Chapter 11


"Milady?... Princess?... Lucina?!"

Yes?

Looking over to my right, I saw him looking at me, concern etched on his face.

"Forgive me, my thoughts were elsewhere."

"No worries, just be mindful. We need you alive and well if we hope to stop Grima."

With that said, he rode over to speak with one of his captains. Leaving me wondering where we all would be if he hadn't shown up with his army. From what his men had told us, He had appeared shortly after the Valmese Empire had fallen to the Risen. In a few months' time he had rallied the remnants of the army, resistance fighters, and the populace. They then seized Castle Virion. From there, they held against them for 2 years while they built enough boats to make the voyage across the sea. A few even said that on the day of their escape he drove off Grima. A smile was my only answer to that and most of my questions. Cutting through Plegia they rescued Cynthia, Kjelle, Noire and Nah ensuring that they were able to return to Ylisstol with Gules and Azure. From there he split his army into thirds. Sending one-third east to recapture and hold Mount Prism, the other southeast to rescue Owain, Brady, Yarne, and Inigo who had found Sable and Argent. The last third escorted the remaining populace toward Ylisstol and would stay to reinforce it. After the rescue he had turned northward and arrived in Ylisstol, with the location of Vert and the Emblem. With that news and that his troops had been able to seize Mount Prism I sent the Shepherd's ahead with the Gems. We managed to retrieve the Emblem along with the last gemstone from the Dragon's Table. Currently, we were on our way to Mount Prism to perform the Awakening.

What if Naga judges you unworthy?

That doubt had persisted since I had sent them out to retrieve the gems.

If not for him, my friends would have fallen.

"Romulus."

"What can I do for you Milady?"

"Nothing, I just wished to thank you for all your help. We would not have made this far if not for you and your men."

"I should be thanking you and that divine blade of yours. Without that, all the men in world wouldn't make a dent in this."

He was never one to take any credit. Always with a smile on his face (and none of Inigo's flirting.) Dark skinned with amber eyes and silver hair and a red coat of the same kind that Morgan wore.

Like Mark wears as well.

Despite claiming to be Valmese, he looked more Feroxi than anything.

"Captain, the outriders report a large army of Risen guarding the pass."

"Very well. Once we clear the pass, we should be a day's ride from Mount Prism. Are you ready Milady?"

"Yes."

-o-o-

Ever had the feeling that the big guy upstairs really hates you?

"Hold the line! They must not get to Emm! Pyrrha! Anything you might have would be appreciated!"

"Infantry hold the line! Archers and mages prioritize the wyverns! Calvary fall back and prepare to charge on my signal! Healers' standby! Fonzie, get off the line and go with the healers! Flyers wait until the skies are cleared up and then engage the aerial remnants!

Well I guess I get to wait. If she pulled me over here, does she expect quite a few wounded?

Healers watch out for those archers!

Quite a few arrows began to rain down on us. We took some cover by some rocks.

I should really consider getting a shield. Too late for that, Plan B it is.

I pulled out the booze I had bought earlier and began to open two of the bottles up.

"This is hardly the time to start drinking."

Thank You Maribelle. I never would have figured that out without you.

Ignoring her I soaked some the bandages I had in the liquor and attached them to the bottles. Taking some tinder and a small bit of wood. I began using my flint to try to get a fire going which considering how bloody dry this canyon was, didn't take very long.

Some sulfuric acid, sugar, and potassium chlorate would make this easier... Probably not easy to find around here.

"Anna would you happen to have a mirror?"

"I don't think they care how pretty you look."

"Do you have one or not? I'll pay for the damn thing later."

"Music to my ears."

Wrapping the mirror to my sword using another bandage I stuck it out and I was able to find the archers. Rather conveniently, they were in some dry brush, probably where they had lain in wait for us. I took one of the bottles and lit the bandage with the fire I had started.

Those archers are way out my throwing range. Maybe I should have given Shot Put a try. Too late for that now.

Lighting another one I hopped over the rocks began to run from rock to rock holding two lit Molotov until I got in what I hoped was my throwing range. Thankfully, only some of the archers had stopped shooting at everyone else to take some shots at me. Running out one last time I chucked both of the cocktails at the ridge the archers were standing on. As I released the last one an arrow found its way into my arm. Diving back behind a rock, I used the mirror to see my work. The first cocktail hit the edge harmlessly setting the cliff on fire, the second landed on a poor sod and ignited him, then the brush, which set the other fellows on fire. It was a dreadful smell, coupled with their screams, and the dull thud of one falling off the cliff. Failing to drown the sound out, I ran back to where the other healers were and pulled the arrow out.

If only it didn't hurt more on the way out...

"That's the last of the archers! Fliers take off and get rid of the rest of the wyverns."

Anna came over and started healing my arm.

"All things considered, you might be lucky to make it out of this war in one piece."

"It worked didn't it?"

"I suppose it turned out alright. So, about that mirror. It's a rather valuable piece. I'm thinking about eight-hundred gold. No Returns."

With a wink she went off to tend to other wounded. Pulling myself up I grabbed my staff and went about my duties. For the most part, our casualties were caused by the archers, mostly Pegasus Knights we had scouting above us when we had been ambushed.

