Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem: Semai no Kouseki.
Eirika was always strong. She was much stronger then me, in spirit and in fighting. She, even though I had the advantage, could always beat me. She would laugh and say it was because she always sparred with Ephraim, who also used a lance. She was used to having a disadvantage, both in physical strength and weapon reach. She always told me I shouldn't be afraid just because I was at a disadvantage, but that I should never overestimate my abilities.
Eirika had a hard core that made her who she was. She spent much of her life with her brother, and with Lyon. She was the only girl in their group, and was constantly trying to keep up with them. She managed and she never got discouraged. She knew that she was just as good as Ephraim or Lyon, and that she could keep up. She also recognized the things they excelled in, like magic, or battle tactics.
She was always my friend and my role model all in one.
The wind was wild, and bitterly cold. It blew Eirika's breath back into her throat, and made her eyes sting. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself. She was glad there had been no snow flurries yet; it was hard enough to see without flecks of white swirling every where. She tapped the horse into a jog, and looked over her shoulder. Saleh and Innes were following closely.
"Eirika," Innes called, urging his horse abreast with hers. "Are you sure this is the way to go? We have no idea where the camp will be."
"Trust me, it will be near Grado Keep, and I know a place that's perfect for a defensive position near there. If they found it that's where they'll be."
"You don't even know if they'll have found it, and you still want to go this way?" Innes looked at her, a mix of disdain, and, somehow, pride.
"Yes, something tells me they'll be there, everyone will be." Eirika smiled, knowing it was a challenging smile. It was the smile she used to pull her brother into challenges, or sparring matches. Her heart ached for twin, and she want to cry. She hadn't cried yet, but she wanted to. She wanted to curl up and die, but she had to stay strong, and lead. She had to stay strong, and bring her brother home.
"You and Ephraim both-" Innes stopped. "What is that?" Eirika jerked he head up, and a shadow crashed down towards them. Innes already had an arrow ready, and was aiming.
"Hold on, you don't know what it is!" Eirika protested, grabbing Innes arm. A horrid scream rose above the howling wind, and Eirika's horse reared. The horse was suddenly torn form under Eirika, and she dropped harshly to the ground, and rolled. She came up on her feet, her sword drawn, and held defensively before her.
She heard an arrow fly from a bowstring, and heard the sick sound of an arrow hitting home. Another inhuman sound made her wince, and something to her left growled. She whipped around in time to see the great monster before its teeth snapped inches from her arm. Eirika brought the hilt of her sword down on the creature's head as hard as she could, and jumped back. The great cat demon stumbled, and Eirika moved forward again, stabbing her sword into the creature's chest.
The monster roared, and jerked back, knocking Eirika off balance. She stumbled, and saw the great mouth open wide, and her heart clenched. She was going to die. The air crackled, and her vision whited out. The smell of burning flesh and hair was suddenly overpowering. Eirika fell, her face scrapped against a rock, and she sat up, dazed.
"Princess Eirika!" Saleh was kneeling beside her. "Are you unharmed?"
"Mo-mostly, Eirika managed. She couldn't see well. Everything was splotched, and bleached of color. "What was that?"
"Monsters," Innes grumbled in disgust. 'I'm afraid you're horse is dead Eirika, and you would be to, if it weren't for Saleh's quick thinking."
'I'm afraid I've temporarily hampered her sight," Saleh admitted. "Her pupils are far too wide for this light."
"I'll be fine soon." Eirika blinked, and shaded her abused eyes. "Are we out of immediate danger?"
"We can hope we are," Innes still had his bow out and strung. "We should move quickly though, I don't like the idea of staying near here for very long. Monsters rarely travel in such small groups. The main party will be finding us soon."
"Yes, or course," Eirika agreed. She heaved herself to her feet, and Innes grabbed her arm. She winced, and looked carefully at him. There was no pity, and very little concern. The last thing she needed was Innes's concern.
Innes helped her a few steps, and then released her arm. "Saleh's beast won't carry two people; you'll have to ride double with me."
It was almost insulting to be ordered so easily, and if it hadn't been true then Eirika would have insisted on riding with Saleh. Still she allowed herself to be helped on Innes tall stallion, and watched as Saleh mounted his dumpy little gelding. They started off again at a quick trot. It was immensely uncomfortable behind the saddle, but Eirika knew it was better not to complain. She shut her eyes, which made them ache less, and leaned her head against Innes back to steady herself.
"Why do you think the monster's attacked us when they were outnumbered?" Eirika opened her eyes, and looked back at Saleh. "You've said on many occasions that the monsters only attack when the odds are in their favor, or the group is large enough."
"The attack does go completely against their nature," Saleh agreed. "I have no idea what would drive them to do something like this.
"Driven them?" Innes looked back with a look that was almost a sneer. ""Why do these creatures have to have something driving them?"
"Because, even normal creatures know when they are outnumbered by something, and monsters are smarter then normal creatures. That's why they're monsters-they are smarter and stronger then what is normal," Saleh explained. "If only two attacked us then they were obviously more afraid of something else then death."
