Before I start there are reviews that I would like to reply to.
JL Davenport: My best argument for what you told me would be that like most children, since Emmeryn is technically a child at heart, they don't know how to hold grudges against people. For instance, a child could completely not even know who his/her father is until they turn, like, 8 or 9. The mother could tell bad stories about the man, but they will most likely follow what they've seen than what they've heard. It's like being scared of the dark. The child has to have watched or seen something to triggered that inner fear. I've lived and been around children all my life, so I would know :/. PLus, I couldn't actually see Emmeryn not forgiving him, or even holding a grudge against someone. So yeah...
As for the soldiers, I may not have physically put their opinions out there, probably would have if Chrom never showed, but in future chapters you will see that everyone didn't just up and agree with their Exalt just because he said to. That was actually bad on my part since I didn't write anything that would say they were against the idea of the Emmeryn defending Gangrel. The only person I truly believe I got more into when it came to thoughts about Gangrel was Matthew, and to be honest, I believe I could have done a bit more in that department.
I highly doubt that was a good argument on my part, but it was kinda what I was thinking of back when I first wrote it. And, just in case, I will most likely fix it. I really appreciate you voicing your opinion and hopefully in the future I think more about this when I'm writing a story. Hope this doesn't stop you from reading though x(.
Yuki2311: I don't know which game I'm going with. I'm still a little confused on how the games are actually different since I've been trying to avoid every run in with this game(This is very hard for someone like me who is very impatient...). If its just a difference in how hard the game is, then I probably am going to by the hardest one.(Which I think is Birthrate,Nohr.) If you are asking what side I'm in favor for I would say Invisible Kingdom. I'm a rebel. I always like to pick the other option ^_^.
Anyways, hope you enjoy!
Chapter 10 Rejection
"Ummm, Chrom?" The Exalt jumped at the call of his name. He looked away from Marth, who he actually just found out was his daughter Lucina, and to the tactician who peered at him with crossed arms and furrowed brows.
"Matthew?" Chrom said in surprise at the tactician's presence. The Exalt was completely oblivious to the situation. "Is something wrong?" The tactician's frown intensified at the calm voice of the Exalt. It was as if he was treating his current situation as if it was something he shouldn't feel guilt over. That attitude of the Exalt made the tactician want to bash in his face with the closes log he could find. Unfortunately, they were nowhere near trees. Just a flat, grassy plain and a river in the cold night.
"Well," Matthew started. "Maribelle and I wanted to know why you and Marth were out here...alone. But when we got here you were holding her in your arms and she was...crying." Matthew made sure to emphasize his words so the Exalt would see that what he was doing was, in the eyes of other people, a misunderstanding. But, as dense as the blue head was, Matthew would have to actually say it in-order for the Exalt to understand the gravity of his situation. "...This is how ill rumors are started."
Chrom, finally catching on, began to turn red as he shook his hands in front of him in denial. "W-Wait a minute! It's not what you think! This is-"
"Chrom, how DARE you!" Maribelle called from behind the tactician. She stomped toward her husband with her arms fixed to her side and anger plastered on her face. The quickly approaching blonde struck fear in the eyes of her husband and the blue head behind him. Maribelle stopped in front of her husband, looked up to him, and released her fury on him with words. "Here I thought you said that I was the only one for you! You DARE betray my love for this...this..." Maribelle looked behind her husband and at the blue haired swordswoman. "Strumpet?!"
Lucina cringed as the words pierced right through her heart. "U-Umm, milady?" Lucina spoke up trying to get the blondes attention. "If you would, I can explain to you what's going on-"
"Explain? Explain?! What excuse would you have in trying to woo my husband strumpet?!" Maribelle barked back.
Lucina looked away from the angry blonde and to the blue head in front of her. "...Father, may I tell her?"
"Please do Lucina." Chrom nodded.
"Wait...what did you just-"
"Please milady. Do not be alarmed. You may not believe me, but I am actually Lucina...your daughter." To say that Maribelle was flabbergasted by the sudden revelation would be a huge understatement. Lucina might as well have told the blonde that she was Naga herself from the way the noble's mouth hung open and her eyes widened. Matthew showed equal bewilderment, but not as much as the blonde.
