Chapter 4
We were at the bridge, yet nothing was here waiting for us. I glanced around worried. This can't be right. I thought. I looked down, off of the side of the bridge, seeing my reflection. We had been marching for a week now, and had been lucky not to run into any risen up till now.
We had been walking for a week now, with no problems at all. I had thought we'd have at least ran into a risen or two, or maybe even bandits, yet there seemed to be none.
Though we still hadn't, which was bothering me, as you can clearly see. I glanced behind us, trying to make sure there really wasn't anything back there. Yet still, nothing. I looked forward, seeing black smoke rising up out of the ground.
"What the hell?" I questioned, as I took a step back. I quickly turned around, seeing the smoke forming behind our group as well.
"Could it be risen?" I heard Frederick say, as he he held out his spear.
"Risen?" Robin questioned, as the risen's bodies rose from the ground.
"They needed a name, the council gave it to them," Said Chrom, as he held his sword out.
"They'll remember me once I behead-" Vaike started, reaching for his weapon. "Where the hell is my axe!?" Vaike yelled out, as he searched his person for it.
"Vaike...your axe is on the other side of all those risen," I said pointing the way we came from. About a meter away from the bridge, was his axe.
"Vaike. Stay In the middle of the group till we can grab your axe," Said Robin. "James, Stahl, and Sully. You three hold the rear, and if you can, grab Vaike's axe. Chrom, Frederick, and I will hold them off forward. Virion and Lissa will stay between both of the groups."
We acted as fast as we could. Stahl and Sully rushed past me, as the three of us rushed to the edge. As I got there, I could see Sully and Stahl, fighting against two risen who had spears. I rushed past them, as an axe one shuffled up.
It raised its axe up and sent it slowly down. I easily dodged, cause of its slow speed. As it did, I sliced across its chest with my sword, and took a step back, as it's head turned to me. I felt fear rush though me, as I cut off its left arm. The only reason I believed I was able to do that was because of the decaying flesh.
It didn't react to the lost limp, and raised its axe again. I was paralyzed. It wasn't like fighting a human, at least they experienced pain when fighting. I hadn't realized it before, mainly because I aimed for the heart.
"Get the hell out of the way!" I heard someone yell, as I was roughly pushed out of the way. Sully stabbed his spear though the chest of the axerisen, and it fell down, dead, or at least I hoped it was. "If you're just going to stand there, then get in the back!"
"Sorry," I apologized, as I got off of the ground. I took a step forward, as another risen rushed us. I blocked its sword, and quickly stabbed it though the chest. I quickly grabbed its shoulder, as I pulled the blade out, and re-stabbed it through the chest two more times before I pulling the sword out and letting it fall to the ground.
I found Vaike's axe on the ground. I quickly grabbed it off of the ground, before falling back behind Sully and Stahl.
Before I even handed him the axe, Vaike said, "Finally, Teach can show you how its done!" He quickly grabbed it out of my hand, and rushed down to where Sully and Stahl were.
"Sir Robin! These vile creatures are even coming out of this loveless river!" I heard Virion shout as he shot off an arrow, into one of the risen that had come from the water.
"James, cover Virion!" Robin shouted back, as he sent thunder crashing into a risen. I nodded, before rushing to Virion's side.
"Do you know the depth of the water?" I questioned.
"Knee deep, this loveless river is," Virion said. I jumped from the railing and smashed into the water. As quickly as I could, I stabbed an axe risen though the head. I pulled my sword out, as I heard splashing behind me.
I turned as fast as I could, seeing a huge axe falling down at me. I couldn't dodge it, I realized. I heard a bowstring snap back, as an arrow flew through the risen's head.
"Thanks," I said as I turned around, facing two more risen, both of which had axes. I kicked one, before it could manage to swing the axe. I turned to fight the other one, but before I could, a flaming ball of fire smashed into it.
"Get out of the water James!" Robin yelled to me, which I took his command, and rushed out of it. I looked around seeing that the all that was left were the risen in the water. Though all that was left, wasn't saying much.
On the other side of the bridge, was at least twenty of them.
"Miriel swap to thunder tome, then hit the lake!" Robin yelled. I turned seeing Miriel for the first time, as they both fired off thunder into the water. The risen spazed for a second, before they all stopped moving, and floating though the water.
"Shit, why were there so many of them?" I questioned, as I took a seat on the ground, catching my breath.
"It seems their numbers are increasing," Said Robin, as he took a seat beside me.
"The numbers of the risen is the reason were on this trip in the first place," Chrom said, as he looked around the group. "We can take a short break, before we go off again." I closed my eyes, and drifted up to sleep.
I felt something smash into my face, forcing me to get up. "The hell was that for?" I questioned, looking around.
Everyone was ready to leave. I glared at Robin, who was right beside me, with a book in his hand.
"Why the hell do you gotta keep doing that!?" I questioned glaring at him.
"It seems to be the only way to get you up," Robin explained, with a smirk as he got up. I did as well, still glared at him though.
We left, walking at a fast pace. Stahl rode up beside me.
