Gods Don't Tend to Sheep
Azrynne
The beat of searing sun rays seemed almost unbearable as they trekked through Ylisse's countryside. Every tree brought them an overwhelming feeling of relief, and while she wanted to stay under their shady boughs for longer, Azrynne marched on with the rest of the Shepherds, determined not to fall behind. They had travelled for a little under a day, foregoing any extended stops or rests in favour of a quick return to their beloved Capitol, thoughts of dread clouding each step – and when they had arrive to the outskirts of Ylisse's fair heart, they were tired and dirty and hot, worse for wear than even the blear-eyed and hardworking farmers who stopped and stared occasionally at the returning Shepherds; though most favoured their lands over Azrynne's mismatched group of soldiers.
Among sparse few plots of farmland and gated cattle and sheep, Azrynne notice the burns of magic against fence posts and gashes of unkempt land, doubtless to be where small boughts of war broke out the night before between monstrosities and poor, simple farmers. An unsettling feeling of forebode gripped at her gut, and while at times she saw sights of disheveled lands and men, nothing stopped their now slowed journey towards the Capitol. There were moments when her eyes drifted away from the sight of broken farmlands and towards Frederick, or Lissa, or Chrom, and each of them wore the same look of defeat and sympathy for the poor men who clawed desperately at their broken homes, rakes and sickles unabashed in dirt and mud.
Azrynne was grateful when sunset reached them, though kept her subtle sigh of relief hidden from the others, not wanting to draw attention. While underneath her black cloak there was the stick of sweat and grime, she chastised herself softly, for it was instead Kellam, Sully, Stahl and Frederick who had the worst to bear upon their backs; straps of leather belts and linings fastened tightly against potted armour that must have broiled under the sun as they marched, horseless and exhausted after their nightlong battle. How she longed to fly with Lilya's Pegasus, who danced so freely in the clouds and wind that Azrynne almost felt sorry for the poor girl's little clothing, barely enough to cover her chilled and cloud-moistened skin.
It was a quiet journey, with no one quite willing enough to initiate any kind of conversation. It was almost as if the very disappearance of those strange dead-eyed and blackened creatures into the sky had taken with them their voices as well. There were times when muttered orders were given by Chrom or Frederick, but it was never more than an indication of which direction to go or whether they were dallying for too long. Strangely though, while the silence was discomforting at times (especially those in which foggy figures of blackened organs falling from the sky all but swarmed her thoughts), there were times too in which she found their quiet state of peace to be rather welcome. There was no forced effort on anyone's part to speak when, in fact, no one quite wanted to.
It was sunset when Azrynne first caught glimpse of Ylisstol's towering walls and cream-and-blue buildings across the horizon. For the hour they had walked past farmlands and livestock, Azrynne felt an unease rise within the group of Shepherds, their longing to return home almost as evident as the blood and mud spattered against their armour. Only a half hour, Azrynne guessed as the towering buildings loomed over them even more so, and small market buildings and homes soon revealed themselves across the horizon. She wondered how busy the markets would be, or perhaps the lower class districts, or maybe even the slums; whichever district they would wander into first as they reached the city. Perhaps it would take them an hour to wade their way through, but if Chrom's predictions were correct, she wondered if the panicked state of the Capitol would stall them even longer still into the darkness of night. Admittedly, Azrynne disliked the thought, for she had enough of cold nights and darkness – a cozy nest beside a fire would be enough to please her soul. It was with that thought though that something important struck her mind.
Looking around, Azrynne saw that their group had already stretched across the roadside, some trailing ahead and others behind. Azrynne walked with no one in particular; behind her she saw Sully, Virion and Kellam lagging, and just ahead were Lissa and Frederick, the only ones still mounted aside from Lilya, who flew far above them. Stahl too lagged just between herself and Frederick, and ahead, as determined as he was the moment their battle had ended, was Chrom, leading them forward. With a quick breath, Azrynne jogged to his side, but not without a brief glance at Frederick, who somehow knew just when to stare back at her. She brushed him aside and slowed by Chrom's side.
"Chrom." She said as she approached. He turned curiously to acknowledge her, then back ahead when she joined him at his side. He muttered a soft greeting.
"I don't mean to bother or pry," Azrynne said softly, "but you never told me where we were going. Well…where I was going."
Chrom glanced at her briefly with a slight air of confusion.
"We go to the Capitol, Azrynne." He said. Azrynne nodded briskly.
"Yes, we do. But where in the Capitol do I find my place?" she asked him. Chrom nodded at her question, contemplating it for just a moment.
"Do you remember my offer, Azrynne?" Chrom asked her as he turned his head, "To join the Shepherds?"
Pressing her lips together, Azrynne nodded as Chrom stared at her. He stopped suddenly, and it took Azrynne a few steps before she too joined him, turning around to stare back. They were a few dozen yards away from the others, but they noticed nonetheless. Azrynne looked quizzically at Chrom, whose bright blue eyes bore into her when he said, "And?"
Azrynne felt awkward as she looked beyond Chrom, only to catch confused or even worried looks from the rest of their group. She kicked the sanded pathway under her feet and looked away from all of them, too uncomfortable and nervous to meet anyone in the eye.
"Why do you want me to join your band of soldiers so much?" she asked Chrom.
"I want to help you, Azrynne." He said simply.
"You can't help me as I am?" Azrynne asked, meeting his eyes again. They were calm and spoke to her as true as his words.
"I could," he said softly as Frederick and Lissa stopped beside them as they caught up, "but I could also give you a home to return to should your search bear no fruit."
