Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem Awakening.
DONNEL
"Look Ma, I want to help." I say pleadingly. "You gots to let me!"
"I'll do no such thing!" Ma huffs, crossing her arms over her slightly portly frame. "You have no place lording around with royals! You're not fit for-"
"Actually!" A voice interrupts. "He'd be a nice addition to the team! We could always use more help!" The white-haired boy smiles as he shoots down Ma's excuse. "Besides, it's not like we only have nobles here!" He turns his head. "Vaike! Say hi!"
"Heya!" The blonde man yells from where he's resting against a tree. He grins at me. "You ever need help, just ask Teach!"
"Thank you kindly!" I call back. "See Ma? I'll be in good hands. I'll become a right fine fighter with their help. That way I can defend the village when I come back."
"B-But…" Ma's eyes dart wildly before she sighs in defeat, her whole body slumping. "I suppose you're a grown boy, you can make your own decisions. Just come back alive, alright Donny?"
"Of course Ma." I say, giving her a tight hug. "I won't be lettin' you down."
###
"Lordy, are these buggers normal outside the village?" I ask in slight awe, watching the Risen shamble towards us. I adjust my grip on the bronze lance in my hand, the adrenaline making me twitchy.
"Not until a week ago they weren't." The captain grunts, still breathing heavily from the march. His chest hasn't healed yet from the wound he suffered defending the village, but he still wants to fight. I wish I had his courage. "They're strong, but not all that bright. Stay light on your toes and you should be fine."
"Stay next to me. I shall see us through alive." The captain's knight, Fredrick, pulls up in front of us, his lance shining brightly in the sunlight. "That means you too Milord, you are still not well."
The blue-haired noble huffs, but doesn't argue. Instead, he pulls himself upright and draws his sword. "Let's go hear what Robin and Reflet have come up with."
If I was s'pecting a big fancy plan, I should learn better. Guess you don't need some big strategy for every fight, 'cause all we got told to do was walk behind some other guys and stab anything close enough. Even that was nerve wracking though. I never stabbed a zombie before, and it's just as scary as I thought it would be. The thing keeps scraping away at me even as it's stuck on mah weapon, even though it's own weapon is lying right on the ground next to it. Only when Milord slices its head right off does it finally stop moanin' and disappear.
"Holy…" I breath, my hands shaking.
"Keep focus Donnel." The captain says firmly. "If they get stuck, just kick them off and stab again. Above all else, don't lose your weapon."
"Yessir!" I nod rapidly. "Thank you Milord sir!"
The three of us keep marching just behind the front line, with Fredrick acting as a buffer between us and the Risen missed by the others. I stay three steps behind the knight, leaning to only come out and attack the weakened enemies and leaving the strong ones to Fredrick and the captain.
"Pick a god and pray!" The knight yells, dashing forward to skewer a particularly strange Risen with a sack over it's head and gooey legs. Despite its looks, it disappears like all the others. I look on in awe as the tall man slices down several other zombies that come even remotely close.
"I wanna be like that someday." I think, watching the man confidently stride back on his horse. "A genuine knight…" I firm up my grip on my lance. "Gotta try hard then! Not gettin' anything done standin' here!" I locate the closest enemy I can and bear down on it. "Yeeehaaaw!"
My lance flashes with surprising precision into the soldier's skull, killing it instantly. As the body fades, its iron lance falls to the ground. I quickly scoop it up, figuring that I might as well use it rather than just leavin' the thing here.
"Nicely done." The captain remarks, striding up next to me. "Now, let's finish them off! I only see a few more!"
"Got it Milord! I'm ready for this!" I cheer, hoisting my new weapon. "I'mma be a great warrior, just you all watch me!"
CHROM
Gods it's cold out here. For once, I'm glad for Fredrick's excessive care, as it means we all have plenty of blankets and warm clothes for the ride. Even Vaike bundles up for the cold, despite his preference for going shirtless.
"Ugh, I'm still freezing." My sister whines from beside me. Despite having three layers on, her nose is still red from the cold.
"It's not bad." Reflet says calmly. Unlike the rest of us, she's still wearing her usual attire, but has closed the front buttons of her vest. "Just a little chill."
"Just a little?!" Lissa groans. "This is torture!"
"Fear not M-Milady!" Virion stutters, trying hard to keep up noble appearances in the frigid temperature, "Virion shall gladly donate his own-"
"No you won't." Reflet says curtly. "You're cold enough as is, don't go giving away your coat."
"B-But the lady is clearly-" The rossanite protests.
"-no more deserving than yourself." The tactician replies curtly. "You're equal on layers right now, so don't give her anymore."
"What s-sort of gentleman would that make me?" The man scoffs.
"A sensible one." Reflet states.
"C'mon Reflet, I'm cold though!" Lissa whines.
"So is Virion, you'd prefer he freeze so you can get marginally warmer?" The bronze-skinned girl retorts scathingly.
My sister grumbles a bit, but doesn't argue further.
"I can see the border up ahead." Fredrick says, peering out through the falling snow.
"Good." I grunt. Raising my voice, I call out "Shepherds, remember! Your actions reflect on Ylisse! Be on your best behaviour!"
