This story is rated M for violence, language and sexual content.

Disclaimer:I do not own Fire Emblem, but you already know this.

Fire Emblem: Legend Of The Chaos Hero

Book One: In The Grip Of Hatred

By Chaos Hero Mark

Chapter I - X: Sad Reunion

"Cassandra... I haven't seen her in a very long time. She must have grown up by now. Things have gotten worse since we were gone. She's been been all alone wandering about us. She is a special person to both of us... but much more to Edgar. Trivalon and Regallas has changed, but she hasn't."

+ Castle Trivalon +

Edgar's quarters - Inside there was a single bed with a thick blanket cover; large pillow; colors were white and lime yellow that stood in a corner. Two chairs, one near the bed, the other in the center, both shaped like sofa's. Near the window was a large portrait of a landscape and the floor was covered by a red carpet.

As the pair sat in their respective seats waiting, Edgar posed a question grinning.

"Tell me Mark. Have you met the new milkmaid?"

Hand covering his face, Mark groaned. "Edgar, I'm begging you! Please!"

Edgar chuckled. "It's funny watching you react when I talk about women." Then he pulled his face, pushing out his lips in an almost fish-like manner. "What's the matter? Does 'Marky' not like girls?"

Mark looked away from him so that Edgar could not see him chuckle. "Stop that Edgar."

"Ahh....so you can laugh after all." The purple-haired youth flashed a smirk, which quickly disappeared. "Cassandra's taking too long. I think we should go pay her a visit."

Mark thought to himself. "About damn time."

The two went outside of the room and into the hallways. They were about to head left, when Mark saw to his right a woman in her 20's. She was wearing a light brown dress with a white apron. She had blonde hair with two pigtails and she was carrying a piglet close to her chest.

The woman saw Mark staring at her with a confused look and gave him a smile, blushing, dimples and all. Edgar saw this and stepped closer.

"Ah, Mark. This is our new milkmaid." He said smiling.

"My lords." The maid replied, giving a short bow.

The hardened tactician simply nodded, trying his best to keep a stern face. All the while, his older friend was pulling faces and talking gibberish to the piglet.

"Milady, it's not wise for you to keep a pig in your arms out here, when you have duties to attend to."

The woman bowed her head in shame. "Forgive me your royalness, but I had to make sure that Tinkels was fed. I'll get back to my duties right away."

Mark raised his eyebrow. 'Tinkels?'

"I'm glad milord thinks tis a beautiful name." She looked him in the eye and gave a cheery smile.

He stared at her dumbfounded and in silence. Could she actually read his mind? After a moment, he turned to his older companion.

"We need to go. Now." He turned back to the maid. "Milady." He gave a short nod and they went on there way. Edgar started whining. It had something to do with the piglet, which the young tactician tried to ignore.

As the two came to the front door of Cassandra's room, Edgar noticed how nervous his young friend was. He decided to pry into the matter.

"What's wrong?"

Mark lowered his head. "I haven't seen or spoken to her in seven years. What do I say to her?"

Edgar folded his arms and said to him. "If it helps any, she's just as nervous as you are. Cassandra doesn't hate you. I'll go first and speak to her, while you collect yourself."

- X -

As his friend entered the room, Mark stood there thinking what he would say her. What should he say? I mean, he hasn't seen this chick in ten years, so it's not like it's gonna be some lovey-dovey reunion or anything. But seriously, he was nervous as hell and so he just stood there. The door opened slightly, and Edgar asked if he was ready. He did his best to calm himself and motioned to Edgar that he was. He slipped on his glasses, adjusting them properly and proceeded to enter the room.

Inside her room, to his left there was a small hearth and three sofa-like chairs. To his left there was a bed similar to the one in Edgar's room, except the colors were magenta and violet. Near the bed was a door; the floor was covered in a bright turquoise color and there was a window with dark-brown curtains. To his left stood his best friend and in the center stood a young woman about his age. She had pale-white skin; brown eyes; long black hair that curled by the strands; a pair of glasses, thicker than Mark's, is worn across her facial features and a royal dress, mostly covered by the brown cloak she was wearing. The tactician was stunned to see how his long-lost friend has grown up. The young woman slowly walked up to him and embraced him. He was shaking nervously as he put his arms around her. After a moment, that seemed like eternity, he could hear her sobs. When they released each other, he saw tears running down her cheeks. She spoke in-between her sniffles.

"I'm so happy to see you again."

"Me too."

As she wiped away her tears and fixed her glasses, Mark had so many things to ask her. He was about to speak when Edgar said. "There are others who wish to see you. Cassandra, do you mind?"

"Of course not." She calmly replied and went to sit in one of the sofa-like chairs near the hearth. Edgar went to the door near the bed and with his knuckles, rapped on it three times and went to join her. The door opened and a middle-aged man came out. He had light-brown eyes, long, dark-gray hair ;tied back in a pony-tail style and a flat thin goatee. He wore a cream-colored breastplate, turquoise pants and dark-brown boots. The man stood a few feet away from the tactician and spoke calmly.

"Hello Mark."

"Father." He replied in his neutral tone. The youth took a good look at his father and noted that the man still looked young, even in his age. He saw sadness in his father's eyes as he began to speak.

"Edgar... he told me everything. I cannot imagine -"

"And why did tell you?!" He cut the man off. Mark's tone carried anger behind it as he pointed his right fore-finger towards the man he called father. " Why the hell should I trust you? "

"Mark, listen to me please." He pleaded. "When I heard that all four of you had died, I was devastated. My children..." He took a moment to collect himself before continuing. At that point, Mark angry features faded and dropped his finger. "When he told me that you were alive, I found a reason to live again, knowing that at least one of you are alive."

As father and son spoke, Cassandra and Edgar were out of earshot, standing near the hearth. As the conversation unfolded, Cassandra wanted to intervene and reason with Mark, but Edgar took her hand, gripped it tightly and whispered to her. "They need to talk this out." She looked at him and saw that he was serious. Mark's tone was filled with sorrow when he spoke.

"You cannot deceive me your honeyed words. Why should I believe you?"

He took a closer step and slowly embraced his son. Mark could hear his father's anguish cries. As the tears rolled down the man's cheeks, he collected himself and began to speak.

"I have lost my wife, daughter and son. You and Nathyn are all that I have left." He struggled to find his next words. "I pray that you will forgive me... a man who should've been a father..."

Silence overcame the room as father and son embraced each other. Mark struggled to find the words as he, himself, became grief-stricken. The man he embraced wasn't Rugal, the once-powerful King of Trivalon. The man he is clinching onto is Rugal, the father he sought after. Cassandra was relieved to see that the father and son were reunited. Edgar felt Cassandra's sentiments but he and Mark will realize later on, that king Rugal is needed for their plan to suceed.