"T-T-That's insane! What yellow belly tricks are you two trying to pull?!"
"No tricks milady. Please, look into my eyes and you will see the truth." Lucina slowly marched to the noblewoman and looked her in her eyes. Maribelle gasped at the brand that lay clear in the blue heads eyes.
"Y-You have the brand..."
"Yes Maribelle." Chrom stepped in. "The same brand that is given to all children of Naga. Now do you understand?"
"No, Chrom. I don't understand! What has happened to our Lucina back at the castle?"
"She is fine, milady." Lucina reassured. "Your baby is where you left her in the castle. I am her over 15 years in the future...A future where humanity takes a drastic turn for the worse."
Matthew slid a hand down his face as he walked through the lantern lit camp. After everything Lucina told him it was hard to even sleep. Everyone in this camp…dead?" Matthew questioned inwardly.Matthew not long ago already had the sickening revelation that he was the son of that snake of a king Validar, but now he also had to deal with the fact that this world could most likely be destroyed by a terrifying dragon. Plus, the Valmese invasion wasn't making his worries lesson either.
Matthew flinched as a drop of water splashed on his nose. The tactician looked to the sky and was surprised at the short flashes of lightning in the dark clouds. He sighed and mumbled, "Great, now it's about to rain. Can this get any worse?" As if the Gods themselves were toying with the tactician it began to pour down raining without mercy. "...Thank you so~ much." Matthew mumbled sarcastically as he flipped his cowl over his head and ran through the now wet grass.
The tactician picked up the pace as his new destination came into view; the medical tent. The tactician thought it was wise to check up on the injured just to see if he would have to change his tactics due to their absence. Luckily for him light shined through the tent walls so someone must have been up still with the patients. Matthew dove into the tent and out of the pouring rain. Immediately when he walked in there were four different voices coming from in front of him. Matthew lifted the cowl off his head and looked forward. Emmeryn was sitting up on a cot with her legs under the covers, but the people around her are what really caught his attention. Libra and Tharja sat on her right, while Gangrel and Nowi sat to her left.
The quintet stopped their conversation immediately and looked toward the tent entrance to recognize the tactician's presence. "Ah, good evening Matthew." Libra greeted while standing from his seat and walking over to the tactician. "Are you here to check on the injured?"
"Actually, yes I am." Matthew suddenly froze as he just realized Emmeryn's position. He went into a panic as he quickly ran to Emmeryn's side. "Oh Gods, Emm! Are you alright? What happened?!"
"Whoa, calm down lover boy." Gangrel joked causing the tactician to stop and look at him from the opposite side of the bed where he now stood. "The poor thing just had a small headache from over using her magic. Nothing to get a heart-attack over."
Matthew let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Thank the Gods."
"Where were you anyways?" Nowi asked. "We thought you would be the first one to know about Emmeryn...Some boyfriend you are..."
"I told you already that that was a misunderstanding!" Matthew argued with flushed cheeks from embarrassment.
"Oh? I thought this was only a ruse, but is this true dear tactician? Have you already tied the knot with Chrom's elder sister? And here I thought I was the smooth devil of this camp! Guess I was wrong,player! BWAHAHA!"
"Shut up Gangrel..." Matthew remarked coldly.
"Hey Tharja, what's a player?" Nowi asked out of innocent curiosity.
"A man who is lower than the bottomless sea itself." Tharja replied harshly, but her expression turned to her trademark seductive smirk as she looked to the tactician. "But I wouldn't mind if I became one of Matthew's playmates. Of course, the other women would have to burn for tarnishing my lover."
"We are NOT lovers, Tharja! Don't make more words that people can easily misunderstand!... And I am NOT a player!"
"Oh! Oh! Can I be your playmate as well?!" Nowi exclaimed literally jumping out of her seat and bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.
"Wow, you've even got the little manakete under your spell!" Gangrel cackled. "You really MUST show me how you get all the women dear tactician!"
Matthew face-palmed. "Ah, I'm getting a headache from this..."
"Ehem!" The sound of Libra clearing his throat silenced the idle chatter almost immediately and caused them to look his direction at the front of the tent. "I appreciate that you all came to visit Lady Emmeryn, but I must please ask you all to vacate the tent. You are disturbing my patient and I don't need you giving her anymore of your vulgar and bad influences."
