Author's Note: I forgot I hadn't added this yet...

Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem or it's characters, just the original characters I made up. (otherwise there'd be a game all about Soren)


In the years that followed Queen Beatrix's death, the royal nursery was never quiet nor empty. After Demetrius' birth, 5 more princes and princesses followed. First came Odette, and despite being the spitting image of her mother, she was the nicest of them all. After Odette, came her sister Mechtilda then Claudius and Lionel and finally the youngest (and most spoiled) of them all, Edessa. There was to be a seventh, but that child was lucky enough to die in infancy. Some arranged marriage indeed!

I no longer enjoyed being a lady-in-waiting, especially when I was to wait upon the usurper queen. When she wasn't lavishing attention on her multitude of children, she could be found ordering us ladies around. Where Beatrix was caring and thoughtful, Esoldia didn't have a care. Her ego was enormous I'd say, a trait she was generous enough to pass on to all of her children. I couldn't even stand to be around them most of them time, I was dissatisfied with life at court now. Everything revolved around Esoldia and the Despencers, Ashnard and all traces of his or his mother's exsistence were pushed as far out of sight as possible. The only reason I was remembered was due to my betrothal to Demetrius, which I couldn't break until i came of age.

I wanted to leave. Nothing appealed to me more than finding some route of eacape. So, as soon as I was old enough (at around age 16 or 17) I would spend most of my time back at my parents' manor in Palmeni. They were retired now and life around there was rather quiet and peaceful-just what I wanted.

Most days at Palmeni Manor I would spend reading or continuing my studies, I now taught myself after all. Master Vaughen, the tutor I shared with Prince Ashnard had now been assigned to Demetrius and his whole host of siblings. Even my head maid Ankerette was now assigned to be Princess Odette's governess. But despite it all at Palmeni, I could forget all the troubles, loss,?and worries. I was once again my parents' darling daughter and I think living in a quiet household was just what I needed.

I didn't have many servants, just our usual humble household staff. Though I'd hardly call then staff, each member was a dear family friend. Since my absence a new girl had joined though, she came from a well-off family that lived in the area. Elena was her name, she was one of the gentlest creatures I'd ever met.

Interestingly enough though, Elena seemed enthralled by stories of court life. I told her all about the rumours and gossip, about this lord or lady doing this or that and she seemed to enjoy hearing every word.

"You make court sound like such a wonderful place!" She remarked to me one day.

"It may appear that way, but it's not all glitter and gold. Trust me, the royal court is far from wonderful...if anything I'd deacribe iit as vicious." I tried to explain to her.

"It can't all be bad." She replied simply, that was one thing about this Elena girl, I doubt she ever had it her to even so much as think a negative thought.

"...are you saying you want to visit?" I asked, I was pretty good at reading people and Elena wore her desire to visit court like the scarf around her neck. The longing just seem to drip off of each word.

But, ever the humble one, "Well, if you could find a place for me I think I should like to stay for...awhile." I knew what she really meant, inside she was screaming "Yes!"

Now, I don't know Elena's exact reasons for wanting me to take her to the royal court, but I have some theories. One was that she had recently met a nobleman by the name of Gawain and had fallen head or heels for him, and just had to see him again. The other is that she was tried of never getting to see the world and saw this as her 'one big break'. And personally, I think it was probably a combination of the two.

So what was I to say to her? I couldn't bring myself to crush her dreams and thus, I relented. "Well, look... The queen allows me to have a few servants of my own, I could make you one of them and you can work your way up from there."

Her eyes lit up as she listened to my reply, maybe she must've thought I would've never allowed her to come. Either way, she tried to keep composure but even I could tell it was struggle. "Thank you m'lady!" she replied eagerly,

"you're welcome." I said back rather nonchalantly, "And if you're going to come to court, you're going to need to find something else to wear beside those frompy cleric's robes."

Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Elena looked down at what she was wearing and realized I was right, "but... I don't have too much else to wear..." she commented, a bit disappointed.

"relax." I told her, "you can have some of my old dresses."

"oh, splendid! thank you again m'lady, you really are as great as they say."

In all honesty I didn't mind giving away my old dresses to Elena, after all if I was to bring her to court she would have to fit in. Once there, I hardly saw any of her, Queen Esoldia took a liking to her right away and gave her a better position then I could ever offer her: to be one of her daughter Mechtilda's governesses. Just as I suspected she was 'one of them. Well... at least she fit in.

Every hour not spend looking after Mechtilda, Elena spent with lord Gawain. She had fallen head over heels for him. Personally, I didn't think he was that great, actually I felt some resentment towards him. He was ever bit as good a fighter as my self but he had been created one of the Four Riders of Daein, and now all four spots were full. Unless one of them died, I'd never get to be one myself. It seemed everything was out of my control. Queen Beatrix told me once I could be whatever I wanted, but it seemed more and more my fate was not mine to control.

