Disclaimer: I do not own FE7, though I wish I did, Nintendo and Intelligent Systems
do.
Authors Note: I am totally ignoring FE6, because I've never played it, and this way I have maximum flexibility.
The Fourth Tale
By Enilas
Chapter 9: A Day of Shattering
Sorrow at the death of a friend is not a weakness, or a blemish on their memory. One can never justify holding in such feelings for the 'memory of the lost'. Only by proper mourning and grief can one progress further in life.
-Book of Elmine, Verse 78, Lines 8-12
Fog rolled through the village of Trond, on the border between Caelin and Kalathet. Lyn's group was waiting for the Phraean, Eliwood, to arrive. Alkeni, Lyn, and the Knights were at the front, Lucius was talking with the siblings, and the rest of the group was doing various other things.
Alkeni was fingering his Elmine necklace, rubbing it for good fortune. "I want it on the record, I'm firmly against this. He's noble, he's entirely too good to be true, and he has nothing to gain and everything to lose by helping us. Beyond that, he has plenty to gain by helping Lundgren kill or capture us- or well, you specifically."
Lyn rolled her eyes; she was getting a little tired of Alkeni's rabid hatred of nobles and his unending cynicism. She snapped at him, "Well, then when it goes wrong, you can tell me, 'I told you so!' Seriously Alkeni, I don't understand why you hate nobles so much. I mean, after all, I'm technically noble."
Alkeni was taken aback for a moment, but then he, anger rising, snapped back. "Perhaps you are, but you weren't raised as one! You live in Bern your whole life and you try not hating the nobility!"
He seemed about to continue, in what would turn into a lengthy rant, when they saw two figures on horseback riding towards them through the fog. The knights placed their hands on their sabers, but relaxed them when they saw that Eliwood was one of the riders. The other rider was a grizzled older man; he had the look of a veteran of many battles, and wore the armor of the Paladin Order of Elmine.
The paladin spoke, "Milord, are-"
Eliwood interrupted him, "Marcus, please, nothing is going to happen."
Marcus sighed in defeat as Eliwood nudged his horse towards the group, and dismounted.
"What did they say?" Lyn asked
The Pheraean smiled, "Caelin's neighbors have agreed to stay neutral in this conflict. However, that means I can't help you either." He seemed to be genuinely concerned for their success.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure we'll do fine. You've helped more than I'd hoped as it is." She smiled back, and Alkeni felt red hot jealousy rising for a moment, but he forced it down almost as soon as he felt it rise.
Eliwood nodded, "Invite me to the celebration?" He laughed
Lyn laughed as well, then answered, "Of course." Alkeni felt the jealousy rise again, but he forced it down even sooner.
"I'll see you then. Good luck." He and Lyn shook hands, then the red headed noble turned and remounted his horse. He and the Paladin, Marcus, left.
Lyn, Alkeni and the rest of the group did as well.
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The group was back at the castle, gathering supplies and mounting up. Alkeni mounted onto Lucan and gently put Pictora in one of the Saddle bags. The group left on the road out, actually more of a dirt path than a road, but something to follow towards the Eagler Estates.
As they went on the road towards the pass guarded by the aforementioned estates, Alkeni slowed Lucan down and ended up next to Erk. He glared at Serra, who, on the other side of Erk, was talking his ear off. Serra glared back for a moment, then spurred her horse forward.
Erk nodded at Alkeni. "Thanks for the bail. I take it you want to talk to me?"
Alkeni nodded and shrugged, "I was wondering what you could tell me about the current situation in Etruia, and what it's like in general. All I know is the Bernese propaganda about the 'Hedonistic and corrupt nature of our greatest foes.' Of course, the way I figure, if King Desmond doesn't like your country, then it must have something going for it."
Erk narrowed his eyes, "Why do you want to know?" His tone lowered in suspicion. "For all I know, you could be pumping me for information about my homeland for your nation's military."
Alkeni shook his head, "The Bernese Military and I had a….falling out. In short, I'm on the run from them. Besides, they probably have enough spies in Etruia to choke a horse, just like Etruia does." He paused, "I want to know because I was thinking about taking a little visit there after all this is over."
Erk thought for a moment, then nodded, "Well, as you probably know, Etruia is governed by the Council of Twelve: The four Councilors Temporal, the Four Councilors Magical, of whom my master Pent is one, and the Four Councilors Spiritual, of whom the current Pontifex is one.
"As to the current situation, well, Etruia's been on the verge of Civil war for the past twenty years, with the Councilors Magical and the Councilors Spiritual always at each others throats, the Councilors Temporal split two and two. The one things stopping an all out war is the threat of Bern breathing down our necks. I would not suggest a visit. Anyone Bernese is immediately killed or deported if found, on the charges of being a spy."
Alkeni nodded, "Makes a certain degree of sense." He heard voices at the front of the line and raised an eyebrow. "I wonder what's going on." He spurred Lucan forward.
He heard Sain talking as he neared the front.
"General Wallace, you can't possibly believe what lies Lundgren has spewed. He's poisoning the marquess!" He was speaking loud enough to be heard for quite some distance.
Alkeni took a look at this General Wallace. Standing before the group was a man, perhaps late 50s, but still hale and healthy, and obviously strong, considering the enormous plate armor he wore. It was made of the finest steel, and thick enough to make anything but the finest quality weapon break through. The Tactician thought that even his starmetal dagger would have a tough time breaking through such durable protection. He took a look at this knight's face: His expression was grim, and he was quite bald, although he didn't seem to care much about it. He had the look, posture, armor and expression of a man who was not to be trifled with.
