Chapter 7 - Silence

So, with what can only be described as divine intervention, Sigurd and Deidre are happily engaged, despite not doing even a token's worth of courting, and we make our way out of the Spirit Forest with her as our guide. I try to hide how uncomfortable I am with how fast they've fallen in love, but so long as they're happy, I'll keep my sarcasm in check.

I'm more curious as to how she plans on dealing with Sadima and his magic. Will he really die so easily?

The camp was strangely lively for the hour as we finally made it back to camp. The dawning sun barely managed to creep through the thick branches and leaves, but you would think it was Sun's Height, and lunch, given the noise. Deidre stiffened instantly, clinging to Sigurd as the noise hit us, and her eyes darted about nervously. She relaxed, however, as Sigurd smiled at her, and rested his hand on hers.

Two seconds later, we were in the camp, and chaos erupted. Most basically tackled Sigurd, relieving that he had returned, safe and sound, though to my surprise, quite a few came to me as well. Azel, Lex, Lord Oifeye, Prince Shanan, Sir Finn, Sir Midir, Lady Aideen… I lost track after that of the number of people who came to hug me. When the crowd cleared enough for me to breathe, I realized that I had one more person clinging to me: Deidre.

"Why are you hiding behind me?" I asked softly, a little amused. Deidre tentatively looked up at me and pointed to the very large group drowning Sigurd. "Ah. Did it get too much, or were you pushed away?"

"It was… a bit of both," she whispered, smiling shyly. "He's very well loved, isn't he?"

"Extremely. He's a popular lord, and popular commander."

"That's no surprise. He's wonderful." Her smile fell. "W-will they really…?"

"Relax. If they don't like you, then win them over. That's what my brother always says, and it worked for him." I smiled at her. "You can do it too. I'm certain."

Deidre didn't look very convinced, but Sigurd managed to extract himself from the crowd and head over to us. "Guys, you're being rude," he half-scolded, gesturing to Deidre. "We have a guest."

"Oh, we do?" Lady Ethlyn popped out of the crowd and squealed. "Oh, she's so pretty!" she gushed. "Like a fairy!"

"Her name is Deidre."

"Deidre, huh?" Lady Ethlyn frowned a little, eyes darting between Sigurd and Deidre as others in the group politely gave their greetings. She focused her attention on Sigurd, and it was as if the two were having a silent conversation. Then her eyes widened as Sigurd grinned. "No way!" She pointed dramatically at Deidre and Deidre instantly ducked behind me, glancing about nervously. "She's way too good for my brother!"

"I have such a cruel sister." Sigurd dramatically pretended to faint, of all things, before moving to a suddenly very confused Deidre's side. "Don't scare her away."

"B-but…!" Lady Ethlyn looked like she really had no idea what to feel. The rest of the group just looked really focused. "Since when did you start dating?! You can't hide things like that from me!"

"And… you and Quan can?"

"That's different!"

"Lady Ethlyn, keep it down," I chided. Deidre still looked confused. "She thought you were yelling at her."

"Ack!" Lady Ethlyn yelped and darted over, taking Deidre's hands in both of hers. "No, no, I'm yelling at my stupid brother for not telling me he had such a pretty girlfriend," she reassured, smiling. Deidre tentatively smiled back. "I'm being rude, aren't I? I'm Ethlyn, Sigurd's little sister." Her smile widened. "Oh, I get to call you 'Lady Sister'! This is going to be so much fun!"

"It'll be more fun if you let Sigurd introduce her to everyone, like he wants, so that she can get acclimated to all the noise." I shook my head. "Tell the others to behave. I know they're enthused that he's back, and bringing such a pretty bride with him, but if everyone gives us a greeting like this, she'll be overwhelmed!"

"Leave it to Quan and me~" She did carefully let go of Deidre's hands, and laughed when Deidre immediately seized Sigurd's arm. "Well, come on, lovebirds~ We'll show you off to the camp!"

