regardless, how I got Coirpre is nothing like how you got Altena."

"True, true." Hannibal likely hadn't slaughtered the boy's parents as I had. Yied Massacre, they called it, and whenever I left Thracia, the whispers followed me. Not that I cared, mind. People have been calling us 'hyenas' since before I was born. I did wish they'd be a little less hypocritical about it all, though. I, at least, just ambushed the lot. Arvis invited Sigurd to a damn festival before incinerating him. Brutal, even by my standards. But hey, he was the 'hero', and I was the 'villain'. Same old, same old. "But seriously, what happened?"

"I found a wounded man and offered to help." Hannibal sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The man passed me his son and a few items, like a staff. Then he thanked me, told Coirpre goodbye, and ran."

"Odd, that." On the run from the Empire, likely. An ally of Sigurd's, perhaps? Life was actually decent in the Empire, so there wasn't a lot of rebellions popping up, but those who had known the Holy Knight Sigurd treated the new emperor with a coldness that rivaled Skadi's temper. Last I heard, Verdane had actively chased out the knights and lords sent there to 'rule', while Chalphy only kept the ports opened for Miletos's sake. It wouldn't surprise me if they were hunting malcontents to lessen problems. When you had a large area to rule, things slipped through the cracks all too easily. A factor in why the south and north split here in the Thracian Peninsula, in fact. "So, the boy's name is Coirpre?"

"Yes, your majesty. He's two years old, or so he claims." Hannibal sighed again, and looked at me pleadingly. "Help."

"You're better at child-rearing than…" I trailed off, putting the pieces together. Slow for me, but in my defense, I was distracted. "Oh, toddler. Exploring. Your estates aren't toddler-proof."

"And I have absolutely no idea how to fix that."

"Yeah, I'll help out with that." It was, after all, the least that I could do for him. Hannibal helped me with Arion and Altena, after all. "Arion and Altena should see your lands anyway. Get out of the castle for a bit for things not involving the harvest."

"That reminds me." Now he became stern, and I nearly groaned, knowing just what lecture was coming. "Have you been spending time with your children?"

"Yes, Nanny-Hannibal, I have." Not the least because Altena had no qualms barging into my study if she was bored, unlike Arion. "Though, I am reminded. The servants have been complaining about how much of… oh, what was that word?" I struggled to remember it, but shrugged, unable to. I hadn't paid attention to the complaints, once I realized it wasn't some emergency. "Whatever the word is. Altena's behavior."

"I imagine it has something to do with how Lady Altena cannot sew or weave as well as most other girls her age, and how she can't sit still long enough to learn." Hannibal laughed, amused, and I smiled. Altena was a bundle of energy and raced about do whatever activity seemed interesting. She knew all the healers and doctors in the castle by name due to the number of times she'd ended up in the infirmary. "They probably think she should be more feminine. But I don't see what's wrong with her acting differently."

"Maybe she needs more female friends." I jotted down a note to look into that. Arion needed more friends as well. Honestly, both should probably start trips into the city to learn about our people. They already helped during planting and harvest times. "Ah, whatever. I think she's fine as she is, and if you think the same, then I'm not going to worry about it."

"Until she breaks her legs again."

"Until then." I rolled my shoulders and leaned forward to begin working again. "Neither here nor there. Pick up any interesting gossip while you were out of Thracia, Hannibal?"

"...There is one thing that I think you should know." All trace of humor, cheer, and really anything but solemn sorrow disappeared from his face. I paused, glancing up at him. "I heard that Duchess Alicia had passed away."

"...Ah." I sat back in my chair again, looking up at the ceiling. I honestly wasn't surprised. If anything, I was surprised she had lived as long as she did. Five years was a very long time to slowly 'bleed'. Her spite lasted a long time, it seemed. "Well, that explains why her reply is late." Over the past five years, Alicia and I had exchanged letters. I wouldn't call it 'friendly', by any means, but they had been rather constant and polite. Typically, it was focused on Arion and Altena, making sure they were okay, talking about potential health issues, little stories about the trouble they'd get into… things of that nature. She'd also always send little gifts for them, like candies. "What's the cause?"