Hearing that from Libra was quite the slap in the mouth. The tactician for a minute completely forgot why he came to the tent in the first place. Matthew looked to Emmeryn who looked back to him with her head tilted to the side as if she was confused the entire conversation.
None the less, everyone did what they were told and slowly motioned toward the tent exit. Matthew would have followed if Libra did not grab his arm before he could leave. "Not you." Libra said softly and released his arm. After everyone was safely out of the tent, and earshot away, Libra spoke. "Emmeryn informed me that she would like to have a word with you... She says it has something to do with her memories."
The tactician's eyes widened at the mention of her lost memories. "Did she tell you that she remembered something?" Matthew asked with a hopeful expression that quickly dropped when the blonde shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but she says that she still hasn't remembered anything."
"O-Oh..." Matthew sighed. "Thank you, Libra." The monk nodded and swiftly moved the flap to the tent and left; leaving Matthew and Emmeryn alone to speak. Matthew walked over to the former Exalt and took a seat next to her bedside. "Hey there, Your Grace." Matthew expected the warm smile that she always greeted him with, but instead of her usual smile her face turned to a childish pout and puffed cheeks. "Is there something I did, Your Grace?" Matthew asked, concerned that he might have done something to offend the former Exalt, but in actuality already knew why as his concerned face turned into an almost unseen smirk.
She turned her head away from him and mumbled, "You called me...'Your Grace' again."
Matthew chuckled at the former Exalt's childish behavior. That face is still cute. He said inwardly as he corrected himself, "Sorry about that, Emm. Just teasing you a little."
Emmeryn's pouting face left as quickly as it appeared and she looked back to the tactician with her radiant smile. "Thank you...Matt." she mumbled before looking away from the tactician and to her lap. "Thank you..." she mumbled again before continuing. "You always...patient…and so kind...to me..."
"Of course I am, Emm." Matthew said with a smile. "You mean everything to us, Emm. I would do anything to keep that smile on your face. Plus it's important that I get you better right away. You must retake your thrown when your memories are all back. The people of Ylisse could really use your kindness in a time of war like this."
"R-Right..." Emmeryn gripped her sheets as an unpleasant thought plagued her mind. "Y-You only...treat me kindly...because I am...Exalt...?"
"Of course not!" Matthew instantly cried out, but she did not look up to him, nor did she look convinced. She just looked down to her white sheets with a grim expression. "You are way more than just the Exalt. You are the sister of my best friends, and my friend! You mean so much more to me than you think, Emm! I-" Matthew stopped himself before he got carried away and awkwardly turned his head away from the blonde in front of him.
"Matt..." Emmeryn started. "What...did you think...of me b...before I lost...my memories?" Matthew snapped his head back to the blonde and froze. The former Exalt's question completely threw him off guard. Of course he knew the answer to the Exalt's question and he knew many more details, but he refused to tell… He couldn't tell her.
He once again turned away from the Exalt and replied, "We were just friends, Emm-"
"Liar." Matthew's eyes widened from the Exalt's accusation. "You lie when...you look away." Matthew said nothing. He just continued to look to the canvas of the tent with a blank stare. Meanwhile Emmeryn looked to him with pleading eyes. "Why...are you lying? Why can't...you tell me...the truth?"
"Because I...I just can't Emm." Matthew cooed while resting his head in his hand.
"Matt...please...if...if you tell me I...I might remember something." The tactician didn't say anything for a long period of time. She was just about to give up until the tactician suddenly spoke.
"Emm...we were really just good friends. That I didn't lie about." There was a short pause before he continued, still not looking up to the blonde. "But, I always thought that...maybe...I could be something more than...just a friend..."
"W...Were we...in a r-relationship?" Emmeryn asked out of curiosity and hope. Matthew didn't answer the question right away, but answered none the less.
"No...we weren't. That was just a dream that could never come true because..." Matthew balled up his fist as he continued. "Because I wasn't worthy of your hand. I...I could never even dream of trying to court you, Emm. I was just some tactician that Chrom just so happened to find outside of SouthTown one day. On top of that, I found out that I was Plegian. I couldn't even image the chaos I would have caused if we actually did end up in a relationship and our relationship went viral. I was just there so you could have someone to talk about your worries and you were there so I could talk about mine. If you held any feeling towards me I...never truly knew."