It was only fleeting, but for a brief second Azrynne felt a desire to laugh. This man who stood before her, a soldier in a country in some kind of stalemate war against another, offering a woman clad in that country's attire a home in his Capitol? The very notion was preposterous, outrageous, and most of all, absolutely hilarious. Azrynne wondered for just a moment if perhaps she was in fact some kind of royal or noblewoman, and this was all an elaborate ploy by Chrom the Cruel Mercenary and his right hand crook Frederick to have a final few days of maniacal fun before they slaughtered her where she stood. But the thought subsided as soon as it emerged, because while the story itself rang all kinds of theatrical cues for laughter, the honesty in Chrom's eyes spoke otherwise. A distant touch of heartfelt gratitude resinated in the pit of her gut.
"You…are truly a good man, Chrom." Azrynne said softly in reply.
"You not only saved my life once, Azrynne, but twice, and also the lives of everyone who stands here now." Chrom said. Before Azrynne could protest though, Chrom silenced her and continued, "Your part in last night's battle was essential. Who knows what turn of events could have soured our victory?"
At his words, Azrynne glanced quickly behind him to see the others had grouped around them also, and she met Stahl's green eyes for just a brief second. It was as if they were a gateway to another time; when their eyes had locked Azrynne remembered the heat of red molten rock around them, the screams of horses and the cracking of the sky, and Stahl's eyes stared at hers with a pleading against a broken abyss. And in the moment she remembered did it all but fade away, and Stahl smiled at her warmly, a gentle nod thrown her way. Azrynne returned his sentiments and looked back to Chrom.
"I…" she muttered softly, "You flatter me greatly, Chrom."
"Flatter? No, Azrynne. I simply speak true words. To you, my friend, I want to offer a home. How else can we repay our debt?" Chrom smiled at Azrynne and outstretched his arms, gesturing at the soldiers who grouped behind him. While she had sensed tension before in both Sully and Frederick, at Chrom's words it was almost as if he had calmed all tides of doubt. She saw a sparkle in Kellam's eyes, a smile from Stahl and a heartfelt, giddy hoorah from Lissa. From Virion she saw a smirk, and even Sully and Frederick nodded briskly at her before averting their gazes. Above her she saw Lilya circle them with her Pegasus, but doubtless too would she have agreed with their sentiments. Azrynne smiled, waves of gratitude brushing against her heart.
"Thank you, Chrom," she said, "If my search bears no fruit…then I would be honoured to call myself a Shepherd."
"Good," Chrom said, resting a strong hand atop her shoulder, "then a more precise destination is something I can now give to you. We go the Ylisstol's castle. I want my sister to meet my new friends." He then gestured across to Virion and Lilya, who smiled back. As he began to walk away though, Azrynne cocked her head to the side in curiosity.
"Your sister lives in the castle?" Azrynne asked, bemused.
"Where else would the Exalt live, milady?" Frederick said briskly as he and Lissa trotted away from her. It was only at the back of her mind that she registered everyone walking ahead of her, however her main concern was the connection that she had made fair too late to be appropriate. It wasn't until they had stepped a few paces ahead that Chrom turned back to her, staring once again.
Perhaps it was the way he spoke to his fellow soldiers that clouded her judgement, or maybe even the fact that he walked among the common people as though he was one of them also – but never did it even cross her mind that Chrom could be a nobleman – no, a royal man, not just any royal man, but a Prince in all his glory. And Lissa! So bold, boisterous and loud she was, there was never even a moment where Lissa could have been anything but just Lissa. But a Princess? Azrynne was bemused. Perhaps now she could understand Frederick's brash behaviour, but she wondered for a moment just what she had excused it for beforehand. Was he just a protective uncle? A close family friend? It mattered not now, for whatever views she held of him before all but shattered and replaced themselves with the image of a grand knight, ever loyal and dedicated to protecting his liege. All at once the pieces fell into place, and when she met Chrom's confused face, he too realized they had forgotten to share with her a key detail.
"You…thought I was just a soldier?" Chrom asked, and Azrynne crooked her back into a hasty and low bow.
"I've been terrible!" she gasped, and everyone else turned to stare, "I've spoken so rashly to you!" her hands awkwardly clasped in front of her head as she bowed, and Chrom stood awkwardly before her, "You're the Prince of this realm! And Princess Lissa! Your graces, please pardon my horrendous behaviour these past days! How could I treat royalty with such disgrace?"
"You remember the Prince's name but not this simple fact?" Frederick said with a raised eyebrow.
"I…" Azrynne could barely even explain the bemusement she felt before Chrom's strong hand patted her back, a bellowing laugh erupting from his lungs.
"I've never been one for formalities," he said as his laughter trailed away, "Please, don't think me a different man from the one you've known this past week."
With a meek and absent nod, Azrynne smiled nervously. She heard a few chuckles of laughter from Lissa and Kellam, and noticed looks of confusion or outright disbelief on others. Sully shook her head and walked away alongside Frederick's horse, soon joined by the rest of them as they resumed their journey to the Capitol with admittedly more exuberance than before. Small chatter once again began to clatter among the group. Lissa jumped off from behind Frederick and walked alongside Chrom and Azrynne, a smile on her face.
"How could you not know I was a Princess?" she asked with an exasperated voice, to which Azrynne simply shrugged, "Don't tell me all those hours of etiquette classes were for naught!"
Azrynne smiled, and she chattered meekly with the siblings for a while more as they came ever closer to the city. She sputtered and stumbled over her words often, not sure how to speak or act around them now, but with encouragement from both did she soon learn to place their royal lineage neatly in a box at the back of her mind, soon regaining the same level of casualty she held with them the days before – and they appreciated it, to a larger extent than she realised now but would one day come to understand.