Put simply: it upset me. I couldn't stand having everything in my life decided for me! Having everything never work out in my favor. The King and Queen decided I should marry Demetrius, then took away my dear governess Ankerette. Cruel fate took away my beloved mentor Beatrix, I even don't see Ashnard as regularly as I used to. And now, I can't even earning the title of Rider of Daein!

So you see, that's why I liked to go to Palmeni to escape the court, my future looked bleak as far I could tell. I would be forced to marry Demetrius, and then, be stuck as his powerless consort-not what I wanted at all. I wished there was someway I could change all this, back to when my life seemed so full of promise...but at least here at my own estate I could forgot about that and just live in the present.

I feel as though at this point in my story I need to speed things along. Like I said I spent many of my young adult years in between the court and Palmeni, didn't do too much either. Ah, there was one major point that seemed to set things in motion: a border conflict with Begnion.

There was a large group of Daein settlers that had moved to one of the towns on the Begnion-side of the border. Given that the town, a rather important port, was also one which Daein had strong economic ties to, Remomdyn had kindly asked that Begnion cede the town to them, and in return, Daein would give them one of their military bases back (that they had captured many, many years ago) I was about 24 years old when this problem started occurring.

Begnion declined the offer, but the Daein people were not happy with it, thus a miniature version of a war seemed to break out between the countries, the violence that was a part of life in the borderlands increased to a level beyond belief. Daein had to do something, and so, soldiers were sent out, (not the best of course-save them for bigger conflicts)

Then, Queen Esoldia had a brilliant idea. "Remondyn dear, why don't you send your eldest son? He's certainly proved himself a worthy fighter-he'd be a perfect general!" I believe is how she phrased it with that sinfully pursuasive voice of hers.

Now I know what you're thinking, why would Esoldia every speak highly of Ashnard in regards to anything? Well, as with everything she had a plan. She had been keeping secret dealings with Begnion and had arranged for Ashnard to be murdered in the midst of battle. This, she would be rid of her rival's son and not be stained with even a hint of guilt.

I volunteered to go and help the cause, and King Remondyn was more than willing to let me go. He knew how much I enjoyed training or in practices matchs. "Just keep yourself safe Petrine," he told me, "you wouldn't want to worry your parents after all."

I never wanted to worry my parents about anything, truth be told. Besides Beatrix, they were the only people who ever offered me endless kindness. I felt I shouldn't burden them with my problems, or ever upset them. And so, since this was to by my first real taste of war, I resolved to myself to stay out of as much fighting as I could. My safety would be my number one concern.

So, I did what I always tended to do, I stuck close to Ashnard. I still thought of him as my childhood friend and so far, he hasn't given me reason to distrust him. Watching him in battle was certainly a sight to see. He almost single-handled took down an entire fleet of Begnion's famous Pegasus knights. He was ever bit as warrior-like as his father, that was for sure!

As for me? I'll readily admit I looked rather sloppy on the battlefield compared to him, my technique needed improvement and many of my attacks missed. "This just means I'm going to need a lot more training when I return to Daein!" I told myself. It was my first real battle and I came home dissapointed.

Oh, Daein won alright, all thanks to Ashnard. And with this victory he began to appear more in the public eye. He took an active part in Daein's military actions. It seemed the prince that Esoldia and Remondyn had tried so hard to cast aside was coming back out into light.

The Queen was quite furious, I'm certain, when she learned her plans had failed. It had quite the opposite effect in fact! But she at least got something good out of the deal in the end. As part of an agreement to end the conflict, (besides ceding over the city) Begnion offered to betroth the nephew of Duke Gaddos (an influential senator) to Esoldia's youngest daughter Edessa. The king and queen agreed to the match the duke sent over his nephew, Lord Percival right away. And that was the end of that.

Well, at least it was supposed to be the end. There was to be a grand celebration for Edessa's engagement. The spoiled air-headed girl was ecstatic when she heard the news. She begged her mother to spurge on useless fineries for the party, a request to which she readily relented. But funny thing about grand parties, they attract important guests and can be the breeding ground for all sorts of intrigue.


Hello Ophelia L. Again here! Sorry for the long delay between these chapters life got pretty busy for me ^^

Anyway, this chapter took quite awhile to right, as it's meant to be bridge between Petrine's childhood and the rest of the story. Coming up next: we find out what sorts of encounters await at Edessa's party!

Now what about my inspiration be it medieval or otherwise?

-the idea for border conflict between Daein and Begnion comes from a PoR info conversation, where Tanith explains to Ike that Ashnard 1. Single-handedly defeating an entire Pegasus knight order and 2. Was responsible for Daein taking a section of Begnion's land.

I also thought making Elena a governess to one of the princesses would give reason to met and get to know Gawain.

Not much medieval stuff for this chapter, except for naming Ashnard's other half-siblings:

Mechtilda is a Germanic variant of Matilda

Edessa was a city that was fought for during the crusades

Lionel was a real medieval name though, not that common

Claudius was the king of Denmark in Shakespeare's Hamlet

And finally, Odette just sounded cool!