"The official words is 'illness'." Apt way to describe 'soul bleeding out', I supposed. "What would you like to do, my king?"

"..." I thought about it and sighed, standing up. There was only one thing I could do, really. I wouldn't claim I had a conscience or honor or anything like that, but… "We'll have a memorial for her. She saved my life, after all." And gave me far less problems by keeping it quiet that Altena was here. While I wasn't sure what Arvis would do, Bloom was a little too ready to send assassins against 'potential trouble'. Not that assassins last long here, mind. Never had one that didn't get ripped apart by a dragon. "Help me pick out the materials for it."

"I could do it myself, if…"

"No, no. I need to do it." Because that's what Thracians did when people they respected died. Make small memorials for them, so that they were never forgotten. And while I neither liked nor hated her, I did respect her. "And I can afford to take the break. I don't need to keep a close eye on the food stores anymore." The negotiated tariffs were quite the boon. For the first time in my life, having a meal once per day wasn't a luxury. In fact, many could afford two. For now. I was waiting for that house of cards to fall apart. Empire was just too big for something to not go wrong. "But you can come with me."

"It would be my honor and pleasure." Hannibal smiled and bowed. "Shall we, then?"

"Lord Father, when can I get my own dragon?" Altena asked, looking up at me with… it was probably supposed to be a pout, but her eyes sparkled too much to make it effective. "I want one so very badly!"

"When you are fifteen, Altena, you may walk among the dragons and see if any wish to bond with you," I explained, amused. Probably shouldn't be, since this had to be the thousandth time I'd told her that, but I supposed it was my bad sense of humor again. Noba's descendants were warriors of the earth, blessed by Gaia of the Lands, yet Altena was fascinated by flying. "Same as all of our knights."

"Why can't I walk with them now?"

"Because you're nine-years-old and not big enough to mount up on your own."

"Grr…" Now she sulked, but she went right on back to laughing when she looked down at the mountains we were flying above. "Oh, pretty! Look at all the oranges and reds, Lord Father!"

"It's simply another autumn, Altena."

"Nothing is ever simple here at home!" She grinned up at me, laughing brightly. "Besides, Thracia is always beautiful. And I haven't seen those mountains since you first brought me home anyway."

"I suppose that is true." 'Brought her home'... either due to trauma or age, Altena didn't remember the Yied Massacre. She knew of it, of course. Everyone did. And those outside Thracia mourned the hideous deaths, while those within its borders celebrated the deaths of the people who longed to starve us and laughed when they slaughtered our children. Altena was a little more conflicted over it, but even she was glad by the reduced tariffs that helped our people thrive. "Don't move around so much. You'll fall."

"No, I won't." She continued grinning. "You'd save me, Lord Father! Just like when you brought me home."

"...Yeah, I suppose so." If I was the type to feel guilt, that might've done it. "Ah, there's Hannibal's main estate."

"He's got more than one?"

"He's got one in the mountains as well." When we were younger, Hannibal and I would hide there for a few days to just relax and have fun. Lorelei would scold us for 'shirking', but she never made us go back. Now, though… well, I hadn't been there since she died. Neither had Hannibal. "This is where he lives, though."

"It's biiiiiiig!" She stretched her arms out wide, like she was trying to hug it from up here. "Oh! Arion! Hi~!" Then she started waving, because the knight who was escorting Arion had flown close to begin descending. Arione, being much quieter, didn't verbally reply, but he did smile and wave back. "Yay! We're here; we're here!"

We landed in the open courtyard and I helped Altena down. She remained still for exactly half-a-second before zooming over to the herb garden Hannibal kept, one of the few gardens to thrive in Thracia. Shaking my head at her antics, I pulled my packs off of Hagen, and let him fly over to the stables where the servants there would get him settled in. Same thing as always, really. I did have to smile when I saw Arion watching the dragons fly off with sparkling eyes. He was much quieter than Altena about it, but I knew he looked forward to it as well.

"Just wait five more years, and you'll bond with your own," I told him, resting a hand on his shoulder. Arion absently nodded, still watching them. "You'll start your training when we get back, though."

