Chapter 10
A/N: I don't own Fire Emblem. All copyrights belong to respective owners.
The army soon reached Rausten and many tearful goodbyes were exchanged. When Mansel had discovered that the army was on their way back he had ordered a large parade to be held in their honour. The group marched down the main streets of Rausten the citizens of Rausten cheered. When they were received by Pontifex Mansel, and L'arachel returned the last Sacred Stone to its resting place, everyone knew that their adventure would soon be over.
Crystal and Glen were walking through the streets of Rausten, as they prepared to leave for Grado the next day. Walking through the street markets, Crystal looked for some trinkets to take with her on the way home. Home for her, would now be with Glen, wherever they went. She and Glen continued to make their way slowly through the markets, pausing to browse at many stores. She saw a carved wooden wyvern, and immediately pulled out gold to buy it. She smiled at Glen as she skipped to the next store, purchasing a set of hide gloves and a set of two intricately carved brooches, used to hold capes and cloaks.
Returning from the market, as they made their way past the main church in Rausten, Crystal saw a crippled, emaciated beggar sitting on a mat outside the main entryway. A priest stood there, feeding the poor man. As she walked past them, she saw the man look up and spit at her. Glen pulled her away, but then they both saw who it was. Instead of walking she leaned down, and said, "Hello, Caellach." Glen urged her to go.
"You bitch," Caellach swore at her, as he raised his arms to flail at her. Without one leg, he was useless, all he could do was sit on a mat outside the church and beg for alms. The priests fed him bread and water everyday, but otherwise, he could do nothing. And it was all Crystal's fault.
Crystal looked down on the now emaciated former Gradoan general. She fished into her pocket for a spare gold coin, and once she extracted it knelt down, put the coin on the mat, and whispered, so that only he could hear, "perhaps one day, when you've learnt your lesson, the Gods may give you a new leg." He cursed at her again, his eyes full of anger. She rose back up, and continued to walk on her way with Glen. Glen's eyes looked back at Caellach, with pity. With no way to make money but begging, and as a known war criminal, hated by many, Caellach a man in a desolate state. Glen knew that no one but the priests of the church who fed him daily would bother to show any sort of kindness to him. Turning back to Crystal, he sighed.
"What a sad way to live," Glen said to Crystal.
"Yes," she agreed, "but perhaps one day, he will learn of his follies." Crystal replied. "But anyway, that is a far away day. We should turn our minds to happier things." They arrived back at Rausten Court where they were staying.
Cormag and Tana embraced, as the Frelian contingent of the army headed off to return home to report to King Hayden.
"I'll see you again," Princess Tana said, "once I get home and make the requisite reports, I will be visiting Grado."
"I'll be looking forward to seeing you too," Cormag replied.
Prince Innes gestured at his sister to hurry up, and they had a long journey ahead. The pegasi lifted up into the air, Innes riding on a borrowed horse, as he and the other Frelians made their way out of Rausten. Soon, the Jehannan contingent of the army left too, back towards the desert country, with the soon to be crowned King Joshua in tow.
The next day, the rest of the group that were going to depart, departed back towards Renais and Grado. L'arachel stated, as she bade goodbye, "Ephraim...It is time I Must be going. I am still princess of Rausten, after all. There is much to which I must attend. Renais and Rausten are far apart, but that distance can be managed somehow. If you and I were to be betrothed, that is...I wonder if I appear too forward...No, how silly of me!" Everyone laughed as they all set off.
A few days later, the group reached Caer Pelyn, where Saleh, Myrrh and Ewan departed. As she departed the manakete girl said, "Ephraim...I must return to Darkling Woods. With my father gone, much responsibility falls on my shoulders. Yet I would ask...May I come and visit you from time to time?"
"Of course," Ephraim replied.
Once the group left Caer Pelyn, they split up, the Gradoan contingent heading towards Grado, and the Renais contingent heading back to Renais. Eirika and Ephraim made it back safely to Renais, an d the reconstruction of the devastated country could begin.
It was later when Eirika and Ephraim sat in the throne room that Ephraim received an urgent message. He looked troubled as the messenger departed. "Where are you going, brother? We've endured so much to get home, and now..." Eirika said.
Ephraim replied, "I'm sorry, Eirika. I must journey to Grado. I just received word from Seth. In the south, within the empire, there has been an enormous landslide."