The siblings led Deidre around easily, and though Deidre still looked nervous, she relaxed slowly, though she squeaked as Lord Quan fell in beside Sigurd and started chatting with her. I watched them leave, a bit worried, but Deidre glanced back and gave me a brave smile, so I decided to go about my duties, and check in on the infirmary. If she needed me, I was certain the others could direct her to the infirmary. However, as I walked away, a burning pain shot down my arm. Confused, I pushed up my sleeve and checked my arm over. But there was nothing but the red welts, which should have faded by now, yet were as vibrant as ever.

...I had a bad feeling that I'd been very, very wrong about these welts, and I could only hope that I would be the only one to pay for my arrogance.

After introductions, we settled down for the battle plan. My job would remain the same, of course. Two bait forces would be utilized to draw attention and to spread out the royal guard, in hopes that would force Sadima outside to cast. From there, Deidre would Silence him. According to her, she could, technically, Silence all mages within a certain reach, but that was much more draining, so it was decided that she'd just try to get a line of sight on Sadima, and only using the 'widespread' version if absolutely necessary.

I saw them all off with a smile, and worked on tending to the injured just as I always did. I took extra care that my gloves fully covered my arms under my sleeves, worried that these welts could spread that dark magic. They did not hurt, aside from that burst of pain. They did not itch, so I assumed this was not some strange allergic reaction. I'd need to do some research in just what they were, later. For now, I had to just take pains to make sure it didn't spread.

"Are you okay, Miss Alicia?" Prince Shanan suddenly asked, startlingly me. I blinked slowly, and realized he'd stopped folding the blankets to peer up at my face. "You look tired." He went up on his tiptoes so that he could touch my face a little more easily. "There's no more injured, and Oifeye and I can handle bandages, so if you want to rest…"

"You're so sweet," I murmured. I ruffled his hair, but was careful to not linger, just in case. "I'm all right. I'm just fretting a bit."

"Scouts said that the battle is going well." He grinned. "It'll be fine. Sigurd's strong and Auntie Ayra is the best, so there's no way they'll lose!"

I chose to not point out that Lady Ayra and Sigurd had fought this very enemy just yesterday, and now they were working with a reduced force. "You sound so grown up." I gave him a little smile. "Don't try to grow up too quickly."

"But…" He sighed. "I want to grow up strong to protect Auntie Ayra and Sigurd and Oifeye and Finn and you!" He pouted slightly. "Besides, I'm not that little! I'm eight and a half!"

"That is less than half my age." I found myself giggling as he began sulking. "So…" I trailed off as I heard some sort of scuffle outside the infirmary tent. "What's going on?"

"I… don't know…" Shanan whimpered and clung to my skirt. "Oifeye went outside, so maybe…"

"Miss Alicia!" Oifeye, as if on cue, burst in, and to my shock, he was splattered with blood. "We… we have infiltrators!" he yelled. The entire infirmary erupted in chaos at the words. "Someone wielding strange magic…"

"...Lord Oifeye, take Prince Shanan and whoever can keep up, and run, however far you have to," I ordered with a calm I did not feel. I felt nauseous from the sudden surge of fear. What had happened to the others? "The rest of you, help each other and try to limp off. Head to the river."

"What about you?"

"I will join you momentarily. I'll set fire to the supply tents so that they can't use them. I can do it far more quickly." I managed a smile, and wished that we had considered the Verdanites would come here. I had no idea what to do. I honestly, honestly, had no idea. "Go on. Quickly."

"R-right…" He gave me a worried look, but took Prince Shanan's hand. "We'll be waiting, so don't be long?"

"Of course." I picked up my staff from the wall. "Everyone, gather close and I'll tend to your injuries a bit more."

It was difficult, trying to organize the chaos, and it was even more difficult to get everyone to leave instead of waiting for me. But, it was managed, and I made my way towards one of the supply tents, and the torch set up next to it for easy lighting even in the dark forest. Everything was eerily silent now, and I had to stop myself from twitching at every little noise.

When I made it to the torch, I concentrated and focused on the flame. My hands shook, though, and my terror made it difficult for me to command the fire, making it dance, but not jump. I tried to tell myself to get a grip, but I couldn't. I was just so terrified right now, though. There were barely any fighters here, and all of them were slain. My patients had to flee for their lives, and there was really no one to defend them.