It was when the bustling of the outer city was in sight did they stop again as group, as a patrol of six horses rode towards them bearing the sigils of both the Shepherds and Ylisse. Azrynne stepped around them, peaking over Kellam's armoured shoulder to gain a glimpse before she was quickly grabbed and pulled back. She saw Frederick quickly ride to hide her and, confused as ever, she felt Chrom push against her shoulders so she turned to look at him. Before she could even ask, his hands slipped to the collar of her cloak and he unbuttoned the seal before quickly sliding the cloak above and behind her shoulders. Azrynne felt a dash of red spring to her cheeks, and while she would have wanted to slap him, it was the sight of Lissa bustling around her with her cloak in hand that made her restrain her palm.
"Do not show your hand." He said simply, his fingers brushing her own. Azrynne nodded with understanding. Chrom quickly removed his gloves and shoved them into her palms as Lissa haphazardly stuffed her cloak into a satchel hanging from Frederick's horse. At least Frederick had the decency as a knight to look away as the siblings stripped her down. Underneath her cloak, Azrynne wore only a pale mauve singlet with thin black straps, tucked neatly into leather belts that also held up large pants of a similar colour. Her pants would have been unwieldy if not for her boots, which tightened around her thighs and secured her bottoms. Underneath the belt, Azrynne wore a black, skirt like fabric around her hips, and secured to one of her belts was her sword and tome, the latter of which was strapped behind her in a belted satchel secured around her waist.
Lissa patted her down and neatened her shirt just as Frederick nudged his steed away from her, and she resumed her position just behind Kellam as she adjusted Chrom's gloves onto her hands. Atop the six horses were mostly armoured men who bore upon their chest plates the same sigil that Chrom had on his upper arm. None of them looked particularly threatening or outlandish, except for a single knight who rode shirtless towards them, unkempt blonde hair tied back with what seemed to be a headband, and chains hanging off of a metal collar he wore as armour. He looked almost like a ruffian or bandit among the five other knights, who shined in white and blue armour, some with gold. Strapped to an arm was a leather piece of armour, and with a loud and boisterous voice he shouted a greeting to the group and raised his axe well above his head. If not for the fact that none of their group save Lilya and Virion flinched, Azrynne would have mistaken his greeting for a declaration of battle. She could hear his voice clearly even from so far away.
"The Prince returns!" the man yelled, and Chrom laughed as he approached them.
The patrol stopped just shy a few yards from them, and the blonde man dismounted. He gestured to a golden knight and ordered, "Go back to the castle and tell those geezers to shut up already", then to the rest of them, "And you lot can go ahead with the patrol". The group dispersed at his orders, and he approached Chrom with a raised arm.
"What did Teach say? He said he knew you'd be back on time. Someone owes me 30 gold cobras!" the man shouted as he hugged Chrom roughly. He patted him on the back three times too sharp, and Chrom seemed to buckle at his strength, but laughed all the same.
"It's good to see you too, Vaike. What poor soul did you swindle this time?" Chrom asked the man.
"Ricken never learns." Vaike said with a smirk, and from beside her Lissa gasped and squeaked, "Stop taking Ricken's allowances!"
"The boy's old enough to make his own decisions." Vaike said with a shrug, then greeted the rest of the group with as much vigour as he did with Chrom.
"Always a pleasure." Kellam said nervously when Vaike punched his chest plate, and Stahl avoided contact with him all together, waving from afar before he gave up and greeted Sully. It was as if Azrynne was watching rough siblings playing in the dirt, for Sully greeted Vaike with the same attitude he greeted her. She grinned and took him in a headlock, messing his hair and laughing all the same as he attempted to break free. Frederick simply sighed and nodded when Vaike waved at him from Sully's grip.
"And who are these folks you picked up?" Vaike asked once he freed himself from Sully. Lilya bowed from her Pegasus and introduced herself, and Vaike shook her hand with enough vigour that she had to grip to her steed's mane just to keep atop it. Virion was less than impressed from the rather lacklustre greeting, and attempted to fix his attire after Vaike had so violently pat his back. It was then that he turned his attention to Azrynne, and she smiled meekly.
"I'm Azrynne. It's a pleasure to meet you Vaike." She extended her hand, and Vaike gripped it tightly and shook.
"All the same on this end Azrynne! So you're from Baiyon too, eh?" he asked.
"Oh…no, not quite." Azrynne said, and Vaike cocked his head to the side as he tucked his arms against his chest.
"Oh yeah? From Southtown, are ya? You don't look it!" He said, and Azrynne smiled nervously.
"I…suppose not?" she said as she looked curiously towards Chrom, who approached them and directed Vaike's attention to himself.
"Azrynne hurt herself outside Southtown," he explained, "her memory is a bit fuzzy because of that."
Vaike's expression turned sour.
"Bandits?" he asked her, and without thinking she simply nodded.
"I believe so." She said, and Vaike swore.
"Probably those damn Plegians," he hissed, "coming into our homes, raiding our villages and killing our men! Bloody cowards, the lot of them. Unfortunate you had a sour run in…I hope someone kills those poor bastards before they get another one of our people. What brings you to the Capitol though?"
"I…couldn't find my family in Southtown," Azrynne bluffed, "I was going to search for them at the Capitol, and if that fails…"
"Then she can find a home with us." Chrom finished for her. Vaike grinned and pat Azrynne against her shoulder.
"And you'll love it here!" he shouted, "Haven't been doing so bad myself since this little chicken here picked me off the streets." He gestured to Lissa, who whined, 'Who are you calling a chicken?' Vaike laughed at her and brushed her off, returning to his mount.