Eirika stated, "A landslide?" She had many friends in Grado and hoped that they were safe.
"Yes. Word is it was so great that whole cities were destroyed. They say the damage is so severe, the empire itself is in danger..." Ephraim replied, as he got up off his throne and began to walk towards his quarters to pack. "That's why I must go to Grado. The people are saying this is Grado's divine punishment...But these are the same citizens Lyon wanted nothing more then to protect. I cannot ignore their plight."
"Yes, of course not. I will ride with you," Eirika said, she wanted to go too.
"No, you must remain in Renais. Our country is recovering, but we cannot rest easy. Someone must stay to protect the realm." Ephraim, ever the calmer, replied.
"Ephraim...I understand. I will take your place until you return. I will wait for you in Renais, Brother." Eirika said.
"I can always depend on you, Eirika. Lyon...I will be king. The type of king we often spoke of...Strong and kind in measure: an ideal king. The people of Renais are under my protection, and I won't fail them. Watch and see..." Ephraim stated as he left to get ready to go.
The Gradoan group had arrived back in the capital too, as they began to manage the chaos that had been left after Lyon and Vigarde's death. Glen, Duessel and Knoll had managed to put together an interim council to start the reconstruction and reinvigoration of Grado, helped ably by the others that had travelled with Eirika and Ephraim, but disaster struck just as they were starting to receive reports from the far flung areas of Grado. A landslide had consumed much of the south regions. Natasha had immediately left with a group of healers and Cormag and a group of wyvern knights and troops had left to escort the healers. Certainly, with the devastation in the south of the country, there would be many bandits and others seeking to attack the distressed and weak.
Messages from Frelia and Renais had arrived stating that Princess Tana of Frelia and King Ephraim of Renais were heading with relief teams as well, to assess the damage and to sure up the south of Grado.
Meanwhile, the Council in the capital of Grado were debating the search to find a new ruler for the country. Crystal sat in session with the Council and the other nobles of Grado bickered over who would rule the country. General Duessel took the floor and looked Crystal in the eye. She knew what he was going to say, that Crystal should, as the last survivor of the late Emperor Vigarde's family take the throne.
Vehement protests from the nobles, some stating that since she was a by-blow of the old Emperor, that she had no right to the throne. "But who else can lead our country, but the woman who provided the tactics for the army who defeated the Demon King."
Roars of protest grew louder, as the nobles pointed out that Crystal had led troops against Grado itself. Another group of nobles shouted back, saying that the Demon King had possessed the late Prince Lyon, and that she was representing the true Grado against the usurping Demon King. Certainly, none of them wished to be ruled by a Demon.
In the midst of the hubbub, Glen stood and shouted, "enough." All the eyes turned to him. "This is a question that we will need time to think about. We need to concentrate on rebuilding the country first before we think about a King or Queen. And Crystal has to agree first as well."
Crystal sighed, she didn't want the responsibility of ruling a kingdom. Although she knew Glen would stay at her side, she felt she was far too inexperienced to led a country. A small army, yes, but a country? She wanted to spend some good quality time with Glen rather than time running a country, a broken one at that. She stood up, "thank you for your suggestion. As General Glen suggested, we should concentrate on rebuilding the country. The situation in the South is being addressed with the help of Frelia and Renais, but the rest of the country must also pitch in to help."
That night, Crystal and Glen settled in their chambers, in the castle for the night. Glen leaned down, and captured her mouth in a kiss, as they were both bone-tired from the day's work. She responded, deepening the kiss, and opening her mouth, his tongue finding its way into her mouth, dancing around her own tongue.
Breaking apart after awhile, Crystal left to draw a bath and clean the day's filth off her. As she left, she said to Glen, "I love you."
"Love you too," he replied, smiling. "I couldn't imagine life without you right now."
"Me too," she said, "I remember when you first saved my life. I thought you were so heroic and noble back then. There were days when I wished that I would grow old with you. I'm glad I have the chance to now."
"You saved my life as well," Glen replied, "just when I thought I was dying, you came back into my life, like a ray of light and hope. And I thank you for what you did. Without you, I wouldn't be here today." Crystal smiled, closing the bathroom door behind her.
A/N: Only the epilogue to go now. It is special. Please read and review.