Chapter 10: Sword and Staff

"Is she awake yet?" Lissa questioned the confectionary swordsman who had sat beside the dark mage all night and day. The previous battle saw the addition of Emmeryn to the Shepherds' ranks, but at a tremendous cost. Robin, the brilliant tactician of the military, had traded his life for hers. As for Tharja, her eyes fluttered open to see Gaius hovering over her concerned.

"Gah…finally!" Gaius chuckled as Tharja reached up and smacked him in the noggin. Tharja sat up to see a group of Shepherds ready to welcome her.

"Nice to finally meet you, I'm Chrom." The lord extended his hand. Tharja scanned his ragged face that visibly radiated weariness.

"…I'm Tharja…" The mage's head throbbed as she shook the warrior's hand.

"Would you like us to leave you to rest? You had quite the episode on the journey back to the barracks. Gaius says you are a genius." Tharja turned to Gaius and sighed. What a fool.

"He says you are a very talented strategist as well…" Tharja knew where this was going, but she had never commanded a large number of soldiers like the Shepherds.

"Ughh…shall we talk about this later, sir Chrom?" Chrom smiled lightly and nodded his head, gesturing for Lissa and Gaius to leave the mage be.

"Wait…Gaius I need to speak with you." The swordsman looked back, shocked at the woman's grip on his wrist.

"Umm…sure thing. What's up?" Gaius once again took a seat next to Tharja. The two sat motionless for a moment before noise cut through the air.

"Why…did you join the enemy?" Gaius looked away from his friend and started to speak.

"The king and I didn't share…similar goals. That's about it. I never signed up to murder an innocent woman." He looked back at the magician and smiled brightly.

"You're too soft…hehehe…" Tharja began to cough, unable to complete her trademark giggle.

"…What happened to you on the battlefield Tharja?" Gaius was legitimately concerned it seemed, as his face was soft but serious.

"Oh…that…it was nothing really, just my mind playing tricks on me. Have you heard from Henry any? He vanished shortly after you did…" The sickly woman barely got the words to come out. The swordsman shot her a surprised look, answering her question.

"Ughh…you two just can't follow the rules can you…? Hehehe…" Gaius smiled at her enthusiastic laughter. Rebellion always fascinated Tharja.

"Haha I guess not! Hey Tharja…" Gaius paused a moment, causing a confused look to cross Tharja's face.

"What Henry? I do not have candy…" Gaius's face turned a bit red as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

"I kinda missed you…it's been a while. How have you been?" The statement caught Tharja by surprise. Gaius had not shown real emotion since before the academy finals.

"I've…survived. You guys abandoned me, but that can be forgiven. I…missed you too." Tharja made eye contact with Gaius…and unleashed a genuine smile. A smile that came once in a lifetime to people associated with the ice queen. Then, it was over.

"Whatever happened to that general? Campari I think it was…" Gaius had a troubled look.

"…Were you close to the guy?" Tharja giggled slightly. Close wasn't the word.

"I didn't like the guy honestly…so you guys killed him?" She questioned innocently.

"Well…our resident assassin killed him. You will meet him later…he's a bit sheepish around women. Which reminds me, what do you think of Chrom's offer?" The question bit at Tharja's patience.

"…Can't he find anyone else? He looked like he could lead an army himself…" Gaius sighed at the uninspired response.

"Well…our tactician traded himself for the exalt. We are severely out-manned…the only thing holding us together and gaining victory was Robin's genius. You are just as smart, especially when it comes to war!" Gaius attempted to woe the dark knight's sense of pride.

"…Really? I'm the best they could come up with? Hehehe…well then…I do enjoy fighting….hmm…" Tharja and Gaius laughed together at the notion, happy to meet again in this hellish war. The two exchanged jabs as the other Shepherds slept across the halls in the makeshift barracks. Something new formed that night…something Tharja desperately needed…a companion…a familiar face.

/

A lone sorcerer trekked through the wilderness of Ylisse, shedding blood of local creatures to perform strenuous ceremonies.

"This is nothing like human blood…" A putrid stench crossed Henry's nostrils as he gathered samples for his practice. Tonight he would amplify his strength the only was a sorcerer knew how…blood sacrifice. Though animal blood was not near as effective as human blood, it served its purpose.

Henry was not quite powerful to use the blood of human's just yet, though his raw power had already surpassed most sorcerers in the Plegian army. Tharja was probably the only foe that could hold her own against the defector.

Henry drew a symbol on the forest floor, as well as his forehead. Then, he reached for a dark tome, one filled with the vilest of spells and charms.

"With this…I will inch closer and closer to immortality…" Dark figures surrounded him to observe the madness. Henry cackled into the forest, terrifying animals of all natures. His newfound order recruited him as the most ruthless sorcerer in Plegia, and they were correct in their assumptions. Lightning flashed through the sky as Henry absorbed a massive amount of magical energy from the god of the underworld.

"Hahahaha!" His voice cracked violently like a whip into the atmosphere, surely causing the population of local villages to wince collectively. Henry's veins pulsated uncontrollably as he gathered magic into his right hand.

"Witness true darkness…" A beam of purple energy darted into a large innocent boulder in the distance. The formation completely disintegrated in an immense eruption, sending shards of debris into the forest. Rain began to fall on the scene.

"If a monster is what you desire…look no further…" The shadowy shapes dissipated, partly in fear of the maniacal sorcerer before them. Henry's bloodlust ran rampant, uncontrolled since his defection to this mysterious group of magical mercenaries. Their training stripped away the remainder of his morality, as his sanity vanished long ago.

"Only a matter of time…until I taste real blood again…"