"We were just...good friends. Nothing more. Nothing less..." Emmeryn began to feel that pain in her chest again. The same pain every time the tactician referred to them as friends. But, like always, she couldn't tell him about it. "On top of all of that, I'm not as nice as you may think I am… In all honesty I...really wanted to get your memories back so you could tell me what you really think about me yourself, but that was just a selfish wish of mine..." Matthew finally looked up from his lap and into the Exalt's soft grey eyes. His expression shook Emmeryn's very being. His serious look told the former Exalt that he was about to say something that she was never going to agree with.
"Emm, whether you get your memories back or not, I want you to completely forget about whatever feelings you have for me...and I'll do the same." Emmeryn's face twisted into total shock and horror from the tactician's words. "If you forget, then I can forget. I can move on and…not have to keep carrying on these hopeless feelings. After this we, can both move on from these feelings and hopefully we can-"
"No!" Emmeryn yelled, tears welled in her eyes. "I don't want...to forget! I never knew...what it meant when my...cheeks warmed up when…you were around… Or when my…chest tightened every time…you called me 'friend'...but I finally know! I..." A tear rolled down her cheek as she tried to force the words out. "I...I love you! I...I know I did before I...lost my memories! If...If we just try... I'm sure people would-"
"Emm...stop." Matthew cooed, gripping his brown hair and gritting his teeth.
"No!" Emmeryn exclaimed while shaking her head back and forward furiously. "I won't until...you acknowledge me! I know...your feelings for me...are real and…my feeling for you...are real...If you just…give me cha-"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Matthew shout, immediately silencing the former Exalt. "Think about it Emm, no matter how you look at it, people will just say I took advantage of you when you were not able to properly think for yourself! And, even if you did get better, people would not welcome a Plegian together with their queen. They would say I used some undermined tactics just so I could marry my way into the royal family! In the end you, Chrom and Lissa will be the ones to suffer more than me and I don't want that to happen! No matter the situation we just, can't, be together!"
Emmeryn turned away from the tactician and looked down to her lap. One after the other tears fell down her face as the tactician's words hit her like a ton of bricks. "That's...not fair." Emmeryn cooed as she took in a handful of the white sheets. "It's just...not fair!" The former Exalt's bottom lip quivered uncontrollably and she buried her face in her hands.
Matthew felt terrible completely shattering the former Exalt's heart, but no matter what they did, their relationship would never be acknowledged. "From today onward I will acknowledge you only as the Exalt of Ylisse and please…speak to me as nothing more than the tactician for the Shepherds, okay?" Matthew wasn't really expecting an answer from the former Exalt, and she didn't give one. The only thing audible from the blonde was her hurtful sobs that made the heart of the brunette shatter into a million pieces.
The tactician swiftly stood up from his seat and began walking to the exit while mumbling a sorrowful "I'm sorry" to the grieving Exalt. He could hear the blonde's heartbreaking sobs even when he completely left the tent and walked in the rain. This is for the best. Matthew told himself as he walked further through the camp. This way I can protect her and the rest from har-
The tactician stopped as he felt a tear role down his cheek. He put a hand to his wet cheek and wiped the second tear that snuck down his face. He looked to the now wet hand that concealed the purple tattoo on the back of it. The tactician gritted his teeth as he began to curse the Plegian blood flowing through him. But there was another question that he asked himself over and over.
Why...did I lie?
A/N: I felt somewhat bad after completing this chapter. A sad Emmeryn is a sad story even when 99 percent of the bones in my body is sadistic...
Anyways, some news that I wanted to put out there. After chapter 11 things are gonna start going slow with this story. At that time I am willing to answer any questions you have so far about the story! If there's something you are confused about, something you want to know in the future(just little details, wont spoil anything.), or just want to say good or mistakes, then I am open to reading those and replying the next chapter! Chapter 11 will be out Sunday and chapters after that will vary depending on how much free time I have.
As always, thanks for the favs, follows, and reviews and hope to see you all soon!