Italics = Thought

I do not own Fire Emblem.

Cross published on A03


"This ale tastes worse than horse piss." Morgan grimaced as she placed her mug down onto the table. The rest of the table also had mugs of varying liquids, except Keaton, who was quietly snoozing, resting his head on the table.

"Do I even want to know how you know what horse piss tastes like?" Silas smirked as he took a gulp from his own mug, only for the same look to grace his face. Morgan grinned, chuckling.

"No, you really don't."

"If we might get on track." The youthful tones of Molin clipped the thick air of the tavern. He was barely fifteen, with brown fur-like hair around his wrists, with neatly kept hair the same shade of brown covering his head. Like all taguel, he sported a pair of rabbit like ears. "His Majesty was about to speak."

"Lord Corrin will suffice, Molin." Corrin smiled. "Especially here. Do not mention me as 'King' or 'Your Majesty."

The young Taguel lowered his gaze. "If you wish it, my Lord."

Corrin's expression softened a little. "I know it's hard, asking you to put aside something you've being taught to do the past six years. But this isn't Haven." The elder warrior said kindly, "This isn't the secret city we call home. Here, we are surrounded by the enemy. Here, you are a Royal Blade, as well as my squire. You need to stop thinking like a Havenite Citizen, and starting thinking like a Blade."

"I…yes Lord Corrin."

"Good man! Now! We're here to persuade that moronic Barozzi to do something for us. If we succeed, it will force Nohr into fight two different wars at once, and give Lilith more time to acquire the item. In addition, rumour has it that Leo is in the city to see Barozzi too, with both of his retainers, providing us with an excellent opportunity."

That caught Morgan's attention, and an unsettling grin crossed her face. "I call dibs."

"Hm?" Corrin raised an eyebrow. "No, Kaden and Keaton will go. They are—"

"With respect, Lord Corrin." Morgan snarled, "Owain…..Odin is mine. He's been mine ever since he first stepped onto the sands of Plegia. Since the day we first met."

"Possessive? Fine." Corrin conceded. "But remember that you are a Havenite now. Your objective is Brynhildr, if you can get your revenge on Odin, do so. But do not endanger the mission."

Morgan sighed dramatically. "It's like you don't trust me, my friend." She shot the youngest member of their group a teasing smirk. Molin bristled a little at the Dark Fliers lack of formal title when she addressed the King, but swallowed any words that might have followed.

"I trust you, just not when it comes to Odin." Corrin replied cheerfully. "Now then. Since the drink here is foul, let's get this done fast and head home."

Kaden giggled. "Aaaah come on. Doesn't mean we can't have some fun here. It's Cyrkensia!"

Morgan sighed, and stood up. "Nah, I better get going. This city is big, finding O- Leo will be hard."

"Anna will wait for two days and two days only." Corrin reminded her. "After that, you'll need to find your own way back to Haven. We need to be back for the Founding Festival."

Morgan offered a casual salute. "Don't worry. When have I ever let you down...Don't answer that."

Her companions (barring Molin) shared a laugh, and the Plegian Woman strode off.

"Forgive me My Lord, who is Odin?" Molin queried. "And why does Lady Morgan seem to hate him?"

"Ophelia's father." Came Corrin's almost sad reply.


A number of thoughts were running through Niles' head as he regarded at Nina with the faintest of sneers. He was still sat in his horses' saddle, though his mount was clearly uneasy being down the alley. Niles knew he didn't have much time.

She was so thin. It was likely she hadn't eaten for a number of days.

He remembers the hunger.

Starvation was always one of the harshest things he endured. It was would had caused his overeating at royal feasts, the thought that the meal might be the last for a while still forced its way into his head even now.

The girl was still staring at him with widen eyes.

What is that…

Something caught his eye now, and a sickening feeling of déjà vu filled his gut.

He also remembers having his eye removed.

He had omitted part of the story of how he lost his eye when he had told it to Leo. Whilst a member of his gang had been the one that had done the deed, they had done so only to save his life.