The grumbles all around me say that everyone heard, and that we should get out of this blizzard as soon as possible. We trudge along for several minutes until we are a minute's distance from stone fort. I can see one of the soldiers running off as, presumably to get the captain, as several others take up positions with bows and javelins at the ready.
Our patience is rewarded when a woman in full armor stomps up to the edge of the fort.
"State your business!" She snaps coldly.
"I am Prince Chrom of Ylisse. I request audience with the Khan!" I yell, straining to make my voice heard over the wind and my injury. I can feel faint pains in my chest from the action.
"Sure, and I'm Walhart himself!" The fort captain scoffs. "Begone brigands, or we'll show you out forcefully!"
"Now see here!" Fredick shouts, urging his horse forward a few strides. "You have no right to speak to the captain in such a manner."
Even from our distance, I swear I can see the woman sneer. "You think you are the first to try and pass as Ylissians here? I have the authority to end such foolishness right here." She points her lance at us. "If you are truly royalty, prove it on the battlefield!" She whirls around and stomps off. As she does so, the archers on the wall nock their bows and shoot down at me.
Fredrick snarls and moves his horse in front of me. The arrows glance off his armor, barely scratching the reinforced metal. A few javelins are thrown our way, but fall short as the wind knocks them aside.
"To arms!" Reflet calls, rallying our freezing troupe. Skins are shrugged off and weapons are drawn, and Reflet swiftly goes about organizing an attack. Rather than myself, Robin heads the offence. He zips through the snow, dodging arrows and javelins with surprising ease as the cavaliers struggle to keep up with him; their horses bogged down by the slush.
"Kellam, Fredrick, Vaike! Take the left side!" Reflet shouts, pointing with her axe. "Robin and those two have the right! Everyone else, focus on those archers!"
"Er, pardon me yer tactifullness-"
"Donnel, stay with Chrom and Sumia. The rest of us will blaze a path, you three pick off the extras."
"Gotch'a."
"Remember Reflet, we don't want to kill anyone." I say urgently. "We come in peace, more or less."
"Of course." The tactician mutters. "Leave it to me." She raises an arm and fires a blade of wind from a tome I didn't realize she had. Along with Miriel and Virion they manage to keep the archers from bothering our ground units too much.
From our position way back from the actual fight, I can see as Robin and Fredrick blow through their respective sides of the fort. The poor feroxi soldiers are knocked around like footballs as the Shepherds storm past. Each side's small gate is handled differently, with Robin scrambling up the wall to open his from the inside, and Fredrick simply finding a key from the wounded soldiers to unlock his.
"Alright, that's our cue!" Reflet call, putting away her tome. "Let's move!"
From what I could see, the fight was an absolute cakewalk. Through the whole fort I can see soldiers groaning on the floor as we stride by. There are a few fresh soliders that emerge as we pass, but Reflet easily disposes of them with quick smacks from her axe. Donnel and I only get a few cuts in as we progress.
These soldiers might be professional, but the Shepherds' individual skills are far beyond what a few feroxi soldiers have to offer, even with their unit training. Small unit combat and skirmish battles are our expertise.
The Captain's voice suddenly rises loud and clear over the fight. "Let battle sound out the truth of your words!" She calls.
With very few feroxi left standing, I have a clear line of sight to where Robin and Fredrick are picking the captain apart. Her lance flies wide as Robin easily sidesteps the thrust, and Fredrick responds with a solid thrust to her shoulder. When the Captain tries to swing at Fredrick, Robin whips a ball of fire at her face. They switch the Captain between the two of them, and eventually wear the woman down.
Finally, the Captain is knocked on her back from a swipe by Fredrick. Robin immediately jumps on her chest, his hand flickering with fire as he grins down at her and threatens with his magic when she reaches for her weapon.
"I… yield." The woman grinds out, clearly not happy with having to say it. "Now, what do you want?"
"Just as I said." I say firmly, walking up to the woman and offering a hand. She looks at me in surprise, but accepts the help up. "We wish an audience with the Khan. We have urgent business."
"A thousand apologies Prince Chrom." The woman bows. "I truly mistook you for brigands. They have oft troubled our borders of late, pretending to be yourself. I will personally escort you to the capital, and send word ahead of your arrival."
"My thanks Captain…?"
"Rami sir."
"My thanks Captain Rami." I say, giving a shallow bow in reply, which surprises her. "We appreciate the escort. My men are tired from a cold march, and the added protection is very welcome."
Rami gives me a small grin. "The feroxi cold gets to even the best of us Prince Chrom. We'll have the kitchen make some hot soup before the march. I know my own troops would appreciate it as well after the thrashing you just gave them."
"Perhaps I did go a bit too far." Reflet mutters from just behind me. "Sorry about that."
"Hah! Don't be humble about your strength!" The Captain barks in a laugh. "It's incredible as is that you managed to get through without killing any of us!" She waves us inside, limping slightly from her injuries. "Now follow me, I'm sure your men are eager to get out of the cold."
It was rather difficult to choose who would be the point of view for the second half of this chapter. I settled on Chrom because he would allow for a look on the whole fight rather than being bogged down in the thick of the fray.