Nothing in my lessons even hinted on what I should do here. It seemed like our only choice was to pray, but I…

"Here's one!" Someone growled, and when I whirled, they wrapped their hands around my throat. I coughed and struggled automatically, but couldn't break free, and dots speckled my vision as whoever it was squeezed… "It's all ruined!" they snapped. They actually lifted me up slightly, so that my toes were barely on the ground and I tried to think of how that was possible, but came up blank. I just… wanted to breathe… "Damn everything! How did they find that woman's daughter first?!"

"Sadima!" Sigurd's voice cracked through the air. "Sadima, where the hell are you, bastard?!" Sigurd had lost his temper, so something had definitely happened. "King Batur told us what you were planning!"

"Damn that miserable wretch…" The someone, Sadima I guessed, released his grip on my neck, but before I had a just to even gasp from relief, he threw his arm around my neck and collarbone and pinned me against him as he turned. "Not one more step, Baldur brat, or the girl dies!"

"Alicia!" Sigurd stepped into view, with Deidre at his side and Lord Quan and Lady Ayra just a step behind. It was difficult to see who else might be here, but I could hear more fighting. "Let her go!"

"Not a chance!" He tightened his grip on me and I coughed, struggling to breathe. "You all are going to lay your weapons down, nice and slowly, and yes, that includes the damnable Silence staff." He cackled and the noise made me wince. "You should've just killed me, Baldur brat! Then Silence wouldn't have worn off!"

"Does your god truly approve of this nonsense?" Despite the angry words, Sigurd did actually drop his sword, and Deidre laid the Silence staff next to it. She gave me a worried, fearful look and then placed her Tome down on top of the staff. "What sort of nonsense is this?"

"He is our glory! Our salvation! And we will resurrect him!" He kept on laughing. "You even helped us out!" He brought one hand up and I felt the pulse of magic around him. "Now, hold still and take the hit, or the girl dies."

Sigurd glared, but I realized he wasn't moving. He pushed Deidre a bit away, but as the spell formed, he really… wasn't moving. He was really going to let himself get hit, get killed, by this dark magic… just because I was a hostage.

I… I'd rather die than be used against someone. No matter how terrified I was, that one thought shone clearly. I would rather die than be used against someone, especially someone I cared about.

"BACK OFF!" I shrieked, jerking my head back to yell directly in Sadima's ear. He yelped, and the magic flickered, disrupted. "Don't you dare! Sigurd, don't you dare just stand around! Fight back! You're supposed to be saving Verdane from this madman, right?!"

"Shut up, wench!" Sadima yelled. He twisted his hand and the magic actually turned back, catching me across the stomach. Dots appeared in my vision at the pain. "Or you really will die!"

"You think I'm afraid of death? I'm a healer! I fight death everyday and win!" Despite the pain and the fear gnawing on my mind, I kept on struggling, and managed to actually bite down on his arm.

He yelled and threw me to the side instantly, right into the torch and its holder. It fell on me, but thanks to being of Vala's blood, I only blistered, and hit out the flames on my dress with ease. Now, of course, I could control the fire easily, since I was a little more angry than scared. As he approached, snarling something in a language that I didn't recognize, I glared up at him with all my anger, and twisted the flames around my hand to have a chance at attacking back. I wasn't trained for this, but I wasn't going to be used, by anyone, against anyone.

Then, there was a strangely loud 'thud', and I blinked slowly as I realized Sadima… had been shot by an arrow with remarkable precision and strength. Sadima crumpled, and I pushed myself up slowly, trying to figure out who had shot. It took me a moment before thinking to look 'up', and that's where I found Prince Jamke kneeling in the branches, with his bow out It was easy to connect the dots from there. Prince Jamke had shot Sadima, and saved my life.

"Made it," he breathed, shifting so that he was sitting on the branch. "It took a while to get a good line of sight. I'm sorry for taking so long." I opened my mouth to say it was fine, but found myself buckling as everything came roaring back, and it took everything I had to not just outright faint.

Sigurd caught me before I fell. "I got you," he whispered, actually shifting so that he was carrying me. "I've got you, Alicia."