"What would they fear more then death?" Eirika asked, but she didn't expect an answer. She didn't think she wanted to get an answer. "Innes, go left." Innes grunted, and turned his horse left. Eirika closed her eyes again briefly, and tried to relax a little. Her mind hummed with fear, apprehension, and anxiety. She was very worried about her brother. Each time she thought about him it brought an ache into her that hurt worse then any wound.
She could hear the horse's feet hitting dully beneath the winds roar. Her ears were numb from the cold, and her legs ached from a cold stiff day in the saddle. She could feel Innes heart beating too fast for normal, and realized he was afraid. His back was tense, and one hand hovered near his quiver. His bow was in easy reach as well.
"Princess Eirika, how is your sight?" Saleh asked after a while. Eirika blinked, and looked around.
"Better, but it will be a while yet before it returns completely to normal," Eirika admitted. She shifted her arms around Innes, and tried to see over his shoulder. "We should be getting close."
"Hold traveler! State your name and business, or we'll put you gull of arrows!" A voice boomed out. Innes jerked his horse to a stop, and grabbed an arrow.
"None of that!" The voice shouted. It echoed off rocks, and distorted the actually voice. "Now, state your name and business!" Eirika could feel Innes stiffen, and knew he was about to do something stupid. She could see it, and she knew Innes too well.
She swung off the horse, and held up her hands. "We are simple travel-"
"Of course, now tell us who you really are or-"
"You idiot! Don't you know who that is!"
"Ow! No! Should I?"
Saleh sighed, and smiled the barest bit. "Ewan, is that you?"
"Master Saleh!" A read-headed child suddenly popped up from behind a boulder, and dashed over to the three travelers. "Master Saleh! What are you doing here?"
"Traveling," Saleh answered simply. "My companions are Princess Eirika of Renias, and Lord Innes of Frelia."
"Princess Eirika?" Ewan squeaked. He looked at Eirika with wide eyes, and bowed very quickly. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you Princess Eirika."
"Ewan, what are you doing here in the middle of Grado?" Saleh asked.
"I'm with Prince Ephraim's army!" Ewan piped.
"Here, Ewan, who is this?" A blond girl asked. She scrambled over stood in front of the three travelers frowning.
"Oh, and this is Amelai! Amelia this is Master Saleh, she's Princess Eirika, and he's Lord Innes." Amelia blushed, and quickly bowed.
"I-I'm sorry, we were supposed to scare away anyone who came this way if we could," The girl stuttered.
"It's all right," Eirika couldn't hold back her smile. The camp was close by, and that meant her hunch had been right. "Can you leave your posts to take us to camp, or should you just give us directions?"
"Uuum," Ewan frowned. "I'm not sure we should..."
A man hopped over the large rock the two children had been hiding behind. "It's all right, I'll lead them in." Joshua grinned, and tipped his hat to Eirika. "My Lady Renais, pleased to see you again."
"I feel the same Joshua," Eirika dipped her head a little. "Now, can you take us to camp?"
"Of course," Joshua hopped of a rock, and patted Ewan on the head. "Good job kiddo." Ewan glared murderously at him. Eirka brushed off Innes offer to held her back on his horse, and walked beside Joshua. Her heart had taken up a frenzied beat that made her hands shake, and she didn't want anyone to know her stomach was a cold knot.
Seth had been surprised to see her, that much was obvious, and he had also been relieved. Eirika had always been able to read Seth better then anyone else. She knew his mannerisms and tones well. She smiled at him while he bowed, and looked around the small tent. Seth, Duessel, L'arachel, Innes, Saleh, and Tana were all gathered in the tent, each one waiting. Formalities were done, and now Eirika voice her question.
"What do you know about Ephraim?" The question brought a sharp silence over the room, and Tana looked away quickly. Eirika felt dread rising in her throat, and looked at them sternly. She couldn't let them now she was afraid, and that all she wanted to do was sit down and cry. Still, she wasn't ready for the truth.
It was Duessel who finally told her, his voice impassive, and his face set hard against emotion. The emotionless account made her stomach clench, and her heart clench. She listened silently to the account of her brother's capture, and the intent of the capture. She heard of eth informant and the escape attempt in dry facts, giving away none of the pain Ephraim must have felt. It was almost too much to bear.
Finally Duessel stopped. "That's all we know." Eirika nodded numbly, and wished she could stop the ache inside her. She could only imagine what Ephraim was feeling. Lyon-dear, sweet, innocent Lyon, friend of her heart, had unleashed the Demon King of legend, and captured his best friend. Eirika realized she was gripping her sword handle, and that her fingers ached from the force of her grip.
She looked up the ring of faces, and realized she had to say something. "I thank you, for your concern, and loyalty. Ephraim-he's stronger then any of us know, and he'll be fine until we can reach him."
"Of course he will," L'arachel agreed loudly, and laughed. "There's no doubt of that, Prince Ephraim is very strong."
"When is your informant supposed to bring his next report?" Innes asked sharply.
"Tomorrow morning, or some times around then. He's very sporadic about time. He says it's hard to get away from the Keep unnoticed," Duessel answered, and his tone said be believed the man on that point.