"Well come on then, light's not gonna last forever and I sure as hell wanna be by a fire and not out here when night hits." He turned his horse and started towards the Capitol, and the others trotted behind him. Chrom himself walked beside Vaike, and they spoke while they walked.
"I never knew you were quite one to do patrols, Vaike." Chrom said.
"Someone's gotta up and volunteer, especially after all the shit that went down last night." Vaike said grimly. The atmosphere around them dropped with his words, and no one spoke for the moment before Chrom continued.
"Then you saw them too." He said, and Vaike scoffed.
"Who didn't? They came from the east. Farms took the most damage, which is good. Or not, depends how you want to look at it. The lower districts got swarmed. We had to evacuate the people in the slums into the central district just so we could get the soldiers in through the eastern gate. Not many of them made it further though; the river stopped most of them. Had a handful in the middle class districts, but only one made it to the Castle. Phila took the bastard down herself. Said it was roaming the halls outside of western wing."
Lissa gasped and said, "And Emm? How did they even get past the inner walls? Or even the outer walls?"
"She's fine, don't worry your little head Princess. Phila knows how to do her job. And we don't know. The council is ordering a full crack down on all patrols to find any holes around the city." Vaike said.
From atop his horse, Frederick grimaced and said, "I should have been in the Capitol."
"Don't worry, Frederick," Chrom said calmly, "Emmeryn is safe, and Phila is with her." The group was silenced once more, but only for a few shy minutes, as soon they arrived in the outskirts of Ylisstol, her beauty and volume drowning all thought of black demons away.
If Southtown was a rose, then Ylisstol was a birch tree, her sheer size towering above Azrynne in ways she couldn't comprehend. Even the outer walls were massive, with a few bustling market stalls and stray farm homes littering the outside of the walls. After a quick exchange with the guards at the gate, they were greeted into the city, and Azrynne felt lost beyond all words.
At first, they walked through the lower class districts, and people from every house clamoured to their windows and doors to greet Prince Chrom and Princess Lissa as they returned home. While they had looked common before, they were now vastly different, smiles of reverence and kindness beaming as they waved and strode through roads and homes, wading from the lower districts to the market district. Azrynne found herself smiling at the sheer amount of life which the city displayed. Even as the sun was setting, the markets were as loud and busy as they would have been hours ago, and the group had to dismount and carefully squeeze their way through villagers and salesmen just to get out of the district. Azrynne smiled at passing villagers and waved to the busy salesmen who often gestured her towards their stalls. She exchanged laughs and pleasant conversation with Stahl, who had helped her wade through the thrall of mothers and children and men, and teased him when they passed street side food vendors.
It took them a good hour to make their way across the districts and towards the centre of Ylisstol, just in front of the inner gates. By then, Azrynne was sore and tired, and longed for food almost as much as Stahl did. The throngs of people dwindled down to nothing as they got closer, and market stalls soon turned into inns and shops and homes as they made their way out of the middle class districts.
Ylisstol had a simple layout; she was a city the shape of a half moon, and by Stahl's descriptions consisted of six major districts. Wedged between the outer and inner walls were the lower districts, the middle districts, the eastern and western slums, and the market district. The lower district stretched from the south-west to the east. Separating the lower and middle districts was a thin strip of markets that spread from west to east, touching both the class districts and even the slums. The eastern and western slums were small in size, something which Stahl said the city was quite proud of as the Exalt's council worked tirelessly to remove them completely. They were wedged tightly between the outer walls, the lower districts, and the Auteaul River. Wedged between the market district and the inner walls was the middle district, and just beyond was the Auteaul River in all her beauty. There was one main bridge connecting the middle and high class districts, one that span a kilometre in size whose access was restricted by the inner gates. Just beyond the bridge though, hidden deep within the upper districts, was Ylisstol's castle palace in all her glory, tucked between wealth and mountains. There was nothing else but towering mountains beyond the upper districts.
When they had reached the main bridge, night had fallen, and the inner city gates had already closed. With little trouble though did Frederick speak to the guards and have it opened, and the group continued on towards the castle. The high class district was all but silent, towering mansions of gold and blue nestled away between the mountains and the river. Azrynne was amazed by Ylisstol's beauty, and the Auteaul River enchanted her as it shone as bright as the starlit sky. She made a note in the back of her mind to request for Stahl, or perhaps Kellam or even Chrom or Lissa to take her here again during daylight.
Azrynne wasn't sure what she was expecting Ylisstol's castle palace to look like, but whatever expectations she held were destroyed tremendously by the thing itself. A final set of walls separated them from the castle, though these were not nearly as towering as the ones which surrounded the city. Still, the sight was one to behold, and as they waited for Chrom to speak with the guards and open the gates, Azrynne marvelled at the sights she had seen. Stahl poked her in the side, and she flinched from her dazed stupor.
"Quite a sight isn't she?" he said, and Azrynne nodded.
"Ylisstol is beautiful," Azrynne said, "You must show me more of her beauties one day."
Stahl smiled and nodded, "Of course! I wish I could be you right now, just for a moment. I grew up in the middle districts so I've always kind of been used to it. But when you really think about it, the city's really beautiful. People say Ylisstol is the most beautiful Capitol in the continent."
"Truly?" Azrynne asked.
"Yeah! They say that while Arherm is the grandest and Vertomin is the boldest, Ylisstol is the only city that could be called the most beautiful." Stahl said.
"Excuse me," Azrynne said, cocking her head to the side, "Arherm and Vertomin?"
"Oh, sorry. Arherm is Regna Ferox's Capitol, and Vertomin is Plegia's. Arherm is probably twice the size of Ylisstol, but her buildings are more stretched out. Verotmin supposedly has the most outrageous laws. At least, that's what I've heard. I've never been to either." Stahl told her.