"I hope I live up to expectations," Arion murmured, finally turning to me. Somehow or another, he'd gotten a rather serious, solemn personality. Wasn't quite sure where, since 'solemn' definitely didn't apply to me or Hannibal. And Lorelei had been a sandstorm in human form most of the time. "Will I really have one, though? The dragons are the ones who choose, right? They see into our hearts and judge us."

"Yes, and you are of Dain's blood, descended from the Lord of the Skies, blessed with the power of Skadi of the Mountains." I squeezed his shoulder. "I'm willing to bet the dragons are already fighting over which one of them gets to have you as their rider."

"You're teasing me."

"I am being quite serious." I grinned, however, and ruffled his hair. "Now, if I was going to bring up how you tried to fly on your own using the curtains…"

"I-I was applying physics!" Arion blushed, though, embarrassed. "Trying to add practical lessons to my studies!"

"Of course, of course." I pulled him into a hug and then patted him on the back. "Come on. Let's head in. First time you've actually visited Hannibal at his estate."

"That's because Hannibal has to babysit you, Father."

"Now where did that sass come from?"

"Hannibal says you."

"Did he now?" I ruffled his hair again and nudged him forward. "And do you agree?"

"Why, of course!" Arion widened his eyes innocently. "Whyever would I disagree with someone much older and wiser, Father?"

"Scamp." I couldn't help but laugh, though, and I waved when I saw Hannibal had finally stepped out to greet us. "We're here."

"I think I noticed the sudden increase in wyverns and the little princess attached to my leg, your majesty," Hannibal laughed, stumbling a little. After all, he was right. Altena had thrown herself at him for a hug and refused to let go. "Lady Altena, I really do need my leg." Altena pouted, puffing out her cheeks like a chipmunk. "Ah, yes, of course." He scooped her up easily for a 'proper-Hannibal-hug', as Altena called it, and Altena giggled. "Welcome to my estate, Prince Arion, Lady Altena."

"Your home is lovely, Hannibal," Arion replied, keeping polite. Hannibal and I exchanged an amused look over his head. I really didn't know where he got this personality trait. It was almost as surprising as him also having any sense of tact. "Thank you for letting us come."

"The honor is mine, your highness." Hannibal set Altena down and gestured to someone behind him. "Ah, but you should meet someone." Tentatively, a small boy toddled up, hiding quickly behind Hannibal's leg. "Lady Altena, Prince Arion, King Travant, this is Coirpre." He gently nudged the boy a bit more forward, so that we could get a proper look at him. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and a timidity that honestly would get him killed in Thracia, if anyone but Hannibal was raising him. But that wasn't what held my attention. It was the fact that the boy burned with Holy Blood. "He's a bit shy and nervous, so…"

"You're so cute!" Altena cooed, immediately picking Coirpre up. Coirpre stiffened, but she held him securely, pressing her cheek against his. There was a flash of confused nostalgia in her eyes, and I wondered if she was 'remembering' Leif. "I'm Altena. Quiet one over there is Arion."

"I'm only quiet in comparison to you," Arion immediately retorted, rolling his eyes. He held out his hand to Coirpre, however, and shook it when Coirpre hesitantly took it. "It's very nice to meet you, Coirpre. Do you know a good place to walk around?" Coirpre nodded shyly and pointed in a direction. "Then let's head that way. Altena, you sure you can carry him?"

"Of course I can, and even if I couldn't, I wouldn't give him to you." Altena scowled, even as they began to walk off down the hall. "You may be faster than me, Arion, but I am way stronger."

"I was more asking because I am a bit bigger than you. Center of balance and all."

"I've got him!"

"Okay, okay."

"Hey, Hannibal…" I began quietly, watching the children walk off. I focused a bit, just to make sure, but no, I was right. Arion, Altena, Coirpre… all three burned with Holy Blood. "What was among the items the man gave you again?

"Most were just clothes and small personal items, like toys," Hannibal answered. Though he smiled indulgently, his eyes were sharp. He knew I was piecing something together. "The only thing of note, really, was a staff. I imagine he was a priest."

