So, hi there guys!
I promise you all that I am not trying to make you wait, this was meant for Friday but life happened. Again. You know how that goes.
But I have to say this - thank you guys so much for reading this! I just checked the views on this story and I was absolutely blown away. Even if you aren't the biggest fan of this fic, thank you all for giving it the time of day!
Last chapter's title was from Vox Populi again because that song is glory be, and now to chapter 7!
Chapter 7 - Alive Here in Death Valley
Chrom was quick to follow Robyne down to the stables. He felt guilt gnawing at him when she didn't spare him a glance, much less a single word.
'Gods, if I knew she wouldn't take it well, I would've told her I was a prince from the very beginning.'
"Right this way, madam," the young man bowed. "They're already saddled and ready."
"Thank you," Robyne replied curtly. She approached the nearest stallion, and then promptly jumped back as its hooves came flying at her face.
Chrom immediately jumped to her aid, lightly supporting her back as she stumbled for balance. The young man in charge of the stables immediately worked to calm the horse, but Chrom was more concerned about Robyne, who's face was turning white with shock.
"Robyne! Robyne, are you alright?!" Chrom waved a hand in front of her face. If anything, her breath came quicker. "Robyne, snap out of it!"
"Milord? What's happened here?" Frederick asked.
"R-R-Russet here was s-spooked, Sir Frederick," the young man babbled. "I promise y-you, she usually i-isn't like this!"
"Of that I have no doubt," Frederick assured. "Perhaps Robyne should ride with me. My mare was at ease with her. Could you bring her here?"
"O-Of course!"
"Robyne! Wake up!" Chrom began snapping his fingers in front of her face. She shook her head, and her eyes began to blink themselves into focus.
"Sorry, sorry," she muttered, picking herself up. Color began to return to her face as she steadied her breathing. Her eyes didn't quite meet his. "I just...didn't see that coming is all."
The young man quickly returned with Frederick's steed, and he mounted. "Come, Robyne."
Robyne quickly jumped into the saddle behind Frederick. "I'm ready."
"Your horse, milord, milady." Chrom nearly jumped as the stable hand offered the reins of the horse to him and Lissa.
"Ah, thank you."
"Thanks!"
"Milord," Frederick tipped his lance as Chrom mounted, "lead the way."
"Wait," Robyne said, "is there any way for the horses to get back here safely once we reach the castle?"
"Good point," he agreed. Robyne glanced at him for a split second before looking away.
"Don't worry, ma'am," the stable hand reassured. "These ones are trained. Without a rider, they'll just come back here."
"My mare was also trained to do such," Frederick asked.
"Very well. Thank you, friend." Chrom brandished Falchion as the stable hand opened the doors to the overrun city. "On my mark!"
Falchion pointed forward, and the horses charged forward as one.
Chrom grit his teeth against the unearthly screeches below him as his stallion trampled Risen underhoof. Wisps of violet smoke billowed up in front of his face like a thick fog.
"Riders ahead and barbarians behind!" He heard Robyne shout. "Princess, get in between us and Prince Chrom!"
"Alright!" Lissa replied.
Chrom bit back a frustrated huff.
He caught a glint of iron in the dark haze. Falchion's blazing blue blade cut through the fog and sliced a mounted Risen clean into two smoking halves. Chrom found himself clinging to his stallion's neck as it reared up to match the undead horse. The Risen's steed tumbled to the ground, screeching and writhing, and Chrom's stallion cried out in alarm as it leapt over its dissolving remains.
'Just forget this mess out here. Make it to the castle!'
At his urging, the ruddy stallion galloped faster, practically flying over the heads of the Risen beneath. He leaned forward and kept Falchion at the ready. The cavaliers that leapt into his path he quickly struck down, and his stallion barreled through the dissolving mounts.
"Behind you!" Robyne shouted.
Chrom turned in his saddle, and raised Falchion in time to deflect a thrown hand axe.
"Good eye, Robyne!"
She didn't say a word.
"We're almost there, Chrom!" Lissa called.
"There's a group of Risen riders guarding the entrance!" Robyne added.
"They won't pose too much of a challenge," Frederick replied.