"We need to bandage her injuries," Deidre murmured, coming up next to him. She took one of my hands and squeezed it gently. "I can do that, actually. Aideen and Ethlyn are still in the field, right?"

"They are."

"Then yes, let me do that."

"Send… people after the others…" I managed to mumble. Everything was spinning, and I couldn't decide if I wanted to throw up from fear or cry from relief. "Told them to run…"

"Quan, can you handle that?" Sigurd called. There was some sort of assent, I guessed, since I heard running shortly after. "I'll get you to a tent and then go check on the others. Deidre?"

"I'll protect her, easily," Deidre firmly declared. She tiptoed and smiled at me. "You're okay."

They kept on whispering reassurances, and I just tried to stay conscious to hear them. I figured fainting would be bad for their health, and mine. It tended to be.

Deidre was rather good at bandaging, so it really didn't take long for me to get fixed up. The injuries from the spell were shallow, clearly meant to be more of a warning than an actual attack, and I was blistered from the fire, but nothing more. My hair proved to be an unfortunate casualty, though, and Deidre fussed as she cut off the burnt ends and evened things out, bring my hair to just above my shoulders. She even procured some hair barrettes from who knows where, and pinned my bangs back with a few beaded clips.

"Are you certain those welts aren't anything to worry about?" Deidre asked. After she bandaged me, I'd insisted on going back to work, and Deidre had insisted that I could only work if she could help, so she was helping fold blankets while I checked on the patients. "They looked painful."

"Truthfully, no, I'm not certain," I answered absently. It was a testament of how tired and drained I was that I let that slip. "I don't know much about dark magic. But there is no pain." I adjusted the blankets over Azel and smiled slightly as he mumbled 'lady sister' in his sleep. Azel had bolted for me after the battle and, after hugging me, demanded to assist me in the infirmary. Now, he was passed out asleep like most of the others. "So, I am well."

"If you say so." She still looked a bit skeptical and sighed. "I don't know much about dark magic either. The elder was very insistent that I not learn anything about it, so I only really know that it is the equal, and opposite, of the light magic I wield."

"Yes, though for some reason, the Book of Naga completely destroyed the Dark God." I shuddered unconsciously as I remembered Sadima and the words he spewed. I had no idea why anyone would want to 'revive' the Dark God, unless they truly thought the world needed to end.

"That's the Holy Weapon of the Royal House of Grannvale, yes?" She tucked a blanket around Prince Shanan, who had done his very level best to help me out, though he'd ended up falling asleep halfway through and curled up in the corner. "I think I know why, though."

"Oh?"

"Yes." She nodded, smiling slightly. "The village elder mentioned that there was a powerful light tome that was written with the 'Blood of the Gods', unlike all the other tomes in the world."

"...Wouldn't a tome like that kill the owner?"

"Well, yes, I would imagine so." She became a little thoughtful. "Perhaps they could survive one battle, but not more. That's what I think, at least." She shook her head. "Of course, that's just a theory of mine. Who knows what the truth is?"

"Maybe you can ask to look at it, when things are calmer." I turned to smile slightly at her. "At some point, you'll have to appear at Grannvale's court, after all, and I doubt Prince Kurth would refuse you. He's always been soft of Sigurd, according to the rumors."

"B-but I can't talk to a prince! I'm just… ummm…" She sighed, whimpering a little. "Oh, this is all so confusing."

"Wow, and you haven't even faced the worst of the courts yet." Lex stepped into the tent then, followed by Lady Ayra. "Came to check on everyone," Lex explained. Lady Ayra silently went to Prince Shanan and smiled slightly as she fussed with the blanket. "Oifeye wanted to come by, but he and Finn passed out in the war tent. I think they're still fast asleep there."

"They are," Lady Ayra confirmed. She stood and actually bowed to me. "Thank you, for keeping him safe."

"I… really only told him to run with the others," I mumbled. I didn't feel like that was anything to be thanked for, much less have a prideful woman bow to me. "Oh, right, Lex, what is with that new axe you found?"

"This thing?" Lex asked as he unhooked the axe from his back and hefted it up. "I'm not sure if it's enchanted or what, but it's really light. I get in twice the amount of attacks, and it's stronger than my iron axe."