"Have you considered the fact he could be playing both sides?" Innes asked, his voice cold, and calculating.
"Yes, it's very possible, but right now we're not in any position to bargain," Seth said. He sounded old, and tired. "We're grasping at straws, and we can't let go of one just because it may be false."
"It sounds very outrageous to believe it, even if we are 'desperate'." Innes pointed out, his face still set stubbornly.
"It makes more sense then what's been happening." Eirika responded almost bitterly. It made more sense then Grado lashing out blindly at Renais, or the random monster attacks. Wouldn't the Demon King know perfectly well how to control Monsters? She had shoved everything away from her, trying to lessen the growing pain in her heart. Her brother's capture, Lyon's betrayal-two people she had loved at trusted were now, now...
"Look at us, blathering on when you've just arrived from a long, hard trip," Tana bounced forward suddenly, and caught Eirika's arm. "I'm sure you're starving, and you look almost dead on your feet." Tana smiled widely, brining a sudden odd cheer to the room. "C'mon, you can stay in my tent with Myrrh and L'arachel."
Eirika smiled back, and placed her hand over Tana's. "I am hungry," She admitted. She looked around the group, and managed her own, almost real smile. "I beg leave of this council."
"You need not beg anything of anyone here," Seth answered properly, touching his hand to his heart and bowing. Eirika bowed back, and then, with a wave to be brother, Tana pulled Eirika from the tent, and then hugged her tight.
"Ooh, It's so good to see you again. Everyone was worried about you," Tana told her friend, beaming still. "I can't tell you how much better I feel with you here."
"I'm glad." Eirika replied. In truth she felt broken and shattered, and Tana's smile seemed out of place.
Eirika had finished the meal-sprout soup, and a slab of meat-, and was now sitting in silence, her head bent, and her eyes stinging. Tana had dropped of into silence as well after telling Eirika everything that had happened to the small camp since the Pegasus rider arrived. The camp was quiet now, but Eirika could here a few people exchanging greetings as they switched watches, or went about their late business.
There was a dull knock against the canvas. Eirika looked up, and found she could just make out two tall shadows. Eirika set her tray of food aside, and stood. Tana, however, just called 'Come in', and the tent flap pushed over. Kyle and Forde walked in, each wearing a grim expression. The two dropped into deep bows, and Eirka stared silently.
She knew, of course, Forde and Kyle had been with her brother when he had been captured. She knew that, as knights, they had failed in their duty to keep Ephraim safe, and they were seeking repentance, and punishment. She waited, feeling her chest grow tight as she looked at their bowed heads.
"Princess Eirika, we were with your brother the night he was captured, and we did not stop it," Kyle said woodenly, his voice resolved and muffled. "We are here to accept punishment for our actions." Forde's head dipped lower, and Eirika saw a slight quiver in his shoulders. Her heart clenched, and she blinked back tears.
"There's nothing I could do to punish you that would come close to what you two have put yourselves through since my brother's capture, I'm sure," Eirika took a quick breath, and stood up. "There is no blame. Nothing could have stopped this from happening, and no amount of blame throwing will make Ephraim safe among us."
The two remained bowed, each resolute in their decisions. Each stupidly refusing to believe her words, she knew, and blaming themselves. "Please stand up," It took a moment, but the two did stand, and Eirika was surprised. She had expected to see the serious and resolved face on Kyle, but not on Forde. Forde was never serious and never let anything keep him down.
Eirika realized she couldn't just tell them to go away, and dismiss the issue. She had, in some way, to find some punishment for them. It would do nothing to help her brother, but it would help them. She, certainly, wouldn't have them flogged, or anything like that, but she had to do something. Honor demanded it.
"We'll discuss the manner of your punishment after I've had a time to properly think on it," Eirika managed, giving them each level looks. "I'm sure you both have duties to attend to, so I will dismiss you."
"Thank you, Princess," Forde said, almost too softly to be heard. They both bowed, and left. Eirka watched until the tent flap closed behind them, and then sat back down hard. She was tired, worried, and more afraid then she had ever been in her life. Her heart ached for her brother, her father, and her home.
"Oh Eirika," Tana breathed, and dropped down beside her friend. Eirika smiled, and buried her face in her hands. She let everything pour out. Her worried splashed down her face, and her fears came out in soft sobs that made her shake. Tana dropped her arms around Eirika's shoulders, and Eirika leaned against her. She felt weak, and small. How could she ever save her brother from something so large? How could she even begin to start?
"Don't worry, we'll see Ephraim again…" Tana murmured. "You're here now, so we'll see him."
A/N:Whoo! Another chapter! Okay, it's naptime right? Ha, not, still got work to do. Okay, First part was-obviously- Tana, and yeah for crying women. Eirika is experiencing serious depression, and emotional stress, but she'll be better after she kills some things very dead.
Thanks to: Phantom Kensai, Nariel Narbeleth, randmneko, narugurlee13, Kiries, and Silver Ferret- My wonderful reviewers! Please review for this chapter, and if you do I'll be happy and write more!
Jaa ne!