"Why waste time engaging them?" Robyne refuted. "I say we take them out and go over them all at once!"
"Are you mad?!" Frederick retorted.
"When they charge us, jump off your horse and over the Risen! Take out anything you can, and I'll take care of the rest!"
Chrom paled a bit at the idea.
"Do you know how many things could go wrong with that plan!?" Frederick roared.
"No, but we have a castle to save!"
Chrom sighed. "Frederick, she has a point!" He called. "We have to get inside as soon as possible - we don't have time to take on the entire group at once!"
"We're not made of glass, Frederick!" Lissa agreed with a determined smile. "We'll be fine!"
Chrom caught just a glimpse of Frederick's narrowed eyes. "Very well," he consented. "Let's hope this fool plan of yours works, Robyne."
'Yes, Gods, please let this crazy idea work...'
"I see them! They're coming!" Lissa warned.
Chrom turned back around as saw the cavaliers charging. He crouched in his saddle, gripping the stallion's neck for balance. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the reins.
'Three...'
A Risen wielding a lance locked crimson eyes with him and hissed, spewing dark smoke from its mouth.
'Two...'
The cavalier split from its group to face him.
'One...'
It raised its iron lance high, preparing to bring it down on his head. He heard Robyne cry out.
"NOW!"
He launched himself from the saddle as his stallion reared back from the lance strike. Falchion's point slid through the Risen's chest as he soared over it. He rolled as the ground came hurtling towards him. A brilliant flash of gold lit the cobblestone ground and fizzed out under a wave of smoke and violent screeches.
He stood up tall as Lissa rushed through the battered and beaten castle gates. "That's not all of them! We have to hurry inside and block the entrance!" Robyne gasped as she raced after Lissa.
"Milord, hurry inside the gates!" Frederick commanded.
Chrom turned to the knight in shock. "Frederick, surely you don't mean to hold them all off?!"
"Hurry up!" Lissa shouted. "The Risen are coming!"
Without thinking, he grabbed Frederick by the wrist and started running for the hole in the gates. As they passed, Frederick stabbed his lance up into the stone arch, and the loosened stone came crumbling down over the hole.
"Good thinking, Frederick!" Robyne grinned. "That should keep them at bay for a little while!"
"Let's get inside!" Chrom commanded, charging into the castle.
The castle was in complete chaos.
Knights and soldiers traded blows with the Risen that swarmed through the hallways. The floor was splattered with blood, but there were no bodies to be found. Perhaps he should've been grateful, but Chrom only felt a sickening sense of dread. Something wasn't right here.
He pushed his unease aside and leapt headfirst into the fray.
Under Falchion's edge, the Risen dropped like flies. He heard a few shouts - both determined and relieved - and the Ylissean soldiers pushed back with a resolve that hadn't been there before.
He swung Falchion in a wide arc before him, and the iron axe he'd deflected clattered to the floor. A lance stabbed through the Risen's abdomen, and Falchion severed its head.
The Ylissean soldier tipped his lance in a silent salute. Chrom's eye was drawn to the flash of movement behind him.
Panic seized his limbs. "Behind-!"
The bloodied edge of an axe jutted through the soldier's chest. A fresh splatter of crimson mixed with the older splotches on the ground as the soldier slumped to the floor.
Chrom forced himself to swallow his shock as his blood began to boil. He leapt right over the soldier's fallen body and shoved Falchion right through the Risen's skull. He had to shut his eyes against the torrent of smoke that billowed up into his face.
"CHROM!"
He turned in time for Robyne to barrel right into him and shove him onto the floor. A lance point sliced through the air above his head.
He turned to the wielder, and realized with horror why there were no bodies on the floor.
The Risen are coming! The Risen are coming! (I'm sorry I grew up in MA)
E/N: I move that we make Chrom have an honorary PhD in Psychology and Human Interaction and Behavior.
A/N: So, while more crap is happening, I am here to inform you that we are actually nearing the end of the prologue arc! (blasts confetti) We're nearly there, guys!
Please let me know what you guys think - a review, a favorite, a follow, anything works for me! It's just that I realized that a lot of you are reading this (again, thanks so much for that) and I'd love to know what you all think! Hopefully I'll get chapter 8 out by Friday!