The winter had been harsh, food and medicine scarce.

It started by a bit in some foul water. A younger Niles had gone under completely, and had to be pulled out by one the other thieves in his group.

It took about a week of continuously growing pain before he could hardly move without causing himself pain.

His fellow thieves tied him down and plied him with wine to dull his pain. Then, with a thin blade, one of them removed the problem.

It had saved his life, true. Which had made their betrayal all the more painful.

He had never found out which particular infection he had been struck with. Frankly, he had no desire to do so.

But he recognised it when he saw it.

"…Your eye.." Niles said, in quiet disbelief.

Nina whimpered. "I-It hurts…."

Niles sighed, and made his decision. He slid off of his horse, and walked over to the girl, and scooped her up into her his arms. She was more underweight that Niles realised, and so he could carry her with one arm alone. He hauled himself back into his saddle, and took off after Leo.

"Make it stop.." Her voice quivered.

"Yeah yeah…just hold on kiddo." Niles murmured, and tightened his grip on her a little. One thought was making its way to the forefront of his mind.

How the hell will I explain this to Leo?


Shigure limped into the library in the palace. He had trained without Lady Morgan today. Instead, it had been his Mother who had trained him. She was a formidable opponent, showing little mercy or restraint.

So he now he was going to visit his best friend. Despite being a Prince, he had very few friends. So Ophelia was a true gift.

He entered the library, and made a beeline for his friend, only for Lady Nyx's voice to drift into his ears. Shigure walked closer, and saw Ophelia and his brother, the young Caleb, sat at a table in front of the short Lady Mage.

"—ay attention, Ophelia. I'm teaching you how to use tomes, just like you asked." The elder woman hadn't managed to remove her curse as of yet, but she had mellowed a little. She had started a (admittedly tentative) relationship with Marc, although they hadn't moved beyond hand holding and sneaking kisses in quiet alcoves.

"Okay Auntie Nyx!" The happy tones of Ophelia Di Owain replied to her tutor.

The woman suppressed a blush at the use of the title. "Y-You know we aren't related.."

"Not yet!" the young girl chirped. "But you and Uncle Marc will get married soon!"

"But we….I-I…."

"Am I interrupting, my lady?" Shigure asked, offering rescue to Nyx.

"No no." Nyx said politely. "Greetings, my Prince."

Nyx nodded politely. "Very well. Ophelia, you've dismissed for today. Prince Caleb, you may take that book back with you, if you wish."

"Oh….o-okay!" The young boy stammered, and hugging the book close, he walked out of the library.

"You two." Nyx snapped. "Try not to break anything here."

"Understood." Shigure replied.

Nyx nodded, and took her leave.

"So." Ophelia smiled. "What do you want to do?"


A couple you have sent me PM's asking about Plegian surnames (not entirely sure why you find them so interesting, but hey). So here's an explanation, at least for the nobility.

The surname is a way of showing which Divine (the fourteen blood Grandchildren of Grima.) said person is descended from. Bastards do not inherit the Divine name, instead taking the name of their father. Hence why Ophelia is 'Di Owain' rather than Di Augustina. Most of the Plegian Nobility are descended from bastards, since, at least in the present, only the Di Augustina family remain.

And now…..have a stinger.

"This is a nice place you have here." The green haired woman said, sipping tea from a china cup. "But…you've changed. Are you sure you've not gone mad?"

"Cousin, I went mad over a thousand years ago." Her companion grinned. "It gets boring. I'm sane now."

There was a quiet 'plink' as the Green haired woman put her cup down. "What are you planning?"

"Cousin, you wound me!" She smiled. "I'm not planning anything. At least not this time."

"…Good. The last time..-"

There was a smash as the owner of the house slammed her cup on the table. "DO NOT REMIND ME OF THAT!"

"….Apologies. I should be off." She headed for the door.

"Stay alive Tiki."

"You too." Came the reply.