Wallace spoke, "I will judge the truth for myself. I will take neither your word nor Lundgren's word without investigating this for myself. Not in a matter such as this. Bring me Lyndis!" His voice was somewhere below absolute zero.
Kent nudged his horse forward, and Alkeni immediately felt a hope that Wallace would run him through. But he squelched the feeling quickly and made the sign of Elmine in the air.
"What are your intentions? If you mean harm to the Lady Lyndis, we will have to stop you."
"You?!" He laughed for a minute, much to the annoyance of the Legion. "You have a long way to go to defeat me! If I do not like the look of her, I will take her to Lundgren."
Lyn was jus about fed up with Wallace and she moved wanderer to the front of the group.
"Enough of your arrogance. I am Lyndis.. Move now or be moved." Her eyes flashed in anger as she placed a hand on the Mani Katti. Wallace was silent for a moment, then met her eyes.
Suddenly, the General's expressions softened and he smiled. "Such beautiful eyes…" the mummer was barely heard as he spoke it. Lyn gaped for a moment, and the part of the group that had heard was also shocked. The General spoke up now. "One with eyes as clear and bright as yours could not be a deceiver." He paused for a moment, as Lyn closed her mouth absently. Then Wallace nodded "And such spirit." He laughed, "I like you girl. Why, I think I'll even join your little band of mercenaries." He reached around to the spear strapped to his back, a massive thing, strapped to his armor. He slammed the spear on the ground and miniature earthquake could be felt for several yards. "Lady Lyndis, Daughter of Madelyn, Granddaughter of Lord Hausen; This knight is at your service."
He whistled and around the bend in the road came a massive horse, easily half again as big as Sain and Kent's warhorses. And unlike theirs, which were bred for speed and mobility, his was bred for sheer power. Wallace mounted the horse, quite easily for one with his armor.
"We've wasted enough time here. We ride now!" Lyn said, once Wallace was firmly on his horse. The entire group spurred their horses forward.
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Ahead was large semi-ornate castle, built in the old, old Wiltanesque style. It had fancy, but functional walls, made from regular stone with marble mixed into the mortar, to create a white mortar that was a little weaker than regular mortar, but not enough to make a real difference. The roofs of the four towers were domed with round windows, and murder holes were non-existent.
Between the group and the castle, was a squadron of Caelin cavaliers, sabers in hand, a Paladin at the front. Behind the horsemen were a team of archers, and they had arrows drawn and notched.
The Paladin nodded when he saw Wallace. "I see you've chosen, Wallace."
Wallace nodded, "I have, Clian. Why?"
Eagler paused, "Silendo…Lundgren has him."
Wallace shook his head, "Do you really think that Lundgren will free your son when this is over? He'll keep him to continue to have a hold over you."
Eagler paused again, then nodded. "Perhaps you are right. But I will not risk my son's life on a chance!" He pointed his saber and Wallace, Sain, and Kent. All of them had looks of sadness at the inevitable.
"Enough! Wallace Fleren von Goruun, Kent Sinstier, Sain Alphen; I, Clian Eagler von Jesthdul charge all three of you with treason against the crown of Caelin. May Elmine have mercy on your souls. For I will not!"
At this Alkeni moved Lucan to the front of the group, ignoring Lyn's 'what are you doing?'. He moved the gray horse between the two groups and spoke.
"General Eagler; you are a Paladin, you took the vow of the eight circles. You swore to strike down evil wherever it reared its head. In the Vow of the Seventh Circle, You swore to make any necessary sacrifice to defeat evil. This is the time to sacrifice. You know Lundgren is evil. You know he won't free your son. You know that this course you are on is a path to self-destruction." Alkeni finished, a look of true sincerity on his face.
Eagler paused, and he seemed torn, a war being fought inside his mind.
A shout came from one of the archers in the back. "Traitor!" The archer in question loosed his arrow and it connected with Eagler's neck with a meaty thud. The Lord Von Jesthdul's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he slumped off his horse.
Almost instantly, the other archers trained their weapons on the assassin.
Kent and Sain had almost fallen off their horses as this happened, shock written all over their features, but Wallace had a look of utter hatred on his face, his expression as cold as ice. He jumped off his horse, setting off more mini-earthquakes as he charged the assassin, the Cavaliers quickly removing themselves from his path.
Wallace lowered and locked his spear in place, and ran the archer through. He let out a cry and victorious anguish as he did so.
The thrust was carried through with such force that the spear flew from his hand and carried the archer with it. The Weapon flew until it hit the nearby castle walls. The spear pinned the archer to the wall, deader than an icicle in hell.
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After they had laid Eagler to rest, with even the emotionally repressed Kent grieving openly, Eagler's troops swore loyalty to Wallace and Lyn.
Alkeni chose half of them at random, to come with them to Castle Caelin, the other half staying behind to defend the castle and Lady Eagler until the new Lord von Jesthdul, Clian's Son Silendo, could arrive.
As they continued to ride towards castle Caelin, Kent, Sain and Wallace rode in silence next to eachother, deep in mourning.
As Alkeni rode at the front of the group, he found it hard to hate Kent at that point in time, and came to the choice to give Kent another chance.