"I did hear you were quite the force on the field, but how did you find it?"

"Some lady in the water gave it to me." He said the words so easily that I had to just stare a bit because those words in that configuration made no sense! "Yeah, I know. I lost my axe to the water, some lady popped up and asked about whether I lost a gold or silver axe, I told her I hadn't, and she was like 'thank you for being honest, here, take this.'!"

"Oh, the Lady of the Waters!" Deidre laughed, clapping her hands. She giggled more when Lady Ayra and I gave her the most skeptical and confused looks. "She's supposed to be a Child of the Gods, who watches over the world of men. She tests people for their honesty, and their motives for telling the truth or lying. So those who lie, for good reasons, or those who are honest are rewarded, while those who are honest for bad reasons, or lie without good reasons, are punished."

"So, Lex met a fairy?" Lady Ayra asked. She crossed her arms and still looked a bit skeptical, but nodded a couple of times. "We have similar stories back home. It is said that the Astra and Luna sword techniques were taught to Odo's twins by a Fairy of the Skies."

"Astra and Luna?"

"They are… powerful sword techniques, that those of Odo blood can activate depending on their skill, and their stamina." Lady Ayra smiled slightly. "They're somewhere between 'magic' and 'not magic', though I believe some with certain traits are able to prevent their use? Another magic that is not magic, I mean."

"What do they do?"

"Astra allows for five strikes in the span of one swing, while Luna allows a strike that ignores an opponent's armor." She sighed, shaking her head. "Though, I will be surprised if we see a Luna user. Sophara's ruling family have all died or disappeared now, thanks to… that man." Her eyes darkened slightly, and I knew she was thinking of her treacherous brother-in-law who attacked Darna unprovoked. "Well, that and the bandits I mentioned earlier."

"Bah, too dreary," Lex deadpanned. Lady Ayra scowled, but he grinned, unabashedly. "Come on. Can't you hear the singing?" He jerked his thumb towards the tent flap for emphasis as little bits of offkey singing filtering through. "Everyone's celebrating. The campaign is over, after all."

"...It is, isn't it?" I whispered, a little startled. It felt like this campaign had dragged on forever. "Well, then…" I looked to Deidre and smiled at her confused look. "You need to attend the party, at Sigurd's side."

"Me?" Deidre instantly squeaked. She looked terrified, like she wished the ground would swallow her up. But then she got a little determined light in her eyes and she nodded. "A-all right." Then, however, she gave me a pleading look. "You'll come with me, right?"

"I…" I glanced at the patients, and then her pleading look, and sighed. "For a brief moment, I suppose."

"Oh, good!" She beamed and took my arm shyly. "Come on, then! Let's join the others."

Despite my best efforts, I ended up staying at the party until the dawn came, and was up even longer dealing with hangovers and drunken injuries. But I supposed I could let them get away with their antics in light of the victory. Just this once, though.

Records on Lady Ethlyn:

Troubadour, Baldur Minor, 16 years old

Younger sister to Sigurd, and wife of Lord Quan. A recent bride, and even more recent mother, she is still recovering from the pregnancy and birthing, but holds her own well.

Her Holy Mark is on her lower right leg.

Devoted utterly to both Lord Quan and her brother, it's hard to believe that she's skilled with a blade at all, but as a Baldur Minor, she holds some instinctual knowledge that is bolstered by training. Prefers healing, though.

Author's notes: And now we are officially done with Game Chapter 1 (and, in gameplay terms, Sigurd and Deidre are 'officially' lovers as, iirc, it does take them one in-game turn to become lovers, instead of just auto-becoming it with a conversation)! Lex gets the Hero Axe in this chapter thanks to a very out of the way secret event that the game gives absolutely no hint to. King Batur is killed by Sadima, and clings to life just long enough to give hints of the plot; if this sounds familiar, King Batur has an Expy in FE7, Marquess Santaruz, who basically serves the same purpose in FE7's plot. There is no in-game explanation for why the Book of Naga is so much more powerful than the rest of the Holy Weapons, so here's a theory as to why.

So, since there's about a year, give or take, between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, we'll be having three interludes to cover that time skip.

Next Chapter - Interlude, Family