"How truly fascinating," Azrynne whispered under her breath as she stared at the golden etchings on the castle walls, "I have much to learn…please tell me there is some sort of library to behold here."
"You sound just like Miriel," Stahl said with a chuckle, "the two main libraries are in the castle and in the Shepherd's base, but you can find smaller ones in almost every district."
The castle gates opened as he finished, and the group hushed their conversations as they walked into the castle courtyard. The bushes were tall and finely kept, red roses blossoming from every branch. The courtyard was dimly lit, and everyone followed Chrom as they waded through cobble pavements and roses and towards the castle halls itself. Frederick had retired his mount when they had entered the castle gates, and with encourage, so too did Lilya.
Their footsteps echoed as they trotted through the main hall, towards what Azrynne assumed was the throne room. By the layout of the castle; a long, tall block of three stories with adjoining hallways towards a western and eastern wing, she assumed the throne room would be the back and centre of the bottom floor, the direction they were headed. And she was correct; for not a minute later did they arrive at a set of extraordinarily large doors, and behind them she saw a beautiful young woman seated atop a red throne, opposite the room from them. Beside her stood a tall and thin woman, and dotting the room every few metres were stoic guards, still and poised.
Chrom, Lissa and Frederick walked forward towards the Exalt, stopping halfway across the room. She sprung from her throne and met them there; joy in both her face and her voice. Azrynne followed the remaining group, stopping just behind Chrom. Following everyone else's lead, she knelt between Stahl and Lilya.
"Chrom! Lissa! Oh, how wonderful it is to have to back home. And Frederick, too. I've missed you so." The Exalt said. Her voice was soft and fair. The siblings embraced, at Frederick crossed her arm across his heart and bowed to her when spoken to. She reached up and cupped his cheek, and on her tip toes she kissed his other. She then turned and addressed the rest of the group.
"And to you, my beloved Shepherds. Thank you for your service and protection of my family." She said, and Azrynne stood with the others once addressed. She smiled nervously at the Exalt when their eyes caught.
Emmeryn was a beautiful woman. She was tall, sleek and thin, the same height as her blue headed brother. Her face was thin and smooth, a soft and gentle jawline that curved around her face. Her eyebrows were light, low and gentle, and she held an aura of dignity and elegance that Azrynne found enchanting. She had the same golden hair that Lissa had, though hers was longer and curled into smooth circlets. Unlike either sibling though, Emmeryn's eyes were a bright and striking shade of emerald. Azrynne noticed that on her forehead, the Exalt had a light mark tattooed against it – the mark of Ylisse, she would quickly come to recognise. Emmeryn's crown was one that sat behind her head, and poking just underneath the strands of light hair Azrynne saw the gold frame that fastened it to her head. Her robes, which were long and dragged across the floor, were a pastel yellow and green adorning white. She wore several emeralds and gold rings around her fingers, and she look truly as grand and beautiful as her title would have her.
The woman who followed closely behind her stood straight and silent, obviously the Exalt's personal guardian. She had light blue hair, secured in a tight bun, and wore light clothing that indicated she was a Pegasus rider. She had fierce, sharp eyebrows, and pointed nose and cold, icy blue eyes. Azrynne could tell by her armour and stance that she was a powerful woman of high status, her blue and bronze robes and armour as intricately made as the Exalt's. She held an air of pride and valour to her, one which Azrynne felt was quite similar to Frederick's.
"How fared you on your journey, Chrom?" Emmeryn said, turning her attention back to her brother.
"T'was well, sister. There should be no problems with bandits along the southern border for a while now at least." He said.
"Good, excellent. And how fare our people?" she asked.
"They're well," Chrom said, "as they always have been under your rule, Emmeryn. There are some troubles though."
"Please, do tell." The Exalt urged.
"Southtown was attacked by bandits; however it was obvious they were no mere outlandish brigands. Most, if not all had thick Plegian accents and my men found trinkets and sigils upon them that would seal the evidence. We need to secure our borders. Plegia becomes restless."
"Please forgive me, milord." The sharp guardian behind Emmeryn said as she bowed, "My guard should have intercepted them. I will be sure to advise stronger vigilance among my knights."
"There is nothing to forgive, Phila," Chrom said, "Your place is with the Exalt, and your knights cannot possibility spread across every acre of land we have, day and night. Emmeryn, I would have our Shepherds disperse more ground patrols across the borders, to assist the Pegasi Guard."
"Carry out your orders then brother, for the council awaits us tonight when you are ready. We have much to discuss." Emmeryn said to Chrom. She then turned her attention to the group behind him.
"And your soldiers, Chrom? What brings them to the castle tonight?" Emmeryn asked. Chrom turned and gestured to Lilya.
"Emmeryn, Phila, this is Lilya. She is the Pegasus recruit from Baiyon Garden." Chrom said. Lilya curtsied when introduced.
"Ah, I see," said Phila, and she walked over to Lilya to examine her, "I've heard many things of you, dear. Ylisse truly blossoms to have such a talented rider in her Pegasi Guard. Cordelia."
Phila waved to one of the guards who stood silently in the throne room. At her command, a young woman clad in Pegasus knight armour approached. She had long, burning red hair that reached her mid back, and walked with an air of confidence and skill. She bowed in front of Phila, then saluted, awaiting her commands.
"Please take Lilya to the Guard's quarters. Make sure she is comfortable. You're to be her guide while she adjusts to the castle." Phila said, and Cordelia replied with a curt 'yes ma'am!' before heading out of the throne room with Lilya.
"And the rest of your squad, Chrom?" Emmeryn asked, and Chrom nodded.
