Author's Notes: Yes, I am finally getting back on track with at least my Fire Emblem story. I least it didn't take as long as chapter six. Now we join our favorite mercenary band just as they begin the battle (this would be the chapter 'Flight!' in game). Enjoy and as a side note, I am not very good with battle scenes as of yet, so they do tend to trail off a bit, before coming back into focus.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem or it's characters. (you know, I add the strangest notion that I could just copy and paste my previous disclaimers)


Chapter 7: The Calm before the Storm

The mercenaries congregated outside the main entrance of their fort to set up their defenses along the bailey. The sheer number of the black clad soldiers was intimidating, but they weren't about to give up. Soren knew everyone would fight simply because Greil asked them to.

"Ike you're in charge of keeping the front," Greil commanded, glancing at his son. "I'll go around and hold the back."

"Yes sir," Ike responded immediately. As soon as the commander was gone Ike turned toward Soren. "Soren, do have any ideas?" Ike asked him hopefully.

"Titania and Gatrie should be able to hold off the main entrance," Soren said. "Ike, Oscar and Boyd will be the front for the side entrance. Shinon and I can attack from behind the defenses. Shinon will be with Titania and Gatrie and I will be with Ike's group. Rhys can stay in the middle and heal where necessary."

"Alright then. Mercenaries take your positions!" Ike yelled.

The mercenaries divided into their groups, Ike's group moving toward the side entrance and Titania's group going to block the main gate. Oscar stood, lance always at the ready, close to Boyd. Ike was on the other side of Boyd, and they formed a tightly knit wall, cutting off side route to the fort.

Soren took position behind Ike, seeming as he was the only who was able to stand his presence. Ike briefly glanced back at him as they waited for the soldiers to come. The blue-haired boy nodded once in encouragement, before turning back to face the oncoming horde.

This would be their toughest fight yet, but they could pull through. They had to. Soren didn't want to be alone again.

The mercenaries tightly gripped their weapons, hearts beginning to beat almost uncontrollably. The anticipation of the battle ahead was nearly suffocating. In those few moments, the calm before the storm, Soren closed his eyes and hoped above all else that Ike wouldn't die.

Crimson eyes snapped open as the clang of metal against metal reached his ears. It had begun. Soren chanted silently in the ancient tongue, preparing a spell to send at the soldier nearest him.

Ike struggled to get a hit against the lanceman who had charged him. Boyd was doing relatively well against his soldier, seeming as his axe easily bypassed the man's lance and cleaved through his armor. Oscar was faring well with the enemies he encountered, his longer range and movement advantage with his horse hindered the soldiers who tried to approach him.

Boyd, as ever, was all strength and no actual skill. The Fighter swung his axe wildly, his attacks meeting his foe by mere chance. It seemed that Boyd was slacking with his training, as usual.

Soren rolled his eyes as he prepared another spell, his wind tome open in his hand. Whether they liked it or not this battle sealed the fact that they were now enemies of Daein. The soldiers would come for them no matter where they went because they had the princess among them.

He may not have been particularly pleased with this new development. However there wasn't anything that could be done about it. So for the moment they would have to fight. They could think over the consequences at a later time.

Coming back to reality, Soren blasted some lanceman giving Ike trouble, the strong wind strike knocking him back into the wall. Ike briefly glanced back at Soren and nodded his thanks. Without a second thought, Ike charged forward and cut down the archer who kept shooting at Oscar and Boyd.

Soren noted briefly that his friend had improved greatly, especially considering how his spars with the commander always ended. It made Soren wonder just how long Ike had been a true member of the company. Had it been days? Weeks? Had he only been on one mission before, or had he gone on several already?

"Ah!" Soren abruptly snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Ike's pained scream.

The swordsman was on the ground before a lancer, clutching his injured arm. His weapon was lying in the grass next to him, Ike having dropped it. Soren didn't wait as he waved his arm, the winds bending to his will.

"Ike!" Soren called to his friend. "Get back behind the lines. Oscar and Boyd can hold them off for now," the mage stated, already assessing the severity of the wound.

Ike glanced over at Soren, a look of pain clouding his features. The blue haired boy nodded and picked up his sword. Ike immediately went toward Rhys as the healer prepared his staff.

Because of the lack of Ike's presence on the front lines, the mercenaries were forced to fall back a little ways, making sure that the soldiers wouldn't be able enter into the fortress itself. A difficult feat now that they were down one fighter, but they could manage. Especially considering that Ike wasn't too badly hurt. Rhys would heal him and he could go back to helping Oscar and Boyd on the front lines.

The winds picked up again around them and Soren ended another man's life with only a few words and a hand motion. Kind of ironic that some say words can't hurt them. In reality words, can cut sharper then any blade…

In an instant Ike was standing next to Soren again, a confused expression on his face. "Where are they going?" Ike questioned as Soren now realized they had already begun their retreat.

Oscar rode up to him as soon as the last soldier was out of sight. "It seems they have decided to regroup for now. We should probably do the same," Oscar stated as he dismounted from his horse.

"Okay," Ike replied with a nod.

"We've cleared the surrounding area of troops," Soren stated simply as he glanced over the members gathered around. Soren noted a few who looked weary from the battle and Rhys was searching people over for injuries.

"There's no question about it," Ike began as he looked at Soren. "We're enemies of the Daein kingdom now, aren't we?" he asked.

"We've no time for rest!" Greil called to his men. "Everyone, pack your things now. We leave at once, before the enemy brings in reinforcements," he added grimly.

"Understood," Soren heard Oscar say. "Boyd! Come with me."

"Right behind you, brother!" Boyd called as the two brothers ran off to pack their things.

Greil rolled his eyes at the Fighter's antics, but paid it little mind as he looked over at the rest of them. "Rhys, Soren, I want you two to come with me and grab any important documents in the library. The rest we'll burn." Looking at Ike he said, "Ike, you're in charge of the princess."

"Got it," Ike replied.

Soren went with the commander to the library, the only room in the base that he could stand being more then five minutes in, other than his own room of course. He could always come there and sit and read in peace. Sometimes he'd even sit by the window to watch Greil and Ike train out in the clearing a good distance away. It was a great solace to him, and he always went there in whatever little spare time he had.

But in the end it was just a room, and the fort just a building. Things like that could be replaced. Lives, however seemingly meaningless, couldn't.

The moment he set foot in the library he began pulling the documents Greil was referring to. Some were simply maps of Crimea and Tellius, useful if they would be traveling. Other such documents were reports on the equipment they had and their finances. Soren even managed to find a few more wind tomes, these less worn then his.

"Soren hand me that map," Greil commanded, pointing at a map of Tellius nearby.

Soren complied without questioning him, something Greil appreciated at times. "What are you doing sir?" Rhys asked curiously as he watched Greil pull out a pen and set a false course for Begnion.

"What else?" replied Greil. "Giving them a false lead."


Endnotes: I like Greil, I really do. I don't think the game gives him enough credit. You know, I even wanted to write an AU fiction where Greil doesn't die, just to see where it would lead.