"I see." Priest. Staff. Holy Blood. Well, well… I hadn't know Father Claude of Edda had any children, but it seemed to be the case. And it also explained the running. There was absolutely no way the Empire would let someone as politically powerful as Father Claude live, particularly since he had been allied with Sigurd. "Huh."

"What are you plotting?"

"I am plotting nothing. For once." Though now that he brought it up, I did wonder how I might incorporate this new 'piece' into my board. Also made me wonder if I had guessed right about little Leif and his knights. I wouldn't find out for a very long while, sadly. Long games were a headache. "I'll tell you what I figured out later."

"I do wish you'd at least be a little more open when you're manipulating people you like."

"I am what I am, and I am too old to change." Just because you loved people didn't mean you couldn't use them. In fact, it was because I loved them that I was willing to do whatever it took to give them a better life, and a better future.

If it meant Thracia would thrive, and that Arion and Altena wouldn't have to get their hands as bloodsoaked and dirty as mine, I'd gladly welcome any and all the hatred and punishment in every hell. That was the duty of a king, and a father.

"Ah, that does explain quite a bit," Hannibal mused, once I finished explaining my reasonings about Coirpre's heritage. It was much later, and the two of us decided that, since we were on break, we should do something we hadn't done since Loreleil died. Drink a whole bunch of alcohol while sitting at a window table in Hannibal's room. "Well, I suppose we have technically increased our amount of 'treason' against the empire."

"Is it really 'treason' if you've never been loyal in the first place?" I countered, downing the last of… whatever Hannibal had served me. I wasn't picky when it came to alcohol. Spent too much time as a mercenary and having 'ale' that stripped skin off your tongue. "And I know damn well Arvis is aware of it. That's why I went with the tactic of fighting and then surrendering."

"So long as you are more trouble as an enemy, then you are an ally." Hannibal nodded, and I knew he understood that it was the same for us. The second the Empire's vigil faltered, the second their strength wavered, we'd be ready. Predators watched and waited to find the weakest one of the pack to slaughter and devour, and if the other countries were going to constantly compare us to such animals, I saw no reason to not oblige. "Still, I do wonder how he ended up at Darna."

"Must've escaped, and then the church hid him." Healers were 'neutral', after all. Most didn't pay attention to that. Most required monetary compensation. Alicia had been strange for being completely opposite, but I'd heard that Father Claude was similar enough. "Child must be a Major then. More healers are good."

"No Mark, as of yet."

"Not sure you should be looking for one." I thought of Altena's Mark, which had faded almost to the point of being invisible shortly after she came here. The Mark protecting her, hiding her, while she was away and in 'danger'. There were probably quite a few like that, this generation. "How many Majors did Sigurd's army have? How many had Holy Blood?"

"You're thinking and jumping around in conversation, my king." Still, Hannibal closed his eyes to think. "Five Majors, six if you count how they gave Sanctuary to Prince Shanan. Seven if…"

"If you believe the rumors that Diadora was once married to Sigurd." They were whispers, things you only really heard if you were used to filtering through gossip and rumors to discover truths, like a mercenary. You only heard it from Verdane at the moment, though, and they hated the Empire with a passion. They lost their king due to it. "If the lists are accurate, then it was probably around fifteen or sixteen who had Holy Blood." Could be off. The list of who exactly had been in Sigurd's army changed every time you heard it. "And they had kids, so yeah, many are probably hidden."

"My king, I thought the point of day-drinking in my room was to relax, not talk about serious things."

"If we want serious, I'm drunk enough to ask one."

"My lord, you don't get drunk." Hannibal sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. "Like many other Major Blooded, from my understanding."

"No clue. Never have had the chance to test it out." Thracia was always alone. The other countries looked down on us for selling our skills for their wars. I supposed our assaults on the Manster District didn't exactly help matters. "Regardless-"

"You can't use alcohol as an excuse."

"Sure I can. I'm the king. I can do what I want."

"That is probably the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard you say, and considering how long I have known you…"

"Yeah, yeah." He was right, though. I was barely even buzzed despite drinking on an empty stomach. Though, drinking on 'empty stomachs' was something Thracians were sorely used to. "Regardless, Coirpre reminded me of this. Why aren't you married? You called things off with your last paramour not long after Lorelei…" My heart ached, just as it always did. I was certain it would until my dying day.