No way I could have warned them about it without giving away too much or get accused of being a spy. If only my conscience cared about my rationalizations.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I continued the task of dealing with the wounded. Twelve fatalities and four wounded, one of them critical. The task finished, I wandered about until I heard Chrom.

"How did they get so far into Ylisse?"

"Chrom, I'm a tactician not a miracle worker. There is great number of ways they could have gotten here. I'm rather partial to the idea that we have a traitor in our midst. Given the scope of the penetration, that seems like the most likely possibility."

Well he's dead. Good luck with that...

The frantic flutter of wings brought me back to reality. A pegasus clattered to a halt right in front of me.

Redhead on a pegasus. Wonder who that is?

"The boss is over there"

"Beg Pardon?"

Right, I'm pretty much the only guy who calls him that.

"Prince Chrom, The Exalt, and Captain Phila are that way."

Without another word Cordelia ran over to where they were gathered.

Wonder what that was about.

"Shepherd's to arms!"

Right, the reinforcements.

"Archers and mages take cover under the rock outcroppings. Fliers lure the wyvern riders towards them. On my signal attack the enemy fliers. Everyone else, take cover and wait for further orders."

As we finished scrambling into positions, distant wing-beats become much closer, until they seemed to be right above us.

"NOW!"

As our archers and mages let loose. The wing-beats began to subside, replaced by the dull thuds of riders and wyverns alike hitting the ground. After what seemed like an eternity, the twang of bowstrings and the sounds of spell casting began to subside.

"Infantry check for and capture any survivors."

Not a single Plegian survived.

-o-o-

"I wish to return to Ylisstol."

"Emm it's too dangerous. You'll be much safer when we get to the palace."

"The Prince is right Your Grace, I cannot advise-"

"I should have never left. If I am away when the people learn this news, the people could panic. Riot. Ylisseans could die needlessly."

"Sister Please..."

"Here, Chrom. I entrust this to you."

"The Fire Emblem?"

"Take it to Ferox-to safety."

"And leave you? No, Emm."

Hmm... Time for me to go. With any luck I'll beat the Plegians back to Gangrel's Palace. From there I can start this plan. A long shot would be more accurate. With a bit of luck, I can save Emm and end this war.

"Going somewhere?"

Pyrrha was sitting on a rock skimming over a tome.

"Yeah. Tell Anna I'll pay her next time I see her."

"If she drags you back, I won't save you."

"You're all heart."

"You're off to do something reckless aren't you?"

"Probably."

"Can't talk you out of it?"

"No, I guess you could beat me if you wanted to stop me."

"Can't imagine it being too hard."

"I won't say that didn't sting a little."

Rolling her eyes, she hopped off her rock and walked up to me.

"Just be careful, Fonzie."

"Since when am I not careful?"

With a punch to the arm, she walked off to join the rest of the Shepherd's

Here goes nothing.

-o-o-

"That's the last of them Captain. The rest have scattered."

"How many retreated?"

"A few hundred at most."

"Very well. It's getting dark. We should make camp for the night."

"Yes sir."

"Make camp? Romulus we should press on, it's only a day's ride."

"Yes, but I don't doubt that they will be waiting for us at the foot."

"It's just an army of Risen."

"Think. Once the Awakening is performed we can stop Grima. It is probably waiting for us with that army. Mark is probably with it." Morgan may be at the top of the Mount, but she won't attack them. It would be silly for her take that risk against them. All Grima has to do is wipe us out and then it has the Emblem and your death. That would only leave Morgan who we don't even know if she can wield it."

"I could lead a small force to infiltrate their lines tonight and reach the summit. One the Awakening is performed. We can crush them between us."

"The night favors the Risen. In the morning we will attack, and penetrate through their lines. You will then lead a small force up the mountain while Morgan sends half her forces down the mountain to trap them between us and buy time for the ritual. Then you and the remaining army will advance down the mountain and we can put an end to this."

"This plan was decided upon before we even left Ylisstol."

"It was. Morgan and I decided that this was the best course of action. We figured the less anyone knew the better. Grima does love its informants. We'll be briefing the men tonight. The penetration team's job is to get you up the mountain with the Emblem and Falchion, or at least to get them to Morgan so she can finish the ritual."

"But Morgan refuses to even touch Falchion. How do we know she can even wie-"

"I was able to convince her to test it after Owain fitted it with a new hilt."

I thought it odd that she returned it me instead of him. You also just said were unsure about whether she could wield it?

"I trust you have no more objections?"

"As long as you are not hiding anything else Romulus, or lying for that matter."

"No lies, but I'm afraid I do like my secrets. I can tell you truthfully that I am not hiding anything else in regards to this plan Milady."

With that ever present smile he headed off.

I should be angry...


A/N: It's been a while, mostly due to writers block and realizing how convoluted my plot diagrams were. I like to be exhaustive so honestly these diagrams branch out covering plots and subplots and even slight changes in details. So I sorted through them and pick which ones I want to cover, how to close them and which ones fit best together. Which pretty much nixed about 65% of five 5" binders filled with crap and a lot of stuff on Google Drive as well. With Fall Break next week, I should hopefully have some time to post at the very least one, if not two chapters.

-DF