"During our return to the Capitol, we encountered the same deathly creatures that swarmed the lower districts of the city. Without the help of my soldiers, I'm unsure what would have happened to us that night. These soldiers are to be commended." Chrom said. Emmeryn smiled gently.
"I see…these creatures have been sighted all across Ylisse," Emmeryn informed them, "their strength is extraordinary, and their origins and intentions are unknown. Whatever aid you provided my brother is beyond immeasurable. I thank you, my knights. Your service has been noted." Chrom nodded, then smiled at his soldiers.
"You're dismissed, then." he said to them, but Frederick interrupted him.
"Wait. Before you leave, I have another matter to discuss." He said. The group exchanged glances, but did as commanded.
"I wish to speak of Azrynne." Frederick said calmly. Azrynne closed her eyes and sighed silently. What had she done now?
"Is…something the matter?" Azrynne asked nervously.
"Forgive my intrusion, milady, your graces, but I must speak. I believe it the utmost importance that you know exactly of Azrynne's origins." Frederick said. At his words, Azrynne felt a pit on her gut expand. A type of emptiness filled her, and Azrynne felt fear. Was this a persecution? Azrynne took a deep breath to calm herself as she collected her thoughts. She silenced herself, letting the conversation unfold.
"Is that so, Frederick?" Emmeryn asked, "Chrom, Lissa, why aren't you the ones to speak of this?"
"I thought to speak to you of it in private." Chrom said, with a wayward glance towards Frederick, then their group.
"Beg pardon, milord, but I believe the matter is not one to sleep on," Frederick said, then lowered his voice so that the guards surrounding them could not hear, "We found Azrynne in the fields outside Southtown. She was gravely injured, and when revived, claims to have lost her memory."
"I have lost my memories." Azrynne interjected, only to hush herself in embarrassment for speaking out of turn.
"I respect your claim, milady, but it is just that; a claim. You have truly been a positive asset on our journey home to the Capitol, but as the Exalt's guardian I cannot rule out the fact that there is possibility that you are not who you claim to be. I cannot trust someone who could be some wayward brigand, or more likely, a Plegian spy."
"Frederick!" Lissa yelped in surprise. Phila stiffened, then slowly walked forward to examine Azrynne. The group stepped away from Azrynne to give Phila room, and she felt a knot form in her stomach. Azrynne stood still and silent, nervously waiting as she was examined. Glancing at the group, she saw neutral faces from all but Vaike, whose curiosity peaked in a strange way. Brows furrowed, Vaike stared at her with a piercing gaze and grimace. She saw his fists clench and unclench, again and again and again.
"What evidence do you have for such a bold claim, Frederick?" Emmeryn asked calmly, not moving from her position.
"Azrynne, please remove your gloves." Frederick asked her.
Azrynne stared nervously at Frederick. His chocolate brown eyes were near emotionless. She did not exactly see any kind of vindication in his eyes, or anything malicious at all. Azrynne understood. He was simply a knight doing his duty, though Azrynne loathed her situation – and by extension, she loathed him too, even just for a moment. She glanced quickly to Chrom, and his blue eyes held a kind of sympathy. It was as if he was apologising for the intrusion, but Azrynne would have none of that. She would do whatever she could to prove her innocence. With a quick breath, Azrynne removed her gloves and returned them to Chrom. She held her right hand towards them.
Behind her, Azrynne heard a curse of disbelief. She turned to see Vaike, face red hot and angry, muscles flexing and ready to pounce. His reaction was instantaneous. While Azrynne did not fear Emmeryn's judgement, she did however fear Vaike, whose sudden bold and boisterous behaviour became a thing of absolute fear. She understood then Chrom's nervous glance at them before. Azrynne nervously stepped back as Vaike lunged forward.
"You let a Plegian whore into our city?" he screamed. Azrynne felt a sickening churning of shock bolt through her body as she stepped away from him, but he barely had the strength to reach her. Reaction also instant, Frederick pounced forward and met with Vaike, locking his arms around the blonde man's chest. Behind him, Stahl too stepped forward and grabbed Vaike's metal collar, pulling him back. Azrynne saw a blur from beside her and Chrom quickly stepped in front of her, grabbing her arm and shielding her from the blonde man.
"Vaike!" he yelled, but the man was something different now. His eyes glowed with a brilliant rage, prejudice spewing from his mouth. Azrynne was sure he would have killed her if Frederick and Stahl hadn't intercepted. Lissa squealed and rushed forward, her small fingers grasping at his shoulder.
"Princess, stop!" Frederick yelled, but she ignored him.
"Vaike! Vaike stop it!" Lissa screamed and she scratched at Vaike, tears dripping from her eyes. Vaike glanced at her, fury still streaming through his veins, but faltered for just a moment. It was then that Emmeryn stood forward, hands open and face stern.
"Enough." She said, and her simple command was enough to break apart the men. Beside her, Phila's hand hovered tentatively over the blade at her side. Stahl and Lissa withdrew, and Frederick pushed Vaike away from them.
"You will be silent." Frederick commanded as he gestured to one of the stoic knights to subdue him, and with a nod from Emmeryn, Vaike scoffed and fumed from his position away from the group, and deathly glare locked onto Azrynne. Azrynne looked away from him, fearful. She wondered what terrors plagued him so that the mere suggestion of Plegian roots would cause such a change in disposition.
Phila's eyes narrowed and she immediately glowered at Azrynne, her judgement already made. Regardless though, her hand slipped away from her hilt, and she clasped them again behind her back. Emmeryn no physical reaction, her face neutral. She approached Azrynne and reached for her hand. While both Frederick and Phila stuttered forward to stop her, a simple raised hand was enough to quiet them.