"Yes, I did." Hannibal finished off his drink and poured himself some more. "I decided that such things didn't suit me."

"You know her death wasn't your fault, Hannibal. If not for you, I would've lost both of them." When the Leonster knights attacked… Hannibal had been Lorelei's only guard. After all, things were supposed to be 'safe'. And when the knights attacked, he couldn't keep both of them safe. There were too many, even for him, especially since he hadn't worn full armor. So, he had to make a choice. Who did he save? And he picked Arion. "I have never begrudged you for it, and I never will."

"It is a blight on my epithet that I could only shield one." Hannibal shook his head. I sighed, and chose against pointing out that as the 'Shield of Thracia', he did live up to it. He had protected Thracia's future. Arion was Thracia's future. That was why I did the things I did. "But no, Travant-"

"Been a while since you called me without title."

"Must be the alcohol." He smiled slightly, and I nodded accepting the 'excuse'. It took a lot to get him drunk too. "But no, that is not the reason. I feel horrific guilt, and will carry that guilt for all of my life, but we both know that Lorelei would've killed me, slowly, if I picked her over Arion. And losing Arion would've destroyed you."

"Yes, both are true." The thought of Arion dying was enough to make me freeze up. "So…?"

"It was simply that incident, and helping you recover, made me realize I couldn't give Eleanor what she wanted." Hannibal pointed to my mug, and I held it out for a refill. "In the aftermath, I spent no time with her. I wrote no letters. And I felt no guilt over it. After all, in my heart, Thracia is first and foremost. None will ever take that place. Secondmost would be the children. Arion, Altena, and now Coirpre. You are third, Travant, if you do not mind my being blunt."

"Considering who outranks me, I can deal with that."

"And fourth are my people, my soldiers. Any wife of mine would have to be content with being fifth, Travant. And there are very few who would accept such a thing. In fact, I don't think there are any who would." Hannibal smiled. "That's all, my friend. It is related to the incident, but only in that it truly showed me my heart's affections."

"Then I shall be certain to never bring it up again, and you can have fun adopting and raising Coirpre." A little bit of laughter filtered in through the window, and both of us looked out to see Arion, Altena, and Coirpre were playing in the garden. Both Arion and Altena were being careful to make sure Coirpre was included and not left out at all. It reminded me of how Hannibal and I met, all those years ago. "Harvest will be soon."

"It will." Hannibal smiled warmly at the trio, no doubt thinking the same thing I was, even if I didn't voice it. "Let us drink to a good one."

"Yes." Drink to a good future as well. And a hope for 'victory' in my long game. "I'll drink to that."

Author's notes: So, timeline purposes, the year if Gran 766 (Conall would be captured and taken to Belhalla later this year as well). Based on 'my' timeline, that puts Coirpre at around two years old; the description of how Hannibal got Coirpre also showed up in Memoirs of Belhalla. No mention of when Bramsel took over Darna, but I decided it would make sense for him to have been there for a while. How Travant's wife died is brought up during Memoirs of the Holy War.

Dragons/wyverns 'picking' their riders is mentioned in Memoirs of Crusaders and Records of the Valiant (no game evidence really, but I thought it fit). Altena being stronger that Arion comes from her Holy Blood boosts. As a Noba Major, Baldr Minor, Altena has +60% HP, +30% Str, +10% Skl, +20% Spd, +10% Lck, and +20% Def. As a Dain Major, Arione has a +40% HP and +60% Spd (which, incidentally enough, are the same exact boosts a Forseti Major [Lewyn and Ced] has). This is also why Arion is noted to being faster.

Travant's wyvern isn't named in game (in fact, I think FE5 was the first game to even give a name for any wyvern knight's wyverns), so I picked one. 'Hagen' is from Germanic Mythology, specifically the Nibelungenlied. He is the one who killed the hero Siegfried by luring him out on a hunting expedition and then stabbing his one vulnerable spot with a javelin.