"I hope we find a fort or something when it's time to set up camp," He stated, shaking slightly.
"Why?" I questioned him, confused.
"Every time we set up camp, I always count one more tent then I do person. And no matter when I go in there to check, there's no one in there. My eyes opened up wide for a split second, before I thought of something.
"Is Kellam with us?" I questioned looking around. I still didn't see him, though I thought he might be here. If I remembered right, he was with us, though my memory was faulty at times, so I wouldn't put it past myself to have forgotten that.
I saw Stahl look around, straining his eyes looking.
"...I'm right in front of you guys," A voice said, out of nowhere, making us both jump. Suddenly in front of us was Kellam.
"How the hell did you get there?" I asked shocked.
"I've been here the whole time..." He stated plainly.
"That would explain the risen that just dropped dead in the last fight," Said Stahl, as he rubbed the underside of his chin.
"How is it that I can't see you unless you speak?" I questioned him confused. I glanced at the ground for a second
"I don't know. That's how it's always been for me," He explained.
"Still, you wear that heavy armor...it just makes no sense to me," I stated. I looked back up, only to find I couldn't see him.
"Dammit where did he go?" I questioned. Stahl looked forward as well, trying to look across the group. He turned to me.
"I have no clue," He said.
I shook my head. "I give up on trying to figure out how that works," I said with a sigh.
"It would probably be for the best," Stahl mumbled. I nodded, agreeing with him. Somethings just weren't worth understanding, and Kellam was one of them. Magically not able to be seen, he would make a great thief.
I woke up, finding my tent extremely cold. I didn't mind, I rather liked the cold. I got up, getting dressed. After I was done with that, I grabbed my sword, and attacked the sheath to my side. After that I walked out of my tent, greeted by the snow on my face.
As I moved through the snow, I found myself to be the only one out at the time. Since they didn't have any clocks, or anything like that, I had no clue what time it was. Only thing I knew was that the sun hadn't fully rose yet.
It was still dawn. It didn't matter to me.
"Seems like I don't have to hit you with my book today," I heard Robin say from behind. I turned around and smiled.
"Seems that way," I said to him.
"What are you doing up this early?" He asked me.
"Nothing really, just woke up so I got up," I explained to him.
"What fiend talks at this hour," I heard Virion say, more then asked. He sounded annoyed as he exited his tent.
"Sorry Virion," Robin said, with a smile. "I had been on my way to fetch James, since it is his turn to cook. My eyes opened wide.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I said plainly.
"Nonsense, I'm sure you can cook good," Robin said. I shook my head.
"I really can't and if you force me too I can't guarantee everyone will be able to march," I said back, trying to reason with him.
"It's your turn so you're going to cook," Robin commanded rather then said. I sighed and complied with him, even though I knew everyone would get sick.
As everyone ate, I could see look of distaste on everyone's face. I even saw Chrom gagging.
"Told you, Robin!" I said loud enough for everyone to hear. "I warned you I couldn't cook, yet you still made me.
"Robin! You're the reason the foods so horrible!?" Said Stahl, with anger in his voice.
Robin looked surprised. "No-no its not my fault," He said panicking as he saw members of our group advancing on him. Mainly Stahl, Sully, and Vaike. "I-it's James's, he's the one that cooked it.
"But he warned you, and you still made him cook," Said Chrom as he made a move for Robin. "Because of you perfectly good meat got ruined!" He yelled as he ran at Robin. Robin, surprised, turned around and started rushing away, as the other four chased after him.
"Who know James had it in him to be a loveless monster," I heard Virion say. I grinned slightly as I turned around.
"I gave him a fair warning, and no way am I going to take the blame for him. He forced me to cook," I explained.
"He should have known not to have any chance to waste meat. Chrom loves the stuff," Frederick said, as he shook his head.
"Who doesn't?" I questioned. "My favorite type of food."
"Why does that not surprise me?" Said Frederick, more then asked. After that, we started packing up our camp. During which time I never saw Robin. Though I did see Chrom, Sully, Stahl, and Vaike, all looking around for him.
When we marched, I couldn't spot him then either.
"I hate you," I heard someone say from behind. I turned around, to find Robin, who was sitting on Kellam's shoulder.
"Perfect place to hide," I said grinning.
"Don't grin at me you asshole," He said back.
"Robin, it was fun to be included at first, but my shoulders starting to hurt, could you get off?" Kellam asked. Robin sighed, and jumped off.
"Thanks for the help, Kellam," Robin said. Kellam only nodded, before somehow disappearing again. "Why the hell did you throw me under the horse?" Questioned Robin, angry.
"I warned you I couldn't cook, and there was no way I was going to be attacked by those four. I knew they would be mad, and since you made me, I figured I'd put all the blame onto you," I explained grinning the whole time.
"...I hate you," Robin said back.
S/N: For those of you wondering about the throw me under the horse part Robin said. You have to remember that they don't have any Tech or vehicles, so they wouldn't know about buses, so I changed the saying slightly for that.