"Azrynne, I believe it is?" The Exalt said. Azrynne bowed and nodded curtly.
"Yes, your grace." She said.
"May I?" Emmeryn said, pointing at her hand, and Azrynne nodded nervously and gave the Exalt her hand.
Emmeryn clasped Azrynne's hand in both her own and examined the Mark of Grima. Her hands were gentle and soft, and there was no malice in her inspection. Azrynne felt embarrassed, her hands so calloused and shaky compared to the Exalt's. After a moment passed, Emmeryn let go of her hand and looked Azrynne in the eye.
"Do you understand what this mark means, Azrynne?" she said. Azrynne nodded.
"I believe so, your grace." Azrynne said.
"Chrom," Emmeryn said, turning to her brother, "You understand what it means also, do you not?"
"Of course, sister!" Chrom said, surprised.
"Then why have you allowed Azrynne into our home, Chrom?" Emmeryn asked.
"Sister, I know these circumstances lend to a bitter end, but I have reason for my actions. I know that Azrynne speaks the truth, Emmeryn. She has lost her memory. Whether she is Plegian or not, Azrynne is not a spy. She is a lost woman who we found dying in a field. She doesn't have a family, she doesn't have a home. She only has herself, and what kind of way is that to live? Azrynne saved me from harm in Southtown. She assisted in our fight with Plegian brigands. She trekked across the country with us. She slept alongside us, by the fire, each night for a week. And when those demons came, she fought for us as well, Emmeryn. If it wasn't for her, some of us could be dead."
"Like me." Stahl said nervously. From behind her, Stahl stepped forward nervously in Azrynne's defence. He almost look embarrassed or even ashamed for speaking out of turn, but despite the falter in his voice he cleared his throat and stared at Azrynne as he spoke. Her golden eyes stared back.
"The ground tore apart beneath me. Azrynne pulled me up from the abyss. If she wasn't there…I would have fallen. I would have died." Stahl said softly, nervously looking from Emmeryn to Phila to Emmeryn once again, "I'm just a soldier! If Azrynne was a spy, she wouldn't be dumb enough to try and assassinate Chrom with so many soldiers around…but there's no point in saving me. No Plegian spy would save someone who's going to get in the way of their job. For what it's worth, I trust Azrynne."
"And I trust her too," said Kellam as he bowed, "for what it's worth, your grace. I don't know how to explain it. But I spent hours talking to Azrynne. I just know she's not a threat. She has nightmares, like you and me…nightmares about not knowing. I just know that the things she told me were real."
"Bullshit!" Vaike yelled from where he stood, "Have you all lost your mind?"
"Silence, Sir Vaike. I'll not stand for such hard language in my halls. I fear your prejudice clouds your judgement – we've yet to even come to a conclusion." Emmeryn said, and Vaike hushed himself in embarrassment. Chrom spoke once again.
"Sister, I only follow your example. We can't judge people for the actions of their forefathers, can we? Let alone when we have no definitive proof! Who are we to take away someone's second chance when they aren't responsible for the mistakes we made with our own?"
Azrynne remained silent as the others. The Exalt pondered Chrom's words, eyes closed with thought. Nervously, Azrynne caught Chrom's eyes again, and his blue eyes glowed at her with warmth and kindness. She smiled nervously, and he returned it. He mouthed something to her, but Azrynne couldn't read his lips. She stared at them though, repeating the shape over and over, wondering. It was then that Emmeryn spoke, but only softly.
"You have my brother's trust," Emmeryn said, "And as such, so too do you have mine."
Phila and Frederick twitched in protest, but said nothing. Frederick bowed his head in acknowledgement. From his corner, Vaike scoffed in disbelief, teeth bared towards Azrynne. She felt fearful. Closing her eyes, Azrynne thought to herself for a moment. She wondered what history these two countries held that such visceral reactions were even in the realm of probability. Azrynne felt a tug of helplessness in her stomach, then sighed. She made her decision weakly.
"Your grace," Azrynne interrupted nervously, "You are most kind, and so too is your brother…but it is obvious there is much tension in my presence. Please, I will leave your country if you find it the best course of action."
"Azrynne, Ylisse can be your home in the same way it is mine." Chrom said, stepping forward.
"I don't even know if my old home is looking for me! What if this isn't my place? I don't want to cause trouble," Azrynne said simply, "You're kind Chrom, but I feel like the rest of your country may not be as heartfelt as you."
"Azrynne," Emmeryn said calmly, and Azrynne turned her attention to her, "Do you wish to leave our country? Or do you wish to stay?"
Azrynne pressed her lips together and looked nervously at her feet. She played with her fingers absently, then spoke softly.
"Your grace, I only wish to know who I am." She said. Emmeryn nodded.
"I see. Azrynne, my family trusts you. If it is your wish to stay, then I shall allow it. While you are not a citizen, and nor are you a Shepherd, here you are our guest, and you can remain as such until you regain your memories. To ease your mind, I ask that you conceal your mark. Gloves will do fine. As for the rest of you," Emmeryn raised her voice so the whole room could hear, "What secrets shared tonight in this room will remain as such; a secret."
Vaike swore in disbelief, "You're letting some Plegian scum parade around our city like she's one of us? And you want us to lie about it?"
"Enough, Sir Vaike, I tire of your harsh words," The Exalt said, "For now, Azrynne, I will allow you to live in my city. My brother wishes for you to join his Shepherds, though. I'm unsure if I can allow that. Until such a time where my people can trust you for who you are in the way that my brother does, I'm afraid I cannot allow this request fulfilled. You are a guest in Ylisstol, and also among the Shepherds, though.
Azrynne, if Chrom has your trust, then so too do you have mine. But keep in mind, that if that trust is broken, then so too is mine. I will keep an eye on you. My brother is right. I can't judge you based on a guess of who you could have been. But I can judge you on who you will become. If you are true to your words and you cannot regain what has been lost, then within time you can call Ylisstol home, as I do. If you betray our trust though, I'm afraid appropriate actions will be made. Please keep this in mind."
"You would truly give me such an opportunity?" Azrynne asked in disbelief. Emmeryn simply nodded. Touched, Azrynne knelt before her and touched her head to the ground in a bow.
"Thank you, your grace. I will not betray your kindness." Azrynne said.
"I expect all of you to co-operate," Emmeryn said once again, thus sealing the secret of Azrynne's origins to the people in the room, "Phila, please also pass word of this to your new knight." Phila bowed at her command.
"Excellent. Now, Chrom, the council awaits us. We have much to discuss." Emmeryn said. Chrom nodded and turned to his soldiers.
"You're all dismissed. Sully, I want you to be Virion's guide – please don't make that face. Kellam, you can arrange his quarters. Stahl, please guide Azrynne. Lissa, can you go to the outpost tonight? I want you to help Azrynne settle into her new quarters."
Everyone nodded when addressed, and Lissa skipped to Azrynne's side, linking her arm around her own. Chrom turned to Vaike before he left.
"And Vaike. Please, have patience." He said, and the blonde man simply scoffed and walked away, leaving the throne room well ahead of the others at his own pace. Chrom sighed and glanced at Azrynne, and quickly approached her before she left.
"This isn't your fault, Azrynne," he whispered in her ear, "But I do believe you can find a home here."
Azrynne blinked. This isn't your fault, Azrynne. Those were the words he had mouthed to her. She nodded in understanding, mouthing the words to herself. She slowly lifted her gaze, and his blue eyes met her golden ones once more. Warmth radiated from them. Azrynne couldn't help but feel that Chrom's words were genuine, as if they were already true. Somehow most of his words had the same air to them. He smiled at her, touching her hand with a soft reassurance before joining his sister, Phila and Frederick for his council meeting. Azrynne stared at him for a moment, her gaze lingering before Lissa skipped towards the main doors, tugging her arm and attention away from him.
Azrynne smiled to herself as she walked with the others. Perhaps she could find a home here after all. With warm thoughts of hope in mind, Azrynne could hardly remember the trek to the Shepherd outpost to the east of the city. The group waited at the high district docks for a boat to take them up the Auteaul River to the base, but Azrynne focused mostly on the sparkles of stars and water. She spoke absently to Stahl and Lissa, and wondered where the time had gone when she found herself at a dinner table, eating a proper meal for the first time in a week.
That night, after she had haphazardly tried to sneak into her room only to awaken her three roommates and have Lissa quickly apologize and explain, Azrynne found herself tucked into bed and thinking of Chrom. She thought of his kindness and reverence, how his words were as soft as his eyes. She thought of how he had so selflessly fought to find her a home, without even knowing if she had already had one. For a while, Azrynne wondered if she even wanted to remember anymore. What if she was Plegian? What if she wasn't? What if her place wasn't here? Azrynne didn't want to think about it. For the first time, Azrynne hoped that her memories would stall for just a moment longer. She wondered what lay ahead of her, here, in the Capitol.
Closing her eyes, Azrynne faded to sleep. In her dreams, she saw a blurred and blue man. She heard a laughing man fading away in the distance, and followed his voice. Walking across marbled floors, Azrynne could hear the heavy clank of her metal boots against the floor. She turned corners and walked through hallways, and sometimes she would hear men screaming; sometimes women too. Whispers clouded her thoughts, and for a moment she saw a girl running away from her, long hair clouding her features as blue and gold butterfly wings sprouted from her shoulders. When Azrynne followed though, she saw no girl, no man, heard no laughter. In the centre of a now endlessly dark room, Azrynne stood alone for what seemed like an eternity. No matter how far she walked, there were no edges to her black room; no walls, no rooftop, and soon, she noticed, no floor either. Azrynne screamed and ran, shouting for someone to hear her – and after a millennium of silence, a boy yelled back. She turned immediately, and while naught but darkness was there a moment ago, there now stood a young boy. Eyes gold and hair a fiery auburn, the boy looked at her and cried – and when Azrynne reached for him, he morphed into something different. Something dark. Something black with rotted eyes and bleeding organs.
Azrynne gasped, and the demon lunged for her.
Author's Notes
I apologize to everyone for the huge wait for this chapter – in addition to experiencing some writer's block, after finishing 11 pages of this chapter when inspiration finally struck…my laptop fell out of my bag and my hard disk drive shattered. So alas, I wrote it all again, but with more detail since I know knew which direction I wanted these chapters to go. Originally this chapter was split into three sections, but I have decided to post only a single section at a time – why? Because each section is from a different character's POV. How do you, readers, feel about this? This chapter is half the size of the last, but that's because I originally intended for it to be made of three parts! I thought that switching between POVs mid chapter would be confusing though, so decided to split them. How would you feel in future if chapters were longer (as I intend them to be), but split into several POVs? In the end you get the same content, but it's a matter of short chapters with more frequent updates, or longer chapters with updates spread farther apart. Opinions?
Before finishing I would like to re-iterate that there is a tumblr information / background blog for this story! I recommend you check it out for side details and goodies – for example, I uploaded a sketch of Ylisstol's district layout on it a few days ago. The tumblr is called histories-and-time, find it by typing histories-and-time dot tumblr dot com into the url bar (substituting dot with a period.)
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this chapter and hope you enjoy!